Last Ditch Effort
King Morning Star stood on the ramparts of his castle and gazed out at the gruesome scene before him. A battle raged as far as he could see. Swords clashed as arrows flew over the heads of the few of his alicorn warriors who had survived the previous onslaught. Unending hordes of ice warriors slowly battered away at the defenders, who would soon be overrun.
"Do you see what happens when you stab somepony in the back, brother?" A darker colored alicorn revealed himself behind the king.
"You had no right to do what you did to your sister." Morning Star's gaze didn't leave the battle while conversing.
"She had no right to do that to our family name! My father would have done exactly what I did in such a situation!" The darker alicorn took a step towards the king.
"That's your problem, Nocturne." The king shook his head. "You think of what your tyrant father would do and assume that is how you lead a kingdom."
"Assume!? I know he was a better leader than you ever will be! Just because I wasn't of age you took his place instead of me! You ruined everything he had worked for!" Nocturne took two more steps.
"Your father's work nearly killed everypony. He deserved the fate he received. Your sister saw the error of his ways, why can't you?" The defenders were retreating, they were outnumbered by hundreds.
"There were no errors! My sister was the one who ruined it! Your Queen and her devil-spawn you call children! A disgrace to our family name, to mix our bloodline with some commoner!" Nocturne's anger was rising, and frost crept from his hooves out in all directions.
"You would call your nieces such things? And you claim I am the low one." King Morning Star turned to face his dark counterpart.
"Don't worry, your children will be taken care of when your gone. I already have a small group of soldiers on their way there now." A dark, smug look crossed Nocturne's face.
The king's sword flew from it's sheath. Harmony's edge hovered in Morning Star's magic grip. Nocturne drew his own, and engaged the king in combat on the rampart.
"I am much stronger now than I was when you booted me off the throne, brother-in-law!" Nocturne scoffed.
"You are still a pitiful child who needs mindless killing machines to fight his battles." The king retorted.
Harmony's edge locked blades with the other sword again as Nocturne charged Morning Star in an attempt to break his concentration. The king sidestepped and brought Harmony to bear on Nocturne. He slashed down in a attempt to cripple him, but Nocturne dodged as well.
Now Morning Star charged, and swung Harmony's edge out in front of him. Nocturne blocked, but couldn't react fast enough to block the swift hind-kick that followed.
As Nocturne recovered from the blow, Morning Star jumped from the rampart and flew away from the mountain the royal fortress rested on. He sped over the countryside. Over the blood and ice that was consuming his country, while he had only one thought.
What would happen to his country and family if he were to fail.
Suddenly something blocked light from the sun. As Morning Star looked, Nocturne's fore-hooves slammed into his back. Morning Star fell out of the air and crashed to the ground.
Nocturne floated above the crashed king and spoke, "My father's last gift to me makes me stronger every second. Why do you even attempt to win? You are doomed! You and your kingdom are over."
Morning Star let loose a bolt of light at the gloating Alicorn's eyes. The bolt hit head-on, blinding the dark prince.
"My kingdom may die, but my family will live on." And as Nocturne stumbled around unable to see, the king lifted off again and flew towards the mountains in the distance.
___ ____ ___
King Morning Star landed at the base of a mountain and uncovered a small cave. He moved inside and whispered, "Luna, where is your sister?"
A small little alicorn appeared from the darkness in the cave and responded, "She's deeper in the cave dad, why are you here?" She sounded worried.
"We need to leave, go get your sister."
"Ok."
"That one looks like her mother, her death will be slower."
The king turned, only to have the hilt of Nocturne's sword bash him to the ground.
"Save yourself the effort and just die already.". Luna and Celestia rounded the corner, and immediately ran to their father's side.
Nocturne laughed, "There is no escape. Surrender!"
Morning Star's horn began to shine. Crystals formed out of the walls; encasing himself, Nocturne, and his daughters.
As the crystals encased them, Morning Star said, "If there is no escape for my family, there isn't one for you."
Before the crystals imprisoned him, nocturne launched his sword through the air. The sword flew at Luna...
Morning Star put himself in the way of the blade. Both daughters screamed as the blade plunged into their father. The cave grew silent ans the crystal cut off the children from the outside world. As that cave would stay for ages, until pony-kind would come again to the land of Equestria.
Broken Crystals
“Bard! Bring your lantern over here and give me some light.” The gruff earth pony farther in the cavern commanded. Bard was obviously not the most respected person on the exploration team.
