Sunny followed the two while they carried Moon through dirty, uneven corridors dug into what could be best described as mud. Had the iron fencing and supports not been present, then the unicorn was sure that everything would have already collapsed at this point. The darkness would be periodically broken by the oil lamps hanging from the wooden support beams, but they gave off an acrid stench that burned away the nose hairs of the pony. He couldn't help but levitate a handkerchief to his face while he traveled through it. The two escorts saw him and laughed heartily.
"You'll get used to it soon enough," the minotaur explained with a deep and grumbling voice. "Of course, the smell is strongest in these tiny tunnels. In the main sections of our little home, the fumes dissipate fairly quickly."
"Most of us tend to stay away from the tunnels, because of it," the bird added. After several minutes of walking, the group finally reached the exit. "And here we are, my smelly abode," she said.
Sunny was stunned. There was a massive hole dug underneath the land. Shabby wooden cabins hung onto the dirt walls for dear life, held up by planks of wood beneath them. There were a plethora of blocky 'digouts' in the area, making everything look like a group of steps angled in bizarre manners or big enough for a dragon to use. Large lamps dangled from the ceiling, illuminating the 'city' while glowing, green fungi provided light to areas blocked off by the wooden buildings on the ground. The city smelled damp and rotten, like it had been resting within a bog and was just now uncovered. Sunny saw multiple shabby, crooked metal pipes rising high and vanishing into the ceiling. These constructs had been made with several different types of metal and were bolted together, but that didn't stop them from deforming from the heat and letting smoke seep through.
The unicorn looked to the two with a marveled gleam in his eyes. "Is this an underground city?" Sunny asked.
The bird slow-blinked at him. "Yes, of course it is!" She knelt down and hugged him close to her, smothering him with her feathers. "It's a magnificent little place where all of us workers go to live after a hard day's work." She looked at him with a smile, then Sunny was slapped on the back of his head by the minotaur. "No, it's not a city, you idiot!" The bird stood up, shaking her head. "It's a hideout where all us unwanted go."
"Well, it's one'a them," the minotaur interjected.
"Bla bla bla," the bird mocked. She flinched when Moon coughed, spitting out a black substance. "Hmmm." She and the minotaur leaned over. "Looks like her body is removing the poison remnants."
"You said she was treated?" the minotaur asked.
"Yes. By the thestrals," Sunny explained. "They fed her a bunch of food meant to flush out the poison."
He was met with annoyed grunts by the bull. "Of course they did. Those idiots only know how to sing, dance, and feast." He readjusted the alicorn again. "If her vitality wasn't so tremendously impressive, she would have already died."
The unicorn rubbed the back of his head. "So, where are we going in this...hideout?" Sunny asked.
"Gonna go to my little home-sweet-home," the bird said.
The group went down the large 'steps', dodging many piles of refuse around. Sunny expected some of the griffins here to approach them for something, but the moment they saw the bird, they fled into the boxes, cans, and other piles of junk littering the streets of this poorly illuminated area. Most of the people here were shabby looking, with a lot of them wearing dregs to cover up feather loss due to malnutrition, a lack of sunlight, or some other cause. They looked at the unicorn with a stern eye but still waved the bird as she passed.
They arrived at the steps of a run-down shack. Climbing up three steps stressed Sunny as it seemed that each creaked louder than the last, like they were about to snap at any moment and break his leg. The interior was dark and dusty, but even in this, the unicorn could see that there was only a single table in the middle of the room. Three closed doors on the three other walls were kept shut. Moon was dropped softly on the table by the minotaur, then he dropped down, cross-legged, just as the bird did. Said bird leaned forward and tapped the empty space in front of the table all without breaking eye contact with Sunny. He obliged.
"S-so, what are your names?" the pony asked.
"First things first, tiny. What are you two doing here?" the minotaur asked. "There's no reason for ponies to hang around here." He looked at Nightmare Moon, and his scowl deepened. "And what is this thing? It is neither a unicorn nor a pegasi, but it has the traits of both of them."
Sunny cleared his throat. He wanted to tell them, but he wasn't sure what would be the best way to come about it. He didn't know these creatures, and for all he was aware of, they were going to try and kill both him and Moon, something the bird noticed right away.
