The Relics of the Past

All around her, the fires rage in anger, licking at her coat and her friends' skin. They stood in front of her, protecting her from the men in black armor.

“Li....” Celestia whispered, her small form being cradle by Pielong.

“举行，Celestia。兴大师将让我们出去。直到这时，我会保护你！(Hold on, Celestia. Master Xing will get us out. Until then, I will protect you!)” Li whispered with a smile, which was cut off from a loud noise nearby, along with a scream of pain. Suddenly, a black armor figure walked around the corner, a weapon in its hand. Li rushed forward with a spear, slamming the weapon into the armor figure's throat. Li attempted to jump back, but was grabbed by the back of the head from another figure behind the wall. Li tried to scream, to tell the to run, but was cut off with a violent snap of the neck.

“LI!”

“TIA!” Celestia awoke with Discord slowly shaking, a concern look on his face.

“Princess?” Twilight murmured with a worry filled voice. “Are....are you okay?”

“Y-yes.” Celestia said quietly. Discord reached and wiped away at her face, drying her tears. The rest of the ponies had left to inform their families and coworkers that they will be gone for the day.

“Sister?” Luna was laying next to her sister, wondering what was happening in her mind.

“Just....Just thinking of the past.” Celestia whispered. The door open and the rest of the Elements piled inside, eager to move the story along. “Now my little ponies, where was I?” Celestia asked, eager to move forward with the story, but at the same time, dreading what she was going to show.

“Oh oh oh!” Pinkie hopped up and down. “Master Xing and the other humans were taking away your mom to be healed!”

“Ah yes, thank you Pinkie.” Celestia's horn glowed and the image expanded and surrounded them. The image show a small simple room with Celestia's mother laying down, covered in sweat. “Perhaps a small skip forward to move the story along.”

Master Xing walked into the small room, two nurses bowed to him as the walked out, carrying bloody bandages and water. He turn back to see Faust gently nuzzling a small figure inside a blanket. “Mother went into labor soon after the events with the Orc.” Celestia explained, causing all the ponies to gasp in surprise.

“Your mother went into battle while she was pregnant?!” Fluttershy asked in shock.

“There was little choice.” Discord answered her. “The Orcs are deadly beings and Celestia's mother was one of the few beings able to turn them away at every turn. She cared very much for her people and was willingly throw her life on the line for them.” They all turn back to watch the memories play on.

Master Xing walked forward and sat down next to her, watching her with a careful eye as Faust gently move the blanket to show a small tuff of pink hair and small face yawning.

“Awww.....” Luna and the rest of the grouped awed in unison, causing Celestia to flush in embarrassment.

“她是一个美丽的孩子(She is a beautiful Child.)” Master Xing said, so he was gently surprised when the Faust's horn glowed and baby Celestia floated into Master Xing's arms. “什么(What?!)”

“What is she doing?” Spike asked, seeing the look of sadness on Faust's face. Celestia said nothing as she watched her mother slowly get up and began to place her armor back on. Master Xing looked on in surprise as he watch the Alicorn move.

“你回去(You are going back.)”It was not a question but a statement, he looked down at the sleeping foal in his arms. “和你离开她在这里(And you are leaving her here.)”

Faust stop moving, her head lowered somewhat before turning back to Master Xing. Tears streaking down her face as she look at Master Xing, choking back a sob before she turn back to her armor. Baby Celestia began to cry and Master Xing began to sing to her, no words being used but a simple humming to settle her down.

Most of the ponies watched as Faust walked out, many nurses began to speak out, trying to push her back to the room, but she powered through. Master Xing marched behind her, speaking sternly to her.

“你不能做到这一点。在我们这里，你不能离开你的孩子，你非常的血肉(You cannot do this. You cannot leave your child, your very flesh and blood here with us.)” Faust ignored Master Xing as he trailed behind her. “你不在乎(Do you not care?)”

That statement stop Faust cold, she turn back and the image began to waver and distort before snapping back in place. Master Xing's face contort into anger before nodding stiffly. “我看到......这个世界......这个世界是不是一个非常好的地方。如果他们发现她的....我不认为我将能够保护她(I see.....This world....This world is not a very nice place either. If they find her....I don't think I will be able to protect her.)”

The memory paused and Celestia turn back to her ponies. “To this day I have no idea what my mother showed to Master Xing.....But it was enough for him to reconsidered my stay.” Celestia answered them before the could ask.

“She wanted to protect you from the Farplanes.” Discord turn to her. “You know this Tia.”

“I know Discord.....I still hurts, even now.” Celestia's horn glowed once more, and the memory played on.

