The Unicorn of the Crystal Empire

by sonicdash123

The Crystal Fair

A light blue pegasus stallion with a light brown mane and tail with a silver shield as his cutie mark and wearing a guard uniform and a necklace with a cross in it around his neck strolled through the town. He then stopped to consult his map and then looked around. "Huh, ya leave town for a couple of decades and they change everything," he said to himself. Two guards passed by him as he crumbles up the map and tosses it aside. "Excuse me, gentlemen. Would you point me the direction to--" He was ignored as the two crystal guards strolled past him. "I guess not." He continued to walk until he came across a unicorn mare with a beautiful flowing raven mane, a turquoise color for her body wearing olive green and lavender dress dancing for bits. A donkey was with her as the unicorn danced. The pegasus was entranced by her dancing and drops a few bits into the hat on the ground. Everything then came to a halt as two strange looking guards came up to the mare as she collected the hat with her magic.

"All right, gypsy, where'd ya get the money?" the first guard asked.

"For your information, I earned it," the mare replied.

"Gypsies don't earn money."

"You steal it," the second guard said.

"You'd know a lot about stealing!" The mare and the donkey fights the guards off and eventually escapes. When the guards began to chase, the stallion pretended to walk by then trip them with his hind hoof.

"Oh dear I'm sorry," the stallion said. The guards soon got up and lost the mare and looked at the pegasus.

"I'll teach you a lesson, peasant!" the first guard said as he drew his sword. The stallion drew his sword and pointed it at the guard.

"You were saying, lieutenant?"

"Oh, Silver Shield! At your service, sir!" The guards then saluted as the pegasus sheathed his sword.

"I know you have a lot on your mind right now, but do you two know any cathedrals around here?" The guards then nodded and cleared a path for Silver. As he walks, he sees some coins on the ground. He picks them up and drops them in the hat of an old stallion sitting on the street. The old stallion lowered his hood to reveal the same mare Silver saw and the donkey who looked at him curiously as he walked by. "Who was that guy?" the donkey asked.

"A new guard," the unicorn said.

"Why was he looking at you funny?"

"I don't know.

"Well he should know better than to mess with us!"

"Calm down, Punji."

---------------------

Inside the cathedral, Silver entered the dungeon section and sees a gray unicorn stallion with a black mane and tail wearing a red scarf with a red crystal as his cutie mark. Whipping sounds can be heard as he entered. "Guard!" the stallion shouted.

"Sir?" the guard said.

"Ease up. Wait between lashes. Otherwise the older sting will dull him to the new."

"Yes, sir." The guard then leaves as the stallion turns to Silver.

"Ah, so this is the gallant Silver Shield, home from Canterlot royal duties."

"Reporting for duty as ordered, Sombra."

"Your service record precedes you, Silver. I expect nothing but the best from a royal guard of your calibre."

"And you shall have it, sir. I guarantee it."

"Yes. You know, my last captain of the guard was, um, a bit of a disappointment to me." A whip crack and a scream interrupts the two. Silver appeared to be startled at the sound. "Well, no matter. I'm sure you'll whip my men into shape."

"Uh, thank you, sir, uh, very, uh, trem--uh, a tremendous honor, sir." The two stallions now go to the balcony of the cathedral as the stallion talked.

"You come to the Crystal Empire in her darkest hour. It will take a firm hand to save the weak-minded from being so easily misled."

"Misled?"

"Look, Silver. Gypsies. The gypsies live outside the normal order. Their heathen ways inflame the peoples' lowest instincts, and they must be stopped." Silver was surprised at what he was hearing.

"I was summoned from Canterlot to capture fortune tellers and hoof readers?"

"But the real danger, Silver, is what you see before you. For a thousand years I have been taking care of the gypsies one by one. And yet, for all of my success, they have thrived. I believe they have a safe haven, within the walls of this very kingdom. A nest, if you will. They call it the Court of Miracles."

"What are we going to do about it then?" The stallion used his magic to grab a stone on the ground and then toss it then blast it to pieces. "You make your point quite vividly, sir."

"You know, I like you, Silver. Shall we?" The stallion begins to leave, when the crowd below begins to cheer loudly. "Oh, have you you ever attended a peasant festival, Silver?"

"Not recently."

"Then this should be quite an education for you. Come along."

---------------------

Down below the doors of the cathedral, Charming Thunder exits and makes his way into the crowd. He looked up to the cathedral to see his Diamond Dog friends giving him a thumbs up and he proceeded through the crowd as a group came of ponies came walking.

Crystal Ponies

Come one, come all
Leave your homes and close your shops
Renew the spirit of love and unity
Come one, come all
Close the churches and the schools
It’s the day for a tradition
Come and join the Crystal....

Pinkie Pie comes through the crowd and fires her party cannon.

Pinkie Pie

Fair!!!

Once a year they throw a party here in the kingdom
Once a year they make this kingdom sparkle
Everypony is having fun at this special occasion
Once again it’s the Crystal Fair day

Charming Thunder continued his way through the crowd to explore when Pinkie noticed him.

