//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: The moon's archive // by Yuro //------------------------------// “How could I have run out of ink? Spike always chooses the best times to pay visit to Canterlot,” Twilight mumbled to herself while trotting back to the library. The store wasn't far away and the fresh air actually gave her mind a well-deserved rest for the work it was performing. Not that it was all that challenging, but the usual paperwork for the library was very monotonous. “Ok, almost home... the ancient history books that arrived are all cataloged... two more boxes and I'm done for today. Can't wait to actually read them instead of jus...” Suddenly Twilight stopped, just as she noticed the front of the library, she realized that it wasn't empty anymore. From the larger window she distinguished a familiar face. “Princess Luna?!” As Twilight rushed to the door, she could not stop wondering what Luna was doing there. They had seen each other in very rare occasions and she had always been accompanied by her guards. This time she was alone and, by the looks of it, the princess was not after any book, but waiting for Twilight. Slowing down her pace a bit – trying to catch her breath and trying to hide that she ran faster than necessary to get to the library – Twilight entered the library and readily welcomed Luna. “Princess Luna! Hi! I'm sorry I wasn't here, you see, I had to go out to buy supplies and I didn't expect such a visit tod...” “ ‘Tis fine Twilight Sparkle,” Luna interrupted after noticing the lack of oxygen in the pony's body. “We should have warned thee of our arrival. Thou needest not worry with any formalities.” Still surprised, but a little more calm, Twilight tried to take the conversation into a more casual route. “Still can't let go of the royal 'we' huh?” “In fact 'we' applies perfectly in this case dear Twilight,” said a clear and familiar voice from near one of the book-stands. “Princess Celestia!” Again Twilight was getting a bit overexcited, not only had she left Princess Luna waiting, but now she failed to even notice that Celestia was in the same room all the time. “To what do I owe this visit? I mean, is there a problem? Spike did something back in Canterlot didn't he?” At that point Twilight looked more like young filly seeing her older sister or best friend after a long time, which in fact wasn't that far away from the truth. Both Luna and Celestia stopped holding back the smiles generated by the sheer amount of silliness and overreaction that Twilight was providing, even more so by the fact that Celestia expected most of this reactions even if they had warned her that they were coming. “No, no Twilight. Spike is fine,” replied Celestia. “We are here to ask something of you.” Twilight was confused as more time passed by, she started to notice some things that did not seem right. Luna walking around without her guards was weird enough but now both Luna and Celestia were there, and not a single guard was to be seen. Coming to think of it, this was the first time since Luna was freed from Nightmare Moon that Twilight saw the two sisters together. And now, the casual smiling faces on the two ponies now gave way to more focused and deep countenances. “Of course Princess! You can ask me anything.” Luna, that was silent for a bit now, started talking, but for some reason her words sounded heavier. Even though Twilight was confident and sincere when she agreed to hear what the sisters had to say, she couldn't help but to start to feel unease. “Thou recall that I was cast away from Equestria for a very long time in the beginning of our era correct?” - Luna spoken. That was a sensitive question. Of course Twilight remembered, everypony remembered. But there was no easy way to answer that. “Yes, and we brought you back!” “Yes. But while I was Nightmare Moon I found something in my place of exile. When I was freed much of my memories were cast away but I retained enough to remember that place, and since I returned, me and my sister went back there to understand its nature,” Luna paused. “I don't understand. What was it?” An ember of intrigue and impatience started forming under Twilight's mind. This time Celestia started talking. “That's the point, we don't know exactly ‘what’ it is . When I was forced to send Nightmare Moon into exile, I chose the moon because it was supposedly desolated, when we took control of both the sun and the moon we reached to them, but found nothing at the time. But since Luna told me to come back there...” Now the impatience was turning into frustration as the sisters were clearly avoiding a direct answer to Twilight's question. “What was there?!” Right after she finished talking Twilight realized that her voice was louder than before, much louder in fact. “I – I'm sorry.” She quickly apologized for and looked in another vague direction. This time neither of the sisters showed any reaction, instead Celestia stared at her and said in a very quiet tone. “I want to show you something,” as she walked towards the book-stand where she were when Twilight arrived. There was a single piece of paper placed on it. As soon as Celestia was positioned in