“So, what are we doing again?” Pinkie asks as she looks back from staring outside the window of the Friendship Express. Christian rolls his eyes at Pinkie’s forgetfulness as he lounges next to her. He glances at Twilight sitting in the row next to him, silently telling her to remind their pink friend where they were going. Twilight looks back at him and smiles, acknowledging his mood.
“Well Pinkie; Princess Celestia told us to deliver The Alicorn Amulet to Princess Candance and my brother in order to keep it separate from the other Elements of Conflict. That’s why we are all going to the Crystal Kingdom.” She explains. Pinkie blinks a few times before nodding, understanding their job. Dash meanwhile, continues to eye Twilight’s saddlebag with unease.
“I still don’t know why we have to do this.” She complains aloud. “Why can’t Nova and Frostbite take care of this? It is one of their elements after all!” Christian rolls his eyes again at Dash's suggestion.
“Smart idea, Dash. Let’s let Paradox and Trixie know we have found two other Elements of Conflict; because THAT won’t put targets on all of us!” Christian says, sarcastically. Dash glares at Christian in response.
“Well anyways,” Applejack butts in to cut the tension. “It sure is nice ta go back ta the Crystal Kingdom.”
“Indeed, Applejack. Seeing Princess Candance and Shining Armor again is a nice little vacation from what we have been dealing with these past few months.” Rarity comments.
“No kidding!” Twilight exclaims. "Between Chrysalis's two attempts to take over Equestria and the recent moon incident. It's nice to not be pursued by some villain. Plus, I can’t wait to see my brother again!”
“Yea, and him and I will be on way better terms than last we met.” Christian points out, remembering Trixie’s little coup and his hypnosis. “Anyway, Twitty; I’ve never actually seen this Alicorn Amulet.” He says, pointing to her saddlebag. “Mind if I take a look at it?” Twilight looks around nervously. Truth be told, she and her friends were the only ones in the train car. The odds of some other pony, or Paradox and Trixie for that matter, seeing them were astronomically small. Still, having such a powerful artifact out the open; the thought was stressing her out.
“Well… Okay, fine. But let’s be quick about it. We don’t want anypony else to-”
“Relax! We’ll be fine!” Christian cuts her off. “I just want to take a look is all.” Twilight sighs in defeat and, using her magic, opens her saddlebag. Focusing on the contents inside, Twilight levitates a silver chest. The group around Twilight surround her as the chest is placed onto the table. With a forehoof, Twilight opens the chest up to reveal the malicious beauty of The Alicorn Amulet. Christian nods, impressed at the design of the necklace. “So, that’s the Element of Structure, huh? Looks pretty snazzy. Especially those sick glowing red eyes.” This last comment strikes Twilight as odd. Looking at the amulet, its eyes appeared to indeed glow slightly red, as did its diamond. Yet Twilight simply shrugs off the detail, perhaps she just never noticed it.
“Yea, that thing packs a punch!” Dash continues the topic. “You should have seen Trixie when she had it!” She points out somewhat sourly, followed up by some muttering under her breath. “Stupid unicorn.”
“And to think that’s only a fraction of its power!” Twilight says as they continue to stare at the amulet. “Imagine what the actual holder can do!”
“But what if… Um… They are bad like Trixie?” Fluttershy asks. Christian shrugs.
“Don’t bet on it, Fluttershy. Supernova and Frostbite turned out to be good. I’m sure this next elemental user will be the same.” Twilight and the others nod in agreement as she puts the amulet away. Everyone returns to their seats, and Christian starts looking out the window. “You know, this is my first time on a train. Surprised that it has been so smooth.”
“Enjoy it while you can, Christian. We’ll be at the kingdom shortly.” Twilight points out the window to the castle in the distance. Christian sighs.
“Oh, goody.”
The group steps off the train and out into the sun as they enter The Crystal Kingdom. To the girls, the looks, sounds, and ponies are all fairly familiar. But to Christian, this place was brand new. He is amazed at the difference that this kingdom has to Ponyville and Canterlot. The buildings, the ponies, it’s like he is visiting Equestria for the first time again. Minus Chrysalis and saving the world, of course. The group walks forward towards the kingdom.
“You seem shocked, Christian.” Twilight notices from his astonished facial expression.
“You bet, Twitty. This place is drastically different from Ponyville.” He answers.
“Well, we best get movin’” Applejack announces as she steps in front of the group; turning around to face them. “We need ta get that amulet ta the-”
“‘Scuse me, ma’am?” A voice calls out to Applejack The voice oddly enough sounds a bit southern, but with a city-like accent on it. Nevertheless, she turns around to be face to face with an armored gray unicorn in usual royal guard attire, except with a pair of silver wings on each side of his body added onto the armor itself. Under his silver helmet Applejack, could see a black red mohawk that seemed to fit comfortably underneath said helmet. As for a cutie mark though; nearly half of it is covered by his plating, it looks like two iron horseshoes. Applejack looks at the pony confused.
