The multicolor assembly of ponies traveled downstairs until they reached the first floor of the castle.

They followed Celestia and Luna through the waiting parlor, into a hallway comprised of sunlit arches, and outside into a courtyard. This was the Royal Garden, a half-acre full of trees, foliage, flowers and birds.

Three sides of this garden were walled in by the castle. The fourth side was a sheer cliff, the edge of the mountain. A sturdy fence of iron bars ran along the precipice, and view was breathtaking.

A heavy oak and iron door was set into the South wall of the castle where it met the fence. This was unlocked, revealing a set of stairs down. They all began the descent, but were missing a pony.

Fluttershy was still wandering around in the garden. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, flew over to her, and coerced her back to the group.

The gathering followed the stairs around several landings until they arrived in the castle basement. It was an eerie and ancient place, and all were quiet and stern. All except for Pinkie Pie, who bounded down the stairs like a gazelle.

In contrast with the garish luxury above, this lower level was purely functional. The entire basement was comprised of stone arches which helped support the castle. At the base of the stairs, barrels of wine were stacked neatly in several of these arches.

They continued on. Overhead could be seen the metal pipes of a plumbing system which functioned through the forces of gravity and magic. Around them now were bins full of fresh hay and wooden crates marked with drawing of vegetables.

Water dripped from somewhere, cobwebs covered the dusty arches, and the light from torches of magic blue fire became less frequent.

Luna spoke, her lilting voice echoing in the darkness, “Those who are capable of light spells, please step to the fore.”

Skyblazer and Maud stepped to the front. Sky spoke up, “Rarity? Cobalt? Don't you guys have plenty of magic?”

Rarity answered first, in her regal tone of voice, “While I have studied it, I do not seem capable of using light spells.”

Cobalt then said that she could only manage a few seconds of light at a time.

Princesses Celestia and Luna sent a blinding beam of illumination from their horns like a flashlight. Maud's earring glowed, she closed her eyes in focus, and silvery magic energy began to gather in front of her. A ray of dim but steady light hovered nearby her now, lighting the way ahead and glittering off of dust particles.

Skyblazer's amulet began to glow with just enough light to read by, and this golden magic flowed down towards his front right leg. A bracelet here absorbed the energy, and began to glow golden. It sent yet another bright, focused beam of light into the dark basement ahead.

The group continued now through the arches as the weird shadows of them twisted past. Sky's light was erratic as he walked, and so he flew instead to keep it steady.

Two more innate magics took place, neither of them needing any conscious thought or focus from Sky to use: one allowed him to hover in slow flight, and the other let him fly without making a breeze.

Princess Celestia spoke now, “This storage cellar is a place between floors. Stairs within the castle bypass it, and continue to the natural caverns beneath the castle.”

The space here was empty, simply a never-ending succession of support arches, metal pipes, and cold dirt floor. Rats squeaked and scurried.

Fluttershy seemed terrified. Rainbow noticed, walked over, and placed a wing over her to console her.

The magic beams of light suddenly revealed a structure ahead. It was a low stone building which was precisely built to fit under several arches. A plain wooden door led in, which creaked as it opened.

Celestia hit a switch, and electric lights came on. The magic illumination was ceased.

This stone building with a dirt floor was full of stone shelves which held crystal orbs.

Rarity spoke out loud what they all were thinking, “This is the Hall of Memories? Wouldn't you say Hovel of Memories is more accurate?”

Luna remarked, “The intention was to keep this place hidden in plain sight in the most mundane fashion possible. However, it was still breached. Now we know by whom it was, but not how Sombra managed to find the memories.”

While most of the party was interested in the crystal balls which glowed slightly, Maud stood off to the side admiring the lighting. She spoke to Celestia,

“The lights are finely crafted.”

Celestia replied, “Many years of delicate spellcraft and effort, Maud. Magic and devices do not wish to cooperate.”

Maud nodded, and said, “May I assume your sister and you also developed the magic technology used by major cities? Without it, pony-kind would not have come so far.”

“Yes, but inventing is not a glamorous and flashy thing. It gets ignored and taken for granted by most. Now then Maud, we have much grander ambitions here than the lights.”

They joined the others at the center of the hall. One book and several orbs, all of them covered in red crystals, were placed on the ground here.

Celestia's horn glimmered with yellow magic and furniture popped into existence for them to sit on. These chairs and cushions faced a wooden frame with a white sheet stretched across it. A stone pedestal with a concave surface sat in front of this frame.

