//------------------------------// // What Lies Hidden // Story: What Hath Joined Together // by Bad_Seed_72 //------------------------------// What Lies Hidden “Twily, are you okay?” Twilight Sparkle almost fell into her lake of syrup and peninsula of pancakes. “Hmm?” She looked up at Shining Armor, the bags under her eyes a testament to what surely must have been a long night of studying indeed. Seated across from her at the table, Flash Sentry looked on in concern. Yesterday, Flash had knocked on her door at dawn to find her already awake. The dinner he had brought for her from the night before had been barely touched, though the ice cream was gone, to his amusement. Disregarding his protests, Twilight had dismissed him from any duties all of Friday, insisting that she had more studying and translating of the old book to do. Despite assuring him that she would be fine, Flash had checked on Twilight throughout Friday. He brought her both breakfast and dinner, tried to get in as much conversation as he could, and spent the rest of his free time assisting Shooting Star or in his room. Adjacent to hers, he could hear her pace, and curse, and mutter to herself. The few glimpses of Twilight he saw revealed another impressive collection of coffee mugs, scattered parchment, and more empty inkpots and broken quills than he thought possible. Now, Saturday morning, Twilight looked utterly exhausted as she cast a sleepy-eyed glance towards her concerned brother. “You look like you’re not even awake,” Shining said with a frown. “I’m just a little tired,” Twilight said with a monstrous yawn. “You spent all of yesterday in your room.” Shining set his fork down. “Is everything okay?” Twilight attempted to stab a piece of her pancake. It slipped away into the waves of syrup. Flash thought of all the maple trees that had bled to make Twilight’s breakfast possible. A valiant effort. A worthy cause. She hasn’t even eaten half of it. “Everything’s fine, Shining. I just had a lot of work to do. Translating from Old Equestrian to the modern can be time-consuming. Especially when…” “Especially when?” Shining prompted. With a sigh, Twilight let her fork fall to her plate. “Nevermind. Are you going to take me to the recruits’ training this morning or not?” Noting the curtness in her reply, Flash looked uncomfortably between the two. Though Cadence was unable to join them for breakfast this morning, the present tension was reminiscent of that first morning that she had joined them at the table. This time, Twilight was the weary looking one, and, just as Cadence had, she declared upon all obvious truth that she was fine. After a moment, Shining sighed. “If you’re sure you’re not too tired, I don’t see why not…” “Good!” Twilight threw her cloth napkin on the table and jumped down from her seat. “Ready to go, Flash?” Leaving his bowl of oats and cinnamon behind—even the most simplest of meals a delicacy here to his tongue—Flash rose from his chair as well. “Ready, Twilight.” There is definitely something on your mind again, but you won’t let me in. Maybe I should call off tonight... Less dramatic than his sister, Shining rose from the table too, though he was abrupt in doing so as well. The three of them exited the Royal Dining Hall without a word. Other than the servants milling about, not a soul crossed their path as they made their way out of the Crystal Palace and into the crisp morning air. Snow crunched under their hooves as they headed back towards the hill and training camp. Only two weeks and two days remained until Flash and Twilight would be taking the train back to Canterlot. Two months from today would be the first day of spring and the night of the Grand Galloping Gala. Time really flies when you’re having fun. According to Flash’s calculations, the recruits had only two more weeks of accelerated basic training left. The group had been tested by Shooting Star, Shining, and even himself to some degree. Though the regimen had been rough, with daily runs, combat drills, calisthenics, lectures, and lessons, the core group of potential Guards remained about the same in number. As they rounded the Palace to the hill above the camp, the three came to a halt. Flash and Shining looked down at nearly a hundred tents, the large Equestrian flag flying in the epicenter of them, the field kitchens, fire pits, and picnic tables, and a pegasus in golden armor barking orders as he walked amongst it all. In silence, Twilight stood between them and looked down the hill. Glancing over, Flash practically saw the gears whirring and turning within her mind, her eyes slightly glazed over. “Impressed?” Shining asked with a grin. “I… I’ve seen the camp before, but up close, it seems so much more… overwhelming. There’s got to be almost a hundred stallions here! Is Shooting Star really running most of this himself?” Below, the Lieutenant rounded on a trembling, saluting stallion in bronze training armor, pushing past him to examine his tent. ”You call