//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Sealed Within // by Shroomkin //------------------------------// Among the Canterlot Sheep Canterlot, a bustling city built on the side of a mountain where the nobility and upper class reside. The capital of Equestria, this place is the residence of one known as royalty. Princess Celestia, a pony of grace and humility, is the embodiment of all the three pony tribes. Known as an Alicorn, the three pony tribes' features are united within her. The Earth Ponies' mighty strength, the Pegasi's ever graceful flight, and the Unicorns' mysterious magic. And with her guidance, Equestria flourished into the land that it is now. For a thousand years, and a thousand more if she never leaves the throne, the world will be peaceful and just. And with the defeat of a certain Draconequus a few days ago, the kingdom is back to peace. "And that shall, therefore, be the standard!" "But your standards counteract the standards given by the council!" Well... almost having peace. While many ponies aspire to the throne, few realize the price of such a position. The cost of the crown lies heavy on the heart while light on the head. And such a cost may be considered excessive for someone, nay, somepony like Princess Celestia. However, as the princess, she does not have room to complain. She bears it all, the grief, the sorrow, and even the annoyance. And when she banished her sister to the moon a thousand years ago, she had to deal with it and move on for the sake of her ponies. She had little time to cry; she had to be strong. So what's making her lose her patience? The minor problems some of the nobility present. "The specified width of the table should be exactly 40 inches! 45 inches? Probably, but goodness, 43?!" The stallion with a suit and a mustache said, as he placed his hoof on his suit. "Why, I might consider you a mad pony!" "According to the council present at that time, 42.5 inches is the standard, and I repeat, STANDARD width of the table. The Council of Craftsponies has SPECIFIED these exact numbers for maximum comfort!" The tall stallion with a bowler hat said. "The lowest we can accommodate is 42.1 inches!" She hid a thousand years of sorrow behind a smile. Now, she hides that slight bit of annoyance. The current day court was troublesome, to say the least. For a thousand years, she thought she had heard it all. Disputes about land, disputes about food, disputes about ownership of certain items. But now, now she's listening to two stallions fighting over the exact measurement of width for a table. A table. "While I do love my citizens, there are times where I wish they would just settle things on their own..." Celestia thought to herself. She shook her head, mentally waving off those thoughts. Suddenly, a scroll popped out in front of her. While the stallions did not notice such a thing due to their arguments about the width, Celestia took it upon herself to read the letter. The letter read: Dear Princess Celestia, My apologies for not sending a proper friendship report instead, but I think me and my friends have found an underground ruins while searching for Apple Bloom. While we were following Fluttershy to our picnic spot, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle ran towards us. They were worried and we decided to follow them. We learned that Apple Bloom fell into a sinkhole, and as such, decided to make haste. Applejack was, and still is, worried. I just hope we manage to find Apple Bloom while we venture on in this place. This structure, though, makes no sense! None of the symbols here match any of the archeological records we have! I have tried my best to copy the symbols and write them here. ᛗᚨᚤ ᛏᚺᛖ ᚷᛟᛞᛋ ᚷᛁᚡᛖ ᚢᛋ ᛋᛏᚱᛖᚾᚷᛏᚺ ᚨᛋ ᚹᛖ ᛋᛖᚨᛚ ᛏᚺᛁᛋ ᚷᚱᛖᚨᛏ ᛖᚡᛁᛚ. ᛗᚨᚤ ᚺᛖ ᚾᛟ ᛚᛟᚾᚷᛖᚱ ᚹᚨᚾᛞᛖᚱ ᛏᚺᚱᛟᚢᚷᚺ ᛟᚢᚱ ᚹᛟᚱᛚᛞ, ᛚᛖᚨᚡᛁᚾᚷ ᛞᛖᚲᚨᚤ. ᛗᚨᚤ ᚺᛁᛋ ᛏᚤᚱᚨᚾᚾᚤ ᛖᚾᛞ ᚠᛟᚱᛖᚡᛖᚱᛗᛟᚱᛖ. Your faithful student, Twilight Celestia then gazed upon the unknown symbols, and when she did, she felt a slight pain in her head. Whatever these symbols are, they can cause such danger. Celestia then called upon her guard to cancel the day court; a discovery had been made and a filly was in danger. However, before she could give the order, the doors toward the throne room opened with a loud bang. A dark-coated mare with a flowing mane filled with stars entered the room, her