The Shadow in the North

Chapters

Ch. 01; The Shadow Rises
Ch. 02; Setting Out
Ch. 03; Over The Snows
Ch. 4; Under The Hills
Ch. 05; With Catlike Tread
Ch. 06; Into the Breach
Ch. 07; Epilogue
Ch. 08; A New Beginning

Ch. 01; The Shadow Rises

It may have been spring elsewhere, but in the northern reaches of Epona the ice was just beginning to break-up as temperatures started to rise above freezing at night. The bright artic sun shone down on a wide plain, shaded by groves of spruce and pine and awash in heather, cottongrass and wildflowers newly awakened from their icy sleep for a few brief weeks before winter returned.

There was no one to gaze upon the grassland’s beauty, or trudge the nearby hills seeking their bounty of ore, lumber, or herbs, for ponies considered Epona’s northlands to be cursed and haunted. Even the hardy griffins and reindeer of Aine and the stubborn yaks of Hippeia avoided these lands, as they had done for over a thousand years.

There was a flicker, almost as if the sun had gone out for a moment, and then a city sat upon the plain, the crystalline walls of its buildings glittering dully in the glow of the dome that covered the metropolis, while a blizzard howled outside the barrier. Dark laughter rode on the winds as monstrous shapes began to move through the flying snow.

The sound of irate hooves stamping on stone floors echoed throughout the manse, causing HellCaller, demonic voivode exiled into a semi-retirement in Equestria, to look up from the book she was reading in amused annoyance.

“I guess Trixie’s date vith Twilight didn’t go so vell,” Kragor sighed, the soulblade’s metallic voice chiming through the library.

“I suppose I should go check on her,” ‘Caller grumbled as she rose from her seat.

“Trixie is your apprentice,” Kragor replied, “Hey, don’t forget me! I vant to hear vhat happened too!”

Heading into the main hall, the pair found Trixie slumped into a chair, her muzzle buried in a goblet of wine, a picnic basket and blanket dumped on the table, and her star-spangled hat and cloak, the pride of the unicorn’s wardrobe, flung carelessly over another chair. Dropping into a seat of her own, ‘Caller simply affixed her glowing eyes upon her apprentice and waited for the weight of her silent gaze to drive the generally voluble illusionist to explain what had happened.

Halfway through her second goblet, Trixie finally broke, “It was the divinesdamned deer again!” the showmare exclaimed, slamming her chalice down, wine sloshing over the rim. At her master’s gesture, the mare continued, “Trixie took Twilight Sparkle to the glade next to the triple-oak, not so far into the Everfree Forest as to be truly dangerous, but enough to give our tryst a little thrill … the dell was hock-deep in sweet clover and wildflowers, the Considerate and Adoring Trixie had brough a picnic, we were talking about books and magic … it was all going so well,” she wailed, “And then those fluffy-tailed assassins of joy showed up and ruined everything!”

‘Caller frowned slightly, “I thought relations vith deer had improved?”

“Apparently these deer didn’t get the notice,” Trixie grumbled, “They kept going on about how Trixie was a ‘minion of the abomination’ and a ‘despoiler of the Forest’ and … and …,” she collapsed back into her seat with a despairing moan as her teacher reached over and awkwardly patted her shoulder.

The next morning saw a still depressed Trixie forcing herself to focus on her training, “Austratir Cayosini,” she incanted, sending her rapier whipping through the air to impale the stump that ‘Caller had chosen as today’s target, “What is the purpose of this invocation?” she asked, Trixie’s curiosity briefly overwhelming her dejection, “Trixie already knows combat spells.”

“And this vill give you another,” the demoness replied dryly, “There are times, and opponents, vhere cold steel serves better than spellfire, my apprentice. Besides, vith training you can hit multiple enemies vith a single casting, and even call your blade back to your hand,” she raised an eyebrow at the unicorn, “I thought you, of all ponies, vould appreciate potential for showmanship.”

Trixie pursed her lips, but whatever reply she might have made was cut off as, with a thunder of wings, Rainbow Dash dropped from the sky, “Hey, grab your stuff! The Princesses need to see all of us at the Palace right away for a mission, they’re sending a pair of air chariots and everything!”

The motely band; seven ponies, one demon accompanied by a sentient sword, and a juvenile dragon, where led into a drawing room, where the solar and lunar alicorns were leaning over a table, examining a map alongside Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard, “Welcome,” Celestia smiled at the group, “Although I wish we were meeting under better circumstances,” her smile dropped away as the Princess continued, “The Crystal Empire has returned.”

Twilight, Trixie, and, oddly, Fluttershy stared in shock, while Spike and the other ponies exchanged confused glances, only for the moment to be interrupted by Kragor, “So … vho is Crystal Empire, and vhere did it go?”

“The Crystal Empire was founded long ago by one of the separatist groups that refused to join the Equestrian Republic after the events of the first Hearth’s Warming and Unification of the Three Tribes,” Twilight explained, “It vanished more than a thousand years ago.”

“There was a war,” murmured Fluttershy, “One of my ancestors wrote about in her diary; Equestria invaded the Crystal Empire to liberate it from the evil warlock that had enslaved the populace. It … wasn’t going well for the King, then the capital city and all of the villages that weren’t under Equestrian control just … disappeared.”

‘Caller cocked an eyebrow at the timid pegasus, “‘Evil varlock’, vas he?”

“Perhaps your Imperium would be more tolerant of such a stallion as a neighbor,” Celestia admitted, “But I believe even you would object to a ruler who reduces his own subjects to slavery, mind-controls his entire military to ensure their loyalty, works whole families to death in his mines, and disappears others into his laboratories.”

Rarity frowned slightly, “What about the Empire’s other cities? Did they vanish as well?”

“There were none,” Luna replied, “By the time of Sombra’s wicked reign, the Crystal 'Empire' had dwindled to a mere city-state.”

Shining looked up from the map at his diarchs, “Do we know what exactly happened to the Empire?”

“It was Sombra’s final curse, after ‘Tia and I invaded his sanctum,” the Princes of the Night said, a disgusted frown curling her lips, “Unwilling to accept his defeat, Sombra dragged his nation into the netherworld alongside him.”

“And now he has returned?” Trixie asked, “How?”

“We don’t know,” admitted Celestia, “All we know for sure is that Sombra and the Crystal Empire have returned, and that he has already taken steps to prevent Luna or I from directly interfering with him again.”

Rainbow grinned and threw a few punches, “So, you want us to go and deal with him, right?”

“In essence,” Celestia nodded, “We ask that the six of you go to the Crystal Empire and confront Sombra, while Luna and I ready the Royal Guard in case Sombra attacks before you have dealt with him. The Elements of Harmony are already prepared,” she added, setting a small wooden chest on the table, and opening it to reveal six jeweled amulets. Turning to face the others, the white alicorn continued, “Spike, Trixie, HellCaller, we need you to go with them, both to provide additional support and as a ‘wild card’ factor. Sombra relies on mind control and binding spells to ensure obedience, I doubt he is prepared for the inventiveness and ingenuity of those who are actually willing.”

“And you vant some extra muscle around to help face someone vho can seal out a pair of godlings?” ‘Caller smirked, “Is that vhat he did last time, use summonings, bindings and compulsions to control his forces?”

“Yes,” Luna confirmed, “In addition to the mind-controlled Crystal Legion, he also fielded hosts of summoned demons, snow golems, ensorcelled monsters of the artic and even a pair of spell-bound frost drakes,” she glanced up from the reports she was reading, “And that is just what we know of. He also did … something … to encase the Crystal Empire in a permanent blizzard that not even flights of pegasi could disperse.”

“Hay River suffering a blizzard in spring was our first sign that the Crystal Empire had returned, actually,” Celestia added.

Rarity leaned over to look at the maps, “You said something about you not being able to interfere?”

“Yes,” Celestia replied, “Our scrying has revealed that Sombra has altered the shield around the Crystal Empire so that only a member of the royal bloodline can open it, and I and Luna cannot pass through it at all.”

“Fortunately, Sombra forgot, or ignored, that just because he is now king, it doesn’t mean that the descendants of the previous dynasty are not of royal blood,” Luna smirked, “And we hath found such a descendant in a most fortuitous place.”

The door opened as Princess Cadance entered, “The train is loading – oh! Twilight!”

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake … clap your hands and do a little shake!” the two mares sang together, while Trixie blushed deeply as she stared at the happily bouncing and wiggling librarian.

“Thank you, Cadance,” Celestia said, “I was just about to tell everyone that you and Captain Armor would be accompanying them.”

“Vait, you’re of Crystal Empire royal lineage?” ‘Caller ‘Caller asked, her voice heavy with suspicion, “Isn’t that rather convenient?”

“I found it unlikely as well,” admitted the pink alicorn, “It’s been several dozen generations since the Empire disappeared, and yet I, of all ponies, share the royal blood? Enough to get past Sombra’s magic? But Aunties ‘Tia and Luna assure me that it’s true.”

The demoness shrugged, “Having a pretext for invasion does usually make things go over smoother vith neighboring nations,” she conceded.

“Hey, wait just one second, what’s this about us bein’ a darn invasion?” Applejack protested, as Spike and most of the other ponies stared at ‘Caller in shock.

‘Caller gave them all a fanged grin, “Ve’re going into a sovereign nation to overthrow its ruler and put Equestrian princess on throne … vhat vould you call it?”

“Thou art mistaken, HellCaller,” Luna disagreed, “With Sombra’s defeat all those centuries ago, the Crystal Empire became part of Equestria by right of conquest. If anything, he is now a usurper and rebel against Our rightful rule.”

“This is more than just a military action,” Celestia said sternly, interrupting 'Caller's derisive sneer, “The crystal ponies have been displaced over a millennium from anything they once knew, as well as suffering only Faust knows what abuses under Sombra’s reign. They will need somepony strong in love and compassion to help them through their recovery and the difficult days ahead,” she gave Cadance a warm smile, full of faith in her niece, “Now, the weather disruptions caused by Sombra’s tempest are already making going north by airship inadvisable, so you’ll be taking a high-speed Guard train. Once you reach Hay River, you will have to proceed from there on hoof.”

“We don’t know how much worse the storms will get,” Shining added, “But I hope we’ll reach Hay River in four days. Once we resupply … according to these old maps, Hay River was only two days’ journey from the capital, but with a constant blizzard to fight through, it could easily take twice as long, if not more.”

“Once you breach Sombra’s barrier, you will still have another task before you can face him,” Luna warned, drawing a frustrated groan from Rainbow.

Cadance’s brown wrinkled in confusion, “What task, Auntie?”

“Unlike during our last confrontation, this time we hath the benefit of remnants of lore the crystal ponies had long kept secret, as well as some initial scrying before Sombra fully sealed his barrier against us,” the Princess of the Night explained, “Somewhere within the city, Sombra has hidden the Crystal Heart, an artifact that magnifies and spreads both emotions and magic, and once served as the spiritual center of the Crystal Empire. It is likely that he corrupted its purpose to strengthen his vile hold over the Empire, but if you can combine it with the Elements of Harmony, ‘Tia and I believe you will be able to free the Crystal Empire from Sombra’s hold and end his threat forever.”

