Daring Do looked around the darkness, the walls of the cavern almost indiscernible in the inky blackness beyond the light of the torches. The cavern was anything but natural, however. The walls, floor and ceiling were shaped in curiously perfect geometric cubes and corners and any surface the light touched reflected back with a metallic sheen. It was also fairly warm inside the cavern, despite their northern location in the world, and much of the surfaces were covered in come kind of lichen. After a few minutes of awed silence, Iron Bull finally gave an unsettled groan.

“Shit, this place is giving me the creeps big time and I don’t like it one bit.” He remarked, his one good eye locking onto a stone cube jutting – no, positioned perfectly – out of the ground and looking away. “I’m not usually one to say this but… maybe we should leave well enough alone.”

Daring Do didn’t blame him; the geometry of the ruin was just too… perfect. Even the meticulously precise ancient Sphinx were put to shame by whoever – or whatever – had made the cavern. There were thin pipes running every which way, disappearing into the walls, ceiling or floor. They never obviously connected to anything and Daring was unclear if they were supposed to be decorative, but she had a sneaky suspicion that they had a purpose.

“What in Equestria could have possibly made this?” Reliquary asked, examining another of the glass oculi that occasionally turned up on the walls. “I have not heard of any ancient civilizations capable of such creations.”

“Could it, I don’t know… stay a mystery?” Sky Diamond asked nervously as Daring passed him.

“No, it can’t. The more sinister a place feels, the more likely it is there’s something dangerous inside.” Daring replied, turning a corner. “Hey, looks like there’s some light down this way.”

“Weird, I’m pretty sure we’re the only ones down here.” Sullivan remarked. “Think it’s daylight?”

“No, it isn’t.” Daring Do replied as they approached the lit threshold. “It doesn’t look right, almost like it’s…”

Daring Do’s breath caught as they entered the large chamber, brightly lit with glowing beams of energy that crisscrossed between the walls. The chamber itself consisted of a walkway, with inky darkness on either side suggesting a long fall.

“Artificial…” Reliquary finished in a hushed tone.

“Okay… I know I’m not a history buff like you guys, but even I know that there is no way an Equestrian culture made this.” Iron Bull stated.

“Nothing on Equus could have made this place.” Uncharted Fortune told him. “All of this… none of it could possibly be from our world!”

“So, wait…” Sullivan said. “You’re telling me… that aliens built this ruin?”

“It makes sense.” Daring Do replied. “I mean, I’m a skeptic, but looking at this kind of technology… how could it not? No ancient civilization yet discovered has come even close to building what we’re looking at!”

She couldn’t help but be amazed, but her thoughts turned to the journal. She remembered the hasty scribbling of a pony who had been driven mad by some unknown force inside the ruins. It worried her, and it was why she needed to keep going and find out what was down there. Hopefully, she could destroy it, or at the very least, contain it.

They proceeded through the ruins, discarding the torches because of the eldritch lights emanating throughout the depths of the ruins. They rounded another corner and as soon as Daring turned, she saw something hidden in a niche out of the corner of her eye and immediately spun, ready to fight. The rest of the group stopped, turned, and promptly jumped in surprise. Sky Diamond gave a screech of fright.

“W-What in Celestia’s name is that?!” Sky Diamond cried out in alarm, pointing his hoof.

It was a statue of some kind, covered in lichen and facing down the small corridor as though it were a sentry. Daring Do approached cautiously to inspect it and noticed immediately that the surface under the lichen looked almost like brass, except it had an unnatural gray tint that she couldn’t tell whether or not it was caused by the ambient light. It was also bipedal, like Iron Bull, and it had a similar broad build. Where it differed was that it was shorter and stockier than the towering minotaur. Its head had a large, fanlike crest that narrowed toward the front in what appeared to a beak. However, the “beak” had some kind of lens in place of a mouth. Where its waist should have been was a light, except unlike the beams that created the dim light all around the ruins, this one was created by some kind of fluid contained within a translucent casing.

