(Celestia’s POV)

Soon I’ll have to get up and raise the sun. For the next ten or so minutes, however, I was watching Emmit sleep. Over the past month, and especially hearing about the Crystalling today, he’s been nervous about what could happen. Understandable considering he came to me from another world. Couldn’t even speak at first, until mother gave him that ability, and the ability to transform between his fox form and his human form. As my hoof gently stroked his human head, my mind thought about how far we’ve come over the past year, almost a year. From complete stranger to lover to husband. Of course, it was Luna that had taken to him first, especially after seeing him get an actual cutie mark. The same mark as her former lover no less. Even he was shocked by that. Because humans aren’t supposed to get cutie marks. And that raised a question: “Just what is he then, if not fully human?” Turned out that he’s a descendant of Luna’s lost lover that got sent to the human world by mistake.

Then came the news of a shadow organization that had tried to resurrect an evil mare named “Blackheart.” Only to drag in his mother as well. He was able to defeat her, save his mother, and destroy the runes. Almost at the cost of his own life. If not for the Tree of Harmony rescuing him. It was the Tree of Harmony that brought him here to us in the first place. Yes, a lot has happened to him.

Luna, Rarity, and I are married to him. Me expecting my first foal possibly later today. And because of a magical mishap, Fluttershy is also pregnant and expecting twins, though that’s more of mother’s doing and her planning. The spawn of a whole new pony race which will be named “Thestrals” that Luna will watch over and command. Part pony, part bat, and omnivore like Emmit. That is if Emmit can reform Nightmare Moon which is a separate personality and trapped deep within Luna’s mind. It’s a wonder he’s still sane after all that.

So, it took him a little bit to get to sleep. And even after humming to him and rubbing his head, like I am now, it still took an hour for him. Odd really. I’m the one going to have a foal either today or tomorrow and he’s the one that’s almost in a panic.

And the sun is going to panic if I don’t raise it in a few minutes. Seems it’s a little impatient this morning as it began to pull my magic. With a slight roll of my eyes, and a roll of my body, I rolled myself out of bed and onto the floor. Being pregnant means that I didn’t walk or trot to the door. Nope, I waddled to the door with our foal swaying gently underneath me, even as careful as I was, toward the balcony. A couple of months ago, as the day drew nearer, the doctor determined to play it safe and have the baby supported by a wrap that went around me.

Once at the balcony, my eyes spotted the moon going down, which meant Luna was lowering it. So, using my magic I gently encouraged the sun to rise to begin its journey. Then looking off to the side, I watched Luna gently glide her way over to me after our morning duty was done.

“Good morrow, sister,” Luna greeted with tired eyes as she landed by me, nuzzling me in greeting. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“About ready to pop,” I returned with an excited giggle as we made our way back inside. “Odd that he’s the one so concerned and almost at a panic when I’m the pregnant one.”

“Indeed, sister,” Luna agreed as she shut the door behind her. “Then again, he does have a lot on his plate, as the saying goes.” We were whispering to each other so as not to wake him.

“How was his dreams tonight?” I asked while we stopped at my bed, watching him. He laid still.

“He’s still very much concerned that the involvement of the changelings, and possible abduction of his father, has changed everything,” she replied softly with her voice filled with concern. She too watched him sleep, using a front hoof to gently rub against his head as well. “A valid concern, in my opinion,” she continued. “However, whatever may come I believe we will triumph.” She nuzzled me again, “As long as we stay a family.”

Nuzzling back, I hummed in agreement. “I agree,” my voice held regret and remorse in it, as did my eyes when they met hers. “Something I should have learned long ago. If only I had learned that then maybe…” I shook my head before nuzzling her again, “I’m sorry, sister. I’m so sorry about what happened before.”

She nuzzled me back whispering, “I know and I forgive you, sister. My deeper emotions, or Nightmare Moon, may take longer to deal with, however.”

“How is that going?”

Luna hesitated, as if in thought, “I have finally accepted that Nightmare Moon is my deep emotions that the Tree of Harmony locked away. That Emmit was right. Nightmare Moon wasn’t caused by evil magic, but by my own mind. Even as I begin to understand it, it’s still odd to think about and feel.”

I simply put a wing around her in a sideways hug as she spoke.

“A completely separate personality, Nightmare Moon, created by my own mind,” she mumbled quietly as if trying to still understand it. All the while her eyes were on Emmit. “And Emmit understands it and can help.” She sighed and leaned into me. “Nightmare Moon and I have talked many times since the first. And we are making headway, as the modern saying goes.”

“I’ll do whatever is necessary. And now that I understand, truly understand, I need to apologize to her.”

Luna smiled at me, “I know. And I think you will, but I don’t think that now is that right time yet.”

“Very well, sister. I leave it to the judgment of you and Emmit.” It was then that Emmit began to stir from his slumber with a soft groan. With a wink to Luna and a wicked smile on our faces, we made our way over and onto the bed. I laid down in front of him with Luna behind him laying a front leg over him. “Emmit,” I cooed softly at him before giving him a light kiss. “Wake up, it’s time.”

His eyes fluttered open but didn’t focus on me just yet. “Time…?” his voice was slurred because of sleep. “Time for what?” With his mind still half asleep, I could practically see the gears trying to grind in his head. I thought I would help it along.

“Emmit, dear,” I whispered to him, giving him a deeper kiss to wake him up. “It’s time t-“

“It’s time,” he nearly shouted in alarm, awake in an instant. He sat straight up in bed, turned to me, and grabbed my head with his hands, “It’s time.” He started looking around in a near panic. “Ok, ok, ok. Get things together,” he mumbled quietly and quickly got out of bed, naked. He was in his human form. Immediately he went to my wardrobe to gather my clothes, which had already been packed for the trip this morning and was already by the door.

“Good news is,” Luna giggled at the sight of Emmit running around the room trying to gather stuff that was already gathered, “he’s awake.”

With a giggle, I shook my head and smiled at him, “Bad news is, he’s panicking again.”

“Where is it?” I watched him look through my stand-alone closet for the clothes I said I’d take. Obviously forgetting that it’s already packed.

“Emmit, dear,” I called out to him, “It’s already packed by the door. It’s time to get to the train.” Emphasis on train to try and get through to him. And he responded by looking over at me.

“Right,” he said and quickly went to the door, opened it, and grabbed the head of one of the guards. “BABY!” Then grabbed the head of the other guard. “TRAIN!” And then came inside toward me. Meanwhile, our two poor guards looked at each other first before looking over at us in total confusion.

Grabbing him with my magic, I decided to stop his morning panic attack, “Emmit, listen to me.” I think I finally got his attention. “It’s time to head to the train for the trip to the Crystal Kingdom.” I let him go when he finally started to relax with a sheepish smile.

“Oh, sorry,” he apologized with an embarrassed smile.

Luna and I giggled, stepping up to him and hugged him from both sides. “It’s quite alright, dear,” I told him, hugging him with my head on his chest.

“Indeed, it was very entertaining,” Luna said, also hugging him with her head on his chest.

“Luna!” even though I wanted to chastise her, I still giggled at it.

I watched him roll his eyes but still took it in good humor. Even put his hands on our heads before leaning down and giving each of us a kiss at the base of our horns. “I’m glad I was entertaining.” His voice held his embarrassment.

“Is everything alright, your highnesses, sire?” one of the guards, now standing just inside the door, questioned.

Leaning back, I patted a hoof against him before addressing the guard. “Yes, everything is alright. Please take our bags to the carriage. We’re ready to board the train.”

Both saluted, “Yes, your highness.” Because both of them were unicorns, each of them carried a bag or two down the hall.

“Alright, I’m sorry for laughing,” Luna apologized with a lingering kiss to his lips. “But we need to get to the station, so morph and let’s go.”

With another slight roll of his eyes, he morphed into his fox form but still smiled at us both. “Alright, let’s go.”

“Is Twilight and her friends going to meet us on the train as planned?” Luna asked after we left the room. As usual, Emmit was between us with a couple of tails over us possessively.

“It’s still planned, yes,” Emmit told us as we made our way to the carriage. “They figured it would be easier than coming here first.”

