Chrystal Mirror

Most ponies hooves would make a clapping sound when walking the glass floor, but Crossed Arms' steps are more of a splut. Then maybe a few drips as she manages to spread mud across the mural. The thousands of tiny crystal hexagons when viewed from a scenes from the history of the crystal empire. Nearly no ponies would dare run muck across it or plant grass across upon it. Yet, Cross's mind spared little concern for art. She likely did not even know that they put a glass bust of her in the south-west hall.

As she walked down the hall each and ever guard gave a small nod of acknowledgment. Her centurions always seem Whenever she saw them they always looked alert and professional. Entirely professional except for that silly helmet. She refused to wear one on principle. It pushed down her mane, replacing it with a fake red one. Perhaps, if she brought it up in the meeting it would not be a total waste of time. The Cross turned left into the meeting room. She took a seat next to her lieutenant, Lance. She promptly leaned back and crossed her arms. He is a tiny off-purple stallion sorting the same silver armor as Cross. On him this is what Cross would assume this is what they would call a clashing, because the armor matched her color perfectly. Except for her four feet, which were permanently stained the color of dirt, the armor blended into her color. Some pony not paying attention might not even realize she was wearing it.

Going around the table there was a black unicorn, named Skytrotter. He was working quite hard to hold his chin up above the rest. It made his neck seem overly long, in the disturbing kind of way. Past Skytrotter, we have Chew. Cross could care less about the farmers real name. Everypony just calls him Chew. His cutie mark contains 17 ears of corn. That is 14 more than any other corn farmer in the Empire, perhaps the world. He was the civilian representative. At the head of the table, in a chair the color of coal, sat Sombra himself. Although the room was well lit, by a white crystal in the center of the room, the air around him just seemed dimmer somehow.

The last member of the table was a younger orange unicorn. He wore think glasses which kept sliding down his bleached nose. They had a great table before them. Like a hazy sheet of ice the members avoided touching it for fear that it might break. Except for the orange one, Sunburst, he piled several tombs and scattered papers about the table. Chew almost seemed impressed by this. Lance and Skytrotter ignored him, but Crossed Arms rolled her eyes, silently thinking, "bureaucrats" in the most derogatory tone imaginable. Shuffling though the papers Sunburst seemed to find one he liked, hovering up to eye level. The pony cleared his throat and pushed his glasses back into place.

Sunburst read aloud from the paper, "As you know this meeting has been called to..."

"Wait," Skytrotter spoke. All eyes rotated to him. "A unicorn even of the highest level cannot overpower an alicorn."

He continued with emphasis, "We must have surprise." He gaged the room. Cross looked cross, but that was normal. Lance nodded in agreement. Sombra himself which sat both relaxed and pondering. His poker face hinted at a small smile, showing the tip of this fang.

Sombra's eyes locked with Skytrotter, "This is why I have secret magic even beyond you."

Chew broke the spell. "I heard of a unicorn that nearly defeated Cadence."

"That's not the point," Trotter screamed, a composed scream, but a scream nevertheless.

Cross sighed, she knew exactly were this was going. "Get on with it"

"Can we trust everyone here."

It was at this moment that Sunburst realized Trotter was looking right at him, "me?"

"Well, you did attend Celestia's magic academy." Cross pointed out, with half interest.

An orange glow forced his glasses back over his eyes. "No one hates Celestia more than me." He said sheepishly.

"That was not very convincing," cross spoke up.

Sunburst began to talk about how terrible the school was, especially for him. His ears went limp and his head knelt down. It mattered not how much he studied he kept failing tests and kept having to be 'motivated' to preform better.

"That's all well and good, but how did you get a copy of my spell to blacken dreams and guard your mind.

"I gave him the spell," Sombra spoke. "He has proven," Sombra paused looking for the right word, "...resourceful."

"Yes," Sunburst spoke up relieved at Sombra defense. "I even thought up a few improvements." Several books floated around, "if you combine it with..."

"Enough," Trotter put his foot down on the table, "So you can cast powerful magic." By this point he was on the table. Horn glowing bright blue. "How about a magic duel."

In a blink Sombra stood before the Skytrotter. "He has answered his accusation," Sombra voice echoed across the halls. "So, how did you know he possessed the spell"

Trotter calmed. Trotter took a look at the King, his flowing cap, ghostly eyes and red horn. The intensity in those eyes would have slowed the average pony, but Trotter knew the king too well.

He turned around heading back to his seat, "A good wizard never reveilles his secrets". Sombra materialized in his seat. "Please forgive the interruption." he added recognizing that Sombra is still a very powerful pony.

"Your concerns were valid" Sombra noted.

"You wizards are much too intense," Cross commented, "I just sleep during the day and Luna never bothers me." She smirked, "no fancy spell required"

"Well, we cannot all sleep during the day"

The rest of the meeting went fairly smoothly. Cross complained about uniforms for a little. It was decided that Skytrotter would be in command of secretly hiding and protecting the crystal heart. Chew gave a report on crops. A far too detailed report on the crops. Lance fell asleep, although he might have been sleeping from before the meeting started they could never be sure.

Else place, the royal throne room of Canterlot was in use. A large pony stood overlooking the entire room. Behind her a blinding light originated. It was for this very purpose he forced the servants to be so diligent about polishing the palace. The marble floors shown like the sun. Most ponies had to shield just to catch a glimpse of her shadow. Celestia preferred it this way, few were worthy enough to see her perfection. The pegasus before her did not seem bothered by the shine. Her pith helmet might have provided the shade she needed.

"I understand this sort of thing is a specialty of yours." Celestia address the grass colored pegasus. "The crystal heart is the source of the Empire's power."

"I will not be required to work under anypony?" Her pink eyes stared into Celestia's silhouette.

A chuckle could be heard. "No, Miss Yearly you will not."

"Good, Daring Do works alone."