RarityDash

Have fun with the Twi pony.

Which was why she was sitting in a train cart with her all too obnoxious mother. Before they committed to expanding business into the Empire, the entire NSI board wanted to see it with their own eyes and work out arrangements with the locals. All six members of the board were coming along for the weekend to get the Crystal Empire tour. Snowfall wasn't really sure what to think or feel, so she just glanced out the train window at the arctic landscape. She thought of the Stalliongrad she had left and she thought of Pathfinder, out there somewhere in the beyond. Mostly she thought of her father and how somewhere out beyond the snowcapped hills and mountains all around her he had vanished forever. As the train chugged along toward this mysterious empire, a juvenile part of her wondered if he wouldn't somehow be there waiting for her.

[colour=#99ccff]"Of course I am, mother,"[/colour] Snow said through a sigh. [colour=#99ccff]"It's unavoidable, isn't it? This is where..."[/colour]

[colour=#99ccff]"Ah, yes... of course,"[/colour] Snowfall said, shaking her head softly. [colour=#99ccff]"I didn't mean..."[/colour]

[colour=#99ccff]"I know, mother. I don't need encouragement from you of all ponies,"[/colour] Snow said, rolling her eyes.[colour=#99ccff] "I've been successfully running this company for many years now."[/colour]

[colour=#99ccff]"This is still about her, isn't it, mother?"[/colour] Snow started with a growl.[colour=#99ccff] "I've told you a thousand times that I'm happy now. As good as your last choice might have appeared, he wasn't what he seemed to be at all under the surface. That stallion was the sort who wasn't good for me, not her."[/colour]

[colour=#99ccff]"Sometimes I wonder if you didn't allow me father's chair just so you could scold me, mother,"[/colour] Snowfall tersely replied, glancing aside.

A knock as the train car door interrupted the mare's words. Both ponies looked at the door as it opened. It was Sure Regard, the most able butler and servant employed by Northern Storm Manor, who had accompanied them to tend to their needs while they stayed in the Empire. Snowfall nodded at him.[colour=#99ccff] "Yes, Sure, what is it?"[/colour]

[colour=#000000]"I was told to convey to you and Mrs. Snowflake that we will be arriving in the Crystal Empire shortly, Miss Snowfall. The engineer informs me that the train will reach the station in roughly fifteen minutes time,"[/colour] the butler said with a nod.

[colour=#99ccff]"indeed."[/colour] Snow nodded. [colour=#99ccff]"Thank you for keeping us informed, Sure."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]"My pleasure, Miss,"[/colour] the butler said as he turned to leave. He didn't get very far however. He fell forward into unconsciousness as a large bat was swung at his head. Two masked figures entered the cart, stepping over the motionless stallion.

[colour=#8b4513]"No one will be coming for you," [/colour]the masked pony with the bat said before swinging it again, sending the older mare to the ground. Just then, the train screeched to a sudden halt. Snowfall backed up, fearful of what was happening.

[colour=#99ccff]"If this is about money, I'll pay you what you ask now,"[/colour] Snowfall said cautiously. [colour=#99ccff]"Just don't do anything more to my mother or my servant."[/colour]

[colour=#ffa07a]"I'd love to take you up on that offer, Miss CEO, but we have orders, you see,"[/colour] the second masked stallion said as the first lumbered toward her with his bat.

Snowfall thought about what to do, and immediately thought of Pathfinder. She couldn't give in. She had to fight this. Someone evidently had it out for her, it seemed, but she couldn't just let them win. She needed to make her escape. As the bulky stallion swung his bat, she ducked and then slammed her hoof into his chest. As he staggered back she flew at the window, but the thick glass wouldn't give.

[colour=#ffa07a]"There's no escape, Miss CEO," [/colour]the second stallion said, rushing at her. He was unarmed, but he was also quite large and could easily overpower her if he caught her. Snowfall had to act quick. She flew from the window right toward the door, having to adjust her path as the stallion with the bat recovered and swung at her again.

[colour=#99ccff]"C'mon..." [/colour]she muttered as she fought the door open as both stallions started coming after her again.