It’s the day the love in us gets released
It’s the day everypony is united
Everything is fun at the Crystal Fair

Charming Thunder then ended up dancing with Pinkie a little bit as he checked out the games the fair had set up.

Crystal Ponies

Crystal Fair

Pinkie Pie

Everything is upsy daisy

Crystal Ponies

Crystal Fair

Pinkie Pie

Everypony is acting crazy
Jesters juggling and crystal flugelhorns being played
That’s the way of the Crystal Fair

Charming Thunder got twirled and shoved away through a curtain and comes crashing into the dressing tent of a unicorn mare along with Punji. "Hey!" the mare said. "Are you alright?"

"Didn't mean to barge in here unannounced," Charming Thunder said as he got dizzy. "I'm sorry."

"You're not hurt, are you? Here, here, let's see." Punji seemed jumpy at the red unicorn as the mare helped Charming Thunder up. "There. See, no harm done. Just try to be a little more careful."

"I will." Charming Thunder stepped outside of the tent to return to the celebration.

Crystal Ponies

Crystal Fair

Pinkie & Crystal Ponies

Beat the drums and blow the trumpets

Crystal Ponies

Crystal Fair

Charming Thunder wanders through the crowd as he saw a jester being dunked by a little filly when the ball was thrown.

Pinkie Pie & Crystal Ponies

Join the ponies from around the world
For the most magical celebration

Silver and some guards escort Sombra through the crowd as they made their way to the Sombra’s spot to sit. The princesses along with Radiant also arrive to the fair on top of the balcony of the castle. Radiant looked at the crowd for Charming Thunder, but was nowhere to be seen.

Pinkie Pie

Let light within us all
Power the Crystal Heart

Pinkie Pie & Crystal Ponies

Only at the Crystal Fair

Punjin comes up to the stage and gets everybody’s attention with a shout.

Punjin

Come one, come all!
Hurry, hurry here's your chance
See the mystery and romance
Come one, come all!
See the finest mare in the empire

Charming Thunder was pushed up to the front of the stage by Punjin as he also leapt over him.

Make an entrance to entrance
Danse la Flowing Scarf
Dance!

After Punjin’s last word, he disappears in a puff of smoke and Flowing Scarf appears in her bright orange dress in his place performing a sultry dance. Sombra who is not amused by this dance looked at Silver and said, “Look at that disgusting display.”

“Yes, sir,” Silver said, enthusiastically. Flowing Scarf pulls out a rainbow handkerchief and wraps it around Sombra’s neck playfully, using it to pull him closer. She moves in to kiss him, but jumps away at the last moment. Sombra used his magic to yank the handkerchief from his head.

“Woo-hoo!” Punjin cheered as he watched backstage. “That’s my owner! Dance girl!” Flowing Scarf continues her dance and ends it when she did a split and winked at Charming Thunder. He blushed as he looked away with a smile. The audience applauded as she got up and took a bow.

It was then that Rarity took the stage as she announced, “And now, mares and gentlecolts, the piece de resistance!”

Rarity

Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for
Here it is, you know exactly what's in store
Now's the time we cheer until our sides get sore
Now's the time we crown the Crystal Prince

“You all remember last year's prince,” Rarity said as she pointed to the crowned crystal pony in the audience.

So show us that you are all full of crystal pride
Show us you are better skilled than a diamond dog

“Hey!!” Ollie said as he watched from above the cathedral.

For the stallion who shows the most spirit will get chosen as the next prince
Why?

Crystal Ponies

Crystal Fair

Charming Thunder was helped up by Flowing Scarf as he volunteered to be voted for the most pride in the kingdom. More ponies came up and stood in a line. Radiant saw Charming Thunder go up on stage and came closer to the castle balcony to get a closer look with a smile.

Rarity

Handsome folks, forget your shyness

Crystal Ponies

Crystal Fair

Rarity

You could soon be called ‘Your highness’

Crystal Ponies

Put your prideful features on display

Rarity and Crystal Ponies

Be the prince of this year’s Crystal Fair

Rarity works her way down the line examining the stallions. She then looked at Charming Thunder and smiled and pointed at him. “You,” she said. “You are full of pride.”

“He’s no Crystal pony,” a stallion from the crowd said.

“It’s the bell ringer of the cathedral; Charming Thunder,” a mare from the crowd added. Charming Thunder looked around a little nervous as the other stallions participating left the stage. Even Sombra was surprised for some reason.

“Mares and gentlecolts, let’s not panic,” Rarity reassured. “We asked for the most prideful pony in the kingdom and here he is.” Rarity then levitates a crown and crowns him the Crystal Prince. “Charming Thunder, the unicorn of the Crystal Empire.” Upon hearing Rarity, the crowd once again grows festive and cheered. Pinkie appeared out of nowhere and fired her party cannon in celebration.

