Zodiac CYOA text

>something about this doesn't feel real
>maybe it isn't, who knows ?
>you try not to really think about stuff like that much anymore
>you know, roll with the punches, go with the flow
>if only it weren't so hot
>you look up into the sun
>celestia doesn't mess around out here
>you scan the horizon while attempting to shield your eyes
>the desert is so open
>there's a certain lack of structure, an organic freedom
>the plants strong enough to survive are sparse and modest
>so different from canterlot
>social structure means nothing out here, just adaptability and the will to thrive
>you look back down at the piece of heavy card-stock in your hand
>the reason you are here
>you notice that the paper's gold outlining sparkles a little in the sun
>you examine the text on the card for what feels like the thousandth time

> “Anonymous -

For the first time in common Equestrian history, we are set to experience an extraordinary alignment within our galaxy. It is with great honor that we cordially invite you, Anonymous, to the first ever “ball of the stars”. Additionally, we would like to make you our very own guest of honor. As a guest of honor, you will be treated as one of the ZODIAC family. We formally extend our invitation for you to stay with us at the one and only Castle of Celestial Dawn before the event. Food, housing and all other essentials will be provided! We feel that your insight will be pivotal in laying the framework for our developing annual tradition. We encourage you to arrive early, yet we will be expecting you at any time.

because you never know where the stars will take you

* Z O D I A C *

> “They're all crazy you know”
>you jump a bit at the driver's voice
>he sounds irritated
>the crunch of hoof and wheel on desert is the only thing challenging the overbearing sun for your attention
>you shrug your shoulders
“Let's just say I'm working on being less judgmental”
>he looks back for a second before continuing his monotone stride
> “Ponies call em the Star Cult for a reason”
“I just assumed it was another excuse for a horse related pun”
>you don't have to see his eyes to sense his glare
>he picks up his pace as more dust continues to get stirred up around you
> “Look kid, I'm not much for conversation. I'm getting paid to take you out to that damned castle, I ain't getting paid to take you back. You got a question or not?”

* (input) *

“Yeah, so how far away are we from the nearest city exactly?”
>the driver chuckles a little
> “Ain't much out here kid, it's a bit late for second thoughts”
>this guy must just be trying to get under your skin
“Just answer the question”
>“I reckon we're at least an hour away from Appleloosa if you trot... or however your type moves. The old rock farm to the west might be a tad closer, I ain't too familiar with the area.”
“So you've never been to the castle? What's it like inside?”
>he shakes his head no
> “I've been outside and that's as close as I'm gonna get. From a distance it's mighty impressive, just like anything else dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”
>he shakes his head yes and continues his trot
>“Legend has it that ponies who go in don't come out the same. Some say it's haunted, ponies don't go there unless they askin' for trouble, nopony really knows what's inside. I reckon that anyone who goes in there must be crazy, couldn't imagine what livin' in there would do to ya.”
>you remain silent and scan the horizon
> “Course I've been known to exaggerate in the name of a good story... Anything else you wanna know? we're almost there.”

*

>it's then when you notice it
>tucked away against the foothills you've steadily been approaching
>you can tell it must be huge and it looks to be made of stone
>the castle is almost ancient in appearance
>you hope that the free housing isn't in some dusty old ruins
>or a lie all together
>the landscape at least looks more lively up ahead
>there must be water somewhere in the area
“Well it's a good thing I'm already crazy then”
>the driver snorts a bit but resumes his pace
>“Seems like the perfect fit for ya then”
>the silence is a little tense
“So who are the Zodiac, what do they do?”
>more hoof noises
> “I don't know much about em, don't care to find out. From what I heard, this Zodiac group went in there a while back to do some kind of research. They haven't come out or released nothing, this is the first I've heard of em since.”

>the castle is approaching rapidly
>some of the details in the stonework start to become noticeable, it looks like there are statues on the higher castles tiers
>you approach the wall blocking the massive stone structure ahead of you, from the direction that you are approaching not much of the castle is visible
>it looks like it extends back a ways too
>there is a break in the wall ahead with what seems to be a type of arch over it
>the driver's eyes are fixed on it
>you look up and can read the text carved into the stone
>it's oddly legible and clear
> ZODIAC CASTLE
> “Alright kid, end of the line. This is as far as I'm going”
>you get out of the cart and step foot on the ground
>the driver looks up at you briefly as if he forgot about your height
>he begins to trot in the other direction
>you feel like you should say something
“Thanks”
>he looks back and nods then continues his stride
>you turn back towards the castle and take a deep breath
>you slowly make your way through the gate

>it really is something up close too
>you knew it'd be impressive but being at a distance doesn't compare
>it somehow fuses size and attention to detail well, every rock is massive but many seem to be carved with intricate patterns
>the courtyard you are walking through feels so different
>otherworldly
>complete contrast from the desert you just traveled through
>you don't even feel as hot anymore
>vibrant green
>it feels like magic all around you
>it probably is, right damn horse world
>you work your way closer to the castle through the hedges and statutes
>they are definitely strange
>they look old
>everything here does, it feels almost preserved
>untouched by time and change
>the statutes of bizarre creatures and ponies wearing vintage armor show little to no cracks or wear
>it really does puzzle you why this castle would be so uninhabited
>you'd think something as impressive and pristine would be swarming with tourists and loud cameras
>or at least it'd be explored and mapped out
>the driver made it sound like there would only be a few ponies here
>despite the vibrancy, everything feels empty and uninhabited
>it's awe inspiring but the whole thing raises a lot of questions
>especially as to how you are actually going to get in the castle
>how are they going to have any idea you are here?
>there are so many stories these ponies could be anywhere
>you see there are multiple doors on the nearest part of the castle
>maybe you should knock on one of them?
>or you could look around the courtyard?

*

>you are tempted to just approach one of the large wooden doors and knock, but something about that seems off putting
>plus the statutes around do seem interesting
>hopefully snooping around won't look suspicious
>you approach two large statues to your right close to a tall hedge
>the first one you notice is of two griffons holding each other in a tight embrace
>the larger and more stout looking griffon has its wing wrapped around a slender and fluffy look catbird
>they are making eye contact
>the stone beneath reads something too
>“for every heartbeat they will share”
>seems kind of corny, but the detailed facial expressions must take a certain amount of mastery with stone
>you take note of the statue next to it as well
>time hasn't been as kind to this one
>a pony with what appears to be a beaming smile raising a hoof slightly, as if in mid-step
>he wears what looks to be a modest crown, or at least some type of headwear
>one side of his face is completely smashed, yet the rest of the statue's architecture seems to be fairly intact
>just like the one next to it, there is a small passage underneath the stonework
> “he died how he lived, in his web of lies”
>you look at the statue's smashed face and what is left of his beaming smile

>definitely something eerie about all of this
>you feel like moving on
>you turn the hedge and can faintly hear the sound of water ahead
>it looks like there is a fountain
>it is about twice your height
>and actually running
>in the middle of a desert...
>the base of the fountain is rounded and thick enough to rest on
>you approach it and sit down
>the hedges around you restrict your view fairly well here
>seems like at one point this would have been a peaceful place to spend some time resting
>you take a moment to sit down and close your eyes
>it's been a long journey here already today
>just as your mind starts to slip and your shoulders start to slouch you hear a voice to your side
> “Hello Anonymous”
>you jump and abruptly turn to see a very calm looking light blue mare
>the tranquility of her voice and her relaxed demeanor slow your heart rate slightly
>she has a multi-shaded white mane that covers her eyes
>your first instinct is to be alarmed at the presence of the stranger, but everything seems so peaceful
> “My name is Aquarius. It's an honor to welcome you to Zodiac Castle”

*

>after you've fully gathered yourself you put together an acceptable response
“The honor is mine Aquarius, it's nice to meet you”
>she smiles just a tiny bit and blinks slowly
“You have many lovely statues here”
>her voice remains controlled and level, soothing
> “I'm glad you think so, I've always enjoyed this part of the courtyard myself”
>yeah you could get used to it here
“So who are they? The griffons and the smiling gent with the broken face?”
>she continues to smile and moves a bit closer to where you are sitting
> “Unfortunately, I do not know. They have been lost in time at this point, but one can imagine...”
>she pauses for a moment
>even with the change in speech pattern she maintains composure well
>“This castle provides more questions than answers sometimes”
>the sound of water in the fountain behind you really is calming
>you want to hug her
>you make eye contact
>her deep blue eyes are so engaging
“It's all very beautiful... may I hug you?”
>her face falters for a brief moment
>maybe you took it too far
>she approaches your seat and leans up to embraces you slightly
>you reciprocate and wrap your arm around her
>it feels nice, she is soft and just like her appearance, her touching is cooling
>you can feel her lean into you a little further, it's surprisingly tender
>just as abruptly as it happened she pulls away
>you look at her again
>you think you see a little bit of a blush on her
>maybe it's just the lighting, it is really slight if there at all
>you feel like you should say something
“So can I get a tour?”
>Aquarius nods yes
> “Of course, I will help you get oriented around here. The others are all very eager to meet you as well.”
>she pauses for a second before continuing
> “Would you like to see more of the courtyard or do you want to go inside the castle and meet the others? I'll answer any questions you might have along the way to the best of my ability”

*

“Let's go in and get the tour started then”
>you stand up
>Aquarius nods and begins making her way back out of the hedges
>you follow and try to stay by her side
>it is a little surreal leaving the fountain
>things don't feel quite as empty out here anymore
“So... things seem pretty isolated out here, how do you get food and water?”
>she continues her pace as you make your way back towards the statues
> “When we first arrived we thought that would be an issue as well. We brought a supply of food, seeds and water”
>you nod and she continues
>“All that planning only to find running water and a complete fertile and thriving orchard in the southern most part of the land. As far as we can tell the land has been untended for a very long time... It's a type of magic we don't quite understand”
>you think you almost hear a sigh
>“Like a lot of things here...”
>she's not a very expressive one for sure

>it's probably going to start getting dark soon
>you can feel the temperature dropping
>you look up and see that the sun has moved down the horizon to the point where it is almost blocked by the hills behind you
>they look daunting this close up
>Aquarius says nothing but seems to be taking in the surroundings as well
>you pass the statues again
>they give off almost a completely different feeling at this time of day
>like there is an energy coming from them, some kind of untold story that could be lost forever
>it is off putting
>your thoughts are interrupted by Aquarius
>her tone is surprisingly soft
> “Maybe it's just me, but it feels like there are a lot of memories in this castle. Sometimes you can feel them if the lighting is just right...”
>she stops walking and breaks her rhythm
>you stop with her
>her tone picks back up
> “We're almost to a main castle entrance, before you enter I'd like to lay down a few guidelines for your stay with us”
>you nod yes

> “First, no magic. Anywhere on the castle grounds. That rule is mainly for unicorns, you shouldn't have to worry about it.”
>she remains calm and soothing but her voice does command some authority
>like a museum guide or something
> “Second you must understand that a lot of this castle is completely unknown. You are free to explore as you please and help us discover, but there is an inherent risk involved. If you get the wrong type of energy from a room, I'd personally recommend you do not enter it.”
>you take a second to process her words
> “And lastly just know we are all very different ponies, give us our space if we ask for it and try not to interrupt our rituals”
>she stops at the castle entrance and blinks her eyes slowly
>your eyes lock
> “Do you understand?”

*

>you nod in understanding
>or at least you think you understand but you still have a lot of unanswered questions
“Why no magic? If the castle is so dangerous is there somewhere I can arm myself?”
>Aquarius pauses then begins to speak
> “As I mentioned about the orchard, there is a lot of magic here that we don't understand. We don't want to do anything to disturb the spells in place.
>she pauses then continues
>"There is a harmony to the magical frequencies, possibly even spells from thousands of moons ago still in place all around us. If the magic is disturbed, diluted or corrupted in anyway, it could be lost from history forever.
>she stops talking and sighs softly
>"We are doing our best to preserve things... If you feel in danger we could provide you with a sword or dagger of some sort perhaps, but I can assure you that you'll be safe in the areas of the castle we have explored”
>she gives you a surprisingly warm smile
>you don't know much about magic but it seems legit
“What kind of rituals are you talking about, what is it you do here exactly?”
>she takes a breath but doesn't break her voice's tranquil cadence
> “While it is tough to classify the Zodiac group as one thing, we are at the core stargazers. It is how we learn and experience ourselves. It is important for us to find complete solitude and observe the night sky to see what answers it holds for us. I know it may be difficult to understand, but it is important to everyone here. Each of us has our own established room in the castle where we stay alone for several designated hours every night, it is essential to our practice that you do not disturb us during these times.”
>you nod but are still skeptic
“So I've heard some rumors about this castle, is it true that ponies who go inside don't come out the same? I heard that none of you ever leave.”
>She looks slightly confused at your question but considers it for a second and begins to answer in her normal calm and collective voice
> “We have been here with each-other for a while now. There is just... so much to take in. You shouldn't be afraid, the castle doesn't change ponies magically.”
>she pauses and smiles slightly before continuing
> “Although I have to say I am a different pony just through my experiences here, if that makes sense, but by all means you will not lose your identity”
>not quite a straight forward answer, but you've kinda come to expect that out of her at this point
>at least it makes some sense to you
“Any troublemakers I should be aware of?”
>she laughs a little
>it breaks her stoic aura, but it is nice to see her open up
> “All of us can be a handful in the right setting... not to be a gossip but Leo and Scorpio can be trouble... their intentions are pure.”
>noted, secret is safe with her
“So... any ponies I should or shouldn't hug?”
>this time she definitely blushes
> “Some of the others might not be as... receiving as me. But you can try your luck”
>she blinks slowly and takes a deep breath
> “So Anonymous, are you ready to go inside?”

*

>you look again at the heavy wooden door in front of you
“Yes, lead the way”
>Aquarius nods and pushes the door forward
>as the two of you walk through the door-frame the energy and general ambiance drastically changes once again
>the interior of the castle is warm in color
>bright reds and purples decorate the hallway with ridiculous and extravagant patterns
>dots and other stripes, splashes of paint, metallic gold highlights
>it's visually cluttered but somehow sharp and cohesive at the same time
>the floor seems to be made of non-polished stone of different varieties, mostly black and white in a check-board reminiscent pattern
>the hallway is straight with nothing but a chandelier hanging over head
>you both walk forward
>even the echoing click clack of Aquarius' hooves on the stone embodies rhythm
>and just like in the courtyard everything is in immaculate shape
>the hallway takes a sharp right turn ahead
>like it only turns right
>weird architecture for sure, not exactly intuitive by any means
“I'll have to take you up on the sword offer, I definitely want to explore some and I've always wanted to carry a sword anyways”

>she nods and continues her pace around the corner
>the hallway begins to slant downward?
>yeah you are definitely descending, if only a slight amount
>“Very well, we will get you situated once we establish where you will be staying”
>you silently fist-pump
>you continue your walk forward to the opening ahead
“Is there a public observatory? Or only the private ones?”
>Aquarius blinks a little in surprise
> “If you are interested in stargazing there is a great viewing spot outside on the roof of the castle... Our private observatories are positioned to give us views of specific sections of sky, but if you'd like a great overview it really is breathtaking up there but rather intense for lack of a better word”
>just as you are about to reply again you make your way through the opening and out of the hallway
>wow
>this is not what you were expecting
>you realize that you are on an indoor balcony of sorts looking down into an enormous ballroom
>its decor is just as intense as the hallway's, but much less crowded
>does this castle go underground too?
>you stop and look down to see a set of stairs to either side of you leading downwards
>there is a group of ponies downstairs, you count 12
> “AQUARIUS! Come down here already!”
>she looks down but doesn't seem alarmed at her name being yelled
>she raises her voice but the integrate of her speech isn't comprised
>“Alright, hold on we are coming Leo”
>the two of you work your way down the long staircase
>Aquarius speaks up again
> “It looks like everyone is here, sorry if this is a tad overwhelm. I'm sure you'd like to rest... Things will settle down once you select a house to stay in”

*

>neither of you say anything on the way down the stairs
>it is somewhat intimidating, all the ponies make their way over to where you are headed
>as soon as you reach the bottom of the staircase you are immediately knocked backwards by an orange blur
>what is happening, fuck
>you stumble backwards, luckily whatever hit you is soft
>you look up directly into a pair of golden brown eyes
> “Hey Anonymous! Ohhhh wow you really are an alien! It's nice to meet you mister alien. My name is Leo!”
>why this pony is wearing a lion suit is beyond you
>her smile is infectious though
>you stand up but not before giving her a quick scratch behind the ear
>she keeps smiling and stands up next to you, on the opposite side of Aquarius
>the blue pony with ram horns speaks up
>wait ram horns?
> “Jeez Leo, I didn't think you were being serious when you said you were gonna tackle him”
>Leo just keeps smiling and sticks a little closer to you
>"Yep! Sure was!"
>you feel like you should introduce yourself
“Uh, hey everyone. My name is Anonymous. It's nice to finally meet all of you, I'm honored to be invited... even if I'm not quite sure why you wanted me in particular.”
>you stop speaking and no one says anything for a brief second

>the silence is broken by a purpleish pony to the side of the small crowd you've gathered
>“We wanted to invite you cause you are actually from the stars! That's so cool Anon, can I call you Anon?”
>you notice she has a crab with her that looks to be alive
“Yeah that's fine, and you are?”
>her facial expression picks up a little bit more
>she leans forward as she talks
>“My name is Cancer! It's nice to meet you Anon!”
>heh Cancer
“My pleasure, I like your crab it's very cute”
>she freezes for a moment then actually swoons into the pony next to her
>the lime green unicorn with the blue mane looks confused but remains silent as her friend leans into her playfully
>the pony to her other side is not as amused
>you make eye contact and she kind of just glares and doesn't say anything
>her teal eyes are looking right into you, almost like sizing you up
>just when you are about to say something you are approached by a large red stallion
>he is also wearing horns
>he extends his hoof out to you
>you shake it kind of awkwardly
>his presence is strong and sharp
> “The name is Taurus, good to meet you Anonymous. If you need anything around here you just let me know. Us guys got to have each-others backs”
>you nod at him knowingly
“I'll keep that in mind, thank you Taurus. Can you tell me where I can find food and the bathrooms?”
>he nods then continues to talk
> “Each house will have several bathrooms and a kitchen. You can always find food in the orchard, nothing like eating right from the tree”

>you are about to respond when you are approached by a very regal looking white pony
>she is wearing a dress and has a pretty lavender colored flower in her well maintained pink mane
> “Speaking of houses, have you decided where you will be staying?”
>...
“I assumed that you would let me know since housing is provided...”
>the pony scoffs lightly to herself
> “Did Aquarius forget to tell you? I knew I should have been there to greet you more properly. Our castle is composed of four main houses that are element specific...”
>you look at her puzzled and she just sighs and continues
> “If you choose to stay in the fire house you will be staying with Leo, Sagittarius and Aries”
>the blue pony with the horns, lion outfit pone and an orange pegasus stallion step forward a little
> “Fire house rules!”
>the white pony speaking at you glares back
> “Leo, please do not interrupt me!”
>Leo rolls her eyes but remains silent
> “Anyways... the air house is composed of Aquarius, who you've meet, Gemmy and Minny, and of course Libra”
>Aquarius makes eye contact with you for a brief second and nods
>two unicorns with inverted color palettes wave at you eerily in sync to Aquarius' left
>on the other side of them a yellowish-orange pegasus blinks rapidly at you then bites her bottom lip
>top cute unf
> “In the water house we have Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces”
>Cancer and the green pony next to her wave while the pony with the teal eyes just continues to stare you down
> “And lastly in the Earth house we have Taurus, Capricorn and myself”
>she pauses then takes a breath
> “I am Virgo, it is nice to finally meet you Anonymous”
>you shake her hoof just like with Taurus but you are a bit more prepared this time
>the other pony with a white coat out of the group approaches you
>she must be Capricorn
> “Earth house is very nice and grounded Anonymous, I'm sure you'd like it! But whatever you decide is okay!”

*

>you take a moment to consider the options
>you think it's a good idea to stick with a pony that you already kinda know
>can't deny that much waifu material either
“I think that I'll stay in the Air house”
>Capricorn's face falters for a second but she gives you a smile
>you hear Leo and Cancer awww in the background
“Not that the other houses don't sound great, just good to be with a familiar face”
>Aquarius smiles and moves closer to you
>the yellow-orange pegasus who you have gathered to be Libra trots over
>it sounds like she is giggling
>she wraps her hooves around the white coated pony's neck and leans into her
> “Awww, no hard feelings Capricorn! Everypony knows air house is the cutest ~”
>you wonder if that remark is in good taste...
>Capricorn starts to laugh along with Libra though so you figure they must be friends
>the two ponies with inverted color schemes approach you
> “Nice to meet you Anon, I'm Gemini”
> “Nice to meet you Anon, I'm Gemini”
>you are confused for second and don't quite know what to say
>the green pony with the yellow mane laughs
> “We couldn't resist”
>the yellow pony with the green mane speaks up
> “In all seriousness nice to meet you, I'm sure you'll love the Air house”
>Aquarius' calming voice carries over what is starting to become a significant amount of noise
>the echo is really weird in this ballroom like some frequencies reverberate with more intensity than others
> “We should all get going soon, the Lunar clock is close to ringing”

*

>you give the situation an internal “k”
“What is the Lunar clock?”
>Aquarius motions a hoof over to a large grandfather clock that is somewhat tucked against one of the castle walls
>you work your way over to the clock to inspect it
>several of the ponies from other houses start to disperse
>you assume back to their respective houses
>you can't quite tell what material it is made of
>it almost looks like black polished marble but when you look more closely you see that some parts sparkle a very dark blue
> just like everything else in the castle it looks ancient, but this somehow feels different
>despite being aged and delicate looking, the clock almost looks modern, sleek
>you look to see what time it displays but it only has one large hand
>instead of having numbers or numerals the clock has two identical moons, one at the 3 o clock position and one and the 9 o clock position
>the hand has almost reached the moon on the right
>Aquarius watches you admire the clock by your side while Libra and the two Gemini ponies slowly approach
>she speaks up with her ever calm and educational voice
> “As far as we can tell, the Lunar clock is the heart of the castle. It is an extraordinary magical artifact, we have reason to believe it was once Princess Luna's own craft”
>Aquarius pauses
>you expect her to continue but Libra speaks up
> “When that hand reaches the rightmost moon on the clock we will start our stargazing sessions, the sessions continue until the hand goes to the leftmost moon.”
>Libra flutters off of the ground and raise her tone
>“But as soon as that hand reaches that part of the clock the craziest thing happens!”
>she is now level with the face of the clock and points to demonstrate
>“The clock plays a really loud tune, or at least you can hear it everywhere in the whole castle... Then that hand starts ticking backwards the other-way! A counterclockwise clock can you believe it? I think it's novel”
>the Gemini pony with the green mane and yellow coat speaks up
> “And speaking of the clock, it's going to sound soon. We should get back up to our observatories, we can walk and talk on the way to the Air house if you have any questions!”
>you nod in agreement
>the other Gemini pony speaks up and starts to walk away
> “Agreed! So Anon, what do you think of the castle? Are you enjoying your stay so far?”
>Libra approaches your other side
> “Yeah Anon ~ Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself? Why'd ya decide to stay in Air house?”

*

>you think for a bit about how you want to present yourself
>you've always had trouble describing yourself to others
>maybe that's just a you problem
“Well, before I came to horseland I kinda just spent most of my time bumming around, but I tried to take being here as a bit of a second chance. I started working as a hairdresser back in Canterlot, but had to bounce around from job to job, turns out most high society ponies aren't cool with a giant foreigner clipping and brushing their pretty manes”
>seem like you have everyone's attention
>you start to make your way back up a series of stairs on the opposite side of the ballroom
>this one seems to go up further than the stairs you entered from
>you never noticed how high up the ceiling is in here wow
>the two Gemini ponies trot ahead of you slightly with Libra to your left and Aquarius on your right
>Aquarius speaks
> “Mmmm true. So many ponies are so quick to judge”
>you continue after taking a short breath
“Figured this ball might open up some different opportunities for me, I felt stuck in Canterlot, needed a change of pace”
>Libra giggles and brushes up against you
>it's barely noticeable but noticeable none the less
> “Well if you find yourself missing the hairdressing life, I've been look for a new way to style my mane”
>... you might have to take her up on that
>you pause to gather your thoughts as you continue to ascend up the stairs
“I choose Air because it seems the most open and active, I think staying with you all will be smart and fun. You all strike me as very friendly and understanding ponies, not too mention your house does have a lot of qts...”
>both the Gemini ponies look back at you but continue their pace forward
>Aquarius stumbles a little but is able to gather herself and resume her rhythmic walk forward
>Libra brushes into you and giggles as you reach the top of the stairs
>Aquarius is the first to speak, her voice falters
> “So we are almost at the top of the castle, this door here to the right leads to our housing. The door up ahead leads out to the castle roof if you'd like to see that view”
>the yellow Gemini pony approaches the door
> “Alright Anon! We're here, welcome to Air house”
>you take in your surroundings before you walk through the door
>the castle is starting to become more dimly lit, but you can tell you are on a very high up balcony that still overlooks the ballroom beneath you
>the door opens ahead of you
>you walk through the door frame and are immediately surprised at how bright it is
>it feels like sunlight in the room, despite the fact that it should be dark by now
>a lot of the walls are a slightly off white color, yet they are painted with leaves and trees and other wildlife
>the room is decorated with soft looking gray furniture and several clouds that you take to be real
>right horseworld
>you look up and see that the roof of the common area you are in is painted like a cloudy sky
>there is a lot of attention to detail, subtle linear patterns and gold flake layer over the blue portions of the sky
>the air in the room feels cool, crispy and rich like a casino lobby
>it's soothing but almost energizing at the same time
>you notice three large metal doors with emblems on them as well as several labeled wooden doors

>Libra hops onto one of the clouds in the room while the Gemini ponies and Aquarius sit on a long gray couch
“This castle is lovely, how did you end up acquiring it after all?”
>the green Gemini ponies speaks up
>you really should figure out what they like to be called...
> “Acquiring it? We don't own it, it's abandoned, anyone could have come here... Hey, maybe it is ours now...! Not to mention our cutie marks were on the doors when we got here, that has to mean something right?”
>Libra laughs from her cloud
> “Yep! We got a whole castle pretty sweet huh?”
>you nod and are about to speak but a tone starts to play in the room
>it sounds like there is a speaker in the room almost but the tone is too crisp
>like a bell, sharp and penetrating it calls for your undivided attention
>it continues to play a soft mellow that increases in pace
>it becomes more elaborate until it sounds like a small symphony of bells harmonizing
>the colors in the room become brighter, even more vibrant as if the sound is taking on a visual quality
>just like in the courtyard the energy in the room is changing
>the clouds over head painted on the roof look darker and more ominous, as if they were about to start dripping rain
>their hue changes ever so slightly

> “Oh that's the lunar clock! It's time to start the gazing for the night”
>Libra hops down from her cloud as she speaks
>the ponies start making their ways to their respective doors
>you look at Aquarius
“So you said not to distribute you during these rituals, but you also mentioned that the castle is dangerous. How bad does it have to get before I interrupt?”
>Aquarius seems to think for a moment in silence
> “If you are in serious danger, you can come to me.”
>the Gemini ponies look at Aquarius then to Libra
>Libra speaks up with a little bit more vigor
> “Jeeez Aquarius, up tight much? Anon, my door is open to you, knock if you feel the need okay?”
>Libra and Aquarius look at each other but remain silent
>okay...
>yellow pony breaks the silence
> “If you want to stargaze tonight it might be a bit.... well, intense for a lack of a better word. Luna's moon was full just last night, so it is still vibrant out there. You can explore the castle if you'd like as well, your room is that wooden door to the right with the blue dot on the door. In there you should find your sword”
>noted
>Aquarius speaks up again softly
> “We really should begin now, you may start exploring or star gazing as you please Anonymous. Is there anything else you need to know before we go into solitude?”

*

>you make eye contact with Aquarius while you are thinking
“That's all, I'm going to explore the castle”
>Aquarius nods and opens the door into her observatory
>she closes the door too quickly for you to get a peak into the room
>Libra and the two Gemini ponies enter into their separate rooms as well
>it's amazing how quickly the castle can take on it's empty feeling
>you take a second to look up and admire the sky painted above on the roof and think
>definitely time to get that sword
>you can't help but wonder what the stargazing is like
>it's impressive if they really do follow through with doing it on time every night
>you open the door with the blue dot and see your room
>impressive, you might have hit the jackpot coming here
>the interior is gorgeous, they definitely didn't slack in this room
>the couches and chairs match the furnishing outside
>the bed is actually large enough for you to comfortably sleep in, something that is rare here
>around it is a white curtain with fancy purple lining
>it looks like you have a sink and a mirror but no full bathroom
>you notice on the bed the sword you've been looking for
>you walk over and pick it up and unsheathe it
>damn
>the only word to describe it is “pimp”
>the blade is thin and sharp, modern and made of a silverish metal
>it's unblemished and has an inherent geometry to the curves and edges that is definitely noticeable
>the handle looks to be polished brass but there is a single dark blue gem embedded in it
>you don't know much about gems but it looks real, the way it catches the light and gleams internally is convincing

>you put the sword back in its sheathe and attach it to your belt
>that is satisfying
>you sit on the bed for a second then decide to go back into the common area
>might as well check out the two other doors in the room
>you open a door with a green square on it to find the kitchen
>it is filled with a variety of grains, fruits, nuts and even some spices
>there is a long and tall table that seats about eight ponies as well as a clean cooking space
>dope, definitely will come in handy
>you exit and walk to the other-side of the room to open the wooden door with the yellow triangle
>what weird features honestly
>oh okay this is the bathroom cool
>it feels clean and private, all around pleasant
>you walk in a little further and admire the shower area
>it actually sinks into the flooring a bit as a full walk-in shower
>the walls are adorn with glamorous green stones
>just as get close to inspect the stonework you hear the steady sound of hooves clicking on marble
>that can't be good
>it sounds like it is coming from the common area
>you place your hand on the handle of your sword and peak though the door
>your heart starts to race at the thought of what could be out there
>you open the door wider and whatever is out there sees you!
>it's Libra...?
>she makes eye contact with you briefly then blinks
> “Hey Anon, I hope I didn't startle you”
>you are confused, what happened to the whole complete solitude thing?
>she makes her way over to the couch and sits down before sighing and continuing to speak
> “I just didn't feel right leaving you out here alone all abruptly like that. I wanted to make sure you're comfortable... and I figured I could set aside a little time for us to get to know each-other maybe?"

*

>once you have sufficiently calmed down you take a moment to consider the situation and what you know about Libra
>it seems like it would be safe to stay and talk but you don't want to interrupt their rituals
“Hey, this whole stargazing thing seems really important to all of you and I wouldn't want to do anything to disturb you...”
>you pause a bit before continuing
>Libra looks down at the ground for a second
“I was thinking I'd go up to the castle roof and try it out for myself. How about we talk after?”
>she looks back up at you and stands up from the couch
>her body language has dampened but she gives you a reassuring smile
> “Sure thing! Aquarius must have really got to you with all her rules...”
>she giggles warmly to herself and blinks a couple times before resuming
> “Have fun Anon! We will talk afterwards for sure!”
>she continues her trot across the room
>she opens the observatory door and looks back at you
>you feel like you should say more
“We'll have to become best friends, I could use a Libro around here”
>you feel kinda silly for saying that but her giggling makes it worth it
>she winks at you then closes the door

*

>you feel the emptiness start to set back in
>you walk across the room
>at least your footsteps don't echo as much in here
>the silence is real
>you feel like it's about time to see what else this castle has to offer
>you hesitate slightly at the door then open it to reveal the balcony above the ballroom
>it feels a little bit brighter out here
>or at least you can make out more of the features below you
>the ballroom looks almost light up
>huh
>you go back to the door that you were told leads up to the roof and open it
>the room is small and sparse
>just stone walls and a staircase leading upward
>you begin to make your way up the stairs
>the lack of even spacing in the steps makes walking up them more of a challenge
>it has a sort of raw elegance to it that you can appreciate
>the night sky becomes visible as you continue further up
>eventually you reach the top of the stairs
>oh wow you are so high off the ground right now
>you get a bit dizzy
>you are at one of the top spires on the castle, there is more castle roof below you but only one or two other spires seem to elevate beyond the level you are at
>there isn't much room to walk around but you notice a nice stone bench carved out of the wall behind you that overlooks the sprawling desert landscape below
>you sit down and prepare to start observing the night sky
>you start to wonder what they meant by intense
>how hard can looking at the sky be?

>you look up into the stars
>it is so clear out here
>incredible
>you always forget how much light pollution effected the night sky back on earth
>out here there is nothing
>the sky absolutely overpowers the landscape
>the dazzling vibrancy of an uncountable amount of stars
>you look back across the land
>it takes on a whole different personality
>an unspoken depth
>that organic freedom of the desert
>you can feel the history radiating through the land
>you can feel that other ponies have stood here and taken in the same view
>for thousands of years the land has been harmonizing like this
>as if culminating into a coherent visual
>you look up from the desert again
>the power of the moon
>it's like a magnet your eyes are drawn to it immediately
>it feels like the moon is looking back
>staring into you
>its light overpowers everything
>illuminates
>adds a color and depth to the entirety of the landscape
>it's more expressive and subtle than sunlight but just as overbearing

>you have to look away
>right into a stunning array of stars
>they are all different sizes and radiant with different energies
>or is it distance?
>that is a thought right there
>you look into the planets above you
>those are like really there wow
>each an entirely different landscape with its own elaborate history
>you have no idea what is up there and it fills you with awe
>it's almost too much
>your mind is racing like a well oiled machine
>you're not used to thinking this much everything feels crisp
>like you've eliminated a mental fog you didn't know was there
>you want it to stop
>you have to look down but the sprawling and radiant desert is just as intricate
>all the stories buried beneath the dirt
>the blood and triumph of the land
>it's too much information
>you stand up and take a deep breath
>you are shaking slightly it must be cold out here
>you have no idea how long it has been but the moon prevails
>its light is exposing, personal
>you feel like you should go back inside but you could try to tough it out for longer
>maybe their ritual is done already?

>it's cold up here and enough is enough
>you take one last look into the night sky
>you wonder if you could find earth in the cluster of stars above you
>you'd have no idea where to begin
>maybe if you started to oriented yourself with the night sky more in the future
>your mind drifts back to home
>you start your descent back down the stairs
>the simplicity of the stone is greatly welcome after the overwhelming night sky
>you reach the bottom of the stairs and swing the door to the castle open
>okay this definitely doesn't feel real anymore
>you'd seen lighting changes in the castle, glimpses of different settings in the same area but this is over the top
>the castle is completely lit
>you thought it was lighter in here earlier but now it is absolutely unmistakable
>you look over the ballroom and see the all the levels of the castle have a bit of a glow
>they omit a soft and blue light, fluorescent in nature around the edges of the balconies overlooking the ballroom beneath
>even the floor of the ballroom takes on a different appearance, as if it glistens and sparkles from above
>it almost looks icy
>you look up at the ceiling and notice an array of chandeliers that were not visible to you before
>they now are radiant, refracting the light into warming shades of yellow, red and gold
>other parts accent the warming colors with cooling shades of light green and pinkish purples
>you can't help but overlook the balcony in awe
>all the splashes of color decorating the walls take on a different vibrancy in this lighting, the colors are sharp and pop off the wall
>from this distance the pattern seems a lot more coherent
>you should see how much longer the ritual will last
>you start to descend down the long staircase back to the ballroom
>the silence is eerie

>as you make it down the winding stairs you continue to take in the lighting
>it is extravagant, magical
>just like the moon outside the glow it omits is personal, intimate
>it's intensity gives the room a certain serenity
>even the echo of your footsteps seems to add to the eloquent ambiance
>you reach the dance-floor and enter into the ballroom
>you look back up
>the chandeliers that were so dazzling up close just sort of blur together into a sea of gold and sparkles
>the detail in the floor is more apparent at this distance though
>you look over to the luna clock
>just like the accents on the balconies, the clock takes on a fluorescent quality
>a intense bluish purple glow invites you over
>the entirety of the once black surface now illuminates the room as if glowing from within
>just as mentioned the hand is ticking counterclockwise
>it is half way back to the leftmost moon
>you take a moment to remember that all the Zodiac are still gazing
>must be intense going for that period of time...
>it should give you time to explore more though
>you investigate the Lunar clock more closer and place your hand gently on the side of the clock
>it is cold and smooth, yet somehow you can feel its age, its resistance to the weathering of time...
>you take a moment to consider what parts of the castle you'd like to see
>it looks like there is a hallway to your right that goes deeper into the castle
>underground
>you could always go back up to the top levels by air house and investigate as well
>or maybe you could go out to the courtyard from the way you came and try to find the orchard?

