//------------------------------// // 19 - White Out Conditions // Story: An Extended Holiday // by Commander_Pensword //------------------------------// Extended Holiday Chapter 19: White Out Conditions The train hissed and creaked as it ground against the rails and finally came to a complete stop before an aged platform. The world seemed shrouded in a perpetual twilight as great storm clouds hovered overhead to blot out the sun while cold winds blew with biting flakes of snow. It wasn’t quite a whiteout, but it was difficult enough to make the space eerie and mournful. “Wow, Pensword commented as he gazed over the terrain. “I’m starting to wonder if we might get lost, too, if we have to go out into a snowstorm like that.” “Snowstorm?” Grif looked at him. “You call this a storm?” He chuckled to himself as he clipped on his simple traveling cloak. “This is but a wee flurry, lad.” Rarity gloated as she stepped from the car, followed by a very overburdened Spike. “Hah! And you all made fun of me for packing so many scarves.” Unfortunately for Spike, as he vied to gain Rarity’s approval, he lost his footing on a slippery patch of snow, and the luggage came tumbling down, releasing the scarves to fly in the wind and leaving him to scramble after them in an effort to prevent them getting lost in the storm. Just as it seemed the Dragon was going to fail in his self-appointed task, a magical aura wrapped around the wayward accessories and pulled them back into range. Spike snagged them and beamed triumphantly. “Thanks!” A purple Unicorn mare with a striking blond mane smiled kindly at him. “My pleasure.” She wore the familiar uniform of a postal worker, and a mail satchel was tied to one side of her body. She fished out a trio of letters embossed with a glossy purple tower on the envelopes and levitated them in her magic. She offered them to Hammer Strike, Grif, and Pensword one after the other. “Um, special delivery,” she said, even as she avoided making eye contact with the other mares. Grif took his with a lifted eyebrow. “Um, … we didn’t introduce ourselves,” Pensword pointed out. “How do you know we’re the intended recipients?” “My clients were very specific,” the mare said. “I’ve also been asked to give you a message. If you must flee, go by way of the southeast city gate.” Pensword blinked in disbelief and utter incomprehension. “... What?” Just then, a familiar voice called, drawing the attention of the rest of the group away from the mail mare. “Twilight!” By the time Grif, Pensword, and Hammer Strike looked back, the barest flash of the mare’s tail could be seen vanishing behind the worn-down ticket office. Twilight squinted into the storm as a figure slowly emerged from the flurries garbed in a black scarf and wearing black goggles to protect his eyes. “Shining Armor?” Shining removed the eyegear with his magic and pulled down his scarf to expose his face while his brilliant blue eyes shone with relief and happiness. “Twily! You made it!” The two siblings ran to each other as Twilight leapt from the platform and then rose on her hind legs to embrace her brother with her forelegs while he did likewise. The embrace didn’t last long, however, and Shining was quick to change from pleasantries to the task at hand. Worry furrowed his brow. “We’d better get moving,” the stallion said seriously. “There are things out here we really don’t want to run into after dark.” “Wh-what kind of things?” Fluttershy quavered? “Let’s just say the empire … isn’t the only thing that’s returned.” “I’ll assume you’re referring to a specific threat that may have sent it here in the first place,” Hammer Strike spoke up. “What is it? Where is it? How do we kill it?” Grif asked. “In order, yes, you clearly already know what it is, somewhere out here in the frozen wastes, and I don’t know. I can tell you more as we go. The more time we waste here, the easier a target we become.” The small party departed from the train station, even as the conductor looked into the storm and started the engine on reverse. With talk like that, there wasn’t much motivation to wait at the platform, particularly when there weren’t any other Ponies waiting to get on the train in the first place. After a period of silence in which Shining scanned their surroundings, he turned his head back to face the party. “If Celestia picked you three, I can only assume she’s already brought you up to date on the situation,” he called over his shoulder. “Something keeps trying to get into the city. We think it’s the Unicorn king who originally cursed the place, or at least what’s left of him.” “But Princess Celestia said I was being sent here to find a way to protect the empire. If King Sombra can’t get in, then it must already be protected,” Twilight called back over the wind, even as her friends squinted against the arctic blast. Just then, a cry not unlike that of a wounded beast or a dying breath through a horn carried on the wind, surrounding the group. Fluttershy quavered and barely kept herself from screaming as she spoke. “Th-that’s one of the things, isn’t it?” Shining was swift to take command. “We have to get to the Crystal Empire. Now!” No sooner had the words left his mouth when a great black mist materialized from the wastes to tower above the Ponies, Dragon, and Gryphon. Two great green eyes opened within, flaring a dark purple miasma from within as a beastly growl curdled from it. Shining raced to the frozen and staring Spike and quickly levitated him out from under his burden. Then he lowered Spike ahead of them and nudged him forward, leaving Rarity’s luggage behind. “Go! Go!” Twilight shouted to her friends. As they continued at their pace, a light began to emerge from out of the veil of snow, followed by what appeared to be an amorphous blue globe. Shining Armor smiled. “Almost there,” he encouraged. While the mares rushed ahead with Spike, Shining