Chapters Chapter One: The beginning
Cadance opened the door of her room to find herself in the darkness between the corners of the walls, she walked a few steps forward repeating to herself that speech that Princess Celestia ordered her to tell her people. One proposal, one loss.
His brow furrowed slightly as he felt a dipping sound in his ear, it was like a shriek of horror. Her hooves slowly advanced to outside her room, finding a Shining Armor facing her, stunned.
"Cadance" he called, she looked up at him softening her frown.
"What are you doing here?" the princess of love asked, looking at him intently.
He frowned as he let out a nervous chuckle. "I help Twilight make a shield with just a spell."
"Isn't Celestia supposed to have taught her last week how to do that?".
"Yeah..." he muttered, Cadance looked at him even more fixedly, through that sweat there was a secret. But he tried to calm her paranoia by smiling amicably. "We'd better go to the crystal fair, I can't wait to try a bite of strawberry shortcake Pinkie has prepared!
Shining Armor nodded as she followed behind her, Cadance walked excitedly through the event. Three days ago the princess of love had invited the Two Sisters and Twilight and included her friends to the big crystal fair, to continue to fill the crystal heart with love.
Twilight was the first pony to greet her at the entrance, Cadance galloped up to her quickly and bent her knees ready for the song.
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake! " they said to each other, as they finished the dance. Cadance smiled sweetly as she hugged Twilight.
"I've missed you so much!" squealed Twilight, once they separated from the hug, another squeal came from the pony as she spotted her brother behind the princess. "Shining Armor!"
Again Cadance's ear warned her of an irritating sound, she brought her hoof up to him, stunned. Her eyes caught shadows in the corners, again drifting off into a darkness that ran through her memories.
"Cadance?" asked Twilight.
"Uhm, oh. The crystal fair!" she exclaimed, trotting to the outside of the crystal castle. But she kept her gaze confused. Shining Armor and Twilight bypassed the princess and made their way to the Two Sisters waiting in the crystal heart.
"I am so happy to see love growing again in the Crystal Empire" commented Princess Celestia, smiling. Cadance returned her smile with a hug.
"Duh, isn't it so obvious? Candy and cookies are supposed to be on the same plate!" the voice of the laughing element was distinguishable in the distance, Cadance broke away from Celestia with a raised eyebrow.
"Candy and cookies? That's a bad combination" Rainbowdash acknowledged, flying up to stand next to Princess Luna.
Luna frowned, as she looked at her sister. The pegasus tender stood next to Rarity, who was examining Twilight's dress. Cadance was surprised she hadn't seen it, she could have complimented her or said she looked great. But her mind was completely distracted with something she didn't know what.
"Are you all right, Cadence?" asked Shining Armor, her royal guard, in a whisper.
"Yes," she replied.
Crystallization had not yet taken place. Twilight's friends were preparing a big Crystal fair. Starting with Rarity, who exclusively prepared a spa, then Applejack and Rainbowdash who were melee fighting in a somewhat violent tournament, Cadance didn't think it was appropriate even though she agreed to do it. And finally there was Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, who had prepared a secretly not yet prepared show.
Cadance admired the little dragon who lay looking at his own statue, she smiled as she slowly approached towards him.
"Spike" Cadance announced, the baby dragon startled looking up at the princess, causing her to let out a playful giggle.
"Princess Cadance, I thought you'd be with Twilight" Spike muttered, Cadance arched an eyebrow.
"Uhm, I haven't seen Twilight since morning, I don't know where she's gone either" she exclaimed, looking at the baby dragon.
Spike shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, she had said they would spend the afternoon planning something, though she never wanted to tell me" he replied, Cadance was speechless, thinking about what the savior of the Crystal Empire had said. He opened his mouth again, blushing. "Have you seen R-Rarity?"
Cadance could notice a hint of the emotion when he uttered the name of the element of generosity, the baby dragon was literally in love with Rarity. Cadence smiled at the thought if it could be mutual someday.
"Sure, she's at the spa. Why don't you go help her and I'll go find Twilight while I'm at it?" suggested Cadance, Spike nodded excitedly as he ran towards the spa.
The princess of love smiled and waved to the crystal ponies as she embarked on a path to find Twilight. She didn't spot Shining Armor anywhere either, to which prompted her to frown.
Cadance took a breath and exhaled.
But thinking about the lie Twilight told her 'number one assistant' moved her too much, to the point of sobbing silently. Cadance's spirits were on the floor, lately she was feeling too sad and discouraged, the question was why she was like this.
She did not look away from Crystal's heart, contemplating.
Until she noticed a figure approaching it, slowly, it was covered by a thick and plain brown cloak. Cadance could not take his eyes off the figure, one of his wings stretched slowly, being attentive.
Suddenly, the figure grabbed Crystal's heart mercilessly, stuffing it into his cloak pocket. Cadance spread her wings and flapped up to the figure, she realized it was a unicorn with pink fur. The unicorn realized that the princess was approaching and began to run quickly.
Cadance did not have time to alert anyone about the thief. He put his wings to walk to that intruding unicorn, he could see that the curse of the Sombra King was approaching the Empire, the crystal ponies began to shriek in horror.
"Fear not, my ponies, I will go after the impostor!" warned Cadance, to his crystal ponies, trying not to remind them of the curse. Cadance's wings ached from the unicorn's swift speed, it seemed to use its own magic to run swiftly.
"Return it to!" she shouted, tearing his voice apart, Cadance's throat hurt, but it was nothing compared to what might come if the heart didn't stay in place.
The unicorn passed through the portal, one that protected the Crystal Empire, specially made by Celestia.
All of Cadance's hope crumbled right there, until her strength told her to follow the unicorn.
She passed through the portal.
Author's Note
One of the examples of this alternate universe is that Shining Armor and Cadance are not married, eventually we will see what happens later in Cadence Crystal.
Thanks for reading! See you in the next chapter!
Chapter Two: Between Shadows
The cold impacted Cadance's mane, the snow was thick through the hooves, even though the princess' wings embraced her, she felt too cold. She tried to hug herself even more, walking slowly, her mane didn't let her see too much, the wind was chaos.
Her hooves unexpectedly froze, through her mane that covered her face; she saw the thief of the crystal heart.
"Hey, you!!!" Cadance shouted.
The thief opened his eyes and darted even further in, even further away from the empire....
"Come back here, thief!" Cadance's hooves raced through the snow sustaining a meager speed unlike the thief. The princess spread her wings and flew until she nearly caught up with the thief's light blue tail.
Cadance launched herself.
She rolled and rolled feeling a weight on top of her. She felt for a moment the crystal heart somewhere, until they mutually fell near an ice cave. The cave of wolves.
Cadance opened her eyes slowly, feeling a sudden headache. When she finally opened them, she saw a young mare in front of her, looking at her fearfully holding the crystal heart with one of her hooves. Cadance's teeth clenched.
"You... who are you?". asked Cadance after a few seconds, she made out that she was a unicorn, a crystal pony.
"No one important, princess" she replied, Cadance glared at her as she went over to crystal's heart.
They both got up from the ground, Cadance took the crystal heart with her magic and wrapped it around her chest.
"Why did you do that?" Cadance asked, seeing no response she opened her mouth again. "Why did you steal crystal's heart?
The mare remained silent, for a moment Cadance came to feel the shame the mare felt.
"I... i just did a job for someone" she replied, cadance looked at her in confusion.
"Who?"
Suddenly, the unicorn's voice was jammed with the sound coming from the cave, a fierce growl. Cadance startled in place, as she saw the large, ambrosial wolf coming towards them, It was definitely not good news.
"By Celestia!" shrieked Cadance, watching as that mare ran away from Cadance, but earlier, she had stolen from Cadance's hooves to Crystal's heart. Again.
The princess tried to chase the unicorn, but was unable to do so, the wolf cornered her in a corner of the cave, Cadance watched the mare disappear for the last time through the shadows.
