Paradise glanced from the translation book to a sheet of paper with several paragraphs of the Old Borean language. Twilight Mist had shown her a message on one of the corner panes of the machine's control panel, never changing no matter what she did. She could take it off the screen, to show the pane displayed messages. However it was the only message.
Translation was a tedious process, especially when first learning a language. If anything she was glad they had been made to understand Common by whatever brought them here. She could pick up 90% of the books in this library and just read them. With this, there was learning to recognize the letters, translating the words, adjusting for differences in syntax and sentence structure so it was readable. Fortunately, it seemed Common had a similar syntax and sentence structure to Old Borean. The words were mostly coming out in proper order.
There were some Borean words that had been included in Common almost unchanged. She quickly found all the instances of Valkyrie and they were almost all followed by the word for 'queen'. Another term that turned up several times in the text was the Borean word 'Bifröst' which was spelled 'Bivrost' in the old language.
She remembered Daniel had called the rainbow bridge the Valkyries Queens used that term. He even suggested that what they had could be the Bifröst but said the stories described it being able to reach the ends of Terra while they were limited to 2,000 kilometers. Still, it showing up in this text could mean it is at least related. She needed to translate more to be sure.
The light from the lamp began to quickly fade. She looked inside and the glowing crystal was dimming. The light from it disappeared completely, just leaving a milky white stone.
"What gives?" Paradise reached in and tapped it.
The door to the library opened, and Bow-Tie looked in. "Are the lamps in here dying?"
Paradise looked to the other desks which had also gone dark. The same was true of the chandeliers overhead. "They just stopped making light."
"Lamps and chandeliers all over the castle suddenly faded out," Bow-Tie said. "The machinery is working just fine, but it's turning into a cave out there.
Paradise suddenly thought of it and there was a flow of cool air in the castle. She did not want to think of the hothouse they would be in if that had died.
She left her seat and followed Bow-Tie into the hall. While the library had the large windows letting light in, the hall was almost as black as pitch. Doors were opened to let some light in, but Paradise could barely see even her white hoof in front of her face once she left the door way. Shouts and clacking of hooves came from all directions with the sources unseen.
"Do you know what happened?" Paradise asked.
"Blueflower has gone down into the utility room with some others," Bow-Tie said. "But I just realized we don't have the slightest idea of how this castle works."
Paradise swallowed. "Then we might be in trouble."
Heart Throb flew around the darkened chandelier in the foyer. It was the second most beautiful fixture in the castle after the one in the ballroom. Without it casting the light, the sunlight coming through the stained glass made splotches of different colors on the walls.
She pushed back the refractive crystals to the ones that should be glowing, only they were simply milky and looked rather dull. "Come on, darlings. Why have you given up? You make such a beautiful chandelier that welcomes all who visit the castle." She looked around at the harsh patches of light and shadow and cringed at the garish sight. "Now it looks like its straight out of a horror movie."
A series of knocks came on the main doors. Heart Throb sank to the floor and approached them. More knocks came at the door.
A face, or something roughly shaped like a face, tilted into view in one of the windows. "Hello," a gentle voice said, muffled by the glass. "Anyone home?"
Heart Throb gave it a second's thought, but decided to answer the door. She pushed it open just enough to crane her head out. "Yes, darling?"
A wrinkled, human man with a long white beard and mustache stood on the stoop. A yellow robe with borders of red triangles around the edges covered most of his body and a red hat covered his wiry, white hair. His eyes, behind a sphere of a nose, were wide with shock. "You did show up!"
"Excuse me?" Heart Throb asked, taken aback by the outburst.
The man quickly regained his composure and looked to Heart Throb with gentle eyes. "Sorry. Where are my manners? Greetings."
Heart Throb glanced to the drawbridge which was still up. "Hello. How did you get over the wall?"
The man stepped aside to reveal an ornate rug that was floating several centimeters above the ground. "A flying carpet." He stepped in front of it. "I apologize for bypassing the perimeter wall, but I saw your drawbridge was up and I have urgent business."
"Business with whom?" Heart Throb asked. "There are only ponies here."
The man nodded. "I know." He bowed. "I am the Wonderful Wizard, known as Whizz for short. I must speak with an older, white pony with a horn coming out of her forehead and a white streak in her blue mane."
Whizz held up his hands to form a circle with his fingers and an image of Blueflower appeared between them. "This is the pony I want to talk to. Is she here?"
"Oh, well come in." Heart Throb backed up and opened the door more. "Forgive the bat cave. We suddenly have a light issue."
