I didn’t need to take much. A few provisions would last me plenty until I made it into Equestria proper. From there, some petty theft or foraging would be more than enough to carry me deeper inland. I should be able to fly from dusk to dawn and rest the day away, in order to keep myself as unexposed as possible. That was the plan, anyways. When I actually made it to Twilight Sparkle... well, I’d rather cross that bridge when I got to it. Some things are best taken the moment they’re given. I had to be the unexpected.
I had taken a gray tunic from Dark Pike for a bit of warmth, but I still needed something to conceal myself. It confounded me to discover that of all the articles I owned, none were remotely utilitarian. Nothing served a purpose other than to impose my status. So, I went off to one of the Empire’s peasant tailors. Surely, I could get something special made in the castle workshop, but I concluded authenticity outweighed form. I needed to look unassuming, on the off chance I did run into an Equestrian commoner, so what better way to pass off as a commoner than with commoner cloth, hoof-stitched by commoner hooves?
There was a little ring as I opened the door to the tailor. I was carrying my saddlebag with me, and after this one stop I’d be gone. A crystal pony stood behind the counter and her face lit up upon my entrance. Whether it was with surprise or glee I couldn’t tell.
“Hello, Princess!” she said, her voice ringing just like the bell hanging above the door. It’s always charming to see my ponies so eager to greet me.
“Hello,” I said and walked up to her. “I need a cloak. Something thick and heavy.”
The pony blinked, and I might’ve questioned it if she didn’t turn around immediately. She looked at a chart on the wall behind her and hummed. “Well, I have the cloth. But something like that’d usually take me a few days. Can I ask what the occasion—”
I stamped my hooves on the countertop and she recoiled. “I need it now,” I pressed.
“Uh... uhm...” She darted back to the chart. “W-well, there is the commission I made for one of your scholars. I could—”
“I’ll take it.”
“But, uh...” she began, but her words faltered when her eyes settled on my own. They began to tremble, and then she blurted the words, “Just a second!” and she disappeared into the back room.
She came back out with a tall, earth-brown cloak. I took it from her with my magic and inspected it. Thick but not too heavy, and the fabric was soft to touch and ran over my hooves like a trickle of water. No doubt it’d wear out along my expedition, to give it the truly worn look I was after. It was perfect. Except that it was missing some holes for my wings. A quick fire spell took care of that. I put it on and it fit comfortably, like a blanket. I certainly wouldn’t mind sleeping in this.
“Uh, Princess?” the mare asked. I looked at her and she didn’t say anything, falling quiet.
I frowned at that. She’d been smiling earlier. “This is just what I needed,” I told her. That got the ghost of a smile out of her, but it soon faded. I found that frustrating, but I wasn’t going to stick around and bother cheering up one little pony. I had my orders to follow through with, and by the crystal heart, I was going to fulfill them.
I walked out the door and down the street, towards the outskirts of the Empire. The walk wasn’t tedious, as it was pleasant to see all the crystal ponies smiling along the way. I’d almost forgotten how easygoing everypony was. The strong morale of the Empire was truly a sight to behold. Unfortunately, the standing army was rather lackluster at the moment. Happiness would do my ponies no good if they didn’t know how to fight. I could only hope Dark Pike was seeing to his duties, or else His Highness would surely have his head.
However, he seemed to find more important things to do, like wait for me at the entrance to the Empire, where a magic veil was all that stood between our warm, green grass and the frigid, northern snow.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him. “You should be training our guards to defend our land.”
“I know,” he mumbled. He was fidgety, and couldn’t help but sneak glances back towards the castle. “I-I need to ask you, though. Before you go.”
“Out with it then,” I said, pulling on my cloak.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Admittedly, the question caught me off guard. It might’ve been the light, but he seemed brighter in color than he first looked. There was something in his eyes as well, but I shoved the thought aside. I furrowed my brow and snarked, “I’m doing what I’ve been ordered to do. Can you say the same, standing here, doing nothing?”
He shook his head. “No, that’s not what I—”
I pressed a hoof into his chest. “I’ve told you before, you need discipline. You have duties of your own to carry out, don’t you? Fulfill them! Fulfill your orders before His Highness decides he can no longer tolerate your insolence!”
“I-I know!” he snapped back, shoving my hoof away. “But I need to know why you’re doing this!”
“Doing what?” I asked, and frowned. “My orders? Because the safety of our kingdom depends on what I have to do! And here you are, putting the Empire in jeopardy by standing here, wasting my time with your asinine questions, when you should be out there, creating an army of our ponies!”
He took a step back. “I’m not!” he exclaimed.
“So you want to see Equestria lay waste to the Empire?”
He balked, but instead of growing pale his features darkened, like a shadow fell over him. It might’ve been my own; I wasn’t paying attention. “N-no! Of course not!”
“Then do what you’ve been told!” I barked.
“Yes, m-ma’am!” He gave me a quick salute before he turned and ran back towards the castle.
“Sometimes I wonder why I put up with you,” I muttered, watching him disappear beyond a hill. No matter, if he really wanted to feel the wrath of His Highness for his failure, then so be it. I shouldn’t be involving myself with his affairs, anyhow, especially when I have my own to take care of.
I threw on the hood of my cloak and walked towards the edge of the Empire’s shield. It tingled my skin as I phased through it, pulling on my legs like the Empire itself didn't want to see me go, but I shrugged the sensation away. I stepped out into cold snow, with the skies cast in a deep, black overcast. I smiled up at the sleet drifting down, and leapt into the sky.