//------------------------------// // Resurrection // Story: Alistair the Hierophant // by LoosePartyCannon //------------------------------// “Al… “Alistair!” Alistair awoke with a loud gasp of air, opening his eyes as a rush of adrenaline ran through him. As he blinked his eyes in the sudden light, Chrysalis, for a split second, noticed his eyes rapidly cycling through colours before settling on his usual two toned eyes. The cool water of the glowing pool washed over him, cleaning and purifying his wounds. Most of his body had dissolved into gaseous clouds and seamlessly melded with the spring water. “W-What? What happened?” Alistair asked as he got up, his torso hovering above the cloud of gas before resolidifying into his lost limbs. As he stood tall he began grudgingly donning his robes and armour. Although his movements were sluggish and delayed, they steadied out as the slight blue glow radiating off him began to subside, giving him a burst of power. “You reconnected with the Heart...I think it was mad at you...Are you alright, master?” Dawn asked as she came to his side, using her magic to fasten the straps of his metal chest plate, taking care not to tarnish the beautiful raven insignia. “I’ve had worse, thank you Dawn...Ah yes, I feel the energy flowing through me...Now we can really get to work…” He exclaimed as he breathed in and out several times, getting ready. When he was completely reformed, he removed his glove and gauntlet and stretched his fingers, watching the dim glow of raw magic flow through his veins. “Time for a warm up, hold onto something.” He warned as he rubbed his palms together and slammed them into the ground. The reaction was instant. The ground roared as stones were reshaped and repaired. Grass and vines retreated within the walls as slabs of wood and ancient rock stood upright once more with cryptic texts. Torches ignited with purple flames, a colossal, crystalline chandelier made of sunstones, moon gems and azure crystals burst to life, illuminating the grand chamber. Statues of long lost Hierophants, worn featureless by time, were molded into their original forms and the spring was white with light. “What?!” Chrysalis cried out as the floor beneath her gave way and replaced itself in a flash. She was surprised once more when the feeling of cold and aged vegetation was switched with an extensive and lovingly sewn carpet that spanned from the stairway to the spring and brushed the sides of the bookcases and pathways alongside it. She knew of Alistair’s abilities, she’d seen it used to both reshape and deconstruct, yet this display of power trumped anything she’d seen off the battlefield. He was unwavering as the old knowledge burst from him, the collective intellect of countless Hierophants and acolytes filling him with the might of a roaring, ethereal flame. Far above, sand turned to glass and ore turned to metal decor as the land bent to his will and the desert was shaped as he saw fit. Wild, dried plants turned to lush greenery as the ancient, ward-inscribed walls rose once more, giving the crystalline gardens shade from the freezing moon and scorching sun that will take its position. As the aura exuding from him faded and he returned to his natural glow, the once-more silent library was lit with a warm glow from the torches. “I might have botched some things here and there, but overall I think Archive looks a lot more complete than before. Pretty good, considering it was completely wiped off the map…What do you think Dawn?” He asked, rolling his shoulders and smiling with pride at the collective look of amazement. “It’s...It’s just like it used to be.” She remarked, running a hoof along the side of Hierophant Augur the Clairvoyant’s statue, stunned at the minor details he recreated: the thin rivets of metal and the barely noticeable sparkle of quartz mixed in. “Good, feared in my absence I may have forgotten something, would be a shame if I somehow screwed up.” He said as he checked every nook and cranny of the expansive room, looking for a single fault. “It’s grander than I could’ve ever imagined...The tales underplayed everything…” Scroll remarked with a hoof covering his grin, joy overwhelming him. He ran over to the nearest shelf and pulled out the closest book, the words in the pages were akin to buried treasure, the incantations gold. Alistair found himself feeling something...odd. It wasn’t joy, it wasn’t sorrow, it wasn’t disappointment, and his pride was rapidly depleting...He felt odd. Still, they wouldn’t want him to be seen so mixed...He continued smiling, planning to mull over his thoughts in isolation. “By the Twins...You really don’t halfass it, huh? Wonder how those Equestrians are gonna react when they see your handiwork...Hope we get some converts? You know we could use them.” Snow said hopefully, after letting out a whistle. “Before we talk about new recruits, perhaps we should ensure the rest of the Archive is as repaired as the subterranean section.” Dawn reminded as she began making her way to the spiral stairs. “Master, you coming?” She asked, before turning to see him still staring at the back of the room. Somehow, she’d ignored the pair of double wooden doors at the back...Had they always been there? Why was he staring at it? Was it not there before? “Alistair?” Chrysalis asked, tapping him on the shoulder. “Uh? Oh, yes, of course. Sorry, I was just in thought.” He still seemed distant, but his smile seemed genuine. Watching his bizarre display made her question his emotions. She knew him a better man than to lie to her...Cursing inside her head, she kept her promise. “Master?” Dawn repeated, agitation growing at everyone’s standing around. As Alistair began walking up to her, the rest followed behind him. “Indeed, we’ve still got to inspect everything. I don’t think our guests would appreciate it if a beam fell on them or their guards. Onward!” He jested, taking the lead with his head held high. Despite his chipper attitude and enthusiasm, Chrysalis felt he was hiding something and she would find it out. The glowing spring continued to illuminate the area as the group left it behind. Their shadows were cast across the cavern as the old Hierophants watched their march to the ascending staircase. They climbed in silence. It wasn’t awkward but not necessarily comforting, everyone’s mind was elsewhere as they pondered what was to come. Alistair felt it all, their hopes and his doubts. To Twilight, the ruined Archive was like the skeleton of a colossal dragon. Though long dead, the sheer size and sense of power demanded respect and admiration, mixed with fear. The inside was all but rotten; broken windows, walls, and pillars gave way to the sand and winds blasted away anything the elements could touch. The few who called it home were adept at this life, despite their shantytown appearance. Even Alistair seemed to reflect this sense of ancient awe. It was tragic to see a once regal stronghold of magic and knowledge waste away. When she awoke to find the Archive not just repaired, but shining in the radiant light of the sun through the windows, she felt that same sense of awe and regality tenfold. The marble floor was devoid of stains and the few carpets and tapestries around the main hall were made of the finest, most vibrant colours she’d seen. Once collapsed halls and stairways were now just waiting for her to explore. The piles of debris and stone that cluttered the chamber were now gone. High above her, reformed platforms and stairs led higher into the gargantuan library. The smell of musty books and potions wafted through the air and she could feel an immense, untapped arcane energy flow through the building, like blood. She felt compelled to cry, seeing what could’ve only been described as the greatest hub of knowledge known to Ponykind restored, yet she was far more perplexed and even fearful as to how somepony could’ve done this in a single night. “Holy moly...This makes Canterlot’s library seem a whole lot less impressive…” Spike remarked, eyeing a particularly delicious gemstone sconce that glowed green from the emerald dust within the flame. “Forget the library darling, the castle itself seems pale when compared to this!” Rarity asserted as she ran a hoof over the large banner of House Leonas that was connected to the pillar. Despite fawning over the elaborate designs stitched into the banners and tapestries hanging around the Archive, she did find the whole situation bizarre. It was almost enough to take her mind off the inspirational designs. Almost. “This is...Disarming, to say the least...There are a lot of vantage points in this room alone…” Thunderclap assessed, noting the high platforms, sturdy pillars, and plenty of routes for reinforcements or retreats. It was risky to fight in a crumbling building, but it’d be downright suicidal to fight them now with the entirety of the battlefield changed. “This musta been Alistair’s doin’...Don’t know a single Unicorn who could do something this impressive in a single night.” Braeburn guessed as he finished donning his armour and stetson, ax at his side and his soldiers ready. “We should get the carrier's up and running soon. Don’t think our host wants us screwing around, admiring the stonework.” Brass Boulder said, making his way to the entrance, his hooves covered with metal cestus. Though scratched and dented, the metal was shining with a radiant glow that seemed magical. “Agreed...Hope the carrier isn’t full of sand.” Lancer