Skyblazer, Cobalt and Maud stepped up now. At first, it seemed that nothing would happen. They moved in closer until they were almost leaning on each other.

Cobalt's ring started to glow in a dark blue. Maud's earring glimmered silver. The necklace of Sky was full of a golden glow. Their eyes glowed white. All three colors of magic now arced from the Elements of Conflict, and struck the objects.

The red crystals were all shattered into dust by the tricolor burst of magic. One orb was badly cracked, but the other items were fine. The magic arc subsided, and the three shook their heads and looked at the results as their eyes stopped glowing.

Luna stepped over to read the runes inscribed on the cracked orb.

She spoke, “This memory is titled, 'The Realization of Longevity'. It is shattered now and we cannot access it. Let us review the other two.”

Her horn glowed purple as she lifted a transparent orb onto the pedestal. This orb was full of swirling mist with a faint blue glow.

Luna began a chant in Old Ponish, and the glow of the orb intensified. While she was busy with this, Celestia spoke,

“This corrupted memory is labeled, 'Possible object in the void'. Unlike the other two, this one is very recent.”

Luna took a step back as her horn began to glow. A deep purple spell was fired off at the orb, and the crystal ball began to levitate above the pedestal.

The orb sent a beam of light at the sheet, displaying a moving image.

“Oh!” exclaimed Skyblazer, “It's just like that new invention, um... an image projector.”

Celestia nodded and spoke, “Indeed, although it functions more like a spell of memory projection. Observe.”

The projected image from the memory orb now expanded beyond the screen. Parts of the image were displayed on the ground now, and the entire view became fully three-dimensional.

The holographic magic was so realistic that the ponies sitting near it moved back a ways in fright. The scene seemed to be a jagged canyon at night. The projection was from the perspective of a flying creature, and the scenery zoomed towards them shakily.

Down below, within this canyon, could be seen a light. The memory began descending with great speed towards this light. Suddenly, the entire projection began to flicker and fill with static.

The closer they got to this light source, the worse the static became. They landed right next to it, and the screen was covered in crackling static and blurred spots. Through the haze could be seen the vague outline of some kind of structure. The memory faded out entirely to black. The crystal orb was removed, and placed on the dirt floor.

Luna used telekinesis to heft the book over to her, and opened it. She scanned the pages for a while, shook her head, and closed it.

After a pause, she spoke, “The book is another dead end. The pages have been scrubbed clean of text by some manner of spellcraft.”

“Let me see that,” Celestia asked. She took the book, and her horn glimmered with yellow magic. She passed the beam over the pages, and nothing happened. She spoke,

“It is not invisible. The text is truly gone.”

“Well,” began Luna, “we may as well review the final item. Thus far we have been left with more questions than answers.”

The last memory orb was placed onto the pedestal. This one was covered in dust, the glass dark and hazy from sheer age. The inscription was, “Bestowment of Alternate Forms”.

Celestia spoke, “This orb was near the very back with our earliest memories. It is from four thousand years ago, when we both had lived for our first millennium.”

Luna's pegasi magic made a slight breeze as she dusted off the relic. Then, she used an ancient magic incantation to activate it like the one before.

In contrast to the corrupted memory of the Void, this memory was in perfect focus and in daylight. The projected view seemed so real, it was like like looking down on the scene from a ledge.

A circle of stone pillars, all covered in runes, sat in a grassy field. Ponies were gathered here, talking in a language unknown to the observers.

Princess Luna walked over to the pedestal, fired a spell into the crystal orb, and returned to her seat. She said, “This language predates Old Ponish. Even Celestia and I do not recall it. My spell should make it more easily understood.”

The memory continued, now in modern Ponish with some archaic speech and broken fragments it could not translate. As old as this memory was, the orb had some corruption even with magic to preserve it.

An armored unicorn leaning on a pillar spoke, “Your majesty, I concede that we must do something to dispose of the more dangerous beasties, but what you propose is madness.”

He spoke to two ponies who stood on a stone stage above the rest.

These were a younger Celestia and Luna.

Skyblazer looked up from the memory and compared them to the present day ones. The princesses in the present day seemed so exhausted and ragged compared with their past selves, but also more composed and calmer.

Something was very wrong about the memory, but Sky couldn't quite place it.

Cobalt walked up to the edge of the scene, which looked down over the memory. She spoke, “Princess Celestia is a pegasus, and Luna is a unicorn!”

