//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Not as it Seems // by DamnToasty //------------------------------// Not As It Seems Prologue Written By: RobertBel98 Edited By: SilentBelle I sat idly in a worn, wooden chair, constantly wrapping my fingers on the arm rest in impatience. The room I found myself in was painted a monotone eggshell color. Oak borders lined the perimeters of the floor and ceiling. Several bookcases and filing cabinets were sorted throughout the space, completing the dull and unemotional aesthetic of the office. The only thing that really stuck out of the uniform decorum was the old, big, tube television, which had been carted into the back of the room, and angled towards us. Around me, sat the several other mourning family members, who had also come to witness the viewing of our mother’s will. Leaning in behind the bulky, oak desk, positioned in front of the group, rested one Mr. Brandt, my mother’s lawyer. Mr. Brandt was an older gentleman. A noticeable amount of worn facial features, such as wrinkles and sunken flesh, bore witness to the many years passed in his life. A grey, woolen jacket lay on Mr. Brandt’s back, accenting the black tie, which wound around his neck. He was currently rustling through a plastic crate that had been pried open moments before. Trying to occupy my own time, I began looking around at the others. Sitting directly next to me was my older sister, Elizabeth. My sister was wearing a long, black dress, with a silk belt wrapped around the waist. She had a seemingly permanent, somber expression plastered on her face. Tears were still welling within the brims of her glazed, blue eyes. The poor woman, weak from the recent emotional trauma, rested her head upon the shoulder of her husband Ryan for comfort, and let her long, brown hair fall carelessly around. During our childhood, Elizabeth and I used to be inseparable; we had that kind of sibling bond that seems like it would last forever. Once she had gotten married, I had been so happy for her. But then I started seeing her less…and less. My mind still struggles to come up with a reason as to why we had distanced ourselves so. Maybe we were just getting on with our own lives, our own families. I still wish I could see her more, and on better circumstances. Sitting to my right, slouched over, was my younger brother, Brian. He was sporting a more casual getup. Jeans and an un-tucked, black, dress-shirt was his outfit of choice. His jet-black hair was combed all the way back, while his eyes wandered around aimlessly. Now, Brian’s story was, unfortunately, different than Elizabeth. I see plenty of him, but it is never under good circumstances. He is always either asking for money, or trying to convince me to get him out of some kind of trouble. At some points, I honestly consider just cutting him loose, but I don’t want to lose my only brother. I don’t know why, or how, for that matter, Brian went down the path he did. My brother kind of just disappeared for a while, leaving us to speculate before popping up again as a different man. Brian, currently, was just continuing to stare off into space looking as disconnected and uncaring as usual. It, for me, was more upsetting to see him this dejected at the reading of his own mother’s will, than is was angering. Simply because moments like these just sustain my curiosity as to what happened to change him so. Where had my happy, little brother gone? “Ah, here we are.” The gentle voice of Mr. Brandt tore me from my thoughts. Looking back toward the man, I noticed that he was holding a sealed, plastic bag, with what seemed to be a VHS tape contained inside of it. The old lawyer shakily removed the plastic, letting it fall to the desktop. Turning around, towards the television, Mr. Brandt raised the tape to the VCR and placed it in the slot. The machine came to life, sucking in the recording as the screen blinked on, with an audible ping. Looking back to us, Mr. Brandt spoke, “Alright now, is everyone ready?” Brian acknowledged, while resting his chin over his open palm. Elizabeth nodded slowly, forcing herself into an upright position, whilst sniffling in any lingering tears. I simply followed suit, getting a returned gesture from Mr. Brandt. The man brought his finger up and pressed down on the play button. There, on the screen, appeared a face which I had loved ever since birth: my mother, Maria Taylor. Seeing the pale, old woman and her kind, smiling expression again brought back so many memories. I can still recall the earliest days of my childhood, back when that tired old soul was as lively as could be. We all lived in a little town called Westwood, New Jersey. It was a nicer part of the state: a small suburb. My mother raised all of us, alone, for most of our lives. We were told our father had passed away when we were all very young. Elizabeth claims to remember a bit about him, like basic appearance, but nothing much. Whenever we asked Mom about the subject, she always deflected the questions. My mother worked as a teacher at a local high school in her earlier years. Geography was her profession. She always said it was the natural mystery behind the workings of this world that drew her to that study. I remember coming home after school, finding her surrounded by books, just reading, absorbing the world of knowledge around her. Seeing her like that always made me happy. It was nice knowing that my mother was pursuing her passion. She had dozens of books, ranging from textbooks, to fictional adventure stories. Jules Verne was always her favorite. She was fascinated at all