Disclaimer: This story takes place before the Season 4 finale. Twilight does not have her castle yet, nor does she know she is the Princess of Friendship. Thank you for your time and enjoy the story.
The box glowed in a blushing aurora and rose from the ground. The ribbon around it came loose and slid off the top of the box, freeing the lid which continued to rise steadily. Twilight gazed inside and flinched at the item lying on the padded bottom. The box floated back down to the floor and the aura dissipated around it, only to start glowing around the distasteful item inside. With a small flick of her horn Twilight floated the shining item up and examined it.
Her frown grew as she twirled the amulet around, memorizing every facet on it. The silver surface was flawless, as she expected, and it had a very faint cyan glow around it. Enchantment was a common quality with this type of jewelry, but the type of magic infused in it was secret to all but a couple of people. Twilight looked down and saw a small note rolled up in the box and pulled it out.
“Long and Healthy Life”
Twilight sighed and set the piece of parchment down and focused back onto the amulet. It was enchanted to keep away illness and disease. A very common magic in jewelry, but as she examined further she could tell this spell was more potent than most. If she could guess it would keep away almost all known illness known to Equestria.
A few rare and precious stones glittered on the front of the jewel, forming an eight pointed star similar to a compass. Topaz created an equal length cross spreading across the round surface, and just beneath it amethyst in the shape of an “x”.
Twilight took in a breath and closed her eyes. Once she released it she pulled the amulet’s chain above her and let it flow down around her head and onto her neck. She released her magic and the blushing aura dissipated again causing the chain to settle down around her neck. A shiver spread across her body as the weight of the amulet pressed into her chest. She shook her head and took another breath. With a sigh she turned to Spike, who was watching the entire time, and gave him a weak smile.
“So, Spike… how do I look?” she weakly asked.
Spike grimaced at the jewel and looked up at Twilight with his brows furrowed in disgust. “Do you really have to wear that all the time now?” he croaked.
Twilight gave the purple dragon a nod. “It is my duty, Spike.” She turned around and gazed out the window. “I am sworn to wear it and I shall. It is my burden as a Princess, after all.”
Twilight stiffened when she felt Spike’s clawed hand rest onto her back. “I can’t understand this ‘Princess burden’ stuff, Twilight. If you don’t want to then why are you doing it at all?”
“For the good of Equestria and the Crystal Empire, Spike.” Twilight said patiently.
“Does it have to be… him?”
Twilight turned and saw the worried lines in Spike’s face. Bags were under his eyes from the nights when he would pace the room worrying about her, and his voice cracked from all the letters he sent the Princesses. Her smile faded into an ugly frown reflecting how she felt. Spike took a step back, not in surprise but to give her space as the alicorn spread her wings to slump to the ground.
“You know why it has to be him as much as I do, Spike. If I could change this in any way I would, but this is the path set for me and I must see it through.”
They both were still, the tree library creaked and groaned around them and the faded laughter of fillies sounded from through the window. Twilight glanced over and gave another defeated sigh.
“I have to marry him, Spike. For them.”
Spike put his claw on her shoulder and pulled her into a deep hug.
“No matter what happens, Twilight. You know I will always be here for you.” He broke off the hug and looked into her eyes. “I am your number one assistant, after all.”
Twilight chuckled as memories of Spike’s antics with Owlicous flashed into her mind. She gave her first genuine smile in a week and pulled Spike into another deep embrace, her wings and hooves both folding around him and pulling him close.
“Don’t worry, Spike. No matter what happens I won’t let Blueblood or any silly laws pull us apart. I promise.”
The two of them sat there not moving, enjoying the companionship that only close family knew. A knock sounded from downstairs in the library all too soon and Twilight looked up from the embrace. Her cheeks were moist with the tears she didn’t realize she was shedding. Spike grabbed a handkerchief and handed it to Twilight before starting to the door.
“Don’t worry, Twi. I’ll keep them distracted until you are ready. I have a few new tricks I've been practicing, after all.” He flexed one of his arms to jokingly prove his point, causing Twilight to give another chuckle. Another knock sounded from down the stairs and he left the room and closed the door. She could hear him yelling to hold their horses as he descended the stairs, and then the click of the front door.
Twilight turned and looked into the mirror as voices filled up the library, her grimace returning at the site of the amulet with Blueblood’s cutie mark engraved on it in precious stones. Around the beautiful necklace she was ragged. Her eyes slightly bloodshot from her crying, bags under her own eyes from restless and sleepless nights, and her mane a tangled mess of knots. She grabbed a brush and started on her hair. Even if this was not the most desired of fates she would face it head on.
And a Princess would never go out looking like she attempted too many all nighters before an exam.
