The Prince Of Crystals

The Prince Of Crystals: Family

By Cartoonlover13

Edited and pre-read by Angry Lass and ChudoJogurt

There were certain things Shining Armor will never get used to. And that thing was ponies were bowing to him and saying "Your Highness". He did have ponies bow to him before, but when he was with Cadance and she was a Princess. Before that, it was just a salute and a simple "Captain". That would be one of the many changes he will go through, he guessed.

He stopped abruptly when crystal doors blocked him from entering the throne room. He hesitated for a while, but after a deep breath he shoved the doors open with his magic.

Now here he was in the throne room, and there was his aunt-in-law sitting in the throne his wife once sat on. The thought of sitting on the throne made the Prince shudder.

Shining froze in fear as he made eye contact with his aunt-in-law. The former captain hung his head in shame. He slowly brought up his head to face the Night Princess.

"So. Hast thou made the right decision?"

"I'm very sorry for being such a moron, Luna. I will no longer neglect my duties. But I barely know a thing about politics. How will I rule an empire alone!?”

The Diarch of Equestria smiled. "Let thy worries rest, Shining Armor. I shall be your advisor. When I think my job of teaching you politics is done, only then will I go back to ruling Equestria. But there is another thing that must needs be done - for you to be a good parent."

The single parent nodded. His parents were taking care of Flurry Heart ever since he locked himself in his room. He appreciated that, but he was Flurry Heart's father, not them.

The stallion let out a very small chuckle as he remembered that Flurry Heart was named after when she nearly destroyed the empire. Of course he didn't know about it until the last minute when everypony was being evacuated from the empire.

Things turned out well in the end as the Empire was safe. But Shining Armor hadn't seen his daughter in two months and he missed her awfully.

"I will look over the Empire in your stead whilst thou goest to Canterlot to get Princess Flurry Heart." Princess Luna said.

***

The train ride was very awkward and he sat in complete utter silence. Shining Armor was once a guard and he still had the instincts of one. So it was weird when he was the one being guarded. Everywhere he looked there was a guard.

He wasn't nervous at all during the train ride here, but now he was trembling in fear right in front of his parents’ house. C'mon Shining Armor, you can do this! He kept repeating to himself in his mind.

The unicorn slowly raised his hoof, he then knocked gently three times on the door. There was silence for a few moments but the Prince heard a familiar voice say, "I'll get it!"

The door slung open revealing Shining Armor's sister, The Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle. "S-Shiny?!" Her eyes looked as if they were going to pop out of their sockets.

"Hey, LSBFF I-"

The widower didn't finish that sentence as his sister quickly embraced him.

"BBBFF! I can't believe you're here!"

"Yeah...me too..."

Twilight quickly ended the hug and looked at her brother very confused. "Wait a minute… why are you here?"

"Princess Luna told me I need to rule the Crystal Empire and raise my daughter and… I have agreed. Um, is Flurry Heart here?" Shining Armor then shifted his gaze behind his sister examining the house for his daughter.

Twilight nodded. “I-I haven't seen you since the funeral. How are you?”

Shining Armor let out a deep breath little did his sister know he was close to bawling. “I… I'm fine.”

Twilight stepped out of the way and her brother entered his old home. Coming down the stairs were his parents, Night Light Sparkle and Twilight Velvet.

"Shining Armor!"

His son cringed, his ears flopping. He knew exactly his father was going to give him a stern talking to.

"Shining Armor Sparkle! How dare you neglect your daughter and your country!" The father scolded. "I understand Princess Cadance, may she rest in peace, passed away but you must move on!”

"I know dad, but Princess Luna talked some sense in me." Replied the Prince.

Twilight Velvet nodded. "I'm glad for that."

"Thank you for taking care of Flurry Heart, but you aren't her parents. I'm her parent."

"Shiny," said Twilight putting a hoof on her brother. "You don't need to be alone. Single parenting and being a ruler will be very hard. If you need us to help either with politics or parenting I'll be happy to help."

"Us too," added in Velvet. "But probably not with politics, just parenting."

"Yeah… speaking of parenting Flurry Heart is up stairs," responded Night Light.

The former captain's ears perked. "Thank you mom and dad." He then ascended up the stairs his heart pounding so hard he felt as if it would to explode.

He entered the guest room where his baby girl was kept. Will he be able to do this? Of course the Princesses would do anything to support him, but… those mare nobles and politicians. He just knew mares of high power would not like a stallion being a leader of the Crystal Empire, an annex of Equestria.

He peered down in the crib, and there she was, her light pastel pink coat, purple mane with light blue stripes like his own. Deep down he was glad she turned out a mare - at least there wouldn't be any backlash towards her.

His daughter's joyous eyes gazed upon his own. He stared at her horn and the surprisingly large wings on her back. The first alicorn born in Equestria - and he had fathered her.

His daughter was the last remnant of Cadance and he wasn't going to let her go… ever.

The Prince of the Crystal Empire stroked the cheek of his little baby. "I'll rather die than let anything happen to you, my little Flurry Heart."