Twilight Sparkle entered a big hall with three long tables made of oak extending to the distance. The room is dimly light by candles on tables, alongside lanterns on the roof of the building. Everything is decorated with red velvet and mosaics of ponies from the past, some of which Twilight recognised: for instance, she noticed a portrait of Starswirl the Bearded made from blue and cyan glass.
''Ah, Twilight, we expected you to come, my dear.'' said a deep, distant voice from the other end of the hall.
''Good evening, Tenebrous'' Twilight whispered, ''I have something to ask of you.''
''Oh? It that so?'' the voice proclaimed, ''Then come closer, Twilight Sparkle, and ask what do you need. I'm always here to help
my dearest mare.''
Twilight, now with a little more confidence in herself, started to walk to the chair made of mahogany at the end of the table in the centre.
As she got close enough, Twilight could see a tall stallion with navy blue mane and cyan body.
''So, what is it that you ask of me?'' proclaimed the stallion which name was Tenebrous.
''Do you know anything about those... Monsters that started attacking ponies in Ponyville?'' Twilight said, looking straight into Tenebrous'
eyes.
''Oh, you mean those clock mechanisms with swords and bombs? Ah yes, they are quite a pest.'' Tenebrous said to Twilight, whispering into her ear.
After he said this, stallion got up from his chair and started walking towards a big shelf with thick books on it. Oh how would Twilight wish to have just a half of these books...
''Ah, here it is!'' Tenebrous shouted. ''This is the right book for you, dear.''
Tenebrous hold a thick, dark green book in his hooves with the title ''Research of Time demons in Equestria'' written in gold letters.
''Oh! So this will help me get rid of them?'' Twilight said with a voice full of excitement.
''I'm not sure about that, Twilight, but I know this book may hold some information about those monsters. And that's a start, right?''
Tenebrous smiled, opening the book at the chapter called ''Clock monsters and their mechanisms''. Tenebrous pushed the book lightly towards Twilight, who started to read the content of pages out loud:
''Clock demons are quite a dangerous type of Time demons. They are born when clocks, cuckoo-clocks and other time-related mechanisms like that are placed under a curse that brings them to life. They often attack ponies with brass swords or gunpowder bombs that they place under ponies' beds and houses. When they reach a curtain age, mostly about 7-8 years, Clock demons cannot be killed anymore, and they will start to solely survive on ponies' blood and internal organs. They must be rid out of before this happens.''
''Well, whoever wrote this was a quite an asshole to forget to write down the ways of killing them...'' Twilight said disappointedly.
''Twilight, don't be so disappointed. If anything, now you at least know you have a deadline for killing those demons!'' Tenebrous proclaimed, closing the book and putting it on the shelf.
''Well, I'm sure we and my friends are going to find some more information about these monsters. Thank you Tenebrous, I should be heading home now.. I mean, I do have a long walk to the Ponyville and it's already starting to get dark.''
''Oh, why don't you stay here for the night then? I have a guest room for you, dear. You can go in the morning.'' Tenebrous said, unlocking a big door on the eastern said of the hall.
''I.. Don't know, Tenebrous. I'm worried about my friends, especially Fluttershy. I promised to her to get back from this mountains as soon as I finish with you, you know.'' Twilight said, backing off a little to the exit.
''Is that so? Oh well, I don't like people who break promises. If you want to, you can go out. Just remember, it's Heart's Warming Eve soon, and would you please come here again to make me company? It's so lonely here, being all by myself.''
''I will, Tenebrous, I surely will.'' Twilight whispered, smiling at Tenebrous and exiting in the cold night on the mountains. She looked at the castle once and went heading to the Ponyville. Surely, this will be a hard night.
