Raven Rawne

@@Naiya The Brony, I admit she has rather unusual style, especially that beret, don't you think? Just an observation. Anyways, I'm not doing as great on my front. Last week was very hectic with me moving out to a rented apartment on my own, and with all the preparations and stuff I forgot about Crystal. I tried to force her in the new home today but... it's like I reach out and there's no one there. Only a blurry puppet if I think of her visual form. She was mad at me for not forcing enough for a long time, since I;m not very good at passive and had little opportunity to sit down and do active, and now she's... gone? Is that even possible for a tulpa? Truth be told I'm worried.

@, The mare gave him a curious look. "You said changelings have Queens... Am I to understand that you're the king's son then? It's not every day I take in royalty under my roof." She looked a bit embarassed at the rumble from her stomach. "eheh, time for dinner, I guess. want anything whele I'm at it? Something to drink?" She excused herself to the kitchen area.

@@Nightmare Season, The mare had a big smile as her husband rose from his royal throne and approached her. He linked hooves with her and gently pulled her out of her own throne, and behind their fancy chairs. Good call, they wouldn't be so exposed back there. She layed on her back and eagerly awaited her release. However, Nightmare Season took his time and decided to give the belly some more love. It was nice and all, but it wasn't what she needed. As he lowered his head to kiss the belly, she put a hoof on his forehead and gently pushed down. "C'mon, don't make me beg. You know I need it..." He went lower than she wanted. "N-not there! What if, s-somepony... a-aaaaagh!" She bit her lower lip and stomped a hoof in the stone floor as she fought against the rising tide of pleasure. Finally the flood gates burst and she got loud. Her legs started kicking on their own when she climaxed, and something happenned because she heard noise of sliding stone and Nightmare stopped frying her brain with mind boggling waves of pleasure. Crystal needed a moment to recover and look at equally confused Nightmare, then all around - the stone throne moved away and revealed a staircase. She put on a sly smile and said, breathing heavily. "Told you I... thought there's a... b-basement... Ooff, give me minute. Or ten. It should be illegal to be so good at pleasuring mares... oof..." The crystal nightmare rested her head on the stone floor as her husband cleaned her up and her back legs started taking orders again. He helped her rise and they went downstairs - the stallion's fires providing light. It was qyite a trek for the expecting mother. Spiral stairs, and dusty at that, weren't something she liked particularily. They reached the bottom and stared at massive, stone doors. Crystal gave them a ook over for any mechanisms, but there were none. Just something like a big, stone handle. They both needed to put their backs to it to move the stone slab away, but it was worth it. They lost their breath as the stalion's fires shone on what was inside. Gold, gold and once again, gold. Oh and shiny gems too. And then some more gold. Whole piles of it. The treasury was stuffed to the roof. Nightmare was the first to regain his speech as they tried to encompass the sheer amount of wealth. Crystal just shone and had a silly grin on her snout. She gave him a weird look at the nanny comment and tried to say something, but she found herself on a pile of treasures - not the most comfortable surface - and her husband on top of her. Suffice to say the treasury had great acoustics. The ryl nightmares emerged some time later and Nightmare engaged the mechanism to close the entrance with his throne. Crystal still felt the after shocks in her lower parts and stood a bit shakily, but was very, very happy. She wiped some milk off his cheek with a hoof. "We don't need anypony to know of your diet, love." She sat in her crystal throne to cool down, closed her eyes and just glowed. "That was... I doubt many ponies can say they did it on a huge pile of gold.I'll lock us up there when I decide to have another pregnancy, okay? That would make a great story for the foals. Once they grow up." Crystal looked at her husband. "So I guess the royal piggy bank got stuffed just like the queenie nightmare, huh? Should be enough to pay for the necessary expenses to get the city back to it's proper shape. Since we have just three months before we need to go up North, I say we pour money in slearing space for roads and finding that quarry. I need to show ponies how to work stone, since you guys never built anytihing out of it. Thankfully basic crystal shaping and stonemasonry are much alike. I reckon a stone road would fare better in this environment that a paved one..." She gently slid off the throne and back on her hooves. "I feel like getting some mango juice and spending time with my foals. Interested?" She walked out of the throne room. Next day the royal nightmares selected their best to organise a new expedition. This time they were to follow the Old Road from the gate leading to the farm. The order was to follow the road for a week, unless they found where it lead to earlier. Tey figured that the big roads, te only ones stil vaguely visible, were leading to major locations outside the walls. And that stone and gold didn't just magically appear. The royal couple haven't decided yet whether to annouce far and wide they sat on an immense treasure or just keep quiet about it - both had avantages and disadvantages. Announcing their wealth may attract unwanted attention for once. Crystal waited anxiously for the party to return - there were three Old Roads still to explore. They returned after five days. Three out of five, one inured. They were immediately taken to a restored building that was used as a home for Healers - the royal nightmares finally managed to convince one to come. Crysatl demanded to see the explorers and not hear a redacted report on the next day. She needed help with walking down so many steep stairs but was too stubborn to turn back home. The couple went to the healer and questioned one of the stallions who was checked over and declared unharmed and in good shape. They found the Quarry two days into the trip - a great, stone hole in the ground, by his words. They went down to investigate, since it was overgrown with vines and small trees. His account made little sense to the mare. He said that the plants attacked them. Vines came alive and tried to strangulate the nightmares. Some had big barbs and they cut the wounded one deeply. The fire was good defense and eventually, they torched nearly the whole Quarry as they made a run for it, but one was killed outright by the plants and second fell through a rotten catwalk to his death. Crystal was deeply disturbed by loss of good nightmares. Especially since one was married. She decided to tell the bad news personally, since she sent him to his death. It was... the hardest meeting in her life. The nightmare mare was expecting and the news stabbed right through her heart. Crystal didn't know what to do and promised to take care of her, and the foal. They had bits right? The mare refused getting money for her husband's death and nearly chased the crystal nightmare out of her house. She was really sad for the rest of the day, and tried to come up with anything really to ease he pain of the mare.

