Chapter One
Into the Labyrinth

Twenty years have passed since the Labyrinth had risen from the rubble of Canterlot. Luna and Twilight took charge of Equestria after the disaster. Celestia was still missing and the threat of the monster that the bottom of the maze still threatened Equestria. Exactly how long all of Equestria had before all the monsters inside where free and stone prisons that Luna and Celestia and sealed them away in; no pony knew. Due to the urgency of needing to reach the bottom of the Labyrinth, Luna and Twilight didn’t seal up the maze, but put out a bounty to any pony that can make it to Bahamut and back out with a map of how to get there; they will receive riches beyond any ponies’ wildest imagination. Added to the hefty reward, they would bear the title of Savior of Equestria.

Over the years, Luna gained back her power to raise the moon, while Twilight masters the ability to raise the sun. Acting as both rulers of Equestria, life couldn’t have been better. For the ponies who dared brave the perils of the Labyrinth brought forth ancient tomes that had been long forgotten. Upon further investigation of these books, Twilight discovered that there was other ways to use magic. Since most ponies had difficulty learning a new spell, this book had way around mastering it using the horn itself as a casting source.

Rune magic had evolved from the rediscovery of these tomes. Runes are the symbols with their own names on the pages of the tomes. The requirement to use rune magic, a pony must have the correct citation and know how to direct the spell after chanting it. Ponies from all over Equestria arrive to the Labyrinth to test their grits in hopes of finding some of this old treasure. Part of learning about Rune magic, revealed that there is a possibility to revive those who have died in the Labyrinth. The only drawbacks to using Rune magic to bring back the dead, was the consequences if it failed. It became a large practice for some ponies to learn the difficult rune spell to bring back the dead. Neither Twilight nor Luna can have 100% success when they try. If the spell doesn’t work, the pony’s body dissipates into a pile of ash. A different spell is required to try to bring their body and life back from these ashes. Should the spell fail again, their ashes fade from existence.

Many species of monsters had also been documented and written about that have been found in the maze. Twilight and Luna continue to pay a large amount of bits to any pony who finds something new in the labyrinth that could benefit the progress to reaching Bahamut or anything that they could use to beat him. Some have claimed to have seen monsters wielding ancient powerful weapons that have been told about in old fairy tales and stories from pre Equestrian history.
Over the Twenty years, Ponyville became the center of attention for the brave ponies to enter the labyrinth. Not all where there for wealth and fame. Some have lost things to the disaster that befell Canterlot or seek something in the Labyrinth itself. Some seek to learn more about themselves or to help ponies in need. Merchants had come and settled in Ponyville to get some sales with the increasing population.

Even though the popularity of the Labyrinth was large, it also drove ponies away. Some come to the town in search of something or making a living, but end up losing more than they had ever wanted. Many ponies will turn and walk away when the Labyrinth of Canterlot is mentioned, other seek rumors from there. But over the twenty years since the fall of Canterlot, the ruined city was always known to be a forsaken land.

“Aura!”

The white unicorn named Aura turned his head to towards his door. He had a long brown mane with silver stripes running through it. The stallion’s eyes where a brilliant cyan blue that looked like they had a radiating glow due to their color. He was wearing a red cape and around his neck that covered his whole back but had a hole in it for his tail to hang out. His tale was the same color brown with the same sliver streaks slowing from one end to the other. Around his neck was a red bandana tied to cover the tie for the cape. Aura was living in the same library that Twilight had lived in since she was first charged by Celestia herself, to seek friends and check on the preparations in Ponyville. Since the fall over Canterlot, Twilight had two more ponies living with her in the Library. Aura and Luna now lived in the small library with Twilight. Aura was her pupil in training, who is learning the powers of magic through her.

