Displaced: Fallen Kingdom

Patience was a virtue. Cadence and Shining Armor had learned that lesson well. Cadence in her years of dealing with nobles; Shining Armor in his time as a guard. That said though, they wouldn’t deny that they were starting to get worried; hours had passed and Misty Peaks was still nowhere to be seen. Cadence was lightly tapping her hoof on the ground - a sign that Shining Armor recognized as her beginning to get nervous. As for her stallion, he was openly pacing around the enclosed space that was Misty’s home.

“Where is she?” The stallion questioned as he glanced towards the door. “It shouldn’t take this long for her to come back should it?”

“No, I don’t think so. Maybe something happened?”

“Probably.” Noah muttered as he opened one of his eyes and looked at the stallion. “Then again something was bound to happen eventually. She could have got caught, could have become dragon food, our target could have had her ‘invited’ to his bed chambers…”

“How can you say all that so easily?”

“Even if something doesn’t look back; you stare into the abyss to long and it changes you.” Noah stated as he closed his eyes again. “The darker side of the world gets easier to see - to accept. Least that’s what I think.”

“Even if something doesn’t look back; you stare into the abyss to long and it changes you?” Cadence repeated as looked at the seated stallion. “What does that mean?”

“It’s a twist on a philosophical saying back home. The actual quote goes “He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby becomes a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.”

“What does it mean?”

“ Nietzsche left it up to the reader to interpret it so it’s meaning so it changes depending on who you ask. I could give you my answer but that doesn’t mean it’s the ‘right’ one.” Noah shrugged. “Besides, my family uses a variation of it anyway - we could be more off than normal.”

“Well what does it mean to you?” Cadence asked as curiosity crossed her face. Princess or not she was interested in philosophy. It was something that stuck with her since her school days. Gave her an idea of how other ponies thought and saw the world.

“To me? Well… I guess you could say the first part means do not let hate for someone consume you; lest it becomes all you know. Hatred; hating that person, hating their line… Don’t get me wrong I get hate, but it’s a poison you know. It eats at you, and does more harm than good in the long run. In the long run it… demonizes you, turns you into something beyond recognition to yourself or even those you love.”

“You turn yourself into a monster.” Noah nodded his head at Cadence’s words and she fell silent. “And the second verse?”

“Ah the second verse.” Noah made a noise that sounded like a chuckle, though not one a pony should have been able to produce. “Well -” Before the stallion could continue the front door opened and the three turned their heads to see Misty Peaks slipping into her home.

“I’m - I’m sorry I’m late! I didn’t mean to be gone for so long.” The mare stated as she bowed her head in submission. “Sombra forced me and others into the mines to work.”

“As long as you’re alright.” Noah nodded his head as Cadence stood and made room for the mare. “How did it go, were you able to find Clear?”

“Yes she was in the mines with me. She just…” Misty’s ears dropped to the sides of her head as she looked down. “She just doesn’t fully believe me, believe that we're 1000 years in the future.”

‘Big shocker there.’

“She needs proof. Proof that we aren’t in our era and that ponies are here to help.” Misty stated as she looked at the princess. “She’d like to meet you. To know that somepony really is here trying to help us.”

“We can do that.” Cadence stated as she looked to her husband.

“Meeting with her should dispel any doubts in her mind. Where can we meet her?”

“Her home would be safe.” Misty stated as she spoke up. “It’s a bit far from here, but it’s probably the best place for you to meet…”

“Then let’s go.” Noah grunted as he pulled himself from the ground and stretched. “Sooner we get this over with the better.”

“N - now but?”

“Noah’s right, besides it’s already past moonrise and the empire should be sleeping.” Shining Armor stated as he peaked out from the nearest window. “If we’re going to move now would be the best time.”

“I’m not certain about that.” Misty stated as she looked at the stallion. “Sombra controls the night, his eyes are always open when the shadows are out.”

“I doubt that.” Noah stated as he shook his head. “If it’s his words it’s probably a bluff to keep you guy in check.”

“I’m with Noah, besides the night belongs to Princess Luna, not Sombra.” Shining Armor stated as Noah adjusted his hood. “And as long as Lunas watching us then we should be fine in the darkness.” Misty stayed silent as she looked at Cadence before seeing her nod her head.

