//------------------------------// // The cold north part 3 // Story: Marked with Power // by Thenewbluebrony //------------------------------// Location: Crystal Empire As we continued heading north we started to see a dome. I decided to have Pisica turn into his cat form and walked up to the dome. As I got close I saw some guards and what looked like a walkway tube through the dome. "Halt what purpose do you have for visiting the Crystal Empire?" One of the guards said as she moved her spear in front of the tube. "Well, are you going to answer, or just stand there?" She said as she pointed the spear at me. Her coat was Green with white swirls coming down from her back. From what I could see her mane was split in color; half was red and the other half was white, parted by her horn which was red with a green spiral going to the tip. I decided to tell the truth. "I am here to see the Pillars Of Equestria. I was told they wanted to see me by Princess Celestia." I said as I grabbed the note that was given to me with the train ticket. I noticed there was a stamp on the back that had what I assumed to be the mark of the royal treasury. She looked shocked when she flipped the note over and saw the stamp. "Let him through his note bears the official seal of Princess Celestia." She said as the other guards lifted their spears and allowed me in the barrier. "Wait here as I get a replacement for my post so I can escort you to the castle." She said as I got through the barrier and left me. It took a few minutes and she arrived with three other guards that took her place and the places of two other guards, who joined us. I decided to try to strike up a bit of conversation to learn a bit about this place and then saw a statue of a familiar-looking dragon holding a heart. I decided to ignore it for now and figured it was an important part of the empire's history they would tell me about or I will read about it later. "Can you tell me a bit of the empire's history?" I asked as we continued walking. She looked at me and said with an expressionless face. "If you want information about the empire go find a tour guide, or go to the library." I found it funny and understandable. She is a pony selected to keep the Empire safe and keep the Empire's secrets and does not want to risk giving away any secrets due to a slip of the tongue. I decided to look around the area and saw the houses looked to be made of crystals. I then saw what looked to be the heart Spike was holding. It seemed to be calling to me because once I saw it my chest felt like it was on fire I decided to look away at this point. They seemed to notice this. "Are you okay sir?" The guard who I have been talking to asked as she stopped. I decided to lie. "It's a normal thing that happens every once in a while." She seemed to believe me and we continued on our way. As we approached the castle a sudden shock-wave-like ring shot past us and I felt the burn this time I saw the change. It started with my skin becoming rock hard, then it started to shine, and finally, huge crystals started forming on my whole body. They seemed to notice my shock. "So this is your first time being crystallized. It happens when the Crystal Heart has been filled with enough love and sends out the shock wave you saw." The head guard said. It was at this point I saw they had become shiny as well. I figured they thought this was my crystallized form so I went with it. I used my arm to inspect myself and I saw my outfit had changed to look almost the same as Diamondhead's outfit from the show except I did not have the Omnitrix symbol. When we got to the castle they had lost their crystal forms and I was still stuck as Diamond head. "So this is the warrior we summoned." An old unicorn who had a hat with bells and a cloak that had stars on it was standing next to Discord said. "I will admit this is not how Celestia had described him, Discord." Discord then teleported next to me. "It appears our friend Jason has gotten new powers." Discord said as he was dragging one of his claws along my arm. I decided to try one of the more basic powers. I imagined my hand turning into a sharp point by making my hand into a salute form and my hand had become like a sword. I then relaxed my hand and saw it stay as a sword. I then realized it was thought-based. I thought back and remembered the ball and the Crystal Heart. "I only know the cave you sent me to had a door that was opened by a ball, and when I used the ball It crystallized and hit where my heart was. I then felt a burn in my heart when I was looking at the Crystal Heart, finally, when the Heart did its shock wave I became this." I explained and then I remembered Peppermint. "I need to see the local guard, I found a pony's body in the cave," I said as I had forgotten there were three guards with me. 'I had found the body in the cave I had just told you guys about and I found the ball next to the body here is her ID card." As I said this and handed the card to the guard, I had been talking to on the way here. She seemed to have known this mare. The mare had run off and the other two guards knew why. "Her mother was supposed to have been here last week. They had agreed to meet at the tunnel so they could catch up. Thank you, she's been worried." The guard who was on my left said before him and the other guard left me with Discord and the old unicorn. The unicorn then spoke up and said. "It is about time I introduced myself, I am Starswirl the Bearded. Nice to meet you."