It’s All Rhomane to Me: I – An ‘Unexpected’ Journey
“What do you think the Princess wants, Twilight?”
“Oh, you know the Princess. It could be anything really. She might just want to ask me how my magical studies are or she will send me out on some sort of adventure into the unknown” Twilight joked as she winked at Spike. The dragon just rolled his eyes, but deep down Twilight really did hope that the Princess was sending her out on an adventure.
‘Things in Ponyville are great but, I just…can’t explain it…for once in my life.’ Twilight thought to herself. A small frown grew on her lips. She loved her friends and she had many more since arriving in Ponyville but, after all that had happened over the years; defeating Nightmare Moon, defeating and reforming Discord, kicking Queen Chrysalis’ flank-twice, and everything else things were beginning to seem stale for her. The girls were starting to settle down and look toward starting families but, she felt like she had a Diamond Dog on her back she needed to buck! She had helped Applejack expand Sweet Apple Acres to become Equestria’s number one apple farm. She had assisted Rarity in navigating the local politics of Canterlot to start a relationship with Fancy Pants. She had guided Fluttershy’s dream of opening a nature preserves and animal hospitals throughout Equestria. She had explained the birds and the bees to Pinkie Pie (which had required a projector presentation she had filmed herself). She had cheered on Rainbow Dash when the Pegasus had almost backed down again from being a Wonderbolt. Though, she had also broken Rainbow Dash’s heart.
“Oh! Good day to you Miss. Sparkle!” a unicorn stallion with a golden mane and white coat greeted Twilight outside of Princess Celestia’s throne room. She smiled back at Bright Idea, who blushed in return and hid himself behind the stack of papers he carried. “Y-you don’t need a-an invitation to go in M-m-m-miss. Sparkle!”
“Twilight and Bright sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” Spike grinned as he whispered his words to Twilight. The pair stepped toward the golden doorway and Twilight seamlessly used her magic to pull at the dragon’s ears. “Owieowieowieow! Ok! Ok! I’m sorry Twilight!”
Twilight giggled as she let him go and watched him rub his ears. Wistfully she could not help but think on how much he had grown since they had arrived in Ponyville a few years ago. He wasn’t exactly small and pudgy anymore only slightly taller and leaner but still, it made her think of the old days. ‘I don’t want to even think about what will happen when he gets too big for the library.’
Celestia seemed to be the only thing in Twilight’s life that wasn’t changing for good or bad. Even Celestia’s throne room had additional stained glass windows besides the ones depicting Twilight and her friends defeating Discord or Spike saving the Crystal Empire from Sombra. Twilight’s mentor though looked the same as she had the first day Twilight had seen her at the Canterlot Sun Celebration and Twilight’s last visit to Canterlot a few weeks ago. Beautiful white coat and transcendent, multicolored mane looking the perfect picture of a regal princess! Twilight mentally stamped down on long buried urges and bowed along with Spike to Celestia.
“Twilight” Celestia’s smile beamed, “Thank you for coming so quickly my most faithful student”
“Of course, Princess!” Twilight gushed, “I’d leave a good book on Magical Harmonic Theory if you needed me” which she had actually. A small part of her itched to get back to reading the book.
“That, my dear Twilight, is why you are the only pony I can trust this important mission to.” Celestia moved from her throne to in front of Twilight.
‘Wow. My instincts have really progressed!’ Twilight’s mind echoed. She looked up to the Princess in expectation as Celestia’s horn glowed and burst into magical energy. Twilight shielded her eyes with her fore hoof from the magical blast and when she moved looked again she was surprised by the familiar sight of a single piece of crystal.
“Isn’t this the magical crystal you used to show me the Crystal Empire for the first time?” Twilight asked. This was not the only crystal of its kind she knew. She had seen the exact same one in Cadence’s throne room when they had been Sombra’s. A piece of her mind shuddered in reflex at memories of the dark magic she had used to activate Sombra’s illusionary, fear door that had shown her, her deepest and darkest fear.
“That it is, Twilight.” Celestia used her magic again; her magic blasted the crystal which once more created a perfect bird’s eye view of the Crystal Empire. The Crystal Tower that housed Cadence and Shining Armor’s home as well as the Crystal Heart stood in the center of a beautiful city made entirely out of various crystals. She had been to the city a dozen times since defeating Sombra and knew the layout like she knew the back of her hoof.
