private Diffuse Reflection (1x1 between Nightmare Season and Raven Rawne)

[Nightmare Season 617]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

Nightmare helped to empty his wife of her left over white gold. Then he kind of went a little bit lower to try and get her in the mood. He stopped at the mention of a missing mare. "I guess we need to help look for her then." She then told him about the other letter she received. He got up to allow her to roll over on her belly. "I did not figure they would remain quiet for long. They even asked me to overturn your decision." He nuzzled her to lift her spirits. "First things first. We find the missing mare."

 

The two kept each other companied that night. After breakfast the next day, the royal company tracked down the parents of the missing mare. After hearing what little they knew, they went to find the guard that had passed it off as nothing. Nightmare Season gave him a good lecturing. Just because she was a jungle pony, did not mean it was nothing. Crystal ordered him to find as much as possibly. She was also apart of the new Empire.

 

After noon, word finally reached the palace that the missing mare was last seen leaving the gates. Why was unknown, but she had exploring gear with her. The royal couple put together a search team consisting of nightmares and jungle ponies. They split up and left the gate the missing mare was seen leaving. Crystal went with a couple of guards on hooves, Nightmare Season took to the air and flew around at a greater distant than the land search.

 

About an hour into the search, Crystal Clear discovered a small trail cut out in the under growth. Fresh hooves in the mud told them a pony had recently traveled that path. She shot a flare into the air so her husband could see and fly over to her. When he landed about a minute latter, she pointed out the small hidden path. No pony knew what was out in that direction.

[Raven Rawne 1,374]

@@Nightmare Season,

 

After a satisfying night and good breakfast, the royal couple left their palace to find the ponies who petitioned the Queen for aid in finding their missing daughter. They needed a few pointers from the local jungle ponies, but eventually made it. They talked to the father, a timber mill worker. Mother was a nervous wreck. Crystal couldn't fanthom how she would fare if one of her own got lost. Probably not much better... The father had little intel himself - the young mare was fourteen, had a green palette and golden eyes, wore a marble teardrop necklace. He noticed she took her bits she was saving, but nothing else. He didn't believe she ran away, but had some suspicions towards the local nightmares, even though Crystal thought they were unfounded. Tey bid farewell to find the guard that oversaw the neighbourhood. The mare stood to the side and let Nightmare lecture him. She knew he would do it better as she was prone to getting heated. Only once her husband was done did she chip in, ordering him to find any and all trace of the missing pony. She was a citizen of this city, not some decond class pony. The couple decided to let the guards work as they went back to the palace. The twins were already expecting a meal...

 

The Queen was waiting anxiously at any news, and jumped right into her armor as soon as she got word that the missing mare went outside the city. No point risking her own life with going unprepared. Although she needed to make some adjustments to it - namely don a cape of sorts since it didn't cover what she wanted to stay hidden. The part about the missing pony carrying items fit for exploration seemed odd though. The royal couple joined the search- partially to show they care, but mostly because they did actually care. As parents, sitting idly did not go well with them.

 

She had a small entourage of guards at her side - ten nightmares and five jungle ponies. As soon as they left the gate, they waded into tall grass - around the heights of a normal pony's nostrils - off the road to the farms. The think vegetation proved to be very ticklish to her underside, as she soon discovered. Nightmare Season glided overhead, looking for any signs too. They didn't find anything at first and waded into the Forest. It was there whem at some point, the crystal nightmare saw a hacked path and hoof marks in the mud. Her guards confirmed the track was fresh and belonged to a one, normal pony. She shot a flare to call her husband down and they followed the track deeper into the forest.

 

They found a body. Not the missing pony's however, but a monkey's. It had a big dent in its skull after being struck with whatever the lone pony was hacking their way through the jungle. What was important, was that the animal had something in it's paws - a tuft of long, dark green hair - it fit the description of the young mare's mane. The search party took heart at this, knowing they're on the right track. And that their quarry is not as defenceless as it may seem...

