N9Kp3X8j

1>As far as any study into the old human ruins have shown, there are only three kinds of automatons left behind by the enigmatic and sadly extinct race
2>Part One: The Workers
3>First there are the smallest, weakest and most numerous bots
4>Known simply as Worker Bots, to this day they can still be heard wiling away the days in the mines that can be found deep in the ancient human cities
5>It is speculated that they are collecting precious metals and other crafting materials, to use in the maintenance of the city and it's systems
6>(Authors Note: See “Part Two: The Mechanics” for further details)
7>Though perhaps it would be more accurate to say they are wiling away an eternity
8>For as long as there have been excavations into these cities, there have been reports of the distinct sound of the Man Iron of the Worker Bots' inbuilt pickaxes beating away at the veins of stone and ore
9>Whether the bots have been sustained by an infinite and renewable power source that ponies have yet to find, or if these bots have been programmed to create a new worker to replace them after a certain amount of time has passed, has been the cause of many a heated debate amongst pony scholars since the first discussion about this ancient race
10>I can't help but wonder if perhaps the Humans, in all their unfathomable logic, saw their end drawing near and so left their metal children one last gift
11>Life
12>Perhaps their intention was to let the bots roam the world beyond and see them live rather than serve
13>Perhaps the Humans did not see how fast their end was approaching and were unable to code freedom into them
14>Or maybe the Worker Bots refuse to leave their mountainous homes, for they hope that one day their parents shall return, and they do not wish to see them return to ruins
15>Both of these possibilities make me feel a sadness towards these husks of metal I can't put into words
16>If only we could meet them, analyse them
17>But sadly they have only ever been heard
18>No researcher or excavator has ever been able to so much as catch sight of one due to three obstacles
19>Their advanced knowledge of the intricate pipe systems that lay deep in the walls of the old Human cities
20>Their heightened sensory modules, and finally
21>Their inability to fight
22>Due to their suboptimal defensive capabilities they flee should they sense anything that isn't of Human origin
23>Perhaps we should be thankful they can not fight
24>For their numbers alone could lead them to potentially overrun Equestria
25>Not to mention the many tragedies that have been recorded over the years
26>Tragedies brought on by ignorance and blind hate of the unknown
27>(Authors Note: See “The Red Line: Blood in the Sand”. An autobiography, detailing the fall of the Saddle Arabian Capital that took place over 1300 years ago after they, ill advisedly, sent in their army to wipe out any and all automatons in the ruins of “Bai-Ub”. The biography is written in the perspective of Private Flint and goes into detail of why these automatons should be left in peace if possible)
28>Of course, in this line of study, peace isn't always possible, something that can be attested to by researchers who looked death in the face, in the form of the next two automatons
29>Part Two: The Mechanics
30>The slightly more advanced Maintenance Bots are the most well known of the few inhabitants that still roam the human cities
31>When roaming the countless halls they fold into a spherical cocoon that is nearly impenetrable and allows for 360 degrees of rotation on an x and y axis
32>When in this "Mobile Form" they are as tall as an average pony and can outpace even the healthiest of Earth Ponies thanks to the continuous track that allows for a great deal of propulsion
33>However when aggravated-
34>(Authors Note: They are programmed to see any and all intrusion as an aggressive act and thus, should be avoided at all costs, however if an encounter is unavoidable a submissive form should be taken, many reports tell of these Mechanics escorting submissive intruders out of the cities)
35>-the automatons will go into an "Attack Form"
36>This form sees the Mechanics leave their shells to engage in combat
37>On one protruding artificial limb they may wield any number of weapons from swords to axes to maces
38>On the other they will usually hold some form of long range crossbow with either metal bolts or some form of explosive bolt that has yet to be replicated
39>Though their third form, wherein the term "Mechanic" originates from is perhaps their most interesting
40>When in this form at the end of each limb will be no weapon
41>No instead reports have come up of over 3 dozen needles protruding from the limbs' ends
42>(Authors Note: See page 456, illustrations 1-7, for some rough sketches of what these various limbs look like. All credit goes to my fellow scholar Keen Eye, who was very gracious and generous in allowing me to publish his sketches alongside my work. For a different perspective on the Human's he has published his own work on them titled "Made by Man, Inherited by Ponies")
43>In this form they will go over the various machines that keep the cities running with a fine tooth comb
44>They will perhaps stay in one area for a second and use a single needle to make an adjustment
45>But there have been reports of multiple of them spending days diligently working away at the machines
46>The adjustments to the machinery are as varied as there are Mechanics
47>As stated before, some adjustments only require one Mechanic to attend to them
48>Some scholars have reported Mechanics simply staring at a pipe or wall for a few minutes, followed by shrill series of clicks and whines before continuing it's patrol
49>Others have reported the needles on the end of their limbs sparking to life and acting as a welding tool to seal any damages
50>Should the simple tool not be enough though, these Mechanics begin to work in unison with the Worker Bots
51>When the first scholar took note of building materials appearing near Mechanics, where before there were none, she was filled with a brimming excitement
52>She believed she may finally be able to catch a glimpse of one of the skittish bots during it's cooperation with the Mechanic
53>Sadly all she was able to catch sight of was one of the openings to the pipe system depositing materials
54>Though it should be noted that when the work was finished, a much more complex series of signals of varying frequencies were let off by the Mechanic
55>Finally, one of the most noteworthy reports on the works of the Mechanics was made by Keen Eye
56>This report can be found in his book, that details his own excavation into the ruins of Bel-Rin
57>There he found himself in what he speculated to be a social gathering point of Humans
58>This area lay just before the “Crossroads” of Bel-Rin
59>(Authors Note: “Crossroads” as they are known, have been found in most Ruins, they are rooms that are believed to connect all the levels (each of which is a maze all on it's own) of a single ruin together. These connections are made up of stone bridges reinforced with the Man Iron the species is so well known for. The designs and shapes of these bridges vary, some of the descriptions made by Keen Eye are completely illogical, architecturally speaking, but then again most of what Humans have made are illogical by the standards we have become accustomed to. This would lead many to believe that the exploration of Human Ruins to be more streamlined. Sadly these bridges are not always connected, through some unseen mechanism the different bridges will rotate and connect or disconnect to create the appropriate paths. Though any failed attempts to manipulate these paths were not from a lack of trying or incompetence on the scholars' parts, the bridges do not react to magic, nor is there any physical kind of device, hidden or otherwise, to adjust them, yet another secret of the Humans that has left us baffled. The only time Keen saw them shift was when Mechanics sought to cross the chasm that lay below the bridges.)
