#crystalify

[ivryne]

. . . you drew stars around my scars ! ✧

✦ ╮short drabbles of stargazing with you ☻

✦ ╮xiao, scaramouche/kunikuzush, kazuha

✦ ╮gn!reader ( no use of pronouns )

✦ ╮use of nicknames

NOTE. tried smthn different this time :D Sorry if ooc hehe

Xiao spends his nights on guard. Not letting a single crystalify distract him from doing what he does best--keeping Liyue safe. But tonight is a rather calm and peaceful night. In nights like these, the yaksha sits on the roof of Wangshu Inn, lying beneath the stars, listening to you rant about your recent endeavours. He watches you with a small smile as you tell him about your commissions. He chuckles at your silly stories and reassures you when your intrusive thoughts gets ahead of you. After a long exhausting day full of conquering demons and protecting Liyue citizens, he can't help but long for this moment. Where the two of you sit alongside of each other, basking at each one of your presence—not bothering about the worries of tomorrow. Because right now, it's just the two of you. Not the conqueror of demons or the Vigilant Yaksha and the famous adventurer. But right now, it's just Xiao and [name]; alone with the stars.

Scaramouche wastes no time for leisurely things such as watching the stars. No—he doesn’t have time for that. Not when his plan on being a god is in his line of sight. But there he was laying on the grounds of Mawtiyima Forest, where it's illuminating grass glows beneath his footsteps, eyes towards the stars as he talks about his oh-so-great plan to you. You can't help but smile at his ambitions. Watching him talk about his dreams and hopes of the future—that of course included you—with eyes so bright that it rivals the shine of the stars itself. Scaramouche no Kunikuzushi lets out all his worries and anxieties unto you. After all, you are whom he trusts most. One that he is sure will not betray him like his creator—his mother. One that is not afraid to keep him in check when he strays from his path. One that even after eternity found its end, will always be by his side. And same goes for him.

Light breeze sings in the air like a soft tune forming sweet melodies. It was a quiet night at the Alchor. No signs of either rain or storm coming for the heavens. The sky was darker than the shade of the ocean depths, contrasting the stars that hang in the sky like decorative pieces. Kazuha takes in the scent of the wind, enjoying the gentle breeze of the night. With your hand around his waist and your head on his shoulders, he averted his gaze towards his dear, softly tugging at the strands of your hair—not forgetting to leave a loving kiss on the top of your head after. It had been a long day at the Alchor but being here with you washes his tiredness away. Like fallen leaves swept away with a gush of wind—a gush of wind of your presence. He can’t imagine his life without your existence and Kazuha isn’t ashamed to admit that. Because at the end of the day, who is a poet without his muse?

do not repost, share, or copy ! Reblogs and likes very much appreciated!! ty for reading this! Be sure to give suggestions on what I should write next if you’re up to it!

© shrslair.

[the-crystal-muse]

good end that only happens after what would have been a bad end normally

Your name is Cadance. Once, long ago, you were the ruler of the Crystal Empire as well as the Princess of Love. 

It’s time you took those titles back.

The flight to the Crystal Empire is tricky. The train went out of commission about the same time negotiations with the new ruler, Emperor Snow Storm, broke down. Since a few months ago, the Empire’s been cut off completely from Equestria. The only news in or out come from the few Equestrian loyalists still inside, a small group of crystal ponies that knew their people couldn’t survive Snow Storm’s rule.

Snow Storm. That was the pony that fueled the anger against you. He took advantage of your fear, insecurities, and weakness, then projected those things onto the public. They were convinced of your ineptitude, and maybe they were right, but you’ve grown since then. It only took watching his people—your people—suffer for you to see that.

Snow Storm’s first act was to deport all native Equestrians back to their homeland. “The Crystal Empire our home,” he said according to your few sources. “We can’t have them taking up valuable resources.” Resources which, funny thing, were starting to drain under his command. Snow Storm and his lackeys were keeping their best for themselves. The royal line needed to be healthy and strong, he claimed, so hoarding the best made the most sense. The other ponies had to work harder for less, and with the emperor’s lack of an ability to plan for the future...Well, let’s just say he was starting to crumble under the pressure.

You arrived in the Crystal Empire to find fog had rolled in. The stormy weather typically held at bay by the Crystal Heart was starting to cut its way inside. Likely due to a general lack of happiness in the area. You shook your head as you dived into the empire. It’s hard to believe Snow Storm ever ousted you in the first place. Then again, it’s hard to believe you fell for it anyways.

Those months of depression and fatigue were hard to fight against. Every day it was the same story. Read about the Empire in the papers, do minor princess duties that literally anyone else could have done better at, learn what ponies thought of the first-ever-dethroned-princess (Luna doesn’t count, she renounced her throne technically), have your own horrible thoughts mirrored back at you by the ever-depressing maelstrom that was your mind. It wasn’t nice. No matter how you tried to keep yourself looking up, you couldn’t stop from drowning in your thoughts. Failure, useless, mistake, embarrassment. Every thought was a stab to your pride, and in time you learned that you simply weren’t the princess ponies thought you could’ve been.

