Winter Wings, Summer Heart

The three mares turned towards the direction of the shout and could just make out a purple and green figure darting down the street towards them, but only if they were squinting. The violet mare's eyes widened in disbelief as her little number one assistant ran up holding a very large book in his claws.

The young drake coughed and was panting and wheezing as he stopped at the table.

"I-I found...the...b-book," he said, almost collapsing from the weight of the book and his exertion from the long run from the library to the cafe. He let out a sigh of relief when the alicorn relived him of his burden, placing it on the table in front of her before hovering him up onto the empty chair that Rainbow had previously occupied, allowing him to rest and catch his breath.

"Thanks, Twi, but, why is the chair covered in ice?"

"It is?" she asked, turning to peer at the chair. "Hmm. I don't know. How odd. Anyways," she picked up the book once more with her magic, "thanks, Spike. Were'd you find it?"

She picked up Rainbow's empty cup and filled it with water with a spell, handing it to her young friend as she spoke, ignoring the frost covering it like lace. He quickly gulped it down before staring at the frost covering the cup.

"Side effect?" he asked, pointing to the frost. She glanced at it and gave a huff of annoyance. She was an alicorn, her talent was magic, and and yet her spells were still sticky!

"Yup. Now, the book?"

"Oh, right. I dropped my yo-yo behind the bookcase, and when I went to get it, I found the book too," he explained, examining the frosty beauty in his claws.

"If I may be so bold, what book is that?" asked Rarity, staring at the book with curiosity.

"It's the Equestrian record of Royals. Now that I am one myself, I wanted to see what Royals I'm related to," Twilight answered, opening up the book with her magic. Her friends leaned in to look on with her.

"Wha' about tha Royal family of tha Gryphon Islands?"

"Nope. Their not technically related anymore."

"The Royal family of the Skies, perhaps?" Rarity pointed at the aged and stained paper with a delicate hoof. Twilight peer at the scribbles, confused.

"I don't know. I've never heard of them." Twi flicked over to the page number written in the contents. They gaze at the feather designs that bordered the page as she found it.

"'The Royal Family of the Skies resided in the grand city of Cloudsdale, caring for all the pegasi of Equestria. They were to be known as the kindest royals in of all Equestrian history.'" Twilight read aloud.

"Huh. Ah wonder why we've never heard of 'em."

"They closed the gates," said a voice from behind them, causing the four friends to jump in fright.

"Cl-Cloudkicker?"

The purple pegasus mare smiled at the princess. Behind her stood two more pegasi, a stallion and a mare. They all had their saddlebags strapped tightly around their waists.

"Sorry for intruding, Princess. It's just that we overheard your conversation."

"It's fine. But this Royal family. Who are they? And you mentioned something about gates?"

"They've always been there. Their castle is the biggest building in Cloudsdale by far. It used to be open to everypony," explainded the pegasus mare behind Cloudkicker, who's name was Raindrops, waving her hoof across the sky.

"Used to be?"

"Yeah, but, unfortunetly, something happened. Nopony knows why, but one day, they closed the gates and nopony ever saw the recent king and queen or their daughters. Ever."

"They must be King Windy Skies and Queen Misty Breeze. But the book says they're dead!" Twilight gasped as she read about their deaths. She didn't really like the topic of death. She'd read about it, but had never had somepony close to her die. She just hoped the princesses mentioned were okay!

"And what of the princesses?" Rarity had only just been able to read their names before Twilight had covered them with her hoof.

"The younger is dead, but her older sister is going to be coronated to be a queen tomorrow."

"A queen?" squealed the three mares.

"Mm-hmm. They say she's beautiful and sweet too," answered Raindrops.

"And hot," snigger the stallion, Thunderlane, earning himself a punch from one of the pegasi mares.

"Anyways, we're going to Cloudsdale, same as all the other pegasi in Ponyville. You're welcome to come too. Many unicorns and earth ponies are coming. They'll be enchanted by unicorns who know cloud-walking spells," said Cloudkicker. "Oh, and you have to come too, Twilight as you're royalty anyways. Princess Celestia will be there too; she is crowning the princess after all."

"This is probably the reason Rainbow went off in such a hurry. She must have forgotten to pack," Rarity whispered to Applejack, who nodded in reply. Meanwhile, Twilight's head was spinning from so much new information. Princess Celestia, her mentor and second mother had not once mentioned anything about this. Nothing, not even during a history lesson!

"Well, okay then," she said, "I guess we'll see you there." The four friends waved as the pegasi took off towards the distant city of Cloudsdale.

"Well girls, I think we have a trip to Cloudsdale," said Twilight, standing and stretching her wings. "I'll go tell Fluttershy and Pinkie, and we'll meet you at the library. I'll get a royal carriage. Okay?" The small alicorn lifted her assistant and her book up onto her back, her friends nodding.

"Of course, darling. A trip would be delightful," proclaimed Rarity, grinning.

"It sure would be fun, and Ah think mah family can spare me for a day," said Applejack, placing her worn old stetson more firmly on her head. "See ya'll tomorrow, then."

And so the three friends parted to get ready for tomorrow.