A Tale of Two Kingdoms

"Oh, it's a long story about how one time Sombra threw around some magic and I sorta got caught in it and I stopped growing. Ok, I guess it wasn't that long huh?" Note replies.

Wild Blue blinks in confusion at the Unicorn Bard. "Huh... Who's this Sombra person?"

The azure-coated, silver-maned unicorn is now in full view, and she begins to address you (ignoring the exchange between the crystal pony and pegasus):

Indeed, now that you all have arrived, it is time for Trixie to give you your orders. You have been chosen for your believed above average competence, and your fair ability to represent Caballia's citizenry... and also you're taking a garish pink "pony" with you for familiarity reasons. Your job is to be partially diplomatic, and partially investigative. The prince has superior things to do, and will be looking into Equestria as a whole... but the assumed 'largest' mystery is why the crystal empire is so very... improper. You will be given fair compensation, down payment now and on achieving objectives; and unless Prince Solum deigns to show his face, you likely won't have much interaction before your train departs. Any pointless questions about the mission? Or would you rather ask the important questions about the GREAT and POWERFUL Trixie?"

Wild snaps back to the Unicorn who was telling the mission was being set for at this second, so she wouldn't want to miss any info that like. "Ok... So um... I do have one question, how'd you get into this role of being a spokemare for the Prince? And to our mission, what do we know to expect in this "Equestria" place. And do we know what makes this mission so important the Prince has to pull some random ponies for this task?"

"And what do you mean 'improper'?" Note asks huffily.

"Where do we meet this pink... 'pony?'" Wihkuk asks, catching Trixie's change in speech.

"Psst, I think she meant me." Note says to the changeling in not at all a whisper.

"That comment is why I wonder this Trixie got to be a Royal Speaker... I mean I didn't think The Prince employed rude people to speak for him." Blue snarks with a chuckle.

Wihkuk looks up and down the crystal pony. Then again. Finally on the third time he says "Ooooh..... Sorry, I just tend to focus less on appearance and more on emotion. For example, embarrassment."

"How odd I was of the thought that the cute pony from the crystal empire was to be the native guide... Or even better are you speaking of a pony of Equestira? Oh and yes why would there already be a train line to a kingdom that only recently has come back into existence?" Cassiopeia askes suspicion creeping into her voice towards the end.

"Maybe she's really good at giving speeches or somethin'? I know I have a hard time with 'em, maybe the princes have a hard time of it as well..." Porko shrugged a bit, shaking his head. He was wondering what everyone was getting so flustered about. Though the Naga had a good point...He looked down, trying to think. Maybe they'd worked really hard on making a train line there...Or maybe there had always been one? Really, he was just wracking his brain to remember anything he might have read or heard about the Crystal Empire...The true stuff, not all the silly stories ponies came up with...

History time:

Wild blinks. "Um... Could you use some pronouns when you talk about your counterpart... I think I got a bit confused midway in your chat about your counterpart..."

"After this is over, I think you should schedule an appointment with me." Wihkuk tells Trixie, a bit of worry in his voice.

She gives you a pitying look:

"Of course, Trixie is always willing to help out the less fortunate changelings; she is told that her love is so mighty she can feed half a hive just from ambient energy... Naturally, Trixie should work her way up to a full hive eventually."

and indeed, she is correct: you get the feeling that spending more than an hour in her presence would leave you feeling bloated from having involuntarily consumed so much self-love.

"If you're not gonna use pronouns, can we try another method? Maybe Trixie A and Trixie B? Or should it be C and E? You know, for Caballia and Equestria? Or...Hrm...Not quite sure how what Trixie E...Yeah, I like that, really like that...What Trixie E was up to is really important, even if I would like to hear the story later...I like stories." The boar was smiling, but his tone changed slightly. "Come to think of it though...Isn't the Crystal Empire in a desert...? Being cold doesn't make sense if I'm rememberin' right...Hrm..." He looked at the little pony's outburns, thinking. "Princess wha? That's a mouthful..."

"Oh, you wrote that song?" Wihkuk asks, as he turns into the crystal pony. "I do enjoy it. How does it go again?"

"It's a tundra, not a desert. Or a dessert. It's to the north. At least, I came south to get to Caballia so unless geography just moves around all willy nilly here... probably still to the north and still in a tundra." Note replies.

"Bet you were also told you, your love is all quantity with zero quality..." Blue snarks.

"Are you sure? I distinctly remember that it was a desert...?" Porko seemed confused...Maybe he'd heard wrong? But it was supposed to be a desert. "Maybe it's in the wrong place somehow...That's a possibility, right?"

Note looks at the changeling and shrugs and plays a few bars of the song on her thauramin.