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// 2.) The Council of Three 
// Story: Of the Past and its Mysteries 
// by Sb129 
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Chapter 2 (The Council of Three)




~The Explorers return~



        They all watched the first of the ‘videos’ the human said he had made. Most had no idea what he was talking about, science this and technology that. All they really knew for sure was that a mythical creature, a lesser known one at that, was actually real. Feather was deep in thought about this. "Judging by all the machines left here, and their purely non-magical workings. It actually gives the myths surrounding them some sense of credit. Here I have seen with my own eyes a magic that is not magic. I know that we and the Equestrians could achieve the same feat with magic if we so wished, but it is inconceivable that it could be done without the arcane." He flew to a nearby table and sat down for a second or two, to ponder.
        "He even spoke of the Final War, the last myth about humans. Logically it could be said that all the myths about them are true. If that is so, could they also be looking down at us from the stars themselves?" His eyes slowly wandered around the room as he spoke to himself. Eventually they came to rest on the entrance of the cavern, the hole in the roof made by the crystal that was still floating there. But there was something off, it looked like it was darkening outside already. He wondered how much time had passed since they all came down here. "Incredible discoveries or not, none of this will matter if the predators of the night get to us."
        Blazing Light had just finished talking with somepony else about the human when she started to resume looking at the thing she saw earlier. But since it had been at least two hours she forgot where it was. “Alright flutterponies, the time is almost upon us, it seems dusk is approaching quicker than we had realized so we must take our leave from this place. Do not worry yourselves though, we will come again tomorrow. But feel free to take something home with you if you want. We will leave in five minutes.” 
        |Oooh no, I really gotta find something to bring back. Something good though, I don’t want to just grab just anything.| She glanced to her left and saw a few ponies lifting a box of cables and rainbow colored disks. |That beam of light was pretty incredible, I wonder if I could make something like that? I’m still wondering how magic could behave so coherently.| Looking through a large box full of black slates, some with buttons, some without. One of them looked really neat since it was partially see through. Blazing kept looking until she thought she saw something out of the corner of her eye, it was a small case on top of some paper. The top was clear and inside was a long cylinder with two smaller ones. She didn’t know why but she was compelled to bring this back.
        “Alright, I need six ponies on each side of this Device so we can take it with us. I shall be transporting the magic crystal, everypony else will take their own artifacts back with them.” Blazing turned her head over to the Device and saw the twelve ponies lifting up the hulk of metal and glass. The white maned flutterpony took her own artifact and flew outside of the huge room. The clouds above were already starting to turn yellowish instead of their usual white. 
        Blazing was one of the last out so she hovered with the others while the last few came out. Feather took a headcount. "Lets see, got him, her him….yeah she’s here….Azure’s right there….Aaand Red Heart is here to. That’s everypony." He flew above everypony else “Alrighty, we can’t afford ourselves much time so we will just fly back.” Feather took the lead, carrying the crystal in his hooves, the twelve that carried the Device were next, then everypony else was after them, Blazing herself preferred to be in the back. 
        She held her artifact in front of her, shrouded within her lime green magic. She positioned it in just the right way where she could look at it whilst flying. “What this could be, I don’t know why, but I just felt drawn to this.” She looked at it further, it was a well used tool whatever it was. Its black paint was scratched and cracking. On one side there was text in that human language and on the other side there was a button with a light just above it. The two smaller cylinders were completely yellow but they also bore the same kind of text. The small ones had a bump on one end. She looked more at the big cylinder, particularly the text on the side, next to it was a small triangle with a bright burst of red.  |almost looks like a warning symbol. But from what?| She dodged leaves and branches as she flew with her case.
        The deep blues of the sky slowly melded into hues of yellow, red and orange as the sun was being set. The clouds followed this rule as well, turning a bright golden color as the sun sank lower and lower in the sky. It wasn’t long before the twilight hour set in. With only just enough light to see yet not enough to make out distinct objects. The team of archaeologists made their way through the silhouettes of grass blades, leaves, branches and other obstacles. Many changed to holding their artifact with their hooves and using their magic to light the way in front of them.
