Shining Armor, the elements of harmony, and a detachment of the Royal Crystal Guard arrived at the outpost early the next morning. The Captain Armor was at the front, in shining dress armor and marching with perfect form. The Elements of Harmony made a rank directly behind him, walking and trotting with mediocre form. Behind them marched the guard, six files abreast and six ranks deep, their armor glistening in the morning sun. The tips of spear horns and the machinery of hoof bows shined, polished to perfection. The feathers of bolts were beautifully maintained, not one strand out of place.
The bipeds’ Srenograd were all mounted in a triangle formation, the diplomat and his aides sitting at the front. The diplomat wore the full outfit of a gentleman, from white linen breaches to the thick blue overcoat and wig. His aides were also immaculately dressed, if of a slightly lower station than he. The Srenograd themselves wore their cleanest uniforms and shiniest helmets. The black leather boots they wore shined in the dull winter light. Mustaches were trimmed and straightened, haircut and combed. Every effort had been put forth into this impression, for both sides.
Shining halted, bringing the column to a standstill. He gazed up at the front of the bipedal formation for a moment, before gesturing to Twilight. “Go ahead, introduce us, Twilight.”
Twilight stepped forward and gave a polite bow to the diplomat. In German she said, “Hello, Sir Diplomat. I am Twilight Sparkle. I am fluent in German and will act as the translator for the negotiations. The stallion beside me is Prince Consort Shining Armor, husband to the ruler of the Crystal Empire, Empress Mi Amora Cadenza. We will escort you and your retinue to the capital today.”
The diplomat nodded. After a moment he replied in almost perfect Ponish, “I am Ambassador of Prussia Fitzgerald Eikhoff. I do not require a translator, as it would be insulting to force your Empress to use a translator in her own halls. Please lead the way…” the Ambassador trailed off, before looking at Twilight, perhaps a bit sharply. “How do I say his title in Ponish?” He asked.
Twilight was taken aback at his apparent near fluency. She stuttered out, in Ponish, “Prince Consort, Sir Eikhoff.”
“Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. I may still need a translator after all. Please lead the way, Prince Consort Shining Armor.” With that he took the reins of his horse in his hands, and shouted in German, “Prepare to ride, steady trot!”
The convoy of Prussians and Crystalians trotted into the view of the capital late that evening. The warm shield that surrounded the capital sparkled with a faint blue hue, warming the region inside. Thick, rich fields grew all along the edges, before giving way to a city, maybe 25,000 residing in it. A massive crystal spire rose above it all, casting out tendrils of magic up into the dome. All the Prussians stopped in awe, looking at the magical sight. Shining smirked and said, “This dome keeps the interior temperate all year round. Powered by the magic of love. We are currently working on expanding it using pylons, so the entire Empire is habitable year-round. A few years from now, and the entire Crystal Empire will look like this.”
Fitzgerald’s mouth twitched slightly. Into something that could be seen as a smile. Or, if you didn’t know him well, a slightly smaller frown. “Impressive, Prince Consort. Most impressive.”
Dense fields full of cereal crops like corn and alfalfa pressed right up to the barrier. Small crystal houses and wooden barns dotted the landscape. A pasture sat some distance away with chickens flapping about. Farm ponies working in the fields stopped to wave, before seeing the mounted Prussians. Then they’d quickly look away, or retreat into their homes. Prussian eyes would turn away from the farmers, looks of mild distaste on many of their faces. Buildings made from Crystal replaced fields of corn and alfalfa, a dense urban area growing between the stone paths. All the time, the Crystal Palace was visible, towering above it all.
Leaning over his horse, one of the aides whispered, in Ponish, to Twilight “How long did it take for these buildings to be built? They look to be made of solid crystal.”
Twilight leaned back towards him, a look of thought coming across her face. “I don’t suppose we really know.” She said, “The Empire was banished for over one thousand years, and before that the buildings were already made. I’m sure records exist in the library somewhere. After we sort this all out, I can find more information on it.”
A slightly deeper than normal frown flashed across the aide’s face before it returned to normal. “I see, thank you. Though that shouldn’t be required, I can do that myself. After this is sorted out, that is.”
With that, he slid himself back into his saddle, riding properly again. A bit of hay had gotten onto his overcoat, which he brushed off with a flick. And so, the party trotted on. Following a few minutes of travel through the city they emerged onto a massive plaza, with the Crystal palace sitting above it. In the center of the plaza a stalagmite of crustal rose, with a massive crystal heart sitting just above it. A stalactite sank from the cavernous top of the palace, stopping just above the heart.
