Flight to Dreadlands

Through The Crystal City - Princess of Ponies - Cutting Down - Misguided Attack

“Don’t you need to worry. We actually wanted to go to the palace,” said Frey.

“Fine. Just, don’t try and do something stupid,” replied the agent.

“May I ask why we were invited?”

“Princess expected a foreginer arriving at the Crystal City.”

“Do I look like a foreginer?”

“Yes.”

“Frey, can I ask you something?” said Silo. Frey decided to follow him.

“Should I…” Silo said, hitting his hoof on the floor.

“No, Silo. Let’s see what the pony princess wants from us. Maybe she will give us a better offer?”

“It looks like a trap.”

“If it was, we would already be shooting our way out of it.”

Frey wasn’t exactly sure if he was making the right decision. Luna’s warning was kind of cryptic. Still, he thought it would be better to listen to both sides.

He took a seat by the window, and looked at the city. Industrial district was replaced by residential district with many flats, most of them looking under construction. Then it was replaced by a district of small, wooden houses that wouldn’t be out of place in a suburban village in Tamriel. Then, he entered a district made out of crystals.

“You have quite a pretty city,” Frey asked the agent.

“Yes, Crystal City is the World’s Metropolis. The greatest city in the world.”

“How many ponies live here?”

“Just over five million, not counting those who live at military bases.”

“Five million?!”

“Yes. As I said, a metropolis.”

“Incredible. I would like to get a closer look at the city. Say, would you get us on a tour?”

“Well, probably not,” the agent replied. Frey was sure she would have taken the bait, but as he felt Trinica’s cold gaze upon him, he dropped the topic.

Frey and the crew walked through the main square of the city.

The great spire of the Crystal Palace was before them. It was made out of highly polished crystals, and seemed to glow.

Below, just by the palace gate, Frey saw the thing he went here for. Giant, floating heart made out of crystal was slowly rotating inside a glass cube.

“This is the Crystal Heart. Source of all Love and Magic in the Crystal Empire. She protects us from our enemies, and gives us her blessing. As Crystal Ponies, it is our duty to protect her,” the agent said, as if seeing what Frey was thinking about.

“So, this heart is alive? And gives you blessings?”

“Indeed, she’s alive. Ancient beyond measure. She hid in the mountains, waiting for worthy guardians, many centuries before Great Frost.”

Frey wasn’t exactly interested in pony superstitions. He was more interested in how much money this entire quest would get him.

Group of guards joined them, and together they entered the palace.

Frey looked at the many paintings and decorations. The palace seemed even grander than the Archduke’s Palace back in Ruby City.

After a short walk, the group reached a great and highly decorated door.

“The Princess is waiting for you. Behave yourself,” said the door guard.

The doors opened, and Frey walked towards the throne room.

On the throne of crystals sat a young Alicorn mare. She wore a simple officer uniform. By her side, there was an older unicorn stallion and a… dragon? Yes, Frey was sure, it was a small dragon, just like the one in Nord legends.

The Princess of Crystal Empire looked carefully at the group. There was something strange in her, but Frey couldn’t exactly place it. She flashed her horn, and magic washed over Frey. Suddenly, there was a flash and he was back in his human form.

“Tell me, human. Who are you, how did you find the Crystal Empire, and what brings you here?”

“Your highness. My name is Darien Frey, I am captain of Ketty Jay. I found the Crystal Empire following the direction given to me by Twilight Sparkle. I am just a simple explorer who wanted to visit the infamous Dreadlands,” Frey said, deciding to go with honesty and compliments. He also noticed there was a visible reaction from the unicorn and the dragon on the mention of Twilight.

“Aunt Twilight is here? Interesting. Say, Captain Frey, are you interested in work?”

“Depending on the payment, of course.”

“Obviously, you will be rewarded. I need information about the outside world. The Crystal Empire was isolated for many centuries. You are possibly the first human who ever visited it. What is the name of the country you are from?”

“Nine Duchies of Cyrodiil.”

“Cyrodiil? Haven’t heard of this place. Sunburst would be glad to write down everything about it. But this would be for later. Now, let’s talk about my aunt. What did she want from me?”

Frey wasn’t sure how much he should tell, but the look of the Alicorn Princess got him to talk.

“She’s afraid that there might be a danger to you.”

“Some kind of monster out to get me?”

“Yes, you can say so.”

“Interesting. However, I am capable enough to deal with it without her help. I see you brought the Blade of Ages with you.”

Ugrik took the sword out. “Yes, Princess. This sword was dug out of Dwemer ruins. It has incredible power.”

“You probably don’t have any idea just how much power it has,” Princess said. She stood up from her throne. “Come with me, Captain Frey. I need to show you something that would erase your doubts.”

