What Lies Beneath
... Wha?
The first thing Flash realized when he awoke was that he had not made it to his bed last night.
The next thing that Flash realized was that the palace’s crystal floors, even padded by carpet and rugs, were not very comfortable.
With a groan, he forced his eyes fully open, thankful that only the dim light of dying twilight greeted him. He lay on his belly a few feet away from his bed on the cold floor. Still clad in his dress uniform, the cloth clung to his figure, his fur and feathers matted by the sweat of a hot sleep.
As Flash stood up, he noted the stiffness of his wings. That’s strange… That only happens when I—
Oh.
He remembered the events of the evening prior before he remembered his dream. When he did, he moved as quickly and quietly as possible from his room, leaving the door slightly ajar as he headed to the restroom down the hall.
To his relief, the restroom was unoccupied. After locking the door, he carefully removed his uniform and hung it from the hook on the back of the door, then stepped into the monstrous shower. A few twists of the silver knobs, and a torrent of water cascaded from the showerhead.
Flash closed his eyes and leaned forward against the wall, letting the hot water soothe his protesting muscles and cleanse his coat and mane. Steam filled the room within minutes, fogging the mirrors but soothing his sinuses. The Empire’s dry cold was beginning to wear a bit on his nostrils.
Ahh… All of my wealth for a hot shower. Thank Galaxia I woke up before Twilight… I wouldn’t be able to answer the door for a while…
Flash cringed, laying a forehoof against the tile wall.
His mind taunted him with recollections of his dream. In it, Twilight sat beside him on the cliff-face again, her mane made of stars and her eyes gemstones twinkling in the moonlight. She leaned forward again, this time without reservation, until her lips pressed into his.
While his world became starlight, she pressed her forehooves against his chest. With a mischievous grin, she lowered her eyelids and pushed him down against the snow, crawling on top of him as she brought a forehoof to his cheek, then kissed him again...
There was a resonating hallelujah in his ears and his chest, although that could have been the steady rhythm of the showerhead raining down upon him. Flash gritted his teeth and shook his head in a vain attempt to shake those images from his mind.
Dammit! Of course this had to happen after last night! Not before, not when I was still in Canterlot and could just tuck away and hide in my room, but here, where I have to face her, Shining, and the others in less than an hour. Of course!
“Can’t I catch a break?” Flash mumbled to the silence, opening his eyes at last.
When he looked up, he found no answers, but a gemstone, instead. In the epicenter of the showerhead hung one small, glowing crystal hanging down from the device like a stalactite. He moved a forehoof up closer to it, noting that heat was radiating off the rock like a furnace. Huh. The Crystal ponies seem to use these for just about everything, don’t they?
I wonder if they have any that can catch dreams…
~
After finishing his shower, toweling off, giving his uniform to a servant to be washed, and donning his armor, Flash Sentry waited in his room for Celestia to raise her sun.
Although Twilight Sparkle had already stated that she would be taking the weekends off from her studies, his duties were not to be abandoned on days that began with “s”. Additionally, the Crystal Guard recruits would not be given weekends off to his knowledge either, so it was possible that he was needed down in the camp as well.
No, Flash knew he would not be having a weekend off until he returned to Canterlot… if Ironhoof was generous. Since Orion’s trial was scheduled to begin shortly after Twilight would return to the castle, such generosity would most likely not come for a while.
This trip, then, was the closest Flash had come to a vacation in five years. He realized that as he waited patiently for dawn to break. Rather than pride, he felt a tinge of regret.
How much of my life have I wasted holed up in my chamber? How many opportunities have I passed up, all because I felt afraid, or guilty, or ashamed?
The sun began to peek above the horizon, crawling up from its blanket on the mountain peaks.
Flash shook his head. No. I can’t live like that anymore. I’m strong, stronger than I think I am, and it’s time I started showing it. I mean… that meeting, the play, even that conversation with Twilight! Stars above, how long has it been since I talked to somepony like that? I haven’t even told anypony about Dusk! Only my father knows…
Yes, doubt whispered in his ear, but how do you know you mean what you say? Can you really keep your promise to Shining? And can you even trust Twilight, for that matter?