“This is both the Crystal Heart,” Twilight announced in German, sounding like a tour guide, “Both the literal and metaphorical center of the Crystal Empire. It is what absorbs and focuses the love, before refining it into magic. The magic is then stored and cast through the palace.”
“Very interesting, Twilight Sparkle.” Muttered Fitzgerald, before turning to Shining, “Where should my aides and escort keep their horses? And what of lodging?”
“We have a green prepared to keep the horses, and some of my stallions can take them there. My wife and I have organized lodging, which I will show you and your aides to personally. The escort have an inn prepared near the horses.”
“Thank you, Prince Consort. And what is the…” He glanced at Twilight, and asked her what itinerary was in Ponish, “itinerary.”
“Sir Eikhoff, today you and your escort are to get acquainted with the Palace and the hall we will negotiate in.”
“I see. Thank you, Prince Consort.” Fitzgerald said, as he dismounted his horse, before reaching into his saddle pack and pulling out a glass bottle, and two fine wooden boxes. The bottle had ornate German writing on it and was filled with a drink of some sort. The cork was a stylized infantry man, wearing a tricorn and holding a musket in the crook of his arm. The two wooden boxes had a brass trim, which was polished to a gleam. The wood on one box was a beautifully carved mahogany brown wood, glossy furnishes adorning it. The other was a well-made light wood, a sandy pink color. It had an amazing sheen on it, looking almost like a rainbow when the light hit it right. A soft copper sat as a trim around its edge. A sapphire was set into the center of the lid. “I bring the Empress and yourself gifts, taken from my personal collection. The wine was made in an Italian wine yard, fifty years ago. These jewelry pieces were made by Saxon silver smiths. I do hope you and your wife enjoy them, Prince Consort.”
“Thank you, Sir Eikhoff. I do believe we shall enjoy them.” Shining Armor said, a small smile on his face, perhaps a little forced. He took the gifts and balanced them on his back, before trotting towards one of the doors set into the base of the palace. Before entering it he turned back to the Diplomat, and said, “I must take leave now, Sir Eikhoff. My men will see to your horses and escort’s lodging, and Twilight can show you to your rooms.”
Twilight at once smiled and turned to her friends, “You gals go get rest and eat. I’ll tend to the Diplomat of Prussia and his aides, then join you.”
General Ernst watched as the column of his men marched forth from the city. Thousands of line infantry marching in time with one another. Their barrels gleamed in soft winter moonlight, swaying slightly with every step. Hundreds of horses trotted along after them, dragging large guns behind them. His Calvary were scouting picketing lines for that night’s camp.
“What is the status of the new militia companies?” Ernst asked, turning to one of his aides.
“Two are currently in training while we gather recruits for the additional ones.”
Ernst turned to the other. “And what of a general for the offensive?”
“We have three candidates ready, sir. I’ve got a folder of each here.” The aide reached across his horse to give General Ernst three simple paper folders. Ernst took them and began reading through the files. After several minutes reading the entirety of each file, he selected the one marked General Harvig Karlson.
“Send for General Karlson. His logistical skills and confidence with light infantry will greatly help with the upcoming battles. When you inform him of his new command give him his orders.” He handed an envelope closed with a wax seal, bearing the seal of Prussia. Ernst returned to watching Prussian soldiers marching off to war until the last one disappeared off into the snowy wasteland.
“Admiral Kristofferson. The blockade fleet is almost fully prepared to set sail. The Sixth rate Half Cocked is currently short fifteen sailors, but we should have that solved in a week or two.”
“Thank you, captain.” The admiral turned towards his assistant. “Visit the Customs office and see if they’ve impounded any other smuggling vessels. If there are none, petition the admiralty to commission a new supply ship. Dismissed.”
“Yes Admiral.” Replied the assistant, jotting down notes before leaving the office. Kristofferson looked out his office window and out at the naval dockyard it overlooked. Three sixth rates, two sloops and two supply ships. That was the entirety of the fleet he had been given to blockade enemy ports.
He sighed before turning his attention to his captain, “Captain Almquist, has there been any luck on commissioning cannonades from the foundry?”
The captain shook his head. “None sir, they’ve stated that they lack any skilled workers to make them, and it would take weeks to make quality cannonades. We’ll have to use standard ships.”
Admiral Kristofferson sat back in his chair, rubbing his chin with thought. “Captain, do you have any ideas on how to increase our firepower without building new ships?”
“No, sir. Without carronades I can’t of a way. I’m sorry sir.”
“It’s quite all right. We’ve done all we can to help this squadron’s firepower. It falls upon us to be competent commanders now. If we fail, Lord have mercy on our souls.”