"Are you sure, doctor? Is there no for us to have more kids?" asked Princess Cadence.
The Princess of Love and her Captain of the guard husband had called in the royal doctor, to see if it possible for them to get bigger family. Cadence and Shining Armor had been toying with the idea of having more children, so that Flurry Heart could have some siblings to play with, especially when the young filly just had her second birthday. But, it would seem not to fruition by the doctor's tone.
"I'm afraid so, princess. The strain of your last pregnancy was greater than first thought. I can recommend some treatments,. But in all honestly, I'm not sure anything can be done." said the doctor.
"We need time to think about this. Thanks for your help, doctor." said Shining Armor wrapping an arm around his wife.
The doctor bowed and left bidding the rulers of the Crystal Empire a good day. Feeling dejected, the Princess of love placed her hands on abdomen where her womb would be.
"It will okay Cadence. We'll figure something out." said Shining reassuringly.
"I know, Shining. It's hard to think that, we might not be able to have that we wanted." replied Cadence as tears quietly rolled her cheeks.
All Shining could do was to hold his beloved wife in silence as she wept. Once Cadence had calmed down enough, the rulers of the Crystal Empire headed to the dining hall to meet up with Twilight Sparkle. Cadence was wiping the last of her tears away by the time she and Shining entered the hall.
"Are you alright, Cadence?" asked Twilight upon seeing her sister-in-law puffy red eyes.
"Not really, Twilight. Shining and I got some bad news from the doctor." replied Cadence.
Princess Cadence caught Twilight up on what they have been told. The princess of friendship was shocked at what she just heard. Not only did her brother and his wife wanted more kids, but were unable to due some complications with Cadence's first pregnancy. Twilight offered to her from being their surrogate mother or to trying some healing spells that she had learned. Only to have Shining turned Twilight's offer down, claiming that he and Cadence need sometime to think. Seeing that she wouldn't be able to change his mind, Twilight nodded and excused herself from the table. Cadence and Shining Armor spent the rest of day preforming their daily duties. Albeit, somewhat distracted from the morning events in their minds. As evening rolled around, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor made their back to the dining hall. Only to spot Twilight already at the table with a dusty old tome.
"Is something the matter, Twilight?" asked the Princess of Love as she sat across from her sister-in-law.
"Well, I know that you two don't want my help with your current issue. But, I did read about something that could help, if just hear me out." replied Twilight placing a hand on the large book with her.
Shining sat down next to Cadence and motioned for his little sister to continue. Twilight informed the pair that, she came across this book in the Crystal Empire library about a strange artifact. From what she could read, the artifact in question was a very powerful medallion that could help mare bear children. The only downside was that, the book failed mention exactly how the medallion was supposed to help in that regard. But, the book did give a location for the medallion itself. The medallion was in a cave not very far from the Empire. And it also had a map to help navigate through it.
"What do you think Cadence?" asked Shining turning to his wife.
"It's definitely worth a shot, Shining. I'm willing to try, if you are" replied the Princess of Love.
Both Shining Armor and Cadence turned back to Twilight and agreed to give the medallion a try. Twilight broke out into a giant smile and gave both of them a hug, before running off while saying something about getting things prepared. Several days had past since Shining Armor and Cadence agrees to Twilight's idea. The Princess of Friendship had returned to Ponyville to get ready during that time. When Twilight returned to the Crystal Empire, she was accompanied by three fillies that Cadence recognized as the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Twilight explained that the CMC had over her plans to Spike and insisted on to come with. She had agreed with permission from their families. Shining was about to object when Cadence stopped him, saying that it was fine if they tagged along. But the fillies needed to stay close. With the CMC agreeing to the terms, the group was off. It was late into the afternoon by the time they reached the cave.
"Are we really going in there, Twilight?" asked Apple Bloom somewhat nervously.
"Yes, we are. Did tell you that it might be dangerous." retorted Twilight.
"Don't worry girl. Shining Armor and I will protect you." said Princess Cadence placing a hand on Apple Bloom shoulder.
The filly smiled up at the princess thankful for the reassurance as they enter the cave. As the group traversed through the cave, the Cutie Mark Crusader stuck close to Princess Cadence for safety. Cadence felt overjoyed at the sight. It didn't take long before the six ponies found themselves in large chamber with a hole at the top, revealing the medallion on a pedestal in the center.
