//------------------------------// // As Time Draws Closer... // Story: Seeking Answers // by Skye Mist //------------------------------// 200 years prior to Nightmare Moon's return... "Oh, this seems interesting." Skye said as her magic enveloped a book. Ever since...that incident, she busied herself by going to the castle's library more often to read as there were few major events that she had needed to put on the timeline. Eventually, she finished reading all of the library books and had switched over to the books of her mother's study. She never could figure out why the left wall was completely bare. Around 250 years ago, she stopped trying. As she pulled the book out, a folded piece of parchment floated down from between the books. 'Hmm...what's this?' With her interest in the book lost, she put the book back in its place and took the parchment in her magical aura. A spell was written on it. 'I wonder what this is for.' Skye thought as she examined the spell. It was very vague and its purpose isn't very clear either. Two things were clear though; it was made by her mother and was also very difficult to perform. 'I'll try my best then.' Her horn lit up, sparks flying as the spell went on. Eyes narrowed in concentration, she put more magic into the spell. And suddenly, the room grew brighter. Runes appeared on the entire left wall. They shifted shape and formed a doorway. 'Well, I guess that's why it was left bare. Question is, what's in there?' The light dimmed somewhat and Skye squinted her eyes as she walked through the blinding doorway with the spell in her magical grasp. As soon as she walked through, the doorway stopped glowing and reverted back to a wall. 'Glad I took this along.' Skye thought as she glanced at the spell in her magic aura. The passageway that she was in was very dark. Even her slitted dragon eyes with their enhanced night-vision couldn't see far. Her horn flared up more light and she noticed an unlit torch on the side of the passageway. She used a fire spell to light the torch and she carried it along with her. As Skye studied the passageway, she noticed that they seemed to be built from stone slabs like those of the Castle of the Two Sisters. 'Interesting...' Before long, there was a fork in the passage. Skye chose to go through the left one. 'I can always backtrack.' Skye walked for about a few hours before anything happened. The sound of her hooves echoed continuously, and her head dropped to her forehooves. As she continued on, she saw a faint light ahead. Rushing forward, she burst into the light. Blinking her eyes to adjust them, her jaw unhinged as she recognized where she was. Forgetting her tired state, she stared in awe. 'Canterlot Gardens...I'm in the Canterlot Gardens. But how'd Mother build that here without anypony noticing? Oh right, Luna. Probably had her help. But why'd she lead this tunnel here?' She scanned her surroundings. The tunnel she had just walked out of was covered by vines and shrubbery. Statues dotted the otherwise insignificant garden. What really caught her eye was a statue of a mismatched creature. It was in a position that made it seem like it was either singing or laughing a hearty laugh. But it was what the creature resembled that truly intrigued her. Skye walked up to the base of the statue. 'Equine-like head, lion paw, eagle claw, hoof, two different antlers...Discord?!' Was this really Discord, the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony? If it was, then the power of the Elements of Harmony must be very powerful. Skye shuddered. 'I should be heading back. I'll explore again later.' Making sure to conceal the entrance even more with an illusion spell, she cast one final look at the statue as she headed back into the tunnel. ************ 100 years prior to Nightmare Moon's return... The loud squawk of a phoenix broke the eerie silence in a clearing. A moment later, a cave materialized in the clearing. Skye, Arctic, and Majesty flew out of the cave and greeted their guest. A pearl necklace was levitated to the phoenix as she was embraced by her two sisters. "Glad you came to visit again, sis!" Arctic exclaimed happily. "It's nice to see you again, Sister." Majesty said in agreement. "It's nice to see you girls again, too." Philomena replied. She then looked at Skye, who was smiling at the phoenix sisters while she hovered beside them. "I have something for Skye. I know you usually reject these, but would you like to go to the Grand Galloping Gala this year?" In her talons, a golden ticket gleamed. Skye's smile instantly evaporated and was replaced with a frown. "I'm sorry, Philomena. I'll have to decline." "I understand." Philomena said as she nodded, undeterred in the slightest. "Does it have to do with that first time you went? When Celestia first created the Gala?" Arctic asked. Skye gave her a expressionless look. "You mean my first and last time. And yes. It was downright boring there, and I almost blew my cover in front of Celestia. I don't see why Celestia would even want to host them every year. Especially since she clearly enjoyed that little bit of chaos that happened." "Okay, I see your point. Seriously, though, Canterlot ponies are such snobs." Arctic said. "I must concur." Majesty agreed, nodding. "Yeah, I've lived there for 900 years and it's always been the same. Rich, high-class, stuck-up ponies who think they're royalty." Philomena said disgustedly. "Some of them had the nerve to try and buy me by sweet-talking Celestia! Of course, she saw through their act, but I had my own fun with them." She smirked (at least the closest to a smirk that a phoenix could get) at that last part. Skye stared blankly at Philomena. "I don't even want to know." "Well, I do!" Arctic interjected. Philomena churred mischievously. "Well, it all started..." Skye rolled her eyes as they flew into the cave. ************ 70 years prior to Nightmare Moon's return... Skye stared at the magic-made picture of her family as she lay on her bed. It now was placed on her nightstand. An urgent scraping at the door interrupted her thoughts. Majesty's anxious voice carried through the door. "Miss Mist, I think you should see this. Some ponies are settling near the forest." That jolted her out of her calm state. "Majesty, are they going into the forest?" "No, Miss. They are staying in the northwest valley." Skye let out a breath of relief. "Good. I'll go check it out." Stepping outside the invisible cave, she turned into her mist form and sped towards the location. Indeed, Majesty's words were true. A town was being built. 'At least they're not too close to the forest. And I won't have to send Majesty or Arctic too far to get food.' Skye sped away, still in her mist form, before somepony could see her. ************ 5 years prior to Nightmare Moon's return... Skye's eyes narrowed as she exited the cave. She blinked them to adjust them to the light. 'Serves me right for being cooped up in the castle for so long.' She shifted to her pegasus form and flew up towards the sky. 'Oh sweet Celestia, I forgot how fun it is to fly like this!' She did twirls and twists around the clouds as she smiled happily. And then, her eyes picked up a sound coming from below. She stopped midair, trying to hear what it was. "Away, you vile beast! You shall not make me into your feast!" A accented voice yelled. Skye could hear the snarls of a Timberwolf. Her blood chilled. She instantly berated herself. 'Get a grip on yourself! One Timberwolf! One measly Timberwolf! And somepony's in trouble for Celestia's sake!' Tucking in her wings, she dived towards the source of the ruckus. At the last second, her wings flared, making her land forcefully on, as luck would have it, the back of the Timberwolf. 'Horse apples...Well, at least it makes it easier for me.' Skye scowled and immediately reared up. As her hooves land roughly on the Timberwolf's spine, it broke apart. She proceeded to continue breaking and scattering the pieces of it with her hooves. She almost forgot that she had an audience. "My, my, great power and skill of these parts you do show. But are you friend or foe?" Skye turned to see a zebra with blue eyes and wearing golden earrings and bracelets looking expectantly at her. "Neither. The name's Snow Dusk." She replied curtly. "Zecora is my name. From the distant land of Zebrica is from where I came. I am grateful for your aid, a new friend I seem to have made." Zecora said, smiling. Skye didn't emote. "Yeah, sure. See you around." And with that, she flew straight up into the clouds. 'Guess I have a new neighbor. Oh joy.' Skye thought sarcastically.