Chapters Princess Flurry Heart, Defender of the Crystal Empire
Author's Note
Hey everycreature!
So some of you may know that I did try to start my own version of what the fifth generation of MLP would look like and well... Considering that I have watched the Finale (And don't worry, not saying anything!) I may just have to revise it and put out a second version once the finale airs.
However, I didn't want to let one of the major ideas I had for the series to go to waste, so I guess you can enjoy this, even thought it may be a little confusing!
Also, this was an idea I thought of after seeing this video by Silver Quill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PifXfBfhSBc&t=2s (Skip to 7:20 for what I'm referring to)
Your Majesty... Part 1
It was getting late in the evening time in the Crystal Empire, a kingdom north of Equestria and close by to Yakyakistan, a kingdom in which Princess Cadance ruled over alongside her husband, Prince Shining Armor and well now, still fresh from her 18th birthday, their alicorn daughter, Princess Flurry Heart.
However we'll get back to that...
As the sun was starting to set over the mountains over the horizon, the last train for the day rolled into the kingdom's train station, coming to a stop as passengers were let off or got on as one of those coming off the train was a pony wearing a cloak, hiding almost the whole body and head from view. As other ponies minded their business, the cloaked pony trotted from the train station, heading off into the kingdom, with a malicious smile on the face.
"Enjoy your last night under the princess' rule crystal ponies, it will be your last..." The pony chuckled as he or she trotted into the kingdom.
The next day...
"Okay, okay, got that done and this..." A young alicorn pranced around a room filled with papers and writing materials as she looked like she hasn't gotten much sleep, as seen by her messy mane and heavy eyes. "No, no... Maybe... No that wouldn't work..." The alicorn stated rapidly as outside the door, Cadance and Shining Armor heard the young alicorn have like a panic attack.
"Maybe we should go in and see what's wrong?" Shining Armor suggested.
"Honey, I think maybe she should figure it out herself, she is a princess now after all." Cadance suggested as something changed her mind as a frustrated shout could be heard and what sounded like a magical blast. "Okay yeah, we need to go in and see what's wrong..." Cadance caving in as Shining Armor opened the door slowly to see his young daughter panting and struggling to stay awake.
"Flurry Sweetie..." Shining Armor asked slowly. "Are you okay?"
"Huh?" The young alicorn, Flurry Heart answered as she turned around to see her parents. "Oh mom, dad... I'm fine... Really I am..."
"Sweetie, you're not fine..." Cadance saying the obvious. "Your father and I heard you from outside, we both know that since this is the first Crystal Fair overseen by you, it's tough preparing for it, but you have been preparing for it day and night, and you are doing an excellent job and everything is almost ready."
"I know... I just want everything to be perfect and to show that I can be a good princess too, like you mom." Flurry replied and than realized her dad was standing right next to her mother. "No offense dad..."
"None taken sweetie." Shining Armor replied. "Look, I know you want to prove yourself, but you don't have to, don't push yourself too hard so soon, I promise you will get the chance to show your true potential."
"Thanks dad..." Flurry blushed.
"Yes, although I am curious why you didn't ask your friends for their help and maybe even a special someone you know..." Cadance teased on that last part.
"Mom, my friends have their own issues to deal with, plus you know I already invited them to attend the Fair and well..." Flurry now blushing a deeper red. "Pound and Pumpkin have to watch over Sugarcube Corner..." Flurry feeling funny over saying "Pound" as she tried to hide her blushing from her parents, especially her mother, but her mother... Well being the Princess of Love means she can catch on to these things easily.
"Well, regardless sweetie, how about you take a much needed break, lets have some private family time at our favorite cafe." Shining Armor suggested.
"Well, I guess I can't say no and it wouldn't hurt to have some of my favorite tea..." Flurry agreed.
"Good, but first..." Cadance popping a comb with her magic and used it to tidy her daughter's messy mane.
"Mom..." Flurry complained.
"Now, now... You're a princess, if you're going to go out, you can't go out like that." Cadance insisted as it took a few minutes to make her daughter's mane presentable.
As soon as the little mother to daughter grooming session was done, the family of three headed out of the palace and onto the streets of the Crystal Empire, Crystal ponies busy preparing for the upcoming Crystal Fair. And of course as the family passed over, ponies took a bow, especially to their newest princess.
"Sometimes I wish I was still a little filly growing up so I wouldn't have to deal with all this attention..." Flurry sighed.
"You get used to it sweetie, your Auntie Twilight keeps wishing the same thing too when she has to walk down Canterlot's streets, but she learned to get used to and ignore it." Cadance reassured her daughter as several Crystal guards came trotting up to the family.
"Your highness." One of them spoke as he and the other guards saluted.
"What is it lieutenant?" Shining Armor asked.
"There is a problem that requires your attention." The guard answered.
"What kind of problem?" Cadance asked.
"Seems there is a unicorn pony wearing a cloak, somepony reported that it looks suspicious." The guard returned.
"Well what are we waiting for, lets go check it out." Flurry jumping at the opportunity to have something fun and exciting to do for a change.
"No sweetie, you should head back to the palace, your father and I will take care of this." Cadance replied.
"But mom..." Flurry started to protest.
"No buts Flurry, for your own safety, please stay in the palace, we'll be back soon." Cadance ordered.
"Yes mom..." Flurry giving in as she hung her head low, turning around to head back to the palace. "Might as well get back to making sure everything's ready for the Crystal Fair..."
As Flurry re-entered the palace, her house, she sighed deeply as she went back to the room where she was putting together the plans and schedules for the Fair, if there was one trait Flurry had from her Auntie Twily, it was to plan out every single detail for an event, leaving no stone unturned. Only Flurry couldn't find herself to get back to the work right away, instead looking out the window of the room, wondering if she should have brought her friends to help her out, it would surely help her with sleep.
Speaking of Flurry's friends, she had quite a unique group of friends, just like how Flurry knew that some of her Auntie Twily's students from the School of Friendship, who came from all across the different lands, bonded together in friendship, which they still held to this day. Flurry's friends were Blooming Rose, a unicorn pony, Smoky, a dragon, Feather Tang, a hippogriff, Abby, a griffon, Teresa, a changeling, and Khan, a yak, all very good friends with each other despite their differences.
And well Flurry even had a "special friend" and the thought of him made her blush again as she had to chuckle a little.
"I could sure use your comfort Pound Cake..." Flurry smiled.
Although she hated to admit it to even her family and friends, she had a huge crush on a pegasus stallion named Pound Cake, the son of Mr and Mrs. Cake and the brother of Pumpkin Cake, who was also a very good friend of Flurry. Unlike most stallions, who just saw a pretty princess in Flurry, Pound actually saw more in Flurry and well whenever he saw her, Flurry would notice he would get nervous, sweaty, unable to say much, he clearly also had a big crush on Flurry, but was of course too scared to come out and say it.
"One day Mr. Pound Cake, you're going to admit it and maybe I'll get a chance at real love, just like mom has with dad..." Flurry smiled as she imagined a bright future with the handsome stallion while staring out the window, picturing a cloud was the stallion.
