Heath turned away from his mountain of books and looked at the clock. 8:00. He'd have to get going soon, he knew that it wouldn't wait for him. Whatever 'it' was. Heath turned back to his books, re-reading again the events of Campbell Woseley's resignation as secretary of state in 1853. Such academic studies had fascinated Heath for as long as he could remember, of course not on the particular subject in front of him, but he needed a distraction. He had waited to long to just rush into whatever was coming in, he could wait another two hours.
Heath soon lost interest in his current literature, and resorted gazing to around the room. His eye's did a double take at the framed letter of denial from Cambridge. And Oxford. And York. They just couldn't understand the gravity of his discoveries. They instead shrugged him of or told him of the 'lack of evidence' for his discoveries. But he had been thorough in his propositions to them! They were just to close minded to see!
So many sleepless night just gazing at the stars trying to cox them into just telling him what he searched for...
He knew exactly what he'd found, just not what it meant. It had first begun a few years back, with his first in-depth study of the ever annoying Stone Henge. He'd been tasked, along with the rest of the class, in a depth-study at Stone Henge. What the Pagans used it for, how they did it, how you could tell and so on. Heath had never really seriously looked at any of the ancient sites with anything more than passing interest, until that day. It was day haunted him ever since.
He could never stop seeing connections. Once he'd returned from Wiltshire and his classmates had forgotten of there assignment, Heath had persevered. But he just couldn't stop. Connections everywhere, the henge seemed to be almost at the centre of a web, mocking those which dared to try and untangle it. Alignments with henge, co-in-sided exactly with dates of important events. Every single time a decision which shaped the course of history was made, the stars made patterns, which were recorded and re-made by the Stone circle.
It taken Heath a lot longer than he thought, but he had done it. Predicted the next great alignments. Sure it had taken him a few years, but it's amazing what you can do without sleep. Or pesky friends.
He looked at wall mounted clock. 10:15. Time to go. Heath scooped up his various bags of kit and wandered over to the fornt room. He'd planned the route he would take out, step by step. Heath had rented a shed, just outside of the 'protected zone' that surrounded Stone Henge. It was a small matter of cutting some fence, and he'd be through to his prize. Recognition...
Holy balls, these are heavy! With a pant, Heath promptly dropped his kit, and collapsed. It had been quite the feat to hike near a mile, in pitch black. Of course, academia holds a unique physical requirement of nothing what so ever, and Heath wasn't in the 'working out' habit.
After a minute, Heath glanced at his watch.Ten minutes. That was what he needed to get his arse in gear. Heath, now pumped in a way only the most dedicated researchers know, ran around the henge, frantically adoring the hennge with lights and filming equipment. By the time the last of the equipment had been set up, he barely had two minutes for his log.
Heath snatched his camera from it's rocky perch and pointed it at the sky "Not going to bother with the usual explanation on this one, now's the time for discovery!" Heath was almost giddy with excitement as he counted down.
Ten, nine, eight , seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.
Heath was met with an earth-shattering silence. Oh...well that's pretty shi-
Just as Heath was adding the teen rating on the tags, an eerie glow surrounded the henge. Not that Heath noticed, he was far to busy staring at the sky. Heath had a very good reason for this, as it appeared that a new sun had just forced it's way into this world.
A bright light appeared in the far distance, it captivated Heath, who was at this point looking for anything to prove that his years behind desks weren't all wrong. Maybe, just maybe... Heath didn't have long to wonder, as quite suddenly the orb doubled in size. And then tripled.
Becoming bored with the strange star, Heath turned his attention back to his soul-crushing lack of any evidense. There's supposed to be a sign I can vaguely interpret! Or hell anything but just a twinkly little star. Maybe it's enough to get some kind of star named after me. I think I'll call it soulcrusher.
When Heath craned his neck up to look at his star, it suddenly occupied half the sky, and was closing in fast. No, shit soulcrusher I take it back! I'll call you anything!
Realising he, and by connection the world, was about to get violently vaporised, he turned to his camera and held it at head height.
Looks like I'm going out on HD-...
