The secrets of the past in Equestria? hmph, hardly worth mentioning them unless your going on some 'We're going to save Equus from a really old baddie!' type of quest...Shit you are aren't you? Okay fine, but information costs you, not by me personally, but it has it's own prices for the living and sometimes even the dead. Here's what I know.

Twilight Sparkle and her friends had just entered Princess Celestia's private study, Rainbow already looking bored as she flapped her wings to keep off the ground. Applejack and Pinkie Pie had been looking through the private selection of books with mild curiosity, Pinkie Pie was in high hopes she would find a book about parties that might have happened three thousand years ago. While Fluttershy and Rarity did both, helping Twilight find the book they needed and looking for books that might have some insight to either animals of the past or fashion of the past. Twilight was looking in a highly ordered fashion, growing agitated at the apparent chaos the books had been placed in.

A long time was spent searching, Celestia had excused herself to lower the sun and to make way for her sisters moon. Leaving the others to search for themselves, and after awhile Twilight found what they were looking for. She spoke up, "Hey! I found it you guys!" the others for the most part just let out relived sighs, they had been searching for the better part of thirty minutes now. Returning to her friends and placing the book on one of the less crowded tables of her mentors private study, she opened it up, the book it self was impressive. Several marks were shown throughout the book, Celestia had apparently previously had the book for her own reasons, the marks were old and faded but still held significance in the eyes of the gathered friends. Twilight spoke aloud so that the others wouldn't have to crane their necks so much to see what the book held. She was reading the first paragraph of a section titled Vital Races in the Guardians of Equus

She began to read. "It is often thought that ponies held the singularly most important role in the event that both nearly destroyed Equus, and saved it. This however is not true, while they did play an important role nothing would have been accomplished alone by the Ponies of Equestria. It would take the four most versatile, most strong and most magically adept races to set the events in motion. This is important information because many believe that there is only one Guardian, the sole savior of Equus, when as a matter of fact there were four. Nobody is exactly sure who built the Elder Tomb, but it is known that holy symbols from all races can be found inscribed in the stone and foundation of the building.

The sun and moon, and the crest of Faust herself can be found around the ponies own Guardian, meanwhile the Dragons own Arch of the Dawn can be found, along side other holy symbols from their lands seemingly placed with intent and great craftsmanship. The Griffins own symbols can be found as well, such as the Feathers of Life and the symbol of rebirth."

She paused to take a breath before continuing. "Most interesting though, is the Changeling guardian, who is adorned in all manner of holy symbols, regardless of race affiliation, these symbols have all been noted to resemble the symbols that represent the highest sense of purity. Faust's crest, Arch of the Dawn, the Feathers of Life, and the changelings own symbol, The Queen of Life are all present on the changelings tomb, for unknown reason. What is known however, is that the hive this changeling came from was quickly lost and was never seen again. This however has led many to believe that they exist somewhere beneath the site, now commonly referred to as The Elder Sentinel Tomb. - Changeling Acolyte, Sundread" She furrowed her brow as she looked up and around to her friends. They all wore expressions of concern and slight interest. Rarity spoke up, attempting to lighten the somewhat somber mood that slowly settled over the group.

"Well, I for one find this all very interesting, I have never heard of these symbols so perhaps I could fashion them into our dresses or perhaps incorporate some sort of design into my dresses, and perhaps sell them here in Canterlot." Rainbow Dash snorted softly and smiled. "Always got your job on the brain eh Rares? You should be more worried about how much more awesome these guys could be! Well, you guys, not me. I'm the fastest flier in all of Equestria after all." She finished and ran a hand through her hair grinning confidently.

Twilight closed the book and stared off into space for a few moments before Applejacks voice broke her from her thoughts. "Y'all alright there sugar cube?" She asked with a hint of concern in her expression and voice. Twilight nodded softly and gave a small smile. "Of course I am! Just...thinking is all, y'know? All of this new information combined with what we were told by Celestia at the meeting? It makes me concerned AJ, I won't lie." She said, her smile faltering to a more thought filled frown. She took a deep breath and yawned softly, smirking softly. "Damned biological needs..." she said quietly to herself as she stood, holding the book close to her side as the group left the study behind, all of them making their way to separate suites in the same long hallway, wishing each other goodnight and turning in for the night.

Twilight closed the door to her room and walked to her bed, the concern and unsettling feeling returning as she thought once more to her mentors words and the new information, as she set the book next to her on the night stand. She groaned softly to herself allowing a soft groan. "Fucking shit Celestia, what are we being sent into this time? Snoring Dragons, Nightmare Moon, Changelings, and Discord..." She sighed softly. "How many more times do we have to help you with shit your supposed to take care of?" Casting off the misguided feelings she stripped into her night ware and slid into the bed, laying back to sleep.

