//------------------------------// // II: Istana // Story: Princess of Infinity // by Echo 27 //------------------------------// “Let me know when we’re coming up on the shallows, I don’t want to ground us!” Celestia took her place on the bow of their young vessel, her exquisite balance keeping her positioned neatly along the edge as she stared down at the waters below her that grew ever shallower with every passing moment. The sun had come to beat down upon them ever since their exit from the fog, but every passing moment indicated the sun was soon going to fall beyond the horizon. If she was to see clearly below them, the natural light was crucial. “What do you see?” Ford called out. “It’s still deep. Keep pressing on!” Celestia replied. “Keep looking ahead, I’ll have to drop anchor before we reach the breakers!” “I am looking ahead, just be ready!” she snapped. “I’m not looking for a fight, but if we get grounded on a sandbar we’re going to be stuck for good!” Celestia knew that quite well, and he knew she knew it. Why he was so intent on simply acting as though all but he knew nothing was beyond her- The darker blue of the waters below suddenly became crystalline- “Drop anchor!” The sound of chains rushing forward crackled in the air as the heavy weight fell fast and hard into the shoreline, crashing down through the surf and quickly catching on the sea floor. Celestia braced herself but could not prepare herself in time for the sudden lurch of motion that came from their sudden halt and she stumbled into the side, nearly falling overboard. “Hey! Are you alright?” Ford was there beside her in an instant, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her back from the precarious position. “Yes, I am fine,” she said. “I can never seem to prepare for it, that is all.” Ford laughed. “You are not a creature of the sea, that is for sure,” he said. “Come on, I need your help lowering the skiff. I want to perform some reconnaissance before we head inland together.” Celestia found herself bristling at the suggestion. “I believe I can take care of myself,” she reminded him coldly. “Of that I have no doubt,” Ford said brightly, taking the ropes in hand and lowering the small craft. “However, you are still my Princess and I am responsible for your safety. I would be dishonored if harm came to you when I could’ve prevented it.” “Ford, I have not ruled a kingdom in ten years-” “And you are still my Princess, even after ten years,” he replied, her words quickly dissolving into nothing as she caught sight of the burning intensity of his gaze. “I will do my best to not be long. Keep watch for my return and only allow me aboard if I give the signal.” Celestia found herself silenced by his chivalry and helped him lower the boat into the water, watching as he hurriedly paddled towards the nearby coastline, pushing through the breaking waves and eventually making his way onshore. The land they had found hardly seemed fruitful; a spattering of rocks across a vast covering of arid desert that was pock-marked by thin, dry bushes of mesquite. It was hardly a paradise. He still sees me as a Princess, even after all these years, she thought. Blast him, all that honor and pride of his. I wish he would not be that way. Well… no, I don’t believe I do. She knew better than to allow her negative emotions to dominate her so. Ford’s steadfast loyalty and dedication had been one of primary factors in her willingness to marry him in the first place. She had hoped it would translate well from the life of a soldier to one of a fellow ruler. However, Sombra had seen to the end of that dream, at least for now. Sighing, Celestia turned away from the scenery and set to light the lamps that hung across the ship and await his return. Sunset came and night fell upon her like a cloak, the ocean now shimmering under the endless starlight that flickered and gleamed above her head. The moon was absent as the waning had come to is fullness, and all around darkness was prevalent. Celestia listened intently for any sounds of chop over the movement of the waves. The light could not aid her tonight; her senses would have to make do. He’s been gone for hours now, she thought. He could be hurt, or imprisoned. We have no idea what we are facing in this place. Sombra himself may rule here- if he has taken Ford- the thought was too horrible for her to dwell upon. Celestia took to checking the oil in the lamps, trying to busy herself and keep her mind occupied. Try as she might, all her attempts at settling her nerves failed. Finally, as the darkness of the night reached its peak, she heard the sound of wooden paddles splashing against the light evening surf, and a sudden Pop! as a flare was cast into the night. Celestia peered up into the sky and saw the golden light floating gently back down to earth and she responded with a prism of colors that were flung into the air, showering down upon the seas and illuminating the figure of Ford rowing on the skiff and coming ever closer. “Are you alright?” she called as he came nearer. “Yes, I’m fine,” he replied, though his voice spoke to exhaustion. “Throw me the rope and help me in… I am more tired than I expected to be.” As soon as the skiff was tied to he was up the side and into his wife’s arms, his body heavy from the weight of his own weakness. Celestia was kissing him gently, the two of them settling down on the deck as Ford’s weariness allowed him no ability to stand. “What have you done that exhausted you so?” she asked him. “I have earned us passage into the city. Murih, it is called,” he said, a smile speaking to adventures she had yet to know of. “It is a trade city, but a very exclusive one. If we are looking for a resupply, and any information, this shall be the place to find it.” “My brave warrior,” she whispered, caressing his cheek with a gentle trace of her fingers. “What did you do out there to keep us safe?” “I would not have been put to death, calm your fears,” he said. “But I bought us rights of entry, and that was challenge enough- as well as clothing. It will be as though we are one of their own.” “Clothing?” “Yes. It seems both men and women must be adorned in a certain