They all continued watching the memory, very interested now. Pinkie Pie had, somehow, acquired a bowl of popcorn. The modern day Luna, sitting next to her, rolled her eyes and had some of it.

In the memory the past Luna spoke to the crowd, “What harm may any beings pose to us once placed within the realm of dreams?”

The armored unicorn replied, “Suppose thou art not the only creature who can make a way out from it?”

“Then I will keep guard. It is clear by now that my sister and I cannot die. Perhaps this condition can be a blessing rather than a curse, perhaps I can maintain the dream world.”

Her sister now sat on the stone stage, and spoke to the audience, “We seek to unify the territories, and one day, perhaps create unity among races beyond ponies.”

“Madness!” shouted an ancient, wrinkly mare who wore an apron and bonnet. She continued, “Forsooth, the lords of Trottingham even now wage war upon the savages of the middle pastureland.”

Celestia seemed irked. She answered this with an indignant shout, “We shall not have peace so long as any fellow pony is declared a savage!”

“Bah!” exclaimed the old mare, “Thy ponies of the pastureland live akin to feral creatures! They eat only of grass, sleep only in fields. Nor do they procure clothing nor tools of any manner.”

Celestia continued, “Can you not see a day wherein all may pursue such a life as they wish? Let us not condemn others!”

“Silence!” yelled Luna, as she sent bursts of blinding light into the air. Several ponies in the crowd bolted for the hills.

Luna spoke, “Within our longevity we have endured great injustice and hardship. We believe it is indeed possible and there shall come a day when pony-kind stands united. First, we must ensure that monsters pose no threat to our subjects.”

A unicorn stepped forward from the crowd. She had pink fur and a cloak, and addressed the two on the stage in a raspy, harsh voice, “Ye dare call thyself leader of pony kind, when not a one of the lords accepts thine authority? I shall strike ye down where ye stand for such insolence!”

A sudden blast of magic from Luna struck this unicorn, who went flying back into a stone pillar, and crumpled to the ground.

“Are there any further objections?” asked Luna. The crowd was silent.

Luna stepped over to the battered unicorn, who was was gasping for breath in ragged wheezes. Purple light sparked from Luna's horn, and encompassed the fallen unicorn. Wounds began to heal and broken bones began to mend, and the unicorn began to scream in pain and agony.

She was healed well enough to stand up and walk. Luna glared at her and stepped back to the stage.

Celestia spoke, “Observe, between us we have the power and the knowledge to rule as protectors and leaders! I, Celestia, declare that those who side with us may one day know a time of peace and freedom.”

Luna spoke, “I, Luna, solemnly swear to bring oblivion to any monster or pony who stands against the kingdom.”

“Those who are for us and wish to witness the truth of our words, follow us into the realm of dreams! Those who seek the continued war and disparity among pony kind, leave our presence now!”

Many left. Some stayed. A number of grim, armored ponies gathered from the shadows, surrounding the company. Luna jumped from the stage, and walked through the pillars as runes began to glow.

The air at the end of the pillars began to seethe and ripple and glow purple. It made a powerful rending noise as the very sky was split in twain. Several more ponies ran off. Notably, the aggressive unicorn from before followed along with a limp to her gait and an angry scowl on her face.

The gathering, lead by Luna and Celestia, walked into the world of dreams, and left reality behind.

The memory began to fade and fill with static. It changed, revealing a primitive settlement. Pennants fluttered in the breeze all around this encampment, with symbols of the sun and moon on them.

It was a grassy, windswept moor at night. The full moon shone out over it. A few ponies slept in huts built of sod blocks and thatch. Most of the ponies slept outside in the fields.

The largest structure here was a fortress built of logs and stone blocks at the center of the camp. It had a crude iron gate barring access. It did not have glass, as it wasn't invented yet. Instead, the window openings were covered with wooden shutters.

To the fore of this structure, the air began to ripple and simmer and tear apart. From this portal stepped the group of ponies from before. They all seemed shaken and frightened beyond words.

Celestia and Luna were the last to leave. They sat before the others, backs to the portal, and began a head count.

“We are missing a pony,” observed Luna, “Where is Riverstone?”

A shout came from the portal, “Help! Help me, dammit!”

They all turned back towards it. The armored unicorn who had first spoken to them was engaged in battle with a monster.

The monster defied easy description. It seemed to be a mass of shadow and teeth and claws, with a vague and fuzzy outline that was confusing to look at. The shape seemed to change between a wolf, a dragon, and amorphous blobs of darkness.