Aura lived in the basement of the Library, while Luna had her room on the base floor. Being in the basement gave Aura a large room for practice with magic and swordsmanship. Despite Twilights disapproval of her own pupil risking his life in the Labyrinth, she couldn’t stop his passion for exploring. Aura had forgotten most of what happened to him since he was attacked by the doppelganger in the Labyrinth, but still looked up to Twilight as a motherly figure. Though he knows deep down that his mother died in the catastrophe, Twilight had always been there for him like she was his mother.

“Yes mom?” Aura called up the stairs.

“I need you to come up here and look over this text that some adventurer brought in,” Twilight called back

Aura looked around his room. He was currently practicing with his sword against a wooden target in the center of the room. Most unicorns used magic over weapons, but Aura saw the usefulness of being able to levitate a sword instead of carrying it in your mouth or having small blades attacked to your hoofs. He levitated the sword he was using to its scabbard, Aura took a quick glance over his room.

“I’ll be right there,” Aura called up the stairs to the main floor of the library. Aura placed his sword in its scabbard against a chest on the opposite side of the room. The chest backed up to his bed and contained his most cherished items he found in the labyrinth. Next to his bed was his metal armor he wore when exploring. Past that was his desk for writing since Twilight encouraged him to write every day.

Aura trotted up the stairs to open the door to the basement where Twilight and Luna stood in the middle of the room looking over something on a table. On the other side of the table, stood a strong looking stallion that had a sword on his back. He was a simple earth pony with a brown fur coat; his mane was a sort of light yellow that melded into a light brown. Over his shoulder was a scare from a battle he had to have survived. Wearing almost no armor Aura got to chance to look at the ponies cutie mark. It was a picture of a bit that had a gleam off the edge

“Aura, this is Glimmer Gold. He found this magnificent text that I think you might want to read,” Twilight said with an excited look on her face.

“You always saying I would like to read it,” Aura said giving a smile. “If it was a young pony’s book and it was good you would say I would like it.”

“Well this one is special,” Twilight said with a frown.

Aura walked over and looked at the book. It was a book that was written in old pony times that Celestia had written. It was a book that dates back many years ago. The title read: Lord and Rulers of the Monsters of Tartarus. Upon looking at the author of this text, Aura double took at the name. Princess Celestia. “When did the princess write this,” Aura asked confused.

“I have no idea. Being locked away for a thousand years, you miss a thousand years of that your sister does. I have had no idea that she wrote these books or tracked down legendary artifacts to store away in the castle,” Luna said sighing with a saddened expression. “If only I could ask her about this myself.”

“What’s even stranger is the writing on the inside of the cover,” Twilight said flipping the hard bound page to revel the first piece of parchment with a small letter written on it.

Aura skimmed over the letter which read:

Dear Twilight,

I began working on this book shortly after you managed to hatch spike. I knew that one day Bahamut would break free and release an unspeakable evil. His plans to free the leader and rulers of Tartarus would happen one day. I have put all my knowledge about what sort of monsters and their leaders in this book. You will one day need this. I want to apologize for not sharing this news with you sooner, but you are my star pupil, and I taught you well. You will be able to handle this situation just like when I needed you to save Luna. I hope that his info helps you along your long journey and helps you become the princess I once was.
Your friend, teacher, and princess,
Celestia

Aura shook his head unsure as to how to accept this situation. The first thought to himself was to secure the library for further discussion, “Twilight, did you lock up the library and leave a note outside saying we closed early for the day?”

Shaking her head, “No but that is a good idea. We need to discuss and learn about this. Once we have a better understanding about what’s in this book, we will then release it to the public.”

Aura walked over to the door and began to twist the dead bolt lock in place when he realized something is wrong. The dead bolt was already locked. Twilight told him she didn’t lock it and that means some pony else did.

After a sort sigh Aura looked around the library. Luna, Twilight, and Glimmer looked confused. “Keith. I know you’re in here.”

All heads turned their attention to the hallway to the kitchen when a voice came from it, “Maybe I am maybe I’m not!”

“Twilight said she didn’t lock the door, but it’s already locked. You had to have picked the lock thinking she did to sneak in and re bolted the door to cover your tracks. With that you just responded to me,” Aura said frustrated. In the kitchen every pony could hear a faint slur of vulgar.