“Calm yourself Rocky, I’m coming.” Harper said moving deeper into the cavern.
Other prospectors had entered the cavern with them and had already begun mining into the walls of the cave. This land was plentiful with jewels—unlike the lands before.
Harper reached the Gray-haired miner-pony, who was examining a rather huge crystal that was taking up most of the wall.
“What is it? This cave dust is killing my sinuses” She muttered.
“Quit whining. You're the smart one, what type of crystal is this? I can’t seem to break it with my pickaxe.” He clenched his pick in his teeth again and brought it down on the crystal in frustration. This time the pick shattered against the gem sending shards of metal flying down the corridor.
“To be honest, I’ve never seen a crystal like this before." Harper began to examine the stone closer as the miner adjacent to her swore at his luck out loud.
"Damn these caves—and this bloody rock! It can erode away for centuries for all I care!" the miner grumbled.
Harper looked up at the ruby encrusted into her gold tiara, and spoke quietly "Ruby, have you seen anything like this before?"
A small tongue of flame licked out from the ruby and a small voice, no louder than a whisper responded. "This is no natural stone. This gem contains great magical energy, but—" the magical being paused.
"But what?" Harper asked.
"There is something else inside it. I will investigate further, but you must remove him." a small spark flickered out in the direction of Rocky. Who was still too preoccupied to notice the odd conversation going on behind him.
Harper nodded, and turned to Rocky. "I can't believe you're going to let a silly boulder get the best of you. Isn't mining them you cutie mark? I don't even know what its made out of. To think this big rock might be worth twice it's weight in gold, and you're just gonna let somepony else make the profit for your discovery!"
Rocky started towards the exit of the cave, "Ok! You had me at 'twice it's weight in gold!' I'm going to go grab another pick. Don't let anypony else at that rock!"
"Easy," Harper sighed. As soon as Rocky was out of sight, the tiara levitated into the air and burst into flames. The flames shifted, and continued burning in the form of a pegasus.
“Just be quick, a flame atronach that isn’t being summoned by a mage will most definitely not be welcome in here,” Harper continued.
“Yes,” Ruby agreed. “I do understand my appearance my be deemed hostile, but something about this crystal makes even my burning feathers feel a nip of cold.” One of Ruby’s fiery limbs made contact with the gem, and she reeled back and hissed in pain as the gem suddenly began to glow.
“What is it doing?!” Harper yelled as the cave around her began to tremble.
"I don't know! I barely touched it!" the atronach responded. The crystal began to glow a brilliant orange and an audible hum began to fill the cave.
Just over the hum, Harper could hear yelling. The cave was becoming unsafe. Rocky was coming back. Ruby sensed her thoughts, and at almost the same instant Rocky rounded the corner Ruby's still red hot trinket entered Harper's saddlebags.
"We need to leave!" Rocky exclaimed. The corridor was growing warmer, and the the gem was still glowing brighter. Shafts of light shot from cracks now forming on the rock.
Harper looked back at the rock, now gleaming with what rivaled the power of the sun, and noticed something. There were what looked like foals, trapped in the rock!
"Rocky! Give me your pickaxe!" Harper now had to scream to be heard over the now booming hum that now reverberated through the cave.
"Are you crazy! We need to leave!" rocky shifted back and forth on his hooves, obviously fearing for his life.
"Go," Harper yelled,"Just give me your pickaxe!" the fearful stallion easily parted with his tool and quickly galloped away down the passage.
"Ruby, tell me I'm not crazy." Harper said as she retrieved the pickaxe from where rocky dropped it.
"I won't say you aren’t crazy, but I am getting some weird feelings about that rock...”
“Well, we are about to find out what this thing is hiding.” Harper said, raising the pickaxe with her mouth.
“Or break it trying...” Ruby added. Harper had brought down the pickaxe twice, creating no more than a scratch.
Harper rose the pickaxe higher than before, and brought it down with great force. The crystal caved,appearing hollow inside. But instead of the rock collapsing in on itself the rock burst out at her. The corridor darkened, and the great rays of light stopped completely as Harper felt herself thrust against the far wall. The sudden darkness around her was suffocating, and she writhed in pain as she struggled to breath.
Harper blacked out.
___ ___ ___
Harper opened her eyes, and found herself floating through nothing but darkness. She tried to move, but her limbs did not respond.
Harper was helpless in a sea of black. She yelled for help, but it did not come. Harper fought against her invisible bonds to no avail. She thought she heard a noise like a small whisper in her ear—a foal’s voice—but she threw that thought away.
