//------------------------------//
// Prologue 2* 
// Story: Part I: Precursors 
// by Auryx Saturnius 
//------------------------------//

One Year Ago…
Crescent Star stood alone on the train station. Behind him was the stack of luggage he had decided to bring for this trip; Event Horizon told him it would be a long time, so he packed extensively. He looked around at the dusty platform and the open land around him. For miles, all he saw was desert, save for the silver ribbon of metal tracks that stretched out for miles on end into both sides of the horizon.
The sun beat harshly down upon his eyes and his coat was beginning to be soaked in sweat. He was told someone would meet him here to help with his things and to brief him. So far, he couldn’t see anypony as far as the eye could see.
He saw the massive dust cloud long before he could see its creator hidden behind it. Slowly, the cloud grew larger and larger as the wagons and ponies got closer; their coats were as dusty as the desert around them and their gazes were experienced and focused. As the two of them pulled up to the station platform, the one to the left of Crescent, the larger stallion he noted, cleared his throat.
“Are you Mr. Crescent Star?” He nodded, and the stallion smiled. “We were sent to bring ya to tha camp. It’s a pleasure to have ya on board with the team.”
Crescent Star lightened up. After being directed to pull his luggage into the wagon, the confident stallion walked beside the two of them.
Their names were Rough Boulder and Quick Runner, the latter being Tough Runner’s younger brother. They were members of the group of ranchers that had originally discovered the ruins (he dared not label them as Precursor until he could see for himself). Overall, the two of them seemed just as excited about the whole concept as Crescent Star did, though, as he assumed with Tough Runner, probably not for the same reasons.
“So what is this ‘team’ you two mentioned at the station?” Crescent asked them.
“Since Mr. Horizon asked ya to consider the exploration a week ago,” Quick Runner began, “he has been gatherin’ other specialists and colleagues to work with ya. We’re talkin’ other archaeologists with varyin’ backgrounds, geological surveyors, cartographers, n’ even a biologist to help confirm who built ‘em. We also have some medics, assistants, and even a cookin’ staff.”
Rough Boulder nodded, “Mr. Horizon didn’t spare no expense with this expahdition. Ah hear even the ahsteemed Dr. Cypher was recruited to our team.”
Crescent Star furrowed his brow, puzzled and concerned. “From my conversation with Mr. Event Horizon, I was under the impression that I was to be in charge of the exploration and subsequent excavation of the ruins. Why, then, is the Chairpony of the Royal Archaeological Society here?”
Rough Boulder looked back towards him. “Yer’ not mistaken Mr. Star. Event Horizon had explicitly stated that ya were ‘n charge of this whole thing.”
Crescent Star was sincerely taken aback by this statement. “Mr. Horizon holds me in a higher regard than Dr. Ancient Cypher?”
“He is certain about yer abilities n’ talents…”
The Adept reached out and grabbed the edge of the wagon, keeping himself from falling back into the rushing dirt in surprise. What could possibly compel this very eccentric businesspony to believe he was greater than a legend in the archaeological field? Surely, he thought, there were greater ponies with decades more experience than he; he couldn’t have been the first choice for this expedition. Was it because of his title, Magical Adept? It merely meant that he was a student with an apparent massive potential, well on his way to becoming a Doctor of Magic (at least, until he had published his thesis those months ago).
Crescent Star wanted to ask Event Horizon so many questions when he will meet him at the camp, but he feared his prying might encourage the businesspony to seek other help. This was posed to be the greatest discovery in Equine history, and he was asked to be the driving factor behind it all… Crescent didn’t want to mess this all up, no matter how much he thought it was a mistake.
The wagon came to a halt near the quickly assembled camp. Crescent Star wasted no time to get out and look around as the ranchers worked to move his luggage to his tent. There was maybe thirty of them pitched up in an organized fashion. Each was labeled according to their use or to whoever was residing in them. Walking in and out were more ponies than he realized would be involved. It was just like what Quick Runner had told him: archaeologists walked next to world esteemed biologists, surveyors, cooks and cartographers of varying accents, mannerisms and paces. He even noted several zebras and even a handful of gryphons spread out among the moving crowds. From the diversity, it was clear that Event Horizon was under the impression this discovery would change the course of history.
