Who was I?

It has been two days since Celestia received news of what happened to her sister. She decided to postpone all memorials and tributes to her sister until it is certain that Sombra was gone.

In public, Celestia continued her best to go about her daily business and routine, but in private, she was troubled and depressed. She was once again separated from her sister and she didn't know if she can last a year, let alone a century without her. She felt responsible for what happened.

"How are you holding up Celestia?" asked Twilight to her mentor as they walked together in the gardens.

"I'm doing okay." the sun princess would always say, but she was not okay. Twilight could see the pain in Celestia's eyes, but decided not to probe further for fear of upsetting her.

That night at the Crystal Empire, the royal guards were keeping order in the streets and enforcing a strict curfew. Inside in the Crystal Empire archives, Cadance was busy looking at old documents researching Sombra's origins. Although it is easier said than done seeing as Sombra destroyed many documents in order to legitimize his rule, but Cadance was able to gather enough to make a general outline.

"The Great Diamond-Crystal War" read Cadance.

"Long ago, thirty years after the defeat of Discord, the Diamond Dogs with their massive army made a surprise attack on the Crystal Empire, hoping to occupy and have all the crystals to themselves. War was declared and both the Crystal Ponies and Diamond Dogs fought each other in a total war that dragged on for a decade.

All hope seemed lost as the Diamond Dogs easily defeated the Crystal Army time and time again, capturing them and enslaving them. The stallions forced to mine for crystals until they died, and the mare used as sex slaves. It looked as if the Crystal Empire will fall under their control.

But one day, a mysterious pony by who called himself Sombra, the ultimate warrior pony, a Shadhavar. In just one battle, he managed to wipe out nearly the entire army, and they swiftly surrendered several months later. Sombra was praised as a hero, but his heart blackened with greed and he eventually forced his way to the Crystal throne starting his long brutal rule.

Cadance quickly realized something. "Shadhavar?" she said to herself. "There's only one way a unicorn can turn into one, and there's only one group that can do that." she put away all of the documents and took out an old map. "Maybe they can find a way to defeat him without the Crystal Heart."

In the morning, Twilight was looking into her mirror, brushing her mane to get ready for another day as Princess. She quickly saw a bright pink flash and the sound of something landing on her bed. Twilight turned around to see Kage, dazed on the bed.

"So nice of you to come see me Kage." Twilight smiled at her new colfriend before she quickly jumped on the bed to join him.

Kage laughed. "It's a pleasure." he was then caught off guard as Twilight got on top of him and kissed him deeply. The stallion just happily went along with it. He then mischievously put and hoof on Twilight's rump. The mare just used her magic to get the hoof away.

"Sorry hun, but I just don't have the time right now to fool around. I'm expected to eat breakfast with my friends and Celestia in a few minutes." the lavender alicorn explained. "But don't worry...once all my duties are done for today you can do whatever you want to me, promise."

"That's okay Twi, just being with you is enough." the black stallion smiled.

"You're so sweet." Twilight kissed the stallion one last time before getting off the bed. "Now, I'll see you later, but I really have to go. Bye!" quickly ran out the door, closing and locking it behind her, leaving the stallion alone.

Kage just gave an evil grin. "Next step, find the Elements of Harmony and make them useless." his eyes soon turned green with purple smoke coming out of them before he turned himself to shadow and sneaked out of the room.

He managed to slip by several guards without much notice.

"So, what does it take to be a Royal Guard?" asked Dash to Flash Sentry as they walked by.

"Tons of hard work and dedication." gladly answered the pegasus guard.

Kage continued sneaking around, visiting room after room, looking for the elements. Until he came across a large vault. "This is it." he mumbled as he returned back to his physical form. He could sense that the vault door is protected by a magical force field. "Celestia trying to stay a step ahead of me, oh well, if I can't open it, then maybe I can convince Twilight to do so."

He suddenly heard a pony come walking in, he immediately transforms into his shadow form and sneaked away.

At the Crystal Palace, the Royal Physician enters Cadance's chambers to do a routine check on her. "Oh your highness...how are you feeling this morning?" she said as she entered the room. She didn't get an answer.

"Princess Cadance?" she asked with concern as she pulled back the covers of the bed to reveal that the princess was not there. "GUARDS!!!"

On the hill over looking the empire, a cloaked Cadance looked down with concern. "I must find a way to defeat him, even if does take 100 years." she looks at her saddlebag, containing the pieces that once made up the Crystal Heart. "For Luna and the Crystal Ponies." the princess turned around and began her long trek despite the occasional bouts of nausea from her morning sickness.

"I'm also doing this for my husband and my unborn child." she mumbled to herself as she made her way to Diamond Dog territory.

Sombra must not win. Under any circumstances.