S1 Chapter 7: Ancient Castle of the Two Sisters

The next day... Twilight is awake rummaging through her collection of books to find anything on how to open the mysterious chest that the Tree of Harmony produced. Spike is currently cleaning the Library with a feather duster and apron. Twilight growls in frustration and throws the book she’s currently reading across the room destroying Spike’s feather duster.

“What’s wrong Twilight?” Spike walks over to her and she turns to face him.

“*Groan* I’ve gone through every book in Ponyville Spike,” She levitates a new book in front of her and skims it. “And there isn’t a single mention of the mysterious chest that came from the tree of harmony, nor anything about keys to unlock it,” She puts the book down and looks directly at Spike. “But something tells me that opening it is pretty important,” She flies to the top of a leaning tower of books and reads the top one. “I hope Princess Celestia has some ideas,” She hastily puts the book back, “If the Library in Canterlot doesn’t have anything, I don’t know where else to look.” The tower of books falls onto Spike, Twilight lands, and helps spike out of the book pile. After getting up Spike burps a letter from Celestia for Twilight to read. “My dearest Twilight, while it would be perfectly lovely to have you in Canterlot once more, I have another option in mind closer to Ponyville. As you know, the ancient castle I once shared with Princess Luna lies mostly in ruins, deep in the Everfree Forest, but if you look carefully, you may find a book to help you with your research hidden somewhere in what’s left of the castle library,” She rolls up the letter and teleports it away.

“Does this mean we’re going into the Everfree again?” Spike says with worry in his voice, “If we are, how about we ask Xephers to come with us for protection?” Twilight thinks for a moment then nods.

“That’s a great idea, Spike, let’s go ask him if he’ll come with us.” She trots out of the room with Spike following close behind. They get to Xephers’ room and hear talking inside.

“Alright, you have fully recovered your health and Mana pool, Your spirit energy is full, and you can transform a total of 4 times today, not counting any involuntary ones.” They hear a small draconic voice say, “Is there anything else you would like me to check about your vitals Xephers?”

“Not right now, thanks Firasha, good to know this world isn’t negatively affecting me. You can do as you please until I call for you,” Xephers says to Firasha, “*Yawn* I need to get downstairs and see if anyone else is up, see you later bud,” Hoof steps are heard closing in on the door to the room and twilight politely knocks on the door. “Huh, looks like someone else up, I got it,” He opens the door, and smiles when he sees Twilight and Spike, Firasha waves at Spike who in turn waves back. “Twilight, just the Pony I wanted to see this morning, do you need something?”

“As a matter of fact, yes we do need something,” She smiles back at Xephers, “We have to go into the Everfree Forest and would like to know if you would come with us when we go?” She pauses, “You don’t have to if you don’t want...” Xephers cuts her off,

“Alright, I’ll come with, I’ve got nothing better to do,” He looks around making sure he has his cloak and Vest on, “When are you guys leaving? I’m ready whenever you are,” Twilight smiles, turns around, and starts heading back downstairs.

“We were just about to go before we asked you, so we can go now if you’d like.” Xephers and Spike follow her downstairs and out the front door, closing it behind them.

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They get to the old castle without a hitch and head inside, they look around the castle for a little while until they find the castle Library, a decent-sized Library with a few huge bookshelves full of old books. Twilight squeals in excitement at being able to read centuries-old books. Xephers stands guard at the entrance of the room, occasionally glancing at either Twilight or Spike to check on them. Twilight flies around in excitement while Spike gets caught in cobwebs, falling over trying to get them off. Suddenly the Inhabitants of the room, Star-Spiders, start checking out the intruders of their home, causing Spike to shiver in fear.

“We need to get some candles for light...” Before she can finish her sentence a bright ball of light appears on Xephers’ Hoof, floats to the center of the room on the ceiling, and glows bright enough to see the entire room perfectly. “Nevermind then, didn’t know your magic could produce light.” Xephers looks at her with a small grin.

“It’s a basic Null Spell that illuminates a Room perfectly no matter what, but it only lasts for 2 hours, I’ll have to recast it after that, but it doesn’t use too much power to cast,” He looks around and spots the Strange Star-Spiders roaming around, “Are these Star backed Spiders going to be a problem?” Twilight looks at them and shakes her head, “Alright then, I’ll keep an eye on the Light spell, if it goes out don’t panic it’ll be back up in no time,” He smiles then turns back towards the Entrance, glancing at the spiders, just in case they decide to try to attack them. Twilight gets back to reading and Spike begrudgingly joins in to help her, but he’s being conscious about the Spiders. After a few hours Xephers is sitting by the Entrance instead of standing and Twilight and Spike are still reading.

“Find anything Spike?” Twilight asks, Spike setting down a large book shaking his head. A book floats toward spike and out hops Angel, Fluttershy’s pet rabbit, scaring Spike and alerting Xephers, “Angel? What are you doing here?” as she says this Spike falls back in his chair and it pulls a lever revealing a room behind a bookshelf. Xephers joins them as they investigate what’s in the room, finding The Journal of The Two Sisters, Princess Celestia and Luna’s Personal Journal. “*Gasp* Maybe this is the book that Princess Celestia was talking about!” She opens it and begins to read with Angel resting on her back. A few more hours later and Twilight is still reading the journal with Angel lounging next to her eating some delicious carrots,

“Guys, you’ve got to hear this,” She announces to Spike and Xephers, “I love to duck behind the paintings, and though the hall of hooves still gives her a fright, the trap door slide is Luna’s favorite,” She finishes and Spike walks up to her to look at the Journal.

“Hall of Hooves?” Spike says confused, Twilight flips the page to show said ‘Hall of Hooves’, then She begins speaking again.

“Soon the Organ to the outside will be finished, I can hardly wait,” She finishes again and Spike grabs a pillow to sit next to her.

“What’s the Organ to the outside?” Spike asks and Xephers shares his two cents.

“If I had to guess it’s an organ that can be heard everywhere in the castle, even the courtyard.” He stands up and walks up to Twilight, Spike, and Angel. “I’ve dealt with an Organ like that, Creepy Music in an abandoned Temple, turns out the Demon at the End of the dungeon was a Musician in his previous life. Also, his ‘Organ’ was a spectral Instrument, and his weapon to fight me and my pals, he wasn’t easy to defeat.” He sat down next to Angel and gave him a Super Carrot, a large Carrot filled with double the nutrients, from his bag.

“Well let’s hope nothing skitters over it to make loud sounds, *Chuckle*,” A few seconds after Twilight says that Creepy Organ Music begins to play,

“Spike, do you hear that?” Xephers hears the Creepy Music, standing up and walking over to the secret door. Spike follows him slowly until he also hears the Music. “Sounds like we’re not alone, that music is coherent,” Spike looks at him confused, “Intelligent, Spike, just like back then at the Temple...” Xephers looks at Twilight, “Princess, We’re not alone, there’s Something playing the Organ,” He pauses, “Something Intelligent,” She breaks her concentration towards the book and looks at Xephers.

“What are you talking about...” She started hearing the music, “You’re right, we aren’t alone, we need to investigate come on.” She picks up Angel and trots out the door. “Xephers can your Light spell be used as a torch?” Xephers nods as He and Spike catch up, Casting Light 1 again but passing it to spike to hold.

“Spike, here, hold this, it’s not hot or cold but it can fly away at any time so just keep a good grip on it.” Spike nods and hops on Xephers’ back for better height for the light source. “Good Idea, hang on tight and if we run into any trouble hop off so I can fight without you falling off,” Spike says ‘Right’, and they continue on their path To find the source of the music.