//------------------------------// // The Princess of Balance // Story: Flurry Heart and The Original One // by Sirdubya //------------------------------// In the vast, frigid desolation of the Frozen North was its lone oasis whose protective warmth was born of pure love, the ponies’ very own Crystal Empire. High within the Royal Tower in the center of the glimmering city standing in her balcony was Flurry Heart basking in the radiant light of Celestia’s afternoon sun. Today was the eve of her eighteenth birthday, and tomorrow, she would be officially coroneted as Equestria’s newest princess. As her mother and father already represented love just her aunt Twilight was the Princess of Friendship, Flurry Heart’s sphere would be a balance of both of these ideas. Her father conceived the idea of calling her the Princess of Growth, but even he quickly dismissed it as too vague to describe her. Ever since she was a foal, Flurry Heart had been taught and raised by her parents and aunt as well as the Royal Sisters, so she was far more sensitive to the world around her than her elder royalties, and her Cutie Mark became a grand map of the world. In recent years, she had helped to mend rocky relations with the griffons and build healthy ones with the dragons, something even her aunt experienced a little difficulty doing. She even managed to slowly introduce the zebras and ponies after taking the time to visit their native land and learn about their rich culture. Her varied amount of growth leading to her sensitivity had allowed everypony to come to an appropriate title: the Princess of Balance. “Flurry?” somepony called from behind her. Flurry looked back to see her father approaching, and she smiled. “Hi, dad.” Shining Armor was the same as always. His youthful vigor had refused to leave his body even if it had started to age, and his enthusiasm sometimes caused him to embarrass himself, which he didn’t complain about if it meant getting a laugh out of his family. Fathering his daughter had helped him ease into a more mature disposition despite this…..and with her help, he finally had grown his wings. “How’s my little Princess of Balance?” Flurry giggled. “Dad, tomorrow hasn’t happened yet.” “It might as well have given all you’ve been able to accomplish.” Shining said. “You’ve grown so much, you might as well be Mt. Everhooof.” Flurry blushed. “Aww! Dad, stop it.” “I’m just saying, pumpkin.” Shining said. “You might not have been alone most of the time, but your influence helped us make Equestria even more peaceful than it already was.“ He then looked back at his wings. “And you helped your old man finally realize his true potential.” Flurry rested her head on his shoulder. “Even if you never got those wings, that wouldn’t make you any less of a prince, or my father.” Shining chuckled. “Great. Now you’re mom’s got you saying that.” He joked. “We’re only saying it because it’s true. We love you, dad.” Flurry said as she looked up at him. “I love you too, honey. We’re so proud of you” Shining said. “Now, what did I come to get you for?.....Oh, right! Rehearsal for the ceremony is about to start!” Flurry gasped. “That much time has passed already!? Oh my gosh. Thanks, dad!” She ran off of her balcony and exited her room with her father following. ***** It took Shining a moment to calm her down, but the two eventually trotted through town to the empire’s auditorium. Many a passerby took the time to greet their soon-to-be new princess along the way, which she happily returned. The royal guards standing in front of the entrance bowed to their lieges upon allowing them entry. The auditorium itself was a unique place despite being mostly crystalline like everywhere else in the empire. It had some renovations done to it that were the result of influence of Equestrian ponies so as to accommodate tourists and immigrating residents, and much of the performance hall itself was reminiscent of the one in Canterlot where the Hearth’s Warmth Eve play was performed. Stagehands were finishing up the decorations and testing the equipment before they could get started. “There you two are!” They looked over to see Cadance trotting up to them. “Hi, mom!” “Hi, sweetie.” They gingerly hugged for a quick moment before another familiar voice spoke. “What am I, chopped liver?” Flurry looked up and saw that it was her lavender-colored aunt. “Hi, Aunt Twilight!” Flurry hugged her tightly as well. Twilight giggled. “Hi, scary bear.” Flurry let go of her and pouted in mellow annoyance. “Really? I’m about to hit 18, and you still haven’t let that down?” Twilight playfully smirked. “I’m enjoying the