Cast into Twilight

One last mighty blow struck against the imposing stone doorway. The many cracks already forced into it expanded for just a brief moment, before the sound of shattering stone filled the air of the Everfree forest, and the door of carved rock fell to pieces.

The two creatures standing before it coughed as a thick cloud of dust rose from the debris. As it settled, their eyes looked into the gaping hole they had created with fascination. Not but a few feet from the entrance, there was nothing but pitch black, as dark as a starless night. It looked to stretch on forever, the darkness just waiting to swallow them whole.

“Would you look at that...” one of them, a gryphon, said, lowering the hammer he held. He could only stare into the entrance, feeling his breath growing heavy in his lungs.

Beside the gryphon, a unicorn held an expression of pure delight, like a child during the holidays. He said not a word, retrieving a small cloth from the jacket he wore, cleaning the dust that clung to the spectacles on the end of his nose. Though he was a much older than his assistant, the deep lines on his face and graying hairs being a telling sign, he felt as spry as a pony half his age at the moment.

“Can you imagine what must be inside?” the aged unicorn murmured aloud, eyes detailing what little he could see beyond the doorway they had broken into. “I still can't believe it... What luck must it have been? For our pegasi scouts to spot this little gem all the way out here in the Everfree forest?” He took a step back to again look at the entrance in what little glory it had.

Right in front of them, a massive cliff raised up high into the sky. They could barely make out the upper edge as their vision blurred just trying to focus on it. But at the base of such a mighty wall of rough rock, the beginning of a most curious structure was carved into it. All seemingly one piece, it melded into the cliff side almost perfectly, with nothing but the front door and outer rim showing.

“It just seemed to come up out of nowhere, Professor,” the young gryphon murmured, wiping the droplets of sweat on his brow. It had taken quite a bit of effort to break down the door standing between them and the inside. “This part of the forest was thoroughly examined years ago. By all accounts, this place shouldn't be here.”

“Come, come now, Grens,” the professor stressed. “How many times must I remind you that there's no need for such formality? Simply call me Archae.”

“Y-yes... Professor Archae,” Grens nodded.

Rolling his eyes dismissively, the gryphon assistant was otherwise ignored as the unicorn's gaze turned back to the entrance of the ruin. The gaping opening looked strangely inviting, as if beckoning him to enter and learn its secrets. “Let's grab the lanterns and head inside,” he murmured, nodding to his assistant. “We've spent too much time simply getting ourselves in, I can't wait another moment.”

“Shouldn't we wait?” murmured Grens, looking up into the sky. The bright blue of daylight was beginning to shift and darken. A soft tinge of orange had taken over, casting the insignificant clearing around them in an eerie light. “Opening the door took too long. We should wait until morning to venture inside.”

Archae scoffed, already levitating a lantern in front of him, a small flame burning inside and casting a circular glow around it. “Nonsense,” he murmured, floating the second lantern toward him. “The inside will be just as dark during the day as it is at night. Remember what I've always told you, there's no time like the present.” Without waiting the gryphon to voice a complaint, the unicorn trotted into the waiting ruin.

All that could be seen in the dark, silent tunnel was pure void. Even by the light of their lanterns, the calming glow looked terrified. Black tendrils of emptiness seemed to wrap around every inch of the ancient ruin, as frightening as it was awe inspiring.

Despite its obvious age and forlorn state, there was no sign of actual wear. None of the stone walls or ceiling were cracked or damaged, no signs of life rested anywhere. Not even the telling signs of webs could be seen, the ruin completely devoid of life. The air itself felt thick and musty, just as old as the place they stood.

“This place must have been sealed completely,” Grens murmured, noticing the signs around him. “Nothing could naturally get in or out.”

Archae nodded his head as he raised his lantern to the right wall.“Explains why we had to break down the front door,” he replied, examining the stone surface.

The beginning of the entryway seemed to be nothing more than a long tunnel, flat walls surrounding them at all sides, only allowing them to push forward. On the wall itself, strange, simplistic carvings could be seen. They showed very simple depictions of armored stallions, some standing in salute while others were rushing off into some kind of battle. It was difficult to see what it all meant, if it was to mean anything at all.

