Chapter 3: Crystal Empire under Siege

Chapter 3: Crystal Empire under Siege

I woke up feeling sore all over my back, I then realized that I was lying on top of two Pegasi. I scrambled away hitting my back into the tree.

“Oww, you have got to be kidding me, it wasn’t a dream that I am in a land of talking ponies,” I said. “I should help them, can’t leave here them with their injuries” as I bent down to inspect them. Up close I could see that they were different from the ones my home. Firstly, they had fancy colours. One had a dark blue colour fur and a pure white mane while the other had a red mane with orange fur, weird tattoos on the flank, one smelled like fresh water from a stream and the other smelled like strawberries.
I was about to touch them to check if there are any broken bones but then my eagle vision activated, warning me that there was a presence slowly trotting towards me. I quickly turned around to see a unicorn staring at me, her eyes in confusion on what I was. I could sense a deep breath meaning that she was going to scream but I quick drew my air rifle with the sleep dart active and took the shot. The unicorn crumpled to the floor, I then ran away, I couldn’t do this anymore. “Me living in a land of talking ponies, unicorns and pegasi, oh what am I? crazy?” I thought, I just continued running off to who knows where.

After what felt like hours of nonstop running I found myself in plain view of distant kingdom in between the mountains. It was a nice change in scene from the forest to the plains and mountains, the kingdom appeared to be made from crystals judging by the reflection of the sun, but I had to pause for a second to catch my breath. I stared at the plains, for a bit “It reminds me of the times, I had races with my brothers” I said, pausing after the word brothers. It was just about noon by the looks of it, the sun shining in my face but peering towards the kingdom a storm seemed to be brewing, “Maybe, I should check…” I thought.

SLAM.

I landed on the ground, my face contorted in pain as my wound reopened. Looking up I saw a unicorn lying on the floor, trying to catch her breath, she then got stood up and said “Sorry…APE!” and scrambled back. I chuckled at the word ape, but my head started hurting, “Oh no, you’re hurt” the unicorn said as she activated her magic. Her horn glowing bright and my wound then exploded in pain as I clutched myself. The wound started knitting itself back together, and the pony said “I’m sorry for hurting you”

“It’s alright” I said and then the pony fainted. I sighed I grabbed a flask from my pocket and sprinkled some water on her. Sputtering back to life, she mumbled “Monkey talking,”
“Hey, I am not a monkey, I’m a human.” I said.

“Oh ok, Huuumaaan,” the pony said, struggling to pronounce it.

“I also have a name, Silver Adler” I said raising my hand.

“Ah, Radiant hope” Radiant said while confusingly bringing up her hoof to shake mine.

“Awkward” I thought, “Um, why are you in such a rush that you had to bump into me?” I asked.

“I didn’t mean to…OH MY GOD, I need to go now,” Radiant said.

“Does it have something to do with that?” I pointed to the dark ominous clouds over the Kingdom.

“If you must know, the Crystal Empire is under attack from King Sombra and I was sent by the princess, Amore, to warn Princess Celestia and Princess Luna and call for reinforcements” Radiant said in one breath, “Also he’s my friend.”

“WAIT WHAT!” I said, grabbing her shoulders, “How could a friend do this, he is not a real friend, I am going to kill him” as I started walking off.

“Wait what, you can’t do that,” Radiant said, “He’s my friend.”

“A real friend wouldn’t be evil unless you’re evil yourself.” I said bringing out my hidden blades. The audible gulp could be heard as she stared at those blades.

“I am not evil, my friend is different, but may I ask what are you?” Radiant asked.

“I am an Assassin and I work in the dark to serve the light” I said and started walking away. Turning my head back to see Radiant Hope speechless. “Why am I even helping” I thought, I sighed and continued knowing the full reason anyway. I turned around again to see Radiant galloping off again probably to tell the Princess Celestia and Luna.

*Start The Hero Within-James Paget*
An hour later I was standing in front of the gates of this supposed crystal Empire, the once glittering Empire of crystals now under siege with black crystals encasing the beautiful colours. Smoke drifted away from the centre of the Empire, the dark ominous orange clouds drifting about. My Eagle vision told me of no enemies and also of the golden opportunity at the top of the Crystal Palace. I stared at the nearest building, calculated the path I would take and acted. The breeze brushed my black hair, my silver eyes pierced the Empire for enemies but none were found. I was born with blue eyes, but when I discovered I was an Assassin, my eyes started to change. My father told me that I had a lot of potential when he discovered my eyes and that I would become a world changer. I laughed at the fact of that because I was just one person and didn’t believe that I could make a significant change in life, as the majority of the times I got myself, and others, in trouble.

