Crystal Note walked through the rooms of her new old home. There wasn't much left from the mansion of the bitter unicorn stallion who had once forced her to live here, but her memories still made her see things from her past. Luckily, thanks to the three lively fillies she shared this home with now, those old memories of her birth father and his cruel behaviour where rapidly replaced by new, happy ones.
Each room had received an overhaul, some more than others. Her old bedroom now served well as a bed- and playroom for the twins, the upper rooms her not-father had favoured now were Glass Slippers own little apartment within the mansion, and like every other teenager she cherished having a place of retreat and privacy.
The old study was now her own, and Crystal Note had even kept the huge desk. So far, the kitchen and the study had been changed the least.
Crystal Note reached the sitting room that now held comfy chairs, cushions and a couch just like the one in Glass Slipper's old home. The room also doubled as a dining room, but until now, the four ponies hadn't had enough visitors to really make use of it.
The knock of the front door that had lured the crystal unicorn downstairs echoed through the small entry hall again, and Crystal Note opened the door.
A few years earlier, she might have checked through a window first, but these days such fears were long gone. She smiled when she recognized her visitor.
Ivory Lance gave a friendly nod in return. He had been a soldier since young years, so as soon as he wore his uniform, he was all serious and stern on the outside. After a rough start, the guard pony and the musician had learned to accept and even respect each other.
Crystal Note bowed her head in greeting
"Hello Ivory Lance. It's rare you visit without your daughter. How can I help you?"
Ivory Lance nodded again, this time with the indication of a smile
"No friendly visits while I'm on duty, I'm afraid. I was asked to deliver a message from the Crystal Council."
"The Council? Why would they send me a message?"
"It's rather urgent, Crystal Note. I'm supposed to get your answer right away and return to the Council immediately."
Crystal Note nodded and let the stallion step inside
"I understand. How can I assist the Crystal Council?"
Ivory Lance handed her a letter of only one page
"The councillors are taking the final steps for inviting the first ponies from the south to the Empire. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna also want to discuss the details during court in Canterlot, so they asked for a representative from us as well. Princess Cadance and the Crystal Council chose you, Crystal Note.”
“Me?”
Crystal Note’s eyes opened wide as she flew over the letter, only to confirm what Ivory Lance had told her
“But why me? Wouldn’t one of the councillors be better suited for this?”
Ivory Lance tilted his head and shrugged
“You’ve spent more time in Equestria than any of us and you’ve even filled in as ambassador for Princess Cadance. The ponies in Canterlot know you and you’re acquainted with all the other princesses as well. I can see reason in what the council says.”
Crystal Note’s eyes stayed glued on the letter, she easily recognized the writing of her sister
“This is really important for the future of the Crystal Empire, Ivory Lance.”
“That’s just one more reason to send you.”
Crystal Note sighed and closed her eyes. After a minute of pondering, she nodded
“If the Crystal Council ask me for help, of course I will do it. I’ll get my things ready and meet them at sunrise tomorrow, just like they asked.”
“Thank you, Crystal Note. I’ll make sure they’re informed right away, Ambassador.”
With that, Ivory Lance saluted and left the mansion and a nervous mare behind. The fact that he had used her long forgotten title didn’t really help. Crystal Note kept staring at the letter for a while longer. When she looked away, her eyes were instantly drawn to the picture of Sweetie Tooth, Glass Slipper, Velvet Heart and their parents on the wall.
Under her breath she mumbled
“How am I going to tell them?”
Glass Slipper smiled when she saw her little sisters race ahead once the reached their new neighbourhood. Most of the houses around here were still empty, but a few friendly faces turned around when they heard the happy laughter from the twins. Glass Slipper smiled and waved as she followed her sisters to the end of the street. The biggest house of the whole street looked intimidating from the outside, but once she stepped through the door, all tension seemed to fall off her. She knew and loved this feeling of coming home.
A few months ago, she thought she'd never feel like that again. After her parents' death, nothing was the same anymore. But by now, some things started feeling normal again. Like, coming home after school. Or having somepony waiting for her with a smile at the end of each day. Sometimes it felt so normal that the sisters barely even realized it, especially the twins. Glass Slipper had these moments when she noticed how much Crystal Note did for them without even telling them, but whenever she tried to thank her guardian and caretaker for that, Crystal Note just smiled.
The twins where already in the house and Glass Slipper closed the door after she followed them. As usual, they claimed the couch for themselves, but today Glass Slipper didn't mind too much. She had some homework for tomorrow, so she'd just grab a snack from the kitchen and go to her room. Her own room. Just thinking about that still made her smile.
Her smile didn't last too long tonight. The kitchen door opened and Crystal Note joined them, but instead of her usual kind smile, the sisters saw her frown.
Glass Slipper felt a cold shiver run down her spine and both of her sisters stopped chatting. They well remembered the last time they had seen the mare with such a frown, just days before she'd become their caretaker.
Crystal Note forced a small smile and walked to the twins on the couch, motioning for Glass Slipper to join them. She sat back on her haunches and took a deep breath
"Girls, there is something I need to tell you."
The crystal unicorn looked up at her charges, and her smile died instantly. All three fillies were scared and Sweetie Tooth looked like she was about to cry. Instead of her carefully prepared words, she rushed forward and gently wrapped her hooves around the twins, her eyes searching Glass Slipper
"Don’t be scared! Nothing bad happened, I promise! Everything is okay.”
