Chapter One: Lysandra

The Crystal Empire shone brightly in the sun, the tall castle standing over it all, its top tower looking like a second sun. A train pulled into the station at the edge of the empire, dropping off many ponies, some tourists, others crystal ponies returning home. Everywhere you looked you could see loved ones embracing and fillies skipping around.

At the edge of the platform, I crept up. The cloak hiding my body and dangling in front of my face to hide it the shadows made it hard to see. I had to keep tilting my head so I could see where to put my hooves. The whole time I kept cursing Mother for making me wear the stupid thing.

I carefully crept past the crowds, their emotions radiating off of their pastel bodies. I sensed a mother meeting her daughter somewhere on the platform. A little further away was a couple saying goodbye. And even further was a father forcing his son onto the train for a visit to grandma. But I had learned a while ago to filter it out. Instead, I walked determinedly into the city, down the streets, past all the fillies playing and mares shopping for new hats.

It was not long before I reached the palace, the Crystal Heart glowing from its pedestal underneath the castle. I paused. So many stories revolved around this gem, some myths, others facts. For all the talk of its majesty it was actually quite small. About as tall as my face.

I turned away and focus on the door. Two guards with purple coats and minty green manes stood in front of it, looking ahead, armor strapped across their bodies. I approached slowly. I did not want to seem like a threat.

"Excuse me," I asked. "I need to see the prince, Shining Armor."

"Shining Armor is busy. You need to see him, wait for visiting hours on the weekends," one of the guards replied. His voice was low and hard, causing the much smaller pony to take a step back. "Move along."

"Please, it's urgent," I begged. I'd perfected my 'I mean well' voice years ago. It sounded high and screechy to my ears but Mother had said it was perfectly sweet.

"Urgent. Sure," the other guard scoffed. "Who are you anyway?"

"Um….my name is Lysandra," I answered hesitantly. My name used to make changelings shake, if they hadn't recognized me already. But now the guards just blinked. There was something fun about that. "I'm a messenger. And I have news of a threat. One he's familiar with. Please."

The guards exchanged a look.

"What kind of threat?" the first inquired, narrowing his eyes.

"It's about….Chrysalis," I told them, whispering so no one would near would hear. The name felt weird on my tongue.

The guards exchanged another look and they shrugged.

"Alright," the second guard sighed. "Follow me."

He reached behind him and pushed open the wide door. I followed him into the shining hall. Now, I had expected to hate this palace. I had lived in a dark place nearly my whole life. But this place….the walls were the palest white with gold decorating the walls. Blue crystal columns rose against the walls, glittering under the crystal lights. The ceilings soared overhead and the floor under my black hooves sparkled. I wanted to look around, at everything and anything. But the guard was moving right ahead at a rather fast clip so I followed after him, nearly trotting to catch up with him, forcing myself to remember my task.

He led me to a purple double door and pushed it open. Inside was a sitting room with a dangling chandelier and many fancy chairs. I hesitantly entered and stood by the rich wooden table that was adorned with a carving of a heart. It wasn't a trap, was it?

"I will go fetch the prince," the guard said, then left, leaving me to look around and examine the room.

There was a fancy purple carpet under my hooves that felt softer than feathers. Each chair was embroidered with golden thread, all incorporating a heart design. I supposed it was due to the Crystal Heart, this kingdom's apparent mascot.

"Here she is, your highness," the guard mumbled as he bowed outside of the room.

I spun around and watched Shining Armor enter. My heart suddenly sped up as she looked at his mane, streaked with many shades of blue, his gleaming white coat, and dark blue eyes. Behind him was his wife, Princess Cadence, with her perfectly curled mane of yellow, purple, and pink, and her golden tiara. I noticed her cutie mark, the Crystal Heart, and nearly rolled my eyes. That frickin' gem was everywhere!

The door shut and I glanced over at the pair of guards standing by them.

"Uh, you may not want your guards here," I advised. Shining Armor's blue eyes widened.

"What do you mean?" Cadence asked.

"Unless you trust them not to gossip about what I'm about to tell you," I explained with a shrug. Shining Armor and Cadence glanced at each other, speaking in that way that married couples do.

"Leave us," Shining Armor told them. The guards seemed offended but they obeyed all the same. "Now, what is this message. I was told you had information about Chrysalis? She hasn't shown her face since we reformed the changelings."

"I know. And my message isn't really about Chrysalis specifically," I admitted, shuffling my hooves. Remember the plan; sweet and innocent. Shining Armor narrowed his eyes.

"Who are you, anyway? Why are you wearing that?" he demanded.

"I'm wearing it because I didn't want to cause a huge fuss as I journeyed to the palace," I explained. "And I'm…."

I used my magic to encase the dingy cloak with my dark green aura, tossing it to the side, revealing myself. While Shining Armor and Cadence's eyes widened, I stared at the floor, not wanting to know what they thought of me. I knew I wasn't exactly a sight for sore eyes. But I didn't want to see if they thought me truly ugly.

Both Shining Armor and Princess Cadence took a step back and I pretended not to notice.

"What….?" the stallion gasped.

"If you don't mind my asking, what are you?" Cadence asked. Her voice was kind. I almost gasped in surprise. The prettiest princess in Equestria wasn't shrinking away from me.

"I'm Lysandra, daughter of Queen Chrysalis," I admitted, shuffling my hooves nervously. That fact alone, in this land, could warrant my arrest. But fact of my other parent, my father, may save me. "And Shining Armor."