Raven Rawne

@@Orange Sparks Crystal Clear chuckled as Nightmare Season levitated the root away. "Suit yourself." She rested her head on her hoof as she listened to his reply, then summed up his plan. "I see... so it's farewell once we get back to the Empire then." She saw her get up and exit the pool, and reluctantly followed suit in a single leap, then shook herself off the excess moisture. "Sure thing Nightmare, just give me a moment to adress this... mane problem." She pointed a foreleg at her hairstyle and laughed as the stallion disappeared in the corridor. Crystal looked at herself in the mirror and rolled her eyes. "All the effort went to the trash." She shrugged and just combed her mane back, grabbed her things and put on the glow-crystal, then trotted towards the stacked supplies. Her approach heralded by a clip clop of hooves on stone, the mare emerged in the main hall where Nightmare was already waiting by the sleigh and some supplies, their stuff from the dorm included. She walked in and showed off her mane. "How do you like my new manestyle? I'd call it "I fell into a lake". Okay jokes aside, what do we have here..." She took inventory of what they had in disposal and began sorting what she'd like to take. "Food, lots of it... three bedrolls... that axe and sling for sure... one lamp and some oil and spare wicks... a set of warm clothes for Evie... those spear points too... you have the herbs and medical supplies in your bag..." She started pacing around the room, thinking what else to pack. "Any Ideas on what I missed? We've got some room still."

@@Orange Sparks At first Crystal Clear didn't pick on the distress her love was in. Only when she heard a sniff and Clare grabbed a blade and run did the sheer magnitude of her folley dawn upon her like a blood moon rising. The mare turned and extended get arm, but caught only air. She shouted with trembling voice. "Clare! I'm.. I'm..." she never finished that sentence as tears rushed to her eyes and her throat clenched shut. Crystal leaned on the cart and cried. At some point, she saw through the tears that she was still holding the dagger. And that it rested unconsciously on her wrist. She tried to make that cut, but her hand didn't move. A wave of anger rose through the sea of sorrow as she howled and impaled the dagger in the car's side, with enough force to break the wooden board. She then tore the pendant from her neck in one swing, breaking the golden chain, and tossed it into the nearby pool of mud and blood. That's when she lost it and began yelling to the piece of jewelry as if it was the actual Crystal Heart. "Look what you've done! She ran from me, all because if you! A mythical relic from old mare's tales! You demand us to sacrifice everything for you, and we don't even know if you're real! Ponies die in ice and snow, ponies die inside in arranged marriages to add more fodder to your cause, I have to choose between you and the pony I love more than anything in this world and for what?! A delusion of lost grandeur!?" She paused, out of breath and blind from tears. Crystal Clear stood for some time, sobbing, and finally adressed the heart one last time, this time quietly, with apathy and resignation. "If that's what you demand, then I renounce you. I won't let you hurt her through me ever again." The crystal mare felt weak, her coat became dull and greyed, mane fell flat and her bright sapphire eyes looked dead. She leaned on the cart and slid on the ground, then curled up and remained motionless, as if waiting to die.

@@Orange Sparks "Yaay!" The filly was overflowing with joy at the prospect. "I'll go tell brother, he won't believe me!" She ran to find Dusty and, quite probably, talk his ear off. Crystal Clear already finished her meal and engaged in playing with her knife, pulling some tricks. She twirled it around for a downward stab when Clarissa adressed her. "She's taken, sorry. But I bet there are other good fillies and colts who could use a loving mother." The crystal mare braved herself into tossing the blade up and changing hands when Clare asked another question. She missed it and the dagger impaled the ground between her hooves, finally free from the heavy hoofboots. She looked at Clare who apparently didn't notice and picked it up. She knew that trick, so why it didn't... "Oh." She exclaimed to herself, then followed. "I mean... your father approved it. Mine just wrote a letter while yours was breathing down his neck. It will take some time before he settles with my choice, if he ever really does. That "little talk" he mentioned will be, basically, dragging me through the guilt traps of forsaking my kin, because to him, all that matters is this." She took her crystal heart pendant in her fingers and brought closer to the other mare. "One day it will be found, and our expeditions are creeping closer every year. And once it does, how many will return to our ancestors home? It bugs me Clare, I love you so much I don't have the words for it, but I cannot discard my kin." She stares at the crystal pendant, twirling it to let the sun dance on its facets. She continued, sad, seemingly on the verge of tearing up. "I don't have the answer to your question. Not yet."