Back with Cadance and Shining Armor, they were following the guards to the reported sighting of the strange pony as Shining Armor started up a conversation with his wife.
"Honey, don't you think you were being a little hard on Flurry?" Shining Armor asked. "She is an official princess now and needs to start experiencing things first hoof."
"I know Shining Armor, but in my heart she's still a little filly and if anything happens to us, she's all the Crystal Empire has, I'm just trying to make sure she's safe." Cadance reassured her husband. "I promise we'll make it up to her when we can."
"That's what I like to hear and why I married you." Shining Armor smiled as he placed a quick kiss on Cadance's cheek, right before one of the guards got the Princess and Prince's attention.
"Your highnesses, the pony's here." The guards quietly spoke as the royal couple looked up to see a couple of guards on either side of an alleyway, looking inside as there was a cloaked pony alright, holding a crystal pony against his will.
Quietly forming up under Shining Armor's instructions, the guards and royal couple went into the alleyway, silently coming closer and closer until they were very close and Shining Armor spoke in a loud and clear voice.
"Stop right there whoever you are!" Shining Armor demanded as the guards lowered their spears. "Slowly step back and allow the guards to restrain you and this will be easy." Shining Armor instructed the strange pony as a mare's chuckle could be heard from under the cloak.
"You must be Prince Shining Armor and I'm guessing your wife, Princess Cadance is right next to you, I was actually waiting for you two to show up..." The pony spoke as the guards stepped ever so closer, now within reach of restraining the pony.
"Come quietly, there is no escape, you're surrounded." Cadance said sternly as the mare just laughed.
"Escape?" The mare chuckled. "No... Escape is not my plan..." And suddenly the pony quickly turned around as her horn lit up and shot out several blasts of magic out at each guard, hitting them and well... Turning them to either spears or suits of armor.
Both Cadance and Shining Armor was dumbstruck for a second, but Shining Armor responded right away, shooting his own magic, but the unicorn mare shot back and well it was pushing match, but Shining Armor was losing as the unicorn's magic eventually hit the stallion right in the horn and literally turned him into his cutie mark, a shield.
"Shining Armor!" Cadance yelled as she bent down to look at the shield, her husband's face not visible, but...
"Cadance, run!" Shining Armor's voice could be heard coming from the shield. "Get Flurry and get out of here!"
"No! I'm not leaving you!" Cadance yelled as the crazy mare who put Shining Armor like this came up, laughing. "Who are you and what do you want!?"
"So eager..." The mare smiled maliciously. "You can call me Majesty and I'm here to take control of this kingdom..." The mare stated as she once again shot out her magic at Cadance.
Princess Flurry Heart, Defender of the Crystal Empire
While Cadance and Shining Armor were busy... Well busy getting beaten, Flurry was back in the room where she was arranging things for the Crystal Fair, and well... Even a young teenage alicorn grows sleepy as Flurry was sleeping while sitting down on a stool, her head on a desk as she was having a pleasant dream.
"Oh yes Pound Cake, I would like some more tea, thanks for asking..." Flurry spoke dreamily and out loud. "You're such a gentlestallion..."
And then came a knocking at the door, of course Flurry was still out of it and took the knocking to be in her dream.
"Pumpkin Cake if that's you, your brother and I are fine..." Flurry spoke while the real pony at the door was rather confused as he cleared his throat before speaking.
"Your highness, I'm not this Pumpkin Cake you speak of..." The pony replied. "It's the captain of the guard..."
"Captain..." Flurry spoke as she slowly opened her eyes and realized she was only dreaming as she nearly fell off her stool. "Oh yes! I'm sorry! I'll be out there in a minute!" Flurry shaking her head to wake herself up and presenting herself to her full height as she went to the door and opened it, being greeted by a saluting guardspony. "What is it captain?"
"Your highness, something's gone wrong..." The captain began. "A pony came in demanding to see you, he's in a pretty bad shape and needs to see you right away."
"Can't my parents see him?" Flurry asked, thinking it would be better for the pony to speak to her mom or dad.
"That's the thing your highness, the princess and prince... Are gone, in a way..." The captain reported.
"What!?" Flurry now throughly alarmed as she tried to remain as calm as she could. "Okay, please tell the pony to meet me in the throne room."
With the captain leaving, Flurry was left alone with many thoughts racing through her head, wondering what exactly happened to her parents, but she knew she had to remain patient and calm, the only way to find out what happened to her parents was to see this pony. And well arriving at the throne room, Flurry saw a few guards and a very terrified looking crystal pony, who right away bowed to the young alicorn.
"Your highness... Please forgive my suddenness..." The pony apologized.
"It's alright, please take a deep breath and tell me what happened." Flurry putting a hoof on the pony's shoulder.
"Right..." The pony doing as instructed before starting. "Okay, this unicorn pony had me trapped in an alleyway, I had no idea what she wanted, but the princess and prince, with a few guards came to save me, but turns out that unicorn didn't want me, she wanted your parents... And..."
"Go on..." Flurry spoke softly, despite the lingering fear in her head.
"She turned the guards into spears and the prince into a shield and the princess... Into a stone heart." The pony continued. "I thought I was going to be next, but the unicorn didn't do anything to me, but she wanted me to give you a message... She said she wants you to find her if you want to see the princess and prince again."
"This isn't good..." Flurry began panicking in her head. "Can you tell me anything else?" Flurry needing more information.
"The only other thing I know is that her name is Majesty." The pony answered.
"Thank you very much." Flurry smiled at the pony. "I'll have a couple of guards escort you back to your home and stay there until this is over."
"Thank you your highness..." The pony bowed before he was escorted out, back to his house while Flurry began thinking.
"Captain." Flurry calling over the captain of the guard.
"Yes, your highness!" The captain saluted.
"Have the kingdom on lockdown, everypony needs to stay in there homes until we find whoever this "Majesty" is, close the train station and cancel all trains coming in and out, have guards patrolling the streets, making sure everypony is in there homes, search for Majesty and my parents." Flurry began issuing out orders.
"Yes, your highness, I'll also have guards stationed around the palace to protect you." The captain replied.
"No captain, I'm going to look for Majesty and my parents myself." Flurry replied, starting to leave the throne room.
"Your highness, I don't think that's a very good idea..." The captain began to protest.
"Don't worry captain, I can take care of myself, just follow my instructions and get it done." Flurry reassured the guardspony as she left the palace. "Hopefully I can find mom and dad before Majesty finds me..." Flurry told herself as she started the search.
Meanwhile, in Canterlot...
Blooming Rose, a young red unicorn, after saying goodbye to her parents, was off to the train station, her destination the Crystal Empire to join her friend, Princess Flurry Heart, in attending the Crystal Fair, the first one where Flurry planned out the fair, being an official princess now. And it also gave her a chance to see all her other friends as well, especially her "special" friend, Feather Tang.
"I can't wait to get there, Flurry's going to be so happy to see us." Rose spoke to herself as she arrived at the train station, just in time to catch the next train for the Crystal Empire or so she thought...
As Rose arrived on the station platform, ponies were a little upset with the conductor, who gave them some bad news.
"What do you mean all the trains for the Crystal Empire are cancelled!?" One pony shouted. "How else are we supposed to attend the Crystal Fair!?"
