Chapter 22 Guided Tour

Capper Dapperpaws

"What in the world?" I said out loud. "I ain't never seen another catlord in Equestria before."

"Hello, all!" said the cat in modest tones. "I've kinda been expecting you for a long time now."

"What I would like to know is, who exactly are you?" I asked him, stepping forward.

"All in due time. It would be much easier to explain if I could show you the book." he gestured for us to follow him and he spun on his heel, his tail twitching. He gathered his brown collared coat about himself and we went with him into the museum. "This place used to be the Sand Sun house. Now it's an old abandoned museum." he spoke as we passed portraits of ponies on the wall.

"Ohhh, nice!" Pumpkin commented as she looked at each painting. "And what are you doing here?"

"Oh, that much is easy." the cat waved his paw and laughed, "Princess Luna appointed me and one other as curators. We come from the same country as Capper and are much older. I've known the Princess for a 100 years, before she disappeared from Equestria 200 years ago at least."

"And nopony thought to tell little ol' me. I'm greatly offended," I shook my head.

"It was actually a secret that Luna never told anypony, for fear that dark forces would one day find reawaken within the home."

"What dark forces may those be?" asked Buck.

"The Sand-Sun Sisters. There are two of them, long since dead and buried, so it hasn't been anything to worry about." the black cat waved us off. He then threw open a set of double doors to reveal a lounge like library where yet another black cat wearing a black and white suit and tie was sitting with a book in hand and a monocle over one yellow eye. Inside the foyer the walls were lined with books. There was a ladder at one end and a huge display case in the center of the room. The second cat was sitting on a red gilded couch, feet up on a huge upholstered oak coffee table.

"Ah, look what the cat dragged in." he said then snickered at his own joke.

"Salem Saberhagen, crude as usual." said our guide.

"Thackery Binx, prude as always." said the cat on the couch. He looked up from what he was reading, "I see you have company. Do you want me to leave?"

"You know I cannot allow that." said Thackery, adjusting his white bowtie.

"Of course you can't!" Salem put down his book, "At least tell me why you have 6 pastel things with you here." he looked around the first cat to peer at all of us. "Oh! My my, another kitty cat." he snickered again, playing with his whiskers.

"What I would like to know is why there's two of you hiding out in an old museum and I was never told about it!" I threw up my paws.

"I would like to know something very similar myself," Salem was holding an ornate hand mirror and glancing at himself before adjusting his black necktie and setting the mirror down. He then looked into my eyes and smiled. "I can see you're not the only kitty-cat here, monsieur."

"No, I am not…" I looked over to Cheshire.

"Very interesting, said the cat to the cat," Cheshire bowed in Salem's direction.

"Oh, I love him!" Salem threw his head back and laughed.

"Do keep yourself collected," Thackery shook his head. He moved off into the room, going to a stand where a large book was entombed in glass. "This is where I've gotten most of my information."

"And yet, you refuse to share it with me," Salem picked up a glass of wine from the coffee table. "We're both immortal beings, stuck in this mansion for oh so many years, and you can't let any of the cats out of any of the bags?"

Everypony was just staring in complete confusion. Pumpkin piped up, "So there's two cats here, right? Not including Capper and Cheshire, of course," she nodded to us.

"Just us two, unfortunately." sighed Thackery, who was making sure the display case containing the book was locked. Then he turned around to face us.

"On that we agree!" Salem tossed back the wine glass and finished the purple liquid. "Oh, that hits the spot!" he hiccuped.

"What do you mean unfortunately?" asked Combat, staring at Salem with a smile. "And can some…cat get me a glass of what he's having?"

"A pony of taste! I'll definitely get you something!" Salem shouted with a smile. "Thackery, get the pony a glass!"

"Of course you never do anything for yourself." Thackery snarled and grabbed the bottle of wine. "How much of this hast thou drank!? It's nearly gone!"

"So, in order to clarify, can I ask what the deal between you two is?" asked Buck, moving into the room further.

"Oh, Salem here is one of two curators, including me. However, he is also a prisoner within these walls. I am his guard dog."

"Don't you mean pussy cat?" Salem giggled.

Thackery raised a fist, "I am no—! Grr, it's of no matter." he sucked in a breath. "While he is a prisoner, I am his warden and therefore I have never been allowed to leave. Until now. The magic lining the walls of this estate are faltering. It is just as I have predicted it to be." he was staring pointedly at Salem.

"Oh, you didn't predict anything you old fart! The book did and you just won't let it on because I'm not allowed to touch the book." he stuck out his tongue when he noticed that Thackery was making a talking mouth with his paw.