60>On the day that he, his fellow scholars and guardmares deemed themselves rested enough to continue, a stalagtite came away from the ceiling of the mountain
61>Keen Eye believes that it had been eroded from the moisture in the air
62>However the stalagtite came away, it collided with one of the bridges, leaving it structurally unsound
63>While the Man Iron had been left unaffected the carved stone that made up most the bridge was severely damaged
64>It was here, at these crossroads that Keen got to see the system of bridges twisting and interlocking, along with numerous mechanics working at full capacity
65>He reports of the Mechanics, within a few mere hours, restoring the bridge to pristine condition
66>Using all of the equipment they had at their disposal they transported the rubble away from the Crossroads and transported wagons full of material to use in the bridge's reconstruction
67>They constructed a pseudo container that they shaped around the broken parts of the bridge
68>With the container in place they began to pour in concrete until it was at a precise measurement
69>The formula for this particular concrete is still unknown (and still being researched), but however the humans altered it, allowed for it to harden within minutes
70>Upon completion of the task, the Mechanics each let off their own series of pings and whines
71>The notes and sketches that Keen Eye was able to make from this display is what made him the recognised name in his field that he is today
72>However this peak of his excavation was also where it ended
73>Shortly after going silent again, one of the Mechanics began to head in Keen Eye's group's direction
74>Before then the bridges around their entryway had remained still, however at the Mechanics approach they came to life, swiftly coming together like a puzzle to make a path
75>Taken by their instinct half a dozen of his guardmares drew their weapons
76>This unfortunately led to the death of three of them
77>The other three were grievously wounded
78>Those that had not fallen were only able to leave with their lives after following Keen Eye's behest to take the submissive form
79>Each remaining member of the team was safely led out of the ruins with no further problems
80>The guards that fell however, as is all too often the case, were sadly not brought out of the ruins
81>Upon delivering the team outside, the mechanic stood still for several seconds before returning to it's home
82>Pushing himself through this experience, Keen was able to publish his report before finally going into therapy
83>This report was able to add backing to two existing theories
84>The first being, that some form of Human implant that lies within the automatons is what allows them to shift the bridges of the Crossroads
85>The second being, that after completing certain actions, the seemingly meaningless noises are actually them sending data to a central archive
86>The exciting idea of their being a central data centre in the heart of one of the cities where the automatons report to has been the basis behind several discussions among scholars
87>This idea is followed by the conclusion that, if such a place exists and if it could be accessed, it could be one of, in not the, greatest discovery in history
88>Gaining access to such a huge technological library of knowledge could very well answer any and all question we have about the Humans
89>It could reveal the foundation of their great works, pull back the curtain on their most stupefying secrets, unravel all that we currently understand about the world
90>It could send the world into an era of technological wonder that is beyond the realms of our wildest hopes and dreams
91>Sadly, with all good ideas, comes the crushing reminder of reality
92>The reality that this idea may never come to fruition
93>The dangers the ruins' defences themselves hold alone, without the aid of their automatons, have halted countless excavation teams dead in their tracks and forced them to retreat
94>(Authors Note: See the Chapter, “Human Cities, Mountain Roots” for further details)
95>Due to the difficulty of entering the ruins, reaching something that would most likely be miles within the ruins and under continuous and scrutinous guard, lies in the realm of the impossible
96>However it is possible that reaching the hub itself is not necessary
97>Many scholars have found pedestals in peculiar areas of the ruins
98>On these pedestals are rune circles that don't obey a single known law of magic structure
99>No scholar has been able to illicit a response from them
100>However many have seen the Mechanics accessing them
101>The dozen needles flawlessly glide over the pedestal, causing dozens of runes to appear and interlock in the air, before glowing and fading
102>Most scholars have agreed to the conclusion that these are working Domino Runes, that allow for Mechanics to report and access any necessary information
103>The idea of “Domino Runes”-
104>(Authors Note: As the name implies Domino Runes are runes that, when one is activated, can cause connected runes to activate without further mana input from the caster)
105>-was first proposed by Starswirl the Bearded after he witnessed them firsthoof during his excavation into Lod-Non along with the Princesses Celestia and Luna, and several guardmares and scholars
106>(Authors Note: Details of the year long journey the three took in Lod-Non can be found in Star Swirl's book “The Golden Doors”)
107>However, despite all the research and experiments scholars have made to further understand these systems, nopony has been able to gain access
108>Though perhaps that is the point
109>Now, dear reader, we move on to the strangest of all the Automatons
110>Part Three: The Guardians
111>Very little is written on the Guardians as they are as rare if not rarer than the Worker Bots
112>Countless things have been speculated about them
113>That they are the most intricately crafted, with a system so mind boggling it was thought up in a nightmare
114>That they stand as tall as houses, and that only a select few of the great monuments of pony architecture in Canterlot and Manehattan can dwarf them
115>That the humans hollowed out their mountain homes too carelessly and that the Guardians were made to hold them aloft
116>That a single one of them could stand against all the might of Equestria and the lands beyond and walk away without a scratch
117>(Authors Note: Another point of contention that oft comes up in gathering of Human scholars is whether it is the Mechanics or the Guardians that most closely resemble the features of the ancient and long vanished race.