"I'm sorry, but Princess Flurry Heart has ordered all trains to and from the Crystal Empire cancelled until further notice." The conductor answered.
"Cancelled?" Rose thought in her head. "Why would Flurry do that... Something's clearly wrong..." Rose not wasting a second to get into action and going inside the train station, began writing a letter to her "special" friend, Feather Tang...
Of course since all the trains going to the Crystal Empire were cancelled and all of Flurry's friends were to go, but of course couldn't, they were all also very confused as Feather got Rose's letter, Rose using her magic to teleport it to him, Feather getting a quick message than to Abby in Griffonstone, who wrote to Teresa in the Changeling Kingdom, who then wrote to Smoky in the dragon lands, and finally wrote to Khan in Yakyakistan. All of them going to meet Rose in Canterlot and by day's end, the six friends were together, all wanting answers.
"Do you think Flurry is in trouble?" Feather asked.
"Well, why else would she cancel all the trains, obviously she doesn't want anyone escaping." Teresa pointed out.
"So why are we here than?" Smoky asked.
"We need to get into the Crystal Empire, help out Flurry and see what's wrong." Rose suggesting.
"Yak doesn't believe it's safe..." Khan a bit scared.
"Come on Khan, Flurry has always helped out us, we need to go and help her how ever we can." Abby replied.
"The trains are cancelled, but I already managed to rent a hot air balloon for the ride there while I was waiting for you all to make it here." Rose spoke as she led her friends to where the hot balloon was ready to go, Rose paying the bits to the pony she was renting the balloon from as her friends got in, it was a little tight, but they managed to fit in as the balloon was filled with hot air before slowly lifting off the ground, on its way to the Crystal Empire.
Back at the Crystal Empire...
Flurry was very busy looking for her parents, but there were groups of crystal ponies who saw the princess and were asking a lot of questions, since they were told to stay in their homes, but didn't know exactly why.
"Please everypony, you need to stay inside, it's not safe out here." Flurry spoke as calmly as she could.
"Are we in trouble princess?" A little filly asked.
"Are we under attack by something or someone!?" An older adult pony asked in a little panicking tone as others kept going on with the panic clear in their voice.
"Look everypony, I know you're all scared, but I can assure you, the crystal guards and I have everything under control and it will be easier if you all stay in your homes and wait until this is over." Flurry spoke loudly to be heard above the crowd.
And then out of the corner of her eye, Flurry saw a hot air balloon coming in, wondering who it could be until she then saw magical beams shoot out and hit the balloon, ripping holes in it as she then began coming down rapidly as Flurry saw that it was a few of the unicorn guards who were positioned on the castle balconies. Ignoring the crowd, Flurry ran to where she saw the balloon drop down...
"Not exactly a fun welcome..." Abby groaned as luckily the balloon fell in the kingdom's park, having crashed through a tree before the basket of the balloon dropped down the rest of the way onto the ground.
"Well, at least we're all okay..." Smoky said with relief as the group of friends were recovering from the fall and were about to get up, only for crystal guards to gallop up and surround them, holding out their spears.
"Halt!" One of the guards shouted.
"Who are you!?" Another asked.
"What are you all doing here?" A familiar voice spoke up as Flurry came up, making her in between a couple of the guards to see her friends. "It's okay, they're my friends, go back to your orders." Flurry ordered the guards as they lowered their spears and went back to their jobs.
"Well, now I think I know why you cancelled all the trains coming to and from here..." Teresa said a little salty as she wasn't entirely happy about the welcome.
"Yeah, care to explain what this is all about Flurry?" Rose asking as she was rubbing her head and making sure her unicorn horn was okay.
"Look I'm sorry I didn't tell you all myself, but things are very chaotic right now." Flurry began. "Somepony named Majesty is in the Crystal Empire, already having taken out several guards and even done something to my parents, that's why I ordered all the trains cancelled as well as everypony to stay in their homes until I find her and my parents."
"Than Princess's friends go with their friend." Khan said, excited to join in.
"No, this is exactly why I cancelled all the trains, so you all and others wouldn't get hurt potentially, it's not that I'm not happy to see you all, it's just I don't want to have to worry about any of you getting hurt." Flurry replied.
"But Flurry..." Feather began.
"No, I need you all to stay in the palace until I come back." Flurry stood her ground before lowering her voice. "Please, I just want to know you all are safe, I'll be fine by myself and be back with mom and dad in no time and then we can all enjoy the Crystal Fair together."
Alright Flurry..." Rose sighed.
"I'll have some guards make sure you get to the palace safely." Flurry smiled, seeing her friends accept her decision.
So while Flurry's friends headed off under escort to the palace, Flurry continued her search for her parents, looking through the alleyways, seeing if there was anything out of the ordinary, but so far nothing, until she quickly checked through one about to continue her search until she heard her mother's voice.
"Mom?" Flurry questioned as she went in, looking until she found a pink colored heart shaped stone. "Mom, what happened to you!?"
"Sweetie, get out of here, now!" Cadance shouted, however before Flurry could say anything, a magic beam shot at her, knocking her onto the ground as a cloaked pony was standing nearby...
"Well, well... The final obstacle in my way..." The cloaked pony chuckled.
"You must be Majesty..." Flurry replied as she picked herself up and ready to defend herself...
Princess Flurry Heart, Defender of the Crystal Empire
"You catch on fast young princess, it's a shame that we can't be friends..." Majesty smiled sinisterly.
"Why would I ever want to be friends with you..." Flurry snarled back. "I demand you bring back my parents, the guards, and leave this kingdom while you can..."
"Leave?" Majesty laughed. "Why would I ever want to leave? I'm here to take control of this kingdom and I plan on staying here forever..."
"Well, you're going to have to get through me first." Flurry taking her stand as she was ready to magic duel Majesty.
"I thought so... That was my plan after all..." And Majesty fired up her magic and shot it at Flurry, only for Flurry to quickly teleport away and appear behind her opponent, taking her shot as it hit Majesty and pushed her back, Majesty falling down as Flurry came up.
"You thought I would be so naive, I learned a thing or two from my family..." Flurry stated as she came closer, only for Majesty to quickly turn her head and shoot Flurry, Flurry flying backward and landing on her back, out on the street as Majesty came up, Flurry quickly standing up, a little hurt, but still eager to beat Majesty.
"And I been patient and waiting for an opportunity like this..." Majesty replied as she shot her magic once again, meeting Flurry's magic as the two were engaged in a magical tug of war, trying to push each other's magic, giving more and more into it, but the young princess was slowly losing... "Give it up you little princess, you're not as strong as me..."
"Yes, I am..." Flurry stated angrily while struggling. "I will defeat you..."
"You can't..." Majesty returned as finally the pushing match was over as Majesty's magic reached Flurry, the young princess flying back once again as she crashed right into a house on the other side of the street and feel back down.
As Flurry felt the pain all over, she panted rapidly, losing strength as she didn't know how much longer she could keep this up. As Flurry struggled to even stand up on her hooves, she saw the shadow and in a second, the white hooves of Majesty as the young princess slowly looked up to look right into the crazed unicorn's eyes. Flurry shot out her magic, but it was so weak at this point that Majesty easily shielded herself before picking up the young princess with her magic and slammed her back down on the ground several times.
