I have to wonder what’s wrong with Spike? Tor thought as he trotted through the halls.
Well it probably has something to do with last night. Silver said. And that one thing that we couldn’t hear.
Probably. Tor agreed. But just what was it?
Given the topic of the conversation and Rarity’s reaction it was a confession… perhaps it might have been a confession of love? Silver mused. Tor stopped.
I would never have thought of that. I guess now I can see why he would be upset. But Rarity seemed fine. Tor thought.
Well they probably worked it out after we left. At least Rarity seems to think so. Silver guessed. Tor started walking again.
I just don’t know what to say... He thought as he rounded the corner. There was a sign that prominently displayed the title ‘Royal Canterlot Library’. Tor pushed open the door.
For now don’t say anything. We don’t want them to know that we were eavesdropping last night. Silver said and went silent. Tor looked at the library; books upon books covered shelves in all direction. Tor trotted up to the reception desk. The pony on duty looked bored out of his mind.
“Excuse me?” Tor asked. The pony sighed heavily but sat up and looked at Tor with a smile plastered on his face.
“Welcome to the Royal Canterlot Library! Is there anything that I may assist you with?” He asked in a voice that sounded a little more than forced.
“Yes… I believe that two mares came in a little while ago?” Tor asked. The pony pointed to one end of the library with his hoof and the smile still stuck. Tor nodded and backed off edgily.
“Right, thank you.” Tor quickly trotted in the direction the pony had indicated.
You used to work here with Open Book before, right? Tor asked as he went along.
Of course, Open Book was the librarian at the time and I was his sole guard. Silver explained.
What was it like? Tor asked rounding another corner.
In all honesty I was never as into books as Open Book was, even as a young colt he was always at the library with an open book at the table hence his name. So when the old librarian retired in her old age Open Book stepped up and took the position. In that time with Discord in power we could barely keep the castle walls guarded so Princess Luna graciously let me guard him seeing as we we’re brothers. Tor rounded another corner and saw Twilight and Rarity sitting at one of the tables. He trotted over to them.
“Have you two found anything?” He asked as he took his own seat. Twilight looked up from her book then looked back down again.
“Not yet.” She said quickly. Tor sat in silence; he looked at Rarity and saw that she was reading a book on old fashion trends.
“Is there anything I can do to… help?” He asked slowly. Twilight said nothing.
“I do believe that we have lost her.” Rarity observed. Tor sighed.
“Wonderful.” He said.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll break out of her stupor soon.” Rarity reassured him.
“Really?” Tor asked hopefully. Rarity shook her head.
That’s just great. Silver said
I agree, the greatest thing ever. Tor agreed.
“Say Rarity, are you familiar with the ‘4th wall’?” Tor queried. Rarity gave him a strange look.
“Yes… why?” She asked.
“Oh, it was just something that Spike and I were discussing in the kitchen and he said I should ask you.” Tor explained.
“Of course. The 4th wall is a concept in acting meaning that there are four walls for the actors: one is the back curtain and two others being the left and right sides of the stage. The 4th wall is the one that the audience sits behind, the cocnept being that the audience can see in but the actors cannot see out.” Rarity explained. Twilight hissed in frustration and pushed the book aside.
“I can’t find anything that could possibly be useful!” She said through gritted teeth. Tor flinched at the sudden rage.
“Well what are you looking for?” He asked.
“Anything that would help against Discord.” Twilight groaned. She brightened. “Tor, do you think that you could ask Silver if he knows anything, anything that could help?” She asked desperately. Tor held up a hoof.
Do you know anything? Tor asked.
Yes but perhaps it would be better if I projected for this explanation. Silver said.
“Silver says he’s going to project.” Tor said to Twilight and Rarity and braced himself. He felt the tugging sensation in his head.
There is not much that I can remember from when I was face to face with Discord, what I remember is mostly of the library and where they kept old records and research into Discord’s armies. He said; Tor let out a deep breath as the sensation went away. Twilight smiled broadly.
