Equestrian labs

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
chapter 4
Chapter 5
chapter 6
Chapter 7 (unedited)
Chapter 8 (unedited)

Chapter 1

Eclipse trotted through Dodge Junction, a trail of dust followed behind his cart. The dust clung to his orange coat and black mane with orange pinstripe but he was making good time, that he was sure. Although, being a unicorn it was much more tiring than if a Earth Pony or Pegasus were the ones sent. He had begrudgingly agree to make the supply run. Apparently, every Earth Pony at the dig site had suddenly found the most fascinating archaeological find.

He found Dodge Junction quite the oddity, as it almost seem custom made to look like it was from the early reign of the ruling sisters. One good thing about it there was no question about where to buy supplies at. He left his cart on the road and entered a store marked “General Store.” A soft ring told the clerk he had a customer, the clerk, a brown Earth Pony with a mane the color of the desert sand. He smiled at Eclipse from behind a counter, “Howdy, I’m Hawker, if you need anything just ask me.”

Eclipse returned the smile and trotted to the counter. He pulled a folded up list from his saddlebag before carefully unfolding it with his magic and set in down. “I’m going to need everything on this list. How long do you think it will take you to acquire them?” Eclipse asked.

Hawker let a high pitch whistle as he read over the list, “That’s quite the list let you got there. If you don’t mind me asking what you do need all this stuff for any how?”

“I’m part of an archaeological dig site a few miles north from here and…”

“Umm, one moment mister,” Hawker said, eyeing something past Eclipse. He picked up an unmarked can reared back his hoof and threw it sending it soaring in an arc across the store. Eclipse heard the thud of the impacted followed by a cry of pain. A dark blue thestral with a light blue and white mane wobbled out from behind stacks of bagged flower.

“What was that for?” The thestral called, a hoof still rubbing the side of his head

“I’ve told you before no loitering in my shop. If you're not going to buy something than get out!” Hawker said, narrowing his eyes.

“Well maybe if you would give me a job there wouldn’t be a problem,” The Thestral countered.

Hawker gave a short laugh, “I’m not hiring some lazy good-for-nothing thestral.”

The Thestral pointed a hoof with a look of sheer victory on his face, “Racist! I will sue you and own this shop!”

Hawker raised and eyebrow, “Sue me with what? You don’t have a bit to your name.”

The Thestral seemed to freeze in midair as his mind processed this information slowly he lowered his hoof. “I-I can...I will go the Thestral embassy and report you and then you’ll see.”

“Good luck with that,” Hawker said, he motioned to the door. “Now out!”

The thestral held his head down as he trotted out the door all the while muttering under his breath. “Sorry about that,” Hawker said. “Anyway, it will take me about three hours to get everything gathered up. I assume you have a cart to transport all this?”

Eclipse nodded pointing out the door, “It’s parked just outside the shop.”

Hawker pulled out a abacus from under the counter and began sliding the balls back and forth along the metal rod. “This is going to run you about 1483 bits.” Eclipse reached into his saddlebag and pulled out three platinum bits, each worth five hundred bits. After collecting his change he left the shop in search of food. He needed to rest up before his return trip, as the trip here was tiring enough but now he was going to have several hundred pounds worth of supplies. Sure he would use his magic to help, he even knew a levitation spell just for this, but holding that spell for the five mile long trip was going to be difficult.

He entered the local saloon hoping they had more than just alcohol. The saloon was mostly empty only a few ponies sitting at one of the round tables. He took a seat at an empty table and within with moments a yellow pegasus trotted over to him. “What can I get you?” She asked, a wide smile on her face and her brown mane was pulled into a bun.

“Please tell me you serve food here?” Eclipse asked, his eyes pleading.

“Why of course sweetie,” The mare said, “We have a special on cheese oat soup with a side of hey fries.”

“That sounds good, I’ll have that.”

“Make that two,” a familiar voice said.

Eclipse gave a small inward sigh as he looked at the dark blue thestral who took the seat across from him. “You have any money Icey?” The mare asked, clearly amused at the situation.

“I have my love for you,” This “Icey” said, holding both hooves over his heart.

“I love you too Icey but I love bits more.”

“You’re heartless you know that.” Icey said, slouching on the table.

The waiter rolled her eyes at the childish display, “I’ll bring you a glass of water,” she looked back to Eclipse. “Your order will be out shortly.”

“You're the best,” Icey called out as the mare left. He turned his attention on Eclipse and smiled showing off his two pointed fangs, and setting Eclipse on edge.

Eclipse cleared his throat doing his best to push down the nerves, “Is there something I can help you with?”

“No...No wait, I mean yes...No I mean I can help you,” Icey said, tripping on his own words. “I overheard you talking about your dig site, and I thought hey I know how to dig holes. So how would you like to hire the best thestral in Dodge Junction?”

There were so many things wrong with what this “Icey” said he didn’t know where to begin, currently he was trying to figure out how something this dumb managed to breath and talk at the same time. “And how many thestrals live in Dodge Junction?” Eclipse asked before he realised.

“Hey let’s not get stuck on semantics,” Icey said. “The name is Swift Ice, nice to meet you.” Swift Ice held out a hoof to which Eclipse took it.

“So not Icey?”

“Only mares get to call me that, so no not Icey,” Swift Ice in formed.

