The train to the Crystal Empire speeds along the track, heading towards its destination with a purpose. Inside, many ponies sit in their seats, waiting to arrive at the place where the Crystal Ponies thrive. While some are there as tourists, others are there to personally meet its leaders; the illustrious Princess Cadance and her husband Shining Armor.
Princess Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie are among those inside the train car. Of course, they aren’t the only ones.
Bouncing in her seat, Clementine, approaching the age of ten, looks out the window excitedly, hoping to catch her first glimpse of the Crystal Empire. She has always wanted to go, but with Cadance and her family always coming to Ponyville, she never really had an excuse to go. For the past year however, the family had travelled to Saddle Arabia, missing out on Clementine and Dawning Shield’s simultaneous birthday party.
Now, with the couple and the young colt returned, Clementine cannot wait to see them again.
“Are we there, yet?” Clementine asks her parents in an enthusiastic voice.
“Not yet.” Matt shakes his head.
“Okay…” she pauses, “Are we there, yet?”
“You’ll know when ya see it, Clem.” Applejack smiles at her daughter’s energy. “It’s a bit hard ta miss.” She watches as Clementine has her hooves pressed on the window, waiting for the sign that they have arrived. “Calm down, sweetie. It won’t be for another hour.”
“I’m just so excited! I haven’t seen them in a while, AND I’ve never been to the Crystal Empire!” she brings her attention over to Applejack and Matt, sitting between them. “You guys have been there, right?”
“Of course we have.” Applejack nods, “It’s a beautiful place. They got a pastry shop that could give Sugar Cube Corner a run for its bits.”
“Hey!” Pinkie Pie calls out, seemingly hearing them from across the train, “No pastry is better than Sugar Cube Corner!”
“Ah said COULD, Pinkie Pie. Y’all know that Sugar Cube Corner has the best pastries in Equestria.”
“And don’t forget it!” Pinkie Pie boasts in confidence, sitting back down to resume her unheard conversation with Donut Joe and Rarity.
“How long has it been, since we last saw Cadance, Dawning Shield and Shining Armor?” Matt wonders, “Feels like it’s been forever.”
“A little over a year.” Applejack responds, “They went to Saddle Arabia for some kind of…diplomatic matter…ah guess that’s what you'd call it. That didn’t take very long, though. The reason why they stuck around, was because they liked the place, and wanted to see it all.”
“Can’t imagine the Crystal Empire was pleased to see their leaders in another place for over a year.”
“Cadance or Shinin’ Armor would come back every now and again, ta make sure everythin’ was in tip top shape. So, don’t expect the place ta be some war torn wasteland, like yer video games.”
“No…I…wasn’t expecting that at all.” Matt scrunches his face, looking around the train and caught in a lie, eliciting a giggle and a headshake from Applejack. “Besides, it’ll be good for Clementine to see Dawning Shield again.” He looks at the nodding Clementine, “I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about.”
“Ew! Dad!” Clementine grimaces at her father’s somewhat suggestive tone, “Ah may be his friend, but I’m not his…ya know…MAREfriend.”
“What?” Matt is surprised, “I wasn’t implying that at all. I’m just saying it’s been a long time, and I know that you two liked to hang out together, when they would come and visit.”
“That can be read as coltfriend/marefriend behavior.” Applejack whispers to him.
“I don’t mean to imply. I guess it just comes out that way.” Matt scratches his head. “I guess…if you two WANT to be more than that…” the thought leaves with fatherly concern from his voice, not sure if he likes the idea of his daughter already thinking about colts.
“DAD!” Clementine is disgusted by the notion, “We were born on the same day! In a way, he’s like a brother to me! You wouldn’t start a relationship with yer sister, would ya?”
“I don’t have a sister, but no, I wouldn’t.”
“Exactly. Besides, I’m sure he found himself a nice filly over in Saddle Arabia.”
“Possibly jealous?” Matt playfully asks.
“What did ah say?!” Clementine raises her hoof in a not so veiled threat of assault.
“Uh-Oh. The Williams genes are kickin’ in.” Applejack laughs at Clementine and Matt’s altercation. “Good thing these seats aren’t removable.”
