//------------------------------//
// Chapter 29 
// Story: Crown of Winter 
// by CartoonNerd12 
//------------------------------//

"They're still at the castle. They're catching up from the last twenty years or so." Moth Ball reported to his mother. The plan was that he had to keep her distracted while Screw Ball's cousins went to the Breezies to find another shard.

"Good, good…" she wickedly smirked. "The more Celestia feels happy, the rest of her ponies feel happy, and happiness equals love." She faced her subjects, "Isn't that right, my pets?"

There was buzzing as they agreed to her statement.

"You are doing well, Moth Ball. Keep it up."

"Yes, Mother." he bowed his head, much to his distaste, and went out.

The commander told the queen, "Your Highness, why didn't you bring up what happened last night when he was not in disguise with the mare I saw with him?"

"Why should I? It's obvious he has managed to seduce the mare that he has no need to disguise himself. He must be using her as his informant."

"He's doing a pretty excellent job, then."

"Of course he is! He's my son, isn't he?! Where else would he have learned his techniques from?"

"But I sensed a large amount of love coming from them last night and I don't think it was just the mare…"

Chrysalis glared darkly at the changeling solider, "You're sure?"

"Affirmative."

She turned away as she said under her breath, "Perhaps I will need to have a little chat with my son…"




Screw Ball was confused by what Fire Spark was saying.

"Why do I have to stay here while the rest of you are going to the Breezies?"

"We need someone to keep an eye on things while we're away." But he could see from Screwy's expression she wasn't buying it.

"Fine… we thought you would like it if you could stay close to Moth Ball… You know he has to stay here to keep his mother occupied." Suddenly, he felt hers wrapping her arms around him and noticed a wetness on his shoulder, "Are… you…? Crying?"

She faced him with happy tears as she wiped them away, "That is the sweetest thing you guys are doing!"

"Consider it as a gift to make up for not noticing your feelings sooner… You were right. You still shouldn't have hypnotized Gemstone, but we can understand why you did it."

"You guys are the best! And don't worry, I promise to watch over our mothers while you're away."

"Uncle Shining Armor insisted on accompanying us. I can't blame him, for I long to return to Dawn's hooves."

"She's a lucky mare. All I can say is you better not wait too long to marry her."

He had a look of guilt, "I just wish you can…"

She finished for him, "Have a happily-ever-after? It would be nice, but we do need to fix this timeline… I made a vow that if I couldn't have love, then I would help others find love…"

"You are truly a noble mare, Screwy…" they went into a hug.

Moth Ball saw the sight as he walked in. He could have sworn that if they weren't related, he would have been so jealous. He made a point of it as he said, "I swear, if you weren't her cousin, I would feel very threatened by this."

Screwy giggled as she blushed.

Fire smirked in amusement, "Fret not. Even if we weren't, she wouldn't be my type. She's all yours."

"I sure am!" she flashed a flirtatious smile at her changeling beau and he blushed in return.

"Alright, I got your map of the location where the Breezies are." Fire took it out. "Now if we turn into Breezies and follow these directions, we should get to the place?"

"Yup," Screwy pointed. "Just follow them to a T and you'll be there in no time. First, take off at the Astronomy Tower."

He nodded, "Yeah…"

Screwball slid her hoof across the map as she said, "Then travel 40 miles to Elk Point Tundra."

"Elk Point Tundra?! You're kidding me! We'll freeze out there!"

Mothball pointed out, "Not to mention the curse will progress more in cold temperatures."

Screwball nodded in acknowledgment, "I know, but it's a risk we'll have to take." She reverted her attention back to the map and continued, "After you get through the tundra, you're going to travel across Goati Desert before you finally reach the Breezies' land at this point."

Fire Spark said, "Assuming whether the portal's open or not. But if it isn't, Mom supplied us with a spell that'll open it."

"If everything is successful, we'll meet you where the desert and tundra meet."

"Good. We'll see you two when we return with another shard."

Mothy pointed, "Just keep in mind that my mother won't wait forever. I don't know how much longer I can keep her at bay."

"Got it." Fire nodded.




Cotton - in her new Breezie body - squealed in delight as she twirled around the rest of her Breezie cousins, Breezie Rock Salt, and Breezie Shining Armor. They were traveling across Equestria on a breeze that Rainbow and a couple of other Pegasi guards she recruited helped make in Canterlot.

Gemstone scolded, "Cotton, stay with the group! We're so tiny now, we can't afford to get separated and lost!"

Whirl pointed, "She's right!" He grabbed onto his cousin's tiny hoof and put her in line, "Now stay put!"

"Aww!" she whined. She brightened up again and began to sing, "On the road again…I can't wait to get on the road again…"

Several of the cousins groaned as Whirl Wind said, "You just don't know when to quit, do you?"

Cotton replied cheerfully, "Nope."

Starling remarked, "Just like Aunt Pinkie Pie."

Roller Blade said, "No duh."

Shining Armor asked, "Fire Spark, where are we on the map?"

Fire Spark looked at it and said, "We should be nearing Elk Point Tundra by now."