Pinkie Pie

Everypony

Crystal Ponies

Once a year we throw a party here in town

Pinkie Pie

Hail to the prince

Crystal Ponies

Once a year they make this kingdom sparkle

Pinkie Pie

Oh, what a prince

Crystal Ponies

Once a year the most prideful will wear a crown

Pinkie Pie

Mares, give a kiss

Charming Thunder gets kissed on both of his cheeks from two crystal mares as he proceeded through the crowd of ponies.

Crystal Ponies

Once a year at the Crystal Fair

Pinkie Pie

We’ve never had a prince like this

Pinkie Pie and Crystal Ponies

And it's the day we do the things that we agree
On the other three hundred and sixty-four
Once a year we love to drop in
Where we never stop having fun
And a chance to see the Crystal Heart
And pick a prince who'll put the top
In the Crystal Fair
Crystal Fair
Cheerful and fun, upsy daisy, Crystal Fair

The Diamond Dogs up top at the cathedral whooped and cheered for Charming Thunder. Even his mother cheered from the balcony as the princesses took their leave for a brief moment except for Cadence who stood next to Radiant with a smile. "So that's your kid?" she asked.

"Yup," Radiant said. "And it's his first time out here."

"You should introduce me to him sometimes. I'm sure he wouldn't mind that." Cadence then took her leave as Radiant stayed and continued to cheer for her son. The crowd chanted his name as flowers were thrown. Charming Thunder looked at the crowd with a smile and waved at everyone around him as he stood on stage. Sombra looked at two of his guards in a distance and nodded at him as they held tomatoes in their hooves. One of the guards threw a tomato at Charming Thunder, hitting him square in the face. The crowd then went quiet. More guards then threw tomatoes at him and soon all kinds for produce. He tried to leave but a lasso grabbed him and tied him to the stage. Radiant rushed off the balcony and prepared to leave the castle hoping to save him. Flowing Scarf and Punji popped out of the tent to see the public humiliation going on.

"Unbelievable!" Punji said. "One minute they love him and next thing we know they're treating him like a circus freak! I'll teach those ponies a lesson!"

Silver had enough as he turned to Sombra and said, "Request permission to stop this cruelty."

"In a moment, Silver," Sombra said. "I am starting to like this moment." As soon as he said this, the crowd gasps and goes silent. Silver and Sombra look up to the stage and see Flowing Scarf and Punji ascending the steps. Radiant came outside on time to see that he is being helped by someone.

Flowing Scarf kneels next to Charming Thunder and said, "Don't be afraid. I'm sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen." She then used her magic to levitate a handkerchief to wipe the tomatoes and other food produce off of his cheek. Sombra stood up from his seat in anger.

"You!" Sombra shouted. "Gypsy girl! Get down at once!"

"Yes, sir. Just as soon as I free this poor pony."

"I forbid it!" Flowing Scarf ignored Sombra and used her magic to free Charming Thunder from the ropes. "How dare you defy me!"

"You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people. You speak of justice, yet you are cruel to those most in need of your help."

"Silence!"

"JUSTICE!!!"

"Yeah!!" Punji shouted. "What she said." Flowing Scarf and Punji help Charming Thunder up as Radiant watched.

"Mark my words, gypsy," Sombra said. "You will pay for this insolence."

"Then maybe we could've crowned a king of fools. Because the real fool I see is you!" Sombra had enough and turned to Silver.

"Silver Shield, arrest her." Silver motions the guards to move in and arrest. The guards surround the stage as they approach through the crowd.

"Now, let's see." Flowing Scarf began to count ten guards approaching. "So there's ten of you and two of us. What's a poor girl to do?" She begins to cry, then disappears in an explosion of smoke.

"Witchcraft!"

"Oh, boys!" Punji shouted. "Over here!" Eventually, Punji and Flowing Scarf leads the guards on a wild chase. While they were at it, they jump on top of the crowd, which carries them away to safety. Two guards attempt the same move, and the crowd quickly moves away. She grabs a helmet from one of the guards, and throws it like a frisbee. It hits three guards and knocks them out, before almost chopping Silver's head off.

"What a mare!" Silver said. Two guards chased Flowing Scarf and Punji as they jumped over Sombra's stand and someone tossed a pole for the guards to hold. They then sliced through Sombra's stand as Sombra ducked for cover. Flowing Scarf and Punji ascend to the top of a stand.

"So long suckers!" Punji shouted before him and Flowing Scarf promptly disappear in an instance.

Sombra got out of the cloth then turned to Silver who approached him and ordered, "Find her. I want her alive."

"Yes, sir," Silver said as he turned to the guards who started to search for the gypsy. "Seal off the area, men. Find the gypsy girl and do not harm her." Radiant approached Charming Thunder on stage who looked upset.

"I'm sorry, mother," Charming Thunder whispered. "I never should've left the cathedral." Charming Thunder hangs his head low as Radiant helped him get home to the cathedral. They go inside as Radiant used her magic to slowly close the door behind them.