Legends Awaken

I must have zoned out from my realization for a minute because the next thing I knew I felt something poking me in the face. I fell back on my ass as I waved my left hand in a defensive motion. I blinked several times with wild darting eyes, my firing hand tightened and trigger finger moved.

Pinkie, it was only Pinkie, I slowly realized. Everyone seemed confused and worried about me and my actions.

"You ok there Hunter,” Spike asked waving a claw in front of my face.

“Yeah, yeah, I'm good... Just, just an adrenaline crash... That's, that’s all,” I sputtered out wiping the cold sweat from my brow with the back of my left hand. It was a half truth half lie. Pushing myself to my feet a let out a long deep sigh looking over the girls. Again they didn't seem to realize what was literally inches from their hooves. I wanted to keep it that way but didn't really know how too. Luckily Twilight spoke up.

“What's an adrenaline crash?”

“Yeah, I've never heard about it before,” Rainbow Dash added hopping up to hover near my shoulders.

“At its basic level it's the side effect on my body adjusting to such a large amount of it in my blood. It can cause exhaustion, the shakes, vomiting, excess energy, sweating, and headaches to name a few,” the girls seemed ok until they processed the information.

“Why in Equestria would your body do that to itself,” Rarity asked confused putting a hoof to her mouth. I gave a shrug before answering.

“The benefits generally out weigh the side effects.”

“Yeah but what are the benefits, I mean I don't see what could be worth it,” Applejack wanted to know.

“Oh, they're worth it. Increased strength, speed, endurance, reaction time, aggression, stamina, blocking pain and numbing it, confidence, and focus, all increase or are heightened. I've personally experienced these affects. That can make the difference between live and death,” I explained with maybe too much enthusiasm and a creepy smile.

“Those aren't very nice, why would anypony what to experience any of those feelings,” Pinkie asked with some sadness in her face and on her face and eyes.

“I'm not a pony. We needed that edge to survive in our beginnings, my home isn't the nicest, safest place Pinkie,” I briefly explained to her with a voice of longing and sadness.

They picked up on my tone and dropped the subject, not really knowing how to act. Before anything else happened Spike spoke up.

“Ah, aren't we like getting sidetrack by everything? I mean didn't we come here for a reason,” he asked waving an arm around.

“Yes, that's right. Can we hurry? I don't like it here. Um, that's if it's ok with you Mr. Hunter,” Fluttershy jumped in looking around uncomfortably shifted her wings.

“Sure, we need to go behind the throne but you may have known that. Y'all have been here and found me,” I replied pointed with a nod of my head and left arm pointing.

“I don't have anything for light though, I stumbled out of there by memory last time, so would you please provide some Rarity and Twilight,” I asked starting to walk towards the hole I had made.

“Simple enough.”

“Of course dear.”

The two magic users piped up leading the group to me and destination.

“Thank you ladies,” I added wiping the last of he sweat from my brow.

“First, I'm going to ask you to stand to the side before you throw some light down there when I ask so I can see if there are any surprises,” was my request stopping them with a held out hand. I took a deep breath before continuing.

“Second, if we run into anything and I tell you to run, don't argue, don't ask questions, don't think, just run, and don't stop until you see the Sisters and tell them,” I told them with steel and conviction in my voice.

“I have no idea what, if anything, has had a chance to make this place its home or wake up since I began my sleep and awakening,” came a tone softer and with worry obfuscating the truth of what I truly feared.

“Please, just trust me. I'll explain after we get back to Ponyville,” another half lie half truth.

The girls and Spike didn't say anything but did nod their heads kind of grimly and stood to the side and waited.

I took a kneeling position and brought the rifle back to bear. I took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

“Now.”

Suddenly two spheres of light appeared in the hallway bathing it in shades of tinted white.

My eyes quickly darted around looking for anything that might pose a danger. After several seconds I decided it looked clear.

“Looks good to go,” I put out as I stood back up and lowered the rifle across my chest.

