...while Flurry Heart destroys the Crystal Empire
Prince Blueblood was annoyed. Granted, there was rarely a day that he wasn't annoyed by some gold-digging mare or some starry-eyed paparazzi pony. But this was a different kind of annoyed, the kind of annoyance that results from long and pointless political discussions with self-righteous and pointless members of the nobility.
One of those members was standing before Blueblood right now, in the middle of the throne room of Canterlot. Blueblood was currently sitting, quite uncomfortably, upon the throne. While tuning out the ramblings of the noble, he absentmindedly wondered how Celestia and Luna could put up with this day after day. Right now they were on a well-deserved vacation, visiting Cadence and Shining Armour in the Crystal Empire. Their foal had just been born, and was to undergo the traditional ceremony of 'crystalling'. Blueblood didn't really understand what that meant, nor did he care. He was just happy for Cadence and Armour.
"...and that is why I have been unfairly targeted by Canterlot tax collectors!" said the noble.
Blueblood jumped up in his seat, surprised by the noble's sudden loudness.
"Erm, Silver Argentum, right? That's your name?" asked Blueblood.
"Yes, it is." said the noble, who was indeed Silver Argentum.
Blueblood sighed, "Look, Argentum, you didn't exactly work hard for your wealth. I was there, at the races, the day you bet Mr. Fancypants the deed to his orchard. You got lucky with that company. Who ever thought an orange orchard could compete with the apple market these days? Besides, your workers are taxed at a higher rate than you are. If anything, they should be the ones complaining."
Silver Argentum smirked, "Prince Blueblood," he said with a rather sarcastic tone, "Is that not a triumph? Does it not fill the coffers of the Royal Family, as well as of the nobles? After all just look at the peasantry! They'll run scared over a bunny stampede! They need us. The nobles provide work, the royals provide protection. You, Prince Blueblood," Silver smiled as any rich stallion would, "You are in the perfect position between nobility and royalty. Can't you help a fellow noble make his way in life?"
Blueblood sighed again, "Yeah, too bad I don't care about your ambitions for corporate monopoly. I'm denying your tax exemption request. Guards, escort him out."
Two Royal Guards took Silver by the hooves towards the door, just as another guard galloped into the throne room.
"Sir, we have urgent news!" the guard said., "The Crystal Empire - something......something is wrong!"
Blueblood straightened up quickly. The Princesses were in the Crystal Empire - could it possibly be an attack against them? Or did it have something to do with the newborn foal?
"What happened?"
The guard gulped, "We don't know, exactly. A large magic burst emanated from the center of the city and suddenly, the barrier broke! The Empire is being engulfed by the Frozen North as we speak!"
"Send help immediately. Earth ponies and unicorns only, pegasi won't be able to fly in that kind of weather."
"Yes sir, Prince Blueblood. But, um, there's something else," The guard said, "The sudden change in weather surrounding the Crystal Empire has affected the fields beneath the Crystal Mountains. All the cropland is frozen over - the crops that Manehatten depends on!"
Blueblood rose from his throne. "Fetch me four strong pegasi and a chariot. We're going to Manehatten."
XXXX
"We have a stockpile of food, yes, but it won't be enough to last this winter. Even if whatever is going on at the Empire stops, we won't have enough time to harvest new crops," said the mayor of Manehatten, "Are you sure the other cities have nothing to spare?"
Blueblood was currently seated across from the mayor in his office at City Hall. He had only just arrived, and was working with the mayor for a solution to the crop problem.
"Las Pegasus, Dodge Junction, and Appaloosa are going through hard droughts right now. They barely have enough to feed their own citizens. I've managed to secure enough food from Baltimare, Fillydelphia, and Canterlot to add at least 20% to your supply, but that still won't be enough."
"Well, uh," the mayor said, "What about Cloudsdale? Surely they can work some weather magic and un-freeze all our crops."
"I'm afraid that isn't an option. The Frozen North is one climate that pegasi can't truly control. All of Cloudsdale is out there right now just to stop Manehatten itself from being frozen over."
"Well, what to do? We aren't, I don't know, changelings or something. We can't eat love!"
Blueblood rubbed his head, "Well, maybe....."
XXXX
"Let me get this straight," said the Manehatten unicorn that Blueblood was currently speaking to, "You want me to cast a spell, to turn everyone in Manehatten, into changelings!?"
"Oh, Celestia, no!" said Blueblood, "Just, partially into changelings. Just enough for them to eat love. No bug exoskeleton."
Blueblood was meeting with the head researcher at Manehatten School For Witchcraft and Wizardry. This researcher, Light Shine, had recieved a Noble Prize for her work involving changeling magic. Just the mare that Blueblood wanted to see.
"Well, I mean, it is technically possible," she said, "But where would you get love to feed everypony with?"
Blueblood smiled, "That part's easy. Love magic can be stored in gems. What do you think the Crystal Heart is, just some rock? It's a magical relic. I'm already importing gems from Canterlot that have plenty of love magic stored inside."
Light Shine grimaced, "Well, I never liked changelings. But there's a first time for everything, right?"
XXXX
It was quite an amazing sight. Everyone in Manehatten, partially changeling. Celestia and Luna were quite astonished by Blueblood's ingenuity upon their return. They also quite the story about a certain filly, who was apparently better than Sombra at controlling the Crystal Empire. And of course, Sunburst recieved much praise for saving the Empire, just as Blueblood was praised for saving Manehatten. Such is the life of a Prince.