*

>something about the underground of the castle is so alluring
>you take one last look at the clock and turn to your right
>you start to make your way down the hallway
>it descends at a surprisingly steep rate
>you see a desk up ahead
>it looks like there is a more level hallway running perpendicular ahead of you
>there is a bit of space where the two hallways merge
>you notice that the fine stonework starts to become more crude
>as if nature is fighting through trying to reclaim the land
>you investigate the desk
>it has a neat stack of notepads and pencils
>that's convenient as hell
>you take a pencil and examine one of the notepads
>each leaf of paper has a series of stamps on it with symbols you don't quite recognize
>in a simple black font it reads ZODIAC on the pad
>you decide it'd be a good idea to leave a message
>you quickly jot on the pad that you are exploring down the left side of the hallway
>you place the note on the desk
>okay cool
>you pocket the pencil and pad

>the walls of the hallway are a calming and level stone
>it looks steady and dense
>it's incredible architecture considering the weight of the castle above it
>you continue down the hall
>uh, up the hall
>the rock starts to incline
>although it is more dirt than rock at this point
>the plant life is green and the ceiling is lower here
>there is a bit of subtle green lighting but you can't quite tell if it is coming from the plants or the walls of the castle
>you see a bit of a clearing ahead
>once again you are stunned by the intensity of the light
>although it is more neutral white
>it's pleasant
>the clearing is filled with a series of doors and two staircases
>the plant-life in this room is really impressive
>like a well maintained garden
>it has form around a series of low white marble walls
>flavorful flowers and exotic greenery blossoms from the ground and walls
>you notice three doors ahead of you like the observatories in the air housing
>this must be the Earth house
>it's tasteful, you wonder who the gardener is
>just as you start to appreciate the relaxing natural ambiance of the room your thoughts are interrupted >a soft bell rings somewhere
>you hear a crisp tone harmonizing with the features of the walls
>just as quickly as you noticed it, the tone quickly ends
>the lighting in the room drops an almost unnoticeable amount
>what once felt luminescent feels earthy
>you pause

>you hold your pause and listen
>the sound has stopped and the bell did not echo
>silence fills the room
>you hear hooves
>you keep listening
>laughter
>there is laughter coming from somewhere
>your heart rate picks up and you clutch your sword
>before you have time to gather yourself you turn to see a pair of horn emerging from a door
>they look real, long slender and gray
>two other doors open abruptly
>you look back and see that the horn's belong to Capricorn
>you assumed that they were some cheap prop at first but the closer you look the more authentic they appear to be
>Capricorn stops laughing to herself and makes eye contact with you
>her eyes are a soft and engaging shade of purple
>you see Virgo and Taurus emerge from their respective observatories
>they look at each other
>Capricorn is the first to speak in her up-tone voice
> “Oh! Hey Anon! You're just in time, the gazing ritual just ended”
>She trots over to you eagerly
>Virgo whispers something to Taurus
>he shrugs
>it seems like you were stargazing for a lot longer than exploring
>maybe the clock's hand doesn't move at a consist speed...
>either that or you just really can't handle the stars
> “So what brings you to Earth house?”
>Capricorn pauses and gasps
>she is close to you now
> “Oh! Did you change your mind and decide to come stay here with us?”
>her eyes have a delicate twinkle to them

*

>you shake your head
“No, I was just exploring and ended up here. I could have sworn that the clock was only halfway through its motion, does it not move at a consistent pace?”
>Capricorn takes a step back away from you
> “Oh! Uh, not sure. I'm usually in my observatory and don't get to see the clock! It seems to me like some sessions take longer than others though...”
>she stops talking and clicks her front hooves together before brushing her mane out of her eyes
>Virgo speaks up, her tone is a bit dramatic
> “Oh definitely, thank Celestia tonight was short. I need to get my beauty sleep. Anonymous, good seeing you”
>Taurus nods at you before the two of them exit the room
>it seems like they exchange a few more words on the way out
>must be some sort of other common-area over there
>Capricorn speaks up again, she sounds on edge
> “So, uh, are you gonna stick around here for a bit?”
>you really should be getting back
“I think I should get back to Air house, don't want to keep them waiting. I still want to see the other houses, you can be my guide if you want”
>her eyes light up and she looks up at you
>“Really? Y-yeah that sounds great! I guess I will see you around then?”
>you nod
“Yeah definitely see you around”
>with that Capricorn gives you a hesitate smile then turns to walk back through the door Virgo and Taurus exited through
>you make your way back out of the green livelihood of the housing into the hallway

>you'll have to come back some other time when you aren't in a hurry
>right now your focus is getting back and talking with Libra like you promised
>you continue back the way you came working your way to the ballroom
>the hall loses some of the life and earthiness that you felt walking in the other direction
>the harsh structure of the castle becomes more apparent
>it is darker now, the luminescence is gone
>all the colors seem muted, or at least more normalized
>you take the time to pick up the note you left on the way back
>no reason to confuse anyone
>the ballroom is empty when you re-enter it, the echo of your footsteps is overwhelming in this amount of open space
>it feels desolate, having company really makes such a huge difference here
>something to break the silence
>you think about your night as you make your way up the stairs
>definitely something different to say the least
>some parts don't quite make sense to you still, but all and all things are going better than you could have asked for
>the surreal feeling sets back in
>your surroundings, the castle roof overlooking the desert, the intensity of the moon
>you hope that conversation will be smooth, it seems like a nice way to end the day
>something calming...
>you look over the balcony to the ballroom below for a second to catch your thoughts before opening the door to Air house
>it's quiet inside, the clouds painted on the ceiling are dark and heavy
>light blues have turned to grays
>the inspiring air has calmed and settled into a stormy setting
>it takes you a moment to notice that there are ponies in the room
>Libra is sitting on the large couch in the room, she looks to be lost in thought when she notices you
>it's not quite the expression you are used to seeing on her
>the two Gemini ponies are on the shorter couch
>they are spaced further apart than you are used to seeing them
>no one is speaking, you feel like you should be hearing the sound of raindrops
>the ceiling casts an interesting shadow, like there are actually clouds overhead
>you don't see Aquarius anywhere
>one of the Gemini ponies is the first to break the silence
>you still haven't figured out which is which
> “Hey Anon, did you get to explore the castle at all?”
>you nod still a bit hesitant to break the silence
>you look over to Libra and she makes eye contact with you
>she looks almost concerned but she perks up slightly before speaking in her normal lively tone
> “Oh hey! You're back, did you have something in mind that you wanted to go do together? We could go anywhere on the castle grounds”
>she stops then bites her lip
> “Oh and did you see Aquarius at all? We figured either you two were together or she decided to stay in her observatory... she normally likes to come out and talk with us afterwards”

*

>Libra shifts her positioning on the couch slightly, she leans up further
“I haven't seen Aquarius, sorry. Do you think she is missing?”
>her bright blue eyes remains calm, contemplating
>her tone matches her facial expression
> “She must still be in her observatory then”
>the yellow Gemini pony speaks
>it doesn't seem like they are too concerned
> “Yeah, she must still be in there. Huh, not really like her, must have been a tough session”
>green pony is quick to speak after
>“We will keep an eye out for her, she has to come out at some point”
>Libra hops of the couch and nods
> “You're right Gemmy, I'm getting worked up over nothing”
>she starts to make her way towards you
>there is a bit of spring to her step, but it seems like that is always there
“So I was thinking we could go for a walk through the garden?”
>she is now by your side
> “That sounds great! I bet the orchards are really cool at night”
>she starts to make her way out of Air house, there is almost a sway to her step
>you begin to follow her but she stops when someone speaks up from behind her
> “Wow Libra, no invite?”
>Libra stops
>she turns around and huffs
>it's adorable, the yellow pony laughs
> “Just giving you hell, have fun out there you two ~”
>the green pony starts laughing too
>Libra just blushes and continues her way out the door looking flustered

>you and Libra make your way out onto the balcony
>it is much darker now, there seems to be a torch keeping things lit but it must be a considerable distance away
>you start to make your way down the stairs
>it's nice having company, the castle feel much less empty
>you look over the railing and can see that the lunar clock is no longer bright, it has returned to its dark stone look
> “So the gardens are on the south end of the grounds, it's a pretty far walk...”
>Libra stops walking
>you continue past her a little bit but she remains investigating the railing
> “But luckily your best friend Libra knows a short cut”
>she giggles and pushes into a break in the railing
>oh damn, it swings outward on a hinge to reveal a staircase
>it is steep, the steps are small and stone but the landing below is fairly close
>impressive
>you follow Libra downward, closing the makeshift gate behind you
>the break in the railing is subtle, or maybe just in this lighting
>you find yourself on a small balcony, still overlooking the ballroom beneath you
>there is a single hallway that winds its way into the castle
>the floor is carpeted, light blues, whites and grays in a vintage floral pattern
> “Pretty cool huh? Being a pegasus has its perks ~”
>guess this hallway would be a bit more noticeable if you could fly...
>Libra trots ahead of you, the spring in her step very pronounced
> “So what'd ya do during the ritual Anon? Did you get to explore?”
>she stops on a dime and turns around to face you
> “Oh ! And you absolutely have to tell me about where you are from! I've always wondered what is it like to be on a star!”
>she looks up at you, her eyes have a slight sparkle to them

*

>the two of you continue your pace forward as you speak
“I went up on top of the castle and looked at the stars for a bit, then went exploring but your ritual thing ended early apparently”
>you get a little distracted by your surroundings, it looks like you are coming up on a staircase
>there are several doors in this area but Libra seems to be paying no attention to them, her eyes are fixed directly ahead
>she glances at you
“As for where I am from, it's a planet, not a star. Third planet from our sun”
>you make your way down the stairs
>it feels like you are in more of a house than a castle right now
>the stairs brought you right into a small room
>the interior is a soft green, it's cozy
>Libra speaks up
> “So what do you mean third planet from our sun? Does your species live on three planets?”
>she looks a tad bit confused but continues out of the room
>you follow her out
>oh wow this hallway is overwhelming
>it extends in either direction with a precise black and white tile pattern
>you can't see the end of the hallway in either direction because of the changes in elevation
>Libra begins trotting down the hall to the left while you think of how to explain
“Out of all the planets that orbit our sun, ours is the third furthest away. The other planets are uninhabited”
>Libra completely stops
>“Wait wait, you know what an orbit is?”
>you nod yes
>she continues her pace forward
> “That's impressive! Not many ponies know about that! You kinda have to watch the sky for long enough to figure it out. Celestia moves our sun... or at least... well nevermind”

>she stops talking pretty abruptly, her paces loses some of its spring
>the hallway continues to slant downwards
>there are so many doors here
>there must be a lot of ways to reach this hallway
>you were kinda under the impression that this entire area was isolated because of your odd entrance
>either that or this castle is absolutely massive
>Libra speaks up again, like she was thinking of how to phrase her words
> “A lot of us around here... Well, we are kinda skeptics I guess. It's just hard to believe a single pony could be that powerful”
>you think you understand what she means
>it was hard for you to believe when you first heard about the royal sisters
“I think I understand”
>she slows her pace to stay at your side and brushes into you
> “Thanks Anon, that means a lot to me”
>the two of your continue walking in the comfortable silence
>her hoof-steps are quiet
>finally it looks like you reach an end to the hallway
>two large doors with windows on either side
>they are stained glass, even in the dark the vibrancy of greens and blues are impressive
>each panel is the same, asides from minor details
>plant life with the focal point of the art being on an extravagant looking purple flower
>the purple is too dark to make much of an impression but you can tell that it is detailed
>Libra opens the doors revealing the outside world

>it feels nice, not as cold as the top of the castle
>there is less energy out here, it is calm
>feels good to be back in an open space, just the right amount of view
>you can see the wall surrounding the castle ahead, but there is plenty of land out here
>the stars are still bright but feel more distant
>the moons light softly highlights the land and brings a glow to the trees
>you and Libra walk across the grounds quietly enjoying each others company
>you start to make your way to the rows of crops
>so structured and organized, everything looks fresh
>colorful fruits and berries are everywhere
>the air feels moist here, more so than the rest of the castle grounds
>Libra brushes into you again as you make your way through the crops
>you hear water ahead
>sure enough, you reach the end of the row and the land drops revealing a bit of a valley
>a river runs through the land
>the sound of the water is rhythmic and calming
>there is stone bench overlooking the land
>there is a statue behind the bench, but you can't make out the details very well in the lighting at this distance
>next to it is a bush that seems to be growing a spiky orange colored fruit
>Libra breaks the serene rhyme of the river with her voice
>“it's so different at night here... wow”
>her tone is hushed like she is appreciating the sounds around her
>the river shines and sparkles, reflecting the light of the moon
>maybe this would be a good place to stop?
>Libra is still standing looking off into the distance, maybe she wants to keep walking?
>you feel like you should say something

*

>you want to keep moving on for a little bit
>nothing too much at least
“You've never been here at night? Why not? Would you like to continue on? I wouldn't mind going a little further ahead but I don't want to get too far...”
>Libra pauses then looks back at you
>she begins to move down towards the river and you follow
>she stutters then begins to speak
> “Well, I usually like to come out here alone... And I try not to be alone at night, it makes the aloneness so much more lonely”
>you catch up with her and stick close to her side
>you are tempted to initiate some contact but decide against it
>“But with you out here it's different!”
>she bumps into you again
>“This is fun thanks”
>you nod knowingly, hopefully you aren't coming off as too cold
>ah, probably not
“So what is the story with that statue back there by the bench?”
>Libra perks up as you make your way down the hill side with her
>you are right along the bed of the river now
> “Oh! That one is cool, so around the orchard there are a bunch of statues of animals. Like exotic far away crazy dangerous animals!”
>she flutters off the ground
> “That statue is of a tiger! That's about all I can tell you, I don't know why it is there”
>cool stuff
>you continue along the river observing the plant life and flowers that are growing around you

>you think about the stars again looking up at them
>so many, the moon's glow is still intense but it looks to be fading
“Yeah so the planet I'm from is called Earth. There are about seven billion other people who live on the planet”
>Libra touches back down on the ground
> “Wow! That is a lot!”
>you nod yes
“Yeah definitely. There are other planets in our solar system, but all of them too hot or too cold to support life... We have one moon too, it orbits our planet”
>she looks up at you with a spark in her eyes
>“It must be like a whole different world. Space is crazy wow!”
>yeah things are different here to say the least
>the sound of the river is the only thing fighting for your attention
>you look ahead in the distance and see some large metal structures
>you can't quite tell what they are, they look like boxes of different sizes and shapes
>the architecture is unique, bars are spaced out and layered on top of each other to form almost a metal cage
>you can't help but wonder what kind of purpose these would serve
>Libra leaps off the ground and flies up to the top of one of the sculptures
>guess that's what you could call them
>you are able to climb up off the ground and join her to catch your breath for a moment
>you wonder how you could get in or out of one of these things, there doesn't seem to be any kind of entrance
>you both take a moment to look at the scenery and take in your surroundings
>you follow Libra's dreary gaze across the horizon
>there seems to be some sort of building in the distance near the foot of the wall
>you wonder if she is starting to get tired... maybe you could go back to the bench ?

*

>you decide to stay for a second longer
>appreciate the moment kinda thing
>you can't help but wonder about this land
“So do you know what we are sitting on? How do you get in?”
>the metal work is simple yet has a flare to it
>it reminds you of a knot almost
>“Oh weird! I was just wondering how you would get out if you happened to get in...”
>Libra looks down into the structure beneath you
>she pauses then continues
> “As for what they are, well, I'm not sure but I have my theories”
>you look at her expecting her to continue
“Well, what do you think?”
>she signs
> “I think that they are cages. Something about them just... I don't know, upsets the balance of the land. Does that make sense?”
>you take a moment for her words to sink in
>you look across the landscape, the area is different
>it's practically wild on this side of the orchard
>the ground beneath you looks warn down
>you nod
> “Judging by all the statues on this part of the grounds, I'd guess that this was some kind of zoo”
>her face goes slightly pale
>you decide to get down from the structure
>the metal is cold anyways
>might be a good time for a change of scenery
>and topic

>Libra quickly follows, the color and gleam quickly returning to her face
>her hoofsteps are so light, soft, but yet she trots at a moderate pace ahead
“A bit more about where I'm from, the same side of the moon is always facing our planet and we are about 150 million kilometers from our sun”
>you plan to continue but Libra speaks up
> “Oh! That's cool! How'd ya figure that out? What's a kilometer?”
>uh
>you stop talking for a second and she giggles
>damn equestrians need to switch to metric like the rest of the world
“Anyways, what can you tell me about your solar system here?”
>Libra thinks for a moment as you continue to trot forward through the hedges and closer to the castle
>looks like she is taking you a different way back
>more statues this way, or at least you see a large one ahead
>it's still too dark to make out a lot of detail at a distance
>the hedges are tall and really restrict vision, they run crisscrossing one another
>it must be a sight from far enough above
> “Well... We don't know a lot to be honest. Space is largely a mystery to us. Ponies are told that Luna and Celestia control the sun and moon... There are a lot of myths about stars, some say it Luna's past time to move them across the sky, others say they are tributes to fallen greats through pony history”

>the two of you make your way around a corner
>Libra mutters something just barely loud enough for you to hear
> “We are trying to understand”
>you are about to question further when something flies across your field of vision
>like a flash it is there and gone
>you and Libra stop walking
>stuck in the hedge a couple strides ahead of you is an arrow
>your brief moment of shock is interrupted by a voice
>“Sorry about that! Didn't see you there!”
>you turn to your side to see the orange pegasus stallion from earlier
>he has a bow slung over his back and is approaching you and Libra quickly
> “Sagittarius! Are you trying to kill us?”
>Libra glares at him and huffs
>he shrugs and speaks
> “Well that'd be a hell of a way to introduce myself wouldn't it? Nice to finally meet you Anon, name is Sagittarius”
>he extends a hoof which you shake not so awkwardly
>okay kinda awkward still with hands and hooves and all
>he continues to speak, his tone is lively but surprisingly level
> “Didn't mean to interrupt your date Libra, but you really gotta work on that attitude”
>she huffs at him with more vigor, there is definitely a blush to her face now

*

>he's being awfully friendly for someone who nearly just shot you in the head
“You should be more careful but no hard feelings”
>he laughs a bit
“Why are you practicing at night anyways? You must have quiet the sight to do that”
>Libra huddles a little closer to you but remains silent
>Sagittarius looks at you with a smile
> “Yeah, I have good eyes for sure. I'm trying to get good at archery, might as well practice in different conditions right? Being well versed and all”
>guess that makes sense
>Libra speaks up finally
> “Yeah, well still be careful other ponies live here you know”
>he laughs and trots back down the row of hedges a bit
“Can I try firing your bow? I've always wanted to try it”
>he looks back at you
> “Definitely! Come back here I'll show you what I've been practicing”
>you and Libra follow him to the back of the row facing the wall of hedges where his previous arrow found its mark
> “So practicing at night is cool because you can seriously focus on the mechanics of your motion. Ponies are so reliant on what their eyes tell them that they sometimes forget that firing an arrow is a physical action”
>he moves to the far edge and draws his bow
> “I've been lining up all the way to the side cause I've been trying to correct this leftward pull I have going on, not sure if it is just the wind speed but...”
>Sagittarius lets the arrow fly
>you can almost see where it struck at this distance, it isn't a very far shot
>it looks to be very close to the first arrow
>“I'm pretty good at this”
>Libra scoffs
>“show off”
>he shrugs and passes you the bow and an arrow
> “Let's see what you got Anon”

>you look down the row ahead at the hedge
>you can't see much but the glint of the arrow's tip is visible to you
>the moonlight illuminates just enough to get a clear view
>you line the bow up and take a deep breath
>it takes a lot more torque than you were expecting but you pull it back until you can feel a considerable amount of tension then let the arrow fly
>it doesn't fly with quite the same zip as Sagittarius' arrow, but it lands very near his first and second marks
>Libra claps her hooves together in some type of cheer
> “Hey, not bad Anon. If you ever wanna go shooting more some other time let me know”
>you nod, Libra approaches your side
“So why are you trying to get good at archery? Where do you get your replacement arrows?”
>you hand Sagittarius his bow back carefully
> “I try not to lose them and I brought a lot, but we've also found several in the castle. You don't need many arrows if you are careful with them. Archery is a hobby of mine, great for socializing and for defense, great way to pass the time if you ask me”
>seems legitimate
>you think you hear Libra yawn
>you couldn't even begin to guess what time it is
>it looks like Sagittarius is thinking along the same lines
> “Well, I should go fetch those arrows and try to get some rest. Have fun you two lovebirds”
>even when drowsy she is expressive
> “Hey!”
>he just laughs and gives an exaggerated wave as he trots away
>you wave back, Libra huffs

>after a moment of taking in the silence of the courtyard Libra speaks up
> “I don't know about you but I'm getting tired...”
>you give her an understanding nod and begin to make your way through the hedges
>there isn't much for a reference point asides from a large elephant statue
>must have been what you saw in the distance before running into Sagittarius
>the elephant's wrinkles are worked into the natural curvature of the rock very well
>just as you continue to admire the stonework Libra yawns then leans into you
>it's pretty damn adorable
>she leans back away abruptly and walks ahead to open the door to the castle
>she opens the door for you
>the interior of this hallway is more modest than a lot of what you have seen thus far
>simple and crude stone work, torch lighting the works
>it looks fairly short though, it seems to connect to the lower part of the ballroom
>weird, seems like the way there was much longer
>or maybe you walked a ways in those hedges
>makes you question Libra's short cut...
>you feel like you should talk
“So do you all sleep in the day since you are so active at night here?”
>Libra giggles as you make your way into the ballroom and towards the flight of stairs that you now know leads to Air house
>“Varies from pony to pony. I like the mornings here a lot personally”
>you nod, noted
>the two of you continue up the stairs walking side by side
>this housing option is a workout
>you can see the top of the stairs in sight
“Where are the Zodiac from? How long have you been here?”
>Libra steps are starting to slow, or maybe it is just you
> “We are from all kinds of different backgrounds... and don't even get me started on the time thing it's waaaaay too late for that. I'll tell you some other time k?”
>you nod and open the door into air house
>the inside is still stormy but the clouds look slightly less intense and more like a regular painting
>Libra follows you in closely
>the common-area is empty and quiet, you are starting to feel tired

*

>it's time to sleep for sure, you start to think on how you want to conclude the day
>you walk with Libra up to the door of her observatory
“Thanks for spending some time with me tonight Libra. It was really pleasant and informative”
>she smiles and rubs against you affectionately
> “Thank you Anon, it was nice not being alone tonight”
>her tone is really dreary at this point, she must be ready to fall asleep
>she opens her door and lingers for a second as if considering something to say
>you get a glimpse of her observatory's interior
>it looks similar to the furnishing in the living room, at least at first glance
>you don't get time to investigate much further, Libra waves then closes the door
>you are filled with a comfortable feeling, even in the emptiness of the castle housing
>you yawn
>as much as you want to sleep you can't help but be concerned about Aquarius
>she was so welcome, you feel the need to make sure that she is alright
>you wait for a second and walk up to her door
>no reason to concern Libra with this
>Aquarius' observatory door is sturdy
>there are two sharp zig-zag lines on the door, you vaguely recognize it as her cutie mark
>you knock on the door softly and wait
>silence
>you continue to wait for a second and look up at the ceiling
>you look back at the door
>nothing
>just as you turn to leave it opens the slightest amount
>Aquarius peaks through the door to her observatory
>she looks somber, her eyes are moist as if holding back tears
>her expression changes to one of slight surprise when she sees you
> “Oh, Anonymous. I-I thought, I... is there something you need?”
>she looks down, her tone doesn't have the same soothing effect as before
>she looks anxious

*

>you think of the best thing to say
“Just wanted to say hi... Couldn't help but worry about you a bit, I tried stargazing tonight and I can see that it is intense. Am I interrupting?”
>Aquarius doesn't say anything for a second before mumbling
>she doesn't open the door any further
> “I'm fine”
>she stops talking and speaks up in a low tone
>“you don't have to worry about me”
>she closes the door a little further but you speak quickly
“I want to see you, do you want company or do you want to be alone?”
>Aquarius stops closing the door but remains silent
>you wonder if she heard you
>your inner whiteknight rages with a fiery passion
“It pains me to see you so sad”
>she stays quiet but mumbles something you can't hear
“What was that?”
>she opens the door and looks up at you
>“I said I'll come out, one second”
>you decide to give her some space to gather herself
>you take a seat on the large couch in the common-area and wait
>the paintings in here really do change
>it's like each time you look at the walls you see different patterns in the wildlife and plants
>different tones make the plants look more or less lively
>it really is a simple harmony, an ecosystem in its own right
>just as you begin to admire the artwork more deeply Aquarius walks out of her observatory
>she makes eye contact with you and takes a seat close next to you
>the room is silent, her presence doesn't feel as soothing as earlier today
>you can't help but wonder what happened
>or is happening
>she looks at you

*

>you don't really know what to say or do
>it seems like just leaving the observatory has returned her back to a more level and focused state
>the distance in between the two of you on the couch is noticeable
>you kinda just start talking and hope for the best
“You know, back on Earth we had this thing called astrology. I never knew too much about the specifics, but there were 12 signs, each that matched a constellation in the stars. Humans knew a lot about the sky all things considered... We had telescopes and these things called satellites that we launched into space. We could predict where planets were going to be and a bunch of other bizarre stuff, but it's funny, the pursuit of knowledge kinda clouded up our night skies, took away some of it's vibrancy and magic..”
>you don't quiet know where you are going with this still, but you pause to catch your breath and resume
>Aquarius is looking at you with an expression of mild curiosity, maybe wonder?
“I walked around the castle a bit tonight, and it is really admirable. It is like nothing that you'd see back on Earth... I tried stargazing at the top of the castle for a while, I can start to see that it is intense now”
>she remains silent and calm
>her breathing has leveled noticeably
>everything definitely feels lighter
>Aquarius speaks up in her ever surreal tone
>“That's incredible...”
>she shifts to face you more, opening up her body language and raising her hooves a bit
> “And yes... things can definitely be intense. I just... t-the moon can be so revealing”
>she looks down for a moment and the silence re-invades the room
“I just wanted to let you know that I care”
>with that she looks back up at you
>her eyes are such a beautiful shade of blue
>you feel closer, both emotionally and physically
>she speaks up, her tone sounds almost less formal, yet still maintains its consistent cadence
> “Let me ask you something... What do you think of the ponies here so far? Do you feel properly situated?”
>she blinks slowly and perks up a bit more

*

>you nod yes
“So far everyone has been welcoming and friendly, it really seems like they mean to make me feel at home, well, except maybe Scorpio but I think she was just being protective...”
>Aquarius smiles at you and nods
>“Yes, that definitely sounds like her”
>she looks tired, like she is finally starting to genuinely unwind
>you keep talking, speaking in a hushed and mellow tone
“I've been able to explore and get to know everyone at my own pace which has been pleasant and calming... I haven't had the time to properly speak with everyone yet, I got to meet Sagittarius tonight. He seemed nice even if he almost shot me”
>her eyes widen a bit but you laugh reassuringly
“You shouldn't worry yourself, I like it here in the Air house. If there is anything I can help you with, let me know...”
>you give her a look over, trying to make yourself available if she wants to talk
>she looks pleased, no longer under duress
>it's nice
> “I... Thank you Anonymous, that is all very reassuring to hear. I just might take you up on your offer sometime in the future”
>she looks hesitant
>she moves closer to you and nuzzle into your shoulder very briefly before leaning up
>you definitely weren't expecting that kind of affection
>it seemed innocent enough
>Aquarius leaves the couch slowly
> “I... really appreciate what you did for me tonight Anonymous. Thank you. I think I'm going to get some rest, unless you need anything else... I suspect you will want to get some sleep as well”
>she walks to her observatory door slowly in a calm trot

*

>you yawn, it is really starting to get late
>at least, you think...
“Goodnight Aquarius, I'll see you in the morning”
>she looks at you and speaks
>“Goodnight Anonymous”
>and with that she closes the door to her observatory
>you linger in the living area for a moment before making your way to the comfort of your own room
>oh wow this bed is soft
>you lay down and look at the ceiling, letting your mind process some of the details of the cloudy artwork above you
>the events of today start to blur together in your mind making a coherent image
>you reminisce on the wonders and ambiance of the ancient castle
>thinking about the past, why it is here, what it meant to the ponies who used to occupy it...
>history
>you can feel your mind starting to slow down, your body starting to relax
>your surroundings become less and less important as you shift positioning trying to get comfortable
>so relaxing... colors, mysterious landscapes half formed by your mind
>nothing has meaning here...
>black

>you slowly start to stir awake
>sunlight is entering your room from somewhere
>must be a window higher up
>you roll over and enjoy your tranquil and comfortable state for a moment
>everything is so soft damn
>you lean up and stretch out a bit before yawning and burying your face back into the pillow
>just as you start to slip back into the world of sleep you are brought to your senses by the sound a voice in the living room
>it sounds energetic, excited, you recognize it as Libra's immediately
> “Luna is coming here! Princess Luna is coming! Oh my gosh she is actually going to show up!”
>wait, right now? you are too tired to properly process things so you decide to crawl out of bed and see what all the commotion is about
>you walking into a very high energy common-area, Libra is fluttering around the room excitedly
>the yellow Gemini pony looks as confused as you do
> “Wait, you mean she actually responded to our invitation?”
>she looks at Libra then to the green pony next to her with a look of slight disbelief
>Libra lands right in front of the two of them and hops up and down excitedly several times
>it is way too early for this
>probably
>you don't see Aquarius around, you can only hope that she is feeling better
> “Yeah Minny! She is going to show up! For our ball! I can't believe this!”
>Libra stops hopping and flies your way before wrapping you in a hug
> “Oh I am so excited! Isn't that incredible Anon? Princess Luna!”
>you unlatch Libra from you slightly before speaking
“That really is something, maybe you'll be able to ask her about the clock”

>this time the green Gemini pony speaks up
> “Oh yeah, that is a good idea! thanks Anon”
>you nod
“Hey, so which one of you is Gemmy and which is Minny? Sorry I haven't got the chance to ask until now”
>she laughs slightly
> “I'm Gemmy, the yellow pony is Minny”
>Minny nods at you and winks before speaking up
> “So what do you say about some breakfast in honor of our ball now being a host to royalty? My treat”
>you nod yes and Libra claps her hooves together
>the four of you make your way into the modest kitchen within the Air house
>the mood is very high energy, this must be a really big deal for them
>you are finally starting to feel awake
>the two Gemini ponies start cooking, it looks like they are making something simple
>eggs, a couple pastries and an assortment of fruits
>you and Libra take your seats at the table
>Libra speaks up in her bubbly and excited tone, the enthusiasm is still strong in her voice
> “So Anon... What's the plan today?”
>she blinks at you a couple of times
>you remember back to talking with Capricorn yesterday
“I think I am going to start by trying to see the other two houses, I told Capricorn yesterday that she could be my guide”
>Libra gasps, her eyes sparkle a bit
> “Ooooh you are going to hang out with Capricorn? Am I invited?”
>she gives you an exaggerated smile as if trying to be convincing
>before you can think any further a plate of food is set in front of you, breakfast time

*

>you use the food in front as an excuse to think for a moment
>you have the common sense to thank the Gemini ponies for breakfast
>...
>they take the seats across from you and Libra
>you figure it would probably be best to have some one on one time to get to know Capricorn
“If I weren't getting to know her for the first time, I'd probably say yes.... but do you think she would appreciate the space? Maybe it'd be better if you just walked me to the Earth house instead?”
>Libra looks a little rejected but she brushes it off pretty quickly
> “Uh, yeah you are probably right. Maybe next time then? I can walk you down there for sure”
>you nod yes and continue to eat
>the food is delicious, all of the fruits are small in size but intense and fresh in flavor
>you take a sip of the cold glass of water in front of you
“So how about princess Luna coming to the ball? That must be very exciting news”
>the two Gemini ponies smile in sync
>Minny speaks up
> “Yeah! It is going to be incredible”
>Gemmy nods
> “It's nice that the hard work we put in is finally paying off”
>you look over to Libra who is enjoying some type of bizarre fruit
“Do you think it'd be a good idea to fly ahead of me and inform the other houses?”
>Libra continues to chew happily
> “Don't think I will need to! Luna notified me by dream! One pony from each house should know... At least that's what the invitation said”
>she pauses for a second before continuing
> “It was really clever of her to use dreams to talk with us! I don't think we can even get mail out here”
>she stops talking again and a look of panic crosses her face
> “Oh no! What if I just dreamed of the letter in my dream and she isn't really coming?”
>she gasps and stands up
>the two Gemini ponies just laugh before green pony speaks up
> “I'm sure she'd have cleared things up in person if that were the case”
>yellow pony follows her up in a teasing tone
> “Yeah, jeez calm down Libra. You can always ask someone from Earth house too”
>Libra looks slightly embarrassed but takes her seat again
>you start to finish your breakfast
>you feel like asking some questions
“So why did you decide to split the houses up by elements in the first place anyways? What principles did you divide yourselves by?”

>Libra takes her chance to jump back into the conversation
>“All of the houses are oriented in a way where we can view and mentally map out certain sections of the sky. Each element has a lot of common traits and ideally should harmonize well with each other...”
>Gemmy speaks up in a simple tone
>“Mainly though, when you arrive in a new and unexplored place and you find a door with your cutie mark on it... You get the hint pretty fast”
>that does make things pretty simple, you assumed those were a later addition to the castle
>Minny nods in agreement before speaking up
>“It really is eerie, especially after living your whole life with such a... well, unexplained cutie mark to say the least...”
>Libra bites her lip and looks down
“That is really strange for sure I could only imagine. It seems that the housing is working out pretty well though, huh?”
>Libra speaks up from next to you in her normal energized tone
> “Oh for sure! I'm glad I'm in Air house, I couldn't imagine living with some of the other ponies here, it'd be a mess”
>she giggles and the Gemini ponies nod
>everyone is done with their breakfast, you figure it is time to make your way down to Earth house
>you take a moment admire the silverware, plating and glass while cleaning up after yourself
>it is fancy, you wonder if the glass is crystal
>the silverware looks to be real silver, solid definitely not plated
>Libra brushes into you
> “About ready to go Anon? ~”
>you nod yes and wave to Gemmy and Minny
>they wave back in sync
>Minny talks from across the room
> “See you soon Anon!”
>Gemmy turns to her and says something
>you and Libra make your way out of the kitchen and back into the common area

>the clouds painted on the ceiling above are sparse, fluffy and white, while the sky is a light blue
>you make your way out onto the balcony to see that it is also bright out here
>a different kind of bright than during the ceremony last night
>the light is very non-specified, mostly natural
>it feels intense, but not as invasive and personal as the moonlight
>the florescence is replaced with a feeling of overexposure
>you and Libra make your way down the stairs towards the ballroom
>you were half expecting to see several ponies down there, but it is empty
>the clock has a sparkle to it in this lighting, tints of blue shine out towards you, but it still has a dark ambiance
>you make your way into the ballroom and start to head to the underground area of the castle
“I think maybe later I will check out the library, not sure though. Know any ponies who might be interested?”
>Libra giggles
> “So you're the library type huh? You'll have to talk with Gemini”
>you start to make your way down the steeply descending hallway
> “Not too sure who'd be interested in the other houses, maybe Pisces but that pony is so quiet you'd never know...”
>you turn left at the desk and take a moment to admire how absolutely massive these walls must be
>the hall starts to take on more of a wild feeling, you know Earth house must be getting close

>sure enough you find yourself in the lobby quickly
>the air is so thick here compared to that of Air house
>you feel immersed in the plant life
>you admire the gardens and see the Virgo is the only one out in the main room
>she notices the two of you quickly
>it looks like she is watering some type of flower garden
>you can't see much except what is growing above the white marble wall
>she makes eye contact with you from a considerable distance
>“Hello Anonymous! Hello Libra”
>she looks at Libra and scowls kinda
>Libra flutters over to her and wraps her into a hug
>Virgo doesn't seem to approve, yet she doesn't fight to break it either
> “Heyyyyy Virgo, Anon here is trying to challenge you for the title of being my best friend!”
>she continues to cling to Virgo while giggling profusely to herself
>Virgo finally breaks the grip and takes a few steps away
> “Whatever would I do without you”
>her voice is completely deadpan
>she sighs and collects herself
> “I'm assuming that your house was informed accordingly per Princess Luna written request?”
>Libra continues to giggle
> “Yep! I used smaller words to do it though”
>Virgo scoffs then speaks
>“Why are you here Libra?”

>you feel inclined to speak up and ease the tension a bit
>or, Virgo's tension, it looks like Libra is doing just fine on her own
“Actually, she was just seeing me down here. I was looking for Capricorn, she was going to give me a tour of the other houses”
>Virgo gives you an understanding smile and nods
>“I'll go get her for you, one second!”
>she trots away at a quick pace
>you take the time to admire the gardens and the staircases in the common area
>they look to lead up pretty far, the railing is brass, it goes well with the elegant and bright look of the room
>within moments Capricorn trots up, it looks like Virgo went off to other parts of the garden
>“Oh! Hey Anon! I-I wasn't expecting you so early”
>you smile
“Good to see you Capricorn”
>she gives you a very genuinely happy smile
>“Hey Libra! Uh, are you coming along?”
>Libra giggles before speaking in a playful tone
>“He's all yours Caps, have fun you two ~”
>Capricorn blushes a bit at Libra's teasing, she is at a disadvantage with such a light coat
>“O-okay, good seeing you Libra! I'll catch you later”
>Libra waves then starts to trot up one of the staircases
>huh
>Capricorn speaks up
>“I-I'm gonna need a few minutes to get ready. I hope you don't mind! I didn't know you'd be here so fast”
>she trots in place a tiny bit, moving anxiously
> “In the mean time think about if you want to go to Fire or Water house first?”
>you nod and start to think of topics for your walk

*

>Capricorn quickly trots away to go prepare however she needs to
>you give yourself another moment to just sit and appreciate the Earth house
>you can't help but wonder about the garden, you decide to make your way over to where Virgo went while you wait for Capricorn
>she is still scanning over a bed of flowers, looking at them intently
>definitely something a little more than just admiration, planning maybe?
“Hey, I just figured I'd use the occasion to let you know that I am glad to be here at the castle. You all have been wonderful hosts for me so far”
>Virgo looks up from her gardening and gives you a smile
> “Awww, thank you Anonymous! I appreciate that”
>you give her a nod and look over the bed of brightly colored flowers again
“So was this garden here when you arrived or did you all grow it from scratch?”
>Virgo continues her overview of the garden bed, occasionally touching her hooves to some of the more brightly colored flower petals
>they contrast well with her clean white coat
> “When we first arrived the garden was here, I couldn't imagine trying to start this from scratch!”
>she looks up and across the room over all of the plant life
>“I have been doing my best to maintain it, it was supporting itself with some type of magic, but naturally things had gotten messy over the years. Just can't compete with Earth pony gardening skills”
>she smiles proudly
>you give her a nod and smile back

>you notice Capricorn making her way back towards the two of you, that was fast enough
“Well, everything looks incredible in here, keep up the good work Virgo”
>her smiles becomes more vibrant, she giggles a little to herself
> “Thank you Anonymous, I look forward to seeing you around here again soon”
>Capricorn is now by your side
> “So ready to go Anon? Which house first?”
>you think for another moment in case the order is relevant in anyway
“Let's check out Water house first, then we can go to Fire house”
>Capricorn nods and starts to lead you back through the way that you came
> “Alright great! Catch you around Virgo!”
>Virgo waves at the two of you before resuming her meticulous evaluation of the plants
>you make your way out of Earth house and back into the castle hall
>Capricorn stays close to your side while you make your way back up the hall
>her tail swishes into you slightly as the two of you remain silent
>you notice the way that it is parted at the end, interesting
“Hey, I was wondering why you style your tail like that”
>Capricorn looks up at you resuming her pace forward
>“What this?”
>she swishes her tail again in an exaggerated motion and giggles
>“I don't know, I've always done it like this! I think it is fashionable, how else you supposed to stand out when everyone is dressing up?”
>good point
“Well, I like it. Seems very fitting for a trip to Water house”
>Capricorn smiles and laughs
>“Hey! Thank you”
>the two of you approach the desk with all the notepads on it
>you instinctively start to turn right to make your way back to the ballroom but Capricorn continues to trot straight ahead
>you follow her and walk past the desk
>Capricorn stays close to your side, a different kind of close than Libra, despite being right next to you she doesn't make any physical contact
>the hallway continues to descend deeper underground, you see stairs ahead
>this isn't like the way to Earth house where it levels out either, it seems to just continue to drop downward
>the lighting becomes cooler in tone, the path remains stone, no plants or dirt in this direction
>as much as you like closely admiring stonework, you feel that it would be best to talk with Capricorn a bit more

“The Princess Luna thing must be really exciting to hear, when exactly is the ball?”
>the two of you continue to descend downward, the stairs start to spiral
>it looks like the path levels out up ahead though
>you can't help but wonder how much weight in stone is above your head right now...
>you brush your hand against the polished stone, it is cool to touch
>the stonework is clean, sharp, focused, you are confident that it will hold for a very long time
>the walls are polished, the floor is polished, everything has a very sterile look for being so far underground
>yet at the same time you can tell that it is vintage, the stone is filled with various cracks, discolorations and other imperfections that give the entire hallway ahead a very mysterious and unique look
>the more you look the more you notice details everywhere, strange carvings along the walls, ceiling and floor
>it is almost reminiscent of hieroglyphics
>you can hear water running somewhere up ahead
>Capricorn's hooves click clack on the tile beneath her as she speaks
>“Should be exactly a week away today! And yeah, the Luna thing is just... Wow! Looks like things are finally starting to come together in my life”
>she giggles, it is infectious, she looks happy, definitely more at ease than the times you met before >even if her nervousness wasn't noticeable to you then
>you reach the bottom of the stairs and the path levels out to reveal a straight hallway that leads to a single solid door
>on either side of the hallway a thin aqueduct flows
>it is a nice touch for sure
>you make your way to the closed door, Capricorn knocks

>the two of you wait a moment, nothing but the sound of the water running over the smoothly polished catches your attention
>the door opens and Cancer looks out, her crab is resting on her head
>she smiles wide and hugs you
>you return her embrace to the best of your ability, you weren't expecting that
>she is so warm
> “Anon! You came to visit! Hey Capricorn!”
>Capricorn smiles, Cancer continues to cling to you for a moment then lets go
>“Can we come in?”
>the purple pony smiles and nods carefully as to not disrupt her pet
>“Of course! I was just out in the common area talking with Pisces”
>the three of you make your way through the doorway into the common area of the water house
>this is really something, you weren't expecting it to continue to go downward
>you wonder how they can get a view of the sky from here...
>you find yourself on a balcony overlooking a large pool
>woah, fancy
>the water is very calm right now, undisturbed, you can see a multitude of colors at the bottom
>like a mosaic of rainbow tiles
>the rest of the architecture is pale, tan, or white
>the center piece of the room is a waterfall across the room on the other side of the balcony that cascades downward into the water below
>you are surprised that it doesn't disturb the rest of the water more

>Capricorn looks down over the pool
> “Aw, I always forget how fancy the pool here is”
>Cancer snickers a little to her in a playful manner
>“Yeah we have it made! You're missing out Caps”
>you follow Cancer to the right, it looks like the balcony extends all the way across the room in a circle and behind the waterfall
>the three of you take another quick right and you find yourself in more of an actual common-area
>light purple couches, chairs, and lamps, it is a really soothing ambiance
>feels old fashioned, like staying in a home that someone has spent a life in
>Pisces is sitting one of the larger couches
>there is an aquarium with several colorful goldfish on the table near where she is sitting
>Cancer takes the sit next to Pisces
>“Hey Pisces! Anon and Capricorn came to visit!”
>Pisces looks away from the aquarium and at you and Capricorn
>Capricorn takes a seat on a different couch next to Cancer and Pisces
>you wave to Pisces
>she looks up at you, makes eye contact before looking away quickly
>“Oh! Um, hey”
>she looks up for a moment then shifts her gaze back at the aquarium then looks back at you again before giving you a very brief and unconvincing smile
>her tone is soft and pleasant, comforting
>“I-I'm Pisces, nice to meet you Anon”

*

>you decide to take the seat on the couch next to Capricorn
>figure it is only fair since you didn't get to talk much on the way here
>she seems pleased
“Nice to meet you too Pisces”
>you smile and take a look at the aquarium next to her
>those fish are way colorful damn
>they are a visual focal piece of this lounge type area, they contrast strongly with the otherwise sepia furnishing and walls
>you fondly recall
“You know, back on Earth we had giant aquariums called oceanariums, they housed thousands of species. They had giant glass pipes that you could walk through so you could admire the marine life up close... They were really incredible, definitely one memory of my race that I can be proud of”
>you look take another second to admire the aquarium before turning to look at Pisces
>she looks down
>Capricorn is listening intently next to you
>Pisces speaks in a fairly meek tone
>“Oh, that sounds cool”
>you expect her to say more but she doesn't, instead Cancer speaks up
>“That is cool Anon! I don't know if we have any aquariums like that in Equestria”
>you look over to Cancer, the crab is now wandering on their couch
>she is keeping a close eye on it, probably making sure it doesn't wander off too far
“So that pool is really impressive! Makes me want to go for a swim, do you use it for swimming or festivities? Do you use the pool for your pets? I wouldn't want to disturb them...”
>Cancer looks up at you
>“Oh! You won't have to worry about Crabbers here, he's always with me”
>she brings the crab back a little closer to her and continues to speak
>“The fish stay in the aquarium up here. And yeah! We do swim in that pool sometimes, the water is a little different though...”
>Capricorn nods next to you then starts to talk
>“Yeah, I haven't used it much but it makes you feel a bit weird afterwards... I don't know how to describe it”
>she kinda huffs

>Pisces speaks up a quietly
>“It seems spiritual to me. The pool slows your perception of time and let's you experience the castle from some kind of different angle. I imagine that the magic was intended to be therapeutic, but the enchantment seems to me like it was a work in progress... If you do swim I wouldn't advice staying in the water for too long”
>you look at Pisces and make eye contact
>she swishes her two toned blue mane lightly, revealing more of her horn
>Cancer hugs her
>“Wow Pisces, I didn't know you had that many words in you!”
>Pisces blushes and moves away slightly
>you and Capricorn share a little bit of a laugh at their antics
>you can't help but wonder where the other pony is
“Aren't there three ponies in your house? Do you know where Scorpio is?”
>Cancer's face drops a little bit
>Pisces speaks up
>“We haven't seen her since before the ritual last night. I'm sure she is okay, she does this a lot... but if you do happen to see her around let me know okay?”
>you nod and decide to change the topic
“So how do you see the stars from this far underground?”
>Cancer giggles
>“ A lot of stairs! Or, at least for me, I can't speak for Pisces and Scorpio”
>Pisces looks down and remains silent
>Capricorn decides to break the silence
>“It's good to see the two of you! It's been too long since we've got to talk. We will have to plan later for Princess Luna's arrival”
>Pisces nods but Cancer gasps loudly in surprise
>“Wait, Capricorn, you mean Princess Luna is actually coming here?! When did you find that out? What?”
>Capricorn gives her a confused look
>“Uh, Virgo told me this morning. I thought someone from each house was suppose to know”
>huh, Luna must have notified Scorpio
>it looks like Cancer draws the same conclusion but Pisces speaks up softly
>“Oh, yeah. I was meaning to tell you Cancer but I couldn't find a good time to bring it up...”
>the green pony hides in her mane a little Cancer gives her a deadpan expression
>“Pisces, the two of us have been together all morning. Most of that time in silence!”
>Pisces blushes and Capricorn laughs
>you wonder how long it has been since you got here
>it doesn't seem like you have over stayed your welcome yet but it would be good to spend some time with Capricorn too...