"Had enough yet?" Majesty sighed, sounding very bored of what she thought was a pathetic showing from Flurry.
"No..." Flurry answered weakly. "I'm not done yet..."
"That's too bad..." Majesty replied. "I hate to mess up your pretty mane..." And Majesty went right back to beating Flurry...
Back at the Crystal Palace...
"I don't like it..." Abby stated as the female griffon was pacing back and forth. "She has been out there way too long, we should go look for her."
"No, Flurry stated friends must stay here." Khan replied.
"Yeah, if anyone is strong enough Flurry is." Teresa agreed. "She'll be back."
And just as Teresa spoke this, several guards came galloping past them, to one of the balconies as a loud voice came calling out.
"It's over!" The voice shouted. "I defeated your princesses and prince, now submit to me!"
"I got a bad feeling about this..." Smoky said as the group of friends joined the guards by the balcony.
As the group of friends got there, they stood in shock as they saw a white unicorn, holding onto several objects with her magic, but the worst... a very bruised and battered Princess Flurry Heart, brought down to her hooves.
"Now surrender..." Majesty demanded.
"Ready!" The captain of the crystal guard shouted as he got his own unicorn guards, lining the balconies, ready to take a stand. "Now!" And the guards shot out their magic... Which was easily blocked by Majesty...
"Still resisting..." Majesty yawned before using the additional energy from the guards' magic to send out a wave attack, directed at the guards as the guards had no time to react, being flown backward, luckily Flurry's friends, who were standing behind the guards, managed to lay down flat just in time, the guards flying above their heads.
"This is bad... Isn't it bad?" Feather stating the obvious as most of his friends gave him a "Seriously?" face.
"Come on, we got to save Flurry." Rose urged her friends as she lit up her horn and teleported her and her friends down onto the ground, right in front of Majesty...
"And who exactly are you supposed to be?" Majesty asked, very annoyed at being stopped once again.
"We're Flurry's friends..." Smoky stated.
"Evil unicorn must leave..." Khan added.
"Did you not get the message?" Majesty chuckled. "I defeated the entire guard and the three royals and you are just a bunch of creatures..."
"Than let me send you a new message..." Rose taking a step froward before shooting out her own magic, which of course... Majesty easily dealt with, sending Rose flying and hitting one of the crystal pillars holding up the palace.
"Rose!" Feather cried out as he then got very angry, Rose being his special friend as he then charged at Majesty, ready to claw the unicorn, but Smoky and Teresa held onto Feather's sides, holding the hippogriff back from also getting hurt.
"Easy buddy!" Teresa shouted.
"Yeah, you want to get blasted too!?" Smoky agreed as he held onto his tight grip on his friend.
"I don't care!" Feather cried out. "No one hurts Rose and gets away with it!"
"I would love to pound you too..." Majesty sighed. "But I wasted enough time with you all, I came to claim the Crystal Empire as my own... Here... Have your useless princess friend, she gave me a very boring fight anyway..." Majesty releasing Flurry from her magical hold as the princess fell onto the ground, Abby and Khan going to her as Feather was slowly let go by Smoky and Teresa, the hippogriff a mess as he then went to make sure Rose was okay, Majesty going inside the palace to finish up whatever resistance was left, leaving the group of friends powerless to stop her.
"Come on Flurry..." Abby spoke to her alicorn friend softly. "Wake up..."
And in a miracle, Flurry woke up, slowly opening her eyes as she saw first the griffon's face, before seeing Khan's.
"Thank goodness Flurry is okay." Khan sighed.
"Abby... Khan..." Flurry spoke. "Where is everyone else?"
"Right here Flurry." Smoky replied as Abby helped up Flurry, the alicorn struggling stand up properly as she saw the rest of her friends, including Rose, who was also hurt and on Feather's back.
"Now that you're awake, lets go kick that unicorn's butt together." Teresa saying in confidence despite seeing what Majesty can do.
"No..." Flurry replied. "She's too powerful, we have to hide..."
"Come on Flurry... You can't give up your home!" Smoky very surprised.
"Flurry's right..." Feather coming up. "Both her and Rose are hurt and need time to rest." Feather trying his best to hide his emotions.
"I know just the place where we can hide." Flurry telling her friends as she began trotting away from the palace, not just in a crippled state, but with a heavy heart.
A little later...
"We should be fine in here..." Flurry told her friends as she opened a door and her friends went in one by one. "I just hope Majesty doesn't find us." Flurry told herself in her head as she was the last one in, closing the door.
"So who's house is this exactly?" Abby asked.
"My crystaller's old house, he left not too late ago to live in Ponyville with my Auntie Starlight." Flurry answered.
Meanwhile Feather quickly laid down Rose on a nearby couch, making sure Rose was comfortable as the unicorn opened her eyes.
"Feather?" Rose asked quietly.
"Thank goodness Rose..." Feather sighed with relief. "I thought you would never wake up..." Feather shedding a tear.
"Well, I can't leave you heartbroken can I?" Rose joked as she coughed, the soughing hurting her a little.
"It's good to see you awake Rose." Flurry noticing.
"Flurry..." Rose smiling. "I'm glad to see you're okay."
"Me too..." Flurry then lowering her head. "At least we're okay..."
"So what exactly are we going to do?" Smoky asked.
"I'm going to write a letter to my Auntie Twily, she'll come with reinforcements and hopefully she and her friends can defeat Majesty." Flurry coming up with a solution. "But it will take time for them to get here."
"We can't just sit here and wait..." Teresa argued. "We have to do something."
"And what?" Abby arguing back. "Let her beat us up like Flurry and Rose?"
"I agree with Teresa... I want to show that unicorn what hippogriffs can do when they're angry..." Feather determined to get his own revenge for Rose.
"Feather, I know you're mad, but you're going to get just as much hurt, if not worse..." Smoky crossing his arms.
"You want to test me..." Feather getting right up to his dragon friend's face.
"Friends not enemies..." Khan looking to separate the two.
And so the group of friends, except Flurry, contained arguing with each other until Flurry had enough, looking to settle the matter.
"Enough!" Flurry shouted, loud enough that all of her friends stopped at once.
"I agree with both, we can't just sit here and wait for help to come, but Majesty will beat us again if we try." Flurry saying.
"So what are you suggesting Flurry?" Rose asked.
"I remember when my Auntie Twily first told me about the time she defeated Nightmare Moon, the original elements of harmony were destroyed, but she defeated Nightmare Moon and returned Luna with the help of her friends and the magic of friendship..." Flurry explaining.
"So that means what exactly?" Teresa not getting the point.
"I think it's time we pay a visit to her Majesty..." Flurry finishing.
Princess Flurry Heart, Defender of the Crystal Empire
As Flurry and her friends had a little time to rest, they left what was once Sunburst's house before making their way to the Crystal Palace, to confront Majesty and hopefully bring an end to her short reign. As the princess and her friends made their way towards the palace, they saw crowds of Crystal ponies trotting towards the palace as well.
