Author's Note
Rainbow Dash's POV
Prologue is Duty: 1
Since I am a weather Pony, I see things. I'm a bit of an Adventurer on the side, follower of anything cool. From above, everything look small and different.
This one time I had come across an unexpected sight I had a moment to look into. Just making the one dive in order to have a closer look, nothing much or fancy, but what I saw changed everything.
Usually, when you make a dive towards something you think you saw from above, you end up, looking close at some rock formation, very boring. Only this one time, what I had found looks more like a city, cut right out of the rock underneath. How else could I explain what I saw.
Had this been an Equestrian city, I would have recognised it fairly easily. This clearly is not of Equine origin. I can say as much with utter certainty, at least, for what little good it would do any Pony.
As a weather Pony, I do fly quite alot, thus I see things. I go well outside of where Ponies usually go. I need to go farther, in order to gather the weather required in order to maintain climate as well as the crops we grow. Mainly my earth type Pony friends, though. Yet, I need to eat as much as they, so I am only too happy to keep their crops growing. Then I can share in the joy of the harvest, right along with every Pony else.
Soaring had followed me down the second time around. He is a good friend and experienced flyer. I know he must have had his share of sights in his day. His position takes him places, both in and out of Equestria, as well as off of the beaten track in search for weather patterns we need.
As luck had it, another Pegasus came in as we were going down. I know her, Ditzy Doo, she delivers mail. I guess she had gotten a bit far out of her regular locations this time. Either way, I guess it couldn’t hurt to have her around.
One could say we have something of a history together since we are both Pegasi of Ponyville. The village where I live and work, serving as a Weather Pony, while she is the Mail Pony. She dos a surprisingly good job, not that one expect any prises for delivering mail on time. I guess it is her enthusiasm that stands out the most. Although I do know she has a foal, a filly by the name Dinkie Doo. Looking at the two, I have to agree, the Apples don’t fall all that far from the Tree.
Only once we had set hoof on the ground next to what I currently had seen, we realise it is a city as bright as Canterlot, but ages old. Yet, technology and magic well beyond what we know of at our present time. It is an adventure to explore these ancient ruins of what had been a culture we may never know.
The one strange detail about it all is that it is crafted out of metal, seamless and shiny as if polished just the other day. Furthermore, secrets are hidden beneath the surface of the sand on which we just set hoof.
In the end, we chose to enter the first building. The central building, which is the only entrance we could find.
Once indoors, we found ourselves in a large hall, though the floor is covered with stone tiles from rocks we can not identify. The walls are mainly the same metal as the walls on the outside. There are also glass windows and ornate lanterns on the walls, giving off a bright light over the entire room.
“Soarin, what do you think of this?” I enquired, just after setting hoof inside of the building.
“I don't know. This fall well outside of my experience!” he responded.
“Me neither. Maybe sending a message to Twilight?” Ditzy pondered.
“Yeah, maybe we should ask her, she just may know more. If not, we can still come back to these ruins with more Ponies!” I pondered.
“Since we don’t have the experience, and we do have other duties!” Soarin added.
“If we had at least brought food, we could have stayed an hour or two. I am starving!” Ditzy pointed out.
The weather-patrol had apparently found something. Whatever it was, they had unearthed an ancient city, from what I had understood. This isn’t just a find of a lifetime, it is the greatest find known to Ponykind, to date. I had to be there. No matter what was to be discovered, I have to be there.
Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie would insist on going, while Fluttershy would be hesitant to say the least. Yet, when I finally ask them to follow me, I feel pretty sure they will be right there with me.
For now, I will leave Spike with the castle, to hold the fort, as they say. The library needs to be open, and he is the best I have on the job. Not just because I have trusted him from the day I hatched him, but also because he has been tending my library for me, from the first day I came to Ponyville in the first place. Maybe he is in a sense like a son to me.
Of course, I will have to pick a few others to come with me. That will include the once who was there on the initial discovery. Both Soaring and Ditzy. I just hope they can be back for the night.
There is another detail to take care of, I will also have to write a letter to Princess Celestia about the exploit, before I go. In part, due to the fact that Spike is staying, while I go of on this new adventure, but also in order to see if she knew something on the matter at hoof. If she knows something, it may be of use to us, when we get there.
“Spike, I need you to write a message of great import to Princes Celestia at the Royal castle at Canterliot!” I exclaimed.
“You always have urgent message of great importance to send to your former tutor. I know her extended experience could prove invaluable to your task at hand, but you need to be confident and trust in your own abilities. Even if this sounds like an occasion where she may know something. Yet, there is a slim chance this is actually out dating even Celestia!” Spike reminded me.
“Of course, Spike. She was, after all, grooming me towards becoming a Princess. Apparently, the village of Ponyvile has become too important for a Mayor to handle alone. Yet, I fear you do have a point, right there, Spike. What do I, or we do, if she doesn’t know? I could always hope to draw on the experiences from the adventure to Canterlot High. My friends did stand by my side, even if they were different friends than the once I commonly rely on!” I pondered.
“In retrospect, you are correct. She made you hatch me in order for me to be there for you at any and all times. She needed you to have a means to send and receive message to or from her. She clearly had planned for it from the start!” Spike concluded in confirmation.
“Sike, take a note!” I instructed him, readying my throat to speak the words for him to write down and send off to the Princess and my former mentor.
“Of course!” Spike responded, quill and parchment in hand.
“Dear Princess Celestia.
My friends recently found the ruin of what looks like an ancient city. From what they told me, it is very old. They couldn’t make much out, but returned in order to report the findings, in hope for more experienced and better prepared Ponies to find out what they had found. Now I am putting up a team in order to make this excavation, true to my passion. I intend to find out everything I can about this ancient City. Yet, if you have any information of the city, so long hidden under the sand of this plain, it may prepare me and my friends for what we may encounter!” I prompted.
“That was short, but to the point!” Spike pointed out with a short chuckle.
“Yes, but we don’t really know more!” I pointed out.
“Okay!” Spike responded, sending the message on the wind of his fire to the castle, where Celestia soon found herself reading the short message.
“Thanks, Spike. Now we can wait and see if she responds, and what she may know of our quandary!” I put forth.
“I wouldn’t hold my breath, if I were you. Finding anything as old as this takes time, unless she remembers the event in question. Yet, gathering provisions is the best we can do while we wait for her response!” Spike suggested.