Cadance The Crystal Princess

Everything is going great with Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, reunited with her mother who she thought was a distant relative and dead and ultimately helped her sister-in-law to organise a unity between Equestria and all nations with the help of her mother and the leaders of various races.
Now it's time for Amore to teach Cadance about the Crystal Empire history and politics...
But unbeknownst to them, a dead threat has been resurrected back to life and is now making plans...
King Sombra has returned, and his darkness awaits.

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Princess Cadance walked through the corridor toward her personal chamber where her husband and their daughter were waiting for her after being reassured by Amore that she would handle the court while the Princess of Love get some much needed rest. Upon reaching said chamber, she was met with her family who smiled at her.

"Mummy!" Flurry called out as she soared off and embraced her mother, to which Cadance returned it.

Shining Armor smiled at the scene. "Good to see you, Cady. How's the court?"

The Princess of Love responded with a slight chuckle. "It's alright. Tiring but alright. My mom told to get some rest while she handled the remaining courts."

The prince nodded. "Well, it's good to see Amore getting more confident to handle court. But I agreed with her, you need to get some rest."

Cadance smiled warmly and chuckled again.

It has been two and a half years since that fateful Storm King's invasion, and the three had grown up a lot. The young alicorn, now seven and a half years, have grown into a filly. Shining Armor had a small beard under his chin. The Princess of Love herself had grown taller; she now stood a bit above Luna, though still shorter than Celestia.

Within those years, she had helped Twilight to organise a unity between Equestria and all nations with the help of her mother and the leaders of various races, distributed weapons of the Crystal Imperial to Equestria and organised a wedding for the Princess of Friendship and Lieutenant Flash Sentry. Her sister-in-law had also managed to recruit new guards for herself, including Tempest Shadow — or Fizzlepop Berrytwist, as she was truly named. Released from prison a year and a half ago for her crimes against Equestria, Tempest had been given a second chance, quickly proving her worth and earning a promotion to captain due to her unmatched skills during her time as the Storm King's lieutenant.

'Though she does take her job a bit too seriously.' Cadance thought to herself as she slowly break away from the embrace of her daughter.

The Princess of Love turned her head slightly, feeling the soft weight of Flurry Heart climbing onto her back. The young alicorn nestled comfortably between her wings, nuzzling her mother’s mane with a contented sigh. A smile crept onto Cadance’s face, and she gently stretched one of her wings to wrap protectively around her daughter.

The prince moved closer, his expression warm but thoughtful. “So much has changed since that day...” He began, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “I still can't believe that two and a half years have passed since your mother saved you at the beach during the Storm King first invasion after he conquered Canterlot and captured your aunties."

The Princess of Love smiled warmly at her husband. “I know. Sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago… and yet, the memories are still so vivid.”

Shining stepped closer, watching as Flurry settled on her mother’s back, her small hooves draped over Cadance's shoulders. The young filly nuzzled her mother’s mane, her eyes half-closed with contentment.

“I still think about that day often...” The prince murmured, his voice soft. “How close we came to losing everything, how close you came to losing me after I took a spear to the chest to save you from the Storm King during his second invasion, and how much we’ve gained since. It's hard to believe how much has changed in such a short time.”

The Princess of Love sighed. “You know, I sometimes wondered what might have happened if things had gone differently? Like if the Storm King hadn’t invaded… or if my mother hadn’t returned? But I try not to dwell on it.”

Shining leaned in, resting his head against Cadance’s as they shared a quiet moment. The silence was comforting, broken only by the soft breaths of their daughter, who had nearly drifted off to sleep.

But the moment was gently interrupted as the doors to their chamber creaked open. The couple turned their heads, and their expressions brightened as they saw who had entered.

Amore stood in the doorway, a warm smile gracing her features as she stepped inside. She carefully closed the doors behind her, ensuring their privacy, before approaching the family. “I hope I’m not interrupting,” she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

“Mom.” The Princess of Love greeted warmly, her smile growing as she adjusted her wings to better cradle Flurry. “You’re never an interruption.”

The prince nodded in agreement, his own smile mirroring Cadance’s. “It’s good to see you, Amore. How did things go at court?”

Amore chuckled lightly as she drew nearer. “Oh, it went as well as can be expected. Nothing too exciting, thankfully. I wanted to check in on you all before retiring for the evening.”

The Princess of Love shifted slightly, careful not to disturb Flurry, who had now fully succumbed to sleep on her back. “We were just talking about how much has changed since... well, everything.”

Amore’s eyes softened as she looked at the peaceful scene before her. “Yes, it’s been quite the journey, hasn’t it?” She sighed contentedly, reaching her hoof out to gently stroke Flurry’s mane, much like Shining had moments before.

Amore gazed at Cadance and Shining Armor, her smile tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "It has been a long road, filled with challenges but also with so many blessings..." She said, her voice carrying the weight of years gone by. "To see you all like this, together… it brings me more joy than I can put into words."

The Princess of Love smiled at her mother warmly. “We’ve come so far...” She murmured, glancing at her husband, her eyes reflecting a mix of determination and hope. “And I feel like, with you both here, there’s nothing that could serparate us.”

The prince took her hoof in his, his grip firm but gentle. “We’ll face whatever comes next together… even if it’s another invasion, or whatever life decides to throw our way.” He stated.

Amore nodded, her smile growing. "Yes, together. And Cadenza, there is so much I still need to teach you about our history… about our people." She paused, her eyes glinting with a mix of excitement and seriousness. “Tomorrow, we’ll begin. There’s a lot you need to know, but for now rest. We all deserved it.”

The couple nodded their head in agreement before Amore bidded them a goodnight as she left for her chamber.