Author's Note

After looking at the last chapter, I'm glad to still see there's interest in this story Because of this I'm working harder to get more chapters out and hopefully get any feedback from you guys, good or bad. Thank you again for all the support and hope you enjoy the rest of this adventure!

Lost and Found

“Is it just me or are we descending?” Nick asked his companion as they walked aimlessly. They had picked a random direction and figured it couldn’t keep going on forever. However it had seemed they were wrong about that.

“I think so, all I know is that it’s a lot warmer, so at least we’re not outside the Crystal Empire’s shield,” Chrysalis replied, glad that there was finally some warmth for her to make sure her blood didn’t freeze.

“But if we are going down, are we in some basement?”

“That’s the only logical explanation, and the castle is probably the only building that would have one here. The thing is, where is Sombra?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. Considering he is so stubborn I don’t see him joining us.”

“Well then all the better you decided to come around to my side,” the wolf smiled at Chrysalis.

“You better believe it, not only do I have the beauty,” she waved a hoof at her lithe body, and then pumped said hoof in the air. “But I have the powah!”

The wolf rolled his eyes at the comment and gesture. “Yeah yeah, let’s just be prepared for whatever happens.”

A purple light began to light the floor, which the two noted but didn’t pay much mind to. As they continued to walk though, Chrysalis face planted into an invisible wall.

“Like that,” Nick chuckled, looking back at his companion.

“Ha ha very funny,” she rubbed her nose, side stepping the ‘barrier’ and following behind where Nick had walked before yet walking into another wall.

“What the hell?!” she exclaimed, punching the barrier in front of her.

Seeing as this was potentially serious, the wolf tried to back track, although he too was blocked by the same barrier.

“What do we do-” was all Chrysalis could say before she vanished in a flash.

“CHRYSALIS!”

“Well now, I’d say that evens out the playing field,” a familiarly cruel male voice spoke behind him.

“What did you do with her, you bastard?” he growled, turning to face the king. Sombra was adorned in his royal robes, his crown sitting atop his head. Black smoke still billowed from his eyes, which were just as cold as the day he faced him.

“So you care about her? What should I tell your brood mares?” the king chuckled.

“I’m guessing you want me to kill you again,” Nick studied the king. There had to be a reason Sombra was trying to antagonize him. Whether it was just because he wanted to or some ulterior motive, he’d best be on guard.

“You just got lucky Discord slipped in through my defenses. I’d easily have you under my control.”

“Just tell me what you did with Chrysalis,” Nick was growing impatient with the fallen king.

“I did nothing with her, once again you’re jumping to conclusions. Whoever is in charge of this place decided it would be just you and me travelling together.”

“Then why did you try to claim responsibility for her disappearance?” Nick questioned further, believing that Sombra wasn’t innocent here.

“I did no such thing, all I said was that you care about her, which seems to be true,” the fallen king took a seat on the ground, still smirking at the wolf. “Why so hostile? Aren’t you supposed to be recruiting us for your little save the world again mission?”

“I was told I had a choice in persuading you to join me. I’m not opposed to striking you down should I see fit.”

“But I see you’ve gotten quite cozy with Chrysalis.”

“That was under certain circumstances, given enough time we’ll see what happens between you and I.”

“Why do you even bother with these ponies?” the dark king questioned Nick. “After all, even though you saved them, some see you as a monster.”

“Well considering everything that happened when you possessed me, I don’t blame them.”

“But don’t the rights outweigh the wrongs? Obviously you redeemed yourself and saved Equestria. Now some of them want you locked up when you return.”

Nick hadn’t really thought about the more political ramifications that would occur when he returned to the land of the living. For obvious reasons, Sombra was trying to persuade him to join his cause, but despite whatever intentions he had, the stallion did bring up some rather important details Nick needed to consider.

“And what of you?” the wolf asked in return. “If you somehow get back you as well wouldn’t be exempt from any trials for your crimes against Equestria.”

“Exactly, so as it stands now, we are equally criminal.”

“No, I have some form of amnesty with Twilight and Luna,” Nick reminded himself they both still supported him, even if it was a fragile support.