God it's windy. Did I leave the window open again? No, it'll be those blackbirds. Always trying to screw with me. Maybe I should chop that tree of there's dow-HOT
Heath suddenly jerked upwards, feeling and intense heat beat down on him. Heath, with his blurred vision, leapt for the nearest thing that looked like shadow. As Heath fell into the shadow, he clawed away as his jacket, trying to tear the thing off before he cooked to death. When he managed to rip his winter cloths off, Heath began to breath deeply. Dis-ordinated though he was, Heath could feel the sand between his fingers as he lay in the shadows, trying to recover.
It took a few minutes for Heath's eyes to acclimatise to the intense light, and even then Heath refused to believe what he saw. Sand. Specifically, sand organised into a dune, which shot up in front of him. Trying to not think the how-the-fuck-did-I-get-in-a-desert thoughts, he looked up to find a Dune behind him as well, and a sun which was mercifully casting a shadow over him.
Heath had never imagined he'd be a confused as he was then. To Heath, the world was ordered. Everything had cause, effect, and logical explanation. He just couldn't fathom WHY he was in a desert. But, as confused as Heath was, he knew that he couldn't stay huddled in a ball at the base of a dune forever.
Summing up whatever courage he could muster, Heath stood and tried to claw his way to the top of the Dune which he first saw. He promptly fell flat on his arse when he tried to stand, not realising how badly waking up in a desert screws with your sense of balance.
Okay, time to stop fucking around. Heath stumbled at little this time, but managed to stand straight after a minute of wobbling. Heath looked at the Dune before him, and wondered just how long it would take him to climb that. about...ten minutes tops..
Canterlot. Grand Imperial Capital of the United Tribal Empire, Home to the Diarchy of the Everlasting sky.
Or at least, it had been once. Now it was simply Canterlot. Celestia had seen the city she was in change name's several times. The grand titles seemed to comfort her ponies when the other racial empires were storming around the world, claiming this and that. Now that Equestria had become a multi-racial country, such grand imperial titles were no longer needed. Some skeletons of the 'empire' still stuck around Canterlot, however. Like the Celestial guard, which paraded every day without fault at exactly 1:00 every day.
It was fast approaching that time, and everypony who was anypony was queuing up to see it. Apart from Celestia. She had once quite liked the spectacle, now all the tunes they played reminded her of were bloody battles and lost friends.
"-s you see Princess, this is a matter most deserving of your attention. What shall I be given planning permission?". Blast, how long had that Noble been talking? Normally Celestia could keep her concentrations on multiple objects or thoughts at a time, but she had been so nostalgic she'd just blanked the Earl of Unicorn Range.
"uh...." Celestia, for the first time in one hundred and seven years, stuttered in the throne room when addressing a petitioner. A Column of heads turned, as the guards stationed at every window scrutinized whether or not they'd lose there jobs if they falsely accused the princess of being a changeling.
"I shall take your petition again tomorrow, penny saver. I believe I shall have a clearer view if I consult the locals as well"Sweet merciful god's I hope that didn't sound to bad.
"Ah... of course princess" penny answered, confused over just why the princess would ask locals if he wanted to build a race course over there house's.
Celestia glanced over to the side of her throne, and lazily nodded to the trumpeter, which sounded the beat which ended Midday court. Thank gods for that, my back was killing me!
Celestia waited for the formal dismissing of the honour guard which surrounded her throne before walking out to the Royal bedchamber's in Luna's tower. Now let's see...yes I do owe Luna one for that rain clouds in my bed prank. Let's see how she like's the old waterfall for a bed pran-
Celestia doubled over just outside of Luna's chamber. She hit the floor with such a force a loud crack could be heard echoing throughout the empty corridors of the palace. Immediately, guards streamed into the base of the tower, looking for the one which had smashed a wall with a sledgehammer.
Instead, they found the leader of Equestria woozily cantering around, almost drunkenly, until she finally steadied herself and leaned against her sisters chambers door.
"Your majesty!" A mare cried, clearly disturbed by her leaders condition.
"Everything..is fine. Go, gather the security council. All of them. They shall be briefed."
"Y-yes princess" The pegasus mare, who's name the princess couldn't possibly remember, barked orders to various stallions before flying down the flight of stairs.
With that seen to, Celestia stormed into Luna's chamber. The chamber was, to the casual onlooker, just a dark room with mist everywhere. To the princess, it was also this. Until she cast the 'focus' spell which ripped apart the illusion, to reveal a extremely dark room, with mist everywhere. Only this time, an onyx bed sat in the middle, with a princess tossing and turning in it.
