From Canterlot
“Twilight,” Celestia said from her throne. The swan-like pegasus-unicorn looked down at her favorite warrior. “Yon filly of strong stomach, strong ties, and strong language. As the fair lady would present, things have been bleak. Your thegnhood is much to strain this day should you refuse.” The white lord looked upon her beloved warrior. She stepped down from the throne, going to walk beside the purple unicorn. “Ditto for my sister, twice for my niece. They have gone far and farther; bring them back in heart, at least.” She looked out of the window, to the chilly Canterlot scenery beyond her finely decorated feasting hall. “A speck of trouble from tattered wings and the fleshy crown, and the unshaped earthen vessels.
“There’s a group thou could gather, to steal away in the night on my command. The thegns would be rentally yours, loyal in turn.” She watched as Twilight weighed the risks. It was not often that anyone left Canterlot. It was warmer and comfortable; unless there was a battle or treasure to be found, there was not a single pony who willingly went into the cold where monsters and death awaited them. “As I may do later, should the lady grant you success, there is land in the valley below I could take with you and make yours. Cyning Sparkle has a fine tune to it.” Celestia lifted a cup of sweet, dark wine. Ruffling her feathers, she drank. “Pledge again to me, loyalest thegn?”
Twilight stepped forward. Despite the scars, she was quite pretty. She kept her hair sensible but elegant. She had the appearance of a youth and as such was popular with the young colts. “As I have always pledged, Cyning Celestia.”
“Excellent,” Celestia muttered, passing the cup to Twilight for the warrior to drink deeply from. “Go fetch thine party, beloved.”
Twilight merely bent her neck over as a fine eagle might swoop it down to eat quarry. With that, she walked out to the lower parts of the hall, seeking a proper party.
The hall was dimly lit with candle light. There were pelts and caches of gold littering the floor. They all belonged to Celestia--as did the hall--but the portion in the warrior’s quarters were for the resting party to split among themselves while they served the king.
She flitted her eyes as she walked in measured paces. Mentally, she checked warrior after warrior off the potential team. Not that one, too young and reckless. Hardly that, she grew weak at the thought of the unknown. How did this one claim the title of “thegn”, anyway?
Her eyes settled upon a figure of grace and lean muscle, pampered and surrounded by young, foolish colts. She grinned. Yes, an old friend and ally. “Rarity,” she spoke as she approached the white unicorn upon the dragon hide pelt.
The white unicorn brought her head up from the forelegs of the colt she had been lounging upon. She raised a hoof, signaling the youthful stallion to stop his musical ministrations. “Twilight,” the diamond mage returned. “You seek assistance for which worthy pursuit?”
“To war, Rarity.” Twilight grinned as Rarity’s attention was fully caught. War meant spoils and Twilight had inkling to believe that Rarity was perhaps part dragon. “Or, to peace. Separate matters perhaps, but this shall not be pretty. We go beyond the beyond, into blinding snow, and into the sky and clear tribes.”
“The clear tribes?” Rarity asked, thinking greedily over the beauty of the supposed Crystal Hall. She grinned, getting up. “Give me leave to give forewarning to my tender Belle and to gather up tool.” She was already making hasty, but dignified strides toward her personal quarters, where her little sister slept and played. “Soon, battle-sister.”
Twilight nodded. She looked around the hall. He was not here, not that he ever was. She snorted and left the hall, bitter at having to traverse the blistery chilled fields of Canterlot in pursuit of the robed fiend.
“Sombra!” she shouted up to the brute upon the hill overlooking the cliff at the edge of Canterlot.
He looked down, fanged frown never once changing. His disconcerting, glowing eyes wavered over her form for a moment before he stared back north. He was always concerned with the things there. He and Rarity were definitely dragon-kin, Twilight thought.
“There’s game afoot!” she baited.
That was all the news it took. Without ever changing his expression, save for perhaps momentary surprise, he forced the snow black as his blood--she had seen him bleed, once--and into an icy slide. He had no enthusiasm or mirth going down, merely trotting to a stop before her.
“When?” he asked in a voice like oil poured over flames.
Twilight merely grinned. “Tonight.”
He nodded, then melted into the earth. She didn’t know what he was preparing, but it was probably fairly important.
Sunset was coming. While, for any other tribe of ponies, leaving at night would be a huge disadvantage, unicorns fed off light energy. Moon and sun alike could fuel their needs. Besides, it would be easier to travel without going snowblind like this.
“Prepped?” Twilight asked.
Rarity nodded.
Sombra stood still, no movement, no acknowledgement, barely breathing.
Satisfied, Twilight took off, running as fast as safe down the mountain side. Rarity went slightly slower, cantering rather than galloping, while Sombra seemed to almost lope. The trio were all clothed with cloaks bearing Celestia’s insignia.
“Mayhaps lonely sans the second?” asked a masculine voice.
Celestia’s lips curled. Before, he had been ashamed, claiming he could not be with her for Twinkleshine had come to court him, had “loved” him. Celestia was king. She was almighty and the richest, could care for Shining Armor and his sister better than anyone. “You came,” she said simply.
He walked into the room, naked and eyes searching hers for meaning to this reckless affair. Of course, Twinkleshine would back down when the news arrived. She was horrendously outranked in this matter. “I have no refusal.”
Celestia’s neck dipped down, swan grace forming a semi-heart as she made her height equal to her latest conquest. “Tis only proper.” She kissed the bridge of his nose and the base of his horn.
Snips and Snails looked at each other, lean and miserable. Despite living under Jet Set and Upper Crust, who hoarded but never fought, they lived anything but an easy life.
“Freedom, perhaps, one fine summer day?” Snips asked, aware he had never seen a summer in his meager yearling life and probably would not. He was lucky their tribe could fend off the windigoes.
Snails whuffled a laugh as the duo dragged a bundle of hay into the house. “Yes, one fine summer day.” It was an impossible, but pleasant dream.
Amethyst Star tucked her sister into bed. She narrowed her eyes. “Tonight?”
Sea Swirl spared a glance at Amethyst, then over to the sleeping Dinky. “Nay.”
“When, then?” the purple mage asked, coming closer to her sister, he co-conspirator, her gossamer-thin Celestia-aligned kin. “Vinyl Scratch and Lyra have found the music--Minuette says the full moon is soon!” The unicorn mare slammed her horn over the other’s horn. “We cannot waste this time!”
Sea Swirl whirled around upon her near-twin. “Holly Dash still has yet to report on the progress of Lemon Hearts and Lemony Gem!” She snorted, separating from her sister. “Unless they return with the rocks, we cannot do it.”
“The Rainbow of Light...”
“We’ll not be using that.” Sea Swirl grinned. “Recall the statues in Celestia’s brag-yard? The one of multiple pelts, of a hideous creature?”
“Our future cyning?” Amethyst Star asked.
“The one and only.”