//------------------------------//
// 29. Exploring Crystal Empire 
// Story: Exploring Equestria 
// by A_guy_from_Earth 
//------------------------------//

The beginning of that day was marked by unusual behavior of the princess of friendship. 

“Yaa-hoooo!” she screamed in joy, circling and whirling in the Main Hall. “Yes! YEEES!”
“What happened, Your Highness?” researchers exclaimed when they rushed in.
“Oh, hi, guys,” Spike responded melancholically. “What happened? Well, she has received a letter from Crystal Empire.”
“A letter from Crystal Empire?”
“Oh, you are here!” Twilight finally noticed the researchers and flew down.
“So… What’s the deal, princess?” Zet’rar asked.
“I’ve just received a letter from Shining Armor and Cadance. They are inviting all of us to the Crystal Palace for this weekend!”
“What? Seriously?” researchers surprised.
“Wait, ALL of us?” Kor asked to clarify.
“Yes!” Twilight nodded. “Is there any problem?”
“Well… If we all go, who will watch over the Castle? I mean, we cannot just lock it! There are some really valuable magic artifacts here.”
“It is so, but don’t worry!” princess of friendship smiled. “Shining Armor said that he ordered one squad of elite Empire’s guards to replace you for these three days.”
“Oh… That’s… unexpected.”
“Well, yeah, but it’s also amazing! And, judging by what my brother says in this letter, the squad would arrive soon!”

And right at this moment someone knocked the door.

Spike ran to the entrance to see who it was. Researchers and Twilight could only hear how the door opened, and then there was silence. In a minute Spike came back to the Main Hall. With twenty tough-looking crystal ponies in bright sparkling armors.

“Well, the temporary Castle defense squad has arrived,” little dragon said.
“At your service, Your Highness!” the leader of the squad, tall snow-white stallion in silver armor, saluted.
“Oh… That was really fast,” Twilight was surprised.
“Our commander asked us to come here as fast as possible since he and Her Highness want you to visit them really bad,” the squad commander said.
“I see. That’s actually very nice of them,” princess said.
“Well, Empire’s guards have arrived, and we have nothing significant to do today, so… shall we start to pack our things?” Spike asked.
“I guess you are right, Spike,” Twilight responded. “The road to Empire is pretty long, so if we want to get there without spending the entire night in the train, we should start to do it now.”
“Before you go, can we ask you a favor?” one of the guards meekly asked.
“Who, me?” Twilight surprised.
“Excuse me, princess, but…”
“Oh boy…” Spike sighed as he guessed what the guard want to say.
“… but… we want to ask your friend, the Savior of the Empire,” the guard finished what he wanted to say.
“Yes! Could you, please, sign some stuff for us?” another guard said.
“I’d be glad to, guys, but now I gotta help princess Twilight to pack her things!” Spike gibbered, grabbed Twilight by the foreleg and started to drag her away.
“What are you doing?” alicorn exclaimed.
“Just play along!” young dragon hissed.

Twilight sighed.

“Oh, guys!” Twilight suddenly stopped and turned to researchers. “Could you show our friends the Castle so that they were aware of everything necessary?”
“Sure, princess, but in such case it would take us more time to prepare,” Edez responded.
“Well, I thing we have about three hours before the train to the Empire leaves. Would it be enough for you?”
“Three hours? I guess, it might be.”
“Great! Then we’ll meet you at the train station!” Twilight smiled and together with Spike went upstairs.

Edez turned to his colleagues and said:

“Ich werde ihnen das Schloss zeigen. Ihr zwei werdet das Haus putzen,” he pointed at Oma and Zet’rar. “Der Rest von euch wird alles hier putzen.” [“I will show them the Castle. You two will clean the house. The rest of you will clean everything here.”]
“Jawohl!” [“Yes, sir!”] other researchers responded.

Edez gave a nod and turned to the guards.

“Greetings, colleagues!” he smiled. “My name is Berg, I am one of the day guards here and also the senior of whole our little service team. I will show you everything you need to know about this place.”
“Excuse me, mister Berg, only you?” the squad commander surprised.
“Yes, sir. Your arrival was sudden, and we had to time to prepare or even finish what we have planned for today. So my friends would be pretty busy now. But one pony would be enough to show you the Castle. After all, it’s not as big as Canterlot, in an hour or two you will know everything about it.”
“Okay. Well then, show us the palace, mister Berg, sir!”
“With pleasure! Follow me.”

