In the carriage set being driven by two Pegasus guards, sat Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. The still technically engaged couple had an awkward silence between them as they were looking over the opposite sides of the carriage. They were both also feeling a bit of the cold due to only having blankets to warm themselves.
Shining decided to break the silence by asking "so are you warm enough? I could give you my blanket..."
"I'm fine." Cadence stated bluntly not even turning to face him as they both gave a sigh at the same time. Cadence took a deep breath and said "Shining, do you think the issues between us are ever going to be fixed? Even once we find Twilight, will that change the fact that we have barely been on speaking terms for about two years? Say we do find Twilight and all is forgiven? Are we supposed to go to our wedding while ignoring everything that happened?"
Shining took a sigh himself and wanted to say that everything would be fine but he felt that if he did his heart would not be in it. "...You're right... Perhaps it would be best if we go to some counselling, go over our issues and decide if we have really want this to continue. We can't exactly go back to how things were before..."
Cadence was about to respond when one of the guards told them to look down there. They looked down and their eyes widened when they saw the Crystal Empire surrounded by what looked like an army standing guard. "You don't think King Sombra managed to assemble an army and take back control already..." Cadence asked and Shining had no answer.
The carriage dropped down in front of the entrance with the Armada going into battle ready stances at the sight. Looking determined Shining and Cadence got out of the carriage and went up to the creatures.
One of them came forward and Shining asked "are you King Sombra's army?" The creature then shook his head and Shining decided to be more forward. "I am Captain Shining Armor of Equestria here with Princess Cadence. I demand to see your leader!" Shining told him giving his best threatening look he could muster.
The creature then looked to another one and told him "Sam, I need you to go and get Commander Tempest."
"Right away Ralph." Said the creature walking away and the two Equestrians batted their eyes at their strange names. Then a minute later Sam came back with Tempest and they were shocked to see a unicorn with a broken horn.
"Private Ralph, Private Sam, please go back to your posts while I deal with these tourists." Tempest told the two creatures who gave a salute as they did so. Shining and Cadence were indignant at being called tourists. Tempest gave them a look telling them to explain themselves and they got over their shock.
"I am Captain Shining Armor of the Equestrian Royal Guard and this is Princess Cadence. We are here to lend assistance to the Crystal Empire." Shining explained trying to make himself look important only for his helmet to fall off earning a giggle from Cadence.
"Well please go back as your assistance is not required. I am Commander Tempest of the Harmony Kingdom and we have this all under control." Tempest stated to the eyes widening of Shining and Cadence.
"The Harmony Kingdom? Those warlords that have been invading and expanding themselves over the lands South of Equestria over the last year and a half?" Shining shouted at once and then began marching towards Tempest before Cadence could stop him. "You are probably invading the Crystal Empire right now! Expansionist invaders who could come to Equestria next..." Shining told her looking quite ready to fight.
Tempest then humourlessly laughed in his face. "Expansionist nothing. We are merely good Samaritans who have been freeing our lands from the late Storm King's clutches. Do not judge us for details which you don't know." Tempest responded with strict firmness in her voice.
"You are the ones twisting the name of 'Harmony' by using the phrase in your name. Your leader probably just backstabbed the Storm King since there is no honour in thieves. You probably want to continue invading but I won't stand for it!" Shining told Tempest with a smirk. Princess Cadence was standing there looking like she wanted to slap Shining on the head several times and tell him to shut up before he digs himself deeper.
Tempest made Shining go back in fear with her horn lighting up. "Don't you dare insult my Queen like that again! She was the first creature to show me kindness in a long time. Plus you have some twisted priorities, don't you? Equestria didn't care when the Storm King was conquering his lands but only when our new management wants to save the Lands... Only then do you consider us a threat? No wonder you lot were dumb enough to get invaded by Changelings." Tempest told him coldly.
Cadence jumped at it and any reminder of the Invasion was a sore spot for Shining. Shining then charged right at Tempest with her ready to fight. Cadence wanted to intervene but she did not need to as Shining was thrown away by a hippogriff wing.
Cadence glared at Shining when she was helping him up, "Let me do ALL the talking from this point forward!" Cadence told Shining with a look that dared him to argue. Shining only gave a slight nod.
They turned to see Queen Novo glaring at them along with Princess Skystar who was waving at Tempest. "This is an unexpected surprise Queen Novo, Princess Skystar." Tempest stated with a bow before the Hippogriff Queen.
Queen Novo gave a smile to Tempest making the two Equestrians pause realising Queen Novo must be familiar with the Harmony Kingdom. "Leave now, once I have calmed down I will be generous and talk to my queen about letting you lot lend a hand." Tempest told Shining and Cadence when faced with them again.
Shining wanted to argue but Cadence went in front of him. "We give our humblest apologises and we hope to come back again once we are ready to discuss political relations." Cadence told Tempest as she walked back to the carriage along with a glaring Shining.
"Please give Princess Celestia this message about when the Storm King invaded my home and it was up to the Harmony Kingdom to help me and my subjects: THANKS FOR NOTHING!" Queen Novo coldly told them making Cadence and Shining gulp.
They saw Tempest turn around and paused when they noticed the symbol on her armor. They looked to the symbols of the armor of the Guard as well. There was a larger one on a nearby airship. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?" Shining asked as they symbol really was familiar to them.
"We better let my aunt know about this at once." Cadence responded knowing this was the first clue to Twilight's whereabouts they had in two years.
