//------------------------------// // 06: Platinum and Bullion // Story: The Princess that Equestria Always Had // by rillegas08 //------------------------------// They had left Star Swirl’s workshop after eating lunch the day before. Their journey began uneventfully, traveling through plains and forests, but as they traveled farther north, nearing King Bullion’s castle, they noticed the breeze was becoming colder and stronger. Soon they started seeing layers of snow cover the ground. As night fell, Star Swirl led them toward a town of unicorns to stay the night. “It’s almost time to raise the moon, Clover,” he told her as they placed their bags on the floor of their room in the inn. “Would you like to join the group tonight?” Having read – nearly memorized, in fact – the journal that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had kept early in their reign, she knew that raising the sun and moon would deplete the ten unicorns of their power permanently. She was an alicorn, however; could her magic remain intact? “Not unless it’s a last-minute thing,” she replied. Early in her stay she’d prepared her answer for when he would ask her. She hadn’t expected him to ask this early, however. “I know the sacrifice I’d have to make, and if you want my help with the time travel spells, we shouldn’t use my power so soon.” “Hmm. Yes, you make a good point. Well, I’m off to round up some volunteers. Good night, Clover.” “Good night.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next morning, Twilight woke up as the rising sun shined in her eyes. She rubbed them, still a bit groggy. She got up, adjusted her cloak, which got wrinkled as she wore it each night, and looked out the window, seeing the unicorns disperse and Star Swirl walk back into the inn. “Sorry, wings. I thought I’d be able to let you out for a minute today before he got back.” Instead, she placed her saddlebags on. She’d only had the chance to stretch her wings once so far “It got really cold overnight,” he said as he walked through the door. “We may have to cast a spell to warm us up as we finish our journey. Have you learned any yet?” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “There it is,” said Star Swirl, pointing his hoof between the trees to clearing. Twilight could make out the faint shape of a very tall, dark castle tower against a steep mountainside. She was sure that if it hadn’t currently been snowing, it would have looked wondrous against a cloudless blue sky. “And just in time, too,” he continued. “I think the spell’s starting to wear off.” They approached the castle’s gate, which was guarded by two large unicorn stallions. “Greetings,” said one. “State your names and business.” “Greetings, sir. I am the renowned Star Swirl the Bearded, and this is my apprentice Clover the Clever. Our business is the study and implementation of magic and the natural world to create better lives for all ponies!” Twilight held back a smile. Misunderstanding what definition of “business” the guard meant is something Pinkie Pie would do. Perhaps Princess Luna was accurate when she had compared the two, at a time when Princess Celestia had gone missing for a few days. “I’m pretty sure he means our business with King Bullion and Princess Platinum.” “Oh...” Twilight turned back to the guards. “We come seeking audience with the royal family concerning the strange weather and national security.” “Very well.” The two visitors started walking again, but stopped when the realized the guards weren’t opening the gate. “Do you have a statement signed by His Highness?” “No,” hesitated Star Swirl, “but there was a messenger that should have arrived not too long before us.” “Sorry,” said the guard flatly. So far the other guard was silent, though his eyes darted between the conversation and the areas outside the castle walls, scanning for potential threats. “But I’m Star Swirl the Bearded!” “Sorry. We can’t let anypony in if they don’t have a signed statement. New policy.” “How new?” “Last week.” As they talked – or argued, if you prefer – Twilight’s eyes caught movement within the castle’s yard. Down the path, a mare dressed in an elegant white wool coat bejeweled with gems of purple and blue. She wore a matching ushanka-style hat. As she approached, Twilight saw that the mare had pale gray fur and shiny silver hair. “Not again,” muttered the mare. “Red Tape, let them in. Father and I were expecting them.” “Princess! My apologies.” The guards opened the gate and ushered Star Swirl and Twilight inside. “Welcome to Bullion Castle, Mr. Swirl and Ms. The Clever.” “I must apologize about the guards,” said the princess as she accompanied them inside the castle. “Red is particularly strict about procedure.” “It’s a nuisance,” said Star Swirl, “but I suppose in most cases it helps. You wouldn’t want any troublesome ponies or undesirable creatures to enter the castle, now would you?” Princess Platinum asked Star Swirl about his apprentice as they walked through the castle halls, which, Twilight noted, were brightly lit, the light reflecting off marble inlaid with gold and silver. Quite the contrast from the exterior’s plain gray walls. They entered the throne room, which carried the same motif as the halls with added blue and purple banners hung from the rafters. King Bullion, a stallion with a golden coat and black, graying mane, looked up from his throne and dismissed the few ponies that were with him. “Father, Star Swirl the Bearded and his apprentice Clover the Clever.” The two bowed as their names