Grand Agora stood in the now empty Lunar library in the old abandoned castle observing the ceiling sculptures. The dim light of his lantern barely lit the large room casting dark shadows on the carvings. His light blue coat smeared with mud from the forest, and his light green-ish mane had chunks of branch in it. He wore a top hat and a collar, he was after all a pony of taste and influence. He was very out of place in this abandoned castle. He walked as if in a trance through the library and into the vacant barracks. The moon lit his path in here, but regardless he held fast to his lantern. To his surprise the door to the Lunar armory was left open. The light from the sky light lit up the small chamber rather well.

“What was in here?” he spoke aloud, his voice was stern, a business ponies voice. “What was it that you wanted?” he question fell on the empty room. He winced in pain. Placing hoof to his forehead he tried to force through the pain. “Was it the armor?” he shook his head. “The weapons?” again he shook his head. “The spells?” he shook his head harder. “Then what? The robes? WHAT?” he shouted at no-pony. His voice echoed through the vacant halls. “Oh, I see.” he went quiet and approached the far wall. He held up his lantern and noticed a indent where part of the carving had been removed. It depicted a scene of a pony holding something and some kind of spire, there was something coming out if the top of the spire as well. The object was missing and the carving of the pony and spire was mostly destroyed, and recently too. Agora was a trades-pony in antiques and he could tell fresh carving marks. “Something was imbedded here. Is that what we are after?” he nodded to himself. “I see, and now its.” he was struck with a sudden realization. “In Canterlot?” he slowly nodded to himself.

“Hello?” a voice echoed through the halls. Agora recognized it immediately.

“Princess Sparkle!?” he looked around panicked, as if just now realizing where he was. Deep in the Everfree forest and trespassing in the old castle. He recalled that Princess Sparkle had been doing research here. His forehead hurt. “You think of something!” he muttered.

“Is some pony in there?” Twilight entered the Barracks and spotted Agora in the armory. “You there! What are you doing down here?”

“Ah!” Agora quickly made up a story. “Thank goodness! I was traveling from Ponyville to Canterlot and I got lost, I saw some smoke and headed towards it, and I found myself in here.” he paused to see if she bought it. Twilight looked him over for a moment, he looked the Canterlot type.

“Okay, then we better get you out of here and back to Canterlot. Come with me.” Twilight turned away and began her walk back up top. Agora grinned and followed, his cover intact, now all he had to do was get to Canterlot, get into the castle, find out who defaced the carving, why, and find the object, if it still existed. Even with his station, this wasn’t going to be easy. It never is. He followed Twilight out of the ancient castle.

Agora’s house was large, a mansion really. Its gardens went on for what seemed like forever and its tall windows dominated the three story home. Everything was regal and expensive. He had made his living the collection and trade of relics and antiques. Many of which were of old technologies he had sold to those who knew of their value, at no small price either. He was a business pony, he knew that the bit controlled Equestrian trade, and nothing would stand between him and closing a deal.

“Welcome home master.” His butler, White Glove, greeted him at his door still rather disheveled and mud caked. “Would you like me to run a bath?”

“Quiet astute as always White Glove, yes, please, I am in dire need of a good soak.” Agora undid his collar, and moved to take off his hat but stopped.

“Your hat sir?” White Glove held out his hoof.

“Not I think ill hold onto it for now, ready the bath, ill wait in the den.” Agora held his hat down on his head.

“Very well, there is a fresh bottle of hard cider in the cabinet, Mister Macintosh delivered it while you were away master.” White glove took the collar and bowed to Agora as he walked past.

“Thank you, call on me when my bath is ready.” Agora headed up to his den. This was one of the larger rooms that overlooked the garden. It was lined with glass cases filled with treasures from all around the world. All sorts of trinkets, large and small were on display. Ancient talismans, ceremonial daggers, and decaying scrolls. But on his desk sat a domed container, suspended in it was a jagged piece of what looked like black bone. He entered the room and closed his curtains with his magic. Approaching the container and took off his hat revealing his horn. The very tip of which was red-ish, it almost looked infected. He bent down and focused on the bone piece, the red pulled off his horn becoming a black smoke. It floated over to the container and passed right through the enchanted glass. The smoke melded back into the bone and the red-ish tint appeared on it. “That was very unpleasant.”

Of course it was, your weak and feeble body cannot even handle what meager power is left in this artifact.

“I do hope you aren't stringing me along on this endeavor, that trip into the forest was quite a waste.”

Of course not Agora, once we have the artifact from the wall, then, and only then, will I be able to give you what you want.

“Trade Minister.” Agora beamed with the idea of running all of Equestria’s fiancés. He was at this point just a very prolific trader. He held weight but no real authority.

Of all of Equestria.

“What is the next step?” Agora asked pouring himself some hard cider.

We need a man on the guard, some pony, reliable. And loyal.

“I have just the pony, my nephew works on the guard, he is a lieutenant.” He took a swig. “he would do anything for me, loves me like a father.”

Good, then tomorrow you begin your search for the artifact. And soon my plans-

“Our plans.” He took another swig.

Yes, of course, our plans will begin.