I continued running across the crystal houses, the smell of gunfire filling my nose, “So they are not that primitive in their way of life, they somehow discovered gunpowder” I thought when suddenly a shadow came down at me. *0:39* I rolled sideways and brought out my rifle to see a black crystal pegasus flipping and coming down hard. I took aim, time slowing down and fired, the crystal pegasus continued its course which surprised me and rammed into me, knocking the wind out of me and bringing me along for a ride. I continually hit it with my hands as I didn’t want to break my blades. The pegasus began descending towards the centre of the Crystal Palace where all the civilians were chained up. The crystal ponies’ heads where all down in shame for they could not fight against this King Sombra. “I need to free them but how” I thought but then I had an idea.

I aimed the grappling hook towards the nearest building and hoped for the best, the grapple unravelling and latching onto the building. The sudden jerk made the pegasus let go and I started falling, luckily, I landed in a haystack through a hole in the roof. The shadow passed by after a few minutes, I shuffled around the haystack to find myself in a crystal house. The interior was made from crystals, with the setup of a bedroom. I jumped back up to my feet to realise that my eagle vision was could not detect the black ponies. “Well thank god I had lessons with my father on training without eagle vision,” I thought “It would have been better if I had paid attention and not cheated a bit though.”

I burst through the front door shocked at what I saw, the crystal ponies all chained and beaten up from the rough enslavement. The black crystal ponies all turned towards me, their blank eyes trying to pinpoint me, “Hmm, they seem to be only able to see through sound” I said then it hit me. “They are all dead” I gasped, the black ponies rushed towards me hearing my gasp. *1:24* I slammed the crystal door and tried to find a weapon such as a hammer. I heard banging at the door and constantly looked around to find no weapon, but then an idea struck me. I brought out my 2 tomahawks and undid the strings for the blades. I grabbed two chunks of the hardest looking crystal and started wrapping them around the shafts frantically as the black ponies could be heard breaking down the crystal doors. Placing the axe blades for safe keeping inside a box that was in the kitchen, I prepared myself for the coming army.

The black ponies broke through the door to find me ready, they surged forward ready to bring me to King Sombra. I charged sliding across the dining table swinging my makeshift mace into the first head of the pony knocking it to the ground with the head flying off smashing into another pony. I spun to hammer two ponies in the head, then underarm swing upwards into another pony, the ponies kept funnelling through the broken door attracted by the noise of the smashing. I kicked one in the face, then shouldered another into the wall fracturing it. Another leapt at me knocking me to the ground, I smashed my mace into the face of the pony causing it to instantly falter. I rolled to the side to dodge a pony hoof trying to stomp my face, the floor cracking under the strike, I smashed the throat of the pony and backflipped over the group of ponies to the doorway. *2:03*

“Come and get me.” I yelled at the ten remaining ponies all inside the house, I then saw the line of ponies walking to the underground prison to my guessing. I crushed the nearest chains freeing the ponies and telling them to hide, until the black crystal ponies began calling to each other. I looked up to see King Sombra, standing on his throne of black crystal, he did not look happy. His horn glowed with power and then my eagle vision told me to move. I jumped out of the way to find a crystal was in my place. Shocked at what I saw, a black pony managed to catch me from behind knocking me down to the ground.

I backhanded the pony and managed to roll away before another crystal jutted up from the ground. I knew I couldn’t do this forever, but I pushed on, I was starting to be surrounded the black ponies forming a ring closing in towards me. I smashed into the front lines and hammered away aiming for the heads, my weapon slightly fracturing from the overexertion. I launched a shrapnel grenade into the group, body parts flying apart, I continued fighting until the army of 40 ponies where destroyed. But more kept on coming, Sombra constantly annoying me by summoning crystals and doing it more, and more rapidly. *2:49*

Meanwhile at the Castle of the Two Sisters:
Radiant Hope burst through the doors of the castle huffing horrendously to find the princesses. The knights in front were surprised to find a crystal unicorn smash through the guards but let her in because of the importance to the crystal empire. Princess Luna and Celestia where arguing about the sun and the moon and daylight savings but were interrupted when the crystal unicorn Radiant Hope barged in.