*

>your thoughts keep drifting back to the huge pool by the entrance
>something about it is so alluring
>maybe it's because on some level you know that you are in the desert...
>you look over the ponies in the room
“It seems like you are all very good friends, how long have you known each other?”
>Cancer and Pisces look at each other for a moment before Cancer starts to speak
>“We've known each other for a few years, but some of the Zodiacs have met more recently”
>Capricorn nods and speaks up next to you
>“Yeah, it's hard to say with how time is here. I'd say that I met you two about a year ago when we first came to the castle”
>Pisces speaks up quietly
>“Has it really been that long?”
>Cancer interrupts in a much more lively tone
>“I think it has been much longer than that!”
>Capricorn huffs
>“It was just a guess”
>you look back over at the pool and admire the tiles at the bottom once more
“I think I want to try the pool, how long do you have to be in the water for there to be an effect? Do you have to be fully submerged?”
>Pisces is looking into the aquarium appearing to be in thought
>she looks at you briefly then looks down
>“Oh! Um, not sure, the longer you stay in the stronger the effect. You could probably just dip your head in for a minute...”
>you nod
“Might as well try it out now in a controlled environment, right?”

>Cancer claps her hooves together and stands up
>“Oh! Follow me”
>you and Capricorn get off of the couch and follow while Pisces trails a ways behind the two of you
>Capricorn is still close by your side
>Cancer leads you to a series of stairs on the other side of the lounge
>it leads downward several levels to the pool
>you wonder how much space is in this house...
>hell, all of the houses
>eventually you reach the surface of the water
>the tiles look vibrant from this close
>“Alright Anon, whenever you are ready!”
>you look to Cancer and nod before dipping your head beneath the calm surface of the water
>it is refreshing, you take a moment to feel the sensation with your eyes closed
>the water feels light and cool, but otherwise normalized
>you leave yourself submerged for another second
>you can't help but wonder what the tile looks like from underwater
>you open your eyes briefly
>fractals
>you were not expecting that
>you lose all sense of your surroundings
>the water is somehow distorting the colorful tiles beneath you into a ridiculously elaborate colorful pattern
>repeating in and out, you can't begin to guess how deep the water is
>you pull your head up and out of the water and take a breath of air

>everything feels bright
>you open your eyes and are dazzled by the stone
>once sepia, they now are omitting a soft rainbow glow
>everything seems so crisp, vividly real
>you remain silent in awe of your surroundings
>a soft voice enters your ear
>“Anon? Are you okay?”
>you look up into a pair of beautiful dazzling purple eyes
>Capricorn's face expresses genuine concern
>she has been so nice to you so far...
>they all been really kind
>her mane is so cute
>you wonder what you did to deserve her affection, after doing nothing but pushing her away the first few times you talked
>everything feels different
>how long have you been thinking for?
“Yeah, I'm okay. Everything is just really real right now”
>you take couple deep breaths and stand up
>Capricorn helps you to your feet, then quickly withdraws her touch
>you don't want to pull away, she feels really nice right now
>you look at her, she still seems withdrawn and nervous on some level
>it's like you are becoming more and more aware of it
>you look at Pisces and Cancer
>they seem to be a bit more comfortable
>Pisces speaks up
>“Just try to relax and realize that everything is truly okay, appreciate your surroundings”
>you look over to the waterfall and get lost in thought
>everything is so tranquil... the rhythm of the water
>these ponies are so nice, you wonder what you should do
>you hope Capricorn is okay

*

>you look around the housing more before answering Pisces
“Almost everything is okay. I just need to appreciate all the elements in my surroundings...”
>you give Capricorn a meaningful glance
>her purple eyes sparkle and return your gaze
“I'm sorry for not choosing to stay in the Earth house with you Capricorn, there were just so many ponies to choose from and I hadn't really met anyone yet”
>she really is adorable, you decide to reach down and give her a couple soft pets
>at first she looks surprised but then smiles and blushes before leaning into your hand
>Cancer makes an 'awww' noise and Pisces looks away
>Capricorn speaks up in a soft voice
>“Aw, thanks for that Anon, don't worry I understand”
>you give her a nod and she continues to lean into you
>she looks a lot more at ease but still a little in disbelief
“You're a very nice mare and I appreciate your company. I'm still not sure the extent to which the houses here do activities, or what it really means to belong to a house, but this is much more than I could have imagined. If you want to spend more time with me despite being in a different house I am perfectly okay with that”
>Capricorn blushes more furiously and nods
>“Yeah of course! Um, you are about ready to go see the Fire house maybe?”
>she clops her hooves together slightly
>you nod yes and turn to the two water house ponies
“I'll have to try this water here again sometime in the future. Do you have a normal pool anywhere?”
>Cancer nods and speaks, there seems to be a lingering sense of disappointment in her eyes
>maybe you are seeing too much into these ponies right now...
> “Yep! All the way upstairs by where you came in. Two lefts from the entrance, directly across from the lounge”
>you nod and try to remember the instructions while looking over at Pisces
>surprisingly she seems to be the most calm out of the group, you can't help but wonder more about her

>Capricorn breaks the silence
> “You know, it has been too long. Before we leave a little dip couldn't hurt”
>she looks at the surface of the water hesitatingly before taking a few steps in to soak her hooves
>Capricorn signs loudly
>“This is really soothing”
>she continues to stand in the water and looks back at you
>she giggles and waves at you before speaking
>“Figured you'd want someone a little bit more of the same frequency as you Anon”
>she looks vibrant in the water, full of life and emotion
>a real pony... crazy, her horns looks so exotic
>she closes her eyes and takes a couple deep breathes before making it back out of the water towards you Cancer and Pisces
>Cancer and Pisces look at Capricorn who is still giggling
>she leans into you again more heavily
>the physical contact feels enhanced, either that or she is just really really soft
>“Woah! Really colorful”
>she looks up at the ceiling with wonder in her eyes
>“Ooooh.... so ready to go to Fire house Anon?”
>it feels like you have been down by this pool for so long
>the idea of changing scenery hadn't really occurred to you
>you nod yes and Capricorn laughs
>you feel connected, as if not having to say too many words to communicate

“Thanks for having us over! I'll have to come back and try the water again”
>Pisces giggles very softly
“Oh, I already said that huh?”
>she nods
>Cancer comes over to give you a hug
>“Don't be a stranger Anon, enjoy the spirituality of the castle, you will feel different for a while”
>you nod and return her embrace before making your way back up the stairs out of Water house with Capricorn
>all of the changes of elevation in this castle are really incredible
>you remember you are underground...
>Capricorn just seems to be taking in everything in awe as well
>“You know, I feel like I have gotten so involved with trying to explore this castle that I've forgotten how beautiful it is here... I'm glad you're here to experience this with me Anon”
>she leans into you affectionately as you make your way out of the water house back into the sterile looking hallway
>it looks even more sterile and minimal, pure hospital core
>the aqueducts are really sparkly, they glisten and dance in the lighting
>it is bizarre
>you look down and make eye contact with Capricorn briefly
>the click clack of her hooves on the tile beneath you is exaggerated

*

>the two of you continue to make your way down the hallway
>you feel energetic, finally awake and alert
>guess you aren't really a morning person
>you continue to look at the patterns in the stone
>it seems like there are more subtle patterns that weren't there before, moving in waves
>huh
>there is so much detail, the contrast bounces around in your field of vision
>you and Capricorn start ascend up the stairs
>this is taking forever
>she brushes into you again and giggles
> “Okay, so I'm going to take you to the ballroom first, that way you will be oriented”
>you nod and continue to focus on the stonework
> “But what you'll come to find the longer you stay here is that there's more than one way to get everywhere”
>she hesitates
> “D-do you know what I'm saying?”
>you are slightly confused but nod reassuringly
“If you all have been here for a year then there must really be a ridiculous amount of secrets to be discovered in this castle, huh?”
>Capricorn nods yes
>you are filled with an overwhelming sense of wonder as you reach the top of the stairs to the hallway
>you are starting to get the impression that there could be seriously anything in here
>even in this hallway there are several doors that you didn't quite take notice of on your first pass through
>“You know it's funny, I feel like I know less about why this castle is here than when I first arrived”
>Capricorn huffs as you make your way towards the ballroom
>you can't help but feel like someone is watching you
>or rather there is a mutual awareness
>like you are aware of the history around you, while simultaneously becoming part of it
>the ballroom feels eerily empty, it appears that natural light is entering from somewhere

>you look at the clock, what they referred to as the heart of the castle
>the hand is still far away from either of the marks
“You know, this castle is really mysterious. I can see how trying to understand it would be frustrating...”
>Capricorn smiles
>“Jeez, tell me about it”
>you continue
“The whole thing with your cutie marks being on the doors and the castle being intact, it's like it was built for all of you”
>the two of you make your way to the large staircase that you first entered the castle ballroom from on your first night
>“Hey, it was bound to happen eventually right? I was due for a free castle”
>she giggles and leans into you before looking up at you
>so warm damn
>you ascend further up the stairs, past the hallway and continue to move up further
>it looks like you aren't quite level with the elevation of air house, but you are close to it
>you make your way to a break in the stairs and Capricorn turns to the left down a hallway
>the carpeting is a silky red
>it's bright and stands out strongly with the more darkly colored stones around you
“So what do you have planned for Princess Luna's arrival then? Is Luna also going to be offered a house to stay at, or other guests of honor?”
>Capricorn continues forward as she speaks
>she doesn't feel like a guide really like Aquarius, but rather like a friend who explaining a new area to you
>very informal, despite the fact you are sure she has a wealth of knowledge about the castle
>the pathway ahead starts winding different directions and changing in elevation
>dipping then raising, left then right, the stonework is very unlevel
>there are tons of doors in this hallway as well

>“Well, we have been trying to figure out a lot of the magical patterns in the castle. We think they have something to do with the stars above. This alignment should be a show in itself, the castle is going to be doing a lot of the dazzling for us”
>that does make sense, the venue seems like a good location
>“Other then that... We invited several other guests, prestigious ponies, writers, element bearers but we don't really expect them to show up early like you did. Although, I guess they are welcome to stay after the ball too if they want!”
>Capricorn pauses as you continue to make your way down the winding path
>it is starting to feel warmer ahead
>the stone remains a dark hue, the tone of the carpet is now more of a deep blood red
> “To be honest, there is a lot of planning to be done still... We wanted some of your perceptive, since you are literally otherworldly... We figured an outside and non-biased view would really move things along around here”
>the hallway to come to an end ahead
>about time, you were starting to feel dizzy
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I will try to help out how I can. The stargazing on the roof last night was very intense. It brings out a whole different side of the land. I don't know how it was for you and Earth house, but Air house was really somber”
>Capricorn nods understandingly
>“Last night was not too bad for most of Earth house, but that was because the moon fell within Earth houses reign. The energy that was project matched more closely with what we naturally agree with. Sometimes it can be hard for Air houses to be down to earth and straight forward, see things from a direct and head on angle”
>she trails off
> “Am I speaking too much? I feel like I am speaking too much. Did you follow that okay?”
>you laugh and nod

“I like hearing from you, it's fine. You should tell me more about yourself”
>Capricorn nods, leans into you further and blushes as you make your way out of the hallway
>the room you enter is circular, the walls are lined with 5 heavy looking metal doors, the ceiling is high above you
>Capricorn keeps trotting forward to the door directly ahead as you continue to speak
“Favorite color? Favorite food? Any life ambitions? Strangest thing you've had happen to you here? Hobbies?”
>she giggles
>“Oh! Favorite color is black, if that counts, favorite food blueberries...”
>she pauses to think for a minute before the door ahead of you
> “Life ambitions, find out why the heck I have this cutie mark and these horns, hobbies I like to research magic... I know I'm not a unicorn”
>she huffs a little
>“But that doesn't mean it isn't really interesting!”
>you laugh and give her a scratch on the head
>she sighs then giggles remaining close to her
>you feel really connected, you are walking at the same pace
“That's alright, I definitely know what it is like to have unusual interests”
>she ponders for a moment more before speaking again
>“And the last thing... what was it? Oh yeah! Strangest thing... It's kinda hard to describe”
>you give her a reassuring look
“That's alright”
>she nods
>“So a few nights after I arrived in the castle I decided to go exploring for the first time by myself”
>she pauses and you urge her to go on
>“Well, anyways, I was at the very top of the castle, or at least it what I thought was the very top. One of the spires, I had been gazing there for a while but it was really cloudy so the stars weren't telling me much”

>that is an interesting way to phrase that
>“So I decided to take the stairs back down the outside of the spire, only when I went over I found that they keep going upwards too... In the name of exploring I decided to follow them as high as I could, which was a dead end above the cloud-line”
>she stops and opens the door ahead of you
>“I thought that maybe it would connect to some kind of cloud structure! So I rushed back into the castle to get Libra cause she is a Pegasus and could walk on the clouds, only when I came back with her the staircase wasn't there. Libra thought I was going crazy, but it just didn't extend upward into the clouds like it did before...”
>you are about to respond to Capricorn but you are stunned by the sight of fire
>flames
>huge, in the center of the room a large fire burns wild
>it illuminates the entire house common area, the couches are positioned around the fire
>the stone work is urban and crude
>you see that Leo and the pony you remember to be Aries are sitting on one of the couches chatting
>Leo stops speaking and looks directly at you from all the way across the common-area
>the fire is so intense
>Leo's eyes have a spark to them, she is still in that lion suit
>she barks at you from across the room
> “Anon! There you are! About time!”
>she jumps off the couch and runs over to you
>she makes it across the room in several fast strides before pouncing on you
>at least you were expecting it this time and are able to stay on your feet
>so much energy in this room you feel like you are spinning
>after behind so immersed in slow thought and conversation, everything feels alive
> “How come it took you so long to come visit your best pal Leo Anon?”
>Capricorn looks down and moves a bit away from the energetic ball of lion costume
>Aries keeps his distance, watching from the couch
>he yells over to you
>“Morning Anon!”
>Oh wow, it is still morning, everything is moving a mile a minute

*

>you decide to return Leo's hug with vigor
“Good morning Leo, sorry it took so long but I'm here now! How's everyone in Fire house?”
>Leo nuzzles into you a bit before letting go and taking a couple steps back
>Capricorn remains silent, she appears to be a little uneasy
>it feels so busy in here, everything was calming in Water house and in the hallway
>you both must be stunned at the vibrancy of this housing
>Aries leaves his position on the couch and starts making his way over towards the three of you
>Leo is the first to talk
>“All's well in Fire house! Sagittarius is off shooting his bow somewhere, Aries and I were just talking about how PRINCESS LUNA is coming to the castle! I can't believe it! Can you believe it?”
>you laugh a little and nod
“It is pretty incredible... “
>your eyes are drawn to the fire again
“Hey, that's a nice fire you have over there, do you keep it burning all the time?”
>Aries responds a bit louder than necessary
>“Oh yeah, I don't think we could stop it if we wanted to. It has been going for who knows how long. Fancy magic of some kind”


>you and Capricorn look up into the flames
>they are very warm, they heat up the entire room
>their color is off in some way, tainted with hints of purple and blue
>or maybe you are seeing things, everything seem overexposed in this common-area
>you are starting to adapt
>energy, heat, noise
>you still feel a touch overwhelmed
“So how long did it take you to find these houses when you first arrived? Did you gravitate towards them naturally?”
>Leo laughs
> “I wish! It took a lot of time, hard-work and self-discovery”
>Aries deadpans and interrupts
>“Oh come on! It was like 2 or 3 weeks at most before we found the Fire housing”
>Capricorn giggles next to you
>Leo speaks back in a dismissive tone
>“Pssh, whatever Aries. Trust me it was rough”
>she pauses and looks serious for a very brief moment, as if in thought
>she takes a moment and speaks in a cheery voice
>“So Anon! Any questions about Fire house? Anything you want to do? Or see? Or accomplish?”
>Leo leaps forward and leans up on her tip toes in a futile attempt to make eye contact
>she blinks her eyes rapidly several times

*

>you are assumed at her antics
>you lean down so that you're more on eye level with her
“So queen of the jungle, are you gonna give Capricorn here a pounce too? Or am I getting a special treatment cause I don't know ya yet?”
>Leo gets down off her tip toes and looks over to Capricorn
>she crouches
>Capricorn goes pale
>Leo laughs and speaks up
>“You are always so expressive Caps, relax. I know you've had enough pouncing ~”
>Capricorn blushes and looks down
“So are there any other rooms I can see in the Fire house?”
>Aries nods before speaking up in his normal energized tone
>“Oh totally! You'll love this, it's the best chill spot”
>Leo seems to know which room he is referring to because they both start heading back across the room to a door on the other side of the flames
>you can't help but notice how quickly the intensity of the heat rises as you get near it
>the flames sparkle and glisten with accents of abnormal colors
“I assume that a lot of the castle is heated from here? I would love to see where it comes from, do you ever use this Fire to cook?”
>Aries laughs as the four of you walk by the flames and go through a tall stone door frame
>it reveals a staircase that seems to descend a level or two
>“I try to stay away from that fire, of course I'm clumsy. Nothing good can come of it you know? I think it burns too hot to cook anyways”
>it does look very large, it lays silhouettes on the stone walls of this stairwell
>it feels like you are with a crowd of ponies
“Any lava? What else is burned here? Calories? You have a gym too maybe?”
>Aries doesn't miss a beat with his response
>“No lava, no gym. I like to use the track outside in the courtyard if I need to go for a run”
>you nod

>the four of you reach the bottom of the stairs to reveal a lounge area
>the walls are an off colored white stone, the furniture is a tasteful teal color
>surprisingly close to the tone of Capricorn's tail and mane
>it is a little cooler in here
>sprawled across the walls and ceiling extending upward are miscellaneous shelves with various jars >different shapes and sizes
>each jar contains a small colored flame, burning with a vague intensity that gives the room a very odd lighting
>it seems to dazzle and reflect off of the marble, doubling, tripling forming patterns and fractals
>kind of like the stars last night
>you reorient and blink before looking at your surroundings again
>how long have you been in here?
>Capricorn seems to be lost in the sparkles as well
>Leo and Aries have already taken their seats together on one of the couches
>Capricorn is still staring upward but she is brought back out of the trace by Leo's voice
>“Come over here and take a seat you two, jeez!”
>the two of you make your way to the couch and sit down
>Capricorn leans into you a little, Leo is close to your left but on the other couch
>you look at her
“Isn't it too hot in here for that costume?”
>Leo giggles and bats her eyelashes at you
>“Why? You want to see me take it off or something ~”
>Capricorn blushes bright red, you look down as Leo continues to giggle
>you decide to think about how convenient the amount of couches in this castle is
>Aries speaks up before you have time to fully gather yourself
>“It's too bad Sagittarius isn't here right now, you'll have to meet him later”
>you take a short breath before responding
“Oh don't worry about it! I actually met him last night, what I am really hoping to achieve is getting to know all of you...”
>it is true, you are fascinated by the idea of other ponies right now
>everything is so vivid, meaningful and full of energy here
>Capricorn remains quiet, it looks like she bites her lip a little, you can't tell out of the corner of your eye
>Leo gets a devious look in her eyes
> “I know the perfect way for us all to get acquainted if you are game...”
>you don't know if you like where this is going...
>“Sooooo Anon, truth or dare?

*

>panic starts to fill you as you look into the eyes of the eager lion ahead of you
>damn the look she is giving you is insane, you feel like prey lured into her game
>you can't resist though
>you look over to Capricorn to make sure she is doing okay
>the effects of the water are still noticeable, at least you think, everything feel weirdly amplified
>thoughts are fading into one another, looping back, sticking to themes
>you suppose that could be other magic in the castle though...
>but more likely the water
>wait, how long have you been thinking?
>you continue to articulate your reply
“Uh, before we start I just want to make sure things don't get too out of hand, any ground rules we should lay down? Seems like it'd make sense to figure that out before we start”
>Leo sighs before speaking up
>“Yeah, I guess you are right, but you aren't getting out of this that easy Anon, you are still going first”
>she states that in a very matter of fact tone then continues
>“We can move clockwise with who issues the question or dare, they can choose whoever they'd like. Don't disturb ponies outside the game, don't pressure ponies into doing dares or answering things the don't want to, don't pick on anyone etc etc etc”
>Leo takes an exaggerated breath of air
>the white and teal pony next to you doesn't seem as tense, so you'll count your caution as a win
>it's funny how well Capricorn's tail blends into the furniture

>Leo speaks again
>“Aries I'm assuming you are in?”
>Aries nods yes
>“Oh definitely, wouldn't miss it”
>you look over to Capricorn again more noticeably, she looks over to you
“Do you want in too Capricorn? I understand if you don't want to play but it could be a good ice breaker...”
>she gives you a slightly nervous nod
>“Yeah I'll play”
>Leo claps her hooves together
>“Okay! We have a game!”
>Aries speaks up and leans forward
“So it'll go Anon, then Leo.... again, then me, then Capricorn? That's for who issues the dare?”
>Capricron nods in agreement but Leo interrupts
>“Yeah but first thing is first”
>she leans forward to make eye contact with you
>your faces are close
>“Truth or dare?”
>the same uneasiness fills you but it is lesser now
>you've had a long while to think
“Truth”
>Leo giggles
> “So you like to go the easy route huh Anon? I'll go easy on you cause you are new... Don't expect the same mercy in the later rounds ~”
>you wonder silently how long this could go on while Leo builds some suspense with her question
>“Hmmmm Air house... A lot of mares there aren't there Anon?”
>you remain silent
>your palms are sweaty
>Leo leans in closer somehow
>“But I'm sure that didn't factor into your decision at all... Tell me Anonymous, which one do you think is the cutest?”
>you look down feeling a blush coming on
>Aries laughs a bit at the interaction, you see Capricorn go a bit red out of the corner of your eye
>Leo speaks up again quickly
>“Bonus points for why ~”

*

>you look up at Leo and smile
>confidence is key
>there is only one solution here and it involves getting tactical
>you reach out and boop her
“Boop”
>she scrunches up and moves back a bit
>Capricorn giggles next to you
>you readjust your position, in the process opening up your body language
>you continue speaking
“They are all really nice ponies, Aquarius is cool. Libra is fun. The Gemini are nice.”
>you try to build some suspense as you scheme
“But I have to say that Aquarius is the cutest”
>Leo makes an exaggerated gasp
>Aries laughs to himself then speaks up
>“Damn! I thought for sure you were going to say Libra”
>you shrug and elaborate
“I don't know, maybe I'm just a sucker for mares with such silky white hair and luscious blue coats...?"
>you look at Leo
>it is hard to tell through her costume but it looks like she blushes before giving you a devious smile
"Or... maybe it's just her gentle and affectionate way of being that got to me?"
>you look over to Capricorn next to you
>she looks dejected but is hiding it well
>she realizes that you are looking at her and makes eye contact
>her deep purple eyes are so curious
>something seems to click in her head and she blushes before looking down
>Aries just looks confused in the background, he speaks
>“Well, which is it?”
>you already have your comeback prepared
“Ah, only one truth at a time. Leo said the rest was bonus”
>Leo scrunches before speaking
>“Fine, well it is your turn anyways. Pick someone”

*

>you look over the three ponies in the room
>so many choices...
>you look at Aries, he has been pretty distance thus far
“Alright Aries, truth or dare?”
>Aries looks at you with a look of mild surprise
>“Me?”
>he points one of his hooves towards himself
>you nod yes
>“Dare. Easy choice”
>you were expecting that
>you start to brainstorm as you make Aries wait
>it probably feels longer to you, there are just so many things to consider
>your eyes wander to the flickering flames in the jars behind you
>sparkle sparkle sparkle colors
>they fight for your attention but you stay focused
“Hey Leo, you have a spare costume? I was thinking of daring Aries to parade around in it”
>he scrunches up and gives you a look
>Capricorn giggles softly next to you
>Leo erupts in laugh
>“That sounds amazing, I have to see that! This is a one of a kind though, but it should be big enough to fit him!”
>before you can elaborate further Leo leaps up off the couch and starts to unzip the costume
>she is able to step out of it in one clean motion, like some speed undressing type shit
>it's funny how oddly naked she looks without it
>she seats back down on the couch next to Aries and hands him the costume
>“There you go Aries, don't tear the mane on those goat horns of yours”
>Aries takes the costume and scrunches even further
>“They are ram horns! And I will be careful”
>he stands up and immediately stumbles forward slightly
>you sit back, cross your arms and smirk in amusement as Aries struggles to fit his legs in the costume
>looks like Leo was right, but it is definitely a bit tight on him, he has to settle for zipping it up around halfway
>he trots in place and inspects the costume
>Capricorn laughs at his antics, you can't help but smile
>his facial expression lifts a bit
>“Hey, this is pretty comfortable, I can see why you wear this so much now Leo”
>Aries starts to spin around in circles doing some kind of dance
>it almost looks like he is chasing his tail
>Leo gives him a look before speaking
>“You are enjoying this too much, it's not as funny as I thought it'd be. You better give it back you goat lion”
>Aries scoffs and strikes a pose
>“Ram lion actually”
>Leo signs
>“Whatever, now gimme!”
>you'd consider this a success
>Aries starts to work his way out of the costume, it takes much more time
>he has to work each leg out individually
>as soon as he hands the costume back to Leo she stands up from the couch
>she grabs the costume with a playful huff and lays flat on the floor
>before you have to time to wonder what's going on she rolls to the side, into the costume in a swift motion
>she jumps up full dressed and leaps onto the couch
>she trots then claps her hooves together eagerly
>“My turn!”
>you sit in a bit of awe at the feat you just witnessed

>Leo leans forward to your couch but this time leans past you to Capricorn
>Capricorn shrinks away and bites her lip
>“Heyyyy Caps”
>she doesn't say anything for a second and looks everywhere else in the room but at Leo
>looking for some type of last minute out maybe
>“You've been awfully quiet, soooooo, truth or dare?”
>Capricorn looks at Leo finally making direct eye contact
>“Uhhh, dare”
>Leo pauses to think but then Capricorn speaks up again almost immediately
>“No wait! Truth!”
>Leo leans back and gives her some more space
>“You sure about that Caps?”
>Capricorn continues to chew on her lip a little nervously
>“No... I'll do dare. Final answer”
>Leo laughs
>“It's okay, I'll go easy on you...”
>she get a devious smile on her face for a brief second
>Capricorn has become the lion's prey
>“In fact you might even like it ~”
>Capricorn shrinks away even further
>“O-okay”
>she takes a breath as if bracing herself
>Leo speaks up in a very teasing tone
>“Capricorn, I dare you to cuddle Anonymous ~”

>what?
>you look to Leo then to Capricorn
>Capricorn's eyes go wide and her cheeks go bright red
>“W-what?”
>Leo giggles and leans back forward
>“Come on ~ I know you wanna ”
>Capricorn looks to Leo then up to you before going even more red
>she speaks up in a hesitant tone
>“F-for how long?”
>Aries just seems to be watching intently but he voices his opinion
>“I'd say at least until your turn is fair”
>you remain silent unsure what to think, you are still a bit taken by surprise
>Leo nods then laughs
>“Unless you wanna go for longer”
>Capricorn scrunches up then speaks
>“O-okay fine”
>she looks up at you again
>“I-I hope you don't mind this Anon”
>you are about to respond but she leans into you before you can speak
>she is so soft and warm
>this is way more intimate than you were expecting
>maybe the water is enhance the feeling of her rubbing against you
>she doesn't hold back, you feel her sigh and nuzzle into you just ever so slightly
>you wonder if you should be reciprocating?
>Leo giggles like a school girl and claps her hooves together
>“See Capricorn! That wasn't so bad!”
>Capricorn looks at you for a second then quickly looks over to Leo
>she just scrunches in embarrassment
>Aries looks kind of amused but nowhere near as enthusiastic as Leo, he speaks up
>“Alright Anon, it's coming back to you. Truth or dare?”
>you feel a bit more at ease, but are skeptic at what Aries could have in store for you...

*

>you take a moment to consider your options
>you decide to give him a chance for a comeback
“Alright, I'll go with a dare. What do you got?”
>he looks pensive for a moment
>Capricorn is still snuggling into you
>you discreetly wrap your arm around her
>...or at least as subtly as you can when there are only two other ponies in the room
>she feels so warm, it is nice to see her opening up
>you feel like you've developed a bond with her of some sorts at least, the feeling of her pressed against you just manifests that thought
>you can tell she is calming down by the rate of her breath
>she sighs softly and moves further into your embrace
>Leo giggles to herself before Aries speaks up in an almost disoriented voice
>“Alright I got it! See all the jars around us Anon?”
>you look around at the array of glass covering the shelving throughout the room
>they really are hard to miss
>you nod, you can feel Capricorn perk up next to you
>“Well, let me tell ya something...”
>you notice Leo's facial expression shift out of the corner of your eye
>“They are memory magic artifacts. Break the jar, relive the memory”
>Aries stands up off the couch
>Leo gives him an uneasy look but he continues forward to the nearest shelve
>he motions to three jars of similar size next to each other
>each flame within flickers vividly in a different color
>purple green orange
>the flames dance in sync with one another, it is distracting, alluring
>Aries' energetic voice draws you back out of your trance
>“I dare you to break a jar, pick one and I'll bring it over to ya... Wouldn't want to interrupt your cuddle session”
>Capricorn huffs but doesn't pull away in the least
>Leo speaks up, she sounds mildly irritated
>“Aries! We only have so many of those jars you know... especially with you breaking them all the time”
>he waves a hoof at her dismissively
>“Psssh, relax, most of those were accidents”
>Leo throws him a priceless glare
>“So what do you say Anon?”

*

>you hesitate
>you can't help but remember what Aquarius said about the castle
“I was told not to disturb anything in the castle, are you sure that it's okay to break one? Or are you just trying to make yourself seem less guilty?”
>he looks over at you and is about to speak before Leo interrupts
>“It's alright every now and then but the problem is we don't know anything about these memories. So you are basically reliving a random experience”
>Aries speaks up in a louder tone
>“I haven't had anything negative, a lot of weird or neutral stuff though. Makes you wonder why they saved it... Or who saved it?”
>Capricorn is still silently cuddling you
>this is all just raising more questions
“So how do they work then? Can't I just open it instead? This seems to be walking the line between fun and vandalism, if these are memories that were suppose to be preserved for all of eternity...”
>this time Capricorn is the first to speak, it surprises you
>you had almost forgot about your peripheral vision
>“They are meant to be a one time use. You break the jar and look into the fire, it phases out almost instantly but you go back into the memory”
>Leo nods
>“Yep, how'd you know all that Caps?”
>Capricorn turns her head to talk to Leo giving you a close look at her horns
>oh wow they are definitely real
>like real real...
>“Oh, I remember Pisces and I were trying to figure them out a while ago. Almost drove us both crazy, something about the way the magic is cast is so... I don't know ancient. It's hard to know what is happening at a technical level”
>you can feel her energy, the passion in her voice as she speaks
>she stops speaking and seems to remember your proximity before blushing slightly and re-establishing her position

>Aries speaks up again, his voice is powerful in close quarters
>he definitely draws attention to himself with his vibrant tone
>“I wouldn't think of it as destroying a memory, it's more like reliving it, recreating it. Hopefully learning from it... I mean, you have to think they are here for a reason right? Sometimes you just gotta live in the moment see what life really has to offer ya”
>you listen to his words, it does make some sense in one aspect or another
>if you are suppose to be learning here and stuff...
“Alright, pass me that green one, the one in the middle”
>Aries nods and picks the jar up and makes his way back towards you
>the flame inside moves off center slightly
>“There you go Anon, still not too late to chicken out ~”
>you grab the fire from him
>both you and Capricorn look closely at the flame flickering within
>sustaining itself, burning with a hint of something from the past ready to resurface
>maybe you are just over analyzing things still because of that water, it really is hard to tell
>it feels like you have been inside this castle forever almost
>the smooth glass jar is warm in the palm of your hand
>Leo glances over at you expectantly, a touch of curiosity in her eyes
>guess it is now or never

*

>you take one more moment to admire the jar before unceremoniously tossing it on the ground a few feet away
>you don't exactly know what to expect
>the jar hits the tile and shatters, the flame flickers and ignites upon impact
>you watch the green flames turn almost white with brightness then simmer back to their normal color and size
>the whole thing feels really anti-climatic
>Capricorn nuzzles into you as you continue to look into the fire
>she speaks in a soft and caring tone, you don't know if it is audible to Leo and Aries
>“Just remember I'll be here when you get back, okay?”
>you are about to reply but you can't take your eyes away from the flame
>watching it dance and flicker on the floor, seemingly consuming nothing yet staying alive
>you hear a voice in the room but can't identify who is speaking
>“I always forget how quick those things burn out”
>conversation carries on in the room around you but the words aren't translating into language
>the fire is too alluring, you keep watching, feeling your thoughts dance with the flames of the past
>it reminds you, you remember
>what do you remember?
>you think back, trying to visualize your landscape
>you are in a room
>well, you know that you are in a room you can hear the ponies talking
>but you are alone in the room
>this whole thing is frustrating
>wait no, you are frustrated you remember
>you don't remember why
>you try to orient yourself, take a breath and look at your surroundings but you're still locked a deep trance, engaged in staring at the green flames all around you
>where are you?
>you know there is something warm next to you but that is about it
>all you can do is recall, the visuals of the recollection are far more vivid than your actual surroundings
>the room becomes more clear, the finer details resurfacing

>you look ahead at the walls, admiring the details in the paint
>purple and gold, swirling, you are definitely still in the castle
>you are upset, this whole thing is just so stupid
>if only ponies would actually listen and pay attention then maybe your work would mean something
>wait what work?
>your confusion is interrupted by a knocking sound
>you try to figure out which direction the noise is coming from but your head turns the other direction
>wow that was involuntary
>you are looking at the door ahead of you
“Come in”
>you're not sure whose voice just spoke but the door swings inward to reveal a single pony
>she looks familiar to you
>you look into her gray eyes and are overwhelmed with emotions
>you know she is very important to you and always will be
>her dress is absolutely extravagant
>vintage, ancient, covered head to hoof in dazzling turquoise and dark purple gems
>the dress is accented with larger bright red gems that seems to be focal points of the pattern, the intricacy of the stones' cut makes them reflect light in a way you didn't think plausible
>she brushes her dark gray mane out of her eyes before speaking
>her tone is so personal, like she is thinking carefully about each syllable as she speaks
>like time is freezing around her just for the two of you
>“You know, nopony ever solved anything by moping around”
>you feel a rise of frustration course through you
“I am solving things”
>her facial expression softens as she starts to approach you
>“Are you sure you aren't just creating different problems?”
>she takes a seat next to you and sighs
>“I know... this whole situation is tough. But we have to be smarter”
>you hear someone snort in reply
“He's two steps ahead, I'm twenty steps ahead and you are clueless”
>the pony next to you looks down before speaking again
>“Steps ahead only count if time is linear and both of us know I'm not clueless”

>you briefly make eye contact
>her gray eyes are filled with so much care
>a look of concerned is etched on her pale face
>you speak up, your voice quivers
“No, I don't think you understand. I am going to crush him. I'm going to win”
>you can feel the passion in your words
>you remember the determination
>the drive that nothing else matters, you know your priorities and what you need to do
>this is why you are alive
>to win, conquer, scheme, attack
“And nothing can stop that. You don't understand my determination, you are clueless sis”
>you couldn't ever forget
>she sighs deeply before standing up
>her dress sparkles but she does not
>“Just... be careful. Ponies are trying to understand you”
>you roll your eyes before looking back at the pony
“I need to get back to work”
>she nods understandingly
>“I'm sure I will see you again soon”
>you lock eyes with her one last time
>taking in every subtle motion, dilation of her pupils
>the beauty of her deep gray irises
>you can feel your surroundings start to fade, but your determination remains
>a foreign feeling in your mind, but one that has become integrated into how your system functions
>your field of vision is slowly becoming an array of colors again
>they sparkle similar to the dress
>except there is no dress, just a lot of jars
>you are in someone's embrace
>you look over, it feels different being in control of your motions again
>oh right Capricorn
>her face shows an eerily similar look of concern
>“Everything okay?”
>you blink still disoriented

*

>something about all of this feels important
>you mentally cycle through what you just witnessed as you reorient and get accustom to the feeling of being in your own body again
>everything is off, it might take a minute to get re-acclimated
>you feel the need to record what just happened in an attempt to piece together the past
>you want a clean interpretation, not one that your brain has had time to transform and forget
>an elaborate series of questions race through to the forefront of your mind all at once
>you feel almost dizzy and overwhelmed, the intricacy of your surroundings is nauseating
>the room in the memory was much more minimal
>the dazzling lights ahead of you blur together visually as you think
>you reach a hand into your pocket and note that you still have the pad of paper from earlier
>you wonder how often these must come in handy for ponies around here
>or what pieces of the story, secrets they may know about the castle that could help you better understand the emotional input you were just subjected to
>it feels like you have been sitting in silence for so long, you look back to Capricorn and blurt out a reply
“Who was the mare?”
>Leo and Aries give you a confused look, Capricorn's concern grows
>it takes you moment to realize that your speech wasn't entirely coherent
>you look down at the tile beneath you, the pattern looks like it is moving
>fuck what is happening
>you calm yourself by taking a deep breath and leveling the tone of your voice
“How long was I out for?”
>Aries speaks up in his loud tone
>everything is so loud in here right now, you miss the quiet rhythmic waterfall in Water house
>“I don't know, 20 or 30 seconds?”
>that makes little to no sense to you, but you'll roll with it for now

>you're starting to feel back in the room again at least
>you realize that the game play for everyone else has been almost continuous
>you try to think of where to start with describing the memory
>nothing better than a question
“Is it always suppose to be that vivid? I felt emotionally connected to the memory”
>Leo is the first to answer
>surprisingly her demeanor has calmed down significantly
>she looks almost in thought, pensive
>“Yes, some memories are more vivid than others though. Of course, there isn't really a baseline comparison, each experience is subjective...”
>Aries nods in agreement
>Capricorn is still cuddling you softly, the look of concern on her face fading away
>she speaks up in a gentle and caring tone
>“Do you wanna talk about what you saw?”
>you definitely do, you want answers
>where to begin though...
“It was a memory from within the castle, I don't know how long ago. A pony and what I take to be his sister were talking...”

>the room's energy level has mellowed, you feel more stable and grounded
>it seems like you have captured everyone's attention sufficiently
“She was very comforting, wore an extravagant dress. His voice was very level, detached, cold and calculating, yet despite his behavior I could tell he cared for her deeply”
>you pause and think of how to proceed, you are once again reminded of Capricorn's presence next to you as she nuzzles into you a bit further
“Other then that it was very vague, something about a rivalry and a deep hatred... Oh and they mentioned something about time not being linear”
>everyone seems to perk up slightly at those last parts
>you decide to ask some more questions, see what these ponies might know
“I think I'm going to write down some of what I saw, just so I remember. What kind of experiences do all of you have with these memories and time magic? Have you learned any history or castle secrets from these memories?”
>you look up expectantly and are reminded not to look into the nauseating wall of colorful flames behind you
>Aries is the first to speak
>“I don't know much about time magic, but it kind of makes sense the whole time not being linear thing. Maybe I've just been here too long to know”
>you briefly wonder if this castle does change ponies
>Aries ponders then continues to talk
>“I've experienced a bunch of different memories, it's hard to differentiate at this point, especially when you've accidentally broke two jars at the same time...”
>Capricorn nods in understand
>“Yeah and hard to summarize concisely. I definitely have learned stuff from them before. I remember once I watched one of sculptures in the courtyard being made, that was neat. Oh! And I have to add that entering a room for the first time that you've been in before is definitely a weird feeling...”
>you nod trying to imagine what that is like

>there is still so much more to know and to be learned
“So then do any of you know who either of the ponies in that memory might have been?”
>Aries seems to think for a moment but shakes his head no
>Leo bites her lip and looks down
>Capricorn sighs and speaks
>“I don't think I can help you with that, sorry Anon. I know sometimes those memories leave a lot unanswered...”
>you just sit and think about the past
>what has been lost and what can still be pieced together
>or even how accurate the memory was
>who is to say
>it definitely doesn't sit well with you, especially with how deeply you have been analyzing things today
>everything still feels slow, that water must be really powerful
>Leo breaks the silence, her tone is slightly agitated maybe, as if she is eager for a change in pace
>“Are we gonna to finish this game up or what? Capricorn it's your turn”
>Capricorn looks at Leo
> “Oh yes right! Let me think for a second, okay?”