“Listen Swift Ice, while you seem ‘energetic’ about wanting to work we don’t allow unauthorized personnel on the dig site, so I’m sorry but I’m going to have to turn you down.”

Swift Ice’s smile never faltered, “No, no you see I’m helping you out by working for you. You see once the media gets wind of your organisation helping a poor down on their luck thestral you’ll get all kinds of praise, and not to mention endorsement deals. If you think about it hiring me is an investment.” He folded his hooves over his chest confident in his sales pitch.

Eclipse just looked at him. His mouth half open with a look of pure bewilderment on his face. “Does he think he’s some kind of endangered animal, or famous athlete maybe?” Eclipse thought to himself. While he was aware that the thestral home land had only just opened their borders within the last few years, but as far as he knew there was no endorsements for hiring thestrals. With a deadpan face he said, “I’m just going to ignore you now.”

Right on que the pegasus mare return with his order and placed the steaming plate and bowl down in front of him and a simple glass of water for Swift Ice. “Come on, you have to reconsider!” Swift Ice bellowed.

“Icey, if you start bothering the paying customers we're going to have to ask you to leave.” The mare warned.

Swift Ice slouched in his chair slowly sipping his water. He looked across the table at the steaming plate, “Can I at least have a hey fry?”

“No.”

“And that’s everything,” Hawker said, tieing down the last strap on the cart. Eclipse, happy to see that everything was accounted for, gave him his thanks. “Anytime, and I welcome your business should you pass through again.”

Eclipse stepped up to the front of the cart, that now had crates stacked higher than his head, and readied to strap himself in. He could already feel the ache in his magic. “Fun fact,” a voice called out. Eclipse had to resist the urge to grind his teeth as he turned to face the all too familiar thestral. “Thestrals can use flight magic to pull chariots just like pegasi do. You know what else, we can also travel a lot faster then a unicorn trying to mimic the spell.”

Somehow, Eclipse wasn’t quite sure how, this thestral was making some kind of logical since. He shrugged figuring statistical anomalies could happen. “Minimum wage, you do as you're told, you don’t touch anything, and you sure as buck don't dig any holes.”

“You got it boss,” Swift Ice called strapping himself into the cart. He allowed his magic flow into the cart reducing the weight until it hovered just above the ground. “Now where to?”

Eclipse climbed on to the back of the cart shifting a few crates around until he formed his own little seat, “Just head north it's not far.”

Swift Ice landed the cart near where Eclipse had said was the main camp. It was a large grouping of tents surrounded by the half dug out remains of a city long ago consumed by the desert. Eclipse jumped down from the cart and stretched out his hooves, as Swift Ice quickly unhooked himself. Eclipse didn’t see the yellow blur the tackled him to the ground, “Uncle Clipsy, I missed you.” a pegasus filly cried out.

Eclipse grabbed the young filly in his hooves and tickled her sending her into a fit of giggles. “Stop, stop I surrender!” she begged squirming in his grasp. He released her and got to his hooves. He started to dust off his coat, but quickly remembered where he was and gave up on that idea. “Solarbeam, what are you doing here I thought your mother couldn’t make it? Eclipse asked.

“Hey what’s in the boxes?” Solarbeam asked doing her best to avoid the question. She unfurled her wings and with a jump glided on top of the crates, “Do you have any food in here I’m hungry?”

“Yes, food would be great,” Swift Ice said, still standing near the cart.

As if seeing him for the first time Solarbeam tilted her head to the side as she asked, “Who’s this Bat Pony?”

“Who’s this Bird Pony?” Swift Ice countered almost immediately and grinned in satisfaction as the filly's mouth dropped open.

“I’m a pegasus not a bird!” As if to prove the point she flared her wings out on both sides.

“What a coincident, because I’m not a bat.”

Eclipse rubbed one of his temples, he could already tell this was going to be a long day, “Swift, could you not argue with my ten year old niece. And Solarbeam where is your mother?

Solarbeam rubbed her front hooves together as she averted her eyes, “Well, she may be at work.”

“By Celestia, did you come here on your own?”

With another jump she glided back to the ground stumbling over to Eclipse. “But Uncle Clipsy, Mommy had to go to work, and I know that means she went to see her new coltfriend, so she couldn't bring me.”

“Yeah, come on Uncle Clipsy,” Swift Ice mocked. “She just wanted to see her favorite uncle.”

Eclipse eyes snapped to Swift, his glare was enough to wipe the smirk from Swift’s face. “The name is Eclipse, that is unless you want me to rethink your presents here. And that goes for you to Solar.” A chorus of sorrys came from the two as Eclipse continued, “I guess you’ll be staying with me until your mother comes to get you.”

A small group trotted out from the ruins “Hey the doc’s back,” a blue earth pony called as she laughed. “Looks like the sun’s blocked for now.” Much like the other ponies around her she wore a tanned shirt and a white brimmed hat, which she kept her black mane under.

“Joke all you want Granite, but if you make a pun out of my name again you're off the dig site,” Eclipse warned.

Granite through her head back in a short HA, “Like you could run this place without me. Anyway, we are about ready to open the chest, we’ve mostly just been waiting for you to get back.”

“Excellent, what did Time Seal find?” Eclipse asked.

“The chest doesn’t have any preservation spells on it so we set up a clean room within the main tent.” Granite said, pointing to the largest of the tents behind her.

