ToE Chapter I-3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaLOMAW_jzo

 

>You're now sitting inside Twilight Sparkle's house.

 

>Although everything feels a little small to you, the house is actually rather spacious. There are many shelves full of books. So, this is a library, after all.

>You're sitting at a table, which is mostly tidy apart from a broken quill, an empty ink bottle, and a two checklists.

>Twilight is looking through a cabinet on the other side of the room.

>"Ah, there they are!"

>She seems to have found the maps she was looking for.

>You watch as her horn glows with a purple aura, as an identical aura envelopes a few scrolls as they levitate out of the cabinet, and begin floating in the air next to Twilight... Strange.

>She returns to the table, with the floating scrolls in tow, then sets them down on the table.

>Her eyes then glimmer with curiosity as she notices the shield on your back.

>"Anon... that shield... Can I see it?"

"Oh, of course... Here, have a look."

>You take the shield from your back, and offer it to Twilight.

>Her horn glows again, and she lifts the shield towards her with, what you assume, is telekinesis.

>"Wherever did you find this?"

>Twilight asks, while she looks upon the shield with a faint smile.

"I found it inside and old castle in that forest."

>"Hm... I see."

>The shield floats back to you, and the aura disappears as you touch it.

>"It wouldn't happen to be... This castle, would it?"

>Twilight unrolls one of the map scrolls, and points to a drawing of an old castle, inside the forest.

>You take a second to look over the map, and trace the route you remember having took here, before responding.

"Yes, that was the place. Last night, during a storm, I hid inside it because of all the rain. I ended up spending the night there, and when I had a look around the place in the morning, I found that shield... Was there supposed to be someone living there?"

>You say, hoping you didn't accidentally commit a robbery.

>"Oh, no..."

>Twilight replies, with a quiet laugh.

>"...In the distant past, it was the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, but it's been abandoned for a long, long time."

"Hm, I see."

>"I'd hold onto that shield if I were you, Anon. Given how old it is, and the great condition it's in, it'll be worth a lot of money..."

 

>Twilight returns her attention to the map scroll.

"So, Anon, before you found the castle, which direction do you think you came from?"

>You look at the map, and realise that the route that lead you to the castle isn't on it, and in fact, the map ends just beyond the castle's location.

>You mention this to Twilight, and she rolls up the map.

>"Perhaps this map can be of more help..."

>She rolls out another map on the table.

>This map is much larger, and more detailed than the first. There is a small trail leading away from the castle, towards the river, and beyond.

>However, what is beyond does not look familiar.

"Well, you see, Miss Twilight..."

>You say.

"...I crossed a bridge somewhere around here..."

>You point to the approximate location of the now destroyed bridge.

"...However, according to the map, there's nothing but trees for miles beyond there. There should be a road, and a coastline, somewhere..."

>Looking a little confused, the purple pony rolls up the second map, and levitates a third, huge map, onto the table, and slowly unrolls it.

>"How about this one...?"

>The largest map depicts not only the surrounding regions, but, from the looks of it, an entire continent.

>And not one bit of it is even remotely recognisable.

"......."

>"Well?"

"...I'm sorry."

>"Huh?"

"I've never seen any of this before..."

>"......."

>"I see..."

>Says Twilight, looking very confused and even a little bit upset.

>Then she begins to whisper.

>"I wonder how you could have....."

>Twilight looks at the floor, then the window, then the map, then back to you.

>*Sigh*

>"Anon, would you like something to drink?"

"Water, please."

>"Alright, I'll be back in a moment..."

>Twilight walks towards the kitchen, looking somewhat disappointed in herself.

"Miss Twilight."

>She pauses, and looks back over to you.

>"Hm?"

"You tried. Just because you hit a brick wall doesn't mean it's the end of the world."

>"Hm... I guess not."

>She says, her disappointment fading slightly, before continuing toward the kitchen.