>it definitely feels weird jumping back into the game
>Leo speaks up again, still seemingly uncomfortable
>“I think after Capricorn we should stop, I still haven't ate breakfast”
>breakfast
>that feels like it was forever ago wow
>you can't help but wonder what the other Zodiac are up to
>there is still so much time left today, you wonder what else you should do
>your thoughts are interrupted by Capricorn speaking up, her tone is devious
>“Don't think you are getting out of this without having to take a turn Leo! Truth or dare?”
>she stares at Leo and smirks as she leans against you
>Leo scrunches her face up, but seems to soften a bit
>her tone is equally devious when she replies
>“I see how it is Capricorn... Give me a dare, hit me with your best shot”
>Capricorn giggles
>“Oh okay Leo, don't worry I have something good”
>you and Aries are just watching this psycho-logic warfare intently
>Capricorn continues to talk
>“Pretty impressive how quick you are able to get in and out of that suit I have to say”
>you silently agree, wondering how much time it took to master
>Leo postures up, seemingly proud of her antics
>Capricorn's tone is relaxed, it remains teasing in nature
>“... but I don't get what the hurry is, wouldn't it be better slower?”
>you don't quite see where she is heading with this, but Leo blushes
>“I dare you to stand up and do a strip tease with your lion suit”

>oh wow
>that definitely is not what you were expecting to hear out of the pony next to you
>Leo scrunches up even further and Aries breaks into a fit of laughter
>“Oh man! That is a good one Caps”
>she giggles, you can fell her breath rising and falling next to you
>her soft white fur...
>“Thanks Aries, alright Leo get to it”
>she claps her hooves together quickly
>Leo looks torn for a moment but then stands up with a look of determination on her face
>she locks eyes with Capricorn
>Capricorn stops giggling and looks back at Leo
>she walks towards Capricorn, swaying her hips all the while
>“Jeez, well, only cause you asked so nice ~”
>Aries and you just continue to watch in silence
>Leo brings her faces very close to Capricorn's, her eyes lidded slightly
>she reaches out a hoof and touches Capricorn's check softly before turning around and leaning forward
>she looks over her shoulder and winks
>the word 'red' doesn't even begin to describe the look on Capricorn's face
>Aries just seems to be staring in awe
>Leo rolls over in a somersault type motion before resting her head on her hooves and striking a seductive pose
>you make brief eye contact with her
>she bats her eyelids at you
>unf

>you can hear her laughing as she continues with the tease
>she starts to strike a bunch of ridiculously silly poses while making different facial expressions
>she freezing in place and slowly starts working the zipper downward
>you can see her blue fur start to show as she puffs her chest out and slowly steps each leg out of the costume, showing off and caressing her figure
>Capricorn wolf whistles then giggles as Leo makes it the rest of the way out of her costume
>she does really look exposed after all of that, her blush visible but she is laughing along
>Capricorn is the first to speak, she is still laughing to herself next to you
>“Way to work it girl, I wanted to throw some bits at you”
>you and Leo both laugh at her joke
>Aries speaks up as Leo starts to work her way back into the costume, this time more slowly and modestly
>“I am with Leo on the breakfast thing, this seems like a good spot to stop, unless Anon wants one more turn maybe? He is the guest after all”
>you haven't thought too much about what to do from here or if you want to keep playing
>maybe it is time to go to a different part of the castle, see who else is around?
>Capricorn is still next to you but is no longer cuddling against you, more just brushing up against your side and shoulder ever so slightly
>Leo speaks up, now back covered and proper in her lion outfit
>“Yeah, if you want one more turn go for it, either way. You are both welcome to join us for breakfast too”
>you consider the offer and wonder what Capricorn has planned for the rest of the day, if she is expecting to spend more time with you?
>it feels like you have been with her a while but it is hard to tell with everything that you have experienced
>you silently contemplate how to proceed with your day

*

>that seems like a fitting end to the game
>you aren't feeling particularly hungry either, but a second breakfast sounds like a nice way to deflate
“I'll pass on the turn, I don't think anything is gonna top that”
>you look over to Leo and add on teasingly
“Way to stand up to the challenge, we need to figure out that memory magic just to preserve that”
>she blushes slightly and waves a hoof at you dismissively
>“That was nothing, trust me ~ So breakfast?”
>you nod yes
“I already ate earlier, but a quick snack doesn't sound bad, I can keep you company for a bit longer”
>Leo and Aries look pleased, Leo leaps forward towards the entrance to the main common-area
>Capricorn stands up next to you
>the two of you briefly make eye contact
>the loss of her physical presence is a little saddening
>you stand up, everything spins for a second
>it feels like you have been sitting down forever
>you speak up
“So Capricorn, think you could take me back to Air house afterwards? It would be nice to know a more direct route”
>her eyes sparkle a little and she nods yes as the two of you make it out of the lounge back up the stairs
>Leo and Aries lead the way a few paces ahead of you and Capricorn
>“Yeah of course! Whatcha planning to do with the rest of the day?”
>she looks up at you expectantly

>you remember wanting to check out the library
“I think I'm going to go see the library, do you happened to know if Gemini will be at the Air house this time of day?”
>you continue to admire the stonework as you ascend, you can feel the atmosphere heating up around you
>Capricorn speaks up with a hint of hesitation in her voice
>“I'm not too sure... sorry. I don't spend too much time up in the Air house, I usually like to be more grounded... The library sounds cool though”
>you take a moment to consider everything she said
>you'll just have to check in at Air house and see who is there, won't be a problem
>the four of you make it into the living room, Leo and Aries are chatting too quietly to hear
>you are greeted again by the roaring warmth of the flame in the center of the room
>you can feel it on your skin the close you approach
>the four of you head out of the common area quickly, the heat seems too intense, at least right now
>you go right through the door that you originally entered through into the desolate five door room
>you are in a completely different position in the room but it looks the same as when you originally entered
>the spacing between each door must be close to geometrically perfect
>it makes the region of your brain responsible for physical orientation dizzy
>Leo leads the way, swinging the metal door to your near left inward to reveal a staircase that goes both upward and downward
>it looks like this door leads to somewhere in the middle for whatever reason
>you are starting to seriously question this architecture
>like who had the time to do this and why did they make it all so counter intuitive?
>all of this is happening indoors...
>you feel lost, it's hard to remember where everything is in relation to you
>Leo takes the right stair case that leads down, you and Capricorn follow

>the interior changes drastically in here, it is much more colorful, the walls are pastel and don't appear to be stone
>they are a pale white, the staircase is steady, dark and wooden
>the railing is clearly crafted with care, smoothed, polished
>you run your hand along it as you make it downwards, it is a bit low for you understandably...
>the four of you reach the bottom of the staircase shortly, it reveals another lounge type area with several doors in it
>Leo leads you through the cozy and simple room
>you look around and see a series of photographs all over the walls, mostly of ponies
>you decide to break the brief silence
“Which other ponies in the castle have broken jars? I might be inclined to ask them about it later”
>Aries is the first to speak
>“Well, I know for sure all of us here now, Pisces and Scorpio. But other ponies could have done it without my knowledge...”
>you nod and Leo continues to lead you into a kitchen of sorts
>more like a buffet though actually
>there is a wide assortment of fruits, nuts and berries
>you wonder if this is just constantly stocked or?
>there is still a simple counter and what appears to be some type of built in fire pit
>Capricorn gasps behind you and trots ahead to the table
>“Oohhh you do have blueberries. You guys are the best”
>she grabs a hoof full and tosses them in her mouth unceremoniously before making a pleasant expression while she chews
>Leo giggles and works her way to the other side of the room
>“It is definitely time for pancakes”
>Aries nods in agreement, you just look over the table overwhelmed before settling for several pieces of fruit that you can eat while you walk
>you decide to jot down a few notes from the memory beforehand in order to give Capricorn proper time with her favorite fruits
>she grabs the bowl and sits at the counter, you take the spot next to her
>Leo is busy cooking something, Aries is closely examining a round gray colored fruit

>might as well ask some more questions or try to make some conversation while you are here
“So... How are other guests treated at the castle? I'm curious, when was the last time you had one? Do you know of the apparent reputation you have outside the castle?”
>Leo sighs and continues with her process
>“Yeah, I've heard we are all nut jobs. Naturally we don't have many guests, you are actually our first”
>that surprises you, the room goes quiet, you decide to speak again
“Well, it is an honor! It is amazing here”
>Capricorn eats a few more berries before speaking up
>“Hopefully having Princess Luna come here will change up our public image!”
>Aries pitches in from behind you, he makes it closer to where you are sitting
>“Oh it definitely will. This ball is going to be a hit! Watch, I'd be willing to bet that once the word Luna is coming spreads we will get plenty of other notable guests”
>seems like a bit of wishful thinking to you, but you admittedly still don't know much about pony culture
>you don't have much to add at this point, the high energy level of Fire house is beginning to takes it toll on your body and mind
>you feel disassociated, guess getting thrown into a memory will do that to you

>Capricorn finishes her bowl of blueberries, she looks a little disappointed
>she looks over to you
>“Sorry, I'm sure you are about ready to go, I just couldn't resist”
>she stands up, Leo speaks from behind the counter
>“It was great having you two over, stop in again sometime soon?”
>you nod yes and stand up, you definitely will consider that
>you wave to Aries who is still immersed in investigating the meal he is composing
“It was good meeting all of you proper, I'm sure I'll be back soon”
>Capricorn pitches in as she starts to make it back out of the kitchen to the lounge
>“Yeah! That was really fun! Thanks as always”
>Leo waves to you as you make it into the lounge
>“Bye Anon! Good meeting you!”
>she pauses and lids her eyes at Capricorn
>“Byee Caps ~”
>she waves again, Capricorn blushes furiously
>as you walk away you can feel the emptiness set in
>it felt so crowded with three other ponies, with just one it feels like a more much clear and personal connection
>the two of you start to make it back up the staircase
>all this walking is such a weird change of pace
>you take a moment to silently share Capricorn's company, you wonder if she is still feeling the effects of the water
>you wonder if you are too, it really did feel like an eternity in Fire house
>you have no reference for how long you were really playing for
>you reach the doorway in the middle of the staircase and are about to walk through it but Capricorn turns and keeps heading upward
>“Oh, come this way Anon, you wanted the shortcut, right?”
>oh, that is convenient
>you pass by the entrance to the circular room and continue up the wooden stairs
>the click of Capricorn's hooves is very pronounced
>you feel like trying to make conversation, learning more about her
>your eyes keep getting drawn back to her horns
>curiosity gets the best of you
“I have to ask, are the horns real? Or did you and Aries and Taurus all just decide to wear fake horns to the castle?”
>she giggles softly as you make it to the top of the staircase
>it is just a single red colored door, Capricorn opens it while she speaks
>“Oh these? They are very real”
>she makes it through the doorway and stops to brush her mane to the side
>you look closer and can see that they are indeed attached
>her face falters
>“And no, I didn't come to the castle with them”

>that is definitely something, you decide not to press her further quite yet, maybe later?
>you take moment to look at your surroundings
>ahead of you is a well lit and straight ahead hallway
>to either side of you is a door, green to your left and white to your right
>Capricorn opens the white door to reveal yet another long and straight hallway
>you decide to change the topic
“You know, I've noticed a huge time thing going on throughout this castle, is there a certain reason you all like to gaze at a particular time?”
>Capricorn perks up at your question as you continue to make it down the dull stone hallway
>no carpet here, just tiles and lots of clicking and clacking noises
>“Yeah, the time here is very strange. That is all I can tell you, I haven't been able to find a pattern yet. Sometimes things feel like they are going way too slow or way too fast. Then again, there is a lot of stuff here that just alters perception, so it is really hard to tell”
>she pauses then continues
>“The clock is mainly for organizational purposes, everyone knows when to begin and when to stop. We like to be on the same page with things around here, makes everything easier”
>you nod understandingly and continue the conversation
“So then what is star gazing like for you? If that isn't too personal to ask. It was really intense for me, was it overwhelming at first? Has how you experience the sky changed with practice?”
>she now seems very engaged in the conversation, she makes eye contact with you again
>her purple eyes are have such a depth to them, a natural curiosity

>“Oh definitely! The first time I tried gazing here was a mess! I tried drawing out where all the stars were, not very efficient as you can probably guess... Now stargazing is a very relaxing and helpful process for me!”
>making a map does sound like a nightmare, just counting them is troubling
>the two of you reach another white door at the end of the hallway
>“Now I just listen to the stars when they speak to me”
>she says that in such a calm and matter of fact way, you are confused
>you are about to respond when Capricorn opens the door revealing what you first take to be a room
>once you make it out further you see you are on a balcony, the ballroom behind you to the right
>oh and straight ahead of you is the entrance to Air house
>that is a nifty
>Capricorn opens the door for you and you enter your current residence
>the sky painted overhead is bright blue, completely cloudless
>okay so this ceiling definitely does changes then
>you notice that the entirety of Air house is seated on the couches in the common room
>Libra is the first to look up, she jumps off the couch and trots to the two of you excitedly
>“Hey! My friends are back!”
>Aquarius and the Gemini ponies look over but don't have time to speak as Libra hugs Capricorn before looking back up at you
>“Hey Anon! How was the castle? Oh! What did you two do together all morning? Whatcha gonna do for the rest of the day Anon?”
>she leans forward and bats her eye lashes rapidly

*

>how to properly summarize...
>it might be best to take a seat and allow yourself to get comfortable for a moment
>after all you and Capricorn are technically guests to the Air house
>a proper greeting is definitely in order first and foremost
“Hey everyone!”
>you look down briefly at Libra and affectionately ruffle her mane
>you try to keep it quick as to not show her too much extra attention, just the right amount she is looking for
“Hey Libra, Capricorn just finished showing me the other houses in the castle”
>you take a breath and continue as you consider how much detail to go into
“Got to take a dip in the water at Water house and got to watch a memory in Fire house. All and all good, I feel like I've got to know a lot of the ponies here at this point”
>everything still feels kind of different, like you are slightly disengaged from reality
>this room makes everything feel even more off, it look completely different you keep forgetting that you are indoors
>you wonder how much the water and memory are still affecting you
>it takes you a moment to locate the soothing voice
>Aquarius speaks up, it is really impressive how seamlessly she is able to make her presence known
>“Sounds adventurous, I hope in the future you consider staying on the side of caution”
>you're not quiet sure what that is suppose to mean, you think it is directed at you
>Libra huffs next to you, Capricorn still hasn't said anything
>you hear one of the Gemini's voices
>Gemmy is talking to you
>“That's awesome Anon, sounds like Capricorn was a good guide. You'll have to tell me what you saw from the past in more detail sometime!”

>you nod and decide to make your way over to the large gray couch
>Capricorn follows a few paces behind while Libra flutters ahead to beat you to the couch
>it's almost humorous with how much room there is
>once you are properly seated you decide to elaborate a bit more
“It really was pleasant getting to learn more about how all the houses function here. It's funny how the Air house here has a lot of traits from other houses, like a combination of sorts. Quiet a nice balance if I don't say so myself”
>you pause and look up into the light blue painted ceiling
>the sparkles of gold are very apparent right now
>it's a nice touch to the interior, the wildife painted on the walls around you look very docile and cartoonish
>a selective pastel color palette in the paints
>it's weird how different this room can feel, almost non-constant, fluid
>you can't help but wonder if there is more space here that you haven't seen...

>your thought cycle is once again interrupted but this time by the yellow Gemini pony
>“So plans with the rest of the day Anon? At some point I want to try and do something productive with the Princess coming here and all...”
>you definitely don't feel too capable of planning right now
>you know you want to see the library
>you can't keep your mind off of the castle
>all of the space, the height of the ceiling in here
>it seems a lot higher up than it was before
>maybe you need some fresh air
>yeah physical activity something to reset
“I think it'd be nice to go outside for a bit if you all would like to join me. I want to see the library after that”
>you see the two Gemini ponies each perk up in sync
>Minny is the first to speak
>“Yeah I could use some fresh air too, I'm definitely in on the library later”
>Gemmy nods in agreement
>Libra hops of the couch and starts speaking
>“That sounds perfect, I could use the exercise! This figure doesn't maintain itself ~”
>she stretches a little before trotting away with a little more sway than needed
>“Let me get my ball”
>ball?
>Libra trots over to her sanctuary
>you notice that Capricorn and Aquarius still haven't said much
>you decide to stand up, best to help initiate action
“Aquarius, Capricorn, you two coming along?”
>Aquarius makes eyes contact with you and blinks before nodding slowly yes
>Capricorn speaks up
>“Uh, yeah sure! If that's what's happening then I am in”

>Libra emerges from her observatory
>you notice she has a soccer ball with her
>futbol? hoofball?
>whatever, it sports the classic black and white pattern
>“Alright! Let's get moving, fields on the left side of the castle sound good?”
>you don't know where that is nor do you consider left a proper direction
>there is a mutter of consensus, Libra is already half way out the door
>so much for getting to catch your breath here, although that seemed like a somewhat proper break
>you start to funnel your way out of the room with the other ponies from Air house and Capricorn
>now it really seems like a crowd
>it is hard to stay aware of everyone around you
>you eventually all make it out onto the balcony overlooking the ballroom
>you expect to go downward but Libra instead travels towards the stairs that lead to the roof of the castle
>the other ponies follow rather silently
>you sneak a peak over at Capricorn next to you, she nods and moves ahead
>best not to question it
>you enter into the room with the stone staircase leading to the roof from which you gazed
>wow that was only last night
>you are starting to understand the true meaning of time alteration
>Libra leads the way ahead as you emerge into the daylight
>you just now note that there isn't really a door here, it just ascends to the roof
>as you make your way to the top of the stairs you look up into the sky
>it still feels very early in the day, the sun doesn't even look like it is at high noon
>the vibrancy and rising energy of the morning is counter intuitive, not what your weary mind was expecting to see
>the sky above is dotted with white clouds of varying sizes
>it looks so much different up here in the day
>you look back to the bench that you sat on to observe the stars
>the stone seems so simple and gentle in the day light
>it is weird being here with other ponies

>Libra giggles
>“This is one of my favorite short cuts outside”
>you almost wonder if she is just going to fly down and leave you stranded on the roof, but instead she points to the edge of the roof
>you notice a section where it drops off, a staircase leading to the roof below you
>oh huh, the more you look, the more stairs you see carved crudely down into the sides of the structure
>it is very elegant and definitely not highly visible in the dark
>you make your way cautiously to the stairs behind Aquarius, Libra is already a level below you
>that pony really doesn't dally
>you do get a nice view of what you assume are the fields below you from this angle
>large green patches of empty space outside the maze of hedges, pretty much directly below you
>you are pretty high off the ground, it's bright and dizzying outside
>you reach the stone platform a level lower, Libra pauses to let everyone catch up
>she speaks up and continues down the next flight of stairs
>this one seems to descend more gradually and is much longer
>“So are we going to play 3 vs 3 or should we just kick the ball around? If we are doing teams we should pick captains”
>Minny is the first to speak up, everyone seems to just be relaxing and quietly enjoying the natural lighting
>“Whatever works, Anon do you want to decide since you are the guest?”
>she looks over to you with a twinkle in her magenta eyes

*

>overall you are feeling fairly indifferent, you just wanted some fresh air really
>might as well just let things flow, don't need to take the time to organize anything formally
“Just kicking the balling around for a bit is fine, we don't have to play a formal game”
>it'd probably just be a 1-1 draw anyways...
>Libra nods and continues forward
>so many stairs here, you make your way down the gradually descending stone
>it looks like the roof below you is almost on ground level, just one more flight of stairs to go after that
>it's funny how there isn't an echo out here, it's like the audio is much more brief and crisp
>as if all of your thoughts and actions are just diffusing faster
>everything in the castle has a tendency to linger it seems, out here in the open it is so open
>wait that is redundant
>you look up
>the sun is so simple, such a refreshing contrast to the intensity of the moon
>you feel on auto pilot as you carefully make your way down the non-evenly spaced stone
>it's weird with so many ponies you'd think things would be louder, more vibrant
>everything feels pensive and still
>maybe you were just in Fire house too long
>Aries and Leo must add a lot to the general noise level
>you finally reach the end of the staircase and get a moment to orient yourself on the roof
>just as you suspected from above, you are only several body lengths from the ground
>you are starting to really notice how vibrant the grass field beneath you is
>such a stark contrast to the arid desert land
>everything is full of life within the castle walls though
>oasis

>your concentration is broken by the sound of Capricorn's voice
>“I've always thought that sports were really interesting. The idea that ponies could dedicate their themselves so heavily to a game”
>she kinda stutters at the end part of the sentence
>“It's really cool, even admirable. I'm glad that they can do what they like”
>you consider what she says for a moment as you continue down the last flight of stairs
>it's weird how this roof levels out, the staircases are much less hidden
>Aquarius speaks up but it is not very sudden nor does it interrupt your stream of thought
>calm and rhythmic as always
>“It's one of the easiest mediums for skill to visibly manifest itself”
>one of the Gemini ponies replies, you are too busy watching your step to see which is speaking
>“I think that is definitely debatable”
>you're not sure if you agree you aren't really following the conversation very well
>it feels like you are watching yourself reach ground level
>it is so bright
>Aquarius speaks up as the group ahead of you reaches the field
>you wish her voice could quench the glaring heat of the desert around you
>“Well everything is debatable, but the really question is who has the time for that”
>you glance over to Libra who is bouncing the ball up and down on her back, occasionally reaching out to bounce it off of a hoof
>you look down at the grass beneath you and are thrown immediately into a trance
>you can see each individual blade, it seems like the wind is blowing across the field but the weather is calm
>eventually it becomes too much small detail for your eyes to process
>it is overexposed out here, everything feels plastic
>the grass is synchronizing beneath you, breathing, spiraling
>you are seeing organic patterns that are actually there, just subtle, common themes throughout the nature around you
>you're not sure if you are okay with this
“I don't know, it seems like there is plenty of time to go around here”

>Libra giggles from what feels like really far away
>this field is huge
>“That is a very good point”
>she stops juggling the ball and looks over towards you
>you can distinctly picture yourself from her field of vision
>she kicks the ball at you
>you watch as it approaches, spinning end over end
>black white black white black white
>you can see the pattern of the grass being disturbed as the ball rolls across towards you
>reflexively you become less aware of the details around you
>you narrow your field of vision in on the ball and tap it off the side of your foot
>it rolls softly in front of Capricorn a few feet away from you, who trots forward a bit and nudges it back up to Libra
>she receives the pass and stops the ball under her hoof
>“Oh hey! Anon! Think you can play goalie for a sec! I want to take a penalty kick”
>you don't see any goals
>you look down on the far end of the field and notice what she must be referring to
>a large minimalist metal structure
>reminiscent of the ones outside the orchard
>the empty space between the straight and rusty metal rods form a rectangle
>it looks to be roughly proper size from a distance
“Uh, yeah, sure. Which side of the field?”
>Libra just points and starts trotting to the goal you are roughly closer to
>as you walk you note the features and dimensions of the grass you are trending upon
>it looks measured up, cared for
>at one time this must have been used for sports or at least something similar
>you make your way over to the metal
>the crowd follows
>you touch the side of the goal before looking forward towards Libra who is placing the ball on the ground several lengths in front of you
>“Ready Anon?”
>this seems sudden but you center yourself and nod
>she takes a few steps back and looks you in the eyes before grinning and beginning her approach
>which hoof is she even gonna kick with?
>uh, you're suppose to pick a direction and dive right?
>giddy up ?

*

>you watch Libra as she approaches, trying to anticipate which direction she is going to kick
>she picks up a considerable amount of speed
>something is telling you to focus right but you're going to stay put until you see the ball
>one of her back hooves hits the ball with more force than you were expecting
>she is able to maneuver out of the path of the ball quickly
>it's such an awkward motion you are almost distracted by it
>the ball is moving right fast at about eye level
>you jump over to the side and try to reach your hands out in any kind of blocking motion
>the ball sails right through the top corner of the goal
>you're not even sure if you had a chance...
>you guess horses don't lose
>Libra flutters into the air in celebration
>“What was that thing you were saying about manifesting skill earlier Aquarius?”
>you can hear her giggling to herself as you stand up and admire your surroundings
>you notice other interesting metal work around, maybe potential seating?
>there are several large metal hoops elevated above the ground in a couple areas around the parameter of the field as well
>you hear Capricorn speak up
>“Niiiiice one Libra, you've won the right to go get the ball”
>both the Gemini ponies laugh and you think you see Aquarius laugh silently to herself as well
>it does look like the ball went a ways out there too
>bummer
>Libra huffs and starts to fly in that direction

>you look back down at the grass briefly as you wait for Libra to return with the ball
>the patterns are subsiding slightly but still feel radiant and elevated
>you look over to Capricorn who is watching Libra
>you silently wonder how she is feeling
>she said she wanted to be on the same level as you, you wonder if she still is
>you see Aquarius stretching slightly out of the corner of your eye
>is she officially the cutest?
>just as you are about to consider further you hear Libra yell something from a distance
>“Hey everypony! Come over here! I found something”
>you are taken out of your miniature trance and are brought back to reality
>everyone around you is already alert and trotting over
>you can see Gemmy and Minny whispering to each-other ahead of you
>Capricorn and Aquarius are at your side, you can see Libra in the distance
>she is examining what looks to be a broken up statue
>the ball is caught up in a very odd looking bush by the scattered white marble
>you all make a semi circle around where Libra is looking
>you look at the base of the statue
>it is impossible to tell exactly what the stonework was of, but the base is still intact
>the only thing carved in it are two stars
>they are very on center, you can tell someone threw a fit over the placement
>Libra is the first to speak
>“Are you seeing what I am seeing?”
>you are about to comment on the stars but Aquarius speaks first in a very matter of fact tone
> “Yes, the plant is very clearly fake”
>Libra nods
>oh what?
>sure enough, it is some type of artificial matter...
>you look at the base of the plant
>Capricorn speaks up, pointing at the ground
>“That is a hinge! Libra I think this goes underground!”
>very detail oriented observation there, she leans down and dusts the ground
>sure enough there is some-type of hinge
>Libra grabs the plant and pulls upward on it, the dust moves to reveal the outlines of a square board

>“Ohhhhhh finally I'm gonna find some buried treasure”
>Libra giggles and trots in place on the ground
>Aquarius raises her voice
>“Not so fast Libra, we need to be careful. We don't know what is down there”
>Libra makes a dismissive pssh noise
>Gemmy speaks up from your left side
>“That is a valid point, I think we need to send someone back to the castle and let the others know where we are”
>you don't really know what to add
>Aquarius nods in agreement
>“Yes, that would be logical, Libra, why don't you fly back quickly and inform at least one of the others”
>Libra scoffs loudly
>“I found the thing I wanna get to explore it! I don't need to be a messenger, that is ridiculous Aquarius”
>she pauses and pulls on the plant again before speaking
>“Caps, help me lift this”
>Capricorn seems to be broken out of deep thought and look up at you before quickly diverting her gaze to Libra
>she speaks up tentatively
>“I-I don't know about all of this Libra. Maybe we should plan this out a bit more carefully”
>you look at the marble around on the ground again and contemplate your options

*

>you can't help but wonder...
>maybe it would be best to look first and see whether it is even worth notifying the others?
>you decide to provide some input to the situation
“You know, maybe we should take a quick look before anything? I mean, this thing looks like it has been left untouched for a very long time. We can take our time with things there isn't a rush”
>Capricorn nods in agreement with you
>Aquarius scrunches her face up in thought for a brief moment before nodding slowly
>“That makes sense. A quick look isn't going to hurt. Best make sure this isn't a false alarm”
>Gemmy speaks up in a peppy tone
>“That's good thinking Anon”
>Libra nods enthusiastically while undusting the board covering the ground
>the two Gemini ponies locate and open the latches
>the board creeks loudly, Capricorn moves back
>you move over to get a better view of the entrance
>Libra makes an exaggerated gasp
>“Stairs!”
>sure enough, a stair case leads deep into the earth beneath you
>it doesn't look like you have disturbed anything but rather uncovered something...
>the rest of the ponies crowd around the entrance to try to get a look down as the dust finishes clearing
>it looks like you'll have to walk single file, it is a narrow space
>Libra speaks up, her tone oozing with enthusiasm
>“Okay! This is definitely something new, Aquarius I think you are right I should go notify the others”
>Aquarius deadpans at her before blinking slowly and speaking
>“Always so indecisive Libra”
>she shakes her head and Libra scoffs
>Libra looks panicked for a second
>“You will wait for me right?”
>Minny giggles and walks over to Libra
>she embraces her gently
>“Aw, of course”
>Libra looks over at you
>“So Anon, you wanna stay guard here or come with me to notify the others?”
>she blinks at you rapidly, you notice Capricorn bite her lip and look at the ground out of the corner of your eye, but she remains silent

*

>you give Capricorn a glance, her eyes twinkle softly
>you give her an acknowledging smile
>she returns it
>you look over to Libra
“I'd hate to turn down your company twice in one day. Let's go try to find the others”
>Libra nods excitedly, Capricorn looks down
>maybe you should have invited her to come along...
>you decide to speak to everyone but especially direct it towards Capricorn
“We will try to be back soon”
>you turn over to Libra who picks up the ball as well as a shard of the marble
>Libra speaks up in an energized tone
>“Alright, let's go then! I know a quick way to get to Earth house from here, we can take that to Water then Fire”
>Aquarius' soft tone seeps into the flow of the conversation
>“No hurry you two, we will wait. It would be a good idea to investigate the surrounding above ground area to see if there are other passages. I am concerned about the tunnel's stability”
>one of the Gemini ponies laughs
>Gemmy speaks up in an amused wavering tone
>“Isn't stability always a concern around here?”
>you briefly think about how heavy rocks are
>Libra begins making her way back closer to the base of the castle
>“Alright! We will be fast!”
>you begin to follow her taking a brief glance over your shoulder as you exit
>the other Air house ponies start to spread out, Capricorn investigates the base of the broken statue
>you make it to Libra's side, she is trotting to the left side of the fields a bit away from how you entered
>you see how this could be disorienting

>“This is gonna be really cool! I hope that there is a lot of area to explore it is always so fresh not knowing what you are going to find”
>Libra maintains a rapid trot forward, it is hard to match her enthusiasm
>you still feel kinda of off and sluggish but the effects are much less noticeable
>it looks like it is about noon
>whatever that means
>you reach the castle way fast
>Libra walks around a small corner within the base
>“There is a door over here”
>the lighting is just right to see the door, if the sun were casting a longer shadow you probably would not be able to notice the door easy
>it opens in front of you as Libra trots in
>huh?
>maybe you just missed her opening it
>you look into the hallway
>this looks familiar
>you took this to the orchard?
>or one that looks very similar
>Libra's hoof-steps echo loudly as you make it further into the castle
>it was definitely a good idea to get some air, things feel a bit more normal
>like a soft weight was lifted off your shoulders
>you keep moving down the hallway
>something sounds off about Libra's hoof-steps
>she slows her pace
>yeah there is definitely another sound
>it is coming from one of the many doors in the hallway
>Libra notices it too you both stay quiet for a second
>“It must be one of the other ponies, we should figure out which door it is”
>you nod and continue further down the hall trying to locate the sound
>you hear a muffled yell and a crash

>Libra looks startled but springs into action flying forward and pressing her ear to the door to your immediate right
>“I think someone is in trouble! This door!”
>before you can stop to consider anything she opens to door, swinging it inward and moving in
>you hesitate but follow, grasping your sword's handle
>you run your finger over the cool blue stone anxiously
>the first thing that you notice is that the ground is covered in shards of glass
>it looks marvelous, dazzling refracting the light
>each and every piece
>different hues of beautiful reds, oranges, pinks
>something incredible
>you look up further and see a pony
>it takes you a moment to put a name to the face
>her cheeks are clearly streaked with tears
>she looks torn apart, frustrated
>her posture is firm and upright
>you make eye contact and are stunned by her soft light blue irises
>you've never seen someone flash so many facial expressions at once
>she goes from hopeless to confused to intrigued before resting on anger
>Libra speaks, her voice is fairly calm
>“Scorpio! Is everything okay? I heard a crash”
>she looks at the shards of glass appearing to notice them for the first time
>Scorpio keeps looking at you, staring into you
>she breaks eye contact to glare at Libra
>her voice is snide, unlevel with a hidden allure
>it could be charming if she wasn't yelling
>“Everything is JUST fucking FINE”
>Libra looks like she is going to interject but Scorpio maintains her assertive voice and takes a step forward into the glass on the ground
>“Now both of you leave. Right b-bucking now”
>she looks directly at you again
>“And don't you dare say a word about this to anyone”
>she postures up slightly but looks down, dejected

*

>once the initial shock of the situation wears off you begin to analyze your surroundings a bit more closely
>you look over Scorpio's coat to see if the glass cut her anywhere
>it doesn't look like it, although she did just step into a pile of it, could be a problem...
>you scan the room, it is mostly bare in here asides from several empty shelves on the opposite side of the room
>you notice that there are absolutely no windows in here either, just several modest wooden doors
>you wonder where the object could have been resting before it broke...
>the more you look at the subtle quiver in Scorpio's posture, the more you are starting to think that something was intentionally broken
>Libra speaks before you have the chance to say anything
>her tone is surprisingly cold, she sounds irritated
>“Jeez, rude, sorry for checking in on you. We will leave”
>she pauses and looks at the glass one more time
>her facial expression drops
>“And breaking things doesn't solve anything”
>Scorpio looks down and paces slightly
>she groans
>you decide to speak
“We weren't looking for you in particular but I know that the other Water house ponies are worried about you”
>you pause and try to add a bit more of an assertive tone to your voice
“I won't say anything without your permission, but if you expect me to stay quiet for long you need to talk to one of us here about the problem, or one of your friends once you calm down. Choice being yours”
>she stops her pace and turns to look you in the eyes
>she takes a step forward
>her voice is venomous
>“Excuse me?”

>she keeps her gaze locked into the center of your eyes as she walks forward with complete disregard for the shards of warm colored glass
>her voice is picking up in potency but you can she is holding back
>“Were you, the guest here at the castle, who has been here for what? All of a day?”
>she pauses and continues to look up at you
>Libra doesn't say anything or move, she just watches Scorpio's hooves as the glass cracks underneath them
>“Trying to imply that you know SHIT about what I should or shouldn't be doing?”
>she stops talking but keeps looking up at you
>she is much smaller than you but you can't help feel a tad bit intimidated
>Scorpio's posture slouches and she smirks at you before speaking in a much more soft and leveled tone
>almost too level for comfort, the change is way too sudden, a complete emotional 180
>“I think it's cute that you are trying to be assertive”
>she blinks at you then turns before speaking again
>“I think I've made my point”
>she begins working her way across the room, it looks like she is just going to leave
>you can't help but admire the intense hue of her Magenta coat as she trots away
>she is about to open one of the wooden doors across the room before Libra speaks up in a loud and fast paced tone
>“When you calm down meet us out by the soccer fields, we found something to explore”
>Scorpio stops and scoffs loudly before looking back at Libra and speaking
>“I'm sorry, do you really think I care about going down there right now?”
>Libra's face falters
>this whole interaction has really left a bitter taste in your mouth, you wonder if you should still go to Earth house immediately after...
>Scorpio is still in the room but it looks like she is about to exit

*

>several different thoughts run through your head
>you are immediately tempted to remind her that you are a neutral entity here of sorts
>or that her friends are worrying about her
>but you decide it's best right now to hold your tongue
>best not to get stung...
“Alright, well, I look forward to seeing you again”
>Scorpio stops in the doorway as she opens the door further to reveal the hallway ahead of her
>you make eye contact
>her facial expression softens and her pupils dilate
>her tone loses a little of its venom
>“Thank you Anon, I will see you soon”
>you think you see her wink?
>maybe not, she is turning to leave
>you look over to Libra who looks on edge to say the least...
“She is quite the intriguing mare huh?”
>Libra scoffs and turns to leave the room, going back to the hallway you entered from
>you take a moment to pick up one of the shards of glass and examine it
>it is much thicker than any of the jars from earlier, like this object was almost solid
>you feel different holding the glass, warm
>you watch the colors sparkle across the surface
>there is a depth to them, oranges and greens dazzle and fade within the solid alluring red
>you follow Libra out into the hallways as she speaks up
>“If by intriguing you mean a complete basket case then yeah”
>seems a tad bit harsh but you shrug as you listen to the shallow clip clopping echo of Libra's hoofs while you descend
“So has she always been like that then? Cancer mentioned that she disappears a lot, are there any ponies she gets along with particularly well that I could talk to?”
>Libra continues her trot but makes a hmmm noise
>the doors on either side of the hallway here look remarkably similar
>“Yeah, she has always kinda been like that from what I know of her at least. I don't know much about a lot of the ponies in Water house to be honest. I imagine she gets along with them okay and I used to see her around Taurus sometimes...”

>she pauses and stops as you continue down the hall
>“That's an awful lot of questions Anon ~ I think someone has a crush ~”
>Libra giggles to herself loudly and brushes into you as she continues ahead
>you decide it'd probably be a good idea to key her in on your dilemma
“Well, Cancer... or was it Pisces? Told me to tell let them know if I saw Scorpio. So that's why I was so vocal with my intentions back there. I'm not sure what to do now”
>Libra nods as she stops to investigate a door to your left very closely
>“Hey, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It doesn't seem to be too uncommon...”
>Libra sighs as she continues to look at the door, you come to a complete stop
>“Now I always forget which door it is coming from this way...”
>she opens the door revealing a single spiraling brass staircase that descends downwards beneath the floor
>“Ah ha! This is it”
>this room is so bare, it is just the stairs going down
>Libra quickly flutters over the railing and begins making it downwards
>you quickly lose sight of her and decide to follow
>you look down through the floor into an opening that is very high off the ground
>or at least seemingly that way after just being level with the floor
>it takes you a minute to realize you aren't outside, it is just green below you
>you look carefully as you make it down the stairs and realize that this is Earth house
>you can tell by the white marble walls and observatory doors below
>oh damn, that was fast, nifty short cut for sure
>it doesn't look like anyone is below you
>“Hey!!! Anypony here?”
>Libra yells from the stairs as she continues to trot downwards
>you follow, it is quite dizzying
>you've almost reached ground level by the time that you see Taurus emerge from one of the rooms near the observatories
>you hear him yell across the room in a level and grounded voice
>“Hey Libra! Hey Anon, what brings you guys here?”
>Virgo is nowhere to be seen

*

>you continue to make your way down the remainder of the stairs as Taurus begins a steady walk towards the two of you
“Well if it isn't the pony for the job”
>Taurus looks confused for a second
>“What job exactly?”
>you open your mouth to speak but before you can fully form your thoughts Libra interrupts
>“We discovered a trapdoor out in the fields and are seeing who wants to come exploring!”
>she flutters up into the air excitedly
>you decide to add on to her description
“Yeah, we were out by the soccer fields with Capricorn and the rest of Air house when Libra here stumbled upon an underground passage. We are looking to gather up whoever is interested in helping”
>you pause for a moment
“Sure your strength could come in useful”
>he nods and gives you a friendly and hardy laugh before
>“Yeah definitely count me in, I'm always in for a good exploration project”
>cool
>Taurus speaks up again, seeming to direct more of his attention to Libra
>“Uh, so where are we going next then?”
>Libra pauses she looks torn between flying off in two different directions
>“Well, I was thinking Water house first, then we could go to Fire... No! Wait, it would make sense to go Fire then Water”
>Taurus just gives her a confused look
>you are about to say something when Libra speaks again
>“No wait, definitely Water house first. It's much closer”
>damn indecisive pone
>you decide to make things a bit more clear
“Do you want to walk with us Taurus or have us meet you once we've gathered other ponies?”
>Taurus thinking for a moment but answers decisively
>“I'll walk along with you guys, I don't mind at all”
>Libra clops her hooves together excitedly and begins a quick trot towards the exit
>you and Taurus follow

>this walk is starting to feel more and more familiar
>you remembered how wondrous it was the first time you went down this pathway to Earth house with the castle all illuminated by its own magical ambience
>you watch the plant life at your feet become more and more sparse as you make it further down the hallway
> you pass the desk covered in notepads
>to begin the descent to Water house again
>it feels like so long ago since you were in the water, even though it's only been a few hours...?
>you don't really wanna think about time
>things are finely starting to seem normal
>you decide to try to make some conversation as you start to make it down the stairs leading to the isolated hallway
“So I've heard the Earth house is a very grounded house... I'm not quite sure I understand what that means. Everyone here seems very stable, well, except maybe Scorpio but I've only got to see her once so far...”
>you kinda trail off at the end not sure how much detail would be considered invasive
>Taurus looks down at the ground
>your glance follows, you reach the bottom of the spiraling stairs to touch foot on the polished stone of the hallway leading to Water house
>the sound of water is becoming present, you look at the aqueducts running along either side of the hallways around you
>you decide to conclude your thought a little better
“I guess what I'm asking is, what does it means to you to be part of Earth house? Maybe you could shed a little light on that?”
>Libra is listening attentively as you make it to the heavy door ahead
>Taurus looks pensive but he speaks in a steady voice
>“Well, the way I view it is that we see things from ground level. Both me, Virgo and Capricorn are all fairly direct ponies. We face things head on, we don't over analyze or under analyze things. Present a problem to ponies from Air house and they might focus too largely on the bigger picture, or with Water house they might get caught up in the details...”