“Wha-“Twilight had begun to ask before the crystal’s image shifted. The image grew as if she was a Pegasus who was flying higher and higher into the sky! By the time the image stopped moving Twilight’s mind raced to figure out what she was seeing before her mentor could explain. She had been Celestia’s number one student, she still had to show her former mentor she was still worthy of having graduated.
With the Crystal Empire as he guide she immediately recognized the Crystal Mountains that bordered the southern edge of the image. So this map had to be of the land north of Equestria but, to Twilight it looked nothing like the snowy land she knew it was. The land north of the Crystal Mountains was surrounded on all sides by water and was green and beautiful. She saw smaller crystal towns and villages that dotted this landscape, with a large port city just to the north-west of where Manehatten was on a small peninsula. The knowledge of what she was looking at clicked inside of her brain.
“This is…this is the northern edge of the continent. At least during the time of the Crystal Empire, isn’t it Princess?” Twilight looked over the image again and knew she was right. She glanced at Spike who she knew had never seen this before but, he seemed to be taking it all in strides. He poked a foot into the water edge of the map but, immediately drew it back and gave her a spooked look. “It was cold…and wet.”
“You are correct, my faithful student.” Celestia smiled with pride for a moment. Another blast of magic from her horn soon changed the image and Twilight struggled to focus on the changes in the map as Celestia spoke “The Crystal Empire was once a large kingdom that was fertile and warm. Stretching from coast to coast the Crystal Ponies did not venture south of the Crystal Mountains because, in those days Equestria was filled with ancient and terrible monsters.” The image flickered to show as dragons, hydras, timber wolves, and a host of other nightmarish creatures briefly appeared from the unseen side of the Crystal Mountains only to be beaten back by an army of Crystal Ponies. “
“Instead, from their port of Trojan they sailed across the sea and founded a new city, they called it Rhoame.” The image flickered again and showed ships full of Crystal Ponies sail off, from where she assumed was Trojan and off the map completely.
“Then Sombra came and with his dark magic assumed control of the Crystal Empire and with his defeat the city vanished, leaving the Crystal Ponies of Rhoame who had been left behind without their city of birth and the magic that came from it.
The land changed and the Crystal Ponies that remained were forced to flee across the ocean to Rhoame.” Twilight’s mouth gaped as she watched the Crystal City disappear and slowly the lush land around it freeze in piles of ice and snow. Even more ships left the image from Trojan until at last the entire region shown was a frozen wasteland. She had thought for a moment that would be it but she was surprised when even the city of Trojan shuddered and sank into the sea! Just before the crystal’s image faded Twilight saw that nothing had truly remained of the Crystal Empire, until the sudden reappearance of the city a few years ago.
“Without the Crystal City the Crystal Ponies that remained lost their special connection to the Crystal Heart’s magic and renamed themselves Rhomanes. Under the leadership of the ponies they crowned Emperors they forged a new kingdom in the lands to the east and for over a thousand years they have survived on their own.” Celestia finished speaking and looked to Twilight as she held up a hoof.
“Princess…the last time we talked about the Crystal Empire you said you knew almost nothing about it. How do you know all of this about the Crystal Ponies?” Twilight looked to her mentor for answers.
“The answer is simple, Twilight.” Celestia winked, “I read a book in the library.”
“WHAT?!?” Spike shouted before he landed flat on his face in sheer surprise. Twilight rolled her eyes at Spike’s melodrama and lifted him back on his feet as she patiently waited for the Princess of Equestria to stop snickering.
“That is to say. I traveled to the Crystal Empire’s library to look up the history before Sombra and afterward I looked in the private library of Charge d’Affairs for events after the Crystal Empire’s disappearance.”
“Charged by who?” Spike asked, his claw scratched at his spines in confusion.
“Charge d’Affairs. She was my Ambassador to the Rhomanes a century ago. Before they severed all communications with Equestria, which is why I have called you here. The Emperor Aequilibrium wishes to restore diplomatic ties and I want you, Twilight Sparkle, to be my Ambassador to the Rhomane Empire. “
If Twilight had been drinking milk she would have snorted it out of her nose.
If Spike had been eating gems he would have done likewise. Instead he just snorted gouts of dragon flames that scorched the perfect marble floor.
“WHAT?!? You want Twilight to go alone to some far away land no pony has been to in over a hundred years?” Spike shouted as he hanged onto Twilight as if the Princess was going to suddenly teleport her away with her magic.
