The Crystal Empire became a warzone as changelings and ponies fought on the streets and in the air, royal guard pegasi along with the support of civilian pagasi battled in the skies kicking and ramming various changelings. Ground based forces like earth ponies and unicorns blasted and kicked their way through their enemies, unicorns unleashing their powerful magics to literally zap away some changelings while earth ponies on the other hoof sent changelings skyward with their amazing strength and powerful bucks. Of course, it goes without saying that the Changelings were also having victories of their own some taking the forms of various ponies to infiltrate ranks and cause distrust amongst the populace. However, the Changelings are using a tactic that absolutely horrifies most ponies in the empire. They are forcing ponies to wear some sort of helmet built specifically for ponies which then takes control of their minds and turns them against their fellow ponies. Slowly but surely, a legion comprised of changelings and mind controlled ponies began to stomp through the empire. Throughout all of this chaos a certain maid from the castle sneaks her way through all of it, Diamond Crumbles.

“Oh please dear Celestia don’t let me be discovered, if I can just make it to the library I think I could get my Barings together.”, Diamond says as she continues to sneak throughout the empire by going through ruined buildings and taking back alleyways. Suddenly, Diamond can hear a commotion just as she turns the corner of the alleyway and spots a certain rainbow maned Pegasus guardspony who is locked in combat with two changelings, Lyra Hothoof. Lyra manages to dodge one changeling by hopping into the air and bucks it away into a nearby structure before she then turns to the last remaining changeling for a one on one fight. The fight lasts for moments both on the ground and the air until Lyra finally manages to grab onto the changeling and slams it right into the floor before dragging it up against a nearby wall and proceeds to interrogate her captive with her right hoof to its neck.

“All right ugly, tell me why you and the rest of your bug friends are attacking us and what the hay is up with those helmets you lot have been forcing ponies to wear?. Tell me!.” Lyra demands with her narrowed eyes and gritted teeth. However, Lyra is too focused on her current captive only to not realize that the second changeling she defeated earlier had regained their consciousness and is now about to attack her flank. The Changeling flies at her with rapid speed and is about to assassinate Lyra only for an energy beam to swat the changeling away. Diamond Crumbles reveals herself while letting out a snuff of annoyance along with an Enlighted horn.

“First you lot gang up on a beautiful lady then you cowardly try to attack her from behind?, you brutes got what you deserve! Hmpf.”, Diamond says as she trots over to Lyra who then looks back and notices Diamond and the now, once again, unconscious changeling.

“Woah, thanks for the assist. You’re one awesome maid you know that?.”, Lyra compliments while still holding her captive changeling at bay.

“Why thank you darling but I simply couldn’t sit idly by and watch you get teamed up on by these disgusting brutes.”, Diamond replies with a disgusted tone. Lyra nods with gratitude before she then turns back to her captive.

“Don’t think I forgot about you punk, give me some answers!.”, Lyra demanded although sadly her words meant nothing to the changeling. Lyra then hits the changeling with her other hoof. “Give. Me. Answers!”, she hits the changeling once after every word. The Changeling finally gives in after letting out a:

“GAUGH!... Fine, fine, you worthless pony. Not like it’ll do you any good, the helmets allow us to control all of you who wear it and we planned this invasion for quite some time now. You all will feed The Hive forever! Haha-”, the Changeling suddenly was silenced as a hoof punched it right across its face thus knocking it out. Surprisingly, the hoof didn’t belong to Lyra but instead it came from Diamond.

“I’ve heard just about enough out of you fiend!.”, Diamond says as she removes her right hoof away from the now unconscious Changeling. Lyra looked onto the maid with shock before she chuckles to herself.

“I like you already haha, what’s your name?.” Lyra questions.

“Diamond Crumbles, but we don’t have any time for that we need to hurry and find The King. The Queen and The Princess are both in danger!. Oh it was awful, I saw the royal advisor walking down the hallway with the princess on his back but then he threw the poor princess away and hurt the poor dear but what was most mysterious about it is that he transformed into some sort of evil black being but it wasn’t a Changeling. He then picked up the princess and ran down the hallway towards The Queen, oh you simply must believe me darling.”, Diamond pleads as she then has a sense of guilt take over her. “I know I should’ve done something but what could I do?, I had to get more help, I had to-”, Diamond was cut off as Lyra put a hoof to the maids muzzle.

“That’s enough, you did what you could Miss Diamonds but now you and I are gonna go for a little flight. Name’s Lyra Hothoof by the way.”, Lyra says with a wink before she promptly grabs the maid and throws her onto her back.

“A flight? But where are we gonna go?.”, Diamond questions with concern.

“The Crystal Empire needs some serious allies in this fight and I know just the two royal sisters in Canterlot to help us.”, Lyra says as she takes off with Diamond Crumbles on her back.