Edez led the guards away, and his colleagues began their feverish preparations.

They have been in the Castle for several months already, so no wonder that significant part of the research they did there. Watching ponies visiting the palace, exploring the strange crystal-organic organism, which the Castle was, doing some field experiments and, of course, completing everything they haven’t finished in their home headquarters. In order to do everything mentioned above – and to provide proper cover – they secretly brought a lot of equipment in the Castle. Computers, analyzers, scanners… There was enough equipment for a large university laboratory. And not everything from this equipment was properly hidden. Twilight and Spike trusted them, so they didn’t use any elaborated devices for making their tools invisible and unnoticeable – princess and her assistant have just never checked researchers’ belongings. Members of Team One could just leave the device under a cushion and put it somewhere in an old pile of papers and took it later from the very place they’ve left it. It would never get touched by anyone. But these guys from the Empire might be very different. Sure, they were under command of Shining Armor, but it did not guarantee the inviolability of their tools. Orders of the Diarchs were superior, and there were also secret services, which could make the commander to give the order they need.

Researchers knew that the country they were living now has secret services. One of the lessons great explorers of the past had learned from their numerous expeditions is that no matter how peaceful the civilization is it always has some kind of secret service. If there is no official one, there are people whose job is to watch over others and report about everything to the superior ones, at least in form of rumors. And it’s always better be safe than sorry.

Still, there was one problem: researchers have left small devices all over the Castle, so they had to took them away or put better cover on them. And there was a lot of them. Edez had to tour the guards around the Castle and its surroundings for two hours just to let others hide all traces.

While Karin, Bluve, Affi, Sheim, Kor and Max were busy in the palace, Zet’rar and Oma had actually not so much to do: they equipped their “home headquarters” with complex security system, so they had just to switch the system on and took the largest devices to the necessary places. All the rest has been done automatically. All things that might look suspicious were hidden with invisibility and insensibility fields, traps were set, and Oma and Zet’rar rushed back to the Castle to help their friends. With their help other researchers managed to hide everything from guards’ eyes and got themselves and hour to pack their things and get to the station.

Right in three hours they were at the Ponyville railway station. Ponies have been already boarding. Team One quickly scanned the platform, spotted Twilight and Spike and ran to them.

“Jeez, guys, you literally came in a nick of time!” said Twilight.
“We are sorry, princess,” Edez apologized. “We had too much things to do.”
“I see. Well, let’s board then. The train will leave less in a minute.”
“Yes, ma’am!”

Researchers followed the princess of friendship and her assistant to their seat in the train’s car.

In a few minutes Ponyville has been left behind. The train gradually accelerated, making its way to the northern borders of Equestria.

“Um, excuse me, miss Twilight, but can I ask you a question?” Oma addressed the alicorn.
“Yes, Didinga. What do you want to ask?” Twilight responded.
“Why prince and princess of Crystal Empire asked all of us to come? Because, well, I don’t see any particular reason to do so.”
“Yes!” Karin supported her. “Why should we go too.”
“… and leave the Castle under the protection of outsiders?” added Kor.
“Um, technically, you are more outsiders than all other guards in Equestria,” Spike noted.
“Oh…” Kor realized that he blurted out too much. “Sorry.”
“Hmm…” Twilight paused before she gave the answer. She looked quite puzzled. “I… don’t see the reason as well. The invitation letter was written by both Shining Armor and Cadance, but the only thing that is clear from it is that my brother was asking me and Spike to come for a visit since we haven’t seen each other for months. But what about the rest… It’s unclear.”
“So… No guesswork?”
“Yeah. I have no idea neither about whose idea was to invite you, nor about what motives they had.”
“… then, I guess, this visit would be a big surprise for us,” Max said.
“Yeah, but look on the bright side! What person in his or her right mind would decline the chance of having an extra day off?” Zet’rar smiled.

Other researcher unanimously supported him. Twilight and Spike smiled as well.

The positive mood was set, so now there were no worries about boringness during the trip. The fact that they would spend more than thirteen hours on the rails and pass through the coldest region of the country in midnight wasn’t bothering anymore. Twilight, Spike and researchers were sure that the journey would be interesting and very fun.

And it was so. Because when there are several smart persons around, they always will find something to talk about or the way to entertain themselves.