“Now, you should go and finish any preparations you might have, if the train crews are already loading, then they should be ready to leave within the hour,” Celestia instructed, “And may Faust and all the divines go with you.”

Author's Note

This story was inspired by Trinary's Hot Heads, Cold Hearts and Nerves of Steel.

Ch. 02; Setting Out

“So, that is ‘high-speed’ train? It looks rather … small.”

Pinkie nodded, “Even the Friendship Express is bigger … and why is it the ‘Express’, anyway? The main line from Canterlot takes half the time.”

“Compared to the passenger lines, it’s much smaller,” Shining agreed, “Engine, tender, dining and pantry car, an extended sleeper car and a caboose, with a crew of four working two-pony shifts. It’s not pretty, or very comfortable, but these Guard trains are fast and tough, and we shouldn’t need to stop for coal or water until we get to Hay River.”

“Hey, there’s a ram on the front!” Rainbow, who had wandered off, called back.

“Oh, I’ve read about that!” Twilight said happily, as the group joined the pegasus before the locomotive, “It’s for pushing through snow drifts without having to slow the train.”

“Too bad tha rail line doesn’t go all tha way ta tha Crystal Empire,” laughed Applejack, “Tha train may be small, but I bet old Sombra would have quite tha turn if’n it came roaring out of tha night, all belchin’ steam an’ it’s lamps glowin’ like tha eyes of Tartarus, ta slam inta that shield of his,” the group exchanged grins and some chuckles at the thought, when they were interrupted by a polite cough.

“Mares, gentlecolts,” said one of the engineers, “We’re ready for boarding.”

“Huh, goin’ ta be a mite cramped,” Applejack remarked, as she tossed her packs onto one of the bunks that lined the car.

“Not ‘very comfortable’ indeed,” Rarity sniffed as the train got underway with a lurch and a blast of the steam whistle, “Still, we’ve endured worse,” the unicorn glance at the tiny bathroom at the back of the car with a shudder, “I suppose.”

“We only have to put up with it for a few days,” Cadance reassured the fashionista, “Although we will have to be mindful of cabin fever and keeping our tempers in these close quarters.”

“Not to vorry, Princess,” ‘Caller grinned, “After a few hours trudging through a blizzard, ve’ll all vish ve vere right back here, bored, cramped and varm.”

Time soon began to drag; there was only so much information available for them to review about Sombra and the Crystal Empire, and most of the party were experienced travelers, so the exchange of survival tips had resolved quickly, while what few books had been brought were soon read, along with any other literature they could get their hands on.

****

“I see that coiner in Appleoosa has been convicted,” observed Rarity, glancing up from the newspaper she had gotten somewhere, “There’s also an editorial piece about Luna ‘fondly remembering the hanging of counterfeiters’ and how it ‘shows the barbaric savagery of our benighted ancestors’,” she added with a small frown, “I’m sure that particular word choice went over well with the Princess.”

“Hanging is good,” ‘Caller remarked from where she lay, stretched out on her bunk, “Ve used to hang counterfeiters back home.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m going to regret asking this,” Cadance sighed, “But what does your Imperium do with coiners now?”

“After var vith Hammerdeep, ve decided to adopt dwarves’ method,” the demoness replied, “If they vant coins so badly, they can be fuel for smelters.”

“I was right, I do regret asking,” Cadance sighed, turning slightly green, as the demoness smirked at her.

Applejack titled her hat back as she glanced up from her own bunk, “Hey, Rares, where did ya get a paper anyway?”

“From one of the crew,” the fashionista replied, “Unfortunately, they’ve already done the crossword,” she sighed.

“Um, Rarity? Can I have the funny pages when you’re done?”

“But of course, Fluttershy, darling.”

****

Conversations, while initially bright and eager, eventually became desultory, and then just odd.

****

“I’m telling you; it makes perfect sense!”

“‘Caller, Luna is not a fetch!” Twilight sighed in exasperation.

“Then vhy did she change appearance so much from vhen you first saw her?” the demoness challenged, “Vhy did she suddenly have problems vith ‘Royal Canterlot Voice’ vhen she spoke perfectly fine before? Vhy did no one see her for a year?”

“Actually,” Cadance interjected, “I saw Auntie Luna several times during her initial year back. And we, well, the entire Palace actually, learned that Luna drops back into the Royal Canterlot Voice when she is … um … excited. Yes, let’s go with excited.”

Trixie raised a curious eyebrow at the Princess, “Excited?”

“Auntie Luna was alone for a thousand years,” Cadance replied, “And a mare does have her needs, after all, and Luna has a very healthy appetite ….”

“Oh my divines,” wailed Twilight, as she buried her muzzle in her hands, “We are not having this discussion!”

“I could stand to hear some more,” Rainbow declared.

“I said this discussion is over!”

“Vhat about ---”

“Discussion. Over!”

****

And, really, there was only so many games of Eye Spy, or Go Fish, that one could endure, while Pinkie’s attempt to start a game of strip poker was loudly shouted down (much to Spike’s, Pinkie’s, and ‘Caller’s disappointment).

When the train finally pulled into Hay River, after several hours of plowing through the drifts that covered the rails, there was nearly a stampede as everyone rushed to get off.

“Fresh air!” Rainbow exclaimed happily, immediately taking to the sky to hover above her friends.

“And it’s snowing!” Pinkie declared happily, spinning around as she tried to catch snowflakes on her tongue. Seeing everyone’s’ bemused looks, the hyperactive pony only shrugged, “I know it’s been snowing for like the past day, but now I’m outside to enjoy it.”

A unicorn mare trudged up to the group, “Hello! I’m Borgmester Chimebrook, what you would call the mayor,” she said, “Welcome to Hay River. You’re the detachment from the Palace?” the mayor looked them over uncertainly, her eyes widening at the sight of Spike (half buried in the snow), and ‘Caller (idly flipping a long-bladed dagger in one hand and looking at the town as if she was considering the best way to sack it), before finally falling on Cadance, “Y-your Highness!” she stammered, “If we had been informed you were coming, we would have prepared a proper greeting!”

“It’s alright, Borgmester,” Cadance reassured the fluster civil servant, “We’re trying to keep this mission quiet, after all. Now, Captain Armor and Lady Fluttershy have determined what additional supplies and materiel we’ll need to requisition from your town, so if you would talk with them, and then we’ll be out of your mane as soon as we can.”

“… of course, you Highness,” Chimebrook said with a pained smile – getting reimbursements from the bureaucracy in Canterlot was unlikely to be quick, or easy, and she was the one who would be bearing the weight of her townsponies’ aggravation while they waited – “I’ll gather some ponies and we’ll get right on it.”

The party was gathering the last of their things, including a small sled to carry Spike and some more supplies, when howls broke out at the town’s edge. As Twilight and her friends raced through Hay River, she could see anxious ponies peeking out their windows, while others, presumably part of the local militia, stumbled out their doors, awkwardly trying to hold spears or light hunting bows while strapping on their boiled leather cuirasses.

As they reached Hay River’s northern periphery, the gathered ponies (and drake, and demon) saw a gang of hulking bipeds, covered in shaggy white fur, step out of the snow, their nose sniffing the air and squat snouts wrinkling to display mouths filled with fangs as the wind increased, pelting everyone with sleet.

“Ahh, look at the scary monsters,” Pinkie giggled, “Who’s a big scary monster? You are! Yes, you are!”

“Pinkie, could ya not foaltalk at tha monsters?” groaned Applejack. “It ain’t professional.”

“A moment, please,” Cadance asked, “They may well just be frightened and desperate from the snows,” spreading her wings, the princess was just able to rise above the ground in the driving winds, as her aura flared, “Be at peace,” she said, magic filling her words, “I know you are frightened by the snows, that you are hungry because the storms have covered up the plants and driven away the animals, but the ponies of this town are not your enemies, not your prey. The forests and fields are not buried yet, you can gather food there, just leave the towns alone, Summer will return, you just have to be patient.”

The bulky simian-like creatures stopped in their tracks, gibbering and snarling at each other, while a few even shuffled their feet and started turning away, only for the whole troop to lunge forward with savage shrieks as the storm howled louder.

“It was worth a try, Cadey,” Shining comforted his wife, “HellCaller! Rainbow! Applejack! Forward with me!” As the heavily armored members of the party advanced, the shaggy bipeds charged, fangs and claws outstretched.

Yet, even as the initial rush was thrown back by the ponies’ (and demon’s) heavy panoply and Shining’s and ‘Caller’s spells, more simianoids poured in from the sides, seeming to appear out of the blowing snows.

One band of three bipeds descended upon Trixie, who regarded them with amusement, “Trixie is here! No, no, Trixie is over here!” she called as the brutes flailed ineffectually at her illusionary doubles, “Here Trixie is!” the showmare crowed as she brandished a wand and sprayed the simianoids with fire, throwing them wailing back into the snow.

“They’re afraid of fire!” Spike shouted, spewing out a stream of dragonfire that sent almost a dozen of the bipeds fleeing, their shaggy fur ablaze. Inspired by the drake’s and unicorn’s efforts, Twilight, Rarity and Cadance added their own fire spells to Trixie’s and Spike’s, while Shining threw up a magical shield to keep the simianoids back on one side, while Fluttershy raised the snow into an icy wall on the other.

With their front restricted to a single arc, occupied by the Equestrian’s best warriors, and beset by spells and dragonfire, the snow beasts’ attack faltered, only to shatter entirely as the Hay River militia finally arrived, smashing into the troop’s flank, and sending the simianoids fleeing en masse.

As the group treated their injuries, Applejack had time to wonder “What were those varmints, anyway?”

“Yetis,” one of the militiaponies replied, “We usually only see them in the depths of the worst winters … and I don’t think we’ve ever seen them in numbers like this before.”

“I was getting through to them,” Cadance sighed, “I know I was! But then they ….”

Fluttershy put a comforting hand on the alicorn’s shoulder, “Luna did say that Sombra enthralled the creatures of the artic to make them fight for him,” she murmured, “They’re his slaves just as much as the crystal ponies.”

“Yes …,” the Princess wrapped Fluttershy in a quick hug, drawing a small “eep” from the pegasus, “And we’re going to free them all!” she declared fiercely, her eyes blazing.

Ch. 03; Over The Snows

The wind howled, blowing sheets of snow across the rolling white expanse of the north, the emptiness broken by scattered stands of conifers, already deeply covered in snow, and the band of multicolored people slowly trudging along in the fading light.

The past two days marching from Hay River had been miserable, although some bore it better than others, and tempers were fraying further with each frozen step. “Will you keep moving?!” Rainbow demanded, half shouting to be heard over the wind, as Rarity stopped to dig the snow out from under her scarf.

