The Terror Below Hayseed Manor

by the7Saviors

Chapter 1

Moon Dancer was a mare much like myself in that she was also a prodigious scholar of the magical arts and sciences. She didn't have the raw thaumic power that I possess, but both her intellect and scholarly curiosity were certainly a match for my own. We were both polymaths, but I would go so far as to say her drive to learn—her need to know was even greater than mine, and in a sense I respected her for that.

We did have our differences when it came to our studies. I'd always been one to follow every detail to the letter, never straying too far from the proper procedure or the guaranteed and proven method. Moon Dancer was more flexible in what she was willing to do to get the results she wanted. I would almost say she was daring in her approach, and wasn't afraid to delve into topics which even I shied away from in order to succeed.

Looking back on it, I suppose the signs were all there from the beginning that events would turn out the way they did. Moon Dancer was never a pony to let things go easily, and that was doubly true for things that piqued her interest as a scholar. It had been that way since we were both foals and I was much the same in that regard.

When I received a letter from Moon Dancer one balmy summer morning regarding a strange and archaic looking tome she'd received from an even stranger individual, I was of course, greatly intrigued. Interested as I was however, I couldn't shake a small sense of unease at the mention of this mysterious individual.

It was with a bit of relief on my part that Moon Dancer had requested to meet with me to discuss the book. In her letter she claimed the tome was like nothing she'd ever seen, and the script was in a language she'd never heard of. I could practically feel both the eagerness, puzzlement, and excitement she seemed to exude in equal measure through her written words.

I'd seen and heard little from Moon Dancer in recent years, busy as I was with my own life, and was more than happy to agree to her request. That odd sense of unease hadn't completely gone away, but as I read on, I became wrapped in Moon Dancer's infectious excitement and soon pushed the unease to the back of my mind.

I wasted little time in getting my affairs in order for the rather impromptu trip to Canterlot. I'd already closed the School of Friendship for Summer break and there wasn't much else to do other than to inform Spike, Starlight and the rest of my friends in Ponyville that I'd be away on a brief sojourn to Canterlot to visit another friend for some research. They were, of course, understanding of the situation and asked few questions.

I found this a small comfort, as I was somewhat reluctant to tell them the nature of that research for reasons I couldn't properly put into words. Perhaps it had something to do with that unease that continued to pester me like a needy pet, but I couldn't say for certain.

In any case, I'd collected everything I felt I would need for the trip and a bit extra in case of an overnight stay. With luggage in tow I was on the Friendship Express and on my way to Mount Canterhorn within the hour the letter had arrived. I spent much of the journey musing upon what secrets the book may have held and what new discoveries Moon Dancer and I would uncover. As my thoughts idled on the subject, my excitement for the research that awaited me increased.

By the time I'd reached the station in Canterlot, I was as giddy as a school filly on my first day of magic kindergarten. My visits to Canterlot had become a bit rare lately and I'd made it a point to stop by my old abode and Canterlot Castle itself to meet my parents and the other Princesses respectively whenever I did get a chance to come to the capital. So eager was I to meet with Moon Dancer and pore over this mysterious tome that I had chosen to forgo my customary visits entirely.

I had all but forgotten the letter I'd sent to Celestia informing her of my intent to visit Canterlot and hadn't even told my parents, but these were things that hadn't crossed my mind as I made my way straight to Moon Dancer's slightly dilapidated home. I had scarcely knocked on the door when the mare in question answered with a quick greeting before pulling me in with all haste, dragging my belongings in after the two of us.

The interior of Moon Dancer's home was cluttered with all manner of books, much as I had seen before, though it was clear she'd put in some effort to make the place a bit more presentable since I'd last visited. Many more of the tomes were placed upon the shelves and desks rather than scattered about the floor, and there was a pleasant scent of juniper wafting through the air.

I hardly had time to situate myself and my belongings properly before I was hurried to the main room and bid to sit in an offered armchair. I obliged my friend and happily agreed to a small plate of green apple slices and some Chamomile tea, which she left to retrieve. It was hardly my preferred combination, but the gesture was appreciated all the same.

As Moon Dancer prepared our snacks, we each took the opportunity to tell each other of the various goings-on in our lives. We spoke of what we'd been up to and what had changed since we last met. I hadn't seen or talked to the mare in some time and, even if we were both anxious to begin our discussion, I found the idle chatter enjoyable. Still, I could tell Moon Dancer was getting impatient and it wasn't long before the whistle of a tea kettle resounded throughout the house.

A few moments later and Moon Dancer returned with a set of small plates and two steaming cups of tea floating before her. She set the ensemble down atop the low coffee table between myself and the empty armchair across from me before hurrying away once more to retrieve the item of interest. I frowned after the bespectacled mare, somewhat put off by how distracted she appeared.

We'd spoken of topics beyond the tome, and while Moon Dancer's tone had been pleasant enough, I couldn't help but notice the curtness of her words and the distant look in her eye. I partook of the tea, telling myself it was simply a display of the studious fervor the two of us were well known for. And yet, I felt that worry that had not gone away since I'd first read the letter—a worry that only grew more prominent as more time passed.

In the end I had finished my tea and, feeling something was off, I chose to seek Moon Dancer out, leaving the apple slices untouched on the table. I wove my way deeper into the abode, all the while calling out my friend's name and receiving no response in turn. The house was fairly small, and it took little time to find Moon Dancer's whereabouts. Upon entering a small hallway, I could see the beginning of a set of wooden steps leading down to what I assumed may have been some basement.

As I listened, I could faintly hear Moon Dancer's voice from below. Her words were unintelligible from where I stood, but there was a feverish, frustrated tone to her incomprehensible mutterings that was clear as day even from a distance. I also noted the occasional, unmistakable sound of pages being flipped in a rapid manner.

Nervous, I moved closer to the steps and called out once more. It seemed I'd finally caught her attention, as the frantic mumbling and page turning ceased suddenly. The silence lasted only a moment before the approaching sound of hooves met my ears. A scant moment later, Moon Dancer reappeared at the top of the steps, a decrepit looking tome held aloft in her pinkish grey magic and her dark purple eyes shining with an enthusiasm far beyond what I'd seen when I first arrived.

Before I could even think of asking the many questions on my lips, the mare beckoned me to followed her down the wooden stairs to the basement. She hardly waited for a response before turning heel and retreating back down the steps herself. With no small amount of reluctance I followed after, worried for my friend but curious nonetheless of what she'd discovered and what I'd find down below.

Comments

[Voldy365]

I must say, this is remarkably well written.