Somewhere south of the Crystal Empire

Trudging through the snow where multiple insect looking equines, they numbered less than a hundred and had a range of injuries from small cracks on their chitin to visibly broken limbs. Together with the cold, this meant that some simply stopped walking and fell to the ground.

Slowly but surely their numbers were dwindling but they still kept a protective circle around a figure currently being carried in the center.

The figure in question was bigger than the others by at least ahead if it were standing and had a dark green mane and tail.

Sadly it's current condition was quite severe, with multiple cracks on its chitin that we're currently oozing with green blood.

The one's carrying it was similar to the rest beside some small differences in color with one having slightly lighter colored eyes and the other one having purple eyes along with a red-colored fin.

There were no words spoken amongst the group for they were not needed, their only objective was getting their queen to a safe place and healing her.

They were heading towards a dome of light in the distance that they could feel a massive source of love emanating from.

They ignored the days of constant traveling, the lack of sleep, and even their injuries.

Nothing would stop them from achieving their objective.

Crystal Empire
Royal Chambers

I was tired, it had been a little over two weeks after my "battle" with Sombra and they had kept me busy.

The first day I spent slipping in and out of consciousness and it was on the second day that I was lucid enough to start healing myself properly.

It still took me almost two days because, surprise, growing a new leg along with multiple organs and half a skull took time and energy.

As soon as I had recovered completely I had started helping with the rebuilding efforts, but I was no architect so I had simply helped remove all the rubble.

After that, I had needed to get more involved in the accounting and managing of everything, when I had split Sombra's attack in two it had missed the castle but sadly the diverted beams tore right through the crowds of ponies trying to get into it, Onyx Tome had been part of the casualties.

I still felt guilty about the ponies that had died due to my lack of foresight.

The casualty list had been finished and around a quarter of the city's population had been lost.

Thankfully specific runic circles and formulae could make crystals grow in the desired size and shape.

With the resource collection and refining skipped it meant ponies could get straight into rebuilding.

Thankfully the main sewer system wasn't severely damaged so it had been quickly fixed and some public toilets had been built. The castle had run out of sleeping space so a great number of tents had been raised right under the castle and its immediate surroundings.

The current estimates said that all the rebuilding would take up to two months until completion. I had ordered them to focus on housing first, so at least the citizens wouldn't be homeless for more than a month.

The four administrators had come to the city and after they gave their oaths of loyalty to me I had multiple meetings with them regarding the city rebuilding efforts, resource distribution, and the current situation in the cardinal districts.

Nothing had happened besides some small panic from the ponies living in the line of sight of the city. I had also given the go-ahead on more aggressive control of the yeti population to Ebony Beak.

Some good news was that the remaining Sombra acolytes had been captured, I was still thinking about how they would be punished. The official list of "punishments for treason" had a variety of execution methods and a single banishment that involved getting completely shaved and being thrown with nothing into the middle of yeti territory.

'Huh, that's pretty dark.'

I winced as my head throbbed In pain.

Yesterday I had decided to have a private dinner with the four administrators so I could get to know them over some food and drinks.

Sadly none of the drinks available we're able to get me even a little tipsy.

Me being the genius that I am decided to use my magic to add a little bit of "oomph" to the alcohol.

I overdid it and the five of us ended completely plastered.

So today I had awoken with a massive hangover, no memory after my second cup, and four missing administrators.

Thankfully after some searching, most of them were found. Sadly a severed talon that had been shoved into an ice bucket was the only part of Ebony Beak that had been found so far.

After waking up and realizing the absence of the four administrators my attention had been pulled upwards by the sound of snoring.

There, sleeping in the chandelier, was Mystic Clarity.

Gold Wheat had somehow ended up on the very top of the tower and had been stuck there, luckily he had only suffered some mild sunburn.

Steel Hoof had been found in the dungeons, apparently, he has been detained for "improper conduct" on the central plaza.

All in all last night was a mess. I don't know what I said exactly but now there's a lot of ponies unhappy with Equestria's princesses.

'It's probably nothing important'

I was broken out of my thoughts by the sound of knocking.

"Come in." At my words, a guard entered the room and bowed.

"My Lord, administrator Ebony Beak was found." My eyes widened at this information. "They have!? Where was he." I asked.

"He was found in the cold storage room, sir." I blinked at his words.

"How the fuck did he end up in the- forget it, I don't care about that right now, were the healers able to reattach his talon."

"Yes sir, and he is expected to make a full recovery by tomorrow." I gave a relieved sigh at his words.

After dismissing him I teleported to the main balcony and looked over the ruined city.

I could see ponies workers, architects, and rune specialists slowly rebuilding the ruined capital.

I also spotted a variety of civilians and guards helping around and in the sea of tents below me.

*bzzzzzt*

A buzzing sound bought my attention to a small marble attached to my ear like an earring.

With a thought, my magic activated it and I spoke.

"Yes," I asked.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report from the south gate."

CHAPTER END

What if 1: Successfully Failed Resurrection

I hummed as I brushed my mane.

Life as a pony had been interesting, to say the least. Fifteen years in and I could say I didn't have many regrets.

After centuries in limbo, my anger had simmered down but when my chance came I still took it. I knew it was quite likely I would be reincarnated as a pony but I simply thought of it as needing patience.

Just wait until I grew old enough and get back my power, then revenge, simple as that.

Of course, it took me little time to realize that Gusty was already dead, having passed of old age centuries ago.

Something I hadn't foreseen was what reincarnating as a pony would do to me, in my previous life I had been a mass of dark energies and magic that eventually grew strong enough to create a physical body.

Now as a pony I gained not only the ability to actually feel more positive emotions but also obtained empathy.

While at the start I was annoyed by the change I eventually gave up on fighting it when I was two and started crying after stepping on my pet rock.

With a final swipe, I set the brush down and made sure my yellow tie and purple button-up were nice and tidy.

Stepping back and looking myself over I scowled slightly. When I was born some higher being decided that from five siblings only one would take massively after their mother.

And let me give you a hint, it wasn't any of my four sisters.

While my eldest and second eldest sisters were big blocks of muscle and my other two sisters were pretty much the same only slimmer, no matter how much muscle I packed I still looked the same.

Short, soft, curvy, and easily mistaken for a mare.

Thankfully just like my mother, it didn't make me any weaker, I could break boulders in half and overpower my sisters on a bad day.

I sighed.

'From father of all monsters to mare looking stallion.' I thought to myself.

Suddenly my door was almost ripped from its hinges (again) by hard knocking.

"Come on you peacock it's getting late and I want to get back in time for dinner." My eldest sister's voice came from the other side of the door.

"Coming," I called back.

Opening the door I was greeted by the sight of my scowling sibling.

"Finally, now let's get a move on." Without waiting for my answer she started walking away. "The Sapphires and the Quartz have been testy lately and dad wants us to give them a reminder of why we are in charge here."

As walked down the stairs we passed by the kitchen and I noticed my mother preparing something.

"Goodbye mother," I called out to her as we headed out the door.

"Farewell," she called back. "And remember to be on the lookout for any touchy stallions Octavio."

I sighed. "Yes, mother."

As we walked towards our destination I glared at my laughing sister.

"Shut up Limestone."

Author's Note

Hey guys, sorry for the long hiatus.
Don't really have an excuse for the lack of chapters besides a lack of motivation.
I can't make any promises for when the next chapter will be out.
Also, I deleted my other story.
Anyways like always feel free to point out any grammar mistakes you notice.