Feeling the wolf's breath on her neck, Cadance teleported with her back to the wolf, her hooves slipped and she fell to the ground. The wolf grabbed Cadance's wing and bit her, Cadance let out a blast of Magic that stunned the snow wolf, the wolf let go of her and she fell staggering to the ground.
She tried to get to her feet and run for her life, but first she needed to find the crystal heart urgently. She ran through the snow being chased by the wolf, who had huge claws. She tried to be faster using her alicorn wings. Cadance looked back to come face to face with the wolf, he caught her.
She fell under him, curled up. she snuggled her face between his hooves, as she felt the breath on her cheek. Luna once told her that if she stood still before a snow wolf, it would move away. She couldn't contain herself too much, thinking of her crystal ponies in the face of Sombra curse.
How they would call for help from their beloved princess. And knowing that she was devoured by a wolf; they would lose hope.
Suddenly, she caught sight of the unicorn, standing far away in the misty snow. Cadance noticed that she was not alone.
Dark crystals sprouted from the wolf's sides, startling him. The wolf took off with a shriek of horror, going to its ice cave. Cadance stood up looking at the unknown figure.
The figure moved closer, accompanied by the unicorn. Until she could make out who It was.
Cadance gritted her teeth, totally furious.
"King Sombra" she stated.
She saw a playful frown on his face, he seemed amused by the situation.
"A thank you would suffice, princess" he mumbled, dulling the spark of amusement he had.
Cadance staggered in place.
"A thank you? never!!!". Cadance took a few steps forward, Sombra cold gaze fixed on her. "You, tyrant, you enslaved the crystal ponies!!!, and you think i'll say thank you?
Sombra growled, as he turned his back on Cadance. She sobbed furiously, watching the king's mouth move. "You princesses only know how to point at the culprit."
Cadance was speechless, not knowing what to say back to the king.
The princess of love glared at the unicorn, as she averted her gaze and directed it to the ground.
"Why are you back, i thought Twilight and her friends had banished you, forever..." whispered Cadance looking at the ground, totally lost in thought.
Sombra looked at her, malevolently, until green flames burst from her eyes and engulfed Cadance.
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza was lost in the darkness of the abyss.
Cadance woke up feeling a severe headache, she stiffened as her hooves lifted until she was standing still. She realized she was chained to a wall, her leg had a thick and strong chain, it seemed to be made with some kind of magic irrelevant to Cadance. She let out an exclamation of pain as she tried to free herself with her magic from the chains, she stood still, knowing she couldn't move much.
When she saw the shadows in the corners, she remembered someone: King Sombra.
She was startled when she felt the sound of a door, she tried to free herself, but remembered the chain. It was made of dark magic, a magic Cadance detested too much, and he didn't agree to use it. Despite being chained to that magic.
She felt someone humming some words, it sounded far away, until she saw a figure in the shadows. His eyes, red, stood out in the darkness. The gleam of his armor gave him an extremely frightening appearance, it was the same as always, a usurper without a kingdom.
"Sombra" Cadance called, he heard a growl.
"It's King Sombra, princess, even call me emperor" he mumbled, he took a few steps forward, smiling as he saw the condition the princess of love was in. "I see you are trapped, unable to break free. You feel as if you have no escape, don't you?
The princess frowned, even though a few seconds passed, she could not understand his words. Until she understood, he was talking about himself, when he was banished for 1000 years in the ice.
"Don't think I won't break free, Sombra, I will defeat you. You will never have the Crystal Empire, never!" shrieked Cadance, gasping in pain at his attempt to get up, he fell to the ground scraping his helmet.
His mane was terribly scattered, lacking the glittering touch of crystals.
Sombra burst out laughing, with no empathy whatsoever. Cadance looked at him seriously, there was no fun to be had on this occasion. Sombra noticing the princess's attitude, walked over and looked into her eyes, as she looked at him, she began to see darkness.
Until beneath her she felt water, her hooves dipped until they were tinged with shadows. Cadance fell. It looked like an abyss, until she fell to the ground, it looked like a normal place, sunshine and grass. Clouds and trees. Cadance got up, walked slowly, not knowing what was really happening. Until she saw herself, as a foal.
She felt her foal self piece through her, she felt like a ghost. Her foal self was still running around amused, her foal self was playing with ladybugs. Cadance smiled at that, knowing the ladybugs were in her and Twilight's song. The scene turned dark, Cadance saw herself as Twilight's nanny, she seemed to be sobbing, until behind her a shadow advanced.
"Mom?" muttered the younger Cadance.
The princess was alarmed to hear that, a chill ran through her. The figure began to transform into a large unicorn, Cadance could no longer see, she burst.
"ENOUGH!".
Cadance opened her eyes to find red ones, staring at her from a few inches away. Their cold stare tensed Cadance, but she shuddered as she remembered the illusion. A painful illusion.
"So orphan, Princess Amore had no descendants?" exclaimed Sombra, sitting up. Cadance culminated it with a quizzical look.
"Princess Amore?" she uttered, trying to disabuse herself of the idea, knowing that Sombra was a manipulative and cunning maniac, terribly cunning.
"Lying is not in my plans. Think, princess, why are you in charge of the Crystal Empire, my Empire?" rambled King Sombra.
Cadance opened her lips to answer, hesitating.
"Princess Celestia has left me in charge. And it is not your Empire, never has been and never will be." concluded Cadance, sitting back on her hooves, Sombra looked at her. Cadance noticed he was silent, she expected another answer... "Why would Celestia keep a secret from me about another princess?
Cadance didn't notice that the words had come out loud, until she heard Sombra hesitated playfully.
"Oh, right. Kind and benevolent Celestia would never keep a secret!" she exclaimed sarcastically, placing a hoof on her chin and lifting it at once, Cadance rolled her eyes. "I've lived long enough to know who this so-called Princess Amore is, but she's a basket case, nothing important." she concluded, rising to her feet. Cadance watched as he walked to the door from the cell, something in Cadance shrieked in anguish.
"Wait!"
Sombra looked at her from the corner of his eye, turning away. "It's an advance, princess of my Empire."
Cadance waited for him to settle to her liking, never waited for him to beg the very tyrant of the Crystal Empire to tell her about someone no one knew if she was actually real.
"What's your plan, what are you up to? Why have you come back...? I don't understand, I don't understand..." muttered Cadance, looking down. Sombra shrugged nonchalantly.
"Too many questions, my patience is thin, I'm being too pious with you knowing you're just another pawn" he informed dryly. It was back to the coldest look Cadance has ever known.
Cadance mimicked the king's pose, sat back and waited for him to speak. He tried to use a spark from his horn, but felt a terrible headache. "What have you done to me?"
Sombra looked at her intently, tired of the questions. "Just a touch up, I hope it's not of your bother." sarcasm inhabited his words, Cadance restrained herself from collapsing and sobbing right there.
"You're a monster!" burst out Cadance, letting out a few tears as she felt her horn ache.
It only took a few words to infuriate the king. Sombra was talking a few steps forward, clenching his fangs. "Me? A monster? No, princess, I am the King of the Mounstros!" he shouted, his eerie horn glowed with a dark aura and made Cadance's body wrapped himself in it, he began to freeze like a statue.
Cadance felt fear, she began to sob thinking of all the terrible things that could happen to her. Nothing happened, though.
The Sombra King disappeared. Cadance felt terrible to understand that she had called him a monster, even though he had done horrible things to her crystal ponies.
Cadance fell into a dream, after a long time of silent sobbing and eternal darkness.
Author's Note
Information is slow, i know. I want to prepare everything in due time and have It all blow up in a moment
Chapter Four: Memories of the past
Some time ago...
The ladybugs fled from the pegasus who wanted to catch them, the little pegasus pouted sadly as the ladybugs fled from her sight. The night approached in Equestria, Cadance climbed a tree and admired a night Canterlot, from afar she saw how Princess Celestia was raising the moon, the pegasus' eyes shone with the constellations, bright, but melancholic.... Cadance was so eager and happy to finally be able to meet Princess Celestia personally, after two days ago, an unexpected letter arrived at the pegasus' home, her adoptive family was shocked to see what the letter said.
