//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Crown of Winter 
// by CartoonNerd12 
//------------------------------//

This was it. The dreadful day had come for the suitors to march through those doors and proclaim their love to the royal princes and princesses.

The parents were trying to keep a calm head about it while the princes were bracing themselves for the girls they were hoping would come or not. The princesses, however, were sulking in their bedroom.

Screw Ball said as she placed the tiara on top of her head, "Don't worry, guys. Just remember the plan. We get through this for a whole month and it's off to Marendelle for fun and sun!"

Gemstone sighed, "Don't you just hate being royalty sometimes? I don't mind having everything you could want, but when it comes to duty…"

Cotton Candy went, "Mm-hmm! It gets to be no fun! No fun at all!"

"After all…" Starling started, "A princess must say this… A princess must do this!" She began a song cue, "Suitors will talk of love, but it's an act merely meant to throw me… How can someone love me when in fact… They don't know me… They want my royal treasure when all is said and done… It's time for a desperate measure… so I wonder…"

Apple Jewel went to the balcony, looking up to the sky and singing, "Why shouldn't I fly so far from here… I know the girl I might become here… Sad and confined and always locked behind these palace walls…" She thought back to the time she was in the Dragon Lands where she met a certain dragon prince…

Screwy sang, "Told to show devotion ev'ry day!"

Cotton sang, "And not second-guess it!"

Gem sings, "If a new emotion comes my way…"

They all sang, "You suppress it!"

Starling vocalized, "What would be your suggestion?"

Gem sang, "Stand on your own four hooves!"

Jewel, Cotton, and Star sang, "And ask why a certain question keeps repeating!"

Screwball sang, "Why shouldn't I fly so far from here… I know the girl I might become here… Follow your heart or you might end up cold and callous!"

They sang, "Love comes to those who go and find it… If you've a dream, then stand behind it…"

Jewel sang, "Maybe there's more beyond these palace walls! What if I dared…? What if I tried…? Am I prepared... for what's outside…? Why shouldn't I fly so far from here? Something awaits beyond these palace walls!"

They all finished, "Ah! Ah! Something waits beyond these palace walls!"

They sighed sadly, knowing it was just wishful thinking on their parts.




Twilight faced the large crowd at the castle steps with her sisters, each of them holding stacks of forms.

Twilight addressed her subjects, "First of all, thank you for coming to call for my children and my nieces and nephews. As royals, it is hard for us to meet anyone without going outside the castle, so to make things easier, we ask that you fill out an application before going to meet the princes and princesses." She magically handed out her forms while her sisters handed out the forms in their own way. "Once you are done completing the form, please keep a hold of them and we'll send you all in one at a time. Thank you again for your interest and I wish you all the best of luck."

The royal sisters went inside while the crowd started scribbling on their applications.

They entered the ballroom, where there was a long table like that of a judge's panel and their children were seated at it. This way, the suitor that had come to call for them can meet with them and would be interviewed by the prince or princess.

Applejack mentioned, "This was a neat idea, Twi. Kind of wish we had something like this instead of Mom making us get married to any prince or regent."

Rarity beamed in response, "I had my doubts before, but this may actually work! The kids can narrow down their choices, set the dates, and voila! They fall in love and I will be a grandmother - and a great-aunt to boot!"

AJ shook her head in exasperation.

While the mothers were excited, the kids were dreading the moment.

Dignity whispered to Fire Spark, "What if Mauve doesn't come? Then I'll get stuck with phony mares pining for my affections… My sister had the right idea all along. The girls were smart to say 'no' to this at first."

"I know it's scary, and I am worried that Dawn won't show up either, but something tells me we were bound to go through with this even if we didn't have preferences ahead of time. As our mothers said, we must have heirs to our kingdoms."

Whirl Wind whispered in, "Doesn't it bother you that we're supposed to have kids for convenience and not for ourselves?"

Fire asked, "You don't want kids?"

"I didn't say that, but I would like to have them in my own time."

"I quite agree." Dignity nodded.

Fire sighed, "I agree, too… All our lives, we've been forced to follow protocol. I can remember coming very close to training to be the next king, and thankfully because of Starling's birth, I was able to decline the honor."

"What would have happened if Star wasn't born and you would have declined anyway?" Whirl questioned.

"Then my guess is they would have chosen one of you guys or the girls to train instead."

The mothers came over then and the kids gave them their attention.

Rainbow Dash asked, "You guys ready?"

The kids exchanged unsure glances, but Starling spoke on their behalf, "As we'll ever be…"

Twilight gave a nod and turned to a guard, "Send in the first wave of suitors."

The ballroom got crowded in an instant as ponies got in line in front of their chosen prince or princess. Gemstone, Dignity, Fire Spark, Starling, and Whirl Wind got the most in their lines while Screw Ball had a only a few.

This would be considered a good thing, but Screwy felt a little upset that ponies wanted her cousins more and how hardly anyone wanted her. Even those she did interview with seemed uneasy next to her once they got a closer look at her. Apple Jewel was just as uneasy as she faced the colts in front of her, but she couldn't feel attracted to any of them and barely asked them questions. Cotton was vibrant asking all sorts of questions at a fast pace that barely a few caught them all. Some of their answers to her were dissatisfactory. Gemstone was trying her hardest to get through her suitors by choosing trick questions. One of those questions were:

"If you saw me without my make up and my hair being a mess in the morning, how would you react?"

