Author's Note:
I felt like updating this story, and I did—I had no other reason to do so. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
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Story Arc: Welcome to the Crystal Empire
Episode 1: The Arrival of the Chosen "Hero"
Chapter 2: Conversation and Lunch
Plot: Autumn Gem regains consciousness and ends up having a proper meeting with Paimon and Traveler. They ask some questions and get some decent answers. Afterward, the heroes head out to meet King Sombra.
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POV Narrator
Autumn Gem woke up on a couch in a living room inside a studio apartment.
Nothing unusual for her; she's lived in this small, bare apartment for a very long time.
The location Autumn Gem is in isn't unusual for her, but the sensations she's experiencing aren't usual.
When the mare opened her eyes, she felt rested, as if she had previously had a huge weight on her, but now it had vanished.
Usually, Autumn Gem wakes up tired and dejected, but today it's just the opposite.
"I don't even remember when I had such a good nap," Autumn Gem exclaimed, with a small smile, as she stretched her arms.
The Blue Fur Mare feels as if her batteries have been fully recharged after an eternity.
Rising on her hooves with ease as if she were a hyperactive filly again, Autumn Gem smells something in the air.
"What is that delicious smell?" Autumn Gem mutters, licking her lips, as her stomach begins to growl.
"I feel like I could eat a dragon." Autumn Gem said, as she touched her stomach, feeling her appetite returning.
The Mare's almost idyllic beginning is interrupted when Paimon appears flying into the living room.
Autumn Gem stops completely as if she were a crystal statue, the only sign of movement being her eyes fixed on the White Fairy.
On the other hand, Paimon herself seems quite joyful about Autumn Gem's awakening.
"Traveler, the horse woman has woken up!" Paimon exclaims loudly, in the direction of the studio apartment's small kitchen.
The White Fairy was worried that whatever Traveler did might have long-term side effects, such as a semi-permanent coma or a nap lasting several weeks.
Traveler is an extremely powerful sorcerer who has dabbled in every field of magic, but there are several branches where he is simply helpless.
Traditional healing is one of the areas of magic where it has extreme difficulty.
"Who are you!" Autumn Gem shouts, frightened, grabbing a pillow as an improvised weapon.
The White Fairy turns to face the mare, holding her hands in plain sight, trying not to make her agitated.
"Paimon understands why you're so nervous, Lady Mare. Paimon is a young girl from a race you've never met, and she's a stranger to you, too. But Paimon doesn't want to hurt you, she just wants to help you," the White Fairy said in a friendly voice, using what she knew about diplomacy to calm Autumn Gem.
The mare with the blue coat calms down slightly, for her Paimon is something new and unprecedented, but she is also very small and seems friendly, above all incapable of harming anyone.
"Hi... I'm Autumn Gem." The Mare said, slightly embarrassed, having not had a friendly conversation in... who knows how long.
Life in the Crystal Empire isn't easy for any Pony not named Sombra.
"A rather childish name, if you ask me. Or the translation method changes the names in a strange way." Traveler mutters, entering the living room, his hood down and his arms out from under his cloak.
The Planeswalker is carrying a black pot, and the pot is floating next to him.
'Another unique surprise.' Autumn Gem thinks, looking at the masked stranger, like a mouse seeing a cat for the first time.
The mare can't help but take a step back and hugs the pillow as if it were a life preserver.
Unlike the cute little Fairy, the Planeswalker is much taller than the Mare, and his large horns and gas mask make him intimidating to Autumn Gem.
"I've seen worse reactions when someone encounters a member of an unknown intelligent race," Traveler said stoically.
As a Planeswalker, a being who travels to every corner of the multiverse and a prominent inhabitant of an interstellar society, he has encountered every kind of intelligent lifeform, receiving every kind of first encounter imaginable.
"Their faces are a little weird, because they don't have fur or feathers?" Autumn Gem thinks, considering the most obvious differences.
Traveler sat down in a living room armchair with a regal composure, as if he were in his own home. The pot settled itself on a coffee table in the living room.
