The dirt flew up from the ground with every hit of my hoof as I walked along. We had buried Phalanx not too long ago, and everypony seemed visibly shaken, even my father, who hadn’t been on the best terms with him. Unfortunately, I started to realize just how much of a good pony Phalanx really was, which only served to twist the knife. But something told me not to try to forget about him, I don’t know why. Scootaloo brought me out of my thinking, asking a good question. “Why would Rabil come here, I mean, he’s not that ignorant.”

“Maybe he needed something, like the Alicorn Amulet.” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“Ah doubt it, considerin’ the fact he seemed tuh not really need it.” I finally said, abnormally fast, though.

“It could’ve been just tuh mess with yer mind, Apple Bloom.” I heard Big Macintosh say, and I had forgotten he was there. “Ah wouldn’t be surprised if that was the whole reason.”

I knew it was partially that, but there was something else, something I felt like I knew. We continued our walk in silence, and when the sun began its descent, Rainbow Dash stopped. “There it is,” Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof in a direction, “Canterlot.” Past a row of trees, in the distance, Canterlot was there. It seemed no different than the last time I saw it, until I noticed all the additional fortifications.

“How are we going to even get in there?” Spike asked with fear in his voice.

“Remember that the main force is going to attack it, which leaves us with an opening through the old crypt.” Shining Armor stated. We had gone over the plan dozens of times, and even though it seemed a bit daredevilish, it was the most likely to work.

“So that’s why we’re going on a mountain path rather than the main road?” Diamond Tiara asked, seeming sincere, something I wouldn’t have believed a few weeks ago.

“Pretty much.” I replied.

“I think we’re just about there... Yep, the stone is right there.” Shining Armor said, pointing a hoof towards a seemingly normal rock. I noticed it had writing on it, which I walked up to read.

Here is the point where those who have passed on, begin their true ascent.

I looked down at the main path, and after a moment, the preplanned signal for us to enter the crypt went off, the green flame illuminating the early night. Cadence walked up to a section of the wall, and started reciting something; “I am one who does not fear the gone, one who will not create unrest. I swear upon my honor and my head, never to disturb the dead.” She said, and a part of the mountain disappeared to show an entrance.

“Talk about creepy...” Scootaloo said, as we walked in. “Who is this crypt for?” She asked. Cadence replied to Scootaloo’s question, but it seemed to only bring more.

“It’s the Crypt of the Old Ones, only some of the Royal Guard, and all of the alicorns, know of its existence.” She explained as we walked past a crumbling stone coffin. “When Equestria was first founded, they discovered it within the mountain, and when the founders had died, they were buried here.”

“What about the thing ya recited?” I asked, stepping around a sharp stone jutting up from the ground.

“One second,” Cadence said, and she lit up her horn. “That’s the oath that unseals the Crypt, Celestia put it in place I believe. Though I don’t think she came here a lot. Hardly anypony does.”

“I wonder why.” Scootaloo muttered sarcastically. We found ourselves at the top of a ruined stone staircase, and we started walking down.

“These stairs go down for a while, though there are a lot of landings.” Cadence noted as we walked down, occasionally avoiding a broken step. “This one is by far the most intriguing.” She gestured towards what seemed to me like a door. “It was one of the few crypts found when the whole structure was discovered.”

Twilight seemed to take interest, and asked, “What’s so special about this one?”

I was fine with taking a pit stop, and nodded to Cadence, who answered her question. “This one is the only one they’ve never been able to open, much less fully decipher.”

“Now what do you mean, fully deciphered?” Scootaloo asked.

“The writing here is mostly ancient Equestrian dating from the pre-tribal ages, and we’ve figured out how to translate it, but these,” Cadence pointed towards some symbols, “have never been fully deciphered. There’s nothing similar in any known language.” I looked closer, and one of the symbols seemed to be a rectangle with an open end. “From what’s been deciphered by the few archeologists allowed in here, is roughly this: ‘Beyond this entrance, lies... to another... beyond our own... may only be entered... by those chosen.’ That is taking into account some of the chipped off parts, but the unknown symbols are after the writing I just told you.”

“Where’s the other symbol?” I asked, and Cadence pointed towards another section of the entrance. When I looked at it, it depicted something that looked familiar surrounded by some glowy thing. I realized where I had seen the symbol, and what they meant. “Is there anythin’ that seems like a mechanism near here?”

“Just two circles which seem like platforms,” She gestured, “But nopony knows their purpose.”

“We should probably get moving, just saying.” Rainbow Dash reminded us, but I replied to her a bit harsher than I would have liked to.

“Just wait a minute!” I responded, “Scootaloo, stand on that one. Sweetie Belle, stand on the other.” They both nodded and walked over, standing in their respective spots.

“Are you thinking it’s designed for you three?” Shining Armor asked, seeming genuinely curious.

“Maybe. Guess we’re ‘bout tuh see.” I responded, and looked at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. “Scootaloo, try, Ah don’t know, focusing on opening the door.”

“I’m not a unicorn, you know.” Scootaloo said, seeming to be a bit doubtful.

“Just do it.” I replied, and she huffed a bit, and closed her eyes. “Sweetie Belle, sing somethin’ fitting, like if ya were to make a film of this.” She seemed to have the same reaction as Scootaloo, but she didn’t reply, proceeding to hum something.

“Well, we’re just standing here, while the others are probably getting slaughtered.” A guard reminded us, but I looked at him.

“Just wait a minute.” For a second, I saw something, a flicker of light from around the two circles but it seemed to move towards the wall, specifically the symbols. Nothing happened for a few seconds, but then it seemed like the ground itself was inhaling, and the door shifted downwards. Waiting for us wasn’t some other worldly portal that I had been slightly expecting, but a simple room, with a chest in the center.

“Okay then, ancient crypt designed to be opened by three fillies who are supposed to defeat some ancient evil god, somehow, I’m not surprised.” Another guard said, but Shining glared at him. “Hay, it’s true.”

I walked towards the chest, and the ground felt smooth, entirely different from the ground outside this particular room. I opened up the chest and waiting there was a piece of paper. “A piece of paper!” Scootaloo said in disbelief, I hadn’t noticed she had walked up as well. “I thought it would be like some weapon or something!”

I picked up the paper, and on it simple text read:

“Not all that appears corrupted is evil, and not all that appears pure is good.”

Now what in the hay was that supposed to mean? It seemed like now instead of specific details, I was getting vague hints at things. “Let’s just get going.” I grumbled as I started walking down the stairs, but a second I thought I heard somepony’s voice say something.

“It’s right you know.” It seemed like my conscious was talking to me, but I just kept on moving. Eventually after a few more landings, we reached a main floor.

“This is it, the entrance into Canterlot is right through here.” Cadence said, and Shining Armor looked over at his remaining guards.

“Helmet, Dagger, guard this entrance, we may need to use it.” Shining ordered, and they snapped off a salute. Cadence used a spell to shift the door open, and as we walked out we were indeed in the middle of Canterlot. Then I realized a whole bunch of armored stallions were standing there, seeming to expect us.

“Looks like your journey is at its end.” I heard Rabil cackle.