Inktip awoke in a bed, the lights still off in the room. The pegasus groaned, rolling out of the sheets to see the time. The small clock on a stand read that it was still early in the morning, but at this point she needed to know what and where she was at.
After getting out of the matress, she snuck her way to the door, listening through it. The voices of Maria and Duelblood could he faintly heard from the other side, both speaking in low tones.
“... We can't afford to keep her for the rest of the trip. We need to keep ourselves bold, and if she keeps fainting at the slightest danger, we can't do it.”
“Says the pony who transforms when they get excited by anything. You both have a level of bravery we need, but she can't return to her home yet. She will stay, even after the events that happened the week prior.” those last words stuck with her a moment. Had it really been a week since that strange event in twilight town? She turned back to the conversation.
“... When she wakes up, we'll get moving if she feels up to it. But I doubt it.” Inktip figured now would be the best time, so she opened up the door, stepping into the kitchen. It appeared to be made of a crystalized substance, a sign she was back at the city. She sat at one of the seats, grabbing a bowl of oats set out and began to eat them.
“Good morning inktip. Good to see you managed to get up after the scare you've givin us.” Duelblood gave a smile, eating a apple on the table and drinking what appeared to be cider. Inktip didn't say anything, instead focusing on the oats to help her empty stomach.
“I hope you can be ready to go soon. The first of the elements we're looking for are in your home kingdom, the pure diamond empire.”
“Crystal empire.” Inktip corrected over a mouth of oats. Maria held her claws up, before turning them to finish off a set of bacon and eggs sitting before her plate. The three finished their meals in silence, a mare coated in crystal coming to take the plates for cleaning. Maria motioned to the couch, the two following behind. Maria sat in a chair opposite to a couch, with the other two sitting there.
“If you're wondering, you've been unconscious for about a week. And the only activity while you were out was some ambassador from the empires coming here to talk about twilight town.”
“That sounds alot more big then you lead it to be.”
“Well, that's your problem then. Nothing happened, and that lets us move along with the mission. Glassclaw is giving us a ride to the city, but to get to the element we'll be on our own.” Inktip looked surprised at this, looking to Duelblood to see if she was honest. He made no response, making inktip more nervous.
“We aren't going to have the general with us on this mission? We barely survived the last escapade with his help. How do you think we can get through this without him?”
“Probably the fact we're going to a populated city instead of a abandoned dump.” Duelblood shrugged, his hooves covered in a new set on bandages.
“You don't have to worry about it right now. We'll give you another day of rest to make sure you're ok.” Maria gave a smile, before stepping out to the door. Inktip wanted to ask what she was doing, but decided against it, instead following Duelblood back to the table, a card deck sitting on it.
Maria flew off to the castle, landing just in front of the gate. Two dignitaries came out from the gate, bearing the moon and sun on their chests. She let them past, and watched as the dragon walked out behind them. When the dragon saw her, he let out a long sigh, and stepped to her with a smile. Maria walked beside her, heading to the fountain as he removed some of the diplomatic armor from his face.
"It's nice to see a face I can talk too without having to recite a speech for what they'll say beforehand. I'm guessing that inktip is finally ready to go?"
"Not so much that, as it is she finally managed to wake up." The griffon shrugged, reaching into her coat to bring out a towel. Glassclaw nodded, and took the towel in his tail, rubbing the water off his back and head. Handing her back the towel, she walked beside him as they made through the streets.
"I hope my mistress hasn't been too poor with you. She can be very shy about speaking up for herself."
"Ohh yes, she definitely needs you to correct her. She's been washing inktip and fixing us a breakfast so we can eat as we get up. It's like she's buttering us up so you don't do anything bad." The two laughed at this, startling the ponies that lived near where they walked. They then found themselves back at his home, stepping into the back. Maria stepped into the front door instead, finding Duelblood and inktip playing a card game.
Maria got a drink from the fridge, and went over to the couch, only giving a nod to the two playing their game. The maid came in with Glassclaw, covered by the large clothes of the dragon, heading to a room to wash them. He too grabbed a drink, this one a large wine bottle, and slumped into the chair opposite, popping off the cork with a single flick.
"Diplomats for days now, all over one night of odd magic. It's honestly the most activity from other kingdoms to us, and it's draining." He took a long swig of the bottle, giving a smirk as he placed it on the table between them.
"I bet you're ready to head out for the other elements now. I know those snobs would make me want to leave and do dangerous stuff."
