Crystal Note - Where life leads us

by TalkingToMyself

Rating: everyone
Tags: Flurry Heart, Alternate Universe, Sad, Drama, Original Character, Princess Cadance, Crystal Ponies, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 158861

After years of travelling all over Equestira, Crystal Note returns to live in the Crystal Empire, her old home. When a tragic event throws the life of three fillies out of balance, Crystal Note is there to help.

This story is part of the Crystal Note AU that starts with Crystal Note - Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres!.
It is not necessary to read any of the previous stories, but there will be referrals to ponies and events from them.

Crystal Note is the only crystal unicorn in all of Equestria. Therefore, she is the only crystal pony with access to unicorn magic, the same magic that was once used to put a terrible curse on her home, the Crystal Empire far up north.

After spending years of travelling all over Equestria as a musician and singer, Crystal Note moved back to her home. She has come to peace with the events of her past, good and bad, and is now ready to be a part of the Crystal Empire again.

However, tragic events keep happening even in times of peace. Suddenly, Crystal Note finds herself in a unique position to help and with eager desire to do so. She will do everything she can to give back the kindness and trust once given to her and help three fillies in their time of dire need.
This is the story of Crystal Note and family.

This story takes place a couple of years after the events of Windigo Storm. While it is not necessary to read that story or any of the Crystal Note AU, there wil be referrals to events and ponies from the past.
Some of those events have not been written or published yet, please excuse if that happens.

This story contains multiple story archs that are connected and intertwined. Therefore, instead of putting each of those archs into an individual story, I will publish all of them in this story and further updates.
Not all of the story archs are finished yet, I will mark those for you. Since many of the stories are intertwined, the timeline might jump a little between stories and the order of chapters will change with further updates.

Please read this blog for some other reasons.

While it is recommended to read the two first story archs, all further story archs can be read on their own, so feel free to skip anything that doesn't peak your interest.
Since the story archs were planned as individual stories, there will be some exposition and referrals in each of them to other stories and chapters of this one. Please excuse when this happens.

Please feel free to comment, ask questions or add suggestions as much as you like. Please feel free to give ideas for further stories or chapters you'd like to see. Feel free to use this or any part of the Crystal Note AU for your own ideas and stories.

Published 2018-12-28 11:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2023-12-27 22:15:05 UTC

Ripped apart - Part II

Three mares stood in the throne room of the Crystal Palace. Rose Quartz, advisor and confidant of Princess Cadance as well as head of the Crystal Council, stood next to the currently empty throne. This was her usual spot whenever she assisted the Princess during audiences or meetings. Today, she only took this spot out of habit, a little piece of security and normality on a day that threw the world out of order.

The two mares in front of her also struggled with regaining their grip of life again. Crystal Note was still distraught as she had been present when the two bodies had been discovered. Right now, she was leaning heavily against Opal Waves, a mutual friend to the sisters and the two ponies who had passed. Opal Waves had rushed to the mine as soon as she heard of the accident. When she had seen that Flint, her husband, was not hurt, she'd offered her support to Crystal Note and Rose Quartz instead. Now, she had her hooves carefully wrapped around the crystal unicorn, but the tragic of the events left her run out of tears as well.

The three had just gotten the latest report just a few minutes ago and tried to digest the news. Lieutenant Flash Sentry had flown off to Canterlot to personally inform Princess Cadance but even though he'd be faster than a train, it would take the pegasus guard a while to reach them.

Out of the three mares, Rose Quartz seemed the most composed, but her wavering voice betrayed her calm posture

"She wanted to surprise her husband on their wedding anniversary. With homemade lunch. And nopony could have expected a cave-in, so they just let her in. Out of all times for something like this to happen..."

She trailed off for a moment, then sighed deeply

"All things considered, it's a little wonder only two ponies died. We still don't know why the cave-in even happened. It could have been a lot worse."

Crystal Note sobbed loudly and glared at her sister, then added with an angry voice

"And the bad news is, two ponies died anyways."

Rose Quartz frowned and took a step towards them but hesitated at the glare. She realized she’d not done a very well job of choosing the right words

"I didn't mean to... yes. You're right, of course."

Crystal Note buried her face against Opal Waves, so she didn't see Rose Quartz' posture slump and her ears drop down in shame. Opal Waves gave her a sad, understanding smile and this time, the older mare closed the distance and sat down on the other side of Crystal Note. As soon as she could feel the hoof on her shoulder, Crystal Note turned around and gingerly tucked her head under her sister's chin. Rose Quartz immediately pulled her a little closer at the three mares sat in silence for a while, gaining comfort from each other's presence.

Opal Waves was the one who started talking after a some time

"How are we going to tell their daughters?"

Both sisters-in-heart froze and turned her head towards the lilac mare

"Daughters?"

Opal nodded and closed her eyes

"Crissy, I'm sure you know the twins, Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart."

Crystal Note's eyes went wide and filled with tears again

"Dear stars... they're always with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. I think they are a year younger than Ocean and Flurry Heart, right? Heavens, no..."

She didn't resist as Rose Quartz pulled her into a tight hug and new tears made their way down her cheeks. Opal Waves had her eyes still closed to prevent just that

"Eight months younger. We gave them our foal stuff when Ocean grew out of it and sometimes, their older daughter would foalsit Amber and Ocean. Glass Slipper just turned thirteen."
"Thirteen...?"

Crystal Note's voice broke and she searched and found Rose Quartz's gaze, the sisters staring at each other with barely hidden pain and sadness

"Even younger than we were when we lost Dad."

"Sweet Celestia..."

Opal Waves just nodded again. Out of the three, she was the only one who was a mother herself and just thinking about her children was enough to pinch off her chest.

After another minute, Crystal Note climbed back on her hooves and wiped the last tears out of her eyes. Her coat still had a grey colour, but her eyes almost glowed with determination

"I'll go and tell them right away."

Both mares at her sided blinked and Opal Wave's mouth hung agape

"Are you sure that's the best thing?"

"Maybe we should wait until..."

Crystal Note shook her head and took a step forward towards the door, then turned around to face Opal and Rose

"No, we need to tell them now. If we wait any longer, it will only get more painful, for them and for us. They'll wonder where their parents are and when they hear the rumours in town..."

She shook her head and stepped towards the door

"We need to tell them and we need to make sure somepony is there to take care of them when they realize their parents won't be coming back."

Opal Wave shivered as once again, Amber and Ocean's faces flashed through her mind, crying their eyes out, but then she shook her head and stepped next to Crystal Note

"But you're not going alone."
"Absolutely not."
Rose Quartz was at her side again when Crystal Note turned her head around, her eyes shining with the same determination she had shown herself

"We'll do what we can to help."

With that, the three mares left the palace and Opal Waves lead them to their destination.

Many ponies watched as three mares left the palace. Everypony cleared their path as they walked through the streets, staring ahead with saddened expressions and lack of any brightness in their coats and manes.

Most crystal ponies had at least heard rumours and understood, but none approached them or stopped them to talk. Those who were yet unaware of the tragedy quickly caught up.

After minutes that seemed like hours, the small group reached one of the branched streets of the residential district of the city. They approached one of the smaller homes and Rose Quartz knocked at the door. The ponies from the neighbouring houses watched through the windows, soon many of them stepped out of their homes and gathered on the street in small groups. They watched as a teenage filly opened the door and a few words were said, then the three mares followed the filly inside.

The ponies watched and waited, they exchanged a few worried words. Most of them still couldn't process all that had happened, that two of their fellow ponies would never return home. After a couple of minutes, they heard yelling from the small home. It sounded angry at first, then desperate and after some more time, just sad. In the end, the only sounds that could be heard were those of sobbing and crying from multiple voices.

The ponies stood silently and watched from afar. If they had peeked in through a window, they would have seen three fillies crying their eyes out, the teenager from before and two fillies who were so young they didn't even have their cutie marks yet. The three sisters clung on each other, surrounded by the three mares who kept the fillies in their middle, a feeble attempt of comfort, as well as a desperate try not to let the fillies be overwhelmed by the feelings of loss and loneliness.

Eventually the sun set down and the day found an end, even if the crying would not for a long time.

Ripped apart - Part III

Crystal Note woke up with a groan and rolled off the couch in the small sitting room. Even after three nights, she could not get used to sleeping on the worn out piece of furniture that dominated the room, along with a small table in front of it.

She stood up and stretched her back and her legs with a big yawn, then silently headed towards the stairs leading up. The second floor only had two bedrooms, one for the three sisters and one... empty. The beds inside were made and ready "in case they come back." That had been Velvet Heart's words. Neither her older sister Glass Slipper nor Crystal Note had the heart to argue with the filly at that point.

After the three fillies had learned the terrible truth, they've been devastated, rightfully so. When their tears had finally run out, Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart even crying themselves to sleep, Crystal Note offered to stay for the night. She was the logical choice. Rose Quartz would need to return to the palace and figure this whole mess out until the Princess returned and Opal Waves had her family waiting for her at home. However, both mares could see in Crystal Note's eyes that there was more behind her offer than just that.

Glass Slipper neither agreed nor refused, she just let Crystal Note lead her to their bedroom and tuck her in bed with her sisters. The mare asked her if she needed anything, but Glass Slipper's eyes just fell shut, overwhelmed and exhausted and empty.

In the morning, she'd snapped awake and felt confused and sad, woken up by her little sisters who clung on her and cried into her coat. The teenage filly was unable to cope and felt so helpless, all she could do was wrap her hooves around her sisters and cry as well.

Only moments later, the door to the bedroom bolted open and Crystal Note hurried inside. With soft words and much patience, she managed to calm the three fillies at least enough so they'd stop crying their eyes out. Sweetie Tooth clung on the mare's leg when she guided them downstairs and convinced them to try to eat something. The neighbours had learned quickly about the tragedy and they were kind enough to provide meals for the three fillies while they struggled to comprehend what really happened.

Now, three days later, Crystal Note sighed relieved when she didn't hear any crying from upstairs. The fillies had barely done anything else on these first days and barely slept at all. Last night, exhaustion caught up on them and they had all quickly drifted to sleep once in bed. She headed to the small kitchen of the home but kept the door open so she'd hear if anything happened upstairs. Guessing their hunger would most likely return after a night of sleep, she prepared some oatmeal with fruit for the fillies. Either by the scent of breakfast or the sunlight from outside, the fillies soon woke up and climbed downstairs. Crystal Note greeted them with a soft smile and when Sweetie Tooth crossed the room to stand with her, she gently nuzzled the filly's head, which lured a timid smile out of the filly. Out of the three, Sweetie Tooth had opened up quickly to Crystal Note.

Glass Slipper was still mostly wary of the crystal unicorn who had made a way into their days. Of course she was grateful of Crystal Note's help. Although she considered herself mostly independent with thirteen years, taking care of the twins all on her own wasn't something she'd done for more than a couple of hours. Crystal Note tried her best not to let anypony crowd the fillies for the last couple of days, which Glass Slipper highly appreciated. The mare had dealt with concerned neighbours, their teachers from school and even a few members of the guard so far, all while making sure the fillies had the chance to process what happened at their own pace.

When they were alone, Crystal Note had been there to talk with each of them. She listened and held them when they felt like crying and she offered comfort when they needed it. She tried to diffuse some of the concerns Glass Slipper didn't share with her sisters, although she didn't fully succeed in that. Glass Slipper was mature enough to realize what it meant to become orphans. She was worried she wouldn't be considered old enough to become a guardian for Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart, so added to the loss of her parents came the fear of maybe even losing her sisters as well. She knew there was no immediate family left so they'd most like be given to a foster family. To her, it seemed unlikely for any family to take in three fillies together so they might have to split up, if they'd ever find somepony to adopt them in the first place. It didn't matter how often Crystal Note promised her that wouldn't happen, she couldn't stop worrying.

Right now, Crystal Note looked up from the oatmeal she prepared only to be confronted with a defiant glare from Velvet Heart. The filly had set up the table for them and, as the days before, had put down dishes and cutlery on her mom and dad's usual seats as well. On the head of the table, she'd also placed her father's large coffee mug, next to her mother's cup with a floral design. Crystal Note met the filly's gaze with a kind smile and a soft nod, though she didn't hide the sadness from her eyes.

So far, Velvet Heart struggled the most with the presence of somepony else in their home. It had taken Crystal Note angelic patience to convince the filly to do the simplest things like eating her meals or brushing her teeth or even just getting out of her room. At times, Velvet Heart seemed to believe that her parents would return any moment and everything would go back to how it was before. The few times when the truth broke through to her, she'd suffered more than her sisters. Only when she was crying so hard she could barely sit upright, she would accept Crystal Note's calming presence and the comforting hugs she held her in, along with some soft whispered words that did not seem to matter but in the end managed to soothe the worst of the pain, at least for a while. Against all hopes of Crystal Note, these moments only lasted so long before Velvet Heart fell back into denial.

Breakfast passed mostly quiet, which was an improvement to the prior days when at least one of the fillies had started to cry eventually. Crystal Note was happy to see each of them eat two servings of oatmeal, she had been worried about how little the fillies would eat, especially Glass Slipper. Sweetie Tooth munched down her portion eagerly and so did Velvet Heart, even though she kept glancing to the two unused plates at the top of the table.

Glass Slipper mechanically spooned her oatmeal, her thoughts elsewhere at the moment. Crystal Note noticed this, but she didn't mention anything. When Glass Slipper offered to do the dishes with the twins, Crystal Note took the cue and agreed. She walked into the living room and as soon as the door closed behind her, she heard a whispered discussion starting between the fillies.

Fighting back the urge to eavesdrop and make sure they were okay, Crystal Note instead headed to the couch and sat down. From here, she couldn't hear the whispers anymore. She knew it was foolish to believe the three fillies would just open up to her with everything and anything. The best thing she could do was trust them and give them privacy when they needed it. That did not mean she didn't keep her ears angled towards the kitchen, in case she'd hear crying or arguing she'd be there to intervene.

Before any of this happened, there was a knock on the door. Crystal Note sighed and headed to see who was visiting this time. The crystal ponies were a tightly knitted community and the suffering of the fillies called for them to offer help in any way or form. Sadly, neither of the fillies seemed able to accept that help just yet, nor deal with the attention they'd drawn on their family. Crystal Note herself felt nothing but relief that the three sisters could at least accept her own presence around them, she knew she'd be heartbroken if she'd have to leave them at this point, when they were still hurting so much.

As she opened the door, her eyes went wide and a weird mixture of feelings boiled up inside of her, sadness and relief in equal portions. Sadness, because the fillies would be confronted with some hard decisions soon and their bubble from the outside world might be popped, relief about the pony who stood in front of the door, willing and eager to help.

Princess Cadance stepped into the small home after Crystal Note opened the door. She stared at Crystal Note with some worry and the crystal unicorn realized that the princess could tell she'd not gotten too much sleep herself recently. Princess Cadance' eyes brimmed with sympathy and care as she offered a short but firm embrace to her friend, one which Crystal Note eagerly accepted. Her sympathy only glowed brighter when the door to the kitchen opened and Glass Slipper stepped into the living room, Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart shuffling behind her and peeking past her older sister.

The three fillies stared at the princess and when she approached them, Glass Slipper quickly bowed down and kept her head low. Her sisters stared for a moment longer before they did the same, Sweetie Tooth was visibly shivering in the presence of the tall alicorn.

Princess Cadance' gentle smile broke into sadness and she sat in front of the three fillies. Glass Slipper felt a soft touch on her head and glanced up only to find tears shimmering in Princess Cadance' eyes, the eyes of a concerned mother. Without thinking, Glass Slipper lunged forward and buried her muzzle against the pink coat of the princess. At the same time, a pair of hooves wrapped around the filly, both gentle and firm at once as they held her close in a reassuring embrace. The two small fillies hurried to her sister's side and found themselves engulfed by a soft wing each and pulled into Princess Cadance' embrace as well.

Crystal Note watched in awe as the Princess Cadance, the Princess of Love, didn't even need words to instantly make the fillies feel safe and cared for. Princess Cadance leaned down to the fillies and the strands of her ethereal mane flowed around them in the invisible breeze as they gave themselves to tears once more. While their crying before had been desperate and helpless, their tears now had an almost cleansing quality, especially since they felt Princess Cadance shed some tears of pure compassion for them as well. Crystal Note felt a small jab of jealousy as she watched the Princess succeed in what she had failed, but that quickly faded away. Instead, she felt relief that the fillies received some well-deserved support from Princess Cadance. Seeing them cry like this made her heart glow and break at the same time.

Only when she heard some whispers behind her would she turn around. In the still open doorway, Crystal Note saw some familiar faces peeking into the small home. She blinked surprised as four foals gingerly stepped inside now that they've been noticed. Amber Waves, his sister Ocean Waves, Ivory Rose and Flurry Heart took the spots next to Crystal Note and watched silently. Amber Waves and Ivory Rose wore their Cutie Mark Crusader capes as usual, but their usual smiles were replaced by insecurity and worry. Ocean Waves, the youngest of them, looked like she was about to cry herself from just watching. Flurry Heart's eyes filled with tears already and she looked like she had to hold back from throwing herself into the hug as well.

Minutes passed with no sound except the occasional sobbing from one of the sisters and some hushed, gentle words from Princess Cadance. When she finally released the fillies from her embrace, Crystal Note couldn't help but feel exhausted. Glass Slipper rubbed her eyes with her hooves and managed a grateful if timid smile to the princess, while her little sisters saw the other visitors. Flurry Heart was the first to dash forward but the other crusaders quickly followed and took Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth into their middle. There was some mumbling, too soft for Crystal Note to understand and after a nod from her mother, Flurry Heart slowly guided the others upstairs to the fillies' room.

Glass Slipper looked after them and was about to stand up and follow, but a hoof on her shoulder kept her from getting up. The teenage filly looked up at Princess Cadance' sad eyes and frowned as she understood. Crystal Note now headed to Glass Slipper's side and gently led her to sit down. Princess Cadance took the seat on the other side of the couch, but Crystal Note remained standing at the filly's side. After a deep breath, Princess Cadance finally started talking

"Glass Slipper, I'm so sorry. Losing somepony is a terrible thing in itself, but losing somepony to such tragedy... Losing your parents.... I'm so very sorry."

Glass Slipper managed a brave nod with her eyes closed and her head hung low. Crystal Note reached up with a hoof and gently rubbed the filly's back to comfort her.

Another deep, ragged breath broke out of Princess Cadance before she continued

"And I'm also sorry to do this, especially so soon after everything happened, but we need to talk about what's going to happen next, Glass Slipper, to you and your little sisters."

At this, Glass Slipper's head jerked back up and she almost glared at the princess, new tears in her eyes but angry ones this time

"I won't let you take away my sisters!"

Princess Cadance met the glare with a calm smile

"I won't. Nopony is going to separate the three of you, you have my word as a princess."

Crystal Note's hoof reached out to give a reassuring squeeze to Glass Slipper's hoof, and only then would the filly let go of her glare with a sigh of relief, even if it didn't last very long under the princess' next words

"However, you need to understand that we have to find a place for you to stay."
"Why can't we just stay here? This is our home!"

"Because, Glass Slipper, there is nopony here to look after you and your sisters."

As soon as the princess had finished her sentence, Glass Slipper just blurted out the first thing on her mind

"I'll look after them!"

Princess Cadance' calm smile faded some as this talk took a direction she had hoped to avoid

"Glass Slipper, you're too young to take care of them and yourself all on your own."
"I'm thirteen!"

Crystal Note couldn't help but smile at the determination the adolescent filly suddenly showed, neither could Princess Cadance

"I know, but aren't you still going to school?"

Glass Slipper's hoof stomped on the cushion of the couch with a soft thud while her other hoof remained in Crystal Note's gentle grip

"I'll quit school. I'll find a job, any job and make sure they have everything they need."
"But what about you, Glass Slipper? Don't you have any dreams of your future, for a time after school?"

Glass Slipper's sudden burst of agitation quickly found an end by those questions. Her mouth opened a couple of times without saying anything, then she sighed and looked down at space in front of her

"Sure, but that's not important. Not anymore. I want to be with my sisters, more than anything else."

Cadance' eyes filled with pride and the Princess of Love gently put a hoof of Glass Slipper's shoulder, her next words brimmed with emotion

"You are a wonderful big sister, Glass Slipper. I can feel how much you love them."

A gentle wing under her chin directed Glass Slipper's eyes back towards the princess

"But it doesn't change the fact that you're still a child yourself, at least to some degree. You should have the opportunity to enjoy your youth, carefree and happy like other fillies and colts. It would be irresponsible of me to make you let go of all of this."

Glass Slipper stared into Princess Cadance' eyes and saw her sad but understanding smile. She sighed deeply, almost defeated, and finally nodded. Princess Cadance gently wrapped her hooves around the filly for a quick squeeze

"I know it's hard, so shortly after it all happened. But trust me, I only want what's best for you and your sisters."

Crystal Note nodded and squeezed Glass Slipper's hoof she was still holding more firmly. She saw new tears forming in the filly's eyes and she felt another stab in her heart. Words came to her mind and without hesitation, she spoke them out loud

"I'll do it."

Two heads turned towards her. While Glass Slipper looked perplexed and honestly confused, Princess Cadance had an almost knowing smile on her face. Crystal Note chose to ignore the latter for now and focused on the distraught teenager instead

"Glass Slipper, if you let me, I promise I'll do everything I can to help you. We'll take care of your sisters together. And whenever you need me, I promise I'll be there to take care of you, too."

Glass Slipper stared at Crystal Note with wide eyes, tears of mixed emotions running down her cheeks. Her mouth was wide open and her lips moved, but in the end, only one word made it out, timid and scared but also hopeful

"Why?"

Crystal Note took the filly's hoof in both of hers with another reassuring squeeze while the princess pulled back a little to give them some space, even though neither of them really noticed. Now, Crystal Note was the one struggling for words at first, but once she started talking they just flowed out of her

"Because, I know what it's like. How it feels to loose somepony so important. I don't want you to go through this all alone. Not you and not your sisters. I know you've only met me a few days ago and I know it's all so soon after. But please, Glass Slipper. I want to help. I can't promise I'll always know the right things to say and I can't promise I'll never make a mistake. But I promise: I'll do whatever I can to be there for you and help you."

Glass Slipper stared and listened attentively to every word the mare said. A small nod and an even smaller smile was all she managed. Crystal Note returned the smile and opened her mouth, but before she could say anything more, they heard a thud coming from upstairs. They all flinched when they heard the loud wailing of a young filly and Glass Slipper immediately jumped on her hooves

"Velvet Heart!"

Crystal Note was already standing, so she reached the stairs before the other two even got off the couch. She rushed upstairs and burst into the filly's bedroom.

Inside, Sweetie Tooth was buried in a tight hug from both Ocean Waves and Ivory Rose. Amber Waves sat on the floor and rubbed his cheek, Flurry Heart had to help him up. Crystal Note barely noticed any of it and just leapt straight for Velvet Heart. The small filly was crying, utterly lost in sadness and anger, even her natural colours had changed into darker shades. At the same time, she was screaming at the top of her voice

"I want my Mommy! I want my Daddy! I want them! I want them now! Now!"

Crystal Note's hooves wrapped around Velvet Heart and she pulled her into a tight embrace. She ignored Velvet Heart failing her hooves at her and squirming to get free and only pressed the small filly closer against herself. Soon, Velvet Heart stopped struggling but her wailing continued. All the shells and walls the filly had built around herself had gone cracked when she'd seen Princess Cadance cry for her. Now they finally broke down, all the lies and excuses she'd been telling herself suddenly lost all meaning and only left her with heart-breaking sadness and mind-shattering loneliness.

For Crystal Note, the room faded away around her. She did not notice Glass Slipper and Princess Cadance enter the room after her. She did not hear the concerned whispers around her. All that mattered right now was the hurt filly in her hooves. She knew words could not console Velvet Heart right now. The filly had hold back far too long already, she desperately needed to get all of it out. However, Crystal Note wouldn't allow the filly to be completely consumed by sadness either.

Like always when Crystal Note found herself confronted with strong emotions, she started to sing. Usually she did this to sort out her own feelings, but this time she sang only for Velvet Heart, Sweetie Tooth and Glass Slipper, with all her heart.

She didn't need any words for this. Some lyrics came to her mind, fragments of her own songs as well as others that had touched her, but none of them seemed enough at this moment. Her voice rose up with Velvet Heart's when the wailing grew even louder and more desperate. The filly's voice soon was raspy and dry from all the screaming and her sadness was reduced sobs and small hiccups that shivered through her small form. Crystal Note didn't loosen her tight hug even for a second, not giving the filly's mind even the chance of thinking the mare might leave her.

After a while, almost an hour in fact although time completely eluded both Crystal Note and Velvet Heart at this point, the wordless song faded and was replaced by a soft melodious hum. Velvet Heart still sniffled but her tears had run dry for now. She was held so close to the mare, she could feel every hum vibrate through her own body. The voice was soft and she felt safe. Velvet Heart didn't return the hug, but she did try to break out of it either. She simply accepted the presence of the mare like one would with a warm blanket in a cold night.

Far too soon, the comforting grip around Velvet Heart loosened up. The filly immediately felt like crying again. She wanted to yell and scream, anything to stop whoever was holding her from leaving her as well, leaving her all alone. Another warm presence pressed in against her and Crystal Note's chest. As soon as Sweetie Tooth had wiggled in close to her sister, the hooves that held Velvet Heart returned and wrapped around them both as firm as before. Another pair of hooves joined in and Velvet Heart heard sniffles from Glass Slipper as the older sister hugged them from the other side. Velvet Heart peeked one eye open and found Sweetie Tooth and herself in the middle of Glass Slipper and Crystal Note.

Crystal Note kept her hooves tightly clung around the small fillies but she leaned down to gently rest her head on Glass Slipper. The teenage filly tucked head under the mare’s chin. Slowly, almost unnoticed even by herself, the mare's humming turned into a soft lullaby. The gentle melody soothed the fillies' wounded hearts and carried them away from all the pain, at least for a little while. None of the fillies noticed the soft glow around Crystal Note's horn or the blankets from the bed floating up and wrapping around the small pile of crystal ponies on the floor. One by one, the sisters drifted off to slumber while Crystal Note guarded their dreams this night.

Ripped apart - Final Part

Velvet Heart never had any problems with mornings. Almost as soon as the first ray of sunlight hit her eyes, she was alert and awake with just so much as a blink and a little shake. In summer, she'd be up even earlier, especially when the travelling birds were visiting the Empire and their morning songs could be heard even before sunrise.

Her dad was an early riser too, and the two of them had made a habit of gently teasing Mom while she nursed her morning coffee and tried to keep up with their wakefulness. After Sweetie Tooth and Glass Slipper joined in, they’d have family breakfast together. Velvet Heart loved mornings.

Not anymore, though.

Mornings without her parents were weird. Not in a funny way, more like waking up from a nightmare you don’t remember anything of, but you’re sure you won’t be able to go back to sleep because whatever happened was so scary you’d never want to sleep again. Instead of smiling, mornings now felt like crying to her and her sisters. Either in bed as soon as they woke up or in front of Mommy and Daddy’s bedroom, they’d always cry.

Crystal Note didn’t help make mornings any less weird. The mare with the horn had just appeared out of nowhere and told them their parents were gone. Velvet Heart hated her for that.

But instead of just leaving again, Crystal Note stayed with them. She didn’t speak much, but she was there. She put up with Sweetie Tooth’s crying and her own. She managed to calm down Glass Slipper when her older sister didn’t want to talk with them. When Velvet Heart felt so angry she had to yell at somepony, Crystal Note was there. She didn’t tell her to stop or argued back, she took all of it with a calmness that most of the time only made Velvet Heart more angry. Velvet Heart’s ears dropped in guilt when she remembered how she’d been so angry to hit at Amber Waves the other day. Crystal Note had been there to take all the blame and yelling that had probably been directed at her sisters otherwise.

Sweetie Tooth was so sad and Glass Slipper was so worried, they didn’t deserve being yelled at. Velvet Heart would never admit it to anypony, but she was glad Crystal Note was there, if only so she’d not hurt her sisters. Crystal Note always hugged her in the end, after her anger was blown out of her. Velvet Heart was thankful for that as well.

Maybe she didn’t hate the mare after all.

Today, she’d woken up in Crystal Note’s hooves, next to Sweetie Tooth and Glass Slipper. She’d thought she was the first to wake up as usual, but then she’d noticed the mare smiling softly down at her. Crystal Note silently helped her wiggle out of the cuddle pile without waking up her sisters. Velvet Heart mumbled a ‘thanks’ under her breath and left the bedroom.

She made it almost three steps out before she froze on the spot again. Mommy and Daddy’s bedroom door was right in front of her and her small hooves gave in under her weight. She sat in front of the closed door and couldn’t help but imagine the empty room behind it. She tried to fight back the tears. Like the days before, she eventually lost the fight. She pressed her lips shut and bit her tongue to not start sobbing as well, so the bitter liquid ran down her cheeks silently.

A soft thud next to her made her look up and Crystal Note sat down with her. She smiled that same smile again, just the right amount of sad and caring to make Velvet Heart feel a little better. But at the same time there was this glimmer of pity in her eyes, like she knew how Velvet Heart would feel and would understand her.

It made Velvet Heart all angry again. How could Crystal Note, or anypony, think they knew how she felt? She was the one who lost her parents after all. Not them. Why didn’t they get that? How could Amber Waves tell her it’d all turn out well again and insist he was right? He deserved that smack for saying something like that.

Behind Crystal Note, the bedroom door was open a crack and Sweetie Tooth peeked out. She looked like last night after Velvet had started yelling at her friends. Almost as if she had been the one who had to take the blow. Velvet Heart swallowed down her anger. Yelling only helped for a little while, but then she felt even worse after. If it also made Sweetie Tooth scared of her, it wasn’t worth it.

Velvet Heart blinked surprised when Crystal Note leaned down for a quick nuzzle. She looked up and saw that smile, but a little wider than before. Whatever the mare had seen in her, it was obvious she appreciated it. Could she have guessed what Velvet Heart was thinking?

An unwelcome sound broke the silence, a low grumbling coming from Crystal Note’s tummy. Velvet Heard stared at her for a moment, then Sweetie Tooth and her started to giggle together. It wasn’t that funny really, but it was better watching Crystal Note’s cheeks blush than looking at the bedroom door.

Sweetie Tooth joined the blushing as her own tummy made itself noticeable as well. Crystal Note and Velvet Heart giggled and got up on their hooves again. Crystal Note led them downstairs and into the kitchen where they raided the cupboards for some boxes of cereal.

Glass Slipper joined them at the breakfast table and happily accepted a bowl of her own. As soon as the worst of all their hunger had been taken care of, the fillies and the mare fell into some easy chatting about which kind of cereal they preferred. Sweetie Tooth was shocked when Crystal Note admitted she’d often skip breakfast or just had a cup of tea in the morning

“But, breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Mommy always told us that.”

Glass Slipper looked scared for a moment when their parents were mentioned but Crystal Note just laughed softly and nodded

“I will have to get used to it, then. Since it’s that important to you.”

Sweetie Tooth nodded and went for another spoonful of crunchy goodness. Velvet Heart on the other side tried to ignore the lump in her throat that had appeared as soon as Sweetie Tooth had said ‘Mommy’.

Crystal Note watched the fillies finish their cereal. She picked up the mixed set of emotions and thought of the promise she’d given Glass Slipper the other day. They’d have to talk about it, preferably sooner than later.

Glass Slipper had accepted her offer to stay with the fillies, but she’d been so sad and desperate after Princess Cadance had addressed some of her imamate fears. Crystal Note wondered if she might still change her mind. Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth didn’t know anything about it yet. How would they react?

With a deep breath, Crystal Note ordered her thoughts and focused back on the task ahead. She couldn’t know how the fillies would react and if they’d be okay with her staying. All she knew was that she’d stay true to her promise any way she could. Whether that would be as a guardian or just as an outside watcher, she had set her heart on helping the three sisters and she would find a way to do so, no matter what.

“Girls, we need to talk about a couple of things.”

The three fillies snapped out of their own thoughts at those words. Crystal Note’s voice was soft as usual, but they could hear the underline tension just as well.

With a few sentences, Crystal Note summed up her talk with Princess Cadance and Glass Slipper and told the twins about her offer as well. Glass Slipper didn’t say anything and instead just nodded each time one of the twins glanced towards her for confirmation.

The silence that followed was unexpected. Crystal Note had waited for some questions at least, maybe even some angry words from Velvet Heart, but none of that came. Glass Slipper stared down at her empty bowl, Velvet Heart’s eyes were fixed on the spot her father used to sit. Sweetie Tooth was looking at her and Crystal Note offered a soft smile to the filly. She made no secret of her own insecurity in that matter, but none of it was strong enough to outshine the genuine care and affection she felt for the three sisters.

Sweetie Tooth took the smile as an encouragement and finally asked something

“Would you live here with us?”

Crystal Note blinked a little confused as she nodded

“This is your home. I’d stay here with you for now.”

She searched the eyes of the other fillies but only found Glass Slipper's

“It’s going to be different for us, but I’d like you to get as normal of a life as possible. Starting with you going back to school again.”

Glass Slipper frowned at that

“What does school have to do with any of this?”
“It’s a first step, Glass Slipper. School is regular and scheduled, it’s something we can build our own lives around again. Just like breakfast in the morning to build up our day on.”

Sweetie Tooth nodded and seemed satisfied for now, although most likely she’d want to talk about it later. Crystal Note had seen this with her on earlier occasions.

Crystal Note turned her attention to Velvet Heart who still avoided looking her direction

“Velvet Heart, what do you think? Would this be a good idea?”

The small filly closed her eyes. Grown-ups didn’t care much for what she thought most of the time, they’d just tell her what to do anyways.

“Velvet, I want to help you. This is not something I can decide for you. And it’s not something I want to put upon you without knowing how you feel about it.”

The filly’s head swung around and stared at Crystal Note. She had that defiant glare again that Crystal Note by now had learned Velvet Heart was using to mask her feelings from her

“If I say no, will you just leave?”

Crystal Note felt her features harden at that thought but she stayed calm. Velvet Heart was testing her and Crystal Not had no right to claim she cared for them if she couldn’t prove them how deeply she already felt for them

“No I won’t. I won’t just leave you. If you really want me to go, I will. But first, I’d find somepony to look after you, somepony who loves you and cares for you as much as you deserve to. Which means you’ll be living in the palace soon because other than Princess Cadance, I don’t think anypony else could ever reach that high. Even then, I’d probably stay around in the back to make sure the Princess won’t forget how important you three really are.”

Velvet Heart stared at Crystal Note who held her gaze, letting her eyes show she meant every single word she just said.

Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth stared as well, equally perplexed by the sudden intensity of those words. Crystal Note cleared her throat and decided to let the matter sink in for now

“I’ve noticed we’re stocked up a little low on… well, almost everything. I’ll be doing some grocery shopping today.”

Glass Slipper threw her a grateful glance and a smile. She’d take that chance to talk with her sisters by herself.

“Can I come, too?”

Crystal Note’s initial surprise turned into a smile and a nod when Sweetie Tooth chimed in. The filly seemed eager for something to do besides crying all day long and jumped at the chance to get out of the house.

Crystal Note turned to Velvet Heart to ask her as well, but before she could do so, Velvet hopped out of her seat and exclaimed she’d go to her room. She didn’t ask for permission, but she looked at Crystal Note for approval. She didn’t see any anger in the filly’s eyes, and thankfully no fear either, so she nodded. If Velvet Heart needed some time to sort her thoughts, she would get it. That didn’t mean that Crystal Note wouldn’t be worried about leaving Velvet Heart alone, even just for a while. The last thing she’d want was for the filly to feel abandoned like the night before and nopony around to be there for her.

Glass Slipper had about the same thought and quickly said she would stay at home as well. The oldest of the sisters looked more composed after she made the decision to trust Crystal Note enough to let her stay. The least Crystal Note could do now was prove her that this trust was not misplaced in her. Taking Sweetie Tooth with her was a first step in the right direction and letting Glass Slipper take care of Velvet Heart for the day was an effective way to show some trust of her own.

Half an hour later, Crystal Note and Sweetie Tooth left the house with a long list of things to get and a small smile on Sweetie Tooth’s face.

As it turned out, the smile was not destined to stay very long.

Almost as soon as they’d exited the house, there had been neighbours who tried to give their condolences to the filly. Sweetie Tooth tried to be friendly but she couldn’t take all those ponies stare at her with sad faces. She kept her eyes on the ground and let Crystal Note talk instead. The mare with the soft voice thanked the crystal ponies but also stressed the fillies needed some space for themselves now. Luckily, the neighbours understood and now that they’d seen and heard the fillies were on the road of recovery, their most dire curiosity had been stilled.

Sweetie Tooth stayed close as the crystal unicorn led her silently through the streets into the middle of the city. More ponies watched them and a cloud of concerned mumbles surrounded them as they made their way towards the market place, although the scared expression on Sweetie Tooth’s face made it clear to everypony that the filly was in no condition to talk. The only ponies who approached them were a few of Crystal Note’s close friends who offered their support.

Very aware of the filly who nearly hid between her legs by now, Crystal Note thanked them silently with a nod and kept her steady pace. Her friends knew Crystal Note as a mare of few words and understood, but that didn’t really help Sweetie Tooth. By the time they finally reached the large market place, she was already close to tears again.

Crystal Note took the last turn towards the bustling and noisy market place. She hoped between all the chatting and busy ponies, the two of them could slip into the crowd unnoticed. However, news always spread fast through the Crystal Empire. When Crystal Note and Sweetie Tooth stepped into the first row of stands, most ponies already knew they were coming. Suddenly, everypony fell silent and stared at them.

Crystal Note felt very conscious about this as it reminded her of the first few times she’d wandered through the city without hiding her horn that separated her from the other crystal ponies. Today, the stares weren’t as fearful as back then, but they still made her feel uneasy. By the time she reached the first stall she wanted to shop, all the other ponies in the line moved away to let her pass. With a deep sigh, Crystal Note forced a smile to them and bought her things. The salespony tried to offer her goods free, but Crystal Note just put her bits on the counter and turned around, gently nudging Sweetie Tooth towards the next row of stands.

That procedure repeated itself for a couple of times while Crystal Note’s saddlebags filled with all the necessities for three growing fillies and herself. After a while, curiosity won over and few brave ponies approached them to ask questions. Unlike the ponies from the same street, these ponies were strangers at best and they seemed more interested in the accident and the fact that Princess Cadance had visited than how the poor fillies were doing.

One bold pony with a huge moustache had the nerve to pull Sweetie Tooth into an awkward hug, clearly faking some sympathy in a shameless attempt to lure something new out of the filly. Said stallion quickly found himself surrounded by a faint turquoise glow and lifted up by a levitation spell. A sharp glare from Crystal Note finally delivered the message as she sat him down again in some distance. Sweetie Tooth was cowering under her caretaker, trying her best to hide between her legs.

The glow around her horn and the stallion faded when Crystal Note carefully pulled the filly into a firm embrace. Sweetie Tooth tried her best not to start crying again, but a few sniffles made their way out anyways, along with some shushing sounds from Crystal Note. The open use of magic still managed to startle many crystal ponies, but any parent around instinctively reached out for their foals when they saw the crystal unicorn trying to calm down the crying filly. Finally, most of the ponies turned around and went back on their ways. Crystal Note still saw a few glances in her direction, but the constricting presence that had loomed around the two of them finally vanished.

Crystal Note slowly released the filly from her embrace and led her further on. She allowed the filly to cling on her foreleg for comfort. Instead of heading towards the next stand, the crystal mare found her way through the market to one of the larger building next to the market plaza.

Sour Berry's café was still closed and therefore empty, so Crystal Note headed to the side entrance with Sweetie Tooth still clinging on her

“Let’s take a quick break, Sweetie. Come in.”

Crystal Note produced the key Sour Berry had given her out of her bags and opened the door for them both to slip inside. As soon as the door was closed again, Crystal Note felt a small pair of hooves cling on her. She sat down and wrapped her own legs around the filly who buried her muzzle into her coat

“Shhh, shhh. They’re gone now. It’s just you and me. You can let it out.”

Crystal Note held the filly close when sobs shivered through her small form. They were nowhere as bad as they had been the prior days, but still enough for Crystal Note to feel guilty

“I’m sorry, Sweetie Tooth. It was far too early for that. I should have known.”

Between sobs, Sweetie Tooth managed to press out a few words

“It’s not fair. They didn’t even know Mommy and Daddy. Why won’t they stop talking about them like that?”

Crystal Note gently ran her hoof through the filly’s mane who only slowly calmed down again. She didn't even except a response to her question anymore, when the mare finally found the words to answer

“They’re just scared, Sweetie. Like we are. They can’t stop imagining how it would be to loose somepony so close to them. They think about how they would deal with it, but they can’t find any good answer. They’re so lost in their ‘what ifs’, they just forget that for us, it’s reality. We have to deal with it, no matter how scared we really are.”

Sweetie Tooth tilted her head to look up at Crystal Note. The mare gently wiped away the tears on her cheek as the filly mumbled

“Will it ever go away?”

Crystal Note let out a deep sigh before she answered

“The stares and the mumbling behind your back? Yes, very soon. The pain in your chest? That takes longer to fade, but eventually it will. This feeling of sadness though? The one that makes you feel like crying all the time?”

She shook her head with another sigh and gently squeezed the filly against her

“It will get better. It won’t be all consuming anymore. Sometime you will forget about it. But when you least expect it, it might come back at you.”

Crystal Note gently pulled the filly in close when she started sniffling again

“How long?”

Crystal Note thought for a moment how to answer, before she decided to be completely honest with everything

“My mother passed away when I was nine years old. I still get nightmares about it from time to time.”

Sweetie Tooth buried her muzzle into Crystal Note’s chest again

“It’s not fair. There’s nothing you can do?”

“There is. Family helps, either my sister here or my honorary sisters in Ponyville. My music helps me deal with sadness. I have my friends, all over Equestria.”

Crystal Note leaned down to nuzzle the top of Sweetie Tooth’s head gently

“You have friends and family too, honey. And now you have me as well.”

A pair of pink eyes peeked up with hope

“Promise?”

Crystal Note looked deeply into the filly’s eyes and nodded

“I promise. Whether I end up living with you or not, you’ll always have me when you need me.”

Relief washed over Sweetie Tooth’s features and her lips curled up into a small, timid smile. To Crystal Note, no smile had ever been more beautiful than this one.

The rest of the shopping went down smoothly. Crystal Note and Sweetie Tooth quickly picked up the last things and left the market with full saddlebags and another basket full of supplies. The ponies at the market still kept staring more or less openly, but Sweetie Tooth was able to deal with it this time, for a while at least.

As soon as Crystal Note noticed the nervous glances and the uneasy shuffling of her legs, she guided the filly out of the crowded plaza immediately. Much to Sweetie Tooth’s surprise, Crystal Note didn’t follow the main roads but instead slipped into one of the small alleys. With a grin and a wink, the mare led her through the labyrinth of backstreets and alleys, changing directions whenever they encountered another pony.

Sweetie Tooth followed and both of them did their best to remain unseen by anypony else. They hid behind corners or slipped between houses, giggling each time the managed to pass another pony unnoticed. Their little game of spy soon led them out of the city centre and towards the northern districts of the Empire. Sweetie Tooth looked around, she’d never been to this part of the city before. They didn’t meet anypony else for a while and most of the buildings didn’t look like ponies where living in them.

Crystal Note seemed to know where she was though and headed to a small building with multiple entrances. Sweetie Tooth noticed that each entrance had a different name and cutie mark on the doorway, so she guessed many ponies used to live there, because she didn’t see anyone still. Crystal Note went to one door at the backside, one without a name on it, and unlocked it with a small key. Sweetie Tooth slipped inside behind her. What she got to see was underwhelming at best.

The whole apartment only consisted of two smallish rooms. The room she stood in only had a well-used desk at one side and an obviously unused kitchenette at the other. There was no other furniture, but a few large boxes were scattered around the room. The second room was even smaller and only had enough space for a bed and two stands. One of them held a guitar, the smaller one held the violin Sweetie Tooth had seen before, when Crystal Note played in town or for the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Both instruments quickly found a place in a small case each, which were added to Crystal Note’s saddlebags, they then left the apartment again. Crystal Note didn’t say anything all the while and Sweetie Tooth was unsure of what to make out of this. They ended up heading back home quietly, though it was a comfortable silence this time.

Back home, the sight of Glass Slipper sulking on the couch greeted them. Crystal Note noticed the trail of tears even though the teenage filly tried to wipe them away swiftly. The groceries were set in the kitchen and Sweetie Tooth went upstairs where she expected her twin sister to be.

Crystal Note took the chance to get a private word with the oldest sister

“Are you alright, dear?”

Glass Slipper nodded but the way she bit her lip told a different story

“You can tell me anything, Glass Slipper. I won’t be disappointed or angry.”

Another nod, but still no response, so Crystal Note took a guess

“You’re having second thoughts about taking my offer.”

“What? No!”

The filly blushed and shook her head with no real conviction

“It’s okay if you do. It is a big decision, I’d be surprised if you wouldn’t have any doubts.”

“I… okay, maybe a little.”

Crystal Note nodded and took a seat in front of the filly

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Glass Slipper nodded but bit her lip again. Crystal Note understood right away

“But not with me.”

“I…”

“Glass Slipper, I’m not upset. It’s a very mature thing to do. Somepony from the outside might help you see things clearer. Just promise me one thing?”

The teenage filly looked at Crystal Note with big eyes when the mare carefully placed a hoof on filly’s chest, where she could feel her heart beat

“In the end, do what you feel is right in here. If you do what’s right in your heart, you’ll never do anything wrong. Trust yourself to make the best decision.”

Crystal Note gave a soft smile to the filly

“I trust you. However you’ll decide will be the best for you and your sisters.”

Glass Slipper stared with wide eyes. Crystal Note held her gaze for a moment, her smile didn’t waver, everything she’d said she truly believed. When she was sure the filly knew this as well, she leaned in for a quick nuzzle before she headed back to the kitchen.

She closed the door behind her, but she kept her hoof on the handle and waited. A few minutes later, she heard the front door fall into its lock and she let out a deep sigh. Now, it was out of her hooves. She’d told the fillies everything she needed to. Now, all that was left to do was wait, and hope.

She picked up the groceries and put them away, hopefully she wouldn’t need to wait too long.

-*-

Crystal Note had checked on Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth twice already, but neither of the fillies seemed eager to talk. For Sweetie Tooth, Crystal Note got the impression there was nothing to talk really. Velvet Heart still didn’t want to talk with her, but she didn’t seem angry or scared, just deep in thought.

Unsure what else to do, Crystal Note started preparations for dinner. She wasn’t a stellar cook and long years of travelling and staying in hotels or friends’ places left her with little chances to improve in the kitchen, but she guessed she could put together an easy dish of noodles.

She was struggling to put together some kind of sauce to go along when Glass Slipper returned. Crystal Note peeked out of the kitchen, but the elder sister went straight up the stairs. A minute later, the three fillies climbed down together.

Crystal Note was confronted with a shy smile, a pair of pleading eyes and a glare

“Can we borrow the kitchen?”

“We kinda need to talk.”

“Just us, alone?”

Crystal Note took a deep breath and nodded. She pulled the nearly finished dinner off the flame and went for the door. Instead of just leaving the kitchen, she picked up her violin case and headed outside.

There was a small fountain at the courtyard in the end of the street, not as big as the one at the market plaza but still familiar enough. Crystal Note took a seat on the edge and picked up her trusted instrument in her hooves. She closed her eyes and a melody came right to her. Without second-guessing, she started to play.

When the soft melody filled the courtyard, one after another, almost all windows and doors opened. The crystal ponies listened to the sad song. More than a few ponies got swept away in the cleansing melancholy the tune carried along, just like the mare who played it.

Accompanied by the sound of the violin, Crystal Note and the ponies could finally mourn for the two ponies who had been ripped out of their middle, but also for the ones who were left behind. The song slowly changed at each repetition, taking a hopeful colour after a while.

Crystal Note played for the longest of an hour, with her eyes closed and lost to the world around her for the sake of her music, as she did so often. What brought her back to awareness was a soft touch to her flank from a small hoof. She opened her eyes and saw Velvet Heart reaching out for her. One look into her eyes told Crystal Note all she needed to know.

She set down her violin and pulled the filly into a gentle hug. Her heart soared when Velvet’s hooves wrapped around her middle as well. With a soft nuzzle to her unruly mane, Crystal Note released the filly and followed her into her home.

Inside, the table was set for four ponies. The spots at the upper end had been kept empty this time. Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth had somehow even managed to save dinner from being barely edible into a heavenly scented meal.

Together, they sat down and shared their first meal together.

Family - Part I

Many things need to be done before anypony could officially become a guardian for a foal. Even more so, if a single mare wants to adopt a trio of sisters who had just become orphans.

Over the course of a week, Crystal Note had to visit the palace multiple times to sign all sorts of papers and documents. Luckily, Princess Cadance had gone out of her way to put in a personal recommendation for her. It also helped that her sister was the head of the Crystal Council.

The three fillies accompanied her to many of those trips. They went to the market place together. They met other ponies like Opal Waves and her family. Crystal Note took Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart to meet up with the new Cutie Mark Crusaders a couple of times. Every day, the three sisters smiled a little more.

Sweetie Tooth had already opened her heart to the new mare in their home, she spent a lot of time with Crystal Note. Glass Slipper lost a lot of her tension when Crystal Note took care of all the responsibilities her parents had handled before. The two of them still hadn’t had a bonding moment like Sweetie Tooth, but each day they learned to trust and rely on each other more. Soon, Glass Slipper went back to visit the friends of her own age again, knowing that Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart were safe in Crystal Note’s care.

Velvet Heart still struggled, but Crystal Note could see she tried her hardest. She didn’t yell anymore and reached out for Sweetie Tooth and Glass Slipper for support instead. The three sisters and especially the twins never had been closer and very slowly Crystal Note was included into Velvet Heart’s circle of trust.

Crystal Note had been with her when she visited Amber Waves to apologize, her calming presence helped her find the words to save her friendship with the colt.

Crystal Note’s life changed quite a bit and she had a few stumbles of her own to deal with. She had never lived in any form of clear schedule, she had spent nights away composing or writing songs when inspiration hit her and slumbered through the days after. Whenever she had felt the urge, she had picked up her bags and jumped into the next train to another city, where she stayed for days if she felt like it.

Having three fillies under her care meant she had to give up many of those things. The girls needed breakfast in the mornings, there was a house to take care of and a hundred little things to do until it was time for dinner again. Soon, school needed to be included into their daily schedule again as well.

What surprised her most was the fact how little this lack of freedom actually bothered her. She still had plenty of time for her music and the three fillies made her days exciting even without the need to travel. Every time she saw them smile, she knew it was worth it.

The things she really struggled with were those she least expected. Her limited talent in the kitchen was one of those things. Luckily, Sweetie Tooth was eager to take over on that depart. The first time she had tried herself with baking, the unfortunate cake didn’t even survive the first night. None of the four ponies could resist the tasty treat from Sweetie Tooth for long.

Crystal Note was not too proud to ask for help. Opal Waves and Ruby Rose, both mothers of their own, happily assisted the crystal unicorn in learning the finer arts of parental guidance. Princess Cadance and her sister Rose Quartz also offered advice and help when they could. There were some rough days in their way, like the day of the burial. However, those days happened less and less, and Crystal Note took it as a good sign.

Mornings remained her biggest challenge so far. In the morning, after a night of dreams and, sadly, nightmares as well, the fillies were at their most vulnerable to sadness. During the day, they found other things to do to distract themselves and tire themselves out for the night. School, homework, friends and chores took a big portion of their days. Lullabies and bedtime stories, Crystal Note could handle and she always managed to send the fillies to sleep with a smile. Mornings were what caused sleepless hours to the mare.

After another sleepless night, she decided to put her energy into something more productive than worrying. Determined to improve her cooking, she tried her luck in making pancakes. The sun wasn’t up yet and the fillies were still asleep, so she’d have enough time to succeed. Hopefully.

By the time the sun peeked over the horizon, the kitchen was a mess that would have made Pinkie Pie proud. A few failed attempts of flipping the pancakes by throwing them up into the air like she’d seen from Applejack or Mrs Cake back in Ponyville left the humbled mare to carefully use a spatula instead.

All in all, it wasn’t too bad. With a smile on her face, Crystal Note filled the pan with another portion of batter, in the oven she already had a decent stack of pancakes ready to be served.

When the sun shone into the home, her mood only increased. She started to hum softly as she worked. When Velvet Heart, early as ever, climbed down the stairs, she was greeted by a nice scent and an upbeat song, both coming from the kitchen

Let the sunshine~,
Let the sunshine~,
The sunshine in~
Let the sunshine~
Let the sunshine~
The sun~ shine in~

Velvet Heart smiled and quickly picked up the happy tune. Crystal Note turned her head when a young voice joined her own and greeted her with a beaming smile. The filly sat down next to Crystal Note and leaned against her leg as they sung together. She received a gentle nuzzle from the mare which made her smile grow. It was still rare for Velvet Heart to initiate contact, so Crystal Note made sure to show how much she appreciated each of those occasions.

Before long, Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth climbed downstairs for breakfast as well. Sweetie Tooth looked at her stack of pancakes with some suspicion, but took a big bite anyways. Crystal Note couldn’t hold back a smirk as she watched, but it turned into a worried expression when the filly’s smile turned into a frown

“Did you mix up sugar and salt, again?”

Crystal Note groaned and her hoof flew to her forehead with an audible thud. A piece of pancake floated up to her mouth in a spark of magic as she tried some of her newest culinary catastrophe. She chewed carefully, then tilted her head in confusion. The pancake tasted just normal to her.

Unable to hold back any longer, the three sisters fell into giggling fits. Glass Slipper had to hold her sides and Velvet Heart nearly fell out of her seat. Crystal Note blinked a couple of times before she finally understood. She narrowed her eyes into a playful glare at Sweetie Tooth, but the filly just smiled innocently. She was already halfway through her stack of pancakes.

Crystal Note rolled her eyes before she joined in the giggling herself. It was a good prank after all.

Once all pancakes had been devoured, Crystal Note sent the fillies off to school with a hug and a nuzzle. Glass Slipper would make sure the twins reached their class safely before she headed to her own.

Crystal Note watched them until they reached the end of the street before she returned to the kitchen. She sighed when she took in the leftover dishes as well as the mess she created earlier. She bound back her mane with her trusted bandana and went to work.

It was early afternoon when Crystal Note finally finished her work. The kitchen really had been in desperate need of a deep cleaning, so had the bathroom. The bedrooms only needed dusting, but the living room always needed some time to reach the mare’s expectations of orderly.

She had just put the last things back to their places when the front door opened and the three sisters walked in, taking the mare by surprise

“You’re home already?”

Glass Slipper nodded with a grin

“They’re having some teacher conference today, so they sent us all home early. No homework either.”

That last one made Crystal Note narrow her eyes in suspicion, but affirmative nods from the twins were enough to get her back to smiling.

“Let’s do something fun today, then. How about we go for a little hike out of town?”

Spring was turning into summer and the heat of the sun was enough to even melt the icy tundra for a few weeks this time of the year, even enough for some stubborn flowers and herbs to sprout out between the sparse shrubbery.

The fillies nodded eagerly and soon they were on their way.

It didn’t take them long to reach the end of town and pass through a large field of small bushes. Crystal Note was pleased the see them all covered with lots and lots of berries, even if they were still green and therefore not ripe yet. In a few weeks, all the mares of the Crystal Empire would be here to pick all the crystal berries and take them to the city. It was a long-lived tradition of the crystal ponies and a good harvest was always a reason for celebration.

The mare and the three fillies passed the berry fields and took a hoofpath to the south. The warm temperatures not only brought out plant life but also lured critters out of their hiding. Arctic bunnies crawled out of their homes deep in the ground where the cold wouldn’t reach them and hopped between the patches of green in search of food.

Velvet Heart cooed and squealed every time she spotted one of the white fluffy beings and soon, she and Sweetie Tooth ran after them, trying to catch and pet one of them. They never even got close, but they still laughed happily anyways.

Lucky for them, Glass Slipper had an idea. She picked a few of the crystal berries that looked almost ripe and used them to lure the bunnies closer. Crystal Note and the twins watched silently and after some time, a very young and very brave bunny took the risk.

The white critter hopped closer and closer, then plucked one of the berries and started nibbling on it. Velvet Heart used its temporary distraction to sneak closer until she was almost in reach.

When the bunny noticed her, its ears stood up and it looked ready to run, but there was another berry in the filly's hoof and the hunger for the sweet treat won out. Once sure the filly was no threat, the bunny accepted Velvet Heart’s gentle touch. Apparently, Velvet Heart knew how to pet just the way the bunny enjoyed, because the small critter hopped even closer. Velvet Heart carefully picked up the small bunny and cuddled it gently in her hooves.

Crystal Note watched from some distance and took in the heart-meltingly cute sight. The genuine smile from Velvet Heart, the adorable coo when she nuzzled the fluffy bunny, the happy giggles when Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth sat next to her and fed another berry to the bunny. All of it made Crystal Note feel very light and warm, and she knew it was not the summer sun shining down on her.

“Can I keep it?”

Crystal Note tilted her head and wavered for a moment when Velvet Heart stared at her with a perfect execution of pleading puppy eyes

“I know you’d take good care of it, Velvet honey. But don’t you think it would miss its friends and family?”

As if on cue, the bunny started wiggling and Velvet Heart released it, but not without a longing sigh. It hopped away towards the other bunnies and the girls waved their goodbyes, then followed Crystal Note back to town.

The walk back home turned out longer than expected. The sudden windfall of a free afternoon lured many families outside to enjoy the nice weather, which meant almost all of Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth's classmates and friends were out too. Under the watchful eyes of their parents and elders, the young ponies started a large game of hide and seek that spread out over the entire market place. In the end, it turned into a rather excessive game of tag. Including celebratory snacks for everypony.

The sun was beginning to set when Crystal Note walked into the small home with her three charges. The three fillies wore beaming smiles and giggled as they fooled around in the sitting room. Her heart opened up as wide as her smile as she watched the sisters enjoying a day of carefree happiness come to an end. It was everything they needed after all they had been going through during the last weeks.

Well, almost everything. After such a lively day, all the fillies’ manes were dishevelled and especially the twins had flecks of dirt and sweat sprinkled over their coats.

“What are we gonna do now?”

Crystal Note smiled to Velvet Heart who was hopping up and down on the couch with her sister

“Well, now that you ask, I know two little fillies who are in desperate need of a bath and…”

“NUUU!”

Crystal Note was cut off by a high-pitched scream. Velvet Heart bounced off the couch and dashed straight towards the door. Glass Slipper jumped in the way to stop her.

Crystal Note just stared at the scene in front of her, utterly confused. Velvet Heart had never had any problems with washing up before, definitely nothing that would lead to a panic attack. Did she say something wrong? Did she overstep any boundaries she should have been aware of?

The pang of worry that coursed through her head immediately vanished when she took a closer look. Sweetie Tooth was still sitting on the couch and watching with a wide grin. Glass Slipper giggled as she danced from side to side and blocked Velvet’s path. Velvet Heart moved along and gave a few half-hearted attempts to push through.

A wave of relief and laughter rippled through her mind. The girls were playing an old game it seemed, maybe one they had been playing with their parents. And if the grin from Sweetie Tooth was anything to go by, she was expected to join in.

Velvet Heart finally managed to slip between Glass Slipper’s legs and charged straight for the door with a confident smile. Eyes on the target she ran on, nopony could stop her now. The sudden rush of victory made her feel a little light-headed, until she realized that was not all of it.

She felt very light all over, almost weightless. It took her a moment to notice she couldn’t even feel the ground under her hooves anymore. She glanced down and saw the floor, with a good two feet of air in between.

“Huh?”

She stopped running and finally noticed the light blue glow around her hoof. A quick glance showed her the glow surrounded her all over and now that she was aware of it, it made her coat feel warm and a little tingly. It felt kind of nice.

As she looked over herself, she saw the same light blue glow around Crystal Note’s horn as well and she understood. She had spent enough time around Princess Flurry Heart to recognize this as the magic the alicorn filly sometimes used to pick things up. She also knew this sort of magic was completely harmless, Flurry had explained that many times.

While she was wondering, she suddenly noticed that she floated backwards, towards the stairs. Her eyes went wide when she realized what that meant

“NO! No bath!”

She closed her eyes and started running again, her legs kicking the air in a furious canter.

It didn’t work, obviously, and when she floated past Glass Slipper, her older sister went from staring with her mouth open into giggles. The sight of Velvet Heart running in the air like that was just too cute. At some point, Velvet Heart just slumped in the magic hold and threw a playful glare at Crystal Note, one part frustrated and three parts pouty

“No fair! That’s cheating!”

Crystal Note laughed at this and when the melodious sound reached her ears, Velvet could have sworn that the magic hold around her tightened up just a tiny bit, like a hug

“With three little rascals like you, I need any advantage I can get.”

With a gentle nudge, Crystal Note ushered Sweetie Tooth off the couch and the filly eagerly climbed up the stairs. Crystal Note followed with Velvet Heart floating next to her, she’d settled into enjoying that floaty feeling. She didn’t even wiggle as she was carried in Crystal Note’s magic.

Velvet was gently set on the floor next to her sister while Crystal Note filled the bathtub. The fillies giggled and whispered to each other as Crystal Note started humming a soft tune, making sure the temperature was all right. When she was reaching out for some bubble bath, Velvet Heart took the opening and dashed towards the door, only to be picked up by the turquoise glow again.

Unconcerned, Crystal Note kept humming as she helped Sweetie Tooth climb into the tub and lowered a pouting Velvet Heart towards the foamy water. With a little grin, she let go of her magic when the filly was just above the surface. There was a little shriek, a large splash and three soaked ponies giggling and laughing.

After some more splashing and playing around, and after setting half the bathroom under water, the fillies finally settled down long enough for Crystal Note to get them cleaned up properly with the help of a brush. Just in time as Glass Slipper arrived with a stack of large fluffy towels. The fillies found themselves wrapped up in one each and the mare refilled the tub for the oldest sister

“Thanks dear. You go ahead and enjoy a nice bath now, don’t worry about the mess. I’ll take care of it later. Just one more thing.”

The fillies watched curiously, as Crystal Note lowered her head to the mostly full bathtub. There was a soft glow of her horn when she reached for her magic and the water bubbled up for just a second

“There, much better.”

Glass Slipper carefully dipped her hoof into the bath and smiled. The water had just the perfect temperature and with no further hesitation, she slipped into the nice hot bath after Crystal Note took the fillies back out.

Glass Slipper enjoyed just soaking in the tub until the water had cooled down again. Using the leftover towels to dry up and one to wrap around her mane, she left the bathroom and followed the sound of giggling. To her surprise, it didn’t come out of the bedroom she shared with the twins, but the one just the other side. The one that belonged to her parents.

She carefully pushed the door open and looked inside.

In front of the big vanity mirror, she saw her sister Velvet Heart. Her mane was still fluffed up as she’d just been rubbed dry with a towel and the filly smiled at her reflection. Crystal Note stood beside her with Mom’s hairbrush in her mouth and worked through the filly’s coat in long and slow strokes. Velvet Heart closed her eyes and leaned into the gentle brushing from the crystal mare.

Sweetie Tooth had settled down comfortable on their parent’s bed and watched. Her coat and her mane shined and sparkled in the fading sunlight from outside. Obviously, she’d already received a brushing of her own and enjoyed it just as much as Velvet Heart.

Crystal Note worked slowly as she managed to turn Velvet’s unruly mane into smooth strands of silk, the shades of auburn and hazel soon shimmered like gold and amber. Velvet Heart sparkled positively and her smile was wide and happy.

Glass Slipper realized that Crystal Note was watching her through the mirror and she blushed when the crystal unicorn winked. She opened the door fully and walked inside, returning the smile she got from Sweetie Tooth.

Crystal Note giggled softly and helped Velvet to climb on the bed once finished, where the filly settled down next to her twin sister. She smiled and beckoned the oldest sister to the spot in front of the mirror

“Come on dear, your turn now.”

Glass Slipper sat down shyly and noticed a strange glow in the reflection. The towel around her mane began to move on its own and the startled teenager gave out a high-pitched squeak in her surprise.

A trio of giggles calmed her down before surprise could turn into fear and the filly held still as the towel rubbed the last traces of dampness out of her mane. Although the towel was moved by the glow, Glass Slipper clearly felt the same care and gentleness she associated so easily with Crystal Note by now.

Far too soon for her liking, the soft towel pulled away, only to be replaced by the feel of the brush on her coat. Glass Slipper smiled and like her sister before she craned into the nice sensation. She could she Crystal Note’s serene smile in the reflection as she slowly worked through her coat. Her mom had done this every day when Glass Slipper had been younger and remembering this lured out a hum of approval from the teenage filly.

Glass Slipper wiggled a little when she felt the brush on her cutie mark, a pair of ballet slippers. Crystal Note gently worked through her tail next, the brush untangled all the little knots even the bath hadn't taken care of yet. Finally, the brush ran through her mane in slow strokes. Glass Slipper giggled as Crystal Note tried to tame the curly ends of her mane but had to give up soon as they always bounced back into position.

When Crystal Note put away the brush and stood up, she found herself in a soft hug from the oldest filly, one she was more than happy to return. Glass Slipper gently tucked her head under the mare's chin and enjoyed just being held for a little while. When Crystal Note released her charge with a little nuzzle, they joined the twins on the bed one at each of their sides.

To Crystal Note it felt strange to sit on the bed their mother had been sleeping in, but the fillies smiled with such a wonderful and carefree happiness, so she didn't say anything.

The rays of sunlight from the window were replaced by the soft shine of the summer moon, but none of the three fillies seemed to be tired. Since there was no school the next day, Velvet Heart decided it would be worth to try to stall bedtime for a little longer. With an innocent smile and twinkling eyes, she turned to the mare on her right

"Can you tell us a story, Crystal Note?"

Sweetie Tooth nodded eagerly and even Glass Slipper showed she liked the idea.

With a soft smile of her own, Crystal Note tilted her head towards the filly

"Oh, but I tell you girls stories every night. Why don't you tell me a story this time?"

Velvet Heart seemed surprised by this suggestion, but Sweetie Tooth chimed in

"Sure! What kind of story you want to hear?"

Crystal Note let her eyes wander through the room in thought. Her smile grew wider when she saw the reflection in the vanity mirror, the three fillies genuinely happy and pleasantly worn out by a day of fun and games. Then her gaze fell onto a framed photograph on the vanity. It showed a small family, two parents and three fillies, in the middle of the crystal faire, all of them with bright smiles. It couldn't have been too old, only a year at most.

A small sigh rose out of Crystal Note as she looked at the two ponies she only barely knew of, but by now missed so much, just like the fillies. A thought came to her mind, and after a moment's hesitation, she just went with it.

The frame was surrounded by the turquoise glow of her magic and floated through the room. It came to a rest on the bed in front of the fillies where they could all see it.

"Maybe you could tell me a story about your parents?"

Their reactions couldn’t have been more different. Sweetie Tooth, who was sitting next to Crystal Note, immediately reached out and clung on the mare’s hoof. Glass Slipper stared at the picture for a couple of beats, but then jerked her eyes off and turned her head towards the window. Her eyes didn’t focus though and kept roaming restlessly as she tried to look anywhere but at the picture. Velvet Heart glared at the framed photograph, just like she had glared at Crystal Note during the first days.

Crystal Note remained silent but an insistent voice inside her head started chastising right away. She had no right to steal their happiness away with such questions. Of course they would be sad once they were reminded that their parents were gone. How could she be so insensitive and inconsiderate after all the three had to go through?

Because I have to, she replied to herself.

Because if they only think about their parents in sadness, that pain will never stop. They need to remember the happy things just as much.

The sisters were happier today than they had been in weeks. Now was the right time for them to take this hurdle, together. Crystal Note knew they could do it, she hoped with all her heart. All she could do was open that door and walk through beside them, but they had to make that first step.

Sweetie Tooth’s grip on her leg stayed tight, so she curled her hoof to return the squeeze. She flicked her curly tail so it would fall over the twins’ backs for comfort, and as she did Velvet’s glare softened. Glass Slipper’s head turned back to her and the nervous roaming of her eyes stopped as soon as she found Crystal Note’s caring eyes.

Velvet Heart was the one who finally broke the silence, with her eyes firmly locked on the picture in front of her

“Daddy was always smiling, especially in the morning. It was like he opened his eyes and started smiling until it was time for bed again.”

Glass Slipper managed a soft smile and finally let her eyes fall on the picture again. Her head leaned down a little so she was closer to Velvet Heart. When she spoke her voice was only a little above a whisper

“He was always so turned on, even when he came home from the mine at night. He was tired, but not drop-dead-tired. He was still smiling, it’s like he wanted to say ‘I had a hard day of work, but I’m happy with what I did today.’”

Sweetie Tooth sniffled against Crystal Note’s leg and her voice wavered a little when she joined in

“Mommy was different. She needed an hour or so in the morning to wake up. Daddy and Velvet always teased her about it.”

A soft smile curled her lips when her sisters giggled at that.

“But once she was awake, nopony could keep up with her! Not even Daddy!”

Another round of giggles and Velvet chimed in again

“Daddy always tried to get a quick nap before dinner, but all it took was a glare from Mommy and he was helping with chores.”

Glass Slipper chuckled and gently nudged her sister

“Remember that one time Dad managed to sneak in and stretch out on the couch when he was still covered in dirt from the coal?”

Sweetie Tooth giggled and nodded

“And then Mommy found him and scolded him.”

“He had to clean the whole living room and take a bath before he would get any dinner.”

Velvet’s wide grin gave her another nudge from Glass Slipper

“And you couldn’t resist teasing Dad, so he caught you and dragged you into the bath with him.”

Velvet Heart blushed and glared playfully at her older sister, but Sweetie Tooth now giggled even more. She let go of Crystal Note’s hoof and gently poked her sister’s flank

“And then both of you had to clean the bathroom right after dinner!”

Velvet Heart huffed and rolled her eyes but in the end just joined into the laughter that followed.

Crystal Note watched the three fillies as their eyes went back to the picture. There was still pain in their eyes, and she knew it would probably be there for a long time still. But now, there were also loving smiles on their faces as they started another round of ‘Remember when?’ that ended in more giggles and laughter.

The mare who had become their guardian and caretaker watched and listened silently. If she would have taken a glance at the mirror, she would have seen the same loving smile on herself, but all her attention was on the three fillies and their stories.

They talked for hours into the night. At some point, Sweetie Tooth snuggled against Crystal Note’s flank and rested her head on her hooves, but like her twin sister, her eyes shined brightly when Glass Slipper spoke of events that had happened before they were born or had been very young, stories they’d never heard of before.

Eventually, Glass Slipper ran out of things to say and just stared at the picture in silent reminiscence. Velvet Heart yawned and rested her head against her older sister. That’s when Crystal Note noticed how quiet Sweetie Tooth had become. She glanced down and found the filly’s eyes closed in slumber.

Quietly and slowly so she wouldn’t wake her, Crystal Note climbed off the bed and gently picked up Sweetie Tooth. After an encouraging nod, Velvet Heart hopped on the mare’s back and hugged her neck as she was carried to the bedroom. Glass Slipper, always the responsible big sister, took a moment to fix the bedsheets again before she followed.

In the girls’ bedroom, Crystal Note tucked them right in bed. Just like the first night and every night after since she had done this, the three sisters shared their bed, even if it seemed a little cramped for three growing fillies. Velvet Heart closed her eyes as soon as her head touched the pillows, both of the twins smiled when Crystal Note covered them with the warm blankets.

As always, Crystal Note quietly asked Glass Slipper if she needed anything, but the teenage filly just shook her head and closed her eyes as well. Only a minute later, the only sounds in the room came from the soft breaths of the sleeping fillies.

Crystal Note watched them sleep for a while, with the same loving smile still engraved on her face. She felt proud of her charges, on how well they had taken this little trip into the past. Their smiles was all she needed to know that this day had been a good one for all of them and deep inside her heart she felt the desire to give her girls many more of such days, as many as she could.

She slipped out of the bedroom as quietly as a breeze and let the door stay open a crack like she always did. She fought back a small yawn of her own, but on the way to the stairs, she passed the bathroom. The still very messy and half-flooded bathroom.

With a soft sigh, she stepped in and nodded to herself. Usually, she’d rely on her hooves to do the housework, but tonight she felt too lazy, so she closed her eyes in concentration.

A mop came to life as she reached for her magic and took care of the mess, quickly and efficiently.

With a satisfied nod, Crystal Note continued her journey to the couch that served her as a bed. She didn’t get too far as another sound reached her, the soft mumbles of a small filly. It didn’t sound sad or scared, so she poked her head into the bedroom as quietly as she could, doing her best to not wake the three fillies.

The light from the hallway reached Sweetie Tooth and her left eye cracked open as she revealed herself as the source of the mumbling. Crystal Note stepped to the bed and leaned down to the filly who seemed far more asleep than aware, despite her eyes blinking open. With hushed whispers, Crystal Note eased the filly back to slumber

“Shh, it’s okay, you’re in bed. You can go back to sleep, Sweetie.”

As soon as she heard the soothing voice, Sweetie Tooth’s eyes closed down again. She nuzzled into the pillow with a peaceful smile on her lips, one that was mirrored by the mare watching over her.

Crystal Note was just about to leave when she heard another soft mumble

“Goodnight Mommy.”

Her mind was too baffled to think, so her body just reacted on instinct. She leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Sweetie Tooth’s forehead and whispered in a voice brimmed with love

“Goodnight, Sweetie Tooth. Sweet dreams.”

The smile grew a little brighter still and within moments, Sweetie Tooth’s breathing matched the slow breaths of her sleeping sisters.

While her mind still struggled to get back on track, Crystal Note finally made it down the stairs and onto the couch. As soon as she sat down, she realized what just had happened and the thought echoed through her head

Sweetie Tooth just called me mommy.

There was a reasonable part in her mind. It told her it was only logical that happened. Sweetie Tooth wasn’t really awake and they’d been talking about their parents for hours, until she fell asleep even. Of course Sweetie Tooth would mistake her for her mother in this situation.

That part, however, was too small and too quiet to stand a chance against the huge emotional turmoil that those words set off. Pride, worry, confusion, affection and concern started a tug-of-war inside her, all blurred with the maternal instinct that had taken over in the bedroom and now refused to leave.

Maybe Sweetie Tooth intentionally called her mommy. Maybe she wanted to tell her she was ready. But am I even ready to be a mommy for any of them?

A huge sigh broke out of Crystal Note, there was no way she could sleep with all of this on her mind.

Remembering an old lesson, she started to take long and slow breaths for a start. It helped her tune down the turmoil long enough to reach out for her violin, music always helped her sort out her feelings. Her gaze turned to the stairs and the fillies sleeping upstairs. She didn’t want to wake them up, but she couldn’t leave them alone for the night either.

Too tired and distracted to think of anything else, she reached for another spell and started to play her trusted violin.

Family - Part II

Velvet Heart woke up when sunlight tickled her senses. With a blink, she was up and sneaked out of the bed without waking Sweetie Tooth and Glass Slipper, she had years of practice doing that.

Today, she felt better somehow. The sun was brighter, the air was warmer and she almost felt lighter today. Not in the mood to second-guess things, she just smiled and scampered down the stairs. Most likely Crystal Note would be up already.

As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she froze in mid step. Her eyes opened up wide before she raced up the stairs again.

A few minutes later, two drowsy sisters found themselves nudged down the stairs by a nervous Velvet Heart. Just like the filly had done before, they stared at the strange thing in their living room.

Around the couch and the small coffee table, there was a pink dome made of light. It was a pale light. They could easily see through it and watch Crystal Note sitting on the couch with her violin in her hooves and her eyes closed. She was obviously playing a song, but the fillies couldn’t hear anything.

They looked at each other and shrugged

“Magic spell?”

“Seems like it.”

“What’s it for?”

The three fillies stepped a little closer to get a better look at the light

“What do we do now?”

“Ask her why she put up a spell in our living room, maybe?”

“And how do we do that when she’s inside that thing?”

“I dunno. Knock?”

Glass Slipper nodded and gently nudged Velvet Heart towards the dome

“Go ahead.”

“Why me?”

“You found her.”

“You’re the oldest!”

Sweetie Tooth rolled her eyes and walked up to the light when her sisters continued bickering. She raised her hoof and tried to knock, but passed right through the barrier instead.

“Huh?”

She looked back at Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart but they just shrugged again, she Sweetie Tooth took another step forward and poked her head inside.

As soon as she passed the barrier, she could hear the music. Crystal Note was playing a song she never heard before on her violin and hummed along as she did. Sweetie Tooth smiled and just listened for a moment. Crystal Note barely played music the sisters were around, so she seized the chance to hear some more of it.

Of course, she soon felt a poke on her flank from Velvet Heart, so she interrupted the song

“Um, good morning?”

Crystal Note opened her eyes and smiled at the filly who looked just a little disappointed when the music stopped

“Oh, hello Sweetie Tooth. Did something wake you up?”

“Not really. I mean, Velvet did. It’s morning?”

Crystal Note blinked and turned her head to look at the window. She saw the sunlight falling in, but just barely as she noticed her spell was still in place. Her eyes closed and a soft glow surrounded her horn, then the dome of light gently faded away.

Crystal Note carefully put her violin back in its case and turned to the three fillies who were still staring at her

“Good morning girls.”

They smiled back, but Crystal Note couldn’t find those carefree and happy smiles she had seen the day before. Sweetie Tooth’s smile was tinged by disappointment. Glass Slipper looked nervously at her. Velvet Heart had that defiant glare she usually used to hide her true feelings behind

“Did you stay up all night to play music?”

Crystal Note chuckled and nodded

“I guess I did. It’s been a while since I lost myself in music like this. But it helps me clear my mind.”

She walked up to the fillies and Sweetie Tooth who stood closest leaned into the hug and nuzzles they shared each morning. As the filly’s smile grew wide and genuine, most of the warmth she felt the other day returned.

She’d come to the conclusion it didn’t matter if Sweetie Tooth knew what she’d said last night or not. Right now, Crystal Note was their guardian and caretaker, because it was what they needed. If they’d need something more along the way, she’d become more for them. If she could be a mother for them, she just had to find out. Right now, she would be there for them and not let her worries distract her from the three fillies in front of her.

Glass Slipper bit her lip but after an encouraging smile from Crystal Note shared what was on her mind

“You never cast spells like that. So why did you put a magic shield around you last night?”

Crystal Note’s smile stayed warm and open, she could relate to how the crystal fillies would feel about this and went with an honest answer, as she found out worked best when taking about magic

“I just didn’t want to wake you girls. It was not a shield spell, it’s a spell called ‘bubble of silence’. I learned it back when I was a travelling musician and moved between towns all the time.”

Glass Slipper tilted her head and Crystal Note chuckled again when she realized her answer didn’t really explain too much

“It’s a spell that lets everything pass, except sound. You can be as loud as you want inside, but nopony outside will hear you.”

Glass Slipper nodded, more satisfied with that answer, but now Velvet Heart went on

“But why do you need a spell to keep your music out? I thought musicians want to have ponies hear their music.”

Crystal Note grinned a little

“Let’s just say when you’re in a hotel room and inspiration suddenly strikes you at three in the morning, the other hotel guests aren’t usually that happy when you wake them up, even if it’s with music.”

The girls giggled as they imagined that and Velvet Heart took Crystal Note’s other side as the mare walked them towards the kitchen. They prepared breakfast together but the fillies kept watching Crystal Note more closely as she picked up a knife with her hooves to cut some slices of bread on a plate, then carried the plate to the table with her mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be easier if you used magic instead?”

Crystal Note turned around and blinked slowly. She clearly felt the lack of sleep from two nights by now

“Huh?”

“All of this. You could just pick everything up with magic and set it up in a second. You carried me, so it’s not like it’s too heavy, right?”

“Or you could just poof breakfast on the table instead of making it.”

Crystal Note blinked again but then laughed out loud

“Or I could just turn everypony into princesses and every house into a palace and give everypony a huge mountain of gold so we’d never have a care in the world again.”

Three pairs of wide staring eyes fixed on her as Crystal Note laughed even harder, so much that she even had to wipe away a few tears before she could answer

“Magic doesn’t work that way, girls. There are limits, many different kinds of limits even.”

Completely ignoring breakfast on the table, the three fillies still stared at her and their eyes seemed to burst with curiosity. Crystal Note had seen those kind of stares before, being the only crystal unicorn made sure the topic of magic came up sooner or later with every pony she met, but she was glad that the fillies were lacking that tinge of fear most the usually older crystal ponies had.

She took a deep breath and started by answering their questions

“Yes Velvet, I could pick the plates up with magic, just like I picked up you. And you’re right, it depends on how heavy things are. I could carry a plate longer than I could carry you, though multiple plates at once are harder than carrying a single filly. I can lift heavy things only for a short moment or not at all if they’re too heavy. My magic isn’t very strong, compared to other unicorns. That’s my first limit”

Velvet Heart nodded but the small frown told Crystal Note she wasn’t completely satisfied yet. She turned to the other twin

“And no, Sweetie Tooth, I can’t just poof breakfast into existence. Unicorn magic can’t just create things out of nowhere. It a natural rule of things.”

“But I’ve seen Flurry Heart poof pillows for everypony to sit on into the big hall once!”

Crystal Note smiled and nodded patiently

“That’s something different, honey. She didn’t create those pillows, she just transferred them from one place to another. But to do that, she had to know where exactly those pillows were before she cast that spell. So I guess I could conjure breakfast, if I knew there was breakfast standing around somewhere for me to get. Not that I know the spell to do this, though.”

Glass Slipper tilted her head

“So that’s another limit? Knowledge?”

She had helped herself to a slice of bread and some berry jelly and now passed it to her little sisters.

“Yes, but not only that. Even if I know about a spell, I would need to learn the inner workings of the spell to cast it. That means I need to understand it, and I need to have the ability to cast it as well.”

She tapped her chin with a hoof

“It’s kind of like playing an instrument. It’s not enough to just know the name of a song. You need to know how to play your instrument in general, and you need to know how to play that song on it. You’ll get better with practice, but even then you might never be able to play it as well as some other pony who’s more talented. And some songs just might be too difficult for you to ever get down right.”

Sweetie Tooth sighed and mumbled through a mouthful of breakfast

“Gosh, that sounds really complicated.”

Crystal Note just giggled

“It is. That’s why most unicorns only know how to do a couple of spells, usually those that help them with their special talents.”
“But Flurry Heart…”

Crystal Note sighed and shook her head

“Princess Flurry Heart and Princess Cadance both are alicorns. Their magic is different.”

She made sure to put an emphasis on their titles in a vain hope to stop further questions, as it got more and more difficult to answer those without having to explain some things she’d rather not talk about.

“But how is it different? Flurry Heart used that same pick-up spell as you.”

Another sigh rose out of Crystal Note, but it came with a soft smile. She remembered being just as curious when she was a filly

“Okay, so imagine a spell is a song and magic is the instrument you play on. A unicorn has to learn and practice magic, but even if they practice all their life and master it completely, it’s still just one instrument they each play. And not every song can be played with just any instrument, you know?

When Princess Cadance uses magic, it sounds like a whole orchestra is playing, dozens of instruments perfectly in tune with another, so she can play almost any song. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard.”

The fillies stared at her with amazed wonder and before she even realized her slip-up, Sweetie Tooth gasped out

“You can actually hear magic? That’s so cool!”

Crystal Note bit her lip and looked down at the cup of tea Glass Slipper had managed to brew for her while she was talking. She stared at the reflection of her horn in the amber liquid

“Yes, I can. As far as I know, I’m the only one though.”

There was an almost tangible sadness in her voice as she said those words and of course, the fillies noticed it. Sweetie Tooth walked around the table so she stood next to Crystal Note’s seat, the filly’s head coming to rest against her flank. Glass Slipper stopped eating as she recognized that kind of sadness.

Velvet Heart kept staring with wide-open eyes, but their shine had dimmed down completely

“Why only you?”

Crystal Note closed her eyes and her hoof rose to pat Sweetie Tooth’s head as the filly gently pressed her muzzle against her

“Because, Velvet Heart, I’m the only crystal pony who is also a unicorn.”

Her eyes opened again and she called a well-practiced smile to her face as she turned to Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart

“I’m different in more ways than just how I look.”

Both fillies could see that the smile didn’t really match the tone Crystal Note’s voice had taken. They shared a glance, unsure how to respond to this. Glass Slipper tried anyway

“Being different isn’t necessary a bad thing?”

Crystal Note chuckled softly a little bit of the sadness vanished from her eyes

“No, it isn’t. Everypony is a little different. It’s what makes us special.”

Her head sunk down until she was staring at the teacup in front of her again

“It’s how you use what makes you different that decides if it’s a good kind of special or not.”

Lost in her own reflection, Crystal Note only noticed the fillies had moved when she felt somepony touching her. Velvet Heart stood at the other side of her seat on her rear legs, her small hooves clinging on her for balance, and for a hug. Glass Slipper stood behind her and rested her head on the mare’s shoulder. Sweetie Tooth still nuzzled into her other side.

The fillies didn’t know what caused Crystal Note’s sad mood. But still they tried to comfort her. They would have every reason in the world not to care about it, especially since all three of them had to go through so much sadness of their own recently. Still they made this effort and Crystal Note knew that in their hearts, they knew it was the right thing to do. Empathy, sympathy and solidarity, those were the cornerstones that made the community of crystal ponies so strong and that were deeply inlayed in their own kind of magic.

And even so, Crystal Note felt something more than just that. She had been through many sad thoughts in the years after the curse. She had friends comfort her on many occasion, some of them even princesses. Somehow, all of those times seemed pale to the moment the three fillies embraced her like this. It was like she had seen only flickers of light before, but now she finally could see the sun behind them for the first time ever.

She couldn’t hold back a soft sob breaking out. Before any of the girls could worry though, she pulled them into a firm hug, as best as she could from her seat and with a big smile on her face. They stayed like this for a few minutes before Crystal Note released the fillies from her hold

“Thank you, girls. I really needed that.”

“You’re welcome!”

They exclaimed in unison and giggled. Sweetie Tooth leaned in for another nuzzle and added

“That’s what family does, right?”

Crystal Note froze for a second, but then smiled sadly

“Family…”

Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth looked at each other confused, but Glass Slipper again recognized this tone of voice and jumped in

“So, what other spells do you know?”

Crystal Note threw a grateful glance to the oldest sister

“Oh, only a few simple ones. Torchlight spell, campfire spell, ‘Forgot my tea and now it’s cold’ spell… um, that’s not really the name, but it’s what I call it. Essentially, it’s for heating up water.”

“Like the bath?”

Crystal Note nodded started picking up the dishes from breakfast. As she carried them to the sink, Velvet Heart frowned again

“I still don’t get why you don’t use magic more often.”

The mare smiled as she rinsed the dishes

“It’s normal for me to use my hooves. I’m still not that used to having magic yet.”

Again, the fillies fell silent and stared at her. It took Crystal Note’s sleepy mind a few moments to realize she had let something slip out again

“Not yet?”

The mare sighed and shook her head to deflect the question

“I’m sorry, I think I need to catch up on sleep before anything else. I need a nap.”

Just as she said that, a big yawn broke out of her. Glass Slipper nodded but Sweetie Tooth started to pout

“But we still didn’t learn all about magic yet!”

Crystal Note mumbled through another yawn

“It takes years to learn all of it, decades maybe. But, if you want to know more, you could ask Sunburst. He’s the one teaching magic to Flurry Heart and he knows a lot.”

Glass Slipper frowned and nudged the twins towards the door

“That’s a great idea! Come on, let’s go to the palace! We can visit Princess Flurry Heart when we’re there.”

Crystal Note climbed onto the couch and mumbled a soft “Have fun” before she curled up for her nap. Once the fillies were outside, Velvet Heart glared at Glass Slipper. She knew that frown her older sister meant something

“We’re not really going to the palace for a study session, right?”

Glass Slipper shook her head

“Yes and no. We’re going to the palace, but I want to meet somepony else than Mr Sunburst.”

“Huh? Who?”

Glass Slipper started walking towards the palace. The twins followed as soon as they got their answer

“Family.”

Family - Final Part

The Crystal Palace in the middle of the Crystal Empire was, of course, the residence of the royal family. In the palace, Princess Cadance met dignitaries and visitors from other kingdoms and cities, and she held audiences with the crystal ponies.

For the crystal ponies, it also served as town hall, courthouse and assembly room. Therefore, the main entrance of the palace was always open and crystal ponies went in and out every day.

It was, however, unusual for three fillies to visit the palace on their own. The two ponies of the crystal guard at the entrance recognized the sisters right away. They had been visiting with Crystal Note after the accident a couple of times. With a friendly smile, one of the guards addressed Glass Slipper and her sisters

“Hello girls. Can I help you?”

Glass Slipper blushed a little and looked away shyly

“Hello, Sir. Um, can we go in? Do we need permission?”

The stallion laughed and shook his head

“No, not at all. You just looked like you didn’t really know where to go, that’s all.”

“Oh. We, um, we wanted to meet with Miss Rose Quartz?”

The guard nodded

“The councillor should be in her office, there’s no meetings planed today. Take the hallway to the left, through the double doors and then the second door on the right. If she’s not there, you’ll at least find somepony who can tell you where she is.”

Glass Slipper smiled and nodded politely as she followed the guard’s directions, the twins staying close to her all the time. Both guards smiled as they passed, but the fillies could still see the traces of pity in their eyes. It wasn’t nearly as bad anymore, but it still made the sisters feel uneasy.

The room they found was only one of many in a long hallway and the door was halfway open already. Glass Slipper took a deep breath like she had seen from Crystal Note and poked her head inside. Behind a large desk with stacks of paper, she found who they’d been looking for.

Rose Quartz was a middle-aged mare who seemed actively to try to look older with a stern expression on her face and her mane styled into a strict bun. Her coat had a sky blue colour but it seemed pale next to her bright pink mane, both of which heavily clashing with her rigid attitude. Sitting at her desk, she scanned through some papers with sharp eyes and the gem-shaped orbs only increased the impression of absolute concentration as she worked. There were some hard lines on her face, especially around her eyes, telling stories of how the mare had seen rougher days and bitter times.

When the door jarred open, Rose Quartz head shot up from her desk

“Hello?”

As soon as she saw Glass Slipper, her face lit up like a sun. It almost was like an entirely different pony now sat in her place and the filly could see most of the lines on her face had softened up with that beaming smile

“So nice to see you, Glass Slipper! Come on in.”

The filly returned the smile with a shy one of her own as she walked into what turned out to be a large office. The twins stayed close to her sister and Rose Quartz only smiled wider

“Ah, and you brought your sisters as well. Hello darlings. “

She stepped around the desk to meet them and asked

“Now, what brings you here on your day off of school? Shouldn’t you be out there having fun?”

