Chapter 7: The Ruins of the Crystal Empire

"You have got to be kidding me!" Jewel exclaimed as Steel Rain pointed to a garbage can. "I have to look through that?" There were bottles placed in this can, some with caps still on them.

"What may seem like trash to you can be normal things for those of us from the wasteland." Steel Rain informed. He knew the caps were valuable as well as the sarsaparilla in them. The empty ones useless. “For example, caps. Bottle caps are now important in this society as the form of currency.” Jewel looked lost.

“Currency? I have heard of that back before the war, the currency was what they called Bits. In the Stable we used a digitalized form called Crystalz. I think the current ratio for Bit to Crystalz was 1 to 1200.” Jewel looked at the bottle caps. “But why would junk like that be worth something. It doesn’t make sense.”

Steel Rain face hoofed. “Nothing makes sense to you.” Steel Rain pointed to one of the bottles with the sarsaparilla. “That right there is precious to you for being a source of not only drink, but it gives you a cap, which is our form of currency, whether it makes sense to you or not. Now, I want you to find all the bottles with caps on them, and find any bottle caps. No need to give them to me. Place them into your bags.”

“But you said that this junk was worth something. Wouldn’t you want it for yourself?” Jewel asked confused why he was willing to give something so valuable to her.

“I have more than enough. We know how to guard our share. You need to guard caps like they were….Crystalz. You wouldn’t want somepony to take your Crystalz wrongfully right?” Steel Rain asked.

“Right. They would have to be crazy to take my Crystalz.” Jewel looked down at her Pipbuck. “Do you think I could trade some Crystalz for caps?”

“Doubt so. Caps are more valuable to our society than some currency from a Stable that has recently opened. But not everyone will know about this Stable. Even the Steel Rangers that attacked you didn’t know about it until your Stable made contact.” Steel Rain said. Jewel was in shock. She had thought that the Steel Rangers knew about their Stable and were just trying to find it.

“They didn’t know about our Stable?” Jewel asked.

“I remember when I was in the Rangers. Stable 6 was a legend. Many thought that Stable 6 had perished when Princess Cadance disappeared. No one knew where her daughter went after Prince Shining Armor took their son, Prince Corduroy from the Crystal Empire. Many thought that Princess Cadance and Princess Crystal Peace both died when the Balefire bomb went off in the northwest quadrant of the empire. As you can see, the damage of the palace was enough to have killed them if they were in the dining hall. But there are no remains in the dining hall and the few rooms that were destroyed were all guest bedrooms. But all in all, the caps in this trash can and the full bottles will prove useful in the end." Steel Rain had informed.

With a strange look on her face, Jewel dug out the caps and the bottles of sarsaparilla. "Don't you need the caps?" Jewel was questioning why this armored stallion was willing to give up such a valuable currency.

"I already told you, I don't need any right now. My group has plenty at the moment and we aren't really looking for more, currently." Steel Rain replied and then pointed over to another trash can. "Next." Jewel gave a disgusted look before searching through the next one.

**

Meadow Lark was searching through papers in what looked like an office. He was finding plans on weapons and so forth. It must have been the Captain of the Crystal Guard's office or maybe one of the royal members. "I see a few plans on weapons, a notice about a Cuticeñera, whatever that is, and something about a possible proposal for an additional Stable in the Crystal Empire.” Meadow told Flashpoint. “All of this look interesting, but nothing really catches my eye.” Meadow Lark looked over to his guide. Flashpoint was shaking his head.

“No, no, no.” There is something worthwhile in these papers. Something that you are just not thinking about because you have had no experience with them.” Flashpoint took away the Stable proposal papers. “Look at these two papers and then tell me which one you think would be worth more in the end.” Meadow looked over the weapons plans and the Cuticeñera.

“The weapons plans?” Meadow asked hesitantly and Flashpoint nodded and smiled.

“Yes. You could sell these plans or even build them yourselves. But selling them to get a few good caps would be the wisest move. Most of these plans have many parts that just aren’t around anymore. And if you were to find them, they would be either in some sort of museum, being sold for a ridiculous amount of caps, or damaged beyond repair.” Flashpoint said. “But it is up to you in the end. I have no say in what you do with the plans. But there are more things in the desk to look through.”

Meadow looked at the desk. “What do you know about the Zebra War?” He asked after seeing a cover letter that was probably attached to the weapons plans at some point. He read through the cover sheet and started reading the words from “The Ministry of Arcane Sciences” and learning that it was a proposed weapons systems that utilized The Crystal Empires Royals.