“This is so exciting! Not only for Equestria but for the Crystal Kingdom. I’m sure that Twilight will tell us all about it.”

“I’m sure it is, Tia,” Emmit commented, although his voice betrayed the concern that was running through his mind. “I’m just hoping that everypony is safe afterward.”

^_^

(Emmit’s POV, The Friendship Express)

After getting to the train, I thanked the two stallion guards for their assistance before dismissing them. While I was doing that Tia and Luna had already entered the train where Twilight and her friends waited for them. We had requested the royal car for us to use and rest in for the few hours the trip will take. Already the girls were at it, cooing and giggling at not only Tia and the excitement over the upcoming birth. But the Crystalling as well. At the conductor’s call of “NEXT STOP FOR THE FRIENDSHIP EXPRESS IS THE CRYSTAL KINGDOM. ALL ABOARD” I boarded the train as well.

“Tia, darling I hope you and the baby are well,” came Rarity’s voice as I stepped inside. Tia had taken one bench to lay on with Luna sitting across from her on the other. The other girls were on their own bench seats around them.

“Yes, Rarity,” Tia told them with a smile as she rubbed her baby bump gently with a hoof, “we are just fine and looking forward to the Cyrstalling. As I understand it, hasn’t it been about a millennium since the last one?”

As I entered and took my seat next to Luna, putting a couple of tails around her, and held her to me, the girls quickly said hello before putting all their attention on Tia again.

“Yes, from what I’ve been able to find out,” Twilight informed us as she turned around in her seat and peered over it at us from behind me. As she spoke and started explaining what the Crystalling is Luna whispered to me that she’s going to get some sleep. I nodded as she put a light sleep spell over herself before falling asleep against me. “Whenever a baby is born in the Crystal Empire, the parents bring it before the Crystal Heart. They get the purest shard of the crystal they can find, then pick a Crystaller to present the baby to everypony who comes. Then they all share the light and joy they feel, feeding it into the crystal that joins with the Heart and increases its power. And because it’s a royal Crystalling, the whole empire is going to show up. It’s a royal Crystalling that hasn’t happened in about a millennium.” Luna was fast asleep by the time Twilight was done explaining.

“What does that mean though?” Starlight asked, also from behind me, sitting beside Twilight. “Increasing its power?”

“From what I can guess,” Twilight answered as the train whistled its departure before jerking slightly, “it’s a way to make it more powerful in order to help protect the kingdom. And not just from enemies but from nature as well. It also acts as a barrier for fierce storms, keeping them at bay.”

“Didn’t you all witnessed that before after it showed up?” I asked while looking over at Spike that was behind Tia.

“Oh, you mean when I helped save the kingdom?” Spike grinned as Rarity rolled her eyes next to him.

Some of them giggled but some also rolled their eyes as well with Twilight answering him. “Yes, Spike. And yes that was the first instance that we saw of the phenomenon. Before, Cadence was using her love to keep the storm at bay, but once the Heart was powered again it was able to do so by itself. Crystallings are used to help increase that power. The more love poured into a shard the more the increase.”

Kind of like leveling up in a video game.

“Any word on what your brother will do about security?” I asked Twilight.

“He just said that he’d look into it,” she said simply with a shrug. “Probably do the same here as he did for his wedding.” Then she changed the subject. “In the meantime, what’s that with you AJ?”

“Oh, this?” AJ grabbed the sheet that was covering the object and whisked it off to reveal a baby’s crib. “Made from genuine Sweet Apple Acres apple trees. We make ‘em for all the Apples and anypony related to Twilight is practically family.” I heard Twilight giggle bashfully when AJ said that, looking over at her.

“Yeah. It’s OK,” Rainbow started hovering in the isle while reaching for something in the overhead bin, “but it’s no Cloudsdale Mobile.” She brought it out with a hoof, “Bam!” Both the rocking crib and the mobile looked just like it did in the show. It made me smile as well as easing my nerves about what’s going to come. Especially when Pinkie commented on how pretty it was and the mobile didn’t break when she touched it. Matter of fact when she did it spun around slowly like it was supposed to.

And naturally, AJ and Rainbow’s competitive streak got a hold of one another after AJ commented, “Well a mobile’s really nice when you have something to lay in so you can look at it.”

“And another fetching looking blanket to keep you warm,” Rarity cooed while levitating a white blanket with a blue horseshoe border to it laying it inside. AJ smiled warmly at the gift.

“I’m sure Cadence and Shining Armor will be happy with all our gifts,” Twilight said happily. “But I think they’re more happy about everypony attending the baby’s Crystalling.”

“I think you’re right, Twilight,” Tia sighed with a smile with her hoof rubbing against her baby bump gently.

“Yes, speaking of baby,” I interrupted, looking over to Fluttershy. “How are you doing?”

Tia looked over at Fluttershy, who was sitting next to Rainbow, “Oh yes, does being pregnant agree with you? You’ve been quiet this whole time.”

She waved her concern off with a hoof and a smile, “Oh that’s quite alright. Well, the morning sickness has disappeared and the change of diet is in full swing.” She reached down to rub her slightly protruding belly. “And I think I’m showing a little.”

“That you are, Fluttershy,” I said to her with a wink. “But that’s ok. A pregnant mare is a beautiful thing.” Almost everypony went “aww” and cooed in agreement when I said it. All but Rainbow and AJ, more Rainbow than AJ. AJ still smiled but kept quiet on that one. Rainbow simply rolled her eyes.

“Pregnancy isn’t for me yet,” Rainbow told us with a shrug of her shoulders. “Maybe in the future when my career with the Wonderbolt’s is winding down.”

“You might change your mind, Rainbow Dash,” Tia looked over at her with a knowing smile before looking down, still rubbing her belly with a hoof. “I am looking forward to experiencing everything motherhood has to offer. Both the good and the bad. The joys and the sorrows.” She giggled a little before saying, “I’m even looking forward to the pain during the birth.”

The girls winced at that, including me. Except for Fluttershy.

“You know, I am too,” she said softly, but with a wide understanding smile. “I’ve watched other ponies have foals and even the animals I take care of have families of their own. But now I am as well. It’s frightening and exciting at the same time.”

“I can imagine so,” Starlight said happily. “I can’t wait to see what the baby looks like.”

“Oh that’s right,” Pinkie bounced in her seat while looking over at me. “Emmit can tell us what the baby looks like.”

When all their eyes fell upon me, I responded with a slow knowing smirk, “I’ll let that be a surprise.” They gave me a disappointed “Aww.” “I will say though that if things go as planned then it’s definitely going to be an interesting time.” Hopefully without the changelings.

^_^

“Crystal Empire!” came the conductor’s call as we approached the station. Everypony was excited and getting their things together, Rarity’s was underneath us in the storage compartment where I had put it. AJ was wrapping the rocking crib in the blanket, Rainbow had put the mobile in the crib with the offer to help carry it. Which AJ agreed to. Meanwhile, I paid more attention to the lack of Shining Armor’s protective barrier. Looking out the window, when the train came to a stop with a loud hiss of steam, my eyes spotted the reason. Just like in the show, Shining Armor was passed out dead asleep on his feet right in the middle of the platform. And looked like he had in the show with the hair in his mane and tail sticking out in all directions and looking like he hasn’t slept in a few days.

By this time Luna was awake, so she heard me muttering, “Well, that explains the lack of the protective shield.”

Luna looked out the window with me as the girls started leaving the train and Twilight lifting the bags that were left with her magic. “Indeed, it seems he hasn’t had the time.”

I motioned with my head for us to leave. “Let’s go save him then.” And by the time we got onto the platform, Twilight was already in front of her brother waving a hoof in front of his face. With the rest of the girls giggling behind her. I stepped up beside Tia, putting a couple of tails over her and Luna as we watched.

“Shining?” Twilight called out to him, still waving her hoof in front of his face. “Shiny?” When he didn’t answer she finally tapped her hoof against his chest firmly to wake him, “SHINY!”

