//------------------------------// // II - The Way Things Were // Story: As the Sun Sets // by Mystic //------------------------------// As the Sun Sets by Mystic Chapter II The Way Things Were Up this high, Equestria looked like nothing more than an impressionist painting. The patchwork of fields, forests, rivers and towns all blurred together, creating a melting pot of greens and browns. They had been flying south by south east for most the day, and they were making fantastic time. Already the Canterlot Mountains were far behind, dull shadows at their back. The horizon in front was a vast wall of murky blue. It was The Shining Sea, the buffer between Equestria and the Old World. On the other side were all of the places that Twilight had read about in dusty scrolls late at night in the Royal Archives. The lands of the eastern continent were shrouded in myths and legends, and knowledge was hard to come by. Even the griffons were notoriously silent about their homeland. To pass the time inside the little windproof bubble the Princess had made, Twilight read, sticking her nose into the collection of books she had managed to cram into her already overflowing saddlebags—dragon history, mostly, although there really wasn’t much. She had planned on studying as much as she could about the inner workings of dragon politics, but as far she could tell, they didn’t even have a political system. They had a king, but she had absolutely no idea how that whole system worked. She frowned at the pages, skimming another table of contents and finding absolutely nothing of interest. So she asked the Princess. Celestia had shifted around to face her properly and told Twilight all about the way dragons had built their ‘society’, if it could even be called that. Apparently they had next to no social structure, relying on a loose code of loyalty to the king to keep everyone in check. They rarely did anything as a nation. In fact, according to the Princess, the only time they ever had was to go to war, and they hadn’t done that in over a thousand years. Twilight still found the idea of the dragon kings themselves perplexing. After the old king died, a new one would either be the strongest, or those that completed mythical challenges called a Faurust, or a quest to get a special artifact or gem. Even though dragons could live for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, at eight hundred years of rule, King Glamduural was the longest ruling dragon king in history. Apparently coups were not uncommon. But that still didn’t answer one important question, Twilight felt. “Princess, why do the dragons need a king or a kingdom in the first place? They don’t really seem like the type of people who would need or even want one.” Celestia smiled and nodded her head. “A very long time ago there were some who realised that without some sort of... ‘authority’, the dragons would be the greatest threat to the balance of things, whether they wanted to or not. Without a dragon ‘nation’, there would be nothing holding the rogue dragons in check. The world would be overrun by hordes of dragons looking for homes in the mountains, seeking for all the world’s treasures. And you saw what happened the last time a dragon decided to take a nap near Canterlot. The rest of the world would have to do something if that happened, and so the dragon king stops most of those rogues from going out. He keeps the peace.” “Keeps the peace? How?” Celestia’s eyebrow twitched. “By being stronger than everyone else.” “Oh…” Twilight coughed. “That’s…” “The world is very different outside Equestria, Twilight,” the Princess said. “It’s definitely something you need to see to believe.” Twilight closed her book, staring out to the over the edge of the chariot. “Well, I’m looking forward to it, Princess.” Celestia smiled, following Twilight’s gaze. “I’m glad.” As the day turned into afternoon and the sun soared through the sky, the shimmering blue wall on the horizon slowly drew closer. The world seemed to end in a flat sheet of silver glass, veiled in a smoky haze. It sparkled as it caught the sun’s rays, and Twilight was struck by the similarity between it and some of Rarity’s sequined silks. It was no wonder some ponies called it the Sea of Diamonds. Eventually, the chariot and its crew reached the sea. Twilight couldn’t help but lean over the rim of the chassis, balancing on her two back legs, as she stared open mouthed at the water. It was huge! Twilight didn’t remember the Shining Sea being quite this big, but then, she had never seen it from several hundred feet up in the air, either. It was like a sheet of rippling fabric of the deepest shade of blue imaginable. Shafts of orange light speared across its surface, thrown out from the slowly setting sun. The air was cool and smelled like salt, fresh and invigorating, the kind that smell that made Twilight want to run and swim. “Well, Twilight,” Celestia said, her trademark smile in place, “what do you think?” “This...” She leaned over the chariot’s edge, her eyes unable to stay in one place as she soaked in the all the detail. The sights, smells and even the sounds, they were all so... different, exotic, even. “This is incredible!” Celestia smiled. “I thought you might like it.” “I need to come back sometime with the girls,” Twilight said, more to herself than the Princess. She sat back and just peered over the edge of the chariot, watching the water race beneath her, the surface bulging with the gentle movement of waves. Bird calls drifted through the air, and some of them came over to see the Princess before flying off again. Twilight’s thoughts were interrupted by a shape moving in the water. She froze, squinting down at the glinting surface. At first she thought that it was nothing more than the shadow the chariot was casting, but then she saw it again. It looked like a small island was swimming underneath the