private "All that Shines" (1x1 RP between Platinum Gear and Raven Rawne)

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks,

 

Crystal Clear searched the body rather quickly - the minotaur didn't have many pockets or pouches, and was generally lightly clad so there was no point looking for sewn-in secret hiding spots. She found some personal items and a small purse. She held it high as she got up, gauntlets red with blood as if she was looking in his insides. "Fillies and gentlecolts, my first blood money! Quite literally too..." The coin bag was dripping with the stuff. "Anyways, nothing in here." She noticed that Clare found something nearby, and went to see for herself. She stood over her shoulder as she read the letter aloud, mindful not to paint her armor red.

 

"A liability? Me? I'll show him a liability alright..." Crys stopped herself mid rant, then dropped her ears flat and lowered her tail a bit apologetically. "Um, sorry? A-anyway, what do we do now? It looks official to me, so I guess Opal Hill must be notified immediately..."

 

Since it wasn't her call, she awaited further instructions from her marefriend.

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne, 

 

"I'm almost inclined to jsut go straight to father, I mean they did try to kill both of us" she says then paces around in circles and thinks "But you are right, Monitaurs are known for being pirates and raiders, and Opal Hill as a port town would be a prime target for them to attack. first" she says and rubs her forehead a little in frustration "and it's okay, I got pretty mad when I read that part as well, you're frar from a liability my love"

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks

 

Crys was about to shrug but her armor made the gesture impossible. "Don't be silly, it's in the middle of the archipelago and very well protected. There are plenty of other targets on the outer islands. Not as rich but easier to ransack. Although it is alarming that apparently they have a vessel near Throne Island right now... He mentioned a ship waiting." The mare went to pick up her stuff, and once she had everything in its place, she said. "We better hurry back to camp then. I guess we ran out of surprises tor today but the sooner you'll send the letter to the capital the better. I'll write to Raven's Nest and tell them to keep watch on the strait for suspicious ships. Maybe they'll find some infiltrators, who knows."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

Clare giggles "What was I thinking, Opal Hill isn't a  port town" she says and facepalms, but fails as she still had her helmet on. She shakes her head and sighs "But you are right, Opal Hill should be alreted right away, as well as our fathers" she says and looks again at the letter "There could be a whole convoy of ships waiting to attack" she says and sighs, "Ser Mage, I would greatly appreciate your advice and wisdom in this matter"

 

The mage's eyes goes dark as he thinks on it "I believe what you suggest would be the best way to go about it" he thinks for another moment and nods "But at first, you should return to your fellow cadets, they are rather worried for you"

 

Clare nods as she picks up the leader's head still in it's helmet with a disgusted look, "Ugh, come on then, we'll take this as proof of what happened"

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks

 

Crys looked at Clare's shenanigans and giggled. "Only you Clare, never change..."

 

She decided to keep quiet as the princess consulted the mage. The plan seemed sound, as far as she could tell. The mare didn't even bother with cleaning her armor from blood. She just picked up her gear and followed her princess, taking a moment to thank the mage for his visit.

 

"So how far to the camp?" She said aloud as she looked to the sky, trying to see the smoke column that marked the camp. "Hmm... an hour long walk at most, good. I need to clean myself from that minotaur. I stink like a butcher..." Crys stopped shining some time after she donned her helmet again. She was too worried to sustain the crystalline aura.

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

Clare giggles "You and me both darling," she says trying to sniff her armpits "well I can't quite smell them through this armor, but I assume my pits stink like Tartarus" she chuckles and nods as they begin walking towards the camp. She had the minotaur's head nestled under her arm, but it was still in it's helmet as she didn't want to have to look at his ugly mug while walking.

 

It took them at least a good solid two hours to finally reach the camp.

 

"AND JUST WHERE THE BUCK HAVE YOU TWO BEEN!?" The Sergeant bellows

 

Clare simply unceremoniously throws the minotaur's head at the Sergeant's feet  "you tell me, I got caught in a trap, and my ankle was badly injured, so we had to camp for the night, then on our way back, we came across this pathetic excuse for a cadet and his mate who had set the trap" she says then also hands him the note she found "It would seem he was tasked with foalnapping me and killing Crystal" she says in heavy disgust, spitting at the lifeless head of the minotaur.

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks,

 

Crys sighed. "I need a hour long bath in hot water, but I won't get any this year, I guess... Stupid Academy and their strict rules about "life in war conditions"... It's like they wanted to show us nobles that going to war is not fun, by making us live like common soldiers."

 

The mares continued walking in silence, only occasionally exchanging short observations or insights. The fight with the minotaurs and the possible implications weighted on them heavily.

 

Unsurprisingly, once they finally reached camp, instead of warm welcome and something to eat, they found a pissed off sarge. Crystal Clear gave him an unamused look as Clarissa brought him up to speed on their abnsence.

