Chapter sixteen: the Crystal Empire

It had been at least three days since Rainbow Dash and Connor had their special night and they were on their way back to Ponyville and a good thing too because Rainbow Dash was starting to get a little homesick. Connor understood it and today was their day to head back home. Princess Celestia offered them a ride back to Ponyville on a royal chariot, but they said no thanks, and proceeded to fly back to Ponyville.

When they landed in the town, they were looking forward to seeing the rest of the Mane Six again, and maybe have some fun. Just then, Spike appeared in front of them, running towards them, and almost out of breath with a letter in his hand. “Whoa there Spike,” Connor said to his friend, “Take a few deep breaths and then tell us what you need to say, okay?”
Spike nodded and took four deep breaths then said to Connor and Rainbow Dash, “Okay, it’s great to see you guys again by the way, but anyways Twilight wanted me to give you letter when you guys got back from Canterlot.”
He opened the letter so that Connor and Rainbow Dash could look at it and the letter said…

Dear Connor and Rainbow Dash

If Spike has given you this letter, it is great to have you two back in Ponyville. We really missed you guys while you two were away. And I have a favor to ask, could you guys come see me and Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner.

Your best friend, Twilight Sparkle

“Is there any reason why she wants us to see her and Pinkie at Sugarcube Corner?” Rainbow Dash asked Spike.
“She said that it was a surprise for you guys,” Spike replied to them with honesty.
“Alright then Spike,” Connor said to Spike, “We’ll follow you to Sugarcube Corner,” as Spike did so.

When they finally made it to Sugarcube Corner, Spike opened the door with Connor and Rainbow Dash right behind him, only for them to walk into the barkery with every single light was off. “Hey Twilight, Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash called out to her friends, “Are you two here?”
All of a sudden, the lights went on with Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and the rest of the Mane Six popping out a yelling, “SURPRISE!” as a banner appeared saying ‘Welcome back’.
“What is all this?” Rainbow Dash asked them in surprise.
“This is a Welcome back party,” Pinkie Pie replied to the happy couple.

“For our favorite married couple,” Rarity joined in.
“This is very nice of you girls to do this for me and Rainbow Dash,” Connor said kindly to them,
“I’m guessing this was all Pinkie Pie’s idea.”
“It sure was,” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully.
"Well, it is great to be back," Connor said with a smile as they began the party.

In Canterlot:

Princess Celestia was in her throne, writing a letter when one of the Royal Guards came rushing in saying, “Something has happened… You’re majesty.”
“Yes,” the Princess of the sun said, “What is it?”
“It has returned,” was all the Guard could say to her.
Princess Celestia gasped as she turned to look at one of the guards standing by her side and said to him, “Find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor at once.”
“Yes your majesty,” the guard said as he and the other guards ran out of the throne room.
When they left, Princess Celestia pulled out another piece of paper as she began writing on it.

A few hours later:

When Twilight got the letter from her mentor, she was beginning to become desperate, for she was given a test by the Princess of the sun. Rainbow Dash and Connor found out about the letter Twilight got from the Princess of the sun from Pinkie Pie, but this was suppose to be a private testing session between Twilight and Princess Celestia so Rainbow Dash and Connor planned to eavesdrop on this so called ‘test’ that Princess Celestia has given Twilight by sneaking into the castle’s throne room where Connor had a feeling from instincts where this ‘test’ was going to be. The two Pegasi Assassins knew that this would be wrong because they were going to be snooping on both Twilight and the Princess of the sun, but they had to know what the real reason behind the letter sent by the Princess.

When they made it into the throne room without any of the guards noticing them sneaking inside the castle, they saw and heard Twilight and Princess Celestia having a conversation about something as they saw a place that didn’t look familiar to them. “One thousand years ago, King Sombra: an evil Unicorn whose heart was black as night, took over the Crystal Empire,” they soon heard Princess Celestia speak to her faithful student show that this King Sombra had enslaved the ponies in the Crystal Empire, “He was defeated, turned into shadow, and banished to the Arctic North.”
“So this is what that letter Twilight got was all about,” Rainbow Dash said to Connor quietly.
“It sure is,” Connor agreed, “We must go back to the others, but must not tell any of them or to Twilight about what we’re doing.”
“Lead the way Sweet-Heart,” Rainbow Dash said to her husband as they quietly left the castle without any of the guards noticing them leaving the castle.

Back at Ponyville:

Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Applejack were waiting for Conner and Rainbow Dash to return from their little trip. "I wonder when they're coming back?" Rarity asked the others.
"I'm sure they'll return soon, Sugarcube," Applejack said to white Unicorn, "We just need to be patient."
Just as Applejack said that, Fluttershy could see Rainbow Dash and Connor from the distance and said to the others, “I can see them, they’re coming this way,” as Connor and Rainbow Dash landed on the ground, “So what were you two doing in Canterlot?” she asked them.
Rainbow Dash and Connor looked at each other and then looked back at the others before Rainbow Dash replied to her best friends, “We… Had to take care of some criminals that were running a muck in Canterlot.”