quipped, flexing his wings as a soldier handed him a new, stock standard silver spear. The group began to head towards the massive doors, the echoing sound of their hooves stepping on the marble floor carrying on around the room. The locals continued to eye them as if they were monsters ready to pounce, hiding their children away and keeping their weapons at the ready. It was a disquieting feeling, Twilight thought, being the hostile element and being so clearly unwelcome. As they tried to ignore them, hoping Alistair’s followers would do the same, they heard somepony approach. “With the storm dying down, I imagine you’ll be eager to leave.” They heard Faded Scroll guess as he approached, Snowfall and her platoon close behind. Despite everything, he was smiling at them, no traces of disdain present. “That’s the plan.” Twilight said curtly, on guard and alert. The same could be said of her friends and guards as they kept watch for any sign of a possible attack. “Will you require assistance? We’re not mechanically minded but we could try applying some of our own skills.” He asked, demonstrating his powers as he broke his metal staff, before repairing it. “No, no, we should be fine!” Twilight brushed him off quickly with a grin, causing her friends to look at her, baffled by her response. “Ah, well then, I’ll tell the Lord Hierophant that you will soon depart. Should you need something, just think about it.” He said, taken aback at her sudden rejection, before leaving. Snow and her entourage stayed behind however, still on guard. “It’s our job to make sure nothing happens to you all out there. Be a shame if our guests died before you told your Princess or whoever that we’re not a threat. Don't think she'd believe us if we said we didn't do it.” Snow explained with a half smirk, leaving out the obvious reason, ‘no one trusts you not to step out of line’. “We got it, now, can we get moving? We’re burning daylight here!” Rainbow exclaimed loudly, shifting from side to side out of boredom, before dashing towards the entrance in an attempt to hurry along the party. With much greater ease, the guards forced open the wood and silver double doors, letting in the faint howl of desert winds. The winds had settled, but the storm’s fury had ravished the land. Former buildings were obscured by layers of golden sand. Unearthed pillars of gems and spears of rock burst from the ground and ruins alike. Where lightning had struck, the ground sparkled like diamonds and the horizon was foreign to them. The landscape was almost unrecognizable compared to what it once was. “Jeez, how the heck does a storm do this?” Pinkie asked, baffled at the drastic changes. “Sandstorms in Appleloosa are bad, but out here they’re beyond anything I’ve ever seen. It’s like the world itself is coming to kill ya and it don’t care what it hits. Makes scouting a pain when the trail could become impassable or you’re suddenly buried.” Braeburn said, surveying the landscape with a grumble. On one hoof, they’d need to send out another scouting party to find anything worth scavenging or anything dangerous in need of destroying. On the other, he would be loathe to send another party out so early after the massacre of his own platoon. “Least the tin box isn’t...too deep in the sand...We did bring shovels yeah?” Brass asked, trying to be optimistic as they saw their ride home stuck like the rest of the detritus littering the barren land. Before anyone could try to dig it out, Twilight lifted it out. Layers of sand spilled off as the slumbering beast groaned. Gently dropping the weathered construct, the combat engineers and mechanics rushed over to inspect the damage and the innards. “Aw crap...The threads are fine, and we still got enough fuel, but the gears and joints are shredded and the cargo bay is stuffed!” One of them yelled out after crawling out from underneath the machine, sweating profusely from the heat. “Damn...How long till it’s able to make the trip?” The Captain asked, wiping his forehead nervously as he wondered if it’s even possible to walk back to Appleloosa without getting lost. “We ain’t promisin’ miracles here, this is some real bad erosion. But it’ll be capable of moving in...A few hours? We got spare parts still?” The engineer replied as a few assistants ran forward to provide the sparse spares they had left. “This is it?...Yeah, we’re gonna be here for a bit...Get comfortable. Celestia’s mane, anypony got some water?” As the engineers began working with what they had, half-going by the book and half-improving their slapdash field repairs, Starlight couldn’t help but groan. “So, uh, the reason we’re not requesting assistance from these people is...?” “They’re our enemies Starlight, it’s not smart to show the enemy how your tools work.” She rationalised, looking back up at the Archive with suspicion, as if a volley of arrows would rain down from the towering, glittering stronghold. “Yeah, but it’s also not too smart to stand around in the middle of a volatile desert with questionable means of transportation.” She retorted, a critical look in her eyes as she looked at Twilight, wondering how she would proceed. With a heavy sigh, Twilight rubbed her eyes and turned to face Starlight. “I know.” She said before turning to look at her friends and Spike, trying in their own way to help the drained engineers. “I’m...I’m not really sure what to do right now Starlight. This Alistair person, I don’t know what to make of him. He’s hospitable, moral and intelligent, but you don’t become friends with someone like Chrysalis whilst being a good person. Not to mention the fact that he admits he wants to kill Princess Celestia…” She said, treading back and forth while occasionally snapping back to the Archive. “But he also saved Braeburn with seemingly no ulterior motive aside from doing the right thing. Not just that, but he helped save the remaining men of his platoon…” Finally stopping, he faced Starlight and looked at her with a look of annoyance and possibly confusion. “He’s definitely better than Chrysalis, Tirek, and the rest but that isn’t saying much. Perhaps he’s playing the long game, hoping to win our trust while leading up to something major we can’t predict?” Starlight added on, rubbing her chin as the pair pondered on what the enigmatic Mage could be preparing. “Perhaps...Or perhaps he’s simply doing what he thinks is right.” Twilight refuted, trying to see things from a less suspicious perspective, albeit struggling to think her enemy could be doing what he perceived as right. With a strained growl of agitation, she looked up into the sky with a sigh. “We’re getting nowhere sitting around out here thinking...We should get back to Canterlot as soon as possible, the Princess should be back in a few days...She has to know something.” The Princess believed, smiling as she began formulating an adequate report, happy to give herself a productive task. “You know, I don’t think the Lord would mind if you lot rested in the gardens while your sappers fix the hot box.” Snowfall shouted over the sound of bickering soldiers, working mechanics, and Twilight and Starlight’s pondering. She seemed like she was about to go on, but halted as she seemed to be somewhere else, having another conversation. After a short pause, she continued. “Yeah, the Lord said it’s fine. Just don’t touch the statues, he can’t remember which of them are enchanted.” She continued, shrugging as she gestured back towards the Archive. Gazing from the far side of the Archive and along the horizon was a tall, reinforced wall covered in ivy, flowers, and what looked like a variety of fruits bursting with colour. A silver gate separated the desert from the verdant ground, the faint shimmer of light in the air telling Twilight the grounds were protected by some kind of magical barrier. “Hm, sounds a lot more bearable than standing around here. Tell Lord Alistair I appreciate the offer.” Rarity thanked, nodding before strutting towards the garden, anxious to get out of the sun and under some shady tree. With little protest, all aside from the engineers and a contingent of guards made their way, pushing open the silver, grated gate. The cool wind and pleasant scent of a forest hit them instantly, washing over them like a tidal wave of bliss. Light reflected off the small streams of water that flowed down from somewhere high above, forming a beautiful river that flowed through the serene park. Trees, shrubbery, and plants littered the grounds, lining the delicately carved stone pathways. Patches of fruit trees made perfect sites for a picnic and in the distance, gorgeous, intricately carved statues stood around like an art exhibit. “Wow...It’s like the Canterlot Gardens.” Fluttershy gasped, walking timidly past rows of luminescent silver and golden flowers with metallic petals that blew in a faint wind. “What is all this?” “Hell if I know, didn’t even know the Lord had a garden till we surveyed the reformed grounds. Something about testing the long term effects of metaphysical forces and nature working together.” Snow shrugged with a disinterested grimace, scratching the side of her neck and then her hand. “All this pollen isn’t great for me...Gonna go find the training grounds, just dirt and sand there.” She said, waving as she started marching a head while her men splintered off to mill around waiting for their guests to leave. “Huh, who’d a thought the Human had an eye for agriculture?” Applejack mused with a smirk as