Out of the hallway came a light brown Pegasus with a red feathered hat with a silver feather jetting out the left side of it. His mane was a darker brown with streaks of black in it, but showed to be very short and messy. Both ears had 3 piercings each running up to the tip of the ear. Around his neck was a pair of goggles with tinted lenses. Along with the strange match up of accessories on this pegasus was a red tunic that he wore, with the red sleeves all torn. A belt around his thighs contained many pockets and loops that held tools to pick locks and Celestia knows what else was in the pockets of the belt. His tail was the same brown and black as his mane, but short and very messy. His expression was very mellow as he was eating a hay sandwich. Around both his front hooves was a metal bracelet that had small daggers attached to. With a simple fling of his hoof, the weapons could be drawn out. On the bottom of both front and back hooves was tan boots.

Luna and Twilight stared at Keith. Ignoring their starring daggers at him, he proceeded to take another bite out of his snack.

“I purposely put a lock infused with magic on the fridge during open hours so no pony steals our food. How did you break that spell, and why are you in here?” Twilight stomped towards the pony.

“Hey, chill now Twilight. I just used this simple little gizmo that I got from a traveling unicorn that absorbs most magic placed on locks. It’s just a tiny little needle that you prick the magic and it will absorb it through the tip. Whatever spell you put on it, didn’t last but a couple seconds. Second, I was hungry and thought I would drop in and see my best friend and what he is up to,” Keith said with a small smile on his face.

Luna sighed and shook her head, “I don’t know why we don’t lock you up in a cell for all the times you have broken in here without permission, even when the library was closed.”

“Luna… I mean Princess Luna; you are a very silly pony. You know you can’t lock me up. Either a, I would just break out by picking the lock, which I am good at, b, you couldn’t hurt poor Auras feelings for putting his bestest westests friend behind bars that he can easily break out of. Or c, You would need me to pick the lock on all those chest that are holding special artifacts that you guys need,” Keith said with a grin flashing over to Luna and putting his arm around her should.

“Take thy hands off me now or I will remove them myself, “Luna said blankly not even giving eye contact.

Keith did so and flashed over to Aura with almost Pinkie Pie speed. Aura shook his head and walked back to the table to look over the other pages of the book. Certain pages listing a leader also included a sort of legendary weapon that they were associated with Aura slipped over and over till he came to a page that had Bahamut. There was a detailed picture of this dragon. The dragon had silver scales and brilliant blue eyes. What through Aura off was in the description next to the picture.

Bahamut is also known as ‘The Platinum Dragon’. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were once great friends with this dragon. He was a good and kind dragon that believed in the same goals as the sisters. They both seeked a peaceful world where there was no problems, no war, and no evil.

Bahamut left one day to investigate a rise of evil dragons. Months later he returned. Speaking to the Alicorn sisters Bahamut claimed he had found his true power and that their dream of a peaceful world was nothing but a lie. Only thought the destruction of the weak can a strong and glorious world be formed. This sudden shift in his nature was off and could not be explained.

Aura looked over to Luna, “So what cause Bahamut to change?”

“I know not. While I was sealed in the moon, Celestia tried everything she could to cure him while he was trapped in stone. She could never find the reason behind his change,” Luna said with a saddened expression.

“Whatever has caused him to do turn on everypony, we have to find out before we come a crossed him,” Twilight said walking off to the kitchen. Keith slowly started to edge towards to run when he heard a slam in the kitchen, “Keith Lock!” Twilight shouted, “Don’t you know how to close a fridge door and put stuff away!”

Keith whistled and went to hide behind Aura. Glimmer, Luna, and Aura started to laugh at Keith as he had a sort of terrified expression, “I think this is the part when I exit out the door I came.”

“Keith you know you won’t escape her wrath,” Aura said turning to face his friend.