manner,” Ford grunted, rising up to toss his rucksack off his shoulders. “You’ll find proper garments for you in there. I suggest we wear it when we go ashore in the morning, it should give us protection against the sun.” “Any sign of Sombra, beloved?” “Not a one,” Ford replied. “And just the way I like it.” They sat on the shoreline patiently, watching as the first of the flames began to eat and tear away at the boards that made up their ship. The mast, their sole piece of cargo that would go with them, now sat nestled in the depths of Ford’s old rucksack, covered by the remaining food and water they still possessed. Neither of them spoke a word as the flames burned away, waiting for the moment when the mast would break and splinter, ensuring their once-splendid vessel could not be traced. As soon as the heaviest item broke, the utter destruction of the ship would be assured. “I sincerely hope we are heading the right way,” Celestia murmured as they made their way into the desert towards the city. “If we just disposed of our ship for nothing, we could be stuck here a very long time.” “Most of the stalls and shops were already closed by the time I arrived last night. One of our first aims when we arrive should be to find a cartographer,” Ford replied. “The more we know of the region, the easier it will be to navigate.” “What did you say this place was called, again?” “Murih. A trade city, and it seems as though every conceivable thing was available for purchase. Food, clothing, maps, weapons, animals- even people are available for purchase, including us if we were so inclined.” “What would be the purpose of such a thing? Celestia asked, horrified at the thought. “Desperation. If you were starving and needed food, servitude in the house of a rich man would be like heaven.” Celestia said nothing, considering her husband’s garments and wondering if they were all that different from her own. The fabric was similar to silk, but felt rougher to the touch as though the sand had already marred its softness. The colors were all light, bright colors designed to reflect the harsh sunlight of the environment, and around his head was a thick scarf that only allowed exposure of his eyes and nose. “I would think one would wish to leave their face uncovered,” she remarked. “It appeared to be a cultural tradition there. All faces are hidden so no one can be accused of prejudice against a customer, I guess,” Ford replied. “Will we be in danger?” “If we will be, then I could not tell. I’m sorry, Princess.” Celestia felt that she was heading towards a potential threat, but shook off her concerns as best she could. If Sombra was nearby, she would be able to sense him and know for certain. As the sun continued to rise in the morning sky, the heat began to grow the further inland they went, the cool air of the shoreline disappearing until they were beginning to broil in the harsh sunlight. The two shared a single container of water, doing their best to lengthen its lifespan and keep their rations untouched. “After the cartographer, we need to acquire more water,” Celestia said. “And see what we can trade for more food. Our rationed items won’t last forever.” “Particularly if this desert is vast. We will burn our energy far faster.” Before the sun had reached midday, the sight of the vast city of Murih came into view, the towering citadels that guarded its entrances shining like bright beacons as sunlight reflected off the glass. Just beyond the were a mishmash of marble palaces, thatched huts of straw and mud, and worn buildings of tan brick that spoke plainly of their owner’s social class. “This place is vast- and so many different cultures,” Celestia said. “What do you know of the dialects spoken here?” “It seems the Griffons made their way out here in its formative years,” Ford replied. “It is how I spoke to them last night, they recognized the language over our own. “The Griffons were once here… and I have yet to hear of this place until now.” “The world travels. Who knows what brought them here all those years ago.” As they made their way into the city, the guards of the citadels dropped down from their perches to inspect them, checking all of their equipment and items the two carried. Celestia felt a shiver of discomfort as the man’s hardened fingers felt along her body –few had so roughly dealt with her in her lifetime, and so aggressively- but she felt him begin to relent as he caught sight of her eyes. Muttering to himself in a tongue she didn’t recognize, he backed away and spoke to his counterpart. When the two were done whispering to one another, the leader turned to Ford and said, “You are welcome in the city of Miruh, Spear-Breaker. Your Lady, if she is for sale, will fetch a high price.” “I am sold to none, and nor shall I ever be,” Celestia said proudly, disgusted by their casualness. “I belong to no one but myself.” The two guards seemed unfazed. “And who would even be able to pay such a price that you would fetch?” he remarked. “You are as beautiful as any jewel I have ever seen.” The sudden switch from harsh words to lavish praise unnerved her, and Celestia was more than grateful that Ford hurried them along into the city and they were soon lost in the throng of people that made up the city of Miruh. As Ford had previously mentioned to her, every possible item was up for auction in this city-wide marketplace. A pair of old maids haggled over the price of fresh dates while just nearby a trio of young girls danced for a crowd of men, the lovely women adorned in fine garments and chains made of gold to aid in their tempting the hearts of the men who watched, hoping to acquire themselves a husband rather than a new master. Just beyond a dog sat on the side of the road nursing a litter of puppies while young children cooed and played with the young creatures as their parents inspected the freshly caught fish that lay upon rows of shelves. “This places makes the Canterlot marketplace look positively quaint in comparison,” she whispered. “I did not exaggerate. Everything can be bought here, even information. And that is exactly what we are seeking. Keep your eyes open for a cartography booth,” Ford