Invenio (For Eluuna)

He always was a resourceful old Colt... Frugal as hay to He thought. Though he would never share the frugal part. Blade had his opinions, but he considered airing anything that can be perceived as "negative" about ones superior as inappropriate. As for discovering a new land, he had never put much thought into it. As far as he was concerned once they saved the lives of the researchers and removed any danger, they were done. He closed his eyes and pictured for a moment, walking the land that all their Pony ancestors once did. He tried to picture what it could possibly look like, assuming there was some truth to the legends. I guess he couldn't blame anypony for being curious. But he smiled at the thought... He knew if by some slim chance they ever actually found the Ancient Kingdom of the Ancestors, his father would die of jealousy.

"Ah yes. Our great kingdoms Epic Origin Legend. The story of the Early Pony tribes and how their cooperation and friendship repelled the Wendigo's" He said in a triumphant voice. He kinda of realized that it came of as mocking, though he didn't intend for it. In truth, legend or no, he always did quite like that story. It was sort of a family tradition for him and his father to attend the annual performance. He remembered seeing it a few months ago, when Princess Celestia's personal protege Twilight Sparkle was responsible for the performance. They did a good job He thought to himself.

"What do you think about the legend?" Blade asked returning to a normal tone. "I remember when I attended the university, all the intellectual ponies were divided on it. That argument still goes on today. I never really put much thought into it, but I could always see how some would want to believe it. Its nice to have some connection to the past we can hold onto" He added at length. Much to his own surprise actually.. He wasn't known for being a talkative sort, outside of conversation with his father. Maybe his companion brought out a more sociable trait in him? He decided not to think much of it.

 

When Ria looked out the window she would start to see some frost mix in with the lush green. It was like you could see the lush green plant life, slowly turn into the canvas of blank white that was the North. You could almost see both a creation and a destruction it. It seemed like creation as the beauty of the green wilderness transformed itself into another kind of beauty. A pristine blanket of white, implying a certain inner sanctity. For the less optimistic, you could see it as the gorgeous green wildlife became consumed by the frigid wastes of the North. Regardless of how anybody felt, they were officially North now, and that much closer to their destination at the Crystal Empire.

"Well. Discovery is well and good, but my Priority one is recovering those researchers and reporting any potential threats to Equestria. Though I would imagine if they found anything, rescuing them and discovering something may be part and parcel with each other"

Blade looked to her as she looked outside. He searcher for a question to ask, or a way to keep the conversation going. "... Where are you from?" he asked awkwardly. This time it was obvious that he was awkward. Though Celestia knows why, asking someone where they came from isn't awkward. He was accustomed to giving orders, and giving reports to superiors. I mean, sure he had a social life when he was a teenager. All ponies did.. But I suppose as the years went on, Blade's profession seeped it's way into his personality. Sometimes he thought that was normal, but than he thought about Captain Stalwart. Jolliest man I've ever met. Lots of fun at parties, anybody would say he thought to himself. The Captain was always telling him that he needed to laugh more often... Which was usually accompanied with his trademark bellowing laugh, straight from his belly. Ironically, the thought made Blade smile.

 

"Canterlot" he responded curtly. "I've lived in the military district right outside the castle grounds my whole life. My father was a Knight before me, but he hung up his armor about ten years ago" he added. He was distracted by what he saw through the window. He could see the outline of the Crystal Empire in the distance, the one seemingly green place in the middle of all the ice and snow. Despite that, even at this fair distance the sparkles coming from the buildings were unmistakable. Particularly remarkable was its centerpiece, the pride of the city: The Palace. The giant crystalline tower could be viewed far before the rest of the city came into view. Whoever built that palace was not subtle. He was determined to be remembered he thought whimsically.

He turned his head to Ria. "We'll be there soon" he began. "Our accommodations will be at the palace. The servants there have been told to attend on us" he continued. There were always some perks with being sent on Royal Business. You get to meet famous people sometimes, witness some pretty impressive things. In this case he and Ria got Royal accommodations with servants to boot. "We'll be briefed on the last known whereabouts of the researchers. Than you and I will decide what our next course of action is"

 

(OOC: Yay! Your alive! xD)

Blade picked up on that, and became a little nervous. He was afraid that he had offended her, and while not being afraid to step on toes, offending her was not something he wished to do. "... Miss Ria?" He asked politely, tilting his head at the Pegasus. "I don't mean to... erm... pry? But are you alright?" he followed up, feeling somewhat concerned. He kept racing it in his head if he had said or done something rude, but... Nope, nothing came to mind. If he had said or done something it wasn't immediately obvious to Loyal. Perhaps it I stumbled upon something I wasn't meant to find he confided to himself.

Outside the snows began to thin, and the frozen wastes began to surrender itself to lush green grass, dancing in the breeze. This was because of the powerful "Weather Ward Spell" surrounding the empire's borders. It was powerful magic, and had adopted much interest from the Department of Magic at the University of Canterlot. A weather warding spell wasn't really needed anywhere but the Crystal Empire, but such was the life of a scholar. Though a powerful old Alicorn like Princess Celestia could most likely perform one, the researchers were interested in learning the spell to ordinary Unicorns. I suppose if they figured it out, a lot of Pegasi would be out of a job he thought absently.

 

(Its all good!)

Ah, not the type for pomp and the royal treatment Blade thought. He couldn't help but think of his mother, with her love of the wild, and especially how her studies always brought her to exotic places. You could hear the train wheels squeak, and feel the train car begin to slow. They would be making their way into the Crystal Empire terminal as we speak. If the slowing train didn't indicate that, the rays of light reflecting off the empires pristine buildings were shining in through the cab's windows. I've never been here before Blade pondered, just realizing that he had never visited Equestria's newest province. As a Knight, he'd been deployed all over the place from Ponyville to Tartarus, but never here.

