Shining's Rise To Power - The Fall Of The Empireby Darkice_stormChaptersThe Investigation Evil Takes RevengeThe Death Of A PrincessThe Shadows Are Banished A Prince's Revenge; A Queen's DeathRecoveryThe Investigation The Investigation "Dad, why is their a pony in the moon?" "Well that's my doing. Skyla but she is no ordinary pony, she's an alicorn like you, me and your siblings. So is the one in the sun." "But if your a good and wise king like everyone says. Why did you place them up there?" "Because they brought death and destruction to the land. Would you like me to tell you the whole story?" "Yes please." "Okay, about 100 years ago. Days after you was born." **** Dear Auntie Celestia, Shining and I have received news that a changeling hive is not far from the Crystal Empire and has been located, along with very dark, mysterious magic. We have sent some soldiers to investigate but they haven't returned. I ask that you come to assess the situation for yourself and in the meantime, Me and Shining will investigate personally. Thank you. Your Neice Cadence. "Did you send the letter? my love" I said. "Yes my dear" your mother said back. "Then lets get going it will soon be dark." To this day, I still honestly don't know why we didn't wait for a reply from Celestia or for her to come herself, but we did. We gathered our soldiers and set out, we trotted for what felt like hours but finally we came to the cave, where the hive had been for the last few weeks. The whole area had been cleared of snow; in its place was this green goo and above was these menacing orange storm clouds. It was certainly work of changelings however the clouds are what confused me more than anything. After the attack on Canterlot all of the guards and soldiers had been taught all about changelings. In any and every book, I had read on changelings, none of them had said anything about orange clouds. But nevertheless we ventured inside to check how many; if any changelings was in this hive. For a while it seemed abandoned yet as we went deeper, there was a chittering noise and the bussing of wings. At that point I was done, we knew they were here. we could turn back and plan our next move to eradicate them. your mother on the other hoof wanted to go and investigate more! Why I don't know? It seemed curiosity got the better of her. "Cady, lets get out of here before we are discovered." I whispered. "Wait shiny, I want to know if they have a leader." "Darling are you sure that's a good idea." "It's okay you go back, if you want. I will quickly check and be out." and with that she continued down into the hive. Now a smarter stallion would have gone back to the entrance and waited, I mean your mom was an alicorn; she could take care of yourself but I obediently quickly and quietly followed. We got down to what must have been the main 'hallway' with about 10 or more different turns, that's when your mother finally gave in on defeat and we started to trot back to the entrance. Unknown to us at the time that we had been watched the entire time... **** "Wait if you knew you was being watched why did you do it!" "Skyla I didn't know that until I was told." "Who told you." "The one who was nearly ready to start her attack." "WHOOOOOO?!" "Unless you quit asking 'who' it was, I cant carry on. You will find out. When the time is right, just like I did." **** The trot back to the entrance seemed quicker paced, as we reached the entrance to the cave we found it was dark. Although it was dark every where else, the clouds near the cave seemed to make it almost look like day. We decided it was best to leave and return to the empire. Leaving investigating the clouds to Celestia's better judgement. When we eventually got back to the palace, the maids had put you to bed and your older siblings had retired for the night. We checked over the place with the maids and guards and then retired ourselves for some well deserved sleep but nothing could have prepared us for what happened the following day. **** "Your highness." "Yes guard." "WHAT HAPPENED!" "Hang on Skyla, what is the problem Flash." "A diplomat wishes to move their time to see you tomorrow." "Well tell them, if they can't make it then we will reschedule it another time." "Yes your highness." "and see to it I'm not disturbed unless absolutely necessary Flash." "Yes your highness." "Okay sorry Skyla where was I." "You wasn't prepared for what was to come the next day." Author's Note Hope you enjoyed this first chapter. Evil Takes Revenge"Right." **** So I woke up then next morning as I normally do and rolled over to find your mother wasn't there. A little weird but I shrugged it off as she had gone to sort you out, I mean you was only days old and she love to spend as much time as possible with you; running a kingdom takes a lot of time up. I had my usual morning shower and then came to see you and find your mother, the maid came along as well to clean your room. When I open your door, you was in your crib waiting to be let out and your mother wasn't in sight. I was getting a little worried but I thought maybe Celestia had arrived and she just left you to sleep. So with the maids help, we got you clean and I woke your siblings, I took you and your siblings to the throne room and the maid followed. Looking back now it was a good job she followed too! **** "Why." "Skyla, if you stop interrupting me you will find out." "Sorry dad, please continue." **** Well as I went to open the throne room door, I realised I hadn't seen any guards. Almost all the guards weren't at their posts, maybe Cadence had gathered them to set out with them? I thought. However I was wrong instead of your mother sitting on her throne and mine being empty; Cady's was empty and mine... Unbelievably mine held Sombra. I was shocked and when he looked me in the eye, he gave a very dark chuckle. I shouted "WHERE IS CADENCE!" He again chuckled darkly before finally speaking "We are very angry this morning, your highness" He was mocking me, buying his time to make his next move at retaking the empire. Again I asked in a more calmer but more threatening tone. "Where IS Cadence?" "Your little princess is MINE!" At this point I was aware this would lead to a fight, so I instructed the maid to take you and your siblings to the safe room. That was in mine and your mothers bedroom. She did so, leaving me to deal with Sombra. I waited and waited but he did nothing, he sat there staring at me with those ruby red eyes. Then he spoke again, mocking my title and giving me hints. "Is your precious princess more important than your heart Your Highness." he smirked. "Of course she is I would put my life down for her!" I spat. "Well then your princess's precious crystal heart has nothing to fear." He mocked with another dark chuckle. This sent shivers down my spine and I took action, taking 2 blades from one of the sets of blades and shield off the wall. I stood in a fighting stance ready to attack. He looked at me with utter delight, while he conjured up his dark magic ready to cast a spell. He struck at me with black emery crystals, I dodged with ease, this happen a few times before he mocked me again. "You don't rely on your own magical ability but instead weapons, pity you don't have my high magical abilities. This could have been fun." He smirked again. "I have my way of fighting you have yours, stop buying time!" I spat. He suddenly stopped firing crystals at me, more out of boredom than defeat or tiredness I presumed. We stared each other down as he strolled down off my throne and to the window, not leaving my gaze. I held the swords in an attack position and walked cautiously towards him. A few feet away from him he spoke in mocking tone. "Your heart is as loving as your crystal one isn't it?" I then looked out of the window at what he was looking at there, by where the crystal heart was place was 'Cadence'. I looked at Sombra he smirked and said. "If you can get to Cadence first, I will leave her alone to walk away free. If I get to her first, I will get someone to kill your precious Cady." he challenged. Without a second thought I galloped out of the throne room, throughout the halls and out the door to see 'Cadence' standing right by the crystal heart and seconds later. Sombra teleported in to existence. "I got here first and now we can destroy you." I said proudly Sombra just chuckled darkly again and as he did 'Cadence' took the crystal heart, left my side and walked slowly to Sombra's side. They both stood in front of me and chuckled. I was confused and them my worst fear was set in stone. Sombra and 'Cadence' held the heart in their magic and crushed it. "Why would you do that Cady, you just doomed the empire." I spoke in confusion and anger. 'Cadence' looked at me and smirked and that's when I realised your mother wasn't actually present. "YOUR NOT CADENCE! WHERE IS SHE!" As I screamed those words. The real form of 'Cadence' revealed herself to be the hive queen, Queen Chrysalis. She laughed and as she mimicked Cadence perfectly she said. "Took you long enough dear." she smirked. "Your precious princess is already dead, Your highness." Sombra taunted. "But you said if I got to her first-." I said on the verge of tears. "-but you didn't I did." Chrysalis teased. "I don't believe you, you wouldn't kill royalty." I spat trying to hide my fear. In a flash Sombra teleported me, Chrysalis and himself to a room, he then whispered something to Chrysalis and walked out, sealing the door, windows and me; where I stood in crystal. With another flash Chrysalis brought your mother in the room. Your mother was dead, I couldn't hide my anger or my sorrow, she smiled as she saw my tears fall freely down my face. She then laughed at me as she spoke. "You shouldn't have come into my cave my prince" I looked at her with anger filled eyes as she continued. "IF you had had any sense you would have attacked, when you came but instead you used Celestia's methods and left. By leaving you told me you wasn't ready to fight us. So I brought my plan into action about a week earlier." **** "Wait mom died days after I was born!" "Yes Skyla, I'm afraid so." "Do you know how she died?" "Yes, while your Auntie Twilight and the elements, Luna and Celestia fought Sombra. Chrysalis taunted me. About how she killed your mother but I'm going to skip that part." "No, I'm not a filly anymore, I want to know." "Well if your sure." The Death Of A Princess"Yes, dad. I'm sure. I want to know." "I just don't want to upset you, my little princess." "Dad! Just tell me already!" "Alright." **** So after Chrysalis had finished explaining our 'BIG' mistake, of going to her cave and not attacking. She strolled over to me and placed a spell on my horn to stop me using any magic. After she walked over to where your mother was and mocked. "You know for the Princess of love and an alicorn, she didn't put up much of a fight. Instead, she cried like a little baby, most of the time about never seeing her children again. Oh and praying that her 'Knight' in Shining Armour would come and save her. But did you?