//------------------------------//
// Explores 
// Story: Shards of Nightmare 
// by Stonedpony 
//------------------------------//

  Explores


life in Ponyville had returned to normal in the two weeks scents the Festival. Spike had stopped following Rarity around like a lost puppy. he appeared to have gotten over his hart break quickly and was now infatuated with a new girl in town, although he hadn’t told Twilight or any of their friends who it was yet. They all hoped that she was closer to his age this time. Things Between Twilight Sparkle and Rarity had taken time to smooth over but they had, mostly. 
Twilight Sparkle and Spike were in the library humming a tune together as they busied themselves with cleaning up after another crazy night of study and an early visit form Cheerilee's class. Not to mention the Cutie Mark Crusader Librarian Assistants. The whole place was a mess. Spike oddly wasn’t complaining about the cleaning up after the three.
An hour before lunch time the front door opened and in walked Winchester with some books neatly slid in one of his saddle bag and a map was placed in the other.
Twilight didn’t have to look up to know who it was. “hey Winchester.” the mare greeted.
“hello Twilight.” the Stallion said and after a noticeable pause he greet Spike with a simple nod. 
“so what's up.” Twilight said making conversation as she placed a book on the top shelf. 
“just comparing my map to the ones in the library.” Winchester replied as he placed the books he brought on the check in stack. 
“why?” 
“there’s some Alicorn ruins near Fogy Bottom Bog, I want to find the best path to them.” the Stallion answered as he brought out his map and the map Ponyville had in it's archive. “which reminds me.” Winchester perked up and turned to Twilight Sparkle who had forgotten her task. “what do you know about alicorn architecture and language?”
Twilight Sparkle raised an eye brow as she turned to him “um well I took a year of alicorn history which covered both language and architecture, and Princess Celestia would give me listens on Alicorns as well. Why dose that matter?” Twilight was confused and curious.
“well your going to help me explore the ruins.” Winchester said as he looked at his map “I’ll pay you for your time of course.”
“um okay why?” Twilight replied now very curious.
“well first.” Winchester replied as he looked up at her “you are far more knowledgeable on Alicorns then I.” he smiled “plus you owe me.”
Twilight Sparkle glared at the Winchester “how do I owe you.”
he simply chuckled “that Star Swirl the Breaded portal spell.”
“ohhh yeeeaaahhh.” Twilight replied remaindering back to last week when she asked the knight to be the test subject for an experimental spell she found in the Lost tome of Star Swirl the Knight had disappeared for half a day as he traveled through dozens of what could only be described as other dimensions. “you still haven’t told me what you saw.”
Winchester looked past Twilight Sparkle and through the wall of the library with eyes as wide as plates. “they will haunt me to my dieing days.”
“oh you'll forget about it by next week.” Twilight said with a roll of her eyes and a smile. 
“probably.” Winchester replied returning to his normal self.
The lavender mare sighed and said “well I guess scents I owe you and your paying I got to do it.” Twilight Sparkle wasn’t in need of money but exploring ruins could be fun “but could I ask my friends to come along?”
“i don’t see why not. I could probably even come up with some jobs for them too.” Winchester said thinking that this little expedition had just become very expensive. He just wanted to do some research for his newest book.
“it would only be fair.”  
Winchester thought for a moment “Pinkie Pie and Applejack can cater the adventure. Rarity can help me describe things or look at the environment in a new way.” he chuckled when he thought about the white unicorn in dusty dank ruins  “um Fluttershy could help identify the little animals that live there. As for Rainbow Dash ummm.” the stallion was out of ideas now “um she can uh carry my sword I don’t know.” he said shaking his head with a smile.
“what about me?” Spike asked believing he was invited.
Winchester looked at the young dragon with a flash of contempt in his eyes before he grinned and said “umm you can test the traps.”
“WHAT!?” Spike yelled.
“well that will work.”  Twilight said playing along, Spike just stared at the two with his mouth agape. “so when are we leaving?” Twilight asked giving Spike a quick nuzzle to tell him she was joking.
“well tomorrow if that’s cool?” Winchester said with a grin “got to let all your friends get ready and well I have to plan.” he looked at the map. “I’ll leave getting your friends to come along to you.” 
“well okay.” Twilight said shaking her head with a sly smile thinking he was just being lazy. She left Spike behind to finish cleaning up the library.
Finding her friends was easy, as was getting Applejack and Pinkie Pie on bored. Rainbow Dash was also easy to convince to join. The pegasus mare thought exploring ancient ruins would be “so awesome”, although she denied that she thought so because of certain book series. Fluttershy on the other hoof was hard to convince to come along. But after the reminder that she could always use the extra income, the yellow mare gave in and agreed to come only because her friends were all going. 
After a quick hug Twilight hurried on her way. Twilight Sparkle's belly rumbled as she walked down the street to Rarity’s boutique, she was getting hungry. The lavender unicorn hoped her over dramatic friend would be easy to convince.
