//------------------------------// // Shining Armor/Twilight/Rarity - Chapter 11 // Story: Dawn of Crystal Empire // by TopWanted //------------------------------// Shining Armor held up a newspaper before him in the train car. In the seats across the aisle, the two brothers murmured about things he really couldn’t understand. Something about letters and ancient history. Shining’s ears perked up at the mention of Sun Tide. He lowered his paper. “You know you said you’d tell me everything you knew on the train,” Shining said. “Well, here we are. Start talking.” Quill merely sighed and slumped back in his seat. Wit seemed perfectly eager to comply. “Do you have the book on you?” Wit asked. Shining pulled it from his saddle bag and Wit took it. Wit in turn opened one of his bags and handed a medium sized black box to Shining Armor. “This book is actually based off of historical text,” Wit said excitedly. Shining opened the box to reveal hundreds of small scrolls and letters. “Those historical texts to be accurate.” Shining lifted one out of the box and looked over to Wit. Wit nodded his head in a way that said “go ahead.” Shining carefully unrolled the scroll and peered at the ancient script. It was a little hard to make out due to age but it certainly was written in basic pony. He took a look at the date. Same format as before only this one said “Year of Hippolyta.” “Please be careful with those,” Quill said with a grumpy expression. “There are no copies.” Shining Armor was no historian or archivist but he was quite sure that these were the kinds of letters that belonged in a museum or the royal academy. “Just what are you two doing with stuff like this?” “It’s ours,” Quill replied, a hoof pressed against his cheek as he stared out the window. “Passed down in our family for generations.” “Quite a few of them are love letters,” Wit spoke up. “So we use some of them for inspiration.” Shining cocked an eyebrow as he returned the scroll to the box. “So you’re saying the letters in that book are actual letters to these ancient ponies?” “Essentially, yes,” Wit confirmed. Shining unrolled another scroll and saw that is was written by a stallion named Astro Wave. Another was signed by a Galaxy Spinner. Each letter was clearly addressed to some mare and was either filled with poetry, or something a little bit more filthy. Shining felt himself begin to blush. “But you didn’t really answer my question,” he insisted as he rolled up another dirty limerick. “Why do you guys have these? These have to be from several different ponies, why does your family have them all?” “They’re not,” Quill stated simply, still enjoying his view of the passing terrain outside. “They’re not your family’s?” Shining asked. “No,” Quill turned to face Shining once more. “They’re not from different ponies.” “Each and every one of those letters was written by one stallion,” Wit insisted. “And who was that?” Shining asked. “Some ancestor of yours?” “In a way,” Quill’s grin grew wide. “You might remember him as Starswirl the Bearded.” ---------- Twilight wiped her brow as she blew out a breath of relief. It took nearly the entire day but they successfully transported every bit of the dust and ash they had found in the chamber to an urn to be studied. Twilight held the urn out in front of her with her magic as her friends and Cadence gathered around. “So this is Bedim Haze?” Applejack asked. “Not much left of him.” “Oh,” Fluttershy wailed. “The poor dear. What do you suppose happened to him?” “I’m not entirely sure,” Twilight replied. “First impressions would be that his body simply crumbled to dust when his life ended. But I don’t know enough about shadow ponies to know if that’s the truth or not.” “IF he’s a shadow pony,” Rainbow interjected. “We still don’t even know if that journal is telling the truth or not.” “I suppose,” Twilight admitted. “But it’s way too detailed to be a forgery of some kind. Besides, some of the things in there sound pretty real and detailed.” “Maybe we should all just curb this discussion for later,” Cadence spoke up. “Judging from the clock, I’d say it’s about time for dinner.” “Got that right!” Pinkie said. “I’m starved!” The seven began to walk toward the library exit. Rarity stopped at the door. “Uh, you go on ahead,” Rarity waved a hoof. “There’s… something I need to check on first.” Twilight watched her friend walk back into the darkened library. “Okay, well, you’ll