//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: To the Empire // Story: Stella Eventide: Wings on my Back // by Shepherd Sheild92 //------------------------------// Stella and Rize walked towards the train station, intending to follow Princess Luna who was making her way towards the Crystal Empire. Upon arriving at the station, the couple caught sight of Ruby and Gloomwing waiting for them. “Guess this is where we part for now huh?” Stella said, her previous excitement replaced with apprehension. However, Rize offered her a comforting hoof. “Don’t sound so down about it. You’ve been looking forward to this for a while, so try to enjoy yourself. And I’ll make sure to write to you.” With a light nudge, he pushed her towards her two friends. “Now go have fun, okay?” Stella offered a nod and a kiss on the cheek before walking towards Ruby and Gloomwing. As the group got to together, they started to board, though  Stella and Ruby along with a few other maid ponies worked to load Luna's suitcases on the train. Meanwhile, Hazeveil, Mercury, and Venus stood at Luna's side,  smiling and greeting everypony that went to talk to her. "So, anypony know how long we’re going to be gone for?" Asked Ruby as she threw the suitcase on the train. "I think a better question would be, how many suitcases does one princess need?” Stella laughed to herself. "I can’t really speak as far as the suitcases, but we’re gonna be gone for about two weeks. Guess Princess Luna just likes to be prepared,” said Stella. The pleasant atmosphere halted when a gust of wind started up, promptly blowing some of the suitcases away from their location. Before Ruby could jump out of the way a dark purple aura stopped them in their place. Stella and Ruby looked over to see find the source of the magic to be a white unicorn they were unfamiliar with. "Are you two alright?" the Unicron asked politely, earning the attention of Hazeveil. "Not that we don’t appreciate the help, but I require that you identify yourself immediately?" Hazeveil growled with restrained hostility. However, Princess Luna quickly pulled Hazeveil back, offering the strange unicorn a bow. "I do apologize for my guard’s rude behavior. Ever since the Changeling invasion, she’s become a bit overprotective," Luna chuckled. “Oh, please think nothing of it, Princess. She’s just doing her job, if I were in her position I’d probably be the same way.” With a simple node, he made his way towards the train, while Luna had a brief discussion with Hazeveil regarding, proper etiquette.  This left Stella and Ruby to continue packing, while Luna, Mercury, and Venus made their way into the V.I.P car, with Hazeveil and Gloomwing patrolling the rest of the trains. Once Stella and Ruby and the other two maids had finished packing, they joined Princess Luna on the train. Once all were on the train, the trip to the Crystal Empire started without much in the way of excitement. The most notable thing was, Hazeveil walking through each car, keeping both eyes open for any potential danger to the Princess. As there were some ponies just there to go on vacation, they were a little off put by Hazeveil, though thankfully due to her prior experience she was able to tell when somepony was a threat and when they weren’t, so there would be no incident. However, she eventually came across the unicorn from earlier and despite looking him over as thoroughly as she could, she couldn’t get any kind of read on him. That alone made her uneasy, forcing her to make a mental note to keep an eye on him. In the meantime, Luna was talking with her four maids with regards to a plan she had. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the best speaker, making it rather difficult for Stella to stay awake. Thankfully, Ruby gave Stella a playful nudge her in her ribs, causing her to sit up straighter. Luna, who caught the exchange, gave out a small chuckle, Stella blushed. "Now, we shall be staying in Princess Cadence's castle so I expect you to get along with the Crystal Ponies. In addition, I’ve been invited to attend the Opera, and I hope all of you will be in attendance as well," Luna asked, but all the maids knew she was telling them in the form of asking. Regardless, though neither Stella, Ruby or the other maids particularly minded. As the trip wore on, Hazeveil and Gloomwing returned to Luna’s private car to switch places with their fellow guards. Hazeveil decided to simply sit on the train bench looking out at the countryside. As she did, Stella caught a glance at some scars on her back. While she figured it was a sensitive matter, she was tempted to inquire about them, only to be stopped by Luna. "Maids, if you don’t mind I would like to have a few moments with my guards. Please go and enjoy yourselves," Luna sweet voice rang. While Stella thought about objecting, Ruby practically pulled her along towards the dining car.  Both ponies quickly took a seat at a nearby table, enjoying the sights and sounds, while also pulling some food along. "Say, did you see the scars on Hazeveil's back?" asked Stella taking a bite of her ice cream sundae. "Wait, what do you mean Stella?" asked Ruby. "She couldn't have any scars, she is too much...lack of better words, bad-ass," replied Ruby picturing the pony that could stare down a Hydra. "I’m telling you, I saw like four scars on her back, and they looked pretty deep.” Stella only stopped to take another bite. "Maybe she had a fight with a dragon?" Ruby gave Stella's words some thought. "If it ruffed her up like you say, it has to be like an Ursa Minor..." "Hate to ruin your fantasy, but those scars are too small for either a dragon or an Ursa. Though I can promise you the story behind them is still pretty grand," came a voice from behind the two mares. The two maids whipped their heads around to see Venus. "So you know what happened to your cousin?" asked Stella and Ruby. "Indeed, I do. Actually, I was kinda there when it happened. Though I’m not gonna tell you, so don’t ask.” Both Stella and Ruby’s