“The design and craftsmanship is very reminiscent to the ruins of Everfree Castle,” the stallion said aloud. Even if his assistant wasn't there to lend an ear, he would have talked all the same, hearing his voice echo off the walls providing a small bit of comfort. “This could very well have been built before the time of Nightmare Moon, if only just.”

“But for what?” Grens asked, in a similar rhetorical nature. There was a thick silence developed between the two, their eyes distant as they worked their minds to find an answer. Then, the gryphon found his conclusion, the facts around him providing all he needed. “Perhaps this is a burial site? The design so far would suggest it, and is very similar in structure and layout of the old tombs centuries ago. As well as the fact that this placed was sealed off so well, no one would have a need of coming and going once it was finished.”

Pondering the idea, Archae raised a hoof and scratched the short stubble he called facial hair, murmuring to himself. “That could be it,” he then said. “Though, it does raise the question as to who this place is for... Anypony of importance would usually have been buried in the castle crypts. Why so far out here? Even back then, this part of the forest would have been hidden away.” Looking deeper down the tunnel, the thick darkness ahead seemed to beckon him even more. Beginning to trot toward it, lantern held high, he called back to his assistant. “Stay here and check these markings, see if there's anything of worth. I'll check further in, find some answers for myself.” Before the gryphon could even voice a word against it, the stallion was gone, even the light of his lantern being swallowed by the inky blackness.

The tunnel went on for a good distance. Around him, Archae's surroundings barely changed as the same four walls continued with each step he took. There weren't any branching pathways or changes in design. It almost seemed like the ponies who built it wanted it as deep within the earth as possible. It was so quiet, everything so numbingly still. The professor could hear his own beating heart, its rhythmic pulse reverberating off the walls. It was a constant thumping in his ears, raising several hairs on the back of his neck.

Eventually, it opened up to a small chamber. Similar carvings were on the walls, lacking in any great detail. It was just as empty as the tunnel used to enter it, save for the very center, where a short platform was placed. Set atop it, there was a sarcophagus carved entirely of stone. Though holding a few basic ornate designs, there was little else to it.

Surrounding the sarcophagus, four braziers were held onto a peculiar silvery-blue flame. Archae sensed a magical nature in the old flame, both from the color of it, as well as how it acted. It looked as though a star had fallen from the sky and placed in front of him, dancing as the flames licked the air. They created no heat or smoke of any kind. All the flames offered was a small bit of light, granting a strange sense of comfort all the same.

Eyes trained on the sarcophagus, Professor Archae slowly moved toward it. Overwhelming curiosity kept him going, even as the steady pounding of his heart sounded even louder, his breath unsteady with every inch between them being lost. Standing before the stone coffin, there was a moment of absolute stillness. But the hesitation was short-lived as he used his magic to envelope the lid of it in a magical glow.

Though the stone slab was heavy, the stallion managed to drag it off of the sarcophagus and set it on the ground, a loud thud echoing into the chamber. A gasp of surprise escaped him as he looked at what was inside, seeing a creature he had never encountered before. Even in the scarce light of his lantern, and the flames flickering nearby, there was still some detail to be seen, his eyes widening in astonishment.

The creature appeared bipedal in structure, with easily distinguishable hands and feet, the long limbs fitting snugly in its stone coffin. With wrinkled, leathery skin, it appeared quite old. Most noticeable was its flat face, lacking in any kind of muzzle or snout, with only a stubby nose protruding outward. What surprised him even most about it was how perfectly preserved it was, having expected to see only a pile of bone and sinew.

Archae's mind was racing, unable to fully comprehend what they had found. Nothing he had ever read in any kind of bestiary in Equestria had prepared him for such a find. His heart was doing back flips, beating against his chest with such a painful force. As his mind took notice to that, something began to dawn on the old pony, how his own heartbeat no longer matched that of what he could feel in the room, still hearing a steady rhythm throughout the chamber. He realized it wasn't his own heart he had been hearing.

