After a thousand years trapped in time, the Crystal Empire had a lot of catching up to do. Now though, after several months of learning and exploring the world around them, the crystal ponies were ready for the next big step.
Princess Cadance had sent out an invitation to all the nations of the world, inviting them to come visit the empire and show the crystal ponies the wonders and culture of their homelands. Nearly everyone accepted, and with so many powers meeting like this, a week long celebration of cultural exchange had been declared.
“I’m so excited! This is going to be one of the biggest parties ever!” exclaimed Pinkie as she bounced on her train seat.
“Indeed! Can you imange just how many exoctic fabrics we’ll find at this event? Elken cloth, Minotaur cotton, and perhaps even genuine deer silk! This event is going to get my muse going wild, I just know it!” exclaimed an equally excited Rarity.
“Yep. Ah recon this is goin’ to be one hay of a show,” added a much more calm Applejack.
“I just hope it doesn’t get too loud though. I don’t want the crystal ponies thinking we’re forcing ourselves on them,” admitted Fluttershy.
“Don’t worry about it, Fluttershy. Have you seen how excited these ponies are? I’d be more concerned with them scaring everyone else away,” said Rainbow Dash with a smirk.
Twilight Sparkle, newly crowned Princess of Equestria, just stared out the window. Unlike her friends, she was dressed in full Princess garb, crown included.
“Twilight? Are you OK?” asked Spike.
Twilight turned to face her assistant.
“Yeah, I’m fine, Spike. I just have a lot on my mind,” she reassured.
“Why’s that? The Princess said you don’t have any royal duties during the festival. You can just relax and have fun with the rest of us,” said Spike.
“It’s not the festival, Spike. I’m looking forward to it too, but…” Twilight sighed and turned back toward the window.
Her friends all turned toward her with worried looks.
“Ya wanna talk about it, Sugercube?” asked Applejack.
At that moment they all felt the train start to slow down.
Twilight shook her head.
“Maybe later. For now, let’s just get situated and make some plans for the festival. Besides, this really isn’t something a Princess would talk about in public. I think…” she said.
Twilight’s friends shared uncertain looks, but decided not to press it.
As the train pulled into the station and Twilight got off the train, she failed to notice a cloaked pony watching her from a nearby ally.
The pony was not happy with what she saw.
“Really? Celestia made her a princess?! I’m the one who deserves that crown!” the pony hissed under her breath.
The hooded pony briefly considered marching over and snatching it off Twilight’s head, but held her ground. She didn't get this far by making stupid choices. She stopped and thought about what her next move should be.
“Hm... If that gem really is the Element of Magic then… yes. That could work. Yes, that should work perfectly. Don’t worry, your highness, that power will soon belong to a pony who can actually use it,” the pony chuckled before she slipped away.
She had some prep work to do.
Insert misssing script here
“Sunset Shimmer… that name sounds familiar,” said Twilight.
“I should hope so. She was a former student of mine,” said Celestia.
“Wait, she was your student too?! Shouldn’t she be an old mare by now?” asked Rainbow.
Twilight rolled her eyes.
“I was Princess Celestia’s prized student, Rainbow. That doesn’t mean I was her only one. She usually has two, or even three students at any given time. I think I remember her now. She was definitely talented at magic, but we never really connected all that well as she preferred a more hooves-on approach to reading. That, and I wasn’t very good at making friends those days,” admitted Twilight.
“Twilight is correct. But there is another reason you don’t remember her very well. She was always ambitious. Too ambitious. I’m not sure exactly what her motives were, but one day she was caught in the forbidden section of the archive, reading books on illegal black magic,” said Celestia.
“Oh dear...