Whizz stepped in and looked around him. "I see that?"
One of the many fields Wind Whistler had studied was mechanics and in particular alternative technologies. Refrigerators and air conditioners in Equestria used refrigerants that could absorb and release significant quantities of heat quickly. However, this world seemed to not have such chemicals. Instead the refrigerator room needed ice to maintain its colder temperature and the interior temperature of the castle as a whole was regulated by this heat pump.
The concept was simple. At a certain depth, the temperature of the ground was constant at roughly ten centigrades above freezing. By pumping air from the castle through tubes running that deep, its heat is dispersed and the air returning is much cooler.
The machine hummed along, the pumps running on whatever was powering them. With the lights going out, it was logical to be concerned with the other equipment. However, fortunately, they seemed unaffected.
Light from Sparkler and Moondancer's horn provided harsh light, but it was enough for them to survey the large machine sending pipes in every which direction. With the stark and intertwining shadows, it looks like some monstrous creature frozen in place. Even Blueflower was taken aback when she first saw it, but Wind Whistler immediately recognized it as just a lifeless machine that was there to help them.
Sparkler opened a bulkhead on the side of the machine to reveal some dials indicating flux of air through the system, temperature, and electrical current used. They were all right in the middle of their green areas signifying they were all at optimal levels.
"Doesn't seem to be any problem here." Sparkler closed the bulkhead. "It's just that those crystals are losing their glow."
"But why?" Moondancer asked, not bothering to hide her fear.
"Generating light expends energy," Wind Whistler said. "The crystals must have exhausted whatever stores they had."
"All at once?" Sparkler asked.
Wind Whistler shrugged. "If they were all installed at once, they would reach the point of exhaustion at the same time. The question is if their energy is permanently drained meaning they must be replaced, or if they can be somehow recharged."
"What about the chamber under us?" Blueflower asked.
Wind Whistler pressed the button her headset. "You still have light down there?"
"Yes," Twilight Mist answered. "Whatever lights the ceiling are not the crystals you have up there. I also believe I have an answer for how the machines get power. Whatever supplies electricity for this thing also supplies it to the machines up there."
"Good to know. Wind Whistler out." Wind Whistler released the button. "We're getting power from below us for the machinery. So, our only concern is lighting."
"Why doesn't this castle just have electric lights then," Moondancer asked.
"You would need light bulbs to convert energy from the electrical current into visible light," Wind Whistler answered. "This heat pump suggests this world did not develop refrigerants, so they might not have developed light bulbs either. Instead, they use those glowing crystals which were a reliable and safe light source until they started to fade."
"Yet the chamber down there has light bulbs or something similar," Sparkler said.
"Just because they exist does not necessarily mean they can be replicated," Wind Whistler said. "Electricity and even these glowing crystals seem to be non-existent outside of the castle. After the fall of a mighty empire, several technologies are lost. Even a machine as simple as this requires infrastructure to be manufactured."
"Actually, the diamond dogs had some of those glowing crystals and use them for their lamps," Sparkler said. "They called them something quartz, but they were asking for prices more on par with diamonds. I guess I should have asked how they worked."
"The point I'm trying to make is I also believe whoever built this castle and whoever built the machine below us were too different civilizations entirely," Wind Whistler continued to return them to the topic. "The gap between the technical knowledge to build this castle and that chamber is astronomical. We're talking a difference of centuries if not millennia."
"Yet, they're connected," Moondancer said.
"By a secret elevator and apparently some electrical cables," Wind Whistler replied. "Likely, the builder of the castle discovered the machinery and built over it so they could control access to it."
"So the chamber is more advanced yet older?" Sparkler asked. "It's like this planet is moving backwards."
"Cataclysms have a way of doing that," Blueflower said. "War, natural disasters on a global scale, or a pandemic could bring down even the mightiest civilizations. The machine below our hooves is a relic from a dead civilization that a younger one commandeered in the past."
Crashing and rattling echoed around them, sending Sparkler clear off her hooves. Several overdramatic screams and comments were indicative of Heart Throb stumbling through the dark. The pink mare came into the light with a bucket on one leg and a mop on her head.
"That's a good look for you," Moondancer commented.
Heart Throb scowled. "I came to inform Blueflower she has a visitor."
"Who?" Blueflower asked.
"A brightly dressed man who calls himself the Wonderful Wizard," Heart Throb answered. "If you will excuse me, I will try to make it back upstairs and regain some dignity."