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow. I didn't answer. Instead I closed my eyes. Hoping and praying that this was all just a crazy nightmare I was having and I would wake up with your mother laying gracefully asleep by my side. However when I opened my eyes, what I saw was rather different and startling. Staring right at me, millimetres away from my face, was Chrysalis. I swear I would have jumped 10 foot up in the air, If I hadn't been secured to the floor by Sombra's crystals. sh-.... **** "Heh heh." "Are you finding this funny? Skyla." "Oh...er. What? NO dad!" "Hmm, really?" "Yes... er. I mean NO!" "Ha heh, oh Skyla." "What!" "Nothing, shall I continue?" "Yes... Please dad." **** Well Chrysalis... actually, she reacted how you did, she laughed for quite a while, come to think about it. While she was laughing and after I had recovered from the initial shock. I looked over to your mother as I felt the tears flow down my face. My love, My beautiful Cady, laying dead on our castle floor, like she meant nothing to the world, she wasn't at peace. She was placed there to crush my heart. As I took in more and more of the damage this monster, had done to your mother in. I felt my hate and anger rise. Your mother was in a state, her hair and tail had been cut in various ways and both was matted and soaked with her blood, taking away any dignity she had left. However they was the minor things, the worst thing about your mother... *sniff* My Cady was that she was missing all of her feathers and most of her wing bones themselves. Not to mention your mum's horn, was half gone and was shaped in a haphazard way. I couldn't even begin to imagine, how somepony could do this to another pony let alone a part of the royal family. An alicorn. I looked at the floor, where a puddle of my tears was and then to Chrysalis with anger and sorrow filled eyes as she caught her breath from laughing and I screamed. "How could you, do something like this!" Thinking back I really shouldn't have said that. "How? You wish to know, HOW? I killed your precious princess?" "NO! I wanted to know, how you could have so much hate in your heart to do that to any pony. Its not natural" She smiled and said "Well I'm happy to tell you my prince and do you really think changelings have the same mind span as you ponies do??" She then went on to tell me how she killed your mother... **** "Are you sure you want to know." "YES! dad I do, get on with it please." "Okay." **** "So lets start, at the beginning shall we?" she said smirking, fully aware, I didn't want to know. Again I didn't answer. I just wanted to block her out but whenever I tried to close my eyes or shut her off. She would blast my horn with an electrical shock, forcing me to look at her and listen. I put my ears down to show my disapproval but she smiled and giggled at me making me shiver. "I took a knife from your castle's kitchen." She waved the knife at me as she continued. "Some rope from the guard barracks." again she waved it at me. "Then I teleported your wife from your bedroom to the Crystal caverns, north of the Empire." As she said this. A loud bang was heard from out side and I heard screams of my crystal ponies, my subjects where in danger and I was stuck in a room, in my castle with a maniac. Who was reporting to me how she killed my wife. She walked over to the window checked outside, smiled and continued. "I then woke her up and tied the rope to her hooves and stopped her using her magic with the same spell, You have on your horn now. Along with that I put a blood loss spell on her, so she wouldn't die unless I took the spell off. She screamed as I took my magic and slowly pulled off each and every feather. She cried out. Why are you doing this to me? in between sobs. After she was feather less. I took the knife and slowly cut out most of the membrane and the few supporting bones out of her wings. She cried out for you. SHINING HELP ME!!" I couldn't take it, I screamed through tears. "STOP PLEASE! Just stop, I don't want to hear anymore." I felt so guilty. I coughed trying to gain control of myself, as she smiled and came back down to my eye level, she lifted my head and nipped my ear before replying with a very terrifying... "no." it was a stone cold whisper that sent shivers down my spine. At that point it made me think of you 3 children. You all was with the maid. I thought, what if Sombra got to you, or if Chrysalis got to you. What would they do? She then winked at me and continued on with your mother's demise. "I then tied some more of the rope, on to what was left of her wing bones. This made her scream out again for you, she begged me to stop. But I didn't stop just like you didn't come to her rescue. Did you?" she said. Lifting my head with her hoof. I looked away in shame and she struck me, this time with her hoof, not her magic. She then gave my left ear a nip drawing blood and carried on talking. "I pulled both of her wings with my magic, stretching them in all directions, until the bases partially snapped. Your beautiful Cady begged and tried to negotiate for me to have the empire, anything, She was willing to give up anything to live. But when I asked about giving up YOU, do you know what she said?" Chrysalis questioned. I, again didn't answer. I just glared at her with my ears down and tears staining my cheeks. She then mocked me before continuing. "By the way, your so cute when you try and look angry.... Oh where was I, OH yes. What did Cadence say when I said she could go free, If she allowed me to brainwash you, again to being MY husband. she said." "I DONT WANT TO KNOW!!!" I screamed in her face. she giggled. "She said, No never. She was willing to give up her life, if it meant you would be safe. Yet you was in bed asleep peacefully while I killed her." she smiled and kept talking as I started to cry a fresh set of tears. "The next part is the best my prince, I took the knife again and with it held in my magic. I took one of her front legs and slowly cut a hole out of her leg. I did this one by one as she cried in general and as the blood poured out, she question why she hadn't died. I told her that she couldn't die unless I took off the spell. She begged for you as I finished the last hole on her left back leg." as she said this she walked over to the motionless body of your mother and lifted the left leg up pointing to the huge hole in the leg. "This hole here." I felt sick and again she giggled at me before walking back over and biting my right ear. Then she finished her description of your mother's demise. "I then took the knife and Cadences horn in my magic and cut slow and steady as your wife cried and begged to die, she didn't want to live anymore the pain was to much. I continued to slice and twist her horn until it snapped off. She then made the horn appear in front of me. I felt every emotion- angry, sad, guilt and hatred build but I did nothing. "I then took the knife and penetrated your wife's stomach, flanks, legs and breasts, she scream for you again. I took the spell off a watched as she died. The last thing she heard was me whispering" as she said this another bang could be heard from outside. "What did you whisper to her?"I dared to ask. "Oh I said... your husband will be at last mine" She laughed darkly While she was laughing I thought to myself. If I ever got my hooves on her I would do it all to her and worse. As I thought this the crystal that held me in place vanished, I was free... and Chrysalis would pay.... **** "AUNTIE TWILIGHT!" "Hey Twilly." "Hello Skyla, BBBFF. What you up to?" "Just telling Skyla about the empire falling and her mother, sis." "Yeah, dad was just free from Sombra's crystals!" "Wait Shining, you wasn't there when we defeated Sombra. You said you was with Chrysalis." "Dad hasn't said how Sombra was defeated, he has just finished telling me, moms death." "Well I'm sure, Auntie Twilly. Can tell you better than me as she was there." "Yes I can tell you now, if you want I'm not busy until later. Oh brother that diplomat needs to talk to you." "Right so if I sort that out, then come back will you be done telling Skyla about the defeat of Sombra?" "Yep and then I have to go to Ponyville." "Okay Twilly, that's settled then. See you later. Be good Skyla!" "Yes dad! bye!" "Bye BBBFF!" The Shadows Are Banished The Shadows Are Banished "Tell me, Auntie" "Okay, okay. Your suddenly very eager to know about the history of your bloodline! What sparked this interest?" "The alicorn in the moon, Auntie." "Oh, so that's why. Let me guess, your dad started the story with a letter to Celestia?" "Yes!" "Well, my part in the story, starts the same way..." **** Lets see, I was at my castle with spike. Organising the last few scrolls and books, I was sending to my friend Moon Dancer. They were tips and tricks about the hay card technique and some of star swirl's spell books. There was a flash and spike gave me the letter from Celestia, it read... Dear Princess Twilight, Their has been a sighting of Changeling activity in the Crystal Empire. Shining Armour and Princess Cadence are going to investigate personally. Me and Princess Luna are going ourselves as Cadence stated that: She and Shining sent a group of their best soldiers to investigate but they never returned. I ask that you and the Elements Of Harmony accompany us as I believe this might be the work of Chrysalis and her army. Before you leave, please remember to bring the books: Dark and Mysterious Magic, Menacing Magic and The Power Of Dark Magic , that I gave you as Cadence also mentioned some form of dark and mysterious magic. I trust you have read them, many times but it would be good for us to compare them to the magic, Cadence has spoken of. See you all at the Empire, Princess Celestia. So after I had read the letter. I gave spike the list of books to find while, I gathered my friends; The Elements of Harmony. **** "Tell me Skyla, Do you recall, what the 6 elements of Harmony represent?? Do you remember that lesson?" "Yes Auntie!" "With their bearers names?" "Yep, Pinkie pie is laughter, Rarity is generosity, Applejack was honesty, Rainbow Dash was loyalty, Fluttershy is kindness and YOU are magic!" "Very well done, Skyla, your dad will be very pleased." "But why are only 4 still alive." "Well the elements make their bearers live longer but they aren't immortal. They will die within the next 10 years or so, as they are all older than 100 in age but when the time comes they will perish. Then it will be time to find new bearers. I mean I will always be magic and your dad will remain the elements of loyalty and honesty. You may even become laughter and or kindness." "Really wow, I want to be an element!" "Yes and I recall your dad telling you all of this, was you listening?" "Yes Auntie, Can you continue please..." "Alright, where was I..." **** I had gathered my friends. Spike had collected up the books, so we set off for the Crystal Empire. Ready to investigate the problem before something happened but we was too late. When we got to the Crystal Empire it was covered in Sombra's black emery crystals. We had arrived to a battle already in full force, Celestia's and Luna's armies where fighting, all of your parents crystal guards along with some normal citizens. We heard an explosion of power that came with screams of terrified crystal ponies. We saw a flash of light and Celestia and Luna appeared, together we galloped to their sides and asked what was going on. Celestia and Luna then spoke is the Canterlot voice. "LET OUR NEICE AND NEPHEW GO NOW! YOU TWO TYRANTS" it