An hour of conversations and shenanigans pass on the train, before they finally arrive at the Crystal Empire. It’s been a while since Applejack and Matt laid eyes on the place, but it’s as beautiful as they remembered. Many ponies, some normal looking, and some in their crystal like forms, trot and gallop along the city with smiles on their faces and not a care in the world.
Other visiting ponies get off the train, with Matt and his family being the last out. Clementine looks upon the city with wide-eyed wonderment; irises so big that one could serve dinner on them. With a little pat on the flank by Matt’s leg, she is given permission to take off and run around with reckless abandon.
“OH MAH GOSH!” she screams, “IT’S SO PRETTY!” She gallops to a crystal like citizen, “Hey! Are ya actually made of crystal?”
“Um…” the mare glances at her shiny and clear body, “No, I just look like this.”
“Likely story…” Clementine raises an eyebrow, “How about ah chip a piece off ya, and make some bits? Would that be okay?”
“Clementine!” Applejack catches up with her. “Sorry…” she apologizes to the mare, “She has a peculiar sense of humor.”
“Oh, it’s no problem.” the mare smiles and chuckles, “I too was curious about us crystal ponies when I was a filly, so I know what it’s like to see bit signs when looking upon their shininess.” she pats Clementine on the head with a friendly hoof. “You take care.”
As the crystal mare leaves, Matt catches up with the two of them, carrying two suitcases of luggage in his hands. With a breath of relaxation from his running, he places the suitcases down.
“Whew. You run fast, Clem.” Matt chuckles.
“Clem wanted to chip a piece off a crystal mare to make some bits.” Applejack fights her chuckle to sound serious, but it comes off as a strange combination of amusement and sternness.
“That wouldn’t have been pretty.” Matt glances down at Clementine, “No taking pieces off of other ponies.”
“Oh, fine.” Clementine nods, “She looked so expensive.”
“Such is the nature of the Crystal ponies.” A familiar voice is heard. The trio look to see Shining Armor, Dawning Shield, and the source of the voice, Cadance, walking towards them with happy faces.
“Dawnin’ Shield!” Clementine beams, trotting over to her friend with open hooves. The two parents chuckle at the sight, before greeting the other ponies that have come to visit.
“Good to see you, Clementine!” Dawning Shield hugs her, “It’s been way too long.” He makes a glance at something on her flank, catching his attention. “You got your cutie mark!”
“Yeah!” Clementine says proudly, looking over at her mark, which is of a fully-grown apple tree.
She remembers the day she got her mark fondly, though the meaning of it still somewhat escapes her. It happened when she was on a field trip to a rival apple orchard with her classmates. As the tour was being held, there was an incident with a poorly planted apple tree, causing it to teeter over at some foals and a frightened Cheerliee.
With a rush of determination and strength, Clementine galloped over to the toppling tree and bull rushed it in the air, knocking it to the side, where it fell safely away from harm.
As the classmates awed and commented about her display of bravery, the mark appeared on her flank as if it was, and is, magic.
When she presented the mark to her parents, they were similarly amazed at the story, and then proceeded to inspect her for any bruises or fractures, despite her insistence that she was perfectly fine.
“Wow!” Dawning Shield is impressed by the story, “That’s so cool! Much cooler than my story. I was just fencing with some experienced Royal Guard and whooped his butt.” Dawning looks over at his cutie mark, which is of a sword and shield. “No life saving events in my story.”
“Still, gettin’ a cutie mark is awesome!” Clementine is undeterred by the basicness of his tale. “Ah bet you have a lot of interested fillies, now.” she elbows his side slyly, to which he chuckles at.
“I guess so…”
“Now, what are you two foals up to?” another familiar voice is heard. The two look up to see Queen Chrysalis, baring her fangs in a charming smile. “It’s been a while since I’d seen you two together. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss it.”
“Queen Chrysalis!” Clementine hugs Chrysalis’ long and holed foreleg, “When did ya get here?”
“Celestia and I arrived yesterday. Was a bit of a surprise for the family.” she turns her gaze over to Dawning Shield, “Right, Dawny?”
“Uh…right…” Dawning nervously fidgets in his royal garb, flustered at the Queen’s presence. “I wasn’t surprised at all. I knew it was coming.”
