Sins of an Equestrian Empire: An Unexpected Journey

Chapter 4 – Home is where the disheartened is.

Coronet and Wreath both now stood within the confines of the grandmasters office, a usual occurrence that happened to any ponies that broke academy rules. Both stood there in silence not acknowledging the others presence each clearly telling the other that they would have preferred the duel rather than being in the office waiting for their judgement.

The grandmasters room was decorated with bookcases which stretched from one end of the oak decorated room to the other side, each row contained books containing information on spells, potions, hexes and finally the grand history of Equestria which detailed untold centuries of knowledge to those wishing to unlock its secrets. The grand desk which they both stood before them was entirely lined with golden flowers from top to bottom with the symbol of the Empire in the center. Wreath admired the design since the standard desks which she had studied the likes of magic were just simple wooden design that still showed age but also a sense of history to it. The grandmasters desk housed stacks of papers which dealt with the well-being of the academy as well as reports on any hopefuls that would be able for enhanced training or academy recruitment for the Empire. It appeared to Wreath that these were not sorted yet and would be looked after shortly by the Lavaliere himself.

Wreath took a brief look at the top of the reports to notice both Coronet and herself both pictured on top of the stacks of paper before being interrupted by a sudden slam of a door. It was Lavaliere the Grandmaster himself slowly walking from the door over to his desk, the awkward silence that encased the room was constantly disrupted by the never ending ticking of the grand farther clock with its continuous noise making allowing both the concerned ponies to know that time itself was not standing still upon their ultimate judgement. The Grandmaster pony himself now made his way to the desk and begun sorting out the paperwork which now beheld him upon his desk while not acknowledging both ponies that stood before him. After what seemed like an eternity the grand farther clock now let out a large ‘dong’ telling everyone in the room that it was now lunch time and with that the Grandmaster began stroking his beard as he begun to talk to the two ponies.

“Hmm, Coronet and Wreath is it?” seeming eager to request a response from both ponies but both did not dare to reply.

“From what I see from these reports, you both joined this academy from an early age, both of you were accepted into the academy and till this day have succeeded in every test, trial and endurance set out before you. May I say congratulations is an order for finally passing your last trials then hmm.” the bearded pony then finished with both looking somewhat happy about their past accomplishments being read out before them, Lavaliere himself began pondering.

He then continued to speak again “These papers say one thing from what I see, but from what I look at when I see both of you is that your final test has not fully being given yet.”. Both ponies then looked shocked at what Lavaliere had to say about all this utterly shattering their dreams of a graduation this year and being released back into society for civil defence or further recruited into Imperial Surveillance and Civil Protection.

“What do you mean, we passed the same tests just as everyone else, you cannot do this” Coronet standing in defiant against this new outcome “My family will not accept this unfair treatment.”.

“You have no say in this matter you little welp!, this is MY academy and what I say goes, your family has no say in any of this I can guarantee.” Lavaliere staring above Coronet eroding whatever was left of her confidence in her dark grey body

.

Coronet could now only stand there and accept this outcome; Wreath herself began to talk back to the Grandmaster trying to fully understand this fail especially with their marks being so high in last test.

“Grandmaster, you say our final test has not being fully given yet? .If that was not our final test then what is our final test then?”Wreath confidentially asked trying to shed some truth on this discussion and its reason.

“Ahh a pony who displays a calm head when facing certain situations, I like it, unlike your brash companion over here. Always trying to push and shove things her way an unruly Minotaur since a young age even in the simplest situations.” Lavaliere finished talking and begun to step away from the desk and walk around in front of the two ponies.

Wreath displayed a slight pride in her observation; Coronet only showed a dislike towards all of this, secrecy was never one of her favourite games to play. The Grandmaster finished walking and begun to speak to both ponies.

“As I have said, that was not your final test there is another one to be given and only given to students who show excellent progress in the art of magic along with combat. This test is considered by many to be, shall we say unsafe and any magic safeguards will be removed both on you and anything you might encounter.”