"Princess Celestia asks to see Cadance personally?!!!" had exclaimed Cadance's mother, the little pegasus smiled thoughtfully.
"W-why?" stuttered the supposed father, he was a rather distrustful stallion in front of the other ponies, and noticing Cadance smiling excitedly and jumping with happiness he didn't have too many options, they agreed.
When the sun rose, Cadance trotted excitedly to the princess's castle, this time, she went alone, for a strange reason the princess asked to deliver Cadance alone, without her parents. Cadance thought of a million things the princess would say to her, would she ask her to be her pupil? Even better, to be a princess?
Cadance let out a giggle, it was impossible. She could never be a... Princess.
The doors opened before her, the guards glared at her seriously, Cadance shuddered.Cadance walked down the long hallway to the throne, he noticed that there were paintings on the glass on its sides. She saw an alicorn painted on the largest window, who would she be? Suddenly, the beautiful figure of Princess Celestia came into view sitting on the throne, Cadance clenched her wings.
"Come closer, sweet pegasus" said Celestia, Cadance hurried to stand close to the princess, admiring her. Celestia was serious on her throne, looking at the pegasus with utmost annoyance, then she smiled, "I have a mission for you, I have seen your great gifts with the ponies, you are kind, generous and even fill with love with your presence everywhere." Cadance spread her wings a little excited, she didn't want to say anything, but she wanted to jump up and hug the princess.
Cadance couldn't hold back too much." What is my mission, princess? " she exclaimed. Celestia spread her wing and pushed Cadance a little to follow her, she walked behind the princess.
Princess Celestia opened a portal under the ground from where they were standing, the portal showed stairs.... And darkness. Celestia went through first, signaling with her left wing for Cadance to move forward, the pegasus went down the steps hesitantly, this is not the way the sun princess would behave....
When they finished descending the steps, the sound of a falling coin came out. Cadance shrieked in fear, watching as the princess opened a door. As they stepped through the door, millions of books came into view, Cadance's curiosity peeked. She collided with the princess's helmet, jumping backwards.
Celestia arched an eyebrow. "Your mission is to spy for a lost Empire, study about it, go to it. Could you do it?"
An empire? Cadance thought, the pegasus kept silent, she didn't want to disappoint Princess Celestia herself, but her intuition told her it was the wrong plan. Princess Celestia kept looking at her, until Cadance raised her eyes to her.
"Where do we start?"
Celestia smiled.
Destroyed.
Destroyed.
Destroyed...
Cadance's head hurt too much.
She couldn't feel her body, she could barely open her eyes. Slowly, her mind cleared and with that her thoughts, she wanted to open her eyes, but she could not. Her ears twitched as she felt sound, it seemed to be hooves moving, someone was walking near Cadance. Flashes of colors appeared in Cadance's eyes when she opened them a little, dazed she cleared her sight. She was chained again.
But, it's not a cell.
She was next to Crystal's heart, it was glowing in her hooves. She... Was she able to retrieve the heart?
At what cost?
She tried to recover her memory, what had happened after she fell to the ground? Her body hurt too much, to which it was safe to say that she fell to the ground, (considering that dark magic had also hit her), Cadance could not wander in her mind anymore.
A headache loomed, stunning the princess. She had a very strange dream, she remembered when Princess Celestia called her to discover the Crystal Empire. She remembered how she had led her to those terrifying stairs; and telling her what her mission was.
There were nights when Cadance wondered if that mission it was worth it . Well, she was an alicorn now, but at what cost?
"At what cost...?" she murmured, Cadance could speak. She was surprised herself, her weakness was remembering the past, a terrible past. Cadance didn't want to do it, she didn't want to go to the Crystal Empire, if only she had heeded her intuition....
That would not have happened.
She remembered when Celestia told her that her new title had to be Mi Amore Cadenza. Celestia explained that this title was made especially and only for Cadance, but the tyrant of the Sombra King had told her that there had been another princess, Amore.
Was he lying?
Celestia would never keep a secret from him...
Or yes...?
But her sister's did, when a new alicorn, princess of the moon, appeared. Cadance had never heard of her, only in that window, when she saw her painting... The princess of love felt betrayed.
And then when Twilight appeared in her life, Princess Celestia asked her to be her nanny for a while, Cadance gladly accepted, the two were growing together, Cadance learned a lot with Twilight, and Twilight with Cadance. But then, Cadance had to leave Twilight's life, when Princess Celestia called her to fulfill that mission, a mission she had been preparing for years.
To become empress of the Crystal Empire, Cadance had to work hard, with only being a pegasus, she had to face King Sombra. Her royal guard, Shining Armor, became horribly ill when Sombra's dark magic affected the horn of Shining Armor ,he was passed out for hours. Cadance had almost given up hope, were it not for Twilight and her friends, including the dragon, arriving to save the day.
When Crystal's heart was thrown by Twilight from the top of the Empire, Spike couldn't catch it. Cadance, ran from where she was and launched herself from the air, her little energy made her almost fall, she managed to grab the heart and catch Spike and put him on his back. They both flew through the Empire.
The Empire had been saved.
To then relapse again, without the heart of Cristal in the Empire, the curse of Sombra would spread again. There was not much time.
Cadance felt like she was losing her mind, it had only been a few weeks. How soon could she lose her mind?
She wanted to feel the sun's rays on her face again, she imagined herself in Canterlot, home again.
She felt footsteps around her, darkness washed over the walls, she couldn't see who it was. An idea crossed Cadance's mind, what if she ran away? She had the heart of Crystal, she only lacked the strength, destroy the walls, run and fly to the Empire. It sounded easy.
"Are you awake?" she heard a voice ask, it sounded sweet.
Cadance shook her head, not knowing where to look. Suddenly, the figure of a mare appeared, it was Radiant Hope. She pushed some water at Cadance with her muzzle, Cadance rejected the water, she couldn't even sigh.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen, princess. I didn't want you to be in any pain or...".
"Stop it."
Radiant Hope was startled at Cadance's sudden change in mood. The princess immediately tried to remedy the mistake, she didn't want Radiant Hope to get the wrong idea about her.
"I-I appreciate your intentions, Radiant. But you were wrong to steal the heart, you stole the heart, and you even gave it to the Sombra King, why him?" asked Cadance, squeezing Crystal's heart, this time she would not leave her hooves, not anymore.
"Sombra... He's not evil, he...he...he..." the Radiant's voice cut off as her sobs grew louder.
Cadance looked at her intently. "You mentioned that you had betrayed him once." Cadance remembered, the mare looked at her.
"We were friends, as foals, the other crystal ponies made fun of the two of us, until we bonded and were inseparable" Cadance was amazed as the unicorn opened up to her emotionally, she listened to her silently. "I remember Sombra was always getting sick at the crystallizations, he never got to see one. Now I understand why. But before, Sombra....destroyed the princess....
"Amore?" the question from Cadance came out suddenly.
Radiant nodded slowly, sitting down on the ground. "Sombra transformed his own darkness into dark magic, because he is an Umbrum."
"Wait, did you say Umbrum? What are they really?" rambled Cadance, stretching out one of his hooves.
"I...I can't tell you, I'm sorry." Cadance nodded sadly, but she understood, the mare had no ill intentions, she would probably have to keep listening to Radiant Hope's story, she waited. "As I was saying, Sombra proclaimed himself as king, and even offered me to be the empress of the Crystal Empire, but.... I didn't want to. It wasn't my destiny, the next princess of the Empire was supposed to be me...but I could never fulfill my destiny.
Cadance's mouth fell open, Radiant looked at her in confusion. The princess of love's mind was full of chaos, thinking and thinking. "Princess of the Empire?! but.... She's supposed to...oh, no."
"My magic is peculiar, it's healing. Not many are supposed to have or had my power, to what makes it powerful. The heart revealed to me that I would be a princess, after Amore I would be the ruler of the Empire, but seeing what Sombra did, I fled. I blamed myself when I saw how Sombra had put a curse on the Empire because of me, then I went to the princesses, and told them everything.