she noted a particularly massive apple tree, granting shade all around it and dwarfing the others. “What even are these?” She asked, gesturing towards a tall tree bearing round, orange and green fruits. “No idea, I’ve never seen anything like these plants or trees...I think this plant is native to the Crystal Empire! How’d he get these?” Twilight began theorising as she examined a crystalline rose that sparkled like a faraway star. “I must say, he certainly has an eye for beauty. Everything from his castle to his garden is immaculate! I wonder if he knows anything about fashion, if he’s got the same kind of taste for clothing he could revolutionise the market.” Rarity assert, a twinkle in her eye as she placed a soft, dark blue flower behind her ear and began thinking of a new dress that could match the hue. “Don’t know if the guy’s a fashionista, but I’m sure he’s got some nifty tips and tricks up his sleeve.” Braeburn said as he let out a whistle, taking in the scenery before heading down the path to find something to do aside from smelling the flowers. “We should be good to go in a few hours, get some r&r, it’ll be a long ride home.” And so the group splintered off to find something, anything, to do to pass the time. Naturally, they assumed something interesting would find them first. On the far side of the expansive garden, bordered by a shimmering river and dented and singed trees rested the training grounds, a dusty patch of land reserved for the academic and chivalrous elite of the Bibliotheca to duel each other with a variety of weaponry and enough rules in place to ensure no one killed their opponent. However, those days were long past and as Snowfall continued tearing through her soldier’s defense and ignoring their blows, one would wonder how many rules she alone was breaking. Sand and unearthed rocks were blown apart as she kicked them up, either to distract her foes or to destroy their improvised protection. Soldiers were sent flying with shocking speed as she either physically threw them away or used her magic to manipulate the ground to her advantage. Their dulled weapons and stone forged replicas hurt, every strike against her exposed sides a lesson, but her reactions hurt her opponent more as she was eager to rectify her mistakes. To an onlooker, her frenzy would seem haphazard, untrained and unrestrained, yet her rage and irritation fueled her fire and focused her attention purely on the fight. The garden faded away until it was just her and whoever challenged her, the cheering onlookers nothing more than white noise. Soon the battle came to a close, and once more she was the victor. Her bruises and marks were as evident as the limping and wounded combatants who skulked away in defeat, not looking forward to when they would have to hand over their end of the bet to their gambling friends. Despite the numb pain, she smiled in euphoria. “You okay partner? Ya look as battered as a flimsy tin roof after a shower of hail.” She heard Braeburn ask, stepping onto the field as he watched the battered bruisers walk away, half worried and half bemused. She chuckled loudly, dropping her stone caestus causing them to shatter as the magical connection was lost. “Feel better than okay, you?” She asked with a grin, stretching to pass the time until the next workout. “Bored mostly, eager to get home and just...Drink some more before I have to fill reports about this whole operation...Celestia knows it’s been eventful.” He shrugged with an exasperated sigh as he began wondering how much red tape he’d need to go through. “If she already knows, why write a report?” She joked with a chortle, getting a smirk out of him. “If you’re bored, why not join me in a sparring match? You seem to know how to handle an ax.” She offered as she cracked her knuckles and looked down at him with a challenging look. “Ax, sword, halberd, hooves, among other things. The training is pretty diverse.” He rattled off as he examined the setting and weighed how likely he was to win. “Diverse enough to take on me?” She asked, taking on a stance as she watched him prepare. “Let’s find out.” He said with a challenging smirk. Getting ready to charge, he sheathed his ax in favour of a dull stone one she forged for the duel. As her men began placing new bets, Braeburn’s detail watched on in anticipation, ready to see the extent of his training and how easily he’d best one of these strange outlanders. With a guttural warcry, she rushed him with a stone shield and club raised, only barely missing him as he sidestepped and retaliated with a blow against her side. The duel would go on for quite awhile, ending with the two bruised and lightly wounded. Although Braeburn won the first bout, Snowfall demanded a rematch and he eagerly accepted. They continued on like this, trading wins and losses, as their extended battle drew a larger and larger crowd. Though Braeburn and Snow were each far too engaged by a proper duel against a challenging foe to focus on the white noise. With little else to do, time dragged on as the assembled Equestrians milled about, looking for a way to distract themselves. Some simply watched as the two commanders dueled and some joined in the spirit, using the other sparring grounds. Although she watched from the distance, Rainbow Dash found the spectacle enthralling; the refined combat styles of gold-plated knights and the focused, savage strength of the outlanders giving her inspiration for some flashy, impractical moves of her own. A few Earth Ponies took the time to smell the flowers and to examine the alien greenery. Applejack, in particular, was fascinated with all the unusual plant life, while Fluttershy was content with how pretty everything was. Although Pinkie was more interested in just how tasty a glowing daisy might be, Rarity was relieved to find somepony else who was interested in the applications it could be used for. When she returned to Ponyville, she thought, she’d have a cavalcade of new designs. Spike was simply glad to have somewhere shady to rest and eat a quartz or two, though the irritated noises and hoof-tapping sounds emanating from Twilight’s side of the tree would always stop him from drifting off to sleep. The occasional grunts and groans grew in volume and annoyance as their unwanted rest extended. “Are you in pain or something? Cause you’re groaning an awful lot there.” Spike asked, finally losing his patience with her huffing. “No...Just bored. I’ve already written, formatted, read and reread my whole report to Princess Celestia at least a dozen times now...How long does it take to repair one of those things anyway?” She explained, placing her head in her hoof and blowing a few loose strands of hair out of her face as she looked down to her assistant. For all its splendor, Twilight was incapable of dropping her guard while in the magical glade. Behind any of the countless bushes, a possible bandit, behind that vine-covered tree, a potential Changeling knight. All its beauty was incapable of masking the fact it resided in enemy territory. “I don’t know, but from all the swears those engineers were grumbling, it sounds like it’ll take awhile longer. Hey, why don’t you try to relax or something? Read a book maybe?” Spike suggested, shrugging as he dropped what was left of his snack in his mouth and shattering it audibly. “I didn’t think I’d have time to get any reading done while on a highly important mission, if I’d known we’d spend it frolicking with these Ponies-” “People.” Spike corrected. “With these people,” Twilight emphasised, “I’d have just taken the whole castle library…But it's unwise to spend this much time in enemy territory.” She mumbled, upset at her bumbling mistake in not being able predict things would go sideways somehow. “I don’t know…From how your soldiers are treating these guys, it looks like they could just be any other nation’s guards and not some desert raiders. Honestly, they seem pretty normal as far as hostile forces go...If you ignore the fact that Chrysalis and her drones are somewhere inside the castle.” Starlight shrugged with a smile, trying to lessen her friend’s sour mood. “Good thing Alistair seems not to want us dead.” “For now! I mean, you heard him, he despises the Princess! How can we not expect him to attack us the second we least expect it?” Twilight all but shouted, amazed anypony could forget that little detail. “Maybe he’ll simply stay in his castle and brood? Sounds like he just wants to be left alone, more than anything else.” Starlight retorted, hoping for once an old enemy of Celestia’s wouldn’t be out for blood. “Right, because none of the Princess’ other enemies are the vindictive, or scheming, types. He’s friends with Chrysalis for Luna’s sake!” She snapped, causing her guards and a few of Alistair’s men to look at her. “You got me there...But, I don’t think pulling my hair out stressing over an attack that may not come will make anything better. Hey, why don’t we go look at the new flower species? We might find a family of flora that’s never been seen by modern Equestria?” Starlight tried to coax Twilight into exploring with her, her inflection hopeful as she smiled and nudged her. “No...No, I think I’ll just rest here for however long we have left.” “Oh come on! The rest of your friends are getting along with these guys fine-” “They’re what? Why are they doing anything with these ponies? We need to be ready to leave as soon as possible, not relaxing with the enemy! Where’s Braeburn? I