 

Crystal started to get worried - the search was getting long and her foals sure won't be happy about the delay in their meal. She was getting uncomfortably full too. If they won't find her soon, she'll have to turn back.

 

A jungle pony from their entourage heard a waterfall in the distance, and the trail turned abruptly towards it. The crystal nightmare sure hoped this will mark the end of their search.

 

They walked into a small grove of sorts, a stream formed a waterfall and a little pool underneath, but didn't flow any further - a clear sign of a cave underneath. The missing mare was feverishly scrubbing her coat, undoubtly still bothered by the monkey incident. She didn't notice the newcomers until they spoke to her, and she got so startled, she slipped and fell whole into the water. Crystal waded into the water to help her out and calm her. Also to wash the slight leaks from her overflowing milk taps. It was starting to hurt how full they were. The search party helped the missing pony gather her bearings and escorted her home, while the royal couple asked why she did that in the first place. Crystal was clearly in a hurry to get home.

[Nightmare Season 617]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

The party walked onward with the hacked trail before them. At one point, they came across a dead monkey. Seems it had attacked the mare in question and she fended it off. This gave the party hope. A few more hours led them to a waterfall. There bathing was the missing mare. Her mother called out to her and she became startled and slipped into the water. Crystal was the first to enter to bring her out. Though she also appeared to be preoccupied with something else. Nightmare smirked thinking he knew what it could be.

 

When Crystal brought the mare back to dray land next to the party, the queen started to interigat the poor mare. Seemed she was in a hurry to find out what happened and they needed to head back soon. Nightmare walked up to his wife and calmed her down. Gave her a wing hug. He noticed she was uncomfortable in her lower region. "Give her some room love. I bet there was a reason for it." He turned back to the guards and search party. "Escort her and her mother here back to the palace please. We will head back now and get cleaned up before we have a word with them."

 

Without so much as a warning, Nightmare formed the smoke cloud under his wife and lifted her up off the ground. He took flight out of the jungle and raced back to the palace with her following him on the cloud. The only time she was able to actually fly. The clouds only followed the pony that made it, it could not be moved with the pony on it that made it. If Crystal was not in such discomfort, she would be having a ball that high in the air. "Got to get you back in a hurry to empty you." He told her with a smug look on his lips. "Also the triplets are probably raging a war waiting for you."

 

He flew her back on the cloud all the way back to the palace. There he helped her take the armor off and her dress pulled up over her taps. "You look like you are expecting to feed six foals down there love." He gave her a kiss to keep her from getting on to him. Lucky Clover and Sparks saw them come in and had brought the little war mongers crying all the way to the royal chambers where Crystal was on the bed waiting for them. Midnight Star was still calm somewhat, so they let her twin brothers go first at the taps. They went at them as though they did not eat for two days. Nightmare Season kept his daughter occupied till the twins finished their meal and was switched out and burped.

 

Nightmare grabbed the milk pump from her drawer and brought over to her. He helped to finish emptying her with it. To bad Hearts-Dream was coming back on the boat and could not take the extra milk to make healing potions out of it. He helped himself to half of it and fed the rest to her. Was to precious to just throw away. After the triplets were given back to their nannies, the royal couple went to the baths to wash all the muck off of themselves.

 

A few hours past and the party was announced they had returned from the jungle. Nightmare and Crystal waited for them in the throne room sitting on their beautiful thrones.

[Raven Rawne 1,374]

@@Nightmare Season,

 

Crystal Clear stayed in the pool for a bit longer as the young mare reached the dry land and packed her bag with shaky hooves. She enjoyed the cold water where she needed it most. "Just why did you go out, all alone, without as much as telling anypony? And disappear for a week no less! Your parents wrote to me to find you, they were so worried!" - She was annoyed, relieved, a mixture of feeling really. The Queen Nightmare noticed the ponies stared at her so she came out of the water and was about to keep asking the spooked youngster when she felt the reassuring wing over her. She noticed she was getting out of hoof with her tirade. With a sign, she said. "Sorry kid, it's just... if my daughter did it to me, I'd burn the forest to find her. I mean it."