"I know it to be true and therefore, I predicted it. The witches are beginning to reawaken. I believe it has something to do with the darklings now roaming the streets of Manehattan at night. Sometime soon, during the witching hour, some evil force is going to attack this manor and reawaken the sleeping sisters and there doesn't seem to be a thing we can do to stop it."

"We could stay here and help prevent it!" Pumpkin Spice twittered.

"What he's saying is, he doesn't think he can prevent it!" Salem rolled his wrist and stared with an amused smile at Thackery.

"Well…no. Not I. But perhaps one of you?" Thackery looked hopefully, his golden eyes shining.

"Possibly," the Guardian mulled, "but we have to know what we're getting into."

"I for one am ready for some action!" Combat Zone said, and he caught the attention of Salem, who looked pleased.

"I have the catalyst for this event hidden away," Thackery informed us. "If the dark forces that are coming have arrived with these darklings, then this is the night the sisters are prophesied to return."

"You haven't hidden the catalyst very well, kitty-catlord. I for one know exactly where it is." Salem said with a wink and a smirk on his face.

"Prove it," Combat smirked back. There was something going on between the two, that much was evident.

"Nopony nor cat is going to prove anything!" Thackery snapped. "The candle is stashed away somewhere nopony outside these walls will ever find it."

"Unless, one of us lets the cat slip." Salem was staring at me now.

"Wha-what?" I glanced around between the three other cats in the room. Cheshire was sitting on the display case and his tail was flicking back and forth like a kitty-clock.

"Oh come on, I'd gladly tell him!" Salem stared at Thackery.

"Tell me what now?" I held up a paw, index raised.

"Ugh, fine! Since it's so completely unavoidable." Thackery rolled his eyes, "The prophecy says two cats working in Harmony are destined to awaken the good sister before the ashes fall upon the grounds and the evil sister emerges. There's only one catch."

"What is it?" asked Blitz.

"It's a ritual born of darkness, so the evil sister is bound to wake up regardless. Which is why nopony, regardless of good intention, is allowed to use the candle." Thackery explained.

"What candle?" I asked.

"Nopony!" Snapped Thackery so loud that even Cheshire jumped.

"Mrooooow!" The purple cat landed on his feet, as all cats tended to do.

"How long until the time for the ritual is past?" asked the Guardian.

"Until sunrise. Only then will Sun be asleep forever, trapping her evil half along with her."

"Then we stay the night." said the Guardian.

"Why are we staying here?" asked Orange Juice, looking lost.

"Any help we could get in protecting the museum against ashling and darkling alike, would be greatly appreciated," Thackery had both paws together, hoping we'd stay.

Combat stepped forward, grinning in Salem's direction, "Oh, I say we stay alright!"

"Then it's settled." said Buck.

"I have to warn you, the museum was shut down before the war was ever a thought in anypony's mind for a reason." Thackery called as we all filtered out of the room.

"Here we go again." Salem rolled his eyes and went to follow Combat Zone.

"Spooky things are bound to happen in the manor! I do hope you'll join me for dinner later tonight." by then we'd all left the room. I had to say, I liked Thackery a lot more than I liked the slobish Salem.

Combat Zone

The hour was growing late and dinner was starting soon. However, I was a bit too preoccupied with one of our hosts to care. "It's been awhile since I've seen any action. Thackery does so like to keep me cooped up in here," Salem had a paw to his forehead, acting dramatic. I loved it!

I bucked the door closed and moved closer to him. He bumped against the four poster bed, falling onto his rump on the red bedsheets. I reached up, placing on hoof on the bed and one hoof on his necktie. "I'm with ya on that one, buddy. I ain't seen action since I left the Fort." my nose bumped his and he snickered at me.

"Thackery isn't one for one nighters," Salem put his lips against mine and I felt his breath against my muzzle.

I pressed my lips to his, "That so? So you're a bit, inexperienced?" I was reaching up and removing his tie and unbuttoning his shirt. He had already removed his overcoat.

"Oh, far from it!" he kissed me and his shirt came off.

"Good!" I smiled and pushed him onto the bed. "Then what say you and I have a little fun before dinner?"

"I've never done it with a stallion before," he said as he breathed. I watched his stomach rise and fall before I followed his happy trail with my muzzle and grabbed onto the button with my teeth. "Oh!" he giggled.

"I've never done it with a cat before," I felt his bulge and inhaled his musk before undoing the button and letting him slide his pants off. Now he was only in his boxer shorts.

"I haven't even shown you what we're in here for!" Salem gasped as I pressed my face to his crotch.

"You mean…in Thackery's bedroom? It is a bit naughty to do it on the warden's bed." I smirked up at my partner.