“I am trying to not freeze, darling,” the fashionista replied, glaring at Rainbow.

Applejack turned to face the others, “We need ta get undercover while we can still see enough ta make camp,” she declared, one hand clamped on her hat, “Twi’, could ya an’ Fluttershy conjure up some walls out of tha snow? It’ll be right nice ta be out of this wind.”

The incessant wailing eased as the snow flowed and hardened into a pair of curving ice walls, creating a bubble of calm in the storm, “Oh, that’s much better,” Cadance sighed in relief, “I’m not sure how much more of that howling my poor ears could take.” The others nodded as they set up the camp, while several apologies were made for the day’s short tempers.

Later, as they huddled around the fire, Pinkie frowned out at the blizzard wailing beyond their shelter, “Hey, Dashie, I know Sombra-Snooty is messing with the weather, but can you at least feel anything? That storm feels like something a Grievouswind might hunt in.”

Rainbow blinked, before turning her focus upon the tempest, “There’s … something wrong with the weather, and it does feel hungry … and sad, too? But it’s different from what we saw back in Hippeia … it’s more diffused and doesn’t have any drive to it.”

“So, no Grievouswind yet, but it sure as shootin’ sounds like fertile ground for one ta grow from,” sighed Applejack, “As if we didn’t have enough problems already.”

“So, the Inquisitive and Apprehensive Trixie wonders just what a Grievouswind is?”

“A Grievouswind is a stormfront that has been corrupted by wild magic and given the desire to kill,” Twilight replied, “They’re rare even in the deserts of Hippeia, but I suppose one could form here … at least theoretically.”

“And on that cheery note, let’s get dinner going,” suggested Shining.

“I know it gets cold in the Northern Marches, but I never realized just how bad it could be,” Twilight murmured, pulling her cloak closer about her, “And the snow doesn’t have the … friendly feel that it does back in Ponyville.”

“Wild Weather often seems hostile when you’re used to proper, controlled, weather,” Shining replied, “I’d have thought somepony so well-travelled would have noticed it before now,” he added, smirking at his little sister as they stood watch together.

“Yes, I did notice,” Twilight grumbled, punching him in the shoulder, “And all the magic Rainbow sensed in the storm isn’t helping things … but this is worse, I think.”

The stallion smiled at her, then his muzzle dropped into a considering frown, “Actually it is getting colder … Twiley, go check on the others, I’m going to walk the perimeter.”

Nodding, Twilight ducked into the first tent, her horn glowing slightly to reveal the sleeping figures within. Satisfied, she moved to the second tent, wincing as the cold bit at exposed skin.

Straightening, Twilight’s gaze fell upon a shape crouched over Trixie’s and Spike’s sleeping forms. Glowing eyes turned towards the librarian as a fang-filled muzzle, fur peeling with frostbite, snarled soundlessly as icy claws hovered above the sleepers!

The crack of a thunderbolt swallowed Twilight’s cry as a bolt of lightning smashed the arctic horror through the tent walls and left it lying, shattered, on the snow. The echoes of her spell casting, and Shining’s shout of alarm, dragged the others stumbling to their feet as more frozen corpses stepped from the ice walls that sheltered the camp.

A trio of arrows shot out with a “twang,” thumping into the undead – to no visible effect. Applejack’s maul rang like a bell as she knocked one of the icy horrors backward, “It’s like tryin’ ta chop a frozen log!” the farmer called out.

Spike, still groggy as he staggered from his bedroll, exhaled a long tongue of flame at the undead – only to fall back with a yelp as they pushed heedlessly through the blaze. “Fire doesn’t work on them!” shouted Rarity, her horn flaring as she conjured a thunderbolt of her own, her rapier flashing as she warded off one of the corpses.

“Jivntir Llonnair,” HellCaller incanted, her spell causing webs of cracks to spread across the horde of undead, before she shattered one completely with a swing of her soulblade.

“‘Caller’s spell has weakened them!” Rainbow Dash cheered, her own swords tearing through another arctic monster.

Encouraged, the Equestrians and their allies fell upon the undead; physical weapons and spells shattered the now brittle frozen bodies, while icy talons tore living flesh in turn and spilt blood steamed in the night.

Eventually, the band stood triumphant among the fragmented remains of their attackers, “An’ jus’ who was supposed ta be on watch?” Applejack demanded crossly as the wind howled outside their shelter and the numbing cold faded from now throbbing injuries.

As Twilight and Shining stiffed, Fluttershy spoke up from where she and Cadance were tending the wounded, aided by Pinkie and Trixie, “Applejack! They were watching!” she admonished the farmpony.

“It doesn’t matter how well ponies are watching when the baddies can go through the ice like a fish through water,” Pinkie Pie added, “Hmm … icefish ….”

“It’s almost morning,” Shining said as Applejack mumbled an apology, “Let’s just have some breakfast and get packed up.”

:Why be thou suffering such pitiful creatures when thou couldst be helping rule over them?:

‘Caller looked up from where she was gathering her gear, :Did you hear that, Kragor?:

:Hear vhat?:

:Nothing … never mind.:

The new day proved even worse than the previous, aching muscles screamed, while noses dripped then froze and eyelashes iced over as the band staggered through the buffeting winds, barely able to see a hundred paces through the constant storm. “Does anypony even know if we are going the right direction in all of this?” Trixie asked, the howling winds making her simple question sound peevish.

“We’re on the same track as we started,” Rainbow replied, shoot a glare at the unicorn, “Pegasi know which way is north.”

“Keep your eyes open for a glow in the distance,” Cadance suggested, trying to head off another argument, “Auntie ‘Tia and Luna said that the Capital was surrounded by a magic shield that kept the weather out.”

“Oh, you mean like that glow?” Pinkie asked, pointing up to where a dim red glow bled through the clouds. As the group stopped to look, a rasping roar cut through the tempest.

“I don’t think that’s a magic shield ….,” Spike declared, reaching out to nervously grip Twilight’s robes in one claw.

“Shields up!” ordered Shining, “Everyone keep an eye on the sky!”

“I don’t suppose anyone knows what that might be?” Rarity asked nervously as the group pulled into a defensive circle.

“Umm, I think it might have been a dragon,” suggested Fluttershy.

‘Caller’s bark of laughter was almost swallowed up by the storm, “Fighting a dragon in middle of a blizzard? I think I’ve heard this story before.”

“Trixie would love to hear about it, when we are not all in danger!” Trixie snapped as another roar cut through the tempest.

With a thunder of beating wings, the roiling clouds parted for a moment, revealing the drake as it flew above them; longer than five riding lizards standing nose to tail, its blue grey scales would have blended in perfectly with the blizzard – but for the dull red glow that edged them all.

With a shriek like quenching metal, steam billowed from the dragon’s jaws, rebounding from the ponies’ shields the superheated vapor ravaged the icefield as the wyrm flew over the group and disappeared back into the storm.

“What the Tartarus kind of dragon is that?!” Rainbow demanded as she kept her bow aimed out into the gale, trying to track the creature by the sound of its beating wings.

“It looks like a frost drake,” Fluttershy replied, “But nothing I’ve read explains the light around its scales or the steam-breath.”

“She looks like a frost drake,” Spike corrected the pegasus absently, squinting after the vanished dragon, “She’s a she.”

The screaming hiss of another steam blast, once more turned aside by readied spell shields, heralded the dragon’s return as it overflew the little company again, only to vanish back into the storm dripping blood from retaliatory arrows and spells.

Not even a minute later, the drake attacked again – this time dropping down from directly above the group before flying off into the tempest – but the ponies' shields held firm, “But for how long?” Twilight wondered, “Keeping out a gas –never mind all of the radiant heat – is more difficult than it looks, and Rarity and Trixie are already starting to struggle with maintaining their portions of the shield.”

“I don’t think I like this kind of hide-and-seek game,” Pinkie grumbled as she reloaded her crossbow.

“I have a spell that should bring dragon down,” ‘Caller offered, “But even if it vorks, it von’t make her any less dangerous.”

“No, but it will make us a lot more dangerous,” Shining replied, “Do it.”

The demoness nodded, her attention focused out in the blizzard, “There!” she pointed as the drake breeched the clouds, “Altiui Siteli!”

With a startled bellow the dragon plummeted from the sky, sending up a cloud of steam and powder as she tore a gouge through the snowfield, “Now, while she’s still recoverin’!” Applejack shouted, waving the rest of the band forward.

Even as the group rushed forward, the drake’s tail lashed out from within the haze. Rainbow flew over the attack, her wings beating furiously, but Shining and HellCaller were both knocked sprawling.

Even as the pair struggled back to their feet in the snow, blood dripping from beneath their armor, the storm lit with the glow of multiple auras as Rarity, Cadance and Trixie cast protective abjurations and illusions, while Twilight called a bolt of lightning from the sky – causing the frost drake to rear in pain, her flailing wings scattering the fog that had concealed her.

Pinkie and Rainbow fired at the dragon, but once again their shots failed to bite deep.

Spreading out into a wide arc, the band closed in, weapons at the ready, the drake’s head shot forth, viper swift, only for her fangs to rebound as Shining raised another shield.

“Queelak!” ‘Caller called out, filling her companions with unnatural speed as they descended on the dragon; her side sounded like a drum as Applejack beat on it with her maul, as Pinkie, Trixie, and Rarity disappeared in puffs of smoke to reappear behind the drake and harry her with spells and blades. Meanwhile, Rainbow, Shining and ‘Caller hewed away at the frost wyrm’s head and shoulders, as Cadance, Fluttershy and Twilight rained spells upon the drake.

The dragon, roaring in anger, unleashed another blast of boiling vapor – but a bolt of green flames leapt out from the snows where Spike stood unnoticed, disrupting the steam as it coalesced and dazzling the drake.

Shaking her head, the dragon flared her wings, driving most of her attackers stumbling back. But even as the frost drake gained a temporary respite from physical assaults, she was wrapped in a column of purple and white flames, while a shower of lightning bolts and arcane blasts fell upon her.

The ponies and their Tartarean ally rushed back to the fray, weapons swinging and spells blazing, but even as they pushed every advantage numbers, skill, and magic could give them against the frost wyrm, she lashed out in turn with fangs, talons, battering wings and crushing tail.

Dragon scales, while famous for their durability, could not protect the drake entirely from the group’s assault, nor was armor and spellcraft fully proof against her own attacks, and soon the snow was liberally spattered with steaming blood, as the blizzard raged and laughed about them.

Finally, the frost dragon collapsed, her sides heaving as she bled out her life on the snow. Fixing one, surprisingly clear, eye on the group she wheezed, “Si mi duulo sva annyo.”

“What did she say?” Pinkie asked as the ponies, demoness, and young drake gathered near the dying dragon.

“‘I am finally free’,” replied Spike quietly, as the wyrm’s breathing faltered, and then finally stopped forever, “What was wrong with her?”

“A curse, I’d vager,” ‘Caller replied, “Something keep her under control, maybe?”

