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NukePone

(Bat) A Feeling of Resolve - 1

Jul 31st, 2013
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  1. >You groan softly as you roll out of the large, plush bed.
  2. >The sun isn't even up yet.
  3. >Neither is Anon.
  4. >There is absolutely no way you'll be able to go back to sleep, even if you tried.
  5. >You start to head out of the room, but bump into a table, a chair, and finally, the door.
  6. >It's been a while since you've had to navigate in total darkness.
  7. >You open the door and click your tongue.
  8. "There we go..."
  9. >A large hallway is mapped out in your mind as the sound-waves reach back to your ears.
  10. >The entire castle was eerily quiet as you aimlessly trotted through corridors, up and down stairways, and out into the castle grounds.
  11. >You yawn and look up at the sky.
  12. >Little white stars dotted the sky.
  13. >The moon looked close enough to touch.
  14. >It almost threatened to fall from the sky.
  15. >You look at a small sign next to the path on which you stand.
  16. "Garden of Fallen Stars."
  17. >That's strange.
  18. >You had no destination in mind when you started your little journey.
  19. >Rather than turn and head back into the castle, you follow the path.
  20. >You have yet to explore the entirety of this garden, never wandering past the ivory monument.
  21. >The moon lit your way as you trotted along the brick path.
  22. >Each time your hooves touched down, the bricks would shimmer softly.
  23. >It was quite enchanting.
  24. >The path widens into a rather large circle.
  25. >A large, shimmering tower looms in front of you.
  26. >It was... odd.
  27. >You thought something like this would have been noticeable from the ivory monument.
  28. >The tower shimmers and ripples as you tap a hoof on one of its walls.
  29. >It seemed to try to dissipate at your touch, but quickly formed back together.
  30. >A small door materialized in front of you as you tapped the tower again.
  31. >There was something off about this door.
  32. >Ever door in Equestria felt soft, warm, welcoming.
  33. >This door scared you.
  34. >It looked just like any normal door, but it felt like it was hiding something... scary.
  35. "What would Anon do...?"
  36. >Your hoof reaches for the door's handle.
  37. >A soft tune carries through the air, causing you to retract your hoof.
  38. >You pay it little heed and continue staring at the door.
  39. >Anon would most definitely go inside.
  40. >The tune increases in volume as its performer draws closer.
  41. >You hear hooves click to a halt against the brick walkway.
  42.  
  43. >"Speck?"
  44. >A familiar voice calls from behind you.
  45. >You turn from the tower and answer with a light "hm?"
  46. >Princess Luna stands at the edge of the plaza.
  47. >She smiles at you before looking up at the tower.
  48. >"You did not go inside, did you?"
  49. >You shake your head.
  50. "The door scared me."
  51. >"It scares Sister and I just as much."
  52. >Luna sits beside you.
  53. >"The tower appeared here shortly before Anonymous came to our world."
  54. >You turn back to the tower and look up at it.
  55. >"During the day, it is invisible. But during the night, and especially when the moon shines brightly, it shows itself."
  56. "Should we bring Anon to see it?"
  57. >She shakes her head and wraps a wing around you.
  58. >"This... may sound selfish of me. But, I would prefer that he not know of this. For all we know, it could lead him back to his world."
  59. >Anon's world.
  60. >Would he go back if given a choice?
  61. "Princess, I'm sorry. I don't think this is something I could keep from him."
  62. >She nods and gives you an understanding smile.
  63. >"You would not want him to miss a chance at returning to his world, I can understand this. However, I fear that if this door opens, we may be unable to close it."
  64. >She pulls you close to her with her wing.
  65. >"I fear that more of his kind would cross over. I believe that he is kind enough, and peaceful enough. But I fear that the rest of his kind may not be the same."
  66. >You hug Luna's foreleg.
  67. >She pats your head with a hoof.
  68. "I don't want him to be stuck here if he doesn't want to be. As much as I love him, I'll be happy with what ever he does."
  69. >"I understand, little one."
  70.  
  71. >You look out the window.
  72. >A very tall brick tower looms in the distance.
  73. >It was always there, ever since you first came to this land.
  74. >It was never brought up in conversation.
