Seeing Crystal ponies was a beautiful experience for Shining Armor but Ben didn't seem to give much of a fuck.
"Do you know that we were sent to Crystal Empire without a map?"-Shining Armor said to Ben as soon as they got off the train.
Ben doesn't say anything just looks at Shining Armor with confusion.
"Don't worry thought the Empire's constructing strategy is simple, whatever road you follow from the ends of it if you are moving straight you will end up at the castle"-Shining Armor smiled after saying that.
*smirk* "Clever in times of peace but a weakness in times of war, to make up for it they will have to build up a wall if they didn't have a princess.Lucky bastards...when you compare them with Mainhatten of course, nor Princess nor wall just buildings filled up with people that will have to take the impact, what are they thinking? live shields?"-Ben said with frustration.
"Stay Sharp Crystal guards 3 o'clock heading towards us"- Shining Armor said without getting the chance to comment Ben's opinion.
Ben turned his head to look at his right just to see two guards approaching and saluting after they where facing him and Shining Armor just so they would salute back a moment later.One seemed to be a private first class accompanied by a private, both of them earth ponies.
"Good to see you arrived safe and sound Staff Sargent"-said the SFC/first class private.
"Well it wasn't much of a trip, hope you guys got something more interesting for us?"-Shining Armor asked smiling at the low ranks of the Empire's militia.
"Sure thing sir, if it's necessary we will escort you till the castle's doors"-The SFC without any particular emotion.
"I know the way till the castle my comrade but I also know it would take a lot of time for us to arrive there by foot"-Shining Armor explained to the SFC.
"We took care of that sir, we can open a portal on your command that will transport you both to our headquarters when you will be meeting one of our temporarily HC transferred from Canterlot. Me and my partner are in duty here, the portal it'self has the potential for only two going through it anyway sir"-The SFC informed Shining Armor.
"Well then you may open the portal, here ain't much to do anyways"-Shining Armor said satisfied with the situation.
"Yes sir."-the SFC said before grabbing something behind his back and dropping it on the ground, just so a moment latter to emit some light and turning into a portal.Crystal rune*
"Well then keep up the good work here mates, Ben lets move out."-Shining commanded before he himself went through the portal after Ben nodded and the two crystal guards saluted.
A moment later Shining Armor didn't quite know where he was but he knew he was at the headquarters, anyways it didn't take long for Ben to get appear from the portal and the portal itself vanished behind them.
"Should have take this kind of rote from Canterlot sir"-Ben joked he knew that it was not possible because the greater the distance the greater magic required and there was no unicorn who could charge a crystal like that even if a crystal could store as much magic.
Ben is seeming to talk only in the moments that Shining Armor could not reply cause as soon as he wanted to say something he was interrupted by the sound of doors opening in the front end of the hallway they where standing. 2 Crystal guards appeared and one Royal guard leading them. It was a members of the HC it was a SGM/Sargent Mayor, an old Pegasus stallion.
They got near and saluted just so Shining Armor and Ben would salute back.
"So you where the ones chosen by the rest of the HC even with me being against it?"-the SGM talked first and it looks that it didn't like them very much to begin with.It did not give Shining Armor a chance to respond however before speaking again.
" Anyway not much can be done now, make us proud. The princess is waiting to meet both of you, I do hope you both are hungry. Follow me."-The SGM ordered before turning around and walking towards the double doors on the other end of the hallway now followed by 4 guards in total.
They both entered what appeared to be the royal dinning area and it was beautiful with all the decorations with a big table and as much chairs that it looked like all the castle's staff could eat on it. in the end of it sat princess Cadence. Shining Armor did not notice at first but...
"I will have a quick word with the majesty after that you will be left alone, stay here for not"-The SGM commanded the 4 guards before turning and heading toward the princess and started to talk with the princess is a distance that they could not be heard.
The moment that Shining Armor saw the princess he was stunned by the beauty she possessed quite literally. Ben after a while seemed to notice this and hit him with his fist in an part of the shoulder that was not armored so it wouldn't make a loud noise and brought Shining Armor back in his senses. Shining knew about the time Cadence and her sister shared together but he never saw her because the same year she babysitted her was the time Shinning started his royal guard career.He calculated it...it happened 8 years ago when Twilight was just 10 years old with him being 18 years old and they got Cadance to replace him cause the parents where always busy. Shining Armor kind of thanked Ben with a nod and took his composure.The other two crystal guards did not notice anything and now the SGM was heading towards them.
"Well I do hope you enjoy the food and your time with the princess...apparently your highness what to know her personal guards a little more personally against me being against it...again. Farewell my comrades"-was all the SGM said before salute and signing with his hend for the two crystal guards to follow him just so a moment later Shining Armor and Ben would salute.
The moment the doors where closed Shining Armor and Ben got closer to her majesty just to receive a giggle from her and...
"Take a seat my little ponies I do hope you enjoy your food"-Cadance said waving her hand at the plated filled with food, head to head with one another.
Both Shining Armor and Ben nodded silently and took a seat removing their helmets off their heads in the process..putting them on the table.
"Ben remove the uni-flag"-Shining Armor said after a while and than thought of reminding Ben that in such occasion you should remove the uni-flag and show his real coat color because in the royal guards there where two standards only White and Gray that he thought Ben was using.
The uni-flag is a passive spell that every guard is casted on when they firstly enter the royal guard so if anyone has a different coat color he would appear white or gray as anyone else, it can be removed by earth-ponies and Pegasuses if the helmet is taken off or if you are a unicorn you get tough to cast and uncast it at anytime...Yes Ben's a unicorn are you happy to find out?
"My real coat's color is gray sir"-Ben explained the fact that he didn't even have uni-flag, leaving Shining Armor dumbfounded.
Cadence laughed. "No need for formalities here my little ponies after all I summoned you here so I get to know you two better"-Cadence more came to the rescue of Shining Armor than anything else.
An awkward silence filled the room before Cadence decided to break it.
"Ben huh I never heard such a name before"-Cadence said with a smile on her face. Ben seemed to tense up a bit.
"My apologies your majesty his real name is Blessed Earning Night that is just the name I call him for short."-Shining Armor interfered trying to fix his own mistake.
"No problem my dear I also like that name,I think I am going to get used to it"-Cadence said looking at Ben just causing him to get more nervous.
An awkward silence filled the room again much shorter this time, Ben garbed a glass of water to drink when the silence broke.
"So Ben nice to see you again"-Cadence said now totally grinning at Ben.