Yuri was walking around the empire, crystal spires shimmered in the light of the sun. She walked over to a fruit store. The green earth pony mare was little freaked at first but Yuri just smiled as she pointed at a bunch of shining berries “I was just hoping to buy some of those berries.”

The mare smiled back “Valorous choice, those art our famous crystal b'rries. T is ten bits a container if 't be true thee wanteth some.”

Yuri put ten bits on the table “I’ll gladly have some, thank you.”

The mare smiled “I wast a dram w'rri'd a first but thou art a valorous s'rt. I shall did spread the w'rd about thee, thou art a valorous p'rson.” Yuri smiled walking around looking at the crystalline nature of the empire, she beamed as the sweet juices of the berries run down her face.

The Crystal Empire was a great place in her mind so far but she was about to learn that brighter a place shines, the darker it’s shadows become. She stopped as she heard a scream, she ran in the direction to see a quadrupedal Griffon hen being beaten down by three mares, two bipedal and one quadrupedal in an alleyway. Yuri closed her eyes for a second “Forgive me, Monika.”

She feel the lust for blood burning through her veins, she rushed forward sending one of the mares hurtling into the wall. She stood still her muscles shaking violently as she grit her teeth, one of the mare growled “Doth thee bethink thou art some kind of h'ro! Thee wisheth to saveth this meat eating monst'r, these creatures englut flesh! How sick is yond!”

Yuri snarled bearing her teeth “Bigots, treating someone differently because of what they must do to survive! You have no respect for nature or it’s ways, you live with the rain and wind under your control. Back where I come from the storms are controlled by no-one, a world of wild weather that can happen at any time! A world where the toughest and smartest survive, where the weak perish!”

The two mares screamed as they grabbed the unconscious third, Yuri picked up the bleeding griffon. The griffon smiled weakly “Who are you?”

Yuri smiled restraining her bloodlust “I’m Yuri, now let’s get you some proper medical attention.”

The Griffon smiled weakly “I’m Galeforce, I left Griffonstone in order to find my place in the world. It’s a lot rougher there and I wasn’t cut out for that life, I have been travelling across Equestria trying to find a place to call home” she then sighed “but ponies aren’t the most welcoming of predators.”

Yuri walked out of the alleyway, the crystal ponies watched them cautiously. Yuri walked through the city to the only pony who may listen to her, she walked over to the mare running the stall she visited earlier “I need some help?”

The Earth Pony mare looked at her “Wherefore art thee trembling?”

Yuri grimaced “I’m restraining myself, now please I need you to help me. I found some mares attacking Galeforce here and I scared them off, can you help me get some medical attention for her.”

The Earth Pony smiled “I can doth yond, mine own nameth is Berry Grow by the way.”

Meanwhile, Monika and Amore were moving through the crystal hallways of the castle. The guards watching closely as they did so, Amore frowned “Sombra is an 'rphan and is cater-cousins with a fellow 'rphan Radiant Hope. I bringeth those fillies to the castle and teachest those folk charm.”

Monika frowned “I will tell him the truth and take both of them off your hooves, they deserve a proper home with a family who cares for them.”

Amore smiled “I desire thee can taketh careth of those folk, I'll s'rt out the pap'rw'rk f'r thee. I can speedeth up the processeth f'r thee if 't be true thee wouldst liketh.”

Monika smiled as they entered the room “Thanks Amore.” She saw the quadrupedal gray colt with a black mane that she assumed was Sombra and the quadrapedal purple unicorn filly with a light arctic blue mane that she assumed was Radiant Hope.

Sombra looked fearfully at Monika, his horn sparking “Who is't art thee?”

Monika smiled “I’m Monika and I intend to give you both a home with my friends. Now I would like to speak to the two of you in private.”

Amore smiled “Thee two can trusteth h'r, I truly believeth the lady wanteth the most wondrous f'r thee. I’ll leaveth the three of thee to receiveth acquaint'd.”

Monika created a sound proof bubble before looking at Sombra “The truth is you are not a normal pony but a creature known as an Umbrum. A creature of dark magic and that is why the Crystal Heart hurts you so.”

Radiant Hope looked at Monika “Doest the pricness knoweth about this?”

Monika nodded gravely “Amore did know about this but I can protect Sombra from it’s effects. Still the reason I want to take you two from here is so that Sombra can learn how to control the darker arts. Dark magic is dangerous if the user can’t control their own power but if they learn how to control it then there is nothing to fear.”

Sombra growled as dark purple trails flowed from his green eyes “You mean the Pricness new about my suffering and refused to do anything about it! She let me suffer under the influence of the heart!”

Monika pulled him into a hug even as black crystals tore into her body “Sombra, don’t let anger and hatred consume you! I promise I will make things better for the both of you, I will make sure you two both have a family and a roof over you heads even if I have tear the world apart to do it!”

Sombra calmed down in her grasp and then his eyes widened as he saw the bleeding wounds in Monika’s body “I’m so s'rry.”

Monika chuckled as she clicked her fingers, the crystal dissolving as her wounds healed “There is no need to apologise, it takes more than that to do any permanent damage to me. I will be fine.”

Radiant Hope blinked in shock at the two of them “How didst thee doth yond! Can I learneth how to doth yond!”

Monika shook her head “My powers are not magical in nature and Sombra’s are very dangerous. It would be unwise to teach you the darker arts at such a young age, maybe when your an adult you can learn but even then you must be careful. Such magic could easily destroy you.”

Radiant Hope shuddered in fear “O-okay.”

Monika smiled “Don’t worry, everything will be fine with the four of us taking care of you.”

Sombra bounced excitedly “Yond means we can beest hence from the meanies at the 'rphanage! I don’t knoweth how this couldst receiveth any bett'r!” Monika smiled at the bouncing colt, Sayori had the right idea about coming here.

Author's Note

I hope you are all enjoying this adventure so far.