Loyal to the cold winter weather, it was incredibly freezing out around the Crystal Empire. However, even from the rushing train, it was clear that the ponies didn't care much about the cold – they were too busy decorating all over the streets and squares. The houses were all shiny by the long garlangs of shiny and colorful gems symbolising every kind of winter subjects from snowflakes to reindeers, ponies smiling while helping each other making the empire as beautiful as they could just turn it into.
Happy chattering and singing ruled the excited crowd of four-leggeds – except one, orange colored earth mare with a huge cart of jars, filled with the best, the most sweet honey of all Equestria. The wooden cart was heavy and old, giving a squeaking noise with every movement of the rusty wheels turning around and around. Honeybuzz was afraid the precious, golden liquid could fall out and ruin the entire adventure she had been through, just to get to the empire and deliver a business of her father, Goldenjar to the royal family for a corny celebration.
The earth mare was around her 20s in human years and had been about to apply for addition to Pinkie Pie's bakery, to learn out how to bake special bakery stuff. However, her father was a quite stubborn stallion and since his elder daughter had already moved out from the family-nest, Honey was the only available helper. Plans rumbled, dreams crashed – no hope to start studying the mastery of baking soon.
At least the unending excitement and cheer of the crystal ponies brightened her day as she trotted along the rich-decorated streets of the Empire. With her gaze, she was both gazing the mesmerizing picture of the beautiful ornaments and searching for the back gate of the castle. The second one was a bit challenging task as the crsytal royal guards weren’t guarding only the royal palace but the festive mood as well.
As soon as the mare had found the destination of the honey jars, or else the V.I.P. gate at the back of the castle, she began searching for the order letter from The Queen’s assistant, Bright Feather. The shiny paper with the cracked, crystal pattern contained the royal seal of both Queen Flurry Heart and her son, Prince Pinto Cloud.
“Good afternoon, Miss. How may I help you?” one of the muscular guards asked the golden mare.
Honeybuzz handed the order letter to the royal guard. “Good afternoon, Sir. I have delivered an order for the Hearts Warming Eve Ball, requested by the royal family. Honey from Ponyville Honeyfarm”
The guard swiftly read through the letter to make sure it’s real. The seal showed it was, so his stiff look warmed up in no time. He nodded to his other colleagues to let the deliverer mare in. “Of course, Miss. Please, let me show the way”
With that, the stallion turned around and guarded Honey on her way along the endless foyers of the Castle. As the golden mare followed the guard, she traversed the astonishing palace: it was rich-decorated for the ball, even better than the outer areas. Guards were all over the place, either guarding given rooms or showing the way around for other deliverers and important ponies. Honeybuzz couldn’t help but drink in the mesmerizing and buzzing picture of the royal palace as they crossed foyers and rooms after foyers and rooms.
Once, they finally reached their destination. A huge storage for every kind of goods from all over Equestria, all from the best producers. In front of a pile stood a lightblue crystal stallion, an inky feather as his cutiemark.
Honeybuzz immediately recognised Bright Feather, the Queen’s assistant, thanks to the description the stallion attached to the order letter. “Good afternoon! Bright Feather, right?”
The stallion nodded with a warm smile. “Good afternoon, Miss Honeybuzz. Oh yes, I am indeed Bright Feather” he took a quick look over the ordered goods. “Glad to see that both you and the hars arrived in one piece. The weather is getting colder and colder outside”
“It was a long journey, but I try my best to fulfill such an honored order” the mare responded. “Where can I park the cart?”
Bright Feather turned around toward a free place only a couple of hoofsteps away. He pointed there with his sharp chin. “There, Miss. Do you require any help?”
“I’ll manage, but thank you” Honey said and she immediately started off toward the mentioned area. The mare could park the old cart with the countless, heavy honey jars easily, only with some swift movements.
Thankfully, she had previous experiences, so it was an easy task. No other goods were harmed, like a professional she did her job. The mare began unpacking the jars of gooey liquid into an enormous stock, every piece fitting perfectly together. It didn’t took long for her to finish, the cart was behind her in no time.
However, the deliverer story couldn’t end so easily. The earth mare just didn’t find Bright Feather anywhere, even after asking all around the huge storage-room and the nearby areas. Not to ruin anything, Honey parked the wooden cart at an outlying area – she was about to become more and more antsy due to the disappearance.
Why?
Due to the holiday in the Empire, the number of trains back to Ponyville was reduced greatly. The mare really had to hurry to reach the last train since no hotels had free place in this time of the year, even when she had money to reserve a room for the night. Plus, she couldn’t lay down outside since it was freezing cold.
It was understandable that the mare was more and more nervous as minutes passed with no Bright Feather around. Not to mention her unplanned, nerv-controlled moves of tearing up doors after doors – behind one of these doors was the royal heir himself, Prince Pinto Cloud.