“Long before the war broke out, Ponies and Zebra’s barely knew about each other. The Royal Pony Sisters, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, only had one contact with the Zebra nation through a Zebra friend named Zecora. It was from her that they first learned about the planned attack on Equestria. Unfortunately, the news of this came slightly too late. By the time Zecora got back, the attack had begun. If it wasn’t for an idiot, Zecora could have aided them in the war.” Flashpoint told Meadow Lark, remembering the stories passed down in his family. One of his ancestors was a member of a Ministry.

“What do you mean by ‘If it wasn’t for an idiot…’?” Meadow Lark asked shifting his focus to the drawers. He found a good hundreds of caps in one drawer, all different from another. He took them out and set them aside. ‘Why not?’ he thought.

“Someone killed Zecora. Let’s just say he got an earful after that.” Flashpoint said looking over to Meadow Lark for the first time after taking away the Stable plans, reading over them all the while. “Zecora was Minister Twilight Sparkle’s inside source to the Zebra nation. Princess Celestia was still distraught over things and the death of Big McIntosh didn’t help any. Princess Celestia was a shell of her former self at the point of attack. Princess Luna tried her best to run the country like her sister did in her time as ruler of Equestria.” Flashpoint looked over the plans. “I need to take these to Musica. Rummage through the other drawers until I get back.” Meadow Lark watched as Flashpoint walked out of the room.

**

“I can’t get it!” Lightning Dash dropped the tools that were in his mouth a moment ago. “This is too difficult to get done.” He huffed and glared at Musica.

“Come on now. If Ah can do it, Ah know ye can. Bein’ a good lock pick can help ya on yer journey. Ye wouldn’ want t’ be left behind by lil’ ole Flutter Shy now do ya?” Musica jabbed, sitting next to him. She was giving him a detailed explanation of how to use his teeth and tongue to maneuver the lock pick kit that she was letting him borrow for the day. That made Lightning Dash growled in frustration and picked the tools up and started trying to pick the lock again. This time the locked safe gave a nice reverberating sound of unlocking. Lightning Dash looked up in satisfaction.

“You were saying?” Lightning dropped the tools once more and opened the safe. There laid an envelope with an attached notice. He also saw some newspapers that were dated back during the days before the war. “Hey. This newspaper. It says that there was a big announcement that was coming soon from Princess Luna. Who was that?” He asked Musica.

“Princess Luna was one of th’ Royal Pony sisters tha’ ruled Equestria. She took over for Princess Celestia, th’ older princess, when she could no longe’ rule effectively. Part of ‘er depression is when a brave soul sacrificed ‘imself. Ah’m distantly related t’ him.” Musica said. “Th’ Apple Family was neve’ th’ same after tha’ day. Lady Applejack went in full on depression. It got so bad, tha’ ‘er ex-coltfriend and sister forced ‘er t’ a Stable when th’ attacks started. Applejack died in tha’ Stable. It was th’ Stable tha’ was recently attacked like yer Stable was. Although, it was many months before yers.” Musica informed.

“How do you know so much about that attack?” Lightning Dash asked.

“Steel Rain was there. He was one of th’ first t’ change over t’ th’ Applejack Rangers.” Musica said.

“WHAT?” Lightning Dash’s wings flew out in surprise. That was the last thing he had expected from the tin can. “No way.”

“Way. Now wha’ else is in tha’ safe?” Musica asked.

“A couple of plans for a new Stable and a plan for evacuation of the Crystal Palace should an attack be made on the empire.” Lightning rummaged through the papers. Not much useful tools, but the plans could be interesting to look at.

“Giveme tha’ Stable plan!” Musica practically ordered. This made Lightning jump.

“Why?” Lightning asked.

“They migh’ be next.” She said.

**

Flutter Shy was squeaking in fear when Seabee had asked her to damage a nice plant that had been preserved by the carcass of a Crystal Guard. At this point, Seabee was getting frustrated at the shy pony. She was wondering what had happened to the progress that they had made. “Come on Flutter Shy. There is something behind that plant and I want you to get it.”

“But….the plant. It shouldn’t be disturbed.” She squeaked. Seabee growled in frustration and aimed her guns at it. If that pony wasn’t going to do it, she will take care of it herself. That was if Flutter Shy hadn’t jumped in the way. “NO!” She begged and Seabee scoffed.

