Equestria was in danger. The chaos had come one week earlier, and since then, Celestia, Luna, and a variety of other ponies had been scouring Equestria since, to find the source of the problem. Now, in the Everfree Forest, the Mane Six were pretty sure they had found the answer.
“Are you sure this is it?” Twilight asked for the millionth time. “We don’t even know what we’re looking for…”
“Oh, Ah think this is it, Twi,” Applejack murmured, staring down at the massive pool in the center of the forest. It was surrounded by thorny briars on all sides, and the girls’ coats were covered with scratches from pushing through them, with the exception of Rarity, who had bathed her body with her blue glow so that her coat wouldn’t be marred. “An’ Ah don’t know about you all,” Applejack continued, “but ah fer one do not like the looks of that.”
“You saying you’re scared?” Rainbow Dash taunted. “Cause… cause I kinda am… Although not that scared!” She curled her hooves into fists and stared menacingly at the pool.
“Oh, darlings,” Rarity crooned. “There’s nothing to be afraid of! I just hope we will not have to go into that mess. It looks… it looks like it could have been in the sewers at one point. Ghastly!” She backed away, flinching from the sticky cerulean sludge filling the deep hole in the ground.
“Hmm,” Twilight mused. “We should contact Princess Celestia about this! I’m sure she would have an idea of what to do. Spike? A piece of parchment and a feathered quill, perhaps?”
The small, spiky green and purple dragon bounded into sight, right next to Twilight. “Never travel without them!” he said cheerfully, pulling a red-feathered quill from Pinkie Pie’s bouncing mane and a piece of clean parchment from his bag. Poised to write, he said, “Do you want to know the other things I never travel without? You know, when I have my bag, that is. Granola bars, soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste, water, a scale polisher…”
“Spike,” Twilight said warningly.
“Okay, okay!” The dragon gripped the quill a bit tighter. “Ready when you are.”
Twilight began to pace in the small space surrounded by the dome of spiky bushes. “Dear Princess Celestia. My friends and I have found a strange, murky pool in the midst of the Everfree Forest that, in all our time in the Forest in past times, we have never seen before. It’s the image at the bottom of the page. We were wondering if it had anything to do with what’s going on in Equestria right now. Thank you and please reply soon. Your faithful student, Twilight Lavender Sparkle.”
“Lavender?” Spike asked. “Never heard that before.”
A furious crimson blush bloomed on Twilight’s cheeks, and she gritted her teeth, saying, “Just send it off, all right?”
“Right, right,” Spike sang as he blew the letter away with a burst of crackling green flames.
About a second after Spike sent the letter away, Princess Celestia appeared on top of one of the briars, panting heavily. With an “Aaah!” she fell forwards into the clearing, and Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack rushed to help her up. With their help, she stood up on her four hooves a bit shakily, saying, “I am sorry, my little ponies. Because of the vast danger that Equestria is currently facing, I came as quickly as I could. Now, is this the pool you were talking about?”
“Yes, your majesty,” Twilight said hurriedly.
Celestia cast an amused look at her student and told Twilight, “Remember, I am your teacher.
Please, you mustn’t address me in such… formal talk. You know neither of us can stand for it.”
“Oh. Of course. And, we just found this pool. Do you think it could be the source?”
“I do.” Celestia furrowed her brows and stared closer at the blue-green, crystal clear water, tapping a hoof to her muzzle. “But… Ah, of course!”
“What?” Rainbow asked eagerly.
“This is not an ordinary pool. It is something of a portal,” Celestia explained. “Twilight, do you remember when you took that potion of Zecora’s to see into the past, when the Tree of Harmony was sick?” Seeing a nod from her student, Celestia continued. “This is very much the same. I’m sure that if somepony dives into this pool, they will go into the past.”
“But… but that doesn’t make sense,” Rarity said, pursing her lips. “Wouldn’t that change history in a way you wouldn’t want to happen?”