The cool equestrian night breeze blew across the quiet country, lights from afar giving off the gentle glow of light radiation. Few were awake at this hour, the tiring and eventful day or uneventful day had made citizens all across Equestria tired, but some slept in the day for the more nocturnal parts of the jobs they worked. So it would stand to reason that no one knew of the silent black forms that flew through the air, disturbing its gentle peace. The silent black forms were of a different color in the day as to avoid detection, but they would gather information, wait for the opportune moment when no one would be needing them and then leave, under a guise of the everyday pegasus or in the sleek black forms that would gently reflect the night time moon. The black forms that flew from Canterlot that night would set in motion a slow beast. A beast so powerful and mighty that it was feared by all but practiced by all, for it was the only way to prepare for peace.

The beast had different masters through out time, each with a single definite variable; someone would think they could use the beast to capture or kill or expand. The beast held no loyalties, no alliances but to it's self and to the end of any master not strong enough to control it.

The black forms of the equestrian night came from different places, some the desert, others the large forests of Equus, some from the barren wastes known as the Badlands. Others came from distant lands, mountainous regions that scarred the earth they rose up from, or snow barren wastes of the Far North, or perhaps they came from the most plentiful and most expansive biome of all; the ocean. All of them had one single mission: Alert their queens that something big was happening in Equestria, alert them that not only a Frostbitten praetorian guard had shown up, but one of Chrysalis's own daughters had shown up as well. And both had been seen talking with persons of high standing interest.

The lunar diarchs room housed three individuals, two currently asleep and the third standing guard over them. It had been a few hours since the praetorian and love-carrier conversed with their queen, the praetorian never having slept that night, gently roused the love-carrier, pulling her from the gentle slumber she had been in.

"Come on love-carrier, I can't be failing the queen because you were too tired to heal one of her prisoners." Sixty-four said through the hive mind, gently poking the snoring love-carrier.

Arachne rose slowly but surely, groaning and mumbling about not caring about the prisoners. "Yes, well, perhaps the queen wouldn't mind allowing one of them to perish for my sake. And my sleep." She grumbled softly under her breath as they walked toward the dungeon. The lunar guards casting the occasional look to the pair before returning to keeping their eyes on whatever it was they were guarding before hand.

Nodding to the guards outside of the dungeon, the two changelings entered, some of the cells before were now vacant, the inhabitants having been handed their sentence and were now likely serving at some prison camp. Sixty-four guided them to the holding cell of the changeling huntress, who was now oddly quiet. Upon entering the chamber they found the huntress just as Sixty-four had left her, strung up with the pool of blood around her, now however, it was more of a shrunken pool of hardened ichor. Arachne let out an irritated sigh and moved forward. "Really Sixty-four, would it kill you to not mortally endanger other changelings? You've only made my job that much harder." Moving to the back of the changeling huntress, Arachne brought up her hands, the gentle pink aura highlighting several long and intricate and complex patterns that were connected to the vital love organs.

The work was quick, and didn't wake the huntress from her supposed slumber. Arachne brought her hands down around the legs of the huntress. The slowly mending carapace fixed itself in odd angles, nothing like what it was supposed to look like but it would allow her to walk somewhat if need be. Arachne also took the liberty of healing what tissue she could on the torso of the huntress, restoring the chunks of flesh Luna had taken out of her before, this however provoked a few low groans of pain from the huntress. Stepping back Arachne looked over the work. "While I would like to engage in a more proper healing than this, the Queens orders come first. Just try not to put her any closer to death than she already was, if you hadn't woken me I doubt she would have lived to see Celestia's sun." Scoffing softly she turned to Sixty-four. "Come, let's try to get some more sleep before the dawn comes, and I'm putting her under love-carriers protection for now, if you keep going at her before she can rest she'll die." Sixty-four frowned but nodded, leading them back to the entrance and then back to the lunar diarchs room, before they both turned in for night, not without difficulty of course, Sixty-four needed some encouraging that their queen would be fine if he slept for awhile.