“Really?” Rarity asked abruptly, “Because there were no wanted signs here in Ponyville before you two left.”
“Maybe there weren’t any wanted posters put up yet before we left,” Connor said to them, “It is a perfect explanation for why there hasn’t been any posters yet.”
“That’s sound like a good explanation to me,” Pinkie Pie agreed.
“Hey everypony, what’s going on here?” Twilight said as the others turned around to see the lavender mare was standing in front of them, “What were you guys talking about?”
“We were just talking why we were in Canterlot as well,” Connor replied to the lavender Unicorn, “We were hunting some criminals that might have caused trouble in Equestria.”

“Really?” Twilight exclaimed, “Well I guess Equestria is a little bit more safer thanks to you two.”
“So what did the Princess said to you?” the pink party pony asked Twilight.
“We’re heading to the Arctic North,” Twilight replied to them, “To the Crystal Empire.”
Unknown to the Mane Six, Connor, and Spike, the Ice pony Prince Shining Ice and his twin sister Princess Ice Heart was eavesdropping on the whole conversation, “Can you believe this sister?” Shining Ice asked his sister in surprise.
“Of course brother, but it seems that they’re going to need some help with this,” Ice Heart replied to him.

“So let’s go with them,” Shining Ice suggested to his twin sister, “If they’re going to the Arctic North so they can go to the Crystal Empire, they are going to need the guidance of some Ice ponies in the Arctic North and we do know the Arctic North well.”
“Yeah we do know the Arctic North well, but what if they get lost in a blizzard?” Ice Heart asked her twin brother, “They would surely get lost in blizzard in our own land that they haven’t been to before.”
“We will have to stop the blizzards then, wouldn’t we sister?” the Ice pony Prince exclaimed to her twin sister, “Now let’s go we have to head back home before they do.” So they flew off towards the Arctic North.

Two days later:

When the Mane Six, the baby Dragon, and the Human turned Pegasus Assassin made it to the Arctic North, a blizzard had just rolled in. “Are you sure that this is where your brother should be Twilight?” Connor asked Twilight as the cold wind of the Arctic North blew on their faces.
“Yes, I’m sure this is the place,” Twilight replied as they all soon saw a silhouette through the raging blizzard the all the girls but Rainbow Dash jumped in horror think that it was King Sombra himself, but Connor saw who it really was through that blizzard with his Eagle Vision because he was glowing a blue aura. Out of the blizzard came a white stallion wearing a set of black clothing, he removed his mask, revealing that he was really Shining Armor. “Shining Armor!” Twilight cried in relief.

“It’s good to see you too Twili,” Shining Armor said as the two of them hugged each other for a few seconds before Shining Armor said to them, “We must get to the Crystal Empire quickly.”
“Great to see you again Shining Armor,” Connor said to the white stallion.
“You too Connor,” Shining Armor said to the Human turned Pegasus Assassin, “Now come on, let’s head to the empire.” Just then, some of the snow started to form in the shapes of two Alicorns in front of the group, but soon the snow started to turn into flesh and they were Shining Ice and Ice Heart. “What are you two doing here?” Shining Armor asked them.

“We’re here to help guide you through the Arctic North,” Ice Heart replied.
“Yes, you need our guidance through these parts,” the Ice pony Prince said.
“Okay you guys can come with us to the Crystal Empire,” Shining Armor admitted, “Can you help us with this blizzard too?”
“Of course Shining Armor,” Ice Heart nodded as she used her magic to stall the blizzard, “There we are, I have stalled the blizzard, but this spell won’t last for very long though so we will have to move fast,” she said to them.
“I agree, let’s move,” Connor said as they followed the Ice pony Prince and Princess toward the portal to the Crystal Empire.

As they were sprinting towards the portal, Connor could sense something was following them, and it was evil. “What is it Connor?” Rainbow Dash asked her husband.
“Somethings following us,” Connor replied to his wife as he turned around to see who or what was following them, but nothing was there, “That’s strange I know I sensed someone or something is following us.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing Sweet-heart,” Rainbow Dash said to him as they continued to follow the others towards the portal. But Connor could still sense someone or something following them.

‘He’s trying to mask his presence,’ Connor thought to himself, but right before he was about to say something to Shining Armor they all turned around to see a large black shadow with glowing green eyes and purple mist coming out of them appear in front of them and it was King Sombra himself.
“RUN!” Twilight shouted as they ran toward the Crystal Empire as quick as they could. Shining Armor stopped to try and fight off Sombra, but his magic did nothing to the tyrant king in his shadow form.
At the last second, before King Sombra was going to strike next a massive wall of ice blocked him, and Shining Armor turned around to see that Shining Ice was using his magic to summon that ice wall. “Go now!” he said to white Unicorn, “I don’t know how long I can keep this spell up,” as Shining Armor ran into the portal with the rest of them. Leaving Shining Ice and Ice Heart to hold off Sombra.

"Come on brother let's go," Ice Heart said to her twin brother.
"Go sister, I'll be right behind you," Shining Ice said to her as Ice Heart jumped into the portal then Shining Ice released his spell and jumped into the portal as well.

