//------------------------------// // 239. Welcome to the Crystal Empire (such as it is) // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// Rarity gently brushed her thumb in the crease between Twilight’s thumb and forefinger as the pair waited for the train door to open so they could depart. “How’re you holding up?” Rarity asked. This was it; they were but a few short moments from stepping hoof into the Crystal Empire, something that Twilight had long dreaded. It didn’t take much of Rarity’s keen insight and empathy to understand that the thick glut of sweat coating Twilight’s face meant she was nervous. “I’ll be okay,” Twilight said, feigning confidence rather admirably, “as long as you’re with me.” “I will be,” Rarity raised her hand to Twilight’s cheek, the lavender beauty leaning into it and purring. Stars how Rarity had missed this. “Forever and always.” The doors opened, and Twilight’s ears fell flat against her head. Rarity entwined her tail with Twilight’s and looked up at her with a bright smile, Twilight mirroring the gesture as closely as her frayed nerves would allow. Rarity wasn’t sure what to expect when they reached the Crystal Empire; it wasn’t an area that was particularly popular for tourism, so the station was almost completely empty, but what surprised Rarity more was how quaint it was. Aside from the difference in architecture, there was hardly anything separating the small platform and the meager station behind it from the station in Canterlot’s Moon District. Frankly, Rarity was a little disappointed. She was hoping that a place called the Crystal Empire would be a tad more extra. The platform itself was nearly devoid of life, no passersby going to or fro, and no one waiting for the party’s arrival except for a single alicorn mare, a smidge taller than the average pony but shorter than the two goddesses of Equestria, whose bright pink coat were beautifully complimented by the curls of violet, pink, and gold in her mane. She was dressed extravagantly, but subtly. Her tunic was decorated with gold trim, and her pants that almost looked to be one size too big for her were decorated at the hem with a few scattered gemstones, as though an amateur had sewn them. Truth be told, she looked less ‘extravagant’ the more Rarity looked at her, but her confidence and beauty made her look radiant nonetheless. “Rarity!” Cadance beamed and opened her arms wide as Rarity departed from the train, and Rarity looked to Twilight, who nodded her approval, before she wrapped Cadance up in a comfortable hug, Cadance squeezing her tight and Rarity unable to hold back her laughter. “It’s been far too long, I think,” Rarity said, looking Cadance over once more. It was frankly criminal how gorgeous she was; the only woman outside Rarity’s growing polycule who Rarity would admit could equal or even surpass— on a good day!— Rarity’s own beauty. “It has, and I want to catch up with you desperately,” Cadance leaned to the side, looking past Rarity at an awkward and bashful looking Twilight, “but first…” “Oh, this sucks!” Spike declared dourly as he stepped out onto the admittedly unimpressive station platform. “I gotta say,” Applejack added, “I expected a tad more, uhhhh, opulence? Is that the word? Rarity, help a gal out?” “Opulence is fine, sweetheart,” Rarity giggled. “The Empire’s seen better days,” Cadance shrugged. “A lot of our resources are dwindling due to lack of trade with Equestria, and the resources we do have are being spent… uh… sub-optimally, I guess.” “Because of Gladmane?” Rarity whispered. She wasn’t sure if she needed to be paranoid, but that never stopped her before. “Mm,” Cadance nodded. “But enough about that!” Cadance clapped her hands and beamed, stars gleaming in her eyes. “Twilight Sparkle, I simply must make your acquaintance!” “Uhh, yeah sure,” Twilight said awkwardly as she finished talking with Applejack and Spike, who subsequently headed off further toward the Empire on their own, and Twilight concentrated her attention on Cadance. “Uh, hi, yes! I’m Twilight Sparkle! Pleasure to meet you!” “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Twilight!” Cadance said cheerily, shaking Twilight’s hand rather vigorously. “Darling, she’s nervous, give her some space,” Rarity whispered, putting a hand on Cadance’s shoulder and pulling her off of Twilight. “S-sorry,” Cadance said, rubbing the back of her neck. “I’m a little overeager, I apologize! I’m just excited to meet you!” “I’m excited to meet you too,” Twilight nodded, “I’ve heard good things.” Twilight paused, and tilted her head a bit. “Actually, I haven’t heard any things. Rarity has never talked about you.” “Is that right?” Cadance gave Rarity a catlike grin and Rarity immediately laughed extremely awkwardly. “I swear it wasn’t on purpose, I just never had the time!” Rarity hastily explained. “Hey so anyway where’s Rainbow Dash!” Rarity hurried along to the train and poked her head in, and a disgruntled and yet completely unsurprised frown washed over her face as she saw Rainbow Dash, struggling against Pinkie Pie pulling her and Fluttershy pushing her as they were attempting to get her off the train. “Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said flatly, and the three women ceased their struggles to look at her. “What is this.” Rainbow couldn’t muster up a defense, merely puffing up her cheeks and looking ashamedly at the ground, slowly plodding along to the exit of the train as Rarity stood nearby, crossing her arms and tapping her hoof like a disappointed mother. Rarity hopped off the train after Rainbow, with Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy in tow, and Cadance’s eyes immediately lit up as she saw them, specifically Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash,” Cadance held out her hand, her arm stiff as a board as she stayed a comfortable distance from Rainbow, but she wore a genuinely warm smile on her face. “Long time no see, hotshot.” “Yeah,” Rainbow’s entire face turned beet red as her trembling hand made contact with Cadance’s, and they shook politely. Rainbow’s puppy love crush on Cadance didn’t seem to fade with time. Rainbow took off on her own right after, she didn’t share any words with anyone else. Fluttershy and Pinkie left with her, Pinkie holding her hand and Fluttershy putting her hand on Rainbow’s shoulder, and Rarity smiled as she watched them go, leaving just her, Twilight, and Cadance on the platform. “Still has a flame for me, huh?” Cadance said. “Afraid so,” Rarity muttered. “Hmm…” Cadance hummed. “I dunno, she’s kinda cute…” “Is that right?” Rarity arched an eyebrow. “I’m surprised to hear that from you now. You hardly gave her the time of day back wh—” “I hardly gave anyone the time of day,” Cadance sighed bitterly. “Back when I was training constantly to live up to the expectations of Celestia’s star pupil? Relationships just weren’t in the cards. And I dunno, I’m not saying I wanna marry her or anything, but you gotta admit, she’s pretty cute.” “She’s right, Rarity,” Twilight chimed in with that charming smirk of hers. “Rainbow is pretty cute.” “True enough, I suppose,” Rarity shrugged. “Well if you want to pursue something with her, I’m not going to stop you or anything.” “I at least want to get a chance to talk to her,”Cadance said thoughtfully, looking in the direction Rainbow had left. “And we’ll just see what happens.” “You do that, Cadance,” Rarity groaned in exhaustion, rubbing her temples. “All I want to do is lie down for a bit.” “Yeah,” Twilight sighed and held Rarity’s hand, “it’s been a long trip.”