The night was as silent as ever, but not all were asleep. In the nation of Saddle Arabia a research team works day and night on something that has been wondered and thought of for the past millennial. How were we made and where did we all come from? Many tried and many failed to find a answer to this question, but tonight is different.
I trotted back and forth as I looked at the clock and tapped my hoofs waiting.
"How long does it take to find if it is correct?", I thought in a heavy sigh as I trotted around thinking.
Finally the doors opened and a mare in a white lab coat came out. She looked tired and a bit ruffed out from the work as I did. Finally after around 3 seconds of awkward silence she spoke.
"Doctor Seeker, we found something you may want to see.", the mare told me while motioning for me to follow her into the room.
I nodded and followed along, we walked through the massive white doors as they closed behind us. Up ahead and around us we could see ponies along with some Saddle Arabians working on machines and looking closely at papers and artifacts. Some of them looked at me as I walked by with respect and cheerfulness. Finally though after looking around a bit we made it to the main hub doors of the research facility. The doors slid open for us as we walked in, up ahead I saw that the team seemed to be waiting for me and as I got in the applauded.
"Whats with the applause? I had not done anything so far to my knowledge that deserves me such.", I asked them as I walked to the table.
One of them came up to me and spoke.
"Mien friend you don't know yet?", Professor Trot asked.
I gave him a confused look as I spoke once more.
"No, I don't believe I do know what your saying.", I replied back to him.
Trot chuckled a bit and finally answered.
"You solved it my friend! Thanks to you we managed to find the right records and artifacts needed to find out what our past is!", Trot answered happily with a grin.
I stood there for a couple seconds not saying a word. There was no way that I had just solved something this big. It was just not possible, was it?
"Your joking right? There is no way in Celestia's name and holy that i solved it", I said back in disbelieve.
Trot shook his head while smiling and motioned for me to follow. I did so as the others went off to tell the others of this "discovery" I made. We walked up to the table and on it lied a stone book of some sort. On the front it had a title but the language at least to me was not readable. I also remembered that I found this in some ruins while walking around the facility. Finally though Trot spoke.
"You see Seeker, this book you brought in turned out to be from a old kingdom called the Icues. So far we only translated some of what is in this book but we are making our way through.", Trot explained.
"So your saying that I found a book from a old kingdom that links to the creation mandate of our world? You do know how bonkers that sounds right?", I told him.
Trot did not give up on his advance.
"It may sound bonkers mien friend but just read it for your self! It details a older world and much more. It answers so much, and can't you just give it a chance?", Trot asked.
I took a deep long breathe before I made my next choice.
"Fine Trot,
Just for you since we are friends, but don't think that I will believe it in the end ok?", I said to Trot.
Trot nodded and we shook hoofs.
"Well before we get too ahead of our selves how about we celebrate with the rest of the team?
Just for old times sake when we found things?", Trot asked me while heading towards the door.
I thought of it then looked back at the book.
"Sure Trot, it sounds nice indeed.", I responded and followed after him.
We headed out to a crowd of ponies and Saddle Arabians already waiting for us, they applauded as we past by. Drinks seemed to already be set out along with food.
"Word does spread quickly doesn't it Seeker.", Trot said to me.
I nodded and we headed for a table in corner that was set for me and some others. I sat down and looked at the other ponies and such at the table. Professor Trott was sitting next to me, but there was also others at the table we were at. Doctor Saddles, the Saddle Arabian research leader was at our table as well. I decided to spark some conversation before it turned awkward at the table.
"So, how is your research on the other artifacts going Saddles?", I asked not really knowing what else to say.
Doctor Saddles snorted and finally responded.
"We are doing well, but sadly we were not as lucky as you to find such a item.", Saddles replied to me.
I could see some jealousy from Saddles towards me in that sentence. I set that aside for now not wanting to cause more tension.
"Don't worry Doctor Saddles you may find something soon, and now with this book if it is true. You may be able to find something in your collections.", I said to him trying to ease tension.
