//------------------------------// // 134. Games Ponies Play - Part 3 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// The Friendship Express came to a screeching halt at the Crystal Empire Train Station, the conductor, Steamer, poking his head into the car behind the engine and announcing, “Crystal Empire, everypony! Watch your step leaving the train!” He then gaped at the car being covered with ponies askew, a few with their faces plastered against the wall, some in a heap over each other, all of them looking dizzy except for one stallion who calmly made his way off. “Prob’ly should’a watched our step while we wer’ still on it too,” Applejack grunted as she pushed Pinkie’s butt off her head. "Eeyup..." groaned Big Mac as he rubbed his sore head. In no time at all, the friends left the train and started leaving the station although Pinkie was sure to grab a snack from the station food stand. As she gulped a cinnamon roll, she looked ahead and gasped, “Wow! The Crystal Empire looks even crystalier than ever!” As they entered the streets, left and right were the Crystal Ponies going to and fro, wiping windows, vacuuming the streets, polishing the crystal buildings, all of them shimmering their crystal coats. “Ha-ha-wow!” Thunderlane smiled as he commented, “Everypony here must be out and about cleaning the place spotless!” “Guess this explains why they asked us to handle the welcoming committee,” Midnight agreed. Rainbow flew overhead as they passed the Crystal Heart, as she said, “And probably because we’ll be so awesome at it!” At that moment, two crystal fillies, each with a small flag in her mouth, ran past excitably, Blueblood stating, “Cady wasn’t exaggerating! These ponies certainly look excited.” “Yup, I remember that feeling,” said Rainbow as she scooped up one of the fillies, “but not as much as I remember the crushing wave of disappointment that came when things didn’t work out!” Everypony flinched at the quivering lip of the filly when Soarin gently snatched from Rainbow’s arms, saying, “Dashie! We’re trying to keep their hopes up, not knock `em down like we were in Cloudsdale?!”” He set the filly down and picked up her flag, winging it to her before he gently scooted her along to join her friend. Soarin then gave Rainbow the stink eye, making the rainbow mare smile sheepishly before she was hoisted by Twilight’s magic and everypony followed her to their destination. They soon arrived at the Crystal Empire’s most premiered Beauty Spa, Twilight confirming, “We’re here.” “There they are!” said a happy voice to which Twilight and Blueblood both perked. Princess Cadance hopped forward, despite having been in the middle of a hooficure and went up to Twilight, the both of them doing their fillyhood shake. “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” They giggled when Blueblood spoke up, “Good to see you again, Cadance!” “Bluey!” Cadance went up and gave him a hug, which he was happy to return when his fillyfriend’s gasps earned his attention. “Oh my, this is spectacular!” Rarity swooned at the beauty treatments, one mare soaking her mane, another getting an obviously effective back massage. “Please everypony stand back, I need air!” “Go ahead and try whatever you like, it’s all complimentary for the welcome committee,” Cadance invited her, much to Rarity’s giggling excitement. Cadance then pointed, “That over there is a crystal mud bath, which relaxes your body and rejuvenates your coat!” Except for Blueblood, the idea of a mud bath was lost on the stallions who all just shrugged and allowed their female friends to take it in, as Cadance went on, “Now, I realize it can be kind of strange to bathe in mud, but I’m sure if you just give it a chance, I’m sure-” “Whoo-hoo!” They all barely dodged a pink blur that swung outta nowhere before it landed with an oddly cushioned bounce into the mud bath, which behaved more like some kind of gelatin mold as Pinkie giggled, “So relaxing!” “Pinkie Pie! Honestly!” Twilight admonished, only to feel a hoof on her shoulder and saw it was Cadance, a sneaky look in her eye that made Twilight smile back sheepishly. Cadance then took a breath with the clear manner that Twilight follows her lead, and they both exhaled, Twilight feeling the stress leave her along with the carbon dioxide. “Wow, you know her pretty well,” Midnight commented to Cadance, who smiled back. “Well, I wasn’t her favorite foal-sitter for nothing,” she replied before saying to everypony, “Go ahead and enjoy