Time passes by, minutes spin to hours, hours to days. Time since banishment: Approximately 1 year, 1 Month, 3 days

[Day After reading letters]

Twilight was happy to be back to working and keeping herself busy. Especially after reading the rest of the letters after Applejack's. Needless to say, she hadn't expected to find another letter similar to hers from Pinkie Pie. Either way, she was glad to see that there was still a modicum of hope from the two, even if it had been told too late. As for the others, she found herself thinking thoughts she could only akin to her employer in regards on how to deal with them. Now don't get her wrong, she had expected negative feedback from Rainbow Dash, and she had thought it would be a fifty-fifty with Rarity what with how she presented herself as vain despite being the element of generosity.

Twilight was most surprised however, to see that Fluttershy was in opposition as well! Now that was a unseen event in her mind! She had never thought that the yellow pegasus had been capable of something so... cold. Her presence certainly didn't show it, but if their fight with Discord was anything to go on, how she had acted probably were feelings she had bottled up, and throwing them all to the surface in the form of the letter was her way to get them out. The lavender pony wanted to get rid of the letters, and had started to burn the offending ponies' letters, only for Misako to smell it. She may be an older vixen, but she could smell her magic fire burning. It made her question Misako's past. She never talked about it, and instead told Twilight fantastic tales of recent legends of the country.

For instance, the one Misako had settled on telling her in detail, was one about a reynard of the 'mists'. Apparently, she was what was known as a Black Centurion of sorts, and when she had inquired what Misako meant by the term, she said it was a title reserved for only the most elite of soldiers. Anyway, Misako told the tails of this reynard who had on her own, fought against a tide of bandits, and after the battle, she was nowhere to be found. The soldiers she battled alongside only finding a leaf in place of where they last saw her. The part that surprised Twilight the most though, was that apparently this 'legend' was recent, and had happened in fifteen years ago. Even more, was that the reynard apparently could manipulate the air with her unique connection to the source. Even to this day, it infuriated Twilight to not know more about it, she needed to get to a library soon.

That wasn't the only legend she had been told too. The first Emperor of this country was also a legend, and had united the many different ponies across the land under the one banner, and years later he had been put to rest by a disease that had taken him in his sleep. Apparently, he was a great tactician, and had unified the land in under half a decade, he also had been the one to put in place many of the rules that remained unchanged to this day. Misako never spoke the first monarch's name, but part of the 'folklore' was that he had been given the disease as a way to provide the most good before his demise, and after his death, he had become one with many of the gods of the country.

While Twilight didn't believe much of it, she found that she couldn't just throw it to the wind. After all, her former mentor had lived for thousands upon thousands of year, surely this ruler had done something similar?

Twilight zoned back into what she was doing, making sure that everything was on track so that she could move onto other things in the day. Mr.Gray had taken to sending out more carriers at a time, with a good portion going to more well known towns. While it confused her, Twilight didn't need to see a reason why she should ask; and she didn't want to ask, knowing his temper. It was good enough to just be at the sidelines comfortably making sure that stuff came and went efficiently.

After all, while Twilight sort of enjoyed what she did, she wanted to explore more. To do so, she had been saving up little by little, so that she could go to one of the towns that had a library, the closest one apparently being about a month away. This was also the reason Mr.Gray punished interlopers severely, as lost packages would take a long amount of time to recover. Twilight her clopping hooves coming from her right outside. 'Speak of the person and they show up. Pinkie's rubbing off in all the wrong ways. Looks like he's in a great mood today.

"Now how're you doing Miss Sparkle?" The pony said as he came made along inside the building. Twilight feinted pondering, looking into the air before responding.

"I'm doing well I've gotta say. Everything's been running smoothly here." Twilight answered, briefly thanking that it had gone well and she hadn't had to do anything to anyone as of yet. She also wanted to ask a question about the various towns across the country, and Mr.Gray seemed to have the answers to her question.

"Mr.Gray, I was wondering what are the other towns and libraries like here? I've heard things but not much." She finished as the gilded gray pony looked at her with a raised eyebrow before her words registered.

"Oh. You mean the more well known places and whatnot. They're definitely different than here. While they have stuff like libraries that might interest you and all that; they've also got a major problem with crime and all that of it's type. See here, the guards under my employ keep hostilities to a minimum, and as long as they're paid, everything goes smoothly and we all don't have to worry about anything." He paused to take out one of his signature cigars that she had gotten used to seeing him smoke.