118>On a different note, I have heard some of my fellow scholars making claims on these particular automatons based on information fed to them by Discord, I encourage them to discard any and all information he gives them as he thinks glass is a liquid and that the Sun rotates around Equis)
119>All that is known is nothing more than speculation
120>The only pony who has seen one, and whom's claims led to all this theorising was the scholar Cere "Mad Mare" Bellum
121>The, quite frankly distasteful, nickname came from the state she has been in ever since her excavation into the ruins of "Lod-Non"
122>She took Celestia's finest researchers and guardmares into the ruins for a straight year of study
123>Three years later, after no less than six failed rescue attempts, she limped out of the ruins, haggard and starved, of both food and social interactions
124>Apparently within the first week her group had been separated
125>She theorised that the other groups were dead before the first month was over
126>(Authors Note: Her full story can be found in her Biography, written by her husband Lucky Clover, titled "Into the Mind of Madness, Into the Mind of Man")
127>Perhaps you, my dear readers, can take some small solace, as I do, in knowing that she is safely living out her days in peace with her husband, funded by Celestia who's guilt in her condition runs deep
128>Cere's condition continues to improve each day, or so I was told by her husband when I went to meet them, though while dining I saw her flinch at things that weren't there
129>I hope that this will help to prepare any would be excavators should they choose to follow this path
130>To those who cry out in protest of this research, I say no, I will not discourage the future generation from chasing this dream of finally understanding Humans
131>In fact, I would encourage any and all who have the capacity to, to step forward into that great unknown
132>But I would also give them but one warning
133>Step. Carefully. We still do not know all that waits for the unprepared down there
134>As stated previously, these three robots are the only "known" automatons left behind, the Humans could have left a vast army of automatons, each more surreal and dangerous as the last
135>But of course one can not hope to call themselves a good scholar of Humans and only talk of one facet of their society
136>Here we spoke of the robots that guard the cities, but what about the cities themselves
137>Human Cities, Mountain Roots-
138>You close the book with a resounding 'snap' going over what you just read a few time in your head
139>“Well, what do you girls think? Should I submit it to my publicist, or did I miss anything”
140>“Well Twi, I reckon if'n there was anything you missed, I wouldn't know what it was, but you seem to go into a lot of depth into the humans, how did you write so much about the metal they used anyhow?”
141>“Oh it's an absolutely fascinating material Applejack, next time I go to visit Iron Brand I'll bring you girls, he has the biggest collection of Man Iron in Equestria and beyond”
142>“Oh that sounds absolutely lovely, wouldn't you agree girls”
143>You hear them murmuring agreements but it doesn't quite click with you
144>“Um, Rainbow? Darling are you alright?”
145>Finally snapping out of your thoughts you refocus on everyone to see them giving you curious and worried glances
146“What? No, yeah I'm fine it's just... this stuff is REALLY cool Twi”
147>You look up to see the egghead shrinking in her seat, a blush lightly dusting her cheeks
148>“You're just saying that Rainbow, I know this scholar stuff doesn't interest you like it does me, but thank you for reading it anyway”
149“Actually Twilight, I mean it.. I sort of want to know more about these guys”
150>She perks up at that, a smile splitting across her face
151>“That's great, I know so many different scholars with different works on the Human race, I could lend you a few of their books if you like”
152>You hold up a hoof to stop her before she starts getting into a rant
153“Actually Twilight I was wondering if you maybe.. you know could get me in on an expediton?”
154>The room goes quiet as everypony looks at you with wide eyes and dropped jaws
155“What? It sounds cool”
156>Glancing at Twilight you see her shifting between horror and delight so quickly it's like she has two faces
157“Um Twi? You still with us?”
158>You shift side to side, taking a look at Twilight from different angles
159>She's gone completely stiff
160>Aside from her face of course
161>Was it something you said
162>“Twilight? Darling are you alright?”
163>The others curiously look at her, receiving no reaction
164>As you all share looks you give a few flaps of your wings
165>Hovering over your seat you glide over the map table to come right in front of her
166>Still nothing
167>You quirk an eyebrow at the girls, who only shrug
168>This isn't unusual for her sure, but it never gets any less weird
169>You wave a hoof in front of her
170“Hello, Equis to Egghead, come in Egghead”
171>You cautiously give her horn a brief but solid tap
172>This causes her to suck in air through her teeth
173>Seemingly rebooting, Twilight blinks several times before taking in her surroundings
174>Eventually her gaze settles on you
175>Then she narrows her eyes at you
176>Aw horse apples, you know that look
177>“Are. You. CRAZY?!”
178>Her voice actually has enough force behind it to ruffle your wings, causing you to fall back onto the table
179>Shaking your head you tap your ears in a vain attempt to get rid of the ringing
180>Looking up you see Twilight leaning her forehooves on the table, glowering down at you and panting
181>“Whoa there Twi, no need to get all ruffled about nothin'”
182>Her gaze snaps to Applejack as her jaw drops
183>“Nothing? NOTHING?”
184>There goes the rest of your hearing
185>“Did you girls actually read the book? Human cities are not to be trifled with, even the entrance halls have proven to be some of the most dangerous places you can find yourself in”
186>The rest of the girls, having also noticed the tell tale signs of Twilight going into panic mode, have gotten off of their seats as well
187>“Darling” Rarity says gently, as she places a hoof on Twilight's shoulder “Of course we read the book, and I don't doubt that we all understand the danger, right girls”
188>Looking to everyone else they back her up with affirmative murmurs
189>“But you must also understand Rainbow's, and I'll admit, even my own interest in this species”
190>Another, more enthusiastic wave of murmurs washes over the group
191>Of course Pinkie Pie, being the most enthusiastic, jumps like a jackhammer, and puts herself between you and Twilight
192>“Come on Twi, how could we NOT want to go see these Humans? Those parties sound cu-ra-zy”
193>Taking a deep breath Twilight steps back from the table
194>“You do know those celebrations are only theorised right Pinkie? From the insignificant amount of data it's based off of, for all we know we could be mistaking what we think are parties, for what is actually how the humans go to the toilet”
195>This only illicits a giggle-snort out of Pinkie Pie
196>“Well duh, of course you don't have much data, all the more reason why we should go if you ask me?”
197>Twilight merely facehoofs at that, letting out an exasperated groan as she does
198>Silently glancing between the five of you she brings a hoof to her chest and take in a deep breath
199>Slowly letting out the breath she visibly relaxes
200>Taking the moment of silence to clamber off the table you join the rest of the girls in front of Twilight
201>Finally opening her eyes she meets each of your gazes individually
202>“Look, girls I get it, trust me, I've wanted to go on an excavation since I first learnt about the humans too, but it isn't that simple”
203>She turns to look at you specifically
204>“Rainbow, I shouldn't have yelled like that, but you haven't done as much in-depth research into them as I have”
205>Her gaze shifts between all of you once more as she continues
206>“These places are beyond dangerous, countless ponies have died to them and some of the greatest minds of our generation have basically become vegetables from the trauma of what could possibly be experienced down there”
207>“Even getting to one is a risk, not to mention that getting permission to go to one is nearly impossible”
208>That bit of information causes you to reel
209“Whoa whoa whoa whoa, we need 'permission' to go on an excavation?” You scoff “From who?”