dropped behind and skidded to a stop to gaze the monster in the eyes. “No you don’t.” Hammer Strike took hold of Shining firmly by the scarf to drag him along. “No heroics,” he said through clenched teeth. “You keep moving!” Grif turned, drew his bow, notched an arrow, and fired it into the mist. “I’ll be right behind you! Get going!” he said. Then, stepping back, he took shot after shot. “You heard the bird. Get a move on!” Next, it was Pensword shoving at Shining. With the two working together, the stallion had little chance to object, let alone resist as the remarkably strong Earth Pony and the extremely stubborn pegasus pushed and tugged the stallion to prevent him from gathering enough magic to cast his shield spell. Grif, for his part, was firing into the Smoke in a rapid stream of arrows. The bolts seemed to do little more than slow it down as the holes made by the air pressure rapidly refilled. The light of the dome drew closer and closer. He could hear the hum of the magic over the howling of the wind and the growls of the ghostly shroud of mist. The air rang with the sound of the magic interacting, followed by flashes of light. The others had made it. Now Grif had to follow. Grif Growled as he reached back once again, only to find the quiver empty. Sensing an opening, the entity surged at Grif before he could reach a throwing knife. It engulfed his left arm, which led to a searing moment of cold pain before, quite suddenly, the roaring blizzard shifted. Taze could feel the warmth of the barrier’s magic seeping into his fur from behind, causing it to stand on end when his tail passed through. The wind howled all the harder and blew against the barrier, then flowed off to blast at the smoke, dissipating it and sending it back long enough for Grif to pass through the barrier into the peaceful calm of green grass and blue skies.  Grif panted as he looked at the barrier for a few moments before he looked down to check the damage the cloud had wrought. Dark crystals jutted out of his left arm, coating it in a dark shell that seemed to move effortlessly with him. “Are you all right, Grif?” Pensword asked as he approached his friend. Then he drew in a sharp breath at the sight of the black shapes that shone like obsidian and seemed almost to crackle with black energy. “Fine,” Grif panted. “That is not fine,” Pensword said firmly. “Hammer Strike, Twilight, Shining, get over here. We have a problem.” Shining Armor stiffened, glanced Hammer Strike’s way, then looked more intently at Pensword. “What did you just call him?” “Hammer Strike. But introductions can wait till later. Right now, we have other things of importance to focus on.” Hammer Strike spoke as he moved to look at the crystal on Grif’s arm. Twilight gasped at the sight. “Did Sombra do this?” she asked. Shining looked suspiciously at the Earth Pony, then shook his head and focused on the task at hand as his expression became grim. “It looks that way. I’ve seen signs of formations that look like they’re made from the same material on my patrols beyond the barrier, but never on anything living before.” The other mares and Spike soon followed to gather round and get a look at Grif’s affliction. Hammer Strike frowned as he glanced around the group. “Does anyone have some form of glasses I could borrow? Sunglasses would work just as well. There’s something I want to try.”  Shining Armor shook his head. “The closest thing I have is my snow blinders, but I don’t know if they’ll do that much good for you with how limited the windows on them are.” “Here.” Grif used his good hand to open his pack and pulled out a pair of sunglasses to offer the Pony. “That’ll do.” Hammer Strike nodded as he took them. After a moment, he took a breath and put them on, holding his hoof against the frames. “Let’s see how this will work on sunglasses.” The air was silent, as if even the world were placing its watchful gaze on the Pony. A blue glow began to surround his hoof before spreading to the frame. Once the frame was encased in the energy, the sunglasses themselves began to give off a soft glow. “Okay.” Hammer Strike removed his hoof from the sunglasses as he looked closer at Grif’s arm. “Let’s see what I can figure out.” Shining Armor watched the process intently. “How did you do that?” he asked suspiciously. “Special kind of magic,” he replied, his focus still on Grif’s arm. “And what’s this spell supposed to do?” “It’s meant to show me what this is,” Hammer Strike muttered as he thought over what he was seeing. “Corruption,” he muttered once more as he prodded one of the crystals, only for it to suddenly arc energy into his hoof. He backed off in surprise and gave his hoof a light shake. “It’s definitely some kind of dark magic solidified, but it’s not spreading any farther from your arm. So, for now, you should be fine until we can get rid of it. Keep me updated on how you feel, got it?” “Will do.” Griff nodded. “So, Doc, will I ever play the piano again?” “I don’t know. Could you before?” Hammer Strike gave a smirk. “Let’s get a move on. We’ve already delayed enough.” After a moment, the glow surrounding the shades vanished and he handed them back over to Grif. “You’re sure you’re going to be okay?” Twilight asked out of concern as she looked at the Gryphon’s arm. “I’ll survive,” Grif said. “It could have been much worse.” Twilight nodded and swallowed heavily. “Let’s get to the throne room, then. The sooner we can figure this out, the better.” It didn’t take long for the party to reach the center of the great city. Not a soul appeared in sight as they made their silent procession. As they approached the Crystal Palace itself, four great legs arched upward to support the base. From there, crystal formations jutted at the sky into many-faceted towers fashioned after the design of an archaic and sophisticated structure. Rarity squealed in delight as they