//------------------------------//
// Chapter 32 
// Story: Crown of Winter 
// by CartoonNerd12 
//------------------------------//

The traveling group of royals and Rock Salt had just left Cheese's home and now walked down the street. The hot chocolate Cheese gave them helped with their body temperatures greatly. Still, they didn't know how long it would last. They looked all around Manehattan while searching for the train station.

Gemstone remarked, "You know, Manehattan's such a big place in this timeline."

Roller said, "Yeah, though we've never been here before."

"Seam lives here. Or at least, he does in our timeline. I don't even know…"

The group took a few more steps before they noticed that somepony wasn't with them. They turned back and saw Gemstone, all shocked and motionless.

Dignity asked, "Sister? Are you okay?"

Gem breathed, "Do you…remember what Coco Pommel and Silver Shill did before they came to Manehattan?"

Apple Jewel answered, "They were Tirek's servants, weren't they?"

At that moment, the kids realized what Gem was getting at.

Fire Spark said, "Since Tirek was never defeated and we've yet to encounter him, it could be possible that Miss Pommel and Silver Shill are still serving him."

Gemstone's voice quivered with dread, "But what about Seam? He…he might not…" She couldn't bring herself to say it and burst into tears.

The others knew what she was getting at and Dignity and Apple Jewel wrapped their arms around her in sympathy.

Dignity said, "It's an awful thing for your true love to not exist in this world."

Jewel gave a sad chuckle, "I know how she feels. Asher doesn't exist here, either."

Starling asked, "And if we're not meant to exist here, then who is?"

Suddenly, a small cloud whizzed over them and a Pegasus chased after it. They heard the stallion say, "Hey, come back here, you! You're going back into the processing machine even if I have to drag you every wingbeat of the way!"

Whirl had a gaped expression and he breathed, "No way. Is that…?"

The other cousins were shocked as well when they realized the Pegasus that was chasing the cloud was Soarin'!

Soarin' finally caught up to the cloud and scooped it into a glass jar. "Gotcha! It took me a while, but I finally have you, you little scamp."

Just then, he heard shouting by various ponies and looked down to see a group of them waving at him as if they were trying to get his attention. He flew down to them and asked, "Um, yeah? What can I do for you?"

Whirl said, "Okay, I know this is going to sound crazy, but we're from an alternate timeline and we're trying to fix a mirror so we can restore history as it should be." When Soarin' looked at him like he was crazy, Whirl further explained, "Look, to prove to you that what we're saying is true, I'll say this: you were a waterboy for the Wonderbolts because you wanted to join them."

Soarin', deciding to humor them, asked, "What year did I become a waterboy?" When Whirl whispered the response in his ear, Soarin's mouth flew open and his eyes shrunk. "I didn't think…It's just that…nopony's ever remembered the waterboy. Either you're a really avid fan of the Wonderbolts or you really are from another timeline."

Whirl said, "Well, it's more than that. I'm supposed to be your son."

Soarin' could see the stark resemblance to him now. The stranger had his eyes and his coat color. He wondered about the white mane color, though. He asked, "Are you Fleetfoot's kid, too?"

Whirl shook his head, "No." He brushed his hoof against his mane as he said, "The white in our manes is because Windigos put a freezing curse on us. I'm supposed to be Rainbow Dash's son as well as yours."

Now his dad was more shocked than ever. Soarin' said, "I…was supposed to marry…Princess Rainbow Dash?! Okay, I need a mug of apple cider right now. Why don't you all come up to my hovel in the sky and tell me everything? Maybe I'll make sense of it somehow."




Once Soarin' poured the apple cider in cups and mugs for the kids and himself, the group told him everything about what happened in their timeline. As he listened more intently, he soon grew to believe what the visitors were saying.

Soarin' then told them, "Well, that certainly explains a lot. Except that Wonderbolt bit. I quit being a waterboy after a long time and became a weather pony instead."

Starling said, "But in our timeline, something made you stay and we're trying to figure out what it was."

He shrugged, "You got me. I got tired being ignored and passed over. But if Whirl Wind here is my kid from another timeline, then I might've stayed for Rainbow Dash's sake. She always loved the derbies when King Sombra took her."

Whirl said, "Then it might have something to do with Mom."

At that moment, Soarin' took a sip of his mug. He noticed something queer and looked into his cider. He then pulled out a mirror shard and said, "That's weird. I don't remember putting this in my mug."

