The Crystal Empire - Alternate Ending
As she waited within the great and glistening halls of this magnificent place, she felt nothing but and overwhelming feeling of both relief and excitement. Twilight Sparkle, student of Princess Celestia, had been witness to a great occurrence less than a day before. She and her friends had travelled North, to the newly re-emerged Crystal Empire, lost for a thousand years under the curse of a tyrannical unicorn. With the help of her friends, that monster had been defeated, and the Empire and it's citizens had been freed. The storm had blown over and all had come out of it safe and sound.
This was not the first time she'd been present at such a monumental event though. Ever since she first arrived in the village of Ponyville, her life has been a plethora of strange and dangerous things. And like all of them, she and her friends had been made all the better for it. But now she had other things on her mind, hence why she was waiting here, in the grand entrance hall of the Crystal Palace itself. She and her friends had been asked to come here by Celestia herself, ready to address the local ponies on a very important matter.
And speaking of which, her gaze now drifted to the side, where a pair of very familiar ponies were approaching her. She broke into a smile as her brother, Shining Armour, and her sister-in-law, Princess Cadence, were walking towards her. She stepped forward to greet them and they smiled back at her in turn.
"So? Is it true?"
The married ponies looked at each other as Twilight asked that question, unsure of how best to answer. In the end, her brother turned to face her once more and simply gave a nod. Twilight had to repress the urge to squeal with delight over this confirmation.
"This is so great! My brother, a Prince!"
Shining chuckled at the enthusiasm his sister was showing, as did Cadence. It was as Celestia had told them. Shining and Cadence had been chosen to stay here in the Empire and serve as it's leaders. That position had granted Shining the title of "Prince", something which his sister was clearly excited over. However, once Twilight calmed down from this news, she noticed her brother's face, which bore a look of uncertainty. She tilted her head in confusion over this, wondering why he'd be concerned over his new position. If it was nerves, she'd certainly understand that. After all, she'd feel no less if she was suddenly given a royal title. But she knew her brother better than that. There was something else mixed in with it. It took a few moments, but her eyes soon widened with a look of understanding, and she stepped forward and placed a hoof on her brother's shoulder, gaining his attention.
"I know it'll be hard for you to leave the guard. But you served them and Celestia well for years. And this Empire could not have asked for a better Prince than you."
Shining still looked unsure about that. For as long as Twilight had known him, Shining's biggest dream and ambition in life was to join the royal guard and make Captain one day. That dream had been achieved for some time now, and she knew he'd been happy in that position. For him to be asked to leave it so suddenly like this would have jarred anypony, and she could not blame him for being hesitant. But even in spite of his sister's assurances, he still looked somewhat troubled over this. It was here that Twilight noticed that Cadence too was looking worried. She and her husband gave each other a glance, a look of understanding between them. Twilight was no fool, and she could recognise immediately that something else was on their mind. Something they weren't comfortable telling her.
Still, she wasn't going to press the matter. If they wanted to tell her anything, she would let them wait until they were ready. It would have been better to move onto other things to discuss, but it was at that moment that they all heard the sound of opening doors. Turning they saw that the main doors of the palace were opening. Through it came the two Princesses, Celestia and Luna, having just returned from touring the city no doubt. Twilight smiled as she saw her beloved mentor approach, a look which Celestia returned. Once the two sisters were close enough, Twilight, Cadence and Shining all gave a bow, a ritual that had been drilled into their behaviour since childhood. Celestia gave a small chuckle at that before raising her hoof at them.
"Please, after all the years we've known each other, there's no need for that".
The three younger ponies rose and gazed upon Equestria's rulers, both of whom were looking pleased. Luna spoke first.
"It brings joy to my heart to see this place finally freed from the taint of Sombra's corruption."
Celestia nodded at that.
"Indeed. It has always weighed heavily on my heart that we were never able to save it from him before it was too late. For them to have been adrift in time for so long while the rest of the world changed...I cannot fathom how difficult this must be for all of them".
Twilight noticed then that Luna suddenly gained a look of discomfort on her face, one which the Princess quickly tried to hide from her by looking away. Although Twilight would never claim to be an expert on reading people, she knew Luna well enough to know what was going on in her mind. Like the ponies of the Crystal Empire, she too had been lost to the world for many centuries, held prisoner in the moon by the corruption of her own heart. Thinking back on the fate the crystal ponies had endured must have brought forth memories of her own imprisonment, something Twilight would never have wished for her to remember. Still, she knew it was not a good idea to speak aloud of the matter, and she turned her attention back to Celestia, who spoke again.
