A long time ago, across the Grey Sea, beyond the lands of Vaporia, past the Forgotten Sea, laid a small island, Trihearth. Trihearth was a largely populated island, filled with many different types of ponies, and was one of the largest centers of trade. No pony knows who the first inhabitants of the island were or how they managed to transform such a small piece land into what it became at the time, but the mystery never bothered the current ponies living there.

Its lands were split amongst three kingdoms, the Forest Kingdom, the Metal Kingdom, and the Pearl Kingdom. Despite several hardships over the centuries before, the three kingdoms were peaceful with one another and supported each other in times of need. However, ever since the newest generation of rulers have been coronated, tensions have slowly begun to build during their reign. However, this did not stop the friendship amongst four young ponies, for a time…

One morning, along the northern east coast of the island, a group of four ponies are playing at the beach, running, chasing, and tackling, each not having a care in the world. This playfulness lasted for hours until they became too tired to continue their fun and games. They lay down side-by-side on the sandy beach with their tails tickling the foamy edge of the waves that calmly wash over the silver shore. On the far left of the row, rested a beautiful mare, who said in a gasp,

“Today was so much fun.”

“It ‘tis, Princess Crystal Charm, Earth Pony daughter of the king and queen of the Forest Kingdom,” The tall and thin stallion next to her replies in a pant. He turns his head towards the mare and stares into her bright magenta eyes. Crystal sees this from the corner of her eye and cocks her head towards her friend and stares into his deep blue eyes.

“What is it, Prince Seirbigh Cystic IV, pegasus son of the lord and madam of the Metal Kingdom?”

“Just thinking about you, how beautiful your pink coat of fur looks as it reflects the rays of Heaven’s light.”

“Oh, such a coincidence, I was just thinking about how well your light green fur looked.” The two ponies give a soft giggle as the two ponies next to them, stallion and mare, brother and sister, older and younger, give a sigh of contempt against the two’s behaviour. Seirbigh turns his head at the two others and asks them,

“Why are you sighing, o’ Sir Dorch and Lady Ceann Folam, unicorn son and pegasus daughter of the emperor and empress of the Pearl Kingdom?”

“Nothing is the matter,” Sir Dorch replies. “We are simply tired.”

“Not entirely true,” Lady Ceann argues. “We’ve been noticing that you and Princess Crystal have been together for a long time and have slowly been parting from us.”

“Don’t give mind of my sister Seirbigh, she’s been ill-minded and this playtime has exhausted her of rational thought.”

The sister gives a loud huff to her brother in annoyance.

“Dorch,” the prince of the Metal Kingdom replies. “Don’t bring such unhappy tidings to our hours of merriment and fun. You’ve been seemingly practicing this behaviour for a while now.”

“I’ve merely been researching the politics of our kingdoms, for sooner or later, we shall all be rulers one day, and uphold the legacy and responsibilities of our parents.”

“Why squander thy precious youth and freedom on such things? We shall learn when the time comes.”

“But do you know when that time will be? How do we even know that this is our time, and we have been wasting it on these activities?”

“You worry too much Dorch, enjoy this time whilst it lasts.”

“I’m just saying-”

“Listen to Seirbigh,” Ceann adds, “did you not enjoy this time at the beach? Would you rather be inside a stone room, educating yourself and not spend time with your friends and sister?”

“Considering what is going on right now amongst our fathers and mothers, political studies are at a high priority. You’ve all been oblivious to it and are rather than preparing for an event of war, you are merely foaling around. What leaders would that make us if we were to fail upon or responsibilities if Trihearth came under external war or even civil war?”

“Don’t be so worrisome of the worst that could come. You’ve been like this for at least a year and I’m starting to worry about you.”

“Worry about me? I’m worried about you. What if our island came under civil war the next day and you’d have your throat being slit by a Metal Kingdom soldier because of your failure in proper diplomacy.” Immediately after Dorch completed his sentence, the green pegasus springs to his hoofs and looks over the dark blue unicorn’s rested head, obscuring his bathe in the sun’s light.

Seirbigh gives a short snort into Dorch’s face before sternly replying, “Hast thou implied of my citizens being cutthroat savages? This, coming from the son of the owner of the most powerful navy of all of Trihearth. The pony who uses intimidation to get what he wants.”

“You dare to retort to me?” The stallion that was once below the prince springs up to his hooves as well. His long mane and tail, with the colors of night running through each hair, gently sway in the breeze as he and Seirbigh aggressively stare into each other’s eyes. “You, the son of a weakling and a war-hungry maniac, dare to challenge me?”

