//------------------------------//
// Sunshine, Sunshine 
// Story: Letters 
// by Wind Scribe 
//------------------------------//

    Twilight,

Hi there, Twilight. It’s Cadence. You probably already knew from the seal. It’s been far too long. After you and your friends helped us save the Crystal Empire from King Sombra, I can’t thank you enough. The Crystal Ponies are forever in yours’ and Spike ‘The Brave and Glorious’ debt. Yes, the Crystal Ponies are now referring to him as that. They’re even building a statue in the town’s square in his honor. If I know him, as I’m sure you do, he might let it go too much to his head. He also has that stained glass window Auntie Celestia had commissioned in the royal hall. So, if I were you, I’d hide the sapphires somewhere else than in the kitchen. 

Speaking of the Crystal Empire, things have been hectic, to say the least. A thousand year displacement can certainly be quite the shock to anypony. The Crystal Ponies still need time to adjust to such a modern world, and need to be brought up to speed on modern innovations. Not that I want to say anything against them, but many of their practices and ideals are rather, archaic. Simply introducing them to modern medical practices has been a chore. Did you know that the common treatment for a sore throat in the empire is leeches? Yes, leeches. The doctor I spoke to on this said that ‘ailments in the body simply just need to be drawn out’, and then he brought out a jar of the slimy things for me to look at. I almost slapped the jar out his hooves as he brought it closer to my face. You know how much I hate slimy things.

If that wasn’t bad enough, then there was the oven fiasco in the palace. Your brother and I had some things sent from Central Equestria to modernize our suite and kitchen. You see, one of the maids assigned to preparing our meals had never seen a magitech oven before. Most, if not all, cooked meals in the Crystal Empire are made using stuff like wood-burning hearths and chilled using ice boxes instead of refrigerators. The poor mare had no idea how to use the stove and ended up causing a fire. I ended up instructing her on its proper use as she apologized profusely. That is, after I had to stop her from killing herself out of the shame she had apparently brought to the royal family. Like I said; archaic.

Overall, not her fault, but the underlying problem of modernizing the Crystal Empire remains the same. Thankfully, Auntie Luna has been a huge help in that regard. She’s been offering wonderful advice on the subject and has even come to the empire on some occasions to be our advocate at times. I couldn’t ask for a better pony for this job, too. Auntie Luna still doesn’t like talking about it as much with me, but I think her own thousand year gap still bothers her. Being among ponies that have faced the same hardships I think gives her a sense of ease. I’ve noticed that she smiles more easily around the Crystal Ponies than back in Canterlot. 

There’s still a long road ahead for the Crystal Empire, but we are making progress. Some of the Crystal Ponies have even expressed an interest in going out to explore the new world. I wish them the best and hope that the rest of Eques can offer the best for them, as much as I offer Eques to the Crystal Empire. 

Thanks again for all your’s and your friends’ help, and I hope to write to you soon, or even better, have you visit. The Crystal Empire is so beautiful to see. Well, without the looming threat of a tyrannical king over our heads.

    Your sister-in-law,
       Princess Mi Amore Cadenza
        Cadence