  75. >You passed by it several times when you walked the grounds of the castle, holding conversation with the Princesses.
  76. >They never regarded it.
  77. >Even at night, when you sat with Luna in her garden.
  78. >When you sat on the benches lining that small plaza.
  79. >When that tower glowed its eerie glow.
  80. >Its hypnotic shimmering sometimes caused you to stop listening to Luna.
  81. >You shake your head.
  82. >Speck woke you up earlier when she was crawling out of bed.
  83. >You thought she was going to the bathroom.
  84. >But that was twenty minutes ago.
  85. >A month and three weeks ago, you would have gone back to sleep.
  86. >Speck was doing something to you.
  87. >It was a good something.
  88. >You should find her.
  89. "Sounds like a plan, good thinking Anon."
  90. >You take one of the magic candles with you as you leave the room.
  91. >No destination in mind, you walk.
  92. >The candle lights your way through the long, dark corridors.
  93. >After a while, you find yourself outside.
  94. >A sign tips you off to your location.
  95. "Garden of Fallen Stars."
  96. >The tower loomed in the distance.
  97. >You can't deal with it anymore.
  98. >It taunted you when you first came to Equestria.
  99. >It taunted you the entire time you were on the castle grounds.
  100. >You follow the brick pathway past the ivory monument.
  101. >Nothing but your trusty candle in hand, you come to the plaza where the tower stands.
  102. >Solid, red brick.
  103. >No windows.
  104. >Just the door.
  105. >It shimmers lightly.
  106. >You approach it and scowl as you place a hand on its wall.
  107. "Imposing. Terrifying. Wrong. Unwelcome."
  108. >You stare at the door's small handle.
  109. >A hoof touches your hand.
  110. >A little whine accompanies it.
  111. >Speck sits beside you, staring up with light frown.
  112. >You kneel beside her and hug her as tight as you can.
  113. "Hey there. I've been looking all over for you."
  114. >She nuzzles into your shoulder and sighs.
  115. >"I was coming back to bed. You could have waited."
  116. >You kiss her lightly on the cheek as you stand back up.
  117. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."
  118. >She blushes and looks away.
  119. >You follow her gaze and spot Princess Luna.
  120. >She slowly shakes her head at you, a very stern look on her face.
  121. >"I'm fine, Anon. Can we go back? I'm really sleepy."
  122. >The wind blows over the garden.
  123. >Luna's glare bores into you.
  124. "Yeah, I'll catch up with you. I want to stargaze a little bit."
  125. >"I can stay with y-"
  126. "No, just go on ahead. I'll be right there."
  127.  
  128. >Speck starts to leave, but turns and looks at you.
  129. >Her eyes glisten in the moon light.
  130. >And in them, you see nothing but concern.
  131. >"Come say goodbye if you decide to leave, okay Anon?"
  132. >She turns and trots off before you can say anything.
  133. >You look back up at Luna and start walking toward her.
  134. >She still has that stern look.
  135. >It's the kind of look a mother gives someone that could potentially hurt her child.
  136. "What did you say to her?"
  137. >"Absolutely nothing."
  138. >You turn to look at the tower briefly.
  139. >Luna's gaze snaps from somewhere past you, back to your eyes.
  140. "What's with the tower, Luna?"
  141. >Her eyes go wide with shock.
  142. >"I know nothing of that tower, Anonymous. I only know that it instills fear deeply into Speck, Sister, and myself."
  143. >You turn from her and approach the tower.
  144. >She sprints in front of you and attempts to cut you off.
  145. >"Anon! I would highly advise not opening that door!"
  146. "You've seen it all these years and never once told me!"
  147. >You push her out of the way and reach for the handle.
  148. >"Anonymous! Think of Speck."
  149. >The handle and your hand are mere inches apart.
  150. >You turn to her.
  151. "Tell me what you know about the tower."
  152. >She shakes her head lightly.
  153. >"I know little, just that it appeared shortly before you did."
  154. >The tower always had a feeling about it.
  155. >Something familiar.
  156. >You always thought it was the door.
  157. >The way it felt different from every other door in Equestria.
  158. >It was not welcoming, it was not inviting.
  159. >It hid something.
  160. >And that scared you.