@@Nightmare Season The mare sighed as he let go of her taps to answer. She needed to lighten the load. Crystal laughed at his proposal and booped his nose. "You've no idea how much of a strain on me it would be doncha? Three is like, the upper limit. Just look how big I am already." She listened and nodded at his reasoning. "Crystal ponies are pretty scarce, so making a mixed nation is a song of very distant future. But I wouldn't mind if some of my kin hooked up with nightmare ponies. As for equestrian ponies... there are pegasi and unicorns there, and we could use both. They would also bring some of their precious tech, which is a good thing. But we would need a green light from Canterlot to issue a call for settlers." A knock on the door startled her. Nightmare helped his wife sit straight and she covered her underside. He hopped on his throne as well - Crystal thought he looked damn good on it. The stallion called out to the newcomers to enter. Crystal pouted slightly at the sight of her brother, but, truth be told, he grew from a bratty colt into something resembling an adult stallion under Nightmare's supervision. She looked at the pair of ponies as they approached. "You... what?" - Crystal felt like somepony put ice in her brain. Him? Marry? How? She adressed the mare. "Are you absolutely sure of this decision?" She nodded. "I love your brother, my Queen. And he loves me." Snowflake nodded with pride. Crystal scrunched her nose, not sure what to do. She motioned the mare to approach. "Cone to me girl, and you don't try to overhear us, okay?" She talked with the Burning Sands mare in a hushed voice. Both shot glances at Snowflake who seemed to be on edge. She asked many questions and did her best to gauge if it's not an attempt to get to the clan money through the bed. Finally, having heard nothing suspicious, she sent the mate back to her... fiancé? "Alright, seems like your love us real by the look if it... I didn't know you had it in you, Snowflake. You have my blessing. I look forward to attending the wedding. What are you waiting for? Go get him girl!" The crystal nightmare burst in laughter once the doors closed. Once she recovered they shared a sheepish grin of understanding. "I guess he'll stay here now. I'll tell the clan leader to keep an eye on them though, he grew up these past months but marriage may be a bit too much for him to chew so easily. I wonder when I'm going to be an aunt..." She patted her chin in thought and smiled. "Heh, sorry, got carried away... Guess I'll need to make them a wedding gift. I'm so happy you put some sense in his head love, the whole family is in your debt." She leaned on her throne in his direction with a wide smile. "You look so sexy in that throne, by the way... A-aaanyways, with one servant gone, and three more foals rapidly approaching, we'll need to hire some more. And another nanny too. The royal piggy bank won't like it..." The mare frowned and looked away. "How are we supposed to line our pockets when our clan has no specialty? Every clan has dream trees now. Golden roots are sole income of our Mother. We need to find something in this forest. And build that road you mentioned - boats are good for ferrying goods but ponies don't like them. Maybe we should send patrols further along the old roads? There has to basket a quarry somewhere. Mines too, probably. We really need to go outside the walls and find stuff." She put a hoof on her abdomen and raised an eyebrow in silent invitation. She could use some more relief.

