Guess what? Crystal Ponies use explosions to control avalanches.
Skydale and I were walking when she noticed something flying out from the plains in front of the Crystal Mountains. It hit a broad slope on one of the mountains and exploded, with the fire and the smoke and the everything. We heard a rumble, and some of the snow started sliding down the mountainside in an avalanche (we weren’t in any risk, though, too far way). Skydale and I looked at each other for a second before another soared out, hit another mountain, and exploded.
After a brief discussion, we ran out to the field to see what it was. Found two Crystal Ponies (that term’s not metaphorical in the slightest) working an old moveable mobile ballista. They were cranking it back for another shot when we got there. They noticed us, but didn’t change what they were doing until they’d actually notched the bolt, aimed, and launched it, starting another avalanche.
Started talking with them. They said their names were Geode and Clarity, and they were part of the Crystal Empire Avalanche Control Group. They were making one of their seasonal runs down the mountains (or technically up, since they went all the way away from the Crystal Empire and moved back towards it), making sure that there wasn’t too much snow on the mountains that could cause an avalanche sometime. Basically, they pre-emptively caused smaller avalanches using the ballista and bolts loaded with explosives so that the snow couldn’t gather as easily. They needed to be more careful in certain places, as snow would slide more easily and be more directed (Geode called them “chutes”, then he and Clarity got in a brief argument over what a chute was; Clarity said chutes were for water only, and Geode dropped the subject when she didn’t flinch).
Skydale beat me to one question: why they used the ballista for that. Interesting story, actually. Basically, when the Crystal Empire vanished under Sombra, any weapons in the Empire did too, and now stuff like the ballista is a thousand years out of date. Blowing avalanches with it is just a way of getting rid of the surplus in a useful manner with minimal risk.
We walked with them for a little while, watching them blow a few more avalanches, then Skydale and I said bye and left them; they were moving a lot more slowly than us, and we wanted to keep up a good pace. And a good pace we kept up, because I can see the Crystal Empire much better from here than yesterday, especially the palace. Even from here, looks sparkly; very very sparkly. Skydale thinks we should get there mid-evening tomorrow, which sounds about right to me.
Can’t believe I’m almost there. Never really thought I’d make it this far, but whaddya know.
Almost to the end.I can rest more easily,Knowing I’ve traWith my memories of
With my journey’s memories,
I can rest easy.