The day had gone. Torches flickered in the castle hallways where the royal guards held their watch. Celestia had retired early tonight, enjoying an evening spent in the company of her favorite authors and a pair of comfy pajamas. She had already read this book, she chosen it specifically for its familiarity. As she turned the page a knock came from her chamber door.
With broken interest she spoke a loud ‘enter’. Her voice was always kind, as it was now. But she did not like to be disturbed at this time. Her time. The guards opened the doors and reveal the always elegantly dressed Rarity. Curious, Twilight had not mentioned Rarity would be in Canterlot in any of her letters.
Rarity’s grew wide at the sight of Celestia in her PJ’s. She gulped and hesitantly stepped inside the room. When the doors closed behind her she jumped a little. She was wearing a dress akin to the garb worn by dignitaries of Saddle Arabia. Celestia may not have recognized her if she didn't know rarity the way she did. It made her look distinctly different.
“Princess… I’m so sorry to be disturbing you but… I didn't know who else to talk to.”
Celestia’s expression softened and she waved rarity closer.
“It would be a pleasure. I always have time for one of the bearers of the Elements. What do you need from me, myloyal subject?”
Rarity bit her lip. “I’ve been acting so irrationally these past few weeks. At first I just thought the stress of my life was catching up to me. But I’m afraid that I’m not in control anymore.”
“What do you mean by ‘not in control’.”
“I didn't decide to come her. He did.”
Celestias face grew worried. “Who is He?”
“I dont know. He appears next to me.”
Celestia rose to her hooves. “Rarity is he here right now?”
“I know you think I’m crazy. But hear me out. Ever since I possessed that spell book there have been I dont know; feelings, urges, whispers in my head. He gets so loud, unless I do what he wants.” Rarity’s lower lip began to quiver and tears smeared her perfectly placed mascara.
Celestia placed a hoof on the much smaller unicorn and wiped Rarities tears as best she could.
She looked Rarity in the eyes and saw a flicker of hope flash in the young mare.
“Yo.. You believe me?”
“My poor child. Yes I believe you. And sadly if Im right, an innocent has been hurt by my actions.” Celestia moved with a sudden urgency to her balcony. Rarity followed and watched as the alicorn’s horn glew a faint ember auro. A sound like thunder broke the silence of the night. A trail of shooting stars seemed to be falling on canterlot. But just short of Celestia’s balcony They stopped in a blinding light.
“Why have thou call me elder sister? You have not communicated telepathically with me like that since before we were banished.”
“I’m afraid the situation required your immediate attention. Please. Both of you, follow me.”
Celestia lead the into a part of the castle Rarity had never seen before. Touchless, and void of any guards or ponies. Celestia lite the way with a spell that broke the dark like a ray of sunshine. Luna was quiet but carried an agitated expression that her sister seemed to ignore. They entered a locked room that bore a grand archway. It was blocked by steel plates and a whole bunch of locking mechanisms. To Rarity it looked like the safe at bank. Only much more.. Whats a good word? Royal.
Luna stood completely still “The Mouth of the Mountain. Why have you brought us here?”
Celestia turned to her sister. “I need your help to perform The Sight with me.”
Luna looked at Rarity. “On this one? Surely you jest; She is a bearor after all.”
Celestia turned back to the vault. Luna's Horn glew a lightish blew Aura that grasped the great cogs of the machine and began to turn them. One wall withdrew. Allowing Celestia to step through. Celestia bent her head to a console at the bottom of the vault door. Her horn slide into a keyhole of some kind. It glew with multicolor magic along curving trenches in the metal. The walls on either side slowly retracted into the sides. A hurling blast of cold air suddenly rushed into the room; blowing everypony’s hair back. Rarity briefly thought she might tip over at the force.
“Where are you taking me?” Rarity said. Now a little unsure this was such a good idea.
“To the only place in Equestria that may help you.” Celestia answered.
Rarity gulped and followed the princesses into the dark damp innards of the Mountain.
