Displaced: Fallen Kingdom

Corruption could spread like a plague. Sometimes it was invisible; taking it’s time to spread its roots and fester like a poison. In other cases it was easily noticeable; acting like a rabid beast that lashed out at everything. In this case it was the latter. Dark Magic, Maleficium, it’s corruption had spread throughout the Crystal Empire like a twisted force of Nature, warping the nation into what was now a shadow of itself. Forming dark spires in the streets and plains as a blackened infernal castle stood in the distance.

“This… this is the Crystal Empire?” Shining Armor wondered as he stared ahead. Eyes locked in disbelief as Cadence bit her lips.

“It is now.” She muttered. “How… how is it?”

“It’s caused by dark magic.” Noah muttered as he frowned. “Dark magic, it corrupts whatever it touches, sometimes it works fast - sometimes it works slow, but it always corrupts. I’ve just never seen I twist something this fast before in my life.”

“The crystal Empire it’s… empathetic.” Cadence muttered as she drew a pair of looks. “It resonates with magic, amplifies it. When fed by King Sombra’s it… helped spread the corruption.” She stated before her eyes widened in alarm and confusion. “How - how do I know that?”

“Cadence?”

“Auntie never told me that so how - how do I know…”

‘This isn’t just a subconscious thing is it?’ Noah thought as he stared at the princess of Equestria, however a moment later his eyes drifted behind her, staring at the strange tattoo that she had on her back - her butt? Flank? What was the right word? It didn’t matter at the moment. What mattered was that the tattoo was glowing, faintly anyway. Shining hadn’t noticed because he was to busy staring at his wife’s face, whereas Noah had gotten distracted by the crystal heart seeming to pulse. Shining made to ay something before stopping, his attention snapping to the dark castle as something from it shot into the air, a dark pillar of light that stabbed the sky and started to spread. “Now what?”

“We gotta move now!” Shining caught the pair’s attention as they looked at him. “That’s the first part of a barrier spell, we don’t inside it’s range of effect before that thing drops we’ll never get into the Crystal Empire!” He took off running, with Cadence and Noah right behind him, each sprinting across the plains as the black miasma started to spread over the empire’s grounds. They were fast, admittingly so; the spell was faster, rolling across the sky like thunderclouds and curving as it started to drop.

“Come on…”

“Stop it..”

“Come on.”

“Stop it.”

Come on make it…”

“You jinx us I’m kicking your ass Armor!” Noah hissed as they approached the edge of the falling barrier. They were cutting it close, it to close to be honest. Could barely see the city now.

“No!” It barely hit the ground as Noah stopped running. Rising onto his hind legs he cupped his hooves before bringing them forward firing a small blast of white energy at curved wall. There was no explosion, there was no rebound. All that happened was the wall started to dissolve, bits of black arcane disappearing as it formed a hole. “What the-”

“Just run!” Leading by example Noah, dropped to be back on all fours as he and the others started to run again, charging through the hole before it started to close once more. Moment the last part of the barrier repaired and the barrier was closed it glowed once before becoming transparent. Turning Noah tapped the barrier as he saw it bend for a moment. “Looks like we made it.” He noted as he looked back at the pair as they took a moment to regain their breaths.

“Yeah.” Shining Armor noted as Cadence looked back to the empire grounds. “Nice save. We wouldn’t have made it without your quick thinking.”

“Just don’t expect me to do that again, doing that took a lot out of me.”

“Oh Equestria.” Cadence raised a hoof tapping her husband on the back as she drew his attention “Look.”

May very well of been a city of of the dead; an empire of moving corpses, all dead in all but name. There were no chains, but the entire empire was enslaved. Noah just took a breath, staring at the sight as Shining Armor shook his head. “I’d heard of places like this in books… never thought I’d ever see one in real life.” The transformed teen stated with a hint of distaste. His skin crawled, his blood boiled, his eyes glowed a faint red. Reading stuff like this in books always bothered him, wasn’t sure why but it always had. To actually see it though? He took a breath, as he calmed down, breathing out red vapors before taking a look towards the sky. Something was circling the skies, before stopping, resting itself on top of the crystal castle and releasing a noise.

