Author's Notes:

Number of Edits: 6
Number of OCs: 1

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Of Sisters intrigue, Plots and Dinner
Crystal Empire – The Castle – That morning (same day as last chapter)
[Perspective, Princess Crystal Heart]

Today is going rather well, a lovely sleep and a calm morning. Though when our wedding day comes with the stallion we have in mind, that day is going to be perfect, the kind of day we have dreamed of since but a wide eyed foal, which it all might be ruined by our younger chaotic ‘free spirited’ sister. It was a good thing that we put some strong bodied ponies into our hopeful coltfriend to be new House, knowing our sister she’ll only had hired servants whom she thought were interesting or funny.

Furrowing of the brow slightly from deeper thought at the more ‘slime’ of nobility who may try to take his life, tis not his fault that they are being foals over what he’s accomplished for our tribe let alone coming future events. Tis a good thing that mother had sided with us and sister for what were given to our resourceful stallion, though it’s a bit strange how mother was won over so easily. It may have been from the strange behavior that either her or father has been giving off since dear Sombra’s change, though we can see that glint in father’s eye that our hopeful coltfriend will be used for his new magical capabilities that he’s been literally giggling like a madstallion from yesterday.

Some days we worry that father’s obsession in making that alicorn wench bend the knee to his ‘superior’ ability, has reminded us that she is strong enough to break another’s hoof by a single stomp. Though that makes us wonder if Sombra could do more than just become both crystal and unicorn, from what sister said at the table the other day about those amethyst stumps on his back makes us wonder if he isn’t more than just a crystal unicorn? Perhaps tonight at dinner we may subtly broach the subject, maybe he’ll even try gracing us with becoming more like him.

Though other concerns like these more shady equestrians might try to steal his secrets or dread the imagination of foalnapping him. Tis a good thing we carefully chosen each guard, even those whom were bought from the dungeons were more than willing though they seemed scared of our hopeful coltfriend. Perhaps father had him do something unkind in the dungeons to scare them? We’ll have to ask about this later when we go to dinner, grudgingly we were caught by sister and had to include her in said engagement.

Looking out a window smiling as we continued walking to the Dining Hall to have our breakfast and gauge current feelings abound this day, it is rather nice feeling and seeing the emotions of others and how best to work to our advantage or sway their opinions. Strangely enough only our younger sister tends to throw us off this ‘game’, she tries to call my ability and cause chaos of most our plans to improve our home. Her foalishness will be the end of her someday we just know it, but we’ll be thrown into tartarus first before letting us or even Sombra suffer more than he has.

[Dining Hall]
Soon upon entering we see only our younger sister Pandora, it is STRANGE how our parents are not here yet but we don’t see plates or food set aside for them yet. Looking to the closest servant he bowed slightly seeming to explain the unsaid question. “Thou highness, both of thou parentage had to commence with royal duties earlier this morn. Thou mother sits on the throne while the emperor goes on political visit to meet with King Amadeus of the Goat kingdom in the Crystal Mountains, he’ll be absent perhaps for two weeks.” That bit of news made us smile honestly as it’ll give us greater chances to be alone with either mother or Sombra.

Looking towards the dining table walking measuredly up to it taking our usual seating across from our sister as she sits there stuffing her face yet we wonder where she puts it all away, eating like a commoner no less even making us wonder if she’s more like father when he’s drunk and consuming. “Hello sister! I really hope dinner with cute Sombra will go well tonight, oh if only you didn’t try to be sneaky about trying to get a one up on me, you have another thing coming.” She still gave that childish grin but her eyes were rather sharp like father, seems she’s definitely gotten more of him inside her than we desired. Though it is a good thing we take after mother more as he was a rather blind stallion from what she said when she knocked off her sibling to get him.

Taking a slight cough to clear our voice before looking at the few servants there already responding as such. “Well ‘Dear’ sister of ours, we merely thought thou were not interested in what plans we made for the day when instructing the messenger the early morn. For it wouldn’t be just of us to interrupt thou busy schedule of being tutored.” We added onto that giving a gentle serine smile, hiding our true feelings masterfully. “When it involves ‘OUR’ foalhood friend I wouldn’t mind holding off on studying to see him or to ‘play’ with him, just like ‘old times’.” She added with a smug grin, knowing we were often sick when younger. Though sometimes he was able to sneak in to give us some nice berry soup to help us feel better even read a bedtime story.