want to make sure we’re ready to go.” She asked, looking around for the stallion in question. “Sparring, my Princess.” Thunderclap answered, surveying the gardens with a suspicious look, sharing her Princess’ concerns. “What.” “‘I’m gonna make that loud mouth eat her words. I’ll show her that I’m not a backseat Commander,’ were his exact words before he got punched in the face by that Diamond Dog conjurer, my Princess...Should I get him for-” She quoted, stoic as ever, before Twilight cut her off. “No, no, it’s fine, it’s fine!” She said, sarcasm dripping from every word as she stood upright and walked off, sighing loudly. “It’s fine! Really, it’s not like we’re literally in an immortal, angry Demigod’s castle grounds! What’ve we got to worry about?!” She barked, finally done with everything as she stomped off. Although Spike and Starlight chased after her in an attempt to calm her down, they found it difficult to follow the disgruntled Princess and she eventually disappeared from their sights. For a while, she simply stomped around, griping about the whole situation. In time, she came to rest near a calming, tranquil pond and absentmindedly ate a few normal looking daisies. Just as she figured she’d better return to the group, she felt a pulse from within the castle, like a heartbeat. It was low, almost inaudible, but she could feel it in her bones. It felt like a wave of power, small but invigorating. As it pulsed, she felt like it was calling out to her, luring her into the castle. Looking towards the origin of the pulse, she noticed a wooden door, which had seemingly just appeared, blow open, as if beckoning her inward. Though it was covered in vines and clover, she could’ve sworn that it wasn’t there before. The dark and dingy wood contrasted so heavily with the white wall of stone and spotless windows, it would’ve been impossible to ignore, yet somehow it was there, clear as day. Against her better judgement, she walked up to it and looked through the door frame, seeing only an empty hallway. Activating a simple spell to detect living things, she cautiously walked through and looked around. The floor was covered by a long, blue and yellow carpet with strange writing and depictions of otherworldly things; the windows to the left illuminated the hall and at the far end was the only other door. The thumping sense of power came from the other side of the massive door. Scanning the barren hall as she trotted forward, she was aware of two things. One, there was nothing here: no Ponies, no Changelings, not even a bug or rodent. No living thing could be detected, apart from herself. Two, it was deathly silent. As if stepping into another world, the sounds of splashing water, a gentle breeze, and idle banter gave way to the soft sounds of her hoofsteps on carpet and the low rumble and increasing noise of her own heartbeat. She wasn’t scared, but anxious, anticipating a possible trap of some kind. Whatever was on the other side of the door, must be beyond compare to invoke such a sense of might. Tentatively, and with a pensive caution, she approached the stone door. It was inscribed with countless distinct but illegible symbols, combined with the occasional gem embedded in the door, to create such marvelous patterns that she doubted even Rarity had envisioned anything close to it. There were no handles, yet as she approached, it opened ever so slightly. Looking through the slight crack between the doors, she gasped in wonder. Entering the chamber, she found herself stepping into what could only be described as a maze of times and artefacts loosely forming a library. Rows upon rows of books lined the walls; some led into darkened corners of the chamber, while some curved around or simply ended, before creating new pathways to more expansive shelves or counters. Under the protective barriers of multiple glass screens were numerous objects and relics. Some were peculiar, albeit easy to recognise, a dagger made from obsidian, a particularly ancient book, an orange, jagged gem of staggering proportions, yet many more were so esoteric they seemed unreal. A floating orb of purple light that seemed to follow her with unseen eyes, a bland stone sword sheathed in shimmering parchment, a mass of ooze that would randomly fluctuate in shape and size, texture and colour before returning to an amorphous blob, and the skull of what must’ve been a hideous Minotaur. Despite the bizarre objects proudly displayed on pedestals and the seemingly endless shelves, the library had an atmosphere that was equal parts comforting and exciting. It was a new and promising experience, yet there was a peaceful aura that promised only protection and newfound knowledge, or, more precisely, rediscovered knowledge. Suppressing her rapidly growing smile, Twilight made her way through the winding pathways, stepping between shelves and examining particularly interesting artefacts as she made her way to the center of the room. There were tomes ranging from truly arcane, the covers crackling with magical flames or chilled to the touch from an unseen cold, to a simple cookbook or presumably a Human fantasy novel. What surprised her, perhaps more than the vast collections of books, were the artefacts. Some seemed Equestrian in origin, such as a thick, antiquated set of silver armour bearing Princess Luna’s royal emblem. One set was obviously built for an Equestrian, but it was paired with what she assumed was a Human set as well! Could Humans and Equestrians have served in either country’s military forces long ago? The thought seemed absurd: a non-Equestrian serving in the Royal Guards? Yet it was clearly a precursor to the modern armaments of the Guards. Before she could ponder the matter further, she stepped into the small clearing in the center of the room and came to an abrupt stop. There, seated at a wooden table covered end-to-end in scrolls and books, sat Alistair. At first, she assumed he was reading something of interest, yet the more she looked at him, she realised he wasn’t reading anything. Whatever was in the tattered book he held, it had his full, unwavering attention, as he stared at it, never blinking or looking away. His mouth moved as if he were muttering an incantation or spell, yet no sound came out and no spell took form. Despite standing just a few meters in front of him, Twilight went unnoticed as he continued to stare at the pages, mouthing some unheard conversation. Though his eyes shone brightly enough to illuminate his features, they looked so…Hollow. Void of love or hatred… Just an emptiness that unnerved her to her very core. Against her better judgement, she coughed loudly to gain his attention. Snapping up and staring at her, she watched his features turn from shallow emptiness to pure malice to, finally, surprise. His eyes dimmed rapidly as well, returning to their normal two-coloured state. He seemed surprised more than anything, hastily shutting his book and leaning forward in his chair. “How did-? You’re not supposed to be here.” He started, before simply stating the matter. “I’m sorry, I just, I felt this strange aura, then this door suddenly appeared in the gardens, and the door was open so I-” Twilight began, suddenly fearful she’d incurred his wrath, only to be interrupted by a confused Alistair. “The gardens? This study is on the twenty second story. How-...Ah, I see. For whatever reason, the Archive wanted you to come here...Old thing needs to learn to be less trusting.” He explained, now more irked than confused. “Well, I guess it would be impolite to kick you out after the building let you in so willingly...So, welcome to my private study.” He said, masking his displeasure with a thin smile and a sweeping gesture to his numerous shelves. “I doubt it has any modern writings or spells, but I’m sure there’s you could find something interesting.” “Oh, um, thank you.” Twilight responded, puzzled by his sudden change. “Please, don’t mention it, to anyone.” He dismissed with a wave of his hand and a resigned sigh, seemingly too uncaring about getting rid of her. “Don’t take anything from those two shelves. Unless you can read Old Valtic, it’ll seem like gibberish and those two rows are filled with dark tomes. Many, though I can't remember which, need to be exorcised before reading. Also, that third row is full of holy texts; unless you have a deity whose powers you wish to invoke, they won’t be of any particular use. Everything else should be safe to read...Oh, and not that row, blood magic and flesh-moulding tomes aren’t exactly light reading material, especially not for the squeamish.” Alistair pointed out the aisles he deemed unwise for her to peruse, the final one in particular giving her a strong sense of unease, so she decided to go into what she hoped was a much safer one. Most of the tomes and books were unreadable, written in an unknown language, she assumed it was the one Alistair mentioned, Old Valtic; yet, strangely enough, there were several written in Equestrian. It was an old dialect and most of the writing and words were faded, but she could understand it for the most part. When she turned back to the center of the room, hoping to find a table or at least a soft spot to rest on the floor, she saw there was another chair at Alistair’s table, opposite his position. It all seemed...Strange. They were isolated from the rest of her friends and his allies, he knew the layout of the castle and if he wanted to, she felt like he could seal