Pony Veracity (the Crystal Empire)by keithsterlingChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 1It has been over one year since I discovered that the Ancient Royal Family of ancient Equestria survived to this day. The two heads of ancient royal family Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight and his wife Princess Celestia Silverlight have sworn my friends and me to secrecy of their true identity.' Sunny Starscout thought as she treks from Maretime bay to the partially excavated ancient Equestrian settlement of Ponyville at the foot of Canterlot’s mountain and Castle of Friendship. 'In that year, the Ancient Royal Family of ancient Equestria has moved from their old hiding place of the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters deep in what was called the Everfree Forest. To Queen Twilight Sparkle's old Castle of Friendship on the outskirts of Ponyville. They use the Castle of Friendship as their main residence and home base for the Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team, their business of rediscovering the locations of lost equestrian settlements across the globe. The other part of their business is to rediscover the long-lost technology of Ancient Equestria and adapt it to this new era of Equestria.' Sunny Starscout thought as she wished the dig team would rediscover a way to move around Equestria more accessible, so she doesn't have to walk everywhere. Meanwhile, one of the larger rooms on the first floor of the Castle of Friendship has been turned into a textile lab for studying ancient Equestria fabrics. The first regenerated element bearer walks about the room recreating replicas of her old clothing lines from ancient Equestria, as her old clothing lines are the hottest fashion trends in this new Equestria. Standing in front of one of the pony morph mannequins was attractive light gray unicorn mare with a well-styled moderate indigo blue corkscrew curled mane and tail. Her 5ft 7in slender and elegant equine figure was attired in a white paisley floral lace-up peplum top, and rich black knee-length high/low Ponte knit skirt. Why on her well pedicure ten and one-third inch long light gray bare feet with cherry-red nail polish were black mares Saar block heel pumps with one and one half inch heels. This light gray unicorn mare was Miss Rarity Radiance, the Element holder of Generosity and Godmother to the royal foals, and the expert in ancient textiles for the Silverlight family dig team. Also, at the Castle of Friendship, this day, talking to her uncle outside the castle sitting on a rock, was a beautiful light pink pegasi mare with moderate violet, moderate rose and pale gold streaked mane and tail. Her curvy 5ft 9in equine figure was attired in a wildflower vintage mares square neck short sleeve peasant top and medium blue mares mid-rise skinny fit jean. Her light pink ten-inch long attractive delicate pink slim bare feet with bright baby blue toenail polish were nude as a pair of gray mares zest stiletto heel pumps sat on the rock behind her. And folded on her back were her medium-sized light pink feathery bird wings. This disguised Alicorn mare was Head Archivist Cadence Sparkle, the adoptive niece of Justice and Celestia Silverlight and head archivist for the Silverlight dig team. Standing in front of Head Archivist Cadence Sparkle was a majestic and handsome-looking dark blue unicorn stallion with short textured cut crimson red mane and tail. His 6ft 5in athletic equine figure was attired in Limelight yellow short-sleeve solid interlock polo shirt and gray asphalt colored tapered athletic fit jeans. On his twelve-inch long, socked dark blue bare feet were taupe black lace-up sneakers. This Unicorn stallion was Chief Archaeologist Justice Silverlight, leader of the Silverlight dig team, along with his wife, Chief Dig Supervisor and lead Archaeologist Celestia Silverlight. "Give in Cadence, surrender to the tickle torture…I know how ticklish an Alicorn bare feet are." Justice said, teasing as he continued wiggling all ten fingers against luscious creamy smooth light pink skin. "AHahahahahahahah! It tihihihihickles so bahahad!"Cadence calls out as Justice stops tickling her luscious, creamy, smooth light pink skin on the underside of her slenderly gracefully rounded, gorgeous pair of light pink bare feet with bright baby blue toenail polish. "Thank you, my dear niece. That was fun." Justice said, appreciative as he gestured for Cadence to bring her head down and kissed her on the cheek. "You are very welcome, uncle…Why I was hibernating, I missed your fingers on my luscious creamy smooth light pink soles. Like you did went you, visited me in the Crystal Empire. I would submit to you removing my golden gladiator sandals and tying me up. At which time you would tickle my bare feet. It helps to relieve my stress of ruling the Crystal Empire and the marital stress." Cadence explains as she beams fondly at her uncle as both ponies spot Sunny Starscout walking up to the castle. "Greeting Miss Starscout," Justice said, friendly. "Greeting, Sunny." Cadence said friendly as Sunny quickly noticed that Cadence was barefooted and her shoes were behind her on the rock. She thinks nothing of it and figures it some kind of ancient equestrian custom for Ex-mare royalty to be barefooted, went greeting a friend. "What brings you to the castle, Miss Starscout?" Justice asked as he placed his hand on Cadence's shoulder and shook his head, telling her don't bring up the subject. Cadence nods in acknowledgment and remains in her sensitive light pink bare feet with bright baby blue toenail polish. "Izzy called me a week ago that you extracted the spirit of element bearer of Generosity from her." Sunny comments as Justice looks toward his adoptive niece Cadence. "We did the Element bearer of Generosity is Miss Rarity Radiance. My uncle's people were able to regenerate her real body; all we had to do was extracted her spirit from Izzy. Would you like to meet her, Sunny?" Cadence asked as Sunny's eyes became saucers went. Cadence offered to introduce Sunny to another member of the guardians of friendship. Cadence’s slenderly gracefully rounded gorgeous shaped pair of light pink bare feet with bright baby blue toenail polish pip-popped across the white marble art polished ceramic tiles of the castle's large foyer, followed closely by Sunny Starscout. Sunny is surprised to see how many different breeds of pony morphs now inhabit the castle of friendship. Cadence tells Sunny that many of these ponies are the descendants of a family that once lived in Ponyville. Meanwhile, several miles outside the city limits of Vanhoover, the only city in the frozen north to survive intact due to its location on the outer fringes of the snow field. Lead Site Scout Luna Borealis and Assistant Site Scout Somnus Silverlight make their way in snow gear and cross-country skiing gear into the raging snow storm. About a month ago, the Mayor of Vanhoover sent word to Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team about an unusual find revealed by constant blowing winds. The small cities run Vanhoover antiquities team excavating the site for several months, uncovering much of the site. But soon discovered that the location was more dangerous than they expected, and they did not have the resources to excavate the remainder of the area safely. The head archaeologists of the team asked the Mayor of Vanhoover to call in Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team to continue excavating the site. Upon receiving the request from Vanhoover, Chief Archaeologist Justice Silverlight and Chief Excavation Supervisor Celestia Silverlight sent the Recon team to see what they were dealing with. As the two recon team skiers push deeper into the raging snowstorm, they disappear from sight on the way to the partially excavated dig site deep in the snowfield. “Hey, Auntie…the Mayor of Vanhoover say the trail to the dig site would be marked with red flags," Somnus said through crystal Mic that extended from the side of his helmet. His father's species, the imperial Alicorn, used the same technology. "That right, Somnus, so switch on your crystal mult-optics visor installed in your helmet. We should be able to spot the flags marking the trail to the dig site through the white out of this storm." Luna explains as the two ponies touch the side of their helmets, causing a light-sensitive gray crystal visor to form in front of their eyes. "Ok, Auntie. I have a lock on the flags." Somnus say as the visor scans the area till it locks on pony-made items and forms a picture of a flag on the visor. Somnus gestures his hand toward the north, and Luna nods her head in acknowledgment and follows him to the first red flag. Meanwhile, back in partially excavated Ponyville adjacent to the ruins of the school of friendship sits a new two-story sizeable rectangular building. The Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team motor pool and repair facilities, using the Epoch of another Imperial Alicorn Time Keeper Administrator from the Great Library citadel station. An older female imperial Alicorn Crystalloid-maintenance engineer put the finishing touches on what Time Keeper Administrator called a semi-truck. She adapted the Imperial Alicorn Crystal technology to the plans supplied by the other time Keeper Administrator of this vehicle and created crystal powered semi-truck. This crystal power semi-truck will allow the Research team to bring more equipment to dig sites. The only downside is she must call in an imperial Alicorn Galactic knight to drive this crystal-powered semi-truck as no Terran pony knows how to control this new vehicle. But the imperial Alicorn Crystalloid-maintenance engineer grandson thought of that and called in one of his pilots from his supercarrier Galactic Knight-Captain Urania Corona, an ace pilot from the Crown of light Aerospace group aboard his warship. Checking over the crystal power semi-truck was a lovely looking Spanish gray imperial Alicorn mare with jet black mane and tail. Her 6ft 2in athletic equine figure was in green reef teal green mares V-neck short-sleeve T-shirt and tango talk skinny blue jeans. On her Spanish gray-coloured stunning long and slender mare's bare feet with crimson red nail polish were black mares Mariah slip-on shoes. Folded on her back were her large bio-mechanical silver metal feathered bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Galactic Knight-Captain Urania Corona, an ace pilot from the Crown of light Aerospace group aboard Justice's warship. She was talking to an exquisite-looking morning blue imperial Alicorn mare with faded pink mane and tail despite her advanced age. This Imperial Alicorn mare has retained her beauty with only a hint of brilliant silver-gray in her mane and tail. Her 6ft 11in superb equine figure was in moss green long-sleeve cotton twill coveralls. On her light blue stunning long and slender socked mare's bare feet with natural beauty painted with crimson red nail polish were black oil-tanned leather rugged flex comp toes work boots. On top of her head, behind her horn was an optics headband and folded on her back were her large jewelled bio-mechanical gold metal feathered bird wings. This old Imperial Alicorn mare was Imperial Alicorn Galactic Technician Ophelia Silverlight, the only daughter of Empress Galaxy Cosmos, the supreme creator of all Imperial Alicorns plus Justice Grandmother and genius crystalloid-maintenance engineer. “This quite a beauty, Your Imperial Highness," Urania said, complementing as Ophelia climbed out from underneath the hood of the cab and closed the hood with her infinity magic. "I thank you, Captain; this took a lot longer than I thought to build from those plans I got from the other Timekeeper Administrator. But it should meet my grandson's expectations…I am working on two other crystal-powered vehicles from the same Epoch. Those other two should be easy to control by terran ponies after a few lessons." Ophelia explains, gesturing toward two other crystal-powered small vehicles in one corner of the garage. "What are those small vehicles called, your Imperial Highness?" Urania asked, looking over these small vehicles. “I think I’ll call them consumer vehicles…Because they are easy to work." Ophelia answered as she unzipped her coveralls, revealing that she wearing camo colored tank top under her coveralls. "What is this vehicle called, your imperial highness?" Urania asked, looking at the box-shaped crystal-powered vehicle away from the other two small cars. "That is a special project for my granddaughter Blueberry…she calls it an ambulance. She asked me to design a crystal-powered vehicle to transport sick and injured ponies to her hospital at Friendship Castle." Ophelia explains as Chief excavation supervisor Celestia Silverlight arrives at the motor pool and repair facilities to get updated on the crystal power truck. Tucked under her belt was her Daisho. (An hour later, a partially excavated dig site in the snow field of the former Crystal Empire) "Hey Auntie, I am getting an unusual reading on this dig site?" Somnus comments as he scans with his crystal mult-optics visor on his helmet, what looks like a wing section. "What do you mean, my little Somnus?" Luna asked as she walked toward the front of the dig site; she noticed something reflecting from under the snow and kneeled down in front of it and began wiping the snow away with her hand. “The reading I am getting on this thing…say it imperial Alicorn made. But what father said doesn’t make sense. This reading says it is quite old and has quite a bit of damage. It was before you, mother, grandmother and father arrived on Equus planet." Somnus explains as Luna continues brushing away from the snow from reflecting in front of her. "I see what you mean, my little Somnus…as I was young, I arrived with my sister and mother. From what my mother told me, the Planet of Equus was a new planet for the Great Library Citadel Station. So that is why they sent a Timekeeper administrator of the tenth circle to record the planet's history; it was quite advanced in its evolution. So they could not send a low-level Timekeeper administrator to this planet without being discovered." Luna explained as she floated a flashlight out of her backpack and shone it into the darkness giving a startled gasp; went mummified eyes stared back at her from the darkness. "Auntie!" Somnus exclaimed as his light blue feathered bird wings appeared on his back, and he flew to his Aunt Luna to see why she gasped. As he flaps his wings in mid-air, he spots the flashlight beam revealing a mummified imperial Alicorn sitting in a seat inside the object. “What in Equestria?!” Somnus exclaims "I think it time to call in the whole Research team, my dear little Somnus," Luna comments as Somnus shakes his head. Chapter 2Back at the Castle of Friendship in partially excavated Ponyville, sitting in a small seating area in one of the corners of the textile laboratory were Miss Rarity Radiance, Head Archivist Cadence Sparkle and Miss Sunny Starscout. The three mares were having a wonderful conversation while drinking a brilliant green tea with a slight grassy taste called matcha. Since being regenerated, Miss Radiance feels out of place in this new Equestria to help alleviate his friend and godmother to his foal's mood. Justice helps Rarity transform a part of the textile laboratory into her old workroom at the Carousel Boutique; the exact copy help Rarity feels more at home. Unbeknownst to Rarity, Justice, with the help of his grandmother, Ophelia created an Adult version of her little sister Sweetie Belle Radiance a kind android using Imperial Alicorn technology. At first, Rarity wanted nothing to do with that Sweetie bot, but as time passed, the Sweetie Bell android proved her worth to Rarity. After Rarity finally accepted the android of Sweetie Bell as her enhanced little sister, Sweetie bell went to work reminding Rarity that Justice cares much about her, which is why he created her. Before long, Rarity started to cry; yes, she was upset with Justice for not telling her that he was making the Sweetie Bell android, but he was doing it because he cared very deeply for her. At that moment, Rarity rushed out of the textile laboratory and went to talk to Justice to renew their friendship. "Excuse me, sister…but that client that wants two hundred units of your new clothing line is blowing up my phone lines again," Sweetie explains as she runs the invoice through her optic sensors. “I already told that client we have production delays…That earth pony mare from Maretime bay that owns that old factory is trying to nickel and dime me to death on buying her factory. I am not going to pay more than it is worth!" Rarity said bitterly as she took a drink of her matcha from her cup. "So what should I tell him, sister?" Sweetie asked, waiting for an answer. "Tell him we are sorry, but as explained before, we have production delays." Rarity explains, taking another drink from her matcha tea. “Huh?” Sweetie exclaims "What is wrong, Sweetie?" Rarity asked “In coming message from high command… All personnel report immediately to the great hall for deployment." Sweetie said as Rarity, Cadence, and Sweetie Bell ran out of the textile laboratory, followed by Sunny Starscout, who got caught up in the excitement and went horn siren sound throughout the castle. Sunny Starscout followed the three mares through a golden-framed green glass fan-lighted door into a large twenty by twenty-eight square foot room, formally the throne room of the castle of friendship. Now transformed into the great hall (meeting hall), at the front of it was a three-leveled tiered platform; on the top were Justice Silverlight and his wife Celestia Silverlight, both were wearing Daisho on their side. Sunny Starscout was confused with Celestia Silverlight moving her fingers in empty air as she passed through the door into the great hall. She suddenly gasped; once in the room, Sunny saw huge monitors floating in mid-air in the space, flashing red light as the horn sirens continued sounding. As Sunny maneuvered through the slowly increasing crowd, she spotted Rarity and Sweetie Bell at the front of the room and joined them. Sunny gasped once again went she saw Celestia Silverlight in front of her moving her fingers over what looked like a keyboard in front of her. As she continued looking around the room on the lower platform, Aurora Silverlight, Flurry Heart sparkle, Cadence Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle and Blueberry Swirl Silverlight, like Celestia, were typing on a keyboard. She soon spots Lara Borealis, like the other six mares; she was typing on a keyboard, looking something up on the opposite side of Justice. The only two missing family members were Somnus Silverlight and Luna Borealis; Sunny figured that both family members were out on assignment for Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team. As the last personnel take their place in the great hall, the door closes behind them and lights dim. Soon holographic planet of Equus forms in mid-air over the heads of the gathered crowd, and Sunny reels with astonishment. She figured Imperial Alicorn was more advanced than Equestria but never guessed that they were this advanced. A smile formed on Rarity's snout went she saw Sunny get a childlike wonder with all the new technology and began to explain it to her as Sweetie Bell downloaded the mission brief for Rarity. "Listen up, ponies! Our Recon team discovers what might be an Imperial Alicorn-designed shuttlecraft from the reading; it is quite old! Before Miss Borealis and I arrived on the Planet of Equus. Miss Borealis has gone through the Great Library Citadel Station files and found no match for the shuttlecraft! So this is an unknown shuttle craft; this discovery is a top priority secret! All the ponies in this room will go into cover-up mode! No one outside this castle must know about the discovery! That goes for you as well, Miss Sunny Starscout!" Justice explains as he looks directly at Sunny, who nods her head as her stomach knots. "For this mission, it will be the primary team! Rarity, I want to take your sister on this team; she will be invaluable! (Rarity nods her head) Miss Starscout, you coming along on this mission as well! As for the rest of you, your sector chiefs will hand out your assignments! Miss Sparkle and Miss Radiance are in charge of the castle! All correspondence for this mission will pass through them! We must keep a tight lid on this!" Justice explains as the personnel files out of the Great hall and the primary team, Sweetie Bell, heads to Quartermaster to gear up for the mission. It has been forty-five space cycles since a Galactic Combat Technician found her way through pitch darkness to the large crystal reactor core aboard a long-abandoned citadel class space station in the Southern Star sector. The Galactic Combat Technician activates her magnetic boots and sticks to metal deck plates in front of a large computer system in main Engineering. She floats a small portable holo computer off her shoulder as the gravity control system of the space station is offline with the Crystal reactor core offline. She grabs hold of the small holo computer floating about with her gloved hands and plugs the holo computer into the central holo computer system. She begins tapping on the holo keyboard in front of her trying to get the Crystal reactor core back online. The central computer sounds an alarm as she is about to bring the crystal reactor core back online. “Attention! Attention! Crystal power core! Critical fault! Huge crack detected in main power crystal! Evacuate Immediately! Estimated time till power crystal shatters five Space Cycles!" The crystal reactor core computer sounds like the vast power crystal at the heart of the reactor begins to develop several cracks across its face. The Galactic Combat Technician quickly deactivates her magnetic boots and uses her silver bio-mechanical metal bird wings to propel herself through the emergency lighted corridor of the long-abandoned citadel class space