The Portal
Majesty looked at her son, Chief. "So, you come to visit these old bones, eh?"
"Ahh, mother, your not old!" Chief grins and holds out his hoof. "I brought something for you. One of Twinkle's newest kittens. Peachy thought you might like some company when you are done with your duties as Queen."
Majesty raises a brow. "There is no end to my duties.And as a Prince of the realm, you should know. Speaking of duties.Have you not found a mate yet? I would like some grandchildren." She takes the kitten from Chief and strokes it's silky fur. "I'm not getting any younger."
"Mother! I know as well as you, Ponies don't age! Plus.I'm not a machine. I just haven't found Ms. Right yet." He chuckles as the kitten jumps out of Majesty's cradling hooves and chases a mouse up the wall. The kitten lets out a startled "mew" as one of the old stones gives under it's paw and hangs on to the slipping stone. Chief catches the cat in one hoof and the stone in the other. "Is this one of your hiding places? It looks like a book in this crevasse."
Majesty steps closer out of curiosity. "No, I've never noticed that before. What book is it?" She cranes her neck around to see what Chief has found.
He places the kitten and the stone down to reach in and snag the tome. He gently opens the aged book and the pages crackle with age as a single sheet falls to the ground.
The Queen picks up the paper and starts to read aloud:
"To the One who finds this,
Please inform your Queen immediately. This book is of utmost importance to Pony-kind. I have risked my life to make sure this information has stayed in tact, and do not want my efforts wasted. I do not understand why you still stand here reading this. Please.go now!
Queen Celeste"
"Well, it seems that it came to the right Pony." Chief laughs. "Queen Celeste.That's my Grandmother, right??"
"Indeed. Ponies DO age.Just slowly." She smiles, reminiscing. "She was full of fire! And an excellent ruler. I hope only that I rule as wisely." She looked interestedly at the book and held out a hoof. "May I?"
"By all means!" He hastily hands the book to his mother and Queen. "It was meant for your eyes."
Majesty turns to the first page and inhales on a gasp. Her blue eyes widen and she turns the page again. "I.I can't believe this. Friendship Gardens? Ponyville? I've never heard of any such places in my realm!" She reads further. "A portal!" She looks up at Chief who had been attempting to read upside down. Blue eyes met yellow. "Assemble the Counsel. Immediately. Make sure Windwhistler and Haven attend!"
Chief headed out the door at a full gallop. The implications of this.There were MORE ponies. More lands to explore! He couldn't believe it! Surely they would be relatively the same! Surely!
Majesty winks with the book to the closet to prepare herself for a counsel. MoonGlow taps on her door, her sneer barely hidden behind her curiosity. "Why, cousin, you didn't call for me? The Castle is abuzz with the news of an emergency meeting of the Counsel! Aren't you forgetting that MY status is as close to Queen as yours?"
Majesty levels her gaze at the all white unicorn. "If I thought I had need of your.particular services during this time I would have Spike to come for you. As of now, I didn't see a need in unduly disturbing you." She gives a slight shrug, and turns back to placing her ceremonial robes.
MoonGlow's brown eyes flash malevolence, but is quickly covered up. "Are you going to dismiss me without explanation?" She says as calmly as possible.
"Yes." Majesty brushes by her cousin on her way out. **************************************************************************** *******
The Counsel-room was loud with many voices, until the arrival of the Queen. The sudden silence was expectant as the Ponies of the Counsel watched Majesty.
"I have called this Counsel together on very short notice, and am pleased that most of you are here. Especially those of you who had far to travel." Majesty starts. "Just today a discovery has been made that.was very unexpected. With me you will notice that I carry a book, a book that carries interesting information about others like us. Other types of Ponies."
A collective gasp goes up from the assembly. "What do you mean?!"
"How can that be?"
"How come we haven't heard of these Ponies before?"
"Wouldn't they come here?"
Majesty raises a hoof. "Silence! These Ponies are accessible only through a Portal."
Haven and Windwhistler speak up. "Portal! We would have heard of a portal before now! Haven has explored all of Ponyland, and Northstar has mapped it!"
"Indeed! We would have been the first to know of such a phenomenon! It's our job as Scientists!" Haven nods to emphasize his point.