LUNA!
Luna jumped awake, immediately smacking her head on the roof of the room. "blast it sister, were you not telling me how the Royal Canterlot voice is too loud for in do-"
"Surely you felt it Luna!" Celestia galloped up to Luna, who still lay on the floor, and promptly lifted her off the ground with a aura of magic. Of course, it had been a while since Celestia had been this tense, and Luna was quickly slammed into the roof again.
"SISTER! WHAT HAS GOT INTO THEE!" Luna screeched as she galloped after her sister, who was know galloping at break-neck speed down the tower.
"Luna there's not much time. I fear that Equestria is in peril." Celestia turned to her sister, and a great flash of light equpted in the pith black room.
The planning room in question was located just at the back of the throne room. It was Equestria's HQ, where any attack or defence would be formulated. It was a vast room, in a circular shape, with several minor round tables dotted around the sides, and one large table in the centre of the room. At the very centre of the room lay a large map of Equestria, which with a flick of the horn could project or show any thing on the planet from a bird's eye view. It was largely used by the guards for holiday planning, or at the rarest occasion's manoeuvres. Very few in Equestria had seen a military plan actually being planned on the table, although that was about to change.
"Any idea what this is about" asked Light feather
"Not a clue. Whatever it is, sure has Celestia scared. Look, they even pulled in the night guards" Iron shield gestured to , Dark Wings, the leader of the lunar guards, who swore allegiance Luna. He was also one of those 'bat ponies' which had become more prevalent since Luna's return. Not much was known about them, being a nocturnal and fiercely independent society that numbered in the thousands. All Iron shield knew was that they were competitors of the day guard, and he wasn't going to let them win. Whatever the game.
The strange gaggle of bat ponies, generals, lieutenants and servants made there way passed the throne room, around the corner and into the partially concealed corridor towards the doors to the 'planning room'. The doors were designed to inspire all those that passed through them, and as such were inscribed with the glories of past victories planned in the room ahead. The battle of of the Frozen North, the counter-attack at Manhoover and the re-capture of Applewood were all planned inside the building ahead.
But no victory over nightmare moon. Or discord. Or the changelings. The army of Equestria shown up by some young fillies. Iron shield thought, longing for the upcoming crisis to be one to prove that the Equestrian army still had what it takes.
Iron shield glanced over to Dark Wings and could tell he was lamenting the fact that Lunar guards were badly under-represented on the door. And it will stay that way.
"tia, will you say what.The.Buck.Is going on! I haven't seen you this worried since...ever!"
Whilst Luna complained loudly Celestia was rushing around the central map of Equestria, updating it with current weather reports and preparing to brief the various branches of her service's what they were to do.
"Luna, I don't want to explain it more than once. Just wait until the Officer's get here" Celestia muttered as she continued to fuss around the map.
"Alright, but it'd better be good for slamming me into the wall! I was strangest the best dream..." Luna was about to go into a tangent about how she'd dreamed of another world when the door to the planning room burst open and burly ponies began streaming in
As per tradition, the group waited until every officer was in the room before saluting the Royal sisters. The Alicorns nodded and gestured for the assembled to take there seats. Celestia and Luna chose not to sit, but to stand.
"My dear little ponies, I fear a great evil has befallen Equestria" Celestia said, igniting her horn and surrounding the table in a glowing aura. "I...felt a terrible presence suddenly descend upon Equestria. I can't be certain, but it felt like something I had never felt befor-"
"That's what this is about Tia! An upset stomach! God's I need to stop giving you the moonshi"-Luna was interrupted by Celestia banging a hoof on the table, nearly cracking the carefully made runes which adorned it.
"PAY ATTENTION!" Celestia stared down at her sister, using the most stoic face she could muster. She knew she was addressing more than just Luna's apprehension when she spoke next "I need not remind you of our past, Luna. Running Equestria for as long as I have gives one a sense of when to worry or not. This...thing defiled my sun, and broke right through the surface of the world's magic. I would not have summoned you all if I thought any less then an absolute emergency was stalking Equestria." Celestia scanned the room for the reactions of the assembled. The bat's had woken up, newly energized with fear, and then day guard were now fully attentive, lacking in there previous apprehensions.
