I pulled my scarf tight around my neck, hoping to expel any unwanted and otherwise hitherto cold feelings. Whether they be physical or mental. I must reiterate that though my colleagues on this grand expedition share my same ambition, others do not share the same grand and gratuitous feelings as I do. Nor do they feel it absolutely necessary that we intrude on the archaeologists of the Crystal Empire. These feelings to not waver upon the minds of Oxymoron or Juniper, but moreover fell upon the Harvest team. Aurora Gleam, the overmare of the Harvesters, stayed relatively close by to the edge of the large expedition, carrying on her back in the metallic apparatus which held one of the Harvest Crystals. Resting in a slumber of peacefulness, a rarity amongst Harvest Crystals as most manipulators of Harvest Crystals they can often spur violently. Claiming that no mere mortal is capable of wielding such a powerful crystal.

Our initial trudge through the arctic winter gales was long and perhaps more laborious than we had expected. For hours we spent stopping to recheck the readings of the crystals to make sure that they do not go haywire. Aurora never once checked her crystal, for it subjected itself to her and allowed her unwitting control over it's subconscious mind. Her stern and wide gaze shifted across her compatriots as they stopped once more to keep the magical energy in check. I decided to join my comrades in a hearty conversation by a warm fire, though the cold had no effect on my otherwise immortal body. Over the course of the few weeks I had grown slightly taller and more slender, growing into my graceful and godlike build. My magic as well growing with it, my magical output seems to be taking on more strenuous tasks then before. For nothing was more taxing than holding so much immortal power than before.

My breaths long and hanging in the air as my slender muzzle breathed out cooling and soothing air. It had fallen to darkness very quickly, the sun making way for night, now resting fully beneath the horizon. Dropping the temperature below zero, and causing all of my ponies to wrap themselves in tight fur clothing. They were natural fibers that came from silkworms and sheered from goats, sheeps, and oxen. Any animal willing to give their fur to further the comfort of their pony masters. Imbued with magical properties of specifically guarding the wearer's from the cold. The Canterlot scholars wore thin silkworm overcoats that appeared too thin to block the cold but did just that, as they huddled close around the beacon like fire. Lighting away shadows to reveal their strainful faces. Oxymoron had quiet features, very soft and yet holding back many secrets, his light cool grey coat and his bright icy blue eyes. He could not have been more than a year or two older than me. Juniper held a solemn and sustained enthused look, bright wide pink eyes buried deep in the magical scroll that she had brought along with her. Her coat a gentle strawberry red, her mane and tail a deep scarlet that made every part of her pop. She held many parallels to my friend Rarity whom as most likely resting at this hour. Oxymoron was more like Big Macintosh, a stallion of very few words but when he spoke, he spoke numerous volumes. Greatly intelligent and a force to be reckoned with if a scuffle had started. Both had long wormsilk cloaks pulled tight over their frames. Both a jet black color to hide them and conceal them during the night. Their cutie marks emblazoned on the crest of the coat. Juniper's was a swirl of magic wrapping around a rose. Oxymoron's was an open book that radiated a bright light. The shoulders of their tight coats were pointed and well ironed from the looks. Hoods pulled up to expel the cold from their faces.

I had one of my own, specially tailored and designed by my friend Rarity. Since the harsh winters of last year, Rarity had found some notes on enchanting clothing and decided to take a crack at it. Her enchanted clothes were some of the most powerful that Equestria had ever seen. Rarity enchanted mine to be specially tailored to my magical capabilities. The thin fabric strafing my lithe frame was very comfy and offered ease when I moved. The sleeves loose but kept the heat in and the cold out. A deep purple color that seemed to shimmer in the light of the fire. Pink embroidered swirling designs that snaked along the violet surface of my silken cloak glowed a magic that soothed my muscles. My coat allowed me to cast easy spells on myself with ease, either to subside my peckish hunger, quench my own thirst, and if my hood was pulled up I could obscure my own voice and even send silent messages to others who wore Silkworm coats. On the back of the cloak was my cutie mark that engulfed the entirety of it, holes in the cloak that allowed my large wings room to breath and free for movement. Much like the others of my company, the shoulder of my cloak were pointed and the inlays were very expertly done. The best part about it was that it could not tear or rip, unless it is magically cut from something that can deactivate the aura around her.

