The Crucible of Restoration

by Golden Paw

Chapter Eight

“Hey Captain, how come you’re not down there with the rest of them?” Skyeye called down from his dome. Boldstorm rubbed his tired eyes with a hoof.

“Well someone needs to stay up here to relay any messages Mr Sky, the Maelstrom is playing havoc with inter-squad communications. So her Highness has very sensibly chosen to direct the messages through the Bloomberg,” Bold felt weary, far more tired than he should be, and that fact was making him irritable. He’d been on longer stints than this, worked harder than this and been still been able to outlast the rest. But this place, something in the air just sapped the spirit..

He stared at the reports still coming in and felt his frown only deepen. They’d been relaying messages for the past three hours and every moment Bold was stuck up here his angst grew. Twilight, Foresight and that lithi were in the squall out there and Bold was fraying at the edges with inactivity and exhaustion.

Recently however some ground teams had missed two checkins. It seemed whatever perversity was causing the Maelstrom only got stronger during the night, effectively cutting off any attempts to reach the princess and leaving Bold with a sick sense in his stomach. They still got some data, but...

“But they can leave the likes of relaying messages to Gossip and I surely?” Sky pressed as he leaned down sideways to peer at Bold through his goggles. The oppressive atmosphere didn’t seem to have much effect on Skyeye, but rather than encourage Bold it only grated on his nerves all the more.

Bold snorted before Gossip chirped, “Her Highness obviously wants us up here, ready in case something goes wrong down there.” It seemed the cheerfulness was contagious.

Skyeye swivelled his chair around, the whole assembly of the dome whirring with it. As part of the their duties as the relay point Skyeye was sifting the data coming in and producing a map of the tunnels below. After marking another section Skyeye glared down at Gossip, his goggles failing to hide his anger.

Gossip for his part simply grinned up in return before replying, “Twilight’s in charge remember so don’t go around questioning her decisions. The Princess knows what she’s doing.”

Skyeye’s lip curled, “Well the Bloomberg might disagree with her on that one. Have you seen the damage he’s taken? We’re lucky to still be airborne.”

It was all show Bold realised, the pair were just as worn and worried as him. They just covered it better. The weight on his soul should have been lifted at this revelation, but even the sense of shared adversity didn’t break through Bold’s somber cloud.

Gritting his teeth Bold fought the urge to stomp his frustrations into the deck. Ever since they’d come to this place the tension in the crew had been growing steadily and he still had no clear idea as to why.

It was more than just the normal stress of the mission, but every time Bold tried to focus there was almost an itch behind his eyes and from the expressions of those around him bold knew he wasn’t alone. He’d flown with Skyeye and Gossip through tougher skies than this without so much as a cross word between them. It’s this place, it gets under your coat and rubs you the wrong way.

“Well if your eyes were half as good as you claimed then maybe we could have avoided all that damage huh? Fat lot of good you’ve been up in that bubble of yours,” Gossip sniped back.

We’re not acting like ourselves. Bold prided himself on being unshakable and a ‘go getter’. Where he would have once insisted on being at the front he was instead here, nursing this squabbling pair.

The nasty suspicion was dawning on Bold that he was afraid. It wasn’t anything tangible twisting his stomach and grasping his normally stoic heart with its icy claws, just a general irrational fear. One that seeped into the bones and soul slowly but remorselessly.

Bold looked out at the unnatural sandstorm and had the unsettling impression that it was in some indefinable manner looking back at him. His mind drifted to Applebloom’s outburst on the bridge yesterday. If anything could prove there was something off about this place then that single interaction alone was it. The chief didn’t break down like that she just didn’t.

“It’s not my fault! I can barely see anything out there but sand. If you want to point the hoof at anypony then blame Twi…. ” Sky snapped, his muzzle drawn out in a sneer before Bold stomped his hoof in warning and left a small dent in the metal.

“Listen to yourselves will you? This is insane. A few days ago you’d ‘ave followed the Princesses to Tartarus and back. Now you’re ready to tear into each other like rivaux chicks!” Belrio squarked from his position at the helm. His heavy accent cut through the escalating fight like a flash of lighting.

It was as if a fog lifted. Gossip and Skyeye blinked as if seeing each other for the first time before grimaces of regret appeared. Bold snorted in appreciation, “Thank you Belrio. There’s something wrong about this place, it’s messing with our heads.”