affected our balance and scared Fluttershy half to death. They then lowered their voices and addressed us. Celestia was first to speak."We are sorry for the shock everypony." "But thou had to do so, to tell them that thee will fight for our nieces' and nephews' lives" Luna informed I panicked, by what I was told, you all was in danger, I looked up to see Chrysalis looking at us with a smug grin. I ignored her and Celestia informed us about what had occurred within hours of receiving Cadence's letter and sending me mine. "You see my ponies, that when we got here the castle was as it is now and Sombra was standing on the balcony. Then the changelings started appearing and we eventually took action. Although we should have taken action immediately, between us we couldn't decide whether to wait for you or..." Luna interrupted. "or attack with thou armies. Soon the changelings was advancing very quickly and thy had to force thy sister to attack! Then Sombra appeared and we blasted him with thee magic creating the explosion and..." "Scaring our niece and nephew's subjects, our newest princess and the Elements!" Celestia interrupted back. As the princesses argued, the battle continued with both of the princesses' Captains working together; Luna's night captain- Silver Moon and Celestia's captain- Lightning Flash. (Since your dad was Prince of the Crystal Empire. They needed a new captain and couldn't agree, so they had one each.) The battle was fierce ponies and changelings dying left and right, both through each other and Sombra's emery crystals shooting up and impaling ponies. He glanced at me and smiled he was happy to let this battle rage. While he could see Celestia and Luna arguing. I then glanced at the captains they was struggling against Sombra's army. That's when I looked at Sombra's army properly and realised they was under mind control magic. I gathered my thoughts and then shouted as loud as possible at the princesses."ENOUGH! we need to get organised, if we are going to stop Sombra and Chrysalis. It won't happen with you arguing. your highnesses." I added your highnesses to say sorry for shouting. Nevertheless It had worked, we formed a plan. We made the decision to relocate the crystal heart and as if Sombra heard us. He ordered his army to stop fighting and the princesses did the same. Sombra then spoke."You wish to find the crystal heart well, I'm afraid 'Cadence' crushed it with her magic in a fit of rage. She has killed her children and has locked up shining armour." His words shattered my heart, my friends starting crying or looked away saddened, but Celestia, Luna and Applejack saw through his lies. "You taunting maniac, Cadence would never do that her heart is pure and shining would have stopped her doing so." Celestia spat. "Thou agree cadenza would never hurt thee children!" Luna stated her tone full of anger. Sombra let out a loud dark chuckle and mocked "The heart was shattered and 'Cadence' will kill her children and then her husband but not in her own body." Sombra looked at us in a smug way. I shouted "You mean Chrysalis will kill my niece and nephews in their mothers form!" Nodding, Sombra rose on a crystal platform. He then gave the signal for his army to attack and the fighting started again. We all regrouped wiping away my tears I said "If we destroy Sombra, we can get to Chrysalis before she gets to the children!" everyone agreed. We all decided that the best course of action now, without the crystal heart was the elements. The plan was to defeat Sombra first and then deal with Chrysalis. Me and my friends stood in formation and turned Sombra to crystal stone, as we did so an explosion occurred sending waves of happiness throughout the empire but it was to late. Almost all of the crystal ponies where dead and a few lay injured way beyond repair. Any alive changelings would have blown away. If they were in front of us any behind us was untouched. Celestia looked at the statue of Sombra and made a suggestion. "I think we should send him under the ice as a precaution." Luna disagreed "We should smash the crystal so he can never return." The rest of us agreed for Celestia to send him under the ice as well as being crystallised. Luna walked away to count our losses. The rest of us, we continued on in to what was left of the castle. As the castle was crystal, between the two blasts some of the walls were beginning to crack and we knew we didn't have long to find you all. We looked and looked and then finally found the royal bedrooms. We called and a maid answered coming out with you in her magic. Your siblings followed as the maid told us that your dad was left to face Sombra. We walked back to what was left of the throne room after your dad's meeting with Sombra to find your father walking out of a room. Looking a mess with two bitten ears, a red puffy face and covered in blood splats. I asked if he was alright and the maid went to give you to him and he spoke in a soft tone. "Sorry but can you hold her Twilly I don't want her all bloody. I gladly took you and we walked out of the castle to one of the shops that hadn't been destroyed and he started telling us what happen with him and Chrysalis... **** "Are you finished telling her about the defeat of Sombra as your carriage is waiting for you." "Dad!" "Well yes brother, I got to where we met up with you after you being with Chrysalis and the defeat of Sombra. Where you was telling us about Chrysalis, but I think you can tell her that. I need to go you said?" "Yes, The carriage is waiting, you should go, sis I will see you later." "Bye Auntie!" "Bye Skyla, bye BBBFF." "What did you do to Chrysalis, once you was free. Dad?!" A Prince's Revenge; A Queen's Death"I will tell you but first can you calm down and second ask more politely. Your older sister Princess Flurry heart doesn't demand things you know, you will do well to remember that! Skyla!" "Yes Dad... Sorry dad. Can you please tell me, how you got back at Chrysalis for what she did to mum?...... was that better?" "Yes My little princess, very formal and polite, I would be happy to tell you the rest of the story, please take a seat next to me if you will." "heh ha dad stop it!" "Okay little one, now where was I." "You said 'I was free... and err... Chrysalis would pay'!" **** Well once I realised the crystal had gone and chrysalis was distracted with her laughing. I lunged at her, tackling her to the ground. I caught her off guard, she franticly tried to shock me. I was unlucky got a kick to the face along with a bite to the ear but I managed to knock her out as I did my magic was set free. I magically secured her to the wall with magical chains as I had no rope and wasn't going to take the rope from your mothers body. I then used more chains round her neck and wings. I connected them to the wall but instead of chaining her neck to the wall; I kept that chain in my telekinesis. Afterwards I placed the same 'no magic' spell on her as she had done to me. Then cast the 'no dying' spell on her as well. This monster was going to die but only if I aloud her. I then made the room soundproof before waking her up, I didn't want Sombra coming to her rescue. As I was completely unaware of the battle going on outside, it was better to be safe than sorry. My plan was to deal with this monster and then banish Sombra, if I didn't end up being thrown in a dungeon by him because I was found hurting Chrysalis, then I was going to find you 3 with the maid. **** "WAIT! Didn't you find the crystals vanishing suspicious dad?" "Well I didn't really think of it, I was free and I wanted Chrysalis dead, now please don't interrupt unless your really confused and stop the shouting. Thank you!" "Sorry." **** Err... right... oh yes. After she was secured, I shocked her whole body with electric that travelled throughout the magical chains. Her body shook violently until she woke up. I stopped the electric running through the chains for only a second to see her look at me with pleading eyes. I ignored her as she screamed and continued to shake. I walked over to cadence's body. With my magic I lifted her and removed the pieces of rope that were still attached to her wing bones and hooves. When I did this another tear rolled down my cheek as I herd chrysalis scream louder from me intensifying the electrical shock waves. At that point in time, I couldn't care for anything else all I wanted to hear was her delightful screams of pain and agony as I tortured her body and mind to death. How she had done to your mother, my precious Cady. This was my time to avenge Cady and my revenge was going to be delicious for me and the worst thing in all of Equestria for her. I was becoming more and more furious the more I examined your mother's body up close. I bet Chrysalis sensed her death drawing near as she started to plead with me. As her words unravelled so did her and Sombra's plan. She begged to me. While still being shocked by electric that continued to run throughout the chains. Every time she pleaded, I taunted back a sinister answer, hinting to how she would die! "Please spare me and you will never see me again. Your highness Prince Shining Armour." "Wow, Your aware of my name and my title, that's good because I will be the last being you see before you burn in Tartarus." "Please I will do anything...errr.... I will be your personal slave.... anything, I will birth you children! Your highness" She certainly chose the wrong kind of words to end that plead. It made me even more angry and I shocked her ruthlessly with a lot more magic and power making her howl. I chuckled and spoke in a sinister tone."My wife was fine at birthing beautiful children, yours are ugly love sucking freaks! She cried and called for Sombra. "SOMBRA HELP ME, SHINING HAS ESCAPED AND HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!!" I smiled and said. "Sound proofed walls, he can't hear you, scream all you want, your powerless against me. JUST LIKE CADY WAS! The way she died, YOU will too." The look of horror on her face as I picked up the same knife that had killed my Cady, was priceless. I mocked. "Ironic isn't it less than 5 minutes ago. I was at your mercy, you would have drained my power and made me love you. After you had finished crushing my heart and love I had for Cadence. I wouldn't have known anything apart from you, I would be SOMBRA's and YOUR little pet wouldn't I??" I questioned she didn't answer I intensified the power; she cried out in pain. I shouted. "ANSWER ME!"