"What are you?" Autumn Gem asks softly, standing there, unsure how to react.
The Crystal Pony School taught her to read, write, and many other useful skills, but not how to deal with unique-looking strangers.
The Planeswalker gestures quickly to Paimon, as if tasking her with answering the mare's questions.
"For the first question, Paimon is Paimon, this is Traveler." The Fairy declares, making the introductions as she floats near the Planeswalker.
"Paimon and Traveler, those are some unique names." Autumn Gem said, not wanting to insult the guy with two horns and a scary mask.
Paimon is used to starting conversations with strangers, talking and chatting are one of the Fairy's greatest talents.
Some people have nicknamed it, the White Fairy, as the voice of the Traveler.
"For the second question, Paimon is often called a Fairy." Paimon states, placing a hand on her chest.
"Fairies aren't what I imagined, but fairy tales were right—they're small, cute, and can fly." Autumn Gem thinks, easily accepting that Paimon is a fairy or fairy-like creature.
Paimon looks at the Planeswalker, unsure how to describe exactly what he is; an extremely complicated family tree and a long life filled with experiments change the very definition/essence/biology of a person.
"As for the Traveler, he's a rather unique case, but he is a sorcerer," Paimon said, dwelling on the simplest thing to explain.
"Well, it's obviously magical after all," Autumn Gem said, as if it were a given.
This response piqued Traveler's interest.
"In this place, only those with one or more horns have magical powers? Perhaps bone constitutions are innate magical focuses? A topic for further study later. At least it makes it easier for me to know who to watch out for." Traveler muses, memorizing this important information.
"Now that you know what Paimon and I are, you might return the favor. You're the first of your kind I've met." Traveler said, waving his hand at Autumn Gem.
"I am a Crystal Pony." The mare replies with a little pride.
"A cute name for a breed, if a little simple," comments the Fairy, accustomed to more unpronounceable names or names with deeper meanings.
"I think it's my turn to ask again: Paimon, Traveler, what are you doing in my house?" Autumn Gem asks, not remembering having invited anyone to come to her house.
"You fainted on the road when you first saw us, so we decided to help you," Traveler explains, not mentioning what the entire rescue process entails.
Physiological scans in more technologically advanced locations may be considered an invasion of privacy.
But connecting to an unconscious mind, superficially browsing it and gathering information, is a violation of several laws in many magical and/or scientific civilizations.
Autumn Gem blushes with embarrassment upon hearing that she fainted when she first caught sight of Paimon and Traveler.
"As your temporary doctor, I have a professional/moral duty to ask you how you're feeling? Excessive fatigue? Absolute apathy? Migraines? Visual and/or auditory hallucinations?" Traveler asks, in case there are any side effects from healing the curse.
"Actually, I feel better than ever," Autumn Gem said, confident she could run a marathon if she wanted to.
"Magic is something Paimon will never fully understand. Traveler isn't capable of safe healing or a cleansing spell. However, he can easily break a curse and absorb the negative energy within himself. The end result is the same—a healed and healthy person—but through a different process." Paimon thinks, reflecting for a moment on the mystic arts.
Autumn Gem's good mood dropped slightly when her mind produced a certain thought.
"If I passed out on the street, how did you find my house?" Autumn Gem asks, touching her neck, a sign of her discomfort.
"There is a branch of magic called dowsing, which allows the user to track/locate people, objects, and resources," Traveler declares, with his usual inscrutable stoicism.
"Traveler is his silver tongue. He recounts a fact as if it were the answer to the question asked." The Faerie thinks, knowing many of the Planeswalker's tricks.
"Now it's my turn. I made some vegetable broth, do you want to eat it?" Traveler asks, as he moves a finger and the lid of the pot lifts.
Vapors and scents that this studio apartment hasn't known for ages have come out into the open.
Autumn Gem's eyes begin to widen as she places her head over the pot to sniff.
"That's what that wonderful smell was!" exclaims the mare, almost crying with happiness at the sight/smell of such food.
"Traveler is a great cook," Paimon declares, staring at the uncovered pot as if it were in the same condition as Autumn Gem.