“Very good question, my little pony. I think that whoever went in would appear as a spirit. They would be able to see what was going on, but other ponies in that part of the past would not see you,” Celestia explained. “And now we must decide who will go.”
“Maybe... I... would be all right either way,” Fluttershy whispered.
Rarity nodded. "I'm with Fluttershy. On the bright side, I may find some inspiration for my fashion designs wherever it is. However, I would like to spend more time with Sweetie Belle, so..."
The other mares smiled and agreed with the two politely, except Twilight and Pinkie Pie, the latter of which grabbed her party cannon and sent a spray of confetti over the whole area.
"Actually... I think I'm more on the no side? I'm never one to back out on an adventure, I know, but this is kinda sudden. I had a visit to Canterlot to see my parents scheduled." Twilight brushed aside her bangs and looked up at Celestia. "Do you think that's all right?"
"Of course, my dear student. And anyway, I'd like to go." The pink-tinged alicorn smiled warmly. "I shall fly back to Canterlot now to tell Luna I will be gone for a bit, and to get Philomena.” With that, Celestia unfurled her wings and flew high up until she was only a pinprick in the sky. She flew over the tall wall of briars and back to Canterlot.
“Okay, then,” Twilight said. “We should probably wait here, so that we can-”
“Girls! Look at the pool!” Applejack exclaimed. Rarity craned her head to see the water clear and a beautiful vision appear. “It-it’s the Crystal Empire!” she gasped.
“But before King Sombra,” Twilight mused. “This must be the part of the past Celestia is going to! It just makes sense!”
“Um, for us who don’t know much history, why does it make so much sense?” Rainbow Dash asked, staring at the pool.
“Because, before King Sombra shrouded the Empire in darkness, a beautiful princess ruled, Princess Amore. Whenever I read about her, I think of Celestia. They’re a lot alike, except Amore isn’t an alicorn, she’s a unicorn. But they’re both super powerful-I bet the pool chose Celestia to meet Amore! Even though Celestia said ponies in the past wouldn’t be able to see her, I think Amore would, and maybe she could help us,” Twilight finished triumphantly.
“Well, then-” Fluttershy started, before she was interrupted by Celestia flying back in, Philomena perched on her shoulder and saddlebags emblazoned with her sun symbol over her back.
“All right. Everything is taken care of. I told Luna what’s happening, I’ve got Philomena,” Celestia stroked her pet phoenix, “and I’m all packed. Anything I’m forgetting?”
“Nopey dopey!” Pinkie Pie shouted.
“Great. I’ll be going now, then,” Celestia said, looking around. The girls all nodded, and Twilight told her teacher, “We’re guessing you’re going to meet Princess Amore in the Crystal Empire. Right after you left, the pool started to clear.”
“All right, then. I shall be prepared.” With that, Celestia dove into the pool, and the Mane Six watched as she disappeared and the image became murky once again.
Author's Note
My very first chapter! I hope you like it, and please upvote or comment if you do! Thanks!
Chapter 2: The Crystal Empire
Celestia Solaris Equine, Princess of the Sun and all Equestria, loved traveling through portals. She squealed like a little filly when going through one, because it felt just like the roller coasters the castle mechanics built in her youth. The portals made her dizzy, clumsy for a while, separated her from things, and were generally amazing.
She knew not to bother speaking. The portal would take away all the sound that came out of her mouth and whisk it away through the swirling rainbows around her. So she fell silently through, staring wide eyed at the colors around her. They never seemed to be more vibrant than within a portal, and this one was especially amazing. All too soon, the ride was over and Celestia fell with a small thump. Thankfully, she landed on soft grass - she’d had way too many accidents landing on rocks or, once, another pony.
Where… am… I… Celestia climbed out of the small hole in the ground and stared around at the dark green woods around her. Walking over to the trees and brushing through them, she found herself in a tiny village, with a small but stately castle in the middle of a circle of houses. A grin found its way onto her lips, and she almost ran out into the world before she stopped herself.
