An Elite Guardian

A few days have passed since Celestia had revealed the truth about what had happened with the Empire a thousand years ago, along with her niece and sister, and I was in my room, troubled. Not because of how I was treated now that it was known that some ancient goddess had made me her champion, but rather, everything else, including and especially this: why did Luna wed Sombra if he is as evil as Celestia portrayed him?

It simply does not add up for me. I asked around the guard and nobles over the past few days as to how Luna was before the war began, and it was entirely that she was more of a hooves on ruler, often taking tours around the country to poor towns and cities and helping them. Yet, she was married to and had a child with a supposed tyrant who, according to the sources I spoke with, cared only about subjugation. Now, I know what you're thinking: maybe she was brainwashed into loving him, but that would bring the problem of why Celestia hid it, and I am quite certain the Elements wouldn't renew a spell like that, but rather erase it. Somepony's lying here, and I have a few ideas as to who.

I was currently reading a book from the royal library that was about the Empire's history, which only served to confirm my suspicions further, as it said Sombra used dark magic on his taking of the throne, but the doctors who found the magic seed in me did not detect any traces of dark magic, and said that, once the user has touched dark magic, it stains all else of theirs, even quote unquote 'good magic'.

I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard a knock on the door. "Enter," I said, and the door opened as I looked up to see Rainbow walking in. "Ah, Rainbow. To what do I owe this visit?"

"Hey, Ruso," the rainbow haired pegasus replied. "I wanted to check on you. Haven't really seen you around that much the past few days."

"My apologies," I said with a head bow. "My thoughts have been. . .troubled since the princess revealed why this war began. Some things simply do not add up."

"What do you mean?" Rainbow asked. "Sombra brainwashed Luna into loving him so he could kill the princess and take Equestria a thousand years ago, but failed, was defeated by the two sisters, and the spell weakened for a time before the Elements destroyed it when she was cleansed of Nightmare Moon, but returned when she saw Sombra. It's that simple."

"Yes, it is," I said. "But only if you are smart enough to fall for a trick few know: the smart fill in gaps with logic, while the relatively stupid ask the right questions. You forgot: the princess did not tell her sister of this, and I am certain she wouldn't hide it if it were meant to be sincere and helpful. In my experience, Rainbow, only the stupid and analytical individuals can escape that trap. Currently, I am of the latter group, as well as not entirely trusting of a single ruler. My people were manipulated before, and we did not realize it until we were all nearly dead. It has made us cynical, for lack of a better term, among other things."

"You think the princess is lying about more?" Rainbow asked, befuddled.

"Yes," I replied. "A kind and loving princess who actively helps those with a poor lot in life marries a tyrant and is supposedly freed by her sister, but isn't told of it. As I said: something does not add up here, and I intend to get to the bottom of it."

"You realize I have to tell her about this?"

"And you realize I can say you wish to become a thestral," I said, making her have a look of terror on her face. "You rat me out, I do the same to you."

"And if I tell the others?" Rainbow asked.

"Then I still do the same," I replied. "And even then, I doubt the princess would lock me up due to my status,so you'd be the only one to lose there, Rainbow. Nothing personal, I am simply trying to get to the bottom of things."

"You'd better hope it doesn't lead to Equestria's fall, then," Rainbow said before she turned and left. "Oh, and by the way, the princess wants you to be there for dinner, tonight. I don't know why," she said just as she left. "Personally, I don't care."

"Tell her I'll be there," I replied as I put the book on my bed and the door closed. Now, then, time to find out why all the books on the Empire in the library I've seen by various writers have the exact same hand-or whatever-signature. Well, that's what the mare at the counter told me when I asked if there was anything strange about them.

The Crystal Empire-Crystal palace

"Are you okay, mother?" Cadence asked her mother, who was just now being released from the medical wing. She may have been an alicorn, but not even they can stop doctors from creating alicorn proof chains to keep their patients in place. Especially when said chains were made of a special crystal.

"Yes, Umbra, I am," Luna replied. "Those doctors are even more annoying than the Canterlot nobles. I don't know how, but they are."

"On the bright side, we at least know your magic's fine," the younger alicorn replied.