..... no response..... I shouted again. "ANSWER ME or your pain will never NEVER end!" A long silence. All but her sniffling and sobbing before she replied. "Yes, you would have been my toy. I would have twisted your mind around my hooves and Sombra, he still will." I chuckled and answered. "Maybe, I may still be at his mercy. But you will never witness it." With that I stopped the electrical flow and started her torture that would lead to her demise. I pulled at the chains wrapped around her wings and chain to the wall. I pulled them haphazardly until her wings half snapped. She screamed in pain and begged. "Please I know I did this to your wife but please show me some mercy." I was enraged, she had asked for mercy. "MERCY! MERCY! You ask for MERCY! After killing and torturing my wife in cold blood. YOU, you have the nerve to ask for MERCY, YOU HAD NO REASON TO KILL HER!!!!!!!!!" I screamed as I tore her wings clear off her body, blood poured out of her on to the crystal floor like a river. "m....m....my.....w-wi-wingssss, w-why am i-i n-not dead..." I caught my breath before smiling and said. "I have read many dark magic spells too, I know the no dead spell. sweet heart." Her look of horror said it all, she thought, she would go through great pain before her death but she didn't. As much as I would have loved to hurt her more I needed to find you and your siblings before Sombra did. I took the knife held in my magical aura, that had been used on your mother and started to saw at her horn it took a while before it came loose and I pulled it off. The blood trickling down her face and all Chrysalis did was stay still and sob. She knew what was to happen and it was as if she accepted she would die! Once her horn was off that's when the protests started again.... I stood there and watched as she begged it was amusing. "Please just let me die! let me die peacefully! Kill me now! Stop smirking at me!" more tears came and I watched as she whined and then she said it again... Before she said it I was going to leave it there and take the spell off. "Please give me mercy!" but this time it was in cadence's voice very subtle but I could tell it was there. My blood boiling, I took the knife in my magic and stabbed her and said this. In the right shoulder: "THIS IS FOR MY WEDDING, you destroyed it and left cadence with nightmares!" In the left shoulder: "THIS IS FOR MY EMPIRE, you came here with Sombra and destroyed MY subjects hopes of being free! In her right flank: "THIS IS FOR FLURRY, my daughter is probably in my room trying to calm her other siblings!" In her left flank: "THIS IS FOR BRAVE, my son standing in front of his sisters ready for Sombra to walk in and he's ready to defend them!" In her breasts: "THIS IS FOR SKYLA, my youngest daughter cuddling up to her siblings, crying for her mommy who will never come all because of YOU!!!" In full floods of tears I stabbed her the last time, leaving the blade in, before taking off the spell, to finally let her burn in tartarus. In her stomach: "THIS IS FOR CADENCE, WHO YOU KILLED IN COLD BLOOD, MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE SUFFERED ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, SHE WILL NEVER SEE HER CHILDREN AGAIN! YOU MONSTER!!! After all that the second I took the spell off she was dead. The crystal blue and purple floor was red and my fur was no longer white. That's when I herd voices and walked outside the room in to the throne room, or what was left of the throne room. To see you and your siblings, all the elements along with Celestia. I let Aunty Twilly take you as I was covered in blood, we went to a coffee shop so I could tell them what had happen with Chrysalis. I was then informed of what had happen with Sombra. **** When did you tell them about mum?? Recovery"Well, once I had finished telling them that Chrysalis was dead and no longer a threat. I told them." "How???" "Well I..." **** I went to tell them, When Princess Luna approached. "Thy see that Thy's nephew is not hurt, but where is Princess Cadence?" She asked as she did, everypony looked at me with questionable expressions and I again felt horrible, my ears fell and I told them. "Cadence is no more..." I couldn't bring myself to say dead. Everypony looked at me with confusion. I then knew I would have to say it but couldn't instead I opted for the word.. "MURDER, she was murdered by that monster!" I didn't mean it to come out that harsh, it just had. I felt my tears start again as I felt two pairs of wings comfort me; your brother and sister both had wrapped their wings around me and Flurry had started to cry as well, brave stood strong to afraid to let down his guard. (what a soldier, he would become...) Auntie Twilight along with the elements sat in shock and the princesses: Luna and Celestia looked at me for a minute before coming to your siblings side. Luna took your siblings from me, while Celestia took me away from the rest of the group. She said in the softest tone. "Where is she?" I didn't reply, just sniffed and lead the way, when we passed the group, I saw twilight go to speak and Celestia gave her a look to wait with everyone else. Deep in side, I think she knew where I was taking her. We walked into the castle past the crumbling throne room and in to the crystal room that had once been a lounge. Now in the room lay two bodies; one a mangled Princess laying along with the form of a beaten and ripped up, monster. The once beautiful blue and purple crystal walls and floor were stained with blood, so was my coat. Celestia walked over to Cadence with the instinct to pick her up. I wasn't having any of it. "Leave her alone, She's my princess, I will carry her!" I said this in the darkest tone possible. (Again I didn't mean it, it just happened) Celestia was shocked at first then her face returned to one of sympathy, she knew I hadn't been able to stop Chrysalis, again. But she became even more shocked when she examined Chrysalis's body or what was left of it. She looked at me with horror. I explained... "She told me in detail, how she killed MY Cady, I was making sure, she wouldn't do it to my foals or any other pony!" She again looked at me with the eyes of a parent, who was sympathising with a foal, she saw my tears and wrapped me up as I let out all my emotions. I cried like a colt and held on to Celestia, it was as if she was shielding me from all the horrible things that had occurred in the space of 1 day! After about 10 minutes of bawling like a colt and Celestia caressing me, I heard hooves against crystal, I pulled away from the soft wings that seamed to protect me from all of equestria's evil. I saw princess Luna standing in the doorway mouth a gape from the sight of both corpses. Celestia calmed her sister and we all walked out of the crumbling castle, I had your mother wrapped in a royal blue curtain from my throne. At the sight of us coming out the elements, you 3 foals and both of the princesses captains came rushing over to see me lay cadence down, away from the crumbling castle. All the guards and soldiers bowed their heads to me with respect, their former captain. Their guilt and shame was written in their expressions. After everyone went back to work, my personal captain Flash Sentry came to my side and knelled before me, he said how guilty he felt and I should place the blame on him as he was meant to keep watch. I hugged him as a friend and told him. "It was my fault, I was her husband, I failed her..." After I told him to be silent and he went to ready the carriages. The guards and soldiers secured off the empires crystal castle and surrounding area, the princesses declared it was unsafe and was to be pulled down as soon as possible, in the mean time there would be guard posts, stopping any pony endangering themselves. As a former Captain and a Prince, I took care of the losses and injuries. we lost - - Over a hundred royal guards and soldiers. - Over fifty injured royal guards and soldiers. Most wouldn't/ didn't survive. - An entire race of ponies - The crystal ponies all but about 15. Most being foals or older ponies. - Queen of the changelings. (I'm glad!!) - An alicorn princess... After everything was safe and counted. Me, you, Brave and Flurry took a royal carriage to Canterlot. We was closely followed by Celestia and Luna, and the six elements. On my lap lay your mother wrapped in the royal blue curtain from the throne room and covered in gold silk, an anniversary present, Celestia and Luna had given us, a along with many other items. I wrapped her in it to honour her with my love, something I hadn't been there to give, when she died. I prayed, she would forgive me. Once we touched down, in Canterlot many nobles were waiting to see us all. They were shocked to see no cadence but me floating a body shape in to the castle, one noble tried to talk to me, I ignored him with the threat of breaking down, with the four of us in side. Luna and Celestia addressed him to why I had ignored him and the nobles were immensely upset to hear the news of cadences death. The days blurred as I made the preparations for Cadence's funeral with the help of your siblings playing and caring for you. While the royal sisters and your Auntie tried to help me move on with the fact, Cadence was dead. During the funeral, you wasn't present. I didn't think it was right for you at weeks old to be at your mothers funeral, so you stayed with the maid. I held your siblings either side of me. Celestia, Luna and twilight along with some nobles said some words. The guests cried, my mother and father were present but I wasn't really aware of it. After the words were said and it was my turn I couldn't talk, your siblings were fully crying, Brave not caring who saw, cried like I did with Celestia at the empire. I asked your Auntie to read what I had written for your mother. I was in my own world re-living the pain of watching chrysalis taunt me. I was later told by my mother that my statement was beautiful and she said that Cadence would be pleased. The flowers was laid and........ and...... **** "and... what dad? "Sorry Skyla, I don't remember what happen until that night.... it all blurrs into nothing" "Okay so what happen that night..." **** Well ... Even though Chrysalis was dead, she still haunted my dreams. That night especially, I was suddenly woken up by Luna and Celestia, they had rushed in my room of the castle, to find me kicking and screaming, I then explained my nightmare... "I was walking down the empires halls at night, looking for your mother, when she appeared and then disappeared and then appeared with no head, I thought my eyes where playing tricks on me, but when I woke to find chrysalis on me strangling Cadence. That's when you woke me up." Luna knew I was having nightmares over Cadence not forgiving me. She aloud me to speak with your mother in a dream. **** "Yes, before you ask I spoke to your dead mother in my dream..." **** In the dream, Cadence told me that she was at peace knowing that I had taken care of Chrysalis and that you foals were safe, she then told me to beware of the future and I must stand strong no matter what. She then made me promise that I couldn't punish myself for her death and that Chrysalis tricked her. She stated that: She had been teleported and that I couldn't do anything even if I wanted too. I then kissed her and woke up to see both sisters by my sides. Throughout the weeks that followed, I stopped having the nightmares and learned to live with Cadence no longer being alive. But 2 princesses didn't... **** "King Shining Armour, Princess Skyla." "Yes Flash Shining Stars, What's the problem." "Your Dinner meeting with the Saddle Arabian Princess, Princess Sapphire Stone, wasn't it and your highness, please don't pronounce my full name Flash is fine..." "Then don't use mine, we are friends as well as you being my personal guard m'lady. Now Skyla, I'm sorry I will have to tell you the rest of the story another time. I will see you tomorrow morning for breakfast, yes? or are you going out with your sister?" "Going shopping with sis!" "Okay then, love you and behave. Flash can you lead the way please." "It would be my pleasure My King, good night Princess Skyla." "Good night dad, night Flash."
