//------------------------------//
// ... get better as things continue (part 2). 
// Story: A Different Bridal Path 
// by Stainless Steel Fox 
//------------------------------//

Epilogue 2 - Caribou Over Ice

Sergeant Windwarper and Private Bluebelle were flying a perimeter patrol, familiarising themselves with the boundaries of the Crystal Empire, just beyond the weather shield. The weather outside was cold but clear, and the visibility excellent. While the sergeant had seen many remarkable things in the last few days, a deadly battle against a monster from most ponies nightmares, the use of Equestria's legendary artifacts and a new Princess, he was concerning himself with more down to earth things, odd as that might seem for a pegasus. 

The four pegasi of Skystorm squad and the Prince Consort-to-be comprised the total military defenses of the Crystal Empire, though admittedly having all three, no four Princesses and the Elements of Harmony there made it rather more secure than that. Princess Celestia had personally requested that they remain with Captain Shining Armour to help in the interim and act as cadre while he was re-establishing the Empire's own Crystal Guard. It wasn't going to be easy, most of the pre-Sombra guard had tried to fight him and paid the price, and any that had remained had not come forward as of yet. 

Between preparations for the coronation and subsequent wedding, and the general confusion of trying to restore some semblence of government and orgaisation to the place, setting up to recruit new ones had been a low priority. Still it would be worthwhile once it begun, he'd been a drill sergeant during his rotation in Canterlot, and he still had the leather lungs born of the Shetlands and refined on the parade ground. He looked forward to unleasing it on the new recruits, shaping them from sloppy civillians into guards worthy of the name...

Even though his thoughts were elsewhere, his eyes had never stopped their endless scan. Situational awareness was a vital skill for a flying pony, and even more so for a Royal Guard. That was why he noticed something moving, far below, a large, dark creature approaching the shield from the North East. He locked his gaze of it and called out, "Private Bluebelle?"

"I see it sergeant." Bluebelle was a mare under the glamour that was part of the Royal Guard armour, but she was no less capable than any stallion. "Bogey 10 o'clock grounder. Do we investigate?"

"Overflight at spans 20. Observe only. Dive!" The sergeant put actions to words as he went into a wing-over to plumet towards the ground. He pulled out of the dive, twenty wing-spans above ground level with Bluebelle in echelon, heading for the unknown creature.  

It clearly saw them as they approached, looking up and stopping to wave a hoof at them. It was as big as a buffalo, and far shaggier, but had a set of antlers more appropriate to a deer. It carried a pony-sized bundle across its back. The private's eyes widened. "A caribou!"

"Indeed it is, private. The question is what is it doing here? Circle round to land and we'll find out."

"Maybe we should have our spears out? I've heard some unsavoury things about these creatures." Bluebelle reached a hoof up to the compartment in her armour; a magically expanded deep pocket that held the standard Royal Guard longspear.

"Easy lass, it seems friendly enough for a pony-eating monster. Princess Twilight certainly believed otherwise." The sergeant made a neat four point landing ahead of the caribou's path. "We're not those feather stuffed idiots on Celestia's personal guard detail, pulling our weapons on anything that moves. We're real soldiers. We stop it and question it, if it turns hostile, well none of the stories I've heard say that can fly."

"Yeah, a flying reindeer." Bluebelle chuckled, and added, "Did you hear, two of those idiots pulled wingblades on the Element of Kindness at some meet and greet in Ponyville? Morons, try reading the guest list first..."

She put on her game face as the caribou approached within ear shot, coming to a parade rest. The sergeant called out, "Halt! You are approaching the boundaries of the Crystal Empire. Who are you, and what is your business here?"

The caribou came to a stop short of them and replied. "Greetings wing ponies. I am Olaf, of Wintergard. I come here to see what is great light, and to find lost horn pony. Is purple like evening sky, with star on flank and broken horn."

