Tasavir's Little Ponies

by Mike the Red

A Visit to the REAL Royal Archives

"Twilight, I would appreciate it if you would give me advance knowledge before teleporting away from me so quickly," the alicorn stated, a hint of exasperation in her tone. She mentally chastised herself for taking such a curt tone, but her ancient memories of her student had given her renewed hope that the lavender unicorn would stay with her. Celestia's face showed a great weariness coupled with renewed hope.

"My apologies, Princess, but I had considered what you'd said and the hope that Mellifluous Harmony would have a computer excited me," she replied reverently.

"Princess, it is an honor to meet you!" the prismatic mare stated cheerfully. "I had no idea I'd be meeting my ancestor -- or at least, a copy of her," she added, causing said mare to blush lightly at the compliment.

"I have been waiting for the proper time, my little pony -- and it would appear the time has finally arrived," the alicorn began. "Mellifluous Harmony -- you and your friends will be needed to assist Twilight with her endeavor. I will escort both of you to the Archives so you may conduct the necessary research in order to recreate the Elements of Harmony based on Starswirl's notes."

Both mares were astonished and flabbergasted by this information and bowed deeply to Celestia. She let a chuckle escape her lips upon witnessing this. As they rose, both had big smiles on their faces. "Please, Princess, lead the way! To think I might be able to return to his side once again fills me with so much hope!"

"Hearing the happiness in your voice brings me a renewed sense of joy," the alicorn stated as she led the way to the elevator. The doors opened and two mares entered, leaving Twilight a little nervous. "Twilight, have you never traveled in an elevator before?" asked Celestia, a wry smile on her face.

"Um, I've never encountered such a device before," she offered meekly.

"I have," Harmony noted dryly. "Twilight, just relax -- you might feel a little motion, but that's just the normal operation of elevators."

"I get a little claustrophobic," she complained as she stepped inside the car to join the alicorn and her forebear.

"Twilight, I'd appreciate it if you would stay here with me instead of Tasavir -- I understand your desire, but I feel it is misplaced," Celestia opined softly. The elevator moved so quietly and so smoothly that Twilight didn't even notice the sensation of movement.

"But -- but -- I love him! Please!" she begged.

"How long has it been since you were last by his side?" asked Celestia as she cast a warm gaze upon the unicorn. The alicorn lost herself in her memories, a smile making its way on her face. "I believe you may have been away from him too long and that he may already be lost to the Nightmare -- but I also believe if you can recreate the Elements of Harmony, you would be doing me a great favor as well as yourself."

"It's been ten years," Twilight stated dejectedly as she lowered her head before returning her gaze to meet that of Celestia's. "But even so, my love for him has never wavered -- but what is this favor?"

"Twilight -- I'm sure you're aware that Luna was killed many years ago -- but if she can be restored in Tasavir's world, perhaps she can return to my side -- and you can be reunited with him," she mused wistfully, her smile widening a little further as Twilight's expression brightened considerably.

"That would make me so happy," the unicorn chirped as the elevator finally reached its destination. The doors opened to reveal what looked like a stone corridor which was very dimly lit. "Where does this lead us?" she asked, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

"I've never seen such a place," muttered Harmony as she surveyed her surroundings.

"This leads us to the Royal Archives," the alicorn stated softly. "Everything was moved from Canterlot several centuries ago and the books, scrolls, manuscripts, and parchments were located on the lowest floors for protection."

"I've always wanted to see some of those items," Harmony mused, her voice amplified by the crystalline walls of the passageway. Their hoofsteps echoed loudly on the floors, the walls causing the sound to reverberate quite loudly.

"It's been some time since I last checked on them -- I believe they should still be safe, though," Celestia declared. Twilight was practically pronking like Pinkie Pie, her enthusiasm so infectious it brought a warm smile to the alicorn. Harmony giggled softly at the unicorn's giddiness.

"Oh, Princess, I can hardly contain my excitement! To be able to see Starswirl's writings for the first time!" she exclaimed almost jubilantly.