"Don't be shy and eat." Traveler said, snapping his fingers, causing bowls, a ladle, and spoons for the girls to appear on the table.
"Traveler, I don't know what you are and I don't even care, you just became my best friend." Autumn Gem said, filling her bowl.
'The loyalty of simple creatures is earned through food, a universal truth.' Traveler thinks, seeing the sudden improvement in his "relationship" with Autumn through food.
"Traveler can't be your best friend, Traveler is Paimon's best friend." The Fairy declares, pointing the spoon at the mare as if it were a sword.
"If you talk for a long time, the food gets cold." Traveler said, knowing how Paimon's stomach/brain works.
"You're right, Traveler." Both girls declare, immediately starting to eat as if they were starving.
Which isn't too far from the truth for Autumn Gem.
XXX
After half an hour, the entire pot was emptied. For once, the White Fairy wasn't responsible for this.
"Autumn Gem, you ate more than Paimon." said the Fairy, displeased that she could only eat four portions.
The mare smiles embarrassedly as she quickly devours twelve portions, practically 3/4 of the pot.
"Paimon, don't be greedy, this time someone needs food more than you." Traveler said, chastising her white-haired friend.
Autumn Gem looks at Traveler and realizes that he hasn't eaten a single spoonful of the vegetable broth she made.
"I'm sorry, I finished the whole broth and you didn't taste anything." Autumn Gem said, her voice apologetic.
Unlike Paimon, Traveler doesn't show even an ounce of annoyance.
"Don't worry, I can go weeks without eating, all I need is a little water and chocolate." Traveler said, waving the pot and cutlery away.
"Chocolate?" Autumn Gem asks, raising an eyebrow.
"All breeds have their nutritional needs, but for me, chocolate is essential," Traveler explains, his voice serious.
"Are you serious?" Autumn Gem asks, turning to Paimon.
"If Traveler doesn't eat at least one chocolate bar a week... bad things happen." Paimon said, shaking slightly, knowing how important chocolate is in Traveler's diet.
"Technically, I need phenethylamine, a chemical found in chocolate. It helps me in many ways," Traveler said, avoiding mentioning that phenethylamine is also found in brains.
"Eating chocolate regularly is good for my health. I wish I had that." Autumn Gem said, looking at the half-full part of the glass.
"Paimon likes an optimist," Paimon said, appreciating people who look on the bright side of things.
"Anyway, I'm sorry I didn't leave a bowl of broth for you too, after all, you made me the best meal of my life," Autumn Gem said, still feeling guilty, even though Traveler says he doesn't need food.
"You're underweight, almost skin and bones, needing every bite." Traveler said stoically, but there's a slight hint of concern.
"Unlike Paimon, she should lose a couple of pounds, maybe even more." Traveler said, shifting his gaze to the Fairy, opting to add a lighter topic to the conversation.
"Traveler, you're saying Paimon is fat!" Paimon exclaims, his voice offended.
"Paimon, your nickname is Marshmallow." Traveler said, as if that explained everything.
"This nickname has nothing to do with Paimon's weight and size, but rather with the color of his hair and clothes." said the Fairy, wanting to correct the origins of her nickname.
"I never mentioned your size," Traveler comments, a small, mischievous smile beneath his mask. Making fun of cute or adorable girls is a little pastime of his.
Paimon for once remains silent, instead she blushes and pouts.
"You're such an adorable little girl when you're angry," Traveler said, stroking Paimon's chubby cheeks.
The White Fairy decided to bite Traveler's fingers. This move has no effect.
"My skin is thick and my bones are even harder, I don't feel a thing," Traveler said, feeling no pain whatsoever.
Paimon stops biting, but he still sulks.
"Travel, where did you get fresh vegetables for the broth?" asks Autumn Gem, wanting to know if she can get them too.
Real food has become a luxury around here.
"I have an inventory full of everything," Traveler said, using the video game-esque meaning of the word inventory.
Autumn Gem looks confused, not understanding what Traveler is talking about. This is what happens when a "primitive" civilization meets an advanced one.
