The lead researcher of the expedition and one of Twilights many ideals was addressing her. She couldn’t help but let out a quiet squeal causing a certain dragon to groan from the upcoming interrogation.
"Professor Tombs! I’ve read all of your books on archeology and pre equestrian history! I’m so happy to be able to work with you, you wouldn’t believe how many questions I have for you especially revolving around your claims that the Princesses are covering up the history of Equestria and the founding ponies"
Twilight takes a breath of air ignoring the fact that most of the attention is on her now and that Professor Tombs is standing in shock looking at her. "During your last expedition into you the uncharted forests around the Silver Peeks you stated that you found evidence of ponies living together which predates the history of Equestrian. And that even though you are a well known historian no pony believe you. Yet you still claim all of these things without any evidence without having any violable proof. I’m an open minded mare, but there no proof and you’ve ruined your name in the academic fields of history"
"You have quite some never your-" he begins before a younger stallion trots up two the pair
"Dusty you got to relax" The new stallion says wrapping his fore hoof around the professors neck. "Besides, the Princess is just asking a question and since there are no news ponies you can cut the act kay?"
"Act?" Twilight says confused looking at the other stallion who has a sandy brown coat and a grey main with several streaks. His eyes are a deep ocean blue and his cutie mark is a single chisel over a stone slab. And he’s wearing a brown Stetson which also looks to be made of leather.
"Yes! That’s right an Act your highness, for you see this here is Dusty Stone, my assistant and my double. I am Professor Tomb" The stallion says giving Twilight a large smile. "And to answer your question. It’s because it’s the truth, and that’s why I sent the invitation to you. Because what we are doing here shall flip all our history upside down" He beams
"But… You’re not him, that’s Professor Tomb" She says pointing to the other stallion.
"And that’s what I want you to think, you see, I don’t like the media and since I don’t want to deal with all of that Dusty here covers for me and does all the conferences and what not, it gives me more time to do what I love" He says still smiling as he removes his fore hoof from Dusty.
"Now, how about I show you the team, then you can go and chat with your watch dogs" He smiles again as he begins to lead Twilight to one of the small clusters of ponies.
"What just a second. ‘Professor Tombs’ if that’s who you actually are" Twilight says stopping. "You can’t expect me to believe you are the professor Tombs… You look far too young to have written over two dozen books on your expeditions, you would have been just getting out of University by the time your second book was published"
"Who says I went to University Princess?" he smiles
"What?! You didn’t get schooling and you’re doing this? Are you even licensed?!" She shouts at the Stallion
"Yup! I have all my permits all my licenses and even a few seals from Princess Celestia. And all of it without spending four years learning the difference between dust and dirt" He smiles again as he turns heading towards the group of ponies now snickering at Twilights outburst
.
"How?! You need a post secondary education in order to become a Professor!" Twilight Fumes as she follows
"Yes, or you can be given a title by Royalty" He says stopping in front of two unicorn mares and an earth pony stallion. "Now this big fellow" He says pointing to the stallion that had a gray coat and black main. "Is Strong Hoof, he’s our head of safety, he makes sure all the tunnels are safe before we go exploring"
"Now this wonderful mare is Silent Charm, she is our data recorder she takes photos of everything before we touch anything and is our cartographer. She doesn’t speak much though" He says gesturing to the light pink unicorn mare with a purple mane.
"And this here is Miss Lyra, she is our head scholar in Equestrian myths and legends. And one of the only ponies who studies that field" He says smiling at the Mint colored mare with a cutie mark of harp.
“Hey Twi!” Lyra says with a large grin looking away from her work “Pretty nifty place we got here huh?”
“Um.. Yea. Nice seeing you again Lyra” Twilight says slightly awkwardly before moving on with Tombs
"Why would you need some pony who studies Myths?" Twilight asks unable to wrap her head around the situation as Spike face claws upon her back.
"I think your assistant knows Princess, but I’ll tell you anyways" Tombs beams "It’s because in all legends and myths there’s a hint of proof. And one of the more common legends which were proven to be fact was the Mare on the Moon. Isn’t that right?"
"Oh, Well I guess that does make sense. But why did you want me exactly?" Twilight asks as they approach two other ponies looking over several charts.