replied. Before too long the couple were busy in trades of their own, Celestia’s cache of jewels and treasures coming in handy for hefty bargains of fruit, vegetables, and dried meats that would help them survive the harsh environment. Water came soon after, and before too long a cartographer was seen; Celestia took charge in the transaction, displaying a show of dominance that left her husband wide-eyed. “I did not know you could be so shrewd, Tia,” he remarked, eating slowly from a bag of dried fruit. “And where did you learn to haggle like that?” “Since I was able to read the emotions of people,” she answered. “He does not know it, but what I gave him was priceless. It will feed his family for weeks.” “Well, we have our own supplies. My lance is still in fighting condition, and we have no need for new clothing. What is our next objective?” “A place to stay,” Celestia said. “Until we find our next destination we should remain here. If this is a valued trade city then what we are looking for should eventually make its way here.” “I agree. But where do you think we should start?” “Off the beaten path. The folk who were born here likely do not leave since the money comes to them. What we want are the outsiders, people who have traveled.” “So people like us,” Ford said. “Keep your eyes peeled.” The city’s endless marketplaces began to peter out the further away from the center they went, plunging into its depths as stalls and shops turned into homes and mansions, and eventually slums and shanties that were packed to the brim with people to the point of overcrowding. Mangy dogs paraded through the roads as though the very streets were their lord and master while the poor folk that inhabited these crude dwellings worked diligently to care for their own; homes lay covered in patchwork repairs that stood out like sore thumbs, laundry lay on racks under the scorching sun to dry and denizens walked by with jugs of water to be filled and returned home. Celestia guessed that if she was to peer inside any of these dwellings, the entirety of what she would see would have been smaller than her old bedroom back in Canterlot. “They have so little, yet seem so happy,” she said softly. “Just one trinket we carry would be enough to change their lives forever.” “They have clothing, food, shelter, and one another. The rest are simply luxuries that we have come to find commonplace,” Ford replied. “It is hard to miss what you have never known.” As they roamed through the winding streets, the afternoon sun became the early evening warmth and the shopkeepers of the marketplace began to return to their homes, the dingy streets suddenly coming alive with light and activities as lamps were lit outside patchwork homes and families reunited. Celestia breathed it all in as dozens of exquisite scents filled her nostrils and she watched as families began their evening meals. She felt a grumbling below and knew they would have to eat soon. “Struggling at the sight, are we?” Ford was looking over at her with a smile on his face. His voice was teasing, but her hunger had turned her grumpy and she responded with little kindness to spare. “I am perfectly fine, thank you. Your remarks are unnecessary, as you well know.” “Oh, do please lighten up,” he said, his voice suddenly falling flat. “I am only teasing you out of love. Can you not tell the difference any longer?” Celestia knew the difference, but her sullen turn would not afford her to admit it. “Perhaps we should just find our evening dwellings and rest for the night. This city is too vast for us to explore in one day-” “You there!” The voice was so shrill, so raspy that the two of them nearly leapt out of their skin in fright. Celestia turned to her right and saw, kneeling beneath a threadbare covering that had once been a tent, an ancient-looking woman covered in a thick, muddied cloak that hid her eyes from view. “Yes, you!” she said, somehow taking note of her subject’s hesitancy. “I see your heart in the mist, do not be afraid.” “Your heart..?” Ford’s hand was at his side where a dagger lay ready to be unsheathed. “Not yet,” she cautioned him, coming towards the old woman and settling down before her. “There we are… an ancient thing, aren’t you?” The woman regarded her with bleary eyes that hardly seemed worthy of granting clarity, yet somehow had pierced through Celestia like an arrow. “Yes… an Alicorn. I once thought your kind had all but left this mortal world.” “And how do you know what I am?” Celestia asked. “I am a descendant of your kind. A long, forgotten marriage bore my family many thousands of years ago. Even my old eyes can still recognize one of my distant kin.” The woman’s voice was humorous as though she was delighted to say such things. “Who are you?” Ford asked bluntly. “I am called Eiraf, though that is not my name. I am a speaker of hidden things. And today, dear Alicorn, I am bidden to speak to you.” Ford stole a quick glance at his wife before reverting his attention back to the old woman, still seemingly uncertain of her trustworthiness. “Stay your hand, man! I seek no ill will against your beloved,” she said with disdain. “I know your cause, and what you seek. Perhaps I could guide you on your way?” Sombra. “What have you seen, old soothsayer?” Celestia asked quietly. “Hmm…” the old woman plucked a scraggly gray hair from her scalp, twisting it in her fingers as she seemingly examined it before them. “A single thread from my own head, it seems. One of many countless thousands, all kept upon a single, fixed point. An infinite amount, one might say. Do you understand infinity, young Alicorn? It certainly understands you.” “I am confused.” “You seek something ancient. More ancient than even you or I could possibly hope to understand. Immortality in the palm of your hand. Yes, I know your intent,” Eiraf said quickly, somehow taking note of Celestia’s shock. “And there may yet be a place that holds it. Something beyond time and light and life of this world. And she is called the Palace of Infinity.” “The Palace of Infinity..?” “A most ancient place. A vast gateway to an unseen realm, guarded by a mighty gatekeeper that offers wrath or mercy to