station back to the station docking bay. As the crystal power core begins spinning faster and faster, causing more stress on the badly damaged power crystal, the Galactic Combat Technician speeds down the corridor. As large and small electrical explosions occur throughout the station in the corridors, she reaches the emergency engineering conduit and quickly inputs numeric code into the numeric keypad. Went she puts the last digit into the numeric keypad, a morph-size door slides open, revealing the emergency engineering conduit; she quickly runs through the tube as fast as possible. Using her unnatural imperial Alicorn strength, she forces open the door and leaps out of the emergency engineering conduit just as a massive power surge electrifies the whole tube that would have killed her if she remained inside. Unable to catch her breath, she quickly gets to her feet as the cracks worsen on the power crystal. Malfunctioning instruments shower the docking bay with sparks. The force field airlock is still in place, and sitting on the platform was her Interceptor fighting falcon aerospace fighter. Suddenly the unmistakable sound of metal shearing and snapping echoes in the bay before a massive metallic crash blocks the Galactic Combat Technician from her ship with a precious second ticking away. Through the dust, bright blue light can be seen, and the sound of metal being sliced in half can be heard. As the dust cleared in her gloved hand was her energy katana blade; with one slice, she cut the large metal beam in half. She runs to her ship with her path clear and leaps into the cockpit. She clears the docking bay just as the abandoned citadel class space station explodes in a spectacular display of destruction. The damaged power crystal reduces the abandoned citadel class space station to pretty sparkles in the darkness of space that quickly fades away. The Galactic Combat Technician sets course to meet up with her duty station 'IAS Stellar Eclipse,' a super combat carrier-class warship that is part of the main Royal Battle fleet. As the smaller Interceptor fighting falcon aerospace fighter arrives at the rendezvous point, a six hundred thirty meters long Imperial Alicorn-designed warship appears from the darkness. Several multiple colored lights activate from the warship's top deck, guiding the small aerospace fighter onto the carrier's flight deck. As the small fighter nears the flight deck, an antigravity bubble system activates, slowing the spacecraft's speed down and allowing the ship to safely land on the flight deck. The antigravity bubble quickly floats the fighter to the nearest small combat elevator; once on the elevator, the magnetic landing feet stick the fighter to the metal deck plate. Once the landing feet are locked there, a soft click and elevator begin lowering the fighter through the force field airlock into four-level lower decks of the carrier. In the bowels of this carrier, each deck is equipped with one whole squadron of aerospace fighters (24 ships) that belong to the crown of light aerospace battle group under the command of Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola. Mixed with these aerospace fighters are numerous small utility ships ranging from one large shadow cat recon plane, small space shuttles and many one-man repair vessels with arms for repairing the ship. As the combat elevator stop on the bottom level, the magnetic landing feet disengage from the metal plate as the antigravity bubble system once again lifts the aerospace fighter off the elevator, allowing the small combat elevator to ascend back to the flight deck. Waiting on the lower level was an alluring cool gray imperial Alicorn mare with red-orange mane and tail. Her toned 6ft 2in equine figure was attired in a form-fitting peach-colored space suit. A pair of peach-colored form-fitting boots were on her cool gray bare feet, and folded on her back were her silver bio-mechanical metal bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Galactic Knight lieutenant commander Clio Quasar, the first officer aboard 'IAS Stellar Eclipse,' a super combat carrier-class warship and first officer for Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight. As the canopy opened on the Interceptor fighting falcon aerospace fighter climbing out of the cockpit was a stunning dim gray imperial Alicorn mare with orange-yellow mane and tail. Her physically fit 6ft 2in equine figure was attired in a form-fitting periwinkle-colored space suit. A pair of periwinkle-colored form-fitting boots were on her dim gray bare feet, and folded on her back were her silver bio-mechanical metal bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola, the commander of the crown of light aerospace battle group and Aerospace fighter ace. "You know, Major, Justice would have a fit if he knew that you did that stunt…waiting for the very last second to escape the explosion," Clio said, reprimanding. A claw from the ceiling picked the fighter up from the fuselage and placed the ship on the third level to allow Galactic Mechanical Engineers to begin repairing the damage from the explosion. "Well, number one…I know you will not tell Justice about my stunt." Erato said with a smile on her snout as the two mares bumped their fists together. "That is for sure, Erato…I am not going to be giving another lecture on the protocol." Clio replies as the two mares walk off the docking bay to the turbo lift. "But anyway, Erato, what did you find out on the abandoned citadel class space station?" Clio asked as the two mares climbed onto the turbo lift to take it to the upper decks. "The logs in the communication room of the space station picked up the distress beacon about a week ago and relayed it automatically to Infinity Palace. I tried to get the emergency power up to find out where the distress beacon came from. The power crystal was so badly damaged from the supernova that it started to crack." Erato explains as she got off on the crew quarters deck to head to her room to take a shower and begin her sleep Cycle. Chapter 3It has been one year at the partially excavated dig site in the former Crystal Empire's snow field; that year, the Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team erected their standard, prefabricated dig sites campsite. To combat the raging snow storms that kick up unexpectedly in the snow fields, Justice called in a specialist in fortification Countess Susan Shimmering Diamond Silverlight, his own mother and grandmother to the Royal foals. Walking through the piled-up snow toward one of the outer walls to check, it was an imposing-looking, 6ft 10in dark blue Imperial Alicorn mare with a crimson red mane and tail. Her athletic equine figure was encased in a white sub-zero condition cold-weather gear. On her bare feet were black insulated sub-zero winter boots. Resting against her back were her ice-covered gold bio-mechanical feather bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare is Countess Susan Shimmering Diamond Silverlight Justice's own mother and a Galactic Structural Engineer of the highest calibre. She reaches under her fur-lined hood and presses a button on the optics headband she wore on her head; behind her horn, a small red crystal eyepiece forms over her eyes. On the eyepiece, several mathematic formulas appear that Susan quickly deciphers. ‘It looks like the reinforced concrete walls will hold; there is not enough pushing pressure from the built-up snow to cause critical failure. I'll have the small crystal-powered bulldozers push away the snow from the walls next week.' Susan thought as she returned to the largest building in the dig sites campsite. In this main hangar, the dig team has been excavating the Imperial Alicorn-designed shuttlecraft from the permafrost. Susan walks up to a small door on the side of the main hangar; she enters a numeric code onto the numeric keyboard; a moment later, they're a low hiss as the door slide open. As she passes through the outer door, it slides closed behind her, and she finds herself standing in a small room with a second sliding door in front. A second later, the room flashes red, a strong gust of air blows through the room, and the door in front of her opens up. She walks through the second door and enters a large locker room with numerous lockers along one side of the room. She walked up to one of the lockers and opened the locker; inside the locker were insulated coveralls and work boots. She began to remove her white sub-zero condition cold-weather gear and black insulated sub-zero winter boots. The floor beneath her luxurious, beautifully, and sensuous refined long, rounded dark blue bare feet remain warm as she changes into the fluorescent yellow-green coveralls. Once the coveralls are on, she sits on the long wooden bench and pulls on a pair of socks before putting on the black work boots. To finish the outfit, she places an orange hard hat on top of her head behind her horn that says 'Engineer' on the front. Once dressed, she walks past a metal cabinet with computerized clipboards inside and grabs one out of the cabinet. She enters her passcode onto the computerized clipboard activating the device. She again passes through an airlock before walking into the central part of the main hangar. The main part of the hangar is a beehive of activity with many small crystal-powered construction vehicles doing their assigned jobs and personnel. High above the ceiling, three tracks crisscross the roof with small manned-cranes moving about to designate locations in the main hangar. Susan's heels click-clack over the diamond plate of the cat-walks surrounding a two hundred four-foot-long imperial Alicorn-designed assault shuttle partially free from the permafrost of the snow field. The camera panned around the main hangar running the overhead cranes: Somnus Silverlight, Aurora Silverlight and Flurry Heart Sparkle. Luna Borealis ran the construction vehicles crews, and Celestia Silverlight supervised the excavation Cadence Sparkle, Lara Borealis, and Sweetie bell Android were studying the two hundred-four-foot-long imperial Alicorn-designed assault shuttle documenting the damage to the ship. Why in a separate room with a window that overlooks the whole dig site monitoring the medical systems was Blueberry Swirl Silverlight; she has been authorized to pull out personnel. If their body temperature drops below average as the main hangar must stay cold to keep the ice from melting too fast and send them to the warming room to recover. Justice Silverlight was overseeing the whole dig site; as his mother passed in front of him, he smiled, and she made her way over to her station. Susan shimmering diamond Silverlight runs the Remote Operated Vehicles systems that are slowly melting the ice and propping up the free sections of the assault shuttle to be studied by Cadence, Lara and Sweetie bell. As the melting remote-operated vehicles (ROV) free with looks like antenna assembly with a small radar dish on top of the assault shuttle inside the cockpit, a control board becomes active. The finger of the mummified Imperial Alicorn pilot is holding down a single button on the control board. Once the radar dish is free of its icy prison, the dish repositions itself before releasing a laser pulse into space that Sweetie bell quickly senses and quickly alerts Justice of the laser pulse. Justice quickly orders Sunny Starscout to operate the construction vehicles with the claws to force open the cargo hatch on the underside of the assault shuttle. She hops into the construction vehicle and uses the claws to force open the hatch; at the same time, Cadence quickly slips oxygen tanks onto her back. Sunny could only force open the cargo hatch big enough for a small Terran Alicorn to slip into the ship. As Cadence slips through the opening, she is forced to crawl on all fours on top of the cargo pods that fill the cargo bay, following her uncle's directions in the pitch darkness of the cargo bay. When she reached the location, she reached for the flashlight on her utility belt and turned it on. ‘By my aunt’s light! That looks like a snowflake pattern!’ Cadence thought shocked, as the light beam shines onto the side of the cargo pod. On the pod's side was a snowflake pattern that reminded Cadence of the flag of the Crystal Empire. “Niece! Did you make it to the location?” Justice asked through the earwig inside Cadence’s ear, snapping her out of her train of thought. "Huh? I did, uncle." Cadence said, hesitant as Justice pick-up the change in his beloved niece's voice. "Is something wrong? Niece?" Justice asked as Cadence felt around on the Cargo bay ceiling, looking for the hatch to gain access to the central part of the shuttle. "No! Uncle," Cadence said hesitantly as she shined the light onto the hatch, looking for the numeric keypad that her uncle described. "The code please, uncle?" Cadence said, insisting as her gloved hand trembled as she had trouble inputting the numeric code onto the keypad. She quickly grabs hold of her shaking hand with her other hand, trying to settle the trembling. ‘By my aunt’s light? Please stop shaking?’ Cadence thought anxiously as she was finally able to stop her hand from shaking and inputted numeric code into the keypad. There was a very slight hissing sound from the hatch. But the hatch was frozen shut, so Cadence brought her legs up and kicked the hatch open using all of her earth pony strength. “I am in! Uncle!” Cadence said excitedly as she climbed through the hatch and found herself standing in darken metal corridor. As she shined the flashlight about the passage, she saw four doors on the left side of the passage leading to most likely small staterooms and a hatch leading outside on the right, but it was frozen shut. Behind her was a door that most likely led to the engine room, and in front of her was the entrance to the cockpit. "What in Equestria!?" Cadence exclaimed, shocked as her beam shined on the walls of the corridor with a painting of crystalline plant life that reminded her of the crystal flower garden in the crystal empire. “Niece! What do you see!?” Justice asked, concerned as hearing her uncle's voice snaps her out of her train of thought again. "Oh, uncle…the corridor I am in has framed paintings on the wall. I see a hatch outside. The air here is stagnant, and I can see the door to the cockpit." Cadence explains as she makes her way to the cockpit, stumbling on a second mummified imperial Alicorn just in front of the outside hatch. "Uncle, I found another mummified imperial Alicorn…It looks to be female. And what you told me, uncle, their large number of mares like here in Equestria." Cadence explains as she uses her light to scan the mummified imperial Alicorn mare body for clues. "That is right, niece." Justice answers “What is she wearing? Look for any kind of mark on the clothing.” Justice asked as Cadence scanned the mare with her light. "She is wearing yukata kimono…not as nice as the one you gave me, uncle. She all so wearing a simple obi. On her feet are tabi socks and Zori sandals. Wait a minute, their? What looks like a pick axe is on kimono!” Cadence said, informed and surprised as the light shone on a picture on the kimono. “A pick axe! Then she is a power crystal miner!” Justice exclaimed “What is a power crystal miner, uncle?” Cadence asked “A power crystal miner is imperial Alicorn that mines for our power crystals on large crystal asteroids in one of many mining star sectors in imperial Alicorn space. But what is a power crystal miner doing on the planet of Equus?" Justice commented as Cadence continued down the corridor to the cockpit. Several hours later, Justice makes his way from his housing unit in dig camp to the housing unit of his nieces after being called by Flurry Heart because her mother has locked herself in her bedroom. "Hello, Flurry heart; what's wrong with your mother?" Justice asked as he hugged Flurry's heart; she let him into the housing unit. "I don't know, uncle? After opening up the assault shuttle, my mother went straight to her room. I asked her if she was hungry, and she told me no. And to leave her alone." Flurry heart explains as Justice walks up to Cadence's bedroom door and knocks on it. "Please, Flurry heart? Leave me alone!" Cadence calls, confused. "Cadence, it is me, Justice!" Justice called back as he heard the door unlock, and he was able to enter Cadence's bedroom. Before walking into the bedroom, Justice gestures for Flurry heart to go back into the living room of the housing unit. Once through the door, Justice is standing in a twelve by twelve-foot square room; on the bed was distressed Cadence Sparkle in her Alicorn form, which is attired in a sweater top and jeans. Her slenderly gracefully rounded, gorgeous-shaped pair of light pink bare feet were bare. And sitting on the nightstand was her crystal empire crown. Justice walked over to the bed and sat down next to Cadence on the bed. "I must go home, uncle," Cadence said, afraid as she accepted the hug from her uncle. "To the Crystal Empire, niece," Justice said as Cadence nodded her head yes. "You want to see if you are an Imperial Alicorn, and Crystal Empire is the only place you can find the answer," Justice explained as Cadence's light purple eyes were haunted by some inner anxiety as she nodded her head again. "Since I first met you, Miss Sparkle, I have always sensed their more to you. Then you know? I didn't want to give you more anxiety. You had enough being the ruler of the Crystal Empire." Justice explains as a tear runs down Cadence's cheek. "You love me (Justice nodded his head). That why, you didn't tell me, uncle (Justice nodded his head again) Went did you know uncle that I might be Imperial Alicorn?" Cadence asked as Justice sighed softly. “I didn’t know that you might be an Imperial Alicorn? Until Luna and Somnus sent word that they might have found the wreck of the imperial Alicorn assault shuttle in the snow field. I told Lara we both knew it might be that missing shuttle from the Southern Star Sector. After the red giant at the center of the Southern star sector went supernova. The assault shuttle disappeared…most Imperial Alicorns believe it attempted a wormhole jump, but the shockwave knocked it off course." Justice explains as Cadence's stomach knots. “What makes you think I am Imperial Alicorn, uncle?" Cadence said, her voice edged with tension, hoping it was not valid. "The name of the ruler of Southern star sector was Queen Filomena Amore Aperture," Justice said as Cadence gasps. "Princess Amore: the first ruler of the Crystal Empire," Cadence exclaims. "Before the supernova, Queen Aperture was caring for her foal," Justice said as Cadence's face grew haggard with worry. Chapter 4Through the raging snow storms and white-out conditions of the snow field of the former Crystal Empire, two bright blue eyes appear, piercing the white-out with no sound to be heard. Soon six more bright blue eyes joined the first set of eyes, and still, no sound could be heard. What are these blue eyes, some sort of magical construct that survives the loss of magic in Equestria or some kind of wild magic? As the mysterious animal crest the large snow hill, the bright blue eyes are not eyes but high-intensity headlights attached to a crystal-powered arctic hover recon bike that belongs to the Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team. These recon bikes have enclosed heated cockpit with unique heat circulation and air cycling system to keep the engine and hover jets from freezing in these harsh arctic conditions. Piloting one of these crystal-powered arctic hover recon bikes was Head Archivist Cadence Sparkle, Assistant Archivist Flurry Heart Sparkle, her daughter, Head site scout Luna Borealis and Chief Excavation supervisor Celestia Silverlight, both of Cadence's aunts. These four mares were heading to the ruin of the capital city of the former Crystal Empire the Crystal city. (One hour earlier, Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team base camp) "What makes you think I am Imperial Alicorn, uncle?" Cadence said, her voice edged with tension, hoping it was not valid. "The name of the ruler of Southern star sector was Queen Filomena Amore Aperture," Justice said as Cadence gasps. "Princess Amore: the first ruler of the Crystal Empire," Cadence exclaims as Justice shakes his head. "Before the supernova, Queen Aperture was caring for her foal," Justice said as Cadence's face grew haggard with worry. “Celestia and Luna told me you were an orphan with no memory of your past, dear niece." Justice comment as Cadence's light purple eyes darts maniacally about, picking objects out of her bedroom. "No, uncle! I can't be an Imperial Alicorn? I was a pegasus before I became an Alicorn Princess!" Cadence said, distressed as tears filled her light purple eyes and her uncle transformed into pegasi with no effort. “The ability to transform into another species is a natural ability of Imperial Alicorn, my dear niece," Justice explains as he wraps his metal wings and arms around Cadence, trying his best to comfort her. “If you are an Imperial Alicorn or not…you are still my niece," Justice said, caring as Cadence wrapped her wings and arms around him. (Back to present) 'After that, I decided to learn for myself if I was an Imperial Alicorn.' Cadence thought as she looked upon the ruins of Crystal City from on top of a hill overlooking the once grand city of Crystal empire. It has been many years since the four mares last lay eyes on the Crystal City in the Crystal Empire. It was bittersweet for Flurry heart Sparkle to be returning to Crystal city, the city of her birth. The last sound and image burned into Flurry Heart's memory are the Crystal buildings shattering and the wild winds howling as it forces her to flee to the Castle of Friendship in Ponyville to survive the fall of the Crystal Empire. Cadence felt a cold fist close over her heart as the sound of sniffing is heard over the earwig in her ear. "I am delighted that you survive, Flurry Heart…It would be tough to continue living without you, my lovely foal." Cadence said motherly as the crystal Mic