Broken Bonds

by keithsterling


Chapter 1

It’s the following day after her initial visit with her only daughter Princess Flurry Heart Sparkle in the Canterlot City Prison. A depressed Princess Cadence Sparkle walks aimlessly through the Grand Royal Palace wondering how her only daughter fell so far down, that she no longer is worthy to be considered a successor to the Throne of Love or the Princess of Love title. But the heartbroken Cadence has one glimmer of hope.

That glint of hope is her very own student Grand Princess of Love Blueberry Swirl Silverlight, the youngest daughter of her adoptive aunt Princess Celestia Silverlight.

‘In my absence, Blueberry took hold of the reins of Rulership of the Crystal Empire and the Throne of Love. Granted, she was doing that till my own daughter Flurry Heart was old enough to take over rule of the Crystal Empire, but that was never to be. It’s hard to believe that when I started to teach Blueberry about the power of the heart. she would become this strong of a presence in both Kingdoms of Equestria. But that’s the nature of her parents. The wise Princess Celestia and the loyal Prince Justice. Two ponies with their very presence could have united the land of Equestria for years to come.’ Princess Cadence thought, watching from a balcony, overlooking the palace garden as Grand Princess Blueberry tries her best to catch a quick breath before several advisors rush her with several documents for her signature as the ruling Princess of the Crystal Empire.

“Oh, Cousin, there you are.” A familiar mare’s voice said behind Cadence as she walks off the balcony into the internal hallway of the Grand Royal Palace. She comes down the opposite side of the hallway, wearing a white long sleeve button front blouse; rinse distressed wash relaxed fit jeans and navy blue slip-on boat shoes was Princess Alysia. On her back was a black mini backpack.

“Hello Alysia, were you looking for me?” Princess Cadence inquires as Alysia shook her head.

“I am, cousin. I am hoping you will accompany me to check out a new spa in Canterlot. Great grandmother Ophelia asks me to check out this new spa for Galaxy Corporation and a possible investment in the services.” Princess Alysia explains as Princess Cadence looked at her a bit puzzled.

“Who is Galaxy Corporation? And how is Great Grandmother Ophelia part of it?” Princess Cadence inquiry as Princess Alysia remembers that her cousin, just like her grandmother and grand aunt, just awakened in this time.

“Before the Crystal War started, many Noble families started to build large corporations in this new Equestria using their family fortune to begin. Many of these corporations lost a lot of money when the Crystal War ended. Like most of the Noble families, the Silverlight Unicorn family built a large corporation and survived the end of the Crystal War by investing in privately owned businesses around Equestria. The Galaxy Corporation is the largest capital investment firm in Equestria and Great Grandmother Ophelia Silverlight is the president of the corporation.” Princess Alysia explains to Cadence.

“I see Alysia, that sounds like fun. sure I’ll accompany you to that new spa in Canterlot. That’s what I need right now sometime away from the Palace.Let me go get my purse and we can head out.” Princess Cadence comments as she runs back to her bed chamber to get her handbag.

A few hours later, both Princess Cadence and Princess Alysia are enjoying all the services at the Golden Rose Spa in Canterlot. Cadence was partaking in a soothing herbal soak in one of the warm water tubs. Alysia, wearing one of the spa robes, leaves the room to get the rest of the paperwork from the owner so she can send it to her great grandmother Ophelia. She will read it over and decide if the Galaxy Corporation will invest in the Golden Rose Spa.

‘I hope great grandmother will invest in this spa. It would be kind of fun to return to the spa as a normal customer. this was really enjoyable.’ Alysia thought as she was making her way back to the room with Cadence.

“Huh!” Alysia exclaims as she walked pass an open door, looking in on one of the more luxurious rooms in the spa. Lying on one of the cushioned beds was a unicorn mare wearing a spa robe. Her face was covered by a warm towel. But what got Alysia’s attention was the three embroidered blue diamonds on the robe. The unicorn mare moved her head and a moderate indigo blue mane was’ revealed and Alysia knew who the unicorn mare was.

“Is that you Miss Rarity?” Alysia inquired as the unicorn mare’s ears move forward toward the voice.

“Huh? Is that young Princess Alysia. Who just said my name?” Rarity answers as she pulls the towel off her face and smiles.

“So it is you, Miss Rarity.” Princess Alysia said friendly as she hugged her.

“Now darling. I have’s known your family since your grandfather Justice was alive. so just call me Rarity. not Miss Rarity.” Rarity said correcting as Alysia sits down on the cushioned bed next to her.