front of it her horn began to shine, but instead of levitating the quill to write or draw what she wanted to show, the very paper began to move. It was being torn apart, not to form letters or even symbols. The tears resembled - if anything - cracks on a wall, or an old tree's bark. The marks never repeated themselves but were organized just enough not to be confused with creased and torn paper. After what seemed to be about ten seconds Celestia's horn stopped and she opened space so that Twilight could stay in front of the stand. “Please, try to read it,” she said while positioning herself at the right side of the stand and facing her student. Twilight stood there without saying another word for minutes trying to figure out what was happening. She couldn't read it, she was almost certain that they weren't even words on the paper, for all she knew it could be upside down or anything. If not by the seriousness of Celestia's face she would probably think this was some kind of joke. After trying to remember all languages, symbols, drawings, anything that she ever saw and read about she still didn't had any clue of what she was looking at, and finally curiosity and frustration won the struggle. “I'm sorry princess but I can't understand anything here. I'm trying, but I can't. Not a word in this piece of paper. Not a single thing that is happening on this visit. I am very confused right now, please explain what is going on.” “We are sorry Twilight,” Luna sounded like she really wanted to explain but was unable to do so, “but, if thou hath not the ability to see, it will be far to dangerous for thee to know.” Only then Twilight remembered that Luna was even there, but more than that, now she was facing Twilight just as Celestia, but on the opposite side of the stand. That really scared Twilight. It was like she was trapped. Anywhere she moved she'd be in reach of one of the alicorns. Her face was now showing the mixture of frustration and fear in a subtle but very expressive twitch in her eye and mouth. Celestia was quick to see it, and against the agreement she had with Luna, she spoken to Twilight. “Don’t worry, we are here like this to be sure nothing happens to you. And one more thing. Don't try to read words if there are no word written there.” Another riddle, that was the last thing Twilight wanted at that moment. “One more try,” she thought as her horn began to emit that distinguishable glow. That was the moment she realized something strange. As she started the levitation spell on the paper the border markings suddenly appeared familiar. A kind of déjà vu. Much like some ponies can associate numbers with color or words with tastes, the sensations produced by the levitation spell were in a way similar to the borders of the paper. “Is this a spell?” She whispered almost without noticing. “I never saw a spell described in such a way.” The sisters remained without reaction as Twilight continued to investigate the object with a increasing level of wonder and intrigue. She figured out that by 'reading' it probably meant to actually cast the spell, and so as pondering proceeded it became clear that although the border meant the 'ignition' of the spell, the more she approached the center, less and less sense it made, to the point that trying to cast it would be nothing more than wasting energy. The sensations became much more like an endless and convoluted stream of thoughts than a single release of energy and will that was used to cast every single spell that her had ever learned. A subtle headache started to appear, and after what seemed like an eternity Twilight decided to cast it even though in her head it would not produce any coherent effect. “Ok. Here it goes!” As soon as she began to concentrate the alicorns started to mimic her actions with incredible precision. It was indeed what they expected Twilight to do. And with the progress of the spell she started to feel dizzy and the ground under her hooves gently started to move in strict patterns. It was nothing new though and Twilight was already familiar with that sensation, it was the same whenever she'd use the teleportation spell. The only thing is, at this point she was sure that, by the chaotic way in witch the spell was being performed, nothing should be happening. Maybe an aura formed by the wasted energy but nothing like the effects of a complex spell. The next part was what most intrigued Twilight when she understood how to see the paper. In other spells the end of the casting was marked by the release of more energy than in any other part, but now, that scroll was telling her to stop. This was commonly done by beginners in the magic schools when they were too tired or not confident enough to complete the spells and the results were often embarrassing. Her trust in Celestia was strong enough to pass by that fact and, just as shown in the of the markings, she cut down the flow of energy. However the dizziness didn't stop. It was, in fact, getting stronger. She felt pulled inside her own body and without effort her mind started to travel faster and faster. Just as a rock following the flow of a agitated river, her consciousness drew lines and shapes