Cadance's mane moved in rhythm with the icy wind. Her hooves were frozen, winter had fallen in Ponyville, and with it the snow as well. The ponies were in their homes sleeping, the princess didn't know how long it took to get here, but she knew it had been hours. She spotted Twilight's library, Cadance's eyes widened like saucers. Without a second thought he trotted as fast as he could, opened the door without knocking, but his hooves stood still on the cold floor.

The place was empty...

"Twilight!" cried Cadance, bounding up the stairs. "Twilight?! I'm Cadance!" she reported. The princess was facing Twilight's bed, the blinds were closed, with her mouth she ripped them off throwing them to the floor. The moon... Only the moonlight accompanied Cadance that night.

The princess lay down on Twilight's bed, hugging her crystal heart. Loneliness accompanied her, while the moonlight bathed her body in tranquility.

The princess could not sleep at all. The sun began to rise, warning her that her insomnia did not leave her alone. She stretched her hooves and got up. She spotted a backpack, with Twilight's cutie mark, grabbed it and put the crystal heart in it, with her magic she put the backpack on her back.

When the princess was about to leave the library, an idea crossed her mind. "What if Twilight has a book about Umbrums?" she wondered, aloud.

She walked through the library, the princess was never one to read much, she would accompany Twilight in her studies, but she never set out to read a whole book. Her gaze roamed each shelf, if Spike were there to help it would be much easier...

One book caught her attention.

It was a black cover with a round crimson ruby, so dark was the aura emitted from that book...the princess opened the book, a yellow light flashed across her face. The letters were red, with a very elegant calligraphy, she began to read.

The Umbrums, rulers of the Crystal Empire. The Umbrums are beings that feed on the fear of the ponies, spreading fear among their presences. Queen Rabia has ruled the Crystal Empire for a long time. She is an Evil Queen, too terrifying. Rabia had a dragon enemy, in which quite a few battles were fought in the Empire, but none serious, not by the dragon. The races are divided. There are no pegasus in the Crystal Empire, only unicorns.

I have decided to write this diary as a reminder if anyone finds it. The crystal ponies do not stand up to the nearness of the evil queen, I feel a sense that I have to do something fast. I, Amore, will fight the Umbrums, I will banish them far away from here. If anyone finds this, it is the beginning of a reign of love and harmony.

Cadance's eyes shed tears, her eyes lowered to her last few words. The book did not have many pages.

I am a princess, the princess from love, Cristal's heart seems to strengthen me every time I get close to him. It is as if we are one. When I defeated the Umbrums, I met Celestia and Luna, I entrusted them with Crystal's heart when that dragon stole it. I've spent some time watching the outskirts of the Empire, I fear that someday they will return.

I have decided to make a Crystal fair, I have seen how love grows stronger. It's one of the best ideas I've ever had. My little niece loves to see how that crystallization covers her body radiantly. My suspicions of the return of the Umbrums fell again when a foal arrived in the Empire, he was alone and seemed to remember nothing of his life. I don't want to think that he is an Umbrum, but I feel that he is....

His name is Sombra. He is so peculiar, I have been told that before he speaks he names his name, but I have also seen how the ponies reject him, it saddens me.

Cadance turned to the other page.

My suspicions were confirmed. Cristal's heart has the ability to show a future for each pony. I have seen Sombra's eyes when I saw his, I saw the fear. On the other hand, Radiant is going to be a princess, maybe even after me. I fear for Shadow, I hope nothing ends the way it started.

There are no more pages, Cadance's eyes tried to find some page that said something, only the last one, she found a few words.

I saw my future through the mirror, Sombra destroys me.... I had my doubts, now I have a chance to do something sooner. A part of my consciousness I will pass it to the crimson Crystal of my diary. If anyone finds me, they'll know I'll be there.

Mirror? Wasn't it supposed to be the Crystal that revealed the future? Cadance blinked and closed the book, saw the red jewel, it was a ruby. It reminded Cadance of the ruby in the Umbrum. Cadance brushed the ruby with her hoof, the ruby glowed in a tired way, it seemed to have little strength.

"Hello?" whispered Cadance, bringing her face close to the ruby.

"Is this happening? Someone really found me?" the voice echoed through the ruby, Cadance had a thrill run through her body.

"Actually, sort of, someone else found you, but it seems that because of something rather strange they didn't read you. I'm Cadance." The princess replied, smiling at the ruby.

The ruby glowed. "Oh, I'm so glad then! I've gone a long, long time without being able to speak. I've heard many conversations, but I've never seen anyone, I can't see anything, I only see darkness. A part of my consciousness was passed to the ruby, I don't have many answers because of that, I seem to have forgotten quite a bit. "

Cadance frowned, walking over to Twilight's bed and sitting on it. She flapped her wings." Remember... Who you are at least?

The ruby glowed. "Yes, a little bit. My name is Amore, I'm the princess of love and of the Crystal Empire.... And they destroyed me.

" Sombra... " muttered Cadance, the ruby glowed with exasperation.

"He's still in the Empire?! What happened after they destroyed me?!" shrieked Amore, Cadance closed his eyes sadly.

"He... They defeated him twice, but this time.... He came back, and not alone. The Umbrums came back. They... They tried to destroy me, but the Crystal heart sheltered me, there was a crystallization! And there weren't even crystal ponies to do it!". Cadance didn't realize he had raised his voice, he swallowed saliva, he saw how the ruby was silent.

"I've never heard anything like that, maybe the guardians of harmony could answer you, Cadance." replied Amore.

The guardians of harmony? Who were they? Cadance still hadn't told Amore that she was the new princess of the Empire and of love, Cadance felt guilty.

"I...I wanted to tell you that I am the new ruler of the Empire, and a princess." muttered Cadance.

The ruby was silent for long minutes, torturous to Cadance, until the ruby glowed. "Oh, no. Radiant didn't fulfill her destiny? She ruled the empire with Sombra?! Please, I need answers!."

They weren't the words Cadance was looking for, they hurt her. "No, she betrayed Sombra. Sombra was quite angry about it, and put a curse on the Empire. She didn't... She didn't fulfill her destiny...

Amore remained thoughtful." A lot has really happened. Cadance?

The princess blinked. "Yes?

"I need you to take me to Queen Rabia." Cadance's eyes widened, letting out a gasp of horror. "No!, you don't know how scary it was to go through with them! I don't want to go back!"

Cadance pulled Twilight's star sheets over herself, letting out a few sobs. "I'm sorry, it was too fast. I just wanted to clear up a few things, only Sombra knows where my parts are. As terrifying as it sounds, you must understand, Cadance, that Sombra will not stand still.

Cadance blinked." I know, he told me so himself. He's going to usurp the Empire in no time, and I don't know what to do. I have the heart of Crystal, but I don't know if I'll make it in time..."

The ruby glowed brightly. "I know a shortcut! Let me lead you, Cadance, through our home, let me do it!" pleaded Amore, waiting for Cadance's answer.

The princess didn't have much choice. "Fine, but you will tell me all about the Crystal Empire, everything." she affirmed. Looking at the ruby.

The ruby glowed. "So it is an agreement".

Author's Note

Oh, for heaven's sake. Why did Amore want Cadance to take her to Rabia?

Will Amore tell Cadance about the Empire? Will the two princesses of love be able to trust each other?

Will Sombra have the Empire at her mercy?

We'll see in the next chapter!