“Is that… is that a dragon?”

“Well isn’t that cliche.” Noah made a noise as he shook his head. “Big bad tyrant’s gotta dragon for a guard dog.” Looking back to the road ahead he started walking. “Come on, we still gotta move.”

Sneaking into the Crystal Empire wasn’t exactly difficult; not when the numbers were small and with a three-pony team, moving around was wonderfully easy. Getting caught would be the problem though. Noah, Cadence and Shining Armor realized that as they found themselves hiding behind a building, getting a better look at all the sights that were present in the city.

“Look at them all, it’s like there’s… nothing left inside them.”

“It’s like the life was sucked out of them.”

“Might as well.” Noah muttered as he returned to their hiding spot. “Look at their stances, their eyes.”

“They look so… defeated.” Cadence whispered as Noah shook his head. “They’re like a pack of zomponies.”

“They’ve lost their will to live, their will to fight fight back.” There was no need to chain those so broken and defeated. A waste of iron. “Still I honestly I was not expecting this.” Not from adorable cartoon like equine.

“Everyone hide.” Shining Armor called out as the three hid, ducking behind their shared hiding spot as a shadow passed overhead. Dragon; no not dragon, something else. What though, that was a question that refused to be answered in the brief moment they saw it.

“Nice save.” Shining Armor just nodded his head as he started looking around.

“We can’t stay here, we gotta move.”

“But where?” Cadence whispered as she looked at her husband.

“Anywhere that dragon can’t find us.” Shining Armor muttered as he started looking around. “They didn’t cover how to fight dragons back when I was in the Guard.”

“I just don’t deal with dragons…” Noah shrugged as he settled down and crossed his hooves. “Still that said I’m with you on trying to find a place to hide for a moment. Much as I’d love to just charge in through the front door, put a bullet in this Sombra guys head and call it a day, I don’t think that’s possible at this moment.” The teen muttered as he looked back towards the castle. “I mean I’ll do it, but he’s got a home-field advantage on us.” ‘Then again when has that stopped me before?’ He questioned before glancing elsewhere.

“There has to be a place for us to hide. Maybe one -” Before either could link Noah turned and lunged. Sword practically flying out his sheath like a quiver as Shining Armor released a noise in surprise. Before is magic could spark to life Noah was behind him as a muffled yell was heard. When the stallion turned, he found the dark haired unicorn pinning a mare to the wall. His sword pointed at her throat as it was held by a floating black claw. The mare released another panicked scream as she stared at the stallion for a moment longer. “Noah!”

“Noah wait!” Cadence cut in. ‘A black claw?’ “Don’t hurt her!” Noah didn’t say anything as he just stared at the frightened mare a moment longer.

“You have good eyes.” He said after a moment as the claw lowered his blade and returned it to it’s sheathe. Without much delay he lowered her to the floor as he nodded his head. “Sorry, you shouldn’t try sneaking up on us.”

“O - Ok…” The mare whispered as she looked between the trio. “Sorry.” She lowered his head. “I saw color and grew curious.”

“Saw color?” Noah muttered as he looked back around corner. “Well I guess we do stand out a bit. Everyone’s so gray.”

“Why is that?”

“I - I’m not sure, I don’t remember. We don’t really try to remember what has been done to us under Sombra’s rule.” Noah twitched as he glanced at the mare for a moment. “Who… who are you? Are you here to help us?”

“Yes.” Cadence stated as she stepped forward. “We were sent by Auntie… Princess Celestia and Luna. We were sent here to protect the Crystal Empire from King Sombra.”

“We’re just sorry we’re so late. We hadn’t expected him to get here ahead of us.” Shining's words went unheard as the mare stared at Cadence for a while longer before her eyes widened in shock.

“The Crystal Princess.” She bowed.

“What?”

“You… you’ve returned - I had always wondered- I’d hoped you’d return, but I hadn’t thought I’d live to see the day…” Raising her head she looked at the mare a while longer before tilting her head. “You look… different for some reason though. Did you adopt a new appearance after you were banished?”

