Princess Cadance strolled on one of the many parks her beloved empire boasted. With each step she took, she relished each breath of fresh air she breathed. Looking upwards, she marveled at the cloudless skies and the elegance of the sun. Surely, no day is better to take a stroll like this one.

   A leisurely walk is rare for somepony like herself. The mental stress and tension one endures due to her title as 'Princess of Love' can fracture even the most staunch of resolves, and possibly sufficient enough to toss a regular pony's mind into the abyss of insanity. Though, she felt loneliness; her husband, Shining Armor, was not within her company due to his duties.

   Nonetheless, the cooling breeze and the warm sun were simply divine to someone so accustomed to the confines of a colossal castle for the majority of her time.

   This park, not exactly renowned, was simply a paragon of the many artisans that resided in her growing empire. This park was recently constructed as well.

   She trotted from the grassy meadow of this little park to a crystallized bridge. While not being exactly practical, she appealed to the design of the alluring bridge. This simple archway was comprised almost entirely out of crystals. It gleamed with a shimmer as the sun bathed it with its bright rays.

   This overpass would have entailed much time to be built, but due to the recent advancements of magic, courtesy of foreign pony scholars from Canterlot, the required duration for the construction of the likes of this bridge built has been reduced considerably.

   She walked over the bridge, gazing at the small depression filled with water below. The small pond was devoid of any fish nor any animals that one would usually see at a park's pond, but that was due to the difficulties of said animals to the pond. The binding cold outside of this empire is an efficient exterminator of fish.

   She gazed at the vibrantly green meadows of the park. The grass swayed back and forth due to the breeze, and the several crystal-themed monuments stood, boasting their finely crafted textures with pride. All of this created a surreal feeling for the princess.

   She sighed and carried on further with her little venture around her empire. She decided that she had lazed about in this little park enough and pondered where she would be headed next. Though, deciding on her next destination proves to be difficult for her.

   It's not that she couldn't decided where she wished to go, it's just that she didn't know anywhere interesting enough to go to. Quite ironic, considering that she's the princess of this land, though in her defense, she is relatively new to this whole 'Princess of Crystal Empire" occupation.

   Nonetheless, she loved her subjects and is more than honored to be their princess.

   She wondered, but to no fruition. She just couldn't decide.

   "Well, I guess-" She started to mutter but was cut off by the sight of her husband, Shining Armor.

   A smile grew on Cadance's face, but that smile promptly shifted into a worried look when she saw that Shining had a rather desperate looking, a distraught, anxious expression plaguing his face as he galloped towards her.

   He galloped to her frantically. "Cadance!" He shouted. "I'm glad I got here before they did," He uttered feebly, panting due to the exhaustion induced from his sprinting.

   "Woah. Slow down. What do you mean by 'they?'" Cadance asked, both curious and nervous for the answer.

   Shining Armor took several seconds in order to recuperate from the fatigue, "Our ponies. Our subjects are... perturbed by something that they accuse you of doing."

   "Huh?" Cadance blurted out, puzzled and bewildered. "I don't think I've done anything to cause anypony to be mad." She stated. "Did I?" She asked.

   "I doubt that going for a walk would cause anypony to be mad." Shining Armor answered.

   "But they might think I'm slacking off with my duties as princess-"

   "No. If anypony deserves a break here, it's you." Shining Armor reassured.

   "Oh, thank-"

   Before the two could discuss further, a shout sounded from the distance behind the captain. "There! There she is!" Following that resounding exclamation was the sound of several hooves beating down on the stony pavement.

   Just behind the captain was a sizable crowd of rioting pony citizens. Every single one of them making their way to the ground they are currently standing on.

   Shining Armor gasped in both alarm and disbelief, all the while causing the princess to be even more confounded. "What's happened? W-why are they so troubled?"

   Shining Armor, however, did not even respond as the crowd of ponies accosted them with either outraged, dismayed, or criticizing statements.

   "Our princess! Why... why did you do stood there idle when our loved ones departed from us?" One of the ponies shouted, causing an uproar of similar other questions from the crowd.

   Cadance's eyes darted back and forth consecutively, a drop of sweat forming on her head. The crowd was both grievous and outraged, and some of them appear to be nursing bruises on their snouts, for some reason that is not within the grasps of her knowledge.

   "Please, tell us! Give us an explanation to all of this!" A shout sounded out from the frenzied crowd of ponies.

   "You told us that you would spread love in this land, not take it!" A mare with tears cascading out of her eyes stated with an emotionally-devastated tone.

   "You were the chosen one!" Another similarly angered stallion shouted.

   Finally, the concussing volley of complaints merged into an incoherent, garbled sound as the entire mob of ponies began talking, or shouting, simultaneously.

   "Please! One at a time!" Cadance pleaded, somewhat silencing the crowd. Satisfied that the crowd had been somewhat silenced, but still not appeased, she let out of a sigh of relief.

   With the turmoil dispelled, but not entirely, from the crowd, Cadance thought to herself, All I wanted was a walk, not this...

