Broken Hearts

Celestia walked with her head held high in regal stance as golden clad hooves tapped against her castle's marble floors. Bulky guards resided on her sides as the ruler of the sun made way through the halls to the throne room where her meeting with the Crystal Empress was due. Her mane waved along in a vibrant array of firery colors of yellow, red, and orange. Her long, feathery like tail swept the floor with the same colors and her body adorned in golden jewelry. Specifically a golden necklace clad in an array of different gemstones and carrying the sun emblem.

Luna walked by her side, just as tall and just as composed though more harshly so. Her face turned up in a rather mad look. Her ebony coat and starry mane of constellations, like her tail, flowed regardless of wind like her sisters though not confined to a specific shape. Her bat like wings were clasped closed and tight against her body and she walked rather stiffly compared to her sister. Almost intimidating like as her silver adornment like her sisters, glimmered like the night.

Twilight walked as well among them, not confined to any way but merely trying to keep with their pace. She was shorter than them, abotu the Empress's height but was nearly just as powerful. She wore purple sheer stockings on her legs that stayed on her by a golden bangle with a purple gemstone like the choker she wore around her neck. Her mane faded from her typical colors to a glimmering golden yellow like the breaking of dawn at the end of it.

"Queen Celestia, if you do not mind, exactly what is it that Cadance want to discuss that can be so important?"

"That is what we too would like to know. The letter we received from her seemed urgent enough considering her wording but it never quite went into details of exactly what seemed to be the matter. Whatever the case, she asked to keep the meeting confidential."

Luna sucked her teeth. "MustI attend? I could be in bed right now. I am Queen of the Night! She cannot waste energy meddling in these affairs when the afternoon is to call!"

"Luna please. I know your still upset over being woken up but Cadance desires that we all be present. I think it is best to give her that audience."

"Is there anything she did mention specifically in the letter you received?" Twilight asked.

Celestia shook her head. "Only that this meeting concerned the fate of the Shawdonia Kingdom and the Crystal Empire....including possibly Equestria itself."

"I wonder why she just didn't send me a letter."

"Possibly because she did not have a more personal means of reaching you. After all you are a more public figure than me and Luna outside of Canterlot. Unlike she, I can directly contact you through Spike instantly. She did ask me to spread the word to you which I did."

"I see."

"She mentioned King Sombra as well." Luna snarled. "What does King Sombra have to do with her?"

Celestia sighed. "Who knows. For all we know, a looming threat could be coming towards Equestria knowing him."

"We should have just banished him again. He is never up to any good."

"I don't know...considering the last time we did it, it had devastating results."

"Tsk..."

"We are here your majesties. The conference room."

The white, gilded doors opened as the guards pushed them, showing a vibrant room of large windows and elegant gold framed portraits of important ponies like Starswirl, Clover, and even that of the more obscure ones such as Solis, Belle, and even Snowdrop who touched dearly to Luna's heart. The celing was decorated in an elaborate and detailed mural and hung from the center of it was a golden chandelier.

The white, circular table before them had food on top just in case the princesses got hungry. Snacks of cheese, crackers and variety of frit with small cut cucumber sandwiches and tea along with proper plates and forks to go with it all.

The guards escorted them in and pulled back the chairs for each of the princesses before taking a bow and exiting. Leaving the rulers and princess alone for the meantime. It was quiet save for the ticking of the clock that could be heard on the wall beside them.

Luna glanced at it. "She is running late."

"Stay calm Luna, she is only two minutes overdue. I am sure she-"

"A ruler is to be punctual!"

Celestia gave up.

"It makes no sense for her to schedule an appointment and keep what is the equivelent to guests waiting."

Celestia merely sat still. Annoyed eyes staring sleepily into the distance. Twilight couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

"Proper ettiquete requires that the host be here before the guests. Not the other way-"

Before she could finish, the doors of the conference hall swung opened showing the crystal empress in her shining glory. Wearing nothing more but her simple crystal crown and regalia with strands of crystal dangling from her mane.

Celestia was relieved. Oh, thank the gods.

One of the crystal guards came in and seated the empress down in front of the three alicorns before bowing and exiting like the guards before hand.

The doors to the conference room closed leaving the three alone for the time they desired. A silence filled the air as the rulers and princess focused their attentions upon one another. Each with the facial expression that seemed to dare the other to move. While Celestia, Luna and Cadance zeroed in on each another, Twilight was the only one who laid confused. Eyes darting back between her sister-in-law and that of her mentor and her own sister. Luna was practically frowning, Celestia seemed stiffed and stern and Cadance seemed ridden with unbridled confidence, or at least appeared to be.

She wondered when the silence will cease.

"So...you have kept your word." Celestia broke.

"It would make no sense for me not to. Considering how I was the one who ordered the meeting." Cadance smiled. "I just hope I wasn't too late."

"Hmpf, too late for me..." Luna hovered over a sandwich and ate.

Celestia cracked a smile. "I suppose no time should go to waste then. I've read your letter that you sent to me as well as Luna. You seemed to describe the urgency of the predicament very clearlyhowever, you've never specified as to exactly what the danger seemed to be. You only mentioned the Kingdom of Shawdonia and the umbram. I'm assuming King Sombra has returned with unripened intentions again?"

"No. He has not."

"Then what was the point of this meeting then?" Luna asked.

