Spiral Knights-Shattered

As Kazin prepared the portal for entry, in Equestria, Princesses Celestia and Luna watched the excavation of a similar portal from underneath Canterlot, in the caverns beneath the city.

"What is it?" Celestia asked her sister, who merely shrugged in reply.

"Whatever it is…" Celestia mused. "We must be ready, and we can't let our guard down. King Sombra's troops draw closer…"

"Princess!"

They turned to see Guard Captain Iron Bolt walk up.

"We've managed to isolate the energy signature that that portal is emitting. We think that there's another one on this planet."

"Let's hope Sombra hasn't found it yet." Luna said. "Can we open the portal?"

"Working on it." Iron Bolt replied. "It's tough going. The energy signature is unlike anything we've seen before. Our magic's not doing much."

"Stay with it, Captain." Celestia replied. Iron Bolt saluted, and walked off.

"Sister?" Luna asked upon seeing Celestia's thoughtful look.

"I think we should send somepony through the portal to see what lies on the other side." She replied. "Twilight, maybe?"

"Possibly." Luna mused. "A detachment should go with her."

"As always." Celestia replied. "Guards, alert us when it is fully excavated."

"Yes, princess!"

========

Lt. Feron walked into the Haven square to a relieving sight. The holes in the wall had been patched, and Delrex had moved a considerable amount of supplies and tech into Haven. The Data Knights were thrilled to see untouched Gremlin tech, and Delrex had also been set up a liaison office to support the Gremlin operations that were now taking place alongside the Knights. A few Blue Writ soldiers were now working in the Lab. Feron sighed and continued to walk, until he noticed an incoming comms request.

"Sir?" Data Knight Alris reported over the comms. "We've cracked into the crystal core we recovered from the Constructs."

"And?" Feron replied.

"I was right. It was that being's pseudo-brain, or what's left of it. Apparently the "Golems", as that's what they're called, were dispatched as a scout force, by a being called "King Sombra". I can't get much more than that, for as expected, it was damaged. There's the chance that any more prying on our end could cause it to shatter, explode, or worse, and we'd lose all hope we have of finding who King Sombra even is."

"Thank you, Alris." Feron said. "If you find anything else, contact me."

"Yessir."

Feron sighed and walked into the Garrison. Before he could enter the Hall of Heroes for his meeting with Lieutenants Rhendon and Barrus along Desna and Intel Knight Kora, there was the sound of rushing air. Feron immediately drew his Leviathan Blade and several Spiral Wardens braced themselves. A purple and black orb formed in front of them, and it expanded, revealing seven strange, equine beings. Six were clad in armor of black crystal and bore pikes, but the leader bowed respectfully and gave Feron a demonic smile.

"My greetings." he cackled.

"Who are you?" Feron growled.

"I am Kazin, Ambassador of the Crystal Empire. I have been sent by my master to discuss negotiations with the inhabitants of this world."

Feron raised an eyebrow. Something about this "Kazin" felt...off.

"Alright, come with me." Feron said. "I am Lieutenant Feron, of the Isoran Spiral Order."

Feron and Kazin walked into the Hall of Heroes, while his Guards stood outside. The Wardens returned to their posts, though they eyed the equines with suspicion.

=========

Feron escorted Kazin to a private conference room, and the two of them sat down.

"Tell me...Kazin, your master seems rather...bold to show up in the middle of our Garrison unannounced." Feron said. Through his many years in the Spiral Order, Feron had learned how to judge if a being was telling the truth. And Kazin was not passing Feron's test, not by a longshot.

"My apologies." Kazin said. "My lord did not know where...our method of travel would lead us."

"And what might this "method of travel" be?" Feron inquired.

"A portal we found on our world." Kazin replied. "It was unknown to us, in design and function. We sent a scouting party to investigate...but they returned with nothing of interest to report." Feron immediately recognized he was lying, but decided to see if he could get more information.

"And did this Scouting party come in contact with anything?" Feron said.

"No." Kazin replied. Again, Feron knew he was lying. Before Feron could ask further questions, two comms requests opened up.

"Pardon me." Feron said, slipping out of earshot. He quickly tapped into the incoming feed from Theta Squad.

"Theta Squad, report." Feron said.

"More contacts, main gate." Corrus reported.

"Golems?" Feron said.

"No, sir. Seven of them. Equine. One calls herself "Princess Twilight Sparkle, of Equestria. We're holding them in the plaza. What are your orders?"

"Tell them I am busy and will join them soon. In the meantime...have the Wardens take up breach and clear positions around the Hall of Heroes, but keep it quiet and out of sight. And make sure that they don't leave the city until I reach them."

"Yessir."

Feron then entered Data Knight Alris's feed.

"We've managed to get further into the crystal brain." he reported. "This King Sombra is a real piece of work, and I don't mean that in a good way. From what I'm reading, this guy's on par with the Swarm in terms of just "pure, mind-bending evil". If the beings that made contact earlier are aligned with him, it means trouble. Big trouble."

