***Saturday, Day 48, morning***
Two weeks pass in relative normalcy. Blue continues to enjoy his gauntlets, though after wearing them for a few days without taking them off, I hear Rainbow had to put her hoof down to get him to lay off them. Atom’s housing papers finally went through so all the guys pitched in for our version of a house warming, meaning we helped him move all his stuff then lounged around afterwards. Our other temporary houseguest, Iroh, said his good byes and started his way home as well. On the subject of nimbats, Specter doesn’t seem too bothered being the only one of his kind in town now. He still doesn’t talk all that much, but he has opened up to Hydro a little, as well as speaking to Fluttershy with that same ease as when he converses with me. He actually tends to talk to me quite a bit, mostly commenting and asking questions about pretty much everything. Hydro has been in a cheerful mood lately, from what I understand, his little project in that lair of his is going very well and he is now at the point where he is just working out the kinks. My spell experimentation goes much along the same lines, the particular spell I have been working on since we came back from Canterlot is going coming along surely, but there is still one final part which is keeping me from completing it, I just need to think of a way around it. Romance has been progressing smoothly as well, as both Hydro and I have now gone over to our respective marefriend’s houses for dinner and to simply spend time together a few times now. Sweetie Belle’s lessons are going along smoothly, and levitation is now becoming more of a reflex than anything else, which was the goal. I thought meeting her parent’s might be difficult, but word sent ahead via Rarity, and a flying tackle hug from the filly herself, allowed me into their good graces easily. Finally, Twilight and Volt seem to be doing well, their romance has a more ‘exploring something new’ feel to it when compared to Blue and Rainbow’s ‘less public affections,’ Applejack and Hydro’s ‘contentment,’ or mine and Fluttershy’s ‘soft and caring’ relationship. My book ban has officially ended, and Twilight has given me confidence that nothing in the nimbat journal was cause for concern.
This brings me to today, in which all of us have arrived at the library to see what was causing a rather large amount of ruckus. It turns out the cause was the librarian herself.
I give a sideways glance to Volt as Twilight runs back and forth in a near panic, “Remind me: why aren’t you helping her pack?”
Volt wordlessly points a hoof at Twilight launching quills like projectiles into a bag Spike holds open.
I look at the now perforated bottom of the satchel, “Ah, right, self-preservation.”
Suddenly, Twilight bangs her forehooves together, drawing my attention as she continues speaking to… herself mostly, “Flash cards! I should make some flash cards.” She levitates some cards into her assistant’s arms, “Spike, I'm gonna need you to quiz me. On everything. Everything I've ever learned. Ever.” She gives the stack of cards an appraising look, “That isn't going to be enough cards.”
How would you have time to go over them all even if you have the cards?
Spike, currently playing the role of the sane one, sets down the cards as he calmly appeals to her, “Twilight, calm down. It's just a test.”
The room instantly goes dead silent as Twilight slowly turns around, “Just a test? Just a test!? Princess Celestia wants to give me some kind of exam and you're trying to tell me to calm down because it's just a test?!”
Spike dons a set of pillow armor along with a helmet before responding, “Uh...yes.”
As the sound of Twilight’s magic warming up fills the library, Blue remarks frankly to Spike, “You’re a brave drake, Spike. It was an honor knowing you.” Blue salutes and the rest of us guys follow suit.
Applejack, meanwhile, is remarking to the other girls, who seem to be taking this all in stride, “Ah'd say she's handling things pretty well, considerin'…”
The mounting magical pressure I sense through my horn has doubts.
*BOOM*
***Later, on a train bound for the crystal empire***
I gaze at the passing countryside before turning back to my marefriend next to me and commenting, “It all seems a bit surreal, this whole… test I guess.”
It’s true, the rest of us were given a sealed letter by Twilight from the Solar Princess to be opened once she had left. It had not said much, really just containing train tickets and a note that told us we would be informed of the situation when we got to Canterlot. There was also a small bag of bits for Atom, due to the fact that he had an indirect connection to the Bearers and thus this is more of a job for him. Still, he seemed happy to come along with friends.
Once we arrived at Canterlot though, Twilight didn’t have much to tell us other than ‘We’re going to the Crystal Empire!’ Suddenly we were back on a train and headed north to help Twilight with her test in whatever ways we can.
Fluttershy leans up against me as the landscape slowly grows snow covered as we pass, “At least the Princesses let you boys come along as well. With all of our help, I’m sure Twilight will do great on her test.”
I nod and put my foreleg around her as we speed on.
***Further up the train with Volt and Atom***
Volt casually chats with Atom to pass the time, “So, why did you look like you recognized the name earlier when Twilight mentioned we would be meeting up with this ‘Shining Armor?’”
The shade wearing pegasus pulls down his eyewear to peer at the unicorn in shock, “I’m guessing you don’t know about Shining Armor then, otherwise you wouldn’t be so casual about this.”
Volt cocks his head to one side, “Is there something I should know?”
“Well, let’s see… he is the current Captain of the entire Royal Guard. He personally has the power to put up a shield spell large enough to cover the entire capital. I’ve seen him in action and to be honest, I think he could have taken down Torchlight on his own. There is also the detail that should most concern you: that he is the older brother of your marefriend.”
Volt gulps, “What!?”