The words sounded half hearted to Bold even as he said them, but shaking off the grim fatalism he carried on, “Don’t let it get to you, Twilight and the others are counting on us!” The air in a the bridge changed and a charged feeling of determination blossomed once again. Even if just for a short while at least.

“Right you are Captain!” Sky called.

“You can count on us sir!” Gossip saluted.

Bold nodded still doing his best to ignore the dread grasping at him. Hope you’re doing better than we are Twilight, I hate to think of how bad things must be for you down there.

---

“It’s like pieces of a puzzle only separated from each other,” Twilight called out eagerly, “They all form a complete whole while being an impressive distance apart. I would dearly like to know how they did it.”

Foresight stood dumbfounded as Twilight’s engrossed musing washed over her. Since entering the cave she’d been like a giddy school filly with a new toy and Foresight watched Twilight with growing concern.

This place was an archaeologist's dream, everywhere Foresight looked she saw mysterious carvings and frescoes of ancient design. The twisting passages of the cave had given way to angular corridors of blackened stone that reminded Foresight of obsidian polished to a glossy luster.

Foresight, Twilight and Impasse were in the centre of a circle of guards. The small party cautiously examined the maze in minute detail. But where as Twilight was charged with excitement Foresight couldn’t help but feel a creeping unease about this place.

She’d been in enough magical dig sites to get a feel for her work. It was part of Foresight’s talent to get a feeling of a place and these tunnels simply felt terribly wrong. They were oppressive in a manner that went beyond simple dislike. The very walls cried their discomfort in a silent lament that settled on the soul.

“It’s jumped again your Highness, should I note the location?” Pipsqueak called out, his words devoured by the blackness all around, leaving his voice weak and frail.

Despite the quiet Foresight struggled to hear Pip clearly, the surrounding rock seemed just as hungry for sound as the darkness. Drinking in their voices until they were but muted whispers. The only member of their team who was unaffected was Twilight herself. She practically radiated enthusiasm and confidence.

“Please do Pip. That’s the fifth time, where does that place us now?” Twilight asked her eager eyes aglow.

Pip paused for a moment before replying, “Two kilometers south of our last position.”

Twilight nodded, “See, we moved a massive distance in a single hoofstep. Utterly amazing!”

Foresight strove to keep a positive smile as Twilight indicated for Pip to go back a ways. He complied and after double checking his instruments nodded, “Yes your highness. The navigator confirms your theory. This whole place is a jumble of locations scattered about the landscape and linked by portals.”

Twilight almost squealed with delight and Foresight could hide the frown no longer, “Your Highness, I fear you’re not taking this situation seriously enough. Ponies have been hurt and we’re no closer to finding the Vault.”

Twilight simply rolled her eyes, “Oh don’t be such a spoil sport Foresight. I would have thought a pony like you would be thrilled at such a discovery.”

Foresight glanced at Impasse hoping for some support. His face was blank as always, but after a moment he nodded in agreement, “Foresight is correct your Highness, such levity is unexpected.” Twilight merely stuck her tongue out in response before skipping ahead.

The accompanying soldiers shuffled in agitation, glancing from Twilight to Foresight in mounting alarm. Foresight could only watch as Twilight giggled and bounced her way forward, her own dread growing with every moment. The accompanying guards froze with indecision as Twilight continued her strange mannerisms.

“The shadows are moving…..” Foresight snapped her head around to see Repose watching the walls intently. His eyes were round with fear, darting this way and that with a frantic edge.

Looking for herself Foresight saw nothing amiss, the light from their lamps forming perfectly ordinary images upon the blackened stone. Yet the feelings of cold malice practically dripped from the walls. The sense that they were unwelcome intruders was palatable, like bile on the tongue.

They needed answers and fast, the oppressive atmosphere felt heavier with each passing moment and Foresight had the premonition that something terrible was only minutes away. Like a sleeping dragon slowly waking to find its lair invaded the sense of hostility continued to grow. Twilight had begun singing in the distance, an off kilter tune about potatoes and cheese that made Foresight all the more frightened, of all the ponies here only Twilight seemed to be enjoying herself.

Ever since that spine chilling message back on the Bloomberg, Foresight had been dreading using her magic. Deep in her heart she had silently hoped Twilight would use her own considerable talents and spare Foresight the ordeal. But it seemed Twilight was fast accelerating towards ‘coo-coo land.’

Fighting the rising panic in her heart Foresight closed her eyes and reached out with her magic. Cautiously, like someone testing the water she let the magic brush against the stones of this place.

