Remy stood in the back with perked ears, her posture alert. She could only listen as Pancake trifled with some old workbench they had come across while delving deeper into the dungeons.

Urvasi was closest to Pancake, looking over her shoulder with great intrigue, picking up a few scrolls the bay Courser managed to knock over whenever she happened to bump into a shelf while she conducted her mysterious search. Occasionally, Urvasi would pocket a scroll underneath their coat, surely to take a look at their library later. Strawberry Parfait, on the other hoof, was at the farthest end of the chamber, keeping watch of the few exits in case… something would come across the party.

“What are you looking for anyway?” Came the calm, but curious voice of Urvasi, continuing to attentively watch Pancake rifle through the old scrolls and trinkets.

For a moment, the usually talkative Courser did not provide a response, her brow furrowed in thought. He shook his head,”Nothing, I suppose,” Pancake hummed, Urvasi struggling to tell whether there was a tone of dejection to it or not. With the few adventures they had been on with him, Urvasi found that the bay’s expressions were not easy to decipher–to no fault of her own.

“Okieeee,” Chirped Remy from behind the two, subtly tilting her head to the side as she spoke. “I usually like taking a look at all this old stuff! But this place is giving me the creeps, and you oughta trust me on that!” The hairless Courser squeaked, flinching as the workbench Pancake began to creak, the pangare bay getting up.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Pancake murmured, but as she began to hoist her chest off of the workbench-for-humanoids, her right hoof slipped forward. Not wanting to worry her party mates… or draw attention to her silly misstep… Pancake remained quiet. She pulled her hoof back gently, but… it was stuck! Suddenly, Pancake’s main priority was getting her hoof free, and–with flexed muscles-she pulled even harder.

“Eep!”

First, something small and metallic hit the workbench, ringing in the Coursers’ ears. But whatever attention that might’ve had was quickly lost when Pancake bumped into the lantern she had set on the workbench, falling onto the ground and shattering. Its flame quickly dissipated, leaving the party in the dark.

Pancake now had all her four hooves on the ground… but remained completely still. So did everyone else, she figured, given that no one spoke up, collecting their thoughts in the silence that followed such chaos.

But it wasn’t quiet. Farther from the others, Strawberry Parfait could pick up on a sound.

“Something’s ticking! Behind the walls.” She urgently called them.

As if the pink mare had commanded them, the floor beneath their hooves began to groan, rumbling through their bodies as the very walls began to move.

“St-Starlight!” Urvasi stammered over their words due to the tremors surrounding them,”Light!”

Just like that, a phantasmal hand appeared before the party, having a dim glow that was eerie in the absolute dark. Pancake could make out a strange.. movement… animation itself in a way Pancake had never imagined a human hand capable of doing. From its palm came tiny orbs of light, floating to the ceiling of the chamber, dimly illuminating the entire area… at the right time to! For the party could now witness new exits replacing the old ones, the room’s trembling finally ceasing. Too, did the phantom hand phase out of sight.

Pancake rushed forward, needing to check up on Strawberry Parfait’s safety, as she had been the closest to the exits! As Pancake realized that she wasn’t where he last saw her, the bay Courser gasped.

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to–”

A giggle from across the room cut off Pancake’s panicked apology. Pancake looked over at Parfait with wide eyes. The mechanism must have affected the floor too, moving Parfait to the other side.

“It’s quite alright, dear. In fact…” Strawberry Parfait’s green gaze turned towards Urvasi and Remy as they approached the two Coursers. “My quite clever prior placement has led me to figure out this puzzle!”