Harper struggled for what seemed like hours, each time more furious than the last, but finally her hope caved. Her head hung down, dangling from her shoulders like a ragdoll.
Then she heard hoofsteps, hoofsteps of all things. Harper didn’t bother to look, anything in this place must not be pleasant to look at.
“No, thats not the way to look at it at all.” A colt’s voice spoke.
Harper rose her head to look at her would-be captor, but didn’t respond.
The colt continued, “You look so depressed,” He sounded almost cheerful. “You just released a spirit who has been trapped for an eternity. You should feel so very happy.”
Harper felt a chill run down her spine as the foal’s voice was now slightly louder, screaming.
The colt strode towards her, and harper felt the air around her grow significantly colder. “It’s as if you don’t even want to be here. Just accept it, and you will have such a good time!” Harper attempted to back away, but yet again realised that she was trapped.
The scream came again, now very clear, “Wake UP!” This time the scream was accompanied by an invisible blow to Harper’s head.
Harper’s head was still spinning, but she could almost see the colt change shapes for a second.
The colt spoke again, “Well, it seems that I have unfinished business to attend too. But don’t you worry, you will be rewarded later.”
All of a sudden the darkness peeled away, and Harper was quickly blinded by the light.
___ ___ ___
Harper’s eyes opened to a scene of pure horror.
A small white unicorn was launching bolts of light at the form a unicorn stallion made up entirely of shadows, whose magic tendrils were choking the life out of a smaller foal. This one was almost the exact opposite of her sibling, whose dark blue mane and coat were turning a alternate shade of blue as she let loose yet another shrill cry.
Harper acted quickly. She found the pickaxe she had used to break the crystal, and then assaulted the dark figure with rabid swings.
One of the swings made physical contact, to the surprise of Harper. The magic that had possessed a death-grip on the small foal broke, and an audible intake of air clarified that she was still alive.
The beast squealed—determining that this prey was not worth the fight—and retreated towards the exit at a supernatural pace.
Harper turned, looked at the older looking of the two unicorns and asked, “what...was that...thing?!”
The foal returned her look, and collapsed.
Harper looked at the two unconscious foals in front of her, “Ruby, keep watch on these two, I’m gonna take a breather.” And then Harper collapsed as well.
___ ____ ___
Harper awoke on the cold stone floor hoping the past events were all a dream, but the flaming atronach hovering above the two foals said otherwise.
“Ruby, did either of them wake up yet?” Harper asked groggily, rubbing her eyes.
“No, the children are still sleeping.” Ruby floated over towards Harper.
Harper stood up, shaking the dirt out of her clothes. She looked over at the two children, now sleeping peacefully in the places they fell after the fight with...whatever that thing was. The smaller of the two still had black marks where the magic had tried to squeeze the life out of her.
“Ruby, I’m going to see if anyone or anything is still outside. Keep those two safe until I get back.” Harper turned towards the exit and started off but Ruby quickly blocked his path.
“Wait!” Ruby said, “What if they wake up while you’re gone?”
Harper shrugged,”I don’t know. Keep them warm—you’ll be good at that.” Harper chuckled as she altered her path around the flaming being.
Ruby flamed up. “Ha ha, very funny.” Ruby floated there and gave out a big huff. She went back over near the kids.
Harper made her way out. The cave had directed the blast of the crystal outwards, and luckily most if not all of the load bearing support beams survived the explosion. Pickaxes and shovels littered the floor, evidence of the speed the cave had been evacuated. An odd dust floated through the air giving the cave a sense of surrealness about it. Harper climbed the last few feet to daylight and saw the full extent of the damage the crystal’s magic had caused.
The area all around the cave opening was burnt, trees that had been cut down to clear the way for gem carts were still burning. The only sign of equine presence was overthrown carts and tools strewn about the entrance.
Harper grabbed a lamp from one of the carts and grabbed some dead branches from the trees and returned to the cave.
___ ____ ___
“The young one is still asleep and the older one won’t speak to me at all.” Ruby complained. Harper had returned only seconds earlier with his supplies to find Ruby floating back and forth in the cavern, and the older of the sisters sitting against the wall staring at her.
Harper sat next to the foal, and spoke. “Is Ruby scaring you?” Ruby flared, obviously hurt.
The foal shook her head, but still wouldn't speak. She had both wings and a horn, but her wings were snow white instead of the usual gray feathers. Her sister’s wings were almost night black.