The suitor had a gold tooth in his mouth and replied, "Hey, I would just say, 'Princess, you're beautiful no matter what! You're priceless, anyway!'"

She gave a smirk, "And you, sir, have expensive taste…" she thought, Which can only mean you're after my money… And that's another reject on the rejected suitor pile… She put the form on a large stack. She actually did have a couple of suitable applicants because they acted with gentry and managed to answer their trick questions in an acceptable way on the side. "Next!"

Once the previous suitor left, the stallion that came next was cream-colored and had a light blue mane with gray streaks in it. The stallion was young and handsome enough, but Gem knew looks weren't everything. She just met quite a few good-looking stallions, but they were so arrogant that she had to reject them. But this handsome stallion seemed shy. Gem put on a warm smile and greeted him.

"Hello." she took a look at his application, "Your name is Seam?"

He gave a timid nod.

"One of your hobbies include helping your parents in their costume shop, you do needlepoint because it's your special talent, and just recently, you helped with costumes in the Hinny of the Hills production on Bridleway!"

"Yeah…" he rubbed his neck, "I know it's not much, but that's all there is do with my life, which is far from the impressive lifestyle you lead, Your Highness."

"Don't be silly! It sounds to me you have a great lifestyle! You work on Bridleway! You do needlepoint and help your parents! That's very rare to find in a good stallion…" She smiled genuinely, "Pray tell, why would you come all the way from Manehatten just to get a chance to be turned away?"

"Well… I wanted to meet you, actually. Even if you have no feelings for me, just the chance to see you was more than enough."

Gem was intrigued by what he was saying, "And… why do you say that?"

"I've read about you in magazines and newspapers. You got a great style and I would love to make a dress for you one day."

"You would?!" her eyes practically gleamed, but remembering where she was at, she cleared her throat, "That is… I would be delighted. Thank you so much for the offer… By the way, you might want to stay in town…" She winked.

He blushed as he understood what this meant, "Than… Thank you, Your Highness."

"Gemstone. Even if nothing happens, I want us to be friends, Seam."

"Yes, Your- I mean, Gemstone…" he smiled.

"I shall have a guard retrieve you within a few days."

"Of course, thank you again, Gemstone." He practically skipped on his way out, causing her to giggle. But once she faced the next suitor, her smile faded and she felt bored with every suitor after. It seemed that once Seam left, all her joy left.

Starling reviewed the applications as she received them. At once, she thought of questions that could help separate the truth from the lies on the forms and she managed to catch the liars every time.

The boys were barely paying attention to their prospects as they kept watch for the mares they wanted. But when it came close to the end of girl suitors, they saw them! They tried to be polite to the suitors they had at the moment, but they couldn't keep their excitement as the girls got closer. Finally, when they did, the girls sent their invitations down before the boys and gave off frowns.

Sky spoke, "So, you couldn't just invite me over some other time?"

Dawn mentioned, "You had to do it when other girls are gaga for you?"

Mauve said, "It's not that I'm flattered, but do you know how long we had to wait just to talk with you three?"

The boys cringed and were blushing.

Dignity finally spoke, "We… wanted to ask you sooner, but we were scared… We were cowards."

"Big chickens." Whirl replied.

"Yellow-bellied liverwurst…" Fire Spark admitted shamefully.

Dignity pointed, "Before we knew it, our mothers wanted us to choose a bride, and we were afraid you wouldn't show up on your own, so we had to somehow lure you to the palace…"

The girls' eyes widened.

Sky slowly said, "So, wait… We're your guys' first choice?"

They nodded their heads.

Dawn looked at the invites, "Suddenly, I see these as hall passes…"

The group couldn't help but laugh to that.

Mauve addressed Dignity, "You know, we never get a chance to talk, what with our parents' social circles keeping us from really getting to know each other… I always thought I was too low your status to even have you."

"Far from it! If anything, you are too good for me!"

She blushed and chuckled, "You are positively charming, Your Highness."

"Only because I am inspired by your grace and beauty."

"Chez Cheval. Tomorrow. Eight o'clock sharp." She blew a kiss and left, causing Dignity to swoon and faint.

Sky said to Whirl, "So… all this time… you had a crush on me…" She smirked.

"Yeah, yeah, but don't get cocky over that. I can still beat you in a race."

"Any husband I marry better be able to beat me, because I don't settle for second best." She winked and flew out of there in a jet.

Whirl blinked a few times before fainting himself.

Dawn told Fire, "You know… every time you came in the library, I was hoping you would ask me out. When you didn't, I tried to ask you myself, but like you, I was a yellow-bellied liverwurst…" She blushed.

He blushed too, "I wanted to ask you so many times, but I never had the courage to do so… I hope you can forgive me for this being the only way…"

"Well… knowing now that I was your first choice helps ease the blow… I really do like you, Fire Spark."

He smiled and took her hoof, "How about I take you out for doughnuts tomorrow?"

"Sure." In one quick kiss, she ran for the door, leaving him paralyzed. Then, he fainted as well.

The girls noticed them on the floor and Screw Ball commented, "They are so hopeless…"