He was awake in an instant with a startled snort and a shake of his head, “Huh? What? Where-“

“Shiny!” Twilight called again, looking up to him with what appeared to be a look of both concern mixed with a little irritation. “Are you alright?”

No. And I know why too.

“Of course I am,” he tried to convince her after giving her a hug, but wasn’t succeeding, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Probably because you were asleep when we arrived,” Twilight said dryly with a deadpan expression. Meanwhile, I shook my head, excused myself from Tia and Luna to walk up to him.

“And standing up I might add,” I told him with a chuckle.

He sighed, hung his head, and used a hoof to rub against his sleepy eyes. “Sorry, but the baby has been keeping us up lately.”

“That explains why you were asleep on your feet when we arrived,” AJ giggled at him.

“And the reason there’s no protective shield around the kingdom,” I added being a little annoyed, but understanding.

“Oh the security,” he groaned and shook his head. “I meant to take care of that.”

I put a paw against his shoulder, “Listen, why don’t we go see your baby then get your guard together and let me take care of security alright?”

“You would do that?” he looked over at me as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Duh,” I chuckled, “Yeah I would. It takes something off of your hooves and gives me something to do. Besides, Tia’s probably going to give birth here, so it gives me some peace of mind.”

He smiled with a nod, “Alright. Thank you.”

And with that, he led us from the train station, on the outskirts of town, down the main center street toward the crystal castle. On the way there, Twilight left Spike with simple instructions for Starlight to reconnect with her old friend Sunburst. I hung back while analyzing the security that would probably be best as Rarity’s bags floating like a small mountain behind me. The castle was in the center with the rest of the town spread out around it. We needed to get the citizens either under or near the castle while keeping most of the guard spread out around the kingdom. By the time we got to the castle, I had a plan in place.

^_^

“Why don’t we see the baby first, before you ask your guard to assemble?” was my suggestion to Shining Armor as we stood before the door.

“Sounds good to me,” he replied with a thankful smile. Then, he addressed everypony else with his back to the door. “Before we go in, I should probably tell you that seeing the baby might be a bit of a shock.”

Twilight simply rolled her eyes, used her magic to open the door, and stepped through. “Oh come on, big brother, I’ve met babies before. I expect meeting this one won’t be any different.” As we followed her in, I took my place between Tia and Luna, making sure to be behind Twilight in case the baby sneezed. The rest of the girls were standing around the crib, save for Rainbow which was hovering almost over her. I kept that in mind as Twilight approached. Flurry Heart was sound asleep and cooing softly until Twilight approached with her own soft “Aww.” Which then woke little Flurry up, saw Twilight, and began squirming happily until her big wings snapped open wide. “Of course, I could be wrong,” Twilight looked on in shock and awe at her new niece.

“The baby is an Alicorn?” Twilight turned around while looking between Tia and Cadence. I watched the reactions of the other girls as well. Each had their own mixed reactions of shock, awe, and wonder on their faces.

“It appears that way, yes,” Cadence responded with her own tired voice which matched the tired look on her face just like Shining Armor.

“I thought Alicorn wings had to be earned,” Rarity questioned as she looked over to Tia, “by accomplishing some great princess-worthy deed.”

AJ echoed that sentiment with, “Yeah, how can one be born with them?”

Tia looked down at Flurry Heart with a look of confusion and mystery, “The birth of an Alicorn is something that Equestria has never seen! So, you are right Rarity. Even we had to earn them. This is a first in Equestria.”

“It is beyond even our understanding,” Luna echoed it with her own thoughts while also gazing down at the mystery in the crib.

Fluttershy whispered to Rarity, “That’s not reassuring.”

“Wow, a unicorn and a Pegasus!” Pinkie was obviously excited as she bounced in place beside Twilight. “So, she could be a super-strong flier and have crazy baby magic.”

“Which explains why they haven’t slept that much,” I muttered softly, just loud enough for Tia, Luna, and Twilight to hear.

“And I know all about super flying,” Rainbow did a flip in the air to show off and brag.

“And I can help keep tabs on her magic,” Twilight offered to help, which was nice but if Flurry was like anything similar to the show then everypony was in for a shock. Which is taking place right now as little Flurry was fixing to sneeze. After taking a quick look around, my eyes spotted both Rainbow, Twilight and Pinkie getting a little too close for my comfort over the crib. I used my telekinesis to pull them back.

“Hey, what the-” Rainbow protested as my own magic, per se, pulled her back right before Flurry sneezed.

Everypony was shocked when such power came from such a small package. Even though I’ve seen it on screen, that was nothing compared to seeing it in person. I could feel the power she expelled. It was like being inside a level one hurricane regarding the amount of wind her magic pushed around. The beam itself was pure magic mixed with fire that went right through the roof, just like in the show. I wasn’t shocked, naturally, and let the three girls go after it was over.

“And now we know why they haven’t gotten a lot of sleep,” I muttered to break the awkward silence.

“Tarnation!” AJ’s voice was soft, filled with awe and wonder at what had just happened.

Tia stepped up and gently rubbed Flurry on her head as she fussed over the sneeze, “It appears that her magic is far more than that of a newborn unicorn.”

“Thank goodness somepony pulled me back,” Rainbow winced as she commented, “or that ceiling might have been me.”

“But who would…,” Twilight started to question before she hung her head and whispered, “Of course.” She turned toward me with a knowing smile, “You knew she would do that didn’t you, Emmit?” My response was a simple smile to her. “Well, thank goodness you did. But how do we control that amount of uncontrolled power?”

“It seems that this crystalling will be more important than ever,” Tia looked over to Cadence when she said it.

“Wait, hold on,” Shining Armor interrupted with a wave of his hoof. “How did you know that she would do that when you haven’t seen her before?”

Did we, or I, not tell them?

“I don’t think we’ve told them, Emmit,” Luna mentioned to me when she saw my confused look.

“Oh, I hadn’t realized,” I told Luna before turning to face Cadence and Shining Armor which had understandably looks of concern and question on their faces. “As you two realize, I’m not from this world. What you don’t know, and that I’ve forgotten to mention, is that in the other world there was this show called ‘My Little Pony.’” I put a paw on Twilight’s shoulder, “It was about Twilight and her friends. So, because of that, I knew that Flurry Heart here would sneeze like that.”

Cadence looked at me as if she wasn’t sure if she ever wanted to know in the first place. Shining Armor still seemed confused, “Wait, so that’s how you knew about the changelings?”

I shook my head, “No, that stems from a stallion named Facade. He’s the one who knew about the runes capable of resurrecting Blackheart but grabbing my mother as well. He was still at large and though we didn’t capture him, we did capture the changeling that was with him. It was that changeling that gave us that information.”

“But you know what’s going to happen right?” Cadence questioned me as she stepped up to me with a mother’s instinctive worry clearly written on her face.

“That depends,” I told her honestly. While I started speaking to Cadence, baby Flurry had decided to play with Pinkie’s face when she got near. “I know what should happen. I know what happened in the show. But like I’ve told the girls, things can be somewhat different. The changelings didn’t invade during the show, but they are now due to the shadow organizations dealings in the past and how they probably brought my father over.”

“Well then,” Shining Armor spoke up looking happier, “You can tell me who to pick for a crystaller and the crystal.”

“No, I can’t.”

He didn’t like that answer and it showed when he started getting more upset and frustrated. “Why not?”

I had to think of what, and how, to tell him. “It was decided for you when a crisis takes place about an hour or two from now.”

“What crisis?” Cadence grabbed my face in near motherly panic in worry for Flurry Heart. “Will we get her magic under control? Will everything be alright?”

“Cadence!” using two paws against her shoulders, I shook her a little to get her to calm down. “All I can safely say is that go about your day and things will work out for you in the end. I don’t want to risk telling too much, so I don’t damage what should happen.”

“What should happen? What should happen?!” she was getting a little more agitated with me as she put her nose against mine with a slight growl to her voice. “This is Flurry Heart, my daughter we are talking about. So, I don’t care if time itself comes unraveled. Tell. Me.”

