//------------------------------// // An Imperial Welcome // Story: The Secret of Smarty Pants // by Rough_Draft //------------------------------// Four – An Imperial Welcome When the train finally arrived at Crystal Junction, everypony standing on the platform was energetic about the arrival of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Crystal Ponies bowed and cheered as she and her five friends passed, who were a little embarrassed at the large public display. Fortunately, this allowed the changelings to pass unnoticed in their midst. It had been hard work during the trip, creating blackouts in almost every car in order to steal away an unsuspecting pony. One green flash, one muffled cry, and then carry on like usual. Wriggler—though he had to remember that his pseudonym was Sir Emerald of Canterlot—moved confidently through the crowd. His mate Ichor kept up a strong air of confidence as Lady Garnet. They led their compatriots into the Crystal Empire as discreetly as they could. It wasn’t an easy thing, trying to look like a perfectly random crowd of new arrivals. But even harder, Wriggler thought with glee, was keeping up the façade in such a tasty place. The Crystal Ponies were overflowing with love. So juicy, so ripe! His carapace was aching for it. He wished he could eat his fill and never see another pony as long as he lived. But sadly, Her Highness had set her plans into motion and what choice did the Changeling Nation have but to obey? “Have you chosen your target?” Ichor hissed. She lifted a pair of opera glasses and focused on the Princess’s entourage. “That yellow pegasus seems like an easy grab.” “Ha, beware that one!” Wriggler rubbed his false chin in dismay, remembering the failed occupation of Canterlot. “Thanks to her trickery, I ended up fighting with two of my brothers over nothing! Got a forelimb right in the jaw, too!” “Well, I think I’ll give her a shot anyway. What about you, dearest?” “It should be someone who isn’t close to the alicorn.” Wriggler kept the Princess’s friends in view, passing over the two pegasi and the unicorn. “Perhaps an earth pony. That orange one might do nicely.” “Ooh, yes,” said Ichor. “She seems very strong. Just your type.” From behind them, they heard a few eager snickers and giggles. Wriggler turned and glared at them. His fellow changelings turned away, embarrassed. “Not so eager, my friends,” he said quietly, trying not to draw attention from the Crystal Ponies, walking past them. “We will eat when our work is finished, not before. Is that clear?” “Clear, clear,” they replied, using their pony voices. “Keep a loose perimeter when you get to the palace,” Ichor instructed. She tilted her fancy hat and smiled. “The five chosen will meet at the train station by sunset. Then we will feast.” “Yes, yes!” their brethren hissed. Wriggler smiled and waved a hoof toward the royal entourage. He and Ichor watched the crowd of “ponies” follow their prey in an aimless, harmless manner. For the first time on this mission, Wriggler breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad to be so close to the promised day. His belly had been growing small and weak for far too long. The Crystal Palace dominated the skyline from every direction. Twilight readjusted her crown as she and her friends trotted past the palace guards, who saluted and escorted them straight to the throne room. Twilight’s heart was racing. It was such an auspicious day, being the deliverer of a new Element of Harmony, but even if that weren’t the case, she would still be excited to see her brother and sister-in-law. They brought up so many happy memories of her fillyhood in Canterlot, not to mention the well-deserved memory of their wedding and the foiled Changeling plot. And if all goes well, I’ll get to talk to Cadance alone, Twilight thought on their way into the throne room. She knows a lot more about being a princess than I do… “Twily!” From the throne, Shining Armor raced down, looking magnificent in his uniform. Twilight didn’t even bother trotting over. Thankful for her new wings, she leapt up and flew right at her brother, tackling him in a hug. He laughed and almost ruffled her mane, but held back when he remembered the crown on her head. “It’s great to see you again!” said Twilight. She looked him in the eye. “Did you get Princess Celestia’s letter?” “Yes, I did!” Her brother stepped back, smiling proudly. “I’m surprised, but at the same time I’m deeply honored.” Twilight grinned as her wings twitched. “I know the feeling.” While Shining Armor went to greet her friends, Twilight trotted up to the throne, still smiling. Sitting on the throne was Princess Cadance, whose smile matched Twilight. Fighting the urge to make a fool of herself, Twilight remembered her royal title and bowed. “Hello, Princess Cadance,” she said in her best Canterlot accent. Cadance cleared her throat. “Good afternoon, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” When Twilight looked up, they smiled awkwardly. Then Cadance jumped off the throne and at the same time, they jumped up and down, clapped hooves, and shook their tails. “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” So much for decorum, thought Twilight as she hugged Cadance. But she didn’t care. She was having a pretty great day so far. After all the hellos and happy compliments had been exchanged, it was time to get to business. Shining Armor stood beside Cadance, his horn glowing as he accepted the pocket watch from Twilight. The other ponies stood in line behind Twilight, wearing their Elements of Harmony and waiting for their cue. “The Crystal Pony scholars tell me,” Cadance declared, “that it’s essential to bring the Elements of Love and Patience into alignment with the six Elements you bear. Only then can their true potential be unleashed.” “Well, I’m ready.” Twilight looked over her shoulder. “Is everypony else?” “You bet!” said Pinkie Pie. “Let’s do this!” Rainbow Dash added. Twilight turned back to her brother. “Okay. With the right focus, we should be able to bring all eight Elements into alignment in the same way we’ve used the six Elements before. Focus on your particular Element and then contribute that to the magical field.” Her brother nodded. “Got it.” Cadance, meanwhile, was summoning the Element of Love. Upon its gold collar was a blue heart that resembled