“Of course not Spike. I expect she will need a personal assistant in her new duties, and she will need an embassy staff to maintain Equestria’s image and likewise aid her in her…duties.” Celestia paused at that last part, but maintained her smile. Twilight, who had not said anything up until this point noticed the Princess’ hesitation.
“What would be my duties as Ambassador?” Twilight asked.
“To establish beneficial relations with the Rhomanes, our trade has decreased greatly over the years, to represent Equestria’s values of friendship and harmony, and to notify Luna and I of anything in the Rhomane Empire that may be of interest or threaten Equestria.” Celestia had closed her eyes at her last few words.
“To spy. You want me to spy on the Rhomane Empire?” asked as she inclined her head toward her mentor.
“Yes.” Celestia answered.
“I…see.” Twilight responded. Her mind and heart a sudden hurricane of emotions as she realized what exactly it was that Celestia was asking of her.
‘On one hoof there are the facts. The Princess is asking me to give up everything I have in Equestria; my books, my home, my familiarity, and my friends to travel to some place even more foreign and new then Ponyville when Princess Celestia had sent me to Ponyville.’ Twilight’s mind flashed with images of her library, her family, and last her friends. Her friends who she all loved…in her own way, her friends who were moving on with their own lives and didn’t need to run to her for help.
‘On the other hoof there are the possibilities. There could be something in the Rhomane Empire that could be threatening Equestria and the ones she loved. The Princess wouldn’t send me somewhere for no reason then if she thought I could handle it or I was needed. Not only that but, maybe this will push me toward where my destiny, my life, is supposed to go…’ Twilight sighed.
“Princess…I’ll…I’ll do it. I will be your envoy to the Rhomane Empire and do good for all of Equestria.” Twilight looked with conviction into the approving eyes of Celestia.
“What? Really? You really want to do this Twilight? I but, I…I oh alright, I will go too then!” Spike saluted her and Celestia, “If only because, I know no pony else is fit to be your number-one-personal-assistant!”
“I already know I can count on you, Spike.” Twilight nuzzled affectionately behind his ear making the young dragon blush.
“I am proud to here that, my faithful student. I know you are destined for truly great and wondrous things. Before you leave the first duty I charge you with is to pick out your staff to travel with you to the Rhomane Empire…”
---
The meeting with Princess Celestia had been a week ago and Twilight still could not believe what she was doing. She had been sure at the time when she had agreed to be Celestia and Luna’s Ambassador to Rhomane, but now that she wasn’t under the watchful gaze of the Princess doubts were creeping into her psyche. What if she couldn’t do the job? What if something REALLY, REALLY BAD did happen in the Rhomane Empire? What if nothing happened and she would be gone for who knows how long? What if her relationship with her friends was destroyed because of this?
That last question echoed the loudest within her and she wondered if her friends would recognize her when she returned to Equestria. She had sworn Celestia, Spike, and the applicants she had in mind for her embassy staff to secrecy. Nopony was to breathe a word to any other pony. Not even to her friends. She was glad she wasn’t the Element of Honesty.
She had asked Celestia afterward what would happen if the Elements of Harmony were needed to defend Equestria. The Princess had replied that she would let Twilight know through Spike if anything occurred and entrusted her with a complicated Instant Teleportation Safe Spell that would teleport her or her entire embassy staff back to Equestria, but only if an emergency was happening. She didn’t want to think about what would qualify as an emergency in the Rhomane Empire that could threaten Everypony she was hoofpicking to come along on this crazy journey with her.
That had been another major part of her dilemma. Which ponies could she ask to travel across the East Equestrian Sea to risk their lives in the Rhomane Empire? She was keeping this a secret from the only ponies she knew she could ask without question or doubt to do that. Twilight had asked herself ‘Who else is there?’ and she immediately discounted anypony that was not from Ponyville. She had been born and raised in Canterlot but, she remembered well her past attitude of seclusion that had gained her no friends and no knowledge about the local ponies. Even still, who could she ask in Ponyville that did not have a life of their own that they could throw away for her?
Her first conclusion had come to the mint green mare sitting in front of her within the small office in Canterlot the Princess had let her use to handle interviews. If she had done this in the Ponyville Library word would reach Pinkie Pie in ten second flat. Twilight had not expected or invited Lyra’s marefriend, Bon Bon, to show up as well. Twilight had not invited her.