faster than she could understand or even realize. It wasn’t a new way to cast a teleportation spell. That was a completely different spell altogether. Her very surroundings were being shifted and distorted in such incredible and wondrous ways but fast enough to avoid the formation of any reaction from Twilight. When it stopped she struggled to conciliate what had happened, but one thing she was sure of, wherever this place was it wasn't her library anymore, perhaps it wasn't even a place. All that she'd seen faded and only blackness remained. If not by a faint light a bit far away, there would be nothing to distinguish up from down. “Quick now! Come.” Celestia's voice was impatient and even for a being of such power as her it was clear that she didn't possessed total control of the situation. “...” “Now Twilight!” This time not only words, but a soft push from Luna's wings forced Twilight to trot forward in the direction of the light. Only after being close to the light Twilight was able to see the figures of both the sisters so great was the darkness that surrounded that place. And as she approached it became clearer. A orb of light the size of a small room, standing there, contrasting with the absolute nothingness of anything else. “We appeared far from it this time... I hope there’s still time.” “Look! Look! I did it!” A young voice came from inside the light. “I'm so proud of you my dear” “It is almost over I believe.” Twilight didn't spoke the entire time, if not by the presence of her companions she would had collapsed by now. The dizziness and shock from before, even though bearable, didn't allow her to formulate any sentence that made sense. And as the three traversed the light wall, they saw two unicorns in what seemed to be a filly’s bedroom. “See mom! I told you I could do it! It's floating!” Said the little unicorn waving a little doll in the air. The glow from her horn was the very center of the room, the very center or orb. And as it started to faint when the doll was placed back in the ground, the walls became closer and closer of the little filly. Finally Twilight let some words out of her mouth as the rest of everything continued to disappear. “She created this place?” “In a sense. Now brace thyself, we are returning.” Luna barely finished talking when Twilight realized her library. Not a single thing changed. All the books were sitting in their rightful places on the shelves, the distant sound of ponies galloping on the streets. But most importantly, in front of her was that piece of paper - unmoved - but now with a much more ominous aura surrounding it. After a moment or two when Twilight's face started to show that she was feeling better, Celestia started some long waited explanations. “What you saw was a spell being performed. And what it created in the process.” “How could that little filly create such a powerful spell? I've never even heard oh something like this.” “That was not a powerful spell Twilight. What it created is not uncommon I fear. For what we have seen, every magic performed possess similar effects.” “'Every' magic performed?” “Indeed. What I found on the moon, was cave. A very peculiar one. Far larger than anything I had ever imagined and filled with inscriptions much similar to the one showed to thee.” Even though Twilight had experienced it just a few moments before, she couldn't help but to feel a bit skeptical about what she was hearing. “I don't get it... one of this things for every magic trick? Since when? Who does it? Why in the...” “That's why we are asking your help Twilight,” Celestia interrupted. “I've gone there several times before and, on the edges of the cave, there are always more than the previous time I visited. I believe that exist one marking for every spell that was ever casted on Equestria...” Celestia paused as if containing herself “...but that's where our knowledge of it ends. And I'm trusting you, my most dedicated student, with the task to help me understand it's meanings.” “If thou agree of course. We cannot force thee to undertake such a feat since neither of us had the power to do so. But thine help sure will be most valuable to us.” Walking towards a nearby table, Celestia grabbed something she had under her wing. “Much like the teleporting scrolls Spike uses, this gem can send you to the cave, as well as provide you with anything you may need to actually 'be' on the moon. We do not want your answer right now. Take some time to think about it. But if you want to help, speak to us first. There are still things we need to tell you.” “A- are you going already?” “Yes, Luna and I are still in charge of the royal duties. That is yet another reason for us to ask your help.” It was clear that Twilight didn't know what to do, and that she was still a bit scared from what had just happened. “Don't worry Twilight. This is unusual indeed. But it probably existed even before Equestria was formed. I didn't harmed anyone before, and I'm quite sure it won't now. Think of it as 'the oldest magic history book you will ever be able to get your hooves on'.” With those words they departed back to Canterlot, leaving Twilight and the red gem over the table.