Twilight opened the front door to her friends work place. She expected to hear Rarity's normal work greeting however all she heard was the over dramatic mare's cry of “oh this is the worst possible thing.” Rarity summoned her favorite red couch and flopped down on her back with her hoof over her face.
Twilight sighed and asked “lost your studded ribbon again?” the lavender mare rolled her eyes.
Rarity rolled over on the couch to look at her friend “oh Twilight its much worst then that.”
“what is it?” Twilight asked worried that it may actuality be a real problem.
Rarity rolled over and looked at her friend worry covering her face “oh Twilight its just so horrible.” Twilight nodded hoping Rarity would get to the point. “i have lost my muse.”
“your what?”
“my creative spark darling.” Rarity replied throwing her hooves in the air “i used to look at a few gems and a dress would just form around them.” she gestured dramatically as she spoke “Fabrics would speck to me, telling me what thread to use or another fabric to pair with it. Now......nothing.” she fell on her back with a hoof over her hart and the other over her face.
Twilight saw her chance to convince the fashionable mare to come along “well Rarity I think I have an idea to help.”
“really.” the white mare asked siting up with sparkling eyes.
“of course.” Twilight answered with a smile. The lavender unicorn explained Winchester's plans for tomorrow, about the pay and that every pony else would be coming along as well. All the while Rarity looked down her nose at Twilight, the librarian could almost guess Rarity's answer. 'Darling a lady such as myself would never be caught dead in a some dusty old ruins.' 
however Rarity just looked at Twilight for a good long while before completely surprising her “That's an absolutely wonderful idea Darling.” she smiled and hopped down from her couch and added “I’ve been taking my inspiration from same sources all my life, and the same things just cant do the job all the time.” she trotted around the very confused Twilight “Alicorn's have such exquisite style. I mean just look at the princesses.” Rarity said stopping in front of Twilight who simple nodded. Rarity turned away in thought as she continued almost to herself “but of course ruins are quite dirty and even more so when they're in the middle of a nasty swamp.” she shook at the thought then jumped as a light clicked on in her mind, she sang “IDEA!” and hugged the even more confused Twilight “oh thank you thank you thank you darling even the thought of such a trek has started to pull me out of my artistic block.”
“uhh okay any time.” Twilight Sparkle replied hugging her friend back before the white unicorn pulled away and hurried about gathering her designing supplies. “well I guess you wouldn’t like to join me for lunch?”
“oh I would darling but I already had lunch with Thunderlane. Sorry.” she said looking almost hurt that she had to turn her friend down “i could make something for you if you like?”
“oh its alright.” Twilight answered with a smile “I wouldn’t want you to loose your inspiration.” Twilight took her leave while Rarity went to work making whatever it was she was working on.
*            *           *
the next morning Twilight stood out side her library with her friends waiting for one more to show up. “where is Rainbow Dash she said she would be here.” Twilight asked.
“aahh dang it Rainbow don't wake up early enough to do nothing on time.” Applejack said shifting in her harness for her cart full of supplies.
Winchester swallowed his mouth full of apple and said “if she doesn’t show up whose going to carry my sword.”
“why would I carry your sword.” Rainbow Dash called down from above. 
The six ponies and one dragon looked up at the rainbow maned mare that slowly fluttered down to land amongst her friends. Their eyes were drawn up to the green and tan hat on her head.
“oh come on Rainbow Dash Darling, you can't be serous.” Rarity said. Spike and Pinkie Pie were having their own conversation about Rainbow Dash's hat.
“What it helps keep the sun out of my eyes.” Rainbow Dash replied flapping her wings to hover high enough to hide the official Daring Doo symbol on the brim.
“I think its cute.” Winchester said as he finished his apple and slipped his sword harness from his back using his magic to levitate it over to Rainbow Dash. “any way now that we're all here we can get going.”
Before Rainbow Dash could protest the unicorn stallion released his hold on the sword, the strap dropped around the blue mares neck and slammed her to the ground. Rainbow Dash groaned as her Daring Doo hat rolled away. The pegasus shook out of the belt and stood up and said “WHAT THE BUCKING HELL DUDE!”
“what.” Winchester said with a knowing grin. “its just Featherweight.” the mares all stared at him.
“that thing weights more then Big Mac carrying a load of apples.” Applejack said. “hows Rainbow Dash going to carry it.”
“i can carry it like its nothing.” 
Twilight sighed “um Winchester.”
the stallion merely smiled “that sword is a gift made by Princess Celestia herself. all knights carry a gift from her or Luna into battle.” before the mares could question him “they are not all swords we each get something that is suits us.” 
“that allows me to 'fly on the wings of my Princess'.” Winchester continued “and it weights no more then one of these.” the stallions horn glowed as his magic gently pulled Rainbow Dash's right wing out straight and flick though her feathers. Winchester released her wing and placed her hat back on her head and added “as long as you believe it dose.”
“what are you talking about?” Rainbow dash asked confused.
