The friendship express rattled down the tracks towards the crystal empire, the wind howling outside in the cabin. The sun started to rise from behind the mountains, the sun's rays were shining and glistening off the ice cyrstals. The rays advanced to the cabin, shining through the windows.
Twilight awoke from her slumber by the sun light shining on her eyes, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She got to her hoofs, pacing aroud the cabin to wake herself up she stared to remember what she was doing today. Herself and the girls were invited to the crystal empire after Twilight received a letter from her brother inviting them to an expedition in ruins that were discovered in the tundra outside of the barrier. Her mind drifted back to went she had read is letter.
Dear Twily
About a week ago, we sent a platoon of guards to set up a out post in the middle of the tundra. When they were out on patrol one of the troops fell through the surface of the ice. There sent a pegasus down to see if he was alright, they found something we would have never of expected. The were ruins of a civilisation dating back before Celestia and Luna stopped Discord. I would like you and the other elements of harmony to investigate the ruins. We don't know what is down there and think it will be extremely dangerous, so we would like to be prepared for anything that may be living in the ruins.
See ya so
Shining Armor
P.S Cadence says to visit the castle before you meet me at the outpost.
Twilight started to think about all of the knowledge that could be learn from the ruin,all the books, all of the artifacts that may be down there, her thought were interrupted by a yawn. She turned to see Applejack rolling out of the bunk and rub her eyes,she turn to Twilight.
"Your up offaly early aren't ya sugercube." Said Applejack
Twilight replying "Yeah I'm just so exited that we are getting to go on the expedition to the ruins."
Rainbow Dash's ears twitched at the word ruins and stared the stir. She opened here eyes and looked over to Applejack and Twilight, she rubbed her eyes and yawned loudly waking the other. "What did you say about of the ruins Twi." Rainbow Dash said excitedly.
"I was just saying how excited in am to investigate them." Twilight replyed
"Yeah it will be just like Daring Doo book, exploring ancient ruins, recovering long lost artifacts and dodging traps, it's gonna be so awesome." Rainbow Dash said now very excited.
"Not just that but all of the divine crystal that could be down there." Rarity interjected
"Oh and all the little critters that could be living down there." Fluttershy added
The sound of screeching brakes announced there arrival at the Crystal Empire Station. There were crystal ponies walking around the streets and going about there business, a stallion in crystal empire guard armour was waiting for them at the station. They all stepped out onto the platform and started to walk towards the guard, he turns and faces them with the guards usual emotionless face.
"I am here to escort you to the castle, Princess Mi Amorè Cadenza is expecting you." He said
They all started walking down the street towards the castle, a crowd began to gather cheering and thanking them for saving the crystal empire from King Sombra.
They walked past the crystal heart and went up the crystal stair case to the castle corridors, the guard navigated them through the mase of corridors the a pair of white crystal door. He turned to the group and said "We have snow gear ready for you at the guard station at the edge of the barrier for when you are ready to depart to the ruins."
He then turned a started knocking no the door, a light blue aura surrounded the doors as they were pulling open. The group started to walk through the door, whilst the guard walked back to his post outside he door.
At the sight of Cadence, Twilight started to trot towards her and Cadence towards her, they both had a smile on their faces as they came face-to-face. They both danced and sang "Sunshine sunshine ladybugs awake clap your hoofs and do a little shake."
They both heared sniggering from the group, ignoring the sniggering Cadence said "Twlight I'm so glad your here i haven't seen you since the crystal fair."
"Yeah this is the only time we got together with out something bad happening, so what did you want us for." Twilight replyed
"I was wondering if after the expodistion you and your friend would like to have dinner with Shining Armor and I." Cadence said
Twilight looked back a the girl, who were all nodding there heads, she turned back to face Cadence and said cheerfully "Sure we would love to join you for dinner after we investigate the ruins."
"Wonderful, would you like to get breakfast before you all go." Cadence asked
They were about to decline but the sound of the groups grumbling stomachs bet them to it. "I'll take that as a yes then." Cadence said with a smirk on her face.
After the meal with Cadence the group stood outside the entrence the castle, "We'll come back after we visit the ruins and stay for the night and catch the morning train." Twilight said
"I'm look forward to it." Cadence replyed
After the group said there farewells, they started walking toward the edge of the barrier that lead into the tundra and put on the snow gear that was supplied to them at the guard station. After they were all geared up they started there trek through the snow towards the outpost, unaware of the shadow following them.
The group continued there journey towards the outpost, they dragged the hoofs through the snow, exhausted from the long journey. Twilight was at the front of the group with a map floating in front of her face. The group had chatted when to first started but quickly had nothing to talk about. They had been walking in silence for a half-hour, until Pinkie broke the silence.
"Are we there yet." Pinkie asked.
"No." Twilight said.
