Author's Note

Okay but honestly why isn't there a Flurry Heart character tag.

Art in this chapter by NorthernLights8.

Her Twelfth

I'll Wait For You
Ink Mage

Chapter One
Age Twelve

He couldn't explain it.

When Flurry Heart was born, there was just some sort of invisible force pulling him towards the empire.

He didn't know what to do.

One minute the protective barrier surrounding the empire was there, and the next, it wasn't.

Thorax was able to slip into the kingdom going unnoticed. He weaved in and out of the frightened crystal ponies, inching his way closer and closer to the castle in the middle of the empire.

The crystalling was breathtaking, especially for the young changeling. Princess Flurry Heart looked absolutely incredible in the hooves of her parents. Thorax watched the ceremony in awe, laughing at Flurry's adorable facial expressions whenever somepony touched her, or tried communicating with her.

The fatal weather wasn't of any concern to him, but he definitely wanted to get closer. Somehow.

Thorax roamed the empire for days, trying to get ponies to trust him, to make friends with him, but it was proven impossible. He would disguise himself as a crystal pony, befriend somepony on the streets, then show them his true form, and just like that, they would run away, screaming for help.

Thorax knew, of course, why this was happening to him. They didn't... they couldn't trust changelings after the attack on Canterlot. Nopony seemed to listen to him though. Nopony at all.

He couldn't live like this much longer. He needed food before he starved to death.

Until that one day, when a small purple and green dragon roamed into his quarters underneath the empire. Spike was... amazing to him. He accepted Thorax for whom he was, and even offered to help him! Thorax was touched that Spike looked past his disturbing looks and brought him inside the empire.

By disguising himself as Crystal Hoof, he was able to enter the castle and meet many friendly ponies. Everypony was so excited to hear about Spike's friend, they didn't bother questioning him further.

When Thorax met Princess Cadance, he was nervous. But he knew that only she could introduce him to the baby, the one pony Thorax was so keen on meeting.

Thorax approached Flurry Heart with caution. He knew that if he got too close his changeling senses would take over and rid him of his disguise.

She was... she was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Thorax made sure to tell Cadance about that.

Unfortunately... it was just too much. The love surrounding the little princess was too much for Thorax. He couldn't control his hunger... he had to... had had to...

To put it mildly, Thorax couldn't help his sudden outburst, and his flee from the castle.

But what happened next, he never expected. Spike had come up to him, he had apologized for not defending him better, he promised to make it up to him.

He was a true friend.

When Thorax's name was cleared, he was able to live in the Empire freely as long as he was under the watchful eye of the guards and Prince Shining Armor himself. Shining couldn't bring himself to fully accept Thorax, but the changeling had to give it to him for doing his best.

Thorax was able to meet Princess Flurry Heart again, her laughter echoing throughout the castle walls as he played with her, swinging her around, chasing her, playfully bantering with her.

He watched her grow up.

He watched her become the beautiful young princess she is.

He was with her every step of the way.

But she didn't know it.

"Crystal Hoof, come in here please, there's something Princess Cadance and I need to speak with you about," Shining Armor said years later, beckoning for the small blue colt to come into his office.

Thorax gulped. Shining Armor didn't usually want to speak with him alone, whenever he did, he knew it wasn't a good sign.

Princess Cadance was already seated inside the room, giving Thorax a friendly smile when she saw him.

"Shining dear, close the door and tell the guards they don't have to keep watch," she said. Her husband nodded, turning and doing exactly that. The guards looked skeptical of the colt, but brushed it off and nodded firmly, giving their captain a salute before leaving their post outside the door.

"Uh... what's this all about?" Thorax asked, biting his lower lip. Cadance smiled, but Shining Armor looked stern.

"You can let go of your disguise," he stated. Thorax breathed a sigh of relief, before his body erupted into green flames and changed into his true form. That of a changeling.

"What's going on?" he asked. Shining Armor sighed.

"Well, as you know, Flurry Heart has now reached the wonderful age of twelve," he started. Thorax raised an eyebrow.

"Isn't her birthday tomorrow?" he teased, before instantly sobering at Shining's expression.