While princess’s and researchers’ train was running at full sped through thick coniferous forests, somewhere north of their current location, in a high crystal palace the following conversation has been happening:

“Ugh…” the stallion sighed. “Why? Why you did this?”
“Well… I have my own reasons,” the mare answered.
“Seriously? Was it so necessary to invite all of them? We had to send there a whole replacement troop so that the Castle wound be under protection! You know how much it costs? Even if there were only few ones left, we should let them stay there and watch over the Castle!”
“… there is one problem with this. You see, among all of them I don’t have any particular questions to two of them, and they are not guards. They are a gardener and a cook. Don’t you think that it’s unwise to leave the whole Castle under the protection of a gardener and a cook?”

Stallion sighed again.

“Do you realize that we actually need only two of them? Only the ones versed in mineralogy?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t it be enough for you just to ask them?”
“Definitely no! They both are stallions, so they don’t know everything about what I want to hear! I want to ask some girls questions as well!”
“One of them is their leader.”
“It doesn’t change everything.”
“Oh… Again, was it necessary to ask so much ponies to come?”
“Of course! Three of them managed to win the favor of the most powerful beings of this land, and it’s my duty as the princess of love to investigate! To find the reason how they did it! And also… among the rest there are two very interesting couples. One of them is the embodiment of beauty and the beast trope, and the second one is the perfect illustration for the size difference fetish! It’s not the thing I’m into, buuut… still, it’s very interesting and intriguing!”
“Oh…” the stallion shook his head.
“Now I really understand why they say that pregnant mare’s mind is an enigma even to other mares…” he thought.
“Well, whatever you say…”
“You are the best, darling! Oh, by the way, didn’t Twilight report on when they arrive?”
“I’ve received the telegram that they took the afternoon train to the Empire. It means they will be there around 1 a.m.”
“So late?”
“Yep. So be ready to meet them!”
“Me too?”
“I don’t have enough skill to cast the teleportation spell for a group this big.”
“Is it really necessary to do so?”
“They all will be staying in the palace, right?”
“Um… yeah.”
“Well, when they arrive here, they will be very tired, so they might fell asleep on the way to the palace. Don’t you think that it would be the worst possible greeting?”
“Oh… You’re absolutely right! My bad.”
“Good. Be ready for an eleven-person teleportation then, my dear!”

Thus, in 1 a.m. prince and princess of Crystal Empire were at the Empire’s capital railway station. The train they were waiting for arrived in few minutes. Cadance and Shining Armor easily spotted Twilight, Spike and researchers – Kor and Edez were towering above everyone as beacons over broken water. Royals of the Empire greeted their guests and then princess Cadance teleported everyone to the palace. Since it was already late, the first thing Shining Armor and Canadce did was to show the guests their rooms. Prince and princess of Crystal Empire told their guests to have good rest after a long trip first. Proper greeting will happen before the breakfast, then everyone would be introduced to the “short entertainment program”, as Cadance said. Twilight, Spike and researchers thanked the royal couple and went to have some sleep.

Tomorrow before the morning meal, as it was said, guests were properly greeted. Cadance and Shining Armor welcomed Twilight and Spike warmly and treated researchers as their good friends. Then they all had a hearty breakfast. However, it the beginning everything wasn’t so smooth. When the first dishes were brought, researchers discovered that in Crystal Empire even food is made of crystals. Or, to be precise, mineral-like organic matter. It took them certain time to realize and accept that things they see on their plates are edible, they just have strange unusual form. Oma and Sheim faced with another kind of problem: they were used to consume minerals, so crystal food wasn’t a big surprise for them – the real deal was to get the same reaction as their friends.

Nevertheless, the breakfast eventually finished and Twilight, Spike and researchers have gotten ready to hear what royal couple of the Empire prepared for them.

However…

There wasn’t such thing as a “short entertainment program”.

“What?” Spike and Twilight exclaimed in surprise.
“We didn’t mean to cause you, guys, any problems,” Shining Armor said. “Especially to you. Please, forgive us,” he bowed before researchers as an apology.
“Oh…” some of researchers muttered.
“We… Uh, Your Highness, you don’t need to apologize, really,” Affi said. “Just… tell us why exactly you invited us, please. We just want to clarify what’s happening.”