“But what about The Queen and Princess Shiori?, shouldn’t we send help for them?.”, Diamond asks as she holds onto Lyra by putting both of her front legs around the base of Lyra’s neck.

“If we can get help from Princess Celestia and Princess Luna we’ll not only save The Queen and The Princess but the whole empire as well. Now hold on tight, we’re about to leave the barrier and lucky for us the weather isn’t too bad right now just a bit chilly.”, Lyra says as she and Diamond Crumbles leave the barrier and flies off towards Canterlot.

Meanwhile, King Olstrom Shattershield and various of his guardsponies along with some citizens have set up a barricade outside of a certain orphanage and are using it as a command center of sorts. All of the foals, colts, and various ponies they have saved along the way are all being placed here as they try to fight off the invasion.

“Unicorns!, casts a barrier around The Orphanage and protect every pony inside!. I don’t want a single changeling near them, fight everypony!. Hold them back!.”, Olstrom orders as he kicks a changeling away who tried to flank him. The doors to the orphanage opens up revealing Starburst Raindrop, the unicorn stallion then runs over to Olstrom’s side.

“Your majesty, my wife Starfire and I have secured all of the colts and foals along with those who are unable to fight within the orphanage. We have our staff protecting them as well should any changeling manage to get inside.”, Starburst exclaims.

“Excellent Starburst, my apologies for using your orphanage as our base of operations my friend but I-”, Olstrom is cut off as Starburst raises a hoof and interrupts him.

“Nonsense your majesty, if it helps to protect The Empire then our orphanage is more then available to help everypony. We can hold out until Queen Valerica can use The Crystal Heart.”, Starburst says with a hoof raised over his chest. Olstrom nods in response with a smile before he turns to look at the castle.

“Please be safe my dear wife and child.”

Just outside of the crystal empire castle various guardsponies from pegasi to unicorns and earthponies are still fighting off numerous changelings and even mind controlled ponies, much to their surprise. Some guards can even be heard yelling:

“Why are we fighting against our own?!, they’re not even changelings in disguise!.”

“It’s got to be those helmets, I’ve heard reports of the enemy forcing ponies to wear them!.”

“What?!, how’d they even get such a thing?. I’ve never heard of- hey look out!.”, before the guardspony could warn their fellow guard a changeling managed to slip a mind controlling helmet onto them. To everyponies shock the guard now turned on them bearing their weapons against their former allies. The clashing of swords, the explosions of magic, and even the grunts of pain continues as the fight for the empire rages on.

Within the Crystal Hearts Chambers Queen Valerica is moments away from powering up the artifact thanks to her love and the love of her subjects who have been giving it to the heart despite the battle that is waging on outside. Valerica’s two earthpony guards remain by her side ready to protect her at any cost. Suddenly, a dark force rams against the doors of the chambers which instantly gets the attention of Valerica and her guards. The two guards begin to approach the doors only for them to be flung open the force of which knocks them both back only to reveal a certain advisor turned Umbrum, Mane Neigh-Marco. The former advisor walks past the two unconscious guards as he approaches Valerica.

“Who are you?, leave this place at once!.”, Valerica questions as she tries to focus on powering the crystal heart. She still doesn’t know of Mane Neighs true identity but the Umbrum soon rectifies that.

“Oh come now Valerica, don’t you recognize me?. And here I thought after all these years of service to you and your pathetic empire that we were best friends. I used to baby sit for you when that abomination of a daughter of yours was born, I was your ring bearer at your wretched wedding which made me want to gag.”, Mane Neigh says as he chuckles to himself with a smirk. Valericas hearts broke in that very moment as her eyes widen in shock.

“Mane Neigh-Marco?!, b-but why?. How could you... You monster!.”, Valerica yells with tears beginning to form in her eyes. “We were friends ever since we were fillies, what have I ever done to wrong you?.”, Valerica asks with tears now freely falling down her face.

“Oh?, well Celestia be damned I must’ve skipped over that part in the real Mane Neigh-Marcos dead, cold, decaying memories.” Mane Neigh then puts a hoof over his mouth. “Oops, did I reveal that to you? Oh well.”, Mane Neigh-Marco says as he shrugs it off. “That’s right Valerica, I killed the real Mane Neigh-Marco on your wedding day actually. He was soo pathetic, trying to say how you’ll one day discover my identity and stop me. He tried to put on a brave face that was until I tore him apart piece by piece, his screams were almost like that of a foals it made me laugh at him the whole time until he drew his last breath.”, Mane Neigh mocked before he began to laugh maniacally. Valerica was in absolute tears and even began to sob upon hearing this, to learn that her best friend was brutally murdered and replaced by this... thing , this was even more unforgivable then the actions of a changeling who would often leave the pony they replaced alive. Valerica regained her composer and took on an angered expression.