Cadance could only listen attentively, she felt like an intruder, Cadance should not be ruling the Empire.
"I took your destiny away from you, didn't I?" mused Cadance, feeling guilty. Radiant Hope shook her head many times.
"No, no, no. Princess, I altered my destiny myself, I walked another path. Besides, you have I insist survivor, you are a great ruler..." empathized the unicorn.
Cadance smiled, but another question crossed her mind. "I don't understand, what kind of relationship do you have with Sombra, are you his mate?" she asked.
Radiant Hope startled again, shaking her head, a small blush distinguishable on her pink cheeks. "We're best friends, like brothers I would say, he's my family."
Cadance smiled.
"I'm glad to hear that, but remember he's an evil, manipulative being, Radiant. I'm still in chains..." rushed Cadance, Radiant lifted a hoof in concern.
"Oh, I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do. I don't want to betray Sombra, or his family. But we couldn't separate you from the crystal heart, for a moment we thought you were destroyed but...
"What happened?" asked Cadance.
"There was a crystallization, but only for you, the heart glowed and pierced the dark magic, it attached itself to you and glowed. Your body began to crystallize..." he commented, Cadance could not breathe well.
She looked at Crystal's heart, and smiled. Something strange had happened, Cadance couldn't tell what.
Radiant Hope left the dark room. Cadance was left alone with Crystal's heart, staring at the door, seeing how red eyes had been eavesdropping on the entire conversation.
Author's Note
Cadance's childhood is quite peculiar because it has not been presented, yet. I wanted to make a presentation of how Princess Celestia and Cadance had met.
Aside from the fact that Sombra's past has been heard by Cadance, how will she see him from now on? What are the Umbrum after all? Radiant Hope was going to be a princess...?
We'll see in the next chapter!
Chapter Five: Uncertainty
Sombra entered the dark room, looking at Cadance who lay sleeping, he wrinkled his nose in disgust. The princess's ears twitched at the sound of hoofbeats, her eyes widened. Cadance startled squeezing Crystal's heart tightly. This time Sombra would not have Cristal's heart again, not without a fight first. Love had to be stronger than the evil of that.... Tyrant...
"Radiant has told you too much, you silly mare." Sombra blustered, frowning. Cadance rolled her eyes, not knowing what to say.
"Maybe she has a soft heart, unlike you. " Cadance attacked.
Cadance came to think that Sombra would be offended, but on the contrary, he smiled and approached the princess. "I won't deny it, Radiant has a very pure heart, no doubt she would make a great empress..." Sombra looked sideways at Cadance, when she finished uttering such words.
Cadance pursed her lips, Sombra wanted to make her annoyed. And she wasn't going to give him that favor. " Let go of me, you don't need me. What do you want to do with me? Kill me? DO IT!!! Dare!" Cadance challenged, getting up from the ground.
Sombra wisely kept silent, sat down and waited for the princess's agitated breathing to calm down. Cadance tried to breathe in and out, sat up and hugged Crystal's heart like a teddy bear.
"I have never killed anyone, princess, I have only condemned. My hooves have not spilled blood, even if I thought of doing it, I didn't dare" the king informed, Cadance looked at him shocked, he really had never killed anyone? All the terrifying tales Celestia told about Sombra were not real?
'Heart as dark as night... '
"Then why did you enslave the crystal ponies?" asked Cadance, looking at the usurper king, Sombra frowned at her question.
"Why do you think I'll tell you?"
Cadance was silent, his chest tightened in embarrassment.
Sombra noticing the princess's discomfort opened her mouth. "I've come to free you only to attend a dinner party, do you fancy the idea?". Sombra smiled mischievously.
Cadance's eyes remained fixed on the king's. "A dinner? I will not dine with you!" the princess shrieked.
The Umbrum frowned, touching his armor to his chest. " Not with me, I could very well make it clear that it is mutual."
Cadance squeezed Crystal's heart, watching as Sombra released her, at last.... She was free! Cadance spread her wings, ignoring Sombra's complaint, she flew hugging Cristal's heart. She smiled and shrieked with happiness, the sunlight hit her face, she had to reach the light.... She could not let the darkness embrace her.
Cadance fell to the ground, a dark mist embraced her tightly. She felt someone growling in her face, she screamed wanting to get away from the creature. She embraced Cristal's heart, opening her eyes to find herself in the middle of the Darkness. Cadance shoved Sombra aside, as he gave her a grunt of annoyance. "Princess idiot! How dare you want to run away?! ".
Cadance stood still in the face of the accusing glances she was given all around her, her hooves slipped on the table. The princess was not shy, but in this case Cadance felt the shyness for the first time, the gazes were intent on her, as if they wanted to burn her with just a glance. The princess had her chin up, looking at the stallion, sitting looking at her expressionlessly. Cadance was offended at his earlier comment, 'idiot' how dare he insult her?
Cadance turned her eyes towards Radiant, the unicorn was sitting next to King Sombra, she didn't look entirely comfortable. The castle's dining table was very large and long, Sombra's family didn't seem very happy in front of the princess of love.
Cadance had many questions on her mind. Who were those creatures? Umbrums? Were they ponies of a different breed? Why were they so frightening? How did they know about the Empire? There were so many questions.
And there was one question that tortured Cadance; who was Princess Amore?
Cadance was sitting in the middle of the table, in front of her there were Umbrums looking at her intently, if looks could kill....
Sombra was sitting at one end of the table, and at the other end was the queen, Queen Rabia.
The food came in, Cadance's eyes widened like saucers as she watched those ponies bring the food, they... They were...mesmerized by dark magic. Cadance's teeth clenched in rage.
The princess kept her fury to herself, but shared a look with Sombra, an unfriendly one. Radiant stirred uncomfortably in her place, the poor unicorn knew what had caused her confession.
Cadance swallowed saliva as she stirred in her seat, she felt the nudge that came from the Umbrum to her right, Cadance squealed and moved to the side.
"You shouldn't be here" the Umbrum whispered to her, as the room began to murmur, she gave Cadance a chance to answer her. "I wish I wasn't here, for your information."
The Umbrum raised one of her misty eyebrows. "The king is only being merciful, but sooner or later only traces of you will remain."
Those words echoed in Cadance's mind over and over again, even hours went by and Cadance was still in that bubble. Never before had words had such an impact on her, fear coursed through her veins.
Fear.
Fear...
Destroyed...
Why was she still standing? Why was she still being held? Cadance's eyes were guided to her plate. All that food didn't look appetizing to her, not even the water. The Umbrum on her right gave her a smile, Cadance turned her each to another direction, until her sight caught the queen, Rabia. The queen gave her a smile with a sharp look, looked at her eyes, red, and then quickly looked away.
The dinner was silent, sometimes the Umbrums shared words, but then silence reigned again. The stares never ceased, as sharp and cold as an ice cube.
"Who are the naive ones who saved the Empire?" the youngest Umbrum suddenly asked, she seemed after all to have a shred of innocence.
"I didn't get a good look at their faces, Grudge" replied Sombra, shrugging his shoulders. He glanced sideways at Radiant.
Cadance swallowed saliva. Stares rested on her, wanting an answer. The princess was never going to rat out Twilight or Spike, ever. They wanted information, Cadance was going to give it to them.
"I was able to reach the Heart, no one else did." Cadance replied, she shivered in place as all eyes fell on her. If the earth could swallow alicorns....
Cadance looked up at Sombra in surprise, a smiling corner of her mouth rested on the king's lips. "How strange, I thought I saw more mares? I even got to see a dragon?"
He was teasing.
Cadance had again fallen into an unchained trap.
They all knew the story, they didn't need to ask. They just wanted to see if the princess was telling the truth.
Cadance arrived at her room feeling sick, she lay down on her stomach, not caring how dark the room was. The princess hated still being held, not knowing what was going on in the Empire. If Sombra was still in this place...was the Empire free of his clutches? But there was still her family, Cadance wanted to know more about those creatures.