the accurate predictions the famed novelist made of the future. Massive submarines, landing a man on the moon, even the internet was near perfectly depicted in those books. All from the mind of a man, who lived in a time where things like these were still ages away. Mom always used to read some of these stories to us when we were going to bed. Brian was always out like a light, while Elizabeth and I stayed awake, mesmerized by the ardor our mother held in those near-sacred words, and it was infectious. As the years passed, Maria became more and more tired with age. Sleeping in, being forgetful, and so on. It eventually got to the point where she had to resign from her job at the high school, although she was never too keen on retiring. In the past, whenever we walked into town, we would always pass this empty shop with a big ‘FOR RENT’ sign in the front window. Well, after she had resigned from her teaching position Maria decided to pursue her passion in a different way. Using some of her savings, she bought the space off of the owner, and after a good couple of weeks of cleaning and remodeling, ‘Taylor’s Antique Dealership’ was open for business. Mom filled the shop with some of the old trinkets and such she had collected over the years. Eventually, people from in and outside the neighborhood started making their own contributions, completing the picture. My God, she loved that place. It was like her little get-away, a sanctuary of sorts. But now, I don’t know what we’re going to do with it. Hopefully, we will be able to keep it, hold onto that part of her. I just don’t know. The picture in front of me began to play as the all too familiar voice graced my ears. “Hello, everyone, well, looks like old me finally gets to have some peace and quiet.” This earned a muffled chuckle from my sister who was still holding back the tears. “First, I just want to say how much I love all of you, and that just because I’m gone doesn’t mean anything. Live your lives, and enjoy it while it lasts, because it is the greatest gift you will ever have, and I don’t want you wasting that,” Maria’s image said with ire. “Now, I guess we should get moving along. First, Elizabeth.” My sister immediately perks up. “Baby, I love you more than life itself, and you will forever be my little girl. You have always set your goals high and went even higher. I am proud of you, and I want you to know that. I am leaving you with the remainder of my life’s savings, which Mr. Brandt will be more than happy to state.” Brandt stopped the video and once again shuffled through the crate, before removing a stack of papers and spreading them across his desk. The lawyer motioned with his pointer finger over several sheets, searching for the mentioned documents. “Ah, here it is,” Brandt stated while picking up a form from the pile. He looked it over once then re-directed his attention to Elizabeth. The man then spoke, “It says here that Mrs. Taylor has left you two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and seventeen cents.” Elizabeth put her hand to her mouth in surprise before letting loose the restrained tears. With a smile on her face, the woman dug her head into her also bewildered spouse’s chest, and held him tight. Ryan returned the embrace with a smile of his own. “May I continue?” Mr. Brandt asks. Elizabeth still showing a mix of emotions tears herself from Ryan and looks to the lawyer before responding, “Oh y-yes, of course, please continue.” Brandt nodded and pressed down on the play button once more, continuing the recording. “I want you to use this money for things you need, nothing more,” Maria’s image stated while wagging her finger. “Also, on a different note, please try to keep that happy attitude that I love. I never could bear to see you upset. Well, I wish you the best of love Elizabeth,” Mom concluded, once again wearing her signature smile. She remained like this for a few moments before taking a breath and proceeding. “Brian, if you…are present.” The man mentioned sighed and dug his face further into the crook of his elbow. “I know that we have not seen each other as much as we would have liked, and we did not part on the best of terms, but that does not change the fact that you are my son and I love you.” Brian perks up at this. “I care for you, and I want you to live the good life that I have tried to give you. That is why I have left you our house in Westwood, and the antique dealership.” Brian’s eyes went wide and he was now sitting at full attention. “I won’t leave you without making sure that you are living in a proper home. And the antique dealership…” Her upbeat expression wavered for a few moments. “I won’t hold you on keeping the old thing. You may sell it if you wish, but what I said to Elizabeth applies to you as well. Only use that money for things you need, like food, and bills. I just ask one thing. Try…just try to keep my books. I have really held those dear all my life, and besides, maybe you could finally try and read one of them. You always did fall asleep before I could get more than one sentence in!” The image started laughing and Brian joined in, tears starting to build. “Just…try to live a good life. Because Lord knows you deserve it, Brian. Goodbye sweetheart.” Brian seemed to have completely melted away his distant field. He now looked as much a mix of cheerful and depressed as Elizabeth. After pausing the video, Brandt had once again gone over to the crate, removing a new set of papers and a sealed paper bag. Placing them on the surface, he looked to Brian while picking up the brown bag. “Inside here you will