Celestia had drawn a polished sword which glittered in the moonlight, and she prepared to charge into the portal.

Luna stopped her, saying, “This is a wight. Where many dream world creatures mimic real monsters, this does not. It is more the very concept or image of what a monster may be, and cannot be harmed by blade. Stay back, this is my burden to bear, for so I have sworn it to be! By my honor!”

Luna galloped into the dream world, her horn glowing. Another figure broke through the crowd and took off in a running jump behind her as the portal began to close.

It was the cloaked unicorn who had tried to unseat Luna. She spoke in a pained growl as she winced from pain in an injured leg, “Thou hast magic enough to wedge open the heavens! Use it, for I have magic at my own command. I shall engage the wight in battle.”

Luna glared at her, and almost objected, but nodded. She focused her purple magic on keeping the protesting portal opened, bracing with her back legs staggered against the weight of it.

The other unicorn, who had light pink fur with streaks of white, sent pink beams of magic from her horn. These were not aimed at the wight, but rather the air nearby it.

Luna very nearly dropped her hold on the portal in shock.

Several small, white lights appeared from the darkness. As they drew near, they began to fluctuate and take the form of pegasi. Transparent and barely visible, they were bound together by chains which glowed pink.

By now, Riverstone was fighting a losing battle. His magic was too weak and his will fading away from him in the terror of the wight's grip. His fur had crimson rivulets of blood where the jagged claws and teeth had lashed out, sinking into his flesh, pulling him further back into the dream world.

The ghosts seemed a thing too ethereal to pose a threat. They flew slowly with flaps of transparent wings through which spindly bone structures could be seen.

They hovered around the wight and held the chains with their mouths. Hooks on the end of each chain were thrown at the wight, and managed to snag the incorporeal body of the creature.

Luna yelled at Riverstone in a magically amplified growl, “Go! Get out of here, seek thy sanctuary while ye may!”

Riverstone ran, and tripped over the fast closing portal. He slid into reality on his side, got up shakily, and took a few steps back.

Luna managed to keep the portal from shrinking any further. Her entire body was shaking, sweat pouring off of her, as she huffed and snorted through the pain and effort.

Behind her, the wight was pulling against the chains, drawing close to her.

The pink unicorn brought two more figures close enough to be seen. Luna let out a ragged gasp. They were skeletons—walking, living skeletons! What in Tartarus was this foul magick?

One was a skeletal pony, the other some manner of large felid, perhaps a manticore. Both glowed with a pink energy exuding from their bones. Both approached the wight.

The strange unicorn was sweating and breathing hard as well. Her magic waned and flickered, but she brought it to full power yet again with a yell. The two skeletons advanced on the wight as the ghosts yanked it back with the chains.

The skeletal creatures charged into the wight, glowed a hot pink, and exploded into shards of arcane bone. The ghosts and wight were destroyed, fading away in wispy hissing shadow. Bones clattered to the ground. The noise of the explosion caught Luna by surprise, and she lost control of her magic for several seconds.

That was all it took. Through the fast-closing portal they saw Celestia running forth and shouting, “No! Sister! Focus Luna, I can't lose you, beloved,” and the portal slammed shut, sealing them in the realm of dreams.

Luna sat now, her mouth agape, tears flowing freely down her snout. The other unicorn walked over to her in the darkness, her horn glowing with a spell of illumination.

The stranger asked quietly, “Hast thou a light spell of thy own?”

Luna nodded, her horn glimmered purple, and she conjured a powerful beam of light.

The stranger gave Luna a cursory glance. The skeletal explosion had caught her flank, and a bad cut was on her thigh.

The stranger's horn glowed pink, and Luna took a sideways leap away from her.

“It's not evil, I swear! I do know healing magick,” spoke the stranger in a soothing voice. Luna warily let her use the magic. To her surprise, the healing didn't even sting as the wound on her leg sealed and scabbed.

Luna spoke, “That was... amazing.”

“One of many spells I have refined,” replied the stranger.

“Such tampering with the arcane is held in suspicion.”

“Thus do I refrain from the company of my fellow pony. Prithee, tell me thy plan to escape this prison.”

Luna attempted to open another portal. Her horn sparked, but she was unable. She spoke, “I am in need of rest.”

“This strange land seeems far too dangerous. Shall we proceed, in search of shelter? Doth thou know this realm of dreams?”

Luna nodded, “I visited a dozen times before, to ensure the safety of all when I brought our followers here. Thy name, strange unicorn of pink?”