Her brows narrowed in a frown but the fillies could see there was no real force behind it

“You’re not hiding from Crystal Note, are you?”

She giggled as the fillies quickly shook their heads. Rose Quartz listened attentively when the three sisters lively described all the fun they had together the other day. She laughed with them when the described how Crystal Note managed to get Velvet Heart into the bathtub and she smiled when they told her what happened after.

“It’s good to see you get along so well. And it’s wonderful to see you smile again.”

Rose Quartz had been there the moment the three sisters learned of the accident. She almost could not believe that the fillies she had seen screaming and crying until they passed out, now stood here before her smiling again after only a few short weeks.

Of course, there was still some hesitation left, some fear that wouldn’t go away that easily. Rose Quartz knew this from personal experience. The fillies had opened up to Crystal Note as a guardian and it helped them immensely. Now they were slowly reaching out for others.

Rose Quartz was well aware that the fact they came to her out of all ponies could only mean one thing

“You’re here to ask me about Crystal Note, aren’t you?”

The young twins looked away shyly but the older sister nodded firmly. Well, as firmly as a blushing teenager was capable of, anyway. Glass Slipper watched Rose Quartz for any reaction, but the mare’s smile stayed in place. The councillor’s eyes had lost all of their hardness while she was listening and Glass Slipper could see that most of the lines on the older mare’s face came from smiling a lot.

Rose Quartz held the filly’s gaze with no pressure whatsoever, yet there was a certain seriousness in the way she focused on the filly. The councillor wouldn’t dismiss anything the sisters told her as youngster’s babbling. Glass Slipper realized that Rose Quartz could be talking to a businessmare, an ambassador from some far away country or even a Princess right now and have that same look on her face.

Reassured by this, Glass Slipper found her voice again

“When we got up this morning, we found out Crystal Note had been up all night. Playing music.”

“And she set up a magic bubble around her as well. For her music. But when we asked her about it, she was kind of sad.”

Rose Quartz’s smile wavered a little even though her voice was calm and neutral

“Did she scare you?”

Glass Slipper looked away, but Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth shook their heads

“Not really. She just startled us. She used pick-up-magic before but only a little at a time.”

“But she explained everything, well almost everything, so it’s okay. But then she got tired and now she’s taking a nap.”
Rose Quartz giggled at this and shook her head

“Of course she is. Did she at least remember to make you some breakfast?”

The young fillies nodded, at which Rose Quartz smiled again, until she saw the look on Glass Slipper’s face. The oldest of the sisters was nervous, almost distraught.

Their eyes met and Rose Quartz’ smile fell apart when Glass Slipper pressed out some words

“Crystal Note wasn’t sad when we talked about magic. She was sad when we talked about family.”

Her eyes closed with a deep sigh. When they opened again, something had changed. Instead of the councillor they just met, an older pony now looked back at the fillies and there was some concern in her voice

“This is not something we should talk about here. Come with me, please.”

The fillies followed silently as Rose Quartz led them through the hallways deeper into the palace and into a small apartment she called her own inside the palace. There was a sitting area under a large window and Rose Quartz had the fillies sit down on cushions while she produced a plate of cookies on the table in front of them. Glass Slipper watched the older mare carefully as she tried to find the words to say

“Family has always been a touchy thing for Crystal Note. She has had a difficult time finding one at first, and then lost it rather quickly after.”

The fillies stared at the mare and Velvet asked hesitantly

“But didn’t she have you? You’re sisters, right?”

Rose Quartz nodded firmly

“We are. I love my sister more than anything else in the world and I try to be the best big sister I can possibly be, every single day.”

Glass Slipper smiled knowingly but the next words made her freeze along with the twins

“But what you have to know is that Crystal Note and I don’t share a single drop of blood. We're not actually related. That’s not important when it comes to family. I love my sister and she loves me, anything else is irrelevant.”

Glass Slipper quickly recovered from the initial shock and whispered

“How can you be sisters if you’re not related?”

Rose Quartz just smiled and turned her head to look out of the window for a moment

“Being related does not make you a family. Love does. You care for your sisters, Glass Slipper. You’d do anything for them, they would do anything for you, just like Crissy and I would for each other. It’s the things you go through together, good and bad, that forge a bond so strong nothing can ever break it again. Tell me, aren’t you closer to your sisters, now more than ever before?”

Glass Slipper nodded without hesitation along the twins and her hooves wrapped around them protectively as they slipped next to her.

Rose Quartz’ warm smile returned and she nodded

“Crystal Note and I started out as friends, best friends in fact. But her mother was already passed when we first met, and her father,” she waved her hoof dismissively, “talking about him is nothing but a waste of breath.”

Velvet Heart shivered against her sister and her eyes opened wide

“She doesn’t have parents anymore?”

Like us. The words hung in the air, even though the filly didn’t say them out loud.

Rose Quartz nodded with a sad expression

“No. She didn’t have for the longest time. We met as fillies, younger than you are today, and decided we would be sisters. My parents started seeing her as their daughter and she called them Mom and Dad. There wasn’t anything like legal adoption back in those days. We loved another, so we were family, just like that.”

Sweetie Tooth shook her head

“You said her mother had already passed before you even met, but she told me her mom died when she was nine. Did she lie to me?”

“No, Darling. Our mother, hers and mine, was born with an illness in her heart. It took a lot of strength out of her and one day, she was simply too weak to fight back anymore. She only gave birth to me, but when she passed on she had two daughters holding her hooves.”

The fillies stared helplessly as Rose Quartz blinked away a couple of tears, before she continued

“We lost our father later, during the Shadow King’s rule. And we even lost each other after that, before the curse. When we returned, she looked differently and suddenly had a horn. I was blinded by my fear at first, but in my heart, we never stopped being sisters.”

Rose Quartz turned her attention back to the fillies in front of her

“You’ve been through hard times as well. You helped each other and grew closer than ever. What does your heart tell you?”

She focused on Glass Slipper

“If your sisters suddenly grew horns or wings, what would you do? Would you be scared?”

The teenage filly trembled and the hooves she had around her sisters clung more tightly

“I… I… yes. I’d be scared. At first. But they’re my sisters! I’d get over it, for them.”

Glass Slipper’s eyes opened wide when the meaning of her own words sunk in and Rose Quartz smiled knowingly before she turned her attention to the young twins

“And how do you feel in your heart?”

Velvet Heart struggled for words but Sweetie Tooth just blurted out

“Crystal Note is family, too! I don’t care what anypony else says!”

Glass Slipper noticed how Velvet Heart tensed up against her

“How can you say that? She just appeared out of nowhere and took away Mommy and Daddy!”

“She did not!”

Sweetie Tooth’s voice was shrill and she broke out of the hug to glare at her twin sister

“She stayed! Everypony else left but she stayed! With us!”

“I didn’t ask her to stay.”

“That’s not the point!”

Velvet Heart refused to look at her sister while Sweetie Tooth’s voice cracked as she tumbled through words

“She never got angry when you were yelling at her for no reason! She stayed and when you felt bad after, she was there.”

Velvet Heart shrunk against Glass Slipper who couldn’t do anything but hold her little sister while stare pleadingly at the other, but Sweetie Tooth didn’t notice and only got more angry

“Remember last night? She didn’t have to bring up Mommy and Daddy then, but she did. You know why? Because she cares! Unlike you!”

She ended in a shriek, so agitated and angry that she was panting. A few moments later, the red cloud in front of her eyes faded and she noticed Velvet Heart burying her face against Glass Slipper to hide away tears. She looked up at Glass Slipper and only found more tears.

When Rose Quartz was beside her and touched her back, Sweetie Tooth started trembling. She didn’t mean it. Tears ran down her cheeks and she sobbed. She didn’t mean those words. She opened her mouth to say it, but the words never made it out. She hurt her sisters and no matter what she said, she couldn’t take it back.

She bolted around and tried to run for the door, but a pair of hooves grabbed her. She struggled but Rose Quartz pressed her firmly against her until she stopped flailing her legs. The tears came back, stronger than before, and Sweetie Tooth slumped against Rose Quartz wailing her little heart out. The older mare rubbed her hoof down her back, but it just didn’t help.

Sweetie Tooth heard some mumbled words, a door opened and closed. Then, Rose Quartz put her hoof on her shoulder and the other under her chin. The filly didn’t resist when her head was tilted up towards the mare, but she recoiled when she found Rose Quartz’ stern eyes fixed on her

“Tell me what that was all about.”

All Sweetie Tooth could manage was a few words in between sobs

“I didn’t mean it.”

“I think you did.”

Sweetie Tooth flinched away but Rose Quartz' stern gaze stayed on her

“What Velvet Heart said may or may not be true, but it made you angry. More angry than I’ve ever seen you before. And it happened when your sister attacked Crystal Note with her words. Do you want me to go on?”

The filly tucked her hooves in against her, but Rose Quartz didn’t stop

“You care about my sister, more than you like to admit. So you defend her, like you would for every other member of your family.”

“I called her mommy last night.”

Rose Quartz stopped in track when the tiny whisper broke out of the filly. She waited silently when Sweetie Tooth whispered an explanation

“Last night I woke up and I was scared. But Crystal Note was there and it made me happy, so I just said it.”

The mare nodded and gently ran her hoof down the filly’s back.

“Now that you thought about it, do you regret calling her mommy?”

The filly shook her head frantically and Rose Quartz smiled.

“Do you regret lashing out against your sister?”

A nod, just as fast.

“Then, I suppose you owe your sister an apology. And you owe my sister the truth.”

Sweetie Tooth nodded and Rose Quartz leaned down to be at level with the filly, whispering with a smile

“And if anypony gives you a hard time, you come and get your Auntie Pinky to fix it, okay?”

Sweetie Tooth blinked confused but then giggled when Rose Quartz winked

“Thanks… Auntie.”

The filly leaned into the offered hug, finally smiling again. When Rose Quartz released her, she rubbed away the last traces of tears and bolted straight for the door again. This time, Rose Quartz didn’t stop her and just watched with a warm smile.

The door to the small home flew open with a loud thud and Crystal Note woke up with a start. The mare jumped from the couch and the last bit of drowsiness vanished when she saw the small filly storming in and panting as if she'd been running through the entire city

"Sweetie Tooth? Are you alright, dear?"

Deep concern filled her voice and she made her way to the filly. Her eyes went wide with surprise when small hooves clung around her middle. She gently pulled Sweetie Tooth into a comforting hug, giving her the chance to catch her breath

"I'm sorry."

Crystal Note's worry turned into genuine confusion at this. Her hoof ran down Sweetie Tooth's back in an effort to calm the agitated filly. Sweetie Tooth's breathing slowed down after a while, but still all that made it out were the same words

"I'm sorry."

Crystal Note leaned down to nuzzle the top of her head

"Whatever for, Sweetie?"

The small filly took a shaky breath

“For calling you mommy and making you sad.”

Sweetie Tooth could feel Crystal Note freeze up, but only for a second before her hug turned into a soft squeeze

“So you were awake last night.”

She nodded and buried her muzzle into Crystal Note’s coat when she felt a soft nuzzle again

“Sweetie, you didn’t make me sad. None of you did. If anything, you made me happier than I’ve ever been before, even when you bombard me with heavy questions while I’m sleepy.”

Sweetie Tooth giggled when Crystal Note nuzzled the ticklish spot behind her ears

“You don’t have to apologize for anything, Sweetie Tooth.”

The filly blushed and whispered

“You’re not angry at me for calling you…”

She didn’t finish her sentence and Crystal Note just shook her head. She pulled away from the hug so she could look properly at the filly

“Never, dear. I promised, after all.”

Sweetie Tooth’s head flew up and she stared at the mare, only to find a smile and eyes that shone with care and affection

“Remember our first trip to the market? I promised I’d always be there when you need me.”

Sweetie Tooth nodded and inched a little closer

“And always means always. However you need me. Whether it’s as a legal guardian, for making breakfast or anything else.”

They smiled together and Sweetie Tooth leaned gently against the mare as she continued

“And when you need me to be more… when you need a mommy…”

Crystal Note’s voice wavered with emotion when Sweetie Tooth wrapped her hooves around her middle. She felt a soft kiss on the top of her head

“I’m here for you.”

Sweetie Tooth choked on a happy sob and pressed herself into the welcome warmth, just as that gentle pair of hooves wrapped around her like so many times before, but she felt so much warmer this time

“Thank you, Mommy.”

Crystal Note felt tears of love run down her cheeks as she embraced her little filly

“I’m here, Sweetie Tooth.”

They stayed like this, the mare circled around her daughter-in-heart and the filly basking in the warmth and safety of her new mother. They would have stayed like this for hours, but in the back of her mind, something kept nagging on Sweetie Tooth, something that kept her from enjoying this moment as much as she wanted.

Luckily, she had a mommy who could help her

“Velvet and Slipper won’t like it.”

A melodious laughter washed over her troubled thoughts and when Crystal Note cuddled her gently, the nervous knot in her tummy quickly vanished

“Maybe not right away. Give them a little time and they will understand.”

Sweetie Tooth glanced up shyly and felt more confident once she saw an unconditional smile shining back at her

“Maybe, when they are around we try not to… but if it’s just the two of us, you could be mommy?”

Instead of an answer, Crystal Note pulled her a little closer into the embrace. A soft nuzzle to her cheek finally brought a smile back to Sweetie Tooth.

Vacation - Part I

The summer sun stood high above the Crystal Empire and flooded the schoolyard in glittering light as the students rushed outside for their lunch break. Happy chattering and giggles filled the air as the fillies and colts gathered in small groups to eat and play.

Glass Slipper hugged Sapphire, her best friend, and waved to the others from her class before she made her way to the grade schoolers. The teenage filly smiled when she saw her sisters surrounded by a number of excited foals

“It’s so cool you get to see Vanhoover!”

“I’m jealous! How did you convince Miss Abacus to let you go early today?”

Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart grinned and tried their best to answer all questions, but as soon as they saw Glass Slipper, they dashed towards her sister

“Come on, sis! We gotta go!”

Glass Slipper nodded and exchanged a look with the teacher standing behind them. The mare nodded approvingly and waved as the other foals called out their goodbyes when the three sisters left.

Today, instead of afternoon classes, they would go on a trip with their caretaker Crystal Note to Vanhoover in Equestria.

Glass Slipper, with one of her sisters at each side, took the street towards the train station in a sharp trot. Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart soon had to run to keep up with her, but their excited smiles showed that they didn’t care at all.

In front of the station, two ponies were already waiting for them. Sour Berry, the blue-coated stallion, was a friend of Crystal Note and frequently visited the small family, or they would visit his café near the market plaza. Right now, he was loaded with two sets of bags as he helped the mare next to him carry their luggage to the train. Crystal Note next to him only carried one set of saddlebags, but had her guitar strapped on her back as well.

Sweetie Tooth squealed and rushed ahead. Crystal Note turned around just in time to catch the filly in a tight hug. Velvet Heart rolled her eyes but both she and Glass Slipper giggled when the crystal mare and Sweetie Tooth exchanged a loving nuzzle.

Crystal Note greeted her charges with hugs as well, then they entered the station together. The train stood ready, but they had a few more minutes left, so Sour Berry climbed inside with them and helped store away the bags. Crystal Note had made a reservation, so the four of them had a cabin for themselves.

Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart immediately started exploring every nook and cranny of the cabin while Glass Slipper secured a spot at the window. Crystal Note watched with a smile and turned to her friend

“Thanks for your help, Sour Berry.”
“Don’t mention it, Crissy. Always glad to help.”

His eyes darted to the three fillies and back to their guardian

“Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own? I mean, long trip, with three little fillies and outside of the Empire even.”

Crystal Note laughed and gently nudged the stallion with her hoof

“You know, despite all the stories you might hear, there are no monsters lurking for you as soon as you leave the Crystal Empire. Maybe one day, you’ll be brave enough to join us on a trip.”

Sour Berry frowned at the teasing, but his eyes held a certain softness

“Just be careful, okay?”
Crystal Note smiled and nodded

“Don’t worry. We’ll be back by Sunday night. Have a good weekend!”

“You too, Crystal Note. Have a good trip!”

They hugged and Sour Berry jumped off the train just before the doors closed. A few minutes later, the train set in motion with a little jolt.

Sweetie Tooth, Velvet Heart and Glass Slipper hung at the window and stared as the houses passed by faster and faster while the train picked up speed. Soon, all they could see was the summer tundra with patches of green and fields of shrubbery under a cloudless sky.

Crystal Note smiled as she watched the fillies enjoy the view as well as the travelling sensation. They had never been in a train before, but after years of travelling, the gentle wobbling of the car and the whooshing sound were pleasantly familiar to Crystal Note.

In some distance to the city, the shrubbery grew less and was replaced by a rocky surface with patches of ice in between, even in summer. Velvet Heart was the first to notice something else that changed.

The filly stopped laughing in midway and her eyes went wide. Then her ears perked up and tottered from side to side. Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth wondered if her sister had heard something and angled their ears as well, but Crystal Note knew that the lack of something familiar bothered the filly.

Glass Slipper was next and when she felt it, her coat lost some of its shine. Her eyes darted to Crystal Note and the understanding smile of the mare was like a balm for her nerves.

Velvet Heart left the window and jumped on the seat next to Crystal Note. A comforting hoof wrapped around the filly who buried herself into the mare’s flank. Crystal Note knew that when she sought for closeness, Velvet Heart had to be either very happy or, like now, very scared. She held the filly close, her other hoof doing the same with Sweetie Tooth who by now clung on her side.

In a gentle and soothing voice, Crystal Note explained

“It’s alright girls. I know it feels very strange the first time.”

Sweetie Tooth’s eyes angled up and Glass Slipper stared at her

“What is happening? I’ve never felt like this.”

Crystal Note’s smile was calm and confident, just like her voice

“We are no longer in reach of the crystal heart, so you can’t feel it anymore. We just left the protective barrier around the Crystal Empire.”

All three fillies shivered involuntarily. They’ve never been outside the Empire before, neither have any of their friends or even their parents. The twins nudged a little closer to Crystal Note and Glass Slipper joined them. Although she wasn’t shivering like her sisters, her voice was still a little shaky

“Can you feel it, too?”

The mare nodded with a reassuring smile

“Yes, Glass Slipper, but I’m used to it by now. You’ll barely notice something’s missing in a few minutes.”

The fillies nodded, but with only little conviction. Crystal Note had seen this before and she knew what to do. Her eyes closed and she started humming a gentle and slow tune. The fillies’ ears perked up again as some of the uneasiness faded away. The tune grew into a melody and Crystal Note’s voice rose from humming into wordless singing. All three fillies smiled and as they listened, the strange sensation of loss faded away for good.

Soon, giggling filled the little cabin once more. Crystal Note had changed from her soothing melody into a lively and upbeat song about a rabbit and a turtle, one of the twin’s favourites. They finished the song together and laughed whole-heartily. While Sweetie Tooth stayed snuggled up to Crystal Note, Velvet Heart jumped back to the window and watched with awe as the landscape slowly changed. Glass Slipper sunk back into her seat, far more at ease now.

Crystal Note found herself dozing away a little when the cabin was quiet again, just the soft rattling sound from the wheels on the tracks and the slight rocking motion.

She only noticed the cabin door had slid open when she heard somepony call out to her

“Tickets, please.”

Her eyes snapped open and she reached out for her bag while turning to the voice

“Of course, I have them right…”

Her jaw stopped working in mid-sentence and just hung wide open for a moment. The sisters blinked surprised and glanced at the pony who had entered. She was an earth pony with azure coat and a dark blue mane with stripes of white and purple. She also had a grin that seemed almost too big for her face

“Surprise!”

Crystal Note finally pulled back together met the mare halfway in a hug

“Bonne Voyage! You're here?”

The mare giggled and nodded

"When I heard you were coming to Vanhoover, I pulled some strings to get this shift."

“But how did you know we were on this train?”

Bonne Voyage glanced to the three fillies with a grin and winked, trying her best to appear mysterious

“Nothing happens on a train without me knowing about it.”

The fillies as well as their caretaker blinked surprised, but Bonne Voyage just laughed

“You made a reservation, silly. Your name was on the passenger list and a friend of mine told me in advance.”

Crystal Note rolled her eyes and joined into the laughter as their hug ended. Bonne Voyage turned to get a good look at the three sisters for the first time

“So, these are the three little darlings you told me about. They're simply adorable.”

The three fillies blushed and Sweetie Tooth tried to hide behind Crystal Note who just laughed kindly

“Girls, meet Bonne Voyage, she's a good friend of mine. Bonne Voyage, these are Glass Slipper, Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth.”

She pointed at each filly and gently nudged Sweetie Tooth back into sight. The fillies waved shyly and Bonne Voyage just laughed heartily

“It's a pleasure to meet you all. Did you know I first met Crystal Note here on a train as well?”

And just by that, any shyness vanished and curiosity took its place. The three fillies seemed very eager to learn more about their caretaker's past, especially since they had heard some more stories from Rose Quartz. Bonne Voyage smiled at their undivided attention

“It has to be, I don't know, almost ten years by now? The Crystal Empire had just reappeared and there was only one train a week from Canterlot back then and barely anypony even took it.”

Crystal Note rolled her eyes and giggled

“Bonne Voyage was the train hostess back then when I returned to the Crystal Empire the first time.”

Velvet Heart nodded and asked

“What does a train hostess do? I've never heard of them before.”

Bonne Voyage laughed again and took the seat opposite of Crystal Note, the fillies gathered around her

“We do a lot of jobs on train ride, actually. We check if everypony has a ticket and finds a seat and such, and I we make sure everypony has a pleasant ride. Some ponies get motion sickness from the train or get scared by the noise and I make sure they're all taken care of. On long rides, we sometimes also serve drinks and snacks.”

The fillies eagerly absorbed all the details when the earth pony continued her story

“I remember back then, we got into a snowstorm and had to stop multiple times. We had to travel all through the night and I handed out pillows and blankets when I first saw this one.” She pointed with a hoof towards Crystal Note, ignoring how the mare rolled her eyes again, “She was sitting all by herself and stared out of the window, even though it was dark. She nearly jumped out of her seat when I talked to her. She was so nervous I knew it was her first ride on a train right away, she looked so gloomy with her dark coat in the dark cabin and hiding behind her headscarf.”

At Sweetie Tooth's puzzled expression, she giggled again and winked

“I didn't know she was a crystal pony back then and she was still hiding her horn as well.”

The fillies turned towards the crystal unicorn who simply nodded with a sigh

“That was a weird time for me.”

“I'll say.”

Bonne Voyage chimed in and winked to the girls before the mood would change too much

“Imagine how surprised I was when she suddenly went from grey and gloomy to super-sparkly. She was the first crystal pony I met and when I saw her change back then, I just thought 'Whoa. That's awesome.' I practically bullied her into being my pen pal right away.”

The fillies and the two mares laughed and Crystal Note gently nudged her friend with her hoof

“I never regretted that. Bonne Voyage invited me to Vanhoover during my time in Ponyville and I kept meeting up with her as much as I could while I was travelling.”

The earth pony mare grinned and nodded

“Never a dull moment with you, Crissy. Each time we met, there was something new. First you got a horn, then you're singing in a band, giving concerts and before I knew it, you're suddenly famous.”

Crystal Note blushed and shook her head frantically

“I wasn't ever that famous.”

The filly glanced at each other in surprise, none of them knew about that. Bonne Voyage just laughed more

“That's why I still hear your songs on the radio.”

Again, the fillies didn't understand and Crystal Note explained

“We don't have a radio station in the Crystal Empire.”

Bonne Voyage nodded and asked “Not yet?” to which Crystal Note only shrugged.

Velvet Heart gently nudged her older sister and Glass Slipper asked for them

“Why did you never tell us about it?”

“Would it make a difference?”

The fillies and Bonne Voyage seemed confused, so Crystal Note tried to explain

“I still write and compose, but fame doesn't last forever, girls. It usually runs out very fast. I still have a few dedicated fans who write letters but other than that, my days of fame are mostly passed.

As for why I didn't tell you, there were other things that were more important. I wasn't trying to hide anything on purpose.”

Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart accepted this with a nod, but Glass Slipper put up a frown, like always when she had doubts.

Bonne Voyage wouldn't let that happen though and started telling stories of different cities and towns she had visited, both on her own and with Crystal Note. The train hostess could have gone on for hours, but when Sweetie Tooth checked her bags she found an unexpected surprise from Sour Berry. The stallion had somehow managed to sneak a huge lunch box into their luggage, filled with all kind of snacks and goodies and more than enough for five ponies.

The fillies munched on their favourites while they watched the scenery outside change some more. They passed forest with tall trees that went on forever it seemed, only cut in by large rivers or a lake from time to time. Bonne Voyage told them that Vanhoover was located at the coast of the biggest lake in all of Equestria and that they would be there in just a couple of hours.

When she offered to show the fillies more of the train, even the engine, Velvet Heart jumped to her hooves right away. Crystal Note didn't need much convincing, especially when Sweetie Tooth joined her twin sister right away. Glass Slipper decided to pass, she was happy watching the scenery pass by. Crystal Note stayed in the cabin with her while the mare then the two fillies made their way to the front.

Crystal Note noticed Glass Slipper biting her lip, another clear sign that the teenage filly had something on her mind. She pondered if she should confront the filly about it, but in the end decided against it. Instead, she reached for her guitar. Glass Slipper kept her eyes on the window, but her ears perked up and angled towards her caretaker when she played an easy melody on her instrument.

By the time Bonne Voyage and the twins returned, they had almost reached their destination. The fillies and mares picked up their things and were the first ones to jump of the train once they reached Vanhoover.

Vacation - Part II

Vanhoover was amazing! Sweetie Tooth's eyes nearly fell out of her head from all the things to see. Everywhere she looked, she saw either beautiful old buildings, green parks or the large lake shimmering through the gaps between the houses. Oddly enough, the houses were made of stone and wood and nothing looked like crystal.

Most of all though, there were so many ponies!

She had seen the big market in the Crystal Empire and she had seen the crystal faire when lots of visitors had swarmed the city. However, the number of ponies she just saw outside the train station was easily two or three times as many. She had asked Bonne Voyage if Vanhoover had a festival like the crystal faire as well, but the mare had just laughed and told her that this was in fact a quiet day. Tomorrow, during the weekend, there would be far more ponies in the city.

Sweetie Tooth felt overwhelmed.

She stayed closed to Crystal Note as they made their way through the crowds and streets. Bonne Voyage had decided on the scenic route to her home where they would stay for the weekend. Even though Crystal Note had mentioned an inn she knew, Bonne Voyage wouldn't hear any of it and simply walked ahead, with Velvet Heart close behind.

Her sisters listened as the earth pony told them about the history of monuments and sites they passed, but Sweetie Tooth missed most of it and just stared. She tried to take in as much as she could, but everywhere was bustling, noise, and voices of ponies.

Even the skies were busy with pegasus ponies who flew around either on their own or in small groups.

Sweetie Tooth noticed a number of pegasi pushing clouds around in the sky. When she asked about it, Bonne Voyage called them the 'weather patrol'. They were clearing the sky so tomorrow would be a sunny day. Sweetie Tooth had never heard of ponies making the weather and by the looks of it, neither had Velvet Heart or Glass Slipper.

Only Crystal Note seemed to know what it meant and when Bonne Voyage mentioned her sister-in-law was helping the weather ponies, Sweetie Tooth got excited about meeting a real pegasus pony. So far, she had only seen Flash Sentry of the crystal guard from afar.

As far as she could tell, unicorns and earth ponies seemed equally matched in the city, although the closer they got to Bonne Voyage’s home, the more pegasus ponies she saw as well. Which made sense, even pegasi couldn’t fly all day and had to rest at home.

She saw a lot of colts and fillies as well when they passed a large number of buildings. Bonne Voyage told them that was one the biggest schools in Vanhoover. Although classes were over, many foals of Sweetie Tooth’s age had gathered at the large playground next to the school. Unicorns, earth ponies and pegasus ponies played together and nopony seemed to even care.

Soon enough, they left the centre of the city and made their way closer to the lake. Sweetie Tooth tried to get a better look at it and barely noticed the buildings around her change, until Bonne Voyage pointed ahead and told them they’d finally arrived.

Again, the fillies’ eyes went wide in awe.

They stood in front of one of the strangest houses they had ever seen. First of all, it was four stories tall. In the Crystal Empire, barely any building had more than one upper floor, expect the palace and some of the really old mansions.

The lower two floors were made almost entirely of stone, but the higher they got, more and more wood was used. The highest floor had very large windows compared to the others, bigger than a pony even and soon Sweetie Tooth knew why.

One of the large windows opened and a pony waved down at them, before she just jumped out. Velvet Heart shrieked when she saw the mare fall down, but long before the ground she spread out her pair of wings. The fillies watched as the pegasus mare leaned to her right and glided down in a few easy loops before she landed softly in front of Bonne Voyage. They hugged and soon enough, Crystal Note was drawn into a hug as well by the young pegasus.

Sweetie Tooth noticed that the pegasus mare had to be older than Glass Slipper by a couple of years only. She had the same azure coat as Bonne Voyage, but instead of purple and white, her mane had shades of green

“Sis, come meet our guests! Girls, this is my baby sister, Haute Nuage.”

The pegasus laughed and playfully swatted at her older sister with her wing

“You need to stop introducing me like that, sis. Maybe it was cute when I was a filly, but now it’s embarrassing!”

She laughed more when Bonne Voyage hugged her again and ruffled her mane

“Aw, I know you’re all grown up now, but you’ll always be my cute baby sister to me!”

The three sisters giggled and Sweetie Tooth’s smile stayed. Even though Bonne Voyage was way older than her sister and didn’t have wings, they were as close as her own sisters. She liked that.

Haute Nuage smiled to the fillies as Crystal Note introduced them and winked to Sweetie Tooth when she noticed the filly watched every little motion of her wings. She seemed more than happy to stretch them and show off a little for the fillies. She easily picked up the bags from Crystal Note and the sisters, instead of using the door she flapped her wings and flew up to the large window again to get inside the house.

Crystal Note explained that those windows were designed especially for pegasi ponies, just like Sweetie Tooth had guessed.

She didn’t get to see any more of the house though, since Haute Nuage rushed outside again like a whirlwind and excited like a schoolfilly

“Come on, now it’s no time to sit at home! If we hurry, we can still watch the sunset on the lake.”

Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth both squealed happily and Glass Slipper’s eyes shined at the suggestion. Crystal Note, who had kept only her guitar with her, nodded along with Bonne Voyage and so they followed the pegasus mare down the road.

Haute Nuage flexed her wings but stayed on the ground, mostly because she suddenly had a curious twin on each side who kept asking questions about flying, wings and herself. Glass Slipper stayed close by to listen and they learned that Haute Nuage was seventeen and had finished high school in Vanhoover last year. Now, after a year in flight academy in Cloudsdale, the big pegasus city in the sky, she’d decided to return to her home town and join the weather patrol as soon as she could.

Crystal Note and Bonne Voyage trailed behind and giggled as Haute Nuage tried to explain how weather worked in Equestria and how clouds were made. However, everything she said only lured out more questions from the fillies who had never heard of things like rainbow factories or cloud busting, which lead to even more giggles from the two adults behind her.

Lucky for her, they had reached the lake by now. All questions forgotten, the fillies tried to take in as much as they could. Sweetie Tooth let her eyes trail around the nearly endless sea of water, she had never seen so much at once. There were even ponies swimming in the water and Haute Nuage told them that tomorrow, they’d most likely see boats as well.

Velvet Heart spotted some foals playing in the sand near the water and turned to Crystal Note with a pleading look on her face. The crystal mare just giggled and gave her approval, so the twins dashed towards the group and see if they could join in. Glass Slipper followed more slowly with Haute Nuage, from what Crystal Note could pick up they were discussing important teenage things like manestyles and colts. Bonne Voyage grinned when her sister once again tried to brag with knowledge on the topic and quickly ended up flustered.

Crystal Note and her friend found a nice spot a little up the shore where they had a good view on the lake and the slowly setting sun but could also watch the group of playing foals in some distance. Crystal Note smiled at how quickly the twins had overcome their initial nervousness and now played along with the others.

Bonne Voyage sat next to her with the same smile

“Looks like they’re having much fun.”

Crystal Note nodded

“I’m glad. They deserve all the fun and happiness they can get after all they’ve been through.”

The earth pony giggled and gently nudged her

“Just look at you, already a perfect loving mama for your little darlings.”

Crystal Note felt her cheeks flush and she batted towards her friend when the giggling wouldn’t stop

“Oh, quiet you! Get some foals of your own first before you start teasing me!”

They both laughed heartily and kept watching the group of foals

“You know, I always knew you’d make a wonderful mama someday.”
“I still have a long way ahead of me for that.”

Bonne Voyaged turned to look at her friend when she heard the sighed response

“You love them, don’t you?”

“I do, with all my heart. But sometimes, I think it’s not enough. Velvet Heart is still so distant at times and wary of me. And Glass Slipper… I think she appreciates that I take care of things like shopping and cleaning, but other than that… I just wish I could do more.”

“And Sweetie Tooth?”

Another deep sigh before Bonne Voyage got an answer

“Sweetie Tooth is holding back because she doesn’t want to hurt her sisters. As much as I want to give her all the affection she longs for, I don’t want to risk accidentally pushing them apart. The only have each other left in this world.”

Bonne Voyage remained silent for a minute before she shook her head

“That’s not true. They have you now as well. You love them, right?”

“I do, but…”
“Then it will work out.”

That simple statement quickly doused Crystal Note’s doubts.

Bonne Voyage knew her friend well enough to know no further words were necessary. Instead, she kept silent to give them a chance to sink in. When Crystal Note reached out for her guitar, she knew she had achieved something at least. Crystal Note always played her music when she needed to sort out her feelings.

A wave of laughter from the foals reached them and Crystal Note’s heart glowed brightly when she saw the beaming smiles of the twins. Just a little further, Glass Slipper sat next to Haute Nuage, talking passionately about something. Like this, she didn’t look like the responsible big sister she always tried to be, but like the carefree teenager Crystal Note wished for her to be more often.

She was already idly strumming a few notes on her guitar but with those happy images, they quickly grew into a gentle melody. As the sun set down further, she expanded the simple melody into a full song and already hummed along. Bonne Voyage leaned a little closer to understand the words, but Crystal Note didn’t feel ready to sing yet. Music, just like love, sometimes just happened, but far more often, it needed time to grow. And just like Bonne Voyage had said, if she kept trying it would work out in the end.

As the sun sunk down towards the lake, more ponies gathered around them to watch the beautiful scenery. Many of them tried to get a spot where they could also listen to Crystal Note’s guitar play as well. She kept strumming and playing around with her melody until she saw Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart running up towards her. Most of the foals from their playgroup had left with their parents it seemed and so the fillies returned to their caretaker as well.

Crystal Note smiled when she noticed their shining eyes and happy expressions. As soon as she had her guitar strapped on her back again, Sweetie Tooth snuggled into the spot between her forehooves. Crystal Note gently hugged the filly against her so they could watch the sunset together.

Velvet Heart sat down to her right side, but then the filly scooted closer and nuzzled in against her flank. Crystal Note’s smile only grew wider and when she flicked her tail to curl around the filly, she managed to lure a happy sigh from Velvet Heart.

By now, Haute Nuage and Glass Slipper had returned as well. The last of the crystal fillies slipped in between the two mares and leaned against Crystal Note so she could rest her head on the mare’s shoulder while watching the sun almost touch the surface of the lake by now. Crystal Note welcomed the oldest of her charges with a soft nuzzle of her head. Literally covered by her fillies from every side, Crystal Note simply ignored the snickering from the other two. She also completely missed the beautiful sunset right in front of her. There was nothing but the warm feeling and the happy little sounds of her fillies right now.

Far too soon, the sun vanished and the fillies got up again as the ponies headed home, although the warmth Crystal Note had felt stayed with her even hours after.

Vacation - Part III

Velvet Heart opened her eyes and looked around confused, then slowly remembered. She was in Vanhoover, in Bonne Voyage’s house near the lake. This wasn’t her bed, but it was very comfy. And she wasn’t alone, Sweetie Tooth just had her own bed and slept next to her.

The sun peeked in through the windows and Velvet Heart realized she’d been sleeping longer than usual, but it was still early. She looked around but then remembered that Glass Slipper had chosen to join Haute Nuage in the top floor for the night. The pegasus had the entire floor to herself and an additional bed as well. Probably the two had been talking through the whole night.

She made her way to the door and her ears perked up at the unfamiliar sound her hooves made on the wooden floor. She had to stretch up to reach the handle of the door and peeked out. The hallway looked empty but the door right on the other side stood open a crack. Just like Crystal Note had promised last night. Velvet stepped outside the room, closing the door as quietly as she could before she slipped into the other room.

Crystal Note had sprawled out on the bed, not bothering with a blanket. Compared to the Crystal Empire, the air in Vanhoover was much warmer even at night. Velvet Heart saw the slow and steady rise of the mare’s body, obviously still asleep. She carefully hopped on the bed beside the mare, freezing for a moment when the impact shook the bed. Crystal Note stayed asleep, only her hoof twitched a little.
The filly carefully climbed closer to her caretaker until she was right next to her. Just like the night before at the lake, she scooted against Crystal Note’s flank and snuggled in gently. With a happy and satisfied sigh, Velvet Heart closed her eyes again. Warm and comfy now, she dozed away in the mare’s presence.

She felt Crystal Note move besides her a few minutes later, although she didn’t pull away. Instead, Velvet Heart felt a gentle nuzzle on the top of her head and her eyes peeked open again. Crystal Note had half sat up, with her hooves now tucked nicely under herself and her warm body half curled around the filly. She smiled down at Velvet Heart with that same smile Mommy had always had and her eyes shined with that same glow that always made the filly feel so warm.

They stayed like this, together for a few more minutes, until they heard a big yawn outside the room. They giggled softly when they heard a mare mumbling about missing a chance to sleep in, the voice getting quiet as it moved further into the house.
Crystal Note smiled and winked to the filly
“Shall we go help Bonne Voyage with breakfast?”
Velvet Heart nodded and jumped down to the floor, waiting for Crystal Note to climb down as well. The mare guided the filly through the house towards the kitchen, where they greeted their friend and host.

Velvet Heart grinned when Bonne Voyage just mumbled and went back to staring at the gurgling coffee maker. She helped herself to a cup and after a few long draws, she finally returned the “Good morning”. They set up the large kitchen table, although Velvet Heart noticed that Crystal Note floated far more plates than they needed from the cupboard.

Lured out by the noise and voices, Sweetie Tooth joined them shortly after. Like every morning, she and Crystal Note shared a big hug that ended with a nuzzle from the mare. Her hooves gently brushed through Sweetie Tooth’s messy mane, trying to tame the strands as much as she could without a brush.
Haute Nuage and Glass Slipper climbed downstairs when everything was almost ready, including some fried eggs and toast for everypony. Like her sister, Haute Nuage went straight for a cup of coffee and Glass Slipper, after greeting the twins, agreed on a cup herself. Velvet Heart stifled her giggle behind a hoof when her big sister’s muzzle scrunched from the bitter taste, but the teenager kept sipping anyways.

Everypony took a seat and the fillies kept glancing at the four unused plates, but Bonne Voyage and Haute Nuage were already discussing all the fun things to do today in the big city, so they didn’t bother asking.
When they were almost finished, they heard voices from the front door and seconds after, a yellow and orange blur zipped into the room, straight at Haute Nuage
“Auntie! We’re back!”
The young mare giggled and caught the blurry thing with a hug of her wings. It turned out to be a pegasus colt who laughed and struggled to get free again, especially when Haute Nuage tussled his mane. Eventually he broke out of the hug and retreated just out of reach, his small wings flapped to keep him afloat. It seemed like he just now noticed the three crystal fillies staring at him and the two other mares laughing gently
“Wind Chaser! What did I tell you about racing indoors?”
The kitchen door opened wider and three more ponies stepped inside.

The pony who had spoken was an earth pony stallion with the same azure coat as Haute Nuage and Bonne Voyage, so Sweetie Tooth immediately knew she was looking at another sibling. Big brother, if she had to guess.
Next to him was a mare with a bright and warm smile that only grew as she took in the visitors from the Crystal Empire. She exchanged a knowing wink with Sweetie Tooth who was already staring at the mare’s wings, nicely folded to her sides for now, before she walked over to Crystal Note for a hug
“It’s so nice to see you again! How was your trip?”
“Just fine, thanks. Nice to see you too, Morning Breeze. How are your parents doing?”
“They’re thrilled to see their grandfoals, as usual. Wind Chaser ate so many cookies he’ll be on a sugar high for the rest of the day.”
Both mares laughed as the pegasus colt greeted his other aunt in similar fashion.

The third of the ponies, an earth pony filly with the same sand-yellow coat as her brother but a vibrant red mane, approached the twins while her parents and aunts were busy getting a hold of Wind Chaser once he started zooming around in circles. She seemed to be of the same age as the twins and smiled friendly, like her mother
“Hi! I’m Cherry Tap! Who are you?”
Crystal Note smiled as she watched the three fillies quickly lost all shyness and threw themselves in a mess of questions and answers about Vanhoover, the Crystal Empire and school. Wind Chaser, once he had been calmed down enough, jumped right in as well. He wouldn’t go to school until after summer, but he already had a clear opinion on everything it seemed.

Glass Slipper sat on her seat, a little lost. She watched her sisters and the other two foals at their lively discussion she probably couldn’t join in, then glanced to Haute Nuage and Bonne Voyage who greeted their brother. For a moment, Crystal Note thought the teenage filly would try to sneak out, but Morning Breeze sat down next to her and helped herself to the last cup of coffee. The pegasus mare drained half her cup in go and let out a blissful sigh which lured out a giggle from the teenage filly. Before long, the two of them discussed their favourite choice of drinks for breakfast, which ended up in a lot more giggles.
The extended family plus guests found their places at the table and finished breakfast together, accompanied by the sounds of happy laughter.

Later that morning, the ponies split up into groups. Morning Breeze was going to take the foals to the lake for a ride on a cruise boat, together with Crystal Note. Haute Nuage talked Glass Slipper in joining her for some window-shopping in the centre of the city, while Bonne Voyage and her brother would get the things they needed for later. Since breakfast lasted long and was very filling, they all decided to meet at a park for a picnic later in the afternoon instead of having lunch.
Just before they left, Crystal Note passed a small bag to Glass Slipper. The filly peeked inside when she was sure nopony was watching her and gasped at the number of golden bits inside. Uncertain how to react, she looked back to her caretaker, but Crystal Note just smiled and winked at the filly before they all went on their ways.

Glass Slipper followed Haute Nuage through the mass of ponies in the city who gathered in front of stores or walked through with bags from their shopping. Unlike the Crystal Empire with its market place and stands, Vanhoover had a shopping district with all kinds of stores for all kinds of things. Glass Slipper saw stores for dresses, hats, toys, even furniture.

Haute Nuage didn’t seem to pay too much attention to most of the shops. Glass Slipper noticed her wings twitch at times, but the pegasus stayed on the ground and made sure to not lose Glass Slipper in the crowd.
Ever since they left the house, Haute Nuage had been rather quiet. Glass Slipper didn’t really know what to think of it but put it towards the fact that they had been talking deep into the night and only gotten a few hours of sleep. She was engrossed in all the new sights, so she didn’t notice the sideway glances the pegasus pony threw towards her.

When the crowd finally thinned down a bit, Haute Nuage finally shared what was on her mind
“So, what’s it like, living with Crystal Note?”
Glass Slipper blinked surprised, completely caught off guard by that
“It’s fine, I guess. She takes care of everything at home and she helps take care of my sisters. And me, I suppose.”
She blushed and leaned a little closer, afraid somepony might overhear what she said
“When Mom and Dad… when they were suddenly gone, I didn’t know what would happen. But Crystal Note was just there, and she stayed. Now it’s kind of normal again.”
Haute Nuage nodded sympathetically and stayed silent for a few minutes, not wanting to push on the teenage filly, but in the end her curiosity won anyways
“It must be great living with somepony who’s famous like Crystal Note.
The teenager snapped out of her thoughts again and turned her head around
“Your sister said the same on the train. What do you mean, famous? I guess everypony in the Crystal Empire knows her, but it’s not that big so everypony knows almost everpony anyways.”
Haute Nuage met her gaze and seemed perplexed
“I’m sure you could ask around here and lots of ponies would know her, more in Canterlot even. She’s been quiet for a while, but she was a big number just a couple of years ago.”
Glass Slipper frowned and shook her head. All she had seen so far from the crystal unicorn showed that she didn’t like to draw too much attention to her. She couldn’t even imagine her as ‘a big number’ in anything.

Haute Nuage tilted her head and her wings rustled on her sides
“You mean, she never told you even though she’s your mom now?”
“She’s not my mom!”
Glass Slipper blushed as the words burst out of her without thinking. She cleared her throat and when Haute Nuage was sensitive enough not to push further, she answered more calmly
“She never talks much about herself. Nothing of her past, at least. When we’re in school, she’s working on some songs I guess and I’ve heard her play her violin a few times. But she’s just a street musician, right? She plays on the market plaza and stuff.”
Haute Nuage laughed and flapped her wings once
“Yeah, she’s famous for that. She was travelling all over Equestria and would suddenly appear in a new city and play in a park or in a street. Even later when she was doing concerts and tours, she’d still do that.”

Glass Slipper just shook her head again
“That sounds nothing like Crystal Note.”
Haute Nuage noticed the confused expression, then smiled and used her wing to pull Glass Slipper along
“I’ll show you something.”
They fell silent when Haute Nuage guided them through the streets and towards one of the biggest stores Glass Slipper had seen yet. The storefront was decorated with music keys, notes and instruments like guitars and saxophones and the sign said ‘Melody Fusion’s Music Empire.’
As soon as they walked in, Glass Slipper noticed the music. Multiple songs sounded out from different corners of the large store and ponies browsed through rows of records. Glass Slipper saw signs on the shelves with words like ‘Classic’, ‘Pop’ or ‘Musicals’, but also names like Sapphire Shores.

Before Glass Slipper could take in more details, Haute Nuage pulled her towards one of the many isles of shelves with a moderate amount of ponies. She could hear one of the songs clearly now and even though somepony else was singing, she recognized the song as one Crystal Note had sung at the market in the Crystal Empire. Haute Nuage smiled when she guessed what the filly was thinking
“You know that one, right? It’s one of my favourites.”
Glass Slipper frowned and perked her ears to hear better
“But that’s not Crystal Note who’s singing, is it?”
“No, but she composed the song and performed it a few times during her second-to-last tour.”
The crystal filly jumped in surprise at the new voice that suddenly joined into their discussion and turned out to be a cream coloured unicorn mare. Both of them stared at each other for a moment, Glass Slipper at the mare’s horn while the unicorn couldn’t take her eyes of the filly’s shiny coat.

“Oh sweet Celestia, you’re a real crystal pony! That’s so cool! You’re just like Crystal Note!”
Glass Slipper couldn’t do anything but blink for a couple of moments and both Haute Nuage and the mare laughed softly
“I’m sorry, I usually don’t rush it on ponies like that. I’m Melody Fusion, welcome to my store!”
The other two introduced themselves as well and Glass Slipper noticed that Melody Fusion was wearing a set of earrings that looked like musical notes. On closer inspection, they looked exactly like Crystal Note’s cutie mark.
The unicorn noticed the filly’s stares and giggled
“Yeah, I know the earrings are a little cheesy, but I’m really a big fan. It’s why I opened a music store.”
Haute Nuage giggled and nodded, but Glass Slipper just tilted her head confused
“You’re a big fan of what?”
“Why, of Crystal Note of course! I first saw her on a concert in Canterlot when she was still with the Ponyville Music Ensemble, but when I found out she was writing her own songs as well, I bought all her records. Some of them are real classics by now.”
While she was talking, Melody Fusion picked up some of the records with her magic and brought them to a record player that was set up in the corner of the room.
She put on one of the records and again, Glass Slipper recognized one of Crystal Note’s songs and the mare’s voice as well
“I think I know that one.”
Haute Nuage and Melody Fusion laughed
“Well, you should. It’s a bestseller. I’ve heard it live on a concert once, Crystal Note was amazing!”

Glass Slipper got more and more intimidated by the way the mare gushed about her guardian
“Did you ever see her perform? Her last concert was three years ago, but she has that habit of popping up in towns and giving impromptu concerts in parks.”
Glass Slipper nodded and mumbled absently as she looked at the covers of the records Melody Fusion still held in her magic, all with that familiar cutie mark
“She likes to share her music, so she enjoys playing where others can hear her. That’s why she visits the market so often. At least that’s what she told me”
The unicorn mare gasped softly and smiled with glee
“You mean you know her personally? Oh! My! Gosh! You have to tell me everything! How did you meet her? What’s she like in pony? Oh, I hope there’s a new tour soon, I can’t wait to see her perform again!”

Glass Slipper unconsciously backed away as the unicorn mare bombarded her with more and more questions. She couldn’t understand how anypony could be so obsessed with a pony like Crystal Note. Haute Nuage was no help, the pegasus just watched and hid a grin behind her hooves, but luckily Glass Slipper was saved by a voice from the back of the store
“Hey Melody! Less fan girl, more business mare, please!”
Melody Fusion blinked a few times and giggled as she waved to the stallion behind the cash register. She smiled as she turned to the crystal filly who, by now, was backed against a wall
“I’m sorry, I do get a little ahead of myself and… oh no, I didn’t scare you did I sweetheart?”
Glass Slipper shook her head but didn’t dare get any closer to the mare again. Melody Fusion’s smile wavered and the mare took a single step forward. To Glass Slipper’s great surprise, the mare bowed down deeply in front of her
“Glass Slipper, my sincerest apologies. It was never my intention to frighten anypony who came from so far to visit Vanhoover, especially since you made it to my humble store as well.”

Haute Nuage laughed as she looked between Melody Fusion and Glass Slipper, having trouble to decide who was more hilarious, the mare and her over the top apology or the filly who looked like she didn’t understand the world anymore.
Glass Slipper blinked a couple of times and uttered out without thinking
“You’re a very strange pony.”
“So kind of you to notice!”
Now both mares laughed and Glass Slipper simply couldn’t help but join in. Melody Fusion gently guided the teenage filly back to the record player
“Being normal all the time is boring, you know? I think ponies should embrace the things that make them special more. If we’re all strange and special, we would all worry far less altogether.”

Haute Nuage just grinned and Glass Slipper smiled once she thought about that for a moment. Even if she wouldn’t agree fully with the mare, she liked how Melody Fusion managed to be genuinely happy and share this with everypony around her.
The unicorn picked up another record from the huge shelf, entirely dedicated to Crystal Note, and told the story behind it. Glass Slipper listened attentively and answered a few questions about Crystal Note in return, which would lead to more stories as the time flew by.

Vacation - Part IV

Author's Note

The lyrics from the songs Colors belong to Kira Willey.

The song Wonderwall belongs to Oasis and inspired this beautiful cover version from Samatha Harvey

Vacation - Part IV

The park near the lake was fully of happy families and playing foals. It was a wonderful sunny day, just as Haute Nuage had promised the last night, so everypony seemed to be outside and enjoy the nice weather.

Glass Slipper walked slowly along the path, carrying a bag with a record in her mouth. A few of the bits she’d gotten from Crystal Note had stayed with Melody Fusion for this one. Even if she didn’t have a record player at home, the filly had bought it anyway, if only to have something to remember the mare by.

She glanced upwards to the sky where Haute Nuage was flying a quick loop over the park to find the others. It was strange walking around all alone and Glass Slipper noticed several ponies staring at her. She blushed and tried to act like she didn’t care, but it made her nervous. For a moment, she wondered if Crystal Note felt like that when she visited towns outside the Crystal Empire. Then again, she also had seen crystal ponies stare at her because of her horn. It couldn’t be easy standing out all the time.

Before her thoughts would go down further that road, Haute Nuage dropped down next to her with a smile and pointed with her wing. They walked ahead into the centre of the park. At the side of a large meadow, a few slides and swings were set up and some fillies and colts played around them, including Cherry Tap, Wind Chaser and the twins. Bonne Voyage stood nearby and waved to them as they approached. A little further, Morning Breeze and her husband set up a big blanket for their picnic.

Glass Slipper smiled as she saw Crystal Note in the shadow of a nearby tree. The crystal unicorn had her guitar in her hooves and as she walked closer, she heard the soft strumming of a tune. The musician from the Crystal Empire had already gathered a small crowd around her and after listening to Melody Fusion, Glass Slipper wasn’t that surprised anymore. Even if Crystal Note declined to be famous, music was still her special talent and that alone would lure ponies towards her.

Haute Nuage grinned and nudged Glass Slipper with her wing as she pointed to their left. A few ponies had gathered and seemed rather excited to see Crystal Note, though nowhere close to what Melody Fusion had been. Still, one stallion had brought a camera to take a few pictures and when the song ended, one of them approached the crystal mare shyly. Glass Slipper couldn’t hear what they talked about, but Crystal Note smiled and scribbled something on a piece of paper the other pony had offered her. The stallion was thrilled and returned to his friends with cheers.

Crystal Note just giggled and made her way back to the others. Glass Slipper noticed a faint blush on her caretaker as well, apparently this left the musician rather flustered just as much.
They gathered around to enjoy some snacks and the twins talked so fast that Glass Slipper could barely understand a word. What she got though was that the boat trip had been amazing and that she had missed out a lot of fun.
“And what did you get from your window-shopping?”
Velvet pointed at the bag Glass Slipper had set aside. With flushed cheeks, the teenager pulled out the record she had bought.
The twins just stared and tilted their heads, one to the left and one to the right in perfect unison, which was cute enough to lure out a gentle wave of laughter from everypony
“What’s that?”
“It’s a music record, Sweetie Tooth. There’s a song recorded on it and with a player, you can listen to it anytime you want.”
Crystal Note explained to the filly, when she noticed the cover of the record. It was a very familiar design, a trio of music notes arranged to a triad, her cutie mark. She laughed softly and turned to a now beet red Glass Slipper
“I wasn’t aware you were a fan, dear. That’s quite a surprise.”

Glass Slipper was clearly flustered, so Haute Nuage took over explaining
“We went to the big store on main street, the ‘Music Empire’? And we ran into a mare called Melody Fusion, she was rather intense. Some of her fan-girling definitely rubbed off.”
Crystal Note tilted her head, still watching Glass Slipper
“Melody Fusion? That name rings a bell… I believe I met her at a concert once.”
“So it’s all true?”
Glass Slipper burst out at her caretaker, who could only look confused
“All of what, Glass Slipper?”
“The concerts, the fans, the records, everything Melody Fusion talked about.”
By now, everypony was watching her and Crystal Note sighed deeply
“There’s been all of that, Glass Slipper. But I’m afraid Melody Fusion made it sound more exciting than it really had been.”
“But it’s all true. You just played a song and ponies already gathered around you.”
Crystal Note giggled and nodded
“Well, yes. Why wouldn’t they? If they like the music, they’re welcome to stay and listen for a while.”

At that point, Velvet Heart chimed in
“Hey, that’s not fair! You play for everypony in the park but you never played your guitar for us before!”
“Really? Well, there’s only one way to make that right, isn’t it?”
Crystal Note winked and picked up her guitar with her magic. The four foals gathered around her on the soft grass. Haute Nuage was right behind them and next to her Glass Slipper.

Crystal Note smiled brightly at them and plucked a few notes on her guitar. She closed her eyes and strummed her hooves over the strings. The notes weaved together into a simple rhythm that formed her melody. The fillies exchanged excited glances and watched in awe as Crystal Note’s music seemed to grow out around them.

Glass Slipper looked around and grinned. It didn’t take long for other ponies to notice and approach Crystal Note. They stayed silent, except for some mumbling, and all of them were smiling. Crystal Note opened her eyes and smiled back at all of her audience. She welcomed them all with a nod of her head before she focused back on the twins
“I need your help with this one, okay girls? Here we go.”
Her melody changed and Velvet Heart smiled brightly as Crystal Note started to play one of her favourite songs. The crystal unicorn closed her eyes and around Glass Slipper, she heard many ponies gasping as the mare’s clear and beautiful voice sounded out

I am green today,
I chirp with joy, like a cricket’s song
I am grey today,
Gloomy and down, like a morning fog
I am orange today,
Loud and messy like new paint on a wall,

I am red today,
Up and high, like a playground ball,
I am black today,
Tall and strong, a great big bear
I am purple today,
Bright and happy like a butterfly in the air

At some point, Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth joined into the singing with their happy voices and even Glass Slipper found herself humming along

I am yellow today,
I shine my light out like the sun
I am white today,
Soft and quiet, like new snow,
I am blue today
Calm as glass and cool like the sea

I’m a rainbow today
All the colours of the world,
I’m a rainbow today
All the colours of the world,
I’m a rainbow today
All the colours of the world,
Are in me…

By the end, Glass Slipper noticed many more voices picking up the words of the song. Velvet Heart beamed happily when the song ended and around them, many ponies started applauding and stomping their hooves in appreciation. The fillies blinked and looked around but Crystal Note just opened her eyes with a smile.
Glass Slipper watched as the mare bowed deeply to her gathered audience, with a huge smile that the teenage filly had barely ever seen before. She could tell that Crystal Note had a blast while performing. Instead of shying away from all the attention, she seemed to enjoy herself.

Somepony called out for another song, followed by many others, including Haute Nuage and all the foals. Crystal Note beamed and picked up her instrument again.
With her eyes closed as usual, she strummed a few notes at first. Soon she had found what she was looking for and again weaved the notes into a melody. She tapped her hoof in a slow rhythm on the ground and a few ponies followed her example. Glass Slipper noticed a slight change going through the melody and watched as Crystal Note’s head bobbed along with the music. She watched and listened like everypony else as the musician from the Crystal Empire sung her song

Today is gonna be the day
That they gonna take it back to you
By now, you should have somehow,
Realized what you got to do
I don’t believe that anypony
Feels the way I do about you now

And all the roads that lead us there are winding
And all the lights that guide the way are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you
But I don’t know how

Because maybe~
You can be the one that saves me~
And after all~
You’re my wonderwall~

Glass Slipper smiled as Crystal Note sung with her powerful voice, loud enough to be heard all over and luring more ponies towards her. At some point, she stopped listening to the words and just enjoyed the flow of the music, how the voice and the strumming of the guitar blended in another. The music was beautiful and Glass Slipper felt a familiar tingle in her hooves. For the first time since her parent’s death, she felt like dancing again.

Next to her, Haute Nuage was already swaying along to the song and more than a few ponies hummed as Crystal Note sung her verse again. The musician gently brought her song to an end with a few final notes, and the ponies around her applauded louder than before.
Crystal Note opened her eyes and was about to bow again, but a single voice gushed out louder than all the ponies around her
“Oh! My! Gosh! I can’t believe it! You’re here! You’re really here!”

Haute Nuage and Glass Slipper grinned at each other as they recognized the voice from earlier and as they expected, a cream coated unicorn made her way until she stood directly in front of the crystal mare. All the ponies laughed as Melody Fusion squealed and bounced in excitement
“Oh! My! Gosh!”
Crystal Note smiled kindly at the unicorn mare
“I’m glad you enjoyed the song, Miss.”
“Enjoyed? I love it! Is this going to be a new single? Maybe for a new tour you’re planning?”
Crystal Note giggled and shook her head
“I’ve got nothing planed, Miss. Sorry to disappoint.”
Melody Fusion gasped and shook her head frantically
“Nononono! You could never disappoint me! I’m your fan since I’ve first heard you play and even if your last record has been a while, I’m still recommending your songs to everypony I meet! I’ve even opened a music store because your music is so inspiring!”
Crystal Note tilted her head and glanced to Glass Slipper who nodded. She winked and smiled
“You must be Melody Fusion, then. Glass Slipper told me about your store.”
“Oh! My! Gosh! Crystal Note actually knows my name!”

The ponies in the audience laughed some more and Melody Fusion, suddenly very self-aware, started to blush. Crystal Note just smiled kindly and slowly guided her towards the picnic blanket were Bonne Voyage and the others were still sitting. The ponies of the audience realized that there would be no more songs, so soon they scattered, even though many of them made the effort to thank Crystal Note for her performance.

After Crystal Note introduced Melody Fusion to everypony, the mare took her seat next to Glass Slipper and Haute Nuage, the only ones she already knew. Glass Slipper watched the unicorn mare who seemed baffled by the fact that Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart were crystal ponies as well
“Oh! My! Gosh! You two are simply adorable. I’ve never met a crystal pony before and now I keep running into them.”
The adults giggled, even more as Velvet Heart pouted that was called adorable. Melody Fusion barely could hide her surprise as the twins sat down left and right of Crystal Note and how familiar her idol acted around the fillies. As soon as she was asked about her store, she easily slipped back into excitement and rattled down details of what song sold best. She started talking about concerts she’d seen as well, but in the end except Crystal Note, nopony got even a chance to say something. While the adults just shrugged and let the unicorn have her moment, the foals quickly got bored and Wind Chaser asked if he could go to the playground again. His mother agreed and took him and his sister with her.

Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart threw their best pleading eyes at Crystal Note who just giggled and nodded
“Have fun girls, but please be careful.”
“Yes Crystal Note!”
They giggled and dashed after Cherry Tap towards the slides while Crystal Note watched with a fond smile.
Melody Fusion waited for them to be out of earshot before she let her curiosity boil over
“I swear I would have never imagined that you would take fillies with you on your travels. Are they maybe students of yours? Are you teaching them how to perform?”
Glass Slipper burst into a laughing fit at that which only confused Melody Fusion more, but Crystal Note simply shook her head
“None of that, Melody Fusion. This is just a small vacation trip, nothing more and nothing less. I wanted to show them more of Equestria and visit my friends here in Vanhoover.”

Melody Fusion grinned knowingly and leaned closer to whisper
“You can’t fool me, Miss Crystal Note. They look up to you and I can tell there’s some connection. Is it a secret?”
Crystal Note sighed deeply and closed her eyes for a moment. She sensed that Melody Fusion would not let it go, but the truth would cause some pain she hoped to avoid. When she opened her eyes again, she searched and held Glass Slipper's eyes with a gentle softness, even as she talked to the unicorn mare
“If you must know, Melody Fusion, the fillies recently lost their parents in a terrible accident. Ever since then, I've become a caretaker for the three of them.”
“What? You mean you adopted… wait, three?”
Melody Fusion’s head snapped to Glass Slipper who had closed her eyes as well, mostly to keep some tears at bay that threatened to leak out
“Oh. My. Gosh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that… and here I am, butting right in and disturbing your vacation. Miss Crystal Note, I can’t apologize enough.”

Crystal Note ignored the mare for now and instead walked up to Glass Slipper. The teenage filly leaned into the offered hug, unashamed to accept comfort from her caretaker in such a moment. Melody Fusion watched silently for a moment but then turned away to give them at least some privacy.
Crystal Note held the filly until she felt Glass Slipper stir, allowing the filly to be the one to break the embrace. She released her charge with a gentle nuzzle
“Don’t worry about it, Melody Fusion. You couldn’t have known of this. Though I would appreciate if the matter would remain private for the time being. Not for my reputation, but for Glass Slipper, Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart.”
“Yes. Of course. I know I can be over the top sometimes, but I promise I won’t tell anypony.”
“Thank you, Melody Fusion.”

After a moment of awkward silence, the unicorn’s face lit up with a smile
“Crystal Note, if you’d be okay with it, I’d like to make up for my insensitive behaviour. There’s a small club near the lake with live music every night, usually some ponies who are doing their first steps in music business. There’s definitely a lot of hidden talents. If you allow, I’d like to invite you tonight. You and your friends, of course.”
Crystal Note was already about to decline, but Bonne Voyage nudged her gently
“Hey, when was the last time you’ve been to a club? Without performing, that is? Come on, don’t be like that.”
Haute Nuage grinned and flapped her wings in excitement
“Oh, we could ask Morning Breeze to come along. It’s been ages since we’ve been out together.”
Crystal Note didn’t look too convinced
“What about the fillies?”
Haute Nuage just grinned and wrapped her wing around Glass Slipper who blinked surprised
“Well, Glass Slipper is coming with us of course! And I’m sure brother dearest will take good care of the twins for a night.”
The stallion in question blushed and stuttered
“Well, um, I supposed I could…”
“Great! It’s settled then?”
“Sure is! Girls night out!”
Bonne Voyage and Haute Nuage grinned at Crystal Note who still hesitated. When she saw Glass Slipper's excited smile, the crystal mare ceded
“Oh, alright, why not?”
Melody Fusion practically exploded into a squeal.

Vacation - Part V

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Vacation - Final Part

It was late into the night when Bonne Voyage and the others left the small club at the other side of town. Glass Slipper was still sparkling all over and chatted excitedly with Haute Nuage ahead of the others, Crystal Note trailed along as the last of the little group. She had ended up on stage with the band for the rest of the evening and now felt exhausted.

It had been a while since she performed for more than a hoofful of ponies and longer than a song or two. She had almost forgotten how draining a concert could be, but at the same time pleasantly rewarding. All those ponies, smiling and singing along, some even dancing through the night like Glass Slipper. The band could have made this happen on their own as well, but the fact that Crystal Note could contribute to their great work had her smile even now.

The most wonderful moment of the night had been Glass Slipper’s first dance, without a doubt. Crystal Note had never felt happier than watching the filly forget all her fears for a couple of hours and dance so beautifully, without a care in the world. Just for this moment, the trip to Vanhoover was worth every second of it.

However, now that she was out in the warm night, Crystal Note started thinking again. When she had moved to the Crystal Empire for good, she had almost entirely put a stop on concerts and performances, not counting her work as a street musician. She still wrote songs, but mostly she gave them to other ponies these days.
Then, the accident happened and of course, the three sisters needed her. She had to be there for them, take care of a house and deal with things like schoolwork and nightmares all of a sudden. Her music slipped more and more into the background and instead of composing, she only sung lullabies these days.

She couldn’t deny that she missed it, at least to some degree. She missed sharing her passion for music with an audience and the excitement of a concert. She also missed working with likeminded ponies to create songs that made ponies smile or touched their hearts.
Glass Slipper could see it, she had pushed her on stage and encouraged her. But what would the twins say?

Concerts would mean a lot of travelling all through Equestria. Maybe she could take the fillies along on some trips, but not all of them. Also, creating something new always took time which would, inevitably, be less time she could spend with the three sisters. Could she really do this when they still needed her like now, when their pain was still so fresh?

Crystal Note heard the laughter from Glass Slipper and Haute Nuage in front of her and shook her head. She pushed away her worries for later. Right now, the fillies were happy and she wouldn’t spoil the trip for them by mulling over the future.
She grinned when Haute Nuage teased Glass Slipper about a colt who had tried to approach her. Glass Slipper only smirked, but like any teenage filly, of course she enjoyed getting that sort of attention.

Glass Slipper, after dancing so much and barely getting any sleep the night before, soon yawned a lot. Crystal Note caught up to her and walked next to the filly. Glass Slipper had a sleepy smile for her and leaned against her as they walked back home, without even realizing how natural this came to her. Crystal Note was more aware of the gesture and slowed down, supporting the filly on each step and even humming a soft song for her. Glass Slipper kept smiling and just closed her eyes as she walked. Crystal Note safely guided her filly through the streets of Vanhoover, back to Bonne Voyage’s home and finally up the stairs to her bed. Just seeing how much Glass Slipper trusted her banished any lingering doubts out of the way.

With Glass Slipper tucked in, Crystal Note checked on the twins next. They were slumbering peacefully in their respective beds. She had been worried how they would react on separate beds, but they were doing just fine. Sweetie Tooth had received a stuffed animal from Cherry Tap’s collection and cuddled her plushie in her sleep. Velvet Heart took full advantage of the space and had her hooves spread out in every direction.

Crystal Note giggled silently and pulled the blanket to cover them properly again. Out of an instinct, she leaned down and planted a quick kiss on each of their foreheads, to which Velvet Heart started to smile in her sleep. She watched them sleep for a little longer, then returned to the guest room next door.

Tomorrow, they would be heading back home again, back to the Crystal Empire. Back to their small house and their own bed the three always shared. Crystal Note frowned just a little at the thought of the sleeping couch that waited for her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the proper bed beneath her for now.

The next morning, everypony trickled into the kitchen one by one to get some breakfast. Unsurprisingly, Glass Slipper was the last to join. Crystal Note had already heard from Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth about all the games they had played last night, but she could see that Glass Slipper could not handle the energetic twins at the moment. So instead, she took the foals outside for a little walk after breakfast to the nearby park. They still had a little time before they had to get back to the train station.

Wind Chaser and Cherry Tap took the path towards the playground at the school and Sweetie Tooth ran after them. Velvet Heart turned around to Crystal Note, silently asking for permission. Crystal Note smiled softly
“Go on, little gem. I’m right behind you.”
Velvet blushed when Crystal Note used her pet name, but hurried after the others quickly. Crystal Note watched them play on the slides, soon joined by another few foals.

Crystal Note sat at the side of the playground and two other mares joined her
“Good morning. Wonderful day, isn’t it?”
Crystal Note returned their smiles and some easy chatting started as they watched their foals play.

Cherry Tap and Velvet Heart headed over to the swings after a while, and the young earth filly got curious
“What’s it like having another mom?”
“Huh?”
“Crystal Note. Auntie told me she not your mom, but she kinda is, right?”
“She’s not our mom!”
Velvet Heart more or less yelled out, but she blushed so hard that Cherry Tap immediately apologized
“Sorry. I just thought. I mean, she does all those mom-things for you.”
Velvet looked at her, confused
“What mom-things?”
“You know, tuck you in bed, sing for you, and help you with stuff. She even took us to the playground like my mom always does.”
“Yeah, so, she’s nice. But she’s not my mom!”

Cherry Tap stopped immediately when she saw that Velvet Heart was rubbing away some tears. She mumbled a quick apology, but it didn’t work as she had hoped as it only made Velvet Heart more angry
“Don’t act like you understand. You don’t know what it’s like when your Mommy and Daddy don’t come home and somepony tells you that you’ll never see them again!”

Velvet Heart was nearly screaming and now Cherry Tap felt like crying and sniffled out an explanation
“I don’t know that. I don’t ever want to find out, really. But you know about it and you didn’t get a choice. That’s why I’m sorry. I’m sorry you’re feeling sad.”
Velvet Heart felt like screaming but she pushed it away with all her might. Screaming wouldn’t help. Screaming would make Cherry Tap cry for real and Sweetie Tooth would cry too. She didn’t want to see her cry. And she didn’t want Crystal Note to see her cry, for some reason.

Cherry Tap seemed to understand at least that and leaned in for a short hug
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell. Playground rule.”
Velvet Heart grinned and nodded
“Playground rule.”
Never let an adult see you cry unless you have to.

Sweetie Tooth and Wind Chaser watched from over the slides. They looked at each other and nodded. Wind Chaser lifted off with his wings and landed right behind his sister, while Sweetie Tooth walked up to the other two so they wouldn’t notice him.
Velvet Heart rubbed her hoof over her eyes when she saw Sweetie Tooth, but the way her sister grinned like that made her wary
“What’s going on, sis?”
Sweetie Tooth looked between the two, but finally focused on her earth pony friend
“Hey Cherry Tap, guess what?”
“Um, what?”

Velvet Heart now saw Wind Chaser sneaking up the last few steps and grinned as well, backing away a little from Cherry Tap who waited for Sweetie Tooth’s reply
“I hate to tell you, but…”
At this point, Wind Chaser reached her and patted her shoulder with his hoof
“Tag, you’re it!”

Cherry Tap yelped surprised and spun around, but her brother just flew straight up out of reach. She turned around again, but Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart had used her distraction and ran off in different directions.
“Hey! No fair! No sneaking up on ponies!”
Velvet Heart laughed and blew a raspberry at her
“You’re just too slow!”
“Oh, now you asked for it!”

She raced after Velvet Heart but changed directions when she spotted another group of colts and fillies to her left
“Look out! She’s it!”
The group squealed and scattered, but one colt was too slow and got tagged by Cherry Tap.
Soon enough, the whole playground was involved and none of the fillies and colts cared about the adults who were watching them anymore.

Bonne Voyage brought Crystal Note and the three sisters to the train station sometime after noon. The goodbyes with Haute Nuage, Morning Breeze and her family had taken longer than expected and with lots of promises to visit again soon.
So now, the four crystal ponies only had time for a quick hug before they had to jump into the train back home
“Goodbye Bonne Voyage! Thank you for everything!”
“Bye Crissy, bye girls! Don’t forget to write!”

Bonne Voyage stayed at the platform the fillies waved through the window as the train started moving, until they could not see her any longer.
Sweetie Tooth sighed with mixed feelings when she slumped back into her seat. She had a lot of fun in Vanhoover and met so many new ponies, but at the same time she couldn’t wait to get back home. Glass Slipper seemed to think the same, even if she looked like she already missed Haute Nuage a lot.
Velvet Heart was silent. She hadn’t been during the whole trip, but now she suddenly was and Sweetie Tooth thought she knew why. It was easy to forget about Mommy and Daddy when everything was so far away, but now they were on the way back to it all.

Crystal Note sat down next to Velvet Heart, but she scooted away from her. Sweetie Tooth bit her lip and her ears flopped down. She knew Crystal Note only wanted to help, even Velvet Heart knew that, but Crystal Note was also a constant reminder that so much had changed. Velvet couldn’t look at Crystal Note without missing Mommy and Daddy and Sweetie Tooth didn’t know what she could do to help.

Lucky for her, she wasn’t alone. Glass Slipper took the seat next to Velvet Heart and they watched the landscape as it flew by behind the window. Crystal Note, even if she couldn’t be close to Velvet right now, still was far from leaving her alone. She sat across so she could watch them and started to sing.
It wasn’t like the song in the park where Crystal Note had an audience, and it definitely wasn’t like Glass Slipper had seen her sing on stage. Right now, she sang just for them, for Velvet Heart, Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth, and nopony else.

She didn’t sing loud, but her voice filled their cabin with her calming presence. Velvet Heart heard and understood that even if she wasn’t close, Crystal Note was still there. The filly leaned against her big sister who sat behind her and relaxed with a feeling of comfort.
Glass Slipper smiled as she listened. The song was slow and soft, it didn’t make her hooves itch at all, but it felt nice. Crystal Note could probably be on a stage right now and have ponies cheering on her, but she didn’t want that. She wanted to be here with them right now and nowhere else. Glass Slipper felt that she could always be herself with Crystal Note, just as Crystal Note was always herself around them. It made her feel safe most of all, but also appreciated and cherished.
Sweetie Tooth hopped on the seat and snuggled into the spot between Crystal Note’s hooves. She just let Crystal Note’s voice wash over her and make her feel cared for, and loved. She didn’t need any explanations for it or any reasons. She felt it in her heart, so it was true and right. Crystal Note had told her so, and Mommy had as well when she was still with her. Sweetie Tooth let Crystal Note’s voice and presence wrap around her like a warm, cosy blanket and it felt like being with Mommy and Daddy again. In fact, as she was slowly slipping towards slumber, there barely was any difference anymore. She smiled and as she drifted away, her dreams were bright and happy.

The sun was already setting when the train arrived in the Crystal Empire. The fillies had slumbered most of the ride, exhausted and pleasantly worn out from all the new things they had seen and experienced. Crystal Note almost didn’t dare to wake them, but finally it was time to leave the train and return home.

The fillies seemed a little dazed as they walked through the familiar streets and saw the houses and buildings they had known for all their lives. Crystal Note knew what was different today, of course. They had never been away from the crystal heart, and just as leaving had felt a little strange and scary, coming home now felt like the complete opposite. The crystal heart eagerly welcomed the four crystal ponies with its light and comfort, and the fillies were easily overwhelmed by all of it.

Crystal Note guided them down the familiar street to their little home and decided to send them to bed right away, even if it wasn’t that late. However, as soon as they walked past the front door, everything crashed down on the fillies like a tidal wave.
Everything was as they remembered it. Everything was painfully the same. Velvet Heart blinked away tears and turned her head away, but everywhere she looked, she was reminded of her parents. Glass Slipper next to her breathed in pitches so she wouldn’t sob, but her lilac coat had a dirty, greyish hue.
Sweetie Tooth lost her fight against her tears. She clung on Crystal Note’s hoof and buried her face against the mare.

Crystal Note tried her best to stay calm for them. She patiently guided them upstairs to their bed, even as Velvet Heart started crying as well. Thankfully, the fillies were not desperate or angry or devastated like on the day they first met. But they were just so sad right now, it hurt Crystal Note almost more than she could take. She offered comfort with hushed, gentle words, but they could hear tears behind them as well.

They cuddled together under the blankets and held each other until the fell into a fitful sleep. Crystal Note stayed with them all through the night, she sang for them and held them when the nightmares started. They looked so lost, in their single bed that was clearly too small for all three of them. Crystal Note cried silently for them. All three of them had been so happy and cheerful over the weekend, but it had only lasted for so long.

Crystal Note didn’t sleep, even if she would have been able to fall asleep, there was no way she would leave her fillies alone right now. She remembered her talk with Bonne Voyage on the first night in Vanhoover
“You love them, right? Then everything will be okay.”

She shook her head and sighed. But it’s not enough to just say it, she thought. I have to do something for it as well. If I really want to help, I can’t hold back any longer.
She knew what she could do. She also knew it would be hard, for her and for the fillies. As much as she had tried to shield them from things changing around them, now she had to expose them to changes again. It would be hard, but she knew her fillies could work through this together
“They’re not alone anymore. They have you now as well.”
Crystal Note smiled when Bonne Voyage’s voice echoed through her mind and reminded her once more. We’ll be there for each other, no matter what.

Moving Day - Part I

Author's Note

This sub-story takes place immediately after the happenings of Vacation.

The lyrics from Crystal Note's song belong to Good Riddance by Greenday.

Moving Day - Part I

A new week of school started and Crystal Note woke her fillies bright and early. As had become normal for them ever since their trip to Vanhoover, there was a glum silence during breakfast. Crystal Note knew she should be thankful that the heart-breaking sadness of the first night was gone, but she still didn’t like that none of the sisters could smile in the morning. She also knew that she would not just let this continue.

Today, she brought the fillies to school herself. Usually, Glass Slipper would take her little sisters to their classroom, but Crystal Note told them she had business in the palace today and school was on her path anyways.
After a quick hug from Crystal Note, Glass Slipper left to join her friends, but the twins stayed with Crystal Note and followed her to the classroom. The teacher was already in and shared a few words with Crystal Note as they waited for the rest of their class.

As she had hoped, Crystal Note was not the only one who brought her fillies to class. She smiled when Ocean and Amber entered the classroom, followed by their mother Opal Waves. The two mares shared a hug and walked out of the school together
“Well Crissy, how did that trip go?”
Crystal Note smiled that Opal felt comfortable enough to use her nickname. Ever since she had stepped in with Glass Slipper and the twins, the two of them had grown closer as well
“The trip was fine, great even. But coming home again was difficult.”
She explained how the first night back home had gone, and Opal frowned but nodded
“I think I understand."

They kept walking next to each other in silence for a while. Opal noticed that Crystal Note had something on her mind, so she waited for her to bring it up, which she did once the reached the market plaza
"I have to do something, Opal. I need to do something quickly."
Opal Waves nodded sagely
"But what is the right thing to do in this situation?"
"I have an idea, but I need to check out a few things first. Opal, could you look after Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart after school? I don't know how long it will take."
Opal smiled and agreed. She could see how determined Crystal Note was to help her fillies, and she liked it.

They passed the entrance to the palace, and Crystal Note waved goodbye to her friend before she climbed up the set of stairs. Opal watched until Crystal Note had vanished inside.

Crystal Note walked into the office the council had set up within the castle and smiled when ponies called out in greeting. Her smile grew a little wider when she saw Rose Quartz was present as well. The two sisters-in-heart met in a firm hug
"Crissy! What brings you here today?"
"I need your help, Pinky. I have a request and I'd like to ask the council for approval."
Rose Quartz nodded and led her to her desk
"How can I help you?"
Crystal Note told her sister of the trip with the fillies and how devastated they had been on their return. Rose Quartz agreed that something had to be done, so Crystal Note told her what she had in mind.

"They can't stay living in their old home anymore. It would only hurt them each and every day. So I came to ask for a new place to stay, something big enough for them and me."
Rose Quartz watched her with a thoughtful expression. While there were lots of empty homes and houses in the Crystal Empire at the moment, it wouldn't be just as easy as picking one. For instance, many homes weren't structural safe after everything that happened during the war and the years after had left them in worse condition. There was also the fact that many houses still belonged to ponies, even if they didn't live in them at the time.
"Is there anything you can do, Pinky?"
Rose Quartz nodded with confidence
"I'm sure we can figure something out. We've been checking for homes we can offer to the ponies from Equestria who requested to move to our Empire, I'm sure one of those will be available for you."

"Maybe we don't have to go that far even."
They both turned their heads to the stallion who had chimed in
"Excuse me, but I couldn't help but overhear and I think I have a solution."
Crystal Note smiled and followed the pony her sister introduced as Quillstroke to a desk that was covered with scrolls.
He began browsing through them until he found one he showed to the two sisters. Rose Quartz frowned and shook her head
"You can't be serious, Quillstroke."
"But, why not? It's legally hers."
Crystal Note took the scroll in her magic to get a look as well
"What is legally mine?"

She scanned the words and blanched as she understood
"The old mansion?"
Quillstroke nodded and pointed at some lines on the parchment
"You see here? The mansion was given to your father..."
"Sire."
"Huh?"
Crystal Note closed her eyes with a deep sigh
"The pony you speak of only was partially responsible for my birth, so he is my sire, but I refuse to acknowledge him as anything more than that. A father is somepony who actually cares for his child."

Quillstroke nodded again, but far less certain now
"Okay, so your sire... he was the owner of the old mansion. But since he's passed and you were missing, the place was abandoned since then. Nopony ever wanted to claim it because of all the spooky stories, as you know."
"I just wish they were only stories."
Rose Quartz nodded as well and Quillstroke continued
"Yeah, um, what I mean is, now that you're back and you being his daughter, that means it's now in your possession."

Crystal Note nodded and put the scroll back down
"I never even thought of this."
"Well, we've been doing a lot of research on those kinds of things recently. But, this place is certainly a special case."
Rose Quartz shook her head
"I'll second that. Crissy, do you really think you should move into an old ghost house with three fillies?"
"Pinky, you know as well as I do that there's no ghosts or spooks in there."

Rose Quartz looked at her sister
"It's not about what I know though. They have heard the stories like everypony else. They'll be scared, Crissy."
At that, Crystal Note just had to smile
"Don't underestimate those little fillies, Sis. They are much braver that you'd guess. They took the trip to Vanhoover, when most others can't even think about leaving the Crystal Empire without shivering in fear."
Quillstroke grinned and rose his hoof
"I'm one of them, for sure."
That finally made all three of them chuckle.
"Okay Crissy. If you think that's a good idea, here's what we'll do."

A few days later, early morning at sunrise, half a dozen of ponies had gathered at the dead end of an abandoned street. All the houses around them lay empty, but it was the biggest one in front of them that gave them the creeps.

The old mansion seemed to swallow all the light and none of them dared to step closer
“Tell me again why we are here today?”
Ivory Lance was grumpy, from getting up so early and from this place
“We’re helping out a friend here, Lance.”
“You are, maybe.”
“Ivory Lance.”
Ruby Rose poked his flank
“Behave yourself. Crystal Note asked us for her helping her fix up her old home.”
“That’s not her old home. That’s the hole where that crazy unicorn wizard used to hide in.”
“Show some respect, Lance. He was her father.”

“No he wasn’t.”
They turned around and saw Crystal Note had arrived, accompanied by Rose Quartz and Sunburst the unicorn.
“Sorry to keep you all waiting. Thank you being here so early in the morning.”
Opal Waves smiled and reached out to greet her friend with a hug
“No problem, Crystal Note. We’re glad we can help.”
She heard a few mumbled affirmations, except from Ivory Lance who just rolled his eyes.

Crystal Note walked towards the big house in a normal pace, with everyone else tarrying behind a little. Until one of them refused to get closer.
Sour Berry stopped in a good distance and looked at the others
“Are we seriously going in there? This place is haunted.”
“There are no such things as ghosts, Sour Berry.”
He shook his head
“This is madness. We don’t know what kind of hexes that crazy stallion left behind. If we go inside, we might never get out again.”

Crystal Note just kept walking and ignored his babbling, but Rose Quartz turned around and glared at him
“When did you become such a coward? It’s just an old house. I’ve been inside already and so has Crystal Note. Get over it.”
“He has a point though. Is this really a place for young fillies to grow up?”

Crystal Note blended out the talking ponies behind her and approached the door. Only Rose Quartz noticed how she tense she really was, since Crystal Note kept her usually calm and practiced expression.
She reached out and pushed the door open. Her silvery-white form stood in a stark contrast to the dark inside. She hesitated only for one breath, then walked in.

Rose Quartz followed right behind her, unconcerned by the darkness. Opal Waves and Flint were next. Sour Berry and Ivory Lance stayed outside for last, but the guard pony hurried in when he saw that even Sunburst had no worries about the haunted house. Defeated, Sour Berry followed.

The inside was dark, what little lights the rising sun from outside could offer didn’t make it through the dusty and dirty windows. Sour Berry looked around, but all he saw was a thick layer of dust covering everything.
“So, we’re in. Now what?”
They watched Crystal Note, but she had a faraway look in her eyes as she scanned every inch of the room. Ivory Lance had seen that kind of look before too many times in the time before the long curse, so he knew better than to argue now.

Before long, Crystal Note shook her head as if to physically push away some troublesome memories and answered the question
“We check out if this place is in a good condition or not. If it is, I guess we’ll have to clean up this mess and get rid of everything we don’t need anymore.”
Sour Berry looked at her incredulously
“We’ll need weeks to clean this all up. Nopony has been here in a decade or more.”
Crystal Note smirked softly and stood in the middle of the room
“You might want to take a few steps back.”

The others didn’t get it at first, but when Crystal Note’s horn started to glow, they hurried to the edges of the room. Even though they had all seen her use magic before, it was still somewhat disturbing to them. Only Rose Quartz looked calm and Sunburst watched curiously.

Crystal Note flared up her horn bright enough to illuminate the entire room. She closed her eyes and the others thought they felt a tingle in the air.
At this point, Crystal Note started to sing, not very loud but clear enough for everypony to hear

Another turning point
A fork stuck in the road
Time takes you by the hoof
Directs you where to go

So make the best of this test
And don’t ask why
It’s not a question
But a lesson learned in time

It’s something unpredictable
But in the end it’s right
I hope you have the time of your life

As she sung, the whole room was suddenly set into motion it seemed. All the years of dust from the floor, the walls and the furniture flew up into the air from an invisible breeze and towards Crystal Note. Then it formed into a ball of dirt that hovered in a glow of turquoise light, the same light that also surrounded her horn.

In a short minute, it was all over and the ball of gunk turned into a heap of dirt on the floor. Opal Waves looked across the room and smirked. The room was still messy, but nothing that couldn’t be dealt with
“Well, that makes things easier.”
Ruby Rose nodded and went to open the still muddle windows, flooding the room with light in the process
"I guess this is as good a place to start as anywhere else."

The small group of ponies set into motion, except Crystal Note who still sat in the middle of the room. Rose Quartz walked up to her and noticed that she was panting softly
“You okay, sis?”
Crystal Note smiled and opened her eyes again. It was rare for Rose Quartz to be so informal these days, but as intended, it reminded Crystal Note of the easier times the two sisters spent together
“I’m okay, Pinky. Just took a lot out of me.”
The others watched her with some concern, but she got up back on her hooves
“Probably don’t have enough in me for doing this in the whole house.”

“Well, I guess that’s where I come in.”
Sunburst added in helpfully, with a friendly smile
“How about I keep it up down here and you go check upstairs for now.”
“Okay, Sunburst. Thanks.”

Flint and Ivory Lance set into motion
“We’ll see how much of the stuff in here is still salvageable.”
Ruby Rose and Opal Waves nodded along
“Then we’ll start cleaning already. We’ve got a lot ahead, let's get going.”

Rose Quartz joined the two mares while Crystal Note climbed up the stairs in the back of the room. Sour Berry, after a moment of hesitation, followed her. The others didn’t say anything, but they were watching him as him climbed up after her.

Sour Berry walked up to the only open door in the hallway. Crystal Note was sitting in the middle again with her eyes closed and her horn glowing. He saw her lips were moving, but if she sung, she was doing so silently. He waited for the rubble and dirt to sink down into a little heap near the door again, before he dared to step inside. Crystal Note didn’t seem to notice him until he stood right beside her.
He saw that she was panting harder already, so he tried to stall some time, if only so she would take a longer break
“I didn’t know unicorns could sing their spells.”
Crystal Note chuckled softly and shook her head
“They usually don’t. Singing just helps me focus, especially when I’m doing something complicated.”
Sour Berry nodded and sat down next to her
“So this cleaning thing is complicated I guess.”

Crystal Note took his clue and sat down as well, waiting for her breath to return to normal
“It’s not a real clean-up-spell. Those exist, but I don’t know how to do them. This is just levitation, but a lot of it at once. It’s like I’m trying to pick up every speck of dirt at the same time and coordinate it all at once.”
“Wow. Sounds like a lot of work.”
Sour Berry tried to keep their conversation going, but Crystal Note just nodded and he didn’t have the know-how to keep a talk about magic going. Desperately, he tried switching topics instead
“This is the first time I’ve been inside here. What kind of room was this?”
“My room.”

Sour Berry’s eyes opened wide and he looked around, trying to take in more details of the room. He only realized what he had been doing when he saw the hurt expression on Crystal Note’s face
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… this is quite a big room for a single filly.”
He didn’t even try to fake explaining he’d understand. He clearly didn’t and he was obviously changing topics again.

He saw her smile and knew that she appreciated his effort. But he also saw her sad eyes and realized that he had picked a topic that was even more uncomfortable. She kept the conversation going anyways
“It made for a nice prison cell.”
Sour Berry hesitated. Crystal Note clearly wanted to talk about this, otherwise she wouldn’t have said anything. The least he could do was listen, so he asked quietly
“Was he really that bad?”
“Worse.”
There was not a moment of hesitation when Crystal Note answered
“You never knew him, did you?”
Sour Berry shook his head and shrugged
“I knew of him. I’ve seen him trot around and he seemed so angry all the time.”
“In public, he was holding back. With me, he didn’t.”

Sour Berry looked at her and saw the tears that nearly leaked out her eyes
“What did he do to you?”
Crystal Note sighed deeply, but it was really more of a sob
“He was a unicorn and I was an earth filly back then.”
She didn’t need to say anything more for Sour Berry to go pale
“He cast spells on you?”
“Sometimes he did. But those weren’t the worst things he did.”