Twilight crept down the stairwell toward the main room of the Library. She gave the room a quick look, making note that a majority of the ponies in the room were familiar faces from Ponyville. As expected, the gossipers of the town were huddled close together in one corner, Rarity included in their numbers. Some fillies were piled onto the coach, no doubt from the Foal Free Press. Next to them was the old newspony from the Ponyville Times and Mayor Mare. Two crystal ponies were slouched in middle of the room and were surrounded by a few noble ponies from Canterlot. The final ponies were a soldier from Celestia’s Guard, Fancypants, and three other ponies who were obviously reporters from other cities. The entire room was currently focused around Spike, though almost all were obviously not amused by whatever he was doing with the flaming hat. Twilight made a mental note to scold the dragon for using unprotected fire in the tree library… again.
She put on a smile and stood up straight in an attempt to look regal. She glided into the room and greeted the mob of ponies, making more than a few jump. Immediately she was swarmed by the crowd of reporters and gossipers. A bombardment of questions crashed against her along with the flashing of at least a dozen cameras. The bright lights blinded her and she attempted to blink her sight into focus. Words stammered from her but she could not answer any of the questions before being interrupted by another. With a growl, she charged her horn and teleported out of the mass of ponies onto the other side of the room on a table and enhanced her voice.
“If you want anything answered then be quiet and ask them when I address you!” she shouted in the Canterlot voice.
The room fell silent as the reporters stood in shock and the gossipers looked away ashamed. A chuckle resounded from the soldier, still standing in his previous location. Fancypants was shaking in effort to not burst out laughing. Spike took the moment to slink out of view and up the stairs before anypony noticed him leave. Rarity popped out from the crowd, looking extremely irritated and gracefully strode up to Twilight.
“Twilight, dear. I’m sure you would love to… clarify and correct some major misunderstanding that has been circulating around Ponyville.” She paused and looked deep into her friend's eyes. “They say you are to be wed to…” A look of disgust spread over the mare’s face.
“Yes, Rarity,” Twilight said. “I am to be wed to Vladimir Blueblood in a year and a day’s time. Those rumors are true.” The reporters jumped up and started to ask their questions again but froze when they saw Twilight’s glare. The alicorn took a breath before continuing. “It is an arranged marriage agreed upon by the current rulers of the Crystal Empire and the Nation of Equestria. Prince Blueblood and I are to wed to unite our nations.”
“Why do we need to unite the two nations?” a reporter piped in. “Isn’t the Crystal Empire just a province of Equestria?”
“How dare you even insinuate such a thing, earth pony,” growled one of the crystal ponies. “Our Empire expanded its borders much further than what your puny ‘nation’ calls its home. In fact, I would say that your Equestria is a rogue nation invading our borders!”
The soldier’s smirk disappeared at the accusation and he stomped his hoof. Twilight winced as cracks sounded and the wooden floor splintered.
“Invading? The Crystal Empire vanished for one thousand years. The Nation of Equestria did not invade as much as settle over abandoned lands.”
“Those lands are not abandoned,” the second crystal pony chimed in. “Our farms and farmers have been displaced when they discovered their homes were overrun by tribe pony settlements.”
“Tribe pony…” blistered one of the noble ponies. “I would say that we are far more sophisticated than--”
“Enough!”
The room fell silent again as Twilight’s piercing glare hit them all.
“Fighting will not be tolerated in this building, nor this town or any town in either kingdom! Do I make myself clear. ” She looked around, challenging anyone to argue with her.
Mayor Mare stood up from the coach. “Miss Spark-- I mean, Princess Sparkle. I am sorry but I am confused on how exactly marrying you and the Prince would help this situation.”
“Yes, Twilight,” chimed in Rarity. “Wouldn’t a more diplomatic solution be better?”
Mayor Mare nodded, “Yes. Trade and border agreements discussed amongst the nobility of each country. It is something done quite often between Equestrian cities and counties.”
“We have already tried that, Mayor,” one of the Equestrian nobles said. “But unfortunately the Empire is not very forthcoming about negotiating their settlements.”
“Because it is ours by right!” The first crystal pony bellowed. “We were the original owners. We tilled the land long before you learned how to step out from your cave--” The crystal pony's snout lit up in a blushing aurora. His mouth continued to move but no sound was coming out.
Twilight stood on the table, glaring daggers at the foreign diplomat. When he noticed he stiffened, then visibly wilted and slinked into the corner. The aurora faded from his mouth and Twilight flipped her mane in irritation. She spread her wings and jumped off the table, landing without a sound onto the wooden floor.
“I am a Princess of the Crystal Empire. Blueblood is a Prince of Equestria. By our marriage, both kingdoms will become one, nullifying these ridiculous land disputes.”
Everyone blinked in surprise at Twilight’s announcement. Rose, one of the gossipers, spoke up. “Um, Twilight. How are you a Princess of the Crystal Empire? You’re the Ponyville librarian.”