Harper continued, “What is it then?”
The foal turned her head and stared at her, and she spoke. “It doesn't scare me, but I would rather not speak with it present.”
Ruby burned hotter, “It!?” A ball of fire formed above Ruby’s right wing, but Harper raised her hoof to stop her.
“Ruby, would you please return to your gem for a second.” Harper pleaded. She continued in her thoughts,“Its not like you won’t be able to hear her."
“Yeah, yeah...” Ruby slipped back into the trinket that plopped to the ground, and Harper retrieved it from the dirt floor.
“So what is it that you can’t say in front of my fiery friend?” Harper asked.
“It...I mean she...looked real pretty. The ones my father had didn't look as nice.” The trinket grew a little warmer in her bag, Harper knew she was blushing.
“Your father, he knows where more of her kind are?”
“Not anymore,” a small tear streamed down her face, but no more came.
“What do you mean, anymore?” Harper looked confused.
The white foal pointed towards what remained of the crystal, shards were scattered all over the floor.
A pile of bonedust and a gilded robe was all that remained in the crystal. Harper pointed at the pile, and another reluctant tear fell as she nodded.
A gleam caught Harper’ eye as she examined the crystal. She jumped in through the hole she had made and saw it was the hilt of a sword, a rather long sword. Harper cringed as she had to brush off some of the foal’s father to retrieve it.
The sword handle was almost designed to hold in your mouth. Harper latched the sword onto her back using the straps on her cuirass. She took the robe too—but not to wear. She wasn't going to leave one of the two things left of the foals’ father because it was too heavy.
Harper walked back to the foal and leaned against the wall, “I never did get your name.”
“My name is Celestia, and my sister’s is Luna.” The foal turned, and looked over at her sister, still asleep.
“Well Celestia, my name is Harper. Nice to meet you.” Harper nodded and offered her hoof. Celestia grabbed it and pulled herself up.
Ruby’s voice resonated in his head, “She has both unicorn and pegasus blood?”
“No, she isn't a half-breed. She already knows minor magical spells and I can only assume they know how to fly.” Harper couldn't deny that there was something weird about these kids.
“I feel great magical power radiating from both of them. What did she say about more of my kind?” Ruby questioned.
“Not much, she only mentioned her father could summon multiple at a time,” Harper continued.
“That also sounds impossible. Even the greatest of the Unicorn magicians can only summon one or two at a time. And those are only mindless copies, Not magical beings fully capable of thought. The only reason I’m able to sustain my presence in this world is because I was bound to this gem during my summoning.” Ruby sounded somewhat flustered.
"I know, and the only reason I have your gem is because I won a bet.” Harper accidentally spoke out loud. Earning himself a weird look from Celestia.
This time Harper meant to speak aloud, “So, you hungry?”
___ ___ ___
The smaller sister was still rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as Harper lead them out of the cave. Harper had to help her up the last steps because she was still tired.
“How old are you to?” Harper asked.
“I’m about a thousand two-hundred years old, and Luna is only about eight hundred and fifty years old.”
“Wha, how are you that old?” Harper looked on, confused.
“How old are you!?” Celestia questioned.
“Not nearly as old!” Harper answered, “How can you be that old? Does that count the years that you were in that rock?”
Luna yawned and tried to flutter into the air, drawing the eyes and attention of her sister. She rose up but quickly landed again, falling to her knee and scrapping it. Tears began to flow as Celestia ran over to her and chastised her.
“You know you aren’t supposed to fly! You shouldn’t even use your wings until you find a trainer! Did you even listen to Mom?!” Celestia picked up her sister and looked at her knee, which was slightly scratched.
Luna just whimpered as her sister continued to ridicule her. Harper felt Ruby’s crystal glowing warmer again.
“She treats her sister so harshly,” Ruby said.
“Yeah,” Harper agreed in her head. Then spoke aloud. “Must you really treat your sister so harshly? She just wanted to stretch her wings some.”
Celestia turned, “Our mother specifically said for her to no fly in open areas because of her magical powers.” Suddenly Luna disappeared, leaving a slight depression where she vanished.
Harper span rapidly, trying to see where the little foal had gone off to. Celestia spoke up, but directed at her sister.
“Now is not the time to feel scared. We weren't fighting, were we?” Celestia shot Harper a glance.
“Yeah, I was just getting some bandages from my bag for your knee...” Harper added. She reached her hoof into the bag and dug for the emergency kit she kept in it. She pulled it out and held it in the air, unsure of where the little foal was.
