Transcendent Assignation

by Mr Anomalous

Not Board Games, That's for Sure

At this point in my life, I really wished I had somehow managed to bring my bagpipes. Of course, they were far too bulky and heavy to really take anywhere, but I couldn't help but wonder how cool they would sound, far up into a high mountain, echoing down. Bagpipes are really a rather unique instrument, and unfortunately many people hated them.

Probably because they weren't Scottish in lineage. Like me.

I just shook my head and stood up from my cross-legged position near the edge and returned to the side of the mountain. I went into my duffle bag's side pocket and withdrew a pipe (Gandalf style!) - and patted my pocket for some form of lighting-device.

I always kept smoking pipes in random places, just in case I ever found myself in need of one and lo and behold, there I was.

I drew in a breath and blew a ring. I've gotta say, cold mountain air through a pipe actually tastes pretty good.

I leaned back and . . . well, the mountain fell out. Or, I guess, the wall.

I fell backwards with the cascade of snow, cursing on the way down. I scrambled back up to my feet, wondering just what the hell had happened, and then cocked my head.

The snow. It'd been covering the entrance to a cave. I looked left and then right, and then grabbed my bag and ducked inside the darkness.

- - -

Twilight and Celestia had been moving about the palace as they spoke all day long, but they had eventually found their way into Celestia's sleeping quarters and were, what else, drinking tea. Tea, as it would seem, was an end-of-the-world beverage.

"Game . . . Masters? . . . . But what does that mean?" Twilight asked, more confused and frustrated than she had been in a very long time. But anger was useless, she knew. Which only served to make her feel even more irate.

"The Game Masters. That is what these shadows are most commonly referred to as," Celestia answered patiently.

"But why? They don't play games, they kidnap defenseless people and take them who knows where!" Twilight said, voice raised.

"On the contrary; why do you think Booker was taken?" Celestia countered.

Twilight fell silent and forced herself to calm down. "Okay. But why Booker? Why now? And just what kind of games?"

Celestia spoke slowly, saying: "I do not know why they have taken Booker, and why it was now, of all times. But the games? That just depends on which of the shadows gets to him first."

- - -

I was reminded of one of those vast cave systems in Skyrim. Where were the frostbite spiders, the falmer? Bandits? Dragon Priests? The atmosphere and overall shape of the passages just made me alert for a vampire to jump out at a moment's notice.

" . . . and then I'd have to trek all the way to Whiterun and activate Talos because I forgot to buy any disease potions again and it would totally suck . . . ."

I jogged quickly, eager to find something, anything, preferably the end of the cave, but remained alert at the same time, weapon ready to be drawn. There, of course, may have been actual monsters about.

I wasn't sure if I was even in Equestria any more. That scared me. I had been fighting that thought for the entire time, but that's what would make the most sense. I really couldn't deny it for much longer.

Fortunately, something else took my mind off of that.

There was a flash of warm light in the wall and I screeched to a halt, my heels digging into the dirt in a rather cartoonish fashion. I whirled around and backtracked. The light looked like an entrance to a side-cavern, and it was much brighter than everywhere else I'd been, so naturally I was drawn to it. A lot like a moth, apparently.

I peeked around and ended up gaping a little bit.

"Huh . . . how'd that happen?"

- - -

Stone Ridge stood guard at his usual spot outside of Celestia's throne room with his usual companion by his side. There was once a time in which he would have found himself bored to death, but fortunately he had matured past that phase. He had grown very skilled at acting more like a rock than a stallion.

But, even for someone as stoic and experienced as Ridge, some things just kind of take you unexpected.

There was a noise, distant, but definitely there. It was . . . unlike anything he had ever heard before. High-pitched, rapidly changing in volume, it almost sounded musical.

Ridge and his companion exchanged glances and they both lowered their weapons, ready for anything.

Ready for anything, that is, other than what actually happened.

Ridge heard a sound like stone on stone, and suddenly the sound was amplified. He whirled around and raised his weapon, crying out.

Ridge stopped in his tracks. And so did the source of the noise.

- - -

Twilight and Celestia halted their conversation.

"Did you hear that?" Twilight asked.

"Yes. It sounded like it came from down the hall, near the throne room . . . ."

Celestia's eyes widened and Twilight jumped when one of the guards shouted and and the noise grew louder for a moment before stopping.

Celestia moved faster than Twilight could really catch, but she followed as best as she could. Twilight reached the door and peeked outward. Celestia stood, tall and firm. Both of the guards were unharmed, but one had dropped his weapon and they both looked rather disheveled.

Twilight advanced suspiciously, but when Celestia turned, she saw her smile.

"I think we found him," she said.

Twilight frowned but looked around the elder princess and . . . .

"Booker?"

He was looking just as confused as the guards.

Author's Note:

Feedback; it is always appreciated.

Comments

[Black John]

Nice to see another chapter!

[Sketchy Markks]

Lolwat

[yrfoxtaur]

He found the Bagpipes of Path Finding?
Only I cant recall any other potential source of music.

[Mogss]

I think of bagpipes as the coolest instrument, but I still dont see how the bagpipes being not scottish = Hate.

[Wacky]

4552482 I am so totally making that an item of wondrous power in the PonyFinder game I get to start in on Friday! It's just too kewl an idea not to...

[yrfoxtaur]

4557850 play the right tune and start marching. You'll get where you're going, almost as quickly as the muppets traveling by map

At least that's how I imagine it.

[Lupus]

Well that was easy. Benevolent shadow, or cruel trick about to be played?

[dargondarkfire]

Hmm seems like a funny story. Let's see how this plays out
.... Why are there caves connected to the throne room?

[Nocturne Hurakan]

Interesting I like it can't wait for more.

[Pure Note]

I...
Need...
MORE!

[Gear and Bow]

More please!....If you're not to busy with other things I mean....wouldn't want to be a bother....

[AdamofBlastWorks]

I FINALLY FOUND IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After YEARS of searching, I finally found it because I had downloaded a copy of it on to my computer...
Finally...

I don't remember if I liked the story or not right now, but thanks for the link to music man!
I remembered listening to it all the time in the public library while playing Planetside 2 about 2 years ago and I've been looking for it for months as of late.

Yeah... that's what I came back for...

I will read the story in a bit.

[Neoar2000]

DELET THIS!!

[mycarhasaMoustache]

Is this ever going to be continued?

[mycarhasaMoustache]

8138315
Just scanning through mean Read later list and found this again.
yet another great story that got abandoned suddenly for no reason at all.
Stories getting abandoned are why I no longer bother to read anything unless its complete.