Without warning, the creature's hand shot forward, grabbing the unicorn by his face and squeezing tightly. Archae tried to scream, to cry out in fear and agony as its sharp claws began to slice into the flesh of his cheeks, blood seeping down his flailing body, but its palm remained firmly pressed against his mouth. All he could do was make muffled noises as he was picked up and immediately thrown across the room.

Striking the far wall, the professor groaned in agony as he tried picking himself up. Between him and the sarcophagus, his lantern was lying shattered on the ground, the flame just barely managing to stay alive. It provided all the light necessary as his eyes remained fixed on the spot, mouth hung open in horror as the creature continued to move.

Its hand grabbed the edge of the coffin, providing the necessary brace as it pulled itself upright. A deep, hollow breathing began to fill the room, Archae able to see its open maw as it wheezed forcibly. Climbing out of its coffin, the creature shambled forward, stumbling like a drunkard as it crouched low to the ground, moving toward the injured pony.

Archae couldn't move, completely paralyzed by fear, he could only lie there and shake as the creature approached him, its movements like that of a predator. Standing closer, he could see the jagged fangs inside its mouth, as sharp as knives. A clawed hand reached out and grabbed him by the neck, yanking him forward with incredible strength. The professor tried to scream, wanting nothing more in the world to yell out for his assistant to hear, but his voice had left him long ago, only a strangled whimper being summoned.

The creature pulled the stallion closer, its acrid breath washing over him. Its beady eyes were an empty, milky white, lacking in any pupil or iris. Its nose began to twitch, the nostrils flaring open as it took in the scents around it, namely of the professor himself. A deep, haunting growl emanated from its throat, followed by it lifting the stallion up and slamming him down onto the ground, dazing him as his head struck the stone floor.

The grip on his throat tightened, Archae's breathing becoming a sputtering mess as he struggled to pry the hand away. Bearing down on him, the creature completely enveloped his gaze, everything becoming a blurred mess. He felt weak, his strength fading along with his consciousness, everything being stripped away from him. In a matter of seconds, his struggling ceased, his body going limp.

“Professor?!” a voice called out, Grens walking toward the chamber. “P-Professor Archae?” The gryphon had heard the strange sounds from far down the hall. With everything suddenly gone quiet, his eyes fearfully darted across the area, lantern held high in an attempt to penetrate the darkness.

It didn't take long for him to find the still body of the professor, a frightened gasp escaping him as he rushed to the unicorn's side.

“No, no no no no!” he repeatedly said, looking the stallion over frantically. He could see the cuts on his face and neck, bleeding badly, while the rest of his body looked frail and boney. “What happened to you...” There was not a moment for any answer to be found, a low, hissing snarl sounding just behind him. Grens could barely turn to see the monstrous visage in front of him before it swung an arm out, striking him with enough force to break bone and sending him across the room.

The gryphon smashed into the nearby wall, collapsing to the floor in a heap. Shakily, he tried to pick himself up, wincing in pain from his battered body, having trouble simply breathing. The horrific creature moved toward him, still crouched like a predator as it moved.

There was nothing Grens could do as the monster was soon upon him again, clawed fingers digging into his neck as he was slowly dragged up the wall, pinned against it by its sheer strength. Trembling in the creature's grip, he tried digging his own claws into his assailant's arm, drawing specks of dark-red blood, but otherwise gaining no reaction from it.

At first, the creature only stared at him. Its blank, sightless eyes locked onto him, making his skin crawl and blood freeze. Slowly, it leaned toward him, maw still opened, fangs poised. Grens shrank back as it neared, expecting the coming pain of his flesh being ripped away. But it never came. Instead, as it was only a breath away, the creature began to inhale deeply, nose twitching all the while. For several moments it kept its nose near him, taking in his scent.

Without warning, the creature suddenly pulled away from him. Its head rearing back, it released a soul-trembling roar, a sound that would frighten even a mighty dragon. Grens was thrown to the ground in the creature's fit of rage. He tried to scramble away, clawing at the ground to flee from the monster. But he didn't make it far, not as the creature raised its foot and brought it down hard.

