//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: The Sparkling Asylum 
// Story: For a United Equestria 
// by lulii999 
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Twilight took a great gasp of air as her hooves touched ground and the cold, wet snow crunched under her weight. The sharp cool winds stung her face as she looked around at her fellow survivors. Their brightly colored fur tinted with varying numbers of red and blue stains, their faces bore expressions of grief and anguish as their faces dripped with renewed tears of shock. But none of their pained hearts even came close to that of their beloved Princess Luna.
As surviving ponies from Manehattan, Baltimare, Canterlot, Appleloosa, and the rest of Equestria rose to their feet, she gathered her strength and spoke:
“Citizens of Equestria, in light of current events I cannot hide the loss and wounds we have dealt. It is true, we do indeed tread upon glass shards now as our enemy walks upon the very ground we call home, violating our property, and even more so, our family” her voice broke, then she cleared her throat and continued, “This enemy may be strong, and have armies beyond our count. They may have taken our food, homes, lives, land, and even leader” (at this countless quiet muttering and even slight gasps erupted amongst the crowd) “but there is still light, because the one thing this enemy cannot take from us, is our hope. And hope will lead to miracles. My sister departed this world still believing in that hope. A hope that whatever state we be in, our love, friendship”, (she glanced at Twilight and her friends), “and our faith will always keep us strong. As long as we have hope, we will be the winners.' 
'At this moment in time, I understand you all still bear great emotional and physical wounds as well as the weight of grief upon your backs, but there will be a time to rest soon. Despite being far from the masses of Changelings back home, we are still not safe out here. And so, allow me to ask you to walk with me towards the Crystal Empire. There, the power of the Crystal Heart shall protect us all from any enemies that dare draw near. Onward, my dear ponies!”
And so, Luna landed on the ground, and preceded to lead the way towards the Crystal Empire, Discord followed, then Twilight and her friends, then the rest of the surviving population of Equestria. 


***


Along the journey, Twilight’s mind raced – the blood-spattered infirmary – the Changeling hurling Fluttershy headfirst into a wall – Princess Celestia’s body dissolving into tiny diamonds – the black cloud above Ponyville – the gruesome deaths – the screaming – the cries – the explosions – and the bright light that brought them here. 
In terms of what was happening around her, her ears heard but she did not listen – something about the Apple’s home being burnt down to the ground and Big Macintosh helping a nearly dead Granny Smith out of the rubble. Then there was Rarity’s voice saying how she saw Fluttershy emerge from her own burning house and take out ten or so Changelings with a stick with a bunch of her animal friends atop her back. And then there was Pinkie Pie, who managed to save the Cake family from a gruesome fate with a rolling pin, some flour and a lollipop. And there was someone calling her name…
"Twilight…Twi…TWILY!"
She shook her head back to reality and squinted her eyes as the light reflecting off the Crystal buildings temporarily blinded her. She regained her vision just enough to see a white, blue haired unicorn stallion race over to nearly strangle her as he gave her a massive hug. 
“Oh Twily, IheardwhathappenedIwassoworriedAndyouwereinthethickofitAndIwasworriedAndCadencewassweatingbucketsofnervousnessAndtheCrystalHeartturnedredAndCelestiaAndthenIwasworriedWesawalightAndmassesofponiesAndwoundsAndIcouldn’tseeyouDidImentionIwasworried?!”
“I’m -” (she was going to say “fine”), “better off than a lot of the others right now, Shining Armor. Are you and Cadence alright? What about Mom and Dad? Have you seen them?” 
“They’re fine, Twi, worried, but fine. They were staying over the castle to visit me and Cadence to congratulate us. I’d expect them to be on the castle balcony looking out for you like a pair of vultures looking for a mouse.”
“Thank Celestia. Where is Cadence?” 
“She’s over there talking to Princess Luna and Discord, I expect she’ll be coming over to fret over you pretty soon though”
“But still, thank goodness Mom and Dad were here. It was really good timing they chose to leave Canterlot to uhh…congratulate you?”
“Heheh, yeah. I’m guessing you didn’t get my letter?”
“I haven’t had the time to check my mail lately, Shining Armor. In case you hadn’t noticed we had a little crisis on our hooves?”
“Yeah, I know…inappropriate question”
“So, what’s the big news that made Mom sit through an entire 6 hour train ride?”
“I’m glad you asked, well, here it goes…Cadence and I are...ahem...expecting!”
“Expecting what?”
Shining Armor just beamed. It was as if no matter what just happened, that smile would still be sitting there on his face. 
“Expecting? As in expecting expecting? As in Foal Express expecting?”
