That what Hikary found

She had climbed these steps so many times, and not once had she dreaded to get to the top more than now. The steps were covered in snow, which had made her slip several times already. Rain could not stop thinking about what might await her at the top. His minions, his creatures… they never hurt her because he was ordering them not to. Now that he was no longer here… they owned this place. She felt certain they would hurt her if they could.

She had practiced her powers the entire journey. She needed her defense. She had always been forced to use them and she found it was harder to control them now that she had to do it out of her own free will. But she managed to control her powers in the end, and she hoped it would be enough to defend herself if the creatures would attack her. If only they would leave her alone long enough to find the crown.

Her journey had been perilous and it had taken her so much longer than she had anticipated. She used to be able to travel the distance in about two weeks, but no more. Apparently her mindless devotion had given her a strength that had left her now. Well, good riddance, but it had made the journey longer. She had met several snowstorms for which she had to hide and the piling snow had made her journey even slower.

The part through the desert had been easy compared to her first journey. There was no snow there, even though it was of course colder. But now that she was high up in the mountains, the snow was back with a vengeance. The steps were slippery and cold, and her thin cloak did not really protect her from the cold. She should have bought a heavier one, but she had been stubborn, something she regretted deeply now.

She climbed and slipped and climbed again, until at last she reached the platform that would lead her to the hidden stairs that led to his lair. The platform was covered in ice and snow as well, making it tricky to cross. She didn’t remember that it ever snowed here this much. Maybe the snow tried to purify the mountains, too. She slowly made it to the other side, where she opened the stone door. There were no guards inside which worried Rain. There always were guards here… Did that mean they knew Aras was gone? If so… she really needed her defenses.

She made her way up the stairs which was a lot more pleasant now that she was indoors. No more snow, and her hoofs were finally able to get a little warmer. The entire way, she ran into no one at all. It was as if they had deserted the place, but she found that rather hard to imagine. Why would they simply leave? They had nowhere to go. But if they had left and would begin to attack villages… She had to make sure that would not happen, and if it would she had to warn ponies. The creatures might not be smart, but they were definitely vicious.

She had reached the top of the stairs now, and she was in the long hallway that she had always dreaded so much. There was really no one there… the few torches that used to be lit were out now as well. She couldn’t see anything, but she knew exactly where she had to go. As she walked through the corridor she wondered where she would go first. His room, or the dungeons? Or the lookout?
No, Aras’ room was the best place to check first. After all, he had not left the room until he had been resurrected, and after that she was pretty sure he had never even touched the crown. It had to be there still… but she did not dare to think what else may be there. She had thought it disgusting even while she was only focused on him. Now, she had to be there because she actually had to search the room.

When she was halfway the corridor she found one remaining torch still burning. She decided to take it with her, because his room would definitely be dark. Armed with the torch, she walked through the rest of the corridor until she finally reached the door to his room. She was surprised to find it open, as she was pretty sure he had locked it with a seal before they left. Then again, that seal had probably broken the moment he vanished.

As she got closer, she could see in the faint light of the torch that the door had not opened normally. It had actually been broken open. Had it been the creatures? Rain was not sure, but she expected it to be so. Who else could it be? Slowly she stepped into the room, and the air that reached her made her gag. She had been able to endure it while she had still been under his seal, but it was just too much now.

Yet she had to face it. If the stone was in there… she had to go in to. She forced herself to step inside. She had never seen the room in light before, and she was shocked by what she saw. The walls were pitch black, not from the lack of light but because they were just that, black. The entire floor was covered in dirt, slime, and skeletons from several animals including, she was sure, some ponies.

Several artifacts that she was sure had one day been worth a lot were scattered, broken, across the floor. The room was a complete mess, and to make things worse everything was covered in dirt and what seemed like a rather sticky kind of substance that she could not really identify. “This is just disgusting…” She whispered.

It really was, and yet she was forced to go through it al to find the stone. But no matter where she looked, there was no stone. In fact, there was absolutely nothing of value left in the room which somehow she found odd. The stone had not been the only thing she has ever brought him. Had he made her look for rare things just to destroy them? She could hardly believe Aras would do that.

She did not know how long she had been searching before she began to realize the stone was really not there. Either he had removed it, or he had kept his treasures somewhere else. The stone wasn’t there, and she really did not feel like staying in the room. She never wanted to be there again.

Rain turned and startled when she saw the shadow of a pony in the broken doorway.
“Who are you?” She yelled while summoning her powers.
“Don’t worry my lady, it is only me… the guard of the dungeons.” The pony said. Rain immediately calmed down as she realized who the pony was. The guard of the dungeons… she had completely forgotten about him. The only other pony working for him beside Taira and herself.

