Chapter 4 (The Crystal Empire)

Waking up early before sunrise, Fluttershy and Espie moved to and fro frantically to check their bags, rushing quickly to organise their belongings and catch the morning train on the dot at sunrise.

Fluttershy was readily prepared and was waiting for Espie to finish packing before moving off.

"Espie, are you almost done preparing? We have to reach the train station in just a few minutes left to catch the earliest departure to the Crystal Empire."

"Yup, I'm ready! Let's go!"

Hurrying to the train station, they hoped to get on the train just about to depart from Ponyville to the Crystal Empire.

"Hey you two! Hurry up, the train is going to leave soon!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, making them pace quickly into the train.

"Phew! Glad we made it into the train, in a nick of time!" Espie declared while panting in unison with Fluttershy.

The train doors closed behind the panting duo and both heaved sighs of relief. "The rest are in the next cabin, shall we go there?"

They nodded, proceeding with Pinkie Pie towards the cabin. "Hey! You two made it! That's a relief. Let's relax, chat and enjoy the scenery during the course of the train journey. It'll take some time to reach the Crystal Empire." Twilight suggested. After a few hours, they felt bored and slept all the way to their destination.

Reaching the Crystal Empire station in the afternoon, they exited the train and walk onto the grounds of the Crystal Empire. Espie was bedazzled by the beauty of the crystal structures in the light, refracting iridescent colours around, and the crystal ponies who sparkled like a jewel under the sun.

"This is so…"

"Yep! Beauty ain't it? This was our reactions when we came here the first time." Applejack said, remembering how they reacted similarly to Espie.

"We would be staying in the Crystal Castle for a week. Let's get going!"

Twilight and Spike were leading forward while the rest either walk alongside.

While walking, a whole horde of ponies rushed towards Spike. "Look! It's Spike, the brave and glorious again…"

Espie interpreted that they were his fans coming to greet him. Espie and the Mane Six sighed and left him to deal with his fan ponies, distancing themselves from the crowd.

When Spike was done, they moved on forward to the castle.

Reaching the Crystal Empire Castle, they were welcomed by Princess Cadence.

Both Princesses did their hoof shake routine, ensuring that they were not changlings.

"How is Flurry Heart? Is she doing okay?" Twilight asked on Flurry's current condition.

"Oh she's just fine, she's well taken care of by the guards and Shining Armour. Well, who is the white creature next to you? It's so cute…" Princess Cadence looked at Espie intently, examining her from her face.

"I'm Espie and I'm a Light Spirit. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I am interested to know more about you Espie. After you unpack, find me at the dining hall balcony. But first, let me lead all of you to your rooms first."

They were led to different individual rooms in the castle corridors, finally allocating Fluttershy's and Espie's room to them.

Espie unpacked swiftly and rushed off to the balcony.

They met and started a colloquy just outside the dining hall, talking until it was dinnertime.

"You are an interesting kind of being, Espie. Anyway, now it's dinner time, let's join your friends together for your welcome feast."

The two joined up with the rest of the seven. "Shining Armour, come and join us for our meal!" Princess Cadence shouted. "I'm coming dear. Oh… Who's that?" "She's Espie, I will tell you all about her tonight."

Both ponies hugged each other before proceeding to their seats, preparing to start the feast. All ten of them started to tatter, talking about what happened to the Crystal Empire and related subjects.

Espie waited impatiently, holding a question, finally asked Princess Cadence "Who's Flurry Heart?"

"She's our baby. She's born an Alicorn."

"But how is that possible?"

"It's just a miraculous phenomenon, like the story of how you were born, Espie, what you've told me."

"So how do you create a baby pony?" Espie questioned out of curiosity.

Princess Cadence looked at Shining Armour and both blushed almost immediately, trying not to think about it.

"I'll tell you! First, a stallion and a mare fall in love with each other. Next, they proceed to honeymoons. Finally, they locked themselves in a room and start to…" "PINKIE! Not here please! It's inappropriate! This is supposed to be rated 'PG', not 'NC 16', so shush! There might be young readers who might be reading this!" Twilight reprimanded, interrupting Pinkie's jesting at the right moment before it went too far.

*Twilight looks at the readers, making sure no one was offended*

Pinkie who was sitting next to Espie whispered to her "I'll tell you another time." She giggled before returning back to her allocated room.

"Well if we are done here, let's turn in for the night!" She was excited to be sleeping on royally fabricated beds. The others also returned to their rooms.

Returning to the room, both Fluttershy and Espie went to the bed and slept in royalty.