The ponies and dragon all stared at the draconoquess with wide eyes as Discord laughed mockingly at their expressions. Celestia was the first to recover from her shock, charging her horn with magic and preparing for an attack. She scowled at the spirit of chaos. "Discord! How are you here and why?"
"How?" Discord replied with an almost offended look. "Please, Celestia. I'm the spirit of chaos! I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. As to why, well…" He vanished suddenly, then reappeared, stretching his arms around both Twilight and Flash's neck, pulling them in close to his chest and making Spike tumble off of Twilight's back and onto the floor. "It all has to do with these two right here."
"What?" Twilight said as both she and Flash pushed away from Discord. "What are you talking about?"
Discord leaned back in the air in a lounging position. "Oh, now that would be telling. I'm no tattle-tale!"
"You'd better tell us!" Rainbow Dash shouted as flew over in front of the draconoquess, an impatient look on her face. "What do you want with Twilight and Flash?"
Discord chuckled in mischievous amusement. "It's not what I want with them," he said. "It's what my 'boss' wants." He made air quotes with his fingers at the word boss.
"Wait a minute," Applejack spoke up. "You have a boss?"
"Don't remind me," Discord said as he rolled his eyes. He turned to Celestia again. "Look, Tia, I've always hated the idea of being subservient to someone other than myself. Plus, what the big guy has planned isn't really my type of thing. So, I'm here to cut you a deal."
"A deal?" Celestia inquired skeptically with one eyebrow raised.
"Why in the world would we ever make a deal with the likes of you?" Rarity asked. "You threw all of Equestria into complete anarchy the last time you were freed!"
"I know!" Discord said indignantly. "And you all ruined it! Anyway, at least hear me out before you try to turn me to stone again."
The Princess of the Sun glared at Discord for a moment before sighing. "Fine. What is it that you want?"
Discord grinned at that. "Here's the deal: I'm going to help you to stop the guy that you call the Accursed One. I can't give you all the particulars of his plan, but I can give you a hint as to where to go, what to do, etc, etc. First off, there's a book on that podium over in the middle of the room. Take a look at it. Second, the Etna Key is much closer than you think."
"Wait, what?" Flash asked. "How do you know about the Key?"
"Who do you think sent that chimera?"
"That was you!?" Twilight shouted.
Discord raised his hands in a way to tell the young mare to calm down. "It's not like it was my idea. Personally, I would've just cast a spell to make little Flashy here cooperate with us. But I was outvoted."
"'Us'?" Applejack parroted. "You mean there's more followers of that Accursed One guy?"
"Sorry, but I've already said too much on that particular matter," the draconoquess replied.
"Can you at least tell us what you get out of this deal of yours?" Celestia inquired.
"Oh, you'll find out. Eventually." Discord looked down at his left wrist and suddenly slapped his cheek with his other hand. "My goodness, would you look at the time! I've gotta go!" Before anyone could respond to that, his body suddenly exploded into a burst of confetti, leaving everypony confused and wondering just what the heck Discord might've had planned.
"Does anypony else think we're in for another 'storm of chaos' soon?" Applejack asked. "Ah don't think the orchard could stand another chocolate milk rain."
"Oh, but chocolate rain would be great!" Pinkie Pie chimed in. "If anypony's ever thirsty, all they'd have to is look up with their mouth open! That chocolate rain was sooooooooo good!"
"Focus, darling," Rarity replied to the excited pony.
"We can't trust Discord!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "He'll stab us in the back the first chance he gets! Heck, he'll probably make us stab each other in the back!"
"We know, Rainbow," Twilight said to the other mare. She and Celestia took point as the group headed for the podium in the center of the chamber, upon which a book was resting, just as Discord had said. "But what he's told us so far is all we really have to go on. And this book might just have the answers we need."
Celestia nodded in reluctant agreement. "Twilight is right. Discord is unpredictable and untrustworthy, but he usually knows what he's talking about. And if he really does have a master of some kind, then it actually is very likely that he'll rebel against that master." That said, she lifted the book with her magic. It wasn't a truly unique tome. It had a hard brown cover with the mark of Starswirl the Bearded on the front. She opened the book to the first page with writing in it. The hoofwriting was incredibly old-fashioned. It was so old, in fact, that Celestia was the only who could make sense of it. That being discovered fairly quickly, she began reading.