Sour Berry saw her horn glow and in some distance, a long forgotten toy was lifted up by her turquoise glow. He suddenly realized it was the remains of a formerly bright red ball, now deflated and its colour mostly faded
“The worst was when he just hurt me in passing. I can levitate things now, so I understand that it’s really not a big deal. But when he did it…”
Sour Berry flinched when the ball was hurled against the wall with force, crashing into it with a smash. It was only a deflated ball, so there was not much of an impact. Sour Berry still stared at it, and his coat lost its light when he understood the implications. Especially when Crystal Note whispered in a scared voice
“It’s terrifying that I know now how he turned something so normal and innocent into a way to hurt others. To hurt me.”

Sour Berry could only stare at her. He was afraid of this place, but he didn’t even know what really had happened inside these walls. Crystal Note did, from first-hoof experience, so she had every reason to be afraid. And still, she had walked in before anypony else.
Compared to her, Sour Berry suddenly felt like a coward. He had also seen bad things and witnessed cruelty, but he had been able to push it all aside. He dropped nearly everything from his old life, beside his name, and started new from scratch. Crystal Note never had that luxury since everypony constantly reminded her of being different. And if those tears were anything to judge by, she had never been able to let go as he had.

Unsure for a moment, he hesitated. He knew what to do, he knew he what he wanted to do. But he was not sure if Crystal Note would want it.
Following his guts, he carefully wrapped his hoof around her shoulders. Crystal Note froze only for a moment, but then leaned against him. For a minute, she just let her tears flow down her muzzle and drip onto the floor. Sour Berry held her as she cried silently.

Then, with a start, Crystal Note sat back up again. She rubbed her hoof over her eyes and smiled gratefully at Sour Berry. He just nodded silently, he knew her long enough to understand that Crystal Note appreciated his gesture.

Without another word, Crystal Note started working through the remains of furniture in the room, as if the moment had not happened. They both knew it had happened, but they also knew that there were things that were more important right now. Crystal Note had three fillies to keep in mind, and a moment of weakness would not stop her from supporting them as much as she could.

Sour Berry turned towards the door and noticed Rose Quartz watching him. Crystal Note had not noticed her older sister yet. Rose Quartz and Sour Berry looked at each other, Rose Quartz nodded firmly once.

While Sour Berry took take of the garbage, Rose Quartz went over to Crystal Note to help her. He could hear them whisper to each other, but he quickly left the room to give them at least a couple of moments of privacy.

By noon, they little group had made some progress already. Ivory Lance, Flint and Sour Berry had checked each room thoroughly and found no structural damages in the walls or floors, all windows and doors still were fine as well. Most of the furniture would have to be replaced, since it was either damaged or simply not what Crystal Note and the three sisters would need.
Crystal Note wasn’t to phased by that, in fact she was glad to be rid of more dark memories that way. After a deep cleaning, the mansion already looked at lot less like the place where she had grown up.

Crystal Note had just finished the upper floor with Ruby Rose and Opal Waves, when she passed the old study. She had skipped this room so far, but she noticed some flashing light through the slightly ajar door. She pushed the door open and smiled at what she saw.

Sunburst sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by old books and scrolls that circled around his head in his magic. He scanned each document with interest and even scribbled down a few notes as he organized them by some system.

Crystal Note stepped inside and looked around more closely. The last time she had seen this room, the floor had been littered with scrolls and papers, but Sunburst had most of it cleaned up already into a few neat stacks. She cleared her throat so he would notice her, which he did.

Sunburst smiled sheepishly and lowered the books down to the floor
“Hello Crystal Note. I hope you don’t mind, we were finished downstairs and when I saw this room and so many books…”
He blushed a little, but Crystal Note just smiled to let him know it was okay
“Thank you for all your help, Sunburst.”

He nodded and adjusted his glasses with his hoof as he glanced over the books again
“I know he wasn’t a good pony, but I must admit he was very well read for a stallion of his time. Some of those books you can’t even find in the Crystal Library.”
Crystal Note nodded even as her smile faded. She didn’t feel like going to deep into this, but then her smile returned when she watched Sunburst peek into one of the old tomes already
“You can have them all, Sunburst. They will be far more useful to you as they ever would be to me.”

Sunburst's ears perked up, but Crystal Note could see he was very conflicted
"Are you sure? There might be some personal journals in between all those books, don't you want those at least?"
Crystal Note simply shook her head and levitated the book he had been looking at into his hooves
"I don't mind if you read them, even if they are personal. If you find something significant, you can tell me when you do."
Sunburst took the book in his hooves, but he kept watching Crystal Note
"Aren't you at least a little curious of what's inside?"
"Not really. I've closed this chapter a long time ago."
Sunburst kept her eyes on her, but Crystal seemed calm.
“Okay. I’ll keep them for now, but if you ever want them back, they’re still yours.”
“Thank you, Sunburst.”

Crystal Note helped him stack all the books into boxes and they went to the next room. There was still a lot to do.

Moving Day - Part II

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Moving Day - Part III

Things were packed up very quickly. The three fillies didn’t have much and all they took from their home were some necessities and a few treasured items. It all fitted easily into the small cart Crystal Note had borrowed from Sour Berry.

Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart waited outside as Glass Slipper took a last glance through all the rooms. At the top of the stairs, she froze up when she noticed the blank spots where the few photographs of the family had hung before. It finally sunk in that tonight, she wouldn’t be in here to see them again.
She didn’t cry, but she needed a few minutes to process the fact that she would be leaving her home, the place she had grown up in, the place she had come back to at the end of every day in her whole life.

She heard somepony coming up the stairs and Crystal Note stood beside her. She stayed quiet for a minute, before she spoke with her soft voice
“It feels weird, doesn’t it? Leaving the only home you ever knew.”
Glass Slipper only nodded. She turned her head to the mare when she felt a hoof on her shoulder
“Glass Slipper, I know it feels like it now, but this place is not lost to you forever. Right now, we all need more time to heal first. You understand why, do you?”
Glass Slipper nodded again. She had only been a little filly, but she had witnessed the last years of King Sombra’s rule. She knew why many ponies had given up their old homes. She just never expected for something like that ever happen to her.

She couldn’t put it into the right words, all that made it out was a short whisper
“I miss them so much.”
Crystal Note nodded and wrapped her hooves around the teenage filly, holding her for a couple of moments
“I know. I know you want to be brave for your sisters, but even a brave little angel like you has to cry sometimes. Even angels can get sad.”
Glass Slipper leaned into the embrace and felt tears leaking out now. She thought about rubbing them away but Crystal Note just held her. She let it happen.
“It’s okay, Glass Slipper. You can cry if you need.”
And so she did. It wasn’t a big breakdown and it wasn’t loud or messy, but for a few moments, she just let it happen.

When Glass Slipper pulled back from the embrace, she felt different. Not necessarily better, but at least lighter. Instead of loss, she was now feeling anxious about the new place Crystal Note would take them to live from now on
“We better get going or else Velvet will sneak back inside.”
Crystal Note laughed gently and agreed. Before they climbed down the stairs, Glass Slipper touched the mare’s hoof
“Crystal Note? Thanks.”
Crystal Note smiled and Glass Slipper knew she understood
“You’re welcome, Angel.”

Both of the twins were still waiting for them when they left the house. Crystal Note locked the doors and put away the key into her saddlebag. Then she put on the harness that was attached to the cart with their belonging and started walking.

They walked away from the familiar streets and towards the old western parts of town. Not many ponies lived there these days, most preferred homes closer to the palace and town centre.
The twins glanced around and asked a few questions, mostly details, but Crystal Note remained mostly silent. “You’ll see” was the most they got out of her.

Glass Slipper stayed silent as well and just followed behind the cart. She had been in this part of the city a few times, in fact her best friend Sapphire didn’t live too far from the street Crystal Note approached. She saw at least a few ponies watching them as they walked towards the end of the street, with a little courtyard and a fountain in the middle, almost like at their old street but bigger. The ponies waved and smiled friendly, but nopony approached them.

Velvet Heart knew that they were close now and scanned the houses that surrounded the little courtyard. Most of them were only a little bigger than the one they had left, but one of them stood out, as it was three stories tall and bigger than any other house in the street. Her eyes opened wide when Crystal Note steered right towards it
“This is it?”
Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart just stared, but Glass Slipper gulped. Out of all places, why this one? Why did Crystal Note chose the old ghost house?

It was more of a manor, really, since it was bigger than the other houses. There were no stairs leading up to the door, but it was made up to look a bit like the portal of the Crystal Palace. Glass Slipper ignored the stories she’d been told, but it didn’t work too well. Even the twins looked at her now and back to the big, intimidating manor.
Crystal Note, now free from the harness, put her hoof on her shoulder
“Glass Slipper, do you trust me?”
The teenage filly and both twins looked at Crystal Note and Glass Slipper only needed a moment to decided
“I do.” Especially after what just happened back home.

Crystal Note had her soft smile for them as she picked up a single box from the cart with her magic, then went straight for the door. She walked in and the twins scurried in after, followed by Glass Slipper.

They passed a small foyer room and stood in the middle of a big room. Glass Slipper saw right away that the room had been cleaned recently and light flittered in through the windows. She took in a couch like they had had at home, two armchairs and a big rug, in front of a fireplace. The other half of the room, there was a table big enough for maybe ten ponies and a small desk tucked into the far corner, a few empty shelves. The room was big enough to be a living room and a dining room at the same time.

Velvet Heart looked around curiously and Sweetie Tooth even had a faint smile
“It’s a lot less scary from the inside!”
They giggled together, but before the twins could go explore more, Crystal Note shook her head
“First things first, girls. This is important.”
She led them up a set of stairs to the middle floor, which was a long hallway with half a dozen doors and another stairway leading up. At the far end of the hallway, under a single window, an empty little table was set up.

Crystal Note walked to the table and set the small box she had been carrying down on the floor. The three sisters watched as she reached in and took out a few things. On the table, she set up three framed photographs. The Crystal Empire of old didn’t have cameras or anything similar back then, so those photographs came from a time after Princess Cadance had arrived.

The fillies watched as Crystal Note used her hooves, not her magic, to set up a framed picture of their mother. Glass Slipper remembered the day. Her mother and father had celebrated their wedding anniversary with a little ceremony. Princess Cadance, the Princess of Love, had offered this to her ponies after the initial excitement had settled down, and many couples had taken her offer.
Her mother had her mane made up in a traditional braid, Glass Slipper remembered helping her set it up. She even had some jewels woven into the strands. The twins had been only three years old back then, but they also remembered how happy their mom had been and how she had sparkled in the sunlight all day long.

The second photo showed a group of stallions in front of the mine. Their father was standing in the middle and proudly showed his newly earned miner’s badge for the camera. The fillies only knew him smiling in their memories, but that day his smile had been wider than usual.

In the middle, Crystal Note set up the third and biggest of the photographs. It showed the whole family, their father to the left and their mother to their right, Glass Slipper standing next to her and the twins in between them. They all smiled and in the background, they could see the stands from the last crystal faire. An earth pony from Canterlot had set up a camera and offered to take pictures, Glass Slipper remembered. That had been less than a year ago.

Crystal Note took a step back and bowed her head down reverently. The three sisters watched but they closed in to their caretaker when they saw Crystal Note shed tears for their parents. It didn’t take long for the fillies to cry as well, but since they were all together, none of it was as bad as it had been before.

They stayed close to each other for a few minutes, when suddenly Sweetie Tooth pulled away and ran back to the stairs. Glass Slipper was about to go after her, but Crystal Note stopped the teenage filly with a hoof on her back. She had seen the look on Sweetie Tooth as she scampered down the stairs.
She was back only a minute later and carried one of the boxes from the cart on her back. She put it down and rummaged through the content, until she had found what she was looking for. She held her mother’s favourite tea mug in her hooves, the one with the beautiful floral design her mother had used every morning, and carefully placed it on the table next to her picture.

Velvet Heart was the next who stuck her head into the box, trying to find something on the bottom it seemed. She remerged with her Dad’s miner badge between her teeth and set it down in front of his picture as well. Glass Slipper meanwhile pulled something out of her personal satchel for the table as well. Crystal Note recognized it right away, it was a betrothal necklace that looked like it was hoofmade. Glass Slipper placed it front of the family picture in the middle.

Crystal Note smiled appreciatively as each of the fillies added one of their treasured belongings to the small family shrine. They stood close to each other as before and Crystal Note hummed a song for them, the same she had sung on the day of the burial.
When she opened her eyes again, she smiled to the three fillies under her care
“Now, it’s a real home for us.”

Moving Day - Final Part

The few things from the cart didn’t take long to unload and Crystal Note then showed them all of the mansion before they would decide where to put everything.
The ground floor had only a small foyer, the large living room they had seen before, and a big kitchen. Sweetie Tooth was most excited about this.

On the middle floor, Crystal Note showed the fillies their new bedroom. It was easily twice as big as the room they shared before, and had two beds, two small filly-sized desks, a drawer and a few seat cushions. The twins were excited and went to explore every crook and cranny of the room, but Glass Slipper stayed at the door, slightly confused
“Why are there only two beds for the three of us?”

Crystal Note looked up from watching the twins and met Glass Slipper’s puzzled expression with a knowing smile
“Let me show you something.”
They left the twins explore on their own while Crystal Note led Glass Slipper up the stairs to the top floor.

The mare opened a door and motioned for Glass Slipper to enter. As the teen walked in, she gasped excited and her lips curled to a smile.
The room was a tad smaller than the other bedroom, but it only had a single queen-sized bed with covers in blue and purple, her favourite colours. There was also a desk, but a normal-sized one, also a dresser and a vanity table with a big mirror. Glass Slipper stood in the middle of the room, trying to take everything in at once.
Crystal Note stayed at the door and watched her oldest charge with a smile
“This is your room, Glass Slipper.”
Although she had almost guessed it, Glass Slipper’s voice still turned into an excited squeal
“My own room? Just for me?”
Crystal Note kept smiling and nodded softly
“In fact, the upper floor will be more or less yours. There’s a bathroom up here for you as well and a guest room.”
Glass Slipper had a wide grin on her muzzle as she looked around again, taking in all the details.

Crystal Note walked inside and stood next to her
“It’s still a little bare, but I figured you would rather choose your own decorations instead of having me decide.”
Glass Slipper nodded excited, but the suddenly stopped when she realized something
“Wait, so you chose everything else?”
Crystal Note nodded and sat down next to her
“So far, I did. I tried to stick with the necessities first. This is my new home as much as it is yours and your sisters’, so we’ll decide together from now on. But this room, Glass Slipper, will be yours and yours alone, so you get to decide here.”

Crystal Note laughed when Glass Slipper wrapped her hooves around her in a hug that was equally excitement, gratitude and joy
“Thank you, Crystal Note!”
She nuzzled the filly’s mane
“You’re very welcome, Angel.”

The few belonging found had found their places in shelves and on cupboards. They had made a list of things they would still need, including a first stocking of the so far empty pantry. What they had brought with them from the old home served as dinner, Sweetie Tooth and Crystal Note had taken the chance to familiarize themselves with the new kitchen while Velvet Heart and Glass Slipper talked about decorating their rooms more.

Now dinner was finished, the dishes were done and the sun had set, so it was time for the twins to get ready for bed. Before that, however, Crystal Note had one last important thing to explain
“This is going to be my room.”
They stood in front of a door in the middle floor and Velvet Heart peeked inside curiously. There was only a single bed, a nightstand and a cupboard. This had to be the smallest room in the entire mansion.

On the other side of the hallway was the twin’s bedroom and the stairs leading up were close as well. Crystal Note looked each of them in the eyes
“This door doesn’t have a lock and it won’t get one either. So it’s always open. Early in the morning” she looked at Velvet Heart for this, “late in the evening,” then at Glass Slipper now “or even in the middle of the night.”
The three fillies nodded and Crystal Note smiled her warm caring smile
“You can come here to get me whenever you need me. No matter what you need or what time it is. Please remember that. Wake me up if you need me, I don’t care. I made a promise and I will stay true to it.”
Crystal Note searched for their eyes again to make sure they understood. To her greatest relief, she found no fear from them. They trusted her and believed her implicitly, and it made her heart glow with warmth.

She smiled and nuzzled Velvet Heart who stood closest to her
“Good. Now, bath time for you and off to bed.”
The fillies giggled and stormed off to the bathroom on their floor, which had a tub just like the one they had before. They spent some time splashing around while Crystal Note tried to keep the flood contained. Meanwhile, Glass Slipper went upstairs. Her bathroom had a walk-in shower instead of a tub, but she enjoyed it just as much.

She was back downstairs in time for to tuck the twins in. They had first experienced split beds in Vanhoover and had already decided who would take which bed. Velvet Heart would get the one closer to the door, Sweetie Tooth’s bed would be the one by the window.
Crystal Note gently pulled the covers over each of them before they received a nuzzle from both their big sister and their caretaker. Crystal Note had been humming a little tune for a while now, and once the fillies were tucked in snug and warm, she had the tune grow into a lullaby for the twins.
She loved singing for the fillies and watched as they gently slipped into a peaceful sleep.

When Crystal Note and Glass Slipper left the bedroom, Glass Slipper headed upstairs to her own bedroom, even if she didn’t feel very tired yet. She had already made it to her new bed, when she suddenly realized she didn’t hahave to turn in yet. They had always gone to bed together, but now she could stay up if she wanted to. It was such an overwhelmingly new idea that she needed a full minute to grasp it.

She climbed back down the stairs with decisive steps, firmly determined to use the new freedom for all it was worth. Then she realized she didn’t even know what to do all by herself.
Fortunately, she wasn’t the only one still awake.

From Crystal Note’s bedroom, she saw light shining into the hall. As she had promised, Crystal Note had left the door open a crack, just in case. Glass Slipper nudged it open a little further and looked inside.
Crystal Note sat on the bed with a candle on her nightstand and a scroll in front of her. A quill floated in her turquoise magic and wrote on the parchment, until she noticed the teenage filly
“Hello Glass Slipper. Not ready to call it a night yet?”
Glass Slipper shook her head and gingerly stepped inside with a faint blush, but Crystal Note only smiled warmly
“I’m writing a letter to Bonne Voyage, would you like to write one for Haute Nuage maybe? We could send them together then.”

Glass Slipper smiled and sat down on the floor as Crystal Note floated a second piece of parchment and a spare quill towards her. She grabbed the quill with her teeth and dipped it into the inkwell. So many things had happened she wanted to tell her new friend, she didn’t even know where to start.
Crystal Note finished her own letter and watched with a smile as Glass Slipper furiously scribbled passages until the scroll there was no more space on the scroll.

The night was halfway through already, when Crystal Note heard an unpleasant sound that immediately woke her up. She climbed out of her bed and went straight to the door opposite of her bedroom, slowly pushing it open.

The twin’s bedroom was dark, but not quiet. Crystal Note heard another whimpering sob and rushed to Sweetie Tooth’s bed. The filly had curled up into a ball of shivers and mumbled in her sleep
“No! The ghosts are here to get me…”
Crystal Note lowered her head so she was next to the filly and nuzzled her gently
“Shh, Sweetie. There are no ghosts. Nothing can harm you here.”
Sweetie Tooth calmed down as soon as she heard Crystal Note’s voice, and under her touch, she could feel the shivering slow down and finally stop. With a last little mumble, the filly snuggled into her pillow as the nightmare passed.

“What if there really are ghost?”
Crystal Note’s ears perked up and she looked over her shoulder. On the other bed behind her, Velvet Heart had sat up and was now watching her. With her hoof, she tucked the blankets back around Sweetie Tooth before she turned around and sat in front of Velvet’s bed, so they were almost eye-to-eye now
“What do you know about ghosts, Velvet?”
They spoke very softly so they wouldn’t wake Sweetie Tooth, and Velvet Heart had to lean in to understand Crystal Note’s whisper
“They haunt abandoned places at night. Like this one.”
Crystal Note tilted her head, by now her eyes had adapted to the darkness and she could see the frown on Velvet’s face
“But we’re living here now. This house isn’t abandoned anymore, so there couldn’t be any ghosts.”
“Maybe they didn’t realize it yet and that’s why they’re still here. Or maybe they want this place back and try to scare us away.”

Crystal Note giggled softly and gently nudged the filly with her head
“Are you scared, Velvet Heart?”
“No!”
Velvet shook her head a little too fast though
“But Sweetie Tooth is. It might be enough.”
“It might.”
Crystal Note looked back at the slumbering filly, then stood up on her hooves
“There is only one way to find out. Do you know how to catch a ghost, Velvet Heart?”
The filly looked at her with wide eyes and shook her head, slowly this time
“Let me show you.”

The big living room was dark except a few dots of moonlight that sprinkled in through the windows. Crystal Note and Velvet Heart sat in the shadows at the bottom of the stairs, eyes fixed on the ‘ghost bait’ they had placed in the middle of the room
“Are you sure this is how you catch a ghost?”
Crystal Note nodded and whispered back
“That’s what the mages of Unicornia wrote down in the Tome of Spirits.”
Velvet Heart nodded and didn’t notice the small smirk from the unicorn mare. That tome did exist, but it was as fictional as the old kingdom of Unicornia, but Velvet Heart didn’t need to know that just yet.

“And ghosts really like cookies?”
This time, Crystal Note couldn’t supress a faint snickering
“Of course, Velvet Heart. Everypony likes cookies, right?”
This got the filly suspicious as she eyed the plate with cookies on the coffee table once more
“But, if ghosts aren’t alive, why would they even need to eat?”
“Maybe they don’t need to eat, but they just like the taste.”
At that, Velvet Heart glanced up at her caretaker and noticed the smirk, which made her puff up her cheeks
“You’re fibbing!”
Crystal Note laughed gently and admitted with a nod
“I guess it was only a matter of time before you figured it out, Velvet.”
Velvet Heart poked Crystal Note’s flank and got a nuzzle to her mane in retaliation, both of them giggling.

When the giggles eventually tittered out, Velvet Heart shuffled a little closer to Crystal Note. Her voice didn’t match the mirth of the moment at all, she sounded scared
“But what if there really are ghosts?”
Crystal Note sat up a little straighter, giving Velvet the chance to lean against her if the filly wanted so. Her voice was calm and soothing, like the night around them
“I don’t know if ghosts are real, Velvet. I’ve never seen one, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t exist outside of legends and stories.”
Velvet Heart nodded, eyes again fixed on the cookies they used as bait
“I don’t anything about ghosts except they’re scary. Can you tell me more?”

Crystal Note nodded and took a deep breath, almost like a sigh
“The stories I’ve heard are not very nice. They say that ghosts are restless souls, of ponies who had died but could not find peace for whatever reason. Some say that those souls search for vengeance or redemption by haunting the living. Others say that they are simply lost and that negative emotions lure them in, so that’s why the haunt places where they find sadness, fear or anger.”
Velvet listened attentively and shivered
“So they are looking just for a place like this? Mom and Dad died, and we’re sad all the time and I’m angry and…”
“No.”

The filly looked up and Crystal Note shook her head
“Your parents have passed, but they left behind so much love for each of you. It might be buried under some sadness at the moment, but I know that it’s there. And I know you can feel it as well, Velvet Heart, if you just listen.”
Velvet Heart tilted her head to her side and lured out a smile from Crystal Note
"Listen? Listen to what?"
"Close your eyes, Darling. Let me show you."
Crystal Note kept her soft smile, but Velvet Heart shivered again and hesitated
"But what about the ghosts?"
"I won't let any ghosts get you, Velvet Heart. You can trust me."

Velvet Heart looked up at Crystal Note's eyes for a minute longer, before she closed hers like Crystal Note had asked her, even if she started shivering again from the darkness. Crystal Note put her hoof on the filly's shoulder, and the shivering stopped
"It's okay. I'm right here."
Velvet kept her eyes closed as she nodded. She leaned a little to her side, towards Crystal Note, slowly and carefully first, but when Crystal Note didn't pull away, she leaned in further until she was fully resting against her.

After a minute or two, Crystal Note whispered to the filly, but in the darkness, it sounded louder than usual
"Think about your Mom and your Dad, Velvet. Think about them and listen."
Immediately, Velvet Heart saw their faces and she felt them holding her, but she heard nothing, except she'd started sniffling again
"I hear nothing."
"You're not listening with your heart, Darling. Try again. You're almost there."
Velvet kept her eyes shut and shuffled closer to Crystal Note, instinctively snuggling into the mare's warmth and presence as she tried to listen inside her.

"I feel so sad."
"I know, Velvet. But that's not all, isn't it? Remember how we set up the photos? You were crying, but you were also smiling at the same time."
Velvet nodded and listened very closely
"I miss them so much."
Velvet felt a gentle hoof wrap around her and hold her close
"Of course you do, Little Gem. I miss them too. But they are still there for you, in your heart. Can you hear? Can you feel them?"
Velvet could feel it, but she couldn’t put it into proper words, so she just nodded.

“Sometimes love takes strange forms, Velvet Heart. Love can be liquid and fill up your eyes like tears and you think you’re sad. Sometimes love can be like a fire that burns and churns inside your tummy and makes you feel like you’re angry. And sometimes, it can be scary like a ghost. But it doesn’t have to be like that.”
Crystal Note held the filly close as she kept whispering to her
“A ghost is only scary because we don’t understand. But you can understand, Velvet, just like you can learn to listen to your heart. You love your parents and they love you, but right now it makes you feel sad and angry. You miss them so much and we all do, and that’s why it hurts. You have to accept that. Once you do, you’ll see that you can love them without missing them. You’ll learn to keep them in your heart, but in a place where it won’t hurt anymore. It’s very hard and you need to listen very closely to your heart, but I know you can do it, Little Gem.”

Velvet Heart kept pressed against Crystal Note, but she couldn’t listen anymore, not with the tears and all the words spinning around her
“How can I do all that? It sounds so hard.”
Crystal Note gently nuzzled the top of the filly’s head. She didn’t know that, but that was the same thing Velvet’s mother used to do whenever Velvet got frustrated
“It is hard, Velvet. It’s one of the hardest things to do. Some even say it’s impossible, like catching a ghost. But that won’t stop us from trying, right?”

Crystal Note gently nudged the filly with her muzzle and Velvet smiled. She could even giggle. She looked at the plate with the cookies and giggled more. That whole idea sounded so silly, now that she started to think about it without being afraid
“I don’t think we’ll catch a ghost with that.”
“You’re probably right, Velvet.”

Velvet Heart tilted her head in thought
“But that still doesn’t prove ghosts aren’t real.”
Crystal Note watched the filly in her embrace closely. She could tell there was more on Velvet’s mind than just that, and she had a good idea what it might be, but she’d already pushed far out today. The last thing she wanted was to overwhelm Velvet Heart on her first night in their new home.

So she latched on the words Velvet offered her instead
“How about this: Tomorrow, we’ll go check the Crystal Library together, just the two of us. If there’s anything to learn about ghosts, we’ll find it. Sounds like a plan?”
“Uh-huh.”
Velvet nodded against Crystal Note. As they had talked, she stayed close the mare without even realizing it. Her little head rested safely on her caretaker and guardian, and she felt it very hard to be scared when Crystal Not was holding her like this. Velvet smiled when her eyes closed down and she thought of the little family shrine they had set up. It was the first thing Crystal Note had them do, so she knew it was very important. Like Crystal Note had said, Mommy and Daddy loved her and watched over her. There’d be no way a ghost could get past them!

Crystal Note must have seen the little smile because Velvet felt a kiss on her forehead just like Mommy always did, but it was Crystal Note’s voice she heard
“Sweet Dreams, Little Gem. We all love you.”
Velvet drifted off to sleep with those words in her ear and a smile in her heart.

Glass Slipper - Dance - Part 1

The large mansion seemed even bigger when nopony was around. Empty most of all. The hoofsteps of the filly echoed unnaturally loud through the hallway. Today, Glass Slipper had arrived well before the others in their new home and being alone gave her the creeps.

It was different when the twins were around. They always had something to talk about and their happy voices filled the tall rooms with laughter all the time. There was also Crystal Note. The mare wasn't much of a talker, but she had this warm presence that filled the home when she was around, no matter if she was cleaning, playing with the twins or just sitting in the living room with a book. Of course, when Crystal Note was around, there was always a melody nearby. As a professional musician, she spent a lot of her time playing her instruments or composing, although Glass Slipper liked her singing most of all.

Ever since their trip to Vanhoover, Crystal Note sang a lot more around them or at least hummed a little tune to whatever she was doing. More often than not, the fillies would join in. Although the teenager would never admit it, Glass Slipper often tried to find things to do so she could be in hearing range to the mare. Sometimes, when she was sure nopony was watching her, she even swayed along to the music and fell into some of her dance steps instead of walking.

Today however, the house was empty. Glass Slipper hadn't planed this, but it was an opportunity she had been waiting for. Crystal Note had taken the twins to a meet-up with the other Cutie Mark Crusaders and since Ocean Waves had gotten her cutie mark recently, Glass Slipper knew they'd be staying until late. Meaning she had a lot of time to investigate.

During their trip to the big city of Vanhoover, she'd gotten glimpses of Crystal Note's life from before she had become their guardian and caretaker. From before she had lived in the Crystal Empire even. She had listened to stories from Bonne Voyage and her sister Haute Nuage. The pegasus mare had taken her to a big music store and Glass Slipper had seen records and posters with Crystal Note's name on it. The biggest one from a musical performance in Manehatten, which was a very big deal as Haute Nuage had told her. Of course, she'd also seen the fans who had stepped up to Crystal Note in Vanhoover and even asked for her autograph.
It had ignited Glass Slipper's curiosity to a point where she had to find out more.

From the many rooms in the old mansion, Crystal Note had chosen two for herself. The ground floor only held the big kitchen and the large sitting room where the fillies spent most of their time. They also shared the biggest bedroom in the middle floor, which was big enough for two beds, two desks and some cupboards. The upper floor belonged entirely to Glass Slipper. She only used a medium-sized bedroom and a bathroom, but it was hers and she cherished the little isle of privacy Crystal Note had helped her set up.

Crystal Note mostly used the living room as well, she had a small desk set up for the music sheets she worked on but often also occupied the dining table. Which was okay, most of the time they had their meals at the kitchen table anyways and so far they hadn't had enough visitors to really need the extra space yet.
In the middle floor, the mare had picked the smallest room as her bedroom. It was just the other side of the twin's room and just had enough space for a comfy bed and a dresser.

The second room she had claimed was the study. Glass Slipper knew she had a much larger desk in there as well as some more bookshelves. She also knew that her instruments where stored there, as the musician always had to fetch them when she played downstairs. Other than that, the door to the room had always been closed.

Just like the twins, she had come to like the new place. But while Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart just could enjoy the home with their typical carefree attitude, Glass Slipper still had questions nagging in the back of her mind. Like, how did Crystal Note know about this mansion in the first place? Where did all the new furniture come from?
She learned in Vanhoover that Crystal Note still received some bits each time one of her records was bought. She knew that other ponies asked her to write and compose songs for them and that Crystal Note received a share of their earnings.

It wasn't like Glass Slipper ever had been in need of anything. Her dad earned enough for his family and they didn't really need that much to be happy. But the way she had seen Crystal Note perform in Vanhoover and everything she heard about her, she couldn't deny she was very intrigued to find out more.
Hopefully, behind the closed door would be some answers.

She carefully pushed the door open and peeked inside. The left hand side of the room held a few shelves with instruments she had seen on earlier occasions, the old violin, a well-used guitar and a newer one right beside it, the strange guitar Crystal Note had received as a gift from her friends of Ponyville and that she hadn't played yet, as far as Glass Slipper knew. So far, nothing new.

The wall was also covered with posters like she'd seen in the music store. All of them had Crystal Note's name on them, most of them also mentioned the Ponyville Music Ensemble. Some had dates that reached back some years. Surprisingly few actually had a picture of Crystal Note on them, though.
Glass Slipper looked at all of them for a while, but something else drew her attention. The large desk in the centre of the room and on the other side of it, more shelves. Those were filled to the brim with music records, a simply record player was set on a smallish table next to them. Glass Slipper stepped closer and carefully pulled a few out. Some still had Crystal Note's name, but most of them only had titles of songs or ponies she didn't recognize. She pushed away the urge to play one or two of them, fearing somepony might hear her. So instead, she focused on the large desk.

It was covered with papers and some books with even more documents. Glass Slipper took the spot behind the desk and browsed through them. Names and numbers she couldn't really get at first, but after a while she understood what she was looking at. She opened one of the books and slowly worked through every page. One name kept coming up regularly with an ever-increasing sum added up next to it. She looked up at the big poster on the wall, where she had seen the name for the first time. Apparently, the musical from Manehatten was still very popular and Crystal Note, as one of the composers and performers, had received a small fortune from it over the years.

It made sense, in a way. Crystal Note had dedicated the years of her adult life to music, travelled all over Equestria to perform, hold concerts and work with other musicians and singers. She had played and sung on the biggest stages, even for the Princesses if what Melody Fusion had told her was true.
Glass Slipper had read about famous singers like Countess Coloratura or Sapphire Shores, how they lived a life of fame and fortune, with bodyguards, managers, fancy dresses and hordes of fans wherever they went. Crystal Note didn't have any of this, despite all the things she had created, enough to fill an entire wall with records. Instead of living in fame, she lived in the Crystal Empire where she was just a street musician. A popular street musician who gets invited to the palace, but still.

No matter how long she thought about it, she couldn't figure out why anypony would give up on something like this. Why didn’t Crystal Note embrace her fame more?
"And what happened to all those bits?"
The last words, she had mumbled under her breath with her eyes fixed on the page with the most recent royalties.
"I keep them on a bank account in Canterlot. Most of them, at least."
Glass Slipper's head jerked up from the sound of another voice nearby. In the doorway stood Crystal Note who must have heard those mumbled words. Which meant she was probably standing there for a while now.

Glass Slipper gulped and backed away a few steps out of instinct, as she'd been caught red hooved. She kept her eyes low to stall some time, time she used to make up a few excuses for why she was here and why it looked like she was snooping around.
When she looked up again to try her luck with her hastily made up story, she saw Crystal Note's eyes. She didn't see anger like she'd expected. Crystal Note was not looking like she wanted to yell at her at all.
Instead, what Glass Slipper saw was disappointment and hurt. The teenage filly winced as her guts suddenly felt like ice. It looked so wrong on Crystal Note's face and Glass Slipper's ears pressed against her head in shame that she was responsible for it. She would have preferred anger, she knew that now.

The breath she had gathered for her excuse turned into a long sigh. Lying wouldn't help her out this time. Lying would only make things worse. There was no other way, unless she wanted Crystal Note to get only more disappointed in her.
With her head hung low, she walked around the desk to stand in front of her caretaker, ready to accept any punishment the mare would set upon her.

She felt a hoof gently lift her head and her eyes met Crystal Note
"You could have simply asked me, you know?"
Glass Slipper flinched again but the hoof kept her from looking away. Her ears flopped down as she mumbled
"I... you never talk about yourself. I didn't want to make you angry. I'm sorry, Crystal Note."
The mare just sighed and pulled her hoof away, which Glass Slipper used to take a step backwards
"I'm not angry, Glass Slipper. But I am disappointed. I know you're curious, but snooping around is not the way to do it.”
Glass Slipper closed her eyes tightly. Although Crystal Note’s voice was soft as always, her words cut deeper as if she would be yelling. Crystal Note had done a lot for her and her sisters and now she felt like she betrayed her
“I’m sorry.”

She heard Crystal Note’s hoofsteps coming closer again, but then she walked past her. Glass Slipper dared to look again and found the mare glancing through the papers the filly had been looking at
“You know, if I didn’t want anypony to read this, I should have put my stuff away. If I didn’t want anypony to come here, I should have locked the door.”
She turned her head to look back at Glass Slipper
“I don’t want to lock doors and hide things in our home. And I especially don’t want to lock you out. Please don’t make me do it, Glass Slipper.”
Crystal Note turned to face Glass Slipper again who just stared at the mare, unsure how to respond
“I don’t like talking about things from my past, that's true. But that doesn't mean I won’t tell you if you ask me."
When Glass Slipper trusted her voice enough again, she finally pushed out what was on her mind with her eyes fixed on the floor
"I didn't want to make you sad by saying the wrong things."
She felt a gentle hoof directing her gaze up again towards Crystal Note's sad smile
"Knowing that you don't trust me makes me far sadder than some old stories would, Glass Slipper."

Again, the teenage filly ended up struggling for words, so Crystal Note just stepped next to her. They ended up looking at the posters together and Glass Slipper noticed a melancholic smile from her caretaker. She gently leaned against the mare's side and the smile softened up
"I should have told you more, Glass Slipper. You're old enough to understand. This isn't an excuse for what I've done, but your sisters and you had to go through so much recently, so many changes good and bad. I just didn't want to add even more weight for you to deal with."

Glass Slipper said nothing and just stared on the biggest of the posters. She half expected for Crystal Note to pull away, but the mare didn’t seem to mind having the teenage filly leaning against her. In fact, she shifted a little so they’d both be in a more comfy position, both pairs of eyes fixed on the opposite wall
“That musical was the biggest project I ever worked on. I had made myself a name as a decent songwriter already and I’ve tried my luck with some solo performances back then. I was floored when I received mail from Manehatten.”
Glass Slipper nodded and mumbled
“Why’s that?”
Crystal Note’s smile gained more of her usual warmth as she told her story
“They wanted to make a musical on the Crystal Empire and its history. I was a crystal pony outside the Empire and a musician on top, so they asked me for some advice. They got more than they wanted at first.”
She giggled and Glass Slipper turned her head to look at her caretaker. She didn’t look that different from the picture on the poster, the same smile and sparkling eyes. Also, she was halfway in the background, behind three ponies in costumes Glass Slipper didn’t recognize
“So, what happened?”
Crystal Note giggled a little more and grinned
“Let’s just say, their ideas of the Crystal Empire didn’t really match up with reality. I showed them some old songs I knew from back then and they asked me for my help. In the end, I was part of the team. I still remember the day of the premiere so clearly. It was a lot of hard work, but so worth it in the end. Some of the most exciting months of my life.”
Glass Slipper smiled at the giddy excitement in her caretaker’s voice
“Did you perform as well?”
She felt the mare nod, still staring at the poster
“I was part of the choir and had a few solo lines, nothing too big. But since I helped write many of the songs, I was also backup for one of our main protagonists. I only had to step in twice, luckily.”

Glass Slipper listened as Crystal Note told her about working through nights and days to create a perfect song, endless auditions for all the performers and her first serious case of stage fright. She even sung a few passages for Glass Slipper and tried to explain how it felt to be on stage in front of thousands of ponies, including all four alicorn princesses.

Since the twins would be on a Cutie Mark Crusader sleepover, the two ponies had all the time they wanted to indulge in Crystal Note’s reminiscence.
Seeing the mare smile so much, Glass Slipper felt brave enough to ask a few of the questions that nagged on her mind for a while now
“So you’re really famous, all over of Equestria, like Melody Fusion says?”
Crystal Note laughed and shook her head
“After the musical was definitely the time when I couldn’t walk through Canterlot or Ponyville without some ponies pointing at me. Some obsessive fans even travelled from far away towns to talk to me or hear me sing. It was so awkward. I decided to keep a low profile for a while after then. I guess Melody Fusion is one of the few ponies that still remember me that way.”
Glass Slipper bit her lip
“Haute Nuage said you made a fortune with your music even today. Is it true?”
Crystal Note sighed and looked at her charge
“You’ve seen the numbers, Glass Slipper. Ponies still enjoy my music and even if I don’t perform on the big stages anymore, I still write songs and lyrics for other musicians. I can certainly carry my weight these days.”
The teenage filly snorted in laughter
“I’ll say. I mean, how many ponies can just buy a large mansion like this?”
“I didn’t buy it. The new furniture, yes. But the house technically belonged to me all the time.”
“Huh? How? Why?”

Glass Slipper stood up and faced Crystal Note, both surprised and excited by this revelation. A look on her caretaker’s face quickly washed that away though. She could tell that this would be one of the things Crystal Note had avoided so far because she didn’t want to talk about it. Glass Slipper felt a stone drop into her guts as she took in the sad look on Crystal Note’s face
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked and…”
“No.”
Crystal Note’s voice was calm and collected, despite the sadness in her eyes
“I don’t like talking about this, but for you I will. You deserve to know.”

Crystal Note stood up and walked around the desk. With a glow of her horn, she opened a drawer and levitated a large tome towards the teenage filly. It looked very old and smelled like centuries of dust. Crystal Note took a seat next to the filly again and browsed through the pages with her magic. Once she found what she was looking for, she started talking.

Glass Slipper listened mostly silently. From time to time, gasps of surprise or fear broke out of her. More than once, she found herself close to tears, just like Crystal Note as she relived her childhood for her charge.
She heard stories of a cruel and unforgiving father who became nothing but a tormentor over the years. She listened how Crystal Note found a loving family and a sister in the ponies next door. As Crystal Note browsed through the book and her memories, Glass Slipper imagined all of it happening within these walls. It sounded so amazing how the crystal unicorn had turned the darkest place of her childhood into a new home for her and her sisters.
When she said that to the mare, Crystal Note just smiled and pulled her into a close embrace
“I didn’t do any of that. You and your sisters made this house into a wonderful home, a place where I feel safe and a place I enjoy coming back to. Ever since you three came into my life, you’ve made everything special, Glass Slipper.”
Glass Slipper leaned into the embrace but she couldn’t hold back a snorting laughter
“That’s so cheesy, even for you!”
Crystal Note joined in the laughter and gently nuzzled her oldest charge
“It doesn’t make it any less true.”

Glass Slipper closed her eyes and nodded. She had been given a lot of food for thought during the last couple of hours, but something she needed to say right away
“Thank you for telling me all this. Thank you for trusting me.”
She was rewarded with another nuzzle
“Anytime, Glass Slipper. I might not open much on my own, but if there’s something you want to know, feel free to ask. I hope you and your sisters know you can trust me and that I’ll do everything I can for you.”
The teenage filly just nodded. It still felt strange hearing the mare she’d only known for some months say such things and it was even stranger how it made her feel, even if it really made her happy.

Crystal Note slowly released her filly from the embrace and Glass Slipper suddenly found a stern gaze fixed at her
“Now that we’ve got your curiosity stilled, I think we should set up some rules.”
Glass Slipper’s ears dropped a little as rules sounded less fun, but she nodded. It would probably help avoid getting into situations like this
“I don’t want to lock doors in my home, including the door to this room. Please don’t snoop on my desk. And please don’t play around with my instruments. They are very valuable to me and I’d hate for them to get broken by accident.”
Glass Slipper nodded, that all sounded reasonable so far. Crystal Note smiled and continued
“That said, feel free to browse through my records and play them, as long as you treat them carefully.”
Immediately, Glass Slipper’s lips curved up again, eliciting a giggle from Crystal Note
“Of course, if you respect my privacy, I will also respect yours. I won’t enter your rooms without your permission, Glass Slipper. But…” some of the sternness returned as she fixed the filly again “that means you need to take care of keeping your rooms tidy by yourself, of course.”
The teenage filly smirked but rolled her eyes
“Sure, Mom. I’ll clean my room from now on.”
Crystal Note's eyes opened wide for a moment, but when Glass Slipper’s sarcastic tone sunk in, both of them started to giggle.
“And since this is the first time you broke these rules, I’ll go easy on you. Let’s say, you’ll be doing all the dishes for this week.”
“What? But Mom!”
Crystal Note laughed as the teenager turned the last word into a long, pouty whine. She grinned back at the filly and used her best sternest voice she could manage
“As long as you’re living in my house, you’ll follow my rules, young lady!”
Neither Glass Slipper nor Crystal Note could keep it together anymore and their guffaws and laughter filled the house.

Home alone - Part I

Crystal Note walked through the rooms of her new old home. There wasn't much left from the mansion of the bitter unicorn stallion who had once forced her to live here, but her memories still made her see things from her past. Luckily, thanks to the three lively fillies she shared this home with now, those old memories of her birth father and his cruel behaviour where rapidly replaced by new, happy ones.

Each room had received an overhaul, some more than others. Her old bedroom now served well as a bed- and playroom for the twins, the upper rooms her not-father had favoured now were Glass Slippers own little apartment within the mansion, and like every other teenager she cherished having a place of retreat and privacy.
The old study was now her own, and Crystal Note had even kept the huge desk. So far, the kitchen and the study had been changed the least.

Crystal Note reached the sitting room that now held comfy chairs, cushions and a couch just like the one in Glass Slipper's old home. The room also doubled as a dining room, but until now, the four ponies hadn't had enough visitors to really make use of it.
The knock of the front door that had lured the crystal unicorn downstairs echoed through the small entry hall again, and Crystal Note opened the door.
A few years earlier, she might have checked through a window first, but these days such fears were long gone. She smiled when she recognized her visitor.

Ivory Lance gave a friendly nod in return. He had been a soldier since young years, so as soon as he wore his uniform, he was all serious and stern on the outside. After a rough start, the guard pony and the musician had learned to accept and even respect each other.
Crystal Note bowed her head in greeting
"Hello Ivory Lance. It's rare you visit without your daughter. How can I help you?"
Ivory Lance nodded again, this time with the indication of a smile
"No friendly visits while I'm on duty, I'm afraid. I was asked to deliver a message from the Crystal Council."
"The Council? Why would they send me a message?"
"It's rather urgent, Crystal Note. I'm supposed to get your answer right away and return to the Council immediately."
Crystal Note nodded and let the stallion step inside
"I understand. How can I assist the Crystal Council?"
Ivory Lance handed her a letter of only one page
"The councillors are taking the final steps for inviting the first ponies from the south to the Empire. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna also want to discuss the details during court in Canterlot, so they asked for a representative from us as well. Princess Cadance and the Crystal Council chose you, Crystal Note.”
“Me?”
Crystal Note’s eyes opened wide as she flew over the letter, only to confirm what Ivory Lance had told her
“But why me? Wouldn’t one of the councillors be better suited for this?”

Ivory Lance tilted his head and shrugged
“You’ve spent more time in Equestria than any of us and you’ve even filled in as ambassador for Princess Cadance. The ponies in Canterlot know you and you’re acquainted with all the other princesses as well. I can see reason in what the council says.”
Crystal Note’s eyes stayed glued on the letter, she easily recognized the writing of her sister
“This is really important for the future of the Crystal Empire, Ivory Lance.”
“That’s just one more reason to send you.”
Crystal Note sighed and closed her eyes. After a minute of pondering, she nodded
“If the Crystal Council ask me for help, of course I will do it. I’ll get my things ready and meet them at sunrise tomorrow, just like they asked.”
“Thank you, Crystal Note. I’ll make sure they’re informed right away, Ambassador.”

With that, Ivory Lance saluted and left the mansion and a nervous mare behind. The fact that he had used her long forgotten title didn’t really help. Crystal Note kept staring at the letter for a while longer. When she looked away, her eyes were instantly drawn to the picture of Sweetie Tooth, Glass Slipper, Velvet Heart and their parents on the wall.
Under her breath she mumbled
“How am I going to tell them?”

Glass Slipper smiled when she saw her little sisters race ahead once the reached their new neighbourhood. Most of the houses around here were still empty, but a few friendly faces turned around when they heard the happy laughter from the twins. Glass Slipper smiled and waved as she followed her sisters to the end of the street. The biggest house of the whole street looked intimidating from the outside, but once she stepped through the door, all tension seemed to fall off her. She knew and loved this feeling of coming home.

A few months ago, she thought she'd never feel like that again. After her parents' death, nothing was the same anymore. But by now, some things started feeling normal again. Like, coming home after school. Or having somepony waiting for her with a smile at the end of each day. Sometimes it felt so normal that the sisters barely even realized it, especially the twins. Glass Slipper had these moments when she noticed how much Crystal Note did for them without even telling them, but whenever she tried to thank her guardian and caretaker for that, Crystal Note just smiled.

The twins where already in the house and Glass Slipper closed the door after she followed them. As usual, they claimed the couch for themselves, but today Glass Slipper didn't mind too much. She had some homework for tomorrow, so she'd just grab a snack from the kitchen and go to her room. Her own room. Just thinking about that still made her smile.
Her smile didn't last too long tonight. The kitchen door opened and Crystal Note joined them, but instead of her usual kind smile, the sisters saw her frown.

Glass Slipper felt a cold shiver run down her spine and both of her sisters stopped chatting. They well remembered the last time they had seen the mare with such a frown, just days before she'd become their caretaker.
Crystal Note forced a small smile and walked to the twins on the couch, motioning for Glass Slipper to join them. She sat back on her haunches and took a deep breath
"Girls, there is something I need to tell you."

The crystal unicorn looked up at her charges, and her smile died instantly. All three fillies were scared and Sweetie Tooth looked like she was about to cry. Instead of her carefully prepared words, she rushed forward and gently wrapped her hooves around the twins, her eyes searching Glass Slipper
"Don’t be scared! Nothing bad happened, I promise! Everything is okay.”
Sweetie Tooth still clung on the mare and Velvet Heart easily saw through Crystal Note’s attempts to reassure them. With one of her defiant glares, she fixed the mare
“Then why do you look like you’re about to cry?”
Glass Slipper nodded and put her hoof on Velvet’s shoulder for support, her inquisitive gaze matching Velvet’s glare.

Crystal Note took a deep breath and let it out slowly. None of her arguments and well-sorted words would help her now, so she decided to trust her heart and simply address the matter at hoof
“Today, I received a letter from the Crystal Council. They asked me to go to Canterlot and represent the Crystal Empire during Princess Celestia’s day court. Their letter was very urgent, so I agreed.”
The fillies shared a look with each other. Glass Slipper was frowning now and Velvet Heart didn’t take long to join her. Sweetie Tooth seemed irritated mostly, so she asked
“What’s wrong with that?”
Crystal Note gently squeezed the filly in her embrace
“Sweetie, it means I have to go to Canterlot very soon. And I’ll have to stay there for a couple of days, until everything has been sorted out.”
Just as she had feared, tears shot into Sweetie Tooth’s eyes now, and so her hug tightened immediately
“You want to leave us?”
Crystal Note shook her head, Sweetie Tooth’s teary voice cut deep into her heart and she struggled to hold back a sob of her own
“No, I don’t want to leave you. That’s why I look like crying. But, Sweetie, I promised I’d help them, I have to go.”

Glass Slipper didn’t stop frowning but she reluctantly agreed with a nod. Velvet Heart on the other hoof couldn’t accept this as readily
“But you promised you’d be here for us, too!”
This time, Crystal Note did sob out loud and her reached out for Velvet, but the filly pulled back out of her reach. For Crystal Note, it felt like another stab into her heart
“I know, Velvet. I’m not leaving forever. It’s just a couple of days, I promise. I’ll be back as soon as I can. The very moment they don’t need me anymore, I’ll jump into the next train heading home.”
Velvet’s glare softened a little but Sweetie Tooth picked up where she left
“Why didn’t you just say no? Why do you have to leave? Can’t you just stay?”
Crystal Note shook her head softly
“Rose Quartz asked me because she thinks I’m the best pony for the task, dear. It’s not just about what I want, it’s about what’s best for the Crystal Empire as well.”

The three fillies just stared at her, torn between anger, sadness and fear. Crystal Note couldn’t help but feel miserable since she was the one responsible for it. The fillies had just overcome such a great loss, they hadn’t fully gotten used to their new home even, and now she was about to leave them for the first time since she became their caretaker. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t find a way to ease this blow
“Girls, please listen. It would have happened eventually. Sooner or later, I would have to leave the Empire for a while. I just wish it wouldn’t have to be so soon.”
She reached out for Velvet Heart again and this time, the filly accepted her touch as she gently raised her head so their eyes could meet. Her other hoof still held Sweetie Tooth close to her
“I will be back, I promise. Nothing can stop me from coming back to you. I’ll run all the way back from Canterlot if I have to. I’ll find a way to grow wings if there’s no other chance.”
The snorting laughter from Velvet Heart was like balm on her soul and Sweetie Tooth giggled as well. The twins now both pressed against her sides and Crystal Note tightened her embrace. Still with tears in her eyes, but a smile on her face, she turned to Glass Slipper. The oldest sister had remained silent so far, but now she felt reassured enough to ask what was on her mind
“When will you leave?”
Crystal Note sighed softly and motioned for Glass Slipper to come closer. The teenage filly joined her sisters with a hug
“I’ll leave first thing tomorrow. Before sunrise, I’m afraid.”
“Can we come with you?”

Velvet Heart tilted her head up to the mare and both twins pleaded with their eyes, but Crystal Note had to relent
“No dear. I don’t know how long it will take, but a couple of days at least. You’d miss out on school if you came along. I don’t think your teachers would be happy about that.”
The fillies pouted in unison, which was enough to make Crystal Note giggle despite the tears. The fillies joined in soon and luckily, most of the tension passed by that. They stayed close in each other’s embrace, though.
Crystal Note took a deep breath and her expression changed, as she had to become a little stern again
“Obviously, I don’t want you to miss out on school. I’ll get your breakfast ready tomorrow, but the next days you need to take care of that yourselves. Glass Slipper, I’d like you to make sure you all get to your classes on time. Sweetie, Velvet, please listen to your sister while I’m gone and help her when she needs you.”
Glass Slipper smiled softly, proud that she was offered some more responsibility, and her sisters nodded along as Crystal Note continued
“Now, I know you three can handle things for a couple of days, but I’ve also asked Opal Waves to check on you. I’ll ask Rose Quartz to do the same. If there’s anything you need, please go to one of them for help, okay?”

The three fillies nodded again and Crystal Note squeezed gently
“I’m very proud of you. I know it’s hard, but I know you can do it. I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
The fillies pressed gently into the embrace and Crystal Note didn’t hide her tears that leaked out
“I’m going to miss you so much, little ones.”
Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart immediately started to tickle Crystal Note who could not escape
“Stop acting like we’re babies!”
Crystal Note giggled as she was tickled into submission and she tried to wiggle to safety. Glass Slipper wouldn’t have that though and made sure to block any escape route for Crystal Note. Soon, all four ponies were laughing and giggling together, the sadness from before completely forgotten.

Home alone - Part II

Crystal Note sat on the small balcony near the top of the eastern tower. The room she’d been given for her stay had a balcony as well, but she sought out the height and solitude of the top balcony tonight. She didn’t mind the coolness of the night as she watched the last few lights from the city in some distance. It was already past midnight and the sea of lights from earlier had shrunk considerably. Crystal Note looked up at the sky again where the full moon stood in an ocean of glittering stars. Intuitively, her eyes searched for common constellations and she quickly found the North Star. Even though she was far away from home, she could still see it clearly and it gave her some comfort that her three charges could see it as well. Although she hoped that her fillies were already in bed at this hour, otherwise they’d risk falling asleep in class tomorrow.

This balcony was one of her preferred spots in the Canterlot Palace. The long set of narrow stairs repelled most of the unicorns and earth ponies to climb up so far, and any pegasus who would wish to join her would have to do so by flying up from the outside, giving the mare more than enough time to retreat. She’d found this balcony during her first stay at the Canterlot Palace and ever since cherished the solitude it offered as well as the stunning view, day or night.
A soft sigh escaped as Crystal Note thought back to those years, when she had filled in as an ambassador for Princess Cadance and the Crystal Empire. It had been a joke, at first. She had been a travelling musician back then and frequently visited the capital of the kingdom, so Princess Celestia had started inviting her to the palace under the mantle of diplomatic reasons. In truth, all they ever did was chat and the two royal sisters enjoyed getting a private concert ever so often, as much as Crystal Note enjoyed having another place where she was always welcome. Today, she smiled at how insecure she’d felt in those days and how good it felt that everypony in the palace wanted to reassure her. She had made a lot of friends in the palace alone, mostly in the royal staff but also with a few of the ponies who frequently arrived for courts or audiences.

What had started as a joke became a convenience soon. Princess Celestia and most of all Princess Cadance encouraged her to take a more active role in politics, even if she rarely did more than watch and listen whenever she joined a meeting of the court. She’d write a report to Princess Cadance and add her own recommendations and thoughts, for which the Princess of the Crystal Empire was always grateful. However, in her heart Crystal Note was never a politician. While it helped occasionally to throw the nobles of Canterlot off loop with her down-to-earth way of thinking, she never liked when other ponies tried to pull her into their plots or even tried to influence the Princesses through her. While it was true she talked a lot with Princess Celestia and Luna, they barely ever talked about politics. Celestia preferred light and easy stories about the ponies and places Crystal Note had seen on her travels, while with Luna she often ended up with stories from the past or deep in thought on how much everything had changed over the long years they had missed.

Still, Princess Cadance kept calling her into her service as an ambassador frequently and Crystal Note always complied and tried to do her best. She was deeply grateful for her Princess, not only for what the Princess did for the Crystal Empire, but also for all the support she received, even though she lived out of the Empire and was the only crystal unicorn. Unbeknown to Crystal Note, Princess Cadance also made sure to share Crystal Note’s revelations with the ponies of her empire. By doing so, even those who were still appalled by the thought of accepting a crystal unicorn as part of the Crystal Empire could see the effort and work Crystal Note put into helping the Crystal Empire, even if she wasn’t a part of it right now. Just like when she had been an earth pony filly back all those years, her deep need of belonging and being beneficial for the ponies she cared for filled her with desire to always conquer any task she was given by Princess Cadance.
So much that even today, she still followed the call of her Princess and the Crystal Council, despite the fact that three fillies back home needed her.

As she sat on the balcony and stared into the night, Crystal Note was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t notice the shadowy form that gently descended on her. She only heard the flap of powerful wings when someone landed next to her, taller than Crystal Note and with a coat and mane that matched the beauty of the night.
Reflexively, Crystal Note bowed to the alicorn princess who had joined her
“Princess Luna!”
The princess giggled at her surprised expression and didn’t even try to hide a smile, satisfied that she had managed to surprise the crystal pony
“Greetings to you as well, Crystal Note. It is quite a night for stargazing, if I may say so myself.”
Crystal Note smiled and nodded
“Your night is beautiful as always, Princess. But I don’t think you came just to hear that from me. You’re usually not one to brag.”
They giggled at their friendly banter and Luna sat next to her friend from the Crystal Empire
“You have a long day behind you and an even longer one ahead, Crystal Note. Don’t you think you should get some sleep?”
Crystal Note nodded but didn’t move, her eyes glued on the stars in the sky. Luckily, Luna still had a trump card in check
“Crystal Note, what would Velvet Heart say if she knew you’re staying up all night long?”
As expected and hoped, the crystal unicorn let out a little groan that ended in a giggle
“She would never let me hear the end of it and then Sweetie Tooth would haggle for a later bedtime… again.”
Both friends laughed softly this time even if Crystal Note ended on a soft sigh
“I know it’s only been two days, but by all stars, I miss them so much already.”

Luna nodded and stayed at Crystal Note’s side, sharing comfort and company. Of course the princess knew all about the three fillies. Even if Crystal Note decided to live in the Crystal Empire from now on, they still shared letters and took any opportunity to meet and talk
“I remember the night we first met, Crystal Note. In my mind’s eye, I still see the young, fearful mare who was plagued by doubt and insecurity and whose fate seemed so uncertain back then. Now look at you, Crystal Note. You’ve come very far since that night.”
Crystal Note blushed at those praising words, but with a smile
“I couldn’t have done any of it without your help, Princess.”
“You’ve overcome your fear and your past, you use your special talent and your magic to bring happiness to other ponies and brighten their days. You’ve taken three lost fillies into your heart so they will never have to feel that fear themselves. And now, you’re even working on helping an entire nation to let go off old fears and move on.”
Crystal Note’s blush doubled and the smile faded
“Now you’re just trying to give me a big head, Luna. The Crystal Council did all the work, I’m just here because they asked me.”
“You’re making my point, Crystal Note. You’re here, not for your own gain, but for the benefit of your home.”
Crystal Note looked away from the stars and turned her head towards the princess
“Rose Quartz thinks I’m the best pony for this task. That’s why I’m here. Could you say no if your sister asked a favour from you?”
Luna gave a wry little smile
“I could, but I would not. Celestia and I disagree frequently, but my sister does not like to pull rank on me. If she asks something of me, I always know it is very important to her.”
Crystal Note just nodded silently.

Luna flexed her wing to nudge the mare next to her
“Would it ease your mind if I told you the three of them are sleeping peacefully? There is nothing to worry tonight, Crystal Note. Go get some rest.”
Crystal Note giggled and stood up
“And here I thought you’d be happy that ponies enjoy your night.”
“I am, but not if it leaves them deprived of sleep. We’ll need all our strength tomorrow to endure the torture that is known as day court.”
Luna grinned and Crystal Note just chuckled more
“I take that you’ll be joining in tomorrow as well, then?”
“Indeed. Let’s see if I can get those indecisive nobles make up their minds before Nightmare Night arrives.”
The both laughed, though Crystal Note ended in a soft yawn. They wished each other a good night and Crystal Note began the long climb down the stairs and back to her room. By the time she arrived, her mind was already back with her three fillies, but Luna’s reassurance helped her not to worry this time. In her mind, she could clearly see them snuggled up together in Glass Slipper’s bigger bed, and soon she fell asleep herself with a smile on her face.

Home alone - Part III

Crystal Note joined the few ponies on the balcony just outside the court hall. Princess Celestia had just announced a break and instead of heading to get a snack like most of the others, some fresh air was just what Crystal Note needed right now.

She smiled when Lady Ramonia waved her over and took the spot next to the middle-aged earth pony mare. Unlike many other nobles, Lady Ramonia had not received her title through heritage, but rather earned it through hard work and dedication. Unsurprisingly, she and Crystal Note got along swimmingly
“We’re making good progress today, don’t you think?”
“Yes Milady. It’s very refreshing after all the hesitation we saw yesterday.”
The small group of ponies nodded in agreement
“This is a big change, indeed, for Canterlot and for the Crystal Empire. Speaking of change”, the Lady winked to Crystal Note, “I’ve heard you had a lot of changes as well recently, my dear. You’ve finally given up your small apartment and moved into a manor, or so I’m told.”
Crystal Note blushed with a smile and shook her head
“I wouldn’t call it a manor, really. It’s about as big as a typical Canterlot townhouse I’d say.”
A unicorn stallion who had also joined the group fell into a sly smile
“I guess you can’t put on Canterlot standards on a smallish Crystal Empire. The Crystal Palace is very impressive, I admit, but the other houses seemed rather small.”
Crystal Note just giggled and nodded in agreement
“Well, you won’t hear me complain on that. I’ve already have my hooves full keeping the house clean with three little rascals, I could never keep up if it was any bigger.”

The ponies laughed, Lady Ramonia wholeheartedly but some others merely chuckled politely
“That’s when you should hire a maid or a housekeeper at last.”
Just as the stallion said that, a member of the palace arrived with a large tray to offer a drink to everypony. While the unicorn stallion just picked up a glass without even acknowledging the earth pony, Crystal Note and several others smiled or thanked the mare. Crystal Note held the glass in her hoof instead of using her horn and allowed herself a grin as she utterly confused every unicorn who noticed this. Casually, she continued with the conversation
“My sister used to work as a maid, but I’m not sure she could help me if I asked her. She’s rather busy these days.”
“Oh? Busy with what, if I may ask?”
Crystal Note smirked gently
“Well, she’s the head of the Crystal Council and a personal advisor of Princess Cadance. There’s always something to do for her.”
The stallion coughed as his drink went down the wrong way, and he was not the only one
“That is, um… quite an accomplishment for a simple maid. How very fortunate for Princess Cadance to have servants like her.”
Lady Ramonia, the only noble without a horn of the little group, narrowed her eyes and fixed him with a challenging glare
“Clearly you read the same papers as we all did. The pony who wrote them has a good head on her shoulders. Princess Cadance does well to trust her advice. If that pony was a servant, I’d call it a terrible waste.”
The unicorn was quick to nod and agree
“Of course! However, it surprises me that a maid can reach such a high position. Usually, only the highest nobles are named as councillors.”

Crystal Note’s expression remained neutral
“The Crystal Council is chosen by election, Sir. We nominated the ponies we saw best fit for representing the needs of every pony in the Crystal Empire. It’s not important if that pony is a miner, a soldier, a trader or anything else. Those who earned the trust of the ponies get voted, simple as that.”
The unicorn noble couldn’t quite suppress a sly smirk, not hiding the sarcasm in his voice
“How very liberal of you. However, there is a reason Canterlot has set its fate into the hooves of the old houses with their long lineage and respectful traditions.”
Again, Lady Ramonia frowned but this time, another unicorn quipped in
“Times have changed, though. There are four ruling princesses now instead of only one. Canterlot may still be the capital of Equestria, but other cities have caught up or even overtaken Canterlot in certain aspects already. The old linages have watered down over generations and new families have taken their places. Traditions are fine and well, but we limit ourselves if we just blindly cling on the past.”

Most of the ponies in their little group nodded
“This new alliance with the Crystal Empire offers great chances for the future of Canterlot. Even Prince Blueblood realized this.”
A few smiled and giggled and a mare turned to Crystal Note
“Is it true the councillor stared Blueblood into silence when the prince visited the Crystal Empire a few months ago?”
Crystal Note hid her giggle behind her hoof
“It is hard to be intimidated by a pony like Prince Blueblood when you have survived King Sombra and his dark magic for many years.”
The ponies chuckled, although it sounded rather tense from some of the unicorn nobles.

The discussion travelled to lighter topics and Crystal Note took the chance to watch the other groups that had found together. Princess Luna stood surrounded by the largest number of ponies and discussed passionately with them. She made no secret that she supported a deepening of the relations with the Crystal Empire in the north and her presence today helped clear out many concerns. On the other side of the room, Crystal Note saw Prince Blueblood talked to a few ponies who were still sceptic. Princess Celestia had already returned to her seat and therefore only talked to one pony at a time when they approached her.
Overall, she was confident that the court would come to a conclusion shortly. Rose Quartz’ propositions were all reasonable and none of the demands was out of place. Hopefully that meant she could return home soon and see her three fillies again.

Crystal Note dashed through the busy streets down from the castle as fast as she could. She narrowly avoided running into some ponies as she cut some corners to reach the station in time.
The court had taken longer to conclude as she had hoped, mostly because of some nearly endless speeches when everything had been decided already. As soon as it was polite to leave, Crystal Note had grabbed her things and started running. If she was fast enough, she could still catch the train to the Crystal Empire.

Finally, she reached the main street and could already see the station in some distance. She raced up the last fleet of stairs to the right track and sighed in relief when she could see the train
“Phew, just in time! Now all I have to do is… wait, no!”
She doubled her speed, but the train was already moving, almost tauntingly slow. By the time she reached it, it was already halfway out the station and all doors firmly locked
“No, wait please! I need to get on! Please!”
It was no use, of course. She slammed her hooves against the doors, but they stayed shut, then the train picked up speed and was out of reach. Crystal Note stared after it until it was out of sight.
“No… I was too late. Too late!”
She couldn’t hold back a desperate sob that broke out of her as she slumped down to her haunches
“But I promised…”

“Miss? Are you alright, Miss? You’ve been sitting here for five minutes now and… are you crying?”
Crystal Note turned her head towards the pegasus mare who had placed a hoof on her shoulder. She noticed her worried expression and rubbed her hoof over her eyes
“Yes, I’m okay, thank you. I just… missed my train.”
“Well that must’ve been one mighty important train, huh?”
The mare reached out to help Crystal Note back on her hooves and carefully guided her away from the tracks
“You look like somepony just kicked your puppy.”
Crystal Note looked down herself and noticed her grey coat and the lack of light. She sighed and shook her head
“It’s silly, really. I just missed my train. There will be another one tomorrow, right? I have no reason to fall apart because of it.”
“Unless, you had somepony very important waiting for you back home.”
Crystal Note looked up surprised
“How do you know?”
“Eh, let’s just say I’ve seen that look before. So, who is it? Maybe your coltfriend?”
The pegasus waggled her eyebrows while smirking at Crystal Note, who couldn’t help but giggle
“No, nothing like that. But my three fillies… I promised I’d be back soon, but now I have to break my promise.”
“Ah, now I get it. No wonder you look like a week of rainy weather.”

Crystal Note sat down with her head hung low, but the pegasus mare just sat next to her with a reassuring expression
“They’ll be fine, you’ll see. It’s always hard leaving somepony for the first time, especially as a parent.”
Again, Crystal Note could only look surprised at the mare
“How do you know it’s the first time?”
“Eh, I’m just good at noticing things. Name’s Eagle Eye.”
She reached out her hoof and Crystal Note noticed that her cutie mark was a magnifying glass. She smiled and shook the offered hoof
“Nice to meet you. I’m Crystal Note.”
“Oh, I know that.”
This time, the mare at least had the decency to blush
“I, um, I’m a fan. Been to your concerts and stuff.”
She smiled sheepishly and rubbed her hoof, but Crystal Note just smiled back
“It’s always nice to meet somepony who appreciates my songs. Thank you, Eagle Eye.”
“You’re welcome. You know, this is a little odd maybe, but could I get your autograph?”
Crystal Note giggled as Eagle Eye twitched nervously and produced a pen and some paper out of her saddlebag. She wrote down a few lines for the mare, along with her signature, and handed it to the baffled mare
“Here you are.”
“Wow. Thanks! Um…”
Crystal Note tilted her head when the pegasus still shifted uneasily in her seat
“Do you need something else?”
“Nonono, it’s just… if you need to get to Colthaven that badly, why don’t you just take the express train for Manehatten? It would be faster than the train you missed, even.”
“Why do you think I would want to go Colthaven?”

Eagle Eye blinked in confusion
“But, didn’t you just try to reach that train?”
“The train to the Crystal Empire, yes.”
“Crystal Empire… oh! Did you hear the announcement?”
Now Crystal Note shook her head confused
“I didn’t hear anything. Did something happen?”
“Well, apparently there’s been a change of plans. The train won’t leave from this track, but on a different one today. Um, let’s see…”
Eagle Eye lifted up to get a better view and scanned the station
“This one! Over there!”
Just as she called out and pointed to a track at the other end of the station, Crystal Note heard a loud voice over the noise
“Last chance boarding for the Crystal Empire, please clear the doors now!”
“No! Wait! Please!”
Crystal Note grabbed her saddlebag and ran towards the train that was about to leave
“Wait for me! I’ll miss my train, again!”
Luckily, the other ponies heard her and jumped out of the way as she passed through, but when she reached the train, all the doors were closed already, except for one.
At the end of the train, one of the conductors still held his door open and Eagle Eye hovered in front of him, asking him to wait just another minute.
“Wait for me, please!”
Crystal Note shouted again, and the two ponies noticed her. Eagle Eye laughed when she leapt right through the open door and Crystal Note turned around just in time to wave as the train set into motion
“Goodbye Eagle Eye! Thank you so much!”
“Bye Crystal Note! Say hi to your fillies from me!”
“Of course. If you ever visit the Crystal Empire, come and visit us!”
“Will do!”
Crystal Note smiled and waved as the door closed. With a sigh of relief, she finally calmed down and started looking for an empty seat.

Home alone - Final Part

Crystal Note walked through the empty street in the light of the full moon. Nopony was outside this late and even the lights in the houses were out already. She approached the biggest of the houses at the end of the street and slowly opened the door. She sneaked inside as quietly as she could, fully expecting the three fillies to be in bed already. Much to her surprise though, there was still a glimmer of light in the living room.

She walked with soft steps and her lips curled to a smile when she took in the sight in front of her. The only light in the room came from the last embers in the fireplace. The room was still warm, even if the coolness of the night slowly crept in by now. In front of the fireplace, on one of the soft rugs and covered by blankets, she saw the three fillies. Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth had curled up against their big sister, Glass Slipper. The teenage filly had her head rested on her forelegs and in front of her was an open book with a story Crystal Note recognized as one of Velvet Heart’s favourites. The three had tried to stay awake as long as they could it seemed, but eventually sleep had caught up on them.

Crystal Note’s smile turned softer as she stepped closer and watched the three fillies slumber. They looked so peaceful, it would be a shame to wake them right now. However, when she sat down next to them, Velvet Heart began to stir. Her ears perked up and a moment later, her eyes opened to look directly at Crystal Note.
The smile wavered when she saw the look of fear on the filly’s face and her whispered words cut deep inside her
“You came back!”
Crystal Note understood right away, understood so well. Velvet Heart had seen her parents leave one day and never come back. It didn’t matter if it was of their own violation or not, they left and left her alone. It took weeks to make her feel anything but sad and angry, months before she could feel safe again.
Then, Crystal Note, the mare who promised to be always there for her, left as well. It didn’t matter than she tried to explain, it didn’t matter that she told her how sad she felt for it, it didn’t matter that Velvet Heart had tried to act strong. Those were only words and no words could change the fact that Velvet Heart had been left, again. No words could stop her mind going back to that place where she was afraid and alone, no matter how much she understood why the mare had to leave.

And now, that same fear held her back from believing that she hadn’t been left alone. Words wouldn’t be enough to make her believe, so Crystal Note did the only thing she could do. She reached out for the filly to show that she was back, really. Her heart leapt when Velvet Heart jumped into her hooves and pressed into her gentle embrace
“You came back!”
All she could do was nod and hold back the tears she felt in her eyes. Velvet Heart didn’t need to see her tears right now. The filly had taken a first brave step of letting go of her fear, she wouldn’t let tears taint this moment for her, even if they were tears of relief.

Velvet Heart stayed in the embrace for a while longer and only pulled back a little to look up at her caretaker and guardian. Crystal Note smiled softly and released the filly when she started stirring, even if she didn’t want to if she was honest. Velvet Heart kept looking at her with those bright eyes and it only took a moment for the clever filly to see right through her. Crystal Note’s smile wavered a little but Velvet Heart’s frown turned into a smile and she gently nuzzled the mare’s side. Whatever Velvet Heart had seen, it wasn’t unforgivable and couldn’t match how happy the filly felt for her return.

Crystal Note leaned down to nuzzle the top of Velvet’s head very softly
“How have you been, little gem?”
Velvet Heart blushed at the pet name. It was the same her mother had used for her, but she hearing it from Crystal Note still felt a little weird, even if the mare even had the same tone of voice her mother had always used, the one that made her feel cared for and safe.
Velvet Heart didn’t dive too deep into that tonight and instead simply answered with a hushed voice so they wouldn’t wake Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth
“We’ve been good. Rose Quartz came home with us after school and she stayed over for the first night. Opal Waves checked in on us every few hours the following day. It was kind of annoying.”
She told how they had to convince the overprotective mare that they were fine for the night by themselves, in the end they had to rely on Sweetie Tooth’s best puppy dog eyes begging.

Crystal Note laughed gently and Velvet Heart leaned against her with a happy smile. It did feel right to be around Crystal Note, better than with Rose Quartz or Opal Waves. Crystal Note shifted slightly so the filly could rest her head against her flank and whispered softly
“I’m glad the three of you got along so well. But, how have you been, Velvet?”
Velvet Heart froze for a moment and a fearful tremble snuck into her voice
“I had a nightmare in the first night. And I yelled a couple of times. It was hard.”
She knew that it wasn’t right to yell at other ponies. She really, really tried not to, but sometimes she just couldn’t help it. Crystal Note had talked with her about it many times and now she was afraid of what her caretaker would say about her relapse.
Instead of scolding, she felt a soft nuzzle on the top of her head
“I know it’s hard, little gem. But it will get easier and we will make it better again, I promise.”
The filly smiled and leaned her head up towards the nuzzling
“Thank you, Crystal Note.”

Crystal Note let the moment linger a little longer, but eventually the cold crept into the living room now that even the embers had faded out
“Come on, love. Let’s get you and your sister tucked in. We can talk more tomorrow.”
She felt Velvet Heart nod and got up on her hooves again. Before she could take a step, Velvet Heart climbed up on her back and took her by surprise. She turned her head and watched with a smile as the filly curled up contently with a little yawn already.
With a soft giggle, she checked on Sweetie Tooth who was still sleeping peacefully. With a gentle touch of her magic, she picked up the slumbering filly. Sweetie Tooth knew how it felt to be carried with magic, so she didn’t even stir as she floated in a cloud of turquoise sparkles. Crystal Note took a moment to pull the blankets over Glass Slipper before she carried the twins up to their bedroom. Sweetie Tooth didn’t wake up and Velvet Heart fell back asleep on the way, so she silently tucked them in nice and warm in their bed. She watched them for a moment but the nightmares Velvet Heart had mentioned stayed away tonight, thank Luna for that.

She silently climbed back downstairs, where Glass Slipper was still sleeping. Sadly Crystal Note couldn’t carry her up the stairs, so although it broke her heart, she had to wake the teenage filly. She gently shook her shoulder and whispered
“Glass Slipper, wake up dear. It’s getting cold, let’s get you to bed.”
The filly stirred and blinked her eyes open, trying to see in the sparse light of the moon from outside. She yawned and her eyes fell on Crystal Note as she mumbled drowsily
“Mom?”
Crystal Note just smiled and gently pulled the filly on her hooves
"It's me."
Glass Slipper blinked and raised her head, but a big yawn told that she was still at the brink of sleep
“You’re back.”
Crystal Note giggled and led the filly towards the stairs, allowing Glass Slipper to lean against her
“I am. Sorry I’m late, dear.”
“S’okay. We tried to stay up but…”
Glass Slipper slurred and ended in another yawn. She walked along with her eyes halfway closed, happy to let Crystal Note guide her and help her climb under the covers of her bed. She felt a soft nuzzle on her mane, almost like her mom used to do when she was little
“Sweet dreams, Angel, You can tell me everything after a good night’s rest.”
“Night, Crystal Note.”
Glass Slipper was back asleep before Crystal Note even closed the door behind her. With a yawn of her own, but a smile on her face, she finally made it to her own bed. With a happy sigh, she closed her eyes with the images of her three fillies in her mind.
Coming back home had never felt better.

Rememberance - the only chapter

It was still a good hour before sunrise when the first lights were turned on in the homes of the Crystal Empire. Even in the palace, everypony seemed on their hooves very early, when the first moon of spring was still in the sky. Because they were so far up north, the moon could be seen next to the sun for a couple of hours on this day. The crystal ponies called this time ‘spirit’s moon’ and had so for many generations now.

In one of the larger homes at the end of an alleyway, Crystal Note also lit some candles for light. She’d barely slept out of worry and concern, but she kept her calm smile as she headed to wake Glass Slipper, Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart. Today, she needed to be very strong for them, as this was the first spirit’s moon since their parents had lost their lives in that terrible accident.

Unlike the ponies of Equestria, the crystal ponies of the Crystal Empire only visited the graves of their ancestors and families once a year, on this very day. While each home had a little shrine with memories of their passed ones, this day was dedicated to mourn and remember. Now, after the war that had cost so many lives, this day was even more important to everypony as it had ever been.

Crystal Note knocked on Glass Slipper’s door and the teenage filly opened right away. She had rings under her eyes as she had only gotten little sleep as well, but she had brushed her coat to shine and arranged her mane into a traditional braid. Their eyes met and Crystal Note gently pulled the filly in for a gentle squeeze, which the teenager accepted without any shame. She even managed a small, if sad smile for her caretaker.

Together, they went downstairs and to the twin’s bedroom. Velvet Heart stirred and opened her eyes as soon as the door opened, but Sweetie Tooth needed a little nudge to wake up. She was confused at first because it was still dark, but then she remembered what day it was and tears gleamed in her eyes. Velvet Heart already stood next to Crystal Note when Sweetie Tooth climbed out of bed and she had tear-stains on her cheeks as well.

The mare and the older sister managed to keep up their soft smiles for the young twins. Tears were dried and Crystal Note helped the fillies brushing their coat with the soft brush their mother had once used. Glass Slipper braided their manes to match her own. All the time, not a single word had been spoken. Even so, Crystal Note poured all comfort and support she could into every little gesture and touch.

About half an hour and a light breakfast later, the four ponies left their home and walked down the streets towards the west. On their way, more and more ponies joined them, all with the same sad and sombre expressions, their natural colours dulled and faded. Most of them were crystal ponies of course, but this year some new faces joined the procession. The first few ponies from Equestria had moved to live in the Crystal Empire that year, and now they came to show their respect to the traditions of their new home. Shy and cautious, the earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns slipped between the small groups of crystal ponies. Most of them wore a black ribbon on their left hoof, a tradition Crystal Note had seen in Canterlot before. The crystal unicorn noticed a few hugs of comfort between the ponies and some mumbled words of condolence, but just like her three charges, most of the ponies remained silent.

The ponies filed through the iron gates of the cemetery west of the city, their heads hung low in sadness for those they lost, or in respect for those who had come to rest. To Crystal Note, seeing so many graves and only so few ponies in between was one of the saddest images she had ever witnessed.

The crystal ponies soon found the graves of their families and loved ones. They stood before them in deep silence and sadness. The ponies who had just moved here gathered around the monument of the four tribes, a large statue in the middle of the cemetery. On a marble plinth, four ponies formed out of crystal stared towards the rising sun. One of them with a horn, one with wings on its back, two with none of those features, even if one had emeralds as eyes. The inscription on the socket dedicated this statue to all four tribes who had lost ponies during the war between King Sombra’s Empire and the nation of Equestria.

The sun had already joined the spirit moon when the royal family joined the ponies of the Empire. Up front was Shining Armour, Prince of the Empire and general to the crystal guard, in his full dress uniform. He held his head high and stood tall, but instead of his usual smirk, today he carried a hard and stoic expression.

The Princess of the Crystal Empire, Princess Cadance, keeper of the crystal heart and Princess of Love, followed in her husband’s steps. She stood just a hoof taller than the prince, but her head was lowered in respect. She held her large alicorn wings wide spread and the ethereal strands of her colourful mane waved in an unseen breeze. Her eyes sought out the gaze of every pony she passed and they could all clearly see the tears gleaming in the princess’ eyes already. Even in deep sorrow, the alicorn princess carried her natural aura of grace and benevolence.

Right behind them followed Princess Flurry Heart. Compared to her mother’s long strides, the filly had to trot to keep up. Like her mother, she had her smaller wings spread out and a tiara sat on her head. Unlike her parents though, the young filly did not carry herself well. Everypony could see her uneasiness to be at a place like this and she struggled to hold back tears. Even though she had nopony to mourn about, seeing so many others who did had Flurry Heart lose herself in earnest sadness, born out of compassion.

The royal couple took their spots in front the monument, with their daughter between them. Sunburst, the royal crystaller and unicorn stallion, stayed behind them in a respectful distance. Today, out of respect he’d chosen to not wear his blue cape. With him stood Lieutenant Flash Sentry of the crystal guard, in full dress armour as well. Along with Sunburst, the pegasus was the first non-crystal pony to live in the Empire, so now the new citizens gathered around them while the crystal ponies stood by the graves of their loved ones.

Crystal Note saw her sister Rose Quartz in the royal procession and when their eyes met, they shared a look of agreement. With a sad nod, Rose Quartz made her way to the spot where their own parents lay to rest. As much as Crystal Note longed to join her and cry for her parents at her side, they both knew she was needed somewhere else today.

The mare gently guided her three fillies to a pair of fresh graves. Sweetie Tooth already clung on her hoof for the last steps and as soon as she sat back on her haunches, she felt Velvet Heart bury her face against the other leg. Glass Slipper sat down close to her sister, but Crystal Note could see clearly that the teenage filly struggled not to break down as well.

Sadly, all Crystal Note could do was be there, show them that they weren’t alone and share their tears.

The crowd mourned silently for the most part. Only the occasional sob broke through. Velvet Heart sniffled and tried to muffle the sounds against Crystal Note’s flank, Sweetie Tooth cried openly. Glass Slipper scooted closer to her sisters in a weak effort of comfort, but the pain was still too fresh and their sadness too strong.

The spirit moon started to fade after some time and Princess Cadance broke the constricting silence. Her voice was a little shaky, but brimmed with emotion and loud as she started to sing. The song she had chosen was slow and old, and it was tradition for the mares of the Crystal Empire to sing it during the spirit moon.

The crystal ponies clearly appreciated that their princess honoured this old tradition and soon more mares joined in. Crystal Note was one of the first to add her strong and clear voice to the song and very soon, the others followed her lead as the song filled the air.

The ponies finally let out the pent up emotion and there was barely any face without tears left. The three fillies reached their breaking point and cried uncompromisingly loud, but they were not alone. Crystal Note wrapped her hooves around Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart and pulled them close against her into a tight embrace, just as she had done on the very first day they had met. Glass Slipper pressed against the mare’s side in search for comfort, and Crystal Note gently lay her head on the filly’s when she felt tears running down into her coat.

The sad song of remembrance went on until the spirit moon vanished from the sky. The ponies set into motions, visiting the graves of other friends or going out to comfort those who were still mourning. Many ponies joined the three fillies and their caretaker to pay respect to the recently passed and to share words of condolence and comfort. The fillies were in no state to reply, but Crystal Note made an effort to look gratefully at everypony and thank them. One of the last to join them was her friend Sour Berry, who stayed with them for a while. The fillies only slowly recovered and Crystal Note held them all the while. Even though she had poured her heart into the old song of Princess Cadance, she still felt that sadness that tugged at her soul, just like the fillies.

She closed her eyes and followed her emotion as a song came to her mind. Without any hesitation, she sang for her fillies and everypony to hear

It’s been a long day
Without you my friend
And I’ll tell you all about it
When I see you again.

We came a long road
From where we began
And I’ll tell you all about it
When I see you again

When I see you again…

This time it took a while longer, but before long ponies joined into the song once more. Unlike before, now the earth ponies and unicorns from southern Equestria sang as well or at least hummed along.

Princess Cadance mingled into the small groups of ponies to share some comfort as much as she could. She was always greeted with small bows, but the citizens knew their Princess well enough by now to know that she didn’t enjoy being treated differently. Cadance tried to share a few words with every pony she passed, but she made her way to the fillies and their caretaker.

Crystal Note felt a small touch on her shoulder and when she turned her head, the Princess was smiling at her, thankful but also comforting. With a small gesture and a little nudge, she sent Crystal Note to join her sister who still sat all by herself in front of the graves. The fillies only noticed when Crystal Note loosened her embrace, but before they could react, Princess Cadance was there to pull them into another soft hug with her wings and hooves.

Crystal Note reached Rose Quartz and slumped down next to her. Her sister’s tears had already run out and the streaks on her cheeks had almost dried, but her colours were still dulled. Even her usually bright pink mane looked grey. Rose Quartz touched her hoof with her own and Crystal Note couldn’t hold back any longer. For a few minutes, she forgot about everything else and just cried. Two ponies stood clear in her memories and their faces wore loving smiles.

She felt Rose Quartz hug her gently and Crystal Note nodded with a last little sob. When they turned around to leave, the fillies were already waiting for her, along with Princess Cadance and her family.

They were one of the lasts to pass the monument of the four tribes one last time. Their candles joined the dozens already burning and flickering in front of the plinth and with one last deep bow from princesses, the ponies finally left the cemetery again.

Glass Slipper stayed close to Crystal Note and Rose Quartz took her other side. The teenage filly clearly appreciated the comfort and leaned gently into the mare as they walked. Flurry Heart, now far less princess-ly as during the ceremony, quickly rushed between Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart as soon as they passed the gate. The alicorn filly hated seeing her friends like this and despite all the sadness, she managed to lure out some soft smiles which caused her to bubble into giggles.

Behind the fillies, Flurry Heart’s parents watched proudly at the exchange.

Following an invitation from Shining Armour, the ponies took the street leading towards the palace in the centre of the city, joined by a few others. Just like the morning was dedicated to remembrance and sorrow, the rest of the day the ponies would share in togetherness to let go of the loneliness they had all felt before. By the time they reached the palace, a few more Cutie Mark Crusaders had joined Flurry Heart and the twins already. Crystal Note couldn’t help but smile when she heard the soft giggles from the group of foals. Even though the day had started bad, her heart glowed just from the thought that the fillies could already smile again. With a smile to her friends and her sister, she walked into the palace after the foals.

Worry and Care - the only chapter

Crystal Note watched the winter weather from a window in her music room. Although the protective barrier of the crystal heart held back most of the snow and icy winds, a few glittery flakes still waved through the air and made the city look even more sparkly than usual. Crystal Note could feel the chill from outside even through the closed window as she watched the sun almost touch the western horizon.

The musician pony smiled as she retreated deeper into the mansion that was her home, grateful for the warmth that was kept within the crystalline walls. She walked down the stairs into the large living room. Nopony except her was at home right now, but she still had a flickering fireplace going to keep the room cosy. In the kitchen, a pot of hot chocolate was almost ready. She knew three fillies who would most certainly appreciate it once they came back home.

As if on cue, the front door flew open and Sweetie Tooth, Velvet Heart and Glass Slipper stormed inside. The two young twins threw off their scarves and boots and scampered into the living room, both claiming a cushion right in front of the fireplace. Glass Slipper, always the responsible big sister, smiled and put everything back to its place before she walked into the room after them. Just at the same time as Crystal Note returned from the kitchen.

The twins smiled to their caretaker who returned it warmly. Glass Slipper received a gentle hug from Crystal Note, as she was closest, then accepted a mug of hot chocolate. With her magic, the crystal unicorn levitated two more mugs to the twins who squealed happily at the sweet and warming beverage. Although this was one of the customs Crystal Note had picked up during her time in Ponyville, the crystal ponies enjoyed hot chocolate a lot, especially on a cold day like this.

Crystal Note and Glass Slipper started talking about their day, as usual. Meanwhile, the twins lounged in the warmth of the fireplace and eagerly sipped their drinks while whispering to each other.
Glass Slipper was just talking about her dancing lessons when Crystal Note picked up an unpleasant sound. Her ears perked up and she turned towards the fireplace when she heard another cough from one of the twins. Sweetie Tooth had to set away her mug as a bad cough shook her small form. Crystal Note could tell this was not from getting her drink down the wrong way, she could hear the strain behind it clearly.

With a concerned expression, she walked over to the twins while Sweetie Tooth was still coughing. Velvet Heart watched worried and moved when her caretaker approached. Crystal Note gently rubbed Sweetie Tooth's back to ease the coughing
"Sweetie, are you alright?"
The filly nodded but she didn't look too convincing. When she was pulled into a gentle hug, she leaned against the mare she had learned to trust so much. She looked confused when she saw a deeply worried expression from Crystal Note. The mare gently put her hoof on the filly's chest, taking a few deep, slow breaths. The filly mimicked those breathes and Crystal Note's worry grew when she felt the strain from Sweetie Tooth and heard the dry, wheezing breaths.