Frey and his crew, together with Flurry and her advisors, walked towards the corridors.

The older unicorn walked towards Frey. “You’ve really seen Twilight?”

“Yes, I did. She seems like a very smart person, although with a tendency to use words ununderstandable for mere mortals.”

The unicorn smiles. “Yes, that’s just like Twilight. How is she?”

“She seems fine. She worries about her niece.”

“Me too. I hope we can fix this”

Flurry led them to a room. There was a map of Dreadlands.

“Thousand years ago, Equus, Griffonia and Zebrica were home to quite advanced civilizations. Yet nowadays, they are empty. You know why?” asked Flurry.

“No idea. I also wondered about this.”

“It’s because there is an intrinsic quality of the universe that would prevent a disruptive civilization from arising. The civilization of Equus collapsed, because it had to. Otherwise, it could have collapsed the world.”

“But, we are inside a giant city on Equus and it looks fine.”

“Because I sent it a thousand years into the future. I knew something would happen after my return. I expected Twilight or Celestia to send someone here. Granted, I didn’t expect a human.”

“What might I help you with?”

“There might be a way for me to stabilize the world. I located the main source of disruption, and made a plan to remove it. I have everything I need here. I just need to borrow the Blade of Ages.”

“What would you do with it?”

“I will cut out the disruption, therefore saving the world from collapsing into chaos.”

“How do you know the world is collapsing into chaos?”

“Say, was there a large-scale natural calamity in the recent history of your country?”

“There was the Landfall, hundred sixty years ago. Large parts of the continent sunk into the ocean and new mountain ranges formed.”

“Exactly. Was there something magical that happened around the time?”

“I mean, the last Emperor went insane and started claiming that the world is a dream. There was an entire cult that started with his babblings.”

“The world is a dream?,” Flurry said, and levitated one of the old books. She searched for a moment. “Was the emperor a blue-yellow elf?”

“No.”

“Wait,” Trinica interrupted, “I read that he claimed to meet a blue-yellow elf.”

“What happened to the cult?” Flurry asked.

“I destroyed it. Personally. Blew up the leadership when they attempted a coup.”

“Blew it up. Good, one less insane thing to worry about,” Flurry said and crossed something in a notebook. “As you see, your continent also almost met its end due to a highly disruptive event. I’m afraid that, given time and chance, these disruptive events will increase in number, and one day it won’t break a continent, but the world itself. However, I can stabilize it.”

“How would you do this?”

“As I say, I need Blade of Ages, Crystal Heart, the….”

Suddenly, a guard broke into the room. “Princess. The city is under attack!”

“WHAT!”

“We got a message by artificial dragonfire a few minutes ago…”

“Who dared to attack the Crystal Empire?” Flurry said, and teleported away. Frey saw the unicorn and the dragon run down the corridors.

“I ask you to leave the room,” said one of the guards.

Frey had an idea what might just happen.

Shining Armor was galloping through the corridors towards the council room. Crystal City was under attack! He had to do something.

He opened the door. His daughter and the rest of the council were there already. Battle plans were being put on the table.

Flurry Heart seemed to barely contain her anger. She was holding a scroll.

“Who attacked our city?” Shing asked.

Flurry just levitated the scroll towards his father. He grabbed it and read. He recognized the hornwriting.

“To the fair alicorn Flurry Heart. May you live in harmony and contentment. This is a formal declaration of WAR. Our armies shall meet on the field of battle!” he read it aloud.

“Aunt Twilight has gone insane,” Flurry said.

“Why though? It makes no sense. Why would Twilight even attack Crystal City?” asked Shining.

“Officially, to retake Baltimare for Equestria. No idea why she would need it. She attacked with a robot army,” said Flash Sentry.

“Robot army?”

“Yes,” Flurry said through her teeth. She attempted to calm herself down. “Father, I need to tell you that I won’t be merciful towards her only because she is my aunt. Treason is treason.”

“I understand,” said Shining.

“Now then. You all know what the plan is. We trained for this event. Let’s get to work,” Flurry said, and flashed her horn.

Shining found himself teleported to the western part of Crystal City. Soldiers were running forward. Gunfire was heard.

Seeing the field marshal materializing before them, some soldiers stood and saluted. Shining turned towards an officer. “What is the situation?”

“Robots are attempting to assault our positions. They surprised us, but we managed to beat down the initial attack. They are not well armed, and seem to lack artillery or air force. Yet these robots are tough and unbothered by casualties.”

“You think the defenses will hold?”

“There is no force that could break these fortifications. Not even an Alicorn Princess. Em, no offense, Field Marshal!”

Shining heard artillery firing. He knew the Crystal Army would hold on against any enemy. Still, why would Twilight even want to attack them? Maybe she really went insane?