Sins of an Equestrian Empire: An Unexpected Journey

Chapter 7 – The Journey of Light and Dark.

Twilight and Steel ran out of the archives chasing after Speed all the way back up the spiral staircase up to the sunlight room, it was now midday in Canterlot and their disappearance from the campsite down in the city was most likely known by all. Upon re-entering the ruins of the old throne room Twilight could see the room alight with a certain beauty still being held but this time it was a mixture of nature along with an ancient power still within the very stones themselves, the sun still shone on the throne as off in the distance Speed was standing still looking over the scroll countless times.

“Speed wait, we cannot get ahead of ourselves. Do you even know where to start we cannot just run blindly throughout all of Equestria looking at least a dozen cutie marks.” Twilight reasoning with the young yellow unicorn off at the other end of the room.

“Twi’s right Speed, we need direction and runnin around blind never helped any pony.” Steel said plainly not wanting to cause any further arguments at this time.

The yellow unicorn turned around slowly with the scroll held up looking over it again and again seeming to not listening to the other ponies bickering within the room. She closed the scroll and began to formulate a response.

“You do not think I do not know that?. I know damn sure on what must be done. Find the new Elements of Harmony and stop whatever evil is coming regardless of what must be done. Do I know where to start no I do not but surely we can work this out.” Speed finally seeing reason and walking back to Twilight her thoughts baffled on what could be done with six random cutie marks with one already found.

“Okay, good.” Twilight said before taking another breath to talk again. “What we need first is names, locations and most of all a method of getting around I’m quite certain that wagon down in the city is not a first class taxi now.” As she said all of this Steel begun to come back with ideas that might help the cause.

“I think I can help you mares out with one of those issues and help me all the same now.” Both Speed and Twilights eyes grew wide at the earth ponies notions. “Ya’ll see those offices back in Ponyville Twi, the ones that hold all the records of ponies all over Equestria, I reckon we need to be getting our hooves on them books. It will contain name, locations as well as the cutie marks of all the six ponies on that scroll.” Steel finished speaking noticing the looks he got from the other two. “Wha, I can be smart when I want to be thank you very much Twi.”

“Speed you are a genius.” Twilight hugged the chestnut pony. “We need to get our hands on those books, let’s just head back to Ponyville and get the ones back there then.” Twilight finished speaking before being interrupted.

“It are not that easy Twi, each of those office’s does it by region and a series of breakins all across each one gonna rustling nothin but bad news. The best place is where there all stored and that is one dosey of a trip I can tell ya.” Steel dreading the location he was to reveal next to the other two.

“What where? It cannot at least be worse than here.” Speed entering the conversation eager to learn of this earth ponies new found knowledge.

“Do not say I warned ya’s. If you want that information then we gonna have to head to the main archives all the way in Stalliongrad where all the unused ones are kept and it no easy place to get ta I can tell ya.” Steel folding his two front hooves in protest over this notion.

“Stalliongrad?, like that new capital that Celestia talked about in the recording. If so we need to head there and fast you too.” Speed now confident in their destination next.

“Wait up Speed, Stalliongrad is a long way away and a trek of three random ponies across the land and getting into the place is not possible we need to think this all through, like first of all how do you know where it is all kept Steel?.” Twilight testing the earth pony’s about this matter.

“Well…I…Uh, knew about it a long time ago Twi, I have been to there a couple of times travelling also my brother moved there Anvil Steedly. My little bro is part of the peacekeeper detachment in the lower quarters of the town, told me himself about all the fancy books and scrolls all locked up in the main archives in the rich district when he was off duty.” Steel slightly sweating over this entire notion, Twilight and Speed brushed this all off with trusting the earth pony’s knowledge.

“Really Steel a brother you never told me you had one?” Twilight asked concerned about this new fact with the past few days he knew the pony.

“It are not one of my proudest memories the last time I saw the little guy we had an argument of sorts over in Cider Ranch Tavern.” Steel tried to remember the bitter memory.

“If I may interrupt you two getting acquainted as usual I think getting there would be our main goal, but how is an issue” Speed trying to get everyone back on track. “We have no Pegasus transport as well the journey will take days bless we avoid this Empires gaze long enough.”

“I hate to say it Twi but Speed is right it is not like you can teleport us there like you usually do, that notion just makes me sick thinking about it.” Steel sticking out his tongue at the thought of going through it all a third time with the purple unicorn and now the yellow one.

