End of the Elements

A meeting was convened the moment the crystal pony was brought around. Now he stood, shaking nervously, before the royal court of Canterlot. Normally, the room was a crowded parliament, filled with dozens of ministers, secretaries, and aides to aid Celestia, Princess of Canterlot. Now, the long wooden benches had been taken out of the room, exchanged for six large thrones, on which Celestia, Daffodil, Cirrus,  Cumulus, Sugarcube and Luna sat. They all were leaning forward, listening carefully to the pony, who had introduced himself as Zinc Cadmium. He took a steadying breath and began.

"I come to you from the Crystal Empire," he paused. "Do you know much about the Crystal Empire?"

"A little" said Celestia. "I am aware that it is ruled by a merciful family of ponies who shielded some of Equestria's citizens from Discord. It's in the north,"

"Ah, you speak of our royal family," said Zinc, looking down sadly.

"What's wrong?" asked Cumulus.

"They're..."Zinc paused, closing his eyes, then looked back at Cumulus. "Dead," a gasp shot through the six ponies.

"Dead, or killed?" Daffodil asked swiftly.

"Killed." another gasp ran through the audience.

"Tell us what happened." Luna said. Zinc once again took a deep breath.

"It was a...standard day in the Crystal Empire. The sun shone magnificently over our peaceful kingdom. Everything was good...until he came,"

"Who?" Cirrus asked quickly.

"I believe he called himself...Sombra. He had....some supporters, but not close to as many as the royal family. His men overtook the castle...I wasn't actually at the castle."

"Who are you?"

"A messenger from the Crystal Empire,"

"A messenger from Sombra?" asked Luna, a little angrily.

"No," said Zinc quickly. "A message from the resistance,"

"So there's still some sort of a fight."

"Not really...we're sort of in hiding," Celestia rolled her eyes.

"Are there any ponies who were in any type of army?"

"No...We have been a peaceful nation for over a thousand years, and the only soldiers we had were guards for the Castle, and no one survived Sombra's purge of that particular reason.

"Where are they hiding?"

"The mountains that border our nation and yours... which is why I'm here. We would like your help," said Zinc.

"Give us a moment," said Daffodil. Zinc nodded, walking backwards and bowing, before he tripped over the carpet, fell, turned, and trotted off, blushing. Cumulus was the first to speak, once the large doors shut.

"We should help them,"

"I assumed you say so, element of kindness," Luna said.

"Would have us not?" asked Daffodil hotly. Luna leapt down from her chair. So did Daffodil. Celestia leapt down, stretching her wings out between the alicorn and unicorn.

"What we need to do," Celestia said. "Is figure out what to do,"

"Well, we can't just let them die!" said Sugarcube.

"But we can't go!" said Luna suddenly. Sugarcube looked at her friend.

"Why not?"

"Think about it," said Luna, dropping her voice conspiratorially. "Sombra was able to completely take over the empire on a casual day. Who knows how many ponies here might want to do the same, or, who's to say Sombra is going to try the same on us!" Daffodil gasped.

"She's right...we'll need at least one of us to stay behind and maintain calm throughout Equestria...just in case,"

"But then we won't be able to use the Elements of Harmony!" Cirrus argued.

"Sombra's only a unicorn...would we need the elements?" Celestia pointed out. Cirrus pondered for a moment.

"True...so I guess the next question is...who's going?" Cumulus asked. The six ponies looked around at each other.

"I think I could go," said Daffodil.

"I'll go," said Celestia.

"I...I'm afraid I'll be needed in Cloudsdale. I need to help the city be rebuilt. It's been taking ages, and it needs constant attention. I wish I could go," said Cirrus, annoyed.

"I will go," said Luna instantly.

"All right, I think we only need three," Celestia said. "Are you sure you can come with us?" she asked, turning to Daffodil.

"I am sure," said Daffodil. "How long do you think this could take?"

"It'll probably be done in a couple of weeks," said Celestia, shrugging.

"My realm can do without me for that long,"

"All right..."Celestia said, trotting off to get Zinc again.

