Awakening: Part I
One would think, in an immortal life, you would have seen every type of dream come and go
in the timeless world of slumber. That perhaps, there could be nothing left to surprise you.
And yet Celestia, the immortal alicorn Princess of the Sun, found herself in a very strange, foreboding
place this night.
“Hello?” she called out. Seeking out any company that may come with this dream.
Her voice echoed through the void and traveled into the nothingness. The silence that followed left a negative effect. Until a sound bounced back to her. Other voices, not her own, filled the alicorn’s ears.
So many colours of sound washed over her.
Laughter, cheer and song that she did not recognise. The many voices carried a language that not even the wisest can understand.
Yet, despite the barrier, it was soothingand sweet. Like tasteing a fruit from some far off land.
But soon, the sound of bliss was replaced by that of screams, fire, and battle. As if she
was revisiting an old memory of past conflicts never witnessed. She winced, as the
terrifying noise deafened her. Covering her ears, she tried to blot it out as the noise got
more intense and violent, it felt like a needle was going through her head, piercing her
every thought, until.........
...silence....
She opened her eyes slowly and lowered her hooves. As she did, the
surroundings took form as the void was replaced by a room of stone. (Such is the nature of
dreams to constantly change environment). She looked around. For some clue or sign as what this vision entailed. There on one of the walls of the room, was a marking, that did not resemble any that she had seen in all of the years of her immortal life.
She stepped closer, examining the marking, it took the form of a kind of arrow head shape.
With fine lines patterning the edges. It glowed bright green and gold. In all rights, it was
fascinating to behold.
“It is time”
Celestia was startled at the sound of the voice that came from nowhere, and everywhere
all at once.
“Wha-? Who said that?” she said
“The time has come, to awaken the one in the ageless sleep”
The voice echoed in the room, yet it was soft, like a whisper across time and space.
“I don’t understand?” said Celestia. Trying to comprehend her situation.
The voice spoke again this time from behind her.
“You will soon enough, my child, but first.....awaken”
She turned around to see only a blurry shadow, before at last the stone walls dissipated,
the dream melted away.
Celestia woke from her sleep, she sat up in her bed and rubbed her head with a hoof.
Looking around, she was in her room, and the night was ending as the moon lowered in
the sky. It was almost time for her to raise the sun for the dawn.
‘Was it a dream’? she thought to herself. The strange symbol, the violent noises and the
voice that spoke to her. ‘Awaken the one in the ageless sleep’.
What it all meant to her was uncertain. But she knew who could help her understand it
better. Her younger sister, Luna, who raised and lowered the moon each and every night.
As Princess and guardian of the night she was able to enter the dreams of those who slept
beneath her sky.
Celestia got out of bed and made her way to the balcony to cast her spell that would raise
the sun.
“I will tell Luna of this, perhaps she will make sense of it” she told herself
Her horn began to glow, and slowly the sun rose up from the horizon, a brand new dawn
shone over her Equestria.
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It was breakfast time in Canterlot castle, the city awakes to the dawn of Celestia’s sun.
Ponies went to and fro from place to place, some in cafes being served food, others went
to work while some mingled and talked. As always, times were peaceful as it is
everywhere in the land. Since the defeat of Tirek, the magic stealer.
Celestia sat in the dinning room of the palace, waiting for her younger sister to arrive after
her night’s work. One of the doors opened, and in she came.
“Good morning sister” Celestia spoke in a chirpy fashion.
Luna was a little late to respond as she seemed to be lost in thought and weariness. Such
is a drawback for working during the night.
“Oh....good morning sister” Luna said. Drowsily.
Celestia noticed this. But shrugged it off, assuming that she was just tied. Luna came to sit
down and began to eat her dinner as Celestia ate her breakfast.
There was a silence between them for a while, Celestia wanted to choose the right time to
ask her sister about the dream she had.
Then she figured now was a good a time as any
“There’s something I need to talk to you about” They both said in unison.
“What?!” They said in unison again.
They turned to each other in surprise. Then Celestia spoke up.
“Um...you go first” She said
“Err..no you first, please” Luna said politely
“Ok then”
Celestia took a breath before explaining her question.
“Last night I had a dream, a strange one. And I was hoping if you could help me
understand it better?”
“I’ll do what I can. What was in the dream, explain it to me?” Said Luna with curiosity
“Well” Celestia began. “First there was nothing, then I heard voices, like a thousand
speaking all at once, then I heard sounds of battle and yelling, it got louder until suddenly I
stood in a room of stone. Then I heard....”
“A strange voice, that came from everywhere....” Luna finished off.
Celestia paused. They stared at each other for a few moments before Celestia’s
realization took voice.
“You had the same dream?” She asked in shock
“Yes, yesterday while I slept” Luna confirmed
They stared in silence for a moment longer in thought.
“Then, what does it mean?” Celestia finally asked.
“I know not sister. I don’t think this was a dream, but a message, from who I can’t say”
Luna spoke in a more serious tone.
“‘Awaken the one in the ageless sleep’?” Celestia questioned. “What is an ageless sleep?”
“It could mean anything, perhaps it would be wise to look for answers in the archives? Or
to mediate on it?” Luna suggested.
Celestia though to herself for a second, putting a hoof on her chin. The Canterlot archives
contain a vast amount of knowledge dating back a long time. Its the best place to start
looking.
“Then that will be my task for today. And you should get some rest sister, you look tired
from your night’s work” Celestia smiled.
Luna nodded, getting up from the table to make her way out.
“Yes. I hope you find something that will solve this riddle. And who knows, perhaps the
answer will come to us on its own?” Luna replied.