Coronet began to speak up again “A test like this has not been heard of, where is it and when, can get started on this?” showing no concern at all towards any safety as a slight smirk went across her face.

Wreath spoke as well “A test like this seems crazy, we could be killed from what it sounds like, also what is to be gained from doing all of this? ”.

“What is wrong Wreath scared of a little competition or are you afraid of our agreed wager over that one percent.” Coronet finished looking at Wreath answering competitively as always.

“Do not worry Coronet; I will gladly get whatever opportunity to shut that mouth of yours” Wreath refusing to back down to her supposed rival.

Lavaliere could only watch as he enjoyed these quarrels. He begun to speak again answering these concerning theories being tossed back and forth by bought of his students “Silence, I can assure you this test is only for those who are deemed possibly suitable to accomplish this. The tasks that will be set will test you physically and mentally as well, it is located in a cavern which stretches all underneath this academy. Within is a hidden labyrinth filled with magic hexes that will test you as well. Finally in the center is an artefact that will let you leave the testing grounds. Whoever leaves first will be declared the winner and the loser well, let’s not talks about what would happen to them.” Lavaliere gave a slight chuckle at this thought.

Coronet and Wreath knew that to survive one would have to beat the other. Both looked at each other as silence took the room again with the grandfather clock ticking away in the background.

Lavaliere broke the silence adamant he got what he wanted out of both these two ponies and that was competition “I can see that both of you now want to do this excellent, the weapons you get will be actual ones this time and not testing, both of you will proceed to the training grounds from there the test will begin.” The grand master then dismissed both ponies as they both walked out from the office and back down the hallway towards the training grounds.

Both students where given the time to prepare for the trial that was set before them. Wreath thought that this was madness accepting a life threatening exam just to not give Coronet the satisfaction of victory over her longest rival, she always knew that her competitive nature would get her killed but not in this way. Coronet was in it for the glory and most of all the satisfaction of putting people below her back in their places.

For Coronet she came from a wealthy background belonging to a long line of family ties that were loyal to the Empire. For Coronet failure was a weakness she always tasted when trying to one up Wreath and this was one failure she was going to correct.

They were now ready to face their new final exam as they entered the training arena where they would usually train and hone their magic in both a destructive and careful practice under the supervision of Lavaliere and his overseers. They made their way over to the duelling ring where their new weapons where displayed to them. Weapons that seemed all too much like the usually training weapons but with slightly different designs, swords now had a fancier hilt and sharpened to the tip, a magic gauntlet that help them channel their power as well as increasing their mobility and finally a ring encased with elemental stones that helped them channel their power when needed. They picked up their respective weapons and begun arming themselves for the trials ahead.

“Nervous Wreath, you should be” Coronet said confidentially always trying to break Wreaths confidence.

Wreath ignored her taunting as was her usual behaviour before an exam. She is always focused on the now rather than worrying on what the future would hold, the blue pony finished by sheeting her sword and getting prepared to do her exam. Both ponies now stood side by side within the center of the duelling ring while the examiners left the room not a moment too soon as Lavaliere entered to start this exam with both ponies looking on nervously at the grand masters presence seemed to instantly drain all warmth from the room.

“Let the games begin” Lavaliere said both front hooves in the air seeming to to address an imaginary crowd laid out before him.

The bearded pony walked over to the two students and presented himself again to them seeming to enjoy all this commotion, it seemed to everyone that Lavaliere enjoyed these sorts of events and these sorts of tests did not come regularly.

“Ahh it is been a while since a student has actually been considered worthy of this trial” Lavaliere confirming Wreath’s suspicion about all of this.

“The trial shall know commence, are both students ready?” Lavaliere prepared to ready the test as his horn began to glow.

“Ready, Grandmaster” both ponies replied at the same time slightly eyeing each other not wanting the other one the satisfaction of winning.

