Jimsonweed led us deeper into the stacks to what appeared to be a dead end. There were bookshelves to three sides of us and nothing of particular interest. I wondered if she was playing some weird joke on us when she went climbing up the shelves and skittering along them like some bug. We watched her partially pull out three separate books from two different shelves.
There was a clicking sound, and Roger and I gasped as simultaneously a bookshelf slid into place behind us while the bookshelf in front of us silently slid out of the way. A new path revealed a stairway that led down into the dark. Well, if you are looking for an adventure, a secret passageway is a good place to start.
"Tada! Welcome to the restricted section!" Jimsonweed exclaimed. "Every one of the more important libraries in Equestria has one, although some are more impressive than others. Honestly, they are pretty predictable to find—always a secret passageway with book triggers. You just have to find the right book triggers."
"How many of these more important libraries are there?" Roger asked with unmistakable fascination.
Jimsonweed returned to the ground and shrugged. "This one, Canterlot, the Castle of the Two Sisters, I assume there is one at the Hallowed Shades. Canterlot and this one are easier to access. The Castle of the Two Sisters requires you to brave the Everfree Forest, which isn't safe but can be done. The Hallowed Shades one requires you to go down into the Well of Shade, which could very well be a suicide mission. There were others in ancient times, but even the locations of those cities are lost."
"Why is the Hallowed Shades one a suicide mission?" I asked with a peep.
The filly flattened her ears. "Just because the night ponies are superstitious about the place doesn't mean they're wrong to be. All the greatest ancient mind magic users made their last stand down there. I'm not one to believe in ghosts, but I'm not sticking my hoof into a place where there was that much mind magic going on from desperate, vengeful, and probably by that point insane ponies. I don't want to guess what that leaves behind. Magic entities and curses are a thing and a thing you should take seriously."
"Um...what's in the restricted section?" I asked as I warily stared down the staircases.
"Old books, scrolls, stone and crystal tablets, sometimes artifacts, it depends on what library you go to," Jimsonweed answered. "There are ponies with private collections as well, old families, but libraries typically have more in one place. They can be restricted because they are original copies of records or information that the princesses don't want the general public to know about. Celestia is very keen on restricting knowledge. She keeps Equestria in a perpetual dark age and tries to keep knowledge from advancing. She's a tyrant—a nice tyrant, but still a tyrant."
"I don't understand. Why would she do that?" Roger asked. "Why try to halt progress?"
"She thinks it is dangerous, destructive, and can ruin the environment," Jimsonweed replied with a sniff. "Did you know ponies here invented the train long before Earth did? I know, hard to believe, but it is true. All the train lines Equestria has are ancient and only get maintenance; no new lines added. The Crystal Empire had been gone a thousand years, but the train line leading up here remained in place the entire time, inactive. All they had to do to get ponies here right away after it returned was clear some snow from the tracks and make some minor repairs. If tech had been allowed to progress normally, then Equestria could have been far ahead of Earth by this point, but no, Celestia wasn't having that. It must make her temperature rise thinking about how she can't keep ponies in the dark about all this tech anymore after contact with Earth."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
She nodded. "There are books down there that detail the building of the train lines and record Celestia putting strict limits on what could be built. She was willing to build some lines because it made transport and movement over land more manageable, but only to a certain extent. People think the nobles prevent the spread of cell phones and the internet to Equestria, but it is Celestia whispering and nudging them. She doesn't want that here. Take it from the filly who the sun princess can't successfully lie to."
"How could they be so advanced if this world is so much younger than our own?" Roger asked in disbelief.
Jimsonweed chuckled. "You're really dense; you know that? Yes, this is a younger world, but it has nearly two million years of civilization with only occasional interruption. Earth can't compare with that. The current races in Equestria may have far less history than human civilization, but they weren't starting from scratch. There were other species, now long gone, that built and developed empires on this world before ponies and the other current races of this world even became intelligent species. They might not have understood all the stuff they found when they ransacked old ruins, but what they could understand was enough to give them a better starting point for civilization than humans ever got on Earth. It allowed them to effectively skip the Neolithic and go straight to the Bronze or Iron Age. That's a big head start on building a civilization. Imagine if humans could have started building the pyramids at ten thousand BC instead of two thousand BC. How far would they have advanced by now? That's an eight thousand year head start."
Something clicked in my head. "And you've been sneaking into the restricted section for a long time, haven't you? That's how you know so much."
"Not as dumb as you look, but it doesn't take much to do that. I don't expect much intelligence from a walking ball of lard," Jimsonweed said snidely. She then gestured with a wing to follow her. "Come on. I want to show you my current interest. If one of you two dufuses make Dreamwarden, you could turn out being useful down the line in helping me figure it out."
That filly was really hard to like—sad foalhood or not.
We followed her down and entered a big crystal chamber illuminated by a few glowing crystals on the walls. There was a single shelf that was filled to the brim with scrolls, a simple table with four chairs, and the walls were packed with items sealed away in crystal.
