Harmony, Chaos, and Shadows

Sombra decided to get an early start the next morning and went about trying to revitalize the empire’s military as well as put the rest of the Crystal Ponies to work. Noon was fast approaching so Sombra, Twilight, and their prisoners (bound in chains) made their way to the train station. Twilight kept her eyes forward unable to bare the sight of the others the way they were. They waited on the platform and a few minutes later a train pulled into the station and Celestia, Luna, and Rainbow Dash disembarked.

“Ah princesses so good of you to come. I believe you’re familiar with my wife Twilight.”

“Yes, she was a promising student in my school.” Celestia’s disappointment stung worse than anything she had felt before. Twilight couldn’t bring herself to make eye contact with them, especially Celestia.

“Now then have you agreed to my terms?”

“We have.”

“Very good, then both of you sign this.” He floated over the treaty and they signed.

“There now release them.”

“Forgetting something?” Celestia gave him an unpleasant look, pulled out the Element of Magic, and tossed it at his hooves. “Perfect.” Sombra placed the element in the slot of Twilight’s crown and released the others. They quickly made their way to the princesses. “Our business is concluded, now be gone you.”

As much as the princesses didn’t want to leave the Crystal Ponies to the fate they would receive under Sombra’s rule there was nothing they could do at the moment. Aside from the Crystal Heart the Elements of Harmony was their best chance at defeating him and now they could no longer use them. They boarded the train, it pulled away from the station, and the pair headed back to the palace.

The train ride back was eerily silent for the first few minutes until Shining spoke up. “How could this have happened? I know my sister. She wouldn’t do something like this.”

“Well she did. Sombra seemed to know a lot about us. She could have been spying on us for who knows how long. Face it, she sold us out,” said Dash.

Shining got up in an aggressive manner. “Shut up!”

Rainbow Dash did the same. “Make me!”

Celestia put up a barrier between them. “Both of you calm down. Captain I realize this is a difficult time you for but try to control yourself. The same goes for you Rainbow Dash.” The two retook their seats. “Now from what I observed Twilight seemed to be reluctant and uncomfortable being there. It’s possible she is not there by choice but if that is the case then what could Sombra have done to make her stay?”

Cadence tried to comfort Shining and he hung his head low. “How am I going to break this to mom and dad?”

“Don’t worry, Tia and I are going to do our best to look into this matter. Although there’s no telling how long that may take.”

Twilight sat at the desk in their room with her head buried in her forelegs having a soft cry. Sombra walked in and approached her. “There, there my queen, this is not only a new beginning for you but for us. Give it some time, and when you’re finished meet me in the throne room. The nation isn’t going to run its self after all.”

He made his way to leave when Twilight lifted her head up and turned it towards him. “Why? Why was it so important that I be here?”

Sombra stopped and turned back around. “Because I was impressed with what I saw. With your intellect and talent for magic you had the means to do great things, and I knew if you were at my side we would become an unstoppable force. There would be nothing that could stand in our way.”

“You mean your way.”

Smobra went over and put his foreleg around her. “Twilight do not think you are a mere pawn in this. I said I would treat you like an equal and I will.”

“You say that but when it comes down to it your word supersedes mine. Just leave me be for now.”

“Very well.”

After Sombra left she took a moment to think to herself. It’s my fault. I was being selfish and didn’t think about what could happen because of it. Now I’m paying the price.

Cadence decided to help Shining break the news of what happened in the Crystal Empire to his parents and they just finished explaining the situation. “This is some kind of cruel joke right…right?”

Shining let out a sigh. “I’m sorry mom. I know this is difficult to hear. I still can’t believe it myself.”

“No, Twilight wouldn’t do this, she wouldn’t,” said Night.

“I’m sorry but my aunts and I have witnessed this. We want to believe Twilight didn’t choose this but we don’t know anything and until we do we can’t rule out any possibilities.” Velvet broke down crying and Night tried to comfort her as best he could.

In the throne room Celestia and Luna were talking to Sunset and the others about what to do going forward. “Forgive me princess but this is bullshit! You expect us to sit around and do nothing!” said Dash.

“And what would you have us do? We have a treaty with the Crystal Empire. If we were to break it and go on the offensive it would destroy relations and diplomacy with other nations. Who would want to deal with us if we went to war so soon after making peace without just cause?” Rainbow was still pissed but understood Celestia’s reasoning. “Luna and I will handle this, in the meantime you all should return to Ponyville for now.”

“Princess you’re sure there’s nothing I can help with?” said Sunset.

“At the moment no, but I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”

“Okay it’s just, I feel like such a useless failure for not being able to get the Crystal Heart and stop Sombra,” she said getting teary eyed.

“It’s alright sugarcube. It ain’t your fault.”

Celestia went over and wrapped her wing around Sunset. “No it isn’t. I know you did your best, and none of us saw this coming.”

“Yeah if anything it’s that bitch Twilight’s fault.” The others gave Dash a look. “What?”

“Rainbow Dash we still don’t know what her involvement was and if it was willing or forced,” said Luna.

“Please she was probably just putting on an act to make herself look innocent.”

“We are not going to debate this matter until we have evidence to support it pointing one way or the other. That is all for now.”