It was a beautiful day in the Garden. Everywhere in the natural nursery, plants of every shape and size grew in abundance. Red tulips mixed with pink daisies, creating a color scheme no painter could replicate.

And in the center of these colors, two ponies walked.

“...and then the Ambassador landed face-first in the dip!”

“Ahahaha!” the mare laughed. She quickly reached toward her eyes and began to dab at the tears that began to dribble down.

“Are you alright?” the stallion asked in a tone of bemusement.

“Oh, I’m fine, my love,” the mare spurted out between chuckles. “That’s just the funniest story I’ve heard in quite some time.”

“Oh, believe me, that was hardly the most amusing thing that’s ever happened at a Crystal Summit.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, there was this one time where a duck-”

“My Prince!” a voice rang out. Turning toward the sound, the couple were met by a stallion in silver armour coming toward them. “I apologize for the interruption, but I have an urgent message for you.” The guard pulled out a parchment from his side pouch and handed it to the Prince.

“Thank you, Guard. You are dismissed.” The guard nodded and trotted away on the garden path, back toward the Crystal Palace.

“Hmph,” the mare huffed. “It’s always when you’re enjoying yourself the most when some important matter comes up…”

“Hmm….”

“What is it, my love?”

“This letter...it’s from your father.”

“My father? What does he want?”

The stallion looked back up at her. “He...he wanted to tell me that I have his permission.”

“Permission? Permission for what?”

At this, the stallion reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a large black box. The royal seal sat on top of it, a crystal pony dancing under a radiant sun.

“Permission to open this box.” With that, he opened it.

A sparkling gold crown met the mare’s eyes, glistening in the sun far more than any Crystal pony could ever hope to achieve. Every color of gem that a pony could think of lined the headpiece, filling the mare’s eyes with a spectrum of color not even a rainbow could match.

For a tense few moments, neither of them spoke.

Then, in a voice firm yet nervous, the Prince began to speak.

“Crystal Clear...” The Prince took a deep breath and pushed the words out with all his might. “Will...will you...marry me?”

Crystal stared at him, her mouth agape. No sounds escaped her mouth. Around them, the songs of the crickets and birds rang out, filling the air with a calmness that was not present on that picnic blanket.

Then, as if on cue, a single tear rolled down Crystal’s face.

Then another.

And another.

Soon, they were coming down by the bucketload.

“Cr-crystal?” the Prince nervously asked. “Are you al-”

WOP!

Before he could finish, Crystal rushed to him and wrapped him in a tight embrace. A barrage of wet, sloppy kisses were showered on his face, mixing with the tears to soak the Prince’s fur even further.

“Yes, yes, yes!” Crystal squeaked out between the smooches. “Yes I will, my love!”

“Crystal!” the Prince yelled. Crystal’s eyes widened and she released the Prince.

“I-I’m so sorry, my love! I-I just…”

Suddenly, the Prince grabbed Crystal and brought her closer to him. He gazed intensely into her eyes.

“Don’t apologize,” the Prince whispered. “Just give me a turn.”

With that, he put his lips to hers, and nothing but fireworks could be felt. They were exploding in Crystal’s mind, in her heart, in her soul, in whatever part of her that was hers. They were exploding and she didn’t want it to end.

“My love...my Prince…” she thought. “My Husband...My...My…”



“My Sombra,” the mare lying on the stone slab muttered in ecstasy.

The words reached King Sombra’s ears like a pleasant symphony, and he smiled a toothy grin. His eyes glowed a fiendish green, as did the mare that laid before him.

“It works!” the King muttered to himself excitedly. “I...I can make anypony love me!”

His mind instantly drifted back to Her. His Radiant Hope, and Her tears as She saw what he became.

But those tears would be gone soon. Someday, he would find Her again, and with a quick zap, She would love him again. And they would rule this land and all other lands they saw together.

Side by side.

Husband and wife.

King and Queen.