“Alright I’ll take you to Clears home, but… just to be safe we should stay away from the shadows.”

"If you say so."

***

They looked like twins. Noah thought as he looked between Misty and Clear. Same gray coat, same dark mane. The eyes though, the eyes were different. Clears were almost silver, Misty’s were more blue. Other than that they really did look like twins, even had the same expression of disbelief upon seeing Cadence. For a while Noah wondered if all the mares shared that expression. Watching the mare bow to Cadence, Noah took notice of how her expression changed for a moment. ‘She’s uncomfortable with this.’ Strange, you'd think as a princess other ponies bowing to her might be a common thing.

“So it’s… it’s really been 1000 years?”

“Yes, strange isn’t it?” Misty put a hoof on Clear’s back as she looked at her friend. “It took me a moment to believe it myself.”

“It feels like only hours have passed.”

“We get that.” Noah muttered as he crossed his hooves. “But regardless; Misty said that you might be able to help us get into the Crystal Castle unnoticed.”

“Well yes, possibly?”

“Anyone else getting a 'maybe' vibe?” Noah looked to Cadence and Shining Armor before shaking his head. “Whatever, I mean I can always use the front door. Wouldn’t be the first time I walked into an enemy stronghold that way.”

“You may not have to, I mean there are ways to sneak into the Crystal Castle, secret passageways that the public knows. They’re just hard to find.”

‘That’s… kinda the point.’

“Well can you lead us to one?”

“I can but… I don’t think you wanna go that way.”

“Why?”

“It’s…” Clear paused as she shook her head. “It’s not blocked off or anything it’s just… it’s filled with dark magic, Gives it a really strange feeling, and… when somepony I knew went down there once… he didn’t come back the same. It was like he saw something that shook him to his core.”

Noah just made a noise as he took a moment to stretch and look to the window. “So we got something above us and some dark magic in the shadows… great setup we can’t get anywhere without getting into trouble.” He sighed slightly as he looked at his handgun for a moment and checked to see how many slugs he had in it. “Bothersome. Why can’t this ever be easy?” He muttered as he crossed his hooves and leaned against the wall.

“Any ideas on what we should do?” Cadence looked to Shining Armor and Noah as they both just stayed silent for a moment.

“Is there anyway to purify the secret passage of dark magic?” Shining asked a Noah looked at his hoof for a moment as some energy flickered to life for a moment.

“Purify the dark magic? That… That’s possible I think just… you would need something.” Clear muttered as she tried thinking back. "What was it again? Why can't I... ?"

“The Crystal Heart?” Cadence muttered as everypony turned to her. “What’s the…”

The Crystal Heart?”

“Yes - yes that’s right!” Clear and Misty both physically brightened as their coats flickered for a moment.

“The Crystal Heart is an ancient relic of the empire. When filled with the light and love of everypony around, it has the ability to cleanse the entire empire of dark magic!”

“Well that’s useful.” Noah muttered as he looked back to Cadence. That confused and disturbed look was back. ‘Something about this place is definitely doing something to her…’

“Where is it?”

“We… we don’t know.”

“Sombra hid the Crystal Heart after he took the throne, we really don’t know where it is…” Misty admitted as Cadence’s ears dropped.

“Where there goes that idea.” Shining Armor just sighed as Noah made to rub his temples but stopped and looked at his hooves. ‘Right; no fingers…’

“What should we do then; look for it?” Cadence looked between her husband and Noah as they both exchanged glances.

“I don’t want to risk getting corrupted by dark magic…”

“I don’t wanna risk getting a dragon’s attention.” Noah admitted as he yawned. “But right now topside sounds like our safest bet."

“So the front door?” Noah shrugged as he crossed his hooves. “If that’s the case when should we move?”

“Tomorrow night.” Noah stated as he looked at the group. “It’s late right now and we’ve had a long day just getting here. Should get some rest and save our strength for what’s coming.” Shining Armor just nodded his head and turned to Clear and Misty.

“I’d hate to ask this but would you be willing to put us up for the night?”

“Of course! Please I’d be more than happy to offer you a place to stay.” Clear turned to Cadence as she gave a weak smile. “I’ll clear off my bed for you.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Cadence stated as she gave a smile. “I can take the floor.”