Smiling a bit more leaving her confused for a moment. “Well younger sister of ours, just like ‘old times’ we’ll enjoy his ‘company’ again just as well if not more ‘passionately’, for It wouldn’t hurt to repay his warm feelings from then.” Looking sidelong at the three servants in the room remembering their faces as they KNEW not to speak about what we currently ‘squabbled’ about, lest they wish not to go into the dungeon if not the less sanitary work of the castle if lucky.

Refocusing on our sister we could see those flushed cheeks as we hide our own blush hopefully well enough with our ‘mask’ we’ve been perfecting for social encounters, folding her arms and giving a huff as we finally started to delicately cut into our meal to eat. That twas until she THREW a squished crystal berry at our face when it landed on our muzzle, she laughed while we looked at it cross-eyed almost in disbelief until we stood up and ‘VERY’ ladylike leaped from our seat across the table to enact unadulterated divine justice while wielding a lettuce and carrot in each hand.

Equestria – Canterlot Castle, Joining Royal Chambers – before sunset (same day as last chapter)
[Third pony perspective]

The room circular in design allowed for an area of peace and familiarity from the two still young newly crowned twin royalty, the glowing white coated pink mane and tailed Celestia was unwinding from her rejuvenating day in a white bathrobe. Smiling into her tea as she had reason to this day when her sister Luna came into her chambers’ early that morn, talking about of all things a stallion who seemed of good character. What was rather more surprising was that she INVITED somepony to the gala, that one being the stallion in question newly placed as the Crystal Empire’s Royal Court Mage.

In hind sight she had been rather worried at the strange report, which was brought to her attention by the former pony Pegasus Leader Commander Hurricane. He wouldn’t say how he learned about the stallion but what was said, this Sombra had somehow turned from a mere crystal pony to know what is to be believed as now a Crystal Unicorn Pony. Somehow Princess Platinum heard of this news before even she or her sister did, as even Starswirl the bearded and his student Clover the Clever are rather intrigued to the same degree.

It had been UTTER chaos because many wonder if it was just some trick that the empire was throwing out to flaunt ‘their’ superiority to the rest of pony kind, It may have been Emperor Shatter Hoof’s way of figuratively hoofing us in the face again when upon invited to unification he outright refused to bend the knee to a Alicorn. While it was surprising and even brash perhaps on both their parts, she may have shattered one of his hooves intentionally when he had spit upon her.

Though from that little ‘spat’ between heads it was starswirl who has been trying to with little to no success in the short three and a half decade period of time, to temper celestia’s natural fiery disposition and quick to anger. Sighing on that after another sip from her tea, the doors to Luna’s Chambers opened as she walked in with a more confident measured pace before taking a seat near her sister, a black coat elegant like her black sky with her mane and tail filled with shimmering stars. “We hope thou day was rather becoming sister ours?” Brimming with an unrepressed smile upon her muzzle, seeing the cup that was prepared for her already there before her on the table.

“Indeed it was Luna, though we hath been busy trying to quell the rampant rumors abound. Some of which are truly insane for the lengths they go from calling the stallion Sombra a ‘genius of our age’ to a ‘horrid abomination of the era’!” Celestia gave out a fuming huff before trying to take a calming sip from the tea set before, though Luna’s reaction to the rumors were of being disturbed by how cruel some ponies could be even if most didn’t stay up for her nights.

Leaning a bit closer while nursing her tea in a tired ‘morning’ fashion Luna asked this. “Whom hath seen positive reaction to these rumors? For it would only be proper that we when meeting him and his to be brought along guests to the gala would smooth our relations if he met only those. To our view, the handsome stallion is young and bright minded if well. Embarrassed from when we entered his, wet dream?” That made celestia stop, blinking owlishly before looking into Luna’s light blushing face to say this. “Come again Luna? We may had not heard thou correctly, as we thought our sister met the stallion during his lewd dreaming.”

Luna simply looked away clicking her tongue having to apparently scold herself for that misstep, which only caused a light pink to rise from celestia’s once white furred cheeks. “Luna, please tell us thou didn’t insert into the dream as the mare he may have been fantasizing about.” Taking a visible breath Luna returned her gaze saying this cautiously. “We hath not at first invaded his dream, we admit to ‘watching’ it at moments when we patrolled the dreams of others, repeatedly.” Celestia narrowed her gaze as the tea lightly bubbled.