“It looks like some kind of machine.” She said finally. “Well, a statue of a machine, anyway. It’s been here awhile.”

“That thing looks like it could come alive at any second.” Iron Bull said. “I don’t like it.”

“That’s the point, Iron Bull.” Reliquary told him, reassuringly. “Statues like this are carved lifelike so that they may scare evil spirits and chase them away. It’s a very common practice among the ancient cultures of the world.”

‘True, but that’s not considering the journal.’ Daring Do thought to herself.

“Hey guys, you need to see this.” Sullivan called from the end of the hallway. The group turned away from the statue and headed over to the griffon. Daring Do paused, her back to the statue.

‘Beware the eyes in the darkness…’ Daring thought, remembering the words. She glanced back at the statue, half hidden as it was in the darkness, and she could see the faint glint of light coming off its lens. She turned back, her mind racing; the journal, the ruins, the odd bipedal statue… all of it coming together in her mind like pieces to a puzzle with but the barest hint as to the picture they obscured.

“Hey kid, you coming or what?” Sullivan called. Daring Do snapped out of her reverie and trotted up to him.

“Yeah, I was just thinking about things.” She told him, and then crossed the threshold, the griffon following her.

However, once they had disappeared from view, a red light appeared from the statue’s eye and the head moved to gaze at the threshold they just crossed. It gave a low buzzing noise and took a shaky step.

The chamber they had entered – that Sullivan wanted them to see – was large and contained a tube. It appeared to be filled with some kind of murky substance, but Daring could just make out a figure trapped inside. Unfortunately, it was impossible to tell what the figure was. The room itself had several other corridors going to the left and right while a platform overlooked a large, dark expanse. Gazing out over the edge, Daring could see other lights, but there was no way to reach them save for flying.

“Looks like there’s something in there.” Fortune said, trotting around the tube. “You think it might be one of the aliens that built this place?”

Daring Do looked around and saw a circular plate on the ground similar to the one that had opened the ruins.

“How about we find out?” She asked. Fortune looked at her, then at the plate.

“Oh no, that is a horrible idea, Daring.” He told her. “We don’t know what that thing is! For all we know, it could attack as soon as we let it out!”

Daring Do moved him aside and stepped on the plate.

“We won’t know until we do.” She said as the familiar ring appeared around her, giving out a strange tone once it did. “Besides, we’ve got the Iron Bull; nothing beats him!”

After a moment, the tube slid open with a hiss and the figure inside floated out. Every mouth in the room dropped open.

“No fucking way.” Iron Bull said.

“But… but that’s not… it can’t be!” Sky Diamond exclaimed.

“That’s not possible.” Fortune stated, disbelieving.

“I have seen plenty of crazy, but this beats all of it.” Sullivan said.

“Interesting…” Reliquary murmured quietly, an odd glint in her eyes.

Daring Do didn’t say anything. Instead, she slowly approached the prone, elderly stallion on the ground. In addition to his white mane and tail, he bore a long beard upon his muzzle. However, the most unmistakable mark upon his body, the one that no pony – nor many other creatures of Equus – would fail to recognize, was the cutie mark of a loose spiral adorned with stars. Every cutie mark was unique, and this one belonged to perhaps the most famous scholar, spellcaster, diplomat, and teacher Equus had ever known.

“Star Swirl the Bearded… but how?” Daring asked, touching the stallion’s muzzle. He stirred slightly, but did not awaken. After a moment, Daring stood and turned to Iron Bull. “Bull, we’re leaving. I need you to…” She trailed off as her eyes travel away from Bull’s, down to a space between the group. Her breath caught and her eyes widened in recognition and terror. The others gave her curious looks, and then turned to the doorway behind them.

Standing in it, partially obscured by darkness, was the statue.