He certainly wasn’t without reason, Crescent Star thought. Truly, if he was correct, and this ruin wasn’t draconic or gorgon, then it could redefine everything. The artefact Event Horizon had shown him was beyond remarkable; it was beyond anything Crescent Star could ever hope to understand or explain. If it could be examined more closely, even reverse engineered, then there could be massive strides in Equestrian science and technology. No doubt this was why there were numbers of gryphon and zebra here as well. Both the Gryphon States and Republic of Zebrica were as large spheres of influence as the Kingdom of Equestria was. If the discoveries that were being made here today were as important as Crescent Star was lead to believe, then both nations would want to be a part in its recording, and its treasures.
Quick Runner kindly guided Crescent Star through the camp and to the tent where Event Horizon was expecting him. The businesspony stood behind a wooden table with a map of the region unrolled on top of it. The prim coat that had covered him when they first het was replaced by a desert explorer’s coat, as if he was Daring Do going out on an adventure. Standing next to him was a good sized gryphon in leather armor. His feathers were a dark, raven’s black and he stood looking at the map with experienced and wizened blue eyes.
Crescent Star cleared his throat as well walked in, attracting their attention. “Good afternoon gentlemen. I hope I’m not interrupting you.”
Event Horizon smiled as he walked around to meet Crescent Star, greeting him as a friend. “It’s a pleasure that you managed to make my friend.” He leads him to the gryphon. “Crescent Star, may I introduce to you Regent Geirr of the Gryphon Academy of Science.”
The gryphon nodded and offered his claw. “Herr Crescent Star, it is a pleasure to meet you face to face. I am your counterpart for this expedition, and I’m sure we’ll work together ausgezeichnet.”
Crescent Star nodded, hoping that what little gryphon he remembered from his schooling wasn’t letting him down. “The pleasure is mine, sir.”
“So, Mr. Star.” The smile on Event Horizon could’ve been contagious in its excitement. “Are you ready for the expedition?”
Crescent Star nodded and looked down at the map in front of him, extending his hoof to point at a specific mark. “Is this where the entrance to the cavern is?”
Event Horizon nodded. “As I was explaining to Regent Geirr previously, the cavern is relatively larger than and symmetrical compared to other natural caves that form in these parts. Peculiarly, its position in the canyon is precise to the seasons. In the summer, the sun cannot beat down on the opening, but the wind can be channeled into it to keep it cool in the desert heat. In the winter, it is the reverse: the winds are unable to adequately enter the cavern, while the sun can shine down into it for warmth.”
“Whoever made these ruins,” the Regent spoke up, “were extensively intelligent to the weather patterns of the seasons here.”
“Indeed,” Event Horizon added. “However, the full extent of their knowledge still remains a mystery to us. They could’ve had technology and innovation similar to us today, less than us, or even greater than us, but we can’t find out until we enter the ruins tomorrow morning.”
Crescent Star focused on Event Horizon. “Surely, we just can’t disregard the shard that Tough Runner and you had shown me last week. No one in Equestria, nor surely in the Gryphon States, has the ability today to reproduce what it was doing by itself without magic.”
Event Horizon nodded in agreement, but still had a point of his own. “You are correct Mr. Star, but it is important to remember that we don’t know what that technology is. It could be controlled by magic, in which case it could simply be a different alteration of an invention we already possess. If so, then the benefits of learning about it can revolutionize the magical arts in a manner that wasn’t seen since Starswirl the Bearded. If not, then it can revolutionize technology in the world like never before.”
Crescent Star simply stared at the marked area on the map. There was so much to take in; so much to consider; so much possibilities. As Event Horizon continued, portraying a grand future of science, technology, magic, cooperation, the words would fly past Crescent Star as he simply looked down at the map and stared. The reality truly began to sink in to him now: this was the most important discovery in the history of the known world.
Horizon cleared his throat, snapping Crescent Star from his thought. “We begin at the first light of dawn, tomorrow.”



===============
Memoirs of Insanity
Precursors
===============