“I'm point, Rar you're up next, pegasus center and up watching, Twi you're center, earths you're at the flanks, Spike you're rear guard, diamond formation,” I barked out to the group before heading into the hall.

After several seconds of no response or moving I stopped and turn to start yelling but stopped when I saw who I was with.

Everyone was looking at me like I had grown a horn and wings and was crazy.

I stopped and started to give an weak awkward laugh as I put on a weak smile.

“Sorry, I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. Real bad habit of mine when in this type of situation, I apologize, I shouldn't have said that,” I started with to explain but didn't really feel it. Before I could expand Rainbow Dash spoke up.

“What was all that? It sounded kinda cool, like something the Royal Guard would say,” she was soon hovering near my head again with interest.

I was confused this time on how well they all, well most save Fluttershy, had handled it. I was soon being asked questions to explain what I had barked out and the reasons for them. I was startled for a second but I soon saw I could use this to stop them from asking about the throne room and maybe even forget.

As I taught we walked down the hallway to and then down the stairs to make it to the level I had woken up on. This time seemed to take longer to make it down the stairs then when in came up. I didn't dwell on it and just push the thought away.

Soon we reached the doors to the chamber I had sat in for nearly two millennium I was told. They were still open put just enough for my unadorned form to fit though. I took this as a good sign nothing else was inside and didn't concern myself with search after entering. I let the rifle hang as I pulled the doors open and pushed them to the sides.

Inside was a realm of blackness that the simply lighting from Rarity and Twilight couldn't disburse.

“That's really dark. How you manage to make it out of there with out any light,” Applejack asked trying to see into the room.

“Memory. I spent a lot of time down here either helping build or reasons,” I offered walking into the room allowing the darkness to flow around me.

After several seconds I had moved completely into it as I moved to a column. As I reached it I slowly felt looking for a craved rune. After finding it I pushed up the sleeve on my left arm and pressed the bandage to the rune and applied pressure to the point it hurt. After a second there was a flash of greenish red light that then retreated back into the rune.

“Let there be light,” I bellowed as a weak light flickered from above. As I walked back to the group the lights got steadier and brighter.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the Lost Tomb of Man!” I shouted out with enthusiasm and showmanship as I held my arms out wide.

The room was built much like the throne room above. Six pillars started near the entrance moving deeper into the room, that had rotted banners hanging from them. Past them were five rows of stone benches split like the columns that allow those present to sit. At the outside end of the benches were pedestals that had one or two item set upon the. Between both was a ravaged and worn carpet that looked to be a rich maroon with bronze edging at one time. On the carpet were several items that had be casually discarded in a line to the throne.

The throne sat on a raised platform to allow one to look down on the assembled. The throne itself was made of craved stones, untarnished metals an a handful of precious stones. Its overall build and shape was simply but the fine detail put into it was exquisite.

Above and behind were parts of three banners, with one to each side of the throne and a third higher and center. All showed signs of the passage of time and neglect. One had several torn pieces of faded yellow below it. A second of neglected blue was twisted to reverse the presented side. The third of lifeless red had everything sown into it tore out violently leaving only the tired red.

Lining the two outside walls were more banners and pedestals and a single double door in the center of each.

The girls and Spike stared in awe an amazement at what lie in front of them. All were whispering among themselves and pointing around around the room. I raised an eyebrow lowering my arms.

“What's up? You know you can enter right?”

“It's a grave, it's disrespectful to enter, don't you know that,” Applejack told me putting her hat over her chest.

“Aah, no it isn't. I'm standing right here and I'm not dead, or at least I don't think I am. But that's a debate I don't want to have. Besides that's never really stopped us,” was my brief explanation turning to walk back into the room.

Soon there was a multitude of hooves clacking on stone as I heard some of them rush into the room as they started to talk excitedly.

I heard Twilight ranting about how this was a treasure drove of information from the Lost Times. Rainbow seemed to be talking about the various suits of armor and along with Rarity the faded sky scape painted on the ceiling. Applejack was again talking about how well everything seemed to be constructed and seemed as strong now as when it was built.