She pulled the mop off her head, and it took a couple of kicks to get the bucket off. She disappeared back into the darkness and did not go ten seconds before making a clatter. "Blasted castle going dark all at once," she grumbled. "I think I chipped my hoof polish, and there's no possible way to fix it here."
Blueflower brought Wind Whistler into her meeting with the Wonderful Wizard along with Galaxy and Magic Star. Galaxy and Magic Star made sense. Magic Star was her undeclared second in command and Galaxy was the leader of the Crystal ponies. Wind Whistler had been given no leadership position nor did she desire one. She was probably there to represent the pegasi and was the most levelheaded choice. Also, she was curious about this wizard and how he knew they specifically were here.
The man Heart Throb had described sat in the study with a lantern holding a crystal glowing at full power on the table next to him. He looked to them and grinned so broadly it forced his mustache up. "Thank you for seeing me."
"I am Blueflower, the leader here." Blueflower sat in the chair opposite to him. "Forgive the darkness, Wonderful Wizard. Our castle is suddenly running out of light."
"Please, call me Whizz," Whizz said. He looked at the poorly lit ceiling. "And I can see your problem. It seems your solei quartz is out of energy."
"Solei quartz," Sparkler said from the doorway. "That's what they were called."
"Yes," Whizz answered. "You'll need to change them out for another set and recharge this one."
"How?" Wind Whistler asked.
Whizz chuckled. "You really are new to this world. You simply set them out in the sun and they will absorb the light."
"Nice and simple," Magic Star said. "But, where is this other set? We need to get some light back in here now."
"There's a utility room next to the heat pump where they're kept in cases," Whizz answered. "This castle has at least three sets if I remember correctly."
Blueflower turned to Sparkler standing at the door. "Get Moondancer and find them. Then tell all the others to start replacing the crystals."
Sparkler nodded and disappeared from view.
"Anyway, now that your lighting crisis is on its way to being solved, we should get to the real reason I came here," Whizz said.
"How do you know us, or at least what we look like?" Blueflower asked.
"It's because this castle was previously owned by an old friend of mine: the Curious Curator or Curt as he preferred to be called," Whizz explained with a chuckle. "It was his lifelong project to restore this old castle in pristine condition again as a piece of history from the old Borean Empire. He even cast an environmental protection spell on it so the elements wouldn't degrade it."
He heaved a sigh. "However, he had become a very old man, and…while he was very good at preserving artifacts and buildings, there was nothing he could do to preserve himself."
"Sorry to hear of your loss," Blueflower said.
"He had been sick for a long time, so I had already gotten most of my grief in and his death came as more of a relief that his suffering had ended," Whizz said wistfully. "I still miss him, especially when I see something he would want to preserve for posterity.
"But the point is, while he was lying on his deathbed, he asked me to view the future of his castle," Whizz continued, apparently pushing his grief aside for now. "I gazed into my Magic Pool, and it showed me ponies from another world. You were particularly prominent in the visions it provided." He pointed to Blueflower. "Needless to say, we were both in disbelief. Still, I come by the castle from time to time to see if ponies were living here, and this time there were."
Wind Whistler was not sure if they should reveal what was under their feet. He might know, or might not. Then there was the issue of trust if he did not. "What can you tell us about the history of this castle? You mentioned it was a part of the Borean Empire."
Whizz nodded and sat back in his chair. "This was a summer castle of the Valkyrie Queens starting at the beginning of their dynasty. Some even say it was built before the main palace in the capital. Its precise location was actually a closely held secret, visitors were only allowed to enter and leave by the Bifröst. The Curious Curator only found by accident, and then he kept it secret because he wanted it to be completely refurbished before revealing it to the world. He had just finished too before he took ill."
"Why was it such a secret?" Wind Whistler asked. "If it was just a vacation locale, such a clandestine status would seem unneeded."
The Whizz shrugged. "They were a weird royal bloodline. Obviously they hid the location and nature of the Bifröst. Fortunately, because no one knew where this castle was, the harpies never found it to raze like the rest of the empire. All the solei quartz and electric machines were still here."
He turned to Blueflower. "Have you found the secret chamber?"
"What secret chamber?" Wind Whistler asked, wanting to make sure he meant what she thought he meant.
"The one just off the royal bedchambers," Whizz answered.
"I didn't even know there was one," Blueflower answered.
Whizz grinned. "Come with me."
