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by tom117z

Chapter 52: 52 - Intermission: A Grand Day Out

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Crystal Express



Soronis pulled Puellula over and lifted her up so she could see out of the window. But, despite some original expectations, it wasn’t the window to a jail cell. When she had been running for her life, and when she had been captured, Soronis feared the worst; imprisonment and death by starvation. What they received was almost the complete opposite.

Not only had the princess been kind to them, she had allowed them both to fill up with love, straight from the heart. Soronis had never felt so full, and little Puellula was almost in a food coma. It didn’t help that the room they were in kept swaying from side to side, and the rhythmic ‘clack clack’ only made it harder to stay awake.

Neither of them had ever been on a train before, but it hadn’t taken them long to get over the slight motion sickness. As Puellula stared wide eyed out of the window, front hooves on the glass, Soronis looked around the carriage they were in. To say the interior was opulent would be like saying the ocean was big, and apparently Cadance had three of these cars.

As her eyes wandered towards the rear end of the carriage, the inter-car doors opened revealing Princess Cadance and her husband, Prince Armor. Soronis pulled her sister back, and they sat waiting for the princess to say something. Even after everything they had been given so far, Soronis was still slightly sceptical, having never seen kindness on this scale before.

“How are you two doing?” Cadance inquired.

“Your moving house is pretty!” giggled Puellula.

Cadance couldn’t help but giggle. “Thank you, little one. I’m glad to see you no longer need that,” Cadance said as she pointed towards a bucket in the corner, and Soronis’ face somehow flushed red despite the chitin.

Diverting the conversation, Soronis spoke up. “How much longer are we going to be on this train, your highness?”

Cadance frowned. “I told you, please, call me ‘Cadance’. And I’m afraid this is an overnight train. I’d suggest you make use of the beds towards the front of this car. I intend to make use of mine soon.”

Before she could stop her, Puellua jumped up, hugged the Princess on the legs, and bolted towards the sleeping section. Soronis was still unsure; this car felt like nothing more than a gilded cage, as the two were dragged off to face judgement before the Royal Pony Sisters.

Sensing her inner conflict, Cadance approached her, and quickly brought her into a wing hug. Soronis was stunned; never before had she felt love given so freely – even the Crystal Heart had taken some effort to draw from. Alongside the love, she could feel genuine concern. Looking into Cadance’s eyes, and seeing the true care was the last thing she remembered before falling to sleep.


Soronis awoke slightly to feel a warm body pressed up against hers. It was smaller, and after taking a few moments to think about it, she could feel it was more chitin against her own – Puellula.

As she grew accustom to the light, she could also feel that they were still on the train. Shuffling to the side of the cabin, she drew back the curtains, only to have her breath taken away. She shook her sister awake.

“Soronis, what is it?” Puellula asked as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Soronis just pointed out of the window. She followed her sister’s hoof, looking out, only to have her breath stolen as well. They had both heard the stories, but nothing could compare to actually seeing it. The city of Canterlot rose above everything else in view. It was beyond beautiful.

There was a light tapping on the cabin door, and a Crystal Guard stuck his head in. The girls turned round to stare at him, their faces still in shock. Confused at first, the guard noted the view from the window. “Got me first time too. Trust me, it’s better up close. That said, we will be arriving in just over an hour, and the Princess wishes you to join her for a light breakfast.” The guard nodded his head and withdrew.


After arriving about an hour later, the two changelings were taken to the castle through backstreets and tunnels, their arrival supressed. Under orders from Cadance, not even her Aunt Celestia knew anypony was coming, but she had sent a runner to find her aunt Luna.

The sisters soon found themselves in antechamber in the castle, though it looked more like a family lounge. They shared a large sofa, whilst Shining and Vlad sat opposite. Broad Sword and Scarlet sat in their own little ‘loveseat’ off to the side.

The four ponies talked amongst themselves. They seemed happy, almost content, but Soronis felt anything but. Right now, Princess Cadance and Princess Luna would be conversing with Princess Celestia about them. And if they were as smart as she thought they were, if they knew the truth, they would also likely divulge their connection to Serpens to the Princess Celestia. When he had done what he did, Queen Vespula had kept her deal with Crudelis quiet. After his death the only ones to know in the hive aside from Vespula was Serpens’ family, the exception there being Puellula, who was far too young to understand. Soronis had lied to Princess Cadance before, saying she didn't know what happened to her brother out of fear. And now Soronis and her sister were awaiting whatever judgement the Solar Princess decided on, Puellula happily oblivious to the potential danger they were in.

She wasn’t sure how long she sat there hugging her sister, but Puellula had picked up on her mood, and started hugging back. Then, all of a sudden, the door to the room opened, and in strode all three of Equestria’s princesses. Soronis almost passed out from fear, until a pink wing settled over her back.

Over the course of the next hour, after a quick relocation to the dining room where some snacks and drinks were served, the princesses were filled in on everything the pair could remember. Throughout the entire exchange Serpens was only briefly brought up, Soronis could tell they knew, but they had yet to act against them in any way for it.

Soronis was relieved of course, but she still couldn’t shake the feeling that she was going to get punished. She knew it was stupid, but something told her things would soon go wrong.

“For everything you have been through,” Celestia spoke to the two changelings. “You have my condolences.”

“That… is greatly appreciated, princess,” Soronis said. “But unnecessary.”

“On the contrary,” Celestia said. “But to allay your fears, I have the utmost confidence that Princess Twilight will be more than happy to take you in.”

“Thank you, for everything. All of you.”

“Think nothing of it, young one,” Luna said. “It is the least we can do given the recent misunderstanding.”

Things progressed smoothly from there. Among other things, Broad Sword and Scarlet Snow’s baby was discussed and the atmosphere was generally light and calm.

The all changed when the letter arrived.

The paper to burst into flames, immediately immolated in the sun’s fury. Soronis could spy terrifying wisps of fire could be seen flickering at the edges of Celestia’s mane and tail.

“Sister?” Luna asked in alarm.

“Organise the army – NOW! Send a detachment of the EUP to the Badlands Hive at once, Twilight is in danger!” Celestia ordered.

The next few minutes was a flurry of activity, an urgent exchange went between the royals as Celestia gave out commands. All of this was a blur for the two changelings as they tried to process what was happening. Moments later, they were alone in the room with Scarlet Snow.

Confused, Soronis sat up in her chair and looked around, looking towards Scarlet for an explanation.

“What’s going on?”

Scarlet grimaced. “The Badlands hive is under attack. Queen Crudelis has managed to find them.”

“W-what?” Soronis whimpered as she began to shed a few fresh tears, she soon found herself wrapped in both her sister’s forelegs, and Scarlet’s.

“Hey, don’t worry; you are safe here. The princesses are getting ready to help – I’m sure that Crudelis will never get chance to hurt anypony ever again.”

Author's Notes:

Much like the previous intermission, this chapter was written by RC2101_Copey and edited by me instead of the other way around. :pinkiehappy:

And next week we begin the final act of this story, its taken a while but we are almost there! And the moment a great many of you have been wishing for in the comments approaches, you know what one I mean...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw

Next Chapter: 53 - Act 3 Prologue Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 50 Minutes
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