Salem sat up, breathing deeply as he grabbed my face and caressed my cheeks. "Don't forget, I know exactly where his candle is."

"Oh, I know exactly someone's candle is," I poked his crotch and he smiled down at me.

"Believe you me, I want it more than anything, but first…" Salem reached for the nightstand drawer and pulled it open. Inside rolling around was a big black candle. "I'd say Thackery got his money's worth on this one!" snickered Salem. He reached for it, then hesitated.

Just then the door was thrown open. "What in Faust's name are the two of you doing in here!" Thackery was wide eyed.

"Oh no, looks like we've been found out!" Salem had the drawer closed just as fast as it had opened.

"And we were just getting to the good part," I smirked.

"Oh by the Moon, gross!" Thackery shooed us from his bedroom. Salem had to hop as he pulled his pants back up. I saw Thackery check the nightstand before the two of us left. He was very concerned with that candle.

Ravager Blitzfire

"Now that I've made sure Salem isn't anywhere near that candle, how would you two like a tour?" Thackery came bustling into the library where Capper and I had been making out. "Oh my!" Thackery's eyes widened.

"Sorry," I said, blushing.

"I suppose, don't be." Thackery adjusted his overcoat. "Anyway, how does a guided tour sound?!" he boasted.

"That actually sounds great!" Capper smiled.

"Okay, we have until dinner time. I just want to make sure nopony goes into the basement without me." Thackery turned around and we followed him out of the room.

"What's in the basement?" I asked him.

"The final resting place for the Sand-Sun sisters."

"Wait, this place is built on a gravesite? No wonder spooky things happen here!" Capper pulled his trenchcoat further up on his shoulders. "I've never been one for haunted houses anyhow."

"No one quite is," Thackery said as we entered the dining hall. To the far end was an enormous fireplace. "The witches preferred to brew their potions in separate areas of the house towards the end of their lives. This grand hall is Sunlight's Corner. She was the good witch."

"If she's so good, why wouldn't we want to wake her up? Especially now, with the state Equestria is in?" I asked.

"Because Sand-Ra would also wake up with her. She was the reason the two sisters were put to death."

"Put to death? There was a death sentence in Equestria?" we began to traverse over to the kitchen area which from where we stood with Thackery holding the door open, it looked a little dusty but otherwise well kempt.

Just then there was a loud crashing sound and from above the ceiling seemed to shatter away. It was a huge skylight that was just now crashing down on us! "Blitzy, watch out!" Capper jumped toward me, in the process knocking Thackery over. Capper just narrowly saved my life, as a huge glass shard hit the marble floor right where I had been standing.

"What the hell?!" I shouted.

Thackery's eyes widened when he saw that the commotion had knocked a number of candles off the table. He was scrambling, "No, no, where is it?! Why are all the candles here dark in color?" he set them all down on the table.

"Can we deal with that later? I almost died!" I shouted.

"What's all the racket in here?" Pumpkin came bouncing into the dining hall. "Oh my! The stars are so pretty! Nice skylight." she beamed at us.

"It used to be a nice skylight," said Thackery, "and I am so, so sorry that happened. The place is old. Is everypony okay?" at least he'd stopped worrying so much about the candles.

"I'm okay! I just got here!" Pumpkin cheered. "What happened."

"The glass ceiling nearly cut me in half!" I stomped a hoof. Near my horseshoe was a piece of glass, a reflection of Thackery in it. The black cat moved away from the table in that moment and the reflection went away. A lit candle was depicted on the broken piece of glass. I creased my brows but didn't say anything.

"I'm going down to the basement, if anypony would like to join me!" Pumpkin bounced off.

"If you two would like to continue the tour…" Thackery tried to steer us back on track.

"I'd rather not." I told him. "Capper and I are heading back to the library."

"I could do for a good sit down before we eat."

"Very well," Thackery nodded. "I'll prepare for us something good to eat."

Pumpkin Spice

"La la la la la, la la, la la!" I was humming a Hearthswarming tune to myself when I came upon the stairs for the basement. Oh Faust how I loved to explore. I skipped my way down each step as I sang merrily to myself. I wish Orange Juice was with me!

"But I am with you!" I heard his voice coming from the bottom of the steps.

"OJ?" I tilted my head and my bouncing came to a stop halfway down. I heard giggling. It sounded like him but he sounded far away. "I could've sworn…" that he had gone with the Guardian to make up a bedroom for the night…

"Follow meee!" I heard him calling me.

"Now that's just plain creepy mister!" I said when I reached the L-split corridor at the bottom of the stairs. The only way to go was left.

Torches lit the way here and I came to a set of doors. One was double doors on the far wall and one was a door that appeared to go into a room to the right. "Now which one do I choose?"

