Sombasi, brother of Sombra

Two days have passed since Olstrom Shattershield’s fight with the Glacierwolves, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have long since left for Canterlot. It’s a beautiful morning in The Crystal Empire as Celestia’s sun enlightens every crystalline structure along with giving warm kisses to every living being, granted, it’s actually an illusion made from The Crystal Heart as it provides The Empire with a more favorable environment compared to the frozen north just outside the barrier. Within The Crystal Castle’s Throne Room Queen Valerica is attending to her morning duties accompanied by her royal advisor Mane Neigh-Marco. Queen Valerica notices a sudden change in orders regarding cases of wine and brings up the issue to her advisor.

“Mane Neigh, it would seem we’ve been having some rather odd orders of wine. Do you know anything about this?.”

“Aww yes your majesty, do understand that I hate to ruin surprises but just know that King Olstrom has quite the event planned for you.”, Mane Neigh answers before taking a bow however as his face is looking towards the floor a mischievous smile forms from cheek to cheek. He then raises his head to face Valerica once again, his mischievous smirk now gone.

“Hehe, that husband of mine can be quite the charmer. It’s a wonder how we don’t have multiple foals at this point, very well Mane Neigh I thank you for clearing that up and I look forward to my husbands surprise.”, Valerica compliments with a giggle and a smile. Valerica has known Mane Neigh ever since they were both fillies and grew up together as inseparable best friends, surely she could trust in her best friend turned royal advisor. Suddenly, the doors to the throne room open up as King Olstrom shattershield along with a familiar rainbow maned pegasus guardspony, Lyra Hothoof and a one year old filly by the name of Princess Shiori Shattershield Mi Amore enters the throne room. The guards who were positioned by the throne room doors salute the two royals and their fellow guardspony moments before they close the doors. Shiori begins to run over to her mother with a large smile as Olstrom continues to walk towards the throne with a prideful smile of his own, Lyra chuckling at the fillies young energetic greetings.

“Good morning momma, morning uncle Mane Neigh.”, Shiori says as she hugs Mane Neighs front right leg and jumps into her mothers embrace.

“Good morning your highness, pleasure to have you here today.”, Mane Neigh compliments.

“Good morning baby, I trust the breakfast I had the chefs leave for you and your father was satisfactory?.”, Valerica asks with a bit of laughter.

“It was so good mom, especially the pancakes!.”, Shiori answers while throwing her front hooves into the air. Valerica then turns her gaze to her husband who nodded in approval while also rubbing his stomach with his front left hoof. Suddenly, a low rumble could be heard causing every pony and horse to turn towards Lyra Hothoof.

“Ehehe, sorry about that. I kind of only had a granola bar since I woke up late this morning and almost missed my shift... Truth be told the bar wasn’t enough.”, Lyra says nervously with her right hoof behind her head. Her stomachs actions prompts every pony and horse in attendance to erupt into laughter.

It’s now noon as Celestia’s sun remains firm within the heavens, suddenly, clouds begin to form stealing the warm star away from The Empire as they block out the sun. Queen Valerica, King Olstrom, and Lyra Hothoof still remain in the throne room discussing various topics and concerns regarding The Empire all the while Princess Shiori and Mane Neigh-Marco are outside in the courtyard. Princess Shiori runs around various bushes while giggling and laughing cheerfully all the while Mane Neigh sits on a nearby bench observing the filly from a distance. Suddenly, a voice enters Mane Neighs psyche which gets his attention instantly.

“The plan is in motion Mane Neigh, my children are in position along with those special helmets you’ve hidden throughout the empire and I have already casted the clouds spell that have blocked out the sun as I’m sure you can see for yourself.”, the voice says which causes Mane Neigh to look up to the sky.

“Aww what lovely weather we are having today, perfect for a changeling invasion. Well done, Queen Chrysalis.”, Mane Neigh replies with a smirk before he returns his gaze back to Princess Shiori. “You are the key to my goddess’s plan, you pathetic little wretch.”

Meanwhile, The Crystal Castle Throne Room is filled with laughter and various discussions from guards, maids, along with a certain king and queen. Valerica and Olstrom continue to discuss today’s proceedings as Lyra Hothoof steps towards a window before she notices the darkened sky which moments ago she could’ve sworn it was a sunny day. The rainbow maned pegasus then turns to Queen Valerica and King Olstrom.

“Hey your majesties, is The Crystal Heart giving us a cloudy forecast today?. It just seems, weird.” Lyra’s words causes both of the royals to stop instantly as they then move over to Lyra’s position by the window to see the Pegasus’s concern for themselves.

“This is indeed most unusu-”, Olstrom says moments before he cuts himself off and his eyes widen in shock along with Lyra and Valerica as they all spot in the distance a swarm of bug like equine shaped beings along with hearing the approaching sound of wings flapping at incredible speeds. “Changelings!, guards get to your stations and prepare for battle!.”, Olstrom proclaims as every guard in The Throne Room heads out to confront the oncoming foes. Queen Valerica snaps out of her shocked gaze as she looks to Olstrom.

“Olstrom, our baby girl is outside in the courtyard!.”, Valerica exclaims before she then turns to Lyra. “Lyra, I need you to fly as fast as you can and retrieve my daughter along with Mane Neigh-Marco out in the courtyard, bring them to The Crystal Heart Chamber.”