It was still covered in lichen, but now in addition to the white light emanating from its torso, it had a red light shining from its eye. It looked around at each of the explorers and began taking shaky steps into the room. The others backed away from the intruder, with Iron Bull reaching for the broad axe upon his back. The creature stepped into the light and they saw that its right arm bore a twin pronged device that it brandished like a weapon, pointing it at each of them in turn until it settled on Daring Do. There was a noise from the darkness behind them and they turned to see several glowing white constructs – also with red eyes – float into view. Daring Do, however, did not remove her eyes from the machine in front of her.

“Red eyes in the darkness… steal their time…” She murmured, and then she understood everything. With that understanding in mind, she stood and hefted the stallion upon her back. She staggered slightly under his weight, but stood anyway. “We have to go!”

“It’s about damn time!” Iron Bull said, grinning like a mad minotaur and swinging his axe. It hit the machine in its glowing center, causing it to rupture in a splash of fluid with a startled screech. “Let’s get out of this damned place!”

They all charged out of the room and suddenly the air was filled with an angry buzzing; as though they had kicked open a hornets’ nest. Daring Do became acutely aware that there was a pressure building in her head and her vision slowly began to darken. They ran down a passage and saw a black cloud with a glowing orb in its center form in front of them, crackling with energy. After they passed it, Daring Do heard an odd noise and she glanced backwards briefly to see that several more of the machines had materialized behind them, turning robotically. She ducked around a corner and heard a screech, followed by the sound of an impact and the smell of something burning.

Her head was starting to swim as they finally entered the darkened portion of the ruins and her body was starting to feel like something was trying to pull it apart. She struggled under the weight of the comatose Star Swirl on her back until she felt warmth on her hind leg and fell over. She tried to stand, but her leg wouldn’t support her weight for some reason and she noticed that there was a slight smell of burnt flesh. Daring didn’t have long to wait, however, because she felt something wrap around her barrel and lift her off the ground.

“I’m… I’m not… leaving you behind.” Came Iron Bull’s gruff voice, though she could hardly hear him over the buzzing that was now filling her head. Daring Do saw a light through her darkening vision, but it was quickly disappearing. Her body didn’t feel like hers anymore, as though it had been detached from her and the buzzing was now a crescendo. Her consciousness was slipping, and then there was a sensation of flying, followed by coolness around her body that made her feel a little better.

She struggled to lift her head, her vision almost completely gone, but there was enough left for her to see the entrance to the ruin. She was lying in snow, having been thrown by Iron Bull, and had landed facing the portal. She saw Iron Bull, Sky Diamond, and Sullivan on the other side just as the glass was sliding shut and she reached out to them with her hoof. She opened her mouth to call out to them; she felt her voice box move though she could not hear herself, and the portal closed, becoming seamlessly smooth once more.

Daring Do finally passed out, but not before wondering what she had been reaching for.

Shining Armor walked the darkened streets of the Crystal Empire. His wife, Cadance, had gone to bed early that evening. He loved her, and admired the way she committed herself to her duties as ruler, but sometimes he worried that she might be overworking herself. He would naturally let her sleep in the next day and she would be cross with him for doing so, but she would also be grateful. He saw a crystal pony night guard making her rounds and he approached the mare.

“Good evening.” Shining Armor said, and the night guard immediately snapped a salute. “At ease, guardspony. Have any problems tonight?”

“Just a minor domestic disturbance, sir, nothing serious.” The night guard replied. “Been a quiet night, just like always. A little boring if you ask me.”

“I’d rather have the night boring and civilians safe, than interesting with a body count.” Shining Armor told her. He’d seen “interesting” before; the first time had been the return of Nightmare Moon, followed by Discord causing, well, discord – and Shining Armor still didn’t approve of the draconequus – and after that had been Chrysalis crashing his and Cadance’s wedding plans to try and take over Canterlot. The worst, however, had been Tirek and his rampage through Ponyville. Princess Celestia had called for relief efforts from all over Equestria to help rebuild the town.

“I-I didn’t… I mean, I’d never-” She stammered, ashamed, but Shining Armor merely smiled.