Both guards had been there for Twilight's story of her journey, and the longer, more detailed one she'd given to the Princesses after they'd arrived. Olaf the caribou had been mentioned as the one who'd rescued her. "Why do you seek her?"

"To save if alive, to bring home to clan to be properly honoured if not." Olaf's expression wasn't particularly grim, but it brightened considerably. "She is here? Is alive? Want to see her, to thank her for help."

The sergeant made a judgement call. There were no standing orders to refuse caribou entry, let alone a presumed ally of Princess Twilight's.  Best to kick it up the chain of command, which meant the Princesses. "Yes. We will escort you to the palace and inform her you're here."

He nodded to Private Bluebelle, and they took up flanking positions as they escorted him through the barrier. Olaf looked around in wonder. "Is all green!" He bent his head and nibbled at the grassy sward. "So much food."

They made their way to one of the crystal pavements leading towards the city, and Olaf stepped onto it cautiously at first, looking towards the city proper. "Is shiny rock, not ice. Is city of crystals from old tales, yes?"

"Yessir." Sergeant Windwarper replied. They continued on into the city proper, to surprised looks from the crystal ponies. Surprise, but not confusion or fear it seemed. The sergeant was not stupid. Logically, the Crystal Empire would have been one of the nations that traded with the caribou a thousand years ago. These ponies had clearly met caribou in the past, and seemed unafraid, which suggested that Equestrian tales of caribou depravity were probably horse-feathers.

They arrived at the central plaza, and met the other two privates at the foot of the stairs into the crystal palace. "Private Ironheart, where is Princess Twilight Sparkle? This caribou wishes to see her. He calls himself Olaf."

"I believe she's with the Captain and Princess Cadence, going over the plans for the wedding and coronation." Private Ironheart maintained his poker face, but his eyes showed a keen curiousity about the new arrival.

"Very well, go inform her of his presence." Bluebelle took up Ironheart's position while the sergeant remained with Olaf.

A few moments later, they heard a clattering of galloping hooves, which ended suddenly as Twilight emerged from the doorway with wings outspread, having glided down the steps inside. Her eyes lit up as she saw the caribou. "Olaf! Is it really you?" 

Olaf looked at her curiously. "Could ask the same question. You have wings now, and horn not broken."

"Oh, it's a long story. I'll explain later. I'm so glad to see you." She trotted up to him, wings flaring as she reared up and gave him a hug with both fore-legs. "How did you get here, I mean why did you come here?"

"Came for you. To help you return if alive, to bring you back to be properly honoured if not. Tracked you to crevasse, then saw great light on plains. Since river ran that way, came to see what light was."

"I'm sorry if you were worried." Twilight's ears folded flat. "I did mean to come find the tribe, let everyone know I was alright, but I've just been so busy..."

"Is okay. Glad to see you safe. Have chance to thank you for saving Jens and other calves. My son is only family left. If yeti had caught him..."

"Holding out on us, Twily?" While the two of them had been getting reacquainted, the rest of the group from the throne room had arrived as a more reasonable pace.  This was basically Shining Armour and his bride to be, the mane six, Garnet Nib and Miss Maresbury. Celestia and Luna had teleported back to Canterlot after arranging for the guards to stay to spread the good news and arrange for special trains (and in the case of Twilight's parents a flying chariot) to bring all the wedding guests. It was Shining who spoke.

Twilight blushed and ducked her head. "It wasn't anything important."

"Now sugarcube, I don't need to be wearing my Element to tell you're tryin' to bamboozle us." Applejack turned to the caribou. "I'm Applejack, one of Twilight's friends, we all are, excepting Shining Armour over there who's her brother. Care telling us what kind of critter a yeti is, and what it has to do with Twilight?"

Olaf gave a nod of greeting. "I am Olaf, and as have said before, Jens is my son. We came to south slopes of great mountain to collect crystal berries with others of my clan, including Twilight. My son and his two friends were hunting for berries when woke up yeti, which chased them. Yeti is twice as big as big caribou, with claws sharp as flint knife and fangs size of deep winter icicles. Very dangerous, am skilled warrior, but would not face yeti alone if had choice.