This is the tome in which I, Starswirl the Bearded, shall record the traits of all magical artifacts in the history of Equestria, from benevolent items such as the Elements of Harmony, to more… disturbing pieces, such as the Alicorn Amulet, and several other unique, fascinating, and sometimes even dangerous trinkets. I must warn whoever reads this that some of these entries are likely not for the faint of heart.
The first entry continued on for about two more pages. It was a basic introduction from one of Starswirl's many books, Twilight thought, and was fairly long-winded. Celestia went through the pages, through every entry, each one regarding a different artifact. Some of them sounded like they'd be really helpful, like a bracelet that made an obedient doppelganger of the wearer, and a necklace that allowed the wearer brief visions of the future. There were, of course, some things that were… frightening to think about, such as a tiara that erases all sense of free will from the wearer, turning them into a mindlessly obedient slave, and hoof-worn ring that makes pegasi faster and stronger, but with an extremely addictive side effect that would render the user a hopeless vegetable should the ring ever be removed.
Eventually, Celestia stopped on one of the last few pages. The writing seemed to have gotten a tad sloppier for some reason. The princess narrowed her eyes at the words and read again.
I have had the same spine-chilling dream every night of this week now. A terrifying figure made from some shadowy inferno appears to me in my sleep every night, its crimson eyes glowing with hate and malice. It always speaks to me, telling me of some ancient relic that it only refers to as "the Key." I am unsure what this "Key" might be, but a unicorn does suffer the same repeating nightmare each night without some reason behind it. I will attempt to discover just what this Key is, and will use this tome as my journal on the subject.
…
I have just awakened from that nightmare once again. I cannot fathom why this is happening to me, specifically, but I have at least learned the full name of the artifact that I have been researching: it is apparently called the "Etna Key." So says that black flame at least. It would seem that this Key is meant to break a seal that has existed almost as long as all of ponykind. I will continue to find new clues on this relic as soon as possible.
…
These blasted nightmares will be the death of me someday. Every night, I suffer them, but I am still learning more about the Etna Key from them, as well as from my own research when I am not sleeping, something I have come to fear nowadays. The Etna Key has its origins in the land called Hellas, the homeland of minotaurs, centaurs, and the birthplace of the pegasi. My apprentice Clover the Clever and I are preparing to travel there now. Perhaps I will find answers from the natives there.
…
Clover and I are in Hellas now. We have been here for four days now. Everyone I speak to about the Etna Key either glares at me until I leave or changes the subject. I am getting the feeling that we are not welcome here. Clover has admitted to feeling the same. Regardless, we must persist. The Key has, regrettably, become an obsession of mine. I need to know what it is, and what it will release. I must know.
…
The dreams persist. They never leave me. The Key. I must find the Key. The dreams always say that the Key is close by, but everywhere I look, everyone I speak to, I find nothing. The Key is here. I know it. I must find the Key.
…
Clover says that we must leave soon. She believes that I am becoming too attached to this search. What a fool! She does not know what I see every night! I see it every time I close my eyes now. The black fire and its blazing red eyes, its grand, booming voice that crushes my ears, its sense of authority. I must find the Key. That blasted, illusive Key. It is always near, but always just beyond my reach. I must have it. I must. It is the only way.
…
Clover pleaded that we go home, back to Equestria. No… we cannot leave. Not yet. I have finally found a genuine lead to the Etna Key. Clover has had it with her all along. I cannot let her know that I know. She would flee to the ends of the earth if she knew. I will have the Key. But Clover is strong, and true to her title. I will bide my time for now. She is not worthy of the Key. The voice says so.
…
Sweet Mother, what have I done? I did exactly as I had planned: I bided my time, waited for the right moment. The instant Clover and I were somewhere no one would hear, I… sweet Mother Faust, I am unforgivable. She did not even have that accursed Key! The voices stopped the moment the deed was done. I… I cannot live with myself knowing this. I left her where she lay, rotting in some forest countless miles from her home… I am evil.