@@Nightmare Season, The mare made a very weird face. "Say what again? THIS is her lost kingdom? No wondr she didn't want to come." She recalled the butchered family with a shudder and let herself be guided by Nightmare to where he saw the relief. Five months later, this was their home. The royal family lived in the palace - now fully restored and richly decorated. The expecting mother found the stairs to be a pain in the flank though. Hard to balance with your rump up and triplets in your abdomen. So she rarely ventured out. The large amount of crystal decor was the result as she spent her time working in crystal, trying to decipher the murals and generally planning things. She also spent a lot of time thinking about the Heart - how it shattered, where the missing pieces are, how to put it together and why it responded to Nightmare Season and not her. Gluing it back like a broken crystal vase seemed out of the question, even though she was pefectly able to do that. It took four princesses to put the one up North back again after the failed Crystalling. All in all, things were looking up, even if not in the way she planned. The royal nightmares decided to make the city a permament capital - nopony knew about it for centuries at least,it was far away from their usual enemies and easily the most defensible structure the nightmare ponies ever had. With all the timber they got from the cut down trees in and around the city, they sent for carpenters from other clans to set up shops and make doors and other items and parts that were rotten away by time. Thankfully there were no gaps in the wall that surrounded their new capital, so only the gates needed to be remade and kept shut - there were four, and they kept only two operational - the one closest to docks and the farm led by Burning Sands. Crystal's list contained a road to the river and some big, proper docks, but it would take time and much more pony power than they had now. Many clans sent specialists to help and they were able to make a lot of things domestically, but it was still a long way to go before the city stood on it's own. The expeditions they sent never made it far - the jungle and one day limit made it impossible to fo more than, say, ten miles away. The source of all that stone was still a mystery but some traces of what could have been roads were found. They find the burial grounds however, and it was decided to try and comply with the rites they figured from murals. Seems like the bodies were to be burned in a large stone slab and the ashes taken to the river. Since Hearts-Dream was unreachable, they couldn't ask for guidelines. The city had underground tunnels, some collapsed. Apparently in ancient times there was a functioning sewer system and clean water was redirected from an outside source, probably the river. It would take months, or even years to fully discover all of the nouances of that system and make it work again. But there was hope. One day, Crystal Clear was in the hidden room where the Crystal Heart was hidden, pondering over it. She heard hoofsteps on the stone floor but didn't bother looking back. The belly rub told her who just came and she purred at the pleasant touch. "Mmmm... I could get knocked up back to back just so you rub me like that..." She gave him a thank-you kiss and pointed at the heart. "Dunno love, but you're related to the last ruler of this place, albeit in an unusual way. Maybe that's why - it recognises your ancestry. Still, we need to ask around in the Empire for any clues. And find the missing shards too. I have a feeling that whoever destroyed this place might have took at least one as a souvenir, and that would be bad. I just wish Mother showed up and told us anything really..." The mare got up from the rug she brought herself there and motioned her stallion to come out too. She then closed the hidden door and led him to the Throne Room. "I just can't shake the feeling that there are more rooms than we see, you know. I checked everything and there are no obvious hidden spaces wothin the palace, but who would build basically a mountain without as much as a basement?" They went inside the Trone Room - a large one, by the palace standards, with rows of collums supporting the relarively low ceiling - the civilisation that made this city preferred lower spaces and used collums with cross beams to support ceilings, rather than archways like back up North. The large, stone throne dominatedthe space at thend of the room. it stood on a pedestal and one had to walk straight from the door to approach it. Crysatl made herself another, out of crystal of course. It was placed on the right from the main one and was slightly smaller, but she didn't save time on decorations. Where the stone one was mighty, hers was fancy. She sat in it in a very un-Queen like manner, basically sideways with her hindlegs dangling in the air. Crysatl smoothed her large belly with her forelegs. She was big for her fifth month, beause of the triplets, but she felt okay and because of her larger size didn't look ridiculous. Although somepony might have thought she was due any time now. Nightmare Season took some loving advantage of his wife being easilly accessible for belly rubs. She purred under his loving touvh and took a glance at the entrance while biting her lip. She than tapped a hoof at the two smaller hills in her mountain range and gave him a wink. He could fix himself a drink if he wanted. "I can't help but dream of the day when this city is back in it's prime, with our own Heart at he top of the palace. But I fear that the clans may be unwilling to settle here, and our own is way too small to populate even a third of it... Even with the skyrocketing birth rate, courtesy of your mom, it'll take ages to make our capital a major city. Maybe we could welcome settlers from Equestria? I bet there are ponies who would answer our offer. Thoughts?"