"They ran into Twilight as fled. She sent them to main gathering party, stayed behind to face yeti. Very brave, very foolish. Horn broken, not good for fight. Magic broken also. Not know how did it, but when rest of gatherers came to help, yeti had gone, and so had Twilight. No blood, only tracks of something sliding away and yeti prints following. I tracked to bottom of ice flow and found crevasse. Yeti had lost trail before that."

"Sounds like there's quite a tale there. Care to share Twilight?" Applejack asked.

"I said, it wasn't anything special. My horn was damaged and I could only cast cantrips, so I made them count. It was running over the snow, so I used a flare spell to blind it and cause it to stumble. Then I used a couple of those prank spells Shining taught me as a filly. Northern Star wrote that yetis have an acute sense of smell, to track small animals living under the snow, so a  stink bomb spell right in it's face made sure it wouldn't be able to track me or the calves by scent. 

"However, it was getting up, and I couldn't outrun it on my hooves, even down the glacier, so I cast a grease spell on my belly and body slid to the bottom. I managed to get away from the yeti, but then I fell into the crevasse. It was covered with windblown snow, so I didn't even know it was there until too late. I'm glad to know it didn't give you any further trouble, Olaf."

The caribou grinned, but it was Rainbow who said, "Okay, now you're just showing off! When did you get to be such a badflank?"

"Um.. well, she did charge head first at Nightmare Moon, and the Hydra, and Queen Chrysalis, not to mention King Sombra." Fluttershy answered, then quickly added, "Not that I'm saying she's reckless or anything!" 

"Indeed, it does seem that she has a unique interpretation of 'use your head'." Rarity quipped.

Twilight was by now blushing furiously and grinding one hoof into the crystal pavement, which was starting to show cracks.

"Girls, stop teasing her!" Cadence called out, then spoke to Olaf. 

"Thank you for bringing us this information, and to you and your clan for taking care of Twilight when she was lost in the north, Wintergard, I believe you called it? As princess-to-be of the Crystal Empire, I would be interested in meeting your leaders and thanking them personally. According to my advisors, we once traded with the caribou tribes a thousand years ago, and I'd be more than happy to renew those ancient agreements."

Olaf looked a bit stunned. "I will tell Elders when return to tribe. I have long way to go."

Twilight exclaimed, "You must stay here for the night at least, rest, and have a proper meal!"

The caribou suddenly looked a lot happier. "Now, that is plan I like!"

Cadence added, "If you wanted to stay for a several days, we might be able to arrange a faster way to get you home. Twilight, where is Spike? I need him to send a message to Princess Celestia to arrange some flight capable wagons to come along with that flying chariot."

"I sent him with Thorax to look around, get to know the city, and for them to get to know each other. After all, for Spike this is like a city made of candy. I really want the two of them to get on, I don't want him to feel jealous of Thorax, the way he was with Owlicious."

Rainbow, who had clearly had enough of standing around during the discussions, had taken to the air. Therefore she was the one to say, "Looks like it worked! Here they come now."

Thorax, in his base form, was trotting towards the palace, with Spike riding on his back. The young dragon had a cone half-full of crystal berry fritters, with a dusting of crushed ruby pieces. The crumbs of ruby around his mouth showed where the other half had gone.

Olaf's eyes widened at the sight of the changeling. "Is like caribou spirit! Can you command ancestors to return?"

Twilight giggled. "No, Thorax is a changeling, a shapeshifter, and that is his base form. He rescued me from the underground river."

Thorax had noticed the group at the entrance to the palace. He sped up to canter over, holding his wings out slightly to provide additional support for Spike. As he approached, he asked Twilight, "This is one of the caribou who helped you?"