surface, longer and larger than even a dragon. “Um… Princess?” Twilight said, unwilling to tear her eyes away. “Do you know what that is?” Celestia moved over to Twilight’s side, peering over the edge. “It would appear as if something was moving down there.” Twilight shot a look over to the Princess, not sure if she was joking or not. “Uh… Do you have any idea what it is?” “Whatever it is, it is definitely growing closer to the surface.” Twilight’s head whipped back to the side of the boat, peering down now at the shape. Sure enough, it was growing larger with each passing second, completely dwarfing the chariot’s shadow until it covered an area larger than the entire main street of Ponyville. The surface exploded. Like a volcano filled with water, the explosion shot out a deluge of spray that speared almost a hundred feet in the air. There was an almighty roar that rattled Twilight’s bones, and she shivered in fear. The chariot swerved sharply to the right, growing steadily in altitude. Twilight braved a look down at whatever had caused the explosion. A massive beast, larger than anything alive she had ever seen, ploughed through the water, sending waves as large as a house splashing off its sides. It was scaled like a fish but was covered in oddly shaped plates rather than small interlocking scales. Its enormous mouth curled around the side of its stout head, bending at the edges to create a permanent grimace. Twilight could see multiple rows of teeth inside its gaping maw. The beast slipped below the surface with surprising agility for something of its size, before reappearing a little further away. Twilight could swear it was staring straight up at them through a small and beady eye. The creature called out again, a sound that was more like a whale’s call than anything that walked on land. Captain Swift looked back from the head of the pegasi column, and Celestia nodded at her, indicating that they should continue as planned. “What is that?” Twilight asked breathlessly. “A leviathan,” Celestia replied. The Princess’ voice was tight and controlled, and her eyes were narrowed slightly as she stared down the monster. “A leviathan? There’s more than one?” Twilight had read the stories. She had always believed that there was one leviathan. The Leviathan. The eater of ships and terror of the ocean. “There was always more than one. However, it has been a very long time since there was more than one on the surface.” Celestia frowned. Twilight bit her lip softly. The edge in the Princess’ words sent little red lights flashing. “Are you okay, Princess? Are we in any danger?” The Princess took far longer to answer than Twilight would have liked. “No. We’re not in any danger. Although, the leviathan shouldn’t be this close to Equestria.” “Why not?” Celestia’s reply was quiet, so quiet that Twilight almost didn’t hear it. “Because I let him go free under the condition that he remained in the northern ocean.” “Oh…” Twilight fell silent, not at all sure what to say in response. “So why is he ignoring the agreement…?” Celestia murmured, her eyes narrowing. Twilight looked around, fighting to find the right words to say. What could she say that would mean anything at all? She wasn’t even sure what was going on. “I don’t know, Princess. I’m sure you can look into it when we come home.” The Princess turned to face Twilight, her eyes bearing down on her, asking something from Twilight that she just didn’t understand. The unicorn couldn’t tell whether Celestia was upset, but there was something in her eyes that made Twilight feel incredibly small. “Yes, Twilight. You’re right. I’m sure it’s nothing.” Twilight chanced a small smile, and it was returned. Just. The unicorn sat back down, trying to pull a book out. All of the words blurred together, looking like incomprehensible squiggles with meanings that she couldn’t process. But like an insect that refused to go away, she kept tossing the same ideas around, trying to work out just what had gotten the Princess so worked up. The leviathan hadn’t done anything to attack them or harm them. It had just stared at them, watching them fly away. Hadn’t the Princess been the one to joke about seeing sea monsters? Twilight looked back into the distance, only to see that the leviathan was still staring at them. It gave one last cry before slipping back underneath the waves, disappearing from sight. The sun continued to edge closer to the western horizon, turning the sky from a brilliant blue to a muted orange. The gentle breeze that had been present all day suddenly dropped right away, and the ocean looked as still and calm as a pond. A silence had fallen over the chariot. Twilight fidgeted uncomfortably, looking for something to talk about, but finding nothing. There wasn’t anything that felt appropriate. Instead, the quiet shifted into the awkward and bled into the air. She couldn’t even bring herself to read. She could only sit there, staring at the sky with a small frown painted on her face. As the sun finally touched the horizon, clouds began to grow in the air. A chill grew on the gentle breeze, and while it was never too uncomfortable, there was a noticeable difference in temperature. Twilight could only hope that a storm wouldn’t form overnight. Stuck out here in the middle of nowhere, she wasn’t sure there was any way that would end well. Twilight was paying little attention when Swift’s head suddenly snapped to the right, her attention caught by something Twilight couldn’t see. “Princess! We have something coming our way.” Celestia looked in the direction that Swift was. The Princess was still as a statue for a few moments, peering at a speck so small that Twilight couldn’t quite tell if it was real or not. Eventually, Celestia’s body relaxed, and she blinked and drew breath. “It’s a party of griffons. Nothing more. Scouts from the look of things.” “Can you confirm if they are coming