Rays of radiant light began to pierce through the last vestiges of night, casting gold onto the rolling hills below.
Without his spear, Flash braced his forehooves against the windowsill instead. I… I will. Shining’s trust and confidence in me will not be shattered. And Twilight… she would not have said the things she said if she were not trustworthy.
She said she wanted a friend… And I’ll… I’ll be that friend.
Far away in Canterlot, the Princess of the Sun brought a new day into being.
In the Crystal Empire, Flash Sentry opened his window and breathed in that new day, as he stood there, clean and new himself.
~
“Jump, jump, jump, jump! King me!”
Shooting Star sighed as he reluctantly passed over one of Princess Cadence’s captured checkers. “I swear, Your Highness, you let me capture this one just to lure me into a false sense of security…”
Cadence giggled. “Oh, no, Shooting Star, I would never do something like that. That’s just cruel!”
Seated across from her at the breakfast table, Twilight rolled her eyes. “I tried to warn you, Shooting Star. Cadence cheats!”
“I most certainly do not. Somepony’s just a sore loser.” Cadence stuck out her tongue in response to Twilight’s second eyeroll, making her husband facehoof beside her.
Shining shook his head, then turned to Flash. “Word of advice… Play somepony in checkers before you ask them to marry you. If I had, I would have saved myself a lot of trouble when we went to Las Pegasus.”
Cadence dismissed him with a forehoof. “Oh, Shining, it wasn’t that big of a deal!”
“‘That big of a deal’? Cadence, I lost almost a thousand bits playing at the same Appleloosa Hold ‘Em table as you!” Shining scoffed.
Shooting Star looked up from his pitiful position on the checkers board. “With all due respect, my Prince,” he said with a cheeky grin, “I believe that might have been because you can’t bluff to save your life, not because the Princess cheats.”
While Cadence, Shooting Star, and Argon burst into laughter, Shining crossed his forehooves over his chest and looked away in feigned offense. Beside him, Twilight chuckled into a forehoof, and Flash buried his own amusement in his toast.
“Hmph. Well, anyway…” Shining turned to Argon. “How are Strong Command and the others doing with training this morning? Are the recruits still alive?”
Argon closed his newspaper and shrugged. “We unleashed a Corporal on them; if they could survive the Lieutenant, they can survive Strong Command.”
“Will you be needing my assistance this morning, sir?” Flash asked.
Argon shook his head. “Thank you for asking, Sir Flash Sentry, but no, not today.”
Flash held back a sigh. Damn. I was actually looking forward to that. “Ah, I see, sir. Please let me know when I’ll be needed next.”
“Monday, most likely.” Shooting Star scowled as Princess Cadence captured one of his few remaining checkers. “Tomorrow night, everypony but myself will be taking the train back to Canterlot. I’ll need another set of eyes most days.”
Nodding, Flash replied, “Of course, Lieutenant. I would be more than happy to—”
“Can I watch?” Twilight asked.
Everypony turned to her. “Watch what, Twily?” Shining asked, seeming particularly surprised.
“The recruits,” Twilight said as she finished her last bite of pancake. “And… whatever it is you’re doing with them.”
“Since when have you been interested in military training?” Shining replied.
With a shrug, Twilight began, “Well… To be honest, I’ve never not been interested. I’ve just never had an opportunity to see potential Royal Guards training up close. When I was Princess Celestia’s student, most of the training camps were held either in the surrounding forest or just beyond the castle walls where I couldn’t see. And when you were in the Guard,” she continued, poking her brother’s chest, “you never invited us to come and see you!”
Shining Armor bit his lip, looking away from his sister in what Flash perceived as guilt.
Shining didn’t invite his family to come and see him during training? That sounds familiar.
Everypony but the freshest recruits gets at least one weekend of leave a month! And visitors are always welcome.
