//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: Return to Ponyville // Story: Shards of War, Shards of Peace // by Lord of Flies //------------------------------// When the train arrived in Ponyville, Dash directed her subordinates to carry Azure’s bags to Twilight’s Castle. She left the train after the majority of them disembarked from the train, stepping onto the platform and walking several paces forward. A grin spread across her face. Ah, to be back in Ponyville again. Sundance passed, and Dash spoke, “Sundance.” He stopped, and replied, looking at her, “Yes?” Dash dropped her voice low so only he could hear and asked, “There was a stallion in a trenchcoat on the train. Did you see him?” “The one that kept stealing glances at Lady Azure?” “Yes. I didn’t see him get off.” “Neither did I. We should have the platoon keep an eye out.” “Agreed. Did you manage to sketch down his face?” “Yes.” Sundance levitated a memo pad in front on his lieutenant, the book open to a portrait of the very same stallion. “I’ll cross reference this sketch with the portraits of House Sparkle. Start there first, then move to other Great Houses.” “Good. Get on it. I’ll show Lady Azure around if she wants.” Sundance nodded. He turned away and started walking to the Castle. There was a whistle. Dash looked over her shoulder at who made the sound. Miss Yearling stood in the doorway, looking at her. “Yes, Miss Yearling?” “We’re heading on to Canterlot. Take very good care of Azure.” “I will. Take very good care of those artifacts.” Yearling smiled. “You know it.” She stepped back, and shut the door. She then disappeared out of sight, back toward the compartment she had ridden in from Aventide. The train began creeping forward as it continued on its way. Dash looked at Azure, who had been one of the first ponies off the train. “So,” she asked, “how was your first train ride?” Azure shrugged. “Enlightening… to say the least. Not that bad, I suppose. It will take some getting used to.” “Welcome to Ponyville, Azure. The train station, at least.” The other mare nodded. “It is nice. I guess.” “Come, I’ll show you around if you like.” “Lead on, then.” “Okay. I’m kinda hungry, actually. Follow me.” *** Dash didn’t know what she was expecting. She did, kinda, but Pinkie was erratic at the best of times. And so, Dash stared as Azure just stood there, barely five paces into Sugarcube Corner, a bright pink pony on her back, looking distinctly unamused. She stared straight at Dash, deliberately. Pinkie, however, was grinning very happily. A reason for a party always, almost always in any case, made her happy. “Lieutenant,” Azure asked, “why is there a… pony on my back?” Dash gave a nervous grin. “That pony is Pinkie Pie. One of my best friends. She’s Ponyville’s resident party pony.” Pinkie leapt from Azure, who remained very still. Once Pinkie landed in front of her, she looked at the energetic pink mare and followed her every moment with her eyes. With a grin, Pinkie said, “Yep! That’s me!” “Why are you ecstatic?” “Because I can throw a party!” Azure pointed at herself. “For me?” “Yep!” Azure’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of party?” “A ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party!” Azure looked to Dash for confirmation. Dash nodded. Azure looked back at Pinkie. “Go ahead?” Pinkie’s grin widened, and she bolted, up the stairs that led to her room. Her old one, in any case. “Is she always like that?” “Yep. Ya woulda thought that she’d mellow out being married and have a pair of foals. But it did not. Clearly.” “Oh. Who would… marry her?” “A stallion with energy very similar to that of hers.” “Oh... dear...” “Don’t worry. He’s just very eager and enthusiastic. I don’t think I’d be able to deal with a second Pinkie.” “You ponies are weird.” Dash shrugged. She looked over to the counter. “Missus Cake!” “Yes, Rainbow Dash?” “I’d like my usual!” “Of course!” Dash looked to Azure and pointed at an empty booth. “Come, Azure. Let’s sit down. I expect you don’t want to keep being stared at by every other pony here.” Azure shrugged. “I suppose.” ************ Sundance paused at the entrance to Princess Twilight’s Castle, numerous questions running through his head. What interest does that stallion have in regards to Lady Azure? Who is this stallion? Is he a threat? If so, how easy will it be to take him down in a fight? How long has he been following us? Where has he gone? Is he following me? He quickly looked over his shoulder, and then thoroughly checked for any sign of any following ponies. No sign of the stallion. He decided that the stallion was not following him. He might be well-versed in stealth and infiltration methods, however. And I am not. Stepping over the threshold into the Castle, he took a breath. If his and The Lieutenant’s suspicions were correct, then this mysterious stallion, a