"Oh that’s an easy one, but first gotta show you the rest of the crew" He says before gently smacking a steel grey mare on the back getting her attention instantly.
"I’m busy Tombs, what do you want?" She growls
"This here is Grumpy, our other cartographer who takes the data from Silent and formats it into proper maps and the biggest pain in our butts" He smiles causing the mare to swipe her hoof at him.
"No my name is Seeking Charts" She huffs before turning back to the charts which resemble that of crude maps and paths.
"Besides all of that, this fine young stallion is our resident intern" He says pointing at the young stallion just barely out of High school. The young stallion had a pale cyan coat with a primarily blue mane with white streaks. Twilight couldn’t see his cutie mark but she could tell he was very surprised to see her.
"He’s a shy little fella but he does a good job helping out the crew" Tombs smiles before walking back to the center of the room where Twilights guards stood talking amongst themselves.
"This isn’t an excavation crew, there's no workers or diggers or anything like that" Twilight fumes causing Tombs to smile.
"This is an excavation crew and one which everypony thinks is going to fail, but I’ve proven them wrong before. Anyways, to answer your question as to why I wanted you here. Its quite simple. You’re a princess of Equestria your word is law now and you're one of the most renowned scholars in the land. So if you were here while we discovered something the populace will have to believe us" He smiles brightly "Besides if we did discover something and you weren’t here, you’d probably banish your brother for not telling you"
"I wouldn’t banish him! He's my brother" Twilight says with shock.
"You say that now" He grins at her.
"Could you stop upsetting the Princess" a new voices says causing Tomb to glare towards the voice.
Twilight looks forward seeing one of her Escorts has approached her and Tomb. The guard is a fairly large white Unicorn Mare with a grey mane kept braided behind her head. Her armor looks to be made from steel rather than the regular crystal armor of the Crystal Guards or the Imperial Gold which the Royal guard wears.
As Twilight looks over the armor she realizes it's made more for protection and movement than the armor she has normally seen. And upon the shoulder pads are two silver bars for her rank of lieutenant and a golden wreath with an eagle in the center.
"Princess? Did you hear me?" The lieutenant asked somewhat sternly.
"Oh. Sorry, I was inspecting your armor and saw the crest on your shoulder pad. I guess I got a little side tracked" Twilight says sheepishly
"I'll explain that in a moment you're highness. But first introductions are needed. I am lieutenant Shield I'm the head of your escort. If you have any concerns please come to me" Shield says before pointing to the guard closest to her.
"This is Private Flaming Arrow. She is our recon specialist" Shield says quickly. Flaming Arrow is a white Pegasus with a red mane kept in a pony tail. She has a bow and quiver as well as what looks like a lighter version of the Crystal armor.
"Next is Sergeant Tuffy Taffy. My second in command and offensive mage" Shield says pointing to a light beige unicorn mare who's armor seems to be another variation of the Crystal armor but like lieutenant Shields, it's clearly made to be used rather than ceremony.
"This is Sergeant Bright Knight. Our close combat specialist" Shield says pointing to a grey earth pony stallion who's almost as big as Big Mac, wearing thick crystal plates which cover his entire body including his tail.
"And finally Private Star Chaser. Our Field Medic" Shield says pointing to the last pony, a light blue Pegasus Mare with a white mane kept braided much like Shields. Her armor is the same as Flaming Arrows
"We are your personal Escort under orders from both your brother and Princess Celestia. Wherever you go we follow. Any questions?" Shield finally finishes.
"Yea. What's that thing on your shoulder pad?" Spike bluntly says pointing to Shields armored shoulder.
"Spike. That was rude" Twilight scolds
"No harm was done by the Dragons question your highness. Besides you were wondering as well. Were you not?"
"Actually yes" Twilight says curiously
"Well your highness. As you know there's two guard forces in Equestria. The Royal Guard now dubbed Solar Guard and the Lunar Guard. These guards are mostly for show. While I come from the Equestrian Legion"
"The what?" Both Twilight and Spike ask.
"The Equestrian Legion. Equestrias standing army against invaders. Have you never heard of us?"
"Equestria has an army?" Spike asks completely dumbfounded by this information.