//------------------------------// // Chapter 72 - The Evil Dungeon of References! Part 1 // Story: The normal life of Nitpick Bittersweet // by Ryusun //------------------------------// Sometimes you think that a party is supposed to be a time where you expend your moments with the people you love. There are times where you are just there to help a friend to feel welcomed around a group of strangers. And also there are times where you are invited… but you don’t know anyone around you. You are just there, waiting for a kind of miracle to happen and make you realize that you are part of the fun. Or at least not being the source of said fun. And… sometimes you are forced against your will to assist to a party. It was September 29th, Sunday, at one in the evening. The royal prince known as Arbelth Blueblood invited three special guests, as his sister wished, to assist at her birthday party. It was supposed to be celebrated on her actual day, Saturday 28th, but it seems that there were some complications and adjustments missing that needed to be corrected so her celebration could be a success. At least, those were the words she used. Nitpick Bittersweet, Gilda Heavensbane, and Candie Sugarcoat were riding a helicopter with him, much to his annoyance. His face showed anger to the fact that his sister’s home fields would soon be spoiled by the filth of the simpletons. How silly are the priorities of the man that can practically buy the whole world compared to the troubles that the forced guest had in mind. “Can I ask again why I am here?” “My sister invited you to her birthday party, Little Maiden.” “I never agreed to be forced to assist to a birthday party. I was invited, remember?” “N-never mind that. S-so… are you still a-angry with us?” Nitpick asked politely. “You humiliated us in front of the whole school on these past few days!” Sugarcoat was mad. “Your recent acts has given to the Champions of Crystal Prep a dubious reputation! How are we supposed to keep order on the school when PEOPLE LIKE YOU COME AND SCREW THINGS UP!?” “That wasn’t our fault! If you hadn’t annoyed us like we told you since the beginning, nothing of this would have happened!” Gilda replied. “Besides, no one was laughing at you on the last few days!” “Y-yeah, I love this academy! They d-don’t exaggerate the n-news like in my old middle school!” “I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU THINK OF IT, YOU BIG STUPID APES!” Gilda rushed forward and put the future Crystal Champion in a headlock. “I see someone hasn’t learned the meaning of being humble yet!” “Lee…me… gooagh!” “I’m so sorry! I can’t hear you! You should try to breathe properly, you know?” “Let her go, griffonian!” Blueblood calmly said while bumping his cane to the floor. “This Little Maiden had enough of your aggression!” “As you wish.” Sugarcoat breathed deeply several times after being released while Gilda took her seat. “So, we just deliver the present and we can go, right Nit? Uh… Nit?” Gilda finally noticed something curious with her friend. His legs were shaking, his hands were firmly holding each other with massive strength, and he was looking at his fingertips rather funny. “Don’t tell me you are afraid of heights!” “N-no!” The engines made a thunderous noise. “YES!” “Oh come on!” She embraced him with one of her arms. “Don’t worry, because Gilda is here!” She winked at him rather flashy, much to his comfort. “You are r-right!” Another loud noise came from the engine. “I-it just a few minutes more, right? …right!?” Blueblood sighed with tiresomeness. “Don’t worry, plebian. Just a few minutes more…” …. “Mother Earth!” Nitpick embraced the nearest tree and kissed it. “Never again!” “Come on, Nit! That’s not cool!” “I don’t care, bitch!” He continued his affections to Mother Earth while Gilda simply rolled her eyes when she got near him. “Alright, we have lost enough time already! Please follow me!” “Where are we going?” Sugarcoat arranged her glasses. “And more importantly, where are we?” “We are in the Diamond Avenue at the western side of the city limits!” “The Diamond Avenue? The terrains where the millionaires build their homes around the mountains of the land?” “Yes, Miss Sugarcoat! And these are the terrains of Reem’s home! The house is over there! Please, ride your seats inside the golf car!” “I never thought