“What an ignorant question,” scolded the second crystal pony. “She is a princess because she is the sister of the Prince of the Empire, Prince Shining Armour. The entire Sparkle lineage are now royalty of the Empire because of his marriage to our Empress.”
Twilight smiled and nodded. “It is true. After Sombra’s defeat,” both crystal ponies flinched at their former tyrant’s name. Twilight quickly apologized and then continued. ” After the former King’s defeat, the surviving nobles of the Empire came together to decide who would fill the gap of their monarch. By unanimous vote, they elected Cadance to be their new ruler.” The crystal ponies nodded, as well as Fancypants and the soldier. “Normally Cadance would be the one to marry for the good of the Empire, but she was already married to my brother, Shining Armour. Because of this marriage, Shining Armour is a Prince of the Empire and that makes me a Princess due to relation. I am the closest relative to the throne since Cadance is an only child so I am the best choice for the marriage.”
“This still doesn’t explain ‘why’ you have to marry Blueblood,” Rarity said.
“It is actually very simple,” the soldier spoke up. “Twilight is to marry the Prince to unite our nations, as previously stated. Multiple times.”
“Or…” the first crystal pony popped back up, glaring at every pony in the room. “The armies of the Crystal Empire can march on this rogue nation and eradicate all traces of it, reclaiming their rightful land and cleansing it of the taint of the tribes.”
Rarity gasped in disgust and shock. “How dare you threaten us in our own homes. What gives you the gall to say such a repulsive thing.”
The soldier sighed, “Because they can do it…” he admitted.
Most of the room cried out in shock, but they quieted down when the two crystal ponies started to laugh.
“Your soldiers are nothing but decoration. For one thousand years they have lived in peace, but ours remember and fought wars against Discord. We fought under the most bloodthirsty tyrant the world has ever known. Under his rule we managed to subdue and subjugate the tribes once already. Doing so again would not be too different or difficult. Your nation does not stand a chance against us.”
Mayor Mare moved and glared at the crystal ponies. “If it would be so easy, they why aren’t you doing it?”
The crystal pony sneered at her. “Because the Empress agreed with the Princess’ idea.”
“What idea?”
Twilight moved between them, forcing them apart. She stood up straight and addressed the entire room.
“It was my idea to marry the Prince and join the nations, as well as volunteering to be the bride.”
The gossipers and reporters burst to life and rushed Twilight with another wave of questions. Twilight sighed and tried to answer them as quickly as possible, but she couldn’t help but notice the unconcealed glares between most of the room at the crystal ponies.
Hours passed and Twilight patiently answered every question the newsponies asked. The sun was just touching the tops of the trees when the last of the media ponies left to spread the news of the engagement of the Princess. Twilight let out a breath of relief as she closed the door and turned back inside. The mayor, gone an hour before, left with the fillies when it got too late for them to stay up and escorted them home with the soldier. The only ponies remaining in the library were Rarity, Fancypants, and the two crystal ponies.
Rarity and Fancypants were occupying the coach, enjoying the recently built fire in the fireplace and discussing gossip running through the upper class of Canterlot. The crystal ponies were rummaging through the shelves, pulling out books of interest for their journey in Equestria. Twilight took a breath and set course to the crystal ponies first.
They stopped their search and both faced the Princess as she got closer. They bowed and gave her a satisfied smile.
“We do appreciate your sacrifice for the good of the nation, Princess Sparkle.” The first crystal pony said. “But you must remember your allegiances to this country are no more, and you could easily break this farce. The Empire would not think any less of you for--”
“I did not ask you for your opinion, Glittering Garnet,” Twilight interrupted. “If you have doubts about the decision between Cadance and I then go back to the Crystal Empire and bring it up to her.” Twilight moved very close to the pony, her wings spread and her horn glowing angrily. The pony visibly shrank back as Twilight’s nose touched his. “I did not appreciate your comments or attitude to my friends. If you were not here on Cadance’s behalf I would have kicked you out of the library already.”
“My apologies, your majesty,” he groveled.
“Please do not be upset, Princess,” the second crystal pony spoke up. “We are not used to this… world. Things now are very different from what we remember.”
Twilight closed her wings and visibly relaxed as she turned to the other pony. Her gaze still pierced him but the fire of anger was mostly extinguished.
“Things must have been hard for you under Sombra’s rule, but that is no reason to threaten everypony.” She spun around and looked at Fancypants. He noticed her and politely concluded his discussion with Rarity. Both of them stood up and moved over to the shelves. Twilight gave Fancypants a hug once he came close enough, then she did the same with Rarity.
“Thank you both so much for showing up today,” Twilight sighed gratefully. “I know it had to have been hard hearing this announcement, but I needed someone who could understand with me.”