When they all made it through the other side of the portal, Applejack asked them, “Everypony okay?”
“Yeah,” Connor and Rainbow Dash said in unison.
“Of course,” Rarity replied.
“Yeah we’re okay,” Twilight replied.
“We sure are,” Pinkie said.

“Yeah, yeah we’re good,” Shining Ice replied as he and her twin sister got up.
“Guys, look,” Spike said as everypony turned in amazement. There was standing in front of them was the great Crystal Empire with the castle standing as the highest building in the empire.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful,” Fluttershy said in awe.
“It sure is,” Connor agreed.

“Come on,” Shining Armor said to them, “We have to hurry before King Sombra gets here.” So they went through a magic shield that was put up.
“The Crystal Empire is so beautiful,” Rarity said as they walked through the streets of the empire.
"Come along," Shining Armor said as they walked into the castle.

"You guys head into the throne room," Shining Ice said, "Me and my sister are going to the empire's library."
"Very well," Connor said as the two Ice ponies left. Shining Armor opened the door to the throne room revealing Cadence on the throne using her magic to keep the barrier up.
"Cadence!" Twilight exclaimed as she ran up to her.
"Twilight!" Cadence said in surprise.

"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake... Clap your hooves and do a little shake," they said together. But soon Cadence became dizzy.
“Sorry Twilight,” Cadence said as she got back up, “It’s hard to keep this barrier up.”
“Well at least nopony has been corrupted by King Sombra,” Shining Armor cut in, “If Cadence needs a rest I’ll take her place.”
“So that means you can enjoy what the Crystal Empire has to offer until he arrives,” Cadence finished as the girls and Spike went off, but Connor stayed behind and watched them run off, but then he turned back to the married couple before him, “Aren’t you going with the others?” the pink Alicorn asked him.
“I rather stay here to watch on what we’re dealing with,” Connor simply replied to her as he went out to the castle balcony getting a good view of a part of the Crystal Empire.

A few hours later:

As the Mane Six were busy keeping the citizens of the Crystal Empire happy and Connor was still on the balcony looking over the whole empire, Shining Ice and Ice Heart were busy looking at the books in the library seeing if they know anything about their old kingdom’s history. “See anything yet sis?” the Ice pony Prince asked his twin sister.
“Nothing yet Shining Ice,” Ice Heart replied to him as they were scrolling around the books, Shining Ice checking the books on the lower shelves and Ice Heart checking the higher shelves, until she found a set of books, “Found something brother,” she said as she landed with eight different books on her back.
“Let’s have a look,” Shining Ice said as they began reading the first book out of the set that they found.

“The Kingdom of the Ice ponies starts way before Celestia's rein, during Celestia's father's days as a Prince. From the very beginning their borders extend from the eastern part of the modern day Elk kingdom to the western parts of the Griffon Kingdoms, they started as and was always a diverse kingdom for all Ice ponies of every type (Pegasi, Unicorns, Earths, and Alicorns alike). In their old days they had a very unique form of government; it was a type of Monarchy with Direct Democracy mixed into each other. Their capital city known as Ice Highland was located in the Equestria and Griffon mountains.
The Ice ponies had a very close relationship between them and Crystal Empire since they were right next door to them and also due to the fact that the twelfth Prince of the Ice ponies was the brother to the first Prince of the Crystal Empire. But as years went by, came the fateful day when a tyrant named Sombra became the new King of the Crystal Empire and enslaved the Crystal ponies, the Ice pony Prince at the time was enraged at this act and was determined to end King Sombra's life and free the Crystal ponies from their enslavement, but when the Prince and his army made it to the border that separates their kingdom from the Crystal Empire, they saw Princesses Celestia and Luna seal King Sombra down into the depth of the arctic north and the Crystal Empire had disappeared for Sombra had sent the Crystal Empire to another dimension.”

"This is interesting sis," Shining Ice said.
“It sure is brother,” his twin sister agreed with him. Then all of a sudden, a crystal guard burst through the door.
“You two better come and see this,” he said to them.
“Why?” Ice Heart asked the crystal guard, “What’s going on?”

The crystal guard lead them outside where they saw a giant black cloud, but soon a face came out of the cloud. “King Sombra!” the two Ice Ponies exclaimed. But they soon realized that Shining Armor was now in control of the barrier surrounding the entire empire.
But King Sombra started to use his dark magic to corrupt the shield, “I can’t hold the barrier much longer,” Shining Armor said trying his best to keep the shield up and when they thought that Sombra was going to get through the barrier some music started to play from out of nowhere...

...And the barrier became good as new with a green color instead of purple.
What? King Sombra said in his thoughts.

“How did this possible?” Twilight asked out loud.
“I think I know how,” Rainbow Dash replied looking up as did the others seeing Connor up on castle and started playing his Eagle Dagger.
“I will keep the barrier up as long as I can, the rest of you go find the Crystal Heart,” Connor called out to the girls.
“Right, let’s go girls,” Twilight said as they hurried down to the castle.

To be continued in part two...

Author's Note

There we are, here is chapter 16 and as promised it is the first part Crystal Empire episodes.