I would ride one of these!” Nitpick said. Blueblood started the engines and they were on the go. “HA! It really has a punch!” “Nitpick Bittersweet, you have never seen one of these before?” “No. I’m a middle class citizen, you know.” “Average poor, then.” “Asshole…” He mumbled. “Her house looks rather small for someone from royalty.” Gilda said. “My sister loves… how should I say? The humble life. Agh! I can’t believe she can find peace in a house so small!” “I don’t mind small houses.” Gilda said. “They are practical, nice, and you can - WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?” As they were approaching the Royal’s house, they soon discovered that the Prince’s description of it was too farfetched for a normal person’s point of view. The house wasn’t small. It wasn’t even big. It was Massive! It was made of two floors of the most beautiful architecture they have ever seen so far. It had a breathtaking view of the city, a pool, and from one of the windows, it had what it appeared to be a little cinema in a spacious room. “SEE!? I told you it was a small house!” The prince was angered. “You must now think that we come from a poor lineage of lowly nobles! The shame this brings to my family, I tell you! I should have tried harder to convince her to buy the mansion a few miles ahead!” “…What an ass.” Three people mumbled. Little they knew… someone was watching them from above on the second floor. …. Inside the house, the normal people saw with stupefaction the delicate ornaments that the walls had. There were several pieces of art hanging around, from your typical portrait to the most elaborate of landscapes. Tables whose fabric were made of the fanciest, cleanest cedar were positioned in an unobtrusive way, with lots of pots containing beautiful red roses on them. Their aroma was enchanting. It was the kind of essence that made you feel at peace. “Before we go inside, did you bring it?” Nitpick took out from his pocket a little, well enveloped box. “Here.” “Oh! You bought it in the ‘Boutique of Coral’ at the Maximus Plaza, I’m right?” “How do you know that?” “The ribbon gave it away. I know my way around the shops of the city. At least you bought a decent gift instead of your cheap, fair trinkets you commoners enjoy.” He stopped at a certain door. “Now, this way.” “Ass…” Blueblood opened the door, revealing a massive library on the inside. Tapestries decorated the walls of that room. They were brilliant in hue, given the sensation that they were impervious to the damage of time and neglect. One could almost imagine once-grand images of researches, titans of literature, or your unusual book lover calmly sitting in one of those wood chairs, enjoying the warmth that the room radiated from within. On the farthest corner of the library, there was a big portrait of a beautiful woman wearing a rather extravagant dress of the older times. On the floor, an elegant figure was admiring it with great meditation. Not even Sugarcoat herself could stop admiring the beauty of her Champion teammate. It was like if she was a doll made of porcelain, wearing the finest silk on the land. Even so, his brother was immune to her charms. “Sister, it’s good to finally see you again!” “Ah, my brother, you arrived on time.” Reem said without turning around. “Please, have a seat on the table nearby. There is iced tea, snacks and other appetizers than I am sure you will enjoy! Please put your cellphones on the table as well! I don’t want you to miss any kind of emergency call if needed!” Following her instructions without complain, the quartet started to enjoy the food that their host prepared for them. “Aren’t you going to sit, Reem?” “How did you call her, commoner?” “That’s her name, right!?” “Yes but you should call her Lady Oakwood! You filthy-“ “Now, now, my brother! It’s okay! I grow ever tired of being so formal from time to time!” “But sister!” “Hush, Blueblood! My birthday, my rules!” The skies suddenly acquired a tint of black and indigo blue. A storm was coming. A ferocious thunder hit one of the hills far away from the house. “What an excellent weather for my party celebration! Tee hee hee!” Reem walked to the window. “Magnificent, isn’t it?” “Yeah…” “What’s wrong, Nit?” Gilda subtly whispered. “I don’t know… something is wrong. I can feel it…” “That weird sense of yours?” “Yeah. Be