“But-”

“It’s fine.” Noah stated as he looked at Cadence for a moment longer before turning his attention to Clear. “Just bring a couple blankets and we’ll be fine.”

“I… alright.”

***

Cadence looked so peaceful when she slept. Seemed that whatever was bothering her earlier hadn’t rooted itself in her dreams. Shining was happy about that. He’d noticed the looks she kept getting earlier. She wasn’t sure what was going on with her, and neither was he to be honest. “I just wish I knew what I could do to help…” The stallion muttered as he ran a hoof on his wife’s cheek and took a deep breath. “This is the least I can do…” Shining muttered as he put his blanket over Cadence’s own and started to walk away.

“Shining…” Pausing the stallion looked at his sleeping wife as she smiled in her dreams. “I love you Shining.”

“I love you too.” He smiled as he went back and kissed her cheek before leaving the house. Night was still young, and that dragon was nowhere in sight. That meant he still had plenty of time till daybreak. So he ran, heading down the streets as he made his way through the darkened empire. Clears place was in the center of the city, but that still put quite a bit of distance between him and the castle.

That said though… he didn’t like this.

The streets were barren. Wasn’t the first time he’d seen empty streets - back when he was a regular guardspony night patrols showed him how empty Canterlot really was, but this was different. Maybe it was because this wasn’t Canterlot, or maybe it was because there weren’t any patrols going around the city. “Where’s his guards?”

“Probably doesn’t have any.” The stallion paused as he looked in a random direction, trying to pinpoint where the voice had come from. He looked to the shadows as he found a pair of golden eyes staring back at him and quickly flared his horn with magic.

“Who’s there?” The watcher just rolled his eyes as stepped further into the light. “Noah?”

“Shining.” The golden eyed stallion remarked with a smirk.

“What are you doing out here?”

“I could ask the same question to you. Bit late for a jog don’t you thing.”

“I was going to the castle.”

“Yeah I figured as much, we're on the same page in that case.” The stallion made a gesture as he stepped back into the darkness and Shining Armor followed. Even with the light from his horn illuminating the area around him Noah was still hard to find. Seemed he was trying to stay out the light for whatever reasons. “You’re going after Sombra, just like I was. Get everything done tonight.”

“So that talk about acting tomorrow night was just to try and get me and Cadence from being involved.”

“Pretty much.” Noah’s eyes blinked before they turned elsewhere. “I figured he wouldn’t expect an assassination attempt the moment he got back from the ice.” The stallion admitted before looking back at Shining Armor. “Everypony’s scared of him and hopefully he thinks we’re on the other side of that barrier.” Noah admitted. “What’s your reason?”

“I just… I don’t want Cadence to get hurt. I’m fully expecting a fight to break out, and I don’t want Cadence to get caught in the crossfire. As her husband, and a guard I can’t allow any harm to come to her.”

“Spoken like a knight… ya move like a novice though.” Noah snickered as Shining Armor raised an eyebrow.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Even if there aren’t any patrols in sight, never charge straight ahead and down the streets to get to your goal. You never know when someone might just turn a corner and spot you. Use the shadows and the environment to hide yourself. Also…” Shining blinked as Noah waved a hoof and his magic suddenly fizzled out. “No lights.”

‘How did he…’ “Right sorry, we didn’t do a lot of stealth missions in the guard… didn’t need to.” He admitted as he stared at the two seemingly floating eyes in the dark. “So what do we do?”

“Now, you follow me, and stay out of sight as best you can.” He saw the stallion turn and suddenly shoot up, landing on one of the buildings as Shining made to follow him. A burst of magic to give him some lift and he jumped, clinging to the ledge before he climbed up to be beside the clothed unicorn. Noah moved and and Shining Armor followed, jumping from one building to the next as Shining created small arcane shields to act as platforms for him. When the gap in the streets became to big of a leap Noah dropped into the shadows below - only to suddenly pop up on the other side of the streets. Shining just followed with his platforms as he tried keeping up with the stallion.

‘Sweet Equestria he’s fast…’ Thanks to his Guard training Shining had always managed to stay in shape, but Noah, no regular equine was this fast and he was moving like water across the rooftops until they reached the entrance of the corrupted Crystal castle.