extended from her helmet. "Thank you, mommy." Flurry Heart said, appreciative and reassured as a soft sigh is heard over the earwig, and Cadence softly giggles. "I think it all good, aunties." Cadence comments. "Yes, it's good, aunties."Flurry's heart commented. "But anyway, Cadence, you never told us why we are going to the ruins of the Crystal City?" Celestia asked, wondering through the earwig in Cadence's ear. “There is a room in the bowels of Crystal Palace that was to be used in extreme emergencies. I think Flurry Heart knows the room that I am referring to.” Cadence commented as all three mares heard tapping on Mic. "Mother is, talking about the secret Crystal laboratory of Princess Amore. I tried to open the door went the snowstorms got bad. But it didn't open for me, and the Crystal Empire fell." Flurry Heart commented as the breath caught in Cadence's throat. "It felt like the door didn't recognize me as the Princess of Crystal Empire. Every time I touched the knob, it gave me a light jolt to make me let go of the knob. It felt like I was not the one that could open the door." Flurry Heart explains as Cadence gives a startled gasp at what her daughter said. "Here crazy idea nieces and sister, what if the door was synced to the bio-rhythm of Imperial Alicorn, in this case, our niece Cadence. Because Flurry's heart is not full Imperial Alicorn, it would reject her by shocking her." Luna explains nonchalantly as Celestia gasps. "If we go on that line, sister, that means the secret Crystal laboratory of Princess Amore is an Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory and can only be opened by Cadence. So something in there links her to Imperial Alicorn space." Celestia comments, shocked as nauseating spurts of adrenaline course through Cadence’s veins. Meanwhile, in the shattered remains of the once-great Crystal City, the capital city of the Crystal Empire, an ominous black shadow moves secretly about the broken crystal buildings searching for any silver of crystal magic that was left after magic was lost in Equestria. During that time, this black shadow buried itself deep in the Crystal fields of the Crystal Empire to preserve its dwindling crystal magic supply. Went magic was restored to Equestria, the black shadow returned to the surface and now seeks more crystal magic to give itself a form. At the same time, a glowing white ball of light has been following the black shadow secretly around the same shattered remains of the once-great Crystal City. The capital city of the Crystal Empire went to its surface and has been siphoning the more powerful silvers of Crystal magic from the Crystal City to keep the black shadow from forming. "Not enough!" The black shadow said bluntly as it sucked up a sliver of Crystal magic. “I must keep that black shadow from gaining enough crystal magic to form. The ponies of this time will never be able to stand against black crystal magic." The white ball of light commented, worried as it sensed a considerable spike of crystal magic nearby. The white ball of light quickly makes a beeline to a considerable crystal magic spike before the black shadow can sense and siphons it. Suddenly the black shadow and white ball of light feel the massive energy surge from the remains of Crystal palace in the castle's bowels. "Power!" the black shadow exclaims as it transforms into a shadow bird and flies straight to the palace. "By the first star! My laboratory has become active! My daughter must be nearby for the lab to release a magic surge like that!" The white ball of light exclaimed as it transformed into a light bird and flew to the palace. On the outskirts of shattered remains of the once-great Crystal City, the capital city of the Crystal Empire, the four crystal-powered arctic hover recon bikes drive toward the town. As if beckoning the four crystal-powered arctic hover recon bikes to continue into the city, the raging snow storm breaks and white-out conditions clear. Soon the shining crown jewel of Crystal Empire appears before the four Alicorn mares piloting the four crystal-powered arctic hover recon bikes the grand Crystal City or the shattered remains. As the mares lay their eyes upon the unimaginable destruction, a bleak, wintry feeling creeps into their hearts at the tremendous loss of the most beautiful city in all of Equestria. As they drive over the broken streets of this city, nothing is recognizable to them as every single crystal structure, from private homes to large institutions, is nothing but shattered remains slowly being sucked up by the constant blowing snow. Not even the crystal palace survived the destruction, as the upper half of the structure now lies shattered and broken on the ground beside it. As the arctic hover recon bikes drive toward the city square, they move over the shattered remnants of a crystal statue that once stood, breaking it even more. Before stopping in the square, the canopy of the lead bike opens up, and Cadence climbs out of the cockpit. Cadence's equine face is etched with sorrow upon seeing the shattered black crystal statue of Princess Amore. “Mommy!” Cadence calls her voice wooden, distant as tears streak her light pink cheeks. Suddenly a memory forms in Cadence's mind of a marvellous looking, very pale vermilion imperial Alicorn mare with a gradient of bright raspberry to moderate cobalt blue mane looking down on her. A slender, very pale vermilion colored hand with periwinkle blue nail polish reach down as two small light pink hand grabs hold of one of the mare's finger and begins sucking on the end of the finger. "Now, Cadence, that mommy's finger and not your pacifier." The mare's voice is lovely and gentle as she carefully removes her finger from her filly's mouth and replaces it with a pacifier. "Mommy-mommy." A tiny voice says as tears run down a pale vermilion-colored cheek and splash on her filly face. "Cadence! Mommy! Awake up!" Three mare's voices called as Cadence returns to the real world. "What happens, niece?" Celestia asked as Cadence shook her head to clear the cobwebs. "My full name, auntie, is…Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture…I am the daughter of Queen Filomena Amore Aperture, the ruler of Southern Star Sector of Imperial Alicorn Space." Cadence explains as Luna caught her niece went, she passed out. Meanwhile, in the basement of the remains of the crystal palace, the white light bird sits high above, watching the black shadow bird ram itself into the solid wooden door reinforced with imperial Alicorn eternal magic trying to break down the door to get into the lab. A moment later, the shadow bird lands on the ground before transforming into a shadow figure; it begins to toss black energy bolts at the door, trying to break it. Before long, the door starts to suck the black energy bolts that hit it into itself, reinforcing Imperial Alicorn's eternal magic to make it stronger. A few moments later, the light white bird gets tired of the futile attempts to gain entrance to the Laboratory of the black shadow bird. So the white light bird takes flight and quickly passes through the wall into the Laboratory on the other side. As the white light bird flight over a twenty by twenty-eight square foot room, the dominating feature of this room is a micronized Imperial Alicorn power crystal generator that powers all the scientific devices in this room. Much like the Great library Citadel Station collection point station, a considerable crystal master computer is embedded in the wall of the Laboratory. But the significant difference is that the primary crystal monitor of this computer system is cut in a large oval shape to save space in the room. This system is primarily linked to the Pillars of Creation Institute, the super-science wing of Imperial Alicorn space. This particular Imperial Alicorn citizen is an Imperial Alicorn Galactic Scientist trained as Bio-Geneticist. The job of a bio-geneticist is to study the origins of a specific species to learn how they evolved through DNA. These galactic sciences are the only Imperial Alicorn species with access to the most potent magic, the creative magic. All other Imperial Alicorn species only have access to eternal magic. Only the infinity star sector royal family members have access to both Creation and Eternal magic. Those imperial Alicorn who have access to creation magic guard this magic jealously and will not train anyone to use it, not even their own family. Only in rarest cases would they train someone to use creation magic, which must be from their family. That family member is bound to the same rules as the one that taught them. Breaking the rules would mean the instant termination of the student and the master. As the white light bird lands, it begins to transform into a tall ghostly grayish heliotrope-colored unicorn mare with pale, light grayish arctic blue mane and tail. Her slender equine figure was attired in a white sheath dress whose hemline hit just above her ankles. From the end of the dress's hemline to her feet is nothing but smoke. She glides over the floor toward a regeneration tube with the body of an Imperial Alicorn mare with gold bio-mechanical metal bird wings the same body color and mane/tail color of this ghostly unicorn mare. Before the death of this unicorn mare as an imperial Alicorn bio-geneticist, she was able to create an exact clone of her natural body using her knowledge of creating magic and attaching the Bio-mechanical metal bird wings to her body. ‘How did it come to this? How my friend could be so seduced by the easy path of Dark Crystal Magic? He had so much potential…But then he murdered me and transformed me into a black crystal statue. Being Imperial Alicorn, I couldn't be killed…My body turned to crystal, and my spirit was separated from my body. I quickly found a new host in this unicorn mare. She was very much open to the possibility of something beyond the skies of her home planet.’ The ghostly unicorn mare thought as the shadow figure tried to enter the lab. Despite his inability to comprehend any imperial Alicorn technology or theories, no matter how hard he tries. 'The one good thing I was able to get my daughter away from the Crystal Empire before I was killed and to the capital city of Equestria Canterlot. It was very unusual to sense an Imperial Alicorn Timekeeper Administrator from my people's Great Library Citadel Station here on this planet. But I knew one of my own species would care for my foal as her own.’ The ghostly Unicorn mare thought. 'I didn't figure out that it would bring those Imperial Alicorns to Crystal Empire to investigate. In this new body, I quickly, with the help of those Imperial Alicorns, was able to regain control of crystal city after my killing. They appointed me the new ruler of the Crystal Empire. I ruled till my death went my friend took control of Crystal city, and those imperial Alicorns returned to fight my friend for control of Crystal Empire. They wanted to put my daughter back on the throne of the Crystal Empire. But the black crystal magic corrupted him beyond his good side, and he didn't want to give up the throne.' The ghostly unicorn mare thought as her face was etched with sorrow. Chapter 5Sitting in the city square of crystal city was a thirty-four-foot long, ten-foot tall and sixteen-foot wide crystal-power exploration medical personnel carrier from the Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team. Due to the remote nature of some of the research team dig sites and no formal medical institutions in remote areas of Equestria. Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight allowed his youngest daughter Blueberry Swirl Silverlight access to Great Library citadel station through her grandmother Chief Research Supervisor Lara Borealis, to search the Epochs of other Timekeeper Administrators for some way to bring medical treatment to those remote areas of Equestria. In several Epochs volumes, the Timekeeper Administrators mentioned something called a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH.) or Combat Support Hospital; it was used during the war on their respected planet to quickly bring wounded soldiers to the locations for Emergency medical treatment before sending them to rear Hospital for in-depth treatment. With that idea in mind, Blueberry assembled an exploration medical personnel carrier. It was based on an armored personnel carrier design mentioned in several Epochs volumes of Military Style vehicles from many planets. Inside the exploration medical personnel carrier (EMPC.), the unconscious Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture recovers inside a compact Imperial Alicorn regeneration tube. Her mind wanders in reverie as her body recovers from hypothermia, trying to make sense of who she is. Her slenderly gracefully rounded gorgeous shaped pair of light pink tapered shaped bare feet with bright blue toenails polishes softly pip-plops across the solid glass block floor of the reverie. Unlike her aunt Princess Celestia Silverlight who took some time to realize that she was on another plain of existence, Cadence knew right away that she was not in the real world. She also realizes that this reverie is of someone else memories, as all the memory portals are sliding steel doors. Due to her deep understanding of pony hearts, she quickly figures out that each number above the portal represents a powerful emotional connection to that memory. So the higher the number, the more powerful it is and the more profound the emotional connection to that memory is. 'So Princess of love… let's avoid the higher numbers as the emotional connection to that memory will be more than I could take. So let's stay at nine and below.' Cadence thought as she’s pip-plopped way from ten and above. To try to figure out to whom these memories belong. So Cadence pip-plopped in her light pink tapered shaped bare feet over to a memory portal marked with the Roman numeral V and touched the sliding door. Slowly the sliding steel door slides open she steps through the portal. Once through the portal, she enters another room; the ambient sound changes to the sound of her slenderly gracefully rounded, gorgeously shaped pair of light pink tapered shaped bare feet walking across the metal plates, which is quite jarring to her slightly more tender, petite naked feet. At the same time, her light purple eyes try to adjust to the constant red flashing light of this room and the annoying emergency warning alarm that echoes in the room. Her eyes adjust to the flashing lights, and her ears adjust to the sound. She finds herself standing toward the back of a room; every inch of this room is covered with holographic monitor screens. Sitting in front of them were Imperial Alicorn mares and stallions frantically working their assigned station. And soon, Cadence figures out she's aboard some kind of spaceship. Before Cadence could gasp, she was knocked to the ground by a sharp jolt that moved the spaceship. The quick jolt hits several Imperial Alicorns out of their stations, and they quickly reach their feet. Cadence reeled with astonishment; just in front of her, slowly getting to her feet, was a marvelous looking grayish heliotrope color imperial Alicorn mare with a pale light grayish arctic blue mane and tail. Her 6ft 6in perfect equine figure was attired in a white with a red striped form-fitting space suit. On her twelve and two-third inch, long grayish heliotrope colored sizable and attractive bare feet were white with red striped form-fitting boots. And folded on her back were her gold bio-mechanical metal bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Queen Filomena Amore Aperture, the ruler of the southern star sector and Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture's mother. "Mommy!" Cadence exclaimed as she brought her hands to her snout, and tears streaked her light pink cheeks. "Gunners! Return fire! With the main battery! IAS Hydra can take a hit and hit right back! Fire!" Filomena ordered as the firing of the main battery shook the room. "Your majesty! The fleet from the Lagoon Nebula star sector is retreating! Should the patrol ships pursue?" A bridge officer inquired as Filomena dusted off her space suit with her gloved hands. "No, Lieutenant! Begin repairs on the space fleet! I am going to the captain quarter's send me the damage reports for the Southern Star Sector battle fleet! And set course back to the Hydra Palace." Filomena orders as she turns on her heels and walks toward the turbo lift passing by Cadence. 'Follow me, little one; no other Imperial Alicorn can see you in this memory.' As she follows her into the turbo lift, Filomena's voice echoes in Cadence's mind. A few minutes later, Queen Filomena Amore Aperture waits in the captain's quarters for her daughter Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture, to sum up, her courage to walk to the captain's quarters to see her. As Filomena waited in the quarter's wave of acid wells up from her belly. She has not seen her foal in the flesh since sending her to Canterlot to keep her safe. Slowly the door into the captain's quarters slides open through the door and walks the beautiful barefooted Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture. Filomena's brilliant amber-colored eyes are moist with joy upon seeing her daughter approach her. Soon Filomena noticed the spasm of irritation that crossed her daughter's face. "Why, mother?! Why did you abandon me!?" Cadence said, her voice carried to the edge of indignation that shocked her mother. “Was I not good enough for you, mother!?” Cadence said venomously as Filomena gasps. "No, baby! I had no choice! I sensed something was brewing behind the scenes of Crystal Empire. But I didn't think it was something like that? For several months strange things happened, many unrelated events. So I send you to Canterlot to keep you safe." Filomena explains as Cadence's face flushes with indignation. "I never made it to Canterlot! The pony you entrusted me with gets me to Canterlot! Didn't!" Cadence said sharply as Filomena gasped in shock. "That pony left me at an orphanage in Bitsburgh! When I turned seventeen, I was adopted by Aunt Celestia and Luna! So I spent most of my filly hood at that orphanage!" Cadence said bitterly as Filomena's stomach knots with her daughter's lost filly hood. "I am so sorry, baby or Miss Sparkle (Cadence gasps). Went I sent you with that crystal pony, I never thought, the pony would not fulfill my last request and get you to Canterlot." Filomena said, her voice cracking as tears ran down her grayish heliotrope cheeks. "How do you know my last name?" Cadence's voice edged with tension as Filomena wiped the tears with her gloved hand. "The truth... Cadence is that I never abandon you…I follow you through your life…As an energy bird, I couldn't interact with you. But went you need me, I will sit on your shoulder to keep your spirits up.” Filomena explains as the breath catches in Cadence’s throat. "The Crystal Caves under Canterlot during my wedding …Went I felt hopeless that I would never be rescued, I felt a warm light sitting on my shoulder encouraging me to keep hoping for rescue…it was you," Cadence exclaimed as her eyes moist with joy and Filomena nodded her head. "I was there, went you trying to maintain the shield protecting the Crystal City…I lend you my strength even those it could kill my own baby…You were determined to keep that shield until help arrived and they defeated that evil creature named King Sombra." Filomena, her voice cracking as she began to weep, almost killing her baby. "Thank you, mommy," Cadence said, grateful as Filomena's moderately arctic blue eyes blinked with surprise. "You called me mommy?" Filomena said, her voice strained as Cadence nodded her head. "Till I met you and heard your side of the story, mommy…I was angry with you for abandoning me…But that was misplaced…You never abandoned me…you stayed at my side and helped wherever possible." Cadence explained as a smile formed on Filomena's snout. "Well, not always…I have a few complaints about your husband…his name was Shining Armor?" Filomena said with a playful demeanor as Cadence fixed with a smoldering look toward her mother. "Mom! You are not allowed to complain about my Shiny!" Cadence said hotly. "And why not, dear? I am your mother?" Filomena said annoyed "Because I say so, mom!"Cadence said sharply as both mares began giggling. "All right, dear, let's meet in the main area of the reverie…this memory always puts me on edge," Filomena explains as both mares reappear in the central area of the reverie. Cadence watches as her mother transforms her white with red striped form-fitting space suit into a white short-sleeve lace midi length fit and flare dress that hits just passed her knees. On her twelve and two-third inch, long grayish heliotrope colored sizable and attractive Greek and taper bare feet with mint green toenail polish was brown caged styled mare's Delilah gladiator sandals with one-inch wedge heels. Through the opening on the front of the sandals, you could clearly see that her second toe is the longest on her feet. Why rests of her toes gently taper off the end of her feet. And folded on her back were her gold bio-mechanical metal feathered bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Queen Filomena Amore Aperture, the ruler of the southern star sector and Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture's mother. Filomena gestures to her daughter Cadence to come and hug her, but she doesn't move an inch. A wounded look appears in this female Imperial Alicorn's moderate arctic blue eyes. "Are you a power crystal miner? And is that assault shuttle that crashed in the snow field yours?" Cadence asked as the breath caught in Filomena's throat with her daughter's questions. "I am? But how do you know that you were still a foal went we crashed on this planet, and yes, that assault shuttle is mine?" Filomena said, her voice edged with tension with her daughter's knowledge. "My uncle told me what you were…went I gain entry into your assault shuttle and found the mare with a pickaxe picture on her clothing." Cadence answered as her mother was dumbfounded by her daughter. "What uncle! You and I are the only ones left from the Aperture family…my family was killed by the supernova that destroyed the southern star sector." Filomena said, her heart etched with sorrow. “My Aunt Celestia and Luna are the daughters of Timekeeper Administrator of the tenth circle of the Great Library Citadel Station Lara Borealis, and my uncle is Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight, the great-grandson of Empress Galaxy Cosmos!" Cadence exclaims as Filomena sinks to her knees in shock. 