Turning away, Celestia trotted to the control panel of the map, and stuck her horn in. The Rune mechanism clicked for a second, and the projected a 3D image of the San Palmino Desert.
"As I'm sure your all aware, this is our border with the Zebra's. Nothing between them and Los Pegasus except for hundreds of sand dunes. I felt the disturbance punch a hole through the...world exactly around here" An area around fifty square kilometres was highlighted.Celestia withdrew her horn and cantered over to area she had highlighted on the map.
"I want the anomaly found. A quarantine zone will be declared for the entire region, with all expeditions or trade missions between us and the Zebras postponed. The Sultan will be informed of the problem, and I'm certain he shall send the camal corps to aid us in the search." Celestia than began exposit what exactly the forces would be doing.
"The Royal guard will search the desert by day. The Lunar guard by night. Los Pegasus will be garrisoned, and it's inhabitants evacuated. The Sultun is the only non-Equestrian who shall be informed of this. Anyone else and it could lead to rumours of an invasion."
Celestia turned to the two commander's of her forces "Iron Shield, light feather, you will lead the day forces. Dark Wings, you are the soul commander by night. The Southern reservist's will be called up, under the guise of an 'excersise'. They will keep the peace in the area's where the regulars are being transferred." Celestia turned to her sister, to see her staring at her sister with a look of utter disbelief.
Celestia trotted back to her original place next to Luna, and stared back into the eye's of her officers. "I assure you, I have not mobilised as many ponies as I just have since the last griffon war. I have no intention of letting the anomaly slip threw the net. What say you, my ponies?"
A thick silence hung over the room, unti Iron shield spoke up "The Royal guard won't let you down, princess. We'll find..'it', if it's to be found" Dark Wings joined in as well "Yes Celestia, we shall found it. If that is what my lady of the night wishes?" Luna nodded slightly, which was all the Bat pony needed. As her majesty wills.
"I do believe you all have your orders." And with that, the group generals first trotted, then galloped down the hallway.
The first challenge the military had faced in generations approached, and they wanted in on the action. A chance to show these bat pretenders what soldiering is thought Iron shield. Time to prove these idiots why the bat ponies rule the night thought Dark Wings.
Luna just sat there, dumbstruck at what had just transpired. "Tia... our armies? Your sending in our armies? What happened to diplomacy?"
Celestia, pretending to be unaffected by sending her ponies to fight a terrible evil, looked at luna."Diplomacy died when it broke through my sun with the force to knock me to the floor in my OWN palace. Luna, we have not faced something like this since we sealed discord. I will NOT see my ponies die at the hoof's of...anything."
"You don't know that. In fact, i'd say just say you spelled out years of racial tension in Equestria by flat out invading a racial Province without even consulting them. What has blinded you Celestia? Do you seriously expect to mobilise near every stallion at our hoof's and not expect the other nations not to become fearful? Do you not see the consequences of being so blunt"
"Oh lessons on subtlety from miss 'eternal night' herself. Isn't that rich. IT SMASHED MY SUN NO-ONE SMASHES MY SUN!"
Luna just stared. If she did anything else, she feared she would provoke her sister to do something even more foolish. To this, Luna decided there was only once response. She trotted slowly out of the room. What else could she do? She had never seen Celestia so mad, not even nightma-, That night had set Celestia of so badly. She knew whatever this..."Anomaly" did to Celestia, it was certainly the worst see had seen her sister.
Luna knew what had to be done. She headed for her chambers, sat down, and rang one of the various bells which adorned itself on her bed. "What is your will, your majesty?" The bell ringing and the reply were near instantaneous, which suited Luna just fine.
"Sharp quill, take a letter..."
Celestia sat on her throne and fumed. It was the first time she had truly lost control of her sun. Ever. That upset Celestia more than anything she had ever felt. The sun was hers. Her birthright ever since she had been born, the first Alicorn ever. Brining balance to the once fought lands of Equestria. Harmony. Didn't she deserve just one thing that didn't falter or disintegrate? Didn't she have the right to something that was truly hers?
She knew that Luna was angry. She hadn't spoken to her that way...ever. But, she couldn't feel any guilt know. Not with...it still out there.
Celestia rang a bell, located at the right of her throne, and a messenger appeared on her right.
"What is your will, your majesty?" Celestia pondered for a second before responding "Quick hoof, take a letter..."