“Let’s leave her in peace,” Cadance suggested, leading the group away across the battle-scarred snowpack, as the storm began covering the fallen dragon in a blanket of fresh snow.

Huddled together against the gale, the group began to treat their wounds when, with a roar, the ground tore open beneath their feet! A sudden downdraft combined with the cascading snow and ice to drive the pegasi and alicorn into the fissure alongside their companions as darkness swallowed them all.

Ch. 4; Under The Hills

As they plummeted down the fissure, smashing against rocky walls as the driving wind tossed them about, the group eventually dropped into a cavern, where the glow of hasty spellcraft combined with the desperate beating of wings as the little band finally arrested their fall, bringing battered and bruised bodies to rest on the cave floor.

“Is everypony alright?” Shining asked as he helped Cadance to her feet, “Twily? Spike?”

“Banged up, but whole,” the librarian replied as her horn lit, creating a tiny area of light in the blackness of the cave, “Fillies?”

“We’ll live,” responded Applejack, as the other unicorns ignited their own horns, “Anypony know what in Tartarus happened up there?”

“It’s possible the fight, especially all the steam from the frost drake’s breath, weakened the ice shelf,” ‘Caller offered.

Rainbow shook her head, her hands on her sword hilts as she glared out into the darkness, “That wind was too convenient,” she disagreed, “As strong as it was, but now I can’t hear even a bit of it? I call shenanigans.”

The others blinked as they realized the weatherpony was right, the only sound was their own voices – the howling gale that had chased them through the crevice was gone.

Twilight frowned thoughtfully, “First things first, can anypony see where we fell? Maybe we can fly everypony back to the surface.”

Rarity squinted at the cavern ceiling, “The opening might be hidden in the shadows,” she said, “But I’m becoming inclined to agree with Rainbow that our descent was contrived.”

“If somepony wants us in this cave, then we’re not going to just sit around and wait on their pleasure,” Cadance declared, “let’s get everyponies’ injuries tended, and then we’ll look for a way out of here.”

Spreading out, the group poked and peered into the shadowed nooks and crevices of the cave walls. After a time, they regrouped and compared their findings, “There are a few passable tunnels we can try,” said Twilight, “And one of them does seem to go in the direction of the Crystal Empire, so we might be able to get there underground.”

“As dark, cold and generally unpleasant as these caves are, they’re still better than being out in that blizzard,” Rarity declared, drawing agreeing nods from the others, “I say it’s worth the attempt.”

“Trixie thinks we are not the first ponies down here,” added Trixie, “So there must be an exit to the surface somewhere.” Seeing the others’ curiosity, she led them over to a darkened alcove where several pictures had been painted on the walls, though a bit simplistic and stylized, the paintings clearly showed a number of ponies fighting strange beings that looked like mushrooms with legs and arms, while other paintings depicted ponies fleeing from storm clouds with angry, howling faces.

Twilight leaned forward to study the paintings, “Fascinating ... if I’m not mistaken, these painting are in a similar style to the art of the Normane clans who disappeared before the Windigos and the Fell Winter drove the original Three Tribes south ….”

“We can tell Canterlot University later, Twily,” Shining said, drawing his sister reluctantly back to her hooves, “But we have more immediate concerns right now. Besides,” he added jokingly, “No pony has ever been killed by a cave painting.”

“Actually,” Pinkie replied absently, “There was my Great Aunt Shale Pie, but everypony agreed that was a fluke.”

“O-okay,” Cadance said, as Trixie and Spike glared suspiciously at the paintings while the others stared at the baker, “Let’s have a bite to eat and then we can try the tunnels.”

After fashioning some crude wheels from fibrous mushrooms to salvage the abused sled, the band pressed on into the darkness. As Rarity had predicted, it was dark and cold, and the way proved rough and winding with only the distant drip of water and the occasional flutter of bats’ wings for company, but, free from the shrieking gale that hammered the surface and the need to struggle through snowbanks, the group found their spirits lifting.

Several hours later, more than long enough for the injures gathered fighting the frost dragon and in the subsequent plummet to stiffen, the ponies and their companions made camp in a wide, low-ceilinged chamber where an underground pond provided them with water. “How far do you think we came?” Trixie asked as she tried to massage some life back into her aching calves.

“We made pretty good time,” Shining said, as he laid out his bedroll, “If we can keep up this pace – and we can keep finding tunnels going the right direction – we should arrive at the Empire tomorrow … then we’ll just need to find a way up to the surface.”

“Yes, ‘just find a vay up to surface,’ and then find this ‘Crystal Heart,’ find Sombra, oh and defeat him in midst of his own city,” HellCaller observed sardonically, “All very easy, I’m sure.”

“Now, now, we’ll have none of that,” Rarity chided the demoness, “As Gallopous Tacticus said, ‘the moral is to the physical as three is to one,’ so let’s try and not be so negative, hmmm?”

Twilight blinked, “You’ve read Tacticus?”

“I do have interests beside fashion news and romances, Twilight,” the seamstress sniffed primly, as she turned away to help set up camp.

The next day progressed as murky and unpleasant as the one before, although they began to find more signs of habitation – the sporadic marks of pick and chisel, or some long-forgotten support beams reinforcing a tunnel – while sharp pony ears would occasionally flick and twitch in the light of glowstone lanterns, half-convinced that they had heard the sound of distant hooves on stone.

A strange barrier brought them to a halt, the tunnel ahead was blocked by a field of dark violet energy with waves of green pulsing across it.

“It looks like we found the barrier the Princesses mentioned,” Rarity declared, “Rather tacky, if I do say,” she added with a disapproving sniff.

Cadance took a deep breath, “Well, I guess it’s time to see if Aunties ‘Tia and Luna were correct about me,” she said with a shaky smile. Stepping forward she looked the shield over, before glancing back uncertainly at the others. Seeing the trusting and hopeful looks on her fellow Equestrians muzzles and Spike enthusiastically waving her forward, Cadance’s horn blazed forth its pale blue aura as she turned back to the shield and gingerly put her hand on it.

Several minutes passed, the waiting band watching tensely as the two auras flared and dimmed, before, with an exhausted groan from the pink alicorn, the violet field faded away. “Hurry!” Cadance panted as she nearly fell into the now open tunnel, “I don’t know how long I can keep it open!”

“We should be getting close to the city,” Shining observed some time later, “Let’s start looking for tunnels up.”

“I can feel some air movement from this one,” offered Rainbow, her wings twitching with suppressed claustrophobia, “It’s really faint, though.”

“It’s good enough for Trixie,” Trixie declared, “Trixie wants to be back in the open air, storm or no storm.”

As they made their way up the tunnel, Rainbow’s ears twitched … then Fluttershy’s, Pinkie’s and Cadance’s. Holding up a hand to signal a halt, Shining quietly rearranged the group’s marching order before they continued on, but now with weapons in hand and all senses straining for a hint of the ambush they knew was coming.

From around bends in the tunnels and dark side passages burst several shabby, half-starved looking, earth ponies, tools and a few battered weapons clutched in their fists, their ragged charge stumbling to a halt as the alicorn and unicorns flared their auras, leaving the attackers, their eyes long adapted to the tunnels’ gloom, blinking helplessly.

“Stop!” Cadance ordered the dazed ponies, projecting all the authority she had gained from Celestia’s training, “We are not your enemies!”

The bedraggled ponies stared at the band in confusion, before one stallion spoke up, “Who be thou then?” he demanded, shooting suspicious looks at Spike and ‘Caller’s cloaked form.

“We’re from Equestria,” Cadance replied, “We’ve come to help you defeat Sombra.”

Much to the Equestrians surprise, the Princess’ statement was met with mocking laughter, “Defeat the King?” the spokespony snorted, “The King has always ruled the Empire, and he always will. He’s not a pony, he’s some ancient evil, how dost thou propose to defeat something like that?”

HellCaller stepped forward, “With an ‘ancient evil’ of our own, or course,” she replied, flipping back her hood to display her glowing eyes and fanged grin.

“What were you thinking?” Pinkie demanded from where she and Trixie had separated ‘Caller, while the others calmed down the frightened crystal ponies, “Now they’re all scared of us!”

“I vas trying to make entrance and get a little fire in them,” the demoness responded defensively, “You heard how stallion vas talking, they think they can’t vin, and that severely limits how useful they vill be for us.”

“You can’t just spring things like that on ponies willy-nilly,” Trixie scolded her teacher, “You must read the room first. And yes, Trixie is aware of the irony,” the showmare hastily added as Pinkie opened her mouth to comment.

Turning away to rejoin the others, the two ponies could hear Kragor mutter “Vell, I thought it vas funny,” behind them.

Once the Equestrians had soothed the crystal ponies, the refuges -- who claimed to be part of a rebellion -- agreed to take them back to their camp. As they made their way through the winding tunnels, Cadance decided to try and learn what she could about their new allies, “So, Brickbeats, what did you do before?”

The stallion gave her a confused glance, “Before what?”

“Before you joined the resistance against King Sombra.”

“I’ve always been with the resistance.”

“Always?” the alicorn of love replied in surprise, “You never did anything else?”

“Never.”

Cadance blinked, “I see …,” she said, before dropping back to talk to her friends, “These ponies’ poor morale may not be just due to depression or fatalism,” she murmured, “I think there might be something wrong with their memories.”

“Oh, that’s a relief,” Twilight said, drawing arch looks from her companions, “What? When I asked Frost Cider about the city library, she didn’t know what I was talking about! Imagine, a city without a library!”

“Sombra may have destroyed the library anyway,” commented Trixie, “To keep any information out of unfriendly hands.”

“The public library maybe,” Shining reluctantly agreed, as Twilight went pale with horror at the very idea, “But he’ll still have a private one somewhere. There’s simply too much information that he’d want to save, even if only for his own eyes.”

“So, tha place we’re most likely ta find information on tha Crystal Heart is probably right under Sombra’s nose?” sighed Applejack, “Ain’t that jus’ a fine pickle.”

In time, the group reached the rebels’ camp – a natural cavern that had been widened to form a nexus for several natural tunnels and played-out mining shafts – where the Equestrians’ escorts rejoined their fellows, a rough mixture of earth ponies, a few unicorns, and – much to the Equestrians’ surprise – a scattering of pegasus adolescents and even a few pegasus foals watching the strangers with wary eyes from behind the adults.

Brickbeats led Cadance, Shining, and Twilight, with ‘Caller inviting herself along, over to a jade-coated, stubby-legged earth pony mare that he introduced as Pine Breeze. The mare looked them over, her nostrils flaring and eyes narrowing in suspicion as her gaze took in ‘Caller, before sticking her chin out pugnaciously, “Brick says thou claim to be here to fight the King … convince me.”

“We have been sent by the Princesses of Equestria to aid you,” Cadance replied smoothly, unruffled by the other mare’s antagonism, “The Princesses wish to see the Crystal Empire freed from Sombra’s tyrannical rule and put an end to his abuses of the crystal ponies.”

