Monk of Aura

==General POV==

Alexie was tending to her matters after being granted permission to build a structure for herself, liaisons, ambassadors and Chrysalis so she could work from home. The kitchen, dining room, living room, foyer, lounge and her study were all on the first floor while bedrooms for herself, visiting royals and her guards were on the second floor. Either way, she had a window to throw herself out of in case of a fire or assassination with her two rooms being separated by floor and joined by ladder. At this moment, she was in her study writing letters to the griffon republic in thanks for information regarding and a book having belonged to Allen Augus.

Much of what Clevetius said checks out as the beads were external conduits to elemental abilities and the blade was a tool to handle any situation. With the materials it was made from it possessed some manner of sentience. It wasn't lifeless by any means, thankfully. She spoke more with Clevetius, learning about Allen and his wife above all else. If anything... she was certain this man was from a past life of hers. His smile, his laughter and his tears made her feel compassionately for him as she could almost see him clearly.

"Central user has been located." Clevetius' abrupt announcement startled the princess as she looked his way. "Location, Crystal Empire." Alexie looked almost confused, but she grabbed the book and beads before Clevetius anchored to her back as she made her way to the station.

The girls were at the station, boarding the train. Twilight saw her and was the first to speak up. "Alexie? Why are you here?"

Alexie stood firm as she answered. "I'm here to take the train north." The girls figured she knew, thinking someone leaked the information. Rainbow got close but the princess stopped her with a finger. "Clevetius said, 'central user located'. If you're going north, we're going with you." Rainbow couldn't help but smile. This mare certainly had some guts. Hell, potential insult and all profanity aside, Rainbow thought this changeling had bigger lady balls than Luna. The two shock hands after Rainbow extended hers and found the princess a seat.

Clevetius turned into its bracelet form to appear non-threatening, while Alexie did something slightly unusual. She changed into something the girls recognized from stories, but her complexion was a paler mocha, her eyes were a soft lavender and jewel blue and she had natural marking on her body and face. Her attire, while mildly provocative, was also passive. The girls would have run if it were any other, but this form, this form of a human was more alluring than threatening. The train began to move and she looked outside, recalling a dream from last night.

It was dark and their was a taste in the air. Rain was approaching and she was holding Allen. He'd been crying for a bit and her warm touch calmed him. 'What's wrong?' She'd asked him out of motherly concern as he looked to her, his eyes were that of a defeated child as his words choked up in his neck.

'Am I... bad?' His question was simple but it's weight was immense. Questions like this can't always be answered as simply as they are asked.

Alexie knew this well enough to counter it. 'Well why don't I start with that comment you made about me the day we met.' She was teasing and his face lit pink with a small blush.

He looked bashful and chuckled. 'I was very ignorant back then.' Alexie smiled proudly and her dream played out in her head as they went north. Allen was a person that tried to gain power by flexing his spirit. He didn't kill, back stab or summon a tower of hell to get more power. He did it himself. However, when you call his time with others into question he gets antsy and tries to spend time with them. It's funny in its own way as he wants to train, relax and hang out all at once, though she smiled when he got engrossed into something he thoroughly enjoys.

Alexie had dosed off and recalled a placed unfamiliar to her. A town that was light with building and street lights at night, a beef burger in her hand and a tray of potatoes between them. It was simple and a noble would call it 'carnival'. She enjoyed it thought. The wind from high up, the cool breeze on a late autumn night, a hot meal that steamed with flavor and a warm drink after shared by the two lovers.

As she slept in peaceful bliss, the girls noticed her wings coming out of the guise and how her wings repaired and grew, resembling something closer to butterfly wings as they shimmered in the train. Other ponies that were initially afraid got close and looked at her until she, the six and spike were the only other ones on the train north bound. The train came to a stop and as Twilight nudged her awake, Alexie's wings returned to their tattered appearance and blended back in the guise. "Huh? Where...?" She yawned as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.

"We're here, northern Equestria. End of the line." Twilight got her heavy coat and the others followed suit, save for Rainbow who brought insulation tights. They left the train and look to see a lone unicorn trudging the snow. They removed the visor to reveal a certain husband to a certain princess. "Shining Armor." Twilight was relieved as she hugged her BBBFF.

He broke the hug and saw Alexie, adopting a more urgent tone. "Is that.." They nodded and he sighed a breath of relief. "I'm sorry for the lack of prep or transport, but we must get moving." He looked out and his eyes paled. "There are things we do not want to face after dark."

Everyone looked freaked out as Fluttershy spoke up. "What kind of things?"

"To put simply, the empire isn't the only thing that returned." Everyone was one edge after the meeting as they navigated the otherwise endless snow storm. And while Shining was explaining the situation, Alexie could feel a familiar, but unwanted presence.

"I don't mean to sound suspicious but is something out here?" The changeling princess asked, her tone still indicating a fear of the unknown.

Shining turn her head to speak up as well above the wind. "Yes, the unicorn king who originally cursed the place, and has been trying to get in, but something is helping keep him out at the moment." Shining's answer made Alexie hopeful. Is this where Allen is being held? Before she could muse the question any longer, a faint noise was heard as the presence, a collection of darkness and smoke, emerged and Shining gave them the order to run.