“I’m sorry Steel but teleportation of that distance is unheard. I heard that Celestia was thinking of making some sort of teleportation spell to handle transport all over Equestria but it looks like now she never finished it.” Twilight finished as the yellow unicorn was eager to but in and tell the other two what she just remembered.

“That is it Twilight, Celestia planned all of this for me, to get around I remember now.” Speed was alive with joy over what she remembered now.

“And what exactly would your amnesia of a brain remember random things at a time like this.” Steel talked back to the unicorn’s cob web mind of a brain.

“I would have you know earth pony that being asleep for nearly two hundred and ninety years does have its side effects.” Speed said bitterly to the chestnut pony. “But in fact Twilight, Celestia did finish her plan, kind of. She could not find or make a spell scroll that only common unicorns could use so she throught of the next best thing and that was linking certain parts of the city with magic that would flow all back to Canterlot.” As Speed explained both the other two ponies lost her halfway at the crazy notion.

“How in the sam hell did she do a crazy unicorn magic thing with all that?” Steel could not believe that transport of this kind even existed.

“Yeah Speed there must be some sort of magic or even device the princess had made to do all of this.” Twilight asking still looking for answers to this new discovery.

“Yeah there was, it was to be used for me to scout out the land quickly to find the missing six. They link the cities through a magic hex hidden within a confined part of the city streets, usually they were in a library or under a town hall to avoid it being demolished. She constructed it if I remember with a bit of elemental stone and shattered it with magic to imprint the stone into the very floor itself. With the shards they would be linked together and activated, once one lights up all the others will too allowing us to travel faster than any Pegasus Wing travel.”  Speed stood proudly next to the other two for reciting of how she was thought by the princess herself word for word.

“That all sounds well and good but where is the one in Canterlot then and how would we even consider activating the device to tell us to get to Stalliongrad?.” Twilight tried still to get the young unicorn to remember the exact location.

“Now that Twilight I can answer, first it is here the platform of the thrones itself, smart idea I do say, next you are sitting here and then your half way across Equestria.” Speed said pointing at the throne itself. “But turning it on I have no idea.”

Both Twilight and Steel lowered their heads in disappointment on this last morsel of information. All three where stuck up in the castle with no way to leave the city without running into the foreman and the rest of the mining crew.

“Hey do not worry you too, I’m sure there is something down in the archives that will tell us. I will be back when I have the answer we need.” Speed dashed back down the spiral staircase back into the darkened room at the other end of the tunnel.

“That ponies lack of remembering is gonna get us killed Twi, I do not like it.” Steel said quietly to Twilight as the yellow unicorn ran back downstairs.

“She is trying Steel we need to get our hands on those books it is the only way to find the other five and clear your name which you want remember.” Twilight answered back determined in their next course of action to take. “I will be heading down to help Speed, if you want to come along.”

“Nah, take your time, it looks like ya’ll gonna go through with this so I will be brief, take your time if we are headin to Stalliongrad we must do it tonight under cover of darkness. Are not no way we gonna have any chance in daylight around the upper levels of the city.” Steel offering whatever support that would help Twilight. “In the meantime I’m mighty hungry gonna see if I can pilfer some of the cook tents food for the three of us, I think a nice warm Carrot Soup and Bread with a dash of cider might help calm those nerves.” Steel turning on his stallion hospitality.

“You are such a charmer Steel.” Twilight giggled as she slowly walked down the stairway back into the solid darkness following after Speed.

Steel walked away out of the throne room towards one of the collapsed roofs and proceeded to jump down towards the exit. He began muttering to himself in a concerned tone as Twilight was all but gone from his sight. “I just hope whatever she finds in Stalliongrad, it is not about me.” Steel hurried up and left the castle grounds.

           ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was oddly quite within the grand library of Stalliongrad as Wreath flicked through countless books, folded and unfolded many scrolls trying to pass the time while Lavaliere was with the council. As for Coronet she did not care what she was doing or who she was bothering within the castle as long as it was far away. To Wreath the silence of the library with the small sound of hooves journeying up and down stairs was a peaceful tranquil noise that she always found in libraries. Her eyes slowly where gathering weight as she slowly lowered her head giving into sleep, a novelty she was denied this particular day. She quickly snapped back to reality as she began to step away from the desk with all the books to freshen up as she begun to journey upstairs to see what else would be on the list as studying magic and history was beginning to bore her plenty.

