[==Flurry Heart, Misty Trail, Pumpkin Cake, and Pound Cake enter the Crystal Empire.

PUMPKIN: Oh wow, this place is beautiful.

MISTY: It's, like, so totally gorgeous! But I thought you lived in Canterlot, Flurry, ever since your…you know.

FLURRY: Most of the time, but I go back and forth. The coronation is here, though, 'cause I'm becoming ruler of uh--here.

Crystal ponies walking along the streets begin to take notice of Flurry.

CRYSTAL PONY: It's the princess!

More crystal ponies surround her, bubbling about their princess being back in overlapping chatter. Flurry waves with a nervous yet genuine smile.

FLURRY: Hey, everypony--

(Before she can finish speaking, a cluster of flowers is thrown in her face.)

Oof.

The majority of the surrounding crystal ponies walk away, but the flowers continue to be thrown carelessly in front of Flurry and her friends. Pumpkin picks up some with her magic.

PUMPKIN: Who's throwing all these flowers?

Misty gestures to a crystal pony crouched on the ground, ripping the flowers out with her teeth and throwing them behind her, Dusk Fall.

MISTY: Something tells me it's her.

Flurry approaches Dusk.

FLURRY: I'm sorry uhh…what are you doing?

DUSK: I don't like these flowers.

MISTY: You can't destroy something just 'cause you don't like it. What about everypony else who likes the flowers?

DUSK: Not my problem.

Another crystal pony steps out of her house, an older mare with her face turned up in a scowl, Rose Thorn.

ROSE THORN: The flowers! Not again! Dusk Fall!

(She turns to Flurry.)

Do something about this! You're our princess, aren't you?

Flurry nods and approaches Dusk Fall again.

FLURRY: Excuse me again uhh…Dusk Fall, right?

DUSK: Uh-huh.

(She doesn't look up at Flurry, just continues to rip more flowers out of the ground.)

FURRY: Dusk Fall, can you…I mean, do you mind if…can you stop?

DUSK: Nah, I'm good.

FLURRY: Uhh...

ROSE THORN (to Flurry): Are you going to actually do something?

FLURRY: Oh yes, yeah, of course. Dusk Fall, are you sure you can't stop?

DUSK: Yup.

FLURRY: Please?

DUSK: Nope.

FLURRY: Please.

DUSK: Still no.

Flurry shakes her head before she straightens up, raising her voice to sound tough although it still comes out shaky.

FLURRY: That's just it. As your princess, I command you to--

DUSK: OH.

(She stops what she's doing, stands up and walks toward Flurry. She towers over her, taller, and much more intimidating.)

As my princess, huh? Well, what are you gonna do about it?

FLURRY: I-I…

DUSK: How's this, Princess? I. Said. NO!

Flurry squeaks and instinctively uses her magic to create a shield around her. Dusk laughs.

DUSK: That's right. Hide behind your magic, little princess. I'll get back to it now.

Rose Thorn huffs, glaring at Flurry as she releases her shield.

ROSE THORN: What's the point of a princess if she's that incompetent? Princess Cadance would never have let this happen. She was a real ruler, and you're far from ready to take her place.

Flurry fights tears from welling in her eyes. Her friends surround her, glaring at Rose Thorn.

FLURRY: I know. You're right--

Dusk, who had since returned to her flowers, stands up and turns around. She struts up to Rose Thorn, sticking her hoof in her face.

DUSK: Hold on, hold on. What did you just say?

ROSE THORN: Why does it matter to you?

DUSK: 'Cause it's one thing for me to tease her, but another for you to disrespect her like that. Do you even know who you're talking to? You'll watch your mouth around her or I'll make you!

ROSE THORN: The nerve!

She walks away, muttering to herself. Dusk turns to Flurry and the others.

DUSK: Sorry about that, Rose Thorn's the worst. It's part of the reason I destroy her flowers.

PUMPKIN: What's the other reason?

DUSK: I hate flowers.

(She turns to Flurry.)

Don't listen to her, Princess, I'm sure it can't be easy to have all that responsibility handed to you. You'll come into your role in time.

FLURRY: Oh I--thank you, Dusk Fall.

DUSK: Anytime. And sorry for ripping on you earlier, I kinda thought you were be a spoiled brat.

FLURRY: Why?

DUSK: You're a princess, and the only pony who's actually gotten to have a Crystalling ever since the empire popped back up out of nothingness. My mom was livid about that, but I was more mad about the fact that no one seemed to put any thought into modernizing this place. Most of the ponies here are over a thousand years old and there's been no motion to bring any of them up date. My schooling was just a bunch of outdated "ye olden oldness."

Flashback. Dusk is in class at the Crystal Empire, slouching at her desk as the professor goes on.

PROFESSOR: Princess Celestia is the ruler of our neighboring kingdom of Equestria. As you can see by this drawing, she is an almighty immortal pegacorn and was made from the sun. Her sister, formally Princess Luna, used to rule alongside her, but just before our Empire's disappearance, she assumed the name Nightmare Moon and subsequently, turned into the moon. Afterward, Celestia absorbed the Elements of Harmony which turned her mane multicolored and enabled it to constantly flow on its own. Any questions?

Cut back.

POUNDS: Yikes, that's rough.

DUSK: Yeah

(She turns to FLURRY.)

I guess having to sit through all that made me resent princesses but it's not your fault, you were born into this just like I was.

(She shrugs.)

My bad.

FLURRY: That uhh…that makes sense, Dusk. I probably would feel the same way--I think, I mean, I don't know. When I become ruler, I'll make sure to help you modernize this place. And over-tax Rose Thorn. Just kidding!

(She laughs awkwardly.)

That's tyranny.

Suddenly, raucous thunder crackles and lightning strikes. The gang looks up as gray clouds begin to absorb the sky, and a swirling black hole opens up above them.

PUMPKIN: What's that giant cloud of darkness?!

MISTY (to Flurry and Dusk): Please tell me that's a normal Crystal Empire thing.

FLURRY and DUSK: No.

From the swirling black hole, a figure begins to form. A tall Alicorn with a curved horn and large red wings like a dragon's starts to appear, with a pendant around her neck that matches her cutie mark; a snake and a star-tipped wand. She stands on the gray clouds as she finally comes into view, revealing that her green mane is actually a cluster of living, hissing snakes. She cackles maliciously.

PUMPKIN: Who is THAT?!

Strikes of lightning hit the ground, the one closes wedging between Pumpkin and Misty, which they just nearly avoid. The Alicorn's voice booms throughout the Empire.

MAREDUSA: Attention, Citizens of the Empire. It is I, MARESUDA! Bring me the Alicorn princess, or watch as I turn this Crystal Empire into STONE!

~STARRING~

Princess Flurry Heart: The daughter of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor and Princess Twilight Sparkle's niece. An Alicorn.

Pound Cake: The son of Mr. and Mrs. Cake and Pumpkin Cake's brother. A Pegasus.

Pumpkin Cake The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cake and Pound Cake's sister. A Unicorn.

Misty Trail: The daughter of Misty Trail and Sky Stinger. A Pegasus.

Dusk Fall: A crystal pony born after the empire's return. An Earth Pony.

Rose Thorn: An older crystal pony. An Earth Pony.

THINGS ARE HEATINNNG UPP! I thin the next part is the end of part 1 if I'm correct? I think I'm correct. I decided to have Pounds look at the camera in the pic before poor babe only has one line in this part. Technically he's not supposed to even get a starring credit but we know he's a main, it just worked out weirdly.

Yes, Flurry is supposed to get hit by multiple flowers. Yes, I didn't wana draw them.==]