Raven Rawne

@@Orange Sparks, The guard looked at the princess, puzzled. "Well, where else would he be in not in the capital?" Crys nodded to her fiance. "Seems plausible. Now let's get going, I have a long talk ahead of me..." She looked at the guard who took the reins of her oxen. "Instruct the stables to give her the best they've got, and if they complain, say I'll pay. Oh and just leave the cart loaded somewhere, we'll pick our things later." The mares were guided by one of the guards through the maze of corridors inside the city walls until they finally saw sunlight again. It seemed they were in the guard barracks beneath the palace, which rested atop a hill. Their guide led them through some more corridors and staircases and after a little while they found themselves within the familliar walls of the Royal Palace, nearing the main courtyard. Justice Sword looked at his daughter and couldn't help but share at least some of her enthusiasm. "Well only one way to find out right? But I bet they look good in it, they're knights after all."

Crystal Clear was... less than thrilled about her slip-up, but she had a record of saying whatever was on her mind when her head ached. And now it did. Still, gauging from the responses of other attendants she made some rudimentary assessments who had the most buddying potential. Seems like the winged trio had the most, and for once she was greatful that the counsellor wasn't a complete stuck-up - if she really had to resign from a pint to relax every now and then, the thestral would have a regular guest... The mare nodded at the captain when he adressed her... pressing concern, and regretted the gesture once she felt her headache worsen with rapid head movements. In fact, her implant whirred in and out of focus a couple of times. She would happily go to her room once the captain released them, but there was a certain pony with a pack of nasty needles glaring at them like lab rats... She interjected before everyone rose off their seats: "Um, captain, I suggest we give the doc those samples before we leave." She looked at the mare and continued with an unreadable expression. "I'll go first, unless you want somepo, I mean, someone else take the honor..." Once the doc replied and stated her will, and it was Crystal's turn, the redd mare walked to dr Blood and rolled up her sleeve. "Not sure if it makes any difference to you, but I'm having a headache right now. Haven't taken any meds though." Good thing she didn't drink ever since she was pulled back from vacations and sent here... Crystal offered her arm, clenched her teeth and looked through the window on "Luna" once the other mare took her sample. Once the procedure was done, she rolled back her sleeve and simply walked back to her place, where she awaited till the blood business was over. Once the doctor was finished, the captain once again released them and closed the meeting. Crystal walked out of the conference room and immediately reached for a pill, then went back to her temporary den to take her stuff. The pain subsided a little bit on the way to her room, and since she was already packed to leave the station, Crystal just hoisted a large duffle bag and her trusty toolbox, then walked towards the sleeve connecting this station to her new home. It took around... 20 minutes to reach the sleeve and she entered "Luna" by the shuttle hangars. It was pretty close to the main engineering and her new quarters, just a short walk and a turbolift descent to the loer level. Soon enough the mare was standing before the Chief Engineer Office and pressed the passcode to open the door. The comouter read her combadge's credentials and saved her as the resident off this quarter, then opened the doors. Crystal left the toolbox on a shelf above a small replicator unit and started unpacking her stuff, now free of the headache - those meds were ma miracle.

@@Orange Sparks, Crys tried to shrug, but of course her armour made the gesture impossible. "Nopony's puting anypony down. There's this thing called retirement, remember?" She waited as her fiance got rid of some of her armor, then proceeded towards the gates. When Clarissa inquired about the guards, Crystal waved her hand dismissively. "Probably decided to look like they're actually doing something useful once they saw you coming. You know, looking good before the princess and all that. Us looking like we cut our way through the whole island against a hostile army might also be a factor. Or there's something I completely missed, like some important guests arriving soon." Once the mares reached the main gate, two guards stood watch by the entrance, with everal more poking their heads from arrow slits and over the parapets. Both stood on attention when the princess approached, and the one asked, answered. "Peace and quiet, your Highnes, we have evrything under control. Also, we were ordered to instruct you that the palace has requested you take the shortcut through the walls while we take care of your cart, because you..." "...look like you slew a whole minotaur longship? That's what you meant?" - Crystal Clear showed up from behind Clarissa, casually holding her hand on the pommel of her saber and smiling somewhat. "Well, we had some warm-up on the way. Speaking of which, we saw an abandoned cart on the Spine Tract, on the other side of the Forest. Send somepony to investigate, looked like something violent. Now let's get moving, we're blocking the way." the guards exchanged glances, and one hurriedinside to fetch for a guide and another to take care of the oxen. After a minute or so he was back with two more and the mares were instructed to enter the gatehouse, and further towards the palace. *Throne Room* The Crown Prince nodded and led his daughter out of the Throne Room and towards the main courtyard whre the guards were supposed to lead the mares.