"To discuss with you the issues concerning the umbram and the Crystal Kingdom. As you know, the Crystal Empire and Shawdonia, home to the umbram, has been on sorrow tensions for years beginning with the reign of King Onyx. One of the Crystal Rulers, far before you your majesties, came within the picture. These wars, skirmishes and battles cannot continue on forever. Especially after our most recent war."

Celestia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "What is it then you want to be done? The Crystal Empire and umbram are at severe odds with one another. Me and Luna have tried to make peace with them but to no avail. They have only grown in hatred since King Sombra have taken the throne and your citizens could care less about making peace with them. No matter how related they may be."

Twilight placed a hoof under her chin in thought. "Related? The umbram and crystal ponies...are related?"

"Haven't you read up about it Twilight? That a studious pony like you have read up history on the Crystal Empire as well." Luna smiled.

"I have but there is no mention of the crystal ponies and umbram being related but then again, there really isn't much information on the umbram at all besides their reason of being exiled and their relation to King Onyx. Any history of them stops after that and is only mentioned in regards to King Sombra afterwards. Any history of the umbram is only recorded it seems when it relates to the Crystal Empire either being invaded or at battle with them." Twilight sighed.

"Of course." Cadance spoke. "You've been reading books written by crystal ponies and Equestrian historians alike. Anything about the umbram would no doubt be only glossed over."

Celestia shook her head. "The umbram are every part as crystal empire citizens as the crystal ponies themselves, beginning with King Onyx. The umbram are nothing more but crystal ponies infected with a physical manifestation of dark magic. A virus that ravages their bodies causing crystals to physically grow on them instead of them shining like crystals. They were unfortunately driven from the empire due to those unaffected fear of being possibly contaminated. Or their negative energy possibly feeding into the Crystal Heart."

"And those who were driven was given a piece of land from the Crystal Empire to settle but then King Sombra came and sought to expand their territory. Of course that did not proceed well when he was confronted with the ruling sisters. Which would be you and Luna of course.

Luna grinned. "So you do know."

"Sombra mostly won that fight."

Luna turned to face Celestia, her grin quickly fading back into a frown. Cadance stood quiet and Twilight anticipated her next words.

"Have we not been there however, the Crystal Empire would surely have fell to ruin."

"I am aware of that Luna but we underestimated him. He is every bit as cunning as he is brute. He anticipated that we'll use the Elements of Harmony on him and as such had cursed the empire."

"Cursed it?" Twilight questioned.

"Self-destruct. If he couldn't have it then he felt that none other should have that right. He was ready to commit suicide. The Elements of Harmony helped to stop it but while we focused on that he sought his escape."

Luna sucked her teeth. "Tsk, coward. Should have stayed and accepted his rotten fate!"

"We were angered at what he done and sought to avenge the empire ourselves but to no avail. He had erected a powerful forcefield over his kingdom and though me and Luna tried everything in our power to undo it, it was no use. We took our forces and left. Swallowing our pride and anger."

"It was a perfect opportunity to avenge our fallen ones. Considering how deathly weak he was between fighting us and casting that spell." Celestia blew a breath out her nose. "But of course, the chance was not given to us."

"Ever since then, Shawdonia has been the bane of the empire. We closely share borders, only a sea, a simple country, Yakistania and mountain range, the crystal mountains, divides us. This is why I am here. Peace must be worked out one way or another in regards to the stability of not just my Empire but also Equestria. Sombra's damage is telling in the fact that the wars themselves are hurting the wealth of the nation in supplying guards and military personnel with weapons and most of all, the biggest expense being lives. Are duties as rulers is to ensure the safety of our kingdoms and the lands we reside over with care and dignity and preserved the lives of the ponies in it. This is why I am here."

Cadance stood quiet for awhile allowing all in which she said to sink in with through the ruling sisters and her in-law's head. Celestia took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment before looking directly to Cadance.

"Cadance....are you proposing that something be done between that of your empire and that of Shawdonia?"

"Yes. That is exactly what I am proposing."

"Are you kidding me." Luna growled. "The umbram hates us, most of all the crystal ponies and you propose that peace be made between you and them? With us to go along with it? Peace is far gone from them. You best be better off waiting for pigs to fly then for them to agree in settling anything with us or you."

"Luna..." Celestia spoke underneath her breath.

"I know that such a thing may seem difficult but it is at most, all we have. Destroying his kingdom will do no good. We are powerful enough to possibly exterminate him and his empire but what image will that bestow upon us as rulers as well as our nations? There are also innocent lives within Shawdonia as well weather we like it or not. Losing lives is the last thing I want to do. Anymore than now."

"Can't King Sombra simply be exterminated himself?"

"No.It is not that simple. To kill him we will have to assassinate him and that's if you can sneak into the kingdom itself effectively and our ponies will stick out like a sore hoof among the dark colored and gemstone ponies that reside there." Celestia answered.

"Exterminating his kingdom or even exterminating him will do nothing for the better but end up causing in unimaginable war. We have left him and his kingdom alone so far without much trouble and think this is the time to take full advantage of it. The peace treaty I propose will not only possibly keep Sombra from off of our backs but also help to integrate the umbram right back into pony society. Crystal pony society."

Celestia raised an eyebrow. "And exactly what would that be?"

Cadance took a deep breath. "I will marry King Sombra."