   I casually walked, almost skipping in a carefree fashion, in the facade of another pony through this shady hallway, a smirk embedding my face. The reason for my visual display of ebullience? I've caused a rather significant decline of lovers in wherever this is.

   The satisfaction of never being able to be subdued for my rather duplicitous actions is unparalleled. Quite ignoble of me, I still find indulging in this activity amusing. It seems that I just can't seem to withstand the addiction of this mask's power.

   At this point, I've forgotten the amount of unlucky ponies I've rendered almost unconscious, but judging by that continual sobs of sorrow audible and quite pervasive around this place, it's probably safe to admit that I've decimated many a lover.

   Though, I must admit, I'm afraid that this is getting all too dull now, and my hoof is starting to ache due to over-usage. I ponder, Does this mask feature more than this ability to mimics one's form?

   "Tch, I doubt that-" As if by coincidence, I tripped over an inconveniently placed sturdy stone on the alleyway's pavement. Landing face first, I felt myself being distorted into a more familiar form.

   I stood up, "Ouch, the hell-" My words were cut short as I took notice of my hands being back again. I gazed around the vicinity, spotting the mask resting on the filthy pavement of the pathway.

   "Huh, so it seems that I revert back to my human appearance whenever... that happens." I muttered to myself, rubbing my nose as it was injured in the process of my rather inelegant collision with the ground. "Avoid experiencing painful stimuli... Gotta remember that," I noted.

   Clutching the mask in my hand as I recovered it from the ground, I began the process of concealing my face with it, but abruptly halted midway. "You know... I think I'll just wander around a bit with this body." I hesitated, but went on with it anyways.

   All that is entailed is that I remain unnoticed by the locals. Should be relatively effortless, right?

   Steadying the mask on my face, I resumed my little walk, much more comfortable than previously due to the reacquisition of my human limbs.

   The ubiquitous crying in the surrounding area grew more irritating. How loathsome, can these ponies be this excessively pitiful? Gah, I don't know. Nevertheless, I continued on walking, trying to dispel the annoyance caused by the prevalent sobbing.

   Continuing on walking, I saw the end of this alleyway, and upon sighting it, I grinned maliciously. I peered out of the cover of the alleyway. Had I moved a bit further, I would've been detected by the many locals passing by.

   I wondered to myself, "Now then, time to see if this thing does have another power..." Fidgeting the mask in my hands, I hopelessly tried to make something occur.

   Naturally, nothing happened, of course. Sighing, I began examining the bustling street for a guise. Suddenly, something caught my eye as the pedestrians stepped aside, making way to a rather imposing cluster of guards.

   I glanced at these guards. They had the appearance of being made out of crystals, however, the only thing distinguishing them from the crowd was the fact that they were wearing armor.

   Oh, and guess what? Their protective gear was also similar in appearance to the pigment of their fur. I swear, things are gradually degenerating into a cliche-fest. Their 'armor' almost blends in with their bodies. If someone had poor visual-perception, one might mistake their armor for being a part of their bodies.

   Though, I must ask, why are guards here? Heh, must be related to my recent antics throughout the town. I sneered mentally. However, I'm not sure for certain, so I suppose it's best that I continue on watching.

   Dismissing the thought with a suppressed sigh, I continued on peeking from the corner of the alley, letting the shadows from the alleyway envelope me so that my presence here is obscured. I intently watched the guards, trying to conclude whatever is currently happening.

   I finally caught a glimpse of someone in the center of the small group of guards. It was a pink coated unicorn, or a pegasus. This is peculiar, I swear I saw a horn on that pony, but I'm confident that I wasn't hallucinating those matching pink wings on her back. Interesting; a hybrid, perhaps?

   Suddenly, a deafening, rioting hail of complaints barraged the pink hybrid pony. For whatever reason these ponies are criticizing this single pony, I've not a clue, but if I had to guess, she must be notorious for something she has committed.

   "Why do you permit such degrees of misery?!"

   "Why is everything related to love here crumbling?!"

   "I don't see how you can plunge this deep into incompetence!"

   The array of protests boomed through the street as the guards warily advanced through the haze of apoplectic crystal ponies. Whatever this "Princess of Love" is, I intend to find out more about her. I've got nothing more productive, nor more interesting, to do anyways.

   Ha. I snicker at that title, 'Princess of Love?' I presume that she's responsible for maintaining a favorable amount of love in this place, or does she distribute it? Bleh, irrelevant. She's a being of royalty nonetheless, the fact that there are guards donning armor enforces that.

   She seems to be powerful, seeing that she has escorts following her. I wonder how much power and influence she has on these ponies, such is a conundrum. Perhaps I should find out about that? Besides, I'd like to experience the power of a royal.

   It wouldn't be that difficult. All I have to do is locate her, ambush her when no witnesses are present, proceed to drag her somewhere secluded, preferably someplace that nobody bothers examining, and finally, disguise as her and practice in tyrannical abuse of power.

   I had to suppress a semi-hysterical laugh, "Heh... Should be easy, indeed. After all, with this mask, and them being feeble horses, what could possibly happen? Next Chapter: Chapter 3. The Plan... Estimated time remaining: 11 Minutes