Chapter 32--The Strange House
I gathered everyone in front of the mansion-like building for a pep talk. “Alright, you all know why you’re here--”
“Actually we don’t,” Fancypants said. “You’ve merely instructed us to come with you on some sort of mission that Princess Celestia has given you.”
“Oh, right. Well, you’re here because Celestia wants me, and a team of five others, to explore this building which I’m going to refer to as a house or a mansion from here on. Before we begin, I believe Fancypants is the only one here who is unaware the Pyra is in fact a changeling named Mim.” She transformed accordingly. “ With that out of the way, let’s begin. Now, given my understanding of creepy houses in the woods, I’m willing to bet the doors will close and lock behind us when we enter because cliche. Normally, I would have asked you to bring weapons, but apparently the house has a charm on it that prevents all outside weaponry from entering. Furthermore, once inside, you will be unable to fly or use magic save for simple levitation which is why I had these made beforehand.” I gave each of them a small device. “These are communication devices. They’re pretty simple, just put it on your head and talk into it, we should all be able to hear what each of us says. Which brings me to my next point. Celestia I was able to get a spell from the Unicorn Tower that allows Qene to speak but it only lasts a about 5 hours which should be plenty of time to explore. I also got a compass for each of us so we can navigate using cardinal directions. Now, unless there are any questions, let us begin.”
“A question I must ask, before we begin this task,” Zecora said. “If the doors should close and lock, how might we remove that block?”
“We’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it. But for now, let’s explore the mansion, shall we?”
They all nodded in agreement and we entered the house where, just as I had predicted, the doors closed and locked behind us. The entrance hall led north to a foyer and a grand staircase. There was a door on the east and west sides of the entrance hall and a door on the east and west sides of the foyer.
“Alright, only one person is going to move at a time,” I said. “I will be making a map as we go so when you enter a new room, you must report immediately what happens, understood?” They all nodded. “I will direct you on where to go. If I tell you to stop, you stop. Got it?” Nods again. “Good. Now, Qene, start by heading west.”
Qene complied with my orders and entered the room to the west. The door closed behind him but it didn’t seem to lock. “I’m in a hallway with a bunch of statues,” Qene said in a deep and silky voice. “The only other door is straight ahead. There’s blood all over the walls and ceiling. It’s dripping out of the statues, too. It’s--”
“What is it Qene? Talk to me,” I said.
“It’s gone. That was weird, but I think I’m alright now.”
“OK, stay there. I’m sending Mim in to help you.”
Mim went into the Statuary Corridor to comfort Qene before moving on the the next room to the west. “I’m outside on what seems to be a patio of sorts,” she said. “The wind is very strong here but I can handle it. There’s a door to the north and one to the west.”
“Sounds good. Go ahead and go to the north door but do not enter yet. Doctor why don’t you head north and upstairs.”
“Will, do.” He went up the stairs. “There is a door in each direction, where shall I go next?”
“Let’s send you south.”
“I’ve entered a room with a vault.”
“Do you think you can open it?”
“Probably but first it seems there’s some sort of slime creature emerging from the wall.”
“Ok, interesting.”
“Indeed it was. It just tackled me and covered me in slime. I’m gonna need a moment to clean this off.”
“Sounds good. Zecora, head east if you would.”
“I’ve entered a room of dining, and on the table, I find a ring. I can see clearly with my eyes, a door to the north is all that lies.”
“Alright, wait there for a bit I’m gonna head to the room west of the foyer. It’s a four-way hallway, though the south door seems to be boarded off, probably because there’s a hallway down there according to my map. Odd that this house would be built that way. Heading north into what appears to be a ballroom with a door to the east where the grand staircase is. Upon investigation, the door leads to a staircase going downward. I’m going down the staircase. I’m now in the basement and there’s a mirror here. I see myself but the reflection isn’t right. It wrote on the mirror the words ‘This will help’ and gave me something through the mirror before returning to a regular mirror. The item was a candle, which is good because it’s rather dark down here. I’m gonna wait here for a while before exploring the basement. Fancypants, I want you to follow my path but instead of going down the stairs, I want you to head north from the ballroom.”