  161. "This tower has something to do with me, then. And if it scares Speck, then I will not sit by and leave it."
  162. >You reach for the handle again.
  163. >"Anonymous!"
  164. >You stop again.
  165. >"Wait here, for five minutes. I beg of you, just five minutes."
  166. >Her hooves click against the ground as she runs.
  167.  
  168. >Brick paths soon turn to carpet and granite as you run.
  169. >A hero should not be without protection.
  170. >And you refuse to allow someone so dear to one of your children go into the unknown with nothing to defend himself with.
  171. >A bat p0ny with dark turquoise hair walks slowly through the halls.
  172. >You nearly run her over as you run past.
  173. >"ANON DEPARTS SOON, YOU MUST SAY FAREWELL, YOUNG SPECK!"
  174. >Your voice carries through the hall behind you.
  175. >The young bat turns tail and runs back toward the tower.
  176. >He will not leave without saying goodbye to her.
  177. >And he will wait for your return.
  178. >Your hooves carry you as fast as they can to the castle's armory.
  179. >You skid to a halt inside and quickly dart toward a pedestal.
  180. >On it lies a sword in its sheathe and a small shield.
  181. >Both carry the same colors as the uniform of your night guard.
  182. >You levitate them with you and run as fast as you can back to Anon.
  183. >Oh, you hope these will protect him.
  184. >You yell for a guard to go get Celestia as you rush out into the garden.
  185.  
  186. >Princess Luna ran by you and yelled something you didn't quite catch fully.
  187. >"Anon" and "Farewell" were about all you heard.
  188. >But that was enough to tip you off and force you to run back toward the tower.
  189. >Thankfully, Anon hadn't opened the door.
  190. >You stood on your hind legs and hugged him around his middle.
  191. >He silently stroked your mane.
  192. "Please don't go, Anon."
  193. >He sits down and pulls you close to him.
  194. >"Speck... The Princesses fear this tower. I fear this tower. And more importantly, YOU fear this tower."
  195. >You press yourself as close as you can to him.
  196. "The Princesses can do something about it! They can use their magic to destroy it, or teleport it!"
  197. >He sighs and scratches your ear.
  198. >"I think they would have already done that if they could. And besides, the tower has something to do with me specifically."
  199. >You rub your face into his chest.
  200. "I don't want you to go."
  201. >The sound of hooves clicking against brick sound in your ears.
  202. >Anon stands as Luna approaches.
  203. >She carries a sword and shield with her.
  204. >"A hero without a means of protection may be the bravest and most fearless, but I would rather not have one such as you lost to this world so soon."
  205. >He takes them from her.
  206. >You jump up and start hitting him with your hooves.
  207. >You beg and plead and cry.
  208. "Anon, please! We can just go back to P0nyville!"
  209. >"I can't do that Speck. If this tower is here because of me, and even the Princesses are worried about it..."
  210. >He kneels down and kisses you on the lips.
  211. >"I love you Speck. I'm gonna keep this world safe for you, alright?"
  212. >You try to nod.
  213. >Another set of hooves click against the brick.
  214. >Anon stands and waves.
  215. >You turn and stare at Celestia.
  216. >You crawl to her and Luna and beg them to keep Anon from going.
  217. >"Dearest Speck."
  218. >Celestia kneels down to nuzzle your cheek.
  219. >"There is nothing I, nor Luna, can do to prevent Anonymous from doing this. All we can do is wish him luck and pray that he stays safe."
  220. >She smiles as Anon turns toward the door.
  221. >"After all..."
  222. >You look back at Anon as he places a hand on the door.
  223. >"The Angels will protect those who need it most."
  224. >He steps inside.
  225. >The door shuts behind him.
  226. >The tower stops shimmering and vanishes briefly before it rematerializes as a solid, red-brick structure.
  227. >It stands four stories tall and is maybe a quarter wide as it is tall.
  228.  
  229. >You are a curious man.
  230. >And curious men tend to go head first into the abyss.
  231. >Lush, red carpet covers the floor of the tower.
  232. >A large spiral staircase ascends into the second floor.
  233. >Several torches line the wall.
  234. >The room contains little.
  235. >A small table with some parchment and a quill on it, a stool, and a small barrel of water.