those who seek its treasures. In it are said to lie countless worlds- a vast web of kingdoms and places and peoples that are beyond even our understanding. Some dismiss it as myth, mere rumor- for who has entered the Palace and returned to tell of its tales? But there on that lonely island does the Palace wait, sleeping until one can seal it shut forever and fulfill its weary destiny.” “And you say this place is real?” Ford asked. “Of course it is, man. Travelers fear the sight of it, and all maps speak to its danger. On a lonely mountaintop does it sit, waiting for you,” Eiraf said. “There you may find what you so deeply long for, if you can survive the trial that awaits you- and if the Gatekeeper deems you worthy of the challenge.” “There… Ford, the Philosopher’s Stone is there. This is what we’re looking for, after all these years!” Celestia said triumphantly, reaching inside Ford’s rucksack for their freshly purchased map. “We need to head there first thing in the morning, make our way to it-” “The choice will bring you suffering. No matter what step ye take next,” Eiraf warned. “Seek it not, and yet another treasure you may find- but that path has not been shown to me. But if the Palace is your true intent, be warned: something… bleeds from within its heart. Infinity has been torn asunder by a darkness, and the blackness now festers like a creeping poison. Even if you enter… none can guarantee you would ever return.” The moonlight shone bright upon the desert city, the fine marble of the grander buildings reflecting its pale whiteness until the whole city dazzled like a priceless diamond before all who gazed upon it. Deep in the city center, its lamps still burning, lay a small, comfortably furnished hotel that housed some of its many travelers, one of whom now stood atop the building and pondered his thoughts. “Ford! Please, I need you here!” Celestia lay on a luxurious bed that lay adorned with fine silk, its colors seemingly royal. To Ford, this was the closest thing that had felt like home since their departure, and he found its soft warmth comforting. “Do you ever look up at the moon and wonder if your sister is out there watching?” he asked her. “Every time I see it, I know she is,” Celestia replied. Her voice had suddenly become low. “Please, Ford, do not mention it.” “I didn’t mean to cause harm-” “I know you didn’t. But these surroundings, even just thinking of her…” she felt a lump in her throat suddenly grow strong. “It is not an easy thing to endure.” “So you miss home as well,” he said, settling in beside her. “Of course I miss it,” she said sharply, looking at him as though she found his words foolish to behold. “Do you think I left because I wish to be gone? Think of what we had in our grasp, Ford! The life you and I had been hoping for was almost in reach- if Sombra had not shown himself, we would still be there, we would be at peace, and- and none of this… Ford, please just help me do my best to decipher these charts. If we’re to make our way to the Palace, then we need to have a well-defined course before we depart tomorrow.” “Right, right…” Ford’s voice had quieted, and he hardly dared to look his wife in the eye. “I’m no mariner, but the waters here surrounding the peninsula seem to be marked as being potentially dangerous to traverse. So I suggest we head towards this port town here, and try to make landfall right about… here, a third of the way up the peninsula and just simply make the rest of it by foot.” “The map of the region gives little detail to the surrounding terrain, also,” Celestia added, “though the soothsayer we spoke to said that the Palace is atop a mountain, which means we’ll need to be able to survive the temperature change- and be capable of traversing unfriendly terrain. How far a distance is it to the Easifa Sea?” Ford set to work at the map’s legend, measuring the lengths before returning his focus back to the map. “About sixty miles. If we maintain pace steadily enough, we should make it in a little more than three days. After that, a straight path from the coastline to the Agios Peninsula should be about a hundred miles, with a day’s journey until we reach the Palace. Beyond that… it’s going to be about the terrain and making our way up there. We simply won’t know until we get there.” “And we will get there. We’ll find our way to the Palace, and find what’s inside,” Celestia said. “You speak of it like it’s so easy,” Ford said. “But when we’re heading towards something called the Palace of Infinity, I find myself somewhat intimidated. We’re facing against something we don’t really have any understanding of. Yes, a Philosopher’s Stone may be inside, but on the word of an ancient soothsayer? Not to mention her words speaking of a ‘bleeding heart’ inside it. We may be heading into something intentionally hostile towards us.” “What do we have to fear? Am I not capable of leading us into the dark?” “The last time you faced off against Sombra, it took you, Luna, Cadance, and Twilight combined to simply drive him away- not kill him, Celestia. Drive him off. We haven’t seen him for ten years, what if he took refuge in the Palace and he’s found a way to accelerate his powers? Or, what if something worse is in there? Sombra was a servant of something you and I can’t really imagine, what if it is in there waiting for us? There’s not a chance we’d make it out alive.” “And what do you suggest we do, then? Nothing? Let Sombra delve into a whole host of worlds and strip it bare for his own purposes?” Celestia challenged. “If he has a Philosopher’s Stone in possession then he is capable of creating an endless army, and that would be more than enough to blight out an entire universe-” “I’m not saying we do nothing! I’m saying we need to be ready for the worst!” Ford replied hotly. “Can you please stop believing I think so little of you? I am not going to depart from your side, not for a heartbeat- but you need to think of this threat like I do. Like someone who knows what it’s like to fear death, because we may not make it out of there alive. I… I simply want you to be ready for that possibility.” Celestia let the thought sink in, and felt an image sear its