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Organised by
RogerDodger
Word limit
400–750
The Tomb of the Lion
Aged stone groaned in protest as the long-closed door gave way before the unrelenting pressure of armor-shod hooves. The air was clogged with whorls of disturbed dust, but the five ponies breathed easily, for their sage had taken the precaution of enchanting each with Red Nebula’s Charm of Pure Air.
“Hold,” called one, a raised hoof stilling movement while sharp eyes danced from floor to ceiling. A tense minute passed, a second, before she nodded and stepped forward. “There is no immediate danger, but please stay behind me.”
“Light, you always are so paranoid.” The hulking stallion behind her strode passed, heedless of any potential danger. “So there might be a trap or two. I’ve gotten stabbed plenty of times before, and you know Genny over there will take care of it if need be. Let’s just get the treasure and get out of here.”
“It’s right there, after all,” agreed Gentle Heart. She too stepped inside, though her mace was gripped in her magic, just in case. “Nopony has been here in ages. What traps we did find were broken down. I know you wish to be careful, but it is a long journey back and we do not want to be in this forest after dark. I’m sure Heavy Hoof has nothing to worry about.”
“In other words, speed matters,” finished Heavy Hoof. He left hoofprints in the heavy dust, ascending an ancient dais on which sat the Golden Chalice they had come to retrieve. With it, they could cure the ailing Princess and save the kingdom.
“The reward doesn’t hurt, either!” quipped their final member, a bouncing colt who hopped over the threshold inside, and their silent sage followed a moment later.
Heavy Hoof swept the chalice off its dais, and into a waiting sack, then secured it to his panniers. “Right, see? Nothing to it.”
There was a faint click, that of a pressure switch released. Stone vibrated as the vault door ground backwards, sealing the brave adventurers inside. For a few moments, there was only the flicker of torchlight. Then the walls began to slide down, falling into stone recesses, revealing several linked chambers...and within moments, loud moans filled the air as a horde of shambling zomponies and shuffling mummies began to advance.
Applejack groaned. “Really, Rainbow? Ya just had to do it. Ah even told ya to hold yer horses, but no, ya had to be all ‘Nothin’ to it. Now we’re up a creek.”
Twilight Sparkle stared at her friends from behind her screen. She wore a devilish grin as she moved the assorted figurines into place, and intoned ancient words of power which might mean the difference between life and death. “Roll for initiative.”
“Hold,” called one, a raised hoof stilling movement while sharp eyes danced from floor to ceiling. A tense minute passed, a second, before she nodded and stepped forward. “There is no immediate danger, but please stay behind me.”
“Light, you always are so paranoid.” The hulking stallion behind her strode passed, heedless of any potential danger. “So there might be a trap or two. I’ve gotten stabbed plenty of times before, and you know Genny over there will take care of it if need be. Let’s just get the treasure and get out of here.”
“It’s right there, after all,” agreed Gentle Heart. She too stepped inside, though her mace was gripped in her magic, just in case. “Nopony has been here in ages. What traps we did find were broken down. I know you wish to be careful, but it is a long journey back and we do not want to be in this forest after dark. I’m sure Heavy Hoof has nothing to worry about.”
“In other words, speed matters,” finished Heavy Hoof. He left hoofprints in the heavy dust, ascending an ancient dais on which sat the Golden Chalice they had come to retrieve. With it, they could cure the ailing Princess and save the kingdom.
“The reward doesn’t hurt, either!” quipped their final member, a bouncing colt who hopped over the threshold inside, and their silent sage followed a moment later.
Heavy Hoof swept the chalice off its dais, and into a waiting sack, then secured it to his panniers. “Right, see? Nothing to it.”
There was a faint click, that of a pressure switch released. Stone vibrated as the vault door ground backwards, sealing the brave adventurers inside. For a few moments, there was only the flicker of torchlight. Then the walls began to slide down, falling into stone recesses, revealing several linked chambers...and within moments, loud moans filled the air as a horde of shambling zomponies and shuffling mummies began to advance.
Applejack groaned. “Really, Rainbow? Ya just had to do it. Ah even told ya to hold yer horses, but no, ya had to be all ‘Nothin’ to it. Now we’re up a creek.”
Twilight Sparkle stared at her friends from behind her screen. She wore a devilish grin as she moved the assorted figurines into place, and intoned ancient words of power which might mean the difference between life and death. “Roll for initiative.”