//------------------------------// // Preparations // Story: The Sphere // by random reader //------------------------------// With a flash, Princess Celestia teleported back to her bed chambers. As she exited her room, she called down a passing guard. “Excuse me sir, but could you please fetch my sister for me? There are many important matters we must discuss.” “At once, your Majesty.” said the guard curtly, bowing before taking off down the hallway. “Now where did I leave those order forms?” thought Celestia as she made her way towards her office. Rummaging through the stacks of barley used order forms that were used in trade with other nations, she eventually found a stack of dusty sheets, which revealed themselves to be blank forms for ordering from the gryphon kingdom. As Celestia began to fill them out, one by one, she saw out of the corner of her eye a flash of light as her sister teleported into her office with her. “Hello dear sister, you missed most of this morning’s day court.” “Ah, Luna, I’m glad you’re here. There’s no time for that now, I have a large project which I need supplies for, and I need your help dealing with some of the formalities of foreign trades.” Princess Luna looked over some of the forms that were already filled out. “30 units of mining grade dynamite? 45 canisters of compressed atmosphere? Celestia, I highly doubt that there are any buried treasures underneath Equestria that would substantially add to the royal treasury, considering how much money you and I have already.” “Oh no, dear sister. You misunderstand. These tools are not for digging down, they are for digging up.” Replied Celestia, taking pleasure in her sister’s befuddled expression. “I do not understand, Tia, dig upwards? I’m sure I need not tell you that we are already above ground.” “Luna, I think it’s about time I told you what has been taking up so much of my time recently.” said Celestia, as she began filling out another order form. “Recently, the bearers of the elements of harmony have discovered something that could potentially change the world as we know it.” “Well, this is news. Was it a crashed alien spacecraft by any chance?” asked Luna, looking unamused. “No, it wasn’t a spacecraft, but it is alien in origin. It is the first evidence that ponykind has of the existence of other realms.” “Tia, if what you say is true, then I’m not sure it is so wise to rush in to things like this. And you haven’t even told me what it is that they found, or what all this,” she gestured to the pile of order forms, “has to do with it.” Celestia sighed, and proceeded to tell Luna all of what she both knew and suspected about the sphere, the portal, and the world beyond. “This is most unusual indeed.” said Luna, looking pensive. “But if we are truly on the cusp of discovering a whole new world, then shouldn’t we take this more slowly? It’s not in your nature to rush into things like this. Tia, tell me, is something else going on?” Celestia turned back towards her sister before replying. “Yes Luna, there is. Princess Twilight Sparkle has personally requested to be a major part of the operation, and you know how excited she can become at the prospect of learning new things.” “Well, if you need help with any of this paperwork, I’ll be happy to lend a hoof.” “That would be nice, Luna.” And with that, both of the royal sisters began the most boring part of the most exciting thing to happen since their reign began. “Finally, all done!” Rarity put away the final dress she made into a box, where it would later be sent to fill Sapphire Shore’s order. “I hope the others had more fun with the Princess than I have been having in here.” she thought darkly, as she heard a hoof knock on her door. “Be right there!” called Rarity as she made her way to the front of her shop and opened the door, only to see her friend Applejack on the other side. “You know Applejack, the store is still open. You could have just walked in.” “Oh, uh, right. Anyway, I’ve spoken to Princess Celestia with the others, and they have come to a decision about what to do with the sphere.” “Sphere? What sphere? Did something happen?” asked Rarity, looking nervous at the thought. “Oh, you haven’t seen it yet? There’s a great big hunk of rock cut into a perfect orb shape out on the Whitetail Woods that just appeared recently.” “I’m sorry Applejack, but I don’t know to what stone orb you are referring.” “Well, I guess it don’t matter much, but Princess Celestia found a gateway to another world, and Rainbow Dash went thought it.” Now Rarity was looking quite a bit alarmed. “A gateway? Like in the stories? And you said the Rainbow Dash is stuck on the other side?!” “No Rarity, RD is fine. She was brought back, and told us that she appeared underground in some other world. Now Twilight wants to dig to the surface to see that other world, and we need to find some skilled diggers. I figured since you buy a lot of gems, that you might know some ponies who are a skilled hoof as busting up rocks.” “Well, Applejack, I’m glad to hear that Rainbow Dash is okay, but I’m sorry to tell you that I don’t know very many miners. Most of the gems I have a find myself in the fields using my gem finding spell, and my dear friend Spike usually helps with the digging. There’s really something to be said about a dragon’s endurance, you know.” “Aw shoot, I hadn’t even thought of Spike. He would be great for this project.” said Applejack. “I gotta go ask Twilight to see if Spike can left a hoof with digging through granite, and since he’s a dragon, she should be able to handle the heat just fine. Thank you so much Rarity, you’ve probably just made this job a whole lot easier.” “Oh, it was nothing Applejack, you know I would love to do my part in this grand undertaking.” Applejack then left the shop and headed towards Twilight’s palace.