find the keys to both your house in Westwood, New Jersey, and the antique dealership,” Brandt tells Brian before handing the bag over to him. My brother graciously receives the package. “Oh t-thank you, sir, I will keep it here for now,” Brian stated whilst placing the bag on the ground next to him. “…And these are the documents and forms giving you legal ownership over the property. I am going to keep these with me for the time being, until we can make an appointment to sort them out.” Brian nods eagerly laying back in the chair. Mr. Brandt looks at the frozen image of my mother for a second before looking back to us. “Mrs. Taylor had asked that the final bequest be reviewed privately, Mr. Douglas and Mrs. Douglas, Brian, could you please exit the room?” The inquiry is met with total confusion. Everyone is looking to each other as if searching for an answer, before turning their attention to me. “Joseph, do you know anything about this?” Looking to my sister I shake my head. “No, no I have no idea. Mr. Brandt can you tell us why, at least, my family must leave for this?” “It is my job to make sure that the will of Mrs. Taylor be executed to her specifications, and she had requested that only you, Joseph, may be present for the remainder of the viewing.” “B-but-” I was about to retort before being cut off by Elizabeth. “It’s okay Joseph, I am sure mom had a good reason for this. We’ll all be waiting outside the office, okay?” I hesitantly nod. “Okay, I will see you in a little bit guys.” Elizabeth nodded, removing herself and Ryan from the room. Brian got up and headed to the door before stopping to pat my shoulder. He then exits as well. Still locking eyes with Brandt I ask, “So, mind telling me now why my family had to leave the room?” I asked in annoyance. The lawyer simply pressed the play button, ignoring me. “Hello, Joseph. You are probably wondering why I had Mr. Brandt remove your sister and brother from the room. Well, the reason why is this: I have a last request of you. Something I know only you can handle.” Now I was really confused. “I have had something in my possession ever since my mother passed away and handed it down to me. Now, I must hand it down to you. All I am asking of you is to keep this item safe for me.” Maria’s face had lost all sense of a gleeful demeanor, and had taken on one of absolute determination. Questions were reeling in my head. What item? Why is this so important? Why am I only being told of this now? And what did she mean by “only you can handle it”? Why not Elizabeth, or even Brian? “I love you Joseph, and I am sure that you will lead a wonderful life. You have always been a great learner, able to easily adapt. Thank you, Joseph, and good luck.” Maria said the last bit with a smile before the tape cut off. The only sound in the room was the occasional whir of the VCR as the tape spun to a halt. I now only had more questions than answers. Preparing to speak I turned to Mr. Brandt only to find his outstretched arm with a package the size of a shoebox in hand. He was not speaking, only waiting for me to relieve him of the item. Getting the hint, I slowly reached out and took the box from him. Looking down at the box, I began to scrutinize it, trying to make sense of that ominous message. “Mrs. Taylor has also requested you wait until returning home until you open the box.” Looking up to the stoic man, I sigh, shaking my head. “But, what am I supposed to do with this? Is that really the end of the tape? Is there any more on the written will? I mean-” The old lawyer raises his hand silencing me. “Please, Mr. Taylor. What I have told you is all that I was advised by your mother. Whatever intention she had is as much of a mystery to me as it is to you.” I just continued to glance between the box and Mr. Brandt. After at least a minute I begin to calm down enough to make a response. “Okay I…I understand, also, t-thank you for your time.” The lawyer smiles while outstretching his hand once more. “It was no problem, Mr. Taylor. Your mother was a fine woman, and it is a shame to see her go. I wish you the best of luck in life, along with the rest of your lovely family.” I take his hand and give it a firm shake before turning towards the exit and making my way out of the office. Outside, waiting for me, was the rest of the group. Elizabeth was sitting on a couch talking with Ryan. Brian was just leaning against a support beam looking at the bag in his hand. Once I had entered the waiting area, all their attention was immediately directed to me. Brian was the first to speak. “Hey man, what’s with the box? We all had to leave for that?” Brian asked annoyed. “Yea, Joseph, what did mom have to say to you?” Elizabeth asked now standing up from the couch. Unsure how to respond I just decide to be honest. “I’m still not so sure myself. Mom just said that she wanted me to look after whatever’s inside this thing, and keep it safe.” They stared at me blankly for a few moments before Brian spoke up, “Well why don’t you open it up? See what all that was about.” Elizabeth chimes in, “Yea, why don’t we take a look?” “I’m sorry, but…but mom told me specifically not to open this until I got home. I guess whatever is inside she wanted only me to see,” I say with uncertainty. Elizabeth seems slightly satisfied with this reply, but my dear brother kept on pressing. “Man that makes no sense. Why would she keep something from us?” “I know it doesn’t make a lot of sense, but this is mom. When has she ever told us to do something without good reason?” Brian just crossed his arms and took on a bitter look. “You mean like