//------------------------------// // Ch. 4 // Story: Six crystal candles // by SaltWriter the leviapony //------------------------------// Chapter 4    Hornet flew over the trees that lined where they rested, observing once again the sight before them. The land ahead of them was a cloak of darkess, a large moon adding light to the city. The tall spires and gothic scenery broken by the bats and wolves that walked the streets. But looking to the horizon, another moon was beginning to set over the land, with a sun rising on the other.    He flew back down to the small camp they had made, settling by the sleeping bag marinette used. He stepped to the small fire, watching as pupter threw a few more branches into the flame. He didn't seem to notice the changeling as he worked, shuffling the sticks with his magic.    "This city seems like the last place to find a simple mask. Do you think we can get in without being killed?"    "This place is made for ponies like us. A place where the lost and the wicked can come to perform without the need to be judged. A romantic dream and a dark nightmare blended into one."    "That doesn't help answer how we'll get the mask you're after." Pupter raised a eyebrow at the changeling, looking up from the now more alight flame.    "I didn't imagine you so eager to go into this place after the description I gave."    "Because you can get my swarm away from the crystal Kings control. But you said you won't till you get all these masks back. Though…" he turned to look at marinette, who was carving a lesson into a set of wood for him to learn. "Having a source of reliable love is mainly why I persist."    "She is a real gem. As for the city, we will head out in a few hours. We need to make sure marinette is correctly disguised before attempting anything however." He gave a smile, heading over to a spa kit they had taken from a wagon. He placed them near a tree, looking over the colors and tools inside.    "A disguise? Are normal ponies not allowed in?"    "The queen thinks of them as spy's for Celestia, so we must make sure we don't get separated. Till I finish, you should go ahead and pack. We will  need the items to sell when we get in." The changeling growled, but began to use his magic to clean up the various items, getting ready to leave.    Maria woke up with the sun in her face. But she also noticed that a set of sunglasses were lightly leaning on her beak. She adjusted herself, then sat up to see what was happening. In front of her was a glowing city, decorated in gold and white. It had a single town spread out in a wall, with a castle overhanging the city itself. The driver beside her chuckled at her shock, and adjusted his own glasses as they approached.    "We've arrived at the city without a moon. The crystal princess luckily gave us a glasses for the trip. It would be difficult to navigate in this city without them." The guards near the gate stopped them, anger hidden within their helmets at the slave ponies. The driver handed one of them a card, who quickly read it over. Maria shifted in her spot, but the guard gave the card back and signaled for the gates opening.    "The royal advisory seems to allow alot of free access to the city, but I doubt it'll help with this queen." The driver's words hung in her ear as the carrage pushed into the city. The streets glowed a warm color as they traveled, the heat already beginning to make Maria sweat. Every few feet a sprayer was dispensing a cool mist over the streets, with foals and ponies alike stepping aside for the them to pass, each horrified at the pulling slaves.    "We can't seem to have a warm welcome into any town."    "What do you expect? With us carrying the sign of the dark diamond, we aren't giving a good impression." Maria nodded to this, observing the busling streets and goods displayed under fans. A large fountain made the carrage swerve to get around, a crowd gathered near a stage listening to a orchestra. Through it, they ended in front of a bared gate, leading to a white courtyard with a garden.    Two white unicorns stepped to the carrage, helping Duelblood and inktip out of it. Maria glided down to the gate, waiting for the other two. The driver gave a a quick wave, before following a pegasus to where they would rest. The gate swung open silently, the two following Maria as she stepped inside.    "Go straight inside and follow the guard. They will take you to the queen's main chamber. Do not stray from the guide, least you be arrested." The guards words echoed by the other as they closed the gate. Maria walked through the garden, not even noticing the flowers perfectly crafted to form six ponies she once knew, layed in a way as if to hug the newcomers.    "What a magnificent garden. I've never seem such color before." Duelblood nodded at the remark, lightly nudging inktip to keep up with Maria.    "It would be, if we we're coming here under the worst of circumstances." Duelblood shook his head, steering to follow Maria as she walked. The guard stopped at a small door, and Maria stepped into it, followed by the others.    "We shall inform the princess of your coming. Best hope she is in a good mood." The guards words lingered in the silence as he walked away. Duelblood had to quickly dab away fresh spots in his bandages, trying to keep calm. Inktip meanwhile, helped herself to the small treats left on the table. Maria looked over the letter she had received from Glassclaw, reading over its contents again.    "I'm sorry to have to lead you into this. This was meant mostly for me, and coming here is making me realize what could happen to you two." The others said nothing, leaving Maria to continue with her own thoughts.    Hornet walked through the dark streets, keeping his focus on following pupter as he walked. He was surprised at how easily they were let in, especially since he didn't even need a disguise. But he still looked over his shoulder, expecting an ambush or encounter.    Pupter meanwhile strode in confidence, using his white mask for the treck. The hybrids and bat ponies walked past him without so much as a glance. Marinette meanwhile hung her head low, her well kept mane and fur now short and spiked. She had a set of magically made fangs in, her eyes half gold and half red. It gave her a wolfish appearence, her various burns and cuts on full display.    The three traveled through the artificial moonlight, small foals flying and snapping at the open stores and balls that rolled and bounced around the town. Torches hung from posts, giving a similar glow to the moon with their white flames. Heading through the large market of goods and potions, they came to a large spiked gate protecting the castle. A small graveyard stood before it, completing the gothic look and glow of the castle.    "No guards? This isn't what I would expect for a rulers castle." Marinette nudged the changeling, pointing to the gargoyles that stood over each of the homes and the castle. Squinting, he sensed a magic coming from it, a set of unseen eyes turning to look over the street they had just left from.    "Luna has been wearing my mask, so she most likely has funled her guards for a army. It would be something she'd  see in the chaos my mask provides. It is why I wanted to come here first, not to just do a small good, but to get back one of my stronger masks." He pushed through the gate, being that it was unlocked, and began to walk through the yard.    "I'm no fool when it comes to queen's. The ground will probably rise with undead or something, I can just feel it." Hornet tried to scurry away from the looming castle, but the magic of marinette stopped him.     I'm scared too, but I want to finish what we began. Please, let's enter. Hornet swallowed a hard lump, but nodded, holding one of marinettes forehooves as they entered. No such undead came out, not even a breeze as they opened the large black door of the castle.    In they went, a light blue carpet with half moons on the edge greeted their hooves. After closing the door, a batpony stepped down from on top of a large staircase, her well tailored suit showing her occupation. She flew down to the bottom and snorted at their entry.    "It's not often miss moon allows visitors to her house, especially unannounced ones. State your buisness, least you be expelled for trespassing." Pupter nodded, giving a bow and half smile.    "Of course madam. I am here with my friends to discuss mask matters. I am a conisour of masks, and I understand the queen is looking for a new mask to use for her midnight balls. Has she not told you?"    "I wasn't told YOU would be showing up. You all are'nt the usual tailors she uses for her work. And I also see no material." Pupter laughed, stepping to the mare and rubbing one of her shoulders. As he did, marinette motioned to the stairs, hornet following her up in a way to avoid the batponies gaze.    "This is about design, not fabrication miss. I know she has many masks, but one I'm interested in has to deal with upcoming circumstances more important then the queen itself." He leaned in close, whispering a few words to the mare. Her eyes went wide,  turning to the pony beside her just in time to fall asleep and lay on the floor. The zebra smiled, shouldering the mare and walking through the castle to find a bedroom.       Maria stood before a large set of doors, with Duelblood and inktip behind her. The guards swung open the door, a wave of intense heat blasting the three in the face. Maria stepped forward, holding one of her wings up to try and vent the heat. Duelblood frowned, stepping into the room behind her, while inktip took a swig of water.    Even with the glasses, most of the room couldn't be properly seen. This was from the shining ball that sat on a thrown near the end of the room. The alicorn had a mane and tail of pure fire, golden eyes watching unimpressed as they entered. The red and gold armor she wore gleamed off the light her head produced, and she smiled with a set of unnaturally sharp teeth.    "Well, isn't this a surprise. A intern of the scum king comes to ask a favor of me. You'd better have a good reason to approach me, least I destroy you for wasting my time." To emphasize her point, her wings flared out, each feather tipped with a golden blade. Inktip shrank behind Duelblood, who placed a hand over her shoulder. This made the sun queen laugh.    "You even brought such wimps to help you with the negotiation. I can tell you're no ambassadors, but I'll at least hear out what you want. Been awhile since I had a good laugh."    "Sun queen, I have a matter more important then simple role to role negotiation. I have come to ask for your element of harmony, so that…" Maria was cut off by a sudden flare from the queen's body, blurring out even more of the room and making the three instantly sweat.    "An ambassador of the crystal tyrant comes here to claim a prize of my birthright?! Give me one good reason I shouldn't incinerate you now for such folly!" As she spoke, the flames around her mane swirled around the three. It took all the willpower inktip could muster not to move, while the fur on Duelblood began to get scorched at the tips. Maria held firm, raising herself just enough to see the outline of the burning stare they got.    "It'll allow you to end the conquest of both the crystal king, and the moon alicorn. Our driver nor our king knows these intentions, and as such we can end his life using them. You wouldn't even be involved, for we take the fall." Maria had to yell to be heard over the closing ring of flames, but they stopped when she finished, disappearing in a flash.    The glow in the room began to fade, allowing the three to better see the layout. It had a simple gold walkway, with reflective paint over the columns adorned with torches. The queen stepped down from her thrown, the strength and beauty of her form now easy to see. The flames of her mane and tail still glowed, but more akin to a flowing mane then a blaze. Maria made a motion, and the three stood up to greet her.    "You're certainly a strange visitor to my castle. But your words have convinced me to spare you for now. But before buisness can be made." She gave a half smile to inktip, who began rubbing her back legs sheepishly.     "I must be sure what you say has merrit. Guards, escort the griffon back to the waiting room. I must speak with her companions before I make a decision." Maria looked back to them and gave as best of a assurance as she could before following the guards at the door. The two looked back to the queen, who nodded to the door.    "Let us take a walk around the garden, it will be more pleasant then talking in here, wouldn't you say?"    The manor lead to a large room, chandeliers of ice hung over the room, giving it a fog. Crystal covered the walls, reflecting the moonlight that shined through the large window behind the thrown. Blue flamed candles lined the walls, with red flamed ones under stain glass windows of events in equestrian history. But the most impressive sight was the alicorn that sat on the thrown.    Dark green eyes refracted the moonlight that shined on them, giving them a poisonous stare. The dark blue fur she had seem to absorb the light around it, forming stars and cosmic waves over it. Black armor adorned her hooves and chest, large aquamarine gems adorning the plates, each cut into  stars. She wore a mask of black scales, boldly outlining the hard stare of her serpent eyes.    Pupter approached the queen without hesitation, with hornet carrying a set of fabrics and papers stolen from a seamstress traveling on the road. Marinette meanwhile had left with the maid to tour the manor by pupters request. Hornet began to set up the area, with pupter giving a quick bow to the queen.    "Dear queen of the moon, I've come to offer my skills to properly dress you for the next ball you'll no doubt attend." The alicorn huffed at the remark, before stepping forward to examine his face.    "I'm not fooled like that of my servent. Speak of your true intent, for I can tell you're no worker of mine." Pupter gave a shocked expression, gesturing to hornet setting up the mirrors.    "My queen, I've come app this way to help you with the ordeal of appearence, and you insult me as if I'm just a nobody?" He held his chest in mock hurt, hiding a toothy smile with a turn of his head.    "I need not a tailor for now. And you're persistence into my manor is only by the lax nature of my slave. I can tell you're a servent of my cursed sister, and so I shall send your body back to her in a bag." The mask she wore began to spark, black lightning glowing down her neck and to her horn. She reared up, about to stomp on pupters body, before she froze, her eyes frantically looking around.    "What… what is this? Who are you, and tell me why you have such power?"    "That 'power' you weild is actually mine. I am here to reclaim it, and while I wanted to do it nicely, I have to do it like this." Hornet watched as pupters eyes lost their pupils, a flash of light ripping the mask off of the queen's face. She yelled in pain, falling backwards onto her rear as the mask replaced the one pupter wore.    The same black lightning surged over pupters body, his body beginning to grow in size. His fur burst off, dark scaled skin replacing the spots. A pair of wings sprang out of his back, a boom of thunder breaking the glass windows that were around the room. The mask molded the equine face to a more draconic appearence, a smile that cracked with electricity formed with his yellow eyes.    Hornet looked over to the queen, who seemed to change in front of him. Her size seemed to shrink slightly, patches of scales breaking away from her body and reveiling fur. The smooth fur she had lost its light absorbing properties, becoming a simple light blue. The neckplate weighed down her neck, showing the red flesh that had once been covered by the mask.    "Finally, a form with proper power. This'll make the work much faster for you, and for me. Come, let us leave this broken mess and head out to my next mask." Hornet was stunned by the calm and booming voice that came from the pony now dragon. In a trance, he flew over to his back, turning to see the moon queen weakly try and fire magic, eyes closed and bleeding.    "Poor thing. She won't lose her insanity, and be in serious pain till the next morning. Nevertheless, I hope she will recover." Hornet once again looked at the dragon, before clinging hard to his back as he walked out of the room. A cry of pain and anger reached hornets ears as they left, cursing a name he didn't recognize.    Pupter broke the door with his wings, the maid and Marinette ran up a flight of stairs to see him. The maid screamed in horror, swooning and nearly falling down the stairs if not for Marinette. The unicorn placed the girl at the top of the stairs, and leapt onto pupters back using one of his wings.    "As I told you, I would get the mask without incident."    But you clearly didn't take the time we agreed on, so she didn't buy it.    "Well… yes. I suppose I lost our little bet." The mare chuckled, before using her magic to secure the two onto pupters back. He leapt into the air, breaking through the glass of the mansion and giving a roar to the moon. He took off from the hill, sailing away to the mountains nearby, a crackle of thunder sounding as he flew through the night.    The sun queen walked through the garden she had, with inktip and Duelblood walking beside her on both sides. Inktip, despite the situation, marveled at the structure of the garden. It seemed each flower was crafted like a stainglass window, shaping into figures and gems alike.     Duelblood kept a eye on the queen, walking quietly beside her as she moved. The queen occasionally stopped, to with talk to one of the unicorns weeding the grass or the pegasi regulating the shade and rain over various patches. The queen eventually stopped in front of a large hexagon patch. Inktip squinted at the shape, recognizing it from the books and papers they got the elements info from.    "So tell me, why are you here?" The queen's voice startled the two after her long silence. She plucked one of the violet flowers from the patch, sniffing it idely before turning to the two again.    "I ask again, why are you here?" The two looked at each other, more used to Maria's knowledge and experience. Duelblood eventually shrugged, not enjoying the venomous stare of the queen.    "We've come to get the element of harmony, so as to..." He was stopped by one of the queen's wings, sniffing her flower again.    "I didn't ask why the griffon is here. I asked why you are here. Anyone can rehearse lines to speak to a royal for a item, but I want to hear the words of one who isn't here for a purpose." Inktip rubbed one of her feathers, unsure how to feel about this. The queen noticed her movements, giving a toothy half smile.    "Pegasus, what brings you here?" Inktip stiffined, unsure of what to say. The queen's stare making her unable to get the words out. Duelblood stepped around from the queen, stepping to her side and grabbing her hoof.    "To be honest miss, I'm only here to give myself a purpose. I have long ago lost it when I choose to flee, and I'm here to help the one who brought me in from the lost state I was in." The queen stared hard into his eyes, attempting to see a sign of lying. Satisfied, she turned her attention back to inktip, who was slightly more confident.    "I guess if I had to choose, it's because I've been a helper to ma… the griffon for a long time now. I doubt I could let myself go through this without my help." Once again, she stared hard into her eyes, making the pegasus squirm from the pressure. But, with a nod, the queen handed the flower she had to a gardener, heading to the overcast of the castle, the two following.    "The elements of harmony caused this world you see. Very few can remember them from how the chaos spread. You would know nothing of it, so the fact you want my element means someone has other plans." She stated off to the town below her, letting out a sigh.    "Whatever purpose the elements are to serve for you, you won't be able to use them without a proper bearer of each element. Even if you had six to use them, it is doubtful you'd use them without consequence." Her head turned to the giant moon that foreshadowed the lunar kingdom. Before the two could speak, a guard rushed from a inner spot of the castle.    It was a white pegasus, who carried a bag for mail on his shoulder. He quickly flew to the queen, rushing a bow and handing her a letter. The pegasus quickly flew off, leaving her to read over the letter. The two behind her grew worried as a frown appeared on her face, before turning back to inktip and Duelblood.    "It seems factors are beginning to change around us. Dragons attack my sister, and now she declares war on my city. Perhaps giving you the element will persuade her away from the city, and keep Luna from gaining the idea to use them." She began walking back inside, the other two following as she shook her head in annoyance.    "To think, the elements are being reawakened, war against my sister, and my city is at risk of attack soon. I need a cake to calm my nerves." She quickly moved through the halls, the other two confused at her statement.