  236. >You draw the sword and start to climb the stairs.
  237. >The second floor contains a bed, about your size.
  238. >At its foot is a small chest, similar to those old-timey travel chests they had back on Earth.
  239. >Strange, you rarely saw those in Equestria.
  240. >You open it carefully.
  241. >Its contents surprise you greatly.
  242. >Clothes.
  243. >But not clothes that you could find in any store in Equestria.
  244. >Clothes from Earth.
  245. >You drop the sword and shield on the bed.
  246. >If there was another human here, you would not want to scare them off.
  247. >But it's been five years since you arrived in Equestria.
  248. >How would they have survived, if the Princesses had never seen them?
  249. >Did they sneak out of this tower and raid the kitchens, or steal from shops?
  250. >You ascend to the third floor.
  251. >A small writer's desk sits against the wall.
  252. >Several large shelves hold dozens of old, dusty books.
  253. >Tears form in your eyes as you start to smile.
  254. >Every book you've ever loved and cherished on Earth, now back within your reach.
  255. >Speck would absolutely love the adventures contained in these.
  256. >You trace your hands over their spines and sigh.
  257. >A bed, clothes, books.
  258. >Someone definitely lived here at one point.
  259. >You turn to the final set of stairs.
  260.  
  261. "He's been in there a while..."
  262. >You look up at the tower and start to approach it.
  263. >Princess Luna reaches for you.
  264. >"Speck, please. I do not want to lose two of my stars in one night."
  265. >You ignore her and continue to the tower.
  266. >That door scared you.
  267. >But you pressed on.
  268. >Your flank started to glow faintly.
  269. >If Anon would face his end, you would face it with him.
  270. >You push the door open and step inside.
  271. >The glowing on your flank stopped with a bright flash.
  272. >A golden heart with two feathery wings extending from its sides appeared on your flank.
  273. >A smile creeps across your lips.
  274. >No stars would fall on this night.
  275. >You and Anon would conquer whatever evils this tower contained.
  276. >That was your destiny.
  277. >To be beside Anon and protect him.
  278. >And he would protect you, all the same.
  279. >You ascend the stairs.
  280. >Disregarding the bed and chest, you ascend the next set of stairs.
  281. >Anon would have already checked that chest anyway.
  282. >The next floor contains shelves upon shelves of books.
  283. >You take a moment to pull one off a shelf.
  284. >The letters don't look familiar to you.
  285. >You replace it and look toward the last set of stairs.
  286. >No sounds came from above.
  287. >This worried you as you rushed up the steps.
  288. >What you see catches you slightly off-guard.
  289. >Anon sits in front of a large mirror and holds a small picture frame.
  290. >He does not look up at you.
  291. >Where were his sword and shield?
  292. "Anon?"
  293. >You look around the room as you approach him.
  294. >A small desk littered with papers, a grandfather clock, and another chest similar to the one by the bed.
  295. >You look down at the frame Anon has in his hands.
  296. >Several humans stand around a young looking Anon.
  297. >Anon boops you on the nose, breaking your attention away from the picture.
  298. >He smiles at you, tears staining his cheeks.
  299. >"Hey."
  300. >You nuzzle his cheek as you climb into his lap.
  301. "Who are they?"
  302. >A sigh escapes his lips.
  303. >"They were people I knew back on Earth. Friends of mine."
  304. >He sets the picture down and hugs you tight.
  305. >"But that's in the past. Come on, help me gather some things so we can leave."
  306. >You look over at the large mirror as you crawl out of Anon's lap.
  307. >He moves over to the chest and empties a rather large amount of pictures and other items out of it.
  308. >"I don't want anything from here except the books on the third floor and some of the clothes."
  309. >You trot over to the pile of stuff he threw out of the chest.
  310. >Sifting through it, you find a small, hard, black rectangle.
  311. "Anon? What's this?"
  312. >He stops dragging the chest toward the stairs and walks over to you.
  313. >He picks it up and presses a button on its top.
  314. >His thumbs awkwardly swipe over it and he smirks at its glow.
  315. >"It's... It's nothing important."
  316. >The object hits the floor as Anon drops it.
  317. >The glass on its front shatters.