“Not unless I flee to the Labyrinth,” Keith stood up on two legs and pointed towards the door out of the library.

“I will chase you down to the depths of Tartarus itself if you even think about running!” Twilight shouted storming from the kitchen back into the main room. Keith darted for the door but found that Twilight had used her magic to grab hold of his small stubby tail. Cringing for his beating Keith cowered as he was dragged to her. “You are in so much debt to me as it is. I think I almost own your soul,” Twilight said with a smirk.

“I love you too?” Keith said scared.

Unsure how to respond to respond she dropped the scared stallion.

“Well I am sorry, but I must take my leave. I must return to my group with this coin to repair out equipment and heal some wounds from our adventure,” Glimmer said with a smile of sear amusement. “I hope that this will help us all end these dark times. Thank you for seeing me and accepting my find.”

“No thank you. For this sort of find you deserve to have a song sung in your group’s name,” Luna said bowing to Glimmer.

Glimmer bowed back and walked to the door to leave. Next to him a purple aura surrounded a Pony trying to sneak out of the library. Twilight was lifting Keith back to the center of the room with an un-amused glare. Aura double took to his sides never realizing his friend snuck off Glimmer chuckled to himself as he unlocked the door and left.

Keith whimpered at Twilight as if he was a hurt puppy. “Don’t you even try it Keith,” Twilight said setting him down. “The main reason you came was to try and get Aura to go into the Labyrinth today. Sadly for you, that’s not happening today.”

“I don’t see why I couldn’t go exploring for a little while today,” Aura stepped in.

“See? He wants to go slay some monsters, raid for treasure, and drink some Cider,” Keith said sitting on the floor.

“Besides what would you want me to do today anyways,” Aura asked.

Luna glanced at Twilight, and Twilight returned the look with a sigh, “We both where hoping to give you some more magic lessons.”

“And there will be time for that when I get back. It’s not even noon and we won’t go to deep today.”

Luna shrugged and walked off to the kitchen leaving Twilight to make the decision. Twilight looked over Aura and saw he was eager to leave the Library and explore. With another long sigh Twilight knew she couldn’t keep her pupil locked in the Library. If she could lock him in here, she would, but Keith would eventually pick the locks and free Aura. Waving her hoof in a shooing manner Aura darted past her to the basement.

Within moments Aura was back in the main room with armor and his sword. Aura had put on a red tunic to match his cape and bandana, and then put a large metal chest plate on over the clothing. His cape fell to the side as he checked bottom part of his armor. Around his waist was another type of plate mail. It covered the rest of his back and his flanks. Though his Cutie mark was covered, the flank armor had his cutie mark worked into the design of the protective metal. Tied around Auras flank was also a leather strap holding a small book. In this book he had some very simple Rune Spells for when he needed them in the Labyrinth.
Seeing that his chest and flank armor was secured, Aura levitated a couple leather straps around his waist to tie his swords scabbard to him. Once the sword was secured to his side, Aura crouched and leaped to check that the plates worked together to give him full movement.

“Aura, don’t forget your boots,” Twilight said as Aura started to make his way towards the door.

“But we aren’t going to explore that far,” He protested.

“Put them on,” Twilight said with a sterner tone.

With a sigh, Aura trotted back downstairs and returned with all his hooves in leather boots with metal plating on the fronts guarding his hooves and metal on the bottom for supports.

“Well now that we are done with dress up, can we go Aura?” Keith said at the door clawing at it as if he was a cat or dog wanting outside.

Aura looked to Twilight which was told he could go with a simple nod. Aura ran towards the door and used his magic to open it and run outside. Keith wasn’t too far behind him. The two ran through the town excited to be able to explore the labyrinth. Though they shouldn’t like the dungeon it is, it was a place for them to feel free to go where they want, and face tough challenges that only the monsters of The Labyrinth could offer.

Soon the two had left the town behind them and where making their way up the road to the Labyrinth. Everypony calls it the road of sorrows from its past of the citizens of Canterlot that had traveled down it to reach safe haven in Ponyville.