“Luna, we hath been through this before. It hath better not been a perversion of thou own wants forced onto said dream!” Celestia’s voice lightly shook the room though the pink only deepened on her muzzle before continuing. “It was awkward enough when thou did it to our dream and ‘joined’ with us in our ‘fantasy’, if stallions or mares even heard of this or imagined it alone.” Causing her to shudder lightly. “The ponies or other foreign species whom try to court us for political, power or favor would be ravenous or fanatical if they knew we liked that moment together.”

Both of them sighing as Luna was the first to admit this. “We hath felt distant of late due to duties of the crown haven’t we sister?” Celestia nodded with a sigh saying this. “It was rather foalish, thinking all the work our mother made it look easy to our eyes didn’t she?” They sighed together before a light mirthful giggling happened, that if anypony else present in that chamber would have swooned by the melody that both gave off.

Looking at the ceiling Luna said this softly, during which was rather hopeful. “The question is would he be able to accept our invitation or would the crystal emperor keep him there under hoof in sight. As we know starswirl does have leeway with thou, but has to often send out his student to study things in his stead due to thou own worry for the stallion.” Celestia looked at her sister before snorting once. “Starswirl can go wherever he wishes to be, we do not restrict his presence to be near us but he chooses to treat US of all ponies like foals.”

That earned a giggle from Luna knowing that feeling. “Indeed it doth happens to us as well, we thought it be only us that suffered this!” smiles formed from their muzzles before looking at each other leaning in to nuzzle each other affectionately until Luna licked her sister’s snout before darting away to start raising her moon and celestia from her seat lowering the sun. “We bid thou good night sister ours, we might tempt thou yet further as we think Sombra if we pursued him wouldn’t mind the two of us together by his dreams with joy.”

She left the chamber with Celestia calling after her. “Luna, what doth thou mean by that? Luna!” Giving an auditable grunt before continuing. “That mare could be a whorse at times depending on if she likes to be or not.” Celestia was left to grumble and mirthfully ‘fume’ before heading to her chambers to rest for the night.

Equestria – Somewhere in a secluded room – Midday
[Third Pony Perspective]

There in a sparely lit candled room sat figures just out of the direct light though by the three whom sat in there apparently waited for somepony to arrive. The first from the left half of the table was a rather built kind of figure whom wore metal armor of an earthen tone, slouching forward before tilting their helmeted head to the left speaking in a high pitched gruff male tone. “Why do we simply wait for that old stallion when the matters at hand are so vital? Shouldn’t we just be bringing the issue to task with our might under the princesses?”

The one in the middle whom sports some type of crown and a finer attire huffed as she spoke in an elegant fashion showing a pristine horn. “Well it would doth be foolish if we acted now only to earn the ire of the princesses without due cause, speaking of which WE did see one of YOURS flying from the Crystal Empire when that information was brought out. Why did thou think it needed to tell the princesses in the first place you brash ruffian.”

The one who had their hooves displayed while leaning back in his chair grunted in response as he idly sharpened his short sword. “Well somepony had to get this ball rolling since we all know those crystals won’t do like we wanted, it would be SO much easier if we simply invaded and made them join us! Besides those Griffin featherbrains are getting edgy towards my Pegasus citizens, we’d be rather comfy if you two didn’t sit on your flanks and helped with that issue!”

The heavy armored earth pony slammed his fist onto the table speaking in a high pitch once more. “Well we would be getting thou over inflated EGO driven flank out of the fire if our forces were not currently ENGAGED with the dragon lands to the south! It’s bad enough that we need her ponies support against those fiery beasts.” He gestured to the now gasping shocked mare in the middle as she leaned into view revealing a Princess Platinum pointing a manicured digit in his direction. “If it wasn’t OUR help with thou problem Commander Pudding we would be more at ease to put our talents of magic to better use!”