way across her brain; Ford’s body broken and torn beyond repair, his deep eyes and their light left empty and void, his spirit having gone to a place far beyond where sound nor sight, nor anything of this world could reach him. It was enough to chill her bones- but soon the thought shifted and whirled about like mist until she saw herself beside him, bloodied and beaten beyond anything she had ever known, her soul long having left a forsaken land behind for greener shores, where no pain nor sorrow could ever reach. “As long as we accomplish our task, nothing else matters,” she said calmly. “If it means my life, then so be it. The world can live without me.” “Can I?” Celestia smiled softly. “You would not have to for long.” The journey across the empty desert began before the morning sun had even risen on the eastern horizon. Their packs now heavier than when they had first arrived, their hopes for a speedy march across the forbidding terrain were soon extinguished. Their loads were more than enough to slow them down, and the weight combined with the heat was intolerable. Even Celestia, who drew strength from the sun, found herself struggling underneath the unrelenting presence of the scorching heat. “Isn’t there any sort of magic you can summon to bring some relief for this?” Ford inquired of her. “I hate to complain, but if we want to make good time we’re going to need some luck on our side.” “I might have a few ideas. But they won’t last long, not in this weather,” Celestia replied, shuffling her hands together as vapor escaped from her palms and took form as small rainclouds, hovering over their heads and providing small shade and relief. “I’m sorry, but I can only have it last for so long. The more magic I use-” “The more energy you spend. We’ll take what we can get,” Ford said bracingly. “Come on, let’s not stop here, lest the sun broil us.” The trip across the desert was unpleasant, but soon came to an end as all things do, and the fishing village of Alsaimak eventually came into view alongside the gleaming waters of the Easifa Sea, the clear-blue waters appearing tantalizing fresh and inviting to the sand-covered travelers. However tempting it appeared, the two knew better than to be distracted. Fresh water was purchased, as well as charter to the Peninsula onboard a fishing vessel set to depart early the next morning. “Do you trust them?” Celestia asked. “I know too little of these people to consider them trustworthy,” Ford replied. “However, no soul in a village this small would dare sell me their livelihood, no matter what jewelry we toss their way. We will simply have to be on our guard until the journey is complete.” “And what does our charter predict the length of our journey will be?” “Two days, and he believes he can get us close to the mountain. Which means a little less travel time on foot.” “We’ll need it.” The two sat in anxious silence as the ambient sounds of the nearby waves and gulls soaring overhead filled their ears. The mere sounds of life were enough to fill one’s heart with peace and calm, but the anticipation of their intended destination was enough to unsettle their thoughts. For better or worse, the final destination was soon to arrive. “I mean no discord by my words, Princess,” Ford said hesitantly, “but are you certain we will find what we seek in this Palace? We could be walking headfirst into a trap. I do not wish to see you come to harm.” “I am certain as I can be. And what gives you hesitancy? Surely I am not unpleasant to talk you.” Ford seemed to struggle to find his voice again. “No, Princess. You and I are simply not what we once were. This journey has cost us something already. I do not wish for it to cost more.” Celestia felt her heart twist for him. Ford’s life had been fraught with peril already, and more than once had caused his blood to spill. He had begun to finally grow old, and his desire for a peaceful life grew stronger with every passing year. The warrior within him was starting to fade. She leaned in and kissed his cheek gently, her lips eventually finding their way to his as she tried to soothe his tired nerves. “We’ll have a life together someday, beloved,” she whispered. “Keep believing, keep hoping. You and I will find happiness again.” The morning came swift and early, and the two soon found themselves back on the ocean surface and moving swiftly along as the current carried them out to sea, aided by a strong western wind. As though the very elements had decided to urge them along, the vessel began to make excellent time, and the sailors aboard presented gifts and thanks to Celestia, whom they declared to be their lady of fortune. The captain even requested that the two delay their departure until their voyage had been completed, wishing for Celestia’s presence when their fishing run began. As politely as she could manage, Celestia declined. Soon, the calm waters of the open ocean disappeared and became turbulent, the Agios Peninsula looming before them in a formidable trail of pale-white rock that looked more akin to the spine of a long-dead behemoth than natural earth, pock-marked by pinpricks of dark green and grey that they assumed to be vegetation. “I’ll have the ship brought in as close as I can manage, my friend,” the captain said to them. “Though I would as you reconsider. That mountain is cursed. It’s said to be guarded by a monster.” “Monster and a curse? That sounds like myth created to keep people afraid,” Ford remarked. “The both of them together is too much to be real.” “Please, I beg you both to go another way. You’ve brought us so much fair fortune already, your presence alone would turn the village into a true city. If you go up that mountain you’ll never come back.” “We will not be swayed, captain,” Celestia said calmly. “Please bring the ship into the shallows so my husband and I can depart. We still have a formidable journey ahead of us.” The captain appeared unwilling to acquiesce to her request but relented nonetheless, ordering his helmsman to bring the ship into shallower waters, the crew working alongside Celestia and Ford to begin lowering the skiff. The two soon departed and made their way inland, Ford