As they walked up the path a group of adventurers where comes back from their adventures. Aura and Keith lost their zeal as they realized the group was carrying a limp pony over one of their backs. Some pony had died in the labyrinth and was being taken to the hospital to see if they can be brought back.

As the group approached, Aura popped out a question to them, “What floor?”

The stallion that was carrying the fallen pony continued walked, but the unicorn mare following behind them stopped to answer Auras question, “We made it to floor four before we were taken by surprise by a group of five half-demons. We killed three of them before one got our friend.”

“What the hay are half-demons doing above floor five?” Keith asked looked back at the limp pony being taken to a hospital for a chance to be brought back.

The mare shrugged, “The monsters are traveling up from the lower depths to the top floors. More and more strong ones are appearing daily. At this rate they will start leaving the Labyrinth and attacking the town,” She paused for a moment,” If you’re going in there, the best of luck to you both.” She turned and trotted to catch up with the stallion she was following.

Aura sighed and shook his head. Many lose their lives by the day in there, and no pony has gotten past the fifth floor. At the fifth floor, some of the darkest, strongest monsters lurked. Though Aura never wanted to go down that deep, one day he knew he will have to.

Keith patted Aura on the shoulder and nodded towards the top of the hill. Over the hill was the destroyed city of Canterlot. An unwritten rule to adventuring was to pick a flower and leave it at the entrance of the city. The legend goes that if a pony does this, a spirit from Canterlot will follow you and your group into the labyrinth and help you in a time of need should it come. Aura stopped before the entrance to Canterlot and looked to Keith. Keith didn’t have his usual mellow grin, but rather a series and saddened expression. Between Aura and Keith, Keith was the one who always carried the flower for the two of them. When he when to pick it, Aura didn’t bother to ask.

Aura sat down and bowed his head in respect to those who died that night as Keith walked over to the side of a destroyed building and placed a fresh, Apple Blossom on the pile of hundreds of other flowers that other adventurers placed for their respects and wish of good luck with a spirit to guide them. Once Keith dropped the flower he walked over to Aura and sat next to him, removing his hat, and bowing his head in respect and prayer.

After a moment, they both stood up, Keith put his hat back on, and they began walking through the ruined city. They walked quietly and looked forward. Around them the ruined city had a fine layer of snow covering the ground and destroyed buildings. There wasn’t any where Aura and Keith walked because it had been melted from all the ponies going back and forth to the dungeon.

Canterlot Castle, stood before them, melded into the mountain with the gate leading into the dark tunnel of the labyrinth. Over the years some ponies have placed more torches up to light the maze up better as they traveled around, but the entrance was always dark.

“Well it time to kick flank and take fame. Let’s go get us some treasure,” Keith said trotting forward.

Aura sighed and put on a little smile as they passed the threshold of the labyrinth. The two made their way down the entrance tunnel. Aura observed the white stony wall admiring the condition of maze. All the white bricks where in tack and undamaged. His mind wandered about what the castle looked like before it was warped. With every trip made into the maze Aura day dreams as he walks. Though he had been in the castle a lot when he was just a colt before Bahamut destroyed it, he just couldn’t remember it well enough. When Twilight rescued him, his memories of his past became very hazy. Only the memory of his mother’s voice and appearance remains in his mind.

After the two had walked for about five minutes, they had arrived to the fork in the maze. They could continue down the hall way they were going or turn right and head to the room Aura was rescued in.

Keith stopped and turned to his unicorn friend, “Well buddy? Shall we go straight and see what lies beyond there or shall we go to your room?”

Aura glared at Keith, “Just because Twilight saved me from that room doesn’t mean it’s my room.”

“Well Twilight dedicated that room to you in your name. You were the only pony saved from the labyrinth back when it was created, other than Princess Luna who was lying on the floor to the entrance,” Keith said looking down both hallways.

