Cadance The Crystal Princess

Mount Aris

Princess Cadance and Shining Armor gazed out the window of the carriage, their eyes widening in awe as the majestic peak of Mount Aris came into view. The mountain, once scarred by the Storm King's invasion, now stood proudly restored, a symbol of resilience and unity. Its slopes were adorned with vibrant banners and intricately woven drapes that fluttered in the breeze, each one a testament to the tireless efforts of the hippogriffs who had rebuilt their home. At the base of the mountain, a par of large doors existed as an entrance to Mount Aris and Seaquestria and the decorations were just as breathtaking. Brightly colored streamers connected towering posts to the cliffside, creating a dazzling display that cascaded upward, mirroring the grandeur of the peak above. At the very peak of the mountain, a magnificent statue of a hippogriff stood tall, holding the kingdom’s flag high.

And from their high vantage point, the royal couple could see hippogriffs, lots of them, and several of them were crystal hippogriffs. Citizens roamed the grounds while guards in armors patrolled around in security operations to ensure the smooth unfolding of the summit's proceedings. The Princess of Love and the prince even spotted Princess Skystar talking to some of the young hippogriffs and some nobles talking to each other or Queen Novo.

Near the landing area, where their carriages were to arrive, stood King Crestwing, flanked by Sky Beak and a few hippogriff guards. His eyes were fixed on the approaching guests, a smile on his face.

As Crystal Empire group came in for landing, the flying Crystal Imperial guards descended first, touching down gracefully before the three carriages. Moments later, the carriages themselves landed softly onto the stone ground and quickly coming to a halt, several guards immediately getting to work in unloading its contents from the two carriages.

Commander Hurricane landed shortly behind before trotting toward the middle carriage and opened the door, allowing Amore and the royal couple. As they got off the carriage, the king of the hippogriff began to approach the three, his guards taking position at a respectful distance. Several of Crystal Imperial guards glanced at the approaching king and saluted when they recognised him.

"Crestwing." Amore greeted happily, a joyful smile lighting up her face. "It is truly a delight to see you again, my old friend."

"And I to you, Amore." Crestwing responded, accepting a quick, friendly hoof shake from Amore. "I trust you three are well?"

"As well as can be.” Cadance answered, nodding along with Shining. “How have things been here?”

"No. Things have been quiet, and now that you’re here, the summit can begin. The first session will be pinned to take place tomorrow morning." The king of the hippogriff said. "Come, I will show you to your prearranged accommodations."

"That would be great." Amore smiled while the royal couple gave each other a loving smile just as Hurricane trotted up to Amore, saluting before relaxing.

"Your highness." Hurricane began. "We have the carriages unloaded. Now we just need a place to put them. Also, those not immediately assigned to security detail are eager for some rest after a full hour of flying."

"Ah, my apologies. You all will be staying in the west wing of the mountain. With most of our subjects in Seaquestria, there’s plenty of space." Crestwing said with a chuckle.

"Yes, your highness. We will make our way over there right away." Hurricane saluted.

The king of the hippogriff turned to his brother and his guards. "Sky Beak, you and the guards go with them. Help them bring in their things and point them out to their rooms if you will."

"No problem." Sky Beak nodded and the guards saluted before joining the Crystal Empire’s group, ensuring everyone knew where to go just as the queen of the hippogriff flew down with a flap of her wings.

"Ah, Princess Amore and Princess Cadance." Novo said with a smile. "It’s lovely to see you all."

Amore and the Princess of Love smiled. "It's lovely to see you too, Novo." Amore responded.

The queen of the hippogriff chuckled. "I can never thank you enough for saving my husband and some of my subjects and kept them safe in your hooves after Mount Aris was taken by the Storm King and his army, Amore."

Amore smiled warmly at Novo. "No thanks are needed. I just "

Novo's gaze shifted to the prince, and her expression softened with curiosity. "And you must be?" She asked with a kind smile, directing her attention to Shining.

The prince stepped forward with a polite bow. "My name is Shining Armor. I am Princess Cadance's husband and Princess Twilight's big brother. It's an honour to see you."

"A pleasure indeed." The queen of the hippogriff said with a warm smile. "We’re grateful for your presence here."

"Thank you, Queen Novo." Shining responded with a humble bow.

Just then, Princess Skystar flew down and landed next to Crestwing, her eyes bright with excitement. "Daddy, all the decorations are ready and looking fantastic!" She chirped, before noticing the guests. Her eyes widened as she greeted them with an enthusiastic smile.

"Oh! Princess Amore and Princess Cadance, it's a great honour to see you again!" The young hippogriff happily greeted both Amore and Cadance before her eyes fell on the prince. "Who are you? I don’t think we’ve met before!"