"Traveler carries supplies filled to the brim with everything you can imagine," Paimon explains, accustomed to translating the Planeswalker's complex words into simple ones.
"I don't see any luggage anywhere, do you happen to have a carriage outside somewhere?" Autumn Gem asks, unable to come up with any other explanation, it's not as if Traveler could fit an entire warehouse of goods in his pockets.
Apparently the concept of pocket dimensions isn't something that exists in the Crystal Empire.
"We can say we have a carriage somewhere," Traveler said, speaking vaguely.
"Inside the Voidwalker Commorragh, we have entire hangars filled with all kinds of vehicles for all types of terrain. Not to mention the ship in a bottle he always carries around for emergencies." Paimon thinks, sure Autumn Gem can't even begin to imagine Traveler's favorite "carriage."
"Are you merchants?" Autumn Gem asks out of curiosity.
"In a way, my job title is referred to as Rogue Trader Militant." Traveler said, willing to talk a little about herself.
"Rogue Trader Militant... doesn't strike me as a typical trader." Autumn Gem said, raising an eyebrow at the unusual title.
"It's a profession that combines the work of an explorer, a merchant, a mercenary, and a diplomat." Traveler explains the basics of what a Rogue Trader Militant is without going into too much detail.
"It sounds like a very complicated and prestigious job." Autumn Gem said, unsure how the profession of merchant could require such a vast arsenal of skills.
"It certainly is, but it's a thousand times easier than my previous job," Traveler said sincerely, finding his current job more fulfilling than his previous one.
Suddenly the device occupying the Planeswalker's left forearm vibrated and the screen lit up.
Traveler raises his forearm and looks at the screen, he has received a notification.
"What's that shiny thing?" Autumn Gem asks, pointing to the device attached to Traveler's forearm.
"A magical artifact that helps Traveler with many things." Paimon explains, using words the mare can understand, rather than talking about computers, touch screens, holograms, etc.
"The drone has finished scanning the city from above." Traveler said, causing a miniature three-dimensional hologram of the Crystal City to appear above the device.
Autumn Gem's eyes widen at the sight of such a map.
'That artifact must be priceless.' Autumn Gem thinks, speechless at the holographic map.
A highlighted path appears on the map between Autumn Gem's house and the mansion in the center of town.
"It's time for the two of us to go out." Traveler said, turning off the holographic function on his device.
The Planeswalker stands, ready to end this quiet moment and move on to something more dynamic.
"Paimon's lunch break is over, back to work." The Fairy said, with a displeased voice, floating back to Traveler's side.
"You two can't go out at this hour, it's dangerous outside, the guards are starting their patrols." Autumn Gem said, worried about what might happen to Paimon and Traveler.
The Mare doesn't know the two strangers very well; she officially met them less than an hour ago.
But Paimon and Traveler were the kindest and friendliest people Autumn Gem had met in a long time.
Autumn Gem doesn't want to say goodbye to her new friends, especially when it's more dangerous than usual outside.
"You're worried about us, that's nice of you, but you're getting all worked up over nothing. Paimon and I face dangerous situations almost every day," Traveler said in a calm voice, exuding only confidence and assurance.
"Unfortunately, Traveler isn't a joke. Trouble awaits us wherever we go, and Traveler rushes at them with magic in one hand and a sword in the other. At best, we only have one official adventure a week," Paimon said, lowering his head, looking defeated.
The White Fairy could do without certain adventures that bring her close to death, but she knows she couldn't live any other way. After so much time together, Paimon wouldn't know how to live without Traveler.
"You have no idea of the danger, especially you, Traveler." Autumn Gem declares, pointing to the Planeswalker's horns.
"The Crystal Empire is ruled by King Sombra, a ponyskin monster. He killed all the Crystal Unicorns so no one else could use magic against him." Autumn Gem said, looking scared.
"Anyone with a horn or antlers will be captured by the guards, and then never seen again." Autumn Gem said, trying to convey the danger looming over Traveler.
