//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Rocinante and the Empire of Crystal // by Charliemane //------------------------------// As they began their way towards the train station, Sassaflash examined the crystal pendant in her hooves as she floated alongside her cousin. It was a simple pendant, only a single tiny crystal, barely bigger than a quill tip, affixed by a small wooden bail to a leather cord that served as the necklace. The crystal was duller that the crystals she had found in the caves and certainly less reflective, but it somehow felt warm in her hooves. It was plain and simple, but it somehow seemed like the type of jewelry that Princess Luna would like. “How do you suppose this works anyways?” Rocinante paused for a moment to look down at the small crystal in his cousin's hooves. “No doubt it serves as some form of identifier. Though I would have expected something more akin to Her Noble Grace's emblem.” Rocinante's eyes went from the crystal to the silver moon emblem on his armor. “But perchance it serves as a very specific emblem for our quest, one that speaks to our invaluable role within the Crystal Empire.” Sassaflash's wings seemed to falter for a bit as she floated back down to the ground next to her cousin. “This is a pretty big responsibility. Do you think we can handle it?” Rocinante smiled as he stopped and turned towards his cousin. His bright eyes twinkled for a moment as he began. “I am prepared to do my best, for I can handle any quest. Our triumphs form a mighty list, so of course we can handle this...” Sassaflash was taken aback by the sudden verse, but Rocinante continued on before she could interrupt, leading the way back down the street. “Nightmare Moon we overran with ease. Villain Discord was brought to his knees!” Again Sassaflash nearly stumbled over her own hooves at her cousin's lines. “That's...not quite how I remember it happening, Cousin...” Rocinante paused for only a moment, reflecting on his battle with Discord and its rather abrupt ending. “Well...in the end he was bested, Dear Sassa.” As swiftly as he had stopped, Rocinante shrugged off the the interruption and continued, smiling as he trotted along the city walls and waved his hoof towards the sky around the castle. “We have stared down an army's might, and the cowards ran off from the fight! How can we fail, how can we lose, when all we do...” Sassaflash cocked an eyebrow, her voice betrayed her doubts while she almost subconsciously matched her cousin's tone. “When all we do?” “Is pure and just, our valorous heart, follows virtue...” “But will that do?” “We have taken our share of bouts, but we know without a doubt, of course we are..” “You sure we are?” “Of course we are...” “I guess we are...” “Of course we are-” Rocinante put his hoof on his cousin's shoulder and instantly Sassaflash felt herself smiling as she joined him. “Prepared for this!” Sassaflash grinned as they climbed their way up to the train station platform. They may look like two bumbling ponies well out of their league, but they had faced more villains and challenges than any other ponies in Equestria, except for the Elements of Harmony. Surely her cousin was right, no matter what lay before them, they would handle it like they always have. “So how far is the Crystal Empire?” Rocinante placed a hoof to his chin as he tried to recall what Princess Luna had told them about the Empire during their travels together. But before he could say anything, the knight-errant caught sight of Twilight Sparkle and Spike approaching the station. “Alas dear Sassa! The Champion of the Sun is approaching with her noble squire! Let us take refuge within the train station!” Swiftly the two shuffled into the train station's lobby, trotting just past the rest of Twilight's friends, who were rushing out to greet her. As the Elements of Harmony greeted each other warmly on the platform, Sassaflash couldn't help but notice how much she and her cousin stood out in the center of the train station. While it was true that she wasn't used to hiding, standing next to her cousin in his rusted and worn armor left Sassaflash with a feeling that they were failing miserably at any attempt at being stealthy. But all that mattered to Rocinante and their mission was that Twilight and her friends failed to notice them and as ponies began boarding the north-bound train, it appeared as though they had succeeded, at least for now. As Twilight climbed into the first car, Sassaflash looked over her cousin and shook her head. There was no way they could slip by anypony without being noticed. “Cousin, how are we going to get aboard without Twilight seeing us?” Rocinante grinned as he puffed out his chest. “My dear Sassa, fear not! For we shall remain unseen under the cover of plain sight! For what cause has young Twilight Sparkle to take note of our presence on this very locomotive? Indeed, as far as anypony could be concerned, we are but ordinary pilgrims on a simple, yet still epic, trek across Equestria for the sake of business and or pleasure.” Sassaflash's mouth nearly hit the floor at her cousin's explanation, but before she could say anything in response, Rocinante was already trotting out to the platform and the first car within view. Racing swiftly to catch her cousin, Sassaflash galloped up to the platform, but it was too late. Rocinante tipped his helmet towards Twilight and her friends as he passed by their seats. For her part, Sassaflash could only attempt some form of damage control. Grinning as widely as she could manage, Sassaflash forced her way up alongside her cousin and continued pushing him past the empty seats and into the next car. “I say, cousin! It sure is a fine day to be traveling on vacation to Gallopiggen and no further!” Rocinante stopped at the door to the next car and looked back at his cousin with a confused look in his eyes. “But, dear cousin, This train is going-” Sassaflash laughed abruptly as she put a hoof to her head to wipe the sweat from her brow, and pushed harder on her cousin with the other while behind her, everypony, except the conductor, who had become accustomed to the traveling duo, gave them a quizzical glance. Finally, after what felt like an hour under a heat lamp to Sassaflash, Rocinante gave in and moved into the next car. Once they were on the other side, Sassaflash slammed the door and took the nearest seat next to her cousin. “That was close.” “Sassa, This train doesn't run to Gallopiggen.” Sassaflash sighed as she gave her cousin a tired look. “I know, but remember? We can't let anypony know we are going to the Crystal Empire.” Rocinante nodded, but a voice from behind them spoke up before he could respond. “You're traveling to the Crystal Empire? What a coincidence, so am I.”