//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 - Riddles // Story: 10 Days, 3 Adventures - Part 1 - "In Dreams They Came" // by TP Night //------------------------------// The Skeleton guard looked at Luna. He had no eyes or a face, so it was hard to determine his emotions - if he had any, but he seemed to. They could only guess, based on his tone and body language when he moved and talked. “So you say Nightmare Moon is your master.” Luna said, still very calm. “If that is true, you must know where it is hiding.” “...She.” the skeleton said. “Hm?” “Nightmare. She prefers being referred to as female, even though she’s technically a gender-less entity.” “That explains why it usually targets mares when it seeks hosts.” “Can I go now?” “You can try.” Luna waved toward Applejack. “...Never mind.” “Now, tell us where Nightmare Moon is. Or rather, tell us where her Tower is. That’s where we want to go.” “If I do she’ll destroy me.” “If you don’t, WE will destroy you. If you do, WE will destroy HER.” “Yeah right. No offense, but I don’t really believe that. I’m sure you’re all strong and such, but Nightmare has magic. Strong magic.” “So do we. Two of us anyway.” “Cute. Your ‘real world’ spells don’t work in here.” “Oh, I am very aware of that. I am the Dream Princess.” “Sure you are. And I’m Santa Claus.” “What’s a ‘santa claus’?” Applejack whispered to Twilight. Twilight shrugged. “Beats me, I have never heard of something called that before. Must be something somepony made up in their dreams.” Luna closed her eyes and sighed lightly. “Now listen very carefully. First of all, I just raised a shield, did I not? That proves we DO have magic that works here. Secondly - Right now, I am still in a - relatively - good mood.” She paused for a moment. “But,” She continued, “If you do not start answering my questions, I am going to start loosing patience soon. If I do, my mood will sink. In other words, I will be irritated, maybe even agitated. And I can assure you, You do not wish to experience that.” The skeleton tried to not look scared, but he was shaking. “I... I.... Okay, fine! I can’t say where the tower is, but I can give you a lead. A... sort of hint, to get you a step further. That’s all I can do! I swear Nightmare didn’t tell me where the tower actually is, but there is someone here who does! The Owl statue!” “Owl statue? Ring any bells, Luna?” Twilight asked. “It does. In the room behind the thrones, there used to be a bust of an old owl. That is the only owl statue I can think of. We should check that first.” “That’s him, yeah! But, good luck getting anything from that old creep.” “What do you mean?” Luna asked. “You’ll see. Will you let me go now? I need to hide somewhere where not even Nightmare can find me, or else I will be destroyed. You’ll be destroyed too anyway.” “Applejack.” Luna said. “Yeah?” “Would you kindly dispose of our prisoner? There is nothing more we can get from him anyway. He is no longer useful, and letting him free is too risky, he might send more Nightlings or other dangers here. Or send word to Nightmare Moon. If possible I would prefer not to face her, at least not sooner than necessary.” “As you wish.” Applejack said and approached the skeleton. With a well-placed kick to its chest, it shattered and became a pile of bones on the floor. They made their way through the hall and into the throne room. It looked like the one in Canterlot. As they walked toward the thrones, the room started filling with the grey fog they had seen earlier, in the village. “Shift.” Luna said, extending her wings. “Grab my wings again. We would not want to get separated.” Twilight and Applejack grabbed hold of the wings, and they waited in silence while the fog thickened, remained a few moments, and thinned out again. When it disappeared, the ponies looked around to see if there was any big changes. “The walls look like stone again.” Applejack noted. “And the floor and ceiling too. The windows look like glass though. Castle seems to be back to normal.” “Indeed. This is the castle as I remember it.” Luna said. “We should keep going.” They walked into the next room, where they found a large owl statue. * * * Luna looked at the statue. A feeling of nostalgia washed over her. “I remember this statue. But as I recall, it used to be smaller in the real world. This Dreamscape version is bigger.” She said. “The skeleton said it could help us. Do you think its alive?” Twilight asked