Calm down. This isn’t the time for your inner asshole to come out and kiss her because you think it’d be funny. Although it would. I took a moment to calm myself then put a hoof to her nose to ease her away. “You’re right and wrong,” I told her. “It’s not just about Flurry Heart. It’s also about Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst. It’s about Starlight’s friendship lessons in the coming months that ultimately is responsible for saving all of Equestria from Chrysalis’ plan in the near future.” Cadence and Shining Armor blinked in surprise, with some disbelief mixed in. “If Chrysalis is to be defeated then there are certain ponies that must work together to do so. Or all could be lost. I’m not just thinking about the here and now, but how the here and now ultimately affects everything else down the river of time.”

While we were talking Flurry Heart had started flying around the room, so Rainbow was right there flying alongside of her in order to watch her. At the same time, Pinkie was trotting along underneath to keep an eye out as well.

“What?!” Cadence looked increasingly frustrated and annoyed with me, giving me an exasperated expression due to the growing confusion. She shook her head, “That doesn’t even make sense. And besides that’s months away and can’t have any bearing on what’s happening now.”

“Cadence?” Twilight stepped up to Cadence with her voice soft and understanding while hopefully being the voice of reason. And talked to her when their eyes met, “I know how it sounds. I know it sounds crazy.”

Now Pinkie and Rainbow were entertaining baby Flurry in whatever way they can to keep her calm and happy, which I was grateful for.

“But he’s right,” Twilight continued. “Remember when I told you about Spike and I jumping through time with Starlight Glimmer?” Cadence nodded. “Zecora explained to me what he’s referring to during one of those timelines. The change that Glimmer made in the past affected everything from that point on in various ways. So, if this event doesn’t play out the way it’s supposed to then he doesn’t know what’s going to happen. He doesn’t know if his family, or yours, is going to be safe from Chrysalis in the future.”

Cadence, and even Shining Armor, didn’t seem happy with that explanation, so Tia stepped forward, “Cadence, why don’t you step back and address your subjects on the importance of this even in light of Flurry’s abilities?”

Cadence calmed herself down with her usual flare then agreed with Tia, “Alright.” Then looked to Twilight, “Would you look after Flurry?”

“Of course Cadence, don’t worry about a thing,” Twilight responded by stepping up to her and giving her a reassuring hug.

“Thanks,” with one final word from Cadence she trotted over to Flurry, and her passed out husband and gave her a quick nuzzle. Flurry cooed happily with Pinkie as Cadence started to leave with Tia and Luna behind her.

Meanwhile, there was something I needed to do, so I started following them out. And only when out of the room did I speak up again, “Cadence? Because Shining Armor hasn’t had the chance to address security, I would like to-”

“No!” she interrupted me a little too fiercely that I liked. It showed in her eyes when she turned around and looked at me.

“What?! This is about security against the changelings-”

“Which I will see to as I see fit,” she told me in no uncertain terms. “I’m not comfortable with you right now.” Then she turned to leave.

Tia and Luna didn’t know what to do as they looked between us. But I had to try one last time on at least one point. “Tell your guards to watch out for Starlight and Sunburst. If they see them-”

“Not listening,” she said, stomping off with her nose up in the air. And she wasn’t either which simply shocked me. For a few seconds, I simply stood there watching her leave with an incredulous look on my face. Then I felt like hitting something.

“Of all the...” I stopped myself just shy of cursing while stomping my paw into the floor. “For the love of...” turning around walking away was my only course at this moment. However, I ended it with a shout of, “QLP BE’,” from the Klingon language that echoed through the hallway. I didn’t turn around to see what she did afterward and right now I didn’t care. One thing that was needed right was space. So with that in my mind, the first thing I sought was an empty room to vent in. Stomping and cursing down the hall, I picked a door near the end of it and walked in. It wasn’t empty, luckily for me otherwise I probably would have burned something. I knew it wasn’t empty because I bumped into someone.

“You know that wasn’t a very nice thing to say,” my mother scolded me with her motherly disappointed look with her arms crossed over her chest. “Even if she will never know what it means.”

“Maybe not, but she doesn’t understand,” I shook my head and started pacing around her. “The crystal is going to crack and break when Flurry cries and it’s Starlight that convinces Sunburst to come here and help us put it back together. And not only that but when the crystal shatters it was Tia and Luna that held back the storm giving enough time for Sunburst to get to the castle. Which she can’t do right now, which leaves me. Nor will she be able to use her magic to heal the crystal, which I don’t know how we are going to deal with that hurdle.” I turned to face my mother while venting out my frustration while running it through in my head. “Luna and I will have to deal with the storm, and that’s if the Changelings don’t try to invade. I don’t even know of the number of changelings that will come. If we’re lucky, and I mean damned lucky, there won’t be that many. Not to mention that dad may be among them. And there’s no way that even I can deal with the changelings, the storm, and dad all at the same time.”

“Come here,” she called to me softly with her arms open with a small smile. With a big sigh, I walked over to her. She took my head in her hands and brought it to her chest and held me, “I know you have a lot on your plate right now. And I know you’re frustrated and worried.”

“Not to mention frightened,” I muttered into her chest as I sat on my rump. “It was Tia, Luna, Twilight and Starlight that used their powerful magic to heal the crystal. With Tia out, I don’t know who can take her place. Shining Armor or Cadence can’t take her place because they need to be with Flurry Heart during the Crystalling, so they can’t use their magic to hold it together long enough. No, the only one that might be able to take her place is Rarity.”

“Isn’t she the one that you said went nuts during a duel or something?” she asked while rubbing my mane and ears.

“Yeah,” and it was working to calm me down, “it was her. After Blueblood hit me with the dagger that was meant for her she went into magical overload and called to her lots of gems. Pelting him with them. She would have killed him too if she didn’t pass out first.”

She giggled a little, “Sorry I missed it.”

“Me too,” I chuckled, “I was being carried off the field at the time, so I didn’t see it either. I did hear that he cowered in fear and shit himself though.”

Mother giggled a little right before there was a knock at the door. I didn’t know who it could be considering this was an unused room that I had literally just walked into. My question was answered when the door opened and AJ’s head popped in. “Sugarcube? You in here?”

“I’m here, AJ,” I told her while my voice still held a frustrated tone to it.

“Oh there you are,” she said before spotting my mother and walking over to us. “Hi there, Sarah.”

Mother smiled down to AJ, “Hello, Applejack, how are things?”

AJ shook my mother’s hand when she offered it, “Fine. No complaints here.” Then she took a good look at me, “But I think there might be some here, though.”

With a sigh, I nodded to her, “You would be right.”

AJ trotted over and plopped down beside me and stared at me with a look that said she wasn’t leaving until I told her.

I gave her a thankful, amused, smirk, “I’m frustrated with Cadence not listening to me regarding security or watching out for Starlight and Sunburst.”

“Because of what you told her about the show and all?” she questioned.

“Yeah,” with a nod to her, “she’s having more of a time with it than you girls did. And what’s worse is that it might…might mind you…cost her the Crystal Empire!”

AJ gave me a look of disbelief, “How’d you figure that? What’s going to happen?”

With a slight groan, I turned to her, “The Crystal Heart is going to shatter when Flurry Heart starts crying.”

AJ was floored. Her ears splayed back against her head and she gave me a shocked look.

“Which,” I continued when she didn’t say anything, “should happen any minute now.”

“But…how…,” AJ still couldn’t believe it.

I sat down in front of her, taking her head in my paws. “AJ, the heart is a crystal. And all crystals can break and shatter at the right frequencies. When Flurry Heart starts crying it so happens to be at the correct frequency, and cries so loud, that it resonates with the crystal thus shattering it.”

“But…that’s impo-“

And that’s as far as she got before the whole castle itself began to resonate followed by the sound of a very upset Flurry Heart. It was like being inside a resonating chamber in the middle of an earthquake. The sound came from everywhere at once while the castle vibrated around us.

After it stopped AJ looked at me with a look of horror.

“Well, let’s go,” I nudged her toward the door. “Let’s see if Cadence will listen now. You coming, mom?”

“Oh, of course,” she said and followed us out the door.

