The Crystal Wolf Pt 2 (Extended)

I really hate it when I am right.  Knowing there was little time to be had, Luna and I had bolted back to the bedroom.  Per the universal law of blueballs, the moment things started getting hot again, some fucker just had to knock on the door.  I wonder if I can invent landmines for my yard.  Either way, one annoying knock turned into a constant pounding on the door while I found a damn towel.  I would have rather been giving Luna a constant pounding, but that's life.

As the door slammed open, the Royal Guard flinched back in fear.  Well it could also have been what I said.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?!"

I'll admit I felt kind of bad for the guy.

"M...mmm... message from the p...p...p...Princess sir.  You are not needed in C...Canterlot this afternoon.  The missive will explain i...it."

Okay, I felt more than a little bad for the guard.  Little guy seemed scared as hell.  Of course, it could have been the golden flames that were licking the door frame where my hands were resting.  Or the fact that even in my human form, I could feel my canines getting longer.

Either way, I snatched the letter out of the air.  A strange tingling passing through my hand as I pulled the scroll out of the guards magic and slowly closed the door.

"Thank you."

No idea if he heard me or not, but it was still polite of me, especially after being a little...cruel.

The scroll bore a wax seal in the shape of Celestia's cutie mark.  Her personal mark adorned the wax, not one done by one of her many scribes and servants.  This should be interesting.  With the push of a thumb, I broke the seal.

"I'll be back in the bedroom in a minute Luna.  Just have to take care of this real quick.  If you really want, you can start without me."

I really hope she heard the smirk in my voice, otherwise I was in for it.  Those thoughts disappeared as I started to read the note.

Hex,

I know this is short notice after your injury, but Equestria has need of your unique talents.  As you already know, I am sending my prize student, Twilight, along with the rest of the Elements of Harmony to the newly rediscovered Crystal Kingdom this evening.  I would like you to travel with them for part of your journey.  I will be by at 3pm this afternoon to explain the rest of your travels.  Please enjoy the rest of your morning, and I will speak to you further on this subject in a few hours.

Celestia.

"Fuck..."

A small voice drifted out of the bedroom before I could finish the sentence.

"Well, that is what you are supposed to be doing right now my knight.  Come ravish your Princess."

Lets just say the moans that started after that sentence made me forget all about the letter as I tossed it, and my towel on the bed and ran to my bedroom.  Both items all but forgotten.

"Coming, my Princess..."

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of naughty acts between me and a certain lady friend of mine.  Everything came to a standstill when I looked at the clock.  1:07PM.

"Oh shit!  Luna, your sister will be here in two hours!"

"My WHAT?! Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I kind of...forgot.  You were making all those sexy noises after I got the letter from the guard.  Then we had a lot of fun and got all sticky."

"Hex!  That is something that..."

My fingers started kneading the joint where her wings and shoulders met, and her voice quickly disappeared into soft moans of contentment."

"Now then, my dear Princess, we have two hours until your sister gets here and tells me about whatever scheme she has going.  Until then, I propose we open the windows and let the house air out, go enjoy ourselves in the shower, then have some breakfast."

Whatever protests she was working on only came out as half panting, half moaning as my fingers teased, massaged, and explored.

"The shower awaits Milady."

Two Hours Later

Luna and I sat side by side listening to her sister detail what was needed of me.  It was a plan that nobody...nopony else could manage to pull off.  Completely suicidal by the way.  The weather changes were not just in fact due to the seasonal change the ponies pull off.  The arctic winds were just that.  Cold and wind being pushed from the far north.  Beyond the Griffin Kingdoms, even the Crystal Empire.  Far to the north, deep in the tundras where nopony could survive was the center of the ongoing changes.  And apparently, I was the only person that the monarch thought would survive the trip.

"So let me get this straight.  You want me to take a train to the Crystal Empire with Twilight, then hike across the arctic tundra until I find where these storms are coming from.  THEN find my way back to Equestria?  Don't get me wrong, its possible, I grew up in the arctic, but this is kind of insane Celestia.  Do you have any idea what I'd need for this trip?"

