A Story And A Game

In the silence you could have heard a pin drop. In fact, you could probably have heard it echo around the cave a couple of times. You see everypony's eyes widen with the realization that Rarity is right. Your eyes dart from pony to pony, from friend to friend. Each of these so familiar faces could be hiding a terrible secret.

Everything has gone wrong! Some of your friends are in danger, Shining Armor and Cadance have been missing for days - maybe even weeks - and the Crystal Empire is doomed if you don't get this right. But here you are, cold and hungry. And there are only one, two, three, four... five blood crystals left, and there is nopony you can trust.
Not Rarity. Not Twilight. Not even Applejack.

I saw them looking at one another, confused.
I smiled - they would find out where this was going.

How could things have gone so wrong so fast? It was only yesterday morning that the six of you were walking in the Whitetail Woods. Even though the sun made the yellow and red leaves glow against the clear blue sky, the chill in the air revealed that winter would be coming soon.

Up front walked Fluttershy, totally in her element, excitedly talking about the inhabitants of every nest and burrow you passed. Next to her walked Twilight, listening and smiling, and quietly enjoying the views.

Behind them followed Applejack and Rainbow Dash, discussing their plans for the Running of the Leaves, which would be held in a few days. Then came Rarity, carefully avoiding all of the muddy puddles in the road. So far she had managed to keep her always impeccable fur completely smudge-free.

And finally came Pinkie Pie, bouncing as always and absolutely not avoiding the puddles. Somehow she too had kept her fur free of any mud.

They laughed. These ponies might have proven to be more complex than the show had portrayed them but I still send a silent thanks to Lauren Faust for creating a very good approximation.

Suddenly you hear the flap of mighty pegasus wings overhead. A shadow passes, and then you see - it's a royal chariot landing on the path in front of you. You are surprised to see it actually carries princess Celestia herself.

You all run up to her and greet her. "Hello, friends," she greets you back. "It is good to see you enjoying yourselves on a beautiful autumn day such as this."

Twilight knows Celestia well enough to notice she looks slightly worried, and says "Princess, is everything okay? Why are you here? You look worried."

"Yes, Twilight, there is something I am somewhat worried about. It might be nothing, in fact it probably is, but I'd still feel a lot better if you checked it out for me."

My audience sat up a little straighter. A mission from the princess - this they could understand.

"You see, I receive letters not just from you but from several ponies throughout Equestria, and even beyond. I maintain a regular correspondence with your sister-in-law, princess Cadance, in which we exchange not just personal things but also advice in matters of state. She sends me at least one letter a week."

A couple of birds fly over, loudly twittering. Celestia watches them land in a tree further down the road, then sighs.

"Her last letter was almost three weeks ago. Now, I know nothing terrible has happened in the Crystal Empire. Every day three trains go there and return. My... diplomats report nothing unusual either.
Of course, there could be a very simple, reasonable explanation. Maybe she has been too busy, or she may have had nothing special to write about. But still, I would like the six of you to go and visit the Crystal Empire. You could take this afternoon's train, and return with the first train tomorrow. I will make sure everything has been paid for."

You all nod, indicating that of course you do not mind doing this for her.

"You know Cadance and Shining Armor personally and can much better discover if something is amiss. It is not necessary to mention my worries, though; I do not like to be seen as... meddlesome."
She smiles. "I would also advise you to bring a scarf. I hear it is already quite cold up in the north."

A few hours later the train has departed, carrying all six of you away to adventure. Or, as Twilight points out, probably just a nice visit to good friends.

An hour passes, and the scenery outside the windows has already changed quite a bit. Trees here have shed their leaves, and in shadowed areas you can see frost on the ground. It is a good thing the train is comfortably warm.

When the train has passed Mareburg you all find yourselves looking outside, where the slowly falling snowflakes have already dusted the landscape with a delicate white layer. The dark gray clouds make this almost monochromatic scene that much more depressing.

The discussions about what might have happened in the Crystal Empire have long died down, and with so few other travellers the train has grown quiet except for the endless rhythmic sound of the wheels on the tracks.

Then, finally, the train approaches Stalliongrad, the final stop before the 40 minute stretch through the plains to your, and the train's, destination. Outside a white haze prevents you from seeing very far, but you can still see many snowflakes continually adding to the already fetlock-deep layer on the ground.

My descriptions seem to have worked. The ponies have actually huddled together somewhat, even though I notice with a bit of pride it is actually quite warm and cozy in my house.

At the Stalliongrad station, the train seems to take a long time to depart again. After about ten minutes the light gray train conductor arrives.

"I'm very sorry, ladies, but this train will not be continuing its journey to the Crystal Empire."