Whizz led them up to the top of the keep and into the royal bedchamber Blueflower had claimed. It was much as Wind Whistler expected. It had the typical fixtures of a bedroom only more ornate. The bed had a canopy over it, and the wardrobe was much larger. The bed was perfectly made, and everything was spotless—Blueflower apparently being as much a stickler for neatness as Wind Whistler.
"I've slept in here for two nights already," Blueflower said. "I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary."
"Well, you might have missed this." Whizz went to a chess board and moved the two queens to the center of the board so they were in front of each other. The wall pulled in and slid away to reveal a wooden door.
Whizz opened the door to show the small room past it. "Old Curt took months to figure this puzzle out. However, it was worth it."
A gold tiara sat on a table with a pair of long, white gloves and gold slippers for a human woman. The tiara had a cluster of small diamonds in the middle of a flower made of gold leaf.
"Did these belong to the Valkyrie Queen?" Wind Whistler asked.
Whizz shook his head. "They're items Curt found elsewhere and decided to keep in this little alcove. The gloves and slippers are something you really need to see." He chuckled.
Blueflower stepped into the room and picked up the right glove to hang it on her leg. There was a ring sewn to the second outmost finger. "They're lovely, but they're meant for—"
She stopped when the gloves and slippers began to lose their form and reshape themselves into for gold horseshoes that went over the hoof with silver bows on the front. "As I live and breathe," Blueflower exhaled.
"They're magic as you can see," the Whizz said. "They change to fit an owner they accept."
"What can they do besides self-tailor?" Blueflower asked.
"Try them on and twist your right front hoof clockwise once they're all on," the Whizz said.
Blueflower put the shoes on her hooves. The one for her right front hoof was last. She twisted her hoof clockwise and suddenly vanished.
"Blueflower!" Magic Star blurted.
"Yes?" Blueflower's voice asked casually. "What is it?"
"You're still there?" Galaxy asked.
"Of course, it's an invisibility spell," Blueflower replied. "Let me guess, twisting my hoof counterclockwise will make me visible again."
The Whizz nodded.
Blueflower reappeared. "Nice. That could be really useful down the road."
Galaxy picked up the tiara with her magic. "What about this?"
"It's just a tiara Curt had made," Whizz answered. "He figured it would be fitting for a queen's secret chamber."
"If only we had the queen," Magic Star commented. "Or, well, princess in our case."
"Although she doesn't have an official title," Galaxy said, "Blueflower is the closest thing we have to one. She is female and our leader."
"Giving her an official title might even be to our advantage," Wind Whistler said, thinking about the possibilities. "If we are here for an extended period of time, we will likely encounter other civilizations in an official capacity. They would show us more recognition if our leader had a title."
Galaxy levitated the tiara next to Blueflower. "What do you think, Blueflower?"
"I am fine either way. 'A rose by any other name is just as sweet' and all that," Blueflower replied. "We can put it to a vote. I'll call a meeting into order once we have the solei quartz replaced. Maybe you can take the opportunity to discuss it with the others while switching them out."
Replacing the solei quartz went systematically. Priority was given to the chandeliers in the hallways which were narrow and of medium length. A couple pegasi would physically remove the crystals from a chandelier or unicorns would use their magic to levitate them out while new crystals were put into the previous chandelier. Quickly, the halls were once again lit so ponies could make it from room to room without worrying about tripping over each other.
Tasks dispersed more with different directions. Some ponies went on to chandeliers in the rooms of the keep. Others installed the small crystals in the sconces. Lamps and the lights in the servant's quarters were last.
Wind Whistler was among the team installing the new crystals in the northwest quarters along with Fizzy and Shady. Wind Whistler took a small case into a room and removed the crystals from the two lamps and light fixture. She then opened the case holding crystals shining brightly in mirrored holders, and placed them in the fixture and lamps. The old crystals went into the case, and she shut the casings around the new crystals before leaving.
"What do you think of making Blueflower our queen?" Fizzy asked Lickety-Split.
"As far as I'm concerned, she already is," Lickety-Split answered. "We just didn't put a crown on her."
"So, you're okay with it?" Fizzy asked.
Lickety-Split just shrugged in response and took up a case to head into another room.
Wind Whistler landed to pick up another case.
"It seems everyone here is okay with making Blueflower a queen," Fizzy said.
"Really, it is just semantics for us," Wind Whistler said. "Queen, princess, leader—what she is to us doesn't change that much."
"Right." Fizzy picked up a case.
Thanks to an efficient system, the castle was relit in a matter of a couple hours. With that done, everyone gathered in that room with the sloped floor and blackboards. Wind Whistler took a seat in the back row, giving her a full view of the room. Fizzy sat next to her, and Shady next to Fizzy.