Doctor Saddles was calmed a bit but still showed some small bits of jealousy. Trot finished talking with the mare that led me in and looked over at me.
"You don't seem so calmed Seeker, whats wrong?", Trot asked me.
I took a deep breathe before responding to his question.
"Saddles seems to not like the fact that I discovered this info you uncovered that I found.", I replied to him.
"Oh he will get over it, just give him time.", Trot told me.
"Yes I know, but it seems as he is not just jealous of me.", I worriedly said to Trot.
Trot shook his head and spoke once more.
"You worry your self too much mien friend. Come on enjoy the party and then we can go back to work and relax, yes?", Trot told me trying to ease my worry.
I nodded but still was slightly worried.
"Speaking of so, I think I am going to take a quick look at it as my break from the party for now. Is that fine Trot?",
I asked him.
He nodded and motioned for me to go ahead and head for the book. So I did so and sat up out of my chair and headed for the book to examine it a bit closer. As I headed for it I saw Doctor Saddles still giving me a look of jealousy.
"Bloody hell he really does not like this does he..", I thought to my self.
I entered through the door and headed for the book. I took out the translated papers that would help me with reading the book. Finally though I opened it and began reading. Then everything went black.
Chapter 1 | Introductions to a Unknown Past
The blackness seemed infinite as I floated there, finally stars or something along those lines began appearing.
"What the, how is this even possible?", I asked my self while I floated there in disbelieve.
I looked around more a bit, finally I started seeing planets poping up into existence along with blackholes and more.
"He said it was just a report from a olden kingdom, not this! How did he think this is normal writing?!", I asked my self once more wanting a answer.
Though no answer of such came, only more questions came forward as I zoomed through space. For example: How is this even possible, am I dead, am I in heaven or tartarus, and most of all how did Trot think this was a normal book that would give answers? So far I saw that I was probably not gonna get a answer back sadly, but something else was finally happening other then me zooming through space. I seemed to be heading for a planet up ahead, it was a planet kinda like Earth but it was a bit different. The planet seemed to have many biomes and regions unique to it, but it did have some similar attachments. I inclosed and time seemed to slow finally as it seemed what ever was doing this was now making me orbit the planet. I looked down at it, and indeed it was a sight probably no pony else but Luna her self kinda saw when looking at a planet from above. Though something did begin to happen as I orbited.
"Oh what now? Wait am I, oh nope I am not ready to go into a fired crisp!", I began panicking even if I knew that I should've been dead long ago in realistic terms.
The planet at this rate was beginning to increase size, or well I was getting nearer. At this rate it looked like I was going to burn up then I was going hit the ground in a pile of ashes. But something else indeed did happen, and all of the sudden I went straight down quicker then the blink of a eye. Everything went blank once more to me.
The next time I opened my eyes I seemed to be on the ground finally but I was not in the lab anymore. I was in what looked to be a small hut made of ice and packed up snow. But this was not really crudely made like most ice or snow huts, it actuality looked sturdy like it could take a straight hit from a pegasus running into it at sonic speeds. Which added even more questions to my ever growing list of "What in Celestia's name is happening.". Though I finally also realized something else, I was in a mare's body it seemed as. I was not going to complain but it was cold and also felt very strange.
So far to my view this looked like a much more advanced version of the memory spell, and that was at its self a even bigger confusion gift. But that also meant that this was a memory from a very old pony from long ago. I got hit in the head with realization of what I had found, but I knew something was not right. For one why did Trot not mention the part that this was like a memory spell? But those questions were put aside for now since everything seemed to un pause and I began watching through this pony's eyes.
I gotten up from my bed and looked around in my hut, I was expecting company soon so I was glad the place was as clean as well it could get. A knock echoed into the hut from the door finally after a few moments of waiting.
"Come in please.",I told to the one knocking on the door.
The door opened and a white and grey stallion of sort walked in. He had a cutiemark of sort that looked like a collection of mountains with snow over them. He spoke finally after closing the door.
