//------------------------------// // Prologue: Discovery // Story: The Frozen Souls // by lightningeyes //------------------------------// Derpy Doo, a grey pegasus mare with strange golden eyes, casually walked out of the post office. Her saddlebags were filled with forms, quills, ink jars, bits and a reservation ticket for a dinner appointment. It was two years after Twilight's coronation, during which Derpy was promoted to administrative mailmare. Derpy knew her life was changing, she travelled more often and signed important forms, which she delivered regularly. She was returning from her latest delivery to the mail centre in the Crystal Empire and she was ready for dinner after a dull day at work. At arriving at her destination Derpy saw her companion seated inside, looking through her menu. Derpy sat at the restaurant table with her best friend, Carrot Top. She was a female golden yellow earth pony with an orange mane and three carrots on her flank. The crystalline table they sat at matched the color of the building it was located in, glistening sapphire blue. The chairs for the table were a ruby red and the entire scene was shining beautifully. However, beauty is often the norm in the Crystal Empire and Carrot and Derpy were only here for dinner after a long day. Carrot Top was casually reading when Derpy looked up and cheerfully asked a question Carrot was expecting. “So how did the interview go?” Derpy asked with her bright toothy grin. “It went great, Mrs. Cryst agreed to buy my carrots in bulk on a monthly basis. I can finally use that plow in my shed”. “That’s great news, I’m so glad your farm is expanding,“ Derpy stated with her lightheartedly. “What about you, Derpy? Anything important in your files?” Carrot asked her mailmare friend. Derpy groaned before answering. “Nope, same as always, grab files, read files, sign files and repeat.” The pegasus sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, I'm glad I'm getting paid a higher wage, but I didn’t know this promotion would send me across Equestria only to deliver signed paper”. Eager to change the subject Derpy grew cheerful again with an eager glint of curiosity in her eye. “I’m finished with my work and I know you are too Carrot, so lets go sightseeing” “I was hoping to catch an early train back to Ponyville.” Carrot looked up over her menu and saw Derpy expressing an upset look. “Carrot you can’t leave, we've been here on business for three days, we need to go on a sightseeing tour at least once,” Derpy complained. “You’re right Derpy, but I need to start working on my fields, otherwise I can’t get the first batch ready on schedule”. Derpy took to the air in excitement, an idea had pieced itself together within her mind. “You don’t have to, if you stay with me and we go sightseeing, I can help you on the farm afterwards”. Carrot Top couldn't help smile at the offer, Derpy was giving her an opportunity to relax and spend time in the Crystal Empire, at the cost of her own effort and time. “Okay, then we better order dinner and sleep early, tomorrow’s going to be an exciting day.” Carrot resumed looking at the menu, “I’m thinking of picking the crystal berry pudding”. ******************************************************************* A grey pegasus mare with gold misaligned eyes and a group of bubbles for her cutie mark stood next to a pair of saddlebags. Derpy woke from her sleep an hour ago and decided to pack the saddlebags that she and Carrot agreed they would use the night before. Derpy filled the bags with an assortment of snacks, drinks, blankets and a pair of scarfs. Looking around Derpy knew she forgot something and after 15 minutes of clumsily searching for her prize she found it. The mare moved to a closet in her bedroom, there she found a brown, highly detailed map. Derpy absent mindedly pulled her map and exited the bedroom, leaving a corner of torn paper under a suitcase. As Derpy entered the lounge room, she saw Carrot Top standing in the center of the room with a casual smile.”Good morning Mrs. Sleepy Top, did you sleep like baby or a log last night,” Derpy joked as she casually trotted past Carrot Top. “I slept well enough, but you didn’t pack only muffins like last time did you?” Carrot asked, remembering their last tour in Canterlot, 3 months ago, which ended with a soaked muffin lunch. “Don’t worry, I packed only three muffins this time, all of them wrapped in wax paper. Also I packed some chocolate bars, carrots, apples and sandwiches, also wrapped and waterproof”. Derpy stated proudly as she rolled up her map and placed it into the saddlebags side pocket for easy reach. “Then we better start breakfast, how about my poached egg surprise,” Carrot offered, she then smiled as Derpy nodded up and down furiously, eager for her well earned breakfast. ******************************************************************** Derpy flew above Carrot as they traveled to their destination, it was 3 hours since breakfast and the weather was starting to warm into its peak temperature for the day. Derpy looked around and knew they were on the outskirts of the main city, trees with crystalline trunks and dark green leaves occupied the road side. Carrot saw various homes, abandoned and overgrown with weeds and trees, everypony knew the dark ages this Empire suffered in its past. Carrot couldn't help but feel nervous, this overgrown neighborhood reminded her of the Everfree forest near Ponyville. Derpy lowered herself next to Carrot, but remained gliding in the air, “I saw the river, it’s not far ahead”. The pegasus folded her wings and started trotting next to Carrot before challenging the farm mare, “I’m sure I’ll get there first”. Carrot smirked at the mare, all previous worry gone as she accepted the challenge. “You ready to eat my dust?” Carrot didn’t wait for an answer, she put on a sudden burst of speed and sped past the pegasus, kicking up a small cloud of dirt and dust. The cloud of dust kicked up by Carrot immediately disintegrated as Derpy flapped her wings quickly, getting a burst of speed. Folding her wings she raised her speed further and galloped down the pathway. After a few minutes of hard running Derpy saw an orange tail a foot away from her. Derpy knew she might not win, but she didn’t mind, she was just glad they were having fun. Carrot Top dug her hooves into the soil under her and halted to an immediate stop, only to have Derpy collide with her backside. Carrot stared ahead at the sight before her, Derpy also saw the view and beamed. The two friends stopped running on a hill top, the trees parted and revealed a ruined yet amazing discovery. A few meters ahead of the pair the hill declined until it became a shore, the river itself was small and clean, with a quaint bridge going over the body of water. The pathway on the other side entered a small city, from their distant view Derpy could see damaged bone white buildings and large overgrown plant life. Derpy beamed as her excitement grew, she now had a chance for discovery and wonder. Carrot didn’t have the same opinion as Derpy, she felt no sense of excitement, but she did feel a sense of awe. Who built this city, what happened to them and just how old is this place.