Chapter 12
Hours later, the princesses and prince were all gathered in the throne room under the light of torches only. Luna filled every corner of the room with incense that deterred any demon spies. The windows were closed up and the doors were locked down tight with guards around the premises. All was quiet, even the most quiet of peeps made by tiny birds could be heard through the room. No demon could eavesdrop on them without being heard and discovered by the princesses.
With their privacy secured, and the room was their own to speak in. They got down to the serious business at hoof, regarding the demon's occupation of the Crystal Empire. Twilight shot a ball of magic to the floor and made a replica map of Equestria that she had in her castle appear.
"Glad we had plenty of time to be sure we could keep this meeting secret and sealed off from potential spies,"Luna expressed her relief for the privacy they managed to have in the throne room,"And we appreciate the effort you made to bring a detailed map of the empire to the meeting, Twilight."
"Strategy and complete awareness is required if we ever hope to retake the empire,"Twilight explained her means of bringing the detailed map of the Crystal Empire,"How's Flurry Heart handling the situation?"
"She's staying close to Aiden. We could feel the worry and sorrow in her from here."Cadence answered Twilight's quick concern for her niece.
"She's worried for the crystal ponies that didn't escape before the city was overthrown,"Shining Armor was more specific for the troubles that befell their daughter,"We don't know what could be happening to those ponies, and we fear the corruption of the empire may cause it to vanish once more."
"That won't happen…! Their only means of corrupting the empire was locked away in the crystal chambers,"Twilight felt the need to make it clear that the demons and themselves were at a stalemate,"And the only way they can enter the chamber is by the touch of a pure heart…! And we already saw that Aiden can defend himself."
"For the most part, of course. Though that does not mean they won't continue to pursue our child…!"Celestia felt the need to remind them of the old threat between Aiden and the Nightmare master.
"Yes, but lets focus on the here and now. The Crystal Empire is in distress, and it must be liberated once more,"Luna refocused her sister's priorities back on the current situation they were in,"The crystal ponies once came together because of love and friendship, allowing them to vanquish Sombra and restore the empire to it's former glory."
"But that was only made possible when Twilight and Spike found the crystal Heart and brought it forth to the people,"Celestia added a bit of a problem with the idea of doing what they did before,"The heart is underneath the city now, away from the reach of the demons and ourselves…! We can't reignite their love for the kingdom if we ourselves can't reach it."
"Well… There is one that could access the chamber for us, of course."Shining Armor pointed out the fact that was brought to their attention earlier.
"Aiden…? Are you saying we use him to enter the chamber and take back the heart?"Twilight asked of her brother.
"Well, if he's willing to of course. We would first have to clear out all the demons and make the way safe for him,"Shining admitted that the boy's safety came first in hopes of not crossing sharp tongues with the royal sisters,"He'll open the doors and we can enter the chambers where the heart lies and take it."
"And what if the demons simply return in greater numbers and overwhelm us? Then they have Aiden and the heart,"Celestia was quick to cut out the plan Shining Armor suggested for their plan of action,"I'm sorry, but we will not have our son put at risk for a plan that holds far too many risks."
"And we respect that, but you saw how bravely your son fought against the dark one,"Cadence understood Celestia's feelings towards protecting Aiden, but knew that the teen was capable of much more than Celestia allowed him to be,"He even had the Nightmare master backed into a corner, and forced him to retreat. Your son could very well be our salvation from this threa-"
"End of story, Cadence! Our child is not a weapon, and he's certainly not some sort of key to be used!"The sun princess stomped her hoof down in defiance, forcing Luna to stand in front of her to keep the peace.
"Enough…! We'll explore other options, and save this risky plan for last, should we be forced to it,"Luna decided before turning to her sister, catching her before she could defy once more,"There are plenty more ways we can go about this sister…! Lets not forget patience in this matter."
"So the only plan we have so far is already off the table. This is going to be a long day…"Twilight sighed before they all got right back down to formulating a plan and studying the empire.
Hours later, the group of royalties exited the throne room after letting the sunlight back in. The incense was taken away, and all was normal once more in the throne room. However, the mood was now somewhat sour for every pony, for a plan was unable to be formulated. The only plan they had was the one that Celestia was so quick to deny, now they had nothing to go with. They exited the room with sour faces, and and a bit of discouragement for their lack of progress.