reached the arch and drew nearer to the entrance, but while the others followed Shining, Grif couldn’t help but linger behind as his head swiveled in a very bird-like manner to focus on a statue that had been placed on a bed of grass near one of the tower legs. Three figures stared out at the street. One of them, a Gryphon, gazed fiercely at passersby, as if it were guarding some great secret or treasure. Intimidating though it was, it seemed … strangely familiar. “Grif? Are you coming?” Pensword called back from one of the castle doors. “We don’t want to fall behind.” “I’m … coming,” he said, not able to shake the feeling as he passed it. The greeting at the castle was a welcome reunion to Princess Cadance as she approached Twilight and they performed the ceremony that was their secret handshake. The princess’ horn glowed brightly, and laughter carried through the room, easing the lines of tension and reducing the bags under Cadance’s eyes for a time before her horn flickered and she winced. The weariness came back with a vengeance as the barrier surrounding the city flickered to reveal the dark, cold, and unforgiving expanse beyond. It lasted only for a moment before the spell reestablished itself fully, but Cadance couldn’t help but sigh as she gave a weary smile to her favorite former foal. “One of these days, we need to get together when the fate of Equestria isn’t hanging in the balance,” Cadance said. Twilight frowned in concern. “Are you okay?” Shining approached his wife and laid a supporting hoof on her back. “Cadance has been able to use her magic to spread love and light. That seems to be what’s protecting the empire against Sombra. But she hasn’t slept, barely eats. I want to help her, but my protection spell doesn’t seem to work. Sombra is able to counter it somehow. It’s all I can do to patrol and try to track his movements in case he attempts an attack.” “It’s all right, Shining Armor. I’m fine.” Shining brushed her face gently. “You’re not fine, Cadance. I know how strong you are, but I can’t let you lie about this.” He nuzzled her, then turned to face the gathering. “She can’t go on like this forever. And if her magic were to fade, well … you saw what’s out there waiting for that to happen.” “That’s why we’re here,” Twilight said reassuringly. “Why we’re all here,” Applejack agreed, as did the rest of the mares and the young Dragon. Shining nodded. “Thank you. With Cadance putting all her strength into keeping her spell going, and me trying to keep an eye on signs of trouble in the arctic, we haven’t been able to gather much information from the Crystal Ponies. “Crystal Ponies!” Rarity burst out with an excited laugh. “There are Crystal Ponies?” Then she realized just how much of a spectacle she was making of herself and quickly sought to regain her composure. “Um, … please, continue.” “I believe that one of the citizens must know how we can protect the empire without having to rely on Cadance’s magic.” “A logical deduction,” Matthew agreed. “Does anyone know where said Crystal Ponies are? The whole city seemed like a ghost town when we arrived.” “Many of the citizens still keep close to their homes.” Shining shook his head. “They’re either afraid or too despondent to be their old selves again just yet. Hopefully, with time, that will change for the better.” Twilight beamed as realization dawned. “A research paper!” More than one denizen in the room gazed at the mare as though she’d grown a second head. “That must be part of my test,” Twilight said. “To gather information from the Crystal Ponies and deliver it to you! This is gonna be great!” she exulted. “I love research papers!” Rainbow dash smiled knowingly and nudged Pinkie Pie in the ribs. “Yeah. Who doesn’t?” she asked. Grif raised his hand, prompting a smile and a shake of the head from Pensword as he struggled to hold back a snicker. In true Pinkie fashion, the party mare darted from person to person raising possibilities and literally a person in Spike’s case. “Don’t worry, Shining,” Twilight promised. “I am really good at this sort of thing.” She motioned to her friends. “Come on, girls!” When the girls had finally left, Hammer Strike, Grif, and Pensword all looked to one another and nodded, then turned their attentions to the royal couple. “While normally, the three of us would go after them, we have a separate assignment to look into,” Hammer Strike spoke. “In particular, if you have any information regarding the location of Star Swirl’s research lab, we would very much appreciate directions.” Cadance blinked blearily as her head drooped. “Star Swirl? … Why would he have a lab here?” “We had similar questions, but that’s what we were told.” He shrugged. After a moment he realized something. “Right, sorry, introductions are in order. To my right, is Grif. To my left, is Pensword. I am Hammer Strike. A pleasure to meet you.” The mention of the name made Cadance straighten as though she had been struck by a thunderbolt as her eyes widened and she began to tremble. She hissed in pain as she brought a hoof to her head. “Cadance?” Shining Armor held his wife in his forelegs. “Cadance, are you all right?” He tapped his horn to hers, sending a familiar current of magic between their tips. Then he nuzzled her gently. “It’s all right,” he soothed. “I’m here.” “It happened again,” Cadance croaked as she shook her head. “Is this what you felt like at the wedding?” Shining smiled gently. “Probably close enough while Chrysalis had her way with me.” Then he looked intently at the trio. “Those aren’t the kinds of names you throw around lightly here.” His horn sprang to life as he brought his magic to bear. “Who are you really?” “If you’re planning on using that magic on us, you’d better be sure of it,” Hammer Strike spoke flatly. “Given the fact that Twilight and the others have stepped out, however, I will be kind enough to tell