Blueflower stepped up onto the platform and placed the tiara on the podium off to the side. She stamped her hoof, sending a hollow knocking sound throughout the room and bringing the attention of everyone to her. "Let's start with a sitrep on the solei quartz. Is every crystal replaced?"
"Right down to the last sconce," Sparkler said. "And as our guest said, there are three sets total."
"Good," Blueflower replied. "We'll put the old set out to charge tomorrow morning. Not now, we have other business.
"That business falls on me. You made me the leader of this little group," Blueflower said. "The question is if I should walk around wearing a tiara and be called 'Queen' for it."
Some hushed murmurs go through the crowd.
"I said this to Magic Star already, but not even Equestria has a queen," Applejack pointed out.
"The Crystal Empire did before Sombra conquered it," Galaxy replied. "Princess Cadance was installed as ruler by Princess Celestia upon its return."
"Equestria also did have queens early in its history," Blueflower said. "Let me tell you a little more about our history than probably most of you know.
"Before the Long Winter, the three tribes had different forms of government. The earth ponies would elect one of their burgermiesters to chancellor who served as their supreme leader. The pegasi had a senate until Commander Hurricane used the crisis of the Long Winter to institute martial law and military rule. Only the unicorns were ruled by a hereditary monarchy.
"When Equestria was formed, each tribe wanted to make their form of government the one for their new, united nation. The earth ponies and especially pegasi did not want leadership to be inherited, but the unicorns insisted on a royal position. A compromise was made, creating the position of queen as the supreme ruler of the land. It was a lifetime position, but it would not necessarily pass on to her eldest daughter. Instead, a new queen would be elected upon the death or, as it turned out to be the tradition, retirement of the previous.
"I suppose I would have to think of a new name as well since a new queen would choose a new, more regal-sounding name upon being crowned," Blueflower mused.
"There were at least three before Discord came, and after they overthrew him, Celestia and Luna were named rulers. Celestia preferred to be called princess, so she made that the ruling title.
"Also, since I'm not an alicorn, 'queen' would actually be a more appropriate title for my position as the leader of our little enclave."
"So, you're saying you should go all the way back to that?" Paradise asked. "I can already see my old history teachers retch at the notion."
"I don't doubt that," Blueflower replied. "However, the title of princess in Equestria has the advantages of being tied with powerful beings and has the backing of a hundred million ponies. We can fit our entire group into this room, and this world has powers we don't even know exist out there. Queen is a title that demands more respect, and we need all the respect we can get.
"However, enough talking about the history and what word to use," she continued. "Right now, we have the question of whether or not I should be referred to as a queen to answer. It would really change nothing regarding how we live our lives here. I am already the leader, and we agreed to run this as a direct democracy. A possible benefit pointed out to me is if we are here for the duration, having our leader called a queen would make our presence appear more legitimate to other governments who we might trade or ally ourselves with."
"I have no problem with calling you queen," Wind Whistler said.
"I don't either," Fizzy added. "Will you wear that crown?"
Blueflower chuckled. "Only on special occasions, and it's actually more of a tiara."
"It's been moved and seconded," Magic Star said. "Everyone in favor of granting Blueflower the title of queen signify by raising your hoof and saying yea."
"Yea," echoed through the room, and all in attendance raised their hooves. Though, a few were more tepid.
"Against?" Magic Star asked.
There was silence and all hooves lowered.
Blueflower picked up the tiara with her magic. "I didn't think it would be unanimous, but thank you."
"WAIT!" Heart Throb shouted.
Blueflower stopped and all eyes turned to the pink pegasus.
"You can't just put the crown on," Heart Throb declared. "We must have a coronation ceremony. Even if it's just a simple one."
Blueflower set the tiara down. "All right. I suppose we might as well do this by the book."
"If you're going to be our queen, what's the name of our land?" Galaxy asked.
"We could go by the old earth pony naming convention," Posey suggested. "Pony Land literally means Country of Ponies."
"Sounds a bit obvious," Cherries Jubilee pointed out.
Posey shrugged. "The old earth pony language was not much for subtly when it came to naming things."
"I found a map that shows this valley is on the northern edge of a dip in the Barrier Mountains," Paradise said. "It's referred to as the Morpheus gap, after a god of dreams."
"Dreams?" Blueflower asked. "I like the sound of that. We'll call this Dream Valley and this castle is Dream Castle. Though, our actual country will be Pony Land should it extend beyond it." She paused and grinned. "Just so that everyone knows what lives here. Any objections?"