210>“From the MOHR” Twilight states plainly
211>You look to the others but they seem to be just as lost as you
212>“Alright Twilight, we'll bite, what's the MOHR?”
213>Twilight ignites her horn and a thick and dusty tome appears before her in a flash of magic
214>Flipping the pages, she flawlessly lands on the info she was looking for and plants it on the table
215>Across the double pages is a system of lines that connect various ponies you've never heard of into specific sections
216>The only ponies you do recognise are the princesses who sit right at the top of the chart
217>Closer inspection shows that the graph is titled “The Equestrian Government” only the words are so intricately written and designed it was almost impossible to read
218>Taking more than a few seconds to actually inspect the various ponies shows ranks in brackets besides their names
219>Each pony also has a corresponding section, from agriculture, to finance, to military, to magic and many more
220>“Right here, the MOHR or 'Ministry of Human Research' better known as 'The Council of Ladies'”
221>Further up on the chart, almost level with the princesses sits a single line of 8 mares
222>You notice that these ponies are the same as those who sit at the top of the other sections, only their picture are more finely done
223>“These are the mares who sit at the top of society, they're the ones who make the biggest and toughest decisions for every facet of Equestria, their authority is second only to the Royal Sisters, even Cadance and I don't rank above them”
224>Once more, you reel at the revelation
225>Only this time the others join you
226>“But Twilight, you're princesses too right?”
227>Fluttershy shuffles forward, poking her head out from her mane, glancing over the chart
228>“Like I said it's very...”
229>As Twilight leaves the sentence to hang multiple emotions flash across her face
230>Finally her face falls in what you could only call defeat
231>“...it's complicated”
232>“Now I don't mean to be rude Twilight, but that's a load of bucking nonsense”
233>Applejack slams her hoof into the book, causing Twilight to tense instantly
234>“You and Cadance are both Princesses, how do these folks have more of a say than you?”
235>Gingerly removing Applejack's hoof, Twilight dusts off the book and tucks it under her wing
236>She lets out a sigh and indicates towards her study as she starts to drag her hooves along the floor
237>“SPIKE! Would you mind making some snacks, this visit may take a while longer”
238>You hear a muffled affirmative coming from somewhere in the castle, followed by the familiar pitter patter of Spike running through the castle
239>You'll have to remind him he can fly when you see him
240>Those scrawny wings won't get any stronger if he keeps forgetting he has them
241>Letting out a sigh Twilight murmurs to herself “He's a good kid”
242>She opens the doors to her study open with a flick of her horn
243>As you all start to take your seats she begins pulling out numerous books
244>Squinting your eyes you just manage to see references to Humans written on the covers
245>“Over the countless millenia of study into the race and the secrets they hold that have taken place since the first ruins were found, debates of what is and isn't allowed regarding them has been the cause of many a migraine for Celestia and Luna”
246>Twilight collapses back into her chair and lets out a deep breath
247>“Recently I've come to know the 'joy' of these week long debates since I started taking on more royal duties”
248>As she brings the books to encircle her she scans over each of them before bringing one towards her
249>The other books, she plants in front of the rest of you
250>Though the five of you hardly notice as you become more enraptured in Twilight's lecture
251>Flipping through the book she pulls a loose piece of paper from it's pages
252>She slowly begins to unfold the paper
253>As it slowly grows in size you realise that it's a world map
254>She holds it aloft in her magic and as you scan over the various lands you see over a dozen areas with crosses
255>Huge swathes of the map, the uncharted lands that simply hasn't been explored are filled in with question marks
256>“The thing is the first Human ruin wasn't found in Equestria, it was found in some deserted land near the very southern border of the Griffon Kingdom over 5 thousand years ago”
257>She magics over a ruler and indicates to one of the numerous crosses
258>“Of course, we hadn't made a solid relationship with the Griffons until just before the Banishment”
259>“Due to them having access to a ruin for several millenia, they had already made laws regarding the ruins and the precious metals inside”
260>Shifting the ruler over to Saddle Arabia, it rests over a cross which you can only assume to be Bai-Ub
261>“The first international announcement of the discovery of these ruins was made by Celestia who acted as a proxy for the leader of Saddle Arabia 1300 years ago, who was still rebuilding the infrastructure of the nation after it's entire army fell to the Automatons”
262>Taking hold of another book in her magic she flips through the pages without taking her eyes off the map
263>When the book finally goes still she slowly moves it in front of each of you
264>“Of course the griffons didn't take too kindly to this, they wanted the land that the ruins were part of, as was part of the law they made without international acknowledgement”
265>Her words slowly become more bitter and irritated until eventually she snaps the book shut
266>Right in Pinkie's face
267>Pulling her head out it's become as flat as the pages
268>Bringing her hoof to her mouth, Pinkie blows into it, and reinflates her own head, much to her delight
269>“Of course not a single nation acknowledged the griffon's claims, and Celestia and Luna took the Royal Army to decimate the griffons when they attempted to march on the weakened Saddle Arabia”
270>She began to meticulously and delicately fold different nations into a central point of the map
271>“That is when the Central Meeting Place for International Discrepancies was founded. There the different leaders of each nation gathered to discuss an actual law regarding the ruins”
272>Taking a much more pristine book in her magic, you saw a small smile tug at the corner of her lips
273>“This book, details all the laws regarding them”
274>Your eyes bulge at that, you thought it was just a history book that detailed the law in a chapter
275>The book is as thick as your barrel, how could simple dusty tombs need so many laws
276>You hear Pinkie's jaw groan in protest as it literally stretches to the floor
277>“That's almost as big as my party planner, and that has details for parties a few centuries in the future”
278>You all start to add your own confusion over the book
279>“Trust me girls I was just as confused as you, but as I got more into my studies, it's understandable”
280>You all silence yourselves, still hooked on Twilight's words
281>“To put it simply this book details a number of things, the most important of which are; the process to be granted an excavation to a ruin in your native country. The process to be granted an excavation to a ruin in a foreign country. How the ruins themselves must never be altered in anyway, the preservation of them has always been a stalwart promise of Human scholars. How anything that CAN be brought out of the ruins must be processed, and how it can be traded. There's a few hundred other things but it'd take weeks to go through it all”
282>As you all mull over the words something clicks in your head
283“So I'm guessing that this 'Council of Ladies', is one of the steps to getting the excavation?”
