The events of past hour were not less surprising to Princess Cadence than everything that happened prior to that. She couldn’t understand at first why did all the crystal ponies started calling her ‘the Crystal Princess’ and bowing to her with respect. It only became clear to her, her husbands and their friends after an elderly mare, one that Twilight and others mentioned that worked at the library, explained that it was once prophesied long ago. A prophecy that one day, after a rule of shadow and fear, the Crystal Empire would be ruled by not just a non-crystal pony, but an alicorn whose cutie mark looked exactly like the Crystal Heart, alongside her husband.The idea of her and Shining Armor ruling an empire was scary, to say the least. However, being a Princess of Equestria for years, and performing some royal duties along her aunt Celestia and later Luna as well, gave her some ideas as how to act the part. No, act was the wrong word here - live the part. Her husband would quickly learn to do so later.

Having dealt with that, Cadence finally headed towards the room where Twilight and everypony else was. She absentmindedly noticed that her body was still crystallised, although the librarian mare assured her that the effects that the Crystal Heart had on bodies of ‘non-crystals’ should pass in about an hour or two. While her coat looked astonishing, and more like her new subjects’, the Princess far more preferred her normal look.

Finally she reached the doors to a huge room where, after opening them, Cadence found the five mares and one baby dragon. All of them for some reason, instead of resting like she suggested, or celebrating, appeared to be trying to cheer up the sixth mare. Strangely, she looked as if she was depressed.

“What’s wrong, everypony?” she asked as she trotted closer to them, currently more worried about her sister-in-law’s mood than the fact that everypony was still crystal.

“Oh, hi Cadence.” Twilight replied, for a moment brightening up, and then lowered her head down. “It’s... I failed Celestia’s test.”

“What?” the alicorn asked surprised. “I don’t understand. Weren’t you supposed to recover the Crystal Heart?”

“Yes, but it was Spike who brought it to you, though.” Twilight told her. “And the Princess warned me that in the end it must be me and me alone who ultimately assist you and my brother with protecting the empire. I might have found the Crystal Heart, but since it wasn’t me who gave it to you, it doesn’t count.”

Cadence opened her mouth to object, but found that she had no words. The lavender unicorn was right: she didn’t do as Celestia told her, and because of that, she failed. Knowing how much it meant to her to pass this, to prove to her aunt that she was a worthy student, the Princess of Love hugged her sister.

“Don’t get me wrong, if I had to choose once more between me passing Celestia’s test and everypony, I would have chose you all again.” the younger mare said as she returned hug. “It’s just...”

“I know.” Cadance finished for her as Twilight trailed off. “And I am proud of you for that. I know this couldn’t have been easy.”

The others joined them and they stayed like this in group hug for few moments, before everypony pulled back.

“So when do you think you’ll be returning to Canterlot?” the Princess asked them, trying to not sound sad.

“Now, if you don’t mind.” the lavender mare response took her by surprise; she hoped they would stay at least a day. “I’m sorry, I wish we could stay longer, but Princess Celestia would want to hear what have exactly happened.” Twilight said, looking out of the window.

Cadence followed her gaze. The aurora that shot out of the crystal castle once the Crystal Heart was powered was still there, and they knew it must be visible across all of Equestria. Looking back at other ponies, the Princess nodded for understanding Twilight’s reasoning, and admired her dedication to her duty as Celestia’s student.

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Zelgius stood in the town square with his arms crossed watching as the crystal ponies rebuild what was destroyed in the fight by Sombra. Many of the crystal ponies had walked by him thanking him which he just said it was Spike and the other ponies that saved them. They still thanked him none the less. In front of him, however was the sword Ragnell from what his memories told him.

'How did it get here, though?' He wondered as he stared at it. He was do deep in his thought he didn't notice Shining Armor walking up behind him.

“You’re okay?” he asked, concerned causing Zelgius to turn and look at him. "You never come out of your armor do you?"