@@Orange Sparks, That was... unexpected. Crystal Clear found herself with a crying finace and confused oxen. She patted the other mare in the back and said: "Oh come on now, she'll be around when we will consider traveling out of our land as a major adventure... even if we'll just head to Opal for a market day. Besides, you make her feel awkward with the waterworks." The oxen huffed and pawed dirt with her foreleg, as if in agreement. "Hear that? You promised her some good stuff, so let's get going and make good on your promise. We don't want her to think lesser of us now don't we?" The mare waited patently for her fiance to get a hold on herself, and only then resumed the walk. Crystal could've sworh she saw some movement near the gate and muttered. "Seems they finally noticed us and scramble to the guard posts..." *Opal Hill* Justice Sword looked at his shaken daughter and nodded. "They were, but Clarissa wrote they both are okay, so I see no reason to worry for them. Come on, let's come and greet them in the courtyard."

@@Orange Sparks, Crys observed the oxen as Clare talked to her and scratched her ear. "She acts like she could, you know, really understand it all. Shame she can't reply, would be nice to talk so somepony, err, oxen, who doesn't want to get under my tail... Just a random observation." The crystal mare looked ahead and smiled. "Better start thinking what to wear, we're nearly at the gate. And jump off that cart or ponies will think you're wounded or something. We don't want any more gossip than there will already be when they see us wearing scarlet all over the plate. *Opal Hill* Justice Sword's face softened. "Seems she really did make a good call then. Still, keep in mind that it'll be your decision, nopony is pushing you to do anything in this case so take your time, get to know him..." He stopped mid sentence, seeing a guard standing in the doorway. "Come on in, news I presume? The guard approached and stood on attention. "Your Highness, we've spotted Princess Clarissa and Countess Crystal Clear approaching the Main Gate. They should enter the city proper in a few minutes..." He glanced at the princess, but decided to carry on the report. "...both are wearing armour and look like they had a serious fight. The captain decided to inform you immediately, any orders?" The Crown Prince looked at his daughter. "Yes, I knew about this part, and they're both fine." Then he adressed the guard. "Intercept at the gate and lead straight to the palace, I don't need a town full of gossip..." The guard turned around and left to carry out the instructions.

@@Nightmare Season, Crystal Clear was too shocked to even register that Nightmare jumped off his elevated vantage point. Only when he appeared in her field of view and speak aloud did she stir out of her stupor. "Wai... Wha..." The mare mumbled incoherently and dropped on all fours, then looked at the nightmare pony, snd nodded. "T-thanks for letting me... you know. I didn't know I could do much more than curl up and shake..." She recalled Nightmare's instructions and thought the maul to disappear, which it did. She refused to look at the corpse, however. "Yeah, those are... were... the Crystal guards that swore to Him. I have no idea what they are now though, but I wouldn't call them ponies. Unicorn courtiers aren't any more appealing." She brought a shaking hoof to her mouth and looked around to make sure she didn't summon one, then sighed deeply. She noticed Nightmare got rid of the guard, and that the hoof shaped cracks in the floor also disappeared. The comment about the taste was enough of a clue what happenned. The mare looked up at the sheer cliff face and thought about stairs. Surely, a flight of spiral stairs grew out of the floor and allowed them passage up, then disappeared once they were on the small platou. She nodded at Nightmare's offer to rest and laid on her couch, then brought a hoof in front of her face - slightly shaking. Crystal looked at Nightmare who also took his seat. "Co how am I supposed to keep cool if I get so frightened in a dream, fully aware that I'm safe from harm? Oh and keep feeding, starting from that bottle over there. I'm not going to drink away my fear, not this time." She refused to look at the bottle, laying on her back again and admiring the stars to calm down. Crystal tried her best not to conjur any more thngs with her thoughts, but one idea kept coming back to her, refusing to go. With a sigh she rolled over to face Nightmare and said, like it was the most normal thing in the world. "I need to get over this fear or I'll get us both killed. I'll come down and you feed on this dream so hard the stars will go out. If there will be enough of them, feel free to train some too but I need to get used to the thought that they can be beaten." She smiled encouragingly. "Whenever you're ready."