 

The ponies slowly got up and assembled a column to head back, and Crystal looked at Nightmare with curiosity on what he had in store. She needed to feed the babies, and soon, there was no time for cave searching or "fun". The answer was obvious as soon as she felt being lifted by a smoke cloud, and then shot up in the air as the cloud followed the fying alicorn. The mare shrieked in surprise and held on for dear life. At leastr her lower back had ample support... "Why are you more concern with the state of my taps than my own safelty then?!" - She yelled back as the wind made her choke. Bad idea to try and talk. Once she felt solid stone under her sabatons, Nightmare helped her quickly out of the armor and puled up the jack under it, making a comment. She frowned and was aboutto say something, but he shushed her with a kiss. She just wanted to be relieved already and didn't continue the toopic when she saw the angry triplets barely contained by the nannies. They basically ran to the bedchamber and the mother just tossed her padded jack away before laing on her back. The twin colts did a good job at getting the first go. It actually started to hurt as she reached her capacity, but the crazy magic kept producing. Crystal Clear closed her eyes and just let herself feel the slow flow of relief. Thankfully the nannies took care of the burping so she didn't have to move. When Midnight was done, Crystal still had a lot inside. Sighing in frustration, she rolled to her side. Nightmare Season used his magic to surprise install the pump as soon as they were alone, and Crystal wanted him to go all the way till there was nothing left, consequences be damned. She marvelled at her much reduced size on empty, wishing they stayed like that, as Nightmare took a swing at what he pumped out. She rolled her eyes and drank the rest. The royals then went to clean up and Crystal got herself prettied up again. She made sure to show her husband how she looked fully relieved. Even if she still needed to burn some foal fat, she thought she looked good without the massive undercarriage sticking out. Even if she was still bigger than a feeding mare of the same size.

 

Once the search party, and the found mare made it back to the Palace, the couple was informed about it and took them in the Throne Room. Crystal Clear was sitting straight in her crystal throne, having practiced how to do so without showing off anything.

 

"Ah, there's our lost mare and her worried parents. Are you alright, child?"

 

All three ponies nodded, visibly taken aback by having a royal audience.

 

Crystal smiled warmly, but didn't leave her seat. She had an idea how a ruler should behave in their throne room. "Good, good... Now, pray tell, why did you do this? It was... very dangerous after all, notto mention your parents were so worried."

 

The young mare stammered, but eventually told the story that was passed down the generations in her family - how they were rich before the Fall, and that the ancestors hid their treasures in the Forest before leaving the city, since they couldn't take them with them as refugees from their own home. Since their material situation wasn't exactly good, she decided to find it. Saved bits until she was big enough to buy the equiplent and venture out. Her dad was a bit proud of her long term thinking, but the mother wasn't impressed. Crystal thought about her own mom... The parents thanked the royal nightmares for aid, and were ready to do anything for them, but Crystal cut them off. "You owe nothing to us, good ponies. We're here to help and serve you, not just look pretty on high chairs. Go home, enjoy your company. Don't judge your daughter too hard, she had good intentions. Although if you truly believe that the treasure exists, I could lend you a guard to help. I don't want my subjects risking their lives in the wilderness, you see. He would keep you safe if you pick up the search."

 

The ponies thanked again and went home. Crystal Clear slouched in her throne as soon as the doors were closed. "What a day... I really wish they find that treasure though. Seemed like honest types to me." She looked around the throne room. "Somepony broke into my study and read the code of laws I've been working on while we were away. Seems like our new order has some opposition after all... I don't know what to do really. Most clans are agreeable enough, but Poisoned Oasis bother me. I don't want a schism, or worse." The mare seemed troubled by that idea.

