“Angel we gotta go dude, Fluttershy has to be worried sick. You’ve had a nice enough vacation,” Jai said, looking down at the bunny clinging to his ankle. Jai sighed in defeat as he looked at the bunny give him puppy eyes.

“Ugh fine, just let me get dressed. I won't take you back today,” Jai said, exasperated. He watched as the bunny jumped side to side in victory. Shaking his head, the human went and grabbed the clothes Rarity had made for him. She was rather excited by the commission, as an artistic challenge. The crystal tailor wasn’t even close to that excited.

“Oh wow!,” Jai said, happily putting his new clothes on. Walking to the mirror he examined the black jeans, white t-shirt, loose pink sweater he got. To top the rest of the outfit off, was a blue crystal half heart necklace and the ring he got from the old man. This was honestly better than anything he’d gotten on earth. It also wasn’t his usual style either but he wasn’t out in the wilds for now either. He turned dusk into a dagger, grabbed his waist bag, and left the room. He sauntered off through the hallway and down into the garden.

“Ah Instructor Cadenza, what brings you by?” Shining asked, gritting his teeth and saluting him. Shining although he thought he was over the incident from a three weeks ago, still felt a twinge of anger upon seeing the human.

“Jesus, of course Tia would have you guys calling me that. Please just Jai,” he said, face palming. Since the whole changeling attack incident, and all of the more personal changes. Jai had to deal with explaining to Celestia why he now had a cutie mark on his arm, and why it was so similar to Amore’s. Needless to say the changes to his state of being, somehow got his last name changed from Young, to Cadenza. He was under the impression it was a formality for later, not a widespread change.

“But sir, The Prin-” Shining said, as the human held up his hand.

“I will personally do each and every combat drill of Hell week, ” Jai said flatly, as he watched the stallion stiffen at the words. He knew the human was strong but training and teaching were separate matters. To the misfortune of the guard, he seemed to be well versed in both.

“Understood…Sir,” Shining said, nodding hurriedly.

“Stop nodding so much, you’re gonna get vertigo or something I don’t know,” Jai said, letting out a short laugh. Getting a day off from all of the personal training, guard training, and planning for the wedding was nice. Days like this reminded him of messing around with Rock hoof.

“Yes sir. I have to continue my rounds so I will be on my way,” Shining said, saluting and race walking off. Jai rolled his eyes and kept walking through the garden. He usually enjoyed his time here before he wandered through the library. Lack of information on Queen Primrose was starting to bother him.

“Still stayin' silent on this Queen?” Jai asked. Sombra snorted at the question but kept quiet. His only lead is doing the one thing he never did.

“Maybe if we go out again we’ll find something?” Dusk asked.

“Not like we have much of a choice. The only good news is that the Crystal Empire is making an appearance soon,” Jai said, kicking a rock as he made his way towards the front gate. Thanks to the annoying purple Unicorn and one of her mishaps. Her elements of peace or harmony had picked up on something in the north.

“Please! Let me in, I swear I know him,” A familiar voice whined, breaking him from his thoughts.

“No entry just to see the human, he is not a zoo attraction. Princess orders,” The front gate guard said. As Jai approached he saw the pervert, err the archeologist.

“Oh, I knew I was forgetting something in pony ville. Take it easy Ironside, I owe her one,” Jai said, brushing past the guard as he opened the gate.

“I-Instructor Cadenza, honest mistake I sw-” Ironside sputtered, as the human held up a hand.

“Sir, is good enough. I'm headin’ out anyway. When you get a chance, talk to Shining about the whole Cadenza thing,” Jai said, trying his hardest not to make a face. God, he needed to have a chat with Celestia about changing his name on a whim.

“Yes Instr- I mean, Yes sir,” Ironside said, closing the gate behind Jai and Daring do as they walked back down the path from the castle.

“Woah I find you as a hobo and next I see you; I hardly recognize you Mr. Instructor. Guess you did know the Princesses,” Daring said, in mock amusement. Jai just rolled his eyes as they walked.

“Yeah, a lot of bs happened. I blame you for just disappearing on me,” Jai complained. Daring laughed as they approached a cafe.

“On me then? Then you can tell me this long story,” She said, using her wings to motion him ahead of her.

“Mhm, use it for your book I’ll kill you. I'm in enough literature as it is,” Jai said, walking in.

“Guess I’ll be running from the almighty human then,” Daring retorted, following him into the cafe.

