Crystal Clear Bonds

by ggg-2

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Anthro
Length: 1027

A story of Friends and brothers.

When Shining Armor is saddened by the fact that he didn't get to spend time with his sister at the Games or after his magic was restored after the Tirek incident, Cadance suggests that they invite Twilight and her friends to the empire for a vacation, and Big Mac asks to go too, because his father read him stories about the crystal empire, and his father's final wish was for big mac to see the empire with his own eyes. Once there, Big Mac meets and begins a friendship with Shining Armor based on the love and protection they give their sisters.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-07 22:54:57 UTC

Prologue

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or simply Cadance, as she preferred, awoke early one fine morning in the Crystal Empire. So early, in fact, that the sun had yet to rise. Cadance sighed, contentedly. One of her favorite pastimes, a pastime she shared with her husband and true love, Shining Armor, was watching as Cadance's Aunt Luna lowered the moon and her Aunt Celestia raised the sun. Cadance sighed, happily, again.

"Auntie Luna lowering the moon and Auntie Celestia raising the sun....", she said, blissfully. These words held more weight, and made her happier now, as all of Equestria had to deal with Celestia, Luna and Cadance having to transfer their magic to Cadance's sister-in-law, Twilight Sparkle, in order to defeat the evil lord Tirek. "Tirek....." she whispered, solemnly. Twilight had agreed to trade all the Alicorn magic in Equestria for her friends, whom Tirek had captured and drained, Discord included. But with that sacrifice, Twilight gained the final key needed for her and her friends to unlock the mysterious Tree of Harmony chest and gain the even more mysterious Rainbow Power. With it, the 6 mares defeated Tirek and restored everypony Tirek had drained, as well as returning the transferred magic to Celestia, Luna and herself. "Shining Armor, my love, wake up, dear." she said, lovingly, as she shook her husband awake with a loving hand.  Shining Armor's big beautiful bright blue eyes fluttered open, as he yawned. "Morning, honey!" the tall muscular white unicorn stallion said, happily.  Shining Armor got to his hooves, and kissed his wife deeply, his hands stroking her mane. Cadance giggled at her husband's wonderful display of affection. "Auntie Celestia is about to raise the sun." Cadance said. As Captain of the Royal Guard, those words filled Shining Armor with  as much happiness as they did Cadance, perhaps even moreso. Then Shining Armor sighed sadly. "Dear? What's wrong?" Cadance asked, worriedly. ".....It's Twiley...." Shining Armor said, sadly. Twiley was Shining Armor's loving nickname for his younger sister, Twilight Sparkle. "What about Twilight?" Cadance asked. "...It's just...ever since she became an Alicorn, I....haven't been able to spend much time with Twiley. Hoof, YOU'VE spent a whole weekend with her at that Starswirl the bearded travelling exhibit." he said. " Yeah, and that weekend was spent taking caring of a bratty Draconequus who faked being sick just to "test" your sister's friendship with him." Cadance snarked. "Wait, what!?" Shining Armor exclaimed. "Oh, nothing." Cadance said. Ever since the recent Tirek incident, Shining had grown even more distrustful of Discord. In his eyes, the chaotic being didn't deserve to even LOOK at his precious sister or his beautiful wife, let alone be anywhere near them. "I mean, yeah, I invited her when you were out of town that one time...." he mentioned. Cadance giggled.  "Yes, Lexicon told me about that." she said. "But I didn't get spend time with her either at the Equestria Games or after my magic was restored after it was absorbed by....him...." Shining Armor said, scowling at the last part.   "I've got an idea! We should invite Twilight and her friends on a vacation to the Crystal Empire! And as Princess of Friendship, she can invite anypony else she wants." Cadance said. "Cadance, that's a great idea!" Shining Armor exclaimed. He wrote up a letter, and looked around the kingdom for somepony to deliver it to his sister. It was then, that a gray Pegasus mare, with a yellow mane, and rather crooked eyes suddenly ran straight into him. "Oof! Oh, I'm sorry!" the Pegasus said. "Oh, no it's okay, you aren't hurt, are you, miss....." shining armor responded. "No I'm fine. Oh My name is Derpy! I'm visiting from Ponyville!" the Pegasus said. "Well, it's very nice to meet you, Derpy. My name is Shining Armor, the prince of the Crystal Empire and I'd personally like to whole-heartedly welcome you to our humble ...Wait, Ponyville?" shining asked, not sure if he had right. "Yeah! in fact, I'm going back today. I'm the town Mailmare so I can't miss anymore work! That and my husband, Doctor and my daughter, Dinky really miss me." she said. "Well, when you do go back, could you please give my sister, Twilight Sparkle, this letter?" he asked, handing her the letter. "You can count on me!" Derpy said, saluting as she spread her wings and took off for Ponyville. Shining Armor smiled at the thought of seeing his sister, and her friends again, and perhaps even making a new friend if they brought somepony else. "Hey Cadance? Do you know if any of Twiley's friends have siblings?" Shining Armor asked. "Yeah, a couple of them do. Her friend, Pinkie Pie said she has three sisters, Limestone, Marble and Maud.  Rarity said she has a little sister, Sweetie Belle, who was one of those Cutie Mark Crusaders that were the flower fillies at our wedding. Applejack said she has a little sister, Apple Bloom, another one of the Crusaders, and a big brother, Big Macintosh, or Big Mac, for short." Cadance explained. "An older brother?" Shining Armor asked, intrigued that Twilight wasn't the only one of her little group with an older brother. "Did she say what he's like?" "Yes, she did." Cadance said. "She said, despite being the biggest, tallest, strongest, most muscular stallion in all of Ponyville, as well as her entire family, and maybe in all of Equestria, that Big Mac is very kind, gentle and sweet." She rubbed her horn against her husband's, affectionately. "Hm....muscular but kind, gentle, and caring. Just like somepony else I know." she said. Shining Armor smiled and blushed at the compliment. "She also said that, despite him not talking much, Big Mac is actually extremely intelligent and wise." Cadance continued. Shining Armor smiled. "Well, I hope to meet him, someday." he said. "Maybe you will." Cadance responded as she nuzzled him. The two lovebirds then went down to the palace dining hall for breakfast. "Good morning, Your Majesties!" a gamboge Pegasus said. "Good morning, Flash Sentry." Shining Armor greeted back. The Royal couple sat down to breakfast, their thoughts never turning from time with Twilight and friends, soon to come.