Hey everycreature! What's up!?
So just another random idea I thought of for a quick one shot! This takes place after Princess Trouble, years after, just in case you're wondering!
"Are you sure you have everything sweetie?" Pound Cake asked his teenage daughter, Cinnamon Heart, the two at the Ponyville train station as the next train came rolling into the station.
"I'm sure dad, I'm only going to be gone for a couple of days." Cinnamon replied as she playfully rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, I'm sure mom can help provide while I'm there."
"Alright sweetie." Pound smiled. "Have a safe trip and tell your mother I love her." Pound gave his daughter a hug before having to let her go so the train could leave.
Cinnamon got on and took a seat, putting down her bags as she waved at her father who was waving back as the train then began to roll out from the station. Cinnamon decided to get some sleep, for it was going to be an overnight trip, to her destination far up north, the Crystal Empire. As Cinnamon slept, the night passed and by morning, the kingdom was in view as Cinnamon woke up, stretching her pegasus wings as they were a little stiff from sleeping on the car seat.
"I hope mom's not too busy…" Cinnamon said softly as the train slowed down, coming to a complete story by the station platform.
As the car doors opened, Cinnamon walked out onto the platform, trotting down out of the station and onto the streets of the Crystal Empire. As she did so, the Crystal Ponies who recognized her stopped whatever they were doing to take a bow, which Cinnamon expected and well… Felt a little uncomfortable as she ignored it and soon enough arrived at the Crystal palace. However coming to the palace's entrance, the guards by it stopped her, crossing their spears to block her path.
"Halt!" One of them holding the spears, spoke.
"Who goes there?" The other one holding his spear questioned.
"I'm sorry… I'm sure I have the right address and…" Cinnamon started, but was cut off by a new and familiar voice.
"Cinnamon?" The voice spoke as exiting from the palace was an adult female griffon wearing crystal guard armor. "We weren't expecting you today…"
"I know, I just wanted to come a little bit earlier, I need to speak to my mother." Cinnamon replied.
"Well… Don't you two know who this is?" The griffon spoke harshly to the two guards blocking Cinnamon's path as the guards didn't know the answer. "It's the princess' daughter, now let her pass."
"Right away captain…" The first guard replied quickly.
"Our apologies, your highness." The second guard bowed to Cinnamon, joined by the first as they let the young mare pass.
"You would think after spending so many years here, all the guards would recognize me easily…" Cinnamon told the griffon as she got through. "But it's great to see you Grace, thanks for the save."
"You're welcome sweetie." Grace smiled. "Now you said you needed to speak with your mother?"
"Yes, it's a personal family thing." Cinnamon answered.
"Well, your mother's currently in the throne room attending to some signing, but I'm sure she can take a break to see you." Grace notified the young mare as the two trotted to the throne room, arriving there as Grace went in first, slowly opening the door and peeking her head through. "Excuse me, your majesty, but your daughter has come to speak with you."
"Oh really!" Cinnamon heard her mother's voice call out happily from inside. "Please, let her in, I can attend to this current business later." Cinnamon was actually kinda of hoping her mother would say she would have to talk later, but not so…
As Grace opened the door all the way, Cinnamon took a deep breath as she slowly trotted in and took a bow and as she was, she could hear her mother come down from her throne and trot up to her. As Cinnamon heard her mother stop and saw her shadow right in front of her, she slowly lifted her head back up. Standing before her was the sole ruler of the Crystal Empire, as well as her mother, Princess Flurry Heart.
"Sweetheart, I'm so happy to see you, through you're here early this week, is something wrong back in Ponyville? Is your father alright?" Flurry asked.
"No mother, everything is fine, dad's okay." Cinnamon answered. "I just needed to speak with you in private about something."
"I see…" Flurry interested as she turned her gaze onto Grace. "Grace, have the kitchen staff prepare some tea and cakes and bring them to the balcony for the two of us."
"Yes, your majesty." Grace saluted before going to carry out the order, leaving the two alone as they began to trot out of the throne room to the large palace balcony, where they would have a nice view and weather.