“My word, Twilight! What on earth did you do to your dress?!” Rarity exclaimed, unable to look away from the train-wreck she saw in the form of a once regal gown. “When you said you needed my help to fix it, I assumed it would be a simple tear or unwoven thread.”

As her friend Twilight kept it levitated for her to see, one could only look on in astonishment at the sight. The very dress meant to be worn by the lavender-coated princess on the most special of occasions was almost in tatters. Several large tears dotted the outfit, while other parts looked singed. All the alabaster unicorn could do was stare at it in horror, only able to ask herself how such a thing could have happened.

Twilight stood there sheepishly, looking about the main room of Rarity's boutique with no real direction, avoiding looking at the mare. “It... it was an accident,” she murmured. “There was this one spell I wanted to try out, for enchanting articles of clothing. I really didn't think anything could happen...”

“But you used your royal dress?!” Rarity said, unable to believe what she was hearing. Her heart silently wept for the injured gown.

“Okay, it was a bad idea that I really didn't think through,” Twilight admitted. “But... yeah... I don't really need it right away or anything. It's not like there's any big events coming up. I just figured if you had time, you could look at it.”

Heaving a sigh, the fashionista levitated the almost ruined dress up and placed it on a stand in the far side of the room, alongside several other garments she was working on. “Yes, don't worry,” the unicorn murmured with a nod. “I should be able to have it as good as new in no time.” She looked at her friend perplexedly for a moment. “But aren't you leaving for Canterlot soon? Surely you'd want to wear it when meeting with the princesses.”

Twilight simply shook her head, holding a brief smile at the notion. “It's not that important of a visit. I think Celestia just wants to know how everything's been, since I don't send my reports like I used to these days. She just really likes those more personal touches.”

“Is that it?” Rarity questioned. “From the way you've been preparing lately, we've all figured you'd be away for sometime.”

“Oh, that's not all I'm doing,” Twilight explained. “After we're done in Canterlot, Spike and I are going to assist in an excavation site run by Professor Archae. He's an important pony in Celestia's magic school, and he's asked if I'd be interested in helping out. It sounds really exciting.”

Rarity gave a simple smile as she nodded her head in understanding. “Well, it certainly sounds like you'll be busy, in a more enjoyable sense any how,” she said. “As for me... I'll be cooped up here for some time. I've got several special orders that I need to finish, and the deadline is coming fast.”

“Oh,” Twilight breathed, looking guilty over her previous request. “If you're so busy, you don't have to fix my dress. I can just take it with us to Canterlot and-”

“No no no,” the mare was quick to say. “It's quite alright, trust me. I can't actually work on any of my orders yet, as I'm out of the supplies I need. And of course the shipment isn't going to arrive until later tonight, so it'll be far late in the hour before I can even start on those. But Big Macintosh was kind enough to help me gather it all up, and I'll be able to keep myself preoccupied with your dress until then.”

“Well alright then,” the princess said with a small laugh. “I'm glad I could help out in some way. But... I should get back to the library. The train's going to leave soon and I need to make sure everything's ready.”

Rarity gave a smile as she waved her hoof in farewell. “Of course,” she replied happily. “Have fun on your trip.” Waving her own hoof good-bye, Twilight said her farewell and headed out the door, looking forward to her time away from Ponyville.

With slow, uneven steps, the dark creature shambled out of the crumbled entrance to its tomb. It stepped onto the grassy earth and looked up into the sky, the sun having fully set and the stars and moon shining as bright as they could. Mouth hanging open, it took in its first breaths of fresh air, its large fangs gleaming white in the moonlight.

Stray blood dripped from its hand, which the creature quickly noticed. Inspecting the limb for a moment, it was brought to its mouth as a long tongue slithered from the jagged maw, lapping up the crimson nectar with relish. With that finished, senses that were long since dormant began to return, seeing the world in a way few others could.

Something caught its attention. Head darting out to blindly look into the expanding forest, there was something all too familiar that it noticed. Nostrils flaring open, it sniffed the air as its tongue flicked out of its mouth, like a hungry serpent’s.  The creature crouched back down to the ground, hands and feet spread out as it moved on all fours. Drawn to something, sensing it far into the forest, it made its way toward it.