you. Celestia has deemed it important enough to give us a disguise while up here, and I suppose in general. Those names are ours, as was determined before we left. Our normal forms, and their original names, however, you would know as Taze, Matthew, and Shawn.” He gestured to each of them appropriately. Shining blinked in surprise. “Really?” “Did you want me to recount how you first met and interrogated me?” Pensword asked of the stallion. “Or how shocked you and the medical staff were when I told you about my heart condition? I can go on if need be.” Shining narrowed his gaze. “And what language did you speak?” Pensword grinned. “Draconic, of course. But we call it English in our tongue.” Cadance smiled kindly at Hammer Strike. “I’m glad that Aunt Celestia decided to send more friends. If anyone can help to avert this disaster, it’s you three.” “We have a lot of questions, Your Highness,” Matthew said. Cadance yawned and forced herself to stretch. “I wish I could give you the answers, um … what should we call you during your stay?” “The names we gave first will be for the best,” Hammer Strike replied. Cadance nodded. “I understand. Hammer Strike, I wish I could help, but I’m in no fit state to give you the information you’re looking for, even if I did know where to look.” She shook her head. “If you want information on Star Swirl, I’m afraid you’ll have to follow Twilight’s example and ask the citizens. If anyone will know, it’s the Crystal Ponies.” “That’s okay. In that case, we’d better get started. Hopefully, this threat will be dealt with quickly enough, given Twilight and her friends are dealing with it.” “One can only hope,” Cadance agreed. “I’ll do everything I can to protect these Ponies, Hammer Strike.” Steel crept into her voice as her gaze hardened. “I won’t let him take them.” “We won’t,” Shining said supportively as he leaned his head against her. “Good. Keep that resolve.” Hammer Strike nodded before turning to the others. “Unless there is something else, we should get going.” “Is there some significance to the statue near the square?” Grif asked. Cadance shook her head. “I honestly don’t know. It was there when we arrived. I can only assume it was placed there before Sombra took over, and he never bothered with it.” “It just gives me an eerie feeling about it,” Grif admitted. “For now, it’s probably best to focus on your primary objective. After the empire is safe, we can do some research into the statue’s origins,” Shining promised, then smiled. “Twily loves that kind of thing.” “In that case, we will take our leave,” Hammer Strike said as he gestured toward the door. “Good luck, Hammer Strike,” Cadance said as the trio turned to leave. “And … come back safe.” Cadance wasn’t sure why she worded her farewell in that manner, but the sentiment was there, and that was what mattered most to the Alicorn. Then she leaned against her husband as he eased her back toward the throne again. “Shining, I think I’m going to need some coffee,” she murmured. Shining nodded and nuzzled her gently. “I’ll see what we can find.” True to the usual tropes, none of the townsfolk had any idea of how to help protect the empire. On top of this, their coats and expressions seemed muted and dull beyond any standard, as if something had drained the color from them. “It’s almost like they’ve been Discorded, isn’t it?” Pensword asked of his friends as they congregated at the end of yet another branch of the snowflake that formed the city’s streets. “I mean, they were exposed to huge amounts of dark magic,” Grif pointed out. “True,” Pensword agreed. “And they seem to have had their memories sealed, or at the very least suppressed by trauma. At this rate, I’m not sure if it’ll be worthwhile to question any of the other residents. If they can’t remember past Sombra, it’s unlikely they’ll remember Star Swirl.” “Likely enough,” Hammer Strike sighed. “We’ll have to wait until Twilight and her friends have concluded their side of things before we’ll be able to get any information. So until then, I suppose we’ll just be on lookout.” “For what, exactly?” Pensword asked. “Anything of note. We aren’t exactly in a completely safe location,” Hammer Strike said. “Well, if the Ponies aren’t going to be any help, do you think they might have some sort of directory or something? I mean, if this is an empire, then they must have an archive like they do at Canterlot, right? Maybe we can find what we’re looking for there? At the very least, we might be able to find evidence of Star Swirl the Bearded in their history. From what we’ve seen, he left a pretty big hoofprint in Equestria’s history. That’s bound to leave traces,” Pensword noted. “So, a library?” Grif said “Probably a decent enough choice,” Hammer Strike shrugged. “I think I remember where it was.” “And knowing Twilight, she’ll be all over it like a bee on a flower,” Pensword said. “That just leaves us with one question. Anybody know where it is?” After more inquiries among the citizens that had begun to mill about the city, the trio eventually found their way to a glistening blue structure flanked on either side by two crystal Gryphons in a manner not unlike the lions that were placed traditionally outside some older libraries on Earth. An open book had been mounted or grown above the arch over the doors to proclaim the building’s purpose. The interior of the structure put the Library of Congress to shame. Row upon row and shelf upon shelf glittered and shone with refracted light to illuminate the space. Multiple tiers and floors awaited the curious passerby and invited adventure into the unknown reaches. A confused-looking mare wearing large circular glasses gazed around the space in utter perplexity. Her mane was tied back in a bun held together by a golden band, and her tail was also tied in a similar style. A cord stretched behind her neck to keep the glasses by her at all