They were cold, not in a physical sense but in a jaded manner. These walls had seen hundreds of passers bye in their time. Foresight understood these sensations weren’t literally memories, but more an impression left by the passing souls of those who came before.

The overwhelming impression was of great sadness, a grieving for lives wasted. Foresight was only just recovering from that when a fresh pain hit her like a spike through the temples. Creatures had died here, hundreds if not thousands of souls both noble and base.

They had all come here seeking the Vault, yet none had achieved their goal. They had all failed, some turning back while others had pressed onwards to…. The sudden power that struck Foresight knocked her to her knees.

The slender connection she’d made with the history of this place was suddenly and abruptly severed with the finality of a cleaver hitting a chopping block. Foresight reeled as her eyes adjusted, the mental images fading to reveal the physical world once again..

Something had blocked Foresight’s probings. It had been sharp, direct and yet…. “Foresight are you hurt?” Impasse’ asked.

She looked up at him and had to shake away fleeting impressions of a tall white alicorn stallion. Even as Foresight blinked the impression faded, leaving the granite grey Impasse in his place.

“I… someone….” Foresight muttered as she heaved herself upright again. Screwing her eyes shut Foresight tried to recall the brief flash of connection, “There is such a weight of history here it’s staggering.”

“This place is old, I mean really old and lots of bad things happened here,” Foresight gasped as the pain ebbed from her mind. “And someone is here, trying to make us leave I…”

The fleeting image of a red mane and almost pleading eyes drifted into Foresight’s mind, full of strength and yet laced with pain. Not evil yet dangerous…. leaving that riddle aside Foresight looked again at the carvings on the wall. The use of her spell hadn’t been fruitless.

“They’re warnings, rows upon rows of warnings to turn back and leave this place well enough alone,” Foresight whispered, the glyphs all around her screaming their meaning to her despite Foresight’s inability to actually read them.

Foresight grimaced as Twilight’s grinning face drifted into her field of vision, “You’re always on about bad things Foresight, try talking about something fun huh?” Twilight’s left eye twitched and her mouth trembled.

“You always talk about sad things,” The grin on Twilight’s face melted to be replaced with a miserable frown. “Things are so sad, I wish we could just go home….”

Foresight leaned back in surprise as Twilight moved forward and hugged her, “You’ve seen what’s wrong haven’t you? You’ve seen why this place is so sad!”

“Twilight don’t I….” Foresight began, a mixture of embarrassment and fear fighting for her attention.

Twilight snapped back to her silly grin before she practically launched herself at the wall, tapping it and examining the glyphs in fascinated detail, “They’re so pretty don’t you think? This one looks like a birdy with a scorpion tail. So remarkable!”

Foresight could only stare open mouthed as Twilight’s manner switched again and tears ran down her cheeks, “Oh it’s terrible, why would anypony do such a thing! They’re all blue!” Twilight collapsed into a trembling pile, alternating floods of tears and giggles pouring from her.

The sight of Foresight’s foalhood heroine afflicted so sent a spasm of terror through her heart. This was Twilight, the pony of legend shaking on the ground before her. The world she understood was crumbling around Foresight and…..

“Twilight’s mind is in turmoil Foresight. I know she forbade you to reach into her mind before, but if you don’t do something we will lose her,” Impasse’ call broke through the cloud of despair smothering Foresight.

Swallowing, Foresight did as he bid and with trepidation peered into Twilight’s consciousness. She could feel the whirlwind of thoughts that gripped Twilight, the normally ordered impressions and ideas lost in a storm of conflicting emotions and concepts.

Foresight did her best to ignore the pleas and random babble Twilight was spouting, doing all she could to remain calm in the face of Twilight’s sudden degeneration. Incredible Pressure was the only word that explained what Twilight was going through. Twilight’s mind was being battered by overwhelming forces of magical stimuli, as if thousands of voices were trying to make themselves heard inside her head with yet more power pouring in by the moment.

Foresight was astonished that Twilight had lasted as long as she did under such conditions. The stresses must have been enormous even for one as magically gifted as…. Then Foresight saw the problem. Like a spider’s web of energy the very walls had linked themselves to Twilight’s mind, pouring power and memories into her at an incredible rate. They were treating Twilight like an earthing rod.

It was a devious trap, one that seemed almost designed for beings of Twilight’s abilities. These caves weren’t immune to the raging magical storm outside, far from it. They drank in that chaotic power and stored it until a suitable, powerful being came within reach.