"What's going on?" Abby asked.
"I don't know Abby, lets ask somepony." Flurry replied as she stopped one of the ponies, the crowds not really noticing the princess as they were looking froward. "What's going on?" Flurry asked the pony.
"Your highness..." The pony said, surprised. "We all thought you were gone..."
"No, I'm quite alright, now tell me... What's happening?" Flurry needing to know.
"Somepony named Majesty sent out a decree saying that she has beaten the royal family, even showing us the princess and prince and everyone thought the worst for you, now she demands the Empire to come before her and kneel." The Crystal pony replied before returning to join the crowd.
"This is bad, isn't it?" Teresa stating the obvious.
"Come on, there's no time to lose." Flurry telling her friends as they resumed their determination to reach the palace, the crowds getting bigger and bigger until Flurry and her friends were literally stopped, but the Palace was in full view, Majesty herself on one of the balconies, ready to deliver the word of her victory as she began.
"Hello Crystal ponies, my name is Majesty..." Majesty spoke with a loud and clear tone. "As you all already know, I have defeated the royal family here and I am now in charge, everypony will submit to me or else face the consequences if you resist, I need not remind you of what I have already done to the princesses and prince." Majesty spoke and then she spotted a stir in the crowds as the crowds parted aside to make an alleyway for somepony, As Majesty looked to see who it was, she noticed the Crystal ponies started to bow in surprise as they were no longer looking up at her.
And well soon enough whoever it was came close enough for Majesty to notice it was none other than Princess Flurry Heart and her friends who were right behind her.
"You just don't know how to give up, do you princess?" Majesty asked, slightly annoyed.
"As long as I'm still standing, I will never stop." Flurry replied with fearlessness in her voice.
"One last chance princess..." Majesty chuckled. "Submit to me and I will allow you to keep your title..."
"No..." Flurry returned before sighing as she told herself something in her head. "I hope this works..."
"Very well..." Majesty said as she then lit up her horn. "It was nice knowing you princess..." And Majesty shot her magic down, the blast speeding downward to hit the princess while Flurry closed her eyes.
After a couple of seconds Flurry reopened her eyes, to see not only her friends holding onto each other, but something truly amazing, a rainbow of magical colors was coming out of them, into her as Flurry looked down at her body, all he bruises and injuries magically gone as the rainbow light was literally radiating out from her, protecting her like a shield as Flurry smiled, knowing it worked.
"What!?" Majesty cried out, completely caught off guard. "It's impossible... You're weak!"
"No Majesty..." Flurry's voice growing to a new height. "There's something more powerful than just pure magic... It's the magic of friendship, something you don't have and will never understand. Because of my friends, I hold the greatest magic out there and it's the reason you lose..."
Majesty didn't quite give up yet and once again shot out her magic, which harmlessly was blocked by the rainbow shield as Flurry's friends held onto each other tighter as Flurry closed her eyes once more before opening them again, to reveal her eyes were glowing white as Flurry literally lifted off the ground, her horn powering up before shooting out a display of rainbow color, which brightened up the whole area as it not only hit Majesty and made her fly backward, but also the ponies which were turned into objects, returning them to their normal selfs, including Cadance and Shining Armor as they looked at themselves before looking at each other, running up and giving each other a hug.
Meanwhile Flurry flew upward, taking her friends with her as she stepped onto the balcony where Majesty was, seeing the white unicorn very shocked, but also very upset.
"Give up Majesty..." Flurry taking a step closer, her horn lit up and ready to defend herself and her friends if Majesty didn't give up. "It's over."
"No..." Majesty replying sinisterly. "It's not over..." And Majesty shot out her magic in desperation, but it was powerless as Flurry easily blocked it as Flurry came closer...
"I didn't want to have to do this..." And Flurry was right above Majesty, who was on her knees as Flurry closed her eyes, said a few words of a spell before putting her horn very close to Majesty's a little bit of magic coming out as it enclosed Majesty's horn.
"What did you just do to me!?" Majesty demanded to know as she tried to attack Flurry with her magic once more, but not even a spark came out.
"I took away your magic, now you can never use it to hurt others, now surrender..." Flurry spoke sternly.
"NEVER!" Majesty shouted and turned to escape, only to be met by Cadance and Shining Armor with guards, the royal couple ready with their horns, while the guards had their spears out.
"Nowhere to go..." Cadance stating as a couple of guards came up and chained up Majesty's legs before holding onto her while the unicorn struggled to escape.
"You think this is over you little pretty princess!" Majesty shouted as she was dragged away. "I will escape and beat you one day!"
"And I'm looking froward to it..." Flurry smiled victoriously as Cadance and Shining Armor came up and hugged onto their daughter.
"Oh sweetie, you're alright!" Shining Armor cried.
"And you did it!" Cadance added. "We're so proud of you!"
"Thanks mom and dad, it's great to see you're both okay, I was so scared I was never going to see you again." Flurry shedding some tears as she had one front hoof each held onto her parents as the family held the hug for a few minutes before they let go and when they let go...
"That was awesome Flurry!" Smoky shouted as he, along with the rest of the friends, all piled around Flurry, hugging tight onto her as Flurry laughed, happy that she and her friends won the day.
"I never thought we had it in us, in you..." Feather added.
"Well... I knew our friendship is one of the strongest things, I just had to have faith that it would truly shine." Flurry smiled.
"Flurry, you know that sounds so cheesy right?" Teresa smirked as the friends now all shared a good laugh from the joke Teresa made.
"So now what?" Rose asked.
"Now..." Cadance answered before Flurry could. "We got a Crystal Fair to put together and I think it would be wise for Flurry to let her friends help her set up everything."
"If you all want to, that is." Flurry not wanting to feel her friends were being forced to do so.
"Count Yak in!" Khan giving her voice of confidence as one by one Flurry's friends all agreed to join in.
Two Days Later...
With Majesty defeated and held in prison, down below underneath the palace, where Sombra once held the Crystal Heart captive, the Crystal Fair was back on as shortly after Majesty's fall, Princess Twilight Sparkle came, with her own friends and reinforcements, who were not needed at all in the end as they themselves stayed for the fair. Meanwhile Flurry got right back to making sure all the preparations were in order, and this time had the help of six very dependable friends, who helped organize and set up everything.
The day of the fair couldn't come any sooner as Flurry herself was in her bedroom, just making sure she looked presentable and putting on her royal attire, her crown and hoof shoes before going out and officially starting the fair. A knock came at her door as Flurry called out...
"Come in." Flurry spoke as the door opened and she turned around to see her parents.
"How are you feeling sweetie?" Cadance asked sincerely."
"To be honest, a little nervous still, it is my first time leading the Crystal Fair after all." Flurry answered.
"Well, it's certainly better than the first one your mother and I witnessed." Shining Armor added. "There's actually something we need to tell you..."
"What is it dad?" Flurry wondered.
"Sweetie, we..." Cadance started, only to be interrupted by a new visitor.
"Everything's set and ready Flurry, just waiting on you now." Rose coming in to inform her friend.
"Alright Rose, I'll be out there in a minute." Flurry replied back. "You were saying mom?"