Crystal Note pulled Sweetie Tooth closer and wrapped her hooves around her when another coughing fit shook the filly
"That doesn't sound good, Sweetie."
She put her hoof on her forehead and frowned
"You have a little temperature as well, dear."
Sweetie Tooth leaned against Crystal Note and Velvet Heart stepped closer, worried as well
"She’s been coughing in school, too."
The mare smiled softly and leaned to nuzzle her charge gently while holding Sweetie Tooth in her hug. She looked up towards the oldest of the fillies
"Glass Slipper, would you be a darling and run to the hospital? See if Doctor Caring Hoof is still in and please ask her if she can come over."
Glass Slipper noticed the serious undertone in Crystal Note's gentle voice. She nodded and quickly hurried out through the front door again.

Velvet Heart watched with big eyes and whispered
"Why do you want the doctor to come here?"
Crystal Note tried her best with a reassuring smile
"It's probably nothing, Velvet. But I want to be sure."
Velvet Heart nodded and Crystal Note gently helped Sweetie Tooth on her hooves
"Come on, Munchkin. We better get you in bed."
Sweetie Tooth coughed and nodded. When they reached the stairs, Crystal Note used a gentle levitation spell to pick up the weakened filly. Velvet Heart rushed up ahead and opened the door to the twin's bedroom, but Crystal Note just shook her head and carried Sweetie Tooth to her own bedroom instead. If Sweetie Tooth really was ill, taking her to the room she shared with her sister didn’t seem a good idea. Her own room only held a single bed, on which she gently placed the filly. Away from the fireplace and without the magic glow, Sweetie Tooth started shivering, so Crystal Note quickly tucked her under the covers.

Sweetie Tooth curled up under the warm blankets and smiled when she felt Crystal Note's soothing touch on her forehead again. The mare frowned as the fever seemed to rise even in such a short time. Next to them, Velvet Heart was watching with more and more concern
"What's going on, Crystal Note?"
Crystal Note sighed and gently ran her hoof down Velvet's mane to soothe her
"She's going to be alright, dear. But what about you? Are you feeling good?"
Velvet Heart nodded, her eyes still on her twin sister, even as Crystal Note pulled her into a soft hug and felt her forehead with her hoof. Crystal Note sighed relieved, as Velvet didn't seem to have a fever. She gently squeezed the worried filly and nuzzled the top of her head
"Everything is going to be fine, dear. No need to be scared, okay?"

Velvet Heart looked up at that, more confused than anything. Crystal Note’s eyes were still fixed on Sweetie Tooth, and finally the filly understood why she felt so uneasy. Crystal Note wasn’t just worried, the mare seemed deeply afraid. Velvet had never seen this expression on Crystal Note before, usually she was calm and collected and always smiling. Velvet didn’t like the thought that something made Crystal Note feel scared, especially when it had to do with Sweetie Tooth.
Velvet Heart wrapped her hooves tightly around her caretaker, and Crystal Note looked down surprised. Velvet almost never accepted more than a quick hug and her goodnight kiss, but now she pressed tightly into the hug. Crystal Note instinctively held her more firmly and thought about the right words to soothe the filly, but Velvet Heart’s next word took her by complete surprise
“You don’t get to be scared either! We’ll make sure she gets better, okay!”

Crystal Note felt a warm wave wash over her and her lips curled into a smile. Velvet Heart was worried about her sister like herself, but still the keen filly had picked up that Crystal Note needed a hug like this right now. Her heart opened wide as the young filly made this attempt to calm her worries. In a rush of attachment and maternal pride, she leaned down to plant a gentle kiss on Velvet’s head
“You’re right, little gem. And I know just what we can do.”

She glanced over to Sweetie Tooth who had calmed down after her coughing. Her eyes were closed as if sleeping, but Crystal Note noticed from the wheezing breaths that the filly was just too exhausted to move right now. At least the shivering had stopped.
Crystal Note released Velvet Heart from her embrace with some reluctance from both. As quietly as they could, they snuck out of the room and back down the stairs to the kitchen. Velvet jumped on the small stool Sweetie Tooth usually used when she helped cooking and put on the teakettle while Crystal Note rummaged through the cabinets. When she emerged again, she levitated a wooden box to the counter. Velvet looked at it curiously, wood was not a common material in the Crystal Empire after all. On the side of the box, the design of an apple was carved into the wood and when she leaned closer, she picked up a spicy scent.

Crystal Note opened the box and Velvet Heart stared at the mix of dried leaves and herbs inside, with small bits of fruit in between it seemed
“What’s that?”
“That is Granny Smith’s special cure-all tea mix. Whenever a member of the Apple family gets sick, they get a brew of this. Granny Smith claims it helps for everything from toothache over broken legs to itchy coat, all because of its secret ingredient.”
She glanced left and right to check that nopony was eavesdropping and leaned close to the filly with a whisper
“The secret ingredient is apples, but shh!”
Velvet Heart giggled as Crystal Note pretended to zip her lips shut with her hoof. They both grinned and winked. By now, the kettle was ready and Crystal Note filled the big teapot with a good amount of tea to brew over. After a few minutes, she filled a big mug with the red liquid. With her magic, she picked up the honeypot that stood on the upper shelf, out of reach for any fillies. While Velvet Heart watched, just a tad jealous, Crystal Note added a generous dollop of honey.

When they returned to Sweetie Tooth, Velvet noticed right away that Crystal Note’s expression changed to scared-worried again. She gently nudged the mare with her head, for which she received a smile.
Crystal Note sat down on the edge of the bed next to Sweetie Tooth just as the filly opened her eyes again
“Hey Munchkin, how are you feeling?”
“Cold…”
Despite the warm blankets, Sweetie Tooth was shivering again
“Here, this will help you get warm again, Sweetie Tooth.”
She helped the filly sit up and levitated the mug of honeyed tea into her hooves. She kept the magic in place and helped Sweetie Tooth take small sips of the warm drink. At some point, Sweetie Tooth turned her head away but Crystal Note still insisted
“Come on, Sweetie. The tea will help you with your cough, try to drink a little more.”
Velvet Heart watched her twin sister and understood that she also noticed the tinge of fear in Crystal Note’s voice this time. Reluctantly, she reached for the mug again and finished her tea with a few big gulps.

Crystal Note smiled with some relief and thanked her filly with a soft kiss on her forehead, which made both sisters smile.
Velvet Heart heard voices from downstairs and poked her head into the hallway
“We’re up here!”
Glass Slipper jumped upstairs, followed by a mare with a white doctor’s coat and a stethoscope around her neck. She had a soft smile for the nervous filly and went into the room with her patient. Behind her, Velvet also saw Ruby Rose, the mother of her friend Ivory Rose, walking towards them. The mare carried a large black bag in her mouth and she wore a white cap with a red cross on her head.

The red-coated mare smiled at both sisters before she slipped into the room as well. Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart waited outside, but since the door was open, they peeked inside and listened
“Doctor, I’m so glad to see you. Thank you for coming this late.”
“Good evening, Crystal Note, and no worries at all. Now, let’s have a look at our little patient.”

Crystal Note climbed off the bed to make room for the doctor, who smiled at a now very nervous Sweetie Tooth. Velvet could relate to that, last time they had seen Doctor Caring Hoof was in the hospital with needles when they got their shots. This time though, the doctor only smiled friendly and asked a few questions. From time to time, she asked for something and Ruby Rose would give the doctor an instrument from the large medicine bag.
Velvet Heart watched as the doctor had Sweetie Tooth open her mouth as wide as she could, peeked into her ears with a small metal thingy and poked a few spots on her neck and chest to see if she was in any pain.
Finally, she asked Sweetie Tooth to take some deep breaths while she listened with her stethoscope. The doctor seemed focused with a neutral expression, but when Sweetie Tooth started coughing again, her brow furrowed into a frown
“Hm. Thermometer, please.”
Ruby Rose handed another tool to the doctor. While the two mares from the hospital stayed calm and professional, Velvet could see that Crystal Note got more worried with every minute that passed.

The doctor glanced at the thermometer and showed it to Ruby Rose as well. The nurse sighed softly and nodded in confirmation to the doctor. That was the point when Crystal Note’s worry went to overdrive
“How is she, Doctor? Is it something serious?”
The doctor shook her head and scribbled a few notes on a chart before she answered
“I’m afraid Sweetie Tooth got herself a nasty case of the flu.”
Velvet didn’t know what ‘the flu’ was, but Glass Slipper gasped next to her. Crystal Note immediately lost all the sparkles of her coat at stared at the doctor with wide eyes
“Are you sure, Doctor?”
“Yes. Do you know if she ever had the flu before?”
Crystal Note shook her head, her eyes drawn back to the filly in the bed
“I… I don’t know. I suppose not. Are you sure it’s the flu and nothing else? What are we going to do now?”

Sweetie Tooth started to shiver in her bed when Crystal Note stared at her, so worried and scared all of a sudden. She pulled the covers over her head so she didn’t have to see, but she could still hear the fear in her voice
“Is there anything we can do, Doctor? Can you help her?”
Doctor Caring Hoof stayed calm and gathered her things back into the bag. Ruby Rose put a gentle hoof on Crystal Note’s shoulder, but she barely even noticed while staring at the bed
“Well, she’s in for a few rough nights, that’s for sure. Her fever will raise some more while her body fights back the illness. I recommend bedrest, lots of liquid and any food she will eat. Make sure she stays warm all the time.”

The doctor got ready to leave, but Crystal Note grabbed her hoof before she could turn around
“Wait, that’s all? There is nothing you can do? Don’t you have any medicine for her, or a fever cure or transplantation or anything that…”
“Crystal Note!”
The doctor interrupted the crystal unicorn’s rambling with an impressive efficiency
“You need to stay calm. Her fever is not that high yet, nothing to worry about. She’s a strong filly, so it’s best to let her body deal with this by itself. If her fever won’t go down the day after tomorrow, we’ll think about some medicine. But until then, I need you to stay calm. Understood?”
Crystal Note nodded in a way that reminded Velvet a lot of her big sister when she got scolded by her teacher, but that worry in her eyes still didn’t fade.

Doctor Caring Hoof sighed and nodded
“Good. Nurse Ruby Rose will stay and see if she can help you set up things for tonight. Unfortunately, I’m needed at the hospital again, so I need to go now. Take care, Crystal Note.”
She put her hoof gently on Sweetie Tooth’s head who was still hidden under the covers
“And you get well again quickly, Sweetie Tooth. I’ll be back in a couple of days to check on you again, alright?”
When she saw a nod under the blanket, the doctor picked up the bag and left the room, with a kind smile to the fillies outside.

Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart walked into the room, but Ruby Rose stopped them
“Could you girls set up a kettle for tea, please? I’ll be down with Crystal Note in just a minute.”
Glass Slipper nodded and took Velvet Heart’s hoof to guide her downstairs.
Once the fillies were gone, Ruby Rose fixed the distraught mare with a worried look. Under the blanket, Sweetie Tooth had to cough again, but before Crystal Note could rush to her, Ruby Rose gently pulled her out of the room
“Crystal Note, we need to talk.”
“But…”
“No. Come with me, please.”
Crystal Note obediently followed the nurse out of the room. As soon as she was sure that neither of the fillies could hear her, Ruby Rose turned around. Startled by the absolute worry she saw on her friend’s face, she put a gentle hoof on her shoulder
“What’s wrong, Crystal Note? This isn’t like you at all.”
“I’m just worried, Ruby Rose.”
“Exactly. Even when you’re worried, you’re always calm. You can deal with a room full of Cutie Mark Crusaders and not once you have to even raise your voice. Why is this working you up so much?”

Crystal Note looked away for a moment and Ruby Rose gasped when the silvery-white mare in front of her suddenly took a greyish colour. She knew Crystal Note was more susceptible to the change, mostly because she was a crystal unicorn and her unicorn magic tapped into the crystal magic that changed her appearance through emotions. But until now, she hadn’t realized how worried Crystal Note really was
“Do you remember Daisy Blossom, Ruby Rose? From before?”
Ruby Rose knew immediately what the mare meant with ‘before’ and indeed, she recognized that name. In the time before the curse, her grandmother had been a midwife. When the king had confiscated all medicine for his growing army, many ponies had turned to her for help. Ruby Rose had always accompanied her grandmother when she snuck from house to house to help parents and foals with her herbal remedies and old knowledge. Ruby Rose had learned as much as she could from her grandmother and when Princess Cadance had announced the rebuilding of a hospital, she had been one of the first to volunteer to help and became a nurse.

Daisy Blossom had been one of the most tragic things Ruby Rose had seen as a filly. She had been weak from birth on, since her mother barely had enough food even with the help of others. At the age of six, the filly had fallen terribly ill with the flu. Even with her grandmother’s herbs, Daisy Blossom did not survive and her heartbroken mother had passed only hours after, out of pure grief ponies had said back then.

Ruby Rose took a step forward and wrapped her hooves around her friend. Crystal Note stared blankly ahead, into the past and whispered
“I was there when Daisy Blossom… when she passed on. And now, when I look at Sweetie Tooth in that bed, I keep seeing her instead. And I feel helpless, like back then, all over again.”
Crystal Note clenched her eyes shut and Ruby Rose watched how the mare willed herself not to cry, not when her fillies could find her. Like any good mother, her personal grief had to wait until she was sure the kids were alright.

Ruby Rose sighed and pulled back after a few moments
“Listen, I know this is hard but you have to understand. You did all you could to help Daisy Blossom, but it didn’t work back then. Now, you have to do what you can to help Sweetie Tooth. Even if it’s just feeding her soup and making sure she stays in bed.”
Crystal Note took a deep breath and steadied herself, even though she couldn’t banish all of the greyish tinge in her coat
“You’re right, I need to pull myself together now. For the girls.”
Ruby Rose smiled knowingly and touched her hoof with her own
“I know it’s not easy, trust me I know. When Ivory Rose was ill for the first time, I completely lost it. It’s always bad the first time, especially the flu.”
More or less reassured, Crystal Note followed Ruby Rose to the kitchen. Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart had already set up the kettle for tea. The three ponies listened attentively as Ruby Rose explained what kind of tea would help best and together they prepared a healthy soup for Sweetie Tooth as well.

Crystal Note sat on the cushion next to her bed and watched Sweetie Tooth’s sleeping form. She only had the moonlight from outside, but it was enough to see her chest rise and fall with each breath.

Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart would go to school early next morning, so after a quick dinner, Glass Slipper had retired to her room and Crystal Note had tucked in the younger filly. Instead of a bedtime story, Velvet Heart kept asking many questions about doctors and nurses, as well as medicine and the flu. Crystal Note answered them as well as she could and tried her best to diffuse Velvet’s fears. In the end, they repeated their promise to help Sweetie Tooth get better together and when Crystal Note kissed her forehead like every night, Velvet fell asleep with a smile.

Sweetie Tooth had been coughing a lot during the night, but she had eaten some of the soup and drunken three cups of herbal tea with honey. Crystal Note stayed with her all the time and as the doctor had predicted, Sweetie Tooth’s temperature kept rising still. Eventually, Crystal Note had managed to calm the filly with some of her favourite lullabies, and now she was sleeping for a few hours at least.

A little whimper from the bed pulled Crystal Note out of her thoughts and to the side of the bed again. Sweetie Tooth was tossing around in her sleep and her mane was streaked with sweat. Crystal Note lit up her horn just a little for some light and gently dapped the filly’s forehead with a tissue. For a moment, the discomfort faded from Sweetie Tooth’s face and made room for a small smile, but far too soon, she was whimpering and tossing again.
Crystal Note leaned down towards her but whatever she wanted to say faded when she heard Sweetie Tooth mumble in her sleep. Crystal Note leaned closer and could make out some of the mumbles
“Mommy… Mommy…”
Crystal Note smiled and was about to answer, but the next mumble again took away her words and had her freeze up entirely
“Daddy? Mommy? Don’t leave… please…”

Crystal Note could only watch helplessly as Sweetie Tooth sobbed in her fever driven dreams.
For one slight second, Crystal Note had believed that the filly was calling out to her. Sweetie Tooth had already called her ‘Mommy’ before, albeit in secret, but she knew she had a spot in her heart. Of course, no matter how much she would hope and pretend, she could not change the truth.
She was not Sweetie Tooth’s real mother. Not the mare she called for. Sweetie Tooth was dreaming of her real parents of course and nothing Crystal Note did would ever bring them back. All she could do was watch as Sweetie Tooth cried in her sleep
“Mommy? Mommy? Please, Mommy.”
Her heart wept as she shared the filly’s pain and felt it twice as bad in herself. At some point, Sweetie Tooth tossed around and desperately reached out for somepony, anypony
“Mommy… please don’t leave me, too…”

Sweetie Tooth’s voice cut deep into the mare’s heart. She could feel the filly’s desperation and her fear so clearly. It was unbearable. She felt her own heart break with each sob. Sweetie Tooth was suffering all by herself. Unable to take it even a second longer, Crystal Note wrapped her hooves around the filly and pulled her into her embrace. No fear was strong enough to stop her and she realized. She knew she would never be able to stand seeing Sweetie Tooth in pain ever again. She would never hold back again when she saw her filly in tears or in fear.
Her voice and her heart reached out for Sweetie Tooth as attachment, worry and care turned into something stronger, something unconditional and absolute
“Shh, Sweetie Tooth. I’m here. I’m here. I’m not leaving, I’m never leaving you, my little filly.”
My little filly. Her heart told her this was true. She may not be the mare Sweetie Tooth had called for, but she was the mare the filly needed right now. She was the only one who could help her, the only one who could fill the empty spot.
Sweetie Tooth stopped shivering and tossing. All the whimpering stopped, although tears kept running down her cheeks into Crystal Note’s coat
“Mommy! Mommy!”
Crystal Note climbed on the bed and curled herself around her filly. She would never let her feel alone, she would protect her from all the dark and cold in the world, until the end of time. Her heart fell back into place and Crystal Note followed its decision with soft whispered words
“I’m here, Sweetie. Mommy’s here. Mommy’s here for you.”
Sweetie Tooth cried in joy as she basked in the warmth and love from her mommy, and Crystal Note shared every tear of her daughter. Both of them knew, even through a haze of fever and doubts, that this was right. This was what they wanted to be, mother and daughter, heart to heart. Without saying, they knew they would never keep this a secret anymore.

They stayed like this for the rest of the night, Crystal Note curled around her daughter and Sweetie Tooth sleeping peacefully in her mother’s embrace. In the soft light of the moon from outside, sparkles danced over their crystalline forms.

When Crystal Note woke up again, the sun was already high up. She stirred and turned her head out of the light. She hadn’t slept this well in months and she wanted to doze a little longer, especially with this wonderful warmth in her heart.
Eventually, she opened one eye to look at the filly in her embrace. Sweetie Tooth was still slumbering, nuzzled into her mother’s coat. Crystal Note could still hear the wheezing breaths, but the feverish nightmares hadn’t returned at least. She felt her daughter’s forehead with a hoof and a small frown appeared. Sweetie Tooth was still burning up and her mane was sweaty.

Slowly to not disturb her sleeping filly, Crystal Note climbed out of the bed and pulled the blankets around Sweetie Tooth so she wouldn’t get cold. Since the sun was already this high, she didn’t need a clock to know she overslept quite a bit. The house was empty as expected, so Crystal Note made her way to the kitchen. She smiled when she found the table set up for breakfast, with a note on her seat. Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart had left for school and they would inform the teacher. On the stove, a pot of herbal tea was kept warm along with some oatmeal.
Crystal Note smiled brightly and the warmth she felt in her heart flared up a little more. She’d have to find a way to thank Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart for being such wonderful sisters.

With a tray full of healthy breakfast in her magic grip and a smile on her face, Crystal Note returned to the bedroom. The smile wavered when she saw the lump of blankets instead of a slumbering filly
“Sweetie Tooth?”
A shiver ran through the lump, then the blankets flew to the side and Sweetie Tooth lunged at her. Crystal Note nearly dropped the tray when the filly threw her over, hooves tightly wrapped around her middle. Her own hooves circled the shivering form in a comforting hug and she felt Sweetie Tooth nuzzle in closer
“You weren’t there.”
The tray floated to the nightstand as Crystal Note sat up while holding her filly close. She heard a sniffle and a sob
“I woke up but you weren’t there.”
“Shh, Sweetie. Mommy’s here now.”
The soothing affirmation managed to keep the filly from crying, but she kept clinging on Crystal Note nonetheless. The mare held the filly close to her heart, gently rubbing her hoof down her back
“Sweetie, even if you can’t see me, I’m still there. I’m not leaving you.”
The filly glanced up and sniffled softly
“Promise?”
Crystal Note just smiled and nodded
“I promise.”

Sweetie Tooth smiled. It was a weak smile, her mane was messy and her eyes were glassy from the fever. Still, Crystal Note noticed the change. After weeks of dodging and pretending, they both knew that this was right. Nothing would change entirely, but everything would be different from now on, as Sweetie Tooth had a mother once again and Crystal Note now was ready to be the mother her filly needed and deserved.

Their moment was cut short when Sweetie Tooth broke into coughing again. Crystal Note also felt the shivering from the filly, so she quickly tucked her daughter under the warm blankets again, although they were soaked with sweat.
Together, they finally had some breakfast, even if Sweetie Tooth barely ate anything and Crystal Note had to coax her into drinking some more tea.

Since Sweetie Tooth still felt cold, Crystal Note drew a warm bath for her. Instead of the usual bubble bath, she added some bathing salts and scented oils to help the filly relax and breathe more easily. While Sweetie Tooth soaked in the warm water, Crystal Note changed the sheets of the bed. She sung as she worked, loud enough for Sweetie Tooth to hear her in the bathroom. When she helped her out of the bath, Sweetie Tooth’s eyes were already heavy with sleepiness. The coughing had stopped, for now at least, but Crystal Note could still feel the fever. Following Ruby Rose’ advice, she tucked the filly into the now cosy bed once more. Half a cup of tea and a lullaby later, the filly was slumbering and sleeping off the illness.

By the time Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart returned from school, Crystal Note was still in the bedroom at her daughter’s side. She had woken up a few times, drank some more and even eaten a little, but there wasn’t really any improvement to the last night. Except now, there was a faint smile on her lips, even when she was coughing in her sleep.

Crystal Note joined the two fillies for a quick dinner, but they both volunteered to take care of chores by themselves tonight. Crystal Note pulled them each into a tight hug before she returned to Sweetie Tooth’s side.
She watched the filly sleep and soon, Velvet Heart and Glass Slipper joined her. They talked quietly to each other so they wouldn’t disturb their sister. The moon was already up when Crystal Note finally sent the fillies to bed. She felt bad for only spending so little time with them, but Velvet Heart practically glared her back into the bedroom when she offered to tuck her in. Glass Slipper stated she’d take over for the bedtime story tonight and Velvet Heart nodded and added
“And I’ll make sure Glass Slipper doesn’t stay up all night long!”
All three broke into giggles at that and Crystal Note smiled proudly at how responsible and understanding the sisters had become.

Crystal Note put all the lights down, except for a single candle on the nightstand. The flickering flame sent shadows dancing on the walls and Crystal Note watched them, lost in thoughts old and new.
The stirring from the bed caught her attention again and when Sweetie Tooth opened her eyes, she found her mother watching over her. They smiled at each other and Sweetie Tooth sat up a little on her bed. She looked much better already, but still more than a little dazed
“How do you feel, Sweetie?”
“Lousy. Hungry, too.”
With a soft smile, Crystal Note levitated a mug of lukewarm tea towards the filly. Unlike the times before, Sweetie Tooth managed to hold it in her own hooves.
“I’ll see what I can do about that. I’ll be back in a minute, okay dear?”
“Okay Mommy.”
Her heart skipped a beat when she felt the true emotion behind that simple word. Her smile grew as she made her way through the house in the light of her horn.

When she returned with a bowl of applesauce, Sweetie Tooth was staring at the door already, waiting anxiously for her.
There were no words needed. Crystal Note climbed on the bed and lay down half-curled. Sweetie Tooth scooted close and rested against the mare as she made quick business of her midnight snack. When she put down the bowl with a happy sigh, Crystal Note just giggled and pulled her into a gentle hug. Sweetie Tooth nuzzled in and watched the bowl float away in the turquoise light. A soft blow and the candle flickered out as well, leaving only a little moonlight from the window.

Sweetie Tooth angled her head to look up at her mommy. Again, there was no need for words. Like the night before, Crystal Note gently pulled her daughter into her embrace, curling around her filly. Sweetie Tooth wiggled into the most comfortable position and her head came to rest on Crystal Note’s chest, close to her heart. She could feel each beat of her mother’s heart, and she could feel the humming run through her as Crystal Note guided her back to sleep with her favourite lullaby

Hush now, quiet now
It’s time to lay your sleepy head…

Within minutes, Sweetie Tooth was slumbering once more. Crystal Note watched her filly with a loving smile, but sleep claimed her as well shortly after. This night, no nightmares interrupted their rest and they slept well into the morning.

The next day started much like the last one. Again, Crystal Note and Sweetie Tooth had slept in. Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart were already at school. This time, however, Sweetie Tooth woke up without her feverish daze. Her eyes seemed brighter than the days before and Crystal Note found her temperature had dropped a little at least. She was still weak and there was still coughing, but overall she looked much better than the other day.

Unwilling to stay in bed, Sweetie Tooth insisted on going downstairs with Crystal Note for breakfast. However, Crystal Note kept her filly wrapped up in double layers of blankets and placed her filly on a cushion near the fireplace that came to life with a quick burst of magic.
They were halfway through breakfast when Crystal Note picked up the knocking on the front door. Ruby Rose, complete with her nurse cap and medicine bag, smiled at her from the doorstep.

The nurse went through a couple of tests, like the doctor, and took Sweetie Tooth’s temperature. Crystal Note watched anxiously and sighed relieved when Ruby Rose nodded in approval
“Already on the road of recovery, I see. Have you been eating, dear?”
Sweetie Tooth nodded and smiled at the nurse
“We just had breakfast and Mommy brought me a bowl of applesauce last night.”
Ruby Rose couldn’t resist a quick smirk towards Crystal Note, of course she noticed what Sweetie Tooth had called her. Proud of her new title, the mare smiled back, maybe just a little flustered
“That’s wonderful, Sweetie Tooth. Now, it’s okay you get up and walk around a little in the house, but don’t overdo it, please. When you’re cold, you should lie down in the warm and rest. We don’t want a relapse, after all.”
The filly nodded and Nurse Ruby Rose turned back to Crystal Note
“I’d recommend you keep her out of school for another week. Since Velvet Heart and Glass Slipper didn’t catch her flu yet, I doubt they still will but keep your eyes open for any symptoms. If any of your daughters get sick, feel free to ask for the doctor or me again.”

Crystal Note nodded and gently hugged Sweetie Tooth, which elicited a giggle from the filly. Ruby Rose smiled back at them
“Right, I’ll be going then. Get well soon, Sweetie Tooth, and be good for your mommy.”
Sweetie Tooth, suddenly very serious, nodded and clung on her mother who just kissed the top of her head
“Always!”

Ruby Rose laughed heartily and left mother and daughter with that, but her smile stayed even as she walked down the street towards the hospital. She was happy for the two. Sweetie Tooth finally had a loving mother again and Crystal Note finally had a family of her own once more. Even if it had all started with a tragedy, things were turning around again and the future smiled as bright as the sun over the Crystal Empire.

Glass Slipper - Dance - Part II

“Are you sure that’s okay?”
“Oh, come on. Don’t be a scaredy-pony. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Glass Slipper continued to push the family couch to the side of the room while Sapphire watched nervously. She was Glass Slipper’s best friend since they were both old enough to talk and she had stuck with her through thick and thin. Of course, she had been with Glass Slipper in the time after her parents’ death and also later when the fillies had chosen Crystal Note as their guardian.

Sapphire was a loyal friend but by nature not the bravest of ponies. She had learned with worry that Glass Slipper and her sisters now lived in the old haunted mansion she only knew of ghost stories. Glass Slipper had also let her in on the secret that the mansion was the same where Crystal Note grew up in as a filly. That knowledge didn’t really help Sapphire like this place more, she was still a bit wary of the crystal unicorn despite all she had seen or heard recently.

Now, she was standing in the same scary mansion and Glass Slipper was browsing through some foreign records that belonged to the crystal unicorn
“The worst? Crystal Note could find us and get mad at us and lock us in the torture room in the cellar.”
Glass Slipper laughed as she set one of the records in the strange device and grinned at her friend
“First, there’s no cellar and therefore no torture room. Second, Crystal Note doesn’t get mad that easily. Third, she gave me permission to play her records, so there’s no way we’ll get into trouble for that!”
“Did she allow you to move the furniture and take all this stuff out of her room as well?”
Glass Slipper blinked and hesitated for a second
“Technically not. But she’ll be gone for a couple more hours, so we can put everything back in place before she’ll ever find out about it.”

Not convinced, Sapphire threw a wary glance at the fellow teenager and watched as she adjusted something at the machine that she called a record player. The big black disk began to spin.
Both fillies smiled as a loud song filled the room. Sapphire never heard any song like that before, but the fast beat had her head bop in time and the lively tune made her hooves itch.
Glass Slipper grinned and walked into the now open space in the middle of the living room
“Ready?”
Sapphire walked next to her and mimicked her stance
“Ready!”
The both tapped their left hoof on the floor in rhythm with the song, then they started to sway and spin following the music.

Along with being the same age and going to the same class, the teenage fillies also shared a love for dancing. Even if Sapphire didn’t have a dancing-related cutie mark like Glass Slipper, she was as enthusiastic about it as her best friend. Together, they had spent days and weeks to make up new dance moves and practice them to perfection.
With Crystal Note’s record collection, Glass Slipper now had access to a completely new world of songs and tunes from outside the Crystal Empire. She’d found a lot of songs she enjoyed and today, she was to share them with her best friend.

The song went on and the fillies danced through the empty room. They picked up their pace quickly and their hooves clicked against the crystal floor as they moved through a series for fast steps and twirls in near perfect sync.
The song was much faster than the ones they had danced to before and by the end of it, both fillies were panting a little, but with beaming smiles on their faces. All of Sapphire’s nervousness was gone and she eagerly asked Glass Slipper to put up another record.

The next song was even faster and the fillies had a blast. They didn’t make up any new moves but instead mixed together the ones they already knew to match this new kind of music and the fast beats.
They danced through a couple of songs before they had to take a short break. Lounged in front of the record played, they browsed through some more songs and agreed on a few they had to try out next. Glass Slipper noticed that quite a few had the trio or musical notes printed on their cover, Crystal Note’s cutie mark.

The hours just flew by as the danced and laughed and discussed their moves whenever they took a break. Unnoticed by the fillies, the sun sunk down outside the window.
Glass Slipper and Sapphire worked through a complicated set of steps and spins and didn’t hear the front door opening. They also didn’t notice three ponies, a mare and two young fillies, poke their heads from the foyer into the living room. Sweetie Tooth grinned and Velvet Heart supressed her giggling behind her hoof.

Sapphire and Glass Slipper finally lost their concentration when they suddenly heard a voice. Caught by surprise, they fell out of sync and bumped together, which left them both landing on their flanks.
Sapphire was close to a panic attack until she realized the voice she heard matched the song perfectly. She looked up and saw Crystal Note standing in the doorway. The mare’s eyes were closed as she sung the next few lines

Oh come on, let me get to know you
Just another chance so that I can show
That I won't let you down, oh no
No, I won't let you down, oh no
'Cause I could be the one
I could be the one

Glass Slipper jumped towards the record played and stopped the music, but Crystal Note just kept singing for a little longer before she joined the twins in giggling
“It’s been a while since I heard that song. How do you like it, Sapphire?”
The mare smiled warmly at the clearly flustered teenager who desperately tried not to stare at the crystal unicorn
“Yes! I mean, I like it! It’s, um, very…”
She trailed off blushing as the fillies laughed even more, even Glass Slipper was snickering next to her. Crystal Note just kept smiling
“Those were some impressive moves you two pulled off. How long have you been practicing?”
Glass Slipper and Sapphire looked at each other and smiled
“We’ve been dancing ever since. Sapphire was around when I got my cutie mark, even.”
Sapphire smiled and nodded, but then something caught her attention. With a shriek, she backed away when she saw what it was.

Crystal Note’s horn was glowing. She was using her magic. Sapphire’s instincts kicked in and she jumped on her hooves, her eyes roaming to find the nearest exit. She froze as soon as she noticed Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart giggle at her.
Her panic faded and she saw Glass Slipper and Crystal Note were browsing through the records again, talking about which ones they liked best. A few covers were floating in the air, surrounded by the strange turquoise glow. Glass Slipper, totally unconcerned, pointed at one in particular and Crystal Note smiled, not even looking as the other records floated away and stacked up neatly.

“You get used to seeing that. It’s not a big deal, you know?”
Velvet Heart was standing next to her and grinned at the older filly. Sapphire’s cheeks burnt up again when she realized that even the foals weren’t afraid of magic, but she nearly jumped out of her coat
“Are you going to stay for dinner, Sapphire?”
The soft voice of Crystal Note pulled her out of her mulling and Sapphire needed a moment to catch up
“Oh. Um. Thanks, but I don’t want to intrude so…”
“Nonsense, dear. You’re not intruding at all, we’d all be happy to have you join us, right girls?”
The twins nodded enthusiastically and Glass Slipper grinned. For a moment, Sapphire couldn’t help but wonder if her mother would ever invite Glass Slipper in such a way. She nodded and mumbled a shy ‘Thank you’, to which the unicorn mare just smiled
“Alright, I’ll best start cooking then. Sweetie Tooth, do you want to help me?”
The filly nodded and scampered ahead to the kitchen.

Velvet Heart used the chance to lean towards Sapphire
“Don’t worry, if Sweetie Tooth is in there we know it’ll be edible at least. If not, we still have some cake left.”
“I can hear you, Velvet.”
The filly snickered and cowered playfully under Crystal Note’s glare-smile. The mare turned to her oldest charge
“Glass Slipper, why don’t you put on that record for us? Oh, and it would be delightful if the furniture was back in place before dinner.”
There was a soft chiding in Crystal Note’s voice. Glass Slipper looked up and met her caretaker’s eyes. Like Sapphire, she could only see a mild disapproval in the caring gaze, mostly because they didn’t ask permission first probably. Glass Slipper nodded, but then added with a rebellious smile
“Fine, Mom. I’ll do it.”
Sapphire glanced at the mare with some worry, but the three others just giggled. Crystal Note followed Sweetie Tooth to the kitchen and Glass Slipper set up the record player again. Another song filled the house, this one slow and relaxed compared to the ones the teenagers had danced to before.

Sapphire helped Glass Slipper and her little sister to get the dining table back to its spot and heard soft singing from the kitchen, along with some cooking noises. She blushed and turned towards the other two
“Your Mom is really nice. I know my mother would have been angry if I had made a mess of the house.”
“She’s not our mom!”
Velvet Heart replied almost immediately in a shout, although with blushing cheeks. Glass Slipper gently nudged her little sister to make her giggle, before she turned back to Sapphire
“She kinda is, but not really. It’s just like a running joke between us.”
Sapphire blinked surprised, but neither of the sisters seemed willing to go deeper into it. Accompanied by the record player and the singing from the kitchen, they three fillies put everything back in its place and then set the table for five ponies.

Very soon after, Crystal Note and Sweetie Tooth joined them at the table. Sweetie Tooth carried a pot with tea and Crystal Note levitated a still sizzling pan into the middle of the table. Sapphire stared at what supposedly had to be dinner and Crystal Note just laughed at her perplexed expression
“Something easy and fast, dear. Egg-fried rice with steamed vegetables. Dig in!”
The three sisters eagerly filled their plates and when Sapphire hesitated, Crystal Note leaned over to whisper
“Don’t worry, darling. Have a taste and if you don’t like it, there really is cake for later.”
Sapphire blushed but with a timid smile helped herself to a small serving. The fillies just kept eating but everypony watched from the corner of their eyes as Sapphire took a first small bite, quickly followed by another, larger one
“Wow! This is good.”
Crystal Note laughed melodiously and poured tea into five cups
“Thank you, Sapphire. It’s an easy dish, something even I can’t mess up.”
There was even more laughter around the table and Sapphire took another bite. The food looked strange but tasted delicious. She recognized most of the vegetables but couldn’t quite place all of the flavours
“It tastes different than anything I’ve ever eaten.”
Glass Slipper nodded and Crystal Note smiled
“It’s a traditional dish from the far east, Sapphire. There’s some spices in it that you can’t get in the Crystal Empire, I brought them with me from Canterlot.”

As soon as this sunk in, Sapphire couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. She spent the whole day listening to foreign music, had seen foreign magic and now she was eating foreign food. Crystal Note was so easy-going with everything and even though everything was strange and new, it wasn’t scary at all. Again, in her mind she compared the crystal unicorn with her own parents who were always strict and traditional. They never had said anything loud, but Sapphire knew they didn’t approve that a crystal unicorn who had spent most of her life outside the Crystal Empire was put in charge of three fillies. Still, Glass Slipper and her little sisters didn’t seem unhappy at all. In fact, they seemed just as happy as they had been when they were with their passed parents and from the happy chatting they shared, Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart seemed to be thriving to find their special talents just like any other filly of their age.

She didn’t follow that train of thought as dinner was soon finished and Crystal Note brought in a slice of cake for each of them. Sweetie Tooth beamed in pride as everypony praised her cake, which made her sisters poke and tickle her for being cocky.
Crystal Note watched with a caring smile and patiently intervened with her gentle voice. Sapphire realized her father would have been shouting already.

They sat together for a while longer, sipping tea and talking about this and that. When it was getting late, Crystal Note stood up from her seat and fixed Glass Slipper with a soft sternness
“Dishes”, was all she said and Glass Slipper groaned but gathered up everything from the table.
Crystal Note nodded and turned to the twins next, with a far more gentle smile
“Bath time for you, then it’s off to bed. You all have classes tomorrow, after all.”
Sweetie Tooth hopped towards the stairs but Velvet Heart wasn’t having it
“NOOO!”
Sapphire shrieked and jumped out of the way, as the small filly dashed past her towards the front door. Long before she reached it, she suddenly was surrounded by a turquoise light. Sapphire stared with unbelieving eyes as the filly lifted off the floor and floated in the air. She heard giggling and turned her head to see Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth snickering at her sister. She also saw that the magic horn on Crystal Note’s head was glowing again, but it still took her a minute to connect the dots.
Her head snapped back to Velvet Heart who floated past her in the same glow. The filly didn’t seem to mind at all, in fact she was smiling brightly and even waved to Sapphire as she was carried up the stairs behind Sweetie Tooth and Crystal Note.

“You still hungry or are you trying to catch bugs?”
Sapphire turned back towards her best friend and only now realized that she had her mouth hanging wide open the entire time. She clamped her mouth shut and Glass Slipper giggled some more
“It’s just a game they play almost every night. If you ask me, Velvet is just too lazy to walk up the stairs.”
Sapphire glanced towards the stairs and she could hear faint laughter from upstairs
“It’s not hurting her?”
“What? Not at all! It’s kinda nice, it almost feels like a hug, but different.”
The filly’s eyes went wide
“She used it on you, too?”
Glass Slipper just nodded
“A few times. Hey, you mind helping me with those dishes? I had to do them all week all by myself.”
Sapphire shook her head as if the shake away the remains of her confusion, then helped Glass Slipper carry the dishes back to the kitchen
“All week and all by yourself?”
Glass Slipper groaned playfully and nodded. She explained while the two fillies worked and by the time they were finished, it was time for Sapphire to go home.

Glass Slipper hugged her as she left and Crystal Note joined her at the door with a smile before she returned to the twins.
As Sapphire walked home through the city, she couldn’t help but think about everything she had seen today and wonder.

What started out with one invitation to dinner turned into a common ritual for Glass Slipper and Sapphire. At least once a week, they would meet at the mansion to practice their dancing. At first, they picked days when Crystal Note and the twins were elsewhere, but after a while, they didn't mind the audience anymore.
Sapphire would stay for dinner more regularly and after the twins went to bed, Crystal Note joined the two teenagers when they were doing their homework together or just to talk. Sapphire heard of foreign towns, different ponies and big cities the mare had seen during her years on the road, first as a travelling musician and later on concerts as a professional performer. Some nights, Crystal Note would even sing for the fillies or show them the songs she was working on currently. Those nights, Sapphire always returned home with a smile on her face.

Of course, her parents noticed this. Each of those nights, when Sapphire returned home barely before her curfew, she quickly vanished into her bedroom. She knew her father would most likely scold her for 'wasting time on silly hopping instead of doing some productive', while her mother would act all concerned on what kind of bad influence the crystal unicorn would have on her daughter.
Sapphire tried to dodge any questions as much as she could, but eventually, her parents called her down from her bedroom for a long talk.

Glass Slipper - Dance - Part III

Glass Slipper beamed as she trotted towards the schoolhouse with her little sisters in tow. She couldn't wait to tell Sapphire about the new records Crystal Note had brought from her latest trip out of the Crystal Empire and tonight, they could listen to them together in her room.

After sending the twins to their classroom, the teenager joined the other fillies of her class who stood together just out of the building. She smiled to all and took her spot next to Sapphire, but then her smile faded. Her friend looked like she hadn't slept at all that night and instead of happy she looked downright depressed. Before she could ask what was wrong, the bell rang and called everypony into the classrooms.

Glass Slipper could barely concentrate as the minutes ticked by. She couldn't answer any of the teacher’s questions, for which she received additional homework, but she couldn't care less. As soon as the bell rang for recess, she rushed to her best friend's side. The teacher who had just been scolding Glass Slipper watched the two fillies. When Glass Slipper gave a pleading look, the teacher nodded in approval and allowed them to stay behind in the classroom while the others left.

As soon as they were along, Sapphire's shoulders trembled and she turned away from her friend
"Sapphy? What's wrong? Come on, talk to me, I'm your best friend, remember?"
"We can't be friends anymore, Slipper."
"Huh? Why not? What happened?"
Sapphire's voice hitched into a sob
"My parents don't want me to visit you anymore. They say it's not good for me to spend time at your place and they want me to stop dancing."
Glass Slipper blinked in disbelief
"But you love dancing!"
"Dancing is just wasting time."
"Says who?"
"My father, Glass Slipper."
"Then he's a jerk."

Sapphire turned around and two sets of blue eyes glared daggers at each other
"You have no right to insult my family!"
"Your father has no right to decide what you like or not."
"Yes he does! He's my father!"
"So he gets to decide what you put your heart into? Does he decide your favourite food as well? Will you let him pick your first crush for you?"
Sapphire snorted angrily
“If your father told you to do something, you do it as well. It's tradition."
"It's old fashioned! In Vanhoover, Haute Nuage told me..."
"But we're not in Vanhoover! And you're not a pegasus pony! We're crystal ponies in the Crystal Empire and our parents are the ones who decide what's best for us."

Glass Slipper took a step backwards and shook her head frustrated
"My parents would never make me quit something I love! Besides, Crystal Note is a crystal pony and she's okay with what I do!"
Sapphire sensed her best friend’s insecurity easily. Feeling like she had the upper hoof now, she glared and pushed on with the words her mother had used the night before
"Crystal Note is not a pony like the rest of us. The question is, are you, Glass Slipper?"

Glass Slipper backed away more, her friend's words cutting in deep. She could just mumble
"But, you liked dancing and the new music. You always smiled at dinner. And you like Crystal Note. Isn't that more important than what your father wants?"
“No. Family is the most important.”
“Well, a real family would encourage you to follow your dreams instead of commanding you what to do!”
“Like Crystal Note does for you? She’s not your real family, Glass Slipper. She probably has you all under some evil spell.”
At this, Glass Slipper’s anger took over and she screamed
“You take that back! Crystal Note is family and she would never put spells on anypony! Just because your mother is afraid of everything doesn’t mean that…”

“That’s enough now, both of you. Unless you want the whole school to know, I’d recommend you stop shouting immediately.”
The fillies stared at the door and shrunk down as they saw the headmaster walking in
“It seems like you two have some unsettled business, so I believe an hour of detention after classes today will give you ample time to sort that out.”
The old stallion fixed them with a glare that allowed no objections and continued
“Furthermore, we will invite your parents, Sapphire, and your guardian, Glass Slipper. I’m thrilled to hear what they have to say about your accusations.”

None of the fillies dared to object, but both of them looked equally nervous about getting their parents involved. The bell rang and the headmaster nodded
“Since that’s decided, you may return to your classes. And if I hear of any more fighting between you today, you’ll be in detention for the rest of the month. Have a nice day, girls.”
Both teenage fillies groaned under their breaths as the headmaster left. Glass Slipper glanced to Sapphire with a little smile, but her friend just glared. Glass Slipper sighed and returned to her seat. It was going to be a long day.

Glass Slipper and Sapphire sat in the front row but on the different side of the room each. The teacher at the front desk didn’t say anything and focused on grading some assignment, so he didn’t notice Glass Slipper trying to sneak glances towards her friend. Sapphire only stared at the wall.

As promised, or threatened, the headmaster returned with three ponies in tow. Glass Slipper found her caretaker’s eyes and relaxed. Crystal Note wasn’t angry, instead she had her usual kind smile that always managed to calm the filly down.
Behind her, another mare and a stallion entered the classroom. While the stallion carried a stoic expression, the mare shot barely hidden glances to Crystal Note, her horn in particular. Sapphire looked up and bowed her head down in shame as soon as she met her father’s glare. Glass Slipper opened her mouth to say something but instead bit her lip.

Crystal Note took the spot next to her charge while Sapphire was flanked by her parents. The headmaster exchanged a nod with the teacher who left quickly, leaving the front seat for the headmaster to take.
The old stallion calmly addressed the five ponies
“As you know, it’s not unusual for fillies to argue sometimes. Today, however, I had to witness something I can only call a bad fight. I’ve heard some things that make me believe there are some misconceptions floating around. That’s why I asked you here today, to clear them out once and for all.”

Crystal Note nodded once, calm and collected. Glass Slipper glanced towards Sapphire and her family from the corner of her eyes when Bronze Bell, her father, called out
“Enough with the smart-talking. Is this about the girls not meeting each other anymore? Well, that’s my decision, isn’t it? I’m Sapphire’s father, so I have the right to decide what’s good for my daughter and what’s not.”
The headmaster nodded with a patience born from years in education
“Very true. But, perhaps you could explain what caused your sudden change of mind? Glass Slipper and Sapphire have been friends for years and they have benefitted greatly from their friendship. There had never been any objections to their friendship until recently.”

The stallion blew out his breath through his nose
“Because recently, my daughter comes home late at night and talks about strange places and even stranger ponies. All that I hear from her is music, dancing and magic.”
He practically spat out the last word and his wife Amethyst fixed Crystal Note through the room
“Instead of learning and growing into a responsible mare, our daughter seems obsessed with foreign culture. Glass Slipper has become a troublesome influence to Sapphire. Not that I blame the poor filly, obviously she’s just a victim herself. I must say, I’m worried how a crystal unicorn was given guardianship of three young and impressionable fillies just like that.”
Crystal Note just shrugged off any hidden accusations and responded with a calm smile
“I can tell you, there’s a lot of paperwork involved, the Crystal Council is very accurate with those kinds of things. I assure you, it didn’t happen ‘just like that’. As for why I in particular became their guardian, Glass Slipper and her sisters made this decision on their own.”

Sapphire’s mother glared once more
“I’ve heard what happened, Miss Harmony. While I respect you stepping in to help after the accident, I hoped you would see that the fillies would be better off in a proper family.”
Glass Slipper and Sapphire blinked confused and the headmaster put a hoof on his temple. Crystal Note just tilted her head and her smile looked more stressed by now
“That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long while. If you don’t mind, I prefer Crystal Note, please.”

Amethyst just grinned, obviously enjoying she’d found a sore spot
“A stone might wish and beg to be called a diamond, but no matter how often it calls itself diamond, it will always be a stone in the end.”
Again, the fillies exchanged a confused glance, but Crystal Note just smiled with a nod
“Ah, well said. I’ve heard a similar saying about apples and oranges, once. And while it might be true for stones or fruit, there is one flaw in your logic: A pony, unlike a stone, has the ability to change.”
“True, I admit. But change is not always a good thing. Change just for the sake of changing is reckless. We have traditions and customs to remind us of our roots.”
“I could not agree more. But, I want to remind you, other ponies have customs and traditions as do we. To cling on our own traditions while denying theirs is hypocrisy in my eyes.”
The smirk faded from the mare and a thoughtful expression took its place instead
“Hm. So you do admit that traditions are important?”
“I never doubted that. Yet, I try to consider other cultures beside our own. I try to take the best of both worlds and share this with Glass Slipper, Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart.”

The fillies followed the exchange of their mothers in awe, while the two stallions groaned, although for different reasons, so the headmaster spoke up again
“Listen, I think there’s just been a misunderstanding. Instead of separating your daughters, why don’t you try to talk things out between each other? It seems like you have a lot in common after all.”
Sapphire’s parents exchanged and glance and Bronze Bell nodded
“We’re willing to try.”
Crystal Note smiled and bowed her head deeply in a well-practiced motion
“Thank you. May I offer a suggestion? It would be a great honour to invite you and your family for dinner. How about the day after tomorrow?”
The couple nodded and Glass Slipper dared to throw a smile towards her friend, but Sapphire seemed uneasy at this suggestion. The headmaster nodded and clapped his hoof on the desk
“Excellent. Now that this is settled, I believe detention is over as well. Sapphire, Glass Slipper, you may go home with your parents now.”

The fillies jumped out of their seats immediately. Crystal Note bowed her head to the family once again and followed Glass Slipper out while Sapphire and her parents tarried behind. As soon as they were outside, the teenage filly couldn’t hold back her questions any longer
“Why did they call you Harmony?”
Crystal Note gave a deep sigh, the one Glass Slipper knew from whenever she talked about a painful memory
“That’s my birth name. Your aunt Rose Quartz changed it as soon as I got my cutie mark, but it seems some ponies still remember it. Outside of the Empire, everpony knows me as Crystal Note and I like that name a lot more.”
Glass Slipper nodded and glanced at her caretaker
“Do you think we can fix this all with dinner?”
“Not all, Glass Slipper. But it’s a first step. They are simply worried about Sapphire’s wellbeing, just like I’m about yours. Remember what Bonne Voyage said in Vanhoover? Instead of looking for what makes us different, we should focus more on the things we have in common.”

The teenager pondered for a few minutes, but then she nodded
“If they see we’re not really that different, Sapphire’s parents won’t worry anymore.”
“Or at least worry less. I think no parent in the world ever stops worrying about their children entirely.”
Glass Slipper grinned
“If you’re cooking though, they’ll have a good reason to be worried.”
She giggled and hopped out of reach when Crystal Note batted her hoof towards her
“Cheeky filly.”
“Just kidding, Mom.”
They both laughed as always and Crystal Note smiled as Glass Slipper joined her again. The fact that the filly could already joke like that again told her that her charge at least wasn’t worried anymore.
On their way home, they already made plans of the night of the dinner.

Glass Slipper paced through the living room and glanced nervously at the clock. Only a few minutes left before Sapphire and her parents would arrive.
The twins just giggled as they watched her big sister, they couldn’t get what all the fuss was about. Crystal Note had spent most of the day cleaning the house and preparing dinner, with the help of Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart.

Crystal Note climbed down the stairs with her usual calm smile
“Don’t worry, Glass Slipper. It will be just fine.”
At that, the teenage filly nodded and joined her sisters on the family couch, mindful not to dishevel her carefully arranged mane. Like her sisters, her coat shined in the lights of the room, Crystal Note had spent some time working on each filly with her soft brush. However, despite Glass Slipper’s pleading, she had not agreed on putting on one of her fancy dresses
“We want to show them who we really are, not put on a show for anypony.”

Right on time, they heard knocking on the front door. Glass Slipper nervously jumped on her hooves but Crystal Note stopped her with a knowing grin. Joined by her sisters, she waited in the living room as the mare of the house opened the door and greeted their guests. Crystal Note was not a mare of many words, but her welcoming smile was warm and sincere. Following the old tradition of hospitality, she bowed her head to the three ponies and led them right into the living room.

Although it was the biggest room in the entire house, it didn’t feel empty at all. Sapphire and her parents looked around and took in the carefully arranged furniture, clearly set up for comfort over design. A flickering fireplace spread its warmth through the room and on the shelves, they saw various books and knick-knacks that belonged to the fillies, giving a very homey feel to the living room.
On the far side of the room, a few framed pictures filled some of the empty spots on the wall and Sapphire’s mother stared curiously for a moment, before she focused on the host again.

The fillies stood in line and smiled, Glass Slipper a little nervously but the twins with their typical innocent curiosity. Crystal Note couldn’t help but giggle a little as she introduced her charges and when the twins mimicked the bow they’d seen from their caretaker, even Bronze Bell lost his stern frown and indicated a smile.
Everpony got seated at the dining table and Crystal Note vanished into the kitchen, followed by Sweetie Tooth.

Sapphire and Glass Slipper exchanged some nervous smiles while the parents examined the room. Velvet Heart noticed of course and giggled, which made Glass Slipper glare at her little sister and hiss through her teeth
“Stop that!”
“Stop what?”
“You know what!”
Velvet Heart smiled innocently, which only made her older sister glare more, both of them so focused on the other that they missed the soft smile from Sapphire’s mother.
Crystal Note returned from the kitchen and she only needed one look to see what was going on
“Velvet, dear, stop teasing your sister. She’s already nervous as it is.”
“Mom!”
Everypony laughed at the whiny pout from Glass Slipper who just blushed furiously now. Crystal Note met her gaze with a caring smile and slowly, the filly regained her normal colour. Through their laughing, Sapphire and her parents had not noticed Sweetie Tooth returning as well, until the filly set down a large tray she’d been balancing on her head. Velvet Heart helped her sister set up teacups for everypony, the small sugar bowl and the honey pot found their place in the middle of the table.

The parents watched approvingly but Amethyst then noticed something moving towards her and backed away in surprise. She saw a glowing teapot float through the air in her direction. She didn’t dare to blink as the pot moved on its own to fill her cup, then move on to the next cup.
She stared and saw Crystal Note with the same glow around her horn. Still, when she saw the warm smile of the crystal unicorn, she couldn’t feel very terrified, especially when the mare explained
“It’s still very hot, don’t burn your tongues, please.”
Amethyst glanced at the teapot as it descended to its designated spot in the middle of the table, just as the glow disappeared
“Too hot to carry with your hooves, but not for magic I presume?”
Crystal Note giggled with a faint blush as she nodded
“It’s one of the little advantages I can get away with.”

The fillies giggled at that, including Sapphire who had already seen Crystal Note’s magic often enough by now. Her parents stared warily at their cups, but the fillies didn’t seem to mind and sipped on their drinks already.
Crystal Note smiled and faced their stares calmly
“Dinner will still be a while, if you have any questions I’d be happy to answer them for you.”
Bronze Bell’s brow perked up at that
“Can you read minds as well?”
Crystal Note hid a giggle behind her hoof and shook her head
“Just expressions. And to be honest, I have had this talk often enough before. It’s the first thing everypony asks me about, but that’s okay.”
Sapphire’s mother tilted her head, confused
“So you’re not bothered with others treating you like… an oddity?”
Sapphire blushed at that choice of words from her mother, but Crystal Note just laughed her usual melodious laughter
“As you said the other day, there’s no denying in what’s true. I am odd. But, as long as somepony is willing to be open about it, so am I. When they understand, nopony has to be afraid of my magic and I don’t have to be afraid of being put on the spot. Everything that takes away fear is a good thing in the end, don’t you think?”

After a few moments of thoughtful silence, both parents nodded and met Crystal Note’s eyes. All three of them shared a shy smile of understanding, as they all knew what it meant to live in fear and only slowly got used to letting go of such fear.

When the obvious questions and answers started, the fillies quickly zoned out. They already knew most of the things their caretaker explained, so they took their cups to the family couch instead, waiting for the three adults to finish, or dinner. Whichever came first.
Sapphire avoided Glass Slipper’s stares and glanced around the familiar room. Her eyes got locked on the record player that was set up as usual, more specifically on the records that lay next to it. She smiled when she recognized one of the covers
“Is that…?”
“Uh-huh. Countess Coloratura’s new song. Mom’s friend Vinyl Scratch sent it over from Ponyville the other day.”
The teenagers’ eyes finally met and they shared a smile
“Is it good?”
“I have no idea. I didn’t want to listen without you.”
“Aww!”
The twins giggled teasingly, at which the older fillies shot some mocking glares at them before joining in as well.

The three elder ponies watched the exchange with pleased smiles
“I would have never guessed that the old mansion could actually feel like a home. After all the stories I've heard..."
Crystal Note nodded emphatically
"I know all those stories. I've seen most of them happen, and I still can't believe it. It's so wonderful how those three fillies manage to light up even a place like this."
The three elders smiled fondly as more giggles floated over from the four fillies. Crystal Note couldn’t help but remember her own past in these rooms, when she had been too afraid to say anything because of her father. She could almost see herself sneaking from room to room and out the house so she wouldn’t disturb him.

Seeing the fillies laugh and smile together like this, carefree and genuinely happy, was balm to her soul. And if the smiles on the faces on her guests were anything to go by, they felt the same
“If you want, I can give you a tour of the house. I think we still have some time before dinner should be ready.”
Amethyst exchanged a glance with her husband and nodded
“We’d love to see more, if it’s not too inconvenient.”
“Not at all, Miss Amethyst. Follow me, please.”
Crystal Note walked past the sitting area with the fillies and up the stairs, both her guests following behind. While Bronze Bell took in the architecture of such a big house compared to the ones he was used to, Amethyst’s eyes darted around in search for details. With her imminent fears about magic quelled by Crystal Note, she wasn’t worried as much anymore but still rather wary. She was not a fearful pony by any means, but the events of the past made her very protective of her family, especially her only daughter. If anything were off in this home, she would find it.

The tour started with the twin’s bedroom. Crystal Note smiled proudly that Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart had tamed in the usual chaos. Amethyst’s inquisitive gaze found two beds, two small desks and a drawer. A big rug in a pale orange colour and a few brightly coloured cushions broke the monotony of the crystal floor and even if the room had been tidied up, the sharp eyes of a mother still found some toys out of place and a few books that stood out from the shelves. In short, it was everything she would expect from a room of two lively fillies.

The other rooms of the floor were tidy and clean. Bronze Bell noticed with some confusion that Crystal Note had picked the tiniest room for her bedroom but dedicated a large room to her musical equipment. They reached the second floor and Crystal Note’s smile wavered as she blushed
“These are Glass Slipper’s rooms. She used to share a room with the twins, but since she’s a teenager, I figured she would prefer some privacy from time to time. She’s still learning the ‘cleaning after herself’-concept though.”
Amethyst peeked past the crystal unicorn and almost couldn’t supress her frown. Compared to the fillies’ room, this one was nothing short of a mess. Books and magazines were scattered around the floor, various knickknacks filled the shelves and the bed clearly was made in a hurry. While the general style matched the other rooms, this one had received far more of a personal touch. There were posters and framed pictures on the walls, shawls and drapes hung across the ceiling in an irregular pattern and in colours that didn’t all match.
In other words, this was the room of a teenager.

Crystal Note frowned and mumbled something under her breath, but Amethyst seemed relieved, mostly. So far, she had seen nothing too odd, except from a few things that clearly were brought in from outside the Crystal Empire. However, those had to be expected by a travelling mare such as Crystal Note.
On their way back down, Amethyst finally made a discovery that changed everything.

On the far end of the hallway, she noticed a small table set up under a window facing south. Only a few items sat on it, but Amethyst was drawn closer as soon as she saw it.
She spotted a beautiful tea mug with a floral design and a miner’s badge. She saw a hoofmade betrothal necklace and a matching set of rings next to it. In the middle, there were three framed photographs. First, a beautiful lilac mare with a traditional braided hairstyle with jewels woven into her mane and a wonderful smile on her face. The next showed a group of stallions from the mines, one of them proudly showing off his newly earned badge. The biggest of the photos showed the mare and the stallion on each side and the three fillies in their middle. Glass Slipper had the same beautiful mane as her mother and Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart had the same smile their father carried. The photo could not be older than a year and had been taken during the crystal faire.

Deeply touched, Amethyst stepped back from the small family shrine and bowed her head in respect to those that had passed. In every home of the Crystal Empire, a place like this, dedicated to the family and ancestors could be found. It was one of the oldest and most treasured traditions of the crystal ponies and even though this shrine seemed small, Amethyst was able to tell that the mare of this house cherished this custom as deeply as she did herself.
Crystal Note’s head bowed down as well. For the first time of the evening, the usual warmth of her smile was replaced by an earnest sadness. Bronze Bell could see that the unicorn mare missed the two ponies who had been his friends for years. Her grief for them and the loss of their daughters was as genuine as the care and warmth she showed for the fillies

“Did you ever get to know them?”
Crystal Note didn’t look away from the photos and shook her head
“No, sadly. All I know about them I learned from the girls. They were wonderful ponies, no doubt.”
Bronze Bell nodded in affirmation and Amethyst closed her eyes for a moment. They both shared a glance, then turned back to their host
“If you want, we could tell you some more. Our families had been close for years, until the war drew them apart. With Sapphire and Glass Slipper, we’ve been growing together again, but…”
Crystal Note stared at the pictures and nodded sadly
“But then they left well before their time. I’m sorry you had to lose your friends in such a way. I’d be honoured to learn more about them from you.”
Amethyst managed an earnest smile as she thanked Crystal Note for her kind words. They shared another minute in silence, staring at the pictures, before Crystal Note excused herself to check on dinner.

Bronze Bell and Amethyst shared another look
“This is nothing like I thought it would be.”
Bronze Bell nodded and his stoic expression returned
“I suppose Crystal Note belongs here after all. She’s one of us at heart.”
“I won’t deny that anymore. Nor that she cares deeply for the sisters. But that still leaves the question if she capable of being a parent for three fillies. You’ve seen their rooms. Sapphire would never leave her room in such a mess.”
Bronze Bell’s lips twitched into a wry smile
“To be honest, a lot of that is us making sure she doesn’t. If we had three foals to take care off, maybe we’d have some more leisure as well.”
“But they need to know limits. They need to learn discipline and order. They need rules to guide them. Especially after their parents… especially since their lives have changed in such a way.”
“We have rules.”

The two turned around and saw Velvet Heart standing at the top of the stairway leading down. The filly had the grace to blush
“Um, sorry. I just overhead what you said. And, you know, we have rules. Some we had when Mommy and Dad were still here, but new ones too. Crystal Note talked with us and explained why we needed them, and we agreed on those rules together.”
Amethyst took a step towards the filly
“And what happens when you break the rules?”
Velvet Heart blinked and shrugged
“Um, we talk about it. Why it’s wrong to do that. And sometimes, we get more chores.”
The mare only had a disapproving frown
“And how does she make sure you won’t break the rules again?”
Velvet Heart just tilted her head the other way
“We talk about it. I already said that.”
“That’s not enough. There have to be consequences for misbehaving.”
“Why?”
Amethyst seemed completely thrown off by that question, especially paired with Velvet Heart’s innocent look
“How else will you learn to follow those rules?”
“Crystal Note explains why we have them and why it’s bad to break them.”
“I don’t care what Crystal Note says, the only way you’ll learn to follow rules is discipline. And when rules are disobeyed, there’s to be punishment.”

Velvet Heart backed away from the harsh response and kept her eyes on the floor as she mumbled shyly
“Mom once said when ponies are afraid they often don’t do the right thing.”
“Again, I don’t care what Crystal Note…”
“Not Crystal Note. Mom said that.”
Amethyst just stared at the filly with her eyes wide open and Velvet glanced past her, at the framed picture of her mother
“I don’t want rules just to be afraid of them like Sapphire. Crystal Note explains everything to us. She wants us to understand so we don’t have to be afraid.”
Bronze Bell quipped in as soon as his daughter was mentioned
“And what makes you think Sapphire is afraid? We set up those rules so she learns order and discipline.”
“But she only follows those rules because she’s scared! Not because she thinks they’re right. You can tell from the way she looks.”
Amethyst stepped closer as if to examine the young filly who threw an almost defiant glare back at her
“You’re a very observant little filly, aren’t you?”
At this, the glare vanished instantly in place of a grin
“I’m top of my class, too!”

Velvet Heart giggled softly at the baffled look the two ponies threw at her
"Oh, right! Crystal Note sent me up to get you! She says dinner is ready now!"
With that, the filly turned around on the spot and scampered down the stairs, as if the severe conversation never even happened. Bronze Bell and Amethyst looked at another confused, but Bronze Bell just shrugged and headed downstairs. Amethyst hesitated for a moment before she followed, still hung up on Velvet Heart's last statement. Could it really be that her daughter was scared of her?

Dinner turned out very quiet, for various reasons. Sapphire and Glass Slipper spent most of the time watching Sapphire's parents. They had noticed a difference in them now that they had talked with Crystal Note and seen the house, however they were both anxious if that had made them more willing to approve their friendship or not.

Velvet Heart didn't say anything because she felt a little guilty for what she had said to Miss Amethyst upstairs. She knew her temper flared up from time to time and so she said things without thinking first. She expected that what she had said somehow had insulted her guests, which was the last thing she had wanted. She didn't dare to look at Glass Slipper or any of the guests, afraid they might be angry at her.

Sweetie Tooth didn't say anything because she felt the tension. She wasn't really sure what had happened, but she didn't want to risk to start a fight over anything by saying the wrong thing. At least everypony seemed to enjoy the meal she and Crystal Note had prepared.

Amethyst was conflicted. She still thought on what both Crystal Note and Velvet Heart had told her. She didn't think she was a bad mother, but she couldn't deny the fearful glances Sapphire threw at her father and her when she thought they weren't looking.

Crystal Note simply waited. She had learned patience and silence from early on and she had learned how to read the atmosphere of her surroundings. She had also seen that look on Bronze Bell and Amethyst before. She couldn't sense anger or animosity anymore, but instead there was concern, even worry. This dinner was supposed to be an opportunity to clear out the differences between the two families, but both of Sapphire's parents seemed too deep in thought at the moment to pursue those plans right now. So Crystal Note waited patiently for a sign on what to do next while keeping her clam smile for the girls so they wouldn't worry.

She noticed the looks Amethyst threw at her daughter and vice versa. Maybe if they had a moment for themselves, they could work out what was troubling them. So when everypony had finished their meal, she addressed her girls
"Glass Slipper, could you help with those dishes please? And Velvet Heart, your sister has prepared some dessert for us, would you please help her get it?"
The twins nodded and headed into the kitchen quickly. Glass Slipper hesitated, but when she met her guardian's eyes, she nodded. Crystal Note was smiling reassuringly, so the teenage filly trusted that she knew what she was doing.

Amethyst watched the crystal unicorn leave as last, before she turned to her daughter
"Sapphire, are you scared of us?"
"What? No Mom, of course not."
The filly instantly replied, but her eyes wouldn't meet her mother
“Sapphire.”
The filly flinched involuntarily and turned towards her parents
“What makes you feel scared, Sapphire?”
The teenager bit her lower lip, but after a moment’s hesitation she replied
“Sometimes you get all angry and start yelling even if it’s not a big thing. Like, when my room is a little messy.”
“It’s important to always keep everything in order so you…”
“Yes, I know! I really do! But do you have to yell each time my books aren’t all lined up perfectly?”

Bronze Bell frowned and Amethyst relented
“Sapphire, of course not, but we are just trying to do what is best for you.”
“We want you to grow into a responsible and respected mare someday.”
“And yelling helps with that?”
Amethyst frowned at the rebellious tone from her daughter, something she had only used recently, since she spent time with Glass Slipper and her adoptive mother
“Sapphire, you’ve changed so drastically over the last few weeks. Your father and I are concerned to where this all leads. I don’t know who gave you all those silly ideas, but you just can’t be sloppy and dance around all day.”
“I know that!”
Mother and daughter stared at each other and their eyes opened wide
“I know that I can’t make a living out of dancing, but I just like it. I’ve got good grades at school, I do all my chores, and I help at the shop, so why can’t I have some fun with my friend once or twice a week?”
“Of course you can have some fun with your friend! But the kind of fun you’re talking about, the things you talk about whenever you come home from here, they are very worrying.”
“Sapphire, you mother is right. The way you talk, I’m worried you might just jump on the next train and never come back.”
“I don’t want to leave the Crystal Empire!”
Both parents stared at their daughter
“You don’t?”
“Of course not! This is my home and I belong here. Maybe someday, I might want to take a visit to the south, but not forever!”
Both her parents sighed in relief and Sapphire blinked stupefied
“Wait, that was all about it? You’re afraid I might run away so you yell at me?”
“Sapphire, no, it’s not like that.”
“Then how is it?”

Bronze Bell and Amethyst looked at each other
“Sapphire, we simply are concerned. Many bad things happened in the past because we were not careful enough and because we forgot our roots. All we try to do is make sure that something like this won’t ever happen again.”
Sapphire sighed and nodded
“I get that. I do, really. But why is everything new always so dangerous? What bad can happen when I listen to some new songs with Glass Slipper?”
“Sapphire! We have wonderful music from our ancestors!”
Amethyst seemed scandalized, but her daughter just slammed her hooves on the table in frustration
“See? That’s why I’m not telling you about it. I know we have old music and it’s nice. But why can’t I like new music as well? Why can’t we try and learn something new to improve our old ways?”
Bronze Bell yelled angrily
“That’s enough, Sapphire! Don’t talk to your mother in such a way. We taught you better than that.”
“You never teach me anything! You just yell and that’s all you do!”

Before the argument could get more heated up, Crystal Note and Glass Slipper rushed out of the kitchen to intervene. While the teenage filly pulled her friend upstairs to her room, Crystal Note addressed her agitated parents
“Bronze Bell, Amethyst, please calm down.”
“This is all your fault!”
The mare glared daggers at the crystal unicorn who tried to stay calm
“If that is true, it’s even less reason for you to yell at your daughter. So please, calm down. You’re scaring my girls.”
Amethyst felt shocked, like somepony had poured a bucket of ice water on her. She turned her head and indeed, she saw the two small fillies hiding in the kitchen, peeking through the nearly closed door.
“I… but… Sapphire?”
She moved towards the stairs, but Crystal Note stepped in her way
“Let’s give them some time to calm down for now.”

Amethyst stopped and turned around. She stepped further into the living room, but everypony could see she was still fuming with anger. Crystal Note slowly approached the mare once she had slumped down, in front of the photographs on the far wall. Amethyst stared at the pictures, nearly all of the showed smiling fillies, in the Crystal Empire or elsewhere. She didn’t turn around as she finally addressed the crystal unicorn behind her
“Why, Crystal Note? Why do you have to make you look like a bad mother?”

She didn’t expect an answer, but she also didn’t expect for Crystal Note to sit down next to her
“How could you be a bad mother? You and your husband do so much for your daughter. I mean, how many parents do you know who would go into a ghost house with an evil sorceress just so their daughter wouldn’t lose a friend?”
Amethyst glanced sideways, irritated at the smile she saw from Crystal Note
“How can you even joke about that? Half the Empire believes those stories.”
“What else can I do? I can’t change what ponies choose to think, but I don’t have to listen to their stories.”
The mare heard the fatigue in Crystal Note’s voice. She realized that the mare didn’t like those stories but simply accepted them as unfortunate facts she couldn’t change.

“I know what ponies say about me and the girls. I didn’t steal them away or put a spell on them. I offered to stay, but they decided it was what they wanted.”
“And now you want to protect them from angry ponies, like us.”
Crystal Note just shook her head
“I just want them to be happy. I want them to get the chance to grow up safe and carefree, like we never could. I want to take away their fears instead of pile up on them.”
“You mean, like we do."
Crystal Note looked at Amethyst
"Do you, though? Sapphire is a diligent filly with an extraordinary power of imagination. She couldn't have become that without your support and guidance."
"It's that imagination that worries me, especially when it runs wild. She has all those strange ideas and plans and…”
“Did you listen to her, all the way?”
Amethyst stopped for a moment and shook her head
“I don’t even know what you mean. Of course I’m listening.”
“I never said you didn’t. But, when Sapphire starts rambling, do you still listen or do you put an end to it? ‘Sapphire, this is nonsense, stop babbling and clean your room!’”
Amethyst couldn’t help but giggle when Crystal Note imitated her husband’s voice and tone nearly perfect.
“I suppose something like that might have happened.”
“And someday, she just stopped telling you things.”
Amethyst stared perplexed
“How can you know that?”

Crystal Note gave a wry smile
“Let’s just say I’ve seen in happen before. Sapphire and Glass Slipper aren't that different in that regard."
"And yet, my daughter does all her chores and excels in school, while Glass Slipper doesn't even manage to keep her room tidy."
"And why do you think is that?"
"Because Sapphire knows discipline!"

Crystal Note thought about this for a moment, before she replied with a soft voice
"Perhaps. But I won’t fall back to punishment."
Amethyst went back to staring at Crystal Note, as did her husband. Crystal Note didn't seem to notice that and her voice grew harder with every word as she explained
"My sire punished me. Whenever he found something not of his liking around the house, he would unleash on me, with his words or more."
She didn't go further into that, but when she turned back to Amethyst, the mare could see the shimmer of pain in her eyes
"I refuse to be like him. I will not force anything on my fillies against their will."

Now Amethyst took a moment to think about this
“You know that’s not how it works. You are their guardian and as such, you need to set some ground rules.”
“I do.”
“And when the fillies don’t listen?”
“I talk to them.”
“And when they say ‘No’?”
Crystal Note turned her head towards Amethyst
“What do you mean?”
“Glass Slipper doesn’t clean her room, even after you told her how many times?”
“Too many, probably.”

Crystal Note sighed and her head dipped down
“They had to go through so much. I don’t want to hurt them.”
“But you’re not doing them any favours either if you are too lenient.”
Crystal Note nodded as she looked at the pictures with the smiling fillies
“Maybe the girls do need a little more discipline, from time to time.”
She sighed deeply, exhausted
“I’m just not sure. Does it ever get easier?”

Amethyst didn’t answer for a minute, but when she did her voice sounded exhausted as well
“No, I suppose not. You never stop learning what it means to be a parent.”
She turned back towards Crystal Note with the indication of a smile
“Today I learned, maybe I should listen to my daughter more often, instead of assuming things for her.”
Crystal Note couldn’t help but giggle
“And I learned today that there’s a difference between discipline and punishment.”

They giggled together and Crystal Note took a deep breath
“Miss Amethyst, I know we had a rough start, but do you think I could fall back on your advice again? I clearly could use it a lot.”
Amethyst exchanged a glance with Bronze Bell who had been silent so far, and they both nodded
“I think that would be a good thing. If you’re willing to return the favour to us.”
Crystal Note returned their smile
“I’d like that a lot.”

Velvet Heart - Cotton Ball

In the living room of their home, Glass Slipper and her two little sisters Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart sat together on a soft rug in front of the fireplace. A book in front of her and one of the twins on each side, the pale blue teenage pony read out one of their favourite stories as she promised. Both her sisters had behaved well and helped on the chores, so they deserved their reward.

It was the end of a week the fillies spent by themselves in the mansion that had become their home. Usually, the three fillies lived here with Crystal Note who had been there for them ever since the accident that took away their parents. However, the professional musician pony was travelling all over Equestria to give concerts and work with other musicians in other towns. Granted it was not as much as she used to but still frequent enough, so she couldn’t take the three sisters with her all the time, they’d miss out on school if she did.

This time she spent the week in Canterlot, not too far away to be out of reach but a day away by train still. Glass Slipper convinced her guardian to leave her in charge this time and reluctantly, Crystal Note had agreed. Of course, there were Rose Quartz and Opal Waves checking on them from time to time, but Glass Slipper still beamed with pride that the crystal unicorn believed in her. She was determined to prove herself worthy of more responsibility and pay back the trust Crystal Note had put in her, not only for those days but on earlier occasions as well.

Of course, it helped that both her sisters were very well behaved. They’d grown together as a family after losing their parents, the three fillies closer that most siblings and therefore this week passed mostly calm and with only a minimum of sisterly quarrel. They helped each other at schoolwork, chores and cooking, they reminded each other to the rules they had agreed on with Crystal Note, even though the mare wasn’t around to check on them.

Glass Slipper read the last words of the story and smiled when Sweetie Tooth sighed relieved like always when they reached the happy end, even though she knew the story very well and shouldn't be surprised. Velvet Heart just giggled and took the book back to its place in the shelf while Glass Slipper checked on the fireplace. Tonight was no school night so the sisters could stay up a little longer. Normally, Glass Slipper would spend those nights with her friends but this week she preferred staying at home with her little sisters.

As the three were discussing how to spend the rest of the evening, the front door opened and they heard the hoofsteps of a single pony in the hallway. They headed to greet their visitor, and Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart squealed and ran ahead when they recognized Crystal Note in the doorway. The silvery white mare smiled and sat back on her haunches, her forehooves spread out to welcome the fillies into a hug. Crystal Note nuzzled the top of their heads and squeezed them gently
“Hello Sweetlings. Have you been good for your sister?”
They nodded and nuzzled back eagerly and Glass Slipper smiled and nodded as well
“Everything went as smooth as new snow while you were gone. How was your trip?”
Crystal Note released the fillies and greeted the oldest of her charges with a hug as well
“Better than I expected. It went so well, I was able to get the early train today even. This is good, because I missed you a lot.”

The fillies giggled and helped Crystal Note with her baggage, Velvet and Sweetie taking one of her instrument cases each while Glass Slipper took hold of the small travel bag. She noticed a small basket that was covered with a red blanket. Crystal Note picked it up with her mouth and carried it to the fireplace when the fillies returned. The crystal unicorn sat down and carefully placed the basket in front of her.
The three fillies gathered around it and watched it curiously when Crystal Note spoke in her soft voice
“In Canterlot, I met my friend Lemon Hearts in the palace. She offered me a little help with something you’ve been asking about.”
Glass Slipper tilted her head and Velvet and Sweetie exchanged an excited glance. Crystal Note continued
“You all showed your best behaviour recently and did well with your chores and your grades. So this time, I took Lemon Hearts’ offer.”

She took a corner of the blanket and carefully pulled it back. Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth smiled but Velvet Heart positively squealed and sparkled all over when they saw a tiny kitten curled up in the basket. The little feline was covered with a fluffy orange fur with irregular white stripes in it, only the tiny paws were pure white. The kitten was curled up with its eyes closed and its tail wrapped around itself, the tiny ears folded against its head in a display of peaceful slumber.

Velvet scooted close and reached out to pet the tiny creature, but a look from Crystal Note had her pull back her hoof for now. Sweetie Tooth giggled and Glass Slipper gently nudged her with her muzzle. They knew their sister loved all kinds of animals and critters and that she could barely resist petting whenever she saw one.
Crystal Note knew this as well and gave her one of her kindest smiles
“Lemon Hearts gave me the name of a friend who had to give away some young kittens. This one was born two weeks ago, so she’s still very weak and needs a lot of care.”
“She?”
Crystal Note and Velvet Heart nodded, the filly couldn’t take her eyes off the tiny creature
“She’s so adorable. Just look at how fluffy she is.”

Crystal Note’s smile stayed, but she fixed the three fillies with a stern gaze
“A pet is a great responsibility. A pet needs food, care and love. To take proper care of a pet, you’ll need to sacrifice some of your free time every day. You can’t just forget about it or do it later like with chores.”
Crystal Note looked at each of them
“Do you want to take this sort of responsibility?”
Velvet Heart held that gaze and nodded eagerly. Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth followed suit with as much conviction, though a little less excited than her animal-loving sister.

Crystal Note’s smile grew and the sternness faded mostly
“I’m sure you can handle giving this kitten a good home. But since you asked me about a pet, she will be your responsibility first of all. That means you have a lot to learn about taking care of her. Of course I’ll help, but it still needs a lot of dedication.”
Velvet and Sweetie nodded, their faces hovering close to the tiny kitten by now. Glass Slipper watched the sleeping bundle warily, the way Crystal Note explained it made her realize it meant a lot of more work. Since she was the oldest, she had to expect to receive a lion’s share of it.

The tiny kitten suddenly wiggled a little and opened its eyes. A pair of green orbs stared curiously into the world and the tiny ears perked up when she heard the cooing from Velvet Heart. Crystal Note nodded and Velvet reached out to pet the kitten gently. As soon as her hoof touched the orange fur, the kitten closed her eyes with a blissful expression. The kitten sat up to push and rub her head into the touch, the small tail swishing happily. Sweetie reached out to pet her back and the two older ponies watched with a smile.

Crystal Note spoke softly again, at least partially demanding the attention of the fillies back
“A kitten needs warmth, especially when this young. The Crystal Empire is far too cold until she’s grown up, so you need to keep her inside or in a warm blanket. That said, cats are very curious and want to explore everything and anything, so you need to make sure she won’t slip out unnoticed. Or tries out her claws on any of the furniture.”
Crystal Note carefully picked up the kitten by the scruff on its neck and placed her into Velvet’s waiting hooves. The sparkling filly nuzzled the kitten lovingly and the orange ball of fluff appreciated this with an adorable tiny mew, followed by a double “Aww!” from her sisters.

Crystal Note nodded and continued
“A cat has special dietary needs. This young, she’ll need milk most of all. Later, she will need some form of meat. And of course, she’ll need a litter box that needs to be cleaned regularly.”
Glass Slipper sighed but Velvet Heart just nodded. She carefully passed the kitten over to Sweetie Tooth and helped her hold the wiggling critter safely. This gave her an approving nod and smile from Crystal Note. The kitten mewed happily again and nuzzled into the pleasant touches from the twins.

“One thing you need to remember all the time is that cats are very wayward creatures. If she doesn’t want to be petted, she might swipe or hiss at you. When she’s hungry, she wants to be fed right away even if you might be busy elsewhere. You can’t train her like a dog, you’ll need to earn her trust and respect in the right way.”
Sweetie Tooth held the kitten out towards Glass Slipper and gently placed her into her hooves. She looked down at the tiny kitten and it stared back with those green eyes. Glass Slipper couldn’t help but smile at the adorable ball of fluff who easily fitted into her hooves. She started to gently pet the kitten’s tummy and the tiny creature thanked her by wiggling her paws all cutely, rolling on the hoof to present her tummy for more petting.
The twins awwed in unison and Crystal Note laughed kindly
“You also have to name her.”
Glass Slipper smiled and cooed as she caressed the wonderfully soft fur
“She’s so soft. How about Cotton Ball?”
The kitten started to purr and closed her eyes halfway down, her ears folding cutely against her head in a picture of kitten bliss.
The twins giggled and reached to pet as well
“I think she likes it.”
“Hi Cotton Ball! Welcome to the family.”
Glass Slipper joined their smile and whispered
“We’ll take good care of you. Promise.”

The weekend passed with Crystal Note and her fillies getting all the things needed to take care of a little kitten. A basket was set up at the end of Velvet Heart’s bed with a soft pillow and a warm blanket. They made sure to have enough food and milk to last a while. The twins insisted on adding in a few pet toys as well. When they made it back home, each of the fillies tried to spend as much time as they could with Cotton Ball so she’d quickly get used to them. Unsurprisingly, Velvet Heart showed the most dedication and Cotton Ball followed her around or rubbed against her legs when she wanted to play.

In the end though, Cotton Ball was still a very young kitten and therefore spend most of the days sleeping. The fillies were disappointed at first but Crystal Note reminded them that they’d all have their hooves full once Cotton Ball was big enough to try and go exploring by herself.
At the third day, they had fallen into a little pattern already. Velvet Heart agreed to take over most of the chores like feeding and cleaning after Cotton Ball while Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth shared her usual chores between them. It all worked pretty well so far and the kitten rarely was left alone, at least one of the fillies was always watching over her.

At Monday, school started as usual and after being fed in the morning, Cotton Ball was left in Crystal Note’s care until noon. Glass Slipper had afternoon classes, but Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth stormed home as soon as the last bell rang. Luckily, the kitten didn’t seem to mind them doing their homework, Cotton Ball had sprawled out on Velvet’s back for a nap and was purring softly.
Two days later was the first time when things went messy. After Sweetie Tooth told everypony at school about the kitten, Crystal Note found herself confronted with a whole class of fillies and colts at her doorstep. Luckily, Opal Waves had learned about the ‘Cutie Mark Crusader emergency meeting’ from her daughter Ocean and soon arrived to help Crystal Note before the energetic foals disassembled the entire house.
The only one unhappy about all the commotion was Cotton Ball, the tiny kitten found her naps interrupted multiple times and soon fled into the safety of Velvet Heart’s back.

A couple of weeks passed and the novelty of having a pet dimmed down. Velvet and her sisters still loved their kitten to bits, but Crystal Note had to remind them of their chores more often with growing sternness and more than once one of the fillies went into groaning before they finally complied.
During the first week of fall, the inevitable happened. Glass Slipper was out after school for her dance lessons at the palace. As usual, she told her sisters she’d be late and meet up with her friends after and wouldn’t come home until dinnertime.
This day however, the Cutie Mark Crusaders decided it was time for another group activity. Violet Haze had gotten her cutie mark in painting and now the foals were convinced to find out if anypony else had a hoof in arts. Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth joined the group of excited colts and fillies and soon found themselves partially covered with paint and surrounded by laughter.
Still no cutie mark, but happy nonetheless, the fillies made their way home when the sun was already starting to set.

Halfway home, Velvet’s eyes went wide when she finally realized she had completely forgotten about Cotton Ball. She fell into a canter and raced the distance back home with Sweetie Tooth on her tail.
The door flew open and the fillies stormed into the living room. They sighed in relief and all but slumped on the floor when they saw Cotton Ball curled up in the crook of Crystal Note’s neck while the mare was sitting in front of the fireplace and going through some sheet music.

Crystal Note rose a brow and smiled when she took in the colourful dots of dry paint on the fillies
“Well, looks like you had a lot of fun today.”
She meant no harm with her words, but Velvet Heart took the blame and lost all her sparkling from feeling guilty. With a quick spark of magic, Crystal Note sent her papers back towards her desk and sat down next to the distraught filly. Cotton Ball floated into Velvet’s hooves, surrounded by a soft turquoise glow, and a pair of hooves gently pulled her into a comforting embrace
“I’m not mad, Velvet. Everypony can lose herself in some fun at times and I was at home anyways, so nothing bad happened. Just try and not forget next time, okay?”
Velvet Heart nodded and cuddled Cotton Ball gently in her hooves. The small kitten was oblivious to the filly’s sorrow and just started purring happily. Crystal Note smiled and squeezed the filly once more, before she gently nudged the twins towards the stairs
“Come now, dear. Your sister will be home soon and you two desperately need a bath before dinner.”

Without the usual commotion, the fillies nodded and got cleaned. When Glass Slipper joined them for dinner soon after, she picked up the subdued mood. Crystal Note left it to Sweetie Tooth to explain what had happened and the oldest sister agreed it wasn’t that bad. Velvet Heart wouldn’t let herself be consoled and held Cotton Ball in her hooves the entire time, even when she climbed into her bed for the night.

Fall passed and winter came, but for Velvet Heart the days just blended into the next. She’d be up before her sisters to check on Cotton Ball before she went to school and as soon as the last bell rang, she’d be running home. She didn’t take part in any of the Crusader meetings anymore and even when her friends visited her at home, all she did was follow Cotton Ball’s every step.
Soon, the friends stopped visiting, not because they didn’t like being friends anymore, but because they felt in the way. Sweetie Tooth felt lost when her sister just dropped out on all the things they used to do together like chores, homework or simply chatting before they went to sleep. Unsure how to approach her twin sister on it, she waited for her to do the first step only to see Velvet Heart withdraw even further. Glass Slipper and Velvet Heart started to argue more often about mundane things at the same time.

Crystal Note couldn’t do much but watch and console Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth since Velvet Heart blocked all of her attempts to approach the filly. After another loud argument that ended with Glass Slipper slamming shut the door to her room and Sweetie Tooth fleeing to the safety of the kitchen, Crystal Note made a decision.
As expected, she found Velvet Heart in the twin’s room with Cotton Ball in her hooves. She noticed how the filly clung on the kitten and heard the soft sniffling. Silently, Crystal Note entered the room and whispered in her softest voice
“Velvet, can we talk dear?”
The filly flinched surprised and released the kitten from her grip. Cotton Ball hopped down on the floor and quickly slipped out through the partially open door. Velvet Heart jumped on her hooves to go after her, but before she could move, a soft glow closed the door behind the kitten. Velvet glared at Crystal Note, but the mare only saw the tears gleaming in her eyes and closed the distance to her charge. She gently pulled the filly into her embrace and waited.

Only moments after, she felt the shivers running down Velvet’s body and heard her shuddering breaths as she started to cry. The taller mare circled around the weeping filly, offering her body to cry into and her warmth to soothe the filly.
Minutes passed and slowly, the sobbing faded into sniffles and the filly calmed enough to dare and look up at Crystal Note, her ears buried deeply into her mane as turquoise eyes met her purple ones.
She expected to receive an angry glare, but instead she saw comforting love mixed with genuine concern shining back at her.
“Feeling better?”
Velvet Heart shook her head and Crystal Note held her softly
“You can tell me anything you need, dear. I’ll never be angry at you.”
There was no pressure behind those words, no obligation to say anything unless the filly was willing to do so by herself. Velvet glanced up at this and sniffled out a few words
“Slipper is mean to me for no reason.”

With a soft sigh, Crystal Note sat back on her haunches, still holding the filly gently and now rubbing a hoof down her back
“What did she do that made you yell at each other?”
“She won’t let me take care of Cotton Ball!”
Crystal Note tilted her head but waited for the filly to continue, trying to help Velvet Heart calm down with her soft back rubs
“She… she told me to not follow Cotton Ball anymore. She told me to leave!”
Crystal Note nuzzled her head very gently when Velvet almost started to cry again
“Shh, it’s okay, dear. I’m sure you just misunderstood each other.”
Velvet said nothing but at least she seemed to listen, so Crystal Note continued
“You’ve been spending an awful lot of time at home, dear. You don’t see your friends anymore. And even at home, you stay away from your sisters and me. We’re just concerned, Velvet. I’m sure Glass Slipper just wanted you to spend some time away from Cotton Ball for a change. It would be good for you and your friends.”

Velvet Heart suddenly pulled out of the hug and walked a few steps away from Crystal Note
“I promised I’d take care of Cotton Ball! I already forgot that once, I can’t do it again. What if I forget her like I forgot them and…”
Velvet stopped abruptly and covered her mouth with her hooves as she slumped on the floor. Slowly and quietly, Crystal Note closed the distance once more and gently put her hoof on the filly's head.
“I’m here for you, Velvet. Whatever there is on your heart, I just want to help. It’s what I promised.”
Velvet clenched her eyes shut but turned around to cling on Crystal Note. The mare held her close and when she saw new tears, she started to hum softly for the filly. The soft rubs on her back and the soothing melody slowly helping Velvet to regain composure.