"I see your doing you self well my daughter, but is it really necessary to leave the capital palace like this? I know you want to gain the up most experience of our subjects, but you have much else to learn as well.", the stallion told me.
I gave a deep sigh before responding to him.
"Father I know I have to learn other things, I plan to learn them out here along with the villagers.", I said as I stood up.
My father was not happy with the answer but he showed respect of it, and replied to it soon anothe.
"Yes I know Cyia, but still you could learn much more in the palace then out here. At least know that your allowed back anytime of place.", My father finally replied.
"And I thank you father for your kindness to me, but even so I would not go back in a while. Maybe when I am done living the life style of my ponies I will finally come back and learn the arts of ruling.", I told him.
He hesitated for a second, but finally he nodded and left through the door. I looked back down at the snowy ground wondering if I made the right choice. I felt it was my duty to know the status of my soon to be subjects, so I agreed mentally with my self that I have choice right. I headed out the door into the snowy storms of the northern region. To a different elemental it would feel like hell being up here, but to the Icues and my subjects it was paradise. I looked over as I exited the hut and watched my father leave on a sky chariot.
"You will see father, my choices are well.", I told my self.
I finished looking finally and headed out for a walk through the snow and blizzard. The villagers bowed to me as I walked by, I knew I was royalty but I still did not like it. I looked over and saw one of the fillies from the crowd began trotting towards me, but she was stopped by her mother.
"Festive you can't just walk up to a royal like that!", her mother told Festive.
Festive the filly, looked sad at this fact from her mother. I was not good with fillies and children, but it was heart breaking to watch this.
"Please it is fine, and you little one what is it you need?", I asked the filly.
The mother looked shocked at the fact I just spoke to them, but she quickly let the filly go to me not wanting any trouble that would not even come. The filly came up to me and spoke.
"Um hello miss, ca-n I ask a question.", the filly asked nervously as she and her mother followed along with me.
I gave the best kind smile I could to encourage her to speak on.
"Please little one, go ahead.", I told to the filly.
"How did you become a princess miss? My mother told me that I can't ever be such a thing, but there has to be a way right?", the filly asked with a little hope in her eyes.
"Well that is a unique question little one, but I shall answer. You must work hard and be wise to become one.",
I lied to the filly.
I felt sorrowful as the filly gave a bright smile and walk away with her mother.
"See mommy I can become one!", the filly said to her mother in a very excited mood.
The mother gave a wavering smile to the filly, but gave me a stern look due to the fact every pony knew that you could not do that at all. I sighed and went back to my walk through the town. I finally reached the outskirts of the town and kept trotting through the snowy landscape. I found it relaxing to walk alone in this weather, I was told it was unwise to do so but still it is nice.
Though as I walked I noticed a difference in the distance, a black color that sticked out in the snow like a sore hoof was ahead. I began trotting quickly towards the figure and finally reached it. When I arrived my eyes went wide at what I saw. A Shadowuis lied there with the mark of royalty, but this was not the emperor of the Shadowuisian kingdom though. It must've been a prince I was coming to the collusion of. He seemed weakened and looked as if he was about to die due to the cold. I quickly acted and picked him up with my magic, and then set him on my back.
"Don't worry we will get you some help, just hang in there ok?", I told the prince.
There was no sign of movement from the dark prince, but I could feel his heart beat on my back and the fading warmth aura on his body. Finally we reached a cave, and I quickly ran in and set him down. I then found some brambles in the cave and began trying to make a fire for warmth for the pony. It would hurt me to cause a fire, but if it was to safe another I could take the risk.
I already had my cape on him to warm him but it would not be anothe to keep him fully warm in Iceusian weather. Finally though with a lot of luck I managed to make the fire. I then waited there by his side keeping near to him to add more warmth that I could. After a while he awoke near night time.
"Where am I, and who are you?", the shadowuis said weakly.
"Don't worry, I am no threat to thee. I am a friend who found you lain in the snow outside.", I responded.
The stallion chuckled a bit and spoke once more.
