//------------------------------//
// 18: 20 thousand years later. (Intermission) 
// Story: A New Equestria book the second 
// by ZeirMakavar 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 18:
Intermission: 20,000 years later.


The Archon sighed as she slowly walked down into the depths of the Forbidden City. She was there for a simple reason, she needed to know. The previous Archon had told her what resided there, and she not only refused to admit that such a thing could exist. Or that such a thing could do what her predecessor said they could. "Do keep in mind Star, this... being's existence must be a secret. No pony should know it is still alive." She was told, upon taking her position.
She looked around the old abandoned city, wondering what technologies the ancient kingdoms could have that left their buildings in perfect condition, thousands of years after their demise, where they had to repair almost everything at a constant interval. "Is this it?" She mumbled to herself, coming upon a large castle, that seemed to be protected by some sort of force field. "It has to be..." She nodded, putting a hoof on the field, which caused her whole body to shiver from the touch. "Such... powerful magic..."
Star gulped, nodding as she pushed her hoof into the field, as easily as if it was made of thin air. "What?" She blinked, walking into the threshold. "Could it be that... this magic was made to keep what ever is here, inside?" She smiled, looking back, hoping she would be able to leave. "Okay... the deepest dungeon, right?" She said smiling nervously to herself, fearing what she might find.

"I knew you'd be coming." A voice said, from deep inside the cell Star stood in front of. The only locked one. "You... mortals always come." The voice, which sounded like a mare. "Come to ask questions? Why I did it? I know what you want..."
"I... I don't think that you do."
"Oh? Is that so?" The mare said, a soft shape appearing from the shadows. "And what makes you say that Alicorn?"
"I don't think it's fair to call somepony by their race," Star said nodding to herself, as she lit her horn a bit to see better. "Even if you are an immortal Pegasus."
"So you can make out my basic shape huh?" The mare said, chuckling a bit as if it was a joke. "Well then tell me Alicorn, what is your name?" The mare asked, a soft smile being made out.
"Star..." Star said, nodding. "Heaven Star. I'm the new Archon."
"Heaven Star huh?" The mare said smiling. "You share the name of an old friend of mine... Though she wasn't an Alicorn."
"An old... How old are you?" Star asked, watching the mare in the cell.
"How old? I'm well over twenty thousand now." The mare said, nodding. "Thought the previous Archon would have told you that."
"No," Star said, shaking her head. "She only told me of your existence, and what you had done."
"And what did I do?"
"Betrayed your friends, and Kingdom." Star answered, nodding. "And killed the two leaders of your home. The Princesses Lunamaria and Celestia."
"I did not betray them."
"Come again?"
"I did not betray them." The mare repeated, stepping closer to the cell door. "My mind betrayed me."
"Wh-what?" Star said, blinking, as she backed up, shocked that half the mare looked more dragon then pony. "How... How could that be possible?"
"Very simple dear Alicorn." She chuckled, smiling. "Ask the one you call god. And tell him Rainbow Dash sent you."