@@Orange Sparks, Crys took the toffee apple and nodded. "Thanks. I have a feeling I'll spend a lot of time by the table in upcoming days..." The oxen seemed to be rather enthusiastic ofthe prospect, since she moved her head up and down energetically a couple of times. Crystal Clear laughed and scratched the animal behind the ear. "Seems she agrees! Of course we'll keep her, rarely do I see much even tempered and eager to work animals. Since she's still young, there's no reason to even consider any changes in our tight knit band." She looked ahead and sighed in relief: "Finally, we're getting close. I can't wait to change into something not drenched in blood... Come to think of it, I want a nice dress. Been a while since I wore one." *Opal Hill* Justice Sword observed his daughter's happiness. She didn't even know this colt, but the fact that her sister picked him was enough for her. "Hold on with the celegrations until you actually meet him, darling, but I'm fairly sure Clarissa made a good choice." He narrowed his eyes a bit as his daughter guessed who he was. "Actually... yes. Do you know him?"

@@Nightmare Season, Like a self fulfilling prophecy, the crystal pony heard the cound of breaking crystal followed by a savage roar coming from behind, She instinctively yelped and curled into a ball as Nightmare Season shot whatever-it-was into kindling with his fire magic. Still spooked, Crystal parted the barrier of her forelegs around her head to take a look at her saviour, who casually explained what happenned. She couldn't help but glare at him for a moment, since she had no idea that casually mentioning something like that can have far reaching consequences within the dream. She batted her ears in all directions, listening in. Once she was pretty sure nothing was standing pover her, ready to turn her into ribbons, the mare decided to lay on the couch normally again. Faking nonchalance, Crystal Clear rolled on ber back, swept her mane out of the way and crossed her hindlegs in a very casual manner that gave the stallion a full view of her cutie mark and surrounding area. Apparenty Nightmare was in for a demonstration and Crystal looked as he grew a berry bush out of thin air, then toss a ripe fruit her way. The mare cauche it with her teeth and chewed, then remarked in her usual way. "Weeell, I prefer these in liquid form but I guess... oh." Just as she said it, a bottle and two shot glasses appeared on the small table between them. Somewhat irritated, the mare said to herself: "Great, now whatever I think or say will happen..." She scrunched her muzzle and stared into the night sky for some time, doing her best to ignore the bottle. The mare heard a rumble of shattering crystal some distance away and rolled her eyes. "Come on, I wasn't thinking about anything this time!" She rose into a sitting position on her comfy couch and saw a figure in the distance, crawling from underneath the smooth red crystal floor. Crystal Clear cocked her head a bit and observed the newcomer with curiosity, until she identified who - or more precisely what, it was. A crystal Pegasus, corrupt by the King's magic that turned him into a living suit of crystal armor. The red mare whispered to the fiery stallion: "Take a gooood look at him, cause if the camp we're going to is really populated by the supporters of the late King, it will be swarming with these." Since the intruder didn't notice the pair just yet, Crystal continued. "That's what's left of a Crystal Guard who swore to Him. Nopony knows what's inside those sull suits of corrupt armor, but I guarantee you that these guys don't go down easily." She felt something heavy on her lap and loked down to see the very same crystal maul she decided to pick as a weapon for the rest of her journey. The mare looked as the nightmare stallion, puzzled. "Is that your idea of facing fears?" - she exclaimed somewhat and immediately put a hoof over her mouth, eyes wide. She said it out loud, and really loud too. A tortured noise of mismatched parts of the corrupt armour was all the evidence she needed to know the guard finally noticed them, and charged in. Crystal Clear was clutching to the maul like a plush animal, darting her eyes between the guard and Nightmare Season, who this time didn't blow the danger up the moment it showed up. The guard was getting closer, making dents in the floor as the cannonade of heavy steps and poorly matching armor parts made a deafening sound. Crystal saw only the tip of his lowered spear, aimed straight at her. Since apparently Nightmare decided to sit this one out, she gulped audibly, slid off the couch and with the maul slung over her shoulder, hooves shaking, she approached the egde of the platou. A flight of stairs rose from the floor below and aloed her to descend on the lower level, but retracted the moment she touched the red crystal floor. Shaking with fear, eyes wide, only her and the towering monstrosity dead set to kill her. Crystal Clear waited till the guard was really close, then sidestepped and used the momentum to spin around, with the maul in her forelegs. By design of pure luck, she struck squarely into the back of his head and crushed the helmet, sending the armored figure straight into the cliff face of her comanions vantage point. The guard crashed into it and laid lifeless, as Crystal stood on her hindlegs, with the big maul for support, eyes fixed on her fallen enemy and panting hard.

