The Crystalling 2.0: Sombra's True Return

After collecting their luggage, the group of ponies depart from the station and make their way towards the Crystal Castle while catching up on recent events. All around them, the crystal ponies scurry about preparing for the upcoming crystalling, tidying up storefronts and polishing everything that shines.

"Is all this for the baby shower?" Applejack asks Shining Armor.

"Actually, no," he replies, "They are preparing for the crystalling, when the Crystal Heart accepts the baby as the newest member of the Crystal Empire. Cadence and I have been making the preparations for the baby shower - arranging the decorations, compiling the guest list, among other things."

"Wow, that sound like a lloooooott of work for only two ponies!" Pinkie states in astonishment.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Shining Armor says while straightening out his mane, "That plus all the appointments and getting the castle ready for the baby, Cadence and I certainly feel rushed off our hooves." He looks longingly at his sister and her friends, "If you're up to it, we could really use some help finalizing everything."

"Are you kidding?" Twilight says excitedly, "Organizing things is my specialty! Don't you worry, big brother," she says, putting her foreleg around Shining Armor's neck, "We'd be happy to help and let you and Cadence rest."

Shining Armor smiles gratefully, "What would I do without you, little sis?" and they continue on. Starlight, meanwhile, catches up with Sunburst towards the back of the group.

"So, what have you been up to since you left?" Starlight asks him.

"Well, when I got to magic school," Sunburst begins, "I was so excited to learn as much as I could about magic; so, I instantly hit the library. I found out about so many spells I never even heard of - what they do, their uses, and everything else! But when it came time to use those spells. . ." he closes his eyes, almost in pain.

"What happened?" Starlight asks, concerned.

"I can't explain it," Sunburst says, "It was like everything I learned flew out the window, leaving me looking like an idiot in front of the entire class. That's where the teasing only began." He lifts his head to look at his foalhood friend, "My only solace came with the letters you sent."

Starlight gasps, "You got my letters?!"

"Yes, and I cherished those for as long as I was in school," Sunburst says, "But I didn't write back because I was afraid of telling you how much of a failure I had become."

"Well, I'm sure you wouldn't be alone in that regard," Starlgiht sighs, "After you left, I hated cutie marks and how they could take friends away just like that. I hated them so much that I created my own town where everypony was equal and special talents didn't matter. Twilight and her friends defeated me then, and when I came back for revenge, they beat me again." A couple of moments go by where neither of them say anything.

"I'm sorry I left you alone," Sunburst apologizes, "I never knew how much I could have hurt you by leaving."

"And I'm sorry I didn't try harder to stay your friend," Starlight returns the gesture, "Can we be friends now?" she adds, leaning against Sunburst almost intimately.

"Of course," Sunburst says, smiling as they follow the others to the castle. When they arrive, Twilight, along with the rest of her friends, drops her luggage and races up into the castle to greet her sister-in-law. They find her lying on her bed in hers and Shining Armor's quarters, looking tired yet glowing in her pregnancy. Starlight can instantly tell that Cadence is almost at the end, with her belly bulging to her side. Nevertheless, as soon as Cadence sees them, she perks up and slides off the bed to perform a rather slowed rendition of her special greeting with Twilight, then makes her rounds to the others.

"I'm so glad you were all able to make it," Cadence says affectionately to them.

"Of course!" Twilight says enthusiastically, "We wouldn't miss it for all of Equestria!"

"Shining Armor told us all about his and your efforts in preparing for your own baby shower. . ." Rarity begins to say.

"Truth be told, it hasn't been easy," Cadence admits.

"Yeah, and if there's anything we can do to lighten the workload," Applejack continues, "Just let us know and we'll hop to it!"

"Yeah! Just like rabbits!" Pinkie Pie exclaims, then proceeds to bounce around the room, saying "Hop, hop, hop, hippity-hop!"

"Well, thank you all," Cadence says, chuckling, "Actually, there's still quite a bit to do, but we can get to that tomorrow. You all must be exhausted after the long trip here."

"Well, when you put it that way," Spike says, feigning a yawn, "I think I'll hit the hay a little early tonight."

"Even though you slept for most of the train ride here?" Rainbow Dash teases, smirking a bit.

"Hey! Preparing for a trip like this is hard work!” Spike says innocently, only to receive some sniggers from the others.

“Well, we’ll see you in the morning,” Cadence and Shining Armor say to the group before turning in for the night. As everypony separates to their rooms, Twilight asks Starlight about her conversation with Sunburst.

“It was nice,” Starlight tells her, “He seemed to remember me.”

“I’d say,” Twilight says, remembering their heartfelt reunion, “So, was that all?”

“No, we talked about what we’d been up to over the past few years,” Starlight explains, “I know I said we’d lost touch, but I’d say we’re best friends again.”

