Far west from the mountains of the Metal Kingdom, there lays an enormous forest that’s owned by the ponies of the Forest Kingdom. At the center of the labyrinth of tall trees, the castle where Crystal and her royal family lives in towers over the smaller tress surrounding. And inside the dark wood castle of the Forest Kingdom, in the long dining chamber, Crystal and her mother, Queen Ceria Charm are sitting together with massive silver platters of food before them at the long table. As Crystal talks about Prince Seirbigh, at the side, Ceria is sitting at the end, eating her spiced apples while listening to her daughter.

“…and he has the greatest of smiles.” Crystal cheers. Her mother gives an offhooved nod in response before swallowing her bite of apple. “Doesn’t he sound great?”

“Yep, sounds good.” The unicorn queen replies in a lukewarm delivery, having different things on her mind as her daughter talks. “Say, when’s your father coming back?”

“He just wanted to talk to Seirbigh, he shall be here any second. Why?”

“Oh, just want to remind him to point out a few things during our meeting tonight.”

“What meeting?”

“The yearly meeting of the three kingdoms for your father and me to discuss political matters with the others.”

“Why haven’t I heard of it?”

“Because you were never really interested in politics. You were always too sucked into your fantasy books to notice whenever we left.” The queen takes another bite and swallows before continuing. “Which makes me wonder, why are you now so interested?”

“Well, Dorch’s-”

“Who’s Dorch?”

“The sir of the Pearl Kingdom, I’ve told you about him before.”

“Oh, well, I guess I merely forgotten about him then, carry on.”

“Well, Dorch has been studying politics for a while and today he suggested that we study as well.”

“That’s a good idea. Say, what say you join me and your father at the annual meeting, for you to get a head-start and for Adamán to stop worrying about you and focus.”

“I do focus,” A heavy voice replies behind the queen’s chair, “I just get a little concerned.” Ceria drops the spiced apple that was held in her telekinetic grip upon hearing the voice and twirls her head around the back to see the brown stallion’s face.

“Honey, you’re home, how was your meeting with Sinbad?”

“Seirbigh,”

“Seirbigh, seems to be a common name now,”

“Nothing too much to concern yourself with my dear.” The king edges his brown nose against his wife’s white nose and gives a gentle kiss. He then trots over to his seat at the far end of the table away from his bride and daughter. A lidded platter soon hovers over his head in a cyan glow and lands in front of the king. The unseen servant then lifts the lid to reveal a steaming loaf of brown bread before his master. “Thank you, Penwood.”

“Dear,” Ceria’s voice echoes across the table and into Adamán’s ears, “I have some discussion points I need you to memorize for the meeting tonight.”

“Okay.”

“First off, you must address the activists that are attacking the Metal Kingdom. We must show the lord and madam that we are taking measures to control them.”

“Wait,” Crystal interrupts her mother, “why are they attacking the Metal Kingdom?”

“They claim that their government’s corrupt and they’re taking actions to so call ‘liberate’ its ponies.”

“Is the prince in danger of these attacks?”

“Actually, he’s the prime target.”

Crystal gasps before leaping from her seat and clinging to her mother.

“Is he going to be alright?” She asks.

“Don’t worry, there have been no serious injuries thus far.”

“Honey,” the king replies. “You can’t just frighten our daughter like that all of a sudden.”

“I apologize, I’m just a bit tense from all of the administration work the last couple of weeks, and I am losing tact because of it.”

“I wish I could help you more, but I’ve been terribly busy with Crystal’s coronation and studies.”

“That isn’t until two years.”

“We must attend to the future my dear.”

“I know, but we have to deal with the current problems now if there is going to be a future.”

“You’re right, continue.”

“After the activists, we need to address the problem regarding our wood and spice trade with the Pearl Kingdom. They’re claiming we’re selling for far more than the usual price recently.”

“Alright,”

“Then there are the trade tax inflations, the peace treaty detail violations with the Metal Kingdom, the coastal transportation route trafficking in the Pearl Kingdom, the river poisoning incident that was caused by an unknown terrorist group…”

“That’s quite a lot.”

“There are a couple more items. There would’ve been a lot more, but fortunately, I took care of them for you. I have already made a list to help you.”

“Oh, dear Queen Ceria, where would I be without you?”

“No need for praise, your kingdom is my kingdom.”

“And soon it shall be our daughter’s kingdom.”

