Heart and Snow, Part 2
"Right this way, ambassador Powder!" The guard motioned Jingle Jangle and I forward, though the hallway and into the luxurious, specious throne room at the very center of Dream Castle.
"Oh, why thank you, my good sir!" I smile back at him politely, and slowly trot forward, the silent little filly two steps behind me.
It had been a harrowing journey across the mountains for the two of us, following our narrow escape from those lava demons. After a long and arduous trek, we had returned to what most ponies would consider civilization, and made our way south. Although Jingle Jangle and I encountered no further monsters on our trip, the encounter had left the two of us on edge, jumping at every shadow along the way.
I must give my young niece credit, as she has shown maturity and strength beyond her years throughout this terrible experience. I just hope Mittens and Chilly are holding up as well... prisoners of those terrible and ferocious villains!
Returning my thoughts to the present, I trot out into the largest room I've ever seen, in any kind of structure! Posh red carpeting, glass chandeliers. and shiny mirrors adorning the walls- this place puts our native village to shame!
On the throne before me sits her royal highness, Queen Majesty, surrounded by her courtiers and ladies in waiting, She's every bit the mare all of the stories made her out to be; both regal and beautiful, with an inner strength and determination not seen in these lands since the reign of Princess Celestia.
Out of the sea of unfamiliar faces present in the room, there are only a few I recognize; Twilight Shine, the royal court magician who visited our wintry home a few years back, and Sweet Stuff, chief baker of Dream Valley's vast kitchens. I had seen a picture the overly kind and gentle mare, in a mare's home journal magazine a trader brought to our village. I had best tread carefully in the alliances I make, until I am quite certain of who is who.
"Your highness, I present Ambassador Powder, representative of the Snow ponies of iron spire peak!" Pretzel Twist, one of the queen's emissaries from Fort Rainbow Dash, introduces me. Jingle Jangle and I trot past the purple unicorn with the orange mane and pretzel cutie mark, and bow before the monarch.
"Ah, Ambassador Powder! We have been expecting you!" The Queen inclines her head towards me. "You are most welcome here at Dream Castle! I am, however, most concerned about an attack on your person while on your way to the castle here!"
"I am afraid so, your grace!" I told her sadly. "My entourage and I were surprised by a terrible foe in the Crystal Sea, and little Jingle Jangle here and I were the only ponies who managed to escape!"
"Aunty Powder and I got away, but the lava demons took our friends!" My niece blurted out. "We made it to the Royal Paradise, and caught a ride here on a stallion's hay wagon!"
"It was a very unpleasant ride, your highness!" I grimace. "Two of my companions were taken by those fiends, and I wish to see to their rescue as quickly as possible!"
"Indeed, my good Powder! An attack on a group of ponies, traveling under safe conduct protection to be emissaries to Dream Valley, is an insult to the very honor of our kingdom!" Majesty snorted angrily. "Your friends must be rescued, and I shall send members of Dream Castle's herd to aid you!"
"The demons were after something called the Crystal Heart." I explain. "They threatened to vaporize Chilly Breezes and Mittens if we didn't bring it to them!"
“Hmmm, I’ve heard stories of the Crystal Heart, it was the treasure of the crystal ponies!” Twilight tells us thoughtfully. “There are very few who would know what happened to it, however.”
"Then you should seek out the Moochick for answers, for there is no wiser being in Dream Valley!" Twist advises. "I hear he has gone into the gnome caverns beneath the forest, to visit his own kind!"
"Prince Fireflight and Sports Time?" Twilight scoffed. "My good Twist, I'm not so sure that's a good idea!"
I roll my eyes at the other diplomat's suggestion, amazed she did not volunteer herself. I know who this Pretzel Twist is- a Fort Rainbow Dash Acheron, who wanted to make a name for herself by being the one to establish diplomatic ties to Dream Valley. Coming from a line of candy cane makers who got their start in Ponyville, the house of Twist was well known for it's ability to twist words and politics to their will. They are a family of silver tongued smooth talkers, who could convince a foe to willingly jump on the end of their spears.
"I don't know, Twilight! I believe it is an excellent idea, getting my brother something to do besides just sitting around the castle!" Majesty noted, the queen's eyes lighting up as she talked. "Perhaps we should also send a mare to guide our good snow mare on her search, as well!"
"Your highness, I believe it would be best if you sent two stallions to guard her!" Pretzel Twist suggested. "Perhaps your younger brother, and his football-loving friend?"
"A wise suggestion, Twist!" The queen agreed. "But what mare would agree to accompany her?"
