Points of Interest

“So a new source of magic has revealed itself deep benieth the city’s floor? Strange, in all my visits I never felt something out of the ordinary... no matter, I shall go to Canterlot, and see whatever it may be. If Celestia and Luna have called for my help than it must be important. Who knows, it may be the answer I've been looking for.

Twilight clutched her satchel as the wind began picking up again.

"It's getting colder by the minute." Spike said shivering. "Why couldn't we just take the train to Canterlot again?"

"Princess Celestia told me to come by road." Twilight said looking off into the distance. "She said that it would be better for me to do it this way."

"The train would have been better for the both of us." Spike said to the side.

Twilight kept her eyes focused forward at the road that was ahead of her. In the distance she could see the great city of Canterlot, resting in the cold winters day. She kept recalling the context of Celestia letter over and over again. Whatever it was it had to be important for it asked only for her presence.

"What do you think Celesita needs?" Twilight asked aloud. "I mean she didn't say much in the letter, and she asked me to come alone."

"Maybe it has to do with you being a princess, and all." Spike said. "You know, top secret stuff."

"Maybe." Twilight said with a smile.

As the two of them came to a curve in the road, they noticed something off in the distance. It was a small figure, a pony from what Twilight could tell. Whoever it was, they were moving quite slow. The movements resembled that of an injured pony or one of great age. The figure was also shrouded in a solid black cloak, with a hood shielding it's face.

"Not going to lie, little creppy." Spike whispered to Twilight as the figure got closer.

"Hush Spike, we don't know if they can hear you." Twilight responded.

The figure was within reaching distance of them before stopping in it's tracks.

"Hello." A soft elderly voice spoke.

"Hello." Twilight answered back.

"You wouldn't mind helping an old fool get some sense of direction would you." The figure said removing his hood.

The pony that stood before Twilight was quite odd looking. His mane was barely there, must have been due to years of natural aging. His eyes were dull, and had no color to them. Overall his posture showed that he must have been quite sick.

"Of course sir, but may I ask why you are out here in such dreadful weather?" Twilight asked removing her scarf. "Here."

"Oh, no I don't need such a thing. I'll be fine. Thanks though" The old stallion said.

Twilight reluctantly wrapped the scarf back around her neck. "Now, where is it you need guiding to sir?"

"Canterlot." The old colt said coughing violently. "Canterlot is the place. I got some family there, and I seemed to lost my map. Can you tell which direction it's in."

Twilight exchanged a look with Spike, as he galnced at the obvious mountain with Canterlot on it.

"Well sir, I am heading to Canterlot right now actually. You can come along with me if you want." She said kindly.

"Oh, I would be most grateful for that." He said. "I feel like I have been wondering around these parts for hours."

"You don't need to worry about that anymore." Twilight said perking up. "Spike and I will make sure you'll get there in not time. Right Spike?"

"You bet." He said.

"Thank ye both." The stallion said. "I'll just follow where you go then."

"Well we wouldn't want to keep anypony waiting now do we?" Twilight said moving forward.

The old pony kept up with them for the most part. He stumbled a couple of times, but Twilight made sure that he was alright. Spike kept glancing over at him, and then back to Twilight. She knew what he was getting at.

"So I never caught your name." The he said finally. "May I ask who is guiding me to Canterlot.

"Oh, my name is Twilight Sparkle and you are?" Twilight asked.

"Wic......ens......fields." The colt said quickly.

Spike looked at Twilight to show that he wasn't buying anything he was saying.

"And does most of your family live in Canterlot?" Twilight asked conversationally.

"Just a few here, and there. I never get around to seeing them often but I thought I should try more these day." He said."May I ask why you, yourself are heading to Canterlot?"

"Offical royal business." Twilight said.

"Ah, a pony of business I see." The stallion said. "Never could get my head around that sort of things. Must not have been that important though. I mean no offense, but why are you taking the road? I can clearly see that you have wings to fly with."

"My instructions were to come by road, though I don't fully understand why myself. Seems I could have gotten there a lot faster." Twilight said.

"Well at least you take you business serious. If I had a better means of getting there I would just take it." He said with a laugh.

Twilight nodded at this and kept looking forward as the city grew closer. She also began taking notice of the stallion's breathing. He was wheezing, and overall it seemed that he had trouble doing it. At one point she feared that he would just collapse right then, and there.

"You doing alright sir?" Spike asked.

"Little tired thats all, do you by chance have some water I can have? I do hate asking for it but I lost my with my other stuff." He  asked.

Twilight stopped and from her satchel she produced a small jug. She gave it to the stallion, who quickly gulped down the containments.

"Thank you." He said. "You are most kind to a complete stranger, such as myself."

"Well I always try to help others when I can." Twilight said taking the jug back.

As the sun began it's dissent, the air began getting colder. Twilight didn't want to admit it, but their new traveling buddy was starting to become more and more of a hassle. It seemed like ever second he had to stop and say something about their surroundings while going off on a long story. Spike whispered that he should start writing it all done for a book. Though she enjoyed a good story, it was starting to become one big blur after awhile as he went on and on. Eventually they came to the mighty gates that spereated them from the city. Twilight swore she saw the greatest expression of joy come across Spike's face as they went through the gates. Soon they were inside the walls of Canterlot.

"Well here we are." Twilight said.

"Really? That was faster than I thought it was going to be." The stallion said moving forward without her. "Thank you a thousand times Twilight, and good day to the both of you."

"Are you sure you know were you're going mr. ?" Spike asked.

"Oh, I'll find it eventually don't you worry about me." He said.

Both Spike and Twilight looked at each other then back to him.

