Chapter 15 – Last door on the right
The windows outside of the castle have darkened as the night has finally taken hold over the world. However, its not that anypony in the interior dining hall that Clover, Preston and Violas have adjourned to a little earlier.
Like before the majority of regal tapestries and decorations have been moved from the room, but the table and all of its fixings still sit to the room, which bring an adequate reminder to where they all sit. Although for the blonde haired man in the room, the building he sits in matters nothing. Instead his mind is slightly fried from all the talk of magic he had received earlier, and also from the lengthy chat he had with Clover when he followed her to the room.
Luckily though the slight conversation held at the table has stopped Preston from making any comments about the meal of greens in front of him.
"...So Clover what are you going to do now that Star Swirl has a new successor?"
The mare brings her head up from the mostly empty plate as she looks to the stallion who is awaiting her answer, "Well seeing as how me and Princess Platinum where among the first ponies to set hoof in Equestria she wishes me to become an adviser for her."
Violas nods to the comment as he squints, "So you will be moving to Canterlot?"
"Yes after the residential areas have been selected and built Princess Celestia has said that I would be moving."
The words turn Preston's head as he just blinks to the mare. The man's burning eyes that have pinned to the mare's turned face slowly starts to shift her gaze as she gives a slight smile, "I assume you will be coming correct?"
Preston is silent for a moment, which almost stops Clover's breathing as she waits for an answer. However, the moment of silence is broken as the man nods, "Y-ya, of course." His choice in words quickly brings a second response from him as he waves his hand towards Clover, "...I mean like come on, think of all the trouble you would be in without me?"
The light tone and his smile brings a faint laugh to Clover as she turns her head back to the table to hide her sigh of relief to the man's answer that he could not even understand.
Violas does not pick up on the mare's sigh either as he just wiggles his hoof towards Preston, "I have been wanting to ask, what was the Crystal Empire like?"
The words quickly turn Preston and Clover's heads as the man stutters a little, "Uh...Actually I never saw the um Empire."
"Oh..." The stallion nods as he slowly retraced his hoof, "So you were not able to see the castle before it was vanished?"
Preston gives a little laugh as he speaks up, "Ya ya, that's it."
Clover quickly takes hold to the slight change in conversation as she speaks up, "Yes...I have always wondered what caused the Empire to disappear."
Violas cocks his head to the comment a little confused as he speaks up, "I had believed Star Swirl was present at the event?"
"Well...yes." Clover nods as she gives a little shrug, "But he never really talks about it."
"Really?" Violas holds his confusion as he taps his hoof to his mouth a little, "Strange he would not talk about it, especially seeing as how the stories say that King Sombra turned and used a never before seen kind of spell."
The comment brings a slight smile to the mare but she repeats her previous thoughts, "Star Swirl and Sombra where friends at one point in their lives, so I assume that is why he never talks about it."
As the mare's words come undone the sound of hooves heavily clapping to the hallway just outside of the dining hall flicks takes everypony’s attentions.
Within moments a maroon cloak wearing gray stallion has come into view as he starts into the room. whose looks have a quickly thrown on satchel bangs a little to the stallion's side as its contents jiggle to every step. His mane has a slight wind blown look to it, but no pony takes notice of it as Violas's voice comes up, "Master, I had not expected you back so soon?"
Sagitta's trot immediately halts to the voice as his distant stare comes to blankly stare towards the purple mare at the table, "Clover, I believe Star Swirl wishes to speak with the two of you."
Clover blinks to the comment as she nods, "O-okay?" She slowly starts to come from the seat as she nudges Preston, "Come along Preston."
For a moment the man is motionless, but as he looks over the plate in front of him he stands, "Ya ya..."
Clover turns her head back to the older stallion as she brings her trot up a little more towards the door, "Is there something wrong?"
"No no, not at all." The older stallion's voice is a little jittery but Clover gives a nod to the comment as she trots towards the door with Preston following after her.
To the man and mare's exit Sagitta quickly takes a hoof forward as he turns his attention to the stallion at the table, "Violas, I want you to have something."
The stallion blinks to the words as he nods, "Yes Master?"
Sagitta's horn quickly sparks up as the flap to the satchel opens and a dark red rimmed and black book floats out, "I want you to keep this with you."
Violas blinks to the book as he speaks up a little confused, "B-but Master, this is your journal. You-you do not even like me handling it without your presence-"
"Yes yes I know. But I need you to keep this safe for me." Sagitta gives a little smile as he floats the book closer to the table.
Violas reluctantly extends his hoof as he nods, "Of course Master...Um, how did everything go with Star Swirl?"
Sagitta's horn drops its magic to the book as he speaks up, "I understand what I must do."
"That is great Master, do you wish for me to-.." Before the stallion's sentence can come to an end the older stallion has already turned from the room as he quickly trots back to the hallway.
As he does he turns his head down towards the further part of the hallway as he starts to trot its length, all the while looking to the few doors he passes by.
But his trot comes to an end as his eyes quickly lock to a mare dressed in a maid outfit who is extinguishing every other torch in the hallway.
"Excuse me, but you have been collecting all the artifacts and decorations in the castle correct?" The sound of an older stallion's voice makes the mare a little jumpy for the moment as she turns back to the stallion.
"Oh, yes of course...Um we have been storing them in the last few rooms on the right." She turns towards the hall as she holds her hoof out, "Most of the things are down here...Um why?"
The mare's cocked head and slightly confused stare brings a slight smile to Sagitta as he waves his hoof, "I just wanted to make sure anything of importance was not put away."
His words flick the mare's ear as she nods, "Yes yes, of course...What would you need to look at?"
Sagitta pauses for a moment as he squints his eyes, "Where have you put any decoration armor?"
The mare points back to the hall as she speaks up, "Third door on the left, but their was only the armor from Stone Hooves room nothing-..."
"That is okay, I will make sure everything is in order." Sagitta's trot comes up past the mare as he quickly sets his eyes to the room.
Within moments his trot has come to the door as he brings his hoof to it.
As the door comes open Sagitta's eyes meet nothing but a dark room, however he quickly sparks his horn up as he now looks to the rolled up tapestries, a few gold trimmed picture frames and one bright silver and purple gem studded full pony body suit of armor.
The old stallion's horn continues to glow as the flap to the satchel comes up as he retrieves something from within.
End of chapter 15