on your guard. I don’t like this one… UH! Parmesan crackers! MINE!” “Heh! So much for the danger!” “Whatever you mean, my honored guest! In this place there are no dangers! No perils at all!” The host said while still admiring the storm. “So, how was your journey?” “Sister, why don’t you take a seat with us?” “Oh, don’t worry, my brother! I’ll take my seat in a few moments!” “Mmm…” “What is it, Miss Sugarcoat?” “Say, Champion Oakwood… Is that a painting of Princess Amore?” “AH!” She was charmed by hearing that question. “Indeed it is, Miss Sugarcoat! That is an exact replica of her painting! I have been meaning to get the original for some time now… but it would be best to let it stay at the National Museum of Equestria!” “What’s her story?” Gilda asked. “Did she do something cool?” “Don’t you know that she was responsible for ending the First World War, griffonian?” “HEY! I barely know about my own country!” “HMPH!” “Worry not, Miss Heavensbane, for I know a short story!” She cleared her throat while walking towards the painting. “During her youth, Princess Amore was said to be a woman of practical tastes, disgusted by the extravagances of her so-called ‘equals’ in the balance of power!” “Indeed she was! For she was a noble! Those commoners disguised as Lords weren't at her height of power!” “HUSH, BROTHER!” Blueblood shut his mouth. “Yes, she was a noble! Legend says that she was in fact a member of the Blueblood family as well! But history tends to exaggerate with its theories and unfound proofs to fill up the events of our legacy! Legends also said that General King Uldrich Sombra had a kind of connection to our family history!” “Blasphemy!” Blueblood hit the table. “That war criminal could never be a part of our legacy!” “Are you so sure of that, my brother?” Reem withdraw one book from the nearest shelf. “According to my little friend here, it is said that the Blueblood symbol consist of a moon devouring the sun! Why then the Uldrich lineage has a sun obscuring the moon? And more importantly, why the design and colors used are almost the same, even when both families are supposed to be completely unrelated?” “Because the Uldrich lineage just ripped-off our design, that’s all!” “Indeed they did, brother… Indeed they did… or perhaps there is more to that.” “Nonsense! Princess Amore sacrificed herself to save the world, and the Global Union was materialized with her death! Sombra was imprisoned and died like the madman he was!” “Conspiracy theories say that Princess Amore and Uldrich Sombra were actually in a relationship and that the war was just a stage for something bigger they planned!” “Little Maiden, that’s why they are conspiracy theories! They are nonsense!” “Some of those theories have proven to be true, Prince!” Nitpick said. “Did you know that the ZK-47 was in fact an Equestrian design instead of the Tuban one? Theory, now proved to be true, said that since the Equestrian government was too threatened in the manufacture of new weapons during the Shadow Wars, behind the scenes they gave the designs to our allied country so our good reputation could be kept intact?” “Ugh… yes… I’m aware of that fact.” The Royal Prince said with discomfort. “Another dark chapter for our otherwise glorious country.” “You exaggerate.” Gilda ate a bunch of crackers. “As far as I know, the Shadow Wars lasted so long because both countries benefited from the conflict! Grandpops was there! He said it was a really bad business! He also said that another reason for the war to last so long was because a personal vendetta between the ruling presidents of that time!” “Curious for you to mention the word ‘vendetta’ my honored guest!” Reem closed the book and put it back to its place. “Tell me something, does anyone of you know about the tale of Queen Chrysalis the First, the Deity of Betrayal?” “No.” “Nope.” “I am afraid to say that no, sister!” “I do.” Sugarcoat replied. “The official record says that she was known to play cruel mental tortures to her victims and betrayers, going so far to imprison them inside complex dungeons until either the victim gave up all hope and ended up broken, or it submited to the queen’s demands and forced to pledge eternal loyalty to her.” “Bravo, future Champion Sugarcoat!” She clapped three times with enthusiasm. “That is INDEED the correct