@@Nightmare Season They went searching as she suggested. There's gotta be something... the feeling was strongest in this building. Finally realising what happened here a long time ago, the crystal night mare's mind was playing tricks on her as she saw bones in every shadow, only to discover it was a pile of leaves or some rubble. Although she did find skeletons in a large bedroom she went into. The doors were long gone but the stone furniture that barricaded it still laid crumbled on the floor. She saw a stallion right next to it. And a mare with foals in what was left of a bed. The sight was too much for her and she ran out without checking that room. About an hour into the search, she noticed something odd. A small row if lamp hangers on the wall, in a room that had three windows. She inspected the wall and hangers, noticing scratch marks and slightly wider gaps between stones where the entrance could be hidden. Guessing how the mechanism could work, she pulled all hangers but they didn't move. Rotating did the trick and with considerable effort she managed to make the ancient secret door open. It was a small chamber, not stairs down, but her eyes lit at what she found. The familiar feeling now made sense. She felt the same as when she would while standing right in front of the Crystal Heart. In a way, she was. "Nightmare! You gotta see this, quickly!" She shone the light with her crystal at the find. A real crystal heart. Shattered in a hundred pieces and hidden. Two shards were missing though. Nightmare showed up and shone the light on the matter. With his name this time. "Look what I found. The thing that rested on the busted pedestal. Now I don't know how it's even possible, but it appears to be... a Crystal Heart. Like the one up North." He picked up a shard and dropped it as it started glowing. "Dunno, I never thought there are more of them. I say we leave it here in a closed room and move in with the expedition force. Call back the boats to our main camp and keep contact via Radiance. Holing up here seems like a good idea for now as we look for clues on what happened and how they got a Heart in the first place..."

@ The mare nodded, thinking as she gazed on the crystals. "Hmm... That would explain this strange glow, I guess. Are they widely used where you found them, or you could say they're special? Funny how I thought I knew all there was about crystals, yet I have never seem any like these."

@ She shrugs and smiles. " Considering I'm a crystal pony who makes stuff from crystal and is stuck here to look for more crystals... yeah, I found them curious alright. Do they have any interesting properties? Professional curiosity, you see." She gave him a warm smile, hoping he'll tryst her enough to tell if there are any.

@ She frowned at the sight of his garments, worn well beyond repair. Why would he even keep that stuff? The map proved more interesting though. "Quite a trek, if the red line is your route. And a lot of question marks all around too." She eyes the crystals he laid on the table as she speaks.

@, With every pinned item, Cystal cooled down a bit. When she was finished, she took out a long sigh and checked the fireplace. She saw in a corner oh her eye as he took out stuf from his bag and aproached the table. "Everything in order? I kinda ran for my life the last part, so I can't vouch nothing fell out. Sorry. Oh ad sory for... you know. Ahem, nice sword by the way, so very... changeling style."

@, The mare was still spooked by the close one she had just a moment ago. Fortunately, the predators apparently left, or stayed put quietly by the door, since they couldn't hear any noises. Crystal Clear looked around and noticed she was clutching ho her guest, who was by some chance armed. She let go of him and proceeded to take off the winter gear with an awkward smile. "Um, sorry for that... I knew stuff lives here, but being chased by predators was not in the job description. I uhh... see you haven't turned the place upside down, cool." Crystal Clear got free from her heavy and wet cloths and started pinning them to dry. She gave it much more attetion than necessary and avoided looking at Aquarius.

@, The mare had some doubts leaving her safe haven in hooves of a stranger, but she didn't have much choice really. She couldn't keep an eye on him all the time and he was understandeably reluctant to go out. Reason or paranoia told her to take the key to the door. She headed back to the cave where she found him. Crystal was out for several hours, like she said. It was nearly dinner time when Aquarius heard frantic banging to the door and the mare yelling for him to open. Seems she was in a hurry. Crystal Clear fidgeted with the key when he opened, and she pounced right in, kicking the doors shut and locking every lock there was. A few seconds later, a loud thud and a predatory howl was heard. She sat, or more accurately, commapsed on her plot by the door, panting. "Friggin close one... Snow wolves caught wind of me on the way back. Nearly got me, as you can see. Oh, I have your bag too." She took the bag off her neck and handed it to the changeling. She didn't even glance at the cabin, so she couldn't notice whether anything was different or not. Another howl mde her hair stand on attention and she instinctively clutched to the changeling nearby like a scaresd filly.