All were quiet.
"Then I suppose we might as well put this tiara on my head the right way and do what you do with a newly crowned queen," Blueflower said.
The coronation ceremony was barely a ceremony. They just gathered in the ballroom, and Galaxy wrote up a quick oath based on the one for crowning the leader of the Crystal Empire. Buttons had also disappeared with Blueflower, Bow-Tie, and Ribbon into a room with some fabric.
Wind Whistler took her place along the edge of the carpet with Fizzy and Shady on either side of her. Some ponies were excited by the prospect, discussing amongst themselves in whispers with broad grins. Wind Whistler just saw it as the formality it was. Blueflower could just put the crown on her head and call herself queen.
They stood in line on both edges of the carpet to bracket the path to the throne. Galaxy stood next to the thrown with a sheet of paper suspended in her magic. Ribbon and Bow-Tie were the last to join, having gotten Blueflower ready, and took their position at the ends.
Blueflower walked down the grand staircase wearing a red cloak trimmed with white fur tied around her neck with a white ribbon and the golden shoes on her hooves. Buttons followed behind her. Blueflower's mane had been styled with the white streak braided, something that could be done quickly but looked elegant. The cloak also had a large 'M' under a crown in gold leaf sewn to the sides. Apparently, she had decided to go with a new name and it started with 'M'. She stepped up onto the platform and sat on the throne.
Wind Whistler and the others stepped out of their lines into rows so they could see.
"Oh, darlings, this is so exhilarating," Heart Throb swooned. "We're witnessing a real coronation."
"The absolute bare bones version," Paradise whispered to Cherries Jubilee, but Wind Whistler managed to hear.
Galaxy cleared her throat. "Blueflower, the ponies of Pony Land have bestowed their blessing onto you to be named their queen. As queen, do you swear on your very life and soul that you will give all that you have to defend and represent the ponies of this land and all that they stand for? Will you protect their peace and prosperity? Will you lend aid to those they call friends and ward off any who threaten them? Will you not squander their abilities or lead them in foolhardy jeopardy? Will you preside over a country that encourages the flourishing of culture and discovery? Since we have chosen democracy as our form of government; will you serve as its leader, advisor, and advocate; but not interfere with its process and defer to its rulings short of impending disaster? Will you carry out these aforementioned duties?"
"I swear on my very life and soul," Blueflower said.
Galaxy turned to the crowd. "Do you, those who would be this queen's subjects, pledge your loyalty to her? This is not simply following her commands blindly; but seeing to the welfare of her, her country, and her subjects to the best of your abilities. Do you pledge?"
"We do pledge!" everyone announced.
"As do I," Galaxy said.
She turned to Blueflower. "You have sworn to your duties as queen, and your subjects have sworn loyalty to you. Now, may I ask, by how you will be referred to as queen?"
"Once I am crowned, I will no longer be Blueflower," Blueflower said. "I will henceforth be called Majesty."
"Then, I hereby crown you Queen Majesty the First." Galaxy placed the tiara on Blueflower—no, Majesty's head. "Queen and sovereign of Pony Land and all who reside within its borders, as well as lady and mistress of Dream Castle. All the powers, privileges, and responsibilities of those titles are now yours."
The ponies stamped their hooves and cheered, "Long live Queen Majesty."
Majesty held up their hoof and everyone quieted down. "Thank you for this honor. Though, again, it really doesn't change anything. I could make a big long speech, but I don't feel like waxing on about being queen of thirty-seven ponies. However, I do want to point out the irony that we've gathered where most of us awakened just two days ago. We were completely lost, and while we are still in the darkness, we have each other. Never forget that even in your darkest moments.
"Anyway, let's go grab dinner. I'm hungry."
Wind Whistler could not help but grin at the end of Majesty's 'speech.'
"And dinner tonight is going to feature cookies for desert," Cupcake declared.
Whoops and cheers came from the crowd as it dispersed.
"Are we kind of surrendering to staying here?" Shady asked. "We just formed a government."
"We do not have a feasible means to return to Equestria at present," Wind Whistler answered as they joined the crowd leaving. "I wouldn't call it surrendering, but planning for a very real possibility."
Fizzy skipped along. "Besides, a castle needs queen. It just makes sense."