attempt to question was quickly shot down. “Sorry, but it’s not my story to tell if you’re that curious ask her yourself," Venus said continuing on his way to the passenger cars, leaving the pair to take a glance at Hazeveil and consider their options. Meanwhile "Hazeveil, are you certain the train is secure, there’s no danger correct?" Luna chuckled to herself. "While I appreciate your thoroughness I doubt any pony would want to cause me harm." Hazeveil rolled her eyes at her Princess. "If I may say, are you not aware of some ponies plotting against you?" Hazeveil said stomping her hoof. Gloomwing prepared for the worse. "You think me blind young one, I know about the revolts. Celestia is working on a way to calm it down peacefully. As for me, I'm making sure that you and my children are safe," Luna replied calmly. Gloomwing got ready for Hazeveil's outburst, but to his surprise, she only walked out of the room. Luna and Gloomwing looked at each other. "Please forgive her your majesty," Gloomwing pleaded. "There’s nothing to really forgive, after all, she’s simply doing her job. I wouldn’t have made her third in command if she wasn’t good at her job. Regardless of that,  did she find anything?" Luna asked looking towards the door. "She found three ponies she doesn't trust, which from her could be something serious," Gloomwing said as he to looked towards the door. "In fact, she may be trying to find evidence to bring to you." "Well, I know I have both Shining Armor and Captain Cyclone are looking into the case. Hopefully either they’ll find something or we will. Now, Gloomwing would please join me to go find your sister," Luna said. Gloomwing bowed his head, and they were on there way. -00-00-00-- Meanwhile, Ruby and Stella were in the midst of dragging two of their co-workers in their gossiping. "So what do you think Luna does when we're not around?” Asked a brown Nightwalker. "I bet you she plays some kind of arcade game Dusty," replied Ruby. “Don’t be silly, I heard she spends most of her time playing with a possum.” "Say, have any of you noticed that Gloomwing, Venus, and the other Noc-Ponies don’t cutie marks?" an orange pony whose name Stella couldn’t remember. All four ponies look towards their flank to see if their cutie mark was still there. This turned out to be fruitless, Stella looked at the black cloud, that was in front of the moon, which had a star between it's to points. "I wonder if it's because they are a different they don’t get cutie marks?" asked Stella. "I doubt it, I mean Zebras are a different species and they get cutie marks. Though, what do you think Church Bell, I mean you brought it up," replied Ruby taking her eyes off of her cutie mark. "You gals know that it's rude to gossip," came a voice which belonged to Hazeveil. "You're half right Stella, we are different from Sol-Ponies, however, we were cut from the same cloth. The four maids just stared at the guard pony, before them. Hazeveil smirked and started to walk past them, till a voice stopped her. "Do you care to explain?" Asked Stella with a hopeful smile. Hazeveil looked back at her. "No, well not now at least. I need to find subspecies looking ponies," she replied. With that, she walked out of the dining car. Luna and Gloomwing walked into the train car, the four maids stopped their gossiping and looked at their princess. Gloomwing flew off seeing the back of his sister's head. Luna pulled a chair towards her and joined Stella and the others. "So, staying out of trouble I hope," Luna said with a smile, telling the four ponies at the table; she knew more than she let on. The four maids saw some movement in Luna's mane and a possum poke out of it. The possum rubbed its head against Luna's cheek. The maids could only "awww" at the sight of their Princess and her pet being so cute. To their next sight of unbelief, Luna teleported a Joyboy before and fired up a game. The four maids simply just stared in bewilderment. Has Luna played her game her possum tried to reach for some of the Joyboy's buttons. Luna just tried to Nuzzle her friend's paw away. Stella couldn't help but laugh to herself. --00-0-00-- Hazeveil made her way to the second dining car, to grab a bite to eat, while her cousins patroled the rest of the train. Gloomwing was eating some ice-cream. There was an odd looking pegasus eating food, his only standout feature was the goggles resting on his forehead. Hazeveil decided to sit next to him, to interrogate him. "Do you mind if I take a seat?" Hazeveil asked with the most convincing smile she could wear. "Not at all," the blue stallion replied. "So you heading to the empire to?" Hazeveil asked in a sweet voice. "Why yes, I am. Spitfire let me have a small vacation, so I'm decided to head to the Cyrstal Empire." I'm Slipstream, by the way," the odd pegasus said, stuffing his face with a hay burger. "Wait, Spitfire?" Hazeveil said with confusion. "She a Wonderbolt, right. so that would make you a..." "Wonderbolt," Slipstream said. One shallow later. "Yea, I'm not the fastest of flyers, but I'm a very good acrobat. When it comes to tricks I'm one of the best." Hazeveil tried and tried again to read Slipstream, but she couldn't read him and it pissed her off. "That's pretty cool, well I hope you enjoy your food," Hazeveil smiled and she went to go sit with her brother. "Soooo, who was that you were talking to?" asked Gloomwing with a mischievous smile. "Shut up!" Was Hazeveil's only reply. After a few hours, the train conductor informed the passengers that Crystal Empire was only moments away. Stella and the other want back to the V.I.P. car to make sure Luna's belongings were ready to go the palace. Hazeveil and the other guards stood by Luna's side much to her annoyance. Once the train came to a stop, Princess Luna and her accompaniment went to go meet with Princess Cadence and shinning Armor. Luna and Cadence talked while Shining Armor and Hazeveil exchange words while Stella and the others started to bring Luna's luggage to the palace.