The Cause: One Blanket at a Time

A clock chimed twelve in the distance as Princess Celestia sat in her sister's bedroom reading a scroll that had been recently sent from Baltimare.  The Princess always felt closer to her sister when she was in Princess Luna's royal chambers though she was hundreds of miles away.  Distracted, she looked up at the moon where the silhouette of a mare could be seen.  Celestia often asked herself what her sister would have to say about these situations. Rest my sister, I will watch over the night. Luna would have said sweetly, then softly nudge her into bed. But her sister was gone, banished, once again to her far away prison.  Celestia had also been forced to single handedly send Discord back to his prison of stone, and battle Queen Chrysalis with the help of her niece Princess Cadence.  Though princess Celestia was immortal, she felt old.

A loud knock echoed through the silence, the princess sighed.

       “You may enter.” She called to the pony on the other side of the door and continued reading about a flood in the area of Baltimare.  Just then the door was flung open and a guard entered.

       “Your Highness, we have received a scroll from the Crystal Empire,” stuttered the white stallion.  A look of shock flashed across the Princess’s face but she quickly hid it not wanting to startle the guard.

       “Thank you Flashing Comet, you may go.”  The guard bowed and left the room leaving Celestia to read the mysterious letter.  The Crystal Empire is gone, it is only a barren wasteland of snow!  Thought Celestia as she broke the seal, which was red wax, and had a crystal imprinted on it. Her eyes opened wide in shock as she read the letter’s contents

Dearest Princess Celestia,

I have escaped my prison in the icy north In order to send you this message.  I have my full strength back now and have returned the Empire to it’s former location.  I plan to recapture it however I want more than the Empire, I want you to rule by my side as an equal,  we can rule over the Crystal Empire, Equestria, and beyond!  Join me and we will become the rulers of the world!  In order to find me again, meet me in the “special place”.  I will be there awaiting your arrival.  Join me and we can rule together, do not and I’m afraid I must consider you an enemy.

Your Friend or Foe,

King Sombra

     Celestia simply sat there in shock unable to think a clear thought Sombra…Crystal Empire...Friend or Foe...Celestia shook her head in an attempt to come to her senses and make a plan.  Deep breath in...And out. She told herself and she began her planning.  She would first alert her niece Cadence and her husband Shining Armor, they could be trusted to stay calm.  Then she would begin preparations for war.  Then?  Then she would have to tell Sombra that her decision was the latter, Sombra’s foe.  There was no time to lose, the princess ran through the castle to Princess Cadence’s chambers.

              Knocking, then bursting open the door when she got an answer she said as calmly as she could.

“Please get Shining Armor, it's an emergency.”  She paced up and down the bedroom, from the bed to the door and back again as her niece raced to get her husband.  Soon she returned, pulling the stallion’s hoof as they ran into the room.

“What is it?”  Asked the pink mare worriedly.

“The Crystal Empire has returned!” Announced Celestia, then she read them the Letter, leaving out the part about “the place”.  Cadence and her husband looked horrified but quickly came to her senses.

        “With your permission Aunt, I will draft a newspaper article to the public telling them what they need to know.”  Said Cadence, worry was in her eyes but Celestia was grateful to have such a bright, smart niece.

         “I can send out some guards to watch our Northern border and some to set up drafting posts in each town.” Offered Shining Armor.  Celestia’s heart began to return to it's normal pace. Thank heavens I have these two!  Thought Celestia, then returning to the real world she replied,

         “Thank you, please do, and let me know if you need something from me, I will be working on planning the supplies we need.” She nodded respectfully  to her niece and nephew in law then conjured a scroll of parchment to begin her list.

***

It had been three days of planning and restless short nights, Equestria would soon be ready, factories would be built and workers of all types were being recruited, but Celestia was not ready.  She knew she couldn't put off the meeting any longer, so she put on a simple cloak and stepped out into the evening on the balcony of the tallest tower, she then took off and flew over the countryside to “the place”.

     The Princess landed in a clearing in a small forest by a small pond.  The place brought back many memories of the days in her youth when she would sneak away from Canterlot to play with her friend Sombra, during those happy times they would play on the banks of the pond or go swimming, carefree, neither knowing their Destiny.  It was now overgrown but the Princess walked over to the pond and bent over to drink.  She then heard hoofsteps behind her and slowly rose to her full height.  Turning her head so that she could see the Stallion out of the corner of her eye she said quietly,

      “Hello Sombra.”

      “Celestia, I am glad to see you have come.” Sombra walked up beside Celestia studying her face carefully, looking for the filly he used to play with.  “You have made your decision?”  His eyes were full of certainty, there is no way she could refuse thought the king.

      “Yes--” Sombra put his hoof next to hers a triumphant gleam in his eyes.  “I have decided.”  Sombra’s face fell, he thought the Princess had agreed but she had only made her decision.

      “Celestia, we can spare unnecessary bloodshed, become the most powerful rulers in the world!”  Sombra said with less certainty.

      “I will not side with you, we may have been friends in our youth but we have gone separate ways, I refuse to fight alongside you and your brainwashed soldiers.  It is my duty to protect my people, and I will!”  Snarled Celestia.  Sombra looked crushed for a moment then hid his emotions.

      “Have it your way Princess, We could have ruled together, but you leave me no choice.  You have five days to change your mind before I declare war on Equestria.” said Sombra coldly.

    “Very Well Sombra” said Celestia anger rising in her voice, “But the foal I knew would not be so foolish.”  Then the Princess flew off to Canterlot leaving Sombra staring at her as she slowly became hidden in the mist of the night sky.