“It’s alright, I completely understand wanting something to break the dullness of the beat.” He told the mare. “I was in the Canterlot Royal Guard, y’know.”

“Yessir.” She replied, and then snapped another salute with extra enthusiasm. “I should continue my patrol, sir; Princess Luna needs all the help she can get to keep the night nice and quiet.”

“And she appreciates the help.” He told her, returning the salute. “As you were.”

The night guard had barely turned, when the night sky was suddenly lit up in a neon green glow and both ponies looked around. Shining Armor quickly saw what was creating the light just as the cries of alarm reached his ears.

“Flarespell off the north gate!” came the distance voice of a night guard, which was followed by a growing chorus of similar calls. Having trained both day and night watch to do exactly this, Shining Armor didn’t hesitate.

“Flarespell off the north gate!” He called at the top of his lungs, and then he charged off in the direction of the gate in question.

He made it to the main street leading to the north gate and was halfway there when he saw a cluster of night watch – as well as a few he recognized from the day – rushing his direction. Some of the guardsponies had jury rigged stretchers with other ponies on them. He changed direction to keep pace and found the commanding officer, a peach coated crystal pony with a curly, soft pink mane.

“Rose Quartz, what’s the situation?” He asked quickly.

“Three ponies, Prince Armor.” She quickly reported. “Two pegasi; one male and one female and one unicorn elder, all unconscious. Found them just outside the gates, in the middle of the road. The mare’s got some kind of viscous substance over one leg; we’re not sure what it is.”

Shining Armor cast a simple light spell, looked over to the unconscious pony in question and saw that she did have ooze covering a spot on her right hind leg. He sneered, all too familiar with the kind of creature that created it. He glanced at the other ponies and he did a double take when he saw the elderly stallion.

“Get these three to the Royal Infirmary and assign a twenty–four-seven vigil until further notice.” He told Rose Quartz. “And call in everypony else, tell them we’re under Green–Watch protocol, priority one.”

“Green–Watch… you suspect changelings, Your Grace?” Rose Quartz asked and Shining Armor nodded. She turned to a nearby pegasus. “Quicksilver, sound the alarm, we’re under Green–Watch protocol. The rest of you; to the castle, double time!”

The pegasus saluted and shot away into the night. The other guards picked up the pace. They were just going up the steps when Shining Armor heard a series of alarms start going off in the city. He paused briefly to see lights begin turning on and then he followed the guards up the stairs into the crystal castle. He would not be fooled this time.

The alarms began to ring out across the kingdom and a pegasus looked around sharply before motioning to a darkened alley. After a moment two more identical pegasi appeared supporting a limp, cloaked figure between them. She was panting, her eyes alert under the cover, but drooping heavily and betraying the pain she felt. Smoke appeared to be curling out from underneath her cloak and all three pegasi had the same panicked expression.

“Q-Quickly… we must… hurry.” She gasped, struggling to speak. The three pegasi nodded and hurried down the darkened street.

They ducked down alleys or hid behind houses to avoid the searching guardsponies. The cloaked figure moved as fast as she could, but it was clear she was in no condition to move without assistance and occasionally tripped. At some point, acid–green flames began travel across what little of her muzzle could be seen and the pegasi panicked even more.

They turned a corner and saw a darkened cottage with an electrical lantern on the outside, the bulb in the lantern flickering quickly, as though it were going out. However, the three pegasi quietly hurried over to the cottage, staying low, and gave several rhythmic knocks. One of the pegasi took over supporting the cloaked figure, who now had smoke billowing out from her cover, while the other two stood watch.

Eventually a foyer light turned on and the door opened, revealing an earth pony mare wearing an expensive sleep robe. Her sharp eyes jumped quickly between the three ponies before settling on the cloaked figure and growing wide with alarm.

“What in the…?!” She exclaimed and the cloaked figure advanced forward, supported by the pegasus.