answer!” “Why are you asking this?” “Nitpick Bittersweet, tell me something…” She turned around and locked her crystalline blue eyes with his. “Are you afraid of the dark?” As soon as their eyes met, it finally clicked on him. His Sixth Sense trembled on his spine. “IT’S A TRAP!” “What nonsense are you spouting, plebian?" “Perhaps he is just hungry!” Reem said while approaching her chair. As soon as she took her seat, the chairs suddenly imprisoned their users with restraining cuffs on their limbs, much to their horror. “WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?” Blueblood tried to escape. “I don’t remember my chairs having this kind of mechanisms!” Reem said with pleasant smile. “Fascinating!” “ARE YOU INSANE?” Sugarcoat yelled. “Wait…” Nitpick said. A strange sound came from below. “What’s that?” “Guys… don’t… move…” Gilda said with fear. Her friend followed her gaze, seeing that a hole appeared below them. The only thing that was stopping them from falling to deepest darkness was a small, transparent mosaic tile supporting their chairs. “Oh no! OH NO!” Blueblood shook his body and tried to move the chair away from that position. “NO, IDIOT, DON’T!” It was too late, the glass crumbled from his brusque movements… The five youths fell to their dooms, screaming like there was no tomorrow. …. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” ‘SPLASH’ At the middle of the road, the chairs released them from their grip, making them fall through a straight line in a pipe system. They landed on water, dampening their fall almost completely. “WHAT HAPPENED?” Sugarcoat was struggling to stay on the surface. “I DON’T KNOW!” Nitpick answered. “PRINCE, WHERE ARE WE!?” “I DON’T HAVE ANY IDEA! I DIDN’T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PIPE SYSTEM BELOW THE HOUSE!” “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T KNOW?” Gilda strangled his neck. “IT’S YOUR SISTER’S HOME!” “I SWEAR THAT I DON’T KNOW! REEM! REEM! WHERE IS MY SISTER!?” The water level abruptly started to diminish, scaring the victims to no end. But it came to a point where they could stand on the floor safely. Now they were wet. The coldness of the room gave them violent chills. Suddenly, four secret doors opened. Above each door, the names of each of them appeared. Beside it, there was a message that said ‘Dry clothes’. Beside it, there was another message. ‘If you want to live, change your clothes!’ And another. ‘Unless you want to die of hypothermia!’ And another. ‘Seriously, if you have read these ads to the very end without thinking of your health, you really have a death wish!’ Without anything to lose, each of them entered their appointed rooms, only to reveal that they were changing rooms. A selection of underwear that varied on size where there, much to their uncomforting situation. When they chose their new and clean clothes, another secret compartment opened to them. “WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?” Sugarcoat‘s voice made echo. “This looks like a costume!” Nitpick replied. “OH MY FUCKING TRUTH OF THE UNIVERSE! IS THIS WHAT I THINK IT IS!?” “What did you get, Nit? I got some retro pants and a cloak… I don’t like the color…” “Better see it on the flesh, Gilda!” “Are you forgetting that we are trapped INSIDE A STUPID ROOM!?” “SHUT UP, SUGARCOAT!” “DON’T SHUT ME UP, BITTERSWEET! I REFUSE TO WEAR THESE SILLY CLOTHES TO SURVIVE!” ‘SLAM’ “What was that!?” Blueblood took a peak outside. “MY DOOR IS LOCKED!” Sugarcoat tried with all her might to slam the door, to no avail. “OH GOD! OH MY GOD! WATER! WATER IS COMING FROM THE FLOOR AGAIN!” “I’M COMING!” But before they could do anything, Gilda and Nitpick’s door closed as well. But there was no water rising from below. “THE WATER HAS REACHED MY KNEES!” Sugarcoat slammed the door several times. “PLEASE! GET ME OUT! GET ME OUT!” Blueblood tried to open the door from outside but it was useless. It was firmly locked. “Little Maiden! I believe you have to wear the costume!” “BUT I HATE GREEN!” “DO YOU WANT TO DROWN IN THERE, YOU STUPID BRAT?” Gilda’s voice suddenly was pretty persuasive for Sugarcoat. That and her desperate situation called for a desperate answer. “I’LL WEAR THEM!” The water was instantly drained from the floor. Sugarcoat was safe. The doors were unlocked. Beside the small compartment where her