"I'm Shining Armor, Cadance's wife. A pleasure to meet you." The prince introduced himself with a smile, stretching out a hoof.

Skystar extended her talon and shook Shining's hoof. "Oh, the pleasure is mine! I'm Skystar!" She greeted before noticing the crystal hippogriffs within the Crystal Empire group being helped by the other hippogriffs.

"I still can’t believe some of our kind chose to stay in the Crystal Empire and the Frozen North outpost cities!" The young hippogriff stated, prompting Amore to chuckle.

Amore smiled warmly. "Well, most of other species that the Crystal Imperial guards saved or brought them to safety had stayed in the empire and the outpost cities as their new home, with the others still being part of the Crystal Imperial guards."

"They’ve become part of our community now." Cadance added with a nod.

Novo smiled at the Princess of Love's words, her expression glowing with gratitude. "It warms my heart to hear that." She said, her voice sincere. "The bonds between our kingdoms have only grown stronger. We’re not just allies now—we’re family."

Skystar nodded enthusiastically. "I’ve heard so many stories from those who stay in the Crystal Empire and the outpost cities. They talk about the beauty of the Frozen North, the warmth of the Crystal Ponies, and how the Northern Lights dance in the sky." She fluttered her wings with excitement, her curiosity clearly piqued. "I really want to visit one day!"

Cadance smiled warmly. "You’re welcome to visit anytime, Princess Skystar. The empire would love to have you."

The prince chuckled softly. "Just be sure to pack something warm. The Frozen North can be a bit… chilly."

The young hippogriff giggled. "Oh, I bet! I’ll have to bring my coziest feathers."

As the group shared a lighthearted moment, Crestwing gestured toward the path leading further up the mountain with a wing. "Shall we continue? There’s still much to see, and I’m sure you’ll want to settle in before tomorrow’s summit."

"Yes, of course." Amore said, nodding gratefully. "Lead the way, Crestwing."

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Sky Beak directed his brother's guard while Hurricane directed the Crystal Imperial guards as they picked up the various crates and bags that had been unloaded and began to take them into Mount Aris, the hippgriff guards directing the Crystal Imperial guards at their head. Once everything had been taken indoors, he turned to see Hurricane directing a few guards to go and park the carriages with a few others near the entrance. With everything settled, he gave a nod and started to head inside himself, leaving Hurricane alone with the Crystal Imperial guards.

As Sky Beak approached the door, he spotted a familiar crystal hippogriff guard holding a spear, engaged in a conversation with a crystal kirin guard. He smiled widely as the crystal hippogriff noticed him approaching, his face clearly pleased to see him.

The crystal hippogriff guard quickly straightened, waving a talon at his friend with a grin. "Sky Beak! Good to see you again."

Sky Beak chuckled, returning the gesture as he approached. "Good to see you too, Swiftwave. How are you finding the mountain air after so long in the Crystal Empire?"

Swiftwave let out a warm laugh. "It feels like home again, though the Frozen North has its own charm. The empire’s hospitality really helped us settle in."

The crystal kirin guard beside him, a calm smile on her face, nodded in agreement. "The Crystal Empire’s warmth may be different from Mount Aris, but it still feels welcoming." She extended her hoof. "I’m Dawn Ember, by the way."

Sky Beak shook her hoof, noting the gentle shimmer in her crystal coat. "I'm Sky Beak, Dawn Ember, an honor. It’s wonderful to see the bonds between our lands in person."

Dawn Ember smiled as she lowered her hoof, glancing around at the lively bustle of guards and courtiers. "It’s rare that I get a chance to meet so many from Mount Aris again." She remarked, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. "I look forward to sharing stories from both our homelands."

Sky Beak nodded. “We’d be honored to hear them! It’s been too long since we’ve shared tales between our two worlds.”

Before the crystal kirin guard could respond, a crystal bat pony guard called out to her from across the courtyard which prompted her to turn her head, his voice carrying a note of urgency. "Dawn! Could you lend a hoof over here? We need help setting up the west wing accommodations and moving this heavy crate."

Dawn turned to Sky Beak and the crystal hippogriff guard with an apologetic smile. "Duty calls, it seems. I’ll catch up with you both later—I’d love to hear more about life in Mount Aris, Sky Beak."

Sky Beak inclined his head, waving a friendly wing. "We’ll hold you to that, Dawn. See you soon."

With a quick nod, Dawn trotted over to assist, leaving Sky Beak and Swiftwave standing by the entrance. As they started to walk into the mountain, the crystal hippogriff guard glanced at Sky Beak, a reminiscent smile spreading across his face.