I sat on the far side of the little gathering of ponies, the small encampment specifically for the Canterlot scholars of the expedition. As I sat the gaze of Juniper and Oxymoron met my own. Juniper flashed a smile and closed her large beautiful eyes and in a voice as silken as the coat that she wore she greeted, "Good evening princess! What brings you over to our encampment?"

I nodded to her as I sat my haunches on a makeshift chair from a log that was taken with them, carved to make it comfortable for sitting. The soft wood responding well to my weight as I rested my muscles down. I offered my warm gaze to Juniper as I responded, "It can get rather lonely in the royal tent and the guards are very quiet."

That had been ever present since her ascension, usually she would be met with warm smiles from the guard ponies but now just met with clod stares and a brief greeting. I suppose that came with becoming a princess and having your brother as captain of the guard. Say one wrong thing and your life could be ruined. I chuckled inwardly at that thought and continued to stare at the small tongues of flame that spewed up from the small campfire, illuminating a small area of about ten yards around. I kept my back straight and in a regal pose, remembering the constant orders given to her about how a princess should sit amongst her loyal ponies. Perhaps something that I never came to grips with, these were MY ponies that I had to look after. Their caretaker and watcher. A heavy weight that I had not since embraced. I pulled my scarf tighter around my neck to keep it from running loose in the cold breeze.

I looked to Oxymoron who had bore an expressionless face and just simply bowed his head and said in a deep and monotoned voice, "Princess."

His emotionless stare as he lifted his head up was not reassuring. His horn was very short and held well his hood back. From my understanding Oxymoron was a member of the same family as King Sombra, since the initial disappearance of the Crystal Empire they migrated to Canterlot to beg for forgiveness of their heir's sins and asked for refuge in Canterlot. The Princesses saw pity in them and allowed them to blossom in peace in their city. Which caused quite the havoc amongst the blueblood of Canterlot. That same vagabond sort of feeling radiated off of him, keeping all forms of emotion stricken from his face. Juniper obviously saw this and said, "Lighten up Oxy! You are in the presence of a princess, be more poise-"
"I prefer not to be given any special treatment," I interrupted, "I do not deserve to be treated above anypony else."

Juniper waved a hoof and said, "Do not be so modest my liege, you are royalty now. Be expected to be treated like it now."

Twilight blushed slightly and looked past the beacon fire and saw that sitting on the edge of their caravan facing away from them was Novella. His hood pulled up, a white Silkworm coat pulled tight around him and his hood pulled up. His gaze glued to the mystical tome he had always read. The mighty gales having no effect on the pages of the libram. I lifted my head up at Novella and I asked in a lowered tone to Juniper and Oxymoron, "So what's the story behind that one?"

Juniper glanced over her shoulder and put away her scroll, her face becoming very cold and serious as she answered, "Novella is...not himself...he has never been the same since his parents died a few years back..."

My gaze fell to Novella as he flipped another page, I listened intently to Juniper, "His parents were apart of the resistence force agains the second invasion of the Griffons. His parents died valiantly when they tried to take Canterlot-"
"I remember that," Twilight added looking back at Juniper, "It was their final push before they felt the true might of the Equestrian military. I never saw so many dead before."

Juniper nodded continued, "He was content with living alone with his sister for so many months until she died of consumption. So he decided to join in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, so he could try and make a difference. He's smart but he usually only talks to Oxymoron and I, but recently ever since he found that book he has not stopped reading it."

I moved my gaze back to him, he had a small frame and was no taller than a teenage colt. But there was no doubt about the amount of power that swelled beneath him, just waiting to be used. I was in awe at the amount of magic that welled within him. Power beyond comprehension, and it sat well with me that he was more than capable of defending himself in a fight. I said in my mind, 'After all of that and he is stronger than before.'