them inside the room and strike her down here and now...So why wasn’t he? Why was he letting her just sit at his table and read one of his books? Why was he being so amicable despite her being his enemy? She tried not to think about it, trying not to let him know her thoughts, and instead focused on the ancient book. It was quite the enthralling read, it outlined the early diplomatic relations between Equestria and the Valetorian Empire, highlighting the early conflicts and uneasy truce when the ‘Black Winter’ arrived. The wording was strange and the outdated language made sentences read more like code than anything else, but she felt like she could understand most of it. Despite this, she found her thoughts drifting further and further away from the historical recounts and more to her current situation. So, hoping she wouldn’t accidentally provoke the Mage, she struck up a conversation. “So...The Archive is nice.” She stated, smiling awkwardly as she tried to break the ice. Alistair grunted in agreement, clearly invested in whatever he was reading. Every now and then he would pick up his quill, dip it in his sapphire inkwell and write, or perhaps edit, something. “If I may ask, why do you talk about it like the building is alive?” She asked, looking up from her tome, as he put his down to look at her. “How should I explain this...What do you know of magical springs and ley lines?” “Well, springs act as a source of primal magic that have existed long before civilization as we know it. Druidic circles and ancient covens were often built around them, some went so far as to worship them as manifestations of divine power. They’re unrefined and untamable, but extremely powerful. Most scholars believe there are none left on the entirety of the Equis continent.” Twilight began, rattling off what she remembered of the topic getting a small nod from Alistair. “Ley lines are similar, but less centralised. Supposedly there are veins of power that flow through the world and in certain spots, these veins bleed magic out into the physical world. There are very few discovered spots within Equestria, though the few locations that have been discovered are located within the Everfree forest and deep below Canterlot Castle. Accessing them is seen as foolhardy, given their surroundings, but many would-be Druids and Mages often set out on expeditions to draw out this power.” She finished, impressed she remembered so much about the druidic magics despite never taking much of a liking to it. “Very good, glad to see there are some elements of my world is still lingering around. Yes, magical springs are often seen as untamable but in truth it is less about taming and more about coexisting with it. The original founders of the Archive, a rebellious sect of scholars who followed the nomadic dragons, found one such wellspring deep, deep underground. They used it as a conduit of power and although at first the relationship between the Archive and the spring was...vitriolic, in time, the two would rely on each other. As the Archive expanded so too did the spring’s control of the land. The Archive itself became an extension of the spring. If we needed a new wing or library constructed, all we needed to do was ask. If renovations were in order, we would break the whole room down and rebuild from scratch in a day.” He explained with a small smile, running a hand along the side of the marble sculpture next to him. “Although it may be hard to work with at times, it is truly a great friend and research partner. In a sense, the Archive is a living thing; though some would say it is more like a puppeteer controlling a marionette. Regardless, this old building has a life of its own, evident by how you split past my guards and headed straight from the gardens to the twenty second floor.” He explained matter of factly, giving a short lecture about the origins and strange properties of the Archive. “That’s...Quite fascinating.” Twilight admitted, surprised by his explanation as she became engrossed with the conversation. “You don’t fear the Archive could turn on you?” “Why would I? The Archive wants students and archivists to aid in expanding and controlling claimed grounds, it can’t do too much against an invading force alone and without students to link with it, it isn’t quite as powerful. The relationship between the Hierophant and the Archive is symbiotic and deeply meaningful. The most the Archive has ever done with malicious intentions is lock a door or two, or drop a book on my head. Now, if you were to cause problems, well, that would be another story entirely. There was this one incident where a Minotaurian chieftain came to try and persuade us to lend him a few dozen War Mages for some personal vendetta. When I refused to lend a single coin, he threatened to come back and personally rip my head from my body. He was quite lowly, barely an adult by Minotaur standards, and only gained his position through regicide. A poor tactician with a history of rash, impulsive actions. If he did try to siege the Archive, not only would he have to trek through the whole of Val as a recognised military threat, but he’d also have to fight a literal uphill battle in an unpredictable environment. So I thought nothing of it and let him leave; I assumed the Archive would as well. So you can imagine my surprise when he opened the door that would normally lead back out into the hallway outside the war room, only to instead find himself falling several dozen stories into a pond.” He rattled off the story with a mirthful grin. Although she knew it was meant to be an example of why she shouldn’t cause problems while within his grounds, she did find the mental image quite humorous as well. “Did he-?” “Die? No. He broke several bones, which I graciously healed for him. At most, he left with a bruised ego and a short, but firm, reminder not to threaten a Lord in his own keep. He did not come to personally rip my head off, and made it a point to avoid me in the future.” He concluded, answering her question before she could ask. His smile disappearing as he began writing something down again. “That’s...Interesting…” Twilight said, finding the implications of a living building interesting, but also worrying, for what it would do to her if she started acting out of turn. For a while, the two sat there in silence, Twilight pondering what to ask and how to word it and how Alistair would react, while he continued to write something down, only looking up while deep in thought. “So, how exactly did you come to meet Queen Chrysalis? She’s not the most approachable Changeling I’ve met. In fact, I think she’s made more attempts on my life than any other villain I’ve met.” Twilight asked, rubbing the back of her head hoping it wasn’t a touchy subject. “The same way I met the Princesses; we all shared a similar goal and ran into each other through happenstance. She needed a source of love, we needed more man power and someone who could actually sneak around. Turns out an armour-plated pony warrior, two mages, a Minotaurian paladin, and a Human knight aren’t masters of stealth.” He began, conjuring a simplistic, cartoonish depiction of the band of heroes. “She was about as prickly and cold as a icicle spear, and was blunt with her displeasure and disdain for everyone. Everyone aside from me. At first, it was more or less a trainer-trainee relationship. She taught me how to wield a shortsword to counter my vulnerability in close quarters combat and how to utilise my magic for trickery and underhanded attacks. I taught her about world history or any other topic she desired to know about. Initially, she was quite hostile to me as well, but as it turns out, underneath her stony exterior laced with poison was an equally rock hard interior, though with less poison. When we’d returned to our respective realms hailed as champions, she went on to succeed her mother and, much to my own surprise, didn’t immediately begin raiding and subjugating the other nations and races. Turns out she might’ve learned a lesson or two in friendship and respect along the way, though I doubt she’d admit it.” The depiction changed to just Alistair and Chrysalis, the two back-to-back fighting off a nondescript mass of monsters. “We became friends, as much as two rulers from far off countries can be, and she proved herself time and time again...If what I’ve been told is correct, after I was deposed by Celestia, she took in my surviving followers…” He seemed morose, eyes glazed over, filled with thoughts and emotions. “For what it was worth, it was good to know there was someone still standing by me in my last days…She’s changed. It’s quite obvious that the eras have not been kind to her...Don’t think they’ve been kind to anyone...Still, she dropped everything and helped me when I came for aid, she continues to stand by me in battle, continues to simply be there...I know she is a volatile Changeling Queen capable of cruelty and with a cold, tactile approach, unlike any an Equestrian or even Human I’ve yet seen… Unmatched in intellect among her sisters and unparalleled when challenged directly. She has a deep loathing for most everyone, if I had to fear assassination from most of my family, I’d naturally be distrusting and considering the usual foreign policy for dealing with Changelings is to wipe them out, I’d also be xenophobic. Still, she has shown a kinder, honest side towards myself, my sister and even the Princesses a long, long time ago...I hope she’s still the Changeling I know.” Alistair finished. It was strange for Twilight to hear him talk about Chrysalis in a kind way, as if endeared to her. He was aware of her vindictive ways, but saw beyond that. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anypony say anything quite as positive about her as you. Then again, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anypony speak positively about her at all till now.” Twilight admitted, pondering his words with a thoughtful expression. This got a chuckle out of him, a brief smile appearing as well. “I assure you, I’m the only person who would speak kindly of her. My master thought it insane, befriending a Changeling Queen trained in subterfuge, and my apprentice would often accuse me of suffering a brief lapse in judgement or bout of madness whenever I would invite her over for a political matter or even something more casual...Perhaps it is insane to let her get as close as she did, but after what we went through, I guess I had to be a little mad. Friends, true friends, are hard to come by when you’re as old and powerful as I, and I know her to be a true friend.” He spoke with such clarity, such honesty and admiration, that she found herself believing him. “My assistant Spike once made friends with a Changeling drone, Thorax was his name. We all thought he was being lied to, tricked by Chrysalis or being set up for something. Even after Spike proved him to be a friend, a Changeling who didn’t want to live his life leeching off other Ponies, I had my doubts. It wasn’t til-” “This wouldn’t happen to be the same Thorax who took a large chunk of Chrysalis’ hive and rebelled against her? Yes, she told me a lot about her least favourite drone, mostly about what she’ll do when she finds him, but she did mention the whole ordeal.” He quickly cut her off, remembering her ranting tirade and the few useful bits of information he was able to discern from her bloody threats. “Don’t tell Chrysalis I said this, but I’m glad to see more people finding ways to live alongside Changelings that isn’t a parasitic relationship based around deceit. This Spike of yours sounds like a wise and kind man.” “He still believes Windigos snatch up bad foals on Hearth's Warming Eve.” She told him, smirking at the idea of Spike being described as wise. “Well, wisdom comes in many forms, as my master would say.” He shot back. As another small smile adorned his features, Twilight had to remind herself she was dealing with a foe, an openly hostile element. Someone who so deeply despised Princess Celestia. So why was she finding him so agreeable? Likable? She reminded herself to dislike him, and Alistair heard her remind herself. His smile vanished once more, and he went back to his journal. Time passed in silence. Eventually, she’d lose interest in the book she was reading and Alistair finished writing. He looked at her with interest and struck up a conversation. “Before you became an Alicorn, you were a Unicorn of renown, yes?” Alistair rhetorically asked, already knowing the answer. “Tell me, what has become of magical theory in the modern day? I hope the path of knowledge hasn’t become retrograde in my absence.” Alistair requested to know. He wanted to test her, to see what she knew of magic, but also found himself giddy at the notion of newfound research. “Huh...That’s a...That’s a pretty broad question…” Twilight said simply, formulating a suitable and concise summary of the modern academic field. “The Equestrian Magi Circle continue to see themselves as the height of knowledge, and they’re certainly trying to live up to such a lofty title. Many old theories about the nature of magic often find themselves debated endlessly; some Mages believe the idea of an everpresent field of magic is riddled with holes, some think the idea that magic is purely soul-fueled can be easily countered, and many see the idea of friendship powering anything to be ludicrous. They're focused more on the philosophical and introspective nature of magic, that is to say, endless debates and pontificating. This has caused a lot of independent Mages to see them as a bunch of old Unicorns arguing about nothing. However, their practises and field studies are something to behold. They’ve revolutionised the field of teleportation, incorporated the innate powers of Earth Ponies and Pegasi to improve farming and weather control, and pioneered the modern school of medicinal magic. They might not be as powerful as their founders, but their findings are immensely helpful for all of Equestria.” She rattled off a brief description of the predominate Mage Circle in Equestria with no small amount of respect, smiling at the memories of learning the basics alongside them. “Pragmatic and scholarly, not the best of companions, but you couldn’t find a better opponent for a debate. Some things never change I suppose.” Alistair responded, a nostalgic look in his eyes as he remembered the long, tense, and often loud arguments he’d find himself in, loving every minute of those heated debates. “Have they debunked Topaz Tower’s magic moral paradox yet? It was old hat long before I became Hierophant.” “Hardly. If anything, the return of so many old, evil figures from history has added fuel to their fire. Some say their continual defeat proves that magic favours the righteous, whereas some point to the numerous forbidden schools of magic as proof that magic can quite easily lean towards the side of evil.” Twilight scoffed at the mention of the ancient paradox about the nature of morality and magic. “Personally, I’ve never found discussions of good and evil all that interesting. Magic doesn’t care about a Mage’s moral compass, but that’s just my opinion.” He shrugged at her summary of the paradoxical discussion and how the modern scholars discussed it. “Now then, what of the Griffins?” “What of them? It’s not like they suddenly discovered how to manipulate or use magic in the last few thousand or so years.” She found his mention of the Griffins strange, but figured he was going somewhere with this. “True, but they’re intelligent enough to work around their magically-defective nature. When Humanity discovered the basics of magic, the Griffins discovered the secrets of metallurgy.” “Well, socially and magically, not much has changed. They still fight amongst themselves and never have a permanent capital or leader, but economically and technologically, they’ve exploded. I don’t think anypony saw the discovery of grimon coming, or how it’d completely change their nation from a relatively impoverished splatter of towns and warrior bands to a country of forges, metal, and armies. Grimon is the blood of kings and peasants alike, as the merchants and grimsmiths like to repeat.” Twilight began, letting out a whistle as she tried to figure out how to sum up their growth. “What’s grimon?” “It’s a green crystal found originally at the Grim Coast, though they’re finding more and more veins. It’s not much on its own, but when it’s introduced to fire or magic, by Celestia, does it show its true colours. It’s a conduit of power, pure and simple. A single crystal can power a carrier for weeks, a shard can boost a Unicorn’s natural powers, and if it’s broken down into a powder and mixed in with their new weapons...Well, let’s just say that many generals across the world are rethinking their siege tactics, now that a barrage of grimon infused ammunition can level castles. As you can imagine, everypony wants it and the Griffins have a monopoly.” Twilight explained, causing Alistair to raise a brow as he pondered what he could do with a mine or two. “I take it there are those who don’t want to simply buy something so precious?” “You could say that. You could also say that warfronts are determined by trade routes; Minotaurs raid caravans and cargo ships, Changelings try to take over entire mines, Dragons scorch towns to get what they can. If the Griffins hadn’t discovered how to weaponise it so quickly, I shudder to think what could’ve become of their homeland. Despite the constant need to stay vigilant and defend themselves, they’re prosperous and raking in all the bits, gems, and treaties they can. For the time being, the world has its eyes on them and they are well aware of that.” She was audibly excited at the prospects of such a resource, and she could tell Alistair shared her fervor at the thought of such might. “The God’s good graces…” He was speechless, eyes wide and a faint grin as he began scheming and preparing his new research projects and theories. “What of the other races?” “Well, I’m no expert, but I know a little here and there. The Minotaurs haven’t changed from their reaving roots much, but they’ve tapped into something primal when it comes to their powers. It’s like divine powers, mixed with the ferocity of nature. I’ve never seen it myself, but if the reports and tales are true, their druids are masters of magic. The Zebra tribes have never been keen to share their secret practises, but the increasing hostility amongst their own tribes and against the other races has driven many tribes to flee wherever they can to stay alive. Some tribes disappear, some thrive, and some resort to...Less savoury methods to stay intact. It’s...Honestly tragic, seeing so many displaced and despairing people. They have nowhere to go and no home to claim. Still, some of them have adapted to the new world. A lot of powerful Mages have separated from their tribes and have begun sharing