Majesty smiles. "I know you pride yourselves on your work, my dearest scientists! Trust me, that is why I invited you to the Counsel meeting. It is important that we know more about this, thus I turn the book over for your perusal. Any and all information must come to the Counsel. Use the mirrors that Warlock has provided for us. They will be tuned into the Science Hall, so that any Counsel member will be able to see and hear what is going on. Questions?"
At least 20 hooves go into the air.
Storm, leader of the Guardian Force, is the first to ask. "How will this affect me and my Guardians? Will the opening of a Portal mean we need more Guards? Who is to say what will come through this portal? What if this is a trick?" The white Pegasus with raven mane and tail raises her concerns.
"I personally find your questions very observant. Who is to say that something other than Ponies lie beyond the Portal? The book shall tell us the answers of why this Portal has remained unfound, and tell us why it was a secret until now. " More hooves shot up. "Yes, MoonGlow."
"What if these.others are more like the Dragon Ponies? Hybrids of the worst kind!? What if they want to live here in our time and place? Who could stop them?" She glances maliciously at Princess Tiffany.
"Listen here, you stuck up, snobby." Princess Tiffany snarls. "There are a LOT of Breeds of Ponies, and they are all as good as Unicorns. I'm personally glad I'm not a Unicorn, because it means I'm not classified as KIN to YOU!"
"Dragon Lover!" MoonGlow smirks back. "Being Pure is not a crime, and I feel that it is better than not."
"SILENCE!" Majesty roars. "Do NOT bring your hatred for those not Unicorn bred and born into this, MoonGlow. Any Ponies wanting Peace of Dream Valley and all of Ponyland will be welcome. This I do Decree."
Moondancer and Glory look at each other. It wasn't very often their sibling showed her anger, but MoonGlow had pushed the point too far. Glory cleared her throat. "Your Highness, perhaps we should send out a search party as soon as the Scientists have discovered the location. Of course this cannot be done until the Scientists have had time to study the Book?"
Majesty nods in agreement. "This meeting is over for the time being. We shall meet back tonight after dinner to see exactly what Haven, Windwhistler find out more. There is always the observation room to check on their progress. Storm and Glory. Please keep an eye on the Scientists, and let no-one disturb them."
Every-pony filed out and most went to the Observation room, where a magic mirror ran then length of one wall. Some went back to their elements.like the Queen of the Sea Ponies Sea Mist.
Majesty looked at her son, Chief. "So, you come to visit these old bones, eh?"
"Ahh, mother, your not old!" Chief grins and holds out his hoof. "I brought something for you. One of Twinkle's newest kittens. Peachy thought you might like some company when you are done with your duties as Queen."
Majesty raises a brow. "There is no end to my duties.And as a Prince of the realm, you should know. Speaking of duties.Have you not found a mate yet? I would like some grandchildren." She takes the kitten from Chief and strokes it's silky fur. "I'm not getting any younger."
"Mother! I know as well as you, Ponies don't age! Plus.I'm not a machine. I just haven't found Ms. Right yet." He chuckles as the kitten jumps out of Majesty's cradling hooves and chases a mouse up the wall. The kitten lets out a startled "mew" as one of the old stones gives under it's paw and hangs on to the slipping stone. Chief catches the cat in one hoof and the stone in the other. "Is this one of your hiding places? It looks like a book in this crevasse."
Majesty steps closer out of curiosity. "No, I've never noticed that before. What book is it?" She cranes her neck around to see what Chief has found.
He places the kitten and the stone down to reach in and snag the tome. He gently opens the aged book and the pages crackle with age as a single sheet falls to the ground.
The Queen picks up the paper and starts to read aloud:
"To the One who finds this,
Please inform your Queen immediately. This book is of utmost importance to Pony-kind. I have risked my life to make sure this information has stayed in tact, and do not want my efforts wasted. I do not understand why you still stand here reading this. Please.go now!
Queen Celeste"
"Well, it seems that it came to the right Pony." Chief laughs. "Queen Celeste.That's my Grandmother, right??"
"Indeed. Ponies DO age.Just slowly." She smiles, reminiscing. "She was full of fire! And an excellent ruler. I hope only that I rule as wisely." She looked interestedly at the book and held out a hoof. "May I?"
"By all means!" He hastily hands the book to his mother and Queen. "It was meant for your eyes."
Majesty turns to the first page and inhales on a gasp. Her blue eyes widen and she turns the page again. "I.I can't believe this. Friendship Gardens? Ponyville? I've never heard of any such places in my realm!" She reads further. "A portal!" She looks up at Chief who had been attempting to read upside down. Blue eyes met yellow. "Assemble the Counsel. Immediately. Make sure Windwhistler and Haven attend!"
