Chapter 5: The Crystal

“More waiting!” grumped Trixie. “Very well, Trixie supposes that she could spend some time preparing herself for the next challenge.”

She then turned toward the group of friends and added, “Trixie may or may not see you around. It all depends on whether or not you can keep up!”

Trixie then galloped out of the room, headed for who knows where.

“Keep up or not. Hmph, we’ll show her,” mumbled Rainbow Dash under her breath.

“Well,” opened the Princess after Trixie had gone, “it appears that Sun Cloak has given you all some time for preparation and even snacking. Is there anything you would like to eat before the next riddle comes in?”

“Well shoot, I suppose I’ve got a hankerin’ for some hay fries right now,” mentioned Applejack.

“I could go for some gems,” Spike shrugged.

“Perhaps a small salad,” mused Rarity.

“Very well, I shall have my chefs prepare a light snack while you gather your supplies and prepare for travel. I do not wish to disturb the guards working here when Sun Cloak’s next message comes in, so meet me in my private bed chambers in one hour where we can listen to the riddle in private.”

The party nodded gratefully and hurried off to grab the supplies they had gathered over the past week. When the supplies were neatly packed and everypony’s saddlebags had been fitted snuggly, the group headed down to the banquet hall where, as promised, a table sat prepared with food for everypony. Sparkling gems, fattening hay fries, fresh flowers, crunchy oats, and even a few frosted cupcakes lay atop the table in a glorious spread. The friends all had a bite to eat, but they didn’t seem too hungry. Time ticked by quicker than they expected and the group soon found themselves in Princess Celestia’s private chambers.

* * * * * * * * *

Spike placed their tiny ruby in the center of a small end table and circled around it. Princess Celestia also stood among them, waiting patiently for the mysterious unicorn to make his next appearance. Even Princess Luna was able to find time in her busy schedule to come and listen to Sun Cloak speak. The jewel hummed and vibrated, bringing Sun Cloak’s image back to life.

“It has now been one hour and it is time for the hunt to truly begin. I promised to explain how your crystal works, but I want to make this a little more interesting. So, I will give the riddle first and then you will have a choice to make. After I give the riddle you may choose to wait without touching the gemstone for an unspecified amount of time before I will explain to you how your crystal works or, if you believe you have the answer, you may take the jewel and gain a head start on your competition. Let’s begin with the riddle.”

At this point Spike pulled out some parchment and a quill from Twilight’s saddlebag.

“ ‘First loved ones seen through newborn eyes inside this tiny home,

And there inside a quarry lies with hard and cold grey stone.

Once here, do find the guiding light and listen for my voice;

If find the way that I have marked, you have made the proper choice.’

You may now choose to wait or you may take the crystal now and gain an advantage. Choose wisely.”

Sun Cloak’s image faded away and the humming crystal became dull and silent.

“I say we take it and go!” encouraged Rainbow Dash while reaching toward the gem.

“Rainbow stop!” shrieked Rarity.

The brash pegasus’ hoof halted mid-air, hovering above the gemstone.

“Why? If we can take a head start, then I saw we take it!”

“Because dear, we have absolutely no idea where we are going. It’s no use having a head start if we simply end up walking in circles,” Rarity explained.

“Even I’d like to grab it and run,” Spike added, “but Rarity is right, if we don’t know where we’re going it won’t do us any good.”

“Ok, so what can we do?” asked Rainbow Dash as she placed her hoof back on the ground.

“We can start solving this riddle,” stated Twilight.

The group began to argue back and forth. Some believed that they may be looking for a stone house; others thought the riddle was a metaphor for something else. Princess Celestia gave a few suggestions herself and also kept the friends from becoming too rowdy, but Princess Luna did not utter a single word; she instead remained deep in thought. After much debate, Luna finally broke into the conversation.

“It is a two part riddle,” she stated assuredly.

The group quieted instantly at the Princess’ first words.

“Why would you think that?” asked Fluttershy politely.