@@Orange Sparks The mare with a crystal pendant smirked and narrowed her eyes. "Oh I bet you wouldn't..." The filly seemed to be deep at thought over what the pegasus told her. Finally she beamed and nodded. "Yes! I'd like that! " Meanwhile, Crystal Clear ate her rations and frequently paused to watch the sun shine on her dagger 's blade, pondering over something.

@@Orange Sparks The cause for this interruption became apparent very fast, as Crystal saw the adopted daughter of the innkeepers nearby. She nodded that she'll behave and had the hand removed. As per usual when foals are concerned, Crys let Clare take the lead. The crystal mare resumed eating and just watched the interaction until Clarissa talked to her once more. She shrugged and her crystal heart pendant swung with the motion. "If I didn't know you better I would think you're in the mood for one of your own, if you catch my drift. Either you're permanently like that or just like foals." ------------------------------------- Rose Petal looked at the princess as she kneeled beside her."I told brother, so it's okay." She shrieked in joy as the grey pegasus picked her up and started asking about her stuffed companion. "Her name is Purrie, because she purrs a lot. We've been friends since forever! "

@@Orange Sparks She looked at the laden mare with a dose of surprise. "I thought we were supposed to stay away from their stockpiles. They didn't look like coin eating types..." Still, she shrugged and accepted the food and cut a slice of fish with her dagger. She nearly spat out at the memory, but managed to swallow and only then burst in laughter. "Oooh come on! How could I forget? We could die there and I shined the whole time! Now that I think of it we made some serious research on my crystal form... Who would have thought that you could see... mmph?" She looked questioninly at Clare who was holding her hand over her mouth. A pretty obvious cue to shut up.

@@Orange Sparks Crystal Clear grinned like mad when Clarissa bought her idea. She nudged her and said. "Nice save huh?" The mare was less pleased once she was holding her ration. She made a pretty funny face as she mocked disgust. "I swear if I never eat that stuff again it will be too soon..." Seeing Clare leaving to find the mailmare, the crystal pony laid her meal and took off her dirty armor, till she was dressed just in a pair of charcosl breeches and a white shirt, with her crystal heart necklace proudly on display. 'Ah, much better." She combed her mane in shape with her fingers and retired her ponytail, and only then did she start eating.

@@Orange Sparks Crystal blushed profundly at the sudden kiss, and replied in a sheepish manner. "I uhh, just wanted to take your mind off the worries, and... kinda overdid it, maybe?" Thankfully Clare changed the topic and the mare listened, nodding, but another rhetoric jab required some kind of riposte. Once their lips parted, Crys pouted and replied, somewhat hurt. "You missed the point! Fighting back to back is rather special, but think of the after party!" She made a wide gesture with her free hand, as if showing her the world. 'Once we dump the bodies overboard, it's just you and me on a boat under a million stars. Maybe we could even spend the rest of the night there..." She winked knowingly as they approached the village. "Okay, let's get rid of that plate and raid our wagon for chow. No point thinning their supplies, right? You write the letters and we take a nap before the raid." She looked at her blood smeared armor. "Guhh, I wish I had the time to clean it properly..."

@@Orange Sparks Crystal rolled her eyes and sighed, still hugging her love. "I'm asking you out on a battle date and you extend the invitation to a guard detatchment?" She poured and continued. "Fine, we'll go back to the inn and you'll write a letter for miss Hooves to deliver. Pegasus guards should arrive before sunrise so you could lead the raid. I'll just... stand on shore and cheer for you, or something." She let go of the other mare and walked her back to the inn. "Come on, let's not waste any more of the mailmare's time. I saw her around somewhere."

