The Timeless Chronicle

My vision reassembles again showing the increasingly familiar stone of the old castle. However the drastic change is in my location, the outside of the city. I'm just before the main gate which is squeaking with the likeness of a claw against a table, as its bascule bridge lowers before me.

On the inside I see heavy houses, built into the outside walls, and a street. It seems to be the craftsmen district, the signs hanging above the building showing things such as hammers, farm equipment or doors and locks.

And in the background of all this, almost lingering ominously over the street, is the castle. It isn't very tall, although my standards may be astray, me having lived in Canterlot for most of my life, stretching to only the second story, third at most with its towers. The tops were flat, wit—

Something dark appears before me. I'm inside a room, and at my sides are Clover and Star Swir—

The room disappears. In front of me a express carriage works its way up the bridge. I run after it, but cannot catch up, and so try another way. I lift myself up from the ground, and mentally fling myself in the carriages direction. To my surprise it works, and I just barely grab at the carriages curtained window, stepping into the dusk.

Star Swirl is sitting among huge stacks of books, writing something on parchment in candlelight, while Clover lifts the window slightly looking outside, into the grey cloudy sky.

"So... How far away is the city now?" Clover sighs with much diluted excitement.

Star Swirl levitates up another book, another brick in the wall of knowledge isolating him from her. She can hear the sound of scribbling from behind it, and then an answer, "We're almost here."

Clover mutters, "'Tis exactly what thou said earlier." They return to their previous activities, and silence ensues.

More scribbling.

Clover lifts her head, and squints her eyes, as if wishing to see through the barrage of books. "Canst thou at least tell me about castle Monorog?"

The scribbling stops. The carriage is dead silent. All the books, one after another, float two his two sides, forming two perfect stacks, and joining the ones lying next to him. The parchment rolls itself together, and Star Swirl's face appears. He is smoking his pipe, a faint trail of vapor exiting to the ceiling.

"We are here." The carriage stops.

Clover opens the carriage's door, and exits, at first shielding her eyes from the light. Then she slowly lets her foreleg fall, her eyes starting to shimmer. She swirls around and dashes up to every building, absorbing the atmosphere through the bright curiosity of her eyes.

In the meantime Star Swirl is out of the carriage, and floats his baggage behind him. He throws a few coins towards the puller, and dismisses her. Turning towards the castle, he calls, "Child'o'mine, this is the direction we're heading." He walks away.

Soon enough Clovers comes running after him, and catches up. She starts asking question after question, barraging him with inquiries.

"So what is this building?"

"The Iron smith, Moonycharm. The—"

"And the one over there?"

"'Tis the seating and writing utensil shop. It not long willeth last, a very specific nich—"

"And the big building to the right?"

"Oh, thou meanest the theater. Thou willest find out soon enough."

"What is it for?"

"Telling stories."

"Like a wandering bard?"

"Only stationary. We will attend it—"

"And the building"...

I trail off at this point. The built of this place is interesting, but Star Swirl provides only basic information, information I can easily deduce. He is not to blame though, he only barely has time for them anyway, before another pops up.

I'm closer to the castle now. Monorog, wasn't it. I know that it is much lower than all other castles I've seen, but from the bottom of the wall, it still looks as impressive as it looks menacing. It does not help that the sun shines from behind it giving it an eerie glow, making the many windows look like thousands of eyes, towering and judging.

My companions seem to have no such reaction to the colossus in our vicinity, but at least the bombardment has eased. It seems, most of the questions were already answered.

Clover looks around, this time she seeming pumped just as Bars has been a while ago. She looks around as if seeking another output for immense feeling of curiosity.

Her eyes rest on me. She looks me straight in the eyes. She shakes her head. Then continues her search.

Finally she interrupts the silence, "In the carriage, what was it thou wert searching for in those tomes?"

Star Swirl misses a step, but quickly recovers. He looks her in the eyes and rolls up the corners of his mouth."The same thing I was looking for in thee."

Clover rises her brow and asks, "What dost thou mean?"

He just quickens his step, and replies, "Thou art a clever filly. Thou wilst get it someday."

They continue their journey in silence, and soon arrive at the proper castle's gate. With his magic, Star Swirl raises the heavy door knob on the giant door, and lets it go, it sounding with a sonorous thud.

A slit in the gate slowly opens, and a voice from inside asks, "State your names and business."

Star Swirl straightens his posture, and voices, "Start Swirl the Bearded cometh, with his apprentice, Moonycharm. The business is King Bullion's request."

The gate widens it's doors and they step inside.

Lights begin to move.