Chapter 1
The Friendship Express let out a loud whirl as it pulled into the train station. The train conductor, an old gray stallion, stuck his head out and announced, “Last stop, the Crystal Empire!”
Ponies poured out of the train moments later. While some continued on with their business, others who had never been in the Crystal Empire before were dazed at the crystalline buildings. In the center of it all was a tall palace rivaling the Canterlot Royal Palace as the shining spire nearly touched the artificial blue sky overhead.
After passengers disappeared into the station, the Crystal Empire guards strode in. There were three of them, all stallions in their decorative armor, yet only one had a bored look on his face. “Out of all the jobs we, why did we agree to inspecting cargo crates?” that one guard grumbled.
Beside him, his friend answered, “It was either this or be guarding the palace. Personally, I’d prefer not being there.”
“Why? It’s not that bad,” the first guard asked with a quizzical look. “The Elements of Harmony are there, after all.”
“That’s exactly the reason why I don’t want to be there. I already spend a day guarding them and they drive me crazy!” The second guard shivered. “Especially that pink one.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that. She is kind of cute…”
“Hey guys, come over here!” a shout cut off the first guard.
The two guards turned to their fellow third guard standing near one of train’s cars. It was a cargo car, carrying supplies and trade goods, no doubt. The third guard stared at it with a curious, yet concerned look. Almost as if he was suspecting something.
It made the other two curious as they walked over to him. “What is it?” the second guard asked the third.
He turned to the others. “I think there’s something in here,” he told them in a quiet voice.
“Of course, there’s something inside. There’s cargo,” the first one said deadpanned.
“No. I mean something… alive,” the third guard said with wide eyes.
The first one facehoofed. “Do you realize how cliché that sounds? That sounds like something out of a horror novel.”
“I’m serious! I think there’s something alive in here!”
The second guard sighed and he walked to the train car. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Grabbing the handle with his hooves, he slid open the door. All the stallions gazed inside of the cargo car and immediately, three pairs of eyes widen at what they saw. “Dear Celestia…” one of them whispered.
Sitting inside the train car was a strange bipedal creature. Most of its body was clothed and lack fur on its body, save for the black hair on top of its head. The guards’ first guess was a hairless minotaur but the legs, while covered, were not that of a bull.
The creature slowly stood, grabbing a brown long jacket on the floor. After wiping off the hay on its dirty blue shirt and jeans, it noticed the three shocked guards and smiled. “Hello there,” the creature greeted in a male voice as it–no, he–waved a “claw.”
The first guard came out of his shock and waved back. “Uh hello?”
“I hope you don’t mind, but where I am exactly?” he asked.
“The Crystal Empire,” answered the third guard.
“Good then!” The guards quickly backed away as creature stepped onto the platform. “I would like to be directed to the Crystal Palace, if you can.”
That made the guards wary as their eyes were filled with suspicion. “What for?” came from the second guard.
The creature smiled. “To meet the new princess of Equestria, of course. I believe her name is Twilight Sparkle.”
Spike sighed irritably as he lied on Twilight’s bed in the Crystal Palace, provided by Princess Cadence. It was more soft and comfortable than the one back in Ponyville. Unfortunately, Spike did not enjoy the feeling as much when he saw Princess Twilight Sparkle trotting around her temporary bed chambers.
As usual, the young mare had a troubled look on her face. She would always be worried about some little thing and it would drive her to near insanity to figure it out. Whatever was troubling Twilight, Spike did not know and that had been keeping the young dragon on edge.
After moments of silence, Spike finally spoke, “Twilight, you really should stop walking around like that. You might make a hole in the floor… again.”
“Huh?” Twilight stopped. Seeing Spike, she gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry, Spike. I’ve just been thinking that’s all.”
“You’re sure?” he said, sitting up. “I know that look, Twilight. Something’s bothering you, you can’t really hide it.”
Her smile went away and her head sunk a little. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she answered in a defeated tone. “It’s just this whole princess thing is a little… tiring.”
Spike raised an eyebrow as he jumped off the bed. “‘Tiring?’ But you’ve only been a princess for a week, Twilight.”
Twilight’s worried eyes went to her assistant. “That’s exactly it, Spike. I used a new spell, became a princess, and even went to another world! And all in a week! What’s next?! Will Changelings overtake Canterlot again? Is Discord going to cause chaos? Is-”
“Twilight calm down! Nothing is going to happen!” Spike cut her off. He paused and added, “Too bad Princess Celestia isn’t around to help you. She would know what to say.”
