Whispers From The Past. (Patreon)

 While Corporal Trotter planned and looked to the future A Plan Takes Form a particular pony was confronted with a mystery from the past. 

  
  Gold Scryer followed Unabridged into the bowels of the Royal Archives in my Equestria dreamscape. Only the glow from their horns provided any illumination as they passed down aisle after aisle of towering shelves and racks. Open flame was strictly forbidden in the most ancient parts of the Archives. Only horn glow spells or glow orb lamps were permitted.  

 
  As much as Gold Scryer loved research she found the depths of the Archives to be a rather claustrophobic experience; at times the place felt more like a tomb than a repository of knowledge. The tomb-like feeling was not helped by Unabridged's appearance. The Head Archivist looked like one of the forgotten relics of this institution. The tottering unicorn's gaunt frame, dusty, washed out coat and sunken eyes gave him a rather corpse-like appearance in the dim lighting. 

  However his voice was too animated for a corpse. In fact the old stallion was positively giddy as he led the mare further and further down into the single largest collection of ancient Equestrian history and knowledge. 

  "Yes! Yes! When I came across this yesterday I immediately remembered your recent inquiries, and Princess Celestia's instructions to be on the look out for archaic magical methods that might help you with research!" 

  The stallion ushered the mare into a small room that once might have been a secretaries office or a small study. In quick succession the stallion activated the glow lamps in the room. He then proceeded to magically unlock a great strong box almost big enough to stuff a pony in it. It's soot-stained wood and iron-strapped lid creaked and groaned as ancient hinges reluctantly performed their duties. 

  
  With great care Unabridged levitated the crumbling remains of some ancient tome. In fact without his magic Gold Scryer feared the book would crumble into dust at the slightest disturbance. It could only still be called a book if one was generous with how one used the word. Gently he set the artifact down on a study table in the room. 

  
  Unabridged resumed speaking. "Sorry about the condition of the artifact. It has not had an easy life. what with its journey to Equestria and then traumas it endured when Everfree was destroyed." 

  "This book is from the libraries of Royal Sisters when they lived in Everfree?" Asked the mare with a hint of awe in her voice. 

  
  The old stallion shook his head. "Oh no dear this book, or what's left of it, is much, much older than that. I know its cover is in horrible shape but can you make out the seal on it dear?" 

  Gold Scryer adjusted her glasses and squinted at the burned, water stained, and torn cover. At first she couldn't decipher it, but suddenly she grasped what the seal was. She'd seen it before. Probably ever pony had seen this seal. It was part of every Heather's Warming Eve pageant. 

  
  She looked up at the stallion. Their eyes met and he nodded his head. "Yes dear. This book is from the kingdom of the unicorns. It was once property of the House of Silverhorn. It predates the founding of Equestria by at least 200 years. However I didn't bring you down to just show an old book." 

  With almost surgical care he opened the book which separated into several pieces. Gold Scryer frowned. 

  
  "Why haven't you stabilized the tome with a preservation spell? This thing is crumbling before our eyes!" 

  The stallion sighed. "We can't. Not really. This book at the epicenter of the battle between Celestia and Nightmare Moon. The amount of raw magic that engulfed the palace has rendered many of the documents beyond stabilization through normal magical means. It's a blessing that wards in any of the archives survived that cataclysm; unfortunately the archive that this book was in wasn't so lucky." 

  
  "It took several magical direct hits from both of the major combatants and then caught fire. In a desperate attempt to save some of the contents weather ponies apparently attempted to use rain clouds to put out the fire. They soon found out that what we now know as the Curse of Everfree that made controlling the weather almost impossible. Instead of quelling the flames they flooded the building." 

  "Of course in the immediate aftermath of the battle everypony had more pressing matters to deal with than bunch of battle-torn books. The capital was abandoned, and it wouldn't be until many years later that an expedition was mounted to see what artifacts could be retrieved from the ruins. In fact the only reason that this book was brought back was due to its significance to some of the great houses of Canterlot who could trace some lineage back to the original authors and owners of it." 

    
  With the greatest care the archivist lifted the soot-stained, water blotched, filth encrusted pages until he came the part of the book that was of importance. The page so soiled it was almost impossible to read. Unabridged's horn flared a bit. 

  "It is very fortunate that at least the luminous text spell works at all, and it does makes the writing a bit more legible." Said the stallion. "The tome is of course written in a very archaic form Equesia, and appears to have had several authors over the span of at least 75 years. The collection is the notes and observations of mages to one of the great houses of the old kingdom. It's hodge podge of subjects ranging from alchemy and astronomy to folklore and customs of beings and ponies outside the kingdom. Sadly it doesn't paint them in a very flattering light." 

  The mare nodded her head. The hubris of the unicorns had been legendary in the days of old, and even to this day some still acted as if they were the true subjects and leaders of Equestria. 

  Unabridged continued speaking. "However this is the thing that caught my attention was when I was copying this part for archiving." 

  The stallion revealed another ravaged page from the book. It like most it companions was in dismal condition. Unabridged's horn flared again and slowly he was able to tease the text into something resembling visible form. 

  
  Gold Scryer slowly began to parse the information on the page. It was mathematical equation outlining the basic framework for a detection spell. The math was very archaic but slowly the mare worked her way through it. Converting it a more recognizable and easier to work with form. At one point she requested a pencil and scrap paper from Unbridged. Slowly though certain patterns started emerging from the math. Patterns that she'd racking her brain over for the last few weeks. It almost reminded her of... 

  The mare looked up at the page and stared at the elderly stallion who'd remained silent most of this time. He had a surprisingly sly smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. 

  
  "Look familiar? It's not the same spell but when I started converting it for the notations I immediately recognized the similarities to the wards that were used to gain access to her Highness's office recently. Tough nut to crack Fortunately you'd provided us in the archives with your notations or else might've not recognized it." 

  "Is there anymore information related to this? Who originally wrote this entry? I need to know!" Exclaimed the mare. 

  Unabridged painstaking turned to the next battered page here some of the text was almost legible without magically assistance. Once again Gold Scryer began translating the graceful ancient Equesia script into modern tongue her head. 

  It is with great risk and sacrifice that I have obtained this knowledge. For the Mirror Ponies are jealous with their secrets and their punishment is severe to those who pry into their affairs. I fear that I may never be able to truly share my discoveries with any other pony while I'm alive since it is almost impossible to discern their presence. 

  
  They've perfected the art of infiltration and even with my knowledge of their existence I have devised no effective method for discreetly detecting them. I call them Mirror Ponies only for lack of a better name to call them. They are very likely the source of many of the quaint, rustic tales told amongst the rude earth pony settlements, and even some of the more simple-minded unicorns. 

  
  I know almost nothing of their culture and motivations however I believe I may be on the right path to developing some tools that will aid me in my investigation. But I must be careful! I have heard rumors concerning their queen and they speak of her with great dread. Mighty is her hunger for..... 

  Below that point the page was gone. Torn, rotted, or burned it was no more. Gold Scryer looked up at archivist. 

  
  "Is that it! Is there anything else? Please tell there's more than just this!"  

  Unabridged shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, that is all. The next 53 pages were utterly destroyed by the elements. When the book resumes it is another ponies writing, and it has nothing further to say about these so-called Mirror Ponies. Nor the does any of the writing before this page speak of them. I know it's not much but it's more knowledge than you had when you woke up this morning. Of course we've begun a search for anything associated to Mirror Ponies, but so far we've had no success." 

  The mare slumped forward and rested her elbows on the desk . Clutching her head with her front hoofs she stared at the writing. She had her work cut out for her. 

 To be continued.