An Empire Lost in Time

The Empire Returns

Starswirl's hooves squished in the wet sand as he walked along the northern shore. Waves lapped against his hooves as the tide gently kissed the beach. All seemed right with the world, and it felt at peace. He had been on a steady journey from the city the modern crown called Vanhoover to a small fishing village called Tall Tale. As he walked along, leaving cloven hoofprints in the sand, the ground began to rumble. The waves became more erratic as they slid away from shore. Starswirl felt an odd energy in the air making his horn ache.

“By Celestia, whatever could this be?!”

A bright light shone from below the waves, growing ever brighter as a powerful force parted the water. The tip of a marble tower peeked out from the water, causing a multitude of waterspouts to rise from the surface. A voice [full of power and authority] rang out over the land. Starswirl recognised the song, he watched on with concerned fear as more marble spires broke through the erratic waves. Seeing it now, Starswirl prepared his horn for a long-distance teleport.

“I must warn the princesses, lest the end come sooner than we imagined.”

***

Starswirl's horn charge died down as he reached his destination. Opening his eyes, he looked at his surroundings. He stood outside the doors to the Canterlot Castle throne room. Looking to the guards, he said, “I have urgent business. I must speak to the princesses! Please let me through.” The guards crossed their spears in distress, since they did not know who Starswirl was.

With the doors opening, the guards on Starswirl's side of the door stopped and looked to their princesses with questioning eyes. “Guards, that unicorn is our good friend. Please let him in; we have been expecting him,” Celestia said with a warm smile.

The guards pulled back their spears and motioned for Starswirl to enter the throne room. Starswirl, who was heated due to the urgency, raced up to the thrones, desperation filling his features. Out of breath, he gasped for air for a moment before speaking, “Our terrible and ancient foe has risen from the waves! I have heard the singing of their emperor and seen the spires of their towers.”

Both princesses looked to one another, it was Luna who had the most reserved look upon her muzzle. Celestia, on the other hoof, had a look of great worry, seeming to understanding the meaning of his words.

Luna spoke up, cutting her sister off before she spoke. “Are you sure of this, Starswirl?”

“As sure as the day I saw it last, and heard that horrific melody. We must ready our forces at once!”

“No, I believe we need to gather more knowledge first. Let us send diplomats and not jump headlong into a battle that could be avoided,” Luna spoke out, which made Celestia and Starswirl pause in thought.

“Normally I would agree, Sister, but shouldn't we at least order the guard to come to arms on the off chance that you could be wrong?” Celestia asked, implying that she did not entirely trust her younger sister’s judgment.

“I trust you as monarchs whom I have taught in the past. While I agree with Celestia, my recent lessons with her dear pupil Princess Twilight Sparkle have allowed me to see the wisdom of Luna’s plan. I believe diplomacy should be our first stepping stone in greeting the empire. But I don’t think we should ignore Celestia’s concern--she could be right, and it would be wise to prepare ahead of time,” Starswirl said.

The sisters looked to each other, embarrassed to be caught arguing by their oldest friend.

“Sister, we should send for Twilight, Cadence and Shining Armor before we make our final decision,” Luna spoke up, breaking the uncomfortable but momentary silence.

“Yes, they should be part of this decision,” Celestia said. She turned to a nearby guard. “Send word to Twilight, as well as Cadence and Shining Armor, to come to Canterlot post haste.”

Not much later in Ponyville Castle, Spike began gagging. Twilight looked to him, not expecting a letter from Celestia. She too had felt the magical disturbance and felt strange quakes over the past few hours. Concern adorned her features as Spike finished burping up the official letter. Within green flames, a scroll appeared, bound by Celestia’s seal.

Twilight unrolled the scroll without delay. Twilight, come at once to Canterlot, and bring your friends, including Starlight Glimmer. There are urgent matters we must attend to; it is important that you come posthaste. Princess Celestia

“Spike! We’ll need to get everypony and head to Canterlot! The fate of Equestria hangs in the balance!” Twilight yelled to the purple dragon.

***

A few hours later, the group of ponies and one dragon stepped off the train and were rushing into Canterlot Castle. The guards at the great doors to the throne room barely had time to open them before Twilight barged past, spewing her newest freakout about Celestia's letter.

“Princesses! What’s going on? Are the changelings invading, has Tirek returned, or Sombra, or, or, or has Discord gone back to his old ways?”

Celestia and Luna facehoofed for a second before shaking their heads and Luna saying, “Sister, I told you not to make it sound so dire.”

“Hmf, I didn't, sister; I tried to make it urgent without arousing panic. It's not my fault Twilight takes things out of proportion,” Celestia argued back, not bothering to look at the Princess of Friendship; Twilight’s eye was twitching, and she had a messy mane and manic grin on her muzzle.

“You were sayin’, yer majesties?” Applejack said after clearing her throat. Celestia and Luna looked at each other and blinked.

“I can ensure you those are not the reasons, Twilight; it is the matter of the Atlantean Empire,” Celestia said, regaining her royal composure. “While we do intend to discuss this with you, we must wait still for Cadence and your brother.”