times, and a parchment scroll being unfurled stood proudly against her flanks. “Hello?” Pensword asked. The mare looked at them and frowned. “Are you looking for history, too?” she asked in a gentle voice. “Not really,” Grif commented. “It wouldn’t be history if I understand the events correctly.” The mare cocked her head in confusion. “Then what are you looking for?” “Given the nature of things, do you happen to have anything on more … recent history?” Hammer Strike spoke up. “Things on Star Swirl as well, if you happen to have any records.” The mare frowned and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t help you any more than I tried to help those nice mares from earlier. I just … can’t seem to remember. I don’t even know whether I work here.” “That’s okay. I’m sure they’ll fix things soon enough. I suppose in the meanwhile, we’ll just take a look around,” Hammer Strike said. Pensword’s ears perked. “Anybody else hearing a constant chain of ‘no’s in the distance?” “Yup. And I'm betting it involves Twilight.” Grif sighed A trail of detritus and cast off books soon led them into stacks and piles. Some organized, but most absolutely a hodgepodge without a care for what lay between the covers. Applejack bucked Rainbow Dash along a shelf using a crystal ladder while Pinkie leapt to random shelves and sometimes thin air to retrieve books. Fluttershy checked books by reading their bindings without disturbing them. Spike held up books for Rarity to scan the titles with her keen eyes. And Twilight, well … Twilight was carrying a stream of books in her magic that would give Disney’s Merlin a run for his money. Only instead of packing away in a case, these books were simply cast aside haphazardly in an ever-increasing and messy pile that was far from the mare’s usual efficiency and reverence for the written word. “Well, that’s different from expected,” Hammer Strike remarked with a frown as he looked over the mess. “Twilight is … very focused at the moment,” Rarity noted. “And no wonder with the fate of the whole empire resting in her hooves.” “No. No. No. No. No,” Twilight repeated again and again as book after book hovered past her. “I … suppose we could lend a hoof while we look for our intel?” Pensword suggested. “Many hooves make light work.” “Yes, though we have a lot of work ahead of us as is,” Grif noted. Hammer Strike sighed. “Then I suppose we should get to it. Let’s see if we can’t find what we’re looking for before Twilight adds it to that pile of ignorance over there.” The group continued to search as each sought around the various shelves for volumes that had yet to be claimed. Occasionally, Pensword would use his wings for a swift leap into the air, then drop back down to the floor again with a heavy clop. It wasn’t quite the same as PInkie Pie’s technique, but it was close enough, and he wasn’t willing to risk doing more. “Have any of you found anything?” Hammer Strike asked his compatriots as they continued their search. “A few surprisingly good novels, a recipe for crystal berry punch, and a collective of Yakyakistanni lore,” Grif said. “But nothing we need.” Pensword sighed. “Nothing here either. A few treatises on some war, some books about magical theory, but not much—” “Yes!” Twilight’s shout of exultation rang through the crystal and echoed as it reverberated off the surfaces, prompting her friends to come running as she lowered the book to the floor. “History of the Crystal Empire.” She smiled at her friends, then sighed. “I just hope it has the answers we need.” Her horn glowed, and she began to flip through the pages. “Well, at least they found success,” Pensword said to his friends as the mares clustered together to review the book’s contents. “So what’s our next move? Do we keep looking ourselves or try some other means to reach our goal?” “Given the lack of results, let’s look into that history book. Though it may not be exactly what we’re looking for, it might hold … something, at the very least.” Hammer Strike shrugged. “Well, if we’re going to get a look at it, we’d better follow the gang. It looks like they’re booking it, no pun intended,” Pensword said. “They’re probably running to show Shining Armor and Cadance.” “Well, let’s go,” Grif said over his shoulder as he began chasing after them. “You know, after the world gets saved again, I wouldn’t mind if we could spend some time here just to look at what this place has to offer,” Pensword said as he followed his friend. “It certainly does feel like it has some interesting things,” Hammer Strike agreed as he took up the rear. “Once again, the old adage proves true,” Pensword noted quietly to his friends as they strode out of the throne room and followed Twilight. “Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it.” “Let's see what this is about then,” Grif said. The trio followed as the purple mare opened a set of double doors that led into a council chamber of some kind. A round table hosted her other friends as they smiled supportively. “... Is it just me or do I hear a guitar strumming?” Pensword asked of his friends. And then, of all things, Twilight began to sing. With each voice speaking in turn, it was as if the world were suddenly shifting from one thing to the next in preparation for this crystal fair. Pensword was pulled into helping fit the armor for a jousting tournament while Grif tended to the lances. Hammer Strike suddenly found himself helping with a basket of crystal berries for harvesting. Later, Pensword found himself holding a crystal flugel horn to play in tandem with Pinkie Pie. The results were … interesting, to say the least, and … mercifully short. As the song finally died down, the three friends were shocked to find that an entire fair had been set up over the grounds surrounding the castle with absolutely no sign of anyone else to have assisted with the work. “How…? What…? Where…? What