[Nightmare Season 617]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

Nightmare sat back and listened to the mare and her story of her ancestor's treasure. There was something there that did not add up. When the couple was alone again, his wife was the first to speak up. "The break in is disturbing. As long as nothing was taken or changed in your laws, then nothing to bad happened. Maybe add in break ins are against the law now?" He got up and helped Crystal out of her chair as well. "You know your throne kind of out dose mine." He gave her a kiss.

 

He led her to their secret vault under the thrones. He looked around at the riches with her wondering why he brought her down here. "There is something that did not make sense with her story. Mother told me that every pony brought their wealth down here during the raid on the kingdom. So either one family ignored her order and hid their wealth, this meaning they forfeit the treasure. Or the treasure is not what that mare thought it would be." He wondered a bit before continuing. "Tomorrow I will ask her the full story of the treasure. Maybe I can help find it."

 

The evening meal was excellent. The farms were in full bore now and the dishes reflected that. They were even prepared with some of the spices Nightmare had discovered. It really made the food different. That night, after the foals were in bed and the kingdom was settling down. Nightmare took Crystal up to the top of the palace where they simply laid down to look at the stars. Nightmare really enjoyed just simple together time with Crystal after his thousand year wait with no pony beside him. Crystal after a wile thought to give him a bit more loving than just laying next to him. She made sure the night sky was filled with her song of love.

 

The next morning after breakfast, Crystal went to her work room to do more on her secret project. Nightmare tracked down the mare to learn more about the treasure. She had already found a jungle pony guard to aid her under the queen's orders. There was still the wall between the two cultures. He learned it was a cave by some water fall. Guess that is why she was found at the waterfall.

 

The next few days saw the sultan flying in circles around the kingdom. He eventually found a small hidden waterfall tucked away in a valley. It looked promising this time. There was a few old buildings close by. Investigating the cave by it reveled what the treasure was. He flew back to the kingdom to let the family know he had found their ancestral home. Crystal caught him after he told them what he had found. The young mare snuck in a kiss on his cheek to thank him. He had to tell Crystal it did not mean anything. "I did find their ancestral home. The treasure they thought it was, was something different. It was a gold mine. Now we have a mine to go with our minting building that was found. We can now mint our own bits finally."

 

The next few days had the mine cleared out and fixed up. The jungle pony family was given the charge of ownership. It now allowed the jungle ponies to have more pull in the kingdom. Helped with the division somewhat. The next thing was the design of their bits. A few good ideas was tossed around. Nightmare finally put forth a design idea. Their combined cutie marks on one side, the other side a flame and tree to represent both cultures. Nightmares and Jungle ponies on a single bit.

[Raven Rawne 1,374]

@@Nightmare Season,

 

The mare shrugged. "Already done. Maybe I'm worrying too much over some nosey pony..." She let her husband help her off the throne, then smirked. "They're like us, in a way. Mine is fancy but fragile, yours is... less fancy, but way more sturdier. And it sits on a pile of gold." Speaking of which, the mare wasn't sure why they went down to the treasury. She sure wasn't able to get knocked up like they planned earlier. So she just observed what Nightmare was after. "Maybe the story got messed up over the years. Warped it's meaning. Happens with old tales, you know." She was rather proud of her husband's willingness to help, and made sure he knew that. She gave him a tight hug and said. "I knew you'd be willing to help our subjects in need. Even if the treasure isn't gold, at least you'll bring them closure. Come on, I need to feed the triplets again."

 

The rest of the day went pretty normal, since they decided to spend it with their young. Crystal Clear seemed to cherish every moment she was spending with her foals. The evening meal was very lavish and exquisite, making the mare eat more than her share, again. Another derail on her road to fitness, but the mare just couldn't resist the good stuff. Maybe she'll start running circles on the city walls to burn that foal fat or something. Nightmare Season asked her to watch the starts, once the city fell asleep. They just layed on their backs next to each other, staring at the night sky. Simple? Yes. Boring? Not with Nightmare Season. Although after some time, the mare decided to spice up their time together. Without the silence trinket, her love song echoed off the stone walls.