>Libra scoffs
>“Seems like a generalization to me, and you know those are always accurate”
>Taurus laughs and knocks on the door ahead of you loudly
>“See? That type of abstract and conceptualized thinking of yours proves my point exactly oh lofty Libra”
>Libra scoffs again more loudly
>Taurus laughs and speaks again
>“Sometimes though it would be nice to be a bit more detail oriented I must admit”
>you are about to say something but the door in front of you swings open
>Cancer is in the door-frame, she looks cheery
>her face drops at the sight of the crowd in front of the house entrance
>“Back again already! Oh no! Is everything okay Anon?”
>she looks worried
>“The water wasn't too intense was it?”
>it takes you a moment to gather yourself but you try to quickly explain
“Yes everything is okay! Don't worry. We just found an underground passage and are looking for other ponies who want to explore”
>Cancer's face picks up a little
>“O-oh okay. We were just busy going through some documents, do you want to come in?”
>Libra looks impatient, Taurus looks completely neutral, but alert

*

>you figure that there is no real rush to get back to the fields
>hopefully the others aren't just sitting there waiting...
“Yeah, that sounds nice. What kind of documents did you find? Looking for something specific?”
>Cancer's body language warms up a tad bit and she giggles
>“You'll have to ask Pisces about them, I'm more just sitting back and watching. I think she is looking for answers”
>she holds back another fit of giggles
>Taurus narrows his brow, you and Libra walk into Water house side by side
>the four of you make it into the large common area as you are once again greeted by the roaring sound of the waterfall
>you look across the rainbow tiles of the water below you
>there is much more tension across the surface, it seems that the waterfall is cascading with more force, creating a series of bubbles that distorts the view of the abstract pattern work
>Cancer leads the three of you back to the lounge that you went to with Capricorn
>you look over to Taurus and Libra as they also admire the water beneath you
>you turn the corner and are greeted by the sight of a very disgruntled Pisces
>she is positioned right by the aquarium and is completely surrounded by about medium sized pieces of paper
>she looks frustrated, moving and rearranging piles of squares with no particular order
>there look to be at least a hundred of them if not more
>Libra speaks in a loud and bubbly tone, Pisces doesn't bother to look up
>“Oh! What'd ya find Pisces?”
>Pisces just continues to order the cards and remains silent for an almost uncomfortable amount of time
>finally she speaks softly
>“Uh, I don't know”
>well that doesn't give you much information
>Cancer takes the seat next to Pisces, Taurus remains silent
>you decide to walk closer to get a better view of the squares
>okay these look weird
>they are just small glossy pieces of white card-stock
>each piece contains a single thick black letter in a bold font

>Pisces picks up a stack of papers and begins to sort through it
>“This is so stupid, why would anyone take the time to make this?”
>she buries her head in her hooves for a brief moment
>Cancer hugs her softly and giggles
>“Try not to get so worked up about it, we'll figure this all out”
>you look away for a moment and take note of the brightly colored fish next to her swimming back and forth slowly across the aquarium
>Pisces scoffs while repositioning herself
>she stops sorting and groans
>“Ugh! And why is this one blank? This just doesn't make any sense”
>she sets down the pile of paper squares in her hooves and massages her temples
>Cancer speaks up in a nurturing tone as Libra and Taurus find a seat on a couch a tad bit of to the side
> “Aw, I know you were happy to get into that box but maybe it is time for a break. You haven't even said hi to Anon yet Pisces”
>Pisces look at Cancer, then to you
>her eyes twinkle for a brief moment but she quickly looks down at the floor and doesn't say anything
>you take another look over the 'documents'
>you can see how this would raise a lot of questions...
>you take a moment to consider your next course of action

*

>you continue to just observe Pisces
>she rearranges a couple squares as if trying to spell out something with the various letters
>you don't want to do anything too sudden that would break her concentration
>Cancer leans forward a bit to watch her as well
>Pisces looks away from the cards, she seems a bit overwhelmed maybe?
>you decide to break the silence
“So where did you find the cards anyways?”
>maybe that can offer some additional clues
>Pisces makes brief eye contact with you before looking over to the aquarium as she speaks
>you watch her eyes follow the fish's motions across the tank
>“It was this small wooden box that I found in my observatory a while back. Sealed with some kind of magically enchantment or something...”
>she pauses and continues to look down and shuffle the cards around, stacking them, rotating them as if searching
>“Finally got through the thing, thought I was going to find something really important and instead just these cards”

>Cancer giggles in the background
>“The box has really had it out for you from the start”
>you are taking note of how quiet Libra is being, she looks to be intrigued by the puzzle in front of her
>Taurus has gotten up and started pacing around the room a bit, investigating the walls and shelves more closely
>you really should consider getting a move on
“Hey, the cards do seem important, but sometimes it can be useful to take a break from a task like this and come back to it with fresh eyes. Re-engage the subconscious and stuff”
>Libra nods from the couch
“Yeah! Both of you should come help us with some useful explore! We found something really cool outside!”
>Pisces looks at Libra hesitatingly then bites her bottom lip and looks down at the cards
>Cancer is the first to speak up
>“I don't know... Could be fun, but I'm afraid to leave Crabbers here behind...”
>you don't notice the small red crab immediately, it takes you a second to see it rested on the back of the couch behind Cancer's head
>Pisces replies shortly after
>“Yeah... I don't think I really want to do that. I don't know...”
>she looks down at the ground then back to the cards and sighs
>poor girl really should take a break though
>you debate whether or not you should try to convince them to come along or if it'd be better to have them stay behind
>or maybe even convince just one of them?
>you try to think if there is something else helpful that could be done or if there is anything else that you should bring up before you leave...

*

>several thoughts go through your mind but the most relevant is that you should get over to Fire house and gather everyone else who is around
>you look quickly across the room, scanning your surroundings
>you really are starting to get a lot of ponies together for this...
“Well, I think that Libra, Taurus and I are going to walk over to Fire house and see who is there. If you guys want to join us for the walk, it could give you both some time to think about exploring. Pisces, I really do think you should take a break for a bit too”
>Cancer nods immediately
>“Oh! Yeah that sounds good for sure, I could stand to leave Water house sometime today...”
>Pisces looks down at the ground again
>she doesn't say anything right away, you decide to reach out and pick up one of the squares in the meantime
>you grab a square that has an “S” on it
>it seems like most of the letters and random, you see a lot of Qs and Ls
>you flip over the card, the reverse side of the cardstock is exactly the same
>Pisces finally opens up in a meek tone
>“I-I'm okay with walking for a minute”
>Libra clops her hooves together and leaps off the couch
>“Well alright! We got a nice group of ponies together now, let's get over to Fire house”
>Taurus nods steadily and begins to make it out of the room
>it's funny how much more quiet he has gotten since coming here
>you continue to watch his eyes scanning over the features of the lounge, then gaze back out over the balcony to the waterfall
>what now definitely feels like a crowd of you make it out of the Water house lounge and back onto the balcony
>Libra is taking the lead, while Taurus and Cancer follow closely behind
>you and Pisces remain towards the back
>you see her glance anxiously back
>you take one more look at the water before making out of the house into the sterile hallway ahead
>the echo of many hooves resonates throughout the hallway as your crowd of five starts to ascend up the stairs

>you take a glance at Pisces, she has a blank expression on her face
>you decide to maybe try to make some more conversation as you make it up the stairs
“So uh, I was told we aren't to use magic in the castle? How did you get the box open?”
>Pisces doesn't say anything as she continues forwards at a slowed pace
>she stumbles for a second then looks up at you
>“Oh! That right... I tried breaking it up with magic a couple times outside of the castle, but the magic just reflected off of it”
>she stops talking as you make it to the top of the stairs and into the hallway leading back to the ballroom
>“I had all but given up, but today I found a key in my observatory...”
>she sighs as you continue forward
>“Truly classic”
>you can't help but laugh a little bit
>the five of you make into the ballroom
>it looks a tad bit brighter in here now, probably because the sun isn't angled directly overhead anymore
>you hear Libra speak up from the front of the crowd
> This is gonna be really awesome, it's been a while since I've gotten to explore with sooo many of my favorite ponies”
>Cancer nods, you notice that her pet crab is positioned on her upper back as she walks
>“I'm just a bit frightened of things underground... who else is gonna be there?”
>Libra stops to count to herself for a second
>“Well, us here, then Gemmy, Minny, Aquarius and Capricorn are all waiting for us”
>Taurus nods and speaks
>“Plus whoever we find in Fire house, this really is a gathering”
>you focus ahead while you look over the railing, down to the ballroom beneath you
>Cancer speaks up again
>“I haven't been to Fire house in a while, this is gonna be interesting!”
>you turn left down the hallway as you reach the top of the stairs, once again admiring the blood red carpeted and eerily dark stonework
>it feels so different being here with a group instead of just Capricorn...
>you can see the circular room in front of Fire house ahead

>Libra continues to trot forward eagerly into the room, right through forward to the door straight ahead
>you've been so fixated on the conversation ahead of you, you finally catch up to the group proper
>Fire house is quiet
>there isn't much energy, just a steadily roaring fire
>dancing, flickering
>the colors seem a bit more normal than when you first observed it, it look like an average, well, large but regular fire
>you scan the room, turning around to see who is here
>none of the Fire house ponies are here, or at least in this part of the house...
>wait how come you only count three other ponies here?
>yep, it is just you, Libra, Taurus and Cancer
>you look back into the circular room, Pisces is nowhere to be seen
>Cancer looks around the room and seems to notice the same thing
>she speaks up in an “oh well” type of tone
>“Oh, of course Pisces... Jeez! That pony needs to learn to start telling other ponies when she leaves”
>Taurus says nothing as he scans the room, appearing to trace his gaze around the walls of the room
>Libra scoffs
>“She does this kind of thing all the time doesn't she?”
>Cancer just nods as she sits down on her haunches for a moment
>her crab works its way to the top of her head
>you wonder if it is worth it to stop and check the rest of Fire house or look for Pisces
>maybe you should just head down to the fields with the ponies here?
>you still don't know if Cancer is up for coming along...

*

>this is somewhat concerning
>you turn to Cancer to try to figure out more about what Pisces' motives could have been
“So do you think she just didn't want to come and this was her way of saying no? I know she is quiet”
>you are caught up looking into the fire again
>it really does heat the room, but it feels much cooler in here than before for whatever reason
>Cancer nods and then speaks up
>“Yeah, that seems most likely. She leaves without saying anything pretty often... I wouldn't worry about her too much”
>you nod as the fire starts to put you back into a bit of a trance
“I think we should split up and look around Fire house to see if we find anyone”
>Libra and Taurus nod in sync
>Cancer looks hesitant for a moment
“I'm not sure if you want to come along or not Cancer, either way is fine. You can go back to Water house if you want”
>she bites her lip for a second and looks down
>“No, I think I'll be okay. I do wanna to come along and see everyone I just... I don't like tunnels. Being underground is scary”
>Libra makes an “aww” noise before she speaks up
>“We'll all be here with ya, nothing bad is gonna happen promise!”
>she flutters over to Cancer and gives her a reassuring hug, which she affectionately returns
>you nod in understanding
“Okay, well, we should try to find the fire ponies, I'm sure they would like an invitation as well”
>you consider what you know of the lay out of Fire house, it isn't much
“I'll check the lounge downstairs on the other side of the room, someone should knock on the observatory doors and check the kitchen too”
>Cancer nods before speaking
>“Uh, okay sure! Crabbers and I can go check the kitchen”
>Libra and Taurus exchange a look before Libra speaks
>“Why don't you check the observatories and I will scan the higher up parts of the house?”
>Taurus nods in agreement
>you watch his horns move up and down
>you almost forgot about them

>they seem to have a different shape, color and texture than Capricorn's and Aries'
>you just now realize that you don't even know where the observatories are in the Fire house...
>it's funny how immediately apparent they are in the Earth and Air houses, but now that you think back you don't remember seeing the doors in Water or Fire house
>you decide to break the silence and conclude
>everyone has already started to scatter apart
“Alright great, we will all meet back here soon then”
>there is a quiet consensus
>you look back at the Libra, Taurus and Cancer one more time and start to make it across the room closer to the fire
>you make a note to pass the intense heat rather quickly
>you start to make it back downstairs to the lounge
>such an interesting room really
>you can already see some of the colors turning softly as you descend further
>you make it into the room and are once again stunned by the amount of jars and the intensity of some of the fire
>each spark of color projecting forward to meet your eyes
>it is much less overwhelming, the air is quiet
>it doesn't seem like there is anypony down here, no one on the couches at least
>there are a couple areas that connect to this room that you are not familiar with though
>you turn to face the doorway to your right
>oh, there is a pony in the doorway, perfect!
>your brain and heart skip a beat at the same time
>...that isn't one of the Zodiac
>you can't catch your breath, it takes a moment for you to feel the pounding in your chest
>you are staring into a pair of gray eyes
>she steps forward silently, approaching you steadily
>no hoofsteps
>this does not feel right
>you hear the sound of a soft and sincere voice in the back of your mind
>“You really are quiet the careless type aren't you?”

*

>after the initial shock of the situation wears off you immediately brace yourself
>must be some sort of illusion or something, you try to prepare mentally for what could be thrown at you
>you watch as she makes it close to you, her dress moving along without rippling in anyway
>the gems radiant a foggy light, nothing close to the stunning refracting ability in the memory
>you place your hand on the hilt of your sword
>it seems to be the mare from the memory!
>you don't want to be caught off guard...
“Who are you and more importantly what are you doing here?”
>you hold you hand on your sword careful not to draw too much attention to it
>her facial expression falters, she stops right in front of you
>you are attempted to reach out and touch her to see if she is some kind of ghostie
>her voice takes on a more dreary note
>her mouth isn't moving, you realize that she isn't making any sound at all
>“Would it be rude to say that I do not know?”
>she looks down and sighs
>she doesn't appear to be much of a threat, you gently brush your hand over her
>definitely isn't there
>maybe a slightly warm feeling, but you think it is more your mind trying to process the stimuli around you
“Well, I am Anonymous. I guess you are kind of right, I did come here despite the spooky reputation”

>her facial expression picks up
>“It is nice to meet you Anonymous! It's been a long time since I've met someone!”
>you nod and think of what else to add
“Do you know when you are from? Is there anything you need?”
>she narrows her gaze in thought, it looks like she is reflecting on something
>she speaks slowly
>“Those are very sophisticated questions thank you... I'm afraid I don't know when I am from either, but not...”
>she pauses and stares off before continuing
>“I'm not from this time”
>she turns and faces you more directly
>her face flashes a look of intense worry
>fear...
>“I don't know why this is happening, I can barely remember anything, I'm sorry I can't be more helpful!”
>she tries to catch her breath, but it looks like the breathing motions are purely instinctual
>“I'm so disoriented I don't know how I got here”
>her eyes scan across the room, fixating on the flames around you that both illuminating the scene
>she looks down, hiding her eyes
>“I-I'm... I'm not alive am I?”
>she doesn't move
>her gaze cast downward, she looks on the verge of breaking

*

>a series of different ideas and questions race through your head but the first priority is making sure she calms down
“Hey, it's gonna be alright just try to relax”
>she takes a couple more quick exaggerated breath, it doesn't look like that was very helpful
>her tone takes on an edge
>“I'd like to see you try to relax in my position!”
>she huffs, but her breathing seems to level slowly
>you shrug
“Fair enough, but this castle is full of magic, especially time magic. There are plenty of reasons for why you could be here right now”
>her eyes go wide
>“Castle?
>she looks around the room
>“When did I...?”
>her searching becomes more frantic
>“Oh no, oh no, that word gives me a bad feeling”
>she backs up a bit
>you try to comfort her further
“Well, I guess just try to go with things for a second, maybe there is something that you can learn... I don't know, seems to me like you can still be happy either way, maybe we should sit down and talk”
>she drops her shoulders and sighs before meeting your gaze again
>you try to give her a reassuring smile but she just stares past you slightly
>her posture slouches, it looks like she is having trouble holding herself up
>her voice is dreary
>“It feels like I am falling asleep now”
>her tone of concern is gone
>you try to lead her over to one of the couches as you take a seat, but she just stays low to the ground in place
>you ponder, looking for something to say that could help orient her better
“Do you know what your cutie mark is?”

>she throws you a glare and huffs
>“Awfully rude, asking a mare about her cutie mark”
>not quite the response you were expecting, that doesn't give you a whole lot to work with
“Well, can you remember the last time you met someone? You said it has been a while”
>she shakes her head no
>“Only the ponies I've seen in your memories”
>you start to nod understandingly but freeze as you process her words more carefully
>wait?
>you start to ask further but she collapses in front of you
>she is fading rapidly, you watch her white coat grow paler and paler
>her aura becomes lighter as she falls apart visually, her dark gray mane becoming a light ash tone
>for a second there is a look of shock that flash across her face, but it is followed shortly by a tired look of acceptance to the fate of gradually decaying
>her light is beautiful
>it looks like she is trying to say something
>struggling to get the words out
>she speaks up in a surprisingly audible tone that resonates only within your head
>one soft crisp word, her voice unwavering
>“Danger”
>the room is empty, nothing but twinkling flames
>the silence is brief
>you hear heavy steps stampeding down the stairs, steadily rising in intensity and volume coming towards you

*

>you turn to face the stairs that lead back up to the common area
>you instinctively draw your blade
>it has a gleam to it in the air
>you see a silhouette making it down the stairs
>horns...
>“Hey Anon is that you? I thought I heard talking down here”
>Taurus comes fully into your view as he enters the lounge area
>“Libra said she went up to the roof and saw that all of Fire house was already down on the fields”
>he pauses, then stops in his tracks
>his eyes glance to your sword nervously
>he takes a few steps back cautiously
>“Uhh, we're cool right?”

*

>it takes a moment to come down from the shock
>you stand in the room for a second just slowing your breath and taking in your surroundings
>you sheath your sword and speak up to Taurus while wondering how many details to include
“Uh, yeah I think so... I saw a ghost”
>Taurus looks a bit confused
“Or at least, that's what I think it was, I guess she could have been something else. Just showed up and started talking before she disappeared”
>he looks a bit bewildered but his body language opens back up
>at least it is a step up from having a sword drawn on him...
>“Huh, okay. Sure it couldn't have been something else? Maybe a trick of the light?”
>you shake you head no
>Taurus starts to make it back up the stairs to the lounge
>before you follow him you quickly scan the area of the floor where you broke the jar earlier
>you look around briefly and see two large shards close by
>the once clear glass is charred black
>you decide to pick the pieces up for good measure before hurrying over to the stairs
>you take a few moments to consider what kind of dangers could be here
>Taurus speaks up, you are only a couple steps back at this point
>“I think Libra is in a big hurry to get down there now, hope you don't mind if we just head straight to the fields”
>you don't have a problem with that, it'll make it easiest to talk about your encounter
>the two of you make it back to the common area quickly
>you take in the fire
>it is still burning strong, filling the room with an intense heat
>the flickering red flames occasionally flash off-gray colors as the flames lick the air around them, saturating it with heat
>Libra and Cancer are waiting for you
>Libra speaks from across the room
>“Hey Anon! Found the Fire ponies! They are already down there”
>you nod
“So I heard, let's go then”

>you follow Libra out into the circular room with the doors
>Libra immediately opens the door to your left without a hint of hesitation to reveal the middle section of the staircase
>you wonder to yourself if you will ever be able to navigate the castle like that...
>Cancer sticks close to your side as you follow Libra up the stairs
>Taurus follows closely behind, he has said very little about your encounter
>Cancer speaks up as you make it to the top of the stairs, taking note of the single bright red door from earlier
>“Is everything alright Anon? You look a bit pale”
>oh huh, guess so
“Yeah, I think I saw something important, I'll explain more when we are with everyone”
>Cancer nods
>Libra speaks up
>“Ohhhhh sounds interesting. This day just keeps getting more and more mysterious!”
>she giggles to herself and opens the green door to the left
>guess she is taking a slightly different route
>you haven't seen this wing of the castle before
>the area that she revealed is rather small, just three doors only several steps ahead of you
>you are starting to wonder how many doors can be in a single building
>even if it is a very large building...
>you don't take note of the finer details in the room, only the colors of the doors
>purple, black and blue
>Libra immediately leads everyone through the purple door
>this is definitely interesting
>just a straight hallway
>stone flooring and walls
>it leads directly into the sunlight
>you follow Libra but are slightly blinded by the intensity of the sun as you walk forward
>there is little to no echo which leads you to suspect that this door actually does just lead to the grounds of the castle
>you reach the end of the hallway and can now see that you are on one of the many levels of roofing

>Libra trots forward leading the way to a different, slightly more elevated roof to your right
>there is a small staircase, maybe four to five stone steps that leads up
>you have a much less constructed view from up here
>oh, there are the fields below and to the right
>you look carefully and are able to make out a group of ponies down below
>sure enough, you can spot Aries' large twisting horns from a distance
>the four of you begin the descent to ground level, moving down staircases from roof to roof
>by the time you reach ground level you are in a bit of a different spot on the left most side of the field
>looks like a bit of a walk before you reach the other Zodiac ponies
>Capricorn and Aquarius beginning approaching you from a distance
>you wave as you continue to move forward, looking forward at the group
>you feel like they are almost within earshot
>just as you go to say something strikes you in the side
>oh fuck
>you try to keep your footing but end up following down into the grass
>at least everything is really soft
>you look up into a pair of sparkling orange irises
>Leo is sitting on top of you
>“Hey Anon! Ready to explore?”
>your heart is still pounding, damn lion pone

*

>you shrug Leo off
“Could you get up? I have something to tell everybody”
>her facial expression drops
>“Jeez, fine”
>she stands up and walks back to the group her gaze cast downward
>you stand back up and head over to the entrance
>it now really feels like a true crowd
>it takes you a second to count everyone
>eight ponies...?
>your comment seems to have already caught everyone's attention
“So back in Fire house I think I saw a ghost”
>Leo turns back to look at you but says nothing
>there is a little of a murmur over the crowd
>Aries is the first to say anything, he yells a bit louder than appropriately
>“A ghost? What!'
>it's almost exaggerated
>Aquarius' tone seeps to the forefront of your attention
>“Please do explain Anonymous”
>you take a breath and consider how to best summarize
>Capricorn has made it close to your side
“Yeah, so I was in the lounge area of the Fire house, you know? The one with all the fires? I was looking for you guys to tell you about the tunnel when I saw a pony. I think from the memory before? She wasn't physical, she called me careless and said she couldn't remember anything. I tried to ask her a few things but she faded away before I could say much more. The last thing she said was 'danger'”
>there is a second of silence
>the wind lightly blows across the grass
>it is still surprisingly light out
>you look over the crowd
>the Gemini ponies aren't here

>Leo is the first one to say anything
>“So what you're saying is you just walked into our housing and snooped around while we weren't there?”
>...that's not exactly the response you were looking for
>Libra speaks up first
>“Oh come on Leo, you've never had a problem with us doing that before”
>Leo doesn't miss a beat
>“Yeah but I've given you explicit permission before, whether or not you remember it Libra”
>she huffs and turns
>Sagittarius eases the tension a bit
>he has his bow handy drawn over his back
> “Well, as far as I am concerned you are, um, 'explicitly' welcome on my behave at least”
>Capricorn speaks up kind of quietly next to you
> “I thought you told us to drop in soon anyways...”
>Leo wheels around to face her but doesn't say anything
>Capricorn makes eye contact with her before she looks down
>she mutters
>“I thought the ghost thing sounded interesting... although it sounds like a memory trace to me”
>her tone is meek, Leo speaks over her
>“More likely just someone looking for attention if you ask me. Danger? Really Anon?”
>Leo laughs
>Aquarius looks down at the ground but says nothing, Libra, Cancer and Taurus have stayed on the fringe of the circle staying completely silent
>Capricorn huffs and raises her shoulders
> “Leo! You of all ponies should know that memory magic has bizarre effects”
>Leo narrows her gaze in on Capricorn to a glare
> “Oh yeah? Is there something you are trying to say right now Capricorn? Why don't you tell everypony about my extensive knowledge of memory magic?”
>Capricorn's face falters and her shoulders drop
>it looks like she wants to say something but she just looks at the ground and stays quiet

>Aquarius speaks up, her cool tone oblivious to the situation
>“Now that everyone is here, we should begin planning this exploration. Anonymous, while the ghost story is intriguing, I don't think such a vague warning could have specific relevance. We are all aware that this could be dangerous already”
>there is a nod of conscious
>Libra and Taurus step forward further towards you and Capricorn
>Cancer bites her lip and stays far back from the group
>Aquarius continues speaking
>“While you were awake, we surveyed the landscape around and the very beginning section of the tunnel”
>Libra scoffs
>“I thought you said you would wait!”
>Aquarius sighs and continues
>“If there are no more interruptions...”
>she stops talking for a second
>Aries looks like he is going to say something just because he can, but he chooses to stay silent
>her tone continues, quiet yet it carries across the near by field
>“It appears that the passage immediately branches off three different directions”
>Libra's eyes go wide
>“So it is large then”
>Aquarius nods and continues
>“I see two ways to approach this situation. Split up or stay together”
>another murmur spreads across the crowd
>“There are nine of us here, three per group if we decide to split up evenly, either way I feel that it is best to have an extensive plan before going underground”

>you look over the group of ponies here
>Aquarius, Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Taurus
>Sagittarius speaks up in a very matter of fact tone
>“Well aren't there other ways we could go about this to? Just because there are three paths doesn't mean we could start off as one group then say, split into two groups?”
>Aquarius blinks
>“Theoretically there is an infinite amount of ways this could be achieved. I did not think of it that way”
>Libra speaks up
> “It's really a toss up, all the options are weighed pretty equally in my mind. Anonymous, what do you think?”

*

>you look over the ponies gathered here
>definitely a lot to get done...
>might as well do this all together, keep everything cohesive
“I think it would be best if we stick together”
>no one seems to object
>you take a breath and add on
“Also, you should have waited for Libra like ya said, it was important to her”
>Libra leans into you and nods, Aquarius' face falters
“And to clarify I wasn't snooping Leo, didn't mean to offend, I was looking for you ponies”
>Leo huffs and swishes her lion tail
>“Alright Anon, sure”
>you huff back slightly
“It's true though. When we got there we split up to look for you all so you wouldn't miss out on the exploring. I just checked in the lounge, I figured it was a common area”
>you decide to make it over closer to Leo, she looks up
>her eyes are curious
“And I'm sorry for not returning your warm greeting, I was a bit on edge from the warning of danger, I even drew my sword on Taurus earlier”
>he nods in confirmation as he and Sagittarius start to lift the board, fully revealing the hidden stairs
>you decide to give Leo an affectionate pet, she smiles softly
>“Thanks for that Anon, I'm glad we are on the same page. No hard feelings”
>you nod to her
>that feels a bit more resolved now
“I made sure not to break anything, I picked up a couple shards of glass from the artifact earlier, is it normal for the glass to turn black like this?"
>you decide to take out one of the shards and show Leo
>she examines it closely
>“Yeah, I'm not entirely sure! Never noticed that before!”
>Capricorn walks over to the two of you, closer to the opening
>you watch some of the ponies' facial expressions as they gaze downward for the first time
> “I-Is it alright if I look at it Anon?”
>you don't see a problem with that
>you nod and Leo hands her the piece she was examining over
>Capricorn prods the glass with her hooves

>“Hmmm, okay, this char probably just means that the memory had a lot of magic discharge potential, this must have happened on impact. See how it just scrapes off?”
>she scratches the surface with her hoof and sure enough the clear colored glass below becomes once again visible
>she looks down and stutters again
>“I-It must have been a really vivid memory, you really might have caught a trace”
>you feel the sun beat down upon you over head
>it reflects off of the glass, shining into your eyes
>you try to blink the red spot out of your vision
>Aries speak up, he doesn't sound as loud without an echo accompanying him
>“Sssh, whatever Capricorn, I've broken more of those than anyone and never had that happen”
>Capricorn looks down, Leo laughs
>“As if you'd even be smart enough to notice a trace if you had one goat for brains”
>Leo flickers her tail back and forth, Aquarius and Libra both laugh to themselves
>even Capricorn giggles, ironically...
>Aries just scrunches up
>“Hey take that back!”
>Leo's facial expression drops for a second
>she walks over to Aries and drapes herself over him playfully
>he continues to scrunch
>“I can apologize for the comment but I'm afraid that the psychological and social backlash cannot be withdrawn”
>Aquarius places a hoof over her own mouth, you hear Sagittarius and Taurus join in on the laughter
>Taurus seems to whisper something to Sagittarius
>Aries looks, maybe trying to locate the source of a fire that could cause a savage burn
>“Huh?”
>Leo laughs loudly
>you decide to save Aries a little embarrassment while silently noting the depth of Leo's verbal arsenal
“In all fairness, I don't know what a memory trace is either, maybe someone could explain a bit? Capricorn?”
>you look her way, she nods
>“Yeah definitely! It's nothing to be too concerned about, but let's walk and talk... I don't want everyone waiting on my account”

>you nod, seems like everything is about ready
>there are still a couple lingering things though before you go underground formally ...
>you look over to Cancer
>she has been silent, holding her crab and looking down into the dirt
>you can't help but feel the sun ahead and focus on the horizon, the reality of your surroundings
>the way spires overhead create shadows on the ground is eloquent
>you speak
“Are you doing okay Cancer? Sorry if that was stressful I didn't mean to sour the mood, I just wanted to see if anyone could relate to my experience”
>she looks up at you
>“Oh, no, it's okay Anon. I'm just nervous about being underground a-and in the unknown is all”
>you try to express your understanding through your tone
“Alright, well, we can take all of this slow, okay? Whatever you are comfortable with”
>she nods softly
>you look over to Aquarius and Sagittarius who seem to be leading the way
>Aquarius blinks and you nod, then she begins make it underground
>you follow closely behind her and Sagittarius
>Capricorn is to your right
>Libra flutters over to your left side and winks at you
>Cancer, Aries and Leo follow, it seems like Leo is talking to Cancer saying something below your level of hearing at this range
>you decide to make conversation as you descend beneath the ground level
“So where did Gemmy and Minny go?”
>the general echo you are used to hearing is coming back steadily as you make it further and further under
>the stone walls around you are crude, unevenly size rocks that seem to seam together unusually well
>as if the choice of stone was not from lack of options but rather for artist expression
>Aquarius' voice fills the corridor as the stairs begin to level out
>“They decided it would be wise to stay back and help work on Air house's preparations for the ball. Something about a library trip in the future perhaps?”

>oh right that
>this day really has lasted forever...
>you reach the level ground beneath you
>you notice that the flooring is continuous, no cracks, flat
>three paths lay ahead
>the middle is larger, or at least wider, but with a slightly lowered ceiling
>you can still easily walk underneath
>the other two paths are narrow with an even higher ceiling
>above the middle pathway is an elaborate mural
>a dragon
>you notice everyone's eyes gaze up collectively to read the text
>it is not legible... just characters
>you look into the eyes of the dragon portrayed above
>the simplistic face
>it isn't paint, it is colored stone
>not gems but dull colored stones, like colored blocks of charcoal that are laced into the hard dark gray stone overhead
>Aquarius speaks, her tone seep into your stream of consciousness
>you notice her motion to your left then to the right
>“To remember, to forget”
>there are more characters you didn't see at first, on the walls next to the side corridors
>you watch her eyes move to the text laced around the dragon
>the black symbols illegible to you...
>“For those with purity in their heart”
>she looks back over the crowd

>everyone is silent
>Libra is the first to speak
>“S-So which path then?”
>Sagittarius starts walking to the left
>“I don't know about you guys, but there is a lot of stuff that I could stand to remember. My memory is lousy maybe I've finally found the cure!”
>he is almost turning down the hallway already
>I don't want to remember
>Taurus and Libra move to catch up with him quickly
>Libra flies, speeding ahead to reach before Taurus
>“Nuh uh! We decided we are sticking together, so everyone has an equal say in this”
>Sagittarius scoffs
>“You sound like Virgo, now let me through. If you don't want to follow that's fine. I have my bow”
>Aquarius interrupts, which more or less feels like the conversation switching focus to her words
>“Relax Sagittarius, this passage has been untouched for a very long time judging by this olden equine script. There is absolutely no hurry”
>he sits down and sighs
>“Okay sure, what do you all got in mind then?”
>you look up once more into the dragon's flat, stone eyes

*

>it doesn't seem like it matters very much
>at least not to you
>the group is pretty set on explore all the passages as far as you can tell
>silence reigns in the opening as you overlook the crowd
>the air is tense
>you notice Cancer look at the ground, she is holding her crab tightly to her chest
>you decide to break the silence, this is becoming a bit too much
“The left path sounds fine to me”
>Sagittarius looks pleased in your choice, he nods
>“Okay, that's two for the left then, anyone else wanna vote?”
>there is a bit of a murmur but no one speaks up
>silence begins to fill the chamber again
>Sagittarius nods
>just as everyone seems to reach a consensus Leo speaks up
>“Oh definitely the right pathway”
>her tone is playful, she smirks
>Sagittarius stops in his tracks and turns
>“Leo, now's not the time for this”
>she looks taken a back, she speaks back quickly
>“Time for what Sagittarius? Are you telling me that I don't have a say in this?”
>Leo smirks
>Sagittarius glares and takes a step forward, he looks upset
>you just watch silently
>“I'll count your vote, it's still two to one”
>Leo turns her back and walks a few steps away
>“Fine by me, last I counted there are nine ponies here”
>Leo looks over to you and pauses
>“Anon, I'm counting you as a pony”

>you are about to say something but Libra speaks up
>“Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I think I want to go right too. Make things even between us”
>she winks, Sagittarius' face falls
>memories of last night in the courtyard with those two together come back to you
>Libra giggles to herself, she looks pleased
>Sagittarius speaks up again, he is doing a good job at leveling his tone
>“Okay fine, that makes it a tie. Who else has a say?”
>you look over to the other ponies around
>Aries just yells one word
>“Left!”
>it echos much more vividly than the other voices
>he walks over to by where Sagittarius is, still around the entrance to the left hallway
>Capricorn speaks next to you, her tone is soft but confident
>“I'm going to have to say left too”
>it looks like she is about to add more, but instead she stops speaking and looks up
>she gives you a hesitant smile
>you do your best to return it affectionately, you are tempted to rest a hand on her withers but you refrain
>Aquarius concludes the conversation neatly
>her voice almost has no echo
>“And for the sake of convenience, I will also vote left. That is majority”
>Sagittarius smiles
>“Alright let's do this”
>you hear someone scoff, you're not sure if it is Libra or Leo

>you look over the ponies around as you begin to file down the left hallway
>it is very narrow, the ceiling is high above
>the stone walls feel very close, it looks like the hall only fits about two ponies side by side
>Sagittarius and Aries lead the way, both of them look eager, they are chatting among themselves, you see Aries point forward
>you can only catch every other word of their conversation from this distance, but you are fairly sure Aries is saying something about how far the passage goes on
>Libra and Aquarius follow closely behind the two fire house stallions, it doesn't sound like they are saying anything
>both seem to be lost in thought
>you making it into the hallway, Capricorn hurries forward to stick close by
>you keep moving forward, this does seem to extend a ways
>there isn't much lighting either
>you can only really make out the main features of the crude stone that is enclosing around you
>you can feel Capricorn's body heat next you
>you look back over your shoulder to see Leo and Cancer
>Leo seems to be comforting Cancer, she pats a hoof on her back
>Taurus follows the group, his eyes set straight ahead, unwavering

>you look ahead, making sure to watch your feet as you step
>there are a lot of inconsistencies in the flooring, it seems like you are just walking on stones placed over earth
>you try to take in the details but the darkness is too much
>you becoming aware of all the little dots and lines, splotches of color in your field of vision
>it is almost pitch dark, there is no end in sight, it just extends forward
>Aries and Sagittarius almost are not visible
>the click of hooves is the only sound echoing in the narrow hall
>you hear Capricorn's voice next to you, she is speaking in a fairly calm tone considering the circumstances
>you can make out her facial expression, the bright color of her mane and coat, but her horns and some of the other finer details are lost
>“So you wanted to know about memory traces, right Anon?”
>you nod as you continue forward before quickly realizing that might not be easy for her to see
“Uh, yeah, definitely. What do you know?”
>Capricorn catches her breath
>you can feel her brush against you as you walk forward, it is very comforting
>“W-when Pisces and I were experimenting with the memories stored in Fire house, we observed a few different things...”
>she pauses, you continue to listen
>at this point pitch dark is an understatement
>you can barely see Aquarius and Libra ahead, it feels like the path is going deeper and deeper into the earth
>Capricorn speaks again, her tone hesitant as if she is picking and choosing her words
>“Some memories were by far more clear and potent than others... It was always hard to tell exactly whose point of view you are observing”
>it seems like Capricorn is the only one in the group talking, but it is impossible to tell how far ahead Aries and Sagittarius could be by now
>“The other thing we noticed was that the magic was biologic and not strictly mnemonic in nature. We suspect that means the magic interacts directly with memory systems in the brain itself”

>you try to think about that for a second, but it doesn't make sense entirely
>does that mean the magic made your brain form the memory?
>you consider the different possibilities as Capricorn continues to speak
>“Unfortunately, I need to brush up on my neuroanatomy, but basically what I am saying is if a memory is vivid enough, it can mess with how the neurons in your brain fire. This could do... well, basically anything, your mind is your filter for how you take in reality. Memory traces are just a general term I came up with for the general lingering effect on perception... I personally have never felt another pony talk to me”
>you don't say anything for a second, taking in the murmur of conversation going on around you
>that was a mouthful, but informative to say the least
>it looks like there is a light ahead
>some kind of torch maybe?
>you decide to response to Capricorn before anything else
“Well, thank you for the explanation, I think I understand, well, kinda”
>she nods, the light casts a dark shadow across her pale coat
>you look forward more closely
>now that there is light you can tell that the path is in fact descending at an alarming rate
>Aries and Sagittarius have come back into view, they both are looking back down the hall towards you
>it looks like the hallway comes to some kind of end where they are
>the you and Capricorn and the air house ponies ahead quickly catch up
>you look briefly back to see Cancer and Leo
>Cancer is shaking softly, you notice that she is still holding her crab tight
>you can't help but wonder what the two of them must think of this whole experience...
>Leo whispers something to Cancer, you notice her shaking subside for a moment
>Taurus is the last one to make it into the dim clearing

>the nine of you are in another torch lit chamber
>this one is much smaller and noticeably darker
>there is just one hallway to your right leading straight ahead
>Libra is the first one to break the silence, she looks back at you
>“That darkness is pretty spooky, gotta say”
>Aquarius nods
>“Definitely, perhaps we should turn back at this point and find a better source of light?”
>Cancer whimpers something too quiet to hear, Leo wraps her forearm around her
>Aries scoffs and makes a futile attempt to pull the torch from the wall
>it is stuck, the metal holding the magic flame is embedded into the rock
>“Psssh, I'm not afraid of a little darkness, we're already this far along”
>Sagittarius nods in agreement
>“Yeah, it would definitely be much more work to do two trips”
>just as you are about to say something Capricorn gasps next to you
>“D-did anyone else see this door?”
>you pull your gaze away from the abyss of the hallway to your right to see where Capricorn is pointing
>directly to your left, as if the hallway leads to where she is standing
>it takes you a moment to see it, but there is indeed a disturbance in the consistency of the stone
>there isn't a handle
>Capricorn reaches out a hoof and nudges the stone
>it swings inward
>the corridor floods with light
>there is a collective gasp from most of the group
>you have to close your eyes then blink rapidly in an attempt to try adjust to the sudden brightness

>a white light is radiating from somewhere within the room that Capricorn just revealed
>you blink a couple more times to make sure that your eyes aren't playing tricks on you
>the floor ahead is green, covered with thick and unkempt grass
>you can't make out many of the other details from this distance
>it looks like there are no doors in the room, or at least as far as you can tell
>only a fraction of the floor's surface seems to be visible from the angle you are at
>it feels earthy, the air has a heaviness, thick with the feeling of nature
>Aquarius' voice seeps over the stunned silence
>“I think we can all agree to go in here and get out of the dark then?”
>no one seems to object
>Libra speaks up moving forward slightly
>“Nuh uh, I'm excited to finally get to the treasure!”
>she is about to cross the doorframe but Capricorn reaches out a hoof to stop her
>“W-well, hold on, think about how hidden this door is... There could be a whole bunch of stuff around here. A-and we have no idea what is in there. We shouldn't hurry this”
>you consider her words for a second
>Aries shouts next to you
>you notice Cancer jump out of the corner of your eye
>man, he really needs to work on the volume control thing
>you can hear his voice echo several times over
>“Yeah but we have no idea what is in here either, so that means it's probably safe”
>you're not sure if that is sound logic but okay
>you look over to Cancer again
>she is very on edge, shivering in place an almost comic amount
>maybe Capricorn has a point...

