“I’ve made my decision” Spike piped up, bringing the 2 arguing princesses attention to him. “While you 2 have some solid points and I could benefit from either one of your choices, but I’m gonna have to go with Twilight’s choice.”
“Why Spike?” Celestia questioned, while Twilight was gleaming a bright smile on her muzzle. “I thought that your dear mama could really make you into as great and amazing of a ruler as I am”
“I know that you can mom, but as far as being an actual consort goes, Shining Armor is literally on the same boat as I am, and besides, I get to brag to Ember about how I heroically saved the Crystal Empire…..twice!!” Spike proudly bragged, but he went up to Celestia and hugged her. “I promise to come see you for advice as soon as I’m done over there, ok?” he asked her in a understanding tone.
“...Well…...ok then, but you better show up” Celestia pouted, but she nodded in a confirming stance and hugged him back. “Either way, this is the first real step for you Spike, and I know that you will be handle yourself just fine. Look at the time, me and Luna have to go to a meeting in Canterlot soon, and we can’t be late. Thank you for having us over Twilight, and tell your friends and Ember that we will see them later. Tata!!” With a wink, Celestia and Luna teleported back to Canterlot, just when Ember and the girls re-entered the map room.
“Where did Celestia and Luna go?” Ember asked, confused as to where the 2 tall alicorns went off to.
“They had an important meeting to go to, and they send you their regards” Twilight responded to Ember’s question. “Anyways, me and Spike have to go to the Crystal Empire for an important task, and we would like for you to join us” Twilight invited her royal guest.
“What is this so called…...Crystal Empire?” Ember quizzically asked.
“Follow me, and all…...will be revealed” Spike mysteriously said, as he grabbed Ember’s hand, waved goodbye to girls, and he and Twilight started to fly towards the Crystal Empire, with Dragon Lord Ember in tow.
---------------Crystal Station, Crystal Empire---------------
“So let me get this straight…” Ember began to question. “This is a empire, made entirely out of crystal, and it was banished 1,000 years ago by an evil unicorn by the name of King Sombra, and it is now being ruled over by an alicorn that was your previous foalsitter and your older brother?”
“Pretty much. Also, there are ponies like my friends back in Ponyville here, but their entire body is entirely composed of crystal, hench the name of them being “crystal ponies” and the fact that it is placed in the frozen north of Equestria”.
“You ponies never cease to surprise me. I wonder what else this empire has” Ember asked in a curious and intrigued manner.
“Well Ember…..I don’t mean to brag, but your’s truly is kinda hailed around here as a hero in the Crystal Empire” Spike stated in an obvious bragging tone as he, Ember, and Twilight were walking towards the tall tower standing in the middle of the empire..
“Pfffttt…...yeah right, like these crystal ponies would ever declare you as…..a…...hero” Ember was about to passively brush off that claim, until she saw the statue of Spike when she first saw him from the gauntlet embroiled in crystal, and holding up some replica of a heart relic.
“You were saying something?” Spike questioned in a smug manner, taking in the surprised look on his dragon lord’s face.
“How is that even possible? I thought ponies, even crystal ones by extension, would be scared to death of dragons, yet there’s a statue of one right here in front of me”
“Long story short, I helped Cadence, the princess of this empire, bring back the Crystal Heart that was once lost, but was hidden away by the same Sombra, and then I saved the empire from a giant ice meteor during the Equestria Games. Ever since then, the ponies here always ask for autographs and stories and even…..”
“OMG, ITS THE GREAT AND HONORABLE SPIKE THE BRAVE AND GLORIOUS!!!!! HE’S GRACED US WITH HIS PRESENCE ONCE AGAIN!!!!”
“I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT THE GREAT AND HONORABLE SPIKE THE BRAVE AND GLORIOUS IS STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!!”
“I HAVE GOTS TO HAVE HIS AUTOGRAPH!!!”
“I WANT HIM AS MY HUSBANDO!!!”
“NO WAY MISSY; HE BELONGS TO ME AND ME ALONE!!!”
“GET HIM!!!”
“Speaking of which, I say we get out of here….like, NOW!!!” Twilight booked it, while a mass of crystal citizens, fangirls, and enthusiasts were rushing their way towards Spike and Ember, and the 2 of them followed in pursuit of Twilight, hoping to give Spike’s worshippers the slip.
------------------ Crystal Tower, Crystal Empire ------------------
Twilight, Ember and Spike were successful in escaping from the mob of crystal citizens. Resting their back on the giant doors as to keep them out, as well as give them some breathing room, the 3 proceeded to catch their breath and once they heard nothing from the other side, they soon left and reached the throne room, where they saw Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, otherwise shortened to as Cadence, finishing up their daily checklist of what needed to be done.
“Twily…..Spike, what brings you 2 here? Shining questioned, hugging his LSBFF, and fist-bumping his surrogate little bro.
“We wanted to see how the empire was holding up, and also, to show our guest here what the Crystal Empire is all about.” Twilight answered her BBBFF, as she ran towards her fellow alicorn and old foalsitter and they did, what Ember would look at it as, their traditional dance.
“Sunshine Sunshine
Ladybug’s awake;
Clap your hooves
And do a little shake”
“It’s always so nice to meet you Twilight; Same for you Spike” Cadence smiled and saw Ember is the distance a few feet away from them. “So you must be Dragon Lord Ember, and might I say, it is a pleasure to meet you in the flesh, or scales in this case” she extended her hoof out and waited for her to shake it.
“I must say….this empire is really intricate and complex for one that’s entirely made from crystal” Ember responded as she shook Cadences hoof with a firm grip.
“So Spike, what exactly brings you and Ember around here?” Shining asked the dragon in question.
“Ya see Shining, I kinda need you and Cadence’s advice on how you guys do the whole “ruling a nation” thing, seeing as how you guys have been doing it well enough, and I’m sure that you guys will have some excellent points for me to use” Spike said.
“While I would be more than happy to give you some pointers, why would you need to know that kind of info?” Shining honestly asked him.
“It’s kind of a long story, and I say that the 5 of us sit down, have some lunch and we’ll explain to you the details” Spike and Twilight explained to them, and with that, the 5 royal members traversed on down to the main eating room, to explain the whole situation to the 2 curious royal ponies.