^_^

It didn’t take us long to get outside where the Crystal Heart lay in pieces. When we did, the panic and chaos had already started. The Crystal Heart was in pieces on the ground with Tia, Luna, Twilight and her friends all looking at it in shock and horror. While Shining Amor just had a look of disbelief as he gently took Flurry Heart from a very freaked out Cadence.

“I can’t believe it,” Cadence lowered her head down to what was left of the Crystal Heart, “I simply can’t believe it. It…it…s-shattered. But how?”

“It’s a crystal, Cadence,” I spoke loudly to get their attention as we trotted up to them, my mother walking up to them behind us. “When Flurry Heart cried, she cried loud enough and on the right frequency that resonated with the Crystal Heart. Thus shattering it.”

“You were right, sugarcube,” AJ nearly whispered to me while gazing down at the shards.

“Naturally,” Twilight gave me a smirk and rolled her eyes at me as she stood by Cadence, “I don’t know why we should be surprised by now.” She then waved to my mother behind me, “Hi, Sarah. Glad you could join in the chaos.”

“And it’s not over yet,” I put in, pointing a paw toward the gathering clouds, “because here come the storms.”

“What?!” Cadence looked toward the distance, “Oh no.”

“And that’s not all that’s coming,” Luna commented at the approaching Crystal Guard.

The guard trotted up to Cadence and Shining Armor giving them a quick salute, “Your highness. We have changelings incoming.”

“How many?” I questioned quickly, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

“Many,” he said simply with a resigned look of despair on his face.

Fuck. And wouldn’t you know it, right then it got worse. My ears picked up the sound of water hitting the ground. And after a second of looking around, I spotted Tia also looking down. She then looked up at me with a look filled with mixed emotions that ranged from “sorry but there’s another problem” to “it’s time.” “And my water just broke,” she gave a nervous short giggle.

“The Crystal Heart shatters, the storms are coming, the changelings are invading, I don’t know how to fix the Crystal Heart, and now Tia is going into labor,” Cadence started freaking out and even started to hyperventilate.

“Shining Armor get Cadence, Tia, my mother, and Fluttershy all inside where it’s safe,” I told him firmly before looking over to the guard. “Here’s what you need to do. We have storms and changelings inbound, so your duty will be threefold. First is to get the public here without encouraging a panic. Do that by having them gather here for the Crystalling, as close to the castle they can get. That will get them here and get their attention on the castle for as long as possible. Your other duty is to find two ponies while at the same time battling and protecting them from the changelings.” Using my ability, I put up two pictures for him. “Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst. Make sure you escort them wherever they need to go. They have information that’s vital, understood?” By the time I got done explaining things to the guard, Shining Armor had practically pulled the hyperventilating Cadence inside.

The guard looked between his retreating leaders then nodded to me, saluting, “Yes, sir.”

“Good, Luna and I will try and take care of gathering storm. I will try and do both when needed,” I told him and saluted him when he saluted me before he left.

“What do you want us to do, stud?”

I looked at Rainbow after she asked and images of them being hurt by the changelings flashed into my mind. Even though I knew they could handle themselves in a fight. I still wanted them inside where it will be safe.

AJ bumped me with her hips, “It’s alright, Sugarcube. We can handle a fight.”

With a smile, I leaned down and nuzzled her head with mine. “I know, but that doesn’t mean I look forward to putting you in danger.” With a calming sigh, I told them, “Alright. First, I want Twilight and Rarity to gather the crystal shards and take them inside with Cadence and Shining Armor. Twilight, talk to your brother and see about him putting up his shield. If he’s too tired like I think he is, then help out here. Rarity, I’ll need you to be with my mother helping Tia with her labor.” Both of them gave me a quick nod and a smile before leaving. Which left me with Luna, AJ, Rainbow, and Pinkie. “Pinkie, Rainbow,” I turned to them, “you two will help to gather the crowd here and protecting them. Be careful you two.”

Pinkie gave me a silly salute, “You got it,” then disappeared in a puff of pink.

“Don’t worry, stud,” Rainbow smirked at me while hovering in front of me, “this is me you’re talking about.”

I chuckled at her, giving her a knowing smirk of my own, “I know, that’s why I said be careful.”

She put her nose against mine with a challenging look on her face, “Oh, you are so going to get it later.”

So, I gave her a kiss. “I’ll hold you to that.”

She smirked at me before turning around and wiggling her butt at me while slowly flying off. Then took off like a bullet once out from under the castle. “Please be safe,” I muttered softly in hope before Luna stepped up beside me. “Doesn’t look to be as many as there was in Canterlot for the wedding.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Luna commented in agreement. “I’d say about a third.”

I nodded slowly, seeing how the changelings mixed in with the storm so well that one could hardly tell them apart without a closer look. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard hoofsteps approaching behind me. Twilight came trotting up to us when I turned to look.

“Shining’s too tired, so I’ll help out here,” she mentioned with an apologetic look.

“Understandable,” I said. “Can you do anything similar?”

“Not as well as he can,” she shook her head. “Nor as big.”

“Alright, but what can you do?” I questioned.

She sighed softly while taking a glance up at the castle, “I think I can put one up around the castle, but that’s about it.”

“Do what you can then, and be careful,” I told her then lowered my head nuzzling her gently.

She nuzzled back happily, “I will.”

Once out from underneath the castle I told Luna, “Alright, go ahead and do what you can. I’ll get up to the top of the castle and use my fire to push back both the storm and the changelings. At least the ones in the sky anyway. Hopefully, that will cut down on what’s on the ground. She nodded before giving me a passionate kiss. “You be careful,” she smirked at me then took off. My turn. And the only way up to the top was with my dash ability. One dash after another I parkoured my way up. There was just barely enough room for me to stand.

Once there, I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths to gather all my power. Gather it all, then let it out in one large circular burst. There was a limit to the number of times I could do it before passing out. Hopefully, by then, the Crystal Heart will be healed. I’ve done this before. Once before. When I went supernova in destroying the shadow organization’s cave. Then I had to hold it like that for a while before the Tree of Harmony pulled me out. Do the same thing, just in a wave instead of a sphere.

With an eerie ethereal howl, a wave of fire exploded out in all directions. It took a bit out of me to do that, so I watched it leave while catching my breath. The wave was powerful enough that it retained its strength all the way past the edge of the city. I gave myself a shout of triumph seeing my fire wave do its job of pushing back not only the storm but what changelings were in the air as well. With a little time on my paws, my eyes tracked around the city.

Rainbow was nothing more than a rainbow streak zig-zagging across the sky taking out changelings one by one. AJ and Pinkie were doing well, directing ponies toward the castle. Which the crystal ponies started to gather around. But at the moment, there was no sign of Starlight and Sunburst. And the guards were doing well in keeping the crowd under control and directing them toward the castle. So far things were looking good.

But the storm didn’t stay back though and neither did the changelings. Both started returning. It was time for another wave of my own. It took me a few seconds to gather enough energy again for another powerful burst of heat. Like before, the wave radiated out in all directions, pushing back both the storm and the changelings in the air. This time, however, my shout of triumph was cut short when I got hit from behind by an angry hiss. The changeling must have been doing that dive-bomb technique that I saw during Cadence’s wedding episode. That would explain how it got through the wave of fire. He, or she, must have been traveling pretty quick too because the impact alone nearly took the air from me. It sent us tumbling through the air toward the ground with the changeling trying to bite and or claw my face and neck off.

It was pissed off angry too as we fought in the air. It didn’t let up with each strike of the hoof or bite of its fangs into my shoulder. When it bit into my shoulder that was my advantage though. After one powerful quick twist of my body, it came loose. Its doom was sealed with my fire attack that sent it into the ground. The sickening sound of crushing bones, squelch of flesh, and explosion of fire echoed throughout the immediate area. I landed using my rush attack creating a small creator in the ground. It was the only way I could land safely as it gave me temporary armor.

That changeling did a good number on my shoulder though. “Damn it,” was my hiss response to my aching shoulder. Crystal ponies gasped in shock with a few mares screaming in fright realizing that they were in real danger. Now standing on three legs, as I couldn’t put weight on the other due to the hurt shoulder, I hopped around to face the gathering crowd underneath the castle. “Stay there,” was my command to them, “You can help protect your kingdom by participating in the Crystalling that’s going to happen shortly. Use your love to power the crystal that will protect you from the storm and the changelings. Don’t forget that.” As other ponies started to enter the protective field around me, the ones already in there seemed to calm down.