“Shining was probably just busy,” Cadence said, looking up from her game to give Twilight an apologetic smile. “But if you would like to watch the training in action, you’re more than welcome to, anytime you’d like.”
“Of course!” Shining chimed in, giving Twilight a smile as well. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to imply that you couldn’t. I was just curious why the sudden interest is all.”
Twilight narrowed her eyes on him, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll have to take you up on that offer, Shining. It might cut a bit into my research time, but once or twice shouldn’t hurt.”
“Speaking of the library—” Cadence grinned as she captured Shooting Star’s last, lonely checker, making him groan—”Apt Drop will be coming by shortly to take you and Flash on a tour of the Crystal Empire.”
“A tour?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “But Cadence, I’ve been here several times already!”
“Well, Flash hasn’t,” Cadence said. “Right, Flash?”
“No, Your Highness,” Flash replied, “this is my first time being here. It has been a lovely time so far as well. Thank you again for the play last night,” he added with a bow of his head.
At the word “play,” Flash observed Cadence look over to Twilight, who seemed to stiffen. It was then that he realized that nopony, not even Shining Armor, had asked what had happened after Twilight’s hasty departure from the pub last night. Throughout breakfast, conversation had been pleasant; he had done his best not to eavesdrop, although his ears had been pricked for the sound of his name or anything mentioning the play. This preparation was apparently in vain.
I hope I didn’t make a mis—
“You’re quite welcome, Flash. I’m glad you had a wonderful time. But yes, Apt should be here soon if you wanted to wait for him at the gates. Shooting Star, would you like to play another round?”
The Lieutenant rose from his seat and gave her an apologetic bow. “No offense intended, Your Highness, but I am rather sore from that beating. I would rather fly to Canterlot and back then suffer such a humiliating defeat at your hooves, my Princess.”
Argon snickered. “Don’t let him flatter you, Your Highness! The Lieutenant here clearly lost on purpose!”
Cadence smirked. “Oh, is that so? Then why don’t you come over here and play me, Argon?”
Twilight pushed her plate away and stood up from the table, giggling as Argon shrank down in his seat. “We’d better get going before a civil war breaks out over this checkers game. I’ll see everypony later! C’mon, Flash!”
Way ahead of you, Twilight, Flash thought, a spring in his step as he joined Twilight’s side and followed her out of the Great Hall. A tour of the Crystal Empire, and led by Apt, no less? This should be fun!
Their departure was timely. Ten minutes later, Argon buried his forehooves in his muzzle, defeated on Cadence’s third turn. The silver stallion’s muzzle turned a rather interesting shade of red as he further processed his downfall—especially when Shooting Star began his knowing gloat.
“Want to play, Shining?” Cadence flipped a checker up and down in her forehoof. “Or should I tell the Lieutenants here what I made you do after you lost to me in Las Pegasus?”
Both pegasi stared at the Prince.
“... I think I’d rather just sleep on the couch,” Shining grumbled, stabbing his eggs with his fork.
~
Apt Drop was an insufferably happy stallion. How this realization had eluded Twilight earlier, she was not sure. Well… actually, she was sure of how that had happened, and it involved her snout and a pile of books.
Nevertheless, it was true. Apt’s resting expression was a slight smile. Even when he spoke in a somber or apologetic tone, there was an upward lilt to his voice that was almost infectious. She made a mental note to introduce him to Pinkie Pie the next time her friends joined her in the Crystal Empire; they would doubtlessly make good friends.
And maybe she would be a good marefriend for him, too, if she were Crystal...
Twilight winced even as she thought that, but it was too late. The thought slipped from her, coming from within as a sort of automatic response.
He’s nice, but… He should find a nice Crystal mare. I’m sure there are plenty around…
“Oh, and this is my favorite doughnut shop!” Apt pointed to a cheerful shop with a sprinkled doughnut (made of crystals, of course) on the roof. “Last night, the entire crew stopped by here and bought every last donut Mister Joe had!”
Mister Joe?