@@Nightmare Season, Srystal Clear considered Nightmare's imput, rubbing her chin and pacing to and fro on three legs. "Hmmmmm... so all I have to do is think of something, like, really intensly, right? Shouldn't be that much of a problem then..." She ran through ideas for a safe, but comfy place to wait out the dream once it turned sour and dangerous. It took a few minutes but finally she stopped and looked at the nightmare pony with a smirk. "Alright, I think I have an idea. Prepare. To be. Amazed! ...or not, your mileage may vary." The mare shrugged as she closed her eyes and concentrated on the image in her head. The ground shook slightly and both ponies found themselves on a small, oval platou made of sky blue crystal, around 30 steps in length and 20 in width. The scenery around them seemed to be swallowed by waves of cherry red crystals encompassing everything like a sea. Suddenly, the violent sea of pinty shards beneath smoothed and formed a perfectly still, flat surface around a meter below the crest of their platou. The sky changed into a perfect recreation of the night above the Empire, without even a single cloud. At last, two large comfy sofas draped in scarlet cloth appeared in the middle of the platou, with an ornate round table between them, made of deep blue crystal. Crystal Clear opened her eyes and exhaled - she didn't know she was holding her breath. The mare looked around at her handiwork, and hopped on the nearby couch, then laid on it and stretched her legs in satisfaction. "Mmmm, I could get used to it. I know it's not very fancy, but I wanted something simple to see how I'll manage. Plus, it's easier to spot the dream going South." She patted the couch and pointed to the opposite one. "All yours, now we can chat in some decent conditions." She laid on her back and stared at the stars. "Damn... Why dreams don't work like this on regular basis... Oh and don't worry, I won't hate you if you sart feeding off my Magnum Opus or something, so feel free to nibble as much as you want." She waved a hoof dismissively at the surrounding landscape. "Not like there's anything around that can suddenly sprout big teeth and try to eat me or something haha!"

@@Orange Sparks, Crys giggled: "I know right! It's fantastic when it happens, but more importantly, if feels fantastic! But I love you the way you are, keep that in mind." She leaned and whispered into her fiance's ear, since she didn't want to offend Quill: "Once we get to Opal, we can see your mage friend and ask if he can make you something, a ring maybe, that'll put an illusion of being crystallised." The crystal mare let go of her fiance, who took the opportunity to hide the necklace in a pouch. Quill Dip observed the mares with some amusement, and once Clarissa said farewell, he smiled and nodded. "I'll be waiting for a message from you two." Then he ueged his ox to start walking and went his way. Crystal Clear waved the mage goodbye and heard the telltale sound of an armored pony climbing atop the cart. "I appreciate you gove me opportunity to excercise, but I had enough in the academy, remember? I can't be snuggly when I burn all I eat..." She turned around and took the reins of their oxen, and started walking towards the capital. "Now would you please toss me something to eat so I won't keel over before the city gates?" - she looked up at Clare laying in the cart and smirked. *Opal Hill, Throne Room* The stallion chuckled at his daughter's reaction. "Thought you'll react this way, just... make your sister happy by pretending I didn't tell you, okay? We both know she'll want to make it a big announcement." Celeste had to sense there was something more to the story, and the prince considered his options for a moment, but caved in. "Alright, fine! She also wrote she met somepony she'd like you to meet. A stallion. She said he'll be pefect for you and so on, but you better see for yourself. Apparently she found him in a village not far from here." He just hoped his daughter won't sense he witheld some bad news too... telling her about the attack was not on his list of priorities.