"Ummmm, excuse me, your highness?" A timid voice called out from beside the throne, as the blue mare with a purple mane stepped forward. "Uhhh, I really don't mean to interrupt your conversation, but if it's not too much trouble, I would really like to go along with Miss Powder on her adventure."
"You, Sweet Stuff?" Pretzel Twist asked the timid earth mare, looking her over. "Are you sure about that? I mean no offense, my dear, but you hardly seem the adventuring type!"
"But that's why I have to go along!" The jewel-eyed mare insisted. "If I go along to help Powder rescue her friends, I might actually become braver and stronger along the way!"
"I too question the wisdom of your request, my dear." Queen Majesty agrees, tapping her hoof against her throne. "But if your heart is truly set on going, I shall not stop you."
I shake my mane, not believing what I am hearing. I'm going on a dangerous rescue mission, off to rescue my friends from certain doom... and my chosen companion is Dream Valley's resident doormat pony?
The horsemaster must really hate me today.
...
"May fortune smile on you, Miss Powder!" Twilight Shine exclaimed, nodding her head. "Have no fear for you niece, either, as we shall care for her until your return!"
"Thank you, great Majesty." I bow to the queen, then turn and trot away from the throne. "I am truly grateful to have your valuable assistance!"
"Wow! We're going on an adventure together! That's so amazing!" The blue mare exclaimed, in an excited voice barely above a whisper. "I'm really very grateful you took a pony like me along with you, you're so very kind!"
I merely nod at the mare's ramblings, as she thanks me a over a dozen times for bringing her along. I try to avoid looking at her gemstone eyes- those things always seemed a mockery of us crystal ponies- and try to concentrate on what we have to do next.
"We should go upstairs, and collect the stallions." I suggest to her, trotting towards the door that leads to the castle's living quarters. "The sooner we can be on our way, the better!"
"Good idea! You're really smart to think of that!" She smiles at me, genuinely complimenting me on my idea. "Of course, even being Dream Valley's head baker, I've never actually met the prince myself! It is a big castle, after all!"
Following the directions one of the guards gave me, we soon arrive at an apartment across the hallway from the queen's private chambers. Raising my hoof, I politely knock on the door.
"Excuse me." I call out, tapping on the wooden door. "Is anybody home?"
"Jus a minute!" A masculine voice calls out. I hear the sound of four hooves trotting over, and then the door in front of us swings open. "Hello? Yes, can I help... you...miss...?"
Suddenly, I am struck speechless. In front of me stands the tallest, most handsome piece of stallion flesh I have ever laid eyes on. Purple coat, lavender mane, and a lightning bug cutie mark decorating the most gorgeous flank in all of Ponyland... I cannot help myself from staring at this royal dish! And the thing that's making my heart skip a beat is he's staring right back!
"Hi-hi..." I sputter out, trying to regain my composure. "My name is Powder, and you're sister the queen told me to ask you for help with problem..."
"Oh, my sister sent you?" The stallion bowed to her. "My name is Fireflight, prince of Dream Valley. Whatever you're problem is, I am most certainly at your service."
As the two of us continued to stare at each other stupidly, a blue stallion with a blonde mane trotted out of the back.
"Hey Fire! The popcorn's ready! We gonna watch the movie, or-" The athletically built spony suddenly sees the two of us, and smiles. "Oh, sorry! I didn't know the prince had invited such lovely mares over!"
"Oh, hello! My name's Sweet Stuff!" She trots in past me, and goes right up to greet the stallion with the soccer ball cutie mark. "It's such a wonderful pleasure to meet you!"
"Name's Sports Time, Dream Castle's top soccer player!" He walks around her, looking at her flank. "And I gotta say, Miss Sweet Stuff, your name really suits you!"
"Oh, why thank you!" She replies sweetly, the innuendo going right over her naive little head. "It's really nice of you to say that!"
"Now, what can we help you fine fillies with?" The prince asks, slipping his gold crown onto his head.
"Get your things, we have a long walk ahead of us!" I sigh, motioning towards the door. "I'll explain on the way!"
...
It long before our little party of four has left the castle, and we are quickly on our way. While Sweet Stuff and Sports Time are happily chatting on the road behind us, I decide to grill the spoiled royal brat walking beside me.
"So your friends were taken by the lava demons, and they want you to find the crystal heart, eh?" Fireflight asks me, after I had explained the whole situation to him. "Yeah, the Moochick is the best creature to go to, in situations such as these!"