Twilight nodded, grinning broadly. "Yes, this is Olaf, he was the one who actually found me and led me to his clan. Olaf, this is Thorax, Thorax, Olaf."

Thorax held out a hoof, and Olaf bumped it. "I'm pleased to meet you, I owe you a great debt for rescuing Twilight."

"You rescue too, ya?" Olaf replied cheerfully. "So we call it even?"

Spike swallowed his last bite of fritter and said, "Woah, he's as big as any buffalo!"

"Spike, manners! This is Spike, my assistant." Responding to Twilights surface thoughts, Thorax turned sideways so Spike could face Olaf directly and Spike gulped slightly at the imposing size of the caribou before him. However, Olaf simply put on his trademark grin and held out a hoof. "Little guy, big appetite, ya?"

Spike bridled slightly at the comment, then accepted that to this guy, every-pony looked little. "I guess. I'd offer you a fritter, but I don't think caribou eat gemstone."

There was a rumbling from the direction of Olaf's midriff, and Cadence said, "I think we'd all better go have some lunch."

She led the way back into the palace.

&&&

Elder Arga was making an inspection of the yurts, seeing that they were well sealed and none needed any patches. It wouldn't be many more years before she'd be providing the materials to do so. It was not a thought that caused her any great distress, she'd had her time and her life had been winding down as she helped the next generation grow and learn to survive. Which was not to say she didn't have her regrets. 

Ever since the berry picking expedition had returned with their fateful news, she'd added one more regret to the list she'd take with her. The young unicorn Twilight had more than repaid in full any hospitality she'd been shown by saving the three calves. The trio had been inconsolable when they found out Twilight was gone.

She wondered when Olaf would return, she understood his desire to find Twilight in grattitude for rescuing Jens, but it was almost certainly a futile effort. Finding the body of a single small unicorn in the vastness of the plains below the great mountain, especially if it had been carried away by a snowmelt river, was next to impossible. It was a pity, she deserved her place next to Northern Star on the Wall of Honoured Elders. At least he might be able to report what the strange lights were that the group had seen the day after.

As she looked towards the mountain, she saw several moving spots in the sky, aomething very unusual. While there were water birds that clustered around the great water to the north, the Boreal Ocean Northern Star had called it, but they never flew this far inland. Anyway, these were coming from the frozen plains of the south. She squinted at the sky but couldn't make out much more. Other caribou performing various tasks around the tents noticed them to, and as they came closer, they resolved into large oddly shaped objects.

A pair of flying chariots, pulled by paired Royal Guard pegasi, were followed by three flying cargo wagons, each pulled by a four pegasus team who were rather bulkier than their Royal guard counterparts. The first cargo wagon had a familiar face looking out over the buckboard, Olaf, relaxing in a pile of bedding. The other two were piled with bundles and boxes.

But it was the contents of the two chariots that caused the most stir, and three young calves to cheer excitedly and run towards one even as it touched down. Twilight Sparkle, at least it looked like her despite the larger horn and the fact that she now had wings, was riding in it alongside a white and blue creature who looked like a miniature caribou. She jumped out with a thanks to the haulers and met the trio with a wide hug. The white caribou and a purple and green creature that walked on his hind legs followed more sedately.

The other chariot disgorged another winged pony with a horn, this one pink, and a white male horned pony. Arga wondered if this the princess Northern Star had mentioned on occasion, the one that ruled his land, but she was sure he'd said she was white. She wore a head dress of spiked blue crystal, as did the male, who also wore a red coat on his forepart. She made her way over to Arga, followed by the others and stopped short, making a polite bow.

"Would you be Elder Arga of the Stonehoof clan?" Getting a nod she continued. "I am Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire. I came to thank you for saving my sister-in-law, Twilight Sparkle, and to return one of your own. I bring gifts to show my grattitude and would like to talk of friendship and possibly trade."

Elder Arga realised that life had just gotten far more interesting.