Sitting forward now Commander Hurricane just grins at them both saying this in a taunting tone. “Oh, the unicorn cannot do more than one thing? I feel sorry to have thought EITHER of you both were ever capable of actual leadership.” That whipped their heads in his direction as anypony could cut the tension with a cleaver, that was until the doors opened revealing an aged pony walking in with an oversized hat with dangling bells and frowning when seeing what may be an argument forming again.

Giving each of them a solemn deadpan before giving a slight frown of disappointment that was exaggerated by his age. “What is going on here?” Looking at each of them as if a scolding parent would to rowdy foals, as they point to each other trying to lay more blame on the other, that was until a solid strike of a staff hitting the floor that made the light each candle gave off flicker stronger for a moment of that time showing each face. “We thought each of thou were better than this, unification was 35 years ago and even now when thou are older and hopefully wiser. Thou still act like foals at the slightest provocation! What would have Faust said if she saw the children of those whom served under her loyally for generations simply went at each other’s throats again like predators?”

Taking a breath as his rant becomes more passionate with hate in his aged eyes at the three others present. “It was bad enough when the Thestrals and the Crystal ponies broke off after our fall, but worse yet when went we fled south to this place our new home land they out right REFUSED to rejoin under her daughters when they had lost NOTHING. They even condemned US of all ponies for INVADING their land and driving the Thestrals further south? Well in truth they may be correct but one doth not break the oath each species swore.”

A dangerous glint crossed his eyes that made the other unicorn in the room flinch back, while the other two at the table may have shared an unspoken glance on edge. “Seeing as how there is a new ‘type’ of Crystal pony, there is a good chance we might be able to bring him under our sway, the issue lays with how to get him out of his protective guard and speak in a more ‘pleasant’ setting. From what we heard earlier today Princess Luna seems to have invited a Stallion, we have it under belief that it would be the same on topic named ‘Sombra’.” He grimaced slightly before looking back up.

It was Princess Platinum who spoke up, in a careful tone. “So what would get this Stallion to come when he would likely heed his emperor’s will, let alone brave leaving his home on the princess’s invitation? It is not like she’s inviting the monster to the gala now right?” She gave a light chuckle until seeing a crown form further on Starswirl’s face, moving back with slight fear when he responded. “It doth seem OUR princess HAS, and from appearances she’s sent enough tickets for the Crystal Royals to come as well under the impression that it would be using the emperor’s own arrogance to ‘show’ off his ponies own glory of accomplishment.”

Hearing a snort come from Commander Hurricane as he leaned closer idly waving his blade about before putting it down out of view. “Why couldn’t we go with foalnapping him? I’ve got ponies in the last caravan who can get it done all they need is my signal to strike.” He gave off a cocky brash attitude, often use to his flying strategies and cloud tactics until Commander Pudding butted in. “It would only give our hand away as for what we are doing, one wrong step and the princesses will do a full investigation to try to keep us from going to war with the Crystal Tribe.”

Princess Platinum sighs and says this softly in an alluring tone. “Colts, it takes a mare to lead a colt by the snout to get what she wants. Why not leave it to us as he’ll likely be fascinated by learning magic fields even if he is an abomination to all life.” She spoke the last few words with displayed venom as her nails raked the table leaving visible groves’ that made both stallions closest to her move a bit further away. “While we would ‘ENJOY’ thou taking initiative we believe Princess Luna show’s more than some interest in him, as for what KIND we do not yet know, though he’ll have difficult time resisting her if she doth get serious in seeking a coltfriend.”

They all shivered at that sentence having seen the trauma from the ‘last’ courting attempt where the stallion kept babbling about being haunted in his dreams, or there was no way out as Princess Platinum gave a slight sheepish smile before saying this. “We’ve been offering her advice on courting also some books of those bards more successful tales that she and Princess Celestia barrows from her at times.” She grinned with pride from their bemused reactions until she huffed and say this in a dismissive tone. “Stallions, never one for the finer arts of a mare’s wooing it makes us wonder how most of thou even had gotten a marefriend.”

Sighing Starswirl spoke up again before looking at the three. “Well if he doth come, all we ask of thou is to arrange it so the two of us will be alone for at least an hour. At worse if we do come to blows we shall attempt a spell modified from zebra rituals to banish his soul and put ours into his body, that way we will be in a place there to take action for the greater whole of Equestria.” He gave them a gentle fatherly smile that had them exchange looks before Commander Hurricane spoke up. “So how will we know it’s really you and not that Sombra stallion?”