“magic.” Winchester and Twilight said together.
“oh.” the stunt flier replied as she looked at the appositely massive sword laying in the dirt before her, noting the feather motifs etched into the thick materiel of the sheath. Rainbow Dash leaned down and picked up strap in her mouth and tossed it up over her head. The mare adjusted her hat before she flapped her wings till she was hovering in the air with the strap tight. The mare thought to herself 'its just a feather.' she repeated as she flapped her wings enough to rise higher. The massive sword swung beneath her just like the stallion had said it felt like it weighted nothing. 
“see.” Winchester said with a smile. The pegasus shrugged to hide that she was impressed. 
The group set out soon after that. Winchester lead the way to allow the mares and the baby dragon to talk with out worrying about navigation, the mares also remembered what he did on their last adventurer. Twilight was next in line with her nose in a book of Alicorn language. Spike sat on his mistress’s back watching as Rainbow Dash hovered next to the lavender unicorn looking over the mares shoulder to read the book for a few minute before dropping back to join Fluttershy and Rarity as they chatted about the boots Rarity had made last night just for the swamp. Applejack and Pinkie Pie brought up the rear both pulling carts with supplies for the planed picnic, Applejack's cart was noticeable larger then the Pinkie's.
As Celestia's sun slowly marched its way across the sky the group trotted on. The day was pleasantly warm for the time of the year, but as the ground around them grew softer and dotted with pools of stagnate water the air grew muggy and thick. Rarity stopped the group so she could put her fancy new swamp boots on. 
Winchester tried to pick paths through the swamp that wouldn't be too hard on the mares and the wagons. Although Applejack swore she wouldn’t get stuck in the muck. Pinkie Pie however enjoyed hopping from puddle to puddle. She ignored her friends warnings about how she should look before she leaped. Their warnings came true in one comical incident when the pink mare and her wagon disappeared down one such puddle. Before her friends could react appropriately the pink mare appeared standing in another puddle dry as a bone save for her hooves and the wheels on the wagon. Winchester asked Pinkie Pie how she did that to which the mare replied with a giggled “do what?” the other mares only answer when questioned was “its just Pinkie Pie.”
Around lunch time the group found their destination. What had once been an impressive stone path way that lead to an impressive entrance way, but now it was mostly over taken by the swamp. half a dozen weather worn pillars laid broken on the ground, many of which were covered in moss or vines of some sort. Before the group was large stone structure, it too was covered in vines and moss except for the circular door. age had worn the runes and motifs that covered the door almost beyond the point of recognition. There was no nob or handle or any way visible to open the door.
Spike laid out a blanket for their picnic in front of the door. Twilight Sparkle sat down in front of the door with an apple and a book, she wanted to figure out how to open the door now. Applejack set out food for every pony with Spike's help. Pinkie Pie thought they could use some music but Fluttershy stopped her from starting the record playing. The yellow pegasus explained it would scare the little critters that lived in the swamp. Rarity mean while was trying to find a proper place to sit and eat, she sighed and found a dry patch of grass that wasn’t as dry as she hoped. Rainbow Dash propped Featherweight up against a near by fallen pillar. She jumped as a large frog hoped onto the pillar and then climbed up the swords handle much to Winchester's displeasure. Fluttershy smiled as she fluttered over to the frog and talked to it as if it was an old friend.
As they all ate, Winchester started to tell a them about the last time he visited some Alicorn ruins. “it had was the first time Princess Celestia gave me a mission as a knight.” the stallion had to chose his next words carefully with Spike and Fluttershy listening “She ordered me to.......relocate a Dragon that was dif.......living in some alicorn ruins.” he smiled as he thought back the sight of the ruins “oh they were beautiful it was the first time I had seen ruins like them but it never really gets old.” he sighed “i sadly didn’t really get a chance to explore them though.”
“What stopped you?” Rarity asked.
“the dragon.”
“Why?” Spike asked.
Winchester looked at Spike hiding what he truly wanted to say, and continued as he had done before. “the dragon was disagreeable and when it-he finally left he took the ruins with it-him.”
“well that stinks.” Applejack said. Spike didn’t understand how a dragon could take building with him as he flew away.
Twilight jumped to her hooves and Yelled “I’ve got it!”
“well its about time.” Rainbow Dash said flying up in the air the stunt flier had grow tired of waiting she wanted to see this place already. After a brief pause the pegasus asked “what you get?”
“its a magic door.” Twilight Sparkle said looking at her friends. “its locked like the vault Princess Celestia used to keep the elements in.”
“cool.” Winchester said as he, Spike and the other mares gathered around Twilight Sparkle.
“yep.” Twilight said looking at the stallion “so open it.”
“wait what?” Winchester said confused.
“you know more about breaking into ancient ruins then me and your tall enough to reach the hole.” the lavender mare said pointing to the hole in the center of the door.
Winchester sighed as he looked to where her hoof was pointing and mumbled something.
