Chapter 26: Strange new place(s)
They all walked to what seemed the entrance, it had two dark red sharp and gleaming crystals on each side, "Is it possible that all of this is crystal?" JetStream scratched his chin as he paused and eyed the crystals for the moment.
"... I don't know..." JetStream went to get a closer look at the crystal, and knocked on it with the top of his hoof, "But it seems to be." He suddenly felt something warm around his hoof as he placed it on the crystal, "... Whoa... hey, do you guys feel that too?" he showed his hoof on the crystal, Sonic tried to do the same.
"Well, I feel the crystal, is that what you mean?" JetStream shook his head.
"No, not that..."
"Feel what?" Tails asked.
"It just, feels, warm... hmm, I guess it's just me then..." he forced himself to realize it may have been just his fur, and how he knows that everybody gives off heat, he looked at the same hoof as he took it off the crystal, and sighed just before he continued walking, "I guess we'll just continue."
"... You know, it's obvious we've been here a good couple od minutes, but this place has already caught my curiosity..." everyone looked at Knuckles, and Sonic laughed.
"Despite all the crystals, then what is it?" Knuckles looked toward the sky.
"Guess it's just the atmosphere alone..." as they came closer, something caught Tails's eye.
"Hey! There are more crystals up there too! Maybe that's where the citizens reside."
"Well, depending on what we saw during the flight, that large crystals in the middle of it." Sonic looked directly at the large crystal in front of him. While JetStream suddenly galloped toward the inside of the town.
"JetStream! Wait up!" he looked back and smiled. Upon examining the environment, JetStream noticed that the ground had changed dramatically, he was standing on the crystal paths with green grass that companied with the crystal houses, and the green grass almost looked just as green as Altamare's grass, while on the outside, it was just dirt. And at the deepest parts of his emotion, as if he could've seen a flashback.
"What happened here?" he quietly asked himself. Soon afterward, Tails, Sonic, and Knuckles passed him.
"Com' on JetStream, we need to pace ourselves." Tails rose his hand to wave at JetStream. JetStream proceeded to take his first step inside, it felt welcoming, JetStream even started to smile. When they finally reached the circle-shaped city, they were able to take their first glimpse.
"Wow, this place looks tons like Canterlot." it seemed to resemble, but it wasn't cluttered, and most of the buildings were different colors also.
"So, I guess we start looking around?" Knuckles shrugged.
"Same as ever." there were about eight houses that were nearest to the largest crystal, JetStream sighed.
"Alright then, I guess we'll just have to ask if they've seen it... if it's been here."
"Then go ahead."
"We got, other plans." Tails smiled sheepishly as he started to push Sonic one direction.
"Hey! Wait... Tails... what plans?"
"Just go with it..." he instantly muttered and went back to his smile. Knuckles removed his right hand from his forehead and looked at JetStream.
"Alright, I guess it's just you and me." Knuckles stated, JetStream turned instantly.
"Yep, I'm definitely going to ask random strangers." JetStream mentally face-hoofed at his "Oh well" tone, '... With the courage please?' Knuckles passed him.
"Well, let's get a move on." JetStream jolted and paced him back to Knuckles.
"Right." but he said it in a way as if he was curious, JetStream rolled his eyes to the ground.
"So, how are you going to ask them?"
"What?" JetStream smiled.
"Just asking..." Knuckles laughed.
"I ain't, you are."
"Of course." Knuckles closed his eyes in a happy way.
"I'm glad you agree with me."
"What!?" JetStream jumped, "I never even said that!" Knuckles scoffed.
"It seems like ya did to me." JetStream smiled.
'This may be how Sonic feels... I wonder what they're even doing right now...' JetStream kept his thoughts busy as they approached the first house, and knocked the door. Afterward the door opened, leaving an audible creak as it did.
"Who's there?" JetStream was a bit surprised.
'This isn't really the best state I've ever seen a pony in...' "Just... us, sir... we were hoping to ask a question for... you..." the pony had an odd transparency with its fur, "How come you look like that? ... if I'm able to ask, of course..." he sighed.
"It's not likely for you foreigners to know us..." JetStream and Knuckles looked at each other.
"Us...?" the pony annoyingly sighed.
"They call us, Crystal Ponies..." he raised his hoof toward the crystal behind them, "And that there is the Crystal Empire..." JetStream's eyes sparkled.
"Wow, that's incredible!" the pony seemed to flinch.
"Now alright you asked your question, now ge-..." he was interrupted by JetStream.
"Sorry, about that... but that wasn't what I was going to ask you..."
'Something doesn't feel right...' Knuckles thought.
"Then what were you going to ask me?" JetStream jumped for no reason.
"We'd hope to ask you if you have seen a shiny object..." the pony yawned as he checked the sky, waiting for JetStream to this shiny object out from his saddlebag, "Kind of like this..." he shuffled, and that's when JetStream noticed their houses weren't too lit.
'Something is wrong with this picture...' Knuckles continued to think as the pony shook his head.
"No I have not." he backed up and swung the door close, but just before he saw the door close on his muzzle, the pony wasn't transparent like he was just moments ago.
The pony's emotions spinning, although the appearance of Knuckles didn't urge him, the pony he engaged conversation with wrapped a memory in his mind, and upon remembering such a terrible past gave him a head-ache, as something was trying to erase deliberately, "After four centuries, another is upon us..." he said desperately worried.
~~~Chapter End~~~