while looking at the statue. As if to answer her, the statues head turned around and faced her. “...Okay, It is.” She said. Luna cleared her throat and spoke. “I am Luna, Princess of the Moon, and of this castle. I have questions, and I was told you have answers.” The owl statue turned back toward Luna. This time it opened its beak and a raspy, very old-sounding voice spoke. “I may. What is the question?” it said, speaking slowly. Luna responded. “We are looking for the Tower in which Nightmare has hidden this realms Source Stone. Can you tell us where it is?” “I can, but on one condition.” “What is the condition?” “Answer my riddles. If you can answer correctly, I will give you your directions - But if you fail, I will fly away, And you will never find me.” Luna glanced at Twilight and Applejack. Twilight nodded. “We have to take the chance, there’s no other way. Either we succeed, or he flies away... And a few riddles shouldn’t be too hard for us. I’m booksmart, Applejack is ‘street smart’, and YOU have thousands of years’ wisdom.” “I agree, let’s do this. Just one thing.” Applejack said and turned to the statue. “Is there any time limit and such involved? What exactly are the rules?” Twilight smiled. “Good thinking.” The owl statue spread his wings wide and tilted his head upwards for a second, and then tilted the head back down, wings still spread. “The rules are as follows... First Rule - You get THREE riddles. Second Rule - You must get at least TWO answers correct. Third Rule - There is NO time limit. After each riddle, take your time, talk, be sure of your answer.” The own paused for a moment. “Shall we begin?” it asked. “Yeah, we’re ready. Give us the first riddle.” Twilight said. “Then... Listen carefully.” The owl started. It was silent for a few seconds, then spoke slowly and clearly. “I have three letters. Cut one off and I become stronger. Cut two off and I become ten. What am I?” The three ponies looked at each other. “Any ideas?” Applejack asked. “Three letters.... Cutting one makes it stronger... cutting TWO makes it Ten... hmm...” Twilight mumbled... Luna too looked very deep in thoughts. Applejack soon rubbed her head. “I can’t do this... I don’t have the slightest idea! Twilight, Luna? What about you guys?” She looked over and saw Twilight scribbling something on the floor, in the dust. suddenly she jumped up. “I GOT IT!” She said. “Girls! Circle, now!” Applejack and Luna joined her in a small circle, and she told them her thoughts. “Well I’ll say...” Applejack said. “That has to be it!” Luna agreed and approached the Owl statue. “We have the answer for the riddle.” “I have three letters. Cut one off and I become stronger. Cut two off and I become ten. What am I?” The statue repeated. “A Fox.” Luna said. “Cut away the ‘F’, and it becomes OX. A stronger, larger animal. Cut away the ‘O’ as well leaves the ‘X’, which in Old Equestrian numerals is the number ten.” “Correct.” The statue said. “Second Riddle...” It continued. “Which one has the correct grammar? The yolk of an egg IS white. The yolk of an egg ARE white.” Again the three ponies started thinking. After just a few seconds, Applejack called circle. “I got this one.” She said. She told Luna the answer. “We have the answer. It is neither. It is a trick question, because the yolk is the YELLOW part of an egg, not the white.” “Correct. Final Riddle.” The three ponies listened carefully. The owl spoke again. “Sometimes, I am a Sphere. Sometimes, I am a banana. Sometimes, I am not visible at all. What am I?” Luna facehoofed. “I already know the answer, girls.” She spoke. “The Moon.” The owl nodded. “Correct.” “How did you figure that out?” Applejack asked Luna. “The sphere is a full moon. And long ago ponies used to say a crescent moon looked like a banana. And, during the day the moon can not be seen.” “Now give us the answer. Where is the tower?” Luna asked the owl. The owl spoke. “In the basement, you will find a door. If you can enter, you will find the tower you seek, Deeper in the realm.” “Deeper in the realm?” Twilight asked. “Like floors in a building. We’re on the first floor. The tower is on a different floor. However, if things are like I suspect... The second floor is very different from this place. Far less real. And also, more dangerous. This place is mainly the good and the weird dreams.. I suspect the door leads to the Dark dreams.. the nightmares and terrors, the dark fantasies, the twisted minds...”