"You know what, it can wait, everypony else can't right now." Cadance putting aside her thoughts before Flurry shared a couple of quick hugs with her parents before leaving to get the fair started.
With crowds of Crystal ponies gathered around the palace, Flurry stepped onto one of the balconies looking out, taking a deep breath as she looked back to see her friends behind her, all there to support her as Flurry began speaking out loud.
"Welcome everypony to the Crystal Fair." Flurry announced to the cheers of everypony. "This is my very first one that I have the privilege of organizing and preparing, but it wasn't just me, with the help of my friends, I not only put together this fair, but I have faced my first real challenge in defending this kingdom from Majesty and I know that I will face many more in the future, but for now lets celebrate!" Flurry smiled as the crowds cheered loudly.
As the fair started, Flurry and her friends went down to join in, as they went down, they were met by a familiar light gray pegasus stallion and a light yellow unicorn mare, who went up to greet the princess.
"Pound, Pumpkin!" Flurry shouted as she and Pumpkin, hugged each other. "It's so good to see you here."
"Yeah, you too." Pumpkin replied. "We heard what happened, we're both glad you're okay, I would have loved to see you in action."
"Maybe next time." Flurry rolled her eyes as she then looked at Pound before coming before him. "And it's good to see you Pound."
"Yeah... Me too..." Pound struggling to get out. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you, I really wanted to come and make sure you're okay, and... You know if you got hurt... Or worse..." Pound rambling on as Flurry knew he would go on until she shut him up, so...
"I like you too Mr. Pound Cake." Flurry told the blushing stallion after she gave him a quick kiss straight on the muzzle.
"Get a room you two..." Teresa rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, we already got a couple here." Smoky added as Feather and Rose both blushed at Smoky's comment since they knew he was talking about them.
"Well lets not just keep standing here, we got a whole fair to enjoy!" Abby said with excitement.
"Yak can vouch for that." Khan agreed as everyone shared a quick laugh before going to enjoy the Fair they all helped prepare for, only seemed right for them to enjoy it.
Meanwhile, down underneath the Crystal Palace, in Majesty's prison cell...
"Enjoy the peace while it lasts you little pretty princess..." Majesty spoke quietly under her breath as she just sat there, chained up in her prison cell. "I will return."
Princess Flurry Heart, Defender of the Crystal Empire
It has been about a week since Princess Flurry Heart, with the help of her friends, have defeated Majesty, preventing her from taking over the Crystal Empire and most likely the rest of Equestria after. And with Flurry's first Crystal Fair, in which she planned and oversaw everything, the fair going on perfectly as planned. Everypony was happy and returned to their normal lives like nothing happened. Of course while the Crystal Empire was free from Majesty's reign, that didn't stop the nightmares that followed for one princess...
"You wouldn't get away with this..." Flurry spoke as she was down on the ground, on her hooves, in front of a very familiar white unicorn, Majesty... who was ready to make Flurry bow down to her and give up.
"Oh I have princess, you best give up, you can't beat me..." Majesty chuckled evilly.
"No matter what, I will never bow down to you..." Flurry replied.
"Such a shame you don't see my point of view..." Majesty rolled her eyes before shooting her magic out of her horn, which made Flurry's vision go white as she woke up screaming in the real world from her dream.
"NOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!" Flurry shouted as her voice caught the attention of the guards posted outside her door.
"Your highness, what's wrong!?" One of the guards asked rapidly as a couple of guards burst in, spears at the ready as they scanned the room with their eyes.
Flurry took a few seconds to take in some deep breaths and slow down her panting and heart beat as she realized it was only a dream she witnessed as she turned her attention to the guards who came to her room to see what was wrong.
"I'm alright sirs, just a bad dream is all, return to your posts please." Flurry addressed the guards, who bowed and went back out of the room, taking up their posts, leaving Flurry alone once more in her room. "Come on Flurry, get a hold of yourself... Majesty is locked away where she can never hurt anypony again..." Flurry reminded herself as she struggled to close her eyes and fully return to sleep...
Morning came as breakfast was on the table for the royal family, Cadance and Shining Armor at the table, all fresh and ready to start the day, drinking some hot tea and enjoying bites of hay pancakes. The same could not be said for their daughter...
"Morning mom, dad..." Flurry entered the dining room, yawning with half closed eyes and a very messy bedmane, the young alicorn taking her seat at the table, nearly falling asleep, but managing to just stay awake to take her own sip of hot tea.
"So sweetie..." Cadance began. "You don't look like you slept well..." Cadance getting out as well as she could.
"What are you talking about mom, I'm fully rested and ready for the day." Flurry lied and it was obvious as she yawned once more right after.
"Look sweetie, the guards who were posted outside your door last night told me, before they took their rest, that you were screaming out loud, they had to come in and check on you." Shining Armor informing his daughter. "Your mother and I are very concerned about you, this isn't the first time something like this has happened, this is the third time in the last week."
"And we think it would be a good idea if you saw someone about this, who can help you overcome your problems, I know the whole thing with Majesty has affected you." Cadance added.
"Mom, I'm fine, I just need some time and I'll be back to normal in no time." Flurry trying to gain a voice of confidence as her parents were not too sure...
"Alright sweetie, but promise that if this doesn't go away as you hope, you'll allow us to find help for you." Shining Armor giving in for now.
"I promise daddy." Flurry replied as she ate her breakfast and when that was done decided to go out for some fresh air, hopeful that will help her relax.
As always with a normal day in the Crystal Empire, crystal ponies were trotting about, eating at cafes, tending to their gardens, little colts and fillies playing with each other and it did help to being Flurry to some state of peace within herself, seeing how happy everypony was. Only that peace could last so long...
As Flurry turned a corner, onto a narrower street, up ahead on the other end of the street was a shadowy looking figure, who looked very familiar...
"Hello... Can I help you?" Flurry asked as the figure only looked at her as Flurry took a closer look and now had a look of shock on her face as she recognized the pony, or rather the white unicorn up ahead... "No... That's impossible... You're locked up!"
And by way of answering, the pony shot her magic at Flurry as Flurry was thrown backward, back onto the main street as crystal ponies nearby saw the princess and were rather confused.
"Your highness, are you okay?" An older mare asked Flurry as Flurry was just about ready to fight back, only to take a look at the elder mare and then back at the narrow street she was going to trot through, seeing nopony there...
"Yes, I'm okay, no need to concern yourself with me..." Flurry replied as she picked herself up and decided to go back inside the palace, refusing to go out for at least the rest of the day.
Flurry's condition didn't get better, in fact it only got worse, some days Flurry wouldn't even come out of her room and Shining Armor even spent a night keeping guard by his daughter's bedroom door. Flurry just kept seeing Majesty all over the place, like she was in her mind, which was impossible since she had no magic, having it taken away from her. As Shining Armor spent another night keeping guard by his daughter's bedroom door, he heard Flurry screaming as he rushed inside, of course only Flurry was present as Shining Armor came to Flurry's bedside.
"Sweetie, sweetie, open your eyes!" Shining Armor said loudly as Flurry opened them, feeling her heart racing a thousand miles an hour as she saw her father next to her, quickly holding onto him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Flurry cried. "I don't know what's happening to me daddy."
