The Terrible Truth

As the two finished their little snack, Silverstream said goodbye as well as giving her mother the little message from Sky Beak and Terramar, before the two princesses swam to their next location, the palace of Seaquestria, where Queen Skystar was. Skystar was currently busy discussing things with some other seaponies when the two princesses arrived, Silverstream getting her cousin's attention.

"Skystar!" Silverstream said loudly to get her older cousin's attention.

"Silverstream!" Skystar replied back with a smile as she quickly turned to the seaponies she was attending to. "We'll pick this up later, right now my cousin has the Mt. Aris report to give me."

Skystar was a very energetic hippogriff/seapony, always bright and cheerful, and even when she took her mother's place and becoming more serious with her new position, she still kept her fun side intact, after all being a queen now was a bit more stressful. As the two family members swam towards each other, giving each other a hug, Skystar got right down to business.

"So, how are things doing on Mt. Aris, any trouble to report that I need to go up for?" Skystar asked.

"Nothing, everything is all good, tourism is doing well and every hippogriff has enough to eat, plus no outside threats." Silverstream happily reported. "But, we just got a very important visitor." Silverstream swimming aside to reveal Flurry.

"Hello your majesty." Flurry bowed.

"No need for that, Princess Flurry Heart." Skystar remaining modest while smiling. "I'm very sorry I was unable to attend your coronation when your parents sent me the invitation, there were some important things I needed to attend to."

"That's alright Queen Skystar, I know you're needed here." Flurry replied.

"May I ask why you're here now and only you?" Skystar curious as to why the young princess was the only visitor and she wasn't here with her parents.

"Oh, well... as I told Princess Silverstream, I'm here to discuss some important matters on behalf of my parents." Flurry remembering what she said earlier.

Silverstream quickly whispered something to her cousin and after Skystar thought about something for a minute before speaking.

"Well, whatever it is I'm sure it can wait, it is getting to the end of the day and you must be tired from your long train ride here from the Crystal Empire." Skystar making a decision. "I'll tell the royal chefs to prepare for three tonight while we spend the rest of the day getting some relaxing massages."

"Yay!" Silverstream clapping her seapony arms. "I been wanting a relaxing seaweed wrap for more than a week now!"

"I guess that sounds okay, I could sure use some relaxation." Flurry agreeing, thinking that maybe a massage would help keep her mind off things.

And so the three royal seaponies swam out of the throne room and to the underwater building where Seaquestria's massage parlor was. There the three royal seaponies got some nice, relaxing treatments, even Flurry quite enjoyed it, it put her mind at ease and cooled her head which was full of many conflicting thoughts. By the time the treatments ended, Flurry felt totally relaxed as the tension in her body was gone for the time being. As the three exited the parlor, it was near dinner time as the lights of Seaquestria were a bit dimmed.

"Relaxing as always." Silverstream commented as she sighed happily.

"Did you enjoy it Princess Flurry?" Skystar asked Flurry.

"I actually did, great suggestion Queen Skystar." Flurry answered.

"You're welcome, well we should get back for some dinner, the chefs should almost be done." Skystar replying as the three then returned to the palace, to the dining room where the chefs were just placing the food onto the table.

"Your majesties." The chefs greeted the three royal seaponies. "Dinner is served."

"Thank you, you are all excused and free for the rest of the night." Skystar replied as the chefs bowed once more before giving the royals their privacy in the dining room.

The three royals took their seats, Skystar taking the biggest and head chair, while Flurry and Silverstream took two smaller, but still very decorated chairs on either side of the table. As Skystar told the two, as well as herself, to dig in, the three started their meal. Which at first there was no talking, just eating, this is until Skystar spoke up.

"So Princess Flurry Heart, I guess we should discuss some things." Skystar reminded Flurry.

"Oh yes!" Flurry quickly replied as she finished her chewing to not be rude while she spoke. "About some important matters, where should I start..." Flurry realizing she didn't think about a convincing cover, but Skystar stopped her.

