//------------------------------//
// Sphinxie 
// Story: Hope Lives again 
// by Velvet-Fresh 
//------------------------------//


 Manehattan Equss County, Manehattan Museum of History 2,017 



Applebloom being cuddled and nuzzled. Feeling awkward she cough abit "Umm, miss.. ah think you mistook me for someone else?" tapping the mummy's arm. 
"Shadia? " the woman looked at her. "You look just like her and the amulet responded to you."
"Sorry, mah name's not Shadia. It's Applebloom." she squirms, but Somnambula lets her go.
"Ah, many apologies child. You just look like my princess.." she looked down sighing "Ah! Again apologies. My name is Somnambula" she smiles "You have awaken me, for that you have my gratitude." 
"Shucks, just spur of the moment. Thanks for saving me. Oh here, this is yours." she hold the amulet out. But Somnambula shook her head "Keep it, you may not be Shadia. But you have her spirit, not just looks."

Before Applebloom insists, the door slam open, as AK yearling stepped in "What's going on in here?! Are you alr-" with quick reflex she moved back, with a click unhoslter her pistol aiming it at Somnambula who had suddenly appear few feet away from her, her sword aimed at yearling's neck. 
"Wait, Wait! Ms Yearling! She's saved me. Somnambula, she's our tour guide! She's not with these guys."
Yearling glared firmly. "How are you alive? But thank you for keeping the student safe." moving away from the sword slowly as she hostler her gun. 
With a flick the sword turned into an shining orb as it poof away, making Yearling and Bloom gawked. Bloom only eyeroll "Of course, magic." noticing Yearling's questioning glance. "Canterlot High has an interesting year." she simply explained with a shrug and sheepish smile.
Shaking her head, she went to secure the other thugs, she move to kick away the rifle away from the downed one near the broken display cases. Pulling out a rope before she drags him towards his other companion so she can tie them both up. Applebloom looks up to Somnambula "So, my sis will flip when i tell you about this. So what kind of magic did you use to make that cool sword and armor appear?" 

A mature sounding voice answered from beside her "That's my doing little princess" it answered with abit of a purr, making the young teen jumped and looked over. On one of the display cases sat a red furred cat with wings at the size of a young lion cub. Said feline was busy preening her red ish wings. The cat ruffled her wings before looking over. "Greetings, I'm the Sphinx" she introduced herself, she wore a golden headdress and a golden earring.
"Don't scare the child Sphinxie" Somnambula, the Sphinx or Sphinxie glared at her.
"Stop calling me that!" she partly hissed. "So what now mistress, lil one? how long have we been asleep exactly?"
"Umm.." Applebloom thinks.
Yearling answered for them as she tighten the knot of the rope. "It's been about 2,000 years. And you're not in Cairo anymore." going over to them. "I'm AK Yearling. An Archeologist, I am the one who found your tomb weeks ago." she introduced herself. "Applebloom was it? Go back to your friends, they'll be worried. And don't tell everyone about her, the less people know the better. I'll help you two in anyway i can."
Nodding. "Ok, thanks ms Yearling. And um.. mah sister's friends are big fan of yours."
Chuckling "Figured. Now scram." watching her exit. "Lady Somnambula, follow me. The young girl will be safe with the other group. "Don't worry, but you must have questions. I'll answer them to my best abilities." she told the mummified woman. Both unaware that they are really alone.

Meanwhile Applebloom, sighs in relief once she see crowds of people. She hurried over to the great war exhibit to see if her friends are still there. And of course she saw Scootaloo admiring a mannequin replica of General Firefly, complete with her trademark googles and clutched in its hands is a model of a mosin nagant sniper rifle. "Scootaloo! Have you seen Sweetie Belle?"
"Oh hey Applebloom! Yeah she's with the others, looking at the caveman exhibits. How boring right? You alright?" she looked her over.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But you won't believe what i gone through." noticing Scootaloo gawking above her head. "What?"
"Big.. kitty.." causing bloom to widen her eyes as her passenger glared.
"Excuse you young lady, But I'm more that just a kitty." the Sphinx scoffed at the perch of Bloom's head. Causing Bloom to gawk and grab ahold of her, making her yowl at surprise, her mouth muffled as she looked around to see if anyone noticed. 
"Shh.. don't talk too loudly! A talking winged cat will raise alot of questions." Scootaloo raised an eyebrow at that.
"Spike's a talking dog." she told her, causing AB to deadpan.
"Touche" she eased up and holds Sphinx in a way to hide her wings "But keep a low profile, and why are you following me?"
"You may not be Shadia, but you have her soul. I can feel it, Mistress CAN Feel it. it's our job to protect you now, you awaken us from our slumber. So get use to us. Somnambula will be there for you now. "
"My life's never going to be normal isn't it?" she sighs.
"When is it ever? Since Sunset came to our lives." Scootaloo points out.
"Again, touche." she deadpans. "Fine, just keep quiet and stay out of sight, pretty sure they don't allow animals here." making the feline scoffed 
"As you wish young mistress." she glow and turn into energy that seeps into the amulet that Applebloom had hidden in her blouse. 
"Well.. that happen. let's go Scootaloo." She sighs and head for the others.
"Magic?" 
Nodding "Eeyup."
"Huh. Neat."

in AK Yearling's  office, her hat and cloak gone. The older woman sat down, her greying monochrome hair resembling a certain teenagers as she wore a light green blouse and black jeans. Taking off her glasses as she open her drawer to take out a notepad and pen. Somnambula look at the pen with curiosity. "Ok, you ask me a question and i asked you one after i answer. That's good?" she nods "Alright, what do you want to know first?"
Somnambula looks around the room as she sat in the office, she looks at her determined with hope gleaming in her eyes. "Where does Applebloom live?"