“And the Diarchs of the vaunted Equestrian Empire, sent thou?” Pine sneered, “Such noble claims, but they send only a handful of ponies instead of an army? And they do it now, when the King has ruled the Empire since before either alicorn was ever born?”

“Equestria did send an army!” Twilight protested, “But Sombra cursed the Crystal Empire to the netherworld for over a thousand years rather than be defeated!”

“What the Tartarus be thou prattling about, mare? Equestria never invaded the Empire.”

Shining raised a hand to forestall Twilight’s response, “How many alicorns are there, Mistress Pine?”

“Two, of course,” Pine answered, looking at the stallion as if he might be daft, “Everyone knows that.”

‘Caller and the Equestrians exchanged looks, “Altered memories and perceptions, as you suspected,” the demoness observed.

“Yes,” nodded Cadance, “Let me try something … Mistress Pine Breeze, look at me. What tribe am I from?”

Her eyes drawn by the power in the Princess of Love’s words, Pine stared at her, “Thou be a … a … an alicorn,” the mare gawked at Cadance in shock, “Thou be an alicorn!”

“Yes, yes I am, Mistress. So do you believe me now when I say you have been gone and that things have changed?”

As Pine, dumbfounded by recent revelations, nodded, Cadance decided to press the mare on something that had been bothering her, “Mistress Breeze, why are the foals among you?” she asked, waving to where Pinkie and Spike were coaxing the fillies and colts out.

“To keep them from the King, of course,” she replied distractedly.

Cadance frowned in confusion, “But why only pegasus foals?”

“Because the pegasi be in the legions, or in legion-support occupations,” Pine explained, “And the King decreed that anything involved with the military was his, their limbs move to his will, and he sees what they see.”

“Princess Celestia did say he was accused of using mind-control on his soldiers,” Shining grimaced, “I was rather hoping that had been an exaggeration.”

Twilight patted her brother on the shoulder, “If Miss Breeze is willing to trust us now, we should get back to the others.”

“Speaking of others,” ‘Caller said, “I have enough meat to hold me, and possible Spike, for a time, ve can give my share of rations to these rebels.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about my little brother eating meat,” Shining remarked, as Twilight turned a bit green.

“We can ask Spike how he feels about it,” Cadance pointed out, “But thank you for giving you food to these poor ponies,” she added, giving the demoness a smile.

“Nigh starved as they are, they’re vorthless,” HellCaller shrugged, “At least this vay they might be of some use,” she added over her shoulder, missing Pine Breeze’s insulted glare and the Equestrians’ exasperation.

Spike stood near the camp’s communal cookfire, helping serve out shares of the evening meal to hungry crystal ponies and keeping an eye on the foals that gathered near the fire. His friends were scattered about the cavern as they worked with the rebels; giving what aid and comfort they could while Shining, AJ, Rainbow and ‘Caller evaluated the insurgents' fighting ponies.

Everyone looked around in concern as a rumble, more felt than heard, shook the cave, just before a creature burst out of the wall! Standing almost 20 hooves at the shoulder, the quadrupedal beast had an armored form – much like a gargantuan armadillo’s – and a chisel-shaped head that seemed to be almost all mouth and fangs, while two tiny, recessed eyes glared about madly. Those beady eyes settled on the cluster of ponies around the fire, and with a hissing roar, the beast charged.

Time seemed to slow for Spike as the monster approached, its massive claws – over 3 hooves long – smashing ponies aside to lie broken on the stone. His friends and family, scattered about the hollow, were trying to bring their armaments and magic to bear on the creature, while it barreled down on the drake and the screaming foals, it’s rock-hard flanks easily turning aside the rushed spells and makeshift weapons of the nearby crystal ponies.

Taking a deep breath, Spike stepped in front of the panicking foals and spat a gout of green flame full into the monster’s face.

With a shriek, it turned away, blindly bowling over several ponies before it slammed into the cave wall and slumped to the ground, momentarily stunned.

“Get 'im while he’s down!” Applejack roared as the Equestrians and their demonic ally descended upon the beast, spells blazing and weapons hacking and smashing. But the creature rose back to its feet, bloody and burned, despite their assault, one wildly swinging claw knocked Pinkie Pie sprawling as it lunged blindly at its assailants.

A group of crystal ponies, spells and weapons at the ready, joined the ring around the creature. Hemmed in and its eyes seared sightless by Spike’s initial attack, it was only a matter of time before the beast fell, regardless of how tough its armored hide was.

“What was that thing?” Trixie demanded as she leaned on Twilight’s shoulder.

“One of the King’s hunting beasts,” a crystal pony replied, “See, there is his mark,” the pony added, pointing to the monsters’ flank where a brand like a trio of pointed crystals could be seen.

“We can only hope that there be no more in the area,” Brickbeats added with a shudder.

Quiet enveloped the cavern, with all voices reduced to low mutters, as the crystal ponies and their Equestrian allies tended to the dead and wounded. HellCaller stood off to the side as she stretched out a kinked muscle in her back.

:Dost thou see? They be pathetic, weak, unworthy of thy consideration. If thou had not intervened mine Harrier would hath killed most of the camp. The only reasonable course is for thou to join me. Thou will join me!:

:Okay, don’t tell me you didn’t hear that,: ‘Caller demanded of her soulblade.

:Yeah, I heard that … and felt it too,: Kragor replied, :And another binding spell as vell … vhy are these ponies so gods’ cursed good at binding spells?!:

“I doubt even ponies actually know answer to that,” ‘Caller grumbled aloud, “But ve need to get things moving. Damnit, I hate owing anything to Do Not Steal,” she added with a snarl as she trotted back to the others, “But that is twice now that his cursed binding ritual has protected us.”

Ch. 05; With Catlike Tread

Cadance stepped into a shadowed grotto, away from the lights and noise of the rebel encampment, as she sought a moment to process the events and revelations of the day.

A few moments later, her lips quirked in a smile as muscular, white furred, arms wrapped around her from behind, “How are you doing, Cadey?”

“I’ll survive,” she replied, twisting in her husband’s embrace to return his hug, “I wasn’t expecting this to be simple, but things have gotten so complicated ….”

Shining raised an eyebrow, “We weren’t expecting to stumble upon a resistance movement, true, but that is all to our benefit.”

“Yes … and no,” Cadance sighed, “The confirmation that Sombra is mind-controlling his military, the revelation that he’s manipulating the memories and even the perceptions of his entire populace, the mere fact that he managed to take Faust knows how much of his army along with his entire capital city with him when he was banished … they show how powerful Sombra is as well as making Auntie Luna’s claims of conquest and legal dominion over the crystal ponies look really thin. I think ‘Caller may be right … we are invaders.”

Shining frowned, “Are you saying we should go back to Equestria?”

“No! No. Sombra needs to be stopped and the crystal ponies deserve their freedom … it’s just … I don’t know if I should be assuming the throne when it is all done. I don’t think I have the right to.”

“We can deal with that after Sombra has been defeated,” Shining assured her, “Until then its fretting over things we can’t affect.”

“Yes,” the alicorn agreed, snuggling up against her husband, “So, do you have any ideas about how we can defeat Sombra?”

“Until we have our hands on the Crystal Heart, nothing we do will have a lasting effect,” Shining replied, “But even then … we don’t have the numbers or the supplies for a protracted irregular conflict. I’m afraid we may have to risk everything on an all-out attack and hope we can raise enough of a ruction to get Sombra to show himself so you and the fillies can deal with him.”

“It sounds like a very bloody way to go about it,” Cadance replied unhappily, “Especially with all of the Crystal Legions being just more victims themselves.”

“‘Too many killed, yet not enough are dead’.”

“What?” Shining asked as the couple turned to face the approaching demoness.

“That has been refrain of every civil var, rebellion and coup throughout history,” ‘Caller answered, “Little is bloodier or more bitter than a var amid family.”

“Do you every say anything that isn’t cynical or pessimistic?” Shining demanded in exasperation.

‘Caller thought for a moment, “I like cake.”

“Well, there you have it Shiny, and a sentiment Aunti 'Tia would agree with whole heartedly,” Cadance said with a small grin, “Was there something you needed, ‘Caller?”

“Ve have a problem. Sombra knows that I’m here.”

As the revolutionaries settled down for the night, the Equestrians and ‘Caller gathered around Trixie’s campfire bead, “So, was anypony able to learn anything?” Shining asked as Cadance handed him a mug of weak camp tea.

“Actually, Trixie, Fluttershy and I were able to get some important information,” Twilight offered eagerly, “Working off your success with Pine Breeze,” she smiled at Cadance, “We were able to temporary overcome whatever spell Sombra is using to control the crystal ponies’ memories, and you’ll never guess what we found, a librarian and a geologist!”

“What, didja get your library card renewed?” Rainbow asked.

“No, Rainbow,” the academic replied, pouting a little at Rainbow’s teasing, “But we did get her to remember that Sombra had taken the Crystal Heart from the Great Hall and hid it away somewhere deeper in the Palace, and the geologist remembered that some of these mines actually connect to the cellars under the Palace!”

“I don’t know, darling,” Rarity protested, “It seems rather too convenient to me that two ponies who just happen to know information we dearly need just happen to be among these rebels. With his control over their memories, surely Sombra would have noticed what they knew and at least kept them separated?”

“Actually … Sombra made have put them here deliberately,” ‘Caller mused, “Ve know he is massively arrogant and convinced of his own power, and vith his forces Sombra could end this revolt at any time he vished, but he doesn’t. I’d say all of this amuses him, and vhat better ‘trick’ than to purposely put ponies vho each know bits of how to confront him together vith certainty that they vould never, could never, realize vhat they knew?”

“Okay,” Applejack drawled, “That helps a bunch, but searchin’ a whole palace will take weeks, especially if’n we have ta keep sneakin’ in ta do it.”

“We may not have to search all the Palace,” Shining said, “When you were talking to the crystal ponies, did they happen to mention where the royal apartments were?”

Pinkie nodded, “Oh, yeah, up in one of the towers, and it has a balcony where Sombra likes to give speeches or just stands and watches the ponies in the street with this super creepy smile.”

Shining smiled, “I’ve played enough megalomaniacs in Ogres and Oubliettes to know Sombra’ll want to keep the Crystal Heart on hand to gloat over. If it isn’t in Sombra’s personal chambers, it’ll be close by.”

Spike snickered, “Overly dramatic acting saves the day!”

“Hey!” Shining protested, “My acting isn’t that bad!”

“Actually, you do get rather hammy in your games, Shiny,” Cadance replied, leaning in to give him a nuzzle, “But that is part of why they’re fun.” The resulting laughter helped ease some of the groups’ tension that had been growing all day.

“So, how are ve going to time this?” wondered ‘Caller, “Assuming these rebels vill even help us on such a harebrained plan.”

“It’s going to be tight,” Shining admitted, “Go too early, and we may be defeated – or at least no longer a major focus – when whoever we send actually gets to the Heart. Go too late and there won’t be any distraction to help cover for the infiltration team and draw Sombra away from his chambers.”