 

The next four days went as such - Crystal stayed in the Palace for the most time, being a mother and speeding up the work on those laws. With no new crystals yet she was unable to progress on her project until the ship arrived. But the Law was top priority and she was dead set on finishing it all up before Mother came back, so she could read it and pass to the citizenry. Nightmare was busy helping the family find their treasure. He came into her study all proud of himself and announced he found it. Crystal was proud of him too, but pointed at his cheek. "I see you were already rewarded... You do realise she's the age our foals could be if we had any after out earliest marriage, right? Atleast their fate turned out well. We need to give them the rights to the mine to secure their claim, and send help to start it up. Guess I could give them a crystal pickaxe for good luck..." Crystal Clear was very happy, both for the family, and that they had a gold mine. If only they found iron and other metals too...

 

Crystal was satisfied with the coin design he came up with. Swimming neck deep in law made her head a bit dull for concept art, but that design was pretty neat. The mint was annexed by the Palace and hired two Master Goldsmiths - a nightmare mare and a jungle stallion. Just so both cultures had a hoof in the coin making. Crystal Clear found herself wondering if it was better to leave the royal treasury as it is - a collection of jewelry, coin, bars and items made of precious metals, or to start converting it all into bars of set quality and weight, and some into coins, to ease with the asessment of their wealth and cut the ead scratching of their subjests when they recieved trinkets as pay. But then, the goldsmiths could spill about the treasure. Decisions decisions...

 

A full week after the mint struck it's first coin, the Queen nightmare was sitting in her study after breakfast, staring at the massive Code of Laws she penned. After much thought, she packed the many scrolls that contained it and brought to her husband, who was in his study. "I can't come up with anything more. I think that means I'm done. Care to read it all over and give me your opinion? I really want the Law to be a good one."

[Nightmare Season 617]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

Nightmare Season was in his study going over the new letters that came to him. The wall between the two cultures was still there, but it was getting thinner at least. There was rumors of one couple getting pregnant. The first strong bond between nightmares and jungle ponies. That also reminded him, Crystal was due to be going back into heat once more. This time he will lock up his amulet with the spells on it during that time. Did not want another accidental knock up again.

 

The queen came by his study carrying the several scrolls that made up her idea the laws of the kingdom should be. She asked him to read over them and think of anything she might have missed. After reading it all, Nightmare nodded. It contained all the most important stuff. A combination of nightmare laws, Jungle pony laws, and a few she had from the Crystal Empire. "It looks good love. There is just one thing you missed." He pretended to write an extra one in. "The nightmare queen must always be with foal when able...." He could not finish that sentence. Crystal had tackled him to stop that. She knew he was just playing around with her again. She just wanted to have a little fun with him herself. She also told him what he already expected. She was close to expecting her first heat, and made him promise not to knock her up again. At least not till the foals grows up some.

 

The days past by with normal work till the ship from the North finally arrived. The docks were looking much better by this point. The stone cutters really knew their work. Hearts-Dream was the first one to come down the plank to be welcomed. Following her was the mare and her crystal husband. They had decided to live in the Jungle Kingdom. At least Hearts-Dream did not give her the golden powder yet to get her in the window to get pregnant. Snowflake and his wife also came down. The mare now showing better signs she was with foal. Those two were greeted by Burning Sands and her father giving her a massive hug.

 

The market district was a blaze with shoppers the following days. Ponies coming to see the new items up for sale from the North. Crystal had another month to wait on Equestria to send her her machines and ponies to install them. She was at least looking thinner these days. Nightmare Season had joined her to take a run around the outer walls. She wanted to look her best before her mother in0law came back.

 

A few days latter, Crystal found herself in her famous heat period once again. She was still able to maintain control, but she did ask Nightmare to go to the treasury with her several times. He body was once again craving to be knocked up again. He did not give her what she wanted during that time. He did however gave her pleasure best he could without bringing forth more foals with her.