"Still...even though they have returned to this world safe and healthy, it will take time for them to re-adjust to just how much things have changed."
A smile crept onto the elder sister's face as she looked upon Cadence and took a step forward.
"And I cannot think of a better pony to lead them in this new era than you, my niece. The pony who shielded them from darkness will be welcomed with open hooves"
She placed a hoof on Cadence's shoulder, and the latter looked up at her Aunt with a small smile as she spoke.
"I know you can do it."
Cadence smiled warmly at her, but then Celestia turned to face Shining, who had been dutifully standing at attention this whole time.
"You and your husband shall b fine rulers together".
It was here that the smiles vanished from the faces of both Cadence and Shining. The two looked at each other with nervous looks, and Twilight picked up on this immediately. Whatever it was that had been on their minds, it undoubtedly had something to do with their new positions here in the Empire. And judging from, their expressions, she knew it could not be something that the sisters would enjoy hearing. Cadence eventually let out a long sigh and gave Shining and encouraging smile. After staring at her for a while, he smiled back and gave a brief nod before turning to face the sisters once more. Taking a step forward, he spoke.
"Your majesties, I thank you for this opportunity. I cannot say how much of an honour it is that you would wish for me to have such a position."
His expression became one of discomfort as he considered his next words. Looking at the two sisters, Twilight now saw that, like her, they'd suspected that something was up. The three did not have to wait long to find out, as Shining spoke up once more.
"But...I'm afraid I cannot accept."
It was as if the world itself had stood still at that moment. Twilight just could not grasp what it was that her brother had just said. He cannot accept? What did he mean? Looking to her left, she saw that the Princesses too were dumbfounded by this, bearing looks of utter shock upon their faces. They turned to face each other, perhaps trying to figure things out between themselves, but that did not make things easier. All three turned to look at Shining once more, who briefly looked away, almost ashamed of what he had just done, before looking them in the eye again. After what seems like ages, Celestia broke the silence.
"You...refuse the offer to become Prince?"
Shining did not reply, but merely nodded his head. Twilight couldn't fathom why her brother would turn down an opportunity like this. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, given by the Princess of the Sun herself. Why would anypony turn down the chance to lead a nation like this? She racked her brain, looking back on everything she knew about her brother, trying to find some inkling, some clue as to what his motives might be in doing this. Looking at her, Shining knew his sister well enough to know that that's what she was doing, and he placed a hoof on her shoulder, gaining her attention.
"You want an explanation, and you have the right to it."
Twilight looked up at her brother, her face bearing an expectant look as she waited for him to explain himself, as did the two sisters. Shining glanced over his shoulder, where Cadence gave him a look of encouragement before he carried on.
"Ever since I was a child, I have wanted only one thing, to serve Equestria. To that end have I devoted my life. I joined the royal guard as soon as I was old enough. I went on every mission, every piece of training that was required of me. In time, I made Captain, the youngest pony ever to do so, something I am still proud of".
As she spoke, Twilight's mind conjured up her years living in Canterlot, at how she too was proud of her brother for having achieved all that had. The look of joy on his face when he first came home, wearing his Captain's uniform, was a moment she'd never forget. But even so, it didn't explain to her why he'd reject what the Princesses were offering him. So, she carried on listening.
"To protect, as a guard, as a Captain, has been my goal in life. To be royalty is not. Even when I married Cadence..."
He turned to look upon his wife, who was still smiling at him.
"...I did so out of love, not just I could gain a title."
He turned again to face the other three once more.
"To be a Prince has never been something I've wanted. I am no leader, but a soldier. To spend my days here, serving as royalty...that isn't me."
It was here that Twilight finally understood what her brother was getting at. In all the years she'd known him, he'd prided himself on his duties as a protector, of Canterlot, of the Princesses, of ponykind as a whole. She tried imagining him as a royal, doing the things that were expected of Celestia, Luna and even Cadence. And like her brother, she now realised that such a life was not for him. It was as he said, he was a soldier, a defender. His cutie mark was not a shield for nothing after all. Realising this, the look of confusion and shock that had dominated her face until this point began to fade from her, replaced by one of understanding. Shining's eyes glanced at her and he saw this face. The two siblings smiled at each other, and they knew what the other was thinking.
Celestia and Luna though were not so sure, and made that known.
"Shining Armour, you served as a protector of this Empire when Sombra threatened it. But while he may have been vanquished, he will not be the only threat this place faces."