"... Well. If its not your fancy, I'm alright finding less... Regal accommodations. We would still need to be briefed by the castle staff, but beyond that we could stay somewhere else?" he suggested politely. "We could search for an inn, or if worse comes to worse we can pitch a tent on one of the fields. If that's your preference" he added. While he spoke he thought about the idea of being waited upon by servants. He wasn't as "Opposed" to the idea as Ria was, but a Knight's life is one of servitude. He was used to being the attendant, not the attendee.

 

Blade smiled at that. The train came to a complete stop, and ponies of every kind started standing up and gathering their possessions. Blade stood up, but remained stationary, waiting for the other horde of Pony's to get off the train. Some were shielding their eyes from the intense sunlight reflections. Others such as the Crystal Ponies returning from elsewhere, or those who had been here before didn't really seem to notice. Dad mentioned it took some getting used to he thought, wincing himself as the sunlight glared into his eyes.

The crowd had thinned, and it was just themselves and a few stragglers left. He raised his hoof politely, gesturing towards the exit of the cab. "Shall we, miss Ria?" he asked politely, allowing her to step ahead of him.

 

"Ye-". He wanted to say more, but upon stepping outside the radiance from the palace took Blade by surprised. All he could see was a blinding ray of light, barely being able to make out the shape of anything, much less see Ria. "Sweet Celestia" he muttered to himself, as his vision began to adjust. As his vision adjusted, he saw beautiful towering buildings of Crystal, in all colors and shapes, reaching upward to touch the sky. The grass was lush and fertile, and while there weren't many trees anywhere, the ones that were there towered almost as tall as the buildings. Wow was all he could possibly think. It was... Radiant.

Recovering from his moment of awe, and temporary blindness. "Erm... Yes, to the palace. That one should be pretty easy to find" he said, gesturing to the massive pillar of a building that situated itself in the center of the town. No matter how unfamiliar Blade was with this city, there was no mistaking where the palace was. He began to walk in that direction, assuming Ria would follow. "It lives up to its description, no?" he said, taking in his surroundings as they walked. They weren't in the city yet, but the field with its lush green grass, and many types of crystalline flowers resonating with the reflection from the cities buildings.

Too bad we're going to have to leave it for the tundra tomorrow

 

Loyal's eyes had managed to adjust to the beams of light now, and he could see much more clearly. As he walked down the road that lead to the city, Ria gleefully following behind him, he saw two Crystal ponies walk by him. Both were pink mares with their manes styled into gorgeous purple curls. But it was the shimmering that made them special. Beautiful Mares in their own right, but something about the way their bodies flowed and glimmered... That was the real beauty of their race. As they walked by the two, they were giggling and laughing. Of course what they spoke of, was none of his business, but it made him think. These people lost 1000 years of their history to King Sombra He thought to himself. When he thought about it, ponies like King Sombra are why ponies like himself existed. Knights, Stalwart, unflinching... Equestria's shield against those who threaten ponykind. Well, that is what he was taught and what he will teach any Knights that follow. I wonder if I'll be doing this when my mane is completely grey?

He glanced up at Ria. Her enthusiasm couldn't help but warm him a bit. He was raised by a Knight, all of his acquaintances were Knights, and he rarely ever left the military district unless orders took him elsewhere. I suppose that is why the Captain is always trying to lighten my mood he concluded. Truthfully he had always understood Stalwart was always so concerned about him. The grizzled Captain cared for Loyal in his own way... He knew Loyal was a good soldier, he just wanted to look out for loyal in a spiritual sense, and not just act as a military mentor. The truth was he always understood, but this was just... Loyal's nature. Try as he might, he never could fight who he was as a pony.

He turned his head upward to look at Ria and asked "I'm surprised you've never been here before. I was under the impression often" he stated. Though that may have been an educated guess, as Ria had told him she took quests wherever she could find them. In his mind that entailed one would travel a lot. Though, when he thought about it, he might have been wrong.

 

Blade sputtered a little, as they passed under the crystal gates leading into the town square. There was much activity there during this time of day, several merchants at their stalls, selling their wares: Crystal Empire cuisine, fine jewelry, clothing, tools, a whole plethora of things! The town square had a glimmering crystal floor, with lush gardens on the sides filled with shimmering green grass and flowers of every variety and color. The amount of noise pollution picked up however, with the merchants yelling out their advertisements, the customers all chatting. Though the entire square was filled with life, and filled Blade with an invigorating feeling. The castle was close... Very close. If you glanced up you could see the balcony that was used to address the population. Ah yes, Princess Cadence has jurisdiction over the Crystal Empire. Or is it Princess Twilight Sparkle? Things have gotten a bit hectic with the recent coronation he thought to himself.

He looked to Ria and asked "... A male kitsune?" with a curious tone. "That sounds like a story" he added with an amused grin.

 

Blade had no idea what to say that, not that he would get a chance too. They were now at the castle gates, its splendor towering above them it its crystalline glory. It made the castle at Canterlot look like a hold-fast, or a fort at best. The center tower had bridges that spread our in four diagonal directions to the four smaller towers, all overlooking the town square. And the gleam! The towers were so polished, that it reflected everything that passed by it. Blade and Ria would be looking at mirrored versions of themselves that were twenty feet tall.

The castle gates were wide open. Though Blade knew that wasn't for their benefit. The castle courtyard and throne room were a popular tourist attraction, so during the day it was lucrative for the Crystal Empire's economy to keep it open. It was heavily guarded of course. The palace contained many relics and valuables that had cultural and monetary value that went through the roof. Ether way, Blade gave an impressed whistle. "THAT is a palace" he exclaimed frankly, entering a lot trot forward through the gates, assuming she would follow.