"This seems far too easy." said Shining Armor.
"True. Let me try something." said Twilight lighting her horn farther.
The Princess of Friendship sent out a pulse of magic, quickly covering the chamber in seconds. When nothing seem to happen, Twilight motioned the others forwards.
"What was that?" asked Scootaloo.
"Trap detection spell. Came across while preparing for the trip. I thought it might come in handy" replied Twilight.
"Good thinking, Twilight." said Shining patting his sister on the back.
As they got closer to the pedestal, Cadence could see that medallion looked very plain save for a picture on the front. The picture appeared to be of a mare with a pregnant belly.
"Is that it? It doesn't look very special." said Sweetie Belle
"I'm afraid she's right, princess. The medals from sporting events have more flare to them" said Scootaloo.
"I don't know, girls. Something tells me that there's too this than meets the eye." replied Princess Cadence picking up the medallion.
Cadence could feel a gentle energy pulsing from the medallion. It felt warm and somehow familiar. On impulse, Cadence put the string of the medallion around her neck.
"Well? Anything?" asked Shining.
"Not really. All I'm getting is....WOW!!" exclaimed Cadence as a beam light shot out of the medallion.
The light bounced around the chamber a few times before hitting the CMC. Cadence, Shining and Twilight could only watch as the Cutie Mark Crusader got lifted into the air and get encased in a sphere of light. Before they could do anything, a sudden bright flash blinded the three ponies and the sphere was gone by the time they could see again.
"What in Equestria was that?" asked Shining
"I don't know, but whatever it was. It took the girls." said Cadence.
Shining Armor and Twilight quickly glanced around to verify the claim, unaware of Cadence's belly expanding.
"Where did they go?" asked Shining.
"I-I don't know. I'll try a location spell. Hopefully, they didn't go far." said Twilight increasing the magic in her horn.
A purple beam emitted from the tip of Twilight's horn and landed on Cadence's stomach. Or more specifically, her womb. Panic appeared on their faces at the realization.
"Uh, Cadence? Not to sound crazy, but I think you might be pregnant with the crusaders." said Shining.
"How is that even possible? The doctor said that I wouldn't be able to carry anymore children." responded Cadence holding her enlarged abdomen in fright.
"I think it might have something to do the medallion you're wearing. The book did say that, the medallion some sort of ability to aid mare bear foal. Perhaps, this was the book was talking about." Said Twilight.
"Did the book say anything on how to reverse the effects." asked pink mare
Twilight merely shock her head saying the rest words in the book were too faded to read. The trio returned the Crystal Empire claiming that Cadence had fallen ill and wasn't too be disturbed. Cadence already looked like she was due to give birth by then. While in private, Shining, Cadence and Twilight discussed on what they were going to do next.
"The first thing I need to do is tell their families what happened, when I get back to Ponyville." aid Twilight.
"Is that move wise, Twilight?" asked Shining nervously pacing back and forth.
"Wise or not, they have a right to know." she answered.
After that, they all agreed to keep what happened in the cave, a secret between themselves, Twilight's friends and the royal sisters. To the rest of the empire, Princess Cadence and her husband were expecting three new little bundles of joy. The several months were somewhat hectic in preparation for three newest members of the Crystal Empire. For her part, Cadence went on special diet and eased up on her workload. Shining Armor made sure the nursery had everything it would need for three foals. Twilight would occasionally drop by to check on the pair and to research the medallion Cadence wore. Twilight did tell what happened to the crusaders to their families. They were angry at first, but eventually came to terms with it all. After what like an eternity, Cadence knew that it was time to bring the crusaders back into the world. Cadence Was surprised to find that giving birth was far easier the second time round. She just figured that the medallion helping out somehow. The next surprise came in the form of Apple Bloom and her were now all alicorns. And they had also taken on some of Cadence's colorization. For Apple Bloom, her colorization gave her the name of Key. Scootaloo's colorization caused Cadence to name her as Viola. Finally, Sweetie Belle's new colors were the most harmonious. Thus, Cadence named her Harmony. Shining Armor and Cadence were overwhelmed happiness to see that dream for a bigger family had finally come true.