As the occupants of the train attempted their best to draw out conversation, Twilight sat silently, her gaze draw to the window on her right. It only took King Sombra a day to reclaim his throne, and now who knows what could've happened to her brother and sister-in-law. The drums of war echoed in the back of Twilight's mind as she allowed herself to get lost in thought. The others weren't doing much better, the little conversation they kept was how the weather was or the repetitive
"How's Apple Bloom/Sweetie Bell/Scootalo?", despite the same question being asked several times within the last hour.
Rarity fidgeted with her element, the Element of Generosity, doing her best to stay involved in the conversation, but Twilight could see the thousand yard stare that took hold of Rarity's face. The train came to a screeching halt as they reached their destination, and with a weary sigh, Twilight grabbed her bag, stuffed with rations, sleeping bags, tents, and of course, the Element of Magic. Spike climbed onto her back in utter silence as the 7 friends climbed out of the train. Since King Sombra cut of connections - which unfortunately included the train station - they'd need to take the long way to the crystal empire. Rarity already began to complain of the cold as her fur and mane was littered with frost.
"Everypony got everything we need?" AppleJack asked, stepping in for the role Twilight would normally take. After a moment of silence, AppleJack nodded to them.
"Then what're ya'll waitin' for? Let's get a move on! We have an empire to save!" She said as everypony slowly began their long journey.
The wind howled loudly, warning them with every step they took that it wasn't too late to turn back now. Fluttershy, despite wearing several layers of coats, shivered as the cold bit at her hooves while Pinkie Pie carelessly bounced around, her element aimlessly bouncing around on her neck. AppleJack toyed with her Stetson, her coat slowly being tinted white as the storm continued on, paying no regard for the ponies (and dragon) silently battling their way through it's storm.
Finally, at dusk, they set up camp in a cave facing away from the storm, what little warmth the cave had to offer was welcomed by the tired group. Twilight set a fire while AppleJack and Rainbow Dash raced to set up their tents, in a bid to see who could set theirs up the fastest. For the first time today, the group laughed.
"I thought we'd never get out of that cold!" Spike said as he snuggled close to the fire, shivering, his draconic body used to much more humid temperatures than this.
"Let's hope none of us catch a cold by the end of this, no offense AJ but 'Granny Smith's Cold Elixirs' taste absolutely awful."
Twilight piped in, causing the group to laugh once again. Twilight pulled Spike close as AppleJack began to recount many stories passed down through the Apple family to brighten the mood even more. The harsh howl of the winter's storm faded from all of their minds as they listened to AppleJack recount the story of how the CMCs tried to get mime cutie marks.
The group were greeted by the bright sunlight that morning as they rose from their tents. The storm had gave way, allowing Celestia's sun to shine brightly throughout the land.
"We'll what're ya'll waitin' for? Let's getta move on!" AppleJack said as she expertly packed her tent.
Rainbow Dash struggled to keep up with her, and soon she sighed in annoyance and slowed. Pinkie Pie was quite literally bouncing off the walls, bread grumps littered all over her face from the previous night's feast - which consisted of muffins Pinkie Pie pulled from who knows where -, Rarity pulled off her sleeping mask and stumbled tiredly out of her tent. Spike quickly rushed to her aid at dis-assembling the giant tent she'd slept in, while Twilight helped Fluttershy with hers. The light of a new day gave them clear sight of their goal, and improved their attitudes greatly.
"Alright everypony, our goal is to get over to those mountains!" Twilight said excitedly, pointing her hoof at the mountains.
Unlike in the storm yesterday, they're goal today was perfectly clear as the group started on their way, determined to get where they were going. For the first time in days, they were able to keep up a conversation, a good one at that. They talked of what they'd do once they'd returned, Spike craving a gem-filled cupcake, while Rarity daydreaming of the spa. Twilight herself couldn't help but think of the book she could write of their adventure.
Soon, they're goal drew every closer as the great mountain began to climb further into view. Fluttershy seemed a bit disappointed, having not seen even one creature that would've populated an area like this, while Rainbow Dash and AppleJack seemed at odds with each other, caught up in a debate of who'd get to land the first hit on King Sombra. Twilight couldn't help but stray back to the thoughts of concern for her brother and sister in law, who were no doubt imprisoned somewhere. How did King Sombra even manage to get into the crystal empire? They'd defeated him last time, casting him to oblivion. Twilight flexed her wings nervously, coming up with all the possible scenarios that could've led to King Sombra regaining rule. She was so caught up in these thoughts, that when they arrived at the mountain in the early evening, she kept on walking, bashing her head into the cliff face. Spike and Rainbow Dash couldn't help but laugh at this.
Once again, the group set up camp inside a cave buried deep in the face of the mountain. Spike finished the last of his sandwich while Rainbow Dash angerly ruffled her feathers.