yourselves, everyone! I just have to get my ceremonial headdress done.” “Ceremonial headdress?” echoed Rarity, Blueblood chuckling as he had an idea of where this was going. Cadance lied back onto the chair, her hoofmares bringing in the necessities as she explained, “When meeting with important guests, it was tradition for the female court mares of the Crystal Empire to weave crystals into their manes in a very specific way. The Games Inspector is known for doing her homework.” “Ergo, she will be expecting you to look the importance reflecting her visit,” Blueblood deduced with a smirk. “Exactly, Blueblood,” Cadance nodded, “so once that’s done-” The doors of the spa opened and in rushed a crystal stallion wearing the Crystal Empire Heralding uniform. He had a shimmering green coat, amber eyes, and white mane, his cutie mark a mail envelop with wings, reflecting his speed as he zipped up to Cadance’s side, saluting. “Princess! Pardon the intrusion, but I just received two words that concern you!” “Well, what’s the trouble, Fleet Mail?” Cadance didn’t like the sound of his voice. Fleet Mail lowered his hoof and looked uncomfortable at being the bearer of bad news. “First, your mane-stylist has the flu and won’t be able to see to your headdress, also because she doesn’t want you to catch her illness too!” “Oh! Well…” Cadance sounded concerned, much to everypony else’s, “I hope she feels better soon! Do any of the other stylists present know how to prepare the traditional royal ceremonial headdress?” The stylists all muttered to each other in concern and it became blatantly apparent that the answer to Cadance’s query was no. “Oh…” Cadance did her moment of taking a breath and letting it out. “Well… it’s just a small detail.” “Hold… it!” Soarin butted in, “The objective here is to host the Equestria Games in the empire!” “He’s right, there is no such thing as a ‘small detail’!” Rainbow added insistently. “Guys…!” Midnight gritted his teeth at them. “I suppose…" All eyes turned to Rarity, "I could give it a shot!” “Oh Rarity, you would do that for me?” Cadance sounded ecstatic. “We would do it for you, Cady!” Blueblood stepped up, smiling proudly at his mare. “I might not be on par with my beloved in mane aesthetics, but I have been taking lessons so as to be capable of helping my Rarity with her own mane.” “Oh…!” Rarity swooned lovingly at him. “Well, fortunately, I have all the precise instructions right here,” Cadance lit up her horn to open a chest two of her hoofmares were holding up and levitated out a rolled up parchment. She hung it up from a decorative crystal wall-piece and let it unfurl, revealing a rather long list of instructions. “Oh my!” Rarity took it all in, Blueblood starting to wonder if they were about to bite off more than they could chew. “Are the two of you sure you’re up for this?” Cadance asked them, Rarity nodding determinedly. “Working on the hair of royalty for such an auspicious occasion is the opportunity of a lifetime! I’m sure if Blueblood and I give it our all, we shan’t disappoint!” “You see, Cady?” Blueblood felt his confidence return by Rarity’s gusto, “Nothing to worry about. Besides, the Inspector is not due for several hours.” “We should have plenty of time to figure out exactly how… to do this…” Rarity gave the list a closer look and felt some of her confidence deflate, but Cadance failed to notice as she rejoiced, “Oh Rarity, Bluey, I’ll definitely owe you for this!” “Uh…” They all looked to Fleet Mail, who had appeared to have developed an interest in his hooves as he hesitantly reminded them, “There’s one more thing I have to tell you…” “Yes? What is it?” Cadance inquired politely. “Well… the Games Inspector, Ms. Harshwhinny? Heh-heh, you’re gonna get a real kick out of this,” Fleet chuckled sheepishly. “Get on with it,” Midnight waved him on. “Ms. Harshwhinny… isduetoarriveonthenextrainbye!” Fleet instantly zipped out before everypony could begin to panic. Rainbow yelled out the door after him, “Ya couldn’t have told us that news first?!” “The next train?! That’s in the next fifteen minutes!” Soarin spazzed. Midnight grabbed and shook the Wonderbolt by the shoulders as he yelled, “Get a hold of yourself!” Rarity and Blueblood began to sweat as they skimmed the instructions, Applejack and Thunderlane hurried to the doors and looked out them, almost expecting the inspector to show up at any moment, Fluttershy fretting, Big Mac trying to calm her and an anxious Pinkie down while Twilight did Cadance’s calming