I had stopped at the first item on the worn carpet and picked up a faded black cloak. As I stood with it the material began to flow like sand into a pile of scraps and dust. I gave a tch with my teeth before

letting it fall back to the floor before moving on.

Next was a mass of metal and wood. I picked up the sword and examined it for possible value. The blade was pitted and rusted with no edge, the wooden hilt crumbled under my grip.

With a half frown I tossed it over my shoulder where it clattered against the stone floor. I let out a long sigh deciding to not even look at the rest of the item along the carpet.

I moved to where Twilight had Spike taken notes on a vase resting on a pedestal near the back row on benches. She seemed engrossed by the simply item's artwork.

“Look at this Spike! I can barely believe it, a depiction of the Battle of The Fallen Cloud! A predecessor to the pegesus' cities! There has never been a full account or images! Until now! This can change history,” she was gushing as she moved around the vase. I scared her as I spoke up beside her.

“Yeah, that was at the end of the first 'Pegasus Rebellion' against the old throne.”

“AH! Oh, Hunter you scared me, where in Equestria did you get this vase?” I gave a shrug since I couldn't clearly remember where or when I had got the vase or even if it was a original or copy.

“Yes,” was all I told her completely confusing her.

“That didn't answer my question, just that you got it on Equestria,” she snapped back.

“Okay, I'll go with that,” I shrugged back walking away to Rarity and Rainbow Dash admiring the sky scape resulting in a frustrated groan.

“I'm going to go with you're trying to figure out the arrangement of the Moon and stars,” I asked slashed stated standing between them.

“Yes we are, we've never seen the night sky appear like this. Even before Princess Luna had her incident the sky never was setup like what is above us. It's certainly perplexing,” Rarity told me using her fine eye for detail looking for a clue.

“Yeah! How could they change so much in such a short time with out anypony realizing it,” Rainbow asked with admiration and confusion.

“Well, it's really simply. That's the night sky from my home,” I informed the two with another sad longing tone and smile.

“No way! Really? This is the night sky from another world?”

“It sure is Rainbow Dash, it's even where our greatest achievements have happened,” I answered with pride in my voice and a victorious smile.

“This is simply stunning dear, would you be offended if I were to use your sky,” Rarity looking over the sky scape again.

“No, not at all. I'll check to see if the charts survived when I start looking around.” As I walked away I added over my shoulder.

“By the way it was never mine, it was all of ours,” with a somber tone as I moved to stand in front of the throne. I stared at it for several minutes with unfocused eyes before realizing something was tugging on my pants.

“Wha, eh, ah,” I blurted out blinking to help focus my eyes. When I looked down and behind me I found the source.

Fluttershy was gently tugging to get my attention.

“Sorry, spaced out again. What is it Flutershy,” I asked turning to face her.

“It feels really bad and scary here. It feels unnatural like it doesn't belong here. I, I really don't like it can you please hurry,” she told me with fear and pleading in her voice.

“I'll stop spacing out and stick to the plan from now on. I'll move as fast as I can from now, that good,” I asked with a weak smile. She gave a weak nod before walking away with her ears flat to one of the nearby benches.

I walked behind the throne and walked to the door that was behind it and let out a sigh as I placed my right hand on a metal plate next to the door.

A warm tingle ran through my hand and forearm as a loud clank came from the door. I then pushed open the door and entered into my private study.

When the magical lights steadied I saw the room was better preserved then the throne room behind me. There was dust and spiderwebs covering almost everything but it still brought a smile to my face.

I walked to the desk near the back wall and sat down facing the door. When I did the chair gave a creak of protest and sent dust flying up to slowly so drift about.

First thing I wanted to do was pen a letter. I grab a sheet of paper from a small stack on the desk and checked the inkwell. The ink moved like sludge and near useless but it would get the job done.

I wrote out a quick letter to Celestia explaining where I was and what I had stumbled on and needed it cleaned up now. Before I rolled it up I added the girls and Spike didn't know what was going on, at least for the moment. I rolled it up and when I tried to seal it I realized I had nothing, no wax or cloth.