directly for us?” Swift called back. The Princess nodded. “They have seen us, yes.” Twilight gulped. She could make out the supposed griffon party much better now. They were a swarm of small specks, no more than ten of them, and growing larger with each passing second. “Griffons send out scouts?” she half-whispered to Celestia. “Equestria sends out scouts, Twilight. Emissaries and ambassadors as well. It’s all part of keeping the peace and staying informed.” Twilight didn’t reply. The griffons were almost on top of them now. She counted seven, flying in a tight arrowhead. Celestia motioned that they stop, so Swift and her pegasi came in to land on a large cloud that easily absorbed the chariot’s impact. Princess Celestia stepped out of the chariot and onto the cloud. Twilight cast a cloud-walking spell, shivering as the feeling of weightlessness enveloped her in a snug bubble, and jumped off, letting her hooves sink into the squishy water vapour. The pegasi unhitched themselves and moved around the Princess, all of them watching the approaching griffons with narrowed eyes and cold stares. The scouts came in to land quickly, circling once before swooping down with such agility and grace that it left Twilight a little awed. One second they were at least thirty feet above their heads, the next they were standing in front of them, still in perfect formation. The largest of the griffons stepped forward, her claws sinking into the cloud like knives through warm butter. She was huge, larger than any stallions Twilight knew, her body trimmed with firm muscle that bulged slightly under her chocolate coloured feathers. Tight leather straps connected her to a harness of some sort, which also looked like it served as a kind of light armour. Small knives and pieces of carved bone were strapped to her sides, weapons and trophies. The griffon bowed low, keeping her eyes fixed on Celestia. “Greetings, Princess Celestia of Equestria. My name is Gail. I am a scout of Aeries, and these are my warriors. We thought we saw something, and I am glad we were not mistaken.” Her voice was strong and resonated with focus, touched with the barest hint of an accent that Twilight couldn’t quite name. The Princess nodded her head in recognition. “Welcome, Gail. I trust your passage has been blessed with strong winds and clear skies?” The griffon nodded in appreciation at what Twilight guessed was some kind of traditional griffon response. “As good as any, Your Majesty. We have been gone for a very long time.” “So long? Have you been out over the Silver Ocean?” Gail frowned. “No, Your Majesty. We have been flying along Draxonis’ border with Greatwood and as close to The Shadow as we dare.” There was a silence. Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” Gail held the Princess’ gaze for a moment. “Chasing rumours, Your Majesty. They are as numerous and as varied as the fish in the sea. Only rumours are not so easy to hunt.” “Rumours of what, exactly?” This time, it was Gail who raised an eyebrow. She took a while to respond, her tail shifting back and forth. “Of a storm, Your Majesty. Bad winds are growing, and even the birds talk about something stirring in the east.” Celestia’s expression darkened. “I hear much, Gail. Not all of it is reliable.” The griffon lowered her head. “Of course. There is a great distance between Equestria and the eastern continent.” “Especially nowadays. Are there any details you can spare?” “There is nothing stopping me from telling you everything but what I simply don’t know, Your Majesty. I remember what you did for my father’s clan, clearing out Glarefang the Scarred. You have my respect already, Princess, and, dare I say, my trust as well.” “Thank you,” Celestia replied. “I am always willing to aid a friend in need. Especially against some of the darker creatures of the world.” “That makes me feel a little better.” “How so?” “I think there is something moving in the east, Your Majesty. Rogue dragons are converging in the Mortal Hills. Some of the banished minotaurs have been seen in Greatwood. The seas are alive with predators that haven’t been seen for generations. The world has been changing before our very eyes, and in only a year the whole continent feels different. I am beginning to believe the stories of how the world was back when the Aerie was still young.” “Different? How does the world feel different?” Gail looked at the Princess for a long time. “It doesn’t feel safe, Your Majesty. Storms are coming. The weather is changing. That is not hard to see. Lord Garron has sent out parties like my own from all over the clans. Most should have returned by now. We are one of the last.” “Do you have any word of what is actually out there?” Maybe it was just Twilight, but she almost thought that the Princess sounded frustrated. “None, I’m afraid. Nothing is speaking, and nothing is visible from the air. After what happened to Fryda and her party, no one has dared to go too close to The Shadow.” “After what happened?” Twilight saw the muscles in Gail’s neck tense. “It has been a long time since we have had to fight dragons. No one remembers the skills.” Celestia opened her mouth, stopped, then lowered her head. “I am sorry,” she replied, her tone soft. Her eyes, however, were steeled, and Twilight could practically see the thoughts flying through them like a whirlwind. Gail lowered her head in acknowledgement. “Thank you. She was a friend.” A silence fell. Twilight looked around nervously, not sure who would be the one to talk next. Eventually, though, Celestia did. “Well, Gail, you have clearly travelled far, and you must be exhausted. Please, stay with us this evening.” Gail lowered her head again. “Thank you, Princess. We would be honoured.” “Then it is settled.” The Princess turned to Swift. “Captain, we shall sleep here tonight.” “As you wish, Your Majesty.” Swift bowed low before turning to her