Crystal Empire – Unknown Wine Cellar – Midday (strangely convenient?)
[Third Pony Perspective]

Seven of the most influential Crystal Nobles in the Empire sit in the same lavishly set Cellar, openly tasting different brands of wine. Shard Hammer, whom is Hand of the King and known as ‘The Mountain’ to those he fights though often at odds with Daunting Guard. Daunting Guard, whom is Lord Commander of the stalwart honorable knights whom protect the Empire from outsiders and on the war council. Perfect Edict, whom is Master of Laws the documentation with making efficient laws and smooth running of the Empire.

Forgecraft, whom is Master of Coin and represent craftsponies of the highest military or any equipment in all the empire. Solid Gem, whom is the Grand Maester as her family built the empire that still stands today. Sunset Shimmer, whom is Mistress of Whispers happen to also have the gift for celebrations and wine especially whom is hosting today, looking about the room during mid sip she places her glass down and lightly speaks. “Whom wishes to start off our little gathering and wine tasting today?” The response she gets is from Forgecraft, knowing he’s been irked by sudden shifts in budget.

In a slurred moment he spoke with a bit of spite put into his speech. “It be the princesses again and their spending habits! They had us pulled away from our other duties to balance out what materials they spent and land they had bought for the ‘House Onyx’ that be put there, we swear by the all gem that if those willing religious sods of the Elder Princess were not involved we would be ranting of this issue to the queen! Looking into what all of it entails is a ‘Magic Academy’ being built there as well!” His ‘little’ rant gained the attention of others with a gruff response.

Shard Hammer spoken up next with a twitch in his eye at mention. “That stallion be unworthy of the crown’s attention no matter what foul trickery he’s done to earn it! The first day we laid eyes on that runt from the princesses dragging him in all those years ago we KNEW he’d be trouble.” That same eye twitch gave him away with a clenching of the hand, though Daunting Guard spoke up in defense it seemed. “Thou art only projecting insecurities of thou own onto the colt, our knights had humorously seen the funniest aftermath that make us feel unease for the princesses' future! Could thou IMAGINE the princesses arguing about something that led to ACTUAL blows they only saw the aftermath of food coated the table and walls?”

Smiling more Sunset Shimmer spoke in a sing song manner. “We know what the argument was about, even some juicy details of her nightly slipping away in all black form fitting attire to a certain somepony, as the fairer sex we do know WHY they quarrel with each other.” The stallions in the room looked at her for the longest moment until Solid Gem spoke up. “Thou does mean they quarrel over this stallion Sombra correct? It would explain why Princess Crystal Heart asked us to personally design and build both home and Academy for their possible to be coltfriend?” That got a chocking sound out of Shard Hammer and Forgecraft looking different levels of livid to hate.

They looked at each other in the room as Sunset Shimmer smiles while swirling her drink before taking another sip giving a response. “We think the young stallion may be in over his head though we already have one placed in a prime position to end him at our leisure, all it takes is a slip of a hand does it not now everypony?” A grin props onto Forgecraft’s face while Shard Hammer frowns seeming to not like that eluded option, Daunting Guard narrows his gaze at her suspiciously than at the other males in the room with disdain. “Thou all act like cowards whom should be treating this with a positive outcome.”

Mistress of Whispers took note of the silence that came from Perfect Edict’s seat and his neutral regard for the other’s antics as he met her gaze with a raised brow.

Crystal Empire – House Onyx, Dining Hall – That evening
[Sombra Perspective]

Looking around the room as it technically would be the ‘first’ time truly eating in this room now instead of our study, with both royal crystal siblings sitting opposed of each other with a evident glare from both though shown differently. Pandora has a forced smile while her features look to be egging her older sister on, while Crystal Heart looks VERY calm, if it were not for her agitated tail barely moving back and forth as if swatting something. “Um, how doth thou both feel tonight? We hope something has not happened on this nice night?”

Their gazes shifted suddenly onto us making a folding of our ears and slight jump at the feeling of being preyed upon by two predators, Pandora smiled more genuinely in her bubbly way that hides more. “Oh down worry we are just having a ‘friendly’ game with each other over a nice prize.” When she said that there was a licking of her muzzle that heated up our face for how ‘lewd’ it appeared until Crystal Heart placed her hand on ours resting at the table with a calming warm smile. “What our younger sister says in a way is being truthful, though know that when we quarrel it would not be done to a degree to worry thou of our wellbeing.” She smiled a bit more lightly gripping our hand before Pandora gave a tug.