“And after all that fighting and junk. I woke up to bright white hair, light pink eyes, and a cutie mark that neither Princess can explain and my magic is all different,” Jai ranted, grabbing his coffee taking a big swig. This time he remembered to request zero sugar so at least he could drink this one comfortably.

“AHAHAHA,” Daring bursted out laughing. In all her years of adventuring she had rarely met anything that had made her laugh this hard.

“Mhm. So now on paper Princess Amore Cadenza’s Uncle,” Jai said, unable to hide the irritation and embarrassment on his face. This only made Daring do laugh even harder as the human just frowned and sipped his coffee. After what seemed like an eternity to the irritated human, Daring finally stopped laughing.

“HAhhh, Ok ok. This pissed off The captain of the royal guard why?” Daring asked, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“He thought I was going to be marrying Cadence instead of him because of the name change. Like man, technically I’m what…four five hundred years old and I just met her!” Jai said louder than he intended. He got odd looks from several of the other patrons making him flinch.

“While fascinating, you never mentioned what piece of literature you were in. You know, for some pony to not want to be in my book is rare,” Daring said, nudging the human. Jai shook his head, his face burning red.

“Erm, that’s not important. Just keep me out of yours,” Jai said, finishing his coffee and throwing his cup away.

“Oh cmon, is it that bad?” Daring asked, following him.

“Ya know what. I’m done with it, so here,” Jai said, reaching into his bag. He set his copy of Echoes of the Heart on the table and left.
“Lets see what- Oh. Makes sense now,” Daring said, as she sat at the table and began to read.

“That book is a little too-” Jai said, pausing looking for the right word.

“Accurate? Real? Oh how about Detailed?” Sombra said, sitting on Jai’s shoulder. The human’s face continued to keep its rosy hue as he walked through the Canterlot streets. As he neared the castle he saw fancy carriages bearing different emblems on them.

“One, two, three… five different ones wow,” Jai said, whistling as he admired all of the fancy decorations and such on them. As if on queue, all the carriage doors swung open. He saw griffons, hippogriffs, Kirin's, there was Cadence, and-

“You’re favorite, look human,” Sombra said, laughing. The human frowned and took a deep breath.

“Yes, I see the lizards. Maybe my bias is unfounded and I’m traumatized,” Jai admitted, continuing back to the castle.

"That Spike might need an apology then," Sombra said, teasing the human. Before Jai could respond he approached the gate. Ironside seeing the human nodded and stepped aside. He watched the guard mouth ‘good luck’ as he passed. Jai gave him a quick salute and hauled ass through the garden trying his best to avoid the company in the castle. He knew what that warning was for and he didn't want to-

“Oh, there you are. I was looking for you,” Celestia said, the group from outside the castle following behind her.

"God Damnit," Jai thought to himself. He wished there were less work and formalities for him to deal with. He didn't even know what was going on half the time until it was happening. The human mentally kicked himself, realizing he hadn't responded yet.

“Everything's all good I hope,” The human said, sighing and forcing a smile.

“So far yes, we haven’t run into any immediate trouble just yet,” Celestia said, laughing.

“ It is so nice to see you today. You’ve been so busy since you’ve returned,” Cadence said, smiling at him. It took every bone in his body to not walk by them and close his door. Cadence was closer to Celestia than him when it came to acting. He was extremely envious due to his own lack of facial expression control.

“You know Celestia. She keeps me on my toes, haha,” Jai said, laughing awkwardly.

“Oh where are my manners? These are the leaders of the nations around Equestria,” Celestia said, stepping aside so that he could get a better look at them.

“I am the son of Griffon's King, Prince Quentin III,” The griffon said. Taking a shallow bow, he ruffled his dull grey and brown feathers. His green eyes avoided the humans as he stood back up.

“I am Sky Star, Daughter of Queen Novo,” The yellow hippogriff said, smiling and waving a wing at him.

“I am Athena Blaze, here on behalf of our Queen,” The white Kirin said. As she bowed her green scales along her nose and back shimmered in the light. Her playful gaze gave him hope that his next encounter with dragons wouldn’t leave a bad taste in his mouth.

“I am Ember, Daughter of the dragon Lord,” The blue dragoness said, nodding at him. Jai would take it. She wasn’t rude, or condescending so plus one to the dragons reputation in his book.

“I’m sure we would all love to get to know each other better but, I would like to get to business if you don’t mind,” Quentin said. Jai didn’t like the sound of that at all, and by the look on Cadence's face neither did she.

“Ah yes, where were we again… Rights over the Crystal Empire?” Celestia asked, tilting her head in thought.