@@Nightmare Season, The mare heard hoofstwps behind her as she stood on the front of her boat. It was Nightmare Season, who decided to join her in sightseeing. She smiled at his loving bellyrub. "You don't say? If you were a crystal pony, you'd be shining with me. I know you love it when I'm carrying your foals." The mare rolled her eyes and booped him at the mention os f doing it sooner. "Silly colt, give me a break between pregnancies okay? Lest I forget how it is not to be knocked up or something. I don't want to be a foal oven all my life and besides, we'll need to recruit more servants, especially a good nanny. Sparks has enough on her head already, and Crystal Fire won't share her with his siblings..." Still, the mare was happy too and nuzzled her stallion's neck lovingly. The river proved to be more of a challenge han she expected. For once, the wind wasn't always in their favour and they needed to use oars several times to make any progres against the current. Another issu was lack of suitable spots to land. It's like the jungle built walls at it's shores to prevent being penetrated by any would-be adventurers. They travelled for six days and nothing, not even a scrap of free land. She overheard some ponies who had second thoughts on the merit of this trip, and it worried her. Fortunately Nightmare Season kept her from ruminating on negatives too much. especially at night. They also had some fun with the milk pump, and Queen Nightmare decided it's better to "recycle" it herself than let it go to waste wherever Nightmare wasn't hungry. Somehow he found it rather hilarious every time she got to work by herself. On the seventh day, at late after noon, the Queen nightmare was at her usual lookout spot, on the bow of her boat. Crystal spotted something unusual in the distance and hollered to the Dark Waters nightmare captain. "Hey! Get closer to the left shore, something's out there!" several ponies overheard and came to look too. The amre smiled broadly as she saw an overgrown, but still passable, breach in the wall of trees. A gentle hill rose from the water, but something about li looked... pony made? She had a hunch it wasn't natural. "Get ready ponies, we beach there and take a look around, armor up!" She yelled and went to get her own gear, and inform Nightmare Season. Her husband lead the landing party to secure the perimeter as she looked around. Theplace up close looked too even and square to be natural. She stopped the nearest guard. "Tell the rest we're going further in. I need ten nightmares, and my husband comes with me. Rest secure the landing site and maybe let Burning Sands grab whatever they find to eat. If we don't come back till nightfall, clear some space and make fire so we can find you easier." - She sometimes forgot about locator glyphs. The expedition under the Royal couple ventured deeper into the jungle, following not-really natural looking terrain. Crystal had a hunch they'll find that city Hearts-Dream told about. They waded through the jungle for half a mile or so, it was hard to be precise in this terrain. he crysatl nightmare nearly crashed head first into a wall overgrown by vines. She shashed the plants off and took a look at what they his. Her smile broadened as she ran a hhof on what must've been smooth, quarried stone. Before she could call outto the rest, she felt somehing. A slight tug at her senses, pulling her in the direction of the wall. It felt strange, yet... familliar Like... when she was heading back to the Empire?. She decided to ask Nightmare of he felt anything. None of her companions had simillar experiences. Strange... The party followed the wall for several minutes. It was very high, but with all that vegetation it was anypony's guess how it used to look like. Finally, they found a big hole in it, apparently where a gate used to be. Only stone hinges remained, but she had a feeling the gate used to be massive. Three nightmares stacked on top of each others would barely reach the top. The stone masonry was also exceptional - the wall was made of huge stone blocks, and each seemed to fit exactly into the others. No small stomes or cement like in Equestria. Whoever made it was a genius in her book. The party went inside on high alert, just in case someone still lived here. They stood with jaws dropped when they went inside however. A city swallowed by the jungle. Made entirely of stone. Nightmares never saw anyting even remotely like that, and Crystal made a nod of approval for the skill and effort it took to build it in ages past. This was her Lost city. "Well spank my flank... Don't give me that look love, I just say that sometimes." She turned to the nightmares. "The daylight is fading, let's head back. We'll be back tomorrow morning, with axes. I want to move in." They went back to the boats, racing against the fading light. When the party arrived at their meeting point, the boars were gone. Crysatl was furious and lit her mane. "Thay had one job! Just sit on their plots and wait for Heart's sake!" She fired the orb and felt her dream hunger rise. Another replied from upriver and soon she saw the boats coming back. Before anypony could say a word, she jumped on board of the nearest one and stomped to the Dark Waters captain. "You want to sleep with the fishes?! What have I told you, fish brain?" The nightmarelooked feverishly for aid but there was none. "W-we had to go back on the boats and anchor in deep water, Y-your Higness! it's dangerous here!" She looked at him and was about to yell some more when Nightmare put a hoof on her shoulder and took over the conversation. Seems the Burning Sands went to check the plants with some escort and they ran into a big cat. One of them got scratched, but they killed the beast. Somepony had an idea to take the carcass back to skin it for it's pelt. Crystal begrudgingly acknowlendged it was a reasonable decision. She also went to see the injured pony. Nothing a good dream meal won't heal. They slept anchored in the middle of the river. Next few days went a follows - Crystal and Nightmare led parties into the city to get an idea of it's current state and usability. They encuntered some strange animals, but nothing tried to eat them At first they saw empty houses stuffed with leaves and dirt, traces of wooden decor and some stone furniture. Empty shops, workshops... Not a hint of metal, just stone and places where wood used to be. The city was large, maybe even just as big as the Empire. Oddly enough, there was a larde mountain-like structure in the middle. It loked a bit like somepony wanted to make a house on a stone hill. They reached in on the third day, after checking the buildings that were on the way. They noticed that, some time ago, thaere must've been a wide avenue leading to it from the gate. Now it was the thickest part of the jungle as the trees upset thestone slabs that made the road. It was around noon. The royal couple stood at the foot of the stairs leading all the way to the top of the strange structure. It wasn't a tower, since it was bery wode atthe base and narrowed as it went higher, like huge steps. It was placed on a square plan and made of those huge stone blocks. A large building rested atop of it. They walked up the stairs until they reached the place where the doors should be. Crysatl noticed that something was off. She saw deep scratches on the stone all around the doorway. She motioned the rest to be quiet - she remembered how the monster up North also scrathed his lair. The inside was spacious and rays of light shone through empty windows. Firsttheing they noticed was the stench. Like somepony forgot about their veggies for far too long. Still, they pressed on. It must've been a palace of sorts. The walls were decorated with sculptures depicting some rites and happenings. Crystal felt like when she was in the Crystal Plaza, the gentle tug of unseen energy beckoning her deeper into the building. They checked the groung flor and the upper levels. There was some sort of ceremonial stand on top of it, like something used to be placed there for the whole world to see. The stand in the middle was smashed. The crystal nightmare finally connected some dots with a gasp. Nightmares hurriedly looked around, thinking she saw danger. The mare pointed at the broken stand. "Look, it's been busted on purpose. See the tool marks? Here, and here. Now that I think of it, stuff we saw all around wasn't just abandoned and happened to lay at weird angles...." She ran down the stairs and fished her glow-crysatl. Knowing where she saw some toppled furniture, she went there to examine it. "See? it's been toppled on purpose. But why upset a huge stone bookshelf?" She tapped her chin as Nightmare saw something was under it. She nodded. "Can you lift that thing?" It was too havy but with some help, it stood upright for the first time in Heart nows how long. As the loud thud of stone echoed the chambers, Crystal's startled eek joined soon after. "What the hay?!" Nightmares looked at whas under the heavy furniture. Somepony toppled it on top of... another pony. A bare skeleton clothed in remnants of robes and jewelry lied broken where the pony was crushed to death. "I hope they died quickly..." The mare lowered her head and sighed. Now it made sense - the city was attacked and sacked, and never recovered. "Alright, the day is still young. Something tells me there are rooms underneath. A hunch. Look for doors, especially stone, or some conveniently placed objects. Palaces love hidden passages and whatnot." They dispersed to look for any clues.