“So cute…” Chrysalis puts a hoof on his head, messing up his mane. “You’re just like your father; always hiding his nervousness with bravado. There’s no need to be nervous, young colt.” she gives him a gentle smile, “I’m no longer the Queen I once was, many years ago.” Chrysalis then glances over to see Applejack beckoning her over. “Oh, it appears your mother wants to talk to me, Clementine. I’ll see you two at dinner.”
As she walks away to go to Applejack, Clementine notices a blush on Dawning Shield’s face, watching the Queen’s every move. Clementine smiles at his behavior.
“Oooohhhh…” she teases, “Somepony’s got a crush on the Queen.”
“What?” Dawning snaps out of his stupor, “No, I don’t!”
“Uh-huh.” Clementine doesn’t believe him, “Ah doubt that.”
“It’s true! I mean…yeah…she’s beautiful and stuff…but a crush? No! I just find her kind…fascinating, that’s all.”
“So, ya like changeling fillies?”
“I didn’t say that!”
“Ya totally did! Yer sayin’ that if a changeling filly came through right now, ya wouldn’t be totally in love with her?”
“I wouldn’t say ‘In Love’…more like interested.”
“Ah ha! I knew it!”
“Enough with the teasing! I can have you arrested for bothering the Prince!”
“I’d like to see ya try!” Clementine calls him out on his challenge, “Chrysalis and Dawning, sittin’ in a tree…”
Clementine continues to tease poor Dawning Shield about his recently discovered preference of mares. Elsewhere, Applejack has just got done talking to Chrysalis about an important matter. The Queen thinks it over, using a hoof the scratch her chin, as she ponders Applejack’s request. Applejack looks upon her friend, wondering how she is going to respond.
“Hmmm….” Chrysalis hums, “Sure. That sounds fine.”
“Really?” Applejack smiles wide, “Ya don’t mind?”
“If I minded, I would have said no. It sounds like a great idea, honest.”
“Ya don’t think Princess Celestia would object, do ya?”
“No. I’m sure she’ll understand. If you want to…maybe I can bring her along?”
“Nah.” Applejack laughs, “We don’t want ta overwhelm em’.”
“Overwhelm who?” Matt wonders, walking over to them after conversing with Rarity and Donut Joe, who are talking to Cadance and Shining Armor now. “What kind of trouble are you two up to? If it’s to take over Equestria, I might consider joining, because it’s you two.”
Applejack stands there, wondering what to say to him. Over the years, Matt has managed to find ways of figuring out if Applejack was lying; usually about where birthday and holiday presents are being stored, or what surprise vacation plans she is trying to hide. She has a few tells, such as fluttering ears, or eyes that dart along the room to prevent her from looking directly at him. Matt never minds, though, as he likes to guess what she has planned, rather than pry into it and have her give it away well before the desired date.
Chrysalis however, is an absolute master at lying.
“We were just discussing what to do for Dawning Shield and Clementine’s next birthday party.” Chrysalis saves the day, “I’ve been spending time in Canterlot learning how to bake cakes, and I want to give it a shot. I was telling Applejack here that I wanted to make a BIG AND GIGANTIC CAKE…” she spreads her forelegs upwards, simulating a giant sized cake, “…but she was afraid that it would be overwhelming for the foals.”
“Maybe…” Matt thinks about the possibility of gigantic cake, “But there would be plenty of leftovers…unless Pinkie Pie eats the whole thing. What kind of a cake are we talking?”
“Chocolate and Strawberry.”
“Oh my god, that sounds AWESOME!” Matt’s mouth waters at the thought of a massive chocolate and strawberry cake, “I say go for it.”
“Really?” Chrysalis is surprised at his enthusiasm, “You want me to make the cake?”
“Yeah! It would be lots of fun! Just don’t get a pony to pop out of it.”
“Aw, you’re no fun.” Chrysalis playfully pouts, “Fine, I suppose I can restrain myself from putting in a surprise pop out pony.”
“I can see that’s going to be a hard task for you.” Matt teases. He looks back at Applejack, “Making birthday party plans so soon? You know we have an anniversary coming up in a few weeks.”
“Yeah…” Applejack chuckles nervously, “Ah already made plans. So, there’s no harm in plannin’ for the future.”
“I can’t argue with that.” Matt brings Applejack to his side, rubbing her shoulder.
“I see Cadance and Shining Armor are headed this way.” Chrysalis notices, “I’ll leave you two to talk. I need to discuss a matter with Pinkie Pie.”