I shrugged my shoulders and stood up and walked back into the throne room to find Spike. I saw him drinking from  a juice box on one of the benches.

As I walked over to him I reached under my sleeve with my right head and pressed down hard on my wounds to draw blood. With my now wet thumb I pressed down near the edge of the paper with it to make a crude seal.

“Hey, I need express delivery to Celestia,” I said aloud to get everyone's attention holding up the scroll to avoid suspicion.

Spike hopped to the floor and walked up to me.

“How did you know I could send scrolls to the Princess,” he asked as I passed him the scroll in question with an eyebrow raised.

“I didn't, I thought that Twilight might be able to since she's a unicorn and has all the fancy magic,” at the mention of her name her ears perked up and turned to face us.

“While I do have the ability to send the Princess items, I need a precise location or I'll just sent it to a random location. While on the other hoof, Spike's dragon breath works without needs the location.”

I gave a blank look before blinking.

“So, you're saying he can send it.” Spike gave a roll of his eyes and drew a deep breath before engulfing the paper in flame.

“Let me know if I get a reply short dude and don't read it. I'm going back to my study, anyone coming,” I asked as I pointed over my shoulder with a thumb.

Rarity and Twilight spoke up wanting to join.

“If you break anything I'll turn your flanks red, just to let you know,” they were informed as I passed though the door frame.

As I walked I shrugged off the rack sack and tossed in against the front of the desk.  Walking to behind the desk I shifted the rifle to hang across my back to get it out of the way. When I got to the area behind the desk I stopped in front of the metal and stone counter and gave a half smile as picked up the item resting in the middle. I quietly picked it up and walked over to where I tossed the rack sack and put it inside.

When my hand left the bag it had my water it it. After I took a drink form it before putting it on the desk and walked over to a scroll shelve to the walk right of the entrance.

I started to pull scrolls out looking for the star charts Rarity wanted. After pulling and tossing two dozen scrolls out and tossing the unwanted scrolls to the ground I found wait I wanted.

“Rarity, found what you wanted. You can look at it on the counted near he door and there's a stool for ya to stand on under it,” I let her know as I tossed it at her. She caught it with her magic and gave a look of dismay as she saw the scrolls on the ground that Twilight matched, each for their own reasons.

“How can you be so careless with these scrolls,” Twilight asked as she gathered up the scrolls with her magic.

“Because they're mine and I can do what ever I want with'em,” I returned as she replaced the scrolls on the shelves and I walked to the opposite side of the room where book shelves were located. I started to pull books out far enough to read the titles on them to either push me back or pull them and toss them over to where the rack sack was. This caused Twilight to groan in frustration.

After I had pulled about eighteen books and tossed them I stopped and turn to pack them. I saw Rarity had pulled out the stool and was looking over the scroll I had given her while Twilight had several scrolls floating near her.

“Hunter, why can't I read any of the labels on these scrolls? They're not in any dialect I've seen,” see asked looking at the scrolls.

“That's because they're written in my native language, that to my knowledge never existed here,” I told her as I placed the books in the ruck sack. Before she could reply Spike ran into he room.

“Hunter, hey Hunter! I just got a reply from the Princess,” he yelled out as he ran up to me.

“Thanks little dude,” I told him as I took the scroll from him, after which I stood up to avoid anyone else seeing the scroll.

Hunter,

Thank you for the timely information and intervention with what you have found. Hopefully, by the time you are reading this I will have arrived with members of my personal guard to investigate and remove what you found. It is imperative that you do not let anypony with you find us, the effects could be catastrophic. I believe it will take no more then an hour to complete what needs to be done. I well not be sending any additional scrolls to help avoid any questions.

Celestia

After I finished reading the scroll I crumbled it up and stuffed it in one of my cargo pockets for later disposal. This got a gasp out of Twilight and Rarity.

“How could you do that to a letter from the Princess,” Twilight practically screamed at me. I narrowed my eyes in confusion before replying.