The upstairs of the library was the same as downstairs but this time tall diamond decorated chandeliers glistened as they peacefully swayed back and forth now at eye level for all to see. All the aisles she walked by had the same usual description as she passed by with the great history of Equestria or the sieges of the griffon kingdoms 800-850 year of the royal rule. Wreath continued walking past all of this till she reached one of the lone aisles in the back which just was labelled as “miscellaneous”. To her this seemed odd as she always thought every book deserved a place and this location seemed like a waste bin for unsorted and unwanted books. She decided to journey down it looking for anything of the ordinary.

Most of the books she saw on first appearance were worn out and unable to be read, for others they were withered and battered with age.  Wreath began flicking through some of the books. The more she journeyed down the walkway the less light was coming through as she finally made her way to the very back of the library. She looked at the tall bookcase that surrounded her and found at most a small chest on the top shelf most likely not used or seen for many years. Wreath used her magic to grab it as she slowly lowered it right in front of her.

“A small chest here?. Seems odd and with the old royal symbol, seems like these trinkets should be contraband by the Empire.” Wreath said to herself free to think out loud as she began to slowly open the chest, within it where a couple of dusty scrolls and two books. Wreath grabbed everything from the small chest and made her way back downstairs.

Upon returning to her desk down on the lower floor the sunlight began to shine on the dusty old book as she whipped it clean and began looking at the front cover. It was a solid leather cover with a golden unicorn with a blue gem for an eye, the bindings of the book where gold as well. She began putting this aside and looked at the other scrolls she got from the chest as she unfolded each of them she saw pictures of six ponies. Each one had a saying under each one that said Generosity, Honesty, Laughter, Loyalty, Kindness and finally magic. It made no sense to Wreath what this all meant as in the picture each of the ponies where circled and crossed out except for the unicorn that had magic under her picture, whether she was missing or the rest presumed found or dead was for another time. What mattered was looking into what the book contains. The books contents interested Wreath as she begun to read separating herself from the world around her.

It was now becoming late as the sun was slowly descending down over the mountain for it was now soon to be night time all throughout the land. Wreath lit a candle beside her as she looked at the book in greater intrigue. She examined its contents to see nothing but an old mare’s tale of goddesses that lived before that raised the sun and moon while the other lowered it for the other. After reading more and more she found out about a Nightmare Moon that plagued the land. Wreath giggled at the description as it reminded her much of Coronet this evil pony in the story. She continued to read some more about an Elements of Harmony and how they saved Equestria before. Wreath flicked threw more of the pages as each one became more frequent and in better condition to the first few pages as if they were added a while after. She found a picture again of the six ponies that she saw in the scrolls each one wearing an exotic necklace with the centre one wearing a tiara. She tried to compare each one both the scroll and the book slowly thinking about whether or not this story had become reality, she always heard that the previous ruler was imprisoned but no news of her death or location was ever known except for some few who knew but they were the emperors council themselves. Suddenly she became more and more transfixed on reading until a loud bell could be heard off in the distance signalling that the councils meeting was now officially over.

It was not till shortly after that Coronet made her way into the library from wherever she had been under escort urging Wreath to following her to see Lavaliere. The blue unicorn responded with a sigh and closed the book wishing somehow slightly its contents would solve everything for her, where she came from and who where her parents. But she slowly knew through each book that the answers where nowhere to be found as she took it with her and proceeded to see the grandmaster and what plans he had in store for both of them.

The castle was alive with an orange glow from the sun as it began to set all across the land, Wreath and Coronet where making their way past the library straight to where Lavalieres personal quarters was located. The guards opened the doorway allowing both unicorns to proceed directly into the grandmasters room, the room now had a warm feeling due to the time of the day with the chandelier alight with candles high above them lit up flickering slightly. Wreath made her way into the personal quarters only to find that Lavaliere was nowhere to be seen, possibly be due to that he has not fully returned from the meeting yet. Coronet walked in slowly after as the guards escorting both waited outside. The two guards waited till they both entered the room fully to close the doors sealing them in as they continued with their patrol inside the castle. Wreath found she was left in a slightly awkward position alone in a room with Coronet was what she was afraid of.