As Luna left the room Celestia moved towards the balcony to gaze out over the city and
beyond. Contemplating in thought.
‘I wonder if Twilight should know of this, maybe she can solve it’ she thought. Then shook
her head in denial.
‘No. She has enough on her mind, after only defeating Tirak and taking on her new duties
as the Princess of friendship. Best to leave her. Besides, if I was to bother everypony with
every strange dream me and Luna had, we would soon aggravate them all’ she argued to
herself.
She then turned around and made her way for the archives to study. Little did she know,
that this mystery would soon unfold itself as it was meant to.
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Meanwhile in Ponyville the day was just beginning for its residents, earth ponies ploughed
their fields, pegasi cleared the skies of clouds and unicorns did their various jobs and tasks
around the town.
There was no doubt that this was indeed the most peaceful and happiest place in all of
Equestria. Despite the many struggles it endured over the years. For this town lay before
the doors of the recently build castle that belonged to the new Princess of Friendship,
Twilight Sparkle.
The castle was build out of purest crystal from the tree of harmony, inside it felt like all the
joy in the world was in one place. As if the it was harmony in its own form.
Twilight and her friends Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Spike
where in the castle doing their own stuff. Rarity and Fluttershy were busy polishing the
crystal furniture and hanging tapestries on the ceilings, Rainbow Dash was studying the
new map in the central chamber while Applejack and Pinkie Pie were playing a game of
cards which Pinkie kept winning by collecting jokers.
As for Twilight, she was busy making modifications to the mirror portal that she used to
travel to the human world from time to time, with the help of Spike the baby dragon.
Twilight held a checklist and quill with her magic, going through all of her recent additions
to the portal. Spike was going round and testing each component.
“Ready Spike?” said Twilight
“Ready!” Spike replied
“Ok, dimensional shifter?” She asked
“Check” he checked
“Flux Capacitor?”
“Check, I think?"
“And magica filter?” she finished
“Check”
She ticked off the final box on her checklist with a smile.
“Perfect! The new modifications have been installed. Now to see if it works”
Spike backed away as Twilight’s horn began to glow and send a trail of magic above the
mirror where Sunset Shimmer’s book rested as the link between the two worlds. A glow of
light appeared from the book and the machinery around the mirror began to fire up. After a
few seconds, the mirror started to glow and eventually the portal opened as a narrow
swirling tunnel of purple light.
Twilights eyes shone with excitement as Spike just stood there scratching his scaly head.
“So...what exactly did we do?” he asked in confusion.
Twilight rolled her eyes with a smirk.
“Well since you weren't paying attention earlier, with the new mods we’ve installed, the
energy flowing through the time and space drift will go at a much faster rate, now our
journey between worlds is 20% faster”
“Oh, well thats....good I guess” Spike said trying to show enthusiasm.
Just then Pinkie Pie appeared in the door way with the other four.
“Hey you guys! We were just about to go for some lunch, wanna come?!” She exclaimed in
her usual ecstatic manner.
“That sounds great! I’m famished” Said Twilight with a smile.
Before walking out with the others, Twilight casts another trail of magic to switch of the
portal from its open state. The machine attached to the mirror slowly powered down.
They exited the castle, headed for Sugarcube Corner and enjoyed the rest of the day.
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Nightfall had come about again, Luna once more raised the moon that shone with its
brothers and sisters, the stars. But not all were enjoying a peaceful night’s rest, within the
castle in Ponyvile, Twilight tossed and turned in her bed as her mind raced past all thought
and questions.
As it was with Celestia’s and Luna’s dream, Twilight was in the same void with the voices,
the sounds of fire, screams and battle becoming more and more violent until....
......silence.....
She opened her eyes slowly to find herself in the same stone room with the strange
marking on the wall.
“I see you are also here” a familiar voice spoke.
Twilight turned around and saw the Princess of the Night floating down next to her. She
sighed in relief to see a friendly face.
“Princess Luna!” she smiled “But where are we? Is this some sort of dream?” she asked.
“I know not Twilight Sparkle, but this is no ordinary dream, for myself and my sister have
had it as well” Luna said in a slightly serious tone.
Twilight turned towards the marking on the wall curiously.
“This marking, what do you suppose it is? And if this isn’t a dream, then what is it?”
Twilight questioned.
Luna stepped nearer to get a closer look. “I believe, that now you have grown accustomed
to the way of life as an alicorn. You are beginning to see these visions that come to us
from time to time”
Twilight looked at her curiously. “Visions?”
“Yes. When we get in touch with our destiny and duty as alicorns, we sometimes can see
things that once were, or things that have not yet come to past” Luna explained. “We don’t
really know why we can. But one thing we do know is that they have never been wrong”
The younger princess took heed of this news. Indeed she had been gifted many things
since her coronation. But this was an ability she thought was only possible with a time
spell of some sort.
“So, you’re saying that this is some place that exists in the future? Or the past?” she
pointed to all around her.
Suddenly before she could get a proper answer. The room and strange symbol began to
dissipate or melt all around her. Signaling that this ‘vision’ was coming to an end.
“You will have to do what you can in the waking world I’m afraid. It looks like this image will
show us no more” Luna concluded. Before their vision was blinded light.
As it did. A single sound was heard. Almost like a whisper. One word:
“Palim’e”
Twilight awoke in her bed groaning, small drops of sweat trailed on her face. Her mane
was messy and knotted. She looked across from her bed and saw Spike still sound
asleep. Snoring quietly.
She sat up and held a hoof to her head, contemplating on what she saw. ‘What did it all
mean?’ she thought as the image of the mysterious arrow head symbol, stuck itself in her
brain. And that word. What did it mean?