"But in those cities, it's all over the place. Yes, they've got official guards from the military and everything, but it seems like half the places just got bandits in guard clothing. I reckon it's just they're commander that's got them on the edge of looking for new work. Damn shame what it is. Now, I don't know what your thinking with that there question Miss Sparkle but I'd steer clear of them places if I were you. You may have that there magic, but it'll likely get you in more trouble seeing as some of the folks in this country love the exotic." Again, Mr.Gray paused, lighting the cigar with a lighter he had in one of his pockets.

"Though I'd say no one likes the exotic more than our 'loving' emperor."

Twilight perked up at this comment. She hadn't heard anything about the ruler of this place, maybe this would be the time to learn about it.

"I don't believe that I've heard anything about the emperor at all. What's he like?"

As the question left her lips she saw that the pony had gained a look of confusion momentarily, before their face relaxed.

"I forget your not from around her what with the mark and all. I can't believe you haven't told you about Emperor Kichiro, or as the people call him Emperor Nero. He's the leader of Cyrolia, but if you ask anyone with a brain; they'd tell you it's more like he's a tyrant. The reynard's definitely got a couple of parts loose in his noggin but that's about it. If you want to know more, I'd suggest you'd talk about it with that there reynard you live with. Though definitely ask her about it in private."

Now it was Twilight's turn to have a look of confusion. What did Misako know about the emperor that even Mr.Gray was unwilling to share?

[Elsewhere: Equestria. Months Ago, Return of the Crystal Empire]

Well, the Crystal Empire was saved, and with the heart found they could begin repairing the damage of the battle with Sombra. Now, one wouldn't define this as a battle, it was more of a fury from the solar princesses's part. The elements had recalled the glint of fury in Celestia's eye as she ordered everyone to evacuate as far behind her as possible, before she razed Sombra along with everything in her path. Overall, the kingdom was in a better position than it was before, it no longer had a maniacal pony trying to control it. Yet, now it had to begin with repairing the grass that had been blackened to near ash because of the sheer force behind the solar beam. "Repairing" is a term used lightly, considering that there was no possible way that life would ever grow back from it, at least not natural grass. This, along with the melted crystal buildings that had been caught in the blast as well, led to an extremely weird structured city. Almost half of the city had been razed, with the other half being in natural condition. Thankfully, nopony was caught in the blast.

Applejack thought on as she continued her "assessment" of the land that had been caught in-between Sombra and Princess Celestia. She had been tasked by the princesses to do so, and while she did think that the method of getting rid of Sombra may have been too much, it probably wouldn't have come to this if they were capable of using the elements. Unfortunately, that play was out indefinitely until either they could find a new bearer that the elements would accept, or they could get Celestia to begin searching for Twilight.

The farm mare was thoroughly bewildered, recalling the princesses unwillingness to do so, and while she understood to some extent, she still couldn't figure out why. When she had talked to Princess Luna about it, the lunar diarch had only added onto her fears, claiming that for some reasons even she couldn't get her sister to see that Twilight was needed, regardless of past crimes. It seemed to her that Celestia was growing more unhinged, hopefully she was just tired and needed rest.

Author's Note

First off, I'm not turning this into some Sci-fi thing. It was one of the many planned things for this story, and it will not affect Twilight's journey or development much. I the author, will give you a freebie. Manipulation of the source, is based upon not only race of the being, but also that the use of it's language is largely forbidden. That is all I shall tell for now.

Secondly, what's up everyone? I told you it would be done hopefully before Wednesday and I intend to deliver, it was a fight again on whether or not to make it a Interlude or a Chapter for Twilight. Then I had a epiphany, why not both? That way you all get a update on Twilight and on how badly the Crystal Empire is in after not having two of the most influential characters.

Lastly, I do believe that it is that time that I shall get an editor, and while that may slow chapter updates down slightly, I do promise that the editor I get will be allowed to kick me in the shins if need be for me to make sure to update the story. While I'm not entirely sure on doing it, I'm at least contemplating it. I'll let you know if I have one by the end of this week, if I don't let you know, there's a possibility I'm either busy, or I didn't get one.

Lastly x2, I'd like someone to wager who the First Emperor's legend is based off of? Hint, Hint. If you don't know, it won't be long till you figure it out.

"Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit! -Caesar Augustus, First Emperor of Rome.