“The Crystal Empire is under attack by King Sombra, I am Radiant Hope sent by Princess Amore to ask for reinforce…” Radiant said but fainted midway.

“Oh dear” Celestia said.

“We need to go now then” Luna cried out.

“Knights guard the castle while we go deal with this assault and bring Radiant to the healing room.” Celestia yelled out.

“Yes Princess” all the Knights said saluting.

Activating her magic Celestia’s horn glowed with power and teleported both Luna and herself to the Crystal Empire. The crystal empire was in ruins, the sun shining behind the dark threatening clouds. Like a storm, the wind was picking up, changing with the anger of Sombra. They were standing on the main path to the centre of the Crystal Palace but what they saw was shocking. Black crystals were extended from the ground, bodies displayed on top horrifying the Princesses as they trotted down the path. Then they heard multiple smashing noises, to see a dressed up ape fighting strange black crystallised ponies. The figure was demolishing the black crystal ponies, body parts flying everywhere and then it laid it’s eyes on them.

“What do we do?” Luna whispered.

“I don’t know,” Celestia said looking at the fighter.

“Is that King Sombra?” Luna asked.

“No that can’t be him,” Celestia said, “I think it’s here to help,”

I stared at the two Princess, “I should end this now, or I will have to deal with those two later” I thought. I turned my head to see Sombra had leapt down from his throne and was charging at me. I heard a gasp from behind, but I saw the attack coming from a mile away. I placed my hands on his forehead and back flipped over, landing on a black crystal. He cursed, and his horn glowed with power. The crystal I was standing on entrapping my right arm and leg.
“I have you now, you ape, no one messes with me KING SOMBRA!” Sombra said and charged towards me.

“I am no ape, I am a human, my name is Silver Alder and I am here to kill you fake.” I said as I prepped my hidden blade looking into the eyes of the red iris.

“RRAAAAAH” Sombra yelled.
The dust picked up as Sombra neared me, I waited patiently as he thundered towards me and at the last second time slowed down. SHINK Sombra looked down surprised to find a blade was buried inside his throat. He clutched his throat feeling the soft velvet blood drop, before collapsing on the ground wheezing.

*End Song*
“What was that?” Sombra asked.

“A hidden blade,” I said breaking away from the black crystal. But then a crackle of laughing could be hear from King Sombra.

“I will not be beat by a stupid looking ape thing” Sombra said rising slowly. His horn glowed again with power trying to heal his wound.

“Well looks like I will have to end this” I said slowly walking up to him.

“Sister should we not intervene, we do not kill ponies, it is our code” the dark pony said abruptly.

“You are right sister,” the lighter one said, “STOP RIGHT THERE THEE”

I turned around to see the Princesses trotting towards me. One was a deep blue furred with a slight silvery blue mane, majestic pegasus wings, a sharp horn and a moon symbol on her front and her flank. The other Princess was a strong white furred with a pink cotton candy colour mane, divine pegasus wings, another sharp horn and a yellow sun symbol.

“I will kill this pony, he does not deserve to live” I said standing behind him holding out my blade towards his spewing neck.

“It is not right creature to kill,” the darker one said.

“I am doing this for the benefit for the ponies” I said.

“Thee are still not meant to kill for personal gain, you do not get to decide who dies and who lives, it is up to Death” the lighter one said, her horn glowing softly.

“Well I’m sorry to disagree but I do this for a living” I said bringing my hand closer.

“I command thee to STOP!” she said, “I am Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria and thee will not harm King Sombra as he is under our protection”

“Sister I don’t think this creature will stop trying to kill Sombra” Luna said in her connection with Celestia.

“I know sister I can see that” Celestia said in her mind.

“We must act then” the darker one said. Celestia’s horn glowed with the intensity of the sun making me shut my eyes and cover my face faltering backwards away from Sombra. But Celestia misjudged her power usage and Sombra’s fur began to burn, Luna quickly fired her beam to counter the solar flare but instead Sombra started to become a shadow. His whole body slowly converted itself into an Umbrum and he roared in delight for his shadowy new form.