“And we still have to decide who is going on the sneaky team and who is going with the open assault team,” Cadance added.

“Bait,” ‘Caller corrected the alicorn, “Call it vhat it is, ‘bait’.”

“These things always go so much smoother in the plays and stories,” Pinkie sighed.

“And I’m sure that they will when somepony tells stories of what we do here,” Rarity replied, “But for now, let’s get Pine Breeze, Brickbeats and the other leadership among these revolutionaries over here and start making what plans we can.”

*****

“Um, couldn’t we steal the Heart now and then come back later to deal with Sombra?” Fluttershy asked, “We don’t have to do it all at once, do we?”

“That’s not a bad idea,” HellCaller conceded, “Unfortunately, I don’t think ve vould have time. If this Crystal Heart is as important as Luna thinks it is, then minute it goes missing Sombra vill turn over every stone in Empire to find it. He also has an idea vhere rebel camp is, at least, as vell as knowing of my presence, so he vill flood these caves vith soldiers and monsters. Ve are most likely thieves, after all,” she added with a crooked, fanged, grin.

“We could pull back into the lower tunnels,” Brickbeats suggested.

“You don’t have enough supplies to spend any real time away from the surface. And, frankly, neither do we,” Shining disagreed, “And if the Heart is somehow linked to his control over the Empire, like the Princesses think, then Sombra will never stop hunting for it,” he shook his head, “Even if we took everyone back to Hay River – assuming the Heart can even pass through Sombra’s barrier – it would just mean Sombra’s forces would be on alert whenever we did come back. And if we delayed too long, he might very well attack Hay River anyway, looking for the Heart.”

*****

Shining frowned at his sister, “I think Applejack or Rainbow should go with you, just in case.”

“But you’ll need all of our heavy hitters out with you and the rebels tying up the Crystal Legion and keeping Sombra’s attention focused away from the palace, Shiny,” Twilight argued.

Shining started to disagree, but he was interrupted when Spike put a hand on the stallion’s shoulder, “I’ll look after Twilight, Cadance and Rarity, Shining, I promise.”

Shining met the drake’s gaze for a moment, then wrapped his little brother in a hug, “I know you will, Spike,” drawing apart, the two looked up to find a gaggle of mares grinning at them, “What?”

The next morning, found Trixie watching glumly as Twilight, Rarity, Cadance, and Spike prepared to infiltrate the Crystal Palace, “Trixie really doesn’t like you going off with such a small group, Twilight Sparkle.”

“We agreed it was the best plan we had … just not a particularly good plan,” Twilight reminded her. Standing up from checking her pack, Twilight smiled at the showmare, “We’ll be fine, Trixie,” her smile fell, “It’s you and the others I’m worried about, if things go wrong, you could be facing Sombra’s entire army.”

“Yes …,” Trixie sighed in agreement, staring into Twilight’s eyes, “This could be the last time you and Trixie ever see each other…,” with a sudden, decisive nod, she leaned forward and kissed Twilight full on the lips! “Trixie’s name is Trixie Talma Lulamoon, and, the divines help Trixie, Trixie loves you Twilight Sparkle!” she informed the stunned librarian, before turning and fleeing to where her master was conferring with Shining Armor and Pine Breeze, leaving Twilight to stare dazedly after the retreating illusionist, her fingers raised to her lips.

As the two unicorns, alicorn and drake started into the tunnels, Rarity and Cadance were grinning at Twilight. “Sooo,” the Princess drawled, “What were you and Trixie talking about?”

“She … she … she said she loves me,” the bemused academic admitted, “Trixie loves me,” after a few more steps, Twilight’s muzzle broke in a massive smile, “Trixie loves me!”

“That’s wonderful, Ladybug,” Cadance cheered, while Spike merely grumbled “It’s about time.”

“Did she give you a token of her Favor?” Rarity asked eagerly, “Did you give her one?”

“What? No!” Twilight replied, blushing furiously, “Trixie gave me something much more personal … and private,” she added with a pointed look at the seamstress, who did double duty as one of Ponyville’s premier gossips.

“I understand, I understand,” Rarity assured her, “My lips are sealed, darling.”

A while later, the little group came to a heavy door that separated the mines from the Palace. “I suppose hoping Sombra would leave this access completely unguarded was asking for too much,” Rarity sighed as she pulled lockpicks and rune-carved probes from her belt, her horn glowing as she gently searched the door for wards, after a few moments the lock gave a slight “click” as the door opened a hair. Easing the door open further, the fashionista carefully looked inside, before waving her companions into the poorly lit halls of Sombra’s cellars.

Heading forward, the Equestrians passed from storerooms to dungeons, all without ever sighting a single guard – or a prisoner, and as they passed by empty cell after empty cell, the echoing halls became increasingly unsettling.

“Perhaps I’ve read to many adventure stories,” Rarity declared, “But shouldn’t the evil tyrant have somepony in his dungeons?”

“Maybe Sombra keeps lesser offenders in a different prison?” Cadance suggested.

“Possibly,” Twilight agreed, “But Luna did say something about … laboratories …,” the three mares exchanged troubled looks above Spike’s head as the little drake slunk along, hopefully oblivious to their suspicions.

As they left the lower levels for the main halls of the Crystal Palace, the Equestrians finally found other ponies – timid servants hurrying about their work and constantly looking over their shoulders, and members of the Crystal Legion motionlessly standing watch, their eyes glowing with violet and green magic – but in far less numbers than Spike, Twilight and Cadance had expected from their experiences living in Canterlot Palace. Still, the lack of staff and guards – while drawing disapproval from Twilight and Rarity on the poor defensive preparations and the arrogance it implied on Sombra’s part – allowed the group of infiltrators to penetrate deep into the palace, slipping from empty room to unoccupied hall to tower, until they neared the location of the royal residences.

The mares’ ears twitched and swiveled as, dimmed by distance and thick stone walls, the sound of fighting came to them, quickly accompanied by the stamp of hooves ringing through the Palace as the legionaries responded to the battle, while the few servants fled from it.

Sneaking up to the apartments’ door – emblazoned with the Imperial Seal – Rarity pulled out her picks and probes. Soon, she was ghosting the door open a crack so she could peek within. After a quick glance, Rarity closed the door and turned to her friends with a frown, “I can see Sombra, or what I think is his shoulder, inside. Apparently, he feels confident enough to oversee the battle through his slave’s eyes rather than personally,” she whispered.

“We’ll have to wait for our opportunity,” Cadance decided, “But we can’t risk waiting out here in the hall for long.”

The quarter nervously crouched beside the door for a time, keeping watch for any sign of approaching ponies, while anxiously listening to the distant roar of the fighting outside.

A rippling explosion cut through the din, accompanied by distant screams, while a sulfurous oath came from inside the residence, followed by the sound of heavy hoofsteps headed away from the door.

“I think ‘Caller and the others got Sombra’s attention,” Spike smirked.

“Come on!” Rarity replied, as the group hurriedly slipped inside, quietly closing the door behind them.

A swift search showed that Sombra was no longer in the apartments, nor on the balcony, while a heavy door – also bearing the Crystal Empire’s seal – drew their eyes.

“Well, it does seem rather obvious,” Rarity observed as her aura gently washed over the door, “But its also the most heavily warded object in these chambers.”

As the seamstress worked on the lock, Twilight called Spike away as he approached the balcony, “I know you want to see how the fighting is going – we all do – but we can’t risk getting Sombra’s attention yet.”

A small cry brought the Equestrians around to where Rarity was smiling triumphantly at the door as she got back to her hooves, “That was a very intricate ward,” she said, drawing her rapier and taking the doorknob in hand as she glanced back at her companions, “Ready?”

As Twilight passed through the door, she discovered herself back in Celestia’s study in Canterlot.

“What are you doing here?”

Turning around, Twilight found Celestia glaring down at her, “I don’t know!” the academic exclaimed, “We opened the door and –”

“And now you must go,” the Princess declared.

Twilight shook her head in confusion, “Go? Go where?”

“It doesn’t matter to me,” Celestia sneered, “You failed the test, Twilight!”

“I-I don’t understand,” Twilight stammered, “What test?”

“Your whole life has been a test,” proclaimed Celestia coldly, “And poor, pitiful Twilight didn’t make the grade! Not only will you not move on to the next level of your studies, you won’t continue your studies at all!”

“You didn’t say anything about this being a test!” Twilight protested.

“Didn’t I?”

Twilight slumped to the floor as Celestia’s dark, mocking laughter filled her ears, “But … what do I do now?”

Cadance’s eyes widened as she beheld a heart of sky-blue crystal resting atop a display, glowing softly. “The Crystal Heart,” she breathed with quite joy, reverently lifting the crystal from its resting place, “Quickly, Spike, fillies, we need to get outside,” the alicorn of love declared, turning to the balcony.

Hurrying outside, the little group looked out at the battle going on before the Palace; the Equestrians and their allies were slowly being overwhelmed by a seeming endless numbers of crystal pony legionaries and snowy golems, while a dark-furred unicorn, a crown gleaming on his head and radiating enough smug arrogance to disquiet even Prince Blueblood, stood near the back, his violet and green aura flaring as he traded spells with ‘Caller.

“I have the Heart,” she shouted, raising the artifact, “Use the Elements!”

As the six amulets began to glow, Cadence knew in her heart that everything was going to be okay. Remembering what Luna had said all those days ago back in Canterlot, and the risky ploy she had pulled off during her wedding when Chrysalis had invaded, she raised the Crystal Heart above her head, pouring her own magic into it. All of her love, hope, and compassion … everything Cadance was, and more, everything she could feel, ever so dimly, still in the crystal ponies despite their centuries of suffering under Sombra’s rule, she brought together and placed into the Heart.

The Crystal Heart glowed brighter and bright, until Cadance could barely look at it, and then … it shattered in her hands!

The force of the detonation knocked Cadance to the floor and threw Spike clear off the balcony, his despairing crying filling her ears as the flying shards tore through Rarity and Twilight, leaving them sprawled motionless and bleeding on the veranda.

Crawling through the broken crystal to the balcony’s edge, Cadance looked out at the disaster below. The other four Elements had ceased glowing, Trixie, Rainbow Dash and Shining Armor had fallen, HellCaller and Applejack were trying to rally the shattered rebels as Sombra’s forces swarmed in, his gloating laughter filling her ears as violet and green flames blotted out her vision.

Spike blinked in the bright Ponyville sun as the wind rustled through the leaves of the library, “How did I get ….”

“Spike,” Twilight called from behind him.

Turning around, the little drake saw his sister and their friends, “Twilight! When did we get back to Ponyville?”

Twilight frowned at him, “Spike, stop being foalish,” she snapped, “I swear this has always been part of the problem,” she added with a sigh, “Now listen closely, Spike, I don’t need you anymore. None of us needs you.”

“W-what?”

Pinky reached out and patted him on the head, “It’s like this, Spikey, no pony wants you here, okeydokey?”