“what?” Twilight asked leaning closer to him her ears perked up high. Only to have him mumble something again. “excuse me?”
“my horn.” Winchester's voice shifted into a mumble.
“come on boy be a stallion and speak up.” Applejack said frustrated.
“i have a small horn.” the stallion said ashamed to admit it. “Its one of the reason I brought Twilight.”
Rainbow Dash flopped down on her back laughing as she said “so that’s why the princess gave you such a big sword.”
“Rainbow Dash its not the size of the horn its how one uses it.” Rarity scolded.
Rainbow Dash stood up and said “sure if you say so.” she nudged Applejack's with her elbow, the two mares smiled. Fluttershy blushed the whole time.
Pinkie Pie hopped over to Winchester and threw her hooves around his neck saying “its okay Winchester we still like you even if your horn is itty bitty.” Spike was mean while checking the size of his spikes as compared to his body.
the stallion was unsure of how to react so he just smiled and said “thanks.”
With a boost from Applejack, Twilight was able to reached the hole in the center of the door. The lavender mare checked her book on unlocking magic doors one more time before she angled her horn to slide it into the hole.
“you go Twilight show that door whose the pony.” Rainbow Dash couched lewdly. Winchester and Applejack grinned while Fluttershy blushed even more then before. Pinkie Pie and Spike were just confused. Rarity wouldn't dignify such a statement with a responses. Twilight blushed as she glared at Rainbow Dash before she returned to her work with the door, she slid her horn into the door all the way in up to her scalp. the mare realized that she was just big enough to do the job.
“Darling do be careful.” Rarity called up to her friend “you don’t want to mess up your mane or scratch your horn.” the other mares rolled their eyes, the pegasi and earth ponies didn’t realize how serous a damaged horn really was. Twilight just shushed her friends.
With the peanut gallery silenced Twilight could finally concentrate. The librarian’s coat shimmered as she allowed her magic flow through the door and in turn let the doors magic flow through her. The young unicorn felt a strange familiarity with the mystical energy with in the door and the locking mechanism. She couldn’t explain the familiar warmth she felt as she gently found the metaphorical key to open the door.
With a bright flash of purple light Twilight pulled her horn free of the door. The unicorn and her friends watched amazed as the purple glow slowly worked its way outward along the symbols and motifs in the stone door. Seconds passed in silents till a sudden deep rumble reverberated through the ground scaring some ducks from the near by bog, Fluttershy nearly followed them as the rumble was joined by the sounds stone grinding against stone. Twilight fell off of Applejack's shoulders as the country mare backed away, the unicorn quickly righted her self and back away from the door with her friend just encase there was some sort of trap set up. Winchester moved in front of the the mares with Featherweight ready for anything.
Slowly the stone door rolled to the side, grinding and cracking with age and disuse. The ponies waited for the echos of cracking stone to subside before as a group they approached the dark tunnel to the under ground ruins. Winchester stopped the mares and stepped forward telling them that it may not be safe. Twilight picked up Spike and placed him on her back to keep him out of danger. Winchester's horn glowed a soft blue that formed into a ball of light at the tip. Winchester gently tossed the ball of light down the dark hallway highlighting the walls as it flew down into the darkness. 
“hmm no traps.” the Stallion said “odd.”
“why?” Twilight asked Spike leaned in to hear what he would say, Fluttershy however epped afraid that it would be more dangerous then she thought.
“huh oh.” the stallion said a little embarrassed “sorry just thinking out loud.” 
Fluttershy was confused but decided to drop it not wanting to be rude. The unicorn's ignited their horns with a simple light spell and they began the descend into the darkness of the entrance hall. 
The mares and the young dragon looked around at the stone walls. the once beautiful murals were now covered in dust and vines and other unsavory muck. however their attention was soon drawn to one of their number.
“the stagnate air filled the delicate lungs of the six maidens as their fine horse shoes clicked off the cracked stone floor in delicate contrast to the heavy steel clad stomps of their protector.” Winchester said staring straight ahead, the mares just looked at writer slightly confused. “deeper they descended into the darkness of the ancient tomb, their lights barely held the blackness at bay. The maidens could not know the dangers the shadows could hold.” Fluttershy epped as a flicker of Rarity's light allowed a shadow to jump at her. “Artax knew what the......darkness.....held.” the stallion snorted as he drew his sword.
“Winchester.” Twilight said trying to get his attention.
Featherweight floated beside the stallion as he continued “the darkness at the end of the entrance hall loomed over them all like the jaws …...like a maw of a great beast. The steel clad warrior could smell-”
“WINCHESTER!” Twilight yelled to get him to stop feeling Spike beginning to shake on her back.
“What.” the stallion said blinking.
“stop it.” Twilight scolded she had been woken up by the stallion loosing himself while writing aloud a few times before so she was fairly use to it.
“sorry, got kind of carried away writing.” the unicorns' light reveled his blush and his notepad and quill.
“W-Winchester?” Fluttershy asked timidly.