Feeling she would get no more rest this night. She quickly jumped of the bed and ran out
the room, down the corridor towards her castle library.
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Morning come in the castle of friendship, Spike the baby dragon, finally woke up after his
long night sleep. A big yawn escaped his mouth as he looked over to see the empty bed
across from his.
“Huh, Twilight must have gotten up early for something” he guessed. “Thats nothing new”
He got up and stretched before walking out of the room to go and look for the young
Princess. Eventually finding her in the castle library (obviously), sitting on a pile of books
she had gone through with bags under her drowsy eyes as she scanned through the
pages.
“Err...Twilight, what are you doing?” Spike asked with concern.
“Oh, hi Spike! Just, you know, researching” Twilight said fanatically
Spike rolled his eyes, this is no the first time she has obsessed about something. “Ok,
what's wrong Twilight? You look like you've been up all night?” he said sternly with a hint of
worry.
Twilight stopped scanning and looked down at him from the pile of books she sat on, he
new her too well to know this was somewhat normal behaviour, with a sigh of defeat she
flew down next to him.
“I don’t know Spike, that's just it” she said with exhaustion.
“Do you wanna tell me what this is all about at least?” he offered.
She paused for a moment trying to think of how to explain to him. “Ok, last night I had a
dream, only it wasn’t a dream, but some kind of vision. It showed a strange room with a
symbol I’ve never seen before on one of the walls. The Princesses saw it to and now we’re
trying to figure out what it means” she stated before taking a breath.
Spike blinked a couple of times before giving a smug “Now don’t you feel better?”
“Ugh, not really Spike!” Twilight said annoyed.
He smiled sheepishly. “So then, what should we do?”
“Well I guess we should call our friends here and discuss the matter together. I’m sure with
our combined help we can solve this mystery” she then said with confidence. They
certainly had a way of achieving the impossible when working together.
Before long Twilight had invited her five friends to the central chamber where they sat in
their circle of thrones round the map of Equestria. “What's this all 'bout Twi?” Applejack
asked.
“Is Equestria in danger? Or has there been an earthquake? Oh oh, please say there's a
giant monster attacking Manehattan!?” Rainbow Dash said with enthusiasm, always
looking for excitement.
“Oh, I hope not” Fluttershy added worryingly.
“Not even close Dash” Twilight smirked. Rainbow simmered down in disappointment.
“Is it somepony’s birthday? But wait, how could I not know about somepony’s birthday? I
know everypony’s birthday!” Pinkie Pie expressed loudly.
“Calm down Pinkie, you haven’t missed anypony’s birthday” Twilight said calming her
down.
She then stood up in her chair to say what needed to be said. “There's something
important that I have to share with you, something that I don’t understand myself, and it
could involve all of us”
They looked at each other then back at Twilight, giving her their full attention.
“Last night, myself and Princess Luna had a vision” she began.
“A vision huh?” Rainbow remarked.
“What exactly did you see, darling?” Rarity asked.
Twilight took in a deep breath before recounting what she saw.
When she finished, they looked at each other blankly. Trying to configure what to say.
“So, I showed you a dark room underground, and a symbol of an arrow head? If only I
knew someplace like that from Daring Do’s books” Rainbow opinionated.
“Like I said, I don’t understand it either. The vision seems to be telling us to find this place
it showed us. But, where exactly?” Twilight said.
“You sure theres no more to it sugercube? Something that might give us more of a clue of
where to start looking?” Applejack questioned.
Twilight rubbed her chin. Then decided to reveal the last thing she heard from the vision.
“Before it ended and I woke up, I heard a voice say a single word. ‘Palim’e’” Twilight
finished.
As she said those words a light began to appear in the centre of the map in front of them,
which they didn't notice.
“Well what in Equestria does tha-” Rarity began.
Before suddenly the light on the map grew larger and sent a ring of bright light around the
room which blinded them all for a moment. When their eyes opened again, a holographic
image floated above the map and hovered in mid air. They all stared in awe at the sight of
it, and Twilight recognized what it was. It was the same making that appeared in her
dream, the strange arrow head in a green aura.
“That marking...” she whispered to herself.
The hologram hovered there for a few seconds before finally shifting into colorful particles,
shooting out through the window forming a strait line of gold and silver light. The ponies
and dragon rushed to the window to see more clearly what was happening. The line of
light stretched out across town, beyond the hills and into the distance as far as their eyes
could see. Almost like an arrow, pointing to a destination, with pulses of light shooting
down it.
The gang just stood there for a moment, amazed at what they where seeing. Then Twilight
broke the silence.
“I think we have our heading girls”
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Before long, the seven friends were on the move, flying in their handy hot air balloon being
pushed along by Rainbow, carrying the other six and following the line of light. As they did,
the line disintegrated behind them, which showed that it wanted only them to follow.
They had been flying for about forty minutes and there was no sign of anything in front of
them.
“Anypony starting to wonder where this thing is taking us?” Rainbow asked as she huffed
for breath.
“It didn't show up on the map, so no not really. This is powerful magic” Twilight replied. “All
I could figure out is that its taking us north east, towards Foal Mountain”
“Maybe its showing us where this place is from your vision?” Applejack guessed.
Twilight nodded in agreement, but gave a serious look. “Maybe, but there's a lot we still
don’t know. In times like this we need to be prepared for anything”
They all nodded.
Fluttershy then noticed something about the line they followed, the pulses it was sending
started getting more rapid, almost like a homing beacon. “Um, Twilight I think we’re getting
closer” she said pointing at what she saw.