“Listen carefully to this phrase, ‘Once here…’ this implies that thou must get somewhere before the next lines will do any good. Therefore, the riddle we are trying to solve is a two part riddle. We must solve part one before the second piece will make sense.”

“Well, looky there! I’d say she’s right,” agreed Applejack with a tip of her hat toward the discerning Princess Luna.

“Ok, so we need to solve the first part. But exactly are we trying to solve?” asked Twilight.

Spike picked up the paper he had scribbled on and began to read aloud, “ ‘First loved ones seen through newborn eyes inside a tiny home, and there inside a quarry lies with hard and cold grey stone.’ Hey Twilight…what’s a quarry?”

“Ooo! Ooo! Pick me! Pick me!” shouted Pinkie as she jumped around the group and waved a hoof in air.

“Um…Pinkie?” said Spike as he pointed a claw at her.

“A quarry is a place where ponies dig out rocks! I know because I used to live on a rock farm!”

“Eww…A rock quarry?” Rarity shuddered, “Those places are so dusty.”

The group gave her a strange look, but soon Twilight cemented Pinkie’s definition.

“She’s right Spike.”

“Ok.Ok,” began Rainbow Dash, “So where does a rock quarry and a house with loved ones lead us?”

“I…I don’t know,” Twilight sighed and shrugged.

Time seemed to have passed by more quickly than the group had anticipated because the crystal suddenly sparked to life and Sun Cloak began to speak.

“You have waited patiently and now you shall be rewarded.”

The party quickly turned their attention to the crystal and to Sun Cloak.

“These gemstones are arguably my greatest work I have ever created. By enchanting them with light and sound I have made countless recordings to help you solve my riddles. Allow me be frank, all of the places my riddles take you have had some significance in my life. That is also why I have recorded my entire life’s story inside these gems; however, I will not just tell you my story and then let you go off adventuring. No, that would be too easy. Instead these crystals have been designed so that when certain key words or phrases are spoken I will appear and relay a new message to you.

Let me explain further, simply speak to the crystal and ask it for the last riddle and I will appear and say it again. Nevermore will you need to record my riddles on paper, I will tell it to you again if you ask for it.

One last thought, not all of my messages are available to you right now. After you successfully solve a riddle, more messages will become available. I suggest that you learn what you can from your gem to solve my riddles. This information is of vital importance to help you in your quest.”

His recording paused for a moment, but didn’t disappear. Then he spoke again.

“Ah, but perhaps my meaning is not quite clear enough. Hmm…Oh! I have an idea, I will set up a sample word to use as an example for you. Trying saying ‘riddle’ to your crystal and see what happens.”

He seemed to smile and chuckle at his own cleverness.

“Oh! Oh yes! And good luck!”

The image faded from view and left them all speechless, except for the vocal Rainbow Dash.

“That finicky unicorn!” she protested. “Even his crystal is a riddle!”

Suddenly, Sun Cloak shot forth from the humming ruby and began to speak.

“Riddles? I love riddles! A good puzzle always seems to brighten up my day,” he said before fading away.

Rainbow Dash’s eye twitched in mix of shock and utter disbelief at the short, off-topic message.

“Is that how those ‘keyword’ doohickeys of his work?” asked Applejack as she scratched her head.

“I don’t quite know,” replied Twilight. “Maybe we should try it again?”

She cleared her throat and then spoke.

“Riddle.”

The gem immediately became alive with light and sound as Sun Cloak appeared.

“Riddles? I love riddles! A good puzzle always seems to brighten up my day,” the message repeated itself.

“Fascinating,” mused Twilight.

“Riddle!” shouted Pinkie in delight.

“Riddles? I love…”

“Riddle!” Pinkie interrupted the message.

“Riddles?...” the message began to replay from the beginning.

“Riddle!” the bubbly pony again shouted.

“Riddles? I love riddles…”

“Riddle!”

“Pinkie!” shouted the group.

“Hee hee!” giggled Pinkie, “Sorry.”

The message played itself out one last time and Sun Cloak’s image faded from view.

Next Chapter: Chapter 6: The Town Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 55 Minutes