“The mares who’s hearts you broke? The ones that have turned their backs on you?”

“If they did they wouldn’t be working to set me free from this place.”

“Tell yourself whatever you want, it doesn’t change what is true.”

Growing tired of Sombra trying to break his resolve, Nick moved onto a new topic.

“So how do we get out of here?”

“You don’t know?” Sombra asked smugly.

“I wouldn’t be asking you if I did,” Nick replied flatly.

“Well I wouldn’t say there’s some beast waiting for you to find what is mine, but the obstacles ahead are just as challenging.”

“And you’re going to accompany me?”

“Only if you can beat me.”

Before Nick could react, Sombra unleashed his magic.

“The gems seem to be glowing brighter and growing warmer as we go lower,” Ivy observed as the group, after finding Starlight and Tempest, went from room to room of the castle.

“Well according to this book on the construction of the Crystal Empire,” Starlight commented, “There is a basement somewhere here. But it was apparently hidden by some type of mechanism.”

“So all we have to do is find something to open the secret passage, sounds easy enough,” Matt sarcastically added. “Like finding a needle in a stack of pins.”

“Would you rather be sitting in the room?” Celestia threatened the human.

“Hell no, that was more torture than when Twilight…” he stopped himself before giving away such a horrible memory. “Any chance we get to split up or?”

“Yes, you and Ivy will be with me and we’ll try to go as far down as we can,” Celestia answered almost immediately. “The other mares will split up however they feel to find the device.”

“Well in case the device requires magic, I will go with Rarity and Starlight should go with Fluttershy,” Tempest strategically grouped the mares.

Nodding in agreement, the groups split, the humans and sun goddess using the gems as their beacons to whatever location they guided to.

“So did either of you face Sombra in your own worlds?” Celestia asked as they continued to play hot and cold with the gems.

“I heard about him, but never actually fought him, I was battling Chrysalis before getting summoned here,” Matt answered. “I swear that queen was too overpowered with her throne.”

“I…” Ivy began before feeling a shiver run down her spine, recalling her encounter with the fallen king. “He’s a complete monster, psychologically manipulative.”

“That he is indeed,” Celestia agreed, remembering her own battle with the tyrant alongside her sister. “He is not one to take lightly, even Nick fell to his powers.”

“Wait then… how did he manage to save Equestria?” Matt asked, seeing as even the high and mighty wolf had failed here.

“With some help, the relationships he developed here assisted him in breaking free from Sombra’s power and with that he realized what he had to do.”

“Wonder why we never got help in our worlds,” Ivy thought aloud, feeling that Nick had done something different in his interaction with the locals than she did.

“Well he did go out and befriend a rebellious changeling who helped him with facing Chrysalis, as for Sombra, well, it’s rather complex,” Celestia hesitated, unsure if the two knew about Discord in their own worlds. She was saved from further explanation as the gems began to illuminate harshly, and seemingly pulled their owners towards a hallway that branched off the main path.

“Guess we found our destination!” Matt yelled, following the object, the two females in tow. As they reached towards the end of the hallway, the gems were blindingly bright and very warm to the touch. A few moments later they were in front of what appeared to be an ordinary wall and dead end.

“I guess we should start looking for that mechanism,” Ivy spoke, inspecting the wall closer. “I can tell that this wall isn’t completely solid on the other side but just knocking it down could just collapse the entrance.”

“Allow me Ivy,” Celestia stepped forward, her horn glowing as she scanned the wall for any aetherial abnormalities. When she completed her scan she was able to pinpoint a weakness in the structure, a jagged line in the wall, almost as if it were sealed after being destroyed. While it wasn’t exactly a mechanism, seeing a familiar disturbance with the magic surrounding the fracture, Celestia figured only one thing would open it.

“Stand back behind me you two,” she commanded, her horn lighting up. The two humans complied, quickly retreating. Once the area was clear and making sure the roof wouldn’t collapse on them, the goddess of the sun blasted open the wall.

As the dust settled, they found a staircase, leading deeper into the depths of the castle. In the distance, fighting could be heard.

“We better gather everyone before we proceed,” Celestia frowned.