"I won't be able to join you for awhile Maria. The places which the elements are must be explored with subtle intent. The first three are stored in the kingdoms of sun, moon, and diamond. The others I can join for."
"Well, we can just do those first. We could use your help at least getting there. Separate travel has proven a bit unreliable, so a carriage would be better for us alone." She grumbled a bit about speed, but the dragon ignored it, taking another swig of the bottle.
Maria waited for a response, and he simply nodded, heading up to his bed at the back of the house. The griffon walked back to the kitchen, watching as Duelblood finished collecting the chips on the table.
"We'll be heading out tomorrow, I hope we can see a smoother ride then last time."
"As long as you're riding with me. After the twilight town thing, I don't want to be unaware of who's with me." He shuddered, putting away the game on the table. Maria nodded, and stepped to the room of the door. Duelblood followed, while inktip walked to her own room, getting the message.
Glassclaw watched the cart ride off down the path from the outer wall, his sharp eyes seeing the kart turn off the main road and travel through the hill near the city, heading out of sight. A shadow of smoke formed near his figure, red dots forming into a makeshift body for the king.
"Do you really believe that the griffon can get the elements without your help or defense?"
"I have enough faith in that. She hasn't failed to carry out a order for the kingdom, and here is no different. Besides, this is something to do, activity is a motivator for any griffon."
"Then return to the castle. I feel the plan you've made will make war occur, and the changelings should be prepared for it." The form faded away, and Glassclaw stood to face the castle.
"The plan will succeed, I can count on it." He flew off to the castle, a smirk on his face.
The travel to the crystal empire was a slow and long one, giving the group time to reflect on what they were doing. Collecting the scattered remenits of a myth, to use them against the king of a country. They didn't speak, the only noise being the road and occasional snack.
Eventually, the cab approached the walls of the city, the three leaning out the window to see it. The outer walls of the city shined in the morning light, various crystals weaved into a pattern which changed as the sun traveled. The cart rolled to a stop by the gate, a set of guards wearing golden armor, spears to the driver.
"State your business." The first one exclaimed, the stallion pointing to the symbol of the carrage.
"A group of ambassadors have come to speak to the queen on account of the king of crystal." The driver spoke in a calm voice, as it used to weapons being pointed to his face. The two guards gave a short glance to each other, before turning to the gate.
"Is the queen aware of this visit, driver?"
"She has been informed, yes. Just have a place for the ambassadors to stay, as well as a place for the carrage to wait for the business to conclude, and all will be acceptable." He handed a slip to the guards, the two quickly reading over the contents. They handed the paper back, then signaled to a set of ponies on the gate. Four unseen unicorns wrapped their magic around the door, pulling the large frames and breaking the illusion of the wall. The carrage moved through it, a new set of guards stepping in front of the ponies to guide it.
Duelblood and inktip looked out through the windows of the carrage. The streets were made of a polished jewel, ponies walking along a sidewalk laughing. Mares and stallions mingled outside of stores, coated in glowing gems of various kinds. They moved in shock and fright at the slaves pulling the carrage, a few trying to help them off it before being blocked by the guards.
They drove through the city this way, passing a fountain showing a crystal heart as the center piece. It turned into a back road, stopping by a multi story building. The driver leapt down from his seat, opening the door for the three to come out. Inktip and Duelblood stepped to the curve, with Maria following behind. The driver used magic to grab their luggage, following them inside.
The receptionist gave a warm greeting, and showed them to a room near a window to the castle. The time they walked, Maria could tell she was being closely watched by the mare that lead them. After letting them into the room, the mare left them, the driver placing their luggage on the floor.
The simple room had a two pony bed, with a pull out by the bathroom. Inktip began setting up the beds, while Duelblood stepped into the bathroom to clean his bandages. Maria went to the window, watching as the carrage pulled away to a different area for storage. Inktip lugged a suitcase to the bed, and squinted at the expression on Maria.
"This seems like alot to pack for just the three of us. Why do we need all these slots and gizmos?"
"We can't just walk around with the elements, so we need one case to hold them. If things go smoothly, then the other stuff is just basic needs." She stepped away from the window, helping inktip fold out the other bed.
"Will we be staying here long?"
"Only long enough to get the element. Glassclaw gave me some notes on how to speak, so leave it to me. You two may be able to enjoy some sight seeing before the night hits." Inktip tilted her head, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Why just us? Can't you come with us?" Maria tapped the black diamond lodged into her ear.
