//------------------------------//
// Arrival 
// Story: Crystal Note - The Crystal Faire 
// by TalkingToMyself 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 2: Arrival


The train rolled into the station in the southern parts of the city and ponies climbed out of the cars. The last cart with the Ponyville Music Ensemble took the longest since they also had to unload lots of instruments, sets and even some costumes along with their personal luggage. 
When they finally had everything out, they were approached by a group of ponies wearing the uniforms of the palace guards. Leading them was a white unicorn stallion they all quickly recognized as Shining Armor, the husband of Princess Cadance and co-ruler of the Crystal Empire. 
Octavia, dutiful as always, stepped forward to greet the Prince appropriately with a formal bow, although the stallion didn’t seem to bother too much about that and answered in a casual tone
“Welcome everypony, glad you all made it. We’re here to help you with all your bags. There’s been a little change of plans, we’re having so many visitors all inns are out of rooms. So we’ll take you and your stuff to the palace instead.”
He laughed when the Ponyville musicians quickly fell into excited whispers and even cheers
“Seems like you’re not going to mind that too much, I see.”
Octavia rolled her eyes but with a smile as Clear Skies and Lyra started a silly victory dance and bowed again to the Prince
“We’re honoured to be invited into your home, Prince Shining Armor. I hope we get a chance to show you how grateful we are during the faire.”


Shining Armor actually blushed at Octavia’s formal attire and waved for his guards to help with the luggage
“Princess Cadance and I are very happy you could make the time to perform, there’s no need to prove anything. Anyways, let me show you how to get to the palace.”
He pointed his hoof towards the biggest building in the centre of the city
“Although I admit it is hard to miss.”
His laughter was joined by most of the ponies and the heavily loaded group marched on behind him.
Octavia noticed Crystal Note staying at the end of things, she avoided approaching Shining Armor as well as the crystal guard ponies. She let herself fall back so she would walk next to the by now pale-grey crystal mare, with Lyra, Bon Bon and Vinyl within hearing range
“Is there something wrong, dear? I’d expected you’d be more excited to be here.”
Crystal Note blushed but surrounded by friends, she felt save enough to admit
“I’m always happy to be here, but at the same time it feels so strange. I’ve never fit in in the past and I still don’t fit in today.”


Octavia took a small step sideways to close the distance to her friend, their sides touching as they kept walking. Although Octavia took her role as head of the ensemble very serious and often seemed to keep a professional distance, she cared a lot about every pony of their little group and more so for Crystal Note since they’d become close friends even outside of the ensemble. 
Bon Bon was quick to take Crystal Note’s other side and Lyra and Vinyl stayed close as well. Reassured and comforted by this display of friendship, Crystal Note quickly changed back into the silvery-white colours and thanked them with a few mumbled words.


By now, they’ve reached the exit of the station and Shining Armor lead the group towards the palace. Crystal Note however turned her head towards the west and slowed down. When she turned back to the group, her four friends were looking at her already. She blushed and whispered
“Actually, I know the way to the palace very well. Would it be okay if I took care of some personal business first? I’ll catch up with you later?”
Octavia didn’t even let her finish her question and simply took the bag Crystal Note carried into her mouth while motioning with her head to go. Vinyl’s horn glowed and the saddle bags lifted up from Crystal Note’s back and were added to her own.
Crystal Note gave them all a thankful smile, then turned around to follow a smaller street. Just before Vinyl had taken her bags, she’d pulled out her bandana and now bound it over her mane to disguise her horn. All four friends frowned at that. Crystal Note had stopped wearing the bandana around Ponyville and even during their performances. It seemed she was still feeling on the edge in this place and needed that little bit of extra security, even though it was supposed to be her home.


Lyra turned her head to Bon Bon but whatever she wanted to ask turned into a smirk. She saw right away that the pony next to her had been replaced by special agent Sweetie Drops and from the looks of it, she already had set her mind on a new mission. Lyra whispered so only she could hear
“You’re going after her, right? I’m in.”
“You’ll blow my cover, Lyra. I’ll tell you what I found out later.”
“Uh-uh, no way. You know our deal, I promised to keep your secret and you promised not to leave me behind again. Not after what happened with the bugbear.”
Bon Bon sighed and agreed. Since they wouldn’t both get away unnoticed from their friends, she turned to Vinyl and Octavia
“I think Lyra and me should go after her and make sure she’s okay.”
Octavia’s brow furrowed into a sceptic frown
“I don’t know, Bonnie. She said it would be something personal.”
Bon Bon held her gaze and shook her head
“You saw how much she changed colours today. This place is stressing her out. I just don’t want my friend to suffer alone through something we could help her with.”
Octavia and Vinyl looked at each other, then with a defeated sigh Vinyl’s horn glowed again as she took hold of Bon Bon and Lyra’s things as well and split them between the two of them. Octavia’s frown didn’t vanish but she nodded
“Just try not to pressure her into anything. And try to be at the palace in time, we have a lot to do tomorrow and our biggest performance yet coming.”
“Yes Ma’am!”
“Sure thing, Tavi. You’re the best!”
With that, Lyra and Bon Bon turned around and with a short canter vanished into the same street as Crystal Note had earlier.


Bon Bon quickly took the lead and guided Lyra through the streets in safe distance from Crystal Note. Luckily for them, the crystal unicorn in disguise seemed to shun the more crowded streets and therefore they both of them didn’t need to work too hard to stay out of sight of the other crystal ponies in the Empire.
Soon enough, Crystal Note passed the last buildings and went through a large iron gate. Lyra and Bon Bon came to hold in front of the gate leading to the cemetery and looked at each other
“So this is what she meant when she said personal. We’re still going after her?”
“We’ll take a peek and see how she’s doing. If she’s alright, we’ll go back, if not…”
Lyra nodded and slipped in behind Bon Bon, unnoticed by the greyish crystal unicorn a few yards ahead already.


The next time they stopped, each of them peeked out from behind a tombstone. Crystal Note sat on the ground a few feet away from them in front of a couple of graves. They were different from the others, as they had no weeds on them and even some flowers growing instead. Crystal Note had told them about her past, so Lyra and Bon Bon had no trouble guessing to whom these graves belonged. They watched their friend as she sat silently on her haunches, her lips moving but if she said anything, the words didn’t travel that far. Lyra was just about to turn around and leave when Crystal Note’s shoulders began to shiver and tremble. Both of them flinched when a heavy sob broke the silence and within a blink, the silvery-white mare turned into a dark grey and slumped on the ground. Heart-breaking sobs shook through her and tears ran down her cheeks. 


Lyra and Bon Bon dashed out of their hideout simultaneously and rushed to her side. Bon Bon sat down on the ground next to her and gently pressed her cheek against Crystal Note’s, Lyra took the other side, her hooves reaching out for a comforting hug.
Crystal Note froze up for a second, but then leaned into the comfort her friends offered, like she had on the train. The three friends stayed like that for a while, until Crystal Note’s tears finally stopped.