@@Nightmare Season, Crystal Clear walked the alleys of her hometown and noticed how many things were different. Seems dream worlds made a poor job of recreating actual, existing places. The notion of changing the scenery intrigued her. "So you say it's possible to change the scenery? Well I'm all in considering it's all going to get twisted and whatnot but... I've no idea how to do it." She pondered the idea for a bit until Nightmare asked about the statue, and she burst in laughter. "Hahaha no idea! But it's so hilarious, isn't it?" She bumped at him playfully. "As if I wanted you in my dreams, maybe. I guess I'm going to miss our little dream escapades and hence the statue? No really, I wouldn't think too much about it." The mare noticed yellowing leaves on nearby bushes, a clear sig that nightmare was feeding. Good. She turned towards him and stopped him with a hoof. "Alright, that's far enough I guess. Now you mentioned about going someplace else. So how do I do it? We could sit down comfortably somewhere, maybe even avoid the bulk of bad stuff happening in the dream."

@@Orange Sparks, Crys chuckled once Clare let go of her. "It seems she really is standing in front of me, yeah... Also, nice to know you have Northern ancestry, but I told you already, both parents have to be crystal, and your dad just isn't. It's like with certain eye colors, from what I've heard." Quill scratched his head and replied unsurely: "Well, she knows better than me but, as far as I can tell, she's right. Sorry." The crystal mare higged her fiance and said: "I know you're hoping to turn out a crystal pony to make it easier for my father to bear, but really, there;s no need. I already told you I'll talk to him and try to reason with him. I appreciate the effort, but take pride in your real ancestry, okay? I didn't fall in love in a maybe crystal pony, but you, the way you are. C'mere..." She grabbed the other mare for another hug and held for a bit. *Opal Hill, Throne Room* The Crown Prince was seated in his throne, thinking about something, when his younger daughter arrived. He looked around the chamber, stirred from his musings, then focused on the young mare and smiled. "Ah, yes, that I did... She's fine, I assure you. I just recieved a letter that she's on the way and should arrive later today. Actually, I have some good news about her." Justice Sword saw a hint of uncertainty in his daughter and shook his head, smiling. "We're alone, you don't have to abide by the straight laced court rules, you know that. Come closer, let's talk like father and daughter." He waited till Celeste was standing by the throne, then told the news. "Remember how Clarissa asked about Mother's ring a few months back? Turns out she put it on somepony's finger and proposed, and that pony said yes." He held his hand in the air so Celeste would let him speak. "I won't keep you in suspense, don't worry. it's Crystal Clear, her best friend. Took them long enough..."

@@Orange Sparks, The unicorn clsped his hands excitedly once Clare decided to purchase the necklace. "I knew you'd like it! Plus it has some realy good magic in it. The, um, price, is on the tag." He took the money and hid it in his cart, then Clarissa asked him about her mother. The unicorn gave her a puzzled look, then glanced at Crystal Clear who was busy with the engagement ring and it dawned on him. "Ooooh I see... Now keep in mind that you either are a crystal pony, or not. There's no in-between in this case, just like you can't be half pegasus. But that being said, yes, she was a crystal pony, just like your friend here." He offered a warm smile to the pegasus. Crystal was playing with the ring, looking as sunlight danced on the emerald's facets and thinking about things. Mentioning crystal ponies, and Clarissa's mother caught her attention, but she pretended to be busy with her thoughts and just perked her ear to hear the conversation better. Only when Clare asked her directly did she look up, smiling deviously and sliding the ring back on her finger.. "Well yes, a certain mare... Pegasus, grey fur, smoking hot. Have you seen her?"

@@Orange Sparks, Quill Dip looked over the princess's shoulder to see what picked her interest. "Aaaah, that one. Well it sure would look good on your sister, that's for certain. Now most of my jewelry has some beneficial arcane properties, and this necklace is no different - the tiny runes on the back of it's precious stones, along with their distinct shape and spells cast upon them, improved the overall health of it's wearer over time. Perfect for somepony recovering from injury, or generally of frail health. Could also be used by mares who want to become or already are preganant. Really, it can be worn all the time by anypony, so if you think she'll like it, the magical properties will be a boon to her health." Meanwhile Crystal Clear was busy playing with her engagement ring and thinking how her own gift to Clare should look like.