“Sister might be right about that though I wouldn’t mind coming by to 'play' more often cutie, as for your information father’s gone on diplomatic duties to the northern kingdom. Mother’s allowed us to come over as we wished though said we both cannot stay the night, it just isn’t fair we cannot have a ‘sleepover’ like long ago.” We get the feeling she is more than implying something less than ‘innocent’ this time around that Crystal Heart seems to react to us. “While our sister might definitely be an uncouth young mare, we would be overjoyed if we may share in small outings or if thou feels brave enough to read to us again like ‘old times’?”

Okay, something is clearly up as since we suspect they are courting us these ‘hints’ or such suggestions feel like more, from what our use of Keen Mind’s skills during their talk and banter. They are acting like two riled of cats over food or two mares for one stallion, this is going to be awkward beyond what happened this morning isn’t it? At least we are relaxed after Smooth Touch’s Massage to not be tense during this point, but we’re still nervous and slightly sweating. “Well we wouldn’t mind either or both of thou coming over to be with us, maybe arrange something later the following marrow? For that morning we hope to check out the places thou both have given onto us, maybe even try some of our magic that could benefit the empire if it works.”

That got both of their attentions and it’s clear by their eyes they wish to WATCH us work, maybe they love the magic we can do now? That wouldn’t hurt if they were just seeking us as for genuine love, though it would hurt if it be political in union. “We BOTH would be very happy to see what magic or things thou could show onto us, if it wouldn’t be of any trouble could thou tell us more of what be intended in hopes of fortune favoring endeavors?” Crystal Heart asked while Pandora gave her a look before speaking up after her sister. “Like what sister just said, because it wouldn’t hurt to learn how you do your magic their cutie. Because hopefully you’ll be able to make us crystal unicorns too?”

Both myself and Crystal Heart Sputter at her open blatant question, though that might be good to do though we would have to make sure it works again. “Well we would have to test the ritual again a few times to make sure it goes over well, thou noticed how we fared when we risked it ourselves?” They gave each other a look before intensifying a gaze onto us. “Did thou not test this ritual beforehand to make sure it be safe?” We couldn’t look them in the eye, their faces showing concern when we’ve become barraged by their questions and combined poking/checking over that we attempted to keep their hands away. “We are fine, physically and mentally we were utterly drained but we’re better see? Though we’ll be fine tuning it to make sure there is nothing wrong.” There was a pause before Crystal Heart brought up a question.

Smiling softly she spoke calmly though her tail acted in concern. “Did thou ritual only intend to grow a horn upon thou head? For we feel by the stumps on thou back may be for wings?” Both Pandora and we looked at her than back to us in question. And the stares were rather ‘unbecoming’ of a higher born mare, looking into their eyes was that explorative sight that was soon quelled down when Smooth Touch placed her hand on our shoulder when depositing our meal of gems with Crystal Clear and the other two servants from the kitchen placing the meals prepared for tonight before them.

Putting on a nervous smile before continuing. “Perhaps we will discover this reasoning another day? It would be nice to confirm something like this as quickly as possible.” Taking a bite into a ruby made us shudder softly at the wonderful taste of apples again, with seeing an emerald and citrine too with a familiar bowl of smaller lower quality gems to distract us. “It’s very good to have our hard work be appreciated by both of thou, though we worry how others will view us for all of this help. Wouldn’t others get jealous of the attention thou gives onto us?” The response caused them to look at each other with a pregnant pause filling the air other than our continued chewing after.

“Indeed it might very well, though we are happy because thou does not look at us as princesses, but as thou loving friends whom treat thou just as highly.” Crystal Heart stated with Pandora nodding vigorously with a smile. “True, true, though it doesn’t hurt that you are cute and smart.” That left us flushed badly in the face looking down at our meal hoping to make it go away, or that this dinner will end on a bright note. “Hey Sombra what’s been up with your guards and some of the servants? They have been paying us A LOT of attention like they are on high alert.” That finished verbiage made us brace for the coming storm.