Blueflower—or rather Majesty—watched Wind Whistler walk up the stairs with Fizzy and Shady. She had just been named queen of all of these ponies, and that one still grabbed her attention. Perhaps it was because the young pegasus pony reminded her of herself at that young age. She was intelligent but extremely shy and reserved, even more so than Majesty had been. Even in a crowd, she was in a lonely ivory tower all to herself. That was where she kept her emotions and true self while most ponies wore them on their sleeve. She had lived in such a tower of the mind, and it made it very hard to really appreciate what was in front of your muzzle. So, seeing her with even just two friends filled her with joy.
After they disappeared from view, Majesty let it sink in that she was queen of this tiny country they had formed. Granted, it was a country headed for extinction unless they found stallions here or some way to create the next generation without them. That was even assuming they did not find a way home. Still, everything in this valley and those living there were her responsibility. It was a nebulous concept when they called her leader, but having a tiara on her head made it seem more real.
She left the ballroom and entered the study where Whizz was reading a book. "Good. You're still here."
"I wanted to pay my respects to the new queen." Whizz took off his hat and bowed deeply.
"Please, that isn't necessary," Majesty said. "I'll probably be getting my fill of seeing the tops of heads soon enough."
Whizz righted himself and replaced his hat on his head.
"I want ask you about us appearing here," Majesty said. "Are you responsible, or know what was?"
Whizz's mustache drooped as he frowned. "I'm sorry, but I don't know any more than you do. My Magic Pool only showed me you. I can't tell you how you got here. Do you wish to return?"
"I might have to give up this crown," Majesty replied, "but it's home. Also, I wonder how many ponies are out there. The crystal ponies arrived in a nearby desert, so we are probably not all there is."
"I don't know that either I'm afraid," Whizz said. "However, I will check my Magic Pool regularly and let you know."
They left the study and walked towards the main doors. "Aside from looking into a pool, what do you do?" Majesty asked.
"I'm a magical problem solver," Whizz answered. "I've made my home in a cave in the northern foothills if you ever want to stop by. Anyway, people come to me with magical issues and I solve them."
"Good to know," Majesty said. "What about Whizz as just a man. Do you play cards?"
"More of a backgammon player, actually," Whizz said. "I also like honey on toast." He licked his lips. "I've got a major sweet tooth."
Majesty chuckled. "We don't have any honey at the moment, but I think Sweetie is looking into getting some beehives. If she does, we'll send you part of the first batch as payment for your services."
Whizz waved his hand dismissively. "Not necessary. I'm just glad to see old Curt's project being looked after. Taking good care of this castle is payment enough."
"Then as a gesture of friendship," Majesty said.
"If you insist," Whizz replied. "By the way, you didn't happen to find what was under the castle, did you?"
Majesty stopped. "You know of the machine?"
Whizz nodded. "Curt found that old elevator, and took it down. He never got that thing to work, so he didn't bother even cleaning up that dust pit. However, that is very old technology, we both knew that."
"We believe it's what the Valkyrie Queens called the Bifröst," Majesty replied. "We managed to make it work."
Whizz exhaled a groan and stroked his beard. "It's even older than them. The columns like those found in the ruins of the Ancients."
"The Ancients?" Majesty asked. "That's a rather vague name."
"That's because little is known about them. We don't even know what they looked like," Whizz said, staring off into his own thoughts. "We just know they were very advanced and very old. Some say millions of years old. This planet is littered with artifacts and ruins from their civilization, but most of it is corroded bits and pieces."
"According to the Boreans, the first Valkyrie Queen was a handmaiden of their gods and received the Bifröst from them," Majesty said.
"No doubt that was the story given to them when she took power," Whizz said. "However, as we've come to know more about the Ancients' technology, I suspect what really happened as a woman stumbled across that machine down there and used its technology to make it seem she had the power of their gods. Regardless, if you have managed to get it running, you control one of the greatest powers on this planet."
"No wonder the harpies are after it," Majesty commented.
"The harpies?" Whizz gasped. "Those feathered devils are back in Boreas?"
Majesty nodded. "We've encountered them a couple times already."
"They haven't found the castle, have they?" Whizz asked.
"Fortunately no," Majesty answered. "However, they kidnapped a girl and are after her family's locket. It's what reactivated the machine."
Whizz placed his hand on his forehead. "Then they must have found the Valkyrie Queen's bloodline."
"I thought she died," Majesty said.
"She did, but her infant daughter disappeared," Whizz replied. "They believe she was sent to be raised a commoner. The harpies must have managed to track her bloodline."
He turned to Majesty, his eyes suddenly harsh and lips tight under his mustache. "You must use whatever you've found down there for good and protect it from those who would use it for evil. Especially those feathered devils. I don't know how you were brought here, but you appearing in this castle was more than just happenstance."