“Mister Joe?” Flash asked. “Um, the same stallion who owns the doughnut shop in Canterlot?”
Apt adjusted his spectacles. “Yup, that’s the one, Sir Flash Sentry! He just moved here a week ago. Everypony seems to love his shop!”
“Everypony loved it back in Canterlot, too,” Twilight said as she walked in between Apt and Flash. “Why did Joe move here? Do you know?”
Apt shrugged. “I don’t, Your Highness. I’m sorry. I suppose I could ask him—”
Twilight sighed. “No, that’s quite alright. I guess I’ll be bringing Spike to the Crystal Empire instead of Canterlot for his birthday doughnut this year.”
“Spike likes doughnuts?” Flash said.
Twilight smiled. “That’s right. He loves them! Well, sweets of all kinds, actually, but mostly doughnuts. The first time we all went to the Grand Galloping Gala, all Spike wanted to do was spend the night with us, his friends. But we were all too worried about our own things, and we... kind of abandoned him.”
While she paused, Twilight saw both stallions cringe, though they said nothing. I wasn’t exactly an expert in friendship back then, that’s for sure. “Unfortunately, though, the night didn’t go over that well, and everypony ended up at Donut Joe’s after that Tartarus of a Gala. We had more fun drinking cocoa and eating doughnuts than any of us had at the dance!”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that the night ended on a swell note, Your Highness!” Apt Drop laughed.
“At least everypony had some fun,” Flash agreed. “Although… I must ask… Why was the Gala so horrible for you and your friends?”
“... I’ll tell you later,” Twilight replied, not eager to revisit that memory in full detail for a while. She still felt rather guilty at the mention of Spike’s abandonment, and, if she were honest with herself, her neglect of her other friends in favor of Princess Celestia. Only now as a Princess herself did she realize such blind worship had been foalish and embarrassing.
Her thoughts were cut short as Apt steered them into the center of the city’s bustling marketplace. If it had been crowded yesterday, it was packed now. Vendors and merchants arranged their stands in a wide circle, leaving an epicenter of congestion as hooves brushed past each other in search of bargains. Sellers called out their wares, from holly leaves to horseshoes, as their seemingly endless flow of customers trotted on by.
Reminds me of Ponyville’s market more than Canterlot’s. This city does appear to be more diverse, and the market doesn’t have that much of a competitive feel. More… homey, I guess?
Apt looked over his shoulder as he wove through the crowd. “Would either of you like to shop the market today, Your Majesty, Sir Flash Sentry?”
Both shook their heads. “No, I didn’t bring my any money with me anyway,” Twilight said.
Apt laughed again. “Oh, Your Highness, that’s no problem! We Crystal ponies are used to tabs and the honor system, even for non-royalty, so it would be no issue at all! But as you wish. There’s something I think that might interest you more, actually…”
Tabs and the honor system? Hmm. I’ll have to do some more research on the Crystal Empire itself while we’re here, not just the Tree of Harmony, the Elements, and Starswirl. What little I do know of their history is rather fascinating, so I’m sure that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Lost in thought once more, Twilight followed Apt Drop as he led them away from the packed city center. Here, elaborate businesses gave way to less lavishly constructed homes. Shining in the steady sun, they were still more eloquent compared to a Ponyville cottage, or even a Canterlot single-story. Rarity should have had an absolute fit over this place! How she managed to focus on the Heart and the Games instead of all these gems, I don’t know.
The snow had begun melting from the ground and rooftops, though she was sure the forecast called for more. Not that she minded. Things were certainly strange here, but not all was completely lost.
Besides, the more I focus on the buildings, or the market, or the weather, the less I have to think about Cadence, succession, Apt’s “friend,” or what I so foalishly admitted to Flash before I—
Nope. Nope, nope, nope, nope! Not even gonna think that. I was just off-balance, is all! Snow on my hooves! Ice on the keratin! Hay, even with the golden horseshoes, it gets pretty sli—
“We’re here!” Apt exclaimed.
