1.1

Canterlot shone in the sun. From its mountain side perch, the city was that of a rare gem in a miner’s lucky vein. The spires of the castle gleamed like reflections on a diamond. The high sun brought a quality to the white city unlike an opaque dream. Princess Celestia sat in her observatory in a deep trance. Surrounded by open books and scrolls, endless pieces of parchment and artifacts used for observation, it was clear her studies had reached an apex. Above her was a massive glass ceiling that the sun poured through. Over-sized magnifying lenses connected on an enormous circular apparatus lined the sky way. Book shelves covered her walls of the circular room.

She broke her trance with a look of determination. She willed magic to move an enormous lens, trimmed in gold across the glass ceiling. The day’s light shone through the glass dome, but under the lens, the night sky appeared, bathing Celestia in the moon’s light.

After peering through the lens, she wrote down a few measurements. She smiled and shifted another, slightly smaller lens in front of the previous one. This lens brought insight into a world unknown. Celestia continued gazing and shifting lenses periodically for some time. Her magic lenses allowed her to see peer into different worlds and dimensions.

A pink unicorn with a purple and white mane entered the observatory later during the night. She brought with her a letter.

“Princess, I have news from Trottingham,” said the unicorn.

Celestia shifted the great lenses back into their original resting positions.

“I hope it is good news Lady Rhyme,” answered the princess with a tiny hint of impatience.

“Royal Navy won’t allow a higher levy. He claims that he is pressed for ponypower and cannot send aid to Manehatten or Baltimare,” explained Rhyme, “I’ve seen the damage and it is vast.”

“I understand…” replied the princess thoughtfully, “Send them our second pegasus wing. Canterlot is safe and we can afford the sacrifice. Tell Lord Navy that we need those ships to get supplies to the other cities. In this time of crisis, we need to come together to overcome.”

“Most merciful your highness, I’ll dispatch that message with haste.”

“Before you go Lady Rhyme, may I ask you something,” inquired the princess.

“Anything, your highness.”

“Come here and tell me what you see.”

The princess brought the great lens down so that Rhyme could see what Celestia saw. Shifting down three smaller lenses, Rhyme gathered the image. Celestia closed her eyes and braced herself.

“I see a pony,” Rhyme said, closely studying the lens. She paused for a second, “Why? What should I be seeing?”

“Look closely, what else do you see?” Celestia prodded.

Rhyme studied the pony closely, taking in every detail of the picture. The pony was just lying on the ground in an unassuming position, so still she wasn’t entirely sure she wasn’t looking at a photograph.

“Maybe this will help,” Celestia said swinging a lens in front of the previous ones to allow anew filter.

Rhyme gazed through this new, royal blue lens and saw that the pony disappeared.

“I see nothing now, Princess,” Rhyme said enthusiastically.

Celestia peered through the lens and frowned. She turned to Rhyme and shrugged.

“Oh well, it seems like I still have work to do on this lens. However that will have to wait until later, these next few days will be busy so we better get some rest,” the princess explained cheerfully. Next Chapter: 1.2 Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 6 Minutes