Majesty felt as if a weight had landed on her. Apparently that is what is meant by 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown,' she thought. "We will keep it safe from those who would abuse it. You have my word as queen."
Whizz's expression quickly lightened. "Then this castle is in the perfect hands, er hooves, um…pasterns?" He stroked his beard. "Whatever body part you use to hold things."
He pushed open the door and his flying carpet was still hovering over the stoop. "I must say goodbye for now. However, don't be a stranger, and know you always have a friend in the Wonderful Wizard."
He stepped on the carpet and it lifted off before flying away. "And pop those feathered devils in the kisser for me." Majesty waved until he disappeared over the cliff.
She inhaled and exhaled a sigh. This planet and even this castle just would not stop with the surprises.
Wantall drummed his fingers on the wooden table, contemplating the issue in front of him. He had been waiting for that old coot to kick the bucket so he could claim the castle. He finally does, and suddenly there is a whole passel of pastel ponies in it. Direct force was out of the question with that old unicorn, so he was going to have to get smart.
"Here's your sugar ale, sir." The waitress placed a large mug with a foaming, white head spilling over the top down in front of him.
"Thank you, my dear." Wantall put the needed silver coins plus the minimum tip down on the table, and the waitress slipped them into the pocket of her skirt.
Board beavers made up the entirety of the staff and majority of the clientele of this foothills tavern. The buck-toothed, flat-tailed, water rodents had pelts ranging from pale beige to brown to reddish-brown, to black. Most of the customers—board beaver and human—were lumberjacks wearing plaid shirts and stocker caps. He definitely stuck out in this crowd, but they seemed to not care.
The tavern had a constant smell of wood both from the debarked logs it was built from and the dinners of branches of leaves the board beavers were having. The few human customers were served lake trout, but Wantall was not in the mood for fish. He just wanted something sweet going down his gullet before going back to his home and his collection.
A collection that did not include that castle. He fumed for a second and grabbed the mug. He just got a mouthful of the sweet liquid when the door opened loudly.
Wantall put his mug down and turned to the door. Two creatures so tall they had to stoop to avoid the beams walked in. The board beavers dove for cover, and even the human customers backed away in their seats. The two bird women sat at a table.
The one with the vibrant blue hair held up her finger that ended in a sharp claw. "Two sugar ales, please."
Wantall went back to his drink.
"Sugar ales?" the other asked. "I need something stronger than that."
Wantall chugged a couple gulps of his sugar ale. He never understood the desire to consume a known toxin. Something sweet in his mouth was all he needed to take the edge off.
"Do you really want to go back to Talia empty-taloned and—" the first started to say.
"Okay, okay," the second responded, cutting the first off. "The last thing we need is another reason for Talia's wrath to come down on us."
"Besides, if you bothered to read the sign on the wall," the first fumed, "you would have seen this is a dry establishment anyway."
"I get the point!" the second snapped.
"We shouldn't be going into each other," the first said, trying to make herself calm down. "It's just been a frustrating day. We've been on the wing all afternoon and we haven't seen hide or hair of those blasted, rainbow-colored ponies."
Wantall was halfway through swallowing when he heard the p-word come up in their conversation. He instinctively tried to take in a breath but inhaled the fizzy beverage instead. He slammed down his mug and coughed as his airway cleared itself of the liquid. He quickly looked around to see of others had taken notice, but they seemed mostly oblivious.
He turned to the two creatures. They carried longbows and large quivers stuffed with arrows. Their hands and feet also ended in long, sharp claws. An idea popped into his head seeing these beautiful examples of predatory biology. The best part was he could get exactly what he wanted without lifting a finger.
Wantall stood up and strolled casually towards the two creatures.
"Can we get some service here, you bark-munching rodents?" The bird creature with blue hair slammed her fist on the table so hard it caused the salt and pepper shakers to jump clear into the air and clatter on the table.
The other picked up a pinch of the spilled salt and tossed it over her shoulder.
Wantall cleared his throat which was still being tickled by a bit of his ale. "Excuse me—my fine, lovely ladies. Forgive my eavesdropping, but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation especially with regards to a population of colorful ponies."
The two looked at him with glowers of irritation. Understandable since he was intruding. "And what would a tub of lard like you know about ponies?" the one with the blue hair asked with a sneer, looking him up and down.
Wantall allowed himself a cruel chuckle. What did he know about ponies indeed?