Lavaliere began to fully cast the spell on the circular arena as blue energy began shooting forth from the ground. Both ponies looked as they reached out to touch the energy that shot up to the ceiling, it felt cold yet resonated an ancient feel to Wreath, Coronet however was just admired by the slight spectacle. The blue wisps that shot up into the ceiling began descending back down quickly hitting both ponies as they both let out a loud scream before a bright light took both of them and next they knew they were both no longer inside the training room, but somewhere else. Lavalieres students where now in some place old, cold and definitely a place they have never visited within their time in the academy the exam has now begun.

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Wreath woke up and finally came to her senses and began looking at the current situation she found herself in, utter darkness surrounded her. Her first instinct was to use her horn to light the area and fully take in the first area this exam was based in. The view was one of dark caves stretching as far as the eyes could possibly see with Coronet nowhere to be seen, more than likely she was too sent somewhere different as well. A thick fog covered the ground hiding the floor of the cavern, if Wreath did not know it seemed she was walking on clouds inside a dark cave a strange mixture to encounter if possible. The problem that presented Wreath at the moment other than light was direction she remembered Lavalieres advice and that was both her and Coronet where both stuck in the maze of sorts with escape being the prize.

Wreath remembered one of her spells that would help her escape this cold dark maze, a spell which let her spiritually escape her body and move throughout the maze for only a short distance allowing her to choose the best laid out path to the center where the relic was contained. She began to lay down nearly looking to be swallowed by the misty fog as she began to close her eyes and concentrate on reaching out and observing the area as it lit up in a misty haze. Wreath used this technique all the time to observe Coronet when she used to practice duelling alone as to adapt to her technique and best it, she also used it a couple of times to look over examiners as they prepared exams or discussed what questions or surprise exams where around the corner. She was not proud of her slight edge but she did not have much of a choice to survive in an academy where only the strong or treacherous survive, her cutie mark was an ace and a joker card side by side, she knew her strength was trickery as well as deceit to defeat her enemies.

She reached out more around the cavern as she saw an opening with torches surrounding the entire area; she knew this was her destination. Wreath also concentrated more and she could hear Coronet as well slightly in the distance but to her it sounded like she was arguing with somepony or something and it finished with a flash and a bang. Coronet could be in trouble but to Wreath this was none of her concern she must continue to at least hopefully see sunlight again. She then proceeded to open her eyes and stand back up again; at last she took her first step into the darkness forward towards the direction of the room with torches.

The path was longer then she had once imagined when she did her reach out spell, she remembered the pathways to take in this maze of a prison. She called out to herself in her mind as she thought of the directions to take.

“Two Lefts, A Right then forward ignoring both the next left and right and just proceed forward.” She said to herself as she progressed through the cave.

She began to make her way through the second left as she heard a rumble being made from behind her where she had originally started this trial, knowing a rumble noise like this meant that only bad things were going to happen. A loud howl could be heard back the way she came, it was Timberwolves a whole pack of them of at least seven to ten. A shiver then ran down her spine, she needed to hurry out of here before the wolves gather her scent.

Wreath began to pick up the pace and began galloping towards the room with torches; if she was to fight these wolves light would be her best bet since Timberwolves despised any type of fire and torches where closest to the best weapon in this labyrinth. Timber Wolf skin as she remembered it was pure wood and not easily pierced with a sword when there is at least five to six lashing at you also. Wreath tore off some of her sleeve and tore the entire thing in two. She then casted an attraction spell on both and threw them both of them down the wrong tunnel as far as they would go, she knew this would only would mildly trick the wolves but not stop them for long at most she bought herself time to reach the exit. She heard again a loud howl back in the distance; the Timber wolves have the scent now it was time to move. She galloped again making her way deeper and deeper into the maze reaching the room with torches.

Wreath finally made it to the wide open section of the cavern that was decorated with all along the walls, within each one was a shield that bore the symbol of two ponies of light and dark encasing a star within the center of the room. This place she knew was probably much older than the Empire itself since designs like these where never seen in any book or scroll. Within the center of the room was a wooden table which on it sat a chalice of golden design encrusted with jewels decorating the cup itself. Wreath approached slowly within the room as the soft wisper of torches kept drowning out the silence and noise each time she took a step. The howl of the wolves was getting closer as she soon realized that they probably have learned of her little ploy to buy her some time.

