Chapter 8

Twilight and the mare six followed Bakennanefu's guards into the chamber where Ahura Mazda resided. The room was full of even more symbols and treasures that were never before seen to the eyes of anyone from Ponyville. The floor of the room however was sand, compared to the marble floors that the other's treaded their hooves on inside the Great Pyramid. In the middle of the room, was a hooded figure that looked like a pony. The other's waited near the entrance as Crimson walked up to him and said, "Imi renpy-ek!". The hooded pony turned around and pulled back his hood. His hair was pure gray and his eyes were milky. What really amazed the ponies was that his skin was golden brown with red markings on his body. He smiled as he noticed Crimson's presence. "Ah. Desher Hemmu." He finally said in an old but prosperous tone. "Ahura Mazda." Crimson said as he bowed. That was the cue for the guards to leave.

"What brings you here?" Ahura asked in his language.

"The prophecy oh wise Ahura Mazda." Crimson said back in the same language.

"It that so?"

"Yes. I believe I have found our saviors." Crimson said as he pointed behind him. Ahura noticed both of them. "Come. Sit" he said in the pony's language. The ponies walked over to him and started to sit when Ahura interrupted and said, "I…in a circle please."

"A circle?" asked Twilight.

"Yes. In order for six to take another step further to mindfulness, you must have your soulwaves resonate with each other."

"Soulwaves?"

"With every heartbeat, with every breath, there is a soulwave that everyone is able to feel. You can use those soulwaves as well as your own to help you reach your element inside you. Feel it pulsing inside your bodies. Sitting in a circle with help you spiritually stabilize your awareness."

"But can't you help us with finding the elements inside us?"

"I'm afraid not." The expressions of all the ponies seemed to be surprised. "I've never been in a situation where you have before. But that is where all your actions must come into play. It is up to you whether you want to accept that is not just in you, but the element that is you."

"The element that is us?" Twilight asked before Crimson intervened. "As much as I'd like to be patient, I'd like for us to start our meditation." he said.

"Ah ah ah." Ahura Mazda said. "Crimson. May I remind you that if you focus on time, your ability to be meditate will be harder."

"Your quite right."

"This goes for all of you." Ahura Mazda stated as he closed his eyes and started breathing. The ponies looked at each other and shrugged as they began to close their eyes as well and began to meditate.

Rainbow Dash didn't feel like partaking in this at all as her desires told her. But she knew better about what was going to happen if she denied. Asmodeus was proof enough that something malevolent was occurring in the unknown world. But why? Why did any of this have to happen? But before she could think of anything else, she felt strange, as if she was weightless. Her eyes started to roll back before she slipped into subconciouss. The next thing she knew, she found herself standing in the middle of a single solitary rock. The air around her was cold and damp, as if she were touched all over by the cold hands of fate. The rock she was standing on was moist, almost moist enough that she could slip off it at any moment. She saw where she would end up if she slipped. The floor was completely black. At least she thought it was a floor, but when she extended her hoof out to reach, she felt nothing. Where was she? Everything around her was all black like a starless night with no clouds to show. As she stood there longer and longer, a dreadful feeling started to dwell up inside her. What else was she supposed to do? She didn't want to be in a black all dark and creepy. She didn't! She tried to resist it by saying to herself, "It's fine. It's okay. Twilight and the others are probably close by! There's nothing that can go wrong here right?" She kept convicing herself that until it seemed to be in vain. She then sat down on the slippery rock. "I'm not getting out of this place am I?" she accepted. She might as well just lay down on that rock for eternity. That was until she noticed something crackling on her right. In the darkness she could pick out thick branches growing out from under the rock to form a natural bridge. Rainbow Dash couldn't believe her eyes. What magic was this? She wanted to get out of that place badly enough but she couldn't help but thinking if it was stable enough to hold her own weight. "It's gonna be okay Dashie." she told herself as she was about to take a walk onto the branches. "All you have to do it just take one little step and…" All of a sudden the large, thick branches gave way to Rainbow Dash's weight sending her plummeting into the darkness. Her wings were of no use. She fell faster and faster until she came across what seemed like a pair of ghastly eyes. In an instant a pair of hideous teeth appeared from the darkness and instantly swallowed her whole.

Rainbow Dash gasped as her eyes shot open. She knew where she was now, back in the chamber or Ahura Mazda. Apparently she woke up the other ponies from their meditation except for Crimson and Ahura, who woke up by themselves. Ahura had a face that did not seemed pleased. "Your hearts are disturbed and your senses scattered." he said.

"You think?" Rainbow Dash intervened. "I was falling into some deep black hole until I was dinner! I couldn't even fly! How am I supposed to get into the Wonderbolts like this?"

"I've had somethin' similar." Applejack said. "But I just became stuck to th' bridge made of branches. The vines just kept holdin' me down."