“Right-o.” I allowed him some time to get there. “The room I’m in seems to have had a fire. Everything is very burnt except a strange board with letters and numbers on it.”
“Sounds like a ouija board. Does it have anything else on it?”
“It says that it will reveal what the next room is before I go there.”
“Huh, that might be useful. Go ahead and wait there for the time being. Qene, if you’re good now, let’s have you go to the west of the patio.”
“Woah!”
“What’s the matter?”
“There’s a giant hole in this room that I almost fell down.”
“Are you alright? Can you keep going?”
“I think I’m fine. I can jump over the hole. There’s a door to the west, one to the north, and one to the south.”
“Head south then.”
“I’m back outside in a conservatory. It’s a dead end. There’s an open coffin and the body looks like me. Wait, now it’s gone.”
“Weird, why are all the creepy things happening to you?”
“I don’t know but it’s definitely keeping me on my toes.”
“Well, wait there for now and calm yourself down. Mim, head north.”
“Will do. This room looks fun. There’s a bunch of games everywhere. There’s a door to the west and one to the east.”
“Well, the door to the east leads back into the creaky four-way hall. So head west.”
“Wait, there’s mist coming from the walls. There’s faces in the mist. They look...human.”
“What? That’s crazy talk. I’m sure it’s nothing but stay there for now.”
“Ok, the mist and faces are disappearing now.”
“Great. Doctor, can you open the vault?”
“Well, I’m all cleaned up now so I’ll give it a go.” He took a second to work the vault door. “Got it!”
“Great! What’s in there?”
“Nothing much. There’s a golden idol and a very white feather.”
“Huh. Anything written on the idol?”
“It says I can rub it to increase my chance of getting out of a sticky situation but there is a cost?”
“What’s the cost?”
“Each time I rub it, it makes me go a little mad.”
“Ok, well, don’t rub it unless absolutely necessary.”
“Will do.”
“Anything about the feather?”
“There’s a note that says it has a one-time use to help in a bad situation.”
“Interesting. Well, stay there for now. Zecora, go ahead and head north.”
“The room is empty save for a spear. The doors go north, east, and west from here.”
“Alright, hold onto the spear, it could come in handy. Wait there for now. I’m going to head south where I find the catacombs. There’s a dog in here. He has a note tied to his leg. It says he will follow me wherever I go and can pick up, carry, or drop any one item as ordered. He can also go up to six rooms away before returning to me. I’m gonna wait here while I try to figure out how to get out of the catacombs. From what I can tell, there’s only one door to the south. Fancypants, let’s have you head east.”
“It seems to be a strange elevator. There is only one button but it doesn’t say where it goes. Shal I press it?”
“Sure, why not?”
“It opened out to the abandoned room where Zecora is.”
“Odd, go ahead and go north from there.”
“It’s a dusty four-way hall, though the door to the west is boarded off.”
“That’s probably because that’s where the grand staircase is. Let’s send you east from there,”
“I’m outside now in what appears to be a graveyard. AH!”
“What?! What is it?”
“An enormous spider just landed on my shoulder and bit me.”
“Are you alright?”
“I think so but I better rest for a bit just to be sure. By the by, this graveyard is a dead end, no pun intended.
“Good to know. Qene, you good to go?”
“I think so.”
“Alright, head back north.”
“Right. I’m back in the collapsed room.”
“Head west from there.”
“I’m back outside in a garden. Wait! There seem to be footprints on the floor leading to… and they’re gone. All these weird things happening is starting to get to me.”
“You’ll be fine. Just wait there and regain your composure. Mim, head west.”
“Woah!”
“What happened?”
“There was a slide there. I think I’m in the basement. There was a boarded off door to the south though.”
“That’s where the collapsed room is. Describe the room you’re in now.”
“Well, there’s a staircase, a door in each direction, and a mirror.”
“Hmm, I think you might be in the basement landing. Knock on the door to the south.” I heard a knock on the door to the north. “Yep that’s where you are. Ok, head north from there.”
“It seems to be some sort of operating room. There a creepy puppet here and--woah!”
“What happened?”
