//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: The challenge // Story: Souls Apart // by GnollReader //------------------------------// "Have you gone totally insane?!" the paladin shouted up at the tower, "Has your madness no boundaries?!" "Impulsive people don't know boundaries!" he cackled from his window maniacally. "Get down here at once!" "Not by the hairs on my chinny chin chin!" he laughed. "Great... now I have to go get him." she turned to Twilight, "Wait here, I'll get my armor and..." There was a murmur in the crowd as a regal-looking chariot, pulled by several pegasi landed near the tower. The paladin watched it in horror, "Oh crap..." "They're here!" the necromancer laughed in glee before addressing the imps at the bottom of the tower, "Get everything ready! Thaka tza marri! Thaka ta trabba!" The imps picked up their pace immediately, running inside the tower and pulling the large doors shut behind them. The paladin turned around again in time to see Celestia and Luna approach. The expressions on their faces were enough to make her cringe. Especially the one on Luna's face. While Celestia's features swayed between anger and surprise, Luna's features only showed anger. The paladin bowed before the two, "Princesses, I..." "Never mind, paladin." Luna said as she walked passed her and towards the tower, "I have to go and blast a certain necromancer.... Repeatedly if possible." Celestia stopped in front of Twilight and Calindria for a moment, "Did he build this tower over night?" she asked in wonder. The paladin only nodded, "Impressive... though it does not excuse the missing of our personal furniture. I hope he..." She was cut off as the necromancer used his magic to increase the volume of his own voice, his words thundering over the ponies in a volume that matched Luna when she used her royal voice. "Ponies of Ponyville! It is with great joy that I introduce myself to you on this fine morning! I... am the necromancer, and I have come bearing presents! But before I continue, let me express my deepest gratitude towards the royal sisters, for they have seen it fit in their endless generosity to gift me with their personal furniture so I would not have to sleep on the cold stone floor instead. Please, a round of heartbreaking applause for the princesses!" The ponies stomped their hoofs and applauded. Even though none of them knew what a necromancer was, they still expressed their joy at the kindness of their rulers. "Clever..." Celestia remarked with a tiny smile, "Now we can't simply demand our possessions back without making ourselves seem unkind and selfish." Luna, however was not amused, "You took my bed!" "And it is a most splendid gift! I will never be able to repay you for your kindness." the necromancer replied with a smirk. "Now then!" he continued, "To celebrate my arrival and to show my gratitude, I have created this tower for the sole purpose of bringing you joy! Inside, you will find thousands of rooms stuffed with adventures, challenges and mind-rattling puzzles put in place and tailored specially to test and challenge your individual abilities. Solve the challenge of a room, and you win a most fabulous prize! But words alone could never describe the treasures that await you inside... so let me give you just a glimpse of what hidden wonders await you inside!" He disappeared from the window for a moment, and sounds of rummaging and clatters could be heard over his voice, "Now let's see, no... too simple, too crap... possible... let's just get the enchantments running and... Aha! Perfect!" The necromancer reappeared at the window, the ponies watching in wonder while the alicorns and the paladin watched in a mix of wonder, annoyance and concern. "Behold!" he held up a large bowl, "The bowl of rotten fruit! Enchanted so that you will never run out of rotten fruit to throw at your annoying neighbors!" He picked up a large quill next, "The magical quill of writing! Never runs out of ink! Always writes just perfect, never misses a letter!" A little dragon eyed the quill with wonder and fascination. The necromancer continued. "These fashionable threads of pure silk!" he held it up with one arm, "It can change its color and patterns to any effect you desire. Send your creativity into a new world and amaze the world with your creations!" A white unicorn swooned in admiration as the silk began to swirl with colors. Next, he picked up an instrument with strings attached, "This beautiful guitar!" "We don't have fingers!" one of the ponies called up. "Don't need to! It plays by itself!" as if on cue the guitar started to play a wild and passionate song, "You think it, and it does the rest!" He put it down again, "Let's see... what next?" He held up a long and slightly curved object. When the ponies below realized