“Banished?” Cadence’s face had the same expression as her spouse while Noah just raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about I’m not Crystal Princess, what lead you to believe-”

“Excuse me real quick, but should we really be having this conversation out here?” Noah asked as Shining Armor nodded his head. “Curious as I am, I’d prefer to get answers somewhere more private and without the treat of dragons hanging overhead.”

“Yes - yes of course.” The mare stated as she looked around for moment. “Please follow me. My home is open to you.”

***

The beast was making its rounds again. Patrolling the city as though it were all part of its own territory. The beast’s owner was nowhere to be found, but her pet was still flying through his skies - only way he knew she was still in his domain. Where she had disappeared to was beyond him, but so long as she did not stand in his way that was fine. Sombra thought as he stared outside his castle balcony any watched the dragon-like beast fly through his skies, landing here and there, looking down at his slaves before finding another place to look from. ‘She is skilled if she could tame such a behemoth…’ He thought to himself as he turned his attention away from the animal and made his way back into the castle. Dragon or not, tamer or not, he let his thoughts go elsewhere. For starters; his location. It was good to be home. The frost and ice of the northern wastes was nothing compared to the shelter brought about by his empire, and he’d certainly missed it after these past thousand years. Missed the sight of his slaves struggling through backbreaking labor. Always brought a smile to his face.

That said however, there was still a princess either on the horizon or within his walls. Question was who was it; Captivating Celestia or the Lovely Luna? Honestly he wanted the daybringer, but he was hoping for night sister. There had always been something in her, some darkness that he had recognized when they first battled all those moons ago. As for Celestia? Yes there was a darkness within her as well, but it was buried, buried so deep he could barely sense it. To twist her darkness, allow it to grow and fester - that would take time and careful manipulation. Something she would without a doubt fight every step of the way. Molded the right way both would certainly be suited for as queen… perhaps even as empresses. And every empress needs an emperor.’ He stated before shaking his head. He could think upon such thoughts later. As of now; he had other matters to deal with - there was still that old ‘project’ he had yet to finish, and of course there was seeking out the one that was in his lands. He promised that beast tamer a show, he’d give her one.

***

Dead on their feet, ponies walked through the streets without a word or really a sound. Staring at them from outside the house Noah shook his head as his tail moved with his irritation. So many empty vessels, so many broken souls. This was Sombra’s handiwork, and they were unfortunate enough to see it. Turning his attention back to the inside of the house the stallion sat on his haunches and crossed his front hooves. The house wasn’t the biggest, but it was still large enough to hold all of them easily. At a table fit for four Shining Armor, cadence and the gray mare sat as they talked. The mare, Misty Peaks, looked down at her hooves as Cadence finished her piece. Shock and revelation on her face as she seemed to be processing what she was just told.

“Has it… has it really been 1000 years?”

“Yes, I’m sorry but you, the crystal ponies, and the Crystal Empire disappeared do to King Sombra’s curse all those centuries ago.” Misty Peaks shook her head.

“I can’t believe it… it feels like only yesterday that the battle between the Equestrian Princesses and Sombra was going on… but 1000 whole years? We’ve missed so much.” Misty looked back to Cadence as her ears dropped a bit. “So you… you really aren’t the Crystal Princess are you?” Cadence could practically see the hope starting to break in the mare’s eyes, but there was nothing she could really do about it at the moment. Reluctantly she just nodded her head.

“I’m sorry; my name is Mi Amore Cadenza, Equestria’s third Princess and the Princess of Love.”

“Amore?” Was it weird how easily ponies expressions changed? That was all that went through Noah’s head as Misty perked up. “That’s the name of the royal family.”

“It is?” Shining Armor received a nod as Cadence looked on in confusion.

“Yes, the Amore Bloodline traces itself back to the founding of the Crystal Empire, and as such every member of the royal family carries it. How do you possess it?”

“I - I’ve always had that name.” Cadence admitted as her look of confusion grew. “My parents said that my birth name was written on the basket they found me in all those years ago.” The mare fell silent as she seemed to think on something, or at least she tried to anyway. In her eyes they could see a fog surfacing, trying to make her forget what she was trying to remember.