The little foal reappeared in the spot she had disappeared from. She was still crying, but at least now she was visible again.
Harper knelt down and held the bandages up to Luna’s knee. She immediately recoiled from Harper’ touch. Harper was unsure whether from the pain the scrape was causing her or just Harper touching her.
Harper put her hoof on her shoulder, “Look, all I’m doing is trying to fix you up. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Harper again attempted to put the bandages on her knee. Luna looked at her sister as Harper began to wrap her knee in the bandage cloth.
Harper finished and stood. She offered her hoof to Luna, which she very tentatively took hold of.
Celestia looked at the now setting sun, and turned to Harper. “How far did you say we still have to travel until we reach this town?”
“At least another day’s travel.”
“Then we might as well start setting up camp now then.” Celestia looked at her sister. Luna was staring at Harper.
Harper—uneasily—said, “Yeah, that seems like a good idea. Ruby, would you get a fire started?”
Ruby materialized from her gem and Harper prepared the firewood. The two foals sat as the fire was prepared. Luna’s gaze still rested on Harper as she rolled out three mats from her back. Celestia noticed the golden instrument that now rested exposed where the mats used to cover it.
“What is that thing on your back?” Celestia asked.
Harper unclipped it from her cuirass and ran her hoof along the strings. “This? This is my ticket to paradise. Its all I know how to do well. Since that cave excavation kind of blew up in my face, I’m just going to go back to performing on the street again...” Harper sat down on her mat and strummed some notes.
“Would you play us a song?” Celestia asked, and looked over at her sister. “Maybe a lullaby?”
“Sure, I’ll see what I can remember...um,” Harper played a chord and hummed the lowest note in tune then sung.
There once was a foal in the meadow,
whose eyes sparkled like stars in the sky.
Those who knew her live now in sorrow,
Because she had bid now goodbye.
-
There once was a foal in the meadow,
Whose eyes shone as bright as the sun.
She’d sing songs as I slept in my bedroom,
and I wish I could remember a one.
-
I knew a foal who lived in the meadow,
Her voice was as bright as the day
All who knew her now live in sadness,
because she has gone on her way
-
There once was a foal in the meadow,
whose eyes sparkled like stars in the sky.
Those who knew her live now in sorrow,
saying ‘why must the good always die!’...
Harper stopped singing and looked at her audience. Luna had fallen asleep on her mat during the second verse, and Celestia just stared at the ground in front of her.
“Sorry. It wasn’t really a lullaby—but it was a song my father always sang to me about my mom before I went to bed.” Celestia looked up from the ground.
“You were young weren't you?”
“Yes, I was.”
Celestia reached over and brushed her sisters hair out of her face. Luna looked peaceful now, not frightened at all as before. Her chain-mail dress even clinked when her wings twitched, she was approaching cute.
“Celestia, why hasn't your sister said a word since I released you two?”
“That thing that attacked us. I don’t know what it did, but it did something. She seems tired all the time and always scared. She only acts normal when she sleeps...”
Luna let out a huge snore. Harper chuckled as he wrapped himself in his covers, and Celestia did the same as they both fell asleep.
Rocky had been running for hours, and the sun had finally outran him. He found himself tumbling along the road that had lead to the cave, completely alone. He stopped and examined the dark trail around him. The moon was full, so he was able to see a good distance down the trail both ways. The trail ran around a forest and the other side ran near to the edge of a pond.
He looked behind him, and far in the distance a light glowed brightly.
“Hello!” he yelled, attempting to get the pony at the light’s attention.
He must have succeeded in getting noticed, because the bright blue light moved closer and closer. A blast of cold air swept along the path, and a shiver crept up Rocky’s spine.
Suddenly a feeling of dread overcame him. He began to back away from the approaching light, but it was too late. He let out a scream as it collided with him leaving a patch of frostbite. The apparition knocked him to the ground, and Rocky breathed his last as the thing attacking him brought a hoof down on his head.
The air around the ghostly body grew even colder as vapor rose from the remains of Rocky. Blood ran from the crater in his head. The ghostly glow grew brighter, and then faded off into the night as the apparition floated into the woods.
___ ____ ___
The unicorns in Canterlot must have been up early, because so was the sun. Harper awoke as the birds in the trees began to chirp around the camp. She stretched out her forelegs above her head, and rolled off the mat and summoned Ruby to reignite the fire from the night before.