what he was holding up, a flush went through the crowd. "This life-sized... replica of a phallus? It seems it's already enchanted too!" the object started to buzz and whirl around violently, "Ewww..." he turned to face someone out of view, "Where the hell did you find this? Really? Zhartak ma una? Wow... I just hope you washed it first..." He held up a small bottle next, "This potion of ludicrous speed! Think you were fast before? One sip of this and you'll double your speed, no... you'll go even faster! Show the world your absolute awesomeness as you set your trail on fire with your speed!" a rainbow-colored pegasus watched the bottle with huge eyes. The necromancer put the object away and returned his attention to the ponies below, "These and many more treasures await, should you manage to beat my challenges! There is no danger, you can leave any time you want and you can't get hurt, I promise! Plus, if you manage to beat enough challenges to reach my chambers..." a big grin appeared on his lips, "You get to wish for anything your heart desires... you wish it, I'll make it happen." A murmur of wonder passed through the crowd, the necromancer waited for his words to sink in before continuing. "Now... you may wonder how I can afford to offer such entertainment, and it is with sadness and shame that I must admit that there is a small token I have to demand for your fun. A single drop of your blood. Now wait..." he held up a hand, "I know it sounds strange, but I promise that you won't feel a thing and you'll not only have the time of your life, but you'll also help my research for the good of all of Equestria! And... first try is free! Isn't it amazing? Go inside, try your luck and be entertained! I'm sure you'll see that a single drop of your blood is only a small fee for such an amazing offer!" He started to head back inside, "Only one try per day and customer, no refunds, side effects may include short-timed loss of memory, slight confusion, diarrhea and excess adrenaline production. Have fun! And before I forget..." he bent down and reached into the bowl of rotten fruit, "Hey paladin!" he called out before tossing a huge and rotten tomato downwards. A moment later, there was a splash and a storm of swear words screamed in anger could be heard from below. "Right on the kisser!" he cackled in joy before closing the shutters of the window. --- When he turned around, happy with this new game of his, he was surprised to find himself standing in front of an overly active and pink pony. "What? How the hell did you get up here so quickly?" "I used the rear entrance, silly!" she laughed happily. He turned to his imps, "Do we have a rear entrance?" The imps shook their heads in wonder, as long as they had been working for him, none of them had ever witnessed something like this. "Neesa ztha mak." one of them replied in confusion. He gave a sigh, "Well... it seems we have our first winner already." he passed the imps an angry glare. They instantly got to work to check everything and to remove the rear entrance should there really be one. He bent down a little to greet the pink pony, "Tell me, what is your name?" "Pinkie Pie!" she exclaimed happily as she bounced up and down in front of him. "And what, Pinkie Pie, is your wish?" he had trouble to keep himself from smiling, she was just too amusing to watch. "I want you to come to my party, of course!" she gave him a card with an invitation written on it. "Pinkie's super duper incredibly awesome and surprising barn festival..." he read out loud, "Fair enough... I'll come. Anything else? Want me to do any magic tricks?" "Nope, that's it." she started to bounce around the room before stopping for a moment, "Where's the exit?" He pointed to a door on the far side of the room, "Down the stairs, past the flogging table and the screaming skull, third corridor to the left..." "Thanks! See you at the party!" she waved him a goodbye as she left. He watched her bounce off with a mix of confusion and amusement. He still had to decide if she was sane or even a pony for that matter, but he wouldn't miss a party that had 'awesome' and 'barn festival' written in its title for anything in the world. He put the card in one of his pockets and called for one of the imps, "Alright, what's the situation outside? Are they getting ready to enter?" "Zra tam kana ficha." the imp replied. "Well of course she's getting her armor and sword. Why would I get flying baboons if she didn't bring that stuff along in the first place? What about the big blue and the white one?" "Ukanta tam zuras am icha." "Splendid! Make sure the room with the thousand hands is ready for her when she enters. As for the white one..." a big grin found its way to his face, "Send her straight through to me. I have something special planned for her."