  318. >You shrug and fly beside him as he returns to the chest.
  319. "So you don't want anything from this room?"
  320.  
  321. >He shakes his head and drags the chest downstairs.
  322. >"Nothing up there but old memories."
  323. >He starts stacking a few select books into the chest.
  324. >"Not that I want to forget them, but I don't have time to dwell anymore."
  325. >You smile at him and start pulling books from the shelves.
  326. >Some are placed in the chest, others are piled on top of each other.
  327. "Why aren't you putting all of the books in there?"
  328. >He looks over a few more.
  329. >"I prefer some of these books over others, and would rather wait until all of my favorites are in the chest."
  330. >The two of you clear the shelves out after a short while.
  331. >Anon fit maybe fifty books in the chest, and there was still the one downstairs.
  332. "Are you going to read some of these to me?"
  333. >He looks at you curiously.
  334. >"Can't you read them yourself?"
  335. >You started shaking your head slowly halfway through his sentence.
  336. "I don't recognize these letters, Anon."
  337. >He starts laughing and slaps his hand to his forehead.
  338. >"No, no. That's my mistake, Speck. I've been here so long, I completely forgot."
  339. >He traces his fingers over a book.
  340. >"Celestia and Luna cast a translation spell on me when I first arrived here. They didn't understand my native tongue."
  341. >He stands up and starts for the stairs leading downward.
  342. >"It allowed me to understand, speak, and read the Equestrian language. I kept practicing writing and reading my native tongue by writing in my journal, scared I'd forget..."
  343. >You drag the chest full of books as you follow him.
  344. >No use having to come all the way back up just to grab it.
  345. >Anon sifts through the chest of clothes and empties it.
  346. >"I have nicer clothes back in P0nyville, anyway."
  347. >You snicker and leave the first chest behind as you help him carry the second one upstairs.
  348. "So, these Earth books... Are they like Equestria books?"
  349. >Anon sits down and starts looking through the rest of the books piled on the floor.
  350. >"I guess. They tell stories and let you learn what's inside of them, if that's what you mean."
  351. >He quickly fills the second chest up.
  352. >You follow him as he carries it down, grabbing and dragging the first chest as the two of you head down to the first floor.
  353.  
  354. >The princesses stand outside, waiting, as you open the door.
  355. >They sigh with relief and rush over to you and Speck.
  356. >"So? What was in there?"
  357. "Stuff from Earth. Old trinkets, pictures, books. Nothing important, nothing for you to worry about."
  358. >Celestia tilts her head.
  359. >"Do you think you were meant to live in this tower?"
  360. >You shrug and put your chest down next to Speck's.
  361. "Maybe. We won't know."
  362. >You turn and step back inside the tower.
  363. >"What do you mean, we won't know?"
  364. >You take a torch off the wall.
  365. >Five years and these stayed lit the whole time.
  366. >Magic is weird.
  367. "I mean, we just won't know."
  368. >You throw the torch on the floor and move back through the door.
  369. >The carpet slowly catches fire as you close the door for the final time.
  370. >Speck taps at your leg and smiles.
  371. >You pick her up and hug her tight.
  372. >"We will discuss more of this at breakfast, Anonymous."
  373. >You nod and wave at them as they depart.
  374. >"So what was with that mirror, Anon?"
  375. >You stretch out across the chests and look up at the moon.
  376. >Speck sits on top of you and smiles down at you.
  377. "Absolutely nothing. It was just a normal mirror."
  378. >She curls up and you hold her close.
  379. "We should probably move though. The tower's on fire and it could collapse on top of us."
  380. >She scrambles off of you and grabs ahold of one of the chests.
  381. >"Yeah, let's do that."
  382. >Both of you snicker as you carry the chests away from the tower.
  383. >You stop by the ivory monument and flop on the grass, your little p0ny jumping on top of you.
  384. >The earth beneath you rumbles and the sound of crashing reaches your ear.
  385. >Speck's lips meet your own as you pull her face close to yours.
  386. >You hold each other close and look up at the moon.
  387. >The moon...
  388. >Luna.
  389. "I forgot Luna's sword and shield in the tower."
  390. >Speck gasps as you laugh to yourself.
  391. "Oops?"
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