wings folded in, a bluish hue surrounding her horn and the door handles. "Tia!" The mare called out, startling the squabbling stallions and alerting the guards. "Luna? What's wrong?" Celestia asked worriedly. The moment she glanced upon the runes, pain struck her. Did the same thing happen to her sister too? The alicorn mare now known as Luna panted. "Tia, there is a mushroom on our garden!" Celestia then stared with a blank expression. "What?" Luna then rushed towards her sister's side. "A mushroom, Tia! There is a mushroom in the Royal Gardens!" And with that statement, Celestia face-hoofed. She was worried that by mere glancing at the symbols, they would cause her sister to feel pain. And yet, she was worried about nothing. "Sister, it is natural for a mushroom to grow in the Royal Gardens. If this stresses you so much, perhaps we can ask the Royal Gardener to remove that mushroom." Luna then shook her head. "Nay, Tia! This mushroom is alive!" Celestia, at the verge of anger, calmly smiled at her sister. "Luna, all mushrooms are alive-" Luna then stomped her hoof. "The mushroom has a cart full of merchandise, Tia!" The cogs within Celestia's head then turned and whirled. A mushroom suddenly appearing, a cart full of merchandise, the Royal Garden... Celestia gasped at the thought as she excitedly walked towards the doors. "Could it be?" Luna, glancing upon her sister, asked worriedly. "Tia, where are you going?" Even the once bickering stallions were confused. "Princess? What about today's court?" "We shall move this discussion tomorrow. An important matter arose." Those present were left with confusion on their faces. As the two sisters walked together, Luna asked her sister. "Tia, why art thou excited?" Celestia, without even glancing at her sister spoke in a thrilled tone. "Because, he's back!" Confused, Luna asked once more. "Who's back?" "Arumnis." Celestia spoke. Within the Royal Gardens of Canterlot Castle, there was one who hummed a tune. He was happily looking at the sky, resting in a nearby tree alongside his merchandise. He had a piece of hay on his mouth as he sighed comfortably. "Ah, this is life, hmm hmm." Though he was still surprised by the sudden disruption to his peace as an alicorn smaller than Tia stared at him as he lay down to rest. And when he spoke, the alicorn fled. "Hmm hmm, are all young alicorns like that now? Hmm hmm." He continued to stare at the sky, casually imagining the fluffy clouds to be whatever he desired; a pony, a plant, a house, or even mushrooms. And then he tipped his hat to cover his face. "Looks like I need to get some sleep, hmm hmm." A few minutes later, however, the sound of hoofsteps awoke the napping mushroom. "Ah, yes, welcome welcome! Here to sell and repair, yours truly, the wandering merchant, hmm hmm." As he looked at the possible costumers in front of him, his eyes widened. "Ah, Tia! It's good to see you again, hmm hmm!" Celestia, at the sight of a familiar face, grabbed the merchant and welcomed him with a warm embrace. "Ah, it's so good to see you again, Arumnis!" Arumnis then chuckled. "Well of course! I need to make bits, hmm hmm. What better place than to do it here, hmm?" Celestia chuckled at the comment. While her subjects treat her as royalty, she has always felt that they are so distant. However, this mushroom merchant seems to treat her like a normal mare. "Oh, how I missed you so. How long was it since we've last seen each other?" Arumnis, placing his hand on his chin as he pondered, spoke with a humorous tone. "Oh, almost 600 years, no big deal hmm hmm." He then smiled at the princess. "Though, we almost met 15 years ago, hmm hmm. My fireworks really need an update, hmm." He then placed his hand on Celestia's hoof. "Hmm, intriguing, perhaps you might want to repair your regalia? You already know the price, hmm hmm." Celestia, again, chuckled at his comments, much to the chagrin of her sister behind them. "Perhaps it is unwise for such a fool to address their princess in that way." Luna said, making sure to put an emphasis on the word "fool". This garnered the attention of Arumnis. "Ah, if it isn't the other alicorn, hmm hmm. Tia, is she the new ruler? I can see why she isn't popular, hmm hmm." Luna gasped, "How dare thee insult us!" Celestia calmly placed a hoof on her sister. "Now now, Lulu, there