They all looked at the line, the pulses were indeed getting faster and faster, and the line
was starting to descend towards the ground slowly.
Eventually after an hour of flight, they landed softly on a grassy field, but beyond a forest
border, as the line was now ground level. They climbed out of the balloon and continued to
follow it on hoof. They were at the foot of a large mountain with snow at the top. Canterlot
city just visible to the west.
“I do hope this does’t turn out to be a wild goose chase, all this travelling is beginning to
wear out my completion” Rarity complained.
“Come on, aren't y'all curious to find out what it could be at the end?” Applejack inspired.
“Oh! I wonder if there's buried treasure under a big giant X!? Filled with gold, jewels and
gems! And chocolate coins! Mmmmm...” Pinkie exclaimed bouncing with excitement
before licking her lips. “Mmmmm....chocolate.....” she hummed.
Just then, Twilight stopped in her tracks, the others collided into her with a few bumps.
Rainbow rubbed her head. “Hey what gives!?”
She was responded with a hoof pointing ahead of where they were, she and the others
turned to look, and saw that there was a wall of rock in their path which stood as the
mountain edge. The line they followed was going directly into it.
“A ROCK! We came all the way out here for a rock!?” Rarity exclaimed. But composed
herself. “Oh dear, flashback much. Oh! But wait, maybe there are gems in it?” She said in
a more hopeful tone.
They continued to stare at the rock wall in front of them, the line still emitting into it with the
pulses remaining rapid.
“Well, if this is where we are suppose to go, then that's what we’ll do” Twilight said as her
horn began to glow. “Stand back, this could get messy!”
Seeing what she had in mind they all crept back a few paces, Pinkie put on a hard helmet
and goggles (which she pulled from out of nowhere).
KA- BANG!!!
Twilight shot a bolt of magic, and blasted the rock to pieces, sending dust and debris all
over the place.
When the dust cleared, they looked back and saw that she had opened up a tunnel
through the rock with the line lighting the way.
“Well that obstacle was a breeze” Rainbow commented.
“I guess we should head down here” Twilight said.
They began to walk into the tunnel, leaving daylight behind them, replaced with the light
from either Twilight and Rarity or the line that they still followed. Eventually they came to
an opening which led them into a large empty room of stone. The line of light pulsed so
quickly it grew into a strong bright beam before finally....it stopped....and vanished. They
were left with an empty room with only the light from the two unicorn/alicorn.
“Well I don’t see any gems” Rarity said disappointed.
“It led us all the way down here just for an empty room? What are suppose to do now??”
Applejack questioned.
“Um...give up?” Spike asked innocently. They glared at him in response.
They each looked around the room for any clues on what they were looking for. Until
Twilight stopped where she was, staring at her surrounding, there was something familiar
about this room. Then it hit her, a flashback in her mind back to the dream she had.
“Guys, I’ve seen this room before” She said making the others stop and come to her.
“Its the same one that me and Luna saw in the vision!”
All of them looked again with awed expressions.
Twilight scanned around franticly. Until she saw what they had came for.
“Over there! Look!”
All eyes fell upon the place she pointed. And the arrow head symbol was seen plain on the
wall.
“I guess we found what we were meant to find, Twi. But what do we do now?” Applejack
asked.
The young princess stared at the strange marking curiously. It looked to be carved deep
into the rock. No other markings or anything.
“I wonder” she muttered. Then remembered the funny word that was told to her.
“Palim’e”
As the last letter left her lips, something happened that she nor the others expected.
Slowly the marking glowed dimly, with teal colour. As the ancient power within began to
awaken. She stepped back in surprise.
It continued to glow as they all stared at it, eager to know what it meant. Then suddenly
the wall itself began to shift, a large crack split down the middle of the marking. Opening
up like a huge stone door. A gust of air hissed and blew from the opening, blowing back
their manes momentarily. When the wall finished opening they looked in to see only pitch
blackness at first, as if this place had never seen daylight in who knows how long.
Eventually Twilight stepped forward, her horn lit up to shine the way through what seemed
to be a large corridor diving deeper into the darkness. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”
she spoke as the others slowly followed her.
Down and down they went. No turns, to diversions. Just stairs that illuminated under the
magical glow of the two unicorns in the group of companions.
After a timeless decent, they soon found what seemed to be the end of the long stair
corridor. And an exit appeared.
Once through, they were met by another room, but this one was much bigger then the last.
So big, that Twilight’s light couldn't illuminate more then a few meters. She concentrated
harder to make her light shine more brightly before sending a flare out into the darkness.
With a small burst, the flare blew like a firework in the centre of the darkness before them.
Sending out an aura of magic purple light that glowed brightly.
Everypony and dragon each emitted a gasp. Neither of fear nor excitement. But sheer
amazement.
They stood in silence and awe as they gazed with jar dropped mouths at what they saw.
A chamber, the size of two or three football stadiums, with a rounded set of walls
connecting to a dome like ceiling built into the rock of the mountain. At it’s the centre, was
something that resembled a building with carved walls surrounding it. It was almost the
size of Twilight’s own castle. Only shaped more like a temple of unknown origin or design.
“Sweet Celestia!?” Rarity finally spoke, breaking the silence.
“Whoa...........nelly” Applejack awed.
“Holy moly that's a big holie!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“Wow. What is this place?” Fluttershy asked in wonder.
“Its huge” Spike admired.
“And what are those things?” Rainbow pointed at strange shapes attached to the walls of
the chamber.
They turned their attention to what she pointed at, lines of odd looking statues built into the
stone, each seemed to resemble the humans from Canterlot High that Twilight saw, two
legs and arms, only these ones were wore some kind of ancient armour and held large kite
shaped shields. With spears in each other hand.