Snow Pea, who was at the front, said, "All right. You know the drill. Huddle up so you don't freeze. Change formation per minute so everyone gets a turn being warm. Shining Armor and I will use our magic to keep you all in place so none of you accidentally gets separated from the group. Are we good?"

Every Breezie affirmed, "Yep!"

LB pointed to the horizon and said, "There's the tundra, dead ahead!"

Snow Pea said, "Okay. On my mark, huddle together. One…two…three!"

At her signal, the cousins and Rock Salt huddled together into one big lump of Breezies. Shining Armor aimed his magic at the group and enveloped them in a red aura. Without looking back at her cousins and friend, Snow Pea activated her horn and her blue magic aura mixed with Shining Armor's to create a violet aura around the group. When they reached the tundra, Snow Pea couldn't feel the cold, but since the cursed group became hypersensitive to the cold, they started shivering.

Shining Armor said, "Hold fast, guys! You can make it!"

Gemstone shivered, "A-are you sure we won't t-turn into ice statues before w-we get through the tundra?"

Rock Salt said, "We can do this! It won't be long now…" He turned to Snow Pea and asked, "…right, Snow Pea?"

The snow princess turned back to see the tightly-packed group. She gasped when she saw white streaks replacing the last of their regular mane colors. She was terrified of the possible outcome for a moment until she reminded herself to stay optimistic.

She told them, "Don't worry. We'll get to the desert in no time. Just hang on." She then thought when she turned from them, I hope.

The group barely made it through the tundra when they reached the desert. The cold had depleted the group of their strength – Shining Armor and Snow Pea from using their magic and the rest from the curse – so they sat down on a leafy plant to rest for a few moments. Snowy checked her cousins and friend for any more signs of the curse progressing, but to her relief, their completely white manes marked the only stage the curse had reached so far.

Snow went to her sister and asked, "Are you doing okay, Lil?"

LB replied, "Yeah. Just a little cold, but not as much as when we were in the tundra. You were really great out there, Snowy. You showed true leadership and got us through the tundra okay."

"I was more than a leader, sis. I was family. I'm just glad that you're all okay now. Still, I don't know how much time we have before the curse is complete."

"You're doing everything you can, Snow Pea."

"But what if I'm not doing enough? That's the problem."

"So what if it's not enough? It's still your best. I'm lucky to have a sister who's looking out for all of us."

Snow Pea turned away from her in shame and said, "Would you want to have a sister who just keeps wrecking everything, including time? I tried to stomp my hoof three times last night, but it didn't work."

"What? Why did you do it in the first place?"

"I thought I could destroy this alternate timeline and set things right again."

"But what about the mirror? If you had destroyed this timeline, the remaining shards might've never been found."

"See? I wasn't thinking. Look, the sooner we find the rest of the shards, the better."

Shining Armor said, "She's right. We have to move quickly before the portal to the Breezies' land closes up."

Thankfully, every Breezie recovered from their trip through Elk Point Tundra, so they resumed the journey. They flew across the desert and finally reached a waterfall.

Cotton gasped when she saw a hole beside it, "The portal's open! The portal's open!"

Fire Spark said, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's not the portal."

Shining Armor said, "Well, let's go through it and find out." He was desperately hoping that the portal would be open so he would see his beloved Cadance again. To his delight, a small opening with a shimmery rim laid at the far end of the tunnel.

LB exclaimed, "This is it!"

Cotton cheered as she spun around, "Woo-hoo! We found the Breezies!"

Dignity said, "Well, we'd better hurry, then. It looks like the entrance won't be open for long."

The group quickly got to the other side and gasped at the amazement of the Breezies' native land.

Whirl Wind cried, "Holy miniside paradise!"

Skater said, "This place is the awesomest!"

Cotton squealed in delight, "So…stinkin'…cute!"

Just then, a crowd of Breezies hovered to the newcomers. Many chattered in curiosity of who the visitors could possibly be.

Rock Salt whispered, "Um…What are they saying?"

Starling shrugged, "I have no clue."

At that moment, a blue Breezie with a fluffy, pink mane flew forward. He asked a question in the Breezie language.

Fire Spark elaborated, "We're…sorry…We don't…understand you…Can any one of you speak in this language?"

The blue Breezie said as he pointed to himself, "I will speak on behalf of the Breezies. Again, I ask, what business do you have here?"

Shining Armor flew forward and said, "We seek the Breezie named Cadance."

As the native Breezies gasped, Sea Breeze asked in suspicion, "What do you want with Cadance?"

"I wish to see her again. Cadance and I were childhood friends. Please, I ask that we may meet again."

Before Sea Breeze could say a word, a sweet voice came from the crowd, "Sea Breeze, what's going on here-" She gasped when she saw Shining Armor's face.

She had never expected to see him again, and in Breezie form, too. The same could be said for Shining Armor. He was smitten with how beautiful Cadance had become. He could only imagine how her pony form would reflect the beauty within her.

He said softly with glimmering eyes, "Cady…"

Cadance's own eyes filled with tears as she flew to embrace him. "Shiny!" When they hugged tightly, she smiled, "Oh, Shiny, it is you!"

Sea Breeze asked, "You are very devoted to come here in this form. But how did you possibly know where Cadance was?"