just happened?” Pensword spluttered. “And how?” he cried again. “Well, duh, it’s magic, silly!” Pinkie pie giggled as she sprang around Pensword. “Wanna go for another duet? Huh? Huh? Huh?” Pensword shuddered. “No, thank you. What we’d like to do is get a closer look at that book, now that Miss Sparkle is finished using it.” “Okie dokie!” Pinkie grinned and saluted playfully, then bounced over to the snowflake sigil beneath the crystal palace. “Hey, Twilight, can Pensword, Grif, and Hammer Strike borrow your book? They say they need it for something super duper important!” Twilight looked over a roughly hewn crystal plinth that held a heart at its center. It had been situated at the very center of the snowflake formation. Having been satisfied with her examination, she turned back to the pink party Pony and smiled. “Thanks, Pinkie. I’ll go talk with them.” Twilight frowned as she looked toward Pensword. “Is everything all right over here?” “What was all of that?” Pensword hissed to the mare, gesturing at the fair. Twilight cocked her head in confusion. “Preparation for a fair?” “I mean the music, the singing, the spontaneous activities. By the time you were done with the song, the whole fair was just … there!” “Well, yeah, most Ponies do it when something momentous or important is about to happen. It’s a natural magical phenomenon called heartsong. There are a lot of applications for it from a rallying cry to expressing distress and more. For example, Cadance and I used it to hasten our escape from the catacombs when Chrysalis was getting ready to take over Canterlot. The same application worked here. Is this really the first time you’ve seen heartsong at work?” “Yes. And the first time someone’s explained it to me,” Pensword replied. “Are you telling me that all we have to do is start singing and we can turn a task into a montage?” “Heartsong isn’t something you can just force to work, Matthew,” Twilight whispered to the stallion. Then she assumed a more scholarly tone and volume. “It happens when it happens. Some scholars theorize it was first utilized as a survival mechanism developed by Earth Ponies to help them attune their magic with the earth and increase the yields of their crops to satisfy the other tribes’ demands before the day of Equestria’s founding.” “That doesn’t really pan out,” Grif noted. “Otherwise it would be purely an Earth Pony phenomenon.” “Heartsong has a multitude of applications. Just because the technique first developed in one tribe doesn’t mean it can’t have been adopted by the other tribes later on. It exists on a base magical wavelength that any creature with a magical field can access.” “And non ponies?” Grif asked “In theory, yes. Though I haven’t seen any books that focus around any such studies. The fact that you were able to participate in it does indicate that it’s possible.” “Makes sense. Your culture is fundamentally blind to such things,” Grif said “We can discuss this further later,” Hammer Strike spoke up. “Twilight, could I have the book?” “Oh, of course. I was just going to finish the last once-over to make sure everything was ready. I should be able to do that from memory.” She levitated the book to Hammer Strike. “I’d like it back as soon as possible, though.” “Shouldn’t take us too long. We’re looking for something in particular.” Hammer Strike took hold of the book before handing it over to Grif. Grif took the book and opened it. His eyes began scanning the pages, quickly moving through the words, almost too quickly as he took in the contents of each page before moving on. Small grunts or hrms escaped him as he took in the information given, then flicked the pages, being careful to avoid tearing through the paper. “So it seems like this whole fair ties around an artifact,” Grif said. “Though a lot of information on it is missing.” Twilight frowned. “The book just said that the crystal heart is meant to be the fair’s centerpiece. It didn’t mention anything about an artifact.” “It mentions it being the center of the empire,” Grif said, pointing to the appropriate page. “Also, several footnotes on focusing the empire's love and positive energy during the festival.” “Yes, which is exactly what we’re doing by recreating the fair,” Twilight said. “The abundance of love and happiness the fair generates will help the Ponies to remember who they are and muster the power to fight back against Sombra’s curse and Sombra himself.” “Does the book have anything useful for our mission?” Pensword asked. “No real mention of Star Swirl.” He shook his head. “I think we’re going to have to do this the old fashioned way.” Pensword sighed. “I was afraid you were going to say that.” He shook his head morosely, then sighed again. “Might as well take a look at the mail before we get started.” He reached into his satchel and withdrew the envelope he’d received. His eyes widened as he reviewed the text. “Um, guys, … you should probably have a look at this.” He proffered the paper for them all to see. The message was written in perfect English. In crumbling tower, meet your fate. Through Swirling dark, your Star awaits. Where love and light thrusts out the foe, You’ll find your path within the snow. When light will fail and dark proceeds, Face the enemy with heroic deeds. Death will not come to claim you yet. Protection is the path that’s set. Though bells may toll, they’re not for you. Face down the shadow. See it through. “Well, this complicates things.” Hammer Strike frowned. “Our mysterious mailer knows something,” Pensword agreed. “That, or he or she is playing games.” He frowned. “But there aren’t many who know how to read, let alone write in English.” “That’s the thing,” Hammer Strike spoke in English. “English isn’t a written language here.” “Then who could have sent it?” Pensword returned. “That’s the question, and the reason for why this complicates things.” Hammer