Almost similar to what stallion knights used to wear in past pony times.
Fluttershy yelped at the sight of them and hid behind Rarity.
“W-what are those things??” she said shaking.
Rainbow flow up to get a closer look at them. Staring at each one, trying to make out any
features. They stared back at her with emotional blankness, not with eyes, there were no
eyes. Their faces were mostly covered in the shade of the helmets they wore.
“That's kind of creepy” she mumbled. Flying back down to rejoin the others.
Twilight then looked back towards the fortress temple in the middle of the chamber, next to
it was a small underground lake that reflected the light from her magic flare. Her mind
raced with more questions then can be fathomed.
“C’mon, whatever this place is, my instinct tell me we’ll find out in there” she pointed
onwards with a hoof.
After they had their fill of wonder, the seven friends began to make their way across the
great floor towards the ancient structure at the centre of it all. Hoping that whatever they
wound find in there would not be dangerous, and may answer the thousand questions in
their minds.
In the shimmering light of Twilights magic flare, they walked down a worn pathway leading
to the front gates of the fortress.
“So err...Twilight, what do suppose this place is?” Spike asked, his question being on all
their minds. She turned to him.
“Its too early to say Spike. This place is look ancient. And I've never heard about it any
library I've bin to. As to what it is? We’re probably going to find out once we get inside this,
whatever place it is”
She then leaned closer to him. A giddy grin forming across her face. “Between you and me
though, I'm actually pretty excited! There could be centuries of untold history in this place,
just waiting for discovery!”
Her look became more deepened when she gazed across at the stone shapes in the walls
they had spotted. “But what I don’t understand most of all is those statues?” Looking up
again at the walls where they stood still and lifeless. “They seem to resemble the humans
from the mirror world we've been to. But what can that mean?” she wondered.
Spike had known her long enough to see her head buzz with a storm of a million
questions. And that's exactly what he saw.
“They live in a parallel world of which we went through a portal to reach. Yet these statues
are built to the same form. Could this mean that humans once lived in Equestria a long
time ago? Judging by how old this place seems, that’s my only logical guess right now”
Such a hypothesis came across as interesting, but somehow, a disturbing train of thought.
Their conversation was interrupted when Applejack finally nudged Twilight.
“Um, Twilight sugar. You mind firing another of those magic flares of yours? Its starting to
go dark again” She enquired.
They looked up, indeed her light spell was wearing out like a dying candle. And the dark
began to close in again. Before they knew it, everywhere was pitch black. The others
quivered in fright as visibility had all but vanished.
“Everypony calm down! Just give me a second to.....” Twilight began, but stopped.
Before she could light up another flare from her horn, a strange thing happened. A new
light began to glow dimly all around them. On the sides of the pathway, small clusters of
mushrooms (which they hadn’t noticed) started to glow a soft blue color. Followed by
various types of plants that slowly popped and sprouted from the stony ground.
Illuminating green lights from their leaves and petals. Then in the water of the underground
lake, small fish began to appear, each one transmitting either a red or purple auras of their
own. In addition, tiny butterflies appeared and emitted in the same bluish light as they flew
all around. Dancing like flames under a mantelpiece.
In a matter of moments, the whole chamber was lit up like a massive heart’s warming tree.
Chasing away the darkness. And filling the place with a bright, yet dim, sources of light.
They stopped and stared in silence at what they saw happening all around them. The
lights gleamed and reflected in their big wide eyes of wonder and silent joy, their jaws
dropped. It was as if the heart of mountain itself was coming to life.
“So beautiful....” Rarity awed.
“So wonderful...” Fluttershy added. She knelt down to the glowing mushrooms, then down
to the lake where the fish shone like pearls in the ocean. One of the butterflies glided in
and landed on her head. She cooed happily.
“In all my years....I've never seen such plant life” Applejack said.
“Well, that solves our light problem” Spike pointed out.
For a few minutes they just stared in silence at the different colours that emitted in the
giant chamber, never did they expect to see such wonder miles beneath the earth away
from the sun and moon alike.
After awhile, they broke out of their trance and turned back to the temple. That stood out
like a rock in a sea of colour.
“Come on girls, lets move on and find some answers” Twilight proposed.
They crept up to what looked like the front gates to the abode. One stood open a jar.
Applejack and Rainbow pushed them open with reasonable ease. Twilight and Rarity lit up
their horns since the place itself had no light except for a few of the blue butterflies that
were fluttering here and there.
Climbing up some stairs, they faced what seemed to be a courtyard of stone which lay
before the entrance of an inner complex. Another big wooden door with tall columns
supporting a tiled roof, lay before them. It almost resembled something out of a fairy tale.
“My my, I must get the name of the architect who built this place” Rarity muttered.
Twilight was about to open the next set of doors to go inside the strange temple, but Spike
held her back.
“Twilight! Are you sure you want to go in there? It just feels like we’re not gonna like what
we find” he said nervously
“We’ve come this far Spike, might as well go all the way. And we have’t found anything bad
yet” She reassured him.
“Ok” he said, swallowing his fears. “Just be careful”
Giving him a nod, she slowly stepped up and opened the door with her magic, it creaked
and slid aside with hinges that spoke the language of an uncertain long period of time. She
poked her head inside. A large room with two sets of wooden columns going down each
side lay before her. Pieces of furniture, half rotten with dust and decay littered the floor.
Stepping inside with caution, the others soon followed her in.