costume was, another opened, only to reveal a dry towel to use it on her legs. “I’ll kill you for this, whoever imprisoned us…” She mumbled with vengeful intent. …. “What the hell are we wearing?” Gilda asked annoyed. “Costumes.” Sugarcoat replied. “It seems so.” Blueblood added. “Indeed.” Nitpick contributed. “Nit, you don’t sound happy at all anymore. What’s wrong?” “I’m wearing a generic Phase One Arc Trooper armor from Star Wars… I wanted the Phase Two iteration.” He almost shed a tear. “At least is an armor. I’m just wearing a coat and pants that my grandpops would wear without second thought. I don’t even know why I’m wearing this eyepatch!” “Perhaps you are wearing it because you were afraid to be drowned on water like me.” Sugarcoat said. “And what the hell are you? An elf?” “I don’t know… this resembles the uniform that Linkus from ‘The Folktale of Celda’ usually wears. But instead of six rhombus united, the sword and shield have three triangles… strange.” “Why did you put the elf ears?” “DID YOU REALLY ASKED THAT!?” “It doesn’t matter! We must find my sister IMMEDIATELY!” “Are you wearing a buffoon’s garment?” Gilda chuckled. “It suits you.” Sugarcoat played with her long hair. “HEY! THIS IS A GOOD BARD OUTFIT!” The metallic door in front of them opened instantly, making the prisoners doubtful of this event. But all of them saw at each other with agreement that they must press forward. Once inside the second room, the door closed behind them. Neither light nor darkvision could penetrate the gloom in this chamber. On the room's frontal wall, they could just barely perceive a screen that weakly illuminated it’s surrounding with a soft, black light. In an instant, the screen projected an unknown signal. There was an image of a very disturbing frog doll seeing them with hellish red-fiery eyes. “Hello, friends!” The doll spoke with a demonic voice. “You don’t know me but I know you. I want to play a game.” Cold sweats emerged from the victims’ bodies. “Here's the brief description of what is happening. The dungeon you five are in consists of three floors. There is no time limit to escape. You can take your sweet time to try and get out of here alive! But there are traps all over the place! Here, I'll show you... “ The monitor switched its image in intervals of five seconds. From pit holes to rooms filled with strange artefacts where all over the place. The next image showed a disturbing scene of hundreds of skulls staying silent in their pedestal, coldly waiting for something to happen. This last part of the recording took too much time. In the last moments, the skulls turned their sight to the monitor, looking at the prisoners with cold gazes. The shadow of death fell upon them when they saw the next image. It was Reem imprisoned inside a cage. “REEM!” “There is only one way to get out of here alive!” The doll came back to transmission. “On the first floor of this little dungeon, there lies the exit! You are in the third floor underground, if you need to know! But there is a catch! If you five don’t reach the exit together, the door won’t open… and you’ll be imprisoned here… forever!” The wind hissed with the last word. “Also, if you don’t wear your costumes during your journey, you’ll automatically lose!” Nitpick quickly put on his helmet. “Look around, my honored guests. Know that I'm not lying. You better hurry up before you starve to death. Live or die, make your choice!” The transmission ended. “We are doomed… DOOMED!” “Shut your mouth, you stupid little troll!” “I’m not a troll, Heavensbane! I’m an elf!” “It’s the same shit!” “I DON’T CARE! WE NEED TO SAVE MY SISTER!” Blueblood started walking around the room to find an exit. He touched every candle, looked inside the boxes for any kind of switch, button, whatever thing it could help to get out of there. His efforts came to fruition when he found a secret door behind the screen. “Help me!” The four of them pushed with all their might the screen. Reluctant, Blueblood opened the door to reveal a long stretch of void. A strong wind hit them, giving them chills to the core of their bones. They didn’t know who… or what, imprisoned them. Blueblood calmed down and tried to think the situation. The house was bought only a few weeks ago. Perhaps the previous owners constructed this basement to guard something obscure. Perhaps