“Hey stud, are you alright?” Rainbow asked after zooming down from the sky to land on the ground next to me.

“Not really no,” I told her motioning my head to my shoulder. “Drone got me good in the shoulder.”

“Well, hold on I’ll get Twilight to-“

I grabbed her with my telekinesis, “No, Rainbow. No time. The priority right now is finding Starlight and Sunburst. Find them, let them know what’s going on, so they can fix the crystal. Go.” Then let her go.

She gave me a worried look.

“Go!”

With a reluctant nod, she shot off again back into the sky.

“Emmit?” came a familiar man’s voice from behind me. “Is that you?”

And when I hopped around to look, it was my dad. In human form no less. Or at least that’s what it’s supposed to look like. “That depends if you really are my dad.” I glared at him, lowering myself to attack just in case. After a very quick look up at the sky, it showed me that there was a little time to spare, but not very much before more changelings, and the storm was upon us again. “But proving that is going to be a challenge considering you’re a changeling. Which means you know about my dad from the love I have for him. Thus taking on his form. I won’t let you near my family, or let Chrysalis succeed in whatever plans she has.”

“It’s really me, son,” he urged with a pained pleading look on his face that was tugging on my heart. When he took a couple of steps forward I let out a quick wave of fire and heat to keep him away. He stopped. “It really is. How can I prove it?”

“Easy,” I smirked at him, “This world is pretty much pre-industrial save for steam engines and DJ equipment. They have no clue what cars are or microwaves. So, dad what car was I driving when I disappeared? Where was I going? For what purpose? And what was I going to get?”

He smiled at me, “My old Crown Vic that you fixed two years before. You were going to Walmart to pick up some camping supplies for our camping trip we were going to take. You had called me from inside the store and I told you to pick up a camping stove, which you told me that you would pick up one of the Coleman brands because those were the best.” He was still smiling at me with his arms crossed over his chest, “Any questions?”

Luna? You there? “Yeah,” I faced him, “If I told you that whatever Chrysalis told you was a lie would you believe me?”

I’m here. There’s nothing more I can do about the storm.

That’s ok. My dad just showed up. I’ve verified that it’s really him. I want you to knock him out, so we can make sure he doesn’t return to Chrysalis.

Alright, Emmit.

He didn’t answer right away but looked hesitant. The storm and what was left of the changelings were closing in. I didn’t have time for games, but at least the populace was underneath the castle at this point. This hopefully meant that Starlight and Sunburst were gathering what they needed to fix the crystal. At least I hoped. Then he looked at me, “Can you prove she’s lying?”

“I can,” I told him. Tia, I know you’re in pain, but I need mother out here and quickly. Can you send her out?

I’m having your foal right now, she’s helping me, and you want her to leave me?

Only temporarily. My dad just showed up and Chrysalis has been lying to him. I need her to testify for me.

There was a pause. Alright.

“Well?” he asked as the sound of fighting came to my ears. And looking around showed me that the guards are currently winning the fight against the changelings at the moment. But the storm was rolling in quickly and the city was being covered in snow.

“She’s coming out here to talk to you,” I told him firmly.

“Who?”

“Mom,” I told him with a smile.

“That’s impossible,” he nearly shouted and threw up his hands. “She’s been dead for years you know that.”

“Not here she’s not,” I told him, “and I didn’t get this Pokémon body on my own, did I? The same pony that created the runes to bring you here is the same one that tried to resurrect an evil mare. Only she didn’t just resurrect that mare, but brought over mom’s soul and bound it to that evil mare. I was able to save her with the help of my friends.”

“Mark?!” came my mother’s shocked and quite emotional voice from behind me. “Emmit!,” she cried out before running up to me, “You’re hurt!”

“Never mind that right now, mom,” I told her then motioned my head toward dad. “He needs convincing that Chrysalis is evil.”

“Sarah?!” dad’s voice shook as the emotions of seeing her again hit him full force. And now that I had wives of my own I could understand a little. “Is it really you?”

“Yes, Mark,” mom’s voice held happiness and sadness in it as she approached him, “it’s really me. Our son, with the help of these ponies, saved me from an evil creature.” But as she approached him, he backed away.

“But how? How can you be here when you’re with Chrysalis?” he asked, clearly not accepting that she was right there in front of him. However, it sounded like Chrysalis was using the image of my mother to brainwash him against us.

“Honey,” my mother urged with tears in her eyes, “Chrysalis is evil.”

“And apparently she’s the one that brought him here with the help of Façade,” I told them while watching Luna fly in from behind him. She had her horn glowing in preparation to hit him with a knock out spell or something similar.

“Yes!” he shouted in ager while looking between us. “She brought me here to save you, son. To save you from the princesses that have been using you to grow their kingdom that they stole from Chrysalis. She’s the rightful ruler of this nation. I’m here to destroy them and save you, son.”

I hopped my way in front of my mother then used my duplication ability to make a row of clones beside me. My eyes held death in them as I growled to him, “You maybe my dad, but I won’t let you harm my family. And if you really are him, then you will understand that.”

“Honey!” my mother cried to him with tears streaming down her face, “don’t do this. Chrysalis has lied to you. Don’t listen to her.”

Before either of us did anything else, Luna was about to use her knockout spell on him but was attacked by another changeling. She cried out in alarm as the changeling tackled her and sent her to the ground. That alerted my father, “What?!” A second later he sent out a magical burst of energy toward us with a violent yell after quickly changing back to a four-legged changeling.

That was intercepted by my fire barrier. “Get inside, mother! Go!” I told her. And she did, though crying the whole way inside. Luna had blasted the changeling off of her, had stood back up, and running up to us with her horn ignited again. “I won’t let you hurt my family!” I yelled at him in the hopes of getting his attention while standing ready for any more attacks.

It didn’t work as he took a quick glance between me and Luna approaching. Then he glared at me, “I’ll destroy those princesses and save you, son. Whether you like it or not.”

“Try it,” I growled back before he turned and took off. Luna’s magical beam shot out from her as she stopped in front of me. But she missed as he zigged and zagged across the sky. To meet up with the rest of the approaching swarm.

“Look!” Luna pointed a hoof off to the side of us.

“We’re here!” Starlight cried out as she, Sunburst, and a couple of weary guards came running toward us. Sunburst also had some books with him.

I dismissed my other duplicates as they approached. “They’re inside, Go,” I told them. As the guards escorted them both passed us, Sunburst gave me a questionable look. I watched as the crowd of ponies parted for them while muttering and murmuring about when the Crystalling will start.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to stop him,” Luna said softly with remorse in her voice.

My head lowered and nuzzled her gently, “Not your fault, Luna, so nothing to apologize over.” Raising my head, I looked out to the approaching storm and the changelings that the guards were battling. “It’s all Chrysalis’, and Façade’s, fault for bringing him here and brainwashing him.”

She sighed with a nod of her head, “Indeed.”

^_^

(Rarity’s POV)

“How are you doing, darling?” asked Tia while using a rag to wipe the sweat off of her forehead. She was laying on her back on a doctor’s table with a doctor and two nurses around her. With me and Fluttershy as well.

“Ready for this to be over with,” she said through a tired smile, “but I’m glad I’m a mother.”

“Believe me,” came Sarah’s voice as she walked back inside. And by the sound of it, something happened. “There’s no greater reward.” Even though there was sadness in her voice, there was also pride that echoed the small smile on her face. She walked up to take Tia’s hoof in her hand again.

“What happened?” I asked gently.

She hesitated for a second before looking down, “Emmit’s father. He showed up. According to Emmit, and from what he’ said to us, it appears that he’s been brainwashed by Chrysalis into believing that we need rescuing.”

Silence filled the room as the news hit us hard. I could only imagine what Emmit and Sarah are going through right now. Another minute passed before Tia grunted in pain. Both Sarah and I held onto each hoof while the doctor trotted up to scan her. His magic flowed over her, then checked the time.

