Great Stare blew off the dust from a large, canvas bound book. When he opened it, a stale, musky smell filled the dark-lit interior of the town archives. The four Ledomaritans hovered around a table beneath a tall window.
"I've made sure this didn't get sent back to the central library on four consecutive occasions," Great Stare said. The buffalo smiled and looked towards the other three. "I think it's important that we keep a piece of history around us at all times, regardless of how obscure."
"Nothing obscure about it," Pilate said as he trotted up evenly with the tome. "It's more an issue of heresy."
"What do you mean by that?" Little Breath asked.
"The book predates the Age of Sparklight," the zebra explained as O.A.S.I.S. hovered over the open book before them. "Back then, the Confederacy was Byssomare. Queen Bysso felt that any old documents and books that proclaimed beliefs contrary to the Divinity of the Great Spark needed to be erased from public access."
"Alas, any excuse for purging," Great Stare said with a heavy exhale. She looked at Bellesmith. "The more work I do here on the surface of Blue Shellf instead deep within, the more at ease I am. I frankly don't know how you handle it down there."
Belle was staring out the window, at the blue sky and the wispy clouds. She bit her lip as her eyes narrowed.
Great Stare leaned forward. "Bellesmith...?"
"Hmm? She looked over at him. "Oh. Yes. Blue Shelf. It's... well... it's my job to do for the Queen..."
"Are you feeling alright, Belle?" Little Breath asked. "You seem distracted..."
"My head has been through the wringer lately," she muttered, running a hoof along her brow. "What are we looking at, Pilate?" she asked.
"This is the 'Book of Earth,'" Pilate said. "It's a translation of a translation of an ancient text that was native to this region and the land north of us. I've read it multiple times. I find history to be quite fascinating, especially when told by the cultures are no longer around. In this case, we're talking about the land of Bethlem, which took up nearly half of the modern day Confederacy."
"I've heard that word before," Belle said. "The Caribou back in Mountainfall would speak of it."
"It's believed that the Caribou dominated a great empire that spanned these lands," Great Stare explained. "It was over five hundred years ago, of course. It could very well have been Bethlem."
"What's interesting is that there are many writings concerning ponies in this text before us," Pilate said as the glowing sphere spun a low orbit of the group. "O.A.S.I.S. Scan." The ball shone a light over the book as he slowly flipped through the age-stained sheets. Golden letters and old engravings reflected the manalight. "And ponies didn't enter this region until a little over three hundred years ago. The desert to the west was always a barrier against equine migration, and we all know that the proto-Xonans arrived from the southern seas."
"This is all very intriguing, beloved," Belle said. "But what does it have to do with the two symbols that I showed you?"
"Because, if I am right..." Pilate murmured as he came to the middle of the book. "Ah. Here we are," he smiled as the runes on his plate pulsed, resonating with the information that the sphere's scan was relaying him. "This is the chapter dealing with the foundation of the world."
"We're going into ancient religions, then?"
"More or less," Pilate said as he ran his hoof along a page. "You see, there's a common thread in almost all lore. It deals with 'winged angels' that scattered themselves across the world, blessing lesser mortals with their eternal glory. It was said that their manes shimmered with cosmic brilliance, as if they were a gift from the stars."
"Sounds like you're describing alicorns," Great Stare said.
Belle flashed him a look.
"It would explain the subject of ponies," the zebra remarked. "If alicorns existed in this region five hundred years ago, then that might explain why the Bethlemites wrote about them." He flipped a few more pages. "And... Yes—Here, we have what should be a list of titles and offerings. But, as you may notice, there should be an illustration on the right page."
"Yes, Pilate," Belle remarked, leaning over to see.
"It would take O.A.S.I.S. a long time to provide me a mental picture. Could you describe it to me so I'll know if it's the one I saw months ago the last time I read this?"
"It's an engraving," Belle said. "It shows two reindeer standing on what looks like a pine forest on the edge of a mountain."
"Sounds like Blue Shelf!" Little Breath remarked with a smile.
"Could be. Could just be any other landscape," Belle said.
"I think it's coming together now," Pilate said, gazing blankly ahead as he raised a hoof. "Tell me, is there what appears to be a sun in the top left corner of the picture?"
"Top right corner," Belle said. "But good memory, regardless."
"Notice anything different about the sun?"
Belle squinted. After a few seconds, she remarked, "I... think so..."
"Do tell..."
"The illustrated sun is a perfect circle, and yet only half of it has these flaring lines to suggest sunlight."