last few moments of it that I can.” Flurry grumbled and blushed. “Come on, Twilight. Let her feel like an adult.” Next to her aunt was a white pegasus stallion with deep blue eyes and a lunar silver mane and tail. His Cutie Mark depicted a sword being held skyward with wings growing from either side of its hilt, which suited that fact that he was wearing armor that matched his coat with gold piping along its edges and carried a sword. Flurry regained her smile and hugged him. “Hi, Uncle Airheart.” Airheart chuckled and hugged her back. “Hey, kiddo.” He said. Airheart was Twilight’s new husband of four years whom she met when Flurry was about ten. Before becoming the Prince of Friendship, he was a mercenary whom Spike had hired a few times without her knowledge, much to her annoyance, but each time he helped, Twilight had been continually impressed with his diligent motivation to help others even if he sometimes ended up as being more of an errand boy than a warrior. She offered him the position of her guard captain, which he took with some hesitance as it would effectively end his ability to freely travel to help those in need, but he quickly realized that a relationship with Twilight was far from a hindrance on his life. If anything, his sense of freedom never completely left, but what little of it did was filled with a sense of joy that he could never have had otherwise. Nopony was surprised, and everypony was overjoyed when the two finally decided to tie the knot, Flurry especially with what fond memories she has of him telling her stories of his previous adventures across Equestria and what all he learned on his travels. “Man oh man. Time sure does fly by, huh? I coulda sworn just the other day you were still ten and eating through Twilight’s books.” Airheart said. “I still kinda do. Well, my own copies of them anyway.” Flurry said. She looked around and wondered something. “Where’s Spike?” “Who? Me?” In walked the purple dragon himself, whom had grown to about Shining Armor’s height over the years along with his own set of wings. His features had become much more defined, his fire breath was far more powerful, and he actually looked objectively handsome, even from a pony’s perspective. “Yeah, you!” Flurry said back playfully. The two high-fived. “I’m guessing you guys just got here?” Twilight nodded. “Yeah. Our train had to stop to do some maintenance on the heating system, and in the freezing cold no less.” “The other dragons I brought and I had to keep them from becoming pony-sicles.” Spike said. “But it looks like we were on time anyway. Barely though. Phew!” Airheart said. “Speak for yourselves. I was too busy staring at the sun to care about time. Dad had to come and get me.” Flurry said. “Oh, honey!” Cadance said. “Speaking of which, where are Celestia and Luna?” Flurry asked. “They’re with Thorax and Pharynx helping the Changelings with their part in the ceremony. I think they we’re visiting the museum afterwards.” Cadance said. “Speaking of which, I should probably check back in with Ember. Sorry to cut the reunion short! See ya later, Your Highness!” Spike said as he took his leave. Everypony bid him their farewells. “Fillies and gentlecolts, Spike has left the building.” Airheart joked, which got him a laugh out of everypony. “Let me check with the other guards before we get started. It shouldn’t take but a moment or so.” “Ok, honey.” Twilight said. The two shared a quick kiss before parting ways. Once everything was accounted for, they began their rehearsal. ***** The rehearsal went without much issue, and each time they ran through it, Flurry Heart became more and more exited for the real thing to happen. She was humbled young mare, but her aunt’s enthusiasm bled onto her, as well as her uncle’s adventurous spirit. After they cleaned up, they decided to meet with the Royal Sisters at the Crystal Museum, so they went. It didn’t take long for them to find their regal scions of the sun and moon, as a few guards could be seen around the entrance to the ‘Unknown Artifacts’ exhibit. Despite her excitement, Flurry kept her voice down when she went to greet them. “Good afternoon!” The Royal Sisters smiled upon seeing their youngest addition. “Good afternoon, Flurry Heart.” Celestia said. “And happy early birthday, Princess of Balance.” Luna said. They all bowed to one another. “What brought the two of you here of all places at a time like this?” Cadance asked. “It was a bit of an inconvenience more than anything else, really.” Luna said. Celestia stepped slightly away from her sister to reveal a glass case they were observing that contained a curious