Apple Jewel said, "Princess Luna told us." She and the cousins knew it was the truth because Luna had told them the story a long time ago in the right timeline.

Cadance asked with hopeful eyes, "So does this mean my mother wants me to come home?"

Snow Pea nodded, "Yes, but we aren't sure about the danger that'll be out there." That was true. Nopony knew where Tirek was hiding. They considered the possibility of running into him, but knew it was a risk worth taking.

Sea Breeze said, "Of course. Life in Equestria for a Breezie is far too dangerous, especially since we are so small."

Shining Armor said, "Don't worry. We've got just the thing to help Cadance."

Sea Breeze stayed silent until he said, "All right. But only if you take good care of Cadance."

Cadance hugged Sea Breeze in gratitude and said, "Thank you, Sea Breeze. For this and everything!"

He chuckled, "You are most welcome, Cadance. Now go out into the world and fulfill your destiny."

As soon as the native Breezies said goodbye to Cadance, she and the visitors left through the portal before it closed. When they got to the waterfall, Cadance breathed, "It's been so long since I've been out here. The only time I left the Breezie land was the one pollination trip I embarked on."

The cousins knew that it was supposed to be that trip that reunited Cadance with her cousins. But since the sisters had been separated from each other in this timeline, there was virtually no way they could've been in Ponyville at the time. This made Snow Pea even guiltier for destroying the fateful tornado.

Shining Armor took her hooves and said, "Oh, Cadance, I missed you so much. There honestly wasn't any mare I would've rather married than you."

This took Cadance by surprise. "Really? You never married because…you wanted me?"

He nodded, "Yes, Cady. I really mean it."

She pulled away from him and said, "But I can't marry you. Not like this. I don't think there's a way to end this curse."

He then smirked as he gestured to the other Breezies, "And that's why they're here."

Apple Butter said, "You see, we're from an alternate timeline where you and Shining Armor are living happily-ever-after. Snow Pea –" She glanced at her cousin, who gave an uncomfortable look. Apple Butter corrected herself, "I mean, a mirror containing an important day was destroyed. It turns out that particular day held the key to our future. We're supposed to be the children of your cousins and adopted cousins, so we know this isn't the right timeline. We're trying to find the shards of the mirror so we can set everything right."

Starling added, "We figured that if we mended the bonds in our family, we could find more shards."

Cadance asked, "Is that how you know about what happened to me?"

Shining Armor nodded, "Yes, Cadance. Everything they told me was true. They were the only ones besides Twilight who knew about our relationship as kids."

She rubbed her chin in thought, "Hmm…Let me test them." She then asked the Breezies, "What did I give to Shining Armor to remember me by?"

Amazingly, all of the girls answered, "A blue hair ribbon!"

Roller asked, "How could you guys remember that stuff? We only remember the big picture."

LB said, "Hey, we remember everything that's romantic."

Cadance was surprised by the girls' answer and then said, "So…this isn't the right timeline. We've been living a lie all along."

Shining Armor said, "But we can help restore history as it should be, Cady."

"But how?"

Gemstone said, "By breaking your curse."

Cadance asked with hopeful eyes, "You mean there is a way to turn me back into a pony?"

The Breezies all nodded before Starling said, "In the proper timeline, Shining Armor broke your curse by proclaiming a vow of everlasting love after you kissed him."

Shining said, "Ever since they told me how, I've been practicing my vow to you on the way here."

Cadance smiled, "I would love to hear it, but I love you even more." She then kissed her beloved on the lips.

After being in a daze for a few moments, Shining Armor shook out of it and cleared his throat, "Well, here it goes." He took Cadance's hooves and said, "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, I make a vow of everlasting love to you. To me, you are not just a beauty with appearances, but you are also beautiful at heart. Your kindness, your courage, I have always loved you for that. And I will never stop loving you even until the day you die because I will love you for much longer than that. This is my vow."

Cadance was on the brink of joyful tears as she grinned, "Oh, Shiny!"

When they locked lips, their horns joined and began to glow. The glow became so bright that the other Breezies had to cover their eyes. When the light died down, the group gasped to see the couple in their pony forms! Cadance, overjoyed to regain her true form, hugged Shining Armor as he twirled her in the air.

The alicorn said, "I'm me again! Isn't it wonderful?"

Her beloved said, "I don't care what form you are, as long as I'm with you to the ends of Equestria."

They locked lips again when the Breezies saw something shimmering in Shining Armor's mane and Cadance's. Without ruining the special moment, Little Button and Skater delicately grabbed the shards. When they peered into it, there was nothing but their own reflections.

Skater asked, "Do you see anything, Lil?"

LB responded, "Nope. Just my face."

"Ditto."

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind carried the Breezies away. The couple cried, "Guys!"

Whirl Wind cried, "Turn us back into ponies, Star!"

Starling said, "I can't! We're too high up in the air!"

Fire Spark shouted to Shining Armor and Cadance, "Don't worry about us! We'll find you! Just meet Screwball where Goati Desert and Elk Point Tundra meet!"

The reunited couple looked on in worry as the wind took the group to who-knows-where.