The Return
The golden rays of the sun started to reach over the mountain, bathing the town below in its warmth as a shimmering white alicorn with her waving prism mane behind her, as she flew above the waking town of ponies.
‘Things are peaceful here in Equestria, my sister Luna was returned to us and the Elements of Harmony once again protect our home.’ She was lost in her thoughts as an eerie laughter drifted along the morning breeze towards her, stopping her in mid-flight.
She thrashed her head around searching for the source of the voice, her horn beginning to glow a soft pale gold as she erected a shield around herself as her eyes glowed white and she teleported.
The land changed from the peaceful morning valley, to a screaming tundra, the winds howling from one direction to the other as it pounded the ground with heavy snow, but it was blown aback as the white alicorn reappeared in a flash of golden light.
She walked along the tundra her shield protecting her from the harsh winds, looking from side to side, to see if there was anypony around. ‘I know that laughter, but how is this possible?’
Slowly moving against the raging storm, she climbed a small hill and looked below. ‘The Crystal Empire has been gone for over a thousand years. So I know that voice must simply be a trick of the wind.’
‘Celestia......Celestia....’ An ominous voice filled her ears as a chilling breath hit her neck.
She spun around in an instant her horn glowing as a blast of energy shot from it destroying a nearby snow mound. Again the laughter was heard behind her as she teleported a few meters from the spot, spreading her wings and taking to the air. “Where are you, you foul demon!?” She shouted into the winds, yet no reply came besides the howling of the storm.
The laughter echoed in all directions as it slowed before being replaced with the same ominous voice,‘Celestia are you ready?’
“Ready...ready for what?” She wondered as a blast of dark magic slammed her into the ground. Celestia got up from the small crater she had formed as her shield manifested around her, encasing her form in its pale glow.
The creature laughed as his horn glowed and released another blast of dark magic, slamming against her shield, pushing her a little deeper into the crater.
Celestia growled and took to the air, “Where are you!?”
Her answer never only came as a deep rumbling shook the land as a glowing light engulfed her vision, causing her to land and shield her eyes. But in that instant, the light was gone as she slowly removed her wings and stared at the sight below her.
At first she gasped and shook her head, but reality soon sunk in. ‘The Crystal Empire has Returned!’ She screamed in her thoughts as she began to look around again, ‘But that also means.......’
She stopped in mid-thought as she looked down, seeing the slithering black form around her hooves before it quickly retreated to the horde of shifting black in front of her muzzle and at its center, the very core of her nightmares. Her eyes widened in fear as he lunged at her.
“NOOOOO!” A voice screamed in pure terror.
Suddenly two unicorn guards pushed the door open, their spears in their auras as a midnight blue alicorn rushed in her horn glowing and wings spread between them to see the source of the deafening screams, on the bed lie Celestia thrashing about in her sleep.
“Sister!” The alicorn shouted as she rushed to her side and touched her horn to Celestia’s. After a few moments she shot up from the nightmare, staring at her younger sister, tears flowing, fear in her eyes like Luna had never seen before in Celestia.
“Celestia what is wrong, what did you see? Let me help you.” She asked nuzzling her older sisters neck, trying to calm her down.
The white mare was shaking, her wings were wrapped around herself. “It...it was a nightmare, I was flying over Ponyville when a sinister laughter was heard along the morning breeze. At first I shrugged it off as the wind playing tricks but then I heard his voice again.” She stopped for a moment to take a deep breath and continued as she slowly started to remove her wings from around her, “I teleported to the Northern Border to see if He really had come back, but there was no sign of the Empire.”
Luna gasped for a moment as her horn started to glow faintly, but didn’t say anything as she continued to listen to Celestia tell about the dream.
“I walked along the snow when I heard the voice again, he asked If I was ready. I tried to ask what he meant, but he didn’t reply. After that a loud rumbling was heard as a blinding light engulfed my sight for a second as the Crystal Empire reappeared in front of me, then suddenly I was being attacked by a shadowy form that looked familiar.”
Luna jumped to her hooves with her wings spread and a fighting look in her eyes, her horn glowing even brighter, “Attacked you, I will make him pay.....” She stopped in mid rant as the glow dissipated as she looked down at Celestia, “Wait did you say it knew your name?”
Celestia nodded twitching uncomfortably before looking up at her, “Luna the Empire returned and then I saw......him.”
She gasped as a protective barrier enveloped the both of them, sparks of magic flowing over the shield, “You mean that King Sombra has also returned?”
The older alicorn lowered her head and nodded sadly, “He engulfed me in shadows and was trying to smother me, I couldn’t escape from his grip.”
Luna growled and held Celestia closer to her breast stroking her mane softly as she dropped the barrier, “Its alright now, I pulled you from it. Relax now sister, it was only a nightmare.”
She turned to the two guards and motioned for them to come closer, as they both leaned in, she began to speak, “Go get Silver Echo, tell him that I need him immediately.”
They saluted to leave but stopped in their tracks and turned towards the upset Princess, “Where is he right now your highness? One of them asked scratching his horn with his hoof.
“You will find him in the Archives, now hurry!” She demanded as the two raced out of the room towards the Archives.
The two guards flung the doors to the Archives open, nearly shattering them with their magic as they raced in looking for him. “Silver Echo the Princesses need you immediately, can you hear us?!” His voice echoed through the Archives, telling them both that it was devoid of any life, but they weren’t going to turn back. Because they were given orders and they would follow them through or die trying.
“Lets split up, we can cover more ground.”The taller guard said as he pointed to opposing bookshelves.
“Yes Sir!” The split up, igniting their horns to act as torches as they began their search.
Row after row they searched, staring at towering bookcases that were at least three times taller then Celestia herself. After a short while they ended up at a door that was intricately carved into the wall. The writing on it said, The Princess’s Personal Archives NO Admittance Without Permission.
“Sir we can’t go in there.” The younger guard said quietly.
“Nonsense Midnight Air, finding Silver Echo is our top priority.” He sighed as he stared at the door, engulfing it in his aura, “Besides we can break the rules one time for an emergency.” he chuckled to himself.
They opened the door and stared deep into the darkened archives, shelves stacked with ancient tomes and scrolls. The only light seemed to come from a candle sitting on a desk in a far corner. They both move carefully towards the corner unsure who or what they would find sitting there. From the distance they couldn’t make out the figure sitting at the desk, because it was concealed in shadows by the light of the candle.
Midnight moved closer cautiously asking,“Silver Echo?”