“yes?” the stallion replied looking at the frightened pegasus with genuine concern.
“d-do you really t-think tha-at its d-dangerous here.” Fluttershy asked trembling. Applejack moved closer to Fluttershy to remind her that she was there for her.
“Well I never said it would be Safe.” Winchester replied matter-o-factly much to the yellow Pegasus’s horror “but by my honor and my life no harm will come to any of you.” the knight looked at each of the mares with the most serious face they had ever seen however it, was quickly replaced with his normal grin and cheerful eyes. “any way I doubt there’s anything scarier in here other then the odd spider.” Fluttershy and oddly enough Rainbow Dash looked very relieved to hear that. Rarity on the other hoof wasn’t very happy about hearing about spiders, her complaints were mostly ignored by the others. Spike even pointed out a spider on the wall near the white unicorn just to hear Rarity epped, she glared at the baby dragon who laughed like a younger brother would when teasing his older sister.
The seven ponies soon emerged from the entrance hall into the main chamber of the complex, unlike how Winchester described the darkness quickly receded from the lights of the unicorns' horns, however they just didn’t give off enough light to see more then about a few feet away.
Winchester's horn went dark as he lower his head. He mumbled a short pray then his head shot up as he called out “the princess of the sun is my light in all darkness.” suddenly the room was filled with a soft warm light. In the center of the room near the roof was the shining image of Celestia's cutie mark. Winchester smiled “just one of the perks of being a knight.” 
In the warm light of the false sun the group could begin to explore the huge round room, the walls gently sloped up to form a dome above them. The floor walls and ceiling were covered with tiles each with a different symbol, being so far under the ground kept the muck of the swamp at bay for the most part. The were a few spots where swamp water was dripping through creaks in the ceiling. The door on the far side of the room looked to be growing some sort of underground plant. two other doors where to the far right and far left of the room. In the center of the room was a altar, a familiar winged unicorn statue over looked the altar. the statue on the other side of the alter laid broken on the ground.
Winchester looked around and started to wright down notes of the everything. Twilight Applejack and Fluttershy made their way over to the alter, Spike set Twilight's book on alicorn architecture on the alter. While Applejack looked up at the stature and said “hey that thing looks like the statue in the Canterlot ball room.”
“yeah.” Fluttershy agreed feeling a strange need to pray.
“the one that you girls broke?” Spike asked, the mares glares was all the answer he needed.
Pinkie pie happily hopped around the room and playing with the echos in each doorway. Rainbow Dash flew around the room hopping to find some sort of secret passage or some hidden treasure.
Rarity mean while was looking at the many symbols on the walls. Finding one she liked, the unicorn pulled a sheet of paper from her saddle bag and began to rub some chock on it so she could have the image for later. “these look kind of like cutie marks.” Rarity commented.
“well that makes sense.” Twilight answered looking up from her book “these are the graves of this Alicorn family.” a sudden chill ran down most of the ponies spines. Fluttershy epped and bowed her head giving into the need to pray. Rarity stopped making her rubbing realizing what it was.
“oh now I get it.” Rainbow Dash said as she flew down her to lavender friend “i was always confused why some pony with wings would live under ground.”
“yes apparently this is the wedding chamber, the birthing room, and the grave site.” Twilight said as the mare looked up at her friends “just about every major event in an Alicorn's life took place here.”
“well getting hitched in a church makes sense but hell even I was born in a hospital despite what some ponies think.” Applejack said turning to Rarity who simply turned her nose up at the acquisition. Pinkie Pie's giggles echoed around them while Spike was just mystified by the thought of being surround by hundreds or maybe even thousands of graves.
“well they wanted their ancestors to bear witness to their lives.” Winchester said looking around the room “from the day they enter this world, to when they bring another pony into their family through marriage, when the fruits of love enter this world” the stallion paused as he looked at mares at the alter “and the day they are laid to rest beside them.”
“That sounds mighty deep.” Applejack said looking around before she joined Fluttershy in a short pray.
“you pulled that out of your flank didn’t you.” Rainbow Dash said with a smirk.
“Maybe.” Winchester replied with his goofy smile, Twilight and Rainbow Dash roll their eyes.
The lavender mare turned back her to book “that door to the left is the storage area kitchen and preparation rooms.” Pinkie Pie giggled and called “echo.” into the hallway to add effusive to Twilight Sparkle's explanation. The unicorn pointed to the door to her right as Pinkie Pie hurried to the door and repeated the process of yelling “echo.” as Twilight explained “that there leads to the treasure chamber.”
“Treasure.” Rarity said with sparkling eyes. Rainbow Dash floated behind the white mare with the same look on her face.
“yes.” Twilight said again rolling her eyes. Winchester chuckled as he made notes of the mares faces. “and that way.” Twilight said moving on. “that door in front us should be the living chambers for monks and priest.” 