Her eyes bored into me as the next words crossed her lips.

"Yes, I know exactly what I am asking.  If I sent anypony, they would starve or freeze to death within days.  I remembered the stories about your childhood and the skills you learned.  If there were anypony else, I would ask them.  I do not relish the idea of sending my sister's lover to his possible death.  The safety of Equestria takes precedence over personal feelings however."

All I could do was sigh.  I'll admit, she had a point.  Her guards, her ponies were...soft.  They would freeze or be dinner for a predator sooner than later.  My hand met the soft fur on Luna's back, fingers kneading softly as I thought.

"I'll do this Celestia.  BUT I'll need everything I ask, and I'll need it today if you still intend for me to travel north with the girls.  After I do this, Luna and I get a vacation wherever we want, hopefully somewhere tropical.  And you will owe me.  I'm not sure what as of yet, but you will owe me a favor.  I'm not counting the one from getting me killed either."

"If you save my ponies and figure this out, you'll get more than your favors as a reward Hex.  That, I promise."

"Then, Princess, you have a deal.  You might want to get a scribe or a quill, this is going to be a long list."

Several hours later, I was standing on the platform of Ponyville Station.  The cool breeze was still enjoyable despite knowing what was to come.  A large pile of baggage leaned against the wall, mostly Rarity's, but several of them were mine, and destined for the car I was using for the trip.  I'm going to have a lot of packing to do while we ride the rails.  Thankfully the crew of the train was gentle with the loading and the bags disappeared rapidly.

A soft sigh broke my attention as I turned to the dark alicorn standing next to me.  Her eyes focused on every bit of me, as if Luna was trying to burn me into her memory.  A single tear silently falling just before I could wipe it away.  The only thing that crossed my mind was a simple act.  I leaned in and kissed her on the nose.  I know biology wouldn't work any other way, and it was all I could do, but it didn't feel like enough.

"I'll see you soon, my Princess.  Your moon will guide my way every night, and the stars will be my light.  I will return soon."

Just a few steps into the train, and the doors closed behind me.  I never did hear Luna's parting words, nor see the fleeting tears.

On the platform, one Alicorn watched the train depart, and quickly disappear into the distance.  The occasional tear wetting the stone next to her hooves.

"Goodbye my love."

This was going to be a long trip.

I watched out the window until the station was out of sight.  The car was sparsely appointed, mostly with stacks of bags here and there covering couches and whatnot.  Either way, I had a lot to do and not much time for it if I wanted to get some rest before we arrived in the Crystal Empire.  I pulled a tattered list out of my pocket and began digging through the bags set aside for me.  A large pile of gear slowly began to appear on the tattered carpet in the car as I worked.

An hour or two had passed as I laid out everything I imagined would be needed for this suicidal journey.  My assortment of bags and frame pack lay next to the piles of things that were supposed to go within.  Knowing that food was going to be sparse, I even brought my long rifle and revolver along.  I just hoped they would continue to serve me as they had.

Even more important than food was shelter.  The arctic is an unforgiving place.  As I grew up hearing, be smart and you'll be fine.  Be dumb and you'll be dead in a day.  I made sure to ask Celestia for warm clothes, materials to make shelter, all the things that would hopefully keep me from turning into a Popsicle.  Either way, before getting off the train I was going to get into my wolf form.  The fur should help keep me warmer, and if it was anything like home, warmer could be the difference between life and death.

Little by little the piles disappeared into the bags until I was left with a large and bulky pack covered in smaller pouches.  The last thing that was attached to the pack were two things that could save my life.  A small shovel, and a short sword.  Now, I have no idea why ponies have swords with proper grips, but I'll take it.

All that was left for my trip to begin was a good dinner, some sleep, and more food.  Better to start a journey with a full stomach and full of energy after all.