@@Orange Sparks Crystal and Dusty walked outside the village and saw Clarissa staring at the funeral pyre of their enemies. Ponies erected another one for their loved ones, but placed the deceased respectfully. A few families were standing nearby, and Crys keenly noticed that there weren't many bodies in there. Most probably the fact that stallions were at sea saved them from getting slaughtered before the mares arrived. A small consolation seeing all those tears. She walked towards Clare but the stablecolt reached her first. Truth be told, she got jealous that he got to comfort her but, well, she wouldn't separate them just to stroke her ego. The crystal mare nodded at Dusty when he mentioned her, but her mind was occupied with other matters. That ship would fetch good coin, and maybe further Intel... She paced back and forth, stroking her chin and pondering how to seize it. Keeping herself occupied was her best coping mechanism, aside from drinking that is, and getting hammered like an old anvil was out of the question. She gave her love all the time she needed to recuperate, and once she let the stallion go, Crys waved at her. "We need to talk, come with me." She led her marefriend on a short walk outside the village. "There's one more matter we need to take care of, and I think you'll like it. They found the ship our would-be captors arrived. It's anchored nearby and crewed by ponies, maybe a privateer or simple pirate but it's a pony vessel. Confiscating it will give a huge financial boon to the rebuilding effort, you'll have the opportunity to vent on a few more traitors and maybe they will have some more Intel. So, what do you say? We get them at nightfall?" She nudged her marefriend playfully with her hip, trying to pick her mind out of the doom and gloom she dragged herself into, but seeing it didn't work, she just hugged her tight and said nothing.

@@Orange Sparks Crys looked at him inquisitive, trying to notice any hint of a lie. She found none. "Thanks. Truth be told I need to step up my game or Clare and her ancient minotaur knife will save the day on their own. Almost got a huge war mace to the head back there..." The mare batted her ears and coked her head in surprise. "So, if we were clad in pretty dresses and didn't know how to hold the iron you would fight and die in our stead?" She shook her head. "Heroes get fancy graves Dusty, if none would live to tell the tale, then we would be in trouble. Don't underestimate the value of your lives. In such scenarios information is more important than impaling a raider or two. Just my two bits darling." She smiled at him to soften the blow to his honorable mindset. A stallion ran into the stables, fisherpony by the look of him. He took a moment to catch his breath and said in an agitated voice. "Countess, we found the ship! It's a cog, no longer than three our boats. We saw it in a small bay West from here, in the direction from Opal. It was anchored and we saw ponies on board, but didn't dare come closer to take a headcount." The mare rose to her hooves, approached the stallion and patted him on the shoulder while congratulating. "Good job, I'll think of a way to seize it. Now go to your family, I'm sure they were worried by your absence." The pony nodded and left, and Clare waved at Dusty to follow him. "Come, let's see how your sister-in-law plays with fire. And remind me to take a look at your arm." The pair left the stables and walked in the direction of a collumn of smoke.

@@Orange Sparks Crystal Clear held the sobbing mare close. She was on the verge of tearing up herself, but she had to be strong for Clare. "I know, I know..." She said patting her head and caressing her mane. "You are a great princess and you know why? Because you care. Any other noble would loot the corpses and be on their way but not you. But you have to see that you can't overdo it, or you post a garrison by every hut you visit. This wasn't your fault you hear me?" They stood like that for a small eternity, at last Clare regained some composure and went to burn the corpses. "That's it girl, erase them with the flames." She said as her love turned to go. That's when she saw Dustyhoof , but his presence made no difference. Crystal Clear leaned on a wooden pillar and slid down on it into a sitting position, like she didn't have the strength to stand. "This is just beyond me... I know I need to keep it cool for Clare, but I just feel the accusation in the villagers eyes. They blame us for what happened. You blame us. Yet we didn't know there was another attempt at Clarissa... I just want to lock myself in the wine cellar and never come out, you know? I want to run from responsibility, dump it on somepony else's lap and run." She gesticulated in exaggerated fashion, leary distressed by the whole affair. "But there's nopony to clean up thus mess so I have to mare up and just do it... How's your arm and your family? Anypony else hurt?"

