The Nightmare Awakens

"Oh my, the Crystal Empire looks simply gorgeous!" Rarity tried to keep herself from swooning. The city had been decorated from top to bottom with the Empire's Flag. The flags of just about every other competing town in Equestria was flying too.

"The Crystal Ponies have really outdone themselves!" Twilight admired the decorations. "Come on, we need to get to the castle. Rainbow Dash, you should go and register Team Ponyville."

"Sure thing, Twi." Rainbow Dash flew off to the stadium for registration.

"Her Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle, accompanied by 4 of the other former bearers of the Elements of Harmony!" Flash Sentry announced with a blush as Twilight and the gang, minus Rainbow Dash, entered the Crystal Palace throne room, where the 3 other princesses and Shining Armor were waiting.

"Twily!" Shining Armor greeted his little sister with a hug. "I haven't seen you since your coronation! I've missed you kid!"

"I've missed you too BBBFF." Twilight smiled.

"It's good to see you arrived safely." Celestia was the next to speak. "I trust you're ready for the opening ceremony tomorrow, Twilight."

"Oh, she is!" Rarity jumped in front of Twilight before she could speak. "I've brought a selection of gowns for her to wear, I've polished her crown and her mane is going to be to die for!"

"The Crystal Ponies are so excited to be competing in their very first Equestria Games. We're sure to bring home the gold!" Cadence bragged jokingly.

"Oh, is that so?" Twilight grinned. "You've never seen Ponyville compete have you?"

Cadence and Twilight were interrupted by the sound of flugel horns at the other side of the room. Everypony turned around to see Rainbow Dash standing at the door with a sheepish smile on her face.

"I guess I won't be sneaking up on anypony here." She joked as she walked over to the rest of the gang.

"Rainbow, Cadence here thinks that the Crystal Empire will be taking home the gold this year." Twilight nudged the pegasus.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding." Rainbow laughed. "Ponyville has a team competing in just about every event, we're sure to bring home every single gold medal there is!"

"None of you seem to be thinking of Canterlot as a worthy opponent." Celestia grinned.

"Canterlot? Don't make me laugh!" Rainbow hovered in the air so she was glaring the Princess right in the eyes. "You guys didn't even get a single silver medal in the last games, and they were held in Canterlot."

"That's very true." Luna said. "That's why we've hired the best trainer bits can buy."

"You'll need it if you wanna beat Ponyville!" The blue pegasus taunted jokingly.

Everypony in the room began to laugh. A small amount of sporting banter made everypony feel less stressed about the games.

"Well, I believe it's time that I set the sun." Celestia announced. "Luna, come with me please." The Royal Pony Sisters left the throne room to change day to night.

"You guys should turn in early tonight. We've a huge day tomorrow. The Opening Ceremony starts at noon, so you'd all want to be up early to get ready." Shining Armor advised Twilight and her friends, who all turned to head to bed, leaving the co-rulers of the Crystal Empire alone in the throne room.

"It's been such a long day." Cadence groaned as she climbed into bed. "We were up before dawn to head out and investigate that Nightmare Moon cult, then we had to get the Empire decorated for the other towns' coming in today, and so much more"

"I'm just glad to finally get some sleep." Shining smiled as he got into bed beside his wife. He was asleep in seconds.

"Shining Armor!" Shining heard a stern voice before him. He opened his eyes, all was dark. He could see the silhouette of a tall pony standing in front of him. Her eyes glowing as white as Shining Armor's coat.

"Who are you?" The stallion asked.

"Who am I?" The mare asked. "Surely you must know who I am. I've met your sister before, after all, and everypony knows me."

"I can't tell who you are, it's too dark!" Shining Armor argued. He used a light spell to try and uncover this mysterious mare from the darkness, but it somehow didn't work. The mare lit her horn and their pitch black surrounding changed to the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, deep in the Everfree Forest. The mare was now clear to see, and Shining knew who she was straight away.

"Nightmare Moon!" He gasped. "But that's impossible!"

"Shining Armor, in a dream, nothing is impossible." Nightmare smirked.

"I'm dreaming? But why am I dreaming about this!?" The unicorn demanded.

"You'll know soon enough. Your magic is far more capable than you think. Especially when it has been... tampered with." The dark alicorn grinned.

"What!? What did you do to my magic?" Shining Armor snapped.

"It's not what I've done, it's what my loyal followers have done. They're not as innocent as they seem, Shining Armor, there is grave danger ahead of you." Nightmare Moon, and the castle, began to slowly fade away.

"Wait! What's going to happen!? Tell me!" Shining Armor chased after the floating alicorn, desperate for answers.

"Muahahahahah!" Nightmare cackled as she left Shining Armor back in the pitch black void where they had met.

Shining Armor turned around to find another mysterious pony behind him. The glowing eyes and purple smoky tail confirmed that this pony was King Sombra.

"Not all magic is pure, Shining Armor. You will soon find out for yourself." The dark king taunted before he too vanished.

"King Sombra!" Shining Armor woke up from his dream, rocketing up from his pillow.

The Crystal Prince looked around. He was back in his bedroom. Cadence was beside him, sleeping peacefully. Shining Armor saw sunlight beaming in through the window. He looked at the clock beside him, it was 6 AM.

"Oh no!" He cried out. "We overslept!" The stallion jumped out of bed, enveloping Cadence in his magical aura and dragging her with him.

"What th- HEY!" Cadence screamed as she was suddenly awakened from her slumber.

"Sorry darling, we overslept! It's already 6!" Shining cried as she opened the door and ran out, galloping down the corridor.

Cadence crawled out of bed. She brushed her mane and put on her crown, necklace and shoes. The day the Equestria Games was to start was finally here!