Outpost Artic
"So what does the Pearl of Transformation does?" The Princess of Love asked.
King Crestwing looked at her and said. "The Pearl of Transformation can be used to transform the hippogriffs into seaponies and control the weather in ways that can hide our capital if needed."
Princess Cadance was conversing with King of the hippogriffs and decided to get to know about him and the hippogriffs more after conversing with the other leaders yesterday.
"I knew that the pearl could transform any beings into seaponies since Novo did that to me, my sister-in-law and her friends when we first arrived to Seaquestria, but your wife never mentioned to us that it could also control the weather." The Princess of Love said.
"I..." Crestwing spoke and lapsed into silence for a moment, then sighed before continuing. "Cadenza, I'm sorry about Novo. I can't believe that she decided not to help you, your sister-in-law and her friends to fight against the Storm King ."
Cadence mentally winced to herself. She remembered how angry the King of the hippogriff was when she explained what his wife had done, once she had learned that he was Novo's husband yesterday.
"You're not too angry at her, are you?" The Princess of Love asked.
"No, Cadenza. Just… upset and disappointed that she would just outright refused to help." Crestwing said, letting out a sigh before he continued. "While I still love her, I can't let this go. So when I meet my wife, I'm going to have a firm talk with her and ask her what she was thinking and how she could do that."
"I see. And please call me Cadance." Cadance said just as Grimhoof flew in, getting both the alicorn's and the hippogriff's attentions.
"Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, I am to escort you to your mother, Princess Amor. She's near the square and wants to talk to you about something." The pegasus stallion said as he saluted.
"You don't have to call me by my full name. Just Cadance will do." The Princess of Love replied with a warmly smile.
Relaxing his posture, Grimhoof said. "Yes... Cadance." He gestured the princess to follow.
"Well, it's nice to see you, King Crestwing." Cadance said to the hippogriff.
"Well, it's nice to see you too, Cadance. And please, just call me Crestwing." Crestwing replied with a gentle smile.
With that, the two part ways as the hippogriff returned to his duties while the Princess of Love followed the pegasus stallion.
"So, what was it that my mom want to talk to me about?" The Princess of Love asked after a moment of silence.
"I'm not sure, but she said that it is something you should know about." Grimhoof said.
Cadance nodded her head.
"Cadance..." The pegasus stallion started, turning his head to her before continuing. "I would like to thank your sister-in-law for bringing back Flash Magnus back from the Limbo. You have no idea how happy I was when Nimbus told me what you said to her yesterday."
The Princess of Love could only gave Grimhoof a smile as she spoke. "Well, Twilight is a very resourceful pony. She will always figured out the solutions for the problems along with her friends. She and her friends are the Bearers of Harmony."
The pegasus stallion chuckled before replying. "Now that's something truly admirable. It's good to know that such capable ponies are out there looking out for Equestria's well-being."
Cadance nodded in agreement as she spoke. "Absolutely. Twilight and her friends have proven time and time again that they can handle any challenge that comes their way."
They continued to exchange conversation to each others as they walked toward their destination.
After a few minutes of walking, they found Amore standing there staring into space.
"Your mother is waiting for you there, Cadance." The pegasus stallion said as he gestured for the Princess of Love to proceed ahead.
"Thank you, Grimhoof," Cadance said with a nod to which Grimhoof saluted her before flying off, before making her way towards her mother's location.
"Mom..." The Princess of Love called out, getting Amore's attention before she asked. "Grimhoof said you wanted to speak with me?"
Amore gave a sad sigh before she spoke. "Yes, there's something you need to know. But before that, I need to show you something."
She gestured her daughter to follow her, to which Cadance arched an eyebrow but chose not to say anything before following her mom.
A few minutes of walking, they reached the square of Outpost Artic. In the middle of the square stood a large statue of a pegasus stallion adorned in an armor, holding a sword in his mouth.
The Princess of Love stared at the statue before turning her head to Amore and asked. "Mom, who is that?"
Amore now has a face of sadness and sorrow, before she answered her daughter's question.
"That..." She started, her voice faltered while gazing on the statue as she continued. "That is your father."
Cadance's breath caught in her throat as she stared at her mother for a few seconds before turning her head toward the statue of the pegasus who her mother said was her father.
"What... what happened to him?" The Princess of Love finally whispered after a few minutes, her voice choked with emotion as tears welled in her eyes.
Amore turned her head to her daughter, her expression being a mixture of sadness and reverence, and spoke. "Three and a half weeks after your birth, this outpost we are in was the first to be attacked by King Sombra and his army. Your father happened to be there when the outpost was attacked. He and his soldiers tried to defend the outpost, but over time they began to lose. When the survivors of the outpost arrived, they revealed to me that..." She paused as the pain of old wounds resurfaced before continuing. "That your father was killed by King Sombra's captain during the attack of the outpost."
Cadance slowly sat down in silence, absorbing the new information. Her gut twisted and she couldn’t help but shed tears for a stallion she would never get the chance to know.
Amore enveloped her daughter in a tender embrace, offering silent support as she slowly sat down next to her daughter.
"I'm so sorry, Cadenza." Amore whispered, her voice laden with sorrow as she continued talking. "Your father was a brave and noble stallion."
Cadance leaned into her mother's embrace, seeking solace in the warmth of her love, before whispering. "I wish I could have known him. To hear his voice, to feel his presence..."
They sat there in silence while embracing each other. They remained in that position before Amore broke the silence and said. "His name was Arctic Spirit, and this outpost bears his name in honor of his memory."
The Princess of Love's thoughts swirled with a mixture of emotions, her heart aching for the father she had never known, yet feeling a newfound connection to him through the stories her mother shared.
Amore gently brushed the tears from her daughter's cheeks with her hoof before whispering. "I know, my dear. I wish you could have known him too. If you want, I have some pictures of him."
Cadance nodded her head as she said while sniffling. "I... I would like that."
Before either their conversation could continue, a crystal bat pony guard ran up to the two royals before throwing a salute, getting both of their attention.
"Your majesties! We have just rescued a small groups of ponies and a dragon from the frost animals at the entrance. One of them is an alicorn, and among them are Clover the Clever, Commander Hurricane and Dew Nourish. Au Hasard and Queen Seraphine are also meeting you there." The bat pony said.
“What!” Both the mother and the daughter shouted at once, causing the guard to wince as he folded his ears back in response.
Amore quickly composed herself, her mind racing with the implications of this unexpected news before she spoke. "Thank you, guard. Please escort them to the infirmary and ensure they receive the care they need."
"Yes, your majesty." The bat pony said as he saluted before running off, leaving the two royals alone.
Cadance gave her mother a confused look and asked. "Did the guard said who I think he just said?"
Amore offered a reassuring smile before responding. "Yes, my dear. He did. It's a long story, one that Clover and her friends will surely share with you. Besides, there may be familiar faces awaiting us at the infirmary. "
Amore began to move toward the direction the guard ran off while the Princess of Love herself had her suspicions as to who they were and why.
‘Well, there are two ponies and a dragon I can think of who would brave a frozen wasteland right after, say… one of their family members was taken.’ She thought as the realization sent a chill down her spine.
Cadance began following her mother to the infirmory as both began moving at a brisk pace through the outpost.
‘Oh Shining, Twilight, Spike. What trouble have you guys managed to find yourself into this time?’ She wondered to herself.