Chrysalis slinks away, giving Shining Armor and Cadance a respectful nod while passing by them. Cadance gives Matt and Applejack and welcoming hug.
“It’s so good to see you two again.” Cadance smiles her eternally lovely smile, “We do apologize for not coming back sooner. Saddle Arabia was such a beautiful place.”
“I could tell from the postcards you guys sent.” Matt says, “We did think about going over there to see you, but we weren’t sure about the hot weather.”
“You get used to it after a while.” Shining Armor chortles, “I see Clementine has gotten her cutie mark. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. The first member of the Apple family to not be the last in her class to get her cutie mark.”
“But still carrying on the tradition of having her cutie mark be apple related.” Matt chimes in, eliciting a laugh from the group. “Sometimes, I wonder what my cutie mark would be, if I was a pony.”
“Probably Applejack’s face.” Shining Armor jokes.
“Or her flank.” Cadance adds in, “Matt’s hands are usually there at one point or….” She looks over at Matt’s right hand, which has made its way off her shoulder, and down to her flanks. “…oh, it’s there now.”
“Huh?” Matt looks down to see that his hand is indeed on her flank. “Oh!” he removes himself from her in an instant. “Guess it’s a reflex.”
“Pretty funny reflex.” Applejack giggles, “Ah swear, all these years, and it’s still a challenge to get his attention off of me.”
“Like you would want me to have my attention NOT on you.” Matt pecks her on the cheek. She loves the attention immensely.
With a few more welcomes from the rulers of the Crystal Empire, they lead the others away to their massive and wondrous castle. Even though they have seen it on more than once occasion, they continue to be in slacked jawed awe of it.
Dawning Shield and Clementine are the first to arrive at the steps of the castle, with Dawning more than eager to bring the little filly to the steps, as if hiding something from her. Queries as to what he’s so excited about was responded with an all knowing ‘I don’t know’ and a chuckle.
The two friends walk inside to the epic lobby inside, where any loud sound made causes a near endless echo.
“Okay, Dawn…” Clementine has had enough of the guessing games, “Why was it so important that we got here first?”
“LOOK OUT BELOW!” a voice calls out from above.
Clementine and Dawning Shield have little time to react, as a grey blur comes flying at them with near supersonic levels of speed. The two duck just in time, allowing the blur to soar over them, and tumble onto the palace floor. Clementine turns her head to see who exactly nearly crashed into them. Upon laying her eyes on the bumbling colt, her eyes widen in near paralyzing shock.
The currently stumbling Pegasus is Slip Wing.
“Yikes.” Slip Wing shakes his head to be rid of the stars in his eyes, “I really need to work on that landing.”
“SLIP!” Clementine screams, causing that echo in the castle. She gallops towards him with fast speeds, tackling him with a hug.
It has been years since she last saw the Pegasus in Ponyville. His journalist father Quill Pen and mother Ditzy Doo, left Ponyville after an opportunity came in Manehattan for Quill to run his own news network for a big time channel. Quill was hesitant about taking the job, due to being happy in Ponyville, but it was Ditzy who wanted him to take the job.
That was five years ago, and the family had been living happily in the bustling city of Manehattan. However, despite living in such a lively place, and Slip Wing receiving his cutie mark at the age of seven, Quill and Ditzy noticed that Slip Wing was missing a certain somepony something fierce. Somepony whom he met during her first birthday party, and were friends until the day he left.
Slip Wing took Clementine’s hug tightly; cherishing the moment like it had been decades rather than a few years.
“Hey, Clementine.” Slip softly says, “It’s been a while.”
“It’s been years!” Clementine separates from the hug, “How’s life in the big city?”
“Life in Manehattan was fun.” Slip plays it cool, hiding that he’d been missing her rather well. “We’re planning on moving back to Ponyville in a couple months. Turns out that I wasn’t the only one who missed living in the small town. Well…” he scratches the back of his head with a chuckle, “…the small town that now has a big castle in it.”
“It’ll be great to have ya back.” Clementine smiles, placing a hoof on his shoulder, “We got a lot ta catch up on.”
“No doubt. I missed your fun birthday parties.” He glances at a smirking Dawning, “I mean…yours and Dawning Shield’s.”