*

>you are skeptic of the room for sure, but it is definitely worth looking around in an attempt to find some proper lighting
“Yeah, I think that going in the room will be fine. We can always come out and explore the rest of the corridor afterwards”
>the crew around you nods in agreement, except for Cancer who whimpers
>Leo hugs her again, this time with much more vigor.
> “It's gonna be alright girl, we are all here”
>Cancer returns the hug as the rest of the ponies gather properly around the door-frame
“We need to make sure that it there aren't any traps, walk carefully. Make sure that the door doesn't close”
>Aquarius nods her head
> “That is all good thinking Anonymous!”
>she smiles approvingly at you
>you draw your sword discreetly and trace it around the entrance to see if any strings are set up
>nothing...
>Aries speaks up from down the hall, it looks like he is trying to pick something up with his hooves
>“I stubbed my hoof on this brick back here on the way down, figure it would work for the door yeah?”
>he brings it over into the light
>you wonder how long it has been detached from the architecture for...
>something about how crude it is runs a disturbing chill down your spine
>you look forward to erase your mind
>into the grass, the walls are all white, smooth and rounded
>Aries passes the brick forward to Taurus who props it against the door swing

>everything seems properly prepared
>Libra is the first one to enter the room, she flies ahead a few paces
>Aquarius and Sagittarius follow a few moments later
>the three of them scan the room
>you look over the other ponies around
>the rest of you pile in quickly after, taking notice of the brick and making sure that the door doesn't close
>you walk ahead slowly
>it feels almost identical to the field
>well, except for the walls
>everyone is quiet
>the room is circular
>floating above head in several different locations are balls of light
>they are somehow suspended, or at least appear to be
>the white light is florescent in nature, reverberating off of the harsh walls, each orb making a gentle hum
>it looks like there are three or four in total, but you figure one produces a ridiculous amount of light already
>you continue looking into the lighting
>watching it wave, seeing the inner tones of red and orange on the spherical glasswork
>so circular, it fades into the already white background seamlessly
>you look down into the grass
>it's soo physical, real
>you look over
>everything feels slow
>as if you can process every frame of your motion
>does that make sense?
>oh wow there are ponies here
>their colored coats stand out so brightly against the neutral background

>you feel so in touch
>it is such a simple room
>as you look around it you see that it does look like there is a single door asides from the entrance
>the brick has successfully stopped the door from swinging closed completely
>... it's a good thing because you don't see a handle on this side of the door either
>you fixate back on the crowd of ponies
>how did you get so far away anyways?
>you are feel like you are on the other side of the room
>Libra is giggling loudly
>she leans down and rolls over on the ground giggling the whole while
>she sits up slightly before speaking
>“I can confirm that this is grass”
>Leo laughs and jumps over to where Libra is before making a proper pounce at her
>“Good work detective Libra!”
>the two of them giggle in the grass
>Aries makes a shushing noise
>“You guys! I think Aquarius is here, she probably wants us to be careful!”
>Aquarius speaks up from next to him
> “I think it is okay...”
>she takes a few more steps forward and takes a deep breath
> “It is nice down here”
>you nod in agreement
>everything is so light hearted, you can't help but get caught up in reality before scanning the room further
>Cancer has set her crab down and is letting it walk small distances around her
>Taurus is standing close by her in complete silence, almost perfectly still, just walking the crab move back and forth over blades of grass
>Sagittarius is trotting over to the other single door in the room
>Capricorn is walking towards you

>she makes eye contact with you
>you look into her soft purple eyes
>a spark of hope with a shadow of fear
>her horns look so extravagant, regal
>“Um, hey Anon, so, uh, what do you think of it here?”
>you blink at her, trying to break the trance
>you watch her chest steadily rise and fall
“Here?”
>she nods and brushes into you
>“Y-yeah here. It is so quiet, familiar... I think it is really nice...”
>you nod, it is
>just a grassy circle
>no worries, responsibilities
>it reminds you of how simple being alive can be
>your body feels light, energized
>it makes you realize how simple the action of being alive can actually be
>wait you just thought that...
>you blink, green grass and soft ponies
>you get lost looking at Capricorn
>you hear a door opening
>Sagittarius already opened the one other door
>it looks much darker in there without the magic orbs
>you look up at them again, one of them should be perfect, but it looks like it'll be a full job to move
>they twinkle and burn above you, all except for a single large gray colored sphere that is closer to the light blue ceiling
>the ceiling is so far ahead... you feel dizzy
>maybe you should sit down
>Capricorn leans against you completely, as if she is using you to support her weight
>she has a blissful smile on her face, her eyes are closed
>she looks completely out of it...
>almost everyone has relaxed in the grass
>Sagittarius voice pierces the sedative air
>“Memories”


>that is enough to make Capricorn snap out of her daze
>she blushes furiously before looking down and walking away
>Aries yells
>“Wait! Memories?”
>Sagittarius nods
>Aquarius, Libra and Leo walk over but Cancer, Taurus and Aries don't seem to be bothered by the discovery
>you look into the room
>sure enough, on a table are three small silver flames contained delicate glass jars
>front and center in the middle of the stone table housing the memories is a deep pool of liquid
>you want to say water but there is no way to be sure really
>Sagittarius is about to take a step into the room before Aquarius stops him
>“Careful... Anonymous... Sword”
>you nod and unsheathe it again
>the blue stone really is a good touch to the handle
>the blade glistens in the odd florescent light
>you trace the blade around the door frame, it seems to be clear
>you glance nervously over your shoulder, looks like the door is still propped open
“I think it is safe to walk in”
>the ponies gather take a few step forward, Libra passes through the crowd to get up close and look at one of the jars
>“Ohhhhh!!! These are soooo cool!”
>Capricorn nods
>“M-Maybe we should view one?”
>Aquarius speaks up in a very formal tone
>“I don't think that would be safe, I've warned you about those things Capricorn”
>Capricorn huffs
>“Something tells me I know a bit more about them than you”
>Aquarius rolls her eyes but doesn't interject
>Sagittarius speaks up
>“We need to know... What if we crack all three?”
>Aquarius puts her hoof to her face

*

>you look ahead into the sepia silverish flames flickering in-front of you
>it's almost taunting, they could contain anything
>but at the same time... you don't feel that this is the right time
“I think I am in agreement with Aquarius here, these are probably placed like this for a reason... We should take them back up to the castle with us”
>Aquarius blinks and smiles in approval
>Capricorn nods in understanding
>you look up at the room around you again
>so different from the grassy area, small in size and modest, condensed
>you look into the liquid again
“Does anyone have a container for this? We should definitely take some of it too”
>you around the room and hoping to find something extremely convenient
>... damn not this time
>Leo speaks up giggling
>“Aquarius? Come on?”
>Aquarius narrows her gaze but says nothing
>Sagittarius laughs, it's more of a snort really
>you look into the water again, something about how it refracts the surrounding light is just a little off
>Capricorn joins Libra's side, investigating the flames more closely
>her tone is contemplative
>“Well, we could always open one of the jars... from what Pisces and I found the memory just defuses if you open it normally. We'd lose a memory but we wouldn't have to come back later”
>you consider that for a moment, seems wasteful...
>Libra looks at the flames
>“I don't know about that... Maybe we should just wait”

>you look into the flames again before speaking
“They seem important, I think we should just take what we have found so far and go back to the castle”
>Libra makes an awwwing sound
>“But we haven't found any treasure yet!”
>Aquarius looks over to her
>“How do you know that these are not treasures Libra? I agree with Anonymous, there is no reason to hurry. Let's take what we have found thus far and call this a successful excavation”
>Sagittarius and Leo exchange a glance before Sagittarius speaks
>“That sounds okay, there's some other stuff I'd like to do before the gazing tonight”
>oh right that
>this day is taking too long
>Leo is the first one to take a jar, she picks up the one in the middle
>you make sure to quickly glance into the other room to make sure nothing changes or gets displaced
>there is a brief suspenseful moment of silence that fills the room
>you watch Leo's eyes twitch back and forth slightly, trying to follow the saturated flame
>“I'll grab this one, Anon and Aquarius do you want to get the others?”
>Aquarius nods and takes the left most jar
>you hesitate for a moment but grab the final remaining memory from the table
>Capricorn looks at the memory you are holding, before blinking and speaking
>“Libra or Sagittarius, one of you should fly up and grab one of those orbs for the walk back”
>Libra replies, already half way out the door
>“Alright, I'm on it!”
>the rest of you follow in suit behind her
>it is a shame there is nothing to get the liquid with, but there will be time later
>you steal one glance back at the pool of water before looking forward
>there's something off about this grass
>maybe it's the room, it feels like the walls have gotten closer
>you look over to Cancer
>seems like she is finally enjoying herself, still just watching her crab
>Taurus is by her, Aries is roaming aimless staring up at the ceiling in awe
>Libra flutters back down with one of the large orbs

>you can't help but stare into it, watching how the curvature of the glass manipulates the color of the lighting slightly
>now that it is closer to you, you can see that this sphere in particular hums primarily in a soft yellow
>Libra speaks up to everyone in the room
>“Alright everypony, we are gonna go back to the castle! We found some memories!”
>Cancer looks up from her pet towards Libra
>Aries is the first to speak
>“Just some plain old memories? That's all?”
>Capricorn scoffs next to you at his remark
>Leo retorts
>“Think about where we are for a second”
>his facial expression drops for a moment before he laughs
> “Oh yeah! Right...”
>Cancer giggles at him
>“It's okay Aries, I've almost forgotten where we all are too, oh and I think Crabbers likes this room... It is really relaxing”
>she sighs to herself softly
>you look ahead and nod
>it almost makes you feel drowsy, so at peace with the simplicity of your surroundings
>it seems like everyone is content to quietly make their way out through the door and into the hall
>you make it back into the darkness
>as you fill into the chamber, Libra is the last one out of the room
>she rolling the orb of light
>it illuminates the corridor
>the stone is simple, it doesn't look like there were any amazing secret passages you missed
>at least not right here
>Libra giggles to herself then rolls the ball down the pathway a few steps ahead of her
>it reveals some of the finer details, the divots and gouges in the wall are dark in hue
>“This thing is pretty neat! It would be great for games at night”
>huh, hadn't thought of that
>Aries trots up to Libra's side as the rest of you follow
>“Are you gonna let me have a turn with that or what?”
>Libra shakes her head
>“Nope, you'll find an ingenious way to break it on accident”
>Aries keeps up pace with her
>“Awww come on!”
>Leo giggles at your side, somehow balancing the jar steadily on her back

>her tone is very teasing
>“She is right you know”
>Aries scrunches up and holds back a bit letting Libra take the lead
>you look back and see that Capricorn and Taurus are behind you
>Sagittarius, Cancer and Aquarius are at the back of the group
>the hallway doesn't seem as long and spooky with the lighting
>you can already almost see the end of it, back to the entrance
>Capricorn speaks up from behind you
>“So uh, which house should we take these flames to? Or? I don't know”
>she looks down for a moment
>you feel Leo's tail flicker against you slightly
>you are about to say something but Libra makes a noise up at the front of the group
>“Oh! There's my treasure! Yes!”
>it looks like she stops to pick something up
>Leo is the first one to say anything
>“What is it Libra?”
>Libra holds up her hoof
>it looks to be empty, at least you think so
>“It's a gem! I can show you guys better when we get out of here! It was just laying here on the path this whole time”
>Sagittarius laughs from the back of the crowd
>“So a single gem counts as treasure to you now, huh Libra?”
>she puffs her cheeks up before replying
>“Hey! Better than anything you've found down here”
>you look back
>it looks like Sagittarius is going to say more but he holds his tongue
>the chamber is very close now, you can see the exit ahead
>you look one more time at the fire in your hand briefly
>Libra rolls the orb into the already torch lit entrance chamber
>you look up the stairs as everyone files in, Libra is already almost half way up the steps
>you take the moment to look one more time into the eyes of the dragon before going above
>...

>the sunlight is bright out here
>it looks close to sunset, late afternoon at some point definitely
>you gaze back over to the fields and then to the looming castle
>the spires extent so high into the sky...
>you admire the metal work around the fields, just taking a moment to appreciate not being surrounded by walls
>Aquarius is the first one to say anything
>she looks at the memory she is carrying before talking in a soft and at ease voice
>“Well, we have all made it back safely. I can say that was a good trip, let's hope we can learn something from these”
>there is a murmur of agreement outside
>Taurus' voice pierces through the crowd
>“So where to next with these then?”
>you overlook at the eight ponies present

*

>something is telling you to trust Aquarius with the jars
>she just seems so reliable, but it doesn't seem like a fair way to distribute the treasures
“It's too bad there are only three, it would be good to give one to each house, unless you guys can think of a better way...?”
>there is a bit of a murmur, Capricorn is actually the first to speak
>“I'm not very concerned with where they end up, as long as we agree to keep them safe and communicate. I trust everyone here”
>Aquarius nods in rhythm
>“I agree, Air house can be left without one. That way they will be spread apart if something were to happen to one”
>that makes sense
>risk management or something
>Aquarius passes over the memory she has been carrying to Capricorn
>you decide to work your way over to Cancer and offer her the jar you are holding
>she looks away from her pet crab for a moment then smiles and takes the jar
>“Thank you Anon!”
>you nod
“You are welcome, if everyone is alright with it I think that Earth house is the way to go right now”
>Taurus nods in confirmation
>Capricorn clops her hoof against the jar softly to make a tapping noise
>“Ohhh definitely!”
>you look over the rest of the ponies to gauge their reactions
>Libra flutters over to your side and leans into you
>“Sounds good to me!”
>Aquarius and Cancer both nod their heads
>Sagittarius speaks up
>“I was planning on going back to Fire house, but I guess I can walk some of the way”
>Aries speaks right next to him
>“Yeah, same, I can pretend it is on the way”
>Leo makes a pssssh noise off to the side
>“You guys are laaame just shut up and come along”
>she flickers her tail, Sagittarius laughs
>with that the crowd of you begins moving towards the castle, away from the underground passage

>the castle somehow becomes less daunting when you approach it a little closer, it is more physical
>everyone has their eyes fixed on either the jars or the now setting sun
>your legs are tired from all the standing and walking, at least the hallway is close to the fields
>Taurus is leading the group, he pulls the door to the castle open ahead of him
>you all file back inside, Leo and Sagittarius seem to be bickering about something behind you
>everything feels different inside
>like, actually inside, not just underground
>the ceiling in the hallway has so much detail, the light fixtures illuminate the vibrant flooring
>as you make it further down the hall you can't help but remember your encounter with Scorpio early
>you wonder where she ended up going anyways...
>you glance over to Libra at your side, she is biting her lip and looking at the very same door
>must be thinking similar thoughts
>the opposite door swings open revealing the descending stair that spirals into Earth house
>Taurus goes down the stair without hesitating, his hoofsteps thundering on the metal during his descent
>the Fire house ponies follow closely after
>you, Libra and Capricorn work your way to the stairs together
>best not to make it too crowded, you wait for a second
>Capricorn speaks at your side
>“T-Thanks for decided to come to Earth house Anon, I-I like it when we have visitors”
>you can't help but smile and ruffle her mane a little
>she smiles and leans into your touch softly before making it through the floor level and down the stairs
>you follow after
>as you look down into plant-life below you can't help but think more about the trip underground
>seems like there is still so much to be explored....
>you look back up the stairs to Cancer, Libra and Aquarius before looking down
>it looks like Virgo is here, she is talking to Taurus
>her eyes glance to the staircase, then to Taurus, she doesn't look too pleased

>you only can catch a bit of the conversation at this distance
>you can see Virgo huff though
>taking in the fresh air and plant-life around you, you wall along the waist high marble wall, closer to the commotion
>“Well, it seems like you all thought to inform every pony in the castle other than me!”
>Taurus scratches the back of his neck, you are now within a few lengths of where everyone is crowding
>“Well, I'm sorry, I don't know what to say, you weren't here. It was kinda in the moment”
>Virgo's face turns red before she stops and takes an exaggerated deep breath
>“And I suppose that 'in the moment' you never once considered that I could be in my observatory, AS I told you I would be, working on preparations for the ball?”
>she turns her back and takes a few paces before stopping on a dime and turning around to face Taurus again
>she opens her mouth like she is about to say something, but instead just groans and turns her back again and huffs
>you look at the ground for a second to gather yourself, silently admiring the small plants sprouting from the dirt underfoot

*

>you look up back at Taurus
>his facial expression wavers
>you feel the need to assume some responsibility
“Virgo, I'm truly sorry, I was trying to gather everyone, this mistake is on me”
>she turns around and blinks at you
>she looks torn for a moment, her expression is blank
>“Thank you Anonymous, but I assure you not to worry”
>she stops talking, it looks like she is biting her tongue
>Taurus looks down at the ground, Virgo casts him another disapproving look
>you look at Capricorn next to you, she seems to be staying neutral
>can't blame her
>you speak before the pause goes on for too long
“We only explored one section, most of it is still unexplored. If you'd like you can lead the next expedition if everyone else is okay with that...”
>Aquarius nods
>“Yes, but we need to stop and discuss a little bit”
>Capricorn and Libra nod in agreement
>Sagittarius speaks up
>“I'm going to head back to Fire house, I think that you all can do without me”
>he pauses and looks to Aries
>“Are you going to stay or leave now?”
>Aries puts a hoof to his chin before speaking
>“I think I'm gonna leave. Later everyone!”
>Libra waves
>“Bye Aries”
>you wave, Sagittarius acknowledges you but it looks like Aries is oblivious
>a few other ponies wave, Leo speaks
>“I'll let you know if there is any critical intelligence I need to convey”
>her joking tone feels mismatched with those words

>Aries nods look around at the plants as he walks the other direction
>“Oh yeah, for sure”
>you focus back over to the remaining seven ponies
>Cancer looks at the ground, then to her crab, then to you
>“I-I think I'm going to head back too. Crabbers here has had a long day”
>you suppose that is fair, must be a lot
“Alright, see ya soon Cancer”
>Libra trots up to her and gives her a hug
>you watch her maintain an expert hold of both the crab and the memory jar
>“Thanks for coming along, it was fun”
>she returns Libra's embrace gently and nods before following out behind the two Fire house stallions
>Virgo is the first pony to break the silence
>“Well, why don't we make it out of here and into the lounge area. I'd like to be more informed. If I am going to lead an expedition, I would like as much orienting detail as possible, did anyone sketch out a map perhaps?”
>uh
>Leo responds quickly
>“Nah, too dark”
>Virgo blinks as she continues to make her way to the door closer to the observatories
>you realize you haven't seen this part of Earth house yet as you make it through the doorway
>the ceiling is soo high up that you forget you are indoor for a brief moment
>you are at the top of a pit descending downward
>white marble stairways lead to an earthy floor below
>in the center of the floor is a tall and lively tree
>it looks old, the branches established
>the leafs reach above your current elevated eye level, the tree must be huge
>surrounding the thick and knotted trunk is a waist high circular stone wall
>“Does that darkness have something to do with why Libra left a large glowing orb in the common area?”

>Libra flutters over to Virgo's side and grins before giggling and leaning on her
>“I just thought I'd bring it to my favorite pal Virgo because you never fail to brighten my day!”
>Virgo groans, Libra just giggles louder
>you hear Capricorn laugh at your side
>you look down, her and Leo are doing expert jobs at balancing those memories
>must be an earth pony thing
>Leo is staring into the memory intensely
>you reach ground level, the earth feels soft underneath you in contrast to the marble
>it looks like there are several makeshift benches both on the inside and outside of the main wall
>Aquarius and Taurus both take a seat on the outer side
>you take a seat on one of the bench like things, some type of carved stone
>it's such a peculiar shape
>you look up towards the ceiling
>you can't even see the roof of the castle because the leafs overhead are so dense
>it feels like the room is breathing, coursing with energy
>you thoughts are interrupted by Leo
>“I think that we should break one of the memories, I'm volunteering Fire house's”

>Libra gasps from her place at Virgo's side
>“But wouldn't it be lost forever? We can't record it”
>Aquarius looks contemplative
>“Currently, we have no valid way of recording the memories, but if we find a way in the future ...”
>she blinks and stops talking
>the silence in the room feels natural as your eyes fixate to Aquarius
>she continues speaking in her cool and collected tone
>“Eventually, one of these is going to get broken. They have too much allure... I'm almost in agreement that we do it now in a controlled setting”
>Capricorn looks skeptic next to you
>“I'm concerned about these memories. The flames being so saturated must mean something and I don't know what, that just makes me uneasy...”
>Leo nods in agreement
>Taurus speaks up, he looks puzzled
>“Well, it's not lost forever if one of us remembers it?”
>Aquarius' voice seeps back into the conversation
>“That seems to be the case, but that arises the question of who would observe the memory?”
>you are about to volunteer yourself but Capricorn speaks before you
>“Anyone here except Anonymous would be fine”
>you look at Capricorn somewhat confused
>her pupils dilate slightly
>“You already viewed one strong memory today Anon! And went into the water house pool... Your mind must be in a confused state if you are experiencing traces, I'm just afraid something serious could happen if this memory was also strong. Pisces and I learned the hard way to space these things out”
>seems like a valid point, but at the same time you are also a bit curious
>you suppose that you could view the memory later, tomorrow maybe?
>or someone could do it now, you look around

> Taurus speaks up, his voice steady and confident
>“I would be okay with viewing it, I haven't seen one before I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious about it”
>Libra yells immediately after Taurus
>“OH! I volunteer too!”
>Virgo speaks up next to Libra
>“I'm still a bit confused about where these came from and what they are...”
>Libra turns to her and explains a bit
>“They are like the memory's in Fire house, remember? We went there together a long time ago but neither of us could figure out what the jars were so we just told Pisces about them? I've still been itching to break one, that sounds so satisfying for some reason”
>Virgo's eyes twinkle
>“Oh yes! Okay, those things, and you found them in this tunnel thing I assume?”
>Aquarius nods before speaking
>“Yes, we did. I almost feel like someone who has viewed a memory in the past should watch this one, that way we have a point of comparison. That would narrow it down to me, Leo and Capricorn I believe”
>Leo speaks up as she continues to stare into the jar
>“That seems irrelevant to me... I don't know. Would viewing it even be something you'd want to do Aquarius?”
>she blinks and looks to the ground for a moment before speaking again
>“Yes, I would like to get the details first hand”
>Capricorn looks over to Aquarius
>“Whatever works I guess, I'm sure you all know that I'm curious about it too”
>she bites her lip and looks down at the jar she has been carrying
>your eyes are drawn into the gray flames

*

>you blink
>something still just feels wrong about breaking them
>maybe you are being too cautious but...
“I think it would be a good idea to wait a bit longer honestly, maybe we will learn more once we explore the tunnel more, or at least inform the other houses properly”
>Aquarius nods ahead of you
>“You do have a point, I don't see any urgency”
>Leo scoffs
>“It's like you guys are just expecting information to fall out of the sky, something you have to go out and get it”
>she lowers herself into a ready to pounce stance before straightening up
“I guess that is a good point, but there is still a bunch of stuff to go over”
>that seems to get everyone's attention, you are expecting someone to add on but the room stays silent
“Uh, Taurus, I was thinking that if you wanted to see a memory maybe you could view one of the other ones in the Fire house? I guess that could go for anyone else too”
>Taurus nods in understanding
>“Oh, yeah, I guess you are right, it's just far from Earth house”
>you turn over to Virgo
“I think it'd only be fair to give you a few more details, we went through the underground passage. The entrance has three pathways, we took the left most one, it was suppose to make you remember I think? I don't know, I felt forgetful in there personally”
>Capricorn speaks up from next to you
> “That's interesting Anon, I thought it helped me remember, maybe not traditional memory... But like... I don't know, I felt attune with the past and myself”
>Aquarius nods, her voice following Capricorn's flawlessly
>“Yes, I found the room to foster a highly meditative and focused environment”

>that is interesting for sure, you wonder how it could have effected the other ponies there
“Well, that is strange for sure then. Let's see, what else, the room was grassy and really minimal. We found several of those light orbs as well as the three memories and some liquid that we didn't have a container for”
>you pause feeling like you are forgetting something
>Virgo looks intrigued, you look into her eyes
“Oh, and Libra found a gem! Can I see that actually?”
>Libra's face lights up, she gasps softly
>“Oh yeah! I almost had forgot”
>she shows the gem to Virgo briefly first before trotting over to you
>“It's pretty neat if I don't say so myself!”
>she hands you the gem, it is cool to the touch
>you look at it closely
>the cut on it is fabulous, the stone is about the size of your thumbnail
>it looks familiar...
>something about the dark purple hue
>it makes you a little uneasy, you hand it back to Libra
“That is a really nice gem, good find, I don't know if I would have noticed it”
>Libra giggles and leans against you playfully
>“Not everyone can have such an eye for detail Anon ~”
>she has a smirk on her face
>you reach out and boop her nose, watching her eyes follow your hand forward as she scrunches
>“Hey!”
>it's your turn to laugh
>Virgo speaks up again, moving her mane out of her eyes
>“Well, it seems worth exploring further to me. We should plan an expedition sometime soon, hopefully ponies don't get curious and go on their own... As for me, I need to prepare before the gazing, it has been pleasant having you all over”

>you figure it is probably about time to head back to Air house anyways
>there should still be a bit of time to go over to the library, but it is really hard to tell
>you don't know exact when the clock is going to go off
>Aquarius speaks up, as if reading your thoughts
>“We should start making it back to Air house, I feel like the gazing is going to start very soon”
>Libra nods, Leo yawns
“Well, thanks for having us, I guess I will see all of you either later tonight or tomorrow?”
>Capricorn giggles next to you
>she wraps her hooves around you slightly
>“Thanks Anon! It's better a really fun day!”
>you give her a boop too cause why not
>she seems to appreciate it, her giggling increases
>Taurus waves to you, you return his wave and he makes it up the stair out of the room
>Libra and Aquarius lead the way out of the room, back up the stairs
>you take one last look over your shoulder at the tree
>it's leafs seem to be rustling in an imaginary wind
>Leo passes you to the left
> “I'll see you later Anon, good luck tonight... Something is tell me that this is going to take a while”
>she is already out the door before you can say more
>you enter into the common area
>it feels quiet with just two ponies here
>you can actually focus on everyone present
>Aquarius is looking ahead, determined, her hoof-steps rhythmic
>Libra is eye up one of the spiral stair cases leading through the roof
>she makes her way towards the base of that staircase, a different one then you entered through
>“So Anonymous, I'm not sure how much time Gemmy and Minny will have before the gazing to show you through the library, I know you were interesting in going. Perhaps we can give you the directions? You may wish for some past-times tonight”
>you take a moment to consider as you make it up out of Earth house into the unknown segments of the castle above

*

>you look ahead as you emerge, reaching the top of the staircase
>the room you are in is small, minimum, much like the top of the other staircase you descended early
>close stone walls, the only feature being another staircase, spiraling upwards a dizzying height
>you look down and focus on your feet as you step on the first stair
>they are metal, sequenced in a way where there are gaps of air between each step, making them look very individual, isolated
>you speak trying to ease your thoughts
“Yeah, I think I might check out the library tonight, directions would be good”
>you look up and notice the ceiling far above, it looks like a night sky
>or it could be glass, although you wouldn't expect it to be that dark out yet
>you continue speaking over the sound of Aquarius rhythmic hoofsteps
“Not from here though, I have no idea where we are”
>Libra giggles from your side
>she has opted to just fly apparently and is fluttering next to you
>“One of the spires, taking the elevated way to Air house”
>you're not quite sure what that means, but you are starting to reach an alarming height above the ground
>it looks like the stairs lead to a ledge, you can see the short metal railing overhead
>Aquarius reaches the platform first, Libra flies to meet her
>Aquarius speaks, her tone reaching your ears softly as you step foot onto the ledge
>“If you exit out of Air house towards the ballroom room balcony there will be a door straight ahead of you, this will reveal a straight hallway”
>you vaguely remember taking that route from Fire house to Air house okay
>Aquarius blinks then continues, giving you appropriate time to process the information
>Libra opens the door ahead of you
>it looks dark through the door...

>“If you follow that hallway, it will lead you to a single white door. Beyond that door are two other doors, red and green. Take the green door, then take the purple door. The library is straight ahead after that, can't miss it”
>you pay attention carefully as you make it through the doorframe
>ahead of you is some kind of catwalk
>this is really scenic...
>the walls around you are glass, giving you a view of the sky, the courtyard below
>the sun is in the final stages of setting, most of the sky is dark
>in some areas stars are beginning to twinkle softly against the purple hues of the night sky, while the very edge of the horizon bleeds an intense shade of orange
>you take a moment to admire the landscape, the horizon becoming dim
>it looks as if Libra and Aquarius are doing the same
>you feel the need to speak before moving through the next door
“How exactly do you know when it is time to gaze? Can you feel it or …?”
>Libra doesn't miss a beat as she stares off, but her tone is much more somber than usual
>“When the sky gets dark enough, the clock will sound”
>Aquarius nods and opens the door ahead of you
>“Once we cross through here we will be back in Air house”
>it reveals a single stone stair case, white marble that extends all the way to each wall during it's descent
>as if it's only purpose is to lead to the catwalk
>you can't help but wonder more about the gazing
“What happens if a pony misses a gazing?”
>Aquarius almost misses a beat as she makes it down the stairs, but she responds quickly
> “Our gazing is for our own personal enrichment, so I guess you could say nothing”
>she stops for a moment at the bottom of the stairs, it looks like it leads to a different room
>“But the loss of knowledge, interruption of continuous thought and observation as well as the breaking of routine are not something I would readily dismiss”
>she takes a deep breath, you follow her into the room ahead

>“Oh, hey Anon!”
>you look ahead into the room
>it is really dull, gray colored couches with gray colored walls
>they are almost the same shade
>you see the Gemmy and Minny sitting on one of the couches ahead
>you aren't sure who said that so you acknowledge both
“Hey, how's the day been for you two?”
>Minny shrugs, Gemmy replies
>“It's been good! We were just talking about how there probably isn't enough time to go to the library though”
>you nod and scratches your neck
“Yeah, sorry about that...”
>this time the yellow pony is the one to talk
>“It's okay, I'm sure we will find time to go sometime in soon! How'd the exploration go?”
>before you can say anything Libra responds
>“Oh, Oh! It was awesome, we found a bunch of memory jars, and giant light thingys and there is still a bunch left to explore! You should have went”
>Gemmy looks down at the floor, Minny blinks before speaking
>her tone is unease
>“Oh! Uh, yeah, I guess next time!”
>she follows it up with an unnatural sounding giggle
>Aquarius looks confused, but she speaks none the less before taking a seat on one of the dull couches
>it makes her coat look vibrant
>“So Anonymous, any thing last minute?”
>Libra walks to your side
>“I'm afraid it is going to take a really long time after how short it was last night”
>a sad expression flashes across her normally cheery eyes

*

>there are still a lot of answered questions lingering in the back of your mind
>you look at Aquarius and do your best to make eye contact as you speak
“What's the longest that you have gazed for? Has it been enough to interrupt your sleeping patterns in the past?”
>Aquarius looks hesitant for a moment than nods
> “Personally, I have to say I lose track of time entirely. I know that is has been long enough before to definitely effect how I sleep”
>Libra nods
> “Some of the sessions have felt like a literal eternity, it is indescribable... I'm not sure if that is only in the observatories”
>she pauses and looks down
>Gemmy decides to finish answering your questions
“To quantify it better, we've never had a gazing go longer into the early morning, the clock usually goes off again before sunrise”
>almost eerily on cue you hear the sound of a bell
>Libra looks up
> “That sounds like the clock...”
>there is a moment of silence in the room as the sound of the bell becomes more involved
>ringing upon ringing, layering, resonating across the castle
>it sounds in rhythm, almost geometric
>the tune continues to play for several brief moments before it fades, leaving a silence in the gray room
>Minny stands from the couch and speaks
> “We should get going, Anon, you can follow us to the common area”
>you nod and follow behind the two Gemini ponies through one of the two other doorways and into the next room

>oh, huh, this leads into the kitchen
>around a sharp corner, the entrance to the hallway was certainly not visible from the table at which you ate breakfast
>actually a lot of this kitchen was concealed actually
>you decide to ease the tension slightly by asking another question
“So uh, Gemmy, Minny, either of you broke a memory jar before?”
>both of them immediately reply
>“Yes”
>“No”
>you almost didn't catch who said which answer, but Gemmy speaks again
>“I've actually viewed quite a few, they fascinate me”
>Minny just looks at the ground as you make it into the common area
>the Air house ponies exchange a serious of looks before making it to their respective observatories
>you feel the need to speak
“Well, good luck tonight everyone. I'll see you all soon”
>the two Gemini ponies nod and wave in sync
>Libra looks on edge, but she puts a smile on her face
>“Definitely, see everyone soon!”
>Aquarius says nothing for a moment, she looks to be in deep thought
>something about the air is so empty, heavy
>you look at the ceiling over head, some of the clouds are starting to show again
>the wildlife on the walls around you begin to develop intense shadows
>Aquarius tone drifts over the damped room
>“Let's see what the stars have to offer tonight, everyone keep a level head”
>the sound of metal doors shutting is the last thing you feel before the room goes empty

*

>it takes a moment to adjust to the sensation of being alone
>the quiet in the room is intense
>you feel for a second as if there is no structure to your surroundings, almost as if you are merely an object in the room
>it takes you a second to gather yourself
>there is no hurry and nothing to be waiting for, so you take a second to just be in the room
>the clouds are getting heavier overhead
>you notice several animals painted on the walls that hadn't stood out to you before
>most of them hiding in the tall grass painted on the white walls
>a change in scenery definitely couldn't hurt
>you decide it is finally time to try and find this library
>taking one last look at the somber setting in Air house, you exit the room onto the balcony
>as you make it through the doorway it is easy to tell that things are different
>the castle is not lite up as it was the first night
>there are traces of bright color across some of the flooring and walls below you, but for the most part the air is quiet
>the light doesn't create the energetic and inspiring feeling before
>it almost feels foggy out here
>like you can see some of the lights below, but they are damped an unnatural amount by the distance
>your footsteps echo eerily as you make it to the door ahead of you

>you swing the door open to reveal the hallway, heading straight ahead as far as you can see
>as you walk you start to realize there is actually something different
>you can't see as far ahead of you, it feels too real
>the air is thick, gray, dense
>you make it down the featureless stone pathway until you reach the white door
>it looks almost ghostly, but you opened it as Aquarius instructed to reveal two doors
>red and green
>if you recall the red door leads to the Fire house kitchen, you've been in this area three different times now
>you focus on the green door ahead and swing it inward
>the moan of the door as it unhinges makes you jump
>three doors ahead
>Aquarius said purple...
>the purple and black doors are almost indistinguishable, it takes you a moment
>you have to look closely to observe the true hue of the paint
>it's like the further you make it from the house the less you can see
>you go to push the purple door inward only to realize it swings outwards
>it reveals a single hallway
>all you can see is gray ahead of you

>you continue forward trusting Aquarius advise and assuming the you can't miss it
>the hallway seems to be straight away, but it is really hard to tell
>it appears as if the hall is filled with smoke, but only from a visual perspective
>you fill your lungs with a breath of fresh cool night air as you head onward
>you almost trip on a step ahead of you
>stairs
>it looks like five or six steps upward
>you follow them, eventually coming into a large clearing
>the air has more room to spread here, things are thinner, more clear
>you can see rows of shelving in the distance, straight ahead of you
>narrow and tall rows of books, extending in all directions ahead of you
>there are two identical statues of a mare on either side of you, as if marking an entrance, a gateway to the area ahead
>you look at the expression of stone on her face
>it feels life like, she has a beaming smile and a sincere look
>you search for an inscription on the left most figure and notice a couple lines of text carved at the base of the statue
>“The quest for knowledge is eternal”
>there is an indent in the text followed by an arrow pointing left
>“The past”
>you look back up into the mare's eyes
>she looks scholarly almost, maybe it is just the text leaving an impression on you
>you take a couple more steps before checking the base of the identical statue to your right
>the top inscription identical, however the arrow beneath points to the right
>“The future”
>huh

>there is no saying how these books could be sorted
>you look up at the ceiling trying to find a clue or something
>it would be useful to find something about etiquette for the ball...
>just as you are about to take another step forward you hear a deep sound to your left
>it sends an intense chill directly down your spine
>you look into the fog and are unable to see anything ahead
>vague outlines of rows of books
>just as you are looking away you swear you see a streak of neon blue flash across your peripheral vision
>you immediately turn your head around and see nothing
>... this does not feel right
>you focus in on your heart pounding against your chest
>this time you turn to your right
>your heart freezes, there is a pony in the fog
>you grab your sword instinctively
>the lack of hoofsteps, the ghostly flutter
>it takes your brain to register it is the pony from the memory again
>you look into her, the dark gray mane, the elaborate purple and teal gemstone dress...
>she doesn't say anything, it looks like she is struggling to speak
>her silence is off-putting
>you don't like the look in her eyes...
>fear
>just as you are about to open your mouth, she utters a single word
>“Run”

*

>the word hits your mind with an urgency
>there is no reason not to trust this figure
>your feet are already moving
>you don't even know where you are going but you motion for the memory pony to follow
>turning back the way you came you make it through the foggy hall, trying to find yourself back in familiar territory
>it feels a little ridiculous almost, you don't really know why the need to run
>you make it back through the green door and are met with the choice of red or white as you swing the door outward
>just as you are about to slow down and catch your breath you hear a chilling sound in the hallway behind you
>a deep growl
>you have no idea what but it is enough to get you moving
>something tells you to go to Water house
>the water could be useful and maybe the door will be enough to keep whatever is following you at bay
>you run through the red door
>it's hard to tell if the ghost like pony with the dress is following
>you can't see her silhouette through the fog
>you make it down the set of stairs and open the door to reveal circle room
>oh hell which door is which
>you try to mentally orient yourself quickly
>the sound of heavy stepping behind you doesn't make it an easy task
>trying your luck you go for the door almost straight across from you, making a note to slam the door you entered from behind you

>this looks right!
>you got lucky this time
>might not be so easy in the future...
>you keep a quick pace down the foggy red carpeted hallway
>this is definitely right, you can see the ballroom below you
>the lighting is starting to become more vivid
>shades of purple, deep red and blue seep through the mist below
>towering above the layer of fog is the lunar clock, lit up and ticking
>you make it down the stairs quickly
>you don't feel like slowing down too much after the scare
>the adrenaline of the chase is wearing off-putting
>your legs are heavy and sore, you can feel your heart pounding as your chest rapidly expands and collapses to fill your lungs with air
>as you reach the ballroom floor you start to get the feeling that you are in the clear at least for the moment
>you try to wipe some of the sweat from your brow, but it doesn't have much of an effect
>you probably look exhausted
>Water house still feels like the right place to go, even if you aren't sure on getting in the water
>maybe just the regular pool could be soothing right now...
>you wonder what effects you could even be experiencing
>you look around trying to find the trace pony?
>there has to be something better to call her
>she doesn't seem to be around...

>this whole thing is making you unease
>the fog just feels even thicker down here
>you make it down the stairs into the sterile hallway before Water house's entrance
>the aqueducts trickle towards the door, it steadies your heart rate
>the lighting in here is particularly odd, the air has a noticeable light green hue
>your footsteps echo in the chamber a reasonable amount
>the silence is really killing you
>you want the memory pony to come back or something
>you reach out and open the door ahead of you
>light
>it is clear in here, no more fog
>just the crashing sound of the waterfall
>the mosaic of rainbow tiles on the bottom of the pool has gone completely gray-scale
>you could seriously get used to this kind of relaxation
>then again, there is a lot to do in Water house
>you look down at the pool below you again

*

>you pause and close the door to Water house behind you
>it is such a heavy door, should really hold back anything that could still be giving chase
>your gut is telling you that you are in the clear for the moment
>you check the door for some type of lock but see nothing
>a dip in some water sounds really nice right now, but you aren't sure about the main pool area
>you watch the waterfall cascading downward for several moments
>Cancer's words from earlier come back to you, two lefts from the entrance, right across from the lounge
>you turn left and follow the balcony hovering above the water
>somewhere in the back of your head you wonder if it'd be safe to dive from here, but you try to push that thought away
>you make it to the second door over and look across the house
>a sliver of the lounge is visible from this spot, seem to be the right door
>you open it and are immediately met with a wall of steamy warm air
>the visibility is only a bit better than the castle outside
>you can feel your shoulders drop and your mind start to slow
>the water below looks so soothing
>ripples and bubbles move across the surface
>damn it is almost like a hot tub

>you just might have hit the jackpot
>slowly you take off your shoes and work your feet gently into the water
>it feels soo good
>you don't want to undress all the way though... that could be a problem if you had to run or something
>there are several makeshift stone shelves, carved crudely into the walls surrounding you
>maybe there is something to use as a pair of swim trunks
>most of the shelving is empty, many have a single item centered in the middle
>you look closely
>small statues, figurines
>some of them are ponies, other appear to be birds or animals
>you admire the detail work as you scan the other shelves
>hey towels!
>that could work
>the fabric is soft, there are easily five or six
>you briefly weigh the pros and cons and say screw it
>you strip down and stack your clothes neatly on one of the shelves closest to the surface of the water next to your sword
>the whole room is small, condensed, it is easily within arm reach
>you tightly wrap the towel around you and work your legs into the water
>instantly you can feel all of the pressure from standing and running throughout the day alleviate
>a sigh escapes your lips as you make it further into the water
>there is a spot to sit under the surface of the water

>the relaxation is real right now
>the other ponies are definitely missing out on this
>maybe they have pools in the observatories too, you wouldn't know
>come to think of it you still haven't seen inside of any of them
>doesn't really matter
>you sigh again and sink deeper into the water to the point where you ears are almost submerged
>you make sure to keep a close eye on the door
>listen for an danger...
>your breathing is so slow, you could stay in here forever
>probably
>the soft sound of music fills your mind
>each note fading, echoing
>you almost wonder if it is the lunar clock but you recall that the last session ended with a shrill tone
>this is musical, classical, the perfect sounds to relax to
>definitely a stringed instrument
>it hops and jumps between lively notes,
>you wonder if it is a recording for the pool room because it is clean, crisp
>you can visually each note, the colors of the sound intertwining to harmonize and dance in the air
>the tone of the music drops and becomes more focused
>intense, personal, like it is moving inward on your thoughts
>the heavy emotion mixes well with the overpowering steam
>you feel completely immersed, at peace
>no thought to the time and space around you, just the weightless sensation of the warm water
>just as subtly as the music started it stops

>that was definitely an enjoyable listen
>you wonder if the sounds will come back on if you stay around a bit longer
>the water has not become overwhelmingly warm yet, although that could definitely happen you are sure
>you wonder if there is a cold pool around somewhere too
>maybe there are some doors you didn't notice the first time around in this room
>you trace your eyes over the walls, but don't see any distinct features there at least
>could be in a different part of the house too maybe
>you consider the options a bit longer
>sound
>you look quickly to the door
>definitely hoofsteps, you instinctively bring your sword closer to you and slow your breath
>before you have time to do more you see a blur of magenta
>it's Scorpio, she is standing in the doorway to the pool area, looking back over her shoulder
>she turns around and makes direct eye contact with you immediately
>you see her bright blue eyes go wide before she quickly turns around again
>it looks like she is just going to pretend like you didn't see her and leave
>this whole thing seems sudden, you try to think of something to say or do fast

*

>you definitely feel the need to grab her attention quickly
>there are multiple things racing through your mind right now
“ Hey, Scorpio! Wait”
>your words are brief and cut through the dampened air
>there is notably no echo in here, the acoustics of the room are very soothing
>even your harsh yell just now seems more toned, just urgent
>she stops on her toes and turns around to look at you but says nothing for a moment
>“Uh, yeah?”
>her tone is more questioning than rude or short
>you pause considering your words carefully
“Aren't you suppose to be gazing now?”
>her face looks torn between two expressions, as if output slightly by your words
>she blinks and give you a straight face
>“Yes, I am suppose to be gazing right now”
>she stands in the doorway and scans every corner of the room with her eyes before resting them on you again
>you feel the warm water on your skin
>being one on one with her is definitely different
>you watch her tails twitch back and forth a few times
>she is still just looking at you, you feel the need to say something
>you speak a bit too quickly
“Oh, uh, why? I mean, why do you not want to gaze right now?”
>she blinks at you again before making a tssk noise
>“You are just full of questions aren't you?”
>you open your mouth to say something but then close it again quickly

>Scorpio circles in around you
>walking close to the edge of the water
>you are remember that you are in a towel...
>it seems to be doing the trick just fine, you can barely see beneath the water's surface as is
>her voice cuts through the mist
> “What brings you here?”
>you hesitate and remember the events from just a few moments ago
>or at least it seems that way...
“Went to the Library and got chased by some kind of big creature... I didn't really see it, but it growled and sounded large”
>Scorpio nods and looks you over again
>“I take it you are okay?”
>you try to make out her facial expression to see if that is genuine care
>it is really hard to read her
“Yeah, I made it out alright”
>she nods but looks stiff
>still just standing outside the pool, her eyes darting around the room
>“You kinda of have a knack for 'just making it out alright' don't you?”
>she moves her hooves in place, looking uneasy
>you don't quite follow...
>she sighs
>“I assume that when you came out from the underground that the latch to the surface was open, yeah?”
>the water feels hotter around you as you watch her pace
>you think back and answer her question briefly
“Um, yes it was”
>Scorpio just scoffs, she opens her mouth, then closes it, then decides to speak after all
>“Well, you are welcome for that”

>it takes you a minute to follow
>... oh
>if that means what you do understand it to mean you might owe her a thank you
>although you don't really see how to the entrance could have been recovered, unless maybe the wind...
>the room is quiet and damp
>Scorpio is trotting in place slightly
>you suppose she could leave at anytime if she really wanted to
>maybe there is more you could talk or ask about...

