Crystal Feast For The Holidays
Hearth’s Warming has arrived once again in the Crystal Empire. Tons of families have always have their own celebration to show their love towards the holiday. But when it comes to the princess's, they keep it private inside their castles. Their tradition is always a feast, while also expressing their feelings about Hearth’s Warming. The ruler of the empire is more than pleased to make her guests happy.
Inside the dining room, Flurry Heart is waiting for the chefs to finish the food she demanded. She took days to set everything up, not only because one of the most famous rulers are coming along with retired ones, especially her aunt when she was a baby, Twilight Sparkle. But her mother and father are arriving too. It’s been several years since she became the next ruler of The Crystal Empire when her parents retired just like Celestia and Luna did centuries ago.
It’s one of the days she wants to spend time with her family to show how far she has come in her reign as ruler. However, she hopes it will be the best holiday feast for every ruler who’s invited.
“Excuse me Princess Flurry,” One of the guards entering the dining room. “The rulers of Equestria have arrived.”
Flurry Heart took a deep breath, despite the food not on display, she leaves the room and heads to the entrance where her guests are waiting. By the time she opened the gate, she saw the former rulers of Equestria, Celestia and Luna in their elderly age.
“Flurry Heart.” Celestia smiled.
“It’s been a long time since we last met.” Luna added.
“As usual, come in.” Flurry greeted the two sisters inside her castle. She then saw Prince Rutherford, the Ruler of his kingdom of Yakyakistan making his way in the castle. “I promise I have the food you like in the dining room one hundred perfect.”
Prince Rutherford is always critical when it comes to the food being displayed. “As long as you know Yak society, Yak will respect yours.” He replied as he walks inside.
The next guests is the ruler of Seaquestria along with her daughter. “Flurry Heart!” Princess Skystar cheered as she gives Flurry a hug with her mother smiling from behind.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” Flurry breaking the hug from Skystar. “Especially you Queen Novo.” She lifted her hoof up to which Novo happily accepted.
“I’m looking forward to the dinner.” She commented. She and Skystar made their way inside the castle while three more guests arrive. Thorax the leader of the Changelings, Ember the Princess of the Dragonlands, and Rain Shine, the leader of the Kirin greeted Flurry Heart.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you once again.” Thorax closed his eyes.
“And always nice to go somewhere new.” Rain Shine added.
“After for so many decades.” Princess Ember added.
Flurry Heart loved the positive side when she hears those words. Even if she wasn’t part of the last feast in the Crystal Empire during her childhood, she saw familiar faces when they walked in the hallway, especially Thorax. She gladly invite the three inside while the last guests are still waiting for their introduction.
Flurry Heart saw three old ponies she trusted in all of her life. “So, It’s nice to meet you three again.” Flurry smiled. She saw her mother Cadance along with her husband Shining Armor, noticeably older while spending time together when they moved out of the Crystal Empire after their retirement.
“I’ve been waiting for this day since we agreed to have dinner in the kingdom we used to rule.” Shining Armor commented.
“Are you sure your worried about this?” Cadance asked.
“I did everything I could to make everyone feel welcome. I promise you won’t regret this.” Flurry being at her most honestly. Her parents are mostly aware of what's waiting in the dining room in the castle. After years during their reign when they set up royal dinners for rulers, they can hope their only daughter would take the torch.
As they make their way to the dining room, there is one more guest waiting outside and it’s the ruler of Equestria. She’s the one who gave Flurry the permission to have the feast in the Crystal Empire.
“Really nice of you for allowing me to do this, Aunt Twilight.” Flurry replied.
“Don’t thank me, at some point rulers like you deserve a chance.” Twilight smile as she enters inside. With all the guests arrived, Flurry closed the gate while she gets to the dining room. Luckily for her, her chiefs placed all the food on the table before a single ruler went inside.
After walking in the hallways, Flurry and her guests arrive in the dining room with different kinds of food for Yaks and Hippogriffs to enjoy. The rulers all took a seat on their chairs while Flurry Heart sits on the far right while Twilight sits on the far left. The moment that made the ruler of the Crystal Empire feared has come. Every ruler from different lands come together for a holiday dinner to celebrate Hearth’s Warming as long as she succeeds.
Luckily for her, Prince Rutherford found the food really good. “Rutherford likes the food, Rutherford approves.” He replied while he eats the food on his plate. Flurry Heart slowly took a deep breath in relief that the ruler of Yakyakistan likes the food, but she still needs an opinion on her other guests.
“So what do any of you think of the food my chefs made?” She asked.
“I like it.” Princess Skystar commented. “It’s not the best, but it’s not bad either.”
“Our food in Seaquestria look more delightful, but I should understand that lands quality of food aren’t going to be better.” Queen Novo added.