“Yes, I know. She and Princess Luna already left two days ago. And the girls are taking the train for Canterlot today.” Twilight sighed. “I wish they were here.”
The baby dragon was silent, hesitant to say anything at first. Then, he said, “You know what you need? Some cheering up. Maybe you need a small break to take your mind off of things.”
“You’re probably right. I sure could use one of Pinkie’s parties right now,” Twilight chuckled as she turned around…
“Did somepony say party?!”
“GAH!” a startled Twilight and Spike jumped at the sight of a pink blob with two eyes and fluffy hair.
After they both hit the floor with a thud, it was Twilight who looked up. Her eyes widen seeing a smiling Pinkie Pie standing right in front her and Spike. “Pinkie, how did you get in here?” Twilight asked.
“Through the front door, silly!” Pinkie giggled, as if it was obvious.
“Hey Pinkie, wait for us!” called out another voice, one more brash.
As she stood with Spike, Twilight looked past Pinkie and was surprised to see four more familiar ponies entering the room. “Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity?” she stared at her friends gathered with Pinkie. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going to take the train for Canterlot!”
Rainbow flapped her wings as she landed on the floor. “We were, but we decided to put our plans on hold.”
“But why?”
“We thought we could stay with you a little longer,” Fluttershy said, timidly adding, “that is, if you want to.”
Rarity took a step from Fluttershy’s side. “We couldn’t just leave you, darling. After all, you must be exhausted after a week of excitement. The least we can do is help.”
“But Rarity, what about your shop and Sweetie Belle?” Twilight asked.
“I’ve closed the shop for a few extra days. And Sweetie Bell is staying over at the Apple Farm.”
“They’ll be fine, Twi’,” Applejack assured. “Big Mac is watching her, Scootaloo, and Applebloom.”
“Yeah, and the Cakes said I could have a few more days off!” Pinkie beamed.
“And the weather team will be fine without me,” Rainbow added. “I’ve got plenty of time to spend.”
Spike smirked. “Not too hard, since all she sleeps all day.”
“Yeah, that’s r-hey!”
While the others laughed at Rainbow’s expense, Twilight could only smile. “Thanks girls,” she said as the laughter died down. “I really appreciate what you’ve done.”
Though still annoyed at the others, Rainbow happily swung a foreleg over Twilight. “Hey, no problem. After all, what are friends for, right girls?” The others gave a nod of agreement to that.
Removing her foreleg, Rainbow asked, “So, what do you want to do?”
“Well…” Twilight began but uncertainty stopped her. “… I don’t really know. You’re still going to be here for a few more days.” She looked at her friends. “What do you think?”
Rarity was first. “Maybe we can go to the spa. It has been ages since we've been there!”
“Um, Rarity,” Applejack said, “we went there only yesterday. Maybe, we can try something else.”
“Oh very well,” the white unicorn sighed, turning to Fluttershy. “What do you think, Fluttershy?”
“Uh,” the timid pony froze, finding eyes on her, “well, I don’t, um, really know.”
Pinkie bounced. “I know what we can do! A par-” She was silence by Applejack’s hoof to her mouth.
“Not now, Pinkie,” she said, and Pinkie just let out a muffled “aww” of disappointment.
“Maybe we can think of it later,” Spike spoke up. “After all, Twilight’s got to meet with Shining Armor and Princess Cadence in ten minutes.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Wait, ten minutes?” She stared at the clock and her eyes widen with alarm. “Oh my gosh! I can’t believe I forgot! I need to hurry!”
The five ponies watched as their alicorn friend rushed out of the room. “Twilight, wait!” Spike called out as he quickly followed her.
Applejack asked Rainbow, “She does have wings, right? Can’t she just fly?”
“Uh, she’s still working on that,” the blue Pegasus answered nervously, remembering Twilight’s less-than-perfect lessons.
Rarity chipped in, “Well, I do believe Twilight may want us around. After all, we are here to help her.”
Nopony else gave any objection, and every one of them left the bed chamber to chase after Twilight and Spike.
“I still can’t believe it. My little sister’s a princess now,” Shining Armor said as he trotted down the halls of the Crystal Palace.
“Believe it. Twilight has come a long way,” said Princess Cadence as she trotted beside her husband. “Hopefully, she won’t be bothered as much as we are or Auntie Luna and Celestia.”