technique and gathered herself. She approached Rarity and Blueblood, “How long before Cadance is ready?” Blueblood 'hmm'd as he gave the instructions a closer look while Rarity said, “Well, if we work together, and maybe find some shortcuts…” “Can you have her back at the castle when you’re done?” Twilight asked. “Done!” assured Blueblood, nodding determinedly. Cadance smiled proudly at her cousin while Twilight picked up a note Fleet Mail had left behind, muttering, “Okay, we’ll be fine… “Alright girls, let’s get to the station,” Twilight announced, “Midnight, you, Thunder, Mac, and Soarin help out however Cadance says you can while we attend to Ms. Harshwhinny.” “Whatever you say, Twily,” Midnight nodded helpfully, Twilight smiling at his calling her ‘Twily’. For all her life, only her brother had called her that, but ever since they started dating, Midnight had taken up the same quirk. She loved it! “Alright, girls,” Twilight led Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy out the doors, “Be on the lookout for the pony with the flower print luggage.” Once they were gone, Midnight and the guys turned to Cadance, Midnight asking, “So Princess, any way we can help? Or… perhaps you could direct me to Shining Armor?” “Move along, gents!” Blueblood got pushy, “Rarity and I cannot concentrate if we are distracted from this most delicate of operations!” “Um, if you’re looking for Shining Armor, Midnight,” Cadance called after him as Blueblood pushed him and the other stallions out, “he’s training some athletes for the games over at the Crystal Stadium!” Blueblood shoved his friends out the doors, slamming them shut before he turned to face Rarity and Cadance. Cricking his neck, he furrowed his brows as he stated, “Let’s get started…” The stallions wandered for a block or two when Midnight decided, “I’m gonna go see Shining Armor, what about all of you?” “We should go check at the station,” Soarin suggested, “just… y’know make sure the girls are doing okay.” “I’m up for it,” Thunderlane agreed, Big Mac saying, “Eeyup.” “Alright, check in with you all later,” Midnight broke away and went down a street. But it wasn’t until he reached its end that he realized something, I don’t know where the stadium is! Soarin, Thunderlane, and Big Mac reached the train station although the last train had already left. “Do either of you guys see the girls?” Thunderlane asked as they looked around. “Nnope,” Big Mac answered. “Huh, they must’ve already left with the Inspector," Soarin shrugged before asking, "Now whaddoo we do?” “Well, we could go check in on Princess Cadance,” Thunderlane suggested, “she didn’t actually get a chance to give us something else to-” “You there!” They looked over to the far end of the platform and noticed a rather stern looking mare. Her coat was caramel while her mane and tail were colored like honey. She wore a purple suit, a pink scarf around her neck, and her cutie-mark was a golden trophy. She carried with her a flower print case. She approached the three stallions, asking, “By any chance would you three stallions know of any tour guides around?” “Nnope,” Big Mac shook no. But Soarin stepped up, “But we’d be glad to fill in for you, miss! We were gonna help our friends with an important errand but they decided they had enough hooves on board already.” “Hmm, very well,” the mare agreed, sounding miffed as she said, “I was expecting an appointment with somepony but seeing as they are late I suppose I’ll make do with you.” She reached to get her bag, Big Mac coming up, “Lemme take tha’ for ya, miss.” “Thank you, but be careful, it’s heavy,” she said with her nose in the air, and Big Mac found her words to be ridiculously true as he struggled to hold the bag up in his mouth. “Honestly, I was expecting some ponies to receive me upon my arrival and they find the nerve to stand me up.” “Well that doesn’t sound very courteous,” Thunderlane commented in understanding. “If somepony makes an appointment with another, it’s only polite to honor the commitment.” “Indeed!” the mare huffed, “They will surely hear of this in my review, but seeing as I have time before my appointment I would appreciate a tour of the city, if you gentlecolts don’t mind.” Big Mac and Thunderlane shared a troubled look but Soarin said, “Sure, miss! I can give you a good tour, and my boys here will be glad to help!” Soarin yelped as he felt the guys yank him back by his tail, pulling him into a huddle. “Soar, what’re you doing?! We don’t know the empire well