Silent steps filled the crystal palace halls at night as guards on the afternoon shift stood in place at their designated locations. Cadance had little to fear from from the guards as reason to be expected from the princess herself.
Still, at times she had unwillingly caused commotion among them for she had not let her presence known to them all. With the occasional 'halt' from concerned stallions who heard her suspicious steps, they eventually would apologize and let her continue.
Seeing how they mistook her in the dark as a potential threat. After all, the princess of love typically retired to her bed by her husband's side before the sun had fully set. It was not like her to pace around the palace at night.
Hearts and hooves and the Crystal Flaire were right around the corner, two weeks to be exact. While Hearts and Hooves is considered by a many stallions to be a cheap way for mares to garnish gifts out of them and bemoan not receiving one, it was a day greatly exalted in the Crystal Empire. Unsurprisingly so as the Crystal Empire's main principle was the foundation of love.
The Crystal Flaire was important and well renowned through out not only the empire but the entire plain of Equestria. This special event renewed the bond between Cadance's subjects and strengthen the ancient Crystal Heart. It was founded by her ancestor and the ponies sought to it that every tradition be held sacred and that every foal be bought up knowing them all.
Cadance however, had not been so well versed in Crystal Empire traditions. One would expect that the ruler would be more than able to recite every single tradition, cultural background and ritual of her subjects through generations but the poor young mare deserved some slack.
She was destined to rule when she was merely a teen and was crowned officially ruler at the humble and rambunctious age of twenty-four. Only two years later, getting married to her stallion and being with foal.
She had little reason to pay attention to such when other workings demanded her attention, but mostly free from her royal duties, she sought that she, the ruler, should at least try and make herself well versed in the ethics of her kin.
Tonight, done with the boring renditions of the court, retreated not to her bed chamber but to the library. Clothed in her night robe and slippers, Cadance was granted entry into the crystal library by the guards automatically. Doors closing behind her.
With a cast of her horn, the entire library lit up with the soft glow of candles. Dancing about as they came to life. Filled with books, carefully organized with care by the keeper, Cadance started in the Crystal Empire historical section to which she assumed would contain the information needed for her to expand her knowledge.
Cadance gathered a stack of books with her magic and sat down at one of the tables that was set up in the library. She flipped threw them as time passed by. Looking at them with interest that could not be told on her rather stoic face. Eventually, without warning, a sudden ring was heard that nearly startled the half asleep pink winged unicorn awoke. It was the old grandfather clock that chimed away at the striking of midnight hour.
"It's that late?"
She thought to herself.
"I better get going then. Shining gets antsy when I'm not there with him."
Cadance closed the books and took some time to place them back on the shelves. being considerate enough to place them back on in their respective order. But as she was doing such, one of the books fell off and nearly hit her on her head. She looked down and went to pick up the book and grabbed hold of it with her magic. She gazed onto the cover.
"I don't remember picking up this book."
Cadance looked at the book that was titled obviously as 'Lost Kingdoms and Lands of the World'. Such books she expected to find in the Canterlot Library but that isn't to say her library wasn't a place suited to be so. Cadance flipped through the book and unconsciously sat back down with it.
"Perhaps I can take an extra minute or two to check it out."
And so Cadance did, flipping through the book and skimming it with gathering intense interest. The book stated all types of things from information on the various alicorn kingdoms that were unearthed by archaeologists to various small nations that were overtaken by great empires.
As helpful knowledge, the book also contained information on some cultures of said ancient civiliations and even primitive tribes as well as some information on the founding and small start of the Crystal Empire and it's practices that dates back before Celestia and Luna was even born.
While the book did not dwell on the cultural aspects long, seeking to advance itself quickly to the next subject, one topic did catch the princesses eyes. While reading through the section on the crystal Empire, the text was quick to state the practices and origins of the Crystalling and the Crystal Flaire which are hundreds of years old but when it touches upon hearts and Hooves Day the text has something quite peculiar to say about it.
"Wait, it's not a Crystal Empire holiday?"
Cadance continued reading and of course, lost track of time. Eventually, said minute became an hour...and more until she finally stood to look at the clock.
"Two o'clock?"
The library door opened.