The early morning light of Celestia's sun pierced the partially cloudy skies, all too well striking the slumbering praetorians face. Sixty-four however remained snoring, hunched over to the side on the floor. Arachne and Princess Luna had already been up and about for the day, it was about ten in the morning when the door opened, a series of foot steps playing as Rarity, Luna, Arachne, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight moved toward the slumbering changeling, each of them having something to hold, Rarity held make-up, Arachne held water soluble paint, Luna holding some more mare oriented items, Twilight and Rainbow Dash holding a dress. All of them holding back snickers and giggles of amusement. The other girls hanging back who all also wore amused smiles and smirks. The group descended upon the sleeping changeling, all of them tumbling back as green fire went up, revealing nothing but air. A thud played behind them and they all turned quickly, a proud smiling changeling standing before them, holding all of them in a green field. "A ppraeetorriaann...alwaayysss expecctsss..." Sixty-four hissed softly at the four, removing the items from them all and grinning as he hissed back before letting them go. "Bee warryy..." And with that he left in a flash of green fire, along with the items. The four shared nervous looks, all except Luna of course, she wore an amused smile. "Oh he's good, let this queen see how well he truely knows how to evade us." The three ponies around her looked at her with questioning looks, Arachne wore a smile that hid her concern far too well. With the praetorian guard gone, they all moved out of the room, Arachne speaking up as the group moved to the dining hall. "My queen, while Sixty-four and I were in the holding cells, I healed the female changeling Hunter, I request that she be left to heal and that Sixty-four, or anyone for that matter, be restricted to questions only. She was far too injured for any further...methods of encouragement. My queen." She finished as they reached the grand doors, moving through them to see Celestia with a tired look on her face as she sipped a pitch black coffee.

Luna ushered everyone to take a seat and they all obliged her, Luna sitting next to her sister before answering Arachne, "Well yes, I suppose I can allow that. We can't have them dying in our care before we get the chance to extract what they know, or maybe even perhaps convert them. Though, i'm not sure that can be an option anymore, if what you say is true."
Arachne nodded and smiled as everyone had plates deposited before them.

Arachne spoke up again. "My queen, if I may make a suggestion?" Luna nodded and she continued "I would like Sixty-four to come with us for protection my queen." Luna raised an eyebrow and Twilight quickly spoke up in agreement. "I think that would be the smartest option Princess Luna, while we were going through the book last night we found a passage written by a Changeling acolyte by the name of Sundread. I would feel much safer with your praetorian there with us down in the Elder Sentinel tomb."

Luna looked between the two and then furrowed her brow in thought, a few moments passing before she spoke. "Arachne...Twilight...What your asking of me is a very hard decision to make. Your asking me, a duel ruler, in both the changeling aspect and the pony aspect, to leave herself unguarded without her most powerful warrior guard to help protect her when she could need it the most. You understand this correct? My hive is only two and a hybrid queen strong." Luna finished and looked at the two mares with a raised eyebrow.

Arachne spoke before Twilight could, "Yes, we understand that your majesty, but with all due respect bringing Sixty-four along could be both beneficial to us and the hive, my queen. If we do find what we are looking for down in the tomb, then it will stand to reason that unforeseen dangers lurk in waiting. With your curing of the process of becoming a changeling queen it would allow us to remain neutral and double unto Equestria's own defense force. Possibly even triple."

Luna was quiet for a moment before sighing softly. "Very well, you may take him. But Arachne?" Arachne looked to Luna and nodded. "If you come back alone, without my praetorian, cure or not, I will not hesitate to establish a punishment." Arachne nodded gently and smiled softly. "Of course my queen. I would expect nothing less."

The rest of the day was spent gathering supplies, and making preparation's for the adventure to come, the girls being given light armor that could be worn under their clothes, and at least one dagger each. Sixty-four spent the day training and sharpening his skills for battle yet to come. The two sisters spent the day as they normally would, ruling both day and night court respectively, and soon the day for adventure would come all too soon.

Author's Note

Okay everyone, lets talk for a moment. I will not be able to update this story for at least the next two weeks as I am coming to the closing of the school year and all sorts of major grades are due. I will however promise that the next two chapters will both be over 10k words long to make up for the lost time. Perhaps all updates will be kept to monthly or on a bi-weekly basis but I intend to make every update I can 10k longer or more. But on the bright side for waiting we will FINALLY be getting into the tomb and seeing what this hubbub of changelings and missing hives is all about. I'm also sorry if the tone or the pacing of the last part seemed rushed, but i've had this sitting here for almost three weeks with no time to work on it and I felt like just getting this one out of the way and to you patient boys and girls. Lastly, I want to thank those of you who comment, you are a large driving factor of the story with feed back. Ratings are a good way to also let me know if i can do better or if you think the story is good overall. And a even bigger shout out to those who have the story fav'd it is very encouraging to see that I've done a good enough job for you to want to keep up with the story. Thanks a ton everyone, and I hope you all have wonderful days/evenings/nights. Goodnight.