enough to give a tour!” “Nnope.” “Guys, relax! During our first visit, me and Blue helped the girls set up the Crystal Faire while you and Midnight were fighting Sombra! I still have a good memory of the empire’s layout and remember a few of the sites of interest. We’ll be okay!” “Well… if you’re really sure.” “Is there a problem?” They all looked up from the huddle, seeing the mare’s patience was wearing thin. “No problem at all, miss!” Soarin smiled eagerly. “Just follow us and we’ll show you a swell time!” “Oh! Sorry, we forgot to introduce ourselves,” Thunderlane brought up. “I’m Thunderlane, these are my friends Big Macintosh and Soarin.” “And you are…?” Soarin invited. “You may address me as…” the mare hesitated a moment before nodding, “Ms. Honeywheat.” Midnight wandered the streets for a few minutes, trying to get his bearings until he finally decided to ask directions. “Um, excuse me, miss,” he addressed a crystal mare who gasped at the sight of him. “Oh my! It’s Sir Midnight Blaze, the Great Guardian of Harmony!” she squealed in delight, several crystal ponies taking notice and smiling as they heard her exclamation. Almost at once, several crystal ponies started to mob Midnight. “It’s one of the empire’s heroes!” “Hail Great Guardian Midnight!” “Can I have your autograph?!” “Please, please!” Midnight was becoming quite uncomfortable as he yelled, “I’m trying to find Prince Shining Armor, could anypony here direct me to the Crystal Stadium?” “Me!” “No, me!” “I can get you there in two shakes!” “Don’t listen to him, Guardian! He couldn’t find his way out of an empty room!” “ENOUGH!” Midnight snapped and stomped, the ponies hushing at his outburst. “Please! I only need directions, I don’t need anypony to accompany me. Now… Somepony please tell me what way to take to get to the stadium!” Meanwhile, back at the spa, Blueblood telekinetically held up several gemstones and combed up locks of Cadance’s hair, Rarity setting down a power drill, the both of them grimacing at their (for lack of a better word) progress. “So… how’s it going so far?” Cadance asked hesitantly as she lied on the seat and let them work. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” Rarity was beginning to sweat. “It’s just… all so complicated” – she chuckled nervously – “I can fix it!” “Fix what?!” Cadance gasped. Blueblood gaped nervously at Rarity, who said, “Well I was… looking for shortcuts and…” “Ugh, I told you step twelve was necessary!” groaned Blueblood and flinching when he saw Cadance levitate a mirror to look at the mess atop her head, and felt his heart sink to see his cousin’s lip quiver. Midnight gazed up at the Crystal Stadium in awe! It bore a golden star-like emblem above the public entrances, flagpoles siding them with red flags a’blowing, there was a walkway from the stadium into the castle, which Midnight assumed wad for royalty, nobility, and the like. He stepped through the doors and walked through the hallways to the arena. Gazing down, he saw about five crystal pony athletes, getting psyched up, Shining Armor standing before them with a cap on his head, which actually looked a little silly the way the brim rested on his horn, and a whistle hanging from around his neck. Midnight smiled and concentrated. *FLASH* Shining Armor heard it and looked to see, “Midnight!” “Hey Shining!” Midnight approached the prince and the two saluted as they did their own greeting! “To Equestria, I pledge my life, along to everypony! To safeguard all from fear and strife, alongside my best brony!” They chuckled and hoofbumped, Shining Armor saying, “You’re looking well!” “You too!” Midnight replied when he noticed Shining Armor stretch one of his wings, “Glad to see those wings are looking better.” “Heh-yeah!” Shining Armor spread them out, “And I’ve been spending quite some time learning how to use these babies! Wanna see?” “Go for it!” Midnight said almost as though he were challenging him. Shining Armor smirked and narrowed his eyes as he hunched, his wings raised… and he took to the air with a mighty beat! Shining Armor flapped his wings, rising higher and higher, his team watching their prince in awe, as Shining Armor soared along the stadium seats, looking impressive and epic! He then swooped up in a loop de’ loop, and flared his horn, the team cheering and clopping their hooves. “Whattya think of that?!” Shining Armor said in a braggy way towards the ground, when he noticed Midnight wasn’t down there with his team. “Not bad…” Shining Armor startled