She raised her head and the hood of the cover slid off, revealing a patchwork muzzle of pony coat and insectoid chitin, green flames flickering angrily between patches like the stitching of a ragdoll. Half of a crown–like crest on her head could be seen and one of her eyes had become teal with a cat–like iris.

“Something… something is… very wrong…” The patchwork mare gasped. “We need… shelter… so I may… recover.” The earth pony looked around, but the patchwork mare rushed forward suddenly, wrapping a hole–covered leg around her neck and looking the smaller pony in the eyes threateningly. “You... agreed to… this…” Her eyes fluttered and she began to slide off. One last word slipped from her mouth like a whisper. “…Reliquary.”

The mare slumped to the ground, unconscious, and her body was covered briefly in green flames, leaving a large, insectoid pony on the ground. Reliquary drew in a sharp breath and knelt over to pick up the unconscious changeling queen.

“What are you clods standing around for?!” She hissed quietly at the startled pegasi. “Help me get her inside before a guard patrol comes over here and sees me with Queen Chrysalis on my doorstep!”

The three pegasi gave each other nervous glances before they hurried over to Reliquary and helped her move Chrysalis inside the cottage.

Daring Do eventually became aware of a steady, rhythmic beeping noise. At first she didn’t know what it was, but as her mind began to wake up, she remembered.

‘Heartbeat… that’s… my heart…’

She stirred, and slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was slightly blurry at first, but she blinked and it cleared. She found herself staring up at a ceiling made of opaque crystal and she looked to her left and right. There was a curtain to her left, and a door to her right. She also noticed that there was an IV line attached to her foreleg and that she was wearing a hospital gown. She attempted to sit up, but then she felt a searing pain on her left hindleg and stopped. After letting the pain die down, she tried again, only this time she used just her forelegs and her right hindleg. She came to a sitting position, with difficulty, and found she was exhausted.

“Quite the tenacious one, I see.”

Daring Do turned her head at the unfamiliar voice and saw that at some point, the curtain to her left had been slid aside, revealing Star Swirl, the Bearded. He was also sitting up in his bed and looking at her with a warm smile, a glint of amusement in his amber eyes.

“Yeah… that’s what they usually tell me.” She groaned, rubbing her head. She had one heck of a migraine. “Nice to see you made it out just fine.”

“That is not to say the machines did not try.” Star Swirl replied. “Oh, but where are my manners? My name is-”

“Star Swirl, the Bearded. Everypony knows who you are.” Daring Do interrupted, and Star Swirl looked genuinely surprised.

“They do? I daresay, I would not think my accomplishments to be of that much renown.” He replied, stroking his beard thoughtfully, and then his eyes settled back on Daring. “And what is your name, might I ask?”

“I’m…” Daring paused, thought for a moment and then sighed. “It’s Daring Do, though could I ask you to call me ‘Compass Rose’ around other ponies?”

Star Swirl gave her a curious look.

“You do not wish to be referred to by your own name?” He inquired.

“I have my reasons.” Daring said, and Star Swirl nodded.

“I understand.” He said, and then looked around. His gaze settled back on Daring and he cocked a bushy eyebrow. “Do you happen to know where we are? I fear my memory is at a loss at this time.”

Daring Do looked around the room as well.

“Well, there’s medical equipment, so the natural guess would be a hospital, however…” She looked out the windows, revealing a night sky tinged with pale dawn. “There’s no hospital in the city with a view like this and those windows are too elegant, so I’d say… the royal infirmary in the crystal castle.”

Star Swirl gave a nod of approval and his smile widened.

“As intelligent as you are strong. You remind me of a good friend I knew once.” He told her. “A young, kind-hearted lass named Celestia.”

“I’m sure she’d love to see you again.” Daring said. “After Luna’s return, hearing that you’re still alive would make her ecstatic.”

Star Swirl looked at her in astonishment.