“Yeah, I know.” He gave a worried smile. “She’ll have little time to herself these days. I don’t think she can handle it by herself.”
“She still has her friends, Shining, and she can make time for us as well.” Cadence smirked and added, “Also, I think she has her eye on one of the guards. Flash Sentry, I think.”
Shining frowned. “Please don’t joke about that. Princess or not, I don’t want my sister to be near any of them. She’ll get herself into trouble.”
“Oh, I think it’s fine. Besides, he it does remind me of a certain stallion who joined the guard just to impress me me.” Shining felt his cheeks blush at the tease, while his wife chuckled.
“Captain Armor! Princess Cadence!”
The two rulers of the Crystal Empire turned and saw a crystal guard approaching them. Shining stood tall, taking up his appearance as a captain, and asked, “What is it?”
The guard stood to attention and reported, “We found a strange creature inside the city. It’s requesting permission to enter the palace.”
“A strange creature?” Cadence repeated. “What is this creature? What does it look like?”
“Well, princess,” the guard cleared his throat, “it has two legs, mostly clothed, and I believe two arms.”
Shining Armor’s eyes almost narrowed, but kept his calm as he asked, “Why does he wish to come to the palace?”
“To meet with Princess Twilight Sparkle,” the guard answered.
Cadence’s eyes widen with surprise. A strange creature just shows up and wants to talk with Twilight? Sure, Twilight had been crowned recently and many ponies wanted to talk with their new princess, but this was extraordinary.
Shining, on the other hand, had his gaze narrowed. “Bring him to the throne room and keep it off limits. I want to see this creature personally.” There was an edge in his voice, one that Cadence noticed.
“At once,” the guard bowed and quickly turned to leave.
As the guard left, Cadence stared at her husband, and noticed a look in his eyes. Being married to him, she knew that look within an instant. Shining’s calmness was gone, replaced by anger and a hint of fear. Fear for Twilight of course, but Cadence was not sure where the anger came from.
Most of all, there was one other thing: recognition. Whatever this creature was, Shining Armor knew about it or at least suspected.
“Shining, are you alright?” Cadence asked with concern.
“What?” Shining turned to his wife. “Oh, I’m fine, Cadence. I just didn’t expect this to happen.”
“I see,” she said, looking at Shining’s eyes again. They had their usual calmness, yet there were still hints of that grim look.
“I’ll be heading to the throne room,” Cadence was brought back to reality by her husband’s voice. “I think it would best if you stayed where it’s safe.”
Cadence shook her head. “No, I’m coming along.” Shining opened his mouth, but she cut him off. “You may need help Shining. If this creature proves to be a threat, then I can use the Crystal Heart on it.”
After a moment, Shining sighed. “Alright, but make sure to keep the Crystal Heart at a safe distance.”
Cadence nodded and the pair rushed down the halls, towards their new destination.
“Wait up!” Spike called as he ran behind Twilight, who rushed past many servants in the palace halls. “Can you just-oomph!”
Spike was put to a stop, quite literally, when Twilight suddenly halted. The baby dragon rammed into her and bounced off onto the floor, while Twilight took a step forward. “Spike!” she turned to him, “are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Spike groaned. When he sat up, his eyes went past Twilight and they widen. “What’s that?”
Twilight turned back around and found what made her stop. Not too far away was the entrance to the throne room, guarded by a guard. The doors swung open to make way for another two guards to enter. Yet, Twilight saw a third figure accompanying the two guards but she could not make out its features.
Just then, the other Elements of Harmony caught up to Twilight and Spike. They saw the commotion and all became curious. “What the hay is going on here?” Dash voiced their thoughts just as the doors closed.
“I don’t know,” Twilight said, approaching the closed entrance. “Excuse me, guard, can you please open the door?”
The guard, a red stallion, remained firm as he answered, “I’m under orders from Captain Shining Armor to keep anypony from entering the throne room.”
“My brother?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“I’m afraid I was not told.”
She looked at her confused friends, then back at the guard. “Well, can you please tell us who just entered the throne room?”
“I’m afraid not, your highness,” the guard said.
“Oh come on!” Dash exclaimed. “Just what are you hiding? We’ve been in the throne room plenty of times! Just let us in!”
Applejack halted her. “Simmer down, Rainbow. There must be an explanation for all this.”
“I do believe so,” Rarity said, “but I am curious, just what is inside. Perhaps, you can let us enter.”
“I cannot, ma’am,” the guard said.