as he turned and gasped to see Midnight, flapping alongside him, giving him a cocky look, a pair of flying goggles strapped to his forehead. “But I think you could do better.” “What th- How di- You- You have wings?!” Shining Armor gaped at Midnight but realized something else. “And you don’t have your horn!” “Thanks to these babies of mine,” Midnight tapped his goggles and gestured Shining Armor to land with him. Once both stallions’ hooves were on solid ground, Shining Armor asked, “How did you become a pegasus?” “These goggles I invented,” Midnight took them off, his body giving off a brief yet blinding flash, and his wings were gone while his horn had returned. “The lenses of the goggles are imbued with a transformation spell while the gemstones on the sides contain pure pegasus magic! Whenever I wear them, I can switch from being a unicorn to a pegasus and back anytime I like!” “Incredible…!” whispered Shining Armor before asking, “May I?” Midnight levitated them to Shining Armor and dropped them into his telekinetic hold. Shining Armor gave the goggles quite an examination, and sensed the magic in them were for real. “Midnight, goggles like these could do so much for Equestria!” “Unfortunately, no,” Midnight shook his head as he accepted them back. “These are one of a kind right now, and they’re also a prototype. The goggles will only work for me, and I haven’t figured out how to get them to respond to somepony else.” “Well even so!” Shining Armor chuckled, “I am impressed! I don’t think even Twily’s done anything like that!” “I’m sure she could figure out the problem,” Midnight agreed, “but I wanna do this myself.” “I get that,” Shining Armor nodded. “You made them yourself so you want to perfect them yourself. I think that’s commendable.” “Speaking of commendable…” Midnight looked troubled. “What’s wrong?” asked Shining Armor. “On my way here, I was mobbed by some crystal ponies,” Midnight explained, “they called me the ‘Great Guardian of Harmony’, praising me like I’m some kind of hero.” “Well, to the Crystal Ponies, you are a hero, Midnight,” Shining Armor confirmed with a praising smile. “You, Big Macintosh, and Thunderlane fought against Sombra when he was evil, and you wielded the power of the Crystal Heart to restore him to good!” “I fought Sombra to protect the empire,” Midnight debated, “and I used the Crystal Heart’s powers to protect him so I could complete the mission Princess Celestia gave me, to bring Sombra back to her! I was just…” “Doing your duty?” Shining Armor offered understandably. Seeing Midnight looked troubled, Shining Armor went on. “Midnight, I know how weird it must feel, all those ponies looking up to you? Well, feats like what you’ve accomplished earn you that kind of praise and adulation. Feats like defeating the tyrant Sombra used to be, foiling Queen Chrysalis, and wielding the Element of Faith, ponies will look to you for direction and security.” “…I’m not sure I want ponies looking to me for stuff like that,” Midnight replied, his ears drooping. “Hey…” Shining Armor put a hoof on the blue unicorn’s shoulder. “How do you think I feel? Midnight, when Cadance said yes to my proposal, I knew that I would become a prince, except at the time I thought that would only be because I was marrying a princess, that it would just be a title! Then when the changelings attacked Canterlot during the wedding, you gave me the faith to believe in myself, and I was able to ascend and become an alicorn prince! I never dreamed I would become my wife’s peer, but it only drove me to keep moving forward and take what I get. I still stumble now and then, but it doesn’t stop me from doing my best.” Midnight looked at Shining Armor and felt a little better. But then Shining Armor gave him a raised brow, “So! I hear you and my little sis have been spending a lot time together…” Midnight shrank nervously at the scrutinizing smirk the alicorn prince was giving him. “Well, uh, I… who told you tha-ha-hat?” he chuckled nervously. “I am married to the Princess of Love…” Shining Armor reminded him before socking Midnight in the shoulder and laughing. “Don’t sweat it, Midnight, just joshing ya! Honestly? I’m surprised Twilight;s finally gotten into a relationship at all! Besides, of all the stallions she could’ve gone out with, I’m glad it’s you.” “Thanks, Shining,” Midnight smiled appreciatively while groaning a bit as he rubbed his sore shoulder. Shining Armor might have gotten used to his wings but not his new earth pony strength.