commandeering the oars to begin their last push over the breakers and onto the beach. Already half a day’s journey from the foot of the mountain, the great spire of stone stood formidable and imposing, its peak hidden behind the low clouds as though a ring of white kept its contents from view. Perhaps it was their imagination, but a slow, vengeful grumble could be heard in the air as they approached, as though the land knew an outsider had come with the intent to trespass. “Heaven help you both. That mountain may lead into the skies, but it’s the road to Hell,” said the crew, already pushing back into the water and returning to the awaiting ship. “They’re genuinely terrified. Myth or not, whatever that mountain holds scares them half to death,” Ford said. “And that makes me wonder just how much we heard is truly rumor,” Celestia replied. “Listen to this place, Ford! There is no birdsong, hardly a whisper of wind. Just that grumbling that seems to echo endlessly.” “The ground is dry here, and the vegetation looks almost rotted. Like something came along this place and just… made it all fall apart.” Ford reached down to a nearby bush and took a small stem in his hands, snipping it off and watching the wood and leaves crumble into dust at his fingers. “It’s like a disease…” “Don’t touch it again. This whole place is ill at ease.” Ford was perturbed. “So what is making that rumble, then? You’re not saying it’s something alive, are you?” “I don’t know what it is, Ford. But something already knows we are here.” Their journey toward the foot of the mountain began in earnest, the low grumbling that reverberated through the air the only ambience that met their ears beyond the hushed sound of their own footsteps. Each breath was laborious. The weight of their equipment hung upon them all the more heavily and seemed intent on bringing them to their knees. Even Ford, the ever-stalwart soldier, struggled to keep his pace as they marched towards the mountain. “This place is not natural,” he breathed, wiping off a thick layer of sweat from his brow. “The air feels like sulfur against my throat. No wonder no living creature wishes to dwell in this place.” “Something ill awaits us at that mountain. Look at this trail we walk upon.” Ford examined the bare dirt beneath his feet. “What am I supposed to be seeing?” “If no one ventures here, why is this pathway so defined and clean? Surely grass would be growing in the cracks of the soil,” Celestia said. “This is not a path, Ford. Something cut through the earth and poisoned it.” “Sombra.” “We will make camp at the foot of the mountain tonight and rest. In the morning, we make our climb.” “Does any part of it look favorable to you?” Ford asked, staring up at the mountain with distaste. “The vile thing looks as treacherous as any monster I’ve ever seen- and still we cannot see its peak!” Indeed they could not, for though the clouds had parted and allowed the thin rays of the sun to come down upon them, a thick layer of fog yet remained to obscure the mountain’s jagged peak, something Ford found to be of little comfort. “Something is hidden up there, I’m certain of it.” “And what deserved to be hidden from the view of corrupted men more than a gateway to infinity?” Celestia replied. “Come, we are almost at the mountain base.” The darkness had already fallen by the time they arrived at the foot of the peak, the low rumbling that had echoed across the peninsula now a steady growl like that of a furious beast. Too tired to properly set up the camp or even keep watch, the two simply unfolded their sleeping mats and immediately fell into a restless sleep, their dreams mired in images of teeth, claws, and shadows. “Before we make our climb, we need to have something to eat. No, I will not budge,” Ford said, taking note of Celestia ready to protest. “It has been nearly a day since we ate, Princess. If we are to traverse a mountain we’ll need all the energy we can get. So let us be done with it.” A quick breakfast of dried fruit and beef was all their anxious stomachs could handle and they soon departed, both eager to have it done. Celestia’s mind was racing as she considered possibilities of just what was awaiting them. What was the Palace really? Had Sombra already come here? If he had a Philosopher’s Stone in hand, why had he not simply begun his march of conquest? And if he was indeed here, were they walking into a trap? “Look- the path leads up as though it was carved,” Ford said. “Perhaps this place was once inhabited.” “Or perhaps a place of worship. Either way, it means our journey up may be less difficult than we imagined,” Celestia said, feeling heartened by the fact. Their climb began steadily, the path indeed winding around the mountain in a trail that seemed to go ever on. Little change in the path could be seen, beyond a few noted clumps of rock that may have once been ancient markers for travelers. Indeed it was so simple a journey that Celestia would not have noticed any change at all if the peninsula had not begun to diminish far below them. For one who had ruled in a city on a mountain, the view to the great depths below made her feel lightheaded. One wrong move, and the fall would be her last. “We’re coming up on the ring of fog,” Ford said bracingly. “How are you managing so far?” “Well, all things considered,” she replied. “I am surprised. I figured the lack of oxygen would have hindered us well before now.” “I agree. Instead, the air feels fresher, richer here than it did at the mountain base. It is strange… Do you have any explanation for it?” “None at all,” she answered. The path continued on until the fog lay like a thick sheet just above their heads, their gaze unable to penetrate through it and see what lies beyond. Ford reached out and brushed through it with his fingers, his hand moving slowly against the layer. “It feels more like the ocean than fog,” he murmured. “I’ve never felt anything like it.” “Are you alright?” Ford hesitated. “Princess… something- I do not know how to say it. Something is not natural about all this. This fog acts like a doorway- a threshold to something. I fear that the moment we pass through our presence will be made