Guard Tiara: The Grand Guard Games

Diamond Tiara opened her eyes, moving to sit up. Blinking, she looked around, seeing only shades of black and white for a moment. Pulling her legs closer to her body, she shivered from the cold.

Cold.

That was right, she was out in the snow. She had been walking through a blizzard, trying to get away from the landing site and find her way back to The Crystal Empire. During that time, Diamond and had managed to find a small ice cave to take shelter until it passed.

That is what you're supposed to do, isn't it? She let out a groan, rubbing her head (which she immediately regretted because of how cold her hoof was). Note to self: look into taking courses on cold survival and combat.

At some point she must have fallen asleep. It had been such a vivid dream. So much so, that she really thought it was happening. Although bits of it were starting to fade. She could still remember Apple Bloom and... two daughters... one was a batpony? And her leg!

Turning around, she looked at the leg that had the changeling fang stuck in it. Was that a warning? Did she need to get the fang out soon or else risk losing her foot? It was oozing some of her blood, and something else. Venom of some kind maybe? That thought made her flank itch. She really hoped that it was not a sign of a recurring pattern. The idea of having her entire military career marked by having creatures losing sharp things that ooze toxins in her did not sound appealing.

Opening her jacket, she checked on the crystal heart.

It felt warm. Not simply like it was warm from being pressed against her body, but like it was giving off a warmth of its own. A soft, gentle warmth that was comforting. Like cuddling up with another pony under a familiar blanket. An odd simile, true, but an accurate one to her nonetheless.

"Let's get you back home," she said as she tucked it back into her coat. "Then hopefully whatever else goes wrong during the games will happen to somepony else." Making her way toward the entrance, she looked out. With the blizzard over, she stepped out and started walking again.

"I wonder if anypony had bet on a changeling attack... or if this would count..."

She took about ten steps, then stopped. With all the fresh snow, the sleep, and everything, there was no sign of where Diamond Tiara had been. Yes, she still had the cave, but she could not quite recall which direction she had been walking when she had found it. Granted it probably did not mean much since she did not know if she was heading in the right direction to begin with, but she would like to at least try.

Maybe she could try again? Narrowing her eyes, Diamond scanned along the horizon, looking for anything that stuck out. For the most part, she only saw two things: the mountain range in once direction, and open sky in the other. Neither really helped her. If she walked toward the mountains, she could end up reaching them without seeing anything and getting lost. If she walked toward the empty horizon, she would probably reach warmer climates, but no idea how long before finding a town. If that happened, she would still have to find a way back to The Crystal Empire. And that was assuming she survived that long in the first place, instead of dying from exposure.

As she continued to look, something caught Diamond Tiara's attention. It looked like a light of some kind. Maybe it was part of a search party, or some ponies that are out in the snowy land for some other reason. Either way, it must have meant that there was something there to give it off. At the very least, it would give her a reference point to walk toward and away. Plus, without wind or fresh snow, Diamond Tiara would leave behind a trail, so she would know at least where she had been now.

"Might as well get going," she said to herself. "The sooner we get there, the sooner we can figure out what to do next." She let out a huff as she began to walk. "Hopefully I can get out of here and back to civilization before I go crazy... er... I mean I am talking to myself... or a magic heart shaped crystal..."

As she made her way toward the light, Diamond Tiara tried to do something to keep her mind busy and not think about how long she might have to trudge through thick snow toward an unknown destination that very well could be in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, there was little to look at in this frozen white land. With the fang stuck in her leg, it was painful to walk. Not impossible, just very unpleasant. So the entire thing ended up being long, slow, and very boring.

As she watched, the red light got brighter, and larger. It actually made her stop a moment. Something about it... did not feel right. She could not be sure what it was, but there was something. She could feel it in her gut. No... her chest actually. Like, just about where The Crystal Heart was in fact.

"Don't like whatever that is?" she asked, looking down at the spot. "Well don't worry. I'll keep you safe." She started walking again. "But I need to know what it is. Just in case it might help us."

There was a slight pulse of energy from the heart. Was it disagreeing with her? Did the heart actually have enough intelligence to understand what she was saying? Or at least the main idea? It was known that some ancient and powerful artifacts show signs of some sort of intelligence. Whether it was limited or beyond pony comprehension was up for debate.

Maybe you should listen to the ancient artifact that is powered by love and can protect an entire city, a voice in the back of her mind suggested.

Diamond Tiara considered it for a moment. After all, if The Crystal Heart did not like it, it very well could be dangerous. Still, it was a point of reference to use, and possibly something that might help figure out where they were and where to go.

I'll be careful, she told herself as she started to walk again. I'll get close enough to see what the light is coming from. If it's anything dangerous, I'll backtrack and go around. It's that easy.

As she went, she could not shake a building sense of wariness. The closer she got to whatever was giving off the red light, the less she wanted to be around it. It kind of reminded her of The Everfree Forest in a way. Like there was something dangerous, but she just could not see it. At least until it was too late.

Still, Diamond Tiara continued on, moving closer and closer to the source of the glowing red light.

Soon something came into view. It was hard to make out since it was glowing, casting a brighter aura that reflected off the snow around it. Still, it was something, and it did not seem like it was moving.

Although... something was shimmering. Slowly. Diamond could make out something moving gently, back and forth. Swaying. Back and forth. Back...forth... back...

Beware the frozen blood of the shadow ponies.

Diamond Tiara blinked, lowering her hoof. She was now standing in front of a cluster of glowing red crystals. It was clearly where the light was coming from. She must have walked up to it and was about to touch it. Except that she did not remember any of it. One moment she was up on a slope walking down, the next she was standing right in front of it and reaching out. Diamond Tiara could see the tracks of her walking through the snow, but had no recollection of crossing it. The last thing she remembered was...

How hypnotic the crystals seemed. That must have been it. Something about the crystal was trying to draw her in. If she had not thought of that line from... What was it from? She had heard it recently, had she not? Whatever the case, why would she think of it now?

Unless...

"Whatever," she said with a shake of her head. "Let's just get out of here and as far from this thing as possible." After backing up a few steps, she turned right and started forward. She would head that way for a while, then try to resume the same path as though she had been going straight.

"There you are," a voice called out, getting her attention.

Looking up, Diamond Tiara saw a pegasus coming down not far from her.