“My bags!” she exclaimed. “They must have landed in a different part of the forest…” Celestia unfurled her huge, ivory wings and flew under the canopy of trees, searching frantically for her bags and her phoenix.
“Philomena!” she called. “Philomeeena!”
After a couple calls, the scarlet bird came flying out of the underbrush solemnly and alighted on Celestia’s shoulder. “Philomena, there you are,” Celestia sighed in relief. “Come now, I must find my saddlebags.”
She hunted a little more but only found one small pack. It contained food and bits, enough to make it for a year for a regular pony. Celestia didn’t need much food; she was an alicorn, after all. They could keep their strength up for long periods of time without starving or dehydrating much.
“And anyway, I can find more things in the. . . the Empire!” Letting out an excited squeal, Celestia looked through the trees once more. “But first, a cloaking spell.”
A light illuminated Celestia’s small area, and pale blue magic streamed slowly over her body. When it disappeared, there was a new mare standing in delight, an earth pony the color of seafoam with a deep indigo mane flowing softly over her shoulders. Grabbing and levitating a mirror in front of her, Celestia studied her new form happily.
“Ocean Breeze,” she decided. “I’m now Ocean Breeze.”
On that note, she, with her saddlebag over her back and Philomena in the forest, pushed through the dense briars and entered the Crystal Empire, or how the Crystal Empire was in 43o BLR.
The sight of a new pony parting the leaves considerably shocked Sapphire Shine, who was on her way to buy some shells from the Crystal Market. However, she’d learned from her Pa, among other things, that she was to make ponies feel welcome, no matter what. That was the reason that, on that sunny blue afternoon, she thrust herself in front of the new mare, smiling widely.
“Hello there. I’m Miss Sapphire Shine, caretaker of the schoolhouse right there,” she pointed, “and I’d be honored to make your acquaintance. Your name?”
Thoroughly surprised, Celestia stopped. “Oh! I’m, um. . . Ocean Breeze. Yes, Ocean Breeze.” She let out a nervous little giggle.
“Don’t worry, Ocean. If I may call you that? Do you have somewhere to stay? If you follow me, I can get you a room. Do you have bits? It’s all right if you don’t, of course. Here. I’ll give you some bits! No trouble at all.”
Celestia gingerly accepted the small, silvery coins. “I forgot they looked like this. . .” she muttered to herself. The design of bits had changed substantially over the years, and she’d brought all kinds, from way back in 10,000 BNM, when she and Luna were only fillies, to her present day, Year 4, not knowing when she’d be going to.
“Not from here, then? Do you have a different style in your town?”
“Oh, I do. They, um, they’re pretty different. And in answer to your other question, I don’t have somewhere to stay-”
“Follow me, then.” Sapphire Shine darted away and Celestia followed, cantering as fast as she could to keep up with the nimble earth pony.
Seventy eight breathless steps later, the two were standing outside of a large, cedar made door belonging to a building on the outskirts of town. The sign above the door read “Cedar May’s Inn, Welcome!”
Sapphire thrust the door open and ushered Celestia inside. To her surprise, the inn was very nicely furnished and had an old timey sort of appeal, with plush velvet couches lining the walls and blue silk curtains pushed away from the glass windows. Ceramic vases holding delicate violets were on either side of a rose-red carpet leading to the reception desk.
“Gorgeous,” Celestia breathed in awe, hooves tapping softly on the carpet. “It’s so. . . quiet.”
“Oh, you like it!” The voice came from a young mare at the desk with a curled magenta mane and a pale lilac coat. “My name is Raspberry Fizz. I’m so happy you’re here! What’s your name?”
Celestia blinked. “Name. . . oh! Ocean Breeze. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Raspberry Fizz grinned, curls bouncing. “You too! Oh, and Miss Sapphire Shine. How wonderful to see you. Now, then, Ocean, you’ll be wanting a room? I’m sure 099 will be perfect.”