@@Nightmare Season The clan set camp by the river in the shadow if the great jungle. Since it was a long time stay, the large royal tent was also set up. Crystal found herself often staring at the green wall as they waited for the boats. One thing she noticed that her alicorn mother in-law was strangely on edge these days. The couple tried to ask her but to no avail. Finally she said she won't accompany them, but rather visit the clans once they depart. Crystal was a bit concerned by losing their healer and oracle on that journey. Her heat came like clockwork and they both recognised the obvious signs as the mare started to get really snuggly. Fortunately, she was in control of herself, despite the burning need inside of her. She thought they nailed it down by now and it will pass as all the previous ones. Taking comfort in the known, she told her husband to wear the magic necklace when he got to easing her needs a bit in the night. So he could get something from it too, she reckoned. When she recalled it later, she had a hard time telling what really happened. They were having their fun as usual but Nightmare had a lot more if it than in her previous heats. Apparently, he lost his cool due to the spell in the critical moment. One thing she remembered clearly was the moment she felt he was knocking her up, and it was the best thing in the world. Her body hungrily accepted his offering, finally being granted what it was denied so many times before. The extatic feeling overcame her and she must've passed out from it. Judging by the way she woke up Nightmare must've followed suit. Next morning, she felt... different. Instead of the burning need was... happiness and satisfaction. Like after a job well done. She recalled the night and her eyes went wide at the realisation. She felt it, he knocked her up. The mare crawled from under the stallion, trying not to wake him, and ran straight to Hearts-Dream. If anypony saw her then, they would see the Queen running with loose, messy hair and without the trademark dress running like there was fire. "Hearts-Dream! There's an emergency, wake up!" - she basically shook the alicorn awake. As soon as the mare layed eyes on her, she told she's pregnant, and with what quantity and kind of ponies. Crystal ran a hoof over her abdomen in shock. 'T-triplets..." She couldn't tell what she felt - anxiety, a bit of fear, some anger... A nuzzle from her mother in-law helped settle her mind some, and a future reading was a big relief. She thanked for confirmation and future reading, and went back home to tell the news. A few ponies were out and about and her messy look raised some attention. Crystal had to tell she's fine to one or two passerby. The mare reached the safety of her home and went to the bedroom. There was something she needed to do immediately. Nightmare was still in bed when she walked in. Crystal went straight to the jewelry box and took off her pregnancy amulet without a word. Nightmare Season shot up wide awake and started frantically apologising her for knocking her up against her wish. The mare was still unsure what to think and simply announced. "Triplets, two identical crystal colts and a nightmare mare." She found herself in a tight hug and under a barrage of kisses. Over the next two days, the whole clan heard the improbable news. Some ponies reportedly wanted to bet if she can conceive quadruplets, ridiculous as it may sound. Crystal Clear herself got over the initial shock and doubts and was very happy with her current state, as obviously visible with her crystal coat. Nightmare Season was also beside himself from happiness. One could argue that he loved his wife the most when she's knocked up with his foals. When the Dark Waters came with their boats, Crystal Clear was first to inspect them and pick the safest one for her family. One had a hastily added room under the sun deck, and she claimed it without a second glance. Seeing the size and properties of the vessels, she and Nightmare picked the right amount of guards and civilians for the adventure into the unknown. They lacked a healer since Hearts-Dream packed up and left, but the crystal nightmare had her secret way of bringing nightmare ponies back from the brink. It took another three days to load the boats, recruit from volunteers and settle things in camp so the clan won't thin out without leadership. On the dawn of fourth day, they set sail upriver. Crystal was standing on the bow of her flag vessel, staring at the land in front of her. The adventure began.