"How is that good?" Luna asked. "That just raises the question as to why that monster isn't under our control!"

Umbra just shrugged. "Maybe father didn't out it in right?"

Luna simply gave her daughter a deadpan. "I doubt that highly. He is one of the most skilled unicorns alive, and was so even when Starswirl was alive."

"Well, do you have another explanation?"

The lunar alicorn sighed. "Unfortunately, yes, but it is but a guess."

"Well?"

"I'll share it when we're in the throne room with your father," Luna replied, and the two made their way down a crystal hall colored a mix of bark blue, gray, and pink that went rather well together, considering, and was meant to represent the three rulers of the Empire. As the two neared the throne room, after coming across but a few of the palace staff, each of whom bowed with respect-and perhaps a hint of awe-they heard Sombra talking to his advisers.

"And what of the missing regiment in east?" Sombra asked. "Still nothing."

"Not a trace, sir," one of the advisers, Onyx, if Luna remembered correctly. "We think it may be another group under Celestia's command like the demon, as the only traces were burnt armor, and scattered patches of glass. I've read the after action report your wife gave, sir. Heat is the one thing that demon seems to use with his weapons."

"I suppose that is a possibility," Sombra replied as his wife and daughter walked in. The throne room was as large as you would expect, but instead of a single, large throne, there were three, moderate sized thrones, one for each ruler. In the center of the room was a table. Sombra, wearing only his chest plate, was at the head of the table, closest to the thrones, his advisers, including Onyx, a black Crystal pony wearing the "brainwashing" legionnaire armor minus the helmet. He was opposite Sombra.

On Sombra's left was a Crystal Mare known as Quartz Shine, who had a red coat and white mane and tail wearing a customized suit of armor. The armor around her barrel was colored blood red instead of steel-gray, and the armor for her flank and rear legs were made of a special material that was extremely light, but also durable enough to survive the force of a mountain pressing down on it. They know. They checked. Her front leg armor had special slots that allowed for claws to come out of the right, and a whip edged with the teeth of dead dragons to come out of the left. Celestia's forces and the rank and file of the Empire knew her as "The Dragoness", or "Draconic Mistress." It really depended on who you talked to.

On the Crystal King's left was a rare crystal pegasus mare who went by the name of Sky Emerald. Her armor was that of the Empire's scouts: lightweight but durable, covering the barrel and neck while still allowing for maximum range of movement. Her coat was colored green-predictably-with her mane and tail being that of the blue sky. On the armor protecting her wings were specially made blades that were as sharp as a razor, and as durable as diamond, as diamonds were embedded in them for strength.

The three advisers were the most elite members of the Empire's military, and answered directly to the rulers, and shared their authority over the military. "Yeah, it is," Quartz replied. "But you guys do remember the legends of the flame walkers, right?"

"Yeah, and they're just that, Quartz," Sky remarked. "Legends."

"Many would have said the same of the Empire, Sky," Luna said as she and Umbra walked in. "Yet, here we are."

"Just pointing a possibility out, ma'am," Sky said as the two alicorns took their place next to Sombra.

"Hello, Lulu," Sombra said to his wife. "Umbra. "I'm glad you both are okay."

"And us as well, my husband," Luna said with a smile before a serious expression came to her face, and she turned to face the advisers. "As I'm sure you all are aware, my husband placed a seed in the demon my bitch of a sister, but it failed when I tried to activate it. The only explanations for it are that the seed was placed incorrectly-something impossible, as the placement portion of the spell automatically places it in the chest, close to the heart and spine so as to allow connection to the central nervous system-or there is a second placed in him."

"But ma'am," Onyx said, "I thought that was impossible."

"For all but a goddess," Luna said. "My sister doesn't know how to make one, and there are no other alicorns I can think of, which leaves just one explanation: the goddess Harmony placed on in him to counter my husbands effect of control, but also giving him even faster healing, and making him her champion."

"Then why's he fighting for the solar tyrant!?" Emerald yelled.

"Because she is most likely manipulating him, as she did me and my mother," Umbra said. "Don't worry, though, my mother and I plan on vising his dreams tonight