“You will be punished harshly for this you fiend, so by what name do I call you now?. Tell me who and what you really are?!”, Valerica demanded.

“For the sake of your tiny brain let’s just stick with Mane Neigh-Marco, plus I love using it to taunt you haha. As for what I am, I am an Umbrum!.”, Mane Neigh says as he poses confidently while also emitting a dark aura from his body. “It is my destiny to bring my Goddess her true desires, all of Equus itself will belong to her!.”, Valerica’s eyes shot wide upon hearing this revelation.

“An Umbrum? B-but that can’t be, legends say you were all banished along with-.”, Velarica was cut off as she managed to put the pieces together, this goddess of his in particular. “No, you don’t mean... Nocturnal?!.”, a clapping of hooves could be heard as Mane Neigh celebrates Valerica’s realization.

“Oh I just love the way you ponies and your puny little minds work. Not all of us were banished alongside my goddess all those years ago, some of us remained in the shadows waiting for the perfect moment to strike back. Now, by using the crystal heart I will open a gateway to my home realm and with it my goddess, Nocturnal, shall claim all of you ponies. I will enjoy strapping you and your people into chains as we drag you all to the Realm of Absolute Darkness!.”, Mane Neigh insults as he begins to laugh once again.

“You won’t succeed Mane Neigh, you are a fool to have revealed yourself now you heartless Umbrum.”, Valerica says as a sudden humming sound emits from The Crystal Heart. “The Crystal Heart is now properly powered thanks to the love of me and my people, I shall cast you out along with every changeling-”

“Oh but you won’t Valerica, I have the means to ensure that you do exactly what I say.”, Mane Neigh interrupts as a ball of shadows begins to construct itself, the ball then takes on the form of a cage. Within this cage is an unconscious filly, Princess Shiori Shattershield. The Umbrum holds his left front hoof out towards the cage. “Do as I command or this poor little princess takes an early retirement.”, the cage of shadows noticeably grew smaller as if it had intended to crush its current occupant.

“No!.”, Queen Valerica pleaded with tears coming out of her eyes again. “I’ll do anything you want, anything at all just please... Leave my baby girl out of this.” Valerica begs as she stops flowing her love energy into the crystal heart and steps away from the artifact. Suddenly, one of the two unconscious guards comes to and gets back up. Valerica sees this and a bit of hope comes to her as she plans internally: ”-Perfect, if I can keep Mane Neigh-Marco’s gaze locked onto me perhaps the guard can-”, Valerica’s internal thoughts were literally cut off and her eyes then widen in shock and fear once more. Her hopes became crushed as the awakened guard had done the unthinkable, at the sound of a sudden splatter of blood she realizes the awoken guard has impaled the second guard who was still unconscious thus killing that guard instantly. The awoken guard then stands right next to Mane Neigh-Marco only for green flames to consume the guards body thus revealing a certain changeling ruler: Queen Chrysalis. Valerica was now in complete despair as all of her hopes were killed alongside that unconscious guardponies life, she couldn’t help but to whisper to herself: “H-have you forsaken me Harmony?...”

“Oh poor Valerica, I bet you were hoping I was one of your pathetic guards didn’t you?. You must be so disappointed.”, Queen Chrysalis mocks before she laughs at Valerica’s misfortune. “You were probably planning something with your little false sense of hope weren’t you?, oh and sorry about killing that other guard can’t have any interlopers now can we?.” Chrysalis taunts as she then walks right next to Valerica, looking right into Valericas distraught expression. “Now, be a good little pony and do what my ally commands. Don’t fret my dear, you are providing a great service to my hive as well you know. My children will feed off of you and your people forever!.”

“Now now Chrysalis, I enjoy tormenting them as much as you do but we simply must- GAUGH”, before Mane Neigh could finish his words a beam of dark blue energy hits him right on the side of his head sending him aloft into the nearby wall. As a result, the shadow cage that had entrapped Princess Shiori fades away as the young unconscious filly falls to the floor. Queen Chrysalis’s eyes shot wide open as she roars:

“Who’s there?!, show yourself- GAUGH” Chrysalis was also silenced and sent back into another wall as a beam of golden energy strikes her right on her chest.

“It would seem we have arrived not too late my sister.”

“Indeed, these Cretans shall pay for what thou have wrought upon our dear friend.”

The royal sisters of Canterlot have arrived.

(To be continued in Chapter 13 - The Planemeld Finale.)

Author's Note

For those who are curious about Sombasi: Brother Of Sombra, I had to put this on hiatus due to breaking my laptop which sadly had all of my chapters saved on it.
Take it from me, never drink your coffee right next to your laptop where it's in a perfect position for your elbow to knock it over... and spill all over said laptop.
I'll be returning to that story once Terraria and my upcoming Ark stories are complete.