"Uh, your majesty." one of the guards presented them self. "I am sorry to intrude but Sir Shining has requested your presence. He is worried about you."
Cadance smiled at Shining's obvious bluff.
Sure he is. If anything, he's worried I'm not beside him.
"Very then, I'll come now." Cadance grabbed the book with her magic. "Care to escort me?"
"No your majesty."
The guard happily escorted the pretty princess to her room and when they arrived at the chamber doors, Cadance thanked him and dismissed him. The guard gave a small bow of respect before leaving, allowing her to open the door in privacy.
"Cadance?"
"Hey Shining. I see your still up?"
"Um yeah. I got worried about you when I woke up."
Cadance lifted an eyebrow. "Or your worried that you didn't have your cuddle pillow beside you?"
A blush overcame Shining. "Yeah yeah, whatever. I sent a guard to go retrieve you considering how you were up so late. It's two thirty."
"Yeah, I'm aware."
"Where were you?"
Cadance crawled into bed after placing the book on the night stand. "I went to the library since I couldn't go to sleep."
"So you tried to bore yourself to sleep?"
His wife rolled his eyes. "No. Not at all. I went to go check out some books on the Crystal Empire's holidays and some of the cultures. Remember I've only been a ruler for a few years. Exactly four and I hardly know much of anything about much of the empire's customs!"
"So? Your subjects don't seem to mind to much."
"Perhaps so Shining, but I am the princess. Their ruler. Of all ponies, I should know every single one of their traditions, practices and cultural practices by heart! I figured the least I could do was be well verse in some of that stuff."
Shining Armor shrugged his shoulders as he returned to read his comic book. "Seems bothersome to me. Perhaps I just don't understand but you choose the middle of the night to do that?"
"Its only at night where I'm free to do such a thing. remember, we have a kingdom to run? Court holdings, noble visits, foreign affairs..."
"You do have a point but you shouldn't stay up so late. Especially when you got all that stuff on your plate. Don't want you falling asleep at court meetings."
"Please, like it hasn't happened before." Cadance mumbled underneath her breath.
The cozy up next to each other and spent some time indulged in their own affairs. Shining continued to read his comic and Cadance continued to be engrossed in the seemingly interesting book.
"Is that the book you were talking about?" Shining asked. Leaning over towards Cadance a little to peep on what was written inside.
"Uh yeah." She answered him. Turning the book a little to his view. "A few things caught my eye in particular."
"Oh yeah? What were they?"
"Well for starters the book details all types of lost kingdoms and nations that had been unearthed by archeologists. Even some of their known culture and traditions. The crystal Empire is in it too and it talked about some obvious ones like the Crystal Flaire and Crystalling."
"Really?" Shining said with genuine curiosity.
"That's not all though. as I was flipping through the book skimming it, I came across one passage stating about an ancient race of ponies."
"An ancient race of ponies? Like the alicorns?"
"Actually...no. They had a few things to say on ancient alicorn kingdoms when they were plentiful but it wasn't on them only. The second and last one were on a race of ponies remembered only as insect pegasi."
"Insect pegasi? That ancient race of ponies?"
"You know of them Shining?"
The blue maned stallion scratched his head. "Well, I know a little. Lets just say that I wasn't all to wide awake in history class..." he mumbled. "but anyway, the insect pegasi was a race of ponies known as...flutterponiesI believe? They thrived during the time of the alicorns reign but suddenly disappeared."
"There has to be some record of them shouldn't there?"
"No. From what I understand it's like the Crystal Empire. It was there and in a blink of an eye boom it was gone. There's no record of them. Nothing has truly survived during the time between the great war and Discord's reign."
"Is that so..." Cadance's head was down. Looking to the floor in bitter disappointment.
Shining noticed this. "Perhaps there's some more books containing more information on the flutterponies in the library. You just have to look for them at most." He comforted Cadance.
"Yeah your right."
"Come and get some sleep. The sun will be up if we stay up any longer."
Cadance give a small chuckle. "Your right at that."
Cadance scooted over near Shining and the two embraced for the night as Luna swooped in the background on her Gothic carriage. They both slept peacefully, getting some hours of sleep in before the day broke through the night.