        Night was beginning to dominate the sky. Already the moon began to rise, and stars became visible. Slowly but surely the darkness became greater and greater. But in the distance the team could see their home. Tucked away on a small hill inside of an ancient crater, their tiny city stood out like an island of light in the night. Their tiny city on a hill sat nestled between two dead trees with many small huts and buildings built against smaller live trees.
        |Ahhh, Edona, it’s good to be back home, even if we were only gone for a day.| Blazing held her object close to her as Feather lead them all down to the front door of the governing building. Feather touched down first and wrapped the crystal up in some cloth. The twelve ponies carrying the Device came close to Feather to see where he wanted it. They almost couldn’t slow down but they managed to stop before actually hitting the building. The purple pony leader directed the twelve where to put the Device down, with the screen facing the Council Chamber’s door. “Make yourselves comfortable, I shall inform the council of our grand findings so far. He took hold of the crystal and disappeared inside.
        Feather was quite certain her knew what each member's response would be. And it will be positive, especially with his former mentor. Also with the discoveries made there nopony could possible leave unsatisfied. He entered the hollowed out log and flew up to the highest floor, the floor that held their chambers. The greenish-blue maned pony knocked on the door three times until he heard a welcoming *You may enter* from the inside. 
        “Good evening gentleponies,” He looked at each one and respectfully bowed as he said their name. Clock Work, Pre History, De Novo” Feather straightened his wings and sat down as the other three already were. “So how was your day today?” De Novo simply turned to look at Feather, his face bore the signs of fatigue and frustration. Clock Work was lost in his own paperwork and probably didn’t even hear him talk. Pre History on the other hoof was attentive and replied “I am unsure that I can speak for us all but I for one had a splendid day, and what of you Feather? How was your first day at the new excavation site?” “Well it must be of great importance if this matter could not wait until daybreak.” De Novo added.
        Feather gathered his wits and began telling them of what happened in the cavern, the giant room filled with artifacts that held great power. Pre History and indeed the other two grew more engrossed as Feather went on about the objects in that room. And then he pulled out the crystal. “This was on top of the room, it emitted a beam of light and magic powerfull enough to melt the sands into glass and to shoot up a beam into the sky.” As he brought it out the entire room was was engulfed in pure orange light. If he didn’t have their attention before, he certainly had it now.
        “Could it be? Could this be the lost crystal the ancient texts described?” Pre History was captivated by this. “It was said that Celestia’s apprentice took one of her most powerful crystals and sent it back in time to warn a distant race of their impending doom…” Clock Work was equally interested. “In all my days I never one laid eyes on a magical crystal even a quarter the size of this, we could power the whole city with this when the new infrastructure is made.” De Novo quickly collected himself and said in a rather monotone voice, “This would also be the greatest tool with which to defend ourselves from the Everfree.” 
        Feather wrapped it up again and continued on, “I have even stranger news than this.” The three of them looked at each other with surprise. “My dear Feather, what could possibly trump this masterful crystal you unearthed?” “Well, today we all found out that a lesser known mythological creature exists, Humans.” Once again they three looked at each other confusion written all over their faces. De Novo was the first to speak. “How can you be so sure that they are not relegated to myth and folklore? You have proof I assume to back this up?” Feather simply pointed his hoof out the door and said. “See for yourself.”
        Outside everyone was still talking about the bright orange light that came from the top floor. |Yep, he must have shown them that crystal of his.| Blazing looked at her own case and sighed. |I really just want to go home and see what this thing can do| A hush came over everypony as the doors opened up, revealing the Feather Duster and the Council of Three. By now the small group that came to deliver the Device had swelled into a crowd, drawing almost every pony in the city. They all wanted to see this strange Device that lay buried underground for centuries.
        Feather flew up top the Device and addressed the masses, there must’ve been hundreds. “Attention Edonans, this Device was uncovered in our search for answers about our past. But today it stands here as a testament to our future!” He flew to the candle and lit it once again. And he flew up to the flywheel. “I can see that one of our prophecies will come true starting today! One that we have been pursuing for years!” His antennae glowed with dark green magic and he set the wheel spinning. “Our Industrial Revolution is at hoof! This Device gives us proof that humans, that oldest and oddest of mythological creatures, once walked Equestria! Better known to them as Earth!” 
The screen flickered to life once again.