“I am Bonemane.”

“Thou art a student of the dark arts as am I?”

Bonemane nodded, and said, “Indeed, though our paths split. Luna, thou who pursues dark magick, why do ye seek to gain peace and happiness by its use?”

“It need not be nefarious. The world is fraught with danger. Monsters abound, magick is abused. I seek to be a guardian and leader of all ponies; ergo, I must obtain power.”

They walked on a ways in darkness and quiet contemplation. At length, Luna spoke, “I must make amends for attacking thou.”

“It was I who sought to usurp thy rule,” answered Bonemane.

“For a pony who practices such dire magick, you seem... kind.”

“Dost thou regard necromancy as the realm of evil alone?”

“Prithee, for what else may it be?”

“Suppose myself and thou follow the same path by different means.”

Luna nodded, and they continued on. The expanse of dark was now broken by the faintest glint of a false dawn. Bonemane seemed startled by it. She spoke,

“Is that light I see in this realm of dreams?”

They sat now, exhausted from walking. Luna spoke, “Day and night occur within as they do in reality.”

“My thirst is great, Luna. Dost thou know of water in this eldritch place?”

Luna shook her head no, and twisted back to lift a canteen slung by her side. It was empty. Luna spoke,

“I must warn ye. We are not dreaming. Rather, we have so chosen to step within the boundaries of this place where no mortal should be.”

“I gathered as much,” answered Bonemane, “for who hast ever been injured by dreaming? Not one pony. Thou, however, had a cut on thy flank.”

“If only we were dreaming, then we would have only to awaken from this nightmare.”

The sunrise emerged from the horizon, filling the dream realm with light. They were on a broad plains. The rolling hills of grass and flower did not hold a stream nor pond in sight. The two unicorn's throats felt rough and their tongues felt dry.

Ahead in the distance could be seen a sparse forest. Luna spoke, “Where there art trees, there must abound water to quench them.”

They continued trotting on, and had almost reached the forest when another monster besieged them.

It flew down from the sky with a shriek. The large bird had golden scales, like a dragon, but it was much smaller. It had wings and two legs, like a bird, but the legs were muscular and similar to a dragon.

“A wyvern,” announced Luna, “Thou hast helped already. Allow me to engage this beast in battle.”

Bonemane stepped back. Luna charged the wyvern as it circled and then dove towards her.

They met in a collision of magick and claw. The wyvern ran into an invisible shield and bounced off, hitting the ground hard. It gave a complaining chirp, staggered to its legs, and hissed.

Luna smacked it with a strong magic missile. The creature took flight, and fled away from them.

The two unicorns walked together towards the forest now, hoping to find water soon. They entered the trees as the shadows of the leafy canopy closed over them.

Bonemane seemed bothered. She spoke, “Luna, how is this space before us in such clarity?”

Luna shrugged, and said she didn't really know. Being a dream, it should have been hazy, unfocused, abstract.

The sun rose close to noon and the weather became hot. No breeze blew today. Bonemane and Luna were sweating and panting profusely. Bonemane staggered, and almost fell; Luna supported her as they walked.

The sound of a burbling stream met their ears. Their eyes widened. They soon found a clear and calm brook, had their fill, and then lie in the water to cool down.

Luna rose from the stream, water cascading from her fur, and knelt to refill her canteen.

She and Bonemane walked on through the forest. Luna attempted once more to open a portal, and once more she was too tired.

They continued striding on until sunset. The weather began to cool.

Luna put her ears down, and said, “We must sleep if we may. Can thou conjure a shield, can we perhaps keep watch?”

Bonemane closed her eyes, and the pink magick of her horn seeped into the ground around them. She spoke with her eyes still closed, “Animals of the dream world have met their end here. Yes. I am able to maintain a shield of bone.”

Luna said, “I suppose that will do. Let us decide upon where to rest.”

A short ways further into the darkening woods, they found a broad and shallow pool of water. They stopped. The water was faintly glowing.

Something enormous could be heard walking towards them. The water began to ripple. A massive stag stepped into view, his antlers grazing the branches of the trees above.

It slowly paced through the pool until it stood in front of Luna and Bonemane. They had a good look at the dream creature.

Its body was not a physical substance, but rather, some kind of magic energy in the shape of a stag. This translucent blue and white energy rippled and flowed. The head was the same energy but more opaque, so that the features of a face may be seen.

Atop this head were antlers which were difficult to look at. They seemed solid enough, in appearance like normal antlers, but constantly grew and shrank and shifted through dozens of tiny paths and connections.