Said avian leaned forward on the table with her arms crossed. "We brought you down here because you might be of some value to me." She pointed a finger towards Moon. "The magic power she displayed was unexpected. I have no idea what you two are or what you're doing here, but--"
"I just asked them that," the minotaur sighed.
"But, I'm sure we might be able to come to a compromise." Her smile darkened. "Or else."
The pony gulped. "She's an alicorn," he said with a trembling voice. The two stared. "She's a pony goddess? She's part of our legends. Popped up out of nowhere one day and took over my home. She even has her own castle now."
The two were skeptic.
"Are you sure she's a goddess? That sounds absurd," the bird laughed. "Feels like--"
"Feels like somepony has been sharing too much." An angry and tired voice growled.
Moon struggled to sit upright and held a deep frown.
"You're awake," the bird noted.
"I'll be right back," the minotaur said. He stood and walked through one of the doors, shutting it quietly behind him.
"So, Miss Goddess, what should I do with you?" the bird asked with a grin.
The alicorn looked to the bird with eyes half-open and pale face. "Leave me be or die gruesomly?" she suggested.
The bird slammed her palm against the table several times. "Very hilarious, but in your condition, you have no leverage here." Her demeanor turned somber. She grabbed Moon's horn and twisted her head to face her own. "Who are you? I want to know, and I want to know what you want."
"We're looking for Canterlot!" Sunny yelled.
"Sunny..." Moon grunted.
"I'm sorry, but they need to know. We came here to look for help, didn't we?" Nightmare Moon grunted in annoyance and gestured to continue. "We are looking for an old pony city called Canterlot. She thinks it's further south."
The bird rubbed her chin. "And you came here looking for clues because we're on former pony territory." She nodded to herself. "Makes sense. Why do you want to know?"
"Looking for information...about the past...and why all of this is as it is...Sister became Sun Tyrant...Makes no sense," Moon groaned.
A handful of a blue sludge was suddenly jammed into her mouth and shoved down her throat by the minotaur who had somehow came upon everyone unseen. The alicorn coughed and shivered from the horrid flavor coating her mouth.
"That will absorb the toxins in your body. You will poop funny for a few days but that will pass. Best I can do on hand without knowing the poison."
The bird leaned forward. "Considering your behavior, I believe we might be able to help each other, but first, introductions. I am Calostell, and I control most of the unsavory business in the downunder down here under up there." She hopped over the table and hugged the minotaur's arm while fluttering her eyeslashes at him. "And this is my boyfriend, Bombastic." She started speaking dramatically. "We've known each other since childh--"
The minotaur grabbed Calostell by the face and slammed her head multiple times against the table until she stopped moving. "Sh'ain't muh date. Hired me years ago after she lost her place'n got sent'n here. Been actin' cookey ever since 'er eyes got'n lik dat," he said whilst tapping his right eye with a finger.
Moon raised the stunned bird up with her magic and observed her eye. "Have you been visited by any strange magics?" she asked.
"Weird thing told me my line was it, then it zapped my eye and this happened," Calostell explained with a slur.
Moon let go of the bird, causing her face to slam into the table again. "You've been touched by chaos." Moon felt herself recovering somewhat. At least she could speak mostly clearly. "Chaos magic flows through you."
"Chaos magic?!" Bombastic gasped. "It would explain a lot...Is there a cure?"
"It's magic. She needs to adapt to it."
Calostell held her forehead and cast the minotaur a glare. "Didn't have to be so rough. Ouch..." she took in a pained breath. "So, who are you? We presented ourselves. Your turn."
"I-I'm Sunny Dimples," the unicorn explained. "I'm the aid of her highness."
"Nightmare Moon. I was once the ruler of Equestria and will be so once again, but its in a fractured state." She clicked her tongue. "It disgusts me. Equestria is pony territory, and it will be once again."
"Well then, your highness, you'll need someone to govern the griffins while you're off conquering."
Moon raised a brow. "And you are the one to do it? Why should I entrust this territory to some random criminal over simply vassalizing the current ruler? Or, why not simply slaughter all of the griffins until they submit through fear?"
The bird chuckled. "Because we both know that rule through fear never lasts unless there are benefits." She rubbed her talons together. "And losing so much griffinpower would be costly and lose you a lot of productivity, not to mention instill an intense amount of hatred towards you which can lead to constant rebellions, or worse." Calostell's expression darkened. "Because I was meant to ascend the throne. Me! Not him! He took my place and tried to murder me!" She started cackling. "But I made it, and I'm here, still."