 

Once the other mare was finished with the instructor, Crys chipped in. "Sir, we had to survive in the forest with no supplies, find our way home and fight for our lives against a minotaur ambush. We're hungry, cold, caked with blood, but safe and victorious. Just give us a break for a moment, would you? Also, we need to send a letter to the Capital - foalnapping attempt of a princess by enemies of the realm is no trivial matter and the Crown Prince must be notified immediately. Now could you lead us to the camp master? We need to make a report to him and send the letter to Opal Hill at once."

 

The instructor grumbled something under his nose, but oblidged to the mare's wishes. A runner was sent to Opal Hill before the day was over, and the mares continued their training in the Academy until graduation.

 

 

-------------------- Road to Opal Hill. Present Day ------------------------

 

The fire was slowly dying, as the mares ran out of wood to feed it. Thenight was dark and they were tired. Soon both would be asleep.

 

"I won't forget that little adventure of ours... It was pretty exciting too, truth be told. We managed to earn around ten thousand bits from selling stuff from that keep, is I recall correctly. All went to the citizens, like you wanted. I don't think I've ever seen the commoners so happy like when we came to offer them gold. It felt... good. And it was a right thing to do, like you said Clare."

 

Crystal Clear snuggled to her marefriend, feeling sleepy but continuing the conversation.

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

 Clare snuggles close to her marefriend "You see, the citizens are less likely to revolt if you treat them right, also if a full out war or even a skirmish happens, they are more likely to want to help out and fight" she says as she looks up at the stars "And now look at us, full fledged knights on our way to Opal Hill. I just hope the news of the minotaurs' attack on us reached them, ti's been a while and I hadn't heard anything"

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks,

 

"And I thought you were being altruistic to those ponies..." Clare stuck out a tongue at her rhetoric jab.

 

"Don't worry, maybe they were too busy to write back. Or wouldn't risk sending a letter with vital information actross the whole island, when the minotaurs managed to sneak by to our shores and all that... My father was a bit less caucious and did reply, but all he wrote was to keep an eye on you. He didn't even mention whether they fired the ballista for practice, and he always tells me... I just hope my graduation present is waiting in Opal Hill."

 

The mare yawned, she was getting really tired. "So how about we get some rest so we could be back on the road earlier? We should reach the capital by tomorrow evening anyway."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

"And maybe I was doing that too" she giggles and snuggles her "Father did write, just said that a special pony is waiting for me at Opal Hill, he didn't say who, but I think I know who it is. You remember my younger sister right? We'd let her tag alone whenever we went out, you know, get her out of the courts and show here there's more to life than being a prissy princess" she smiles "I think he's allowed her to go to Opal Hill for the festivities" she then nods and closes her eyes as well "That sounds like a good idea"

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks,

 

Crystal looked thoughtful as she rememebered about her marefriend's sister "Oh, yeah I remember her. Been a while since I saw her last time...I wonder how she's been doing these past few months." She made corrected herself, since a root started to hurt her back as she layed on it. "You think we'll have to hide, well, "us", with her around? It was fun going out with her."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

Clare smiles "I don't think we'd have much trouble, you know, she simply adores you" she says with a soft giggle "Always asking when you were coming over next,  when you and her could spar again" she shakes her head "she'd be the one I'd trust the most with our little secret" she says as she loses her eyes and snuggles closer to Crystal "I love you Crys, always will"

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks

 

Crystal Clear yawned and nodded. "Sorry for that. I love you too, Clare." She muzzled the other mare.  "Now let's get some rest, sooner we start going tomorrow the sooner I'll get my months overdue relaxing hot bath... You're invited, by the way."

 

With that last remark, the mare closed hee eyes and tried to sleep, hoping her red coat will hide the blush.

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne, 

 

A few hours later and the early morning sun was being risen by Princess Celestia. As Clare was wearing her new enchanted leather armor that she had found at the armory when they found the ruins, she felt the warmth of the suns' rays warm up her soft fur and she slowly opens up her eyes. "Mmm good morning sweetheart" she says to Crys as she nuzzles her and goes about making some oatmeal for them out of the supplies they had brought with them. "Well at least it isn't just bread and cheese this time" she laughs

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks,

 

Crystal Clear woke up as she felt something touch her face. She was too sleepy to investigate though, and the feeling subsided quickly anyway. Choosing a slow and steady approach, she stretched thoroughtly, purring and sighing as she did so. She didn't like sleeping on the ground, no matter how often she did that. Once she felt somewhat more awake, she rubbed her eyes and cracked them open, but closed them immediately as the sun was already up and shining in her face. "Stupid glowy thing" She mumbled to herself and put the cloak on her head to hide from the bright light. She heard Clare talking and laughing, so it was probably time to get up anyway...

 

"Alright, I'm awake..." She said to herself. The mare removed the cloak from her head and slowly pinned it to her back. She rubbed her eyes a few more times to get used to the morning sun and combed her mane with her fingers to look more or less presentable. She rose to her hooves and straightened her gambeson, then looked around to see what Clare was doing. The smell of oatmeal was enough of a clue.

