Author's Notes:
Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit
Post Common Era Chapter Fourteen/War of Stars Chapter Ten: The Crystal Empire/Princess Mi Amore Cadenza
“So you are telling me that you have to leave for the Empire? Why?” asked Willow Leaf as she sat up on the bed in their room, she had been sleeping enjoying the warmth of the bed until Masao walked in and roused her from her sleep and informed her he was going to be heading for the Crystal Empire rolling his eyes he pressed his lips against hers and for a moment she was lost in the kiss before she place a hoof on his chest and slowly pushed him away. “Why?”
“I told you in case you wanted to go with me, after all you haven’t actually met Cadence yet, and I would like to have at least one of my wives go with me. Wives… Never in a million years did I think I’d actually be able to say that” said Masao and Willow Leaf gave a soft smile before leaning over and kissing him lightly on the cheek.
“Of course I’ll go with you, and for the record, I never thought I would call you my husband willingly”
- - -
While there was a more leisurely transport that they could have taken, the urgency of the matter demanded they take used the teleporter system, developed by Princess Twilight to model after the unicorn transportation spell, it got the recipients from point A to point B in nanoseconds, the old problem was that unlike the transportation spell, it involved a lot of power, and thus was limited to emergencies only. So as soon as they got to the teleporter, Masao was ‘assaulted’ by paperwork, the amount of power needed to transport two people instead of one was negligible, at least compared to sending one at all, so he was able to get away with stating that it was simpler this way rather than sending her via transport, and he himself via teleporter, that and if it never got used how were they supposed to work out the bugs?
“Sign here, and here, and initial here, date here, thank you Prince Masao, you and your wife can get on the transporter pads now” said a gruff unicorn stallion and Masao nodded and motioned to Willow Leaf who walked over and took a place beside him before getting a worried look.
“Are you sure this is—” there was a flash of light and sound as they disappeared from the area…
- - -
“—safe?” asked Willow Leaf before she took stock of her new surroundings, where most of Canterlot was now metal and stone, the Crystal Empire remained mostly crystal, as was their Transporter Room, “That was odd, I could have sworn—”
“We were just in Canterlot, but the teleporter system is still in it’s infancy compared to some of our tech, but it works like it should” said Masao as he stepped off the transporter pad and motioned for Willow Leaf to do the same, and she did only for the pads to fill up with a couple suitcases that Masao leaned down to grab. “I suggest we go to the throne room and introduce ourselves, it isn’t polite to just wander the castle of a foreign country, even if that country is your ally”
“Fine” huffed Willow Leaf good naturedly, and anyone could see she was pretending to be insulted especially with the smile on her face which only grew as Masao leaned down and kissed her. Leaving the transporter room Masao lead Willow Leaf through the maze that was the Crystal Empire’s castle stopping every so often to explain an obscure bit of history that Willow Leaf never heard about. Even here, Masao was well known, as when a guardspony saw them rather than stop them, he gave a bow and continued on his way. Upon reaching the throne room Masao stopped at the door.
“Last Chance to back out if you want to, love, after we go in, I have no doubts that Cadence will barrage you with questions and advice” said Masao the doors were still closed and Cadence had no idea they were there, at least so far as Masao knew.
“I’m fine, now, as those Withers Shankspur actors say, ‘Once more, into the breach’” said Willow Leaf and Masao grinned at her as with one hand he pushed open the door…
- - -
Time had not been kind to the Princess of Love’s heart, first the death of her husband, expected but still heart wrenching, followed by the the deaths of her children years later. She didn’t even have grandchildren as they had refused to get married and have kids thinking themselves immortal, but when she heard about Sharp Sword’s reincarnation she rejoiced, mayhap her husband was reincarnated as well? Besides, a love so strong it crosses the stretches of time was something that always brought a smile to her face even in her darkest days, so when the door opened and revealed Masao and his new wife Cadence shot out of the throne and hugged the both of them giving her congratulations and her well wishes.
“It is good to see you too, Cadence, how have you been?” asked Masao as the pink alicorn pulled away from him and latched on to his bride. Willow Leaf felt comfort coming from the hug and she leaned into it hugging the alicorn back which brought a smile to both Masao’s and Cadence’s faces.
“I am getting better every day, and it always does my heart good when I find a couple in love such as yourselves” said Cadance and suddenly deep down in Willow Leaf she felt the urge to hug Cadence all the tighter, which she did and the alicorn felt tears well up in her eyes as Willow Leaf attempted to comfort her…
- - -
A little bit later Masao Willow Leaf and Cadence were sitting in the dining hall, eating a small meal of daisy sandwiches for the ponies, and ham and cheese for the human, surprised at the access of meat, Masao asked only to be informed that a gryphon delegation had been visiting not all that long ago, accepting that answer with a nod Masao continued to eat the sandwich.
“I’m sorry to ask this, but how did you know that Willow Leaf was Sharp Sword?” asked Cadence and Masao grimaced, something that did not go unnoticed by the earth pony mare, nor by the alicorn, who was quick to try and offer apologies as she reached over and hugged the mare again.
“No, no, don’t worry about it, it’s one of those things you just know deep in your heart and soul, even then there is no guarantee that you will be able to continue your relationship with them.” said Masao as he glanced at Willow Leaf, who had just pulled away from Cadence, a slight blush on her cheeks as she remembered how she flat out refused to believe she was the reincarnation of somepony dead millennia ago, to be honest she still didn’t believe it, but she did know she had fallen for the prince and if that was what he needed to think to stay with her, so be it.
“Y-yeah… So Cadence, do you feel any better? I mean… Um…”
“I’m fine, Willow Leaf, thank you for being concerned” said Cadence as she nuzzled the mare once more before sitting down with a sigh. “I take it this isn’t a social call, otherwise you would have let me know sooner than this that you were on your way” Masao nodded in agreement as he pulled a datapad out of his vestments.
“You’re correct, Cadence. We heard about the attack, and I decided it would be a good idea to check on you, after all you remain one of Equestria’s most staunch allies.”
“Tsk tsk! On your honeymoon? You should be ravishing this beautiful mare until she can’t walk straight!” said Cadence causing both Masao and Willow Leaf to blush heavily, more so Willow Leaf, unaccustomed to the Princess of Love’s behaviour.
“P-Princess!” said Willow Leaf scandalized only for the pink mare to giggle into her hoof.
“Ah it does me good to see a mare so much in love with her mate. Don’t get me wrong—”
“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!” said a guard rushing in, “There are humans enroute to the city!” all thoughts of a friendly visit disappeared as Masao started to march his way towards the throne room door only to be picked up by Cadence’s magic and placed on the floor on his butt, not helping his image any.
“No, you stay here, you just got married, and you are not going to risk your life carelessly so soon afterwards”
“Oh but you will? Might I remind you princess, that you are needed to rule the Crystal Empire” said Masao harshly, putting emphasis on the title of ‘princess.’
“I won’t die, these humans haven’t seen my magic in combat yet, they have been kept back through the might of the guard so far” at that Cadence walked out of the throne room and Masao stood up from the position Cadence had left him in and went after her intent on making sure she didn’t do anything stupid. Meanwhile Willow Leaf frowned, it seemed no matter where she went she was in the way, perhaps it was time she showed her husband, the thought she was married sent a shiver down her back, how useful she could be...