were spoken, though Twilight almost forgot to. As a princess herself, former pupil of another, and sister-in-law to a third, she’d never really gotten into the habit of bowing to royalty. She hoped no one had noticed. The king greeted them and brought them into a room behind the thrones. This room’s walls were not marble inlaid with gold and silver, but had only the bare stone walls. Its purpose clearly didn’t require it to be aesthetically pleasing. In the middle of the room sat a large table, around which up to a dozen ponies could stand and discuss important issues. Princess Platinum removed her hat and placed it on the table. Her silver mane was beautifully quaffed. There was no doubt that the gray princess prided herself on her elegance. “Thank you for coming so quickly,” the king said. “As you can tell, the strange winter has already approached the castle. An advisor has told me that if it continues spreading at its current rate, it could encompass the whole world in a matter of months.” “That is a fair estimate,” answered Star Swirl. “The signs of the winter have already reached halfway to my village south of here.” “That cannot be good,” said the king’s daughter. “Has anypony suggested any possible solutions?” asked Twilight. “A proper solution requires a source to solve,” he replied, “and unfortunately the advisors haven’t come to a conclusion. They’re still arguing about whether the pegasi are causing the winter or if it’s those Windigo creatures Star Swirl mentioned in his previous message.” “Nonsense, daddy. It must be the pegasi, if only because we don’t know how to counteract those windy things.” “Very well,” King Bullion sighed. His daughter certainly had strong convictions, and he was tired of trying to argue with her after years of unsuccessfully trying to help her become less stubborn. “Since you are so convinced it’s the pegasi, let’s come up with a way to deal with that.” “It’s not the pegasi,” mumbled Star Swirl, but only Twilight heard him. “I for one refuse to speak with them,” stated Princess Platinum. “They’re too stubborn for their own good, and they should leave. The unusual winter should then leave with them.” “Daughter, that’s rude. You are royalty, and I don’t want any successor of mine to behave so foalishly.” “Then what would you suggest, Daddy?” “That depends on your willingness to talk with them.” Platinum snorted, crossing her forelegs. “As I thought. In that case, we should prevent conflict another way. We’ll go somewhere where the pegasi don’t control the weather.” “But Daddy, this is our home! Our kingdom!” “Darling, my grandfather created this kingdom out of nothing. And what is a kingdom, but the ponies who willingly follow us? When we go, we’d do the same.” Star Swirl’s and Twilight’s gazes switched between the two royals as they talked. “This is going nowhere,” said the magician. Twilight tapped her hoof on the table. Bullion and Platinum stopped talking and turned to her. “I wish to propose a summit. The three tribes would each be represented, and there you can discuss with the other tribes how to solve this problem. The leaders of the tribes can send their advisors first to discuss a time and place.” “Please consider this option, princess,” King Bullion said before his daughter could respond to Twilight’s suggestion. “If it works, nopony needs to leave their home. Star Swirl, Clover, why don’t you two set up the ward against the cold while you wait? If I know my daughter as well as I think I do, this may take a while.” “By your leave, then, your highness,” Star Swirl said as he and Twilight bowed again before leaving the room. Star Swirl led his student to the center courtyard, where they began casting the shield spell. “So, my student, what do you think the decision will be?” “I think they’ll decide to go through with it.” Of course, she didn’t want to tell him the real reason she knew the princess would agree to it. “The princess is rather stubborn, but she seems more receptive to her father’s persuasion than anypony else’s.” “I recognized that too. All right, let’s concentrate.” They stood in silence until they finished casting the ward. Once completed, they turned to go back into the castle, and found that Platinum was standing near them. “That’s impressive,” she said in awe as she looked at the results. “How long have you been here?” “Sorry, I just got here a moment ago.” “What did you and your father decide?” asked Twilight. The gray mare sighed. “I’m still not too excited about meeting with them, but at least you’ll meet with the other advisors before then.” “Your father doesn’t have an aide he can spare?” asked the stallion. “Not right now. His usual advisor is ill, and the other advisors are working overtime until he gets well again. He decided you, Clover, should be my advisor, since Star Swirl might be too busy.” “Oh?” “Yes, with all your research and gathering unicorns to raise the sun and moon.” “Is nopony going to ask me if I’m okay with it?” asked Twilight. Interestingly, she was okay with somepony else telling her what to do, at least in the past. It indicated that she didn’t have to move the timeline along the proper path. Some things were going to happen without any effort on her part. “I mean, I am all right with it. This could be interesting, and I look forward to it. ” “Wonderful!” “Very well then. Clover and I will figure out when to meet and contact the other tribes. The shield should last for many weeks. If you no longer need us, we’ll be off. With your leave, of course, princess.”