asking about dad?” Elizabeth looks shocked at the statement while I just shake my head. “Listen, I think I should go,” I say, while I start heading towards the exit. Brian continued to pout like a child while Elizabeth follows after me. “Joseph wait, please stop,” Elizabeth asserted, still following me. I stopped and looked behind me to see the pleading look in her eyes. But I just continued to head for the exit, speaking to her as I went. “I need to get going, Elizabeth. I really hope I can see you again soon, and under better circumstances.” Those were my last words, before I had pushed my way outside of the office complex and into the open road. The drive home mainly consisted of me staring at the box whenever I came to a stop. The questions had continued to pop up in my mind, and I was only getting more anxious to reach home and uncover the cause behind all this commotion. I lived in an average apartment complex in the outer city. It was pretty clean, considering some of the poor condition other buildings in the area were in, but it still had its downs. Like how sometimes the hot water wouldn’t work, and the walls were paper-thin, with annoying neighbors to boot. But as long as I had a roof over my head, and food in the fridge, I was content. I worked at a shop down the road as a mechanic. I had originally aimed to become an engineer, even majored in it at college, although the world seemed to have different plans for me. Jobs were thin and due to what they called ‘lack of experience’ or an ‘absence of sufficient background’; not a single corporation would hire me. Guess I shared that fate with a lot of people back then, so I had decided to take my talents elsewhere and find someplace that would hire an engineering major, fresh out of college in a bad economy. Turns out, that place was right down the road from my apartment, and it keeps me afloat, so I’m not complaining. Pulling over to the side of the road, I exit the car and locked the door with a distinct set of beeps emanating from the vehicle. With the package in hand, I headed for my home. After passing through the door I greeted the tenant to which he just replied with a grunt. My apartment was on the third floor, so I decided to use the stairs as it was quicker than riding that deathtrap they called an elevator. As I reached my door, I cradled the box like a football, as I fished the keys out of the opposite pocket with my free hand. Placing the brass object in the lock, I gave it a clockwise twist, my reward being a satisfying click as the door unlocked. Pushing inward, I was nearly run over by my dog, Gracie. She’s a German schnauzer with pepper-black hair and grey undertones. She was only about six months old, so she was still fairly small, but size did not agree with her strength as she has almost knocked me on my ass several times before. “Aw, hey there girl. How have you been?” My only reply is a series of barks as she continued to climb my leg, to which I laugh at. “Alright, alright, I’ll play later, just let me do a couple of things first, okay?” The hyper dog jumped off the appendage and went to lay in her bed by the TV. “Heh, that is one crazy puppy,” I say, still chuckling. Thus, I continued my routine. Temporarily placing the box on the ground, I removed my black coat and placed it on the rack next to the door, I then un-cinched my tie, also placing that on the rack. After taking off both of my dress shoes and leaving them at the base of the wall, I once again found myself holding the mysterious box. I stood there staring at it for a couple of minutes, as if I was trying to deduce the contents without even cutting it open. After at least two minutes had passed, I finally let a sentence out. “Well, time to finally figure out what the hell I’m supposed to ‘protect’ for the rest of my life.” I walked over to the kitchen, placing the box on an island in the center of the room. Facing the counter I locked eyes with the knife-block positioned towards me. I took my advance and reached down at the set, removing a small cutting blade from the wooden slot. Turning back around, I returned to the island, where the box was still sitting. Holding one end of the package with my right hand, I placed the knife over the tape and under my palm. I pressed down on the strip, seeing a small portion of the bond split. “Well, moment of truth.” With a quick and clean motion, I sliced the tape open. Both cardboard flaps flipped to either side as a result. Inside the box my view was blocked by several crumpled up pieces of brown paper, probably used for insulation. Hastily, I began removing the pieces until the box was completely void of any remaining veil. I could now see the item in all its glory. “You have got to be kidding me.” Inside the box rested what looked to be a ragged old journal, and an aging pen. I picked up the journal out of the container to examine it closer. There did not seem to be anything special about it. It just looked like some old book. Opening the torn up cover I am met with a blank page. A puzzled look adorns my face. Flipping through the rest of the journal I found that the entire thing, was in fact, empty. “That’s it, an empty journal, and an old pen? This…this just does not make a single bit of sense. What’s there to protect?” I had continued to fiddle around with the journal before I decided to lay it down on the countertop. Now, my attention was directed at the pen. It, unlike the journal, was rather odd. The pen seemed to be made out of some sort of dark colored metal. It also had strange patterns indented into the sides of it. The markings