'The great-grandson of my ruler….Empress Cosmos? And the daughters of the head of the Great Library Citadel Station Lara Borealis? Why are those Imperial Alicorn families here on this planet?' Filomena thought, confused with her daughter's relationships with those powerful families. Meanwhile, in the awakening world, Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight arrives at the Exploration Medical Personnel Carrier in the center of the ruins of Crystal City at the request of his younger daughter Blueberry and Cadence’s daughter. "Greeting daughter and you to Flurry Heart; why did you want me to come?" Justice inquires, hugging both mares as he looks at his niece Cadence still recovering inside micronized and compact Imperial Alicorn regeneration tube. "Flurry Heart told me they came to the remains of the Crystal City and the palace because of the secret room in the palace," Blueberry explains as Flurry Heart nods her head and Justice's face glazed with shock. "A secret room?" Justice exclaims, his face growing haggard with worry. “Mother theorizes that the secret room is an Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory…Whatever that means, father?" Blueberry comments, a bit puzzled by the idea, as Flurry Heart is just as dumbfounded by the same idea. “I was hoping to bring you up to speeded very slowly about my people, the Imperial Alicorns, daughter and niece…but it looks like that plan is out the stable room door.” Justice comments kissing both mares on their cheeks and hugging them once again. "An Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory…is what is on the cover, my dear daughter and niece. Within Imperial Alicorns society, we have Galactic scientists of various disciplines…They build these Crystal laboratories for research and study of their disciplines…Miss Aperture was the premiere Bio-Geneticist at the Pillars of Creation Institute in Imperial Alicorn space." Justice explains as Blueberry and Flurry's heart eyes widen in alarm. "No need to be frightened, daughter or niece…the job of a Bio-Geneticist is to study the origins of a specific species to learn how they evolved through DNA., and it is a bio-geneticist that attaches our bio-mechanical metal feathered bird wings to our backs," Justice explains as he continues explaining Imperial Alicorns society to his daughter and niece. Back in reverie, Queen Filomena Amore Aperture still can't get her head around how her daughter was able to get involved with Infinity star sector royal family or the Great Library Citadel Station. Cadence, frustrated with her mother's confusion, decides to attempt a trick that her uncle employs on her went she like that. She knocks her mother onto her back, wraps her arm around her mother's leg, finds the zipper on the back of the sandal, and removes it. Revealing her twelve and two third-inch Greek and taper-shaped wickedly gorgeous and exquisite curvy and slender grayish heliotrope colored lovely slender barefoot with mint green toenail polish. Cadence focuses on her mother's normally shaped arch, which had an exquisite shape with a generous smooth curve to it, making her naked foot very appealing and high enough to be inviting. A sudden tingling sensation begins filling her Imperial Alicorn body, and without warning, Filomena explodes with laughter as her daughter tickles her sensitive arch. Filomena had never felt this sensation before in her long life, as the touching was not unpleasant. She wants to stop the tingling sensation in her lovely slender bare foot. So she uses her sandal-clad foot and pushes her daughter on her back, forcing her to release her leg. “By the first star, baby! What was that unusual sensation you did to my foot?” Filomena inquired anxiously as she rubbed her sensitive arch with her fingers to stop the sensation. "My uncle uses that trick on me…went I get overwhelmed. It was such a wonderful experience; it helped me relax…I enjoy being forced to laugh." Cadence said, appreciating as she tossed her mother's removed sandal to her, and she put it back on. "Baby, you must explain how you came in contact with the Royal family and Great Library Citadel Station…I know it is possible because of our Royal Bloodline. But still, it takes time…It took me several space cycles to meet with Empress Cosmos.” Filomena explained as Cadence signed softly and nodded her head. "Went I first met the imperial Prince…he was Royal palace guard at my aunt's castle, and I didn't know that he was royalty from space…Over time, I got to know him and enjoyed being around him and his family." Cadence explains as a sudden spurt of adrenaline courses through Filomena's veins. “What! His family!” Filomena exclaims. “Yes, his Grandmother, mother and his two sisters.” Cadence comments. “The Crowned Imperial Princess, the daughter of Empress Cosmos…Countess Silverlight and Baroness Silverlight?" Filomena's comment shocked. "Oh, I almost forgot his aunt, too," Cadence exclaims. "Duchess Nebula…That all the members of the infinity star sector Royal family. They run the days to day affairs of Imperial Alicorn space.” Filomena exclaims. “What about the Great Library Citadel Station?” Filomena asked “I just recently found out that my adopted aunts were the daughters of the head of the Great Library Citadel Station Lara Borealis...Like them, I am still learning about them."Cadence comments as she hugs her mother. Chapter 6Back in reverie, Queen Filomena Amore Aperture still can't get her head around how her daughter was able to get involved with Infinity star sector royal family or the Great Library Citadel Station. Cadence, frustrated with her mother's confusion, decides to attempt a trick that her uncle employs on her went she like that. She knocks her mother onto her back, wraps her arm around her mother's leg, finds the zipper on the back of the sandal, and removes it. Revealing her twelve and two third-inch Greek and taper-shaped wickedly gorgeous and exquisite curvy and slender grayish heliotrope colored lovely slight barefoot with mint green toenail polish. Cadence focuses on her mother's normally shaped arch, which had an exquisite shape with a generous smooth curve to it, making her naked foot very appealing and high enough to be inviting. A sudden tingling sensation begins filling her Imperial Alicorn body, and without warning, Filomena explodes with laughter as her daughter tickles her sensitive arch. Filomena had never felt this sensation before in her long life, as the touching was not unpleasant. She wants to stop the tingling sensation in her lovely slender bare foot. So she uses her sandal-clad foot and pushes her daughter on her back, forcing her to release her leg. “By the first star, baby! What was that unusual sensation you did to my foot?” Filomena inquired anxiously as she rubbed her sensitive arch with her fingers to stop the sensation. "My uncle uses that trick on me…went I get overwhelmed. It was such a wonderful experience; it helped me relax…I enjoy being forced to laugh." Cadence said, appreciating as she tossed her mother's removed sandal to her, and she put it back on. "Baby, you must explain how you came in contact with the Royal family and Great Library Citadel Station…I know it is possible because of our Royal Bloodline. But still, it takes time…It took me several space cycles to meet with Empress Cosmos.” Filomena explained as Cadence signed softly and nodded her head. "Went I first met the imperial Prince…he was Royal palace guard at my aunt's castle, and I didn't know that he was royalty from space…Over time, I got to know him and enjoyed being around him and his family." Cadence explains as a sudden spurt of adrenaline courses through Filomena's veins. “What! His family!” Filomena exclaims. “Yes, his Grandmother, mother and his two sisters.” Cadence comments. “The Crowned Imperial Princess, the daughter of Empress Cosmos…Countess Silverlight and Baroness Silverlight?" Filomena's comment shocked. "Oh, I almost forgot his aunt, too," Cadence exclaims. "Duchess Nebula…That all the members of the infinity star sector Royal family. They run the days to day affairs of Imperial Alicorn space.” Filomena exclaims. “What about the Great Library Citadel Station?” Filomena asked “I just recently found out that my adopted aunts were the daughters of the head of the Great Library Citadel Station Lara Borealis...Like them, I am still learning about them."Cadence comments as she hugs her mother. "What? Just recently found out?" Filomena said, baffled, as her daughter nodded her head. “How can that be, baby? The great library citadel station is the third most powerful sect in Imperial Alicorn space…The first most powerful sect is the Royal families from each star sector. With the military being the second most powerful sect in Imperial Alicorn space and one that holds the most power.” Filomena explains as she rubs her painted fingernails on the lower half of her jaw. "The truth, mother…is that my adopted aunts somehow lost their memory and connection to Imperial Alicorn Reverie," Cadence explains as the breath catches in Filomena's throat. "That is not possible, baby! If Imperial Alicorn cuts itself off from the reverie…It would result in horrible nausea and headaches for that Alicorn…I have studied several cases of Imperial Alicorns that suffered a traumatic experience and tried to cut themselves off from the reverie. Eventually, they must face that trauma in the reverie to cure the side effects." Filomena speaks with an expert tone of voice. “You sound like a scientist, mother?" Cadence said, puzzled, as Filomena chuckled into the back of her hand. "A power crystal miner is what I am…It's not what I do." Filomena comments as Cadence scratches her head. “I am a premiere Bio-Geneticist from the Pillars of Creation Institute…I study evolution through DNA. I am what they call an Imperial Alicorn Galactic Scientist…I am one of the huge sects of great thinkers within Imperial Alicorn society…without Galactic Scientist, nothing that Imperial Alicorn have is possible." Filomena explains there was some pride in her voice. It is an hour later as Justice and Celestia trek through the broken streets and snow-covered areas of ruined Crystal City on their way to the ruins of Crystal Palace using the direction to the secret room provided by Flurry Heart. The two elder imperial Alicorns decided to investigate the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory in the basement of the ruins of Crystal Palace for themselves. "My love, how will we enter the Imperial Alicorn crystal Laboratory? If it rejects Cadence's own daughter Flurry Heart?" Celestia inquires as the pair stops for a moment. "My love, please remove one of your gloves?" Justice asked as Celestia pulled off one of her gloves, even those it was freezing. A moment later, Justice grasps his wife's hand in his, and she feels a surge of power transfer from her husband into her. As she flipped her hand over, a picture of a single stylized star was on the back of her hand. "Normally, we have a huge ceremony when you are crowned an Imperial Princess being my wife at the Infinity Palace…and I transfer some of my duties to you…But we have no time for that, so I transfer the ability to neutralize Imperial Alicorn magic. The ability only the imperial family has.” Justice explains as unseen emerald green eyes watched and felt the transfer of Imperial Alicorn magic into another. In the psychic dimension, a vast Ancient Imperial Alicorn mare constellation begins to weave a spell using her magic before she can complete it. Two more ancient Imperial Alicorn mares constellations arrive and quickly sever the enchantment with their horns. "I will not let you take control of Justice and Celestia, mother! Those two will choose their own path to walk. And not yours." The second imperial Alicorn mare constellation says as her mother's eyes seethe. “That goes for me as well, sister…Those two are the best hope for our Imperial Alicorn species." The third Imperial Alicorn mare constellation comments as the first imperial Alicorn hiss at her sister. “How dare you defy the Empress?!” The first Imperial Alicorn mare constellation said hotly as she left the psychic dimension. "Niece, had your mother forgotten what happened to your cousin went she tried to change fate?" The third Imperial Alicorn mare constellation asked as a shooting star dropped from her eye. After carefully navigating through the broken and crumbling crystal corridor of the once beautiful crystal castle, the home to the rulers of the Crystal Empire, Justice and Celestia finds the staircase leading into the castle's basement. Before proceeding into the cellar, the two Imperial Alicorns switch to their night vision after Justice transfers some of the imperial duties to his wife. All the ability she once had before she forgot what she was has been restored. That includes the unique skills of a Timekeeper Administrator from Great Library Citadel station; Celestia has discovered that she can read any magic language and quickly decipher the gestures of that language without having to study it in-depth. She also learned how to transfer all those stored-up memories into her own Epoch or History book, the main job of a Timekeeper Administrator from Great Library Citadel station. Carefully both Imperial Alicorns make their way down the crystal staircase leading into the basement using a long metal pole to tap on the stair treads ahead of them, testing them to see if they are solid and safe to step on. After an hour of slow progress down the crystal staircase, Justice and Celestia finally set foot in the basement of the crystal castle; after tapping on the basement floor, they determine that it is safe to walk on. "Ok, my love, let's start looking for the door into the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory of Princess Amore.” Justice suggested as Celestia and Justice used their thermo vision to begin searching the basement walls as the area was pitch black from the collapse of the upper half of the crystal castle. Watching from the shadows of the basement was the black shadow bird wondering who these two Alicorns were that were searching for the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory of Princess Amore. As Celestia nears the black shadow bird's position, it is immediately hit by the unique magic signature of a Timekeeper Administrator of the Great Library citadel station. The unique magic signature of a Timekeeper Administrator confuses the black shadow bird even more, wondering how it knows what this Alicorn mare is. It quickly escaped from its current position, causing Celestia to flinch; went unexpected breeze passed beside her, and she swatted blindly in the air, her hand. The black shadow bird flies toward the second Imperial Alicorn to get a read. The black shadow bird swallows a lump in its throat as the magic signature it reads was coming off a member of the imperial family. All Imperial Alicorn civilians have a healthy respect for the Imperial family as their magic is much more potent than any Imperial Alicorn civilian. But in this case, the black shadow bird's heart races with discovering an imperial family member and quickly dives into the boot of Timekeeper Administrator Celestia Silverlight to hide from the Imperial Alicorn stallion that is part of the Imperial family. As the black shadow bird sinks to the bottom of Celestia's boot and begins to flatten out, a few tiny tentacles start wiggling, tickling the sole of her barefoot, causing her to chuckle for a few minutes before it stops. "Celestia! Over here, I found the entrance to the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory of Princess Amore." Justice calls as Celestia lock on her husband's heat signature and makes her way over to him. "Tee-Hee." Celestia laughed as each step caused the tiny tentacles from the black shadow bird to extend up between her toes and tickle between her toes. "Huh? Why are you smiling and laughing, my love?" Justice asked, puzzled, seeing the huge smile on Celestia's snout and her laughing. "Huh? It, not you doing it?" Celestia said, her voice edged with tension as Justice shook his head no. "There something inside my boot tickling my foot…I thought it was you, my love!" Celestia commented, her voice breaking as Justice switched to his magic vision scanning his wife from head to foot. ‘Huh? Anomalies in her boot!’ Justice thought, finding a strange magic signature on the bottom of her boot. "(Quickly kissing Celestia on her lips to calm her) It should be safe inside the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory of Princess Amore…so endure it. A Timekeeper Administrator can't be infected by dark magic; that's why it feels like you are being tickled…Being part of the imperial family, we have both dark and light magic in us…so dark and light magic can't infect us." Justice explains that learning that her husband can't be infected alleviates Celestia's anxiety, and she nods. With that, Justice presses his hand against the entrance into the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory of Princess Amore the magic protecting the lab is stuck into Justice’s hand. Celestia carefully walks into the laboratory to not alert the magic anomalous inside her boot. In the laboratory, Justice floats a crystal chair over to them, and Celestia sits on it. She extends her leg as Justice eases her boot off her foot, revealing her reasonably large, long, full, thick, plush white with a hint of pink luxurious peasant-shaped barefoot in front of him. He kisses his wife's big toe, causing her to giggle and blush. As he carefully sets her boot down on the ground, he creates a crystal prison to capture the magic anomalous inside the boot. Without warning, the strange magic shoots out of the boot before he can complete the crystal prison; before it can get away, Celestia uses her own white crystal magic to achieve it, capturing the strange enchantment. "What is it, my love? You can reward me by playing with my fairly large, long, full, thick and plush white with a hint of pink luxurious peasant-shaped bare feet when we return to the first dig site in our housing unit." Celestia requested as Justice nodded his head. "This magic anomalous is called a Black shadow bird…this happens when Imperial Alicorn dabbles with Dark matter…which is illegal. I don't understand why my great-grandmother, the Empress, didn't pick up on it." Justice comments as waves of acid well up from Celestia’s belly, remembering the encounter in reverie with the Empress. With the spell being broken protecting her lab, it alerts Queen Filomena Amore Aperture in the reverie, calling her back as princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture comes to in the Exploration Medical Personnel Carrier. "What the hay!" A mare voice exclaimed, seeing the black shadow bird trapped inside a white crystal prison held by the Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight and Timekeeper Administrators Celestia Silverlight. The soft pitter-patter of the mare's bare feet walking on the crystal floor draws attention to a marvelous looking grayish heliotrope color imperial Alicorn mare with a pale light grayish arctic blue mane and tail which is dumbfounded with the ability of the Imperial Prince and Timekeeper Administrators. Her 6ft 6in perfect equine figure was attired in a strange body suit that hit just above her knees. Her long grayish heliotrope legs were bare as she walked upon twelve two-third inches, long grayish heliotrope colored sizable and attractive Greek and taper-shaped bare feet. You could clearly see on her bare feet that her second toes are the longest on her feet. Why rests of her toes gently taper off the end of her feet. And folded on her back were her gold bio-mechanical metal bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Queen Filomena Amore Aperture, the ruler of the southern star sector and Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture's mother. "I will assume that you are the Galactic Scientist that owns this Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory here," Justice commented as Celestia stood up and walked with click and pip-pop next to her husband. "I am Queen Filomena Amore Aperture, the ruler of the Southern Star sector greeting, your imperial Highnesses," Filomena said politely, which caused Celestia to blush, forget she now an Imperial Princess being the wife of the Imperial Prince. "Now, your majesty, can you explain how there is a black shadow bird here? You know it is illegal to dabble in Dark matter." Justice asked as Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture arrived at her mother's lab and noticed the white crystal prison. "Uncle! You better explain why you told me you didn't know how to use white crystal magic!" Cadence said hotly as Justice swallowed a lump in his throat went his niece arrived. "Huh?" Filomena exclaims, watching her daughter give the Imperial Prince an ear full about lying to her. "Tee-hee…Don't worry about those two. Your daughter is very close to the imperial Prince, Miss Aperture…Would you answer my husband's inquiry?" Celestia asked politely as Filomena nodded her head. "That black shadow bird is what is left of my lab assistant…she was fascinated with dark matter and researched it even those it was illegal…She also helps King Sombra kill me. She didn't know that I had created this new body with the DNA of my original body. Hide it in my lab, waiting for my daughter to wake it up." Filomena explains as Cadence runs over to her mother and hugs her. A hug Cadence was waiting to give to her birth mother went she found her.