There was no other exit except the way she came from. She ran over to the table to examine its contents and dreaded that she would have to prepare for a fight for her very life. As she approached the table and settled herself looking for an exit and preparing for a fight the pathway behind her was slowly closing. She ran over to avoid being trapped and was suddenly stopped as the illuminating eyes of the Timber wolves could be seen running out of the darkness towards her. She immediately used her magic to grab one of the torches and flung it towards them, stopping the pack all in their tracks. The last Wreath saw of them was their golden eyes and sharpened fangs as they snapped at Wreath and with that the cavern closed shut. She could now breathe a sigh of relief with the guarantee of not being torn to shreds but she was now trapped in the cavern in a room with a desk and a chalice.

“Whew, that takes care of that, now to find a way out” she thought to herself. The blue pony observed the room again, torches, shield, table, chalice and no way out it seemed. She began to tap on all edges of the room for a way out, perhaps an escape or to expose more of this labyrinth. Finally she used her magic to pull all the torches lined across the wall but to no avail as no secret switch was being activated.

“The shields” she thought to herself out loud. She began to tap and pull at each but to no success again. Wreath was starting to run out of options and any minute now Coronet was dead or going to win. She slowly walked back again to observe the table more closely; she knew somehow that it must have something to do with her escape from this room.

“The table and the chalice are the only two things that are not part of this room, thinks Wreath, think” she kept saying to herself.

“Grr, it makes no bloody sense” as she slammed both her front hooves on the desk as well as picking up the chalice and looking at it.

The chalice began to glow brightly as a white light enveloped the entire room blinding her as a loud whirling noise began to become louder and louder ringing in her ear. When she came too she heard raining with little droplets slowly landing on her mane along with her coat. She rubbed her eyes to look around the room but to her surprise she was no longer there, it appeared she was on the streets of Manehatten her home town. She could not believe it herself the town had not changed since she was a filly and the buildings she began to notice more clearly as black clouds where covering the entire city all across the horizon.

She walked down the road slowly observing everything around her. Wreath saw the old library where she went to read all about the old books mostly consisting of adventure, good versus evil and her favourite plots that contained trickery and treachery. She began to see the old bakery with its still rusted sign saying “Come one, come all to Cupcake Marlene” she could nearly remember the smell of the freshly baked cupcakes in the oven. Finally over to the left was the city fountain where she spent all the time with her parents. She walked over to see the fountain one more time but she could not remember them all she could see off in the distance was a small blue filly crying next to the fountain tears clearly running down her cheek. Wreath began to walk over to see what the problem was.

“What seems to be the matter, are you lost? “ Wreath said to the little blue unicorn.

The moment she talked the small filly looked up and began to talk back.

“I miss my mommy and daddy is sick.” her response being one filled with sorrow as more tears rushed forth down her cheeks.

“Oh dear, what is wrong with your daddy?, where did your mommy go?” Wreath asked looking now fully concerned over this ponies misfortune.

“She…*sniff*…went out to help daddy but has not come back yet, would you help my daddy lady? ” the little unicorn now standing on all fours looking back at Wreath showing the same sapphire coloured eyes she had.

“I do not know I’m pretty busy and all.” Wreath feeling a sense of guilt over all of this abandoning a pony on the middle of the street.

“No, please just for one minute, what if mommy do not come back, who will look after daddy.” the unicorn now crying with her face looking down from the rain.

“Alright sure, but just for five minutes I need to really be somewhere.” Wreath trying to make sense over all of this.

“Thank you, thank you.” the little filly hoped giving Wreath a hug as she began to show her the way to her house.

The streets were still being poured on by the rain which did not seem to give way anytime soon. Water quickly fell from rooftops and windows were lit with an ominous orange glow telling that the house was occupied and busy. The blue filly stopped and pointed to the house from the front gate.

