"Gah! It's not here!" William called out into the empty expanse of the ancient library. He had looked everywhere for a book on Grogar, and he had actually found what he was looking for. Well, part of it anyway. He had found elaborating on his abilities and why he was so feared. As well as the nature of his defeat, the only thing that was lacking was one about that strange bell which he had worn around his neck. While the other book he had found gave more insight into what it was capable of. It failed to mention any specifics, that information was contained in one of the few books which had been removed from this place long before he had found it. However, he had a theory as to where it had gone. With the previous owners of this rotting castle.
"Well, I guess I'm going back to Canterlot." He muttered to himself as he climbed out of the hole in the ground and began the long walk home. Before he headed off to the capital city of Equestria, he'd have to drop the stuff he had collected on his most recent journey down into the old library at home. Behind Kevlar reinforced walls and magic proof doors. Where even an alicorn would have a tough time breaking into. Or teleporting into. Because that was a thing here. It was easier to defend against break in's than earth in terms of physical attacks. But more complicated in the sense that you now have the added threat of magic.
"So, what you're telling me, is that that little amulet can raise the sun and moon by itself?" William held the little trinket in his gloved hands, looking it over. "Yes?" Twilight awkwardly replied to him. Apparently Celestia and Luna had given this thing to Twilight before he left with them on that, 'vacation.' William passed it back to her. " Can I use it some time?" She though about it for a moment, "Maybe. I'll have to ask Celestia." He chuckled, " Hey, I raised the sun once! Now that's a good talking point." He folded his arms, and looked out off the throne room balcony. He stood just a few feet from where he had once ended the Storm King. It was still kind of hard for him to believe that all happened almost 2 years ago. Now he gazed out across western Equestria. From his vantage point, he could see a good eighty miles in all directions. From Ponyville to the Unicorn mountain range and Cloudsdale. He let out a sigh, and turned back to Twilight. Who already had her next statement ready.
"We're prepping for the summer sun celebration, you should stay." She asked with a smile. He nodded, and leaned against the gilded doorway, " I'm staying for a while, but not for that. Listen, I need access to the restricted section of the Canterlot library. Do you have permission to grant that?" She shrugged, " No, unfortunately I don't. You'd have to ask Celestia about that, what do you need in there?" William grinded his teeth.
"I'm looking for some information on something very important. I'll just leave it at that." She flapped her wings, and took of a position hovering about 5 feet off the balcony. "Are you sure you'll find what you're looking for there? I've heard it's haunted." William gave her a sarcastic thumbs up. " Twilight, please, short of Celestia, Luna, and maybe a few magical artifacts, I'm the most dangerous thing on this mountain right now." He unslung his M-lok rail M4A1 carbine, and ran his fingers across the lower receiver as though he was strumming as guitar. Then pulled an M203 from his back pocket to further this point.
"You see? The battle only ends when the enemy is no longer one. Regardless of the means. Trust me, I'll be fine." He turned his back to her and walked back down the red carpet, out to the courtyard in search of the celestial alicorn.
William knocked on her bedroom door and waited. Regardless of what the guards had told him. He knew for an absolute fact that she wasn't doing anything important. " Yes William?" Celestia's voice rung from the other side of the door. "Hey, question. Do you by any chance happen to have a key to the restricted section of the royal Canterlot library? I need something in there. And I know for a fact that it's in there because it came in a set of 3 books," His tone changed to a whisper, " I found the other 2, but the 3rd one was missing." He heard the lock fumble, then Celestia craned her head out.
"What is it exactly that you're looking for?" She asked with suspicion. William stood at parade rest. " It's classified. You know the drill." She opened the door fully. And motioned for him to come inside. Was he was beyond the threshold of the doors, she shut them. Then trotted over to a desk on the far side of the room, and reached into a cabinet. She levitated a small golden key out of it, and hovered it between the 2 of them. " Usually, I don't just give this away. But since I know you well enough to know that your intentions are good and that you probably won't cause any trouble. Is that understood?" He nodded.
"Indeed it is. It's just one book. It shouldn't take long." The key moved closer to William, and he snatched it out of the air, and looked it over. "A few things you should know about that section of the library before you go. There are a few enchanted artifacts and magical books within it. You should know them when you see them. Stay away from them and you should be alright. " William grinned. " Eh, I've been through worse. Thank's Celestia."
" Always." She beamed." I do hope you find what you're looking for. Also, will you be coming to the summer Sun Celebration this year? You missed it last time." He shrugged, " Still undecided on that one. Bye." He jogged off down the hallway, narrowly avoiding hitting a very confused guard. " Heh, he practically treat's the castle as his own." Celestia said with a laugh as she shut the door behind him and got back to what she was doing before.
William leisurely strolled through the halls of the castle library. As he had done many times before, this time ever. He headed straight down the middle row, to a door in the back. In which he inserted the key Celestia had given to him. He brought his rifle to low ready, and pulled the door open. He stepped back as it swung all the way. He twisted around the doorway and shined a flashlight into the mostly unlit library. After a quick search, he headed on in. Being sure to close the door behind him.
