“How are you not nervous about this?”
Sassaflash sighed as her cousin thought over her question like a foal, eying the luggage racks overhead as though the answer was hidden amongst them.
“Rather, dear cousin, I feel that I should ask how could I be anything but eager? Her Most Gracious Highness, Princess Luna of Canterlot has seen fit to bestow upon us a quest! Truly, such a quest that begins with an immediate summons unto the Royal Capital could only belong to the most noble and valiant of knights, and our gracious princess has seen fit to place this most prestigious and glorious task into our most capable hooves!”
Sassaflash rolled her eyes with a sigh as she sunk back a little bit in her train seat. Rocinante had never been easily intimidated, but ever since he declared himself a knight-errant, developed an insatiable thirst for glory and adventure that had dragged the two of them across Equestria, from the mountains of the capital to the plains of the buffalo frontier.
Yet as tiring as it had been, Sassaflash couldn't honestly say that she regretted any of it, or the pony that she had become because of it. When her cousin first visited her as a knight-errant, she was a simple weather pony whose greatest ambition was to be home before dark. But now, Sassaflash found herself running alongside her cousin, encountering villains that she would never have even dared to dream about, much less confront.
She had been embarrassed, terrified, and challenged, but through it all she had found that she played an important part in all of the adventures of her cousin. Even when she was imprisoned in the caves below Canterlot she found herself playing roles that she would never have even thought possible.
As the train now rolled into the station, Sassaflash couldn't help but wonder what waited for them at the castle.
“Do you think it will be anything like last time?”
Sassaflash shuddered at the sudden thought of squaring off against changelings again, but her cousin laughed as he bounced out of his seat, through the door, and into the steam on the platform.
“Ah, Dear Sassa! If only we might be so fortunate as to face off against the forces of evil with so much hanging in the balance once again! But never fear! For though the cowardly foe departed from the field the moment they laid eyes upon the champions of justice, virtue, and valor, no doubt now our new foe will be made of greater mettle and we shall meet them in a glorious battle that shall be retold throughout the ages!”
Sassaflash stopped for a moment while the thought sunk into her mind, but with her cousin still marching eagerly towards the castle, she realized that, just as always, there was no turning back now.
Luna held the ancient map of the Crystal Empire aloft with her magic as she paced the throne room.
“During my travels we ventured as far north as Gallopiggen. The Empire's border was just over the other side. If I leave tomorrow I can get there in-”
“That won't be necessary Luna.”
Luna frowned as she lowered the map and looked at Princess Celestia.
“Sister...”
“This will be the opportunity for Twilight that we've been waiting for.”
Luna held back her breath as she walked beside her sister, who was looking at the stained glass windows. Celestia's eyes were narrowed and focused, not on the glass before them, but on some imaginary point well beyond.
“Are you certain she is ready?”
Celestia smiled and her expression relaxed, but her eyes remained locked on their distant target.
“I wouldn't give her more than she could handle.”
“I would not interfere with her test, but this is something far too important to be left to chance.”
“She will not fail.”
Luna's eyes went from the window to her sister, but the fact that Celestia's eyes remained fixed revealed to her that, despite her outward confidence, Celestia was still weighing the situation in her mind.
“Are you sure you don't want me to go as well?”
“Yes, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor are already there.”
For the first time since the conversation began, Princess Celestia looked over to her sister.
“The others will be joining them soon.”
Luna's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she looked from her sister and back to the window in front of them. The war to oust King Sombra was long and arduous. They had waited over a thousand years for the Empire to return, the last thing Luna wanted now was to risk losing it again, or worse.
“The Empire's magic is powerful. It cannot fall again, my sister.”
Celestia could easily detect the concern in her sister's voice as she turned her eyes back to the window.
“She will succeed at her task. And when she does, we'll know that she is that much closer to being ready.”
As though on cue, Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat from the edge of the hallway. Both princesses turned toward the nervous unicorn. Celestia did little to hide the happiness on her face while Luna did little to hide her dissatisfaction with her sister's answer. But, while Luna was less than pleased with her sister's response, she wasn't surprised either. As she began to walk toward the door, Celestia looked back to her.
“Trust me, Little Sister.”
Luna said nothing as she walked past her sister and her star pupil. She could tell by the look in Twilight's eyes that the young unicorn was completely unprepared for the task she was about to receive. The all too familiar sound of books thumping and bouncing along the floor echoed down the hall as Luna exited, leaving the doors open so that her ear might catch Celestia's words.
Luna knew that she wouldn't have much time. She may not be able to go herself, but she knew somepony she could send who would keep an eye on things.
Opening the door to the sitting room just a short distance down the hall, Luna felt her spirits rise as she saw her friends. It had only been a few months, and yet it had felt as though years had past since they had parted ways after Princess Cadance's wedding.
Both Rocinante and Sassaflash immediately rose from their seats and bowed low to the ground.
“Princess Luna!”
“Most Noble Grace! It is both our joy and our honor to be in your magnanimous presence once again!”