Oh, thank you, Apt, for your insufferably happy voice.
Twilight looked up from her hooves—which, unlike her horseshoes, possessed significant traction to avoid such unspeakably awkward mishaps in the future—to a rather fascinating sight.
The three stood atop the crest of a hill above what appeared to be a full-scale mining operation. Crystal Mines, read the bold letters painted on a tall facade at the base of the compound. Several shacks—to Twilight’s continued surprise, made from wood instead of crystal—sat directly behind the facade. Picnic tables, fire pits, and field kitchens were in use near the shacks. A clear path between the shacks lead to what appeared to be the main mining shaft. The shaft was supported by several sets of wooden beams as it lead down beneath the ground. Purple gemstones were embedded in its walls. Twilight recognized these as the same gemstones that were used in lieu of torches in the Crystal Palace.
Both mares and stallions milled about Crystal Mines. Some took a late breakfast outside, waiting in line at the field kitchens before returning to the picnic tables with bowls of something sweet-smelling. Others snapped collars around their necks as they hooked themselves into mining carts. Still others emerged from the mining shaft, pulling their fresh hauls of an assortment of gemstones into the shining morning.
What was perhaps the most interesting to Twilight was that there were a few ponies of other races scattered amongst the overwhelmingly Crystal pony crew. Nopony appeared to be in charge of the operation; nopony gave orders to the ones hooking themselves in the carts or looking over the hauls of those who emerged from the darkness.
Flash Sentry said what she was thinking.
“Wow.”
Stepping back, Apt grinned at his honored guests. “Impressed, are you, Sir Flash Sentry?”
“To say the least,” Flash replied with a low whistle.
Once she had regained the use of words, Twilight asked, “How long has this been in operation?”
“Since the return of the Crystal Empire, Your Highness.”
“And who is in charge?” Twilight asked.
Raising an eyebrow, Apt replied, “‘In charge’? Do you mean, who is the overseer?”
“Well… yes.” Although, when you use that word, it comes off a bit differently than I was intending.
Apt brought a hoof to his chin. “We… do not have such an individual, Your Highness.”
As delicately as she could, Twilight asked, “Well… why not?”
After a few moments, Apt stopped rubbing his chin and looked directly at her. “We have mined the crystals in the caverns below this land since the dawn of our mastery of the tundra, Your Highness,” he began, a sort of boldness in his words that took her aback, “and we have done it all as a community. There were no masters in those times, you see, Your Highness. The crystals were mined for many things: shelter, warmth, magic—”
Magic?
“—It was after… it took over our land and enslaved us that we served anypony but ourselves in the mines. It, Princess, was a greedy beast who hid our Crystal Heart, taking away our natural affinity for the crystals and replacing it with pain. Although there once was an… overseer,” Apt said , the word sounding like it tasted like poison, “who oversaw this mine, we will not shy away from such a vital source because of that past, Your Highness.
“I apologize if any of my words were disrespectful, Princess, but that is why the Crystal Mine has no masters, and never will. Anypony is free to come and mine, for the caverns’ bounty belongs to us all.”
“I… I didn’t mean to offend, or imply anything like that,” Twilight replied as she nearly squirmed in discomfort.
Apt’s expression softened as he bowed. “No offense taken. Forgive me, Your Highness. I did not mean to imply otherwise. Now then, shall I show you the operation up close…?”
Despite her lack of an answer, Apt started down the hill, the spring in his steps returning. Twilight’s ears drooped. Oh no, now I’ve offended him! Ugh! Can’t I do anything right these past few days?
From beside her came a dismissive wave of a hoof. “Don’t worry about it, Twilight. You didn’t mean any harm. It was just a question.”
“Thank you, Flash,” Twilight said with a sigh. Together, the two started after Apt, who was a good distance ahead. “I just…” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “I feel bad already for… well, his friend isn’t exactly just a friend, is he?”
Flash shook his head.
Twilight frowned. “See… I just… I don’t know what to think about this place, Flash, or these ponies.”