"I was blocked by an entire tree up on that bridge!" Rarity implied.

"Big scary moths came out of the branches and surrounded me!" Fluttershy exlaimed. "They couldn't just leave me alone!"

"I was just stuck on the rock." Spike said. Ahura Mazda shook his head disappointingly. "You all have a long way to go before you fulfill the prophecy. If this keeps up, your spirit will never be at peace." He said as he looked towards Crimson. "I sure hope you've got what it takes for these ponies to reach the stage of Mindfulness."

"I have faith that they will Ahura Mazda. I believe they just need some time." Crimson Forge responded.

"They may do, but remember do not focus on time too much if you are to help them achieve." Ahura said just as Pinkie Pie interrupted.

"Wait a minute! I am so so so confused!" she exclaimed. "How can you be aware of time around you but not think about it? That's impossible!" Crimson smiled. "Nothing is impossible Pinkie. We call a situation like this a paradox."

"A what? A pair of socks?" she said. Crimson snickered. "No no. A paradox"

"I've heard you mention that phrase back in the Everfree forest. What does it mean?" Twilight asked eager to put anew definition into her vocabulary.

"A paradox is something that may seem impossible, but is as real as the sun and the moon." Crimson said. The ponies just nodded their heads. Ahura Mazda intervened by saying, "You may come in." Crimson at first didn't know who he was talking to, but as he turned around, he noticed the figure of Bakennanefu in the doorway. "I trust you had an interesting experience?" he asked Crimson.

"Indeed." he responded. "All thanks to the experience and wisdom of Ahura Mazda here." he pointed. Bakennanefu trotted over to Ahura and said, "Are you sure that these are the saviors of our prophecy?"

"There's no doubt about it." Ahura responded. "I'm just allowing myself to only become anxious at this moment because I am unsure how far they will get."

"How can you just allow yourself to be anxious? Doesn't it just happen by itself?' Twilight asked.

"Not nesccecarily." Crimson interviened. "Once I teach you all how to master your emotions with ease and know them like you know yourselves, then you will be able to become closer to mindfulness."

"Never mind being anxious." Pinkie Pie interupted. "I'm hungry!"

"Ah, yes." Bakennanefu said. "Of course. You all had a long journey here. You need good food and some rest. I will provide them right away. You can dine in my palace if you want."

"Really?" Rarity said.

"By all means." Bakennanefu responded in a gentlepony-like manner. "It is the duty of a king to serve his citizens as it is the duty of the citizens to serve their king. Without his peasants to feed and take care of, there is no need for king nor a kingdom. But first, I'll lead yo to our local baths and help you get washed up. You certainly must need one after that long journey. Come! Come! Let us feast!" Rainbow Dash felt honoered. "And I thought Rarity was the element of generosity." she said.

"Hey!" Rarity shouted out as Dash snickered. The ponies turned back towards Ahura Mazda. "Well, it's been nice meeting you Mr.…" Twilight paused for a moment. "Ahura right?"

"Yes. It's been nice to meet you as well. Until the next time." he replied as he went back into meditation.

The local baths near the Great Pyramid were quite a sight. The interior was entirely made up of red clay and white marble, all with lining colors like green, blue and silver. There wre three baths, one which was the local swimming pool which the ponies (and dragon) took a dip in, the other was a steam room, except instead of blowing hot steam, Crimson described that this one from the arts of alchemy blew a thing called "cool steam". No pony had heard of such a thing before, but it sure felt delightful. After that, they all showered up and headed to the mess hall. The mess hall of the Great Pyramid was huge, just about as large as Celestia's throne room. The square tables were made out of some of the finest wood all painted over in red. The seats were filled with feathers in them making them extremely comfy. On each table there was a huge bowl of dates, figs, watermelons, and other fruits. There were colored glass bottle full of olive oil, palm oil, vinegar, and small bowls of honey. Each of the ponies as well as the other guests and representatives of the Pyramid each had a plate with some of the most mouthwatering foods in the underground valley. There were steamed chickpeas, lentils, cinnamon-raisin bread with poppy seeds, deviled eggs with chipotle seasoning, and tomato soup. Crimson's friends never had tasted something so different in all their lives. Pinkie Pie gobbled down the food she ate so fast and with so much eagerness that her stomach began to hurt after two servings. Things were going smoothly. Crimson was telling his new friends a joke as he pounded his claw-hoof on the table. "*snicker* okay okay! So why did the broom feel so tired?"

"I give up!" said Pinkie Pie.

"Because he overswept!" He burst out laughing as well as the other ponies. Spike being the larger dragon that he now is almost fell out of his seat. Pinkie Pie intervened by saying. "Good golly, where did you learn to come with such good jokes?"