“It’s cool.” Dawning waves it away, “We haven’t had a birthday party together for a year.”
“Well, it’ll be tons of fun, with all of us together!” Clementine says proudly.
Soon, the castle doors re-open, with everypony looking inside to see the tail end of the reunion of the foals. Applejack and Matt smile upon seeing Clementine’s expression of happiness, and maybe more than a little bit of a blush.
She notices her parents catching on that she’s awful close to Slip Wing, prompting her to get some distance between him. Slip Wing is too busy talking to Dawning Shield to notice.
“Looks like we picked the wrong colt that we thought Clem had a crush on.” Matt whispers.
“Judging from the look on his face, ah think he likes her, too.” She whispers back. “Best not bring it up. Don’t wanna embarrass them.”
“True. But if he’s planning on being part of the Apple family, he has to go through a series of tests.” Matt pounds his fists together.
“You’re going to beat him up?”
“What? No.” Matt shakes his head, “No, this…” he simulates the fist pounding again, “Just means that I’m thinking about what tests I’m going to give him.”
“It looks like you’re going to beat him up.”
“I’m not.”
“Ah don’t think beating him up is going to want him to stay with us.”
“I’m not going to beat him up!”
“Who are you going to beat up?” Chrysalis leans down, listening in on their conversation, “I can help with that.”
“Nopony!”
“Nopony is going to get beaten up?” Pinkie Pie groans, “Then why did I bring these boxing gloves?!” she pulls up two boxing gloves from her bags.
“I don’t know, Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash cocks an eyebrow, “Why DID you bring those boxing gloves?”
“I always bring boxing gloves in case we encounter some malevolent evil being that threatens to take over Equestria! It happens a lot, you know, especially when we go somewhere else!”
“We know, Pinkie.” Twilight rolls her eyes, “We know all too well.”
“To be fair…” Rarity gets herself in the conversation, “That Tirek monster DID show up in Ponyville. We didn’t even have to leave for him to try to threaten Equestria!”
“Lord Triek?” Fluttershy cowers, “Where?!”
“Tirek isn’t really here, Flutters.” Rainbow Dash assures her, “He’s back in Tartarus, where he belongs.”
“Oh…” Fluttershy blushes, “I got scared there for a minute…”
Without warning, the figure of Lord Tirek looms over them, casting a huge shadow. They turn to see the tyrant with angry red eyes, ready to take them on. Fluttershy screams in terror at the sight, hiding behind Rainbow Dash for protection. He opens his fearsome jaws, and roars mightily at them…
But then Matt, who found himself in possession of a chair, smashes it over his head, knocking him out cold.
While unconscious, Tirek poofs out of existence, showing that he was nothing more than a now out like a light Discord playing a prank on them. Everypony and Matt sigh in relief that it wasn’t the monstrous creature they encountered many years ago, and that it was just the God of Chaos being stupid again. Only Fluttershy puts a caring hoof over their silly friend, as a bump appears on the top of his head.
"What made him think that was a good idea?" Twilight wonders, "I know he plays pranks, but wow. That was poorly thought out."
"You okay there, Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash kneels down to her.
"I'll be fine. He needs an ice pack, though." Fluttershy prods at the bump, with Discord wincing at the touch.
"Yeah...we'll get to that later." Shining Armor cringes at the thought of giving the one who almost gave him a heart attack an ice pack.
"That's the third time you knocked him out, Matt." Chrysalis is impressed, "I have to say, you're getting good at this."
While Matt throws down the now shattered chair pieces on the floor, they turn to see the shocked expressions of the foals at how their conversation about beating up Slip Wing turned into an assault on the mischievous Discord.
“I see your family hasn’t changed.” Slip Wing whispers.
“Yeah. They’re the best, aren’t they?” she responds with a hint of amusement and pride in her voice.
Quill Pen and Ditzy trot down the stairs, unaware of what has taken place, happily welcoming their friends.
“Matt! Applejack! It’s so good to…” Quill looks down at the unconscious Discord, and Fluttershy taking care of him. “Is that Discord?”
“Yep.” Matt nods.
“Did you hit him with a chair?”
“He did.” Cadance says, “A really expensive one, too.”
“Ah.” Quill looks over at Ditzy, who is giggling. “Okay then. I just wanted to know. So...who's hungry?”