@@Orange Sparks Crystal Clear looked at her marefriend with concern. She never saw her so... She didn't have the words for that, but she didn't like it. The mare just stood and watched as Clarissa handed the coin and made some more promises. This was getting our of control. Crystal Clear walked over to the mare, grabbed her by the hand and unceremoniously led into the stables. Well, what was left of it. How could a small crew wreck a village like that? Once they were out of sight she put her hands on Clare's shoulders and looked her in the eyes. With a deep sigh she started. "Look, I know you feel guilty and all but before the sun is down you'll erect a fortress here and award land and titles to every villager. Snap out of it Clare, we didn't know we were followed and you couldn't prevent it. Now look at me. LOOK. AT. ME. Get something flammable and burn the corpses. Piss on them of you feel so inclined but get them out of the way. Don't give me that stare, I'm doing it for your own good. Go there and cool down I say. Chop the carcasses with your sword, get drunk, bang somepony, whatever works. If you want me I can take it from here but stop promising them more and more, this is going nowhere. We will do our best to rebuild and recompensate their loss you hear me? But in a proper manner. Finish that list and then burn the traitors, and once you can think straight again, come back and we will continue our work here." She hugged the other mare and kissed her, then said. "I love you and you know I do this for you. So don't be a stubborn mule and let me help you okay? Now go finish that list." Crystal let go of Clare and watched her next moves.

@@Nightmare Season, Crystal Clear sat comfortably while Nightmare Season told her the story. Well, what was known of it, at least. Holding the strange root in her extended hoof, the mare took a good look at it, sniffed even, but wouldn't dare taste. As last she spoke. "Alright, take it back to your saddlebags, wouldn't want to make it wet." She sighed and rubbed her mesy mane in thought. "I can't add anything to that, but I do have an idea, however. You said those trees grow in some select places, right? And one is in the, uhh... Everfree Forest, as they call it. I think I recall correctly, the Equestrian ponies warned us about that place. Since the Empire is expecting your return to see the Princess, you could present your case to her and ask for aid in, say, converting your kind into daymares." She waved a hoof at him and chuckled. "I know, sounds far fetched, but believe me, stranger things have happenned. Maybe the Crystal Princess will lend her assistance, or at least grat you access to the library. We used to have the largest library in the known world, so maybe... I can back you up as a respcted citizen, that should make it easier." The mare shifted her position underwater and asked with a raised eyebrow. "So what do you think? Worth a shot, I dareay."

@@Orange Sparks The locals looked at each other with apprehension, neither willing to speak first about the Lord. At last the same mare mustered the courage. "I uhh, wouldn't consider him as such." Some of the ponies left the circle around the princess to find their families and see to their belongings. The princesses proclamation was met with nods and a few thank yous, but the crowd was thinning fast as everypony wanted to lend a hand in cleanup. The mare who became a sort of speaker for the community said with some relief. "That would best, I think. In behalf of our community, I'd like to thank you for your kindness. We thought they would raze our homes and hurt us all..." Her voice trailed off. She remained by the princess to answer her queries and help while everypony else scattered to their duties. "Give them some time, your highness. Let them check on their families and belongings. If I may, it would be best if you stayed with us until tomorrow, to ease the tension and organise the folks. We all look up to you in this hour of trial..." ------------------- Crystal Clear sat on her bench for a bit, looking as Clarissa rallied the villagers. When she heard her mention the countess, that is the crystal mare, she waved from her spot and hollered "I'll help alright!" and looked at the ponies passing her. None spoke to her, and she saw a mixture of fear, awe, relief, grief and anger on their faces. She could tell dome blamed her and her companion for what happened, and they would be right, in a way... She shook her head and flexed her arms, then wiped her blade in her gambeson and sheathed it securely, then got up. Leaving her helmet on the bench, she walked to the battlefield to clean up her mess. A few stallions were looting the corpses, but this was too much for their stomachs. Crystal walked to the closest one and patted him on the back to get his attention. "It's alright, I also hate looting the bodies. You can never get used to this stuff... would you be so nice and bring our cart from the road? We left it a couple minutes walk along the road. Thanks." The stallion nodded, relieved he now had a good excuse to get away from the bodies. Crystal Clear saw Dusty wandering between the fallen and she gave him a wave. The stallion waved back but she saw blood on his sleeve. Could be a wound. The mare walked to the nearest corpse and liberated it from valuables, useful items and anything that could be turned into coin... She was unsatisfied with the state of affairs, so she asked two other stallions to move the looted bodies into one place, so they could be later taken care of. All the loot was also dumped in one place to avoid missing anything in the blood soaked grass. The smashed tower shield also landed there, since the steel on it was still worth a fair bit. All in all, cleaning up the field tool half an hour or so, and resulted in two big piles. Satisfied with the result, Crystal Clear walked back into the village where she found her cart secured and the oxen tied to a nearby post. She tossed her helmet on the back of their cart and saw Clare writing losses of a long queue of ponies. The mare sighed deeply and walked to the shore - her scouts haven't yet returned. With no idea what to do next, she walked back to Clare and gave her a report. "Battlefield is cleaned up. We piled up the loot and bodies outside the village. I advise burning them to avoid disease... The fisherponies haven't returned yet so we have no Intel on the enemy vessel. I could lend a hand somewhere, but I don't know where to start... ideas?"