"Talent my friends, talent." Crimson responded with a goofy grin on his face as he took another drink from a seltzer. Twilight asked him, "By the way, you mentioned earlier that the room blowing cool steam was made up of some sort of alchemy. But I thought you said that stuff was only available at Mount Apexia."

"Funny you should say that." Crimson replied. "A couple of explorers form Mount Apexia actually traveled to here and discovered that this place was once a part of the ancient nation of Gladius before it moved underground. After that, they shared information with each other, including the arts of alchemy which they brought from Mount Apexia. It's just starting to take root here as we speak, so the cool steam room is new." Twilight seemed fascinated as both of them ate the last of their dishes. Crimson saw Rarity and Spike sitting close to each other enjoying each other's company, repaying it in smiles. Crimson couldn't help but look at that for a bit before Fluttershy tapped him on the shoulder. Crimson turned and said, "Those two sure got it all figured out."

"It truly does." Fluttershy replied as she sighed. "Crimson?"

"Yeah?"

"I know this is a bit random, but do you have a marefriend?" she asked as Twilight intervened and said, "Yeah, do you?" Soon the others were listening. Crimson thought for a minute. "Yeah. At least I used to."

"What was her name?" Applejack asked before the flame-haired unicorn sighed and smiled. "Iris. Her name was Iris."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Crimson said as he became lost in thought of the mare he loved. "She was named for her flawless golden eyes and her reflective iris's. But that wasn't the only thing that was beautiful about her. Her skin was nearly snow white and her hair, dear ancestors, it was a perfect shade of red velvet. Most stallions back at Mount Apexia wanted her so they sent pretty much everything from cheesy love letter to blatantly overpriced flowers. However, she was already attracted to me before I even knew at first. We developed a strong relationship and loved each other through and through." The others began to have a tender feeling inside.

"She sounds beautiful." Twilight expressed.

"Indeed she was." Crimson responded before Fluttershy asked, "You said she used to be your marefriend. Did something happen?" Crimson Forge's smile disappeared, but before he could explain, he heard a thundering noise from outside the pyramid. This noise sounded familiar. "Is something wrong?" Rarity asked. Crimson hesitated for a bit, but then sat back down. "Nothing. Must've been my imagination." he responded. But his imagination soon turned out to be real as the thundering noise sounded again and this time made the Pyramid shake. Crimson got up and headed to the entrance. "What is going on?" Twilight asked.

"I don't know." Crimson said as he exited the Pyramid along with the other ponies. "But we have to find out before…" Crimson paused as he heard the noise again. He turned to see a figure near the skyline of the valley at the top of the pyramid, silhouetted by the artificial sun. As he strained his eyes his worst thoughts came true. It was Asmodeus trying to destroy the barrier. Crimson was once again set on bringing his evil brother down. "Frater! Frater!" he shouted. Asmodeus noticed him and flew down to where he was. "Ah, Si non sit frater tuus. Habentem misellus de viis vestris?" he said. Crimson growled. "Don't you dare mock my ancestors!"

"Come come now. Don't be so hot-headed brother. Where's that mindfulness of yours?" Asmodeus smirked. Crimson calmed himself down. "Why are you here?" he asked.

"To give you a warning."

"A warning?"

"Yes. Now you hear as well Mare Six. You all must leave this place by tomorrow. Not at the beginning of tomorrow, by tomorrow. In other words, today. Or else, I will destroy the magic barrier in the sky and bring the sands on the surface crumbling down on this miserable city."

"You wouldn't dare!" Crimson said aloud.

"Oh but I would."

"Don't think that I won't stop you from doing so."

"Do you honestly want to take that risk brother? Remember, you don't have much time to get you and your pets to leave and save the world." Asmodeus said in a sarcastic tone of voice.

"What did you just call me?" Rainbow Dash said before Crimson put his hoof in front of her. "Stay back." he said. "Brother, I don't know if I can trust you on this, but you must swear upon your cursed magic that you must not harm the citizens of Phaeros once we leave." Asmodeus gave an evil grin. "Sure, but you may want to ask Bakennanefu to tighten his security around here." Crimson looked confused, his brother giving Crimson some advice? What was he planning? Crimson turned around to see King Bakennanefu behind him witnessing all that happened. "Alert the guards. Keep a sharp eye on Asmosdeus as he exits this land and keep an eye on that entrance."

"Much obliged. I wouldn't disagree." Bakenannefu said before he gave a signal to his guards to surround the wicked sorcerer as he continued, "Remember brother, I am watching." He pointed his hoof to his eyes and back to Crimsons then with the power of his magic used his cape as a pair of wings and took off. The eyes of the soldiers followed Asmodeus until he was gone. Crimson's lips were dry from the anger he felt against his evil brother. He turned to the ponies, and said, "Well, I guess we have to restock our backpacks and get going." Pinkie Pie gave a groan. "Really? After we just got here?"