"You know i mean't your name so I don't have to keep calling you stranger or miss.", the shadowuis spoke to me.
I gave light laugh to this and replied finally.
"Cyia, an if I may ask who are you?", I asked him.
"I am Shaded, nice to meet you Cyia. Now where am I to be exact, and why do you have a mark as well.", Shaded asked.
"Well your in Icuesian territory, and right now we are in a cave near the town of Black Ice. Then as for the mark, I am the daughter of King Articais.", I answered back to him.
He nodded and lied down there still trying to warm up a bit more. We sat like that for a few more minutes until he broke the silence.
"So what is a beautiful mare as such your self doing all the way out here?", he asked grinning.
I rolled my eyes and replied.
"I decided that I wanted to find out what the life style of my future subjects is like so I could relate.", I replied to Shaded.
"Thats a bit risky for you, how did your father even allow you to do that?", Shaded asked curiously.
"Why did your father allow you to come out all the way out here?", I countered.
"Well I kinda was testing out a teleportation spell, and it kinda sent me here. So yeah my father is probably sending search parties.", Shaded told me.
"Well that explains why your here, and also how are you feeling now?", I asked.
"I am feeling better then I was, and mostly because I have such a kind and beautiful mare helping me.", Shaded replied.
I was lightly blushing but I was not interested in him in that way, nor was I in the mood to find some pony.
"Alrighty then, well rest up. We got a long walk ahead of us tomorrow.", I told Shaded.
He nodded and sighed as he saw that he failed to gain my interest. I lied down next to him to keep him warm and finally fell asleep after a while.
Then everything went black again.
Author's Note
I will be doing a two part system if your wondering. In a sense one chapter will be in the past and the other in the present with Seeker.
So far thats all I really need to tell for now. Anyways enjoy reading and such.
Chapter 2 | Explanations and Tensions
The blackness seemed to be internal, but it finally wavered. I slowly began waking up from my "reading" session to the shouts of someone speaking.
"Seeker! Come on damnit wake up!", a voice shouted at me.
I concluded it was Professor Trot due to his accent and the fact that he was the only one that ever called me Seeker. I grunted as I finally opened my eyes and raised my head from the table at where I was sleeping.
"Trot you can stop shouting in my ear I am awake..", I grunted at him as I recovered back to my hoofs.
He looked worried as I finally managed to get my eyes over to him.
"Seeker you been asleep for the entire party, was the book that boring to you?",
Trot asked still worried.
I shook my head no and finally stabilized my self.
"No its not that Trot, it was pretty much the opposite of exciting and boring. In all sense it was confusing and abnormally interesting.", I replied to him.
Trot looked confused at my response since all he saw was my sleeping when he got in.
"How could you find it interesting if you were asleep Seeker? Last time I checked you can't read while sleeping.", Trot said.
I knew if I explained what happened I would be seen as insane, but maybe Trot would believe me?
"Well its hard to explain Trot, and I am sure you won't even believe what I saw.", I replied to Trot.
He seemed to hesitate and think, but finally he gave me the motion to keep going. I took a deep breathe a moment of time and finally spoke once more.
"I was knocked out when I opened the book, and when that happened I saw what seemed to be a memory spell. What I am saying in a sense is that I was viewing through a older being then us.", I finished saying.
Trot seemed to just stare in disbelieve and shock at what I just said. Finally though after around 2 minutes of awkward silence he spoke.
"Well, that sure is something. Are you sure that is what happened, cause if your wrong this could be a big blow to you just after finding this.", Trot said to me.
Trot clearly had some thin in his voice even if he did kinda believe me, and really I would've reacted the same way. Trot asked about what I saw and explained it all to him, and he asked occasional questions as I did so.
Finally after three hours of explaining someone walked in as I finished the story, it turned out to be the mare that Trot spoke to before.
"Oh sorry Dr. Seeker, was I interrupting something?", She apologized.
"No its fine,
What is it you need anyways um. What is your name again I do believe I never caught it.", I asked the mare.