Cyber Monday is just around the corner...

@@Orange Sparks Crystal Clear finished another minotaur on her way to Clarissa, since the townsponies were trying to put up a fight against him. Panting a bit and covered in blood, she opened her visor and took in the scene. Two minotaur were still alive, and Clare was butchering their leader. She decided to wrap up the emergency and lend a hand against the remaining invaders. Once there were no hostiles to fight, Crystal Clear walked over to Clarissa who was looking for evidence on the minotaur leader. Seeing what she did to him, the crystal mare had to hold her breakfast in. Looking away from the carcass, she took off her helmet and leaned on a nearby wall, panting. "*huff* What have you done to him? I've never thought you could be so... so..." There were no words for that. Suddenly weak as the adrenaline rush ended, she sat and rest her back against the same wall, still holding to her blade for dear life. Crys saw as the ponies walked aimlessly on the battlefield. She was a bit surprised to see the stallions, apparently they heard the battle and returned from the sea. Remembering what they taught in the Academy, she gave herself a look over for injuries. She didn't see anything or felt any pain, so that was good. She could tell more after a bath. Feeling a bit better, she got up and walked to Clare. She was by that awful limbless carcass. Trying to save some face, she started flamboyantly. "That was fun, best fight in months..." She caught herself seeing the glare of everypony. "Ermm, right, so now what? You found anything? We need to look for their ship before nightfall, more stuff to turn into coin for the rebuilding effort... Hey you there! Send a boat both sides if the coast and look for a minotaur longship or any other vessel. Don't come aboard, just find it and report back, got it? Now go!" She ordered a few fisher ponies who really wanted to be someplace else to scout the shore. "What a mess..." She allowed herself a well educated observation as she noticed broken doors, animal pens and other property damage. She didn't see any casualties but it didn't mean there weren't any. She sighed and sat on a nearby bench. "I'm too sober for this shit..." ------------- Once Clarissa asked about local leadership, the townsfolk looked at each other, but none stepped forward. Finally an older mare replied. "We're a small village, and our representative to the Lord died at sea a few months back. We haven't decided who would be the new one... The Lord is... difficult at best and nopony wants to go to him." She was holding her dress nervously, since she spoke Ill of the local noble. "A-anything regarding the village goes through the Lord anyway, so you'll be best to talk to him directly, yes." She nodded as to confirm her words to herself, and other ponies nodded in agreement.