“We have made it lady, now you can help my pa.” she said while running to open the front door. Wreath slowly made her way past the small garden and into the house. A thick wooden brown door engraved with a floral design with a little window creaked open slightly as Wreath pushed opening the door and walked inside. The house seemed cold and slightly dark to her. The fire in the living room gave an eerie orange glow but no heat was being sent across the room. The kitchen seemed unused for quite some time as shown by a layer of dust covering the main table. Finally the pictures in the picture frame only showed the blue filly the rest of the photos were darkened out showing neither her mother nor father.

“Daddy’s upstairs lady, come quick.” she said excitedly.

Wreath could only agree as she grabbed hold of the banister and proceed upstairs to the master bedroom. The floor creaked with every step along with the hallway being darkened with the curtains never being pulled. She felt uneasy in this house but a slight memory of being here constantly played back in her mind. She followed the filly to the main room and walked in along with her.

The blue filly ran over to the double sized oak bed and began tugging at the bed sheets all excited about the good news.

“Daddy, daddy, someone’s here to help us, you’re going to be fine.” the joyous look upon her face slightly shinned hope in this bleak world Wreath thought to herself.

A noise could be heard downstairs, Wreath instantly grabbed the hilt of her sword suddenly in defence as the filly jumped and galloped towards the door.

“Mother, mothers home lady.” she proceeded to dash downstairs with Wreath slowly following ignoring the pony covered entirely by the bed sheets casted upon him.

Wreath made her way downstairs again and only saw the blue filly pouring what seemed to be the medicine into a common wooden chalice the look of excitement seemed to overwhelm her entirely as she grabbed the cup and proceeded back upstairs.

“We got, we finally got it lady.” she said as she went to go back upstairs.

“Wait where your mother is, you did say she got home right?” Wreath looked confused as well as concerned.

“Yeah she did, she is sitting there over at the fireplace, that rain outside could catch anybody a chill.” the blue filly now slowly making her way upstairs trying not to spill anything from the chalice.

Wreath ignored the filly and began walking over to the elderly unicorn.

“Ma’am, what where you doing leaving your kid out in the rain like that.” Wreath asked the motherly pony. The only response she got was a silent reply while the mothers back was turned towards the fireplace.

“You do know this is a big city, hell do you know what kind of ponies are there in this world ma’am.” Wreath finished talking again with the response being the same.

“HEY! I’m talking to you; at least have the consideration to…” Wreath made her way over to the mother pony to pull her around face to face all she got was a skull full of cobwebs, the skeleton itself now became fully noticeable as it fell before here to the dusty ground. Wreath could only look in horror as she galloped upstairs to get the little filly out of here.

Wreath made a mad dash straight to the bedroom and saw the small pony now resting the chalice on the bedside table beside her farther.

“We have got to leave, now!” Wreath said to the little pony.

“Aww but are not you gonna stay for dinner Wreath?” the pony responded.

  “Wreath? I never told you my name, what are you?” she said looking perplexed slowly backing away towards the door her hoof grasping her sword.

“Say you do not look so good, maybe you should have some medicine, it fixed my pa here right up maybe you should have some calms you right down” the small pony now slowly walking towards Wreath as suddenly the door right behind her slammed shut.

“Do not you touch me, I get it now your just an illusion conjured up by Lavaliere, you’re not rea.l” Wreath now fully understanding the situation around her.

The blue filly made a dash towards Wreath holding the wooden chalice now trying to force Wreath to drink its contents. The blue filly’s eyes now changed to a demonic red matching the same strength as the magical blue pony. Wreath trying to hold away the chalice with one hoove and push back the small filly with the other desperately looking for a way out of all of this madness.

“Let..me..go, your NOT REAL.” Wreath kept saying to herself.

“Im more then just real Wreath.” the blue filly said back to her.

Wreath could only scream more as she used her magic to push the pony away shouting “THIS..IS..A..DREAM!!”.