"Its Paper Note, and anyways I heard talking in here so I was just curious. I will right away now if you need.", Paper told us.
I shook my head no and motioned for her to stay and said, "Please do stay, we need more then one pony to be in here to keep Trot from rambling at least."
Trot gave me annoyed look.
"Oh so says the one who spent all day yesterday going on about how much you liked Saddle Arabian culture.", Trot countered.
"Hey who would not be interested in the culture of this area, it use to be the hub of all tech until Equestria united. Heck you even gushed over it a bit, don't you refuse that.", I told him.
He rolled his eyes and motioned for me to at least pay some sense to our new guest instead of fighting over who talks too much.
The Mare just waited there patiently as we finally finished.
"So do you two always bicker on like that? Kinda foalish don't you think?, Paper commented on our behavior.
Trot just began laughing for no reason of I knew why, but in any way I responded to her comment.
"Well we may act serious sometimes, but really its nice to bicker on about things like we are still foals as break isn't it Trot?", I said to them.
Trot chuckled a bit and finally recovered to speak,
"Indeed it does mien friend, it can get tiring to keep a straight face sometimes while working.", Trot responded.Paper nodded and accepted the explanation for now.
"Anyways you must have another reason for coming here yes?", I asked Paper.
She nodded and spoke, "I was sent down here to tell you that some Vale representatives are being sent here."
That news was shocking and not expected at all. Vale was a faction of scientist that tried to take over Equestria, luckily for us they signed a treaty and united back into Equestria as a ally. Ever since they been helping us gain up our tech, that is so far the only reason why we even have the ability to even do all this research we been doing.
Finally Trot spoke, "Well that was unexpected wasn't it Seeker, seeker ye awake?"
He poked me and I finally broke out of my shocked face.
"Paper you mind telling me if you know who the lead of the team is they are sending? I rather know who I am going to be speaking with yes?", I asked.
"Yes Doctor that is probably a good question, and well the minister of their science wing is leading team.", She told us finishing.
Now the fact that Vale was coming to visit our facility was surprising news, but the fact that their minister of tech and science was coming was even more shocking and a honor to have happen. After what felt like at least a few minutes of silence and thought, Trot broke the silence.
"Well then,
Does the rest of the facility know of this?", Trot asked.
She shook her head and responded, "No I had not told anyone else yet, I thought it would of been a better idea to tell you first."
"Well thank you for the info Paper Note, go ahead and tell the rest of the facility over the radio.", I said to her.
Paper nodded and headed out the room towards the central control room to announce the news over the facility's radio system. The door closed behind her leaving us alone once again.
"Well you can join us when you need be Seeker,
I better get back and tell the team early if I can.", Trot told me as he left.
I waved bye and then looked back at the book. If I went back into it I probably had a high chance of facing what I faced in it again. So I shook my head and headed out the door to walk around the facility for now. As I exited I took one final look at the book and finally left it.
The hallway and main working sections were heavily busy and thriving with busy researchers. Ever since news of the minister of science and research of Vale was coming it was a huge blow to our stability. Now we have most of the teams cleaning the place and making sure everything is nice before they get here. Of course we are talking about a team of archaeologists and researchers, not a team of janitors and clean up ponies. So the process of even doing so was going a bit slow even for the amount doing it. I spent most of the time writing down what I saw in my office though not wanting to get in the way of cleaning as I worked.
The door opened and a Saddle Arabian walked into the room closing the door behind her.
"Excuse me sir are you busy?", the Saddle Arabian asked.
I stopped what I was doing and looked up then spoke, "No, what is it you need?"
"Doctor Saddle's wishes to set a meeting with you later today, are you busy during that period Dr.
Seeker?", She asked.
I thought for a few seconds about the stone book and how I did kinda want to read it a bit more, but if Saddle's wanted a meeting it clearly had to be something important.
"No I am not busy, you may go ahead and set it up with Saddle's help. Just tell me when afterwords.", I replied.