With the new trade agreements. The ships would be sailing every three months, Alternating like before.

[Raven Rawne 1,374]

@@Nightmare Season,

 

She sat on the floor before his desk as he read the laws. The mare tried to tell from his expression whether he liked them or not. Finally he said he was happy with the Code. The mare breathed out in relief. "Ooof, glad to har that, love." She looked confused when he sait it messed something. "Huh? Like what? Hey!" - She umped back on her hooves and tacked the stallion on the floor, to prevent him from scribbling that "law". Crystal Clear layed on top of him, her mane a curtain all around their faces, blocking sight of the world with azure walls. "I know you love preggo belly rubs, but seriously, we need a break from that. Just think how little time we can spare to the ones we already have. I want to be a good mom, not a milk and bits dispenser who cedes care on nannies, got it?" She gave him a kiss. "Also, we need to be careful, I feel like I'll get back in heat soon. So don't knock me up, hear me? or I'll ask mom to make you carry them inside you this time. Somehow. So you have been warned, okay?" The mare lowered herself onto him, and snuggled. "You're under arrest till you call off that stupid law. I have time, so don't think I'll let you squirm away from that."

 

Next day saw a most peculiar sight. The Queen Nightmare was indeed running circles around the city, using city walls as her personal race track. The Sultan was with her, running or gliding, but keeping up at all times. The mare was hellbent of losing that foal fat once and for good. She ran two times per day every day. Unfortunately, due to multiple guard posts on the walls, she had to wear something. She chose her armour for extra effort, and coverage of what she didn't want to show. In just four days, she could swear she looked a bit less plush. Nightmare Season also confirmed he could finally feel muscle somewhere under the padding.

 

On the fifth day, the trade ship has arrved. The citizens, and royal nightmares, stood in the docks to greet the vessel and it's passangers. Crystal gave the alicorn a tight hug when she came down She became very attatched to the crazy mare, after all they went through. The Queen congratulated the crystal/nightmare couple on their decision to live here, and promised to grant them a house as an extended wedding gift. She bumped hooves with Snowflake and hugged Kiwi, once thwy were released from the bone breaking grip of her father. crystal managed to tell them the farm was doing great before other ponies came down to be greeted. Only once the official ceremony was done did she ask the captain about the cargo - the Guild mamaged to provide her full order, and she was very excited about that. Ponies unloaded the ship for the whole day, and the crystal nightmare had a mad grin on her face as she watched the stacks of crystals piling up the storage rooms in the palace. She could begin her Magnum Opus.

 

The flurry of activity on the markets were a sight for her eyes and the thuds of coin pursed were the song for her ears. Crystal Clear loved when her subjects recieved goods from distant lands. it broadened their perspectives a little, made their lives a tad more colorful. And promoted the idea of oversea trade. She couldn't wait till the machines come in.

 

Before the Queen nightmare could start her grand project, she found herself in heat. She was used to them, so it's not like she was climbing the walls and wriggling every time she sat, but still, the need was there and she knew she can't get satisfied no matter what during these days. Even if Nightmare season did his best to do just that. They had ample occasions to practice for the day she actually gets knocked up on a pile of bits. Doing it in the treasury was insanely fun for some reason.

 

After three days of intense loving, her heat dissipated and they both felt like they met their weekly quota. Crystal Clear was reminded by Sparks aboutthose presentations she asked to prepare. The crystal nightmare was embarassed by her forgetfullness, but the unicorn proved an excellent friend and employee - somehow "servant" didn't fit anymore - since she worked backstage to organise the event. All the Queen had to do was to sign the papers. In just three days, the Heart of the Jungle witnessed a grand fair, where jungle ponies and nightmare ponies showed off their culture and skills. it remined her a bit of the Crystal Fair - a recurring event that bonded the community in their unified culture. The Fair lasted a full week, and the Queen was rightthere in the thick of it, showing everypony that she was willing to get to know the jungle ponies, and they got to know her. Althoug it was strictly a royal duty, she enjoyed it very much. Seeing her subjects happy made her life complete. Som uch in fact, that after some talks with jungle and nightmare officials, she decided to host the Fair every six months. She also asked both nations to elect five representatives each to form a Senate - she learned that the former rulers had an advisory body called like that, made from representatives of each District. The senators were tasked with bringing matters of their District to the Crown, and providing insight on difficult matters.