“Yes?” She asks. “Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for a Miss Twilight Sparkle and friends. Princess Candance and Shining Armor request that I am to escort them to the castle at once. Do you know where I could find them? Their train should have just arrived.” Twilight quickly runs up in front of Applejack.
“I am Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight introduces herself. “Nice to meet you… Uh…” The guard laughs a bit, he forgot to introduce himself.
“Oh, apologies. I am Buckshot; captain of the royal guard here in the Crystal Kingdom.” The group smiles at the guard’s introduction.
“Well, it is nice to meet you, Buckshot.” She presents a forehoof to her friends. “This is Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Christian…”
“And ah’m Applejack.” Applejack blurts out suddenly, with what appears to be a slight blush on her face. Buckshot smiles at her.
“Pleasure to meet you, Applejack.” He says, happily. He then looks at Christian curiously, as if he is trying to remember something. “Wait, are you Christian, as in the ambassador, Christian?” He asks. Christian quickly nods.
“That’s me.” He says while pointing to himself. Buckshot’s eyes grow wide.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Your Excellency.” Christian nods again.
“It’s nice to meet another unicorn guard as well.” Christian points out. This makes Buckshot real in shock for a second. The group in front of him are startled for a second at his reaction. Christian especially, fearing that he insulted him somehow. Buckshot’s facial expression switches to that of confusion.
“Uhh, unicorn?” He asks before looking at his sides. He laughs for a second. “Oh! Heh, sorry about that…” The wings on the side of his armor suddenly spring to life and spread towards the group. Everyone’s jaws drop as a collective gasp fills the air.
“Wait, WHAT?!” They shout in astonishment.
“Yea, my wings do camouflage quite well with my armor. I get that reaction a lot when ponies realize i’m a-”
“You’re an alicorn?!” Christian cuts him off. Buckshot smiles and gives a nervous nod. “Should, uh, should we be bowing or something?”
“No! Not at all! I’m not royalty whatsoever!” Buckshot quickly shuts down the idea, ending his sentence with a nervous laugh.
“Wait, how is that possible?” Christian ponders aloud. “I thought alicorns had to be royalty or ponies have to ‘earn their wings’ or something like that.” He states.
“Well, actually Christian;” Twilight goes to explain. “While most alicorns are royalty. There is a very rare chance if a unicorn and pegasus… well, ahem,” She coughs at the touchy subject matter before continuing. “‘Get together’; they can produce an alicorn as an offspring.” She looks at Buckshot. “I assume that’s your case, Buckshot?”
“Yes, ma’am!” He answers, proudly. “My ma is a unicorn, father is a pegusus. And by some miracle, well, they had me!” He spreads his wings once more. “Heh, I was quite a surprise whenever my family traveled around Equestria. Lot of ponies thought the same thing you all did wherever we went. My parents always had to explain the facts. However, it was nice to be the talk of the town.”
“You traveled all over Equestria?” Twilight asks. Buckshot nods in response.
“My parents’ jobs caused my family to be constantly moving; never staying in one town too long. Even before I was born, they were on the move.” He thinks back to his past and chuckles at the memories. “Heh, the first town I can remember actually living in was a little place called Appleloosa. Closest town my parents could find when they had me. We stayed there for a few years before my parents and I had to move again.” This fact made Applejack’s eyes widen and her ears perk up.
“You know, Buck; I actually have some family in Appleloosa.” She announces, cheerfully. “You wouldn’t happin’ ta remember if you met any, would ya?” Buckshot puts a hoof on his chin as he tries to think back to the past. After a few seconds and a quiet ‘Hmm…’ as he ponders the thought, he shrugs.
“I can’t remember if I met any pony like you. But I betcha your family is as nice and sweet as you, Applejack. Though I doubt as cute.” He winks as he says the flirt, causing Applejack’s cheeks to again glow as red as apples. Buckshot gives the mare a genuine smile before looking toward the others. “Now enough talking, I need to get y’all over to Princess Candance and Shining Armor.” He takes a few steps forward before looking back. “Follow me, please.” The group start to follow Buckshot through the Crystal Kingdom and towards the castle in the distance. As they walk, Christian nudges Applejack in the side.
“This Buckshot really has a thing for you, AJ.” He says with a smirk. Applejack glances over at the alicorn in front, who is currently talking to Twilight.
“He sure is somethin’.” She responds with a smile. “But ah don’t know if ah want ta be with an alicorn.”
“Well, it is a rare opportunity. You should think about it. Plus, you two seem like you would make a cute couple.” Christian comments before catching up with the others. Applejack stops for a second and thinks about what Christian said, looking at Buckshot almost heavenly at the question before quickly shaking her head at the feeling.
“Hey Applejack!” Shouts Rainbow Dash from a distance. “Quit daydreaming and catch up!” Applejack quickly takes off after her friends as they head to the castle, with Buckshot as a thought in the back of her head.