*

>you still are working over her comment about the latch in your head
“So wait, I'm not sure I follow entirely with the latch thing... Can you explain more?”
>Scorpio flickers her tail back and forth a few times then huffs
>you notice a flash of something metallic in her tail as you watch it sway
>“After we uh, talked... I ran into Pisces. The whole thing seemed thrown together the more she explained, so I might have been there to assure things went right”
>you take a second to process that before speaking again
>does that mean that you were being followed?
“And you are saying that while we are underground the latch closed?”
>she nods and stare into the water
>“the wind picks up out here in the desert, must have blown the cover back shut... I honestly couldn't believe you didn't have anyone watch the entrance”
>you lean little further into the water as Scorpio makes eye contact with you again
>the room goes quiet, you feel the need to say more
>she still looks so tense...
“Hey, uh, do you want to get in the water? Couldn't hurt to unwind a bit right?”
>she looks away from you to the ground then back up
>her facial expression changes from surprise to curiosity, maybe reservation, anger
>you don't even know how she does that
>it's like you can see the spectrum of emotions she is processing in her eyes
>finally she nods, her facial expression blank
>“Y-yeah, definitely”
>she looks down at the water with a look of hesitation before taking a step forward
>she submerges herself one hoof at a time before sitting down on the underwater ledge

>the setting feels a lot more personal
>you feel much more at ease now that you are on the same field of vision
>Scorpio sighs and lays back
>you watch her lavender mane slowly lose its form as it makes contact with the water
>you are the first to speak
>the chase from earlier still lingering in the back of your mind
“So do you have any idea what could have chased me then?”
>she blinks and leans against you for a moment before pulling away and speaking in level tone
>“Most likely one of the beasts”
>you eyes go wide slightly
“Beasts...?”
>Scorpio looks down into the water and sighs
>“I don't think that the others believe me about them, but they are here. I've only seen them at night. I don't know how many or what they are. Certainly not normal animals...”
>you gulp to yourself
>that seems much more dangerous than what you bargained for
>Scorpio leans against you with more force, this time resting there as she speaks
>“They can't hurt you”
>she pauses
>it sure did seem like whatever was chasing you could inflict some serious harm
>you are about to ask more but she continues
>“As long as you believe they can't touch you, they can't touch you... They aren't real”
>she makes eye contact with you
>her eyes are soft, laced with care
>it is not the expression you were expecting at all
>“Trust me”

>the temperature of the water seems warmer
>you take a moment to get lost in the blue of her eyes
>at this point she is definitely, undeniably, laying against you for support
>it feels electric, she shifts position slightly
>you feel everywhere the she is making contact
>you speak, staying in position
“Thanks for all of the information and for looking out... I really do appreciate it”
>Scorpio looks down into the water
>her eyes look somber , she looks up but her expression is still fairly blank
>you continue speaking
“It seems like there is a lot of real danger here though, maybe I wasn't expecting so much... But at the same time this castle is full of wonderful surprises. The music that was playing in here just a moment ago was so lovely”
>with that remark Scorpio's eyes spark back to life
>she displays a brief smile before quickly going back to a straight face then a saddened look
>“S-So you don't hate me...? Think I'm a psycho?”
>her vibrant blue eyes twinkle, you can feel her lean against you even further
>“A-And you liked the music?”
>she bites her lip and looks down

*

>so she can be cute then
>damn
>you shift slightly before speaking to the maroon colored pony
“Why would I assume you were a psycho? Clearly strange things happen here. It's alright, everyone feels emotion, we all have rough days. No hard feelings at all”
>her face brightens up at your remark
>a bit of a smirk appear across her lips
>“Well, that is good to know, thanks”
>you nod
“Thanks for telling me everything, I'm glad to have met you here tonight”
>she smiles wider and leans further into the water before blinking slowly
>this is definitely relaxing
>it almost looks like she is blushing, but it is hard to tell with the shade of her coat
>sink into the water a bit deeper
>you decide to speak up again
“So how did you find out that they couldn't hurt you? That must have been an interesting experience”
>Scorpio blinks again and then sits up straight
>she bite her lip softly before speaking again
>“I uh, I learned that from a memory...”
>she pauses before continuing in almost a mumble
>“A rather unpleasant one”
>that does confirm that she has broken at least one of the jars then
>she looks a like down now, her eyes staring into the water beneath you
>you give her a bit of a sympathetic nod and decide not to press too much further
“I've heard that they can be unpleasant, the one that I watched was more... confusing I want to say?”
>Scorpio looks up a smiles
>“That is often the case with them it seems, huh? Context is a hell of a thing”
>you nod your head again in agreement and then continue
“Capricorn was saying she thinks that the memory gave me something called a trace”

>Scorpio makes eye contact with you as you say that
>her facial expression falters to one of concern for a brief second, before going back to relaxation, then possible curiosity
>“Visual or auditory?”
>you feel her lean back into you against as she asks the question
>something about her touch is too intense, you can feel her energy so easily
>you almost get lost in the sensation instead of speaking, but you are able to gather yourself again quickly
“ I guess mostly visual? I have seen a mare twice, and both times she has left in a hurry because of some type of danger”
>she sighs and shakes her head slightly before leaning back even further into you
>it appears as if she isn't very concerned about her personal space, she looks to be enjoying herself anyways
>“That is good, I've found that auditory ones are much worse, just hearing different voices from the memory in your head will make you think you are crazy”
>that does sound pretty awful
>you take a second to appreciate the full filled silence in the room
>the steam, the warmth of the water and the body heat of the pony laying against you
“Thanks again for all of this, you seem like a trustworthy pony Scorpio”
>she smiles widely at that remark
>“Why thank you Anon!”
>she looks up into your eyes and blinks rapidly a couple times before letting her face settle on an innocent looking expression
>you can't help but wonder though...
“Was the music that I was heard earlier yours?”
>now you can definitely tell that she is blushing, it is visible even on her maroon coat
>it disappears quickly before being replaced with a calm look
>she still seems a bit uneasy
>“Y-yeah, actually... I am glad you liked it”
>she stops and fiddles with her hooves nervously
>“If you wanted to hear more maybe...”
>she looks into your eyes, a hint of a smile can be seen on the edge of her lips

*

>you feel a bit torn
>there is really only so much time to see the castle like this...
>you look back into Scorpio's eyes
>they look hopeful
>might as well give her a chance
>you speak with a somewhat reluctant tone
“Alright, sure. Let's see what you can do”
>she leans up and smiles
>“Okay sweet! Let me go get my violin, meet me back out on the balcony?”
>you nod
>the water is starting to feel too warm, best to get out before it becomes unpleasant
>Scorpio stands up and leaves the stone pool of water, her mane and coat dripping
>this will be a perfect chance to change back into your clothes
>she glances over her shoulder at you one more time before making it back out of the room
>once she has made it around the corner in full you exit the pool and toss the towel aside
>you take a moment to feel the cool air of the castle on your skin before quickly changing back into your normal clothes
>have to keep these things in good shape for sure...
>you attach your sword back to your belt, admiring the patterns in the blue gem
>you look over the small room one more time before making it back out onto the balcony
>the view really is stunning from up here
>you find yourself lost in the waterfall
>Scorpio is already trotting back with a very simple looking violin
>the dark wood is polished beautiful
>she walks closer to you to get within ear shot
>you can't help but notice that she is shaking slightly

>“R-Ready then?”
>you look her over again before nodding
“Just nothing too long, I do wanna see some more of the castle tonight”
>she nods and speaks again quickly
>“Uh, okay yeah! Definitely”
>you watch as she closes her eyes
>you wait
>she plays one steady drawn out note to begin
>you can feel it reverb, spreading across the room
>you gaze down to the water and looking into the waterfall then back to Scorpio
>she seems very focused, honed in
>several more notes gently meet your ears, layering over each-other, merging in and out
>it creates a solid ambiance across the room
>like the entire vibe of the situation changes
>you feel immersed in the moment, watching the colorful pony in front of you working her hooves gently to maneuver the instrument
>the sob of the strings is heartfelt, you watch her shift position to spread up the cadence of the music
>more notes layer in, hitting you at different speed, pulling up in a short rhythm before she ultimately draws a sorrowful note that breaks the moment of elation
>it bring you back to reality, watch her give it everything she has
>she scrunches up her brow briefly
>the air in the room feels heavy, laced with the cry of the instrument
>several more notes follow, repeating in rhythm for a moment
>there is a loud scratching noise that breaks the pattern, you watch Scorpio's face falter
>you can tell that something threw her off
>she tries to break into a different rhythm but the notes scratches again a bit less noticeable
>her eyes open for a moment but she carries on anyways looking dejected
>as if going through the motions to finish, building up notes quickly before slicing the air with one quick draw of the bow
>the final note resonates across the housing
>she drops the instrument and groans
>it hits the ground with a thump, you hope that doesn't hurt the tuning...

>“Well, there you go, guess you got to hear me make a fool of myself”
>you are about to say something but she continues, pacing back and forth close to you
>“I really thought I had the rhythm going there for a second, I'm still not very good... I'm sorry for wasting your time”
>she looks down at the ground in front of her
>you have to admit that the first part was very impressive, but the mistakes differently broke the immersion of the music
>you give her a comforting smile before speaking up
“Hey, give yourself some credit, you really had it going for a moment there”
>she looks up and scoffs
>“Thanks I guess, I'm more interesting in composing the music anyways, I should have played something easier...”
>she stops talking suddenly, as if regretting her choice of words
>you decide to speak up again quickly to reassure her
“Well, I thought it was cool. Thanks for playing for me I do appreciate it”
>Scorpio makes eye contact with you
>“Aw, you are welcome Anon”
>her voice is much softer than you expected it could go
>you look into her light blue eyes, the sense of wonder, hope, inspiration, frustration
>she really goes across the whole spectrum
>it looks like she is expecting you to say more...

*

>you look back at the pony in front of you
>you figure there is more that you could be doing with your time right now, looking around, discovering
>might as well try to wrap things up politely
“So do you use your gazing as part of the inspiration for the musically composition then?”
>Scorpio look into your eyes before blinking and nodding
>“Yeah, it makes it into everything I do because it is so far ingrained into who I am at this point”
>she flickers her tail a couple of times then smiles softly
“I really should get going, I guess I'll see you around”
>her face immediately falters, but she picks her expression back up rather quickly
>“Oh, okay, see you later then”
>her tone is cold and detached
>before you can say anything more she trots away in silence with her head down
>nothing but the thundering sound of the water and her hoofsteps can be heard
>back to the silence then
>the feeling of being alone sets in again
>you make it slowly over the balcony reflecting on your encounter with Scorpio
>all and all she seemed to be fairly nice, you feel like you did something to offend her but you can't quite put your finger on it
>you make it out of Water house and begin to contemplate your next move
>you walk down the metallic and oddly sterile passive leading away from the Water house door
>as you make it up the stair your mind continues to race
>you can't get the idea of the underground out of your head
>something is drawing you back there, like you feel the need to unearth something
>the need to discover something real...

>you continue down the hallway connecting Water house to Earth house
>the fog in the castle has begin to subside
>or at least it seems that way, you feel that you can see a much further distance
>maybe you are just able to process details a bit more carefully now that you aren't running
>the beasts just give you more of a reason not to want to be in the castle right now
>you figure that it would be easy enough to just continue through to Earth house, and then go up the stair back to the hallways and out the fields
>huh you really are starting to get a hang of this
>or at least this part of the castle anyways
>you pass the desk complete with notepads that you found on the first night
>you stop to look at them for a second remembering the moment
>it seems so distant
>when Capricorn said the ball would be a week away you figured that be a short period of time, but now you just aren't sure
>you continue to descend slightly, watching the wildlife on the flooring become more thick, vibrant
>the walls are resonating a soft earthy green light that is blending to make an amazing ambiance with the fog
>the plants almost seem florescent in the lighting
>you make it into Earth house
>the stair cases look daunting overhead, casting thick shadows in the peculiar lighting
>it seems darker in here for some reason...
>you can spot the ball of light that Libra recovered from the memory section of the underground off to the side
>damn that will be really useful
>you pick up the smoothed orb and continue onward towards the stairs

>as you ascend further and further up you really get to admire the depth of Earth house
>there appear to be sections of furniture complete blocked off by walls of natural growth
>isolated sections within what is looking more and more like a labyrinth from this prospective
>maybe you have never noticed because there are always so many ponies with you around this house
>it is weird seeing it completely empty
>you continue through the ceiling and up into the tiny room connecting to the hallway
>you turn out the door and begin making it down the passage way
>the fog is almost gone at this point, in fact it seems to be clear
>the lighting is overexposed, it is hard for your eyes to adjust to the harsh change
>your footsteps resonate as you make it further and further down the hallway towards the door that leads outside
>you stop for a moment to admire the complex patterns in the tile on the floor, as well as the bright color of the carpet contrasting with the mostly black and white interior
>you take a deep breath and swing the door open
>the cool night air hits your lung
>you feel refreshed
>a sense of wonder tingles through your body, reaching you finger tips as you looking into to the sparkling ocean that is the desert night sky
>so many planets, stars, lights, specks of detail morphing into a coherent picture in front of your very eyes
>you step silently across the earth, appreciating the openness
>no resonance, no echo, energy is free to come and go
>you fill your lungs with air again and make it further out into the fields
>looking up into the air the tops of the metal poles and odd statues piercing the skyline that begin to fade into the darkness of the night
>you get dizzy from looking up into the expanse of the void around you


>everything about this feels so real
>the silence, the air, your thoughts
>your steps
>the motion of moving
>you hold the orb of light out closely in front of you, watching how it's aura effects the space around you
>it makes everything else less visible, a bit dimmed, yet it exposures the shadows
>the features of the near landscape, the saturated color of the night landscape
>you feel so focused, alone, making it closer to the door that leads to the unknown
>you look back into the orb again and see the colors of the light
>mostly it is a dim yellow, but the inner tones of the glass show pinks, soft blues and greens
>almost like a blur of pastel colors that you can visual pick apart if you focus in hard enough
>you stop and set the orb down
>this is it
>the underground entrance
>you are about to lift the latch but hesitate, wondering what the other Zodiac would think if they were to find out
>second guessing
>you blink and take a moment
>no need to rush really, you are here
>you look across the night landscape out into the dark
>the desolate land ahead, dull, sparse with plant life
>it really is beautiful
>flash
>a streak of silver light runs across your vision
>dazzling, phasing
>you quickly swivel your head around
>you definitely saw something moving in that direction
>away from where you are standing
>you focus in
>another slight movement, from behind a short tree like bush in the distance
>the creature comes more fully into view
>it is stunning from a distance
>large, glistening antlers extend from the creature's head
>bright points of yellow and blue light form it's outline, but it appears to be made entirely of light
>it feels like an angel
>the white light it radiates as it meanders, if you had to compare it to an animal on earth you'd say it was almost like an elk
>it stops and turns it's massive head, orienting its intricate antlers towards you
>you make eye contact, the creature freezes in place

*

>the standstill lasts for several moments
>you focus in on the creature
>your peripheral vision starts to blur, ignoring the finer details of the dark around you
>it's almost like you are taking in nothing but the creature made of light in front of you
>just as abruptly as it turned to face you, it turns its back towards you and begins to walk away
>you quickly swoop up the orb of light and follow
>you step lightly, trying not to make it too noticeable that you are in pursuit of the animal
>it stand out so vividly against the wonders of the night
>you keep walking behind it, several lengths back
>the colors dance in your field of vision, all else is silent around you as you bask in the creature's aura
>it keeps traveling away from the castle, further out into the surrounding desert
>the elk seems to float across the ground at a consistent pace, walking slow and proud with it's head to the stars
>it really is majestic, it is hard to take your eyes off of it
>an intense series of red and light blue sparks manifest themselves in the air
>you watch in awe as they expand outward and encompass the night around you
>everything feels bright, faded, your footsteps don't feel really as you make it over the contours of the dirt
>you can't see anything around you beside the elk for a brief moment before your eyes adjust again to the lack of color and light
>did you just see trees?
>sure enough, you look ahead and see several large trunks
>that doesn't make much sense...
>those really aren't there

>you pick up the pace trying to close the gap between you and the creature a bit further
>you have absolutely no sense of long much ground you have covered
>out of the corner of your eyes you keep seeing leaves, branches, other pale bits of green nature that fade into the darkness of the night around you
>it feels like you are following the elk through a dark and dense forest, yet as you reach out to your sides you feel nothing
>like the reality around you has been enhanced, augmented to show pale and ghostly features of this illusion forest
>the night limits your visibility, even as you carry the orb
>it illuminates through the trees slightly to give you a better look at the actual desert setting around you
>you look forward hesitantly at the elk
>it continues to dazzle, brightening the trees around it and further distorting reality
>as if the light were bending around its very form to create sometime of peaceful and serene trance behind it
>the main wall surrounding the castle grounds is ahead of you
>it is tall, thick, daunting up close
>definitely fortified, the top is adorn with several crude watch towers
>you never noticed how much this wall juts in and outward, leaving different spaces and coves open on the ground level
>the creature just keep moving forward steadily, stopping occasionally to bend down or look at it's surroundings
>just as it reaches a particularly dark cove in the large wall it stops
>nowhere to go at this point...
>it turns back to face you again
>you make eye contact, the world around you melts

>all that you can focus on is the light omitting from the creature
>you can see the waves as they disperse outwards and hit your eyes
>fractals, patterns, waving and fading, shifting, dripping around you to create a visual tunnel forward into the elk's eyes
>you almost forget that the sun isn't out because of the intensity of the light
>it just stares at you further
>you feel the need to say something
>just as you go to open your mouth the color of the light gets very dull
>the flashes of color accenting its aura turn to solid stable grays
>you blink
>the darkness around you is back
>the desert
>in front of you and right before the wall is a large statue
>an elk...
>it's stone eyes gazed, expressionless
>you approach the statue carefully
>did... it seriously just turn to stone in front of you?
>you reach your hand out and touch the stone
>sure enough, it is solid, cold, material
>grounded
>you check the base beneath it in a desperate search for information
>cleanly cut into the stone is a single word
> p a s s w o r d


*

>the whole thing puzzles you really
>you rapidly try to think of different connections, what this could mean
>where would you even go to input a password anyways?
>do you just say it out-loud...?
>you look into the statues stone eyes and speak
“Alces?”
>the statues eye continue looking into yours, unwavering
>well, so much for all that Latin you learned then...
“Remember?”
>the night is silent around you
>you feel weird for talking to yourself, it is extremely unlikely you'd be able to guess the password you assume but no harm in trying
>you sigh to yourself and figure that it is probably best to search the area for clues
>you start by looking up and down the statue, noticing any peculiarities in the integrity of the stone
>it doesn't appear to be damaged really in anyways
>you walk closer to the wall and examine the coves
>it almost looks like there is the silhouette of a doorway...
>you focus in on the area of stone that is on eye level with you
>huh, there are multiple holes puncturing deep into the stone
>almost perfectly round, they go deep into the wall
>they are all close together
>you decide to look at the ground beneath you to check for any hoofprints or anything of note
>just dirt and small plants
>you walk down the wall a good ways, running your hand over the surface of the stone as you look down
>you lower the orb to the earth in hopes of revealing something
>anything

>you take a moment to stop and look into the night sky
>the stars positioned above you
>the extensive space of the outdoors and how much this wall is shadowing the moonlight from flooding the ground
>you look back down as you continue to walk further out from the wall, a bit away from the statue
>as you lower the orb you notice something sparkle
>it wasn't too intense, but just for a brief moment something on the ground twinkled
>you get closer to the area and bend down on one knee to investigate
>pebbles, plants, dirt
>dull gray rocks
>you set the orb down and move a few feet over
>there is the sparkle again
>you focus in more closely into the dirt to see a small turquoise gem...
>you reach down a carefully pick the stone up
>the near by orb really allows it to shine, it is similar to the size and cut of the gem Libra found in the tunnels...
>huh, purple and turquoise
>that seems familiar to you for some reason
>you quickly try to process this, if there is something that can be taken away from this small treasure
>it has to mean something right?

*

>you blink as you continue to examine the stone
>there might be more to see close by
>you decide to expand the radius of your search, carefully scanning the ground as you make it out further from the statue
>there are several small plants near by, they aren't very green but they are surviving
>impressive for how dry the earth is
>you must have walked further than you thought while following the elk creature
>it raises a lot of questions, you want to know that password now
>the only distinguishable feature in this area is a medium sized bush that seems to be growing some bizarre fruits
>you look more closely, they look like light blue plums
>you don't know if they are edible or not, they're suspiciously bright
>curiosity gets the best of you, it is good to be sure
>you take one of the fruits from the bush and decide to pocket it for now
>could have something to do with the statue, could be nothing
>you make it further away , doubling back to head towards the underground
>the rush, the adventure
>it is too alluring
>you have no idea how long you followed the elk for
>you scan quickly over the area once more as you walk away
>definitely will have to come back here soon

>the rest of the walk is quiet
>the stars ahead shine down, clear and vivid
>you spend a lot of the time walking looking up
>the other Zodiac ponies must be gazing too...
>you feel like you might be jumping the gun a bit by going underground, but you feel they will be understanding
>just a quick exploration can't do much harm, in and out
>you continue along the landscape steadily, keeping and eye out for anything unusual along the way
>nothing unexpected this time
>just the crunch of land underfoot
>the moonlight saturated the landscape, giving it a cool glow
>you soon make it back to the cover over the tunnel
>you lift it up, revealing the total darkness beneath
>it is a good thing you grabbed the orb, it is like pitch black down there
>you examine the closing mechanism
>nothing that a large rock wouldn't stop
>you move a stone that is near by and prop it over where the board would rest on the ground
>that should work
>you carefully descend down the stairs in the dark, holding the orb with both hands
>taking one last look at the door above, you continue further down
>it should hold up...
>the staircase seems longer and empty with less ponies here
>silence and echo
>again with the echoing
>eventually you make it down to the chamber below with the three parthways
>remember, pure of heart, forget
>you look up at the dragon made of colored stone overhead
>the way it lays flat against the upper walls, staring down
>hmmmm

*

>you look back up into the intricate stonework overhead
>your stomach drops as you look into the eyes of the dragon
>there are still a lot of unknowns down here
>maybe it would be safest to go with something familiar
>you turn your head to look down the narrow, dark hall
>the torch's lighting and the orb only are able to make some of the features of the near stone distinguishable
>they have almost an earthy red tone to them right now
>saturated, ancient
>you hold the orb in front of you a bit further
>it shines
>you make it further into the hallway away from the other unexplored areas
>as you walk you take careful note of the walls around you, looking for any distinguishable features
>just footsteps
>that's all that is really discernible
>the light hits the walls around you in interesting ways but ultimately doesn't illuminate that much area
>hey
>you turn your head, you almost didn't catch that
>just your thoughts...
>it is completely different being here alone...
>“i-is everything alright, where are we?”
>you look around for the source of the noise again, turning behind you, checking your sides
>your heart freezes and then rapidly accelerates
>you can feel the adrenaline pumping through your body
>the harsh pounding of your ear drums
>you look ahead in the abyss
>the memory pony makes her way out of the darkness
>looking pale as ever, slightly frightened
>the light from the orb refracts softly against the gems on the dress
>the purple and turquoise gems compliment her white coat in a nice way
>you scan the hall around you as she makes it closer to you
>her gray eyes show a shade of curiosity
>you gulp as your heart begins to slow down again
>your answer is short
“Uh, we are underground somewhere”
>she nods slowly and blinks
>“Well, that would explain the drab setting wouldn't it?”
>she giggles to herself softly

>you don't know what to say to her really
>your mind is still racing
>so much to take in
>you blurt something out quickly noticing how long you've been silent for
“Yeah for sure, at least we are out of that library”
>her eyes flash an expression of worry briefly but she nods in agreement softly
>you continue to walk, she follows along
>the silence feels comfortable
>it looks like she is in a decent mood, you almost see a hint of a smile on her face
>she really is hard to spot in this lighting, there is definitely some type of transparency to her form
>you can see the end of the hallway ahead
>the path that diverges right into the unknown
>you see the brick you used to prop open the hidden door
>white light is spilling into the hallway
>you should probably go back to the area you have explored and do a more careful search
>see if everything is still in place
>you feel like there is a lot more that you could ask this pony though...
>something to talk about while you explore
>she looks up at you with that small hint of a smile on her lips

*

>it is honestly good to see her again
>a little bit of company couldn't hurt down here
>you can't help but wonder if she is even in control of when she shows up
>you have several thoughts and questions but you make sure to choice your words carefully
>best to try and keep her mood as one of positive valiance
>you reach out and open the door into the bright circular room as you begin to speak
“Thanks for the warning back in the library by the way, do you think it will be safe there soon?”
>she nods as the two of you make it through the doorway ahead of you
>“Oh not a problem! And I would imagine it'll be okay soon, just one of the animals getting loose”
>huh
>you are about to ask more but immediately as you step through the doorway you are met with a rapid recall of the library
>the statues on either side of you, the fog
>the adrenaline, the blood chilling growl
>the darkness of the tunnels seems distance
>you blink and look around the circle white room
>the grass is soothing underfoot
>it wavers slightly under your gaze as your mind wanders off
>memory pony is smiling softly, looking around with a bit of wonder in her gray eyes
>really should find something better to call her
“Do you have a name?”
>her eyes settle on one of the floating orbs of light overhead
>they look almost the same, shining brightly with hints of color among the yellow and white
>her face falters, she looks over to you
>“Not that I know of, no”
>oh, that is not the answer you were expecting to that
she looks down at the grass a little dejected

>you decide not to let her linger on that thought for too long
>instead you look over her dress before speaking
“You look royal to me, do you feel royal?”
>that seems to take her mind else where
>she blinks a couple times before posturing up slightly
>“Why thank you! I feel proper, now royal... well, that may be a different story”
>she giggles to herself slightly before blinking quickly and speaking again
>“So what exactly is this room may I ask? It feels very familiar”
>she sighs and lets some of the tension in her shoulder go
>you look over the featureless white walls and the orbs above before talking
“I'm not enter sure, but I believe it is suppose to help ponies remember”
>as soon as you say the word remember she gasps
>“Oh that would be just wonderful! I feel like this is the first time I have truly been conscious, it is very unsettling to get thrown into the mix of things”
>you nod
>definitely can relate
>you decide to keep the conversation moving
“Well, hopefully we can figure some stuff out then”
>your eyes trace over her dress again
“Do you know what material the dress is made out of? It suites you well, I'm interested because not a lot of ponies nowadays wear clothes but it is a popular choice where I come from”
>she looks up at you with a curious look on her face before shifting her attention downward towards her dress
>“Oh yes! Why it is...”
>she pauses and scrunches up her face
>“It's...”
>you see her look at the material in her hoof before she groans
>“This is so embarrassing I can't remember the name, I know the material”
>she looks downward again a bit dejected but more in thought and frustrated

>you decide to change the subject for her again, but there is more to this dress...
>you pull out the gleaming turquoise gem
>it is a bit closer to a shade of blue than a shade of green, maybe aquamarine would be the better term...
>you reach your hand out and show her the stone
>she looks down a bit puzzled, but it appears to alleviate her frustration
“I found this earlier, do you think it matches the gems on your dress?”
>you get a bit closer to her in order to get a better comparison
>she is really pale up close, almost transparent looking
>you are attempted to reach out and touch her to see what happens but you carefully refrain
>she looks closely at the gem then her own dress
>you examine the square cut stones, only the red accents are circular
>it definitely looks to be the right size, color and cut
>the other purple gems seem to match the one that Libra found as well...
>“Why yes! It does look like that is one of the gems from my dress!”
>she reaches her hoof out and touches it gently
>“But it feels much more solid...”
>she looks back over at her own figure and blinks
>“That is very interesting, consider it a keep sake from me!”
>she blinks and smiles up at you
>you nod and smile back
“Alright, thank you I will”
>you scan your eyes across the room in the moment afterwards
>just the one door that leads to the pool of water
>you figure it is best to make sure that everything is the same in here and that there isn't anything that you missed

>the two of you make it into the same and pale stone room
>it looks even more desolate without the fires
>just the pool of water like fluid on the table in front of you
>the memory mare stay quite and begins to trot around the room, examining the walls closely
>you look over into the surface of the liquid
>there has to be something to it
>you are tempted to reach out and touch it....
>“Hey! I think I found something!”
>you quickly turn your head to see the mare looking under the table
>huh didn't think of that
>you begin making it around to the other side
>“It's one of those... uh”
>she looks down again with a hint of a blush
>“Oh Celestia, this is horrible I don't...”
>you try to softly reassure her with a smile before looking down to see what the thing in question is
>under the table there appears to be a very large hourglass
>it looks like the sides are made out of a dark and worn wood, while the glass is cleanly polished
>it shines, even in the more dull lighting
>you watch the sand slowly trickle from the top section downwards
“Hey! Good find, that's an hourglass”
>she blinks quickly before her face light ups
>“Thank you! That is the word I was looking for”
>you nod as she reaches out and presses a hoof on the hour glass
>as soon as she makes contact with the object you watch a vibrant neon purple energy ripple across the surface of the glass
>the sand inside begins to glow brightly, an overpowering white
>a look flashes across the memory mare's face
> “Oh heavens, what did I do?”
>it begins to fall threw at an extremely rapid
>you watch in awe as the sand vanishes from the bottom layer steadily
>there is a loud grinding noise from outside in the memory room

>it is enough to make you jump
>the memory mare looks concerned
>you hurry out into the circular room to make sure that nothing has changed...
>the green grass is the first thing you eyes see but then you notice that the lighting is different
>all of the orbs, including the one you brought are emitting a blue glow
>it reflects off of the white walls in an interesting and almost overbearing way
>the shades of blue get darker and darker, severely effecting the natural lighting in the room giving everything a solid and soothing hue
>the memory pony quickly trots out, the look of concern on her face growing
>you can see why...
>that's a lot more doors than before...
>none of them appear to be propped open, they just look like gaping black squares in the sea of blue around you
>you gulp as your mind begins to race
>you don't think you are fully grasping the gravity of this
>you look anxiously at the pale pony with you before quickly counting the doorways you can see
>each is spaced out almost perfectly, it reminds you of the circular room before Fire house
>five of what appear to be exits, including the door to the room with the water
>you aren't even sure if any of them are in the same place as the door you entered this room through, it doesn't seem like it
>what to do?
>you look over the doorways more closely
>above each one is a single letter, they are in a font reminiscent to the cards Pisces had...
> D R X Y and above the room with the water is an L
>you are the memory mare exchange a look but neither of you say anything
>yikes...

*

>your heart rate starts to pick up
>you watch the memory mare's pupils dilate slightly
>definitely don't want the zodiac ponies knowing about this
>have to try and set the hour glass back the way that it was
>you turn to the pale mare next to you
“Let's see if we can get it to go back first”
>she nods nervously and begins trotting in place slightly
>“I am so so sorry, I didn't know!”
>her face drops a bit
“It's alright, let's just fix this”
>the two of you make it back to the side room quickly
>the liquid looks completely unchanged, asides from the color of light projecting on to it
>it's hard for you to really focus on the minor details of anything
>it is just blue
>it feels unreal you are waiting for it to switch back
>each moment the reality sets in a bit more
>you look under the desk at the hour glass
>it is completely empty, no sand within
>you reach out and try to flip it over
>hot!
>the hourglass hits the floor with a loud crashing sound
>you immediately grab your hand, it feels like you got burned
>the pale pony next to you jumps at the noise, but luckily the glass is still intact
>you her here sharply inhale, a startled gasp before speaking
> “Goodness! Are you alright?”
>you look down and see that the surface of the skin is already slightly red
>the dull sensation burns deep
“I think I will be okay, try touching the glass again”
>she nods and cautious presses a hoof against it
>nothing
>just blue lighting
>she looks frustrated, she tries to pick it up but her hooves go through it
>well, that confirms she is not solid
>she huffs
>“Well, now what?”

*

>you look back down at the hourglass on the ground with a bit of determination
>this has to be able to be undone
>it just has to
>you don't say anything but instead take off your shirt
>the memory ponies just looks puzzled
>you wrap your hands up in the cloth as best as you can
>should protect you from the burn of the glass
>you carefully pick it up
>alright, that seems to do the trick
>the pale pony next to you continues to watch silently
>you can feel the warmth radiating through the fabric
>you flip the hourglass over and set it on the table...
>nothing
>more ominous and dampened silence, drowning in the blue light around you
>this is seriously not good
>you gulp and look down into the pony's eyes
>she looks particularly hazy in this lighting
“Damn, I thought that might work”
>you start to pace, examining the walls around you for anything that could be useful
>they are shockingly bare
>the memory mare speaks up with, she sounds nervous
>“W-we are going to have to do something”
>you look around the room again, working yourself back into your shirt
>you wonder how trapped you could actually be right now...
>you can't actually be stuck right?

*

>you make eye contact with the memory mare
>just the two of you in the room
>the lighting is becoming overbearing
>saturating the room, giving everything a genuinely unreal feeling
>you can't help but take notice of the anxiety mounting in your chest
>you try to steady your breath, taking note of how the color around you could even be seen as soothing
“Let's just... let's wait here for a bit. I don't know, maybe we can find something useful”
>she nods
>the uneasy look in the depths of her gray eyes does not subside
>her facial expression matches the feeling in the pit of your gut eerily well
>you stand up and begin pacing
>you cover the length of the room several times over
>just walking
>you guide your hand over the surface of the cool white walls
>you watch your hands move
>working, trying to search for something
>you feel the need to talk
“So uh, any good exploring stories from the castle so far?”
>you watch her look up at you from a considerable distance
>the gems in her dress refract the colored light in such a subtle and ghostly manner
>“The most notable thing I would say so far is the size of the building itself...”
>she blinks and watches you pace, re-positioning herself in the grass beneath her slightly
>“I mean really, it has everything and more”

>you nod, trying to get your mind away from the current situation
>you sigh and nod
“Yeah, I've noticed it is very elaborate, a lot must have went into the construction”
>you make it back over closer to the memory mare
>there really isn't going to be much of an option...
>“Oh, I don't believe that the castle was constructed”
>she looks to be in a bit of a daze
>staring up at the ceiling, watching the orbs hover in place above
>that doesn't make any sense
“I don't quite get what you mean, how else would it get here?”
>she blinks a few times and stands up
>“The better question is how would you get these kind of materials out here”
>she looks around, scanning the walls and doors
>“Really, think about it. It doesn't add up”
>you try to evaluate what she is saying but your mind is too cluttered
>you have no way to tell how long you have been down here at this point
>you keep pacing
>it feels like it has been a decent amount of time
>you need to move
“I can see what you mean”
>you pause for a moment
“I think we should try one of these doors”
>you tentatively eye the door with the large D overhead
>the memory mare's disoriented gaze follows yours
>“Yes, we might as well”
>you walk over to the door and gently place your hand on the knob
>you take several steady deep breathes and then slowly open the door
>it looks yellow inside
>you blink
>must be your eyes adjust to the lack of blue hue
>you cautiously take a few steps forward

>this is definitely impressive
>the room is also circular, but this one is filled with tables
>you walk across the tile underneath as you scan your eyes over the room
>there is so much in here
>it looks like a study
>papers and books scattered everywhere
>you notice the large table in the center of the room has a single memory jar place on top of it
>the flame flickers and flashes a bright shade of venomous purple
>it tasteful accents the gentle colors of the room's interior
>the memory mare walks along side you, gazing directly up at the ceiling
>you look up
>the ceiling is very high up in this room as well
>you figure that it probably reaches ground level
>there is a single, narrow spiraling staircase leading up to what appears to be a second floor above you
>“I-I think that I have been here before”
>you look over to the mare who is cautious trotting around the room, her eyes scanning the notes around her
>huh
>you take a quick glance at one of the books near you
>the title is completely illegible to you
>you cautiously reach out and grasp the book, it feels solid in your hands
>you open up to a random page in the middle
>the worn paper displays a grotesque diagram of a sliced open pony
>yikes, those sketches are way too detailed
>you quickly set the book down and take a couple steps forward, glancing up at the floor above as you walk

*

>you look around the room again
>taking note of the clutter as you shift your gaze
>it strikes you as a bit odd that a memory jar would be in a study
>a lot of things don't quite make sense to you right now though
>your mind keeps drifting back to the idea of the castle itself not being built
>you run through a series of different ideas but none seem to progress your line of thought
>maybe you can get some answer, even if you have to do it in a non direct kind of way
“Hey, so, you know anything about that jar? Why would it be in a study?”
>she blinks and stares towards the center of the room where the fire flickers
>“Oh, yes that is... ah”
>she stomps her hooves in place a bit, irritation creeping across her soft facial features
>“Well, regardless it would make sense for it to be in a study, they help you learn”
>huh, you had never really considered that application for it before
>you nod
“That is interesting, I don't have a good name for them either”
>you put your hands in your pockets subconsciously
>your eyes follow the movements of the colored flame as it rises and falls
“Have you ever manifested outside the castle?”
>the memory mare blinks
>“No, this is the first time that...”
>she pauses and looks down, considering her next words carefully
>“I-I think that this is the first time I have been present. All the other times haven't been me, this is a true awakening”
>she stutters again at the end and continues talking in an off pace
>“I don't remember anything before this I am truly sorry, I feel like I was once a-alive”
>she quivers slightly while she stands
>you move closer to her, close enough for comfort
>you briefly considering resting your hand on her withers, but you hesitate

“It'll be alright, you are here, there is no reason to think you aren't alive”
>she sobers up at your comment and nods gently
>you scratch the back of your neck before speaking again
“Let's check out this upstairs area, maybe there is a way out”
>the memory mare perks up a bit
>“Oh, okay, yeah! That's a good idea”
>she moves nervously in place before looking upward and beginning to trot towards the spiraling staircase ahead of you
>you decide to grab the book you were looking through as you follow the mare upstairs
>you thumb through the pages as you walk slowly upwards
>you can really see the ghostly quality of the memory mare's dress from this distance
>only a portion of her long gray tail is visible
>you return your gaze to the pages, quickly flipping through the book
>trying to find anything you can read
>just more sketches, diagrams
>you settle on a page the appears to be a mapped up diagram of a pony's head
>over sections of the skull are illegible clusters of letters
>you turn the page again but unfortunately the next page is very text heavy
>there are several sections underlined with ink in a sloppy manner
>huh
>you finally reach the top of the stairs to get a better view of the room above
>it looks like a bedroom?
>everything is mostly organized up here, minimal
>the memory mare gasps
>“Oh! So tasteful! This whole place seems oddly familiar, I can't place a hoof on it...”
>it is pretty nice
>nothing too elaborate, but the wood around you and all of the railings are polished and have a real pleasant sheen to them
>the bed is neatly made, it looks inviting
>unfortunately, you notice there are no doors...
>at least if worst comes to worst you have a place to sleep
>you take a deep breath and consider what to do now

*

>you look over to the memory mare
>she is trotting around the room carefully surveying it with her eyes
>taking in all the details around her
>you break the silence
“Yeah, it is nice. What do you like about it?”
>she stops in place and looks back at you
>you can see a spark of a emotion run across her saturated eyes
>“Just look at the proportions! I can tell that all of the spacing was very well thought out”
>you blink and look at her again
>she huffs slightly but continues speaking
>“Just watch”
>she makes it all the way to the corner of the room and begins walking forward slowly and carefully
>“2, 4, 6, 8, 10”
>she is counting in sync with her trotting, increasing by twos each time she covers roughly a body length
>“... 16, 18, 20”
>she stops at the railing and turns to walk along the length
>her pace is steady, normally you'd question this way of measuring something out, but she looks to have this down to a science
>her face scrunches up in concentration as she makes it towards you along the wooden railing overlooking the study below
>“10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20”
>the counting and hoofsteps together are almost too rhythmic
>you start to go into a trance as you walk her continue closer to where you are standing by the bed
>she makes it close to you, after almost having gone around the length of the room
>“32, 34, 36, 38”
>she takes two more steps past where you are and touches the wall
>“40”
>her face sports a proud expression
>she looks over to the bed by where you are standing
>“and I would be willing to bet...”
>she makes it over to the bed with the same rhythmic trot
>“2, 4, 6, 8”
>she stops in an awkward position about half a trot from the bed