Shining gained a look of determination upon his face as he nodded back at her.
"I realise that, your majesty. Do not take this to mean that I am abandoning this place. While I have every intention of resuming my post as Canterlot's Captain, should evil threaten this place again, I will be here to defend it, when the time comes."
Twilight couldn't help but smile at that. Even after so many years in the guard, her brother's need to protect others had not diminished one bit. But her smile faded a little when she looked over to Celestia, who was still looking somewhat upset at this. The elder Princess turned to Cadence and spoke.
"Cadence, are you content with the decision your husband has made?"
Cadence, who had been silent until this point, looked at her Aunt before glancing back at Shining. She thought about it for a moment before a warm smile crept upon her face. Looking back at Celestia, she gave a nod.
"Yes. We've discussed this before. I understand his reasons and I support him in this."
Everypony there, even Luna, looked at Celestia, who was clearly thinking things over in her mind. It was, undoubtedly, a big revelation that had just been given to her, and as anypony would expect, she needed time to grasp it. Eventually, she let out a long sigh and gave a smile at the group, albeit a very small one.
"Very well. If that is your decision, Sir Armour, I will respect it."
Shining, now looking quite relieved, finally cracked a smile and nodded at his monarch, giving a small bow as he did so. Celestia bowed her head slightly at this before looking at Cadence once more.
"And you, my niece? Will you be returning to Canterlot with Shining?"
Cadence shook her head before replying.
"No. Shining and I have talked about it and we've decided that I'll be staying here, as the Empire's Princess."
Twilight's eyes widened with surprise upon hearing that. She thought for sure that Cadence would follow her brother back home after all this. To hear that she was accepting the new position was unexpected to say the least. Nevertheless, she knew the Crystal Ponies would accept her, given everything she did to defend them over the last few days. Looking at the two sisters, she saw that they were giving each other a private look before turning to look at the rest of them, giving a nod of acceptance, indicating that they'd come to terms with this new state of affairs. Celestia gave her student one final look, which Twilight replied to with a bow, before she and Luna began walking away, no doubt to inform the Crystal ponies of who it was that would now be leading them.
Now it was just Twilight, Cadence, and Shining in the hall together. The silence between them was broken by Shining, who now faced his sister.
"And you, Twily? Are you okay with this?"
Twilight considered this carefully. In truth, she felt a little disappointed. She'd got herself very excited at the prospect of her brother being royalty. Though in truth she was perhaps overly so. After all, she'd never once considered whether it was something he himself would want, though she could see now that it was not. On the other hoof, she loved her brother too much to let something like this upset her too much. As such, she just gave him a warm smile as she placed a hoof on his shoulder in a loving manner.
"I'm fine, BBBFF. A little shocked, but fine."
Shining let out a sigh of relief, perhaps worried that his sister might think less of him over this. Seeing as that was clearly not the case, he smiled back at her before turning to his wife. He gave Cadence a quick kiss on her cheek, something Twilight had to resist the urge to squeal at, before turning and walking away. Doubtless he was off to get his things ready for the return train trip back to Canterlot. As this was the same train that Twilight herself would be using soon, she knew she'd have to get her own things ready also.
But as she considered this, a new thought came to mind, one which she now spoke to Cadence.
"Um, Cadence? Are you sure you'll be okay with his?"
The pink alicorn turned to her sister-in-law, her raised eyebrow indicating that she did not know what she was talking about. So Twilight elaborated.
"I mean, I know my brother's reasons for not wanting to leave his position, but it will mean he'll be living quite far away from you. I've heard how long-distance relationships can be strained. Are you sure the two of you will be alright with this?"
As foolish as she knew it was to question the Princess of love on her own romantic relationships, Twilight was nevertheless concerned that such distance might put an unwanted strain on their union. Looking at Cadence's thoughtful face, she knew it was something she too had been thinking of. Perhaps it was something she and Shining had discussed prior to all of this, but nevertheless, Twilight needed to know they were okay with this, if only so she wouldn't be worried about her brother's marriage. Eventually, Cadence looked upon Twilight with a warm smile.
"I'll be fine. You and I know Shining well enough to know that something like this isn't going to get in the way of us loving each other."
Twilight smiled back, now feeling relieved that the two of them were going to be okay with this. However, that expression turned into one of slight confusion as she saw that Cadence looked at her with a somewhat mischievous look.
"Besides, it'll take far more than distance to stop me from getting my hooves on your brother for too long."