“The puppet just jumped at me with a tiny spear but thanks to my quick reflexes, I was able to dodge it.”
“Well, nice dodge. Any doors from there?”
“Just one to the east.”
“Alright, wait there for a sec. Doctor, head back north to the upper landing and then north again from there.”
“I’m in a gallery now. There’s a pony here muttering incomprehensible things. He seems to want to follow me.”
“Well, wait there for now. And let the mad pony follow you, he could be a good shield, if necessary.”
“Very well, but he might just drive me crazy.”
“Zecora, go east into the elevator and press the button.”
“The elevator is mystic, no doubt. The upper landing is where I come out.”
“Alright, head west from there.”
“I enter a bedroom with a peaceful nature. A door to the west is it’s only feature.”
“Alright, wait there for now. I think I got these catacombs figured out. Wait, no, that’s a dead end. I’m gonna need some more time on this. Fancypants, head back inside to the west, and then north.”
“I’ve entered the library, there is one door to the west. There are two skeletons here. What appear to be a mother and child in a frightened embrace.”
“Any items on them?”
“None that I can find.”
“Alright, stay there for now. Qene, head west.”
“I’m in a weird room. It’s got a bunch of pews facing the other end where there appears to be some sort of altar. It’s very quiet here. Also, this is a dead end.”
“That was weird. My hearing suddenly turned off for a minute. At first I thought it was just a bad connection through the com link but I couldn’t even hear my own breath.”
“The same thing just happened to me,” said Mim.
“Huh, weird. Anyways, you said it was a dead end so go ahead and wait there for a bit. Mim, head east.”
“There’s a lake here.”
“A lake?”
“Yeah, it has very clear water so it should be fine to swim in to get to the only other door to the north.”
“Alright, go ahead and swim over there but don’t enter the door yet.”
“Hey guys, I found a mirror here in the library,” the Doctor said. “Its reflection is skewed in time though. I recognize this. This was that time when a random pony gave me a feather through a mirror. I know what I must do. I have to write ‘This will help’ on the mirror and hand the feather through. Now the mirror is back to normal. I never knew that pony in the mirror was me. Time really is a funny thing.”
“You of all people would know that. Doctor, while Mim is making her way across the lake, I’ll have you go north.”
“This appears to be a servant’s quarters. There’s a rosary here.”
“Go ahead and take the rosary and then wait there.”
“Well the rosary seems to have calmed the mad pony down a bit.”
“Well that’s good at least. Zecora head west.”
“I enter a store room and find a rabbit’s foot. No other doors lead out, so my exploration is caput.”
“Alright, wait there for now. I’m gonna try this way in these catacombs. Nope, another dead end. Alright Fancypants, I want you to search those skeletons again.”
“If you insist. Oh, wait. I’ve found a music box underneath them. I can get it out but doing so would destroy the skeletons.”
“Just do it.”
“Very well. I got it now and the skeletons have crumbled to dust.”
“Whatever. Any writing on the music box?”
“Indeed. It says that when open, it may leave you mesmerized and immobilized.”
“Huh, well for now just go west.”
“I’ve entered an organ room.”
“What kind of organ? The musical kind or the bodily kind?”
“The musical kind. There’s a door to the north but there appears to be some sort of closet with a door cracked open. Shall I investigate?”
“Go for it.” There was a hideous shriek over the com. “What the hell was that?”
“It came from the closet. There’s nothing in there, though.”
“Anybody rattled by the shriek?” Zecora, Doctor, and Qene all chimed in that it rattled them a bit but they were relatively fine. “Alright, Fancypants, stay there. Qene, I’m gonna have you come down to the basement via the slide. You’ll need to go three rooms east to the patio, then north one to the game room, then west to the slide.”
I gave him some time to do all that. “Ok, I’m in the basement landing. Now what?”
“Head west.”
“This room is full of junk, nothing of use though. There is a mask of some interest though.”
“Go ahead and take the mask and then wait there. Mim, have you made it to the door yet?”
“Yep.”
“Alright head through it.”
“I’m in a crypt. There are two boys here and--oh my gosh! One of the boys is beating the other with a toy top. Woah! They just faded into nothing.”