284>Twilight gives a curt nod at that “Each kingdom has their own council, made up of their top nobles, 'The Council of Ladies' is Equestria's”
285>With a 'tsk' Rarity hops off of her seat and walks towards Twilight
286>“But Twilight, none of this answers why you and Cadance have no say in these excavations”
287>Before Twilight can even open her mouth Pinkie speaks up
288>“Oh oh oh oh oh, I know I know, it's right here in 'Human Ruins and You: An International Guide'”
289>Over dramatically clearing her throat Pinkie begins to read aloud
290>“There are dozens of recorded Human Ruins, however they are spread across multiple kingdoms, Equestria has four confirmed ruins, one lies in the San Palomino Desert. Hey that's East of my home!”
291>Pinkie lets out a small squee at the mention of her old Rock Farm before planting her face back into the book
292>“Another can be found in the Badlands, while a third lies beneath the Base of the Canterlot Mountain. Finally a fourth ruin was recently uncovered to the east of the border of the Crystal Empire, just on the shore of Luna Bay, still within the lands of Equestria. Meanwhile it is theorised that a fifth might be found in the deepest part of the Everfree Forest”
293>“To protect the ruins here in Equestria, and the ones that lie in foreign lands, councils were set up with the express purpose of ensuring their preservation, and so only recognised Council members hold sway over any decisions made on them”
294>Having finished, Pinkie beams with pride at all of you
295>“So you see girls, I may be a princess, but I don't have the necessary clearance or qualifications to hold sway over what goes on with these ruins, and with Cadance being a foreign ruler her word is only as good as mine.”
296>With a deep sigh Twilight drops the book into her lap and slowly flips the pages with her hooves
297>“Celestia and Luna are an exception to the Council rule, since they've lived so long they can have a final say on Council decisions, and even then it is only in extenuating circumstances, the rulers of other kingdoms don't even have a place on their council”
298>You drop your head at that, if those old nags are just one of the steps of getting an excavation you'll probably have grandfoals before you can actually get the go ahead
299>The others seem to share your own disappointment at the news
300>You can feel Twilight's eyes gliding over the five of you until she lets out a sigh
301>“BUT, despite all the complex legal jargon, the process is rather simple, convincing the council is the ONLY step, to getting an excavation”
302>Your head snaps up so quickly you're surprised you didn't hurt yourself
303>All that g-force training is really paying off
304>“In simplistic terms, the Council of Ladies will deal with everything that goes into an excavation, the difficulty comes in convincing them that you are worth sponsoring for a trip, they are very meticulous and strict on who they allow to go, in the last millennia they've only approved a dozen excavations”
305“Well done Twi, you raised my hopes and dashed them just as quick”
306>Despite your sarcasm you can tell by Twilight's look of disappointment that she can see your own
307>“I really am sorry Dash, but it really can't be helped, the effect those ruins have had on those that go in them is unbelievable, the Council would prefer if most research was founded off of old excavations, which normally, they can be”
308>“Honestly we should be thankful the Council has even allowed that many excavations, some kingdoms have found ruins and haven't even bothered to explore them at all”
309>For a moment you can't help but imagine the other races, Diamond Dogs, Dragons, Yaks, Minotaurs, Hippogriffs, all cowering at the idea of even opening the ruins
310>Suddenly they aren't feeling as cool anymore
311>“Well just because the chance is slim, doesn't mean we shouldn't try!”
312>Rarity's outburst snaps you out of your unease
313>“Yeah, I mean we are THE elements, we've taken on waaaaaaayyyyy crazy stuff, if anyone's got this ruin stuff in the bag, then it'd be us”
314>Pinkie's cheery boast snaps you a bit more out of your funk
315>“Besides, the research stuff you got ain't gonna last forever” Applejack adds as she saunters over to Twilight “If it runs out, what else are you gonna study for days on end after locking yourself away?”
316>She tilts her head up and looks down at Twilight with a smug grin
317>Twilight giggles and nudges Applejack away
318>Feeling the fire light up again you leap out of your chair and stand in front of everyone
319“You guys are Celestia damn right, we've fought demons, armies and whatever Discord is, no bunch of old rubble and fancy metal machines are gonna scare me off”
320>As Twilight's brow furrows she opens her mouth but you quickly cut it off
321“I get it Twi, ponies get hurt on this, but if any group of ponies could handle it, don't you think it would be us?”