that a clean tent, recruit?! I’ll GIVE you a clean tent!" Shining snickered. “Well, Flash and I have been helping, as you know, but it’s mostly for an extra pair of eyes. I haven’t had to discipline anypony myself. Have you, Flash?” “No, sir,” Flash said, grinning back at him. “The Lieutenant takes care of most of that, sir.” Raising an eyebrow, Twilight looked at the stallions, then back down at the camp. With a shrug, she started down the hill. Flash and Shining followed. As they reached the camp, Shooting Star announced in his booming thunder, “ATTENTION! His Majesty Prince Shining Armor and Her Highness Princess Twilight Sparkle approach!” In the blink of an eye, the recruits dropped what they were doing, turned, and bowed deeply to the group of three approaching. Shooting Star bowed, then rose and saluted. “Thank you. You all may rise!” Shining called out to them. Shooting Star was the first to rise, then the others. He shouted to the recruits, “Back to cleaning duties, maggots! Make this place shine for your Royals!” Flash held back a chuckle. The recruit with the dirty tent was scrambling to get back to work with the others, grabbing everything neatly packed and organized from within and throwing it into the snow. Clothes, horseshoes, manebrush, toothbrush, and more were tossed aside, then put back in place, item by item. Shooting Star watched with an approving smirk. Once their hooves met level ground, Shooting Star looked up from his prisoner and started towards them. “Ah, good morning, Princess Twilight, Prince Shining Armor, Sir Flash Sentry!” Bowing as he reached them, Shooting Star added, “I suppose this is the morning I show you what I have carved out of these Crystal stallions, yes, Princess?” “You are correct, Shooting Star. What do you have planned this morning?” Twilight asked, a slight scowl on her face. Flash detected a hint of annoyance in her tone, surmising it arose from the sight of more ponies bowing before her. He couldn’t blame her. Even in this moment, their return home loomed on the horizon. Shaking off those thoughts, Flash pricked his ears as Shooting Star answered her. “Well, Your Highness,” Shooting Star began, gesturing to his troops as they stood to their hooves, “in the past week, Flash and I have been drilling these sorry excuses for recruits—” he shot a glare towards the stallion with the messy tent, who pulled everything out of it again—”on the finer points of combat. While they have become sufficiently proficient with the practice staves, it is about time they showed their mettle and used something a bit… heavier.” Gesturing with a wing, Shooting Star indicated two full-sized steel spears leaned against a tent, a cloth wrapped near their choke points at the top, tying them together. “Two combat spears, borrowed from our armory here, of course, my Prince,” he said with a nod towards Shining. Shining nodded back. “You feel that they’re ready for that, Star?” “I do, Your Highness! After all, can’t keep playing foals games with wooden weapons, can we, now? But, of course, I will need a little assistance for this demonstration…” As Shooting Star’s eyes fell to him, Flash felt himself grinning wildly. Another demonstration, but one with Twilight watching this time? Oh, ho, this should be interesting indeed. Without shame, Flash let his wings flare to full length in a confident display as he trotted up to the Lieutenant. “Ready as always, sir!” he declared, his voice a barking tenor to match Shooting Star’s great bass. “That’s the spirit!” Shooting Star whooped, smacking Flash on the shoulder. He then turned towards his recruits. “Attention! Stop what you’re doing and PAY ATTENTION!” Once the recruits halted their morning cleaning duties and formed an organized group near the Lieutenant, Shooting Star said, “This morning, Sir Flash Sentry, you will not be facing me this time, but rather, one of our recruits. Choose your opponent.” Standing tall, Flash glanced over his shoulder. While Shining simply nodded, Twilight was watching in what seemed nothing short of fascination. Though her mane remained noticeably unkempt, her tired eyes were now wide, attentive, and fixed on him… … And his wings. While he would have blushed like the foal he was and joined the gradually melting snow on the ground only a week or so prior, instead Flash felt emboldened in this moment, knowing that she was watching. Turning back around, Flash scanned the crowd of recruits—all as stoic as could be, or, at least, attempting to do so—until he found what he was looking for. “You!” Flash yelled, pointing a hoof at a tall, lithe maroon Crystal stallion near the rear of the group. “Come here!” The group parted to reveal the chosen opponent, who took a moment to blink and salute in response. “S-sir, yes, s-sir!” he shouted back, hurrying past his brethren to meet the waiting Knight. Flash pawed a hoof at the snow as the stallion, taller and heavier than he, joined him. Shooting Star barked another laugh, shaking his