The royal sisters went one way, and the Crystal Empire couple went the other way. While Twilight was left to feel the full frontal force of the discouragement and doubt this meeting filled her with. She looked to both parties that departed, seeing that they now had less than savory feelings towards each other. Twilight felt a bit helpless to solve this problem with friction growing between the royal family. However, as Aiden secretly stood just at the corner of the door, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
"You guys didn't come to any agreement did you? No plan at all?"Aiden asked before Twilight gasped and quickly turned with a bit of fright jumping in her chest.
"Jeez…! Aiden you scared the hay seeds out of me…! How long have you been there?"Twilight asked while catching her breath from the big surprise.
"Long enough to hear a bunch of bickering and no plans to save the empire being made."Aiden sighed and crossed his arms out of frustration to hear no progress was made.
"Oh… I'm sorry, Aiden. We really are trying to figure something out. It's just a bit hard to agree with each other on what's most important,"Twilight tried to explain what was making it hard to formulate a plan for the empire,"The only plan we have was shot down because it involved using you."
"Well, why not? If the Nightmare master says I can unlock the chamber. Then I could get the crystal heart!"Aiden showed that he was willing to be a part of their very first plan.
"That's very brave of you, but we can't even consider it now that Celestia has made herself clear,"Twilight felt the need to explain what forced them to move on to other plans,"She doesn't want you to be involved in these endeavors. She feels the empire isn't your responsibility to carry."
"That's what she always thinks…! No matter what I do, she always sees me as a little kid still,"Aiden huffed and cracked his fist against the wall with mounting frustration,"What good am I, if I can't finally give something back to the ponies that saved me…? What was the point of saving me if I can't help the world some way?"
"Aiden… I once felt the same way when I first became a princess. I felt like just an accessory to the pride of the royal family,"Twilight explained her own pass troubles adjusting to the life of a princess,"But once I had vanquished lord Tirek and unlocked the true secrets of friendship. I was able to shine and take up the reigns, spreading friendship across the kingdom…!"
"Good to know, every pony has something they can be proud of. Thanks for the help…!"Aiden walked away after finding more frustration knowing the accomplishments all others while he still remained useless.
"Aiden, wait! You'll play a part, I swear…!"Twilight called out, but they fell on deaf ears before he vanished down the hall way.
Twilight groaned, lowering her head with more of a heavy heart than before. Now even more friction was starting among the royal family and the leaders of Equestria. She walked away, and began to write a letter in hopes of getting more help with the situation they were now in. She looked back, worried for a now heated up Aiden that felt like a useless object of theirs. Now she felt the need to find some way to lighten up the mood, and get every pony back on track.
While Aiden walked alone, trying some breathing exercises to calm his nerves down. It worked, but he was then taking in the strong wave of remorse and guilt for being rude to Twilight. He should have respected her story about the endeavors she faced, but instead it angered him. He leaned against the wall of the hall way, and put his head to the wall in stress and guilt. He punched the wall till his hands were turning red, and began to ache and fall asleep.
His hands fell to his sides as he then began to walk again all the way to his room. He looked to the windows on his left to gaze out to the afternoon sunshine that began to glow gold in color. He sighed, knowing that this meant the temperature outside jumped up, and that mimicked Celestia's anger. He didn't feel like moving any more, all he could do was look out to the window. Watching the day slowly glimmer through the world before it would begin to pass for the night's arrival.
"You look absolutely bush whacked. All that princess and prince bickering got you all ruffled up?"Suddenly, Discord was in the reflection of the window looking to the down Aiden.
"Yeah, you might say that uncle Discord. They can't agree on anything that could save the empire,"Aiden explained the first half of the troubles he stressed himself on,"And of course when I offer to be the key to getting the crystal heart back to it's people, mother Celestia shot it down…!"
"Well of course. A mother is like that. They don't want to go through with anything that endangers the safety of their children,"Discord understood and insinuated the obvious things to do regarding mothers,"Besides, Celestia isn't exactly a pony that handles losing friends and family very well any more…"
"But I'm not a kid any more…! I'm thirteen years old now, but she acts like I'm still three,"Aiden pounded his hand against the window and took the shock from his sore hands in stride,"I'm sick of being treated like I'm just some thing that walks around and makes a crowd faint. I'm sick of not being useful and having a part in this world. I want to finally do something for this world…!"