The Investigation The Investigation "Dad, why is their a pony in the moon?" "Well that's my doing. Skyla but she is no ordinary pony, she's an alicorn like you, me and your siblings. So is the one in the sun." "But if your a good and wise king like everyone says. Why did you place them up there?" "Because they brought death and destruction to the land. Would you like me to tell you the whole story?" "Yes please." "Okay, about 100 years ago. Days after you was born." **** Dear Auntie Celestia, Shining and I have received news that a changeling hive is not far from the Crystal Empire and has been located, along with very dark, mysterious magic. We have sent some soldiers to investigate but they haven't returned. I ask that you come to assess the situation for yourself and in the meantime, Me and Shining will investigate personally. Thank you. Your Neice Cadence. "Did you send the letter? my love" I said. "Yes my dear" your mother said back. "Then lets get going it will soon be dark." To this day, I still honestly don't know why we didn't wait for a reply from Celestia or for her to come herself, but we did. We gathered our soldiers and set out, we trotted for what felt like hours but finally we came to the cave, where the hive had been for the last few weeks. The whole area had been cleared of snow; in its place was this green goo and above was these menacing orange storm clouds. It was certainly work of changelings however the clouds are what confused me more than anything. After the attack on Canterlot all of the guards and soldiers had been taught all about changelings. In any and every book, I had read on changelings, none of them had said anything about orange clouds. But nevertheless we ventured inside to check how many; if any changelings was in this hive. For a while it seemed abandoned yet as we went deeper, there was a chittering noise and the bussing of wings. At that point I was done, we knew they were here. we could turn back and plan our next move to eradicate them. your mother on the other hoof wanted to go and investigate more! Why I don't know? It seemed curiosity got the better of her. "Cady, lets get out of here before we are discovered." I whispered. "Wait shiny, I want to know if they have a leader." "Darling are you sure that's a good idea." "It's okay you go back, if you want. I will quickly check and be out." and with that she continued down into the hive. Now a smarter stallion would have gone back to the entrance and waited, I mean your mom was an alicorn; she could take care of yourself but I obediently quickly and quietly followed. We got down to what must have been the main 'hallway' with about 10 or more different turns, that's when your mother finally gave in on defeat and we started to trot back to the entrance. Unknown to us at the time that we had been watched the entire time... **** "Wait if you knew you was being watched why did you do it!" "Skyla I didn't know that until I was told." "Who told you." "The one who was nearly ready to start her attack." "WHOOOOOO?!" "Unless you quit asking 'who' it was, I cant carry on. You will find out. When the time is right, just like I did." **** The trot back to the entrance seemed quicker paced, as we reached the entrance to the cave we found it was dark. Although it was dark every where else, the clouds near the cave seemed to make it almost look like day. We decided it was best to leave and return to the empire. Leaving investigating the clouds to Celestia's better judgement. When we eventually got back to the palace, the maids had put you to bed and your older siblings had retired for the night. We checked over the place with the maids and guards and then retired ourselves for some well deserved sleep but nothing could have prepared us for what happened the following day. **** "Your highness." "Yes guard." "WHAT HAPPENED!" "Hang on Skyla, what is the problem Flash." "A diplomat wishes to move their time to see you tomorrow." "Well tell them, if they can't make it then we will reschedule it another time." "Yes your highness." "and see to it I'm not disturbed unless absolutely necessary Flash." "Yes your highness." "Okay sorry Skyla where was I." "You wasn't prepared for what was to come the next day." Author's Note Hope you enjoyed this first chapter.
Evil Takes Revenge"Right." **** So I woke up then next morning as I normally do and rolled over to find your mother wasn't there. A little weird but I shrugged it off as she had gone to sort you out, I mean you was only days old and she love to spend as much time as possible with you; running a kingdom takes a lot of time up. I had my usual morning shower and then came to see you and find your mother, the maid came along as well to clean your room. When I open your door, you was in your crib waiting to be let out and your mother wasn't in sight. I was getting a little worried but I thought maybe Celestia had arrived and she just left you to sleep. So with the maids help, we got you clean and I woke your siblings, I took you and your siblings to the throne room and the maid followed. Looking back now it was a good job she followed too! **** "Why." "Skyla, if you stop interrupting me you will find out." "Sorry dad, please continue." **** Well as I went to open the throne room door, I realised I hadn't seen any guards. Almost all the guards weren't at their posts, maybe Cadence had gathered them to set out with them? I thought. However I was wrong instead of your mother sitting on her throne and mine being empty; Cady's was empty and mine... Unbelievably mine held Sombra. I was shocked and when he looked me in the eye, he gave a very dark chuckle. I shouted "WHERE IS CADENCE!" He again chuckled darkly before finally speaking "We are very angry this morning, your highness" He was mocking me, buying his time to make his next move at retaking the empire. Again I asked in a more calmer but more threatening tone. "Where IS Cadence?" "Your little princess is MINE!" At this point I was aware this would lead to a fight, so I instructed the maid to take you and your siblings to the safe room. That was in mine and your mothers bedroom. She did so, leaving me to deal with Sombra. I waited and waited but he did nothing, he sat there staring at me with those ruby red eyes. Then he spoke again, mocking my title and giving me hints. "Is your precious princess more important than your heart Your Highness." he smirked. "Of course she is I would put my life down for her!" I spat. "Well then your princess's precious crystal heart has nothing to fear." He mocked with another dark chuckle. This sent shivers down my spine and I took action, taking 2 blades from one of the sets of blades and shield off the wall. I stood in a fighting stance ready to attack. He looked at me with utter delight, while he conjured up his dark magic ready to cast a spell. He struck at me with black emery crystals, I dodged with ease, this happen a few times before he mocked me again. "You don't rely on your own magical ability but instead weapons, pity you don't have my high magical abilities. This could have been fun." He smirked again. "I have my way of fighting you have yours, stop buying time!" I spat. He suddenly stopped firing crystals at me, more out of boredom than defeat or tiredness I presumed. We stared each other down as he strolled down off my throne and to the window, not leaving my gaze. I held the swords in an attack position and walked cautiously towards him. A few feet away from him he spoke in mocking tone. "Your heart is as loving as your crystal one isn't it?" I then looked out of the window at what he was looking at there, by where the crystal heart was place was 'Cadence'. I looked at Sombra he smirked and said. "If you can get to Cadence first, I will leave her alone to walk away free. If I get to her first, I will get someone to kill your precious Cady." he challenged. Without a second thought I galloped out of the throne room, throughout the halls and out the door to see 'Cadence' standing right by the crystal heart and seconds later. Sombra teleported in to existence. "I got here first and now we can destroy you." I said proudly Sombra just chuckled darkly again and as he did 'Cadence' took the crystal heart, left my side and walked slowly to Sombra's side. They both stood in front of me and chuckled. I was confused and them my worst fear was set in stone. Sombra and 'Cadence' held the heart in their magic and crushed it. "Why would you do that Cady, you just doomed the empire." I spoke in confusion and anger. 'Cadence' looked at me and smirked and that's when I realised your mother wasn't actually present. "YOUR NOT CADENCE! WHERE IS SHE!" As I screamed those words. The real form of 'Cadence' revealed herself to be the hive queen, Queen Chrysalis. She laughed and as she mimicked Cadence perfectly she said. "Took you long enough dear." she smirked. "Your precious princess is already dead, Your highness." Sombra taunted. "But you said if I got to her first-." I said on the verge of tears. "-but you didn't I did." Chrysalis teased. "I don't believe you, you wouldn't kill royalty." I spat trying to hide my fear. In a flash Sombra teleported me, Chrysalis and himself to a room, he then whispered something to Chrysalis and walked out, sealing the door, windows and me; where I stood in crystal. With another flash Chrysalis brought your mother in the room. Your mother was dead, I couldn't hide my anger or my sorrow, she smiled as she saw my tears fall freely down my face. She then laughed at me as she spoke. "You shouldn't have come into my cave my prince" I looked at her with anger filled eyes as she continued. "IF you had had any sense you would have attacked, when you came but instead you used Celestia's methods and left. By leaving you told me you wasn't ready to fight us. So I brought my plan into action about a week earlier." **** "Wait mom died days after I was born!" "Yes Skyla, I'm afraid so." "Do you know how she died?" "Yes, while your Auntie Twilight and the elements, Luna and Celestia fought Sombra. Chrysalis taunted me. About how she killed your mother but I'm going to skip that part." "No, I'm not a filly anymore, I want to know." "Well if your sure."