Shining Armor looked at his wife. He saw big kind eyes full of plea and supplication. “Please, help me! Let’s make it so that we asked them all to come for that matter!” those eyes were saying. Prince sighed again and…

“That was Cadance’s initiative,” he said.
“Shining!” princess of love exclaimed in resentment.
“The thing is that we wanted only four of you to come,” he continued, pretending that he didn’t hear his wife. “I wanted to spend some time with Twilight and Spike since we haven’t seen each other for several months, and we needed you, mister Berg and mister Lierre, to come since we need your knowledge.”
“Our knowledge?” Edez and Sheim surprised. “Why?”
“Recently we’ve started the renovation of the palace and faced with a problem that requires experience of professional mineralogist in order to be solved.”
“Um, what kind of problem, sir?”
“To determine the exact compound of certain type of crystals. We’ll explain you everything in detail later. For now, let’s have some rest… And I’ll let my wife explain why she summoned all of you,” said Shining Armor and looked at Cadance.

Pink alicorn pouted and huffed.

“Thank you, my ungrateful husband!” princess retorted. “Well, it is true what Shining said that we needed only assistance of mister Berg and mister Lierre for our little business matter, but there are some questions that I’d like to ask you personally.”
“Um, what do you mean, Your Highness?” Edez surprised.
“Let’s say that it’s connected with my personal area of interest…” Cadance responded “… and it’s part of my job as well.”
“Your job?” Affi spelled. “You mean?..”
“Indeed, my friend! My job as a princess of love.”
“Ehm, what princess of love has got in such ponies as we?” Max asked in a bit trembling voice. Few sweat droplets appeared on his fur.
“Oh, believe me, I saw a lot in you! Well, not in all of you. To be honest, there are only wo among you who I have nothing to ask about. I could do as Shining offered and ask only the ponies I’m interested in to come, but… don’t you think that it’s unwise to leave a whole Castle under the protection of only two ponies?”
“Well, it’s true…”
“Excuse me, but… where is prince Shining Armor?” Karin raised a hoof.

Cadance surprised and turned to the side where her husband was standing. There were no one. And there were no traces of prince in the entire room. He used the opportunity and quickly evaporated from the hall together with Twilight and Spike.

When she realized that she was left alone with the researchers, Cadance roared:

“You unscrupulous scoundrel!!!” thundered throughout the palace.

Researchers froze in fear and awe. Any demonstration of the Royal Canterlot voice was a sight to behold.

“Oh, excuse me,” Cadance apologized when she saw the looks on researchers’ faces. “Well, that’s the deal. Now, miss Calma, mister Lierre, miss Didinga, mister Allegro, miss Pippi, Mister Erő, you may go. Miss Antilipsi, mister Zicht, mister Berg, please, follow me. I’d like to ask you the first.”

Edez, Max and Affi looked at each other and at their friends and gulped. They understood what princess Cadance was going to ask them and they didn’t want to talk much about this, but… you cannot escape from a submarine if it has already submerged. Thus, three of them had to go with the princess. Their friends wished them luck and hurried to leave them alone.

Princess Cadance led Edez, Affi and Max to a small salon near the dining hall. When researchers went in, pink alicorn gently offered them to take a seat and when they approached the cushions and sofas, she closed the door. Heads of Team One and senior physiologist realized how serious the situation is. In a moment princess sat opposite to them.

Researchers gulped again. All of them were rapidly getting covered in cold sweat.

“Okay, let’s get straight to the point,” princes stated. Researchers shuddered. “How did you manage it?”
“Um… manage what?” Max and Edez were confused.
“Win the favor of the most powerful and ancient beings in Equestria!”
“Huh?”
“Is it… really what you want to know, princess?” Affi surprised.
“Yes! I am the princess of love, so I have to know what you did to make my aunts and Discord show such affection. Well, aunt Luna and Discord were imprisoned for thousand years or even more, but aunt Celestia… From what I know, the last time she got such attitude towards somepony was two hundred and fifty years ago!..”

At that moment Edez was about to scream “I haven’t been so close to any female for almost the same term!” but somehow managed to keep himself from doing so.

