Cadance The Crystal Princess

Crystal Empire

Radiant Hope slowly and stealthy made her through the street, carefully avoiding to crash into any Crystal Imperial guards like she did the last time.

'Alright, Radiant Hope. You can do this this time. Get to the Crystal Palace, grab the Crystal Heart without being seen by any Crystal Imperial guards and bring it to Sombra to cure his darkness.' The crystal unicorn thought.

As Hope walked through the street, she couldn't help but shivered at the sight of the Crystal Imperial guards patrolling the street, while crystal creatures citizens strolled along with their families as they conversed with each other.

Watching the scene, a pang of nervousness shot through the crystal unicorn. For the Crystal citizens, this was just another peaceful day—but for her, it was a delicate mission, and every guard’s watchful gaze seemed to sharpen her focus.

Just a little further, and I should be able to see the Crystal Palace. Hope reassured herself as she carefully moved aside for a family of three crystal changelings to pass by, hoping not to draw any attention.

'How in Equestria did the Crystal Empire got this many creatures integrated here? And why do they have different colors of their horns and wings?' The crystal unicorn mentally thought to herself as she moved aside again for a group of three Crystal Imperial guards that consisted of a griffon, a hippogriff and a pegasus.

Soon, the crystal unicorn reached the palace, but she froze when she landed her eyes at the base of the palace and the Crystal Heart spinning on its pedestal.

There, at the base of the Crystal Palace, the Crystal Heart spun gently on its pedestal, casting its shimmering light. Surrounding it were ranks of Crystal Imperial guards, stationed like an impenetrable wall around the Heart. Some patrolled in a steady rhythm, others watched intently from their posts within the palace.

Hope’s pulse quickened as she studied the guards, sweats forming on her forehead and streamed down her face as she realised her mission just got more complicated.

'OK, this just got more difficult. Why the buck would there be so many guards? What the buck?!' The crystal unicorn thought as her left eye twitched in frustration.

Hope took a deep breath, attempting to calm her racing thoughts. 'All right, calm down. There must be another way to get the heart.' With that, she turned and walked into an alleyway as she thought for any ideas.

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Seaquestria

Meanwhile, Shining Armor, now transformed into a seapony by the Pearl of Transformation, swam gracefully through the vibrant sea depths with Princess Amore and Princess Cadance gliding alongside him as he marvelled at the underwater city surrounding them.

The aquatic metropolis gleamed with an ethereal beauty, streets bustling with both hippogriffs and seaponies. They moved like a vibrant tide, flowing from one area to the next, some darting purposefully, others drifting leisurely, creating a spectacle of color and motion in the crystal-clear waters. The prince’s gaze swept over his surroundings, caught in awe at the lively community and the seemingly endless expanse of shimmering blue.

As the family of three swam with Shining marvelling at the scene of Seaquestria while enjoying being a seapony, the Princess of Love decided to ask a question.

"Mom, I have been thinking about the Crystal Empire. Who was the ruler before you took over?" Cadance asked her mother.

"Ah, well, that will be my mom and your grandmother, Princess Aurora Diamond. She and your aunties' mother, Princess Lauren Faust, were good friends." Amore explained.

The Princess of Love blinked her eyes in surprise. "I didn't know auntie Celly and auntie Lulu have a mother. They didn't tell me about her."

Amore looked at her daughter sadly. "Well, it was a sad topic they refused to remember, even a thousand years."

Cadance noticed her mother's tone. "Mom? Did something happened?"

Amore stared at her daughter with a sad look. "You could say that."

"You see..." Amore began explaining. "When I was young, there was an ancient myth about an ancient, dreadful force—the umbrum. They were creatures of darkness, undead ponies and beings that should have passed on long ago, led by a queen who was also an alicorn like you, your sister-in-law and your aunties. This queen somehow harnessed the power of necromancy and dark magic together, using a hive mind to control the umbrum army to attack. She ruled the umbrum army with an iron hoof, her undead army completely bound to her will."

"An alicorn that not only harnessed the power of necromancy and dark magic, but also can use a hive mind like a changeling?" The Princess of Love gasped. “How is that even possible? All those combined powers could tear the user from inside out."