But as time went on, you felt a stirring. You heard of Snow Storm’s rule; how terribly he was managing the job he attacked you for, how he had closed off the Empire’s borders and cut off ties with Equestria, how his subjects felt endangered by their ruler’s recklessness. It set off a fire in you, a hatred. You wanted to run up to the Empire and deck him in the face.

Eventually you found yourself encouraged, surprisingly, by your loved ones. This was the first they’d seen you impassioned in a while, as you spoke of Snow Storm’s injustices. They were supportive, and even offered to help you take back the Empire from that brazenly backstabbing colt.

So he you are, your hooves landing in front of the castle of the Crystal Empire, next to the Heart itself. It spins weakly, with thin trails of glowing blue energy moving across the ground and giving it the power it needs. So little love to be found...

Ponies stare at you. Royal guards pick up their spears, but they do so with little urgency. You can tell by their thin frames, their lack-luster coats, the circles around their eyes. They’re tired. They’re weak. What happened to the pride of this empire?

You clear your throat before summoning a spell Twilight taught you. Suddenly, your voice is projected for miles. “Ponies of the Crystal Empire! It’s me, Cadance, and I’m here to offer my deepest apologies.”

Ponies start to gather, their faces mixing curiosity, confusion...and desperation. “I’m here to say I’m sorry. I wasn’t the best ruler for you all before...” You make sure to look them all in the eyes, trying to look for hope that they may accept you. “I was scared and nervous that you all wouldn’t accept me, that I’d let you all down. And in the end I did. I failed because I doubted myself so much that my fears became a reality. But no more.”

More ponies gather and you steel yourself. “I’ve spent the past few months studying under the princesses, both as to how to rule and to learn about your heritage. My heritage. And let me tell you, I’m stronger than I was before, wiser too. I can be the princess you want to be, if you only give me a chance.

“I saw you all suffering, and the first thing I thought was that I need to help you. Not for your love, and not because you’re my subjects. I thought that because deep down, I care for you all. I’m not a crystal pony, but I understand you as if I was. And now I want to join you, to take my place among you as your ruler and your friend. So the question is...Will you accept me?”

“What are you doing here?” You turn around to see Snow Storm himself. He looks well-kept, a stark contrast to how he looked before. He wore a long red cape that flowed behind him, as well as...Was that your royal regalia?!

You turn to face him with a sneer. “I’m taking the Empire back from your grubby little hooves, Snow. How about you give me back my crown and we call it even?”

“Little chance of that princess,” Snow said. “You failed your kingdom. I, on the other hoof, am making it strong like it used to be!”

“Is this what you call strong?” You waved a hoof towards the crystal ponies around her. “Starving, scared ponies who don’t know whether or not the Frozen North will kill them in a day? This isn’t strong, this is evil!”

“I’m not evil!” Snow Storm stomped on the ground. “I’m their protector! The Empire can’t function without a leader, and I’m him!”

“You’re not a leader, you’re a foal playing dress-up. In my clothes, I might adp.” Snow Storm meekly tossed his cape out of sight. “Now, I’ll say it again. Give me back my crown.”

Snow Storm hesitated before shaking his head. “No. I can’t let you Equestrians take over our kingdom again!”

You roll your eyes. “Fine. Then we’ll see what our ancestors think.” A murmur went up in the crowd as you turn to the Crystal Heart. “You’ll listen to our forebearers, won’t you Snow?”

Snow Storm looked at the Heart as if it was made of acid, but his expression cleared quickly. “My ancestors will choose me, of course. We all know this.”

“Then you won’t be worried to step up to the plate.” Cadance stepped forward and the Heart slowed to a stop. She pressed her horn against its cold blue surface just as Snow Storm did the same.

There was silence for a few moments. Then, a collective gasp went up as Snow was harshly pushed away from the Heart, which then lit up as it zapped Cadance with its power.

The alicorn moved away to find that she had been crystalified. Streaks of energy shot across the ground to power up the Heart, making it spin with vigor.

Snow Storm shot to his feet, mouth agape. “I-Impossible! You must have hexed the Heart, or- Or used some kind of Equestrian magic to cheat!”

“There was no cheating, Snow. Our ancestors chose me for a reason. They know that I plan to make up for my mistakes. And they also know that you are a fraud.”

Snow gritted his teeth. “I’ll show you a fraud,” he said before shooting a bolt of magic at Cadance.

Cadance moved too quickly. A shield was lifted, deflecting the bolt right back into Snow’s face. He fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

Cadance sighed. “Guards, take Snow Storm to the dungeons. We can hold a trial for him after we get the Empire up and running again.” A pair of guards nodded as they took Snow Storm away. With that, the crystalified princess turned to her people, able to feel the joy radiating off them.

“Thank you, everypony. I won’t let you down.” With that, she gave them a deep bow, and her people did the same.

For the first time in a long time, Cadance had hope for the future.

Maybe destiny wasn’t so bad after all.