head. “Well, somepony’s feeling ambitious this morning!” “I always enjoy a challenge, sir,” Flash replied, narrowing his eyes as he met the recruit’s gaze. The stallion shirked a bit in response. Shooting Star introduced the opposing recruit to Shining, Twilight, and Flash. “Amethyst here may not be the boldest of the bunch, but what he’s lacking in confidence, he makes up for in finesse! Should be a good fight indeed!” Shining looked between Flash and Amethyst. “So it should be.” While Shooting Star flew over to grab the spears, Flash stood to full height and retracted his wings. “Shall I explain the rules, Lieutenant? For Tw—the Princess’s sake?” Above him, Twilight opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. As he returned with the weapons, Shooting Star passed them to Amethyst and Flash. “Hah! But of course! One step ahead of me already, are you, Flash?” “I try my best, sir.” Taking hold of the spear in both forehooves, relishing the sensation of cold steel beneath his fur and keratin, Flash declared, “Ten paces between combatants! First one to get a direct hit to the chest wins! No dirty hits or head bashes! No use of hooves, flight, or magic! Just the spear, sir!” Another booming laugh. “Very good, Sir Flash Sentry, but today, there will be one amendment to the procedure.” Oh? Flash tightened his grip on his weapon and looked up at Amethyst. While the other stallion clung to his spear as if it were a lifeline, his nervous demeanor had shifted. Now Amethyst wore the tiniest of grins. What? Flash watched as the Lieutenant ducked into one of the tents. A change in the procedure? But this has been the combat drill every recruit has been trained on since the beginning of the Royal Guard! First wooden staves, then the steel spear, no wings or magic either way. Why change it? Shooting Star returned from the tent with his forehooves clasped together. Looking over at Shining Armor and Twilight, he said, “What I’m about to show you, Your Highnesses, is something we have just recently discovered. Not even Sir Flash Sentry has seen this before. I hope you are pleased.” If Twilight had been watching intently before, she was completely hypnotized now. As Flash looked back at her, he swore she was drilling into his eyes with her own. Flash looked back just in time to see Shooting Star part his forehooves. Between them was a small, white crystal in a shape similar to that of quartzite. The crystal hung on a single, thin, silver chain. With one quick motion, Shooting Star draped the crystal necklace over Amethyst's neck. The crystal settled against the stallion’s chest. Flash leaned forward, ears pricked. I haven’t seen a crystal like that before, but if I know these ponies at all, there must be something it can do. A moment passed, and then another, while Shooting Star resumed his position and stood beside the two stallions. Nothing happened. Other than reflecting the mild sunlight, the crystal hanging from Amethyst’s neck seemed useless. Only ten paces away from his opponent, Flash would have been able to feel some heat or see a glow coming from the object. He observed neither. Whatever it was, the crystal was no torchgem or glowstone. “Lieutenant?” Twilight asked, “What is that crystal for?” With a smirk, the Lieutenant replied, “You shall see, my Princess.” Behind Amethyst, the sea of Crystal stallions exchanged glances, smiles, and chuckles. Flash swallowed. I guess we’ll both see. Without wasting another moment, Shooting Star began the count. “On my count of three, you shall begin. One… “Two…” “Three!” On three, Flash switched his grip on the spear from horizontal to vertical and raised it high. He brought the spear down as quick as he could, hoping to get an easy strike to Amethyst’s chestplate. On the other hoof, though, Flash wanted to make this last. Amethyst brought his spear up to meet Flash’s in the nick of time. The larger stallion stepped to the side, then took his own swing. Flash, the smaller, with speed on his side, dodged the blow with a quick jump. Once on his hindhooves, Flash thrust the spear forward. Amethyst leaned back at the last second. Flash made another strike, only to meet steel with steel. Grunting, Amethyst dug his hooves in and pushed against Flash. The spears held fast against one another, both stallions pushing their hooves into the snow as they kept the hold. As Amethyst began to relent, losing ground in the battle of locked steel, Flash drew back. Instead of striking, he readied the spear in his forehooves for a horizontal parry. Maybe if I let him strike first, I can see what that crystal does. Amethyst utilized his few seconds of rest, taking a breath as he circled Flash. The stallion’s eyebrows knit together as he seemed to plan his next attack. Flash stood patiently, strafing to the left and to the right as he needed. Light on the hindhooves. Make it a dance. Wait until he’s rested, and then— Charging forward, Amethyst raised his spear in his forehooves. Flash countered