“Ah, with my fingers and hand,” was the confused reply.

“Yes, I understand the physical aspect of it but not the chose to do to.”

“What's the big deal? It's just a piece of paper with some ink on it.”

“Darling, it's a letter from the Princess! For nearly everypony it's a once in a lifetime experience to treasure,” Rarity told me turning from the scroll.

“She's right, you should respect the fact the Princess managed to send you a letter, besides you might need or want to read the letter later,” Twilight added. I was starting to get the feeling I wasn't going to win this conversation and decided to agree with them.

“Alright, alright, in the future I'll better treat any scrolls I get from her royal sunniness,” I offered with sarcasm in the end. It seemed to satisfy them for the moment.

After that I moved to finish putting the books in the rack sack. With them away I returned to sitting at the desk. I started going through the the drawers seeing if there was anything I wanted to take. I found two small cloth wrapped metal boxes with faded tags but could not remember what they were. Placing them on to of the desk I kept up my search.

I pulled out a bottom drawer and saw the lock box was still in one piece. Only problem was I didn't have the key for it on me or remember where it was at the moment. I was starting to realize that it seemed like I had a lot of gaps in my memory for events that to me were just weeks ago. I took it as another side effect of my slumber. While I tried to figure out what to do with the lock box Twilight spoke up.

"Hunter, are all of the books and scrolls in here written in this language of yours," she asked as a ring of books floating around her head.

"Why would you do that? It's really narrows down the audience for them."

"Yes they are. It was done exactly for that reason. A lot of this text I didn't want available to anyone but me and a select few."

"Do you think you could possible teach me?"

"Meh, maybe. I really don't know, really depends how lazy and or apathetic I get," I supplied as I pulled the entire drawer out of the desk letting it fall to the floor.

"Hunter, did you draw these scrolls yourself? They are simply extravagant and nearly unbelievable? This is truly the night sky from your home," Rarity asked as she shuffled some of the pages in the scroll.

"No, someone else drew them with information I supplied them. If you think the scrolls are nearly unbelievable, you should see photos of our sky. Mind plus photos equals mind blowwn," I added mimicking my head exploding with my left hand.

"Photos? You have photos? Actually photos of your night sky? Hunter you must simply must let me see them!"

"Yes! You must! I can't believe it! Pictures of another world's sky? That I can't believe until I see," Twilight jumped in quickly forgetting the books and scrolls she was investigating.

“That's going to take awhile, I don't have a means at the moment to reproduce them. When I do I'll let the two of you know,” I told her as a took the lock box to my rucksack, I heard her give a groan of frustration as I did.

I next moved back to where Rarity was still admiring the scrolls and looked over the area for a small flat wooden oval. After a second I found it and tossed it to the desk behind me where it knocked a frame onto the floor.

After the sound of braking glass told me that I walked over to it to pick the frame up. When I did I saw the faded painting of what I remember being a small village in the winter fall to the floor. I let it fall as I pulled the small painting behind it out.

It was a painting of a small group of alicorns of varies ages with smiles on their faces. I felt a sad smirk flash across my face before I put the painting behind the trauma plate to keep it flat.

Leaving the glass on the floor I returned to the main chamber and walked to my left to the double doors. After putting my shoulder and weight into one of the doors it opened with a sudden crack from the hinges.

I lost my balance and stumbled after I slid off the door. I was able to catch myself before I fall to the floor.

After I steadied myself and looked around I was pleased to find that the small room was looking untouched. The room itself was a mix of a security post and guardroom. The normal items one would find were present in advanced states of decay and misuse.

Opposite of the door I came through behind a second smaller room was a single door, which was were I went.

As I opened it I was a little confused and startled that the door started to open with no resistance.

'Fuck,' I thought as I pulled the pistol out and brought it to the ready. After I did so I back stepped to the double doors and pressed up against the wall to the left of them.

