Hearing her scream as a loud crack echoed throughout the room I quickly looked up and saw her falling towards me along with an entire shelf. Acting quickly, I used my magic to grab the shelf only to find it slid right through my aura. Gasping I instead used my magic to grab Derpy as she neared me and quickly put her on the other side of me, so I was between her and the falling shelf. "Celestia!" she yelled as I braced myself for the shelf by reinforcing my magic, I found myself in shock as I felt my magic rush away from the areas the shelf was touching causing the full force of the object to knock me down.

Thankfully, it caught on the shelf next in the room which slowed it down but caused it to start falling as well. A domino effect took place as I held up the first shelf that had fallen. "Celestia! Are you alright?!" Derpy yelled as I noticed her looking at me out of worry.

"I'm… alright." I spoke.

"Your Highness! Are you alright?!" I could hear the captain yell.

"yes. Although I could use some help getting us out of here. The shelves have some form of magic repellent on them. I was unable to reinforce myself or catch them with my magic." I spoke up. "if you could please hurry as this shelf is quite heavy…"

"quickly! Get them out of there!" I could hear them start to hurry into the room.

"this is all my fault…" I could hear Derpy whisper.

"it is not… from the very beginning this has been my fault. If only I told you… from the beginning." I grunted as I heard a loud crash as I saw a piece of rubble almost hit her. "please exercise caution! We were nearly hit by some of the rubble captain!"

"my apologies your highness! Be more careful!" I gave a small, strained chuckle as I shifted myself to better adjust and deal with the weight. I knew that second shout was not directed towards Derpy and myself as I could also hear several small squeals form the others apart of the two teams. "we are having some trouble your highness! Please hold on for a bit longer!"

"be careful captain but also please hurry!" I urged them.

"princess… why did you go to such lengths for me?" she asked me.

"because I love you. Plain and simple." Her blush was so cute that I gave another chuckle. "never put anything else in your mind concerning this subject. I love you now and forever. You have your faults yes but that is simply a part of the charm that makes Derpy Hooves. Your boss as almost nothing but good things to say to you. The guards who were with you throughout your service around Canterlot respect you for continuing to do your job."

"your highness!" turning my head I spotted the captain looking towards through a few shelves. "we are almost to you!"

"excellent captain! I suggest you get Derpy out of here first should anything go wrong." I spoke up.

"but… Celestia!"

"you mean more to me then my own health at the moment. Consider this part of my punishment for hiding the truth from you… please Derpy." She looked hesitant but nodded.

"Mrs. Hooves please crawl over here!" she nodded and began to crawl along the floor over to the opening where the guards were waiting. Once she got out, I gave a sigh of relief as I allowed myself to focus on the current situation while they dug me out of my current predicament. The shelves were resistant to my magic and to even make things weirder they actively pushed it away. For what reason could simple shelves have this ability?

Granted they were old and wooden which caused Derpy's fall from her hiding spot but how could they be so heavy and cause these things with my magic? From a glance they looked like simple wooden shelves but what if they are so much more somehow? "your highness?" startled I looked to see the captain with the other ponies. Derpy standing off to the side with an overly concerned look on her face. "we are ready to lift it off of you."

"do so kindly." He nodded.

"on three! One! Two! Three!" immediately I felt relief as the weight came off my back. "are you alright your highness? Any injuries?" he questioned as a unicorn came over with an analysis spell ready to cast.

"while I believe I may be fine. With the unknown qualities of these shelves, it might be best to have myself be given a look over." He nodded.

"then might I suggest we locate a good room to do so? Hopefully one away from this room." Immediately a line on the floor lit up from where Derpy was standing and shot out of the room. The guards quickly got in front of the both of us as Derpy looked confused at it while I was wondering why it occurred. Then a small memory flashed through my head of before we met up with Derpy of the room we were first routed off.

I did my best to recognize and remember what the room looked like. I knew there was a large runic circle in the room… but it appears I did not get a good look at said room… "Captain…"

"yes, your highness." He answered as the guards slowly approached the door and looked out the room. Following the light blue line with their eyes.

"send a small detachment to the room we first started chasing after Derpy." He looked confused.

"might I ask why your highness?" he then asked.

"if what happened is what's been happening to us during our… chase," Derpy blushed with embarrassment. "then I believe it will solve quite a few things for us all. There was a large ritual done in that room quite recently as well."

"if your certain your highness… Volunteers for a quick recon!"

"Sir!" immediately three ponies were in front of him, one from each race.

"the room where we first began the chase of Mrs. Hooves." Derpy flinched as I myself felt annoyed at him for causing it. Though I did hide my displeasure well. "The princess believes something happened in there to cause all of the trouble we had been coming across. Get drawings of as much as you can and identify what you can so the princess can figure it out quicker. Place a tracker spell on my helmet so you can regroup with us." The unicorn quickly placed the spell, and they were off.

"let us follow the line captain… I have a big belief it will lead us to where we need to go." He looked hesitant but gave a nod.

"as you wish…" as so we made our way out of the room towards another room, I was certain we were being led to.

If my suspicions are correct…

It would also explain why the shelves were as they were…

But then came even more questions with the most important one being…

How did Derpy become bound to this place?