322>You can tell she clearly wants to argue as she raises and lowers her hoof
323>The other five gather round you and you all puff out your chests
324>After a few seconds she settles and lets out a sigh
325>“I'll admit, it is possible that we could be more prepared than any other excavation group, we have seen danger most ponies wouldn't even be able to dream up”
326>Her eyes dart along the ground as you can tell she's going into making her final decision
327>You're ashamed to admit you leaned forward a little and shuffled on your forehooves in anticipation like a school filly
328>Taking one last look at the five of you she lets out a sigh
329>“Alright, I'll send word to Princess Celestia to convene the Council of Ladies”
330>Thunderous cheers erupted from the five of you at Twilight's words
331>Pinkie pulled Gummy out of her hair and started dancing with him while Applejack and Rarity go about thanking and reassuring Twilight
332>You're not sure what they're telling her but her cheeks have become flushed
333>Fluttershy meanwhile has grabbed a book and contently started flipping through it, her body wriggling with excitement as she does
334>“Oh and one last thing girls”
335>You all go quiet as Twilight raises a hoof
336>“The Council will only convene, when ALL members are present, and with how busy they are it may take a few months before they can”
337>You are all silent for a few moments
338“OH COME ON”
339
340>Human Cities, Mountain Roots
341>The ruined subterranean Cities and all that dwells within are the only source of evidence of the long lost race of Humans ever inhabiting Equis
342>Many scholars have made attempts to find evidence of Human dwellings or influences above ground for centuries
343>All to no avail
344>The entrances to these cities have always been concealed and, when new ones are discovered, often take near decades to decipher the Human runes that adorn the door's outline in order to gain access
345>Luckily for the races that the Humans left behind, their doors don't require the theorised implants that their automatons have
346>I can't help but imagine the humans purposefully made them this way
347>If they truly never wished for us to gain access to the underground tombs they once called home, they had dozens if not hundreds of ways to ensure we never could
348>A fact that the works of every scholar that has looked into this mysterious race could bring evidence to
349>Of course, they did not hand us the entrances on a silver platter
350>Every human ruin that has been discovered has been hidden within a “Chameleon Rune”
351>Part One: The Griffons
352>The first human ruin, discovered by the griffons 5 thousand years ago, was actually found by accident
353>A griffon, who was sent to scout out the area that would later come to be known as “Griffonstone”, ended up walking over the Chameleon rune when inspecting the base of the Great Tree that took root at the crown of the mountain 
354>She immediately returned to the queen of the time and informed her of the discovery
355>Content with the surrounding area, the queen created the first settlement around the base of the tree
356>For years her best scholars attempted to decipher the door
357>After several generation an answer was found
358>A key made of Man Iron was required to unlock the door
359>Hundreds of griffons were sent out on expeditions over the following generations to find it
360>The griffon who finally unearthed the lost key came to later ascend to the throne under the name King Grover
361>The idol was named the “Idol of Boreas” after the griffons deciphered some humans runes inscribed upon it
362>With the key now in claw, the griffons sent no less than half a dozen excavations into the Human ruins of “Rae-Lis” during Grover's reign alone
363>Of course as with all excavations, many casualties befell the parties that were sent
364>The griffons however, in their greed, saw these as necessary sacrifices
365>With the Man Iron they procured from their excavations, the Griffon Kingdom boomed into an era of previously unseen prosperity
366>Sadly that prosperity ended as quickly as it began
367>As many history books have recorded a creature known as an Arimapsi stole the idol from the fourteenth holder, King Guto
368>The idol was lost in a chasm that the Arimapsi was chased over and has not yet been found
369>With the key lost, and no other way to open the doors of “Rae-Lis” the griffon's prosperity began to fade
370>It was here that the griffons saw the folly in their excavations as, with so few griffons left, after so many fell to the ruins, they didn't have the numbers to find economic stability in another industry
371>Luckily the other races who have found human ruins have taken caution when dealing with some
372>Most in fact, outside of griffons and ponies, have not even bothered to send in more than two excavations over the thousand years of having access to the cities
373>Though the doors of these ruins were not as simple to open as finding a key
374>Part Two: The Minotaurs
375>The door to the ruins of “Dov-Nogor” found in the Minotaur Capital of Labyrinthia for example, has an intricately designed engraving carved deep into the door
376>The door was found while the minotaurs were working away at the stone wall it was carved into
377>The door was so perfectly hidden under the Chameleon rune, that they only realised it was there after breaking several hammers and pickaxes against it
378>It was eventually discovered that the engraving could be filled with a molten metal that, after completely filling the engravings, would activate and unlock the door
379>However the minotaurs came across several obstacles
380>The first being that, no metal at the time would be accepted by the door
381>It was only after a few decades of research into metallurgy, and forging, that they were able to discover an alloy that the door would accept
382>The second obstacle that they encountered, were the magic enchantments of the engravings upon the door
383>They had been enchanted to be in a constant sub-zero state, cooling the molten metal, no matter how long the minotaurs worked it
384>Several decades later, a revelation came to the queen of that time
385>Dragon Fire
386>Dragon's have always had a proclivity to fire, being able to live in lava pools as easily any other species could live in houses
387>Their inborn ability to manipulate magical fire have made them a race worthy of both the fear and awe that their legends bring to those that hear them
388>This Dragon Fire would act as a superior catalyst to the alloy then even the greatest of forges that the minotaurs could craft
389>It was at this point in history that the first recorded pact between the dragons and a race outside their own was made
390>In exchange for their services the dragons were offered any treasure or Man Iron that the ruins held
391>While the dragon's agreed to help the minotaurs unlock the door, they refused to enter the ruins, or even lay claim to any of it's treasure that the minotaurs retrieved
392>Since then, many scholars have attempted to learn the reasoning to the decision, which no dragon will give
393>Having obtained wagons of Man Iron the minotaurs saw fit to leave the ruins be
394>Learning from the mistakes of the griffons, they sought their fortune in a less dangerous craft
395>I of course speak of forging, which their race has become a master of thanks to their alloy, a metal that only they and the Dragon Lords knew the secret to for millenia, before they began making alliances with other races
396>Part Three: Diamond Dogs
397>It was only a matter of time before the thriving underground race of diamond dogs came across a Human Ruin
398>After digging far below sea level into their core mine they found the Door to the ruin of “Vin-Ena”
399>This door was far different to the ones previously discovered
400>Rather than looking like a usual door it was a multi layered circle carved into the floor of the mine
401>With the aid of pony scholars, the race learned that dozens of different naturally forming, flawlessly cut gems, each required to be a different size and/or shape, were required to unlock the door
402>Being masters of gemology, the diamond dogs were able to find these rare stones with ease
403>(Author's Note: While I refer to the fact that these stones were found “with ease”, that is used in the context of uncovering how to unlock the other Human doors, meaning it still took them well over a decade of finding near flawless stones, or stones of the correct size or shape that were not the right kind of gem)