@@Orange Sparks, Crystal Clear took a better look at the stallion. Come to think of it, yeah, she saw him on the court a couple of times... Quill Dip needed a moment to register who stands before him, but once he did, the stallion smiled widely. "Princess Clarissa! What a pleasure to see you! Didn't recognise you in all that plate..." He trailed off for a moment, looking at the pegasus up and down, but resumed soon after. "Well I, uh... used to. Now he has a new advisor and sent me on, uhhh... vacation! Yes, a long, overdue, vacation." He nodded to himself as he led the mare to the back of his wagon, where she could see his stuff. The unicorn gave her a curious look when Clarissa asked abut the other mage, and sighed. "I guess it's the same one that took my place in the court so, yes, I met him indeed. When he went to my study and asked if I'll be taking something with me." A humorless chuckle finished this sentence. Quill Dip nearly choked with air once the Princess gave him a proposiotion. He looked at her, then Crystal, then again at her. The crystal mare was leaning on their cart's side when she took off her gauntlet and showed the ring."The offer is legitimate, I assure you." The stallion stammered for a moment, then replied somewhat too hastily. "Of course I'd like to! Oh and uhh, nice to know you two finally figured things out for yourselves. I was about to go back home and hole up for some time before I decide what to do next, so you'll find me there when you'll need me." He was still rcovering from the good news when Clare asked Crys to come over and see something. The mare took the pendant in her hand and gave it a look over. "Seems like a replica of what we Crystal Ponies wear, but it's mountain crystal, not the type found in the Frozen North. Still, nice craftsmanship." Quill Dip offered a hurried explanation. "Well yes, it's not the same as your pendant, Countess, but mountain crystal, if pure like this one, can have arcane use for, say, amulets and talismans. This little piece is imbued with protective magic, making it a useful amulet against harm. Just... don't test it by shooting arrows at each other. It's not THAT powerful."

@@Nightmare Season, The mare shrugged. "Seems like it. Even in my dreams I can't get away from it..." She rubbed a hoof into the workbench by which she spent countless hours, thinking of her work. Nightmare spoke again and walked in to take a seat "She looked at him inquisitively, "See that thing in the corner? Draped with a blanket? It's a small Alchemy lab and the real secret of my trade. Every good stonemason or jeweller could learn to work crystal, but they won't be able to make this house, not in a million years. Only the crystal menders know the secret of joining the crystals together into larger pieces and I'd prefer it stayed this way, if you know what I mean..." She didn't mean to sound rude, so shesmiled at him and added. "Of course I know you wouldn't just steal it, I have faith in you." She brought a hoof to her chin as Nightmare asked if he could start feeding, and what she was making. "Sure thing, that's why I'm explicitly stating it every evening, am I not? I don't want you to starve in my company." Crystal turned around in her stool and gazed on the paper with her schematics. "Hmm, let's see... That... makes no sense whatsoever. I was trying to make... your statue? Weird, but also kinda funny, don't you think?" Before he had a chance to respond, she held her hoof in the air and exclaimed: "wait a moment! Let's go out of town before you start feeding, okay? I know dreams aren't real and all, but I don't fancy seeing my own house turn into something creepy. oh, and you were about to say something, sorry. Speak your mind while we vacate these premises, alright?" Crystal offered an apologetic smile as she hopped off her stool and walked outside with the stallion, towards the green fields outside town.

@@Nightmare Season, Crystal Clear was in her workshop, sitting on a stool and hunched over a sheet of paper. She was planning her new product, sketching parts and scribbling notes. Every once in a while she hopped off her seat and walk towards a stack of crystal blocks she assembled in the center of her shop, made measurments and etched marks where to cut. The slabs protecting the windows from peering eyes and theft were lifted and allowed sunlight inside. Sounds of a busy early afternoon in the Empire were heard through the windows. The doors to the hallway were open so she could hear customers walking in. Rows of tools, some rather strange looking, were hanging on the walls or resting on shelves, easily accessible from the sliding ladder, like the type they have in libraries. In the far corner, some piece of furniture was hidden beneath a large blanket, apparently to hide it's purpose. The mare continued her planning for some time, deep concentration apparent on her face, but it was also plain that she enjoyed her work. Finally, she took a saw off the wall and placed one of the crystals on the workbench to cut it. Slowly and deliberately, Crystal Clear dropped several small crystal pieces into holes drilled in the bench, then placed the crystal block the exact way she wanted, and put a saw to it. She was about to take the first cut when she smiled widely and said without turning. "Standing in the doorway and looking at me working? Come inside, there's nothing secret in this stage of my craft." The crystal mare laid off the saw and turned to face the door, since she saw a figure in a reflection of her saw.