 

"Up already? And I thought I wanted to reach civilisation..." She yawned and stretched some more. "So what's on the menu, chef?" Crystal Clar approached her companion and looked over her shoulder.

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

"Morning sleepy head and yeah, I just cannot wait to finally be able to sleep on a decent bed for once" she says and chuckles "We're having berry oatmeal for breakfast then some bread and Zap Apple jam for lunch...unless we come across an inn or place that serves food along the way" she says and nuzzles her lovingly "I also cannot wait to see my sister again, it's been too long"

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks,

 

Crys took an opportunity to lighten the mood, and wake up some more in the process. Mornings were the unbeatable enemy to her...

 

The mare huffed in an exaggerated manner and announced: "What? Am I not decent enough? You sleep on me every time you get the chance!" She stood like that for a moment, trying to look all mad, but finally gave in and laughed, then said. "Alright, give me some of that oatmeal. There's an inn in Founder Cove - a small fishing hamlet, ten miles from here or so. We'd have to make detour to the shore but not a long one. If we hurry up we'll make it to Opal by nightfall." She took the bowl and started emtying it with a steady pace.

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

"A detour is okay with me, as long as the food is nice" she says as she too digs into her oatmeal with surprising speed and gusto. She then finishes her first bowl of oatlmeal before she begins to pour more oatmeal into her bowl with a smile "help yourself darling, and you know you're more than adequate to use as a bed, but sometimes  it is nice to sleep on a cloud bed every now and then"

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks,

 

Crys shook her head as she swalloed a portion of her oatmeal. "It's nothing special, but at least you don't have to make it yourself. Last time I visited they had some fish dishes and cheap wine but it didn't taste bad." She saw Clare pouring herself seconds and commented with a smile."Seems I'm not the only one who wants to get back to their optimal weight, huh? The Academy was a good workout but I prefer not to be able to break nuts on my hips..."

 

She was right, Crystal Clear was never chubby, but she had some healthy padding here and there before signing up for the Academy. Now she was just skin, bone and muscle.

 

The mare finished her bowl and refilled it. "You may be a princess, but you're the better cook in this duet. I can burn soups like nopony else! Maybe that will decrease my attractivenes for marriage..." She shivered at the thought.

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne, 

 

Clare giggles "Cracking what or should I say who's nuts between your thighs?" she says while wiggling her eyebrows in a silly manner, "and well according to father, mother was really good at cooking, so it must be in my genes" she says and sighs as she starts on her seconds, eating a little slower this time. "Sometimes cheap food and wine is good, I mean it's gotta be better than the fare we had at the academy. As for your attractiveness for marriage, you're a countess with cooks at your disposal"

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks,

 

Crys rolled her eyes and blushed heavily. "Geez Clare, get your mind out of the gutter for a moment..." She turned away from the other mare a bit and concentrated on her oatmeal, replying over her shoulder.

 

"You should've seen me there when I was traveling home for winter break! The innkeeper made a month's income off me when I came for a meal. It was enough they had fresh food, and not preservables like in the Academy. And after drinking water for so long, even the cheapest wine was a huge improvement. So, yeah, we make a detour alright." She emtied her second bowl nearly as fast as the first one, having learned to eat fast during few breaks they had during the day in the Academy. Crystal got up on her hooves and went for the ox to strap it to the wagon. "I'll get our carriage ready and help you gather the camp, okay? The we move out."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne, 

 

Clare nods "What? I fondly remember those passionate nights we've spent together" she giggles and begins to wash up the bowls "Well if that's any indication of the food, then I'm sure it'll be good, honestly, the stuff back home is a little too rich, so some nice home type cooking sounds like a nice change from the rich stuff from home and the plain bread and cheese and slop from the academy" she says, packing up the campsite.

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks,

 

Crystal Clear was pretty sure that her snout could now double as a lighthouse, but she held her ground with a riposte once she got back with the ox. "If I recall correctly, and I do recall correctly, you weren't very bothered by daylight either..." She stopped tying the animal to the wagon and shot a glance ot her marefriend. "That was not an invitation, by the way. I like it how you're the one taking initiative, being on top and all, but really, we should get going."

 

The crystal mare loaded their things on the wagon as Clarissa took care of the bowls and other food related items.

[Sphinx-Ara 3,553]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

Clare's ears droop "aaw but I was hoping to get in a little action before we reached the capitol" she giggles and kisses her marefriend's cheek "Regardless, we could always stop at the inn for the night, maybe use it as a chance to gather intel. See if we can pick things up from travelers, any sort of information regarding those damned bulls"

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Orange Sparks,

 

Crys shook her head at her marefriend's reaction. "Sounds like another busy night... but at least they have beds in the guest rooms." She lugged the last pack onto the wagon and patted it's side. "Alright, we're ready to roll! We should follow the road as previously but turn left once it splits. Then it's straight to the Founder Cove, right by the seaside. Should be nice and easy all the way, there weren't any obstacles last time I was there."