“And you can show us to them?” She asked excitedly. The sensation returned.
Yes, if they are still there. Silver said. Twilight stood up followed by Rarity
“Lead on then.” She said. Tor remained seated.
“Give me a moment.” He said trying to catch his breath.
----
Tor led them through the twisting shelves; Silver gave him directions without hesitating. Until they were in what looked like the oldest part of the library, dust covered many of the books and nopony was around.
… Here. Silver said finally.
Here? Tor asked disbelievingly. In front of him was a solid looking wall.
I remember a few weeks before Discord kidnapped Open Book and I they had started constructing a secret vault for our intelligence. Silver explained.
Wait, should we be doing this? Tor asked nervously.
I doubt they even remember that it exists. Silver said dismissively.
“What are we waiting for?” Twilight asked impatiently.
“Twilight darling, please be patient. I’m sure that Silvers’ memory isn’t as good as you think.” Rarity said with a sigh.
I heard that. Silver projected quickly causing Tor to cringe.
“Sorry.” Rarity said blushing slightly.
“Give me a second to do this.” Tor said and turned to the wall.
How am I going to do this? He asked meekly.
If memory serves there should be a switch on the underside of the shelf behind you. Silver directed. Tor turned and looked at the shelf in question. Upon closer inspection he found a switch and promptly pressed it. He heard Twilight and Rarity gasp in surprise and spun around to see that there was now a hole in the wall.
“Wow…” Twilight said in awe.
“I agree.” Rarity said. Tor looked inside cautiously; a grim hallway led into the darkness.
“Mares first.” He said and stepped aside.
“Ever the gentlecolt.” Rarity commented. Twilight trotted in followed by Rarity.
She stole my line. Silver said dryly as Tor followed them into the consuming darkness.
----
“Oh my!” Rarity exclaimed
huddling up to Tor. “It’s just so dirty!” Tor raised an eyebrow.
“What were you expecting?” He asked.
“Certainly not this, especially if it’s a royal vault.” Rarity said as she started to tiphoof forward.
They had just started by the time Open Book and I were kidnapped so it probably had just been finished by the end of the war. I don’t think they had enough time to make it pretty and a couple thousand years didn’t help either. Silver explained.
“Apparently it was just finished by the end of the war. I bet they wanted to just throw everything in here and forget about it.” Tor repeated. He heard a muffled noise ahead.
“Twilight? Are you okay?” Rarity called out into the darkness. They heard some more noise followed by Twilights’ voice.
“Sorry, I just tripped. It’s getting really dark in here.” A moment later Twilights’ horn lit up. The cave was narrow and led into more darkness up ahead. Tor shivered.
Why does this give me a bad feeling? Tor thought.
I don’t know. Silver mumbled almost to himself. Twilight pushed ahead.
“Come on guys, this could give us a hint to help Tag!” She said. Rarity drew in a breath and took a step forward, a small cloud of dust arose from where she stepped. A shudder went through her body. Tor sighed.
“Would you like some help?” He asked. Rarity shook her head resolutely.
“No, this is to help Tag. I have to do this.” She said and trotted on determinedly.
Wow. Silver breathed.
I agree; I don’t think that is something that Rarity does lightly. Tor agreed and trotted after Twilights’ glowing horn.
----
The tunnel went on for what seemed like miles and Twilights’ pace had slowed down to a slow limp, Rarity was even slower and struggling to keep up.
“My mane is in knots…” She muttered under her breath. Tor could feel the burn in his legs too.
Why would it go on for so long? He asked curiously.
I didn’t see any of the plans myself. Open Book was told only because he was the head librarian. And I only know what he told me, and what I saw, which was not much. Everything that we’ve had to go on is an assumption. Silver said.
Why didn’t we get Princess Celestia’s help? Tor wondered.
Because Twilight was desperate to get things done. Silver said simply.
