Author's Note

Hey everycreature!

There's not much to really say, so I guess just keep enjoying the story!

First Signs

Princess Twilight Sparkle stayed for a couple more days in the Crystal Empire before needing to return to Canterlot, she couldn't be anyway for too long or else she knew her captain of the guard would start to get worried. As the royal families were at the train station, Princess Twilight said her goodbyes for now, especially to the two sisters.

"Goodbye Auntie Twilight, we're going to miss you." Flurry spoke.

"Yeah, I wish you could stay longer." Precious added.

"Me too girls, but I have responsibilities back in Canterlot, but I'll be back before you miss me too much." Twilight smiled as she wrapped one front hoof each around the two sisters.

As Twilight said her goodbyes to the two sisters, the next Friendship Express, bound for Canterlot, arrived at the station, the engines slowing down to a stop as the conductor called out...

"All abroad, next stop Canterlot!"

"Well, that's me." Twilight said as she quickly whispered to Cadance. "Remember what we talked about."

"I know Twilight, I'll think about it." Cadance said quietly back.

With the families waving at each other as Twilight boarded the train, the car doors closed as the express began rolling down the tracks and on with its next stop down the line. With the train disappearing from view, the royal family began the trot back to the palace. And as night began to fall and after a nice dinner, which they enjoyed, it was time to head off to bed, with Cadance and Shining Armor making sure their girls were all nice and tucked into their beds.

As Precious climbed into the bed across from her sister's, Shining Armor made sure his adopted daughter was all warm and comfortable underneath her covers.

"All good sweetie, you're not cold?" Shining Armor asked his six year daughter.

"No daddy, I'm good." Precious replied as Shining Armor made sure his daughter was all tucked in as the little filly herself yawned a little. "Goodnight daddy, I love you."

Shining Armor remembered when he and Cadance first brought the little filly to the palace, at first he felt a little uncomfortable, because seeing her made him think of Sombra, but after some time he began to see a sweet, innocent looking filly who needed a home and family to take care of and love her. And plus he and Cadance always did talk about having a second foal so Flurry could have someone to play with.

"Goodnight sweetie, love you too." Shining Armor smiled as he bent down and gave a kiss on the top of his adopted daughter's forehead.

As both Flurry and Precious closed their eyes, and Cadance waiting at the bedroom door for her husband, Shining Armor quietly left and joined his wife, the couple making sure to tightly close the door.

"I know that look Shining." Cadance spied her husband's face. "It's the look you always get when you think about something that's tough."

"Well, I'm a little worried, the girls are growing up and well Precious Heart..." Shining Armor pausing for a second. "I know I agreed to take her in and I don't regret it, but I just can't help escape this feeling that something bad will happen with her."

"I know, I do too..." Cadance sighed. "But as long as we raise her right, she'll be okay and with Flurry as her sister I'm sure she can get through anything if something should come up."

"I guess you're right Cadance." Shining Armor replied.

"Still, I know one day we have to tell her the truth, I just hope she accepts it and stays with us." Cadance letting out her fear.

"She will, I'm sure." Shining Armor now being the one to reassure his wife as the two continued going to their bedroom, to sleep for the night and rest for tomorrow.

About a week passed since Princess Twilight left back to Canterlot after her visit as a new, sunny day sprung up in the Crystal Empire and, with permission from their parents, Flurry and Precious were outside, walking down the streets of the Empire to enjoy the bright day. Of course being an alicorn and daughter to the royal couple, crystal ponies, when they saw Flurry, took a bow, which made Flurry a little uncomfortable, especially since she just wanted some time with her sister.

"Sometimes I wish I was born a normal pony..." Flurry complained.

"Why sis?" Precious asked. "It's so great to be an alicorn, you get to fly like a pegasus, use unicorn magic, and have the strength of an Earth pony, I wish I could be like that."

"Well, that is if you don't mind seeing everypony bowing to you." Flurry replied. "I'm just glad I have at least one pony who doesn't treat me like royalty all the time." Flurry smiled at her little sister as Precious smiled back. "How about we head on back home?"

"Sounds good to me." Precious agreed as the two fillies began the trot back to the palace.