"Are we there yet." Pinkie asked again.
"No." Twilight said again.
"Are we there yet." Pinkie asked yet again.
"No." Twilight said....again.
"Are we." Pinkie asked but was cut off by the group.
"No!" They shouted.
"Ok." She said in her normal cheery tone.
"Hey Twi is that it over there." Rainbow asked pointing her hoof to a structure build under the mountain.
"Yes that's it!" Twilight shouted happily, now that the walk was over and they started running towards the outpost with new found energy.
The group ran towards the gates, the guards pointed their spears at the group as they came closer to the gates.
"Halt, state you names and business here." The Gatekeeper shouted in a commanding tone.
"I am Twilight Sparkle, this is AppleJack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and uh,"
"Wheres Pinkie." Twilight said looking around for Pinkie.
"Come on, smile!"
The group turn around to see Pinkie, with her hoofs in a guard's mouth push it into a smile.
"Help me!" Cried the guard.
"Pinkie stop that your going to get us in trouble." Twilight said in a demanding tone.
"Oh, Ok," Pinkie said before she bounced towards the group as they turned away and when no one was looking she went back to the guard and whispered in his ear, "If your not smiling when I see you again, Celestial help you." she said in a sinister tone.
The group turned around again to see Pinkie Pie bouncing towards them and the guard curled-up in a ball crying his eyes out.
There was only one thought going through the gatekeeper's head "How in the name of Celestia did she turn one of our best guards into a sobbing mess."
"Ok, now that we're all here I'm Twilight Sparkle and these are my friends, AppleJack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie," she said pointing to each of them as she said there names. "We were invited to the exposition of so ruins by my brother, Shining Armor."
"Alright then, lets get these gates open." He said before turning around and pulling a lever on the wall. There was the sound of rattling chains as the gate lifted from ground.
"Do you know where Shining Armor is right now." Twilight asked.
"He will most likely be in the map room, I can send a guard to escort you and your friends if you want." The gatekeeper said.
"It alright I'm sure we can find our way there." Twilight said enthusiastically.
30 minutes later
"Were lost aren't we." AppleJack said.
"No, were just, um looking around." Twilight said
"Now I know were lost." Rainbow said hovering lazily in the air .
"We're not lost!" Twilight yelled.
"Whats all this noise about." A voice said from behind the group.
They turn around and saw standing in the doorway Shining Armor.
"Shining!" Twilight yelled before pulling him into a hug.
"Twily, how have you been." Shining asked.
"I've been fine what about you." Twilight replied.
"A little stressed running the empire and filing all the paperwork for the exposition, but other than that just fine." He said.
"Thats good to hear, anyway when do we get to explore the ruins." Twilight said now very excited.
"We're meeting the exploration team tomorrow and then we head into the ruins." Shining replied.
"But why we can probably go on our our, we don't need a team to do it, we only need you, a few guards and us." Rainbow Dash said, annoyed that they had to wait even longer to explore the ruins.
"We have to be able to setup a research base down in the ruins and it was so you girls could help me plan for the expedition and where would be the best place to setup the base." Shining stated matter-of-factly.
"Well I thing thats a fabulous idea in need to have a clean after that walk." Rarity said.the
"I have to agree with Rarity on this one a good rest never hunt nopony." AppleJack agreed.
Twilight sighed in defeat "Well I guess it can't hurt to wait a little while, where will we be staying tonight." Twilight said.
"You'll be sleeping in the same rooms as the exploration team, but I notice that you were all lost when wondering around to outpost, so I'll give you a tour after you unpack." Shining said with a smirk on his face as Twilight blush with embarrassment.
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After being shown to there rooms and unpacking the group going to the mess hall for some lunch. The group headed of on the tour of the outpost.
"So this is the armory and supply storage, all of the equipment for the expedition are stored in here and the armory is for the guards only" Shining stated.
Moving down he corridor Shining Armor stopped and turned outside of a door before speaking. "This is the operations room, if you need to find me after the expedition I'll most likely be in here."
After the tour was completed, the group went back to the operations room to start planning for the expedition. The research base would be setup need the entrance and would setup a wall around the base to fend off any creatures that would try and attack the base. After the expedition was completed they would gather all of the artifacts and finding and sent them to Canterlot University.
The sun started to set as they can out of the operations room and the the group decided it would be best if they were well rested for the exploration of the ruins and went back to the bed chambers.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day they would be meeting the researchers, setting up base camp and basic defenses. There was no telling what they would find down there but they knew it was going to be incredible.
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A shadow watched as guards patrolled outside the gate leading inside the outpost, feeding of the fear off of a guard patrolling the gate.
"Soon I will return and the first thing I will do is get rid of the Elements of Harmony, then I will take back what is rightfully mine and then I will take Equestria." It said laughing manically. Disappearing back into the shadows.