The group made it in a barrier, followed soon by Armor, who's horn was covered in black crystal shards, cutting off his magic. They walked to the castle which, like the town surrounding it, was made entirely of crystals. Rarity was sputtering trying to find words while Alexie was caught in the air that surrounded it. Protective, powerful but longing. She felt her heart warm as her wings changed to their repaired form. Inside was Cadence who looked exhausted enough to look like she worked the nine to five with no breaks for herself. It showed more after a brief reunion dance with Twilight. "I swear, I will schedule a normal day for us even if I have to play hooky." Her teasing smile was apparent as was her fatigue as her mana and the barrier both faltered for a moment.

Shining explained the situation, how Cadence's magic is keeping Sombra at bay, but her lack of sleep and minimal nutrition was taking its toll on her and with Shining out of commission for any kind of barrier Sombra was going to make in in unless something was done, and fast. Clevetius assumed its Guardian form and looked around. "What's up with him?" Shining's question went unanswered as the living iron walked around.

"The central host nearby. Too much interference so I'm unable to locate him. High mana density is acting like static at the moment." Twilight's interest was piqued.

"High mana density?" She looked around and found no such indication until Clevetius stepped hard, causing a visible rippled of mana. "What the heck?!" She saw the ripples settle without a fight back. "How can this much mana be in one place? This should be virtually impossible by all accounts!"

"High mana density is capable of many things, from alteration of it's own nature and properties to great passive barriers. My creator was a magically capable person after some practice in many arts and forms." Clevetius looked around, his eyes perceiving the particles of mana in a high ppm, or parts per million. "A likely theory, he used mana enhancer techniques to bolster his output for brief period of time. Deactivation would send my creator into state of hibernation for an unknown amount of time afterward."

Cadence looked shocked as she looked around the kingdom. "All of this... from one being?"

"This kingdom was a likely byproduct from the over excursion of mana. Unknown variables as to how ponies are made of crystal. A likely theory is that they harness and resonate with the warmth of the crystals in this kingdom. Another is that they were souls that fused with the crystal, giving birth to them." He soon returned to he sword form after giving up on answering which answer was more likely and stayed close to Alexie's back.

"Regardless of how the kingdom came to be, with Cadence keeping her spell up and me running patrols, we haven't gathered much information from the crystal ponies." Alexie had left the room as Shining explained the situation and before Rarity lost her composure a second time. She felt the very air of the kingdom and it brought back those same sensations as before but much stronger and much closer, like he was really right there.

==Alexie POV==

The element bearers soon headed out, asking around about the kingdom and many of them looked like they had a collectively forced memory block. No doubt Sombra making sure that the kingdom couldn't recall anything that could destroy him. I wanted to help this kingdom. But asking around would do nothing. But life has ways of making unexpected things a good occurrence. The crystal ponies saw Celevetius and came up to me. "Are you a fighter?" I shook my head. Fighting was not my strong suit. I was more a healer, only dabbling in sparring and rarely in swordplay.

"Could you show us your customs?" I look confused before looking to Clevetius and taking his handle into my grip. With but a thought, it turned into CQC sparring gear. "Sparring?" I nodded and the ponies looked around, grabbing anything they could cover their forelimbs with and I smiled before letting Clevetius guide me and my partner through the motion. We weren't fighting, obviously, and the sparring, even if they lost, seemed to invigorate a sense of life in these ponies. Before long, the elements started putting things together for something I had no idea I had started.

To put simply, these ponies had a festival once a year to reinvigorate the spirit to power something called the crystal heart. It's said to be an ancient artifact as old as the empire itself. So I kept with the motion and even let the ponies have at it, my own spirit being warmed as the embrace grew more vivid and real. My wings had soon healed entirely and the holes in my limbs closed up. I felt so loved but I could also feel myself loving another, so strongly.

I was so washed in my head that when I had eyes on my I felt embarrassed. "Um..." I excused myself and flew as I saw some of them looking smug at my flustered look. That was when the barrier fell. It was only for a moment but I saw Sombra just outside and a piece of his horn chipped off and sank into the ground. Afterward I go back into the castle, just behind Twilight as she descended some stairs and the blackened crystal that she turned allowed me to see a little ways into the throne. Something was in there. Someone was in the crystals that made the throne. Spike went down and I saw the crystals at the 'gate' being turned black.

Landing outside the castle, I saw something alarming. Blackened crystals were making their way to the castle at an alarming rate and Sombra was almost perfectly in view. My fear had almost made me miss it, but the feeling was stronger after approaching the castle, the throne, so closely. 'He must be inside.' Before I could move, the barrier fell and I drew Clevetius in sword mode, frightened. It turned into Guardian on my behalf to protect me as the former king spoke.

"My crystal slaves." The voice was so ghastly and echoed that he came off as an entity. Clevetius started firing off basic magic bolts that seemed to annoy the shadow pony before being knocked away and without an experienced master or access to his gear he couldn't fight back. Hell I doubted I could cast magic strong enough to summon his fabled gear, nevermind the simpler weapons that could stall the king. But I decided to gamble and opened the page to a weapon that looked small enough to hold with one hand. I called out the weapon in my head as a pair of pearl white weapons with blue and green accent whirled out and to Clevetius.