Snow Pea said in astonishment, "That's another mirror shard."

"It is?"

Whirl took the shard and said, "Yeah."

He looked into the piece and saw an image of his father when he was young. Soarin' looked tired and frustrated as he sat down on a bench.

The young Soarin' sighed, "I might as well quit right now. It looks like I'll never be a Wonderbolt." Suddenly, a strong wind blew the locker room door open and the newspapers that were neatly stacked on a table took flight. He groaned, "Oh…Why do these things happen to me?" Just then, he caught a glimpse of a picture of Rainbow Dash racing. He read the headline and saw that she raced for a good cause. He then said with newfound determination, "Well, if she can race for a good cause, then so can I. I'll find a way to become a Wonderbolt for you, Rainbow Dash."

Whirl's heart melted at his father's vow, even though his expression did not reflect what he was feeling.

Skater asked, "So what did you see?"

After Whirl explained everything, Soarin' said, "Wow. I must've been more into Rainbow Dash than I thought."

LB said, "Well, luckily for you, she's still single."

"She is?!"

Whirl said smugly, "Yep. Dukey Boy never had a chance."

Soarin's face lit up with hope until a clock rang. "Oh, shoot! I have to deliver a cool breeze to Marendelle!"

Snow Pea said to her cousins, "You know, this might be our chance to get a shard from Dad." She turned to Soarin' and asked, "Could we come with you to Marendelle? We could find something for you to give to Rainbow Dash."

"Well…I think I can give it a shot. Welcome aboard, dudes and dudettes!"

The group cheered as the cloud hovel made its way to Marendelle.




Meanwhile, at the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor and Cadance strolled down the shimmering streets, but even though Screwball had visited the Empire many times, she could not enjoy it now. She was too cold to think of anything else. While they were making their way to the kingdom, a kindly stranger had offered Screwy a hoof-knitted sweater. Although it helped her keep somewhat warm, she now felt colder than ever when she and the couple reached the Empire. She attributed the icy sensation to the Empire's location near the Frozen North, but she feared that it might be something far worse.

Shining Armor asked, "Hey, Screwball? How are you holding up?"

Screwy shivered, "Not so good. I can't even feel my h-hooves."

Cadance said, "When we see Mother again, we'll ask her to help you."

When they reached the palace doors, two guards stopped them and asked, "Who might you strangers be?"

Cadance said, "I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, daughter of Princess Luna. This is Shining Armor and Screwball. We request an audience with my mother."

To make sure Cadance was who she said she was, one guard asked, "How did you come to be?"

Shining Armor had told her everything the cousins told him, so Cadance said with fair confidence, "Luna consumed a magical flower so she would have a child. I am that child."

The guards looked stunned and then ushered the trio inside. The second guard said in a surprised tone, "This way."

When they got to the double doors, the first guard said, "Wait here." He entered the throne room and said to Luna, who was sitting on the crystal throne, "Your Highness, a pony has come to the palace. She claims to be Princess Cadance."

Luna asked, "Has she passed the test?"

The guard nodded, "With flying colors."

Hope tepidly filled her heart as she said, "Bring her in."

When the double doors were opened, Luna could hardly believe what she was seeing. There she was, her beautiful daughter, standing before her mother with such grace and beauty.

Mother and daughter flew to embrace each other tightly. In that moment, both of them knew it to be true.

Luna said with a voice thick with emotion, "Oh, my daughter! I rejoice at your happy return!"

Cadance said likewise, "I'm just so happy to see you again after all these years."

Luna said sadly as she pulled apart from her daughter, "Yes. It has been too long. I was starting to wonder if you would ever return. But then, I looked into the dream of a seer and he foresaw your arrival here. He also predicted that you would know everything about your past. As soon as I woke up, I told the guards to ask you about how you came into the world. I knew I had to tell them about your birth, but there was no other way. And now…"

A smile broadened on Luna's face as she said, "I have my pride and joy back in my arms!" She hugged her daughter once more before she asked, "I have a nagging question, though. How did you learn of your history when I have not told you?"

Cadance said as she gestured to Screwball, "She and her cousins are from an alternate timeline. This timeline was not meant to be, so they are trying to find shards of a magic mirror so they can restore everything back to the way it should be. I know it's hard to believe, Mother, but trust us on this."

Luna said, "I had always sensed that something was not right. Now I have my proof thanks this young mare here." She gestured to Screwball. "And it is also to her that I give my thanks for the efforts to restore the proper timeline."

