- Previously
- http://pastebin.com/Q5ki5get
- >Lucky you're not dead yet.
- >The Princess fortunately didn't see through your acquaintances' bluffs.
- >“Close is a damn understatement.”
- >You turn towards Anon.
- >“If I hadn't jumped in there when you were about to start frothing at the mouth, we'd be dead meat.”
- >His face is enraged.
- >...Maybe you took it a little far.
- >“Furthermore, we're still no clearer on what your grand plan is.”
- >Your hoof stamps the ground.
- “We're outside the tomb. What do you think it is, genius?
- >His face turns red.
- >Something seems off though.
- >“If it weren't for the fact you could get me and Echo banished from Equestria, I wouldn't even be here. None of us would. Where the hell do we fit in your big plan?”
- >Snicker to yourself.
- “Look at me, Anon. Do you see a horn? No? Only wings? That's what I thought. I can't possibly hope to get in there without assistance of something with magical abilities or a strong figure.”
- >His lips purse.
- “From what I've heard, dumb apes are very strong.”
- >His fist clenches.
- >This is perfect.
- “Are you strong, silly monkey?”
- >He says nothing, but turns to Echo.
- >“What do we do here?”
- >She offers no useful advice to him.
- >“What choice do we have? We're damned if we do, damned if we don't.”
- >Stroking his chin, his eyes dart from left to right.
- “Puzzled?”
- >“Shut up.”
- >You flash him your pearly whites.
- >Anon has been sitting against the wall for a while now.
- >He refuses to help you for the time being.
- >Echo has been talking to herself.
- >A nervous wreck if you ever saw one.
- >“Uh, Quiet?”
- >Oh right.
- >You have a partner.
- >“Why are there two civilians here?”
- >Think fast.
- “Oh, yes! No reason. They... asked me about the sights here.”
- >Foolproof.
- >She looks at you with suspecting eyes.
- >“Uh-huh.”
- >She looks at the now shaking excuse of a batpony and the monkey.
- >“Not your average tourists, huh.”
- “That's... what I thought!”
- >Anon looks up at you with contempt.
- “Go on now, go to all them... sights I told you about!”
- >You try to give them an “if-you-leave-here-you're-dead” signal by putting a wing to your throat.
- >They look at each other in confusion, Echo's face hooded still, then walk off.
- >What a great plan this was.
- >It's been a nightmare here.
- >You and Anon have been dawdling along for a while now.
- >As quietly as you can, you speak to Anon.
- “Can't we leave here? You should know how awful it feels for me to be here.”
- >He puzzles.
- >“I'm not so sure we can. Think about it: She knows you were here.”
- >You huff.
- “Fine. Whenever we get out of here though, you're in trouble.”
- >He seems taken aback a little.
- “Why did you come here anyway?”
- >This, he literally retracts at.
- >He's been hiding something.
- >“I... wanted to find your dad.”
- >What?
- “Why?”
- >“You said he didn't want to know you anymore. I wanted to see if that was true.”
- >He almost says it like it's a question...
- >It's always been an instinct of yours to be wary.
- >And that letter...
- >It all falls into place, really.
- “Anonymous, I want a straight answer.”
- >You stop, and look at him straight in the eyes.
- >It hurts.
- “Why did you come here?”
- >He rubs the back of his neck.
- >“I... was curious about the Chronicle.”
- >You were expecting this.
- > But it doesn't stop that horrid feeling of your heart sinking deep.
- >He looks at you, expecting you to say something, but you're dumbstruck.
- >“Like you said about your dad...”
- >Huh?
- >“I was curious of what would become of you.”
- “What for?”
- >He sighs.
- >“You said you didn't have much friends, only your dad. That you and him were the closest pair there ever was. Then your dad gets a life-threatening illness. That kind of stress is bad for someone. Worse for you, the only pony in your life.”
- >His words sting.
- >“I hate to bring up bad memories, but... it just worried me.”
- >Before you can respond, an awkward voice stops you.