"That's rather lazy of the engraver, now is it?" Pilate remarked with a smirk.
"What are you getting at?" Great Stare remarked. "It just looks like a normal illustration."
"The last time I perused this book, I faintly remember there being something odd in this illustration—something hidden, as a matter of fact," Pilate explained. "Just now, my beloved showed me two images from her mind that had been left there after her sequencing in the facility. I could have sworn I saw those symbols before."
"You think they're hidden in the engraving?" Belle asked.
"More like beneath it, beloved. You see, O.A.S.I.S. can capture more than just the surface of things."
"I'm well aware."
"Tell me. Do the edges of this page look frayed in any way?" Pilate asked. "In a consistent fashion?"
"Why... yes..." Belle remarked. "Yes, they do."
"Do you think you can... tug at the edge of the leaflet?"
"Wouldn't that rip the ancient sheet?"
"Humor me."
"Uhm..." Belle's eyes crossed on her stubby horn, then glanced at her clumsy hooves. She cracked a smile, "I wish I could, beloved."
"Here, allow me." Little Breath leaned in with an outstretched forelimb. "Sometimes, it helps to be cloven hoof."
"I'll take your word for it," Pilate said, waiting patiently.
Belle and Great Stare watched as the female buffalo carefully pulled at the frayed edge of the sheet. Quite easily, it peeled away, and a mutual gasp filled the air as a hidden page was revealed beneath the engraving. Several geometric symbols and patterns lit the air.
"They're... hieroglyphics?" Great Stare remarked with a furrowed brow.
"Something that undoubtedly would have been considered heretical under Bysso's regime," Pilate said proudly. "I'm guessing that's why it was covered." He turned his head towards where Belle was seated. "Beloved? See anything?"
She hung over him, staring with her jaw agape. There were several symbols on the page, but two in particular had stolen her attention.
"Austraeoh..."
We went an entire story without even hearing it and now Austraroh is practically spammed at us, and while we think we know what Austraeoh is, do we? Do we really?
I'm curious about the other symbols. Nice touch with the sun being on the right (east) side of the illustration, not the west.
Is Pilate...blind?
1584943
Yes. Sort of a nice metaphor for the reader if you take into account the love of reading and knowledge.
I've finally caught up with the story!
I'd like to think that the next few chapters will reveal new information about Austraeoh and the rest of the symbols, but I suspect that more questions will be asked than answered.
What I'm curious about is will we ever get to the Midnight Armory? Or is that completely irrelevant now?
Governor Mintelle can go back in time?
On a more serious note, it's starting to seem like the alicorns have had a prophecy of the end of the world and, more specifically, the pony/ponies who could stop it. Makes Celestia's ignorance during her talk with Axan seem odd. If that knowledge was bequeathed to ponies thousands of miles away from Equestria, you'd think the Princess of the Sun would have at least heard of it. Luckily Whitemane is around to pick up Celestia's slack in the knowledge department.
1584943
Also, it may or may not be a metaphor for how even Pilate, the greatest of our overanalysis group, cannot see what will happen next.
The government seems a lot like "The Party" from 1984.
Iron Maiden - Total Eclipse
I miss Dashie...
Hmm, this is definitely more of an information chapter than anything. I didn't see any subtle hints at hidden meanings other than the revealing of the symbols.
Now I wonder if the other symbols will be revealed to us, or whether he will introduce them individually as the story progresses.
1585948 I miss her too dear friend...
Soooooo...
Austraeoh, the symbol, is part of an ancient hieroglyphic alphabet, unknown to ponykind for many years. These other glyphs in said alphabet, they must be very significant. Perhaps some are the other elements of harmony? Or is Austraeoh separate again?
Well, we will find all of this out.
Right?
Onwards!
1585670
Ledo thinked plusgood postreading.
Imploding Colon goodthinking ficdepman.
1586615
Perhaps the Austraeoh symbol, the Eljunbyro symbol, and any other significant story-related symbols (I expect that this will probably end up a trilogy, but that's just me) are part of the hieroglyphic alphabet, but had significant runic importance, too. As in, the symbols Austraeoh is a part of are all MAGICAL letters, separate from the rest. Or something. Either way, they're old and magickey and known to be really powerful, meaning you wouldn't use it as a regular letter in spelling or writing.
1586724
Maaaybe...
But aren't most magical languages at least partially derived from an even older language? These glyphs I think are an example of this. In a time before time, they were used as a language for magical related things. However in a time before this time before time, I think said glyphs were used as a regular language.