“A chest?” Swift Ice asked, trotting over to the group. “Like a treasure chest?”

Eclipse sighed loud enough he was sure everyone heard, “No, not a treasure chest, a very old lock boxes.”

“Who’s your friend Darkside,” Granite asked, nodding to the thestral.

“My. Name. Is. Eclipse! And this is…” He turned to gestor to Swift Ice but he was already gone. He looked back to see Swift Ice in front of Granite holding one of her hooves in his.

“The name is Swift Ice, but you, my lovely, may call me Icey. If there is anything you need anything at all just come to me.” Swift said, with his most seductive voice while staring into her eyes. He tried to bring her hoof closer to his lips but Granite quickly jerked her hoof away.

She looked passed Swift to Eclipse, “I don’t think this one was on the list.”

“Yes, well next time don’t send a unicorn to haul supplies. He’s going to be transporting our stuff around for us, just don’t give him any artifacts.” He trotted past the group heading towards the new clean room, “Come on Solar let's go see this chest.”

“Treasure!” The impressionable filly called, flapping her wings with delight.

The Clean room, as they called it, was a corner sealed off with plastic sheets enchanted to keep dust out, within the supply tent. The rest of the supplies had been stacked in the opposing corner to make room. Eclipse and the rest of the archaeologist gathered inside the clean room, while Swift and Solar were told to watch from outside. On a table within the room set a small wooden lock box held closed by a large padlock; Time Seal, a gray unicorn with a white mane, was holding a lockpick in his magic. “This would be far easier if I could just use magic to open it.” Time Seal said.

“It’s far too old and fragile to risk magic on Time Seal, now enough delays let’s see what’s inside this.” Said Eclipse, a fire lit in his eyes. His heart beat in his ears as his anticipation rose.

Time Seal took a deep breath before inserting the lockpick into the ancient key shaped hole. He pushed the pick to the back as he tried to maneuver the lever into place. Time Seal could feel the weight of every pair of eyes on him as he worked. Slowly he turned the pick as he attempted to move the lever into place; there was a sickening crack. The room froze, “Time Seal,” Eclipse spoke calmly. “Slowly remove the pick.” Nervously Time Seal did so stepping back. Eclipse took the padlock in a hoof and gave it a small shake and was immediately rewarded to the sound of something rolling around inside. “Well, Buck!”

“Should we try magic now? asked Granite, her look of disappointment perfectly encapsulating the mood in the room.

“No,” Eclipse said, in an almost defeated tone. “We can’t risk it without knowing what’s inside. The group stepped off the the side each discussing what their next move should be.

“I don’t get it?” Solarbeam said, looking up to Swift Ice. “Why can’t they open it?”

Swift Ice just shrugged, “I’m not sure, it looks easy to open to me. I bet you could get it open with a hammer.”

Solarbeam looked around her surroundings for a moment before she pointed to a pile of spare tools. “There’s a hammer over there.”

Swift smiled, “That could work.”

“We don’t have a lot of choices here Eclipse,” Granite informed. “We can either use magic and risk whatever’s inside or we can cut the lock, and we both know that cutting the lock is the smarter choice.

Eclipse ran a hoof through his mane. He knew she was right if they used magic not only did they risk whatever was inside but the lock as well, it was more of a question of cut the lock or risk it all. Finally he relented, even if the lock was cut it was still a valuable find, “Alright Granite let's cut the lock.”

“What is he doing!” Granite yelled.

Eclipse’s head snapped in the direction of the cry to see Swift Ice standing near the lock box with a hammer raised into the air. It was like slow motion, the ponies closest charged him but they were too far away, while others just gasped in shock. All Eclipse could do was watch the hammer come down smashing the padlock into pieces and sending them flying every which way. As time sped back up Swift Ice was tackled to the ground he struggled but with two earth ponies holding him down he wasn't going anywhere.

“Hey let me up, I was helping you. Swift Ice cried.

“Helping!” Eclipse spat the words at him. “You just destroyed a two thousand year old artifact.”

“Correction, I OPENED a two thousand year old artifact,” Swift Ice corrected.

“Oh just get him out of here,” Eclipse said, waving them away. He turned back to the lock box to find Time Seal already looking through it. Stepping over the remains of the lock he joined Time Seal, “What’s inside?” Time Seal pulled out a large golden three pronged key and a leather bound book. Time seal carefully opened the book noting at how preserved the book was.

His eyes read over the page before quickly giving up and handing the book over to Eclipse. “It’s written in ancient equish, I can’t read it.”

Eclipse rolled his eyes, “You call yourself an archaeologist and can’t read basic ancient equish.” He took the book quickly reading over the first page.

May 18, 957

Tis but a dream to me, I hast been assigned to work on the Aperture project, Oh praise be to Celestia. I knew the years of hard work would pay off but I wouldst hast imagined getting to work alongside some of the great minds of this era. And the Aperture project, I can only imagine the wonderful research we art going to do for the betterment of all ponykind.

The current year was 1043 Celestia’s reign, and if Eclipse’s math was right that would put this journal at a little over two thousand years old. Any worry over the lock was gone from his mind as him turn to the next page.

June 20, 957

I have had little time over the last month to write my thoughts down. We have been working none stop; I have only gotten three days of sleep in the past week alone, but it has been worth it. The earth pony volunteers all seem so happy to be helping to make a safer equestria, no matter how hard we make the obstacle course they seem to be faster with each run.