“How dare you disrespect my father and mother. My father respects all of his citizens with the kindness of his heart and my mother is not afraid to stand up to a threat for she is loyal to her ponies. I refuse to let a foul-mouthed bookworm treat my kingdom this way.” The two stallions take a hoofstep closer, eyes locked onto each other, ready for the kill.

However, just before the two raise their hooves and fight, Crystal leaps in between them and pushes them apart, all while shouting, “Stop! This has gone far enough.” The two stallions’ gazes snap away from each other and both quickly remember that they were friends.  Their attention turns to Crystal, who is shifting her head from side, giving quick looks at her friends. “Is this what you want the future of our home to be? You’ve both have said somethings wrong towards each other. Apologize.”

“…Why yes, you are right. I’m sorry Sir Dorch, I must admit, I have taken what you said the wrong way.”

“I myself… I also apologize, Prince Seirbigh,” the unicorn groans, “it was wrong for me to demean your parents and your ponies like that.”

“There,” Crystal concludes, changing out of her once sharp and stern voice and returning to her chipper tone of voice, “we don’t want to make enemies out of each other. Someday, we will take our parents’ place as rulers of our lands, and we must remain in harmony for further generations to grow upon the proud examples we set for them. Maybe we should attend some studies more often as Dorch proclaimed, but also make time for each other in our youth, as Seirbigh suggested.”

“I second her statement,” Seirbigh cheers, “what say you Dorch and Ceann?”

“I agree as well,” Ceann proclaims, “I’m just happy that we could all agree on something and remain friends. What about you brother?” Dorch doesn’t replay, and instead appears sidetracked by something, staring in Crystal’s general direction. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” the brother finally replies after a minute of silence, “I think I’m a bit woozy from the summer sun. I fear I may swoon anytime soon. Come sister, let us return home.”

“Do you at least agree with Crystal?”

“Wha- …well… Yes, whatever must be done for the betterment of Trihearth and its ponies. Now come.” Ceann follows her older brother’s orders and both begin their journey down the coast southward to where their home is. Crystal and Seirbigh watch as the large dark blue figure and the smaller, lighter figure walk away side by side as their shadows follow behind.

After several minutes of walking silently, Dorch looks behind to see a pink and green dot in the distance. He then turns to Ceann, staring blackly forward with a small scowl on her face. “Is there a problem?”

“I don’t know, are you sure you’re alright? It’s like, all of a sudden, you’ve been very distrustworthy towards Seirbigh and the Metal Kingdom. Whenever its citizens show up anywhere near the castle, you are always at the balcony, watching them, as if they were up to no good.”

“Well, you see sister…”

“I see what?”

“You know how Seirbigh can be sort of, foalish and immature at times. How he can be fairly reckless to his surroundings.”

“He’s a young pony like you and me, he’s living in the moment. He’ll mature when him time comes.”

“That maybe what you think, but the truth says otherwise. Him, his parents, and most of the ponies of the Metal Kingdom lack, control. From engaging in fights with others for mundane reasons, to being a pushover when others tell them what to do despite not having the higher authority to say so, the Metal Kingdom is a loose cannon of sorts.”

“So what if they’re a little twitchy from time to time?”

“If something or somepony were to push them too far in the wrong direction, it could mean an all-out war across all of Trihearth and maybe beyond. It is our duty to correct the Metal Kingdom as if it was our own kingdom.”

“And how do you suppose we do that?”

“You don’t think the prince will set it straight?”

“I do, I just want to hear what you’re thinking.”

“Nah, I should probably just keep it to myself. I shouldn’t fuddle your mind with such heavy politics for now.”

“Okay...” A minute passes of nothing but the sand shifting around their hooves occurring as they trot down the coastline. A large stone castle soon begins to appear on the horizon, followed by several smaller buildings surrounding it. “The Pearl Kingdom, we’re nearly home!”

“Say, Ceann,”

“Yes?”

“You and Seirbigh are close friends, am I correct?”

“And you and Crystal, we all are.”

“Well, yes, that goes without saying. But, if Crystal never existed per se, would you have, special interests in Seirbigh?”

“What do you mean? He’s with Crystal; I would never see myself taking Seirbigh away from her.”

“But if Crystal and the prince weren’t in a relationship at all, would you find yourself, attracted to him?”

“Well… I guess, a little. But I perish the thought of such a thing happening in real life. Love is a powerful thing, and I’ve never seen a more true love between him and Crystal.”

“I see, I see. Very well then, hurry along.”