"It's okay sweetie, let it out..." Shining Armor urged his daughter as Flurry calmed down as her father then spoke. "Sweetie, we need to fix this, your mother and I have been talking for the last couple of days and we think that your Uncle Sunburst can help."
The next day, in the town of Ponyville...
With the Friendship Express arriving at the train station, Flurry, with her parents, got off along the other passengers as a orange unicorn stallion, wearing a light blue cape decorated with stars, as well as a pair of glasses, came up, apparently waiting for them.
"Your majesties." The stallion bowed.
"It's very good to see you Sunburst." Cadance greeted back.
"Likewise." Sunburst smiled. "And don't worry Flurry, I'll try to the best of my ability to help you with this problem, but first lets head to the castle."
Ever since Flurry became old enough, Sunburst retired as her crystaller and caretaker and became the new Vice headstallion at the School of Friendship, teaching some of the classes and taking care of the school when Headmare Starlight, Sunburst's wife, was away elsewhere or sick. However that didn't mean he lost touch with the royal family or they forgot about him, since Flurry still very much considered Sunburst to be like an uncle to her.
"Thank you Uncle Sunburst..." Flurry smiled. "I'll looking to getting rid of this so I can get back to my duties as princess." Flurry replied as the group went to the castle by Ponyville's outskirts, what was once Princess Twilight's home, that is until she returned to Canterlot, the castle being where Starlight and Sunburst live together now.
Arriving at the castle and going inside, Sunburst opened the door to the castle's library/study, allowing Flurry inside to start, but turned to face Cadance and Shining Armor.
"It's best that I'm alone with her, your majesties, no offense, but it will be better for her to feel comfortable." Sunburst apologizing.
"Alright Sunburst, we trust you." Cadance understood as Sunburst closed the door, leaving him alone with Flurry as the two sat across from each other on a couple of sofas.
"Now, what I have in mind is something I learned from Starlight, hypnosis." Sunburst suggested.
"Hypnosis?" Flurry questioned, confused.
"Yes, using the technique we can get down to your fears and try to eliminate them, hopefully it will work." Sunburst spoke as he took out a pocketwatch. "Are you ready to go?"
"Well, I got no other option right now, do it." Flurry answered as Sunburst started.
"Okay, all you have to do is keep your eyes on the watch..." Sunburst spoke as he slowly swung the watch back and forth with his magic. "You should begin to feel sleepy any moment..." Sunburst spoke softly as Flurry felt her eyes start to go heavy as the lids slowly began to close as she closed them completely. "Just listen to the sound of my voice..." Sunburst continued...
As Flurry was under the hypnosis, her mind went right to Majesty, from the first time she met her, until the time Flurry defeated her, but only something was different as once again Flurry imagined that Majesty was still haunting her, that despite her being locked up, she still posed a threat as Flurry was in a dark setting...
"Hello?" Flurry called out, hearing only her echo. "Anyone here?" Flurry continued calling out as suddenly something grabbed hold of her by way of magic as Flurry was forced to turn around and face...
"Hello... You little pretty princess..." Majesty smiled evilly as she then stopped her magical hold on Flurry as Flurry dropped... And dropped... And dropped, for what seemed like forever as Flurry shouted out, Majesty's from getting smaller and smaller as Flurry continued falling through the pitch black of her conscience...
"NOOO!!!!!!!!!! Flurry shouted out in real life as she snapped out of the hypnosis, opening her eyes wide and causing Sunburst to drop the pocketwatch in slight fright as Flurry felt herself getting a panic attack.
"Hey, hey Flurry, it's okay, you're alright..." Sunburst told the young alicorn as Flurry looked at Sunburst's face.
"I'm sorry Uncle Sunburst..." Flurry apologized.
"It's not your fault, sometimes hypnosis can't work for everypony." Sunburst replied as he helped her back on her hooves as the stallion went out to speak with Cadance and Shining Armor. "I'm sorry, but I tried to do a hypnosis technique and it didn't work, Flurry's trauma is very hard to break it seems, I wish I could do more, but I can't."
"It's okay Sunburst, thank you for trying at least." Shining Armor returned as it was back to the Crystal Empire for the royal family.
As the family got back on the Friendship Express back to the Crystal Empire, Flurry began thinking of other options and well she arrived at one soon enough, one that could either end with her getting over her trauma or making it much worse...
Princess Flurry Heart, Defender of the Crystal Empire
"Sweetie, are you sure about this?" Shining Armor asked his daughter as the two, along with Cadance and some crystal guards were in the throne room. "Seeing Majesty might just make things worse."
"I'm sure daddy." Flurry replied back with as much confidence as she could muster. "If I see her in her cell, locked up and powerless, maybe than I'll know not to fear her." Flurry answered as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, casting a spell as her horn lit up with black magic as a secret entrance on the throne room floor opened up to reveal a long winding staircase going down.
Shortly before her 18th birthday, Flurry learned from her Auntie Twily the magic used to open up what was once King Sombra's secret entrance in the palace, she remembered it hurt her head very much and this time was no different as the young alicorn rubbed her head, shaking it to clear her mind as the staircase was open.
"Well here I go..." Flurry spoke.
"Don't worry sweetie, I'll be right behind you with some guards in case you need us." Shining Armor reassured his daughter as the group began trotting down.
After a long trot down to the very bottom, with Flurry and the unicorns of the group using their magic to light the way, they reached the bottom of the staircase, a few locked doors leading to some rooms as one of the crystal guards unlocked one of the doors, which was the room where Majesty's prison cell was...
"Last chance to back out of this sweetie, you don't have to do this." Shining Armor trying to convince his daughter not to face the evil unicorn.
"No, I need to see her, let her know I'm still strong." Flurry replied as the guard who opened the door stepped aside to let in Flurry as the young alicorn went into the room.
And well what a surely unwelcome sight it was... It was a small, dimly lit room, with only a few torches lighting the room as the cell itself sat in the center, mostly it was a covered up one, with three solid walls and the fourth... Which was facing Flurry, had only a small open space, which was covered up by strong metal bars, affording little light inside. It was terrifying, especially since Flurry couldn't quite see that pony that was inside as the young alicorn saw a hoof wrap around one of the metal bars, startling the princess a little, but she quickly regained her stand as a voice spoke out from the cell...
"Well, well..." Majesty's voice, deep and menacing spoke through the bars. "Isn't it the little pretty princess of the Crystal Empire... What have I done this time to deserve this honor..."
"Nothing..." Flurry answered, speaking as bravely as she could, but she could feel her hooves were shaking a little. "I just came to reassure myself that you're in here and can't hurt anypony else again, I came to face my fears."
"Fears?" Majesty questioned, interested now. "Why, whatever has happened to you? Last time I saw you, you took away my magic and beat me."
"Over the past weeks, I been seeing you, everywhere and it has terrified me ever since, but I decided if I saw you helpless, locked up, my nightmares will go away..." Flurry revealed.
"Am I really that scary?" Majesty now coming closer to the metal bars, her face now visible as Flurry flinched even more and now her shaking was a little visible. "Poor, poor princess... Can't catch a break can you?"
