The Timepony's Journal

Chapter 11 - Interference

Long ago, once every sixty years nine unicorns were selected to raise the sun and lower the moon since no other being of power could do so yet. The action of raising the celestial bodies ever day took an ultimate toll on the nine mages. As skilled as they were nothing could prevent their magic from being permanently drained by the sixtieth year of service.

Thus the Sancti Novem Trials were created to find the top of the class students for this task. The drainage of their prized elites took a blow to the land's moral. That's the reason why the Ball of Excelsia was created. Free of admission many came far and wide to attend the fabulous party.

After Celestia and Luna came to power the ball was almost deemed unnecessary. The princesses believed that the ball was a part of pony culture and kept it, renaming it to the Grand Galloping Gala. Admissions had to be instated as it was hard to fund such a party only on the crown's budget. It wasn't as grand as Excelsia, a ball so grand that its name echoed through history.

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The TARDIS softly materialized inside of the crystal cove. The walls were dank and musty, the only light being the torches that sat in their metal sconces. The door creaked open and Berry stepped out.

"Eesh, it's rather cold in here. Nothing but old scrolls, tomes, and trinkets. Must be around or during the Metal Dynasty at the very least. What do you think of it, Susan?"

Susan closed the door behind her.

"I think it's just a dusty old library. I never had much of an interest there. These funny scribbles look lovely though."

"Those must be the runes of the Alicornian scribes. We're in a temple of the Divine Race, which one I can't tell."

"You mean there's more than one?"

"Yes, but I wish I knew where we were. So many of these things will be long gone by the time Celestia and Luna come to power. How do I look?"

Berry was wearing a bronze and gold necklace encrusted with several jewels.

"Divine your majesty," Susan said as she knelt.

"Oh stop, stop. I really shouldn't be wearing this."

The door opens and an elderly unicorn in a crimson robe looked surprised. The three of them locked eyes with each other in a moment of both confusion and light panic.

"What're you two doing here?"

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The Doctor and Spark finally left the TARDIS, only a few minutes after the others left. The atmosphere was the same, but more disturbed.

"Now I wonder where they've gotten to, hmm? Always wondering around when it isn't necessary."

"It could be worse, could be the Daleks all over again."

"Please don't speak of them so lightly. Still, we need to figure out exactly where we are, eh. I'm sure Berry would know, always bragging about her history."

"That was her job you know."

Spark chuckled and opened the iron gate door into the temple. After walking a bit further they were greeted by unicorns in similar robes to the one Berry saw.

"Ah, you must be Susan's other guardians. We were expecting you to arrive soon."

Spark and the doctor looked at each other in shock. The stallions couldn't possibly know her name unless something happened to her. Lead out of the temple and into a dining hall they stayed alert for any suspicious actions. The room contained three tables. Two side by side, one for the nine foals and the other for the adults to eat. The third, however, was above the rest. Nine unicorns sat tall and regally, overlooking the entire feast. Before the two of them could react Berry approached them from the unicorns' table, doing a polite bow for both courtesy and show.