Dissolution of their Time

Some stories can only be told by what remains of them. Interpretations can be made, but none can ever truthfully recall what was, when they were not. Not when the past was so well hidden.

Very few are allowed in Celestia’s chambers within Canterlot Castle, and even less are allowed to walk out onto her balcony. The granite slabs of her deck overlook almost the entirety of Equestria. From this point a pony could almost see every corner of the world. However, some corners are too dark to see. For if a pony looked closely, as the sun set across the terrain, an inconsistency sat on the horizon. Unmoving yet not unwilling a scar of shadow was cast upon the land, unnoticed. Beyond the acres of the Everfree, and past the Great Plains. West of the Frozen North sat a massive cataclysm of white stone and jagged peaks projected in evening light. A wall of pure granite extended from far out into the endless ocean, and then back into the nestled crests of the Frozen Mountains. Worn and cracked this wall stood the tests of time, and cast a shadow that could be felt for miles. Far from any modern civilization, it cuts the sky. Runes were strewn about its surface and various depictions of Unicorns were seen on the massive pillars dotting the outside of the wall. The higher one flew the better an idea could be made of the great ruin's creators. Nearly one mile in the air scenes of conquered lost empires could be discerned. Great, unheard of wars were to be shown in detail. This, along with a recurring depiction of four Unicorns standing above a vast quantity of ponies’ heads were to be found on the wall's surface. Higher and higher up the enchantments grew stronger, unaffected by the environment. Eventually a pony would reach the balustrade outcrops that jutted out into the atmosphere some two miles above the world. No Pegasus would dare attempt to fly over it for it reached too high, even from the balustrades the wall continued an estimated three miles higher, no Unicorn would attempt to decode the complex preservation enchantments on its surface for fear of ruining their own sanity, and by no means would any Earth-pony be found near the construct; they were able to sense some ubiquitous danger, that, while it grew every second, never arrived. The land about its perimeter was barren. Not any living creature was ever seen approaching it, and as well it should be noted, no living creature was ever seen leaving the perimeter. It partitioned the land in two places. One where the shadow cast left all who entered hopeless and lost, drawn near to the massive defense, and a second was the actual wall dividing the land.

This is not to say the wall had not been defiled. Many a brave pony, usually Pegasi or Unicorns, had indeed traveled the large distance to the wall, and by whatever means had inscribed some messages on its surface, or attempted to inflict damage. However, usually these defacements were removed. By what means no pony knew. Although, there was an experiment. Three-hundred years before Celestia decided to retake another student, a group of scientists approached the wall. Five Unicorns and one Pegasus made up a team of six who dared the might of the unmoving elevation. Going to different areas along the wall, they cast various types of magic missile on the surface of the plane and observed the damage. Yet, their findings were never viewed by the public. After one year of being abroad a regiment of guards was sent, by decree of the Princess, to find the group of pioneers who had gone so courageously, and never returned. Unfortunately, though, they were not found, at least not all of them. Only their campsite along with several research notes could be identified in the hell that was to be displayed upon arriving at the wall. Flesh lay scattered upon the ground showing advanced states of decomposition. Bones littered in the fire pit of what seemed to be the Pegasus explorer, and more importantly a note was left:

If you are reading this then the researchers are dead, and I will follow shortly. We found the door. Something I would not advise! It’s some kind of puzzle! They are coming. It won't be too much longer now.  I’ve been hearing them coming near. It won’t let us leave! The wall won’t let me go! It only opens if you want it to. Misty was the first to go… She BURNED Skylark! Why she would do that is beyond me! I can still remember her screams of pain in the night. I ran and I will never not feel ashamed for it. If anyone ever finds this let her mother know I’m sorry… I was scared, you know? I see now that it’s foolish to try and run. Your own imminent death is something hard to grasp at first, but now I see the light in it. They are very close. Maybe Skylark didn’t die in vain, maybe she deserved too. I did not mean that last part I don’t even know why I wrote it now. I think I see them out of the corner of my eye. There’s my crew. I never even noticed how dark it was. There is no point in th-

When introduced in court no one could make sense of the information. Celestia, however, seemingly withholding secrets of her own, refused to comment on the note, and hence it was put within the Canterlot Library Records along with the other research. Although, this didn’t stop action from being taken. Another regiment, doubled what was sent as a rescue crew before, revisited the wall. This group of soldiers sent vanguards to either end of the obstruction. In their false hope of surpassing the massive wall's entrance, which could not be found, the soldiers tried to walk around the wall. The party failed to realize the folly of their plan. The group trying to fly into the ocean met with immediate opposition from the wind, whose force was too great, and so the guards tried their luck with the mountains. Yet, even the mountains provided too massive a challenge as the cold and rigid climate was too much for the guards, and so they tried attacking the wall. This received no response, and after five weeks in the desolate environment, they left.

Now the wall grows restless. Unaffected by time it yearns for the return of its creators who left some millennium ago. Ancient Unicorns with power surpassing anything capable of what is now. Only rivaled by the Alicorn gods. The only history of their existence is their final creation, and whatever lay inside, beyond the wall. Its presence, a growing threat in the North, looms in the minds of the great. The restlessness of the ancient contrivance shifts under the glow of moonlight. Only to reappear in the light of dawn, unchanged. Circumstances are bound to unfold in the coming years, and note should be taken on the derelict construct and its secrets. Dishonest machinations from the past will be unwound and secrets untold for millennia will be told. Its purpose to convey knowledge of what is lost, as their story can only be told by it.