"Zecora?" Twilight shouted fearful. "Are you OK? Where are you?"
She searched the place around, along with Applejack, while Rainbow had entered the hut.
What had happened? The door rattled in the wind, no one seemed to be at home. But this wasn't it. Twilight had discovered, that the dreamcatchers and wardens used to protect Zecoras hut, were destroyed.
She couldn't imagine how or why. The fetishes, used to repel evil spirits and dangerous creatures, had somehow... wilted away. The stones had gone black and brittle like cold ember. A slight touch sufficed to let them crumble to dust. The knotworks had fallen apart, laying in the dirt.
"GUYS - SHE'S HERE!" Rainbow Dashs voice yelled.
Just seconds later the three of them stood in the main chamber. Dash was about to help Zecora. Somone had tied her up, gagged her with a piece of cloth and then caged her up in her own basement. Twilight was shocked to see her - usual calm and confident - this fearful and upset.
"Tell me what happened!", Twilight demanded, worried about Zecora's state.
Her sorrows didn't wear off, as Zecora told, what she knew.
A stranger had come at night - destroyed her magic wardens, subdued her and throw the Zebra down the stairs.
Due to the sounds from above the strange, cloaked pony left after this, but eventually came back a hour later - accompanied by at least two other ponies.
One of them sounded like a foal, the other like a mare.
"Fear, my ponies, for this stranger, is evil and so full of anger," Zecora closed her statements.
"Trixie!" Rainbow Dash growled angry, her eyes narrowed "Maybe you should think about her again."
"Told ya, Sugarcube. Won't turn my back on her..."
"Girls... we don't know what happened and why." Twilight said. Her voice meant to sound determined. But... she knew, that she tried to convince herself, too.
The hut itself was not destroyed or anything. Just some books, laid cluttered around.
Zecora ran quick after them, looking around and searching, with obvious growing fear.
"Oh. No. Nonono!" Zecora yelled, her eyes widened in fear "The book from a far land, filled with vile and evil, is now in the hand, of this sinister devil!"
"Then let's run.", Twilight shot right out of the door - followed by Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Zecora.
* * *
"Nothing. Again..." the hoarse voiced pony sounded disappointed.
"Magic takes its time. Especially by such high level spells," Trixie explained, annoyed herself, by this darn seal, her bad success - but at most by this constant complaining.
"Maybe I deluded myself about you," the cloaked mage murmured.
"No way. I AM the Great and Powerful Trixie!" she responded, eagerly try it again.
The sun was about to set - so she had tried for hours and hours now. But nothing took effect. Whether firing raw magic at the seal, nor any spells, she knew. Anything seemed to be just sucked up by this wardenstone.
One step back, she inspected the rock, once again. Not the slightest breach. "Maybe its just the false place," Trixie thought aloud.
"What you say?" the creaky voice swelled in anger. "No. My researches are right. There is no doubt. The place is right here! You are just us...."
"Wait!" Trixie yelled, gazing at a little spot on the ground. A small sign, hidden behind some grass, flickered right there. Ignoring the insult, the stranger was about to call out, she focused her magic at this small glittering star. Magic flow and engulfed the carved boulder.
She startled away, as the earth began to shake, accompanied by a deafening dim. A crack build up, starting at the small stone, rising up to the seal above. The walls went apart, opening a cave right in front of them.
"At least!" the stranger shouted engaging.
Without hesitation he passed Trixie, entering the cave.
"You really want to go in there?" Pipsqweak sounded unlucky and frightened.
"I am at your side. Don't worry. You should come with us. Its dangerous out here."
"You trust him?" Pip asked as they followed the mage, down the narrow path.
* * *
"Woah. Did you hear that?" Rainbow shouted downwards.
"Silly question. Heard and felt! I am nearly deaf," Twilight growled back. "Did you see anything."
"There's a dustcloud over there." Rainbow pointed in the direction. "See ya!"
With this she accelerated. Seconds later a clearing came in sight. The cloud billowed out of a cave. Rainbow Dash landed and watched the entrance. Maybe she should wait for her friends. Better team up, before storming a dragons lair.
Suddenly a foals yell, emerged the cave. And without any further thought, she jumped, flapped and sped up.
* * *
"Gnah. Where is Rainbow? For Celestias sake. Why couldn't she wait?!" Twilight was more annoyed than worried.
"Ya know her. Better run, before she has all tha fun alone. Or get in big trouble..." Applejack just shrugged.
"Do you know this place?" Twilight asked in Zecoras direction, while they approach the spooky entrance.
