The War

"That meal was just what I needed". Chimed Shining Armor as he smiled contently at his now empty plate."I can see that dear." Giggled the pink Empress. Both ponies had been married for a little over a year ago, even though to them, it feel like as it it had only been a few weeks

For Shining, life in the Crystal Empire was so different than his previous life in Canter-lot. Sure he missed his family and friends and his old job as the Captain of the solar guards, but Cadence was worth it all. The two met when they where young. When he used to foal sit his younger sister Twilight Sparkle. He was very shy at first when it came to confronting her about his strong emotions for her. But he had to be brave. and Nothing would stand in his way. He told her on hearts and hooves day and it went off smoothly. of course she was taken by surprise but she accepted his offer. The two dated for a few years until Shining finally pooped the question. Of course the Princess said yes. The two got married in Canterlot with a simple wedding. Ever since the wedding. Shining armor has taken his job as Emperor and Husband very seriously.

He only ever wanted what was best for her after all.

After their meal Cadence yawned and said she was going to hit the hay earlier than normal. She had a conference with Princess Celestia in the morning so it only made scene. Shining smiled and gave her a kiss as she headed up the crystal stairway to her sleeping chambers.

"Shining are you coming?"She sang down the stairs. Shining smiled "yeah, I will be up in a bit. I have to take care of a few things."

Shining Armor waved her off and went to patrol the halls like he did on a normal basis. Everything was very normal and peaceful... but there was a strange feeling in the air that he couldn't shake off his withers. He shrugged it off and moved on. after the halls where cleared, he decided to go for a gallop in the evening air. Being an Emperor, he didn't usually get time to himself. He was always inside and he rather missed the Outdoors. He had No problem with taking advantage of this rare opportunity.

He cantered outside onto the crystal streets. the springtime evening wind blowing back his forelock as he began to gallop in the fresh open air brought him more than simple joy. he felt free. As if  he was a bird who has escaped his cadge and was able to fly free, and NOTHING could clip his wings.

The Unicorn reached the crystal gates that where the gates of the Empire as he took in the Frozen North around him. he smiled and yawned."I should get back before it's too late and Caddy Bear worries..." He nickered contently and made his way back to the Castle.

That was when sometime particular happened. A single small snowflake landed on his nose.

He was taken by surprise by the snowflake.  Shining Armor Enveloped it in his purple magic careful to examine it. Making sure it was a legit snowflake and not just his own figment of imagination... But no it was definitely a snow flake.

seconds later millions more began to blow past him. He looked behind him in horror.

Yeah to most ponies Snow was not a rarity in the Frozen North. The Crystal Heart was the center of the empire and kept everything snow free and safe, as it has been for many generations before. So if there was snow in the Crystal Empire, it usually meant that eater the Crystal heart was damaged... or worse... gone competently!

A small blizzard approached him. Knowing this, he broke into a full on gallop back to the castle, more particularly, the altar of the Crystal Heart.

He finally arrived at the altar only to find that was missing..... Shining  looked around frantically and on alert. It was then when he finally saw an unnatural Black smokey cloud devour the horizon.

as it got closer Shining squinted his eyes only to notice this was no regular smoke. it had shaped itself into two green and misty eyes. Shining pined his ears and didn't budge.

the mist collected itself as it got closer it began to take form of a pony. more like some sort of strange unicorn like figure with an unnaturally curved red horn and knife like teeth.

for a moment Both shining and the creature stared at each other the creature smiling evil. Shining stomped his hoof. Sensing this stranger was no friend and was not supposed to be here. "Who are you and what do you want?" Shining commanded assertively.

The Black unicorn just grinned as he approached the young Emperor. The Stallion readied his horn in suspicion. the Creature spoke with a low crack unnatural voice. "I am your King. King Somber. I have chosen your lovely Empire as my home and you will surrender or else lights out for your Wife." Somber used his dark magic to summon a cadge with Cadence chained down and begging for her husband to rescue her.

Shining gasped and growled"Not if I have anything to say about it. Don't make me get the Sisters. "This statement sent Sombera Into a chuckle. "Hardly! Over the previous century, I have gathered enough magic and entry to take down Celestia and Luna themselves. So There is no use in fighting. If you give me your thrown and allow me to take ownership of the Crystal Empire and your subject's freedom, i will consider sparing your lives. but if you don't lights out for both of you. You decide."

The young Prince was torn. there was no way he could choose between the love of his life. and the subjects that he has grown to love. He had no choice.

" I will give you the thrown Sombera. As long as you don't harm her." Shining said as he surrendered stepping closer to the dark unicorn.

Sombera grinned. "Good choice young stallion." With that he used his magic to block his magic and chain him up with his wife in the cadge.

Shining was used to being in the crystal prison. but he was usually on the other side of the bars. He groaned as he failed once again as attempting to buck away the Crystal bars on the cadge they where in. he finally sat down weakly. "I-I'm sorry Cadence. I am weak.. there is nothing i can do. i have failed you , I have failed Equestria.... I am so sorry."

Cadence warped her wings around him in a soft embrace. "Shinny, you always tell me never to give up when it's tough. and there is still hope for Equestira! you need to escape and go find Luna. alert her of Sombera.,. build an army and Take Sombera by surprise." Shining sniffed and looked into her eyes. "B-But what about you? He will hurt you."

The empress chuckled  "don't worry about me Shinny. I'm a big filly I can take care of myself for a while. now go while you still can.." It was just big enough for him to squeeze through.