"Anyway," Shining said, "Princess Cadance and I have come to an... agreement."

Thorax looked between the prince and princess. Cadance was still smiling at him, a knowing look in her eyes. She shot him a wink, before taking over the conversation.

"Yes, actually, we were wondering if you'd be willing to take on the position of Flurry Heart's personal guard," she said spontaneously, clapping her hooves together. Thorax did a double take, stumbling backwards as her words sunk in. He knew Shining Armor would never allow this; he looked over to him, and sure enough, a hard glare was set in place.

"Uh..." He coughed. "Really?"

"Apparently," Shining Armor replied. "You see, Flurry Heart is a growing mare... not to mention the princess of the Crystal Empire, our daughter," his face softened, "I'd hate for anything bad to ever happen to her. And seeing as you are a changeling..."

Thorax gulped. "I'd... I'd be honored, Your Majesty's," he said.

Cadance smiled. "I'm sure you will," she said.

"But... Flurry doesn't-"

"That's Princess Flurry Heart," Shining Armor said.

"Oh, yes. Princess Flurry Heart doesn't know... she doesn't know who I am," Thorax supplied. Shining Armor only shrugged.

"And I don't think she'll ever have the need to," he said. "I don't think she'll take the news of your species lightly. She wasn't grown up thinking changelings are anything good."

"Of course," Thorax said.

"If suspicions do arise, just turn them down," Shining Armor said. Cadance nodded.

"I know she's very good friends with Crystal Hoof. And I don't know if her knowing that you're her personal guard now will change anything in your relationship. It's up to you whether or not you want to tell her," she said.

"That I'm her guard now?" Thorax asked. Cadance nodded. "Well... if I know Flurry-"

"Princess Flurry," Shining Armor but in.

"Right, sorry. If I know Princess Flurry, she's very persistent," Thorax said.

"I agree," Cadance said. Thorax nodded.

"Maybe I'll wait a bit to tell her," he said. Cadance nodded.

"Sure, do whatever you think is best." She smiled. "I know you two are friends. This isn't going to change anything."

Thorax gave her an uneasy grin, but nodded. "Sure, when should I head over to her quarters?" he asked. Shining Armor snorted, earning a disapproving look from his wife. His demeanor quickly changed as he lowered his head with a secret smile playing on his lips.

"Right. Well, I can call Flurry Heart over, or you can go there yourself," he said with a gesture towards the triggers that were used to signal the castle bells.

Thorax shook his head. "I think I'm fine with just walking, actually, Sir," he said. Shining Armor nodded.

"Got it, don't forget to activate that transformation of yours before she sees you, or anypony for that matter," he said.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Thorax gave his lopsided grin before making his way to the exit. "Goodnight, your highnesses," he said, before leaving.

Shining Armor turned to Princess Cadance.

"They'll be alright, won't they?" he asked. Cadance smiled, a slight twinkle in her eyes. Shining Armor groaned, recognizing his wife's look. "Cadance, dear, please don't."

"And why ever not, Shining?" she asked playfully.

"Because they only view each other as friends, that won't ever change, and you know it. They've been around each other too long for anything like that," Shining Armor argued. Cadance grinned, looping her hooves around Shining Armor's neck, pulling him down to her level so that they were looking at each other eye-to-eye.

"May I remind you how we started dating?" she asked. Shining Armor's ears turned bright pink as she continued. "And don't tell me you're going to play the over-protective father card on our little girl, you know her better than that. She's tough, much like you," Cadance said.

"I know, Cadance, but I have the right to be worried for her," Shining said. "Besides, he's much too old for her."

"You know as well as I do that changelings stop aging after a while. And with Flurry being an alicorn..."

"That doesn't give it an excuse!" Shining Armor mumbled. Cadance laughed.

"Oh just... let things go where things go, alright? Go with the flow," she said.

Shining Armor frowned. "Can I still look out for her, though?" he asked with a growing smile.

Cadance grinned. "Yes, but don't do anything severe," she said dismissively, moving back to her desk. "Now off with you." She winked as she brushed her hooves on the top of the hard wood.