Back home I had only a glow stone to light my home at night, but the Aperture labs are like nothing I have ever seen. It was built underground yet the dark of the night rarely touched this place, but that is only the beginning. They have these special rooms where they keep food fresh for weeks at a time, and I have even heard rumors that they plan to make life from nothing.

“Is something wrong?” Time Seal asked when he saw Eclipse’s jaw hanging ajar.

“This can’t be right?” Eclipse said, more to himself then in answer. Quickly he flipped to the last entry.

April 8, 967

I’ve left Aperture, or more accurately I escaped. Before I left I gave them a parting gift by sabotaging the systems and entombing the facility along with my sins. I know I will go to tartarus for the things I did, but I still wish to make amends so I have decided to stay in an earth pony village and help any way I can.

I don’t know why I kept the key after I left. Perhaps, a part of me wished to return to the lab and finish what I started, but I am a coward and know that I could never bring myself to return to that place.

Eclipse picked up the golden key in a hoof and simply stared at it. “What the buck happened.”

Chapter 2

“It’s fake, it has to be,” Granite said, passing the journal to the next archaeologist eagerly awaiting their turn. “Some of the technology described in this book wasn’t around until at least two hundred years ago.”

Time Seal gave a frustrated groan, “I did the spell three times and the age checks out. It has to be real how else could you explain it?”

Granite gave a shrugged, “I don’t know time magic maybe.”

“Ignoring the fact that there is maybe five ponies in all of Equestria that could use such advanced magic, why would they leave behind a journal about a pony who has never seen a refrigerator before?” Time Seal asked his tone growing more confrontational.”

“Ok that's enough!” Eclipse said stepping between the two. “Either the journal is genuine or the author went mad. one way or the other we will need to find this Aperture Lab and see for ourselves.”

“How are we supposed to find it didn’t exactly come with a map?” Asked Granite.

“I need to take these thing to the university for safe keeping, while I’m there I’ll see what information I can dig up about Aperture. Time Seal place the journal and key in a secure case for me.” Eclipse said, he then turned and headed out the tent. Dusty wind hit him in he face as he opened the, but he wouldn’t complain anything to take off some of the heat from the sun. Solarbeam followed close behind using Eclipse as a shield.

Mere moments after Eclipse stepped outside Swift Ice dropped down from the sky hovered just about him, “Ok I think we should talk about what happened in there,” said Swift Ice.

Eclipse stepped past him as he spoke, “There is nothing to say, your fired.”

Determined not to be ignored Swift dropped down landing in front of Eclipse, “Ok listen, clearly we are both in the wrong here I may have broken some old lock and you tried to fire me, but I think the best thing for both of us is just to put this past us and pretend it never happened.”

“Oh I plan too, you're still fired though.”

Swift Ice rustled his wings in annoyance, this was not going the way he had plan. While it was much sooner than he would like he had to pull out this trump card. “I see what’s going on here, you’re firing me because I’m a thestral?” He accrued.

Eclipse could only shake his head in pity. He said nothing to Swift and step around him, “Come on Solarbeam just ignore him.”

“Well fine!” Swift called as they trotted away, “I don’t need to work for you anyway I have a lot of work just lined up.” He set down on the ground as the heat of the sun weighed heavy on his shoulders, “Now what?”

--
The Starswirl archaeology University’s library was the largest in the city. The bookshelfs dwarfed ponies, wrapping themselves against every wall of the two story building. And yet even with all of these books at his disposal Eclipse couldn’t find a single book with mention of the word “Aperture.” Be it historical, scientific, or fiction nothing even hinted at Aperture being a real place. Eclipse looked up from his table and rubbed his sore eyes. Book lay strewn about the table as Eclipse had sent the past three hours reading.

Solarbeam didn’t seem to mind, being quite content in building a bookfort out of the discarded books. With a sigh Eclipse rose from his seat, and enjoyed the popping of his hooves as he stretched them out. He glanced down to Solarbeam, who was trying to fish over more books from inside her fort, and said “Come on Solarbeam, it’s time we get you home.”

“What, no. I don’t want to go home yet.”

“Come Solar, we have let your mother worry long enough.”

With a groan of disapproval she climbed out of her fort. If Solarbeam lacked anything a sunny disposition was not one of them, within moments she was back to bouncing about Eclipse’s hooves. “Uncle Clipsy why did you fire that guy?” Solar asked. Her yellow hair swung side to side across her cyan coat with each bounce. “He was nice and he opened that box thingy.”

“Solar please stop asking about him,” Eclipse said. That last thing he wanted was to be remembered of HIM again. They approached the front of the library when they started catching snippets of talking, not enough to make anything out, but just enough for Eclipse to place the voice. And it was a voice that he was sure was going to hunt his dreams. As the grew closer the conversion become more clear.

“There I was surrounded by fifty of the meanest bandits you’ve ever seen,” The all too familiar voice said. As Eclipse rounded the corner he spotted the Librarian sitting behind the reception desk talking to Swift Ice, who was leading in too close to simply be friendly. “All I had was my Night Guard armor, which looked quite amazing on me if I may add, and a standard issued sword. But dispise all of those set back I would not let fear break me. I pointed my short towered the moon and gave a cry that soaked fear deep into the bandits, ‘For the Night Mother!’”