a dangerous family member was trapped inside… or perhaps they never knew about this part of the house. He didn’t remember any door that leaded to a subterranean floor when he had the tour with Reem during the buying. And even if her sister had sent the word to construct an underground facility… five weeks weren’t sufficient to build the traps they have witnessed on the screen. “Blueblood… any idea of what is happening?” “I don’t know, Miss Sugarcoat… but my family is in danger…” His fear disappeared when he thought of that. He stepped into the unknown. The other three had a sudden attack of conscience, and followed close behind the desperate brother’s steps. …. The end of the freezing corridor took them to another door. They didn’t have to open the door to notice something horrible. The room smelled strange, like rotten eggs combined with acid, like one of their school experiments. Blueblood opened the door, and it was revealed that the room had cracks in the ceiling, dropping a strange kind of ooze that was spreading across the floor. The slime seeps from the shattered wood of the ceiling at a snail’s crawl, forming a mess of unspeakable repugnance. When all of them got inside with baby steps, the door behind them closed by itself. They were trapped once again. “COME ON!” Gilda was angered. “At least the exit is on the other side.” She walked towards the gate, opened it, only to reveal a wall. “FOR FUCK SAKE!” “Calm down… we must think things clearly.” “SAYS THE BRAT WHO WAS BITCHING LIKE A GIRL MOMENTS AGO!” “LISTEN, YOU STUPID APE! YOU BETTER-!” “ENOUGH!” Nitpick intervened with a Stormtrooper voice. “Whoever imprisoned us was well aware that we were going to break down this easily! I for one don’t plan to give him the satisfaction of seeing us kill each other! Beside, we have to save the Prince’s sibling as well if we want to get out of here alive!” “The ple- Nitpick Bittersweet is right! We need to work together!” Sugarcoat and Gilda breathed deeply, trying to put their rage to rest. “Come on, Gilda, my friend… we will beat the shit out of this guy!” She calm downed immediately. “You are right…” She nodded rather slowly. “We’ll kill… we’ll…!” The world turned blurry to them. Their balance was slowly being crumbled by a certain drowsiness that was filling their bodies. They were falling asleep. “Oh no… I can’t… end up like this!” The Royal started to mumble. “I… am Prince Arbelth Blueblood! And I…” He fell to his knees. “I’m tired…” “Asshole… no!” Nitpick raised him. “We must find an exit quickly!” Sugarcoat looked around and found something that picked her interest. There was an iron structure with a small hole in it. But said was hole was large enough for her sword to fit in. She walked to try and put the sword on the empty structure, each step she gave was slower than the last. Her strength was failing, but she was stubborn enough to succeed in her task. With all her might she put the sword on the hole. ‘Tararururara’ A small mist of pink water showered the places where the oozes were accumulating, slowly disintegrating them and making their senses recover. The gate that had a wall obstructing the path disappeared, leading to another corridor. Sugarcoat pulled out her sword and sheathed it in her back sheath. With the rest of the Crystal students somewhat recovered, she pushed forward. Once safe midway the corridor, Sugarcoat turned around with closed eyes and wearing a prideful smile on her face. “As you can see, I have the gift of thinking on solutions even in the direst of pressures! Follow my lead and I assure you that we’ll get out of here alive!” “Are you fucking kidding us, you stupid little troll!? You only put a sword in a hole!” “Say what you will, Heavensbane! But you know that I am the best shot this team has!” She walked to the next door. “Now, let’s keep going and…” The entire floor of the next room had a big hole into oblivion. Sprinkles of water fell graciously to the void. At closer inspection, there were parts of the supposed inexistent floor making ripples. It seems that some parts of the floor are invisible like the tiles that sustained their chairs not so long ago. “Okay, Champion Leader!” Nitpick hugged Sugarcoat from behind. “Please lead us to the next door safely!” He said near her ear with mockery. Sugarcoat wasn’t amused… at all.