guards. “Alright, let’s get some food and bedding ready!” Twilight watched as the guards and the griffons descended into a flurry of unpacking and setting up. The pegasi set up small blankets to keep the chill from the cloud away. Apparently the tents were too unstable, especially if a wind picked up. Although, Twilight could only bounce up and down on the squishy cloud, still unable to properly grasp the fact she would be sleeping on water vapour suspended hundreds of feet above an ocean. There was a sleeping in a cloud house, and then there was this. At least she had worked out how to extend the duration of the cloud walking spell, so she wouldn’t be interrupted by a sudden swim. The griffons moved with speed and efficiency, talking quietly among themselves. Both Celestia and Gail moved away a little to continue their conversation. Twilight briefly considered going over to listen, but honestly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to. Hungry, gnawing doubt ate away at her insides, turning her mood black. She had no idea what was going on, and all kinds of thoughts whispered in the corners of her mind. Perhaps most off-putting was the fact that having the Princess nearby wasn’t helping things. Not this time. With both camps ready, the griffons sat around in a loose semicircle, now including the pegasi in their conversation. Twilight drifted in and out of conversation as they talked about everything from food, to flying, and then into darker, more menacing topics. “You are going to Draxonis?” a male griffon said with a thick voice. His feathers were so dark they almost looked black. “Yes,” Swift replied, a little shortly. “Your Princess is strange indeed if she is going there.” A few of the ponies bristled at the griffon’s words, but Twilight was curious. “Why?” The griffon looked directly at Twilight, and she was unable to look away from a scar running down his face along the base of his beak. “Bad winds are blowing in the east, little pony.” “Griffons talk in riddles now?” Nighthawk said dryly. The griffon snorted. “Riddles are for people who don’t know how to speak the truth clearly. And we don’t know what’s going on.” “The Princess knows exactly what she’s doing,” Swift said, interjecting. “She is wise and cunning,” said another griffon, a female with piercing blue eyes. “Wise and cunning?” Twilight asked. The griffon shrugged. “I only know what the stories from the Aerie say.” Before Twilight could ask, the guards suddenly all looked over to Celestia. Twilight followed suit, seeing that the Princess and Gail were walking over to them, their conversation apparently over. “I must ask for your forgiveness,” Celestia said, looking over both pegasi and griffons alike, “but I must lower the sun. I will be gone for a brief spell, but please, do not hesitate to eat while I am gone.” Swift stood up instantly. “Of course, Your Majesty. But I must ask that you let me accompany you.” Celestia shook her head. “That will not be necessary, Swift, but thank you regardless.” Twilight watched the Captain’s eyes dart from Celestia to the watching griffons. Swift’s jaw tensed, and her hoof ground the cloud beneath her. When she spoke, however, her voice was just as calm and strong as ever. “Of course, Your Highness…” Celestia nodded her head and, with a great push from her wings, took to the sky, racing westwards and quickly disappearing from sight. “Ugh,” Gail grunted as soon as the Princess was gone. “Thank the eastward winds. I can talk normally again.” The griffons laughed. “You were sounding like one the scroll-laden fossils in the emissary’s clan.” “Shut your beak,” Gail snapped, her eyes glowing. “Or I’ll shut it for you. Learn to show respect.” A griffon chuckled. “That’s respect?” Gail glared at him. “For a pony. Do you want me to teach you griffon respect again, Harrik?” The griffon raised a claw in front of his face in silent submission, visibly flinching. “That’s what I thought. Now shut it. I’m hungry.” Twilight sat still through the entire exchange, her mind racing. Why had the Princess just left to lower the sun? That didn’t make sense at all. She had never left to do that before, so it wasn’t like it was a privacy thing. Was she going looking for that leviathan from earlier today? Did it really concern her that much? Twilight frowned, only half aware of the piece of bread that Contrail had handed to her. She tried to smile at him, but her lips didn’t seem to want to work. There were a million thoughts racing through Twilight’s head, and not one of them gave her any sort of comfort. What had she gotten herself into? A gentle touch on the shoulder snapped Twilight out of her brooding. Her head jerked upwards, a faint blush covering her cheeks. It was Contrail again. He gestured over to the female griffon with the striking blue eyes. She was staring at Twilight with an expression that practically dripped with boredom. “Um, sorry, I… uh. I was kind of daydreaming.” The griffon appeared unfazed. “Before, it looked like you were about to ask about the griffon stories.” “I was,” Twilight admitted, dragging herself completely to the present. “What about Princess Celestia do you know from them?” “Not a whole lot,” the griffon said. “There are a few stories. Ones that get taught to griffons when they are just children, or those that are told by the elderly with their pony-made scrolls.” “What are they?” “They are about a pony and her sister who changed the world. They are all like each other that way. Each time the darkness has driven up a storm, they have been there to stop it and clear the skies for the sun and the moon to shine.” “The darkness?” The griffon nodded, now commanding the attention of everybody present. “Monsters, magic, spirits of ice and fire. The dragons. And the puppet master. They are all there.” “They say she came down from the sun one day and burned all the darkness from the world, and from