Zinc was overjoyed at the news that three bearers of the Elements of Harmony were arriving. In addition, each of the Ponies were bringing a few groups of their own soldiers. Celestia had asked her captains to assemble a good twenty assorted unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies. Luna had sent orders back to her western province, the Land of the Night, to send twenty of her best men to Canterlot by dawn. Daffodil had sent similar orders to the Plains of the Everfree. Soon, it was time for the sun set. A crowd grew at the castle for the tradition setting of the sun. Little did these ponies know they were in for a treat.

Soon, a tall figure emerged on the ramparts. Recognized by her unique flowing mane and tall horn, as well as wings, the crowds cheered as Princess of Celestia emerged, waving happily at her admirers. Her mane flashing in the setting sun, her wings unfolded magnificently as she flew up to the sun, her horn glowing a dark gold, the same shade as the setting sun and, as the alicorn flew down, back to earth, the sun itself lowered. The world was engulfed in darkness. There were cheers from the crowd, which began to disperse. Only a few ponies who stayed for a while notice a second alicorn, this one only slightly lighter than the darkness of the empty sky, who flew silently into the air. All saw the moon raise steadily into the sky, as it had every night, lighting the world once again from complete darkness, incomparable to Celestia's sun, but a different sort of beauty. Luna flew down, nodded at the muffled applause she received. Few actually knew she was in Canterlot, so few had stayed. Luna nodded breifly to Celestia, who smiled in an apologetic, though sympathetic, way. Luna gave a smile, though it was more of a grimace, at her sister before heading to her room.

Luna had a different style from her sister. While the palace rooms were white marble, and capitals gleamed with gold, Luna had begged Celestia to allow her to decorate her own room. The room was dark, with a single open window letting in the pale glow of moonlight. The walls were made of dark obsidian, adding a softer feel than the smooth marble. Laying back on a bed was another pony, this one a pegasus, one of the very few ponies who could claim that their coats were darker than Luna's own skin.

"Moonshadow," said Luna, chuckling a little. "I thought you were at home with our son,"

"I came to deliver a message from the royal guard." said Moonshadow.

"Which is..." said Luna.

"Your troops have arrived."

"Excellent,"

"Why are we stationing troops in Canterlot?"

"I am sending troops in Canterlot to leave tomorrow,"

"Where are they off to?"

"The Crystal Empire,"

"Ah...yes, word spread about Sombra,"

"You knew about it?"

"Yes,"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You'd already gone!" said Moonshadow, raising his hooves defensively.

"I still have a right to know!" said Luna.

"You probably found out before I did," said Moonshadow, trying to calm his wife down.

"And did you leave our son alone?"

"Of course not," he said. He turned around.

"Starshine," he called. A small colt trotted into the room. Like his Father, he was a pegasus.

"I saw you two lower the sun and raise the moon...it was awesome!" he said, trotting around his mother in excitement. "Can I do that?"

"Now, now," said Luna, instantly growing calm. "If you did that, what could I do,"

"Maybe raising the moon is my special talent!" Starshine said excitedly. Luna put a wing over his small body.

"You can try raising the moon tomorrow. You need to get some sleep," Moonshadow yawned.

"I should probably get to sleep myself." He turned and paused. "You coming?"

"Give me a minute," said Luna. "I just want to be alone with my night," Moonshadow nodded, cantering off. Luna walked slowly to open another door. Celestia had been very nice, their suite in the Castle sported a most magnificent view of the night sky, and the sleeping city. Asleep, where they would stay until Celestia came to raise the sun. Luna shook her head, opened her wings, and flew out into the night.

Dawn found the six ponies crowded in the courtyard. It was crowded because the place was crammed with sixty of the fines soldiers from across Equestria. The East Canterlotians sported golden armor, with a flagbearer with the sun icon. The West, the Children of the Night, wore midnight black armor, with a flag of the full moon. Finally, the Northern troops from the Plains of Everfree were dressed in tan, with the crossed farming tools on their flags. The six wielders of the Elements were saying goodbyes. Sugarcube was headed to Ponyopolis, the Western Capital, the only city that could rival Canterlot in beauty and . She lived there with Luna. Cumulus was headed to the South, namely to Manehattan. Cirrus was off to Cloudsdale, and Celestia, Luna, and Daffodil were off the Northern Mountains which bordered the Crystal Empire.