“Listen. There is something back there and I am going to make you get it. I just have to move this plant out of the way.” Seabee said taking aim.

“NO! It’s a Crystal Lyacinth. They are poisonous. Destroy it and we die.” Flutter Shy said.

“How…..?” Seabee lowered her guns and looked at the shy Pegasus.

“Crystal Lyacinth didn’t come about until after the first Balefire bomb hit in Canterlot.” Flutter Shy said reading off her Pipbuck. “The Crystal Hyacinth had absorbed the radiation that came to the Crystal Empire before the attack here. The first balefire bomb didn’t make it poisonous, but the bomb that hit here, created a deadly consequence if you destroy it.” Flutter Shy looked up at Seabee and saw the horror on her face. “It could kill us all.” That made Seabee lower her guns.

“Um….lets move the thing gently then.” Seabee laughed nervously. She couldn’t risk killing them all. Seabee received a message on her display calling her back to the common room. She looked over to Flutter Shy. “Why don’t you move it. I’ll be back in a moment.” Seabee walked away from the plant and towards where Musica had instructed her to meet…..without Flutter Shy.

**

“Bring the pick up about a millionth percent and then push forward.” Springtrap was giving very detailed movements to Riot Shield who wanted to take a hoof in picking a lock with his magic. But what was frustrating him was the fact that Springtrap was giving too many terms and details that he couldn’t comprehend.

“In Equestrian please.” Riot Shield asked a little frustrated.

“Move it down a mane hair and push towards the safe.” Springtrap said again, a little annoyed himself. He was trying his best to give very detailed instructions like Riot Shield had asked him to, but now he was telling him to dumb it down. The white unicorn in front of him didn’t make any sense.

Riot Shield did as told and a resounding “click” signified that the safe was now open. He opened it up and there was a picture and a few papers, along with a locked box and a cover letter with an attached stack of papers. Riot Shield went right to work on the locked box and got it open without much trouble. There were about a hundred gold coins and a pair of rings that were in the box. ‘These must be Prince Shining Armor’s and Princess Cadance’s wedding rings….well it does make sense. This is their room.’ Riot thought to himself. “What are these gold coins?” Riot asked.

“They were the previous currency of the Wasteland, Bits.” Springtrap informed, the information on Bits running upon his helmet. “Bits were the source of money back during the time of the Princesses. Having a lot of bits meant that you had either wealth or a great business. Ponies could take Bits to a bank and with a hundred of them, they could switch it in for a Shill. Most Ponies didn’t and by the time the Legendary Mane 6 came to power of their own Ministries, the Shill was obsolete.” Springtrap said, information scrolling over his visor. “After the war, Bits started falling out of use as there was really nothing to buy most of the time. All the food was now poisoned with radiation, the drinks were too. Nothing was edible for a while except those that were dry products. By some weird miracle, dry goods were radiation free and food in the fridges and freezers escaped with very little radiation that only ingested in large amounts would make a grown pony sick.”

“So any food that was being grown was now unable to be ate while any food that wasn’t in the open was virtually free from radiation.” Riot asked. “And I bet the soil hasn’t been able to be planted in since.”

“Correct.” Springtrap said as a notice flashed on his helmet from Steel Rain. “The soil still contains lethal amounts of Radiation and planting anything in the ground now will be a death sentence to those who eat the food.” He pulled up the message. If was telling him to meet the group back down in the parlor that they started in. “Now what does that stack of papers contain?”

“Um…” Riot flipped them through using his magic and quickly taking in the contents. “Something about how adding another stable will be a death sentence as it would not be built in time.” Riot said. “It is written by Prince Shining Armor himself sir.” Riot flipped back to the cover letter. “Addressed to Princess Luna and StableTech. Apparently StableTech wanted to open another stable here to accommodate the outer lying towns of the Crystal Empire but Prince Shining Armor was against it saying that it would ruin the reason why they sent their daughter to that one and that the current one was enough. But it was never sent. This is all hoof written….well…..you know what I mean.” Riot looked over to Springtrap who was just staring at him through his helmet.

“You got all that by flipping through it?” He asked.

“No. I just read the cover letter.” Riot smiled. Springtrap should have known that Riot’s flipping through was too fast for anypony to read. He then gathered the letter in his own magic and didn’t move until Riot released his. “So what now?”