King Sombra seemed to be a unicorn, with too much thirst for revenge. But he was still a unicorn? Were there other species? The griffins, the dragons, the ponies? Cadance didn't know what else to say.
Cadance let out a cry of despair.
She grabbed her pillow and began to let out all her screams of rage, the ones she could never release. The princess had never experienced such pain, it wasn't pain from an external wound, it was internal. She wiped away her tears and began to feel an internal force telling her: get up.
Cadance would have to flee.
She had to know about the Crystal Empire, her Empire.
The duty left to her by Celestia a few years ago, Cadance's responsibility now was that Empire. And now... She wasn't there to save him from the curse, maybe even she wouldn't save herself from the Umbrums.
Cadance's hooves slid gently down, she stood on the ground on her tiptoes, she mustn't make some kind of noise if she wanted to run away. She opened the door trying not to let it squeak. Her wings stuck to her sides, if she flew there would probably be a strange flapping sound. He walked down the dark hallway. She had heard when Twilight defeated Nightmare Moon in the Two Sisters castle, and now, Cadance was in the castle.
She recognized it because of the flags. Why would Sombra choose this castle? Didn't the Umbrums have one of their own?
Cadance made the crystal heart appear at her side, she had kept it in a bag under her protection. She looked at it, the heart glittering in her hooves. She hugged the crystal heart as if it were Twilight, she missed her half-sister, she even missed Celestia...
"You shouldn't be in the hallway at this hour, princess of my Empire" a voice exclaimed, it came from the shadows. Suddenly red eyes manifested. Cadance startled, hugging the crystal heart.
She frowned. "It's not your Empire, Sombra."
The tyrant king took a few steps forward, a mischievous look on his face. "But it will be, tomorrow the Empire will be mine, again. And guess what princess, you won't be able to do anything about it."
Cadance's eyes grew wide as she let out an exclamation of horror that made Sombra smile. "No..."
"Yes... As I was saying, who should I start with?" Cadance looked at the King in confusion, he frowned at her. "Maybe with Celestia? No, her annoying sister would be a better choice..." the princess interrupted the king.
"Annoying?! You're the annoying one here!" replied Cadance, she took a few steps forward, almost touching Sombra's muzzle. "Don't you dare do anything to my family."
Sombra grinned. "Try me."
Cadance couldn't contain himself, he let go of Crystal's heart and lunged towards Sombra, they both fell through the floor, it seemed to be a comedy. They rolled as Sombra kicked Cadance's stomach, she momentarily bit his ear on impulse. The two separated, standing up and looking at each other in a threatening manner.
Sombra's magic began to bubble in a threatening manner. Cadance was not far behind, she prepared to attack the tyrant.
"Princess, princess" purred Sombra, circling around Cadance, she flinched.
Sombra turned into a shadow, and there Cadance's lead fell to the ground. She looked around, searching for the tyrant who had hidden somewhere in the Darkness. The princess hurried to take the heart, sat down in a corner and kept silent.
"Why am I still here, Sombra. What are your plans?" asked Cadance, once she calmed down.
Maybe if he talked calmly with Sombra without fighting they could come to an agreement. Radiant had confessed to him that Sombra wasn't evil, though Cadance didn't even want to check if it was true.
Hours seemed to have passed, until Sombra took a few steps forward. For the first time Cadance saw something in his eyes...an emotion that the princess could not decipher.
"You think I'm happy about this? You think this is what I always wanted?" he commented, Cadance shook her head in confusion. Sombra sat on the ground, looking at the princess with annoyance. "You remind me of Amore, quite a bit. But there's something... That sets you two apart, I couldn't say what.
Cadance was getting it, the information that Sombra had just revealed to her was what Cadance was looking for. That this Amore came out in the conversation, so she could talk about her.
"Regarding... Amore, who was she? You said you knew her..." the princess murmured, trust was in short supply, surely there would never be trust.
Sombra looked at her, frowning. Her lips were set in a thin earnest. "I won't tell you anything, princess." grumbled the king.
Cadance pouted her face. She hugged the heart, somewhat emotionally. "Why do you keep me? You said yourself that tomorrow you would usurp the Empire. Can't you release me?" chuckled Cadance, it pained her to say such words, they seemed to be pleas.
Sombra smiled, his armor glowed for a few seconds until he got close enough to Cadance to make her flinch. "Because if I release you, who will keep the heart alive?
Sombra's words echoed in Cadance's mind.
"What...? Aren't you supposed to want to finish him off?! You are an incomprehensible tyrant!" shrieked Cadance, her sanity seemingly gone. She touched her head, she longed for the light.
Sombra looked at her expressionlessly. "Princess, it seems that said princess did not give you adequate information." replied Sombra, walking off into the shadows.
The princess of love arched an eyebrow. "What are you trying to say?"
Sombra smiled. "I have enough years to know that you are lying, princess, even experience. I am the king of fear, I fly your fears, I can smell how you fear Celestia will reject you..."
Cadance looked at him closely, her eyes began to crystallize. "It's not true...It's not true!" shrieked Cadance, raising her voice.
Sombra let out a devilish laugh. "Of course it is! Don't you see? You're terrified!"
Cadance began to sob. She didn't want to, she didn't want to show herself so weak before the usurper..... But so many weeks of repressing emotions came to torment her.
"You are... You're..." the words couldn't come out.
Sombra's laughter ceased, she was silent for a long time. Cadance was struck by that silence, she raised her face to his and looked at his serious face.
"It's not your destiny."
"What?"
Sombra sat on the ground, looking at the princess. "They say that if you look into the crystal heart it reveals your destiny. Have you looked at it, princess?"
Cadance shook her head slowly. She pulled away from the heart and brought it to her face. She looked at the crystal heart for a long time, until a light began to visualize.
She saw darkness, she saw caves, and she saw herself locked in. Forever and ever... She was locked in a cave, it seemed to be Canterlot. A figure walked up to her and lifted her chin, the figure transformed into Cadance. She felt her face begin to heat up from the tears. The scenes were cut off, Cadance found herself enveloped in a darkness of Sombra.
"Give him back to me!"
Sombra attacked the heart and threw it to the side. He seemed to be having fun, wasn't he too old for those kinds of games? Was he bothering Cadance? The princess shook her face and the scenes flashed through her mind, they were so.... Real... Maybe Sombra wasn't lying.
Maybe Celestia was condemning her.
Maybe it wasn't Celestia...
Once again green eyes flashed through her mind. "Why are you telling me now about what the heart does? What's your plan!" shouted Cadance, watching as Sombra stopped at her game.
The king gave her a sidelong glance, frowned and resumed his defiant stance. His armor glowed, the princess's eyes narrowed from the blast of light.
"It maybe... That I regret some of the actions" she commented, looking off somewhere, the eye contact was quite uncomfortable.
Suddenly Cadance's laughter echoed throughout the hallway, her mood changing quickly, to what led her to improve from the days she had spent locked up. Sombra grunted. "You, repent?! That's the funniest thing I've ever heard! Even Pinkie Pie's jokes aren't that funny to me!".
Cadance's laughter didn't infect Sombra, on the contrary, it actually made him angry. " ENOUGH!!!!".
Cadance suddenly stopped his mirth, he shrank like a puppy. Sombra transformed into a shadow and disappeared from Cadance's sight, the princess remained still shocked on the ground. At her side was the heart, she hugged it and put it to her chest.
Maybe Sombra wasn't so evil after all, maybe he had his intentions in every action he did. Maybe Sombra did let Cadance go.
For that night the princess fled .
Author's Note
Oh, Cadance really pissed off Sombra!
Did he really let her go?
We'll see in the next chapter!
Chapter Six: In the moonlight
CRYSTAL EMPIRE
Twilight came down the steps singing a melody, she finished descending when she saw a figure coming from far away, she opened the glass door with her magic and continued walking towards her brother's room, the figure kept approaching, she could hear an accelerated breathing. Twilight was focused on her thoughts, she kept walking, suddenly someone small bumped into her hind hoof, the unicorn looked at a startled dragon.