Just in the nick of time, she worked it open and found herself on the outside. She managed a few steps from the door, thinking she was in the clear, until another stallion jumped up from behind her and forced her into a hold. He forced something into her face and soon she felt her strength leaving her all at once.

[colour=#99ccff]"Path... finder..."[/colour] she muttered as she collapsed into an unconscious heap.

[colour=#99ccff]"Drop bears, huh?"[/colour] she started, still chuckling. [colour=#99ccff]"I believe I remember reading about those once. Where have you encountered them?"[/colour]

She flew toward Pathfinder, who was hovering in front of her and nuzzled her cheek. [colour=#99ccff]"You seriously know how to make your adventures sound fun, Pathfinder. It's utterly infectious,"[/colour] she said in a warm voice.

[colour=#99ccff]"As for today, I doubt it will be quite so action-packed, but I hope to at least show you a good time," [/colour]she said with a smile. [colour=#99ccff]"For now, let's just start with a nice flight over the city. Maybe we'll see something that catches your eye."[/colour]

She gave a soft giggle as she flew upwards a little and did her own little loop in the air.[colour=#99ccff] "I'd love to hear more about your recent adventures while you're at it," [/colour]she said.

She could already tell this was going to be a good day. Pathfinder made everything so easy and so fun. A warm smile stayed on her face as she climbed even higher into the clouds as they continued to snow softly on her city.

[colour=#ffffff]"Yeah, just a water is probably enough for me too at this point,"[/colour] [colour=#000000]she said. After a pause she smiled at the mare.[/colour] [colour=#ffffff]"And... uh... thanks for before,"[/colour] [colour=#000000]she said, remembering how she had encouraged her earlier.[/colour]

[colour=#ffffff]"Nah, I would doubt it," [/colour][colour=#000000]she said.[/colour] [colour=#ffffff]"The schedules all get cleared after these kind of things, and as you know, I'm usually on night shifts anyway. They probably won't want me in again until tomorrow night."[/colour]

[colour=#0000ff]"Well, you certainly have the looks and charisma for the role, I'd say. You'd just need the acting chops,"[/colour] [colour=#000000]she said, smirking.[/colour] [colour=#0000ff]"So, what of it, Dr. Merlot? Have you ever tried your hoof as an actor?"[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Giving another giggle she shook her head. [/colour][colour=#0000ff]"Haven't been on the stage myself since my school days back in Cloudsdale, when I landed a starring role in the Hearth's Warming Eve pageant."[/colour][colour=#000000] She laughed some more as she recalled those distant days.[/colour] [colour=#0000ff]"An exciting experience for sure, though I never found myself particularly compelled to follow the path of an actress any further."[/colour]

[colour=#cccccc]The filly found herself smiling just slightly then as Fire sneezed a burst of flame. Spirit had better control now and thus hadn't done anything like that in a while, but it used to be a bit of a risk sometimes. It made her feel more comfortable somehow as she started to follow Moondancer out and toward the university. Passing through clover park, the filly's eyes scanned rapidly, taking in the new sights until they came upon a large marble statue. Spirit focused intently on this, especially as Moondancer brought their attention to it.[/colour]

[colour=#339999]"Bonnie!"[/colour] [colour=#000000]she shouted as she examined Bon Bon, looking over where the various odds and ends had hit her. There were lots of bumps and bruises but Lyra was quite relieved to see her mare was very much okay. She was just probably going to be kind of out of it for a while. [/colour]

[colour=#000000]All the same, Lyra felt her anger rise. Bonnie getting hurt was unacceptable. She would not let the mare responsible get away with this. This had gone on far enough. Rising to her back hooves and looking up into the sky her eyes narrowed into a glare as she found that mare. She shook her hoof at the mare and called out to her.[/colour]

[colour=#339999]"This has gone on far enough! Wrecking her cart is one thing, but now you've gone and hurt her cute little head too!"[/colour] [colour=#000000]Lyra shouted upwards at the gray and yellow pegasus.[/colour] [colour=#339999]"Get down here and face me Derpy and we'll settle this mare to mare!"[/colour]