Shining Armor mocked a bow and saluted, turning around in place. "Aye-aye, Princess."

Cadance giggled. "Then you are dismissed, good sir."

Flurry Heart's long curly purple locks blew in her face as she walked down the halls of the Crystal Castle. She entered her room, glaring at the stationary guards that were surrounding the doorway.

"You don't have to stay around me all the time," she said sternly. One of the guards stepped out of position, shaking his head firmly.

"Her majesty Princess Cadance thinks otherwise, Princess," he said. Flurry Heart huffed, crossing her hooves and pouting.

"Aren't I a princess too? Don't you need to take orders from the royal family?" she asked hotly.

The guard frowned, weighing in his options as he searched for how to answer the young princess. "Well, yes, Princess. But I'm afraid your mother's orders come before yours. You know that," he settled on, ending the short conversation with a bow. He stepped back to his original place, putting on a stone-faced expression once again.

Flurry Heart sighed. She hated when they did that. "Whatever," she mumbled under her breath, stepping into her room and locking it tightly behind her.

She sighed, moving to her desk and taking out the many papers from school she had to complete before the next day. Homework on the day before her birthday? On that matter, school on her birthday? Who in Equestria would want that?!

"Stupid homework..." she mumbled, picking up a pencil with her magic and fluttering into the air. She sorted the textbooks into piles with her magic, staying in the air as she leaned forward, trying to find a comfortable position in nothing. She took one of the books out, staring at math equations. She groaned.

There was a sharp knock on the door, causing her to jump in surprise, her magic momentarily stopping as her books flew in all sorts of different directions.

"What in the hay..." she said. "Come in!"

A lapis-colored colt entered the room, his hair standing up straight as he tumbled into the room. Flurry Heart instantly grinned, floating down to the ground to greet the guest.

"Crystal Hoof!" she exclaimed happily, pulling him in for a brief hug. "I haven't seen you all week! What's been happening with you?"

Crystal Hoof smiled in her direction, instantly noticing the scattered papers all around the room.

"Were you working in the air again?" he asked. Flurry Heart frowned.

"Uh... maybe?"

Crystal Hoof sighed, before erupting into a fit of light giggles.

"Anyway, didn't the guards interrogate you or something?" Flurry Heart asked. Crystal Hoof lifted an eyebrow.

"Interrogate me? Why would they do that?" he asked curiously.

Flurry Heart sighed. "Because they're all over-protective jerks. Don't they know I'm almost twelve?! I can take care of myself," she said. Crystal Hoof's eyes widened as if he just remembered something.

"Oh right! Speaking of which... happy early birthday, Princess," he said with a wink, taking her hoof and twirling her around. Flurry Heart laughed, leaning back and landing on her bed. Crystal Hoof followed suit, and the two laid side-by-side.

"Hehe, thank you," Flurry Heart said, "seems like it was just yesterday Mom and Dad were throwing cake at my face. My sixth birthday party."

Crystal Hoof grinned. "Ooh I remember that one! It was so much fun! Our friends from Ponyville came!" he exclaimed. Flurry Heart nodded excitedly.

"Yeah! Remember when we played that prank on Rainbow Dash?" she asked. Crystal Hoof chuckled.

"That was amazing! She never even saw it coming!" he said. Flurry Heart sighed, still laughing a bit, cuddling into the sheets. Crystal Hoof smiled from besides her, pulling up from the bed as he smiled down at her.

"Goodnight," he said softly. "You... you may be seeing a lot more of me from now on."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Flurry Heart asked, pulling up the covers as she closed her eyes. "Oh and would you mind looking over my notes for the test tomorrow?"

Crystal Hoof grinned. "It means that I'll be spending more time with you from now on. And absolutely not," he said.

Flurry Heart pouted, her eyes still closed. She looked incredibly adorable. "Well you're nice. And that sounds awesome," she said. Crystal Hoof laughed, turning around and heading to the doorway.

"Goodnight Princess," he said.

"Night."

"Wake up..." Flurry Heart hissed in her parents' ears. "Wake up wake up wake uppp!" Flurry bounced on her father's stomach, causing a gasp of surprise and a startled screech.