The Death Of A Princess"Yes, dad. I'm sure. I want to know." "I just don't want to upset you, my little princess." "Dad! Just tell me already!" "Alright." **** So after Chrysalis had finished explaining our 'BIG' mistake, of going to her cave and not attacking. She strolled over to me and placed a spell on my horn to stop me using any magic. After she walked over to where your mother was and mocked. "You know for the Princess of love and an alicorn, she didn't put up much of a fight. Instead, she cried like a little baby, most of the time about never seeing her children again. Oh and praying that her 'Knight' in Shining Armour would come and save her. But did you?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow. I didn't answer. Instead I closed my eyes. Hoping and praying that this was all just a crazy nightmare I was having and I would wake up with your mother laying gracefully asleep by my side. However when I opened my eyes, what I saw was rather different and startling. Staring right at me, millimetres away from my face, was Chrysalis. I swear I would have jumped 10 foot up in the air, If I hadn't been secured to the floor by Sombra's crystals. sh-.... **** "Heh heh." "Are you finding this funny? Skyla." "Oh...er. What? NO dad!" "Hmm, really?" "Yes... er. I mean NO!" "Ha heh, oh Skyla." "What!" "Nothing, shall I continue?" "Yes... Please dad." **** Well Chrysalis... actually, she reacted how you did, she laughed for quite a while, come to think about it. While she was laughing and after I had recovered from the initial shock. I looked over to your mother as I felt the tears flow down my face. My love, My beautiful Cady, laying dead on our castle floor, like she meant nothing to the world, she wasn't at peace. She was placed there to crush my heart. As I took in more and more of the damage this monster, had done to your mother in. I felt my hate and anger rise. Your mother was in a state, her hair and tail had been cut in various ways and both was matted and soaked with her blood, taking away any dignity she had left. However they was the minor things, the worst thing about your mother... *sniff* My Cady was that she was missing all of her feathers and most of her wing bones themselves. Not to mention your mum's horn, was half gone and was shaped in a haphazard way. I couldn't even begin to imagine, how somepony could do this to another pony let alone a part of the royal family. An alicorn. I looked at the floor, where a puddle of my tears was and then to Chrysalis with anger and sorrow filled eyes as she caught her breath from laughing and I screamed. "How could you, do something like this!" Thinking back I really shouldn't have said that. "How? You wish to know, HOW? I killed your precious princess?" "NO! I wanted to know, how you could have so much hate in your heart to do that to any pony. Its not natural" She smiled and said "Well I'm happy to tell you my prince and do you really think changelings have the same mind span as you ponies do??" She then went on to tell me how she killed your mother... **** "Are you sure you want to know." "YES! dad I do, get on with it please." "Okay." **** "So lets start, at the beginning shall we?" she said smirking, fully aware, I didn't want to know. Again I didn't answer. I just wanted to block her out but whenever I tried to close my eyes or shut her off. She would blast my horn with an electrical shock, forcing me to look at her and listen. I put my ears down to show my disapproval but she smiled and giggled at me making me shiver. "I took a knife from your castle's kitchen." She waved the knife at me as she continued. "Some rope from the guard barracks." again she waved it at me. "Then I teleported your wife from your bedroom to the Crystal caverns, north of the Empire." As she said this. A loud bang was heard from out side and I heard screams of my crystal ponies, my subjects where in danger and I was stuck in a room, in my castle with a maniac. Who was reporting to me how she killed my wife. She walked over to the window checked outside, smiled and continued. "I then woke her up and tied the rope to her hooves and stopped her using her magic with the same spell, You have on your horn now. Along with that I put a blood loss spell on her, so she wouldn't die unless I took the spell off. She screamed as I took my magic and slowly pulled off each and every feather. She cried out. Why are you doing this to me? in between sobs. After she was feather less. I took the knife and slowly cut out most of the membrane and the few supporting bones out of her wings. She cried out for you. SHINING HELP ME!!" I couldn't take it, I screamed through tears. "STOP PLEASE! Just stop, I don't want to hear anymore." I felt so guilty. I coughed trying to gain control of myself, as she smiled and came back down to my eye level, she lifted my head and nipped my ear before replying with a very terrifying... "no." it was a stone cold whisper that sent shivers down my spine. At that point it made me think of you 3 children. You all was with the maid. I thought, what if Sombra got to you, or if Chrysalis got to you. What would they do? She then winked at me and continued on with your mother's demise. "I then tied some more of the rope, on to what was left of her wing bones. This made her scream out again for you, she begged me to stop. But I didn't stop just like you didn't come to her rescue. Did you?" she said. Lifting my head with her hoof. I looked away in shame and she struck me, this time with her hoof, not her magic. She then gave my left ear a nip drawing blood and carried on talking. "I pulled both of her wings with my magic, stretching them in all directions, until the bases partially snapped. Your beautiful Cady begged and tried to negotiate for me to have the empire, anything, She was willing to give up anything to live. But when I asked about giving up YOU, do you know what she said?" Chrysalis questioned. I, again didn't answer. I just glared at her with my ears down and tears staining my cheeks. She then mocked me before continuing. "By the way, your so cute when you try and look angry.... Oh where was I, OH yes. What did Cadence say when I said she could go free, If she allowed me to brainwash you, again to being MY husband. she said." "I DONT WANT TO KNOW!!!" I screamed in her face. she giggled. "She said, No never. She was willing to give up her life, if it meant you would be safe. Yet you was in bed asleep peacefully while I killed her." she smiled and kept talking as I started to cry a fresh set of tears. "The next part is the best my prince, I took the knife again and with it held in my magic. I took one of her front legs and slowly cut a hole out of her leg. I did this one by one as she cried in general and as the blood poured out, she question why she hadn't died. I told her that she couldn't die unless I took off the spell. She begged for you as I finished the last hole on her left back leg." as she said this she walked over to the motionless body of your mother and lifted the left leg up pointing to the huge hole in the leg. "This hole here." I felt sick and again she giggled at me before walking back over and biting my right ear. Then she finished her description of your mother's demise. "I then took the knife and Cadences horn in my magic and cut slow and steady as your wife cried and begged to die, she didn't want to live anymore the pain was to much. I continued to slice and twist her horn until it snapped off. She then made the horn appear in front of me. I felt every emotion- angry, sad, guilt and hatred build but I did nothing. "I then took the knife and penetrated your wife's stomach, flanks, legs and breasts, she scream for you again. I took the spell off a watched as she died. The last thing she heard was me whispering" as she said this another bang could be heard from outside. "What did you whisper to her?"I dared to ask. "Oh I said... your husband will be at last mine" She laughed darkly While she was laughing I thought to myself. If I ever got my hooves on her I would do it all to her and worse. As I thought this the crystal that held me in place vanished, I was free... and Chrysalis would pay.... **** "AUNTIE TWILIGHT!" "Hey Twilly." "Hello Skyla, BBBFF. What you up to?" "Just telling Skyla about the empire falling and her mother, sis." "Yeah, dad was just free from Sombra's crystals!" "Wait Shining, you wasn't there when we defeated Sombra. You said you was with Chrysalis." "Dad hasn't said how Sombra was defeated, he has just finished telling me, moms death." "Well I'm sure, Auntie Twilly. Can tell you better than me as she was there." "Yes I can tell you now, if you want I'm not busy until later. Oh brother that diplomat needs to talk to you." "Right so if I sort that out, then come back will you be done telling Skyla about the defeat of Sombra?" "Yep and then I have to go to Ponyville." "Okay Twilly, that's settled then. See you later. Be good Skyla!" "Yes dad! bye!" "Bye BBBFF!"
The Shadows Are Banished The Shadows Are Banished "Tell me, Auntie" "Okay, okay. Your suddenly very eager to know about the history of your bloodline! What sparked this interest?" "The alicorn in the moon, Auntie." "Oh, so that's why. Let me guess, your dad started the story with a letter to Celestia?" "Yes!" "Well, my part in the story, starts the same way..." **** Lets see, I was at my castle with spike. Organising the last few scrolls and books, I was sending to my friend Moon Dancer. They were tips and tricks about the hay card technique and some of star swirl's spell books. There was a flash and spike gave me the letter from Celestia, it read... Dear Princess Twilight, Their has been a sighting of Changeling activity in the Crystal Empire. Shining Armour and Princess Cadence are going to investigate personally. Me and Princess Luna are going ourselves as Cadence stated that: She and Shining sent a group of their best soldiers to investigate but they never returned. I ask that you and the Elements Of Harmony accompany us as I believe this might be the work of Chrysalis and her army. Before you leave, please remember to bring the books: Dark and Mysterious Magic, Menacing Magic and The Power Of Dark Magic , that I gave you as Cadence also mentioned some form of dark and mysterious magic. I trust you have read them, many times but it would be good for us to compare them to the magic, Cadence has spoken of. See you all at the Empire, Princess Celestia. So after I had read the letter. I gave spike the list of books to find while, I gathered my friends; The Elements of Harmony. **** "Tell me Skyla, Do you recall, what the 6 elements of Harmony represent?? Do you remember that lesson?" "Yes Auntie!" "With their bearers names?" "Yep, Pinkie pie is laughter, Rarity is generosity, Applejack was honesty, Rainbow Dash was loyalty, Fluttershy is kindness and YOU are magic!" "Very well done, Skyla, your dad will be very pleased." "But why are only 4 still alive." "Well the elements make their bearers live longer but they aren't immortal. They will die within the next 10 years or so, as they are all older than 100 in age but when the time comes they will perish. Then it will be time to find new bearers. I mean I will always be magic and your dad will remain the elements of loyalty and honesty. You may even become laughter and or kindness." "Really wow, I want to be an element!" "Yes and I recall your dad telling you all of this, was you listening?" "Yes Auntie, Can you continue please..." "Alright, where was I..." **** I had gathered my friends. Spike had collected up the books, so we set off for the Crystal Empire. Ready to investigate the problem before something happened but we was too late. When we got to the Crystal Empire it was covered in Sombra's black emery crystals. We had arrived to a battle already in full force, Celestia's and Luna's armies where fighting, all of your parents crystal guards along with some normal citizens. We heard an explosion of power that came with screams of terrified crystal ponies. We saw a flash of light and Celestia and Luna appeared, together we galloped to their sides and asked what was going on. Celestia and Luna then spoke is the Canterlot voice. "LET OUR NEICE AND NEPHEW GO NOW! YOU TWO TYRANTS" it affected our balance and scared Fluttershy half to death. They then lowered their voices and