Styx's POV:
I jolt awake as I hear somepony come crashing through the front door. Poof! Up goes a shield, I'm guessing Sombra heard it too. Ever since I came back he constantly protects me and the girls, from everything. I open my door to see Twilight standing patiently outside. "Sombra, it's just Twilight we're fine!" I yell. Obviously I got his attention as the shield goes down. "Now Twilight, what in all of Equestria is so important that you are breaking down my door this morning?"
"Cadence had the baby! I'm an aunt!"
"Twilight that's wonderful! But that is no reason to come breaking down my door. A simple letter or a small knock on the door would have sufficed."
"Sorry, I just got super excited. Come on let's go!"
"Sombra!"
"Yes Styx?"
"We are going to see the baby Cadence had, I'll be back tomorrow. Make sure the girls have lunches packed for school tomorrow morning."
"Alright, will do, have fun, be safe. Wear that necklace!"
"I will, bye!"
I grab the necklace and Twilight and I take off running towards the train station. The rest of the crew is meeting us there. We arrive just in time for the train that is departing to the Crystal Empire. We board and sit in one car, making sure nopony else sits near us to hear the news. I hope Cadence and Shining read the book that I gave them on the Crystalling. Cause if they didn't, this trip is going to be longer than I thought. "We need to get Sunburst when we get there."
"Why? Is it because he might have some spells hoarded that could make life easier?"
"Exactly Starlight. We don't know what the baby is, but if it is a unicorn then we could be in for some serious trouble." We arrive at the station to see Shining Armor waiting for us. However he looks as if he hasn't slept in quite a while. We exit the train and approach Shining.
"Shining Armor, how is the baby and Cadence doing?"
"Twily! They're both doing great minus the fact the fact that we haven't slept soundly since the baby was born. Let's go, maybe somepony will have an idea of how to help."
We start the walk to the castle, but I teleport Sunburst to us. "Sunburst, we need your help. The baby is here and we need a spell to curb the magic."
"Gotcha covered, already had it ready to go. However, I should warn you that Starswirl is here along with the Princesses."
"Well, at least I know what magic to use against him if need be. Although I doubt he will try anything with Celestia and Luna around. Thanks for the heads up though."
"No problem, it's the least I can do."
We reach the castle and head up to where the baby is. As we approach the room, I take flight, hovering above the group as they enter the room. Starswirl sees me and frowns. I grin in response, knowing fully well he doesn't know the consequences of starving me. However, right now the focus needs to be on the baby, who is called Flurry Heart. A little Alicorn foal, a giant challenge for ponies that don't know how to raise one. Being Changelings means that some of us are born with a horn and wings. So raising an Alicorn just comes with greater magic capabilities in comparison. However, not my young, so, not my problem. Sunburst gives Cadence the spell to curb her powers to be performed during the Crystalling. "So, Cadence have you called your subjects to gather for the Crystalling?"
"The Crystalling?"
Oh dear Sombra. Give me the patience to deal with these fools. I flutter down to the ground and take a deep breath. "The Crystalling ceremony that must be done to every pony born in the Crystal Empire? Especially if it is a Royal Crystalling. I gave you a book on this. Where is that book?"
"Somewhere in the castle's library."
"Let me guess you rearranged the whole library, so I will be almost zero help in finding it."
"Yep, I asked Twilight to rearrange the library."
"Twilight, how did you organize the library?"
"Alphabetical I think?"
"Well, everypony, to the library!"
Everypony meaning all but Celestia, Luna, and Starswirl. They opted to go out and watch the Crystal Heart. We arrive in the library to no organization at all, and Twilight realizing she never finished organizing. I simply sigh and begin looking, knowing that I will have to perform the ceremony if we don't find it. Especially since I bought the last copy from the bookshop, meaning there isn't a printing company that even has records of making the book. Cadence brought Flurry along for I don't know what reason, other than to make everypony's life difficult. Half the time I am dodging bolts, while protecting the books, while trying to find the one book we need.
"I found it!" yells Rarity. Oh thank goodness. Cadence and Shining read over it as the rest of us try to catch Flurry. Unfortunately we have to physically catch her as our magic wouldn't work, as she would just break out. I hover, watching her pattern of movement while the rest try to catch her. I notice a star pattern and charge forward as she is going to the center. Miss. She deviated from her pattern and is now shooting magic. I duck, weave, and dodge to avoid the many bolts while also trying to prevent the books from being destroyed. Flurry Heart lets loose one more bolt at the same time Sunburst comes walking in the door. He ducks as the bolt goes flying out. I follow it out the door to see it bouncing off the wall down the hallway, and out to the city, and finally right into the Crystal Heart.
Well, that just happened. A broken Crystal Heart lays on the ground. A little Flurry Heart flies happily into Cadence's arms, as if nothing is amiss. Starswirl immediately tries to chain the baby, however, due to circumstances Celestia stops him. I try to stay calm as Twilight is starting to hyperventilate. “Twilight, breathe. Deep breaths in and out.” She does so and I look to Sunburst, “Sunburst, you don’t happen to have a relic reconstruction spell on you, do you?”
“Can’t say that I do, however, I did see one in the library when we were there. I’ll go get it.”
He runs off and returns in less than a minute. Thankfully, Celestia, Luna and Starswirl can run the relic reconstruction spell while the rest of us help to run the ceremony.
“Ahhhh!”
Screams come from outside. I peek my head out from behind the curtains that are set up around the Crystal Heart to see a massive winter storm taking over the Empire. With the Heart broken the weather outside can get in. Cadence realizes what is happening and starts to cast a shield. “Cadence, don’t.”
She stops and looks at me puzzlingly, “Why? I need to protect the Empire.”
“No, you need to hold the ceremony. I will protect the Empire, but we need to hurry.”
“Okay, be careful Styx.”
I smile at her as I take to the sky. I land on the top point of the castle and cast the shield spell. I muster as much energy as I can into the spell, willing it to hold the storm at bay that is raging outside. I watch as the bubble grows until it encompasses the whole empire. I briefly look down to see Cadence and Shining holding up Flurry Heart. The words of the ceremony are said and all of the crystal ponies bow down, filling the veins of the Empire with love. I watch the love funnel into a crystal that Sunburst is holding, then he runs behind the curtain. I soon see a teal blue bubble overlap my own, so I release mine as I feel the Empire return to normal. I flutter down to where the Heart is to see it in one piece. I breathe a sigh of relief and turn to look at Cadence.
“Styx, thank you for protecting the Empire.”
“Of course Cadence, it is my home as much as it is yours.”
Cadence nods her head in thanks, and I start heading towards the train station, not wanting to talk to any of the bearers, or Starlight, or Sunburst right now. As I don’t need to start a fight after such a happy occasion. The Crystalling is after all, a very happy and momentous occasion. I wish that Sombra could have been here to witness that again. Especially since we never had a Royal Crystalling, since Sombra never married, meaning he never had foals. Although now I don’t think having foals after having two adopted ones is considered appropriate. Ooof! I fall flat on my butt as I look up to see the very pony I was thinking about. I stand up and look up to meet his gaze.
“You my dear need to watch where you are going. However, I guess this is a good way for you to know that I didn’t miss the Crystalling. I enjoyed it, even though it wasn’t one of my own foals. Maybe one day, if I ever marry and have foals, I could bring the child here to have a Crystalling ceremony,” he says, giving me a mischievous smirk. I lightly smack him with my hoof for even thinking about that. Especially since we haven’t gotten around to discussing what we are supposed to be, since he thinks that we are lovers. Although, I guess I shouldn’t complain since I had hoped that he would think of me in that way. We both walk to the train station to take the train headed home.