80 Days: Under the Waves

by Sharp Spark


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With that, we crept inside the shrine, cautious of any worshippers or clergy remaining within. The shrine was silent and empty, though I nearly jumped at the sight of the twisted bone statuary, which in the dim light took on unsettling forms.

We approached the floating stone at the center of the dais, and after once again peering around to determine that we were alone, I retrieved the hammer and chisel from my saddlebag and set to work. A golden aura enveloped the stone as Madame Fog cautiously shielded it in her magic, though I do not know to what ends - either to silence my efforts, or stabilize the stone under my hooves, or some other arcane purpose beyond my understanding.

It took an agonizing expanse of time before I was able to break off sufficiently large fragments for Madame Fog and myself. We stole away from the sanctum, still alert for anypony who had taken notice of our theft, but no shout of alarm or cry of horror came.

Scarcely an hour later, we walked out of the eastern bounds of the city...