Broken Reigns

Chapter 2: Twisting Fate

Five years after the events of Chapter 1:

"Ambros, it's time to wake up."

He jumped up half expecting he was under attack, only to find Harmony shooting him a puzzled gaze.

"Whats the matter, did you have a nightmare?"

The dream that he had just awoken from was no ordinary nightmare of that he was sure, but he paused long enough to regain his senses before responding to Harmony. "Harmony, I will need you to go get parchment, we must waste no time and make sure you bring enough to write a letter in triplicate." Her eyes only widened at his statement, she had only known him to make such a request once before. She didn't even bother responding to his statement before departing his chambers. As she left he paced towards the window of his chambers, looking out upon the lands beneath his gaze he simply muttered, "I suppose our peace could not last forever." As he sat at the window seal he tried to peace together the puzzle of the premonition he had just been granted. Before long Harmony returned with the parchment, and a quill floating close behind her. "You know the drill Harmony address each of the Alicorn Princes by name before beginning the letter." Her quill scribbled away furiously upon each of the parchments before turning wide eyed and expectedly back to Ambros.

"Dear I request a formal meeting of the Council of Four Horses', the matter is of the upmost importance and requires your immediate departure. I, Ambros, request that you inform no pony of your business or destination as is tradition."

-Signed with peace through vigilance,

-Ambros

With that he waited patiently for Harmony to complete each copy of the letter addressed to each of the three Alicorn princes. As she finished one he would levitate it to himself pick up the wax seal stamp and magically send it. It took only a few minutes to send them all, and with that Ambros let out a huge sigh of relief. He could relax temporarily he thought, it would be at least noon if not later for his fellow Alicorns' to arrive. It had become common practice between the four that the one requesting the summit would host the event. He let his head hang there deep in thought for several moments before coming to the realization of what today was. It was the fifth anniversary of Queen Platinum's coronation as well as the fifth annual Crystal Faire to light the Crystal Heart. Even with the premonition he thought to himself, there was no clear outcome for the road ahead.

"Harmony, I'm sure you haven't eaten yet. Let us go join your sister, I don't wish for her to dine alone." With that they departed from his chambers, as he turned to lock the door to his chambers he scanned its contents one last time. He drifted almost in a daze down the halls and eventually the stairs, before he realized he was standing behind his normal seat to the table in the Great Dining Hall. He pulled it out with magic before plopping himself down in the seat, and magically scooting the crystal seat closer to the table.

"Happy Coronation Day sister." It rather surprised Ambros that Harmony had been the first to break the silence, the relations between them had improved considerably in the last five years. They no longer comically sat on opposite ends of the table, like two rivals forced to a dinner party. In fact while Platinum still sat at the head of the table, Ambros and Harmony now occupied the closest seats to her.

"Thank you Harmony, have you decided whether to accompany your friends this year to the Crystal Faire festivities. Or shall you spend it with Father as usual?" Ambros forced a smile towards Harmony, before shifting it awkwardly towards Platinum. She to had started warming up to calling Ambros father, the Crystal Heart that he gifted her had swayed her into accepting him as more then just a role model.

"I was planning on spending it with friends, however I think now I'd rather spend it with you both."

"Well that would be great Harmony, I don't remember the last time the three of us hung out just for fun." Platinum responded. Ambros didn't respond as he was too busy shoveling scoop after helping scoop of oatmeal into his mouth. Their conversation continued, but by now he had begun to tune them out.

"Ambros, you have been staring at your empty bowl for five minutes now. If your that hungry we could have the staff bring out another." He wasn't sure which one had jostled him back to lucidity, but both were shooting him a look of concern. It was rather uncharacteristic of him to become so distant.

"No, I'm fine thank you but we should start making our way to the balcony for your commemoration speech Platinum." Both of them still looked concerned, most likely trying to pick up on whatever it was that was troubling him. After a minute both of them nodded, and all three began to leave their seats. The two sisters walked ahead of him, exchanging hushed whispers between them. If they thought that he didn't notice their little chat, then he obviously had not thought to teach them the art of subtlety. Before long they broke out from beneath the vaulted ceiling of the Crystal Palace to reveal the morning Sun. The rays meeting the crystal structures below sent sparks of sunlight in every direction, including back at the balcony. As they stepped to the railing of the balcony, the crowds below came into view. Every Crystal Pony must be in attendance today he thought to himself, this years celebration would have to be the largest thus far. Platinum turned to him, he expected that she was about to begin her speech.

"Father, would you care to give the speech for our royal subjects?"

He chuckled softly the first he had all day, so this must be the fruits of their little discussion from earlier he thought to himself. Both now eyeing him in expectant anticipation. Perhaps they had picked up a little of his own, subtle and mischievous nature. But if they thought he would come clean that easily then they sadly underestimated their surrogate Father. His poker face knew no equal, and he had been winging speeches since before Equestria had been a daydream. He turned away from them, and back to the crowd before clearing his throat rather audibly.

"Citizens of the Crystal Empire, we are gathered here on this most auspicious occasion to give thanks to not only our beloved Queen Platinum, but to celebrate as well five years of light and love courtesy of the Crystal Heart. Let us not now or ever forget the hard road that lead us here. But moving forever forward, shine the light within us, across not just Equestria but our collective future as well. I look forward to another year of continued prosperity, and with the sincerest hope wish you all a spectacular celebration. With no further adieu, I declare the Crystal Fair officially underway."