Screwball shivered, "Well...you can thank my cousins, too. They're off somewhere trying to find their way back to Canterlot maybe."

"I see. And to whom should I give my thanks for restoring Cadance's true form?"

Shining Armor stepped forth and said, "I broke Cadance's curse with everlasting love."

Screwball nodded, "That's how the curse was broken in the right timeline. Shining Armor made a vow of everlasting love."

Luna questioned Shining Armor with a raised brow, "You love my daughter very much?"

The captain bowed as he said, "Yes, Your Highness. Cadance and I were childhood friends before she was cursed. I never wanted to marry anypony but her. I will prove my worth if I must, so I can earn your blessing."

Luna looked serious for a few moments before she smiled, "Rise, Shining Armor." After he stood upright again, Luna continued, "This day, you have shown not just honor and nobility, but also compassion and love for my daughter Cadance. You have earned my trust and my blessing." She then joined Cadance's and Shining Armor's hooves as Luna said, "May there be many happy years for the union of these two souls."

Cadance and Shining Armor then embraced tightly and kissed passionately. Although it was hard for Luna to see her daughter kissing a stallion like that, she knew that the one who broke her daughter's curse was most definitely the stallion Cadance was meant to be with. Suddenly, a terrible thought crossed Luna's mind.

The dark blue alicorn turned to Screwball and asked in concern, "But what about Tirek? He must surely know by now that Cadance's curse has been broken."

Suddenly, a cold chill cut through Screwy like a knife. She groaned as she hit the floor.

Cadance asked in alarm, "Screwball?"

At that moment, an ominous whinnying filled the air and a cold wind blew into the throne room. Luna gasped when she saw Windigos outside the window!

Cold Front said menacingly and with glowing eyes, "A curse won't be the only thing that will be broken…"




Whirl shouted, "Marendelle ahoy!"

The ponies raced to the edge of the cloud to see the island of Marendelle coming into view.

Snow Pea breathed happily, "Home…like it was before the Windigos came."

After they parked the cloud hovel over Vermount's Lookout Point, Soarin' turned on the auto control for the wind machine. As soon as the gentle breeze weaved through the island, the group made their way to the village. Snow Pea and Lil were alarmed to see Flim Flam Brothers Exchange Store, even though they already knew about it.

Lil remarked, "It just feels so weird to have two conspirators set up shop here."

Skater said, "Yeah, since they don't exactly have a clean record."

Apple Butter said, "If you ask me, they're nothing but dirty thieves."

Just then, a gray Pegasus ran out of the store. The kids all stopped in their tracks and looked on in stunned silence.

The Flim Flam brothers then leaned out of the doorway and cried, "Help! Thief! We've been robbed!"

Skater sputtered, "But that's impossible! Dad would never steal something!"

As she was saying that, Rock Salt glimpsed at something Rumble was carrying. With shrunken eyes, he pointed to the running stallion and said uncomfortably, "Like a map?"

The cousins turned their gaze to Rumble's bag and sure enough, an unfurled map was hanging out.

Apple Butter gasped, "That's the map to the Lost Treasure of Marendelle!"

Roller Blade said before he got ready to run, "C'mon, Skater! We need to stop Dad!"

Skater remarked, "This has become just plain weird."

The twins flew off and chased after their father from the air. They had forgotten the curse upon them and followed him as if they weren't cold. Rumble saw their shadows and ran under roofs for cover.

Roller asked as his eyes darted for their dad, "Where'd he go?"

Suddenly, Skater realized, "Roller, Dad uses a secret move to catch ponies that hide from view."

He then smirked, "Let's do it."

They swooped down in front of the nearest alley and caught Rumble by surprise. He yelped as they pounced on him.

As soon as he regained his senses, he sputtered, "How did you do that?"

Roller Blade said, "Somepony taught us that move."

Skater said, "It's called…"

Both twins said as they hoof-bumped, "'Pop Goes the Weasel'."

Rumble's eyes widened as he said, "Wait a minute. That's my move."

Suddenly, a voice rang out, "Halt!"

The Pegasi looked around them and saw that they were surrounded by guards with spears! The captain said, "In the name of King Button Mash, you are all under arrest. Since His Majesty has no other obligations for the day, you will be brought to the palace where he will try you for the charges of theft and possible involvement."

Rumble and the twins gulped at this.