In spite of her desire to keep a careful ear out for Celestia's words, Luna swiftly closed the door behind her. Though it was more because of her companions' rather loud volumes than for the sense of urgency that it generated, it seemed to work to both effects.
“I fear I do not have much time. The Crystal Empire has returned.”
Both knight and squire looked at each other, uncertain as to the meaning of this news. There were few, if any, ponies today who ever knew the Empire even existed. Even Rocinante's broad knowledge of the legends of yore held no account of the ancient empire to the north. But there was no time to explain it now, she could only hope that the knight-errant remembered what little she had told them about it during their travels near the area.
“Princess Celestia is sending Twilight Sparkle and her companions to the Empire immediately to assist in securing it from whatever evil may have been trapped within it. She is certain that her pupil and her friends will be enough to protect the Empire, I am not.”
Rocinante put a hoof to his chin as he contemplated the words, but his foal-like eyes never left his princess as she continued.
“In truth, I understand my sister's desire to place this burden upon young Twilight Sparkle, for her success could mean a great many things for us all. However, as much as I want and believe that Twilight Sparkle will succeed, I cannot in good conscience allow my sister to take an undue risk by placing all of our hopes on her protege. Sir Rocinante, Lady Sassaflash, I need you to travel to the Crystal Empire and ensure the security of the realm.”
Both ponies raised their heads and looked at their princess with wide eyes as her words began to sink in, but as always, Rocinante's eyes burned with an eager fire that almost seemed to brighten the room around him. Quickly pounding his hoof to his chest in salute, he bowed again, his voice almost trembling with excitement.
“Most Fair, Noble, and Gracious Highness! Fear not for the safety of the Empire! For I, Rocinante of La Manecha shall dedicate my utmost unto its defense! Again paired with the champions of Her Most Royal Highness, the forces of justice, virtue, and valor shall preserve the Empire for generations to come!”
Luna looked back to the door with a frown on her face. She was almost out of time to explain things and get her friends on their way before Celestia could discover what she was doing.
“Dear Knight, I fear I must place an extra burden upon you.”
“Never fear Noble Grace! For whatever requirements you may have need of, I shall do my utmost-”
“Forgive me, Sir Rocinante, but we are out of time. You must not let Twilight Sparkle know that you are assisting her or the Empire. It is absolutely imperative that neither she, nor my sister, are aware of your presence, let alone your mission.”
Quickly poking her head out the door, Luna could hear the sound of her sister's hooves approaching the hallway. Her time was up.
“I do wish I could tell you more, but there is no time.”
Using her magic, Princess Luna produced two train tickets and levitated them in front of Rocinante and his cousin.
“These will get you to the outer limits of the Empire. From there it should only be a short distance north before you get to the magical barrier that Princess Cadance and Shining Armor will have set up. This...”
Luna produced a small crystal pendant and draped it over the neck of her knight.
“...should get you inside without any trouble. Dress warmly and remember, Neither Princess Celestia nor Twilight Sparkle should know that you are there.”
Opening the door behind her, Luna swiftly exited and motioned for Rocinante and Sassaflash to go down a different hallway towards the gate. They said nothing, but only nodded with a vague understanding and swiftly ran down the hall. Luna couldn't help but be grateful that her friends were so willing to go with so little explanation, and sigh at the thought of how much she wanted to go with them. With a smile across her face, she whispered the last words she wished she had had time to say aloud.
“Good luck, both of you.”
“I have every confidence you will succeed.”
The sound of her sister's voice jolted Luna back into reality. Spinning on her hooves, Luna half ran to the throne room's entrance. Stopping just as her sister and Twilight emerged, Luna quickly wiped the smile from her face and looked down towards Twilight, perhaps more gravely than she intended. The young unicorn looked up at her and almost immediately shrank back to Celestia's side.
“But...what if I fail?”
Celestia's ever reassuring smile remained as firm as ever as she looked her pupil in the eye.
“You won't.”
“But! What if-”
Twilight's words were cut off as Celestia put a hoof on her shoulder.
“You won't. But Twilight, in the end in must be you and you alone who ultimately assists Princess Cadance and Shining Armor in doing what needs to be done to protect the Empire. Do you understand?”
As though filled with the confidence radiating out from Princess Celestia, Twilight firmed her stance and nodded. Even Luna felt herself becoming more confident in Twilight's victory as Princess Celestia sent her off and closed the door.
Luna looked up to her sister as they both turned back towards the throne. Her stride never faltered as they passed by the windows on either side of the room.
“You really do have a lot of confidence in her, Sister.”
“I do.”
Luna turned and looked back toward the doors. Twilight Sparkle was a very capable pony, but still Luna's doubts remained.
“I do hope your confidence in her is well placed.”
“And I hope your confidence in Sir Rocinante is as well.”
Luna's eyes widened as she spun around to face her sister, but Princess Celestia merely smiled as she continued walking to the doors beyond the throne.