Crystal Note waited patiently, she knew pushing Velvet Heart at this point wouldn’t help at all. If Velvet trusted her enough, she would open up on her own, if not Crystal Note would still offer her comfort as much as she could.
Luckily, she didn’t have to make this choice when Velvet whispered quietly after a while
“I forgot about them. And now they’re gone because of it. I don’t want to lose Cotton Ball as well.”
Crystal Note froze for a moment when she understood who 'them' was. She recognized that tone in Velvet Heart's voice. She had heard it before and she knew what she needed to do, right away. She gently pulled back so she could look at the poor filly
“Velvet, Dear. Look at me.”
Something in Crystal Note’s voice urged Velvet Heart to raise her head. When she did, she almost immediately felt her eyes draw towards Crystal Note’s turquoise ones. They burned with an unexpected intensity she’d never seen on the mare before. Those eyes held her in place very effectively, but in a good way. She still saw the same kindness and care shining through, only far stronger than before and focused entirely on her. She was so transfixed by this gaze that the next words took her completely by surprise
“It’s not your fault.”

Crystal Note held Velvet’s gaze with her own as a small shudder ran down the filly’s body. She knew and understood, so she said again
“It’s not your fault. What happened in the mine was a terrible accident. And it’s the worst possible thing that your parents had to be in there that day. I know how you feel. You think you could have done something, anything, but that’s not true. There is nothing you could have done. Nothing, you hear me? Nopony could have saved them, not you, not me, not even Princess Cadance. You’re not to blame for anything. You shouldn't feel guilty because it's not your fault, not even a tiny bit. And if you still feel guilty, I won’t let you feel guilty all alone. I’ll be here to tell you every day until you believe me, starting right now: It’s not your fault.”

Velvet stared into Crystal Note’s eyes and at the end of her speech, she clung on them like a drowning pony on a life ring. She nodded, hesitantly. She wanted to believe. The intensity of those eyes told her that Crystal Note meant every word she said with all of her heart.
Crystal Note held her gaze for a moment longer, then nodded as well. The motion seemed to release the filly from her spell and Velvet Heart fled into Crystal Note’s embrace again, her head burying into the downy coat. The silvery mare held her close and safe as she whispered
“I felt this way for the longest time, but I was alone with it. I wouldn’t let anypony close enough, not even my sister. Please Velvet, don’t make the same mistakes I did. Your sisters and I, we love you so much. We want to help you. We want to be there for you. Please let us. Your friends can give you the strength you need, please don’t push them away either.”
Velvet Heart nodded weakly, she didn’t feel like she could talk right now. Crystal Note let her stay as close as she needed and the small filly nearly buried herself completely in her embrace. She picked up the tune she had been humming and gave Velvet this time to feel and let everything sink in.
After a few minutes, a soft mumble reached her ears, shy but also hopeful
“Thank you mommy.”

Crystal Note closed her eyes and instinctively hugged the filly more firmly. She shifted around to cover more of the small body with her own, curling around her daughter-in-heart in a protective cocoon against all the cold and sad of the world. She let her humming grow into a soft song, her voice not carrying any words but filled to the brim with heartfelt love and genuine care for her filly.
They stayed like this for the longest of an hour and Crystal Note felt the small filly slowly relax and lose the tension she had been carrying for the last weeks. She peeked down and found Velvet’s eyes closed and a peaceful smile on her face. As if she’d felt it, the purple eyes opened and met hers, without any tension this time. Both their smiles grew and Crystal Note gently nuzzled the top of Velvet’s head. Reluctantly, she released the filly from her hug and Velvet climbed out of her hooves only to sit down close next to her, leaning to the side to rest her head against the taller mare’s flank.

Crystal Note smiled and took a deep breath which was mimicked by Velvet Heart
“How do you feel about getting some dinner now?”
Velvet pressed against her flank and shook her head
“Can I stay in my room? I don’t want to talk to Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth right now.”
“No, dear.”
Velvet tucked her hooves against herself involuntarily as some of the tension returned to her. She gave a pleading look to Crystal Note but saw the mare’s expression had not changed the slightest from the concern and care she’d shown the entire time
“Velvet, I’m not doing this to punish you. You have to talk to them eventually, it’ll only get harder and more uncomfortable the longer you wait. This is something that concerns the three of you equally, your sisters need your help dealing with it as much as you need theirs.”
Velvet blushed and nodded, but she whispered
“I promise I’ll talk to them soon. But not today? Please?”

Crystal Note sighed and tried to wrestle down conflicting emotions inside her head. Her maternal instincts told her to agree, of course, and shelter her daughter from everything bad for the end of time and beyond. She knew that confronting Velvet right now would cause sadness and the mere thought of that was enough to inflict nearly physical pain in her.
The more reasonable part of her mind reminded her that this pain was necessary to heal the wounds fully. Without it, Velvet might feel better now but only hurt more in the long way. She needed to talk about this, while the thoughts and emotions were still fresh and clear inside her. It’d taken Velvet great efforts to open up to Crystal Note to this point, retreating now could mean it would take weeks until she would be ready for the next steps. Crystal Note knew from personal experience that a couple of weeks could feel like eternity and mean a lot of harm not for the filly herself, but for those who had to watch her struggle during that time with no way to help.

Crystal Note stood up and nodded
“Okay Velvet. You don’t have to talk with your sisters tonight. But you need to talk with somepony who can understand you and you have to do it right away. Can we agree on this?”
Velvet got on her hooves as well and nodded. She felt okay to talk with Crystal Note about it, now that she had seen she wasn’t going to be mad at her.
The filly blinked surprised when Crystal Note opened the door with her magic and headed towards the stairs, expecting her to follow.
“But, you said…”
“I said you’re going to talk about it with somepony who understands, so we’re going there now.”
The mare’s voice was filled with that gentle sternness Velvet knew would be pointless to argue with. She tried anyways
“What about Cotton Ball?”

Crystal Note stepped down the stairs with Velvet Heart behind her. She approached the door to the kitchen and they peeked through the crack of the door. Velvet smiled when she saw Glass Slipper had come back downstairs at some point and was now helping Sweetie Tooth with some homework. On the table in front of their books sat Cotton Ball, eagerly lapping from a bowl of sweet cream.
“They’ll be fine, you see? Now go get your scarf and a hat, I’ll be right with you.”
Velvet nodded and went to the front door. She wrapped her favourite scarf around her neck and when she reached out for a woollen hat, Crystal Note had joined her again. No doubt, she’d been telling the others they’d be out.
Crystal Note got a scarf as well with her magic glow and together, the left and headed west towards the fast descending sun.

Velvet Heart hesitated when she followed Crystal Note past the last houses and further out of town. Who would be this far out of town that late in the day? The only thing that direction would be…
The filly froze but Crystal Note just kept her steady, if slow pace towards the iron gate of the cemetery. Velvet Heart stood there for a couple of beats, then ran to catch up with her. By now, it was already dark, the winter sun always fast to sink and nights considerably longer so far up north. The silvery-white form of her guardian stood out in the darkness, even in what little light the stars could offer before the rise of the moon.

As soon as they passed the gate, Crystal Note lit up her horn with a spell to provide enough light for them to walk safely along the path. Velvet Heart shuffled a little closer to the mare, the added light helped her not to feel scared, but the mare's presence was what allowed her to clear her mind enough to find words again
“What are we doing here?”
“We’re going to meet somepony who understands you better than anypony else ever could.”
The filly fell silent as they passed the statue of the four tribes in the centre, illuminated by a few dozen candles of all sizes that stood at its base. Crystal Note headed south and Velvet stayed close.

After a minute, they stood in front of two graves that stood out from the others, they still looked fresh compared to the ones surrounding them. Velvet didn’t need to read the names to recognize them
“I don’t wanna be here.”
She shuffled closer to Crystal Note and whispered
“They can’t hear me anyways, right? They’re gone.”

Crystal Note just smiled and started talking in a normal volume, although in the dark and empty place it seemed unnaturally loud to Velvet Heart
“Hello again. I know it’s been a little while since I came to visit but it took some time for everypony to get used to the new house and new daily schedule and everything.”
Velvet stared at Crystal Note as she talked like the two ponies would be right in front of her. She looked at the graves, almost expecting to see them standing there, but of course there was nothing. Crystal Note continued talking anyways
“Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth send all their love, but you know that of course. They’re brave little angels and they keep going, but, you know, it’s hard. Some days are harder than others. I’m trying to keep up with my promise but they… no, we miss you a lot.”

Those last words ended in a soft sob and Velvet Heart pressed herself against Crystal Note’s flank. Why would Crystal Note apologize to somepony who was gone? She felt a soft nuzzle and Crystal Note went on
“Velvet Heart is having a very hard time at the moment. We try to help and be there for her. But I think she needs to tell you herself.”
Velvet blinked and stared at the graves, her hooves clinging on Crystal Note’s foreleg
“But… they’re not here.”
“Yes they are. They’re always with you, every second that passes, right here.”
She gently put her hoof on Velvet’s chest were she could feel the filly’s heartbeat
“Their bodies may not be around, but their love is. It will never leave you. They’re so close to you, closer than I can ever be and even closer than Glass Slipper or Sweetie Tooth.”

Velvet Heart stared up at her and suddenly felt… something. She could not place a hoof on it, if there was a word to describe she never learned it. She felt warm most of all, but it was different then warmth from a fireplace. The way she felt when she snuggled with her sisters came close but the feeling right now was… stronger? Like when her mommy was hugging her…
Velvet’s eyes opened wide at the sudden revelation and she turned back to the graves and read the names on them. Mommy and Daddy.

She heard Crystal Note talking again but she barely made sense to the words as she focused on this feeling.
“There are things you feel you can’t tell me. I might not like that, but I know it’s true. There might be things you don’t want to share with anypony, not ever your sisters. But your parents are a part of you, they can understand everything. You can tell them anything. You may not always get an answer but you can be sure they always understand and they always love you.”
Crystal Note carefully pulled her leg out of Velvet’s grip and gently hugged the filly for a moment. With a soft squeeze, she pulled back a step and sighed
“I’ll leave you three alone now. Take as long as you need, Velvet. We all love you.”
Crystal Note turned around and slowly walked away. The orb of light that had been hovering at the tip of her horn floated to Velvet Heart and remained over her head now, a last reminder of the mare’s presence.

For a while, Velvet just sat there and stared ahead. She didn’t understand and she didn’t know what she was supposed to do. Eventually, she just started talking in a whisper
“Hi Mommy. Hi Dad. It’s me. Duh.”
She flicked her ears and looked around nervously, but she was alone in the small halo of light
“I don’t know what to say. We live in the new house now, the one were Crystal Note grew up in when she was a filly. It’s really, really big. Glass Slipper even has her own room now. I’m still sharing a bedroom with Sweetie Tooth. Oh, we have a pet now! Cotton Ball is just the most adorable little kitten in the whole Empire. She’s orange and soft and fluffy, but her paws are white so it’s looks like she’s wearing tiny little boots. You should see how cute she is!”

A smile made its way to Velvet’s face, the first real one of the whole day. It didn’t last too long though when the filly talked to the graves in front of her
“I said I would take care of her, and I did. I love Cotton Ball, I really do. But even so, I forgot about her. Crystal Note had to feed her because I was out playing. And then I realized something. I didn’t just forget Cotton Ball.”
The filly sunk on the cold ground as her legs gave in under her and tears started running down her muzzle
“I forgot about you. At first, I couldn’t stop thinking about you, everything reminded me of you. We moved to the new house and it was okay, you know. I still thought about you a lot, but it didn’t hurt anymore to just sit at the table without you or see your empty bedroom. Every morning, I thought about you as soon as I woke up. And the last thing I did when I was in bed was talk about you with Sweetie Tooth. I saw you in my dreams, I don’t know if you could see it too.”

The filly kept talking despite her tears, now that she had started, the words just seemed to bubble out of her, words she kept hidden for a while now. She even kept them hidden from Sweetie Tooth, although they used to talk about everything and anything.
“Then one day, I went to bed and I realized I hadn’t thought about you for a whole day. I couldn’t say why. Maybe because we were living in a new house. School is getting more fun as well, we learn a lot about plants and animals and history, it’s really neat. But I don’t want to forget about you. I mean, I still love you. I miss you so much, especially at night when it’s dark. Why did I forget? Maybe I don’t love you enough? Or you don’t love me? Is that why you left?”
Another wave of sobs hit her and she struggled with her words
“I don’t remember the last thing you said to me, I guess it was ‘Have fun at school!’ like you always said. I don’t know if we hugged before we left. I hope we did. I miss you so much and I wish you would come back, but I keep forgetting things. I don’t want to forget about you! And I don’t want to forget about Cotton Ball either. But I do! Why?”

Velvet Heart sobbed and repeated this last word over and over. Tears ran down her muzzle and she dug her hooves into the cold ground beneath her. In her bedroom, she held back most of her tears, she didn’t like crying in front of others. Even if Crystal Note was nice and cared about her, sometimes that made it even worse. She had called her mommy. It felt right at that moment, but it made her feel guilty now. She was forgetting about her real mommy and now she was starting to replace her even. No wonder her parents left her all alone.

She sniffled and looked up at the orb of magic light, still floating close to her. Crystal Note wasn’t around, but she still left something to help her. Then she remembered how she felt just minutes ago and immediately that warmth returned. She closed her eyes and could almost feel Mommy’s coat as she held her close and Daddy’s hooves on her shoulders. She saw their smiles, happy and proud. Then a thought crossed her mind. Crystal Note left her something behind when she couldn’t be there. Mommy and Daddy were gone, but maybe they left something too?

The warmth increased and more things came to her mind. One day, they’d all been playing together on a frozen pond just outside of town. Glass Slipper and Daddy taught her how to skate on the ice. Mommy had them led them home and they’d all cuddled up together under a blanket with hot cocoa. Sometime later, Mommy had been with her on her first day of school. She’d been really nervous about meeting so many other fillies and colts, but with Mommy and Sweetie Tooth, it turned out great.

Velvet Heart smiled. She still remembered Mommy and Daddy. Maybe she forgot a few things, but that wasn’t important. She forgot about Cotton Ball once, but she still loved her kitten. Like she still loved her parents. And Crystal Note had been there to help when she had messed up.

Crystal Note, Sweetie Tooth and Glass Slipper. She wasn’t alone even with Mommy and Daddy gone. She missed them but they did too. She frowned. Maybe Sweetie Tooth always talked about Mommy and Daddy in bed because she missed them so much. Now they didn’t talk anymore, but if she still missed them, wouldn’t Sweetie too? Glass Slipper was angry because they didn’t spend time together anymore. Maybe she felt as lonely as Velvet felt herself?

Velvet Heart got back up from the ground and sat on her haunches. She sniffled softly and whispered
“Mommy, Daddy… I think I really messed up. I don’t know if I can fix this again. What should I do?”
At this moment, a breeze blew across the cemetery. The light above her head swayed in the wind and flickered for a moment and Velvet closed her eyes. Somehow that breeze felt warm. She pressed her eyelids shut, and the wind felt like a soft embrace. She turned her head towards it, and she felt a touch on her forehead, like a goodnight kiss from Mommy and Daddy. For the briefest of moments, she smelled berries and vanilla in a very special mix. She couldn’t say if she just imagined it or if it had been really there, but she’d always recognize this scent. Just like Mommy.

Fresh tears ran down her cheeks but happy ones this time. She wasn’t alone. Mommy and Daddy were here, inside her or around her or above or anywhere, but they were with her. And with Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth. She wouldn’t let them feel alone any longer. And if she felt lonely, she’d ask them for help. What if they were all lonely at the same time?

Velvet opened her eyes again when she heard hoofsteps behind her. She turned around, lunged towards Crystal Note and buried her muzzle against her coat. For a moment she was afraid, but then hooves wrapped around her and held her close. Crystal Note was there, from the very first moment they knew Mommy and Daddy were gone, up until now. Maybe not all the time, but just like now, she always showed up when they needed her most. Just like a real mommy would. She wasn’t her Mommy, but it was right to call her mommy anyways.
Just before her thoughts went hazy, the warmth she felt, the scent from Mommy and the comforting presence of Crystal Note all blended together for a moment. With a happy sigh, Velvet let go of her worries and fears and drifted into a calm place.

Velvet Heart - Cotton Ball - Bonus Chapter

Crystal Note gently tucked Velvet Heart in her bed and smiled as she watched the filly for a minute. She’d been sleeping all the way back home and luckily, she’d been smiling the entire time. Unsurprisingly, Sweetie Tooth’s bed was empty. The filly hated being alone at night and Crystal Note found Glass Slipper sharing her bed with her little sister tonight. With Cotton Ball also slumbering in her basket, that left all of Crystal Note’s charges taken care of for the night. Luckily there was no school the next day, so Crystal Note could allow them to sleep in after such an emotionally draining day.

She slipped out of the bedroom and closed the door quietly with a spark of her magic, then slumped down on her haunches for a moment with a deep sigh. The tension of the last weeks had been draining on her as well and even though she knew what happened for Velvet Heart tonight was good for her in the long turn, she couldn’t stop doubting herself. She loved the three fillies unconditionally and would readily give her horn and at least three of her legs for them, but after this night, she didn’t know if that was enough.

She slowly climbed down the stairs to the kitchen, planning to order her thoughts over a cup of tea, but when she looked out of the window, she changed her mind. In the window next door, she could see light from candles. Apparently, it was one of the few nights Rose Quartz decided to come home instead of staying at the palace. Crystal Note quietly slipped out of the house and went to knock next door, hopefully Rose Quartz would answer her despite the late hour. The door opened up and moments later, the two sisters in everything but blood shared a long hug.

Crystal Note took her usual seat at the kitchen table while Rose Quartz prepared another mug of steaming coffee. Crystal Note took a deep whiff and a careful sip while Rose Quartz quickly drained half of her own drink
“So tell me Crissy, do you still enjoy being a full-time-mom?”
Crystal Note sighed deeply and slumped down in her chair, her head sinking down on the table in front of her with a thud. Whatever energy she thought she still had left just completely ran out at the weight of Rose’ question and her silvery-white coat lost all its shine
“That bad, huh?”
“Yes… no… ugh, I don’t even know where to start.”
Rose Quartz put her hoof gently on Crystal Note’s head, a small gesture she picked up from her own mother when they were both fillies. Crystal Note closed her eyes at that and quickly summed up the events of the last two weeks. Of course, Rose Quartz already knew some of it, but while she was happy to hear Velvet Heart had opened up again to Crystal Note at least, she didn’t understand what caused so much distress to her sister.

“So, in the end I took her to her parents’ graves. She needed to open up to somepony, it had to be somepony who loved her and whom she could be sure would never judge her. I know I always felt better after visiting our parents and Glass Slipper does too, so I hoped Velvet could find some comfort from them. I left her alone so she could pour her heart out, I swear I didn’t mean to pry, but I heard her sobbing so I sneaked closer to check on her and I heard a few things she said. She’s afraid she’ll forget about her parents and that she’ll stop loving them. That’s when I realized, Rose. All I did for the last few months when was distract them, helping them find other things to think about. The new house, new hobbies, traveling to other towns, heck I even got them a pet. All the time I thought I was helping them, all I did was make them forget the ponies who loved them more than anypony else ever could.”

Crystal Note looked up with tears gleaming in the corner of her eyes
“Rose, be honest: Am I stealing them away from their parents? I still don’t know if I’d be a good substitute for them, but now I feel like I should never be their guardian at all. It’d only hurt them more than it already has.”
Rose Quartz looked straight into Crystal Note’s eyes for a whole minute. Then she started to laugh softly. Crystal Note blinked confused and frustrated but Rose Quartz just went on
“If I didn’t knew it better, I’d believe Velvet Heart is your born daughter. It’s hilarious how you two blame yourselves for things you’re not responsible for but you’re both oblivious.”

That didn't help as much as she hoped and instead, Crystal Note only felt more guilty
"Velvet Heart called me 'mommy' tonight. For the first time, without any teasing and out of her own. I love her so much, but I don't want to hurt her. I don't want her to betray her parents for me."
Rose Quartz stopped laughing and instead glared at her sister
“Crissy. It’s not your fault her parents died, just like it isn’t the filly’s fault. And if she forgets about them, at least for a while, it’s not betrayal, it’s healthy. Thinking about her parents constantly would wear her down to the point where she couldn’t face anything on her own anymore. So you making her forget and move on is the best thing you can do for her right now. You’re not stealing Velvet Heart or the others from anypony, you’re helping them because you care for them and, no doubt, love them like your own. You would ask none of those questions if you didn’t.”

Crystal Note listened attentively, but the force of her guilt faded down with each word, until her ears folded down on her head and she felt Rose’ words ground her. Her gaze fell down on the mug in her hooves again, but a soft touch on her head made her face Rose’ gaze once more. Her sister had lost her glare as well, instead she looked at her with pride and appreciation
“Velvet didn’t call you ‘mommy’ because she’s searching for a replacement. She knows you love her like a daughter and she wants to let you know she loves you too.”
Crystal Note returned Rose Quartz’ smile as her sister stepped around the table and pulled her into a firm hug
“Maybe you couldn’t know for sure at first. But I know without a doubt, you are the best pony to be their mother.”

Crystal Note gently rested her head against her sister and with a wave of relief, her appearance changed back it her normal silvery-white colours. The sisters held each other for a while longer, then smiled and fell into more easy chatter on topics big and small, just like they always used to. Their cups were long empty and a faint glow on the horizon could already be seen before the finally wished each other a good night and Crystal Note returned home to her fillies.

Glass Slipper - Dance - Part IV

Glass Slipper sat in her dark bedroom and waited. She had told her sisters she would go to bed early today and that she felt tired. They had simply accepted that and wished her a good night, but Crystal Note had watched her with a slight grin on her face before she did the same. Glass Slipper was almost sure that the mare expected something. She couldn't know, could she?

Just in case, she'd taken a shower like she always did before bed. After that, she spent quite some time in front of her mirror, deciding how to style her mane. When she heard Crystal Note and the twins come upstairs for their little bedtime routine, she turned off all the lights and tried to be as quiet as possible. With her ear pressed against the door, she heard Crystal Note sing a lullaby for her sisters. She heard doors closing and finally, hoofsteps going back downstairs.

That was half an hour ago. She hadn't heard anything since. It was almost time for her to leave if she wanted to be there on time. She could sneak down and check where her caretaker was, but if Crystal Note found her, she would see her fancy mane and saddlebags and get suspicious. It was a risk she had to take now. Worst case, she had to make up an excuse before she returned to her room.

Glass Slipper hesitated over this decision, but then her ears perked up. From downstairs, she heard the sound of a violin. She grinned and grabbed her saddlebags. As quietly as she could, she sneaked through the middle floor where her sisters were sleeping and halfway down the stairs. She stayed in the shadow of the wall and observed the room in front of her. As she expected, Crystal Note had squatted down on a cushion near the fireplace with her violin in her hoofs. Glass Slipper smirked and nodded to herself. She could easily sneak through the room from the stairs without even getting to close to the mare. She probably wouldn't hear her because of the music and Glass Slipper knew that Crystal Note always had her eyes closed when she practiced. This was the perfect opportunity.

The filly slipped through the living room and towards the front door. She kept glancing towards her caretaker a few times. However, she completely missed the smirk on Crystal Note's face. She also didn't notice one of the mare's eye peek open and look after her. As soon as she reached the small entry hall, Glass Slipper opted for speed and rushed outside as quietly as she could. She gave a little sigh of relief once the front door was closed again and headed down the street, deeper into the city.
Crystal Note giggled softly when she heard the front door fall into its lock. She put the violin back in its case, smiling when she remembered all the times she had snuck out through that door, although for different reasons. Crystal Note had overheard some of the youngsters talking about a secret party and quickly figured out Glass Slipper's unusual behaviour. She would have allowed her oldest to take part in case she would have asked, but of course, she knew sneaking out without permission just sounded way cooler to any teenager. No harm in playing along, as long as it would get Glass Slipper smiling.

The way to the hideout wasn't too long, so Glass Slipper arrived on time. Hideout wasn't really the right word either, it was simply an old storage building in the north of the city. But nopony lived nearby and not even the guards patrolled around these parts of the city as far as she knew, so it was perfect for a secret party. She slipped in through the unlocked side entrance and grinned to the half dozen ponies already present. Since it was all about secrecy, everypony was asked to bring along something to contribute. She joined in and helped set up the huge bowl of punch one of them had managed to bring, others would bring snacks later. Not that most of the teenage ponies would care too much about that, they met for togetherness and that tinge of excitement of doing something forbidden. One by one, the others trickled inside and in the end, about twenty teenage fillies and colts had gathered inside the large hall, chatting excited but also in hushed voices, just in case.

Glass Slipper and her best friend Sapphire smirked when they finally revealed what was hidden inside their saddlebags. Sapphire pulled out the old record player and quickly assembled the pieces together. Glass Slipper then showed off the records she had 'borrowed' from Crystal Note's collection for the night. She'd selected some tracks from outside of Equestria, the ones Haute Nuage had told her about. The other ponies gathered around as she fired up the first tune, chatting excited when they heard the lively and upbeat song. Sapphire and Glass Slipper just grinned at each other and then grabbed one of their friends each into the middle of the room, claiming it as the dance floor. The two friends had practiced some new moves and now they were eager to show off. Soon some more joined them, even if they couldn't match up with their well timed spins and fast steps.

Just as planed, they soon stood in the centre of attention, especially the attention of the colts from their class. Glass Slipper grinned when she noticed even Silver Sword from senior year was watching her and when she caught his eye, she winked to him just before she turned back to Sapphire. A new song started and quickly the two fillies fell into some well-synchronized dance steps. From the corner of her eyes, she watched as the older colt meandered through the small group towards her. Sapphire noticed as well and winked with a grin. Just before he reached them, the filly called out
"You know, I'm really thirsty suddenly. Let's get some punch!"
The two friends giggled and left the handsome colt alone in the middle of the dance floor, too perplexed to say anything.

The fillies got a cup of punch each and while Sapphire drank hers quickly, Glass Slipper only nipped a little. It didn't taste very good, but then again she wasn't here for the food, but to dance and to get Silver Sword's attention. She ended up chatting with her friends from school while Sapphire got herself another cup of punch. The colts stood at the other side of the dance floor with drinks as well, trying to play it cool for now, even if Silver Sword kept throwing glances in her direction. Somepony put on another record and Glass Slipper went back to dancing, effortlessly swaying over the floor even as her friends dropped out after a while. She danced with a few other colts, but none of them made any advances to her, so she just enjoyed the music and the upbeat atmosphere around her, dancing away the hours. She heard loud laughter from Sapphire on the other side of the room when, finally, Silver Sword walked away from his group of friends of other seniors. He emptied his drink and went straight towards her. This time, Glass Slipper met his eyes and grinned, waiting for him to approach her.

Crystal Note noticed the fire had almost burnt down and closed her book with a soft yawn. It was quite late already and her warm bed was very compelling right now. The twins were sound asleep, she had checked on them earlier. She doused the last embers and made her way to the stairs in the soft light from her horn, when she heard some noise from outside. She recognized hoofsteps from a pony in a fast canter and in between, sobbing. As if that wasn't enough to fuel her worry, moments later the front door flew open and Glass Slipper stumbled inside. Her carefully styled mane was dishevelled and tears ran down her face as more desperate sobs burst out. Immediately, Crystal Note's worry turned into deep concern and she quickly walked towards the distraught filly. As soon as Glass Slipper saw her, she just howled desperately and rushed to her
"Mom!"
She ended up clinging on Crystal Note, her face buried against the mare's shoulder, as more sobs and tears broke free. Fortunately, hooves wrapped firmly around the teenager and held her. Glass Slipper pressed into Crystal Note's embrace and when the mare sat down, she gently pulled the filly down with her. Crystal Note said nothing and simply held the teenager as she cried out all her frustration and sorrow into her coat.
Glass Slipper felt the soothing touch of a hoof running down her mane and her crying slowed down into broken hitches
"Mom? Why do colts always have to be jerks?"
Crystal Note sighed deeply and gently pulled her filly close so she would come to rest against her
"What happened, honey?"
Glass Slipper still sniffled and tears ran into Crystal Note's coat. Between hiccups and sobs, the filly stuttered out words
"Silver Sword finally talked to me, but he was so pushy. I thought he was nice but he wasn't really interested in anything I said. He tried to grab me and pull me closer, but I didn't want that."
Another big sob was answered by a squeeze from Crystal Note, encouraging the teenager to go on
"I said I needed some air and went out. I thought he might come after me and apologize. Then I heard the others laugh and cheer inside, so I went back in."
The next series of sobs refused to pass and Glass Slipper's voice broke when she forced out more words, interrupted by hitches and cries
"He was in the middle of the room and everypony stood around him and watched as he pushed his tongue into another girl. He then stopped kissing and grinned at me. I got that he was just doing it to hurt me, and the others just laughed harder at me. I was so angry and screamed but they only laughed more."
"Oh, honey..."
Crystal Note's attempt to comfort the crying teenager ended quickly and Glass Slipper screamed out loud
"That's not the worst! I saw whom he kissed and it was Sapphire! They were making out just to hurt me and she had this goofy smile on her face! My best friend!"
Glass Slipper's voice broke fully apart as new tears burnt their way out and Crystal Note simply held her close, staying with her filly as she waited for the worst pain to fade
"I'm so sorry, dear. It's not fair of them to hurt you like that."
"When I saw her, I just..."
Glass Slipper didn't finish that sentence, but her right hoof twitched violently, giving Crystal Note an idea of what had happened next
"Oh, sweetheart..."

Glass Slipper kept on crying, only opening her eyes when she noticed a soft glow nearby. Crystal Note's horn emitted a soft turquoise light and she saw a blanket from the couch float over and wrap around her. Together with the hooves that held her so close, she felt protected and cared for. Her anger quickly burnt out now that she had her story shared and her sadness faded enough for her thoughts to return. She realized a couple of things. Crystal Note had seen her come from outside, so she new she'd snuck out without permission. She practically admitted that she had been at a party with the others. However, Crystal Note was not angry with her it seemed. She just held her and gently ran down her hoof through her mane.

Crystal Note noticed the filly tense up in her hug and leaned down to her, gently nuzzling her cheek
"Come on, honey. Let's get you to bed. I know it hurts right now, but it will be better after some sleep, I promise. We can talk tomorrow."
Glass Slipper felt numb as she was guided up the stairs by the gentle mare, wrapped up in the blanket and with a reassuring hoof around her shoulders. Crystal Note walked her to the bed and helped her climb under the covers. She gently pulled the covers over her as she tucked her in. Glass Slipper said nothing but her cheeks were wet with tears again. A tissue floated over and dapped around her eyes, just as gentle and caring as every other touch from her caretaker. Glass Slipper turned her head to face the mare but shut her eyes. She was pained and sad, but she was also warm, tended and cared for. She felt desperate, but also brave. She took a risk. Her voice was quiet, tiny, shy and hopeful
"Thanks... Mom."
She felt a soft kiss on her forehead that washed her fears away. She heard a voice that soothed the pain
"Goodnight, my brave angel. Sleep well."

Crystal Note stayed next to the bed for a couple of more minutes, just to make sure Glass Slipper would fall asleep. She watched the teenager’s face relax after a while and her pained expression replaced by peaceful slumber.
She gently ran her hoof through the filly's mane once more before she left the bedroom. Something at the party had turned out seriously wrong and hurt Glass Slipper immensely, and so soon after the filly had decided to open up more to others again.
Young love, so beautiful yet so fragile.

Crystal Note let out a deep sigh as she realized she was now part of some big teenage drama. Glass Slipper needed someone she could depend on now, not only to get past the hurtful dejection from that colt, but also the possible betrayal of her best friend. The word ‘Mom’ was used more often recently, mostly as some running joke between the two of them. But tonight, Crystal Note had felt the difference.
The first two times, Glass Slipper had been distressed and desperate, still the word ‘Mom’ slipped out. The last time just minutes ago, the teenager had been very conscious and genuine about how she called her.
Crystal Note's eyes and heart filled with affection and determination. Glass Slipper needed a Mom now, and by Celestia, she would do her all to fill that role.

Sleep eluded Crystal Note for the rest of the night. Usually, such a night she would use to clear her mind with a song or two, however she didn’t want to wake the fillies. Using a spell to block out the sound was out of question, she wanted to be there right away if Glass Slipper needed her tonight.

So, she ended up sitting in silence, at the kitchen table with a long forgotten cup of tea in front of her, next to a single candle. In her mind, she went over different scenarios on how to approach Glass Slipper, but she scolded herself for imagining things going worse.
Get a hold on yourself. Lyra and Bon Bon would be angry if they knew you were playing the ‘What if’-game again.
In the end, it would depend on how Glass Slipper would be doing once she woke up. Whatever needed to be done, they had to decide this together.

Rays of moonlight still filtered in through the windows when Crystal Note’s ears perked up. A quick glance at the clock told her it was about three in the morning, far too early to hear any voices from the street. She walked up to the window and even though she couldn’t see anypony outside, she picked up the voice of young mare, crying and sobbing.
Crystal Note went to the front door and was about to step outside and take a look, but as soon as she opened the door, she found a disturbed teenager sitting on her doorstep.

Even in the dim moonlight, Crystal Note quickly recognized the teenage filly
“Sapphire? By all stars, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
The filly flinched and jumped away from the voice. Crystal Note realized she had a harsh edge in her voice, but after everything Glass Slipper had told her, she found it difficult not to be angry at her daughter’s supposedly best friend
“Miss Crystal Note? I… did I wake you?”
Crystal Note used a glow of her horn to produce some more light. What she saw made her brows furrow into a frown.

The teenager’s coat was dark and her mane was shaggy, another visible sign of her distress beside the tear strains. Sapphire blinked a few times at the sudden light and seemed to have trouble focusing on the mare in front of her, with glassy and dull eyes. Crystal Note’s frown turned into a scowl when she leaned closer and noticed an unpleasant whiff coming from the young crystal pony
“Why are you here, Sapphire?”
The filly flinched again. Like most ponies, she only knew Crystal Note with a soft and kind voice, which made the angry sharpness in her voice even more effective now. Close to tears again and with her ears flopped down, Sapphire managed some words at least
“I didn’t know where else to go…”
“What about going home? Won’t your parents be worried?”
This time, a few tears made their way out along with a long sob
“They think I’m here for a sleepover. They don’t know about…”
She clamped her mouth shut and covered her face with her hooves, realizing what she almost had said. Crystal Note’s frown softened a tad, but her tone didn’t change
“I know about that little party of yours. I also know what happened tonight.”

Sapphire looked up at the mare and Crystal Note could almost see how the gears started turning as the filly tried to force her fuzzy mind into working. A sharp gasp from Sapphire made clear she only now remembered what had actually happened
“I… oh my gosh… how could I…?”
Crystal Note blew out her breath through her nose in an angry snort but she swallowed down her retort when Sapphire winced and held her head
“I feel dizzy…”
The mare sighed deeply. She could take Sapphire home and confront her parents in the middle of the night. It would end in many questions and angry words, something the filly wouldn’t take too well in her current state. She could also give the teenager refuge for the night at least, that would give her some time to recover but could end up in a confrontation with Glass Slipper in the morning.

Another sharp wince from the teenage filly decided things for her. She reached out for Sapphire’s hoof and gently pulled her towards the door
“Come on, Sapphire. Sitting around in the cold won’t help you with your headache.”
The filly put up no resistance at all and followed Crystal Note in a daze. She slumped down on a soft cushion and clenched her eyes shut at the sudden brightness. Moved by turquoise magic, logs of wood floated to the fireplace, and then the crystal unicorn leaned down and directed her glowing horn at them. With a quick flare, a flickering fire started to fill the room with light and warmth.
Sapphire stared into the flames, but her eyes only found focus again when Crystal Note returned and pushed a mug into her hooves
“Drink this, Sapphire. It will help you.”
Unable and unwilling to think, Sapphire raised the mug to take a gulp of the hot liquid but sputtered out most of the strong, bitter tea again
“I feel woozy.”
Crystal Note snorted again
“That’s what happens when you drink too much alcohol, Sapphire, especially somepony as young as you. What were you thinking?”

The blank stare the teenager directed towards her only confirmed Crystal Note’s first suspicion, as did the half sentence she mumbled out
“But I only had some punch…”
With a far gentler sigh, Crystal Note took the seat next to Sapphire
“I believe somepony might have spiked your punch, then. I’ve been enough in bars to recognize the scent of liquor, you know. Let me guess, you felt more easy-going all night long and talked a lot without thinking?”
Sapphire nodded and blushed deep red, her head sunk down into her forehooves
“Oh my gosh.”
Crystal Note, despite her initial determination, couldn’t help but feel at least sympathetic with the oblivious filly
“Try finishing your tea, Sapphire.”

The filly nodded, still dazed from the night before, and drank the bitter liquid as told. Once Crystal Note was sure the tea would stay in, she started asking some questions
“Tell me what happened at the party.”
The filly turned her head, getting more insecure as she sobered up
“I thought you knew what happened?”
“Still, I want to hear your side of the story as well.”
She owed Sapphire at least that much. Clearly, things weren’t as simple and straightforward as thought, maybe there was still the chance to sort things out
“We were at the old warehouse up north. Slipper and I put on some records and we showed off some dance moves, so the senior colts would notice us. Um, Glass Slipper mostly.”
Sapphire blushed, but Crystal Note simply nodded for her to go on. She could focus on details later, right now she needed to get to the bottom of this
“So, um, there was this one colt, Silver Sword. He was looking at us and when he made his move, we um…”

The filly bit her lower lip and despite the severity of the situation, Crystal Note smirked a little
“You made him work for your attention.”
Sapphire blushed even more but nodded shyly
“Yeah… so we went to get some punch and… we talked, we danced a lot… I lost Slipper after a while and talked to somepony else and got some more punch… and then Silver Sword suddenly kissed me. I don’t know why.”

Crystal Note sighed and rolled her eyes. This was really turning into a teenage drama far too quickly
“Glass Slipper saw you and she got angry.”
“Yeah. She hit him. She yelled at me and I thought she was going to punch me, too. I wanted to run home, but I couldn’t. My parents would ground me for life if they found out.”
The teenage filly’s eyes opened wide and she stared at Crystal Note
“You’re not going to tell them, right? If they find out…”
“Sapphire, they are your parents. I’m sure if you…”
“You know them! Dad’s going to be so angry and Mom… they’re not like you at all!”

Before Crystal Note could intervene, the filly started crying into the pillow she sat on. Apparently, they had been louder that Crystal Note had intended, because she heard hoofsteps from upstairs. She climbed up the stairs to check and met a very sleepy filly halfway
“Mommy? What’s going on?”
Crystal Note smiled gently as Sweetie Tooth rubbed her tired eyes and reached out for a calming hug
“It’s nothing, Sweetie. I’m sorry we woke you up. You should go back to sleep, Munchkin.”
Sweetie Tooth leaned into the hug and yawned, her eyes already drooping again. With a smile, Crystal Note picked up the sleepy filly with a gentle levitation spell, humming a soothing melody for her as she carried her back to her bed.
Velvet Heart was still fast asleep and Sweetie Tooth fell asleep even before Crystal Note had her tucked in again. After a soft kiss on their foreheads, Crystal Note quietly left the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

When she arrived downstairs again, Sapphire had cried herself to sleep it seemed. Crystal Note found a spare blanket to cover the slumbering filly. The clock told her that the sun would rise in about two hours, too soon to go to bed but maybe enough for a little nap at least. The mare yawned and sprawled out on the family couch. Quickly overwhelmed by exhaustion, she closed her eyes and was out within seconds.

Somewhat refreshed, Crystal Note blinked awake in the first rays of sunlight. She stretched her back and legs before she checked on Sapphire. The teenage filly was still asleep, but she could tell it was a restless slumber. The blanket had been tossed off at some point and the way the filly had twisted on the cushion looked painful.

Crystal Note made her way to the kitchen and prepared some breakfast for the fillies. Not a minute too soon as shortly after, Velvet Heart sneaked into the room, followed by her twin sister. Both fillies were whispering now that they had seen their sister’s friend sleeping in front of the fireplace
“Did something happen last night?”
The mare nodded and sighed a little
“It’s nothing you should worry about, dear. Come on, let’s eat something first.”
The fillies looked at each other, but the tone in their caretaker’s voice told them better not to ask too many questions right now, so they quietly ate their meal while Crystal Note had a cup of tea.
Once they were finished, Crystal Note pulled them into a gentle hug and whispered
“I know this sounds odd, but your sister and her friend need some time to talk things out right now. Do you think you could find something to do outside for a while?”
The twins shared another glance and then nodded in unison
“Sure. We’ll go visit Auntie Pinky and Flurry Heart in the palace.”
Crystal Note smiled and squeezed them gently in her hug. Before she released them with a kiss on the top of their heads, she whispered softly
“Thank you my little angels. I’m sure we’ll get everything sorted out soon. You don’t worry and have some fun today, alright?”
The fillies nuzzled against Crystal Note for a moment before they dashed off. The mare could hear their laughter as they ran down the street. Then her thoughts returned to the two teenagers who were still in the house and her smile turned into a frown.

Sapphire stirred when Crystal Note returned into the living room and the mare waited for her to wake up fully. She was still dishevelled from mane to tail, but her eyes were clear again. She rubbed her temples to clear away the remains of her headache it seemed.
Crystal Note waited for her to notice her and spoke calmly when the filly finally faced her with blushed cheeks
“Are you feeling better, Sapphire?”
“Y-yes. Thank you, Miss Crystal Note.”
The mare nodded and didn’t lose any time to get to the point
“You need to tell your parents what happened last night, Sapphire. They’ll find out anyways after all this commotion you all caused.”
Sapphire clenched her eyes shut and looked down with a slight shake of her head
“But they won’t understand. They’ll punish me.”
“Sapphire, you lied to them, you sneaked into a warehouse without permission and you got drunk because you didn’t pay attention. Of course they’ll be mad and punish you.”
The filly’s head sank down even further and her ears pressed against her mane in fear
“I didn’t mean to.”
“That doesn’t change it. You’re old enough to deal with the consequences when you mess up, and believe me you all messed up last night. Best thing you can do now is show your parents you learned from your mistake and take their punishment with stride. You need to show them that you won’t abuse their trust again.”
Sapphire’s ears vanished into her mane, but she slowly nodded, even if a sniffle made it out. Crystal Note knew her message had gotten through, but unfortunately for the filly, she wasn’t finished yet
“Trust is something that breaks easily, Sapphire. And it takes time and effort to repair once it’s broken.”

Sapphire now had tears running down her cheeks, telling Crystal Note that she understood. Her voice nearly broke as she sobbed out an apology
“I never wanted to kiss him and I never meant to hurt Glass Slipper. Do you think she will ever forgive me?”
As much as Crystal Note wanted to console the filly right now, she tried to stay calm and neutral
“I don’t know. All I can do is talk to her and tell her what you told me. It’s her choice if she will believe you or not.”
Sapphire nodded and got up on her hooves. She knew this was the most she could hope for, so she gently clung on the mare who had taken her in for the night to express her gratitude
“Thank you, Miss Crystal Note.”
The mare didn’t return the hug, but she ran her hoof down the filly’s back in a hopefully calming way
“You should best go home now, Sapphire.”
She felt the filly nod against her neck and pull away. Sapphire tried for a grateful smile, but a harsh yell had her flinch and jump backwards
“YOU! What are you doing here?”

From the bottom of the stairs, Glass Slipper glared at them with gritting teeth and rage in her eyes. Sapphire took a hesitant step towards her
“Slipper, I…”
“GO AWAY! DON’T EVER COME BACK HERE! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN AS LONG AS I LIVE!”
Glass Slipper’s voice rose in volume and broke apart into a high-pitched shriek in the end. Sapphire turned around and ran for the door, trying her hardest not to cry. When Glass Slipper attempted to go after her, Crystal Note stepped in between the fillies
“Glass Slipper! That’s enough.”

All her rage instantly targeted the mare
“Why did you even let her in? Aren’t you supposed to be on my side?”
Crystal Note endured the teenager’s glare, her voice was soft and caring as she replied
“Of course I’m on your side, Glass Slipper. I’m your mom, I’ll always be on your side no matter what.”
At those words, Glass Slipper shivered as if she’d been splashed with a bucket of ice water and her rage faded quickly turned into utter confusion
“I… last night, you… you mean it?”
Crystal Note gently pulled Glass Slipper into a hug. The shivering stopped and the filly pressed gently into the caring touch. No matter how angry she was, right now all she felt was relief. What had started on a whim now felt right and real. For a moment, she simply let Crystal Note’s presence wash over her as the crystal unicorn held her close with genuine care and affection.
Glass Slipper nuzzled softly against her mother’s neck and Crystal Note slowly released her. Her turquoise eyes searched and found the filly’s and shone with warmth
“Better?”
“Uh-huh. Thanks, Mom.”
They both smiled together, the word still felt a little awkward for Glass Slipper, but the feelings behind it did not.

Glass Slipper took a deep breath and finally asked
“Why was she here?”
Crystal Note sighed and quickly summed up what had happened during the night. When Glass Slipper only frowned, she added calmly
“I don’t think she wanted to set you up, Darling. She’s sorry for what she did.”
“So I should just forgive her? No way. She messed up big time last night.”
Crystal Note sat down when the teenage filly started to get angry again and asked with a neutral tone
“Did you drink any punch last night?”
“Huh? Um, half a cup maybe. It tasted weird.”
“Did you know somepony put something in it?”
“No. I really didn’t know. You got to believe me!”
Crystal Note nodded, clearly relieved
“I do, Glass Slipper. It’s no excuse for what she did, but some ponies act weird when they drink alcohol. Maybe she didn’t realize what was happening?”
“Hard not to notice somepony kissing you! She could have stopped. She should have stopped! She messed up everything.”

Crystal Note smirked in a way that sent an uneasy chill down Glass Slipper’s neck
“What did you do while Sapphire was by herself?”
“Nothing. I was just dancing with the others.”
“Dancing, I see. Was it fun, dancing?”
The filly nodded hesitantly and Crystal Note got up on her hooves again
“Tell me, Glass Slipper, if I was to go to the study right now, would there be something missing perhaps?”
Glass Slipper’s face blushed as red as a beet and her ears flopped down, but after half a minute she nodded
“Anything you’d like to tell me, dear?
“I… we… I borrowed some of your records for the party. And your record player. I’m sorry.”
Crystal Note raised a brow
"Funny, I don't remember you telling me about that."
Glass Slipper closed her eyes ashamed and whispered
"I didn't. I'm sorry."

The filly didn't dare to look up until she felt a soft touch on the top of your head. Crystal Note was standing in front of her with that caring smile
"It's okay, Glass Slipper. Everypony can mess up sometimes. I forgive you."
Glass Slipper returned the smile shyly and obviously relieved. Following a sudden thought, she leaned in for a hug and whispered
"Thanks, Mom."
Just like she hoped, Crystal Note put her hooves around the filly and held her close
“I’ll always forgive you, and I’m always on your side.”
Glass Slipper nodded and sat up again to face the inevitable lecture
“But as your mother, I want to make sure you don’t do something you’ll regret later on. Sapphire and you have been friends for so long now, I think it’d be terrible to give up on it over one misstep that happened. Even if it was a rather hurtful one.”
The teenager sighed frustrated
“I’ll think about it.”
Crystal Note fixed her with a stern glance and Glass Slipper bit her lip
“I’ll think really hard about it. And I promise I’ll at least talk to her.”
When the sternness didn’t fade, she also added with a small voice
“And I’ll apologize for yelling at her.”
“Thank you, Glass Slipper.”

The mare and filly smiled, but Glass Slipper decided to push her luck a little too far
“So, when you say you’ll always forgive me, does that mean…?”
“That you’re getting away scot-free? Not a chance, Glass Slipper.”
“But Mom!”
Crystal Note couldn’t help but laugh at Glass Slipper’s perfect whiny tone, something only teenagers seemed to pull out right, even though it didn’t help much usually
“You took my things and you sneaked out of the house at night without permission. Nothing I can’t forgive. However, you hit a colt. I don’t care if he deserved it or not, I won’t tolerate that kind of behaviour.”
Glass Slipper sighed again and kept her head low
“I guess I’ll be doing dishes?”
“I think two months will be enough. You will also volunteer to clean up the warehouse. This will give you the chance to recover the records you’ve borrowed. If any of them are gone or broken, I expect you to replace them, from your allowance.”
“But that’s not fair! I wasn’t the only one at the party so why should I be the only one who cleans up and… wait, I get an allowance?”
Crystal Note, despite a sleepless night and a chaotic morning, broke into laughter
“We’ll talk about it, Glass Slipper. As for fair or not, I’m sure you won’t be the only one who will face some punishment. For a secret party, you and your friends weren’t very subtle.”
Glass Slipper opened her mouth to protest, but in the end she just sighed, realizing nothing she said could change Crystal Note’s mind right now
“Fine. I’ll do it, Mom.”

Both of them smiled at the absurdity of the situation, even though in the end it didn’t all turn out bad. Crystal Note hid a giggle behind her hoof, clearly enjoying her new title from Glass Slipper. The teenager lost no time to remind the mare of the responsibilities that came with it
“Mom? Do you think Silver Sword only talked to me because he was drunk too, or maybe…?”
Crystal Note sighed and gently hugged her daughter
“I don’t know, dear. We’ll have to wait and see.”
The filly frowned at the dodgy answer she got, but she followed the mare as she nudged her towards the kitchen
“Come now, let’s have some breakfast before you worry even more.”
They found their places at the table and ate quietly. While Glass Slipper still mulled over what happened last night, Crystal Note relished in the fact that the drama had been kept at a minimum.

However, the stillness didn’t last very long. They had just finished eating when a series of loud knocks drew their attention to the front door.
Glass Slipper stayed behind the kitchen door as Crystal Note went to check on it. The mare barely suppressed a deep sigh as act three of her teenage drama was about to start.

On her doorstep, she found an angry looking mare with a nearly adult colt cowering behind her. While the mare instantly shot burning glares at Crystal Note, the colt’s eyes stayed fixed on the ground. Still, Crystal Note could see the same glassiness she’d seen in Sapphire’s eyes earlier. Also, his right eye was red and swollen, starting to turn into a black eye, revealing him as Silver Sword. Apparently, Glass Slipper carried a mean hook if angry enough.

Taking a deep calming breath, Crystal Note focused on the mare and indicated a bow with her head
“Silver Sterling, what brings you here this early?”
“Don’t try to fool me, Crystal Note. You know exactly why I’m here.”
She glanced at the colt before her turquoise eyes met Silver Sterling’s steel blue ones again
“I suppose it has to do with the party our youngsters had last night.”
“Party! More like a forceful gathering of violence, with your fosterling as one of the ringleaders!”
Crystal Note didn’t even flinch as Silver Sterling’s voice rose in volume, but her brow furrowed into a frown
“Excuse me?”
“I will most definitely not! Your fosterling riled up innocent teenagers, including my son, into abandoning their homes and indulging into foreign music and alcohol! Glass Slipper has practically poisoned her entire class as well as hurt Silver Sword.”
The colt flinched visibly, but his mother couldn’t see it as she still busy in her attempts to melt Crystal Note with her glare.

Crystal Note countered the mare’s rage with practiced calmness, even though the way Silver Sterling talked about her daughter was making her angry. In a collected voice, she tried to diffuse those accusations
“That’s not what I heard, Silver Sterling. As far as I know, the kids simply got together for some dancing and music, nothing more.”
“Glass Slipper is a well-known troublemaker in school and now she pulled them all down a dangerous path. I won’t accept this and there will be consequences.”
Crystal Note’s patience on the mare ran out fast and there was a sharp edge in her voice
“I’ve not heard a single complaint from any of her teachers. Whatever your son told you is not true.”
“Are you calling my son a liar?”

Crystal Note took a single step forward, now muzzle to muzzle with Silver Sterling
“My daughter has not lied to me a single time yet. She made some mistakes, but she always stood up for each of them. I have no reason to doubt any of her words.”
The mare flinched and backed away from Crystal Note, her eyes glancing to Crystal Note’s horn for a moment
“Well, your daughter” she nearly spat out the word, “is a bad influence for my son as well as all the other students. I guess she learned this from you quite well, with all your dabbling in magic and foreigners.”
Crystal Note noticed the colt scooting away from his mother as the mare’s anger turned into raging fury. She also heard the creak of the door behind her, telling her that Glass Slipper was listening in
“Insult me as much as you like, Silver Sterling, but I ask you to stop speaking ill of Glass Slipper this instant. If all you do is badmouthing my daughter, this conversation is over.”
Again, both the mare and her colt flinched under Crystal Note’s sharp voice. Their eyes met and Crystal Note’s expression softened as she tried to reconcile with Silver Sterling
“Look, there’s been more than one misstep during this party last night. Instead of pointing hooves at each other, shouldn’t we find out how we can avoid things like this in the future?”

Silver Sword looked up at his mother pleadingly, but Silver Sterling didn’t move an inch
“No, you’re not going to hide this under the rug, Crystal Note. Your fosterling hit my son and others saw it too. There will be consequences.”
Crystal Note could almost feel Glass Slipper shiver in her hiding spot behind the door. Her expression hardened once more as both angry mothers glared at each other
“And for that, she will face the consequences. My consequences, Silver Sterling. I won’t let you or anypony else take out their anger on my daughter.”

There was an uncompromising silence as neither of the mares backed away even an inch. Glass Slipper almost cried as she listened how Crystal Note defended her like that. She knew the mare was angry at her, but still she stood her ground to protect her filly, like a real Mom. Glass Slipper still felt guilty for what had happened, but even the tiniest doubts on Crystal Note blew over as the mare defended her in such a way.

Silver Sword on the other hoof struggled far more to hide how uncomfortable he felt watching his mother unleash on the other mare. His fuzzy mind picked up how deep he’d buried himself in trouble this time and he was grateful his mother hadn’t picked up on it yet.
Unfortunately, Crystal Note noticed the colt and his guilt-driven behaviour. She returned to the calm voice she used earlier, but this time it made shivers run down the colt’s back as she addressed his mother
“Do you know why my daughter hit him? Did he tell you what happened before?”
“Before?”
Finally, Silver Sterling turned around to look at the near-adult colt. She noticed his crouched down stance and the way he avoided looking at her. Like any good mother, she could easily tell her son was hiding something from her
“Silver Sword? What did you do?”
The mare’s voice could easily cut glass and the nervous colt didn’t stand any chance. Under the stern glares from both mares, he crumbled
“I tried to make her jealous. She was playing coy and I wanted payback, so when I saw her friend was drunk, I kissed her instead and made sure she’d see me.”

For a moment, there was absolute silence. Faster than Crystal Note could even blink, Silver Sterling had grabbed her son’s ear and pulled so hard the colt had to almost rear up
“Ow! Mum!”
“Don’t ‘Mum’ me! I’ve never been so ashamed of you in my whole life! How could you take advantage of a filly and then lie to me? Worse, how could you use another pony as a scapegoat? Did you know about the liquor in the punch?”
Silver Sword looked away and yelped in pain as his mother yanked his ear again
“Did you know about it?”
“Yes! Some of the guys smuggled it out of their houses! You’re hurting me, Mum.”
Silver Sterling released his ear and the colt stumbled down. Before he could get up, Silver Sterling was looming over him with the mother of all glares
“You go home right now and tell your father about this. And you better not lie or leave anything out, or you won’t see the sunlight again until your little brother has graduated.”

Silver Sword shrunk with each word and stumbled back on his hooves to do just as his mother had told him. Silver Sterling watched her son run down the street, but as soon as he was out of sight, her glare faded and she all but collapsed on the ground.
With her head held low, she turned back to Crystal Note, ashamed and with an apology in her eyes
“Crystal Note, I’m sorry for unloading on you is such a way and…”
The crystal unicorn just waved her hoof, dismissing any further words with a soft smile
“Apology accepted. And I meant what I said earlier. There’s no excuse for hitting somepony, under no circumstances. Glass Slipper will face the consequences for her actions.”
Silver Sterling nodded. She was aware Crystal Note gave her the chance to back out with some dignity at least, and she was not too proud to accept this
“I trust your word on it. And I will make sure my son learns that this is not the way to treat other ponies.”

The two mothers shared a long look that ended in a nod. Crystal Note took a deep, cleansing breath and her stance changed from aggressive back to calm in and instant
“Don’t be too harsh on your son, Silver Sterling. They are all still teenagers after all. I did my fair share of stupid things when I was that age. I think what we did might have been worse.”
Silver Sterling, with her eyes still low, let out a bitter laugh
“We taught we were so clever back then and had all the right reason. It’s a miracle we never got into more trouble for it.”
“I hear that.”
They giggled softly and Silver Sterling got up again
“At least they didn’t try to break into the palace and steal food. Compared to that, a party is harmless. That doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on Silver Sword for what he did.”
Crystal Note’s smile turned into a smirk and she nodded
“Glass Slipper will have plenty of time to think about what she did while she cleans up the warehouse.”
Silver Sterling’s lips curled into a grin
“Oh, I think I know a few colts and fillies who would love to join her on that. In fact, I know they will.”
Both mares chuckled together and finally, the lingering tension disappeared.

Silver Sterling glanced past Crystal Note into the house and caught a glimpse of a door moving shut
“Crystal Note? Could you tell Glass Slipper… please tell your daughter I’m sorry for what Silver Sword did. And if she ever needs something, anything at all, she can come to me anytime.”
Crystal Note smiled softly, she knew Glass Slipper would most likely not do that, but she would not lessen Silver Sterling’s effort of reconciliation
“Thank you for your generous offer, Silver Sterling. I’ll let my daughter know right away.”
The mare bowed her head and got ready to leave
“Thank you, Crystal Note. And again, I apologize for all those things I said in anger.”
Crystal Note nodded and waved as the mare turned to head down the street.

With a quiet sigh of relief, Crystal Note closed the front door behind her. That could have gone better, but also a lot worse.
As soon as the door was closed, the kitchen door flew open and Glass Slipper rushed towards her. Crystal Note’s worry flared up again, but vanished as soon as Glass Slipper clung on her in a tight hug. She didn’t look scared or sad, instead a grateful smile was on her face even if there were some tears in her eyes.
Crystal Note held her daughter close until the filly was ready to let go again. They smiled at each other despite all the mess that was still to be solved. They knew they could handle it together, as a family.

Cutie Mark - Part I

The ringing of the school bell almost didn’t break through the high pitched voices of the fillies and colts in the class room. Although their class only held eight foals, they made up for it with enthusiasm and cheerfulness that only young and carefree minds could possess. Right now, they scampered all around their classroom in what looked like a game of tag, running between their small desks and chairs with squeals of joy and much laughter. They didn’t seem too bothered about blown away papers or dropped books, unlike their teacher who entered the room with a rather stern expression.

The old stallion cleared his throat and the foals almost froze in their steps. He raised his eyebrows and the fillies and colts quickly gathered everything back in place. Before a minute had passed, the classroom was somewhat orderly again and the grade students sat behind their desks, ready for their lesson.
Their teacher nodded in approval and class began.

A few hours later, the teacher finally finished the last lesson of the day. Even Velvet Heart who was at the top of the class sighed relieved when the final bell rang and like the others, she quickly gathered her things into her saddlebag
“Before you go, there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”
Half a dozen groans sounded out and Sweetie Tooth asked what everypony feared
“You’re not giving us more homework, please?”
The stallion chuckled softly, to the relief of this students, and shook his head
“No, it’s not really homework. As you all know, in three weeks, there will be the crystal faire taking place once again.”
He stopped for a few moments as the foals erupted into happy cheers and smiled along
“I know, I’m excited as well. There will be festivities, games, music and many, many visitors from Equestria again.”
Sweetie Tooth nodded and hopped up and down on the spot
“I know! Auntie Applejack told me that even Princess Twilight Sparkle and Spike the Dragon will visit this year!”
The other foals gasped in surprise and started to talk even more excited with each other. The teacher laughed and raised his voice a little to be heard
“Alright, I get it, we’re all very excited for the crystal faire. And since it’s going to be the biggest faire yet, the other teachers and I had an idea. We would like every class to contribute to the faire in one way or another.”
The fillies and colts looked at each other, then back at their teacher
“We would like to set it up as a fundraiser for our school. You can decide what kind of project you want to do, of course. The choice is all yours.”
Again, the classmates looked at each other
“A fundraiser?”
“And only three weeks?”
“How are we supposed to do that?”
The teacher smile at the youthful enthusiasm
“You can ask somepony for help of course, maybe your parents or friends. It’s not important to raise a lot of bits, just do your best and have a lot of fun!”
Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart grinned and looked at their best friend Ocean Waves
“You know what that means, right?”
The slightly older filly smiled and nodded
“Cutie Mark Crusader meetup, at our place, in an hour?”
“You got it!”
The foals cheered and ran out of the classroom, leaving behind a chuckling teacher.

“Okay, so what do we have so far?”
Ocean Waves took the list she made as everpony gathered around her. Other than the classmates, her brother Amber Waves and a few ponies from his class had joined in as well, wearing their Cutie Mark Crusader capes just like the others. Even though some of them already had their cutie marks, the Crusaders of the Crystal Empire stuck together anyways. Like the original Crusaders from Ponyville, helping each other was more important for them, whether somepony got a mark or not. Even a few fillies and colts who had moved to the Empire from other cities of Equestria had joined the Crusaders by now.

Before Ocean could start to read though, there was a bright flash of golden light and suddenly, an alicorn filly stood in room with them
“I’m so sorry! I came as fast as I could, but Sunburst’s lesson just went on forever!”
A few fillies and colts backed away surprised, but most of them just smiled and Amber Waves hugged her friend
“It’s okay, Flurry Heart! We’re just glad you could make it!”
The young princess smiled and waved to everypony as they got closer again. Usually, she avoided using flashy magic around her friends, but today she was impatient enough to teleport straight out of the palace to the meeting. Luckily, the other Crusaders knew her well enough to not be scared of her magic anymore, as well as to know they didn’t have to treat her any special when she wore her Cutie Mark Crusader cape. She’d feel bad if her friends thought they had to bow down or something.

Ocean Waves cleared her throat and pointed to her list again
“Okay, so we gathered a few ideas so far, but we need to see if any of them are doable in just three weeks.”
Flurry Heart nodded and sat down between Amber Waves and Sweetie Tooth. Even though she got private lessons from Sunburst in the palace, she knew all about the school and the fundraiser.
They started with a lively discussion and in the end only two options were left
“So it’s either a song for the festival or a stall at the market.”
Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth shook their heads in perfect synchronization
“A song is a bad idea.” “Crystal Note says she needs weeks to prepare for a performance.” “And she’s a professional.” “Even if we find a song…” “… and manage to learn it…” “… it would never be so good that we could raise a lot of bits.”
The foals giggled as always when the twins did their little routine where they continued each other’s sentences, but they had a point this time.

“So it’s going to be a stall. We can build one in a day or two, easy.”
“And we can take shifts during the faire. That way we can sell all day long.”
Flurry Heart pouted and her ears flopped down
“I can help build it, but I can’t do anything during the faire. Mom wants me to take part at the ceremony and stuff.”
Ocean Waves gently nudged her friend with her hoof
“Don’t worry, Flurry. We understand, you got princess duties.”
“You’re here now after all, that still counts!”
Flurry Heart smiled brightly and the foals giggled, all but Violet Haze
“Um, guys? I don’t want to be the wet blanket, but if we set up a stall, what are we gonna sell?”

The foals looked at each other, obviously nopony had thought about that so far.
“It has to be something many ponies want to buy.”
“And something we can make ourselves.”
“Oh! We could draw a lot of pictures and sell them!”
“You know how many pictures we need to draw? If anypony would want them, anyways. We don’t all have a painting cutie mark like you, Violet Haze.”
“Maybe we could make something else?”
“Uh-huh. My uncle sells hoofmade necklaces with crystals and gems.”
Amber Waves shook his head at that
“Your uncle and at least a dozen other ponies as well. Also we don’t have the materials we need.”
Flurry Heart, impatient as ever, started pacing around already
“So we need something that’s not hard to make, doesn’t take too much time and that many ponies like… hmm… Cookies!”
Flurry Heart gasped out and immediately started hopping around excited
“Cookies! That’s it! Everypony loves cookies! Soo, let’s do a cookie stall!”
Flurry Heart’s excitement was infectious and soon all fillies and colts juggled ideas on which kinds of cookies would work. Again, Amber Waves had to be the voice of reason
“Guys, you realize that half the stalls will sell something to eat, right? Including the big one from Appleloosa and Sour Berry with his baked goods.”
“So?”
“I’m just saying, if we want to compete with them, we need like the best cookies ever! Something nopony could get outside the Crystal Empire!”
“Easy!”
All heads turned to the young earth pony colt next to Velvet Heart
“Crystal berries! They only grow here in the Crystal Empire, right? So if we make crystal berry cookies, everypony from Equestria wants to try them out for sure!”

Sweetie Tooth suddenly let out a giant gasp and everypony turned to her. Velvet Heart grinned and nudged her sister
“What do you say? Think you can come up with something, sis?”
The other crusaders knew about Sweetie Tooth’s skills in the kitchen of course, but the filly seemed even more excited than Flurry Heart this time
“Totally! But I think I have an even better idea!”
The others scooted closer and held their breathes as Sweetie Tooth milked out every last second of her moment
“How about, we make… crystal berry candy!”
The fillies and colts looked at each other and one by one joined in grinning
“Awesome!”
“I don’t think anypony has a stall for that.”
“Do you know how to make candy, Sweetie Tooth?”
The filly in question shook her head, but her grin stayed wide
“Not yet, but I know Sour Berry does. I’m sure he’ll help us.”
Velvet Heart gasped excited and jumped to her hooves
“Mom’s friend in Ponyville is a candy maker, too! We can write her a letter and ask for advice.”
“But why is candy better than cookies?”
Flurry Heart tossed in, just a tad pouty that her idea got dismissed so quickly
“Think about it, Flurry. Cookies are best fresh, so we had to bake them just before the faire. But candies…”
Flurry Heart gasped and hopped up and down on the spot, quickly joined by Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart
“Candies don’t get stale! We can start making some right away and we’ll have loads of them when it’s time!”
“This is going to be great!”
The other colts and fillies cheered along for a few minutes, until Ocean Waves called them back to order
“Okay, so let’s get to it, Crusaders! This might be our biggest mission yet!”

Amber Waves and three other colts jumped to their hooves
“We’ll go and find things to build our stall.”
Ocean Waves nodded and scribbled a note on her list as the four dashed out of the room. Sweetie Tooth and Violet Haze ran out next, after exclaiming they’d go talk with Sour Berry at his café. Three more volunteered to go and find out where they could get enough crystal berries for candies and Ocean Waves wrote it down on her list.
Velvet Heart was next
“I’ll go write a letter to Auntie Bon Bon in Ponyville.”
“Oh, I can help!”
Flurry Heart smiled wide and even flapped her wings excited
“Aunt Twilight taught me how to send letters with magic, I can send it directly to Spike and he can deliver it way faster!”
The two fillies grinned and vanished in a golden flash from Flurry Heart’s horn. Ocean Waves nodded and wrote down the final note
“Okay, I think that’s everypony except… hey!”
She looked around the now empty room and jumped up with a pout
“Don’t leave me all alone like that!”
With that, she packed her list and ran out after the others.

Velvet Heart scribbled the last words on the scroll and nodded to Flurry Heart
“I think that’s it.”
“Great! Now let me write a quick note for Spike and I’ll send them together.”
Flurry Heart picked up the quill with her magic and wrote a far shorter note, then rolled both scrolls up and sealed them
“Okay, now for the hard part.”
She focused and her horn glowed brightly with golden magic. The scroll lifted up and was surrounded by a golden flame, even though Velvet Heart didn’t feel any heat from the fire. Instead of burning to ash like normal paper, the scroll turned into smoke without a trace and then the small cloud of golden smoke flew away through the closest window
“There! It’s on its way. Now we have to wait.”
Velvet Heart watched the last trace of smoke vanish and smiled
“That’s so cool! Why don’t we all use that instead of regular mail?”
Flurry Heart smiled weakly and took a deep breath
“Because it’s really, really hard. Mom taught me because I’m an alicorn, but not even Auntie Twilight could do that spell when she was still a unicorn. That’s why Auntie Celestia enchanted Spike’s dragon flame instead. The only unicorn I met who knows that spell is Grandma Twilight Velvet.”
Velvet Heart eagerly absorbed any information she received, even if this time she ended in a small pout
“So no way you could teach it to my Mom.”
They both giggled but Flurry Heart shook her head
“I don’t think so, it’s really hard and… oh!”
A glow from Flurry’s horn ended the magic lesson early and with a little flash, a new scroll appear in Flurry’s magic
“That was fast!”

The fillies leaned over the scroll and Velvet Heart smiled happily as she read
“Dear Velvet Heart,

Seems like you’re very lucky, Spike was already nearby when he got your message and gave it to me right away. I think it’s a great idea you all had. I’ve never worked with crystal berries much, but I’ve written down my basic candy recipe and a few tips for you. I’m sure you and Sweetie Tooth can figure out the rest. I’ll be coming to the crystal faire as well, so you need to save some candy for your Auntie Lyra and me!
Best wishes to you, your sisters and your mother! Many hugs from Lyra and me!

With Love,
Your Aunt Bon Bon

PS: Thank you Princess Flurry Heart for delivering our letters!”

The two friends smiled at each other and Velvet Heart grabbed the scroll before the two ran back to the other Crusaders.

The fillies and colts soon met again and while Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart went through the letters and notes from Sour Berry and Bon Bon, the other started building the stall already. Most of them at least. Ocean Waves again was putting together another list since she was the most organized of the Crusaders and next to her sat Flurry Heart. The alicorn filly wasn’t too nimble with her hooves so she couldn’t help much with the stall. Of course she could just use magic instead, but the others had so much fun working together, she knew she’d just feel like she one-upped them. She wanted to help, but out-staging her friends with magic was no fun at all.

Ocean Waves noticed Flurry’s moping after a while and tried to cheer her up, but when Flurry saw she was putting together a schedule for everypony except her, the alicorn filly didn’t feel much better
“I just want to help and do my part, but I can’t because I’m a stupid princess!”
“Hey, that’s not true Flurry Heart. You’re anything but stupid, and you helped us before because you’re a princess! Besides, you’re here aren’t you? I’ve read so many stories of princesses who never left their castles and would never even think about helping others. You’re nothing like that!”
Flurry smiled and hugged her friend, at least partially appeased
“I still wish I could do more.”

At this point, the twins joined their friends again
“Okay, so we think we know what to do right now. But I think our kitchen isn’t really big enough for it. Plus, we need moulds for the candies and lots of ingredients. Maybe we could…”
Flurry Heart gasped out loud and excited
“Guys, I can help more! There’s a large kitchen in the palace and I’m sure we have everything we need and more!”
The others gathered around Flurry Heart at that, but Amber Waves didn’t look too convinced yet
“Are you sure it’s okay we go to the palace for that? I mean, shouldn’t we ask permission from Princess Cadance first?”
Flurry Heart just grinned
“But, if we had delicious candy, we could convince her way easier, don’t you think?”
Most of the fillies and colts giggled and at the excited looks from Flurry Heart, the twins and his sister, even Amber Waves caved in
“I guess that’s true…”
Flurry Heart almost squealed in joy and flapped her wings out of pure enthusiasm
“Great! Get ready, everypony!”
She had noticed that the others were all standing close by now and so she charged up her horn to a powerful glow
“Wait, what are you…?”
Before Velvet Heart finished, all the fillies and colts vanished in a bright flash of golden light.

In the palace, Steel Spear fought hard to hold back a yawn. He was standing guard at the door to the Princess’ private rooms, probably one of the most boring jobs there was these days. He had been a member of Crystal Guard for many years now and even though it was boring, he was wise enough to cherish the peaceful times. Before the arrival of Princess Cadance, he had been a soldier in King Sombra’s army and like everypony else, he had to live in constant fear and danger. He had seen the armies of Canterlot invade his home and he had watched friends and foes fall in battle. Even after Princess Cadance had recovered the crystal heart, he had seen his fair share of danger, when there was a changeling spy infiltrating their lines (even if he turned out harmless in the end) or recently when Windigos had attacked the city with a terrible snowstorm.
So when he felt a shiver run down his spine, he knew better than to dismiss it. Years of protecting others had sharpened his sense to potential dangers, even if he couldn’t see it at first. His ears perked up and he roamed every inch of the hallway with his eyes, looking for a potential threat.

Even with all his experience, he would have never expected that danger came with the voices of foals that echoed through the castle
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS CANDY MAKERS! YAY!”
His eyes opened wide and he and his comrade shared a knowing grin
“Princess Flurry Heart and her friends are hecking something out again.”
“Should we tell the Princess?”
“We better stay in safe distance and observe for now.”
“Yes sir!”
The grinned at each other but snapped back into attention when the doors flew open and Princess Cadance all but ran out of her rooms and down the hallways. She vanished around a corner and didn’t even hear the two guards burst in laughter.

Princess Cadance passed through the castle in a sharp trot and everpony wisely stepped out of her way. She wasn’t known for lashing out in anger at any point, but they knew better than to get in the way of a concerned mother, alicorn princess or other.
While Flurry Heart was a bundle of wonderful energy and the greatest joy of her life, there were moments when her tendency to get into trouble tested Cadance’ patience to the limit. Right now, Cadance feared that this would be one of those moments. She followed the sound of giggles from the foals, somewhat relieved. That meant at least there weren’t any dangerous stunts involved this time.

She reached the kitchen tract and saw most ponies of her staff gathered in front of the big double doors leading to the big kitchen. They didn’t seem scared or angry, just a little worried. Most of them were smiling, in fact.
The crystal ponies noticed their princess approaching and bowed their heads respectfully, but Princess Cadance only nodded briefly and stepped to the door. One glance inside, and she was smiling softly as well.

Inside the kitchen was chaos, to the purest meaning of the word. A dozen foals were running around, picking up things and ingredients. In the middle of the kitchen, the largest pot, more like a cauldron, was set up. It was easily twice as high as any of the fillies, so Sweetie Tooth and Ocean Waves stood on their rear hooves on chairs as they stirred the bubbling mass in the cauldron with an oversized wooden spoon. Over their heads, Flurry Heart zoomed around like a white humming bird and added the ingredients the others brought into the cauldron, on Sweetie Tooth’s orders.
Only one of the kitchen staff stayed bravely in the room, a mare named Butter Flakes who turned on the spot in a fruitless effort to keep all the foals in view and give advice
“Oh, careful dear, that’s very heavy and… nonono, don’t use that, that’s not… oh, sweetie, please set it down again, don’t hurt yourself… Princess Flurry, please be careful when you…”

Princess Cadance walked into the kitchen and as she put her hoof gently on the mare’s shoulder, Butter Flakes jumped up in surprise
“Princess Cadance! I’m sorry, I’m just…”
“I know, Butter Flakes. Trust me, I know. Flurry Heart!”
The young alicorn blushed as she landed in front of her mother, looking down at her hooves
“Flurry, can you explain what’s going on here?”
“We’re making candy, Mommy. For the faire!”
The filly couldn’t hide her excitement and when she dared to look up, her beaming grin even had Cadance’ stern expression melt into a smile
“I see. And you didn’t tell me before you started, because…?”
Flurry’s ears sank down into her mane and her eyes dropped to the floor again
“Um, because we wanted to surprise you?”
It was a lame excuse, and she knew it. She heard the sigh from her mother, but when a wingtip gently tilted her head up again, she smiled softly. Cadance simply couldn’t be angry at her daughter for longer than a few heartbeats
“Snowflake, I know you get excited, but you need to tell me before you do something like this. You startled everypony and you nearly gave poor Butter Flakes here a heart attack.”
Flurry Heart’s ears immediately flopped down again and she turned towards the mare in question
“I’m sorry, Butter Flakes. We didn’t want to scare you.”
The mare just smiled softly
“It’s all forgiven, Princess Flurry. It’s all for a good cause in the end.”
The filly nodded and when she heard Sweetie Tooth call out to her, she threw a pleading look at her mother. Princess Cadance just rolled her eyes, but with a smile
“Go help your friends, Snowflake. But we’ll try to keep the chaos contained from now on.”

Flurry Heart ran back to her friends just as two more mares entered the kitchen. Butter Flakes sighed relieved as Opal Waves and Crystal Note joined her
“Somepony told us you could need a few extra hooves in here.”
Opal Waves grinned widely
“Especially since the Crusader meetup in our living room suddenly vanished in a bright flash.”
Cadance groaned and the three other mares giggled
“I’m sorry. You know how excited Flurry Heart can get.”
“We know, Princess. And we love her for it, just like you do.”
The mares laughed softly and watched the Crusaders carefully

Sweetie Tooth and Ocean Waves noticed their moms and Sweetie Tooth whispered to Flurry Heart
“I think we should maybe stop before we get into trouble and…”
“No!”
Sweetie Tooth nearly fell off her chair, startled by Flurry’s sudden call
“We have to do this now, it’s really, really important! Trust me!”
The young princess looked very serious all of a sudden, so Sweetie Tooth just nodded. Next to her Ocean Waves immediately remembered that look on Flurry Heart from back when the Windigos had attacked. Back then, the princess had told them that the crystal heart would protect them all, and even if she couldn’t explain it, Ocean Waves believed and trusted her friend immediately. Now she also had that light in her eyes that just made everypony want to believe her. Somehow, the young alicorn could see something that they all could not. Flurry Heart didn’t get serious like that just out of a whim, so she gave an encouraging nudge to Sweetie Tooth and continued to stir the candy mass in the huge pot.

Under the watchful eyes of the mares, the fillies and colts quickly gathered the ingredients from Velvet Heart’s recipe, but in the end Sweetie Tooth took the lead on what to add and when. After a short while, the whole kitchen started to smell like candy and everypony smiled, except Sweetie Tooth. She had an uncharacteristically serious look on her face as she concentrated on the task ahead.
When she asked Flurry Heart to bring her a bottle with a golden liquid, Butter Flakes suddenly perked up
“Princess Flurry Heart, careful with that! That’s vanilla essence, it won’t go well with crystal berries.”
“It will!”
Everypony turned around to look at Sweetie Tooth
“Trust me, it’s just what we need for the best candy!”
“Um, sis, it’s not in the recipe from Sour Berry or Auntie Bon Bon.”
“I know, Velvet. But I’m sure about it!”
While the twins discussed, Flurry Heart got that same look on her face from earlier and hovered over the cauldron with the bottle
“I trust you, Sweetie Tooth. How much do we need?”
“All of it!”
“Sweetie, no darling, that’s way too much.”
Butter Flakes tried to reason with the fillies, but Flurry Heart already poured in the thick, golden syrup while Sweetie Tooth stirred the pink candy mass. While everypony watched her, Princess Cadance kept close eyes on her daughter. She sensed something was different today, but clearly it was a good change, so she didn’t worry.

Sweetie Tooth finally declared her candy ready and everypony helped spread out moulds for the pieces of candy. When the fillies and colts suddenly realized they couldn’t move the large and still very hot cauldron, Princess Cadance and Crystal Note stepped in with their magic. They carefully spread out the batter under Sweetie Tooth’s instructions and the filly smiled satisfied
“Alright, now we have to wait for it to cool down and…”
“On it!”
Before anypony could react, Flurry Heart tapped into her magic and her horn glowed brightly. At the same time, a strong breeze blow through the kitchen, cold like a winter storm. The foals shrieked and looked for cover, a few jumped behind Princess Cadance who spread her wings to shield them from the icy wind. As quickly as it had appeared, the cold was gone again.
Princess Cadance fixed the young alicorn with a stern look
“Flurry Heart, what did I tell you about weather spells?”
The filly looked away bashfully
“Never cast them indoors?”
“And I hope now you can see why!”
Flurry’s ears dropped down further and she nodded, but her friends also quickly gathered around her. They all knew how it felt to get lectured by their mother and Princess Cadance settled down with just a sigh instead of it
“Well, I have to admit, it did work as you planed.”

From the quick burst of cold, the candies had cooled down already and Sweetie Tooth picked one up to test its consistency with a smile
“Yep, all ready!”
The fillies and colts cheered while Flurry Heart threw an apologetic glance at her mother, even though she could barely stand still from excitement.
The Princess sighed, but with a smile. Her magic spread out and a piece of candy floated to everypony in the room, including Butter Flakes, Opal Waves and Crystal Note.
“So let’s find out what they taste like.”

Sweetie Tooth watched anxiously as everypony took a taste of her candy. She saw mostly smiles from the corner of her eyes, but she kept focusing on the pony she needed to know the most. Velvet Heart pushed the piece of candy into her mouth and closed her eyes, savouring the taste. She smiled immediately and so did Sweetie Tooth, but then her sister suddenly tensed up and Sweetie Tooth held her breath. Velvet Heart opened her eyes and their gazes met. For Sweetie Tooth, time seemed to stand still for a moment, but Velvet Heart’s smile grew wider than she had ever seen before, even though she had tears in the corner of her eyes. Berries and vanilla in a very special mix. Sweetie Tooth knew her sister would recognize and her smile matched hers
“It’s perfect!”
Sweetie Tooth squealed and reared up in joy, and then something magical happened.

Sweetie Tooth lifted up from the floor, just barely an inch and only a few short moments, but she was floating on her own. At the same time, there was a glow surrounding her, more than her usual happy sparkles that danced over her coat. When her hooves touched the ground again, the glowing focused on both sides of her flanks for a quick flash. When the light faded, everypony stared in awe. They saw a big heart, coloured in swirls of red and white, like it was made of candy, like it always belonged on Sweetie Tooth’s flanks.

Sweetie Tooth seemed confused why everyone was suddenly staring at her, but Crystal Note dashed forward to pull her into a tight embrace
“Sweetie Tooth, you did it! You earned your cutie mark!”
At her words of her mother, Sweetie Tooth blinked fast a few times and turned her head back to look at her flank, staring baffled for a moment before Crystal Note kissed her cheek and whispered
“Congratulations, Sweetie Tooth. I’m so proud of you!”
Sweetie Tooth exploded into an ear-splitting squeal and wrapped her hooves tightly around her mommy for a second, then she hopped out of the embrace and ran towards Velvet Heart. The twins met midway in a hug and hopped and danced and squealed together, over and over
“Cutie mark, cutie mark, cutie mark!”
They laughed when Flurry Heart crashed into them with enough speed to bowl them over, followed quickly by all the other Cutie Mark Crusaders who piled around Sweetie Tooth.

Princess Cadance sat down next to Crystal Note who had to wipe away some happy tears. She gently placed a pink wing on the mare’s back
“You can be proud of your little filly.”
“I am, Princess. I am. I just wish her parents were here to see this.”
Princess Cadance only managed a knowing smile before Sweetie Tooth climbed out from under her friends and ran towards her
“Look Mommy, look! It’s my cutie mark!”
Crystal Note laughed away any remains of tears and leaned down to nuzzle her daughter
“It’s amazing, Sweetie Tooth. Just like you.”

Cutie Mark - Final Part

“Cutie mark, cutie mark, cutie mark!”
Crystal Note giggled and watched Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth prance through their bedroom
“Alright girls, I know it’s exciting but it’s already way past your bedtime. You need to get some sleep now!”
Both fillies pouted a little but smiled as they climbed into their beds. As expected, as soon as the slowed down their energy seemed to run out fast and Sweetie Tooth was already yawning when Crystal Note pulled the blanket over her to tuck her in
“Goodnight Mommy.”
Velvet Heart was in her own bed just a little away, with Cotton Ball's basket at the foot of her bed. The kitten was already sleeping for a while now. Velvet watched as Crystal Note sat down next to her sister as always for a hug.
“Goodnight Munchkin. Sweet dreams.”
She leaned down to kiss Sweetie Tooth on her forehead and whispered
“I’m so very proud of you!”

Velvet Heart frowned when she suddenly felt a twinge in her tummy. Where did that come from? She watched as Sweetie Tooth nuzzled Mommy one last time, then her eyes closed down as soon as she touched the pillow. Velvet grinned at that, her sister had been prancing and running all over the place since she got her cutie mark, no wonder she was exhausted. Another twinge, worse than before, made Velvet Heart’s smile fade away.
Crystal Note stepped to her bed now and tucked her in as well. Velvet could smile at her mommy.
“Goodnight Velvet Heart.”
She leaned into her bedtime hug eagerly and felt a kiss on her forehead
“I love you very much, my little gem.”
She frowned, even though she didn’t want to. Why did Mommy tell Sweetie Tooth she was proud of her, but all she got was that? Did she even mean it? Maybe Crystal Note just couldn’t think of anything better to say.
One glance up was all it took to snuff that thought out of her mind. She saw that wonderful smile from her mommy and there was nothing but appreciation and affection in her eyes. Mommy wouldn’t never just say something like that, she only said it because she truly meant every word of it.

Velvet Heart closed her eyes, but she didn't fall asleep. Crystal Note stayed next to her bed a little longer. Probably to watch Sweetie Tooth as she slept, and her new cutie mark. Velvet Heart could barely hold back a frown as she imagined that, but she also felt bad for thinking something like this. She didn't dare to open her eyes and check what her mother was really doing.
After a few minutes, she heard soft hoofsteps and the door closing as her mother turned off the lights and left. Velvet Heart stirred in her bed and now opened her eyes. She needed a minute to see in the nearly dark room. Sweetie Tooth hadn't moved at all and Velvet Heart heard her slow breaths that meant her sister was already asleep.

Usually, the twins talked a little even after Crystal Note tucked them in, how their day had been. Sometimes, they had things they couldn't tell anypony else, like when something reminded them of their parents and made them sad. Sweetie Tooth always tried to push away those thoughts, even if she knew they would come back at her. Velvet Heart usually kept them for herself even though it hurt. Glass Slipper and Crystal Note didn't need to know about that. The twins never kept a secret from another though, and they would always listen when their sister had something on her heart. Being twins meant more to them then just looking the same, they knew they were closer than other ponies like this.

Velvet Heart had hoped her sister would talk to her, but she could see how exhausted Sweetie Tooth was today. She still felt disappointed. All because of that stupid cutie mark.
Velvet froze and shook her head. Why would she think something like that? Sweetie Tooth had earned her cutie mark and that was a good thing! She deserved to be happy and Velvet Heart was happy for her, happy that her sister got all this attention from everypony, from all of her friends and even from Princess Cadance, everypony in the whole Empire just because of a candy heart of her flanks.
Velvet Heart forcefully stopped her train of thoughts, but they had already turned sour. That twinge in her tummy was a churning grumble by now. What's wrong with me? Why am I not happy for her? She has her cutie mark now and I... don't...

Velvet Heart curled up into a tiny ball under her blanket as the realization hit her hard. They were no longer the same. Sweetie Tooth had left her behind. Everypony was so happy for her. Everypony was proud of her. Everypony, even Crystal Note.
When was the last time Mommy told me she was proud of me?
The answer came quickly to her memory. She had come home with a perfect score on a test from school, she was the best in her class once more. Crystal Note had smiled and hugged her. That wasn't even a full week ago.
Velvet pressed her hoof against her tummy as she could almost hear the growl this time. Velvet Heart had always been better at school that Sweetie Tooth, she always helped her sister with her homework. But still, Sweetie Tooth had her cutie mark, and she didn't. Maybe that meant Sweetie Tooth didn't need her anymore. Maybe that's why she didn't want to talk. Now that she had her cutie mark and everypony treated her like she was so special. She probably didn't want to share her secrets anymore. Sweetie Tooth now was ahead of her sister. Now that she had her cutie mark and Velvet didn't, Sweetie Tooth suddenly though she was so much better, so amazing, all just because of that dumb cutie mark.

Velvet Heart glared angrily at Sweetie Tooth who didn't even notice her sister's inner turmoil. She was sleeping peacefully as if nothing had even happened. Velvet Heart gritted her teeth together or else she would have probably yelled at her sister and...
Velvet flinched and recoiled in the bed. What was she even thinking? Sweetie Tooth was asleep and they hadn't even talked about it. Why was she so angry? A few minutes ago, she was just as happy as Sweetie Tooth, just like Glass Slipper or Crystal Note were happy for the filly and her cutie mark.

Velvet Heart swallowed down the new anger she felt when she even thought that word and her tummy grumbled. She felt like she was getting sick. She wanted to shake Sweetie Tooth awake and yell at her, but at the same time that was the last thing she ever wanted to do. Sweetie Tooth was her sister and she loved her, so why?
Why am I so angry at her? Why can't I let it go? Why does she have her cutie mark and I didn't get mine?

Velvet Heart pressed her muzzle into her pillow. She didn't want to be angry at her sister. She couldn't keep this all for herself, it would only make things worse. She had learned that lesson earlier, when she had started taking care of Cotton Ball.
She also remembered who had helped her back than. As quietly as she could, she climbed out of her bed and slowly made it to the door.

Crystal Note sat on her bed with a candle on her nightstand and a book in front of her when the door suddenly opened. She turned her head towards the door with a smile. It wasn’t the first time one of her fillies would come to her late at night. The twins sometimes still had nightmares and Glass Slipper sometimes needed to talk about things she couldn’t in front of her sisters. So Crystal Note always kept her bedroom door unlocked, just in case.

Her smile broke apart though when she saw Velvet Heart sneaking into the room. She didn’t need much light to see the anger on Velvet’s face and the tears in her eyes. The filly had her lips pressed together to a hard line, probably because she would be yelling otherwise.
Crystal Note pushed her book away and sat up. She didn’t need to say anything, she just reached out for her daughter.

Velvet Heart didn’t hesitate. She jumped on the bed and buried her muzzle against her mother as Crystal Note held her. It only took a few moments before she could hear the sobbing. It was nowhere as bad as she heard before, but it still hurt the mare to see her daughter in such distress. She knew Velvet Heart well enough to recognize her frustration and the anger that lingered behind that. She also knew Velvet Heart would need a little prodding before she would open up.

Crystal Note whispered very gently to her filly
“Shh, Darling. It’s okay. You know you can tell me anything.”
She waited for a moment longer before she added
“I won’t get angry or upset, I promise.”
Finally, Velvet Heart shivered and pressed out a few words
“It’s really dumb…”
Crystal Note didn’t let her finish and tightened her embrace instead
“No it’s not. It’s clearly very important to you, so it’s anything but dumb. And it’s hurting you, so it’s very important to me, too.”
The filly in her hooves took a shaky breath as she struggled to find the words she needed

“I don’t want to be angry at her, but it’s just…”
She stopped again, but Crystal Note kept prodding
“Just what, dear?”
“It’s her cutie mark!”
Velvet Heart yowled out in frustration and now that the dam was broken, more words tumbled out
“I know I should be happy for Sweetie Tooth, and I am. But when I just think about it, I get so angry I want to yell, but I don’t want to yell at her, but… ugh! It doesn’t make any sense.”
Crystal Note just held her close and let her go on, even as Velvet’s voice grew louder and angrier
“She just got hers and I didn’t! We promised we’d get it together! I know that’s silly, but I just thought… and now she got hers but what about me? Why didn’t I get mine? I know Sweetie Tooth is special, but I hoped I was too. I want to be happy for her but… but… and then you said you’re proud of her, and I wondered… why not me? I… I just… I just want my cutie mark!”