"Understood." Feron said. "And one of his ambassadors, or so I suspect, is meeting with me. I think we have the upper hand, now that we know the truth. I'll see what I can get from Sombra's ambassador. In the meantime, tell Theta squad to bring their contacts to the plaza. I have an idea as to how we ascertain who is to trust."

"Roger that." Alris said as the feed ended. Feron walked back into the conference room, only to stop and hide behind the door. Kazin was speaking to a ball of ghostly black flame.

"Do they suspect?" said a voice that made Feron shudder. It was tinged with malice, darkness, and a cold tone that would freeze a Grimalkin in it's tracks.

"No." Kazin said. "They seem to believe me, at least for the moment. But we do have a problem, Lord Sombra. If the Golems weren't destroyed, then they could potentially find access to a Golem Heart…"

"And it is of no concern." the voice said once more. "They will join us or be crushed beneath my hooves. If the Equestrians arrive...deal with them."

"Yes, my lord." Kazin said. Feron had heard enough. He quickly ordered all available combat teams to the Garrison, and the Spiral Wardens to lock down the city.

"...And make sure those supplies are marked properly." Feron said, coming back into earshot of Kazin. "Thank you, Squire."

Feron sat back down, and smiled underneath his helmet.

"Shall we resume?" Kazin asked.

"We shall, but I think some fresh air would help." Feron said, baiting his trap. "Come with me to the Plaza."

"As you wish." Kazin said. As they entered the Plaza, Feron smiled.

"Hook, line, and sinker." he thought. "Let's introduce them to our...other guests."

=========
Feron and Kazin, followed by the Wardens and Kazin's escort, entered the north Plaza, the Equestrians saw Kazin come up.

A few guards went for their blades…

A few more paled…

And one stood stalwart. Twilight Sparkle eyed Kazin with anger. Kazin's eyes furrowed at the sight of them.

"Well, it seems we are already acquainted." Feron said. "And I have a confession to make, Kazin."

He and the Wardens strode up and stood with the Equestrians.

"Did you honestly think I would be that stupid as to believe you and your lies?" Feron said, stalwart in tone and stature. "First, you lied about your scouting party. They did make contact with us, and they then proceeded to wound thirty-two Knights in a rampage that damaged a good portion of the Plaza. Then, while you spoke to King Sombra, I listened in, and learned your true intentions. I believe it was…Join you or be crushed? Next, we did recover one of your golem hearts, and we learned of its secrets, including the reputation of your King. I was...not impressed. And finally, I knew all of this before you even opened that pathetic mouth of yours."

Kazin flinched, but he snarled quickly.

"And you are fools to resist the will of my lord!" he barked. "Blind fools who do not know the power he has. He will wipe your pathetic existence away from the face of this world! None will stand against King Sombra!"

"Try as you might, I am not scared of him, nor am I scared of you and your threats." Feron said. "We have seen our world be devastated, our kind left to extinction, our future be ripped away from us in a fortnight. We have faced monsters with power that would make you scream and triumphed. Now, this is my ultimatum. Get out of our city and never return, or it will be war."

"War it is, then." Kazin cried as he and his escort vanished into thin air, quick as a flash. Feron lowered his hand from his sword and sighed.

"Put Haven on Lockdown." he sighed. "Status Bravo. Theta Squad, with me. Princess, if you will?"

Twilight nodded and followed Feron back to the Hall of Heroes, with Theta Squad not too far behind. As they all sat down, Feron sighed.

"Forgive us for that disturbance." he sighed.

"King Sombra attacked you?" Twilight asked.

"Yes. Three Golems attacked Haven and wounded thirty-two before they were destroyed." Feron said. "Some are still in the infirmary. But tell me, Princess. How exactly does Sombra factor into you coming here, to Cradle?"

Twilight nodded and gave an explanation of Sombra's rise to power, his supposed death at the Royal Sister's hooves, his rebirth and conquering of the Crystal Empire, and finally, the war with Equestria. Feron listened intently, knowing this was important.

"..So, that's how it is now." Twilight sighed. "We're at war, and we're losing hope."

Feron sighed.

"Princess, your situation is desperate, that I understand. But we have our own priorities and concerns. Do not mistake me, I do not want this tyrant coming to our world...but we cannot fight a war for you."

Twilight sighed sadly.

"But…" Feron smiled, walking forward. "I didn't saw we wouldn't fight it WITH you."

Twilight's jaw dropped.

"In exchange for fighting alongside your troops, we ask for help in restoring our ship, the Skylark, along with you supplying any materials needed to repair it. Also, we do not want to be used recklessly. We will function independently. Finally, once this is all finished, we'd rather like to go back to our own devices." Feron said, extending his hand. "Do you accept?"

"We accept." Twilight said, shaking his hand. "When can we begin moving troops?"

"Give us some time to round up forces, then we'll see." Feron said. "We'll contact you when we're ready to move out."

"And we'll be ready when you are." Twilight said. "Thank you, Lieutenant."

Feron nodded as the ponies vanished with a flash of light. Feron then headed to his original destination, the meeting with Rhendon, Barrus, Desna, and Kora in the Arcade Command Center.