"Twilight!, Twilight! You won't believe it!" shrieked Spike, jumping up and down several times wanting to get Twilight's attention.
Twilight smiled and looked at the dragon. "What's the matter, Spike? Are you out of drinks?
Spike shook his head, catching her tail and hugging her." No... Much worse!".
Twilight arched an eyebrow.
"Spike...?" the words hung in the air, Twilight's gaze fell on the window, no, on the weather. The weather worsened, the clouds began to turn dark and cast evil lightning on Celestia's shield.
"Eh... Forget it." muttered Spike.
Twilight's hooves flew as she approached to run outside, before, she grabbed Spike with her mouth and put him on her back. Twilight's hooves ran as fast as she could, she dodged several crystal ponies, while Spike grabbed Twilight's tail due to the little dragon shot out of Twilight's back. The doors burst open, the throne room showed two worried alicorns, Twilight stopped running.
Spike staggered down, almost fainting.
"Princess Celestia... What's going on?" asked Twilight, looking between Princess Celestia and Luna, then looking at her brother, Shining Armor. "Where is Cadance?"
Shining Armor looked down, a tear came out of his right eye, Twilight immediately despaired, her friends came in showing confusion on their faces. Twilight now looked at Celestia, who gave her an uncomprehending expression.
"Somebody say something to me!!!" shrieked Twilight. Taking a few steps backwards, she almost tripped over Spike's tail.
Celestia walked over to Twilight, and put her helmet on her shoulder. "Don't rush to despair, Crystal's heart has been stolen, Cadance has gone looking for it, yet.... He hasn't returned" Celestia announced, looking at Twilight.
Twilight's exclamation of horror shocked everyone in the throne room. "The Crystal Heart... HAS IT BEEN STOLEN?!" shrieked Twilight, imperventilating. "And Cadance hasn't returned?!".
"Let's hope he comes back soon, Cadance is strong in the face of his priorities" commented Luna, looking serious about the situation. Her sister nodded. Fluttershy and Rarity looked at each other, with a hesitant look. Twilight understood that she couldn't do much, even if she wanted to. She approached her brother.
"Shining Armor, are you all right?" asked Twilight, looking at the sad state he was in.
"No, Twilight, I can't be okay knowing that Cadance is out there, in danger..." His words surprised Twilight, her brother was Cadance's guard, even down to friend.... But the way he expressed himself she could understand that there was something else there.... Shining Armor had not yet stopped loving Cadance.
For now, only the curse was back. Princess Celestia asked Twilight and her friends to guide the crystal ponies to safety. While Shining Armor and Spike guarded the entrance, without the Crystal Heart they were even more exposed to the curse, and this time Cadance was not there to help. Twilight ran down the stairs, while with her magic she levitated books around her. The unicorn's eyes were moving everywhere, Twilight bit her lip.
"There's nothing!" she shrieked, when she entered the throne room and saw the princesses there, Twilight dropped the books on the floor. "This is worse than I thought, last time we made it because we had the heart, and Cadance! It's going to be our undoing!" Twilight's breathing was too fast.
Celestia came walking over the books on the floor, and perched her helmet on Twilight's shoulder." Calm down Twilight, Luna and I will make a new aura field, while you can keep researching how to fix this." proposed Celestia, her sister nodded as she looked at the sun princess pupil.
Twilight's ears flattened, she sat on the floor with her gaze on the ground." I wish Cadance would come back, Shining Armor hasn't spoken to me all morning, and that makes me even sadder" Twilight said.
The two princesses were silent.
The hours continued to pass and there was no news about Cadance. The curse kept getting closer, Twilight managed to break some dark magic crystals that were materializing inside the Empire. And so the whole week went on, with no news from Cadance, the princess was still missing, some ponies were asking for their princess; Twilight had to invent some absurd excuses about it.
The week was almost impossible, the crystals kept breaking through the barrier, and came back stronger than before. It seemed that someone from the outside was strengthening them. Twilight lately was more nervous than usual, while her brother seemed to be calmer about the situation, but still had a deep sadness in his eyes.
"Spike, prepare the timbers for the Crystal pony houses" Twilight ordered, walking over, Spike at her side nodded and going off to do his job. Twilight's friends followed the unicorn behind, waiting for Twilight, like a good leader, to say a few words to them. "Fluttershy and Rainbowdash will clear the clouds of Sombra " the two pegasus nodded with determined smiles. "Rarity and Pinkie Pie will take care of the crystal ponies." Twilight turned around, looking at her friends. "Applejack, you'll help Spike." the three nodded looking at each other, confused.
"And what will you do, Twilight?" asked Pinkie Pie, tilting her head to the side.
Twilight turned around, turning her back to them unconsciously, she looked towards the outskirts of the Empire, she sighed. "I'll go find Cadance."
All three shrieked in horror. "For the apples, Twilight! You can't go by yourself!" claimed Applejack, taking Rarity and Pinkie Pie's concurrence.
Twilight looked at her friends. "I don't know what to do!!! I'm so confused!" shrieked Twilight, sitting up as tears from her eyes fell to the floor.
Her friends hugged her. "Oh, dear, you would have said so earlier. You can't leave so many emotions to yourself!" exclaimed Rarity, covering Twilight's body with a robe. The snow was coming to the Empire.
"I know..." was all Twilight said.
Twilight's thoughts remained on a single idea all afternoon, until night fell. The cold was the iciest of all, it seemed to be a battle, the beginnings of one. They undertook to lay in every corner a trail of a campfire, while Shining Armor continued to destroy some dark magic crystals. The moon had never been so dark before, even the princess had to give an explanation. The crystal ponies took shelter in their homes or near the campfires, without knowing that heart was not there. It hurt Twilight to see all that and do nothing about it, and it hurt more to know that Cadance never came back when she went out after the thief.
The unicorn's eyes fell on her pegasus friend, Fluttershy. "What's wrong, Fluttershy? You look a little uncomfortable." commented Twilight, turning to her friend.
The pegasus looked at her, covering her face with her mane. "Twilight...remember the papers you asked me to take to Canterlot?"
Twilight smiled, "Of course! It was of utmost importance that they were with Celestia." the unicorn frowned. "Why do you ask?
Fluttershy tilted her head even more to the ground." They were stolen... " she whispered.
Twilight's eyes widened." WHAT?!". Fluttershy recoiled backwards as her friend started to imperventilate." Oh, no. No, no, no. This can't be happening." Twilight turned to Fluttershy, a little more relaxed... "Did you see who stole them?".
Fluttershy blinked. "She said her name was Sunset Shimmer, and she was back."
Twilight raised an eyebrow, began to shuffle around her books. "I've never heard someone by that name." she commented, frowning.
"I yes."
The two presences turned their gazes towards the door, Celestia held her chin high. She stepped into the room, her gaze wandering off somewhere.
"Princess Celestia, I'm so sorry, it's not Fluttershy's fault, it's mine..." started to say Twilight, until she was silenced by Celestia's blunt gaze.
"Don't worry, Twilight. There was nothing in those papers." twilight's mouth dropped open, if it wasn't for her fur holding her down, she would be on the floor. Celestia continued. "I had my suspicions that an old acquaintance had returned, I only wanted to confirm my suspicions."
"And who is she?" asked Twilight. Fluttershy remained silent.
Celestia looked at Twilight. "My former student.
Twilight's heart could have broken into pieces right there." You... Former student? Why former?"
Celestia walked across the room, stood still at the window, looking at the stars." She wanted more power than she had, it's a long story, Twilight. But I know what Sunset Shimmer wants. I know why she's back, and it has to be stopped in time..."
"I don't understand, Princess Celestia.... What does Sunset Shimmer want?"
Celestia looked sideways at Twilight. "I can't tell you yet. Just keep the crown watched, always." and with those words the princess left the room.
"What did he try to say?" asked Fluttershy, confused.