"Flurry! What are you doing in here?!" Shining Armor asked as he stood up. Cadance took a deep breath, recovering from the initial shock of her daughter waking her up.

"Same thing I do every year! Come on! It's time for me to open my presents!" she exclaimed, before turning and running out the hall, undoubtedly to wake up the rest of the castle.

Cadance smirked, looking at her husband. Shining Armor returned the look with a glare, watching her climb out of bed. "She really did go on you in more ways than I thought," Cadance said as she pulled on a robe.

Shining Armor snorted. "Oh ha ha very funny," he said, putting a hoof around her and bringing her in for a sweet kiss. "Now come on, you don't want to keep our sweet little angel waiting."

"Of course I don't. Do you?" Cadance asked playfully. Shining Armor scowled, taking a cup of coffee and retreating down the stairs.

"You don't think Thorax is transformed, do you?" Shining Armor asked suddenly. Cadance looked thoughtful.

"Well, considering it's five in the morning, I don't think he is," she said, before both of their eyes widened.

"Oh sweet Celestia," they both chorused together. Shining Armor quickly changed his pace to run, making his way to Thorax's room. Cadance followed close behind, a concerned look plastered on her face.

"Crystal Hoof! Crystal Hoof!" somepony yelled from a few corridors away. Flurry was looking for him. Shining Armor gasped, tugging open the door to Thorax's room and stumbling inside.

"Thorax!" he yelled, causing the changeling to wake up with a start.

"What! What? What?!" Thorax yelled, rubbing his eyes before looking around with a dutiful expression. "Is there trouble? What's going on, Prince Shining Armor?"

"Transform! Quickly!" Shining Armor yelled. Thorax's eyes widened as he realized what was going on. The three of them heard soft footsteps inching their way closer to the room. Thorax stumbled out of bed, erupting into green flames; in a few seconds, the light blue colt stood in his place.

"Oh, there you are!" Flurry Heart's voice echoed through, as the young princess made her presence known. Cadance quickly pulled her daughter in for a hug, kissing her forehead as she praised her.

"Oh happy birthday, sweetheart!" she exclaimed, picking her daughter up and twirling her around. Shining Armor smiled softly at the scene.

"Happy birthday Flurry," he said, kissing her cheek before looking back at Crystal Hoof.

"Uh... happy birthday, Princess Flurry," Crystal Hoof said nervously, twiddling with his hooves as he remembered what Shining Armor had told him the day before. Shining Armor nodded in approval, before sweeping his daughter into his hooves and trotting outside the room.

"Now what would my little princess like for her birthday breakfast?" he asked, rubbing her stomach. Flurry Heart giggled, rolling her eyes.

"I'm not five, Dad," she said, "I don't need special birthday breakfasts."

"You may be older in age, but you aren't older in heart," Shining Armor reminded with a teasing smirk. "Now come on, do you want to be late for school?"

"Ugh! School! Why do I have to go today anyway?!" Flurry whined. Cadance stifled her laughs.

"Who said you had school, honey?" she asked sweetly. Flurry Heart gaped at her.

"What...? Dad did!" she said, before pointing at Crystal Hoof who was standing on the side. "Crystal Hoof did too!"

"Uh... surprise?" Crystal Hoof said, shrugging with a sheepish grin. Flurry Heart gasped.

"What?! This is awesome! There's no school today!" she exclaimed, leaping out of her father's arms and dancing around the kitchen. "But isn't it Thursday?"

"Yes, but we were able to persuade your teacher to let you off for one day excused," Cadance said. Shining Armor nodded.

"Anything for our little girl!" he said, giving her a rough noogie.

Flurry Heart whooped loudly, taking Crystal Hoof's elbow and pulling him into a tango step. "No school! No school! No school no school no school!" she sing-songed. Crystal Hoof laughed as he joined in, singing in a low voice as the two played around.

Cadance shot a sly look at Shining Armor, raising her eyebrows for extra effect. Shining Armor groaned, mentally facehoofing in her direction.

"We're screwed."