“… and, believe me, there were a lot of ponies who wanted to win their favor!” Cadance continued. “But it was you who got the best results! So I have to know what you did to achieve this!” princess suddenly turned to Edez. “Berg. How did you manage to make Celestia like you so much?”
“Ehm… Oh… I… don’t even know what to say, where to start,” he muttered.
“Where to start? I suppose it started when you served in Canterlot temporarily.”
“Well… Maybe it is so.”
“What happened back then?”
“Well, princess Celestia just came to princess Twilight and asked her to “lend” me and Erő for assistance with the reception of the delegation from the Griffin Empire. Because… well, we are bigger than average guards and… “look more intimidating” as she said. We were supposed to act just as scarecrows during the ceremony, but then an incident happened, and… we had to fight with soldiers from the Empire. We won. And… that’s it. I can’t remember anything special besides what I’ve already mentioned.”
“What do you mean ‘that’s it’? It cannot be like this! There should be more!”
“I apologize, princess, but that’s how it was, honestly. Except for the fight, we haven’t done anything special. We just were diligent, kind and polite as we could.”
“Really?”
“That’s all, Your Highness, I swear!”
“There should be more! Haven’t you shown any initiative?”
“Initiative? Hmm… Come to think of it… Princess Celestia showed it first.”
“What???”
“When the reception ended, she kissed both of us in gratitude. And I dared to say that it was fantastic. After this you know what happened.”
“So… that was the trigger?” Cadence muttered and dropped her head. “You are scaring me, auntie… A-khem!” she turned to Max. “And what about you, mister Zicht? What did you do to make princess Luna like you so much?”
“It’s just because of my massage skills,” he replied.
“Huh?”
“Princess Twilight have probably told you that princess Luna once took me and Allegro to help her with pranking her sister, right? Well, a lot of things happened that night, I don’t want to recall… too embarrassing… but the matter is that I had to give princess a massage. I just applied what I remembered from my medicine classes, but… as it turned out, princess liked it a LOT.”
“A lot?”
“After that night she comes to the Castle every week and makes me to give her an hour-long massage.”

Edez and Affi looked at him with big round eyes.

“What?” Max responded.
“That’s… daring,” Edez said. Affi nodded.
“It wasn’t my initiative. You know the princess, guys. You cannot argue with her, you are unable to persuade her, because she is an irresistible force, dammit! Only Pinkie Pie can surpass her!”
“Well, you are right about that trait of aunt Luna,” Cadance spelled.

Max just sighed.

“I feel for you,” princess said quietly and looked at Affi. “Well, miss Antilipsi, you are the last. Please, tell me what did you do to make Discord like you so much?”
“Well, there wasn’t anything special in the beginning,” Affi began her explanation. “I’ve happened to help him a few times, we spoke to each other, found some things we both are interested in… We just felt comfortable in the company of each other from time to time.”
“Basically, you were friends?”
“Yes. But when he heard me singing everything changed. He started to say that now he wants to hear me singing all the time and be with me all the time!”
“… just because of singing?”
“Princess, our Anti has truly divine voice,” Edez confirmed.
“Divine?”

Affi decided to give a short performance as a response and sang a fragment from old Equestrian ballad.

Her Highness was overwhelmed.

“You know…” she spelled when she finally came to her senses, “If I wasn’t married or even in a relationship… I might fall for you…”

Team One’s telepathist shuddered. Edez and Max pressed themselves into the back of the sofa.

“… Your Highness???” researchers exclaimed.
“Oh, I’m sorry! So sorry!.. So embarrassing… Nevertheless, I understand now why Discord like you so much. Your voice is incredibly charming. You were right describing it as a divine.”

Researchers just nodded.

“Well, I’ve learned what I wanted. Thank you, my friends, and sorry for all the inconveniences caused to you. You can go now.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” researchers said and left the salon.

After this, they hurried to separate and reach the farthest places in the palace.

In a few minutes, Cadance left the salon as well.

“Phew!” she breathed with relief. “At least this veil of mystery has opened a bit. Now… let’s see what other do!” she grinned and went to look for them.

It happened so that the first ones she met were Sheim and Bluve. Since they still have been together, it got princess interested. She decided to stop and watch over them a little. However, when she listened closely to what they had been talking about, she realized they are just good friends and colleagues – they were discussing their own business matters. Thus, princess just watched them walking away and continued her search.

After a little while, she managed to find her objectives. By coincidence, they were at the same place, the palace’s atrium, but on the different floors. Zet’rar and Oma, Karin and Kor were just walking down the long passages. They chatted and admired the view. After all, the very purpose of the atrium was to give the dwellers and the visitors of the palace chance to see the whole building in its shining and sparkling beauty.

Cadance was very glad. She could watch over all her targets at the same time! She smiled and rushed to the top floor of the atrium from which she could observe everyone. She casted one of “spy’s aid” spells to create an easily accessible panoramic view. If you are princess of love, and you are very and very curious, you might have some unexpected skills and learn quite surprising tricks…

The display was set, and princess Cadance began her observations. She was very interested in learning how researchers’ relationships looked like, so she watched carefully. And she gradually was getting more and more surprised.