“If that’s the case…” Noah spoke up as he looked at the trio for a moment. “It could be that you really are the crystal princess, or at least descended from one.” He stated as he glanced at Cadence. ‘Hell you may even be reincarnated for all I know.’ “Misty… was it possible that some of the royal family escaped when Sombra took over?”

“Escaped? No… no I don’t think so.” She whispered as she tried looking into her clouded thoughts. “No… maybe… there was a rumor that the former princess was supposed to have carried a child shortly before Sombra took over.” She paused for a moment. “No actually - yes she did carry a child once. I remember because one of the days she went about the empire I saw her belly, but Sombra took over before the birth was publicly announced - or at least before the Crystalling could take place.” The mare nodded her head as remembered that fraction of her empire’s past. “It could be that one of the princesses trusted managed to escape with her child before Sombra got to them.”

“Crystalling?” Noah shook his head as he dismissed the question.

“If that’s the case, the pony probably would have retreated to Equestria.” Shining pipped in as he started looking at his wife in a new light. “It is the closest allied nation after all. Cadence you might be descended from that baby.”

”I… I…”

‘But if that’s the case why didn’t they take the baby straight to Princess Celestia and Luna? Wouldn’t they have accepted the child and refugee with open arms… hooves? Whatever. And if that’s the case why wasn’t she born in the castle after all these centuries instead of being adopted by some random couple somewhere outside the capital?’ Noah’s private questions went unanswered as he looked at Cadence’s confused expression. Obviously this was getting to her. ‘Then again she’s also seems to know about the Crystal Empire and its location despite never being here before. No wonder she looks like she’s suppressing a panic attack…’ “Anyway unless we got something to prove it, this is all just one big theory anyway Cadence. We can figure all that out later.”

“Yeah, your right.” Cadence still looked a bit uncertain but she nodded her head. “Misty? Do you have any idea of how we can get into the castle? We have to deal with Sombra as soon as possible.” Misty’s ears dropped again.

“I’m sorry I don’t think I can help you with that. The only way I know into the Castle is through the front door.”

“Damn, and here I thought we could use some secret passages or something.”

“Secret entrances?” Misty shook her head as she looked at Noah. “Sorry I don’t know anything like that… Clear might though.”

“Clear?”

“She used to work in the castle, so maybe.”

“Where can we find her?”

“She should be with her family right now, I think - I hope.” Correcting herself Misty shook her head as she continued. “I can go ask her for you.”

“You don’t have to, if you just tell us what she looks like then -”

“You will stand out like sore hooves, I can move through the city without drawing attention to myself.”

“Well you do look like everyone… I’m sorry that sounded way less racist in my head.”

“You’re forgiven... I think.” Misty replied as she stood from her seat. “Please allow me to do this for you. No pony will suspect a thing if I go speak with her. In the meantime you can all stay here and rest.”

“Are you certain?” Misty just nodded her head. “You’ve already done enough just hiding us here.”

“I’m on board with this.” Noah cut in as he looked at Misty. “You served the last Crystal Princess didn’t you?”

“Yes how did you -”

“Your eyes.” Noah tapped the side of his face as he closed his eye. “Your eyes tell a story. They’re not like an everyday person but not a knight either. I’m guessing you were a squire or something?”

“I was starting guard training before Sombra took over so yes. But after he took over I was sent to the mines. I was one of the lucky ones that way. The others were… they didn’t last long.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you really want to know?” Noah muttered from his spot and Shining Armor’s silence answered for him. “Misty… be careful, and thank you.”

“You don’t have to worry. I… I’m honored to help.” The mare said as her coat brightened for a moment before returning to normal. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Please just stay hidden until then.” The mare stated as she quickly left her house as she returned to the streets.

“Real quick; you two saw that right - her body changing color?”

“I saw it.”

“Ok so I wasn’t seeing things, was that normal?”

“I don’t think so. Maybe it’s a crystal pony thing?” Shining Armor wasn’t sure and Cadence wasn’t answering. “So what do we do now?”

“We wait.”