//------------------------------// // Chapter twenty-three: Meeting the princess of love and ascension of a new scheme // Story: Season 10: Dawn of a new generation of Harmony // by xombiekilla //------------------------------// "This place is so cool. It's honestly overwhelming." Hero was taking in the splendor of the city streets they were walking through. "There's the castle. It's so shiny. Well, being made from the crystal, of course." "I know, Darling. I remember my first trip to this city with Twilight. It was then that Spike became a hero to this place." Rarity sighed happily, fondly remembering those good days of old. "Remember the love magic that made us all look so shiny? I do. It was so awesome." Pinkie hopped in place as she kept pace with the group. "What?! You guys turned into crystals?" Hero panicked, momentarily looking around before Twilight nudged her head to his cheek to reassure him. "No, silly. Love magic doesn't turn you into a crystal; you become a crystal pony, like the ones you see walking around here. However, the effect only lasts for as long as you're here." "Phew. That's a relief. I do not want to be immobile like that. So then, do we walk right on in there? I'd imagine that there are guards." Hero looked towards the entrance, not seeing anyone guarding it. "Both love and life itself almost always protect this place. Cadence doesn't need that many guards, save for the ones inside the castle." Twilight explained to Hero as they reached the entrance. Twilight pushed the doors open to see the front corridor leading to the foyer. "And there he is. Big brother." "Hey there, Twily. So then, how's ruling Equestria coming along for you?" A white stallion with bold blue hair in multiple hues of blue approached Twilight. His cutie mark was a blue and purple shield. "It's been a long time since I've seen you." He reached out to hug his younger sister. "Shining. You have facial hair now and a crown and cape. Look at you." Twilight looked at her older brother in surprise. "Yep. If you're surprised to see me, wait until you see Cadence and Flurry." This made Twilight squee and lightly hop in excitement. "Still just little old, Twily, despite your transformation." "Would you prefer that I act regal and pompous?" "What? No way. I like my little Twily acting like herself, thank you very much." Shining sees everyone else and then looks towards Hero, "It's also great to see everybody else, too. You're a new face, though." "Shining. This is Hero. He's accompanying us to help with protection. Think of him as a guard dog." Starlight jested as she ruffled Hero's mane, his groans made evidently. "Hardy har har. Yeah, I am here to help keep everyone safe, though. Nice to meet you. Name's Hero." Hero reaches his hoof to shake Shining's hoof. "King Shining Armor. It was a pleasure to meet you, too." Everyone gasped at what they heard- except for the celestial sisters and Hero. "Oh, my goodness. I can't believe it. My BBBFF is seriously a king. Incredible. So I'm guessing that Cadence is a" "Yep. A queen now." "So she finally made that big step up, I see. And how is Flurry Heart doing?" Celestia spoke up as she looked towards Shining. "Very good. She's learning fast about the scruples of love. A father couldn't be more proud of her. There she is right now." Shining gestured to the end of the hallway that led to the Royal Throne Chambers of the empire to see Flurry Heart walking down its corridor towards the ponies. She was already more grown-up, looking like Cadence used to look before she had ascended, like mother and daughter. "Hey there, Auntie Twilight. Hi daddy. And hello to the rest of you, too. It's a pleasure to see you all again. I was kinda... well, little back then, but a lot can change over time." Twilight approached Flurry and hugged her warmly, to which Flurry returned with glee. "Yes. I know you're happy to see me, Auntie." "Happy? I'm delighted. It's been way too long since I've seen you, Flurry. I'm sorry I couldn't see you more often to hang out. Being a princess of Equestria can be exhausting." "I know. I'm a princess now- well, almost going to be one. I'm not completely ready yet, according to my mom and dad. But I'm close." "That is very fortunate tidings, indeed, Flurry, Shining." Luna looked to her sister, "So then, Tia. Are you excited to see Cadence, too? From niece to the fair queen of love." "I am, Lulu. I'm so proud of her. Let us go then to meet with her, everyone." "Phew. Wait up, Your Highness. Woo boy. I gotta catch my breath." As they strolled through the city, Grubber ran to catch up to Chrysalis. "Well then. Learn to lay off the junk food, Grubber. Stay with me. You'll be on call, so I can cue you to distract. Oh right. I had nearly forgotten. That infernal warding from the Heart will prevent us from summoning the Tainted." "Well, isn't that just peachy? Make our jobs three hundred percent more difficult, why don't they." "Only a minor inconvenience, but not impossible to pull off. Come here to this secluded spot. I have a plan in mind." While disguised, Chrysalis brought Grubber with her to a shaded and unsupervised part of the city, between two buildings, as she brought him down to her level so they could talk privately. Grubber listened in before gasping in shock. "Oh boy. That's so evil. But it should work just fine." They both chuckled at each other. "So what have you and Cadence been up to since I was crowned Equestria's ruler? I'm curious." Twilight looked over to Shining as everyone followed him towards the double doors that led into the Crystal Throne Chambers. "Keeping both love and order strong so we can rebuke any evil forces that may attempt to invade. Thus far, we've been pretty successful. I've lessened my troop to a small amount while the Crystal Heart protects most. I train these few soldiers." "I see. So that explains the lack of guards through town and the front gate to the castle." Hero said to himself as they reached Cadence's Throne Room doors. As Shining opened the door, the light spilled through the threshold of the two entries as they opened wider. The clear and colorful sheen to the ceiling, walls, and floor, save for the yellow and pink rug that led to her throne, was nearly blinded