Rarity gave Twilight a sympathetic smile and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Darling, but I still don’t fully understand why you have to do this.”
“Typical peasant…” grumbled Glimmering Garnet. Twilight whipped around to scold him but stopped when the second crystal pony smacked him on the back of the head.
“Shut your mouth before you make a bigger fool of yourself than you already have,” he growled. He gave a bow to Rarity and looked into her eyes. “My apologies for my partner, Miss...”
“Rarity.”
“Miss Rarity. Please, continue as you were. I shall take my companion back to our quarters and await further instructions from our commanders.” He looked to Twilight questioningly.
Twilight gave him a nod. “You are dismissed, Rhodolite. I shall send Spike over to you once we get your orders.”
Glimmering Garnet grumbled something about keeping a dragon being too dangerous, but he was silenced again by Rhodonite. They both bowed and left the Library, making their way down the street into town.
Rarity blinked in surprise at the exchange and looked to Twilight. The alicorn gave an embarrassed shrug. Fancypants, who spent the entire conversation standing back stepped forward and bowed to Twilight.
“Princess Twilight, I am grateful for your invitation but I am as confused as Miss Rarity here on the true reason for the marriage.” he calmly said. “You see, I have found a flaw in the logic you have previously presented.”
Twilight’s ears perked up at the idea she made a mistake and gave Fancypants a questioning glance. The stallion’s face looked grim as he grabbed a book from the shelf and handed it to Twilight. She took the book and looked at it’s title.
“Farmer’s Almanac?” she read aloud. “What does this have to do with the engagement?”
Fancypants patiently took the book and turned it over to read the back. “A collection of techniques and tips collected from farming families all over Equestria, to help out your day to day needs as you do a good day’s work.”
He looked up at Twilight with a raised eyebrow. When he saw her still confused expression he sighed and set the book down. “What I am trying to say is you will not solve these disputes just by combining the borders of both countries, Miss Twilight.” He gave the book a sad look. “The biggest problem you will have to solve is how to disperse the territory now overridden with both crystal ponies and Equestrians. You see, the ponies on both sides see the land as theirs, owned and worked by their families for generations.”
He caressed on the Almanac. “The Crystal Ponies do not recall the one thousand year gap between then and now. So to them we just appeared on their home. The same time to the Equestrians, the Crystal Ponies literally just appeared. We have two worlds filled with families who are having their homes invaded. It would be as if somepony popped into Ponyville and tookyour friend Applejack’s farm away.”
Twilight’s head dropped when it clicked what Fancypants was saying. “So this marriage is useless after all…” she said despairingly.
Rarity popped in and gave Twilight a pat. “It isn’t too late to end the engagement now? It has just been decided after all and there has been no planning yet. Right?”
“That is true,” moaned Twilight.
“Not so fast, you two,” interrupted Fancypants. “While the marriage will not solve all the problems it will avoid one major thing.”
“And what is that?”
“You will be keeping the Empire from invading Equestria, obviously,” clarified Fancypants. “You saw their attitudes toward us. They think we are still barbaric and unsophisticated tribesponies. Your wedding will combine both of us so these territorial issues will not degrade down to bloodshed.”
“But does she really have to marry that brute?” whined Rarity. “That stallion is the worst choice for the marriage.”
Twilight sighed and lurched away from the two. “Blueblood is the only stallion born to the Blueblood family this generation. The only other ‘single’ ponies are too old to be eligible.”
Rarity moved to stay with her friend. “But does it have to be a Blueblood? Isn’t there another noble family who is eligible?”
“I am afraid not,” said Fancypants. “It is unfortunate, but the Bloodbloods are the only family whose lineage traces back to Princess Platinum. They are the only family who the Crystal Empire’s nobility will recognize as a legal binding between the nations.”
“But there has to be somepony else!” pleaded Rarity. She moved across the room and sat in front of the fire. “I mean, why not…” Her face changed from her pale ivory to a cherry color. “Why not marry either Princess Celestia or Princess Luna. The crystal ponies must recognize them as royalty, right?”
Twilight sat down at the fire next to her friend and spread her wing to give her a hug. “If only it was that easy. But that won’t work either.”
“Why not?”
“Because Blueblood is the only candidate who is able to sire a child with Twilight.” Fancypants explained matter of factly.
Rarity’s eyes shot open and her pupils shrank down to the size of pinpricks. Her mouth fell open in shock and she inhaled deeply.
The resounding scream of “what” echoed out of the library and deep into the town. A purple dragon on the third floor of the tree building jumped out of his bed on alarm and crashed onto the floor. He looked around for the cause of the cry, but everything looked normal. With a grumble he crawled back into his bed and attempted to continue his nap in peace.