Strike frowned. “The problem is, we don’t know where even the mare delivering this went, so we can’t exactly track her down. The only thing we do have is wherever this is telling us to go, and that certainly doesn’t feel like the safest option.” “That's eerily cryptic.” Grif shook his head. “And worse yet, it’s our only lead.” Hammer Strike sighed. “The question is, should we follow it?” Pensword asked. “It’s a risk, but I don’t think we’ll be able to make any additional progress on our own. As much as I don’t like it, I think it’s our only option at the moment besides waiting.” “I guess we should try to find this tower, then.” Pensword frowned. “Anybody got any ideas how to look? I … don’t think I can fly with any confidence.” “If it’s some kind of decaying tower, then it’s likely along the edge of the barrier, just far enough to have it be a background thought.” Hammer Strike shrugged as he took the lead. “But where around the city? What if there’s more than one? I mean, what are the odds that there’s only one of them standing?” Pensword’s frown deepened. “I wish we had more to go on.” “We just have to go and look for them.” Pensword nodded. “Then let’s get cracking.” The search took some time, since the trio had to follow the roads back toward the fair when they didn’t find the tower. Much to their delight, however, it did appear that Twilight’s plan was working. More of the Crystal Ponies were smiling and laughing together. The color had returned to their coats, and their mane styles were shifting as well. “Good to see that they’re recovering,” Pensword noted with a kindly smile as they passed by a funnel cake stall on the way toward the next edge of the snowflake. “Won’t be for long if they find out about that heart,” Grif said. “Why do you think that, anyway?” Pensword asked curiously. “You mentioned something like that earlier, too, but I don’t get it.” “Because if it’s the positive energy that makes this defense of theirs work, they’d have been able to fight Sombra off early on. Hell, he wouldn’t have gotten a foothold in the first place. Not to mention Cadance and Shining Armor would be able to use their love to power it.” He shook his head. “No, this stinks of something central being missing.” “Shouldn’t we let the others know that, then?” Pensword asked. Just then, a rainbow streaked by and snatched up one of Rarity’s flags from a pole before hastily making its way toward the crystal palace. “Potentially.” Hammer Strike frowned in thought. “I suppose we can after looking into this tower deal.” “Let’s hope lady luck is with us this time, then,” Pensword said as they continued down the path. “Think we can pick up the pace a little?” The three finally found a promising structure. There wasn’t much left, but the barest outlines of a wall could still be seen on either edge of the snowflake path. Far in the distance, a structure jutted up from the earth. It wasn’t a tower exactly; more of a skeleton, really. Fragments of dull shards like pale obsidian mingled with pieces of stone block. A spiral of crystal-encrusted stairs was barely held together by what remained of the black shell. Pensword nudged one of the shards cautiously when they approached the site. The blue aura of Cadance’s magic thrummed just a few feet away. “Well, we definitely found a ruined tower. It looks almost like the crystal grew inside it, then broke it apart,” he mused. “Some sort of magic spell, maybe?” “Hard to tell.” Hammer Strike looked over the crystals. “To be honest, we’re so far out of our element that all of this is just more difficult than it needs to be. All we know is that it can’t be good.” “Well, is there some sort of a hatch or secret passage or something we might be able to find in there?” Pensword asked. “I mean, the letter did say ‘through Swirling dark, your Star awaits.’ It was obviously a reference to Star Swirl, and stairs do spiral like a swirl.” “Only way to tell.” He sighed. “Let’s get searching.” The crystal crunched under the Ponies’ hooves like a layer of thin ice. A few good kicks and hoof blows managed to break up enough off the floor for the friends to shuck for a better view of what might lie beneath. It took some effort, but they finally cleared enough of the floor to make a proper search using Shawn’s experience in carpentry to test for any hidden doors the floor might have concealed. A few minutes later, a familiar and dreadful trumpeting cry flooded through the barrier, causing a chill to spread over the three friends. The light of the barrier flickered like a lightbulb, revealing the dark and frigid expanse beyond before gaping holes were punched from the top down. The magic seemed almost to struggle to hold itself together. But without its source, it was doomed to fail, and ultimately fizzled out, leaving the storm and the darkness beyond it to swarm in like a deadly fog. “Guys, we have a problem!” Pensword shouted. “We noticed,” Hammer Strike called out in return. “This tower is not safe. We need to move before—” Before any of them could so much as twitch, the crystal they had discarded pulsed black, green, and purple. A massive eruption of great jagged edges surged from the stairs to form a demented and twisted copy of what the tower must once have been in its prime. Meanwhile, the floor was coated in the substance, and it flowed up the trio’s legs to root them to the ground as a wicked chuckle emanated from the fog. Two glowing green eyes with red irises and black slitted pupils peered at the trio, and a sinuous voice soon followed. “Ah, what have we here? New slaves to add to my army?” The laughter rebounded again. “A proper vanguard to welcome the return of their true ruler.” The crystal glowed and thrummed as it flowed higher up the trio’s legs for a time, but then stopped. The energy pulsed in time to the apparition’s glowing eyes. But those eyes soon scrunched in effort as a