Again Pinkie Pie was at the hall way, she was just about to yell echo into the darkness but what came out was a epped “ow.” her friends called to her concerned “my knee just got all pinchy.” the pink mare's eyes widened but her explanation of her Pinkie sense was cut off by a stone shacking roar.
Before the earth pony could respond to her friends orders to get over to them a large yellow snake like head shot out of the crumbling hall way and grabbed Pinkie by her tail. The head was soon followed by three others and the beast round body shattering the stone hallway as it freed its self from its hiding place. Pinkie's screams for help were soon cut off by the hydra tossing her up in the air and catching her in its gaping maw. The mares' gasp and their their harts almost stopped when they heard the wet gulp of the hydra swallowing Pinkie.
As the bulge moved down the hydra’s throat Featherweight stabbed into the beast neck just below the bulge. before the hydra realized what happened Winchester slammed into the beast's neck and used his magic to rip his sword around severing the hydra's head. With a concussive blast of magic he sent the dead head bouncing across the floor to stop in front of the mares. Twilight and her remaining friends watched wide eyed as the neck moved for a moment then a very slimy Pinkie Pie popped out of the end.  
Pinkie Pie wiggled free and both her and Rarity said “eeeewwwww gross.” 
While Applejack and Twilight Sparkle inquired if Pinkie Pie was okay. the sounds of steel against bone and several roars of pain from the hydra echoed around them all. The mares and the baby dragon looked to see Winchester floating mid air with one of the hydras head missing is lower jaw trying to retreat, a second head reeled from a sword strike that had remove its left eye and gave the beast a massive bloody cut. The last head raced up at Winchester from below, the mares gasped thinking that the knight was doomed Spike was cheering on the knight. The stallion flipped foreword his hooves warped around his sword handle just before the hydra caught him in its maw, the beast didn't expect to come snout to edge with the razor sharp blade of Featherweight. Winchester spun like a circular saw slicing their the hydras head and neck like a knife through butter.
Winchester landed in front of the monster and looked up just in time to see the head and neck peal apart like a banana. The hydra kicked the stallion across the room. The one eyed head growled, it wanted to pursue but when its feet didn’t respond it looked over to the jawless head. The jawless head gargled fearfullyit wanted to retreat back into the hole. The one eyed head roared at it. The stallion's hooves sparked on the stone floor as he slid across the room. He looked up as the one eyed head bit the jawless head's neck several times then turned and lumbered foreword.
the hydra lowered its head to the ground hissing like a massive angry snake as it charged. Winchester smiled this was what he lived for. he loved to read and writing was his special talent but this was so much better, no fine food or pleasure of the flesh brought more joy to the knight then slaying the beast that dared to defile Equestra with their very existent.
The Hydra neared it's eye burning with rage as it opened his jaws ready to rip the pony into pieces. Winchester simply snorted as he nodded his head a little and Featherweight shot forward. The hydra stopped mid stride just a few paces away from Winchester. it's eye crossed as it looked at the sword handle that stuck from its forehead. With in seconds the hydra's eye faded and its neck went limp the dead head held aloft by the sword in its head. Finally with full control over its body the jawless head began to drag its dead heads away and back into the shattered hall way. 
Featherweight slid free from the hydras head as it retreated. Winchester grinned as he started to fallow the hydra to finish it off but remembering what happened to Pinkie Pie the stallion hurried over to the mares. “Pinkie are you okay?” Winchester asked worried.
For the first time ever Pinkie Pie actually looked miserable, her mane stuck to her face and neck. She trembled from the now cold slime that covered her. She looked at Winchester with sad eyes that pained the stallion's hart she said “yeah I’m fine but I feel all icky.”
“I’ll say.” Rarity said some how more disgusted then Pinkie “Darling we should wash that out before it ruins your mane.”
“not just your mane.” Twilight Sparkle said the book learned mare started to describe the many ways the saliva could be dissolving Pinkies flesh. 
Pinkie Pie's eyes widened in terror as did many of her friends, Winchester was worried but wrought down everything Twilight said despite knowing he should be doing something, he was just getting carried away. The pink mare trotted in place in a panic chanting “get it off get it off.”
“clam down Pinkie.” Applejack said taking charge and with some help from Spike and the others Pinkie was able to hold still. some conjured water and a rain-blow dry later Pinkie Pie was mostly clean and back to her normal cheerful self.
Pinkie Pie hoped in place and giggled, her mane and tail didn’t have the normal bounce they normally did but that was to be expected what wasn’t was her mood swing. Just minutes before she had looked as miserable as a drowned rat now she was as normal as can be, normal for Pinkie Pie at least. “okay how do you do that Pinkie?” Winchester asked as curious as the other ponies.
“do what?” Pinkie asked confused.
“how are you so happy?” Winchester answered his patients running thin with not understanding the pink mare.
“why wouldn’t I be?” Pinkie replied with a giggle. Winchester groaned and gave up. 
“uh sugar cube you were just eaten by a hydra.” Applejack said, she was starting to suspect something wasn’t quite right with her pink friend.