“You say Celestia yet lives?” Star Swirl asked, but then a look of concern cross his muzzle. “Wait… Luna’s return, you say? Dear me, just how long have I been gone?”

“A long time.” Daring replied. “Long enough that many thought you’d died. You have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Hmm… I fear that may well be the case.” He said, and then he laid back, settling onto his pillow and closing his eyes. “Perhaps later, once I have rested. I would very much appreciate if it were you who helped me ‘catch up’, Lady Do.”

Daring Do slid into her bedcovers, finding it easier than sitting up. She closed her eyes and let the fatigue take her.

“Sure thing.” She said drowsily, and then sleep over took her mind.

Author's Note

Grimoire Cards acquired: Star Swirl, the Bearded; Changelings; Shining Armor

Star Swirl, the Bearded

All Equestrians know of the wise Star Swirl, the Bearded. His research into not just unicorn arcana, but all innate pony magic, have led to many of the comforts enjoyed by modern Equestrians. Star Swirl studied everything about Equestrian magic and created many spells and techniques for casting. It was he who developed the channeling techniques taught to all young unicorns to help them manage their natural telekinesis. His most famous works include the creation of advanced combat magic – offensive and defensive – employed by unicorn mages and guards across Equestria, as well as Twilight Sparkle’s signature teleportation spell.

Most of his works are kept inside a dedicated wing within the Royal Canterlot Library that only those with express permission from one of the Royal Sisters can access. This is due to the fact that his much of his unfinished work, especially his delving into time magic, is considered hazardous. His most dangerous spells and unfinished work are locked away somewhere only Princess Celestia knows about because she has deemed them to be too volatile. One of these was his personal journal, which Celestia had given to Twilight to see if she could finish the very last spell written in it. Twilight’s success led to her ascension, but what the spell itself was designed to do is a mystery, though Twilight suspects that it involved cutie marks and mind magic. Seeing what the unfinished spell did to her friends made her reluctant to experiment with it and Celestia personally erased the journal from all registries in order to keep curious ne’er-do-wells from becoming interested.

Changelings

Changelings are native Equusians that make their hives in unknown locations just beyond the borders of Equestria and are capable of assuming the form of just about any living being. This transformation is more than simple illusion; they physically become the target in question and are possessed of all their target’s mannerisms and speech capabilities, even so far as becoming fluent in a language they would not otherwise comprehend. It does not appear that they need any material components from whatever it is they turn into, merely that the changeling has physically seen it.

However, changeling DNA stays the same and should it lose consciousness, the magic will be disrupted and the disguise lost. Their transformative abilities aside, they appear to be capable of magic in a similar fashion to unicorns – such as spell blasts and telekinesis – but oddly only while they are in their natural form or under the guise of a unicorn or alicorn.

Secretive creatures, they seem to possess a hive mind, similar to ants, but at the same time individual changelings have been observed to be sapient, particularly ones in extended deep cover or who have become estranged from a hive. They are fully capable of learning other languages, though they do not usually bother doing so because of their transformative magic. The highest in their ecology are the Hive Queens, the most notable being Chrysalis due to her attempted takeover of Canterlot. It is unknown if there are other hives and it is uncertain what role Changeling Queens have in their reproductive process.

Any attempt to track down Chrysalis to acquire such information always ends in failure, as the changelings are masters of disguise and cannot be found if they do not wish to be found.

Shining Armor

Prince of the Crystal Empire and former Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard, Shining Armor is the very image of a heroic knight. His specialty is in defensive magic and is capable of maintaining an impenetrable barrier for days on end. He is also well–trained in all Equestrian weaponry and is capable of some offensive magic. He has a similar attitude to his younger sister, Twilight Sparkle; both care very deeply about others around them and both are unafraid to confront whatever challenges stand in their way. Also like his sister, he tends to get carried away and not pay attention to his surroundings.

Despite his failings, Shining Armor will stare down even the likes of Tirek, regardless of whether or not he can actually defeat his opponent.

Editor's Note: About damn time.