An hour after the beginning of observation, both couples were still in the atrium. They alternated slow walks with chatting while sitting on the nearest sofas or benches or standing near banisters and looking around the whole atrium space. They always were beside each other. It was quite unusual even for them, so they guessed that it happens so because of the presence of princess of love in the palace, making one purple alicorn spy very proud. They were cuddling. They were kissing.

It was clear that they really loved each other. The way each of them looked in partner’s eyes. The way they spoke to each other. The way they treated each other. Everything indicated that their feelings were true and deep.

It made princess very happy and excited. So contrasting, but so replete! It was wonderful. She could watch it forever.

But…

It could be so, but Cadance suddenly felt an urge to experiment in order to learn more. “If they are already in love, them what if I give them a little push to make the affection even greater?” she thought.

So she casted a love-strengthening spell on the researchers. What happened next was… to put it mildly, unusual and not for a young audience. When princess’s magic has finally reached the researchers, it stunned them. They were literally standing still for a whole minute and staring into a void. It made Cadance very worried: what if she messed up with the spell? What should she do now? And then…

Researchers seemed to come to their senses, looked at each other… and in a moment Karin kissed Kor and Oma kissed Zet’rar with all the passion they had.

“Huh?” was the only Cadance’s reaction.

Both couples merged in long kisses, which were broken only when all of them ran out of breath. Girls looked at their partners with passion, guys smiled and whispered something in their ears. After this, Zet’ara literally dragged Oma to the nearest room, and Kor did practically the same: he grabbed Karin with one hoof and in a moment disappeared behind one of the doors that were around. What happened later… The sounds were relatively weak and muffled, but they were clear indicators that foals under eighteen should not enter there.

“Oh my…” Cadance whispered when she saw how researchers closed the doors. “Too much…” Then she hurried to leave the place, hiding her face that was getting redder and redder.

In two hours, Cadance checked the atrium again. There were no traces of Kor, Karin, Zet’rar and Oma, but some bedrooms were locked. The last circumstance made Cadance even more worried and at the same time flustered.

Meeting on the business issue was scheduled for 4 a.m. in the palace’s library. There was plenty of time before it, so everyone could have a good rest and enjoy some idleness and come to the library in time. Since most of researchers and royals and Spike were doing just the same, they came to the library before time and were about to start the discussion earlier, but Twilight suggested to wait for everyone so that everyone could listen and give a piece of advice just in case. Princess Cadance came few minutes later than them and look tired. Shining Armor and Twilight worried about her state and asked what happened, but princess of love did not give a detailed response. And what about the “lovebirds”, they… were late. Very late. They came only in 4:15, 35 minutes later than their friends and colleagues. When they’ve finally arrived, their friends got quite surprised and puzzled. Oma, Zet’rar, Karin and Kor were very and very happy, but at the same time they have been in a hurry and looked like they have just run to Yakyakistan for an afternoon snack.

“Guys, what happened to you?” Affi worried.
“Huh?” Kor surprised. “Um, well… A lot of things happened.”
“Personal things,” added Karin.
“Very personal,” added Oma.

Researchers looked at each other and decided not to ask any more questions. Shining Armor looked at his wife at this moment. She was extremely anxious. He had a hunch about what happened, but, as he learned later, he underestimated the scale of events. 

“Well, what is the issue we can help you with?” Edez addressed to Shining Armor.
“Oh, of course,” the prince gave a nod. “A-khem! Well, as I have already said, we started the renovation of the palace. When we examined some remote parts of the palace, we discovered several cracks in the walls. They are no threat to the structural integrity of the building, but still they are quite large and make us worried. The Empire’s architects suggested to fix the walls by replacing the damaged fragments. And that’s where we have faced with a problem: the palace is built from unique material. Its composition is so complex that we simply cannot define it! During the imprisonment of king Sombra a lot of unique knowledge was lost. Composition of the crystals that were used in the construction of the palace was among this knowledge. Our archivist managed to find some information about how those crystals were made, or, to be precise, grown, but… there wasn’t a single word about the composition! The only thing we are sure about is that the crystals used in the process should be extremely tiny. That’s all. So, as you can see, we have no possibilities to continue the work.”
“We see,” Edez responded. “Well, we’ll try to help you, but I don’t know would our knowledge and experience be enough.”
“Still, thank you.”
“Your Highness, can we ask for some tools?” Sheim asked.
“Sure, just tell what you need.”
“Hammer, chisel, forceps, microscope or magnifying glasses.”
“Okay,” said the prince and ordered to bring the tools and samples of the material.