She nodded and went out the door as it closed behind her. I took a deep breathe and let it out as I thought to my self. What could Saddle's possibly want to talk about, and why at a time like this? Right now there was only time to prepare and try to calm everyone down, but if he needed a meeting then it had to be important. So I finally stoping thinking to my self and went back to writing about what I saw.
I finished writing after a while and set down the pen onto the desk. As I was about to get up my phone began ringing.
"Who could it be at this time its around one in the morning..", I said to my self as I picked up the phone
The phone made connection finally a familiar voice came over the phone, "Hello? Seeker you there its your dad. Hello anybody there? Is this even the right call line.."
I have not spoke to my father for a very long time, and so now at this time and in this current busy phase. I did not really want or plan this to be when we talked again.
"Yes hi dad,
And what do you need? Its one in the morning for crying out loud.", I told my dad over the phone.
"Yeah sorry for calling so late on your end, I just did not have the time or patience at the moment to check the time in your time zone. Anyways how are things going in Saddle Arabia?", dad asked.
"Things are doing fine down here, and we made some great moves into discovering stuff. How are you and mother?", I asked.
"We are doing well, and your mother misses you greatly. Say when are you going to come back home for a visit?", my father asked.
"Um, it may be a while father. Right now I am across the planet from home and working on something very important. So maybe in a few more months at the least?", I replied hoping my answer was good anothe.
"Well its good anothe I guess. Stay well ok Seeker?", my father told me.
"I always do father, and say hi to mother for me.", I replied and then hanged up.
I rubbed my forehead with my hoof as I knew I would probably never be back for at least another year or so. I got up finally from my seat and floated my journal along with me towards my room. When I reached the room I saw that the stone book was set on the night stand. It had a letter on it too, and I went up to it to read it.
It read: Just incase you want to take more looks at this book go ahead - Trot. I looked at the book but decided not to look in it yet due to needing to go the meeting that Saddle's set up. I set down my journal and went out again towards the meeting room where Saddle's set up the meeting.
After around five minutes of walking i finally made it to the meeting room doors. They opened as I walked in and saw that Saddles was already sitting down at the table waiting. He looked back at me and did not look excited but he did look very serious. He then motioned for me to take a seat and I did so.
"It is nice to see that you came Doctor, the others I invited sadly did not have the same respect..", Saddle's told me.
I nodded and replied, "Well if its this late it most of been important yes?"
Saddles nodded and began talking again, "Indeed it is, and its about this discovery you made."
"As you know this is in Saddle Arabian lands, so really its only fair that we get some credit yes Seeker?", Saddles finished and waited for me to reply.
"What do you mean? It will indeed be listed on where it was found, but our teams discovered it.", I told him.
He clearly was not satisfied with this answer but he nodded finally.
"Fine then, and then that means this meeting is over. You may go now.", Saddles said to me as he got up and left the room.
I got up thinking about what he said as I walked to my room. Saddles clearly was not happy with the fact at my answer. I noted that I would try to talk to him later but I headed back to my room for now.
I sat on my bed and looked over at the stone book. It set me to asleep Trot said so maybe I could watch it as my sleep tonight? I sat there thinking about it for a while, and finally I decided to try it. I floated the book over and opened it, and then everything went black again.
Author's Note
This Chapter took a ridiculous amount of time to write due to the fact I want to make a average count of at least 2k in each chapter or at least above that, and on the fact I had to do other things during the time I tried working on this. (Well really in my standards, if you look at other people's stuff you sometimes can see 10k and I am complaining at this amount. GG me.) But also I had issues with the quote tool for a while, luckily I found the issue and fixed it.
But also anyways what did I think of this chapter, well first things first. I want to talk about the last chapter I wrote. First in my opinion, I could've done better on chapter 2 then it is now. Cause at the end it kinda felt out of place. But anothe about that, and lets get to this chapter. I wanted this to be another staging chapter for the further chapters in the present time. As you can see tensions are rising for what reason, and well you will have to find that out your self.
Anyways really thats all I have to say for now. Enjoy reading.