"I think right is always wrong…" Orange Juice said as the first set of double doors creaked open. He was still nowhere in sight.

I gulped, "If you say so Orange Juice." my heart began to pound in my throat instead of my chest.

It was dark in this hallway and I had to light a flare. "Orange Juice, where are you?"

"I'm over here!" I saw a shadow dart across the way. A door slammed in the distance. I jumped with a yelp.

"OJ, if you're trying to scare me, it isn't funny anymore."

"Oh, I know that, silly." the voice sounded like it came from right behind me and I was startled into a gallop.

"OJ, where are you?!"

Orange Juice

"You like this room?" the Guardian asked me. I saw a bed with huge black bed sheets and comforter. There were so many pillows on it I thought I might drown in them. I was already sinking as I climbed up and seemingly floated amongst the sea of softness.

"Hehe," I giggled.

"I can see that you do." the Guardian turned from me. "It should be fine if I leave you here then?"

"OJ, where are you?!" I heard Pumpkin Spice scream.

"What was that?" I looked around, hopping off the bed.

"What was what?" asked the Guardian, turning back to me.

"I heard Pumpkin Spice scream."

The Guardian furrowed his brows, "There's no way you could've heard her scream, she went to explore the basement hours ago."

"So then, she's all the way downstairs?" I inquired.

"Yes, there's no way in Equestria you could've—" Just then a blood curdling scream was heard, and it sounded like Pumpkin Spice. "—heard her scream…" his voice trailed off.

"Come on!" I bolted past him, "We have to help her!"

OOO

We all met at the head of the stairs, where Pumpkin Spice came galloping up them. "Pumpkin, are you okay?" I asked her and she landed on me in a huge embrace.

"Oh, Orange Juice it was terrifying! I tried to laugh in the face of danger, but I couldn't face it! You were down there and then you weren't and a monster was chasing me! It was like a nightmare!" she glanced back down the stairs and shut her eyes like there was something still there. She heaved a breath, "I'm not having a nightmare, right? I didn't go to bed and fall asleep without realizing and this is all just some big bad dream?"

"No Pumpkin. What did you see down there?" the Guardian asked.

"I'd love to know the same," Capper said.

"Me three!" Blitzfire exclaimed. Combat Zone still hadn't shown up, so his commentary was absent.

Just then a dinner bell sounded and Thackery could be heard. "Dinner time!"

Guardian

Combat Zone and Salem came to the Sunlight Dining Hall looking as though they'd just stumbled out of bed. Combat's mane was frizzy and amuck and Salem was missing his tie, his overcoat and white collared shirt askew and not fully buttoned. His dark chest plume was puffing out. He had a sly smirk on his face as he sat down at the table and Combat sat next to him. I don't know if I liked that cat, there was something off about him.

"Dinner, is served!" Thackery lifted the lid to an entré platter. There was a huge stack of hay, freshly marinated in vinaigrette and lettuce as garnish. On the side dish platters were fancy tunas and catnip.

"Oh, I absolutely love fancy tuna!" Salem gave a little applaud.

"Ah, ah!" Thackery wacked Salem's paws away from the food. "It is customary for one of our guests to light the candles before we begin our meal. Who would like to do the honors?"

Capper seemed to be preoccupied with something as he came to the table but when nopony spoke up, he glanced around. "Oh, how about I do it!" he said before he even sat down.

"Well, you are the only one standing besides me," chuckled Thackery. "I would be honored to have you light the candles." there was something strange about Thackery's smile.

Capper took the first lit candle and lifted it to the wicks of the others. Every candle on the table was made of a black wax. Suddenly, Thackery's eyes widened and he shouted, "Wait!" but by then it was too late. Capper had lit the last candle and the flame sparked up. It roared high and everypony at the table jumped up. The flame then burned a dark black.

"The Black Flame Candle…" said Salem… "Of the Dark Demon Fires we burn our brightest dark. Come one come all to the dinner party of the damned…It's me! By Faust I've been trapped prisoner here by…" he looked around and jumped up. "Everypony! Stop Thackery, he's going for the book!"

"Wait what?" Pumpkin had her head tilted. We were all very confused.

"You might want to explain yourself." I snapped. I knew something was fishy the moment we stepped through these doors.

(Footnote: Ooohh, creepy huh? Pumpkin Spice here! How's everypony doing, hope you're not too frightened.

In upcoming chapters I plan on expanding this story arc, so be excited for that. Did you guys catch the House on Haunted Hill vibes? Probably not as much as you caught the Hocus Pocus vibes. Keep on reading, more to come! Love ya!)

Brohoof /)