Whatever the case there is a LOT of history behind these glyphs, and it will be interesting to find out.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Blue shelf full of 'sentries' that can monitor audio? You'd think that they would be picking up on this conversation. . .
Heh, potential looming conflict aside, it was good to see a little bit more of Dash come through there, as well as some more exposition, that isn't really exposition because we are kept in the dark about it all still . I can empathise with the character Pilate on that note, however at least he, like the real one, is willing and able to read more deeply into everything . Bit of a Tiresias figure.
Also, Alicorns only came to the region 500 years ago? Jeez, Celestia needs to get out more, although it does make me wonder who the other Alicorn could be (possibly Whitemane) and if there are any new ones yet to be seen.
1584943 i think he is, i think O.A.S.I.S. makes a magical image for him
Well, Austraeoh sure is geting a lot more mention here than in the story titled Austraeoh.
I'm definitely going to reread all of the Austraeoh stories from start to back when this is all over.
1584953
It also makes an excellent reference to you. You can't see the plot no matter how you try.
I imagine you're still closer than everyone elese, though.
Oh, man... I've been getting lazy. Better catch up and STAY caught up.
After Background Pony... I need this.
So. The story. Am I sensing the makings of a possible rebellion in the works? Probably not, but onward nonetheless!
Friggen Austraeoh, what are you? Is it wind? And there was a mention of the book of earth? Four elements, maybe? Or the six Elements of Harmony? I think it was in Crisis: Equestria that Dash's Loyalty was equated to wind - how if it was at your back all you endeavors were easier, or something. Belle's still pretty out of it and doesn't seem to be getting any better. Dash appearance soon? Hard to say. Anywho, onward!
1585948 we all do.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So we get to see the ancient Austraeoh symbol here in an ancient manuscript. But I've started to wonder...this Austraeoh, as well as the supposed Eljunbyro, symbol existed a long, long time ago. So why does Austraeoh pertain to Dash if it's also the symbol? Or does Austraeoh represent the pony who enters the Machine via that symbol? If so, and if Belle is Eljunbyro, then she would enter the Machine by interacting with her symbol on the door, since she saw many different symbols on said door. Just thinking out loud. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
dash is due west of ledo AND the pendant is sending out some sort of signal to belle! dash isn't dead! fantastic!!
although, how does whitemane play into it?
1828580
I think of prophecy, Austraeoh is the name of the chosen one to re-animate the machine to keep the world turning.
We seen Axan whining and complaining about the world ending because of how the machines are not functioning and how there's no spark for it. Then we see her calling "Austraeoh", realizing that Rainbow is the chosen one. She, sort of, helped her moving east to a nearby village so that Rainbow would have the help of another predestined sbject, Eljunbyro, to help her dash forward into the East.
Now my question is, how did Rainbow Dash gets to be chosen as the one?
Oh please please please don't tell me humans built the Machine.
In an interstellar burst... I am back to save the universe!
Guess who is back, bitches!
Got some more Floyd, got some more time...
Aw yiss!
2711350 Do you happen to live near California? We should have a listening party sometime.
2195178
>work I do here on the surface of Blue Shellf instead deep within
It gets deeper... Why is Austraeoh in this age old book? That came from before Dash's time? Was Dash chosen by Austraeoh to be the Spark, maybe? So many questions, so few answers!
2711350
Back in black!
Now what happens next?
The mystery dives deeper.
Well this seems like an important book.
Austreaoh is like the Dragon from the Wheel of Time. A hero that comes again and again to save the world.
Or Link, from Zelda. Both work.
Ancient books with hidden pages! Are we throwing a little bit of Atlantis: the Lost Empire into the mix now?
Probably not, but that was still a really good movie.
Now they've gotta infiltrate the Fifth Labratory to find the Austraeoh symbols.
6497220
All this talk about spheres and ancient keys to the gates beneath the world, there is already one like that, he knows the gate, he is the gate and the key and the guardian of the gate. Past, present and future are known to the spheres.
Now we just need to learn that there are 10 gates connected to each other
Perhaps this signifies the half of the world that is under the sun / moon's protection, and the other that is bathed in perpetual chaos / darkness?
World building time!!!!
04/20/2017 02:00 UTC
Welcome to The Da Vinci Code/ National Treasure.
Man, I'm getting so anxious from all these italics...
And once again if the Emperor had a Text to Speech Device ruins something for me with its memes
08/04/2019
14:59 UTC
oh my GOD i love this cryptography shit