Finally I brought my gaze back to the campfire that burned in front of me and stared into it. They crackled and spurted with no sentience behind them, deep in the recesses of my mind I could feel the scratching of something. I felt it ever since I tasted the power of all the alicorns, it was not a thought of my own. No, it was of something far greater mind and of far greater intelligence than I could ever even imagine. Sleeping for so long until I had grown strong enough that it felt threatened, and oh how it fought back. Slowly but surely it would creep through the prison I made for it, but it would retreat back after I pushed it away. It burns every time it demands to be released. A demon waiting inside. I coughed and looked up to find Juniper standing up and her hoof outstretched with a thermast in her hoof. Thin wisps of steam rolled up into the endless void filled night. I looked at her and she said with a warm expression, "Take it."

I slowly grabbed the thermast with both of my hooves and said, "You do not need to do that."

Juniper smiled, "Yes but I feel it's the least I could do. I mean you have only saved Equestria four times."

I gave her a look and her smile only grew brighter as she scratched the back of her head as she responded to the curious look that I bore, "I read everything about you. All of your research notes, your books, your mother's books, the reports that you gave to Celestia-"
"Wait, you have access to those reports?"
"Yes," Juniper reached into her satchel and pulled out a small gold pendant that bore Celestia's seal, "I am a Scholar of the Horn. We are a secret band of students at the univeristy that are given special assignments. More often then not, we are back up ambassadors and diplomats. But...I'm just glad that I get to be closer to you...I mean, not like that, you are very pretty and...you...oh dear..."

She seemed very nervous and I was not helping the fact that I was chuckling. I gathered myself quickly and kept a slight smile, "It is quite alright Juniper, I know what it is like to be in front of the person that draws your inspiration. Just breathe."

Juniper nodded quickly and sat down next to me, sitting hard into the cold snow. But she obviously did not care. She gathered herself and regained her former regal composure she had that entire evening. She finished, "I became a Scholar so that I could get a chance to see you and ask if you could...teach me."
"What?"

I stopped sipping the very well brewed tea she had brought me. It was chai and brewed exactly the way I like it, with a little bit of cinnamon and honey. It was scary how much Juniper knew about me. Scary even when she had said she read every book that she had written, of which there were quite a few, and all of the works by my mother. But there was an underlying feeling of both nervousness and anxiety that could barely be masked by one such as myself. She wore it on her shoulders unknowingly. I could feel it running off of her. There was also the faintest feeling of fear of rejection. I looked down to see her muzzle deep in the snow, back hunch bowing on the ground. She said slightly muffled into the ground, "I just want to be taught by you."

I leaned up and brought a hoof to her shoulder and said, "Juniper it is okay, stand up. I told you before, do not treat me like a princess. I am above no one."

She quickly stood back up and kept her back straight. She coughed and said, "Yes...I know...prin...Twilight...I just..."

I stood up, standing a bout a foot taller than her in height. I set the thermast down and rested a hoof on her shoulder and said, "Juniper it is alright. I can see that you went through a lot to try and come here. Not many see that their dreams come true, only those with conviction strong enough and will to set aside all negativity to tell you that you can't. You have already proven yourself more than worthy to be by my side."

Juniper lifted her head up and her face lit up with absolute jubilation. A large toothy smile had crossed her face and before she could scream in happiness I stopped her and said, "But, it will be hard and more than enough bookwork to make you sick to your stomach. I will push you to your limits, but I can promise you that if you do this and in order to make this work you have to believe in me and my teachings."

Juniper bowed her head quickly and said, "Yes. Yes I do, thank you. Thank you so much!"

I gave her a quick smile and looked over my shoulder and saw that the others had finished checking the Harvesting Crystals and looked back at Oxymoron and Novella. Both still filled with mystery, it was clear that at least only one of the three was open and talked for both of them. It was no wonder they talked to each other, neither of them talked to other ponies. And I had a small feeling that Oxymoron did not like me that much. I said to them all, "Pack everything up, we're heading out again."

I unscrewed the lid to my tea and cringed as I watched it fall into the fire, watching the flames slowly die and the thing in the back of my head reach out to try and comfort the dying flames. My face went hard and my soul shivered as I heard a feminine and hard sounding voice in my head declare, We have work to do.

Author's Note

Know what, originally I was going to write this in Lovecraft style. But hell, I decided to give it my own flavor. Hope you liked it!