Winter could barely contain herself. She was practically bouncing up on down on her train seat, earning some odd looks from the other passengers. After more than a month, she would finally see her beloved Anthem, and enjoy the sights of the Crystal Empire into the bargain.

As the train pulled into the station, Winter was delighted to see Anthem waiting for her. Stopping only to pick up her suitcase, she rushed out to meet him. Racing onto the platform, she leapt into Anthem's waiting embrace, and they hugged each other tightly, then followed up with a passionate kiss.

"It's so good to see you again, Ant." Winter smiled. "I missed you so much."

"Me too, babe." Anthem replied, nuzzling against her. "It feels good to hold you close again."

"You're too sweet." Winter purred, before pulling away slightly. "Now then, I believe a certain somepony promised me a tour of the Crystal Empire?"

"That I did." Anthem nodded. "But first..." He turned to a nearby guard. "Guard, please see to it that Winter's luggage is taken to the castle."

"As you wish, your highness." The guard took the suitcase.

"Follow me, m'lady." Anthem offered.

"With pleasure." Winter grinned.

Side by side, they left the train station, and entered the Crystal Empire proper. Winter was awestruck by its grandeur. She had seen many pictures of the Empire, but nothing compared to seeing the real thing.

"Wow." Winter gasped, gazing at the crystal structures' majesty. "I can't believe I'm actually here. I'm dreamt of seeing this place all my life, and now it's right here in front of me."

"Is it as good as you imagined?" Anthem asked.

"Better." Winter grinned. "You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place."

"Can't argue with that." Anthem agreed.

As they walked down the streets, the Crystal Ponies waved and bowed in Anthem's direction.

"Mornin', folks." Anthem said politely.

"Good morning, young prince." A merchant pony smiled. "And who, may I ask, is your lovely companion?"

"This is Winter." Anthem declared. "Winter, this is Shiny Cents, best grocer in the Crystal Empire."

"Hi." Winter smiled.

"A pleasure." Shiny nodded. "Here."

Shiny handed Winter a glistening apple.

"On the house." He smiled. "Any friend of the prince is a friend of mine."

"Thanks." Winter took a bite. "Mmm, delicious!"

"Told you." Anthem grinned. "Now come on. I have lots to show you."

"Lucky me." Winter nuzzled against him. "I have the most handsome tour guide around."

Their first stop was the stadium where the Equestria Games had been held so many years ago. Though it had been used for many sporting events since, at the moment, it was empty.

"Imagine all the incredible sporting events that went on here." Winter mused. "Mihaymi never hosted the Equestria Games, that's for sure."

"Maybe someday, they will." Anthem suggested.

"Here's hoping." Winter nodded. "Hey, wanna race?"

"Race?" Anthem repeated.

"Yeah." Winter nodded. "You and me, once around the track. Loser buys lunch."

"You're on." Anthem grinned.

The two took their places at the starting line.

"And... go!" Winter yelled.

They ran as fast as could, all around the stadium. Ultimately, Winter won by a nose.

"Boom!" She cheered. "You owe me lunch, handsome!"

"Wow... Anthem gasped for breath. "You're some runner."

"What can I say?" Winter chuckled. "I used to race down the beach with my cousin Tsunami. Beat him, too."

"Let's head back to town." Anthem declared. "You can have your pick of the restaurants."

"Oh, goody." Winter smiled. "If that apple I had earlier is anything to go by, this place has some great food."

Winter ended up choosing a small outdoor café. She and Anthem enjoyed some sparkling watercress sandwiches with gleaming fruit smoothies. Once they were sated, the tour continued.

"Where to next, Wint?" Anthem asked.

"How about the library?" Winter replied. "I'd love to read up on the local history."

"Your wish is my command." Anthem nodded.

As they entered the library, Winter was taken aback by the sheer size of it.

"Whoa." She gaped. "You could fit the entire Mihaymi library in here!"

"My aunt Twilight loves this place." Anthem remarked. "Whenever she gets the chance, she drops by for a couple of hours. So, what do you want to read about first?"

"How about the beginning?" Winter asked.

"Right this way." Anthem, well-versed in the library's workings, led her to the right section, and they began reading together.

Though he had read the books himself plenty of times, he enjoyed reading them with Winter, who marvelled in wonder at the knowledge within. When they reached the section about King Sombra, she even placed her hoof on his, clearly disturbed by the mad Unicorn's evil.

Eventually, Winter decided she'd had enough reading for one day, and they left the library.

"Ooh." She stretched. "Might have been sitting for a little too long, there..."

"I know just the cure." Anthem declared.

Anthem brought Winter to the local spa.

"How about a dip in the crystal mud bath?" He offered. "Just the thing for sore joints."

"Swanky." Winter chuckled. "Never had a regular mud bath before, let alone a crystal one..."