Zelgius turned back around to stared at the sword. "I must always be readied to protect the ponies."

The two stood in silence until Shining broke the silence. "Thank you.....for saving us.....and my sister."

Zelgius clenched his fist as he remembered when he became dead set on killing Sombra for harming Twilight. 'But why?' He thought.

"No need to thank me." Shining sighed then glanced at the sword.

"Hard to imagine how Sombra came about such a beautiful sword.

Zelgius didn't speak but instead walked over to the sword grabbing it's handle, pulling it out of the ground.

“Believe it or not, but the crystal ponies had a prophecy about her and me ruling the empire.” Shining spoke

“Really?” the knight asked, not surprised. “I... suppose congratulations are in order, then?”

“I guess.” other stallion replied, lowering his voice so the nearby crystal ponies (who, as Zelgius noticed, were still crystal) wouldn’t hear him.

“I never expected something like this. I knew I would have some more important duties once I married Cadance, but ruling an empire...”

“You’ll do fine.” Zelgius assured him, truly believing it. “Just remember that good of your subjects is most important, and everything will be fine.”

Zelgius then noticed out of the corner of his eye, he saw his friends that is leaded by the bouncing Pinkie Pie, are heading straight towards the train station. He walked towards the group with Shining Armor.

“I do so wish it was permanent.” they heard Rarity complain as they approached them. “Did you see how my mane just absolutely sparkled?”

“But...” Applejack told her warmly. “... good things are better when they're a rarity.”

“Aww.” Rarity exclaimed, touched, and her and few others giggled.

“You’re leaving already?” Shining Armor asked as he squeezed between Twilight and Cadence.

“Yes, Princess Celestia would want to know all the details as soon as possible.” his sister replied, and Zelgius, opted to stay at the back of the group, couldn’t help but notice that there was some sadness in her voice. “Besides, you seem to have everything under control here; you don’t need further help... for now.”

Her brother chuckled at the jibe.

“Everything's gonna be okay.” he told her, and added in quieted tone: “You've gotta stop saving my rump like this, it's starting to get embarrassing.”

“Wasn't me who saved you in the end. It was Spike.”

Those words almost made Zelgius stop as he processed what they meant.

“That’s what all this moping is about?!” he thought, understanding at once what exactly she meant..

“It's just a test.” Shining Armor stupidly tried to cheer her up. “Maybe she'll let you retake it.”

“I don't think she's gonna give me a new test.” Twilight replied in almost broken voice, while Cadence signaled for her husband to not say another word, as the lavender mare followed her friends into the train.

Much to Zelgius annoyance, the same thought seemed to be on everypony’s face, even Cadance.

“Does everypony actually believe that  Princess Celestia is going to fail her?” he asked the two rulers of the Crystal Empire in hushed voice.

“What do you mean?”  Cadence asked, confused. “Twilight didn’t bring the Crystal Heart, so she failed.”

"Trust me." Before anypony could say a word the train whistled. The ponies bid the two new rulers goodbye while Twilight hugged them. Zelgius bowed to them but to his shock felt the two pull him into a hug. "You don't bow to us...or your friends."

As the ponies waved their goodbyes Zelgius glanced at Shining Armor. "King Shining Armor." Before he could tell Zelgius to not call him that he saw Zelgius toss the blade that Sombra used at him. Shining caught it with his magic. Shining Armor stared at the blade in his grasp then glanced back up at Zelgius.

"We haven't sparred like we promised but I leave this sword in your cable hoofs. Make sure you train with it otherwise you won't beat me."

Shining smiled at the challenge. "We will see."

"The blades name is...Ragnell." With that said he turned and walked into the train as it began to move back to canterlot. Though a big evil was vanquished, he couldn't but feel something darker was coming and that sword.....would probably one key to defeat it.

'I hope I'm wrong.'

Next Chapter: Chapter 8 Estimated time remaining: 49 Minutes