“Oh… it’s you. I’m sorry, you startled me.” Rain apologized as she approached the pony.
“That’s okay, my lady. May I ask what you are doing here?” The guard asked.
“I was… looking for something.” She admitted, though she did not feel comfortable with telling what it was exactly. How did she know this pony could be trusted? After all, as far as she knew he had spend his entire life in the shadows…

“Ah. Well… I’m sure you won’t find it here. Our master… he has left this world, has he not?” The guard asked.
“Yes… we are free now. May I ask why you are still here, even though you knew you were free?”
“Because of the girl…” The guard replied absently.
“What girl?” Rain asked, confused.

“A girl he kept as a prisoner… I don’t even know why. He ordered me to keep her alive, so I did. But she was ill, I’m afraid. It got worse. And once I felt he was gone… I felt so free. For the first time in my life I began to wonder what the sunlight looked like. But I could not leave the sick girl. I tried to cure her, to safe her, but only a few hours ago… she faded away.”

Rain was shocked to hear the honest pain in his voice. So many ponies faded in the dungeons… She had seen them. But now that she was freed, it had been too late for this girl.
 “I’m so sorry to hear that. Just… don’t blame yourself. It wasn’t your fault. It’s Aras’ fault, and he already received the highest punishment. Taira… the golden pony made sure.”
“Taira? The name of the other is Taira?” The guard asked, surprised.
“Yes. She is in fact… the heir to the Friendship Lands.”
“Amazing…” The guard whispered.
Rain could no longer suppress the urge to leave the filthy room so she stepped out. The guard followed her. Rain did not really know where to go next. There was nothing left in the dungeon, most likely. The high tower then?

“Listen, you… do you remember your name?” Rain asked.
“No… not really. All I remember is living here in the darkness. I wonder if there’s ever been anything else for me. I have no clue what the world looks like, and I have to admit until now I have been too afraid to look.” The guard admitted. It hit Rain that the guard’s life had to be even worse than hers. After all, even though she had been under his command, she had been able to go out and see the world. This guy… had been locked up here for as long as he could remember.

“Right… Well, we’ll think of a good name for you, okay?” Rain smiled.
“Yes… I guess.” The guard agreed hesitantly.
“Do you know where the creatures are? I mean, it used to be full with them in the past, but now… I haven’t seen any.”
“Yes… After they felt Aras had been removed… they went back to the place they once came from.” The guard said.

“Where they came from?” Rain was confused. As far as she knew, the creatures had always been there.
“Yes… back into the old Friendship Lands. Didn’t you ever think who they were, before Aras captured them? They were animals, deer, rabbits, birds… Until he took them into the darkness. For generations he tortured them and hid them from the sun, until they became his loyal creatures.

Now that they sensed he was gone… a part of them came to life which nobody suspected they still had. Yet it was weird… They began to long for the outside world, but their hearts… I do not think they will ever be pure again. Maybe it was best if they would just all fade… But they didn’t. They took off, after taking everything of value out of here, destroying what was left.” The guard explained.

Rain sighed. So the creatures had stolen the stone… it was the only possible explanation. She was forced to go after them… into the old Friendship Lands. She had not counted on that.
“I will have to go where they went then, I’m afraid. Do you have any idea which way they went?”
“Oh, you can’t just go after them alone… they’ll devour you before you know what hit you. I simply got lucky because I was in the dungeons and they wanted to go up. No… I will go with you. Then at least I have a reason to get out.” The guard said.

Rain nodded. She had expected nothing else. Together they walked through the corridor, down the stairs, saying nothing. There was nothing left to say, for the moment. The guard looked carefully where he was walking. He had probably never set foot on those stairs before. Someone who had lived in the darkness for all his life… Rain became afraid the snow outside would blind him.

It was only a small blessing that the sun had disappeared. The clouds blocked the light of the moon so for Rain, everything was rather dark. The guard still squeezed his eyes because of the light of the snow.
“Don’t worry. You will get used to it.” Rain comforted him. “It’s really rather nice, you know, the light… once you get used to it.”

“I bet it is. Now… I think they went to the Friendship Lands. Which way would that be?” the guard said. Only now that there was a little more light, did Rain see that his coat was not dark as she had always thought but simply filthy from living in the dungeons for so long. In reality… he was probably a lighter shade of grey.
“We’ll have to go down other stairs first, but those are slippery because of the snow, so I suggest we wait a little longer for your eyes to adjust. Then we’ll go… Vin.”
“Vin?” The guard asked.
“Yeah. I thought it would be a fitting name for you. If you like it. You can’t very well live on without a name, now can you?”

“Right. Vin. It sounds nice. I like it. Say… What is your name?” Vin asked. Rain realized the guard of course would not know her name, as she never used to have one.
“Hikary… but for now, call me Rain.”
 “Okay… Rain. You are right… it really is rather nice out here. I just think… I have to go inside to get a blanket or something first.”
“Oh, right. I totally forgot. I’ll go with you… to those dungeons, for the very last time.” Vin smiled, and he followed her back into the lair.

 children.