their knowledge in exchange for whatever they need. Many witch doctors and shamans, as they call themselves, have joined the Equestrian Magi Circle and, although alien and strange, their understanding of nature medicine and primal magic is unlike anything else. They’re trying to rebuild and, thankfully,  many are thriving. The Changelings, Dragons, and the other races...? Can’t really say. It’s hard to have diplomatic discussions with any of them, and a lot of their world is completely unknown. I mean, it was a surprise to me to learn there even was a Changeling homeland and I doubt I’ll learn any big revelations about their society or magic anytime soon. I think you could teach me a whole lot more about them than I could teach you.” Twilight had little to say about the rest, but it was enough to satisfy Alistair. He seemed deep in thought, contemplating everything she’d told him with an intensity he saved just for ancient lore and new found paradigms. He needed to learn all he could about the new world and this was one hell of a crash course. Once more, silence grew as Alistair retreated deeper into his mind, wordlessly strategising and theorising. All the while, Twilight watched him, enraptured by this strange man. On the surface, he seemed quite charming and she would love to keep discussing the world or the ancient mysteries of arcana with him, but she felt something deeper within him that caused her to hesitate: an intense hate she found disquieting. Her thoughts wondered, and she found herself thinking about how it all came to this point. She had heard what the Princess said, yet Alistair was nothing like she’d expected, so how did he end up like this? “I did what I thought was right.” “Pardon?” You’re thinking, ‘why does he hate Celestia so much?’ Well, it’s quite simple. Look around; the ashes are your answer. Valetoria was at a breaking point, I had to make a choice, and I refused. I refused the Emperor’s call to arms and I refused to side with my sister in the war. I refused Chrysalis’ suggestion to leave and I refused to side with the Princesses in whatever asinine plan they were brewing. I began looking into the reasons behind the war. I began looking for the strings, whether they were there or not. I looked for the diplomatic and magical reasons. I looked inside and out of my borders. I looked everywhere for an answer. I refused to believe this was how it would end...Everything we’d done...Everything we’d worked for...The friends we lost, the kin who’d died in our places...The sacrifices we made...I refused to let it end in a pointless war. I just needed more time...I needed time to think, to formulate a plan, to prepare...And she went back on everything she’d promised. She had promised not to intervene, not to get involved in a Human problem, not to make things worse...And then, she did the worst possible thing she could’ve done. She attacked while my sister was vulnerable, forced her on the defensive and took the war to our soil...She single-handedly shifted the tide of the war... She knew all of our strategies. She knew what we would not let fall and what we could sacrifice...She exploited our long history to end a war she had no stake in...In the name of peace, she destroyed my homeland, razed my ancestral house, and murdered my sister...So, I retaliated. She forced my hand, foolishly thinking I could rationalize something so monstrous. So I fought back. By the Gods did I fight! I even tricked myself into thinking I could force her out of the North. Yet, turns out all I could do was hold her back for a while. After a few months, it became clear she held the North. I'd lost too many men, I was low on supplies and morale, and I was forced to retreat back to the Archive. As I tried to figure out how to hold her off, she wasted no time catching up to me. She had the numbers, the support of her people and I... I became desperate...I did everything I could...I broke vows, burned bridges, and went above the law. I did everything I could get away with...I did what was right!...Yet I didn’t do enough.” He looked through Twilight, towards an unseen horizon, watching an encroaching flame only he could see. “She cut me down in single combat, and with the last vestiges of my power, I sealed the Archive. I believed that if not I, then someone would lead in my stead. Dawnstar, Chrysalis, Golden Hammer, an aspiring apprentice, or a noble knight...Someone would succeed me. I was just another stone in the path that all the Hierophants before me paved and I accepted my death. And then I came back. I came back to nothing. Bleakness and silence. Everything was all for nothing. My life, my struggles, my death, it all achieved nothing...Just prolonged the inevitable death of a once unconquerable empire. Celestia ended the war by ending Humanity. She made her choice when she stepped across the border with an army and a sense of righteousness and she committed to it, to the bloody end. Did she still have that sense of right when she burned Lion’s Den to the ground? Did she still believe she was the hero when she sank my sister’s sword into my chest? Did she regret it, does she still?” He asked out loud, eyes downcast and mind elsewhere. He let out a heavy sigh, “...Doesn’t matter, her feelings change nothing. It doesn’t matter what she does or says, she can’t undo something of this magnitude. She can’t make up for killing my sister, for destroying the Valetorian Empire...I understand you’re one of her followers. If you’re worried I’ll do something to you or your friends, don’t. Killing innocents, harming bystanders just to get back at her...It’s not right...She wouldn’t…” He seemed to struggle to keep talking, shaking softly and closing his eyes as he stopped himself and let out a pent up breath. “I refuse to resort to such craven actions just to get even.” “I...I knew what the Princess told me...I understood at the time that she did something terrible but...I didn’t realise…” Twilight tried to articulate her thoughts, shaken by such a raw and honest answer to her most pressing question. “I thought…” “That I was a raging, cackling monster who would stop at nothing? Consumed by rage? Oh, I have more than enough anger to fuel me, should she come after me for whatever reason she concocts, but right now, I’m more or less just...Figuring out how to rebuild from something this devastating...Well, I’m immortal still, so I guess I have all the time in the world.” He tried to joke, his tone shifting from serious to light hearted in a vain attempt to appear calm. His eyes held a deep pool of anger, but Twilight could tell there was more than just rage in there. “I don’t think she wants to-” “Trust me, I once presumed her thoughts and it cost me everything. She may seem unlikely to do much of anything right now, but give her time and she’ll find some reason to act “for the greater good”. I can’t predict her thoughts, just read them, and I know her well enough to tell you, the second she believes I’m a threat, she will come back.” He interrupted, his smile shifting to something strange. It was a knowing smile filled with condescension and doubt, as if he found some sardonic pleasure in watching Twilight mimic words he once used to convince himself. Silently, she watched him for a while as he stood up and stretched, flexing his muscles and ruffling his robes, as he tried to breath life into his stiff bones. “It’s strange, having to deal with your limbs falling asleep once more. I’m far more used to being a shapeless being...Now then, I’m sure your friends are looking for you and your builders should’ve repaired your construct. Come on, I’d hate to be a bad host and not see you all off.” He announced as he pushed his chair back into the table and picked up the faded, black book he had been writing in. “Thank you for this...Enlightening discussion.” She thanked with a nod, choosing her words carefully as she still had not yet came to the conclusion on how to feel about their first proper talk. “I needed the distraction, the Archive isn’t one for conversation.” He shrugged it off before continuing towards the doorway. “Oh! Yes, one more thing!” He said aloud, turning to face Twilight directly. “The Bibliotheca is, in a very loose sense of the word, a library and as the first new guest of some renown who holds an interest in Celestia’s and my history, I’d recommend this for some light reading.” He explained as he held out the tome he'd been writing in. It could’ve been as old as time for all Twilight knew, yet it was strangely well maintained. The surface was faded, more grey than black, and the writing was unreadable, but she knew that whatever was held within its pages was something she would find intriguing. “There’s enough history between myself and the Princesses to fill a whole wing, triple it if you want to be thorough, but that right there is a good place to start. Try not to damage it; I don’t have much use for an old journal, but I’m still an Archivist at heart. If I get my diary back and it’s damaged, we’ll need to look up the exchange rate between a valatite coin and whatever Equestrians use these days to cover the damage.” He warned. The severity of returning a damaged book was not lost on Twilight, who carefully took it and tucked it under her wing. “This is...Quite the responsibility. When do you wish to have it back?” She asked, keeping a strong grip on the tome as she feared the idea of damaging such a ancient book. “Well, I figure that we’re bound to