know where to find us.” “Don’t worry, darling,” Rarity called back. --- About an hour later they had finished their meal. The cooks stayed in the dining room long enough to talk to Applejack. “We really can’t thank you enough, Miss Applejack,” one said. “Oh,” Applejack sputtered. “Well, I uh-“ “You’re reorganizing made everything so much easier!” said another. “I really had no idea the mess I was working in until you came along.” “Er, you’re welcome?” “If everyone’s done with dinner,” Twilight spoke up. “Then we should probably figure out what to do with this?” She plopped the urn down on the dining room table. “I really wish you hadn’t brought that to the dinner table,” Cadence winced. “Yeah,” Rainbow agreed. “That’s pretty macaber.” “It’s pronounced macabre,” Twilight corrected her. “And no it isn’t. It’s just dust and ash now. We don’t even really know if it’s Bedim’s remains.” “Still pretty gross, Twi,” Applejack added. “Fine,” Twilight lowered the urn from sight. “But what’s our next move?” “You mean you don’t know?” Fluttershy spoke up now, having previously been engaged in feeding Capper some rocks she found in the secret chamber. “No!” Twilight shouted exasperatedly. “I’m not full of answers! I can’t make all the calls! Everything that’s going on is so frustrating! I hate not being in control!” “That’s a feeling I know all too well, Twilight Sparkle.” A feminine voice made all the occupants of the dining room turn around as a tall blue alicorn stepped into the grand room. “Princess Luna!” Twilight shouted as she hurried over to greet her. Cadence followed after. “It is good to see you, Twilight, Cadence,” Luna smiled generously. “I’m sorry for only visiting during such grave times.” “No, no,” Twilight shook her head. “It’s perfect that you’re here! Is Princess Celestia here too?” “No,” Luna replied. “We determined that what may be going on here could very well be more dangerous than anticipated. Thus I convinced my sister to send me.” Cadence smiled. “Well, we’re certainly glad for the help. Let me show you what we’re dealing with.” --- The three alicorns left the castle and headed towards the Crystal Heart. Guards had been stationed around it. They recognized the princesses and let them pass. Cadence grabbed the tarp and pulled it down to reveal the Crystal Heart, now nearly completely petrified. “Oh, no,” Cadence reacted, reaching a hoof to her mouth. “It’s spreading even faster.” Twilight turned quickly to Princess Luna. “Do you think you can stop it?” Luna frowned but walked up to the crystal. She splayed her forehooves and lowered her horn to point at the heart. A pale blue aura shot out and surrounded the Crystal Heart. For a brief moment, the spreading stone seemed to stop. Cadence and Twilight let out a sigh of relief. Then, while still enveloped by the aura, the heart continued to slowly transform and petrify. Luna let go of her concentration, falling to the ground on one knee and letting out a gasp. Twilight ran over to her. “Princess Luna!” “It’s,” Luna seemed to stammer as her gaze drifted toward the heart. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever encountered. Whatever magic this is, it’s beyond even my years. This is ancient sorcery.” “Ancient?” Cadence asked. “Yes,” Luna clamored to her feet. “I will need more information if I am to counteract this. Twilight Sparkle, you said you found a secret room in the castle?” “Yes,” Twilight replied. “Take me there.” ---------- “Don’t worry, darling!” Rarity called back as she turned a corner into the library. Flash was waiting there for her, hiding from sight of the others. A pile of books surrounded him. “Did you find anything?” Rarity asked. “I went to visit Spike in the infirmary today,” Flash began. “The doctor still says that she has no idea when he’ll wake up. So then I went here and started looking for a book that could help. I went through books about dragon migration, dragon anatomy, dragon eating habits, even dragon mating habits. Still haven’t found anything about hibernation!” Rarity noticed the bags under Flash’s eyes accompanied by his sad dog face. She gave him a reassuring smile and lifted his chin. “Don’t worry. I’m here to help now! We’ll find a way to wake up Spike before its time for breakfast.” “You really want to stay in here all night and help me?” Flash asked. Rarity picked up a book and began to leaf through it. “What are friends for?”