Palace’s servants quickly brought everything necessary and Edez with Sheim began to work.

“Indeed, it’s artificial crystals,” Sheim said after a cursory examination. “The chip surface is uneven. It’s practically impossible to define the cleavage of these crystals. The crystals’ shine is not homogenous. It resembles some kind of… speckles?”
“Well, that explains why this technology required small crystals. This one seems to be made of numerous microscopic crystals of other minerals mashed together,” Edez said. “The strange thing is that the crystal looks like it’s made not of tiny crystal grains, but dust.”
“So?..” Spike wondered.
“We have to grind it.”
“I can help you with this!” Cadance said. “I know the spell that effectively turns rocks into dust.”
“Really? It would help us a lot, princess!” Sheim smiled.

Cadance smiled in response and did the spell. A short white flash, and one of the sample crystals turns into a pile of dust. Researchers stirred it a bit and then took some dust and put it on the microscope stage. However, it turned out to be insufficient, so they used one of magnifying glasses to reach clearer picture.

“Better, but…” Edez whispered, looking in the eyepiece. “Particles still look like they are mashed together. Your Highness, could you repeat the spell?”
“Repeat?”
“Yes. It seems that ancient people of the Empire used the finest possible grinding.”
“Well, if you say so…” and she did the spell again.

Researchers now were very careful. Now they were dealing with the finest dust, so even a slightest move could blow particles away. They slowly adjusted the microscope and magnifying glass, looked in the eyepiece again, and…

“That’s it!” Sheim smiled. “There are… Nine different minerals.”
“Indeed. Now let’s separate the particles.”

The separation meant slow and precise work with the forceps. They needed at least 10 milligrams of substance to define it, so it would take quite a time, but Twilight wished to help them, so in a few minutes, researchers got several micro piles of crystals.

While they were working, Spike got curious and toyed a little with the remained magnifying glasses and samples of dust. He was wondering how would tiny crystals look, and what he has seen satisfied him. However… when he looked closer again, he noticed something strange.

“Um… Berg, Lierre?” he addressed the researchers. “There is some liquid… mixed with the dust.”
“Liquid?” Sheim surprised.
“How does it look?” Edez asked.
“It looked… like colorless oil, I guess?”
“Colorless oil?” researchers puzzled. “Show us.”

Spike showed them. Indeed, there were several tiny oily droplets mixed with the dust. Planetologists looked at each other, then Sheim took one droplet with the forceps and tasted it.

“What is it?” Royals of the Empire wondered.
“It’s not water, it’s antarcticite,” Sheim stated.
“Anta… what?” Spike surprised.
“A specific mineral that can exist in solid form only under certain conditions, when conditions are normal, it decays and might become liquid-like during the process.”
“So… there are ten minerals then?” Twilight said.
“Yep.”

After series of tests researchers managed to define the solid crystals. As it turned out, besides small fraction of antarcticite, the building material of the palace was made of corundum, skutterudite, beryl, olivine, graphite, diamond, magnetite, jadeite and quartz. The finest crystals of these ten minerals fused together by high temperatures, pressure and magic created strong material with incredible durability. Buildings made of such crystals could stand for millennia are preserve their solidity.

However, as it turns out, even if the building can survive for eons, it still can be damaged in great incidents.

“Hmm… So those cracks remained after the battle with king Sombra?” Spike took a guess.
“It seems so,” Twilight responded.
“Well, then it proves how powerful he really was…”
“Thank you very much!” royal couple of the Empire bowed to researches.
“We were glad to help,” Sheim and Edez responded.
“Now we have all the elements to start the renovation!” Cadance and Shining Armor smiled.
“Not only that! You have regained great technology, so now we all can use it!” Twilight added.
“Right!” Spike supported her.
“Such achievement deserves to be celebrated!” Cadance said. “We should invite al scientists and archivists who worked on this project and throw a feast!”
“Of course!” Shining Armor smiled. “Oh!” he turned to Twilight, Spike and researchers. “Don’t you mind to stay a little longer?”
“Of course we will stay!” Spike said.
“We don’t mind, sir!” researchers responded.
“Great!”

And so the rest of the day was fun, replete and thrilling.