//------------------------------// // A Family Thing // Story: Summer Love // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// Every year, the Crystal Empire held a royal function, attended by members of the royal family on the anniversary of the Empire's return. Anthem and his family had of course been attending the function every year since he was born. There were originally talks about forgoing the function in light of the Crystal Sun incident, but in the end, it was agreed that the function should take place, in order to prove that the royalty of Equestria could stand firm, no matter what disaster befell them. Anthem had quickly grown bored with the function over the years. Though occasionally, his cousins and the other young royals would attend, they didn't always, and Anthem found himself alone in his boredom. This year would be different. He had sent a letter to Winter, inviting her and her parents to the function. A couple of months had passed, and their general rota of visits had held. But Anthem thought Winter and her might enjoy attending such a big event, even offering to send a carriage to pick them up, ensuring they wouldn't have to pay train fare for their trip. Of course, Winter could never turn down a chance to see Anthem. Her parents were a little more reluctant, but she managed to convince them. "It'd be rude to say 'no'." Winter told Crashing. "We can't just go gallivanting off to some fancy party." Crashing declared. "What are we, some snooty rich family?" "Aw, mom..." Winter rolled her eyes. "Don't play that card again..." "I think it's a great idea." Summer smiled. "I can't remember the last time we had a night out. It'll be good to get out of the house for a while." "Well... I suppose..." Crashing admitted wistfully. "Come on, mom." Winter pleaded. "It'll be a family thing. You keep saying we should do more stuff together." "Ohh, I suppose one night away wouldn't hurt." Crashing capitulated. "Let's do it." "Yes!" Winter cheered. "You're the best, mom!" On the day of the summit, Winter and her family dressed up in their best clothes, and awaited the carriage's arrival. It came in soon after. "Right this way, ladies and gentlestallions." One of the Pegasi pulling the carriage urged. "Very swanky." Summer declared, as the family boarded the carriage. "It's cheaper than the train, I suppose." Crashing sniffed. Once the passengers were aboard, the carriage lifted off into the sky, arriving at the Crystal Empire a few hours later. "My word." Summer gazed at the gleaming architecture. "What a sight!" "I knew I should've brought my sunglasses." Crashing squinted. The carriage touched down just outside the castle. The sun was setting in the background. Anthem and his parents were there to meet them. Cadance's bump was really coming along. "Hey, Wint." Anthem smiled. "Wow, you look great." "Thanks." Winter pecked him on the cheek. "And thanks for the invite." "Thank you for coming." Anthem replied. "Just between you and me, this thing's kind of a snoozefest." "Well, I'm sure I can keep you... entertained." Winter purred. "Oh, I'm counting on that..." Anthem chuckled. As the lovebirds entered the castle, Shining and Cadance walked over to Crashing and Summer. "Nice to see you again." Shining smiled. "And you as well, your highness." Summer bowed politely. "My, my." Crashing looked at Cadance's bump. "Your little royal's growing fast, isn't it? What are you: three, four months along?" "Close enough." Cadance shrugged. "This is a pleasant surprise, though. I didn't think you'd be willing to come to an event like this." "It was mostly for Winter." Crashing admitted. "That, and I heard this thing was catered, and it's so nice not to have to cook for a change. Not that you'd know anything about that..." "Now, dear, be gracious to our hosts." Summer chided her. "Yes, yes..." Crashing rolled her eyes. "Let's go inside, shall we?" Shining suggested. Meanwhile, Anthem was showing Winter around. "There sure are a lot of important ponies here." Winter noted. "I'm a little nervous, to be honest..." "Don't be." Anthem assured. "They eat and sleep just like everypony else, you know." "Hey, Ant!" To Anthem's delight, Dusk Glow approached him, joined by his wife, Dazzle. By this point in time, they had a son, Sparkling Night, who was currently back in Ponyville, being babysat by his grandmother, Rarity. "Hey, Dusk." Anthem smiled. "Good to see you." "Well, well." Dusk turned to Winter. "Is this the marefriend I've heard so much about?" "Yep." Anthem grinned. "Dusk Glow, meet Winter Beach." "Hi." Winter smiled. "Nice to meet you." Dusk grinned. "And this is my mare, Dazzle." "Hello." Dazzle smiled. "Oh, wow." Winter gaped. "You're Dazzle, the famous model! You won the award for 'best up-and-comer!" "Well, I don't like to brag, but..." Dazzle chuckled. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance." "It's about time you got yourself a mare." Dusk nudged Anthem playfully. "Crab thought you may have been... y'know." "Well, you can tell him I'm not." Anthem said indignantly. "I loved the show you did in Fillydelphia." Winter told Dazzle. "I saw the pictures in a magazine. They were fantastic." "Thanks very much." Dazzle smiled. "It's always nice to meet a fan." At the same time, Crashing and Summer were walking with Shining and Cadance towards some of the older royals. "Hello, there." Celestia took notice of the newcomers. "And who are our guests?" "You remember I told you about Anthem's marefriend, Winter?" Cadance declared. "These are her parents: Crashing Waves and Summer Breeze." "Welcome to our little summit." Celestia said pleasantly. Crashing and Summer said nothing for a moment, in awe of the princess of the day. "It-it's an honor, your highness." Summer bowed. "Truly." "I, er... wow." Crashing gaped, her dislike of royals apparently not extending to Celestia. "Nice to meet you." Celestia smiled indulgently, used to such behavior. "Feel free to mingle." "As you command..." Summer muttered faintly. Once Celestia left to talk to the others, Summer and Crashing shared an awestruck look. "I bet they're glad they came now." Shining whispered to Cadance. Luna and Gothic approached Celestia. "It's good to know things are getting back to normal after everything that's happened." Gothic declared. "So true, my dear." Luna nodded. "By the way, Celestia, where's Shine?" "Oh, he couldn't bring himself to come." Celestia declared. "He doesn't think he should be celebrating anything so soon after Black died. He also said he had to help Big Red with 'three little somethings' back in Dodge Junction." "I wonder what those 'little somethings' are?" Luna pondered. "I'm sure we'll find out soon enough." Celestia mused. "In the meantime, I'll just have to have enough for both of us." After chatting with Dusk and Dazzle, Anthem and Winter moved through the function, greeting other ponies. At one point, they came across Caboose, who was providing security. "Good evening, Valiant Heart!" He waved at Anthem. "It's been ages!" "That's 'Anthem', Caboose." Anthem said wearily. "You always get my name wrong." "Sorry, Anthem." Caboose apologized. "I must have some kind of mental block. Either that, or you really look like that 'Valiant Heart' pony." "I wouldn't know." Anthem shrugged. "And this lovely lady must be that marefriend I've heard tell about." Caboose smiled at Winter. "Red June, right?" "Winter Beach, actually." Winter corrected. "Oh, right." Caboose nodded. "I was close, though." "How is that close?" Winter asked. "It has the same amount of words in it." Caboose declared. "Anyways, enjoy the party!" Winter frowned as Caboose walked away. "What's up with him?" She asked Anthem. "Oh, he's always like that." Anthem declared. "He's one of the best Royal Guards around, though. He's the lieutenant back in Canterlot." "No offense, but they may want to work on their recruitment program over there." Winter declared. Over with the adults, Crashing and Summer had performed meet and greets with several other royals and nobles. Crashing was actually beginning to enjoy herself. But then she came face to face with Prince Blueblood, and the color drained from her face. "No... no..." Crashing gaped, "It can't be..." "Good evening." Blueblood smiled, "So glad you could make it tonight." "It's a pleasure to see you." Dusty added. "YOU!!" Crashing roared at Blueblood. "Me... what?" Blueblood asked, concerned at Crashing's angry. Crashing suddenly slugged him in the face. "That's been a long time coming, you foul piece of slime!" She yelled. However, in a flash, she was punched to the ground. "How dare you!" Dusty growled. "What is the matter with you?!" "Ugh!" Crashing stumbled. "I didn't think a royal would pack such a punch..." "You'd be surprised." Dusty declared. "My uncle Salt taught me one hundred and one ways to decapitate a stallion." "You mean 'incapacitate', don't you dear?" Blueblood asked, rubbed the spot he had been hit. "You heard me right." Dusty replied, before turning back to Crashing. "Why did you just hit my husband?" "My apologies." Crashing told her, as she got up. "It just... your husband bares an uncanny resemblance to this noble I had a bad experience with in my youth. Nobleblood, his