Chapter 1It has been over one year since I discovered that the Ancient Royal Family of ancient Equestria survived to this day. The two heads of ancient royal family Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight and his wife Princess Celestia Silverlight have sworn my friends and me to secrecy of their true identity.' Sunny Starscout thought as she treks from Maretime bay to the partially excavated ancient Equestrian settlement of Ponyville at the foot of Canterlot’s mountain and Castle of Friendship. 'In that year, the Ancient Royal Family of ancient Equestria has moved from their old hiding place of the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters deep in what was called the Everfree Forest. To Queen Twilight Sparkle's old Castle of Friendship on the outskirts of Ponyville. They use the Castle of Friendship as their main residence and home base for the Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team, their business of rediscovering the locations of lost equestrian settlements across the globe. The other part of their business is to rediscover the long-lost technology of Ancient Equestria and adapt it to this new era of Equestria.' Sunny Starscout thought as she wished the dig team would rediscover a way to move around Equestria more accessible, so she doesn't have to walk everywhere. Meanwhile, one of the larger rooms on the first floor of the Castle of Friendship has been turned into a textile lab for studying ancient Equestria fabrics. The first regenerated element bearer walks about the room recreating replicas of her old clothing lines from ancient Equestria, as her old clothing lines are the hottest fashion trends in this new Equestria. Standing in front of one of the pony morph mannequins was attractive light gray unicorn mare with a well-styled moderate indigo blue corkscrew curled mane and tail. Her 5ft 7in slender and elegant equine figure was attired in a white paisley floral lace-up peplum top, and rich black knee-length high/low Ponte knit skirt. Why on her well pedicure ten and one-third inch long light gray bare feet with cherry-red nail polish were black mares Saar block heel pumps with one and one half inch heels. This light gray unicorn mare was Miss Rarity Radiance, the Element holder of Generosity and Godmother to the royal foals, and the expert in ancient textiles for the Silverlight family dig team. Also, at the Castle of Friendship, this day, talking to her uncle outside the castle sitting on a rock, was a beautiful light pink pegasi mare with moderate violet, moderate rose and pale gold streaked mane and tail. Her curvy 5ft 9in equine figure was attired in a wildflower vintage mares square neck short sleeve peasant top and medium blue mares mid-rise skinny fit jean. Her light pink ten-inch long attractive delicate pink slim bare feet with bright baby blue toenail polish were nude as a pair of gray mares zest stiletto heel pumps sat on the rock behind her. And folded on her back were her medium-sized light pink feathery bird wings. This disguised Alicorn mare was Head Archivist Cadence Sparkle, the adoptive niece of Justice and Celestia Silverlight and head archivist for the Silverlight dig team. Standing in front of Head Archivist Cadence Sparkle was a majestic and handsome-looking dark blue unicorn stallion with short textured cut crimson red mane and tail. His 6ft 5in athletic equine figure was attired in Limelight yellow short-sleeve solid interlock polo shirt and gray asphalt colored tapered athletic fit jeans. On his twelve-inch long, socked dark blue bare feet were taupe black lace-up sneakers. This Unicorn stallion was Chief Archaeologist Justice Silverlight, leader of the Silverlight dig team, along with his wife, Chief Dig Supervisor and lead Archaeologist Celestia Silverlight. "Give in Cadence, surrender to the tickle torture…I know how ticklish an Alicorn bare feet are." Justice said, teasing as he continued wiggling all ten fingers against luscious creamy smooth light pink skin. "AHahahahahahahah! It tihihihihickles so bahahad!"Cadence calls out as Justice stops tickling her luscious, creamy, smooth light pink skin on the underside of her slenderly gracefully rounded, gorgeous pair of light pink bare feet with bright baby blue toenail polish. "Thank you, my dear niece. That was fun." Justice said, appreciative as he gestured for Cadence to bring her head down and kissed her on the cheek. "You are very welcome, uncle…Why I was hibernating, I missed your fingers on my luscious creamy smooth light pink soles. Like you did went you, visited me in the Crystal Empire. I would submit to you removing my golden gladiator sandals and tying me up. At which time you would tickle my bare feet. It helps to relieve my stress of ruling the Crystal Empire and the marital stress." Cadence explains as she beams fondly at her uncle as both ponies spot Sunny Starscout walking up to the castle. "Greeting Miss Starscout," Justice said, friendly. "Greeting, Sunny." Cadence said friendly as Sunny quickly noticed that Cadence was barefooted and her shoes were behind her on the rock. She thinks nothing of it and figures it some kind of ancient equestrian custom for Ex-mare royalty to be barefooted, went greeting a friend. "What brings you to the castle, Miss Starscout?" Justice asked as he placed his hand on Cadence's shoulder and shook his head, telling her don't bring up the subject. Cadence nods in acknowledgment and remains in her sensitive light pink bare feet with bright baby blue toenail polish. "Izzy called me a week ago that you extracted the spirit of element bearer of Generosity from her." Sunny comments as Justice looks toward his adoptive niece Cadence. "We did the Element bearer of Generosity is Miss Rarity Radiance. My uncle's people were able to regenerate her real body; all we had to do was extracted her spirit from Izzy. Would you like to meet her, Sunny?" Cadence asked as Sunny's eyes became saucers went. Cadence offered to introduce Sunny to another member of the guardians of friendship. Cadence’s slenderly gracefully rounded gorgeous shaped pair of light pink bare feet with bright baby blue toenail polish pip-popped across the white marble art polished ceramic tiles of the castle's large foyer, followed closely by Sunny Starscout. Sunny is surprised to see how many different breeds of pony morphs now inhabit the castle of friendship. Cadence tells Sunny that many of these ponies are the descendants of a family that once lived in Ponyville. Meanwhile, several miles outside the city limits of Vanhoover, the only city in the frozen north to survive intact due to its location on the outer fringes of the snow field. Lead Site Scout Luna Borealis and Assistant Site Scout Somnus Silverlight make their way in snow gear and cross-country skiing gear into the raging snow storm. About a month ago, the Mayor of Vanhoover sent word to Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team about an unusual find revealed by constant blowing winds. The small cities run Vanhoover antiquities team excavating the site for several months, uncovering much of the site. But soon discovered that the location was more dangerous than they expected, and they did not have the resources to excavate the remainder of the area safely. The head archaeologists of the team asked the Mayor of Vanhoover to call in Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team to continue excavating the site. Upon receiving the request from Vanhoover, Chief Archaeologist Justice Silverlight and Chief Excavation Supervisor Celestia Silverlight sent the Recon team to see what they were dealing with. As the two recon team skiers push deeper into the raging snowstorm, they disappear from sight on the way to the partially excavated dig site deep in the snowfield. “Hey, Auntie…the Mayor of Vanhoover say the trail to the dig site would be marked with red flags," Somnus said through crystal Mic that extended from the side of his helmet. His father's species, the imperial Alicorn, used the same technology. "That right, Somnus, so switch on your crystal mult-optics visor installed in your helmet. We should be able to spot the flags marking the trail to the dig site through the white out of this storm." Luna explains as the two ponies touch the side of their helmets, causing a light-sensitive gray crystal visor to form in front of their eyes. "Ok, Auntie. I have a lock on the flags." Somnus say as the visor scans the area till it locks on pony-made items and forms a picture of a flag on the visor. Somnus gestures his hand toward the north, and Luna nods her head in acknowledgment and follows him to the first red flag. Meanwhile, back in partially excavated Ponyville adjacent to the ruins of the school of friendship sits a new two-story sizeable rectangular building. The Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team motor pool and repair facilities, using the Epoch of another Imperial Alicorn Time Keeper Administrator from the Great Library citadel station. An older female imperial Alicorn Crystalloid-maintenance engineer put the finishing touches on what Time Keeper Administrator called a semi-truck. She adapted the Imperial Alicorn Crystal technology to the plans supplied by the other time Keeper Administrator of this vehicle and created crystal powered semi-truck. This crystal power semi-truck will allow the Research team to bring more equipment to dig sites. The only downside is she must call in an imperial Alicorn Galactic knight to drive this crystal-powered semi-truck as no Terran pony knows how to control this new vehicle. But the imperial Alicorn Crystalloid-maintenance engineer grandson thought of that and called in one of his pilots from his supercarrier Galactic Knight-Captain Urania Corona, an ace pilot from the Crown of light Aerospace group aboard his warship. Checking over the crystal power semi-truck was a lovely looking Spanish gray imperial Alicorn mare with jet black mane and tail. Her 6ft 2in athletic equine figure was in green reef teal green mares V-neck short-sleeve T-shirt and tango talk skinny blue jeans. On her Spanish gray-coloured stunning long and slender mare's bare feet with crimson red nail polish were black mares Mariah slip-on shoes. Folded on her back were her large bio-mechanical silver metal feathered bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Galactic Knight-Captain Urania Corona, an ace pilot from the Crown of light Aerospace group aboard Justice's warship. She was talking to an exquisite-looking morning blue imperial Alicorn mare with faded pink mane and tail despite her advanced age. This Imperial Alicorn mare has retained her beauty with only a hint of brilliant silver-gray in her mane and tail. Her 6ft 11in superb equine figure was in moss green long-sleeve cotton twill coveralls. On her light blue stunning long and slender socked mare's bare feet with natural beauty painted with crimson red nail polish were black oil-tanned leather rugged flex comp toes work boots. On top of her head, behind her horn was an optics headband and folded on her back were her large jewelled bio-mechanical gold metal feathered bird wings. This old Imperial Alicorn mare was Imperial Alicorn Galactic Technician Ophelia Silverlight, the only daughter of Empress Galaxy Cosmos, the supreme creator of all Imperial Alicorns plus Justice Grandmother and genius crystalloid-maintenance engineer. “This quite a beauty, Your Imperial Highness," Urania said, complementing as Ophelia climbed out from underneath the hood of the cab and closed the hood with her infinity magic. "I thank you, Captain; this took a lot longer than I thought to build from those plans I got from the other Timekeeper Administrator. But it should meet my grandson's expectations…I am working on two other crystal-powered vehicles from the same Epoch. Those other two should be easy to control by terran ponies after a few lessons." Ophelia explains, gesturing toward two other crystal-powered small vehicles in one corner of the garage. "What are those small vehicles called, your Imperial Highness?" Urania asked, looking over these small vehicles. “I think I’ll call them consumer vehicles…Because they are easy to work." Ophelia answered as she unzipped her coveralls, revealing that she wearing camo colored tank top under her coveralls. "What is this vehicle called, your imperial highness?" Urania asked, looking at the box-shaped crystal-powered vehicle away from the other two small cars. "That is a special project for my granddaughter Blueberry…she calls it an ambulance. She asked me to design a crystal-powered vehicle to transport sick and injured ponies to her hospital at Friendship Castle." Ophelia explains as Chief excavation supervisor Celestia Silverlight arrives at the motor pool and repair facilities to get updated on the crystal power truck. Tucked under her belt was her Daisho. (An hour later, a partially excavated dig site in the snow field of the former Crystal Empire) "Hey Auntie, I am getting an unusual reading on this dig site?" Somnus comments as he scans with his crystal mult-optics visor on his helmet, what looks like a wing section. "What do you mean, my little Somnus?" Luna asked as she walked toward the front of the dig site; she noticed something reflecting from under the snow and kneeled down in front of it and began wiping the snow away with her hand. “The reading I am getting on this thing…say it imperial Alicorn made. But what father said doesn’t make sense. This reading says it is quite old and has quite a bit of damage. It was before you, mother, grandmother and father arrived on Equus planet." Somnus explains as Luna continues brushing away from the snow from reflecting in front of her. "I see what you mean, my little Somnus…as I was young, I arrived with my sister and mother. From what my mother told me, the Planet of Equus was a new planet for the Great Library Citadel Station. So that is why they sent a Timekeeper administrator of the tenth circle to record the planet's history; it was quite advanced in its evolution. So they could not send a low-level Timekeeper administrator to this planet without being discovered." Luna explained as she floated a flashlight out of her backpack and shone it into the darkness giving a startled gasp; went mummified eyes stared back at her from the darkness. "Auntie!" Somnus exclaimed as his light blue feathered bird wings appeared on his back, and he flew to his Aunt Luna to see why she gasped. As he flaps his wings in mid-air, he spots the flashlight beam revealing a mummified imperial Alicorn sitting in a seat inside the object. “What in Equestria?!” Somnus exclaims "I think it time to call in the whole Research team, my dear little Somnus," Luna comments as Somnus shakes his head.
Chapter 2Back at the Castle of Friendship in partially excavated Ponyville, sitting in a small seating area in one of the corners of the textile laboratory were Miss Rarity Radiance, Head Archivist Cadence Sparkle and Miss Sunny Starscout. The three mares were having a wonderful conversation while drinking a brilliant green tea with a slight grassy taste called matcha. Since being regenerated, Miss Radiance feels out of place in this new Equestria to help alleviate his friend and godmother to his foal's mood. Justice helps Rarity transform a part of the textile laboratory into her old workroom at the Carousel Boutique; the exact copy help Rarity feels more at home. Unbeknownst to Rarity, Justice, with the help of his grandmother, Ophelia created an Adult version of her little sister Sweetie Belle Radiance a kind android using Imperial Alicorn technology. At first, Rarity wanted nothing to do with that Sweetie bot, but as time passed, the Sweetie Bell android proved her worth to Rarity. After Rarity finally accepted the android of Sweetie Bell as her enhanced little sister, Sweetie bell went to work reminding Rarity that Justice cares much about her, which is why he created her. Before long, Rarity started to cry; yes, she was upset with Justice for not telling her that he was making the Sweetie Bell android, but he was doing it because he cared very deeply for her. At that moment, Rarity rushed out of the textile laboratory and went to talk to Justice to renew their friendship. "Excuse me, sister…but that client that wants two hundred units of your new clothing line is blowing up my phone lines again," Sweetie explains as she runs the invoice through her optic sensors. “I already told that client we have production delays…That earth pony mare from Maretime bay that owns that old factory is trying to nickel and dime me to death on buying her factory. I am not going to pay more than it is worth!" Rarity said bitterly as she took a drink of her matcha from her cup. "So what should I tell him, sister?" Sweetie asked, waiting for an answer. "Tell him we are sorry, but as explained before, we have production delays." Rarity explains, taking another drink from her matcha tea. “Huh?” Sweetie exclaims "What is wrong, Sweetie?" Rarity asked “In coming message from high command… All personnel report immediately to the great hall for deployment." Sweetie said as Rarity, Cadence, and Sweetie Bell ran out of the textile laboratory, followed by Sunny Starscout, who got caught up in the excitement and went horn siren sound throughout the castle. Sunny Starscout followed the three mares through a golden-framed green glass fan-lighted door into a large twenty by twenty-eight square foot room, formally the throne room of the castle of friendship. Now transformed into the great hall (meeting hall), at the front of it was a three-leveled tiered platform; on the top were Justice Silverlight and his wife Celestia Silverlight, both were wearing Daisho on their side. Sunny Starscout was confused with Celestia Silverlight moving her fingers in empty air as she passed through the door into the great hall. She suddenly gasped; once in the room, Sunny saw huge monitors floating in mid-air in the space, flashing red light as the horn sirens continued sounding. As Sunny maneuvered through the slowly increasing crowd, she spotted Rarity and Sweetie Bell at the front of the room and joined them. Sunny gasped once again went she saw Celestia Silverlight in front of her moving her fingers over what looked like a keyboard in front of her. As she continued looking around the room on the lower platform, Aurora Silverlight, Flurry Heart sparkle, Cadence Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle and Blueberry Swirl Silverlight, like Celestia, were typing on a keyboard. She soon spots Lara Borealis, like the other six mares; she was typing on a keyboard, looking something up on the opposite side of Justice. The only two missing family members were Somnus Silverlight and Luna Borealis; Sunny figured that both family members were out on assignment for Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team. As the last personnel take their place in the great hall, the door closes behind them and lights dim. Soon holographic planet of Equus forms in mid-air over the heads of the gathered crowd, and Sunny reels with astonishment. She figured Imperial Alicorn was more advanced than Equestria but never guessed that they were this advanced. A smile formed on Rarity's snout went she saw Sunny get a childlike wonder with all the new technology and began to explain it to her as Sweetie Bell downloaded the mission brief for Rarity. "Listen up, ponies! Our Recon team discovers what might be an Imperial Alicorn-designed shuttlecraft from the reading; it is quite old! Before Miss Borealis and I arrived on the Planet of Equus. Miss Borealis has gone through the Great Library Citadel Station files and found no match for the shuttlecraft! So this is an unknown shuttle craft; this discovery is a top priority secret! All the ponies in this room will go into cover-up mode! No one outside this castle must know about the discovery! That goes for you as well, Miss Sunny Starscout!" Justice explains as he looks directly at Sunny, who nods her head as her stomach knots. "For this mission, it will be the primary team! Rarity, I want to take your sister on this team; she will be invaluable! (Rarity nods her head) Miss Starscout, you coming along on this mission as well! As for the rest of you, your sector chiefs will hand out your assignments! Miss Sparkle and Miss Radiance are in charge of the castle! All correspondence for this mission will pass through them! We must keep a tight lid on this!" Justice explains as the personnel files out of the Great hall and the primary team, Sweetie Bell, heads to Quartermaster to gear up for the mission. It has been forty-five space cycles since a Galactic Combat Technician found her way through pitch darkness to the large crystal reactor core aboard a long-abandoned citadel class space station in the Southern Star sector. The Galactic Combat Technician activates her magnetic boots and sticks to metal deck plates in front of a large computer system in main Engineering. She floats a small portable holo computer off her shoulder as the gravity control system of the space station is offline with the Crystal reactor core offline. She grabs hold of the small holo computer floating about with her gloved hands and plugs the holo computer into the central holo computer system. She begins tapping on the holo keyboard in front of her trying to get the Crystal reactor core back online. The central computer sounds an alarm as she is about to bring the crystal reactor core back online. “Attention! Attention! Crystal power core! Critical fault! Huge crack detected in main power crystal! Evacuate Immediately! Estimated time till power crystal shatters five Space Cycles!" The crystal reactor core computer sounds like the vast power crystal at the heart of the reactor begins to develop several cracks across its face. The Galactic Combat Technician quickly deactivates her magnetic boots and uses her silver bio-mechanical metal bird wings to propel herself through the emergency lighted corridor of the long-abandoned citadel class space station back to the station