The room stood silent in an orange glow with both ponies not acknowledging the others presence, it was always an attitude they had when conversation was the only other option. Coronet was the first to make a move as she slowly walked away from Wreath towards the personal cider cabinet in the room to see and perhaps taste what flavours each contained. Wreath on the other hand made her way towards the giant map that hung at the back of the desk and looked in awe at its detail. She could see her hometown of Manehattan and tried to remember what it would look like now or more importantly would anyone still remember her. Wreath thought it would have being easier to pick a random town and call it home since the only place she spent her whole life was in Hoofington a sour thought of returning there was the only thing that crossed her mind. Both ponies where interrupted as the doors opened once again allowing two ponies to enter, one was Lavaliere and the other was a young unicorn fancily dressed in formal attire.

“Ahh my two student’s glad you could make your way here. Allow me to introduce Councillor Lighting Rage a good friend of mine who would oversee your new training schedules.” Lavaliere said in making his presence widely known. To Wreath she could only think of how many lies where in that conversation.

“Please Lavaliere you are too kind, these must be the lucky two, Wreath and Coronet. Might I say I look forward to working with both of you as I’m sure you are as well.”  Rage said admiring the two unicorns in the room, the thought of success on new found theories waiting to be practiced floated through his head in secret.

“Woah now wait, training” Coronet struck a nerve at the mention of this notion. “Listen her high and mighty, we did all the training back in Hoofington are not no way I am having another one of those crazy final final trials again.” Coronets anger seemed to temper down as she finished talking.

“See did not I tell you Rage, pure disobedience.” Lavaliere talked quickly back to Rage as both his eyes opened at the sight of this raw anger in such a young student.

“I mean nothing in the slightest my dear; all I mean to do is field trials with actual weapons from the research section within this castle. Both of you will be testing them for future use in the Peacekeepers division as well as improve our understanding of magic all the same. I do say that a pony such as you Coronet would be able to admire this.” As Rage talked more and more Coronet seemed to like the idea.

“You got me hooked at weapons Councillor, continue talking.” The grey unicorns face began to draw a smile at the notion of actual unrestrained weapons.

“Important missions, far better than simple peacekeeper detail, we need actual field test data. You and Wreath will be partnered up together and sent on missions for the Empire. You will report only to me and Lavaliere personally.” Rage finished talking about all the detail as he was eager to hear a response.

Wreath began to join in the conversation interested in the detail “Wait a minute you said me and Coronet teamed up together.” A slight distain of look as both looked at each other preferring to go at it solo.

“YOU both will be paired and that is that. If you refuse then I will find another, I do not have to remind you both the extent to have this put in motion as well as the opportunity you have been given.” Lavaliere flared his nostrils in anger at the idea of his plans destroyed before being implemented. “Now if there is nothing else to discuss we should all go and get ready for tonight’s first mission.” The old pony turned around and began to leave the room.

Rage looked to see the old pony off before talking back to Wreath and Coronet. “I would not mind him. It is being a long day and he does have high hopes for both of you. Come now at least see the devices you would be using as well I can guarantee you tonight’s mission is just a simple test at best.” The young Councillor turned around to leave the room as both the two students followed as well. Wreath felt a sudden safety around this young Councillor but she knew as well to keep her guard up.

Both began to follow Rage down the hall towards the lower section of the castle. The sun was falling more and more over the mountain nearly ushering in night time. The castles décor began to change slightly as they journeyed over to Rage’s personal quarters that were located within the research centre within the castle. The research area in the castle was small in comparison to the real one located off in Fillydelphia where the elemental stones where mined for in there most purest state, Rage spent most of his time there rather than in the capital since science with magic was his speciality. Rage opened the two massive wooden doors that led into his personal quarters, the room itself was massive compared to Lavalieres one since he did not have to stay at the castle mostly. The room was full of beakers, blueprints and armour designs for Councillor Valor. Papers about almost anything littered the room a true sign of organised chaos a true depiction of Rages devotion to understanding anything worthy of interest. Upon arriving they found Lavaliere again examining the contents on the desk, more than likely the two devices one for each pony.

“The place is a mess Rage, as usual a true showing of what goes on in that head of yours.” Lavaliere said to Rage as he entered with Wreath and Coronet.

“That may be true old pony but still all’s good enough for the Empire and with this history in the making.” Rage said trying to keep a positive face in front of his two guests. “Now if we look over her both of you here are the devices that will be tested.”

Rage used his magic to lift up what seemed to be two gauntlets, both leather encased in the centre was a massive gemstone, one blue the other grey. Rage was proud in their design as he made them to match each pony.