The stronger the magic contained within the target the worse the effect would be. It used their very abilities to draw on magic against them. “This place was a trap for alicorns and other beings of similar power,” Foresight whispered and knew what they must do.

Foresight’s eyes snapped open, “Get me a magic suppression collar now!” The soldiers stood dumbfounded before Foresight’s horn blazed, “If you want her Highness to live you will get me a magic suppression collar right now!” Foresight screamed the command into their minds before turning her attention back to Twilight.

Foresight ignored the glassy eyed expressions that swept over Pip and the others, they would understand the need to use domination magic on them afterwards. Foresight instead focused on Twilight, doing her best to take some of the incredible load the trap was placing on her Princess.

The storm of magic filled Foresight’s mind like burning fire. Random images flashed across her vision as a roaring filled her ears. Through the torrent now blasting Foresight’s spirit she saw Twilight grimace before a tiny, thankful, nod was offered.

Through the haze Foresight saw Repose shuffle forward, his expression blank and his movements mechanical. She spared him a single mental command and in that moment Foresight lost her focus. The torrential forces Foresight had been shielding Twilight from surged and she felt her own mind begin to crumble.

The world spun around Foresight and just when she was ready to abandon herself to madness the flood was cut off with a metallic snap. Both Foresight and Twilight tumbled to the ground, each gasping in pain. Foresight managed to open one streaming eye to see if the suppression collar had done done the job.

Foresight’s very soul ached. The after effects of the magical onslaught left searing lines of pain that started from the tip of her horn, ran down her neck before flaring brightly in her hooves. Foresight had only taken a tiny measure of the magical load and even that had nearly blasted her sanity.

Fearfully Foresight watched Twilight, silently praying that they’d gotten to her in time.

“You know, I’m starting to think this place really doesn’t like us,” Twilight finally said in a slow deliberate voice.

Relief washed over Foresight and with a final sigh allowed the pain to swallow her up. She felt the world slip away before passing into merciful unconsciousness.

---

The collar hung about Twilight’s neck, managing to feel far heavier than the solid metal would have originally appeared. But it was far more comfortable than the alternative. Magic suppression collars were not a new invention in Equestria, being around for almost as long as unicorns had been found.

The poetic lesson wasn’t lost on Twilight, with all the technology we’ve been using she’d been saved by one of the oldest inventions there was. The collar was forged from a magic diffusing ore and effectively negated the magic of those who wore them.

The irony that an invention created to imprison ponies now allowed Twilight to walk the corridors of this maze freely (admittedly without spells or flight) caused Twilight to smile grimly. The trap had been so subtle that Twilight couldn’t help but have a healthy respect for it’s creators.

By the time she’d realised the danger Twilight would have been beyond reason, only the timely intervention of Foresight and the others had saved Twilight from a horrible death. Not of the body but of her very essence, mind blasted until only madness remained.

Twilight was alive and for that she was grateful, but her situation only lead to more questions. Who would create such a trap in the first place and why specifically to target such gifted creatures?

Whoever they were, they evidently didn’t want anyone of significant magical power to reach the Vault. Thankfully the others in the expedition didn’t seem to be in any direct danger, a few of the unicorns among their number complaining of headaches and increased feelings of paranoia.

Every creature in their world had magic in them so the pegasi and earth ponies felt the effects. But the fact it was enough to mortally threaten Twilight really did point to a specific desire to stop alicorns and their equals from entry.

Twilight shook off her musings, they were here now and the sooner they got the information they needed the sooner they could leave this dreadful place. The initial wonder had quickly fled her heart in the face of the dangers presenting themselves.

The charting of the maze was practically completed now. Their first assumption that it was in fact a maze having been proven wrong. There were simply a great many paths that all lead to the one central chamber that Twilight and the others now stood within.

The same onyx stone was ever present. It made up the floor and was arranged in an angular pattern around the circumference of the chamber. Each wall stood covered in the same warning script which only stopped to allow a diamond shaped doorway in each facing..

The chamber itself was dominated by a pool of water, it’s edges surrounded by a raised ledge that followed the borders of the room. High above was a distant skylight which allowed feeble sunlight to filter down into the chamber. By the looks of things they had taken most of the day to travel to this point, the rays from above held the amber hues of dusk.

Twilight heaved herself forward, the collar making her whole body feel like lead. She pressed forward until she could stare into the pool, noting how still it was. No ripples disturbed its surface and as Twilight looked down she saw within her own reflection simply more darkness. The pool simply slipped away into blackness below, leaving its depths shrouded.