Dozens of monks and disciples watched as the Alicorn made made her way back to the courtyard, Master Xing walking beside her, holding onto Baby Celestia tightly. Faust looked up to the sky, taking a deep breath before turning back to Master Xing.

“我祈祷为你的安全通道和这些怪物对你的战斗(I pray for your safe passage and your fight against these monsters.)” Master Xing told her. Faust gave him a small sad smile, reaching down and nuzzling her only child. Baby Celestia open her eyes, seeing her mother for the first time. She reached up with small hooves and grasped her mother's nose. Faust gave a soft laugh mixed with a sob, closing her eyes before pulling away. Baby Celestia gurgled as she watch her mother pull away. As she walked away, Master Xing called out to her. “在你走之前，我必须知道你的孩子的名字。我不同意命名为您的孩子的荣誉(Before you go, I must know your child's name. I do not hold the honor of naming your child for you.)”

Faust horn glowed as she prepared her spell, turning back to see them one last time. At that moment, the clouds parted, bathing Master Xing and Baby Celestia in warm sunlight. Baby Celestia gurgled and cooed happily in the light, causing Faust to gave a small smile before looking directly into Master Xing's eyes, the image distorted slightly before she finally spoke.

“Celestia.” Faust whispered once before unleashing her spell, her figure glowed with a deep gold before vanishing with a crack of thunder. Baby Celestia began to cry while Master Xing gently bounced her to calm her down.

“我看到......太阳的女儿(I see.....Daughter of the Sun.)” He said quietly as he calmed the crying foal. “我能感觉到你的伟大的事情，小太阳(I sense great things from you, Little Sun.)”

-Dig Site-

“Come on, Ruin.” The pegasus complained to her boss. “You been at it for all day. Take a break.”

Ruin Venture did not want to stop, he found this strange ruin and he going to explore every nook and cranny until he finds out who made it. The strange walls and items inside were enough to grant him anything he needed, but he wanted to find something special to take back to Canterlot.

“No no! Do you know what we stumbled upon! These ruins....” Ruin looked at his companion with glee. “These ruins are more advance than anything we have! Can you imagine! An advance civilization buried right underneath our hooves. Can you see the highlights, my dear Grace!”

Graceful Brush did not look amused however. “You been chipping away at that stone wall for the past three days.”

“Well I wish I could blow up the metal door, but that might cause a cave in. There is something special in there I know it! Treasure, Relics, Forgotten technology! We can change the world!” Ruin exclaimed.

“Fine, until you break through to the other side, then we stay.” Grace muttered.

“Wonderful!” Ruin exclaimed, his magic lifting the pickax and gave a good swing. Sadly, this was also the last swing as a large section fell and a hole was made. “Aw.....Eww!”

The stench hit them like a ton bricks. The smell of rotten flesh and decay. “Whelp, its not treasure.” Grace said as she backed away.

“No, but it is a burial chamber!” Ruin exclaimed, his horn shining brightly as he tried to look inside, but was only able to see a small section. “Hmm....maybe there is another section.”

“Ah ah! Enough is enough!” The pegasus growled as she grabbed his tail and began to drag him away.

“Wait! Wait!” Ruin exclaimed, but was ignored by his companion, his horn glowing brightly. As the light passed over the hole, a figure appeared in the middle of the hole, staring out at the two ponies walking away. A slight hiss escaping from the figure.

-Outside of the ruins-

“Come on Ruin lets head to camp.” Grace said.

“Fine fine.” Ruin grumbled. Grace turn to speak to him, but the words died in her throat. Her eyes widen in terror as something was standing behind Ruin.

“Ruin! Behind you!” Grace cried out, her wings snapped open as she took flight. She blinked once as Ruin turn to look behind him, when she reopened her eyes she saw Ruin dropping to the ground, his head twist completely around and the figure halfway towards her. She screamed as she gain height, her eyes wide in terror at the strange monster. She blinked once more and found the figure gone.

She looked around in fear, finally looking down once and screamed again when the figure was right below her, its head looking straight up at her and its short arms extending up to the air, almost reaching for her. She turn and took flight, flying as fast as possible to the camp to warn them. However, she realized just how fast the monster can travel when she got to the camp a few seconds later and found the monster standing in the middle of the camp, a dead pony in its clutches and bodies surrounding it. She screamed again and flew as fast as possible, flying straight to Canterlot. The monster hissed as it watched the strange flying creature, before quickly searching the camp for anything it could use.

It found a map with a town circled around it: Appleloosa.

Sorry it took so long, I was struggling to write for Dark Space, so hopefully this chapter makes up for the long wait. I will be working on the next chapter as of now.