While the legends said that there was such a thing as an ending to the endless, immaterial quasi-advance of such an existence, nothing was truly believed-- in fact, as seconds and minutes and hours and centuries wore on, the parasite of doubt started rotting away their minds, whispering that no: There was no such thing as front of the queue. Reality was but an endless succession of the backsides of people with stomach problems.
The environment itself conspired against the habitants of such a macabre biosphere, for there was no food except for that which the Sellers let them have, cutting their own throats at the price of course (And indeed, their minds were starting to linger in the sweet release of a cut throat), which had the approximate nutritional value and taste of an insect who happened to wander too close to one's mouth.
"Who'd say that people wants to go in" repeated Applejack, tedium warping her mind into a machine of repetition.
"Its more about the security. The sleeper is sick, they don't want more bad things to happen"
"Still..." Applejack's gaze rested in the infuriating door.
"Yes, I know, the door is big"
Each individual half of the door had been chiseled from the mountain, its hinges long since stuck with centuries' worth of mud and birds' nests. Buildings could've been carved inside them, and in fact, several guard stations were inside the rock or hanging from its face, in wood platforms.
"And is everything inside as big?" she asked.
"Pfft, you kidding me?" Nanda paused for effect "Of course it is"
"So it really is a city and a country. And who built it, dragons?"
"No one knows" Applejack rolled her eyes "No, really, no one knows. The scripture that was left wasn't in any known language, and the furniture wasn't comfortable for any sapient species that size"
The queue advanced, an euphoria of motion that was simply too short.
-º-
"Reasons of Visit?" Asked the guard, inflating every word into a statement by itself.
"Passing through"
"I may move in"
"Hm" the guard stated his doubt, looking at them, but an underling glided in and passed him a note "You May Pass" he stated grudgingly after reading it.
"Huh?" Applejack and Nanda tried to have a peek at the note, but the gryphon moved it away, taking care of making his very much sharpened claws very much visible.
"State Affairs" he stated simply and with finality "Now, I Will Need to See Identifying Documentation"
-º-
Once inside, Applejack had a small attack of agoraphobia.
"Everyone gets like this at first" Nanda nodded.
The houses weren't just big.
The houses had neighbourhoods inside them.
"But- How-" Applejack closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths "I feel like a mouse," she said without opening them "Please tell me they don't have big cats too"
Winona barked softly in agreement, looking at the multitude of pegasi and gryphons flying between buildings.
Applejack opened her eyes, one at a time, and took another look. The ground-bound population were, while existing, obviously a minority, maybe even second-class citizens.
"And you wanted to live here?" she asked to Nanda dubiously.
"The satelital towns aren't really bad," she took a look around "And what I want is to lay low until the mess with the Prasante blows over. I may go back" she added in a lower tone. "What better place than this?"
"I guess. We going our own wa-?" her stomach grumbled "Food. Goodbyes later" she corrected herself.
"Aye"