The Olden World

by Czar_Yoshi

Yesteryear's Tomb

Maple trotted purposefully down a dim forest road, Starlight on her back and Howe flapping overhead. Obscured by boughs and branches, the darkened sky granted even less light than usual, leaving her muddy hooves to discover fallen twigs and potholes for themselves. Dirty water splashed from the road's poorly-maintained surface, grass having grown and decayed for many years to cover what was once a layer of protective gravel, soaking her legs and spraying her belly fur with droplets.

It hadn't carried carts for a long time, she could tell, evidenced by the creeping foliage on either side that would have been trampled by any wagon. Still, her hooves found something that might have been a path, and it held true, carrying her past the worst of the puddles and closer to Sosa's graveyard.

"Look," Starlight announced, pointing forward. "What's that?"

The road widened, forming a clearing that let in a little stormlight. It filtered down in a broad, blue-gray pillar, illuminating a dark obelisk in the middle of the path. Maple stepped closer, cautious, raising her hooves high to avoid splashing... though there was a minute hill that drained most of the excess water, forming a solid place for ponies to stand.

"It's a monument," she whispered, coming close enough to make out the stone, and see that there were words carved into it. "But I can't quite read what it says..."

Helpfully, and with a whine of complaint, Starlight lit her horn, wincing as it came to life. Teal illumination washed over the scene, revealing a small pile of waterlogged flowers laid at the base of a truncated pillar, the carved words standing out as shadows against the light.

Maple squinted. "It says, 'The Graveyard of Sosa. Economic powerhouse and the heart of Ironridge.' From..." She peered harder, rubbing at the lettering with a hoof. "Something to 978, A.B. Part of this date is worn away from age..."

"It seems to be a place for citizens to offer gifts to the deceased," Howe observed, hovering above the mud. "Odd, though. You would think they'd commemorate the 965 date of the great airship crash..."

"No..." Maple bit her lip, thinking. "That's not it. That was when Sosa first fell, but they still ruled Ironridge. This date would have to be later..." Her eyes widened, then sobered. "It's when the last ship left. The one with Arambai, when they made it official that the Sky District was the new capital of Ironridge. It makes sense, since they only marooned the boats here after that."

Starlight sniffed, staring past the pillar.

"Well..." Maple straightened up. "I don't see anything saying not to keep going. Should we proceed?"

Howe stared straight up at the cloud-laden sky. "The weather certainly bids us proceed!"

"Huh?" Starlight looked up too. "It looks like it's going to start raining again. How does that mean keep going?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Howe grinned. "It's dramatic! Were the clouds to forsake us, it would mean the night's tension was over, and a peaceful slumber awaited us! But this ominous showing is merely a portent that the night has more adventure in store for us. Onwards, loyal comrades!"

"Or it means we'll get rained on," Maple cautioned... "But it wasn't that bad earlier, and we're still close to Gnarlbough. I can handle a little rain."

Starlight shoved her. "Don't get sick for real! Rain is serious. Trust me."

"Right..." Maple bit her lip. "Still. If it starts, we'll run straight back. This was a fairly short walk, so we shouldn't be out for too long."

"It might not actually matter!" Howe called from ahead. "There's a gate right around this bend!"

Maple's ears stiffened in determination, and she began trotting swiftly. "Really..."

---

Maple came to a stop outside two low pillars flanking the road, another like the obelisk earlier standing in the center. Beyond, the road opened into a wide, muddy clearing, ground flat and partially concrete before a distant drop-off heralded the start of a dry lakebed. Dark shapes sat at unnatural angles further out; the carcasses of dozens or even hundreds of small cargo ships designed expertly to handle the waters of the Yule. In the distance, on the near shore, was a tall, boxy warehouse that might have served as a dry dock in bygone days, one wall extending into the lake in a water entry.

The central pillar had more words, which Starlight reluctantly lit. Maple leaned forward, reading.

This is the resting place of Project Aslan and the Spirit of Sosa, along with all of Sosa's hopes and dreams. Once, they tried to fly.

Even in death, the Spirit of Sosa lives on. Those whose hearts have lost light and meaning may bring their sorrows and petition the dead for a share of that hope. The dead are generous, and can sooth all wounds.

But you who love the light, beware. The darkness is greedy, and the price for looking beyond the veil is to be drawn into infinite shadow. If you have any unfinished business in Ironridge or the world, attend to it before coming here.

One day, the Spirit of Sosa will rise again. The shadows will part, the world will be turned on its head, and Sosa will reclaim its rightful place as the star of Ironridge. You who love the light, take heart and stand strong.

Somewhere, I'll be standing with you.

-Arambai

In silence, Maple stood, jaw dropped, barely remembering not to sit lest she become caked in mud. "Oh my..."

Howe whistled, long and low. "I've heard stories about that character. Sounds like he was a real champion... right up until the end, when he sold everyone out and ran away. You don't suppose these are his last words before leaving?"

Maple had to bite her tongue to stop herself from interjecting in Arambai's defense. Atop her back, Starlight's horn dimmed, and she heard the filly swallow. "Maple? When it talks about coming here if you've lost hope, and not being able to come back..."

"I think you're probably right," Maple answered hollowly. Howe was standing too close to safely talk about it, but if Starlight was speculating that the graveyard was where ponies went to gain access to the ferry... She gulped too, Faron's words starting to make more sense. What if he had wandered his way there, been too sad to heed the warning, and not came to his senses until it was too late? Shinespark wouldn't allow a pony to remain in Ironridge after explaining the ferry, would she?

Starlight stretched forward, whispering in her ear so Howe wouldn't hear. "What do you think they do to ponies who change their minds about wanting to go...?"

Maple grimaced. She didn't want to think about it. Faron had left White Chocolate, fair and square, and that was unforgivable. Whether he regretted it or not didn't change what had happened, and feeling sorry for him... She knew she would, and couldn't bear it.

Shivering, she stared past the gate into the gloomy courtyard. Still, everything was starting to fit together. Of course, anyone who knew about a sensitive secret like the ferry couldn't be allowed to remain in Ironridge, so they would need some way to ensure anyone who was told about it would be ready... or at least couldn't complain about disappearing when they had just violated a warning saying they would disappear. But how many ponies wouldn't take it seriously? How many would be unable to appreciate what they had, so that by the time they left...?

Her stomach clenched. How many ponies had been ferried to Riverfall without actually wanting to go? What if Faron had been one of them? And what would that mean for how she felt about him?

"Let's go, Starlight," Maple ground out, not willing to resign to the inevitability of her thoughts. "Let's go back. When we talk to Shinespark, we'll... we'll..."

"Ladies?" Howe tilted his head. "Is there something all that whispering's about that the Howenator should know?"

"No." Maple gritted her teeth. "There-"

KRA-KOOOM!

Suddenly, lightning pulsed across the sky, and with less than a second of warning, the storm resumed.

Comments

[alamais]

What if he had wandered his way there, been too sad to heed the warning, and not came to his senses until it was too late?

> too sad
Or too drunk.

[Phoenix Kitten]

KRA-KOOOM!

Suddenly, lightning pulsed across the sky, and with less than a second of warning, the storm resumed.

Well.... he was right about the weather bidding them onwards, but wrong about how all the tension would be gone.