"Didn't you hear a word of what Asmodeus said?" Twilight said. "He told us if we don't leave by tomorrow, he will destroy the city!" Pinkie Pie gasped as Crimson rolled his eyes. "Try to be a bit more mindful nextime, even in the prescence of danger." he said as he turned to Bakennanefu. "I'm sorry that we have to leave on a short note your highness."

"Not a problem. I will have your packs restocked in no time. Just relax at the village park while we are getting it prepared."

The Village Park was unlike any other. Instead of it mostly consisting of plants, it was a stone garden with many sculptures of animals ranging from crocodiles to birds. The ponies there found it scerene up to the point where the Phaerocian Guards came with their backpacks. Reflilled with some strange new food, a new map, and the same stuff that they brought with them from Ponyville, they set out. Pinkie Pie felt a wave of unsatisfaction as they came to what seemed like the back door to the underground valley. "And just when things started to look like they were gonnna be fun!" she exclaimed.

"I know. But keep moving and keep an eye out on Asmodeus. We wouldn't want to be caught exposed to his Imitatio Impostor." said Crimson.

"You think that's why he want's us to leave this place?" Twilight asked.

"Perhaps. But we have to heed his warning or else we would've put others in danger." He said before they came to a stone boulder. "Yafta." Crimson said which caused stone boulder in front of them to give way to a tunnel that led to the surface. The hallway was dark and moist. It was almost the same feeling as in the vision Rainbow Dash had during her meditation. Only a few torches lit the way to the hidden exit. At first, blinding light engulfed Crimson and the Mare Six as they returned to a more familiar sun and a more famliar sky. But what they came to was a most unfamiliar land. Around them was smooth rock red as clay with tiny plants sprouting in every other place. The rocks were all different heights. As they looked behind them, they saw that they were on the other side of the Dead Basin. Up ahead appeared to be a large plataeu. "That's where we need to go." Crimson said as he pointed to what seemed like a Canyon.

"Is that the Canyon of the Ancient Pillars?" Rarity asked.

"It sure it. But it is about sundown and the canyon is too far away to reach by dusk, so we are doing to need to camp a bit of ways for the night." The Mare Six followed Crimson across natrual bridges and ridges careful not to fall into nearby gullies. When they reached a spot Crimson said, "Alright, let's set up here." The others looked around but couldn't find any trees or plants strong enough to hold up their shelters. "How are we going to set up our tents?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"We're not." Crimson responded. "We're a sleeping under the stars tonight my friends."

Twilight lay soft in her sleep under the warmth of her sleeping bag encompassed by the forever expanding land that surrounded her and her friends. It was strange sleeping out in the middle of nowhere. A bit unerving yet peaceful as well. In the depths of her subconcious she embrace it until it was shaken by the voice of Crimson Forge. "Twilight. Hey Twilight, get up." Rubbing her weary face, Twilight blinked and saw Crimson smiling. "Wh…what are you doing?" she asked. Despite her vision being a bit blurry, she noticed that Crimson had woken the others up as well. "Can't ya let us have some darn good ol' beauty sleep?" Applejack questioned.

"Yeah, why not?" Pinkie Pe intervined. All that Crimson said was, "Look up." The ponies did. "Are you serious?" Rainbow Dash said, "I bet you a ton that there's nothing up there but…" She paused when her vision cleared up. Rather than being black, she saw the sky being lit up a deep blue. The mare six, had never seen so many stars in their entire lives. There were billions upon billions. The light they were radiating engulfed the sky and conquered the darkness of night. The ponies were awe struck. Normally, they'd just sleep through Luna's time of day, but this was something else entirely, a hidden treasure from an unexpected gifter, still sleeping in Canterlot. "Quite a sight huh?" Crimson said.

"It sure is." Twilight said.

"You know, this reminds me of an old story that my parents used to say to me before I went to bed as a little colt."

"What story was that?" Rarity asked.

"It's from my Celestial religion. According to legend, when a living thin dies, they ascend to the stars and join the ranks of our great ancestors. From there they keep watch over us. Countless homes for countless souls looking down on a world of coutnless possibilities. My mother told me that if I were to ever have a nightmare, the ancestors would come down and fight off the nightmares until their duty was done. I used to but both my brother and I right to bed. In a way, it was sort of a lullaby."

"Speaking of lullaby's." Fluttershy yawned.

"Ah yes, of course. We hike tomorrow, we're going to need our rest." Crimson said.

"Well, that settles it. Goodnight Crimson!" Rainbow Dash said.

"Yeah, G'night Crimson." Applejack joined.

"Goodnight girls…and guy." Crimson replied, "See you tomorrow morning. And don't worry, I'm sure the ancestors are watching over us as we speak."