As Apt neared their destination, Flash slowed his pace, prompting Twilight to do so as well. After a moment, Flash replied, “Well… Maybe you don’t have to know what to think quite yet. I mean… We have a few more weeks, right? That’s enough time to… think things over.”
“Yes… I suppose you’re right.”
“And…” Flash appeared to take a breath before finishing, as if steeling himself. “If you ever want somepony to… sound off on… I would be happy to help you with that.”
Warmth flooded Twilight’s senses as she smiled up at him, full of gratitude and relief. Even after our conversation last night, you still want to talk to me about… things like that. You didn’t judge me, or run—or fly—away. Only Cadence knows about that colt… and now, you.
“I’ll take you up on that,” Twilight said with a grin. “You’re a good friend, Flash.”
As they officially crossed into Crystal Mines, Flash said, “You are too, Twilight.”
I’m so glad Celestia appointed you, Twilight wanted to add, but Apt Drop was smiling that infectious smile of his, with that eternal spring in his step. The Crystal Mines awaited.
Once they joined Apt’s side, the stallion gave a light chuckle. “Alright, Your Highness, Sir Flash Sentry, follow me. While it is somewhat dark in the mining tunnels, we have more than enough torchgems to go around inside…”
Torchgems! So those are the purple ones in the walls. I wonder how many different kinds of crystals there are? And some seem to have magical properties… how many of those are there?
Down into the mine shaft they followed Apt Drop, Flash at Twilight’s side while the other stallion led the way. As they walked, Twilight observed how the torchgems seemed to pulse every other second or so, like a flickering flame. The light faded the deeper they traveled down the tunnel, yet not enough that Twilight needed to light her horn. Interesting. I must study one of these gems up close later.
“How deep do these tunnels go?” Flash asked their guide.
“Quite deep, Sir,” Apt answered. “We are coming up to the main crossroads, as I will show you…”
They soon came to a large clearing. The tunnel opened up to a monstrous cavern. Multiple tunnels led off from the main cavern. Twilight noted a slight drop in temperature, concordant with the lowered elevation. Looking back, she realized that they had been on a slight downhill the whole time, measurable only by the tiniest of degrees in retrospect.
“This is the central hub of the operation, Your Highness,” Apt said. “From here, each of these tunnels leads off to yet another network of paths. All of the primary ones have been explored, but new ones are dug and created quite frequently, perhaps even as we speak, Princess.”
“I see.” Twilight watched as a Crystal stallion, bowing in acknowledgment to them as he passed, pulled a cart full of mining tools. “What kind of gemstones are down here?”
Apt clapped his forehooves together. “Oh, every kind, Your Highness! And it isn’t rare for a new type to be discovered every so often as well. I don’t have a number, but I would say there’s at least several hundred different varieties.”
“Are there any books about the crystal varieties in the library?” Twilight asked.
“But of course! Why, the subject of crystals and their properties is something that our ancients studied extensively before…” Waving a forehoof, Apt added with a bit of a somber tone, “Well, before you know, Your Highness. But yes, next time you stop by, I will have some books laid out for you.”
Twilight smiled. “Thank you, Apt, I appreciate it.”
With a bow of his head, Apt replied, “You’re welcome. Now, there is one last thing I would like to show both of you, if you wouldn’t mind getting your hooves dirty…”
“Not at all.” Twilight looked to the other stallion. “Flash?”
“Not at all either,” Flash said with a chuckle.
“Alright then! Princess, Sir, if you would both please follow me…”
~
Before his eyes was one of the most beautiful things Flash Sentry had ever seen. His jaw hung agape as he looked upon it, thoughts useless, eyes wide.
A mosaic of crystals of every shape, size, and color stared back at him. Crystals that he had yet to see in the streets of the Crystal Empire or within the Crystal Palace itself twinkled in the wane light of the torchgems shimmering by their hundreds throughout this portion of the cavern. All the shades of the rainbow he knew, and some he didn’t know, played out over and over again in seemingly infinite patterns, like the pi of gemstones.