"I'm not... Afraid of you..." Flurry struggled to get out, but actually seeing Majesty's face brought back all the horrors and nightmares she has been facing as Flurry felt her legs go weak and numb as she very nearly fell right away, but managed to keep herself up as she tried to maintain eye contact with Majesty, trying to tell herself that she was the stronger one here...
It failed miserably...
"AHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" Flurry screamed out as she submitted to her fears, laying with her belly on the ground as she held her hooves her face, crying out loud as Shining Armor and the guards came rushing in, magic and spears at the ready as Shining Armor came down to his daughter.
"Sweetie, sweetie, it's okay, I'm right here." Shining Armor urging his daughter up as Flurry did, but right away buried her face in her father's chest, crying out loud and holding onto him like when she used to when she was just a little foal.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..." Flurry repeated as she held onto her father for dear life while he patted her back. "I shouldn't have done this..."
"It's alright sweetie..." Shining Armor spoke softly. "Come on, lets get you out of here." Shining Armor helping his daughter back up on her hooves and helping her to walk out of the prison room and back up to the throne room, where Cadance was waiting eagerly for the problem to be solved, but...
"Sweetie?" Cadance asked. "What happened?" Cadance seeing the downtrodden state Flurry was in.
"I wasn't strong enough like you and daddy, mom..." Flurry answered. "I thought this would solve all my problems, but it didn't and I don't know what to do..."
"Cheer up sweetie, I promise we'll keep looking for ways to help you get better, you'll get over this soon." Cadance trying to keep an optimistic view of the situation.
"I wouldn't bet on it mom..." Flurry sighed as she hung her head low, trotting out of the throne room. "I'm going to my room, get some rest if I can..." Flurry said as her parents looked at each other with great concern.
More weeks went by as Flurry's condition remained the same or even worse, days going by where she would stay in her room or not eat at all, there were whispers and rumors going on in the Crystal Empire that Princess Flurry Heart was no longer capable of even being a princess. Cadance and Shining Armor had to keep guards posted around the palace to keep out the press and from them torturing their daughter more about what she was facing. However Cadance and Shining Armor knew they couldn't keep this up for long as they tried thinking of a solution.
Meanwhile Flurry was also thinking of ways to get over her problems...
One night in the palace, dinner was being served as Cadance and Shining Armor sat down and by a miracle Flurry was just strong enough to join her parents as she saw down quietly as the family began eating. Flurry taking slow, little bites as her spoon and fork were seen shaking in her magical hold. Both Cadance and Shining Armor looked at each other and slowly nodded to each other as Cadance spoke.
"Sweetie, your father and I know that you need the time to overcome your fears and we don't want to rush you..." Cadance began.
"But soon enough you're going to have to be stronger, so your mother and I thought of a solution..." Shining Armor continued, but Flurry interrupted her father.
"Actually daddy, I been doing some thinking myself..." Flurry spoke. "I want to spend some time with Auntie Twily, in Canterlot, maybe help her out and see if I can do anything for her, besides I haven't seen her since the Crystal Fair." Flurry letting her parents know as they looked at each other with looks of hope.
"I think that's an excellent idea sweetie." Cadance smiled.
"Yes, my sister would be quite happy to see you in Canterlot, I'll send her a letter right away." Shining Armor added.
"No thanks, I want it to be a surprise." Flurry smiled as best she could.
The Next Day...
"Next stop: Canterlot!" The conductor shouted as the Friendship Express rolled into the Crystal Empire station. "All abroad!"
"Well, that's my ride." Flurry said as she had a couple of packed bags, as well as her saddle bags on her back, ready to get going on the trip to Canterlot.
"Have a good time sweetie." Cadance smiled. "I know you'll feel much better in no time."
"And we know you want to help out your favorite aunt, but remember... Your recovery comes first." Shining Armor reminded his daughter.
"I know daddy." Flurry replied as she got into a hug with both of her parents. "And I love you both, thank you for taking care of me through this tough time."
"That's what family is for sweetie." Cadance said as the family broke the hug. "Now get going, the train wouldn't wait forever."
And so Flurry got on the train, taking a window seat as she saw her parents waving goodbye to her as Flurry put on her best smile and waved back as the locomotive's brakes were let go and the train began rolling froward, slowly leaving the station as Flurry and her parents didn't let go of their smiles and waves. Only as her parents were out of view did Flurry stop and place her hooves back on her seat, sighing as her home and hopefully her problems got further and further away...
A Couple of Months Later...
The Friendship Express coming from the Crystal Empire arrived at the train station in Canterlot as it stopped at the station, letting off its passengers as a familiar royal couple were along them, Cadance and Shining Armor. Ever since Flurry left for Canterlot, she has been sending letters back home, letting her parents know how she was doing, in fact from the mood of the letters, it sounded like Flurry was in fact getting better as the letters were filled with Flurry having a lot of fun, getting to know the daily routine happening in the Equestrian capital, and helping out her favorite aunt a lot with her royal duties. Cadance and Shining Armor, once they had a free space in their own duties decided on a quick trip to Canterlot for a visit, to see how far their daughter has come along in her recovery.
As the royal couple left the train car, they were met by a familiar tall purple alicorn, who smiled seeing the couple.
"Cadance, Shining Armor." the purple alicorn spoke in a warm, welcome voice. "It's so good to see you."
"You too Twily." Shining Armor replied. "It's about time we come here for a visit." Shining Armor told his sister as Cadance was wondering where Flurry was and why she hasn't come with her aunt.
"So where's Flurry?" Cadance asked. "I thought she would have come with you to greet us at the station."
"Flurry?" Twilight giving a confused face. "What do you mean? She's back in the Crystal Empire, isn't she?"
"What?" Shining Armor joining in. "No, she came here a couple months ago to help you and hopefully recover from her trauma."
"I can assure you, Flurry isn't in Canterlot at all, I have not seen her since the Crystal Fair." Twilight confirming.
"Than where is she?" Cadance questioned, now fearful of what happened to her daughter...
Meanwhile, in the Equestrian city of Manehattan...
"Hey, I asked for more coffee several minutes ago!" A very bossy stallion shouted out as he was sitting down at a booth in a cafe.
"Ms. Lilly!" The owner of the cafe called. "Do you intend to keep a customer waiting!?"
"Oh..." A mare called back as she cleared her throat. "Yes boss, sorry about that..." A server mare replied as she got back to work, apparently occupied with something as she held onto a coffee pot with her magical hold and refilling the impatient customer's mug.
"You better keep up Ms. Lilly if you want to keep this job..." The mare's boss told her as she returned from serving the customer.
"Yes boss, it wouldn't happen again." The unicorn mare, with a pink body and a purple and light blue mane, wearing a stained server's outfit, apologized to her boss as she returned to being behind the counter.
The mare's name was Rose Lilly, a normal unicorn mare who worked a job serving customers at a cafe in the busy city of Manehattan, only she wasn't Rose Lilly, a unicorn, or even a normal pony...
She's Princess Flurry Heart of the Crystal Empire...
Princess Flurry Heart, Defender of the Crystal Empire
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