The groups moved in silence. Pegasi flew into the air to keep watch on the areas around the rest of the sixty pony army. Steadily, the group, lead by Zinc, headed North. Zinc was in the lead, and next to him, Daffodil, Celestia and Luna. Behind them were their flagbearers, and behind that, they're small army. They marched steadily, without incident, down the tall mountains, dotted with ancient mines, out of the Canterlot Disctrict. In a few hours, they were out of the mountains, heading into the magnificent fertile plains of the Everfree. This was Equestria's agricultural hub, the source of food for most of the nation. The very soil was extraordinarily fertile. Farming ponies, out tilling land paused from their plows to stare at the army, bowing respectfully before the two alicorns and their own ruler. Celestia smiled, and Daffodil waved. Luna smiled uneasily. The plains of Everfree were flat, with very few hills, and, if one had a good enough view, once could see straight across the large district, to make out the dark mountains of The realm of the night, and a few of the spires of Ponyopolis. Luna was squinting, trying in vain to see her kingdom.

Equestria was, by all accounts, relatively large. However, Canterlot was already very far up, and, by nightfall, the small band of soldiers and the three princesses could make out the tall mountains that marked Equestria's northern borders. Zinc squinted ahead at the mountains. He pointed to a thin pillar of smoke.

"That's where our encampment is," he said, pointing. Luna looked at it.

"You lit a fire?" she asked.

"Of course," said Zinc, a little confused. "It get's cold in the mountains,"

"I was under the impression you were trying to maintain secrecy," said Luna, raising an eyebrow at the crystal pony. Zinc blushed

"I don't suppose we thought of that," he said.

"How many are there of you?" Daffodil asked, looking at the smoke nervously.

"About a hundred."

"How many ponies does Sombra have on his side?" Celestia asked, looking over her own small force.

"Initially he probably had less than that...but many have joined him because they are afraid of what may happen if they don't," he said, sadly.

"Would you prefer us to go there now, or shall we encamp in Equestria for the night?" Zinc looked nervously at the mountains.

"I think it might be better if we got there as soon as possible...perhaps even better if we got there at night," he said. Celestia nodded, and the rest of the ponies sped up ever so slightly. The cantered the rest of the way, towards the high, snowcapped mountains.

The climbed for the rest of the night. The pegasi had it easy, flying alongside the rest. The unicorns had it slightly harder, teleporting from ledge to ledge, working their way up slowly. The Earth ponies had no choice but to climb straight up the mountain face. They did so, grumbling a little. Finally, they were at the top. Celestia gasped at the sight. Positioned in a small valley between three high peaks, had been a small camp. had...the camp, a set of small tents was burning as the watched. Another crystal pony was standing in the middle of what had once been a fire, ironically, the only part not on fire. His coat was as dark as Luna, and his mane was unkempt. He held a long spear in his hooves. Chained together behind him were the other Crystal ponies.

"Zinc!" the pony cried out, an evil grin emerging on his lips. "I was afraid you'd escaped into Equestria. Glad to see you've returned...and you've brought-" his jaw dropped, and he knelt into a rough bow towards Celestia and Luna.

"You're majesties," he said. "I will take you to see our leader, Sombra." Celestia turned to Luna, nervously. "Tell Daffodil to keep the others back," Luna nodded and turned.

"Where is your sister going?" said the pony.

"Never mind, she will be back," said Celestia, trying to brush off the gesture. "What is your name?"

"Cadmium," said the pony.

"Well, Cadmium, where is your leader?" Iron gestured over his shoulders.

"Sombra is in the city. I will take you to him," Cadmium looked over his shoulder and shouted something in a different language, the language of the Crystal Empire. Another Crystal pony cantered over, and muttered a few words.

"My men will deal with the others," he said.

"Zinc will stay with us," Celestia said swiftly. Cadmium looked like he wanted to argue, but decided against it when Princess Luna flew down, realizing that he was outnumbered and did not have any magical ability to handle two alicorns on his own.

"Very well," he said, and he trotted away. Celestia looked at the other ponies sympathetically, and they bowed respectfully in her presence. The two alicorns spread their wings and flew after Cadmium, with Zinc cantering to keep up with the others.