“Hey! I think there’s a room up ahead!” Twilight said excitedly. The thin hallway was indeed growing larger and soon turned into a cavernous room. Tor looked around in awe. There were bookshelves along the walls and a large dusty table in the middle. Twilight practically skipped in forgetting her tiredness. “Do you guys know what this means?!” She asked as she skipped back and brought her two friends into a giant hug. She let them go and returned to jumping around the room. She looked at shelves pulling out the occasional scroll and placing it on the table with her magic.
“Is she always like this around books?” Tor asked Rarity.
“Only around really old ones.” She replied as she trotted into the room, Tor followed her towards the table; Rarity blew the dust off of the table causing both ponies to cough. Tor waved his hoof to clear the air and looked at the table, there was a slip of paper sticking out from under Twilight’s piled scrolls. He pulled it out and looked closely.
“What is it Tor?” Rarity asked as she stepped up next to him.
“I do believe it is a map.” Tor said simply. “But I have no idea what it’s showing.” There was a loud crashing sound behind them and they spun around. Twilight was sitting in front of a fallen bookshelf.
“Twilight! Are you okay dear?” Rarity asked as she rushed over to her friend. Twilight sat still while making an inaudible noise.
“… Twilight?” Tor asked cautiously. Twilight pointed a shaky hoof at the wall behind the shelf.
“Don’t make a noise.” She said quietly, her voice quavered. Tor looked at the wall and saw a medium sized hole leading far into darkness.
What? Tor asked tensely.
Oh dear Celestia! Silver said. That’s and ant lion nest!
How do you know? Tor asked edgily.
The claw marks around the tunnel. Silver said. Twilight started to back away slowly.
“Grab what’s on the table and get going very quietly.” She whispered. Rarity and Tor backed up and each grabbed half of the scrolls on the table, Tor made sure he had the map with him. They were about get to the exit when a small scuttling noise from the hole. Twilight turned around with saucer like eyes.
“Run!” She hissed and galloped out of the room followed quickly by Rarity and Tor. Behind them Tor heard the scuttling noise grow louder. He threw a glance backward and saw a six-legged furry monster with pincers chasing after them through the tunnel.
“Don’t look back!” He called and put on an extra burst of speed.
“I don’t think I can keep this up!” Rarity panted. She was starting to lag behind and the ant lion was getting closer, snapping its pincers.
“Twilight! Take my scrolls!” Tor called out. He felt Twilights’ magic engulf the scrolls and he slowed his pace until Rarity had passed him. He drew Torais with his magic and fiddled with it desperately while still galloping.
How do I use this thing? He asked desperately trying to get it to work.
Pull the string back for a second and let the energy manifest! Silver shouted. Tor pulled the string taut and waited; a silvery light started to appear on the string taking the shape of an arrow. Tor began to feel light headed but spun around; he quickly aimed between the pincers and fired. The arrow pierced the ant lions’ head and it collapsed without making so much as a sound.
An aura had started to emanate from the corpse and steadily flowed into Tor’s body for several seconds before stopping. Tor panted heavily; the shot had taken a lot out of him.
What was that aura? He asked.
That was the soul of that creature being absorbed by me, in case you forgot whenever you kill something I absorb its soul, making myself more powerful. Silver explained. Tor turned around and started to hobble after his friends.
I hope the others made it out okay… Tor thought as he continued in the dark tunnel; he lit up his horn but it was a dwindling wreck compared to Twilight's, but it would do. Minutes passed as Tor limped through the gloomy tunnel, he began to hear a familiar scuttling sound.
What is that? He asked nervously.
I do believe that is the ant lions’ family. Silver said.
That’s what I was afraid of. Tor thought and began to gallop.
----
Twilight and Rarity were waiting at the entrance when Tor went flying into the bookshelf; he smashed the button just as the ant lions came into view. The wall closed right in front of them and the two mares sighed in relief. Rarity glanced at Tor and gasped.
“Twilight, get help!” She said quickly. Twilight gave her a confused look.
“Why? What’s wrong?” She asked. Rarity turned Tor onto his side and revealed a deep gash along his flank that was bleeding profusely; Twilight didn’t need another reason and dashed of in the direction of the exit.