"Are you sure you want to do this? Maybe if the two of us go .." - Cadance said with concern to her husband, engraving the face of her love in her memory, under the snow equipment and work backpacks, at his side, the crystal heart, contained in a container designed to withstand even a hit from a hydra without taking any damage.
"We know where to go, and what to do, but without the crystal heart protecting the empire only you can keep the storm at bay, besides I doubt that Sunburst and Starlight can with Flurry for many days" - Shining said, although he could not avoid feeling nervous
After many years of research and with much help from the yaks, they had finally managed to find the source of the endless storms from the north, a cursed place that was once the home of ponies.
The plan was simple, use the heart at a specific point in the mountains, the explosion would collapse the storm, cleaning the windigos of the place and ending the storms.
The problem was getting to that place, no pegasus could get there, and the area was so chaotic that teleportation was even more dangerous, the only thing left was a five-day excursion through the mountains.
And that could be dangerous, only a few could go, and Shining was the unicorn with the most magic in the empire, with a charged heart and using his shield to protect the small team during the trip, it was the best and only option for success.
"But still .." - Cadance said as she closed her eyes tightly while hugging Shining tightly.
Turning it down, they embraced for a moment, Shining separated as he gave his beloved wife a kiss.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, Starlight and I will take care of Flurry while the princess worries about keeping the shield, she will help us as a practice for the future" - Sunburst said, as she grabbed Flurry between his hoove and hugged Starlight with the other.
"Thanks, Sunburst, and you too Starlight" - Shining said as he gave Flurry a kiss on her forehead.
Leaving the city, Shining and his team of 4 ponies headed for the mountains, hoping for the best.
"Captain !! We can't take the pressure anymore! We have to ..!" - was the last thing Shining could hear from his last partner and friend before a windigo opened the shield and ripped the soldier's throat, separating the head from the body.
They were so close, Cadance couldn't take any longer, the storm had grown more and more powerful every day, as if he knew their intentions.
Shining barely managed to cling to the crystal heart, his hooves were numb and injured, only a few more meters to go to reach the infernal altar.
A few more meters ..
A little more..
With one last effort, even as his flesh hung on his back by the claws of the windigos, Shining managed to crawl onto the last step.
Closing his eyes and with tears running down his cheeks, Shining saw his family, so everything that happened in the last few days had been worth it, and he was sure that his companions were too.
And for an instant, everything was light, enveloping him in gentle warmth.
Shining barely managed to hear a soft voice, as he lost consciousness moments after.
"It's not your time yet, my champion" - said a soft voice.
"... then the 5 horsemen brought light to the empire, bringing about a new era of peace and prosperity, finally banishing the Windigos" - said Princess Flurry to a small pegasus foal with white fur and metallic blue mane, as she closed the book, she kissed his forehead.
Stepping out as quietly as possible, Flurry closed the door to her son's room, sighing wearily.
"A difficult night?" - I hear at her side.
Turning around, Flurry smiled almost instantaneously, trotting a little to hug her husband.
"Kinda, I don't know why he like that story so much" - Flurry said as they walked down the hall.
"It's a very good story, the prince and her four knights, my grandfather used to tell me that story before, but don't you think it would be good for you to tell him?" - said Night Dance.
"That his grandfather was the prince of that story? Honey, I didn't even know him very much, I was a baby, I can only get an idea of what my mother and my aunts tell me."
"How long has it been? A thousand years?"
"More than three thousand years, my love, I don't know if you make fun of me or you are really bad at remembering dates" - Flurry said as she gently hit her husband- "I don't need you to remind me how old I am".
"And how is the empress? I heard that she was already admitted to the hospital" - said Night, trying to divert the conversation.
"Well, she's excited because it's the first time she has twins, if what I remember about Sunburst is true, I don't think it's funny" -Flurry said with relief, but annoyance in her voice.
"sweetie.."
"I'm sorry, it's just that when my brothers or Hammer Sun die, I'm the one who has to help Mom to get out of her misery" - Flurry said as she stopped at one of the palace windows.
A beautiful city in the clouds, the castle grew as if it were a tree and so did the buildings, several kilometers separated them from the ground now, the clear sky and the night of her aunt Luna gave an incredible view.
But even so, that did little to ease her anger.
"The first time, I was glad that my mother finally surpassed my father, even when my first brother was born I was also very happy, our son has his name, but no matter what, Dad was the only one who achieved the impossible"-Flurry said in frustration-"and I don't want to end up like her" - she finished whispering.
"One day I will die, and that terrifies me, but leaving you alone is worst, it would bring me peace in my last moments knowing that one day you will love again, have another family, I think your father also wanted it for your mother" -he said Night gently while hugging her.
"Thank you honey...." - Flurry said just before she realized that the hallway was colder than normal.
The castle was haunted, the cold could not penetrate the windows, and you could feel the air coming from the other side of the hall.
Running as fast as possible and fearing the worst, Night barely managed to catch up with her in pursuit, realizing the same thing.
The room door was open, Flurry was ready to atomize whoever is inside, and Night ready to gut the guards for leaving her duties.
"... and then, the crystal heart was saved from the clutches of King Sombra" - said the presence, it was hooded, but its huge white horn gave away that it was a unicorn, but by the gods it was huge, at least a pair of heads taller than the empress according to Night.