"You never got over the things that Zap Irons spoke of at the event, did you?"Discord asked the moment the thought of Aiden's worth came into question.
"I'm starting to think he was right… Maybe the world doesn't really need me…"Aiden gazed out towards the plains of Equestria, allowing the thought to try and sink in.
"The world needs every pony. I never thought that Equestria and it's people would ever need a god of chaos to help it,"Discord put his lion paw to the teen's shoulder and got him way from the window,"But I did help it… And I was able to embrace friendship rather than chaos. Now really think about this. You are the first Equine human born in ten thousand years, longer than even I myself have existed… You're in this world for a reason far greater than you think…!"
"Well… What exactly would that be? What am I meant to do?"Aiden questioned and only made his uncle chuckle at his desire for purpose.
"You'll know it when you see it. It's just like a pony's cutie mark. It will just spark when you discover it,"Discord patted the teens back before making two large fruit punch drinks with ice appear,"My goodness, serious bonding with family can certainly work up a monstrous thirst…!"
"I bet… What I would give for a break right now, but I promised Flurry I'd do what I could to help save her home."Discord took interest in the personal endeavor after handing Aiden a drink.
"Promises are hard to keep, but not impossible. Why did you choose to make a promise to her?"Discord floated by his nephew's side as they decided to walk again.
"Because she was very scared for her people. And…I care about her uncle,"Aiden explained a bit while sipping his drink and remembering how hurt Flurry was,"I hate seeing such a happy filly broken by an old enemy of mine… I want her to be happy again."
"Sounds like some pony has some feelings for the daughter of the love princess…!"Discord chirped before he was wearing a cupid outfit and strumming a harp.
"I don't…! I mean, I don't know if I do…! Mother Celestia never taught me how to know how to feel about love or know what love is,"Aiden wanted to deny it, but the subject was a bit weird for him to process,"I mean… She's nice, and I was embarrassed, but also feeling funny when we apparently made out in the closet before…!"
"Ah yes, the seven minutes in heaven was magical. So yo think you don't know love,"Discord chuckled, for he knew something for a fact from what he saw that night,"Last night was a different story. You didn't want to let go of Flurry Heart last night. You were an absolute love machine…!"
"Was I…? Was I really like that?"Aiden asked out of doubt that he could actually get that friendly.
"Of course. You wanna know why you suddenly became became so lovable,"Discord asked and got the nod from Aiden that he needed before proceeding,"Because you stopped thinking with your education, and let go of doubt for inexperience. Then you just let it all go and went with your heart…!"
"Wow… I wish I could have remembered it clearer so I could think about it."Aiden thought as he slowly sipped his drink before they neared his bedroom.
"Hey, don't forget, don't think about it so much. Just follow what your heart feels,"Discord reminded before he quickly chugged his whole drink and belched,"So, the lesson we have here for today. Your destiny will come, and it will be something spectacular. Also, follow your feelings if you truly want to know love."
"Right… I guess I owe Twilight an apology for being upset when she didn't need more attitude,"Aiden sighed as he put his back against his bedroom door,"First… I think I need to tell Flurry Heart something important. Something we should have talked about a bit earlier…"
"Really? Is she in there right now?"Discord asked a bit surprised by the convenience of their talk and their walk.
"Yeah, she asked if she could lay down for a bit in my room till she cooled down,"Aiden admitted with a hearty sigh,"She broke down in the living quarters for the crystal ponies. So I was more than willing to let her relax in my room."
"Sounds like you're off to a good start. Do you know what you're going to say?"Discord showed the teen that he already knew what the kid was planning on doing.
"Nope… I guess I'm just gonna give your advice a try…"Aiden responded before grabbing the door knob and turning it slowly.
"Excellent… While you're at that, I'm gonna see if I can pry for some better cooperation among the princesses and prince."Discord decided to do a little favor for Aiden before snapping his claw and disappearing in a flash of white.
Aiden released a deep breath, and began to finally smile for his uncle's assistance. He now had a princess to apologize to, and he had a love princess's daughter to talk to. With his spirits finally being able to pick up again slowly, he entered his room, ready to do what he thought was once impossible for him.
Yeah, here comes a little romance. Hope that's to your tastes every one, and I do have further plans for the future of the story. So keep being the patient and lovely readers you are, and stay pony every one.