“Why thank you Princess Celestia and Luna,” Sombra said “With this new form I will be able to conquer all of Equestria”

*Start Wander-Dyathon*
“Not if we imprison thee first” Celestia said as she prepared her magic, and entrapped Sombra in a ball of magic.

“Let me out” Sombra bellowed.

“You are not welcome here Sombra, your heart is as black as Tartarus,” Luna said as she blasted her magic towards Sombra.

Sombra suddenly grew very bright, blinding the crystal ponies all turning away, I was still blinded by the sun.
“You will not beat me, if I cannot have the Crystal Empire under my rule, NO ONE CAN!” Sombra yelled as his horn furiously glowed with red power.

“What is he doing sister?” Luna asked urgently.

“Oh, no we have to imprison him before he can place his curse” Celestia warned, her horn glowing brighter with Luna and her together, the magic ball blasted off towards the Frozen North and buried itself into the ground. Sombra cursed heavily making the ground shake, Celestia and Luna jittering in their hooves, my sight finally cleared to find that Sombra was gone. But then the ground shook heavily.

“It’s too late Sister” Celestia said sadly, “He managed to place the curse down before we could entrap him under the snow”

“What do you mean sister” Luna asked.

“The Crystal Empire will cease to exist,” Celestia said, “We must go now.” I looked around to find that indeed the Crystal Empire was disappearing, the buildings becoming mist, the wisp of the palace coming apart.

“We need to save the civilians” I said realising that the city was disappearing.

“True, Strange creature” Luna said.

“I am sorry Sister there is no time,” Celestia warned, “We must flee first”

“We are running away?” Luna asked shocked.

“Yes, and we need to bring this creature with us,” Celestia whispered, “It could be a danger to our society and needs a close eye kept on it”

“But we are leaving the crystal ponies to die then” Luna said.

“I don’t know sister what curse that Sombra has placed, but I believe he wouldn’t kill all of them out of cold blood” Celestia said then looked at all the black crystals with the dead guards on top realising her mistake. “If we do not go now, we will disappear also, and our kingdom will have no one to rule”

“Alright Sister,” Luna said, turning towards the ape, only to find it gone from its place.

“It’s around the corner,” Celestia said, her horn burning bright entrapping Silver in a ball of magic for transport.

“Hey, let me out,” Silver said banging on the wall, “We need to save these ponies, you have magic you can save all of them”

“I am sorry creature there is no time,” Celestia said, “Now go to sleep”, the lack of oxygen slowly getting to it making it faint.*1:53*

“Let’s go Sister” Luna said sadly, as the city slowly turned into a wisp. The crystal ponies that were hiding now slowly fading away, the majority hugging loved ones as they realised their impending doom. All crying while huddled together they slowly vanished into nothing, the buildings becoming nothing more than clouds and then disappearing into the night sky as the sun had set.

The beautiful night sky twinkled with remorse though as the great empire slowly disappeared. The Alicorns flying high to see the empty spot of the kingdom appearing as though nothing ever stood there in the first place. Celestia felt tears drop from her eyes to see a perfectly happy civilisation come to an end and disappeared in a click. “We could have saved the Empire if it were not for this creature in the way” Celestia thought and then sighed realising that blaming was not right.

“I wondered what happened with Princess Amore” Celestia said looking towards Luna.
Luna on the other hand was dazzled at the weird creature that they had captured, the black cloak had come off to reveal a handsome face, a white crescent moon pendant glittering under the starry sky.

“What a weird bipedal creature, it managed to take down Sombra all by himself and would have killed him if we did not intervene.” Luna said thoughtfully.

“Tis strange, the creature managed to disappear without me noticing, it was only with magic that I could detect the silhouette of the creature” Celestia said, “We will have a lot of questions for this creature when it wakes up.

“Sister, it also has my symbol of the moon” Luna pointed out.

“Strange indeed” Celestia said, “Let’s go home first, before we make too many assumptions”
*3:10*

And off into the night sky the Princesses flew not looking back at the destruction of the Empire. Instead heading back to the cosiness of their own palace to seek the warmth of the fires.
*Song slowly ending*

Author's Note

Also For all those that dislike could you please state a reason for it.