@@Orange Sparks Crystal was lying on the blood soaked grass, by the pony who took her blade in his gut. Her visor was opened by the force of the blow and she tried to catch her breath as she saw the minotaur take his time to end her. She heard a familiar voice yelling and soon after a strange thing happenned: she saw a flash by his neck, he stammered and collapsed, his head cut clean off. The mare blinked in surprise but she saw another giant figure approaching, this time with a great sword. The minotaur was clad in a padded jack and leather armour with studs. The mare rolled over and yanked her blade free from the nearby corpse, stood up and strapped her hammer back to her belt. She heard something strange. A song? But... how? The minotaur also heard it and looked around, spooked. She decided to take the opportunity. She charged in and as the bull struck downwards with enough force to split her in half, she connected their bladed and pirouetted to his side, then cut a deep wound under his knee. She saw Clare rushing the leader and the locals rising up, but she couldn't help. She has to butcher this cow first... The song was booming all around and the locals joined I'm the chorus, but Crystal Clear was in no mood for singing. She danced around the minotaur, or at least tried in her heavy armor. A few times the greatsword was too close for comfort, even cutting her cape off her back, but the mare managed to avoid the giant blade and target his legs and gut - the parts with least muscle and easiest access to major arteries. The bull was red from rage and bleeding freely when he slipped on one of the bodies. Crystal used the opening to finish the fight and sliced his throat, which resulted in a red shower. No time for celebrations, she ran towards the other mare who was fighting the last minotaurs.

@@Orange Sparks Crystal Clear said to herself sarcastically. "What a great idea, our tutors would be sooo proud..." She didn't have much time to get sour before a hail of bullets flied her way. She kneeled and hud behind her shield, feeling as it gets peppered with a few shots. "Why I'm always marked for death?!" She shouted with anger and rose up, drove her shield into the ground using small spikes at the bottom and started throwing javelins as the ponies discarded their spent powder weapons and charged it. The minotaur weren't so eager, five of them walking towards them and one - the leader by the look of it, stood and watched. They were just so sure of themselves that Crys felt insulted. The first javelin hit the buckler and was wasted, but the second took the raider sqarely in the chest. He was out of the fight. 12 to 2. Third one grazed the thigh of a stallion and he collapsed, but could still fight. Fourth and fifth weren't lucky either - one was avoided by a really quick raider and another struck a shield. The ponies were mere metres away when Crys took up her shield and counter charged the nearest one, and they connected with a very unpleasant sound. She didn't have the time to reach for her saber so she just hit his jaw with her fist and he collapsed. A cursory glance was enough to tell he had a broken jaw and his arm bent the wrong way from slamming her shield. The mare reached for her blade and looked at Clare - she already took down two. Crys ducked an axe aimed at her head and it glanced off her shoulder pad. She didn't see the attacker bur guessing where he was, she pivoted and slammed her shield in his chest, then thrust into another attacker who wanted to knock her head with a poleaxe. The stallion staggered but his momentum impaled him all the way to the hilt, so she let go of the saber and gave him a good uppercut punch in the jaw, knocking him unconscious and falling on the grass. Again without a weapon, Crys blocked the axepony with her shield. Fortunately, the axe glanced off rather than bite in the shield. Using the opening in his guard, as he singed the axe for another strike, she reached for her hammer and drove the spiky eng in his side, piercing his leather jacket. The pony yelped and nearly dropped his great axe, but managed to drive another blow into the shield, this time connecting and making a big dent in the wood. It wasn't destroyed, not yet, but a few more blows and it was gone. Thus time the pony knew better and body slammed her as he brought up the axe, seeing his companion picking up the poleaxe off their fallen comrade. Crystal Clear knew somepony was creeping behind her but had to finish the one in front of her first. She nearly lost balance but didn't fall, and as the stallion got ready for another strike she sidestepped and bachelor his injured side with her shield, then drove her hammer 's flat end into his leather helmet. Two blows were enough to take him out of the fight. Since she knew some pony was behind her she turned with her shield raised, just in time to block a who handed war mace of a minotaur. Her shield in splinters, Crystal lost her balance and collapsed, a giant shape looming over her to deliver the death blow.

@@Orange Sparks Crystal Clear listened to her marefriend talk, then let her go and give her her shield. "Okay, watch out for those boomsticks. Blasted cows and their powder..." The mare was off before Crystal Clear could form a real plan, so she just put her hrlmet on, grabbed her shield and five javelins that lied on top. They had a small armory in there since they had to buy their gear for the Academy. Just a quick check her hammer and dagger were in place and she ran after the other mare. Before she could stop Clarissa from her reckless plan, one of the armed ponies whistled loudly for the rest of the band. They were spotted. Crys stood beside Clare and drove the javelins in the ground, then took a defensive stance in case she was deemed expendable again. 'I hoe you have a plan because we can't go back now." She said as she lowered her visor and raised her shield, sword hand empty to throw the javelins.

