The Friendship Express chugged its way through the upper area of Equestria, the temperature dropping by degrees, even though Winter had come to Equestria. Snow fell from the sky in fat flakes, the entire landscape draped in silvery white, and when somepony breathed out, their breath came out in clouds of white. Rarity was paging through a copy of Equestrian Fashion Weekly, Rainbow Dash was munching on some fresh popcorn, Applejack was sleeping, her hat pulled over her muzzle. Pinkie Pie was nibbling away on an apple muffin covered with streusel and frosting; Fluttershy was huddled under a blanket, half awake, half asleep, and Twilight and Spike were with Skyward, who was looking pensively out of the window.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were all snugged up under a blanket near Applejack, also sound asleep.

The lavender unicorn knew the Haylian mare was homesick and heartsick—she missed her family, missed her home, and since now, Hearth’s Warming Eve was almost upon them; after the entire Lizalfos and the first portal incident, first had come applebuck season, then the Running of the Leaves. Now, the pegasi had brought snow; and with it, the highlight of the winter season was coming.

But for one pony, this season promised to be a lonely one—something her friends weren’t going to allow to happen.

“So…umm…do you want to hear about the Crystal Empire?”

Twilight wasn’t sure how to snap Skyward out of her funk, but she sure as sunrise was going to try.

Skyward glanced at Twilight, pricking her ears—interest touched her melancholic features. “Aye…one will admit one did not hath time to look at any tomes on the subject; especially after all that happened after one sealed the portal.”

Twilight knew something was bothering the Haylian unicorn, and she rested a hoof on Skyward’s armored shoulder. “Is everything all right at home?”

The armored unicorn mare looked down, her ears falling; a tormented expression crossed her face.

“...Shadeleaf Swamp wast cursed when one arrived in the area. That is where the portal led to…Twilight, what art thou doing?”

Twilight had pulled out a rolled-up piece of parchment from her saddlebags and unrolled it—it was a map of Equestria. She marked the area where the Nightmare Moon statue was, and wrote next to it—Portal to Shadeleaf Swamp—Hayrule.

“I’m marking the places where the portals appeared. I’m interested in Hayrule’s geography, and where it aligns with Equestria’s own.”

Skyward shook her head. “One dost not think that is a good idea, Twilight—what if somepony finds the map?”

Twilight shook her head, smiling. “I’ve enchanted the map so it won’t show anypony but us.”

Skyward didn’t look convinced, but she nodded her head. She laid her head back down—seeing her ears beginning to turn down again, the lavender unicorn nudged her, holding out another book.

“See? You’re going to love the Crystal Empire! The whole place is made of shining crystals! And the Crystal Ponies are so friendly!”

Skyward lifted her head and looked at the pictures in the book Twilight was showing her—there was a shot of the Crystal Spire Palace, the streets and dwellings, even a few photos of a few Crystal Ponies.

“Art…art they truly…they look almost made of stone themselves, like the Goron pony tribe,” Skyward mused as she looked closely at a photo with a Crystal Pony mare with an emerald coat and a shimmering pale green and gold mane.

Twilight smiled. “No, no; they’re not really made of stone, their genetic makeup ensures they naturally have that ‘crystalline’ sheen to their coats. They also are born with a special lens in their eyes to ensure they aren’t blinded by the glare of the sun on the crystals.”

Skyward cocked an eyebrow—she wasn’t wearing her helm for a change. “Interesting, that. So, thine brother married Princess Cadence; so is he Emperor then? And, why is she Princess, and not Empress?”

Twilight shook her head. “Cadence is the rightful ruler of the Empire, for one, so he would only be Prince Consort anyway. As for the Princess part, well, it’s a touch complicated. Given Princess Celestia and Princess Luna’s own ranks…it would cause a lot of bureaucratic confusion.”

The bluesteel unicorn mare snorted. “Bah---paperwork. The lot of that can be tossed into Death Mountain for all one cares,” she grumbled, and Twilight laughed.

When the Friendship Express pulled into the station, they were greeted by Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor, and of course, the couple’s personal guards. When they saw Spike get off the train after Twilight, the lead guardspony lifted one armored hoof in the air.

“Our hero has returned! Hail to the Great and Honorable Spike the Brave and Glorious!”

The guards took up the cry as well. “Hail to the Great and Honorable Spike the Brave and Glorious!”

Hearing this from the Crystal Empire’s guardsponies, Skyward raised an eyebrow at Spike, who looked sheepish at the rather impressive title. “Great and Honorable Spike the Brave and Glorious? So, thou art the hero of the Crystal Empire? Mayhap I underestimated ye greatly, Spike—thou art no babe fresh out of the shell. Thou art worthy of a blade and armor proper—in mine own lands, ye wouldst be considered an adult and a great hero as well.”

Spike waved his clawed hands, shaking his head and looking sheepish. “No no no…it’s all right. But…yeah…Twilight told me to take the Crystal Heart—she was trapped by King Sombra’s evil crystals, so she told me to take the Crystal Heart to Cadence.”

Skyward glanced at Princess Cadence. “One supposes this Sombra was the usurper of thine kingdom and rightful throne, Your Imperial Highness.”

Cadence nodded her head somberly, and Skyward heaved a sigh. “Similarities abound….”