“Quite correct.”

“What about Seirbigh?” Crystal asks.

“Who?”

“The prince of the Metal Kingdom,”

“Metal Kingdom?!”

“Yes, don’t you remember?”

“…”

“Mother?”

“Adamán!”

“Oh dear…” the king mumbles with a piece of bread in his mouth. He swallows the piece in a loud gulp before firmly responding. “Yes my queen?”

“When you said that I had little to concern myself with regarding this Seirbigh, did you think I wouldn’t be so concerned that our daughter is with the prince of the Metal Kingdom? I thought this pony was just another commoner with the same name as the lord.”

“I was even more skeptical myself. But he seemed pretty determined that he wasn’t going to be too much like his parents, so I granted him a petite leniency.”

“Petite? You’re putting the fate of all of our kingdom into the hooves of the Metal Kingdom.”

“I hate the sound of it too, but I don’t want to hurt Crystal, she and Seirbigh seem much attached to each other and I’d hate to see the repercussions of separating them.” The queen moans as she slams her head at the edge of the table.

“Oh, dear heavens…”

“Mom?” Crystal worriedly asks, leaning her face close to better see her mother’s.

“Crystal, don’t worry yourself. Just go up into your room while I and your father talk.”

“But, what is it about the Metal Kingdom that’s making you so distressed?”

“It’s none of your business, I can assure. Just, please go.” Nervously, Crystal exits from her chair and leaves through the large oak doors behind the queen’s seat, giving one last look at the dining table with her mother and father seated at opposite ends before leaving.

Meanwhile, back at Metal Kingdom, inside the stone castle overlooking the valley, Seirbigh is with his mother, Madam Petti, in the throne room. The prince sits on his father’s throne as he listens to what lesson his mother wants to teach him.

“The ponies of the Forest Kingdom,” she states, “they are not like us.”

“What do you mean?” her son reasonably asks, “We’re all Earth Ponies, pegasi, and unicorns, what makes them different.”

“Well, yes, that goes without saying. However, the Forest Kingdom ponies tend to act as if they are on top of everything. They plan for many years ahead of them and make sure every aspect of their plan is considered perfect. So, they tend to act, pushy, when with us.”

“Crystal isn’t like that?”

“You sure my boy?”

“Well, maybe, a tiny mite.”

“And when she grows up and you decide to marry her, you’ll just end up being pushed around.”

“That sounds a bit too harsh to be Crystal.”

“Any mare of power will try with all of her might to make sure she is pulling her husband’s strings.”

“Does this include you?”

“Oh please, your mommy wouldn’t stoop to such lows like that. I simply just aid your father in running our fabulous country. Don’t let all of those gadflies get to your head, what I do is perfectly justified.” Suddenly, the massive doors on the opposite side of the room where the throne sit, leading to the foyer, swing open as a green pegasus, dressed in red and black robes, enters the chamber.

“Lord Seirbigh Cystic III, Father, where were you?”

“Hello son,” the dark green ruler humbly replies, “I was just fetching your mother’s dress for the meeting tonight.”  The lord walks up to the pair of thrones and greets his wife with a gentle kiss on the cheek.

“Oh dear Seirby,” the queen joyously responds, adjusting the black crown sitting on her spouse’s long grey mane. “You just came at just the right time. I was just about to ask our son if he’d like to join us to the annual meeting.”

“But I thought he didn’t want to go. He told us last year that he wasn’t really interest in politics at the time.”

“Yeah,” Seirbigh confirms, “I not sure if I’m ready or even have the patience.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” the madam replies. A subtle hint of aggression had escaped from her mouth as she replies, leading to the two stallions to wince a little. “It’s about the right time that you start. You could get a head start and show those other kingdoms who a true future ruler is.”

“That’s not really necessary,”

“Son, you’re coming, do I make myself clear?” The young prince begins to shrink himself into the cushioned seat of the throne trying to avoid eye contact with his now agitated mom.

“…”

“I said, do I make myself clear?”

“Transparently, mother,” The queen’s head then turns to the father, who is now squatting onto the cold floor,

“Seirbigh III?”

“Glasslike, honey,” the lord squeaks, “our carriage is ready to go. Me and Seirbigh will be with you in a second.” The mare clears her throat and gets out of her throne and walks to the foyer doors, gently rubbing against the lord’s side on the way out.