“Oh and of course this is needed as well.” Rage ran around the desk scattering papers and designs as he found what he was looking for. “Here it is two necklaces to be worn around each of them; this is where the true strength would come from within the device, the gauntlet on the other hand just focuses it.” The Councillor made his way around handing out the respected device to both Wreath and Coronet.

Wreath looked at her gauntlet as she equipped it and found nothing unusual to the training versions she used back in the academy. She then looked over at the necklace as she remembered seeing it before. It then hit her as it looked like the one in the book she found earlier. Her eyes opened wide in at this possible discovery as she began looking around ever so slightly at the notes on the wall and on the floor. Wreath could see numerous versions of what she was holding, all where labelled with failure, scrap and not the original. The blue unicorn looked confused at the last one “not the original” what could it mean overall she wondered.

“All right you two, as for the training tonight it will be out in the town of New Saddle. Peacekeepers there have been hunting for a vigilante pony most likely involved in inspiring uprisings over in Ponyville.” Lavaliere cutting to the chase in times like these. “Both of you have been trained to be Peacekeepers back in Hoofington this will be like the usual training you have done only real.”

“The Councillor is right; we believe the pony is meeting with other members of the supposed “Celestial Brotherhood” a bunch of nonsense if you ask me. Your plan will be to take care of him and his associates if any in anyway you deem fit. Capture or kill but you must never reveal yourselves.” Rage filling in the details on what needed to be done.

Both councillors stopped talking in order to give the two students time to respond on what was to be done for them, a rare opportunity to use their magic they thought in ways rather than simple standard peacekeeper duty. Wreath on the other hand was trained for a situation like this but was always in the back piecing the situation together slowly, a common trait for a pony in the services of Councillor Starshine Flourish. Both looked at each other not wanting the other to possibly ruin their opportunity of working under some of the most power ponies in Equestria. With that they both gave their responses.

“We’ll do it then.” Both Wreath and Coronet responded as they finally gave there answer to the two older unicorns.

“Excellent, exactly what I was hoping for.” Rage responded in delight at the news. “Now if you can excuse us your chariot awaits to New Saddle within the hour all will be filled in there once you meet my informant in the town.”

Rage begun to leave the room leaving one final message to both of them “Good luck and try not to have too much fun.” He said giving a sly smile as he disappeared from view.

“What did he mean by that?” Wreath asked Lavaliere.

“Nothing important that you two should know. Now’s not the time to waste get ready to move out at once and grab your gear.” The old pony ushering the other two that time was not on their side.

Coronet grabbed her necklace and gauntlet as did Wreath, both proceeded to make their way out of Councillor lighting rages personal quarters and towards onto the outer gardens on the other side of the hallway. As they left the confines of the inner castle they were met with the decorated fountains surrounded with marble benches all across the outer wall, in the background where two Pegasus next to the chariot dressed in the armour colours of the town of New Saddle consisting of blue coloured uniform decorated with a silver lining. All three ponies made their way across the garden straight to the carriage.

“Hop onboard you two.” Lavaliere said directing them upon their mission. “You two have never seen eye to eye, but make no mistake that me and Rage have placed a lot of faith in you. Faith that in countless hours of making those devices that hang around your neck where not in vain.”

“We will not grandmaster, I promise you that.” Wreath assured her teacher and mentor once again. Coronet remained silent at the notion but assured Lavaliere silently that this partnership was only temporary.

“Like Rage said meet with his informant, with that listen to what he has to say and do. He will direct both of you.” With Lavalieres final words the chariot began to lift off again into the now night sky leaving the city of Stalliongrad.

Wreath and Coronet looked at the once lush city that they were finally leaving back again heading towards simple towns and villages. The city was not alight with lanterns, gem lights with the roar of talk and chatter in the lower streets of the city. Wreaths memory was still itching away at her with this new necklace that hand over her neck. She began looking at it and began fidgeting at its silver medallion shaped design with remembering the words that ran around in her head along with thinking of the picture she saw in that book she was carrying in her backpack.

“Elements of Harmony.”

“Not the Original.”

It stuck to her mind like glue but still she would have to brush it aside for an secret mission was needed to be done and a very special one at that.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Back in Canterlot Castle the moon was raised high in the night sky as all three ponies finished tucking into the meal that Steel managed to get off the cook tent back down in the centre of town. It was weird eating in beside the old Equestrian throne. Twilight thought quietly to herself, a place of power and beauty now a decrypted ruin where royal manners no longer existed. Truth be told both Twilight and Speed where famished from looking over countless scrolls looking for the right one.