“Find another room. Maybe even join Sweet Rose and go to another room on this level and look through them. I will be back soon to pick you back up. I’ll find you and Sweet Rose.” Springtrap left with Riot following to find Sweet Rose, sending notice to Racquet.

**

“You know, for a dweller, you are pretty smart of what you should be using.” Racquet complimented Sweet Rose as she laid out what she found.

“My mother always told me that even if it looks like junk, it can still be used.” Sweet Rose said.

“You had a smart mother. But there is something that you missed. There were several pieces of information that could be very useful on th-”

“On the terminal in this room.” Sweet Rose interrupted. “Most of the files could not be downloaded but while you were cleaning your guns, I was looking them over. It seems that this war was worse up here in the Empire than I originally thought.” Racquet was stunned.

“Yes.” She replied.

“But that is where I don’t get it. Why would the mighty princesses let the relations between the two nations get so bad?” Sweet Rose asked.

“To be honest, The Royal Sisters didn’t know much about the Zebra Nation except that it existed. The loyal Zebra, Zecora, was the only Zebra the Sisters knew about. Zecora didn’t talk much about her homeland, well not until it mattered.” Racquet walked over to the terminal. “There are other items you missed too.” She smiled looking on the desk at the bottle caps.

“Those caps? I saw them. I thought that the young prince collected them. I thought I would leave them there. It’s not nice desecrating the room of the late young prince.” Rose said looking at the caps.

“Nope. I placed them there. Caps are your lifeline in this world. No caps, No service. Some places won’t even let you look if you don’t have caps. You don’t have to buy or pay to look, you just have to have caps.” Racquet looked down to her Pipbuck that was beeping to signify that there was a new message to read. Sweet Rose subconsciously looked at hers to see if she received one, too. “I have to meet Musica and Steel Rain. Springtrap said that Riot Shield is going to join you in the next room. Take the caps and hold onto them. You might need them someday.” Racquet smiled and walked out the door.

“But won’t….”Sweet Rose trailed off.

***

Musica met her team down in the common room where they had started. She noticed that there were three sets of plans for a new stable in the Empire. “Thanks fer comin’ on short notice. Ah see some of us have had our companions find Stable plans. Ah’m afraid tha’ th’ plans have been followed through with. Th’ only way t’ know is t’ go searchin’. They migh’ not be here too.”

“Riot Shield found a letter that Prince Shining Armor had intended to send to Canterlot before the attacks happened. It gives a strong preference that they not build another stable.” Springtrap said holding the stack of paper in front of Steel Rain and Musica flipping the pages ever so often so they could read it.

“Doesn’t change anything.” Steel Rain frankly said. “The fact that it is here in its rough draft and no indication on any terminal that we have come across of ever being sent electronically, I think that it is still a very good possibility that the stable had been built without the prince ever knowing.” Steel Rain looked to his companions without much of a head movement. “So we should still look.”

“But how are we going to leave them?” Springtrap asked.

“Ah haven’t figured ‘hat out yet. Bu’ when Ah do, Ah’ll let ya know.” Musica told her group.

“But they haven’t learned everything that we have to teach them.” Racquet said.

“Then we have to teach them everything that we know by tomorrow. We cannot delay this much longer.” Steel Rain said jumping in, picking up on Musica’s thoughts, like he naturally did.

“Yer exactly righ’. There is no time t’ wait.” Musica nodded. She was trying to figure out a way to let the group know about them leaving without giving it away of what they are doing. Musica then remembered that there was a village not too far away that was having raider problems. It was a small village known as the Crystal Village that contained descendants of the Empire survivors. Musica’s group did all they could to help them, but that was months ago.

“Oh how about that village? We could send them off to there and see if they still need help.” Racquet did it again. It was almost like she sensed what Musica was thinking.

“Ah seriously don’ git how ya do tha’. Bu’ Ah was thinking th’ same thing. We haven’t been t’ tha’ village in a few months. But Ah really do werry ‘bout them.” Musica looked through her group. They have been together for a few years now, she knows what they could handle. “Awlright, now, ‘ere’s wha’ we gonna do.”

“We gonna go searching through an ancient Empire?” Seabee asked excitedly.

“We are goin’ t’ search th’ ruins of th’ Crystal Empire.” Musica grinned.

Author's Note

Hey guys. Sorry for the long wait. This chapter was written over the course of 3 months. Not by choice though. I am looking it over for flow but I am going to put it out there. Forgive me for flow issues. It will be dealt with. If you see any, please don't be afraid to let me know.