"You'll love it." Anthem declared. "Trust me."

Winter slipped into the green mud.

"Wooh, squishy." She giggled. "Care to join me?"

"You bet." Anthem grinned, slipping in beside her.

"I feel better already." Winter purred.

After the mud bath, Winter had a massage, a hooficure, and even had her mane styled into ringlets. Anthem gladly paid for it all.

"How do you feel, hon?" Anthem asked.

"Like a new me." Winter beamed. "Thanks, Ant."

"My pleasure." Anthem smiled.

Their next stop was the very centrepiece of the Empire, the Crystal Heart.

"So this thing is really powered by the love and hope of the Crystal Ponies?" Winter asked.

"That's right." Anthem nodded. "And all that love and hope gets beamed out all over Equestria."

"I had no idea this place was so important." Winter declared.

"Well, like my mom always says, 'every place is important'." Anthem shrugged. "The Empire's importance is just... a little more obvious than most."

As they continued on towards the castle, Winter noticed something carved into the side.

"What's this?" She peered at it. "'Slot wuz here?' Who's Slot?"

"I have no idea." Anthem lied.

"And there's some others, too." Winter pointed to a picture of what looked a pony with spiked hair, wearing a mask. "'El Barto was here'…" Then she turned to another one. "'Brooks was here'... And what's this?"

There was a chair beside the wall, a length of rope hanging about it.

"What's with the rope?" Winter asked. "And the chair?"

"The guards use it as a shortcut to their barracks." Anthem pointed. "The rope leads into a little back door up there, see?"

"Oh, yeah..." Winter nodded. "I'd use a ladder, but whatever floats your boat..."

Finally, they entered the crystal castle.

"Our final stop." Anthem announced. "The one, the only, crystal castle!"

"Whoa..." Winter stared. The castle's opulence put the rest of the Empire to shame. "This is awesome..."

"Yeah, I guess it is." Anthem shrugged. "When you grow up in a place like this, you kinda get used to this... Though after Black Knight's attack, the place is looking better then ever."

"I read about him in the papers." Winter declared. "Rotten piece of slime. Just hearing about the things he did makes my skin crawl. He got what was comin' to him in the end though, didn't he?"

"Yeah... I guess..." Anthem shrugged. He didn't want to speak ill of the dead, for Shine's sake. "Come on. The tour's not over yet..."

Anthem led Winter to the throne room, where Shining and Cadance were.

"Hello, Winter." Shining smiled. "Enjoying your visit?"

"Sure am." Winter nodded. "Especially considering who my tour guide is."

Winter nuzzled against Anthem, causing him to blush. He felt a little awkward about them being romantic in front of his parents.

"Thanks for having me, by the way." Winter added. "And for talking some sense into my folks."

"We're just glad you're here, dear." Cadance said warmly. "We've got one of the guest bedrooms all set up for you. Your luggage is already there."

"Great." Winter smiled.

"Come on, Wint." Anthem urged. "I'll show you my room."

"Keep the door open, young stallion." Shining instructed.

"Sure, dad..." Anthem rolled his eyes.

Anthem led Winter up to his room. It was quite a large place, with a king-sized bed, and it's own bathroom.

"Nice place." Winter declared. "Makes my room look like a dump."

They sat down on Anthem's bed.

"Alone at last." Anthem smiled, brushing one of Winter's new ringlets with his hoof.

"Yep." Winter nodded. "Just the two of us. Ready to make up for lost time?"

"Am I ever." Anthem chuckled.

The two wrapped their hooves around each other, and pressed their lips together, engaging in the mother of all make-out sessions.

Afterwards, they came down for dinner, joining Shining and Cadance at the dining table.

"Had fun, did you?" Cadance chuckled.

"We sure did." Winter giggled.

"That's my boy." Shining grinned. "All the stallions in this family know how to treat a lady."

Anthem cringed in embarrassment. Winter simply shrugged it off, feeding him some of her food, t which he gladly returned the favour. Once they'd had their fill, they went up to the balcony to watch the sun set.

"Amazing." Winter smiled, as the light of the setting sun reflected off the Empire's many crystal structures.

"It's something, all right." Anthem agreed, putting a hoof around her. "But it's nothing compared to the view I have right now."

"You're not so hard on the eyes yourself." Winter nuzzled against him.

After spending the night at the castle (with a lot more kissing involved), Winter returned to the train station in the morning, escorted by Anthem.

"See you soon." She kissed Anthem.

"You know it." Anthem nodded, rubbing noses with his beloved. "And next time, I'll be coming to you."

"Can't wait." Winter purred.

"Me neither." Anthem grinned.

They kissed one last time, then Winter boarded her train back to Mihaymi. They waved to each other as the train chugged away, already looking forward to their next encounter.