The applause that followed from what must have been the shortest speech in Equestrian history, was loud and long enough for him to noticeably feel his lungs vibrate. The streets began to shimmer a bright neon blue, and he could tell that the first of the hearts many explosions of color and emotion had already started. He knew that it would be a common theme all day. He turned to find both Harmony and Platinum's jaw drop. Obviously they had expected him to drop his poker face at being unprepared for a speech, and simply tell them what was the matter. Well he thought they are both old enough now, I suppose it's not right to coddle them anymore. With that he motioned with his hoof for them to follow. Once again beneath the shelter of the Crystal Palace, the cheers of the crowd could still be heard reverberating through it's crystalline halls. By the time they made the first climb of the stairs the cheers had died off, and he assumed that now the real festivities were just beginning. Before long they reached the sole door that was their destination, with a magical twist of the crystal knob the door freely began to swivel inwards. As he walked in Platinum was the first to speak.

"Father, in all our years you've never invited us into your personal study. What is this all about?"

He motioned for them to come fully into the small cramped circular room, without much hesitation both obeyed. When they had crossed the threshold into once a forbidden domain to them, he closed the door and locked it. "Harmony, Platinum, I had hoped long ago when I took you in that you would never shoulder the burden that I have alone. When I found you alone and unafraid in that forest, I would like to think I brought you in out of the goodness of my own heart. But sadly such a heart warming sentiment would be a partial lie. I saw in both of you a characteristic worthy of becoming my successors. You Platinum who had protected her foal sister, showed promise to one day be a great leader who would put others before her self. Harmony, I knew from the moment after I rescued you when you inadvertently teleported your sister and you to my side, that you would one day become a great Unicorn of unfathomable magic potential. You see girls I chose you to live, and learn by my side, so that I may die." With that he stopped letting his words sink in. Both sisters shot each other painfully emotional looks. This time it was Harmony to speak.

"What are you saying that you took us in, gave us a father just to make us orphans again!?!" He sighed he knew all along his motives would hit home for them. "What about what you said five years ago on that mountain, would you take away my Father's love, and have me crying out for the Gods to spare you for my meager offering." Those words cut through him like he was made of paper, but he choked back the emotions so he could make his rebuttal.

"Harmony, that was my intention from the start but as time passed my love for you, and your sister changed that. The truth is I changed, my newest plan was to wait till you had graduated from your studies so that I could give my Alicorn magic to you. From there I would slowly begin to age, and you would have me for all of my twilight years. But last night I was granted a premonition that casts doubts on whether that plan will hold any merit. For now I ask you to trust in me, I have one last gift for you. But what you do with it is now beyond my guiding hooves."

With that he turned away from the two young Unicorn mares, to the solitary statue on the bookshelf. Gently he tapped his horn against the statue's allowing a minute amount of his magic to flow through it and unlock the wards. When the flash behind the shelf indicated the spell had fallen he pushed in on the bookshelf to reveal the secret room to them. He didn't bother walking in, instead he lifted the small case, and levitated the small crystal beneath it towards him. With the crystal closely floating before his chest he turned back to them.

"This is my greatest creation, I leave it now to you Harmony, in hopes that it may be what guides us in the days ahead. However I have no instructions on where you must take it, nor do I know how to utilize it. I had thought it to be the beginnings of a new Crystal Kingdom, but its magic would be squandered on such a pursuit. I will require you to leave before the Crystal Faire has concluded. One last thing, you remember meeting Solar Flare, and Sagittarius's apprentices don't you?"

"Yes, what of them?"

"Wherever you take this crystal you must send word to inform them of it's location."

With that he unlocked the small door to the study, and let his gaze wander away from them before speaking one last time to them both.

"You best be on your way Harmony, and Platinum I will require you to stay behind."

Both sisters shot each other disapproving glances, unsure of just what was going on but sure of the fact that they did not approve. He waited patiently for Harmony's steps to fade out of earshot before turning to the older sister.

"I will be taking back the reins of the Crystal Empire, for now you are no longer Queen." His words fell like stones, changing her expression to that of someone who had just been fatally wounded.

"I don't understand, what have I done wrong"? He shifted rather uncomfortably before coldly responding.

"Nothing...Now leave me, I must make certain preparations before the councils arrival."

Platinum whose head now hung low opened her mouth, but obviously thinking better of angering him simply moped out of the room. He watched as the young Unicorn left, her white coat and silver mane seeming to lose a layer of it's crystalline coating.

Finally he thought, once again by himself he turned back to the pedestal where his prize possession had been. He slowly trotted into the small dank room, centering himself in it. He let out a long sigh before pushing over the concrete piece, letting it shatter into a thousand pieces before him. Beneath where the concrete pedestal had been, revealed a small hidden compartment cut into the floor, and in this compartment was a single maroon box, the lid held closed by a black strip of velvet. He laughed, it almost looked like a present waiting to be unwrapped. He levitated it up, and blew off a thick cover of dust that rested on the package. Now that he thought about it, it all rather seemed a bit ridiculous. A forbidden room, with a secret room inside of it, that hid a concealed compartment only to find a box that required unwrapping. Ugh, he thought to himself, I really need a hobby. Using his magic he undid the knot in the velvet, and lifted the lid to reveal the small black crystal within. The green enchanted flames of the torches in the small room, began to dance slowly upon its cold dark surface.