“yeah, but I'm better now.” Pinkie Pie answered as if that it was normal “and now I also know what a cupcake see when I eat it.”
“Pinkie you are so random.” Rainbow Dash said with a shake of her head. The stunt flier went on to boast about how she would have beaten up the hydra till Applejack put her in her place with a good natured reminder of how Rainbow Dash was hiding behind the farm mare the whole time. Spike joined in the game of poke the bear to hide his own fear.
With the incident with the hydra behind them the group decided to descend into the treasure chamber. Spike and Fluttershy both protested, the pair's small amount of courage had been shaken. They were simply told by the others that they should make Pinkie's near death experience worth it. Applejack however did give a short silent prayer to the alicorn's asking that they didn’t get too mad about them all raiding their treasure.
As the group of ponies moved toward the door that led to the treasure chamber. Winchester stopped them so that he could cast his trap reveling spell again, Twilight asked him to teach her the spell later. The Stallion heartily agreed. The spell revealed the stairs were safe.
at the base of the stairs the hallway made a hard right into a long tunnel leading to a large magic door much like the main entrance. Several beams of light shined through  holes in the ceiling, it was easy to tell that the lights were not nature. Again Winchester stopped the group and cast his reveal trap spell. However this time most of the tiles in the floor lit up blue as well as many small wholes in the wall. 
“well that sucks.” Winchester said taking note of all the possible traps hidden with in the walls.
“but with all these traps the treasure is most certainly going to be worth it.” Rarity said smiling hopefully.
“but that’s a lot of traps to get through.” Spike pointed out.
“dose this mean we can go now?” Fluttershy asked barley above a whisper, Spike agreed making a jiggling sound as he shook his head.
“we might be able to get around them if we tip hoof.” Pinkie Pie said with a giggle.
“Well this may be the lever to turn off all them dang traps.” Applejack said pointing to a lever on the wall, she neglected to note that the leaver was glowing blue as well.
“hey Spike pull it.” Winchester said with a grin.
“WHY.” the young dragon ask from Twilight's back.
“well if theirs a fire trap your the least likely to burn to death.” Winchester said slightly sarcastic. “if its electrified again your scales will-”
“Winchester, stop.” Twilight said feeling Spike trembling.
Winchester sighed and said “I was just playing.”
“well its not funny.” 
“i think I see another lever by the door.” Applejack cut Twilight off.
“bet you a cupcake that the levers have to be pull together.” Pinkie pie said bouncing up and down. 
“seems logical.” Winchester said forgetting about his game with Spike, Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes and decided to continue to scold him later. 
“then I’ll just fly over there and we can pull the levers together.” Rainbow Dash said as she hovered above the group then zoomed off down the hall.
“WAIT!” Winchester called but it was too late the rainbow maned mare passed through the first beam of light, “TWILIGHT!” the stallion ordered hoping she would understand as he threw his sword. Darts shot out of the holes in the wall as spears burst through tiles in the floor. Rainbow did what she did best, fly faster. 
Darts just missed the stunt flier, rusty spears shot up just behind Rainbow Dash as she neared the door. She prayed to Celestia that their would be a space at the door to safely stand as large blades sliced through the air behind her. Rainbow Dash slammed into the door hooves first with her eyes closed, panting hard.
Seconds passed the hall was filled with the whoosh of darts and the crank of gears. Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and saw some hair fall from her mane. she looked back to see her hat bouncing around as hundreds of darts hit it from both sides till a spear threw into the path of one of the large blades that sliced it in two, Rainbow's face paled slightly. She looked to her right to see Featherweight stabbed into the stone floor darts pinged off the massive blade, she checked her left to see a purple sheet of energy blocking more darts both shielded her form certaint death. 
“RAINBOW DASH ARE YOU ALLRIGHT?” Applejack called. Pinkie Pie had actually stopped bouncing so she could watch. Fluttershy looked like she was about to have a hart attack. Twilight was concentrating on holding the magical shield in place.
“YEAH WHY?” Rainbow Dash answered having to yell over the sound of the traps.
“WELL DARLING YOUR TAIL HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY RUINED.” Rarity explained fanning herself worry was painted on her face. 
Rainbow Dash looked down at her tail, about half a hoof of hair was missing. As she checked her tail a dart skipped off the floor and struck her in the flank right in the middle of her cutie mark. “OWW.” she looked at the dart with wide eyes “oh Celestia no.” she panted.
“WHAT.” the others called. 
“SO UM DO YOU THINK THESE DARTS ARE POISONED?” Rainbow Dash asked trying to not panic.
Winchester with out missing a beat answered “THEY PROBABLY ARE, WHY.” 
“OH NOTING I JUST MAY BE DIEING, SO UH LETS HURRY UP AND TURN OFF THESE TRAPS.” Rainbow Dash explained on the edge of loosing it.