“Yeah,” Applejack added, spitting to the side, “Ya ain’t welcome around Ponyville, ya varmint, so jus’ git!”

“I mean, seriously,” Rarity sneered, “To think that a pony of culture and beauty like moi could ever have feelings for a filthy lizard … how pathetically delusional.” Fluttershy and Rainbow’s derisive laughter joined with that of the others as it rang inside Spike’s head. Desperately looking around for help or understanding Spike crumpled into himself as he saw his family, his friends, the Princesses, all of Ponyville, standing there mocking him.

“No! I don’t wanna go!” Spike’s despairing cry rang through the laughter, “Twilight, don’t make me!” but his pleading only made the gathered ponies laugh harder.

Crouched in the street, the drake was consumed with despair and loss as everypony he had ever cared for or trusted rained their derision on him.

But even as he sank into hopeless desolation, a dim spark of draconic greed flared within him, rapidly swelling to a blaze. These ponies were precious to him. They were his hoard! And just as his fellow dragons could tell the size of their hoards to the last copper half-bit or smallest quartz shard, Spike instinctively knew what made these ponies valuable to him, and his ponies would never act like this!

“You’re not Twilight!” Spike hissed, standing up to confront this thing pretending to be his sister.

Ponyville faded from Spike’s eyes, leaving him sprawled on a stone floor beside the three mares. Scrambling to his claws, Spike ignored the chamber about him as he rushed to rouse Twilight and Cadance from their stupors.

Rarity, however, was lost deep in her trance, unintelligible moaning and a whispered cry of “Sweetie Belle, no!” escaping from her in her delirium, and resisted the others’ attempts to awaken her, until Spike, desperate, finally dug his claws into her arm, and the pain managed to bring the seamstress to her senses.

Gathering together in an unconscious reaction to the dark dreams that had assaulted them, the four Equestrians at last looked upon King Sombra’s sealed chamber: racks of unicorn horns and shelves of heavy tomes and ancient scrolls adorned the walls, sharing space with a golden puzzle box, a mummified minotaur hand, and other oddities, while a statue of a sphinx, its black stone face a featureless oval, sat in one corner. A standing mirror, with a frame of twisted iron, rested in another corner – its face reflecting only the room and not showing those within. And in pride of place, a heart of sky-blue crystal sat before them upon a pedestal of engraved stone.

“The Crystal Heart,” Cadance breathed stretching out a hand, before stopping herself, “Are there any other wards?” she asked the other two mares.

Rarity and Twilight’s horns flared for a moment, “I … don’t think so …,” Twilight replied.

“There is so much ambient magic from all the objects in this room that a simple, or particularly subtle, spell would be lost in the background,” Rarity explained, “though having yet another enchantment on the Heart after the locks, wards, and that dream trap strikes me as a rather paranoid action,” she added.

“We’ll just have to risk it, I guess,” Cadance decided. Gingerly, she lifted the crystal, before sighing in relief and turning to the others triumphantly, “We have the Heart!”

The Equestrians’ moment of victory proved short lived, as a heavy tentacle, dripping with slime, smashed the alicorn to the floor!

The stone pedestal had transformed into a freakish monster with a mouthful of ragged teeth, a lashing tongue, and a pair of long, muscular tentacles – one of which was even now wrapped around Cadance’s leg, the caustic ooze already dissolving her clothing and fouling the air with the stink of burning skin and hair.

Spike instantly latched onto Cadance, trying to pull her away from the creature’s gnashing teeth, while Rarity whipped out her sword and Twilight’s horn flashed as she cast a spell.

The monster’s weirdly rubbery hide prevented Rarity’s enchanted rapier from sinking deep, before a swiping tentacle knocked her sprawling, while Spike and Cadance’s combined efforts only slowed the horrific beast’s attempt to reel the alicorn to its mouth.

Twilight’s arcane bolts proved somewhat more effective, leaving burns on the guardian, but its monstrous vitality seemed undiminished as it flailed at the two unicorns with its free tentacle, while inexorably pulling Cadance closer with the other.

Her aura blazing, Twilight cast another spell, the air ringing at the sudden temperature change as she encased Sombra’s guardian in ice. The chamber flashed with multi-colored lights as the three mares immediately blasted away at the imprisoned monster.

The barrage of spells proved too much for the frozen creature to endure, shattering it like a dropped plate as its tentacle finally went limp and dropped from Cadance’s much abused leg.

Spike was helping the princess to her hooves, the Crystal Heart clutched in her good arm – the other hand having been burned by the guardian’s caustic secretions while she struggled with its tentacle – when the very air seemed to pulse, bringing a very un-ladylike profanity to Rarity’s lips.

“There was an Alarm spell,” Twilight explained to the confused alicorn and drake, “Come on, we need to get to the balcony so we can help the others!”

Ch. 06; Into the Breach

:I know thou art still here. Why dost thou insist on resisting me? Thou know that these ponies be only fit to be slaves. Joining me to rule over them is the only reasonable course. It is the only choice you can make. You will serve me!:

HellCaller’s lips twisted in a snarl as Sombra’s smug words intruded on her mind again, accompanied by another attempted binding spell. Turning to the remaining Equestrians and what passed for leadership among the rebellion, “Ve should get moving,” she declared, “Sombra knows I’m still in Empire, and he’s getting impatient.”

Shining nodded and started forward, only to be stopped by Pinkie, “Isn’t this the part where you give these ponies a rousing speech?”

“What, really?” at the pink-maned mare’s enthusiastic nodding, Shining sighed and turned to face the motley army he had been placed in charge of, despite his protests, “When we leave these tunnels, we’re going into a horrifically lopsided battle, one that we almost surely can’t win. But we do not go to win, but to draw Sombra’s attention and to buy time for the brave ponies and drake who went ahead, into the heart of Sombra’s domain, to seek the means to end his tyranny forever. Remember, these aren’t just Sombra’s soldiers we will be facing, they are your friends, your neighbors, and they are just as much Sombra’s victims as you are. So, fight well, fight bravely, but fight with mercy too, and the divine’s willing, tonight’s Sun will set over free Crystal Ponies and a free Crystal Empire!”

Shining’s efforts drew a ragged cheer from the confused Crystal Ponies, as Applejack patted the stallion consolingly on the shoulder.

“Trixie has heard worse.”

“I know that I vant to kill people now,” ‘Caller smirked at him.

“Thanks, you guys,” Shining grumbled, “I can really feel the love.”

Shining grimaced as he traded sword strokes with a Crystal Legionnaire before dropping the pony with a solid blow to the helmet, only for a yeti, foam flying from its fangs, to leap at him. Rosey light filled the air as the battle whirled around the stallion, his shields covering the Palace square and keeping Sombra’s soldiers from simply riddling the rebels with arrows from above. Between the thorny hedges that Fluttershy had conjured from the cobblestones and the great chasm that Trixie had ripped through the courtyard, the revolutionaries where only engaged on one front, with the heavily armored ‘Caller, Applejack, Shining, and Rainbow holding the center of their formation.

But even with the aid of protective spells, illusions and HellCaller’s spell of quickness, the rebels where still civilians with makeshift weapons while Sombra’s forces – crystal ponies, yetis, golems of snow with icicle fangs and talons, even skull-headed demons with manes of flame – seemed limitless.

“At least they’re not using their numbers effectively,” the stallion thought to himself, grateful that the perfect coordination he and ‘Caller had feared was not showing itself, although whether this was due to some restriction in the magic Sombra was using to control his soldiers or incompetence on Sombra’s own part Shining neither knew nor had the time to care. Even as he traded blows with the yeti, a pack of demons enveloped several rebels in a cloud of roiling darkness, laughing maniacally as the afflicted ponies fell. Shining shouted reinforcements into the breach, as ‘Caller cried out something and the demons’ mirth was stilled as a whirling bolt of flame connected them in death.

With a shriek of tortured stone, the ground split open as one of Sombra’s hunting beasts burst from the earth in the midst of the revolutionaries, scattering broken bodies about it.

Attacked from within their own formation, the rebels quavered, but before they could break and flee, Applejack and HellCaller turned to face the Harrier, their shouts of encouragement and profanely worded orders restoring the shaken ponies’ resolve as the two fell upon the beast with hammer, sword, and spell.

As the Harrier fell, a wave of green light washed over the battered rebels, bringing fallen ponies back to their hooves, as Fluttershy sent currents of healing magic through her allies.

“What does it take to get Sombra’s flank out here?” demanded Rainbow, as she sent another arrow streaking into the enemy ranks.

“I don’t know, Dashie, but I think we got someone’s attention!” Pinkie replied pointing out into the city, as the thunderous beat of great wings grew above the sounds of the battle.

Flying in from the north came a frost drake, much of a size with the one the Equestrians had fought out on the tundra, but without the inexplicable fiery edging to its scales. Flying overhead, jagged shards of ice and super cooled water poured from the dragon’s jaws to splash off of Shining’s hastily reinforced and sealed shield spell, while leaving a trail of flash-frozen ponies, yetis and even demons in its wake, the ice glittering on their motionless forms.

“Armor!” ‘Caller shouted, as the dragon circled around for another pass, “If ve keep holding back, ve’ll be overrun!”

“Just hold the line!” Shining replied, shoving another yeti back with his shield, “We need to give Spike and the fillies time to do their part!”

But even as the stallion was shouting his orders, the battle turned; an impatient demon shoved one of the golems out of its way and the snowy automaton stumbled aside into the great fissure Trixie had opened earlier – and its foot came down on solid ground.

After a moment of stunned silence, Sombra’s forces poured over the now revealed illusion with a roar, while Brickbeats and Trixie lead a desperate countercharge to plunge the gap in the rebels’ defenses. A thorny hedge was hastily summoned to protect that flank once more, but only a handful of the brave sortie staggered away, dragging their wounded, Trixie among them, with them. Most of their number, including Brickbeats, were left behind on the bloody ground.

“Enough of this,” ‘Caller snarled, “Hardri Myink!” Whilst the demoness was incanting, Fluttershy was unleashing a spell of her own, the runes on her staff burned as a massive wave of flames, over three-hundred hooves long and two-hundred wide, swept across the battlefield reducing snow golems to puddles of water, but leaving ponies, yetis and even demons lying unconscious on the cobblestones.

HellCaller’s spell, however, was less discriminating; meteors blazed from the sky, their explosive impacts shattering and burning cobblestones and bodies alike as they pounded into Sombra’s forces, while two struck the dragon and sent it crashing into one of the buildings that bordered the courtyard.

With a flare of violet and green magic, a grey-furred, black-maned unicorn stallion, resplendent in plate armor, crown, and a fur-lined scarlet cape, appeared in the square, sparking terrified cries of “The King! The King is here!” from the rebellious crystal ponies.

“About bucking time!” Rainbow growled, launching a trio of arrows at the arrogant figure, but even as the shafts speed towards him, the newly identified king’s horn flickered with a violet aura and his body briefly turned into smoke, allowing the missiles to pass through him harmlessly.