“Yes we were. As the emergence of this Crystal Empire draws nearer we would request the rights to rule,” Quentin said, launching into a speech. Jai zoned out when he started mentioning the benefits it would bring to everyone, trade, and how they being slightly closer should have rights. It was in essence a child saying it's closer and I should get it but what did he know, he was just a human.

“Yes and while I would, Cadence here holds the rights to that. Being one, a descendant of the previous ruler, and two her cutie mark symbolizes her importance to the Empire itself,” Celestia said, much to the griffon's irritation.

“All due respect, we saw what happened last time with the Crystal Empire. It fell pathetically and disappeared under ponies. We believe it is time for a change,” Quentin said, looking at Cadence and frowning.

“Your opinion is noted, However I still do not possess the ability to give you that authority,” Celestia reiterated to him.

“Or instead of handing it over to us, might I propose a marriage between the griffons and Princess Cadence,” Prince Quentin said, licking his beak. Jai could deal with a lot of things here in Equestria. Getting sent away for hundreds of years, getting dropped in a new world twice, and crawling out of a changeling hive. One thing he wouldn’t stand for was any slander on Amore and her leadership. He watched her care for each crystal pony personally on their strolls through the city.

“You. Flying rat,” Jai said, looking down at the griffon who looked up at him offended.

“Pardon you? What di-,” Quentin said, as the human spoke over him.

“Got any way to prove you’d do better defending the Crystal Empire?” Jai said angrily, glaring at the prince.

“Our soldiers are more than capable, not to mention our excellent strategist, yours truly leading them,” The griffon said, proudly puffing out his chest.

“I want your best here tomorrow. Prove to me that you would lead and strategize better than Amore,” Jai said, trying to calm himself down.

“And who are you to address me like this?!” The griffon demanded.

“Oh dear, I guess my age is showing. This is Jai Cadenza, the last Knight of the Crystal Empire I was telling you about,” Celestia said, holding a hoof up to her mouth. The griffon looked like he had seen a ghost after Celestia made that announcement.

“You’re Princess Cadence’s Uncle?” Sky Star asked, her blue eyes full of curiosity.

“More or less. Now Flying rat, you better back up those words. Actually how about this, any of you beat me I'll endorse you,” Jai said, putting his finger in the griffon's chest.

“Y-you mean what you say,” Quentin said, stuttering.

“Now Uncle no need to be ra-” Cadence began to say before Celestia put a hoof on her back.

“Trust him,” Celestia whispered, winking at the Princess of love.

“Bring your best, don’t worry I wont kill them,” Jai said, his magic starting to leak. Parts of his white hair began to crystalize as he looked at the Prince. Behind the human a singular translucent wing began to take shape.

“T-Tomorrow then at noon,” the prince sputtered, turning to Celestia and bowing.

“Noon's too early, try two,” Jai said, taking a deep breath and calming himself. The crystalized hair slowly returning to normal and the wings fading.

“Well it has been wonderful meeting you but I would say this is good for today. We might as well give it a shot tomorrow as well,” Athena said, bowing and leaving the hallway. The others following suit all left one by one. Until it was Jai, Celestia, and Cadence.

“Care to explain why we are letting him do this?” Cadence asked, quite a bit miffed at how the situation played out.

“Tia, I get we’re doing this for influence and to raise support for her, but there have to be other ways to go about this than me fighting those weaker than me,” Jai said, rolling his eyes. He figured out Celestia intentionally left who he was out for something like this to happen. He only really figured it out when he started to calm down.

“My apologies, but I would not stop getting requests about marrying Cadence off to one of them, or getting her to give them the Crystal Empire,” Celestia admitted.

“Although this works out better. If my family member here wins it looks good for me and shiny to get married and have the last knight here endorse us,” Cadence said, finally putting all of the pieces together for Celestia's plan.

“Now you see. I do feel bad about playing with your emotions Jai, for this I do apologize,” Celestia said. Jai stared at her and sighed.

“It’s going to have to be whatever, what's done is done. I’m going to go rest and get ready for tomorrow.” Jai said, walking past the two and to his room. Once the human was out of earshot Cadence looked at Celestia.

“Was this all really necessary? Can’t we just tell him the news?” Cadence asked.

“We could but he could use the motivation. Well more than simply missing Amore,” Celestia said, giggling and walking away. She couldn’t wait to tell him what Twilight had found while up north.

Author's Note

Yippee antics before Cadence and Shining's Wedding! Thanks for reading, love yall. As always if i missed anything ( and I'm sure I did) let me know I'll do my best to get to it.