I let out a breath I had been holding as I swapped from pistol to rifle. I made a sour face as I thought about had to do next. I was hopefully bring just paranoid. I took a deep breath as I popped my head around the corner to look back at the door and narrowed my eyes. Moving my head back behind the wall I thought for a second before making my choice.

"Twilight, Rarity! I need you over here! Stay near the walls," I yelled out before glancing back around the corner. After a minute both of them were next to me and had even stayed near the wall.

Both appeared skittish and worried as I looked back at them.

"What's going on," Twilight asked as she tried to look around me.

"If all goes well, just my over developed paranoia if not, don't know. Either of you know any magic that can tell me whats in another room," I asked stealing another glance at the door.

"I-I, don't. Is it bad," Rarity responded taking a half step back.

"Sorry, I don't," was Twilight's simply answer.

I gritted my teeth before replying.

“Wait here, stay out of sight, and stop the others from doing so. I'm going to check out the other room,” I told them as I stood back up. I snapped out from cover raising my weapon and slowly moved towards the door ignoring the girls reactions.

With rifle at the ready I moved to the wall right of the door and pressed up against it. Before I could let my paranoia grow any more I acted.

I side stepped enough to get my leg clear of the wall and aligned with the handle. I brought my leg up to give a mule kick just beneath the handle. The door snapped inwards with no resistance and lots of noise.

I quickly planted my foot and used it to push back to my left to get back behind the wall. After doing so as I quickly brought the rifle back to the ready and rolled into the door frame.

Searching right to left nothing screamed threat so I stepped into the room to glance behind the door. Not seeing anything I moved to stand in front of waist high stone desk to look behind.

Once I saw everything was clear I lowered the rifle and called out all clear. After a minute the girls and Spike piled into the room with a mixture of emotions.

I was displeased with what I was seeing. The room had been nearly stripped bare of its contents leaving only scraps behind.

I let out a groan of frustration and anger as I kicked small cloth bag bursting it opened and sending coins flying.

Someone or thing had stolen my loot.

I was... anger was to weak of a word, I was furious. I had invested blood, sweat, and time into filling this room. I then expressed myself.

With a yell I let the rifle go slack to grab the table and tried to lift it to throw. I was only able to lift it an inch or so before I let it slip from my grasp and let it fall with a crash.

My injured arm and shoulder flashed with new pain as I took in deep ragged breaths.

"Wow, that was an interesting display. Feel any better," Rainbow Dashed asked with same sarcasm.

"Well, I don't feel any better an I think I might have torn some of my stitches actually," I returned with a deep exhale.

"That made no since what so ever. How does lifting a table make you feel better," Twilight asked poking the table with a hoof.

"That wasn't what I wanted to do. I wanted to throw it against the wall and shatter it into small pieces that I would then stomp and kick, all to vent," I replied as a rolled my shoulder and arm to get a feel for what I had done to them.

"Wow, you could really do that? I'm kin'a impressed,” Applejack replied.

“No, not even on a great day, but watching something break is satisfying to me,” I told her as I rotated my left forearm and flexed its fingers.

“Then why even try to do so?” I gave a painful shrug as I answered.

“Bad reasons. Any way can you help me gather up what little is left here so I can take it with me when we leave this place,” I asked as I knelled down to start picking up the scattered coins. But before I could they were all encased in a purple glow.

After several seconds all the lose items in the room were neatly stacked on the floor before me.

“That was a lot quicker then I thought it would be. Hey, Spike would you have a problem counting and inventorying this,” I asked looking over the little remaining loot.

Spike tried spuddering out a reply but was unable to and just nodded before moving to complete the task.

After that nothing else of note occurred. I walked the rooms and inspected and took what I wanted while the girls talk among themselves or asked me questions about what we had found. I was able to drag out the time we were down there to give Celestia the time she requested.

Closing and locking up what we could before leaving we made our way out and back to the surface. Walking past the grisly site from earlier there was no trace of the morbid items.

Before leaving the old castle behind I took one more look over my shoulder unable to shake the feeling I was being watch. Before I could go any where with it I heard Rainbow Dash yell to catch up or be left behind.