“You still with me?”

“Yeah… I’m good just… what were you before coming to Equestria; a thief?” He tried to joke as Noah just stepped toward the castle.

“No, but one of my ancestors were.”

“… what?” Noah just shrugged as he stepped forward.

“Well master thief/graverobber anyway.” The stallion admitted as the two stepped into the palace and looked around.

“You know… I was joking about the thief thing right?”

“I wasn’t.” Noah smirked as he looked to Armor before returning to gaze at the castle. “This place looks horrible.”

“Yeah. All this is from dark magic corruption?”

“Fraid so.” Noah just sighed as he created a black claw and used it to unsheathe his blade and let it float to his side. “Come on, sooner we find Sombra the sooner we can get out of here and kill off the source of corruption.”

“Will that revert the crystal empire back to regular form?”

“In a way; it’ll stop the spread, but it won’t heal what’s already been changed. We’ll need some serious purification magic to fix what’s here.”

“Do you know Purification magic?”

“I wish. You?”

“Sorry, I don't. But what about the Crystal Heart thing Cadence and the Crystal Ponies were talking about?”

“If we can find it.” Noah muttered as he closed his eyes and seemed to think. “But let’s do this one thing at a time. We go after Sombra, get him out the picture and then we can worry about fixing the empire later.”

“We should probably start looking for the royal chambers, that’s bound to be where he sleeps.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

***

In another part of the castle a mare couldn’t help opening her eyes and yawned. “Oh they’re here early. I was at least expecting them to wait a day or two, but I guess this works just as well.” She thought aloud as she sat up and stretched. “I get my homework done early and I get out of here.” She thought aloud before breaking into a smile. “Do put on a good show Sombra, in the meantime, I have something else to do before I end up leaving this place.”

***

He gulped, took a breath and steadied himself and looked at the doors before him. Shining Armor wouldn’t lie, he was nervous, then again with the amount of Dark Magic saturating the place that was understandable. He couldn’t just feel the hate in the air, he could taste it on his tongue. And it tasted… wrong, wrong on levels in which he couldn’t accurately describe. Such hate, such rage… what kind of Equestrian let this much hatred reside inside them?

He pushed that thought away though as he and Noah stepped further into the abyss that sprung this evil. They’d started their search for the royal chambers - where Sombra was no doubt sleeping before Noah suddenly turned his attention elsewhere. He hadn’t said why but after a few minutes of walking Shining felt the reason, felt the choking darkness growing around him and his companion. ‘How’d he know it was this way?’ Well the stallion had said that this wasn’t his first time with dark magic so maybe he developed a sense for it? Either way the longer he followed the stallion the more the darkness grew till it was almost suffocating the former guard captain.

“Looks like we made it.” He muttered as Noah looked ahead, focusing his attention on the large double-doors in which the dark sensation was originating from. He took a breath as Noah snorted.

“Nothing says Boss Room like two oversized intricate doors, right?”

“I hear ya…” Shining Armor couldn’t help breaking a smile as Noah returned it. “It does seem pretty cliche though doesn’t it, evil overlords castle, giant foreboding doors.”

“All we’re missing is the hundreds of monsters occupying the castle in order gain experience points from.” The two shared a short laugh as Noah took a breath. “And we’re missing a final save point or backup characters, but we should be fine; after all we have the hero and his sidekick here to save the empire.”

“Which of us is the hero though?”

“Me.” Noah stated as he smirked. “Duh.”

“Why are you the hero, I’m the knight.”

“Former knight.” Noah used his black claw to wave his sword. “You retired, and I have the cool sword.”

“I’m the one who gets the princess in the end though.”

“Yeah about that; fuck you.”

“Bite me.”

“Have your wife do it, I bet you like it when she nibbles.” The two broke into a short laugh as they shared a smile.

“You know, I figured I’d be more nervous about charging at an evil royal.”

“Yeah I try to not stay completely serious when I’m about to do something stupid - can do that when I’m getting my ass kicked.” Noah admitted as turned back towards the door. “So you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

“Good enough.” Noah muttered as he and Shining both used their magic to envelop the doors and pushed them open. “Let’s do this.”