The Princess of Love crossed to the Haylian unicorn and put a hoof on her armored shoulder, giving her a comforting smile. “You will, Skyward. You will free your land too—keep that hope alive in your heart. Twilight sent a letter to Auntie Celestia after you closed the first portal, and she sent it to me straightaway. You’re working towards it—slow but sure, and that will win you the race.”

Skyward smirked at the word ‘race’ and cocked her head at Applejack and Rainbow Dash, who were talking off to the side.

“Speaking of races…”

Cadence raised one dainty eyebrow, and Twilight giggled. “Skyward came in second place—she beat Applejack and Rainbow Dash during the Running of the Leaves this year.”

“Next year I’ll beat all of ya!” the rainbow maned pegasus mare bragged, and Skyward snickered. “We shalt see; thine wings were bound, so mayhap ye need more ground training,” she teased, and Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out playfully at the armored mare.

The main market place in the Citrine Plaza was the first thing that caught her eye, and she excused herself from the main group, wanting to explore a little. Crystal berries and fruit glittered from one stall, books another, crystalline wood piles, pastries and tasty looking tidbits…

The strains of a flute caught her ears, and, lured by the sweet-sounding tune, she walked towards the source of the sound. She ended up at a stall that had two crossed crystal flutes as a sign overhead—there were also a crowd of Crystal Ponies surrounding the stall. The salespony had a beautiful teal colored coat, like the hue of a crystalline lagoon, with a sleek ice blue mane to match. On his flank was a cutie mark of a star, which framed a large music note that looked to be made of diamond. He was the crafter of the flutes that he had laid out for inspection on his counter—large ones, small ones, whistles, piccolos, pipes—

Intrigued, she walked forward and picked one up in one hoof, examining it closely. The craftsmanship was beautiful—this flute was carved out of a single piece of glimmering pale blue crystal, graceful, fluid. Not too heavy either, and it had smaller crystals set in below the mouthpiece, each one a glittering amethyst. Skyward looked at the flute she held in her hooves, then glanced at the salespony. She tilted her head at it; he had finished his song by the time she had gotten done inspecting the item.

“May I?”

“Oh sure, go ahead!”

The bluesteel unicorn mare lifted the flute to her lips with her hooves; not her horn, much to most-pony’s surprise and began to play. The notes from the flute were slow, rising and falling slowly—there was a definite hint of melancholy, but also resolve, determination in the pulsing tune. Since Skyward had her eyes closed, she didn’t see she had drawn a crowd as she continued to play—from one song, to another…this one was slow as well---the Song of Time.

Her ancestor’s song…now her song as well.

In her hooves, the ancient song took on a new meaning as she continued to play, the gentle, sweet notes rising and falling as she let the old melody; her great-uncle’s old melody, play. She let the last notes die away---and started in surprise, dropping the flute when applause erupted around her. The salespony looked utterly stunned at the performance—nervous, Skyward left the flute where it lay, backing up on her hind legs slowly…

“Hey, you a Zelda fan?”

Skyward jumped, unconsciously ‘reaching’ for her sword hilt: she bit the inside of her cheek so hard she almost tasted blood, but forced herself to turn to face the pony speaking to her. He was slender, bore a pale orange coat, almost the color of a creamsicle, and his mane was a deep orange hue. He adjusted his square glasses, looking at her.

“I recognize those songs---the first one was ‘Oath to Order’, and the second one was the ‘Song of Time’, right?”

Skyward nodded her head—the nervousness still hadn’t gone away. “…Aye. How…?”

He grinned at her and proffered the book he was holding in one hoof—she took it in her magic and turned it over—it was a Legend of Zelda nann-ga. This one read “Wind Waker’ and when she saw the white, green and blue pegasus male on the cover, soaring over a vast sea dotted with small and large islands…

She bit her lower lip—she recognized her second great uncle on the cover, and mentally decided to find a copy if she could. She returned the book to the stallion, and inclined her head.

“My thanks, good stallion. I shalt have to find a copy for myself. Art there any others…umm…Skyward Sword, mayhap?”

“Skyward Swo—oh hay YEAH! I’ve got all the volumes! You can order them online or you can buy them from the bookstore here in town! The best one in ‘Wind Waker’ is when he’s trying to climb Dragon Roost Island, ooh, and then he runs into Valoo, a HUGE dragon god…”

“Hey, Geek Out, quit it; you’re scaring her,” somepony said in the crowd, and the stallion realized that the armored unicorn was backing away from him. Geek Out reached out towards her with one hoof--Skyward half-reared and took off, raising a cloud of dust behind her as she vanished into the streets, leaving a crowd of confused ponies behind her.

The unknown stallion shoved him. “Dude, you really gotta ease up—you see how scared she was?”

“More like she didn’t like being surrounded,” the salespony replied as he came to pick up the crystal flute she’d dropped. “Shame she left this—she made this sing like nopony I ever knew. I think I’ll send it to her for Hearth’s Warming—“

Another pony spoke up from the crowd. “You don’t even know who she is, Pure Note!”

The blue and pale silver stallion shrugged as he cleaned off the flute and packaged it. “Nopony said I couldn’t ask the guards if they’ve seen her around. They'll know who she is.”

Meanwhile, Skyward ran as fast as her legs would carry her, slowing only when she figured she was far enough away from the marketplace. Shaking her mane and mentally cursing herself out, she meandered back to the palace. As much as she wanted to explore—maybe now wasn’t a good time for it.

However, if she had turned around, she would've seen the silhouette of another pony peering out at her with narrowed eyes from around another corner...