"But how is it that King Sombra had achieved all that? Where were the knights?" - asked Heart Armor, with those big and innocent eyes, it seemed that they had told her the story of her life.
"The knights did not exist yet, your aunt Twilight and her friends were the heroes of that moment, and Spike was the champion of that day" - said the unicorn in a deep voice, sending a chill to Night, but freezing Flurry.
"Now rest, its time to sleep, I have to talk to your parents" - said the unicorn.
Then he lowered his horn and touched Heart's forehead, leaving him sound asleep.
Then he turned around, leaving the room just as careful as Flurry did to not wake Heart.
Closing the door, Flurry couldn't help speaking without her voice shaking, Night couldn't figure out if it was fear or emotion.
"I don't know who you are, but if you did something to my son ..." - Flurry said, with teary eyes.
"I am not allowed to see my grandson?" - said the unicorn stallion.
Then the entire cape was removed, revealing a face Night had only seen in very old paintings and photos.
Almost nothing had changed, but the blue glow in his eyes was unnatural, almost like they were throbbing with magical force.
"I just wanted to see how things were going, it's lucky that he was your first child, that helped me of not read much more" - Shining said with a laugh.
Both parents could not say anything, Night for something like amazement, the stallion in front of him was a living legend.
But for Flurry it was seeing a ghost, distant and blurred memories of her childhood, her only father image was Sunburst, but even he always spoke of her real father with such passion.
She grew up loving a hero and hating the stallion.
Flurry approached slowly, and hugged him, soft tears running down her cheeks.
She had forgiven him because now she understands why he left.
Shining didn't look any better, magic-infused tears fell from his cheeks as well, evaporating as they fell to the ground.
"They looked for you for years, where were you?" - she whispered, as they remembered the familiar warmth of her father.
"Away, recently I managed to return, but it's okay, although it hurt a bit, I'm glad you guys kept going" - Shining said, as he separated from her daughter's embrace.
"And you, little colt, I know what you did for the family, it is an honor to call you son" - Shining said as he pulled Night for a hug.
Hugging for a few more moments, Flurry broke the hug, almost jumping up and down with joy.
"But when did you come back?!, There had been reports of a mysterious stallion on the borders of the mountains helping the evacuations of the underground city, was it you?" - said FLurry.
Before answering, Shining teleported them outside, higher than the castle, Night and Flurry began to fly, but they saw that Shining simply lay down on a cloud, inviting them to sit.
As they watched the starry horizon, Flurry couldn't help but see her father's expression, he almost seemed to be asleep, enjoying the cold air.
But also full of great melancholy.
"I came back a few weeks ago, some survivors of the collapse of the underground city found where I was and released me" - Shining said still with her eyes closed.
"Wait, were you the one who kept the mountain from collapsing?" - asked Night in amazement.
Remembering how during the evacuation the mountain was about to fall on them, but a blue aura covered the mountain and prevented it from collapsing on the entrance of the city.
No one knew what happened, but they said was thanks ot the heart of the mountain, an old local legend.
"Yes, it was me, I don't remember everything, I suppose it was what DIscord felt at the time, but one moment I was alone, another time crystal ponies had arrived, and the next a whole city was around me" - Shining said humorously, although he seemed frustrated.
"They called me the heart of the mountain, the little that I managed to investigate was that they were the descendants of the volunteers who came looking for me"
Then Flurry remembered that time, how the empire began to expand its territory, beginning with some who decided to spend their lives searching for their father.
Centuries later they declared independence from the empire and built a city, no one could enter without permission, not even Discord could cross the walls of that mountain, but there was always peace.
Only with the danger of collapse, it was that more was known about its ponis since the empire was asked for help to evacuate its citizens.
"Princess Amante was the one who managed to get me out, I think you know her?"
Princess Amante Bell, daughter of King Y'xio Bell and Queen Erenidra Bell, they never left the mountain, and the only time was at the signing of the trade agreement.
The kingdom under the mountain was one of the oldest kingdoms, leaving only Equestria and the Empire, the other countries have been fragmenting over the years.
"Yes, but we haven't talked much, mountain ponies don't usually come out" - said Night, answering for Flurry.
"They remind me of yaks" - Shining said, making Flurry and Night laugh.
Then Flurry noticed that Shining was looking at the city, following his gaze, she saw where she looked.
"I think you should tell her that you came back"-Flurry said softly.
Shining just sighed, and closed his eyes once more.
"Not yet, legally death separated us, she has her family, her husband, and her children, i would only make things very uncomfortable" - Shining said as he opened his eyes again, fixing them elsewhere.
"We will speak again, but as representatives of our nations" -he said, surprising Night and Flurry- "it seems that now the mountain ponies consider me their legitimate ruler after saving the city, Lover needs my help, with her father's death, I owe it to her for getting me out of the crystal heart "
Although Flurry was not an expert on love like her mother, her cutiemark was a crystal heart.
Maybe he didn't have time to heal.
"I understand, we will not tell her anything, but promise me that you will visit us, your grandson has been dreaming of meeting you" -said Flurry
"Take care you two too, and I hope to see you soon" -said Shining before teleporting, leaving an icy wind with snow falling to the city.
Flurry doesn't remember the last time when she saw natural snow.
Author's Note
A little idea about a story.
Atte FZ
:3
