//------------------------------//
// Her Last Act 
// Story: Forgotten: The Frozen North 
// by milesprower06 
//------------------------------//

A Long Time Ago...

Flurry Heart, Luna, and Spike stood in front of the Crystal Heart, watching it slowly rotate, as they listened to the muffled commotion outside.

"This citizens are assembled, Princess. There is no going back after this," Luna told her.

"I wouldn't be ordering an evacuation if I thought there was," Flurry replied.

"Not just this city, Flurry. Equestria as a whole. The relics needed for the ritual have just arrived on the train. Once this is done, Equus will be forever changed. No magic, at least for now. Pegasi will no longer be able to control the weather. One of the fortunate side effects will be the axial tilt; it will finally be restored and will not need to be maintained by magic; day and night will cycle on their own. Lastly, this city will likely be lost to the Frozen North, if we alter the Crystal Heart's magic."

"If they don't need to focus on the sun, moon, or weather, maybe they can bring renewed effort on helping each other," Flurry said, turning from the heart and going towards the large curtains, currently weighted down to resist the constant wind. Taking a deep breath, she passed through them out onto the balcony, looking out over the city streets and the crystal ponies down below as her mane began to blow in the icy breeze.

"My citizens..." Flurry began, her voice commanding and overtaking the howling wind that had been hammering the city for days. "Dark times have befallen us. I know not what lies ahead, but I do know that it is no longer safe to inhabit the Empire due to this unending storm. Therefore, I am ordering an immediate and mandatory evacuation of the city. The train and every available carriage will be made available to all of you. I ask that you take only what you need to survive. I do not expect for you to be able to return. Know that this is my last act as your Princess. I know word has begun to spread about the increasing unrest down south. I cannot advise you on what to do when you reach safer climates. Whatever you do, I implore you to spread the light and love of the Crystal Empire wherever you may go. I will remain behind with trusted allies in an effort to put a stop to what is to come. It has been an honor, my crystal ponies. Go forth, and godspeed."

Murmurs of uncertainty continued as she heard her Crystal Guard began to bark orders, and advising citizens to return home to gather what food and necessities they could carry. They had drilled evacuations before, and before this time tomorrow, the city would be empty. Flurry stood on the balcony a moment and watched as the evacuation effort got underway, before returning inside to the Crystal Heart chamber.

"Spike, I'm going to go floor by floor of this place, making sure it's empty and no one is getting left behind. I want you on the train out," she instructed.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I'm not going anywhere. My place is with you. If this storm worsens, as you keep warning us it will, I'm not going to rob you and Luna of a heat source."

"Conduct your search, Flurry. Spike and I will go to the train and unload the relics needed for the ritual." Luna told her.

Unwilling to argue with her assistant, Flurry Heart ascended to the third floor, leaving Spike and Luna alone in the Crystal Heart chamber.

"You didn't tell her," Spike remarked to the elderly alicorn.

"We needn't shatter her resolve before everything is ready, Spike. There will be a time to tell her what will be necessary to see this through. But not yet, Spike. Not yet."