her cutie mark. She spread her wings and closed her eyes. Twilight did the same, letting the spark of magic grow inside her. She remembered every happy moment between her, her brother, her foalsitter, and every pony in Ponyville. That was the spark they needed to make this work. Light radiated from every Element in the room, linking them one by one with a magnificent rainbow stream. Twilight opened her eyes as the magical reaction lifted everypony into the air. She watched as Shining Armor was lifted up alongside Cadance. They were facing each other, touching their horns together like they’d done on their wedding day. The pocket watch floated between them for just a moment. Then it dissolved in a white flash, turning into the Element of Patience. A violet shield on a gold collar, now set on Shining Armor’s neck. Slowly, the magic faded, setting everypony back onto the floor. Twilight bowed her head, exhausted by the effort, but glad to see that it’d worked as promised. Shining Armor looked down at his Element and grinned. “Well, all right! Nice job, guys!” Cadance leaned in to kiss his cheek. “I’m so proud, Shining. I can’t tell you how happy I am to share this with you.” “They’re so beautiful!” Pinkie Pie cried. Literally, in fact. Two rivers of tears were pouring down her face as she watched the royal couple nuzzling. She paused to blow her nose on a handkerchief that Applejack had given her. Twilight grinned and trotted over to hug her brother. “Welcome to the team, B.B.B.F.F.” “Thanks, sis.” Shining Armor hugged her back, then looked at her friends. “Since the train back to Canterlot has just left, I think it’s best if you guys stay here for the night.” “Of course they’ll be staying,” said Cadance. “The palace kitchens have preparing a banquet all day. Why let it go to waste?” “Oh, my!” Rarity exclaimed. “A banquet?” She threw her arms around Fluttershy and laughed. “How marvelous!” Twilight laughed, too, but she turned and caught Cadance’s eye. She gave a subtle nod to the door in the back of the throne room. The other princess smiled and winked. Then she turned to the others and said, “Well, you must be tired from your journey. Shining dear, can you show them to their rooms? I want to catch up with Twilight for a moment.” “Sure thing, dear.” Wriggler pretended to examine a pen full of sheep. He’d even seen anything like them before. Curious little creatures, pastel-colored and grazing all day long. He didn’t see what the appeal was, but all the Crystal Ponies found them enthralling for some reason. Still, he didn’t have long to wait. One of his agents was returning from the palace. Wriggler smiled and nodded like the rest of the ponies while the spy—disguised as a gray pegasus—landed beside him. He, too, adopted the same cheerful behavior as the others. “Report,” Wriggler ordered through his false pony’s grin. “The ponies just completed their ceremony, sir,” said the spy in a high-pitched and childish voice. “All the Elements of Harmony are aligned and accounted for.” Wriggler nodded, lifting his hoof as he pretended to point out one of the ewes in the pen. “Good. And where are the ponies now?” “Being shown to their rooms. They’ll stay for dinner and leave for Canterlot in the morning.” “Private rooms?” “Yes, sir.” Wriggler didn’t have to fake his smile now. “That’s better than we could have hoped for. Prepare the team. We will make our move before their feast.” Twilight followed Cadance out onto the palace balcony, normally reserved for public speeches and diplomatic functions. It was the best spot for a private conversation between two princesses. On her way out, Twilight had put her crown in Rarity’s saddlebag and taken Smarty Pants from her. She presented the doll to Cadance once they were alone. “Oh, I remember you!” Cadance’s eyes lit up as she held the doll in front of her. “Gosh, I was so young when I made her.” Twilight nudged her. “I haven’t needed her for a while, but Applejack’s brother is getting a lot of use out of her now.” “That’s good. It’s nice to know another filly is—” “Actually, he’s a full-grown stallion.” Cadance stared at her sister-in-law in surprise. “Oh. Well, that’s fine, too.” Twilight laughed and took the doll back. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about her. We spoke with Discord earlier. He told us that he disguised the Element of Patience as a pocket watch and hid it in a cotton field. Apparently, you used the same cotton to make Smarty Pants.” “I did,” Cadance said softly. She was staring out at the public square below, where a crowd of visitors was being given a tour. “I actually never saw the watch. I hardly even remember the day I made her for you. It just… happened.” “Really?” “It was the day I got my cutie mark, as a matter of fact.” The pink alicorn gave Twilight a tender smile. “All because I wanted to make the best birthday present for you.” Twilight’s heart glowed when she heard that. That mystery had been bugging her for the entire train ride from Canterlot. “There’s something else I’ve wanted to ask you. For quite a while now, actually.” Twilight paused and extended her wings. Even after months of flight training with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, the sensation of having wings was still a little strange. “What was it like for you when you became a princess? Did it come naturally to you or did you have to practice at it?” Cadance put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “That, sweetheart, is something you have to practice. I’ll admit I was nervous at first. I’d been a foalsitter for so long that I didn’t expect I’d make a very good princess. But I was born an alicorn and it was expected of me. Celestia told me that my duties wouldn’t be that different from taking care of foals and fillies. My subjects come to me with problems and I try to fix them. They need someone to guide them when things are rough.” “Hmm.” Twilight looked away in thought. “That does sound a lot like what I do in Ponyville.” “And Celestia knew that when she sent you there.” Cadance guided her back toward the palace. “You just have to have faith in yourself and faith in your subjects. Treat them like you would your best friends.” Twilight smiled and leaned into her old foalsitter, remembering the way they used to talk when they were young. “Thanks, Cadance.” “Anytime, Twilight.”