"Grogar's bell, Grogar's bell, where are you?" He muttered to himself as he swept over the book cases with his light. Celestia was right, some of the books were most definitely magical. And it wasn't limited to books either. He swore he hard whisper's coming form the scolds. There was no light in the chamber, with the exception of the moon light from above. And his gun mounted flashlight. More oddly still, when he reached the center of the, 'restricted section.' there was an enormous hourglass in the center of the marble crossroads. The sand within it let off an eerie purple glow which hummed as he passed it. Out of curiosity, he waved a Giger counter near it. And was relieved to find that it wasn't letting off any radiation. He turned off down one of the side corridors. And began looking over the shelves for what he needed. When all of a sudden, he noticed that one of the books on a shelf was glowing slightly more intensely than the others he had seen. But as soon s he leaned in closer, ethereal wisps began to seep from it. Swapped to a grenade launcher and backed away. And the wisps stopped. " What the #### did you trap in there?" He cursed. The thought of blowing that entire row of books crossed his mind, but he shot it down. He had told Celestia that he wouldn't break anything. He backed away from the book row and turned down another.
It was then when he heard the sound of wings flapping coming from the far side of the room. And he turned his gun around just in time to catch a light blue mane and pink flank disappear behind a pile of scrolls. He kept on searching, slightly more on edge this time than before. Then he heard something which he knew he couldn't make up. The sound of Tirek grunting in annoyance. William could have called out, but decided against it. Instead, he decided to switch off his light and go to night vision. After pulling a set of NVG 18's over his eyes, he deactivated his white light and turned on an infrared laser.
"There it is!" William thought to himself. Chained to a pillar in between 2 shelves was a book with a decorative bell grafted onto the cover in gold. Quickly, he crossed from one book case to the pillar, pulled a rock pick from his belt. And began smacking away at it. Needless to say, he knew that the sound of titanium slamming against old chains and a granite pillar would attract attention. He didn't realize how quickly it would draw whoever else was in here to him. So when he looked over his shoulder to find Tirek looming over him. William did the first thing that he could think of, take a swing at him with the rock pick. The sharp edge of the pick buried itself in the minitour's leg. And he let out a roar of pain. And began stumbling around. Crying.
"Well, that was unplanned." William muttered sarcastically. He watched as Tirek stumbled out of the aisle. He chuckled and went back to tearing away at the chains with his now bloody rock pick. He felt something grab him by his vest. And looked over to find Cozy Glow. Looking up at him with a mixture of fear and anger. "What are you doing here?" She asked sheepishly , the beads of sweat dripping through her fur said it all. "I'm here for this book you piece of ####, what are you doing here!?" He snatched her by her mane, " Remember that time where you tried to get rid of Equestria's magic, but seriously screwed up and I came after you? That was me being merciful. "
He kneed her in the muzzle, right-left hooked her with his hard knuckle gloves, and threw her as far as he could. He groaned in annoyance and turned back to the pillar, only to find that the book was gone. Fleeing from him was the unmistakable form of Chrysalis. Laughing as she galloped away. And was joined by a still bawling Tirek and a barely conscious Cozy Glow. " How did we mess this up!?" Tirek cried out. " How was I supposed to know that he was looking for the same book!?" Chrysalis's fading voice responded. " Damnit Chrissy, you bring that book right back here!" William called out as he chased them back through the library, and out of a side exit. He left the chamber and rushed out into the dark Canterlot alleyway.
Even with them out of sight, he could still hear them bickering with one another, and franticly debating plans of escape. They hadn't accounted for William's amplified hearing protection. No creature ever did. As he rounded the first corner in the alleyway, bringing him from out into a narrow side street. It began to rain. And quite heavily at that. About a half second later, a gust of wind hit him in the face. He removed his goggles and went back to a flashlight. "I know you're out there!" He entered a small market place. And jumped around a wooden barrel. He reached out into the darkness, and snatched Chrysalis by the mane. She struggled, but William held on.
"What are you doing here? Why are you after that book!?" He called out over the thunder, looking her in the eyes. " Let me go! " She pulled herself away and took flight. " Get down here, explain yourself Chrysalis! I'm not mad, ok, that was a lie, I am mad. Listen, I know you're working for Grogar, and I know you well enough to know that your probably hate it. Give me that book back, or, better yet. You could just tell me where Grogar is hiding!" She winced.
"It's in the Hayseed swamps! That's all I can tell you!" She flew off. Leaving a very confused William standing in the middle of a dark city street soaking wet with a rifle dangling from his left arm. The rain had just stopped, the clouds went away with it.
" Eh, worth a shot. 'Least now I know where I can find that evil magic goat now." He began walking down the road. Out towards the Canterlot gardens.