>you smile at her
“It's a good thing we didn't make a bet then huh?”
>she looks at you and giggles
>“Oh, on the contrary, the railing to the far wall is 20 metric trots, the bed is going to take up two of those, therefore; for it to be positioned evenly, each side of the room needs to allot 9 trots”
>you don't even know what a metric trot is
>she gives you a smirk before taking a step and leaping up onto the bed
>she notable does not sink through it
>she positions her hooves under her and rest on the bed still giggling softly
>you wonder what is making her so vivid and lively
>if the hourglass had something to do with her awakening, or maybe you are just getting more used to her present...
>it is really hard to say but you welcome the change
>you decide to keep the flow of conversation going as you look around for another book to examine
“So, that's the kinda thing you like with design? Spacing?”
>she nods and replies almost immediately
>“Spacing, but also neatness. Has to be well kept”
>you nod but your mind is drifting else where
>you really want to find something to help you undo that damn hourglass
>there only appears to be one book around, it is onto of the nightstand near the bed
>the solid black cover looks well preserved, but at the same time faded and flavored with time
>the binding is worn, you open the book carefully
>it looks like it's about rocks
>once again, the old text is completely illegible to you
>maybe someone else could read it, but you have nowhere to begin
>it shows black and white drawings of different stones and gems
>you can only differentiate them by the cut of the stone, you imagine color would have been extremely useful...
>it doesn't look like this is going to be immediately useful
>you look back to the memory mare and something clicks

“We should definitely check under the bed, it could probably tell us a lot about the owner”
>she looks up and clops her hoofs together
>they don't make a sound, but the enthusiastic expression on her face is still amusing
>“Yes! That is a good idea”
>she sits up and steps off the bed carefully as you make it back around
>you lean down and look
>there is a single box underneath
“Yeah, there is something!”
>the memory mare's face lights up
>“Oh! Really?”
>you slide the box out into the open lighting
>it looks very bland
>like an ancient equivalent to cardboard
>at least it isn't locked or anything
>you slowly lift the lid as you take a deep breath
>it's just paper
>wait
>you look more careful
>these are those cards that Pisces had in Water house
>tons of them
>easily 10 or 20 times the amount that she was investigating
“I've seen these before”
>you reach in and grab a stack
>the memory mare just looks at them with curiosity in her eyes
>you flick through the pile of single letters, in a bold black font
>there is a moment of silence before you notice something
>you almost gasp as you stop sorting through the pile
>that looks important
>a single card with tons of letters listed on it, each one accompanied by what looks to be a single word in finer print
>it's some kind of reference
>you can't read the words...
>you look to the mare next to you to gauge her expression
>she is examining the card in your hand carefully

*

>you just continue to stare at the flooring beneath you
>the polished wood has such a natural element to it
>it makes you feel slightly at ease but at the same time you feel there is more to all of this
>you blink and look down at your hands holding what you assume is a legend
>it almost feels like this place is inhabited
>definitely not something you haven't felt since being in the castle
>it makes your stomach turn
>you speak to distract your mind, stopping yourself from going too far down that line of thought
“Do any of these letters or words look familiar to you?”
>the memory pony looks at the card in your hand and grimaces
>she speaks hesitantly
>“I-I know those are words, some of the symbols are confusing me, but I'm not sure... I”
>she looks down with a hint of redness crossing her face
>she catches her breath
>“All the lines of text are blending together when I try to look at it, I'm so sorry”
>you look at the finer print on the card
>you look back up at the memory mare
>tears are starting to form in her eyes
>you are about to say something to comfort her but she continues to speak before you get your chance
>“I didn't used to be like t-this, I c-could read”
>she shuts her eyes and looks down trying to maintain composure
>“I shouldn't be illiterate, w-why is this h-happening”
>she cover her eyes with her hoofs and rests on the wooden floor
>the dress flattens around her in an unnatural manner
>you feel the need to comfort her at this point
>instead of saying anything you just wrap your arm over her
>it feels like the right thing to do

>you take careful note not to hesitate as you reach out, even if you don't exactly know how to approach this
>you start by just barely resting your arm over her to see what she feels like
>it's a soft and warm sensation, definitely pleasant
>she looks over a little startled, her eyes widen slightly before she blinks
>her facial expression shifts from one of sadness to one of confusion
>you decide to apply a little more pressure as you speak
>the sensation almost feels internal, like the stimulation is coming from your body as opposed to the outside world
>kinda like resting in warm water, it is very soothing
“It'll be alright, we will figure it out”
>she looks into your eyes
>you can see the traces of tears around them
“But first thing, we need to find a way out of here”
>that seems to bring her back completely
>she nods and smiles
>“You are right, we will figure this out”
>you look back down at the box filled with cardstock as you reach into your pockets
>oh right the notepad
>guess you could try to transfer the code?
>hopefully it doesn't offend anyone...
>if anyone is even down here, it really is hard to say
“I'm going to try to transfer this over and then we can move on”
>the memory mare nods but doesn't say much just two soft words
>“Thank you”
>she begins to trot down the stairs out of sight
>you look back down and focus on the card as you set down your pad of paper on the floor

>you are definitely having difficulty transferring this
>sure, the letters were easy but these 'words' are almost impossible
>you have no idea how accurate this is going to be, a lot of the characters seem to be blending together
>you try to carefully note every line and loop, who knows maybe they are all very critical to the form of the written language
>you vaguely remember Aquarius mentioning something about old scripture last time you went underground
>a ping of guilt hits you as you wonder what the other Air house ponies are doing right now
>hopefully the gazing went well for them
>whatever that would even mean...
>you look over your work as you continue to contemplate
>looks decent, someone might be able to decipher it later
>you carefully fold the paper and secure it, making sure that the marks won't smudge
>okay
>you take a deep breath
>it is time to move on from here
>there are plenty of unanswered questions but you have to make tracks
>and put everything in place where you found it...
>you place the cards back into the box carefully leaving the legend close to the top of the stack just in case you have to grab it in a hurry later
>you make it back over to the bed stand and grab the book that you brought from downstairs
>there is almost no echo in here as you walk, the sound seems dulled on the well maintained flooring
>as you make it back over to the railing and the staircase you look down below
>you don't see the memory mare anywhere...
>carefully you make it down the narrow and winding stairs back to ground level
>or well... back to the study
>you continue to scan the room looking for the pony as you put the book back where you found it
“Hey? You still down here?”
>you hesitate for a moment, the silence is off putting

>maybe she just... disappeared again?
>it's hard to say
>you take one last look across the room, observing the purple flame as it dances in its jar on the table
>guess it is time to move on, she might have just went ahead of you too
>you slowly make it back out into the circle grassy room
>to remember...
>the color has changed in here
>everything has faded to a more vibrant and intense green instead of the solemn and deep blue tone
>the orbs are all humming a soft greenish yellow giving the grass and even more earthy vibe
>it is really bright, distorting the color of your reality like a pair of low quality sunglasses
>you look around the room again but see no sign of the memory mare
>damn, there is definitely more you could have talked about... and some company might be nice
>you scan your eyes over the lettering on top of the doors
>you look at the R door closest too you
>might as well move on
>you approach the heavy door slowly
>reaching out, you watch your hand turn the knob gently to the right
>you swing the door inward
>everything seems dark in here in contrast to the orb room
>earthy browns, the color of brick
>you see a staircase!
>solid, stone, wide, it ascends upwards at a steep rate
>this looks very promising
>you begin to walk upwards
>you can't quite see where it leads
>maybe it is a bit darker in here...
>all of the sources of light are getting more and more distant
>you hear something in the darkness ahead of you
>it makes you freeze
>it sounds like something is running down the stairs ahead
>you try to listen in closer but immediately jumping
>barking
>loud barking, from multiple sources
>you heart rate begins to accelerate as a silhouette comes into view
>you see a flash of teeth

*

>you can't let them get to you
>they can't hurt you
>you just keep repeating that phrase to yourself as the barking and growling sounds get closer
>sure enough, a pack of dogs starts to come into view
>it looks like there are four of them, and they are... larger than normal dogs
>they don't slow their pace, their eyes fixed ahead
>you take a step forward, ready to grab your sword if need be
>they can't hurt you
>you take an unease breath
>the more closely you are able to look the more you can tell they are not quite real
>their black coats blend into the darkness, but even as you watch their snarling lips you can tell they aren't solid
>more opaque... dream like
>they are terrifying, loud, menacing
>at this point the four dog like beasts are just around you are barking and snarling non-stop, but none have made a move to touch you
>it's just noise, they can't hurt you
>you keep making it forward up the stairs past them, shaking as you walk
>despite all of the howling, slobbing and growling none of them make a move
>your confidence builds further as you head up the stairs, much to the dismay of the hounds surrounding you
>the barking turns to more quiet snaring but you continue to ignore it as you go forward
>the sound fades away behind you

>all this explore is starting to make your legs ache
>you've been standing for so much of the day
>this staircase is pretty damn tall
>or at least the darkness doesn't offer any easy reference points
>you glance back over your shoulder anxiously
>guess Scorpio's trick really did work... you'll have to thank her
>things are getting brighter up ahead of you...
>the browns and dark reds are turning into more visible and clean blues and silvers
>there is some source of light ahead
>you finally reach the top of the stairs
>it looks like you are in a hallway
>a hallway with actual lighting!
>it looks very clean, all the walls appear to be dark polished stone
>the floor is a light blue tiling that matches the light well
>every few lengths there is a type of torch mounted to the wall, extending both to your left and to your right further than you can see
>they look electric, or magic...
>the bluish silver glow is not something that could be produced by any kind of traditional fire
>you are torn about which direction to go
>you look up at the ceiling, it looks like you are probably still underground judging by the level and uninspired ceiling
>the entire hall looks to be built for stability
>you glance down at the tile beneath you and double take
>there are some symbols!
>definitely, in a slightly lighter color than the tile around it are three symbols
>directly in front of you is a circle, it is disturbingly accurate in proportions for something so subtle
>you barely can see it, it is just slightly more green than the blues around it
>to your right on the ground is what looks to be a depiction of a statue of a pony and to your left is the image of a fountain
>huh
>you did just come from a circular room, maybe this is depicting where the hall leads?
>could be entirely off though...
>you glance in both directions while you contemplate your next move

*

>this makes you nervous
>both ways are a complete unknown
>you think back to the orb room
>something has to change, right?
>it can't just like, be different forever
>your curiosity gets the best of you
>you quickly turn around and head back down the staircase
>to hell with the hounds they can't do anything about it
>asides from being hopelessly lost you feel pretty beast about that
>you make it back down quickly through the darkness noting the stone railing carved out of the wall
>yeah, you'll go for it
>you sit down on the edge of the stone and do your best to slide down
>damn you are actually getting some momentum going
>you reach a foot out to slow yourself down slightly
>the last thing you need is to get hurt down here doing something childish
>even if you do have a serious need for speed
>it doesn't seem like the dogs are around, they must have disappeared
>you can already see the light of the orb room spilling through the doorway below you
>you walk through the doorway cautiously
>fuck
>everything looks exactly the same...
>you are starting to panic, your mind is wearing down
>you just want it to go back damn it
>it isn't going to just magically change because you want it to
>it is so frustrating, you don't know how any of this works
>the one thing you do notice is that the light as become more yellow than green at this point
>guess it could be working its way through the color spectrum
>that doesn't really answer anything
>you just want to break one of these stupid orb or the hourglass or something
>at least get some revenge on this damn room
>maybe it would be best to stay here for a bit and rest, you feel delirious
>but one of the five doors has to be an exit, right?

*

>you just don't know
>you resist the temptation to bang your head against something
>okay, gotta think
>you just want things to go back to how they were
>you stare into the yellow orbs above you as you take a seat in the grass to think
>it is really soothing, if it weren't for the predicament you could see how this could be a meditative area
>you need more information
>something has to give eventually
>getting back on your feet you begin to pace
>around the walls of the room, tracing your hand against the edge trying to find some kind of inconsistency in the material
>nothing
>you stop in front of the two doors X and Y
>while it is tempting to walk back up the stair or just sleep in the bed you have to find something new
>there has to be more
>your eyes dart between the two illuminated characters in a frenzied manner
>you feel dreary, this doesn't feel like it is happening
>none of this adds up
>you just have to pick one
>you reach out and open door X
>you take a breath hoping that this leads to something useful
>before you can see what is inside all the orbs go out in sync
>it makes you jump, your beaten down body gets hit with yet another wave of adrenaline
>an even more vivid darkness leaks into the room
>you start to panic
>the air intake from your lungs reaches your mind in seconds
>you feel all of your muscle mass relax as you blink your heavy eye lids
>this is not good but you can't
>the grass is so comfortable
>you try to stand up but you can't move your legs they are too heavy now
>when did you get on the ground though?
>you …
>...

>the tile is so cold
>you feel tired out but are slowly coming back to
>you lift your head up as you stretch your limbs
>it feels good, you are tempted to roll back over and continue sleeping
>where are you ?
>slowly the memories of last night come back to you
>night?
>the underground, the doors
>you almost swear as you bolt up
>it takes you a minute to orient yourself
>you are in the memory room, the table with the pool of water is in front of your vision
>how did you even get in here?
>you look around and notice the hourglass underneath the table
>fuck that, you aren't going anywhere near it again
>you look out into the circular room
>your heart almost skips a beat when you see the color white
>could it actually be?
>you quickly stand up, the blood rushes to your head but you manage to keep moving forward
>the grass is green, the orbs are glowing their normal yellowish tone
>you scan the walls
>only one door!
>you silently celebrate, it looks like things are back to normal
>it is time to get the hell out of here before anyone catches on
>... if they haven't already
>you scan the room still a bit delirious
>you aren't even going to consider staying down here
>this whole thing feels unreal you need to just leave
>your body starts walking as you blink and yawn, trying to wake up

>you kinda just keep walking, there isn't a whole lot on your mind to start except the darkness around you
>the narrow hallway provides a good low involvement activity while your brain reboots
>you blink
>what are you even gonna say?
>you don't even know how long you have been out for
>you gulp as your mind continues to replay this exploration
>the darkness around you is oddly soothing as you continue briskly walking forward
>was that a dream or are those rooms actually there?
>can you even tell?
>wait! the legend you transferred!
>if it was a dream you wouldn't have the note on you right?
>you can see the lighting of the torches denoting the chamber entrance ahead of you
>no matter what you are thankful to make it out of here in one piece
>you reach into your pocket and feel nothing
>...
>well, all of that careful writing seems to have been a waste then
>a confusing waste
>you make it into the clearing with the dragon and are still a bit in awe at everything
>you don't even know where to begin with this and you don't think you can talk to anyone about it either...
>you make it up the stairs and start to panic at the sign of darkness ahead
>oh if the door is closed after all of this...
>it just can't be
>you keep going and notice that it is open when you get closer
>you take a sigh of relief
>wait, it is still dark outside
>you can see stars overhead
>you emerge from the underground and gaze into the night sky above
>it is still dark, clear and breath-taking
>the openness of being above ground ...
>you just pause and admire everything before take a deep breath of cool night air

*

>the night sky is still so vivid you wonder how long it is going to be until the sun rises
>maybe you still have time to explore and figure more things out
>you start to walk away from the underground, making note to leave the entrance the way that you found it
>it is nice to finally be back out in the open
>you just keep breathing in the crisp air, it feels like a splash of cold water to your lungs
>so much less clustered out here
>you don't quite know how to get back to the ballroom directly but that seems like a good place to start right now
>you do know how to get back to Earth house from here though
>figure it is easy enough to make it to the ballroom from there
>you continue across the landscape, passing the fields as you continue your pace
>it is really intense out here for being so much more soothing and open
>it feels like the stars are watching down on you
>the ground crunches underneath your feet as you make it closer to the looming mass of stone that is the castle
>you reach the door and open it to reveal the long straight hallway in front of you

>the fog has definitely faded at this point
>you had almost forgot about how hard it had been to see inside
>the hall is absolutely dazzling
>you take a step inside and are blown away by the amount of detail that you are able to take in
>different speckles of paint on the walls dazzle in ways that you haven't seen in this part of the castle
>it almost looks like glass, you don't know if a light is projecting down on it or what but the walls are dancing with a vibrant pattern
>greens, oranges, purples, reds, blues
>all deep and murky in tone reflect and move across the walls
>the hallway is also illuminated, solid red stripes act as a guideline along the straight pathway ahead
>you continue further and further down the hallway
>you feel like it stretches on for further than it used to honestly
>not quite sure which of these doors it was...
>there has been so much that has happened to day that it is all starting to blend together into a mess of information
>you thought that it was going to be tomorrow but this day just won't end
>this door feels right...
>you open it up and sure enough, it is the minimal room with the staircase
>of course, it doesn't seem all that minimal with the castle putting on this kinda light show
>the railing shines an intense gold color that gives the dark stone walls a yellowish orange feeling
>it feels deep and rich
>you quietly begin to make your descent down the stairs into Earth house
>as you look down you immediately notice the marble on the floor below
>all of the waist high walls and lining the room and various gardens are shining an intense white
>it almost looks glow in the dark or florescent or something
>it's fairly impressive, the plantlife looks dark in comparison

>you set foot on the ground carefully
>it doesn't seem like any of the Earth ponies are here
>guess they could be asleep, or somewhere else but judging by the state of the castle it seems like they are still gazing
>you make it out of Earth house quietly, wondering if the shrill bell is going to sound ending the gazing like last time
>nothing
>you continue down the underground passage, walking carefully around the glowing plant life
>everything seems darker in here compared to the hallway, it was really dazzling in there
>you make it past the desk in the center of the hallway that you have no become very familiar with seeing
>you note all of the notepads still placed on the table, wondering what could have happened to the note that you wrote
>the whole thing seemed very off but somehow to vivid to have just been a hallucination
>you can't quite put your finger on it but the whole scenario seems off
>the biggest question is why?
>what incentive would someone even have to make an hourglass like that?
>it doesn't make any sense
>you let your mind drift away from the underground and take root in the present again as you make it into the ballroom
>the lights in here are definitely a show
>plenty of light yellows, pinks and teals
>almost pastel in nature, the lighting and flickering point of random color form a very relaxing yet regal environment
>you slowly make it over to the lunar clock
>it looks menacing, glowing in a vivid and very serious shadowed blue
>oh wow....
>the clock is about half way through its cycle
>you gulp
>definitely thought it would have been closer to done
>but who knows?
>last time it didn't seem to line up very consistently...

*

>you look around the illuminated room and consider your next step
>it seems like you are going to have plenty of time before any of the Zodiac are done gazing
>the library crosses your mind again
>something about it seems interesting, maybe you can find some kind of information
>you think you remember how to get through the series of doors, plus you know now that you shouldn't worry about whatever is up there
>seems like a solid option, you can work from there while you try to unwind and gather yourself a bit
>you make it over to the staircase that rapidly ascends up to the heights of the castle
>you suppose that it would be fastest to go through the Air house passage, although Fire might be faster
>you aren't sure
>better to stick with the more familiar territory
>you quickly start to make your way up the modest staircase toward the top of Air house's spire
>it takes you a while to make it up the stairs, you have a lot to think about
>what is gonna happen after the gazing, is everyone just going to go to sleep?
>you stare over the railing as you watch and continue to admire the dazzling lights that are now swimming and blurring together in your vision
>it is very majestic
>you make it to the top of the staircase and again find yourself making it down the straight forward hallway leading to the white door ahead
>you open it to reveal two doors, red and green once again
>you make it ahead through the green doorway, keeping your pace and breath steady as you walk

>this hallway looks a lot more welcoming without the intense fog
>the sides are lite with a bright and deep purple tone that helps you guide your steps as you make it towards the stairway ahead of you
>it feels oddly familiar, probably because you've already been here once tonight
>you make it up the stone steps slowly, it almost seems like they are uneven as you step
>the library comes into view
>instead of seeing gray you can truly take in the volume of books here
>it looks like they extend further back than you can see
>the statues on either side of you seem inviting, beckoning you inward
>past, future

*

>there are so many books in here
>you are just looking ahead into the shelving in front of you
>the rows of books go back in neat straight lines
>you don't even know where to start honestly
>there are lifetimes worth of knowledge in this room alone...
>you feel that it would be best to just go straight for a second
>get a feel for where you currently are
>you slowly make your way past the statues as they beam at you
>their cheery facial expressions forever engraved in the cold stone
>the light greenish blue illumination around you gives everything a quiet and serene feeling
>you finally make it up to the shelves and start to make it back down the first row of books, further down the row until you are in what you'd assume is roughly the middle
>it is almost maze like as you just watch the spines of the books while walking
>so many faded colors, but everything seems to be in okay shape
>you can actually read the titles!
>nothing in particular is standing out to you at this point however...
>it seems like this section is related to culinary stuff
>now if you could find something on history or etiquette maybe...
>you continue all the way to the end of the middle aisle, but it does not take you to a wall
>it looks like you are in the middle a maze of towering shelves at this point
>in front of you are rows and rows of books, going even deeper into the castle
>you find yourself in a sort of hallway, being able to move freely left and right
>guess you could shift more to the past now...
>it looks to go a very far way in both directions, but you can actually see a wall somewhere to your left
>might as well see what is over this way
>you turn to your left and begin making it towards the other side of the library

>you don't go too far, but you cover a decent amount of ground before choosing to go further down one of the rows to the left
>everything looks to be organized so coherently, in neat and narrow rows of shelving with properly allotted spacing in between
>it's definitely a proper library, it's interesting, being empty and all...
>these books seem to be a bit more faded, but you didn't travel too far into the past it looks like
>you can still actually read the titles on the spines, no old and forgotten languages
>well, some of the books are just colored with no words at all
>you still don't know exactly what to grab, there are so many options
>plus, some of the titles just seem like too niche of information
>you stop walking and actually try to take in your surroundings
>a large black book with thick gold letting catches your eye
>“An introduction to common equine culture”
>that could be good!
>it looks heavy, seems like a lot more than an introduction to you
>you scan over the titles next to it to see if you can notice some kind of coherent pattern in organization
>one particularly destroyed book catches your attention
>a thin and very clearly damaged red book
>such a stark contrast to the thick and well maintained black book next to it
>you can barely make out the title on the spine through all of the creases and the general darkness around you
>“Mental Warfare”
>you let your eyes continue to drift down the shelving
>a bright turquoise colored book stands out, right below the equine culture text
>the black font is very legible and tasteful
>“A pony's guide to the real world”
>it almost seems like some kind of self-maintenance or improvement section
>it's hard to tell though, you could get lost in titles all day and not really get any information
>best not to judge a book by its cover huh?

*

>these all seem interesting
>you start to pull them off the shelves one by one
>it feels like you are displacing them in a way, everything has been where it rests for such a long time you can almost feel the objects sliding out of their groove
>might as well skim the first few pages and see if you can find anything useful
>you don't go in too far, it'd be better to find a few more good books first before really diving into things
>you start with the small red book, opening it about fifteen pages in
>and... that is a lot of text
>you try to focus in on it but the font is really small, almost too fine to read in this lighting
>some of the pages are torn or marked in odd ways
>you try to just take in some quick information but there are almost no spaces anywhere on the page
>just blocks of text
>you flip through a few pages and begin to notice the margins are filled with notes
>scribbles from a pencil, faint on the aged paper
>definitely can't make that out, most of the hand writing is in sloppy cursive
>maybe if you really took the time to you could figure out more, but this book is just too dense to skim read
>you close it for the moment and move on to the book titles “ A pony's guide to the real world”
>okay this seems to be a bit more coherent
>at least there are sections with titles
>you opened to somewhere in the middle initially but decide to scale back to the first few pages
>you start reading the only text on the spacious page
> ' I dedicate this to those curious about the true nature of life and how it relates to our current reality '
>huh
>you turn over a few pages and find yourself in the thick of what seems to be the first chapter
> ' Cutie marks and what they tell us '
>this could be good, even if it might not be applicable

>you look up into the darkness for a brief moment
>it really is amazing how much just staring at this paper can make your mind race
>you look back down quickly and turn to a later page
>maybe it will get more interesting
>your eyes settle on the thick blue text highlight the paper
> 'The Royal Forgetting Paradigm and why it should scare you'
>beneath it is a sketch of two alicorns circling one in the sky above a crowd of ponies
>this could definitely be juicy...
>you are tempted to just start reading more but you wanna check the other book too
>might as well check out the culture book while you are thinking about it
>you close the other book but not before making note of your place
>you decide to open just barely into the thick book about etiquette
>after skimming through a couple of pages you come across an index
>oh this will be useful for sure
>your eyes scan feverishly down the sections
>a lot of the sections seem to be about different Equestrian cities
>there are some names you don't recognize
>a section once again about cutie mark, clothes, cooking and diet
>different species cultural guidelines
>you note that there is a section titled 'royalty' as well
>alright
>you think that you have a basic understanding of the three different texts
>best to get moving along, there has to be more to find
>you start making it further back into the library down the row
>this is one of the few places inside the castle where you can barely hear your own footsteps
>the floor seems carpeted, or at least soft enough to dull the noise
>you continue further down the shelving, walking at a steady pace
>this aisle seems to extend forever
>you stop at just about the end to observe the books around you

>the first text you notice is thick, maroon and faded
>deep in color, dark
>you focus in on the title
> 'magic for non-magic users '
>hey, that could be good too!
>there is a wealth of interesting books down this row, there must be so much information in here
>you check the other title close to the maroon book
>another thick text, this one is maybe a bit thinner but is dark purple in tone
>the lettering on the binding is a lighter tone making it legible
> 'The Night Sky and How to Observe it”
>you remove the two texts from the shelves and add them to your growing stack
>your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of running water
>huh, it is very faint but definitely there
>you watch slowly with your heavy stack of books, careful not to drop them or let them slide
>you make it out of the row and into a clearing in the library
>oh wow, it is definitely brighter here
>light is pouring from a series of elegant chandeliers above you
>there are several desks and tables scattered in various areas throughout this clearing
>in front of you is a sturdy metal railing
>you approach it slowly and look down into the area below
>there are two staircases leading downwards from the other side of railing, although you're not sure how to get to that side of the clearing
>the area beneath looks very pristine
>fountains
>largely, clean stone fountains and cycling water up and down, letting it cascade and fill the library with a soft and steady sound
>the tables around look nice, maybe this would be a good place to stop and gather yourself?
>you kinda wonder how long you should be in this library, though there isn't really any reason to leave quite yet...

*

>you continue to look over the railing at the falling water
>it is comforting
>you decide to quickly open the book about magic
>you open to one of the first pages, it seems to be giving the reader a bit of a debriefing
>you scan the page
> 'What is magic? How are you able to control your environment?'
>huh, okay interesting
> 'Throughout this text I will explain how magic works and why visible unicorn magic is too simplistic of an understanding'
>you skip a few pages forward
>there are a couple simple illustrations of a glass of water being levitated at different heights next to a hoof holding the glass
>underneath the text is a small line 'all of these actions should be non-possible events'
>seems like kind of a thick and thought intensive read
>you wonder if you know anyone else who would be interested
>your mind continues to race as you watch the water descend down the fountain beneath you
>there really isn't much direction to this library
>you wonder if there is more to it that you are missing
>you think back to the entrance and try to retrace your steps
>all the shelving, the desks, tables
>the statues...
>huh
>you think back to the cold facial expressions on the stone mares
>just maybe...
>you didn't even try talking to them
>that seems like it could work!

>what if they are guides?
>or librarians of sorts?
>you have a gut feeling
>your feet are already moving underneath you, there is no harm in trying
>you quickly make it up through the row of books in front of you
>the mountains of text tower narrowly around you
>you keep stepping, foot after foot
>it is a long walk, but you keep your gaze narrowed forward
>you can already see the opening
>looks like this route takes you right through the middle to where the statues are positioned by the library entrance
>you slowly make it around so that you are properly oriented to face the mares
>their facial expressions are solid, frozen and unwavering
>it feels a bit off but you speak
“Hello? You two there?”
>you fix your gaze on the mare facing to the right
>your eyes pick up some of the illuminating light in the background
>silence
“If one of you could maybe help me find a book?”
>you rapidly shift your gaze back and forth between their eyes
>the stone stay silent
>you are actually a bit surprised, you figured at least something would happen
>the books you are carrying weigh heavy in your arms
>you speak again, not entirely willing to give up
“Can you at least tell me why you are here then?”
>you look forward, their eyes continue to beam, almost in a mocking manner
>ugh, this is frustrating, you figured that would work
>you feel even more lost in this library now
>you turn around and begin to pace but quickly freeze in your tracks
>at the top of the stairs behind you stands a very confused looking Pisces
>oh damn
>you make eye contact, her facial expression quickly shifts to one of surprise before she looks down at her hooves

*

>you gulp as you instinctively look away
>gotta play it cool
>you gather yourself and look back to Pisces who says nothing but makes it closer to you
>her silence makes you nervous
>you can feel your hands starting to sweat, you scan over the slightly illuminated environment around you
>the need to speak overpowers your cool demeanor
“Figured that they might be guides, wasn't any harm in trying”
>you shrug
>Pisces maintains a fairly unwavering facial expression but nods
>“Guess I can't blame you”
>she doesn't say much more, her tone matches her flat facial expression
>you reach your hands into your pockets
“So, uh, how's the gazing going? Or is it over?”
>you shift positioning slightly as you stand
>Pisces looks into the eyes of the statue near to you then at you
>“Not over yet, but I needed a break. I can barely even hear the stars over all the commotion anyways”
>she looks down for a second, then her eyes scan to the books you are holding
>you wonder what she means by hearing the stars...
“Commotion?”
>her gaze remains fixated on the books you are holding
>as if she is trying to read the titles from a distance, she look contemplative
>you almost aren't expecting her to speak because of the trance she is in, but her soft voice spread throughout the spacious room
>“Oh, just Scorpio”
>your gut sinks a bit, you nod in understanding attempting not to miss a beat
>Pisces just continues to gaze forward with a look of consideration on her face
>she speaks again in a simple and almost sidetracked tone
>“What have you been up to?”
>you rapidly recall the events of the night and hesitate

*

>you think back on everything
>there is definitely some stuff that you want to self censor
>maybe not lying but just omitting details?
>yeah, that's it
>you quiver slightly as Pisces shifts her gaze more directly on you
>her pinkish purple eyes dwell on you
“Well, I was outside earlier and I saw this bright animal thing. It looked like a stag and was really majestic and stuff, distorted everything around it...”
>you watch her pupils dilate as she starts to become more expressive
>“Oh! Interesting, did you follow it?”
>her lips start to form a soft smile
>you nod
“Yeah, it took me all the way to the castle wall, then subtly it turned to stone in front of me! Like a statue”
>her eyes light up even further as she steps more closely to you
>“That must be some really intense magic”
>you shift slightly, fishing the small colored gem out of your pocket
>a keep sake...
“I've never seen anything like it, the base said something about a password”
>Pisces laughs to herself softly
>it resonates in the room just the slightest amount
>“Oh boy, more mysteries. I wonder if it has anything to do with those dang cards...”
>she looks down at the ground in thought for a second
>you anxiously fiddle with the bluish green gem
“I looked around the area afterwards and found this gem, I think it is from the mare's dress in the memory I viewed”
>Pisces gazes up at you, you look into her pink eyes
>“Wait, you viewed a memory today?”
>you nod, thinking that you had conveyed that to her earlier
>you remember that she left before you went underground now...

“Yeah, it was a pretty intense one apparently”
>Pisces giggles softly
>“Really living it up here already, I guess that explains why you are talking to statues”
>you scratch the back of your neck as she continues to giggle
>“I'm just teasing, what brings you to the library then?”
>you look down at the books in your arms
>guess you kinda forgot about their weight because of the conversation
>it is weird to see yourself holding things right now
>huh
“Oh yeah, at the moment I'm looking for something that could help”
>Pisces blinks
>“Help with...?”
>oh right
>it almost takes you a moment to think of why you were here
“To help with the ball of course”
>smooth save
>Pisces blinks again
>“Of course, my bad, that is good thinking”
>there is a moment of silence
>something about what she said about Scorpio stuck with you
>more how she phrased it
“So just Scorpio huh? Is she doing okay? Do you know what is the matter with her?”
>Pisces' facial expression drops
>“I don't know what is the matter with that pony, it's just miscellaneous noise”
>she shifts in her stance before speaking again
>“I-I'm used to it, she told me not to worry about her when she gets like that”
>you blink
>the doesn't seem like the healthy way to deal with things at all
“Do you know where I can find her?”
>Pisces picks her gaze up off the floor and makes eye contact with you again briefly before looking down yet again
>“She probably somewhere in her observatory, no saying if she'd answer or not”
>you look at Pisces for a moment while you think

*

>you consider your options for a second
>definitely don't want a grudge to set in with Scorpio, but at the same time Pisces is being surprisingly social
>you shift the positioning of the books in your arms as you think
“How long does she usually stay awake for? Do you think she is going to sleep soon?”
>Pisces blinks at you with an oblivious type of look on her face
>“I mean, she should be gazing right now, so I doubt she is asleep...”
>shift moves her hooves in place anxiously
>“I guess I should be gazing too though”
>she shrugs to herself and moves past you a bit
>guess you will have a bit of time to address her more formally later then
>hopefully she is doing better, it is nice to have some time with Pisces though
>you turn to face her more directly as she walks into the library a bit past the statues
“What brings you here anyways? Anything I can help with maybe?”
>Pisces keep moving forward, you walk to keep up
>you almost think that she didn't hear you
>you hold your tongue for a second considering if you should repeat yourself
> “Just need some activity”
>there doesn't really give you much information
>you wonder if she minds if you are here or...?
>she doesn't say anything

>the two of you continue forward for a bit in what feels like a very awkward silence
>Pisces doesn't seem to mind, she is more involved with the shelving around her
>she doesn't look discontent though, she has a bit of a smirk on her face
>just continuing to trot forward into the future sections
>the interior around you becomes a bit more cubic, sharp and polished
>the lighting turns a more light blue, hints of gray fade the intensity of the color tones
>eventually you speak and overcome the simplistic moment of silence
>it feels almost icy around you
“Do you know what causes the color and lighting around the castle?”
>Pisces slows her pace and eventually stops in front of a particularly wide row
>she turns to face you and speaks with a distant tone
>“I'm pretty sure they are visual hallucinations, most ponies would answer magic”
>that is definitely a surprise to you
>it's a bit alarming
“Wait, hallucinations? What is inducing it then?”
>Pisces blinks and thinks for a moment
>your arms are starting to tire from the load of books
>you set them down on a stone platform, some type of stylish low-level table
>you shift your gaze back to Pisces as she answers
>“Magic”
>you deadpan slightly, guess it is a step removed from magic but still
>does it count as biology or magic at that point?
>maybe it is synonymous in a way
>you blink and try to reset your train of thought
>just as you start to re-evaluate your situation relieved of the weight of the books you here Pisces shout
>she raised has her tone to an excessive volume
>“Hey Anon!! Ever yell in a library before!!!?”
>you jump as it takes you a second to register it is her voice
>Pisces just giggles to herself and shift on her hooves to face you

>you don't have quite the audacity to go for that type volume but you raise your voice to slightly below her level as you speak
“Can't say that I have!”
>Pisces shifts her front hoof to her mouth and tries to contain her giggles slightly before speaking again
>“This future area is so novice, perfect place to chill”
>she smirks and postures up a bit
>you can't help but reciprocate her smile a bit as you speak
“Yeah, definitely. This castle makes me wonder, how do you think it got here? Do you think it was built?”
>Pisces' pinkish purple eyes shift to a tone of curiosity
>you can tell she is contemplating
>selecting her words cautiously
>“This place doesn't look it but it is old. Really old... The royal sister haven't made a statement about its creation”
>she huffs to herself
>“Well, you know, not only lacking a statement but rather avoided acknowledging its existence”
>she shifts her positioning as your mind begins to drift back to a distant conversation at some point
>you can't recall the memory fully, you are too engulfed in Pisces' mannerisms right now
>“You've picked out some good literature, I'll say that”
>you quickly glance back to your pile of books before speaking
“So what you are saying is it guesswork for how it was created then?”
>Pisces nods and trots in place a little
> “Yeah, probably”
>silence fills the room again
>it feels like things are going well, but you don't have any idea what to do from here
>Pisces doesn't seem to be taking the lead

*

>you shift in your position a bit and consider how you are going to carry out the conversation
>definitely a lot of questions bouncing around in your head, you glance over to the books you selected
“Have you tried reading any of the books that I picked up?”
>Pisces glances over to the stack of books on the desk near her
>she nods softly
>“Just a pony's guide, I had to check it out, I have a thing for banned books”
>she clops her hooves together softly, almost fidgeting as she speaks
>it is adorable, but you double take at the word banned
>you glance back at the thick turquoise binding
“Banned? By who and when?”
>Pisces giggles to herself softly
>“I guess I shouldn't have expect ya to know that, very old and outdated royal decree, one of many books that ended up on a censor list”
>she pauses and stares off for a second before continuing
>“That's a pretty hard to find copy right there”
>oh hey, that is interesting
>looks like you made a pretty good selection then
>it makes you wonder what kind of content it could contain to be banned...
>you blink, your mind still full of questions
“Seems like there is a lot of information here, what is the oldest written records you've been able to find here”
>Pisces looks down and continues to trot forward a little bit
>you instinctively follow, you grab the book off the desk as you begin to walk again
>“It's hard to say, I'm fairly good with reading old equus, but some of the texts here seem to predate that entire language...”
>damn, that is impressive
>you nod slightly as you continue further forward
>the shelving around you begins to warp, it doesn't quite walk a straight line

>you decide to speak up again, your curiosity has been sparked
“That's really cool, hey! Do you think we could go to the past section and try to find the oldest mention of the castle or the royal sisters?”
>Pisces nods as you continues to trot further down the hallways
>it is slowly shifting to your left with the curvature in the positioning of the shelves around you
>“Oh, okay, that sounds good to me!”
>you start to slow down and turn around, but Pisces continues to trot forward deeper into the future section without saying anything
>huh, guess there is something that she would like to see first then
>might as well just tag along, you continue to follow a few paces back
>you watch her tail sway slightly as she trots, examining the book shelves as she walks
>the sound of hoofs is all you can really hear
>your mind is taken over by awe at the sheer amount of information around you right now
>there is so much to be uncovered about this castle
>you speak up again in a more hesitant tone
“This place is so mysterious, and unrecorded it seems... Do you guys do a lot of writing about it?”
>Pisces slows her trots and blinks
>the turn ahead the two of you is very shape, it veers to the left hard
>you look at the books around you as you speak
>once again, you don't quiet recognize the text around you, it is not a language you recognize
>“I personally take some notes, but I can't speak for everyone else... S-surely I'm not the only pony who does it”
>she flickers her mane out of her eyes a bit as she looks back at you while you make it around the turn
>you nod
“Seems like a good idea, it might be useful to have a public journal somewhere that way you can all share information and discoveries more easily”

>you see Pisces' eyes glitter slightly as she considers your words
>“Ohh! Hey, that might be a good idea, I wonder how the others would feel about it...”
>her voices trails off a bit at the end, but it seems like she received the idea well
>just as you start to second guess yourself she speaks up again
>“It sounds smart, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be useful”
>you smile a bit, content with the praise as you continue to walk, making it slowly around the bend
>the hallway straightens out ahead of you again
>you can see ahead a considerable distance
>just looks like shelving and more desk ahead, it is hard to tell through the darkness and haze of purplish illumination ahead of you
>you continue slowly, guess you are heading back into the past now?
>or further into the future section?
>it really is hard to tell the difference as you continue your slow pace through the dark
>you hear water again through the silence
>huh

>the two of you continue your ahead
>it sounds distance, but it brings your mind back to the fountains beneath the library
>Pisces is from the Water house...
“Do you know where the water from the fountains in here comes from? Any connection to Water house?”
>you smirk at her, she looks back just enough to see it
>“No, not that I'm really aware of, I think it is a closed cycle of water that just recirculates between the fountains down there”
>you nod and speak quickly
“I guess that makes a bit more sense”
>you can't help but wonder how long that water has been flowing for
>you quickly glance at the books to your right
>looks like they are slowly becoming more normal in shape... and language
>the sound of the water ahead is just growing stronger as you walk forward, but this hall continues on for a ways
>you look back down at Pisces as she walks ahead of you
>her eyes seem fixated ahead, you are more to her side at this point
>something about the layout ahead of you looks familiar
>oh wait... maybe it is
>you see the railing ahead of you, and quickly shift your gaze to your right to see the fountains beginning to come into view below you
>it starts to click in your mind that this is a huge circle
>or oval, something like that
>your eyes stay fixed on the flowing water
>rising and falling, cycling
>you were just thinking about these fountains too
>you watch Pisces gaze downwards over the metal railing
>“I always liked this area”
>she continues to look down with an almost somber expression on her face
>you nod in agreement
“They do seem very nice, calming”
>she returns your nod before looking away, back in towards the shelves
>she continues her trot forward for a moment, but then stops abruptly and takes a seat at one of the near by tables
>“J-just need to rest my hooves for a second, s-sorry”

>seems completely reasonable, you are eager for the opportunity to give your arms a bit of a rest too
>you set the heavy stack of books down on the table and take the seat across from Pisces
>it feels good to be relieved of the weight, you can feel the tension in your forearms start to fade
>you turn and make eye contact with Pisces
>your gaze happening to rest in the dead center of her vibrant pink irises
>a smile quickly spread across her face as you make eye contact, but she blinks and then down quickly, shifting her line of sight to the fountains below
>“I-I've always been curious about how to get down there...”
>weird, you had the same thought early
>seems pretty difficult though, you can't see any stairs or doors
>maybe it is just for pegasus or something
>or maybe there is a way down, it could just be hidden
>you speak up over the sounds of the tumbling water
“Yeah, I thought the same thing”
>Pisces shifts her gaze back towards you and blinks
>“Oh, you've already been back here then? That's cool”
>you nod softly but don't say much, you just look back at the water
>there are almost hints of color within it, or maybe just a trick of the eyes
>“So, um, how far into the past do you want to go? Do you want to go back as far as we can? Or... I don't know, I can only read so much”
>you see a hint of a blush spread across her face
>her blue mane conceals her eyes slightly

*