Chapter 3
In the Crystal Empire
The train whistled as the announcement was made through the speakers of their arrival to the Crystal Empire. Trixe had been asleep for a big part of the three-day journey, with Starlight being awake most of the time. The tired Starlight woke up Trixie as the train came to a stop and all the ponies around them began to grab their luggage and head out to the station. Trixie yawned and stretched as she opened her eyes.
“Have we arrived?” she asked sleepily.
With a nod, the purple mare got up and grabbed her small saddlebag. She had chosen to travel light. Trixie stood up and the two got off the train. The wind was chilly, as it usually felt so north. While no snow was present due to the protective magic that the crystal heart created, it was still colder most of the year than the rest of Equestria, and the seasonal changes were much less noticeable as the heart kept a steady and consistent ‘season’ all year.
“Let’s go get your cart and we can head towards the palace,” Starlight said. Trixie nodded as they saw two worker ponies unloading her beloved tour cart. They approached the cart with Trixie inspecting it, making sure all was safely in place and no harm had come to it during the journey. She had wanted to travel in it all the way from ponyville, but the need to arrive sooner to the empire had made them choose the train instead after a short debate. Thankfully, the train had an option to load the cart into the cargo compartments and they had managed to bring it along. It would definitely help them as they went further north into unexplored and uncharted territory.
“Is everything fine, Trixie?”
With a nod, the showmare unlocked the cart and walked inside. Starlight followed, seeing how much bigger it looked without all the show props. While Trixie had agreed to part from some of her magic show props, she had brought a couple of ones she claimed were going to be a necessity. A couple of fireworks, smoke bombs, and other things Starlight hadn’t bothered to ask about still remained inside the cart, but sleeping inside would be much more comfortable. With the light travel choices of Starlight, the cart felt like an entirely different space than when they had travelled together all those years ago.
“I just wish I could’ve brought everything,” Trixie lamented. “Who knows how many unexpected possibilities I could get of throwing an improvised show, and I won’t be able to give the best show I can without all my equipment and props!” Starlight patted her friend lightly on the head.
“It’s for the best of our mission. Once we return, we definitely should go on a looooong trip with all of your props!”
Trixie smiled. “Alright, on to the palace!” They both exited the cart as Trixie strapped it unto her back and they trotted towards the palace. While Starlight had seen the crystal empire, Trixie had never seen it in person. She marveled at the buildings and looked in amazement at the palace. “You never told me it was THIS splendid!” She looked around. “I would’ve come here to throw a show if I’d known it was this amazing! Imagine how EPIC it would look with a show by the great and powerful Trixie!” She paced under the palace central courtyard, admiring the heart for a few seconds as Starlight recalled all the events that had happened there, and wondering how Sunburst would be when he saw her.
They reached the entrance of the palace, being let in by the crystal guards who promised to keep a lookout for Trixie’s cart. After a slight warning about making sure nothing happened to the cart from the showmare, both proceeded to enter the palace. Just as the door closed, Princess Cadence greeted them.
“Starlight, Trixie!” She smiled warmly. “Celestia sent me a letter about you coming and explaining what had happened. I promise I will do all I can and is within my power to help you find her.” She looked down. “I wish I could join you but the crystal empire needs both myself and my husband… Now that Twilight disappeared, we are on high alert just in case something happens.”
Starlight chuckled nervously. “With the empire’s track record, it wouldn’t come as a surprise…” Cadence nodded. “But! I am sure nothing will happen! Haha… ha…” Starlight added with nervous laugher as she noticed the tense aura the room got at her joke.
“Starlight!” Sunburst ran and hugged her friend as the unicorn arrived to the entrance hall, having obviously been running there from wherever he had been in the palace previously. Starlight hugged him back. “I heard it all from princess Cadence. If there’s anything I can do, I shall do it.”
“Thanks Sunburst.” Starlight smiled as they broke the hug. “It’s nice to know we’re not entirely alone after all of Twilight’s friends disappeared with Discord.