"Ah, yes, Dream Valley's magic 8-ball gnome they go to, whenever they have a problem or a question!" I snort, as we trot along through the mastificent forest. "If you ponies didn't have him, you probably wouldn't be able to put your horseshoes on straight!"
"Now that's not really very fair, Powder!" The prince protests. "These are dark times we live in, Dream Valley takes all the help we can get!"
"And what help does a spoiled prince need, especially one who has nothing to do but sit around, while his sister runs everything?" I sneer. "What responsibilities do you have to worry about, while you and your jock friend back there are busy searching for the next good time?"
"Wow, you're being really hard on a pony who's trying to help you!" He snapped back. "What's your problem, anyway?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to seem ungrateful..." My ears droop, as I look away from him. "I guess I'm just bitter about a pony who got to grow up in a nice warm palace, while I and my friends were raised in an icebox!"
"I think it's more likely you're worried about your friends, and it feels like we're just wasting your valuable time." He looks up, smiling at me. "Do not worry, we'll help you get them back!"
While the two of us were talking, Sweet Stuff was busy getting to know the prince's jock friend.
"So you played for the dream valley soccer team?" Sweet Stuff chirps in her sugary tone. "Wow, that's amazing! I just love games!"
"Well, most of the other herds in Ponyland call it football. But yeah, I love soccer!" Sports Time continued. "I was the best player on my team in school, and now I represent Dream Castle in the inter-herd games!"
"Wow, I'd love to come and see you play sometime!" She replies, trotting a little bit closer to him. "I bet you're the best player in the world!"
"How could you know that?" He answers with a chuckle. "You've never even seen me play!"
"As nice as you are, I can't imagine you being a bad player!" Sweet Stuff replies, her jewel eyes glistening at Sports time. Looking back, I simply roll my eyes in disgust.
"Boy, those to are hitting it off well!" I chuckle, trotting up so Fireflight and I are out of earshot.
"Ehhh, that's Sports time for ya!" He tells me with a laugh. "Always has his head in the game!"
“And what about you, my good prince?” I ask him. “What’s your story?”
“Oh, nothing special...” He sighs. “Oldest son of the previous Queen Majesty, never intended to be the heir, just the spare, you know the deal.”
“So they provided know way for you to serve your herd?” I ask. “How sad. I was trained to public service to the tribe from the moment I could walk.”
“They only kept me around, in case something happened to my sister!” He shakes his mane. “I’ve always wanted to help the ponies in my herd, if only I could be given the chance!”
As we were talking, that the prince leads our group to a small cavern in a thicket, virtually hidden from view by the undergrowth.
"This is it, ladies." He tells us, straitening his golden spiked crown. "The entrance to the underground gnome kingdom. We should be able to get some answers down here!"
"Oh my! It looks so dark down there!" Sweet Stuff whinnies. "I'll go down first if you want, so none of you get hurt!"
"Wait, I don't think that's such a good-" But before I can continue, she has already charged headlong into the cave. With a sigh, the rest of us lower our heads and follow. I light the pathway in front of us with my horn.
"Ugh, this is nasty!" Sports Time complains, as we past through passageways of brown dirt and gnarled roots. "Do we even know where we're going down here?"
"Don't worry buddy!" Fireflight reassures him. "The moochick left us a map, telling specifically how to find him!"
"And you have the map with you?" Sweet Stuff asks, looking back at us.
"Nope! Memorized it before we left!" The prince smiles. "I know exactly where we're going!"
"Relying on a stallion's sense of direction?" I groan, putting my hoof against my forehead. "Great, we're doomed."
The four of us continue through the long and winding maze of tunnels, until we come to a large chamber with a crystal clear pool in the middle. Amazed, the four of us bend over, staring at our own reflections on the reflective surface.
"Wow, I can't believe how clear the water is down here!" Sweet Stuff comments. "It looks clean enough to drink!"
"Hey, this pond wasn't on the map!" Fireflight exclaims, looking around at all the tunnels.
"I knew it, we are so lost!" I snort , trotting back the way we came. "Stallions are totally worthless when it comes to finding their way!"
"Hey! You can't accuse me of not asking for directions!" He replies defensively. "There's nobody around to ask!"
"Please stop arguing, you two!" Sweet Stuff pleads, following us out of the cavern. "You can't solve anything by just fighting!"
"Oy, it's gonna be a really long day!" Sports Time groans , trotting after us. "Let's just go and try to find the moochick!"
The three of us are so wrapped up in our own business, that we fail to hear four forms rise from the pool after we leave, and trot their way back out of the caverns....