“And let me guess you slew them all with one hoof tied behind your back,” said Eclipse as he trotted over.

“I was going to say I made a dashing getaway, maybe you should leave the story telling to the professionals”

Eclipse gritted his teeth but asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Well after you left I realized something: you never payed me! The others at the site said I would have to take it up with you, luckily they know right where you were going.” Swift Ice said. He turned his attention back to the Librarian “Can you believe that after a full day of back breaking work he would skim me on the pay.”

The Librarian gasped, “Mr. Eclipse is that ture?”

“Of course not!” Eclipse cried. He pointed a hoof at the thestral “He’s lucky to only be fired after he broke a priceless artifact.”

“Ha, you admit it was worthless! Now you have no to excuse for not paying me.”

Eclipse’s eye twitched involuntarily. In a steady voice he said, “I don’t time for you we need to be going.” He stepped around Swift Ice and trotted for the door.

“No luck in your search I take it.” The Librarian called.

“No,” Eclipse said, not bothering to look back. “Nothing even remotely describe this Aperture.”

“Well you what they say,” Swift Ice said, more to himself. “If you can’t find it the sun hide it.”

Eclipse stopped. Oh how he didn’t want to ask this question. He knew nothing good would come from it, and yet something about the way Swift Ice had said that made him need to ask. He turned back to Swift Ice and with a deadpan look asked. “What was that?”

“What the saying?” Swift Ice conformed. “It’s just a saying from my homeland. Oh there’s another like that too: If you find a book in the sun the words will be twisted and undone.”

“And what do those saying mean?”

Swift Ice thought for a moment. “To put simple, they mean that Princess Celestia is a liar and hides the truth. You know now that I think about it most of our saying have to do with Celestia tricking us in some way. We really have anger issues.”

Eclipse added this new information to what he already knew. In one of the first entries of the journal it mentioned Princess Celestia being apart of this Aperture project. If this installation was top secret it wouldn’t be too far fetched to believe the princess world remove any records of it. “If that is the case then how would I find surviving records.”

“You could alway try asking Princess Twilight,” said Swift Ice.

Eclipse blinked, trying to figure out where that came from, but all he could ask was, “What?”

“You see while I was in the guard--”

Wait,” Eclipse cut him off. “You were in the guard?”

“Did you not hear my tale of heroism earlier? Anyway like I was saying. While I was in the guard Princess Twilight would often come and take some book out of restricted section of the royal library, you know the part that is Princess level only. So I figured if anypony will know if would be her.”

“That...could actually work.” Eclipse said slowly. He glanced down to Solarbeam at “And Princess Twilight is only to way to your mother’s.”

Solarbeam smiled. “Does that mean I get to go to?”

“Doesn’t seem like we have much of a choice.”

“Road trip!” Swift Ice called.

Eclipse shot him a incredulous look. “You are not coming with us.”

Swift Ice smile deviously. “Then pay me my money.”

“I will do no such thing.”

“In that case, road trip!”

Author's Note

Hey its been a while but thanks to Dr fluffy it's here p2 of Equestria labs and I thank him dearly please send your support to him if you enjoy this

He deserves it

Chapter 3

After a small train ride where Eclipse questioned if it was worth it by bringing him along as he wanted to rest and drink tea and eat crumpets his niece wanted to fix the rift between Clipsy and icey but there was more chance of lightning striking the same place twice! “This is hopeless!” Sunlight said with a sigh as she looked out at the station that belongs to the town of ponyville. The archaeologist and the thestral hadn’t spoken the whole trip as an obvious dislike was growing between the two and Sunlight saw it as bright as day. As if that is what her cutie mark was telling her, at least if she had one it would, hopefully.

Eclipse scooped Solar onto her back and disembarked from the train turning to Ice and said: “If you want to stay with me and my group you have to learn to show at least some professionalism.”

“I did in my opinion and you still... “ Swift began getting hushed by Eclipse as he didn’t want to argue over that ‘incident’ again as he wanted to move on from that and continue his research into this Aperture fabled in the journal found on the site. There must be something he could find to figure out this unheard of facility that he could figure out if it’s real. It would put him in history books as if the book was right Celestia was covering something up and of so he would find out.

Pushing those thoughts back Eclipse made his way towards the golden oaks library Solar and Ice following him as he knocked on the door “Spike please can you get that I’m in the middle of a huge break through here!” The voice of a certain lavender alicorn stated as a little purple dragon opened the door.

“Um is Princess Twilight in?” Eclipse asked the dragon who looked a little confused at first then let them in

“Twilight that grave digger pony is here!” Spike called gravely offending Eclipse in the process making Solar laugh quite loud and Ice even more so.

“He’s not a grave digger but an archaeologist Spike I'm so sorry Eclipse but how is your expedition doing I do hope my funding has lead to some fascinating finds!” Twilight said turning away from a very old looking tome pre-modern Equestria and post-discord Equestria making it roughly in the time period of the journal Eclipse found.

“Well that’s exactly why I’m here ma’am can we continue this in a private area!” Eclipse said as he pulled the journal from his satchel and gave Twilight a certain vibe that said all it needed.

“Um sure Spike take Eclipse’s party, companions or friends to sugarcube corner tell Pinkie I'll pay whatever the bill is tomorrow,” Twilight said as the dragon confused and not at all bothered just shrugged and did as he was told. Twilight waited until she was sure they left before speaking “What did you find?”