"She was beyond anything we’d hear." Amore replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "With her hive mind, she could direct each umbrum’s movements with a terrifying precision. It was as if the darkness itself had a mind of its own."

Amore hesitated, her gaze distant. "Our ancestors knew little of her origins. All they knew was that she and her army thrived on fear and pain, that her power seemed boundless and that the queen claimed herself as the queen of umbrum. This was during an age when the sun and moon moved by themselves, when nature was unregulated and the existence of alicorns were just myths."

"Wow, my aunties told me that before they were born, that this planet was so chaotic back then." Cadance stated.

"You're correct. But that is the nature of evolution, and progression." Amore agreed.

The Princess of Love nodded her head . "So? What happened to her?"

"Well, The same thing that happened to King Sombra, and other similar tyrants. From what my mother told me, the queen was defeated by Princess Faust who went to fight the queen." Amore continued.

Amore sighed sadly. "Eventually, Princess Faust defeated the queen with the elements of harmony and likely killed her, though Princess Faust was seriously injured. From what I was told, she died from her injuries during the battle and was found by Celestia and Luna. They were devastated by her loss and a funeral was held to honor her sacrifice."

Cadance’s heart ached at her mother’s words. "And auntie Celly and auntie Lulu lost her… just like that?"

Amore nodded. "Yes. It left a deep scar on those who knew her."

The Princess of Love’s voice was filled with empathy. "She must have been an extraordinary mare. Aunties would be proud to know their mother’s legacy endures during her times ruling Equestria before them."

Amore smiled softly, a glimmer of pride in her eyes.

"Well, I think I understand why my aunties doesn't want to remember that incident and why they didn't tell me, but how come the ponies never heard of the queen of umbrum?" Cadance asked her mother, her eyebrow arching in confusion.

"It’s a mystery. All traces of her vanished after the battle, including her army. We don’t even know her name and no records about the queen were found. The only reason I know this tale is that my mother shared it with me just two days after Princess Faust's funeral." Amore sighed as she rubbed her face with a hoof. "Apparently, she learnt about the queen from one of the Crystal Imperial patrols were happened to be there to see the queen ordering her army from a distance and were forced to hide for several days after one of them was nearly spotted by her army. Soon, the queen of the umbrum became a story to scare fillies and colts just before bedtime."

The Princess of Love shivered at the tale. "A force like that, lost to memory… it almost feels like it could happen again.”

Amore gave a reassuring smile. "Our world is stronger now. And you, my dear, are part of its light."

Cadance smiled back at her mother before she was interrupted by her husband. "Uh, Cadance? Mom? A little help?"

The mother and daughter blinked in surprise and turned to see the prince tangled up in one of the seaweed drapes, his face bright red as he struggled to free himself.

The princesses burst into laughter, their worries momentarily forgotten. The Princess of Love swam over, chuckling as she began to untangle her husband. "Sh-shining. How in Equestria did you managed to get yourself tangled up?!"

Shining managed a sheepish smile. "I… uh… might’ve been a bit too excited being a seapony."

Amore shook her head with a smile, amused at the sight of her son-in-law’s predicament. "Well, try easing down your excitement a bit."

As Cadance finally freed her husband, she gave him a playful nudge. "Next time, just watch where you’re going, okay?"

The family of three all shared a laugh before Amore responded. "Come on now, I believe you have a city to explore, my dear son-in-law."

The prince smiled and nodded his head before the family swam toward the city of Seaquestria.

They swam further into Seaquestria, the sights around them shifting from the lively main square into quieter, more secluded areas with dazzling coral formations and caves glowing with bioluminescent sea plants. Shining was entranced by the way everything seemed to glow softly, giving the surroundings an otherworldly feel. The Princess of Love swam close by, the play of colors reflecting off her scales as she pointed out small details, from tiny schools of fish to the delicate, shell-encrusted statues that dotted the cityscape.

A sense of tranquility settled over the group, broken only when Amore motioned toward a large, open area ahead—a vast, sandy basin flanked by two monumental stone statues that seemed to guard the entrance.