Apart from these details the chamber was empty, barren apart from the gathering of explorers. The other teams, also exploring different entrances, had also converged on this place. Each of their respective paths led to this central room, like a spiral or disjoined whirlpool.

They all milled around with sour expressions, several cases of ‘Cave Delirium’ as it was now being called by the medical corps sapping the gathering’s spirits yet further. Now warned it took little effort to fit the afflicted ponies with suppression collars, leaving them uncomfortable but at least lucid.

“Well we’re here, now what?” Twilight asked to no one in particular.

“I guess we solve the riddle,” Foresight mumbled. She’d been in a pretty bad state ever since she and Twilight had briefly shared their minds. The aftershocks had left Foresight with a distant gaze, a slight tremble to her limbs.

Even as Twilight looked Foresight over she saw the sunken eyes and pain held within. Twilight smiled weakly, “That was a very brave thing you did Foresight, even before ‘sharing the load’. Simply using an active spell was incredibly dangerous.”

Foresight smiled grimly, “It was worth the risk and you would have done the same for any of us your Highness. Consider it my making amends for past slip ups,” Foresight replied exhaustion heavy in her voice. “Let’s get this over and done with shall we? I’ve had my fill of strange and dangerous monuments for the day.”

Before Twilight could stop her Foresight cautiously ignited her horn and let the pale blue aura of magic play across the stones lining the central pool, “I think, if I’m careful then I can mitigate the worst effects of the Malstrom, won’t be able to get a clear reading but will just have to hope it’s enough.

Twilight couldn’t just stand there while Foresight exerted herself again. Even as she thought it Foresight turned her head towards her, “No your Highness, I need to do this. I’m sure you’ve already figured out how I do my history spell, but with the greatest respect this is my job. Plus we all know what would happen if you took that collar off.”

Twilight’s muzzle scrunched up in annoyance, but Foresight was right of course. she gave a deep sigh before stepping back and letting Foresight do her work. Twilight could only watch as the magic seeped into the stone and gently prised out its secrets for Foresight’s analysis, “Okay, but at the least sign of trouble we’re putting a collar on you.”

Foresight nodded, eyes closed and her breathing shallow. The only evidence that she hadn’t passed out was her eyes moving behind their lids and a slight twitching of her hooves. The moment drew on and as it did a sheen of frost began to spread out form Foresight. The trembling increased and Twilight was about to order a collar to be used, but Foresight held up an admonishing hoof, “No, I can do this. Just need to be careful and…”

Several ponies muttered darkly and Twilight winced. Even after all Foresight had just done the others still didn’t trust her. Some prejudices were just too deeply rooted to vanish overnight it seemed. Twilight began to gain an inkling into what Foresight went through every day. Equestrians would treat her like some kind of pariah, a reminder of a darker past that everyone would rather forget. Even the putting herself in danger for them wasn’t enough for some.

The fact that she’d just saved Twilight’s life wasn’t enough to sway them it seemed. The bat ponies, ice hearts and lithi all still suffered in some degree from what Nightmare Moon had done. Some hurts ran too deep for an easy cure.

No wonder Celestia and Luna had wanted this whole mission done quietly. The raking up of old injustices was painful but that didn’t mean they shouldn’t try everything to make it right. Twilight looked to Foresight and Impasse her heart going out to them. They were victims here, not monsters. All the more noble for doing good despite the poor reaction they received.

Twilight’s eyes met with Impasse’ and she felt a sudden connection with the lithi, a deep understanding borne of adversity. Maybe it was the brief sharing of her mind with Foresight but now Twilight saw him truly as a hero. Despite their curse the lithi had served Equestria faithfully since Nightmare Moon’s fall. A whole hidden history of dedicated sacrifice the world at large knew nothing about.

Any doubts as to whether their task was a just one had vanished in that moment and Twilight resolved to do whatever she could to help the lithi. Not from a duty to Celestia and Luna, but as a personal thank you to the lithi.

“As always the answer is simple once you know it,” Foresight announced with triumph, drawing Twilight’s attention back to her.

“Where does the earth and sky meet but never touch? Look for yourselves!” Foresight waved a hoof over the pool and Twilight instantly saw it. The sky was reflected within! Although miles apart the sky touched the surface here. The clues had been in the design of this place, several independent points, yet all making up the cave system. Touching yet distant.

“And the second part?” Twilight asked, reckoning she had a good idea already. Where breath fails but the soul never gives up.

Foresight nodded, “Yes your Highness I think we’re in for a long dark swim.”