docking bay. As the crystal power core begins spinning faster and faster, causing more stress on the badly damaged power crystal, the Galactic Combat Technician speeds down the corridor. As large and small electrical explosions occur throughout the station in the corridors, she reaches the emergency engineering conduit and quickly inputs numeric code into the numeric keypad. Went she puts the last digit into the numeric keypad, a morph-size door slides open, revealing the emergency engineering conduit; she quickly runs through the tube as fast as possible. Using her unnatural imperial Alicorn strength, she forces open the door and leaps out of the emergency engineering conduit just as a massive power surge electrifies the whole tube that would have killed her if she remained inside. Unable to catch her breath, she quickly gets to her feet as the cracks worsen on the power crystal. Malfunctioning instruments shower the docking bay with sparks. The force field airlock is still in place, and sitting on the platform was her Interceptor fighting falcon aerospace fighter. Suddenly the unmistakable sound of metal shearing and snapping echoes in the bay before a massive metallic crash blocks the Galactic Combat Technician from her ship with a precious second ticking away. Through the dust, bright blue light can be seen, and the sound of metal being sliced in half can be heard. As the dust cleared in her gloved hand was her energy katana blade; with one slice, she cut the large metal beam in half. She runs to her ship with her path clear and leaps into the cockpit. She clears the docking bay just as the abandoned citadel class space station explodes in a spectacular display of destruction. The damaged power crystal reduces the abandoned citadel class space station to pretty sparkles in the darkness of space that quickly fades away. The Galactic Combat Technician sets course to meet up with her duty station 'IAS Stellar Eclipse,' a super combat carrier-class warship that is part of the main Royal Battle fleet. As the smaller Interceptor fighting falcon aerospace fighter arrives at the rendezvous point, a six hundred thirty meters long Imperial Alicorn-designed warship appears from the darkness. Several multiple colored lights activate from the warship's top deck, guiding the small aerospace fighter onto the carrier's flight deck. As the small fighter nears the flight deck, an antigravity bubble system activates, slowing the spacecraft's speed down and allowing the ship to safely land on the flight deck. The antigravity bubble quickly floats the fighter to the nearest small combat elevator; once on the elevator, the magnetic landing feet stick the fighter to the metal deck plate. Once the landing feet are locked there, a soft click and elevator begin lowering the fighter through the force field airlock into four-level lower decks of the carrier. In the bowels of this carrier, each deck is equipped with one whole squadron of aerospace fighters (24 ships) that belong to the crown of light aerospace battle group under the command of Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola. Mixed with these aerospace fighters are numerous small utility ships ranging from one large shadow cat recon plane, small space shuttles and many one-man repair vessels with arms for repairing the ship. As the combat elevator stop on the bottom level, the magnetic landing feet disengage from the metal plate as the antigravity bubble system once again lifts the aerospace fighter off the elevator, allowing the small combat elevator to ascend back to the flight deck. Waiting on the lower level was an alluring cool gray imperial Alicorn mare with red-orange mane and tail. Her toned 6ft 2in equine figure was attired in a form-fitting peach-colored space suit. A pair of peach-colored form-fitting boots were on her cool gray bare feet, and folded on her back were her silver bio-mechanical metal bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Galactic Knight lieutenant commander Clio Quasar, the first officer aboard 'IAS Stellar Eclipse,' a super combat carrier-class warship and first officer for Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight. As the canopy opened on the Interceptor fighting falcon aerospace fighter climbing out of the cockpit was a stunning dim gray imperial Alicorn mare with orange-yellow mane and tail. Her physically fit 6ft 2in equine figure was attired in a form-fitting periwinkle-colored space suit. A pair of periwinkle-colored form-fitting boots were on her dim gray bare feet, and folded on her back were her silver bio-mechanical metal bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola, the commander of the crown of light aerospace battle group and Aerospace fighter ace. "You know, Major, Justice would have a fit if he knew that you did that stunt…waiting for the very last second to escape the explosion," Clio said, reprimanding. A claw from the ceiling picked the fighter up from the fuselage and placed the ship on the third level to allow Galactic Mechanical Engineers to begin repairing the damage from the explosion. "Well, number one…I know you will not tell Justice about my stunt." Erato said with a smile on her snout as the two mares bumped their fists together. "That is for sure, Erato…I am not going to be giving another lecture on the protocol." Clio replies as the two mares walk off the docking bay to the turbo lift. "But anyway, Erato, what did you find out on the abandoned citadel class space station?" Clio asked as the two mares climbed onto the turbo lift to take it to the upper decks. "The logs in the communication room of the space station picked up the distress beacon about a week ago and relayed it automatically to Infinity Palace. I tried to get the emergency power up to find out where the distress beacon came from. The power crystal was so badly damaged from the supernova that it started to crack." Erato explains as she got off on the crew quarters deck to head to her room to take a shower and begin her sleep Cycle.
Chapter 3It has been one year at the partially excavated dig site in the former Crystal Empire's snow field; that year, the Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team erected their standard, prefabricated dig sites campsite. To combat the raging snow storms that kick up unexpectedly in the snow fields, Justice called in a specialist in fortification Countess Susan Shimmering Diamond Silverlight, his own mother and grandmother to the Royal foals. Walking through the piled-up snow toward one of the outer walls to check, it was an imposing-looking, 6ft 10in dark blue Imperial Alicorn mare with a crimson red mane and tail. Her athletic equine figure was encased in a white sub-zero condition cold-weather gear. On her bare feet were black insulated sub-zero winter boots. Resting against her back were her ice-covered gold bio-mechanical feather bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare is Countess Susan Shimmering Diamond Silverlight Justice's own mother and a Galactic Structural Engineer of the highest calibre. She reaches under her fur-lined hood and presses a button on the optics headband she wore on her head; behind her horn, a small red crystal eyepiece forms over her eyes. On the eyepiece, several mathematic formulas appear that Susan quickly deciphers. ‘It looks like the reinforced concrete walls will hold; there is not enough pushing pressure from the built-up snow to cause critical failure. I'll have the small crystal-powered bulldozers push away the snow from the walls next week.' Susan thought as she returned to the largest building in the dig sites campsite. In this main hangar, the dig team has been excavating the Imperial Alicorn-designed shuttlecraft from the permafrost. Susan walks up to a small door on the side of the main hangar; she enters a numeric code onto the numeric keyboard; a moment later, they're a low hiss as the door slide open. As she passes through the outer door, it slides closed behind her, and she finds herself standing in a small room with a second sliding door in front. A second later, the room flashes red, a strong gust of air blows through the room, and the door in front of her opens up. She walks through the second door and enters a large locker room with numerous lockers along one side of the room. She walked up to one of the lockers and opened the locker; inside the locker were insulated coveralls and work boots. She began to remove her white sub-zero condition cold-weather gear and black insulated sub-zero winter boots. The floor beneath her luxurious, beautifully, and sensuous refined long, rounded dark blue bare feet remain warm as she changes into the fluorescent yellow-green coveralls. Once the coveralls are on, she sits on the long wooden bench and pulls on a pair of socks before putting on the black work boots. To finish the outfit, she places an orange hard hat on top of her head behind her horn that says 'Engineer' on the front. Once dressed, she walks past a metal cabinet with computerized clipboards inside and grabs one out of the cabinet. She enters her passcode onto the computerized clipboard activating the device. She again passes through an airlock before walking into the central part of the main hangar. The main part of the hangar is a beehive of activity with many small crystal-powered construction vehicles doing their assigned jobs and personnel. High above the ceiling, three tracks crisscross the roof with small manned-cranes moving about to designate locations in the main hangar. Susan's heels click-clack over the diamond plate of the cat-walks surrounding a two hundred four-foot-long imperial Alicorn-designed assault shuttle partially free from the permafrost of the snow field. The camera panned around the main hangar running the overhead cranes: Somnus Silverlight, Aurora Silverlight and Flurry Heart Sparkle. Luna Borealis ran the construction vehicles crews, and Celestia Silverlight supervised the excavation Cadence Sparkle, Lara Borealis, and Sweetie bell Android were studying the two hundred-four-foot-long imperial Alicorn-designed assault shuttle documenting the damage to the ship. Why in a separate room with a window that overlooks the whole dig site monitoring the medical systems was Blueberry Swirl Silverlight; she has been authorized to pull out personnel. If their body temperature drops below average as the main hangar must stay cold to keep the ice from melting too fast and send them to the warming room to recover. Justice Silverlight was overseeing the whole dig site; as his mother passed in front of him, he smiled, and she made her way over to her station. Susan shimmering diamond Silverlight runs the Remote Operated Vehicles systems that are slowly melting the ice and propping up the free sections of the assault shuttle to be studied by Cadence, Lara and Sweetie bell. As the melting remote-operated vehicles (ROV) free with looks like antenna assembly with a small radar dish on top of the assault shuttle inside the cockpit, a control board becomes active. The finger of the mummified Imperial Alicorn pilot is holding down a single button on the control board. Once the radar dish is free of its icy prison, the dish repositions itself before releasing a laser pulse into space that Sweetie bell quickly senses and quickly alerts Justice of the laser pulse. Justice quickly orders Sunny Starscout to operate the construction vehicles with the claws to force open the cargo hatch on the underside of the assault shuttle. She hops into the construction vehicle and uses the claws to force open the hatch; at the same time, Cadence quickly slips oxygen tanks onto her back. Sunny could only force open the cargo hatch big enough for a small Terran Alicorn to slip into the ship. As Cadence slips through the opening, she is forced to crawl on all fours on top of the cargo pods that fill the cargo bay, following her uncle's directions in the pitch darkness of the cargo bay. When she reached the location, she reached for the flashlight on her utility belt and turned it on. ‘By my aunt’s light! That looks like a snowflake pattern!’ Cadence thought shocked, as the light beam shines onto the side of the cargo pod. On the pod's side was a snowflake pattern that reminded Cadence of the flag of the Crystal Empire. “Niece! Did you make it to the location?” Justice asked through the earwig inside Cadence’s ear, snapping her out of her train of thought. "Huh? I did, uncle." Cadence said, hesitant as Justice pick-up the change in his beloved niece's voice. "Is something wrong? Niece?" Justice asked as Cadence felt around on the Cargo bay ceiling, looking for the hatch to gain access to the central part of the shuttle. "No! Uncle," Cadence said hesitantly as she shined the light onto the hatch, looking for the numeric keypad that her uncle described. "The code please, uncle?" Cadence said, insisting as her gloved hand trembled as she had trouble inputting the numeric code onto the keypad. She quickly grabs hold of her shaking hand with her other hand, trying to settle the trembling. ‘By my aunt’s light? Please stop shaking?’ Cadence thought anxiously as she was finally able to stop her hand from shaking and inputted numeric code into the keypad. There was a very slight hissing sound from the hatch. But the hatch was frozen shut, so Cadence brought her legs up and kicked the hatch open using all of her earth pony strength. “I am in! Uncle!” Cadence said excitedly as she climbed through the hatch and found herself standing in darken metal corridor. As she shined the flashlight about the passage, she saw four doors on the left side of the passage leading to most likely small staterooms and a hatch leading outside on the right, but it was frozen shut. Behind her was a door that most likely led to the engine room, and in front of her was the entrance to the cockpit. "What in Equestria!?" Cadence exclaimed, shocked as her beam shined on the walls of the corridor with a painting of crystalline plant life that reminded her of the crystal flower garden in the crystal empire. “Niece! What do you see!?” Justice asked, concerned as hearing her uncle's voice snaps her out of her train of thought again. "Oh, uncle…the corridor I am in has framed paintings on the wall. I see a hatch outside. The air here is stagnant, and I can see the door to the cockpit." Cadence explains as she makes her way to the cockpit, stumbling on a second mummified imperial Alicorn just in front of the outside hatch. "Uncle, I found another mummified imperial Alicorn…It looks to be female. And what you told me, uncle, their large number of mares like here in Equestria." Cadence explains as she uses her light to scan the mummified imperial Alicorn mare body for clues. "That is right, niece." Justice answers “What is she wearing? Look for any kind of mark on the clothing.” Justice asked as Cadence scanned the mare with her light. "She is wearing yukata kimono…not as nice as the one you gave me, uncle. She all so wearing a simple obi. On her feet are tabi socks and Zori sandals. Wait a minute, their? What looks like a pick axe is on kimono!” Cadence said, informed and surprised as the light shone on a picture on the kimono. “A pick axe! Then she is a power crystal miner!” Justice exclaimed “What is a power crystal miner, uncle?” Cadence asked “A power crystal miner is imperial Alicorn that mines for our power crystals on large crystal asteroids in one of many mining star sectors in imperial Alicorn space. But what is a power crystal miner doing on the planet of Equus?" Justice commented as Cadence continued down the corridor to the cockpit. Several hours later, Justice makes his way from his housing unit in dig camp to the housing unit of his nieces after being called by Flurry Heart because her mother has locked herself in her bedroom. "Hello, Flurry heart; what's wrong with your mother?" Justice asked as he hugged Flurry's heart; she let him into the housing unit. "I don't know, uncle? After opening up the assault shuttle, my mother went straight to her room. I asked her if she was hungry, and she told me no. And to leave her alone." Flurry heart explains as Justice walks up to Cadence's bedroom door and knocks on it. "Please, Flurry heart? Leave me alone!" Cadence calls, confused. "Cadence, it is me, Justice!" Justice called back as he heard the door unlock, and he was able to enter Cadence's bedroom. Before walking into the bedroom, Justice gestures for Flurry heart to go back into the living room of the housing unit. Once through the door, Justice is standing in a twelve by twelve-foot square room; on the bed was distressed Cadence Sparkle in her Alicorn form, which is attired in a sweater top and jeans. Her slenderly gracefully rounded, gorgeous-shaped pair of light pink bare feet were bare. And sitting on the nightstand was her crystal empire crown. Justice walked over to the bed and sat down next to Cadence on the bed. "I must go home, uncle," Cadence said, afraid as she accepted the hug from her uncle. "To the Crystal Empire, niece," Justice said as Cadence nodded her head yes. "You want to see if you are an Imperial Alicorn, and Crystal Empire is the only place you can find the answer," Justice explained as Cadence's light purple eyes were haunted by some inner anxiety as she nodded her head again. "Since I first met you, Miss Sparkle, I have always sensed their more to you. Then you know? I didn't want to give you more anxiety. You had enough being the ruler of the Crystal Empire." Justice explains as a tear runs down Cadence's cheek. "You love me (Justice nodded his head). That why, you didn't tell me, uncle (Justice nodded his head again) Went did you know uncle that I might be Imperial Alicorn?" Cadence asked as Justice sighed softly. “I didn’t know that you might be an Imperial Alicorn? Until Luna and Somnus sent word that they might have found the wreck of the imperial Alicorn assault shuttle in the snow field. I told Lara we both knew it might be that missing shuttle from the Southern Star Sector. After the red giant at the center of the Southern star sector went supernova. The assault shuttle disappeared…most Imperial Alicorns believe it attempted a wormhole jump, but the shockwave knocked it off course." Justice explains as Cadence's stomach knots. “What makes you think I am Imperial Alicorn, uncle?" Cadence said, her voice edged with tension, hoping it was not valid. "The name of the ruler of Southern star sector was Queen Filomena Amore Aperture," Justice said as Cadence gasps. "Princess Amore: the first ruler of the Crystal Empire," Cadence exclaims. "Before the supernova, Queen Aperture was caring for her foal," Justice said as Cadence's face grew haggard with worry.
Chapter 4Through the raging snow storms and white-out conditions of the snow field of the former Crystal Empire, two bright blue eyes appear, piercing the white-out with no sound to be heard. Soon six more bright blue eyes joined the first set of eyes, and still, no sound could be heard. What are these blue eyes, some sort of magical construct that survives the loss of magic in Equestria or some kind of wild magic? As the mysterious animal crest the large snow hill, the bright blue eyes are not eyes but high-intensity headlights attached to a crystal-powered arctic hover recon bike that belongs to the Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team. These recon bikes have enclosed heated cockpit with unique heat circulation and air cycling system to keep the engine and hover jets from freezing in these harsh arctic conditions. Piloting one of these crystal-powered arctic hover recon bikes was Head Archivist Cadence Sparkle, Assistant Archivist Flurry Heart Sparkle, her daughter, Head site scout Luna Borealis and Chief Excavation supervisor Celestia Silverlight, both of Cadence's aunts. These four mares were heading to the ruin of the capital city of the former Crystal Empire the Crystal city. (One hour earlier, Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team base camp) "What makes you think I am Imperial Alicorn, uncle?" Cadence said, her voice edged with tension, hoping it was not valid. "The name of the ruler of Southern star sector was Queen Filomena Amore Aperture," Justice said as Cadence gasps. "Princess Amore: the first ruler of the Crystal Empire," Cadence exclaims as Justice shakes his head. "Before the supernova, Queen Aperture was caring for her foal," Justice said as Cadence's face grew haggard with worry. “Celestia and Luna told me you were an orphan with no memory of your past, dear niece." Justice comment as Cadence's light purple eyes darts maniacally about, picking objects out of her bedroom. "No, uncle! I can't be an Imperial Alicorn? I was a pegasus before I became an Alicorn Princess!" Cadence said, distressed as tears filled her light purple eyes and her uncle transformed into pegasi with no effort. “The ability to transform into another species is a natural ability of Imperial Alicorn, my dear niece," Justice explains as he wraps his metal wings and arms around Cadence, trying his best to comfort her. “If you are an Imperial Alicorn or not…you are still my niece," Justice said, caring as Cadence wrapped her wings and arms around him. (Back to present) 'After that, I decided to learn for myself if I was an Imperial Alicorn.' Cadence thought as she looked upon the ruins of Crystal City from on top of a hill overlooking the once grand city of Crystal empire. It has been many years since the four mares last lay eyes on the Crystal City in the Crystal Empire. It was bittersweet for Flurry heart Sparkle to be returning to Crystal city, the city of her birth. The last sound and image burned into Flurry Heart's memory are the Crystal buildings shattering and the wild winds howling as it forces her to flee to the Castle of Friendship in Ponyville to survive the fall of the Crystal Empire. Cadence felt a cold fist close over her heart as the sound of sniffing is heard over the earwig in her ear. "I am delighted that you survive, Flurry Heart…It would be tough to continue living without you, my lovely foal." Cadence said motherly as the crystal Mic extended from her