Crystal Clear was in her designated quarter aboard the Starbase 238, laying on the bed and staring in the ceiling. Her mind was racing with a barrage of thoughts and she could feel the telltale signs of an encroaching headache. Blasted implant. A sudden announcement through the base's speakers startled her. "Huh? Well then... guess I get ready for thiss show..." - She muttered to herself as she rose on her hooves and walked to the bathroom to get ready. After three thorough brushings of her coat and several more attempts to style her mane just right, the mare got dressed in her Starfleet uniform - the dress one with a tube skirt and knee high hoof boots. Wouldn't hurt to look formal for once... She left the room with her earpiece and a couple painkiller pills in her pocket, just in case. Crystal muttered to herself encouragingly as she opened the door of her designated quarter: "You got this Crys, just keep your mouth shut and it'll be fine..." Crystal Clear walked into the meeting room along with a few other ponies who, apparently, were her fellow officers aboard "Luna". A lone human in the bunch picked her interest, along with a thestral. She smiled a little as she took her seat facing the window and as close to the door as reasonably possible. Old habits after an odd decompression years ago... 'Guess I won't be the only weird one around.' - she thought to herself as she took her seat. That's when she noticed her ship throught the window and greeted her with a wide smile. She couldn't wait to feel the slight trembling of a warp core under her hooves again. She turned towards the door as another attendant walked in, her captain judging from his red shirt and 4 pips. Everypony (and human) rose off their seats to greet their commander with a salute, and took their seats soon after. The mare listened to his introductions. Once the captain introduced her, Crystal grinned sheepishly, despite the rising headache. Should've taken the pill earlier... She replied: "Thank you sir. I won't let you down." Then thought to herself: 'Hopefully...' The mare listened to the other introductions, nodding and laughing occasionally as the cap seemed in the mood for jokes. She gave the doc a good look once it was her turn, and made a mental note: 'better stock on painkillers like candy for Hearts Warming.' When captain Sol asked if they have any questions she just had to do it... The mare looked around the room, faked a puzzled expression and asked: "So... where's the champagne for good luck?" She laughed a moment later and waved a hand apologetically. "Just kidding, really."

@@Nightmare Season, Once the pair left the kitchen, Crystal Clear went to the doem and grabbed her things, leaving only the small mirror and comb for tomorrow. She dumped her saddlebags near the sleigh, where Nightmare was giving her stuff another look over. Themare fished the hidden bottle out of her bags and said with an apolgetic grin. "I was about to lift it secretly back home but... you spooked me with that lost valuables stuff, so I better leave it where I found it. I mean, We'll probably make a stop here on our way back anyway. Be right back." Wit hthat being said, she trotted off to the office they found the other day, and placed the bottle in the cabinet there she found it. "I'll be back for you, so don't go anywhere, got it?" She nudged the bottle as if expecting a solemn promise to comply, but nothing happenned, so she closed the cabinet shut and walked back to Nightmare. "Geez, you were counting everything three times, weren't you? And I see you made out your mind on the spears too, good. Told you I wouldn't know which end to point at 'em anyway. THAT's more like me..." She pointed a hoof at a nice, solid crystal maul resting against the wall and smirked. "I reckon you're done here, right? We'll fill the cistern tomorrow morning before we head off, in case it leaks..." Crystal mave their stuff a quick look over and made a remark. "Like I said, I'll pull this thing, cause your tail would burn the cables, so even with your air in pushing it from the back, it will be slow going and I'll need some warm-up breaks here and then. So, if any of us spots a place to rest for a few minutes, we take the opportunity, okay? I know it'll take forever, but we won't ger there if we die en route, I figured." She ran a hoof absentmindedly overthe sleigh, then shook her head. "Nah, it'll be fine! Has to. I'm going to hit the hay, don't spend all night in here okay? You'll miss your meal. Besides, i kinda like our little dream escapades." She winkd at him and went off, swishing her tail somewhat. A few minutes later, Crystal Clear was laying in bed and trying to catch some Z's.