addressed us. Celestia was first to speak."We are sorry for the shock everypony." "But thou had to do so, to tell them that thee will fight for our nieces' and nephews' lives" Luna informed I panicked, by what I was told, you all was in danger, I looked up to see Chrysalis looking at us with a smug grin. I ignored her and Celestia informed us about what had occurred within hours of receiving Cadence's letter and sending me mine. "You see my ponies, that when we got here the castle was as it is now and Sombra was standing on the balcony. Then the changelings started appearing and we eventually took action. Although we should have taken action immediately, between us we couldn't decide whether to wait for you or..." Luna interrupted. "or attack with thou armies. Soon the changelings was advancing very quickly and thy had to force thy sister to attack! Then Sombra appeared and we blasted him with thee magic creating the explosion and..." "Scaring our niece and nephew's subjects, our newest princess and the Elements!" Celestia interrupted back. As the princesses argued, the battle continued with both of the princesses' Captains working together; Luna's night captain- Silver Moon and Celestia's captain- Lightning Flash. (Since your dad was Prince of the Crystal Empire. They needed a new captain and couldn't agree, so they had one each.) The battle was fierce ponies and changelings dying left and right, both through each other and Sombra's emery crystals shooting up and impaling ponies. He glanced at me and smiled he was happy to let this battle rage. While he could see Celestia and Luna arguing. I then glanced at the captains they was struggling against Sombra's army. That's when I looked at Sombra's army properly and realised they was under mind control magic. I gathered my thoughts and then shouted as loud as possible at the princesses."ENOUGH! we need to get organised, if we are going to stop Sombra and Chrysalis. It won't happen with you arguing. your highnesses." I added your highnesses to say sorry for shouting. Nevertheless It had worked, we formed a plan. We made the decision to relocate the crystal heart and as if Sombra heard us. He ordered his army to stop fighting and the princesses did the same. Sombra then spoke."You wish to find the crystal heart well, I'm afraid 'Cadence' crushed it with her magic in a fit of rage. She has killed her children and has locked up shining armour." His words shattered my heart, my friends starting crying or looked away saddened, but Celestia, Luna and Applejack saw through his lies. "You taunting maniac, Cadence would never do that her heart is pure and shining would have stopped her doing so." Celestia spat. "Thou agree cadenza would never hurt thee children!" Luna stated her tone full of anger. Sombra let out a loud dark chuckle and mocked "The heart was shattered and 'Cadence' will kill her children and then her husband but not in her own body." Sombra looked at us in a smug way. I shouted "You mean Chrysalis will kill my niece and nephews in their mothers form!" Nodding, Sombra rose on a crystal platform. He then gave the signal for his army to attack and the fighting started again. We all regrouped wiping away my tears I said "If we destroy Sombra, we can get to Chrysalis before she gets to the children!" everyone agreed. We all decided that the best course of action now, without the crystal heart was the elements. The plan was to defeat Sombra first and then deal with Chrysalis. Me and my friends stood in formation and turned Sombra to crystal stone, as we did so an explosion occurred sending waves of happiness throughout the empire but it was to late. Almost all of the crystal ponies where dead and a few lay injured way beyond repair. Any alive changelings would have blown away. If they were in front of us any behind us was untouched. Celestia looked at the statue of Sombra and made a suggestion. "I think we should send him under the ice as a precaution." Luna disagreed "We should smash the crystal so he can never return." The rest of us agreed for Celestia to send him under the ice as well as being crystallised. Luna walked away to count our losses. The rest of us, we continued on in to what was left of the castle. As the castle was crystal, between the two blasts some of the walls were beginning to crack and we knew we didn't have long to find you all. We looked and looked and then finally found the royal bedrooms. We called and a maid answered coming out with you in her magic. Your siblings followed as the maid told us that your dad was left to face Sombra. We walked back to what was left of the throne room after your dad's meeting with Sombra to find your father walking out of a room. Looking a mess with two bitten ears, a red puffy face and covered in blood splats. I asked if he was alright and the maid went to give you to him and he spoke in a soft tone. "Sorry but can you hold her Twilly I don't want her all bloody. I gladly took you and we walked out of the castle to one of the shops that hadn't been destroyed and he started telling us what happen with him and Chrysalis... **** "Are you finished telling her about the defeat of Sombra as your carriage is waiting for you." "Dad!" "Well yes brother, I got to where we met up with you after you being with Chrysalis and the defeat of Sombra. Where you was telling us about Chrysalis, but I think you can tell her that. I need to go you said?" "Yes, The carriage is waiting, you should go, sis I will see you later." "Bye Auntie!" "Bye Skyla, bye BBBFF." "What did you do to Chrysalis, once you was free. Dad?!"
A Prince's Revenge; A Queen's Death"I will tell you but first can you calm down and second ask more politely. Your older sister Princess Flurry heart doesn't demand things you know, you will do well to remember that! Skyla!" "Yes Dad... Sorry dad. Can you please tell me, how you got back at Chrysalis for what she did to mum?...... was that better?" "Yes My little princess, very formal and polite, I would be happy to tell you the rest of the story, please take a seat next to me if you will." "heh ha dad stop it!" "Okay little one, now where was I." "You said 'I was free... and err... Chrysalis would pay'!" **** Well once I realised the crystal had gone and chrysalis was distracted with her laughing. I lunged at her, tackling her to the ground. I caught her off guard, she franticly tried to shock me. I was unlucky got a kick to the face along with a bite to the ear but I managed to knock her out as I did my magic was set free. I magically secured her to the wall with magical chains as I had no rope and wasn't going to take the rope from your mothers body. I then used more chains round her neck and wings. I connected them to the wall but instead of chaining her neck to the wall; I kept that chain in my telekinesis. Afterwards I placed the same 'no magic' spell on her as she had done to me. Then cast the 'no dying' spell on her as well. This monster was going to die but only if I aloud her. I then made the room soundproof before waking her up, I didn't want Sombra coming to her rescue. As I was completely unaware of the battle going on outside, it was better to be safe than sorry. My plan was to deal with this monster and then banish Sombra, if I didn't end up being thrown in a dungeon by him because I was found hurting Chrysalis, then I was going to find you 3 with the maid. **** "WAIT! Didn't you find the crystals vanishing suspicious dad?" "Well I didn't really think of it, I was free and I wanted Chrysalis dead, now please don't interrupt unless your really confused and stop the shouting. Thank you!" "Sorry." **** Err... right... oh yes. After she was secured, I shocked her whole body with electric that travelled throughout the magical chains. Her body shook violently until she woke up. I stopped the electric running through the chains for only a second to see her look at me with pleading eyes. I ignored her as she screamed and continued to shake. I walked over to cadence's body. With my magic I lifted her and removed the pieces of rope that were still attached to her wing bones and hooves. When I did this another tear rolled down my cheek as I herd chrysalis scream louder from me intensifying the electrical shock waves. At that point in time, I couldn't care for anything else all I wanted to hear was her delightful screams of pain and agony as I tortured her body and mind to death. How she had done to your mother, my precious Cady. This was my time to avenge Cady and my revenge was going to be delicious for me and the worst thing in all of Equestria for her. I was becoming more and more furious the more I examined your mother's body up close. I bet Chrysalis sensed her death drawing near as she started to plead with me. As her words unravelled so did her and Sombra's plan. She begged to me. While still being shocked by electric that continued to run throughout the chains. Every time she pleaded, I taunted back a sinister answer, hinting to how she would die! "Please spare me and you will never see me again. Your highness Prince Shining Armour." "Wow, Your aware of my name and my title, that's good because I will be the last being you see before you burn in Tartarus." "Please I will do anything...errr.... I will be your personal slave.... anything, I will birth you children! Your highness" She certainly chose the wrong kind of words to end that plead. It made me even more angry and I shocked her ruthlessly with a lot more magic and power making her howl. I chuckled and spoke in a sinister tone."My wife was fine at birthing beautiful children, yours are ugly love sucking freaks! She cried and called for Sombra. "SOMBRA HELP ME, SHINING HAS ESCAPED AND HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!!" I smiled and said. "Sound proofed walls, he can't hear you, scream all you want, your powerless against me. JUST LIKE CADY WAS! The way she died, YOU will too." The look of horror on her face as I picked up the same knife that had killed my Cady, was priceless. I mocked. "Ironic isn't it less than 5 minutes ago. I was at your mercy, you would have drained my power and made me love you. After you had finished crushing my heart and love I had for Cadence. I wouldn't have known anything apart from you, I would be SOMBRA's and YOUR little pet wouldn't I??" I questioned she didn't answer I intensified the power; she cried out in pain. I shouted. "ANSWER ME!"