//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: puzzles in the catacombs // Story: Little ray of sunshine // by KDS-Writingindustries //------------------------------// The room that Celestia goes through is much bigger than she expected. Purple columns and brick walls covered in moss showed that the ruins had been here for years. There was a stairway going both left and right with a shadowy exit at the end of the room. Celestia makes her way through the room taking in her surroundings. Toriel found it very amusing that Celestia was this curious about the catacombs. "This way child" Toriel said as she made her way to the entrance, with Celestia following. Now there were in a smaller room, it still had the purple brick walls but there was a closed purple door, probably locked, with a yellow lever next to the door, and 6 pressure plates in front of the lever. "Welcome to your new home Celestia. Allow me to educate you onto how things work around here" Toriel then proceeded to walk on 4 pressure plates and switch the lever, opening the door. "The ruins are full of puzzles." Toriel began to explain. "Ancient fusions between diversions and door keys. One must solve them in order to move from room to room. Please adjust yourself to the sight of them" As Toriel walked off, Celestia got 'adjusted' to the puzzles, which meant she took about three seconds looking at it, then proceeding to the next room, but not before walking in the pattern the boss monster went in, just to be safe. The next room was some sort of giant hallway, there were two streams with wooden planks to get across them, there were also 3 levers on the far side of the wall. "To make progress here, you will need to trigger several switches. Do not worry, I have labelled the ones that you need to flip." As they walked through Celestia noticed the switch like from the room before but with some writing and arrows in yellow marker. "Um, Toriel?" Asked Celestia "Yes dear, what seems to be the matter?" "Well, uh." Celestia blushed "What are the, uh, 'scribble things' suppose to mean?" She said, blushing mad, feeling like she would know but just didn't. She knew what the arrows were indicating, but didn't quite understand the words. Toriel was quite Shocked to hear this "I see, well it says that you have to pull the switch dear, do you know how to read?" "Uhh, well, I-ah, um." Celestia couldn't fine the right words to say. Luckily Toriel did. "Don't worry too much about it child, it's fine, I can teach you our language in due time." She said cheerfully. The filly beamed at this. She pulled both of the switches and heard some sort of 'thunk noise' "Splendid! I'm so proud of you, little one." The little alicorn felt proud. "Let's move on to the next room." As they approached the next room, Celestia saw a strange looking, 'thing' next to the door. Toriel began to explain, "As a pony living in the underground, monsters may attack you." Celestia was shocked, "What! Why me?" She groaned. She didn't understand why a monster would just attack a pony. Toriel knew, but didn't really want to say. "It is just what some monsters will do..." She said, not looking at her. Celestia still wanted a complete answer, but let it slide for now. "You need to be prepared for this situation. However, worry not! For the process is simple. When you encounter a monster, it will start a fight. While you are in a fight, strike up a friendly conversation. Stall for time, I will come to resolve the conflict. Practice talking to the dummy." Celestia went up to the dummy. Suddenly the little white heart appeared in front of her, shocking her, "Toriel?" She asked. "Will 'this' happen every time I encounter another monster?" Toriel nodded, "O-Kay, this I'll have to get use to." Celestia encountered the dummy. "Uhh, hello there, nice uh, stitches you have there." Celestia talked to the dummy. "..." It doesn't seem much for conversation, Toriel seemed happy with the alicorn. "Ah! Very good my little pony, you're a natural." Toriel explained cheerfully, going to the next room. Celestia blushed happy to see that her mom was proud of her. 'Mom?' The filly shook that thought out of her head 'She wouldn't want me as a daughter, would she?' The filly looked at the dummy again, "Do you she would want me?" The dummy said nothing. Celestia face hoofed, "I'm talking to a dummy. Guess I'm the, dummy now." The pony giggled at her own bad joke, as she trotted to the next room. As she walked to the next room, she noticed a hallway and saw Toriel, waiting for her. "There is a puzzle in this room, I wonder if you can solve it?" As they walked down the hallway, Celestia's heart came out and a froggit attacked. Celestia didn't know what to say, "Uh, um, nice mouth, really brings out your eyes." The pony stumbled but got a hang of her speech. The froggit didn't understand, but was flattered anyway. Luckily, Toriel came and resolved the conflict, by glaring at the monster. The froggit understood and hopped away, lowering its head in shame. With that said and done, the pony's heart went back in her chest. Celestia stared at her chest for a moment, then giggled. "It feels, warm, when it does that." She said to no-one in particular. They reached the end of the hallway. The filly saw some sort of, lake with a platform full of spikes. "This is the puzzle, but, I think you can just fly over it." Toriel explained remembering that Celestia had wings. Said pony blushed with embarrassment. "I, don't really know how to fly." She exclaimed as she looked at her wings. Toriel thought for a second. "Here, I'll give you a ride." The monster then picked Celestia up and over her back, giving here a piggy back ride, the filly giggled happily as Toriel walked through the hidden pathway in the spikes. As they reached the end Toriel put the little pony down, "Puzzles seem a bit too dangerous for now." They reached the next room. "You have done excellently thus far, my child." The alicorn beamed at this. "However... I have a difficult request to ask from you." Toriel took a deep breath, "I would like you to walk this hallway by yourself." Celestia was confused by what she meant. "Forgive me for this." As soon as she said that she zoomed off to the other end of the room. "W-wait up!" Celestia tried to catch up to her, but Toriel was much faster. As Celestia ran she noticed how long this hallway was. 'Why is this so, freaking, long!' She thought to herself. As she reached the end of the hallway, tuckered out from the running, she saw an odd column. "T-*huff* Toriel? Are you be-*pant*behind there?" Toriel appeared from behind the pillar. "Greetings my child, do not worry, I did not leave you." The monster reassured her. "Thank you for trusting me." The alicorn huffed, "You're, *huff* welcome." Celestia regained her breath as Toriel chuckled, "There was an important reason for why I left you, to test your independence. I must attend to some business, and you have to stay alone for awhile. Please remain here, it is dangerous to explore by yourself." Toriel thought for a moment, "I have an idea, I'll give you a cellphone." Toriel gave the little pony a cellphone and a brown, stitched up satchel. The filly was confused as to why she was given a satchel to her. "The satchel is for holding your phone, my child. The monster said, as if she read her mind. (Or expression of confusion). "If you need anything, give me a call. Be good alright?" "Alright." Celestia answered. Toriel walked out the room leaving the pony behind.