The stag spoke. The voice did not seem to come from the creature, but rather, from around them. As though the dream world itself were talking, or perhaps it was simply in their minds.

The disembodied voice began by saying, “Welcome, travelers. One seeks power and shall lead a nation. One seeks power and shall divide it.”

Lost in wonder, both Luna and Bonemane bowed to the creature, their snouts touching the water they stood in. The great stag spoke again, now seeming to be behind them.

They turned around, seeing the stag lying couchant on the forest floor. A glance over their shoulders. The stag was gone from the pool although they hadn't seen it move.

The voice resounded, calm and reassuring yet stern, “This land shall become known to you as Dreamspace, in a time when all ponies have been united in one kingdom known as Equestria.”

Luna asked, “How can thou know these things? Further, may I ask from whence thou came?”

“Within the Dreamspace, the constraints of thy reality cease to be. Time becomes a suggestion. Perhaps I am very ancient. Perhaps I have always been. I do not know. I merely know the extent of my power. My presence heals cracks in Dreamspace, and I observe the passage of possibilities.”

Luna spoke, “We seek egress into our own world once more.”

The stag slowly nodded, and then spoke, “Luna, why doth thou seek power?”

After a pause, Luna answered, “I desire the power needed to protect the innocent and stand against any threat. My sister and I seek to unify the tribes and houses, and bring an end to war among pony kind.”

Now the Stag spoke to the other unicorn, “Bonemane, thy heart is corrupt. Thy loss is greater than a mortal should bear. Allow me to express apology for thy experience in life.”

At these words, the pink unicorn glared at the ground, lie down, and began crying profusely.

Luna asked the stag, “Sir, art thou an elder being?”

The stag shook his head no, “I am not, nor do I know if they truly exist or if they be a myth. I am simply a creature of Dreamspace, and nothing more.”

The stag appeared in the pool once more. Its energy flowed into the water, and several lilies rose to the surface. These were formed from the same astral energy as the stag.

Taking a lily in his mouth, the stag plucked it out and sliced the roots off with magic. The roots were dropped at the hooves of Luna.

Now the stag spoke, “My power wanes; thus were you able to enter Dreamspace. I fear that without me, the sacred boundary between dream and reality may fail. My span of life nears an end. These roots contain what is left of my power... steep them as tea. Take, drink. Become alicorns, a harmony of all races as I am a harmony of Dream and Reality.”

The stag used magick, and cut a hole in the very air. Luna's eyes glimmered with happiness on seeing the way out.

The stag spoke, “Not just yet, young Luna... I shall return,” the stag wandered into the portal. All was silent. He returned shortly, closed the portal behind him, and spoke once more,

“Dreamspace is not one finite world as thou expects of reality. Within the abstractions of its being are numerous smaller pockets. Some temporal, some permanent. If thou accepts this power, thou shalt aid me in watch over this space of dreams.”

“Great stag,” began Luna, “would it be safe and proper to imprison dangerous beings of our world here?”

“In some cases... feral monsters may be contained here safely insofar as Dreamspace remains intact. Refrain from sentencing any sapient being within these borders, for they may have intellect enough to adapt and use its magic as their own.”

The stag knelt, and dropped two black roses at Luna's hooves.

He spoke, “Absolute power. Absolute cost. Eat these flowers if thou decide thou hast need of them, but beware. The magick of these roses is the same in dream and in reality... as very few objects are. The time may come when ye reflect upon this memory, and this fact may interest you.”

The air was rent by another rip, beyond which could be seen the grassy moor. It opened up right behind where the others had appeared before.

Remaining now were only two. Celestia lie on her belly where the portal had been. Her face was haggard and drawn, and it appeared she had not slept. Riverstone stood nearby her, a pensive look on his visage.

Luna and Bonemane stepped from the portal. Celestia looked over, her eyes wide in disbelief.

Celestia placed her wings around Luna in a hug. Bonemane sat by the portal, an uncertain look on her face as more tears came to her eyes.

The view of the memory began to flicker and fade. The memory orb stopped glowing, and the Hall of Memory was dark once more.

Author's Note

I like how the memory orbs make sense even though they shouldn't. Crystal, unlike glass, may be preserved for thousands of years with some repair via magic maintenance. Also, we store memory in crystal. Silicon crystals hold the data of this very text document. It makes sense that a properly formed crystal lattice could hold magic sparks of past memories too far gone for an immortal to recall.