“It is true.” Rain Shine replied. “I still think we should give Flurry the respect she earns.”
The rulers, including Twilight nodded to Rain Shine’s complement which made Flurry Heart happy. “Thanks. You have no idea how long me and my chefs worked on this dinner.”
“It’s okay. I remember the first time I prepared my dinner for the rulers of Equestria.” Celestia stated.
“It was a working process to make everything perfect.” Luna added. “Rulers, no matter who they are, deserve better.”
Ember who heard everything decided to step in. “I think we need to agree that everything can’t be perfect.”
“She’s right.” Twilight spoke. “As far as I know, the food still looks delicious.”
Flurry found Twilight being very supportive in the past but only because she was a baby. This made her and her chiefs really proud to hear a good reception they did on their own. It goes to show that Flurry Heart is making her kingdom continue it’s reputation from being broken.
“Thanks Twilight, but I think I should’ve made a speech before we begin eating.” Flurry responded which caught the attention of the rulers.
“You have a speech?” Queen Novo blinked.
“Rutherford wants speech!’ Rutherford demanded.
The other rulers agreed as they wait for Flurry to express what she feels at the moment. The ruler of the Crystal Empire is now getting the attention is feeling a little uncomfortable. She is not good at making speeches ever since she became the next ruler of the land, but her parents didn’t want her to feel down.
“Flurry.” Cadance spoke to her daughter.
“Go for it.” Shining added. Flurry’s parents who are sitting right by her are still being supportive towards their daughter.
This made Flurry Heart stand up from her seat with a confident look on her face. With every ruler still staring at her, Flurry Heart begins her speech.
“From every holiday dinner I travel to in the vast lands of Equestria, I always need recipes to understand what creatures like. Me and my chefs have been working so hard to learn everything in order to get your approvals.”
This made rulers like Rutherford and Queen Novo impressed to see Flurry thinking ahead before this day came. Something they always do to prevent any disasters.
“But what makes this day really special is when I get the opportunity to show you how special the Crystal Empire is. This place is where I was born and during the years when my parents took care of me, I see more and more in the kingdom. Like how important it is to make my citizens feel safe.”
After hearing those quotes, it made Cadance and Shining proud to see their daughter being responsible and she’s not done with her speech.
“I want to show what my kingdom has to offer just like your kingdom has. It’s the only way to show how much I love my kingdom while also showing my respect towards all of you. You make Equestria a wonderful place to live in to allow new creatures see it. And I was one of them.”
She sits back down, which is a sign that she’s done with her speech. Not a single ruler, even Flurry’s parents had words to describe what they just heard. Except for one who smiled during the middle of Flurry’s speech. And that is Twilight Sparkle.
“I think from what I heard, you’ve proven to us that you can handle what your parents did when they were rulers.” The ruler of Equestria closed her eyes while Flurry flinched.
“Time is always important to do the right choices, but that doesn’t always need perfection. You still gave us dinner that made us happy during the holiday of Hearth’s Warming and that’s what’s really important.”
After Twilight finished her opinion on the subject, this gave the other rulers something to say about Flurry’s dinner. “Yes. I’m actually impressed with how you did your research on what we like to eat.” Rain Shine added.
“It must’ve taken you weeks to show your chefs what to make.” Ember added while looking at the displayed food.
“If I were you, I would’ve done the same thing.” Princess Skystar added.
“Not to mention that beginner rulers still need to get used to the throne they’re sitting on.” Luna commented.
“There’s always steps in order to get better but from what I saw that’s on the table, that’s enough for my approval if I was still ruling in Equestria.” Celestia smiled.
Flurry felt happy to hear the opinions from the guests she invited. All the work has paid off even if it didn’t need to be perfect. She’s at least happy that her holiday dinner turned out good.
“Well, how about we continue to eat until we’re all done? Then maybe we might consider to eat here in the future?” Flurry offered. The other rulers found it a good idea to have dinner in the Crystal Empire again in the distant future.
“Then we're happy to talk about that later.” Twilight giggled. Every ruler in the room continue to eat the food that’s still untouched. They take the time to enjoy the food Flurry and her chefs made and they like it. Flurry Heart is more than relieved that her feast turned out good, while her parents are lucky to have a daughter who will do anything to improve the kingdom they used to rule.
As for Thorax who kept his opinions to himself the entire time, he was concerned if Flurry Heart didn’t succeed at her goal. He didn’t want to be push Flurry’s luck, but when he heard everything from the rulers, he didn’t need to say anything because he liked the Crystal Empire and how the friendship grow. And when he heard that Flurry Heart became the next ruler, he hoped she’ll make better decisions and Flurry proved it.