Aura sighed with defeat. He knew Twilight was fond of him and wanted to honor her student by naming a room that he survived the first monster any pony had ever come a crossed. “Let’s go to my room then.” Aura turned to the right and started down the hall way.

Keith followed suite after his friend. The dim light from the torches cast the ponie’s shadows on the wall; the way they looked gave Aura an edgy feeling. They walked for about another ten minutes before they reached a golden door. Around the door was colored gems and a hole in the center. Twilight told Aura stories that this door had once been used to guard the Elements of Harmony. Only Celestia or Luna had the ability to open it. By sticking their horns onto the small hole and using a special spell. Now, however, it only takes a simple push to open the door.

Both Aura and Keith stood looking at the door. It was a work of art and the only one of its kind in the entire labyrinth. Beyond this door is when both ponies could be in danger of monsters attacking. They took their time looking at the door to work in their minds the courage and confidence to proceed forward.

As they stood there, both ponies heard some commotion start up behind the door. What was going on, neither were certain. Aura walked up to the door and pushed both open and peered into the room.

A crossed the room was two goblins crouched over looking at something. These monsters stood on two feet and were the size of a young colt. They had a yellow-green colored flesh; they both wore a tattered brown leather of some sort around their chests and a grimy green loin cloth. In one of the goblins hands he had a small wooden club while the other had a beautiful blue staff with gold designs on it. It wasn’t until one of them kicked what they were looking at that Aura realized what was happening. Some poor pony is being beaten to death by them.

Walking closer to them Aura shouted to the monsters, “And what are we doing today my little monstrosities?”

Both turned around, still hiding the pony behind them on the ground. The one with the staff grunted at Aura, “We are just enjoying ourselves some fun! And it would seem you have come to join in on this fun. “

Keith walked up next to Aura and whispered in his ear, “That’s no ordinary staff. It might be a special relic that the princess had locked up. So in that case I’ll take the one with the club.”

Aura nodded and continued towards the monsters. “You see here, I have a policy against monsters harming other ponies. Now if you would be so kind as to give up your lovely staff and drop your weapons. I would hate for this to turn into something you both will regret.”

The goblin with the club began to laugh. Keith leaped in the air and flew at the goblin, and before the goblin could react, Keith cut a big smile in the monsters neck with the small blades that retracted from front hoof bracelets. The goblin dropped to the ground dead with a green blood running from the wound. The other goblin leaped away from Keith to a corner of the room. Aura got a glimpse of what the goblins where beating and it was a light teal mare with a beautiful gold colored mane. Aura unsheathed his sword with his unicorn magic and pointed the blade towards the goblin.

“How could you harm such an innocent mare?” Auras voice was stern with growing rage.

“That wench had this staff. We found her on floor 2 and chased her down to this room. Do you have any idea what powers this staff holds?” The goblin shouted out with a power hungry look on his face. “I doubt it, so I will show you!” Raising the staff over its head, the monster began to release a maniacal laugh. The staff itself began to glow a brilliant blue aura around itself before the aura traveled and enclosed the goblin. What happened next, through Aura off guard. The goblin split in half and became two goblins. The aura continued to split the goblin in half and make more clones of him.

“Aura, I think you should strike them down before there are too many of them,” Keith called to Aura while tending to the mare on the ground.

Aura realized that Keith was right, that goblin needed to be stopped before he gets overwhelmed. Rushing towards one of the split clones, Aura drove his sword in the chest of it. To his surprise the clone just faded and the blue aura around it faded with the clone.

“Nice guess little colt, but wrong me,” the 5 copies of the goblin said.

Aura began to worry as he slashed through another two copies only to have them fade from existence. As soon as they were gone another two goblins took their place.

Aura began to step back from the goblins and look for a hint as to which one was the real goblin. Behind him he heard a mare’s voice, “The clones have a purple staff! Kill the one with the blue staff!”