"Well you mind telling us where your family is so we can make sure you get there safely?" Twilight asked.

"What in Equestria do you mean? I am as safe as the next pony." He said while stumbling as he stepped. "Thanks for the offer though. Now you run off and attend to whatever it is 'royally' you needed to do."

Twilight sighed. "You have a good day, and I hope you have a good time with your family."

"Oh, I will." He said before disappearing around a corner.

"Well that was interesting." Spike said aloud. "I thought I was going to lose it."

"Yeah it was." Twilight said walking forward.

"Um Twilight, the palace is that way." Spike said pointing.

"One second Spike." Twilight said turning the same corner as their friend did. Turning, she could find no trace of the stallion anywhere. It was as if he didn't even turn down that street at all. Spike joined her, looking for the pony's presence anywhere.

"No sign of him anywhere huh?" He asked.

"No, strange." She said to herself. "Well we can figure it out later, but for now lets head to the palace."

The two eventually came to the palace doors, and soon they were escorted inside. As they came to the main hall they began hearing the voices of Luna, and Celestia. Also accompany they're voices was a soft, whispering voice.

"Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna. May I present Princess Twilight Sparkle." The guard said.

Twilight smiled as the two princesses came forward to greet her. She look around them to see the owner of the other voice. Her eyes fell upon a larger, cloaked figure sitting in the back of the room. Their face wasn't visible, but she noticed that the hooves of the figure were quite large.

"Twilight, its so good to see you." Celestia said.

"We are both glad that you could come." Luna added.

"I am always happy to be able to come whenever you need me to." Twilight said. "That does remind me, why did you need me to come. Also why could't I just take the train like always?"

"Well the walking part wasn't our idea." Luna whispered to Celestia.

Celestia smiled. "I will explain everything Twilight, but for now I would like to introduce you to somepony very special." She said motioning for the figure to approach.

The figure moved quickly, and quietly towards them. He stood in between the two sisters looking down at Twilgiht. She could barely see the figures eyes, which were a pale yellow color.

"Twilight we would like you to meet are dear friend, Mikaeus." Celestia said gesturing to the figure.

"Hello." Twilight said.

The only response from the figure was a grunt.

"He means to say hello." Luna said after a long pause.

"Nice to meet you sir." Twilight said, feeling a bit awkward by his silence.

"Now Twilight, I trust that you are wondering while we have called you here." Celestia said cutting in, noticing that the introduction was going nowhere. "We have a great issue on our hooves."

"An issue? What kind of issue?" Spike asked nervously.

Luna went to the window to peer out to the city. "About a week ago, some mining company sought to investigate the old crystal caves of this city." She began. "They found plenty of rocks, but they came across something else."

"Something else?" Twilight said.

"Something that is of mystical properties." Celestia said. "The miners came into contact with a tunnel while they were down there. When they tried to go down it though, they found themselves not being able to get anywhere near it. It was as if some sort of wall was standing in their way."

"Then we went down there ourselves, and discovered a powerful field of magical energy was guarding the tunnel." Luna said. "Thats when it happen."

"What happen?" Twilight asked.

"As soon as Luna, and I tried to break the barrier we felt something else. It was coming deep within the tunnel. It's presence is strong, stronger than anything we have ever felt before." Celestia said. "Thats why we called you, and Mikaeus here. We need help to figure out what's causing this strange presence, and to figure out what true power it really holds."

Twilight looked at the hooded figure then back to the princess. "So theres an unknown source of magic just sitting beneath the city? Hasn't anypony every discover this beforehoof?"

"Apparently not." Luna said. "It is strange that we haven't felt this presence in all our years here."

"Not to sound like a barrier of bad news, but what can I do to help with this? I mean if you two can't do it than what chance do I have?" Twilight asked.

"That's why they invited me." Mikaeus spoke in a soft whisper.

His voice caused all of them to stand still. The pony slowly removed his hood to reveal the rest of his head. Twilight gazed at the unicorn that stood before her, for he seemed quite intimidating. His mane was white, and his coat was a pale blue.

"That's why they invited the others as well." He spoke again in the low tone of voice.

"Others?" Twilight asked.

"Yes two others." Luna nodded. "But you already meet another didn't you?"

"No, I haven't meet anypony besides him." Twilight said gesturing toward Mikaeus.

The two sisters looked at each other with concern looks.

"It was his idea to meet her on the road wasn't it?" Luna asked.

"Thats what he said, it isn't usually like him to go against his ideas." Celestia agreed. "Are you sure you didn't meet a unicorn by chance?" She asked Twilight.

"No ma'am, the only pony we meet on the road was this old earth pony." Spike chimed in. "Seems like we were just ahead of him, or something?" He shrugged.

"It's not like that egomaniac to be late when he boasts about doing something." Mikaeus whispered aloud.

"Your majesties?" A guard said stumbling in.

"Yes?" Celesita asked.

"A do hate interrupting, but I have a 'Goldwin' here to see you. He's not on the records of seeing you today, so should I escort him out?" The guard asked.

"No, bring him here." Celestia said. "So I guess now you'll get to meet him. Sorry about making come here by the road Twilight. It was his idea that he should meet you somewhere outside the city."

"So it was his idea that we walk all the way here?" Spike asked. "And he didn't even show up?"

"Well at least it was pleasant." Twilight said, trying not to sound like the whole effort was wasted.

"Sir Goldwin, presenting." A booming voice came from behind her.

As they turned Twilight was caught off guard at the site before her. Standing there was the old pony that they meet while traveling to the city.

"You?" Both Spike and Twilight asked.