“A journal that reveals dark and haunting things and a theory that Princess Celestia has a deep dark secret called Aperture Laboratories!” Eclipse said handing over the journal and letting Twilight read through it letting the princess think of her own theories about said journal.

“This seems illogical as it suggests we had technology then that was only invented recently but I guess you time placed it at the date said,” Twilight pondered as she did some tests on the book and every time came to the conclusion Eclipse had “Huh this is strange indeed… I’m reading something over here of conspiracies and legends from the same time period maybe this Aperture might get a mention!”

“My thoughts exactly Princess!” Eclipse said as the two went over to the book and after Twilight lectured Eclipse to be careful with the ancient tome even though that was part of his job the duo began to comb through the texts for a mention of aperture and on a page halfway through there you had it.

The legend of the aperture project!

The aperture project was the conspiracy of a government, princess Celestia approved, lead project deep in the crystal mountains lead by a stallion millionaire called Lemon Cave. The project was supposedly a testing facility for ponies health and mental state by the government of our princess using ponies from the local prisons and asylums as the subjects for these tests. But that is all we are allowed to know as the common ponies we can’t just go there and anyone who has doesn’t come back the theorists among us say there is more to the facility than we know. This is just rumours and speculation but one day the mention of the facility disappeared all together no trace remained and the ponies never returned except for one who claimed impossible claims and we dismissed him as a loonie pony, metal giant killing ponies no such thing, he was as bad as the ponies who say the weather ponies use bad pegasi for rainbows but all this pony claimed made ponies theorise me included but if aperture is what he claims then something happened there but that is just a theory. An Equestria theory! Signed Common Theory ponies

“So we need to find this place and stop reading this guy’s writing it’s annoyingly horrific!” Eclipse said taking note of the rough area given by Common Theory in his passage “I guess you want to come Twilight being the big science lover and daring do fan huh?”

“It’s non-negotiable Eclipse don’t worry I keep a case packed for this sort of thing let me leave a letter for spike to allow Celestia or Luna where we are heading!” Twilight said writing a note with her magic and leaving it for spike who was still out with Ice and Solarbeam as she grabbed her case and practically dragged Eclipse to the station.

Author's Note

I'm back everyone and look Lemon Cave who likes lemons and is called cave

chapter 4

Eclipse walked through ponyville looking for Ice and more importantly his niece as Twilight was organizing their expedition to the empire by herself gathering the necessary items, transport, food, drink, clothes, maps, books and anything needed plus extra just in case. Eclipse decided it was best not to argue with the organization crazed princess in fear he'd be hung or worse made to organize!
“So that is the story of how I defeated a pack of timber wolves all on my lonesome!” Eclipse heard an annoying voice comment from around the sugarcube corner way and instinctively headed towards the sound of Swift Ice’s voice and would save his niece from over exaggerated and most likely false heroism.

“How do you do all this and still not have a job?” young solar asked as she looked at Ice confused by his stories.

“No idea kiddo!” Ice said with a chuckle as he noticed Eclipse coming from the other direction and nervously rubbed his head “Look there is your uncle!” he said nudging solar towards her uncle.

“He took a while didn’t he!” Solar said with a chuckle bouncing towards her uncle and with a smile hug tackling him to the ground and booping him adorably. “Hey!”

“Hey Solar Uncle Eclipse has to go somewhere for awhile I need you to go home ok sweetie I'll even as Mr ice to take you there ok!” Eclipse said looking at swift “400 bits upfront if you do this for me ok!”

“Sounds like a fair offer!” Ice said as he looked at Eclipse a little confused “Got an address for me!” he asked as Eclipse began to write down the address solar was looking around at the two stallions and welling up with tears.

“I DON’T WANNA GO HOME!” She suddenly screamed as she gripped her uncle’s foreleg desperately making a few ponies walking past look at the trio and shake their heads muttering under their breath about the scene young Solar was making.

“I’m sorry but I don’t want you to get hurt and also because your mum is probably worried about you!” Eclipse said hugging his niece “I’ll be back soon I promise by the moon and the stars in the sky!”

“You better do or else I'm gonna come find you!” Solar said letting go of her uncle’s leg as Twilight walked up behind him.

“Ok Eclipse I'm packed shall we get going.” the princess said with a sigh her saddlebags full of everything possibly needed for research and study.

“Ice, solar, I got to go now goodbye!” Eclipse said chucking over a bag of bits to ice and picking up his things and giving solar a hug handing her something “It’ll help you find me if I don’t come home!” he said walking away with the princess tears welling up in his eyes. As he walked solar opened her eyes seeing his compass and sniffled hugging ice for comfort.

Author's Note

I'm back and trying to continue through hardships so don't give up hope my stories are not dead and if you have any suggestions for me or want your oc in my stories please pm me them and I'll be glad to try and use them

Chapter 5

On the train heading into the empire Eclipse was quiet feeling quite guilty for abandoning his niece and his royal companion noticed this as behind him she was sat looking over with a worried look. “Dr. Eclipse I know you feel bad but this is probably your biggest find in the history of equestria being well a cover up makes it better.” the princess said walking up to him and putting a comforting wing around his body.

“I just abandoned my niece with a guy I barely trust in the search of a conspiracy theory that may not be real.” Eclipse sighed as he saw the station out of the window and got up to vacate his seat “Let's see if we can get any more info from the crystal library about our target because we are going into terrain that has questionable chance of survivability as well as potentially covered up secrets and die I would feel bad leaving her with a thestral that annoyed me.”