The purple glow from Twilight’s horn soon started to fill the large room, the group stopped
in the middle and scanned their surroundings. Soon enough they noticed something at the
end of the room in front of what seemed to be a decorated wall of limestone.
“What’s that?” Pinkie said.
Stepping closer, they made out an object, rectangular in shape, covering a portion of the
floor. Twilight brought her light closer as she inspected it. Noticing that her light seemed to
almost reflect of it like glass.
“It looks like, ice” she said with uncertainty.
“Ice?” Spike echoed. “But, how can there be ice all the way down here?”
The others gathered around the strange object inspecting it without making contact.
Puzzled with nature of this mysterious find of there’s.
“What! No treasure!? Or at least chocolate coins!!?” Pinkie complained with a glum look.
“So what do yah think this is Twi? It’s certainly buried deep enough” Applejack asked.
Rubbing her chin with a hoof, Twilight sat in front of the strange object and examined it
closer. “I'm not sure. But I can sense magic all around this thing, whatever it is”
“Indeed, I can to, darling. Whatever spell is upon this object is EX-tremely powerful!” Rarity
confirmed with a weary tone.
“I don’t know. Just looks like a big block of ice to me” Rainbow criticized.
“But its not!” Twilight suddenly blurted out.
“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked.
“The spell surrounding it is old. Like, VERY old. But it feels, familiar somehow” Twilight
paced around the enormous ice cube while talking. “I think it might be a containment
enchantment. Similar to what was used on Discord to imprison him for a thousand years.
Plus the time when we captured him”
Her friends listened intently. Watching their friend’s obsession grow with each passing
moment.
“Which means, it could be containing something very important. Like a, artefact. Or an
ancient relic from a bygone age we don’t even know of!”
“Or, it could be a prison for another dark enemy from the past. And haven’t we dealt with
enough of em already!” Rainbow contested.
“That does seem to hap’n more regularly then not” Applejack agreed. “But, if this here was
some, evil being just waiting to be awakened, then why didn't the Map give us any kind of
warning?”
The lot of them pondered at the possibilities. Uncertain, fearful, yet somehow, excited at
what they had discovered in this mysterious and somehow, majestical place.
“There’s only one way to find out” Twilight said while standing in front of the ice block. A
determined look upon her face.
“Twilight?” Spike enquired wearingly.
“Its a powerful spell over this thing. But I think I can break it with a disabling enchantment.
Then we can see what's underneath. Find out for sure”
There was a few moments of silence. Then hesitantly, her friends crowded behind her.
“Well, I ain't too sure ‘bout this. But we’re ready with you Twi” the farmpony patted her
shoulder supportively.
The others followed in suit. Twilight smiled warmly. Knowing that whatever could happen,
she and them would see it through to whatever end.
“Okay, here goes!” she announced while her horn glowed fiercely.
Just then, Pinkie nudged Rarity’s side. “Sooooo, should I make a 10 second banner
saying; Welcome to Equestria! If you’re an evil ancient villain from ages ago, can you
please come in peace before we knock you into next Tuesday!”
The fashion pony just rolled her eyes.
All of them fell silent, as Twilight’s spell grew an grew. Lighting her forehead spiral like a
firecracker. Until finally she leaned forwards and touched it with the ice block.
An ominous aura of purple magic surrounded it. Then slowly and surely enough, it began
to melt. Drops of silver liquid sweated down the sides as if someone had just opened a
hatch into direct sunlight. Creating a small pool around the immediate area.
“Got a bad feeling about this” Spike muttered nervously.
“You and me both” Rainbow agreed, as she stood looking ready for anything.
Fluttershy yelped and ducked behind Rarity again, who also looked nervous.
The icy crystal continued to melt more rapidly. When it got halfway down, something
began to appear in the middle. Something fleshy, with hints of hair and fabric. All seven of
them began to assume some of the daunting dark fantasies inside their heads. But they
stood their ground. If only to be certain.
A minute had passed. The ice had completely gone, all that was left was a puddle of liquid
on the wooden floor with something laying in it. A body, six feet long, two arms, two legs
and wearing what seemed to be a sleeveless black tunic and trousers. There it lay still,
neither moving nor breathing as small vents of steam erupted from it’s skin.
Twilight’s eyes widened with shock.
‘It’s.......it’s a human!’
She was about to creep forward. Her steps driven by sheer curiosity, until she saw its eyes
begin to open, she quickly moved back as the body started to move.
The human person lifted their head up, before turning to the side, placing both hands on
the floor and began to gag and cough out water from their gullet. After a few moments, the
person rose up to a kneeling position, leaning back the head and taking in a long deep
breath. Like a newborn child taking in air for the first time. Then finally exhaling, placing a
hand on the floor and the other on their chest, coughing a couple more times as water
dripped from the damp hair and clothes.
As the human looking creature panted heavily, the seven friends could only watch what
they were seeing, slightly trembling in fear. Apart from Twilight, none of them had seen
such a creature before.
The friendship princess examined this creature with great wonder, it defiantly looked like
one of the humans from the other world through the mirror, judging from it’s muscular build
and deep masculine breathing, it was male.
She slowly and quietly crept forward again, it was time to find out who he was and if he
meant any harm to them. The young alicorn got within five meters of him before finally
attempting to make contact.
“Um...hello?”
Hearing her voice, he lifted his head up with wide, bright blue eyes. His face was, strange
to say the least. With high narrow cheekbones, a slightly long nose, and low arched
eyebrows. He had waving silver hair. And a fringe that nearly covered his eyes. His skin
was smooth and flawless exempt for a two and a half inch long scar on his left cheek.
In that moment, she saw something else in him that defied all her logic about the human
image.