A sudden flash took the room and suddenly Wreath was back in the cave torches still lit and flickering, with now the desk flipped over and both her two front hooves holding both the golden chalice and her own sword pointing upwards to her throat. She suddenly dropped both of them as she slowly began to sob and looked around as the room had changed since she last saw it. Skeletons of previous ponies who came through here where scattered all across the room each holding the same gold chalice that Wreath tried to drink from each having black teeth showing the side effects of the noxious poison it contained the numbers ranged from seven to eleven, this must of happened many times she thought to herself. An exit was now in the clear by the looks of it.

Wreath began to gather up her belongings and again made her way through the labyrinth straight to the center where hopefully freedom was in sight. She ran into another cross section of the maze but this time the exit was clearly within reach. She closed her eyes and began take a deep breath thinking of her next move. She noticed that the air to the left was less fowl and covered in much less fog she smiled at once again knowing she picked the right turn towards her escape and began galloping towards the exit.

The narrow passage ways finally gave way as Wreath now came to the final opening in the labyrinth this time the opening stretched as far as the eye could see with a slim stone bridge being the only way across to the center room housing the desired artefact to escape. Across the great chasm was another stone bridge that led to the same destination. Wreath began galloping to the exit but suddenly stopped to look across at the other bridge as she saw Coronet running as well firing great bolts of magic as she blasted a pack of Timber wolves falling into the empty void. Coronet breathed a sigh of relief but not too soon she saw across both eyes of Wreath and Coronet looked at one another. They quickly turned looking at the center room which housed an ominous blue glow clearly showing the exit to this trial.

Both ponies dashed to the exit both knowing the price for failure. They where both in sync with their breathing as well as their galloping to the exit, magic was used to get them here and magic is what they would have to use to win. Wreath begun to cast a light foot spell to increase her mobility while Coronet begun firing straight at the walls carving a way through straight to the center. Rubble and dust began flying everywhere with Coronet at the center dashing through finally tearing down the last wall which housed the artefact on a pedestal with a blue orb emanating a blue light all around the room. Coronet made a final lunge towards the orb but not as soon as Wreath use her light foot as well as a featherweight spell to back kick herself off the wall shooting herself towards the orb. Both ponies where now only metres away from touching it and being declared the winner the second anyone of them touched it. As both lunged at the orb a loud noise was heard echoing throughout the chasm and both ponies opening their eyes only to be visible once again within the training arena with Lavaliere looking over both of them?.

“A Draw?!, interesting” Lavaliere said while stroking his beard “Looks like this is a first, both Wreath and Coronet pass congratulations to both of you.” the grand master gave a bow of recognition to both ponies as they got up each slowly letting go of the blue orb as it dropped and smashed all across the floor.

Coronet began dusting herself off from all the rubble that coated all of her mane. What was now revealed was a scar that scraped all down the left side of her face as well as a scratch which went straight though her cutie mark , a direct cause of a Timber Wolf encounter. Blood slowly trickled down her check as she slowly begun walking out away out of the training room. Lavaliere stopped her suddenly.

“Alive are we Ms.Coronet.” he said chuckling at her new facial features.

“Go buck yourself…..Grandmaster.” Coronet could only say while walking out to the medical section of the academy to stitch up her new wound.

Lavaliere always liked this sense of anger from his students. He excused the examiners from dismissing her and urged them just to ignore what happened and focus on setting everything in motion for his next set of ideas. Wreath wiped the sweat from her forehead and begun slowly walking out towards the exit as well.

“Looks like your alive Ms.Wreath, dare I say not many make it through what you have encountered and luring those Timber wolves, let’s just say when they could not find you they found Ms.Coronet quite easily.” Lavaliere now beginning to talk again to the passing blue pony.

“That may be true, first the Timber wolves then the chalice and the race to the finish against Coronet, may I say does the Empire know about all this.” Wreath asked truthfully not caring for a round of back and forth games with Lavaliere.

