To say that Canterlot Palace is an architectural marvel is an understatement. Up until tonight, like most ponies, I had no knowledge of the subterranean depths that extend deep into the mountain Canterlot is built upon. After accessing a secret passageway in Luna's room, she led me through a deep, pony-made cavern and into a second, underground palace, which she calls “Old Canterlot”. We now quietly make our way through this lost kingdom, the princess's horn lighting the way.
The ancient, earthen walls of the cavern gave way to the even more ancient, granite walls of the central dome of the palace I see before me now. Large, stone pillars extend upwards to support an unseen ceiling, shrouded by darkness. Crumbled buildings and passageways line the edges of the chamber. A decrepit stench of which I am unable to properly describe floats in the air. This kind of atmosphere, this level of ruin... it is not something that mars the innocence of Celestia's Equestria. No, this place is something different entirely.
We continue to walk through the darkness of the immense dome, pillars trailing us on either side. Although she is unable to see what lies in front of her, Luna seems to know precisely where she is going. Actually, I haven't noticed until now, but Luna hasn't said a single word since we've entered this place. Her face is stoic, void of any emotion. This unnerves me, perhaps more than it should.
“Luna,” I begin. “this place... what happened here?”
She opens her mouth as if to speak, but promptly shuts it only a moment later. I know exactly what she's feeling, probably more than others would, and allow her to find the proper words to say.
"Time happened, Inkwell. Just as it happens to everything... everything except us."
Her voice sails into the darkness and is drowned out by the cavernous depths. It eventually reverberates off some distant wall and echoes through the dome. Only this time, it doesn't quite sound like Luna's voice.
"...Just as it happens to everything... everything except you."
No, that can't be.
Before I can say anything, Luna speaks up once more. "Come, the library is just through here."
She suddenly shifts into a trot as we move out of the main dome and into a small corridor wedged between two toppled pillars.
We enter a new room in which we're greeted by rows upon rows of bookcases. Books of all sizes line their shelves for as far as the eye can see. Luna's horn emits multiple orbs of energy which rise to the ceiling, their light dispersing the remaining darkness.
This must be the library.
I catch sight of a faint smile making it's way across Luna's lips. She was comfortable to be here. She was happy. What seems like decrepit ruins to me must hold untold aeons of memories for her. “I have a feeling I know exactly what you're looking for.” she says, breaking the momentary silence. “Wait here. And don't touch anything!”
She gallops off down the aisles, and eventually takes a sharp left between two bookcases, disappearing from my view.
“Princess...?” I say, too quiet to produce an echo, but not quiet loud enough for Luna to hear me. I glance upwards at her improvised lighting, the orbs still floating in the air.
She couldn't have gone terribly far.
I investigate my immediate surroundings, hoping to preoccupy my mind until the princess returns. The chamber is surprisingly clean, albeit covered in dust. Not a single paper nor ink stain litters the peaceful sanctuary. A few tables have been placed before the towering bookcases, forming a sort of common room. Several open books lay scattered amongst their surfaces. Though my curiosity is piqued, Luna specifically said not to touch anything.
Still... literature from centuries ago? A pony couldn't find this anywhere else. The books lie there, a mere 15 feet from me, taunting me with their pages.
I suppose just looking couldn't hurt.