that day forward, the evil in the world has been trying to crawl back in. Only, she stops it and always has done.” Twilight looked over at the griffon who had spoken. He was easily the smallest one there, light and agile with feathers that looked more suited to blend in around snow than here over the ocean. “The griffons tell some wild stories,” Whirlwind said, raising an eyebrow. “And your stories are different?” the small male asked. “Totally and completely. There is no evil or ‘shadow’. Just a world with monsters that good old fashioned heroes like us keep from harming all the innocent folk.” The griffon looked ready to say something else, but Gail raised a claw, and he instantly closed his beak. “There is one story,” Gail said, stressing each word. “One that I heard when I was a hatchling, exactly the same as it was told to the griffon who told me.” “What is it?” Twilight asked, leaning forward. Gail readjusted her position on the cloud, taking a deep breath and a moment to collect her thoughts. Then, speaking slowly with the same formal tone she used when talking to Celestia, she said, “It starts with a small griffon clan high up in the frozen north. They were hunters, carving a living from the blood on the ice.   “One day, the ice cracked and shattered, and the earth rumbled and shook. The sky turned dark, so dark that even the night seemed bright. And with this broken earth and darkened sky, there was a roar that took all the courage from the griffon’s hearts.   “And so, it was under this darkened sky that the hunters flew, passing across places they once knew, but now were nothing more than ruins. They flew and they flew, spending an entire day flying as the sky became even darker.   “And then, at the top of the highest mountain peak in the frozen north, at a peak where the air was so cold that it turned the wind solid, they found the dragon.   “The dragon was larger than twenty of the hunter’s caves put together and looked like he was armoured in ice. He grinned at the hunters with jagged teeth and looked at them with an eye as red as fresh blood. The hunters stood beside him, tiny as ants are to a griffon, and their limbs shook in fear.   “They asked him to move. They told him he was destroying the land and covering the sky in darkness. They told him to leave to lands far away where he would not disturb anyone.   “The dragon grinned, and in his eyes, the hunters saw a great shadow. The dragon set fire to the mountain, and rivers of melted snow poured down onto the ice, and the dragon laughed and shook the mountain. “Many of the hunters tried to escape. Most of the hunters did not succeed. Those who did fled back to their homes, holding their loved ones close and weeping for their dead, for most who left did not return.   “Only, the hunters were not given long to mourn.   “On the morning of the second day, a new shadow crossed the sky. The hunters went out, and instead of a great cloud, all they saw was the dragon. The dragon fell upon them with roars that could shatter glaciers and fire so hot that it melted stone. Many of the hunters gathered together to fight so the rest could flee, only, they did not last long, for the shadow in the sky cast them aside with nothing more than a breath.   “Those that fled flew south, panic lending their wings strength. The dragon, however, could fly as far and as fast as they could in a minute with a single stroke of his wings. The dragon came upon them hiding in a dale, whispering to the empty air for someone to help them.   “The dragon laughed, and he came down upon them with the fire in his chest building and growing so that the snow around him melted.   “But when all hope seemed lost, when the air boiled and the dragon inhaled to drown them in fire, there was a new light, one as bright as the sun, for it was its custodian and master, the pony princess. The Sun Princess carried herself on wings that shone like gold and her eyes blazed with powerful fire, and she said, ‘How dare you bring harm to these creatures, servant of the Shadow. You hold no place in this world!’ And the dragon laughed and said, ‘I am death. I am the Shadow of the North.’   “The Sun Princess turned to the hunters and smiled and told them to go south where the darkness had yet to spread. At first the hunters wanted to fight, but the Princess only told them again, and this time they listened, for they could hold no argument against the Sun Princess, and so they fled south, a place untouched by shadow.   “And so they fled, the sounds of a mighty battle filling their ears and shaking the earth. The sky was filled with fire, and for three days and three nights there was nothing but the roars and explosions of powerful magics.   “But on the morning on the fourth day, the land was quiet, and all the roaring and explosions had ceased. Instead, there was only a calm stillness that neither animal nor weather dared break.   “And then the sun rose! High and bright, the sun soared into the sky, and the hunters rejoiced and cried out. The sun had risen! And the hunters bowed low when the Sun Princess came to them and said, ‘No more shall the Shadow of the North darken your lands. You are free.’ And the hunters praised her name from that day forth, and each day they would look to the east and thank the sun for rising, for each day it meant that evil was again held in check.” The griffon finished her story and lowered her head. Silence quickly took its place, almost echoing now in the darkness. The stars were out in force, and the moon was the only real source of light. The sun must have set while Gail was talking, Twilight realised. She hadn’t even noticed. “And that,” the griffon leader said, looking Twilight directly in the eyes, “is why I am glad that if anyone is going east at this time, it is your princess.” Twilight could only nod numbly while all around her the guards and griffons picked up their conversations. Gail took a moment before she finally looked away. There was something more to this trip, Twilight was sure. But the Princess had said… Nothing. She had barely said a word on the subject other than to ask Twilight to trust her. And she did trust her. But what if there was something like from one of the griffon stories? Honestly, Twilight wasn’t sure. Her Princess wasn’t some mighty warrior. She was Princess Celestia. Kind and gentle and fiercely dependable… and self sacrificing… and… Now I can protect my subjects from you! Why couldn’t the story be true? What was stopping it? The fact that Twilight hadn’t read about it in some book? Her books were rubbish, and she knew it. Now it seemed like even griffons who had probably never even been to Equestria knew more about her Princess’ history than Twilight did herself. “Twilight?” asked a gentle voice. The unicorn looked up, and straight into the eyes of Princess Celestia herself. “Ah! Princess! You’re back!” Celestia looked a little taken aback. “Yes, I am back. I apologise for being gone so long. I forget sometimes just how much I love flying.” Twilight wanted to question her. She didn’t buy that excuse, and she was about to open her mouth to say so when she stopped. At the end of the day, what would change if she knew what the Princess was up to? With her answer in mind, Twilight kept her mouth shut. “I hope you had fun,” was all she said, giving her mentor a smile. “I did, thank you. But now I think it is best if we went to bed. We still have a long way to travel.” “Yes, of course,” Twilight said, frowning. They left first thing in the morning, saying farewell to the griffons before disappearing into the eastern horizon. Twilight watched the sunrise from the chariot, staring at it in silence until it became too bright, and she was forced to look away. The Princess was just as silent, staring just below the sun, out towards the wall of brown slowly rushing up to meet them. It took Twilight a while, but she finally realised that this was the eastern continent. They had spanned the vast bulk of the Shining Sea in less than two days. Of course, they were still a long way out, and it took many hours to finally reach the gently rolling hills along the coast. Twilight wished goodbye to the sea, promising herself she would be back sooner rather than later, preferably with her friends. “How soon to Draxonis now, Princess?” she asked. “There is still a long way to go. We will have to stop again tonight.” “Oh. Any idea where?” Celestia smiled, still not looking at Twilight. “You will see, my faithful student.” Realising she was going to get no further answers, Twilight returned to staring over the landscape. Everything was… different. The greens were darker; the browns almost looked like dried blood. They were still going over hill country, and the Princess explained that this was the Wildlands, a place filled with weather-beaten hills and gnarled and stunted trees. Apparently ponies lived out here, although they cut off communication with the outside world a very long time ago. They stopped for lunch in the middle of a shady glen, and Twilight spent most of the break either examining the strange flowers or listening intently, half expecting some strange beast or wild pony to burst out at any moment. Her behaviour wasn’t helped by the fact that even Swift spent the entire meal scanning the trees. The landscape started to change in the afternoon. The hills grew sharper, more pronounced, crowned with granite peaks and ridges. The valleys became lower and darker too, filled with wizened trees that almost looked as if they grew sideways out of the gully walls. Everything looked so… ancient, Twilight decided. So old, like the ground itself could tell stories about the beginning of time and everything that had happened since. If only she could hear them. Eventually, the sun began to kiss the horizon, and Swift flicked her head back. “Where to, Majesty?” she shouted. Celestia smiled wryly for a moment before answering. “To the north east of here, Captain, there should be a long canyon cut between two hills. About three miles away, if I remember correctly. When we get there, you will see where I have in mind.” Twilight saw Swift nod, and instantly the chariot started to bank, turning to the right while descending slowly at the same time. It was not long before Twilight saw the canyon she assumed Celestia was talking about, two impenetrable cliffs plunged deep into the earth, covered in clinging foliage and jagged boulders. The canyon walls rose up sharply, increasing in height as the chariot soared along its length. “Follow this for about a mile more,” Celestia said. “You shall see it soon enough.” Twilight peered down the canyon, burning with curiosity for what on earth the Princess could be referring to. So far, she could see nothing beyond the stone and plant life. The chariot rounded around a gentle bend to the right, and Twilight gasped. She could have sworn that Swift and a few of the guards did the same. Sitting up high, built into the side of the rock face where it opened out on steep right angles into two horizontal cliffs, was a castle. A massive central building dominated the complex, the grey walls and towers curving to form mighty domes and spires, crowding around a massive central spire that opened up into a hollowed alcove at its peak. A great wall ringed the keep, running along the shelf where the castle had been placed. Twilight could not help but marvel at the massive structure. It was well over two hundred feet fight and almost five hundred feet across. But the stone looked as if a decaying cloud had settled amongst its curves and crevices, eating away the walls, washing it with a stained brush. Thick cracks and snake-like vines crawled over every surface, the latter sprouting little white flowers that shone in the afternoon light. “To the front