“The contractions are getting quicker,” he said through a professional stoic demeanor. “The foal should be born within a couple of hours.”

Soon after, Emmit, Starlight, Sunburst, and Luna trotted in. “Emmit, darling!” I cried out first as he walked in, happy to know that he was alright. With a smile he spotted me, trotting over to me, and giving me a passionate kiss. Then I stepped aside, letting him take her hoof into his paw.

“Hi,” he said with a weary happy smile.

“How is everything outside?” Tia asked him out of concern.

“Holding right now,” he told her. “Twilight, Rainbow, AJ, and Pinkie are patrolling just inside the shield just in case any of the changelings get through. But we need to get the Crystalling done before then. And that’s where Sunburst comes in.”

All eyes turned to him, including mine.

“Yes, well,” he cleared his throat before floating some books in front of him. “And while the reconstruction spell is a good try, it by itself won’t be able to restore the Crystal Heart. To do that we need to combine the efforts of four powerful unicorns with the crystal shard that’s charged with the love of the public. The four unicorns will use the same spell to hold the Crystal Heart together long enough to combine it with the shard.”

“That would have been Starlight, Twilight, Tia here, and Luna,” I heard Emmit say. “However, considering Tia’s present condition, there’s no way she will be able to do it.”

“What I don’t understand is why the spell by itself won’t be enough,” I asked.

“Valid question,” Sunburst began to explain. “Because the artifact in question was not a simple object, but one infused with a vast amount of power. It must then be repaired by the same magic that it was created from in order to repair it. Thus why four unicorns are necessary.”

“Tia,” Emmit spoke to her softly, “could you lend Rarity some of your power long enough for her to hold the crystal together?”

She squeezed my paw when a jolt of pain shot through her. “I…,” she paused with a wince, “can…yes.”

“Why me?” I asked looking up at Emmit for an answer.

“Simple,” he looked down at me with a smile, “you’re the only one left that’s capable.”

“While I appreciate the confidence-“

He stopped me with his paw over my lips and looked at me with a smile, “Rarity, you’re more powerful than you realize. And I know you can do this.”

I saw his confidence in me inside of his eyes. After a calming sigh, I looked to Tia, “Alright then.”

With a slow nod, Tia ignited her horn and lowered it to my head. Power flowed into me. So much that I felt like my body would explode from the sheer force. I kept my eyes closed as my body absorbed it. It felt like the power was a living thing coursing its way through me like a worm in the mud. After a minute, I felt Emmit’s paw on my shoulder. Slowly I opened my eyes, looking up to him. “An odd…feeling,” my voice was soft as I spoke to him, “like my body could shake itself apart.”

“You ready?” he asked gently.

“As I’ll ever be,” I told him.

He then turned toward Starlight, “Give her some pointers if you will?”

“Of course,” Starlight said in return.

“Then let the Crystalling begin,” Sunburst urged, “the other’s are waiting.”

^_^

(Rainbow’s POV)

“How you holding up, Twilight?” was my question to her as I flew up next to her. I was concerned because she’s supposed to do something powerful later. At least that’s what Emmit said earlier and that Sunburst guy went by us earlier with Starlight, so whatever they had planned should be starting soon.

“I’m alright, Rainbow,” she reassured me with a smile. “Ever since Cadence’s wedding I’ve been practicing shield spells. I may not be as big or powerful as my big brother. But I’m holding my own right now.”

“That’s great, twilight because you saw that Sunburst guy and Starlight walkthrough earlier.”

“Yeah, I did,” Twilight acknowledged with a nod. “So, let me reinforce the shield once more.” I watched her close her eyes and light up her horn. The spell gave off a soft hum before the shield around us began to fluctuate and darken, being strengthened.”

“Princess Twilight?” came a male’s voice from behind us.

There was a guard there when I turned around. He stopped before us and saluted, “Princess Twilight? You’re needed inside at the Crystal Heart. They’re ready to begin the Crystalling.”

“Very well, thank you,” she told him. “If you don’t have any standing orders then might I suggest helping out here?” All of us turned and looked out. The storm was pretty much raging outside. Some of the more brave, and or stupid, guards were still fighting outside. But the majority of the guards had taken cover just inside the shield as the last line of defense. Just in case the shield failed. “It looks like the changelings are going to make a big push against it.”

He saluted as the other guards were either looking at us or concentrating on the rage outside. “We’ll see to it.”

“Yeah, go on Twilight, we got this,” I told her with confidence.

“Alright, be careful,” she told us then turned toward the stairs and ran toward them.

The guard stepped up to stand beside me as I floated in the air. “Hey, you ever fought any changelings?”

He shook his head, though his eyes still held confidence in them. “This is the first time they’ve come here within my lifetime. Supposedly they’ve attacked in the past, before Sombra’s time.”

“My friends and I fought them at Cadence’s wedding,” I told him with some pride. He looked up to me with some admiration in his eyes. I love that look. Though it doesn’t hold a candle to the look Emmit gives me. “We were kicking butt too before they came in with overwhelming numbers. But I don’t see that here.”

We watched a captain step through the shield with a horn in his magical grasp, stopped just outside of it, then blew the horn. The sound was loud enough for the fighting guards outside. One by one the guards started to retreat back to the shield. The fighting was fierce for those that were still out there and trying to retreat. The unicorns were trying their best to blast any changeling that got near a comrade. The earth ponies were trying to buck them in half. While the pegasi dive-bombed them. And with the help from the unicorns from inside the shield all were able to retreat by either walking, flying, or limping. Medics were called to help the injured once they were inside and secure.

“And now they’ll start pounding away at the shield,” I muttered quietly while watching the changelings get ready.

“Is that what they did at the wedding?” one of the guards next to me asked aloud.

“Yep,” I told him then pointed toward the changelings, “and here they come.” A wave of changelings hit the shield hard, but it held with a soft ring as it vibrated. They came in waves, one after another in rapid succession they attacked the shield. But it held after a few minutes of attacks.

The crowd was beginning to get nervous, until Cadence, Shining Armor, and little Flurry came forward with Sunburst. “May I have everypony’s attention please?” he shouted above the murmuring crowd. As the crowd quietened down it enabled the sound of pounding against the shield to get louder. “The Crystalling of the new member of the royal family, Flurry Heart, will begin.” Cadence and Shining Armor nuzzled the little filly. “May I present, Flurry Heart, the newest member of the royal family of the Crystal Empire. Let your love empower the Crystal Heart through this shard so it can protect us.”

It wasn’t a complex ceremony, but the ponies bowed and so I landed to do the same. It was a sight to see with the ground beginning to glow with power around us. Then drawn into the shard. While others still had their head lowered, I raised mine to watch Sunburst gather up the power into the shard, then rush it inside.

Moments after he rushed inside, a powerful wave of magic burst force from inside and expanding in all directions. It was just like the wedding all over again. This time it was the Crystal Heart that drove off all the changelings. And all while both the guard and the public cheered.

My eyes finally spotted AJ and Pinkie across the way. After getting their attention I motioned them toward the stairs because now there was only one place I wanted to be.

^_^

(Emmit’s POV, hours later)

“I see the head,” the doctor announced with joy right after another contraction. Now that the danger to the Empire was over, they had moved Tia into the local hospital before the contractions really got bad. Of course, hours later it was just Rarity, Luna, and I with Tia surrounded by a doctor and a couple of nurses in a typical hospital room.

Tia gave out a quick groaning shout of relief when the contraction went away. My mother was there wiping her forehead while I held onto a hoof with my front paws. I’ve been trying to do the right thing and encourage her and tell her that I love her throughout all this. “I love you,” I told her giving her a quick kiss against her cheek. “You’re doing great.”

“Indeed, sister,” Luna echoed with a happy smile from the foot of the birthing bed they had Tia on.

“Alright, one more and that should do it,” the doctor told her, looking into Tia’s eyes before lowering his head again.