"Its a place,
so old and bad,
we should avoid
to go ahead." Zecora answered.
"I know. But Trixie is in there. Pipsqeak probably, too. We can't let them alone."
"In the cave,
we have to carry,
but we must remember
to stay wary," Zecora seemed not very edified.
* * *
The small cave descended with every step. The sunlight had gone a while ago, so only her glowing horn, led them through the dark. Trixie shivered. This place felt ... wrong. Bad. Evil.
Pipsqueak trotted behind her, the main reason why she didn't panic right away. No other pony should see her anxiety, for the Great and Powerful Trixie knew no fear. And she surely won't frighten the little foal.
Just the hooded mage trotted along the way - obviously eager to reach his goal.
A strange greenish light glowed in the distance, building up a oval shape - like a predators eye. She panted for a moment.
The shimmer turned out to be a gateway.
* * *
The cave was narrow, cold and icky. Claustrophobia-causing. Icy prickles run down Rainbows spine. She knew, flying in here, was sheer impossible, as it was way to dark. The only way to move forward was by groping ahead.
Even with more light, the tunnels were to crooked, with hanging stalactites everywere. Only a nightguard could probably feel comfortable in here. Or... other things.
Voices meandered towards her. Maybe from far before - or way back. Hard to tell, with all the echoes. Single words were also undistinguishable. Only the voice - better one of the voices sounded a bit like Trixie.
* * *
Trixie calmed down the shrieking Pipsqueak.
Then she stared amazed at the dome before here. The cave was big - no vast. Mostly round, with a artificial levelled ground. Adnate stalagmites and stalactites formed columns, supporting a widespread ceiling. Anything from top to bottom seemed chiselled and carved with ornaments, signs and sigils. The magic was almost palpable. The center part of the ceiling formed some kind of natural chimney fading upwards in darkness. At the ground however a chasm opened itself. The abyssal hole was surrounded by three layers of carved circles, completely filled with detailed lines and symbols. Although Trixie don't knew the exact nature, she could tell, that this circles hold some tremendous spell. Five short bases protruded out of the flat underground around the abyss, supporting statues. Five different creatures - an Earth Pony, a Pegasus and an Unicorn as well as two unknown but obvious ponybreeds, stood rearing upon them. One with strange butterfly like wings, the last with some unidentifiable fins growing out of its back. Chains - old and rusty but as well sturdy looking - were attached between them in a way, that everyone of the five holds two chains together with another one across the chasm. From above it must resemble some kind of star, build up of chains.
"Ah. At least. It is nearly done.", the strange mage spoke loud.
"What do you mean?", Trixie.
"Don't you feel the power at this place? Only a short moment and I... I mean WE can have it all. Follow me now, my dear. And don't forget to bring the foal."
He had reached a raised platform near the chasm. Atop the stone stage was some kind of altar or lectern. Once at the altar, the mage dropped the book and opened it with a theatrical gesture.
"I don't wanna go there.", Pipsqueak said with low voice. "Please... let us go. I am frightened!"
"I will protect you. I have promised.", she answered, unsure herself. The stranger had helped her. Had saved her live. Maybe he was eerie. But... could she refuse her help in return, now?
But what if this all was his plan? If he had bad motives?
Torn between her own anxiety and her dreams, she only followed the mages demand hesitantly.
* * *
Twilight let her horn glow and followed the path with a bad feeling. The cave walls appeared unnatural to her. In parts like bored by a giant worm, whereas they crossed halls with stalagmites and stalactites standing and hanging in strange angles. The pathway forked on a few occasions, but with her light, she was able to guess the right tunnel.
Even Applejack seemed uneasy. And Zecora murmured silently in a language Twilight didn't understand.
"Ah feel troubles around here. This ain't no good place at all.", Applejack seemed uneasy, despite her brave nature.
After a while Twilight realized something. The cave was filled with wind. Not strong, but noticeable, once felt. Uncommon however, the wind changed its direction from time to time.
Like... breathing.
In what had they only gotten?
A greenish light came into sight - not far away. Moments later, the three of them gazed into the giant hall. Magic all around. Most of the low glowing runes Twilight didn't understand... or even know.
But the few more familiar symbols all signed protection, encasement and warnings.
Yes. Felt truly like trouble around here.
Then Twilight noticed movement within the dome. Two ponies - one small like a foal - walked along this spooky chasm.
The light around blurred the details and distorted the colors, but Twilight was certain, they found Pipsqueak and Trixie.
"There they are!" Applejack said, only to run after them.
So much for 'stay wary'. Twilight followed her friend. But where was Rainbow Dash?