“What are you doing back in Canterlot, Rarity?” Alysia inquiries as Rarity chuckles into her hand

“Since re-opening the Exquisite Fashion house in Ponyville, I have had time to go visit my Carousal boutiques around Equestria. My fashion house is waiting on a huge back order of textiles since the end of the war. I’ll make the Canterlot Carousal Boutique the last one to visit. So I can take a few days off before heading home to get back to work.” Rarity explains as she crossed her legs and gestures away one of the spa worker.

“So what is the young princess doing here at Golden Rose Spa? And did you come alone?” Rarity inquiry wondering who came with Alysia as she checks the nail polish on her foot.

“I am checking out this Spa for my great grandmother, she ask me to visit it for a possible investment and I am not here alone I brought Cadence with me to check it out.” Alysia answers as Rarity’s eyes widen with surprise upon hearing the name she said.

“Alysia? Did you just say Cadence is with you?” Rarity said a bit puzzled.

“Yes I did Rarity.”Alysia answers as she touches her forehead to check for a high fever.

“You don’t have a fever. But how can Cadence be with you darling. She had been missing for nine years.” Rarity said still a bit puzzled as she doesn’t believe that Cadence is with Alysia.

“You think I am lying, Rarity (sob) But I am not lying. You said yourself you have known my family for a long time since my grandfather was alive. You know I would never lie to you, Rarity.” Alysia said a bit hurt her ears droop as Rarity gets an idea.

“I know you would not lie to me. But still darling, it’s hard to believe that Cadence is back and has not contacted Princess Twilight to tell her. But I have an idea, take me to see Cadence.” Rarity suggested as Alysia agrees to take her to see Princess Cadence.

Back in the warm water tub room, Princess Cadence has finished her long herbal soak. She feels so much better now. In the room, Cadence has finished toweling herself off and was putting on the spa robe when the door opened. Half expecting to see Princess Alysia walking into the room, she was taken totally by surprise when Rarity enters the room followed by Alysia.

“Alysia! I thought I told you not to tell any pony that I am back in Equestria. Till I am ready.” Cadence said a bit upset at Alysia for telling Rarity.

“No, your highness do not be mad at Alysia. I dragged the information out of her. She didn’t tell me anything.” Rarity said calming the situation and trying to protect the young Princess from Cadence.

“Oh you did? Did she mention that her grandmother Celestia and her great aunt Luna are back as well.” Cadence replied as Rarity’s jaw drops when she stated that Celestia and Luna are back too.

“Alysia when were you going to tell me that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are back along with Cadence?” Rarity exclaimed as Cadence chuckle into the back of her hand knowing it was only a matter of time that every pony knew that the three missing princesses are back.

“I am sorry Alysia; I thought that you told every pony about my return and the return of your Grandmother and your great Aunt.” Cadence apologetic as she hugged Alysia with her arms and wings to say she was sorry.

Its a few moments later in one of private lounges in the Golden Rose Spa. The three mares continue to talk to each other. The vid phone on Alysia’s MCV rings. She gets up to answer it and walks out of the lounge, leaving Cadence and Rarity alone till she finishes the phone call.

“Rarity be straight with me did my sister-in-law Twilight and her Friendship Assembly not lift a finger when my daughter forcefully took the Throne of Love from Grand Princess of Love Blueberry?” Cadence inquiry hoping the story that was told by Grand Princess Aurora to her was not true.

“Unfortunately your highness, that story is very accurate. the magic we used to send the friendship assembly on a Friendship mission never signaled that there was trouble in the Crystal Empire between Princess Flurry Heart and Grand Princess Blueberry. It was not till Flurry Heart declared war on Equestria that we took notice of the trouble in the Crystal Empire. But by that time, it was too late to do anything to help.” Rarity said dishearten as she wipes away a single tear from her cheek.

“After the declaration of war on Equestria, the Friendship assembly broke into factions over not lifting a finger to stop this war from happening. Applejack, because of her pride and headstrongness refuses to see alternate solutions to stop the war. That set off Rainbow Dash’s loyalty toward Equestria, calling Applejack a traitress. being called traitress set off her honesty. The two of them fought back and forth with words. Fluttershy, Pinkie pie and I stayed out of the mess. Twilight’s rational thinking causes her to start losing it and suggested that the friendship assembly overthrow the Royal foals of her mentor Princess Celestia and take out her niece Princess Flurry heart and rule Equestria ourselves.” Rarity explains displeased at the suggestion that the crazed Princess Twilight thought of.

It’s late evening of that same day after running into Miss Rarity earlier in the day at the Golden Rose Spa. Alysia called her Grandmother and Great Aunt asking them if they would mind if Miss Rarity would come to see them. After talking with them for awhile, they agreed to Alysia’s request and Alysia invited Miss Rarity to have a casual dinner at the Palace. Rarity was elated. It’s been ages since she was last at the Palace and was invited for dinner with the royal family.