“Last one, honey,” the emotions were already building up inside of me as I lowered my head to her, “one last-“

I was cut off when her magic grabbed my head, lowered it where we were eye to eye, and then glared up at me with, “If you say ‘Push’ one more time…”

My pupils shrank back when I saw the look in her eyes. She wasn’t kidding by that look either. “Uh…” Then I saw her expression go from a glare to the beginning of pain. Which meant that the supposed last contraction was beginning. And I have no idea why I said it, but I said it anyway. “Push?” I squeaked out softly like a mouse. Hey, she’s scary when she’s mad.

Then the contraction fully hit and with pain that she’s never known before hit her, she brought her other hoof over to me grabbing my paw as well. So, now with two of her hooves now holding onto one paw, she started squeezing it. And when her pain hit I guess she wanted me to share in it. Because now I was feeling some pain. During the last contraction, she squeezed so hard…

CRACK

Went the small bones in my paw, which sent me to the floor in pain as well. So now, it wasn’t just her that was screaming in pain but me as well. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to say it,” was my begging plea for her to let me go. I always wanted to share in the experience, but this was going a little too far.

After another few seconds she doctor announced, “I’ve got the…foal.”

I was in too much pain to look with my eyes filled with tears and my head pointed down whimpering in pain. I did see the hooves of one of the nurses walk over and used her magic on my paw. I know because the pain was going away.

Meanwhile, Tia picked up on the tone of voice from the doctor. “What is it, doctor? Is the foal alright?”

He didn’t answer but we heard a light slapping sound before the room was filled with the sound of a foal crying.

“Oh yes,” he said then whispered for a blanket. “It’s a girl and completely healthy.” With the pain now gone, I lifted myself up to take a look at our new daughter. “Just unique,” he said as the nurse did her duty to cut the cord, clean and wrap the crying filly in a blanket. And indeed she was. Her mane and tails, yes plural, were the same color as mine. And with a pure white coat. But she had two tails with a horn and wings as well. That wasn’t all either. She had the rear hooves of a pony but front paws like mine. Yep definitely unique.

“That’s ok,” Tia cried softly as the nurse brought her over, laying her in Tia’s arms. “She’s perfect.”

Of course, I was crying too. More so because of my borked paw then the event, but still. “Yes, she’s perfect,” leaning in, I gave her a soft kiss. Then leaned in giving my new daughter a gentle kiss as well. She calmed down after that.

“Oh, Emmit,” she looked up to me and with tears in her eyes she apologized, “I’m sorry for you paw.”

“We’re healing it, your highness,” one of the nurses said while using her magic to heal me. Immediately the pain started going away.

After a thankful nod to the nurse, I leaned over and kissed Tia. “It’s ok,” I told her with a smile, “I’ve heard stories of human women doing that very same thing during birth. I just never thought that it’d happen to me. But if you need to hear it, then you’re forgiven.” Tia smiled thankfully before concentrating on our daughter again. I stepped back to let Rarity, Fluttershy and Luna get closer. And to let the nurse finish what she was doing on my paw. After another few minutes, she told me that she was finished. And even though it didn’t hurt any, not to put a lot of weight on it for a couple of days. I thanked her before she returned to her duty of tending to Tia and our new daughter.

From there, I took my leave of them after telling Tia that I would like to tell the news to the others outside. She agreed and I went outside to the waiting area down the hall to tell the rest of the girls. You can imagine the glee and cooing that went on after they got the news and what she looked like. Putting aside what happened earlier with the confrontation with my father, I enjoyed the time with them. Even mother was able to hang around longer than usual thanks to Red. Special event and all, you know. Soon after though, mother had to leave. So, after saying goodbye to her I refocused on Tia and staying by her side. Comforting her until she fell asleep to rest.

It was after things started calming down and day turned into night that I looked to Luna. For there was one more I wanted to tell.

^_^

“How did things go?” Nightmare Moon asked me as I approached her illusion from inside Luna’s private room. Ever since the first time, we’ve been locking the door and putting up a sound barrier around the room. I’ve spoken with her a lot of times over the past months and, in my opinion, has got some headway with her. I haven’t gotten her to agree to speak with Tia yet, but I’m hoping that will change.

“Which part?” I chuckled, walking up to her. “Tia giving birth, the Crystalling, the fight with the changelings, or the short meeting with my dad?” She simply gave me a deadpan look while raising one eyebrow. With a sigh, I sat down on my rump in front of her. “It was confirmed that Chrysalis has used the runes to bring my dad over. And in the form of a changeling. Not only that, but she has convinced him that she’s the rightful ruler and that he needs to save me, and mother, from all of you. Mother even tried to reach him but to no avail. He retreated to join the rest of them before the Crystal Heart’s wave scattered them away from the Kingdom.” Then I smiled at her with pride, putting up an image of my new daughter. “And,” I motioned to it, “you’re an aunt.”

It was interesting to gauge her reaction. Over the past few months, she’s slowly softening up toward me. But to me. Her feelings toward Tia she’s been keeping close to her chest, so to speak. She looked at the image in front of her.

“She’s so different,” her voice was soft and contemplative. “She might have a hard time in the general population.”

“Maybe,” I told her softly, “and maybe not. It depends on how the public at large accepts her.”

Nightmare didn’t say anything. Just turned away and started walking toward a fake balcony that I had made for her. I decided to mimic the real balcony and give her some scenery to enjoy. She walked over, seemingly to look out over the city. Which meant that she wanted to say something. So, I waited.

“I’ve been able to see, hear, and feel things,” she said at last with her voice soft and filled with unsaid questions. “Bits and pieces here and there. I have been for a while now. Not sure how long, time has no meaning here.” She paused as if collecting her thoughts. “I have felt Luna’s love for you. Glimpses into her mind and thoughts. About what happened to…our past lover.” Her voice trembled slightly when she spoke of my ancestor. Slowly I walked up and sat down beside her. “I’ve felt her love for our sister. How she doesn’t hate her for what she did.” It was times like this that I wish I could physically touch her. Sadly I couldn’t. “The most powerful was just a short time ago when she saw…our…niece for the first time. I’ve never felt the need to protect something that strongly before.”

She went quiet again. I could sense that she was trying to put her thoughts into words. “For so long I’ve thought of nopony but myself. How much I’ve been hurt. I’ve been betrayed. I’ve been wronged.” When she looked at me, I saw the signs of doubt in her mind for the first time. “Now, I’ve felt what it’s like to want to protect something. Focus on something other than myself.” She paused while still looking at me. “Am I really just emotions?”

“I’ve never lied to you,” I told her gently, “and I won’t start now. But, yes. And it’s fairly obvious that your ultimate fear is ceasing to exist.”

“Of course it is,” instantly her demeanor changed back to classic Nightmare Moon attitude. Narrowing her eyes at me with firm thin lips, she glared at me.

“And I can’t tell you how it will end,” I continued for her. “Whether or not you will merge back with Luna or stay your own personality. I don’t know.”

“I know that I’m not stupid,” stomping her hoof and turning her head away in a classic girlish huff.

I had to smile at that. “I know, but I figured I’d say it anyway.”

There was silence for a few minutes until she spoke again. Sometimes I would come in and just stay with her a while, not saying anything. With her face turned away from me and looking out into the fake city below, she finally spoke again. “I…think I’ll speak with my sister.”

I looked at her with a small smile at that. “You think you can handle it?” She knew what I was really asking her.

“Yes, I can handle it,” she said back without hesitation and without any anger. Which told me that she’s been thinking about it for a while and genuinely wants just to talk.

“Alright,” nodding to her, “I’ll let her know, but it could be a little bit while she recovers from giving birth.”

“Naturally,” she said dryly while eyeing me with a “duh” look on her face.

With a chuckle, I leaned over and pretended to give her a kiss. “In that case, goodnight my nightmare.” She growled a little at that, been getting less and less each time. She doesn’t like me saying that, but I enjoy pushing her buttons. And left, hopefully looking forward to my family safe at the end of all this. This thing with Chrysalis had to turn out like it did in the show. Not only for the safety of my family but for all of Equestria as well. It had to be a turning point for Equestria. The changelings would change for the better. Both mentally and physically. The only thing I could do was try my best to make it happen.