‘His ears are.......long, and....pointy? He’s unlike any other human I’ve ever seen??’
She broke her trance upon seeing that he was staring directly at her.
“You....are like them, the children of the First Alicorns” he spoke in an almost worshiping
tone. His voice was shallow yet soft. His eyes darted around at the surroundings. “Wha-
Where am I?” He questioned her.
Confused, Twilight tilted her head. “Um, well, we were kinda hoping someone would tell us
by now”
He then narrowed his eyes towards where she was standing. Then noticed the other
ponies around her. Who were as equally shocked to the point of no words.
“Were you sleeping in that cube of ice and crystal?” Twilight enquired.
His eyes he looked even more confused. “What? What are you talking about?”
“Well, I just released a disabling spell that seemed to undo the ice that surrounded you just
now. Looks like it worked” Twilight tired to sound as chirpy and friendly as she could.
Secretly praying that she hadn’t just unleashed some demon man from pre pony times. (If
her growing theory was correct. And humans were around long before their kind)
“I have.......no idea what you’re talking about?” he grumbled while holding his head.
He then began to heave himself to his feet, stumbling at first. Twilight and the others
stepped back to give him room. He stood up tall, towering over them like a giant, they
awed at his figure. Finally seeing him fully.
“Whoa...” they muttered in unison.
He staggered a bit to maintain his composure, like seeing an infant foal use it’s legs for the
first time.
“Are you ok?” Fluttershy asked in concern, as she was always willing to help an injured or
sick creature, ignoring her shyness.
He hobbled over to one of the wooden pillars and leaned his arm against it, supporting his
balance. Then started to rub his chest for some reason.
“What....what happened?” he spoke with shock.
“Do you, remember anything? What about your name?” Twilight asked in the hope that he
would enlighten her.
He looked confused at first, holding his head with one hand, as if trying to regain his
memory.
“My.......name?” he whispered to himself.
Turning his head round to them again he answered.
“Caledor” he said. “I am Caledor, son of Gwaimen”
The group of friends looked at each other, sharing expressions. Acknowledging the name
of this strange being that was almost foreign to them. A name that seemed to breath
unknown qualities of identity.
“Well, err,.... Cal-ee-door. We didn't expect to find a human all the way..... down .......here. Of
all places” Twilight said nervously. Holding back the urge to fire a storm of a thousand
questions.
Caledor turned to her rather sharply, as if taken back. “Human? I am no human of the old
kingdoms of Men!” Seeming to take offence before composing himself. “I am an elf”
They all took a step back in weary shock, for they had only heard of such a being before in
fairy tales of fiction.
“An......elf?” Fluttershy spoke
“My people lived on this earth long before your kind even breathed your first breaths. Is
that not common knowledge?” the elf said, trying to explain his origins to them.
“But, how is that possible? How come we've never seen any of you before? And where-”
Twilight began before an orange hoof rose to silence her.
“Twilight, ah don’t think we sho’d be throw’n so many questions at him. He looks just as
confused as we are” Applejack said rationally.
Twilight was eager for answers on this whole ordeal. But saw her point. This person, this
elf, seemed to be as in the blind as they were.
And his confusion seemed to worsen as he began to hold his head and breath faster.
“Hey, are you ok? What’s the last thing you remember?” Twilight concerned for the pointy
eared humanoid.
“.....I.... I was in battle. Yes, and then.....no. No that can’t be....I was wounded and..... dying
and then....” he rambled in a mix of emotions. Clearly lost in confusion. Then gasped
sharply “The Queen! Where is the Queen?”
“Queen, what queen?” Twilight echoed.
Suddenly she felt the two hands of the elf grab her shoulders sharply and pulled close to
his face. “Galaxia! Your queen mother! Or Gorwin the protective dragon? Do you know
what happened to them?!” he demanded in a quick and hasty tone.
The young princess was lost for words or comprehension. ‘What is he talking about?!’ And
why was he in such a hurry? Because she was so close with her personal space invaded,
she could see the desperation for answers in his bright blue eyes.
“Answer me!”
“I...I....” she stuttered.
Then from behind, her rainbow coloured friend flew up to his face and pushed him back so
his grip of Twilight was released. “Hey! Back off pointy ears! She and the rest of us don’t
know what the hay it is you’re talking about!”
Caledor glared in frustration. Without another moment of thought, he swooped and ran
right past the ponies and dragon towards the exit from whence they came. All of them
dodged out of the way.
“San' amin'll utua sen amin!” was all he shouted in an alien language as he left the room.
And not a word of it was familiar in anyway to them.
Twilight’s mind returned to normal and she realized what was happening. “Wait! Mr
Caledor, wait!!”
The doors were heard crashing open and in less then a moment, the elf was gone. She
ran out with the gang following behind, out into the courtyard of the temple building. They
lost all sight of the strange being in this strange place.
“Wow! He runs fast for a guy with only two legs!” Rainbow commented.
“Hey!” Spike glared at her in offence.
“What in the hay just happened?” AJ said in disbelief.
“How sporadic of him to run off like that?” Rarity added.
“Is anypony else a teeeeeeny tiny bit confused now?” Pinkie asked.
“H-He looked so scared, lost and confused” Fluttershy bewildered.
Who, was, he?” Twilight pondered in shock. “Has he been down here the whole time? For
how long? If not even the two sisters knew about it?” Then turned to her friends who
awaited her say.
“Come on, we’ve gotta go after him! We need to know who and what he is!” she
commanded.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Madness.
That’s what his mind was in those first moments. As he ran through the tunnels of the
underground haven that he knew. Every thought raced through his head in a thousand
different directions. Like if he were in a maze of questions and the only way out was to find
the centre where the answers lie.