“Thank you dear.” As soon as the madam left the throne room, the lord closes the doors behind her and turns to his son, still cowering in his seat.

“Never annoy your mother. She can be a bit headstrong, but she still loves you all the same. That’s the reason why I married her, for this kingdom needs a pony that can get things done, but still make time for her family. Now head to your room, some maids will get you into your dress suit and escort you to the carriage.”

The prince gives a slight nod and replies, “I know Father, I know that’s she’s a little tense over the last couple of months as well from political matters. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up for her.” Seirbigh then strikes his large wings open and promptly flies out of the throne room through a side door leading to his chamber.

Meanwhile, just outside the Pearl Kingdom’s stone walls, a lonely carriage rides away from the castle in the midst of night. Inside, Dorch, Ceann, their unicorn father, King Tiotán, and their pegasus mother, Queen Dia, are all sitting inside the wooden coach. Each are dressed in the most formal puffy suits and gowns a pony could ever buy, sporting gradients of the colors of both the ocean and sky. As the clopping of the hooves of carriage pullers mumbles through the white wood of the coach, the royal family remains silent, preparing themselves for the consultation.

The silence dies however, with Lady Ceann asking, “So, why do we always join the meeting every year, ever since we were little foals?”

“Simple,” Dorch explains. “To learn on how to raise our kingdom and prepare ourselves for when the other kingdoms act up. Isn’t that right Tiotán?”

“That’s correct son,” the midnight blue emperor cheers. “Now remember, don’t let whatever lies they spew get past you.”

“What lies?” The light blue daughter asks, only to immediately receive a tsk by her father.

“We cannot trust the other kingdoms. They are unstable. We can’t just let them stir up any trouble whenever they like, we must have control over them and know what is truly going on.”

“That sounds a little, invasive…”

“Don’t worry little one,” the mauve empress comforts the small pony with her wing gently brushing Ceann’s chin. “We just want the best for everypony.”

“Sometimes,” her father sternly continues, “the best decision may not always be the most morally correct at the time, but makes up for it in the future. You understand?”

“…”

“I do Father,” Dorch quickly replies, prompting a wide grin upon the large emperor’s face.

“I am so proud of you.”

“I know sir.” After a minute of silence and aimless staring out of the side window, Tiotán looks to his other side to see Dia and Ceann looking out of their side window. He then turns to Sir Dorch and leans in to whisper to him,

“If only your sister was as obedient as you are.” The blue prince also leans his head in and whispers as well,

“I try to convince her, but she’s just too, too…”

“Too attached to these ‘friends’ of yours?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your friends are the descendants of the royal families of both the Forest Kingdom and Metal Kingdom. Am I correct?”

“Yes.”

“The reason she won’t listen to me all that often is because she thinks I’m attacking her friends or something of sorts. But what I say and do is in love for both of you. I know the other kingdoms all too well, and I know that we can control them into making Trihearth a better place.”

“What do you mean control?”

“I mean to bend their laws to our advantage and give ourselves, the diplomatic and intellectual minds, a higher position in their governments.”

“I see.”

“And one more thing I want to remind you of.”

“What?”

“Don’t ever be afraid to use any method, even if that includes your sister, to make that best decision.”

“For the good of all.”

“For the good of all, there’s my son.” The stallions lean back to their normal seating positions after sharing their moment, only for the coach to come to a grinding halt. The family of four are lightly thrashed around before regaining their setting and examining their surroundings from the windows. Sure enough, the coach has arrived at the front gates of the Forest Kingdom. An Earth Pony, dressed in sharp metal armour, opens the carriage door by the two mares and the royals of the Pearl Kingdom climb out, one by one. A rumble of thunder catches their attention, as Empress Dia looks up to see storm clouds through the tree branches.

“Best we hurry up,” she exclaims, “we wouldn’t want our attire to be ruined just before the meeting by some rainstorm.”

“Yes mother,” Ceann and Dorch reply before picking up their pace and practically galloping towards the main castle with their parents slowly following behind.

“Honey,”

“Yes Dia?” The emperor asks.

“What were you talking to Dorch about?”

“Nothing much, just a reminder to not slouch.”

“Good, because I don’t want you filling our children’s minds with these unethical thoughts you call political actions.”

“They aren’t as bad as the word them dear,”

“...I just don’t want them to become scheming power-succubi like your father.”

“That will never happen, I promise you.”