[colour=#ff0000][colour=#ffffff]"I am very glad that Mr. Gray is the one who found me. He has taught me so much,"[/colour][colour=#cccccc] Spirit said in a soft voice looking ahead distantly. [/colour][/colour]

[colour=#ff0000][colour=#cccccc]She nodded some more as she considered some of the other things Fire had said.[/colour][colour=#FF0000] [/colour][colour=#ffffff]"I'm not sure it would be possible to make fabric entirely immune to fire or heat but from what I've read before, some fabrics are more resistant than others. Wool in particular has low flame spread rate and ignites at higher temperatures than most,"[/colour][colour=#FF0000] [/colour][colour=#cccccc]Spirit spoke rather steadily. She had once been very curious about clothing and why some ponies wore it. Mr. Gray had presented her with a number of texts on all aspects of the subject. A lot of it didn't make sense to her at the time and it still was mildly mystifying, but she could recall some details from a book about clothing and fabrics.[/colour][colour=#FF0000]

[colour=#663399]"Excellent. We'll just have to make sure we give him his space then, won't we?"[/colour] she said.

[colour=#663399]"Oh? So you want us to use him as a live model? That certainly does sound like it could be amusing,"[/colour] she said chuckling again.[colour=#663399] "Provided of course we don't make him too stressed or confined, of course."[/colour]

It was a novel idea to try and design the ensemble right onto the one it was being designed for. Rarity hadn't worked like that extensively before, but the idea did appeal to her and with these two it sounded like it could be a lot of fun. She was at the very least willing to give it a shot.

Rarity thought on it for a moment and tried to picture a number of different looks. "I'm not quite sure. Perhaps we'll find inspirations in the ensemble."

[colour=#663399]"I've since given up on dreams of princes. I don't want to say your brother is right, since it's hardly nonsense to dream, but there definitely is a difference between reality and what you'll find in fairy tales. All it took was a single evening and any dreams of princes for me shattered like a particularly fragile glass slipper,"[/colour] Rarity started in a steady voice. [colour=#663399]"it's fine to dream of your prince. Dreams are just fine... but it's never prudent to cling to them excessively."[/colour]

[colour=#663399]"Is that how it works with you griffons? How fascinating,"[/colour] she said with a nod. [colour=#663399]"Though I won't deny I have a fondness for the sophistication and class associated with Canterlot's elite, I rather agree with the underlying sentiment you speak of. Birthright is certainly no substitute for ingenuity and enterprise. I am a businessmare after all; everything you see here at Carousel is here because I made it so; nothing was given to me, and any favour I've curried with the elite was done through effort, ability and of course a little help from my friends."[/colour]

[colour=#333333]"I concur that we should follow the mountain trail. We're a small group with little to carry, and with the security afforded us by Zelda's wings, the risk should be slight--much too slight to warrant the time the path around the mountain would consume," [/colour][colour=#000000]Arcana rationalized, nodding her head.[/colour]

[colour=#333333]"On the question of when to camp however, I'm less certain. We don't know what is on that mountain and how secure it will ultimately be, and yet all of us seem fit to venture further for the moment,"[/colour] [colour=#000000]Arcana continued to convey her thoughts on the matter. [/colour] [colour=#000000]"It's certainly a risk, but the question is, is it one worth taking?"[/colour]

[colour=#ff0000]"Good. Then let's begin,"[/colour] Radiant started.

She thought for a long while about how she should do that. It followed that she should lead him outside somewhere, right? What exactly was she supposed to be inspecting anyway? Physical ability? Knowledge? Form? Ability to follow proper protocol? Why hadn't she been instructed on any of this? A blank look appeared on her face as she stared off into space for a while. She then shook her head free from her stupor and nodded again. No, she needed to keep it together and perform to the best of her ability. Even if she wasn't sure of procedure, she could do this. She just needed to be thorough and cover everything she possibly could.

[colour=#ff0000]"Follow me, solider!" [/colour]she said with a sudden nod, as she began to march. [colour=#ff0000]"We'll begin once we're outside,"[/colour] she said, all the while hoping to Celestia she knew what she was doing.