“Friends? From what I saw, I’d say you might be a little more than that,” Twilight says playfully, raising an eyebrow at her pupil.
Starlight blushes at Twilight’s accusation, not wishing to divulge too much into the subject. Anxious to change the topic, she says, “Hey, do you know why any of the crystal ponies would want to leave the empire?”

“No, why do you ask?” Twilight says, a puzzled look crossing her face.

“When we were on the train, I saw somepony in a cloak walking around in the snow,” Starlight tells her, “Who do you think it could have been?”

“Not sure,” Twilight says honestly, “Probably just has an adventurous spirit or something.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Starlight says as they part ways and enter their own rooms. As Starlight tucks into bed, she wonders if the pony in the storm was just in her imagination, or if it means trouble for the empire.

* * * *

The next day, everypony gathers in the grand banquet hall of the castle to finish preparations for the baby shower later in the day. The only pony not accounted for is Rarity, who insisted that she should get working on Cadence’s crystalling dress immediately. Even Cadence herself manages to clamber down to the hall, despite her husband’s protests.

“I promise not to do too much today, dear,” she assures Shining Armor, “I just don’t want to lay around our room doing nothing while you all break your backs down here.”
“Okay, but please be careful,” Shining Armor warns his wife, “I don’t want anything happening to you now.”

“Alright, everypony!” Twilight, who had taken over her brother’s task of organizing the shower, calls out, “Ready to get started?” After everypony agrees, she continues, “Okay; Rainbow Dash – Fluttershy – these pegasi will show you where to hang the rest of these banners. Applejack – Pinkie Pie – we need some strong ponies to move these tables into place.”

“Oooh, fun!” Pinkie exclaims as she bounces to work.

“And Starlight – you and Shining Armor will help the others with preparing the table settings and centerpieces. I’ll be checking on everything later,” she finishes, looking over at her brother. “Did I miss anything?” she asks, to which her brother smiles.

“Surely not,” he says, “I have every confidence in your abilities,” and he and Starlight head off to work. Cadence walks over to Twilight, beaming at her sister-in-law.

“You never lose your touch,” she says, wrapping her foreleg around Twilight, half for pride in her sister, half for support.

“Thanks,” Twilight says, “I try my best.”

Cadence chuckles, “So, what can I help with?”

Now it is Twilight’s turn to chuckle, “I am going to help you get ready for tonight,” she smiles, “Aaaaand to keep you away from the kitchen.”

“Oh, come on!” Cadence says playfully, “My cravings haven’t been that bad!” Even as she says this, she sniffs the air longingly, smelling all the wondrous delicacies the castle kitchen is cooking up. Twilight laughs and leads her back to her room as everypony else sets to work.

It takes them most of the day, but the team of ponies finally manages to finish setting up and idles around, gazing at their hard work. Twilight checks the last few items off on her checklist, and announces, “Well done, everypony! Now, we’d better get ready; the citizens will be arriving in just a few hours!”

Some time later, crystal ponies gather at the base of the Crystal Castle and enter the banquet hall, bearing gifts for the royal family. Nearly everypony in the Crystal Empire had been invited, so Twilight and Starlight were put in charge of the guest list. Everypony pays their respects to Cadence and Shining Armor before partaking in the festivities in the hall. While everypony enjoys the event, Cadence and Shining Armor make their way over to Twilight and Starlight, who busy themselves with making sure everypony is content.

“Twilight!” Shining Armor calls out, “We can’t be more proud of you and your friends for pulling all this together. We surely wouldn’t have been able to do it all just the two of us.”

“It’s my pleasure, big brother,” Twilight says as they hug each other.

“Twilight, would you like to get some punch with me?” Cadence asks.

“Sure,” she responds, and the two of them trot away, leaving Shining Armor and Starlight alone.

“So,” Starlight says after an awkward silence, “Some party this is, huh?”

Shining Armor suddenly becomes serious, “Listen, I know what you did – and tried to do – to Twilight and her friends.”

Starlight’s stomach drops, “Ah, yeah – that. Look, I don't know exactly what you know about all that-”

"Twilight told me everything," Shining Armor says bluntly, "And from what she said, she's alright with the situation, as does Cadence." He then leans down so his face is inches from Starlight's face, "You may seem different from when you left that town, Starlight Glimmer," he says in a hushed, almost menacing, tone, "but cross my family again, and you'll be answering to me, which I assure you, is no good thing."

Starlight gulps nervously, "I understand, but you must know-" suddenly, the entire room shakes with a thunderous BOOM! Everypony pauses and looks around for the source of the noise. Then, they hear a chilling voice speak from seemingley nowhere:

"Aaahhh, greetings my crystal slaaaaves. Did you miss me?. . ."