Shining Armor looked as if he was the happiest being in the world as he nodded vigorously. Twilight almost forgot about everything that just happened as her mind became dazed with euphoria and she pounced on her brother.
“I’m guessing Shining Armor told you our big news?”
Twilight looked up to see Cadence walk over to her, smiling sweetly. In Twilight’s eyes she looked more or less the same, her appearance still tall and beautiful, and her eyes still kind and warm as ever, but there was something pleasantly different about her. She appeared to glow from within, and happiness seemed to radiate from her, despite the current situation.
“Cadence!” And she leaned in to hug her sister-in-law. 
“I’ve missed you too, Twilight. As much as I could blab on about how I’m feeling right now, I don’t think it’s an entirely appropriate time, what with masses of ponies taking refuge needing urgent medical supplies and sleeping spaces, I’m gonna need to work quickly.”
“What can we do to help?” asked Twilight. And her friends nodded determinedly at this. 
Cadence smiled: “I’ll appreciate whatever you can do. Since Princess Luna let us know she was bringing the entire population of Equestria over here, Shining Armor and I have been galloping around the Empire in preparation.”
“We’ve told the Crystal Ponies to make room in their houses to accommodate as many others as they could – which they’ve gladly agreed. And then we’re turning the area beneath the castle into something like an outdoor hospital where we’ve got doctors and nurses ready to treat the wounded. What else? Umm…we’ve got grocers collecting and rationing the food from within and around the Empire. We’ve also readied the castle to supply some sleeping space for more ponies as well.”
“I’m going to be near the Crystal Heart in the middle of the treatment area for now, I’ll help the Crystal Heart in hopes to increase the ponies’ healing rate with my magic. Luna’s going to be at the top of the castle tower to try and increase the boundaries of the protection spell surrounding the Empire. Discord’s going to patrol the boundaries and fend off enemies that come too near. Shining Armor’s going to supervise accommodation outside the castle. So it’s really up to you to choose what duties you want to take on for now.”
“So where, as in which stations, do you guys need ponies?” asked Twilight
“Everywhere” said Cadence.
“I suppose Fluttershy and I could help out with the treatment area?” piped up Rarity, Fluttershy nodded.
“Are you sure, Rarity?” asked Twilight
“But of course, Twilight. I have tried my hoof at a few healing spells in my time and more times than not, they have been successful. I'll give it everything I've got!” Rarity explained.
“And I nurse animals back to health all the time, so how different can ponies be?” smiled Fluttershy from behind her mane.
“And Pinkie and Ah could lend a hoof to the ponies in charge of the food” suggested Applejack, winking.
“Food can make anypony smile, too! So count me in!” said Pinkie Pie
“But Applejack, what about your family?” asked Twilight. And at this, it wasn’t Applejack who answered; it was Granny Smith:
“Now lis’n here little misseh, we all know Applejack’ll be raght bah our sahd if anythin’ were to happ’n. She’s got bigger responsibilities now, almos’ as much as yers! Don’ worry ‘bout us sugarcube, we’ll be fahn. And besahds, Big Macintosh’ll be here to watch over our little bushel. You go raght on ahead Applejack, y'r Granny Smith is as fit as a fiddle.”
“Eeyup, and we got Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo covered,” nodded Big Mac, smiling. 
“And besahds, Applejack’s super fast on her hooves! She’ll be back with us in no tahm!” piped up Applebloom.
“Yeah, maybe, but not as fast as me!” said Rainbow, puffing out her chest, Applejack rolled her eyes, “Which is why I’ll help Shining Armor out with making some room for ponies by clearing out stuff”.
“Girls, I – I don’t even know what to say!” said Twilight, bewildered yet immensely happy to see them take the load off her shoulders like that.
“Well I do,” said Cadence, “You’re all welcome to stay in the castle, including your families.” 
As everyone issued their thanks and praise towards Cadence, Twilight looked up at her brother: “What should I do?”
“Well”, Shining Armor tapped his chin, “You could always help the guards make some sleeping space in the castle.”
“I should make a list” Twilight thought aloud.
“That’s the spirit, you’re sounding more like you again”
“Thanks, I guess”, she looked round at everyone else, “ok everypony, let’s get started!”
And everyone went their separate ways, as Twilight spread her wings and headed straight for the castle, she saw Fluttershy lead Granny Smith by hoof over to the treatment area: “Come on now, Granny Smith, we’ll get you over to the Crystal Heart and fix you right up.”
“Crystal Heart, eh? I h’rd it shur is purty. Just like you, sugarcube.”
“Eeyup!” blurted Big Mac, whose face went redder than his actual coat. 
Fluttershy hid her face behind her long pink mane, suppressing a giggle.