Chapter 1. Life Under the Priests

I awoke like every morning, with the knocking of the overseers on my door

"Awake Liberty-3901!" he shouted as he pounded on my door, before walking off to wake the rest of us.

I yawn and sit up before looking out my window, the sun and moon were where they are every morning. I heave a sigh and climb out of my cot. I walk to my water bucket and swish the morning taste out of my mouth. Before doing my business in the aqueduct. I hear the ponies of the old world had strange pipes that carried water and waste, but such technology must merely be a dream. I look around my apartment, the red star hung proudly over my cot. Well MY is a bad term, the Temples own everything, I simply say my to make the point only I use it. I lived in one small room on my own. There was a kitchen to the right corner with an ice-box, pantry and small coal stove, my 'bathroom' was a small hole under a seat where my business went down into the aqueduct and a water bucket next to a tap. Finally my cot against the wall, next to the standard issue red star.

"Praise Syrinx" I say with little emotion before leaving the one small room I call home. I walk down the street as other ponies walk to their job, in uniform with their identification number visible on their right fore-hoof. I meet a familiar face at the wagon stop. In the old world he would be called a "friend" I believe.

"Hello Peace-2541" I say with a light smile, trying to be nice since he might be an informant for the priests, you could never be too careful.

"Oh good morning Liberty-3901" he says cracking a light smile, a sight which was rare for most. "Has your morning gone as planned?" he asks, routine was everything, Independence was considered a sin against Syrinx.

"Yes, just as every other, and yours?" I ask only to be polite and with no real interest,

"As planned" he said with a light nod. After a few minutes the other ponies arrived.

"Where is Equality-8247?" I ask looking for my good acquaintance.

"Equality-8247 was caught with forbidden knowledge" a white coated female states with none of those frivolous old world emotions.

"He was caught worshiping the false goddesses of old" a red stallion says with no care as he plucks a loose thread from his dark blue uniform.

The large wagon that takes us to our work stations pulls up, the large stallions wait for us to drudge on board before they embark down the cracked brick road. I bid farewell to Peace-2541 before walking inside the wagon factory. I go through this day as every other but that nagging feeling of emptiness eats away at me as I sand the wagon wheels. I find myself making a light vocal noise, I think its called humming. After my six hours of work my superior gives me permission to leave. as i was walking to the wagon stop I saw it... a white dove soars overhead, I thought them to be extinct. I know I should report it but it's elegance has me in a trance as is soars down a hill towards the woodlands. I do something that would make everyone question my sanity and devotion to Syrinx... I followed it... I move at a quick pace, I have heard this act to be known as "running". I never knew it would be so tiring, but the white bird of peace pushes me on. I follow it down another steep hill, I check the skies glow, it's almost curfew... but I've come this far, I must press on! I think as I push the thoughts of routine and obedience away. I push through some thick plants, I can't remember the name...

"were they shrubs, or bushes?" I ask myself

Either way after I push through then I see it, a peaked wall of stone, water runs over the edge into a shallow pond. I don't know how long I stood there, taking in the natural beauty, never in my life had I seen something so... free. I see a trail of large stones slightly peaking out of the water. After questioning myself I decide to walk on them. They lead behind the wall of falling water.

"I think I shall name this a... waterfall" I say quietly to myself. The stone walkway leads me behind the waterfall. And I need to stifle a gasp. Inside are objects of treason... books, paintings and even some technology!

"T-This must be a dream..." I say holding a dark blue cylinder with a red switch up, it has a writing stick inside

"Who would leave such a device behind?" I ask inspecting the device. I curiously hit the switch and the writing stick spins as a grinding noise is heard. I scream in terror and drop the object

"S-Syrinx protect me!" I say hiding behind a broken chair. As it shakes on the ground the writing sick pops out and the machine goes silent. After watching it for what felt like an hour I step forward and inspect the writing stick. The machine... it sharpened it. I look at the writing stick, something is written on the side

"Pencil cross lined symbol two? What does it mean?" I ask myself as I pick the cylinder back up and with some shred of confidence plunge the writing stick back inside as the machine sharpens it once more. I flick the switch off and set the machine down carefully. I turn and see rotting wooden shelves, some are collapsed. I use all my might to flip the old furniture and stare at the books. I look at the titles "Dictionary, of mice and stallions, Frankenstallion?" I ask looking over the names before a large book with a picture of the two old goddesses catches my eye. I crack the dusty book open and read, entranced by what I am reading. The Goddesses of old... Celestia and Luna... they raised the sun and moon...

"T-This is preposterous! Slander against Syrinx!" I say placing the book down, but I can't help looking back at it. "Or... perhaps Syrinx is slander against them..." I say before clasping my hooves over my muzzle, what I said was punishable by live incineration!

"But... the book seems so logical... it answers so many questions..." I mumble in disbelief, was our whole world, and our beliefs a lie? I take a step back, shocked at the revelation before tripping over something. I look under me and see an strange black case. I try to open it but there is a small dial lock.

"A lock? But locks are forbidden..." I say, the shocks never stop. My curiosity will be the death of me, but I must know what's inside. I sit for about forty five minutes, trying combinations before a "Click!" breaks the silence. With shaky hooves I reach forward but stop.

"This is all so wrong... I've broken so many regulations..." I think to myself. I fear opening it, for I may never want to close it. Then I say something that shocks me: "Celestia give me strength..." Then it hits me... I've prayed to the old goddesses... even just a passing thought but still... the goddesses Luna and Celestia seem so much more... true, and fulfilling...

"No! I cannot cross that line!" I say standing up. I turn and leave the cave, but the whole walk back, the things I've seen, and that strange case nags at me. I must go back tomorrow...

Author's Note

((This is one of my first stories and I have no editor, so excuse any mistakes I've made, I re-read multiple times.

Below is a link to the song "Discovery" by Rush, it's the song I based this chapter on.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OzCNz8d6l6U ))