Twilight closed her eyes, and opened them again in confusion. "I think Sunset Shimmer wants to steal my crown."
Author's Note
Sunset Shimmer approaches the Crystal Empire?
Oh, how confusing.
Where is Cadance?
We'll see in the next chapter!
Chapter Seven: A princess from the past?
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!
Chapter Eighten: A usurper emperor.
On the trip, Princess Amore was in resounding silence. At times, Cadance wondered if that unicorn was comfortable with the new princess of the Empire. The doubts came. Princess Amore led Cadance to a part of the Everfree Forest, the princess' mouth went dry, a fear ran down her back. Cadance steeled herself and walked through the darkness.
The crystal glowed. "Cadance, do you believe in soul mates?"
Cadance stopped abruptly her walk, her eyes roamed to nothingness. "Soul mates...?
"Yes, you're the princess of love, you're supposed to know." Cadance's silence answered Amore's question, Cadance knew nothing about soul mates. "It doesn't matter, I should have guessed. It's been a long time since they've talked about soul mates. They say that some circumstances the two couples are good in soul, but in other cases it is said that one of the souls is evil, how atrocious, right? To be the soul mate of an evil stallion. "
"What are you trying to say?" Cadance rambled.
Suddenly, the trees began to turn into devilish creatures. They had claws and pointed teeth. The princess tried to flee by flapping her wings, but a root grabbed one of her hooves and flung toward another tree. The ruby shot off into the darkness.
"No!"
Cadance tried to emit a blast, but the tree began to squeeze him. The princess's head began to ache. It seemed that the tree had... Dark magic?!
Maybe Sombra didn't let her off that easy.
Cadance began to sleepwalk, until her body fell to the side. Completely asleep. Her dream was strange, she was sitting on her throne, waking up from a dream.
All this time she had been dreaming?
The princess burst out laughing, all this time she had been dreaming! She walked around the throne room looking for a familiar presence. "Shining Armor?" shouted Cadance, her voice echoing off the walls.
Why was the place empty? Why was the Empire empty? Cadance peered intently in the window.... Was she in the past?
Why... Why were Celestia and Luna fighting against Sombra? The princess let out a shriek and quickly left the castle, the three royal beings seemed not to notice the princess, until the evil king smiled at her.
"Come here, queen, why don't you greet the former monarchs?" suggested Sombra, Cadance wandered between the three, totally confused. The king's voice sounded different, it sounded more laden with evil, more.... Darker.
"Traitor." spat Luna, unafraid to speak her words. Celestia instructed her not to lose control.
A hole was made in Cadance's heart, a noticeable confusion crushed into her face. "Traitor...?"
"Yes, Cadance. You have betrayed everyone, even Twilight. Have you forgotten already?" Celestia's voice only warned that she hated Cadance, the princess of love shuddered.
Sombra growled and launched a blast of dark magic at Luna. "Stop!" shrieked Cadance.
The princess of love lunged towards Sombra, King Umbrum shoved Cadance looking at her angrily. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I..., I have no idea." Cadance ducked her gaze to the ground, as a few tears spilled from her eyes.
The scenario changed, now Cadance was in some sort of memory place. The princess opened her eyes seeing how there were memories that had never happened.
"Queen of Shadows..."
"Queen of Shadows..."
"Queen of Shadows..."
That voice, it seemed to be the voice of...Shining Armor? The poor unicorn was cornered in a corner of the place, Cadance approached him with a frown.
"Oh, Shining Armor, are you okay?" asked Cadance, seeing his friend's somewhat green eyes.
He looked at her, but it was no ordinary look, he seemed to be at a loss. "Cadance..., how could you?" he whispered, stopping and ducking his gaze. He started to take steps towards Cadance, the princess started to back away. "Shining, stop..." she expressed, fearfully. A smirking corner of a smile was glimpsed on the stallion's lips. "How could you...?" he repeated, Cadance continued to back away. "Do what?" she asked, he looked at her, and lunged. "HOW COULD YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM?!".
Cadance screamed, she took off running all over the place, trying to get away from the different Shining Armor.
"Cadance?" a voice was heard to ask.
The princess kept running.
"Cadance, wake up."
The princess opened her eyes, found herself lying on the ground. Smooth, spongy and comfortable. She was on a bed. Cadance couldn't recognize the place he was in, it seemed to be made of wood, and it maintained a warm atmosphere. She stood up a little and saw that there was a fireplace giving heat, she swallowed saliva. She pressed her temple as her ear twitched, there were hoofbeats. The princess covered herself with the sheets as she saw through the shadows of the cloth to the figure.
"Are you awake, princess? I won't hurt you, I brought some firewood, if you feel like it I'll also make you some hot chocolate" clarified a voice, it seemed to be male, but there was something in that voice... Very peculiar.
Is there such a thing as a chaotic voice?
The princess uncovered herself, looking at the figure. It had legs of different races, as well as wings. It was tall and had a bear hand, while the other... was different. What was this creature?
"Who are you? What are you?" whispered Cadance, looking at him.
"Uhmm, how interesting. I find this unusual! You don't know me?!" the stranger looked with one eye close to Cadance watching as she denied. "I am the god of chaos! Discord! I find it rude of you to not know me and me to know you."
Cadance gulped. "I suppose I owe you an apology? Discord." the princess replied.
A gasp of horror left her lips as Discord flicked his fingers and shifted the fireplace, a portrait of him with a rather dashing mustache appeared.
Discord suddenly had a ballerina costume on. "How did you find me, where's the ruby?" asked Cadance, getting out of bed.
Discord shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Oh, and how I found you is a very, very, very long story."
Cadance's brows furrowed. "You must be kidding, if I was only asleep for a little while!
Discord wiggled his fingers again and they both appeared on the roof sitting in armchairs, Discord had a cup of tea in his hands." Are you sure?"
Cadance bit her lip, that individual made her hesitate. "I don't know." she mumbled, she looked at the cup of tea in her hands. "You... When I woke up you said you'd give me a chocolaty..."
Discord jumped in the air. "To chaos! I simply wanted you to wake up, do I have a kind face?" Discord looked offended, Cadance rolled his eyes.
"Why..." when Cadance went to ask, Discord interrupted her.
"I'm sure the Elements of Harmony are hiding over here, and so when I saw you I said, Oh, a princess! And that's when I got an idea. You, dear cloying darling, will be of help to me!" announced Discord, sipping his tea daintily.
"I?!, I will not be your accomplice in mischief!" Cadance frowned. "You said Elements of Harmony...?"
Discord narrowed his eyes. "Yes, that's what I said, insolent." Cadance rolled his eyes at Discord's final comment. "I won't tell you anything, princess. Other than I remembered that I already have an accomplice, far away from here."
"Oh yeah, and who's that?" spat Cadance.
Discord looked thoughtful. "Star...no, that wasn't her name, Luna..., not that one either. Uhm, what could it be?" smiled Discord.
Cadance gritted his teeth. "Is it Sombra, Rabia?"
Discord frowned. "I don't know those friends of yours." he replied, a few seconds passed, until Discord put a spotlight on his head with a snap. "Wait, did you say Shadow? Well of course I know him! Is that tyrant from the Empire shiny? Ah, of course he is.
"Yes..." Cadance murmured, a little quizzical. "I don't understand your motives in rescuing me, Discord, but I thank you. I may wonder if you saw any rubies..."
"Oh!" Cadance startled at Discord's sudden cry, the individual snapped his fingers and they were both standing on top of a snowy mountain." I remembered the name of my accomplice, it's: Sunset Shimmer. Does it ring a bell? I named her about the Elements of Harmony, but according to her she already knew it because Celestia, yes the princess, had told her when she was her pupil. I'm so bored of being here! I am Discord, the great god of chaos! Oh, what's wrong with you, princess?"
Discord stopped talking as Cadance began to squirm in place. " I... I don't understand what you're talking about, Elements of Harmony? What are they?"
Discord flew around Cadance, with a devilish grin. "I see a certain pony didn't tell you the truth..."