"Another on a quest for vengeance, then?" Moon shook her head. "And you know about Canterlot?"
The bird shrugged. "I know it's a pony city of myth. Some of them come by our lands in search of it or information on it. After all, you have to comb every bit of Equestria to find legends of the past." Moon smirked at her remark. "Firstly, when you start conquering, I want you to come to us first. Aid us in retaking my home, and I will look all the better for it. A duel will be needed."
"Because griffins value strength, I know. Continue."
Calostell clenched her fists. "That idiot thought he was so powerful after stealing the throne, then he lost us our homelands." She glared at the alicorn then pointed at her. "Lands that your kind now inhabit and own."
"I suppose, then, that you'll be wanting those lands back."
The bird raised her hands. "Oh no. We'll be staying here. It will be a lesson for the griffins to not praise someone for winning a battle instead of the war." She cast a glance towards the pony. "What say you, pony?"
"Deliver the information you have. If I found Canterlot, then you will know, and I will uphold my end of this bargain." The room darkened, and Moon's eyes started glowing a blinding white. "But if you betray me at any point, you will know what an alicorn can do, now tell me what you know."
"Is it a very tall building?" the minotaur asked first.
"Yes."
"Is it made of white stone?"
"To my best recollection, yes. That is what it was to be made out of."
Bombastic pointed downwards. "Then we probably found it a few years ago while digging for additionnal space."
Digging? WHAT? Whole mountain under dirt? What happened in your vision of this universe?!
11059954
Things.
Magical, happy things.
11059954
Celestia turned Canterlot mountain into a volcano remember. The whole city is probably buried under volcanic rock like Pompeii.
so what you are saying is that canterlot, a mountain city, was buried?? ok, either the whole of equestria was elevated 2000 meters, or the place finally landslided
Ah so when celestia went bonkers the magic holding up canterlot dissipated and it went kablooey
Why do I torture myself reading m fics t and e fics are so much better..
I thought that in the realities of this world, Canterlot would rather fall from a mountain due to a broken foundation than go underground.
11060185
I only write T and E fics.
Wall of text ahead, sorry.
Beware the possible spoilers!
Just some thoughts I have of the state of this world.
First of all, the conservation of technological level. I agree with Nightmare Moon. It's IMPOSSIBLE. Even in the Middle Ages development of primitive science continued steadily. To almost nothing to change after ten thousand years? Only way this to happen is several cataclysms to occur forcing survivors to start a new with crumbs of knowledge.
From this, let's move on situation with Immortals. In one form or another all Immortals connected to aspects of nature or magic. All alicorns after royal sisters that have been mentioned were connected to nature forces. What if they appear to cure the tormented lands after Hunt for Immortals? If I'm not mistaken there was mention of alicorn of knowledge. It's quite possible that they appeared when preservation of knowledge was top priority but were terminated before they could nudge others to continue progress.
Moving to the hunter for Immortals. For simplicity I would call them Envious. After their first confrontation with Nightmare Moon we can with a high degree of probability say that they immortal too. I think they appear after maybe a third of an initial term of Nightmare's banishment (they were surprised that there was alicorn on the moon, they called her Luna only after peeping into her dream and they don't know that Celestia have been called Majesty in ancient times). It also may explain changes in Celestia. She couldn't help but notice that something begin to hunt for Immortals. And there's first twist - Celestia changed term of Nightmare's banishment to protect her sister from Envious. If you remember, Sunny Dimples is spitting image of Celestia and have alicorn blood in his veins. I think this is the reason of Celestia's transformation into Daybreaker - the Envious kidnapped her child to provoke her and deal with her too emotional to think rationally.
Why I called them the Envious? I'm doubt that they the true Immortal connected to some aspect of magic. More likely they at some point meet or know prealicornification young Immortal and were consumed by greed of their powers. The Envious found some way to steal the power of Immortal and terminated them. But this would not be enough for them. They began hunting for more Immortals, hypocritically manipulating of ordinary people to infuse in them distrust to Immortals.