with another parry, the boom of steel meeting steel echoing through the silent camp. The other recruits, Shooting Star, Shining Armor, and Twilight watched with nary a breath between them. The only sound that filled Flash’s ears was the rush of his own blood as his adrenaline peaked, Amethyst’s heavy breathing, and the echo of metal clashing as the taller stallion chanced another blow. Flash parried again. This time, he pushed back as hard as he could. Amethyst stumbled on his hindhooves and fell backwards. He cried out as his grip loosened on his spear. The weapon clanged against his own flankguards as his back met the Earth. Too easy. Growing tired of playing it slow, Flash rushed up and raised his spear high. Meeting his opponent’s eyes, he brought the spear down into a thrust, aiming straight for his chestplate. In one second, Flash Sentry met Amethyst’s eyes, and brought his spear down. Tip first. The crystal glowed as the spear began its descent. In a flash of white light, the crystal’s glow engulfed Amethyst’s spear. And brought it up to meet Flash’s. With the clang of metal meeting, Flash’s imminent victory was cast aside. A garbled noise between a gasp and a groan escaped his lips. He looked down in amazement. Amethyst, lacking a horn on his head, was using magic. Behind him, Flash heard Twilight gasp deep enough to fill her lungs. Beside her, Shining muttered a curse of amazement. Amethyst’s fearful expression shifted immediately to one of triumph. The Crystal stallion held his spear up against Flash’s while his hooves scrambled on the ground. Before Amethyst could get up, Flash retreated. Getting back into a fighting stance, he shouted to Shooting Star, “You said no magic, Lieutenant, sir!” “And he is not using magic, Sir Flash Sentry!” Shooting Star shot back, his grin wide enough to eat all of the recruits several times over. As Amethyst rose to all four hooves, his spear levitating in front of him in the crystal’s white aura, Flash countered, “What do you call that, then, sir?!” “Whatever it is, it isn’t unicorn magic!” Shooting Star laughed. “Do you see a horn on his head? No? Carry on, Flash Sentry! Show these maggots how to counter somepony with an aura! No wings!” Gritting his teeth, Flash circled Amethyst this time, his eyes glued to the enchanted spear. No wings against magic, huh? If I could get to Orion, I can get to you! Amethyst spoke up at last. “’Just like Earth ponies,’ you all say. Can an Earth pony do—this?!” The spear lunged towards Flash. Resisting his wings, Flash strafed to the left, clearing it. The spear lunged again. Flash strafed right. And again. And again. And again. Flash cursed, spitting on the ground. While he had been toying with Amethyst earlier, now he was the foal’s plaything. Though he questioned how the crystal’s power was not considered magic, now was not the time for argument. Nor was it the time to analyze the venom that entered Amethyst’s voice at the mention of Earth ponies. No, now was the time to show these recruits why he had the blue saddle blanket, once dirtied with Princess Twilight’s blood, on his back. With a snort, Flash dodged another strike and positioned himself. Next strike, you’ll be regretting that little smirk. Right— —Now! Holding the end of his spear in both forehooves, Flash swung at the oncoming weapon as hard as he could. Though still in the white aura, the spear was pushed to the side. Before Amethyst could aim again, Flash kicked off his hindhooves and leapt. Spear pointed straight. There was a reason his father named him Flash Sentry. The boom of steel spearhead meeting bronze chestplate was painful and satisfying in the same breath. Flash’s golden horseshoes crashed against Amethyst as he tackled the towering stallion, pushing him down into the snow with a vengeance. Silence. Then, booming applause, hooves stomping against ground intermixed with the hollers and jeers of the future Crystal Royal Guards. From the corner of his eye, Flash Sentry saw Twilight Sparkle struggling to contain her wings… and Shining Armor struggling to close his jaw. Breathing deep, Flash stepped off the recruit, threw his own spear aside, and offered him a hoof up. “Good show there, Amethyst… Wow…” Amethyst groaned, then closed his eyes. The crystal dimmed. His spear fell to the ground. When he opened his eyes, he offered his victor a nod and a smile, then accepted his forehoof. As Flash pulled Amethyst to his hooves, Shooting Star smacked him on the shoulder with a hearty chuckle. “Oh, ho, ho! That one threw you for a loop, didn’t it, Flash? But you got it in on him, nonetheless! Goes to show what five years of wielding steel will get you!” “Heh, yes, sir,” Flash said, brushing snow from his armor and fur as he stood up. Amethyst did the same. “I never expect that, with the crystal… Amethyst, were you consciously controlling that?” Amethyst bowed and nodded. “Yes, Sir Flash Sentry. I know that Lieutenant Shooting Star wanted me to show you this ability, but I