is no need to get angry," Celestia said glancing at Arumnis, "that's just the way he is." Placing her wing to her sister's back, Celestia gently nudged her sister towards the merchant. "Arumnis, meet my sister, Luna." Arumnis, looking at the annoyed little sister, lowered his head. "Greetings, Princess of the Night, she who raises the moon for the ever beautiful night sky. I am Arumnis, travelling merchant and craftshroom, at your service, hmm hmm." "H-how did you know about us?" Luna gasped. "Ah, well, your sister talked about you a lot, hmm hmm. Of how she misses you dearly and how she could've saved you, yes." Arumnis then looked at Celestia with thoughtful eyes, "For a thousand years, she has suffered with her guilt of banishing you into the moon. Know that your sister loves you dearly, hmm hmm." Luna, eyeing down the mushroom, simply smiled. "Of that, I know." Not wanting to see them in tears, Arumnis coughed. "Bah! Now that we are acquainted, what do you want to buy? I am very particular with costumers holding down the line!" At the mere mention of this, Luna took a closer look at the merchandise. She fancied a mirror, its frame handcrafted from silver. Allowing her sister to get acquainted with her friend's attitude, she knelt down and glanced at the other merchandise. "Ah, yes, that mirror is handcrafted by yours truly, hmm hmm!" Luna, wanting to know more about the mirror, asked the merchant some questions. "How much is thy mirror?" Arumnis, chuckling at the new customer he gained, simply said what any merchant would say. "Ah, for you, I give a discount! 69 bits!" Gasping at the price, Luna questioned even further. "Only 69 for such a well made masterpiece? Thou art crazy, master Arumnis!" Laughing at this, Arumnis simply waved his hand. "Ah, yes, yes. But, this makes others who are not of wealth and power enjoy such masterpieces, no?" With that statement, Celestia remembered why she even trusted such a creature. He was, and still is, a merchant, yes, but he acknowledges that some of her citizens weren't of noble blood. And when some ponies can not afford the item, instead of shooing them away, he sells it to them for only a few bits, even offering it to them for free. Does this make him a terrible merchant? Yes, most definitely. And yet, he doesn't mind. He doesn't even drop the quality of his works. "I am indeed a merchant, Tia. But, how can I be happy with giving away my crafts if only a few ponies can enjoy them?" She remembered fondly. Just then, a sudden pain surged through Celestia. The same pain she felt when she glanced at those symbols. "Tia, what is bothering you, hmm hmm?" Celestia then looked at a concerned Arumnis, holding what appeared to be a small figure of an alicorn. "I'm fine, Ru, it's nothing." She smiled weakly at an unamused Arumnis. While placing down the figure for Luna to gawk at, Arumnis went by her side. "I've known you for a long time, we've talked for a long time, you can't fool me, hmm hmm. So, tell me, what's the matter, Tia?" Celestia grimaced at the thought of her friend experiencing the pain, however, she knows she can't lie. "It's a matter concerning my dear student, Twilight." Arumnis then nodded. "Ah yes, the young lavender pony, hmm hmm. She loved my fireworks, yes, yes. So, what about her?" Celestia sighed. "Twilight and her friends found a structure of unknown origin while searching for Apple Bloom. The poor filly fell into a sinkhole..." Arumnis nodded, waiting for her to continue. "And within that structure, strange symbols appeared. She wrote it down in her letter." Curious, Arumnis asked for the letter, to which Celestia gave it to him hesitantly. "Hmm hmm, interesting." He then looked at a worried Celestia. "An ancient language I read years ago." "Can... can you read it?" Arumnis shook his head. "It will take me a while, yes. This will cost you a lot, Tia. You do know that this will hinder my business, hmm hmm." Celestia nodded as she placed her hoof on his shoulder. "Oh, Arumnis, I'm so sorry! We finally meet after years, and I'm asking for help once again... I really am a failure, huh?" "Shush, do not berate yourself like that, Tia. Not in the presence of your sister." He glanced at Luna, who was currently busy admiring his merchandise. "Hmm, you know that you are great, yes? Remember what we talked about, hmm