…
I have made my decision. I will do what must be done once I have finished and hidden this tome. This is to be my final entry. My final book. I can only hope that whoever finds this while in search of the Etna Key will fare better than I. You must embark upon this quest on your own. No one can help you. It is the way it must be. Otherwise, you will do to your companions what I have done to my own student. I am Starswirl the Bearded. These are my final words. I will do now the only thing I can do to even have a chance at restoring my shattered honor. Farewell. May Faust have mercy on all who seek that damnable Key.
"That was the last entry," Celestia said, a look of horror on her face. "Starswirl was corrupted somehow, driven mad by some force."
"The nightmares he described," Twilight added. "They… they sound just like the nightmares that I've been having. That black fire, and red eyes. That's the Accursed One. He was giving Starswirl those nightmares like he's doing with me now!"
"Starswirl said that he believed that Clover had the Key on her," Flash spoke up, "but when he…" He hesitated. "She… didn't have it. Could she have hidden it somewhere?"
"Maybe," Celestia replied. She turned to Twilight then. "It is evident that the Accursed One is after the Etna Key. It is very likely that the Key is what will release him upon the world again. From Starswirl's notes, you may likely find what you need in Hellas, the land just southeast of Equestria."
"Right," Twilight replied. She turned to her friends with a determined look. "All right, girls, get ready! We're going abroad!"
"B-but what about S-Starswirl's warning?" Fluttershy stuttered nervously.
"Yeah!" Rainbow agreed, giving an almost suspicious look to Twilight. "Those nightmares drove him crazy! Who's to say it won't happen again?"
"Rainbow!" Rarity said in a chastising tone.
"What? Twilight betrayed us before."
"And she made up for that!" Pinkie Pie said indignantly, wrapping a foreleg around Twilight's neck. "She would never forever do something like that again! Right, Twilight?"
The unicorn pushed Pinkie away a little. "Y-yeah. Never. I swear that I won't ever let it happen again." Rainbow didn't look the least bit convinced, but she didn't press the matter. She simply grunted and flew back a few feet. Twilight sighed and turned to Celestia. "We'll find the Etna Key, Princess. You have my word."
"And mine, too," Flash stated. Twilight was about to say something to argue that, but he cut her off. "Discord said that this has something to do with the both of us. It'd probably be a good idea for me to come along. Besides, I want answers just as much as you do."
"But-"
"Flash is right, Twilight," Celestia said in a slightly commanding tone. "He is highly trained, just as any other member of the Royal Guard. He may play a role that will greatly aid you in your quest." Twilight just gave a defeated sigh and nodded. "Also, I suggest that you take Spike along as well. I would like to be kept informed about how your quest is proceeding as go."
"You got it!" Spike said as he stood straight and gave a salute to the princess.
The Princess of the Sun nodded. "The Accursed One poses a dire threat, not just to Equestria, but to the entire world. We must ensure that he does acquire the Etna Key, and that he is not allowed to roam freely in the world. The fate of the entire world now rests in your hooves. Go and prepare for your new quest. You are to head to Hellas as soon as you are all able."
The seven ponies and one dragon nodded to the princess and hurried upstairs, while Celestia remained in the basement for a few moments more. She reread the final few entries in Starswirl's last book, and recalled what Twilight had told her of her dreams. The princess closed the book. She knew that reading it would only make her more worried for her pupil. She sighed as she placed the book back on its podium. She needed to have faith in Twilight. She needed to believe that her student, somepony who had become like a daughter to her, would be able to resist the powers of Darkness. Neither of them had proven completely reliable on such matters. All the princess could do was hope for the best.
-o-
Within the darkened caves, a shadowy blaze wrapped itself around a decrepit throne of shattered gems and crushed stone. The inferno's burning eyes narrowed at the ruin it had once called its palace, which had long-since been buried over the millennia. The Accursed One raised his hate-filled eyes to a single source of light, far above his fiery form. A small crack let the light pour in, a symbol of hope in the dreary cavern. He rose up to the crack, eyes glaring at the light it ushered in.
He used his dark magic, weaker than before, but still very powerful, to force the earth to close the tiny gap in his ceiling. The light cut off, descended back to his ancient throne, coiling around it like a snake around a mouse. He let out a low, grumbling sound as he did this.
"Soon…"