wanted to see if I could battle without it fir—” The crystal broke from his neck in a purple flash. Twilight emerged between the three stallions, issuing a barrage of questions in her wake. “What type of crystal is this? Where did you get it? From the Crystal Mines? What is it called? How do you know that it can levitate objects? How did you make it levitate the spear? Does it get warm? Did you feel any difference when it lev—” “Princess! With all due r-respect, Your H-Highness,” Amethyst said, bowing quickly, “m-may I have my algem back?” Algem? “Algem?” Twilight was only spurred on by this revelation. “As in, ‘alchemy gem’? Is that its name? How long have you known about the algems? Where in the Mines do you find them? How did you discover this property? Is it di—” “Your Highness, my Princess,” Shooting Star cut in, offering her a gentle smile, “please, I am certain that Amethyst does not have the answers to all of your questions.” Amethyst nodded. “Yes, sir! … Wait…” “But,” Shooting Star continued, holding out his forehoof for the algem, “I can answer some of them. Yes, the algems are from the Crystal Mines. They appear to be white quartzite crystals. From what the recruits have told me, they feel a slight warmth, though it is not comparable to a glowstone. They merely concentrate, and the crystal taps into their inherent magic to create a mental connection and cast the aura. “As for the other questions… I think the Empire’s library may have more answers for you, Your Highness. This algem is Amethyst’s, but I can give you a spare one to study, if that pleases Your Highness.” Flash watched as Twilight raised a forehoof to object, looked at the algem in her aura, lowered her forehoof, then passed the crystal to Shooting Star. “My apologies, Lieutenant Shooting Star. This is just… So unbelievably fascinating to me. And it ties in with some of the things I’ve—never mind. But yes, if you could please give me a spare, I would be very happy to study it.” “But of course, Princess.” With a nod, Shooting Star gave the algem back to Amethyst—who accepted it with a wary look towards his commanding officer—and then headed into a spare tent Flash recognized as a supply tent. Shooting Star returned a moment later with another white quartzite crystal on a silver chain, which Twilight accepted in her magic and strung around her own neck. “Now, my Prince, what did you think of that?” Shooting Star smiled at Shining. “Certainly gives this group a bit more combat advantage than you expected, sir?” Shining rubbed his chin. “It’s certainly unconventional, and very unexpected. Which means…” Removing his forehoof, he grinned back at his Lieutenant. “It’s exactly what I was looking for. Thank you, Shooting Star. Excellent work!” The Lieutenant bowed. “I am pleased you think so, Your Highness.” Twilight stopped fiddling with the crystal for a moment, eying Shining. “What were you looking for, Shining?” Without missing a beat, Shining cast a hoof over the group of recruits. “We are small in numbers up here in the north, Twilight. Anything that could give us a strategical advantage over potential enemies is something I welcome.” Flash winced as Twilight appeared to grind her teeth in response. Seemingly oblivious to this, Shining Armor patted Shooting Star on the shoulder and praised him once more. “Is there anything else you have for Twilight and I, Lieutenant, or will you be needing Flash for the rest of the morning?” As Shooting Star turned to his recruits, they stood ramrod straight. “While it would be highly entertaining to see if anypony can best Amethyst’s record against Flash—and it is a good record, Amethyst—you can stop looking at me like that, maggot!—I think I have it from here, sir. I’ll set these stallions against each other and see who can’t keep up. Only two more weeks until we graduate these foals from bronze to gold, sir!” “Very good. If you need anything from us, Shooting Star, let me know. Cadence should be coming home soon if you need anything from her as well.” Shining turned to Flash and Twilight. “Let’s head back in before the snow comes again, shall we?” With a quick salute to Shooting Star, Flash hurried after Shining Armor, who left another round of bowing recruits behind him. Twilight appeared more reluctant to follow her brother’s hoofsteps through the snow, although she did thank Shooting Star profusely before leaving. All the way back up to the gates, Flash thought over Amethyst’s words. ”’Just like Earth ponies,’ you all say.” Perhaps there is more to this potential rebellion than love. When did the Crystal Empire become a part of Equestria, anyway? The history books don’t say a specific time… It is just mentioned as a part of Equestria, no more significant than any other city within our borders. Looking up at the skies beyond the Crystal Mountains, Flash thought, If there’s anything I will take with me from here, it’s that the Crystal Empire is not like any other part of Equestria. … And I’m glad it isn’t.