Aura looked behind him to see she was calling out to him before blacking out limp on the floor. A loud yell brought his attention back to the goblins. Two of them where leaping at him with their staffs above their heads. Aura leaped to the side and rolled to avoid their attack. Another clone came running at him swinging a purple staff hoping to hit Aura. The staff whirled past Auras head as he juked to the side. Before the monster could recover from its failed strike Aura ran his sword through the gut of the clone. Once it faded away Aura could see blue staff that the original was holding.

The two clones that Aura dodged where closing on him to get another chance, but stopped in their tracks before they got to him. As they faded, Keith was left behind them floating behind where they stood with his hidden blades pointed out where their backs would have been. Aura nodded his thanks and took off towards the original.

“What’s wrong little pony, not having fun?” The goblin said splitting again. Next to the goblin stood two clones that both laughed with the original. All three were ready for Aura to approach them. To their dismay Aura stopped and gave a wry grin. “What are you smiling about pony?”

Aura looked straight at the original, “You want to play? How about we play catch?” Aura said using his magic to shoot his sword straight at the goblin. The clones stepped in front of the original hoping to stop it, but the sword went right through them and stuck in the original goblins chest. The clones faded away and left the goblin alone and in dismay.

The sword was strong enough to pin the goblin to the wall. Aura walked over and used his magic to pull the staff from the hands of the dying goblin. The monster looked at the wound and looked back grinning at Aura. “It seems the master was right. You are going to be a thorn in his side,” With that the goblins eyes rolled up inside its skull and it collapsed limply on the blade pinning it to the wall. Aura fastened the staff to his saddle bags and turned his attention back to the goblin.

Aura looked confused, “Your master?” Removing the blade swiftly the goblin dropped to the ground. Aura cleaned his blade on the goblins body and walked over to the mare that was still unconscious. Keith joined Aura and looked her over. She wore a dark teal skirt and shirt. Both of her ears had two silver pricings. She wore a necklace with a black gem. But the most unusual part about her was she had gold tattoos of runes on her neck and front legs.

“Keith let’s get her to the hospital,” Aura said sheathing his sword and leaning down to get her on his back to carry her out.

“To think we came in for some relaxation and possibly some treasure and we find a mare. Today is a good day!” Keith said bumping Aura in the side.

Aura and Keith just left the room when a loud voice echoed through the labyrinth. The voice sounded like it was tired or exhausted. “Aura, you have proven yourself once again,” A long sigh followed. “I am looking forward to our encounter once you reach the fifth floor. You..,” another long sigh, “and the other five. I shall see you when the time comes.”

Aura looked at Keith, “Other five?”

“Well I am one of them, I guess there are four other friends you have that you haven’t told me about?” Keith said with a laugh.

“I have no idea what it’s talking about,” Aura said looking out into the hallway.

“Oh Aura how could you! I thought the friendship we had was special!” Keith said walking away making fake weeping sounds with his hoof over his face. Aura just shook his head smiling while trying to keep a laugh down.

Aura and Keith made it out of the labyrinth and got the mare to the hospital. Aura stayed at the hospital waiting for the mare to wake up so he can find out what she was doing in the labyrinth. Keith went to the library to tell Twilight about the experience and give her the staff they recovered. After a couple hours Twilight came to the hospital to see this mare that Aura saved. Once Twilight learned everything about what happened, she returned to the library to leave Aura to tend to the mare.

It was early morning when the mare came to and found that Aura was asleep in a chair next to her bed with his head resting on a table, drooling in his sleep. He wasn’t in all his armor, and only had his red bandana around his neck. The mare giggled at the site of Aura passed out with the lake of drool covering the table.

The giggling was enough to stir Aura from his slumber. After looking around the room and wiping his mouth clean of his drool Aura turned his attention to the mare laying in the bed giggling at him.

“Good morning,” He said with a smile. “How are you feeling?”

The mare finally stopped giggling and put on a beautiful smile that made Auras heart flutter. “I am feeling well. Was it you who saved me from that monster?”

Aura nodded, “Yes, they would have killed you if I hadn’t of shown up. May I ask, what is your name?”