“I understand Eclipse but you knew he would make sure he'd look after her as well as making sure she got home,” I don’t think we will find anything extra in the the crystal library I would remember I um…. Read all of the books in it but they were made before the journal.” Twilight said with a nervous chuckle as she tried to keep the subject on the expedition “Also there wasn’t mention of the aperture stated in the journal but i’m sure ‘his’ library may have something.”

“Well looks like we have to head to the castle and see Princess Cadence.” Eclipse said looking towards the crystal spire as he knew who ‘he’ was.

Meanwhile on the road Celestia’s sun bearing down on their backs Ice and Solar was making good progress towards solar’s home until a shriek came out from a certain filly “MR ICEY BAT I NEED TO EAT!” Solar was shouting as she sat down in the middle of the road and pouted in a stroppy way.

“We ate at the last town Solar birdy!” Ice said with a groan as he was getting a little annoyed with the filly as she was always hungry or tired or something that meant they had to stop and to be honest that would piss anyone off. Just saying foals and road trips are not fun. Like seriously no fun for anyone.

“But I only had a sandwich and that wasn’t tasty.” Solar said with a grumble as she was not enjoying the long journey home “Why couldn't we get a train….”

“Because where your mum lives doesn’t have a station nearby unless ponyville's which is where we was so getting a train isn’t the best option but look we are almost there Solar.” Ice said pointing to a singular house in the middle of practically nowhere “That’s the coordinates on this map look familiar dear?”
“You can read a map… wow!” Solar said with genuine surprise as suddenly out of the door came a yellow mare that scooped solar up and snuggled her “MUM PUT ME DOWN!”

“No you are never leaving my sight…. Thank you so much for bringing her home i’m Sunshine and you are?” Sunshine said looking at ice and smiling with joy in her eyes as she put her foal down. She was pretty but being a single mum in the middle of nowhere pretty didn’t do much for her but she was happy-ish.

“The name is Swift Ice just a noble thestral doing his sworn duty to help a maiden in need,” Ice said with a bow as he noticed she was very happy for him returning solar to sunshine.

“My baby brother paid you to bring her home didn’t he yes… It’s ok it’s still noble to do so as she’s a little madam dp you want to share a coffee inside.” Sunshine said with a smile as she gestured him to join her inside as Solar ran off inside. How could he refuse free coffee.

Back in the Empire Eclipse stood before Princess cadence his left hind leg shaking visibly as he stood “Come forward Dr Darksun I heard you and Twily wanted to ask me something but then she saw Flurry and went into Aunt mode which i’m glad for a break is nice… Anyhow i guess it’s up to you what do you need to ask of me.” Cadence said as she sat down on her thrown trying to keep the meeting informal as possible she was visibly tired and dishevelled from lack of sleep. Another reason foals are evil. Like seriously evil.

“Well I’m happy you are willing to speak to me princess I won’t take up to much of your time I hope,” Eclipse said with a bow as he smiled but still visibly nervous as for what he was about to ask was a question nopony would dare to ask unless they was insane or desperate. The latter being Eclipses case “Princess Cadence me and princess twilight came here hoping to ask for permission to access the archives of king sombra.”

“Pray tell why would you ask me this… those archives contain dark magic and require use of such to even find them hence why I am wondering what possible need would you Dr. Darksun would you require such texts.” Cadence said as she was shocked to hear that request and due to the nature of what lay inside those books. Plus they was probably booby trapped.

“I know it seems strange but recently we found an ancient text preserved by magic that dated to be about 2000 years old it’s contents where stating of some sort of research department within Equestria dubbed Aperture and said Princess Celestia was involved someway,” Eclipse said with a sigh “However we can’t find hnd nor hair of this place in any files and as the dates are before sombra’s rise to power and the disappearance of the empire maybe just maybe his library might have a sliver of information in it…. And if so I hope you’ll let us investigate this as well I belive it may have been covered up in some fashion and as a historian I want to know why.” After this he stood up tall as if showing he was dedicated to his work “Please your highness let me continue my journey!”

Cadence sat there pondering for a moment looking at the unicorn stallion before her. She could see he was dedicated and was desperate to find this piece of history forgotten or hidden from the public. If her auntie hid it must’ve been something of national security but she herself was curious as to what skeletons aunt celestia had hidden away. “You shall be given passage on two conditions you take guards with you and I open and close the entrance as you go in and out.” She said in her most professional tone making Eclipse glad bowing to the oink Alicorn and leaving after thanking her….

chapter 6 Author's Note

I'M BACK yes I've returned in a fashion of new creativity this story needed from now on this story gets dark and we'll meet the mare in the cover art in I think two chapters time so stay tuned my loyal followers

chapter 6

“So Mr. Ice was it I’m so glad you could join us for lunch it’s not much we have company out here is it little Solarbeam?” sunshine said with a beaming smile as she poured Ice a glass of lemonade the drink complimented her personality, sweet and bubbly.

“Well if invited into a pretty mare’s home I’ll be happy to accept,” Ice said smoothly as he was just happy he had gotten there as she was stunning. “But the offer of food is even better.”

“You um really think I’m pretty,” Sunshine asked with a little blush as she looked away trying to hide it “I’m just a lonely mother of one nothing special.”

