Shining Armor led the way through the east wing of the castle. He did his best to hide his nervousness from Spitfire and Soarin. He hadn't seen Cadence in years. She was a princess and he had been training as a guard. There was no reason for them to see each other. And he regretted not making a reason.

They reached a large door and Shining paused. He stared at the door for a few seconds.

Spitfire nudged him. "Are you going to knock or just hope she knows we're here?"

Shining lifted a hoof and knocked. The sound echoed through the hall. As he hit his hoof against the door the third time, the door began to open. He took a deep breath and led his team inside.

They were in a sitting room. It wasn't extravagant. Just a simple sitting room. Spitfire trotted over to a couch and laid back. Soarin just stood still looking around the room, eyes wide. Shining looked around as well except he was looking for something, or rather somepony, else. Whee was she?

"Hello Shining Armor."

The three ponies looked towards the doors. They began to close and Princess Cadence was revealed. She stepped forward with a smile. "So this is my escort? Impressive."

Spitfire and Soarin bowed to the princess, but shining just stood there. She was as beautiful as he remembered. Scratch that. She was more beautiful than before. "P-Princess." Shining lowered his head.

Cadence smiled. "I think we know each other well enough for you to call me Cadence."

Shining straightened up and returned the smile. Spitfire and Soarin stood up and stepped forward. Shining noticed the, out of the corner of his eye and remembered his place. "Uh...this is Spitfire and Soarin."

Soarin bowed his head while Spitfire smiled a Cadence. "So you know Shining Armor?"

Cadence glanced at Shining for a split second. "I foalsat his younger sister. We saw a lot of each other when we were younger." She saw how uncomfortable Shining looked and she winked at Spitfire. "We'll talk later." The two mares giggled and Shining forced himself to not scream.

Everypony got comfortable and a tray of sandwiches was brought in. Soarin grabbed three and began eating. The others each picked one. Shining swallowed his first bit and looked at Cadence. "So where will we be escorting you?"

Cadence took a few more bites of her sandwich before responding. "There was once a kingdom in the North. It was called the Crystal Empire. That's where I'm from."

Shining looked at her in confusion. "But you've been in Canterlot as long as I can remember."

Cadence nodded. "That's true. I've been here since I was very young. But I was born a thousand years ago in the Crystal Empire." The short all stared at the princess. She sighed. "Let me explain. A thousand years ago my empire was enslaved by a unicorn named Sombra. Celestia and Luna came to liberate us, but in defeating Sombra, he took the Crystal Empire with him. I was just a filly at the time. One minute I was in the palace, the next I was in the middle of nowhere."

Soarin stopped his eating for a moment. "You were left behind?"

Cadence shook her head. "That's what I thought. But when Celestia found me, she said it had been nearly a thousand years."

Shining nodded. "So you disappeared with the Empire, but came back again."

Cadence closed her eyes as a single tear formed. "I don't know why I came back, but I've been hopeful ever since that the Empire would return as well. Every year Celestia and I have gone north to see if it's reappeared."

Spitfire smiled in understanding. "So in Celestia's absence we are to go with you."

Cadence nodded. "We will be leaving in the morning. I thought it best that you know why we were making the trip."

Shining stood up and bowed his head. "Thank you for telling us. We'll go prepare for our departure."

The three ponies stood up and began to exit. Cadence stood up. "Shining."

Shining paused and looked back. Cadence beckoned him with a hoof. "May I have a word with you in private?"

Shining nodded to Spitfire and Soarin, letting them leave. He walked back over to Cadence. "Yes?"

She pulled him into a hug. "I'm glad you're the one coming with me on this. I need somepony to help me through this."

Shining pulled away. "Help you through this?"

Cadence let her tears come. "Every year I go. And every year my heart gets crushed even more. I fear I will never see my home again." She leaned against Shining's shoulder and cried. Shining held her close and silently cradled the princess....his friend....the mare he loved.

Next Chapter: The Journey Begins Estimated time remaining: 8 Minutes