“Yes your majesty!.”, Lyra responds with a salute before she flies out of the throne room via an opened window. Olstrom turns to his wife after he gives his orders to a few guardsponies.

“My love, you must tend to the heart. I shall tend to our subjects within the empire but you must activate the heart and send the changelings away!.”, Olstrom proclaims as he runs out of the throne room along with various guardsponies.

Immediately, Valerica also leaves the throne room along with two earth pony guards and heads down a series of hallways passing a few guards who are making their way outside along with some panicked maids and butlers who Valerica then orders to take shelter and hide away. Soon, Valerica reaches the enchanted doors of the crystal hearts chambers upon which she immediately places a hoof to the door thus removing the seal and allowing her access. A bright light causes her to shield her eyes with her right wing for a moment as she opens the doors to the chamber, she opens her eyes again along with forming a smile on her face as she looks upon the very object that has protected her and her ancestor’s beloved empire for many generations. Valerica approaches the heart and sighs with relief before saying: “Hello again, Harmony.”

Outside flying over The Courtyard a rainbow maned Pegasus is searching for two specific individuals, Lyra Hothoof. Her hunt is soon rewarded as she spots Mane Neigh-Marco being pinned down by a changeling while a terrified Princess Shiori takes shelter behind a bush although she’s also peeking out of said bush watching Mane Neigh trying to fight off his foe. Lyra is quick to take action as she swoops down and kicks the changeling off of Mane Neigh with amazing force sending the equine insect tumbling away and crashing into a nearby wall the force of which knocks the changeling unconscious.

“Thanks for the save Lyra.”, Mane Neigh says as he tries to get up, Lyra running over to assist him.

“No problem old timer, where’s princess Shiori?.”, Lyra questions however she then feels a hoof patting her right hind leg. The rainbow maned Pegasus then looks back to see a teary eyed Princess Shiori who left her hiding spot to join them.

“I-I’m so scared, where’s momma?. Why are there monsters attacking us?.” Shiori questions with some sniffling and sobs. Lyra’s heart melted at the sight which prompted her to put a wing around Shiori and nuzzle her left cheek.

“I need you to be a strong girl now princess, your uncle Mane Neigh is going to take you to your mother ok?.”, Lyra says to which Shiori nods understandably to. Lyra then turns to Mane Neigh as she spreads her wings. “Mane Neigh, I need you to take The Princess to her majesty. You can find her in The Crystal Hearts chambers, go quickly!.”, Lyra orders as she takes off and flies towards the city. Mane Neigh then turns to Shiori and lift’s her with his magic placing her onto his back.

“Come little one, we must make haste!.”, Mane Neigh says to which Shiori nods in response. As the two make their way through the castle doors and down a few hallways Mane Neigh suddenly stops and looks around for any remaining guards most of whom have already left to assist in fighting off the Changelings. He then uses his magic to float Shiori off of his back and levitates her in front of him. He stares at the filly with a look of absolute hatred and distain, Shiori is a bit confused and questions him.

“U-uncle Mane Neigh, what are you-”, before Shiori could finish her inquiry Mane Neigh crudely tosses her away which causes her to slide down the hallway floors a bit as she lets out a painful yelp.

Shiori tries to regain her composer while still lying on the floor and looks up towards the approaching royal advisor. Her eyes widen in horror as the stallion she once thought was her uncle figure became one of the most terrifying beings she had ever faced even more so then the insect equines just outside of the castle. Mane Neighs form began to shift as a shroud of darkness shredded his old form revealing a pitch black stallion whose main and tail were fluttering with a wave of darkness along with a curved horn on its head. The edge of the beings curved horn was crimson red, its eye balls was white, their eyes are green and their pupils were red. The being standing before Shiori now was none other then an Umbrum, Mane Neigh-Marco’s true identity. The now former advisor looked down upon the now trembling Shiori and chuckled a bit before he points his horn to her.

“Say hello to the real me, my dear niece.”, Mane Neigh says sarcastically with a large grin present. “Let’s go see mommy now, shall we?.”, Mane Neigh questions sarcastically and with his horn still pointed towards the young filly the now revealed Umbrum casts a spell which instantly puts her unconscious. He picks up Shiori before making his way towards The Crystal Hearts chambers. Unbeknownst to Mane Neigh, one of the maids that Valerica had ordered to take refuge as she made her way to The Crystal Heart was listening to the whole situation with a hoof to her mouth, she could even see everything from just around the corner of the hallway and upon hearing the Umbrum run off the maid peeks around the corner only to find them gone. The maids name is Diamond Crumbles, she is a light pink furred unicorn along with a mane and tail that has noticeable stripes of light purple and dark purple colors. Her eyes are light blue while her pupils are black.

“This is horrible, how dare that brute harm such a sweet filly. It’s truly unfit treatment for a lady.”, the maid then puts a hoof to her chin in thought. “I have to get help but everypony is fighting off the changelings outside and within the city. Oh, think Diamond Crumbles, think.” suddenly, Diamond Crumble gasps as an idea comes to her mind. “I’ve got it, King Olstrom should still be in the city helping everypony and if I can find him he can save The Princess and The Queen.”, Diamond dances in place enthusiastically before she then compliments herself pretending as if someone else was with her.

“Oh Diamond you are simply a genius.”

“Why thank you darling.”

Diamond then giggles a bit before she runs down the hallways, out of the castle, and into the warring city.

(To be continued in Chapter 12 - The Planemeld Pt: 3)