Cadence herself had a sneaking suspicion why their flag would be like that and who their Queen was...
Short. Dissapointing.
That is okay, we fine with that.
So this is gonna be one of those stories where everyone who "betrayed" Twilight will act like idiots and play the role of the bad guys?
Also if Twilight couldn't find out what happened at the wedding how would Celestia be expected to know what happened to the hypogriffs?
You know something to be kind of funny for this story is it if when Twilight and the others all got together they're starting to give Twilight like a really hard time and then she kind of sings a bit of a parody of the song open up your eyes
8687638
I don't plan on making everyone idiots, it's just that shining wasn't thinking straight. To ht eminent but besides that I don't want to make the others idiots
Perhaps during a bit for the blow out but I wants to keep them themselves during most of it
plus about the last line, that was the point queen novo made, that despite them having been allies in the past celestia didn't know she was invaded
8687638
Plus no they will not act like bad guys, just a bit of good v good antagonist when it will come to the issue if twilight will have to abdicate her crown to come back to everyone questria
it about to get good
I hope you update again, soon. I'm eager to see the faces of Shining Armor, Princess Celestia, and the Mane 5 when they learn the Queen of the Harmony Kingdom's identity.
8687685
Ditto, this chapter left a good, cathartic taste in my mouth.
Oh thae karma in this chapter. Cadance might be the only Equestrian not on the bad side list. I'm not sure if Queen Novo is mad at all of Equestria. Or just Celestia.
Quiet frankly, I don't there's much Celestia and Luna can do now. If the Harmony Kingdom can defeat Sombra and restore the Crystal Heart, the Empire will be all for relations with them.
Equestria... Well eventually.
Twilight will be smart enough not to try and add the Empire to hers I'm sure. But if the two become allies, Equestria will be in a tight spot.
Either condemn what Twilight is doing and risk alienating the rest of the world, who may go along with what she is doing, even if they're not part of it, or accept it. And Celestia facing the fact that Twilight is doing a better job of helping the world than she is.
If she's smart, she'll take the latter.
8687832
Probably just Celestia.
8687832
Wouldn't be surprised if the Crystal Empire end up like the hypogriffs, if what I'm guessing is correct. I get the feeling they (the hypogriffs) weren't so much annexed as allied after the Storm King was dealt with.
I like the idea but somethings feel off, I think Armor would be more composed as the Captain of the Royal guard even with everything that's happened you know face of the EUP and Cadence more comprehensive of what happened in the wedding even partial mind control can affect the victims notion of the world, I get Celestia's guilt, and even Novo's hostility, well let's see how things develop.
8687642 Now there's a song I want to hear, villan songs always stuck to me more than hero songs
8688217
I know right Tempest song was easily the best part of that movie and I think the reason why villains songs tend to stick out more it's because arguably good villains Done Right are relatable in some way
moar to short
8688232 8688494 True that
well seem to me it always been twilight path to bright light friendship and harmony to the world and be in charge, she get shit done, while Celestia path been more of mentor/rise the sun/not being in charge,
I for one think celesita never want to be a princess, she would wrather be a teacher or mentor, and was more or less force to become a princess,
I can see her say fuck it give country to twilight to rule and take job as either teacher at her school full time or something more usefully....
The idea has a lot of potential, that cannot be denied.
But the implementation needs some work. The story feels rushed and truncated at parts, which takes out a lot of the shine this story could have had otherwise.
Shining Armor really wants to win the darwin award doesn't he.
8687946
Definitely. And if that happens, well Equestria won't have much of a choice but to accept it. I believe Luna already knows all of what's going on. Dreamwalking most likely led her to Twilight at some point.
And Twilight filled in the rest of the story for her.
Heck, she and Cadance might be the only two Equestrians willing to recognise her sovereignty. without a dust up of some kind.
The newest chapter shows Cadance is still majorly sore about the debacle two years earlier.
What do I need to bribe you with for you to update this fic? I love this fic.
It seems weird to me that Cadance and Shining Armor would see the symbol and not even ask if the Harmony Kingdom knew a Twilight Sparkle. They've been looking for her for two years and when they finally get a clue of her whereabouts they make a plan to check it out later? I've thought through a few scenarios and none really pan out.
8730034
Well I think they didn't think tempest would cooperate at the moment and best let them cool down
8730067
Which I get. I guess it just seemed a bit too coolheaded considering how combative Shining already was.
Come to think of it, Queen Novo stopping Shining from attacking Tempest probably saved his life. We've seen how dangerous she is at hoof-to-hoof combat (especially when she kicked a fishman about three-times her weight into the air with ease)! She, out of anger for his insult of Twilight, would probably have given him a major beat-down.
Tempest rocks!
8824046
Yep
Yeah Equestria is very self centered.
So i just noticed that Sam and Ralph are the names of two of the storm kings henchmen in the prequal comic for mlp the movie. I hope that isn't a coincidence.
9106889
Not a coinceadence, it's them
9107253
At least it wasn't a certain dog and rabbit named Sam and Max... if it was oh boy.
*Tries to come up with Pinkie and the Brain remark and fails*
Looks like Cadence is smarter than everypony else.
........
Yeah, I'm really starting to desire that missing unused backstory I mentioned earlier.
9337777 "I think so Shining, but Chrysalis and Discord? It would never work! And think of the children!"