Celestia didn’t need to answer; Raspberry had already grabbed the keys and trotted out from behind the desk. “099. . .” Sapphire murmured to Celestia as they followed Raspberry out of the main room and into a long hallway lined with doors of all shapes and sizes. “I’ve never heard of anypony getting that room, and I know everypony who’s ever stayed here. Raspberry assigns rooms just by looking at the pony. She’s got a talent for this kinda thing and who’ll like which room, who the suites should go to, and even who sleeps in the stables out back.”
As Celestia was beginning a tiny nod, an elderly mare appeared from the shadows. “Raspberry,” the new addition said with a reproachful look, “I see you haven’t introduced our new guest to me yet?”
“Cedar! I thought you were out shopping! I was going to tell you about Ocean Breeze here as soon as you got back.”
“I see. Well, Ocean Breeze, I am Cedar May, and I am the founder and owner of this inn. A pleasure, dear.”
Cedar May had a dark copper coat and a short, snow white mane, which was expertly braided over the top of her head. “A pleasure,” Celestia said, shaking the smooth brown hoof.
“Well, you’d better go find your room, and I had better go out to the Market. I’ll see you later, Ocean Breeze.”
“Of course.” An odd cast of characters, Celestia thought, but very intriguing. I’ll see when I can visit the castle to find the source of Equestria’s troubles after I put my things away.
They walked for a little while longer down the old hall, the room numbers slowly progressing. Raspberry Fizz pointed out the dining room, the kitchen, the laundry room, and the bath rooms (“you do, of course, have the necessary bath things in your room, but the bath room is such a pleasure. Sort of like a spa, actually,” Raspberry had said when pointing out that last one.) “Here we are! Room 099!” Raspberry smiled proudly.
The group went into the room, which was quite large with an indigo/violet color scheme. The canopy bed was in the corner, a cedar wood table beside it, a writing desk with a pad of fine paper and a pen on the left side, and tiny candles all around. “I do hope everything will be all right,” Raspberry said nervously, watching Celestia surveying the room.
“It’s wonderful!” the princess cried, truly meaning it. Her room back home at the palace was beautiful, but it was very ornate and, well, royal. This would be a good change of pace.
“I’m very glad you think so. Is there anything else you’ll need before I go?” Raspberry asked.
“There’s just one thing.” Celestia licked her lips nervously. “Do you know if I could get an audience with Princess Amore tomorrow?”
Raspberry and Sapphire both looked shocked, but they quickly recovered. It was Sapphire who spoke up first. “Yes, um, yes, I think so. Of course you saw the castle on our way here, I’m sure you could find it all right. I’ll meet you there, hmm, tomorrow, at seven thirty? Morning time?”
“That would be perfectly fine.”
Sapphire gave a nod and a quick smile. “I’ll see you, then.”
Celestia nodded and watched the two walk out, backs a little bit hunched. She shrugged, and because traveling through the portal had exhausted her so, lay down. The sheets were oh so comfortable, and the pillow so light that she almost fell asleep right there, except that there was a slight tapping at her window.
“Huh?!” She jumped out of bed and opened the window, where Philomena was glaring at her. The bird cawed, as if to say how could you leave me out there? “I’m sorry. I got caught up in things, and I didn’t realize you weren’t with me,” Celestia apologized. “Are we all right?”
Philomena gave one more dismissive caw and flew into the room, sitting on Celestia’s bedpost. She started to preen her red and gold feathers, eyes fixed firmly on Celestia.
Celestia bent down to stroke the phoenix, closed the window, then climbed once more into the bed. “Good night, Philomena, and goodnight, Crystal Empire,” she whispered to the still room. “Tomorrow. . . the castle awaits, and with it, my answer for Equestria.”
Author's Note
I'm hoping this is okay! Just some pointers:
BNM stands for Before Nightmare Moon
BLR is for Before Luna's Return (as Nightmare Moon, basically before the beginning of the show)
And when I say Year 4, that means 4 years after Luna's return. This story is set before the beginning of season 3, so it hasn't been that long.