Sweetie Tooth still clung on the mare and Velvet Heart easily saw through Crystal Note’s attempts to reassure them. With one of her defiant glares, she fixed the mare
“Then why do you look like you’re about to cry?”
Glass Slipper nodded and put her hoof on Velvet’s shoulder for support, her inquisitive gaze matching Velvet’s glare.
Crystal Note took a deep breath and let it out slowly. None of her arguments and well-sorted words would help her now, so she decided to trust her heart and simply address the matter at hoof
“Today, I received a letter from the Crystal Council. They asked me to go to Canterlot and represent the Crystal Empire during Princess Celestia’s day court. Their letter was very urgent, so I agreed.”
The fillies shared a look with each other. Glass Slipper was frowning now and Velvet Heart didn’t take long to join her. Sweetie Tooth seemed irritated mostly, so she asked
“What’s wrong with that?”
Crystal Note gently squeezed the filly in her embrace
“Sweetie, it means I have to go to Canterlot very soon. And I’ll have to stay there for a couple of days, until everything has been sorted out.”
Just as she had feared, tears shot into Sweetie Tooth’s eyes now, and so her hug tightened immediately
“You want to leave us?”
Crystal Note shook her head, Sweetie Tooth’s teary voice cut deep into her heart and she struggled to hold back a sob of her own
“No, I don’t want to leave you. That’s why I look like crying. But, Sweetie, I promised I’d help them, I have to go.”
Glass Slipper didn’t stop frowning but she reluctantly agreed with a nod. Velvet Heart on the other hoof couldn’t accept this as readily
“But you promised you’d be here for us, too!”
This time, Crystal Note did sob out loud and her reached out for Velvet, but the filly pulled back out of her reach. For Crystal Note, it felt like another stab into her heart
“I know, Velvet. I’m not leaving forever. It’s just a couple of days, I promise. I’ll be back as soon as I can. The very moment they don’t need me anymore, I’ll jump into the next train heading home.”
Velvet’s glare softened a little but Sweetie Tooth picked up where she left
“Why didn’t you just say no? Why do you have to leave? Can’t you just stay?”
Crystal Note shook her head softly
“Rose Quartz asked me because she thinks I’m the best pony for the task, dear. It’s not just about what I want, it’s about what’s best for the Crystal Empire as well.”
The three fillies just stared at her, torn between anger, sadness and fear. Crystal Note couldn’t help but feel miserable since she was the one responsible for it. The fillies had just overcome such a great loss, they hadn’t fully gotten used to their new home even, and now she was about to leave them for the first time since she became their caretaker. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t find a way to ease this blow
“Girls, please listen. It would have happened eventually. Sooner or later, I would have to leave the Empire for a while. I just wish it wouldn’t have to be so soon.”
She reached out for Velvet Heart again and this time, the filly accepted her touch as she gently raised her head so their eyes could meet. Her other hoof still held Sweetie Tooth close to her
“I will be back, I promise. Nothing can stop me from coming back to you. I’ll run all the way back from Canterlot if I have to. I’ll find a way to grow wings if there’s no other chance.”
The snorting laughter from Velvet Heart was like balm on her soul and Sweetie Tooth giggled as well. The twins now both pressed against her sides and Crystal Note tightened her embrace. Still with tears in her eyes, but a smile on her face, she turned to Glass Slipper. The oldest sister had remained silent so far, but now she felt reassured enough to ask what was on her mind
“When will you leave?”
Crystal Note sighed softly and motioned for Glass Slipper to come closer. The teenage filly joined her sisters with a hug
“I’ll leave first thing tomorrow. Before sunrise, I’m afraid.”
“Can we come with you?”
Velvet Heart tilted her head up to the mare and both twins pleaded with their eyes, but Crystal Note had to relent
“No dear. I don’t know how long it will take, but a couple of days at least. You’d miss out on school if you came along. I don’t think your teachers would be happy about that.”
The fillies pouted in unison, which was enough to make Crystal Note giggle despite the tears. The fillies joined in soon and luckily, most of the tension passed by that. They stayed close in each other’s embrace, though.
Crystal Note took a deep breath and her expression changed, as she had to become a little stern again
“Obviously, I don’t want you to miss out on school. I’ll get your breakfast ready tomorrow, but the next days you need to take care of that yourselves. Glass Slipper, I’d like you to make sure you all get to your classes on time. Sweetie, Velvet, please listen to your sister while I’m gone and help her when she needs you.”
Glass Slipper smiled softly, proud that she was offered some more responsibility, and her sisters nodded along as Crystal Note continued
“Now, I know you three can handle things for a couple of days, but I’ve also asked Opal Waves to check on you. I’ll ask Rose Quartz to do the same. If there’s anything you need, please go to one of them for help, okay?”
The three fillies nodded again and Crystal Note squeezed gently
“I’m very proud of you. I know it’s hard, but I know you can do it. I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
The fillies pressed gently into the embrace and Crystal Note didn’t hide her tears that leaked out
“I’m going to miss you so much, little ones.”
Sweetie Tooth and Velvet Heart immediately started to tickle Crystal Note who could not escape
“Stop acting like we’re babies!”
Crystal Note giggled as she was tickled into submission and she tried to wiggle to safety. Glass Slipper wouldn’t have that though and made sure to block any escape route for Crystal Note. Soon, all four ponies were laughing and giggling together, the sadness from before completely forgotten.