 

Finally it was time to shave off some time for the big project. Crystal Clear fenced off the spot she picked earlier, and started working on the smaller pieces in her workshop. It will take a month before she'll finish the foundation forthe massive statue, the easiest part of it really. All in all it may take even a year until it will be complete, and she was hellbent on keeping the whole city in the dark until she could uncover it in full glory.

[Nightmare Season 617]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

Nightmare season stood back and watched his wife organize the fair. It for the first time brought the two cultures together. There they discovered what made the others the way they were. Even a few more love stories bloomed into being with it. Crystal did a great job at it. They decided that twice a year they would organize such a thing. Crystal also put together a senate. One that would see half of each side participate in it. Deciding who however got the nations riled up to pick their ponies to represent them. Once the ten was finally elected, things settled down one more.

 

Crystal went into hiding once more to work on her secret project. She was seen in and out of the palace working tirelessly on her grand project. Nightmare was free for some time during this. He even visited the vault. Looking at their little bed of treasure where his wife insisted they practiced for their next set of foals got him thinking. He really did love getting her knocked up. It would be so easy to do it when she was in heat and begging for it. But he knew she needed her own time. He cleaned up the pile and reorganized the vault.

 

A few weeks went by as the kingdom slowly came together. Poison Oasis had decided that they would just head back to their desert home where they could once again pick up their trade. Crystal and Nightmare had tried their best to convince them to stay, but they wanted their old traditions back. They left with a few ponies from other clans. A very few however did stay, but were no longer apart of that clan.

 

Nightmare took up walking through the city with Midnight Star on his back. She did not want to go to far away from him anymore. He looked over the districts and and ponies that lived in them. Though there was several places still void of ponies. He took notice how the jungle ponies were having a lot more foals born now that they were in their ancestral home. The nightmare ponies also were having more, but mostly thanks to his mother and her golden root powder.

 

Crystal was still working on her project out in the square. She was still keeping it a secret. She also started to have her husband milk her more often to give to their mother. Thanks to the healing potions, Crystal was seeing a small trickle of bits going to her. Though the milk production was not slowing down. But it did help save one nightmare that had an accident out in the jungle. So her milk was useful at least.

 

The trade ships had made a normal scheduled with sailing North. They had decided every three months they would alternate with the trade ships. As Nightmare noted before, the increase of the goods saw the prices drop some. But the amount was greater at least. They finally installed a few of the machines in to help with making lumber out of the trees of the jungle. They were being sold, but was not the great income she was hoping for.

 

At one point, Nightmare asked Crystal if she wanted to go on a family trip to the Crystal Empire. Now that he could teleport them to and from there, she could see her parents more often.

[Raven Rawne 1,374]

@@Nightmare Season

 

Reinstalling the Senate proved to be a bit difficult, but the royal  puke believed it would be very beneficial in the long run. After the nation settles on some transparent way of choosing the delegates, since the first draw seemed to include the already established political figures, mainly clan leaders and other high level leaders. Still, it was a step in the right direction and helped establish a form of power structure when the royals were away, so the City wouldn't grind to a halt.

 

The crystal nightmare has just finished the base of her grand statue when bad news reached the Palace - Poisoned Oasis, after months and months of lobbying, decided to return to the Sands,  so they could pick up their business, and old way of life again. Clan pride prevailed over the attempts to point them towards a new specialisation, and Crystal was rather upset of what she took as personal failure.

