Many moons ago, long before the time of Starswirl the Bearded, a beautiful kingdom shone with love in the north. The Crystal Empire was, at the time, a true empire. They dominated most of the lands in the north, but their core city was the true jewel in its crown. From there, the Empire was ruled by a wise and noble alicorn. King Galaxite ruled boldly but with a kind heart, holding on to the far reaches of his realm. He loved his kingdom and his citizens, all the crystal ponies of the core city of the Empire adored their king along with their other pony kinds in the Empire.

However, the king was lonely. He had ruled for many years and he was very much alone. He had tried to seek out a wife, but could find nopony who loved him for him and not his title. If they could look past his status, they then looked to his looks. He was handsome with an ebony coat, mane, and tail, gold streaks and specks dotting his mane and tail. His wings were tipped with gold, and gold wound its way up his horn. All of this ebony and gold were contrasted by his forest green eyes. His build was lean and his face was handsome, even his eyes were gentle. Alas, nopony could seem to look beyond these things. So, he spent his days longing for a companion.

One day, a pegasus pony he had never seen before entered his throne room while he was signing papers. She came cantering in at an angry pace. Her purple mane was windblown, her amethyst eyes flared with annoyance, and her rose pink wings were stiff from the cold. She wore a white cloak that only covered her shoulders, her cutie mark was that of a heart with wings. Before she could reach the king, two guards blocked her way.

“It’s all right,” King Galaxite assured them, smiling kindly at the pegasus. “How can I help you?”

“We sent letters three days ago requesting aid!” She half yelled. “Yak Yakistan is threatening invasion upon Pegatopia!”

“I’m sorry, we never received them. Armour, send troops to Pegatopia immediately.”

“Yes, King Galaxite!” Captain Armour replied, racing off to gather some troops.

The king set aside his paperwork and trotted down to the pink pegasus.

“I am afraid I did not catch your name?” he said kindly.

“Amorette,” she breathed, her eyes dropping. She realized that that may not have been the most proper way to act, especially not in front of her king.

“Would you like to stay and recuperate, Amorette?”

“I-I…”

Before Amorette could finish, her legs gave way and she gave into the exhaustion. Galaxite caught her with his strong body, lifting her gently with his magic and carrying her to a room. He tucked her under warm blankets and then trotted out, leaving her to rest.

The next morning, Amorette awoke slightly disoriented and confused. It took her a while to recall the previous night's events, and mere seconds to piece together what happened after she collapsed. She had flown through one of the worst blizzards of the year, her body was still aching. She trotted out, unsure of where to go. A guard directed her to the dining hall.

“I see you’re awake,” the king observed. “Sleep well?”

“Um, yes your majesty,” she said in a small voice, gingerly taking a seat at the small round table. “I-I’m sorry for yelling at you…”

“Don’t worry about it, you were worried about your home and frustrated. I’m just glad you got here as quickly as you did.”

“I suppose I’ll be heading back now.”

“Not until you’ve eaten and been looked at by a doctor.”

“Really, your highness, I’m alright.”

“I don’t want to hear any of that, eat up and then you’ll see a doctor.”

Amorette ended up having to remain at the palace for the next few weeks, her wings having multiple bruises and sprains. During her time there, she spent much of her time with Galaxite. He enjoyed the mares company as a nice change, and she enjoyed telling him more about life as a commoner. They may have only spent a few weeks together, but that mild fondness turned into love.

“Well, thank you for allowing me to rest here,” Amorette said, trying her best to hide her sadness as she prepared to leave. “Goodbye, Galaxite.”
He stood there and watched as she stretched her wings, until finally a “Wait!” escaped his lips.

“Yes?”

“Don’t go! Please! I know I hardly even know you, but I love you!”

“You do?”

“I do. I don’t know how you feel, but I had to tell you.”

“I-I love you too.”

“Then what are we doing? Marry me!”

“Really?!”

“Yes, if you’ll be my wife?”

“Of course!”

By the end of the month, the two were promised to each other. The Empire rejoiced at having a queen, that meant the promise of an heir.
However, the couple was more focused on getting to know each other than beginning a family. They both desired one, but wanted to have a strong and steady relationship first. So, they spent their time learning how to be a couple.

Many moons later, Amorette found herself with pressing news for her husband. However, the king was on business and wouldn’t be back until nightfall. She spent the day wrapping her brain around this and thinking of how she would tell him. She didn’t even notice the movement of the sun until she heard him trotting inside.

“Good evening, dear,” he greeted, gently kissing her.