He took the weapons in hand and pulled the trigger as a loud and sudden cast of thunder was heard throughout the kingdom. More followed suite as I looked through the pages and found a Guardian form that looked different from Clevetius now. It's body was more akin to ponies in knight plating with the same flat face, a horn decorating the top of the helm and protrusions on both shoulders, likely to protect the neck from heavy swings."Evangelion." My call of the armor was met with Clevetius turning into the figure shown and his fighting stance grew stronger and more fierce as he started wielding the weapons more naturally. My calls cost me, however, as the weapons an form change drained me some. With Sombra busy, I could at least search for the other, so I head into the castle.

Spike came down with the crystal heart that the kingdom needed to rid themselves of him, but before it could be placed, he ripped it from Cadence's weakened magic. I flew as fast as I could, making it to the throne room and ripping the seat off before getting as close as possible. 'I don't know if you can hear me, but I don't have the magic or knowledge to fight by your weapon's side. He's doing what he can but he needs you more than me.' I rub the crystal, a light showing from the center. 'He needs you.' I feel myself crying as the warmth starts leaving. 'I need you.' Ponies outside cried in fear as I felt my hand grow warm. 'Please, save this kingdom. Save these ponies. Please, my devil.' I screamed the same name I felt in my thoughts, the one that called to me time and time again. It gave me strength, but I need him to wake up. "ALLEN! Wake up!"

Ba-dump A heart beat? Who all heard it? Ba-dump It's so... heavy. Ba-dump And this warmth. Ba-dump "Allen?"

Outside

Clevetius was fighting bravely, but with his master sleeping, his power was effectively cut. He was soon batted away and into some dark crystals as Sombra grinned. 'Maker... where are you?' "ALLEN! Wake up!" 'Mistress Alex-?!' He felt a jump in power as he could hear heart beats from within the castle as his own body relaxed. Ponies wondered why he looked like he was shocked before his head hung loosely. The air around him seemed to change as his armor started looking more polished. The air around him was thick with power and when he raised his head, ponies only saw a flash of red from his eye before, in what seemed like a blink, he was gone and above where Sombra had just crashed, breaking the crystal he landed on. They looked above the crater and saw Clevetius, arm curled and fist clenched as the red glow of an ethereal eye remained present. Seemingly pushing off air, he twirled and landed with his feet planted in the ground in front of the crowd.

Rainbow's brief stun was left as she squealed. "That was awesome!" Sombra picked himself with a scowled and fired a beam that created a growth of crystal, which quickly spread. The armor stood there, confusing Sombra as no screams were heard. "Less awesome." Rainbow's comment drew the unicorn's attention before the crystals started moving. They cracked, bent and formed a sword and the armor's grasp, before the black crystals turned so dark, it started making the air around it bright with the absence of negative air.

"The darkness that guards innocence, Obsidian Black." The crystals were then charged as it hummed with light and power that came from the sword. Sombra armed himself with a red crystal sword that physically bled with hatred and a thirst for destruction. The air from the bleeding was putrid and corrosive as the surrounding crystals were melting before a quick swipe of Clevetius arm razed the weapon so hard, the air pressure was mixed with his sword's power and purified the air, but not the weapon.

Sombra grinned as his weapon remained unaffected. "A futile effort~" His deep, raspy voice echoed before he charged Clevetius, bringing the sword around before it was effortlessly blocked by the armor. Sombra tried for a stab to the neck only to have his sword deflected and locked against Clevetius' armor plates. A forceful pull made the metal screech as the red sword chipped and cracked before a hard swing from the knight broke the weapon in two. Sombra looked at his sword with disbelief before looking to his opponent in anger.

'With the maker still encased in crystal and with Alexie's magic having been dropped to roughly half capacity, I'll have to realistically stall for time.' Clevetius broke his weapon in two as the halves reforged into shorter handles, creating shorter blades of a higher output as ponies could feel the spirit energy of them. 'Good thing I inherited the maker's creative mind. I'll have plenty of my own reserves to spare when he gets out.' Sombra fired off magic bolts that had the same bleed as his weapon in rapid succession. Clevetius was faster before his armored form wore off to his my stream-lined frame. 'My mana high is up. But not my speed. Just a bit longer.' Clevetius blocked the bolts as Sombra got a twisted grin. His emotions raised, the unicorn fired more bolts in faster cycles as Clevetius was trying to defend himself and the ponies. Without access to his gear or magic of his own, he was starting to feel a strain from depleting reserves.

Sombra gathered a few crystals as they formed a fixed cannon battery and charged it to full. With no way to block it with the beams, the only hope was the tower shield, but he can't just float and block it. He needed someone who could dig their feet in and brace against the blast for the shield to be worth something. Sombra let the energy go and before it could hit anyone, the ponies closed their eyes before hearing the beam crash against something. The sound died down and ponies opened their eyes to see a human before them, with Alexie following just behind. "So then, what happened during my nap?"