for a few moments before it cleared up as shining, then led everyone inside. A pillar of darkness formed into the outskirts of the Crystal City as two figures emerged from it, "Here is your destination. I am sure that you can sense his presence here." Lord Yami then looked over at his colleague. "I do. He's here, alright. So, too, is she. Why this place when you likely knew that Twilight would be here?" "Mean Twilight. All you must do is... introduce yourself to Hero. Remember your job; make the chosen vessel stronger." "Yeah. And then be surrounded by more odds than I care to face at once. So, this'll be just an in-and-out thing, right?" "I assure you that it will be. Just release the monster I've given you, and then take your leave." "Small problem with that, Yami. I can feel that disgusting harmony and love magic here. There are likely wards to keep blights and other wicked creatures away. That Crystal Heart might be the source of the wards." "Well, by my accounts, one would-be tyrant I've recently released from her prison also has plans to bring down the warding. You might recognize her as the one that had created you." "That wench, why does she have to be here? Oh, right, she's a changeling last I recall, and they feed off positive emotions to get stronger." "Yes. Maybe collaborating with those two might yield good results for you. You'll have to stomach your distaste for her." "Fine. But just like last time, her alliance with me is purely a means to an end. Once she's outlived her usefulness, I'll let the other Twilight have her. That'll be entertaining to watch." "You do whatever it takes to complete your assignment, Mean Twilight. I'll leave this to you then, my friend." As he walked through it, Yami summoned a pillar of darkness to leave the Crystal Empire. "Hmph. It looks like this requires a more... subtler approach." Mean Twilight said as her gaze focused on the Crystal Castle. "Hello there, Cadence. It's been so long. Wow, you look so regal now. But I can still see you within that regality." Twilight saw Queen Cadence get up from her throne to approach her. Her mane was now flowing much like the other alicorns' were. She wore a dress with her crown on her head and regalia adorning her dress. "Twilight, Luna, Celestia. And the rest of you, of course. Welcome. Welcome to the Crystal Empire. How've you been, Twily?" Cadence and Twilight then got close together to do what looked like some dance. They first waved their forehooves, saying, "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake." They then clapped their hooves together before facing their rumps at each other and shaking them, "Clap your hooves and do a little shake." "Uh? What are they doing?" Hero looked over to Celestia to ask. "It's an old childhood thing they used to do as Cadence used to be Twilight's foalsitter." "Ah. I see. It's definitely... something." Hero looked at them awkwardly before slowly backing away to stand closer to Starlight. They finished their dance as Cadence then looked towards Hero. "And who're you? You're new." Cadence then looks at Hero's chest, sees his black scar, and frowns. "Hmm... what's this then? That's no ordinary scar on your chest. I can tell that it was inflicted by dark magic. It feels similar to someone I do not want to think about." "Is this really.. serious?" Hero asked Cadence. "It doesn't seem to be for the moment. But if my suspicions are true, that crystal scar looks like the black crystals King Sombra was always known for using. But the question is, why is it in your chest?" "Some guy I recently found out was named Lord Yami had put it in my chest. He told me that I would be a good vessel for his cause. Before he destroyed my home, my people, and my family, then he killed the Tree of Harmony." "Oh, dear... That's terrible. I'm so sorry to hear that." "He's also an element of harmony, Cadence," Twilight said. "Oh really now? Which one, then?" Cadence then looked towards Hero. "Courage. I'm the element of courage." "Hmm... interesting. So bravery is your thing, is it?" "I guess it is, yeah. Why?" "Just dotting my I's and crossing my T's. Since it was a long trip, everyone here is welcome to stay the night in my castle. You'll have free roam to every room, save for ours." "I tell you what, guys. Some R and R does sound mighty nice right about now." Applejack said as everyone agreed." It was evening as Grubber and Chrysalis were about to enact their plan before a dark pillar formed in front of them both, and a familiar figure approached them from the dark void before it disappeared. "Huh? Twilight Sparkle?! No. You're not her. I remember you now; you're that counterfeit I made to imitate the real Twilight." "I am not a counterfeit, you cretin! I cannot believe that he told me to work with you two. This is going to be a very unpleasant day for me." "Cretin? I am your creator. Understand that. I can call you whatever I want, Mean Twilight." "Um, Your Highness. Didn't she say that she's been told to work with us by someone?" "Yes, Grubber. So, who told you that we were here? Better still, how're you even still alive?" "Lord Yami revived me. He claims to have released you—no idea why he'd ever do that. Unless, of course, it was to retrieve Cozy Glow. Then, I suppose that it might make some sense. You were personally much better off as a lawn ornament, though." "And you were much better off as a purple puddle of mush." "Why you... It's okay. I'm only doing what I'm ordered to do right now. Lord Yami said that we both have allied interests." Mean Twilight was breathing deeply to try to calm down so she didn't get too angry at the renegade tyrant. "So, I'll assume that this big one you've got with you is your muscle?" "Hey! I'll have you know that I'm a lot more than just muscle, lady-" "Quiet, you buffoon! Yes, he is my muscle. Loyal to me, unquestionably." Chrysalis gagged Grubber by using her magic to seal his mouth shut. He scowled at both of them in the remark. "Hmm. yes. I can see that. Can he at least perform basic orders?" "He can. He's rough around the edges, but with some sharpening, he'll make the perfect right hand for me in my rule." "Peachy. Well then, let's all devise a plan to disable those wards guarding this place."