Author's Note

By the way, Flurry Heart is 23 years old in this chapter and Paladin is 20 years old. In the previous chapter, Flurry Heart was 11 years old and Paladin was 8 years old. Just wanted to clear that up for everyone.

Chapter 4

Twelve years later

Crystal Shield was currently twelve years old. She had almost completely forgotten about her previous life. She always had dreams, though. Dreams about strange two-legged creatures. She didn't tell Cadence and Shining Armor because she didn't want them to worry. This is my burden to bear, Crystal had always thought. However, the strange bipedal creatures in her dreams had started talking to her about a month ago. She couldn't hear much of what they were saying, just the words "Come home Gaia."

The Crystal Empire is where I belong now. Fate has run it's course. Thought Crystal. If everyone back home really did love me, they would just leave me be. Or is it really them? Are these dreams just fragments of my imagination or are they really trying to bring me back home. I really do miss them, but I love everypony here. They've shown me so much love since I got here. I can't just leave all of this behind. Ugh I can't be thinking about this right now.

Crystal was currently on her way to the library. That's where her mother would teach her how to control her magic and become a suitable ruler of the kingdom. Flurry Heart had forfeited her right to the throne five years ago and was currently traveling Equestria on a journey of self-discovery. Paladin had joined the Royal Guard when he turned 18 two years ago and only desired to serve his country in the Royal Guard. This made Crystal Heart the next ruler of the Crystal Empire.

Coming back to the present, once Crystal has reached the castle library, she opened the door and walked in, only to realize her mother hadn't arrived yet. So, Crystal sat down at a table where they would usually have their lessons and waited patiently for her mother to arrive, which she did...45 minutes later than she usually did.

"I'm so sorry Crystal!" her mother apologized as she walked in. She kissed her daughter briskly before taking a seat across from her at the same table.

"It's fine, mother. I was really enjoying this book anyways." Crystal said, putting down the book she had started reading while waiting for her mother. Cadence smiled.

"Well then, since I arrived so late today how about we go grab some crystal berry pie from the town bakery for dinner after our lessons?" Cadence asked.

"Really mom? You mean it?" Crystal's face lit up.

"Of course! Now, where did we leave off yesterday?"

"You did a great job today Crystal!" Cadence praised her daughter.

"Thanks, mother!" Crystal said.

"Now, how about we go get that pie I mentioned earlier?" Cadence said.

"Yay! You're the best mom!" Crystal beamed. Cadence chuckled.

"Let's get a move on, now." Cadence said. Crystal obliged. She and Cadence made their way to the empire's bakery. The Empire was getting ready for nightfall. Children were going home to eat supper, adults were going to close their shops for the night. The guards were switching shifts. Everything was going along as it should. Until Crystal suddenly stopped walking and sat on her haunches, looking rather dazed. Cadence noticed this and said

"Honey? What's wrong?"

Crystal said nothing. Concerned for her daughter's well-being, Cadence put a hoof on her shoulder and said

"Honey? Are you o-" before she could finish her question, Crystal collapsed.

"CRYSTAL!"

Crystal's POV

I don't know what happened. I was walking home with mother when I suddenly just lost consciousness. Then I found myself dreaming that same dream again. A bunch of what appeared to be everyone from back home in the human realm.

"Who are you?" I asked. Over the years, I had forgotten some of the details surrounding my old life. However, I could never forget Ares. His hair was a disaster and he had started to grow an unruly beard. His eyes were bloodshot and he wouldn't stop crying.

"Come on sis! I love you so much! Please come home! PLEASE! You were all I had left." he pleaded, tears streaming down his cheeks as he fell to his knees, begging me to return home with him.

"Why is this happening to me?! WHY?!" Crystal screamed.

Back in the Crystal Empire

After Crystal had fainted, Cadence immediately teleported to the castle infirmary. She had a royal guard go bring Shining Armor and fill him in on the current situation. The doctor, Dr. Featherby couldn't seem to find anything wrong with Crystal's physical body. However, the problem was they just couldn't get her to wake up. They tried everything, but to no avail. Everypony was at a loss for what to do when suddenly, Crystal started to open her eyes.

"Crystal? Can you hear me?" Shining Armor asked his daughter.

"Ugh what happened?" Crystal asked, groaning.

"You fainted on our way back from the bakery, remember?" said Cadence.

"Oh yeah." Crystal remembered. "Where's the pie?" she asked, eagerly a few moments later. Cadence, Shining Armor and Dr. Featherby all laughed at this. Once all the laughter died down, Cadence spoke.

"Are you okay? You gave Everypony quite a scare." Cadence asked her daughter, now taking on a concerned, motherly tone.

"Yeah mom, I'm fine." Crystal said. "I'm sorry for worrying everypony." she apologized.

"As long as you're alright dear." Shining Armor said.

"Can I go home now?" Crystal asked. "I really want to eat that pie we got earlier."

"Sorry kid." the doctor apologized. "I would like to keep you here for a while to run some tests."

"What time is it anyways?" Crystal Shield wondered.

"It's just about time for aunt Celestia to raise the sun." Cadence answered.

"It's already morning?!" Crystal exclaimed, surprised that so much time had passed.

"Yeah squirt, you were out the whole night." Shining Armor replied.

"Woah." said Crystal.

"That reminds me, I need to cancel all my meetings for today." Cadence remembered.

"Oh right, same here." said Shining Armor.

"It's okay mom, dad." Crystal reassured them. "No need to cancel everything, I'll be just fine here."

"Don't be ridiculous honey" laughed Cadence.

"Yeah, nothing is gonna take us away from your side." Shining Armor said.

"Thanks guys. I love you." Crystal said, lovingly.

"We love you more." Shining Armor said back.

I don't think you'll feel that way after you find out who I once was. Crystal thought to herself, not daring to say it out loud.