- >“And I hate to interrupt lovey-dovey sappy time, but you two are coming with me.”
- >Great.
- >That took forever.
- >Getting Jasmine off your case isn't an easy job.
- >Ask anypony in Hollow Shades.
- >And finding these two was even more of a task.
- >“W-we're not in love.”
- >Ironic how she's called Echo, but barely speaks.
- >He looks to her with a sad air.
- “What, this a tragedy at the theatre? Perk up!”
- >They sigh to each other.
- >Anon speaks.
- >“Fine. What would you have us do?”
- “You already know that.”
- >“Oh, right.”
- >You all come up to the entrance once more.
- >Dawn is upon you.
- >“So... how are we doing this?”
- >You chuckle to yourself, remembering your ingenious plan.
- “It's perfect.”
- >Echo huffs.
- “W-well, Anon opens the gate when nopony is looking. We sneak down really fast and quietly. Echo shows us where to go.”
- >She looks to the floor in shame.
- “Hey, you're the key here. You're being a big help!”
- >You smile in a mocking fashion.
- >Grey feet move slightly back from you.
- >The monkey glares at you intensely.
- >Beaming at him again, you turn around.
- “Shall we begin then?”
- >He makes some growls that sound like “Might as well”.
- >Oh, how fun it is getting under their skins!
- >The gate squeaks a tad as it moves up.
- “Hope nopony hears us. Anon, do try to be quieter.”
- >Strained, he replies.
- >“Yu-wan-this-liffed-or-not?”
- >Pretending to be startled, you bring a hoof up to your face and widen your eyes.
- >“Thas-wot-I-thot.”
- >Some more groaning erupts from him as the iron bars slide further and further upwards.
- >A final little screech from the old rust comes.
- >The gate is up.
- “After you, my friends.”
- >Once you're all inside, the tall creature closes the thing again.
- “Why the hell did you do that?!”
- >“Are you dumb? No really, are you that stupid? If we leave that thing open then they'll know for sure we're in here.”
- >For the first time in a long time, you've been taken down a peg.
- “I... I suppose you're right.”
- >“Yes, I am.”
- >These stairs go on forever.
- >Nothing fancy about these stone corridors. They look like they've been carved completely flat.
- >There's a small flicker of light at the bottom, licking at the small shadows.
- >As you come upon the bottom, and two routes, you turn to Echo.
- “Where to now?”
- >“Do you not remember it got moved here AFTER I stole it? I don't know which way.”
- >Time to assess the situation.
- “Eenee meenee minee mo...”
- >Anon slaps his forehead.
- >Echo facehoofs.
- “We're going right.”
- >“Glad you could make such a logical decision.”
- >After walking down a cold corridor with a wooden décor, you come to a room with a hanging lamp.
- >Underneath it is the book.
- >Anon prods your side.
- >“Which of us will take it?”
- “Me, of course. I know what to do.”
- >Not one for finesse, you simply snatch it.
- >No alarms, nothing.
- >“That's surprising.”
- “Guess we just... walk back out now?”
- >Echo nods.
- >When you come back to the stairs, daylight kisses the walls.
- >“Wait, Quiet.”
- >Your hoof, almost at the first step, stops.
- “What?”
- >“Shouldn't we check the other room?”
- “No! It's probably a trap. Echo, is this the right book?”
- >The quiet one nods again.
- “See? It's fine, everything's fine!”
- >Anon sighs.
- >“If we're arrested upon exit, I blame you.”
- “You won't have to, there will be no-one there.”
- >The long walk up the stairs begins again.
- >Uneventful tiptoeing.
- >Anon raises the gate again, and you all get out.
- >A single bat pony stands in the middle of the square.
- >“Whoa. What's goin' on here.”
- >Not this guy again.
- >He's always so... spaced. What does he do?
- “Move along. You saw nothing.”
- >“Except I did, man...”
- >Huh?
- >“Watch this.”
- >He pulls off his face...
- >...Revealing Jasmine.
- >Oh, fie.