And now about strange power boost of Nightmare Moon. Actions of the Envious constantly lead to more and more destabilization of magic currents of Equestria. The Envious make themselves ultimate hunter for Immortals. And then come the moment than Equestria make some sort of immune response and transformed Nightmare Moon, the Last Immortal, Fallen Princess of Equestria, Warrior of Old, Alicorn of the Night and self-made Alicorn of Hate into perfect weapon against the Envious.
But hey! It's just a theory. A fan theory!
Thanks for the listening.
11060576
Oooo. I like this one a lot. A lot of interesting thoughts, but which ones are true and which ones aren't? :>
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I know but I keep nature on just to be a masochist
Oh? So instead of being on the surface, it's buried? That is a lot of geological process to bury a mountain... or a lot of magic. No wonder none of the maps made sense. Was this thousands of years past, or millions?
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About ten thousand years passed.
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Far too little time to bury something the size of Canterhorn mountain naturally... not to mention the rest of the altered geography. So something is going to a LOT of effort to bury the past intentionally.
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Maybe it's your profile picture doing that.
11063070
Ḯ̴̫̩̟̍̈̀̈͐ ̶͙̬̈́̐̈́ͅḧ̸̤̩̠̝̣̩́̾a̷̫̜̦͆̽͐͊̄ͅv̸̹̼̹͖̪͂͂̎͝e̵̘̳͖͛͘͝ ̸̨̗̫́͛̍̅n̵̢̖͙̤̪͂̀o̴̧̰͎̔͗́ ̶̝̌͋͒̍̚į̷̟͇͍͊͋̂̑d̷̞́̓͌̃̒e̶̥͗̽ä̷̠̼̺͚̝̤̥ ̴̡͉̗̳͒̐w̷͍͈̯̼̬̙͎͆̎̎̚h̵͚̰̓ͅa̶̗̹̖̓̀̈͆͆͜͝ͅt̸͕̘̯̏͂̈́̌͋͠ ̷̖̟̻̮̻͗͆́̍y̵̻̹͙̎o̵̲̠͔̱̯̥̔͆̏̑̕͝u̵̻͐͆͂͂͗̏͝'̷̯̹̩̠̰͖̬̀̈ṙ̵̡̛̬̝̺̫̓́̊̕̚ẽ̷̥̭͝ ̴̝͕̝̈́̌̀͗̒t̸̯̲͌͊̀̿͝a̶̫͖̩͔̋l̵̮̣͇̓̇̒̌̾̽͜͜ḱ̵͖͙͕͈̙͈̕i̸͈̱̩̯̰͝n̵̹̹̹̞͕͔̿́̐̂͑̍̆g̸̫̱͈̔͜ ̶̠̦̗͒͋͜͝á̷̛̛̭̟͕̥̇̓͑͝b̷͈̰͙͉͍͓͋̈́͒̊̕̚ö̸͙̰͉͓̖͛͊͑̚ṵ̸̠͕͌̾́͆̾͌̿t̸̢̩͚̗̪̺̞͌̊͒̎̈̎.̸̨̲͓̜͉̇͗͜
Wait what? An entire mound is now under ground. That’s cosmic levels of power right there
Oh boy this is intense.
11059954
Remember in that thestrals story celestial basically opened a volcano on canterlot so I guess it got buried in the lave after it cooled
Something I've been thinking on for the past few chapters.
Maybe I'm way off the mark. At first I was thinking that Celestia had given over to her anguish and depression, going full Daybreaker. But then I asked myself: If she went full Daybreaker, why wouldn't she just incinerate the ponies.
Then I thought on it some more. Either she was replaced by a changeling, under the influence of changeling mind control, or she was hunting changelings. I'm thinking it's the first, the sun would only lash out in anger and wrath at someone it didn't know who was trying to control it. Then there was the attack on Nightmare Moon's dreamscape, the attacker seemed to know just enough about her to mess with her, but not enough to know any real specifics. Then there was the thestral that Nightmare Moon could sense was under some sort of mental control. Maybe it was Queen Chrysalis who the ponies rebelled against, and now she's in hiding, awaiting for the time to strike again, but now it's more difficult as Equestria isn't a unified country and the city-states are all suspicious of each other. Or maybe the changelings aren't a single unified hive and are more a collection of individual hives, each with their own goals and queen.
11265757
I'm reminded of Sainsaar's Changelings.
Someone sink Canterlot Mounten?...
That a very effective way to hide it...
Harmony smiles upon us this day!