..... no response..... I shouted again. "ANSWER ME or your pain will never NEVER end!" A long silence. All but her sniffling and sobbing before she replied. "Yes, you would have been my toy. I would have twisted your mind around my hooves and Sombra, he still will." I chuckled and answered. "Maybe, I may still be at his mercy. But you will never witness it." With that I stopped the electrical flow and started her torture that would lead to her demise. I pulled at the chains wrapped around her wings and chain to the wall. I pulled them haphazardly until her wings half snapped. She screamed in pain and begged. "Please I know I did this to your wife but please show me some mercy." I was enraged, she had asked for mercy. "MERCY! MERCY! You ask for MERCY! After killing and torturing my wife in cold blood. YOU, you have the nerve to ask for MERCY, YOU HAD NO REASON TO KILL HER!!!!!!!!!" I screamed as I tore her wings clear off her body, blood poured out of her on to the crystal floor like a river. "m....m....my.....w-wi-wingssss, w-why am i-i n-not dead..." I caught my breath before smiling and said. "I have read many dark magic spells too, I know the no dead spell. sweet heart." Her look of horror said it all, she thought, she would go through great pain before her death but she didn't. As much as I would have loved to hurt her more I needed to find you and your siblings before Sombra did. I took the knife held in my magical aura, that had been used on your mother and started to saw at her horn it took a while before it came loose and I pulled it off. The blood trickling down her face and all Chrysalis did was stay still and sob. She knew what was to happen and it was as if she accepted she would die! Once her horn was off that's when the protests started again.... I stood there and watched as she begged it was amusing. "Please just let me die! let me die peacefully! Kill me now! Stop smirking at me!" more tears came and I watched as she whined and then she said it again... Before she said it I was going to leave it there and take the spell off. "Please give me mercy!" but this time it was in cadence's voice very subtle but I could tell it was there. My blood boiling, I took the knife in my magic and stabbed her and said this. In the right shoulder: "THIS IS FOR MY WEDDING, you destroyed it and left cadence with nightmares!" In the left shoulder: "THIS IS FOR MY EMPIRE, you came here with Sombra and destroyed MY subjects hopes of being free! In her right flank: "THIS IS FOR FLURRY, my daughter is probably in my room trying to calm her other siblings!" In her left flank: "THIS IS FOR BRAVE, my son standing in front of his sisters ready for Sombra to walk in and he's ready to defend them!" In her breasts: "THIS IS FOR SKYLA, my youngest daughter cuddling up to her siblings, crying for her mommy who will never come all because of YOU!!!" In full floods of tears I stabbed her the last time, leaving the blade in, before taking off the spell, to finally let her burn in tartarus. In her stomach: "THIS IS FOR CADENCE, WHO YOU KILLED IN COLD BLOOD, MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE SUFFERED ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, SHE WILL NEVER SEE HER CHILDREN AGAIN! YOU MONSTER!!! After all that the second I took the spell off she was dead. The crystal blue and purple floor was red and my fur was no longer white. That's when I herd voices and walked outside the room in to the throne room, or what was left of the throne room. To see you and your siblings, all the elements along with Celestia. I let Aunty Twilly take you as I was covered in blood, we went to a coffee shop so I could tell them what had happen with Chrysalis. I was then informed of what had happen with Sombra. **** When did you tell them about mum??
Recovery"Well, once I had finished telling them that Chrysalis was dead and no longer a threat. I told them." "How???" "Well I..." **** I went to tell them, When Princess Luna approached. "Thy see that Thy's nephew is not hurt, but where is Princess Cadence?" She asked as she did, everypony looked at me with questionable expressions and I again felt horrible, my ears fell and I told them. "Cadence is no more..." I couldn't bring myself to say dead. Everypony looked at me with confusion. I then knew I would have to say it but couldn't instead I opted for the word.. "MURDER, she was murdered by that monster!" I didn't mean it to come out that harsh, it just had. I felt my tears start again as I felt two pairs of wings comfort me; your brother and sister both had wrapped their wings around me and Flurry had started to cry as well, brave stood strong to afraid to let down his guard. (what a soldier, he would become...) Auntie Twilight along with the elements sat in shock and the princesses: Luna and Celestia looked at me for a minute before coming to your siblings side. Luna took your siblings from me, while Celestia took me away from the rest of the group. She said in the softest tone. "Where is she?" I didn't reply, just sniffed and lead the way, when we passed the group, I saw twilight go to speak and Celestia gave her a look to wait with everyone else. Deep in side, I think she knew where I was taking her. We walked into the castle past the crumbling throne room and in to the crystal room that had once been a lounge. Now in the room lay two bodies; one a mangled Princess laying along with the form of a beaten and ripped up, monster. The once beautiful blue and purple crystal walls and floor were stained with blood, so was my coat. Celestia walked over to Cadence with the instinct to pick her up. I wasn't having any of it. "Leave her alone, She's my princess, I will carry her!" I said this in the darkest tone possible. (Again I didn't mean it, it just happened) Celestia was shocked at first then her face returned to one of sympathy, she knew I hadn't been able to stop Chrysalis, again. But she became even more shocked when she examined Chrysalis's body or what was left of it. She looked at me with horror. I explained... "She told me in detail, how she killed MY Cady, I was making sure, she wouldn't do it to my foals or any other pony!" She again looked at me with the eyes of a parent, who was sympathising with a foal, she saw my tears and wrapped me up as I let out all my emotions. I cried like a colt and held on to Celestia, it was as if she was shielding me from all the horrible things that had occurred in the space of 1 day! After about 10 minutes of bawling like a colt and Celestia caressing me, I heard hooves against crystal, I pulled away from the soft wings that seamed to protect me from all of equestria's evil. I saw princess Luna standing in the doorway mouth a gape from the sight of both corpses. Celestia calmed her sister and we all walked out of the crumbling castle, I had your mother wrapped in a royal blue curtain from my throne. At the sight of us coming out the elements, you 3 foals and both of the princesses captains came rushing over to see me lay cadence down, away from the crumbling castle. All the guards and soldiers bowed their heads to me with respect, their former captain. Their guilt and shame was written in their expressions. After everyone went back to work, my personal captain Flash Sentry came to my side and knelled before me, he said how guilty he felt and I should place the blame on him as he was meant to keep watch. I hugged him as a friend and told him. "It was my fault, I was her husband, I failed her..." After I told him to be silent and he went to ready the carriages. The guards and soldiers secured off the empires crystal castle and surrounding area, the princesses declared it was unsafe and was to be pulled down as soon as possible, in the mean time there would be guard posts, stopping any pony endangering themselves. As a former Captain and a Prince, I took care of the losses and injuries. we lost - - Over a hundred royal guards and soldiers. - Over fifty injured royal guards and soldiers. Most wouldn't/ didn't survive. - An entire race of ponies - The crystal ponies all but about 15. Most being foals or older ponies. - Queen of the changelings. (I'm glad!!) - An alicorn princess... After everything was safe and counted. Me, you, Brave and Flurry took a royal carriage to Canterlot. We was closely followed by Celestia and Luna, and the six elements. On my lap lay your mother wrapped in the royal blue curtain from the throne room and covered in gold silk, an anniversary present, Celestia and Luna had given us, a along with many other items. I wrapped her in it to honour her with my love, something I hadn't been there to give, when she died. I prayed, she would forgive me. Once we touched down, in Canterlot many nobles were waiting to see us all. They were shocked to see no cadence but me floating a body shape in to the castle, one noble tried to talk to me, I ignored him with the threat of breaking down, with the four of us in side. Luna and Celestia addressed him to why I had ignored him and the nobles were immensely upset to hear the news of cadences death. The days blurred as I made the preparations for Cadence's funeral with the help of your siblings playing and caring for you. While the royal sisters and your Auntie tried to help me move on with the fact, Cadence was dead. During the funeral, you wasn't present. I didn't think it was right for you at weeks old to be at your mothers funeral, so you stayed with the maid. I held your siblings either side of me. Celestia, Luna and twilight along with some nobles said some words. The guests cried, my mother and father were present but I wasn't really aware of it. After the words were said and it was my turn I couldn't talk, your siblings were fully crying, Brave not caring who saw, cried like I did with Celestia at the empire. I asked your Auntie to read what I had written for your mother. I was in my own world re-living the pain of watching chrysalis taunt me. I was later told by my mother that my statement was beautiful and she said that Cadence would be pleased. The flowers was laid and........ and...... **** "and... what dad? "Sorry Skyla, I don't remember what happen until that night.... it all blurrs into nothing" "Okay so what happen that night..." **** Well ... Even though Chrysalis was dead, she still haunted my dreams. That night especially, I was suddenly woken up by Luna and Celestia, they had rushed in my room of the castle, to find me kicking and screaming, I then explained my nightmare... "I was walking down the empires halls at night, looking for your mother, when she appeared and then disappeared and then appeared with no head, I thought my eyes where playing tricks on me, but when I woke to find chrysalis on me strangling Cadence. That's when you woke me up." Luna knew I was having nightmares over Cadence not forgiving me. She aloud me to speak with your mother in a dream. **** "Yes, before you ask I spoke to your dead mother in my dream..." **** In the dream, Cadence told me that she was at peace knowing that I had taken care of Chrysalis and that you foals were safe, she then told me to beware of the future and I must stand strong no matter what. She then made me promise that I couldn't punish myself for her death and that Chrysalis tricked her. She stated that: She had been teleported and that I couldn't do anything even if I wanted too. I then kissed her and woke up to see both sisters by my sides. Throughout the weeks that followed, I stopped having the nightmares and learned to live with Cadence no longer being alive. But 2 princesses didn't... **** "King Shining Armour, Princess Skyla." "Yes Flash Shining Stars, What's the problem." "Your Dinner meeting with the Saddle Arabian Princess, Princess Sapphire Stone, wasn't it and your highness, please don't pronounce my full name Flash is fine..." "Then don't use mine, we are friends as well as you being my personal guard m'lady. Now Skyla, I'm sorry I will have to tell you the rest of the story another time. I will see you tomorrow morning for breakfast, yes? or are you going out with your sister?" "Going shopping with sis!" "Okay then, love you and behave. Flash can you lead the way please." "It would be my pleasure My King, good night Princess Skyla." "Good night dad, night Flash."