“WHAT!” Pinkie said in outburst.

“But…” Luna attempted to say, but Pinkie interrupted, throwing up a hoof.

“Wait wait!” Pinkie proceeded to pull a steaming hot cup of tea from her mane and took a drink, then spitting it out almost as quickly as she gulped it down. “THE ATLANTEAN EMPIRE!”

“Wait, I thought the Atlanteans destroyed themselves over a thousand years ago?” Starlight asked, ignoring Pinkie Pie’s outburst.

“Indeed, Starlight, we thought so as well. But it seems that they are far from it, considering what Starswirl has told us thus far,” Luna said, answering her.

“Wait, what the hay is this Atlantean Empire?” Rainbow Dash said, butting into the conversation.

Twilight groaned at Rainbow Dash’s ignorance before answering. “It is an ancient empire ruled by sirens that once tried to conquer Equestria.”

“Oh.”

“But darling, surely there was a reason for this aggression, and no doubt it was a misunderstanding. Nevertheless we should at least try to make contact,” Rarity spoke up.

“Yes, as per Luna’s suggestion, this is what we intend to do first; however, I believe it is necessary to talk this over with Cadence and Shining Armor before we go forward with any course of action. In the meantime, let's get you settled in for the night, as they won't arrive until tomorrow.”

***

The crystal train pulled into Canterlot Station with a screeching halt. Guards lined the door as they exited first to provide protection from onlookers. Cadence and Shining Armor stepped off the train. They then made their way to the castle to meet with the princesses.

Cadence entered in a calm manner as always. Shining seemed calm but was dressed in full armor with his helm at his side aloft in his magic. Cadence curtsied before the twin crowns and greeted them with a seriousness in her tone underlined with happy notes at seeing her aunts again. “Greetings Luna, Celestia. While I’d love to chat, from your letter I’m sure we have much more pressing matters to attend to.”

“Yes, let us join Twilight and her friends in the meeting room.”

***

The doors opened to the meeting room, Cadence, Celestia, Luna and Shining Armor entered. Twilight, who was looking toward the door, jumped up to greet her sister-in-law in their traditional way.

“Sunshine, Sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” Both mares laughed before resolving themselves to the more serious aspect of the situation at hoof.

“Twilight, dear, would you like to begin by telling everyone about your encounter with the sirens, please?” Celestia said while passing out tea to everypony present. The group included herself, Luna, Twilight, Cadence, Shining Armor, Starswirl, Starlight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Spike.

“Well, from what I know from when I encountered them, they are cunning and will use any means to achieve their goals. As the name suggests, they would sing to create chaos and disharmony. Starswirl would know better, seeing as he and the Pillars faced them many years ago. When we faced them in the other world, we broke their crystals, and as far as I can tell from Sunset they have not been seen since. So I would suggest we ready our forces and not allow them to gain sway over anypony.”

“Wait, so we are just going to assume the worst and not even try to be diplomatic?” Starlight interjected.

“My thoughts as well, Starlight,” Luna said.

Shining Armor was in deep thought for a moment before he spoke up. “It would be best to avoid conflict, but do we need to make it clear we will fight if necessary?” he said before turning to Celestia.

“It is my intention to increase the guard; however, with Luna’s suggestion it would be foalish to seem as if we plan to attack first.”

“Thank you, sister. It seems we have all come to an agreement, then. Should we make a royal decree announcing the increase in guards but not hostilities?”

Alerting the guard of their decision, Celestia sent word to the palace staff asking them to all join in the throne room for the announcement to the ponies of Canterlot.

“Welcome, my little ponies. As I am sure you are aware, a new civilization has appeared in the North Luna ocean off the costs of Vanhoover and Tall Tale; do not be alarmed. For Luna and I, with the support of the Princess of Friendship and the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony as well as the Crystal Empire, have come to an agreement to increase guards but send a diplomat to gauge the new land. Until such time, all relations between them and us will be diplomatic. You need not worry. That is all.”

A guard moved carefully through the crowd of ponies until he came to stand by the princesses, leaning over to whisper to Luna, “Princess, there is a strange unicorn at the gate who claims to have been sent by… um, some place called the Atlantean Empire as a messenger. He wishes an audience with you and Princess Celestia. Should we allow him passage?”

Luna quickly got the attention of her sister, while the guard waited for them to converse. “Sister, a messenger from the empire claims to be at the gates and seeks an audience with us.”

***

All in the room were silent as a unicorn stallion dressed in fine silk was led to the rulers of Equestria, the royal guards that escorted watching him closely. The unicorn didn’t bow as he neared Celestia. “Greetings, Queen Celestia. I am Golden Valor, emissary to the empire. I come with word from my lord, His Majesty Primarch Sovereign, Emperor of Atlantis and the Lemurian territories, Defender of the Empire, Master of the Seas, and Lord to Thestrals.”

“I beg your pardon, but I am Princess Celestia. I, along with my sister, rule Equestria. What is it you require of us?”

The oddly slender and tall unicorn simply smiled. “My lord wishes to offer the olive branch, seeing no need to fight wars long past.”