404>These days the Stone Keys can be found decorating the crown of whoever rules the diamond dogs
405>Part Four: Yaks
406>The yaks are perhaps the most cautious of the ruined cities out of all the races
407>They refuse to build any of their settlements anywhere close to it, believing the dangers within to not be worth what lies inside
408>Though the Yaks are still willing to open the doors to any approved excavation team that wishes to enter it
409>Once more the Humans show their ingenuity, expert craftsman and mastery of technology and magic with this door as harmonic frequencies must be utilised in order to open it
410>This was discovered after the yaks sang for a day infront of it after it's first discovery
411>The unique design of their instruments and the way they allow air to be manipulated within them, coupled with the baritone of the Yak's speech met the requirements to activate it's mechanisms
412>Sadly little else is known of this ruin, even it's name has yet to be deciphered as only one excavation team has been sent into it
413>Part Five: Ponies
414>As stated before one of the most well know Human Cities is known as "Lod-Non"
415>This ruin ranks in the top three of the most well documented ruins in history
416>Despite having only been explored by two excavation parties, we are as well informed with this ruin as we are with Bel-Rin and Bai-Ub
417>Discovered by Starswirl the Bearded over a thousand years ago, it is believed that the presence of Lod-Non is one of the reasons as to why Celestia chose it as the new Capital of Equestria after the banishment of her sister
418>It's door is perhaps the most difficult to unlock
419>It is believed that the exact requirements to open it's door is the full power of each of the three pony races
420>The Earth Pony's manipulation of earth, the Pegasi's manipulation of weather, and the Unicorn's manipulation of Mana, are required to undo three separate locks on the door
421>At the time of it's discovery, Luna and Celestia had not fully learned to control the magic of the three races they represented
422>Because of this, along with their own full power, they required the assistance of Starswirl the Bearded along with the most powerful pegasi and earth ponies of the time
423>The excavation made into the ruins by the “Sorcerer King” and the Princesses gave us some of the deepest insight into the structure of the ruins
424>The second excavation, headed by Cere Bellum, that had aimed to bring a surplus of knowledge on the race, is only known as another of the great tragedies of Equestria
425>Though a hope that I and my fellow scholars share, is that the information we have gained from our extensive history of exploring the several ruins that dot Equestria, may makes us more prepared for each new excavation we go on
426>One ruin that is of particular interest is the ruin discovered and unlocked by the Arch-Sorceress Fallen Star
427>One of the four ponies to lay claim to the coveted title “Mistress of the Arcane” she stands at the peak of magic in both it's theory and practice
428>It was Fallen Star who unlocked the door to the Ruin of “Zatar-Cla” that can be found hidden on the shore of Luna Bay
429>A full and in-depth look into the mare's journey with the ruin can be found in her book “Lock and Key”
430>(Author's Note: I would highly recommend that any reader research this book as it details the theory of how this Ruin, may in fact be unique amongst the ruins as it's structure had led Fallen to the conclusion that it was a Human prison
431>Whether it was meant to imprison other Humans, the wild beasts of the ancient world, or the other races when they were more primitive, is unclear
432>I go into my own descriptions of the ruins and there possible functions in the Chapter: “Into the Still Beating Heart”)
433>As for the other Human Ruins that were discovered by ponies-
434>“Miss Twilight, miss Twilight!”
435>For the nth time today somepony calls your friend's name
436>Her book had finally been published
437>Though it was with no small amount of difficulty
438>Over a dozen time she read and re-read her drafts to ensure no errors would be found in them
439>Yet despite her and the 5 of you confirming no errors she still held to her unease
440>Eventually after a lot of pushing on your part, and her publisher needing to physically take the book from her hooves, she finally let the book be released to the public
441>To say the least it was a huge hit
442>It was a compendium of near all the information that had been gathered on humans
443>She was, of course, thorough in mentioning as many other scholars and their books as she could
444>Since her book didn't go into as much thorough detail as their's did
445>Honestly it wouldn't surprise you if the ponies who bought her book bought her recommendations as well
446>You certainly did
447>After you were done with Twilight's book on Human's you wanted to learn as much about them as you could
448>It was the Daring Do book's all over again
449>Once you got through one, you couldn't stop reading the others
450>Though several ponies were of a similar mindset to you
451>You reckon it's because of Twilight's popularity that so many ponies were willing to give the, surprisingly obscure, subject a read
452>Though you have seen a lot of ponies today who you'd question on whether they read the book or just bought it for some collection
453>Today, being a book signing
454>Twilight was ecstatic when her publicist told her so many ponies were asking to get their copies signed
455>So here she's been all day, at a small booth, selling and signing copies of her book
456>Eventually she settled on the title “Anthropology: A Compendium”
457>It didn't have the flair most book titles needed to catch a reader's eye, luckily Twilight's name made up for it
458>Celestia forbid if Twilight had decided to go for her initial title “The Ancient and Lost Race of Human's and Anthropolgy: Their Social and Architectural Structures and How They Shape Current Studies Today”
459>Twilight has a better way with words than most ponies you know
460>She just doesn't know when to use less of them
461>Turning your head up from the book you looked to see who was at the table now
462>You've been playing a mental game where you guess whether somepony is just a fan with no intention of reading the book or somepony's who's actually interested
463>She's just a filly so you reckon she's just a fan looking to show off Twilight's signature to her friends
464>But, then again, you have been wrong before
465>You adjust yourself in the air so that you're laying on your back, and resting the book on your barrel
466>“Well hello there little filly, who should I sign this to?” Twilight asks, the delight in her voice as prominent as when she first asked it
467>Seemingly only just realising where she is the filly's pupils shrinks as she nervously shuffles on her hooves
468>Awkwardly pushing the book onto the table she stutters before clearing her throat
469>“U-um my uh- my name is Petunia Paleo miss Twilight”
470>Twilight simply chuckles at the filly's nervousness and begins scribbling in the book
471>“Well Petunia, I'm happy to see the younger generation taking interest in Human studies”
472>Taking the book in her magic Twilight levitates it back down to the filly
473>Gently taking it in her hooves, the filly holds it as if it were made of glass, before hugging it to her chest and jumping on her hooves
474>“Oooooohhhh thank you, thank you, thank you miss Twilight, ever since I read your book, I knew I wanted to learn as much about them as I can, in fact-”
475>Swivelling around to give a clear view of her cutie mark, a skull and bones, the filly beams up at Twilight
476>“-my cutie mark is to do with palaeontology, but I'm hoping I can apply it to Human studies”
477>Alright, this filly's definitely legitimate
478>At the thought you can't help but smile, it s legitimately nice to see ponies getting into this stuff
479>Twilight is of a similar mind as she's beaming from ear to ear at the filly's words
480>Reaching over the table she ruffles the filly's mane
481>“That's wonderful to hear Petunia, but I want you to remember, if you do work with Human studies, be careful”
482>The filly gives an affirmative hum before placing the book back in her saddlebags and running off
483>As you see the next pony start to approach you glance up at the sun and only just realise the time
484>Snapping your book shut you fly in front of Twilight and block the pony
485“Sorry buddy, the princess is taking a break”
486>“She is?”