known to… to whatever waits for us in this place.” “I can take the lead if you are afraid,” Celestia offered. “No. No, I can still manage,” Ford said. “I am still responsible for your safety, so… simply be ready.” With one long, slow breath that shuddered as he drew it, Ford marched steadily forward and plunged into the fog. His ears popped and a shrieking roar made them burst, the very air shuddering with the bellowing sound and it was all he could do to not fall to his knees in agony. The roar continued on and on until it finally fell into a weak sigh and disappeared, its effect still evident on Ford’s now taught features. It was as he had feared: their hopes of a discreet journey were to be dashed. All around he saw as though through a haze. The rock shifted and contorted into shapes and figures seemed to dance at the edge of his vision. Further up the path he saw an obscured shape lying against the rock, and he squinted. Surely that was not a person he saw? His dagger drawn, Ford approached the shape until it came into view at last- His heart turned inside his chest. Before him knelt a corpse, assuredly dead though its flesh had yet to rot. It had been left in a kneeling position, head bowed and hands pressed down against the stone beneath it as though it had been in prayer. Hardly daring to believe himself, Ford reached out and gently tapped the body, feeling skin dried and leathery beneath his fingers. How long had it been here? A day? A week? A century? He looked beyond it and saw more lying along the path upwards, all dead yet having fallen in a posture of reverence before they had passed. What could have done this to them? “Ford? Are you alright?” The call was enough to make him nearly leap out of his skin and Ford jerked around to see Celestia standing behind him, staring at the holy line of corpses that silently guarded their path onwards. “What in heaven…” “Do you know what could have done this?” Ford asked, his voice unnaturally high. “I don’t know. It’s strange… these people appear ancient, yet their bodies are still perfectly preserved. Not a scratch upon them, nor signs of decay. It is as though time holds them in place.” “So we’re on the right track,” Ford said, trying to sound confident and failing spectacularly. Celestia took his hand in hers and together they continued up the path. “Let us continue on. Together, I think.” The two continued their march upwards, past the statuesque corpses that seemed poised to reach out and grab them from beyond the ether, a silent parade of the dead that heralded their arrival to the mountain’s peak. “They must have come to worship here once,” Celestia murmured. “But what could have done this to them?” “I feel we are about to discover for ourselves. The clouds are beginning to break.” The world contorted and twisted before their very eyes, the impenetrable cover of fog slowly melting away as light poured through and broke it into a thousand scattered pieces. The blinding beams of sunlight flashed and took away their sight before relenting, revealing a smooth pathway of snow-white marble, with rows upon rows of exquisite columns of flawless stone erected along the sides. Onward the marble road went until it came to a glorious building that seemed to gleam with the very colors of the sky itself. “The Palace of Infinity,” Celestia said. “We have arrived.” It was a thing more beautiful than anything ever crafted by the hands of mortal men, its walls of stone white as the clouds on a summer’s day, with flecks of gold shimmering under the sunlight. Its gates, heavy and wrought by the most skilled of hands, shone with the light of sapphires and its iron guardians that stood by its side held blades of fine crystal, pure and unblemished to the eye. Its doors were of finest silver, with a carpet of deep red draped across its stairs. Never before since the early days of the world had such a thing been seen by the eyes of the created ones, when the Rìgh-Nasach roamed the earth and reveled in the mighty works of their hands. “We are trespassers here, Celestia,” Ford said, his voice thin and eager for flight. “We should go before we are discovered.” “We cannot go back now. Not when the goal lies before us.” She took the lead, her hands beginning to glow with the radiance of the sun as her powers manifested themselves. “Whoever is here will have already seen our entrance. If they wished us dead, we would already be so.” “Then I will follow… Heaven preserve us, my very bones tremble at the sight of this place!” Ford hissed. “My eyes are unworthy of this sight.” Even Celestia, a far greater being than her husband, could sense the holiness of this place, and her heart threatened to quail at the mere sight of the Palace. What she now looked upon was forged by mightier beings than she had ever known, and perhaps mighty things still guarded it. Though she wished otherwise, she proceeded onwards with Ford close behind, past the iron guardians and arriving at the doors. “Do we knock?” Ford asked. “I suppose we must,” she replied, taking the handle in her grasp and slamming it hard, the powerful sound echoing across the plateau a thousand times before disappearing into the clouds. Slowly, as though bidden by an unseen force, the doors opened for the pair of travelers and revealed nothing but darkness within, beckoning them to their fate. “Something lies in wait for us here.” Ford’s hand was already armed, his spear drawn and ready for combat. “I believe you are right. Stay at the ready,” Celestia whispered, and the two entered- The doors shut with such force that the gust of air expelled by it nearly toppled them from their feet. The weak light that had graced their first footfalls disappeared immediately and all around them was an impenetrable darkness that offered no mercy or respite from the inky blackness- “I cannot find the door!” Ford cried. “Light! Give me light!” “Then light you shall have!” A voice crashed like thunder and suddenly a great burst of light shined forth and dazzled them, the deep shadows transformed into a great whiteness that burned their eyes. Ford cried out and shielded himself from the sudden blast, Celestia covering her eyes as she