Alister: Remembrance and Revelations

The three of us walked through Ponyville until we came to Town Hall. With Shining Armor’s status, the guard ponies at the entrance let us into the building. The high ceiling was decorated with many flags; each representing a different town or city within Equestira. At the end of the hall was a portrait of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. As we approached it, Dominic’s horn glowed as the painting dimmed. The empty portrait lit up with torches that hung on the wall. As we walked through, we came upon stairs that led downward deeper into this dungeon. We reached the bottom and a silver door appeared out from the floor.

“This, my friend,” began Shining Armor “is The Vault. One of the most guarded structures in all of Equestria. Aside from Canterlot Castle of course.”

“But where are the guards?” I asked. “If you say it’s the most guarded structure, then where are the ponies that are supposed to guard it.”

Dominic chuckled. “Ponies can’t guard the treasures within. Starswirl the Bearded decided to place magical spells on the first few doors to lead thieves back to the outside. After that, he placed the most dangerous creatures that were faithful to all of pony kind to guard the final gates. Those who found their way to them were either warned or killed.”

“Great. Not that I needed anymore danger.” I said, my hooves tapping nervously.

“Dominic, can you open the first gate now, please?” said Shining Armor impatiently.

Dominic took out the small key ring that Twilight gave him. Carefully choosing the right key, he unlocked the first gate. As we stepped through, more torches lit up as if they knew we were coming. As we walked a little further, another gate appeared. It was old and the paint was peeling. But from what remained, it was once colored a magnificent burgundy red. As I reached my hoof to open the door, Dominic stopped me.

“I wouldn’t open it just yet. Look where you’re standing.”

As I looked to where his hoof was pointing, I saw just cobblestone. But when my eyes focused, there was a pressure plate. Only when I stepped on it, it felt normal. When I tested it again and again, I saw the plate move slightly down.

“One of Starswirl’s tricks. When you stand on the plate and open the door, you’ll walk on until the passage leads you just outside Town Hall. But if you leave it alone, we should continue.”

“So how do we get passed without standing on the plate? It’s right in front of the damn door.”

“Simple really.” said Dominic. “You just gotta jump into the doorway.”

Now I felt really stupid. I always make things more complicated than it has to be. That’s why Dominic was here. Every time I got into a sticky situation, he’d always find the simplest answers to get out.

As we continued down the passages, we came upon a circular room. As all three of us entered, a blast of heat hit us like a boxer going for the knockout. As we were stunned by the sudden change in temperature, we didn’t notice that the gate behind us dropped trapping us. Another gate opened and within sharp yellow eyes opened up. The silhouette began to move towards the light in the center of the room.

“DRAGON!” shouted Shining Armor.

It was red with sharp spikes on its spine. Sharp talons were attached to its claws. Wings were spreading from its back and smoke from its nostrils was flowing out.  Before it could breathe its fire, we took shelter in a soot covered trench. Bright orange came crashing just above where our heads were like a wave crashing into boulder. The heat was unbearable; it felt as if someone just put us into an oven and turned the temperature to the highest it could go.

“It’s a Red Firestorm.” said Shining Armor. “Most likely came from the deserts near Saddle Arabia.”

The Firestorm roared in anger as it sent more flames towards us. As we avoided the flames again, I was looking around to see if there was any way out of this hellhole. As I peered my head out of the trench, I saw a rope holding the gate that released the dragon.

“Dominic, there’s a rope just behind the dragon that’s holding the gate up.” I told him. “If I can lure the beast back into its lair, do you think you cut the rope without it killing me?”

“I can’t guarantee it.” Dominic yelled as the dragon let out another roar. “But it’s better than being toasted in this hole.”

As the dragon began to use its flames to keep us at bay, I prepared myself to sprint to the gate. Once it was out of flames, I made a dash towards the red beast. It tried to slash me with one of its talons as I crossed the room. It turned around and started following me. I headed to the back of the dragon’s chamber. I slowly turned around to see the dragon trying to corner me. As soon as Dominic was in position, I galloped as fast I could around the dragon. Flames were following me as I tried to keep my tail from being set on fire. When I was just under the gate, Dominic shot a blue dart with his horn towards the rope. The gate came slamming down with a sudden boom as the ground shook. The Firestorm was trapped once more.

“Well, that was close.” I coughed as soot from the flames came flying off the ground.

“Too close for comfort.”   Shining Armor said with disapproving eyes. “Let’s just get to the Vault and get out.”

Down another corridor, we walked until we saw a giant door made of mahogany. It had to be 12 feet tall. It was encrusted with patterns made of pure gold. This had to be the door leading into the Vault. As we came closer, several keyholes were forming around the edges, each keyhole a different color. Dominic pulled out the key ring and started taking off the appropriate keys. As he and Shining Armor were putting each key into its respectful keyhole, they were slammed into the chamber wall. I ran towards where they lied and saw both of them were unconscious. I looked up to see what hit them. It was a Sphinx. It had the body of a lion and the head of a human. She looked down upon me with her yellow eyes.

“Who dares enter the Vault?” she asked, her voice echoing in the chamber.

But as to answer her own question, she immediately recognized me.

“So, this is the famous Alister. Starswirl’s apprentice and hero of Equestria.”

“As I keep telling everypony, my name isn’t Alister.” I yelled. “It’s Al!”

“Even if you are the hero, I cannot let you in without you answering my riddle.”

I looked directly into her eyes and said “Ask it then.”

“I must warn you, if you fail to give the correct response, you and your friends will have to die.”

“Very well” I said without even thinking. You IDIOT! screamed my conscience. If you answer wrong you die! Too late I told it. “Speak your riddle.”

She sat down on her hind legs and then spoke. “This is my riddle to you; If you throw me from the window, I will leave a grieving wife. Bring me back, but through the door, and you’ll see someone giving life.”

“May I have some time to think about it?” I asked.

She nodded slowly and then lied down keeping her eyes locked on me. I paced the floor for a couple of minutes. I kept repeating the riddle several times trying to find out the answer. Grieving wife I thought. Does she me a widow? If so, “through the door….”  I figured it out.

“It’s the letter N. If you take the N out of window, you’re left with widow, or the grieving wife. If you put the N in door, you get donor, someone giving life.”

She then smiled, stood up and spoke. “You are correct. You may pass into the Vault.” She walked by Shining Armor and Dominic who were still unconscious and with a flick of her tail, revived them. Dazed and confused, they looked around to see what struck them. They startled themselves to see the Sphinx but then relaxed. The resumed to put the final keys in and then, all at once, turned them and opened the giant door.