487>“I am?”
488>With a groan you speak through gritted teeth
489“Yes. She is. Because it's past noon and she hasn't even had breakfast”
490>Twilight lifts a hoof in protest but is quickly shut down as her stomach lets out a growl
491>You can't help but smirk at her
492>With a groan Twilight gets up from her chair
493>“Sorry everypony I'll be taking a break, but I'll be back to keep signing soon”
494>With a collective protest from the crowd you start to drag Twilight off to her castle
495>The whole time, you have to drag her as she constantly looks back to her stall
496“Twilight, I hate to say this, but would you move your bucking hooves, I'm not your maid or Spike”
497>Snapping back to reality she sheepishly starts walking besides you
498>“Sorry about that Rainbow, but I've never been to a book signing, it's so exciting”
499“Yeah yeah, it's alright, just wish ponies would quit interrupting my reading”
500>Twilight lets out a laugh at that
501>“Rainbow, you've already read my book five times, you probably know it as well as I do”
502>You feel your face heat up a bit at that
503>So what if you read her book a couple times, you've read the Daring Do books a few dozen times and you still like rereading them
504“Yeah- well I wouldn't have to keep reading it if we just got word back on the Council of Ladies already”
505>Twilight simply rolls her eyes at that
506>“I know it's frustrating Rainbow, but I assure you, as soon as I get word from Celestia, I'll make sure you're the first to know”
507>You let out a puff at her condescending tone
508“Bucking better”
509>As you finally reach the doors to her castle she pushes them open like cardboard
510>Only to find Spike standing behind them, looking unimpressed and tapping his foot
511>Twilight freezes at the sight and starts to uncomfortably shuffle on her hooves
512>“Oh hey Spike, I thought I gave you the day off”
513>“That was yesterday”
514>“Oh! Right, it was yesterday” She points her head back and murmurs “It was bucking yesterday”
515>Snapping back to Spike she puts on her best smile
516>“How long have you been there exactly?”
517>“Ooooohhh you know. Since about...”
518>Mockingly he pretends to look at a watch
519>“...breakfast”
520>Twilight shrinks into herself at that, her ears folding against her head
521>Rolling his eyes, Spike lets out a sigh
522>Walking up to Twilight he takes her hoof in his claw and begins leading her into the kitchen
523>“Look, I just want you to eat properly Twilight, so come on, the food should still be good”
524>Relaxing slightly she begins walking besides him, with you flapping just behind
525>“Thank you Spike, I appreciate it”
526>With a smile Spike continues leading her along
527>As you make your way into the kitchen you see the rest of your friends digging into the lunch Spike made
528>They all greet you and Twilight as you make your way into the room
529>“Girls, what are you doing here?”
530>“We were gonna wrangle you up if Rainbow couldn't convince you to come quietly”
531>You all chuckle at Applejack
532>You and Twilight take your seats and begin digging into some salad
533>Twilight sure was lucky to get Spike, the guy can cook like a pro
534>“So Darling, how was the book signing?”
535>As Twilight stuffs a mouthful of salad into herself she holds up a hoof
536>Chewing through her food quickly she swallows it before looking to Rarity
537>“It was amazing Rarity, I've met so many ponies interested in Humans”
538“Not all of them interested” you murmur
539>Twilight simply shushes you and goes back to talking about the ponies she met
540>“Honestly girls, I never imagined a turnout this big, it's great”
541>“That's wonderful to hear Twilight, though you earned it with the days you put into that book”
542>The girls all hum in agreement through mouthfuls of food
543>“It's great Twilight, I'm even having trouble keeping up with all the baking, and partying, and foalsitting for the Cakes AND reading your book at the same time”
544>“I'm having a great time reading it to my animal friends too, though Pinkie, you could just, do one at a time”
545>Pinkie simply waves a hoof dismissively, getting some dressing on her hoof
546>“Well sure I could, but what would be the fun in that?”
547>Seeing the sauce on her hoof she begins licking away at it
548>“I may not understand everything in the book if'n I'm being honest, but it's still a heck of a page turner, heck even Applebloom is taking a likin' to it”
549>“Oh yes, I've seen a lot of fillies reading the book, even Sweetie has taken to reading it in her spare time”
550>As the others go on complimenting Twilight's book you see her blush only getting deeper and deeper
551>As the conversation goes on it veers to where it often ends up
552>“I actually just got finished reading 'The Golden Doors' and I must thank you for that recommendation Twilight, it just made me more anxious for Celestia's reply”
553>Luckily for Twilight it's Spike who answers this time
554>“We know it's been three months girls, but like we've said each time you've asked, we'll let you girls know when w- URK”
555>With a gag and a cough Spike let's out his signature burp and a scroll, bound with Celestia's seal appears in the air
556>The room goes silent as the scroll falls to the floor
557>You all share glances and Twilight quickly levitates it over to the six of you
558>Carefully unravelling her eyes dart over the scroll several times as a smile spreads across her face
559>Seemingly at a loss for words she simply nods her head at the five of you
560>You each let out cheers at finally getting word back
561>“Oh do you mind if I read it Twilight?”
562>The rest of you crowd around the scroll too
563>“Sure thing Fluttershy” Twilight says levitating it to her “Oh I can't believe our luck, in just five months we'll be meeting with THE Council of Ladies”
564>While Twilight laughs in excitement the rest of you pause as your jaws drop
565>Noticing you've stopped celebrating she looks back at you all
566>“What? I told you it would take a long time for them to convene, we're lucky their schedule was open this much with all the other scholars requesting meetings with them on top of all their other responsibilities”
567>While the others start to murmur between themselves you let out a sigh
568>Walking back to the table, you lean your head all the way back, and slam it onto the table, and let out an exasperated groan
569>You know you're gonna be seriously aching in the morning but you also don't care