As they arrived back at the palace, underneath the tall crystal structure was the artifact that helped protect the kingdom, the Crystal Heart, a relic created by the Crystal Empire's first ruler, Princess Amore, to help fend off any invaders. As long as there was hope and love in the Empire, the Crystal Heart shone bright and did its job. Flurry and Precious knew all about the story, Cadance and Shining Armor having told them from time to time as goodnight stories, the two sisters were always fascinated by the Crystal Empire's first princess and wished they had a chance to meet her, but sadly she has been gone for a long time now.

"You ever thought that Amore would be happy to know the Empire's in good hooves sis?" Precious asked Flurry.

"I bet she is little sis, mom and dad do a great job now." Flurry answered. "I just hope I can live on to Amore's standard when I have to take mom and dad's place."

"You will sis." Precious smiled to comfort Flurry. "And I'll be right next to you to help if you need it."

"Thanks little sis, I know I can always count on you." Flurry replied. "You know I remember mom and dad told us that if you really look into the heart you can see your destiny, maybe if I do so I can see my future."

And so both sisters decided to really look at the heart for an extended period of time, but that was a huge mistake...

As Precious Heart stared into the heart, she saw a very frightening image that she couldn't really explain from her young mind, but it was her as an older teenager, with eyes that glowed bright green as her sister, also a teenager, was bruised and weak before her as she let out a laugh, that wasn't out of happiness and joy, but a sinister sounding one.

"NO!" Precious shouted out loud as she torn her look away from the heart and fell down, scooting away from the Crystal Heart as Flurry instantly became concerned, coming to her little sister as Precious was shaking all over.

"Sis, sis!" Flurry saying as Precious was covering her eyes with her hooves as Flurry was very confused. "It's okay, you're alright."

"Flurry... I... I..." Precious not knowing what to say or think, but as she tried to stand back up, she found she couldn't as her legs were rather weak and gave in.

"Hey, hey, don't move." Flurry told her sister as a couple of Crystal guards, who noticed the little fillies, came over in a hurry.

"Your highness, is everything alright?" One of the guards asked.

"No, please bring my sister to our room and get a doctor." Flurry ordered as the guards went to fulfill the little filly's orders. "It's okay sis, we're going to take you to your room, everything's going to be fine." Flurry staying by Precious' side.

As Precious was taken to her room and a doctor arrived, Flurry had to stay outside so the doctor could privately attend to the little filly and see what was wrong. As Flurry waited, Cadance and Shining Armor came rushing up, clearly having heard what happened.

"Sweetie, are you okay, you're not hurt?" Cadance asked quickly as she checked over her older daughter.

"I'm fine mom, don't worry we didn't go outside the kingdom." Flurry told her mother.

"What happened Flurry?" Shining Armor asked.

"I don't know, one moment we were both staring at the Crystal Heart to see our futures, the next Precious was frightened by something." Flurry told her parents as Cadance and Shining Armor both looked at each other.

Before either one of them could say something, the doctor came out from the room, bowing as he saw the royal couple having arrived.

"Your highnesses." The doctor said respectfully.

"How is our daughter doctor, is she ill?" Cadance asked right away.

"Well, I couldn't find anything wrong with her, it's very strange, nothing like I have seen or felt..." The doctor reporting. "But I suggest she stays in bed for some time, rest up from whatever she has and she should be back to normal." The doctor suggesting.

"Thank you doctor." Shining Armor said as the doctor once more bowed before excusing himself.

As the doctor left, the family went into the bedroom, where Precious Heart was in bed, the covers thick over her as she looked like she seen a ghost. She was going to get up as her parents and sister came in, but Cadance stopped her by holding up a hoof.

"How are you feeling sweetie?" Cadance asked.

"A little hot, but also cold mommy and weak." Precious answered. "What did the doctor say?"

"He says that you should rest sweetie, relax until you feel fine again to come out." Shining Armor answering.

"I'm sorry I did this to you little sis..." Flurry apologized.

"It's okay sis, it's my fault, I shouldn't have looked myself..." Precious not blaming Flurry for what happened.

"Well, we should leave and let you rest sweetie, you'll feel better in no time." Cadance giving her daughter a kiss on her head, letting her know everything was going to be alright.

"Thank you mom." Precious Heart replying with a slightly weak voice as she snuggled up more underneath her covers as the rest of her family started to leave. "Wait, sis, can you actually stay with me for a little, I could use the company."

"Sure thing little sis, I'm right here." Flurry smiled as she returned to her sister's side, holding onto one of Precious' hooves as Cadance and Shining Armor left, watching the close bond the two sisters shared as they closed the door behind them.