"So, how’s the family? I hear your little ones have grown quite a bit since I last saw them." Swiftwave began, his tone lighthearted.

Sky Beak chuckled warmly. "Oh, you wouldn’t believe it! Silverstream’s still her adventurous self, of course—off exploring, studying with Princess Twilight’s School of Friendship to learn more friendship lesson. I heard she was planning to become a teacher at the school. And Terramar, well… he’s as torn between the sea and sky as ever." His eyes softened with pride. "They’ve both grown into such strong individuals. And you? How have things been with you and yours?"

The crystal hippogriff guard sighed happily, his expression brightening. "My elder brother joined the Crystal Imperial Guards! It’s strange, seeing her in uniform—but I couldn’t be prouder. And my youngest sister—well, she’s just discovered a love for art. My home’s covered in her paintings now."

Sky Beak laughed. "Ah, the joys of creativity! You’ve got yourself an artist! It’s amazing how each generation finds their own way." As they continued up the winding paths within Mount Aris, the pair exchanged tales of family gatherings, milestones, and adventures, each story deepening their bond as friends and fellow guardians of their kingdoms.

As they reached the inner hall, Sky Beak paused to take in the familiar yet breathtaking scene. "You know..." He mused. "No matter how many times I come back here, Mount Aris always feels like a breath of fresh air."

Swiftwave nodded. "Home has a way of grounding you, doesn’t it? And now, with this summit, it’s like a new beginning for all of us."

Sky Beak’s gaze drifted over the intricately carved walls and vibrant tapestries, symbols of the unity and strength Mount Aris had reclaimed. He nodded thoughtfully, feeling the weight of the summit’s purpose settling in. "You’re right. Bringing everyone together like this—after everything we've been through—it feels like we’re securing our future."

The crystal hippogriff guard matched his stride, his voice turning reflective. "After all you endured under the Storm King and his army, Princess Amore saved me and the survivors in more ways than we could have ever imagined. Seeing you and the others here today… it’s more than politics; it’s family."

Sky Beak placed a wing on his friend’s shoulder, his gaze warm. "You speak the truth, Swiftwave. And those bonds—between the Crystal Empire, Equestria, and Mount Aris and Seaquestria—are only going to grow stronger."

Just then, a group of young hippogriffs ran past, their laughter echoing through the corridors as they darted from one end of the hall to the other. The crystal hippogriff guard watched them, his smile broadening. "It’s for them, isn’t it? All the struggles, all the sacrifices—so they can grow up in peace, without fear."

Sky Beak’s eyes softened as he watched the young ones play. "Exactly. To give them a world where they can choose their path—whether it’s the sea, the sky, or something else entirely."

They continued walking, soon arriving at the heart of the mountain’s grand hall, where shimmering crystal chandeliers and natural skylights filled the space with a warm, inviting glow. Hippogriffs, crystal ponies, and other delegates mingled around tables, sharing stories and preparing for the summit. The sight brought a renewed sense of pride to both Sky Beak and Swiftwave.

"Remember when we used to be young guards ourselves?" The crystal hippogriff guard said with a nostalgic chuckle. “Full of ideals and ready to face any danger for our kingdom.”

Sky Beak chuckled, nudging him playfully. "And now, here we are, the ‘wise’ ones, sharing those ideals with the next generation. Funny how things come full circle."

They exchanged a quiet look of understanding before Swiftwave broke into a grin. "Well, let’s make sure our wisdom doesn’t bore the young ones too much, yeah?"

Sky Beak laughed. "Agreed. Let’s give them something to aspire to, not just stories of glory but a legacy of peace."

With that, the two friends went deeper into the mountain, their steps confident as they moved forward into the crowd, ready to represent the strength and resilience of their shared history.

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The royal couple looked around the room they would be staying together. They and Amore would be sharing a room on the third floor of the west wing for the duration of the summit. The room itself was decently large with a fireplace with a few cushions, a work desk, a king size bed and a single bed beside the king size bed. Their accompanying guards' rooms were all clustered together, adjacent to one another and just a hallway away from them. Shining had been wondering about the Seaquestria, but that would likely soon change.

Amore had a few more words with Crestwing and his family before the family left to attend to other matters, and with two of the Crystal Imperial guards taking position by the door, Amore walked in.

"Are you two well?" Amore asked with a smile.

"A bit tired, but we're alright." The Princess of Love responded, Shining nodding his head in agreement.

With a loving smile, Amore pulled both the royal couple towards her and nuzzled her family on the head. "Well then, I assumed you would want to explore Seaquestria first."

The royal couple nodded their head, eager to explore Seaquestria. "We would like that." The prince replied.

"I thought you two would." Amore smiled. "Come then, let's go."