name was." "Nobleblood?" Blueblood rose to his hooves, before frowning, "Oh... that explains it." "I'm so sorry, sir. I thought I was over it, but then..." Crashing stammered. "No, no, I don't blame you. You aren't the first pony who wanted to slug my father in the face." Blueblood sighed. "Father?" Crashing raised a brow. "Wait, so you're his son?" She glanced at him up and down. "Well, it's certainly a strong family resemblance…" "Yeah. I guess I picked the wrong day to stop using mane coloring." Blueblood gave a small chuckle. "I see." Crashing noted. "Well, you certainly have his sense of style..." "Thanks." Blueblood nodded. "I apologize for whatever my father did to you. He wasn't the best pony to be around…" "He wasn't, alright." Crashing said with distaste. "He treated me like a bit of dirt on his hoof. Our encounter left…a rather lasting impression on me." "If it's any consolation, he treated everypony like that." Blueblood recalled. "Even I wasn't safe from his smug superiority…he remained that way till the day he passed away…" "Good riddance." Crashing snarled. "Crashing…" Summer frowned. "It's fine." Blueblood sighed. "He and I never really got along to begin with. I loved him, like all sons love their fathers. But it seems the feeling wasn't reciprocated..." "So he was a jerk to everypony, then." Crashing frowned. "He even looked down on his own son. Such callousness..." "Alas, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Blueblood declared. "I used to be just like him. Until I met my darling Dusty here... she changed how I looked at things nowadays. She was a maid when we first met, you know." "Really?" Crashing gasped, surprised. "It's true." Dusty smiled. "I hold the distinct honor of being the commoner who won Blue's heart." "How romantic..." Summer cooed. "I suppose it is." Crashing agreed. "Just like Anthem and Winter..." "Besides, I'm not the first of the lower class to marry a royal." Dusty shrugged, "Shine was a rancher, Flash and Shining were guards, Gothic a courier... heck, a sideshow magician became king of the changelings." "I just don't understand it... why would ponies like you turn your back on your life just to live it up at some castle?" Crashing shook her head. "Well, when it comes to love, none of that matters." Dusty smiled. "We all must follow our hearts, no matter where they may take us." "Maybe..." Crashing muttered. "Though I'm a little worried at how far Winter's heart will take her..." "Well, it's nice knowing our daughter won't be lonely amongst ponies of your caliber when she and Anthem tie the knot." Summer smiled. "Let's not go too far, there." Crashing admonished him. Meanwhile, Anthem and Winter had taken time out from talking with the others to watch the stars from the castle balcony. "Your family is really great, Ant." Winter declared. "I gotta admit, I was a little worried that it would turn out mom was actually right about royals being stuck up and snobby, and you and your parents were just the exception. But I was wrong. They're all so nice." "Yeah, we're all ponies underneath." Anthem nodded. "Even that Caboose guy was okay... in his own weird way." Winter admitted. "You'll get used to that." Anthem told her. "Believe it or not, you actually start liking it." "Now that's weird." Winter chuckled. "Thanks again for the invite. This has been a great night." "Every night's a great night when I spend it with you." Anthem smiled. "Corny..." Winter rolled her eyes. "Lucky for you, I like corn." Winter leaned in and kissed Anthem on the lips. "That's me." Anthem smirked. "I'd have to be lucky to get a mare like you." All too soon, the festivities wound down, and the guests began to depart. This included Winter and her parents. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I had a wonderful time." Crashing told Cadance. "Good food, surprisingly amiable company..." "Perhaps you could come back next year." Cadance offered. "Perhaps." Crashing shrugged. "It certainly was a night to remember." Summer declared. "Coming, Winter?" "Just a sec, dad." Winter called, planting one more kiss on Anthem before. "See you soon." Anthem smiled. Winter's family got back into the carriage, and it took off. "Don't be strangers!" Shining called. "So, not so bad after all, was it?" Winter asked Crashing. "I'll admit, it had it's moments." Crashing smiled. "I told you it would be good to get out of the house." Summer chuckled. "Yes, yes." Crashing rolled her eyes. "You can both play 'I told you so' when we get home." "Is that a promise?" Winter teased. The family laughed as their carriage flew them home.