It was another beautiful day in the Crystal Empire as Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor awoke. The skies were clear and everypony went about their normal business. "Shining Armor, so what do you have planned today?" asked Cadence
"Well I am going to head out into the arctic to make sure that there isn't any danger. I know Sombra is dead but I still want to make sure that there aren't any other threats out there. I don't know why, but I just have a bad feeling that the Changeling Queen has been out in this part of Equestria." replied Shining Armor
Cadence stood there, got a big smile on her face and said, "Oh honey, sometimes I think you let your paranoia get the best of you. I can sense things very well and I don't think Chrysalis has been anywhere near here. She resides in the southernmost regions of Equestria and there is no way she could get here without flying across the main part of Equestria. If she did that, she would be spotted and captured!"
"Oh you're probably right. I do get overly paranoid." said Shining Armor
Princess Cadence's stomach was growling, she looked towards the kitchen and said, "So what are we going to have for breakfast?"
Just as soon as she finished that the royal chef came in and asked the couple, "I heard you ask what you two were having for breakfast? What do you want for breakfast?"
Cadence replied, "Well I think a sandwich with tomatoes, onions and ketchup sounds good."
"Yuck!" said Shining Armor "Why in Equestria would you want to eat something like that? Are you pregnant honey? Also, I would like some bacon, eggs and toast for breakfast."
Cadence laughed and said, "I don't think so! That just sounds really good to me!"
Their chef nodded and told them that he would fix them what they wanted and then headed off to the kitchen.
Shining Armor looked at his wife with a big smile and said, "I'm glad you aren't ordering for the both of us! I would probably starve!"
"Oh you wouldn't starve sweetie, you would get used to it." replied Cadence
Before they knew it, their meals were ready and they sat down to eat. Shining Armor had a thought come through his mind and said, "I wonder how my sister is doing as she is starting her role as Princess?"
Cadence looked at him with a smile and said, "I'm sure she is doing fine. I know you worry about your sister a lot, but I know how Twilight is. If she doesn't know what something entails, she will tear her library apart until she finds it. I think Spike is going to be more overwhelmed than she is."
"Yeah, you're probably right. She always was the one to study a lot. I guess that is why she became an Alicorn and I didn't." said Shining Armor
Cadence laughed and said, "Oh honey, don't be so hard on yourself. You could be an earth pony and I would still love you the same!"
Meanwhile in Ponyville Twilight and her friends had just returned home from Canterlot. Twilight was greeted by an adoring and cheering crowd. Twilight got off the train, headed to the town square and told her new subjects, "I am so glad to be back everypony! I want you to know that you can just call me Twilight like you always have. I do not view myself as any better than any other pony."
Mayor Mare joined Twilight on the stage and told the crowd, "I am happy to have Twilight as our new princess. Your Majesty, I want you to know that I will be here if you have any questions regarding governing the Ponyville region."
"Thank you Madame Mayor. I know I will have a lot of questions but I want you to remember that you are still mayor and you will continue to have control over issues within town." said Twilight
Twilight then proceeded to tell the crowd that if they have anything they want to talk about or have addressed, or even if they just want to come by and say hi, that they are more than welcome to visit her.
The crowd cheered wildly knowing that the newly crowned princess is the same Twilight that they have known for so long.
A reporter for the Ponyville Express asked Twilight, "Your Majesty, we are wondering what type of castle you will be building and if it will be as grand as the one in Canterlot."
Twilight gave the reporter a smile and said, "A castle? Now why in Equestria would I need a fancy castle built? Living in the library is perfectly fine for me. Besides, it fits my personality and I would rather just stay where I am. Castles are not easy to build and I could never dream of putting any ponies through that kind of hard work."
The crowd cheered as their princess showed that she still views herself as an ordinary pony.
"I must be returning to the library everypony. My friends and I have a lot of things to discuss and I have a lot of research to do on what a princess does. I will admit, I do not know much on what the duties of being royalty entails." said Twilight
With that her and her friends headed to the library for some time alone together and to do research on what Twilight has to do now in her new role.
In Canterlot Celestia and Luna were discussing how Ponyville will be now that Twilight is a princess. Luna said, "You know, I know how Twilight is, I honestly don't think things are going to change very much there."
Celestia nodded and said, "You are most likely right dear sister, Twilight was even nervous about wearing her crown in public as she headed back home. The only thing I am worried about is her becoming a recluse and shutting herself in the library."
Luna replied, "You think she would really do that? She only shuts herself in when she has a ton of studying to do. I have seen how she is in a normal setting there. On Nightmare Night she wasn't shy at all. She was the one who got everypony there to accept me and love me."
Celestia looked at Luna and said, "You're right. Everytime I have been down there she is not the pony that first arrived there. She mingles with everypony."
In the Crystal Empire the royal couple were addressing the crystal ponies. "Soon it will be time for the crystal fair everypony. It has been nearly a year since the crystal heart was last powered up and we need to protect the empire." said Cadence
Shining Armor said, "It doesn't seem like it has been a year but time flies during times of peace. While I continue to do my patrols out in the arctic, everything seems to be fine and peaceful."
The crystal ponies cheered in adoration of their royal couple. Never before had things been so peaceful there. It makes some ponies wonder if it hasn't been too peaceful, as there has not even been any arguing among any of the crystal ponies over anything.
A reporter for the local newspaper asked the princess, "From what many have noticed, this last year has been so peaceful. I have been told that it is too peaceful in that no pony has had an argument with any other pony. What are your thoughts on that?"
Cadence smiled warmly and replied, "Oh those who have told you that are just being silly! I am the princess of love and the energy that radiates from me prevents ponies from having disagreements."
Shining Armor said that everywhere his wife has ever been, even as a filly, that she has had the ability to make quarreling ponies stop fighting and find more peaceful ways to address and solve their differences.
"I had a feeling that you two would say something like that" said the reporter. "But coming from you two, I know it is the truth."
Very soon it was time for the crystal fair. Cadence and Shining Armor decided that this year's crystal fair would last for several days as other celebrations across Equestria are more than one day events.
"So honey, how long will this year's crystal fair be?" asked Shining Armor
Cadence replied, "I am thinking it should be four days long. On the fourth day, it will be the one year anniversary of them powering the crystal heart and they will power it up again, keeping our empire safe for another year."
Shining Armor stood there for a minute and then said, "I just hope we don't have anything bad happen like what happened last year. Waiting until the last day of its protection seems kinda risky. Don't you think maybe we should have the crystal ponies fire up the crystal heart the day before the one year anniversary?"
Cadence smiled and said, "Oh there you go with your paranoia again silly! It has been tradition to have the crystal ponies power up the heart on the one year anniversary of the last time they powered it up ever since Queen Crystal Heart founded the empire."
"Alright, I understand how important tradition is to the crystal ponies and to you. I guess this is where Twilight and I think alike. She would probably want to do the same thing I would, but you are the top pony in charge so it is your call." replied Shining Armor
Princess Cadence told her husband that the crystal fair would start in four days, on the 19th of April and that the heart would be fired up again on the 23rd at five o'clock in the afternoon.
"Alright honey, that is good because I have a patrol of the arctic planned on that day around one in the afternoon. That way I can be back at four and be sure and be there for the heart powering ceremony." said Shining Armor
Cadence sat there with a smile and replied, "You better be! It won't be the same without you!"
Cadence summoned her royal activity committee and said, "It is time to start setting up for the crystal fair. You have four days to get it set up."
"Yes your Majesty, consider it done. Getting it set up in four days will be easy." said the head of the committee
With that the activity committee headed out and started setting up for the crystal fair.