“Lyra…I thought I told you that no pony else was supposed to know about this.” Twilight grimaced as she looked over to Bon Bon who returned a sheepish smile. She did not want to seem harsh but, the less number of ponies who knew about her mission the less chance her friends would find out. It was simple math.
“Ahehe…” Lyra laughed nervously, she brushed the back of her head with a hoof and began to speak before Bon Bon interrupted her. “Please, Twilight. Don’t blame Lyra. I received the letter of invitation before she did and the fact is…I want to go too!”
The smile Lyra showed toward Bon Bon pulled at something deep within Twilight.
“Twilight you know I LOOOOOOVE history and researching history! You said so yourself in the letter that traveling to the Rhomane Empire as a researcher would allow me to study the culture and even learn new music styles for my lyre!” Twilight had not mentioned that it would probably help her study into her somewhat-crazy theories about hoomahns but, Lyra had probably already come to that conclusion herself. ‘Lyra is almost as good as me in reading. Plus, she is much more social and will be able to better integrate herself into all levels of local Rhomane classes and backgrounds.’ Twilight thought as Lyra continued.
“I bet your embassy needs an excellent cook! Bon Bon’s special talent may be making candy but, hey can she make a dinner that rocks your taste buds!”
“It is true. I usually test out new meals on Lyra.” Bon Bon and Lyra blushed together. The way the two acted so close and considerate of one another Twilight wasn’t sure why she had not thought of inviting Bon Bon before. Twilight’s mind drifted back to memories of beating wings and the retreating form of a dejected light blue Pegasus and she remembered why. Still, she had not thought about a cook or kitchen staff. She had figured that locals would be provided or could be employed but, having some pony who was Equestrian as head chief may be for the best.
“Alright. Lyra. Bon Bon. If you are serious about this...”
---
Twilight shuffled her papers and tried to look at the next applicant in the eye. She failed.
“Ditzy Doo. I’ve always enjoyed your muffins but, that is not the reason why I invited you. The reason why I invited you is the fact that while you are not the most...umm…straight forward courier pony, but you are the most dependable.”
Initially, Twilight had not been so sure if inviting Ditzy Doo or Derpy along as the courier pony would be the best idea. She had no idea if the Rhomanes would find her eye condition offensive or not. The way some ponies in Equestria treated her was a good indication that Rhomanes would act the same but, when Twilight had thought on that she knew that she could not let something as face value as that be a deciding factor. Ditzy Doo was an outstanding pony either through her fly abilities or her warm heart. ‘Though, there is that other reason why inviting her would be beneficial…’
“Ditzy, have you told –her- about my mission to the Rhomane Empire?” Twilight knew that this was an important test for Ditzy, test of her ability to keep important matters a secret. The bubbles that symbolized Ditzy’s cutie mark were a dead giveaway for her carefree and bubbly personality. Twilight smiled when Ditzy shook her head.
“Nope!” Ditzy replied cheerfully, “I followed your letter exactly. I know you Twilight and you wouldn’t just abandon her or force me to abandon her. Though, I do know last time I saw my Muffin she was heading to the Library to talk to Spike.”
“If I know Spike he will crack like an egg. I’m glad you know me so well. I would never think of leaving out-“Twilight was interrupted by the door to the interview room suddenly bursting open. Two flying Pegasi followed a small, pale purple coated, unicorn filly as she charged the interview table.
“TWIIIIILIIIIIGHT! HOW COULD YOU LEAVE YOUR APPRENTICE???” the unicorn filly shrieked and sobbed between giving Twilight alternating sad and angry faces.
“…Dinky Doo, MY Faithful Student.” Twilight smiled knowingly at Dinky as Ditzy moved over to her daughter. Looking at the two Pegasi who were bedecked in Royal Guard armor she was surprised by who they were. “Lazy Thunderlane? Rain Drops? What are you two doing here off of the Wonderbolts Reserve Squad?”
“Heeeeey. Come on Twilight, you know only Rainbow Dash gets to call me ‘lazy’.” Thunderlane whined but, immediately pressed his hooves to his mouth as he realized whose name he had said. ‘Ah…well, I shouldn’t be surprised. Rainbow isn’t very good at keeping her feelings, especially when she is sad, happy, angry, jealous, nervous, or otherwise…’ Twilight stomped on her mind for thinking those words.