member of House Sparkle, was mysteriously-Sundance snickered quietly to himself, of course everything about this stallion was mysterious-interested in the recently awakened Azure of House Jacinth. Why? Sundance didn’t know. But the answers would come in time. They always did. He started walking again. Princess Twilight had a copy of all the books that detailed the family tree of each Great House. They would be in her personal library, in the Genealogy section. Passing through the corridors, and climbing the stairs to the third floor, Sundance nodded to the Silver Guard patrols as he passed them. When he got to the second floor, he felt a weight attach itself to his helmet, and he kept walking. There was no danger, he knew who just attached themself to his head, a slight smile on his face. It took several minutes, and another flight of stairs, but he reached the third floor. The library would be three corridors deeper in, and hopefully Princess Twilight would be able to help. Princess Twilight came around the corner, glasses on her face, book hovering in front of her. Sundance thought it rather convenient. Princess Twilight noticed Sundance and she looked up from the book. “Sergeant Sundance,” she said, “hello.” “Hello, Your Highness.” “Heading to my personal library for something?” “Yes.” “What for?” Sundance levitated his memo pad out and turned to the page with the sketch of the stallion from the train. He held it out to her. “I’m looking to identify this stallion using the Genealogy of House Sparkle.” Princess Twilight looked at the sketch. She raised an eyebrow. “Where did you encounter this stallion?” “He was on the train we took back from Aventide.” “I see. No need to head to my personal library, Sergeant.” “Your Highness?” “This stallion is my grandfather. Lord Sunrise Silver Sparkle.” “Oh.” Dammit. A slight frown appeared on Sundance's face. This complicated things. Very much so. “Why would he be so far north?” “He travels around the world. Experiencing whatever the world has to offer. I imagine that he traveled to the Crystal Empire to experience its culture. Any reason as to why you were going to look through the Genealogy of House Sparkle to identify him?” “That would be related to why Lieutenant Dash took us north.” “The lead on an Ancient Crystal Pony Hero that Miss Yearling found?” “Yes.” “Ah. Stealing glances, then?” “Yes.” “He does that. He means very well, I assure you. It’s probably curiosity, to be completely honest.” “Okay. But, Your Highness, the Lieutenant and I haven’t seen him since we got off the train.” Princess Twilight nodded. “He’s probably in the castle now, knowing him. You won’t see him unless he wants you to or my father comes to visit.” “Let me guess, Lord Sunrise Silver has advanced stealth abilities or something along those lines?” “Yes, actually.” Sundance frowned. “Wonderful. He could very likely be in this corridor and we wouldn’t know.” Princess Twilight nodded again. “Indeed.” She glanced up at the pony clinging to Sundance’s helmet and frowned. “Selena Dusk Sparkle, what are you doing?” The filly grinned. Sundance couldn’t see her, but he knew she was smiling. “Saying hi to a friend, Mama!” “Clinging to ponies’ helmets is not saying hi, Selena.” Sundance gave a small grin. “It is no trouble, Your Highness. I hardly notice the weight.” Princess Twilight huffed in slight annoyance. “Please, please, please don’t encourage her. Now I know how Shining Armor and Cadence feel when they were raising Flurry Heart when she was this age.” “That may be true, Your Highness, but Princess Flurry Heart is also three years older than Princess Selena.” “That is very true.” Sundance glanced, the best he could, at Princess Selena and spoke, “Your Highness, please climb off of my head. For your mother’s sake, please.” Princess Selena complied, a very slight sigh as her only response. Her weight left Sundance’s head. Four light clicks as her hooves touched the ground, and Princess Selena sighed again. “But, he’s so tall, Mama! I can see a lot of things from on his head!” “Yes, I know,” Princess Twilight replied, smiling, “but many ponies might find it rude that you’re doing that.” Princess Selena looked at the ground. She nodded. "I'm sorry, Mama." Princess Twilight gave a slight smile. "That is okay, Selena. I'm not mad." Sundance rubbed his chin with a hoof, and glanced at a nearby window. “I wonder if Lieutenant Dash is done doing whatever it is she’s doing with Lady Azure.” “What is she doing?” “If I had to guess, showing Lady Azure around the city.” Princess Twilight frowned slightly. “She’d better get back here soon. She has a report to make.” Sundance gave a chuckle. But he was worried for his Lieutenant. Princess Twilight could get very stern when she wanted to. The tone in her voice suggested that Lieutenant Dash might be getting a very stern talking to.