gate, Swift,” Celestia said. “It should be open.” The chariot banked steeply, landing on a stone bridge that extended into open air in front of an gaping hole cut into the wall. Twilight stared open-mouthed up the massive walls, the even bigger castle looming against the cliff. Even then, the wall stopped fifty or so feet from the top, making the fortress impossible to reach in anyway except by air. The dizzying drop behind them plummeted down to the ground where it spread out into a plain of broken hills. “Welcome,” Celestia said, “to Armoruil, watchtower of the east, and the beacon of light.” Twilight looked up at the walls, her neck craning backwards. Small birds flittered from the towers, darting from nests along the battlements. “What is this place…?” she breathed, unable to look away. “A watchtower used to keep an eye on Draxonis millennia ago,” Celestia replied, watching Twilight’s every move. “Are there rooms inside?” Swift interjected, her and her team already loaded up with their supplies. “Yes, I will show you where we shall be sleeping.” Celestia walked quickly along the stone walkway, heading toward the open gate. Twilight, Swift and the guards followed behind in formation, a fact Twilight found quite odd. It wasn’t as if anypony was around... “Who built this, Princess?” Twilight asked. “An empire that existed long ago. They were mighty and they were proud, and they built many fortresses like this one to watch over their dominion.” “It’s incredible…” Twilight trailed off, looking around at the epic structure that said more than what she possibly could. “It’s pretty much impossible breach too…” Swift said, sounding just as awed as Twilight felt. “Huh?” Swift pointed to a series of metal spikes stuck into the walls. Twilight had thought they were flag poles, but the guard explained that they were shield conduits, the kind that created a barrier like Shining Armour’s over Canterlot. “The wall and the cliff keeps them funnelled into the space where the shield covers. Of course, you have to be able to fly, so that severely limits the amount of potential intruders anyway.” Celestia was silent throughout the entire exchange, stepping into the courtyard beyond the gate. The court between the wall and castle reached around in a semi-circle to each side of the cliff face. A raised dais lay shattered in the middle, pieces of dull metal scattered around it, ripped into twisted shards. Twilight stepped down and was met with a dull ringing sound. She had walked onto massive fragments of plate metal, the dulled surfaces looking vaguely golden, tarnished like a copper coin. She looked back at the gate frame and then back down at the door-shaped pieces of metal, covered in warps and scorch marks. She gulped. “What happened to the kingdom, Princess?” Celestia turned to face Twilight, her eyes unseeing. “They grew too powerful, Twilight. They overestimated their own power, and it corrupted them.” “I have never seen any place like this,” Swift said. “It’s… ancient.” “It truly is,” Celestia said. “But it will still provide adequate shelter. If you will follow me, please.” Twilight and the guards followed Celestia as she crossed the courtyard and into the castle. Twilight felt like she was straining her neck, looking all around her with her mouth hanging open. The stone was covered in spiderweb-thin cracks that crawled up the walls and along the roof, cracking glass and splintering tiles. With the way the walls curved and the roof was arched in the middle, it made the entire building felt too small and too big at the same time. Twilight shivered. The entire place was humming with magic left dormant for millennia. Even the floors felt layered in a series of ancient enchantments that Twilight didn’t understand. Celestia, however, led them without pause or deliberation, her hooves echoing loudly in the room of stone despite the carpet of dust. They traversed the empty corridors and sweeping staircases in silence. Twilight noticed that the entire building was devoid of furniture, the walls completely bare. There were no pictures or rugs, nor tables or chairs. It was a skeleton, the bare remains of what Twilight could only guess had once been a thriving castle. After a period of time that Twilight couldn’t measure, Celestia came to a stop in the middle of a narrow hallway. Doors without handles of any kind lined the walls on both sides, covered in decoration of silver and gold baby vines. Celestia’s horn glowed briefly, and one of the flat panels slid backwards without a sound. She stepped forward into the room, and Twilight followed. The space was completely empty, a fireplace that curved into the wall like a mouth the only feature of note. The cold stone’s only decoration was the carpet of dust that layered the floor, sucked in from the open window that led out to a balcony. “We can sleep in these rooms tonight,” Celestia said at last. Swift nodded and set about directing the guards to investigate the other rooms with Celestia’s help. Soon they had set up camp in a few of the rooms, and dinner consisting of dandelion soup was prepared. The food filled the rooms with its warm and spicy scent, setting Twilight’s mouth watering. The unicorn found herself wandering up and down the hallway, trying to open the doors with her magic. She could feel the energy covering the doors, and, at first, it scared her. It was old, so impossibly old, rippling with power despite the thousands of years between its casting and the current day. All for a simple door enchantment, Twilight thought. While they had refused to open at first, after some gentle prodding, Twilight found the spot to undo them. Her horn flashed for a second as she found the correct wrinkle in the magic, and it filled her with the same power she used with the Elements of Harmony. But as quickly as the feeling came, it vanished, leaving her confused and standing in front of an open doorway. The room was empty. After she returned to her and Celestia’s room, she watched the Princess approach Swift. The guard was watching the sky, her face darkened by a small frown. “Captain,” Celestia said, “I must go over to the other side of the canyon to lower the sun. I shall return momentarily.” The guard’s head snapped up, and she saluted before replying. “Why, Your Majesty? Why not do it here?” Celestia smiled patiently. “Because the magics of this place are interfering with my own. I won’t be far.” “I’ll come with you, Princess.” “That will not be necessary.” Swift shook her head sharply. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, I can’t let you go too far without a guard.” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “I really appreciate your concern, but I feel that it is misplaced. I am just across the other side of the cliff. I shall not be far, and your presence is not necessary.” “Your Majesty—” Celestia shook her head. “I do not wish to discuss the matter any further, thank you, Swift. I shall return soon.” Swift opened her mouth, but the Princess had already stepped outside. She opened her wings, took off, and disappeared into the early evening like a ghost. Swift watched her go, the tendons in her neck straining. Twilight tried to shrink away from the frustration radiating from the captain. “Is everything okay?” she asked in a very small voice. “She just leaves!” Swift snapped. “I swore an oath to her the day after I got my cutie mark, and she ignores it like it’s nothing more than empty words. Do you know what that oath was?” “I... No?” “It was an oath to protect her with my life, to guard her at all times, to be watching out for anything that could harm her, and yet, she won’t let me do that! What good am I, then? Am I really just a glorified chariot driver? Is that what I am?” Twilight flinched away, unable to hold Swift’s iron vice of a stare. “I’m sure that’s not how she sees it...” “But do you know what’s more, Twilight? Even when she stays I cannot protect her. I cannot protect a living goddess. How could I? She has more power than the entire guard put together. That is where my duty lies!” Swift was breathing heavily, her eyes burning with muted fury. Twilight looked around, completely unsure what to say. “Yet, how can I? How...” The captain suddenly looked up, her eyes pleading with Twilight to understand. Finding nothing, she hung her head, exhaling. “I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle. I forget myself.” “I—I am sure she appreciates everything you do,” Twilight said, her voice shaking, knowing just how empty her words sounded. “It’s the thought that counts...” Swift said bitterly. The guard turned and walked toward the door. “Please... forget I spoke at all. It is not my place... Forgive me.” With that, she turned and left the room. Twilight stood still in the middle of the room, completely dumbstruck. Where did that come from...? Twilight watched the moon rise, staring at the pale shadows it painted along the ground. The world was ethereal at night, a ghost realm filled with dark crevices, highlighted by silver light. She didn’t even notice the Princess coming up to stand behind her until she spoke. “Twilight, how are you?” Twilight opened her mouth, but closed it again, frowning. “Is everything alright?” Storms are coming… “Yes, Princess, everything is fine. Just a little awed by it all, I guess.” The Princess nodded sagely. “I completely understand. It’s all rather impressive, isn’t it?” “I’ll say… What about the dragon capital, Dragoliath? Can I expect something similar there?” The Princess smiled. “Just wait till you see the sunlight strike the mountain’s peak, the way it makes the rock look like its on fire. Now that is a sight worth seeing, Twilight.” Twilight nodded, smiling in return. “I can’t wait.” They were both quiet for a moment, just staring out onto the moonlit plains. Twilight could feel the Princess peering down at her from the corner of her eyes. “There is something else, isn’t there, Twilight?” Twilight sighed, finally moving around to face the Princess properly. Except, when Twilight did, she could barely hold her gaze. “It’s just… all of this talk. About the changing weather and storms and something in the east…” “Ah.” Celestia watched her closely, her expression far too guarded; there was no warmth in her eyes. “I mean, I know there is nothing to be afraid of,” Twilight added quickly. “But still…” “No, I completely understand.” “You do?” “Of course. After all, it must be very unsettling.” Twilight looked away, frowning. “Well…” “But please, do not worry. All of this talk, all of this worry, none of it is of our concern. It doesn’t change what we are here for in the slightest. Besides, there are always rumours in this part of the world. There is always something bearing down, just waiting to change everything.” Twilight held the Princess’ gaze, searching for something—anything—that would make the twisting knot in her stomach go away. “I know.” Something shifted in the Princess’ expression. A curtain was brushed aside, and all of a sudden, Twilight could see something that looked terribly close to… desperation in her eyes. “Trust me, Twilight. Please trust me.” Twilight felt the world drop away from beneath her hooves. “No, I do! I do trust you! I—” “Thank you, Twilight. That means a lot to me,” the Princess said. “Please believe me when I say there is nothing to be afraid of.” “I…” What could she say to that? And pressing the issue further just seemed… defiant. “Of course, Princess,” Twilight said at last. “I really do trust you, and I understand. Just a dignitary's trip, after all?” Celestia leaned down, nuzzling her tenderly like she used to do when Twilight was a foal. Twilight sighed and melted into the embrace, leaning into the Princess’ warmth. “Everything will be alright, Twilight,” Celestia whispered. “I promise.”