Laughing disdainfully, Sombra held out his hand, his aura flaring again, as tendrils of darkness curled from his fingers to tear through the rebels, even as more Crystal Legionnaires and yetis rushed into the plaza.

HellCaller stood in the front ranks, Kragor singing merrily in the demoness’ mind as the soulblade tore through a Legionnaire’s hauberk, as she faced the tide of Sombra’s forces alongside Applejack and Rainbow Dash -- Shining Armor had been forced to pull back so he could concentrate on sustaining the shield now that the frost drake had recovered and was hovering above the revolutionaries. This brought a sneer to ‘Caller’s lips as she noted that Sombra was far less casual about friendly fire when it might endanger him.

But the sneer faded from ‘Caller’s lips as the battle surged around her, for all Sombra’s wariness about being caught in his draconic slave’s breath weapon, every arrow or spell that had been aimed at him was spotted and defeated just as had befallen Rainbow’s initial barrage. The demoness doubted that whatever spell or ritual the Equestrians were counting on gaining from this “Crystal Heart” would actually affect the dark unicorn unless something was done to counter his defensive enchantment.

A shout drew ‘Caller and the Equestrians’ eyes to a Palace balcony, where Twilight, Cadance, Rarity, and Spike waved at them, the alicorn clumsily lifting a large, heart-shaped, sapphire crystal in her hands. Unfortunately, Sombra had noticed them as well, and his aura was already flaring as he glared up at the three mares and the drake.

HellCaller’s eyes flickered about; to the crystal rebels, fighting a hopeless battle against what they believed to be an eternal ruler at her and the Equestrians’ urging, to the Equestrians themselves, so convinced of the power of friendship and understanding that they had offered their hands to a literal demon, as long ago arguments with Linzi flashed through her mind. Finally, ‘Caller’s eyes went to her apprentice, an illusionist, an entertainer, who chose to take up the sword and learn from her, lying unconscious – or worse – among the injured as Fluttershy tried to save who she could. Her eyes hardened, their glow brightening ever so slightly, as she turned back to the fray, “Vell, fuck!” ‘Caller muttered, “Vhirling Blades,” she intoned, flinging Kragor out to whip across the battle, tearing through three of Sombra’s demons before burying herself, runes glowing, in the chest of a fourth. “Dimensional Slide,” with a twisting of space ‘Caller was behind Sombra, one hand snapping out to grip his curved horn, while the other pinioned one of his arms. ‘Vasn’t sure that vould vork,’ she admitted to herself.

“What be thou doing, thou fool?!” Sombra demanded as he struggled in the demoness’ grip, his horn cutting into her gauntlets.

“I'm doing vhat you vanted,” HellCaller replied, her lips peeling back in a mocking, fanged smile, “Making a choice. And I choose them,” raising her gaze to the balcony, she locked eyes with Cadance as her voice, trained to carry above the din of battle, rang out, “Do it.”

Blue light filled her vision as Sombra seemed to dissolve in her hands as he desperately strained against hold, his unbelieving cry of “No!” echoing in her ears as rainbow light joined with blue and her vision went dark.

Ch. 07; Epilogue

Cadance stood at the window, looking out over the Palace square where ponies were still working on cleaning up from the previous day’s battle while the pale sunlight of an artic spring shone through the shield around the city. With Sombras’ … destruction? None of the Equestrians were sure what had actually happened to the tyrant, but with his apparent defeat the demons had vanished, while the golems collapsed back into mounds of snow and ice, and the yetis and frost drake had fled the city back to their own lairs in the frozen wastes. Which was a good thing, because the Crystal legionnaires and victorious rebels had been too stunned and confused by the sudden wash of conflicting memories to fight.

But, overwhelmed or not, the crystal ponies had seen to the injured, and the remnants of the Empire’s privy council – newly released from the mines – had met with Cadance and Shining and declared the young alicorn their new ruler – over Cadance’s objections. Eventually, the exhausted mare gave in. The first orders of her new regime were to return the Crystal Heart to the Great Hall where it had once sat, and to move HellCaller’s petrified form to a place of honor in the Palace square, while Kragor – who had said not a word since her sister’s loss – had been carefully, ever so carefully, brought into the Palace by magic … Cadance well remembered what had happened to the luckless changeling drone that had picked up the soulblade during Chrysalis’s invasion.

“Cady? The others should all be in the Great Hall now.”

Turning from the window, Mi Amore Cadenza, Princess-Empress of the Crystal Empire smiled at her husband, “Alright. Let’s go, then.”

Twilight looked up from talking with Spike to smile at her brother and sister-in-law as they entered the Hall, “Hey, how are you doing?”

“As well as could be hoped, I guess,” Cadance replied, “I still don’t think I should be ruling the Empire, though.”

“I think that’s why they chose you, darling,” Rarity countered, “‘Those who are best suited for power are those who want it the least’, as they say.”

“Yeah, but they don’t want the power,” Rainbow pointed out, “So why should they stick around for something they don’t want? Not that you would ever run out on these ponies, Cadance,” she hastily added.

“It’s okay, Rainbow,” Cadance gave the weathermare a tired smile, “Besides, there’s still a lot of work to do, and that’s without trying to locate all of Sombra’s hidden laboratories, reintegrating the Crystal Empire into the world, or getting enough therapists to even begin to help the crystal ponies deal with what they’ve been through.”

“Do we know why tha Elements turned ‘Caller ta stone?” Applejack broke in, “Or how long she’ll be like that?”

Twilight’s muzzle creased in an unhappy frown, “I think it was because ‘Caller, even though she is on our side, is still a demon, so the Elements contained her, just like they did with Discord. As for how long …,” the librarian shrugged, “Luna was banished for a thousand years, but Discord was sealed for over fifteen hundred, so I don’t think anypony can really say.”

“But she’ll still be herself when she does get free, right?” Pinkie asked, “She’ll still be ‘Caller, right?”

“I don’t know,” Twilight sighed, “There’s no records of any cockatrice victims being petrified for more than a few centuries, and all of those went mad. Only one person can really say what its like to be turn into stone for so long …,” she turned an inquisitive eye to Fluttershy.

“I’m sorry, Twilight, Pinkie,” Fluttershy replied dejectedly, “Discord refuses to talk to me about when he was a statue.”

“So, what does this mean for Trixie and Kragor?” Shining wondered, looking at the heavily bandaged illusionist sitting, unusually quiet, off to one side and then over to the table on which the soulblade rested.

“I am staying here,” the sword declared, “Sane or mad, vhen my sister returns, she vill need me, and I vill be vaiting for her.”

When it became clear that Kragor would say no more, the assembled ponies and drake turned their eyes on Trixie, “Yes, well, while the Valiant and Injured Trixie does have access to Trixie’s master’s abode, Trixie suspects that with HellCaller … indisposed … that those doors will soon seal themselves. Still … Trixie has replaced her wagon, and it has been some time since Trixie went on tour ….”

“Well, if that is what you want … but maybe you could come back to the library from time to time? Or even regularly? To have a place to call home?” Twilight offered shyly, feeling as if her blush was burning through her fur, “I mean, if you don’t mind calling the library home, with Spike and I ….”

Trixie smiled at the flustered unicorn while Cadance and Rarity beamed at the pair, “Trixie thinks Trixie would like that very much.”

Ch. 08; A New Beginning

“So, tell me, Sunburst, what’s the most outlandish rumor you’ve heard about the Crystal Empire so far?”

“That’s a bit hard to say, your Highness,” the unicorn mused as he walked beside his sovereigns, idly wiggling his fingers at a giggling Flurry Heart, safe in her mother’s arms after the chaos of her crystalling a few days before, “Especially since I’ve already seen some pretty bizarre things in my short time here. Still … a number of ponies have sworn that the statue in the Palace square is a demon who was petrified by the Crystal Heart while fighting against Sombra,” he shook his head with a grin at the fancy, “Others have told me that you have a living weapon, from Tartarus, no less, hanging in the Throne Hall as both a guardian and an advisor.”

“Ponies do imagine all sorts of silly things,” Shining Armor chuckled, “You should hear some of the theories Twilly came up with when she was a little filly,” the Prince Consort’s pale rose aura opened the great doors to the Throne Hall as they approached, “But in this case, they actually got most of it right.”

Cadance reached out to steady the goggle-eyed academic as he stumbled, gently, but firmly, herding him along, “It’s nothing to be worried about,” she assured Sunburst, “Just think of it as meeting some more of the family,” the Crystal Princess gave the stallion a mischievous grin, “After meeting Auntie Tia and Auntie Luna, how bad could a demonic weapon really be?”

The bearded unicorn paled slightly as he followed the royal family into the Hall and nervously looked around; fashioned of pale purple marble with columns of blue crystals and hung with ancient banners the chamber stretched to the dais where the Imperial Throne and the new, rarely used, Consort’s Throne sat side-by-side, the newly restored Crystal Heart resting on a low pedestal between them. Indeed, the only thing that deviated from the storybook panorama of courtly grandeur was the heavy, black-bladed sword that hung on the wall behind the thrones, “Is that … it?”

“Yes, there she is,” Cadance agreed sadly, “Kragor hasn’t spoken in years – not since shortly after the Elements sealed her sister – but we keep her here in the hopes that something in the court will gain her attention and bring her back from wherever she has withdrawn too.”

“So, she doesn’t actually advise you?”

Shining shook his head, “No, that part the stories got wrong, though I admit having someone to voice the callously pragmatic choices could be useful, even if only to make sure we know what extremes to never embrace,” the stallion sighed, “Well, come along, Sunburst, who knows, maybe she’ll respond to you and Flurry.”

Soon finding himself in the remarkably unusual position of standing on the Imperial Dias and being formally presented to a weapon, Sunburst rather hoped this wasn’t a sign of what he should expect from his employment by the royal house.

“Sunburst, Flurry, I’d like you to meet Kragor, also known as Black Fang,” Cadance said as she made the introductions, “Kragor, this is our daughter, Flurry Heart, and her Crystaller, Sunburst,”

“I am honored to make your acquaintance, ma’am,” Sunburst declared awkwardly, with a deep bow, although the effect was somewhat marred by his glasses trying to slip down his muzzle.

When no response proved to be forthcoming, Cadance and Shining exchanged resigned, sorrowful looks. Flurry, however, wiggled in her mother’s arms and leaned over to grab at Kragor’s hilt – at the foal’s touch, runes flared down the length of the soulblade, slowly darkening from white to yellow, as the surprised ponies stared, before fading away.

“Vhat is this?” a metallic voice, rusty with disuse demanded, “Vell, hello little sister,” the sword almost purred, “Ve’re going to have such vonderous stories to tell ‘Caller vhen she returns, you and I, I just know it.”

Sunburst looked at his stunned sovereigns, and then back at the baby alicorn cooing happily as she patted the tartarean blade, “I think my life just got a lot more complicated ….”