item. It was a pink rectangular stone slab about the size of storybook that was perfectly shaped as far as the naked eye was concerned. Inscribed in it was a message in a completely unknown language. “Oooh! What’s that?” Twilight excitedly asked as she practically pressed herself against the glass. Airheart had to gently pull her away. “Museum property first and foremost, hon.” “Found by yours truly, no less!” Approaching them was Sunburst and Starlight Glimmer. Sunburst served the museum as an archaeologist when he wasn’t the court wizard for Cadance and Armor, and Starlight was their Old Ponish translator. The two had decided to remain friends due their loss of connection over the years, but their friendship remained ever strong. “Starlight and I found that when exploring the caverns beneath Canterlot just a week ago.” “I’ve studied good few ancient languages in my time, but this is the first time I’ve seen anything remotely like this.” Starlight said. “We wanted to tour it around in museums across Equestria to see if anypony could make heads or tails of it.” “I’m afraid this object is foreign even to me.” Celestia said. “It may outdate anything we’ve ever discovered.” “We’re terribly sorry this had to be taken care just before your special day, dear.” Luna said. Flurry shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I can’t wait to see if I can learn something about it.” She turned her gaze onto the mysterious stone plate. What sort of relic was it, and of what civilization that left it behind? Flurry could sense a strangely magical vibe from it, and it felt otherworldly despite bearing a somewhat familiar feeling. “Wow…” “Well, it’s going to be time for me to lower the sun soon. You should go on home and get some sleep dear. We wouldn’t want the Princess of Balance to be groggy on her coronation, now would we?” Celestia said. “Now, we wouldn’t!’ Flurry said. “Thank you, you two.” Flurry left the museum with her parents, and they all went home while Twilight and Airheart went out for a quick date. ***** Along the way, Flurry and company happened to pass by the bakery where the festive treats were being prepared. The bakers put in charge of the goodies none other than Flurry’s childhood friends, who were outside moving some boxes when she saw them. “Pumpkin Cake!” She ran up to her. Pumpkin looked up upon hearing her name and happily gasped when she saw her royal friend. “Flurry!” The two happily embraced. “Hey, pretty princess!” “No! You’re the pretty princess!” “No! You!” They went back and forth for a moment before Flurry noticed that other half of the duo. “Pound?” Pound loudly moaned upon hearing his name. “Hey, Flurry….” He mumbled. Flurry giggled and pranced up to him. “Watcha up to?” she asked flirtatiously. Pound rolled his eyes. “The whole cookies and cake shebang again what with your coronation and all. Congratulations on that, by the way. I mean, it was gonna happen whether you liked it or not, so…” “So be happy about something once in your life, Mr. Gloom n’ Doom!” Pumpkin said. “Ugh! I swear. Even Pinkie has trouble getting him to smile.” “Aww, Poundy!” Flurry cooed. “I’ve told you a million times to stop calling me that!” Pound said. He acted as though he was completely frustrated, but Flurry and Pumpkin could see the red tints on his cheeks, and they giggled. “Alright, alright. Enough hugs and kisses.” Shining said as he lightly leered at Pound. “Honey, they’ve been friends since they were foals. You shouldn’t be too surprised.” Cadance said. Shining sighed. “I know, but….” “Pound and I are gonna make the best cake ever for you, Flurry! Equestria deserves a an awesome princess like you!” Pumpkin said. Flurry giggled. “Thanks, Pumpkin. And you too, Poundy.” Pound nodded. “Yup.” His sister pouted at his lack of enthusiasm while Flurry just fluttered her eyelashes at him before they parted ways. ***** When they finally got back to their palace, they noticed that one of their guards was searching the grounds around the Crystal Heart as though she had lost something. “Is everything ok?” Shining asked. “Oh! Yes, sir.” She said. “It’s just that some of the other guards and I could swear we’ve been hearing an animal scurrying around the palace since this morning, and we’ve searching high and low for whatever it might be.” “Oh dear. Well, let’s hope we don’t wake up to pest problems tomorrow.” Cadance said. “Even if we do, we’ll still enjoy the day, mom. And if it gets really bad, Fluttershy can take care of it.” Flurry said. With that, they decided to let the setting sun be their cue to go to bed a little early for the big day to follow.