The last two words were more of a long sob and Velvet Heart cried into her mother’s coat. Crystal Note didn’t get angry or upset, just like she promised. Instead, Velvet felt the hooves that held her gently pull her closer, so she was sitting on the bed next to her mother. She felt the soft nuzzle on her head, like Mommy always did when she wanted to make her feel better
“You are very special, Velvet Heart, cutie mark or not. And Sweetie Tooth is still your sister, she’s still the same pony she was yesterday. A cutie mark can’t change that.”

Velvet Heart calmed down visibly. Now that she had said it, she didn’t feel angry anymore. Instead, she felt ashamed and new tears leaked out
“I’m sorry, Mommy.”
“Don’t be, my little gem. You did nothing wrong.”
Her head tilted up to look at her mommy and not matter how much she couldn’t believe it, Crystal Note was really smiling at her, that same smile she always had
“But I said mean things about Sweetie Tooth and I got angry and I don’t even understand why.”
“Could it be, Velvet Heart, that you’re jealous of your sister?”
She felt that grumble in her tummy again and her eyes opened wide. She was jealous at Sweetie Tooth. That’s why she was so angry, even though she loved her sister so much. She looked away, ashamed and hurt
“I am. I’m a terrible sister.”
“No you’re not, Velvet Heart.”

Velvet Heart didn’t get to follow that train of thought as Crystal Note just nuzzled her softly again
“Yes, you’re jealous. And while that isn’t a nice thing, the way you dealt with it makes me proud of you.”
Purple eyes met turquoise ones again and Crystal Note explained, now that she knew Velvet Heart would listen
“You could have thrown a huge tantrum in front of everypony, but you didn’t. You were happy for your sister without a second thought.”
A tiny nod was all Velvet Heart was capable of. She really didn’t think about it until much later. Crystal Note just smiled and went on
“You could have gone angry at your sister just now, but you didn’t. You stopped yourself before you accidentally hurt her, because you noticed something wasn’t right.”
This time, Crystal Note gently kissed her forehead
“And what’s the most important, you didn’t try to hide it so it would eat you up from inside and hurt you even more. You reached out for somepony, and you weren’t too scared or proud to do so.”

Velvet Heart smiled hesitantly and her tears stopped at least
“Velvet, everypony gets jealous sometimes. Everypony gets angry. Nopony is above those feelings. It’s how we deal with those feelings that makes the difference. And that’s why I’m very proud of you, even if you’re jealous. That’s why I love you, no matter if you get angry or not.”
Velvet Heart took a deep breath and let out a huge sigh as the knot in her tummy untangled. Her smile grew wide again and it felt like tons of weight had lifted off her. She leaned in for another hug and her mommy happily wrapped her hooves around her.

Crystal Note chuckled softly when she heard a yawn from Velvet Heart
“It’s been a very long day for you, little gem. Do you want to stay with me tonight?”
Velvet Heart nodded and curled up against her mother as she pulled the blanket around both of them. Her eyes were already closed when she mumbled sleepily
“Hey Mommy… did you see… Sweetie Tooth’s cutie mark?”
Crystal Note smiled and curled around her daughter
“I did. It’s beautiful and amazing.”
Velvet nuzzled closer and nodded with a smile
“Are we doing a party for her? Flurry Heart said… said… there’s always a party when somepony gets her cutie mark…”
She yawned and barely heard her mother’s answer
“We will, Velvet Heart. But now it’s time to sleep, darling. Sweet dreams, my little filly. I love you very much.”
Velvet Heart smiled and mumbled
“Love you too, Mommy.”
She fell asleep seconds after, but her smiled stayed all night.

Glass Slipper - Dancer - Part V

“No. Absolutely not.”
“But why not?”
“Because it’s reckless and dangerous.”
“How is this dangerous?”
Glass Slipper was close to shouting and paced through the living room
“It’s my special talent and my greatest passion.”
“I know, Glass Slipper, but that does not make this plan of yours any better.”
“I’m just trying to follow my dream! I want to be a professional dancer and I want to start right away!”
Crystal Note sighed deeply and closed her eyes, trying to keep her patience
“Glass Slipper, you’re too young to leave your home and go for a career in Equestria.”
“Isn’t that exactly what you did? Why was it right for you, but not for me?”

Crystal Note stared at her oldest daughter
“Glass Slipper, it was not right for me to do so.”
“Yeah, it turned out so bad for you. I mean you’re only famous and earn a living from following your passion.”
“Glass Slipper, it’s not as simple as you put it.”
She stood up and blocked the filly’s path, forcing her to look at her
“Listen, when I left the Crystal Empire, it was not for living my dream, it was a flight out of desperation. And I was extremely, extremely lucky to run in kind and amazing ponies who took me in and supported me.”
“So? I’ll take my chances.”
“You will most definitely not. This is your future you’re talking about, it’s not a game. You need to take this seriously.
“I am! I seriously want to be a dancer! I don’t need any of my classes at school to do so, so why waste precious time?”
“Glass Slipper, you will not gamble away your future in such a way.”
“You’re one to talk! You never went to school at all!”
“And I paid the price for that.”
“You earned a living from playing your music! How is that bad?”

Crystal Note laughed bitterly and shook her head
“Is that really what you think? Glass Slipper, when I started travelling I had nothing but my violin. In Ponyville, I would take any job I could to earn a train ticket. I did farm work, gardening, housework, you name it. All while practicing very hard each day.”
“I can do that too!”
“You will not. You will not drop out of school and take such a risk.”
“And why not? I don't need science or history if I get a job in Manehatten!”
Crystal Note shook her head with a frown
“So you want to go to Manehatten?”
“Yes! That's where you got famous as well, right?”

Crystal Note sighed deeply
“I didn't just go to Manehatten and suddenly, I was rich and famous.”
“I know that! I'm willing to work hard! I really, really want to do this.”
“No. I won’t allow it, Glass Slipper
“You won’t allow it? You have no right!”
Glass Slipper’s face turned into a grimace of rage as she yelled at the top of your voice
“You’re not my mother!”

Crystal Note recoiled as if she had taken a blow to her face. Her eyes clenched shut and her coat faded into a dull grey. Glass Slipper froze in panic when she saw the mare’s pain and realized what she had said. Crystal Note didn’t look at her and just kept her eyes tightly shut, so she didn’t see how the filly took multiple attempts to say something
“I… I didn’t mean it.”
“Yes you did.”

Glass Slipper didn't reply. She couldn't.
“I think it's best you go to your room now. You should finish your homework, Glass Slipper.”
The filly nodded and walked towards the stairs. She turned around but Crystal Note was still looking away with her eyes shut
“I'm sorry.”
Crystal Note didn't move, no matter how long Glass Slipper waited. At some point, she left.

A few hours later, she heard voices downstairs, somepony calling out, then hoofsteps up the stairs to her room. Velvet Heart poked her head inside without knocking
“Where's Mom?”
Glass Slipper couldn't stop crying.

Glass Slipper sat at the fireplace, on Crystal Note’s usual spot. There was no fire burning and all she was staring at was black ashes. Velvet Heart had screamed at her, so loud that Sweetie Tooth started bawling. She had run off in tears and Velvet Heart right after her. Rose Quartz next door had noticed and ushered the twins into her home before they got too far. Glass Slipper wondered if she lost the right to call the mare ‘Auntie Pinky’ ever again.

She had fed Cotton Ball when the cat had announced she was hungry. At least one family member she had not chased away yet. Even so, Cotton Ball had scurried off soon after, probably searching for Velvet Heart.
Usually, Glass Slipper cherished the times when she had the house all for herself, no sisters to bother her and no mother to remind her of homework or chores. Right now, she would have given everything for one of them to brag into the living room.

She tried to remember the last time she had felt so alone. It was… almost two years ago. When her parents had that terrible accident. Usually, just thinking about that made her cry, but she had done little else for the last hours, so now she only stared ahead.

She blinked when somepony suddenly covered her with a blanket
“Glass Slipper, you shouldn’t sit here in the cold. You could get ill.”
She hurried up on her hooves and turned towards the voice
“Mom?”
Crystal Note stood next to her, but something was different. For once, she didn't smile at all. Her coat was back to normal, but her eyes were still dull and lacking their usual warmth. Crystal Note sighed and picked up the blanket again to put it over Glass Slipper’s shoulders
“You sound so surprised.”
“I… I thought you had left.”
“And never come back? Glass Slipper, I might be angry, but I won’t leave you just because of that.”

Glass Slipper stared at the mare with open relief, but Crystal Note kept glaring
“And don’t fool yourself, I’m still angry. I still think it’s a terrible idea.”
Glass Slipped slumped back on the floor and let her head hang down, so she didn’t notice that Crystal Note made the few steps to close any distance between them
“But, I should have explained myself better.”
She gently lifted the filly’s head with her hoof and both eyes met with a hopeful smile.

Glass Slipper stayed silent for now and watched as Crystal Note set up some logs of wood in the empty fireplace. A quick spell later and a fire was burning and brought back light and warmth to the room. Crystal Note sat down in front of the fire and Glass Slipper scooted closer to her as she realized how cold the room had become.

She tentatively leaned against the mare and Crystal Note shifted a little to support her weight. Glass Slipper smiled and rested her head on her mother’s shoulder the moment a hoof wrapped around her. They stayed like this for a while, just waiting for the warmth of the fire to reach them.

Crystal Note was again the first to break the silence
“Glass Slipper, I don’t have anything against your plan to become a dancer.”
The filly blinked surprised and waited for the inevitable 'but' to follow
“But, I don’t think it’s right to drop out of school to pursuit your dream.”
Glass Slipper didn’t want to get angry again. If she was honest, she didn’t want to talk about it at all right now. But she knew that she had to if she ever wanted to look at Crystal Note again without feeling guilty
“And why not?”
Her voice had enough teenage rebellion in it to sound annoyed, but not enough fire to sound like a challenge. She more felt her mother sigh than she heard it
“Because it might not work out as well as you think.”
Glass Slipper tensed up and sucked in her breath between her teeth
“You think I’m not good enough.”
“No. I think you are a wonderful artist, Glass Slipper, ever since the first time I’ve seen you dance. I’ve never seen anypony who could match your passion on the dancefloor.”
“Then why?”
“Because you said you want to go to Manehatten.”

Crystal Note gently squeezed her shoulder as she continued
“Glass Slipper, Manehatten is not just any city. It’s the capital of show business. Ponies from all of Equestria go there to make a name for themselves as actors, musicians, singers or dancers. You can’t just be very talented to succeed there, you have to be simply the best.”
“You made it.”
Crystal Note sighed again
“I was lucky, Glass Slipper. You wouldn’t believe how lucky. I was a crystal pony musician when some influential ponies decided to set up a musical about the Crystal Empire. A good friend mentioned my name to them and they listened to him. And when they invited me, I could show them I was the pony they needed to make their work special. Whatever talent I have, Glass Slipper, it only helped me at the very end of things.”

Glass Slipper pressed her eyes closed. The way Crystal Note explained it sounded hopeless from the get-go, and she wouldn’t accept that
“I can be lucky too.”
“You can.”
Crystal Note nodded and rubbed her back very gently
“And you know that’s what I wish for you from the bottom of my heart. But you’ll have it a lot harder than me, Angel.”
Glass Slipper would usually smile whenever her mom used her pet-name, but not tonight. Crystal Note' voice was heavy when she tried to explain

“I’ve had it easy as a songwriter, compared to the vocalists and musicians. I can work on my own and before they even start, I can take my time. A song that doesn’t work out at first might turn into a masterpiece years later. But the vocalists and musicians didn’t have as much freedom. They had to deal with my style and they had to make it work the way I wanted it. Do you know how many ponies who came to our rehearsals we had to send away again, because they didn’t make the cut? Some days, we wouldn’t pick a single pony to join us. Not because they were not talented, not because they didn’t have enough passion or because they wouldn’t work hard enough. Some of those ponies were the best singers I have ever heard, but they just didn’t match the style we wanted.”

Glass Slipper closed her eyes and sighed, but it sounded dangerously like a sob
“So you say there is no chance for me! That I should just stay in the Crystal Empire forever and do whatever. I mean, I can still dance as a hobby, right?”
“No, Glass Slipper. That would be a terrible waste of your talent. I think you should be a dancer.”
“Then why don’t you want me to go for it?”
“Oh, Angel”
Glass Slipper’s frown softened a little when she felt the soft nuzzle from her mother
“I just want you to happy with the path you chose, but the one you have in mind is so risky. If you go to Manehatten, you’ll have the most competition on every step of your way. If your dancing style doesn’t match the flavour of the season, you could stumble before you even get a good start. I know you’re a hard worker, but what if something happens, maybe you’ll break a leg during practice or…”
“Mom!”
Glass Slipper batted towards Crystal Note when she wouldn’t stop rambling
“You just worry too much.”
“I’m your mom, Glass Slipper. That’s my job.”
This time, Glass Slipper did smile and she nuzzled her mom’s neck softly when Crystal Note planted a kiss on top of her head.

Glass Slipper knew she couldn’t take hearing more of her mom’s worries anymore, so she tried something else
“If you were in my place, what would you do?”
“Honestly? If I was fourteen again, I probably would have already run away weeks ago.”
The teenage filly turned towards her mother with her jaw on the floor and Crystal Note just giggled
“Surprised? You heard the stories, how much of a troublemaker I was at your age.”
She sighed deeply before she could continue
“We had to grow up so fast back then. We had to take any chance we had, because we might not get another one anytime.”
The hoof around her shoulder squeezed gently
“But Glass Slipper, you have time. You have all the chances. You don’t have to rush this, you can be patient and be clever with your future.”
“How?”

Crystal Note sighed
“I don’t have a straight answer for that. I want you to finish your classes at the very least. It’s less than two more years now, it would be a waste to throw this all away.”
“Okay. Let’s say I wait another year and a half. What then?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t go to Manehatten right away. There are academies and colleges all over Equestria. Your Aunt Lyra went to Canterlot Music Academy, maybe that would be a good start.”
“I don’t have to learn how to dance.”
“I never doubted that. But if you had a diploma that confirms this, you’ll have it easier to convince other ponies as well.”
Glass Slipper rolled her eyes with a frustrated sigh
“I guess. But that sounds so boring!”
Crystal Note leaned in for another nuzzle
“Think of it that way, Glass Slipper: You’d be with other dancers who might be able to teach you a thing or too and you might run into ponies who can help you get a job later on.”
Glass Slipper just sighed again
“Mom, you even make dancing sound boring. Almost.”
“Good. That means I’m doing something right here.”

Glass Slipper giggled along with Crystal Note and leaned a little more against the mare. Crystal Note’s hoof was still wrapped around her shoulders and Glass Slipper closed her eyes as she tucked her head gingerly under the mare’s chin. They stayed like this for a couple of minutes when nopony said anything.

This time, Glass Slipper started talking
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I was wrong.”
“Oh, Angel. You weren’t wrong, you were just passionate about the thing you love. I should have been more understanding. I’m the one who should be sorry.”
“Stop!”
Glass Slipper pulled away so she could sit up and look at Crystal Note
“I was wrong! I shouldn’t have thought you wouldn’t understand. I should have realized you only get angry when you’re worried. And I should have remembered you always supported me, since the first day we met.”
She sniffled softly and threw herself against Crystal Note’s chest
“Because you’re my mom. And I love you.”

Just as she hoped, she felt hooves wrap around her and pull her close as she tucked her head in again and pressed against her mother. She sobbed and tears started running down her cheeks
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
“Shh, Angel. I love you too. Nothing in the world will ever change that.”
“Mom!”
Glass Slipper kept crying for long time, after she had thought she had lost her mother again and after arguing so much. Her mom kept her close and when the fire died down again, she wrapped the blanket around both of them to keep her warm, until they both felt ready to get up again.

Hearth's Warming - Part I

Author's Note

A little piece of fluff for the Holidays! Hope you enjoy it!

This takes place immediately after the chapter "Cotton Ball", once this arch is fully published I'll change the order of chapters accordingly.

I hope you're all having great Holidays and I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Hearth's Warming - Part I

The Friendship Express pulled into Ponyville Station for its last stop of the day. The sun was already set and the chilly winter weather had almost everypony seek the warmth of their homes. The ponies who exited the train had the same idea as they made their ways straight to their respective homes, most of them clad in warm clothes.

The four ponies who hopped out last where the only ones who spent a minute to take in the beauty of the town. So close to Hearth’s Warming, the weather patrol had covered every house and every street with pure white snow. In the twinkling lights of the stars and the full moon, everything glittered and shimmered beautifully.

The four crystal ponies, three fillies and a mare, made their way through Ponyville without haste. The mare, Crystal Note, knew the way in her sleep, so the three fillies just followed while taking in as much as they could

“This is the town you used to live in, Mommy?”

“It’s way smaller than Canterlot or Vanhoover.”

“I like it.”

Crystal Note giggled and kept directing her fillies towards their destination

“We’ll have plenty of time to explore the town tomorrow, girls. For now, let’s keep going.”

Glass Slipper nodded and gently nudged Sweetie Tooth with her head so the younger filly would stop staring at the house that looked like it was made of gingerbread. Velvet Heart was already ahead and trotted next to Crystal Note. All four of them were packed with saddlebags, but Velvet Heart also held a pet carrier in her mouth. Although it wasn’t as cold as in the Crystal Empire far up north, the filly still wanted to get Cotton Ball, the kitten inside the carrier, back into the warm as quickly as possible.
She smiled to her twin sister as Sweetie Tooth took Crystal Note’s other side, with Glass Slipper close behind.

Crystal Note guided them out of the town centre and towards the largest structure in the town. The Castle of Friendship, as locals had come to call it, looked a little out of place in a small town like Ponyville, but the fillies from the Crystal Empire were used to crystal buildings so they didn’t care too much.

After a short walk, they arrived at the huge double doors leading inside. Crystal Note motioned with her hoof and whispered

“Okay, quiet now. Remember, they know we’re coming, but they don't know we're here already.”

The three fillies nodded and giggled quietly before Crystal Note pushed open the big doors and led them inside. They walked into the large foyer hall with numerous hallways and stairs leading deeper into the castle.
The four crystal ponies shared a glance and grinned. They were in, and nopony had noticed. So far, so good.

Crystal Note walked into the centre of the foyer and cleared her throat. She took a deep breath and started singing, her voice echoing through the empty hallways

Hearth’s Warming Eve is filled with presents

Some take you by surprise

A special gift from your best friends

That makes your spirits rise.

Crystal Note stopped and perked up her ears with a grin. The fillies waited in a little distance, listening carefully. Glass Slipper started counting in her head. When she reached six, they heard an excited call from one of the upper floors

“She's here!”

A set of doors glowed in magenta coloured magic and opened up just in time for Princess Twilight Sparkle to fly through. With a flap of her purple wings, she headed straight for a dive towards the crystal mare. Just before she reached her, a teal light flashed next to Crystal Note and another pony appeared, a unicorn this time. Teacher and student reached out at the exact same time and wrapped their friend into a tight hug. Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer exclaimed in unison

“You’re here!”

Everypony giggled and Crystal Note did her best to return the hugs as someone else chimed in, a deeper and slightly breathless voice of a young dragon who sprinted down another set of stairs

“No fair. You have wings and can teleport, but I have to run through the whole castle.”

Before Spike reached the foot of the stairs, he found himself surrounded in the teal glow of Starlight’s magic and pulled into the hug as well.

Sweetie Tooth couldn’t hold back her giggling any longer, and the three residents of the Castle of Friendship turned around to notice their other visitors

“Oh. Hello girls, welcome to Ponyville! It’s great to finally meet you.”
Princess Twilight walked up towards them, her wings spread in a welcoming gesture and a bright smile on her face. That smile faltered a little as the three fillies bowed down before her and she quickly intervened

“Now girls, there’s no reason for that. No bowing and no calling me Princess or anything. You can just call me Twilight, everypony does.”

The three fillies smiled back at the Princess as she introduced her friends

“Girls, I’d like you to meet Spike and Starlight Glimmer.”

Spike just smirked and waved, as he had met them before, but Starlight stepped forward and nodded her head in greeting

“It’s nice to meet you, girls. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Her eyes stayed on Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart for a while

“So, twins, huh?”

Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart grinned widely. They nodded in synchronisation and started talking in perfect unison

“Yes Miss Starlight. It’s nice to meet you too.”

They each both pointed at themselves

“I’m Sweetie Tooth.”

And then the other

“This is Velvet Heart.”

Starlight just watched and blinked confused as the twins wouldn’t stop their little routine

“Thank you for letting us stay in your home, Starlight Glimmer.”

Glass Slipper had to hide her giggling behind her hoof as she took in Starlight’s boggled expression. Spike and Twilight had no such reservations and laughed whole-heartedly at the cute display. Only Crystal Note could hold back and tried to intervene

“Now girls, be nice.”

“Yes Mommy!”

The twins just went on undeterred, focusing on Starlight Glimmer, still in perfect unison

“Mommy says you’re great with magic, Miss Starlight. Can you show us something? Please?”

Starlight’s confusion slowly turned into a smirk as she nodded

“Oh, sure. For my first spell, I’m going to turn one of you green so I can keep you apart.”

The twins backed away a step with their smiles wavering while Starlight just kept grinning and lit up her horn with her teal magic. This only led to more giggles from the others, especially when Twilight spoke up, mimicking Crystal Note’s parental tone from before

“Now Starlight, be nice.”

The unicorn mare just pouted like a filly and pointed at the twins with her hoof

“But they started it!”

At this point, nopony could hold back their laughter any longer.

After the greetings were done, Twilight and Spike herded their friends and visitors into the main sitting room. Once everypony had found a place to sit and had received a drink of their choice, Spike excused himself to the kitchen. None of the ponies had dinner yet and both Starlight and Twilight knew better than to get in the dragon’s way when it came to cooking.

After a filling dinner, everypony returned to the sitting room, Spike and the fillies on cushions near a fireplace and the three mares on one of the couches. Starlight was petting Cotton Ball since the kitten had chosen her hoof as her designated napping spot. The orange kitten purred softly which lured out a smile of Starlight

“So, you’re going to stay in Ponyville for the holidays?”

Crystal Note smiled and nodded

“That’s the plan. The girls’ winter break lasts two weeks, so we planned to stay at least ten days in Ponyville.”

“Aren’t you going to miss Hearth’s Warming with your friends?”

Spike chimed in and addressed the younger ponies. Glass Slipper just shrugged

“Before Princess Cadance arrived, we’ve never even heard of Hearth’s Warming. Nopony in the Crystal Empire celebrates it like the ponies in Equestria.”

“Huh. So, no Hearth’s Warming Eve play? No presents or carols?”

Glass Slipper just shook her head and Spike scratched his

“Well that’s a weird thought.”

The others just giggled gently and while the twins started questioning Spike on details, the three mares went back to planning. Princess Twilight had already summoned a scroll of notes

“So, a tour around town is a must. If we start early tomorrow, we can hit all the important landmarks and end the tour at Sweet Apple Acres. I’m sure Applejack will be thrilled to see you all.”

Crystal Note smiled patiently as Twilight scribbled down notes

“Actually, I’ve already thought of meeting with Lyra and Bon Bon tomorrow, Octavia wanted to join in as well.”

Starlight giggled at Twilight’s disappointed pout and put her hoof on her shoulder

“I’m sure we can still fit in the tour at least. Plus, shouldn’t you give Applejack a warning before we all drop in on her?”

Crystal Note nodded and Twilight seemed appeased by that thought

“Right, I can arrange that tomorrow while you visit the Sweet Shop. How about we organize a meeting at Sweet Apple Acres the day after tomorrow then? I’m sure Rainbow Dash and the others would love to see you again and meet the girls.”

Starlight and Twilight kept going on for a while, but Crystal Note lost track of what they said. Instead, her attention was on the three fillies and the young dragon. By now, the twins were as excited as Spike as he told them about celebrations, plays and all kinds of games and treats they would get once Hearth’s Warming Eve arrived. The fillies hung on his lips and Crystal Note smiled when she saw their shining eyes and happy expressions.

She looked up again when Starlight nudged her shoulder

“Sounds like a plan?”

“Huh?”

Starlight giggled and winked

“You didn’t hear a thing we said, didn’t you? You had that same look as Twilight when she gets her hooves on a new book.”
“Hey! What’s wrong with enjoying a good book?”

“Nothing at all, unless you forget the whole world around you over it.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, but the three mares broke into giggles at that. Crystal Note glanced at the list and frowned at its length

“Um, Twilight, I thought maybe we could play the first days by ear? You know, give the girls a little time to take everything in?”

Twilight had the grace to blush a little and nodded understandingly

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to overwhelm them, after… all that happened.”

Crystal Note smiled gently

“Thank you, Princess.”

The three watched the fillies silently for a few minutes, Starlight still idly petting the kitten on her hoof

“How are they doing so far?”

“A little better each day, but there are still some rough days in between. They took the trip to Vanhoover very well, I hope they get to have as much fun as they can here in Ponyville.”

Starlight softly nudged the crystal mare with her head

“It’s going to be fine, Crystal Note. Ponyville is only the friendliest town in all of Equestria.”

“I sure hope so. They deserve all the happiness in the world.”

Twilight and Starlight smiled softly as the noticed the fondness in Crystal Note’s voice

“Don’t worry, Mom. Your girls will have a blast while they’re here.”

At the teasing tone, Crystal Note glared at Starlight Glimmer, but with a smile

“Last warning before I send you to your room, young lady!”

Again, they giggled and Crystal Note took a closer look at the list

“Dinner at Sweet Apple Acres sounds like a wonderful idea. And I’m sure the girls would be thrilled to go ice-skating on the lake and have a snow-play day.”

Twilight nodded and highlighted the lines on her scroll

“Sure. Anything else you like?”

“What about this?”

Starlight pointed at one of the entries and Crystal Note tilted her head

“Magic lessons? I don’t know why the girls would need that.”

“Not them, you! It’s been ages since we did something for your spellwork.”

Crystal Note just blushed at this

“Starlight, it’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer, but the truth is I haven’t learned anything new in ages.”
“Then this is your chance to change that. Come on, it’ll be fun!”

Crystal Note couldn’t help but smile at Starlight’s excitement and relented

“Okay, I’m sure we’ll find some time for it.”

“Great!”

Twilight watched the conversation with a fond smile of her own, until she noticed the time

“Goodness, it’s that late already! I’ll better get your rooms set up for the night.”

Crystal Note got on her hooves

“I’ll help.”

“Oh no, you’re a guest, you don’t have to help! Spike can give me a hoof.”

Crystal Note just giggled and already headed towards the stairs

“Come on, Twilight. I’ve spent so many nights here, it’s not like it’s a big deal.”

Glass Slipper’s ears perked up as the two mares made their way out of the room and followed along

“I can help too!”

Twilight took a deep breath to decline, but Crystal Note was faster

“Thank you, Darling. That would be nice.”

Glass Slipper followed the two mares up some stairs into one of the many hallways.

The princess soon led them to four adjacent rooms

“There we are. There’s a bathroom each that two rooms share and if you need extra blankets or pillows, you’ll find them in the closet behind the door. If you need anything else, just follow this hallway down, my rooms are just at the other side.”

Crystal Note thanked her friend while Glass Slipper curiously stepped into the foremost room. The room was even bigger than her bedroom at home and even had a desk and a few sitting cushions as well as a large bed. She looked through the window and saw the silhouette of a big forest in the distance.

While Glass Slipper stored away her few things she brought along, Crystal Note brought the saddlebags from Velvet Heart, Sweetie Tooth and herself to the other rooms. A few minutes later, she poked her head into Glass Slipper’s room

“Are you alright, dear? Do you need anything?”

The teenage filly shook her head and yawned softly

“No, I think I’m going to bed right away. I’m tired.”

Crystal Note smiled gently at her

“It’s been a long day. But you should at least say Goodnight to Princess Twilight, Starlight Glimmer and Spike, since they’re letting us stay at their home after all.”
“Okay Mom.”

Glass Slipper yawned and followed Crystal Note, completely missing the fond smile of the mare. For Glass Slipper it was almost normal by now, but Crystal Note still felt that warm glow whenever the fillies called her ‘Mom’.

They didn’t get too far though, as Starlight and Spike met them halfway with two sleepy fillies. Sweetie Tooth was sprawled out on Starlight’s back, already more asleep than anything else, and Velvet Heart rubbed her eyes as she walked next to the young dragon.

Crystal Note smiled and gently levitated the sleepy filly on her own back and took Velvet’s hoof

“Come on girls, let’s get you tucked in.”
Sweetie Tooth yawned on her back and Velvet Heart nodded and turned around

“G’night Spike, g’night Miss Starlight.”
“Goodnight Sweetie.”

Starlight smiled when the filly yawned her response

“I’m Velvet Heart, not Sweetie Tooth…”

Spike grinned and poked the unicorn who just giggled

“I promise I’ll remember from now on!”

Velvet Heart smiled and allowed Crystal Note to take her to the bedrooms.

Starlight turned to the teenager, still smiling

“Are you turning in as well, Glass Slipper?”

“Uh-huh. Thank you for letting us stay in your home, Miss Starlight.”

The unicorn blushed and rubbed the back of her head

“Well, technically it’s Twilight’s castle. And as you see, we have more than enough rooms, so it’s no problem at all.”

“Yeah. And if you need anything, just give us a call, okay?”

Spike added and the filly nodded gratefully

“Thank you again. Um, goodnight.”

“Goodnight Glass Slipper.”

“Sleep tight!”

Half an hour later, Glass Slipper was sprawled out on her bed, which was softer than the one she had at home. And bigger as well. She had four pillows all for herself and a large blanket she could probably wrap three times around herself.

And despite how tired she felt, she still couldn’t fall asleep. She had heard how Crystal Note tucked in the twins and sung them a lullaby each. Glass Slipper had watched the door in vain hope, even though she knew it was silly. She was thirteen years old, she shouldn’t need to be tucked in like Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth anymore. Ever since she had her own room now, she had even told Crystal Note so herself. The mare seemed a little disappointed by that, but she respected her wishes, of course. Crystal Note simply was too nice not to.

So instead of tucking her in, Crystal Note usually met her on the way up to her room. Each and every night, her new mom asked her if she needed something before turning in.

Maybe she had just gotten used to that. Maybe it was because she was in a strange new place all by herself. Glass Slipper couldn’t fall asleep and stared at the ceiling.

Just then, the door opened very slowly and Crystal Note peeked in.

Once she saw the teenage filly stirring and turning her head towards her, she stepped in all the way and approached the bed

“Did I wake you, Darling?”

Glass Slipper just shook her head, but shuffled a little closer towards Crystal Note anyways

“Couldn’t fall asleep.”

Crystal Note noticed the shuffling under the blankets and understood right away

“Yes, the first night in a foreign bed can be a little awkward.”

She carefully sat down on the edge of the bed, close to Glass Slipper. With a quiet voice and a calm smile, she asked

“Do you want me to stay a while?”

Glass Slipper was glad that her blush was covered by the dark night as she nodded shyly. Crystal Note softly put her hoof on the filly’s shoulder

“Just close your eyes, Angel. I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

There was no chiding in her voice, no sign whatsoever that Crystal Note found this weird or unfit or even troubling. So, Glass Slipper simply closed her eyes and enjoyed how nice this felt, with Crystal Note watching over her and her hoof softly rubbing down her back.

Crystal Note stayed a while longer than she had promised. Watching Glass Slipper sleep so peacefully reminded her that the filly still was a young teenager, even though she was always a responsible big sister for the twins. It felt nice to see her let go for a change. The girls had taken their latest trip out of the Crystal Empire very well. Princess Twilight, Spike and Starlight Glimmer were nothing but sensible and caring with their young guests as well.

Tomorrow, they would find themselves confronted with quite a lot from Crystal Note’s past. All three fillies had been asking questions ever since, now they had the chance to see some of it with their own eyes. Crystal Note hoped she would get to see many more of their smiles in the next few days.

She leaned down and kissed Glass Slipper’s forehead very softly, before she headed to her own bed. Tomorrow would be another wonderful day and she couldn’t wait to see all her friends again and share some happy times with her girls. With a wide smile, she quickly fell asleep.

Hearth's Warming - Part II

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Hearth's Warming - Part III

A few hours later, they reached Carousel Boutique as their last stop for the day. Glass Slipper looked around with shining eyes when she saw all the different gowns and dresses at display and left the little group to take a closer look.

From the backrooms, Crystal Note could hear the sound of a sowing machine and a familiar voice calling out for someone. She smiled when a unicorn filly rushed in from the storage room.

Sweetie Belle had a beaming smile as she greeted the new costumers

“Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where everything is chic, unique and… Crystal Note!”

The mare laughed and returned the hug from the teenage filly

“Sweetie Belle, so nice to see you. How’s music academy?”

“It’s great! I’m already part of the choir and we’ll have our first big concert soon!”

The other mares smiled and congratulated along with Crystal Note, but then Sweetie Belle noticed the two youngest crystal ponies staring up at her in awe. She smiled and turned towards them

“You’re Sweetie Belle?”

“From the Cutie Mark Crusaders?”

Sweetie Belle giggled and nodded

“Uh-huh! See?”

She shifted to show them the cutie mark she shared with the other two crusaders and the twins squealed excited

“That’s so cool! We’re Cutie Mark Crusaders, too!”

“I know! I helped make all those new capes for you!”

“Really?”

Lyra giggled and winked to Crystal Note as they watched them

“And, we lost them.” “Eeyup.”

The four mares giggled and finally lured the last pony out of the backroom as well.

Rarity smiled when she saw Crystal Note and the others, but something else caught her attention. She quietly walked towards last of the crystal fillies, lost in admiring one of her finest gowns

“I see somepony has a keen eye for fashion.”

Glass Slipper nearly jumped up in surprise, but Rarity had a gentle smile for the filly and picked up the dress with her magic, nudging her towards one of the dressing rooms

“Go on, Darling. Try it on for me, I’m sure you’ll look smashing!”

Glass Slipper didn’t need too much convincing.

Rarity finally made it to Crystal Note who was swept into a hug and greeted in appropriately dramatic fashion by her friend before they got to catch each other up.

They ran short however, as Glass Slipper soon returned. She blushed a little as she walked up to them wearing a classic ball gown, the skirt swaying a little with each step.

Crystal Note just watched proudly with her hoof rising to her heart, but Rarity gushed out and hurried over

“Oh, Darling! Absolutely wonderful, so much grace, like a dancer! Here, come this way.”

Rarity helped Glass Slipper onto a podium and surrounded the filly with big mirrors so she could see herself from every angle. The filly beamed and started to glitter in the soft light of the boutique as Rarity hushed around her to add minor modifications to the gown.

“Oh, this brings back memories. I remember the first time I had your mother wear one of my dresses, it was so much effort to get her in at first. Between you and me, Darling, your mother’s taste of fashion is a bit lacking in some departments.”

Rarity winked to Crystal Note who was listening of course, but the crystal mare only giggled and teased back

“I still have my bandana in case you were wondering.”

“Augh, Darling, please don’t remind me! I needed weeks to get that image out of my head!”

As the others laughed, Glass Slipper curiously turned to Crystal Note

"Why would you need a bandana?"

"You see Angel, I used it to hide my horn away from other ponies. When I first came to Ponyville, I wanted everypony to believe I was just a normal crystal pony."

"Huh. And why?"

Crystal Note took a deep breath, but Bon Bon was ready to help her out

"Sometimes being different can be hard, Glass Slipper. You mother already attracted a lot of attention for being a crystal pony, so we thought it was better to keep this a secret."

"We? You mean, you and Mom?"

Lyra grinned and took Crystal Note's other side

"And me. I helped too."

"Lyra, you were one of the reasons Crystal Note decided to keep her horn a secret."

"Yeah, so? That totally counts as helping."

Everypony laughed and even Glass Slipper was giggling. She was still curious about the rest of the story, but she had to ask later, especially since Rarity was finished as well

"There you are, Darling. You look fabulous, if I may say so."

Glass Slipper looked at the mirrors and her smile grew almost too big for her face. The dress complemented her sparkly lilac coat perfectly with a rich blue colour and golden applications. Like a real ball gown, the soft fabric hugged her barrel nicely and ended in a wide, flowing skirt. Glass Slipper swayed a little from side to side and giggled. Even though it looked a little stuffy, she could easily move in the dress and she wondered what it would feel like to dance in a gown like this.

“Whoa. You look so pretty, Sis!”

“Almost like a Princess!”

Glass Slipper smiled at her sisters and spun around on the podium to show off, which made everypony laugh and giggle again

“Fabulous, Darling. Now I hope I will be seeing you wear it at the Hearth’s Warming Celebration.”

Glass Slipper’s eyes went wide as she turned to Rarity

“You mean, I can keep it?”

“Why, of course Dear! Every becoming lady needs a little something for a special occasion, after all.”

Crystal Note giggled and stepped in

“This is more than a little something, Rarity. How much do I owe you for this?”

Rarity huffed and threw her head around

“I will hear none of this!”

“Rarity, a dress like this would cost a fortune in Canterlot. At least let me…”

“Oh no, Darling. I won’t let you do anything. In fact, I think I should…”

Bon Bon and Sweetie Belle giggled as the two unicorns went on. Lyra winked to the twins

“It’s going to take a while for them to stop.”

“Does this happen often?”

“Only like every time they meet! I think it’s their way of showing how much they appreciate each other or something.”

Now Princess Twilight was laughing wholeheartedly as well while she helped Glass Slipper step down from the podium

“Do you want to keep wearing it, Glass Slipper? There’s snow outside, so it might get wet.”

“Oh. Um, I better take it off then.”

“Let me help. Hold still for a moment, please.”

Glass Slipper did as the princess said and watched as a purple glow surrounded her. She knew it had to be magic, but she couldn’t help notice how different it felt from the magic her mom had. With a quick flash, the gown suddenly disappeared right off from her

“Huh?”

“Don’t worry, Glass Slipper. I sent it to your room back at the castle.”

“Oh, wow. Thanks. I didn’t know you could do that.”

Princess Twilight just smiled

“I could explain it to you if you want. It’s a combination of three spells, actually. First…”

“Please, no lectures today! It’s winter break and I just finished all that homework my teachers gave me!”

Sweetie Belle’s desperate plea started a new round of giggles, especially when Twilight blushed and mumbled that a break from school doesn’t need to be a break from learning.

When everypony, including Rarity and Crystal Note, had calmed down again, it was getting close to dinnertime. Bon Bon and Lyra invited everypony to their home at the Sweet Shop, but Princess Twilight announced that Spike had prepared a big meal at the castle, so they all ended up heading there together instead.

Glass Slipper stood in front of a huge mansion, far bigger than any she had ever seen, wondering if she was at the right place

“Hey, Glass Slipper! You made it!”

She turned around a saw a familiar pony walk up to her, with an overnight bag like her own

“Sweetie Belle? What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for the sleepover, of course! Silver Spoon told me she invited you, too. But why are you waiting outside?”

Sweetie Tooth giggled and gently nudged her towards the doors and rang the small bell. Quickly after, an old stallion in some sort of uniform opened the door for them

“Ah, Miss Sweetie Belle, welcome. The young lady is already expecting you in her rooms.”

“Hi Mister Randolph! Nice to see you again.”

Sweetie Belle just walked in, followed by a shy Glass Slipper who watched the stallion warily

“Um, hello?”

“Ah, yes. Miss Diamond told me we were expecting an extra tonight. Welcome to Rich Manor, young lady.”

“Oh. Um. Thank you for your hospitality!”

As was tradition in the Crystal Empire, Glass Slipper bowed her head deeply to her host, but the stallion just chuckled

“Please, there is no reason for that. I’m but a humble butler in Rich Manor, not Master Rich. In fact, the Master isn’t home tonight, I am afraid, but you might run into Mistress Rich later.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Sweetie Belle had been watching with a smile and now just dragged Glass Slipper along, she clearly knew her way around the many rooms and headed right up the first set of stairs.

From a distance, Glass Slipper could already hear laughter from other fillies. They entered a bedroom that was larger than most of the houses in the Crystal Empire and Glass Slipper saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon sitting on cushions on the floor and laughing. In front of them was another pony, a pegasus with orange coat and a short purple mane who was telling a hilarious story as it seemed, in between her own laughter

“And then… then, when he finally found his way out of the cloud again… he crashed right into the team captain!”

The three burst into another wave of laughter and the pegasus ended up rolling on the floor from laughing, which gave Silver Spoon the chance to notice Sweetie Belle and Glass Slipper in the doorway

“Hey girls! Come in, glad you made it!”

Diamond Tiara jumped on her hooves to greet them with a quick hug as well, while the pegasus was still catching her breath. Sweetie Belle smiled and flopped on a pillow between her and Silver Spoon

“So how long did Scootaloo already torture you with her stories?”

“Hey! My stories are awesome and you know it!”

“Your stories all end with somepony crashing into something.”

The four friends giggled and Glass Slipper finally felt enough at ease to sit down as well. She picked a spot near the door out of old instincts, but she smiled when Sweetie Belle introduced her

“Scootaloo, this is Glass Slipper. She came to visit from the Crystal Empire.”

“Whoa, that’s far! How long are you gonna stay?”

Glass Slipper answered the few obvious questions and suddenly noticed that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo almost had the same cutie mark. Her eyes opened wide when she realized what that meant

“Wait, you’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders, right? The first ones?”

“Oh, so you heard of us, huh?”

Scootaloo couldn’t hold back a smug smile, which was quickly taken care of when a pillow from Diamond Tiara hit her head

“Hey!”

“Sorry, but if we let this get to your head, we’ll hear nothing else for hours.”

“You’re one to talk!”

“Diamond Tiara? Diamond Tiara, are you here?”

Glass Slipper watched with some confusion as all the others rolled their eyes and Diamond Tiara called back to the voice from the stairs

“Up here, mother.”

She didn’t sound too happy that her mom called her and Glass Slipper couldn’t understand why, until the mare walked into the room.

Diamond’s mother was an earth pony, but unlike the ones Glass Slipper had seen in town, she was wearing clothes and jewellery. They looked expensive, but Glass Slipper didn’t think it looked too well on her, even if she ignored the fact that she was wearing them inside her own house.

Diamond’s mother glanced over the present fillies with a hint of bother, maybe even disgust. It was hard to tell since her nose seemed naturally curved up towards the ceiling. She only smiled barely when her eyes passed Silver Spoon, until she focused on Diamond Tiara. She smiled now, but the smile lacked any warmth, just like her voice

“There you are, Diamond Tiara. I hope everything goes well with your little soirée.”

“It’s not a soirée, Mum. It’s a slumber party.”

The mare sighed and let her frustration take over her expression

“Diamond Tiara, I know you like passing time with your… friends,” she stumbled over the word, “But I sure hope you would embrace our family’s high standards at least occasionally.”

“Mum, do we have to do this right now?”

“No, I suppose we do not. Enjoy your, augh, slumber party.”

The mare sighed once more, exhausted and tired. It was clear she had had this talk with Diamond Tiara lots of times before. She turned around to leave again and Diamond Tiara mouthed ‘Sorry about that’ to the others at the same time. Glass Slipper felt a twinge in her stomach.

“Mistress Rich? A moment of your time, please?”

The others stared confused when Glass Slipper jumped on her hooves. Spoiled Rich turned her head at the filly’s polite tone that didn't even have a trace of mockery in it. Along with that, Glass Slipper sent a smile to the mare. She was glad she remembered the mare’s name correctly.

“Mistress Rich, I would like to thank you for inviting us to spend the night in your home. That is very generous of you.”

The mare watched, just as surprised as the fillies, when Glass Slipper bowed down deeply before her, following a tradition from the Crystal Empire. She smiled at Mrs Rich and unlike the smiles from the mare, hers was warm and sincere and her coat glittered from a light inside her

“Thank you very much, Mistress Rich.”

Spoiled Rich didn’t know how to reacted to this, obviously. While she struggled for words, there was a very un-ladylike blush on her cheeks

“T-think nothing of it. I, um, I hope you girls have a pleasant, um, party.”

She smiled again, but this time the girls saw the genuine feeling behind it and smiled back

“Thanks, Mum.”

She left the fillies for themselves and softly closed the door behind her. Immediately, the four fillies from Ponyville turned to Glass Slipper

“That was really nice of you to say.”
Glass Slipper just shook her head and explained

“In the Crystal Empire, inviting somepony into your home is a big deal.”

“Really? I though hospitality is a big thing for crystal ponies.”

Glass Slipper smiled and nodded to Scootaloo

“We would never turn down anypony in need, but no crystal pony would ever try to impose into anypony’s home uninvited, just like that.”

“Oh. I think I get it.”

“Well, at least you got Mum off of our tails for the night. Usually, she’s rude all night long, it’s such a pain.”

The fillies giggled a little, but Diamond Tiara immediately stopped when she saw Glass Slipper didn’t and had her ears pressed against her head

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Glass Slipper, if you want to say something, just do it. I promise I can take it.”

Glass Slipper closed her eyes and suddenly her coat didn’t shimmer anymore

“I don’t think you should say things like that about your mother. And you shouldn’t take her for granted just like that.”

Diamond Tiara now clearly remembered the conversation they had at Sugarcube Corner earlier that day, because her ears immediately flopped down

“You’re right. I never thought of it like that.”

Before the mood could drop all the way, a new pony burst into the room

“Sorry I’m late, girls! I had to help Granny Smith prepare for tomorrow.”

Scootaloo took the clue and pulled Apple Bloom’s attention to her, which meant Glass Slipper could get a good look at the third of the Crusaders.

Apple Bloom was a tall earth pony with a vibrant red mane and pale yellow coat. Her long red mane was bound back into a ponytail with a pink bow ribbon. She spoke in that drawl Glass Slipper knew from the ponies of Appleloosa who visited the Crystal Empire during every crystal faire.

“Hope y’all didn’t get too bored without me.”

“Nope, not at all. In fact, we decided to replace you with sompony new and more exciting.”

“Is that a fact?”

They giggled, along with Glass Slipper, and finally Apple Bloom turned around and noticed the filly from the Crystal Empire. Apple Bloom had been very close to Crystal Note back then, so she easily recognized Glass Slipper as a crystal pony

“Howdy there. Crystal Note wrote a lot about you, so it’s great to finally meet you. I’m Apple Bloom.”

“I’m Glass Slipper. Nice to meet you, too.”

There was a short moment of silence before Apple Bloom chuckled and rubbed her hoof

“You know, when Crystal Note wrote that I now had nieces, I always figured you’d be younger.”

Glass Slipper giggled behind her hoof

“Don’t worry, Auntie Apple Bloom. My sisters are a lot younger than me.”

Apple Bloom made a face and the others giggled

“You know, aunt and niece doesn’t sound right. How about we try being best friends first and worry about everything else later?”

“Sounds great to me.”

The others smiled at her and Apple Bloom sat down next to her

“So, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?”

Glass Slipper smiled along and talked about her life in the Crystal Empire and her sisters.

The fillies chimed in every now and then, and they talked long into the night.

Hearth's Warming - Part IV

Author's Note

Some exposition, mixed with a little fluff.
This chapter was originally a stand-alone story with Sunburst instead, but I think Starlight Glimmer works so much better for it and this is a perfect occasion as well, so here it is now.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Hearth's Warming - Part IV

“Okay, now let’s get started.”

Crystal Note nodded and took the spot in the middle of the almost circular room. Starlight Glimmer had cleared out this study from every piece of furniture and Crystal Note’s special talent let her hear a deep humming in the background from the protective wards the unicorn mage had set up. Starlight Glimmer used this room to experiment with new spells or work on very difficult or dangerous ones, so she and Princess Twilight had decided for a little extra security, just in case.

Not that any of it would be necessary for Crystal Note. Even though she had a horn and access to unicorn magic, her magic talent remained underwhelming even with practice. She could not get past basic level spells and she didn’t have the magical endurance to keep any spell up for a long time, with the exception of her ‘bubble of silence’ spell. Princess Twilight had not been surprised by that, this spell was based on sound, so it was only natural that this spell would work exceptionally well for a unicorn with a special talent in music like Crystal Note.

Starlight Glimmer had been the one to encourage her to explore her special talent further and find more uses of it. Ever since she had become a crystal unicorn, Crystal Note could hear magic. She could hear when a unicorn was using a spell around her and she could detect large sources of magic like the protective wards in this study or the crystal heart back at home. With some practice, she could soon even tell apart different unicorns from another while they used magic. When she focused enough, she sometimes even could tell the spell they were using. Magic sounded like music and she got very good at recognizing the complex melodies and patterns that made up spells and enchantments, while different unicorns sounded like different instruments to her.

Today, Starlight Glimmer and Crystal Note would work some more on her skills. Crystal Note sat down in the centre and closed her eyes as she gathered her magic. Starlight Glimmer sat close by, her own horn already glowing. She could not hear magic like Crystal Note, but the very skilled mage had a natural understanding for magic and developed a vast variety of spells to analyse magic.

Crystal Note ignored the music in the background. Starlight’s teal magic always sounded like piano music to Crystal Note and this spell came as a slow and sedate melody. She called for a spell that was natural to her by now and with a soft glow of turquoise around her horn, a small ball of light of the same colour appeared, hovering just above the tip of her horn.

“Good. Now pour a little more magic into it, nice and slowly.”

Crystal Note followed that order as close as she could and in her mind, she started singing the song that corresponded to the light spell a little louder. A trickle of light penetrated her closed eyelids, telling her that her mage light was indeed glowing brighter now, just as she had intended.

“Great work. Notice how your spell gets more difficult to control like this? That’s because you need to strengthen the spell matrix as well when you put in more magic.”

Crystal Note frowned but kept focus on her spell and pouring more magic in

“How do I do that?”

“Most unicorns do it by instinct. You need to adjust the wavelength of your spell for the increased amount of thaumic feedback.”

Crystal Note’s frown deepened. She knew she didn’t do so on purpose, but Starlight Glimmer used some terms she simply didn’t understand. Sometimes, they seemed to be talking in different languages altogether.

‘Wavelength’ was something she knew from music as well. It meant something about how high or low a note would sound. In her head, she started singing her song one octave higher than usual and somehow, she felt some kind of pressure she barely even noticed before fade away, even as she increased the volume further.

“You did it, Mommy! Look!”

Velvet Heart’s voice almost made her lose control of her spell. She opened her eyes and saw her filly sitting next to Starlight Glimmer. Somehow, Velvet Heart must have slipped in while she had been concentrating and now she took everything in with wide-open eyes. Crystal Note smiled gently at this. There was no fear in Velvet’s eyes, only curiosity and fascination.

She looked up at her mage light and understood why. Usually, her ‘torchlight spell’ helped her create a small ball of light, maybe a little bigger than an apple. Right now, she had a ball that was easily four times the size floating above her.

She looked at Starlight Glimmer and the mares smiled

“Great job. Try to keep it at this level for as long as you can. Are you feeling tired yet?”

Crystal Note shook her head and closed her eyes again in focus

“Not yet. I just feel a little strain.”

“That’s normal. I’d say you’re using about five times the amount of magic like you normally do. If you’re not tired, let’s try something else now.”

Crystal Note nodded and waited for further instructions. She was a little concerned about Velvet Heart being so close, but she trusted Starlight Glimmer to protect her in case something went wrong

“Okay, you changed the spell matrix and magic output. Now you’re going to try and relocate your origination point.”

“Huh?”

Starlight giggled softly

“Sorry, my bad. Um, you’re going to try and move your spell around the room instead of having it float above your horn.”

“Ah.”

Crystal Note smiled, she had done that before, albeit with smaller light orbs. She quickly changed a few notes of her song in her mind and under Starlight’s watchful eyes, the mage light travelled through the room in any direction she wanted

“Perfect. Now for something tricky: Let’s try and change the colour of your light.”

Crystal Note blinked and tilted her head

“You can do that? I always thought the colour depended on the unicorn who casts the spell.”

“Nope, not at all. You can modulate the output fluctuations by applying different forms of… um, I mean you can control it almost like you control the size. Let me show you.”

With a flick of her horn, Starlight Glimmer summoned half a dozen lights of her own, all while maintaining her analysis spells and a protective spell for Velvet Heart. Crystal Note felt just a little envious when she noticed that. She was already feeling the strain for keeping up only her light spell.

She closed her eyes and focused on Starlight’s magic. She noticed how the melody of her spells changed and Velvet Heart oohed as the lights started to glow in a different colour each. Crystal Note couldn’t figure out any relation between the colours and the changes of the spell-melodies, so she just tried to mimic as best as she could. It was very hard to focus by now, so she hummed the notes of her spell under her breath to stay in tune. She tweaked a few notes here and there, but with her eyes closed, she couldn’t see if it really worked.

After a minute, she heard Starlight Glimmer and Velvet Heart giggle softly

“Really? Pink?”

“I think it’s pretty!”

Crystal Note opened her eyes and couldn’t help but smile. Her light spell still glowed brightly, but now in a pale shade of pink instead of the usual turquoise. She tried to change the spell into a different colour, but suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her horn. With her focus broken for that moment, she lost control. The ball of light quickly grew in size and there was a bright flash. Even though she clenched her eyes shut, it blinded her for a moment.

She snapped her eyes back open when she heard a shriek nearby and even though she couldn’t see, her head jerked from side to side and she reached out with her hoof

“Velvet Heart!”

The moment of blindness passed and she wrapped her hooves around the filly who jumped towards her

“Mom! Are you alright?”

“Of course I am, dear. But what about you? Are you hurt?”

The filly shook her head but stayed close in the embrace

“You startled me.”
“I’m so sorry, Velvet.”

Velvet Heart quickly calmed down again and after a nuzzle from Crystal Note, pulled out of the embrace to sit next to her mother. All the while, Starlight Glimmer was watching with a pensive expression

“Sorry, I probably should have warned you ahead that something like this might happen.”

“Wait, you knew this was going to happen?”

Crystal Note glared at the unicorn while reaching out to hold Velvet’s hoof, more to calm herself than anything else really. Still, the thought that Starlight would possibly put Velvet in danger didn’t really go well with her.

“I was expecting it. We were trying to push your magic endurance after all. You just lost control of your spell, that’s all. “

Starlight at least blushed when Crystal Note’s brow furrowed more

“I would never try anything dangerous with Velvet Heart around, I swear!”

Crystal Note sighed as Velvet Heart squeezed her hoof

“I know. I’m sorry, Starlight.”

“Don’t be. I should have told you.”

Velvet Heart looked between the mares and pouted

“I’m not a baby! You can stop worrying now.”

Starlight Glimmer chuckled and visibly relaxed as Crystal Note’s frown turned into a proud smile for her filly. When she thought Crystal Note wasn’t looking, Starlight mouthed a ‘Thank you’ to the filly who just smiled

“Mom, can I ask you something?”

“Of course, dear. What’s on your mind?”

“Flurry Heart said you fought back the Windigos with your magic. How did you do that?”

Crystal Note just shook her head with a smile while Starlight hid her giggle behind her hoof

“I’m afraid Princess Flurry Heart exaggerated with that story. Prince Shining Armour fought them and Princess Cadance chased them away. All I did was buying a little time before they arrived.”

“Can I see?”

Starlight grinned and winked at the crystal unicorn

“What do you say, got enough juice left for a shield spell?”

Crystal Note closed her eyes and nodded

“I think I might. Give me a second.”

Velvet Heart got up to give Crystal Note some space, but Starlight just motioned for her to stay at her mother’s side. She watched in awe as her horn started to glow softly at first but quickly grew as bright as before. She was holding her breath, excited to see what would happen next, when Crystal Note started to sing

When there was darkness all around

And no other pony to be found

I sit alone in the dark

And I cry

Velvet Heart had heard her mom sing before, of course, but only rarely with that kind of intensity. When she sung lullabies, her voice was gentle. When she sung on stage, her voice was full of emotion. Right now, she sounded kind of hard and severe. The song wasn’t one of her usual repertoire, none of the sad songs that had made her famous or the cheerful songs she sung nowadays. To Velvet Heart, this one sounded almost angry.

With the song, the light from Crystal Note’s horn spread out into a half-sphere that covered them both. She had seen it before from Flurry Heart once and recognized this as a shield spell, just like Starlight Glimmer had said. The dome of light was semi-transparent and of the same turquoise colour that surrounded Crystal Note’s horn. Velvet Heart looked between the mare and the magic. It had been a long time since she’d been nervous about magic, but this time she felt the complete opposite. With the magic bubble around her and her mother next to her, she felt incredibly safe, protected even.

Starlight Glimmer was outside of the little barrier that just covered the two crystal ponies. She knocked her hoof against the shield with a smile. Velvet Heart realized she was testing it. Starlight winked at the filly and leaned forward to poke her horn against the spell. Next to her, Crystal Note closed her eyes more firmly and her singing grew a little louder.

The barrier flared up as Crystal Note poured more magic into her spell and her voice was strong and clear as she pushed back against Starlight Glimmer

I need your love

I’m a broken rose

Come and heal me from frozen pain

Your smile, your eyes

Save me just for me

Starlight Glimmer grinned and pushed a little harder, and with a soft ping even Velvet Heart could hear, the barrier shattered. Crystal Note opened her eyes again and Velvet noticed that she was breathing harder

“Not bad. You’ve been working on it.”

Crystal Note smiled weakly to Starlight and shook her head

“Not really. But I guess I’ve been using a little more magic in general recently.”

“Well, there you have it. I told you, you’d be better with magic if you kept practicing more.”

Crystal Note just smiled and surprised Velvet Heart with a hug

“I’ve got all the magic I could ever need.”

“Mom! That's embarrassing!”

They giggled at Velvet Heart’s pout and the filly wiggled free. After a quick glare to her mother, she turned back to Starlight Glimmer

“How comes you could just break her spell so easily, when it could even hold back Windigos?”

Starlight smirked and winked

“I’d love to tell you that I’m just that good, but I suppose the answer is far more simple, Velvet Heart. Your mother is a crystal pony.”

“Huh?”

Velvet Heart looked back at Crystal Note who giggled softly

“The day the Windigos attacked, I was very desperate. And as you know, strong emotions mean strong crystal magic. I was somehow able to put that into my shield spell, at least for a little while.”

Starlight Glimmer nodded

“Emotions can influence unicorn magic in many different ways. Adding crystal pony magic into the mix can amplify that even further.”

Crystal Note smiled and nuzzled Velvet Heart

“Luckily, I’ve never had to rely on that ever since.”

Starlight gave a wry smile and nodded

“I'm glad, too. I would love to explore how that sort of magic works, but at least that means you haven’t been in any severe danger anymore.”

Velvet Heart just smiled and nuzzled back

“Sounds fair to me!”

They laughed together as Starlight Glimmer lit up her horn with another spell

“Hm, seems like your magic has mostly recovered, Crystal Note. So how about the next lesson?”

Crystal Note nodded and focused on her magic once more, while Velvet Heart stayed at her side and watched in awe as Starlight guided her through another exercise.

Hearth's Warming - Part V

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Hearth's Warming - Part VI

Glass Slipper giggled with Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon as they followed Apple Bloom and Scootaloo through town towards the frozen Ponyville Lake. Diamond Tiara had decided to stay behind for now and spend some time with her mother. Spoiled Rich had surprised them all with fresh cinnamon rolls in the morning and Diamond Tiara had pulled her to the side at that. Glass Slipper didn’t hear what they said, but their talk ended with mother and daughter sharing a long hug, so she was happy.

She obviously wasn’t the only one, as they were greeted by loud laughter from all directions. On the frozen lake, Glass Slipper saw many ponies skating and playing and on the edge of the lake, there was a whole parade of snow ponies.

Glass Slipper immediately found her two sisters building another snow pony with their Aunt Lyra and their newest Aunt Bon Bon. Crystal Note sat at the side, probably because she wouldn’t even get a chance to do anything with how excited Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart were to play in the snow.

Sweetie Belle saw that Glass Slipper had found her family and turned towards them, Silver Spoon following along. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo headed on the ice instead.

Glass Slipper giggled when Sweetie Tooth saw her. She ran towards her through the snow and lunged into a hug from her big sister. Velvet Heart was not far behind her and Glass Slipper giggled as she was thrown over and they rolled through the soft snow.

Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle laughed as they watched and when the twins introduced themselves to Silver Spoon, Crystal Note took the chance to pull her oldest daughter into a hug as well

“How was your slumber party, Angel?”

Glass Slipper smiled at her pet-name and nuzzled her mother

“It was great! We had a lot of fun!”

Crystal Note smiled and ran her hoof through Glass Slipper’s mane

“That’s wonderful, dear. I hope you got at least a little sleep as well?”

Glass Slipper blushed and by that told Crystal Note everything she needed to know

“I see. We’ll make sure to get you in bed at a decent time tonight, then.”

“Mo-om! I’m not a baby anymore.”

Crystal Note giggled and nuzzled the ticklish spot between Glass Slipper’s ears

“I know, I know, but you’re still my little Angel.”

Glass Slipper laughed when a snowball hit the back of Crystal Note’s head. She turned around and saw Lyra trying to look innocently and Bon Bon grinning at her

“Sorry, but that was sappy, even for you.”

All the fillies laughed as Crystal Note threw a snowball back at them and Lyra hid behind Bon Bon.

Silver Spoon turned to the twins

“Hey, how about we go ice skating while the grown-ups act like fillies?”

“Yeah! Let’s go!”

The twins raced off and onto the ice, which ended in Sweetie Tooth immediately landing on her flank and slithering off, but giggling nonetheless. Silver Spoon followed them and took a few careful, wobbly steps so she wouldn’t lose her balance. Glass Slipper on the other hoof just switched from walking to skating as soon as her first hoof touched the ice, making it look very easy. Sweetie Belle behind her needed far more time to get used to the ice and Silver Spoon watched Glass Slipper skate around like it was nothing at all, just a tad jealous

“How are you doing that?”

Glass Slipper giggled and skated in a wide circle around her friend

“I grew up in the frozen north. What do you think we’re doing there for fun?”

She jumped up and spun in the air before she landed perfectly on her hooves again, unable to supress a grin

“Okay, now you’re just showing off.”

“Just a little.”

They giggled and the twins approached them again, not quite as safe on their hooves as their big sister. Glass Slipper slowed down to give them some hints and took them for a few laps around the whole lake, skating around the other groups of ponies. Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle managed to keep up, thanks to Glass Slipper’s advices.

When Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart finished their second lap, they clearly got a hang of it and tried some more daring manoeuvres on the ice. Glass Slipper grinned and showed off some jumps and spins as well. Many ponies watched her and a few tried to duplicate her moves, but nopony moved as gracefully on the ice as Glass Slipper.

She turned around when she heard familiar wind-chime laughter and skated over to her mom. Crystal Note didn’t have any problems on the ice either, even if she stuck to regular skating without any tricks. The twins joined her as well so they could all skate together.

They didn’t get too far though, as two ponies Glass Slipper couldn’t recognize at first approached them. One of them was a sky blue pegasus with a mane in all rainbow colours and the other was an earth pony with orange coat and a cowpony hat. Although she had not seen them before, it was not hard to guess who they were, even before their mom greeted them

“Rainbow Dash! Applejack! It’s so great to see you again!”

“Howdy Crissy!”

Before the two could greet each other with a hug, Rainbow Dash blocked them with her wings

“Yeah, yeah, friends and family and stuff. But first, we have a score to settle, Crystal Note!”

Crystal Note tilted her head when Rainbow Dash smirked and pushed her nose against hers

“Last winter, you won the race because I went easy on you. But now, I demand a rematch!”

“Rainbow Dash! You’re scaring the little ones.”

Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart had backed away from Rainbow Dash and now cowered behind their big sister. Glass Slipper forced herself to stand tall against the over-confident pegasus, even if she was intimidated by Rainbow’s brash behaviour.

To her defence, Rainbow Dash immediately stopped getting aggressive

“Hehe, sorry?”

Crystal Note stood beside Glass Slipper and put her hoof on her shoulder while the twins stayed behind them

“Why does everything have to be a challenge for you? We just want to have some fun today.”

“Hey, races are fun.”

Applejack just rolled her eyes

“Not if you’re all sour loser, Dash.”

“Ha! I never lose!”

“But didn’t you just say you lost last year?”

Rainbow Dash glared at the filly who had dared to chime in and Velvet Heart hid back behind her mother

“I said I went easy on her.”

“Sure you did, Dashie.”

Applejack sighed and stepped between the two mares

“How about we just try again from the start?”

“As long as Rainbow Dash apologizes to the girls, I can agree on that.”

Crystal Note stayed calm, but Glass Slipper knew she was boiling behind that. They both didn’t like when the Velvet Heart or Sweetie Tooth got scared, but Crystal Note had a surprisingly short fuse when it came to that, compared to her usual patience.

Rainbow Dash seemed to know she messed up and rubbed the back of her head, even if she didn’t look at Crystal Note

“I’m sorry I came out a little too strong here. I promise I’ll make up for it.”

Applejack glanced between her and Crystal Note. Finally she lay her hoof over Crystal Note’s shoulders

“I’ll make sure she keeps that promise. Apples gotta stick together, after all.”

Crystal Note didn’t look very appeased yet, but Glass Slipper knew exactly what to do. She slipped between Applejack and her mom, so Applejack’s hoof would lay on her back as well

“Thanks Aunt Applejack!”

Glass Slipper giggled at her surprised expression but then smiled along when Applejack did

“Nice to finally meet you, Glass Slipper. And you two as well.”

The twins finally came out of hiding and flanked her honorary aunt with timid smiles

“You’re Aunt Applejack?”

“I sure am, Sugarcube. And you ought to be Sweetie Tooth, right?”

“Uh-huh.”

Glass Slipper winked to her mother who finally calmed down, then to Rainbow Dash. The pegasus mouthed something like ‘I owe you’ to her, but she wasn’t done pushing her luck it seems

“So, about that race…”

“Augh, Rainbow Dash. You should stop while you are ahead.”

A few more ponies who surrounded them now listened in and giggled

“Aw, come on, what’s wrong with a little friendly competition? First to finish three laps around the lake wins!”

“Fine, but only so you will stop bugging me about it.”

Crystal Note rolled her eyes and her voice was more playful than really annoyed this time.

“I’m in!”

Glass Slipper beamed at Rainbow Dash, and quickly more ponies called out

“Me too!” “I’ll race!” “YEAH!”

In the end, about two dozen ponies joined Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Crystal Note and Glass Slipper, including Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle took the twins back to the shore of the lake, where a crowd had already gathered

“Fillies and Gentlecolts! Welcome to the twentieth annual Ponyville Ice-Skating Grand Prix!”

Seemingly out of nowhere, a pink mare with cotton candy mane and a megaphone called out to the ponies, like a professional announcer of some kind. While Glass Slipper was utterly confused, the other ponies of town just giggled and cheered along. Only Applejack tried to say something

“Um, Pinkie Pie, you know this is only the second time we race, not twenty?”

“But twenty sounds like ten times more fun than two!”

The ponies from the audience clapped and cheered, so Applejack just rolled her eyes

“Whatever you say, Pinkie.”

“I say: Let’s get this race started! Every racer to the finish line!”

Glass Slipper turned around and suddenly, there were two flag posts on the ice and black and white chequered banner spread between them. She was sure that there had been no such thing just a second earlier, but when she looked at the others, they just shrugged

“That’s Pinkie Pie for you. Best just go with it and not think about it too hard.”

The ponies gathered at the line and Pinkie Pie was there with her megaphone

“Rules are simple: First pony who finishes three laps wins. No wings, no magic and no knocking ponies over on purpose. Oh, and no habanero muffins on the track!”

The ponies laughed even when Pinkie Pie kept a straight face

“What, those things can be dangerous when you don’t know how to deal with them.”

Glass Slipper laughed along and got into position, between her mom and Applejack. Pinkie Pie checked that everypony was in line and then started a countdown

“Ready? Set!”

Every racer leaned forward to get a good start, except for Glass Slipper and Crystal Note who just crouched down a little.

“GO!”

Glass Slipper heard the blast of a canon and saw confetti raining down, but she didn’t let herself get distracted and bolted off. She used quick and short strokes of her hooves to quickly build up some speed. Next to her, some ponies just started actual running on the ice and fell over almost instantly, others wobbled as they tried to get in motion.

So far, only Rainbow Dash and Crystal Note got a similar start as Glass Slipper, though Apple Bloom and her big sister weren’t far behind.

Rainbow Dash kicked her legs as fast as she could against the ice, but she didn’t cover much ground. Next to her, Crystal Note went ahead with long, wide swipes of her hooves, so it looked really easy compared to Rainbow’s frantic kicking. Glass Slipper grinned and did the same as her mom, quickly taking the second place only because Crystal Note was a few inches ahead from her longer legs.

They reached the first turn and Crystal Note leaned far to her side. She effortlessly shuffled all four hooves over another and made the turn without losing any speed, then went back to her long strides as soon as the track got straight again. Glass Slipper grinned and did the same, but she leaned a little further and gained some on her mom, so they were almost side-by-side. Rainbow Dash had picked up on their technique by now and managed to not fall further behind, but Applejack was now gaining on her as well.

Glass Slipper grinned when she heard the cheering from all the ponies around the track and picked up her speed a little more. When they reached the second turn, she leaned so far to the left that her shoulder almost touched the ice. Crystal Note had to let her take the inner line and Glass Slipper entered the finishing straight as first.

She heard the calls from Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart as she skated over the finish line for the first time, but she saw that Crystal Note had used her length advantage to catch up. She giggled and pulled ahead again when they reached the turn again. Rainbow Dash was on their tails, her athletic body helping her to make up for her lack in technique. The three of them were almost a full turn ahead of everypony else when they reached the finishing straight again.

They caught up on some of the slower ponies by now, who skated out of the way to let them pass, no hard feelings. Crystal Note was in front again with Rainbow Dash in second when they reached the main field of racers. Glass Slipper heard a yell and in front of them, a pony lost his balance and fell over, pulling two others down on the ice with him. The ponies next to them stumbled along and blocked most of the track.

Crystal Note dodged the bulk of ponies by skating towards the edge of the lake, but that meant she had to go a greater distance. Rainbow Dash went for the inner line, but she also had to slow down so she wouldn't hit anypony.

Glass Slipper grinned and saw her chance. She headed straight into the bulk and gracefully leaned from side to side, slithering between the ponies in every way she could while barely slowing down. At the end, she reared up and only skated on her rear hooves for a few seconds, making it even easier to dodge the others. When she left the bulk again, she was two pony lengths in lead and took the last turn at full speed.

She dared to look behind her and saw that Crystal Note had managed to catch up on Rainbow Dash at the end of the turn again, but she grinned as there was no way they could catch up on her anymore. She still picked up her speed once more as she approached the cheering crowd. Just before she reached the finish line, she reared up again so she would only skate on her right rear hoof, her left rear hoof stretched behind her as she leaned forward and her fore hooves spread as well in a classic ballet pose. Like that, she slithered over the finish line.

The ponies cheered even louder and Pinkie Pie screamed into her megaphone. She turned around and just drifted backwards from her momentum, so she could watch Rainbow Dash and Crystal Note pass the finish line nearly at the same time. From her perspective, it looked like Crystal Note was slightly ahead, but Pinkie Pie announced Rainbow Dash as second, so she cheered along with the others.

Glass Slipper heard somepony call her name, then she crashed backwards into a big pile of snow. Her mom quickly skated towards her to see if she was okay, but Glass Slipper just laughed and pulled her into the snow as well. Rainbow Dash seemed to have the same idea and dived right after them, landing square on both of them.

They all laughed together, until out of nowhere Pinkie Pie appeared again with a loud screech that echoed over the lake

“SNOWBALL FIGHT!”

Glass Slipper gasped when Pinkie Pie landed on her and started forming snowballs. Before she could throw the first, several already flew towards her and hit her squarely. Rainbow Dash flew upwards to safety and Glass Slipper jumped over the snow pile to get cover.

Crystal Note was not as lucky, since Pinkie Pie pulled her in front of her for cover as the second salve of snowballs came flying and hit her all over.

Glass Slipper laughed so hard when she saw her mom’s surprised expression that she ended up falling back into the snow.

The snowball fight lasted for hours and it seemed that the whole town was taking part. Alliances formed quickly and some improvised snow forts were set up. Ponies squealed as they ran from cover to cover or showered each other with snowballs. The 'no wings, no magic'-rule didn't hold for too long this time, but a common sense on fairness made everypony team up on Starlight Glimmer when she threw dozens of snowballs in every direction at once with her magic. Once the unicorn mare felt she was sufficiently wet and cold, she teleported to safety and helped Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart defend their fort, using her hooves this time.

Glass Slipper in the meantime teamed up with some pegasi and earth ponies and tried to chase down every pony who was brave enough to head into the open, which meant that she was also constantly in crossfire from all sides. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so cold but laughed so hard at the same time.

Way past noon, Pinkie Pie finally called for a peace summit and Princess Twilight as the representative of Ponyville went into negotiations. They agreed on hot chocolate and cupcakes for everypony, and the war ended peacefully.

Glass Slipper looked around and found nopony she knew nearby. Unsure on what to do, she watched everypony from a distance.

She saw Velvet Heart riding on Starlight Glimmer's back towards the biggest bulk of ponies. Sweetie Tooth was already there with Bon Bon and helped her aunt hand out cups of hot chocolate to everypony. They both looked so happy.

Suddenly, Glass Slipper felt cold, but it wasn't from the snow. She had not seen her sisters this happy since... since before... when... she couldn't even finish the thought and it dropped into her stomach like a lump of ice. She shivered and she was sure she felt the brightness fade from her coat.

A gentle touch on her shoulder and looked up with a start. Only to find Applejack next to her with a warm smile

"You look a little lost there, Sugarcube. Everything alright?"

Glass Slipper nodded on instinct, but it was not enough to convince the mare

"I think I know what's going on here."

Glass Slipper glanced up and Applejack was still smiling, but it was a forced smile this time, like in reality, she felt anything but smiling. Just like Glass Slipper felt right now.

"You lost yourself in the spur of the moment and you didn't think about them for a while. But then it just hit you out of nowhere. And now you're not sure how to deal with it."

Glass Slipper blinked surprised, but she nodded and Applejack still had that same sad but understanding smile

"I know how that feels. Better than you might expect. So let me tell you something my Granny told me when I was your age."

Applejack sat down next to her and put her hoof around her shoulders

"It's okay to forget for a while. You're not a bad pony for not thinking about your parents every single minute of the day."

Glass Slipper’s ears flopped down, but Applejack dropped her trademark hat on Glass Slipper’s head before she could say anything

“You shouldn’t dwell on the past if it means missing out on what’s happening around you, Sugarcube. Right now, you’re happy and everypony around you is happy as well. I’m sure your parents would love to see you smile a lot more than just that.”

Glass Slipper smiled softly and adjusted the hat slightly as she looked up to her aunt

“Thank you, Auntie Applejack.”

“Anytime, Sugarcube. Now how about we get us one of them hot chocolates and if you want, you can tell me all about them. Just as soon as I make sure you won’t start crying, I’d never hear the end of from your Mama if that’d happened.”

Glass Slipper could even giggle again as she followed the taller mare towards the biggest group of ponies

“Auntie Applejack? I was wondering, how did you and Mom get to know each other?”

“Well shucks, don’t tell me your Mama never told you? Why, you’re part of the Apple family and you don’t even know how!”

Glass Slipper smiled brightly when she realized that Applejack had called her ‘family’ so readily. With a cup of hot chocolate, she followed the mare to a quiet corner on town square and listened as Applejack told her how Crystal Note had first arrived in Ponyville during fall. Not too long and Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart sat beside her, enraptured by the stories from their newest aunt.

Hearth's Warming - Part VII

As the sun started to set down, most of the impromptu party in town had settled down and everypony returned to their homes. The extended Apple family was no exception to that.

At some point, Rarity, Twilight and Rainbow Dash had joined Applejack and the three sisters from the Crystal Empire and brought with them the last two of their friends the fillies had yet to meet. Pinkie Pie was energetic as ever and had Glass Slipper and the twins laughing without stop. Fluttershy on the other hoof remained mostly quiet for now, but whenever the fillies looked at her, she had a wonderful smile for them. Velvet Heart mentioned her kitten Cotton Ball at some point, and from that moment on, Fluttershy and the crystal filly were almost inseparable.

Crystal Note walked behind everypony else down the road to Sweet Apple Acres, where Granny Smith, Big Mac and Sugar Belle waited for them with dinner. It would be an Apple family gathering, extended by the four crystal ponies.

Crystal Note smiled when she remembered the many times she had walked down this road, on her own or with Applejack and Apple Bloom at her side, and later with Lyra and Bon Bon. Sadly, the two couldn’t join in today, Bon Bon still had a shop to take care of after all.

Apple Bloom noticed that Crystal Note seemed lost in thought and slowed down so she’d walk next to her. Apple Bloom had grown a lot during her last sprout and was now as tall as the mare she had started to see as family some years back

“Brings back memories, huh?”

Crystal Note giggled and bumped her flank back

“Sure does. Always feels good coming home, doesn’t it?”

“Uh-huh.”

In front of them, Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart laughed with Applejack at one of her stories and Crystal Note smiled the same smile Apple Bloom had seen from Granny Smith before

“You know, Sweet Apple Acres will always be home, but it’s good things still can change, don’t you think? Like, how our family keeps growing.”

Crystal Note giggled and nodded

“Who would have ever thought that someday I would have three wonderful fillies in my life?”

“I would. Always thought you’d make a great Mama, even if it’s a might different than I imagined it.”

“Oh? What would you want to change?”

Apple Bloom just shook her head with another giggle

“Nothin’. It’s just, when I thought I’d be an aunt, my nieces or nephews wouldn’t be almost as old as I am.”

Crystal Note joined in and winked

“Well, you can still have some cute baby nieces. There’s still Big Mac and Applejack.”

At that, Apple Bloom just rolled her eyes

“Applejack won’t get foals unless they find a way she can mate with an apple tree.”

Both of them laughed so loud that Applejack looked back at them, just a tad suspicious.

“All hopes on Big Mac then.”

“Knock on wood. Sugar Belle’s really nice.”

Apple Bloom grinned at Crystal Note

"Though you're not out of business either, you know? It's not like you're too old or anything."

Before a flustered Crystal Note could answer, Glass Slipper joined them and called out

"That's what I keep telling her! But it's like she won't even think about it. Maybe you can convince her Auntie Apple Bloom."

Crystal Note leaned towards Glass Slipper for a soft nuzzle

“Can you blame me? I have three wonderful fillies to take care of now, and I want to make sure I’m the best mother I can be for you before I try anything else.”

Glass Slipper returned the nuzzle gratefully, but she couldn’t agree with everything her mom said. She remembered their last trip together

“Remember Vanhoover, when you sung in that club? You looked so happy back then and you clearly enjoyed it a lot. It was a different sort of happy than when you’re with us, but if it makes you happy, why don’t you sing more often like that?”

Crystal Note took a deep breath, but Apple Bloom was faster

“Wait, you sung on a stage again? That’s great! Does that mean your break from performing is over?”

Crystal Note sighed

“No it’s not, Apple Bloom. Yes, I love performing and making ponies smile, Glass Slipper. But I love you and your sisters so much more. Going back on stage would mean spending a lot of time with practice every day. I’d need to prepare for concerts, write new songs and travel a lot. Most likely, without you and longer than last time. That wouldn’t make you happy at all, wouldn’t it Angel?”

Glass Slipper remembered the first three-day-trip to Canterlot Crystal Note had to take after they moved to their new home. She had missed Crystal Note a lot back then, and so had the twins. Still, she shook her head

“But it would make you happy. Music is your passion and your special talent.”

“Yes Darling. But I can still sing for you at home. You three are more important than any concert could ever be, Little Angel.”

Glass Slipper pouted at that and tried to think of a way to convince her mom otherwise. Apple Bloom came to her help

“Ya know, I’m not always happy seeing ma sis go on all those dangerous missions with Twilight and the others. But when she tells me about them, how important they were and how much fun just being with her friends and all, it makes me happy that she’s happy. Don’t ya think the twins would be happy seeing you happy as well, even if it meant you had to take a trip to town sometimes?”

Glass Slipper nodded vehemently, but Crystal Note just sighed again

“It’s more than just a trip now and then. Angel, you and your sisters went through so much and so many changes, I don’t want to put this on you on top of everything else.”

“But Mom! We’re not babies. I can take care of the twins for a couple of days on my own. Don’t you trust me?”

Crystal Note quickly pulled the teenage filly in a hug and Glass Slipper pressed back in. She whispered in a very soft voice

“Of course I do, Glass Slipper. But I think you need more time to heal still. Remember your talk with Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara? Talking about how you lost them still hurts you a lot. You’ve barely been able to talk about how you feel, even with me. I’d never want to do anything that could hurt the three of you, even indirectly. It would make me so sad to see you cry and even more if I learned you had been crying and I wasn’t there to make it better.”

Glass Slipper shook her head

"You can't always be there. You know that. And we're not alone when you take a trip. There's Opal Waves and Auntie Rose Quartz or Uncle Sour Berry as well."

Apple Bloom picked up on the last name and winked to Crystal Note

"Heh, 'Uncle Sour Berry', huh? Sounds like your old friend an' you finally got closer. Maybe Big Mac won't be the first one with a baby after all."

Crystal Note blushed and glared at both of them, but the teenage fillies just tittered

"Sour Berry is just a good friend. A really good friend, but nothing more."

Glass Slipper and Apple Bloom looked at each other and winked

"Sure Mom."

"If you say so."

The two teenage fillies laughed even more when Crystal Note's head turned red as a beet

"Teaming up on me isn't fair, you know."

"Don't you know, big sis? Everything's fair in love and war."

They laughed again, so loud that the others turned around, just in time to see Crystal Note poke out her tongue at Apple Bloom

"Who said you could go all smarty-pants at me? Go find your own crush first!"

"Oh, so he's a crush now, is he?"

Everypony laughed when Crystal Note dumped a load of snow on Apple Bloom at that.

When they reached the farmhouse, Velvet Heart felt a strange twinge in her tummy and just one look at Sweetie Tooth told her that she felt the same. They had heard some stories from Crystal Note and even from Applejack and Apple Bloom just today, but Velvet Heart still felt very nervous. They would meet more new ponies now, including Granny Smith. Velvet wasn't really worried about meeting her uncle Big Mac, not after meeting so many new aunties since she came to Ponyville, and Sugar Belle sounded like she was a nice mare.

Granny Smith however, Velvet didn't know how to feel about her. She had never ever had a Granny, there had only been her Mommy and Daddy before. With Crystal Note, she had gotten Auntie Rose Quartz along, but no grandparents either. This was something utterly new for her, and she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do or what to expect.

Granny Smith had a big and warm smile for them and immediately pulled Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart in for a big hug. Granny Smith anticipated that moment of tension that came with the first contact and waited. When it passed and the two young fillies finally looked up at her, they saw that she was still smiling and now she tightened her hug for a little squeeze. For a moment, Sweetie Tooth looked just like Big Mac when he had been younger. After the death of his parents, the young colt had been so lost as well, just like the little filly who now clung on her side. And even though Applejack's eyes back then hadn’t been shaped like a gemstone, young Applejack had had that same almost defiant stare as Velvet Heart right now.

Granny Smith knew very well what she was doing and the fillies felt it immediately. Other than with Bon Bon or Starlight Glimmer, they didn’t just feel sympathy from the elderly mare. Something in the way Granny Smith looked at them sunk in, and it felt like family. Velvet Heart felt all her worries disappear in a wink and suddenly, she had a granny who cared about her.

Granny Smith just smiled and her voice was just as kind as her eyes

“Welcome home, little saplings.”

The other ponies left the room and gave them the space they needed right now, and Granny Smith took a good long look at the twins

“Well, aren’t you two just precious little bundles of joy.”

The twins smiled and stepped aside when Granny Smith now looked at Glass Slipper the same way

“And you look like a fine young mare. Welcome at Sweet Apple Acres, dearie.”

Glass Slipper just smiled and leaned into the hug when Granny Smith put a hoof on her shoulder. She held her great-granddaughter like she had the others, but when she released her she fixed the teenage filly with an appraising look

“You’re a little on the skinny side, just like your Mama was when she first arrived here at the farm. Well, that ain’t nothin’ a good ol’ Apple family dinner can’t fix. Now come on y’all, you can tell me all about you while we get some chow into your tummies.”

All three fillies giggled and followed the mare to a big dining table that was overloaded with food. Introductions with Big Mac and Sugar Belle were quick but heartfelt, and before soon everypony found a seat around the table.

When Sweetie Tooth finally pushed her plate away from her, she did so with a little groan. She felt like she had eaten at least twice her weight, but she just couldn’t pass up on trying everything, and Granny Smith would make sure she always got an extra big serving of everything. Sweetie Tooth didn’t even know that there were so many apple dishes as she had eaten tonight. From apple-carrot soup over roasted parsnips and apples over different salads and even mashed potatoes with little pieces of apples to not less than five different apple pies, all while sipping on warm spiced apple juice.

Big Mac and Sweetie Tooth were in fact the last ones eating, everypony else had given up already, much to Granny Smith’s dismay

“You’re not a good role model for the fillies when you barely eat anything, Crystal Note. Just look at Glass Slipper, why she’s barely more than skin and bones! And a growing filly like Velvet Heart needs a good diet with plenty o’ apples!”

Crystal Note laughed her melodious laugher and of course agreed with the matron. When she mentioned that Sweetie Tooth had more of a talent in baking that her, Sugar Belle immediately perked up and smiled at the filly

“You know, I’m a baker too. If you want, we can take over the kitchen for a little bake-out, how about that?”

Sweetie Tooth returned the smile, but with another little groan

“Maybe tomorrow, I don’t think I can move anymore today.”

This had everypony laughing together, especially when Big Mac threw in one of his “Eeyup”s as well.

When Granny Smith got up and started gathering all the dishes, Crystal Note and Sugar Belle immediately intervened

“You’ve been on your hooves cooking all day, Granny. You get to rest tonight.”

“We’ll have everything taken care of in a jiffy.”

The two unicorns smiled and picked up everything with their magic as they made the trip to the kitchen. A big family dinner always meant a messy kitchen and tons of dishes, so Sugar Belle and Crystal Note put their horns together and made short work of it.

Sugar Belle giggled when she noticed that Crystal Note was singing while juggling a few levitation spells at once, so she joined right in and they had most the work done only minutes later. As the finished up, Crystal Note addressed the fellow unicorn

“We didn’t really have a chance to talk in a while now.”

Sugar Belle just giggled and nodded

“I guess not. With you living in the Crystal Empire now and us being busy at the farm, I feel like I only know what’s up with you from what Apple Bloom told me.”

“Same, all I’ve heard of you, I know from her letters. How are things for you and Big Mac?”

Sugar Belle glanced through the door into the living room where she spotted Big Mac’s tall form on the family couch

“We’re doing great, really. There’s still days I can’t believe it. I cut all ties to my past when I moved to Starlight’s town and now, I’m part of a huge family, it’s amazing.”

Crystal Note understood very well and smiled as she watched Velvet Heart playing with Winona

“It’s a great feeling, isn’t it?”

“It’s the best!”

They giggled and Sugar Belle floated the last few things into the cupboards

“So, I hear you and your fillyhood friend got closer recently?”

With anypony else, Crystal Note would deny it right away, but with Sugar Belle she only blushed and nodded

“I guess so. But, not like Apple Bloom and Glass Slipper might think.”

This time, Sugar Belle understood and had a knowing smile

“Is he coltfriend material, you’d say?”

“I don’t know. I really don’t. I’ve thought I had special someponies before, but it never turned out right, and with him, I feel like it’s different. It just feels right as it is, you know?”

Sugar Belle nodded and still smiled

“That sounds very familiar, in fact.”

Crystal Note sighed deeply

“It’s not just about me, though. I need to keep the girls in mind as well.”

“Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth like him, they told me during dinner.”

“They like him as a friend and maybe as an honorary ‘uncle’. But anything more? I can’t say.”

Crystal Note looked up at Sugar Belle, without her smile this time

“How did you know that Big Mac was the one? And that you would move to Ponyville to be with him?”

Sugar Belle hid a little giggle behind her hoof and held Crystal Note’s gaze right on

“How did you know you’d be a mother for Glass Slipper, Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart?”

Crystal Note could only blink surprised

“I didn’t, at first. I always knew I wanted to help them, but I wasn’t sure if I’d be a good mother for a long time. It just happened gradually.”

“Eeyup.”

Sugar Belle giggled more as Crystal Note got more confused

“I didn’t know for sure Big Mac and I would work out the way we did. It took a while for me to find out. And I know we’re ready for the next step, but there’s no need to rush it. Maybe you should give yourself a little time as well. How does that sound?”

Crystal Note just sighed and nodded after a minute

“That sounds really good, actually. Better than anything I had in mind.”

Sugar Belle laughed a little and put her hoof around her almost-sister-in-law

“You don’t have to figure this all out tonight. You’re on vacation and Hearth’s Warming is around the corner, so just enjoy the days as they happen would be my advice. Right now, your girls are happy and you’re with your family, so let’s leave all those heavy thoughts for someday else!”

“Eeyup.”

They laughed together as they returned to the others in the living room. Sugar Belle joined Big Mac on the couch and Crystal Note took her usual spot in the armchair next to Applejack’s seat. The two mares smiled and watched Granny Smith in her rocking chair by the fireplace. Apple Bloom, Glass Slipper had gathered around her and the twins sat in her lap as the elderly matron showed them pages from a family album and told them the stories behind them. Apple Bloom, who already knew all of them, helped whenever Granny Smith had trouble remembering some detail, but Glass Slippper and the twins were utterly focused on their granny, even though Velvet Heart still had Winona at her side and absent-mindedly petted the dog.

With a fully tummy, a warm flickering fire and Granny Smith’s calm voice, accompanied by excited whispers from the fillies every now and then, Crystal Note took Sugar Belle’s advice and stopped worrying for a while. She soon dozed off on the armchair with a soft smile on her face.

Crystal Note woke up again when Applejack gently shook her shoulder

“Come on, Sugarcube. That ol' chair is no right place to sleep.”

She yawned and blinked a couple of times, only to see the room was empty except for Applejack and her. The fire was almost burnt down and it was already dark night outside

“What time is it? Where are the fillies?”

Applejack just grinned

“Don't you worry, Sugarcube. We tucked the twins in your room and Granny Smith told them bedtime stories, they're sleeping like little angels.”

They both giggled and Crystal Note smiled at the image

“And Glass Slipper?”

“Apple Bloom's sharing her room with her tonight. Those two went out like a light, figures since they've been up al' last night for their slumber party.”

Applejack smiled along as Crystal Note laughed in her wind-chime melody

“Seems like it’s only you an’ me left now, Sugarcube.”