run into each other at some point in the future. Next time you’re in my neck of the woods, feel free to drop it off. No late fees, due to the fact that we’re not fully open for business just yet.” He answered with a grin and a nod, pushing open the double doors. “Well, I’ll be sure-” “Ah, Alistair, I see you’re playing nice with these vermin.” Chrysalis all but snapped as she appeared in the doorframe, her sudden appearance scaring Twilight as the Queen looked down at her with contempt and disgust. “Letting her walk away with one of your personal books? And here I was under the assumption that those were well guarded secrets that not just any naive child could get their hooves on.” “What can I say, the Bibliotheca is under new old management. I figured that since Celestia is gonna get Twilight mixed in with our dirty laundry, she might as well read about it from a firsthand source.” He explained as he looked at Chrysalis, expecting her to step aside. “And you don’t fear she’ll use it against you? Fear she’ll derive something of importance from it?” “I hope she does find something meaningful in it; that’s why I’m giving it to her. ‘Sides, I’ve already lived through everything in there, and it’s all the early shit. The Golden Age, as a historian would put it, which I am. Now come on, I think when our guests see you, it’ll motivate them to get moving.” Alistair jested as he stood next to her with a cheeky grin. Twilight found it almost humorous when she jabbed him in the side of the stomach, but swiftly reminded herself that this was the same Queen who would gladly torture her to death, were Alistair not standing between them. Using the same gateway back to the gardens, the three leaders were quite surprised to see the gathered groups had degraded even further into chaos. Although once calm and quiet, the brawls being bet on had expanded to most of the gardens, with fighters from the Royal Guards, the Changeling Forces and Alistair’s acolytes duking it out. The Changelings were most sparring amongst themselves, but every now and then, a member of the Archivists would approach them and challenge one or two, which would lead to quite the spirited duel. Those who weren’t fighting were sitting around relaxing in the shade, occasional bouts of raucous laughter or discussion erupting amongst them. The peaceable situation was interrupted, however, when Chrysalis rallied her soldiers and reminded them that they were supposed to be treating this as a serious deployment. Taking this as a cue, the rest of the men fell in line for their respective leader. The Equestrians made their way towards the carrier with Alistair and his men in tow. As they neared, they became aware of the engineers loud complaints. “Seriously?! How do we repair this much shit with what we got?! This is buc-” “Ahem, report, engineer Gear Grinder. I see the repairs are going well.” Braeburn yelled sarcastically over her cussing, causing the agitated brown mare to slam into the bottom of the carrier before hurrying out from under it to address her superiors. She was quite surprised to see her commanding officer bruised and happy, but she was mostly surprised that the strange, and supposedly hostile, bipedal creature was standing next to him. “C-Commander! N-No sir! We’re experiencing major delays due to a lack of replacement parts and the sandstorm did a number on the undercarriage. We, uh, may be here for a while longer.” She reported, clearly stressed and upset, but still trying to look collected. “Hmm...May I have a look?” Alistair asked, as he made his way to the carrier and began examining it. Before anyone could question his actions, he placed his palms on the broken-down box and a burst of magic pulsed from him. The gathered Equestrians were shocked and amazed at the brilliant display as they watched metal mend and snap into place. It wasn’t flawless, but it was damn near spotless, as bits and pieces reconnected, many seemingly appearing out of nowhere. In a matter of seconds, he did what the small number of engineers couldn’t. “It isn’t perfect. Never worked on a construct of this scale, but I think it’ll get you from point A to point B. Now then, I believe you all have a town to return to, and you have a report to file, your highness.” He announced with a small, respectful bow as he gestured to the open bay door in the back and watched the soldiers embark. There was little spectacle and no fond farewells, just politeness and a sense of tension as Princess Twilight watched the Archive and its walls fade away on the horizon. The sun was setting, purple haze darkening the shifting sands, dim lights illuminating the innards of the carrier. Soldiers struggled to stay awake, sleeping in shifts as they waited for Appleloosa to welcome them back. The faint click and clack of strained parts faded into the background like a faint, strained lullaby that worked in tandem with the drone of the engine, compelling Twilight to rest. Her friends had already gone ahead and fallen asleep, sleeping awkwardly while strapped into their seats. Twilight however, tentatively held Alistair’s journal in her hooves and eyed it intensely, as if interrogating it for answers. She thought she’d be able to flip through a few pages and get the gist of the journal, then take a rest, content to leave the mystery for now. There would be time to dissect the taunting, inviting book at her own pace...The thought quickly derailed when she found herself unable to put the book down; she gave up her resistance and read its entirety. Most of it was written in what she assumed was the native Human language, but she was shocked when she saw notes written in fresh ink between paragraphs, in headers, along the sides, and wherever space would permit. The language was Old Equestrian and, although dated poorly, it was legible and freshly written. Suddenly, paragraphs detailing life as a Hierophant’s apprentice were understandable, with Alistair’s Equestrian captions giving an insight into his life. Sketches and drawings of a band of adventurers and random monsters were contextualised; the book was given clarity and she was fascinated. Flipping far forward, she caught snippets of disgusting beasts, reanimated Humans, and depictions of Alistair before and after what he called ‘Ascension’. It was all fascinating. But then, she came across the Princesses. An entire section was dedicated to the Princesses. At first, the images were of their little band, then it was them all reunited after they had attained their powers. It was phenomenal seeing Celestia and Luna at such a young age, but something was strange about the pictures. In time, they would become far more casual and less regal-looking, shifting from depictions of the mighty heroes to Alistair laughing alongside the sisters. The three of them seemed so...Innocent, unaware, trusting. They were true friends. It made Twilight feel...Disheartened, like rewatching a tragic play and knowing all the sweet moments and romantic scenes were for nothing. Then, things became odd. Now, it was just Alistair and Luna. Twilight saw the two in the early days of their adventures; their ragged robes gave way to shining armour as the depictions slowly became more and more lively. She saw noble battles and rigorous research turn into two mages reading books, friends dueling, and fellow nobles discussing political matters with friendly banter. Seeing Princess Luna so laid back and peaceful was peculiar and unexpected, but not unwelcome. The pictures, drawings, and paintings continued on like this for quite a while. Together with the captions, they gave a slight look into Alistair’s life. Just as she was prepared to skip ahead and find something worth questioning, she came across one hell of an attention grabber. It was a celebration that looked so joyous and lively Twilight could swear she heard the sounds of music and cheer. A painting showed countless Humans, Minotaurs, Ponies and Changelings in attendance, amidst a roaring party. A tall and imposing female Human stood beside Alistair, weeping with joy as she watched Alistair embrace a woman, an Alicorn, with unending passion. Celestia cheered on her sister, as Luna returned the passion and love tenfold. Their clothing was immaculate; her makeup and mane were done up like a blushing bride and Alistair looked like a prince, donned in a well-made, bespoke suit. They looked so alien to their real life counterparts. Stone exteriors gave way to unending love for each other, hateful eyes were instead filled with hope and tears. Future enemies stood alongside dead heroes, as they all cheered for what must’ve been a joke Alistair had created. The picture, the smiling enemies, their loving embrace, all a trick. She tried to believe Alistair was messing with her, playing some kind of unseen, psychological chess that was setting up something. Something, there had to be something telling about the picture. Something that showed it for the lie it was. But, the longer she looked, the less uncertain she was, as she examined every inch of the elaborately decorated halls, the faces of cheering friends and followers...It all felt so real. The only thing that looked out of place was Queen Chrysalis, who stood there in regalia. She smiled faintly, eyeing the pair with a subtle cheer. Reading the captions, she felt her blood run cold as her mind filled with questions. ‘The royal wedding between Alistair the Hierophant of House Leonas and Princess Luna of Equestria.’