//------------------------------// // Chapter 15-1: Enter the Mane Team. // Story: Colonel Hooves and the Empire of Crystal // by KarmaSentinal //------------------------------// “The train station sure is busy this morning.” The unicorn noted as she stood on the side of the train platform.  The early sun hadn’t even broached the city’s towers, yet the cooling air of the night was already waning as was indicative of the upcoming sun. There was little light save the gas lamps that illuminated the plaza and platform as was common place for the very early morning, but that didn’t stop the traffic of early risers trying to beat the rush to catch the first train to Equestria. Winter break was over for many, and the tourists were ready to return home.  ‘Home.’ She thought, casting a glance toward her right forehoof to see the old branding used to mark her skill as a caster. It made her shudder with repressed anger, and dejection of her current state of existence. Still, it was a better opportunity being here than wasting away back in Equestria.  So she stood here by command waiting to receive some very important visitors that would arrive on the first train, but who they were hadn’t been revealed other than the description of ‘six mares and a dragon’. Who hangs around with a dragon? Celestia, it would make finding her charges easier, but the idea of being around one of those firebreathers rubbed her worst than settling down and raising a family. She wasn’t ready! “What am I going to do? Mother and Father are already pressing for that marriage, and my whole existence is null...” Gas lamps magically began dimming the more the sun crawled over the mountain, and peered into the valley below, catching the great castle spires in its magnificent rays which then began spreading to the nearby homes. The air around them was warming up, and the platform was becoming more noisy as the ponies became increasingly anxious as it meant their day was starting, and they were wasting time.  “The train should be arriving any minute now…” She told herself as a way to forget about her own problems by focusing on other ponies and their problems. For a guard, she never did too well with crowds, but that could be blamed on her upbringing. Not that the unicorn would throw her parents under the carriage like that, yet their strict, almost isolationist schooling made it difficult to function in groups larger than four ponies at max. Her commanders knew this, and still insisted she be the one to escort six ponies back to the castle by herself.  “I’m definitely going to throw some fireballs later.” the unicorn happily nodded at the idea, and quickly began constructing how elaborate the routine would be as the gathered crowd grew impatient.  There was no telling how long the train would be, and unlike her fellow ponies waiting on the platform, she wouldn’t be wasting her time since she was on a mission. But the unicorn wasn’t immune to boredom, and decided to pony watch as she waited for the late train.  Starting with the platform, the unicorn quickly noted how her Equestrian armor and maroon coat stood out against the scarf wearing ponies huddling close together for warmth. It put a smile on her face knowing her talent for heat gave the ability to control her body heat, making everything but the most extreme temperatures an afterthought. It was one more positive toward her talent among the many negatives that crippled her family line.  “The train better hurry up.” She angrily muttered as her previous thoughts ruined the mood.    By now the sun had already risen over the horizon to officially declare the start of the new day by the time the train entered the station…nearly 2 hours late. To quell the angry passengers, the station master had to offer warm drinks and a slight discount toward their ticket purchase as an apology. Of course the guard was also offered a drink with a cookie as a thank you for her service, so it really wasn’t any of her concern anyway.   So, she ate and sipped her offered treats as she watched the restless passengers herd in front of the train cars. Even before the passengers could disembark, the herds were trying to rush through the doors  to nab one of the newly vacant seats. It got so bad she feared she might have to take charge and intervene to maintain order when a shout silenced everypony on the platform. In a welcome surprise, the station master, an older crystal stallion on the shorter side took command quickly, and separated the boarding passengers into three groups, and then signaled for the disembarking to leave.  She sighed with relief it had worked.  Finishing up her drink and cookie, she discarded the trash into a waiting can and made her way toward the platform to find the ponies she was supposed to escort to the castle. Most of the new arrivals had already cleared the platform leaving the few ponies left as stragglers trying to still board, but not many the unicorn would consider her targets. She was beginning to believe she’d missed them when a particularly loud group caught her attention, and as she listened to their bickering, began believing they might be the ponies she sought.  The group had made their way off the platform, and were standing in the middle of the road forcing some of the incoming carts to go around them. They didn’t notice as they continued their bickering… well the blue pegasus with the horsey voice bickered as she hovered off the ground with exasperated movements. Her ‘friends’ appeared divided over whatever the matter was, but it was the orange earthy that engaged with the blue pegasus while the other four talked amongst themselves.  An even split among the races, two unis, two pegs, and two earths made up the group, and all mares to… the ponies she had to escort were supposed to be all mares, so this might very well be the group. Her approach wouldn’t go unnoticed, given her bright colors and clinking of her armor made any sort of stealth impossible.  “OH! Can we help you, Miss?” The Canterloian unicorn was the first to notice, and her question alerted her herd. They watched with suspicion as the unicorn guard approached, the yellow pegasus even hiding behind her peers only made the fur along her back bristle with irritation.  Still, she was an Equestrian, soon to be Crystal Empire Guard, and was required to suppress her emotions in favor of the traditional stalwartness the Guard was known for. She bit her lip to remind herself to remain calm as she came to a stop just in front of them.   ‘No dragon.’  The unicorn thought as she quickly straightened her armor to be a little more presentable before answering the question. “You just may citizens. Are you the Elements of Harmony?” She didn’t know who they were besides a really quick briefing from her superiors that they were very important ponies who held direct connections with the princesses, and that alone made them a priority.  They seemed surprised, and turned to one another for some sort of an answer or response when the blue pegasus practically flew into her space with the biggest grin she had ever seen. “YOU BET WE ARE! NAME’S DASH, AND FUUUTTURE WONDERBOLT AT YOUR SERVICE!”  “Rainbow Dash! There’s a courtesy called personal space!” The white coated Canterloian cried as the orange earthy grabbed the overly excited pegasus by the tail. Her words were distorted by the rainbow hue tail in her mouth, but her friends seemed to understand her clearly, possibly meaning this was a common occurrence.   “We’re sorry about that guardmare! She’s just excitable, so please don’t hold it against her?” The purple unicorn asked more than stated, but it would take more than a grown mare acting like a filly to get her worked up. “It would take much worse to elicit a reaction from me, but judging from her reaction, you are the Elements of Harmony?” The purple mare flinched at the question with her ears pinning back, but the question once again got the attention of her friends. The yellow pegasus peered through her mane as the pink earthy hopped in place as bits of confetti shook loose from her mane. The Canterloian’s eyes sparkled like the gems that adored her perfect flanks, and nearly glided toward the guard when the horsey voiced pegasus broke free and did another quick twirl just above their heads. “OF COURSE! I JUST TOLD YOU WE’RE THE ELEMENTS!”  “You know of us darling?” “YES! YES! A new friend in high places! Now we can make snow cones every day of the year!” “Oh my..I..hello there.” Their responses came at once, and they were loud as each pony tried to talk over the other to win the unicorn’s attention, but it all stopped when the purple unicorn asked a simple, but not simple question.  “Did Celestia send you?” The other ponies were grounded right there, and looked to their pointy head friend, and then back to the unicorn guard with much tapered expectations. She nodded, happy to get back to business.  “In a way. My name is Morning Star, and I’ll be your escort to the Crystal Castle.”  “Now that’s mighty kind of ya sugercube, but we're not the type to be needin much assistance. Especially when said castle is just right over there.”  Morning Star assessed the orange mare that had positioned herself at the front of their little herd, and even with her magic, the unicorn felt intimidated by the iron backed muscles protruding from under her skin. Her guess would be the mare hailed from an extremely back breaking career, and seemed to thrive in it.  Even with the powerful mare before her, Morning Star took another step closer in a way to announce her acceptance of the unspoken challenge. This wasn’t from a need to establish dominance, but to lay the groundwork for the rest of their interactions- past and future.  Ignoring the pleas of her friends, the earthy stood tall and proud in another grand display of confidence, but this time Morning took the initiative by securing a second step closer. The act of defiance left the orange mare grinning before she outstretched her hoof.  “Names Applejack! You’re pretty strong for a magic user.” “Just a little extra is all. Morning Star is my name, and I’m a transfer from Equestria.” She stated her name again, more for the personal effect of their new found understanding. But Morning Star didn’t know why that last bit of detail mattered, nor the reason she felt compelled to share that detail. Just being near the friendly mare put her dangerously at ease, and that worried the unicorn more than any physical threat. She’ll have to make a formal inquiry of this mare’s abilities, and whether or not it could be a threat to The Empire.  She doubted anything would come of the request given these mare’s supposed importance to the crown, but it wouldn’t hurt making the report. But that would wait until after the barrage of questions that began pouring in.  “OH! Is your assignment to this marvelous permanent, or temporary?”  “Did you move here to make even more friends?” “Na, I bet she moved here to fight the frozen undead like Windigos!” At least from three of them. While their friends found the nature of her transfer fascinating, the purple unicorn and shy pegasus were silent, but their eyes were alive with a torrent of unspoken questions. When their eyes met hers the invitation was extended, and the unicorn with the stars on her flank accepted.  “Why would Celestia send you and not a local guard?” Her question halted the questions, and the other mares looked to their friend and then toward her. Upbringing and training dictated how she would answer the question without revealing too much in the open air. “That wasn’t a thought nor a concern when my superiors ordered and assigned the mission.”  It was a very neutral response, and Star would’ve been disappointed if the observant unicorn had bought it. Instead the mare’s brow fell as her eyes narrowed at the obvious deflection, and in classical high upbringing subtly calling her out without really calling out. “Fair enough. My BBBFF was the same during his training days, so It’s not a problem.”  ‘Clearly it is.’ Morning Star thought to herself. “We best hurry now, my orders were to escort you to the Princesses the moment you arrive. Any more questions would need to be asked while we walk.”  The gathered ponies either didn’t notice the suspicion of their friend or didn’t care as their line of questioning switched from being about her to The Empire itself.  Morning Star thanked the princesses for this brief moment of rest as it allowed her chance to gather herself. It was one thing to deal with civilians, or the privileged ponies, but it was another game to deal with ponies directly connected to your boss. Normally this wouldn't bother the war unicorn, but there wasn’t another Crystal Empire to transfer to if the situation got heated. Morning Star found herself biting her lip once again to remind herself of this. “Don’t screw this up Star.” She told herself as her charges continued admiring the splendor that is the Crystal Empire.