"The scrolls are transcriptions, translations, and descriptions of the items that are sealed away," Jimsonweed explained. "It is rare that anypony comes down here and rarer still that any object is removed from the crystal. Some of those objects are extremely delicate or potentially dangerous to handle. Sealing them in crystal keeps them and us safe. The stupid thing to do would be to take them out. Don't try to do the stupid thing."
I wouldn't even know how to take anything out of the crystal. It wasn't like I was going to sit there bucking the crystal to try to break through.
Roger and I went down and started looking at the items sealed in crystal while keeping a safe distance so we didn't touch anything. There were old tattered scrolls, some tablets, books that looked like they were ready to fall apart if you sneezed on them, and small objects, including several figurines of ponies, what looked like a music or jewelry box, a gem with so many facets it looked almost like a perfectly round ball, a mirror that didn't give a reflection, a sewing needle, what I was almost certain was a gun, and a decrepit stuffed pony doll that brought back uncomfortable memories of Sha'am Maut's doll.
"Here we go!" Jimsonweed exclaimed as she unfurled a scroll on the table. "The detailed account of the idiot unicorn mages breaking the Great Sunstone."
"What sunshine?" I asked as I walked over to look at the scroll.
"The Great Sunstone. Pay attention; it is a big deal," Jimsonweed snapped. "Once, far back near the beginning of all those extinct civilizations, only a small strip of this planet was capable of supporting life, and I say that in a very loose sense. The reason why was that the sun never seemed to move, causing never-ending day or night depending on where you were unlucky enough to be."
She held up a wing to cut us off before we could say anything. "Before you ask, stop trying to think of this solar system like the one that we came from. Equestria's sun is exceedingly tiny as far as stars go. I have no idea how it functions, but I know that it isn't much bigger than the moon. Also very different is that this solar system isn't really a solar system, it is just Equus, its moon, and the sun, and Equus is the biggest thing in the system, and everything orbits it. There are regular solar systems out there in space; this one seems to be an extreme anomaly because it has a dwarf star rotating around an orphan planet. I have no idea how that happened or how this planet or the star survives that, but that is the way it is. I suspect it might be because this is where thaumic energy leaks over, but I could be completely wrong. How it works isn't important."
"Okay, we'll accept that," I said, trying to show I was paying attention.
She gave me a stink-eye but continued without insult. "During this time, the first civilization of this universe emerged. That was the civilization led by the third in their line Dreamwarden, Kir'ta, the undying queen of dreams, heir of Tregez. She was possibly distantly related to the species of Homo Erectus, but that is unconfirmed. What is certain is that she and her people created the Great Sunstone, and with it, they were able to move the sun and moon and create a regular day and night cycle, greatly expanding the amount of the planet that was fit for life and improving conditions all-around."
"And the unicorns came along and broke it," I said, remembering the title.
"Yes, the dumbass ponies fiddled with the thing, messing with things they didn't understand, and broke it," Jimsonweed confirmed. "That meant the sun and moon would stay locked in an orbit that would make it so day and night never ended. After that, they had to pool their magic and try to do the job of the artifact they broke. This was a job they struggled with, which caused problems with everything else, which caused a complete breakdown in relations between the three largest pony tribes. There is a whole lot of history there, but the sun and moon issue wasn't given a bandaid fix until Celestia and Luna came along and had the power to move them on their own."
Roger frowned. "You say bandaid fix; why?"
"Are you that stupid? Right when I was trying to give you credit that you could add one plus one too," Jimsonweed said with a snarl. "What happens if we lose them? Take a guess?"
"Oh," Roger said in a small voice.
"That's a big oh," Jimsonweed said with a curl of her lip. "Celestia doesn't try to do anything about it because she seems to foolishly think nothing could ever happen to her, or at least not to her and Luna both. That is reckless and negligent. She is going to get everyone living on this planet killed thinking like that. The Great Sunstone needs to be remade, and that's where we need Dreamwardens to help."
I hated to admit I was confused. "How? Dreamwardens don't have power in the waking world. Is it tied to dreams somehow? And can't Luna and Krik help?"
"Urgh… and they call me young and out of my depth!" Jimsonweed growled. "No, dumb-dumb, they can't make one. What they can do is try to remember how it was made in the first place. Memories from older Dreamwardens are fragmented, and Krik doesn't have enough of Kir'ta's fragmented memories—of which there are two million years worth, to get that information, and you can't expect self-important Luna to help. However, different Dreamwardens have different fragments, and if you have enough Dreamwardens, you can try to put together a better idea of how it was done."
"Like the construction of the Devourers. I understand," Roger muttered.
I shifted uncomfortably. "Is there a real chance of that happening? Them both being taken out of commission?"