looked like a swirling mix of gilded lines. I pushed the silver button at the end. With a loud clicking sound the point popped out of the opposite end of the device. I searched the island before landing my eyes on a notepad across the surface. My hand reached out and pulled the stack of paper across the countertop, directly in front of me. With the pen pressed against the first sheet I proceeded to drag it over the paper, attempting to write, only to discover that not a single letter was written. After having tried again multiple times I decided to stop. “The pen doesn’t even work,” I state in an exasperated tone. My clenched hand rested on the island, my whole body catching up with the events of today. I look back at the journal, and then the pen. The cogs in my mind began to turn as an idea formulated in my mind. Maybe…I should try writing in the journal. I mean, might as well be thorough. I wasn’t sure where the idea came from. It just sort of popped into my head. But, ignoring the unusual nature of the thought, I picked the pen back up and headed over to the journal, which was still wide open from the previous encounter. Lowering the point down, I made contact with the first page. Once again, I attempt to write, this time, words are now formed by the azure blue ink of the utensil. “Huh, what do you know, it does work on the journal. I wonder why though.” I took a moment to glance at the pen in my hand curiously. A moment later, my face morphed one of indifference. “Eh, doesn’t really change a thing though. I still have no idea what the hell I’m supposed to do with-” My sentence is cut short as a small glint caught my eye. My eyes wandered about, trying to find the source of the visual disturbance. That’s when I looked down. The letters, they were, glowing. I did a double take, trying to comprehend the sight. At first I thought it could just be the light from outside reflecting on the ink. But after closer inspection, I discovered that the glow was intensifying, and, actually getting pretty bright. “What the hell,” were my last words before the glow suddenly erupted into a blinding flash. Gracie had begun to advance on the object and released a torrent of barks. I thrust my hand in front of my face in an attempt to block out the light. However, the book continued to release flash, after flash. I need to get the fuck out of here! I turned towards the door and tried to make a run for it…only to discover I couldn’t move. What the fuck. Looking back at the book, I was horrified at the sight before me. Azure blue tendrils, matching the color of the ink, had sprouted from the very words themselves. The living strips of light were advancing towards me. This only frightened me more as I continued to thrash and struggle, trying to free myself from the invisible restraints, but to no avail. A tingle traveled up my spine as the tendrils made contact with my back. They twisted, wrapped, and molded around me, almost as if creating a coffin of pure light. “Hey, someone help me! Someone, please -” My pleas were silenced from the outside world as the bright, blue, blanket coated over my entire head. I could only scream in my thoughts before another, final flash, consumed my entire form, and blinded all my senses. As the light died down in the lowly apartment, the usual, calm feeling, washed back into the living space. Nothing was left to give any indication of the events prior. No book, no pen, and no resident, who was the only witness of the paranormal occurrence. The calmness would not last however as a loud banging reverberated from the wall at the right end of the room. A voice soon followed, “Hey shut up will ya. Some people are trying to sleep!” An elderly tone complained. Then there was silence once more. It was another calm, quiet evening in the Canterlot Library. The only sounds were the occasional rhythmic songs of the birds outside. For Sonnet Scrolls, the assistant librarian, it was absolute bliss. Sonnet was a student at the Canterlot Academy for Gifted Unicorns, and she had volunteered at the library while on vacation for the upcoming holidays. The young unicorn strolled through the many rows of shelves that were contained within the gargantuan building. A group of floating books traveled along with her, encased in an ethereal green aura. The mare’s eyes darted around at the many labels imprinted on the bookshelves, as she searched for the correct section. “Hmm, HE-107, HE-107…” Sonnet echoed the name of the desired location while she continued to scrutinize the plates. After a few more moments had passed, her pursuit finally came to an end. “Ah, here it is, HE-107.” Looking back at the group of novels, Sonnet removed three books from the main bundle, each of them encased in an individual aura. Bringing the first book up to her face, she verified the title, and then floated the book onto the correct shelf. But as she prepared to check the next book, a booming crash sounded throughout the entirety of the library. The unforeseen disturbance caused Sonnet to jump up in surprise. All of the floating objects fell down to the floor due to the extinguished flow of magic. The assistant librarian simply stood there, still in shock from the sudden event. “Dear Celestia, what was that?!” Sonnet yelled. The mare peeked out from the row she was standing in, and looked out into the vast corridor. That is when she noticed a faint, blue light, slowly fading away in the distance. Books were strewn about all over the hallway. Sonnet gulped, and took a deep breath before speaking in a shaky voice. “W-why did this have to happen on my shift?”