“Well, that’s creepy. Are the any doors in there?”
“Just the one I came through.”
“Ok, go ahead and stay there while you regain composure. Doctor, let’s have you go east.”
“There’s a balcony here with a crystal ball and a door to the east.”
“Take the crystal ball then wait there. Zecora, head back to the mystic elevator and press the button.”
Some time later she said, “The elevator drops with a clunk and I come out in the room of junk.”
“Alright, wait there for a sec. I think I finally have these catacombs figured out. Yes, I’ve found the exit. I’m in a staircase which leads to the foyer. I’ll now head east to the abandoned room then east again where I find a bloody room. Lovely. There’s an amulet here that says it makes the wearer stronger, smarter, wiser, and faster. I’m putting the amulet on. Fancypants, head north.”
“I’ve entered the kitchen. There is a cracked skull here with missing teeth.”
“That’s creepy. What species is it?”
“I’m not sure. It’s definitely not equine though.”
“Alright, I’m gonna ask you to take it when you when you leave there but not yet. Qene, let’s have you go west.”
“I’ve entered some sort of pantry. There is a door to the west. The food is no good but there’s a pair of flattish hand-shaped objects.”
“Sounds like gloves. Go ahead and take them and then wait there. Mim, I want you to go back to the basement landing and then head east.”
“I thought that’s where the elevator was.”
“It was, but I think the elevator has magical properties that allow it to moved to any number of places in the house. Thusly, since it is now north of the junk room, the room east of the basement landing is now open.”
“Whatever. I just got here and it’s a room with a giant star shape on the floor. In the middle of the room there’s a medallion. It’s also a dead end.”
“Take the medallion then stay there. Doctor, head east.”
“I’ve entered the crumbly top floor of a tower. There are three ponies that were hanged here. As I watch them, they seem to be crumbling to dust right before my eyes.”
“Creepy. Go ahead and wait there. Zecora head south.”
“I see before me a rickety bridge to a door, below me a chasm with depths ever more.”
“Try to cross the bridge.”
“I cross the chasm with a lurch and enter a room of research. A burning man runs through this room with a great big fiery plume. His skin boils and cracks and falls away, leaving a fiery skull that rolls away.”
“That sounds frightening, are you alright?”
“I feel a bit warm but otherwise fine. I could use some time to settle my mind. A door to the south is all that there be, to leave this room and go onward with me.”
“Alright stay there for now while you calm down. It seems like all the doors in this bloody room are boarded off save for the one I entered through so I’m gonna head to the collapsed room and see what’s below it.” I went across the house with my dog friend to the collapsed room and fell down, causing myself a bit of pain in doing so. “ Well, that hurt. Anyways, I’m now in a room with a furnace. There’s a door to the north, south, and west. I’m gonna knock on each door to see if this room connects to anywhere that someone else is in.” I knocked on each door.
“A knock from the southern door I hear. You are south of me it would appear,” Zecora said.
“Cool, I’ll put that in the map and--OW! Something just bit me!”
“What was it?” the Doctor asked.
“I don’t know but I’m gonna take a minute to wrap it up. In the meantime, Fancypants, you mentioned a door to the west?”
“Yes but upon testing it, there is only a brick wall behind it.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll send you back to the abandoned room to wait for a bit. South one, east, one, south two. Qene, head west.”
“I’m in a room with what appears to be wine.”
“Ooh, can you carry it?”
“Unfortunately, no. It is stored in huge barrels that even I could not carry. There are however some strange looking dice.”
“Huh. Give them a roll, see if anything happens.”
“I rolled the dice and now a phone is ringing. Should I answer it?”
“Sure.”
“There’s a voice that says ‘I’m always here for you Pattycakes. Watching…’”
“Well that’s a little creepy. How do you feel?”
“Oddly smarter.”
“Ok. Well, stay there for now. Mim, I’m gonna have you try your luck in the mystic elevator. West two, north one.”
“I’m back in the ballroom.”
“Alright, stay there for now. Doctor, head east.”
“I’m in some sort of attic space and--woah!”
“What’s wrong, what happened?”