***
The train slows down as we reach our destination. A quick glance out the window reveals a darkened landscape completely enveloped in snow as the wind howls across it. Perhaps at one point this station had a town next to it, but for now it seems to be the only structure in the area, a simple platform among fields of white.
Twilight leads the way as the door opens to let in the cold. All of us adopt worried looks as we step out into the weather.
Hydro appears to be getting the worst of it as his teeth instantly started chattering when he steps out of the train, trotting in place in an attempt to stay warm. “I h-h-hate the cold…” he mutters as he rubs his legs together.
Personally I find the cold wind pleasant if a bit strong. I’m not saying I would like to stand out in it all day, but I am by no means near as bothered by it as some would be. I refrain from commenting on the lovely side effect of having a thick coat though, as it could be seen as bragging, and simply stand next to Fluttershy and block as much wind as I can. I’m not certain how effective my attempt is, but she still smiles appreciatively at me, and that makes it worth it.
Meanwhile, Rarity is enjoying the benefits of being the only pony who packed anything beyond basics, “Hah, and you all made fun of me for packing so many scarves.”
The rest of us ignore her as Spike exits the train with her excessive luggage muttering, “I didn’t say a word.” Soon the luggage becomes too much for him as the largest one bursts open and scarves fly away on the wind as he tries to recapture them.
A voice comes out of the wind and snow, “Twilight!”
The mare in question shields her eyes from the weather as she peers after the voice, “Shining Armor?”
A white stallion of mine and Hydro’s height appears out of the fog. He is wearing a scarf and a pair of goggles that he removes and sets up on his two tone blue mane as he exclaims, “Twily! You made it.” The two embrace quickly before they turn to face the way Armor came, “We better get moving. There are things out here we really don't want to run into after dark.”
I feel Fluttershy lean in to me as she gulps, “What kind of things?”
He looks towards the horizon for a moment before turning back to us, “Let's just say the empire... isn't the only thing that's returned.”
We trod along behind our white guide as we make our way against the wind and snow. Hydro’s teeth chattering can still be heard at times. Most of us have to keep our eyes squinted to keep things out of them, while Atom has to make due with simply wiping the constant snow buildup on his shades.
After a time, Shining Armor breaks the silence as he calls back to us, “Something keeps trying to get in! We think it's the unicorn king who originally cursed the place.”
The rest of us offer no comment as we continue following while Twilight responds, “But Princess Celestia said I was being sent here to find a way to protect the empire! If King Sombra can't get in, then it must already be protected.”
A loud and long roar unlike anything I have ever heard echoes from all around us.
Fluttershy instantly holds onto me as she panics slightly, “Th-That's one of the things, isn't it?” I wrap a protective hoof around her as all of us look around worriedly.
Shining Armor’s eyes narrow as he turns to us, “Guh. We have to get to the Crystal Empire. Now!”
A sudden sound behind us prompts us all to start running even as we look behind us to see a rapidly forming tornado of black smoke. The smoke has a pair of evil-looking red, green, and purple eyes as it utters a guttural growl. We see Spike freeze up in front of the approaching smoke just before Armor runs up and grabs him with levitation. The two soon catch up to us, though Spike begins to slow almost immediately.
I see Twilight toss her assistant onto her back before hearing her shout, “Go, go!”
All of us run wide-eyed from the monstrosity on our tails. Atom, Blue, and Rainbow have taken wing while the rest of us chug along the ground.
Just as a shimmering blue bubble appears on the horizon, I hear Shining Armor shout from behind us, “Almost there.”
As we continue running to the bubble that I recognize as a magic shield, I hear the sound of a magical blast from behind us, but focus more on getting to safety. Another growl comes from the cloud as we close in on the bubble. Soon, to my relief, we pass through the barrier easily and all of us come to our own out-of-breath stops.
Twilight gasps out, “Everypony okay?”
I wave my hoof as the others make general affirmative noises in response. My breath still not returned for conversation just yet. A thump from behind us gains our attention as Shining Armor rises slowly.
Twilight darts over to him, “Oh no, Shining Armor, your horn!”
The horn in question appears to now have some sort of black crystal growth along it. Armor appears to try to let his magic flow out his horn, only to have it stop suddenly when it meets the crystals. He gives up after a moment and shakes his head sadly.
I cringe as I give him a sympathetic look. Magic is a large part of any unicorn, and it’s not pleasant to think of suddenly lacking the ability to use it.
My ear perks up as I here Pinkie utter astounded sounds from a spot where the girls have gathered on a hilltop.
“Sparklerific!” she comments on the scene before us.
The crystal empire is certainly something. Above us looks to be any other scattered cloudy but mostly sunny day. The building themselves almost seem to be formed from hollowed out crystals that grew from the ground. Some are duller than others, but everything had that crystal shine to it. Above all of it is a towering castle that looks like it could be made of diamonds for how much it shines. It’s pure height dwarfing all other building around it by at least ten times.
A strange sound causes some of us to look to the side and see a certain red earth pony friend of mine rolling around in the grass. He mutters to himself as he rolls, “Warmth, warmth, warmth…”
Most of the others write it off, but Applejack and Fluttershy give me bemused looks as the farm pony asks, “What is it with you two boys and rollin’ around in the grass?”
I just chuckle sheepishly as my friend warms himself up.