"Shining You need to go now. no time to waste and good luck.." she gave him a peck on the cheek just before he made his way out...  "hey shining?" She called back to him as he began to twist the beam back in place. "Y-yes?" He croaked.  "I love you..." He sniffed and kissed her through the cadge as much as he could. "I love you too....." with that, he smiled at her reassuringly, earning a smile back from his wife. He quickly, and quietly hopped up though the gait, escaping into the night, to find Princess Luna, Build an army and take back was was rightfully theirs.

"Sir? SIR! are you there?" Pinkie pie's cherry voice strayed the Captain from his thoughts. Shining Armor shook his head snapping out of his reverie. "Y-yes... Pinkamina. I am fine. Just nervous... i was thinking about her again."

Pinkie smiled and looked up at him with a soft gaze. "Don't worry sir. She is gonna be okay We will deffinatly find her."

He smerked confedently

"I know we will!"

The Troops neared the Tar infested Empire. Shining paused , raising a hoof high queuing his troops to come to a halt. soon, the Solar Army found themselves face to face with their Opponents.

Dark warriors who remained in their robot-like armor. Their leader stood ahead of them parallel with Shining armor.

The battlefield was silent as the wind blew by. The cold, bloodthirstily glance in Sombera's eyes reminded Pinkie of her nightmares... She did her best to not think about it and focus on the task at hoof. The pink mare glanced up at her commander waiting a command.

King Sombera and Shining Armor slowly moved closer to each other. Looking one another square in the eyeballs.

Sombera smirked "I see you finally made it out here." He said gruffly.

The royal Guard remained emotionless. "Indeed... Now that I am here. I will give you One last chance to surrender. and I will dismiss my troops. and there will be no bloodshed."

Sombera let out a deep chuckle was nearly loud enough to make the ground shake. "Now why in Tartarus would I do such a thing? If i wasn't mistaken, i'd say you where there to just amuse me"

Shining Armor snorted. "Becuase If You don't we will make you. We never did anything to you! You took away our Ruler! You Took away My Wife, You took away MY Home! You took away my Subject's freedom! and you took away My Wife! I have no intentions of amusing anypony, We are fighting to get back what is rightfully ours! We never did anything to you!"

They both grew silent staring from Sombra to Shining Armor.

The dark stallion huffed " That is not true Shining. I couldn't help but notice you have captured one of my guards.

If you don't return him to me, I will have to use force." Shining was taken by surprise by this comeback. "What do you mean? I know for a fact that We have not captured any pony. I even went over role call this morning."

The King gritted his teeth. "Where. IS. HE?"

Shining stomped his hoof with annoyence. Are we really doing this? "I said WE Don't have any prisoners!"

The umbrum Leader growled.

"Give him to me now! You have one more chance!"

Shining Armor flicked his ear and snapped;

"WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEM WE CAN'T EVEN TAKE PRISONERS!!"

The beast hissed "FINE! I will take him back by force." The Caped Unicorn reared and let out practically one of the most ear breaking neighs (if you even call it a neigh) to his troops queuing them to attack at once. Sombera's spiked soldiers moved forward at a galloping pace towards the opponents.

Shining reared and told everyone to get ready to attack.

as the two armies collided, Marble did her best to say by her sister's side, while repetitively dodging everyone's attacks and using them against the enemy. Pinkie Pie followed a similar tactic, while Cheese was able to trick one enslaved pony to but heads with another.

After what felt like a life time of continuous dodging and bucking, Cheese whistled at Pinkie, catching her attention. He leaned down and talked to her in her ear.. "Pinkie Pie, all of this fighting is getting us NO where closer to the Princesses. We need to get to the castle somehow. Its not too far away."

Pinkie looked at the golden pony and nodded, tapping her younger sister on her withers. Marble looked at her as Pinkie explained the plan to her briefly. Marble smiled lightly "Lead the way."

Cheese lead the girls towards the casltle, while keeping out of both Shining Armor and King Sombera's radars. The three ponies slithered around the fighting ponies and eventually made it over to the empire.

Marble peaked out of the bushes, doing her best to keep out of site. The castle grounds where depressing to say the least. They where defiantly not the once shimmery site they where once upon a time. Pinke poked her head out of the bush and took a look around.

Cheese followed in suit. "So now what?" Whispered Marble keeping here eyes on the guards that where standing by the front gate.

Pinkie swished her tail in thought. Her face lit up as she looked up at the stallion next to her "You said you where a stationary guard right?"

Cheese nodded "yep... why?" Pinkie smiled "Do you think you can figure out a way to sneak us in?"

Cheese's face lit up as he took off his solar armor and pulled out his old Sombera armor out of nowhere and started to put it on. "How about we do this, I will go in dressed as a guard.. and You will have to pretend to be my prisoners. This way i can sneak us though the guards and into the dungeon chambers."

Pinkie smiled "That would work!"

"Well, i know a route that will take us right to the dungeon.

BUT... The only way through is through the west wing of the castle. If we go through with this, and the guards buy it, I can get us into the dungon as quick as a whistle."

Pinkie beamed with enthusiasm "Wow such a planer you are indeed!"

Marble goraned, rolling her eyes. here we go again.

the Pink elbowed him playfully. "Great plan soldier I'm glad I found you!" He smiled shyly  and began to paw at the ground sheepishly

"It's nothing really. It's just a simple plan...."

Marble did a light skip in place. " well then soldier, Lead the way before the worse!!"