"This is the Hall of Tides." Amore explained, her voice carrying a reverent tone. "Crestwing told me that this sacred place honors the unity of Seaquestria’s creatures, both seapony and hippogriff, and the gifts of the ocean itself."

The royal couple followed Amore, taking in the breathtaking sight. As they entered the Hall, Shining noticed an ancient-looking mural painted across the walls, depicting battles, celebrations, and scenes of harmony between the sea-dwelling creatures.

"It's beautiful." Cadance whispered. "You can feel the history in these walls."

As they explored, Amore's expression softened with memory. "Cadenza, did I ever tell you about your aunt Celestia and Luna's first visit to Seaquestria?"

The Princess of Love looked up in interest, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "No, I don’t think so. What happened?"

Amore chuckled softly. “They were so young back then. Celestia was wide-eyed and eager, wanting to know everything at once, while Luna, of course, was more cautious, staying close by my side. Queen Novo’s parents hosted them graciously, but Celestia nearly started a feud by accidentally eating a sacred seaweed! Queen Nereida and King Oceanus took it in good humor, thankfully, but Luna was mortified.”

The prince couldn’t help but laugh at the thought. “Sounds like Celestia. She was always a little too curious for her own good.”

Cadance joined in the laughter, but suddenly, a small seapony child darted into the Hall, almost colliding with Shining. “Oops! Sorry, mister!” The child said, giggling as he spun in the water before darting away. The family chuckled, watching him go, until they noticed a few more families entering the Hall, curious about the visitors.

The Princess of Love leaned over to her husband. "It looks like we’re drawing a bit of attention ourselves."

The prince grinned. "Maybe it’s because I’m the only seapony here who seems to keep getting tangled in seaweed."

The families laughed at Shining’s comment, a few even waving in a welcoming gesture. Cadance and Amore waved back, their warm expressions only adding to the peaceful atmosphere.

Just then, Princess Skystar glided gracefully in front of them, a warm smile plastered on her face. "So, what do you think about Seaquestria?" She asked.

Shining smiled at the young hippogriff. "It's incredible, honestly. I’ve never seen anything like it! I think I’ve fallen in love with Seaquestria." He glanced at his wife with a grin. "Of course, not as much as I’m in love with my wife here, but it’s close."

The Princess of Love playfully rolled her eyes, nudging him with her fin. "Nice save, Shiny."

Skystar laughed, delighted by the royal couple's banter. "I'm glad that you liked it, Prince Shining Armor! Seaquestria has a way of enchanting visitors, especially those experiencing it for the first time."

Amore glanced at the young hippogriff. "It’s wonderful to be back, Princess Skystar. You’ve brought such life to this place—it feels more vibrant than ever."

Skystar’s eyes sparkled. "Thank you, Princess Amore! We’ve worked hard to make Seaquestria welcoming to all creatures, especially since the Storm King incident. My parents and I both believe it’s important that everyone feels at home here. And please, call me Skystar."

The prince swam closer. “I heard a lot about the Storm King and his army and what they did to Mount Aris from some of the crystal hippogriff guards staying at the empire. It must have taken a lot of resilience to rebuild after everything he did."

The young hippogriff nodded, her cheerful demeanor softening as she thought back. “It was a difficult time, but it showed us just how strong we could be. And it brought us all closer together.”

Cadance placed a gentle hoof on Skystar’s shoulder. “It’s truly inspiring how Seaquestria and Mount Aris came together in unity. Your courage has left a lasting legacy that many can look up to.”

As Skystar smiled in appreciation, a familiar figure glided toward them—King Creswting himself. The seaponies and the hippogriffs around the Hall bowed respectfully as he approached the group.

"I trust that you enjoyed the tour of Seaquestria, Prince Shining Armor?" The king of the hippogriff asked.

"Absolutely." Shining replied with a chuckle. "And I’m enjoying Seaquestria even more than I expected."

Crestwing chuckled. "Well, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Now I believe that summit will be happening tomorrow, so I recommend that you three take a rest."

The family of three shared a knowing smile and nodded their head before gliding toward the surface and back to Mount Aris's rooms they have accommodated, getting ready to rest for the upcoming summit tomorrow.