Jumping the last few steps, he covered his eyes as the light of day once more pierced his
vision. When he removed his hands, they scanned the surroundings.
And there, he stood still. Breathing only to catch his breath after rushing straight from a
resting place he had not intended to wake from.
His senses were all over the place. His bare feet felt the touch of the soft grass, his eyes
scanned all around at the unfamiliar scenery of trees, rocks, leaves and all that was out of
place in according to memory. His ears listened to all the sounds from the tiniest rustle, to
the breezing wind. And all of them betrayed what he had assumed.
Finally he began to calm his thoughts and they eased down on the race tracks in his mind.
The training in meditation over the few centuries he lived taught him that no situation can
be solved with a chaotic mind.
Breathing in again he funnelled out his only option.
“I must find her!”
Spurring his heels, the elf ran for the forest. Intent on searching for his lost comrades. Or
pick up the trail from where he last saw them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mane six galloped back through the glowing gardens and up the passageways that
lead to where they hoped the mysterious elf creature ran. None of them knew what they
would say or do if they caught up to him. But they couldn't just let this unknown sentient
being run wild for risk of what he might do.
“There’s the exit!” Spike pointed while holding onto Twilight’s back.
“Great! Let’s hope we can catch up to him!”
Finally they reached the exit and felt Celestia’s sun on their faces once more.
“Ok, let’s split up and spread out! He couldn't have gone far” Twilight ordered.
“With my speed against his? It’ll be a snap!” Rainbow boasted.
“But, what do we do if one of us finds him? He didn't look like the listening type” Rarity
points out.
“We’ll just have t’ show ‘im we mean ‘im no harm and just wanna help. He didn't seem
threatening towards us” Applejack said.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Let’s move everypony!”
With Twilight’s instruction, the 7 friends disperse in all directions out into the woods and
sky. Determined to locate their runaway, live discovery.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The trees passed by seamlessly as a set of legs strode through the foliage.
Caledor’s mad run had died down to a quick march over the fallen branches. His hope was
that he might find orientation from the forest, as it was his domain in a time long forgotten.
But no matter how many times he read the signs in the bark or the carvings in the grass
beds, he could not make out anything familiar.
“Where...... am I?” he muttered. Coming to a complete stop.
His ears twitched like the antennas of an ant, tying to find it’s way back to a colony. Or to
locate another of it’s kind.
He leaned over to touch a tree standing close to him. But something strange caught his
eye.
Along his arms were blue markings. Snaking around his appendices like blue river roots,
branded into his flesh.
His eyes widened in shock.
“What are these?!”
He traced them all the way up into his shirt. Lifting it up he saw that most of his torso was
covered in the same foreign patterns. Mirrored by an invisible line down the middle of his
chest.
The elf gazed at them for a few long moments. He tried rubbing at the skin to force them
off. But all that did was leave red bruises.
The markings for all intensive purposes, were permanent.
Whatever they were, however they got there, was another mystery yet to be solved.
His head jerked towards the path he had just taken, when familiar sounds were detected
beyond the trees.
A set of hooves, trotting on fallen leaves.
And wings, larger then a bird’s, flapping through the air.
He knew what they were. The group of ponies whom had just greeted him in the middle of
his house.
But so much of this place was uncertain that a very guarded feeling flooded over him.
Whether it was secretive vigilance or a shyness. He did not know. But it made him come to
the conclusion that it may be for the best to not be found and questioned by these ponies
who found his sanctuary.
Not yet.
Not until he had observed. And adapted to these new and strange surroundings.
Allowing instinct to take hold, he crept quietly into the trees. Letting the foliage conceal
him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In an unknown part of Equestria, somewhere in the icy North, where there is only snow
and ice. A second strange occurrence came about.
The wind began to blow violently, sweeping away all the snow on the ground and creating
clouds of flakes in the air. A natural feature, were it not for the sparks of red energy that
started to flash around the area as a dark power began to rip a hole through reality.
A large black sphere appeared and grew in the middle of the plain, burning away
everything it touched, melting the ice and snow, creating a crater in the ground. Then as
quick as it arrived, vanished, a few of the sparks remained before disappearing, the wind
slowly died down letting the flakes settle.
Four shadowy figures stood where the sphere once appeared. Three of them wore hoods
and black cloaks that concealed their upright forms. They stood apart from each other like
statues. Not moving.
The last one, the tallest of the lot, stepped out of the crater. A figure who’s cloak swept
along the ground like a shadow. Or a parasite, gobbling up the earth with each step taken.
It’s only determining feature was the helm atop it’s head, with two slots for eyes. And a
metal mouth piece.
The other three cloaked beings rose up out of the crater to join the greatest of their group.
“Finally”
The tallest one spoke in a shallow, hollow voice. Like it had a soul, but it was so small, and
so empty that no gates to any afterlife would notice it crawling through like a spider.
“After countless centuries, our time has come. Go forth. Find the Source of Harmony. Fulfill
your dark purpose”
Without a word of acknowledgement, the other figures each pulled out a grim looking
dagger and slit their appendices between the gaps in their gauntlets. Drops of blackish,
red liquid fell and stained the icy ground.
In moments, three bulked, wolf like creatures emerged from the patches of red blood,
spawning out of the puddles like cockroaches. Eyes of red and coats of black tainted fur,
with teeth the size of axe blades. Haunched down and ready with instant obedience.
The three cloaked figures, whose origin is yet to be comprehended, mounted the black
wolves. And with a violent spur of steel heels, began to ride them into the distance with the
speed of a champion horse.