"Anypony who sees this will not want to do business with me. This is the rival city to sombras after all, they don't take kindly to even visitors. You two can at least go around and not be rejected." Inktip frowned, then continued to struggle with the bed. Maria unfolded a sheet of paper and began reading over it again, prepping for the task the next day.
Despite her statement, the two stayed in the hotel for the night. Duelblood awoke early the next morning, heading to the breakfast buffet down in the main hall. The other two awoke thirty minutes later, doing the same. They spent some time talking with other ponies in the lobby, till a messenger signaled them for the carrage.
They went outside, finding the carrage sitting at the front of the place. Maria noticed the slave ponies were much better groomed then before. Maria sat on the seat with the driver, both inktip and Duelblood stepping into the cabin of the wagon. They then drove off, heading down to the castle.
"I hope you're ready for this miss griffion, with how deep into the city we are, if you anger the queen we may not get out alive."
"I have enough practice to know what to say. We'll be leaving here and to the next element in no time." Her confidence was enough to satisfy the driver, who continued down the shining road to the castle. They stopped in front of the gate, the driver stepping down to help the two get out.
Maria stepped down to the gate, looking over the walls of the castle. The blue diamond glowed with the light, each spire tipped with a different color of gem. The walls were so smooth that anything trying to scale or attack with magic would reflect off like a mirror. Inktip marveled at the castle, only used to the gloom and dark energy of sombras castle.
"What amazing craftsmenehip." She stated, stepping beside Maria and watching the gate lower for them. Duelblood scoffed at that, checking over the anklets he wore to make sure no blood leeked through. When the gate finally settled, two guards motioned to the entrance.
The three followed the guards through the gate, the amber halls gleaming in the candles that lit up the ceiling and floor. After they walked up a stairway, the guards stopped in front of a gate, engraved with a pink alicorn and white unicorn. Duelblood scratched at one of his forelegs, with Maria giving a half smile to assure them.
"Just let me do the talking. I have everything ready to go, just follow my lead." The doors slid open, with the three stepping through into the thrown room.
A lush carpet muffled their movements as they walked through the narrow hall. Candles which glowed with a pink flame sat in crystal holsters, filling the room with the scent of strawberries. At the end of the hall the queen sat in a simple thrown, adorned with gems and a crystal heart on the top.
The queen in question was a white alicorn, her mane a swirl of pink and blue. Her eyes showed a dark resentment for them, as if her very being was derived from them. She wore gold shoes, each with a diamond just above the hoof. Her crown was that of her mother's, along with the chest plate she wore. The three walked to the throwns base and bowed.
"Hail, queen of the crystal heart. We wish to speak with you on a importent matter." Maria put on her best charaskatic voice, hoping to make a good impression on her. The queen simply rolled her eyes, and motioned for them to stand.
"If this is to become part of sombras kingdom, then you can go ahead and leave. I have no desire to bow to a pony who forces ponies to act on his own say." The three stood as told, with Maria giving a laugh to try and break the tension.
"This has nothing to do with it, I assure you. But, it does involve elements of your mother's past that could overthrow the king." The queen's face faltered, unsure of how to take this. Before she could speak, Maria fetched a paper from her bag, handing it to her. She quickly read over the letters contents, before stepping out from her thrown.
"Guards, lead these two back down to their coach up front. I must speak with her alone." The door opened up, and the guards outside signaled for the two to follow. Maria gave a nod, and both Duelblood and inktip followed them out of the room. When the doors closed again, she gestured to the thrown, using her magic to lift the seat.
"I don't know why you want to defeat sombra, but I'm more then willing to help. I can't say what the others will do, so I wish you luck with getting them done. I'm sure my mother would have wanted the same." From under the cushion, a small gem floated over to Maria's hand. It was a star-shaped artifict, purple and dully glowing. Maria put it into her bag, looking over at the queen.
"I'm surprised you gave it to me this easily. What was in the letter that made you feel this way?" She said nothing, and the doors swung open again. Maria, taking it as a sign to leave, walking out the door to following the guards.
In the courtyard, the driver sat on the carriage, looking over a paper in his hand. When Maria stepped out of the castle, he placed it to the side and helped her on to the front seat.
"Things went smoothly, I assume?"
"Yes. Our next stop is the kingdom of the sun, let's get moving." Nodding, the coachmen started up the ponies to the entrance of the city. As the left, the queen watched from the balcony of her castle, gripping a small locket in her magic.
"I've spent long enough waiting. Now it's time to act, just like autie twilight would want. Good luck griffon, I hope you're successful."