The conversation during dinner was Rarity asking Celestia, Luna and Cadence how they have adjusted to this new Equestria. The three old Alicorns credited Celestia’s Granddaughter Princess Alysia in helping them adjust to this new life in this new Equestria.

The acclaim from her Grandmother, Great Aunt and Cousin caused Princess Alysia to blush. As her Father, her mother and Aunts couldn’t help but have a huge smile on their snouts so proud of the future ruler of Equestria. After finishing dinner and a few hours visiting with the royalty, five members of the Royal family retired to bed. While Grand Prince of the Moon Somnus Silverlight and his aunt Princess Luna Silverlight headed to the throne room to begin a long evening court session. With that, Grand Prince Somnus asked his daughter to have the chauffeur and her company Miss Rarity back to her hotel.

In the back of the hover limousine, Rarity sits across from Princess Alysia. She notices that Alysia was lost in her own thoughts, so she slips her foot out of her black comfort pump and touches Alysia’s knee with it.

“Huh?” Alysia exclaims as she felt Rarity’s barefoot touch her knee and snap her out of her train of thought.

“What are you thinking about, darling?” Rarity inquiry as she withdrew her barefoot from Alysia’s knee and crossed her legs.

“The friendship Assembly.” Alysia answered as Rarity blinks with surprise.

“Why are you thinking about them, Alysia?” Rarity inquiry a bit puzzled.

“In Equestria there are three Kingdoms. Equestria itself, the Crystal Empire and Friendship Kingdom. Without one of the three, there is no Equestria. Relationship with the Crystal Empire has improved with the arrest of Princess Flurry Heart Sparkle and the return of Princess Cadence Sparkle. Now my aunt Grand Princess Blueberry is no longer stressed about her Crystal Ponies being hurt by Cadence’s daughter. Cadence is now helping Blueberry re-build Crystal City.” Alysia explains as Rarity signs to herself.

“With exception of you, Miss Rarity. Relationship with Equestria and the Friendship Kingdom have remained unchanged since Princess Twilight Sparkle and Friendship assembly didn’t come to the aid of the Royal Foals when Crystal Empire fell to Flurry Heart. as of right now, in order to unite all the lands, we need all three Kingdoms working together to heal all the wounds that the Crystal War inflicted on all the ponies living in Equestria.” Alysia explains worried as Rarity once again places her barefoot onto Alysia’s knee.

“Now you don’t worry yourself your Highness. Trust Miss Rarity and your friend. I am working really hard with the help of Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie to try to repair the relationship with the Friendship Assembly and the Royal Foals. As shy as she is, Fluttershy is talking to Rainbow Dash repeatedly about repairing the relationship with the Royal Foals. While at the same time Pinkie Pie is talking to Applejack about the same thing. When I get back to Ponyville, I have a meeting with Princess Twilight about an unrelated incident. After that, I’ll talk to her about repairing the relationship with the Royal Foals. I am hoping that I don’t have to use the knowledge of your grandmother, Great Aunt and cousin’s being back to help. Because that’s my ace in the hole with Twilight.” Rarity explains as Rarity’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise as Alysia grabs her ankle and places her finger against the sole of her foot.

In her hotel room at the Canterlot mansion, Rarity dials a number on her MCV vid phone. It rings once and the face of Alysia’s Grandmother, Princess Celestia Silverlight answers the call.

“Good evening Miss Rarity. do you have something to tell me?” Celestia inquiry

“I do Your Highness. I kind of told Alysia a little white lie about the talks with other members of the Friendship Assembly. The truth is, Your Highness the talks are not going well with other members of the Friendship Assembly. There are still very hard feeling between the Friendship Assembly and the Royal foals. as I found out, the Royal foals are willing to patch things up with the Friendship Assembly. But Princess Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Applejack are not. When the Royal Foals didn’t believe that they didn’t know about the incident, It caused them to believe in the rule of the Royal foals to be shaken and they have not forgotten that.” Rarity explains as Celestia gives a very deep sigh.

“Understood Miss Rarity. Keep trying to talk with other members of the Friendship Assembly. I grant you the right to tell Princess Twilight that we have returned, as your last move to get the talks moving once again.” Celestia comment

“Yes, your highness. But what about Alysia? I don’t like lying to her like that. The Silverlight unicorn family has helped me anytime I asked. to lie to a member of that family, it hurts. I hope you understand Your Highness.” Rarity’s voice is a lifeless monotone as she wipes a tear from her cheek with her hand.

“I do Miss Rarity. my late husband’s family always has that effect on those that they call friend.” Celestia comment as she hangs-up the vid-phone.