Rarity huffed. “May I remind you that you are in the presence of a princess of Equestria.” The guard almost winced as she continued. “Newly crowned yes, but a princess nonetheless. It is your duty as a guard to follow her orders, unless you wish to be punished for insubordination!”
“I… well…” the guard stammered.
Twilight took a step forward. “If you let us in, you will not be betraying your duty. I assure you.”
The guard sighed in defeat. “Very well, your highness,” and he knocked a hoof on the door.
The double doors swung open, and closed behind the seven of them. They found the guards standing near the perimeter of the throne room as usual, but for some reason, more than the usual number. That reason was the third figure in the room’s center with the two guards, its back turned to show its dirt long coat.
“What is that?” Rainbow said aloud, catching the strange coated figure’s attention.
The figure turned and the Elements of Harmony found it to be strange with its bipedal physiology–Wait, Twilight stopped. Bipedal, two arms, hands, fingers, clothes… Twilight’s eyes widen, finally realizing what she was seeing.
“My word!” Twilight heard Rarity gasped. The others had similar reactions, save for herself and her dragon companion.
“Twilight,” Spike whispered, “is that…”
“Yes,” Twilight whispered back, “that’s a human.”
Though she said it, Twilight could hardly believe it. A human was standing right before her. A human was here, in Equestria of all places. But why was he even here? And how was it possible?
“Hello, there” the human greeted, snapping Twilight out of her thoughts. She saw it–no, he–waved a hand to her. “You must be Princess Twilight Sparkle, correct?”
Twilight was almost taken aback, but she answered uncertainly, “Um, yes. Yes, I am. Nice to meet you.”
The human smiled. “Nice to meet you too. I would like to shake your hoof, but…” he looked to two guards flanking his sides.
The doors swung open again, and Twilight swirled to see her brother entering. “Shining!” she gasped with surprise.
Surprise flashed across Shining’s face. “Twily, what are you doing here?”
“Here to see me, apparently,” the human spoke up, drawing glances to him.
Seeing the human, Shining’s eyes narrowed. “It’s you,” he said in an icy tone.
“Hello to you too, Shining Armor,” the human replied evenly.
Twilight stared at her brother. “Shining, do you know him?”
“I do,” he said, turning to the guards. “Guards, detain him.”
The two guards flanking the human grabbed him by the arm. Twilight’s eyes widen and she shouted, “Stop, what are you doing?!” She turned to her brother. “Shining, what’s going on? Why are you doing this?”
Shining’s gaze never left the human stared as he answered, “He was found near the train station, asking to speak with you. I don’t know what he’s capable of, nor why he wants to talks to you. For all I know, he could here to harm you.”
“But…” Twilight objected, but Shining cut her off.
“This is for your own protection. Please, Twilight.” The sincerity in her brother’s voice and his softened gaze made Twilight sigh in defeat.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine,” the human said and both siblings turned to him. The human was still confined by his two guards, yet he kept an unusual calm. “Knowing your brother, he won’t do any harm. Besides, he’ll learn that I’m free of any suspicion.”
“We’ll see about that,” said Shining, the edge returning as he looked back to the two guards. “Take him to one of the holding cells. I want guards posted twenty-four-seven.”
The two guards nodded, and trotted off with the human, following Shining Armor. The other Elements of Harmony and Spike moved aside and watched the human being taken away. “Wait!” Twilight called out. The two guards halted for their human prisoner to look at the curious alicorn. “You said you wanted to talk to me right? About what?”
“I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait for that,” the human gave her an indifferent shrug. “I’m going to be preoccupied in the next hour or so.”
Twilight paused for second. “Well… can you at least tell me your name?”
A smile spread on the human’s face. “Damien. My name’s Damien.”
That was all that said before the human was dragged away by his guards. The doors to the throne room slammed shut, cutting the ponies off from the human and leaving a curious Twilight in silence.
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IMO, this chapter revealed a bit too little. I don't see a real attention hook anywhere.
3995504 How did it reveal to much exactly?
3996209 It didn't. I said it revealed too LITTLE.
3996223 Alright, I get what you're saying but it's only chapter 1. There are still more chapters I'm going to write (if I get to them at all that is)and you'll see more.
-W.S.
Shining seems like a bit too much of a penis, but he does in about 80% of HiE's so don't worry about it.
3996296 TOO MUCH CLIFF HANGER other than that it was fine and when I say fine I mean awesome