“The Empire wants the best, they do not mind what little sacrifice is made to get there and from what I see you and Coronet are two shining examples.” Lavaliere now savouring this moment clearly for all to see, Wreath knew the Empire had full control over all of this and that he was pulling all the strings to cover their eyes.

“And that chalice then is that standard too?” Wreath beginning to display a sign of anger towards her Grandmaster as no pony around wanted to interfere.

“A little gift that was made to test any ponies mental progress as well as possible control, and may I say miss Wreath, that her mommy and daddy are quite well without you there.” he gave an evil grin not caring for what would have happened to Wreath both mentally or her near death experience within her own mind.

She gave him no more satisfaction as she walked passed turning in her examination gear and slowly walked out not looking once at Lavaliere at all. The blue pony walked out and straight down the hallway towards the housing estate within the academy.

Lavaliere now rubbed both his two front hooves clearly showing the overall success of this exam and the fruits of his labour soon ripe to be picked. One of the examiners walked over to consult the bearded pony.

“What now, Grandmaster there’s one more then needed?” the examiner asked.

“Do not you worry about that, two is always better than one and from what I see we have two very different ponies to examine. A pony of intelligence, patience and deceit and the other well a fiery appetite for destruction, pass both of them and make sure there ready for tomorrow for the trip” Lavaliere instructed the examiner.

“The trip, Grandmaster?” the assistant asked.

“Yes, for Stalliongrad the capital of the Empire at once. We are going to meet the Triumphiere and consult the Emperors council, we must proceed with this”. Lavaliere said in a gracious tone eager to show off his new found results.

“At once grand master” the examiner responded now leaving to make preparations.

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The journey to Canterlot was longer than expected by wagon rather than by chariot, Twilight could not remember ever making the journey on hoove. It was also apparently no longer safe during nighttime with ponies being posted to guard the make shift camp as the others slept encase of an attack by any form of wildlife that ventured too far from the Everfree Forest, Twilight and Steel where always paired up together and Twilight had very little too talk about to the common earth pony, she knew that once she got to that library and used the time scroll all of this would be over. The countryside was similar in look from the ground as it was looking from the air as she was carried through the clouds back to and from Princess Celestia when a situation would arise. The roads leading to the capital where no longer just a common path as Twilight remembered them, they where now more modernized with bricks and stones separating them from the dirt underneath a grey dull sign of progress in a world full of green and vibrant colours. Steel looked onto in the countryside seeing the uncommon carriage going in the opposite direction back towards Ponyville a thought of which he dreaded ever returning again.

“First time to Canterlot Twi.” as Steel sniggered “That is if you are Twilight.” he kept picking at Twilight the entire trip to Canterlot playing it all off as a childish prank.

“Laugh it up Steel, unless you want me to help the foreman turn this carriage around, I do say I’m getting kinda homesick from not seeing Ponyville these last few days.” Twilight knew this was an empty threat but to Steel bringing up those two words just left a lump in his throat at the thought of ever going back to the "farm".

“Anyways Canterlot cannot be far now so let’s just get this job over and go our separate ways then okay.” Twilight now folding her two front hooves and turning away from Steel.

In truth this was no longer her world and she knew that. She felt quite alienated and saddened on how her Equestria would turn out like this, the bright colours where slowly being faded replaced by the metallic force of industry and progression. Steel felt slightly struck down by her last comment feeling that the childish joke went too far during the entire trip and by the look the other ponies on the carriage were having none of it as well. The trip reached its final turn over the hill as the high towers of Canterlot slowly began to come into full view with the sun glistened off them making them shine across the land. Twilight slowly began to stand on all fours and look over the top of the wagon at long last Canterlot was in finally in sight. Finally she let out a sigh of relief letting herself know her crazy journey was now and truly over. Soon enough her relief was overtaken by a sudden shock as if a knife pierced through her heart at the sudden realization that beheld her. She looked around to see the other ponies expressions but none shared the same feeling that befell her.

It was Canterlot, but Canterlot in ruins.