@ She nodded. "Alright, white bag. I'll look for it and do my best not to look inside. I don't like poking my nose in other ponies stuff. So, see ya when I see ya!" The mare took a last glance at her cabin, as if hoping she'll find everything the same when she comes back, and went outside.

@@Nightmare Season The mare seemed to like the fact they will finally start exploring the jungle. Since she still had her forelegs wrapped around him, she gave him a kiss. "Sure does my Sultan. Although I'm a bit afraid of going into the unknown with the whole family..." They decided to have some fun with the foals till dinner. Sparks was busy with something and didn't come to check on her favourite colt like she usually did. Crystal decided it was probably because of her brother... Speaking of whom, he was frantically serving them dinner. The crystal nightmare was very amused by that fact and tried to ask her husband how did he convince him to move his lazy flank that was "born to higher purposes". He told her that she agreed to give him under his authority and his methods are his own. She wasn't thrilled with the answer but thanked him for the result. Maybe that pony will learn something after all... She was with her foals when Nightmare cane with a letter. They both shared a good natured laugh at that. "A love story? Already? Well we can't possibly stand I'm the way of love now can we? I sure hope she won't find him with another..." Morning came and the couple managed to retain a measure of self control in bed. Crystal asked Nightmare to take the lead in deciding when he wants to have some fun. She needed a break from starting things because of her lust clouded judgement. The mare decided to try and control her urges better. Nightmare ordered to break camp and follow the river to the jungle. Crystal was happy for the adventure and talked her husband's ears off in the wagon. Especially since Crystal Flames said his first proper word. Oddly enough it was "Sarks" - Sparks. Not mom or dad. They had a laugh knowing what their alicorn mother told them about his future. Also, Snowflake was acting like a servant who wants a raise for good job. That was so surreal. Day after day the clan moved upriver. The now familiar routine didn't bother the mother who was much more concerned with how to keep her kids safe while they explore the unknown. They reached the forest and made camp next to the river. Now they needed to wait for the boats. And her heat.