“Being a lonely mother of one is what makes you special,” Ice said with a smile holding her hoof and smiling as she gave him a hug and cried into his shoulder “There there it’s ok to cry…” he said as he comforted her holding her in his embrace.

Meanwhile in the crystal empire Eclipse was descending into King Sombra’s library his horn ignited to add some light to the darkness that consumed the walls and cold stone winding stairs that lead down into the even darker abyss below him “So Princess Twilight can you see anything down there!” He called out seeing a purple glow appear from the bottom of the stairs.

“SO MANY BOOKS!” A very foal like squeal came from the bottom of the stairwell as ominous looking torches ignited magically revealing the vastness of Sombra’s forbidden books, poems and journals “OY MY GOSH OH MY GOSH HOW WAS THESE HIDDEN FROM ME!”

“I have no idea, your highness.” Eclipse said as he reached the bottom of the stairwell withholding his urge to start bawling with laughter at this grown princess acting like a filly on hearth's warming eve. “But we don’t have time to read them now we need to look for aperture so I guess we need to find where Sombra categorized the books.”

“I guess you are correct…” Twilight said with a little pout as she made a note to bug cadence till she was allowed to read everything in here. However, Eclipse was correct they needed to find anything to do with aperture or anything of the sorts.

“Hey, there’s a desk here with a map…” Eclipse said pointing out an old desk with a map that looked pristine and new. “Huh, how strange an age-defying map probably an enchantment of sorts…”

Twilight joined him as she scanned the map “Celestia’s secrets sounds promising, doesn’t it? Seems strange thinking of her having secrets.” she noted as she pointed to section on the map colored with white.

“Hey look there are lines on the floor here all diverging from the map like roads,” Eclipse pointed out as he began to follow the white ones “Maybe it’ll lead to that section like a signpost follow me, princess.”

“Um ok then…” Twilight said as she began to worry about what they could find in this library as it seemed to span a very vast area into a dark murky abyss. “I hope I’m not the only one who’s creeped out by this place right because I don’t know how but I’m sensing a dark presence as if someone is watching us.”

Eclipse looked around feeling chills running across his nerves as he felt like something was watching him, following him. It was a creepy feeling that he couldn’t shake at all no matter how far they walked. It was creepy and disturbing. “It’s best we hurry then I sense it too.”

Twilight simply nodded in agreement and entered a white door into a small storage room lit up by an ominous red crystal in the center of the room sticking out of the ground. The walls were lined with books only separated by a single mahogany desk with a chair by it.

“This must be Sombra’s study and guessing by the door where he hid Celestia’s so-called secrets,” Eclipse deduced as he entered the room and scanned the shelves noticing the books had been organized alphabetically and had preservation enchantments on them. “Huh, he was a book freak like you Princess.”

“I think the word is enthusiast Dr. eclipse but yes I commend this organisation and preservation of these valuable archives of secrets,” Twilight said hiding her inner eggheadedness as she began to search the books “If there is anything on this Aperture place it’ll be in the A section hmm or would it be in a book called projects or such.”

“Only one way to find out…” Eclipse said picking out a book called ‘Celestia’s deadly secrets’ and began to read it. “We have to be thorough no page unturned…” He added as he saw Twilight practically dive into the A section of the books. “I um guess that won’t be a problem hmm.”

Chapter 7 (unedited)

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 8 (unedited)

Back in the crystal empire Eclipse and Twilight had scoured every source of books with Links to the Aperture laboratories with little help as to where to find the location. “Come on hidden bases and where to find them please give me something.” Eclipse said with a groan flipping through the book finding the name Aperture as he read he saw the article was written by someone who knew it well. The article read as followed.

‘Aperture science, or little luna’s laboratories, is a testing facility under the rule of moonbutt that develops technologies eons before its time and using courses known as test chambers to test them. From portal guns to rogue artificial intelligence they had it all until it went quiet…. To anyone looking for this place, I would take care…. Celestia did her best to hide this little bloodbath within the caves of the badlands. Take care and remember the cake is a lie.’

“Yo Twilight I think we got something.” Eclipse said floating the book over to her as she was deep into ‘Sun butt baby photo’s chapter 3’. Making eclipse chuckle walking over to the bookworm tapping her shoulder waking her from her book trance.

“Huh no, luna never put gum in Celestia's hair….. Oh, Eclipse it’s you.” Twilight said with a chuckle as she was drawn out from her reading into her mentor's childhood memories. “Found anything yet nothing interesting over here to report.”

“I found the location we’re heading to the badlands within the caves lies the mystery of aperture have a read.” Eclipse said handing her the book and smiling happily. Twilight snatched it happily and read through the pages faster than a bullet until she got to the page he was on about.

“The badlands is filled with caves,” Twilight said with a groan as she put the book down. She then looked at Eclipse and began to pace suddenly trying to think of which caves haven’t been mapped out yet.

“Well epsilon and lima are unexplored I think and nova is off-limits.” Eclipse said with a smile as he’d been spelunking in a lot of those caves himself already “But let’s hoof it out of here and take these with us.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Twilight said as she collected all the books that were useful and began to follow the lines that led to the stairwell that leads to the way out Eclipse following the princess of friendship shortly after. The duo thanked Cadence and made their way towards the train station boarding the next train for the badlands.