My Little Pony: The Element of Time

by Thunderwing250

Chapter 2: Worse...Than A Dragon?

Watching the world speed by through the windows of the Pony Express, The Archivist turned to look at the mountain, miles away, and could only sense one thing: danger. Twilight Sparkle noticed her troubled look.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

The Archivist was silent for a few seconds.

“I sense something. But, what?” she replied.

Twilight stared at The Archivist for a few moments, curious.

“Madame Archivist?” Twilight asked.

“We’ll know more once we see Luna,” The Archivist replied.

Twilight sat, puzzled. Trying not to let it bother her. While resting for a few minutes, a voice came to her.

“Twilight Sparkle…” the voice echoed.

She turned to look for who was calling her name, but couldn't see anypony at all.

“Twilight Sparkle! Beware! Beware!” the voice echoed.

Twilight jumped, breathing heavily. The Archivist turned to her with a frown.

“What happened?” she asked.

Twilight tried to catch her breath.

“I don’t know. All I wanted to do is take a nap, until this weird voice came to me and echoed my name,” she panted.

The Archivist tilted her head.

“Echoing your name. Anything else?” she asked curiously

Twilight’s eyes locked on The Archivist's.

“It echoed, “BEWARE”. Not sure, why, but that’s what it said,” she replied.

The Archivist shook her head.

“Do not worry. It was perhaps a memory,” She replied.

Twilight wasn't sure, but she smiled nonetheless. The train began to slow down.

“Guess this is our stop,” Twilight said.

Outside, Doctor Hooves stood on the platform, waiting for the two ponies to get off the train patiently. He approached them with a serious look on his face.

“The Princesses are in their quarters as we speak, and are awaiting our presence,” he said; he nodded towards the castle and began to walk.

The Archivist nodded and she and Twilight followed Doctor Hooves to Canterlot Castle.

Inside, Celestia was trying her best to comfort her sister. Yet again, she was struck with fear. Luna began walking around, shaking, only to tremble onto the floor. The Royal Guards assisted her in getting up, but she just couldn’t. Celestia had never seen Luna this frightened before. Suddenly, the door opened and there stood Twilight, The Archivist, and Doctor Hooves.

“Guards. You may leave us,” The Archivist ordered, and the guards politely left the room.

“Strange that they listened to you,” Hooves scoffed.

“I already briefed them on the situation and told them this involves the five of us only!” The Archivist responded.

The Archivist shook her head and walked over to Princess Luna.

“Princess Celestia. Princess Luna. I am The Archivist, and this is my assistant, Doctor Hooves. Of course, you know Twilight Sparkle. We came to ask you a few questions about something you encountered early in the morning.”

Princess Celestia seemed somewhat suspicious, but she trusted Twilight, and instead went along with it. The Archivist sat in front of Luna and leaned her horn against Luna’s.

“Now, I need you to stay perfectly still,” The Archivist said, as her unihorn and eyes glowed.

Both ponies began to glow, and soon, the Archivist entered Luna’s memories. She watched as she performed her usual routine. Then she came across the Smokey Mountain and noticed Luna entering the cave high up the slope. The was a deep, terrible sound, forcing her to flee without even looking back. After a few minutes of going through her memories, the two awoke.

“Are you alright, Princess?” Twilight asked Luna.

“I’m alright,” Luna said, but despite her words, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed.

Celestia rushed over in a panic, sheltering her sister with a huge wing.

“What on earth did you do?!” she snapped.

“Princess Celestia! Will you please understand, she’s in shock? I did nothing to her, but only view her recent memory,” The Archivist replied, trying to keep her voice level despite her irritation.

Celestia frowned, but she nodded..

“What was it then?” she asked. “What harmed my sister?”

The Archivist shook her head.

“I do not know. Whatever it was prevented me from seeing it. However, Twilight Sparkle was ordered by you to remove a dragon on that mountain. Which I must ask,” she said as she turned her attention on the other unicorn, “do you remember something strange up there during that time? Anything unusual in the cave?”

Twilight tried to think back to that moment. However, the only thing she remembered were the number of attempts they tried to get the Dragon out, until Fluttershy convinced it. Then, she remembered Rarity speaking of treasure.

“The treasure. I remember Rarity mentioning dragons have tons of treasure, but when he left the Smokey Mountain, he left his hoard behind. Usually dragons take their gold or they come back to the gold pit as if it were a nest,” Twilight responded. “I guess if he didn't take it, it wasn't his. But then I wonder whose it was?”

The Archivist’s eyes widened. She turned to Doctor Hooves, and whispered in his ear. Finished, he walked out of the room. The Archivist turned to the Princesses.

“There is a possibility that she may have encountered another dragon, only this one is much fiercer. That’s all I can think of as of now,” she said.

“I... I don't know what it was,” Luna muttered.

Twilight turned to the Archivist.

“We'll find out, Princess, don't worry,” she said. “Archivist, what do we need to do?”

The Archivist picked up her head.

“We need to go up to the mountain and see for ourselves. It’s the only way,” she replied.

The room was silent for a while, until Twilight looked down at Luna. The alicorn had shut her eyes tightly and Princess Celestia kept her close. Twilight nodded.

“Okay. I'll do it. I'm sure my friends would be happy to help if it'd help the Princesses.”

Outside the room, Twilight walked beside The Archivist.

“Can I ask you a question?” she asked. “It seems like you don't really think it's a second dragon. Why?”

“The dragon challenged whatever was in there for the treasure, and apparently, the dragon lost, but instead was provided shelter. Very unusual,” The Archivist responded.

Twilight remained silent, in thought, throughout the rest of the way. Once outside and near the train station, Doctor Hooves met them.

“Sorry, Twilight Sparkle, can you give us a moment?” he asked

Twilight nodded and slipped away, but she kept her eye on them. She tried to edge closer, curious to hear what they were saying, but the noise around was too loud. She instead heard the train whistle and the shout of the conductor. She headed towards the train and glanced back, but the others were still talking, with very serious looks on their faces.

“Are you coming?” Twilight called out.

“No,” The Archivist yelled back. “Get your friends together, and we’ll me you in Ponyville.”

“Okay, if you say so!”

Twilight hopped onto the train and it departed back to Ponyville.

The Archivist watched it leave intently and then turned her attention back on Doctor Hooves.

“What did the master say?” she asked him.

“He said, keep our distance and report anything from the mountain,” Hooves replied.

The Archivist rubbed her chin.

“One other thing. The master ordered us to burn any books containing the forbidden ancient spells,” Hooves finished.

The Archivist nodded.

“Funny, I was going to report to him regarding that,” she replied. “I, for one, went through that entire library, but with Twilight finding that one book, now I have the suspicion there may be more.”

“Well, I can assure you, Master Star Swirl may have taken a few of Alteros’ books, which he--” Hooves was interrupted.

“Do NOT mention anything about that alteration spell to him,” The Archivist snapped.

“Why?” Hooves asked.

“Twilight read one of Star Swirl’s books and noticed he translated the destiny spell. And you know exactly what that spell is,” The Archivist said.

“So that’s why her friends had mixed cutie marks. For that matter, how strange that Alteros mentioned friendship, when they know not of it,” Hooves said to himself.

“Yes. Lucky for her, she was able to reverse the spell. Anyway, back on topic. Is there any other orders he gave?” The Archivist asked.

“No. Just that,” Hooves replied.