The filly laughed. "There is another potential doomsday every year that could take them down, or at least it seems so. Add to that; there are people on Earth that make active plans on how to take an alicorn out. I'm told the notorious Sunset Blessing was set to the task of trying to figure it out years ago, and she gave Twilight Sparkle a report about it so they could defend themselves if anything she had dreamed up was ever used. There are even some people on Earth that would be happy to kill them, so this planet dies."
"Sunset Blessing snitched?" Roger asked, seeming surprised.
"Well, yeah, she is friends with the Princess of Friendship and is also Luna's personal student. Did you think she wasn't going to snitch?" Jimsonweed asked incredulously. "I would hope that all those friendship lessons those two impress upon her would earn them that much. If not, Twilight Sparkle needs to quit her job."
"Committing espionage isn't really what you should be trying to get out of a friendship," Roger replied.
I had to disagree. "I think telling your friends that people are making plans on how to kill them is not exactly espionage." In truth, I was horrified that our government would even consider making plans like that. That was monstrous! We were supposed to be good guys!
"Technically, it is espionage, but you should still do the friendly thing by telling your friends that someone has made plans on how to kill them," Jimsonweed said dryly. "And they say I need friendship lessons."
"My poor dear, Jimsonweed. Thou art in much need of them."
We all turned to see Princess Luna step into the room. The princess was giving Jimsonweed a sad look.
"Were you spying on us!" Jimsonweed said, hoping and flapping her wings.
The princess cocked her head. "Was I listening in on your conversation? Yes. I had my own business in the restricted section today and was very ready for battle when I found that somepony had violated it. I came down the stairs in stealth and discovered that it was you three. Not expecting that any of you had diabolical intent, I decided to instead wait to ascertain your intentions."
"We didn't intend to do anything wrong. Jimsonweed said that it wasn't illegal," I insisted.
"Nor is it, although that is only because making such a law makes a declaration that such places exist," Luna said in a grave tone. "As for your concern about the Great Sunstone, it is misplaced. While I confess that we delayed far longer than we should have in rectifying the situation, my sister and I did indeed make a replacement shortly after regular relations with Earth commenced. We still do our celestial duties, but it is designed to do our job in our absence. You have no reason to fear."
"Why didn't you say anything about it?!" Jimsonweed screamed. "Why do you always keep us all in the dark?"
Luna's eye twitched. "A poor choice of words to use with me, but the answer to your question is twofold. Primarily, telling the public that such an object exists invites them to seek it out, much like declaring this chamber exists. That can only end in a repeat of the original tragedy. Ponies can and will mess with things they do not understand, as you aptly put it."
"And the second part?" Jimsonweed asked in a combative tone.
"You didn't ask," Luna said bluntly, cracking a small smile. The smile slipped a second later. "Which brings me to my concern. You're a pony of much intelligence and drive. We have rarely met one of our subjects who have possessed such drive to learn outside a scattered few, and I doth not recall the last such pony from among your tribe who had such applied scholarly aspiration, and at such a young age! Most such scholars hail from the unicorn tribe; to see a night pony, a tribe who isolate themselves from their sister tribes, strive so, warms my heart. What you lack is trust, and that is what handicaps you and why you are here. You will always struggle, despite your strong capabilities, if you fail to open yourself up to trust."
The princess walked closer to us and gazed down at Jimsonweed. "Dear, Jimsonweed, I understand your hesitation and struggle. You may not want my sympathy, but that does not mean you do not have it, and it is also part of my duty to help you try to overcome your past and your current burdens. I know Cadence, Sunburst, Flurry Heart, and my dear Krik—"
"Master Krik!" Jimsonweed corrected.
"He is my servant, former student, and my friend, also practically my adopted child—if you consider the first six Dreamwardens my spawn, so I am not inclined to call him master," Luna replied. "But all of those I named care about you and want to help you, and all understand where you are coming from." She paused and then smiled. "And do not believe for a moment that your brash tongue will put me off. It was I who chose Ghadab to be one to carry the mantle of Dreamwarden, and he can be caustic as well. If you do not wish to pursue a role of diplomacy, I shall speak to the other princesses concerning it. I think you have demonstrated that you are more inclined towards the exploration of lore."
Jimsonweed sneered. "So you'll try to force me into a different role?"
Luna shook her head. "No, but I would like to help you with what you have legitimately shown interest in, and this is what I have seen. I must ask the candidates to depart this place, but if you wish to stay with me, I will not object to your aid and company in my study. I am not ashamed to admit you may be more familiar with what lies in this chamber than I am. Do you wish to stay?"
The filly hesitated, then silently nodded.
Luna smiled wider. "It is settled then." She then looked at Roger and me. "We shall meet again soon. Until that time, enjoy your stay in the city."
The alicorn gestured with a wing, and I suddenly found myself and Roger standing in a completely different part of the library.
I looked around and then turned to Roger. "Um… do you have any idea how to get back to the entrance from here?"
He shook his head.
I hung my head and sighed, remembering the maze of stacks. "Let's start wandering then; this might take a while."