hmm? That you are not a failure just because you can't make a decision, hmm hmm. Rely on others too, yes? You did that even without me by your side for 600 years!" He then placed his hand on her hoof placed upon his shoulder. "You are a great princess, strong as the iron forges. Always remember that, hmm?" She bore it all, the grief, the sorrow. And when she banished her sister to the moon a thousand years ago, she had to deal with it and move on for the sake of her ponies. She had little time to cry; she had to be strong. And she became strong not just by herself, but with the help of others, especially Arumnis, who was with her 600 years ago, in the secret gardens. And right now, with her sister finally back, she has to stay strong. A tear formed in her eye, "Thank you, Arumnis." Celestia muttered. "Bah! No crying! You'll ruin the merchandise! Now then, hmm, I suggest, yes, I suggest that you read on this too. Perhaps your mentor has notes on his books, hmm." Celestia nodded. She knew that if there was someone well-versed with artifacts, it would be Star Swirl. There is a chance that her mentor has analyzed such symbols before, writing it within his research. "That's it! Star Swirl must have written about those symbols!" She stood up and grabbed Arumnis in a hug, much to the chagrin of the sporekin. She then called out to her sister, who had grabbed a few items with her magic. "All that costs no more than 175 bits, hmm hmm." She paid him in full and added a few more as she waved to her new acquaintance. Although a bit taken back by his attitude, she could feel that he could be trusted. As the two alicons left, Arumnis went back to his spot underneath a tree. "Surprising that they found ancient N'hirvhannian, hmm hmm!" He smirked. He understood the runes, yet he did not give out that information. He shook his head as he tipped his hat. "I wonder if Ponyville is a good place to sell, hmm? Perhaps I can meet an old friend there, yes." He said as he drifted into dreamland. She scoured the library for information regarding the symbols. She thought she was close, and yet, none of Rockhoof's runes match the symbols, nor does any language whatsoever. In almost a whole day, she read more than 400 books with the hope of ever understanding the symbols. She started calling it "runes" as it looked like such. And with her sister's help, she read over 100 more. And with each book she read, she felt some sort of darkness emanating from the runes. Her trance was only broken when her sister called for her to lower the sun. Had it not been for Luna, she would've been stuck in the library for a whole day and a whole night. "Tia, thou been saddled with that letter in hoof. Art thou sure thou art alright?" Celestia, tired as she is, nodded. "I'm fine, Luna," she said with a weak smile, "Really, I am." Luna saw this and pleaded for her sister to rest, making sure she does so in the process. And Celestia did so. She was tired, and yet, she has more to worry about tomorrow. As she drifted into slumber, she couldn't help but think of the runes that she read. What was it all about? Why was there a structure? Would Apple Bloom be alright? Within her dreams a shadow lurks, with scorching red eyes that glared at her. The nightmare had just begun, for in her dreams a figure taunts her. She tried to reach it, yet no words came from her mouth. She tried to run, yet this figure stayed so far. "I see you," it muttered. "I sense your very fears," it snarled. "Tell me, Celestia... How do you wish for your sister to die?" Celestia can only quake as she stared at death. "STOP!" And all went silent as her surroundings turned as black as the void. She awoke earlier than she was used to, sweat dripping from her brow. She cursed under her breath. She then gazed at the letter Twilight gave her, and decided to finally write her response. And with a brief flash of magic, she sent her letter with an enchantment so as to not bother a sleeping Twilight. The morning was cold, and the moon was still in view. A few hours passed after she raised the sun for everypony. She wanted to talk to her dear friend at the Royal Gardens, only to find that he was no longer there. "Well, he does have his ways of getting in and out..." Celestia chuckled softly as she glanced at the footprints of an animal, one that Arumnis kept as his