helmet. "Thank you, mommy." Flurry Heart said, appreciative and reassured as a soft sigh is heard over the earwig, and Cadence softly giggles. "I think it all good, aunties." Cadence comments. "Yes, it's good, aunties."Flurry's heart commented. "But anyway, Cadence, you never told us why we are going to the ruins of the Crystal City?" Celestia asked, wondering through the earwig in Cadence's ear. “There is a room in the bowels of Crystal Palace that was to be used in extreme emergencies. I think Flurry Heart knows the room that I am referring to.” Cadence commented as all three mares heard tapping on Mic. "Mother is, talking about the secret Crystal laboratory of Princess Amore. I tried to open the door went the snowstorms got bad. But it didn't open for me, and the Crystal Empire fell." Flurry Heart commented as the breath caught in Cadence's throat. "It felt like the door didn't recognize me as the Princess of Crystal Empire. Every time I touched the knob, it gave me a light jolt to make me let go of the knob. It felt like I was not the one that could open the door." Flurry Heart explains as Cadence gives a startled gasp at what her daughter said. "Here crazy idea nieces and sister, what if the door was synced to the bio-rhythm of Imperial Alicorn, in this case, our niece Cadence. Because Flurry's heart is not full Imperial Alicorn, it would reject her by shocking her." Luna explains nonchalantly as Celestia gasps. "If we go on that line, sister, that means the secret Crystal laboratory of Princess Amore is an Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory and can only be opened by Cadence. So something in there links her to Imperial Alicorn space." Celestia comments, shocked as nauseating spurts of adrenaline course through Cadence’s veins. Meanwhile, in the shattered remains of the once-great Crystal City, the capital city of the Crystal Empire, an ominous black shadow moves secretly about the broken crystal buildings searching for any silver of crystal magic that was left after magic was lost in Equestria. During that time, this black shadow buried itself deep in the Crystal fields of the Crystal Empire to preserve its dwindling crystal magic supply. Went magic was restored to Equestria, the black shadow returned to the surface and now seeks more crystal magic to give itself a form. At the same time, a glowing white ball of light has been following the black shadow secretly around the same shattered remains of the once-great Crystal City. The capital city of the Crystal Empire went to its surface and has been siphoning the more powerful silvers of Crystal magic from the Crystal City to keep the black shadow from forming. "Not enough!" The black shadow said bluntly as it sucked up a sliver of Crystal magic. “I must keep that black shadow from gaining enough crystal magic to form. The ponies of this time will never be able to stand against black crystal magic." The white ball of light commented, worried as it sensed a considerable spike of crystal magic nearby. The white ball of light quickly makes a beeline to a considerable crystal magic spike before the black shadow can sense and siphons it. Suddenly the black shadow and white ball of light feel the massive energy surge from the remains of Crystal palace in the castle's bowels. "Power!" the black shadow exclaims as it transforms into a shadow bird and flies straight to the palace. "By the first star! My laboratory has become active! My daughter must be nearby for the lab to release a magic surge like that!" The white ball of light exclaimed as it transformed into a light bird and flew to the palace. On the outskirts of shattered remains of the once-great Crystal City, the capital city of the Crystal Empire, the four crystal-powered arctic hover recon bikes drive toward the town. As if beckoning the four crystal-powered arctic hover recon bikes to continue into the city, the raging snow storm breaks and white-out conditions clear. Soon the shining crown jewel of Crystal Empire appears before the four Alicorn mares piloting the four crystal-powered arctic hover recon bikes the grand Crystal City or the shattered remains. As the mares lay their eyes upon the unimaginable destruction, a bleak, wintry feeling creeps into their hearts at the tremendous loss of the most beautiful city in all of Equestria. As they drive over the broken streets of this city, nothing is recognizable to them as every single crystal structure, from private homes to large institutions, is nothing but shattered remains slowly being sucked up by the constant blowing snow. Not even the crystal palace survived the destruction, as the upper half of the structure now lies shattered and broken on the ground beside it. As the arctic hover recon bikes drive toward the city square, they move over the shattered remnants of a crystal statue that once stood, breaking it even more. Before stopping in the square, the canopy of the lead bike opens up, and Cadence climbs out of the cockpit. Cadence's equine face is etched with sorrow upon seeing the shattered black crystal statue of Princess Amore. “Mommy!” Cadence calls her voice wooden, distant as tears streak her light pink cheeks. Suddenly a memory forms in Cadence's mind of a marvellous looking, very pale vermilion imperial Alicorn mare with a gradient of bright raspberry to moderate cobalt blue mane looking down on her. A slender, very pale vermilion colored hand with periwinkle blue nail polish reach down as two small light pink hand grabs hold of one of the mare's finger and begins sucking on the end of the finger. "Now, Cadence, that mommy's finger and not your pacifier." The mare's voice is lovely and gentle as she carefully removes her finger from her filly's mouth and replaces it with a pacifier. "Mommy-mommy." A tiny voice says as tears run down a pale vermilion-colored cheek and splash on her filly face. "Cadence! Mommy! Awake up!" Three mare's voices called as Cadence returns to the real world. "What happens, niece?" Celestia asked as Cadence shook her head to clear the cobwebs. "My full name, auntie, is…Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture…I am the daughter of Queen Filomena Amore Aperture, the ruler of Southern Star Sector of Imperial Alicorn Space." Cadence explains as Luna caught her niece went, she passed out. Meanwhile, in the basement of the remains of the crystal palace, the white light bird sits high above, watching the black shadow bird ram itself into the solid wooden door reinforced with imperial Alicorn eternal magic trying to break down the door to get into the lab. A moment later, the shadow bird lands on the ground before transforming into a shadow figure; it begins to toss black energy bolts at the door, trying to break it. Before long, the door starts to suck the black energy bolts that hit it into itself, reinforcing Imperial Alicorn's eternal magic to make it stronger. A few moments later, the light white bird gets tired of the futile attempts to gain entrance to the Laboratory of the black shadow bird. So the white light bird takes flight and quickly passes through the wall into the Laboratory on the other side. As the white light bird flight over a twenty by twenty-eight square foot room, the dominating feature of this room is a micronized Imperial Alicorn power crystal generator that powers all the scientific devices in this room. Much like the Great library Citadel Station collection point station, a considerable crystal master computer is embedded in the wall of the Laboratory. But the significant difference is that the primary crystal monitor of this computer system is cut in a large oval shape to save space in the room. This system is primarily linked to the Pillars of Creation Institute, the super-science wing of Imperial Alicorn space. This particular Imperial Alicorn citizen is an Imperial Alicorn Galactic Scientist trained as Bio-Geneticist. The job of a bio-geneticist is to study the origins of a specific species to learn how they evolved through DNA. These galactic sciences are the only Imperial Alicorn species with access to the most potent magic, the creative magic. All other Imperial Alicorn species only have access to eternal magic. Only the infinity star sector royal family members have access to both Creation and Eternal magic. Those imperial Alicorn who have access to creation magic guard this magic jealously and will not train anyone to use it, not even their own family. Only in rarest cases would they train someone to use creation magic, which must be from their family. That family member is bound to the same rules as the one that taught them. Breaking the rules would mean the instant termination of the student and the master. As the white light bird lands, it begins to transform into a tall ghostly grayish heliotrope-colored unicorn mare with pale, light grayish arctic blue mane and tail. Her slender equine figure was attired in a white sheath dress whose hemline hit just above her ankles. From the end of the dress's hemline to her feet is nothing but smoke. She glides over the floor toward a regeneration tube with the body of an Imperial Alicorn mare with gold bio-mechanical metal bird wings the same body color and mane/tail color of this ghostly unicorn mare. Before the death of this unicorn mare as an imperial Alicorn bio-geneticist, she was able to create an exact clone of her natural body using her knowledge of creating magic and attaching the Bio-mechanical metal bird wings to her body. ‘How did it come to this? How my friend could be so seduced by the easy path of Dark Crystal Magic? He had so much potential…But then he murdered me and transformed me into a black crystal statue. Being Imperial Alicorn, I couldn't be killed…My body turned to crystal, and my spirit was separated from my body. I quickly found a new host in this unicorn mare. She was very much open to the possibility of something beyond the skies of her home planet.’ The ghostly unicorn mare thought as the shadow figure tried to enter the lab. Despite his inability to comprehend any imperial Alicorn technology or theories, no matter how hard he tries. 'The one good thing I was able to get my daughter away from the Crystal Empire before I was killed and to the capital city of Equestria Canterlot. It was very unusual to sense an Imperial Alicorn Timekeeper Administrator from my people's Great Library Citadel Station here on this planet. But I knew one of my own species would care for my foal as her own.’ The ghostly Unicorn mare thought. 'I didn't figure out that it would bring those Imperial Alicorns to Crystal Empire to investigate. In this new body, I quickly, with the help of those Imperial Alicorns, was able to regain control of crystal city after my killing. They appointed me the new ruler of the Crystal Empire. I ruled till my death went my friend took control of Crystal city, and those imperial Alicorns returned to fight my friend for control of Crystal Empire. They wanted to put my daughter back on the throne of the Crystal Empire. But the black crystal magic corrupted him beyond his good side, and he didn't want to give up the throne.' The ghostly unicorn mare thought as her face was etched with sorrow.
Chapter 5Sitting in the city square of crystal city was a thirty-four-foot long, ten-foot tall and sixteen-foot wide crystal-power exploration medical personnel carrier from the Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team. Due to the remote nature of some of the research team dig sites and no formal medical institutions in remote areas of Equestria. Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight allowed his youngest daughter Blueberry Swirl Silverlight access to Great Library citadel station through her grandmother Chief Research Supervisor Lara Borealis, to search the Epochs of other Timekeeper Administrators for some way to bring medical treatment to those remote areas of Equestria. In several Epochs volumes, the Timekeeper Administrators mentioned something called a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH.) or Combat Support Hospital; it was used during the war on their respected planet to quickly bring wounded soldiers to the locations for Emergency medical treatment before sending them to rear Hospital for in-depth treatment. With that idea in mind, Blueberry assembled an exploration medical personnel carrier. It was based on an armored personnel carrier design mentioned in several Epochs volumes of Military Style vehicles from many planets. Inside the exploration medical personnel carrier (EMPC.), the unconscious Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture recovers inside a compact Imperial Alicorn regeneration tube. Her mind wanders in reverie as her body recovers from hypothermia, trying to make sense of who she is. Her slenderly gracefully rounded gorgeous shaped pair of light pink tapered shaped bare feet with bright blue toenails polishes softly pip-plops across the solid glass block floor of the reverie. Unlike her aunt Princess Celestia Silverlight who took some time to realize that she was on another plain of existence, Cadence knew right away that she was not in the real world. She also realizes that this reverie is of someone else memories, as all the memory portals are sliding steel doors. Due to her deep understanding of pony hearts, she quickly figures out that each number above the portal represents a powerful emotional connection to that memory. So the higher the number, the more powerful it is and the more profound the emotional connection to that memory is. 'So Princess of love… let's avoid the higher numbers as the emotional connection to that memory will be more than I could take. So let's stay at nine and below.' Cadence thought as she’s pip-plopped way from ten and above. To try to figure out to whom these memories belong. So Cadence pip-plopped in her light pink tapered shaped bare feet over to a memory portal marked with the Roman numeral V and touched the sliding door. Slowly the sliding steel door slides open she steps through the portal. Once through the portal, she enters another room; the ambient sound changes to the sound of her slenderly gracefully rounded, gorgeously shaped pair of light pink tapered shaped bare feet walking across the metal plates, which is quite jarring to her slightly more tender, petite naked feet. At the same time, her light purple eyes try to adjust to the constant red flashing light of this room and the annoying emergency warning alarm that echoes in the room. Her eyes adjust to the flashing lights, and her ears adjust to the sound. She finds herself standing toward the back of a room; every inch of this room is covered with holographic monitor screens. Sitting in front of them were Imperial Alicorn mares and stallions frantically working their assigned station. And soon, Cadence figures out she's aboard some kind of spaceship. Before Cadence could gasp, she was knocked to the ground by a sharp jolt that moved the spaceship. The quick jolt hits several Imperial Alicorns out of their stations, and they quickly reach their feet. Cadence reeled with astonishment; just in front of her, slowly getting to her feet, was a marvelous looking grayish heliotrope color imperial Alicorn mare with a pale light grayish arctic blue mane and tail. Her 6ft 6in perfect equine figure was attired in a white with a red striped form-fitting space suit. On her twelve and two-third inch, long grayish heliotrope colored sizable and attractive bare feet were white with red striped form-fitting boots. And folded on her back were her gold bio-mechanical metal bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Queen Filomena Amore Aperture, the ruler of the southern star sector and Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture's mother. "Mommy!" Cadence exclaimed as she brought her hands to her snout, and tears streaked her light pink cheeks. "Gunners! Return fire! With the main battery! IAS Hydra can take a hit and hit right back! Fire!" Filomena ordered as the firing of the main battery shook the room. "Your majesty! The fleet from the Lagoon Nebula star sector is retreating! Should the patrol ships pursue?" A bridge officer inquired as Filomena dusted off her space suit with her gloved hands. "No, Lieutenant! Begin repairs on the space fleet! I am going to the captain quarter's send me the damage reports for the Southern Star Sector battle fleet! And set course back to the Hydra Palace." Filomena orders as she turns on her heels and walks toward the turbo lift passing by Cadence. 'Follow me, little one; no other Imperial Alicorn can see you in this memory.' As she follows her into the turbo lift, Filomena's voice echoes in Cadence's mind. A few minutes later, Queen Filomena Amore Aperture waits in the captain's quarters for her daughter Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture, to sum up, her courage to walk to the captain's quarters to see her. As Filomena waited in the quarter's wave of acid wells up from her belly. She has not seen her foal in the flesh since sending her to Canterlot to keep her safe. Slowly the door into the captain's quarters slides open through the door and walks the beautiful barefooted Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture. Filomena's brilliant amber-colored eyes are moist with joy upon seeing her daughter approach her. Soon Filomena noticed the spasm of irritation that crossed her daughter's face. "Why, mother?! Why did you abandon me!?" Cadence said, her voice carried to the edge of indignation that shocked her mother. “Was I not good enough for you, mother!?” Cadence said venomously as Filomena gasps. "No, baby! I had no choice! I sensed something was brewing behind the scenes of Crystal Empire. But I didn't think it was something like that? For several months strange things happened, many unrelated events. So I send you to Canterlot to keep you safe." Filomena explains as Cadence's face flushes with indignation. "I never made it to Canterlot! The pony you entrusted me with gets me to Canterlot! Didn't!" Cadence said sharply as Filomena gasped in shock. "That pony left me at an orphanage in Bitsburgh! When I turned seventeen, I was adopted by Aunt Celestia and Luna! So I spent most of my filly hood at that orphanage!" Cadence said bitterly as Filomena's stomach knots with her daughter's lost filly hood. "I am so sorry, baby or Miss Sparkle (Cadence gasps). Went I sent you with that crystal pony, I never thought, the pony would not fulfill my last request and get you to Canterlot." Filomena said, her voice cracking as tears ran down her grayish heliotrope cheeks. "How do you know my last name?" Cadence's voice edged with tension as Filomena wiped the tears with her gloved hand. "The truth... Cadence is that I never abandon you…I follow you through your life…As an energy bird, I couldn't interact with you. But went you need me, I will sit on your shoulder to keep your spirits up.” Filomena explains as the breath catches in Cadence’s throat. "The Crystal Caves under Canterlot during my wedding …Went I felt hopeless that I would never be rescued, I felt a warm light sitting on my shoulder encouraging me to keep hoping for rescue…it was you," Cadence exclaimed as her eyes moist with joy and Filomena nodded her head. "I was there, went you trying to maintain the shield protecting the Crystal City…I lend you my strength even those it could kill my own baby…You were determined to keep that shield until help arrived and they defeated that evil creature named King Sombra." Filomena, her voice cracking as she began to weep, almost killing her baby. "Thank you, mommy," Cadence said, grateful as Filomena's moderately arctic blue eyes blinked with surprise. "You called me mommy?" Filomena said, her voice strained as Cadence nodded her head. "Till I met you and heard your side of the story, mommy…I was angry with you for abandoning me…But that was misplaced…You never abandoned me…you stayed at my side and helped wherever possible." Cadence explained as a smile formed on Filomena's snout. "Well, not always…I have a few complaints about your husband…his name was Shining Armor?" Filomena said with a playful demeanor as Cadence fixed with a smoldering look toward her mother. "Mom! You are not allowed to complain about my Shiny!" Cadence said hotly. "And why not, dear? I am your mother?" Filomena said annoyed "Because I say so, mom!"Cadence said sharply as both mares began giggling. "All right, dear, let's meet in the main area of the reverie…this memory always puts me on edge," Filomena explains as both mares reappear in the central area of the reverie. Cadence watches as her mother transforms her white with red striped form-fitting space suit into a white short-sleeve lace midi length fit and flare dress that hits just passed her knees. On her twelve and two-third inch, long grayish heliotrope colored sizable and attractive Greek and taper bare feet with mint green toenail polish was brown caged styled mare's Delilah gladiator sandals with one-inch wedge heels. Through the opening on the front of the sandals, you could clearly see that her second toe is the longest on her feet. Why rests of her toes gently taper off the end of her feet. And folded on her back were her gold bio-mechanical metal feathered bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Queen Filomena Amore Aperture, the ruler of the southern star sector and Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture's mother. Filomena gestures to her daughter Cadence to come and hug her, but she doesn't move an inch. A wounded look appears in this female Imperial Alicorn's moderate arctic blue eyes. "Are you a power crystal miner? And is that assault shuttle that crashed in the snow field yours?" Cadence asked as the breath caught in Filomena's throat with her daughter's questions. "I am? But how do you know that you were still a foal went we crashed on this planet, and yes, that assault shuttle is mine?" Filomena said, her voice edged with tension with her daughter's knowledge. "My uncle told me what you were…went I gain entry into your assault shuttle and found the mare with a pickaxe picture on her clothing." Cadence answered as her mother was dumbfounded by her daughter. "What uncle! You and I are the only ones left from the Aperture family…my family was killed by the supernova that destroyed the southern star sector." Filomena said, her heart etched with sorrow. “My Aunt Celestia and Luna are the daughters of Timekeeper Administrator of the tenth circle of the Great Library Citadel Station Lara Borealis, and my uncle is Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight, the great-grandson of Empress Galaxy Cosmos!" Cadence exclaims as Filomena sinks to her knees in shock. 