Crystal Note nodded in agreement and sat down more comfortably on the chair

“So, how has life been for you?”

“I feel like I’m supposed to ask that question, Crissy.”

Crystal Note sighed and leaned a little forward. She had heard the accusing tone in Applejack’s voice and now saw that she was watching her with some tension. As usual, Applejack lost no time to cut to the point

“You could have come home sooner.”

“AJ, we’ve been through this. I’ll always be a part of this family, but my home is the Crystal Empire. Now more so than ever.”

“You should have told us what’s happening at least.”

Applejack still had that edge of disdain as she talked, so Crystal Note had to ask

“What do you mean? I’ve written once a week at least. You know what’s going on in my life.”

Applejack couldn’t hold her expression neutral any longer and started to frown

“Yeah, and what a letter that was. ‘Dear Apple Bloom, the weather is nice and last week I adopted three fillies.’ That explains everything now, doesn’t it?”

“AJ, it wasn’t as simple as that and you know it. I had to step in after the accident. It is my decision and I don’t regret it one bit.”

“Ah know. And I don’t blame you one bit, either. But it’s an Apple family matter now and your girls didn’t even know they were Apples until today.”

Crystal Note sighed and shook her head

“It’s not that simple. They need to make that decision on their own. I won’t force them, and neither will you.”

Applejack’s face lit up in a smile

“I won’t have to. They already love Granny Smith like a grandma and I know your little saplings will fit right in. It’s not the girls I’m worried about.”

Applejack narrowed her eyes again and fixed Crystal Note with a glare

“It’s you. All I hear from your letters is Glass Slipper here and Velvet Heart there, but I can’t say I know how you’re dealing with being a Mama all of a sudden.”

Crystal Note sighed deeply and sank back into her chair

“It wasn’t all that sudden. It took me some time and some change as well.”

Applejack watched her honorary sister for a minute as her expression softened up

“You could have come here sooner. We could have helped.”

“It’s not that easy. I couldn’t just rip them out of the only home they knew.”

“You think I don’t know? Big Mac, Apple Bloom and me, I think we understand better than anypony else.”

Crystal Note closed her eyes as she nodded

“I know you do. And you’re helping them so much, just by talking to them. I can’t thank you enough.”

“We could have helped you too, if you’d let us, Crissy. I’ve made the trip to the Crystal Empire before, you know.”
“I know.”

“I could have helped you settle in and figure things out with the girls. Could have patched up that new home of yours too.”

“I know.”

Applejack rolled her eyes

“You keep saying. But you never ask for help when you need it, Crissy. You’re worse than me when it comes to that.”

Crystal Note just giggled

“Said the most stubborn mare this side of the orchard.”

They both laughed and Applejack put a hoof on Crystal Note’s shoulder

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you and the girls are doing well. And I know you can handle yourself. You gave the girls a new Mama, a dozen of aunts and family to fall back on when they need it. Just don’t forget that same family is here for you as well.”

Crystal Note smiled and leaned forward to hug her big sister

“I’ll try to remember from now on.”

“Sure you will, Sugarcube. Sure you will.”

They laughed together, still holding each other in their hug

“Applejack? Thank you. For everything.”

“Aw shucks, Sugarcube. You don’t have to thank me, family sticks together and Apples more than any other family in Equestria.”

They laughed as they separated again and Applejack pulled Crystal Note on her hooves

“Now let’s get you in a bed as well, or else you won’t be able to keep up with your little rascals tomorrow.”

Crystal Note giggled and winked

“I’m sure their new favourite auntie will help me out?”

“You can bet you’re tailside on it!”

They kept laughing as they finally made it to their beds.

Hearth's Warming - Part VIII

As Hearth’s Warming Eve came closer, Glass Slipper and the twins didn’t run out of things to do. Although they didn’t complete Princess Twilight’s long list, they still had lots of fun. And with their sudden abundance of aunts and uncles, they also had somepony watching over them at any time. Sweetie Tooth and Sugar Belle spent a day together for their bake-out as promised, with Bon Bon and Pinkie Pie joining in for good measure. Glass Slipper hung around Diamond Tiara and Apple Bloom most of the time, but also spent almost a whole day with Fluttershy and Rarity at Carousel Boutique. Fluttershy also took Velvet Heart to her animal sanctuary, and even though most of the animals were hibernating, the little filly enjoyed the trip very much and sparkles danced over her coat the entire day from happiness.

Crystal Note wouldn’t stop smiling either whenever she watched her fillies enjoy themselves, but she held herself back from joining in too often. She knew it was important for Glass Slipper and especially Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth to meet new ponies they could trust. Crystal Note knew very well that each of her friends had already found a place in their hearts for the three sisters and were nothing but supportive and understanding, even when the fillies found themselves struggling. Sadly, that still happened and more than once over the course of the next few days.

Like when Crystal Note walked past the library in the Castle of Friendship and heard a familiar but unpleasant sound. When she looked into the room, she saw Velvet Heart sobbing and sniffling into her hooves. Crystal Note wanted to rush inside immediately, of course, but then Princess Twilight stepped out from between one of the bookshelves. Twilight sat down next to the filly and spread her wing over her like blanket. She leaned down and whispered something to Velvet. Crystal Note didn’t hear what they said as Velvet whispered back, but the tears stopped.

Crystal Note never liked seeing any of her girls cry, but this time she stopped herself from going in. As much as she wished to comfort Velvet Heart, coming from Princess Twilight would make it mean so much more for the filly right now.

It was harder for her to walk past the sitting room where Glass Slipper, Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were in the middle of a heated discussion. She couldn’t really tell what it was about, but she could see Rainbow’s stressed expression which meant she was out of her depth. She was about to walk in but she heard the last thing Glass Slipper said

“… I don’t know what to do about it and I can’t just tell Crystal Note.”

She froze on the doorstep for a moment, then walked away before any of the three could notice her.

Before she even realized it, she was outside and the cold air cleared some of the turmoil Glass Slipper’s word had set lose inside her. I can’t just tell Crystal Note. Crystal Note. Not Mom. Glass Slipper surely hadn’t meant any by it, she kept switching between the two frequently after all, but Crystal Note still felt a little stab. Far more though, she worried about the fact that there was something Glass Slipper felt she couldn’t talk about with her adoptive mother. Why does she feel that way? Did I do something wrong?

Crystal Note was so lost in those questions that she didn’t even notice where she was going, until she walked straight into somepony

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where…”

She stopped apologizing when she finally recognized Vinyl Scratch and the big grin on her face. No doubt she had walked into her path on purpose

“What’s up, Crissy? Not like you to walk around with your head in the clouds.”

Crystal Note sighed and shook her head

“It’s nothing, really.”

“Aw, come on, you can tell me. What’s on your mind?”

With another sigh, Crystal Note told her friend what she had just seen, but Vinyl Scratch didn’t share her worries at all.

Instead, she just laughed it up, which only made Crystal Note frown

“Oh Crissy, you don’t have a clue do you?”

“I’m sorry that I’m worried about my daughters, Vinyl. After they lost their parents, this is a sensitive point for them and for me.”

Vinyl tried to stop laughing as hard as she could, but her typical grin stayed anyways

“Sorry, sorry, I know, but this is not an adoptive mom-thing. It’s just a regular mom-thing.”

“And what do you mean by that?”

Crystal Note tilted her head in confusion, which only made Vinyl grin more

“Oh come on, you’ve been a teenager once. Some things, it’s just not cool to talk about with your mom.”

Crystal Note frowned as she thought about that. She didn’t point out that her mother had long passed by the point she’d been a teenager, or that her foalhood was anything but normal

“So Glass Slipper went to Rainbow Dash for advice instead?”

Vinyl kept grinning and nodded

“Sure. Dash might not be the first pick for parental guidance, but she scores pretty high on the coolness meter. Depending on who you ask, she’s the embodiment of cool.”

“Yeah, that’s something Scootaloo would say, wouldn’t she?”

Crystal Note managed to smile a little at the thought, but couldn’t just let it go

“Should I ask Glass Slipper about it?”

“Nah, don’t worry. If it’s really important, she’ll come to you all on her own and if not, I’m sure Dash can manage. Probably.”

At this, Crystal Note finally giggled along

“You’re an endless fountain of confidence and wisdom as always, Vinyl.”

“You betcha. Now come on, you need something else on your mind and I know just the thing. I got some new tunes that could use a second pair of ears.”

They both chuckled as Crystal Note followed Vinyl Scratch back to her home.

When Crystal Note walked back towards the castle, it was the middle of the night already. Vinyl had kept her busy at their home with music until Octavia Melody had returned as well and then they both kept her tangled in old stories and new songs. They even talked her into going out for dinner with them. She didn’t know if it was an coincident, but they also ran into Neon Lights and others from the Ponyville Music Ensemble, and they convinced her to stay a little longer. It didn’t take long until they ended up in Berry Punch’s small bar, catching up and exchanging gossip and stories.

It was nice, hanging out with their old friends again like she used to. She did feel a little guilty about not checking on her girls, of course, but not to the point that she would worry. She knew Princess Twilight and the others would be spending time Glass Slipper and the twins, and as Glass Slipper had said many times, they were old enough to get over one evening on their own. So, she allowed herself to enjoy this night with her old friends and joined in when they inevitably started singing and making music. It was what had brought them all together in the first place, after all.

And just like all those years back, Crystal Note greatly enjoyed sharing company and music with likeminded ponies. Singing with a few crystal ponies on the market plaza just wasn’t the same as playing with her old band of friends. And after she had gotten a taste of performing during her trip to Vanhoover, she was very eager to perform with the Ensemble at Princess Twilight’s Hearth’s Warming Eve celebration as well. It was something she looked forward to with all her heart and she couldn’t wait to share this event with her little fillies.

It wasn't only performing though. She had felt it when she listened to Vinyl's new mixes but also later when the others had shown her a little of their new repertoire. It was like a tingle inside her mind, and she recognized it easily as the urge to create and invent something new. She had felt it many times before and tonight it was so strong she couldn't resist.

So after she sneaked into the castle and checked on the slumbering fillies as quietly as she could, she headed into one of the many studies of the princess where she found everything she needed. With her violin in her hooves, a stack of paper in front of her and a quill in her magic grip, she was ready. With a glow from her horn, a dome of pink light appeared around her and formed her 'bubble of silence'. Since this was sound-based magic and her special talent was music, it was barely any effort to keep this spell up so she wouldn't wake anypony. As always when she played, she closed her eyes. After a few slow strokes of her bow, she felt that tingle again and just let the music flow, her hoof and bow dancing over the strings and the quill dancing over the parchment as she created something new.

Crystal Note groaned when something poked her muzzle and turned her head away. Whatever it was, it was insistent as it followed her and kept poking. The touch was soft, but it kept her from sleeping, so she batted at it with her hoof before she rolled around and curled up with another groan.

She thought she heard giggling, but didn’t really think about and instead went back to sleep.

It seemed like she barely slept a minute before the poking was back again, more frequently now and more insistent. This time, she clearly heard some giggling and she recognized the voice as well. She turned away again, mostly so she could hide her grin, and waited. When the poke returned, she suddenly lunged forward and wrapped her hooves around the filly-sized perpetrator. She giggled when she heard Sweetie Tooth’s squealing and cuddled the filly close to her in her hooves, like she would with an oversized plushie.

As expected, her plushie started giggling and wiggling, even more when Crystal Note gave out a few fake snores as well. That was about when another set of small hooves started to poke and shake her

“Mom! Come on, you gotta get up!”

Crystal Note could hear Velvet Heart’s smile in her voice and faked a little yawn while cuddling Sweetie Tooth in her hooves. They yawn might have been fake, but the sleepiness in her voice definitely wasn’t

“Sleep now, get up later.”

Velvet giggled more and climbed on top of her, so she could better shake her awake

“Mom! You’re gonna miss brunch!”

With a thought, a soft glow surrounded the filly and after a surprised squeal, Velvet giggled as she floated in the air

“Mommy!”

Crystal Note rolled on her back and finally peeked on eye open, smiling up at Velvet Heart who hovered above her and wiggled in the glow of her magic

“Brunch?”

Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth both giggled and hopped out of Crystal Note’s respective hold to stand next to her

“Well, it was brunch when we were trying to get you…”

“…but by now it might be afternoon lunch already.”

They laughed when Crystal Note finally got up on her hooves and stretched with a big yawn

“Okay, I’m up, I’m up!”

The two fillies and giggled and hopped out of reach as Crystal Note leaned in for a quick nuzzle like every morning. She blinked confused, but when Velvet Heart started snickering and Sweetie Tooth pointed at her mane, she quickly understood why.

Somehow, during the night, she must have tipped over the bottle of ink she’d been using and left a small puddle of black on the floor. The rest of the ink, so she guessed, had to be in her mane, and as she checked, her hoof was black as well.

The fillies just laughed harder and Crystal Note glared at them with no real force behind it

“And when were you going to tell me about this, you little rascals?”

They at least tried to look sorry, but it didn’t work with the grins all over their faces, so Crystal Note just rolled her eyes and giggled along. Luckily, neither her violin nor last night’s work had been spoiled by ink, as most of it clung to her mane it seemed.

“Rough night, huh Crissy?”

Crystal Note turned to the new voice and saw Lyra standing in the door, not even trying to hide her grin, unlike Glass Slipper who hid halfway behind Lyra for cover. Crystal Note just rolled her eyes again before she gave up and joined right in.

“Good morning to you as well, Lyra.”

“Or good afternoon, but who cares about things like time anyways, am I right?”

Lyra and the three fillies laughed again, but at least Lyra helped her take care of the puddle of ink on the floor with a quick clean-up spell

“Let me guess, you fell asleep while composing, again?”

Crystal Note nodded with a little blush and Glass Slipper grinned and tilted her head

“Again? Did that happen before?”

“Oh sure.”

Lyra, clearly enjoying the attention from the three fillies, just ignored Crystal Note’s little glare

“When she was still living with us, she did that quite a lot. At some point, she was practically nocturnal. Ponies woke up to the last song she would play before going to bed.”

Lyra smirked to Crystal Note to take any edge from her teasing, but the twins just stared at her baffled

“Really Mommy?”

Crystal Note nodded and gave Lyra a little sideway glance

“Yes, dear. I would always lose track of time when I was working on my music. It’s a bad habit I picked up from your Auntie Lyra.”

She grinned when the fillies now focused on the unicorn in question again

“There was rarely any day your aunt would roll out of bed before noon by herself. Usually Bon Bon had to steal her blanket so she would get up. I bet she still does, huh Lyra?”

There was definitely a bashful blush for a moment, but then Lyra just laughed again

“It’s not a bad habit, it’s a lifestyle!”

“Uh-huh. A lifestyle that keeps getting her into all kinds of trouble.”

The fillies giggled when Lyra squirmed a little under all the attention now

“Like that time when we had a concert in Canterlot and everypony was at the station when the train arrived, except Lyra.”

This time, Lyra really blushed from embarrassment and Crystal Note had a grin

“She came running the last minute with a bed-mane and a toothbrush in her mouth, while trying to scarf down some toast at the same time.”

The fillies burst into giggles at that image and even Lyra couldn’t help but smile

“I wish I could say that was it, but it got even worse!”

They were walking down the hall to the dining room again as the fillies focused back on their aunt

“What happened?”

“You see, we were already halfway in Canterlot when I realized I hadn’t packed my lyre! I was on the way to a concert and I didn’t have my instrument.”

As the fillies gasped, Crystal Note took her chance to slip into one of the dozen bathrooms of the castle without them noticing

“And what did you do, Auntie Lyra?”

Lyra rubbed the back of her head and, like back then, had help coming her way

“She did nothing. I knew she would oversleep, so I packed her lyre for her.”

The three fillies looked up and saw Bon Bon waiting for them, with a little wink for Lyra and a big smile for the fillies. They greeted their new aunt and were laughing again when they finally arrived at breakfast.

Half an hour and quick shower later, Crystal Note took a seat at the table again, but the fillies were already on the move, this time following Spike to get all the Hearth’s Warming decoration for the big party the next day. While she sipped on her morning tea, she noticed the bustling all around her as Princess Twilight’s and her friends moved around to prepare the big hall for everypony. She could practically hear Starlight Glimmer throw out some high-power spells three rooms over, mostly levitation but a few glamour charms as well, meaning she was decorating.

Bon Bon was still around to keep her company as she enjoyed her brunch and finished with a cup of tea. Like back in the day, Bon Bon and Crystal Note didn’t need to talk much to enjoy each other’s company.

They did end up giggling a lot when they heard some loud calls from the entrance hall and decided to risk a peek. As expected, Pinkie Pie was in full swing party-preparation-mode while Princess Twilight desperately tried to get all the points on one of her many checklists done, with Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Starlight Glimmer poking in whenever they could. Needless to say, the foyer looked like a total mess, Twilight was in near panic and in the middle of it all the others tried to have as much fun as they could. Crystal Note smiled when she noticed that the twins followed Spike’s lead, who seemed completely unconcerned as they decorated the huge Hearth’s Warming tree in the middle of the foyer.

Bon Bon and Crystal Note giggled as they watched and by that caught the attention of Rarity, who stood at the side and observed as well. Her little frown faded into a smile as she joined the two mares and Bon Bon winked at her

“I thought you would be more invested when it comes to decoration, Rarity.”

“I know a lost fight when I see one, Darling. I put my trust into the fact that, between Pinkie and Twilight, everything will turn out perfectly as always. We’re doing this dance every year but it still has me dreadfully stressed each time. This is torture for my complexion!”

The two friends laughed when Rarity raised her hoof to her forehead for a fittingly dramatic pose, just before she joined in with a little chuckle as well. She tilted her head when her eyes fell on Crystal Note

“Whatever happened to your coiffure, Darling? Did you try to dye your mane a darker colour?”

Before Crystal Note could explain, Bon Bon just blurted out

“Not really. She fell asleep on an ink pot.”

Bon Bon started laughing again as Crystal Note blushed and Rarity looked almost terrified

“Oh no, Darling, and it’s the day before Hearth’s Warming Eve! This simply won’t do! Now, if only there was a place where we could take care of your mane, my complexion and get out of this stressful environment.”

She shared a grin Crystal Note

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“I am, if you’re thinking about an emergency spa day!”

Rarity sang those last words and even pranced on the spot from excitement. Bon Bon just giggled

“I don’t think it counts as an emergency when you’re so excited about it.”

“Details, Darling.”

They laughed and made their way to the exit and away from the chaos. At the doors, they ran into Lyra, Sugar Belle and Glass Slipper, all packed with ingredients for baking party treats. Once they brought each other up to speed, Bon Bon threw a smirk to Lyra

“So, you like to join us at the spa?”
“Um, thanks, but pass. Besides, somepony needs to make sure the castle stays in one piece for the big party.”

“Uh-huh. And that pony would have to be you?”

“Me? I was thinking, probably Twilight. But hey, I’d be around and watch how she does it.”

The two marefriends giggled and shared a long hug, which Rarity shamelessly gawked at. Crystal Note just smiled and was about to comment on that, but got distracted. Glass Slipper was staring at her, clearly to get her attention, but she seemed untypically shy about it. So, Crystal Note took a step away from the others and leaned in a little

“What is it, dear?”

Glass Slipper didn’t say anything at first and just looked embarrassed, so Crystal Note just waited for a moment longer. Eventually, the flustered teenager whispered out

“Can I… can I come with you?”

Crystal Note tilted her head slightly. Something was telling her that this wasn’t the thing Glass Slipper would be this flustered about. Because she didn’t answer for a few moments, Glass Slipper looked down at her hooves in embarrassment, but Crystal Note just moved her head back up with her hoof

“Of course you can come with us. You don’t have to be shy about asking, okay?”

Glass Slipper’s face turned into a smile and Crystal Note just smiled back

“You know you can tell me anything, right Angel?”

Crystal Note held the teenager’s gaze with her eyes, making sure that Glass Slipper knew she understood. To her relief, the filly’s smile turned a little brighter, even if there was a blush on her cheeks

“I know.”

At that, Crystal Note released her daughter with a bright smile and turned back to the others, who didn’t mention anything if they had even noticed anything. Rarity already gushed about the spa’s beauty section to Glass Slipper as they went ahead. Crystal Note and Bon Bon just shared a look and Bon Bon nodded approvingly. Like always, they didn’t need many words to understand another.

Hearth's Warming IX

Crystal Note had been a little worried if the spa would even be open on the day before the holidays, but it turned out that she didn’t have to worry. Lotus Blossom and Aloe were thrilled to see her again and quickly ushered them inside. The way they acted, Crystal Note rightfully suspected that they would have treated them even if they had been closed.

Glass Slipper, who had never been inside a spa before, looked around with wide eyes and just followed Rarity for what she called ‘the usual’. The two mares who ran the place were very friendly and explained everything to her, even though she didn’t ask, but that was kind of the point. Aloe and Lotus Blossom seemed to know exactly what everypony needed and did their best to satisfy all their needs. While Aloe quickly led Crystal Note away to ‘remove that blotch’ from her mane, Lotus took them to a sauna. Basically, it was a tiny room inside the spa that was really, really hot. They sprawled out on the benches and Glass Slipper felt uncomfortable right away when she started sweating, but Bon Bon and Rarity quickly reassured her that this was normal.

In the middle of the room was a big bowl with red-hot rocks that emitted even more heat. Every other minute, Rarity would splash some water on the rocks with her magic, so the entire room was filled with steam. Glass Slipper mimicked Bon Bon who took a deep breath whenever this happened, and after a while she felt her legs and her back relax. She kinda felt like a noodle that got softer as it was cooked, but when she told the other two, they just chuckled softly and told her that was normal, too. The whole idea was that the heat and steam would help her relax.

When Crystal Note joined them a few minutes later, Glass Slipper did feel relaxed. She giggled with the others when Crystal Note’s now clean but still damp mane frizzled up in the heat. Crystal Note lay down on a seat next to Glass Slipper and just closed her eyes as she let the heat and steam work their magic. For a while, it was only Rarity talking between new bursts of stream, but she didn’t mind doing all the talking nor did the other three mind listening.

After a while though, Rarity and Bon Bon declared they had their share now and would move on to the next treatment, but Crystal Note said she'd stay a few minutes longer. Glass Slipper, after a moment of hesitating, stayed as well. Crystal Note had her eyes closed and a peaceful smile, so Glass Slipper felt save enough to speak up.

“Crystal Note? Can I ask you something?”
Crystal Note kept her eyes closed and held back a sigh. Glass Slipper had been mulling about what to say for a while now, so Crystal Note knew that it was a very conscious decision to call her by her full name. She didn't know what that meant, other than that Glass Slipper somehow didn't trust her all the way.
That didn't mean that she wouldn't be listening and try help, of course. Whether Glass Slipper needed her as a mother right now or not, she had made that promise long before.

“Of course, dear. You can ask me anything.”
Glass Slipper took a deep breath. Crystal Note's voice was calm and soft like always, so she knew she wasn't angry with her at least. Now that she had started talking, she needed to go through with it, though.
“Um, the other day, I was talking with somepony and she told me that she had a big crush on somepony she just met.”
Inwardly, Crystal Note was smiling. Glass Slipper was in the age now where matters of the heart became increasingly important, but still were very confusing. Maybe that was the whole reason.

“I see. That's good for her, don't you think? Love is a wonderful thing, after all.”
“Um, sure. But that's not what I wanted to talk about.”
“Oh? Go on, then. What's on your mind, Angel?”
Glass Slipper smiled again, like always when Crystal Note used her pet name, it made her feel safe, even with what has been bothering her
“Well, um, that girl, um, she has... the pony she has a crush on... she's a filly. They both are.”
Glass Slipper blushed and waited for some reaction from the mare, but Crystal Note just kept waiting for the big revelation.
“And...?”
“And, nothing. That's it. She's a filly but she likes other fillies. Isn't that odd?”

Glass Slipper blushed deep red when Crystal Note started laughing. It took her a while to realize that she wasn't laughing at her, but had her melodious wind-chime laughter instead.
“Oh, Angel. Sometimes I forget you've been living in an ancient empire all your life.”
Crystal Note sat up and found Glass Slipper's eyes. Immediately, the filly felt her anxiety leave her when Crystal Note's calm smile reached her.
“I know it is not common in the Crystal Empire, but trust me, it's perfectly normal for a mare to love another mare. Some ponies back home wouldn't understand this, but it's been happening for centuries while we were away, all over Equestria. You simply love who you love, Glass Slipper.”

Glass Slipper was staring at her now, with her eyes wide open, and Crystal Note kept smiling calmly.
“You seem so surprised.”
“I... how can it be just normal? I've never heard of it ever! How does it even work?”
Crystal Note just giggled as her reply.
“Perhaps, this is something you can ask Lyra and Bon Bon. They are usually rather open about such things.”
Glass Slipper's eyes only opened wider, and her mouth hung open
“Wait, you mean... they are together? As in, together together? As in...”
“As in a romantic relationship, yes. They never married, but they've been a couple since before I've known them.”
Finally, Glass Slipper clamped her mouth shut again and she shook her head.
“I thought that was a joke they told for Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart!”
“Why would they joke about something like that, dear? Love isn't limited by something as trivial as gender. There are mares who love other mares, and stallions who love stallions, or even both.”
“Both?”

Crystal Note laughed gently and reached out to put her hoof on Glass Slipper’s shoulder
“Yes dear. If I've learned anything from being around Princess Cadance all these years, then it's that love exists in many different forms, any form you can imagine really.”
Glass Slipper was too baffled to think at the moment, so she just leaned into the hug and let Crystal Note hold her.
“Is that what you've been talking about with Rainbow Dash, dear?”
She just nodded, she didn't even wonder how Crystal Note knew.

Crystal Note held her for a while longer, until the last wisps of steam had already vanished.
“I know it's a little confusing, but it's nothing you need to worry about, Angel.”
Glass Slipper looked up at her, eyes full of fear.
“What if I... what if I felt that way?”
Crystal Note gently squeezed the filly in her embrace.
“That's perfectly okay, Glass Slipper. You're allowed to feel as you feel.”
She could literally feel as the tension left Glass Slipper, even though she looked away shyly
“I... I don't really know how I feel right now...”
“That's okay too. You have all the time in the world to figure these things out. Nopony is rushing you. And, Angel?”
At this, Glass Slipper looked up at her again, only to find loving smile.
“No matter how you decide, I'll be there to support you.”
Finally, Glass Slipper could smile again and leaned into the hug.
“Thanks, Mom.”

When Glass Slipper pulled back again, she felt a lot better already. Crystal Note said it was okay, so she was going to believe that. She also said that it was okay she needed time to figure things out, so she wouldn't need to do that right away. Instead, she sprawled out on the bench as Crystal Note splashed more water on the stones and filled the sauna with steam again. They stayed a few minutes longer, long enough for Glass Slipper to relax again, which was the whole point, and when they left the sauna, she felt a little wobbly on her hooves.

Lotus was there to take them for a quick shower, which was important for their circulation, whatever that meant, but Glass Slipper was fine with following along. She got a warm and soft towel to dry herself and then Lotus brought her back to the others. Rarity and Bon Bon had already sprawled out on some deck chairs, so Glass Slipper hopped on the empty one next to theirs. They had some greenish mud on their faces, and she could now see that Aloe applied the same stuff to Crystal Note as well and called it a rejuvenation mask. Meanwhile, Lotus and two other ponies came with hoof files and started giving Rarity and Bon Bon a hooficure.

So when Aloe approached her next, she already knew what to expect. The facial mask felt different, but nice and refreshing after the hot sauna. The scratching from the hoof file felt weird, but Aloe kept explaining what she was doing so it was okay, and it didn't take too long either. It was nice to rest up after the intense heat from the sauna and Glass Slipper even dozed away for a couple of minutes.

A soft nudge woke her up again as Aloe removed the facial mask with a warm towel. Aloe smiled and winked at her, to which Glass Slipper blushed and started to apologize, only to have Aloe intervene.
“Is quite alright, darling. You're here for relaxing and that's what you do.”
Glass Slipper nodded and smiled shyly at Aloe, who returned the smile whole-heartedly.
“Now darling, we have the other booked for mud baths next. A young thing like you doesn't need that yet, so how about you and me go to beauty section now? See if we can do something for your mane, yes?”

Glass Slipper nodded and got on her hooves to follow Aloe. She turned around to tell the others, but Rarity and Crystal Note hadn't noticed anything around them yet while Lotus Blossom now worked on their horns with her hoof file. The two unicorns looked like they enjoyed this a lot, but Glass Slipper looked away quickly again. It was just such a strange sight.

Aloe didn't let her dwell on it for too long as she soon had her seated in front of a large mirror and wheeled in a cart with all sorts of brushes, combs, and scissors. She began with a soft brush and worked through Glass Slipper's mane, visibly pleased.
“I see you take good care of yourself, darling.”
Glass Slipper, who enjoyed this a lot, smiled and nodded.
“That's good. Is soft as silk. Is something your mother can still learn from you.”

And all of a sudden, Glass Slipper felt her mood go sour and her smile faded. Aloe noticed as well even though she didn't stop working on her mane.
“I said something wrong, darling?”
“No, not really. It's just, why does everyone know so much about Crystal Note?”
Aloe just giggled and switched to another brush.
“Easy, darling. Ponyville is small town and ponies here love to gossip. Nothing stays hidden for long and Crissy, well, she stands out, poor dear.”
Glass Slipper nodded since that made sense to her, but Aloe kept going undeterred.
“But that's not what's bothering you, Glass Slipper. You still frown like old mare, doesn't suit you at all.”

Glass Slipper bit her lip and nodded again, more shyly this time. It felt strange to talk about Crystal Note who was her adoptive mother after all, with a pony she just met. But maybe that made Aloe the perfect pony to talk to, in a way, so she followed her gut instinct and whispered.
“I've learned a lot about Crystal Note, but I barely learned anything from her. It's always other ponies who tell me things about her. Why doesn't she ever tell me?”
Aloe made sure to keep up with her soft brushing so Glass Slipper would stay calm, and answered without much pondering.
“Crystal Note barely talks. She's been working here at the spa when she was living with Lyra and Miss Bon Bon. Never told us anything about herself in weeks, just quiet and played her music. Only talked when we would ask, and never more than needed. Is just how she is.”

Glass Slipper hesitated a little before she asked with another whisper.
“Okay, I get that, but now she's... she's our mom now, more or less. My sisters trust her with everything, but should we trust her if she's keeping secrets from us?”
“Is she?”
Glass Slipper tilted her head in confusion, at which Aloe only giggled very softly.
“Is a shy thing, Crystal Note. Always has been. You wouldn't guess when she's on stage or when she's working. When she set her mind on something, you would never think, but without that, she is. So maybe it's not secrets, maybe just too shy to talk.”

And then, she went back to working on the filly's mane, even though Glass Slipper was too lost in thoughts to notice much. Could it really be that simple? She's just shy and doesn't want to talk about herself? But Auntie Rose knows stuff she never told us. And everypony here in Ponyville too. So why...
“Why does everypony else know so much about her, then? Does she talk with everyone in Ponyville, but not me?”
This time, Aloe put the brush away and walked around so she could look at Glass Slipper
“We know because we've seen her for years, darling. We watched and picked up things. And we ask her when we don't understand her.”

Their eyes met and Aloe had a gentle smile for Glass Slipper
“Do you ask her about things?”
Glass Slipper blushed a little more and shook her head.
“Did you ever tell her that you think she's keeping secrets from you?”
Glass Slipper shook her head again and her head dipped down towards her hooves.
“Not really.”
“Then maybe when Crystal Note doesn't like to talk, you should.”

“But what if I say something that makes her angry or...”
Before Glass Slipper could go deeper into any rambling, Aloe touched her hoof and by that made her look up again.
“Has that happened since she became your mother?”
“No, but...”
“So you have no reason to think it will.”
Glass Slipper ended up just staring at Aloe, who was still smiling.
“You're not mind reader, and Crystal Note is not mind reader. You can't tell what she thinks unless you ask. She can't tell what you feel unless you tell. So next time, just talk. Okay?”

Glass Slipper looked at her for a whole minute, before she finally nodded. Somehow, Aloe had summed it all up in simple words that made sense. She thought back to the times she had talked with Crystal Note and how it matched up now. She had never given her any reason to doubt her, and she had never refused to tell her anything, on the few occasions she had asked. Maybe, it really was that simple.
Maybe Crystal Note just had to adjust being a mom as much as Glass Slipper had to the idea of having one again.

Aloe, once she saw Glass Slipper's smile, moved back behind her and effortlessly switched back into her usual chatter
“Now darling, you have so pretty natural curls, how about we spruce them up just a little?”
Still smiling, Glass Slipper nodded and focused back on her reflection in the mirror.
“I think I'd like that.”
“Wonderful. Here, I show you so you can do yourself when you're back home.”
They started discussing different manestyles as if their earlier conversation never had happened and when Glass Slipper joined the others again, she was still smiling.

The emergency spa day, as Rarity still called it, took a bit longer than expected, so by the time they returned to the castle, it was almost dinnertime again.

Decorations were finished by now and Glass Slipper stared in awe at the beautiful foyer and the main hall were everything was ready for the big party for tomorrow. She was admiring the huge Hearth’s Warming Tree when Crystal Note next to her giggled softly and drew her attention towards the group of ponies who walked in from another room.
“You look like you’ve run a marathon, dear. What happened?”
Sweetie Tooth walked up towards them and smiled, but she leaned heavily against Crystal Note when she pulled her into a soft hug. Glass Slipper giggled when she saw that her sister could barely keep her eyes open.

Since Sweetie Tooth was too tired to respond, Princess Twilight jumped in to explain.
“She’s been a great help with all the preparations, but she wore herself out. She tried to keep up with Pinkie Pie.”
Crystal Note laughed gently and nuzzled the filly in her hooves while Rarity exclaimed.
“But Darling, nopony can keep up with Pinkie Pie, especially not when Pinkie Pie has a party to plan.”
“That’s what I keep saying, but some little fillies wouldn’t listen to their aunt, ya know?”
Applejack chuckled and winked to Sweetie Tooth who just blew a raspberry at her. Before she would slump against Crystal Note, a touch of magic lifted her up and on her mother’s back, where she curled up instead.

Crystal Note just smiled and slowly followed the others.
“Speaking of fillies, where is Velvet Heart?”
“Starlight took her to the library some time ago, poor dear could barely keep her eyes open.”
With a nod, Crystal Note took the hallway that would lead her to the main library. She quietly stepped inside and what she saw brought another smile to her face.

Starlight Glimmer and Velvet Heart had squatted down on some cushioned seats, each with an enormous tome in front of her, even if neither of them was doing much reading. Starlight Glimmer glanced at the pages in front of her every now and then, but mostly she was watching Velvet Heart. The filly was slumbering with her book as a poor substitute for a pillow, she’d obviously fallen asleep in the middle of reading.
Starlight looked up when she heard Crystal Note’s hoofstep and the two mares shared a smile.

As quietly as she could, Crystal Note sneaked up on the filly and when she was close enough, she whispered right into her ear.
“Velvet Heart, wake up, dear.”
In an instant, Velvet’s eyes flew open, and she bolted into an upright position, with a desperate scream.
“I’m not sleeping in class!”
Both Starlight Glimmer and Crystal Note couldn’t help laughing, especially when Velvet Heart also blushed to a bright red once she regained her bearings. Crystal Note leaned down for a calming nuzzle which had Velvet smiling again quickly.
Sweetie Tooth, who was already drifting in and out of sleep, jerked up with a loud ‘eep’ as well and clung on Crystal Note’s neck not to fall off her back.

“I think we should all turn in early today. Tomorrow is going to be a big day, after all.”
Velvet Heart agreed with a nod, but Sweetie Tooth only slowly caught up.
“What’s tomorrow?”
Starlight Glimmer just giggled and used her magic to put away the book while she explained.
“It’s Hearth’s Warming Eve, Sweetie Tooth. There’s going to be get-togethers all over town, ponies singing carols and even a play! And of course, the big party here at the castle in the evening. You don’t want to miss out on the party, do you?”

Both fillies shook their heads and Crystal Note gently led them out of the library
“Me neither. So how about a quick snack for dinner, and then off to bed?”
Another set of nods got delayed by a big yawn from Velvet Heart and a round of giggles, then they headed back towards the big hall. By now, everypony else had already left, only Twilight, Spike and Glass Slipper joined them for a quick dinner.

Glass Slipper watched Crystal Note from the other side of the table during dinner. Thanks to her trip to the spa, she wasn’t that tired yet, unlike her little sisters. They each sat on one side of Crystal Note and dozed off a couple of times while the mare tried to coax them into eating a little at least.

While she made sure that Sweetie Tooth wouldn’t accidentally plant her face on her plate, Crystal Note was casually chatting with Princess Twilight and Starlight Glimmer about something, but Glass Slipper didn’t really pay attention to it. Instead, she watched how Crystal Note refilled Velvet Heart’s cup and with a gentle smile made her little sister drink up. She didn’t drop out of her conversation, and she didn’t seem bothered that the twins needed a little more attention tonight.

Glass Slipper couldn’t help but think back to the first awkward meals they had shared together, when everything had been so strange and new and unfamiliar. Now, Velvet and Sweetie didn’t have any reservations towards Crystal Note’s care anymore and to Crystal Note, everything she did just seemed natural. Just like a real Mom.

Glass Slipper smiled when she thought that, it seemed weird to think of Crystal Note as anything else for the twins by now. There was still a very distinct difference between Crystal Note and their mother, but instead of seeing the differences like she had before, Glass Slipper now saw the similarities far more clearly. It was a good feeling, even if Glass Slipper couldn’t embrace it fully for herself yet. But she knew that this was okay, because Crystal Note told her so. It’s okay to feel how I feel. I can figure things out and nopony is rushing me.

Dinner didn’t last too long, not with two very sleepy fillies, and Crystal Note took them upstairs to the bedrooms right away. Glass Slipper, who didn’t feel like retiring yet, instead joined Princess Twilight, Starlight Glimmer and Spike. The four of them moved to a living room with a flickering fireplace, just like they had at home, and got comfy. Princess Twilight and Spike got some reading material, but Starlight Glimmer was just silently watching the flames. Glass Slipper watched them for a while, also keeping quiet so she wouldn’t disturb them.

When it became clear that Crystal Note wouldn’t return, Glass Slipper shifted a little in her seat and let out a little yawn. That got Starlight’s attention to her, and the mare smiled
“Are you getting tired, Glass Slipper?”
The filly shook her head and smiled
“Not that much yet. It’s just, ever since we went to the spa, my legs feel kinda gooey and I don’t want to get up.”
Starlight Glimmer chuckled and nodded at this.
“Ah, say no more. I remember the first time I experienced one of Aloe’s famous massages. It was pure heaven! I never felt more relaxed, and I swear it lasted all week long.”

Glass Slipper giggled along with Starlight and smiled. Somehow, it felt different talking with Starlight compared to Applejack or Bon Bon or most of the others. Starlight Glimmer didn't act like she was an aunt or a big sister like the rest of Crystal Note's friends did. Most importantly, she didn't treat Glass Slipper like a child, instead she talked to her like with everypony else. Glass Slipper probably wouldn't admit this if asked, but like any teenager would, she enjoyed being treated like an equal, especially by an accomplished mare like Starlight Glimmer.

So while Starlight seemed contend to go back watching the flames, Glass Slipper tried to think of a reason to get this conversation going. Her eyes feel on the door through which Crystal Note and her sisters had left, and she took it.
“I guess Crystal Note won't be coming down again tonight. She probably went to bed already.”
Instead of an answer, Glass Slipper saw Starlight Glimmer and Princess Twilight exchange a weird look. Starlight started giggling and Princess Twilight just rolled her eyes, but with a smile.
“I'm pretty sure Crystal Note won't be coming down tonight, but I doubt that she's sleeping.”
Now even Spike joined in with a grin of his own.
“Yeah, that would be a first.”
At this, they all laughed together, except for Glass Slipper.

Just like back in the spa, she got that sour taste in her mouth again. The three clearly knew something about Crystal Note that was really obvious, but Glass Slipper didn't. Even though Crystal Note lived in the same house as her and was the closest pony she had, beside her sisters of course. Why did everypony know so much about the mare who was more or less her mom, and she didn't?

Glass Slipper remembered what Aloe had told her in the spa, that she couldn't expect anypony to know what she felt if she didn't talk about it. So, after a few moments, she just did.
“Why do you think Crystal Note isn't sleeping?”
She looked away a bit embarrassed, but the others didn't seem concerned by her question. In fact, Starlight Glimmer was still chuckling a little as she explained.
“Well, Crystal Note will be performing at the Hearths Warming party tomorrow. She always spends the nights before to practice and prepare.”
Princess Twilight nodded along.
“I told her she doesn’t have to prepare since it’s just a small gathering of friends and not a real concert, but she won’t listen. She always wants to do her best once she agreed to something.”

Glass Slipper nodded absently, but her eyes kept wandering to the door.
“I think I understand. Um, would it be okay if I go and watch?”
Princess Twilight had a soft smile for her and nodded.
“I think she would like that a lot, Glass Slipper.”

With that, Glass Slipper just got up and headed straight up the stairs. She passed their bedrooms, but she didn’t hear any music, so she carefully opened the door to peek inside, in case Crystal Note was sleeping.

She saw a strange light, and then she understood. Crystal Note was still awake, but she had put on the same dome of light she had used in their old home once. Glass Slipper even remembered the name, bubble of silence. That was why she couldn’t hear any music, even though Crystal Note was playing her violin inside the bubble.

Since knocking wouldn’t work, Glass Slipper just took a deep breath and walked through the barrier. She felt a slight tingle as she passed through the magic, and she heard the music. She smiled and listened for a while as Crystal Note played, with her eyes closed as usual. Crystal Note always got lost in her music and wouldn’t notice anything that happened around her. That was something Glass Slipper could understand. She felt the same way when she was dancing.

Crystal Note must have noticed something though, because once her song was finished, she opened her eyes and smiled at Glass Slipper.
“Getting ready for bed, Glass Slipper?”
She shook her head with a shy blush.
“No, um, I just wanted to listen. And maybe talk to you?”
“Of course, dear. You can always talk to me, about anything.”

Glass Slipper didn’t say anything though, so Crystal Note started to play another song. The soft sound of the violin somehow helped Glass Slipper calm down, and after a couple of minutes she felt brave enough to say something.
“I barely know anything about you.”
Crystal Note opened her eyes, but she kept playing even though her focus was now on Glass Slipper, who squirmed a bit under her eyes.
“I mean, sure I know some things, but it seems like everypony in Ponyville knows a lot more. Everypony I talk to tells me things about you I didn’t know. And it’s weird.”
“And why is that, Glass Slipper?”

Crystal Note was still playing, but Glass Slipper couldn’t look at her for what she had to say next.
“I mean, you’re our Mom. Sweetie and Velvet trust you, and I want to trust you, but can I when I don’t know everything about you? When you’re maybe even keeping secrets from us?”
The music stopped abruptly, and Glass Slipper looked up, worried. She had no reason, since Crystal Note didn’t look angry at all, more like she was worried.
“Glass Slipper, I never knew you felt that way. I’m not keeping any secrets from you, not by design. I just, I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”
Glass Slipper just nodded and looked away again.
“I didn’t want to be nosey, but…”
“But I didn’t really share much about myself, either. It’s no excuse, but other than Rose Quartz, barely anypony at home knows a lot about me. I tell them stories about the places I’ve been, about travelling and my music, but compared to that, I’m just a very boring pony.”

Glass Slipper looked up again and tilted her head.
“How can you be boring? Everypony knows about you.”
Crystal Note, now setting down her violin, gave a weak smile.
“That’s not the same. Think of Rarity, she has a radiant presence, when she enters a room, she draws all eyes to her and everypony hangs on her lips. Or Pinkie Pie, she’s got so much energy and she can cheer up ponies who just look her way. If I don’t play music, ponies barely even notice I’m in the room.”

Glass Slipper giggled along with Crystal Note
“I don’t think your invisible.”
Crystal Note smiled and winked.
“Then you must be very attentive, Glass Slipper. Or incredibly curious.”
They laughed together, and the last of the weird feeling fell off Glass Slipper.

“Is there anything you’d like to know, Slipper?”
“Um, what’s your favourite colour?”
Crystal Note giggled a little, as if she hadn’t expected a question like that.
“I like green. Like the first leaves in spring.”
Glass Slipper nodded and fired the next question.
“What’s your favourite food?”
“Apple pie.”
Glass Slipper tilted her head.
“Really?”
“Really. I told you, I’m pretty boring. I also like daisy sandwiches, but I’m not very picky when it comes to food.”
“Huh.”

Glass Slipper asked about a couple more things, as if they were playing 20 questions, but she mostly got plain answers from Crystal Note. After a couple of minutes, she tried something else.
“Tell me something nopony else knows. Something nopony ever asked you before.”
Crystal Note thought about that for a minute, looking at the violin she was still holding in her hooves. Glass Slipper wondered if she had crossed a line with that question, but eventually Crystal Note had an answer.
“I don’t really like tea.”
“What?”

Glass Slipper just stared at her.
“But you drink tea like all the time. And you don’t like it?”
“I guess I like it okay enough, but I never thought ‘Wow, I really need a cup of tea now.’ I keep switching blends and flavours ever so often so I can tolerate it, but it’s never my favourite. I mostly drink it because it’s good for my voice.”
“Good for your voice?”
Crystal Note nodded and smiled.
“I’m a singer, Slipper. Just like I need to take care of my violin, I need to take care of my voice as well. And warm tea with honey is good for keeping my voice. A doctor told me once, so I keep drinking it. Nopony ever asked me about it.”

Glass Slipper laughed and shook her head.
“I never thought of that. I always thought you like tea.”
“But now you know better than everypony else. Sometimes things aren’t always the way they look. Especially here in Ponyville.”
They could both giggle, and Crystal Note picked up her violin again. Glass Slipper listened to the slow melody that would be terrible for dancing but seemed perfect to just sit and listen.

Crystal Note closed her eyes again, like almost always when she played. Glass Slipper always thought that Crystal Note did that to block out everything except her music, so nothing could distract her, but she had clearly heard Glass Slipper when she had walked into the magic bubble. It was like Crystal Note could think better when she played music. Glass Slipper thought back of other talks they had in the past, and how often her mom had started playing music while they talked.

Glass Slipper finally learned something about her mom, something that nopony had told her before. Whenever Crystal Note played music, she wasn’t blocking out something. She was trying to add something only she could, for everyone else to enjoy. Music helped her find the right words, music helped her sort out her own feelings, but it also helped everypony who was listening to do the same. Glass Slipper remembered all the times her mom had played or sung for them, and every occasion grew just a little more special, now that she knew.

She didn’t have to tell her mom she figured it out. Crystal Note wasn’t a mare of many words. She didn’t like to talk about herself, but everypony who listened could tell all they need to know about her. Like the ponies in Ponyville, or like Glass Slipper now knew too.

“Are you going to play at the party tomorrow, Mom?”
Crystal Note didn’t say anything, but Glass Slipper noticed how special it felt to her whenever she called her ‘Mom’. She knew, because it felt special to her just as much, and after tonight maybe even a little more so.

“Of course I will be playing. It wouldn’t be a party without music, after all.”
Glass Slipper giggled and Crystal Note opened her eyes again to look at her, while the tune was still playing.
“And are you going to dance at the party?”
Glass Slipper nodded and clapped her hooves together.
“If you play, I’m going to dance!”
“That’s very sweet of you, Glass Slipper. But don’t just dance for me. Dance for yourself, dance because it’s what you like to do. I would love nothing more than to see you, and your sisters, have lots of fun tomorrow.”
“Uh-huh.”

Glass Slipper mumbled through a yawn, a real one this time.
“Are you going to turn in soon?”
“Yes dear, right after this song. Do you want me to tuck you in?”
A blush on her cheeks, Glass Slipper nodded shyly.
“If that’s okay.”
“Of course, dear. It will always be okay.”
“Thanks, Mom.”

Sidetracks: Sour Berry

Author's Note

I had this completed ages ago, but I never bothered posting it for some reason.
Sour Berry is a recurring side-character in my Crystal Note stories, so I thought he deserved a little more of a background.

Sidetracks: Sour Berry

The café by the market plaza had steadily grown in popularity ever since Sour Berry had opened. At first, mostly tourists from the south had visited but by now, there was a steady crowd at all times. At noon, ponies from the nearby market would come for lunch. In the afternoon, ponies came for tea, coffee and some of Sour Berry’s famous baked goods. Later at night, mostly locals hung around as the café was the closest of a bar or a tavern the Crystal Empire could offer, close enough for a few regulars even to visit almost every night.

Tonight was special and all the seats were taken. Sour Berry had his hooves full to keep everypony satisfied and shot a grateful smile to Opal Waves whenever he passed her. The mare had learned of his café from Crystal Note and when business grew, she had taken the offer of a job. Ever since then, she helped three or four nights a week.

Crystal Note had been working like this as well to help her fillyhood-friend, but ever since she had adopted Glass Slipper and her sisters, as well as put in more focus on her music career, she simply didn’t have the time anymore.

However, she still found ways to help her friend and his café.

Tonight, a small stage was set up and Crystal Note was performing. There was a marked difference between her occasional sessions at the market plaza where she would play just for fun and a semi-professional setup like this. Therefore, it had lured many ponies into the café tonight.

Crystal Note had started on her violin and had performed her interpretations of old songs from the Crystal Empire, but soon switched to her guitar and singing. Somepony had joked on how Crystal Note had a song for every opportunity and from that, a friendly challenge started.

Somepony from the audience would call for a theme and Crystal Note played what song she found would fit best. Often those were songs that she had learned during her travels through Equestria, but the locals still enjoyed them just as much. From time to time, Crystal Note would invite her audience to join in and sing along, and as the night went on it happened more and more often. It wasn’t quite like her time with the Ponyville Music Ensemble, but Crystal Note still wore a beaming smile whenever she got the crystal ponies to join in.

Sour Berry watched Crystal Note’s performance attentively. In fact, he had a very hard time to look away and serve his costumers. The way Crystal Note looked on stage, how she smiled when she sang, that beautiful light in her eyes when she was happy…

Opal Waves poked his side and interrupted his daydream very abruptly. With a knowing smile, she ‘banished’ the blushing stallion behind the counter from where he could watch while working. He blushed even more when he saw Opal’s husband Flint and their friend Ivory Lance at the counter, both of them grinning widely. He chose to ignore it and threw himself into work once more.

By now, it was getting late and the concert would end soon. Sour Berry frowned at that thought, as it meant that Crystal Note would soon leave as well. He had tried to spend more time with her, outside of work, but only learned that he turned into a stuttering mess every time he approached her. He didn’t understand how he had that kind of problems with the mare he had known all his life.

Sometimes, he wished he would just be bold and ask her out. But then, he thought of how she might react. She would smile and that smile would brighten up her entire face and make her eyes sparkle so beautifully and… and his brain turned into mush.

So instead, he settled for the safe option. He stayed in the background and watched with a goofy smile. When she would ask, he was always there to help, but he didn’t dare anything more. As long as she was happy, he was too. Crystal Note didn’t need to know that there might be anything more.

Unfortunately for him, Opal Waves had quickly picked up on his feelings for the crystal unicorn, with Flint not far behind. Even stubborn Ivory Lance had caught up by now.

The three of them didn’t have any connection with Sour Berry before Crystal Note had introduced them. Sour Berry had grown up in the same street as Crystal Note, he had been three years older than her and Rose Quartz back then. But since Crystal Note had lost some additional years to Sombra’s curse, she was now physically about Opal Waves’ age and therefore more than a decade younger than Sour Berry.

Despite the age difference, the three ponies got along well with Sour Berry, to the point that they tried to nudge him in a certain direction at times. So when Crystal Note announced that this would be her last song for the night, Ivory Lance suddenly called out

“I have a request!”

Crystal Note rightfully seemed surprised as Ivory Lance had not shown much of an interest in music before, but of course she smiled and nodded anyways as Ivory Lance went on

“I have a friend who had a crush for years but never dared to admit it. You think you have a song for that?”

Crystal Note tilted her head with a smile

“That’s oddly specific, but I think I do. Give me a minute.”

She closed her eyes and strummed a few chords on her guitar as she tried to find the right melody for her song. Sour Berry was just as confused as she was, until he saw Flint and Ivory Lance grin at him, the soldier even waggling his eyebrows. Somehow, he managed to blush and glare at the same time. He was about to give them a piece of his mind, but Crystal Note’s singing stopped him in time

He watched Crystal Note as she sung with her eyes closed, fully absorbed by her music. Even so, her presence was easily enough to captivate Sour Berry to the point that he completely missed what she was singing. He only snapped out of another daydream when the ponies in the café joined in as she repeated the refrain

I don’t know why she’s leaving
Or where she’s gonna go
I guess she got a reason
But I just don’t wanna know
Cause for 24 years I’ve been living next door to Alice

24 years just waiting for a chance
To tell her how I feel and maybe get a second glance
Now I gotta get used to not living next door to Alice

Sour Berry felt the blood rush into his head and his jaw dropped. That song was almost too close. She couldn’t know, could she?

She didn’t know. When the song ended, she just opened her eyes again and smiled. With a deep bow to her clapping audience, she hopped off the small stage and approached him, utterly unaware of his inner turmoil

“That went well tonight, don’t you think? Maybe we can make this a regular thing.”
He just smiled that goofy grin for a couple of moments before he noticed she was looking at him and waited for an answer

“Oh, yes, absolutely. How about same time next week?”

She didn’t even notice his nervousness and nodded happily

“Great! I’m looking forward to it!”

“Me too!” he just blurted out without thinking.

Crystal Note tilted her head at his sudden enthusiasm, slightly confused

“Really?”

He opened his mouth but when no proper words made it out, Crystal Note just giggled

“Ah, always the business pony I see. You hope you can get a full house again.”

He sighed deeply and nodded

“Yeah, right…”

Crystal Note seemed satisfied with this answer and smiled

“Well, I’ll better go now. The girls are waiting for me. See you soon, Sour Berry.”

“Yeah, you too.”

Crystal Note headed to the door, only stopping to share a quick hug with Opal Waves, while Sour Berry returned to the counter, clearly frustrated

“You, my friend, are hopeless.”

He turned his head to frown at Flint

“Kindly mind your own business, would you?”

“We’re trying, but you make it really hard to ignore.”

Ivory Lance’ grin didn’t really help him make his point. Sour Berry let his head slump on the counter with a heavy sigh.

“In all honesty though, why don’t you just ask her out? I mean it’s plain obvious to everypony.”

“Everypony except your little mare, that is.”

Sour Berry just frowned more. He knew that Ivory Lance didn’t mean any by this and that he wasn’t trying to be offensive, but right now he wondered how long he could take him talking without snapping at the guardpony.

“She’s not ‘my little mare’, Ivory Lance.”

“Course she isn’t. And you don’t throw no love-struck looks at her either.”

Ivory Lance waggled his eyebrows again before he leaned in

“So what’s it you see in her? Is it the horn?”

Immediately, Sour Berry’s anger flared up and his expression turned hard as stone. Ivory Lance backed away and realized he’d crossed a line there. He reached for his cup, probably to buy some time and think of an apology, but Sour Berry swiped his drink away in one swift, professional motion

“I think you had enough for tonight, Private Lance.”

The two stallions stared at each other with hard eyes. Lucky for them, Flint reacted before any more harsh words were thrown. He swatted Ivory Lance on the back of his head and grinned

“Rookie mistake, Lance. Never annoy the guy who can cut you off drinks.”

It was a bad joke, but Sour Berry would pick a bad joke over a fight any day of the week, so he just laughed along and hoped this conversation was over. He went to deal with some costumers, now that the concert was over most of the ponies left as well.

When he returned to the counter, he saw right away that he wouldn’t get out of this one as easily as he hoped

“Seriously though, there’s some connection. This isn’t just some wild crush, is it? She’s been on your mind a while now, has she?”

Sour Berry groaned and rolled his eyes

“Since when has my mind been open for debate?”

“Since you look like you could use some help from your elders, son.”

Sour Berry stared at Flint and shook his head

“Then what I’m doing here talking with you? You’re both younger than me.”

“Uh-uh, doesn’t work that way, kid. Years in marriage count double, at least.”

“Is that a fact?”

Sour Berry just laughed when both Ivory Lance and Flint flinched from the sudden voice behind them. Opal Waves had taken care of the last costumer and obviously overheard that last bit

“I wasn’t aware that having a loving mare and two wonderful foals made you age faster. If I knew, I would have never said yes.”

Sour Berry just laughed harder, so hard he completely missed what Flint said, but apparently, it was enough to appease his wife, since she sat down at his side and joined the curious glances the three threw at Sour Berry

“How long have you known her, Berry?”

“I’ve known her almost all my life.”

Now that the awkward moment had passed, he felt a lot easier to talk about it. He told them how they grew up in the same street when Crystal Note started living with Rose Quartz and her family. Flint and Ivory Lance nodded, but Opal Waves didn’t

“There’s more to it than just that, I can tell. This is more than just a foalhood friendship between you.”

Sour Berry blushed for a moment, but then decided just to dive right in and get it over with

“Yeah, well, actually we weren’t much of friends back then. Most of the times we met, we fought, and Crystal Note beat me up every single time.”

The three pony’s jaws dropped down in unison

“Crystal Note beat you up?”

“No way!”

Sour Berry shrugged and rubbed the back of his head

"Well, I started most of our fights if I'm honest."

"You picked fights with a filly who was younger than you, and you lost?"

Sour Berry just laughed at Flint's expression and nodded

"She beat colts twice her age and size back then. When she had to, she could stand her ground against a soldier even."

Flint and Opal Waves stared in disbelieve, but Ivory Lance just nodded after a moment

"Yeah, I can see that."

All three stared at him

"Don't forget he's talking about the mare who charged at a pack of Windigos. And she was still an earth pony back then."

Sour Berry nodded at that

"That made a huge difference. You're probably too young to remember, but we relied heavily on the fact that she was quicker and stronger than all of us when we stole food from the troops."

They conversation died down for a couple of minutes as neither of the four wanted to go deeper down that road. Eventually though, Opal Waves spoke up again

"And she never noticed how you felt about her?"

"How would she when we were fighting all the time? And the last time we met before she vanished, that was the one time I really thought she would break my legs or something.”

He summed up what happened that night and again, Opal Waves and the two stallions stayed silent afterwards. They knew of course that only a few days later, Crystal Note had vanished out of the Empire. Back then, most ponies thought she had run away and abandoned them, but Sour Berry had been sceptic. He was sure that Crystal Note would never leave her sister Rose Quartz behind. He still didn’t know exactly what happened in that night, but from what he had learned so far, his guess had been right.

“She came back one day to apologize. Out of nowhere, I didn’t even know how she knew I was here. She was so… different.”

The three listened as Sour Berry told his story, staring at the drink he still held in his hoof

“Don’t get me wrong, of course she was different because she was suddenly a crystal pony and all, but it was like she was a different pony altogether. She wasn’t that confident and energetic filly anymore. She acted so demure, so shy. She was afraid of me. She wasn’t even all through the door before she started crying and apologizing.”

Sour Berry shook his head and Opal Waves asked what the other two were thinking

“What happened then?”

“I don’t know. We started talking. She asked me of the time she had missed, of ponies we knew back then. She cried whenever she learned that one of them was gone, now.”

Ivory Lance snorted and shook his head

“She didn’t get angry at all?”

“No. Not even a little bit. She was just sad, and she apologized for everything.”

“What in Celestia’s name happened that night that left her so broken?”

“I don’t know. But whatever it was, she lost a lot of herself but at the same time… she grew more herself than ever.”

Opal Waves nodded, she understood what Sour Berry was trying to say

“She was always compassionate. She helped ponies whenever she could. But when I saw her that day, it was like she simply couldn’t not help. Whatever changed her coat and gave her a horn, it magnified her like that.”

Flint and Ivory Lance nodded along

“But you still have a shine for her, Berry. No matter how much she changed.”

“Yeah. Guess some ponies never learn.”

“What do you mean?”

Sour Berry sighed and shrugged

“Back then, it was the rebellion. It was always most important to her. Then, it was travelling and her music. Now, she’s got three fillies who mean the world to her. It seems like, there’s always something else, something bigger and I can’t compete.”

“So you don’t even try?”

“She barely even knows I exist, Flint. What am I supposed to do?”

“Well, she won’t know if you don’t tell her. Back when I first met Opal…”

His wife laughed and patted Flint’s shoulder

“You were so helpless back then.”

“But I was persistent.”

“That you were, true.”

Opal Waves leaned against him and from the other side of the counter, Sour Berry knew that this was what he wanted as well

“You have to take a risk, Sour Berry. Running away won’t solve your problems. You need a good strategy and then go for it.”

Sour Berry laughed and finally refilled the old soldier’s cup

“And what strategy could work for me, Corporal Lance?”

Ivory Lance grinned when Sour Berry called him by his old rank and took a long draw

“You should focus on getting more intel first. Those three fillies? I bet they could tell you a thing or two.”

“I don’t want to get between her and her daughters, Lance.”

“Never said you should. But you know, they might give you something to work with. I bet they know what’s her favourite food or her favourite place in the Empire. Then you can use that to your advantage.”

Opal Waves and Flint snickered at that

“You think he should cook for her?”

“Well, why not? Sour Berry can cook, bake, does his own laundry and keeps his house clean. He’s the perfect housemare and a good little wife, he just has to make Crystal Note see that as well.”

The three of them burst in laughter and even Sour Berry couldn’t hold back

“Okay Lance, now I know you really had enough for today. Back home to your wife and kid with you.”

He saw his three friends off and turned off the lights in his café, before he made it to his bedroom. Before he fell asleep, what Ivory Lance said stuck in his head. Not the part about being a wife, but about spending more times with the fillies.

“Maybe I should fix up a batch of cookies and visit them tomorrow.”

He blinked when he heard his own idea and hid under the cover

“By all stars, I really am a good little wife.”

Sidetracks: Sturdy Shield

Sometimes, getting up in the morning felt like the hardest thing to do. Sturdy Shield knew he was old, the oldest pony in the Crystal Empire, and his joints and bones were old and ached whenever he got up and moved around. Yet still, he barely slept more than a couple hours each night, which left him restless and unable to stay confined in his bed for very long.

Today was different, he felt it right away. He stretched his legs as soon as he woke up and immediately climbed out of bed. The pain wasn’t completely gone but compared to the days when he could barely stand, it was just a minor inconvenience today. A glance outside the window showed him that the sun was already rising, and the sky was clear and bright. He walked to the window and pushed it open with some effort but was rewarded with a cool breeze. Even the air smelled different today, better, clean and crisp like he remembered from so long ago, long before the darkness.

Sturdy Shield didn’t dwell on these thoughts and instead headed for the door. He felt like walking today, and he wouldn’t waste this opportunity.

Right outside, matching the brightness of the morning sun, he was met with the familiar smile of his neighbour

“Oh, good morning Grandfather! You’re up early today!”

Sturdy Shield smiled back with undisguised fondness. Aquamarine, who lived next door, often helped him these days, fixing his breakfast, cleaning the house when he couldn’t and just taking care of him when the old bones refused to work.

Like so many, Aquamarine had lost her parents during the Dark Years, and her brother in the war that followed. When she called him ‘grandfather’, it wasn’t just out of respect, but out of a real bond they had formed. Sturdy Shield kept his smile big and wide, even if he thought of all the fillies and colts who had needed a parent in the years that followed. Each of them hit by tragedy and only so few Sturdy Shield could really help, with advice and wisdom or sometimes with a stern lecture as well. In a way, they all were his children and grandchildren, in one way or another.

If Aquamarine knew about his thoughts, he didn’t know, nor did it really matter. As much as they might need each other, Sturdy knew she also had her own life to live. So when she asked him if he needed breakfast he just declined and announced he would go on a morning stroll. Aquamarine knew him well enough to not argue with him, but as always, she’d ask him to be careful and not exhaust himself. Also as always, he’d just roll his eyes and they both laughed before he made his way, slowly but steady, towards the centre of the city.

The walk was quiet and uneventful since ponies were probably just getting up by now. Sturdy Shield walked as fast as his old bones would allow and glanced around as he usually did. Each house he passed by had a memory, good or bad. Some worse than others. He remembered this street right after the war, with broken down walls and all houses abandoned. Now, almost a decade after Princess Cadance had taken the throne, all the houses were fixed up and the whole district looked nice and pristine. As Sturdy Shield passed, he heard voices from inside the houses, and it made him smile. Nowadays, there were far more good memories than bad ones.

By the time he reached his destination, the sun was shining bright and the early morning lights made the whole crystal city glitter and gleam in all colours. Sturdy Shield made sure to take in the view and admire its beauty, but he was not surprised when after a couple of minutes a voice called out to him

“Good morning Grandfather! What brings you here this early?”

Sturdy Shield laughed and turned towards Sour Berry, with a fond smile. The stallion who ran the small café returned in kind and didn’t even wait to get his answer, instead he fired up the most important question

“Did you have breakfast yet? No? Me neither. Sit down, I’ll get us something.”

Sturdy Shield’s smile didn’t fade until Sour Berry had turned around and vanished back inside his café. The young lad had grown into a fine stallion these days. He remembered far too well how hopeless Sour Berry had been, after the Dark King had executed his father in public and he had been forced to watch. Of course Sour Berry wasn’t the only one, but not everypony was able to come back from a sight like this. Sturdy Shield knew more ponies than he dared to count who had gotten lost in their heartache and fell victim to the Dark King’s foul spells. Sour Berry was one of the lucky ones who had regained his courage. Nowadays, he ran his café for everypony and he had helped the ponies of the Empire to get used to visitors from the south. He also had helped those who moved to the Crystal Empire adjust and feel welcome. In that regard, Sour Berry was very much like his late mother.

Sturdy Shield made sure to push away those bad memories and headed to his usual seat whenever he visited Sour Berry’s café, at one of the outdoor tables. The sun would soon chase away the morning chill, so he wasn’t too bothered and had his smile back in place when Sour Berry returned with breakfast, and a can of piping hot coffee. The first sip tasted like a little piece of heaven, as usual, and drove away all remains of cold.

While Sturdy Shield enjoyed his coffee and breakfast, Sour Berry hurried through his meal. He apologized for it, but Sturdy Shield just waved it off. He knew that soon the first costumers would arrive, and Sour Berry needed to be ready. Still, as always, they found the time for a quick talk

“How’s things going with your mare, son? Did you finally find the guts to talk to her?”

“Grandfather, please… I talk to her all the time. I see her almost every day.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. You two been dancing around each other since you were foals, and time won’t slow down just because you’re loafing.”

“I’m not scared of her! I just… it’s complicated, Sturdy Shield. She just got used to the new home and all, I don’t want to push her away by accident.”

Sour Berry was getting defensive again, and Sturdy Shield knew why. He had seen fear all his life and recognized it in all its forms. Luckily, he knew right away what to say

“Son, take a moment and listen to an old stallion, will you?”

The tone of Sturdy Shield’s voice made Sour Berry immediately look up and meet his eyes. For a few moments, he could see the pain, the sadness and the bitter memories Sturdy Shield never showed and always hid behind a smile, like he was smiling all the time, but not now

“I know you’re scared to mess it up. But if a friendship like yours gets messed up from just a wrong word or two, it’s not meant to last. And if there’s more, a few wrong words won’t do any damage that can’t be repaired later. Take an old soldier’s word, sometimes you regret things you did. But things you didn’t do, for whatever reason? Those are the things you regret for the rest of your life, and they hurt far more than anything else. You got to ask yourself what’s worse: Messing up, or never even trying?”

Sour Berry didn’t say anything for a while, but his eyes stayed fixed on Sturdy Shield. The old stallion looked back attentively, but he knew that he didn’t have to say more. Just as he expected, Sour Berry soon nodded and some of that hesitation from before was gone

“I think I understand. Thank you for your advice, Grandfather.”

Sturdy Shield just smiled again, as usual, but this time with glowing pride

“You’ve grown into a fine stallion, Sour Berry. You’ll know to do the right thing when you see it.”

The way Sour Berry looked back at him, with both gratitude and fondness in his eyes, made Sturdy Shield’s heart swell even more with pride, like always when he talked to Aquamarine, Sour Berry, or any of the young folk these days. In a way, he really felt like a proud grandfather.

Only a few minutes later, the first costumer arrived, hungry for coffee and breakfast. Sturdy Shield stayed at his small table, just by the doors, and sipped through another cup of coffee. He knew he was welcome to stay, Sour Berry didn’t even need to say anything. He watched the ponies who came and went, meeting their eyes with a smile. With many, he also shared a few words, with some a few more as they greeted their ‘Grandfather’.

Around him, the market started up for the day and the air was filled with voices and laughter. The city and the ponies glittered in the light of a wonderful day. Sturdy Shield watched and listened, and smiled.

By the time the lunch rush had passed, Sturdy Shield was still sitting at his table. The coffee was now replaced with a glass of whiskey, provided by Sour Berry along with the lunch he had brought him. Sturdy Shield wasn’t a drinker, he never made it through one glass during the day, but Sour Berry knew he enjoyed the taste, so whenever he visited, he got a glass to sip. Sturdy Shield was never asked to pay, but he knew that Sour Berry wouldn’t accept money from him anyway. He was a fine young stallion, indeed.

Sturdy glanced around when the atmosphere on the market plaza turned lively again, and his usual smile turned a tad brighter. From the nearby school, fillies and colts streamed into the market with loud laughter and new voices, young, carefree, and unblemished. A few of them waved to him, which he returned, but they had no time for him right now. Sturdy Shield laughed as he watched a bright red ball getting passed around. Within minutes, teams were formed, and a loud and messy game started. The ball moved so quickly that Sturdy Shield’s old eyes had trouble following it at times, between the foals. Most of them were crystal ponies, of course, but a few earth pony, unicorn and pegasus foals mingled in as well. In a game like this, tribes and differences didn’t really matter. Not even the small white alicorn filly with the blue and pink mane stood out as the young princess laughed and played with her friends, and it made Sturdy Shield smile.

A group of parents had gathered at the other side of the playing field, amiably chatting as they watched the foals from a save distance, not unlike Sturdy Shield. However, eventually even the wildest game had to end, which happened with loud cheers from every filly and colt. Many of them, turned towards their parents, but not the young princess. Flurry Heart, as she asked everypony to call her when she was not wearing her princess-tiara, made a beeline towards the café and was soon standing in front of Sturdy Shield

“Good afternoon, Grandfather!”

Sturdy Shield smiled down and the small princess who had somehow managed to capture all the light, warmth and colours of this wonderful day and turned them into a beaming smile she now shared with everypony around her. She might not be a crystal pony, but the young princess had never called Sturdy Shield anything but ‘Grandfather’, like so many others. And like from so many others, Sturdy Shield felt that this was more than just a name to her, that in a way, she really made him part of a family with just a word.

Flurry Heart looked at him and seemed to notice right away that today was an exceptionally good day, for him and for everypony else

“Grandfather, would you come and tell us a story?”

Sturdy Shield laughed heartily, from the giddy anticipation in the filly’s eyes, to the small chorus of cheers that followed

“Well, I’d like nothing more right now, little princess.”

He laughed a little at the adorable pout Flurry Heart sent his way, but of course he got up and let the filly guide him to her friends.

Sturdy Shield was led to a seat by the fountain and the small herd of fillies and colts gathered in a loose half-circle in front of him. He took a moment to look into their bright and happy faces, almost three dozen foals who would soon grow up into fine and responsible mares and stallions, just like Aquamarine and Sour Berry. Their parents gathered behind the foals and seemed just as excited for that story and happy to welcome Sturdy Shield in their presence.

Instead of going straight into the story, Sturdy Shield took another minute to look around and take everything in. The market was busy and lively, flourishing just like the city. Everywhere he looked, he saw light and so many colours, from the crystal buildings to the coats and manes of the ponies gathered around him, to the sparkling eyes of the next generation to live and thrive in the Crystal Empire, the home he cherished and loved.

It was a wonderful day, everypony was happy and Sturdy Shield felt better than he had in weeks. He felt a touch of his former strength returning to him, and he made a decision. Today was a perfect day and he couldn’t waste it with just any story. He knew that if he wouldn’t tell this story today, he might not have the strength again, for he was old and so was his story.

He glanced through the smiles, knowing they would soon all be gone, at least for a while. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his smile was gone, without a trace.

The ponies noticed of course, but not everypony understood right away. The parents grew concerned and the foals looked confused. Only Princess Flurry Heart, with her keen senses, noticed right away. She sat up straight and knew that something very important was about to happen.

When Sturdy Shield finally started to talk, his voice was hard, unbending like the crystals all around them, and when the ponies heard him, they understood why

“Today, I will tell you a story I’ve never told before, and that I’ll never tell again. It’s a story you maybe don’t want to hear again, but it’s important you hear it nonetheless. Today, I will tell you the story of our Empire, and how we nearly lost everything to the darkness of a unicorn named Sombra.”

The last word, that name, had many ponies flinch as if in pain. Mumbles started around him, even from ponies who had just been passing by but now stayed to keep listening. Sturdy Shield ignored them and continued

“Back then, before the Dark Years, long before that, he was not a king just yet, and the Crystal Empire was not the same as it is today. For once, we had no contact to the world outside for a very long while. We lived by our own, for our own, and we were happy back then, but a different kind of happy than we know today.”

He kept explaining how the city was filled with ponies back then, every house was a home and everypony did their job to keep the Empire running as it used to, just like their parents had and their grandparents before and their ancestors before them. He explained that it had been generations since anypony had ever made it through the frozen tundra of the north, so many that many ponies even forgot that a world outside of the Crystal Empire even existed.

“That’s when suddenly, one day, he arrived. A young stallion, half-frozen and almost starved out his mind. A pony from beyond the Crystal Mountains, they said. A pony with a horn, a unicorn they were called. Somepony took him to their home so he could warm up, as he had fallen unconscious the moment he reached the city. Later, we learned his name was Sombra, and that he came from a place he called Canterlot.”

A few ponies looked more and more worried, but nopony dared to interrupt Sturdy Shield. Instead, they looked at each other, looking for comfort. The parents scooted closer to their children. The foals just listened, they had picked up the sudden change of mood, but they didn’t know what it meant, yet. The Dark Years were mentioned, and those were scary times, but none of them really knew why. Their parents or even their older siblings had never spoken about it, out of fear or sometimes out of shame.

Princess Flurry Heart sat there in the middle of them, but unlike her friends who started whispering, she just sat straight and focused only on Grandfather Sturdy Shield, determined to listen, and hopefully understand. Sturdy Shield didn’t know of it, but every word that he said that day was burned irremovably into young Flurry Heart’s memory, by her own desire. She knew if she really wanted to become a good princess like her mother or her aunts, she needed to learn and understand the ponies she was supposed to lead someday. She understood of the severity of Sturdy Shield’s story and the graveness of his impact, and she would not let a single word go to waste.

Sturdy Shield went on and told the foals, and everypony who was listening, about how Sombra helped change the Crystal Empire. How it turned into the city they knew today, with the Crystal Palace in its middle and with the mines that were driven into the mountain, for coal and ore to run smiths and build machines, and precious gems to trade with the south. Soon, there was a steam train running on rails going through the Crystal Mountains, built out of finest steel from the Crystal Empire, so that it would last for hundreds, if not thousands of years. With the train, goods from the south arrived, exotic foods they had never even dreamed off, like apples from tall trees in boxes made out their wood. The crystal ponies, emboldened by their accomplishments and eager for more, drove their mines even deeper into the mountains, and the pony who had taught them and led them to prosperity, was called as first of them. In his palace he lived and from that day on, he called himself King Sombra.

But the First King, soon be known as the Dark King, did not only bring prosperity and good news. He told them about greed among the ponies of the south, of the kingdom called ‘Equestria’ that was ruled by two princesses who looked at their northern neighbours with envy and hatred. The King told them that they demanded more and more gems and steel from the Crystal Empire for even less goods in return. He told them of armies that were readied in the south, who were ordered by the evil princesses to invade and take over the Crystal Empire at a moment’s notice. The crystal ponies got angry when they heard that, some were afraid, but their king had a plan for them. King Sombra explained that the Crystal Empire needed an army of its own to protect the crystal ponies from the invaders. And so it came that the smiths started producing weapons and armours instead of tools and machines, and many ponies answered the call from King Sombra to learn how to fight in an army. That meant there were less ponies to work in the mines and smithies, and the miners had to work harder to compensated. The trade with Equestria dwindled and soon, food had to be rationed to prepare for an incoming siege. Only those who worked for the safety of the Crystal Empire got their meagre share, and those who chose to fight in the army could just barely feed their families.

Sturdy Shield was one of them, and he became a soldier for the Dark King. He learned to use a spear, learned to fight, and hurt ponies. Learned that he had to kill, if necessary, for the safety of his family and his home.

But even if he and many others followed the call to arms, the Dark King was not satisfied. He knew that the ponies of the south had strong earth ponies to fight, flying pegasus ponies who controlled the skies and powerful unicorn mages who fought with spells instead of spears. And again, the crystal ponies felt the fear their king instilled in them. Everyday, the learned something new of their enemies they had to fear, something terrible they had to prepare for, under the guidance of King Sombra. And so, the King told them that since he was a unicorn, he would use his own magic to protect them. He could cast spells that would make the soldiers stronger, made the miners work longer and help everypony need less to eat. Just until the crisis with the south was over.

The crystal ponies were reluctant at first, but their fear was too strong, so they agreed. Sturdy Shield remembered the rush he felt when the Dark King’s magic took hold of him. During his training as a soldier, he learned to follow orders without asking any questions. The King kept using his magic and pushed the crystal ponies to their limit, but even this was not enough. To protect them all, to protect an entire empire, a single unicorn, even a powerful and mighty wizard like King Sombra, was not enough. So the King asked, demanded for more. Every pony had to give a little, for the glory and safety of the Crystal Empire. And he needed even more. The Crystal Heart, the artifact that saved the empire from the frozen winds of the north, had to be given to the King as well.

This time, the crystal ponies hesitated, but the King sent out his soldiers to secure the Crystal Heart. The soldiers, who had been influenced by the king’s magic the most, fought ruthlessly against their own kind, against friends and even family. On this day, the first ponies fell victim to King Sombra’s iron rule. From this day on, nopony dared to more than whisper his name, they started calling him the Dark King instead. His soldiers, who were blindly loyal to the Dark King, were called the dark soldiers, or blood shadows, from their red and black uniforms. Sturdy Shield told what he remembered, but too many days where lost in a haze.

The crystal ponies lived on, but they didn’t strive anymore. More and more, it turned into pure survival for them. Fear controlled their lives and thoughts, fear from the invaders from the south, but also fear of the soldiers, and fear of the Dark King. Soon, they feared for their lives every single day. Food was growing short, so was medicine and even fuel for their homes. It didn’t take long for ponies to turn on each other, willingly exposing those who defied the strict rules of the Dark King, but also by force, tortured by the blood shadows or the Dark King and his sinister magic.

The Dark King drew more power of the Crystal Heart for himself, and so the barrier that protected the city shrunk down, at the same rate the number of the crystal ponies shrunk down. The colours faded from the crystals, the ponies, and their hearts. Every day was either a struggle for survival for some, or a mindless, hopeless haze for those who stood under the King’s magic, forced to obey even the most terrible orders. Sturdy Shield knew of both, but he could not tell which fate was worse.

The foals listened as Sturdy Shield talked, at times staring deep into the past and only talking to himself it seemed, at other times looking at them with pain in his eyes. The children fled into the embrace of their parents, though the parents did not necessarily fare much better. In some faces, Sturdy Shield saw shame and regret, pain and anger, sadness and loss. Many of them were crying, just like Crystal Note who wrapped her hooves around the twin sisters who pressed against her for comfort. Still, nobody said anything, as if spellbound by Sturdy Shield’s story. They could see in his face that this was not easy for the old stallion either. Flurry Heart, who still sat as close as she dared, could see how much strength it took out of the old Grandfather to recount the darkest years of his life. The least she could for him was listen to what he had to say.

From the last years, Sturdy Shield could not tell much. The fear had the Empire in its cold grip, even if there was no invasion from south for the longest time. A few of the adult ponies chipped with some details here and there, but none of them dived in as deep as the old soldier who bared his soul to the youngest hearts of the empire.

“When the invasion finally came, I barely even noticed it at first. There was an enemy to fight, and so we did. The Dark King had us fight each other to keep us in shape, and to entertain his own bloody cruelty, so I thought every enemy had to be black and red. But this enemy had colours I haven’t seen in what felt like eons. White and gold the most of them, others blue and silver as they flew over us. And something else was different. When they had defeated one of us, they did not finish us. They offered us mercy, but we were in no mind to realize. I saw a pony jump at a group with his bare hooves, a pony I had know since we were small, with rage and blood in his eyes. And I saw regret as his enemy struck him down. And then… I don’t know what changed. It was like somehow, all the chains that held me for so many years, just broke apart. I saw the chaos around me, I heard the screams of rage from my comrades, but I also saw the number of our enemy. They had us outnumbered, tenfold and more. We were lost in a fight that we could not win. Fighting would not save our empire. I was afraid to lose, but I was more afraid to see my home destroyed in a senseless fight. I threw my spear away from me and yelled that I would surrender. A pony in gold armour, he must have been from the Sun Princess’ forces, pulled me away from the fighting all around us. He was a strong earth pony and despite the armour, he carried me like it was nothing. I noticed that my hoof was bleeding, I hadn’t even noticed when I had been wounded. I heard him call for a medic, but then… there was a bright, blinding light. And that’s all I knew, for the longest time.

We tried to forget, we tried to avoid thinking about it, we never talked about it. Even after we’ve been saved, we were afraid, every single one of us. Now you know as well. It’s your heritage now. Times are changing again, and changes can be scary. Your parents, your families, and me, we had to learn how quickly fear can take hold of a pony. I hope you never have to learn this. I can’t do any more than tell my stories. Today, you can listen, but soon, you’ll be old enough to make a change. Listen and learn while you can, so you don’t have to be afraid when that time comes.”

As if a spell was broken, Sturdy Shield now slumped down, and his breathing was heavy. The sun had wandered further and was sinking again. The colours still were as pretty as they had been in the morning, and the light glittered through the long-repaired buildings. The pain in his legs came back, a little more than earlier, but still not as bad. The day was a good day, even if his story didn’t match it. The ponies around him whispered among each other and shared comfort, and the tears were dried. It was a perfect day, the perfect day for a story like this, and a day none of the ponies would forget in a long while.

Flurry Heart stood up alone and made the short distance to the old stallion. She reached out and gingerly touched his hoof with her own. Sturdy Shield looked up, and their eyes met, one pair old, worn, but full of wisdom, the other bright and clear, with the fire of the youth.

Flurry Heart smiled, not a happy smile, but a heartfelt, honest one, and Sturdy Shield felt his lips curl up as well. His smile returned, weak and a tad tired, but he could smile again, to the ponies who looked at him, just like the small princess now

“Thank you for your story, Grandfather.”, she said, and her eyes told him ‘I will never forget.’ It was a promise she would keep and cherish.

The evening came and the ponies left for their homes, some in silence, but many more talked to each other. Sturdy Shield stood up as well, under protest of his old legs. The way home would be challenging, but he knew it was worth, every second of it.

And on this day, fate was kind to him as in the middle of the ponies, a very familiar face searched out for him. Aquamarine must have arrived at some point, when he was lost in telling his story already, but now she was here. Wordlessly, she walked next to him and allowed him to lean in against her. The way home was still long, but the burden shared by a kind heart made sure that Sturdy Shield did not lose his smile that day.

Aquamarine helped him into his home and into the bed, always caring to her ‘Grandfather’

“You’ll be sleeping like a stone tonight, I’m sure. It took a lot of strength today, I can tell just by looking at you.”

“Don’t worry, child. It was worth every second.”

“Of course, Grandfather. Sleep well, I’ll be back in the morning.”

Aquamarine blew out the single candle that lit the bedroom and left quietly. Sturdy Shield listened for her steps until the faded and turned to the window. Tonight, on a perfect day like this, he could see the stars from his bed, and they shined brightly, maybe more beautiful than ever. A thin veil of light flittered in between them, the ‘Northern Lights’ as the ponies of Equestria called them, or the Aurora, that could be seen over the Crystal Empire, whenever the crystal ponies were happy and safe, and the Crystal Heart shined brightly.

And as he watched, he could feel the pain in his leg and joints fade into nothingness, even as his eyes grew heavy. A few minutes later, he closed them down, his smile still on his lips, as he came to rest.

The morning came to the Crystal Empire quietly and peacefully. The sun brought light and warmth to the crystal ponies, another wonderful day for them to share and enjoy.

Aquamarine smiled into the early morning sun and enjoyed the warmth on her face for a couple moments before she entered the house next door. She had expected for Sturdy Shield to sleep in today, after how much he had pushed himself the other day. Quiet as a breeze, she entered the bedroom and found the sleeping stallion who was even smiling while he was sleeping.

A smile of her own came to her lips, but soon faded again. Something didn’t seem right. She walked closer and gently touched his shoulder, to rouse him from his sleep

“Grandfather? Wake up, it’s morning and the sun is shining.”

His shoulder was cold to the touch, as was his hoof. Finally, Aquamarine realized what felt so off, as she missed the rise and fall of his breath. Her hoof flew to her mouth, and for a moment she thought of screaming for help. But then she saw the smile on his lips, the smile he always had for her and so many others, Sturdy Shield’s warm and heartfelt smile.

“Oh Grandfather… goodbye…”

She took one last look at his smile before tears blurred her vision and the colours faded from her coat as sadness reached her heart.

Aquamarine’s coat was still dull days later, as she stood in the middle of the group that had come to send Sturdy Shield to his final rest. Even Princess Cadance had joined the procession, as did Princess Flurry Heart and all her little friends. They waited for Aquamarine, Sour Berry, Copper Dime, Amethyst, Golden Bell, Opal Waves, and so many more to say their last goodbyes.

Sturdy Shield had never taken a mate, he had never had children of his own, and still he had been like a father and grandfather to so many, up to his last day. In a way, they were all his Grandchildren and would carry on his legacy for him. And even when he moved on, he still managed an unthinkable feat, as he was the first crystal pony since the long curse who had died peacefully, in his sleep, and with a smile. And in their hearts, Sturdy Shield would keep on smiling, always smiling.

Author's Note

Written up in a storm during a sleepless night.

Nightmares - Part I

Velvet Heart woke up and everything was dark. She couldn’t tell where up and down was, she didn’t know where she was. She couldn’t think from panic and she couldn’t breathe.

Some instinct took over and she tumbled out of the bed. She fell down and the impact on the hard floor hurt a little, but it reminded her where everything was again. She stumbled through the door even if she still couldn’t see anything and her breathing was barely more than a few troubled heaves.

With her hoof stretched out in front of her, she hobbled forward until she reached something hard again. She leaned against it with all her weight and the door budged open easier than she had expected, so she hit the floor again with a whimper that was really more of a sob.

She couldn’t get back up this time. It was still so dark and she couldn’t get away from it, and now it was cold as well and hard. She wanted back but she didn’t know where that was. Nothing made sense and she was so scared.

Then suddenly, she felt something else. She couldn’t think clear enough to tell what it was, but she knew it was familiar and it meant safe. Finally, she managed to suck in some air with a big breath, and the tight grip of the nightmare grew weaker.

She felt light, lighter than air even. The hard floor wasn’t there anymore. From instinct, she pulled her hooves against herself and curled into the tingly warmth that came with the glow. She couldn’t see the glow like normal, but she only slowly realized that was because she had her eyes clenched shut and only very little of the light made it through to her. Still, there was light and light was good. Warm was good too. The ‘lighter than air’-feeling was surrounding her but she didn’t feel afraid. She knew her mommy would never drop her.

And just as she remembered what that glow and the feeling meant, her mommy took her in her hooves and held her close. Velvet Heart let out another breathless sob, but from relief this time as she fled into Crystal Note’s embrace. Her mommy kept her hooves around her and Velvet heard her voice. It was too blurry to make out any words, but it was soft and not like the harsh darkness and the nightmare, so she listened to the sound as her breath returned.

Crystal Note gently rocked the shivering filly in her hooves. She kept the levitation spell in place, not that she needed it anymore, but because she knew the light would comfort Velvet Heart. As she waited for her daughter-in-heart to calm down, she whispered softly to her. Her first instinct was to sing a lullaby, but she knew that Velvet Heart wouldn't want to go back to sleep. In sleep, darkness and loneliness would be waiting for her and Velvet didn't want to face another nightmare.

So Crystal Note just held Velvet and whispered soft affirmatives. It didn't really matter too much what she said, as long as Velvet knew she wasn't alone. "I'm here." were the words Crystal Note repeated the most, followed by some other words Velvet Heart needed to hear very much right now. "It's not your fault."

Velvet never told Crystal Note too many details of her nightmares, but the mare recognized that most of them came from guilt, even if there was no reason to feel guilty. As much as Velvet knew this in her head, her heart still felt otherwise. Luckily, Velvet was doing the right thing and reached out when it was too much for her to carry alone. Crystal Note did everything she could to comfort her, she loved her filly so much.

It took a while before Velvet Heart carefully opened her eyes again and stirred in Crystal Note’s embrace. The faint glow of magic chased away the dark shadows and her new mommy was smiling, so she smiled back, even if she didn’t feel much like smiling right now. Crystal Note released her hold just a little so Velvet Heart could wiggle into a more comfortable position, but Velvet stayed close still. With a voice as soft as the glow from her horn, Crystal Note whispered
“Do you want to talk, Little Gem?”

Velvet shook her head vehemently, and Crystal Note ceded immediately
“Okay Velvet. You don’t have to. But if you want to talk later, you can come to me anytime.”
Velvet nodded into Crystal Note’s coat
“I know Mommy.”
“Good.”

Crystal Note smiled for Velvet and nuzzled the top of her head
“It’s the middle of the night, Darling. Do you want to get some more sleep?”

Velvet shook her head once more, and again Crystal Note understood
“Okay dear. But you’ve got school tomorrow, so we should rest up a little at least. How does that sound? You can stay with me if you want.”

Velvet smiled and when Crystal Note lied down on the bed, she snuggled against her flank. It felt good that her mommy understood her so well and she felt safe next to her even in the dark night. She even kept the light from her magic in place just for her
“Thank you Mommy.”
“Anytime, Little Gem.”

Velvet’s smile grew when mommy called her that. At first, it had been weird that Crystal Note called her by the pet name her parents had used, but by now it felt right, just like sharing a home with her or sharing her thoughts with her, even the ones she’d usually keep a secret. Tonight, she felt more right than usual and she wanted to tell her new mommy. Luckily, she knew exactly what to say
“Love you, Mommy.”

As she had hoped, she felt Crystal Note crane her head back to plant a soft kiss on the top of her head
“I love you too, my little filly.”