storage and mount. With this information, she went back to the throne room to start the day. Before she entered, though, she ordered her guards to summon forth archeologists should she get a sample of the ruins. With a brief chat to her maids and butlers, she pressed on to day court. Just then, she noticed another presence. She looked around, only to see her sister behind her. "Tia?" Luna called out. Relieved, she gently nuzzled her sister and told her to rest. Luna agreed and wished her luck in today's court. As Celestia finally went to the throne room, Luna walked towards her own private quarters, not realizing that she was trailed by a living shadow. The shadow latched onto the unaware princess, finally starting his plans. Celestia, still troubled about Twilight, her friends, and those ruins, looked weary and tired. Her concentration was then fixated on a scroll that appeared in front of her. Luckily, she managed to resolve the issue regarding a certain table before the scroll appeared. With no other stressors present, she unfolded the scroll. Dear Princess Celestia, I bring great news! Apple Bloom is safe and sound thanks to Thalion. He's a giant "Greater Dragon" as he calls himself, but he can shift his size in order to fit inside buildings. I must admit, I was shocked when I first saw him inside Applejack's house. We were given the chance to talk to him. We're so excited! He was there in those ruins when Apple Bloom fell, and as such, opted to save her. If what Apple Bloom says is true, then he's older than both you and Princess Luna combined! Your faithful student, Twilight This piqued Celestia's interest. A new being that has lived far longer than she? Somecreature who was within that structure? She sighed, relieved to hear about Apple Bloom as well. Perhaps all her worries were for nothing. However, she noticed that the scroll had more writing. She unfurled it even more. Dear Princess Celestia, Something's off about Thalion but I can't put my hoof into it. Perhaps that's just the way he looks or acts, or maybe he's hiding something else. When asked about his friends, he just felt... distant. It's the same way when he's asked about his family. I don't want to feel paranoid, but if possible, perhaps you would like an audience with him? I want to know if he really is trustworthy or if he's the danger that you mentioned before. I just hope he isn't. Your faithful student, Twilight That relief slowly faded as she read that last part. If this Thalion really is a threat, he must be dealt with, but, she doesn't want to judge him immediately. "Guards!" She called out. "Alert everypony within this castle that I will be going to Ponyville today for an important meeting. Cancel the day court today." With a quick salute, the guards dashed off to inform the other nobles of the predicament. "I hope it's just a mistaken feeling..." Within a slumbering princess's room, deep purple eyes scroll through its surroundings. It morphed itself and stood within Luna's chambers. Glancing around to see if there was anything of interest, he turned towards the door. Ornate in design, he went towards the bed of the princess. He stared. "My brother told me not to harm you... yet." Carrion said, with a sinister tone. Had this been a normal mission, he would've already made the castle succumb to his poison while allowing his targets to live. They lived, not for the sake of mercy, but for the sake of watching those around them die like flies. He particularly enjoyed it when his victims pleaded for the lives of their loved ones. Not even the children were safe. He knew that if they left the offspring, they would only encounter more soldiers with hatred in their hearts. There were only two children that he valued, and yet, those two are gone. He heard approaching hoofsteps and morphed himself back into the shadow of the princess. "You are lucky, I do not need to kill you. Not yet." He whispered in her ear, startling the poor mare. "Who goes there?" She asked frantically. When there was no one who responded, she sighed and went back to sleep. "How long has it been since I had animal meat?" Carrion pondered this as he went back into stasis. He'll have to wait for his master to call upon him. As if to mock the now sleeping alicorn, Carrion called out to her and said ever so innocently, "Sweet dreams."