'The great-grandson of my ruler….Empress Cosmos? And the daughters of the head of the Great Library Citadel Station Lara Borealis? Why are those Imperial Alicorn families here on this planet?' Filomena thought, confused with her daughter's relationships with those powerful families. Meanwhile, in the awakening world, Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight arrives at the Exploration Medical Personnel Carrier in the center of the ruins of Crystal City at the request of his younger daughter Blueberry and Cadence’s daughter. "Greeting daughter and you to Flurry Heart; why did you want me to come?" Justice inquires, hugging both mares as he looks at his niece Cadence still recovering inside micronized and compact Imperial Alicorn regeneration tube. "Flurry Heart told me they came to the remains of the Crystal City and the palace because of the secret room in the palace," Blueberry explains as Flurry Heart nods her head and Justice's face glazed with shock. "A secret room?" Justice exclaims, his face growing haggard with worry. “Mother theorizes that the secret room is an Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory…Whatever that means, father?" Blueberry comments, a bit puzzled by the idea, as Flurry Heart is just as dumbfounded by the same idea. “I was hoping to bring you up to speeded very slowly about my people, the Imperial Alicorns, daughter and niece…but it looks like that plan is out the stable room door.” Justice comments kissing both mares on their cheeks and hugging them once again. "An Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory…is what is on the cover, my dear daughter and niece. Within Imperial Alicorns society, we have Galactic scientists of various disciplines…They build these Crystal laboratories for research and study of their disciplines…Miss Aperture was the premiere Bio-Geneticist at the Pillars of Creation Institute in Imperial Alicorn space." Justice explains as Blueberry and Flurry's heart eyes widen in alarm. "No need to be frightened, daughter or niece…the job of a Bio-Geneticist is to study the origins of a specific species to learn how they evolved through DNA., and it is a bio-geneticist that attaches our bio-mechanical metal feathered bird wings to our backs," Justice explains as he continues explaining Imperial Alicorns society to his daughter and niece. Back in reverie, Queen Filomena Amore Aperture still can't get her head around how her daughter was able to get involved with Infinity star sector royal family or the Great Library Citadel Station. Cadence, frustrated with her mother's confusion, decides to attempt a trick that her uncle employs on her went she like that. She knocks her mother onto her back, wraps her arm around her mother's leg, finds the zipper on the back of the sandal, and removes it. Revealing her twelve and two third-inch Greek and taper-shaped wickedly gorgeous and exquisite curvy and slender grayish heliotrope colored lovely slender barefoot with mint green toenail polish. Cadence focuses on her mother's normally shaped arch, which had an exquisite shape with a generous smooth curve to it, making her naked foot very appealing and high enough to be inviting. A sudden tingling sensation begins filling her Imperial Alicorn body, and without warning, Filomena explodes with laughter as her daughter tickles her sensitive arch. Filomena had never felt this sensation before in her long life, as the touching was not unpleasant. She wants to stop the tingling sensation in her lovely slender bare foot. So she uses her sandal-clad foot and pushes her daughter on her back, forcing her to release her leg. “By the first star, baby! What was that unusual sensation you did to my foot?” Filomena inquired anxiously as she rubbed her sensitive arch with her fingers to stop the sensation. "My uncle uses that trick on me…went I get overwhelmed. It was such a wonderful experience; it helped me relax…I enjoy being forced to laugh." Cadence said, appreciating as she tossed her mother's removed sandal to her, and she put it back on. "Baby, you must explain how you came in contact with the Royal family and Great Library Citadel Station…I know it is possible because of our Royal Bloodline. But still, it takes time…It took me several space cycles to meet with Empress Cosmos.” Filomena explained as Cadence signed softly and nodded her head. "Went I first met the imperial Prince…he was Royal palace guard at my aunt's castle, and I didn't know that he was royalty from space…Over time, I got to know him and enjoyed being around him and his family." Cadence explains as a sudden spurt of adrenaline courses through Filomena's veins. “What! His family!” Filomena exclaims. “Yes, his Grandmother, mother and his two sisters.” Cadence comments. “The Crowned Imperial Princess, the daughter of Empress Cosmos…Countess Silverlight and Baroness Silverlight?" Filomena's comment shocked. "Oh, I almost forgot his aunt, too," Cadence exclaims. "Duchess Nebula…That all the members of the infinity star sector Royal family. They run the days to day affairs of Imperial Alicorn space.” Filomena exclaims. “What about the Great Library Citadel Station?” Filomena asked “I just recently found out that my adopted aunts were the daughters of the head of the Great Library Citadel Station Lara Borealis...Like them, I am still learning about them."Cadence comments as she hugs her mother.
Chapter 6Back in reverie, Queen Filomena Amore Aperture still can't get her head around how her daughter was able to get involved with Infinity star sector royal family or the Great Library Citadel Station. Cadence, frustrated with her mother's confusion, decides to attempt a trick that her uncle employs on her went she like that. She knocks her mother onto her back, wraps her arm around her mother's leg, finds the zipper on the back of the sandal, and removes it. Revealing her twelve and two third-inch Greek and taper-shaped wickedly gorgeous and exquisite curvy and slender grayish heliotrope colored lovely slight barefoot with mint green toenail polish. Cadence focuses on her mother's normally shaped arch, which had an exquisite shape with a generous smooth curve to it, making her naked foot very appealing and high enough to be inviting. A sudden tingling sensation begins filling her Imperial Alicorn body, and without warning, Filomena explodes with laughter as her daughter tickles her sensitive arch. Filomena had never felt this sensation before in her long life, as the touching was not unpleasant. She wants to stop the tingling sensation in her lovely slender bare foot. So she uses her sandal-clad foot and pushes her daughter on her back, forcing her to release her leg. “By the first star, baby! What was that unusual sensation you did to my foot?” Filomena inquired anxiously as she rubbed her sensitive arch with her fingers to stop the sensation. "My uncle uses that trick on me…went I get overwhelmed. It was such a wonderful experience; it helped me relax…I enjoy being forced to laugh." Cadence said, appreciating as she tossed her mother's removed sandal to her, and she put it back on. "Baby, you must explain how you came in contact with the Royal family and Great Library Citadel Station…I know it is possible because of our Royal Bloodline. But still, it takes time…It took me several space cycles to meet with Empress Cosmos.” Filomena explained as Cadence signed softly and nodded her head. "Went I first met the imperial Prince…he was Royal palace guard at my aunt's castle, and I didn't know that he was royalty from space…Over time, I got to know him and enjoyed being around him and his family." Cadence explains as a sudden spurt of adrenaline courses through Filomena's veins. “What! His family!” Filomena exclaims. “Yes, his Grandmother, mother and his two sisters.” Cadence comments. “The Crowned Imperial Princess, the daughter of Empress Cosmos…Countess Silverlight and Baroness Silverlight?" Filomena's comment shocked. "Oh, I almost forgot his aunt, too," Cadence exclaims. "Duchess Nebula…That all the members of the infinity star sector Royal family. They run the days to day affairs of Imperial Alicorn space.” Filomena exclaims. “What about the Great Library Citadel Station?” Filomena asked “I just recently found out that my adopted aunts were the daughters of the head of the Great Library Citadel Station Lara Borealis...Like them, I am still learning about them."Cadence comments as she hugs her mother. "What? Just recently found out?" Filomena said, baffled, as her daughter nodded her head. “How can that be, baby? The great library citadel station is the third most powerful sect in Imperial Alicorn space…The first most powerful sect is the Royal families from each star sector. With the military being the second most powerful sect in Imperial Alicorn space and one that holds the most power.” Filomena explains as she rubs her painted fingernails on the lower half of her jaw. "The truth, mother…is that my adopted aunts somehow lost their memory and connection to Imperial Alicorn Reverie," Cadence explains as the breath catches in Filomena's throat. "That is not possible, baby! If Imperial Alicorn cuts itself off from the reverie…It would result in horrible nausea and headaches for that Alicorn…I have studied several cases of Imperial Alicorns that suffered a traumatic experience and tried to cut themselves off from the reverie. Eventually, they must face that trauma in the reverie to cure the side effects." Filomena speaks with an expert tone of voice. “You sound like a scientist, mother?" Cadence said, puzzled, as Filomena chuckled into the back of her hand. "A power crystal miner is what I am…It's not what I do." Filomena comments as Cadence scratches her head. “I am a premiere Bio-Geneticist from the Pillars of Creation Institute…I study evolution through DNA. I am what they call an Imperial Alicorn Galactic Scientist…I am one of the huge sects of great thinkers within Imperial Alicorn society…without Galactic Scientist, nothing that Imperial Alicorn have is possible." Filomena explains there was some pride in her voice. It is an hour later as Justice and Celestia trek through the broken streets and snow-covered areas of ruined Crystal City on their way to the ruins of Crystal Palace using the direction to the secret room provided by Flurry Heart. The two elder imperial Alicorns decided to investigate the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory in the basement of the ruins of Crystal Palace for themselves. "My love, how will we enter the Imperial Alicorn crystal Laboratory? If it rejects Cadence's own daughter Flurry Heart?" Celestia inquires as the pair stops for a moment. "My love, please remove one of your gloves?" Justice asked as Celestia pulled off one of her gloves, even those it was freezing. A moment later, Justice grasps his wife's hand in his, and she feels a surge of power transfer from her husband into her. As she flipped her hand over, a picture of a single stylized star was on the back of her hand. "Normally, we have a huge ceremony when you are crowned an Imperial Princess being my wife at the Infinity Palace…and I transfer some of my duties to you…But we have no time for that, so I transfer the ability to neutralize Imperial Alicorn magic. The ability only the imperial family has.” Justice explains as unseen emerald green eyes watched and felt the transfer of Imperial Alicorn magic into another. In the psychic dimension, a vast Ancient Imperial Alicorn mare constellation begins to weave a spell using her magic before she can complete it. Two more ancient Imperial Alicorn mares constellations arrive and quickly sever the enchantment with their horns. "I will not let you take control of Justice and Celestia, mother! Those two will choose their own path to walk. And not yours." The second imperial Alicorn mare constellation says as her mother's eyes seethe. “That goes for me as well, sister…Those two are the best hope for our Imperial Alicorn species." The third Imperial Alicorn mare constellation comments as the first imperial Alicorn hiss at her sister. “How dare you defy the Empress?!” The first Imperial Alicorn mare constellation said hotly as she left the psychic dimension. "Niece, had your mother forgotten what happened to your cousin went she tried to change fate?" The third Imperial Alicorn mare constellation asked as a shooting star dropped from her eye. After carefully navigating through the broken and crumbling crystal corridor of the once beautiful crystal castle, the home to the rulers of the Crystal Empire, Justice and Celestia finds the staircase leading into the castle's basement. Before proceeding into the cellar, the two Imperial Alicorns switch to their night vision after Justice transfers some of the imperial duties to his wife. All the ability she once had before she forgot what she was has been restored. That includes the unique skills of a Timekeeper Administrator from Great Library Citadel station; Celestia has discovered that she can read any magic language and quickly decipher the gestures of that language without having to study it in-depth. She also learned how to transfer all those stored-up memories into her own Epoch or History book, the main job of a Timekeeper Administrator from Great Library Citadel station. Carefully both Imperial Alicorns make their way down the crystal staircase leading into the basement using a long metal pole to tap on the stair treads ahead of them, testing them to see if they are solid and safe to step on. After an hour of slow progress down the crystal staircase, Justice and Celestia finally set foot in the basement of the crystal castle; after tapping on the basement floor, they determine that it is safe to walk on. "Ok, my love, let's start looking for the door into the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory of Princess Amore.” Justice suggested as Celestia and Justice used their thermo vision to begin searching the basement walls as the area was pitch black from the collapse of the upper half of the crystal castle. Watching from the shadows of the basement was the black shadow bird wondering who these two Alicorns were that were searching for the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory of Princess Amore. As Celestia nears the black shadow bird's position, it is immediately hit by the unique magic signature of a Timekeeper Administrator of the Great Library citadel station. The unique magic signature of a Timekeeper Administrator confuses the black shadow bird even more, wondering how it knows what this Alicorn mare is. It quickly escaped from its current position, causing Celestia to flinch; went unexpected breeze passed beside her, and she swatted blindly in the air, her hand. The black shadow bird flies toward the second Imperial Alicorn to get a read. The black shadow bird swallows a lump in its throat as the magic signature it reads was coming off a member of the imperial family. All Imperial Alicorn civilians have a healthy respect for the Imperial family as their magic is much more potent than any Imperial Alicorn civilian. But in this case, the black shadow bird's heart races with discovering an imperial family member and quickly dives into the boot of Timekeeper Administrator Celestia Silverlight to hide from the Imperial Alicorn stallion that is part of the Imperial family. As the black shadow bird sinks to the bottom of Celestia's boot and begins to flatten out, a few tiny tentacles start wiggling, tickling the sole of her barefoot, causing her to chuckle for a few minutes before it stops. "Celestia! Over here, I found the entrance to the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory of Princess Amore." Justice calls as Celestia lock on her husband's heat signature and makes her way over to him. "Tee-Hee." Celestia laughed as each step caused the tiny tentacles from the black shadow bird to extend up between her toes and tickle between her toes. "Huh? Why are you smiling and laughing, my love?" Justice asked, puzzled, seeing the huge smile on Celestia's snout and her laughing. "Huh? It, not you doing it?" Celestia said, her voice edged with tension as Justice shook his head no. "There something inside my boot tickling my foot…I thought it was you, my love!" Celestia commented, her voice breaking as Justice switched to his magic vision scanning his wife from head to foot. ‘Huh? Anomalies in her boot!’ Justice thought, finding a strange magic signature on the bottom of her boot. "(Quickly kissing Celestia on her lips to calm her) It should be safe inside the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory of Princess Amore…so endure it. A Timekeeper Administrator can't be infected by dark magic; that's why it feels like you are being tickled…Being part of the imperial family, we have both dark and light magic in us…so dark and light magic can't infect us." Justice explains that learning that her husband can't be infected alleviates Celestia's anxiety, and she nods. With that, Justice presses his hand against the entrance into the Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory of Princess Amore the magic protecting the lab is stuck into Justice’s hand. Celestia carefully walks into the laboratory to not alert the magic anomalous inside her boot. In the laboratory, Justice floats a crystal chair over to them, and Celestia sits on it. She extends her leg as Justice eases her boot off her foot, revealing her reasonably large, long, full, thick, plush white with a hint of pink luxurious peasant-shaped barefoot in front of him. He kisses his wife's big toe, causing her to giggle and blush. As he carefully sets her boot down on the ground, he creates a crystal prison to capture the magic anomalous inside the boot. Without warning, the strange magic shoots out of the boot before he can complete the crystal prison; before it can get away, Celestia uses her own white crystal magic to achieve it, capturing the strange enchantment. "What is it, my love? You can reward me by playing with my fairly large, long, full, thick and plush white with a hint of pink luxurious peasant-shaped bare feet when we return to the first dig site in our housing unit." Celestia requested as Justice nodded his head. "This magic anomalous is called a Black shadow bird…this happens when Imperial Alicorn dabbles with Dark matter…which is illegal. I don't understand why my great-grandmother, the Empress, didn't pick up on it." Justice comments as waves of acid well up from Celestia’s belly, remembering the encounter in reverie with the Empress. With the spell being broken protecting her lab, it alerts Queen Filomena Amore Aperture in the reverie, calling her back as princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture comes to in the Exploration Medical Personnel Carrier. "What the hay!" A mare voice exclaimed, seeing the black shadow bird trapped inside a white crystal prison held by the Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight and Timekeeper Administrators Celestia Silverlight. The soft pitter-patter of the mare's bare feet walking on the crystal floor draws attention to a marvelous looking grayish heliotrope color imperial Alicorn mare with a pale light grayish arctic blue mane and tail which is dumbfounded with the ability of the Imperial Prince and Timekeeper Administrators. Her 6ft 6in perfect equine figure was attired in a strange body suit that hit just above her knees. Her long grayish heliotrope legs were bare as she walked upon twelve two-third inches, long grayish heliotrope colored sizable and attractive Greek and taper-shaped bare feet. You could clearly see on her bare feet that her second toes are the longest on her feet. Why rests of her toes gently taper off the end of her feet. And folded on her back were her gold bio-mechanical metal bird wings. This Imperial Alicorn mare was Queen Filomena Amore Aperture, the ruler of the southern star sector and Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture's mother. "I will assume that you are the Galactic Scientist that owns this Imperial Alicorn crystal laboratory here," Justice commented as Celestia stood up and walked with click and pip-pop next to her husband. "I am Queen Filomena Amore Aperture, the ruler of the Southern Star sector greeting, your imperial Highnesses," Filomena said politely, which caused Celestia to blush, forget she now an Imperial Princess being the wife of the Imperial Prince. "Now, your majesty, can you explain how there is a black shadow bird here? You know it is illegal to dabble in Dark matter." Justice asked as Princess Cadence Sparkle Aperture arrived at her mother's lab and noticed the white crystal prison. "Uncle! You better explain why you told me you didn't know how to use white crystal magic!" Cadence said hotly as Justice swallowed a lump in his throat went his niece arrived. "Huh?" Filomena exclaims, watching her daughter give the Imperial Prince an ear full about lying to her. "Tee-hee…Don't worry about those two. Your daughter is very close to the imperial Prince, Miss Aperture…Would you answer my husband's inquiry?" Celestia asked politely as Filomena nodded her head. "That black shadow bird is what is left of my lab assistant…she was fascinated with dark matter and researched it even those it was illegal…She also helps King Sombra kill me. She didn't know that I had created this new body with the DNA of my original body. Hide it in my lab, waiting for my daughter to wake it up." Filomena explains as Cadence runs over to her mother and hugs her. A hug Cadence was waiting to give to her birth mother went she found her.