Chief headed out the door at a full gallop. The implications of this.There were MORE ponies. More lands to explore! He couldn't believe it! Surely they would be relatively the same! Surely!
Majesty winks with the book to the closet to prepare herself for a counsel. MoonGlow taps on her door, her sneer barely hidden behind her curiosity. "Why, cousin, you didn't call for me? The Castle is abuzz with the news of an emergency meeting of the Counsel! Aren't you forgetting that MY status is as close to Queen as yours?"
Majesty levels her gaze at the all white unicorn. "If I thought I had need of your.particular services during this time I would have Spike to come for you. As of now, I didn't see a need in unduly disturbing you." She gives a slight shrug, and turns back to placing her ceremonial robes.
MoonGlow's brown eyes flash malevolence, but is quickly covered up. "Are you going to dismiss me without explanation?" She says as calmly as possible.
"Yes." Majesty brushes by her cousin on her way out. **************************************************************************** *******
The Counsel-room was loud with many voices, until the arrival of the Queen. The sudden silence was expectant as the Ponies of the Counsel watched Majesty.
"I have called this Counsel together on very short notice, and am pleased that most of you are here. Especially those of you who had far to travel." Majesty starts. "Just today a discovery has been made that.was very unexpected. With me you will notice that I carry a book, a book that carries interesting information about others like us. Other types of Ponies."
A collective gasp goes up from the assembly. "What do you mean?!"
"How can that be?"
"How come we haven't heard of these Ponies before?"
"Wouldn't they come here?"
Majesty raises a hoof. "Silence! These Ponies are accessible only through a Portal."
Haven and Windwhistler speak up. "Portal! We would have heard of a portal before now! Haven has explored all of Ponyland, and Northstar has mapped it!"
"Indeed! We would have been the first to know of such a phenomenon! It's our job as Scientists!" Haven nods to emphasize his point.
Majesty smiles. "I know you pride yourselves on your work, my dearest scientists! Trust me, that is why I invited you to the Counsel meeting. It is important that we know more about this, thus I turn the book over for your perusal. Any and all information must come to the Counsel. Use the mirrors that Warlock has provided for us. They will be tuned into the Science Hall, so that any Counsel member will be able to see and hear what is going on. Questions?"
At least 20 hooves go into the air.
Storm, leader of the Guardian Force, is the first to ask. "How will this affect me and my Guardians? Will the opening of a Portal mean we need more Guards? Who is to say what will come through this portal? What if this is a trick?" The white Pegasus with raven mane and tail raises her concerns.
"I personally find your questions very observant. Who is to say that something other than Ponies lie beyond the Portal? The book shall tell us the answers of why this Portal has remained unfound, and tell us why it was a secret until now. " More hooves shot up. "Yes, MoonGlow."
"What if these.others are more like the Dragon Ponies? Hybrids of the worst kind!? What if they want to live here in our time and place? Who could stop them?" She glances maliciously at Princess Tiffany.
"Listen here, you stuck up, snobby." Princess Tiffany snarls. "There are a LOT of Breeds of Ponies, and they are all as good as Unicorns. I'm personally glad I'm not a Unicorn, because it means I'm not classified as KIN to YOU!"
"Dragon Lover!" MoonGlow smirks back. "Being Pure is not a crime, and I feel that it is better than not."
"SILENCE!" Majesty roars. "Do NOT bring your hatred for those not Unicorn bred and born into this, MoonGlow. Any Ponies wanting Peace of Dream Valley and all of Ponyland will be welcome. This I do Decree."
Moondancer and Glory look at each other. It wasn't very often their sibling showed her anger, but MoonGlow had pushed the point too far. Glory cleared her throat. "Your Highness, perhaps we should send out a search party as soon as the Scientists have discovered the location. Of course this cannot be done until the Scientists have had time to study the Book?"
Majesty nods in agreement. "This meeting is over for the time being. We shall meet back tonight after dinner to see exactly what Haven, Windwhistler find out more. There is always the observation room to check on their progress. Storm and Glory. Please keep an eye on the Scientists, and let no-one disturb them."
Every-pony filed out and most went to the Observation room, where a magic mirror ran then length of one wall. Some went back to their elements.like the Queen of the Sea Ponies Sea Mist.