tried to find the source of it all. “Who are you? What do you want of us?” she called out. “And who art thou that trespasses upon my domain, the charge given to me by my masters?” The voice continued to thunder, the light still bearing down harsh against the trespassers. “I am an Alicorn. Celestia, Keeper of the Sun, Princess of Equestria. This is my husband, Lord Saber Ford who guards me from harm, of the mortal men. I beg of you, cease your light and have mercy on us!” “An Alicorn? The divided people, charged with the welfare and guidance of this world? What has driven thee from your realm?” “I seek an ancient evil. A foe who seeks to destroy my people and burn the world to ash. He seeks a power here within these walls!” “And shall ye be enough to quench his fire? Or shall darkness smite thee, as it has so many before you?” “I will not let it be so!” Celestia heard a cry and knew Ford was nearing the point of collapse. “Now please, relent this light lest my husband fall before it!” The voice considered the plea for a time before finally relenting, the unrelenting gleam finally fading until a gentle brightness pervaded across the great hall. Celestia turned to Ford, finding him on his knees and trembling from the sight. “Are you hurt?” she asked. “I am doomed. I am man and yet have seen glory beyond all. I am a man who will die!” he cried. “Take heart. Your death is not to be upon my hands. Rise to thy feet, Guardian.” Celestia turned to see a great figure walking towards them, adorned in the very light of the heavens in all their splendor. His shape was that of man, his garments of finery that seemed clothed with every star and shape that could be seen in the sky and all aglow. Upon his head was a magnificent crown of soft fire, its many tongues flickering white hot yet no scent of burning flesh could be found in the air. “So ye have come at last. The Alicorns have come to fulfill their promise,” he said. “Who are you?” “I am the Sanctelior. The keeper of this Palace and its gate. The one who dwells upon the very edge of infinity.” “That is why we have come,” Ford grunted, rising to his feet. “Master of the Palace of Infinity, we seek to enter the domain which you guard.” “Ye shall not enter. The road is shut to your kind, and she alone may enter,” the Sanctelior replied. “She is my wife, my Princess. She is my charge, and her safety concerns me above all other matters,” Ford protested. “Do not relieve me of my duties now, here at the end of all things.” “And you believe this to be the end of your journey? Your beginnings have only just been written. The first page has been turned, and now the true story must be found. But what lies beyond this place is not meant for the eyes of fallen Man. It is a right revoked of you.” “By who? Who has the right to separate what has been joined together?” Celestia asked. “We are one in flesh, Great Keeper of the Palace. Do not take my greatest strength from me now when it will be of uttermost need.” “The right to give and revoke such titles is an ancient things, Alicorn,” the Sanctelior said. “This journey you wish to undertake is to a once-holy place, marred by your kinfolk who rejected your Maker. Within the world beyond runs a rampant darkness, its servants now great and powerful. The will of Man is easily swayed; if he travels with you, your doom is as certain as his own.” “You say I will kill her, then?” Ford said. “Yet you speak of an evil within this place. You are its guardian, are you not? How could you allow such a thing as an Umbra to enter within it?” “My will is not my own. As your Makers commands you, so I have been commanded. I do not seek to question but merely obey as I have been made.” “And I am Man, and it is our right to question and choose!” Ford replied. “I have already seen great evil, and I know what awaits us. Do not force my beloved to enter into the domain you safeguard without me, and thus separate us forever.” “And what answer shall ye give, Alicorn? If he enters alongside thee, your doom shall be found alongside his own and never shall it leave you.” The Sanctelior’s words were a challenge and she knew it, his ironshod gaze boring into her like a sharpened blade. Her mind flickered- should she leave Ford behind? She hardly dared to consider the thought. “He is to me and me alone. I shall share in the doom of Man!” The Sanctelior appeared pleased by the strength of her response, throwing aside his cloak and revealing the rest of the great hall to them, an endless space dotted by columns of black stone that stood beside a flowing path of crimson carpet towards a flickering threshold. “So shall it be, then!” the Sanctelior cried out, his voice yet again thundering across the halls. “The Alicorn shall go forth with the Doom of Man, and to them I bequeath my gifts and power to aid them in their task! Till the Shadow is cleansed from within this world, Time shall have no grasp upon thee, nor shall its mark be made upon thy face! Thou art immortal in the likes of the greatest of all things, and great will be your journey! Now go, and fulfill the ancient promise of your people, and bring justice to this lost world.” The Sanctelior stepped aside and granted them egress, Ford and Celestia walking forward towards the flickering threshold, the sight of it causing their hairs to stand on end. “Such a sight I have never seen in all my years,” Celestia whispered. “The life that must thrive within it!” “A world marred by Sombra. He will be waiting for us, you must know that,” Ford said. “Of that I have no doubt.” The two of them stood at the very edge of the threshold, watching its soft tendrils of white vapor flicker outward as though it felt the presence of life before it. It was a strange thing, a gateway of metal and iron the likes of which they had never seen before, and voices seemed to whisper from within it. “We could be in here for a very long time,” Ford said. “I know.” “So we shall go nevertheless?” “We shall.” Ford nodded, taking her hand in his and clutching tightly. “Then we go together, once more into the breach.” Celestia took one last breath and plunged forth into the ether, her vision disappearing in the cloud of white.