"I hate this whole 'not flying' thing!" She complained.
"It's safer for us to remain on the ground at all times. Besides, once we get into the mountains, flight will be much better." Twilight evenly responded.
Evening turned into night as the group sat around the campfire, once again sharing stories. It was Spike's turn as he shared some far fetched stores about how he'd supposedly slain 5 timberwolves.
He stood up as he dramatically said, "And the timber wolves lunged for me!" Spike took a step back, attempting to mimic being tackled by the wolves.
He paused and looked around him, his eyes wide. Rarity got to her hooves as she eagerly realized what was all around them.
"Gems!" They both yelled enthusiastically.
Spike quickly lost focus of the story he was telling as he and Rarity both began to grab several of the gems off the wall. The rest of the group giggled at this as they watched the two of them. Spike started to go off into a deeper part of the cave before he suddenly screamed.
"Gah!" He'd scream as he stumbled back, dropping the gems in his arms, his eyes fixed on what had startled him.
The others came rushing to his aid, and froze at what they saw.
A unicorn, trapped in crystal, bearing a striking resemblance to the King himself, stared back at them.
Author's Note
First Chapter, hoping it turned out alright, let me know what you guys think of this one!
Rarity stumbled back in utter horror while Twilight's mind raced.
"Is that King Sombra?" AppleJack asked, picking up her stetson from where it'd fallen.
"Didn't King Sombra have a curved horn?" Rainbow Dash replied.
Looking closely at the stallion, Twilight could see that he lacked the king's trademark curved horn or sharp fangs. While his fur was grey, and his mane was darker than night, his eyes were a bright blue and he lacked any cape. His last moments seemed to be filled with terror, and as Twilight looked up, she instantly knew what had happened to the young unicorn.
"It seems like he'd fallen and became imprisoned in the crystals, although how is unclear. I don't think he's King Sombra either, this unicorn probably fell here a long time ago." Twilight calmly replied.
"But Twilight, We need to get him out of there!" Spike protested, not quite understanding the gravity of the situation.
"If he'd fallen a long time ago, I have mah doubts he's still alive." AppleJack said, pulling Spike close.
"We should.... just leave him to rest.... I don't want to disturb his grave anymore..." Fluttershy shakily replied.
It was hard getting to sleep that night, especially since you're technically sleeping right next to another's grave. Twilight kept Spike close that night. Rainbow Dash following suit, kept Fluttershy under her wing, and Rarity slept a bit closer to AppleJack. Pinkie Pie had left several cupcakes - from who knows where - at the foot of the crystals, her hair a bit less puffy than usual.
Crack!
"What was that..?" Fluttershy asked, pushing herself deeper under Rainbow Dash's wing.
Crunch!
"Sounds like crystals breaking... what if the cave is about to collapse on us?!" Rarity shrieked.
Thud!
The noises stopped as soon as they started, AppleJack getting up to investigate the noise. She wasn't saying it, but Twilight could tell AppleJack was as afraid as the rest of them. AppleJack gasped, prompting Twilight to follow her. The crystals that had broken were not a part of the ceiling, but instead a part of the 'grave'. The small unicorn had fallen out of the crystals that had kept him entombed, and was now laying on the ground. The only indication that he was alive was the occasional twitch of an ear, as he lay motionless in front of them. Twilight could swear Fluttershy's jaw dropped to the floor as she galloped over to the colt, while Rainbow Dash lazily got out of her sleeping bag.
"Oh dear! Are you alright?!" Fluttershy asked as the group curiously gathered around the colt.
As he stirred from unconsciousness, he gave them a weary stare before instead posing his own question, "Where's Sombra?"
"Don't worry sugarcube, Sombra's gone." AppleJack replied, having snapped out of her shock and confusion.
"Where is he?! Who are you?!" The colt asked, suddenly snapping out of his weary state.
The colt took off, running out into the fresh morning snow as AppleJack followed quickly behind, however, the runaway colt was no match for Rainbow Dash as she'd shook off sleep. Rainbow Dash's approach wasn't the best though, and she quickly tackled the colt. By the time Twilight and the others had shaken their shock and caught up, AppleJack was already yelling at Rainbow Dash. Another blizzard was already threatening to take hold, so they had to decide what to do with the colt, and fast.
"What has gotten into the both of you?" Rarity asked the two arguing mares as she helped the colt to his feet.
Not bothering to dive into their arguments any further, Rarity instead asked the colt two questions.
"Who are you, and why'd you run, dear?" Her voice soft as to not draw a similar response to the one earlier.
"Void Out.... and, you scared me when you said my brother was gone.."
Author's Note
Sorry this chapter is a bit on the short side, can't seem to fix myself to any one story.