They both fell silent after that, and Velvet Heart relaxed as she felt and heard Crystal Note breathe slowly next to her. She didn’t go back to sleep, but her body and her thoughts slowed down in Crystal Note’s calming presence.

At some point, the magic light dimmed down until it was barely even a flicker, before it gently faded out completely. Velvet knew Crystal Note had fallen asleep, she could tell from the deep slow breaths next to her. Velvet didn’t really blame her. Crystal Note had work to do tomorrow as well and needed rest just as much. Also, she felt safe just being close to her mommy, even if she was sleeping. Velvet stirred a little and Crystal Note instinctively curled her body towards the filly. It made Velvet smile more and she was still smiling when her eyes finally fluttered closed as she gently drifted back to sleep.

When Sweetie Tooth woke up, she was very confused for a while still. It was still dark in the room and when she turned towards the window, she couldn’t see any light from outside either. So it wasn’t morning yet, but she was awake and didn’t know what woke her up in the first place. She turned around and thought about just going back to sleep when she suddenly realized why she’d woken up. She clumsily climbed out of her bed and rushed to the bathroom.

A few minutes later, she walked through the hallway back to her bedroom, but she slowed down when she noticed her sister in the doorway. She wanted to apologize for waking her, but even in the dim moonlight, Sweetie Tooth could see that something wasn’t right. Velvet Heart looked worried and she stared at the door on the other side of the hall, Crystal Note’s bedroom door.

Sweetie Tooth slowly walked closer and but said nothing since Velvet motioned for her to be quiet. Then she heard the sounds that probably had Velvet Heart so worried.

They were coming from inside Crystal Note’s bedroom, they would have never noticed them if Sweetie Tooth hadn’t accidentally woken up Velvet Heart, but now that she heard them, Sweetie Tooth felt like her stomach had turned into a lump of ice.

Crystal Note was crying. Her mommy was crying about something, and the way it sounded, it was something really, really bad. It didn’t sound like her mommy was sad, more like she was afraid. Sweetie Tooth had seen her worried or scared before, but never so much that it made her cry, and never like this. Crystal Note had to be really, really scared a lot. Terrified was the word Sweetie Tooth was looking for, and neither her nor Velvet Heart liked it.

Wordlessly, they walked to the door and nudged it open, enough so they could look inside. Crystal Note was tossing and turning in her sleep, her legs kicked out as if she was running from something and her face was messy from crying. Now that the sound wasn’t blocked by the door anymore, they heard clearly how desperate it sounded. Crystal Note was talking in her sleep as well, but the twins couldn’t make out words because of all the crying. They didn’t need much more and sprang into action right away.

Crystal Note was lost somewhere that wasn’t real. She knew that much, but it didn’t help her. The things she saw, old memories mixed in with fears new and old, she even heard the voices and could smell things again, and they wouldn’t let her go, she had no chance but to run, but she only ran deeper into the dark and closer towards it. She couldn’t get away, but she couldn’t let it get her, she had to keep running but the shadows wouldn’t let her and then she saw eyes in the darkness and suddenly, it all came back to her. It reached out towards her and she screamed at the top of her voice and…

Something touched her flank.

She screamed and jumped to her hooves, crouched into a defensive stance, ready to run if her body wasn’t paralyzed with fear. The room was dark, and her vision was blurry, but she saw an opening she could run and escape and…

Then she heard a sob from next to her and she could see clearly again. She saw Sweetie Tooth close to tears and staring at her. She reached out but felt a cold stab through her heart when the filly backed away from her in fear. It was almost more than she could take.

She forced herself to a few slow breaths, until she trusted her voice again. When she addressed the filly, it was only barely more than a whisper
“Sweetie Tooth, what are you doing here? It’s the middle of the night?”

Sweetie Tooth said nothing and still fought back her tears, but Crystal Note felt somepony else. She turned her head and Velvet Heart was there as well, clinging on her side with her small hooves and pressing her head against her barrel. Crystal Note felt her lips curl into a smile and when she talked to Sweetie Tooth again, her voice was soft
“Did I scare you, Sweetie?”

Sweetie Tooth again said nothing, but this time she bopped her head for a quick nod
“I’m so sorry, Sweetie Tooth.”
She opened her hooves for a hug but remained sitting on the bed, so Sweetie Tooth could decide if she wanted to come closer or not.

Her heart soared when the filly rushed forward into her hug. She gently closed her hooves around Sweetie Tooth and shifted on the bed so Velvet Heart could slip closer as well, which she did. Crystal Note silently held her fillies for a few minutes before she whispered softly once more
“I’m so sorry, little gems. I never wanted to scare you.”

Velvet Heart pressed her head closer to her, but Sweetie Tooth whispered back
“You were crying in your sleep, Mommy.”

Crystal Note closed her eyes and forced as much calmness into her voice as she could
“I just had a bad dream, Sweetie.”
“But you were screaming as well and kicking and crying.”
Crystal Note gently squeezed the filly in her hooves
“I was just a bad dream, dear. You don’t have to worry.”

Sweetie Tooth looked up at her and her sad face nearly broke Crystal Note’s heart
“But, what kind of dream could be so bad that it made you cry?”

Crystal Note couldn’t hold her gaze and looked away
“Don’t worry, Sweetie. I already forgot the dream, I can’t remember a thing.”
“That’s not true!”

This time, Velvet Heart looked up at her mommy and Crystal Note couldn’t look away when Velvet glared at her, angry and worried and scared as well
“You know exactly what your dream was all about, and you’re still scared of it, even now!”

Crystal Note opened her mouth to decline, but she found she could not lie to her daughters
“You’re right. I’ve had this bad dream before, many times.”
She felt tears in her eyes again, but when both Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth gently pressed against her, she didn’t cry
“Why did you never tell us, Mommy?”
“Oh, Velvet.”

She took a deep breath, more of a sob as she sunk down on the bed again, to hide her shivering hooves
“If I told you, I’d make you cry as well. That’s the last thing I want, my little gems.”

Sweetie Tooth could do nothing but stay close to her mommy, but Velvet Heart could see, and she knew what to say
“But you need to talk about it with somepony. You have to. It hurts so much.”
Crystal Note couldn’t deny Velvet’s reason, because she was absolutely right, relentless even
“Mommy, if you can’t talk to us, you need to tell somepony else. Please!”

Velvet Heart glared up at her, only it wasn’t really a glare, she just knew without the sliver of a doubt that this was what needed to happen.

After a few moments of staring at her, her mommy finally nodded and whispered
“Okay. I will.”
Crystal Note hoped that would be enough, but Velvet Heart just saw right through her once again
“You have to promise! Please, Mommy.”

Something about the way Velvet Heart looked at her made it impossible to refuse, so Crystal Note took a deep breath and nodded
“I promise.”
“Pinkie promise?”
Crystal Note smiled softly and nodded to Sweetie Tooth as well
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

Sweetie Tooth smiled and even Velvet Heart released her from that look with a nod, so Crystal Note closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She felt so vulnerable like she hadn’t in years, not since the time just after the curse and not even when she remembered all the bad things. She couldn’t help but wonder what the fillies would say if they knew.

“Hey Mommy?”
Crystal Note opened her eyes and looked at Velvet Heart and those beautiful open and honest eyes
“Even if it’s really bad, you know we love you!”

Crystal Note’s eyes flew wide open for a moment, before her head sunk down on the pillow in front of her. She couldn’t understand, but somehow Velvet Heart could. It was like the filly could see right through her, deep into her heart, and she knew exactly the words Crystal Note needed to hear right now. Crystal Note sobbed as if in pain, but it was a healing pain, as a wound she had carried around for years was torn open, so it could now finally heal. Velvet Heart, her Little Gem, her clever filly, held her like she knew she needed right now, and Sweetie Tooth did as well.

Crystal Note felt the tears run down her muzzle, but she had no strength to fight them, she couldn’t and didn’t want to. Her fillies stayed close and held her, like she had held them before, and Velvet Heart knew what to do.
Crystal Note cried for a little while, when a voice reached her senses, young and brave and so beautiful as she sung

Hush now, quiet now
It’s time to rest your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It’s time to go to bed

Crystal Note sobbed again, loud and long this time as her tears kept running, especially when Sweetie Tooth joined her sister in singing. Crystal Note couldn’t remember the last time somepony, anypony had sung for her, sung her to sleep even, and held her like this, but she couldn’t question it right now, she needed this so much. Velvet had seen it right away and now she couldn’t stop crying, she hadn’t cried like this in decades. Even in tears, she felt so safe and accepted, with her fillies holding her. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep but Velvet Heart’s and Sweetie Tooth’s voices stayed with her.

When Crystal Note woke up again, she knew she had overslept. The sun shined brightly into her bedroom, almost as if to make sure any shadows of the last night had vanished by now. Not that any of them could have reached her dreams that night again, not after what Velvet Heart had told her and done for her last night.

Speaking of which, she could see neither her nor Sweetie Tooth or even hear them, so she got up from her bed and headed downstairs. She felt lighter today and she knew exactly why.

She heard cooking sounds from the kitchen and when she walked in, she saw Sweetie Tooth throwing a pancake up into the air, where it flipped and landed perfectly on top of the stack she had already made.

Crystal Note smiled to her and walked up to the counter
“Good morning Sweetie Tooth. It smells delicious.”
“Good morning, Mommy!”

They shared their hug as each morning and Crystal Note pulled Velvet Heart in as well, who had just finished setting the table. Velvet looked up at her again, the same way she did last night, only now in the light Crystal Note could read her expression more clearly. Again, she got the feeling that Velvet Heart could just see right through her and directly into her heart, but she liked what she saw because her eyes shined brightly, and she wore a beautiful smile. Crystal Note leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead, thanking Velvet for what she had done last night.

Then she turned back to Sweetie Tooth
“How about you and your sister start without me? I need to go do something right away.”
She turned her head and met Velvet Heart’s gaze again
“I have a promise to keep.”

Velvet Heard nodded immediately and so did Sweetie Tooth after she exchanged a glance with her twin sister. Crystal Note smiled to them gratefully, then headed straight for the door.

She met a few ponies on her way through town, but she didn’t talk to anyone. By the time she reached the café at the market, she was feeling very nervous, but the image of Velvet’s eyes kept her going. She knocked at the side entrance and after a minute, Sour Berry opened the door. He looked at her surprised
“Crystal Note? What are you doing here this early?”
“Good morning, Sour Berry. May I come in?”

Sour Berry noticed the strain in his old foalhood friend and nodded immediately
“Of course. Did something happen? Do you need something?”

Crystal Note stepped inside, but she didn’t dare looking at him
“I… I really need somepony to talk with. And I’m probably going to cry. If it’s bad time, I can go and come back later or find somepony else or…”

“Harmony.”
Crystal Note flinched and stopped her rambling when Sour Berry called her by her old name, from before. She finally looked up and found a pair of understanding eyes, focused on her
“I’ll always have time for you. And you sound like you really need this. So, how about you just tell me what’s wrong so I can help?”

Crystal Note had only a small smile for him, but she immediately felt better. She didn’t really know how to start at first, but once she did, words just burst out of her. She kept talking for the longest of the day and spoke of things she had never told anypony else before. Sour Berry didn’t always know what to say, but he listened all day long. Some ponies wondered why the café stayed closed that day, but other than that, nopony even noticed how much this day meant for either of them.

Nightmares - Final Part

A few days after Crystal Note’s nightmare, Flurry Heart invited her Cutie Mark Crusader friends to the palace. This wasn’t out of the ordinary, the young princess and her friends met for playdates very often. Velvet Heart and Sweetie Tooth came as well, even though Sweetie Tooth already had her cutie mark, she would never miss out on a day with her friends and her sister.

Something unusual happened later that day, though. As the colts and fillies were playing, Rose Quartz entered the room. Most of the foals didn’t even notice her at first, but Sweetie Tooth spotted her and ran towards her with her sister
“Auntie Rose Quartz!”

The mare laughed and shared a quick hug with her nieces
“Hello Sweetie and Velvet. And greetings to you as well, Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

Rose Quartz chuckled again when the foals greeted her with waves and loud cheers. She bowed her head respectfully when Flurry Heart crossed the room with a few flaps of her wings and alighted in front of her
“Did you come to play with us, Rose Quartz?”

The mare laughed heartily again and shook her head
"Maybe next time, but today I’m here to get Velvet Heart. Princess Cadance has asked for her.”

Rose Quartz smiled to her niece who was as surprised as the young princess was
“Mom wants to see Velvet Heart?”
“Yes she does, Princess Flurry. In fact, she’s waiting for her in the throne room right now. Shall we go to her, dear?”

Velvet Heart nodded slowly as she was a tad nervous, but she walked next to her aunt as they turned towards the door. Sweetie Tooth was about to follow, but Rose Quartz stopped her
“Princess Cadance wants to see Velvet Heart today, Sweetie Tooth. Could you please wait here with the others?”

Sweetie Tooth didn’t look like she liked that idea, but Flurry Heart stood next to her and spread her wing over her friend
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Mom just wants to talk with her. She’ll be back soon and then she can tell you all about it.”

Both of the twins nodded, and Sweetie Tooth managed a smile
“See you soon, sis!”
Velvet Heart just nodded again and followed her aunt down the hallway.

Rose Quartz didn’t hurry as she led her niece towards the throne room, mostly so she had the chance to calm down the nervous filly
“Don’t worry, Darling. Princess Cadance just wants to speak with you.”

Velvet Heart looked up at her aunt, a little less worried already
“Do you know why she wants to talk to me?”
“No, Darling. She didn’t tell me, but I know she’s not upset or anything. You’re not in trouble, Velvet.”

The filly nodded and walked next to her aunt until they reached the big double doors to the throne room
“You’ve been here before and met the princess, right Velvet Heart?”
The filly nodded again and bit her lip nervously
“Yeah, but only together with Mommy.”

Rose Quartz had an encouraging smile for her niece
“Just be polite and when Princess Cadance asks you any questions, answer them honestly, okay Velvet? Now, go right in. The princess is waiting for you and I’ll be right here until you come back.”
Velvet Heart nodded and pushed the door a tad open, just enough so she could slip inside.

The throne room was empty this time of the day and not even the guards who sometimes stood by the door were there. The throne was empty as well, but Velvet Heart could see the tall form of Princess Cadance by the windows, looking out on the city. Velvet approached her carefully, but her hoofsteps echoed through the empty hall. Princess Cadance turned her head and as soon as she saw Velvet Heart, there was a warm and caring smile on her face
“Ah, hello Velvet Heart. Thank you for coming.”

Velvet Heart bowed her head like she had seen her mom and her big sister do, but Princess Cadance only chuckled softly
“There’s no need for that, my dear. Come, sit with me.”

Princess Cadance smiled to the filly and met her gaze with warm, open eyes while her mane waved softly behind her. As soon as Velvet Heart saw this, she smiled as well and gingerly walked up to the window. She sat down in what she thought would be a respectful distance, only to have a soft wing wrap around her and gently pull her a little closer. Princess Cadance chuckled softly and waited for Velvet Heart to settle in next to her.

They both watched the city through the giant windows silently for a minute, before Princess Cadance talked again, her voice just as warm and open as her eyes
“I’ve heard you helped your mother with a nasty dream recently. Would you like to tell me about it?”

Velvet Heart’s ears twitched, as this was the last thing she imagined that the princess would ask of her, but of course she answered truthfully
“Yes Princess Cadance. Sweetie Tooth and I heard Mommy crying in her sleep, so we went to check on her. She was really, really scared of something.”

The princess nodded patiently and watched Velvet as she spoke
“Can you tell me what happened?”
Velvet nodded and explained
“I could see it right away. It wasn’t like when she’s worried or when Sweetie Tooth was sick, she was even more scared. Even her coat was all grey. She was terrified and she was so scared, she didn’t even recognize Sweetie Tooth. I think she didn’t even see me. Her heart was beating so fast and she looked like she was about to run away, so I hugged her. She didn’t run then, but she was still so afraid and now she was also sad because she scared Sweetie Tooth. It felt like a prick of ice in her when Sweetie Tooth backed away from her at first.”

Princess Cadance listened as Velvet Heart explained and turned her head to watch the filly. Her ears perked up when Velvet Heart told her things she couldn’t have possibly just seen with her eyes
“How do you know your mother was so scared like this? Did she tell you afterwards?”
Velvet shook her head this time
“She didn’t. I could see it. I mean, she was crying and all, but it was like really, really obvious. I could tell and I knew I was right because, it was, like, like I was feeling the same things, only I knew it wasn’t me, I knew it was Mommy, but I could feel it too.”

Cadance nodded as Velvet struggled to explain exactly what she had sensed, and her smile changed in quality
“Go on, my dear. What else did you see?”

Velvet bit her lip, she didn’t know if she should tell about this, but really felt that she could trust Princess Cadance and she followed her instinct
“Mommy said that she didn’t remember her dream and I knew right away that she was lying. But I wasn’t angry because, I felt that she was only saying it to make us feel better, but it hurt her so much to do it, and I was so worried that she would hurt herself like this just so we wouldn’t cry. I couldn’t see it in her face and it was too dark to see her eyes, but I knew she was hurting so much, I just knew it and I knew I was right, so I called her out on it. She admitted she had that bad dream before. She felt so sad and so scared at the same time and her chest was tight, so much that it hurt her. I knew it was true, I just knew. And then I realized I knew what would help her, so I told her. I knew it worked and it helped her even if it hurt a little at first. Sweetie Tooth and I, we held her, and we told her we love her, and we even sung a lullaby for her, because, because I knew it was right. I knew she needed right that and nothing else would help. And even though Mommy was crying, she was feeling better. I could feel it. I don’t know how, but I could, and it all made sense and I knew I was right.”

Cadance listened attentively as the young filly talked herself into some kind of fury, as she struggled to put in words what exactly had happened to her that night. Once Velvet’s words had run out, she answered in a soft voice, even though Velvet could clearly hear the severity behind her words
“You could feel her heart and sense her innermost feelings. As clear as the colour of her coat, you could see them, not with your eyes, but with your heart instead. You felt what she felt, but the emotions didn’t take hold of you and so you could also feel what you needed to do to help.”

Velvet Heart looked up at the princess, surprised how easily Princess Cadance could understand how she had felt and that she could explain it so well. She gasped when she realized how this could be possible
“You can feel it too! You have to! Otherwise, you couldn’t know it so well.”

Princess Cadance smiled softly and nodded
“Yes, Velvet Heart. I am the Princess of Love and I can see the hearts of the ponies if I look closely enough, just like you could that night.”

“It wasn’t just that night.”
Velvet stared up at the Princess
“It was all so clear then, but ever since it didn’t stop, I can still see but only like glimpses or traces. Not like I could with Mommy.”

Princess Cadance nodded again and looked the filly in the eyes
“And that is why I called you here today, Velvet Heart. I expected as much, and I wanted to make sure. This is a very rare talent you have, my little pony."
Velvet's ears immediately perked up and lured out a chuckle from the princess
"You mean it could be my special talent?"

Princcess Cadance chuckled and spread her wing over the filly for a little squeeze
"It might be, Velvet Heart. However, it might depend on how you wish to use this talent."
Velvet tilted her head to the side even as she kept staring up to the tall alicorn
"How I want to use it?"

Princess Cadance nodded and Velvet could tell from her eyes that the next things she said would be very important
"You see, Velvet Heart, knowing what ponies around you feel, seeing what's inside their hearts, gives you a great deal of power and knowledge over them. It gave you the power to help your mother heal a pain she had for a long time. And you did just that, because you love your mommy."

Velvet Heart nodded and smiled a little, but she still listened attentively as the princess carried on
"But imagine what somepony who didn't love your mother could have done with this knowledge. They could use it to manipulate her, or even hurt her more. If you saw the heart of a pony you didn't like, you might be tempted to use that knowledge in such a way. And even if not, knowing things that a pony doesn't even know herself might accidentally hurt them if you're not very careful. Do you understand what I mean, Velvet Heart?"

The filly nodded immediately, and her ears sunk down in shame so that they almost vanished in her mane
"Sometimes when I argue with Glass Slipper, I say something that hurts her even if I don't mean it. I made her cry once and I felt so bad I cried too."

Velvet Heart half expected the princess to be mad at her now, but instead the wing around her flexed to cover her completely in a very comforting hug and Princess Cadance' voice was still warm
"And that's why you need to ask yourself how you want to use such a talent, Velvet Heart."

Princess Cadance watched the young filly and kept her wing gently wrapped around her. Velvet's expression changed to very concentrated and serious, it almost reminded her a little of a young Twilight Sparkle when the young unicorn had found a particularly hard book to read.

Velvet Heart took a while before she answered, just like Princess Cadance had expected, even if the answer surprised her
"I want to be a nurse!"
Velvet looked up at the princess again in an almost-glare that meant determination, and Cadance inclined her head
"Oh? And can you tell me why, my little pony?"

Velvet nodded and did her best to explain
"When Nurse Ruby Rose talked with Mommy, she knew what to say so Mommy wouldn't worry so much anymore. That's what I want to do too! I want to help ponies when they need it most, like when they're hurt or sick."
Princess Cadance had another proud smile for the filly
"That is a very noble ambition, Velvet Heart. But you might be able to do even more."

Velvet Heart stared up at her expectantly, so she explained
"There are more illnesses that fever or broken limbs, my dear. Sometimes, ponies are completely fine on the outside, but they can be very hurt on the inside. It's like not their bodies, but their hearts and their minds carry the wounds instead."

"Fear."
Princess Cadance blinked and instinctively pulled her wing a little tighter around Velvet Heart when she felt the shiver running through the filly
"So many ponies in the city are healthy, but they are still afraid because of what happened before you freed us, Princess Cadance. They are so afraid that it hurts them, and they can't let go if it."

Velvet's gaze dropped to the floor and the princess leaned her head down to be closer to the filly when she heard soft sniffling
"Mommy says she plays her music for everypony so they can feel better, but what if a song isn't enough?"

The princess nodded and whispered softly
"Those ponies could use a little more help. They can go to Doctor Caring Hoof when they hurt their hooves, but not when they hurt inside their hearts."
Velvet Heart nodded vehemently and looked up at Princess Cadance again
"That's what I want to be! I want to help ponies, so they don't have to feel sad or angry anymore. Or at least that they can feel it without hurting."

Princess Cadance could only smile proudly to Velvet Heart
"Being a doctor needs a lot of dedication, my little pony. Caring Hoof had to study a lot before she could heal her first patient."
Velvet Heart just smirked
"I'm the best in my class at school! I don't mind studying!"

Just as quickly, her smirk turned back into a thoughtful expression
"But I have to learn how to properly see other ponies' hearts too, so I don't hurt anypony by accident."
A new series of chuckles from Princess Cadance had her lose that frown quickly
"You really are a very clever little filly, Velvet Heart. Just like your aunt told me."

Princess Cadance looked deeply into Velvet Heart's eyes and the filly knew that the next questions would be very, very important
"Is that really what you want, Velvet Heart? Do you want to be a healer of the hearts and minds for ponies?"
Velvet Heart nodded first, but this was so important, so she had to say it too
"Yes Princess Cadance! I really want to help other ponies like that!"

Velvet knew she had said the right thing because Princess Cadance smiled more and even her eyes shined with pride. Velvet Heart smiled back and felt it like a warm glow that ran through her body and tingled on her coat.

"If that is the case, Velvet Heart, then I will be happy to help. I can teach you how to use your talent and how to understand emotions around you."
Velvet Heart's eyes grew wide
"You want to teach me, Princess Cadance?"
"Yes, Velvet Heart. If that is what you want, of course."

Princess Cadance chuckled when Velvet got even more excited
"You mean I'd be your personal student? Like Princess Twilight was with Princess Celestia? Or Starlight Glimmer with Princess Twilight?"

Cadance managed to stop her chuckling and squeezed the filly with her wing
"Maybe not exactly like that, Velvet Heart. How about we meet up once a week first and then see how things turn out?"

Velvet Heart squealed excited and threw herself against the princess, who held her with her hoof for a moment
"Thank you thank you thank you Princess!"
"You are very welcome, my dear. And I think I also need to congratulate you, Velvet Heart."

The pink wing that had been covering her slipped away and so Velvet Heart could now see what the princess meant. She stared in awe at her flank. What had been a blank spot minutes earlier was now replaced with a cutie mark like she had never seen before. On her flank, Velvet now had a big red heart and inside that heart, there was a strange symbol she didn't recognize. It looked like a staff that ended with two wings at the top and there were two swirly lines wrapped around the staff. Velvet stared at it in wonder
"What's that?"

Princess Cadance leaned down to take a closer look and she could still Velvet's curiosity
"It's called a caduceus, Velvet Heart. It's an old symbol that healers sometimes used, in the times long before Equestria was even founded by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

Velvet immediately smiled and happy sparkles started to dance over her coat
"Does that mean my special talent has something to do with healing?"
Princess Cadance nodded and smiled along
"I think that's a fair conclusion, Velvet Heart. Congratulations, my little pony. You really have a very special cutie mark."

Velvet Heart couldn't seem to pull her eyes away from it for a minute, but then her eyes opened wide and she let out a huge gasp
"I got my cutie mark! I need to tell Sweetie Tooth!"
Princess Cadance laughed gently and nodded
"You better not let her wait too long."

Velvet Heart jumped to her hooves and ran towards the door, but after only a couple of steps she turned around again. Princess Cadance blinked surprised when the filly clung on her forehoof for an enormous squeeze and a big loud "Thank you!", but of course she returned the hug with her free hoof and a warm smile. Velvet smiled back but then raced towards the double doors again, which were pulled open for her with a pink magic glow from Princess Cadance' horn. The filly rushed past a baffled Rose Quartz and was gone out of sight before her aunt even had the chance to call after her.

Instead, Rose Quartz joined Princess Cadance in giggling and on the spot by the windows
"I wonder how Sweetie Tooth will react when she finds out."
Princess Cadance was about to reply, but then a high-pitched squeal echoed through the palace, followed by a chorus of young, happy voices who chanted "Cutie Mark!" over and over. The two mares just giggled more.

"I supposed we will be having another party soon."
"I very much hope so. You must be very proud of your niece, Rose Quartz."

The crystal mare smiled and nodded
"I am, Princess. And I am very proud that you see so much potential in her that you would pick her as your student. Thank you so much, Princess Cadance."

Cadance rolled her eyes as her advisor and friend bowed down before her, but she did so with a little smirk
"And how would you know this, Rose Quartz? Have you been eavesdropping again, Councillor?"
Cadance giggled and Rose Quartz had the dignity to blush a touch
"This time, I had a very good reason, Princess. I have to look out for my niece, after all."
This had the princess smile again
"Velvet Heart and her sisters are very lucky to have such a caring aunt."

Rose Quartz blushed a little more, but it didn't stay long when another series of squeals sounded out through the palace
"Speaking of which, I better step in before something gets broken in their enthusiasm."
"Alright, Rose Quartz. Please give my best to Crystal Note and Glass Slipper as well when you see them."
"Will do, Princess!"

With that, Rose Quartz hurried out of the throne room and after the voices of the fillies. Princess Cadance stayed by herself, watching the city and her subjects from the big windows a little while longer. Eventually, the young voices grew silent again and soon after, Flurry Heart joined her mother who welcomed her with a hug of her wings. Together, they watched as Velvet Heart, Sweetie Tooth and Rose Quartz left the palace and made their way home.

Ripped apart - Part I

Crystal Note smiled as she walked down the hallway of the Crystal Palace and watched the three ponies in front of her. Shining Armor carried half a dozen of suitcases in his magic and from the expression on his face, one could guess he was trying to remember the one thing he'd still forgotten to pack. Princess Cadance next to him was too busy to think about their luggage, she had her work cut out for her with trying to calm Flurry Heart down. The young alicorn was so excited she couldn't stand still and even as they walked through the palace, Flurry Heart kept bouncing up and down with high pitched squeals of joy, her wings flapping at her sides.

"Calm down, Flurry. You'll be all worked up before we even reach the train."

"I know Mom, but I can't help it! This is going to be so great! We're going to see Auntie Twilight and Auntie Celestia and Auntie Luna and Grandma and Grandpa and best of all we get to spend the whole week together!"

At this, another squeal broke out of the filly and Shining Armor winced as the high tone reached his ears

"You know this is not a holiday trip, right? A Princess Summit is serious business and it's important you show your best behaviour."

Cadance and Crystal Note behind her giggled as Flurry Heart's ears flopped down

"I know that! But we can't be all serious the whole time, right? I mean, nopony can take a whole week of politics and stuff."

She shivered and her wings folded back to her flanks

"Well, you know your Auntie Twily. I'm sure she already has every minute of this week scheduled out for everypony."

Another series of giggles filled the hallway as Flurry Heart froze up from shock for a moment, before she joined in as well. While it was true that Twilight Sparkle insisted on having a checklist for everything, her aunt also made sure to have some fun planed in as well. She turned around and walked backwards between her parents as she addressed Crystal Note

"Last chance to change your mind and come with us!"

Crystal Note smiled and shook her head

"I'll have to pass, Flurry Heart. It's your very first Princess Summit after all, that's very special and you should spent it with your family foremost. But thank you for asking."

"But you're almost family!"

Flurry Heart gave a pout and Cadance turned her head to look at Crystal Note as well

"You might not be born into our family, but I hope you know you'd be welcome anyways."

Crystal Note smiled and bowed her head in gratitude

"Thank you, Princess. But, I really don't think I would belong to a Princess Summit. That and Princess Celestia would surely find a task or another for me so she'd have more time with Flurry Heart all for herself."

At this, all four ponies shared another series of laughter and finally reached the entrance of the palace.

The royal family stepped down the stairs, a few guards following and helping with their luggage, but Crystal Note remained at the top of the stairs and waved them all goodbye. She smiled and watched until they were out of sight, then headed back inside.

As soon as she closed the doors, she found herself surrounded by a few maids who stared at her curiously.

She grinned and they quickly joined in

"They're off, the coast is clear for a week."

The crystal ponies giggled and cheered and Crystal Note laughed when one of the maids even fell into some sort of victory dance.

Of course it was all in good fun, everypony in the Crystal Empire loved Princess Cadance and her family. Even so, a lively alicorn filly like Flurry Heart always gave them all enough work to keep them busy, so this week would be far quieter for the palace staff in general.

The ponies kept up their good mood as they made their way to the throne room, but halfway there they were met by a stern looking mare with a pink mane that was bound up in a bun

"I hope you're aware that even when the Princess is gone, this is no time for slacking. There's still lots to do for all of us."

The maids nodded their heads in a quick bow, but Crystal Note just giggled

"You shouldn't be that serious all the time, Sis. You need to lighten up or you'll end up with a grey mane soon."

The crystal unicorn teased gently and stood beside her sister-in-heart who now tried to keep her stern expression despite the growing smile on her face. She addressed the maids once more

"The Crystal Council will meet in an hour. Please make sure the conference room is set up, then you can take the rest of the day off."

The maid ponies giggled and nodded

"Yes Councillor Rose Quartz!"

With a wink to Crystal Note, they turned around and went to work, quickly falling into happy chatter again, and left Rose Quartz and Crystal Note standing in front of the throne room.

Rose Quartz smiled and poked her sister with her hoof

"You need to stop embarrassing me in front of everypony. I'll lose all respect I worked so hard on."
Crystal Note just grinned more and gently nudged back

"They wouldn't have voted you as head of the Crystal Council if they didn't respect you, Rose. How long will your meeting go on?"
Rose Quartz sighed and shook her head

"I don't know. Not more than two hours I hope, if nothing serious comes up. Will I see you after?"

Crystal Note nodded with a smile

"I'll stick around and wait for you. Maybe I'll check the library and see if I can find something nice to read. At least it'll be quiet there for once."
"Without Flurry Heart suddenly popping out of thin air when you least expect her, I think the whole palace will be quiet. Hopefully the guards won't fall asleep out of sudden boredom."

They laughed and shared a hug, then went their ways.

Crystal Note soon reached the library of the palace and walked inside. The royal library was by far smaller than the famous Crystal Library in town was, but Crystal Note preferred this one because of its large and wide windows. The library was located in one of the upper levels of the palace, so they large room was flooded with sunlight nearly every time of the day and provided a wonderful view over the entire city at day and the stars at night time.

Crystal Note passed some bookshelves and saw one of the desks in the back already occupied. A tall tower of books on each side, a stallion with orange mane and a blue cape with stars sat in front of an open tome. He pushed his glasses back up his nose with a hoof and apparently didn't even notice Crystal Note as she walked up towards him. He had a horn on his forehead just like Crystal Note had herself, but unlike her, the stallion was not a crystal pony but a unicorn from Equestria.

Crystal Note walked closer and made herself noticeable by greeting the stallion

"Hello Sunburst. Doing some reading?"

The stallion jumped up in surprise and nearly threw over his books. His horn glowed with a yellow aura and his magic quickly steadied the tower in the last moment though

"Oh, Crystal Note, hello. I didn't hear you come in. Um, yes, I'm trying to make most use of the week and catch up on a few things."

Crystal Note smiled as she eyed the hovering books

"You think that's enough to keep you busy for a week?"

"Well, no. But I'll visit the Crystal Library on my way home and stock up on reading material once I'm finished."

Crystal Note stared in disbelieve until she noticed the smirk on Sunburst's face and they both started to giggle

"Mind some company?"

"Not at all! There's enough space for both of us."

Crystal Note sat down on another desk next, one that would let her enjoy the view through the large windows. Unlike the stallion, she didn't reach for a book but some sheets of paper instead. A soft turquoise glow of her magic surrounded a quill and she started writing down some words while humming a little tune. Sunburst quickly lost himself in his lecture again and the two unicorns spent the next hour in pleasant silence.

Sunburst just started with his third book when suddenly the door flew open and a pony of the crystal guard stormed in with a loud call

"Princess Cadance! Has anypony seen Princess Cadance?"

Sunburst looked up confused but Crystal Note recognized the guard and walked around the desk towards him

"You missed her, Ivory Lance. Princess Cadance and the others left the palace over an hour ago."

The guard frowned at the news but the sighed relieved when he saw who was sitting at the desks

"Crystal Note, thank goodness. There's just been an accident in the coal mine."
"What? What happened? Did somepony get hurt?"

Ivory Lance shook his head and his frown deepened

"We don't know yet. There's a large boulder that blocks one of the tunnels and we can't get past. Can you help?"

Crystal Note nodded and rushed to the door while Ivory Lance turned to Sunburst

"Will you come with us, Sir? We need all the help we can get."
Without any hesitation, Sunburst got up and followed the guard out of the library where they found Crystal Note talking to a maid

"You need to inform the council right away, then send somepony to the hospital. If anypony got hurt, the doctor needs to be there right away."
"Yes, Crystal Note. I'm on it."
She nodded and rushed towards the main entrance with Ivory Lance and Sunburst quickly catching up. Once outside, Ivory Lance took the lead and headed towards the mines in a furious canter, the two unicorns right behind him as they headed north.

As soon as they reached mine just outside of the city, they found themselves confronted with a big group of ponies, mostly miners but also a few guard ponies, including one of the captains

"Can't we just use some heavy tools to break through?"

"We could, but then the whole tunnel might come down on whoever is still inside. And it might take us weeks to clear up the entrance if that happens."
The few miners nodded at the words of their comrade and the captain frowned.

While most of the wealth of the Crystal Empire came from the trade with gemstones and precious metals from other mines, this was the coalmine. So far up north with little to no trees for wood, coal was essential for every home in the entire city as the only available fuel. None of the ponies was willing to risk the lives of anypony still inside the mine and in the city as long as there was still another chance of clearing the situation. Mining was hard and dirty work, but a well respected profession in the Empire and played a big part in crystal pony tradition.

Ivory Lance pushed his way towards the entrance with Crystal Note and Sunburst right behind him. As soon as the captain saw them, he had the path cleared for them and lead them into the main tunnel. A few lanterns were set up and spread a dimly light on the stony walls, just enough for them to see large rocks scattered around everywhere. They soon reached a crossroad in the tunnel system, one of the bigger tunnels blocked by an enormous boulder as wide and high as the tunnel itself.

In front of that boulder, a few ponies had gathered, including Flint, the father of Ocean and Amber Waves and a mutual friend of Ivory Lance and Crystal Note. The usually calm stallion glared at one of the younger miners and shouted angrily

"What do you mean you let a mare inside just before the cave-in? What were you thinking?"

The young pony shivered and his coat turned a notch darker from fear

"I don't know. She said she wanted to surprise her husband with lunch, so I just showed her the way."
"Are you nuts? This is not a restaurant or a park for picnics, this is a mine! It's a dangerous place for ponies who're not aware of it! How could you be so irresponsible?"

The pony's head hung low but he had no answer. Lucky for him, this was the point when Ivory Lance and the others reached them and drew Flint's attention away from the stallion

"Glad you're here. We've searched almost the entire mine, there are still ponies missing and this is the last tunnel we couldn't check. I can't get past this boulder so I tried shouting out loud, but no response so far."

Flint turned his head to stare at the boulder and who might be trapped behind it with worry and concern.

The crystal ponies flinched when suddenly a bright light appeared next to them. Sunburst had summoned an orb of light on the tip of his horn and walked around to get a better view on the situation than the lanterns would allow. It seemed like the boulder indeed locked off the tunnel as effectively as a cork in the neck of a wine bottle, leaving only a few small cracks open

"There's no way past unless we move this thing."

"We tried, but we couldn't do it."
"Let me try."

The stallions turned their heads to look at Crystal Note, then took a step aside when the crystal unicorn closed her eyes and her horn started to glow in a turquoise light.

The boulder was surrounded by the same turquoise magic and Crystal Note's horn soon glowed very brightly. Her eyes clenched shut in concentration and effort. She dug her hooves into the ground and pulled her head backwards, her body instinctively moving accordingly as she tried to move the boulder with her magic, almost like she was pulling on it. Her eyes shut more tightly and sweat appeared on her brow as every muscle of her body tensed up while she desperately pulled with all her might.

Soon though, the light around her horn winked out and the imaginary rope she pulled at was cut. She lost her balance and stumbled backwards before she slumped back on her haunches and panted heavily

"It's no use. It's way too heavy, I can't even budge it a little."

The guard captain frowned

"Can't you just blast it into smaller pieces with your magic?"

Still panting, Crystal Note shook her head with a frustrated expression on her face

"I never learned that spell. And even if I did, I doubt I could do more than a scratch. My magic is not strong enough."

Turning towards Sunburst, the crystal guard found a similar helpless expression and sighed with resignation.

The captain and Flint exchanged a worried glance

"I guess we have no other choice then. We need to get heavy tools and explosives and risk another cave-in."

"And risk the lives of even more ponies in doing so. I don't like it."

"Do you have any better ideas? I'd love to hear them."

Flint glared at the boulder and shook his head, but then turned around as another voice joined in

"Do you have some rope down here?"
Flint turned towards Sunburst who was busy examining the cracks between the boulder and the tunnel wall. He looked around and found what the unicorn stallion was looking for. The rope was picked up by Sunburst's yellow magic and he managed to fumble it through the cracks and around the large rock. When he was satisfied, he formed a few tight knots and pulled at the rope

"We can't get a good grip on the boulder itself. But with this, we might be able to move it when we all pull together."

Flint nodded and sent the young miner back outside to fetch more ropes while the captain called down more ponies to help. In a matter of minutes, the narrow space of the tunnel was filled with the strongest miners and guards who pulled at the ropes with all their strength. They could feel the boulder moving a little, but not enough to clear a path.

Crystal Note watched and noticed a larger creak had appeared in between the boulder and the tunnel ceiling, which gave her another idea. When the ponies stopped pulling for a moment, she turned to Flint once more

"We can do it, but we need to get a better angle on it. Can you hold still for a moment?"

"Huh? Why? How can we..."

Flint fell silent when his body was suddenly surrounded by the turquoise magic from Crystal Note's horn. He tried not the fidget as he felt lighter and was lifted from the ground and on top of the boulder. In the faint light of magic, he now saw the creak as well and climbed into position as soon as the magic grip around him faded. Pressing his forehooves against the ceiling and his backhooves against the boulder, he pushed with all his strength and felt boulder move just a little more.

The ponies noticed as well and pulled on the rope once more. Crystal Note was about to join in with her magic when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. Much to her surprise, Ivory Lance stood next to her and looked up at Flint on top of the boulder

"Can you get me up there as well?"

Crystal Note blinked and nodded. She closed her eyes and focused on her magic again, struggling with the weight of another pony in full armour this time. When Ivory Lance hopped next to Flint, she was already panting from exertion. Nevertheless, when all the ponies pushed and pulled together, she and Sunburst joined in.

Crystal Note gripped the rope with her teeth and the boulder with her magic while Sunburst relied on his magic alone

"Okay, all together now. Pull!"

With the combined power of muscle and magic, the giant boulder slowly moved inch by inch until it reached the point when it simply rolled over. The ponies jumped out of the way and Ivory Lance and Flint managed to jump off it just in time. The way into the side tunnel was now free and the ponies rushed inside, the guard captain ahead of all.

Inside they found the floor covered in rocks and debris of all sizes, it looked like the support beams had given in and a large portion of the ceiling had fallen down. The crystal ponies noticed this with worry and started to push away some rocks to get further in

"Sunburst, can you give us more light?"

The unicorn nodded and performed his light spell once more to illuminate the tunnel. A shriek echoed through the mine when they saw a pair of hooves sticking out from beneath a pile of rocks and three ponies dashed forward to free the trapped pony. The guard captain stopped one of this soldiers and sent him back outside

"Go get the doctor. Tell her to hurry."

Both of them turned around when they heard a loud sob from Crystal Note. They saw two of the ponies carefully lift up the now free stallion from the rocks. His forehooves stood out in a weird angle and they noticed a large bruise on the side of his head. The miners set him down on the ground, but he didn't move anymore.

Deeper in the pile of rocks, the head of another pony, a mare this time, came into view. Her eyes were closed and she didn't seem to breathe.

Crystal Note turned away and closed her eyes tightly, her colours changing into a dark grey, as did the coats of the other crystal ponies present. The guard captain slumped down on his haunches with a defeated sigh

"Get the doctor."

Exposition: The crystal council

Author's Note

This chapter is purely for exposition and offers background information on the world and things that are mentioned offscreen. It's not necessary to read this to follow any of the other chapters or story archs.
Let me know if you're interested in more content like this in the future!

Exposition: The crystal council

Rose Quartz climbed up the few steps of the small, stage-like podium in the front of the room, followed by the other six ponies of the crystal council. The platform was just about big enough for maybe ten ponies and had been set up for meetings like this.

As head of the crystal council, she took the spot in the centre and waited for the ponies in the audience to quiet down.

The meeting hall and the adjacent offices technically still were a part of Princess Cadance' palace, but the princess had made sure that they were available to everpony at any time. She had been the one who encouraged her subjects to form a council and take their part in creating the future of the Crystal Empire and their home.

A millennium ago, King Sombra had been a tyrannical ruler who had crushed down any form of independence in his dark empire. When Princess Cadance took over, she had found her subjects in a state of insecurity for the most time. After having to follow a cruel ruler for so long, when everything they said could be picked up as defiance against King Sombra and have them punished, most of the crystal ponies had by now adapted a lifestyle where they kept mostly for themselves. Sure, they did care about their family and maybe the ponies next door in their everyday life. They found their happiness in living from one day to the next, a coping mechanism they had to develop during the war most likely, when each day was a struggle.

However, with this mind-set so profoundly settled in, they crystal ponies now had to struggle with the challenges of a peaceful life just as much. Without any imminent danger, thinking about their future became a necessity once more, something the younger crystal ponies had never learned to deal with. And with a peaceful neighbour in form of Canterlot and Equestria, the secluded tribe now had to deal with outsiders more and more regularly.

Some of the crystal ponies stood up to this challenge and grew from it. A few of the business ponies in the city had set up shops specifically for visitors from the south, others began trading their goods with Equestria. A few brave ponies went out and embraced the new chances this life offered them.

Like Crystal Note who had spent many years outside the Empire in different cities and towns. Although she had dedicated her life to music, she also learned a lot about the ponies of Equestria, their history and their lives. Now that she was back in the Crystal Empire, she happily shared this knowledge with her fellow crystal ponies.

Princess Cadance did what she could to nourish her open-minded ponies. Such as Crystal Note who filled in as an ambassador for the Crystal Empire in Canterlot at times. She knew the Crystal Empire and Equestria very well, so she was able to contribute and negotiate with Canterlot and the royal sisters in the name of the Crystal Empire, even if politics weren't her main interest.

The new head doctor of the hospital had spent months in Manehatten to update her medical knowledge after Princess Cadance offered her the funds to do so. What started out with just a few single ponies would hopefully soon turn into two nations growing back together after long years of separation.

The formation of the crystal council had been another step in the right direction. When she heard of the idea, Princess Cadance seemed even more eager to set it up than the crystal ponies themselves. A wing of the palace was dedicated to the new council long before the crystal ponies had even decided which ones of them would become a part of it. The fact that Rose Quartz was elected as head of the council, a trusted advisor to Princess Cadance ever since the alicorn had taken the throne, was a clear sign of the loyalty and appreciation the crystal ponies held for their princess.

Rose Quartz watched the crowd of crystal ponies as the mumbles slowly quieted down. The meeting hall was almost full, about two hundred crystal ponies would fit in. Sadly, that meant that almost the entire nation of crystal ponies could find a place within this hall. Years of war, hunger, illness and misery had shrunk their numbers and there still was a long way of recovery ahead of the Crystal Empire.

Some ponies had taken place on the sitting pillows that were stacked up at the side of the room, but most of them preferred sitting on the crystal floor. Rose Quartz scanned through the familiar faces and returned the smiles sent to her. She even spotted Crystal Note in the crowd, next to Sour Berry at the side of the room. Although she had done a lot of work for the Crystal Empire in Equestria, the crystal unicorn usually opted not to participate in these meetings. The sight of her sister made Rose Quartz aware of the importance of this meeting once more. It seemed like everypony except the young foals had found their ways here tonight.

Rose Quartz cleared her throat to silence the few last whispers and took a step forward. Thanks to the natural acoustics of the hall, she didn't need to shout or use a microphone for her voice to be heard all over the hall

"Welcome everypony and thank you for your coming. Tonight we have some important things we want to discuss with all of you."

Never the pony of too many words, Rose Quartz went straight to the point

"As some of you already know, we're getting requests from all over Equestria from ponies of all kinds. Some ponies ask if they can open their own shops and businesses in the city instead of just sending their goods. A few scientists asked for permission to visit the Crystal Empire and learn of our culture and history. Quite a number requested for residence in our city, they want to move here and live in the Crystal Empire."

Rose Quartz paused for a minute and scanned the crowd, especially the last point had seemed to stir up the crystal ponies.

With a nod to the other council members, Rose Quartz continued

"So far, the Princess and the council have delayed each of those requests. However, since the number is increasing, we think it's time to make a decision on how to react to such requests, now and in the future.

Straight out: Should we let ponies from Equestria come live in our city and the Crystal Empire?"

The mumblings picked up again and Rose Quartz stepped back in line with the other councillors. As expected, a few ponies quickly addressed them with questions before they'd run into any decision

"How does the Princess think about it?"

Rose Quartz answered loud enough to be heard over the mumbles

"Princess Cadance told us that she will fully support any of our decisions on this topic, no matter which way we want to go."

The ponies nodded and continued talking with each other. Now that they knew their princess had trusted them with this decision, they were only more determined to decide wisely instead of hasty.

"What's the council's opinion on this?"

The call came out from a group near the front and the mare who asked did so with a frown. Rose Quartz looked to her right and another member of the council, a stallion named Copper Dime stepped forward this time. When he was not working for the council, Copper Dime was a trader and helped the craftsponies of the Crystal Empire find vendors for their goods in Canterlot and other cities.

With his calm and measured voice, he replied for the council

"We've spent a good number of days talking about this and going through different scenarios. We think it's a great chance for the Crystal Empire. Many of the houses in the Empire stand empty to this day, so we have the space. Plus more ponies mean a boost of our economy."

A stallion from the crowd stood up and shouted out to the crowd. Rose Quartz recognized him as one of the city's best jewellers

"If you let outsiders set up their store here, they'll cut into our businesses and put our local economy in danger!"

The mumbles grew louder once again and more nervous, but Copper Dime replied as calm as before

"That can happen no matter how we decide. If anything, with more ponies in the Empire our local vendors have more chances of selling than relying solely on trade. In my opinion, the benefits outweigh any risks by far."

More ponies agreed with the councillor, including Sour Berry who called out in affirmation. His café had been a successful business idea and so far, he had nothing but positive experiences with visitors from the south.

Some more discussions started among the ponies, but there was no anger or fighting as they exchanged their opinions, so Rose Quartz didn't intervene. From what she could see, most ponies seemed okay with opening up their doors for ponies from Equestria.

When the ponies calmed out again, another voice rose over the mumblings and demanded everypony's attention

"What kind of ponies are we even talking about?"

Rose Quartz frowned at the angry voice from the mare in the front row. She could see where this was going but remained calm in her answer

"All kinds of ponies, from nearly all over Equestria. Canterlot, Vanhoover, Manehatten, you name it."

"HA!"

The mare stood up and turned to the crowd instead of the council on the podium

"Canterlot! You all remember what happened last time we let a pony from Canterlot come to our city. A Unicorn!"

She nearly spat out the last word. Rose Quartz felt her anger rise at the plumb attempt of the mare to rile up the crowd, as well as the fact that it seemed to work. More ponies frowned and most of them turned towards Crystal Note, the only crystal unicorn of the entire Empire and the only pony in the hall with a horn.

Rose Quartz glanced to her sister as well, concern clearly visible on her face. Crystal Note had her eyes closed and sat in a calm posture, but Rose Quartz knew her well enough to realize that the crystal unicorn was doing her best not to start shivering or just run away. She kept her head up, but Rose Quartz knew that was so her horn wouldn't accidently point at somepony. She had learned that lesson on earlier occasions.

Sour Berry stayed next to Crystal Note, along with a few others. He refused to back away from the glares and stares directed at his friend, instead he glared back at anypony who pointed at the mare.

Appeased that Sour Berry wasn't the only one to stand up for Crystal Note, Rose Quartz now focused on the mare again. Before her anger could take over, a mare from the stage stepped forward. She was the city’s librarian and by that held one of the most respectable positions in the Empire. Also, she was well connected not only among the crystal ponies, but even with scientists from Equestria as well. She leaned her head down so she could look the mare in the eyes

"I remember it very well. In fact, I'm a little surprised you all seem to forget about it. One unicorn from Canterlot moved to this city right after Princess Cadance arrived. His name is Sunburst and so far, I've heard of nopony who seemed to have a problem with him."

Another wave of mumbles ran through the meeting hall and more than one pony looked away ashamed when they heard the truth from the councillor. Of course they knew Sunburst or at least knew of him and of course they knew he was a unicorn, just like King Sombra had been. Most importantly, they knew that beside the fact they were both unicorns, King Sombra and Sunburst couldn't be more different.

The opposed mare however didn't even flinch and waved her hoof dismissively

"Sunburst is barely more than inventory of the palace library. He doesn't count."

Now Rose Quartz stomped her hoof to get attention back to her

"He's a citizen of the Empire and therefore he is a pony that counts. Even if he's not the most social of ponies, whenever I talk to him he is polite and very respectful. Princess Cadance trusted him enough to make him Princess Flurry Heart's crystaller and teacher after all."

The second councillor nodded in agreement

"I agree, he is a well-mannered pony to everyone around him." Her glare hit the mare in the front row who by now was shrinking on her seat "And for the fact that he's a unicorn, I only want to say when I saw him use magic, it was to juggle books."

The stallion on the far right, a member of the crystal guard, nodded in agreement and added

"Same goes for Flash Sentry. He's a pegasus and different, but there's never been any problems with him, not in the guard and not in the city. We should not judge a pony on whether he or she has a horn or wings or not."

The mare in the front row ceded as more and more affirmatives sounded through the meeting hall. Another stallion from the crowd stood up to address the ponies

"We're so locked on only seeing what can go wrong. We need to start thinking of all the benefits."

The ponies turned to the pony who talked, one of the few teachers in the city

"Take our school for example. We can barely manage keeping up the classes for our kids. And each teacher has to cover multiple subjects at once. If we had some help from Canterlot, we could make sure our children receive the best education they can get. And we would have ponies who could share their experiences of Equestria with us, instead of just reading from outdated books."

As soon as he stopped, a young mare called out

"Same goes for the hospital. We're understaffed and we're still catching up all the innovations in medicine from the last years. We need the help if we want to reach a standard every other city in Equestria already has."

The young nurse nodded with determination and Rose Quartz flashed a thankful smile.

The mood in the room had noticeably changed, for the better as far as Rose Quartz was concerned. She exchanged a few glances with the other councillors, gauging if they should call for a vote now, when a familiar voice sounded from the back of the room

"You're all forgetting one crucial thing."
The words barely made it to the podium in the front and if Rose Quartz wouldn't know the stallion so well, she would have missed his craggy voice.

The voice belonged to one of the oldest ponies in the Crystal Empire, Sturdy Shield. He was one of the few ponies who still knew the Empire before King Sombra had taken over. Under the rule of the dark king, he had joined the army in an attempt to keep his family safe and in the final battle of the Empire, he had been one of the crystal ponies who had surrendered to the armies of Canterlot instead of being slain.

Despite his age, Sturdy Shield took an active part in every meeting so far and ponies listened to what he had to say. Right now, he stood up slowly from his seat in the back and stumbled towards the podium. His old legs gave him some trouble these days, but he was still as stubborn and sturdy as he had been in his youth, his grey coat reminding of granite and with a determined face to match.

He slowly made his way by the side of the crowd while the other ponies waited in silent respect for their elder. As he passed the rows, he stopped for a moment and mumbled to a pony at the side of the crowd

“Help an old stallion out, would you, child?”

The mare had addressed was Crystal Note, and after only a beat of surprise, she nodded respectfully and with a gentle smile

“Of course, Grandfather.”

She stood up next to Sturdy Shield and the stallion leaned heavily on the crystal unicorn before he continued in a slow pace. Crystal Note supported him as best as she could, still smiling despite everypony staring at them. In the Crystal Empire, the term ‘Grandfather’ was commonly used to show respect towards the elder, but Crystal Note didn’t hide the layer of affection she carried in that word.

Rose Quartz watched as her sister helped Sturdy Shield up the few steps to the podium. She had a hard time suppressing a grin. The old stallion knew very well of his influence on the ponies and she had no doubt that he chose Crystal Note to help him on purpose, as another little message he wanted to send to the crowd.

The other councillors respectfully stepped aside to offer their elder the centre spot on the podium. A few gasps from the crowd made Rose Quartz look up, just to see a pillow from the stacks float towards the stage. She turned to her sister and noticed the slightest glow around Crystal Note’s horn, even though she fully focused on supporting the old stallion.

Sturdy Shield gratefully accepted his seat with a thankful nod to Crystal Note. The mare smiled and bowed her head before she returned to the far side of the podium near the steps, just out of the main attention, but close enough to help Sturdy Shield if necessary.

The old stallion let his gaze roam over the faces that stared up at him. Even though he had slumped down a little on the sitting pillow, his voice was strong and clear when he spoke

“We’ve been on our own for so long, we don’t know any better. It was the safe thing to do. We knew each other, we’ve seen our foals grow up and turn into stallions and mares. We watched them carry on the same things we had done for generations.

But by keeping only to ourselves, we made ourselves vulnerable.”

He gave his words a moment to sink in before he continued

“The world had already changed around us while we hid away in our home. When Sombra came, he impressed us with his ideas and visions. Something we didn’t have anymore. We were so blinded, we never saw his real intends. We made ourselves easy to manipulate.”

Again, there was a moment of silence and the ponies in the crowd exchanged some concerned glances

“And it’s happening again, unless we do something about it. Imagine if we had Sunburst or any unicorn in the Crystal Empire back then. He could have realized that the king was throwing around hexes. He could have warned us before it was too late. If we had pegasi with us, we could have sent them out for help.

Heck, we could have done that all by ourselves, but we didn’t. We made ourselves helpless and it took Princess Cadance and a dragon to show us we’re not.”

Sturdy Shield was interrupted by a soft cough next to him. His voice was almost a shout by now and he threw Rose Quartz a thankful smile when she stopped him before he would get even more agitated.

With a deep breath to calm down, he continued

“What I’m trying to say, hiding away is easy. Staying with what you know is comfortable. But what you need to decide is whether easy and comfortable is really the best right now.”

With a grunt, he pushed himself back on his hooves and turned around, not giving anypony the chance to ask questions. Rose Quartz and the other councillors nodded respectfully to the elder stallion. No matter whether the crystal ponies would agree with him or not, he got them thinking so they wouldn’t run into any hasty decisions out of fear or worries. That was good enough for him.

Crystal Note took the place at his side again and he gratefully accepted her help. She matched his slow steps as he leaned against her and got ready to climb down the steps again, but a voice from the audience stopped her

“Wait! I have one more question!”

Sturdy Shield shook his head and kept walking leaned against Crystal Note, but the pony insisted

“Crystal Note! I need to ask you!”

The stallion stopped abruptly as Crystal Note froze next to him for a moment. He tilted his head to look at her

“Go child. It’ll help them.”

He slumped back on his haunches and left Crystal Note standing. She turned towards the council and saw smiles and reassuring nods sent towards her. The last smile she shared with her sister before she took the spot in the centre, facing the crowd.

The inquisitive pony stared at her and Crystal Note could clearly see her insecurity

“You spent more time than any of us with them. Outside of the Crystal Empire. What do you think we should do?”

Crystal Note closed her eyes for a moment to think. She was well aware of the importance and took her time looking for the right words. In the end, she just sighed and opened her eyes again with a smile

“I have always believed that everypony should do what feels right to them, in their hearts.”

That was enough to send most of the crowd off the loop, but Crystal Note just went on with her kind smile

“I’ve been afraid a lot in the past and today still, I admit. So for the longest time, I’ve also been hiding. But that was not really me. I had some help overcoming that fear, from friends and family. You want to know what the biggest difference between unicorns, earth ponies and pegasus ponies is? Truth is there is barely any. Some can fly, some cast spells, others are stronger and we can shine with light, but baseline we’re ponies. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s really that simple.

When I started spending times with other ponies, they didn’t see me as ‘the crystal pony’ or something, just another pony like them. They asked me about the Crystal Empire, because they were curious. And when I asked them about Equestria, they answered my questions as well. But I had to get over my fears first, and they helped me do so. Not because I was a crystal pony or not, but because for them it was normal to help other ponies. It’s just like we help each other, you know? Once I stopped being afraid, I could see that.

So I guess it comes down to this: Is it fear you feel inside your heart? Or is that fear just stopping you from seeing clearly.”

She turned her head towards the councillors and smiled

“That’s just my opinion. I didn’t spend hours thinking about it and discussing things like the council did. I don’t know much about economy or politics and stuff. So if the council thinks it’s a good idea, that’s good enough for me. And if a wise pony like Sturdy Shield agrees, that’s even better.”

Most of the crowd seemed surprised that the usually quiet musician managed even as many words as she did. The ones who knew her better returned her smile.

The mare with the question didn't seem convinced yet though, as she twiddled her hooves nervously. Crystal Note smiled gently to her

“Let me rephrase that last part for you. When we were foals, we all grew up with fear in our hearts. Now, we're grown and some of us have foals of their own. If there's a chance that our foals can grow up without such fear, wouldn't you take it? Even if it meant jumping over our shadows? I know I would.”

As Crystal Note moved to the edge of the stage, the mumblings started again. Rose Quartz glanced through the crowd and saw most ponies had settled. There were a few hesitant faces still, but she decided any further delay would be more harm than help.

With a nod to the other councillors and Sturdy Shield, she stepped forward again

“It’s time to make a decision now. We’re not talking details and specifics, but we need to know: Will we let ponies from Equestria settle in the Crystal Empire?”

She took a deep breath

“All in favour raise your hoof please.”

The ponies complied and Rose Quartz took her time to count

“All opposed?”

Again, the crowd was set in motion to answer

“Any abstentions?”

No pony moved and Rose Quartz nodded.

From the door, a new voice chimed in

“Looks like it’s unanimous.”

Heads turned around to see Princess Cadance standing in the doorway, with a proud smile that lit up her face

“I’ll get to work right away. Thank you for your contribution, everypony.”

She giggled and winked to Rose Quartz

“Maybe we’ll already need a bigger room next time to fit everypony in.”

Worry and Care - Bonus chapter

Two weeks had passed since Sweetie Tooth had fallen ill and finally, both the doctor and Ruby Rose agreed that she was strong enough to go back to school. While Sweetie Tooth was excited to join her sisters and see her friends again, Crystal Note felt more than a little wistful as she watched her filly leave the house and canter down the street. They had spent so much time together and grown so close, ever since they both agreed that they belonged with each other. As much of a challenge as it was, Crystal Note enjoyed being a mother for her filly and didn't hold back.

Now that the house was quiet, with all three sisters off to school, the newest mother of the Crystal Empire once again was reminded that being a mother meant more than just hugs, smiles and lullabies. A pile of laundry waited for her, the pantry needed to be restocked and she'd fallen behind on cleaning in general. However, those chores didn't seem bothersome at all. She was doing this for her daughters after all. Whenever she thought of that, she just couldn't help but smile. It took all morning to take care of the most urgent chores and after a quick snack for lunch, Crystal Note decided to get some other work of hers done as well.

Now that she had accepted to become a mother, some pent up emotions and feelings surged out of the background, not overwhelmingly strong, but enough for Crystal Note to sit down and sort them out. Also, she felt more inspired than she had in weeks, mostly because she was still glowing with joy every time she thought of the three fillies.
So she picked up some sheets of paper, a quill and her trusted violin. Only a few minutes later, melodies filled the house and notes filled the parchment. Crystal Note was already humming some vocals, but she knew better than to push it. Things would come together when the time was ready, and just like a good wine, her songs needed time to ripe before they were really finished.

The sound of the door made her look up from her work. As usual, Crystal Note had lost track of time while composing, more so than usual judging by the stack of note sheets she'd put together this session. Satisfied with her work, Crystal Note put the quill away with her magic, but she kept her violin in her hooves, idly playing a little tune just for fun.

The door to the foyer opened and Velvet Heart walked in with a bright smile that Crystal Note returned wholeheartedly. The filly joined her and sat close as she watched and listened to the music. Velvet Heart especially enjoyed when she played the violin and ever since their trip to Vanhoover, she made no secret of it anymore.

Crystal Note didn't mind at all, of course. In fact, she was happy to share her passion for music with Velvet Heart, since it was a sign that the filly opened up more to her. She kept playing on for a couple more minutes, but then she asked over the tune as she brought her last song to its end
"Velvet, where is your sister? Didn't you walk home together?"
Velvet Heart frowned a little and shook her head
"Sweetie Tooth had to stay behind. Our teacher wants to help her catch up on what she missed while she was sick."
Crystal Note put down her violin and watched Velvet Heart closely, a little surprised by her reaction
"I guess that makes sense. She's been away for some time, after all. Even though I know you told her what she missed and helped her with homework."

Velvet Heart blew her breath out through her nose
"That's what I wanted to do, but the teacher sent me home. He said he'd have Glass Slipper take Sweetie Tooth home when they were finished. It's like all the homework we do together doesn't count at all."
Crystal Note smiled softly and recognized the frustration of the filly clearly now. She sat down next to the filly and gently nuzzled her mane

"I'm sure that's not it, dear. Your teacher just wants to make sure Sweetie Tooth can still keep up with the rest of your class. He'll send her home as soon as he realizes how much you already helped her."
Velvet Heart sighed frustrated, but she didn't pull away from the gentle affection of her caretaker. Crystal Note knew this meant her words had helped. Velvet Heart just had to blow off a little steam. Now that this was done, Crystal Note smiled at the filly
"Well, at least we get a little time for us out of it. It's been a while since we did something together, just the two of us. What do you say, dear?"

Crystal Note felt Velvet Heart tense up next to her and even pull away a little
"I still have homework to do."
The mare nodded and held back a sigh. As much as she enjoyed those moments of closeness to Velvet Heart, they were always over far too soon. The filly still didn't trust her as much as her sisters did.
Therefore, Crystal Note just nodded approvingly, with her kindest smile
"Alright, dear. Let me know if you need any help."
Velvet Heart nodded and squatted down with her books on the soft rug in front of the fireplace. Crystal Note stayed in the room and returned to her own stack of notes.

It wasn’t very long before she heard those little annoyed sounds from Velvet Heart again. The filly was very clever and usually had no problems with schoolwork, but when she did, she got frustrated very easily.
Crystal Note walked over and glanced at the books
“Are you getting along, darling?”
Velvet snorted in frustration and threw a glare towards the mare
“You don’t have to pretend like you care. Sweetie Tooth is not around to see.”
Crystal Note recognized that glare, easily. She knew the filly wasn’t angry at her for asking or even angry at her homework. Whenever she glared like this, Velvet usually had something else bothering her, but she didn’t know how to put it in words sometimes.

Taking the only clue she’d gotten, Crystal Note stayed calm and faced the apparently angry filly
“Who says I’m pretending, darling? It is so hard to believe that I really care for you?”
The glare intensified and Crystal Note supressed a smile. It seemed like she’d hit right on the spot and Velvet Heart didn’t like being figured out that easily
“Yes! I get that you’re close with Sweetie Tooth and she starts calling you ‘Mommy’, but she’s not around so why don’t you stop pretending?”

Crystal Note sat down as she began to realize where this was headed
“Velvet, I care for Sweetie Tooth and I care for you and Glass Slipper the same way. There’s no difference to me between the three of you. I’m not pretending.”
“But there is!”
Velvet Heart jumped on her hooves as her frustration slowly turned into anger
“Sweetie Tooth always helps you cook and you go shopping and you always read her favourite bedtime stories. But, when we talk it’s awkward and we argue! I’m always yelling at you!”
Crystal Note smiled calmly and simply nodded, but this was more than enough to fuel Velvet Heart’s anger even further
“You’re always calm, you’re always smiling and happy, even when I yell at you! Why don’t you ever get angry at me? Don’t you care at all?”

Velvet Heart kept her glare up but Crystal Note could already see tears gleam in her purple eyes. She realized that the filly had kept these feelings under lock for a while already, but now they had to burst out.
Her first instinct was to pull Velvet into a tight hug to show her how much she cared for her. However, she realized that the filly would not appreciate this right now. A hug simply wouldn’t be enough. Those worries had already festered in her thoughts. If Crystal Note wanted to clear them out, she had to do this the right way, even if it could be a shock for Velvet Heart.

So Crystal Note held Velvet’s gaze as her features softened. Her smile stayed, but instead of calm and collected, she let some of her worries show themselves. Just like she had worried about Sweetie Tooth’s illness, she now worried for Velvet Heart the very same way.
Her voice was still calm as she started to explain
“Velvet, I’m not always happy and calm. I get scared too, you’ve seen that. I worry far too much and far too often. Sometimes I’m scared and sometimes, I’m even angry.”
Velvet’s glare had lost some of its strength as the filly took in Crystal Note’s expression, but that last statement had her anger flaring once more
“You never show it! So it’s nothing but pretending!”

Crystal Note sighed softly and shook her head
“That’s not it, Velvet. Maybe I’m angry, but I’m never angry at you. I don’t want to be angry at you, or your sisters. You can yell at me all day long if you like, but I know you don’t mean half the things you say when you’re like that. I’d rather have you yell at me, so you don’t hurt your sisters with your words, even if accidentally.”
“But why? Why put up with me when you know it’s not right?”

Crystal Note took a deep breath and locked her eyes with Velvet Heart. The filly gasped when she saw the mare’s expression, so open and vulnerable
“There are a lot of reasons, but it the end it all comes down to one fact.”
Whatever Velvet Heart had expected, the next three words shook the floor underneath her hooves
“I love you, Velvet Heart. I love you very much.”

Velvet stared and her jaw dropped. It took her a moment to really understand what she had just heard, and when she did, she almost couldn’t believe. Like a reflex, she muttered out words she’d been using more frequently recently
“You’re not my mom.”
As soon as she said it, Velvet Heart felt scared on how the mare would react to rejection after a confession like this.
Crystal Note didn’t even flinch. Instead, her lips curled into a soft smile
“That doesn’t matter, Velvet. It doesn’t matter to me. I couldn’t love you more even if you’d been my filly from the very first day.”

Velvet could just stare, baffled and confused, but also strangely comforted. She still didn’t dare to believe and her doubts pushed ahead once more
“But, how?”

At this, Crystal Note chuckled softly and moved closer to the filly
“How could I not, Velvet Heart? Maybe it’s only been some weeks, but that doesn’t matter. You’re a wonderful filly, darling. You’re bright and clever, you notice so many things others would miss. You always know how your sisters or I feel from just looking at us. You were so sad when we first met, but you work so hard to get past that, not for you, but for your sisters as well. That’s something I admire about you. Maybe you’re a little impatient, but you’re still young, Velvet. I wish nothing more but to watch you strive and grow, and I’ll do everything to see you happy. You have such a big and wonderful heart, darling, and I can’t wait to see the wonderful mare you’ll be one day. And I’ll be there for you, every step of the way and further.”

By now, the tears from earlier started leaking out and Velvet Heart had a pitch in her voice
“But I’m nothing like that! You don’t know me at all!”
She even sounded desperate to herself, the last once of doubt to the mare’s words lashing out in a feeble attempt
“I wish I would know you even better, true. But what I know is more than enough to love you like my own. When you’re sad, I want to comfort you. When you’re angry, I want to help you let go of that anger. And when you’re happy, you make me happy too. I don’t need to be your mother for all that, but I will be if you ever want me to.”

It was at this point that Velvet Heart didn’t want to hold back any longer. Tears streamed down freely and now, Crystal Note was there. Her hooves gently circled around the filly and pulled her closer, offering her body to lean against and letting Velvet cry into her coat.

Velvet Heart sniffled and looked up at her eyes. Crystal Note didn’t seem annoyed or disappointed, just a last proof that she really knew her. Crystal Note had been nothing but honest with her, to a point she’d almost felt uncomfortable. It was only fair that Velvet now would be honest just as much
“I… I’m not sure if I do. Maybe some time, but right now… you’re not Mom. I’m sorry.”

Velvet looked away shyly, afraid she might have angered the mare who had just poured her heart out to her and sung her praises, but Crystal Note just gently nuzzled her mane in a very comforting way. She glanced up again and saw that warm smile that made her feel loved
“I understand, darling. I didn’t tell you all this to pressure you into something. But I needed to tell you, so you wouldn’t have to worry anymore.”

Crystal Note pulled back a little so she could look directly into her eyes again
“Velvet, I do love you with all my heart. I want you to be happy. I want you to be safe to grow up and be yourself. Nothing you say or do will ever make me stop loving you. No matter if you get angry sometimes, that’s not going to change, so you don’t have to worry.”

Velvet Heart smiled and pressed against Crystal Note again, shamelessly lunging into another hug. That had been her deepest worry even before the confession, but now she knew Crystal Note was aware of it as well.
Velvet enjoyed the feeling of just being held for a while longer. The tidal wave of emotion had drowned out most of them, but now thoughts poked their ways back into her head

“What about Glass Slipper and Sweetie Tooth?”
Crystal Note laughed melodiously and remembered that Sweetie Tooth had asked almost the exact same thing some time back
“I love them just as much as I love you, Velvet. You three have a place in my heart. I’ll tell them the same I told you, and then they can decide, just like you.”
Velvet Heart nodded, but she stayed in the hug for a little longer, she knew Crystal Note wouldn’t mind

“When did you know that…?”
The filly didn’t have to finish her question for Crystal Note to understand
“Now that I think about it, it’s been a long time. I knew from the very first moment I met you that you three were special, but I needed some time to realize. And some more to be brave enough to be more for you. You three had to go through so much, I didn’t want to overwhelm you. And I was worried I might push you apart.”
Velvet Heart nodded again. It didn’t all make sense to her right away, but she realized that Crystal Note had thought a long time about it. It felt good to know that this was so important to her
“What changed?”

Crystal Note smiled and gently nuzzled Velvet’s mane
“I did, mostly. I saw you three growing closer, to each other but also to me. Bonne Voyage also gave me a piece of her mind when we visited. It reminded me of something Princess Cadance told me a long time ago.”
Velvet glanced up only to find Crystal Note smile lovingly, like a really mother would
“Love doesn’t suddenly run out. The more you give it, the more it grows. I was done holding back from that moment on. As you can see, it still took me a while before I could tell you.”
Crystal Note chuckled softly when Velvet stared up at her with curious eyes

“Sweetie Tooth needed me when she fell ill. And you needed to learn the truth so you don’t have to worry anymore.”
Velvet smiled and nodded. She let her head come to rest against Crystal Note when she thought of what happened after their trip out of the Empire
“You made us move right after we came back from Vanhoover. That’s part of it too, right?”
The mare smiled proudly at how quickly the filly had figured things out
“You needed a safe place to grow and strife, but your house was so full of sad memories. You needed some distance and I was done holding back.”

Crystal Note held her filly in the gentle embrace and allowed Velvet to be the one to break it. When Velvet wiggled out, her eyes shined brightly again and she smiled
“What’s going to happen now?”
Crystal Note smiled and leaned in for a soft nuzzle
“Nothing has to change, Velvet. Not until you’re ready for it. I just hope, now that you know, it will help you. And next time you need to vent, come at me right away.”
Velvet giggled and nuzzled back softly, something she rarely did
“I will. Thanks, Crystal Note.”

“You’re very welcome, my little gem.”
Velvet blushed a little, as this was something her mother had called her too, but her smile came back quickly. Maybe someday, Crystal Note would be her mommy. Maybe not. But she could feel clearly that Crystal Note really loved her and that it was safe to return this love. She’d find a way to do so in time. She knew that, because she knew Crystal Note was there to help her do so.
Velvet Heart leaned in for another hug with a happy smile. She trusted Crystal Note and things would turn out right.

Crystal Note - Lovesickness

Glass Slipper sighed deeply, probably for the hundredth time since she had come home. She had completely ignored her little sisters and had run straight for her room, before they could notice the tear-stains on her cheeks.

Right now, she lay sprawled out on her bed in a nearly dark room. She had shut the blinds and the only light that made it inside was the sliver of evening sunlight.

The teenage filly hadn’t moved for an hour now, not since she stopped crying, when the door slowly opened. Her eyes rolled around and on the edge of her vision, she recognized a familiar turquoise glow, which made her sigh again
“Hey Mom…”
“Hello, Angel.”

Despite her sour mood, Glass Slipper smiled at her pet name from Crystal Note. She rolled on her belly and watched as her mom floated a cup of tea towards her. Knowing her well enough, Crystal Note set it down within reach of her daughter-in-heart, so she could get it when she felt ready. She took a seat on one of the many cushions on the floor so her eyes were on level with Glass Slipper. She had her usual calm smile, but Glass Slipper knew the pony who had become her mother well enough to notice details. She saw that special glow in her turquoise eyes, a mix of care and love she only held when she was with Glass Slipper or her sisters. She also saw the slight tint of worry.

Glass Slipper sighed again and waited. Crystal Note stayed silent, with practiced patience and that gentle smile on her face. Glass Slipper knew her mom wouldn’t start talking, not until she knew Glass Slipper was ready. Taking her time to sort out where to start, Glass Slipper finally gave up and dived right in
“Onyx ran away from our date.”

Crystal Note’s smile immediately faded
“Oh, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”
Glass Slipper just sighed again and swallowed the new tears she felt already
“He was nice at first but when we started talking, he got nervous. I told him about our trips to Vanhoover and Ponyville.”
“He didn’t take it too well, I guess.”

Glass Slipper pressed her eyes shut and shook her head
“He said he had to step out for a minute. I didn’t think anything about it, but when he didn’t return after half an hour…”
She trailed off and sobbed as the tears now leaked out again. Almost immediately, she felt the familiar soft touch on the top of her head. She opened her teary eyes and saw Crystal Note standing close, softly rubbing the top of her head, just like her mother used to do. Glass Slipper sat up a little and eagerly leaned into the soft hug as Crystal Note’s hooves gently wrapped around her. The teenage filly tucked her head under Crystal Note’s chin and as she hoped, she was pulled closer against the mare. She enjoyed being held for a while and the feeling of safety it brought her.

Crystal Note held her gently and as always allowed Glass Slipper to break the embrace, when she was ready. Tonight, Glass Slipper stayed close for minutes before she felt confident enough to talk
“Mom? Is it always this hard to find a special somepony? Or am I just hopeless?”

Crystal Note gently kissed the top of her filly’s head and whispered
“Oh sweetheart, you’re not hopeless. You’re a wonderful young mare, Glass Slipper. You’re confident and driven and you don’t give up easily. And while this helps you fulfil your dreams even against the odds, some stallions tend to get intimidated by such confidence. They get nervous, they even get scared sometimes. Some even get angry when a mare is seemingly braver than they are.”

Glass Slipper groaned and slumped more against her mom
"So, when I told Onyx I travelled out of the Crystal Empire, he felt threatened. I just didn’t want him to think I’m boring.”
Crystal Note giggled gently and nuzzled her mane
“I know, Angel. But sometimes, what we try to say and what others think we’re saying don’t match up.”

Glass Slipper sighed deeply and gently pulled out of the embrace, only so she could look at Crystal Note again
“Mom… you think maybe I should… act differently? Less confident, maybe?”
“No, sweetheart. I think that’s the absolute worst you can do. Either a stallion can accept you the way you really are, or he’s not fit to be your special somepony.”
Crystal Note spoke with conviction, but Glass Slipper noticed that far-away look in her eyes
“It might hurt in the moment, but if you keep pretending, it would only hurt both of you even more later on…”

Crystal Note trailed off and stared into the distance, until Glass Slipper leaned in to nuzzle her shoulder gently
“Mom?”
The mare blinked and frowned when she noticed the worried expression from Glass Slipper
“Did… did you ever have a special somepony, Mom?”

Crystal Note smiled tenderly at her little filly
“A few times, I thought I had, Glass Slipper. But it didn’t turn out right in the long run.”
“Why not?”
“That’s not easy to say. I had my dreams, they had theirs and we didn’t match up. I loved to travel, but they were looking for a home. I guess at some point, I just stopped searching for a significant other. If there is a pony out there for me, we will meet when we are ready. And right now, I have three very special fillies I love with all my heart.”

Glass Slipper managed a soft giggle as Crystal Note leaned in to gently kiss her forehead and nuzzle her cheek. That moment of mirth passed quickly as she had another thing nagging on her mind
“Does it always hurt like this?”
Crystal Note took a deep breath
“No, Glass Slipper. I don’t think so. I’ve parted with ponies who understood it didn’t work out, I even managed to stay friends with them. I wouldn’t call myself an expert, though. I’m afraid I’ve learned more from sappy love songs than from first-hoof-experience.”
Again, Glass Slipper and Crystal Note snickered for a moment, before an unusual hardness filled Crystal Note’s eyes
“But I do know that when it hurts, it’s some of the worst pain there is.”

Glass Slipper held her breath. She could almost feel the pain just from the mare’s voice, so she hesitated. When her curiosity won over, she only managed a single word
“Mom?”
Crystal Note stared at the wall behind Glass Slipper and whispered
“Do you remember how you felt when Silver Sword hurt your feelings? He was your first crush, that’s always hard when it turns out bad.”

Glass Slipper hesitated, but then leaned in and gently put her head on her mom’s shoulder. She felt her hooves wrap around her again, as Crystal Note drifted into the past.

I remember my first real crush. It happened back when I was still travelling from town to town with little more than my violin and my music. I had some sort of breakthrough with my songs back then, nothing really big, but enough for some ponies to know of me. I had just left Ponyville to try on my own hooves. I earned most of my bits by playing in parks and public places, with the odd gig at a bar here and there. On one of those trips, I met him.

He was in the audience when I sang for a few dozen ponies in Las Pegasus. I was pretty confident back then and he approached me after to tell me he was impressed by my voice. I didn’t really think much of it back then, but he mentioned he was in a rock band. Rock music was still very new back then, so I was intrigued to learn more. He invited me to their next gig and I went there. In hindsight, their music wasn’t stellar but the way he sang and played his electric guitar, he carried so much energy and drive into his music. It also didn’t hurt that he was a handsome stallion as well. I talked to him after the show, and next morning we met for breakfast. Just to talk about music, of course.

He was very charming and weaved in compliments whenever he could get away with it. He had a strong voice, but could be soft as velvet as well. Combine that with his good looks and… yeah. I had a crush on him. It felt so right, you know? I was trying to make myself a name in music business and he had a band and already made the first steps. He was funny, charming, he had an incredible stage presence, and when he first kissed me… it was amazing. He played his songs for me, just him and me and his guitar. I noticed a few flaws, but when I told him, he wasn’t mad at all. He appreciated my input and together, we worked hard to perfect his songs. I met the other ponies of the band too, and they were all nice. At the same time though, they always kept some distance to me. I didn’t understand why back then, I thought maybe they didn’t want to get between him and me.

He got bigger gigs soon, and his band gained a lot of fans. We never performed together, but I had a hoof in nearly all of his songs back then. I noticed he wouldn’t talk with me about much else than his music when that happened. We also didn’t spend any meaningful time together anymore, never just the two of us. There was always the band somewhere involved. I didn’t want to worry back then. He had hit a gig on a big music festival, a massive breakthrough for the band, so I thought he just wanted to be prepared as best as he could. We’d been together a few months already, so I had noticed his insatiable ambition by then.

I was getting worried, but then I found something. He had written a new song without telling me, and not just any song, a love song. Of course, I immediately thought he had written it for me. Maybe he wanted to surprise me with it, so I never asked him about it. What I did instead was learn his song. I practiced on my own, in secret, or with some of the band. They said that it might not be a good idea, but we’ve become friends over the weeks, so they supported me.

Finally, the day of the festival came. We were excited. He saw his chance to become big in the music scene. I saw the perfect opportunity to surprise him with his own song. The band proposed that they should start the show with his new song and he went for it.

I was backstage, waiting for my sign. As I said, I wasn’t a big number by far, in fact I hadn’t had any performances while we were together, nor did I write any new songs. So when the band played the intro to his song, everypony was surprised to see me walk on stage and take my place at the microphone. He certainly was very surprised. He was the lead singer of the band and when he sang the intro, I matched him perfectly. It was the first time we had ever been on stage together and singing with him, singing a love song he wrote for me, I felt like flying.

When the first verse set in, I took over the singing part. I had practiced with the band, so they knew my style and we harmonized within seconds. I knew he would be watching me, so I put everything I had into the song. I literally poured my heart and my soul into his song. I wanted him to realize how strong my feelings for him really were. I wanted him to fall in love with me just like I had. I faintly remember the crowd went wild while I sang, but I didn’t care. I was only singing for him, nothing else mattered.

The verse finished and we reached the refrain. I opened my eyes again to look at him. As expected, he joined in with singing again, but I never expected to see that look in his eyes. He was scowling at me. He was glaring daggers at me, I could feel his anger boil inside him. I was baffled by it, I couldn’t understand. I sang on autopilot, until we reached the second verse. The band slipped in to back me up again, but before I could sing even the first line, he went wild on his guitar. He started an intense solo and his electric guitar howled over everything else. The band didn’t know what to do, some just stopped playing altogether, but he just went on with his solo that didn’t even remotely match the song any more. The way he played was so aggressive, so furiously angry.

The crowd couldn’t make sense of it either. The cheers faded and they just stared at the stage. I tried to salvage whatever was left of his beautiful song, but when I started singing, he jumped at me. He shoved me away and he threw over the microphone, with angry eyes as he tortured his guitar.

When I saw his eyes, I suddenly knew it. He didn’t love me. He never had. All the time we spent together, I suddenly saw without the rose-tinted goggles. He was using me for his song, for his music, as a final push for his career. He got this gig because of my help, and now the crowd, his crowd, cheered on me instead. At this point, he never loved me. He hated me with a burning passion.

I glanced to the others, and I saw the guilt on their faces. They had known all the time, of course. I should have known, should have listened to them, but I chose to be blind instead.

He kept shredding his guitar, and I felt shredded as well, every chord was like a sharp cut. I was scared and angry at the same time, and so hurt. So I left. I didn’t run, but I didn’t turn back even once. I just walked off stage, into whatever direction. Before his song had ended, I had already left the festival grounds. Before his concert ended, I was already in a train that left town. I didn’t even know where I was going, I had just jumped into the first train I could find. I don’t even remember if I bought a ticket or not.

We never saw each other again. I had this hope that maybe he’d come after me and apologize, but deep down I knew it wouldn’t happen. He just moved on, but I fell to pieces. Years later, I ran into somepony from his old band again. She told me that the band had fallen apart soon after, and he had moved on, to bigger stages. I read his name every now and then, heard some songs he produced, but to this day I never met him again. It only lasted for a few months, but it changed the way I looked at other ponies. I backed away when anypony tried to get closer in such a way again. Once bitten, twice shy, as they say.

It hurt a lot, but it also made me stronger, wiser in a way. Sometimes, a wonderful thing can end up hurting you, Glass Slipper. No two ponies ever get together without hurting each other at some point, no matter how much they love each other. What’s important is to see if their love is stronger than the pain. If it is, they will get past anything and their love will be even deeper. That’s what I choose to believe. If your love is not strong enough to heal the pain, it’s not worth suffering. If your love can help you through the hurt though, you and your significant other will be able to face just anything, as long as you’re together.

Glass Slipper blinked when she realized that her mom had stopped talking for a while now. She angled her head to look up at her, but Crystal Note was still staring ahead at nothing. Glass Slipper pressed gently into the hooves that were still holding her safe. She softly nuzzled against her mom to share comfort with the mare and she was rewarded with a gentle squeeze. Their eyes met and they could smile again. Glass Slipper’s pain was still fresh, Crystal Note’s was long passed, but together they could face it.

When the teenage filly felt good enough, she finally wiggled out of the embrace. Crystal Note smiled softly
“Feeling better, Little Angel?”
“Yeah. Thanks Mom.”
She giggled as her mom nuzzled the ticklish spot behind her ear
“You’re welcome, dear. I know you won’t let one bad moment hold you down for long. There’s a pony out there just waiting for you, Glass Slipper.”

The filly giggled even more and nudged with her hoof
“You sound like an old grandmother! You could totally go out and find a date too, you know.”
Crystal Note nodded but didn’t hide her blush
“Well, maybe. But I wouldn’t even know where to start right now. Or how.”
Glass Slipper grinned and nudged again
“Maybe you don’t have to look too far.”
At this, Crystal Note only blushed more but they both giggled
“Right now, your sisters and you are my life, and I wouldn’t want it any other way, Darling.”
“But, we’re no babies anymore, so I’m sure you’d get the chance if you tried.”

“You’re rather persistent, Glass Slipper. Is there anything I should know?”
Instead of answering, Glass Slipper just smirked and jumped back on her hooves. She’d already spent enough time moping she decided. Crystal Note just chuckled softly and made her way out the teenager’s room again, she knew very well when words weren’t necessary.

Glass Slipper, despite the late hour, felt restless. Not about teasing Crystal Note, she knew her mom could take that, but she found her thoughts circling about the story she had shared with her. Something had been missing but she couldn’t put her hoof on it.

Her ears perked up when she heard an unfamiliar sound from downstairs. She climbed down the stairs, following the sound she soon recognized as an electric guitar. She knew Crystal Note owned one, but she also knew that it had been a joke gift from her friends in Ponyville and she’d never actually seen the mare use it. She sneaked towards Crystal Note’s study and peaked through the half-opened door.

Crystal Note sat by the window and stared out into the night, the flickering light of a few candles sent shadows dancing over the walls. Her coat had changed into a feint grey and she held the electric guitar in her hooves, but she wasn’t playing. Glass Slipper realized that the music had to come from the record player instead and now that she was closer, she also recognized the voice of a stallion singing a rock ballad as it seemed. The far-away look on Crystal Note made it easy for the teenager to guess to whom she was listening. The story had stirred up some old emotions and Glass Slipper knew how her mom dealt with those, so she waited silently.

Crystal Note hadn’t noticed her at all and she kept staring into nothing even when the record ended, her coat still dull and grey. Soon, she moved and the guitar came to life in her hooves. She strummed a few chords but after a minute, she played the same song Glass Slipper had just heard from the record, only a slower version of it, like a sad reflection of the ballad. The teenage filly just now realized that she’d never seen Crystal Note play without her eyes closed before, but the mare surprised her even more when she started to sing while still staring at the darkness outside

When I look into your eyes
There’s nothing left for me.
Nothing but my own mistakes
Staring back at me,
Asking why…

Why I stay
When you just push away
No matter what you see
You’re still so blind to me

Glass Slipper’s ears flopped down when she heard the pain in Crystal Note’s voice. Even though it had been years, the events of the past still haunted the mare. Glass Slipper didn’t wait for the end of the song and walked into the study. Not even trying to hide her tears, she went straight to Crystal Note’s side and sat down close, leaning against the mare to share company and, more importantly, comfort. It was what family does for each other and just like Crystal Note had come to her to share her pain, Glass Slipper now wanted nothing more than to do the same for her mom. The teenage filly knew, better than other ponies of her age, that she couldn’t take a mother for granted, so now she didn’t hesitate to be there for her mom, like Crystal Note had been for her as well so many times.

Crystal Note appreciated Glass Slipper’s presence more than she could show. Even though there was still hurt in her eyes, her lips curled into a soft smile and she leaned towards her daughter, resting against her as she played another song and yet another, each of them carrying the same sadness.

Glass Slipper knew better than to interrupt. She knew that Crystal Note needed this just like she had needed to mope and vent. Just like she had learned from her mom, she waited patiently but always stayed close. When Crystal Note finally set her instrument away with a heavy sigh, her hooves wrapped around her middle and the mare pressed gently into the embrace. Glass Slipper smiled when she noticed the hooves that reached out for her weren’t grey anymore.

They stayed like this, soaking up each other’s presence and comfort, in peaceful silence. Glass Slipper couldn’t hold back a yawn at some point, both exhausted from a long day but also emotional turmoil. Crystal Note could easily relate and gently nuzzled the top of her head
“We should get some sleep while we still can, dear. Off to bed with you, Slipper.”

Glass Slipper nodded with another yawn and pulled out of the embrace. She turned towards the door but slowed when she realized Crystal Note wasn’t following her. After a moment of doubt, she went with the first thing that had come to her mind
“Goodnight Mom. Love you.”
The filly beamed in a smile when Crystal Note’s eyes closed with a happy sigh and beautiful sparkles started dancing over her coat. With a look of pride and love, her mom returned her smile
“Love you too, Little Angel. Sweet dreams.”

Author's Note

This one has been hiding in my hard drive for more than two years now. About time I got it out.
With everyone getting a bit more backstory, it's only fair Crystal Note gets some as well.