“So all we have to do is stand next to the throne and just use the spell that is mentioned in the scroll, sounds easy right,” Twilight said finished up her meal by washing it all down with a mug of cider.

“Easy enough I would say, but this scroll specifically says that concentration is key, do not want to end up somewhere else. There is also the worry that all three of us will be thrown all over Equestria.” Speed responded concerned over the slight failure that could possibly happen.

Steel ate his meal slowly while still hungry trying to make sense of all of this which in his mind boiled down to two things teleportation and unsafe kept ringing in his head. He then decided to join in the conversation.

“Do we even know what is on the other side when we get there?. For all we know we could be struck right into a hornets nest if this goes wrong.” The earth pony worried about the technical aspects of this plan.

“I can assure you safely Steel, the platforms themselves where put in secret locations under cemeteries or monuments. Are not any chance they would have changed in the last three hundred years.”  The yellow scholar assuring that whatever Celestia planned it was going to work.

“Well from what I see from all of this is three ponies just sittin here bickerin, lets get this started. It is late enough already and we gotta get to those record books by all means.” Steel began to stand on all four hooves and make his way over to the throne, Twilight along with Speed slowly followed right after.

“By the way Speed there is like nearly a hundreds of thousands of ponies in Equestria, it would take hours to sort through all of that; I hope that your name speed means something.” Twilight asked the young unicorn.

Speed responded with a confident smile assuring the purple unicorn that all was takin care of already “Way ahead of you Twilight, they do not call me Speed for nothing, I got my cutie mark similar to what where gonna do. I have managed to master a spell that would sort and find anything I put my mind to in any scroll or book. If these marks are in a book within the castle of Stalliongrad we’ll find it.”

The three ponies now stood before the throne all ready to make the journey to the capital of the pony Empire. Speed took a deep breath as she began to take the scroll out of her backpack and studied the scroll again carefully. After a few moments she turned around and talked to the other two.

“Remember one important thing, just keep thinking of our destination do not want to lose anybody at all got that?” Speed said as she turned her head back towards the scroll. Twilight and Steel started to look concerned over was this a good idea. As Speed read the scroll the throne came alight with blue wisps that circled all over the entire throne room. The bright light could be seen all throughout Canterlot as bright lights flickered out towards the city. With a loud sound the lights dashed back down towards the throne. Within moments a loud bang was heard and with that the three ponies were gone from Canterlot hopefully towards their intended destination.

When Twilight opened her eyes she was welcomed with utter darkness with no way out, her entire body ached with pain over the ordeal she had just endured with a slow start she begun to get up on all four hooves.

“Steel, Speed are you there?.” Twilight called out in a low whisper. After waiting a few seconds she was greeted with two familiar voices.

“Over here Twi, damn that smarts.” Steel replied.

“Same, sorry I think I put too much into the spell that time.” Speed said feeling guilty over the pain that ran through all three of them at the moment.

“At least we’ll know next time right.” Twilight said to the young yellow unicorn.” But first lets sort ourselves out and find where we all are.” Twilight lit up her horn and with a sudden purple glow they all saw were they were.

It was an old dusty room with cobwebs that littered the entire area, bookcases filled with scrolls bearing the new Empire symbol on each one of them with carefully put away for future use. The faint sound of water dropping could be heard from one end of the room a showing of the room was devoid of any attention for quite some time.

“Well it is not Canterlot but is it Stalliongrad?” Twilight asked looking to find anything of reference that would help her.

“Only one way to find out.” Speed said as she also began casting her own spell. A bright pure light shone out all though the room as all the scrolls on the tables and bookcases began to unfold as Speeds eyes went pure white looking through all the information contained within the scroll. After which her eyes returned to normal as the magic was reversed and everything returned back to normal.

“That is amazing Speed how long have you been able to do that?” Twilight asked curious to its magic and maybe in some way she could learn.

“It is a mixture of my cutie mark as well as the princess trained me to channel it as well.” Speed happy about getting attention on her talents.

“Woah woah wait up her, if you could do that, then why did not you use that back in the archives could have solved us a heap of sorting.” Steel picking any sort of flaws in Speeds talent.