All three ponies used their magic for light. No sunlight could reach here. Even Celestia’s beam seemed to fade in the impregnable darkness. Luna walked confidently, and slightly ahead of the group. As if she was very attuned to the dark. Decaying stone structures lay here and there. A broken cart had blocked their path briefly before Celestia and Luna had raised all the pieces. Rarity suddenly felt the ground drop from beneath her; and scrambled backward. Parts of the cave floor gave way to an enormous abyss. She hadn’t seem Luna fly slightly above the drop. the whispers were growing louder the deeper they went. It was becoming distracting.
“Celestia. I hear him again.” Rarity said.
“What is he saying?”
“Its not words exactly. Its like feelings, only not my own. It feels… Happy?”
Luna narrowed her gaze. And pointed with a hoof towards the abyss below her.
“I am beginning to suspect why you want to perform the sight. But what I don't understand is how? She has been touched by dark magic.This we know. But our examination of Spike and her was quite thorough.”
“I’m afraid not.” Celestia said lower her head. “Another of my oversights. Whatever creature possessed Rarity when she read the Inspiration Manifestation spell, still dwells within her mind. And it has sought me out. We will perform the sight.” Celestia stretched her wings and gently lifted rarity off the group in her steadfast grasp. “And we shall meet it.”
Rarity couldn't help but stare down at the abyss below. She quickly decided that wasn't a good idea and held her head close, so she could only see the light of her princesses. She concentrated on the lovely smell that radiated from Celestia. She really had to get whatever conditioner she used on her coat when all this possession stuff was over. In some part of her mind that wasn't her own, she felt irritation. And imagined an anonymous figure face-hoofing.
“What is the Sight?” Rarity asked the Princesses as the effortlessly dodged stalactites and banked under low ceilings.
“Its a Magic spell designed to infiltrate a ponys mind in Avatar form. I know similar magic, but this is a very.. intrusive form of it.”
Rarity’s eyes widened in horror. You’re going to go in my mind!”
Celestia shook her head. We will be with you in spirit, but we cannot go anywhere you do not take us. It is old magic. Possibly older than I. But with the two of us there, no harm will come to you.”
Rarity swallowed hard and looked at the abyss.
They must have traveled many miles by the time Celestia and Luna dropped down. A system of trolleys, carts, mining equipment, and large jew stones adored this pocket of the cave. Celestia And Luna had set them down on a circular platform made of some sort of gem rarity had never seen before. It was maroon, like the color of dry blood. But it shined with its own ambient light. Warm and welcoming. Rarity even thought she felt heat emanating from its surface.
To her suprise part of the genm fell making a ring of spiral stairs that now shown with bright orange light. Rarity stared down at it. Celestia and Luna seemed to have no problems with this development so she trusted them and followed.
The stairs eventually ended in a pod shaped room. It was made of the same Gem material, except it was transparent and smelled like ash. Rarity jumped back when one of the walls was suddenly engulfed in what looked like a wave of magma. But nothing happened, the floor was cool to her touch. A look at the floor revealed this gem structure to be suspended over an ocean of magma.
“Brace yourself. It can be a little bumpy.” Celestia warned.
Before Rarity could ask anything the room was surrounded by Celestia’s Magic. The stairs were sealed as the gem grew in her magic. Then to her abject horror. It shook away it support to the ceiling and fell towards the fiery hell beneath them. Luna laughed like a maniac. No, Like she was having fun as they were swallowed up. Her sister remained calm. Rarity however was screaming for a completely different reason but cest when she wasn't burnt alive. With morbid curiosity she stuck her face to the transparent wall. They were indeed surrounded on all sides by the stuff.
“I cant believe you filled it with lava.” Luna exclaimed.
“I didn't take half-measures back then.” Celestia said. Her expression unreadable.
“I know.” Luna replied.
They dipped down into the red sea. Rarity could see another gem structure at the bottom that they were fastly approaching. They docked with it and another staircase appeared in the floor of the pod. When they had all descended the length of the stairs Rarities Jaw dropped. A castle. A huge castle. Perhaps bigger than Canterlot was hidden in another chamber. The ceiling must have been protected from the magma above, because it did not melt the rock underneath it.
Celestia turned to Rarity. “Welcome Rarity to Old Canterlot. And my greatest shame.”
