//------------------------------//
// Chapter IX: Spectral Steps 
// Story: Wings of Bravery 
// by Fabella 
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The steady rocking of the ferry boat begun to wind down as they approached the dock until it at last it came to a halt. The eerie  fog had calmed a little and the hallowing spirits from the lake could not be seen around the borders where the lake met the grey, dusty land. Derpy rested herself in a ball on the boat floor in order to protect herself from the bitter cold. Oddly enough, Carrot was still wide awoke and had continued her conversation with the elder mare while her friend had ling fell asleep from the boring discussion of oral magic. Carrot, in all formalities found such a thing rude but Pruina found the situation rather entertaining and adorable.

"We are here."

With the announcement, Carrot rushed over towards Derpy and gave her a gentle nudge. "Wake up Derpy!  We're here!"

The grey mare let loose a row of incomprehensible grumbles as she rubbed her face. "Huh? Were in Equestria?"

"No Derpy, we're still here in this hell hole. Its just time for us to get off the boat."

Pruina stepped off of the vessel and Carrot joined her side not long after. Derpy stretched her joints and muscles, yawned and looked sideways before finally joining the other two on the dock. The boat begun to drift off soon after on its own and the two young mares looked on as it floated backwards down the same path that they had traveled. Watching until it vanished behind the dense white fog that covered the surface of the weeping waters.

Before them stood a large wall that stood out from the walls of ice that held it's sides. It was a orange to brown color and had a substantial opening in the front of it shaped like a triangle. Like the old building they escaped from the spiders through, old paintings and murals were present all over it. Though faded and cracked with age.

"Through here. Once we are through here, there may be a way that I am familiar with that can lead you back home."

Pruina gave a look to the two mares.

"All set then?"

"Yep!" Carrot stated joyfully.

"How about you my little pegasus?"

"Yeah."

"Then let us move."

As they transverse through the long hall that was present, they soon arrived at a large circle area where in the middle of it rested a broken fountain that had that of an winged unicorn on top of it. Beside it rested the first step of long and upwards spiraling stone staircase that seemed to never end.

When Derpy saw the length of the steps, she bomoaned the fact that she had to walk it.

"We have to walk up that?"

"If you want to go home that is. This staircase leads right near that of the exit to the underworld. Climbing up it is your best bet on leaving. As residents of the living, exiting shall be just as easy as when you entered." Pruina explained.

"Aw stop complaining! A little bit further and you can eat all the muffins you want when we get back home!"

Derpy blinked.

"All the muffins?"

Carrot nodded her head.

"Ugh." Derpy made her way to the stairs with her head hung low lying in defeat.

"Do not worry my little pegasus, the exercise will not kill you.

Derpy groaned at the mare's comment. 

As Pruina and Carrot walked ahead side by side, Derpy's eyes gazed among the walls as she walked. Taking in the depictions of scenes that were drawn among them. These were not as faded and eroded as the other murals they have long since passed and the clarity and refines of them was cut neatly and well. Protected by whatever mother nature could have cast upon them.

The scenes interested the young mare as she tried to piece together the images of bony skeletons and windy horses that seemed to be laying siege to a small town as valiant soldiers tried to fight back to no avail. Such a scene was depicted all throughout the wall that bordered the staircase and did not change. However, one scene depicted a castle that seemed all to familiar with a pony that seemed to be screaming at two winged unicorns.

Derpy hastily stepped back when she felt something tingle against her hooves. 

With one lifted up she gave a rather confused look as the hoof prints that Carrot and Pruina left behind was imprinted on the steps by a blue hue. Have not noticed before due to her distraction with the art. She looked up towards them and saw Carrot totally oblivious to her hooves aglow with the same blue hue. Her expression completely focused on the mare who held her by the gently by the neck with her tail.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Miss Pruina."

The mare stopped and gave her attention. "Why are you guys hooves glowing?"

"That is simply a result of me being near the underworld exit. As a mere soul per se, the magic here is basically telling me I have a little further to go before I am forbidden to continue."

"Oh...then what about Carrot?"

"That is by mere chance dear. She just so happens to be walking along with me so it is only reasonable that she herself has come in contact with it."

"...oh."

"It is nothing to worry about. Come now dear, we are almost there."

They continued and eventually, a door signified the end of what Derpy described, as a long hike. Before them stood a door that had two large statues of unicorns standing on both the left and right side of it carrying the emblems of the sun and moon upon their chest. On the front of the door was a picture of four heads with one drawn with a spiked crown.

Pruina touched the door with her  hoof and an eye on one of the heads glowed the same icy blue color as her hoof. The door opened with a small rumble and permitted the three mares entrance.

Pruina turned and faced Carrot. "Where is your firend Derpy?"

"....Derpy?" Carrot blinked. "Oh yeah, forgot about her." she turned her head around and looked until her eyes landed upon the grey mare a few feet away from her down the stairs staring vividly at the pictures on the walls.

"Derpy! Come on lets go!"

"Oh yeah, Right!"

Pruina made her way through the doors and Carrot followed behind but not before being stopped by very friend.

"Carrot, are you alright?"

"Huh? Whay are you asking that?" She smiled. "I'm just happy to be out of here that's all! We can go home and eat all the muffins you want and we can go back and tell our story back to Twilight! Who knows what she may say!"

"You..just seem a bit too excited."

"Oh I'm fine! Just excited. Anyway, Pruina's waiting for us so lets go."

Derpy watched on as Carrot trotted through the doors but her eyebrows scrunched together in wary. She never remembered Carrot's eyes being blue.

As she walked in, pushing aside her suspicion, her eyes laid settled on a wide, open, circular field that contained a pyramid shape stone in the middle of it all.

She watched as Carrot gleefully ran to Pruina's side who stood in front of the stone.

Derpy slowly approached the mare as her eyes glanced around the place. "Um...is this it? The exit"

Pruina gave a look to the grey pegasus and approached her.

Her eyes carrying a glimmer of artistic persuasion and cunning. She placed a hoof under the mixed eyed pony and gently lifted her head as she smiled into her golden pupils.

"It is for you."