“Galaxite, you’re home,” Amorette replied nervously.

“Yes, I do believe I am. Is something the matter?”

“No, I’m alright. Just lost in thought.”

“Oh, if you say so.”

“How was your trip?”

“Fine, no storm today so-”

“I’m pregnant!” The news just sprang out of her and she quickly clamped her mouth shut.

“What?!” he asked, taken aback.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

There was a moment of silence that hung firmly in the air. Amorette held her breath in anticipation.

“This is wonderful!” Galaxite finally breathed.

“You really think so?” Amorette whispered.

“Yes, I can not wait to become a father.”

The news quickly spread and with that the guard increased. They knew that if the news got to the wrong ears, the king and queen’s unborn child would be in grave danger. However, the love and joy the kingdom was feeling provided plenty of magical protection thanks to the Crystal Heart; the most treasured artifact of the Crystal ponies.

One day in late October, a blizzard raged just outside of the city. The citizens in the city were mostly staying inside. Despite their city being protected from the weather, they all took the bad weather beyond as an excuse to have a day inside. All was peaceful beyond the castle walls.
Inside the castle, shouts and yells seemed to be coming from every corner. However, they could all be traced to a single room. And it wasn’t long before a new sound entered the chaos, a foal’s cries.

The following morning, King Galaxite and Queen Amorette presented the foal to the kingdom. They all gathered and celebrated the arrival of an heir, throwing a grand fair in the foal’s honor. Bugle horns sounded as they stepped onto the balcony.

“Presenting,” Captain Armour’s voice spread loud and clear over the anxious crowd, “Princess Stella Della Speranza.” They all cheered at the announcement of their princess and heir. “And,” they all hushed at this word, whispering quietly to their neighbors, “Prince Cristallo Ombra.”
A moment of silence and then an outburst of joy. The ponies couldn’t believe it, twins!

Stella Della Speranza (or Stella as they would come to call her) had a dark pink coat with a jet black mane and tail, glittering with gold. A tiny horn sat on her head, her eyes were an evening green. Cristallo Ombra (fondly called Ombra) had a grey coat, jet black mane and tail with a lavender streak, a tiny horn, and the same evening green eyes as his elder twin.

The two grew up together, being taught magic by their father and proper manners by their mother. On top of that, Stella was being taught how to rule such a vastly expanded empire. Over time, Ombra grew jealous of Stella. She was a magical prodigy and heir to their father’s throne, he had to work extra hard to learn even the basic spells and was not as well known as his sister; despite only being seconds younger. Stella tried to reach out to her brother countless times, assuring him that he was special in his own way. It always ended with him storming off to his room to cool down until one of their parents went to him. However, things will change in life.

“Ombra you are going to do something wonderful,” Stella tried to explain, exasperatedly, one night after supper.

“No I’m not! There’s nothing special about me!” Ombra countered.

“Ombra, you are special. We are all unique, just like-”

“Our cutiemarks? Please, mine is a group of jagged black crystals, not too different from fathers! While you have a purple crystal star surrounded by a gold tiara!”

“Ombra, we are all destined for different things. Mine may seem more glamorous, but that doesn’t make yours any less important.”

“Oh please, nopony even knows who I am! They only know their precious little princess heir!”

“Cristallo that’s not true!”

“You know it is! I can’t take this anymore, I’m out of here!”

Ombra stormed out of the palace, their mother flying to catch him.

“Cristallo Ombra, wait!” Amorette panted, trying to keep up with him.

“I’m sorry, mother,” Ombra growled, disappearing in a flash.

“Amorette!” Galaxite exclaimed, flying down to his sobbing wife.

“He’s gone!” she sobbed into his shoulder.

“He’ll be back, my love. He’ll be back.”

Ombra had teleported farther south than he had planned, so far that he was no longer even in the Crystal Empire. He wasn’t sure where he was, it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. Icy wind sliced at him, chilling him to the bone and causing him to squint his eyes. Despite the unforgiving cold and the fact that his mane and tail were frozen stiff, he pushed on through the blizzard.

In the mix of fog, blinding snow, and his hazy vision, he spotted a cottage. At first, it was just a dim light, then the shadowy outline began to form. He stumbled through the cold and, by some miracle, reached the door. He softly kicked the door as his legs gave out and Ombra collapsed on the snow. The last thing he remembered was hearing the creaking of a door and the whisper of a single word escaping his lips, “Help…”

Author's Note

Thoughts and opinions are always appreciated