Trixie groaned. “Why would that draconeequs even mess with things now, either way? He never helps out. Not properly, anyway.”
Sunburst looked confused. “Isn’t he a friend? He probably heard what happened and had to help out.” Everyopony looked unsure.
“But regardless, we understand you are going on your own way to make sure that the lead that you had from the map is looked into, right?” Cadence added.
Both Trixie and Starlight nodded.
“We will make sure that the train route to the north is opened tomorrow for you two to go as north as possible without having to tire yourselves. I’m afraid we can’t do much further north since Yakyakistan territory begins and we can’t go in there without causing some sort of tension.”
“But I thought everycreature is friends now?” Trixie asked.
Starlight cleared her throat, having had to explain that to many ponies and other creatures before. “Not exactly. While the friendship school has definitely managed to reinforce ties between various different races of creatures, it has not reached the point of making nations not have conflicts here and there. Politics are a bit more complicated than just having the young ones become friends. However, once the young ones take over then things will definitely be much easier.”
Cadence nodded as Trixie mouthed oh showing she understood.
“I’m sure the yaks know and will help you both in your journey north. However, from what I understand their infrastructure isn’t as developed and it’s only going to get harder once you leave the Crystal Empire’s railway system.” Sunburst added that as he handed them a map. Starlight unrolled the map as Trixie peeked behind her. “This is the most update map of the northlands that we have. While we haven’t managed to explore too deep into Yakyakistan itself, we do have some points further than the country of the yaks itself. The northern border of Yakyakistan isn’t properly defined by them either, from what we managed to gather. While I’m sure they’ll be able to guide you to the place you need to go, they don’t have the most reliable maps. This one includes all we know, all they Yaks have told us, and even some more information that comes from legends and word of mouth that could be true, could be false. It’s all marked in it so you know what type of information you are looking in the map.”
“This… this map gives me a headache.” Trixie complained this as she rubbed her head. Starlight rolled the map and placed it on her saddlabags.
She bowed at Cadence and smiled at Sunburst. “Thank you for this map. It’s definitely going to help us in our journey and save us a lot of trouble. I’m sure you dedicated a lot of effort into it, Sunburst.”
Sunburst scratched his neck nervously as he nodded. “A little bit, yeah.”
“You can sleep here tonight, and tomorrow early morning you can take the train north. It will be a day and a half ride north. Once you reach the last station, it is my understanding that an envoy from the Yaks will be waiting to help you cross the country.”
Starlight was surprised at the last part that Cadence had revealed to them. “I thought Yaks were hard to deal with for help like this.”
Cadence nodded. “They usually are. But they were more than joyful to help the headmare of the friendship school they cherish so much.”
“The friendship school? Our school? They cherish?” Trixie asked confusedly.
“They seem to find the idea of friendship extremely well. They’re eager to meet you, Starlight. And of course, you too Trixie.” Trixie puffed her chest in pride. Starlight could imagine her going inside her mind, chanting her name over and over again with imaginary fireworks and dramatic air under her cape.
“I’m afraid that’s all we can do. Sunburst insisted that he wanted to join you, but we sadly need him here in case trouble arises.” Cadence’s words made Starlight frown slightly.
“I was really hoping you could come…”
Sunburst nodded sadly. “Me as well… But I have a position that’s too important to just leave unattended. The problems of being the really important and definitely real royal mage, I suppose.” The two chuckled, remembering how he had invented that as the two reunited for the first time all those years ago.
“I’d say that everyone should go rest, a long journey will come for you two and this will probably be the last good sleep you can get in a while. Sunburst will show you to your rooms, as I have to go check the borders again to make sure nothing abnormal is happening. My husband has been out looking for anything, but his mind is too preoccupied on her little sister so my help is required.” They bid their goodbyes to Cadence as she left them. Sunburst guided them to their room and wished them goodnight.
Another day over in their adventure, and it already felt like they were so far away from home. Soon, they’d be where no pony had been before, trekking unknown places. And with those thoughts, both mares fell asleep, resting for what laid ahead…