“I was feeling the southern wall when it suddenly spun around. Now I’m in a gymnasium of sorts. There’s a small filly here. She doesn’t seem able or willing to talk though. There’s also a door to the south and a door to the west.”
“Alright stay there and try to comfort her for now. I want everyone else now to check all doors that are unexplored. Qene, you have one to the west.”
“It’s a brick wall.”
“And I have a brick wall south and a brick wall west. Zecora, I want you to see if you can get to the ballroom. Go north back over the chasm, north again to the junk room and east from there. Take the stairs there and that should take you to the ballroom.” After some time she reported to being there. “Alright wait there for a bit, I’m gonna follow close behind you now except I’m gonna go into the creaky hallway south of you.” I did so. “Fancypants, let’s have you go west to the foyer then upstairs and east.”
Some time passed. “I’ve found what appears to be the master bedroom. There’s a book with a on the bed. It seems to be a journal belonging to the owner of the house telling of a great fortune to whoever is smart enough to find it in the house. There’s also a list of clues to look for.”
“Alright, now we have an objective. So here’s the rules: I get the treasure because this is my mission but we’re all going to work together to find the clues. Any complainers will be punished. Got it?” They all gave affirmative answers. “Good. Qene, search the wine cellar for a clue now.”
“I don’t see anything.”
“Try again, there’s always something in the wine cellar.”
“Oh, wait. I found a note that says to check the dining room.”
“Alright, now go east two to the junk room and check there.”
After some time for travel, he said “There’s a message inscribed on the desk that says a clue might be outside the house or perhaps out a window.”
“Ok, stay there for now. Mim, head to the dining room. South one, east two, south another. And try searching for the clue in there.”
Some travel time later she said “I don’t see anything out of the ordinary.”
“Well, keep looking. Doctor, how’s the filly?”
“She seems to have calmed down but she still won’t talk. She seems willing to follow me though.”
“Ok, good. Check there in the gym for a clue.”
“There’s a message carved into the underside of one of the exercise equipment saying to check the chasm.”
“Alright, see if you can get back out of that room using the revolving wall.”
“I found the switch.”
“Ok, head into the tower and check there.”
“Woah!”
“What happened?!”
“I pressed on a suspicious-looking stone and the ceiling began to fall. Luckily, this mad pony is apparently very strong and was able to catch the ceiling before it crushed us.”
“That was lucky. Why don’t you head west to the balcony, out of trouble and wait there for a bit. Zecora, go down the stairs and east to the pentagram room and search there.”
“I have found a stone with many dapples saying we should check the crypt or chapel.”
“Ok, head back out to the basement landing and wait there for a sec. I’m gonna see if I can get to the chapel from here. I’ll head west one, south one, and west again, see if I can cross the collapsed room into the garden to the west and the chapel is on the other side of the garden.” I started my way there, but I misjudged the jump over the collapsed floor and fell back into the furnace room. “Ow, goddammit! I fell into the furnace room. Well, I might as well check for clues here. Ow, mother fucker! Something just shot a dart at me which appears to be dripping with some sort of poison.”
“That sounds pretty serious,” the Doctor said. “Should we leave and get you some medical attention?
“No, no, I’ll be fine, let’s just find the treasure quickly and then we can worry about my health. Fancypants, see if there are any clues in the master bedroom.”
“I found some science equipment with a note that says to check one of the laboratories.”
“Great, now go check the vault and see if there’s anything there.”
“There’s an inscription on the inside of the vault door saying to look in the basement.”
“Of course. Every good treasure hunt has stuff hidden in the basement. Fancypants, wait there for a minute. Qene, head south across the chasm and be on the lookout for any clues there. Then, check the research lab.”
“There’s nothing in view in the chasm. I did, however, find a strange puzzle box in the research lab. I don’t think I could solve it though.”
“Alright, leave the box and wait there for now. Mim, have you found anything in the dining room yet?”
“There’s a message on the underside of a plate that says to check the furnace room.”
“I already did that and got shot by a poison dart. Head north two and east one to the graveyard and see if there’s anything there.”
“Nothing at first glance but I’ll keep looking.”