"None of this will be a problem for much longer, tomorrow marks the beginning of a new chapter in this city," Traveler said, having a completely different idea of how to handle the situation.
"What do you mean?" Autumn Gem asks, not understanding what Traveler is trying to do.
"I will go to the castle, break through the palace defenses, pass through the guards, find King Sombra, beat him, finally, pass judgment and inflict upon him a punishment worthy of his crimes." Traveler explains in a serious voice.
Autumn Gem remains completely silent, the Planeswalker's words repeating in her head over and over again.
"For the love of Faus, he's serious!" Autumn Gem exclaims, unable to help but scream.
"Traveler rarely jokes, his sense of humor is pretty... dead." Paimon said with a small, amused smile.
'A joke about me dabbling in necromancy.' Traveler thinks, understanding the joke.
"You want to face King Sombra, the most evil unicorn in the history of the Crystal Empire!?" Autumn Gem exclaims in a hysterical voice.
In the mare's mind, the idea of facing King Sombra is a certain death sentence.
"I have faced and defeated countless dark and megalomaniacal creatures who believe themselves to be the second coming of Sauron," Traveler said, not sharing the mare's fears and concerns.
Traveler isn't kidding or extolling his abilities; as a sorcerer who straddles the line between genius and madness, he has purposely clashed with dangerous creatures.
For a time, he made expeditions to hell to collect the essences of the 72 demons that make up the Ars Goetia.
"King Sombra is the most powerful unicorn to ever set foot in the Crystal Empire, not even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna working together could defeat him." said Autumn Gem, not knowing how the confrontation between the evil unicorn and the two Alicorn Princesses went.
In the minds of Autumn Gem and the rest of the Crystal Ponies, King Sombra is a hideous, extremely powerful monster that no normal person can defeat.
"I am an Arch-Sorcerer, an Archduke, the Darkus Archon of the Commorragh, the Rogue Trader Militant of the Voidwalker Fleet, I am more worthy than any Magical Princess you know." Traveler declares, his voice and authority worthy of a king.
Autumn Gem calms down, understanding that there is no way to change Traveler's mind.
"Do you think you can defeat King Sombra?" the mare asks, a little hope in her voice.
Traveler's confidence, aura, and attitude have a strange effect on Autumn Gem.
"He lost the moment I set foot in this crystal city." Traveler declares, more than confident of his victory.
His self-confidence borders on arrogance, but, strangely, it seems reassuring to Autumn Gem.
"A lot of people mistake Traveler's attitude for arrogance and madness, but they all change their minds once they see him in action." Paimon said, knowing this show well; he's seen it several times already, even though the actors and the scenery keep changing.
"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but can I come with you?" Autumn Gem asks, slightly hesitantly, as she touches her neck.
The Fairy and the Planeswalker exchange a silent glance.
"Very well, you will have the honor and duty of bearing witness to my deed for future generations." Traveler said, sounding like a certain King of Heroes.
"Stay close to Paimon and everything will be fine." said the White Fairy, giving the crystal mare some advice.
"Let's go save the Crystal Empire." Autumn Gem said, with more hope and anxiety in her voice.
"He's already been saved, he just hasn't realized it yet." Traveler said confidently, walking toward the exit door.
"I almost forgot, you can't go out dressed in this world." Traveler said, waving his hand at Autumn Gem.
In an instant, the mare's rags became a white winter outfit, similar to Paimon's attire, only adapted to Autumn Gem's body.
'Faust, I pray this is part of your plan to save us and that I'm not heading for certain death.' Autumn Gem thinks, putting her hands in the pocket of her new coat.
Thus were laid the foundations of a future folk tale of how a poor crystal mare met a fairy and a heroic sorcerer who saved her life and the kingdom she lived in.
Continues ...
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Author's Note:
Part of me wanted to keep writing, to tell the story of how the heroes reach the throne room and face King Sombra.
But doing so would have made the chapter too long and I would have divided it into two parts.
I think it's best for the next chapter to focus entirely on the assault on the palace and the fight against King Sombra.