Celestia was up already, kicking dirt around the campsite. Luna was still snoring on her mat. The fire was quickly lit, and a quick breakfast was had. Luna awoke at the smell of bread and cheese, and looked almost cheerful as she snacked on the food she was given.
"The sunrise seems early today," Harper said. "but that's good, we can make it to Canterlot by mid-day." Harper packed up the mats and recalled Ruby to her trinket.
"Where is this town? All there is around here is trees and mountains." Celestia asked.
"Look up."
The girls stared up in awe at the giant castle protruding from the mountainside. Clouds floated around the the great castle’s walls like a second set of ramparts. Pegasi looked like dots flying cloud to cloud near the mountains tip where the castle resided.
“H-how in the world are we going to get up there?!” Celestia stuttered. Luna fluttered her wings once again, but a sharp stare from her sister denied that idea.
“We take the tunnel.” Harper pointed to the base of the mountain.
“Why would you build such a castle on the side of a mountain?!” Celestia said, still in shock.
“Well, the pegasi wanted it up in the air near cloud level. However, the earth ponies wanted to keep their hooves on the ground. And Princess Platinum liked the view.” Harper chuckled at the last bit as they continued on their way towards the base of the mountain.
___ ____ ___
“Princess, somepony was found dead on the east road this morning.” The guard was a pegasus and had an eyepatch over his right eye.
Princess Platinum sat up on her throne, looking at her Captain of the guard without emotion, “Do you know what did it?”
“No ma’am, but rumors are already floating around. The body was brought in; never seen wounds like it. He’s like a husk, like the life was sucked right out of him.” He shifted on his hooves like something was bothering him.
“You seem disturbed Captain,” Platinum remarked.
“There was something about the place the body was found. The pegasi are in the midst of summer season, but the ground around the site was frozen hard. The grass was covered in frost and the water that ran along the trail was frozen over."
"It appears the only option we have is to increase the number of patrols until we know what happened. I also want you to bring in the Pegasus in charge during that time, find out if they noticed anything suspicious." Platinum rose from her seat and moved to the window that looked out into the valley.
Now the captain spoke, "Do you want me to tell Commander Hurricane?"
"Not now. She is still busy training new guards. But be ready in case the killing escalates. We have no idea if this is just a random animal, or something more malevolent. It will reveal itself in due time."
"Yes ma'am," the captain nodded to the other guards. They all exited the throne room, leaving the Princess to look out the window on her own.
___ ____ ___
Harper and the sisters traversed the busy streets of Canterlot. Harper still in her curiass, while the sisters wore cloaks to cover their wings. Harper had decided walking around Canterlot with two ponies with wings and horns would attract all the wrong attention.
Celestia looked between the workers roaming up and down the street with carts full of tools and materials, the guards with their swords and crossbows, and the majority of the ponies they passed with intricate dresses and suits of armor.
"So much culture. I'd love to come look around here later."
"Maybe later, right now we need to go the University and find a friend of mine."
Luna wasn't looking at the people like her sister. She moved from window to window, store to store. Looking in every shop, until Harper beckoned her to follow closer.
They approached a large building with huge doors. Unicorn guards flanked the opening on both sides. As they approached, the guards opened the doors. Harper and the sisters entered the library.
Harper approached the front desk and whispered something to the librarian, who pointed to one of the many hallways that branched off from the main hall. Harper waved to the sisters, who were too busy examining displays to notice. Harper trotted over to them, and dragged them down the hallway promising there would be time for looking at the exhibits later.
The hallway was long, and the ceiling was high. The hall was well lit by chandeliers that hung down from chains attached to arches that defined the hallway's shape.
Harper stopped at the last door in the hallway. The door was heavy, with intricate woodwork. Done by a pony of obvious skill. She rapped against the door with her forehoof.
The sound of clutter being shifted came from the other side of the door. The sisters creeped slowly away, but stopped when Harper gave them a stern glance.
The heavy door groaned in protest as a purple mare opened the door to see who had disturbed her studies. The mare looked from Harper to the sisters, and back again.
"Long time, Clover. How've you been?" Harper extended her hoof out in greeting.
Clover opened the door fully, "Aren't you supposed to be playing your lyre somewhere?" Harper chuckled as the friends embraced.
"How is my relic doing?" Clover asked. Pointing to the trinket dangling from Harper's saddlebag.
Ruby emerged from the jewel and stretched her fiery wings, "I am fine ma'am."
Clover motioned to enter the room. Harper entered followed by Ruby. The sisters entered close behind, and Clover shut the door behind him.