Prologue
By Eyec-fox
"Achoo," Sunburst awoke with a sneeze from a less than restful nights sleep. It had been like this for the past few nights, he would wake up coughing and sneezing. Sunburst's been trying home remedies, rest, a bit of comfort food, but today he was going to see a doctor.
He shuffled from his bed, regretting every step away from Its warm comfort. He moves so slowly towards the desk you could have sworn he was a zompony. When he finally made it to his desk. He levitated over a quill and some paper to send a message to his employer to let them know that he wouldn't be able to take care of Flurry Heart today.
As he scribbled upon the page, he pondered if this was some kind of plot device a writer would use to get to unlikely characters together. On second thought he should probably stop thinking about writing MLP(my little people) fanfiction. He finished his letter to the royalty and he sent the snowflake on the wind.
Meanwhile in the castle of the Crystal Empire, ponies for running around like it was a changeling hive. Scratch that, there were changelings running around too, probably sent by Thorax to aid the empire in their first ever Gala. At the center of the flurry of ponies, none other than the princess of love herself. “This couldn't have been going better if she asks Twilight to help,” she thought and immediately regretted as soon as she opened the snowflake that fell at her hooves.
As she read the contents, anypony watching could see her eyes widen in realization. Once being the heart of the flurry, now she became a flurry herself. She flew down the halls to find the pony she needed. She found the white-coated unicorn she was looking for talking with a group of guards. She approached the group of stallions as if on cue they all turn to face her.
The first one to speak was a darkly coated unicorn near the center of the group, Princess Cadence, if you're searching for Shining Armor, he's with Flurryheart getting some quality time in until Sunburst gets here.
"Silver Scroll, right?" Cadence asks uncertainly.
Silver Scroll shifted uncomfortably being the center of attention, all he could do for response was nod his head.
"Thank you, Silver, but the pony I'm looking for is right here, Shortlist." With that everypony in the group turn to the green-maned unicorn.
With that, the list in his Magic lowered enough to reveal his purple eyes “um, so what can I help you with Princess? Was the crystal lotus arrangements okay? Are the changelings behaving themselves?” He would have continued rambling if he wasn't silenced by the stomp of Cadence's hoof.
He looked up to meet her eyes and she was glaring back. In a low disappointed tone, she replied "I will let that pass since you're visiting from Canterlot but know the changelings are our friends and you should hold them as such."
Lifting her right hoof into the air then bringing to her chest and holding there. She practices the same breathing technique she taught Twilight. In her normally calm tone, "No list, I need your help with another matter, could you get me the contact list of foalsiters in the empire, please. "
Approximately 30 minutes later Cadence stumbles into Fury hearts nursery. With the sudden Sound of the door opening Shining turns around and greets his wife "Hey, Cadence, what's the matter you look like you galloped the marathon?"
Cadence gave him a grave expression “Shiny, we have a problem. Sunburst is out sick and all the other contacts are out of town or too busy to assist us with this tonight.”
“What about Miss.McGuffin right down the street?” Shining asked hopefully
"She's off visiting family in Griffonstone, so we have no one that we trust to watch Flurry until Twilight and Friends get here" Cadence sigh.
Shining armor face lit up when an idea struck him, "We do have one" He said cheerfully.
Cadence give him a quizzical look and with her best Owlowiscious impression "Who?"
Blueblood was on the train to the Crystal Empire.
"Why do they call it an Empire it is clearly a kingdom?" Blueblood thought aloud
"Ahem", A pony cleared their throat beside him.
"They even used to have a king," Blueblood continued.
"Blue, we're almost there." The pony right next to him to stated in a monotone
Blueblood turns to the speaker, Flash Sentry in his Crystal guard armor.
"Thank you, Flash" Blueblood replies with a smile
As if summoned by flash's words, Blueblood could see the towers of the empire pierce the horizon.
Blueblood started to remember when he first became friends with the orange pegasus and the leadership of the Crystal Empire.
* * One Year Ago * *
Our Hero's return from another successful adventure, and make their way into the town.
“I still can't believe we'd beat those minotaurs” cheered Indigo plasma.The golden-coated and white-haired earth pony Rogue said with a smile.
“That's what happens when you work as a team” stated Quick Guard the orange unicorn paladin.
“We all had our notes to play” Heart String the pink pegasus bard chimed in with a sing-song tone.
“Good job on distracting those beasts”, indigo complemented Heart
“I still can't believe Quick got that reflex save” chimed heart back.
Quick added, “I'm glad that the Minotaur got a critical fail, it was hilarious when it’s got its horn stuck in the wall.” Turning to Indigo “I still can't believe you talked the other Minotaur down, how good is your diplomacy anyway?”
The Gamemaster turns to the three players “I think we should end the session here.” No pony at the game table seemed happy at this. Shining Armor added “We've been at this for hours. I got to say you did good work, even though it was your first session with us, Blue or should I say Indigo.”
Blueblood, in turn, lets out a sigh.
“You still miss the fact you weren't able to attend the gala don't you,” Flash asks Blueblood.
“You hit the nail on the head, Miss.Heartstrings” Blueblood fired back. “Though, I probably deserve it considering what I did last year, and to the element of generosity.”
"How many mares and stallions approached you, just to get closer to Celestia?" an obvious pregnant Cadence added.
“too many” blue replied exasperatedly
* * * * *
“Hey, check this out” Flash shake Blueblood from his musings of the past. With a wing pointed to a statue of the young dragon that Blueblood knew as Spike.
“Nice to see they got that project done and for that dragon to get some respect. Sometimes a way that Twilight treats him, you would think he was an indentured servant. It's nice to see someone get out from under their mentor.” Blue Blood says with a sad smile.
The two ponies make their way to the castle without any more interruption, all the crystal ponies are too busy preparing for the grand party of the gala.
As the to approach the castle, who to be waiting but Shining Armor, they notice that he had Flurryheart is on his head.
“It's nice to see you again Indigo.” and he gives blueblood a playful nudge with his hoof, “Good job on the escort mission, heart.”
“It's kind of you to greet us yourself Prince Armor” blueblood takes up bowed in reference.
Shining Armor starts shaking a hoof, “Didn't we go through this last year.”
“Sorry Shining, old habits die hard. So what can I do to help? Seating arrangements, organize music, or maybe supervising the kitchen?” Blueblood beamed.
“Well no, I need you to take care of Flurryheart until her aunt and friends get here in a few hours”, he levitates Flurry over to Blueblood's back. “We've already got her nursery set up with all her needs, toys, and such.”
Flash had to put a hoof to his muzzle in order to suppress a chuckle.
“Both of you are to assist one another in this endeavor. You understand me, soldiers, nothing is to happen to my little filly” Shining Armor commanded with his best captain voice.
“Yes sir” both ponies practically shouted with a salute.
With that Shining Armor turns around and makes his way back into the castle.
Blueblood turns his head around to see Flurryheart smiling at him and he smiles back “Come on flash we have a job to do. What could possibly go wrong?”