Book 1 - The Behemoth came to Canterlot

by Equimorto


Remorsq

Pinkie looked at the corner of the wall. "I can try." Balancing on one of her hind legs, she stretched the other to the side towards the spiral she couldn't see. "Is this enough?"
The stallion leaned back to get a better look at things. "Yes. Try touching it now."
Pinkie did. "It feels funny," she immediately said. "It's like rubbing a balloon against your coat."
"Then we know it's doing something. I think." The stallion again looked at the wall. Nothing in particular seemed to have changed. "I'm pretty sure the double wires to the side are a hint and consequence of the nature of this puzzle. I've never actually encountered one that required multiple ponies. It's exciting! I think I said that already."
Pinkie, who was still standing awkwardly on only one leg, cleared her throat.
The stallion looked at her again. Then at the spiral. Something clicked. "You know, I've had these with me for a long while. Maybe I should start using them." He took out one of his chess pieces from his jacket's pockets, and passed it to Pinkie, who took it in her mouth.
She looked at him, her question evident in her eyes though she couldn't ask it.
"Slide it down your leg," he replied.
Not any less confused, Pinkie did nevertheless do as she'd been asked. She watched the white piece roll down to her hoof, and then disappear as it reached the wall. "Huh."
"It's in the corner now," said the stallion, excited. "I think you can put your leg down again."
Pinkie did, and she looked at the same corner the stallion was looking at. Nothing was there that she could see. "Huh," she said again. "What now?"
The stallion looked at the corner still. "I think we move it."
"How?" asked Pinkie. "Where?"
"Along the purple wire," the stallion replied like it was completely obvious. "I think," he added, without any changes to his tone.
Pinkie nodded along after a moment. "How do we move it?" she asked again.
"I think we use the buttons for that," replied the stallion. "They feel different. I guess they're levers then, technically. But only two-dimensional. Maybe. But still also buttons. Try pushing to the left, without moving your hoof from the spot."
After a moment of reflection, Pinkie did, and so did the stallion. "Is it moving?" she asked.
"Yep," he replied, keeping his eyes on what only he could see. "It's picking up speed, too. We'll have to send it up in just a moment."
Pinkie waited, ready to act.
"Now."
Both ponies shifted the way their hooves pressed against the wall.
"Still speeding up," the stallion said, his eyes trailing upwards. "Right, and hold it."
Pinkie did as she was told, as the other did the same. They waited a moment longer, then a click was heard. Slowly the square section of the wall pulled back, then slid down, revealing a staricase. "Huh," Pinkie said for the third time, while the stallion was already walking down the steps.
She reached him, and looked at the dimly lit chamber they were in. It was round, its walls plain, almost completely empty, with only a single mirror in the wall on the opposite end relative to them. "Huh," said the stallion, but he seemed more interested in the walls around them than anything else. "I'm afraid you'll have to save my party for next time I'm around."
Before Pinkie had a chance to ask anything, the stallion had walked into the mirror. When she tried to touch it, her hoof just connected with cold glass. Confused, perplexed, perhaps even a little disappointed, she walked back upstairs alone, and the wall closed seamlessly behind her.