“OKAY.” Winchester replied the only one remaining calm as he moved over to the lever, Rainbow Dash did the same. “ON THREE.” Winchester said placing his hoof of the lever. “ONE......TWO......THREE!” he yelled. Both the ponies attempted to push the levers down, however they simple clicked and sent electricity through the pair. age had luckily damaged the trap to mere announces causing some pain and making every hair on end. 
“WHAT THE HELL DUDE!” Rainbow dash yelled.
“HEY I GOT SHOCKED TOO.” Winchester said examining the lever and testing how it moved. “TRY PUSHING IT UP.” again the stallion counted and they both pushed it up at the same time nothing happen.
“STILL NOT WORKING.” Rainbow yelled has her rump started to go numb.
“I'M WORKING ON IT!” Winchester said adding “bitch.” under his breath.
Rainbow Dash groaned “asshole.” not caring if she was heard or not.
“ON THREE PUSH IT DOWN!” Winchester yelled. “ONE.....TWO.......THREE!” Rainbow did as told half expecting to be blown up however everything went silent as the darts stopped, the swinging blades gave one final swing and disappeared into the walls and the spears returned to the floor. The once panicked mares hurried to their friend ignoring the protest of the knight however his worry was for not as nothing happened.
“Rainbow Dash are you okay.” Twilight sparkle said looking at the dart in the Pegasus’s flank. 
“let me look at it.” Applejack said hopping she could help with her experience with snake bites.
Rainbow Dash ignored the embarrassment of having three other ponies so close to her rump, Fluttershy looked closely as well, she also knew a little about poisons. “so am I gong to be okay?” the stunt flier asked barely hiding her fear as the feeling in her butt was fully lost.
“have no fear Dashie nurse Pinkie Pie is here.” the pink pony yelled as she jumped to tackle the pegasus intending to suck out the poison.
Twilight caught Pinkie out of the air saying “now there'll be none of that.” Pinkie looked at her friend sheepishly. Spike hid his grin at the thought.
“as much as I would like to see that.” Winchester said tasting a dart “there’s no need the poisons so old that the most she'll get is some numbness.” everybody including Spike sighed with relief none more so then Rainbow Dash.
Applejack plucked the dart from her friends rump carefully not to pull any of the Pegasus’s sparking fur then spit the dart on the floor “well hell girl your ain’t as fast as you thought.” she said slapping her friend on her numb posterior.
Rainbow Dash jumped more from the surprise then feeling the smack. “hey I could fly through this junk like it was nothing. Stoppings what gets me in trouble.” Applejack just smirked.
Twilight Sparkle set Pinkie Pie down and started to examine the door Winchester and Rarity added their lights to the lavender mare's own light to help in the inspection. The stallion also placed his sword in the sheath on his back. Spike jumped as Pinkie Pie rear up with two darts held with her teeth, hooves over her head ready to grab the baby dragon as she said “bleh I want to suck your blood bleh bleh.”
“hey sugar cube you sure that’s a good idea?” Applejack asked Pinkie.
“yeah, i can't feel my butt anymore, what would you do if you stuck your tongue.” Rainbow Dash said hoovering above them.
“i don’t kn-” Pinkie Pie stopped mid-sentence feeling a prick on her tongue and another on her lower lip. She quickly spit the two darts out and looked at her friends for a moment before saying “oops.” she was already developing a slight lisp, Applejack and Rainbow Dash simple gave the pink mare the 'we told you so' look.
the door to the treasure chamber was much the same as the main entrance. Twilight Sparkle jumped up on Winchester's back to get to the lock. Spike wasn't paying attention and fell too the ground. Luckily his thick scale protected him against the darts sharp points. “oops, sorry Spike.” Twilight apologized.
“it's okay.” the dragon replied as he stood. 
“see we could have just tossed him down the hall and he would have been fine.” Winchester teased.
Twilight bonked the stallion on the head to get him to stop. After he apologized she turned her attention to the door, the spell with in this door was the same as the one out side and quickly fell to the lavender unicorn and was just as strangely familiar. The door rolled to the side revealing a large room that seemed to glow with its own soft golden light. The group entered the room that seemed to rise all the way up to the sky. 
The mares were greatly impressed oohing and aahing about what they saw, Winchester made many notes on the room. But as the simple majesty of the room that seem bigger then the space underground should allow wore off Rarity noticed something “there’s nothing here?”
“yeah.” Rainbow Dash said disappointed as she looked around the empty room
Twilight examined the many symbols and words on the walls. “these look like stories.” 
Winchester joined her and agreed as he compared the symbols with the ones in Twilight's book. “yeah history maybe.” the librarian nodded both her and writer feeling some sort of pride that the treasure chamber would be a library.
“our history was always our greatest treasure. One that my family only showed to family.” came a voice from the door way behind everypony. A voice that sent a shiver down Their spines, a voice that nearly stopped Twilight's hart on the spot and sent Winchester into rigid attention. They all turned to see Princess Celestia with Princess Luna beside her standing in the door way.