"No, I think what's important to discuss is you." Skystar revealing, Flurry surprised as she didn't know at first how to respond. "Something is bothering you."

"How... How did you know?" Flurry skipping a breath.

"I am a queen, it's my job to know what my subjects are feeling and my cousin here was a student at the School of Friendship before becoming the next princess." Skystar answering. "So what is it princess, it's alright to confess, it's just us three." Skystar reassured Flurry, which was true since it was just the three royal seaponies in the dining room, they had complete privacy here.

"Alright, I ran away from home, because I learned a terrible truth, that I was responsible for the Crystal Empire almost falling victim to the Frozen North after I shattered the Crystal Heart." Flurry revealing the truth of why she was here.

"Oh yes, I remember Headmare Twilight told us about that in class when we were learning about the Crystal Heart." Silverstream remembering. "And that despite the heart shattering, it was able to be put back together and the Empire saved."

"If only that fact helped..." Flurry sighed, Skystar thinking of a different approach to this problem.

"Princess, if it does help, you're not the only one who has done something that can completely change something." Skystar trying to appeal to the young crystal princess. "I remember when I left Seaquestria to help a group of special ponies without my mother's approval, back when we were all hiding in Sequestria from the Storm King and despite that, my mother still accepted that what I did was right, even thought I went against her word."

"Yeah and I left home with my friends and almost started an international war." Silverstream remembering the time she hid out with her new friends when the School of Friendship opened, at the Castle of the Two Sisters.

"I guess you two have a point, but I'm not so sure if I can look at my parents in the same way as I did growing up." Flurry still having some worry.

"It's a healing process that takes time, but you can eventually see that what you did in the past was, well in the past, as long as you don't repeat the mistake and strive to do better, than you will forget whatever terrible thing you have done." Skystar giving her wisdom.

"I guess I should give it a try, besides I can't escape from my parents for too long before they start searching for me." Flurry willing to give her parents a chance as she spoke with a little more confidence.

"That's the spirit, I'll send out a message right after we eat telling your parents where you are." Skystar smiled. "In the meantime, please stay for the night so you're fully rested for the trip back, you're a guest here after all."

And so after the three royal seaponies finished their dinner, Skystar had a short message written up and had it delivered to the Crystal Empire while Silverstream showed Flurry a room that she could sleep in for the night. As Flurry went to sleep, Skystar and Silverstream had a short talk about something before they themselves slept for the night...

As the next day came, the three royals, after a quick stop at Ocean Flow's home, for Flurry to say goodbye and thank the adult female for her kindness, they went back up to the surface. The three, back in their hippogriff/pony forms, trotted over to the train station, waiting for the next train to the Crystal Empire, which came as the conductor announced:

"Next stop, the Crystal Empire!" The conductor shouted to be heard over the whole platform.

"Well I guess that's my ride." Flurry taking a deep breath as she started to go, but was stopped by Silverstream.

"Before you go, my cousin and I had a little talk and we both decided to give you a little gift." Silverstream taking out a necklace from under her wing.

"Is that..." Flurry not believing her eyes.

"Yes, it's a piece of the magic pearl, we still have a few left and we both decided you should have one." Skystar confirming what Flurry was getting. "If you ever feel the need to come here, you're going to need it, just make sure next time your parents know you're going."

"Thank you, your majesties, I don't know what else to say." Flurry taking the necklace as Silverstream brought it more froward.

"You're welcome." Silverstream replied.

"Last call for the Crystal Empire!" The conductor shouted.

"Well I should get going, my parents probably miss me already." Flurry said.

"Farewell princess, see you next time." Skystar said as the three royals waved at each other as Flurry got on board the train, back to her home, as Flurry took a window seat, she could still see Skystar and Silverstream there, continuing to wave and until the train started to move and begin its journey, Flurry looking from the window to the necklace and the pearl which was attracted, the beautiful piece of magical jewelry shining as Flurry smiled. "Yes, see you two next time." Flurry then putting the necklace around her neck as she sighed happily and laid down to get some rest for the long journey back home.