“ACTUALLY!” Rain Drops interjected before she punched Thunderlane in the shoulder, “The Princess has assigned us over from the Wonderbolts to the Royal Guard. ‘Thunderlame’ and I are going to be your guards!”
“Uuuuugh. What is with all these broads and their names…I mean, yea. We are going to undergo some Royal Guard training regime before we leave because; the Princess thought it would be best if you had a pair of Pegasi who really know how to fly or something like that!”
“She said ‘something’ like that” Rain Drops rolled her eyes before giving Twilight a reassuring smile.
“Hold the muffins! What about your little brother, Rumble?” Dinky interjected from the tabletop she had climbed up on. She glanced at Twilight with a tremble of nervousness.
“Well…he was going to stay with Cloudchaser and Flitter until I got back but…you now…” Thunderlane looked at Dinky as he spoke. “Dinky could probably use a foal her age to…hang with. I now Rumble would be very, VERY…ok with hanging…just hanging out with Dinky. For months on end. The two of them the only Equestrians the same age…for miles around.”
“Oooooh? Well, I am sure I can find something for Dinky and Rumble to do…together…if you are sure Rumble would just be ‘ok’ with this.” Twilight giggled as Dinky gave Thunderlane a confused look when he laughed and stomped his hoof. “Oh, I’m sure.”
“Hmmm, alright. Rumble is welcome to come along. Oooh, I just know Dinky and Rumble will love the homeschool curriculum I will prepare them.” Twilight smiled and clopped her hooves.
“But…but…Rumble is not even a Unicorn!” Dinky asked, even more confused.
“Don’t worry. Besides your magical studies your mother and I will be teaching you math, social science, biological science, harmonic theory, and of course history!” Twilight was already excited about being able to teach Dinky general studies. ‘Maybe when I return I will talk to Cheerilee about a teaching position?’
“Oh, by the way.” Rain Drops tapped Twilight’s shoulder to get her attention. “We brought –those two-.”
“Howdy, Miss. Sparkle-“
“-it is a pleasure to see you, and-“
“-for you to offer us this wonderful opportunity!”
“This unique and superb!”
“Indispensable and I-can’t-believable!”
“Opportunity!” Flim and Flam finished in unison. The two showman unicorns may have had a nice entrance-if they had not tripped over the ball and chains that tied the two brothers together and kept them from running off.
“Flim and Flam.” Twilight’s smile dropped as she eyeballed the two unicorns. The way they had begun to sweat was a good start. At least that’s what her book, ‘Intimidation and other Subtle Cues’, said was a good sign that these two would not give her trouble. For now. “You were incarcerated in the Baltimare City Jail for public property damage after your Super Squeezy 9,000 erupted and flooded five city blocks.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Flim gulped.
“That is technically true.” Flam gulped.
“Technically?” Twilight raised her brow and walked right up to Flim and Flam, her eyes never leaving theirs.
“Technically…the Super Squeezy 9,000 suffered an internal combustion when the piping became loose after a twenty four hour period of over exertion and-“Flim began.
“-caused the Super Squeezy 9,000 to release its contents over five city blocks incurring 10,000 bits of public property damage and over 50,000 bits worth in personal injury claims...” Flam ended.
“Which the Equestrian government is willing to settle if you two serve as my Economic and Trade Advisors for the duration of my term as Ambassador. Correct?” Twilight used her magic to float a key from a folder on the table and hover it between Flim and Flam.
“Correct.” Flim and Flam replied and looked at the key hopefully.
“Good. If you do not live up to the terms of the agreement or dabble in any of your inventing…” Twilight’s voice had suddenly become very sing-song, “…your debts will be doubled or you will be thrown in the dungeon of the place the Princesses exile you to.”
“Don’t you worry.” Flim sing-songed as he wrapped the key in his magic and began to tug it toward himself.
“My brother and I always honor a deal!” Flam finished for Flim as he wrapped his own magic around the key and tugged it from his brother to himself.
“Fair ones at least.” Flim glared at Flam as he tugged the key back in his direction.
“Now, now my dear brother. “ Flam glared back and tugged the key.
As Flim and Flam wrestled one another for the key Twilight sighed and cantered back to her seat.
‘Too bad I already asked the Princess why, oh why, did the ship ride to the Rhomane Empire have to take a month.”