Prologue

October 5, 967 A.F.

Princess Twilight Sparkle

5:55 P.M

"SPPIIIIIKE, HURRY UP THE TRAIN WILL BE HERE IN A FEW MINUTES!" I really need to stop hanging out with Luna so much. I've been using the "Royal Canterlot Voice" a lot lately. Still, what in Celestia's name is taking him so long?

"Now don't you start throwing a fit surgarcube, you still got 10 whole minutes before the train gets here." Applejack states as she readjusts her stension.

"Right, sorry, Applejack, I'm just a little on edge right now. I mean, I'm going to a long lost pony civilization, one older than Princess Celestia or Luna! Imagine what I could end up discovering over there."

"Now, now, don't you start apologizing. We know you're excited an' all, you just need to calm down amite. Besides, there will be plenty of time to do that when you're actually on the train."

"Oh, please do watch Spike while you're there, darling, I would hate to see you come back early because somepony got hurt." Rarity says quickly cutting in into the conversation.

"It's alright Rarity, I'll make sure he and I end up not doing anything rash. Speaking of, I should really go and see what's taking him so long."

Thump

"Ow, that won't be necessary Twilight. Sorry, I took so long; I wanted to bring a few comic books, but I didn't know which ones to bring." Spike responds while dusting himself off after a tumble from the last step of the castle stairs.

"Don't worry about it, Spike. We still got a bit of time. Sorry about yelling earlier."

"It's fine I should have packed everything yesterday anyway," Spike replied.

"Enough time to make a going away party? We won't see you for a really long time."Pinkie says, surprising me a bit due to the fact she has been uncharacteristically quiet.

"Pinkie, I told you a thousand times that this might be a total failure and we might be back in a couple of days. On top of that, we would be back in a week tops, depending on how big the place is of course, and no, not enough time to make a going away party. Anyway, Spike and I should really get going." Pinke deflated a bit at that but soon nodded her head in understanding.

"Oh, well don't let us keep you waiting darling. We will see you soon!" Rarity once again says moving us on from the previous conversation.

"Alright, bye girls!"

"BYE!" They all shouted in unison.

7:34 P.M

Ughhhh my head is killing me- I should really take something for it, and this train ride sure isn't helping. Ugghh the train, it's never taken more than a few hours at most to get somewhere and we were going to be here for fourteen, fourteen, whole hours. It's madness! How could anypony stay here for so long? I couldn't read a book for more than an hour at a time without getting nauseous. At least Spike was doing okay. He is fast asleep in the other cart. Maybe I should take some sleeping medicine and hit the hay. It's already 7:30pm and very dark out. You can barely see three feet out the window. A few minutes later, I do exactly that and tuck myself under the thick, warm sheets. It was quiet, as to be expected. There is no one else on the train-- perks of being a princess I suppose. Though just before falling into a deep, much-needed sleep, I light my horn and read over the letter for the seventh time today, one I had gotten from Princess Celestia a little less than two days ago.

Dear, Twilight

I hope this letter finds you well, it has been quite some time before we last saw each other. I hope you and your friends are doing fine. Regardless, I'm off topic and this is not a letter about current events, nor is it about a danger coming to Equestria. In fact, something a bit different than usual. Last week, I was informed that we have discovered some interesting finds near the borders of Equestria, more specifically, an ancient pony civilization lost in the passage of time, one supposedly older than Luna and I. Though we would love to go ourselves, we are sadly too busy to see something like this, more so, we both felt you were much more qualified to go investigate and document this new discovery. That is, of course, if you wish to do so, and we can discuss this in further detail if you wish to proceed. I await your quick response.

Love, Celestia.

No matter how many times I read that letter, it gives me goosebumps. I still could not wrap my head around it, and something told me I never would, even with my not-so-new powers and immortality. If this trip went without a hitch, it would be a nice story to tell somepony years later. Well, I suppose some action wouldn't hurt. Regardless, I could not stop thinking about it. I'm going to an ancient city, kingdom, I soon learned with a few more letter exchanges with the princesses. I almost didn't feel worthy of going to such a magical place... almost. Though now my thoughts are starting to clear and headache dwindling, I'm starting to feel like this task is beyond me. Really, a whole kingdom and it's just me and Spike? Something feels off. I'm starting to have a hunch that Celestia and Luna weren't telling me everything. How does a kingdom just go unnoticed? Was it buried? I mean, Celestia's first letter was very vague and even the ones after that. Maybe some traveler pony stubbed his hoof on a rock and realized it wasn't just some rock, and perhaps he dug a little hoping to find treasures? "NO, Twilight don't start, you're just overthinking it again there has to be some other logical explanation," I say out loud. I really don't have time to stress myself out right now; my questions will be answered when we get there. There are answers for everything if you look hard enough. But honestly, if I had to pick going on a 'mission' if you could call it that, or staying at the castle in Ponyville or Canterlot. I would pick this every time, the main reason being was that every time I was with Celestia and Luna, or rather NOT with Celestia and Luna, they would start fighting. It was often over petty reasons like when it came to government decisions. Those two coul-

Snore

Oh, I was so deep in thought I completely forgot about Spike, I wonder what he thinks about all of this. When we were at the castle and I first got that message, he, strangely, felt excited about all of this. He probably just wanted to get out of Ponyville for a bit and take a break from all his chores, but I honestly don't blame him. The castle is big and he is still a baby after all, although not so much anymore. He is still young nevertheless.

Yawn

Well, all thoughts aside, I felt the kiss of sleep upon me and I drift into a wonderful dream.