Wingless ~ Part One

"The train for the Crystal Empire has arrived! Make way for Princess Cadence!"

Twilight's ears perked at the announcement and stood up from the bench she was sitting on. The ponies at the loading dock left the area to make room for the alicorn's sister-in-law, some of the ponies looked at Twilight and dipped their heads to her as they passed. Twilight gushed a bit. She appreciated the respect, but sometimes she didn't feel like she should be treated like royalty. Then again... I am a princess, I really should play the part. She nodded back to the ponies and smiled. Heh, once again I'm smiling and waving. I guess I'll never get away from it.

The train from the Crystal Empire screeched to a stop in front of the station, and one of the car doors opened. Twilight watched as Flash Sentry, one of the empire's guards, exited the car and stepped to the side, holding a suitcase. A few moments later, Princess Cadence approached from the rail car. The pink alicorn turned to the guard and took the suitcase with her magic; she nodded to Flash Sentry, cuing him to leave. The pegasus bowed to Twilight and entered the car once more, closing the door behind him.

Twilight and Cadence waited until the train left, once it did, they looked at each other and squealed with glee. They trotted up to each other and performed their childhood greeting: "Sunshine, sunshine ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" The two giggled as they hugged each other. Cadence was the first to break away from the hug and booped Twilight nose, "Now, where's my sister's magical castle? Is it as 'crystally' as you've described it?"

Twilight booped Cadence back. "Of course it is!"

"It's shaped like a tree?"

"Mhm!"

"And it has a lot of rooms, including a library?"

"Yup!"

"And it has a balcony almost as big as the empire's?"

"Undoubtedly!"

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Twilight giggled again, "Okay, okay. Do you want to walk or fly there?"

"We can walk."

"Alrighty! Here," Twilight levitated Cadence's suitcase out of the princess's hold. "I'll carry that."

"Oh no you don't!" Cadence took the suitcase back, "You don't need to treat me like a guest Twilight! I'll carry my own stuff."

Twilight looked a bit unsure. "Are you sure?"

Cadence nudged her sister lightly. "Of course I am! There's no need to treat me like royalty during this visit, we're here to have some sister-bonding time. And to do that, we don't treat each other like guests okay?"

"Um, Okay."

"Hey," Cadence walked towards the main street, "Let's go and see that castle!" The princess hummed and nodded politely to the nearby ponies passing by, who returned the gesture.

Well, as long as she's okay with it. Twilight caught up to her sister and nodded to the ponies, she struggling not to blush as the ponies returned the same gesture as they did to Cadence.

"Still not used to the formalities huh?" The pink alicorn murmured to her.

Twilight dipped her head, "Yeah, it feels weird."

"I understand," the princess took a deep breath and exhaled. "Just do that and stand up tall, you'll be fine."

The purple alicorn raised an eyebrow, "You make it look so easy, how were you ever able to manage?"

"I became a princess at a young age Twilight. I had to learn all my life about posture, manners, appearance, things like that. But you have been a princess for a short time, and it's normal to feel this way at first. Soon you'll get used to the crowds and the respect you'll receive."

Twilight smirked, "Wow Cadence, for once you actually said something reassuring."

"Come on! Like those things I taught you as a filly weren't useful!"

"Well..."

"Ugh, fine! Be that way!" Cadence flipped her mane, making her hair flick Twilight's nose. "I'm not even here ten minutes, and you tell me I don't have good advice for you!"

"Aw, come on Cadence!" Twilight rubbed her nose, "You just gave me some useful advice!"

"Hmph!" The princess stuck her nose up. "I only gave you half of the advice you need to handle crowds!"

"Well," Twilight nudged her sister, "Can I have more advice?"

Cadence glanced at the purple alicorn, giving her a doubtful look. "Why should I? You wouldn't take my advice for granted anyways."

"Because, if you give me more advice, I may change my mind about you not being insightful."

The pink alicorn pretended to think, "Hm... I don't know..." She then smiled and nudged Twilight back. "Alright. But one remark about me not being helpful, and we'll be seeing who's visiting who next time."

"Okay, okay." Twilight snickered, "What else is useful for crowds?"

Cadence faced forward, "For one thing, you must always look in the direction you're going, unless a pony wants your attention. If you focus on something ahead of you, you'll be able to ignore the ponies around you. But at the same time you... Oh my gosh!" The princess stopped in her tracks and gaped, "Is that the castle?!"

Twilight looked ahead to see the top of the castle peaking over a few houses. She stopped next to Cadence, "Mhm! It really stands out doesn't it?"

"It really does!" Cadence smiled wide, "It's so beautiful!" The alicorn squealed and began to trot towards the castle. "Come on! I want to see it up close!"

"Whatever happened to posture?!" Twilight called, trying not to laugh at her sister-in-law's eagerness. She bit the inside of her cheek as Cadence immediately froze. The purple alicorn caught up to her, "Maybe you should take your own advice at times."

"Noted," Cadence straightened up and walked towards the castle, levitating her suitcase closely next to her. "Now, shall we continue our stroll to your new castle?"

Twilight straightened herself as well and held her head high. "Of course!"