//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: Secrets of the Princesses’ Gems 
// by KidatHeart5 
//------------------------------//

Cadance was feeling restless. It was true she had the perfect life: a perfect kingdom, a perfect husband, and a perfect daughter. Well, it was perfect in her eyes. Still, she couldn’t help but think that there was something out there that could ruin the joy of it all. She really, really didn’t want to do it, but if she could prevent harm from befalling the Crystal Empire, then she had to find the strength to trek across the snowy fields until –

            “Cady?”

            The sound of her sweet husband’s voice broke her thought-filled trance. She turned around to see him standing by the doorway, worry etching his loving face.

            He asked in concern, “Is everything okay?”

            Cadance nodded and answered while hiding the anxiety buzzing within her, “Yes, I’m fine.” She then admitted, “It’s not going to be easy being away from you or Flurry Heart. You two mean the world to me.”

            Shining Armor grabbed her hoof and comforted, “I know, honey. I know.” He put on a small smile and said, “But I know you’ll always come back to us.”

            A jolt of worry stung the princess’s heart as she asked, “And if I don’t? What will happen then?”

            Her words and the tone in her voice made Shining Armor uneasy. However, he told her, “Even if it takes a million years, we will always find each other.”

            Cadance wrapped her arms around him in a sudden and tight embrace. “I hope you’re right. I really hope you’re right.” She felt tears threatening to escape her eyes, but she did not let them fall. She could not let her husband see that she somehow knew that she would not return.









            When her bags were all packed, Shining Armor singsonged as his head peeked into the room, “Wook who’s hewe to see you!”

            Cadance chuckled as Shining Armor brought their giggling baby towards her mother. She grabbed little Flurry Heart and rubbed her muzzle against hers. She told her filly with a lighthearted smile, “Mommy loves you, Flurry. Yes, she does. Yes, she does.” She then brought her eyes close to Flurry’s and said, “I need you to look out for Daddy while I’m gone. Can you do that? For Mommy?”

            Flurry Heart giggled and nodded.

            Cadance said as she held her daughter to her chest, “I knew you would. Mommy loves you for always. Don’t forget that.” She wanted to stay in this moment forever, to never let go of her baby girl or leave her crystalline home.

            She softly sang to Flurry, “How does a moment last forever? How can a story never die? It is love we must hold on to…Never easy – but we try…Sometimes our happiness is captured…Somehow a time and place stand still…Love lives on inside our hearts…and always will…”

            She almost cried when she thought of the possibility of never seeing her family or holding them ever again. Then, she remembered what Celestia had told her years ago.

            Sometimes love means doing what is best and what is right, even if it is hard for you. Love is about others, not ourselves.

           Celestia’s words could not be more in tune with anyone but the Princess of Love herself. Cadance knew that doing the hardest thing imaginable would mean giving her family and subjects their best chance. If she did it before, she could do it again. When she kissed her husband and daughter good-bye, she lingered in that moment, wanting to make it last for as long as possible. As she walked out onto the dais, her heart ached so heavily that it seemed like all time was slowing down for her. She gazed at the Crystal Heart, spinning steadily despite the fact that it beamed less brightly now. She wondered if the Heart could feel her pain and even took some of it upon itself.

            Stay strong, she thought to the crystal relic. For the Empire, for my family…for me…

When Cadance reached the northernmost edges of the kingdom, she hesitated for only a moment before she spread her wings and flew off towards the Frozen North.