//------------------------------// // Chapter: 0- Commission // Story: Picture Perfect Pony Zero: Mothering Bell // by ReifuTD //------------------------------// Rarity stood at the steps of the manner. She was there to deliver the Camera Obscura to Photo Finish. When she heard from Twilight that the antic looking camera thing was for Photo Finish’s collection Rarity jumped at the chance to meet the fashion pony again. It was a good chance for her to gain some alone time with the mare. Twilight was commissioned to repair the anticish camera device and make sure the spells on it were still actively strong if not then recast them. Very few ponies could do this and Twilight was one of them. All of this was for a cash donation to the library which was made by Photo Finish of course. But Twilight was happy for the challenge. “This should work in theory,” Twilight had said after finishing the thing she called Camera Obscura, “It should allow anyone to see hidden sprits when looking through it. Not that I believe in ghost mind you,” Twilight continues to explain, “When taking a photo of said sprit or the demonic equivalent thereof, It will draw energy from said being. The amount of energy taken away depends on the quality of the magic film paper used and how long the shutter remains open.” “Yes, yes,” Rarity nods her head wanting to get going. “Photo Finish told me if she didn’t pick this up send it to her summer home at the base of Mount Faust near Laurenville.” Twilight tells the marshmallow pony. Rarity perks up at this, “I’d be happy to personally deliver this for you darling.” “I don’t know what about your business?” Twilight points out. “Oh I can take a weekend for this hon with the Summer Sun coming up,” Rarity tells Twilight, “So Ah, How do I find this place?” “I don’t know ask the locals when you get there?” Twilight replied. Rarity took the Camera Obscura and headed home to make the right dress for the occasion. It wasn’t a formal party so she didn’t need to be flashy. This was business and she had to look professional. Rarity puts a black plushed saddle on the back of a manikin putting the leather side up. This acted as the back of the shirt as she stitched together black and gray pin striped fabric. Then she adds a brilliant red skirt to the back end. After finishing her work, Rarity went to bed for the night to rest up for the trip she’ll take tomorrow. In the morning she ate breakfast with her little sister Sweetie Belle. Then she got dressed, Putting on a white and frilly silk shirt then the pinstriped saddle shirt she made last night. Before buttoning up, Rarity tied a red ribbon bow around the caller of her under shirt and places a ruby brooch in the center of the bow. Finally she drapes saddle bags over her back witch held the Camera Obscura and other travel supplies. So now she stood on the stoop of Photo Finish’s home the structure of witch had to be at least a hundred years old. Rarity was about to knock on the door when she spotted a notice. _ Notice All construction workers check in around back, New, construction on the bell tower as stopped until given the archaeologist’s okay. _ Rarity knocks on the door. There was no answer and she knocks again, still no answer. She didn’t want to intrude by opening the door. But she also had to get in. There could be workers out back that could let her in. The unicorn pony looked up at the clouding sky. Even if Photo Finish wasn’t here she could wait for her inside and out of the rain. As she walked around the building the sky grew dark. Rarity started to feel the hits of a few random drops on her coat. Once entering the back yard the mare discovered that the building was U shaped. The first wall was three stories tall. The other two sides were one story with three story towers at the end. This side of the wall was under construction and the center yard was under construction as well. A pit was dug out in the middle and a pile of chard wood lay beside it. But no one was around for Rarity to talk to. On her way to the back porch, Rarity looked down into the pit. Inside was a half berried bell four meters tall with a large crack down the middle. The design of the bell had what looked to be a twenty point stag in the shadow of the sun. As she was looking at the bell, just before the lighting struck. She could swear she could hear breathing coming from the brass dome. After the lighting strike, After she turned back Rarity could hear the breathing grow louder. The loose soil blows across the ground as some invisible thing walks up out of the pit. The mare freezed out of fear, She tense as the breathing hits the hair of her mane. The image of something sucking up her scent comes to her mind. Fear tingles down Rarity's spine. She bolts and screams when something pokes her sensitive area at the center of her rear. The white pony crashed past the doorway screaming. In her hurry, she lost her footing on the kitchen’s tiled floor. All four legs slip from under her. The pony’s head hits the floor chin first.