“Firstly it does not work on gems and second I have to see when the scrolls are.” Speed replied in a lecturing manner. “But to answer Twilight question yes we are in Stalliongrad, mainly the old storage area which keeps any scrolls that are old or unused, one of the scrolls got me the old blueprints for the entire castle we can use it to make our way up to the library and from there we can cut through to the main area where all the census information is kept on all the ponies in Equestria.” Speed said as she made her way over to the only visible door holding the old scroll.

Twilight and Steel began making their following Speed as she opened the locks bolted on the door and slowly proceeded to make her way up the spiral staircase. Steel stopped and looked around the small room one last time. He could see in the back the old royal symbol of Celestia and Luna but this time their eyes where both emerald green. He brushed it all off as nothing as he proceeded to follow Twilight back up to civilization ever careful over the price of failure. After what seemed like forever all three finally made their way to another bolted door opening it to reveal a massive library. There were no lights to illuminate the room but there was the natural glow from the moon shining a white light into the seeming never ending library. Speed looked again at the scroll pointing towards a door upstairs that would lead to their destination.

Under this certain situation Twilight wished she could spend her time reading through all the books she could help herself in the library just like when she was a student under Celestia spending most of her nights reading under a candle. All three walked through the library towards the upstairs section following Speed as she looked on ignoring everything around her. As they made their way upstairs they found the door that Speed was describing at the other end of the library, they continued towards the door as they heard a noise downstairs as it seemed two other ponies entered the library.

“You sure this will work Starshine this seems like it could make this entire situation of mine worse.” The earth pony said back towards the Pegasus obviously concerned over a certain situation.

Twilight, Speed and Steel instantly hid themselves as they looked over the banister at the ongoing conversation.

“Of course Rain we need to work together on this.” The Pegasus assured the earth pony. “As I have said we will work this all out, I have a plan to get rid of this and let you keep your head Rain.” Starshine said in a sarcastic tone.

“I can trust you right Starshine?, this vigilante situation in Ponyville has caused nothing but trouble and it is spilling out into the countryside we could use brute force I use all the bits needed to have more Peacekeepers hunting after these peasant rebels.” Rain taking the situation into his own hooves.

“Brute force, really Rain?. The worst thing you are gonna do is incite more anger in the populace, think about it your taxing them and those labour camps only make a hornets nest of trouble.” Starshine shaking his head in disappointed over this reckless attitude.

“Then what then?.” Rain looked concerned looking towards the Pegasus unsure about what plans were hatching in his devious mind.

“First my earth pony friend is to put out the fires, show them that you are willing to compromise you got to see it from their perspective Rain such as the main reason, you still have something they do not have and that is money.” Starshine said as he began walking across the library.

Twilight remembered the events from her time in Ponyville thinking that this was the pony responsible for it all. Steel began gritting his teeth in anger looking at the earth pony remembering the entire heart ache he had to go through with the taxes, money and finally his time in Ponyville.

Rain thought about what Starshine meant and begun contemplating the idea “So you want me to basically lower taxes, is that it what you want and stop sending people to work it off. I do not know someponies gonna know.” Rain concerned over the technicalities since lowering taxes was something he had never done before.

“Yes Rain you gotta a problem with it?.”

“No not at all but you better be sure this will sort it all out.”

“It will sort it all out do not worry, I will have my informants make sure of it but on another note I have a wild rumour that Lavaliere and Rage are working up something and its…”

Both ponies began walking now leaving the library entirely with Twilight and Steel catching the end of their conversation about them talking about two other ponies. Twilight brushed it off as nothing and ushered the other ponies to start heading towards their destination.

All three ponies upstairs could now breathe a sigh of relief and wonder at what was going to happen back in Ponyville but neither of that mattered only the information they needed. All three now left the library only to be met with a corridor of doors; the two looked at Speed as she pointed towards one of the many doors certain about picking the right one. They all walked over entering the new room closing the door behind them quietly to not alert any nearby ponies certain there was more than those two downstairs.

“We are here you two finally.” Speed said in a low voice as to not attract attention observing their new location a room similar to the one they first arrived in but this time it was more finely taken care of with countless amounts of scrolls and books on each shelf with a sign printed on each displaying the cities and towns of the Empire. “Just let me use my magic and we can finally get out of here and on our way away from this place.” Speed said preparing once again.

“This was too easy Twilight; once we get this done we can be on our way and determine if that silly scroll Speed has my mark on it.” Steel said looking at Twilight eager for answers about this silly prophecy.

