//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty Two // Story: Mare In The Everfree Forest // by MoonLily //------------------------------// I walked past the group pushing the snow that had built up. Once the snow was gone It was shown that we were near the train station not far from the empire. I turned and noticed the others were shocked and I was pretty well used to them staying silent. I walked out of the cave moving through the snow where I noticed Midnight was waiting for us. “That was a short walk how can we get this far?” “Magic of illusion, the torches give the effect of walking a short distance” I looked over at Midnight who stood up flexing her wings. “Why are you here?” “Soul is out and is annoying. The Empress finds it interesting that a pony like them is around. She also enjoyed Atlantic’s presence” she let out a puff of smoke out of her nose. She was annoyed. “A pony who knows fire breathing” I watched as Pinkie ran up to her. “I am half pony and half dragon” I heard her speak slowly as she looked over Pinkie. I walked past them as I made my way toward the castle. I entered the throne room noticing the Empress talking to Atlantic as she was moving things around. I could see Cadence chasing after her. I noticed Ghoul was sitting beside Atlantic her third eye out. I gulped and pulled Jr over in front of me. “Atlantic honey I didn’t think you would come?” I watched as Jr turned and smirked at me. “We needed to speak to grandmother” I could see her wings were moving behind her. “Pretty” I turned and noticed the others behind me. I was happy as I placed my bags down hiding under Luna. I watched as Ghoul walked toward us. “Silver my mare why must you hide from me?” “Soul I am not your mare” “I will agree with that” Luna growled as Soul looked up. “I will have her” “You just want my body Soul” I waved my hoof at them. I watched as Jr wrapped the cloth around Ghoul’s three eyes. “thank you Jr Soul was giving me a headache,” I noticed I could hear Ghouls’ voice causing my heart to return to normal. I climbed out from under Luna panting. “Never again Ghoul” “I try grandmother, but he heard we were coming to see you, and” her smile formed on her lips as I pulled out the different crates I had packed. “Empress we're back, and I have fresh tea leaves for you to sun dry” I spoke up causing her to stop. I could see her ears going up as a smile formed on her lips. “Good and I see nothing came to harm to her” she stopped as I felt my head tilting up “What bug bit you?” “Luna and Silver sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g then Luna bit mother claiming her” I heard Jr singing out as I could feel my coat turning red. “Empress you can cross lighting off your list of tests. I got stuck and fell halfway down the mountain till I landed on a cliff of Canterlot” I smiled as I noticed her eyes changing. “I did wanted to try that” I felt my head being patted. I blinked as I shook my head. “They meet my grandfather” I looked at her and noticed her expression darken. She hated my grandfather since the day they meet. I watched as she turned and glared at me. “How did they come across this cursed alicorn?” she spoke those words as a hiss through her teeth. “I sent a letter to grandfather thinking he had the cure to wake mother up. he met them on the train according to my generals” Jr looked down as I could hear the empress sigh. “Not your fault dear. you were merely trying to help your mother. But Celestia and Luna I will warn you not to get yourselves involved with that alicorn. Nothing good besides our dear silver and her family has ever come from that alicorn.” I watched as she looked back to the crates with a smile. She started opening them up one by one as I shook my head. Cadence and Shinning Armor both stared at the crates of gems. “You brought back crystals?” Shining Armor spoke in confusion. “These are more than crystals. These are the different types of food that are grown in my village. The pink ones are made for tea but in this dark crystal form, they are toxic. you need to dry them out in the sun in order to get the toxins out” I felt myself getting tackled by the Empress as I could see Luna glaring at me. “I do miss your tea Silver” she went quiet “Oh is some pony jealous that I have my Cleric in my hooves?” my ears went up as I could tell the empress was teasing Luna. “Release her” “She is my cleric” I felt myself being carried before getting placed next to Atlantic. “Why is it that you have the most powerful ponies fighting over you?” Atlantic whispered into my ear as