red horn manifested to join them. Despite this new addition, nothing more happened to the relatively immobilized group. With an almost animal snarl, the eyes and horn broke off and glared at them. “What is this?” it demanded. “Two Ponies and a Gryphon,” Hammer Strike noted. “The more important question would be what happened to you, but I don’t think questions are really appropriate now.” “Impudent little—!” “Hey, Sombrero, can you speed this up? We’ve got stuff to do!” Grif said. “And bigger fish to fry,” Pensword agreed. “Arrogance!” Venom and outrage tinged the shade’s voice as the head manifested fully, attached to a serpentine neck that connected to the rest of the fog. Then his eyes narrowed as he drew closer to the trio. “Wait a moment.” He cocked his head. “I know you.” He wound his way around each of them. “You’re supposed to be dead.” He chortled. “But then again, so am I. I can’t say that I’m not surprised.” He sneered. “But as they say, vengeance is sweet. And it’s best served cold.” “You want vengeance? There are hundreds, if not thousands of Ponies whose lives you ruined waiting for you to choke,” Pensword spat. “You failed before, and you’ll fail again.” “Oh, I think not.” Sombra chuckled. “Not with you three out of the way.” His horn began to glow as the dark crystal in the tower surged with energy and the storm clouds hastened in their movements overhead. “I’m sure they’ll find you again eventually. Perhaps in the heart of a glacier.” He threw back his head and laughed as lightning crashed and baleful energies swirled above the tower. “Farewell, ingrates. May you die a slow and painful death!” Bells began to toll as a ringing resonated from the dark crystal. The portal descended, and its force began to pull at the earth, sucking up the fragments of stone that remained unbound by the crystal’s advance. “Let the wastes swallow you whole!” The ghostly laughter remained even after the head disappeared into the shadowy fog once again. The crystal shattered around the trio’s legs as the portal drew them toward it with the force of a tornado. Pensword flapped his wings desperately to no avail as the ringing of great bells mingled with the sound of tiny chimes and the bong of a grandfather clock. The one satisfaction the trio had before being consumed was the roar of pain that emanated from far in the distance as a wave of blue rose to cut off the shadows and push them back again. Then all was lost in a flash of light. The shadow had been thrust back. The evil would not succeed in claiming the Crystal Empire. Yet. Twilight looked with concern on the mare she had come to love as a sister long before it became official. Cadance’s brows were scrunched in effort and she struggled to rise to her hooves. “I have to find the Crystal Heart,” Shining Armor insisted. “No. You stay here with Cadance. She needs you, Shining Armor,” Twilight insisted, even as Cadance leaned into her loving husband’s embrace. “Uh, guys, did anypony else see the swirling vortex of doom sucking up Ponies at the edge of town?” Rainbow Dash asked. “The what?” Shining demanded. “Yeah. While everyone was focused on Cadance, some weird lightshow went off over there.” She pointed toward one of the edges of the dome. “Then it just sort of … disappeared after Cadance did her thing.” Shining scowled. “Sombra. What is he trying now?” Cadance shuddered and drew closer to Shining. “It hurts, Shining.” Tears streaked down her cheeks. “It hurts so much. I want to protect them, but every time I try, it gets harder and harder to reach my magic. I’m not just tired. Something … something is wrong. It started when we arrived, but it’s been getting worse.” She hissed as another spasm of pain spiked through her head. Shining stroked her mane gently and held her close. “It’s all right, Cadance. I’m here. We’re going to solve this.” His horn glowed as a beam of purple light shot lovingly to tinge around Cadance’s blue and seep into her head. The mare’s breathing eased as the wrinkles over her brow smoothed, and she sighed. “Thank you, Shining.” “Still, that’s a major problem. All the Ponies in the empire should be participating in the Crystal Fair,” Twilight pointed out. “They weren’t in a state to back out of it, even if they wanted to. And the rest of you girls were all helping with the proceedings, so that leaves….” Her eyes widened. “Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no!” She shook her head, then snapped herself out of her daze to look intently at her friend. “Rainbow Dash, I want you to fly as fast as you can around the city. Search every nook and cranny. See if you can find Hammer Strike, Pensword, and Grif. I hope I’m wrong, but if I’m not, I’m guessing they’re not going to be around the Empire.” She grit her teeth, took a deep breath, and wiped her eyes to remove the tears that were starting to build there. “Talk with the others while you’re at it and tell them to keep the rest of the Crystal Ponies calm. If they panic, then everything we’ve been working for will fail.” Rainbow Dash saluted and nodded. “You’ve got it, Twilight. But what are you going to do?” “The thing I should have done from the very beginning,” she said as she looked at the history book and shook her head in disgust before hardening into resolve. “I’m going to find the crystal heart before we lose anypony else.” “Twily—” Twilight shook her head. “Not now, Shining Armor. You’ve said so yourself. A guard needs to focus on the bigger picture. We’ll talk after the empire is safe.” Then she bolted off the balcony with all the speed she could muster. Cadance stared with bleary eyes at the retreating mare. She reached out a hoof weakly. “Don’t go, … Cosey….” Then she fell against her husband again as he tended to her and slowly stroked her mane, whispering encouragement. “Be safe, little sis,” Shining said, casting his wish to any force that would hear him.