@ She nodded slowly, then got back to dressing up. "If you say so. I'm going back to the cave I found you in, anything you left behind maybe? Also, if everything goes well I'll be back before dinner. Earlier if the weather starts getting bad." She was nearly ready to go.

@ She stopped dressing up to think for a moment, placing a hoof on her chin as she eyed the changeling. "Hmm yeah, that makes sense... I don't want to empty your love reserves. So, you'll manage? Or you'd like some pointers on where to find stuff? Also, I know it can get boring in here so I don't mind if you start looking around. Just don't try and mess around the big chest okay? You probably won't open it anyway."

@ She shrugged and went to check the fire. "Alright. You know where's the tap with water if you need something to drink. Bathing is a bit tricky since you need to warm up the water on the stove first, but still doable. Hmm, guess it's time to hit the trail. The fire will burn for several hours without any intervention, so don't worry. Like I said, you can keep me company or stay put, it's your call." Crystal starter dressing up. She already prepped her saddle bags.

@ The crystal mare finished her grooming, washed her teeth and even cleaned their hoof boots, among other things that came to her mind, before Aquarius woke up. "Well good morning there. How was the night? Weather is good so I'll try and look for more crystal rich sites. You can tag along if you want to. Oh and, want some breakfast? Tea? Whatever? "

@@Pripyat Pony Crystal Clear raised an eyebrow at the sudden transformation of the mare's pen, and burst in laughter. ""Haha thanks! Although I kinda live here all my life, no need to welcome me." She gave the crystal unicorn a wink and patiently awaited her order. @ Another customer walked in and the mare glanced who it was. A unicorn mare, another newcomer by the look of it. Some days she wished to come back a thousand years where there were no tourists.

@ Crystal observed as Aquarius climbed the top bunk to get some rest. She was a bit weirded out by him not saying anything. "Uhh, goodnight? I guess?" She frowned at lack of reply and hopped off her bed to grab something to eat and go through her evening routine. Half an hour later she was back by the bed, with her mane and tail wrapped in tight buns. She set an alarm to wake her in four hours to throw more coal to the fire and check if the door still open. Then she made herself comfortable and drifted off to sleep. The night was peaceful. She got up at even intervals to check the fire. The wind died out so she didn't have to go outside. The mare got up for good when her alarm went off and it was bright outside. A clock on the wall said it was nine AM. Since the changeling was still sleeping, she made herself breakfast and proceeded with the morning routine - brushing the coat, styling mane and tail, brushing teeth, that kind if thing.

@ The mare noticed that her guest was quiet the whole time and looked out into the room to see what he was doing. She had the impression that he was tired. "Sorry for not shutting up for a moment. I can make you supper or, if you want, you can just catch some Z's. I'll keep an eye on things."

@ With extra help, Crystal Clear shovelled the snow away much faster, which in turn allowed her to come back inside sooner. She motioned Aquarius to get in, since the weather was soo unpleasant to stay out for longer than absolutely necessary. "Off, scratch that snowball fight. I'm staying inside!" She announced as soon as her face mask was off. She shook all the loose snow and it started melting into some pattern of grooves etched in the crystal floor. The mare noticed he just saw them. "Made it myself to ease with cleaning the water. It all follows the grooves back to the door, allowing to be cleaned with a rag. I sure hope the wind dues out before tomorrow though, I've got crystals to find!" She pinned both sets of clothes to dry off and checked the stove - the fire was okay. Then she pounced back on her bed and stretched on it. "Guhh, why I always let myself be tricked like that? I could be sipping my favourite Brandy in my cozy home right now!" She let a deep sigh. "I'm too sober for this shit."

@, Crystal smiled and nodded. "Thanks, I'll sure appreaciate some help with keeping our little hideout from becoming our tomb... I'll take out the other shovel while you get dressed, okay?" She pulled down a ladder and went up to reach the tool from a stack of stuff that was in the "attic", then went down holding it in her teeth. Crysatl put it against a wall next to hers and finished dressing. When both were ready, she pushed the doors open, albeit with some problems, and started shovelling the snow away from the door. She shouted over the wind. "We gotta get rid of this pile and shove it downwind, away from the door! It always blows down the valley! Then we shovel the right side of the house until you see the ice! This way we keep the snow from breaking the window!"