@@Orange Sparks A strange sound was carried by the wind. At first, Crystal Clear paid no attention, caught in her own musings, but suddenly the air was pierced by a clear voice. A desperate plead for help. That was enough to get the mare going and with practice from countless hunts she perhed her ears to tell the direction. It was from behind. Seeing Clarissa jump off the wagon and run back to the inn, Crystal shouted after her. "Don't start anything without me you hear me?! Come on Betsy, we need to get going." Crys turned the wagon around and urged the animal to double time. She met Clarissa a little bit off the village she could hear the screams as intruders broke inside the houses. All the stallions were at sea, nopony could intervene. No pony but them. Crys pulled the wagon to the side of the side of the road so it wouldn't draw that much attention and tied Betsy to a hastily impaled spear. "Stay here." She said to the animal and as she turned around she was grabbed by sobbing Clare. She ran a gauntleted hand across her hair as said with eerie calm. 'What we were trained to do, love. We cut them to pieces." She grabbed Clarissa by her arms and took a step back, so she could look her in the eyes, then said with the same strange calm. 'It's okay, now tell me what you saw. How many ponies and minitaurs, weapons and armor, any lookouts from our direction... take your time, we will save them you hear me?"

@@Orange Sparks Crystal Clear leaned on the cart and listened to Clarissa who read the letter. The more she heard, the more surprised she was and it showed. Once she was finished reading, Crys hat a raised eyebrow, slightly open mouth and her neck cocked so hard it popped a few times. She needed a moment to process it all, oblivious to the other mare holding the letter for her. "Umm, whaaaaat? Sorry, I just... wasn't expecting a full official blessing, and on paper too... And how did he know about your little plan to add some fresh blood to the family? Are we being followed or something?" She looked around but saw nopony. Just grass everywhere all the way to the sharp cliffs. The mare regained her composure and took the other letter with her teeth, somewhat playfully. She broke her father's seal, took a deep breath and opened it. "Here it goes..." Crystal read it once in silence, then looked up at Clare with relief. "Seems like somepony said him a few words in private... listen" She read the letter. "Dear daughter, It has come to my attention that, during your time in the Academy, you have become very close (the words were written much more deliberately, as if he had to think how to name it) with your lifelong friend, Princess Clarissa. I was hoping for other future for you, alongside one of the fine crystal stallions we met in Equestria, (the letters started to look differently, as if he took a new quill) but I won't stand against your will in this matter. It saddens me that you will not extend the lineage of our venerable house, especially since our kin is so few in numbers. I am currently staying by the court in Opal Hill, and therefore haven't informed your mother. I wanted to talk to you first. Know that, however your life progresses and with whom by your side, you will have our support. Find me at Opal, we need to talk. Your father, Count Fire Ruby oh House Eisengrad, Grandmaster of the Hunt, Lord of Raven Rock. P.S. Your graduation present is ready." Crystal Clear exhaled, a mixture if feelings painting on her features. "I wouldn't be surprised if your father was standing over him the whole time. I'm pretty sure he broke a quill from frustration... This will be a long talk." She tucked the letter into a pocket in her breeches. "Let's go, I just hope we'll find those bandits. I need to swing my blade a bit..." The mare urged their oxen to walk, and guided the cart in silence, apparently deep in tough. At some point she unconsciously grabbed the hilt of her saber.

@@Orange Sparks Crystal Clear saw a shape in the sky, approaching their position. She wasn't very bothered by it and said nothing until the shape became a pegasus mailmare she knew. She tried to shrug again, despite her suit's protests. "I know, I'm just rambling, I guess. Still, I'm pretty much made for the job." She patted her prominent hips for emphasis. "Ah, seems we have mail. Hail miss mailmare!" She said with a smile and stopped the cart for her convenience and awaited till she was off. Crys didn't interject in the conversation, but asked Clare once the mailmare filed away. "So what's in the letter? Must be important if they sent a flier to find you..." She looked at the other mare with curiosity.