Twilight looked concerned agreeing over what Steel had to say in a way he was right about all of this, it was too easy. The room was alight with a bright light as the scrolls waved around the room with books opening and closing constantly all decorated with orange fire sorting them within the air opening and closing as if Speed was absorbing and sorting the information being given. After some time the correct scrolls along with pages ripped from the books where now revealed listing six pieces of paper fell before Speed.

“Good work Speed, as fast as the last time. Let’s just grab them and run we cannot stay here any longer.” Twilight said feeling uneasy that somepony saw the orange light somewhere within the castle.

“Wait a sec.” Steel said walking over to the torn pages slowly. “I gotta see Twi, I gotta know if my name is on one of them.” He walked over unfolding one by one seeing names of ponies he did not know. A tension began to build up till he reached the last one to open it revealing what he feared most what it said.

Steel Steedly

Age 23

Residence: Ponyville

Status: Incarcerated.

He dropped the page walking away slowly, Twilight knew by his look that it was true he was one of the elements needed to save Equestria but what element she and Speed did not know.

“Gotta be some mistake right, Speed.” The earth pony looked frightened by what Speed had found.

“Ohh I do not lie or make mistakes like this Steel and neither did the princess you are what we need.” Speed said in her reply to the Steel. “We can sort this all out but we gotta move we are not safe her one bit.” Speed gathered up the pages as they proceeded to leave Stalliongrad hopefully to never see it again.

Twilight slowly walked by Steel resting one of her hooves on his shoulders telling her that all would be fine. The earth pony took comfort in all of this as he left as well wanting nothing of this place or what he has learned.

All three made their way back to the library downstairs certain that what they came for was worth it proceeding to the door with the spiral staircase. They were however stopped by the sound of hooves from behind as they turned around slowly to see another pony emerge from the darkness.

“My..My..My up for a bit of late night reading, it seems you three have a knack for it as well as theft of imperial documents from what I see.” The pony that stepped forth was old with a white beard and a grey coat possibly due to his age.

“And who are you the librarian.” Steel looked at the old pony not concerned over who or what he was.

“We do not have time for this RUN.” Speed said making a dash back downstairs the spiral staircase back to the platform to get them back to Canterlot.

Twilight and Steel joined with Speed and began running as well getting away from the possible old pursuer. They finally descended back down to the old dusty room nearly out of breathe.

“I will start getting us back to Canterlot at once, Steel bolt that door. Twilight help me with the spell.” Speed not wanting to waste any time at all.

“I’m not sure what to do Speed.” Twilight worried on what needed to be done, she saw was casting the spell but a spell that still confused her slightly.

“Do not worry Twilight, just do what I do and we’ll be out of here in no time.” Speed said beginning the spell with Twilight trying to keep up with the other unicorn.

The spell was being casted much quicker now since Speed was becoming familiar with the methods of casting as well with Twilight helping her with the overall strain of what needed to be done.  Steel finished tossing a bookcase over the door and begun running over next to Twilight as they finished casting the spell.

“Now or never guys.” Twilight said as all three stood next to one another as the room was alight again with a blue light.

Within a second the room was alight was a sudden bang and with it the three ponies were gone from the room as well as the city itself. The room returned back to dark for some time, only after a while the disturbing sound of hooves from the other side of the door. The hinges of door were smashed open with magic and the bookcase thrown like a rag doll across the room. The old pony slowly walked over to the where the platform stood looking ever so slightly at how the patterns of dust on the floor was disturbed by the portals activation. He discarded this entirely and made his way over to the insignia of Luna and Celestia. The old pony used his magic to grab both the green emerald stones from each of the eyes leaving two empty sockets within the wall. Both became alight showing all that needed to be seen by the old pony, images of the three he encountered within the library. The room was alight now with an eerie green glow with pictures of Speed, Steel and Twilight.

The old unicorn now smiled upon this discovery certain he found what he was looking for.

“What is this an common earth pony. And what is this as well, interesting if I’m not mistaken the last protégé of the former princess.” The old unicorn paused as he looked at the third and final pony.

“Hmm, now this one looks interesting I’m certain she and I will be meet again very soon, she may not know me but I know plenty about her, I have learned all I need to know about this purple unicorn……..Twilight Sparkle former Element of Magic.”

The room returned back to darkness as all being heard was the hooves of the pony walking back upstairs.

The pieces where now on the board as both sides knew what had to be done and where.