“This is the Eternal Wall,” Apt explained as he trotted up to the mosaic. “The crystals here have formed this wall in the caverns for millennia. How this collage was formed, nopony knows. However, what we do know is that nopony, not even our strongest or our wisest, can free a gem from it.
“The Wall appears to seal off the deepest part of the cavern,” Apt continued as he turned back to them, “from whatever lays beyond it. What, we have never known, and never will. Legends say it perhaps protected us from… it, but I personally do not believe that to be the case, Your Highness.”
Twilight appeared as fascinated as Flash was, if not more so. Without a word, she trotted up to the Eternal Wall and laid a forehoof upon it.
Flash watched warily as she moved her forehoof up and down. “How… how does it feel?” If they are magical and impossible to remove, wouldn’t that hurt?
As if he had read his mind, Apt said to him, “Don’t worry, Sir Flash Sentry. Merely touching the gems will cause no harm. Instead, it will feel—”
“Warm.” Twilight removed her forehoof from the Wall and looked down at it, tilting her head. “But, how?” she asked Apt. “These are just crystals. Just rocks. Just minerals! Why are they warm, Apt?”
“Ah…” Apt shook his head. “Your Highness, why is a question I cannot answer. That is far beyond my knowledge. Perhaps I can find a book that says more—”
“Yes please.” Taking a step back, Twilight gazed upon the Eternal Wall. Flash could see her brow furrow as she looked the Wall over again. “I would like to know more about this formation.”
“I can help you with that, certainly.” Apt walked back behind them towards the exiting tunnel. “Ready to go whenever you are, Your Highness, Sir Flash Sentry.”
Flash waited as Twilight observed the Eternal Wall a bit more, running her forehoof over its shimmering surface once more, before she nodding at him. As soon as she was on her hooves again, following after Apt, Flash hurried after.
All throughout the tunnels, the three were silent again. While he, too, was fascinated by the Eternal Wall and the Crystal Mines, Flash couldn’t help but feel there was some kind of undercurrent to Apt’s tour, much like there had been to the play.
Either this is the most welcoming place in Equestria, and maybe on Earth itself, or there’s something else going on here… Not necessarily for me, but for Twilight. Almost… persuasive.
Their hooves met the snow as they emerged from the mouth of the mine shaft. Snow had begun to fall once more, although it did not seem to discourage the others from mining. A trio of Crystal stallions filed in, murmuring good morning to Twilight and Flash as they passed.
“Um, Apt…” Twilight fidgeted. “Is there a, uh… Um…”
“Oh! Yes, in that building.” Apt pointed to one of the shacks.
Twilight nearly galloped off, calling behind her, “Okay, thanks! Be right back!”
“We’ll be out here!” Flash called after her, trotting up to the shack and waiting outside.
Apt joined him. For a moment, both stallions were silent, until Apt leaned in closer to Flash.
“You know, Sir Flash Sentry… There is something I did not mention about the Eternal Wall.”
“... Oh?”
Apt nodded. “Every year, there is a brilliant display of light that emanates from the Wall, which casts its light all over the Crystal Empire. The Aurora borealis.”
Intrigued, Flash asked, “The Northern Lights, right?”
“Indeed, sir. And this year, the Aurora should emerge sometime next weekend. It is very lovely to watch, sir, especially from the… Crystal Mountains…”
Trailing off, Apt stepped away from Flash, smoothing out his scarf. It took him a moment, but as the librarian’s words sunk in, Flash felt himself grinning widely.
Crystal Mountains, huh?
Twilight stepped out from the shack, looking relieved. “Heh, I’m baaack… Sorry about that…”
“No problem at all, Your Highness. Let me lead you back to the Crystal Palace,” Apt said with one more bow.
At her nod, their guide started off again, leading them back in twists and turns through the marketplace towards the Palace.
On the way, Flash Sentry let Apt’s words echo in his head. Next weekend… Crystal Mountains…
Perhaps I can convince Twilight to accompany me on a second flight…