I leaned over. “Luna and I are an Item. so why are you three here again?” “Snow passed the other night grandmother” “I will get the items needed to place her in the family tomb when I get home” I smiled as I got to my hooves “I am going to make some tea” I walked out of the area leaving the others to break up the alicorn and the angry Empress. I did not want to see that fight and outcome. I moved through the castle to the kitchen sighing heavily. I changed my form to my earth pony form allowing me to bang my head on the counter. I dropped my shoulders as I sat up and quickly placed some kettles on the stove listening to the crystals around me. “Okay no fighting both of you” “She is mine” “Just because you are the damn empress doesn’t mean you can claim her!” “Oh says the princess of the night” “She is my mare! She is my love!” “She is my daughter!” My ears went up as I could hear silence. “Wait you fucked an alicorn?” “No what I mean is I think of her as my daughter. I taught her how to be a mare! She taught me that outside help is welcomed. She opened my eyes to the outside world. In return, I taught her how a mare acts and how one should carry herself when working in a stallion's world. She even took my daughter before the fall and raised her. She has done more for me than any other pony that I know” I blinked as I looked up at the ceiling. I pulled the cart out placing cups and some plates on it with a basket full of tea bisques with sugar and honey. I placed the kettles down on the cart before I left the kitchen. “Can we change the subject? I've been meaning to ask this but how do you know her grandfather is evil?” I could hear Rainbow speaking. “Something is not right with that alicorn. There is a rumor that has passed in this empire from the first ruler to me. An alicorn of old broke free of their parents jealous of his siblings and their gifts. They stole from all of them to create what they wanted. it's said that they stole from the heavens bringing down their wrath. I just don’t like him very much gives me the creeps” On my way to the throne room I walked passed the crystals I had made for CrystalSnow. I walked over and tapped on the crystal waiting. I watched as a crystal formed in the shape of a pony. I almost thought Sombra was sitting in front of me but I waited. His coat turned white while his mane changed to a dark blue. His eyes were still purple as he looked around. “Grandmother your alive!” “I made tea for us and the Empress. The Celestial sisters are here as well” “The Empress is alive? Wait how long have I been asleep? Oh please tell me that shade did not harm others” “You been asleep over a thousand years my boy. And you need to ask Princess Cadence about the other question” I chuckled as I watched him grumble as we moved through the halls. “I am shocked you noticed me in this form” “Who else would know what Crystal to tap on” “Fair enough” I pushed the cart into the throne room noticing Cadence was sitting between the Empress and Luna. I pushed the cart between them as I started to fix up cups of tea. “SOMBRA!” “Where?” I watched as CrystalSnow went and hid behind Jr as he was shaking. “CrystalSnow come out, please. Wait how is your soul moving from the crystal?” “I think the castle made me a body temporarily” “You didn’t have anything to do with this mother?” “Jr Lily isn’t here” “She the one making tea. How many earth ponies do you know that can perform magic?” I glanced over as I pulled my magic. I shook my coat out causing CrystalSnow to move out of his hiding spot. I watched as he walked over to Twilight staring in shock. “Aurora survive?” “Yes, Crystal. Twilight this is CrystalSnow your ancestor’s brother.” “I am glad the shade that stole my body didn’t kill her. Any time you are here I can tell you anything about the books in the library” “Shinning Armor is her brother” “I could tell he looks like father. I wonder if he would look more like father if he grew a beard” I snorted before letting out a chuckle. I could hear the Empress chuckling as well as I passed out the cups of tea. I made a few baskets of fruit passing them out as well. “So he knows every book in the empire" “Yes I got the habit from my grandmother. She always loved to lock herself up in libraries around the world. I would spend the time with her"  “Thank you CrystalSnow” I heard the sound of hooves running into the room panting heavily. I noticed the ponies were some of the younger generations of the family. I could see them staring at me as they moved closer. “Please tell me they told you, grandmother?”