"If you are anything at all like my long-lost student, I believe you will be overjoyed," the alicorn opined warmly, her mood greatly buoyed by the unicorn's eagerness. She let her mind wander back to an ancient time when Twilight herself would display such enthusiasm, a tear trickling from her eye as the memories returned in a flood of emotion. She continued to trot closer to the archives, the two mares trailing behind, both of them with big smiles on their faces. Presently, they reached the archives, a set of ordinary looking doors being the only barrier separating them.

Celestia's horn glowed softly and the doors hummed with her magic, then creaked and groaned upon being moved for the first time in at least a century. Dust eddies swirled around them and a stale scent wafted on the air, their noses crinkling in disagreement with the odor before they trotted in slowly, the Princess lighting the way with her horn before operating a switch to turn the lights on. The ancient lighting flickered for several moments before finally gaining strength to illuminate the room. Mellifluous Harmony and Twilight Sparkle were amazed by the size of the room and stood in stunned silence as they took it all in.

"Behold, the Royal Archives," Celestia stated matter-of-factly, taking a moment to savor the look on the two mares' faces.

"Is this -- is this -- everything?" asked Twilight as she now wandered about the room, admiring the shelves which were packed with every conceivable book, scroll, and bound volume of parchment which had been previously housed in Canterlot -- and considerably more volumes which had been added in the several centuries hence. Harmony trotted around in amazement as she gawped at the size of the collection.

"Um, it looks like this might take awhile," Harmony uttered softly, still flabbergasted by the immense assortment of material.

"Ooh, I can hardly wait to get started!" Twilight chirped, pronking around on her hooves again, unable to contain her excitement. She raced over to a shelf and took a book at random with her magic, and flipped it open to start reading -- but stopped when she was presented with her first major obstacle. "Um, Princess? Why can't I read this?"

"What language are you used to reading, Twilight?"

"Tasavir instructed me with his homeworld's languages -- and I tried to learn as many of them as I could -- but -- but -- this is printed in -- I -- I -- can't read it!" she cried in anguish.

"I believe I can give you a translation spell," Celestia giggled before lighting her horn and rubbing it along Twilight's horn. She was amazed to see the words appear to shift into a semblance of something she could decipher.

"Mellifluous Harmony used a translation spell, but these -- Princess, why are there two Archives?" the unicorn queried.

"The other one is merely for show," Celestia replied matter-of-factly. "This is where the most sensitive information is kept, which is why I only allow certain ponies access to it. I knew you'd be able to recreate the Elements of Harmony if provided the actual notes and writings by Starswirl. The other Archive is merely reference material, but the most arcane knowledge is kept here."

Mellifluous Harmony trotted over to another section of ancient tomes and began reading the spines aloud before stopping at one particular book. She pulled it from the shelf and presented it to Twilight with a flourish of magic and a big grin on her face. "I think this might be the one you're looking for, Twilight!" she beamed excitedly. "I can hardly wait to see your finished work!"

"I may need your help with this, Harmony," the unicorn averred softly as she skimmed through the tome, stopping on a page illustrating the Elements themselves and runic structures establishing the thaumatic properties imbued in the stones. Celestia watched, an amused expression on her face.

"Twilight, you may take the materials you need with you. I'll prepare a room for you and Mellifluous Harmony, should she desire to stay here and assist you," the alicorn declared. "I would like to limit the amount of time these doors remain open."

"I'll have to contact my supervisor to approve an extended absence," the hybrid mare explained. "I have to be at my job tomorrow morning and I can't be late -- but I'll see what I can work out. Thank you for your kind offer, your Majesty, I would be thrilled to work alongside Twilight!"

Comments

[Admiral Q Ponyform]

Omg this updated this actually updated.

[Confused Horse Noises]

What necromancy is this!?

[Mike the Red]

It's a chapter I had been working on for the past few years -- I decided to post it and am working on the next chapter. Hopefully it won't be another4 years for the next update...

[Kichi]

It's Alive! After years it's back

[kenster]

I forgot this was a thing, I'm gonna have to re-read the whole story again lol

[GlitchyFox]

it lives?

[djponyfl]

Update?

[Kichi]

I guess the story is dead?

[Mike the Red]

11291988
I have a partial chapter not finished, I hope to add to it soon if I can -- sorry for leaving you hanging on this one.