 

The trade, now more frequent, livened up the Kingdom's domestic market, and injected the much needed coin and ideas, although it still seemed that luxury items were having most demand. At least the Queen had her expensive machines set up and running in the lumber mill. It sped up things and reduced work load, but timber didn't prove to be a huge hit for export.  It seemed that ponies up North wanted novelty items, not building materials, however unique their timber was. Replicating the steam tech would also need to wait, possibly till the books on the subject are aquired and translated. But it was a step towards technological progress nonetheless.

 

Some four months after coming back home, Nightmare proposed a family visit to the Empire. Hus wife was all for it, and after the crystal royals were notified, the whole family made use of the Sultan 's teleportation magic. Crystal's parents were all too eager to see their grandfoals, and the mare was just so happy seeing her folks play with the little ones.  They stayed for a couple days, partially to let Nightmare Season rest after casting the spell, and partially so the mare could do some more shopping and spend time with her folks.

 

A year has passed since the triplets were born,  and Crystal was sure glad that they let go of her milk, for the most part at least. Feeding was fun until you had to schedule royal duties according to your foals eating habits... At least daddy and his mom didn't object to having it all for themselves. Despite a couple near hits, they managed to steer away from making Crystal pregnant again, so she could chip away at her grand statue.  It took longer than anticipated,  but after year and a half, she could proudly pull off the veils that covered it from prying eyes. It depicted her husband in a triumphant pose,  with wings outstretched. The crystal monument was tall, but not necessarily colossal since it wasn't higher than the Palace or taller structures. Still, standing in front of it, a pony felt rather tiny. There was a small plaque on the base - "To the best husband,  from his loving wife." It wasn't meant as a symbol of power, but that of love. A huge thank you made in crystal.

 

By the end of the second year, the seemingly inevitable happened.  Saddle Arabians,  for reasons known only to them, crossed the mountain pass and invaded the Wandering Sands. The garrison managed to send a bird with a message before being overrun, and the Jungle Kingdom heard the horns of war for the first time. It was a tough campaign,  and it costed dearly the nightmares who stayed in the Sands,  since they were first to respond and held off till reinforcements arrived.  Weeks turned to months as the war seemed only to get worse,  until the new nation took the upper hoof. Crystal decided that,  after the decisive battle that sent the enemy in disarray and allowed the nightmares to regain control if the valley,  closing large contingents of Saddle Arabian forces on the nightmare side, she had a bargaining chip to start peace talks. It wasn't easy, and there was at least one attempt at the royal couple during them,  but the other side wanted to pull back their brethren from inevitable death, and finally agreed on some basic treaty. The countries would establish diplomatic relations and exchange prisoners,  and let the scattered armies return home from the desert, as a sign of good will on the nightmares part. For the first time, it seemed that nightmare ponies didn't have enemies. 

 

Once the seemingly impossible was achieved,  there came a time of true peace,  and growing prosperity.  The royal couple couldn't hold off any longer and had another batch of foals as soon as they got back home from war and peace talks. Crystal finally got knocked up on a pike of gold. The triplets were three years old then.

 

For reasons beyond easy explanation, they took a pace of putting buns in the oven every 3-6 years. The Palace was full of foals and nannies as their firstborn finall walked into adulthood.  Crystal Flame married Sparks,  and Crimson Aurora, after many romances,  married a jungle pony stallion from their nobility. Each was given a large house and a hefty dowry,  since they were all too eager to start on their own.  Crystal was the happiest mare I'm the world,  even if sometimes it was hard to even count how many offspring they had...

 

The Royal Couple ruled the Jungle Kingdom for centuries, and raised other, smaller cities of stone in their domain.  Established contacts with other cultures, explored and expanded. Ponies coined a saying, that things change but the two flames never die out.

[Nightmare Season 617]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

So ends the story of the Crystal pony that came across the strange pony of fire and dreams.

 

OOC(This story as been fun while it lasted. I will miss the story but we decided that it became too much to keep it going any further than this. Hope all the readers enjoyed this. Nightmare Season)