The mare turned her attention to the window behind her. She became transfixed on the birds flying around a tree in the dawning sky. As if lost in a trance she mutters out, “Angelus. My name is Angelus, but you can just call me Angel.”
It wasn’t until then that Aura realized how beautiful her eyes where. The radiant dawn shinning in her golden eyes gave them a brilliant glow. Aura pulled himself off the chair he fell asleep in and walked over to her bed.
“Well Angel, can you tell me what you were doing in the labyrinth? You don’t seem the type of pony to openly visit the labyrinth regularly.”

Her attention turned back to Aura, “I…” She hesitated. “I don’t remember why I was there. All I remember was running from those monsters. I had that staff and I don’t know where I even got it, but they wanted it.”

Aura became confused, “Yet you knew what the staff did. You told me how to tell the difference between the clones and the real one.”

“I don’t remember that at all.”

Aura sighed, “Well maybe the injuries might have taken away some of your memories. Hopefully they will come back soon enough.”

Angel nodded and began to sit up in her bed. Her stare became transfixed on the sheets that she was snug under. “May I ask you a question?”

“Certainly Angel.”

“What is your name and where am I? I mean I am having trouble remembering a lot, and I would love to know the name of the one who saved me.”

Aura smiled with a nod, “Well, you’re in Ponyville hospital and I am Aura Sparkle, the adopted son of Twilight Sparkle.”
Angel looked back up to Aura, “Thank you. Now I have a small request. This may sound crazy but something is drawing me back to the place you rescued me. I assume you visit that dungeon regularly, and I want you to take me with you.”

Aura was taken back. This mare who he rescued from the maze is asking him to take her back there. How does one respond to such a request? After gaping over the favor Aura had to give some sort of answer, “I suppose I can, but I can’t take you too deep.”

“I understand. It’s because you don’t think I can handle myself. That isn’t true. I couldn’t fight those goblins because I didn’t have a weapon to fight back with. I did have that staff, but I didn’t know how to use it. Added I lost my spell book when I was running from them.” Angel said looking at Aura desperately. “If you can take me in there I am certain I will start to remember more.”

Aura took a deep sigh, “Alright, I will take you with us, but you have to be careful.”

“Thank you!” Angel said leaping from her bed and hugging Aura who gave off a bright red blush.

A knock came at the door to the hospital room. With Angel still hugging him, they both looked at the door. There stood Keith with a wry grin on his face. “I don’t know how you do it, but you know how to get the ladies,” Keith said chuckling. “So you want to go into the labyrinth with us, eh?” Angel nodded. “Well then we will have to get you a weapon.”

“How long have you been there Keith?” Aura asked with an annoyed frown.

“Long enough to know what’s going on,” Keith turned his attention to Angel, “Excuse my friend’s bad manners. I am Keith Lock, master thief, master spy, master of traps, and some say I’m a master to the ladies,” He said winking.
Angel had a large blush on her face and let go of Aura. She climbed back onto her bed and looked at Keith and Aura. “So when do we get to go adventure?” She asked.

Aura and Keith looked at each other before returning their attention back to her, “Once your ladyship has recovered,” Keith said with a smile removing his hat and bowing to her. “I am sorry, but I must be off. The libraries fridge requires my attention.” And with that turned around and left the room.

“Don’t listen to him. He is always like that and it’s best you ignore what he says most of the time,” Aura said with a laugh.

Angel nodded and looked back out the window. “Tomorrow,” she paused, “Tomorrow let us visit the labyrinth.”

“Alright then, If you’re feeling well enough I can show you around the town,” Aura said.

Angel hopped out of her bed and bolted to the door, “Well then let’s get going!”

Aura trotted over to her and walked her out the hospital and into the town where he began to show her, the small town of Ponyville.

End of Chapter One

Author's Note

Map of Floor 1: http://dpx4.deviantart.com/art/Floor-1-355703587?ga_submit_new=10%253A1361502374