"So sweetheart, how is your father anyway?" Flurry asked, starting another conversation before Cinnamon would get to what she wanted to really say as the two made their way to the balcony.
"Dad's doing okay, Sugar Cube Corner is doing well." Cinnamon answered. "And he said he misses and loves you."
"Same here sweetheart." Flurry sighed. "Can't wait for when your father comes for his visit."
Ever since Pound Cake's parents retired and gave ownership of Sugar Cube Corner to their children, Pound Cake and his sister, Pumpkin Cake, Pound needed to move back home from the Crystal Empire to help out his sister and make sure she wasn't overwhelmed. Meanwhile Flurry had a big change too, with her parents having finally retired and passed over complete rulership of the Crystal Empire to her. Flurry and Pound Cake still stayed married of course and see each other as often as they could in their new busy lives, but of course still loved each other very much, their daughter, Cinnamon Heart, was proof of that.
Speaking of which, the once little filly, now a young mare, almost fully grown, was being exposed to two very different ways of life, the common life she shared with her father and the high society and royalty she shared with her mother. Cinnamon knew that one day she would have to pick one life when she did become a full grown mare, but that would mean abandoning the other completely, which she felt would make one of her parents very disappointed in her…
"Such a lovely and sunny day." Flurry commented as the two arrived outside on the balcony, the kitchen staff currently setting up the small table for mother and daughter, finishing up and leaving to give the two their privacy. "Sugar sweetheart?" Flurry offered her daughter sugar for her tea as the two sat down and Flurry poured some tea in their cups with her magic.
"Yes, thank you mom." Cinnamon answered as her mother spooned some sugar into her daughter's cup, the young mare then taking a sip. "Sweet and nice."
"Just like you." Flurry smiled and commented on her daughter as she took her own sip before getting down to why Cinnamon was here. "So, what is it you wish to tell me sweetheart?"
"Well mom…" Cinnamon began as she nervously wrapped her hooves around her tea cup. "You know how you and dad said I would eventually have to choose what I want to do with my life?"
"Yes…" Flurry replied, curious to know where this was going.
"I think I know now." Cinnamon sighed. "I'm afraid of what you're going to say…"
"Go ahead sweetheart." Flurry lovingly spoke, urging her daughter to say what was on her mind.
"I want to follow in dad's hoofsteps and own my own bake shop." Cinnamon revealed, finally getting it out. "I know you must be upset by my choice, but…" Cinnamon continuing, but her mother cut her off by first putting a hoof onto her daughter's and making her look up.
"Upset?" Flurry chuckled. "Sweetheart, I'm happy for you." Flurry smiled.
"You are?" Cinnamon surprised to see her mother's reaction. "But I thought…"
"What?" Flurry asked. "That I would want you to become a princess like me? Sweetheart, I'm glad you decided to choose this path. I want you to be happy and if doing that makes you happy than I support your decision."
"You really mean it mom?" Cinnamon needing to be sure.
"I do, really, I'm proud that my only daughter has her future clear in her mind." Flurry confirming her support as she pulled her daughter for a hug.
"Thanks mom and I have been thinking of maybe opening it here, so things even out between you and dad." Cinnamon added. "Also, I was originally born here."
"That's great sweetheart." Flurry fully happy. "And hey, I can always stop by whenever I'm not busy, just as long as I'm your number one customer." Flurry joked.
"Of course mom." Cinnamon chuckled back. "Thanks for the support, I love you mom."
"That's what family is for sweetheart." Flurry smiled. "And I love you too."
So with that, the two continued to enjoy their nice little teatime outside, chatting about other things going on with their lives before Flurry returned to her duties as a princess and well Cinnamon, in the meantime, went to her old bedroom in the palace. There, Cinnamon threw herself on her bed and laid down, staring up at the ceiling as she wore a huge smile on her face, feeling relief that her mother was more than happy with the path she chose for herself.
And I'll end it there!
Hope you enjoyed this little one shot and with that…
See everycreature later!