- XXIII -
Celestia and Light Stride reached the plateaus within a few hours, walking in a winding path around their bases and into the dark canyons between them. They towered overhead, reminding Celestia of the skyscrapers of Manehattan. The hoofprints continued on, faint in the sediment, leading them deeper into the canyons. Celestia paused as they turned a corner and smiled enigmatically at Light Stride, who returned her look with one of puzzlement. She didn’t speak, simply continuing onward.
After another minute or two of walking, they arrived at a cave, that delved into the side of one of the plateaus. It was almost perfectly circular in shape, with smooth edges. Celestia nodded. “Perfect.”
“What is it?” asked Light Stride, glancing up at Celestia.
“Just what I was hoping for,” replied Celestia. With that, she continued into the dark confines of the cave. “Follow closely by my side, Light Stride. Do not stray.”
Light Stride cantered to catch up with her, tucking himself in right beside her as she continued into the dark. The shadows swallowed them both up, and within moments they couldn’t see. Light Stride asked, quietly, “Celestia?”
Celestia smiled, pleased. “Light Stride, I believe that is the first time you’ve said my name without hesitating or stumbling over yourself.”
Beside her, Light Stride chuckled. “Perhaps I’m getting comfortable with you. Regardless, shouldn’t we light our way?”
“Not yet. Let us continue in the darkness. You just focus on the tunnel. It should open up soon, into a larger chamber,” Celestia stated evenly.
“How do you know?” asked Light Stride.
“Because I believe it to be so, and so do you. Why else would there be a tunnel, unless it was leading us someplace?”
Celestia continued onward, in total darkness for several more strides, before she felt the tunnel open up around her, the air currents changing. The room must have been huge... in fact, she was sure it was.
Celestia said softly, “Light Stride, would you mind lighting up the area?”
“Of course.”
Light Stride’s horn strobed beside Celestia, glowing with a bright orange aura, and a bright light appeared over his head, illuminating the cavern. His gasp made Celestia smile.
“This is impossible,” he murmured, looking at the green grass that spread out before them.
“Is it?” Celestia smiled, stepping forward from the tunnel and onto the grass of the field that stretched before them. “This illusion is very powerful, but as I said, it is working off of my own subconscious. I’ve had a lot of time to get to know my own mind, Light Stride, and it is very much an ally to me.”
Light Stride laughed, taking a step forward and leaning low to take a bite of the grass. His eyes closed and he sighed. “It might not be real, but it tastes just like how mom used to grow it.”
“I’d certainly hope so. After all, you are from Ponyville, are you not?” Celestia asked, her own horn beginning to glow.
“What do you—” Light Stride’s eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open, the half-chewed grass falling to the ground.
Celestia’s horn blazed with light, sending a massive orb of energy into the air, like a small sun. The whole area was lit up, revealing a very familiar place.
Ponyville.
Celestia leaned down to grin at Light Stride mischievously. “And you thought that the grass was impossible.”