“Sounds good. Doctor, head west to the servant’s quarters and check for clues.”
“I found a floor plan of the house with an X marked in every room.”
“Well, that’s not very helpful. Try the gallery south of you.”
“There’s a water stained map pointing towards either the conservatory or the underground lake.”
“Ok, great. Wait there for a bit. Zecora, head north, then east, then north again to check the operating lab, the lake, and the crypt.
“In the lab and the lake, I find nothing of measure. In the crypt, however, I have found the treasure!”
“Sweet! What is it, is it money?”
“I know not what it be for it seems to need a key.”
“Alright, everybody make your way to the entrance hall and we’ll regroup there.” Once we all reached the entrance hall, Zecora being the last because she had the farthest to travel and she was carrying the treasure, We all examined the chest that the treasure was kept in. “It seems to be locked with a hand print. Too bad I don’t have hands...well, I guess I’ll just take it home until I do have hands again and try to open it then. For now though, we need to figure out how to get out of here.”
“The door is actually unlocked now,” Qene said.
“Oh, well that’s convenient.”
“There’s also a note that says that once we leave, all damage taken will be restored including poison, all items save for the treasure must remain, and once everyone has exitted, the floor plan will be shuffled.”
“Alright, everyone drop your items then. Let’s take the treasure and get out of here.”
“What about the filly and mad pony?” the Doctor asked.
“There’s nothing in the note that says they can’t come along,” Qene said.
“”Bring ‘em with us,” I said.
And with that, the now eight of us left the house. I was a little intrigued by the fact that the floor plan would reset each time so I thought I might go back someday. But that’s an adventure for another day. Qene’s voice charm wore off pretty soon after we left the house. The mad pony was escorted by the Doctor to the crazy house while the rest of us brought the treasure to the library. The whole way there, I kept trying to get the little filly to talk to me. Though she seemed rather comfortable around me, she still wouldn’t say anything. She seemed more comfortable with me than with any of the others, in fact, which is probably why they all decided to leave her in my custody. She was a unicorn filly with a bright red coat and fiery yellow-and-orange hair. After ensuring that the treasure made it to the library safely, Fancypants and Zecora went home. Zecora said she would take the dog to the local animal shelter known as Fluttershy.
“Twilight, I’m home,” I yelled when I entered the door. “And I think I have a daughter now.” There was no response. “Hmm.” I turned to the filly. “Do you think you can take the treasure to my room? Qene will show you where it is.” She nodded and took the treasure with her magic off to my room. “Twilight? You said you were coming home after the ceremony right?” I wandered around the library looking for her. I checked her study where I found a scroll with my name on it. Upon reading it, I learned that she and the others had been asked to perform a play for Hearth’s Warming Eve in Canterlot so they all decided to stay there for the week. She also said not to forget about my armor which I was supposed to pick up the next morning. Whatever. I’ll take care of that tomorrow. I’ve had a long day and I’m ready for bed. I suppose I should make sleeping arrangements for the filly. Eh, she can sleep in Twilight’s bed. I’m sure she won’t mind.
I went to my room to find the filly, Qene, and Mim. “Qene, Mim, go to bed. We have to go back to Canterlot tomorrow so you’ll need some sleep. Filly, I don’t feel right calling you that. You need a name. How about Flare?” She shook her head. “Ember?” Another shake. “Scorch?” Shake. “Pyre?” Shake. “You know, this would be a lot easier if you would just tell me your name.”
“Flagra,” she said.
“There, now was that so hard. Flagra, You’ll be sleeping in Twilight’s bed.” She shook her head again. “You no, if you keep shaking you head like that, your brain is gonna start rattling around.” She gave me a look that said she wasn’t taking any of my bullshit. “Alright, so that may not be true, but it is getting annoying. So, if you’re not gonna sleep in Twilight’s bed then where?” She climbed up onto my bed, did a little circle, and plopped down. “Then where am I supposed to sleep?” She just patted the bed next to her. “Fine.” I climbed into bed next to her. “But nothing weird, ok?” She gave me a look as if to say ‘Weird how?’ “Nevermind, just go to sleep.” She nodded and put her head down. I magicked the light out and we slept.