"What?"
Discord hummed, snapped his fingers, and scenes appeared before both of their eyes. It was Twilight, with her friends, all facing Luna's dark side, Twilight had a crown while her friends necklaces. All with their Cutie Mark figures, all levitated as a powerful rainbow impacted Luna.
"See?" said Discord, at her side. "The little unicorn told you how she defeated Nightmare Moon?"
Cadance was in shock." I never knew how she was defeated...I knew it was Twilight and her friends but...I never knew about the elements."
Discord laughed." Oh, poor princess. I would never want to be in your shoes, 'the princess who never knows anything' or rather 'the forgotten princess'. Do you like nicknames?"
Cadance's emotions suddenly formed dark, a small line of anger crossed her chest." No..."
Cadance walked through the snow, a little annoyed. She turned to see Discord's smile. "If you don't mind, could you take me back to the forest?" he asked, dryly. Discord smiled even wider and snapped his fingers.
Cadance walked through the trees of the forest as Discord slowly walked away. His plan... It had gone perfectly. "Now that the element of love is getting twisted, I'll finally get my hands on the other elements."
Discord noticed a red light glowing near a bush, he took the ruby in his hands as he shattered it. The princess of love had truly believed Amore was there, and all this time it was only Discord's illusion. Except for the book, the information was real, except for the teleportation of consciousness to the ruby, Amore was destroyed... Not quite.
But now, that a hint of Sombra's dark magic inhabited Cadance thanks to Discord, the princess was going to be the puppet of the god of chaos. "Maybe Sunset Shimmer will never find out about this, oh, who cares!" exclaimed Discord, scratching his chin.
He watched the princess from afar, this time, Discord was sure she would be the perfect puppet. He was going to use Cadance to conquer Equestria. Getting Sombra's magic was difficult, he had to follow Radiant Hope for a while so that she would unknowingly lead him to the Umbrum kingdom. Then Discord acted, he stole Rabia's most precious item, her crown. No, the crown at all, the ruby.
Holding the ruby in his hands, he let it be found by the princess of love, and once she activated the darkness in him; making him speak. The dark magic of the ruby now inhabits Cadance.
Discord burst out laughing. "I'm a genius!".
Meanwhile, Cadance continued to search for the ruby, as that shriek in his ear made its presence known. But this time, something else accompanied it, his heart ached. "Something's wrong..." he whispered, as he felt the anger in his veins.
Cadance felt bad knowing that Twilight didn't tell him about the Elements of Harmony, she also felt bad knowing that she had failed the Empire. She would not make it in time.
Cadance was startled, she fell to the side when she saw her lock of hair. She had jet-colored locks all over her hair. Where violet locks once dwelled, they were now jet.
She ran, in an impulsive act, spread her wings and began to fly swiftly toward Canterlot. She ignored the ruby, ignored Discord. Cadance was not at all well, she felt anger in her veins, and her hair.... It was turning jet. All of her mane. Her wings ached as she swooped with force and speed, her eyes closed as she continued in the direction of Canterlot.
Destroyed...
Cadance spotted Canterlot, without thinking about it, she headed for the castle. The guards stopped her, Cadance's breathing was agitated, she saw how the guards looked at her as if she was a threat. "Do not be alarmed! It's me, Princess Cadance! I've come for an emergency, I need to see Celestia right now."
The guards looked at each other. "Princess Celestia is not available... "said one of them.
"Then Luna, I need to see her. "
The guards denied. "Princess, haven't you heard?" said the one who had spoken earlier.
Cadance frowned. "Of what? What's the matter? Say something already!" she shrieked, seeing that the place was empty, the throne.... It was empty.
The princess's eyes roamed the walls, where paintings of ancient victories once dwelled, now only windows inhabited.
"King Sombra has won , princess."
No... No... No...Cadance's thoughts echoed in denial. It couldn't be true, he hadn't won. Sombra... He had won...
"What? How? What happened?" he asked, trying to remain calm.
"It happened a few days ago, he king Sombra usurped the Crystal Empire, and in doing so, he got the crystal heart in his hooves."
No, Cadance had the crystal heart.... "And the heart?!" she shrieked when she saw that he didn't have it. She... Where had she left it? What was going on?
The guard continued. "The Sombra King's power grew, princess. He has defeated the Elements of Harmony and the princesses, we have kept Canterlot safe, but we fear he will come soon."
"He did not defeat me." stated Cadance, remembering her days in that hell. She turned to stare at the royal guards, she remembered Twilight.... And Shining Armor." He won, but not Canterlot. I will lead them, I owe it to the Empire I lost."
The guards nodded and passed through the threshold. Cadance collapsed on the floor, sobbing for his entire family. "What am I to be...? I've never been a monarch."
Managing the Empire was difficult. Perhaps Canterlot would be easier. But the least believable thing was that Sombra had won.
The battle was lost, but what about the war?
Author's Note
Oh, no. How confusing! Wasn't Cadance supposed to have the Crystal Heart?
Sombra won? So soon?
It really wasn't Amore? Discord is here to usurp Equestria? Sunset Shimmer working with Discord?
See you next time!
Chapter Nine: Confusion, and more confusion
Cadance's life was always a mystery, she knew early on that she was picked up from the door of a home in the country. She was said to have been born with her Cutie Mark, something so mysterious and not normal. Cadance remembered well the day she became an alicorn, it was when Celestia ordered her to guard the Empire, during that time Cadance became too connected to that place, it seemed that Celestia knew she would like that Empire. The doubts came when Cadance asked Celestia why she ordered her such a mandate, the princess' face frowned, saying:
"I did not command anything, Cadance."
That day Cadance locked herself in her room for days, thinking and thinking. Celestia had told her, but that day she had acted so...strange.
And now she didn't remember.
Cadance's past crept into her eyes as she looked out the window at Canterlot, her breathing rapid. How would she beat Sombra? She didn't have as much power as the princesses, even though Twilight was a unicorn, she knew more about magic than the princess of love herself.
"Princess" a guard called, the princess stood still, looking out the window. "We have obtained information from the Empire, the Sombra King is said to be keeping the princesses, but there is one thing in particular, Queen Chrysalis has allied herself with the Dark Lord."
Cadance turned to look at the serious guard. "Who? , I've never heard that name. Now I see that Celestia is hiding more from me than I thought." the princess lowered her gaze, as a small dark tear trickled from her tear duct.
As a good guard, she only listened in silence, until she broke the atmosphere." Princess, we must act quickly, we have received a letter from the Lost Empire."
Cadance suddenly looked at the guard, nodding. Cadance's footsteps were accelerated, when she opened the door she found many ponies inside, the new Council room was in total silence, while Cadance took the letter and took it out of its envelope.
"Hello princess, I hope you remember me. It may be that for you time is short, maybe only a few weeks or even days passed, but a month passed. Maybe two months when the letter arrives, I heard how you fell into a temporary sleep, I didn't like the idea, but I had to accept it. I have to tell you something Cadance, it's very serious, it's about you. Something is growing inside you, a... Darkness. "
Cadance stopped reading, her thoughts turned to the letter, she found herself plunged into a pensive abyss. Until again she connected her eyes with the letter.
"I don't have much time, Sombra is coming back. Don't worry, I'm not going to let him hurt your friends. The Empire is in his hooves, you were right Cadance, Sombra is no good. I hope you will forgive me.
Sincerely yours: Radiant Hope ."
Cadance's eyes welled up with tears, while her whole body began to tremble.
"P-princess, are you all right?" asked a pegasus.
The ward tried not to approach the princess, as her horn began to sparkle. Her aura, it was different, it had become dark. Cadance burned the letter, her eyes guided to nothingness, her body stopped shaking, she turned around and walked to the door. She turned her face to the side.
"I will not leave the Empire in their hooves, I want information about this Queen Chrysalis" and with those words she left the room.
Meanwhile, Discord was smiling broadly dancing on the ceiling of Cadance's room. He could see how the princess had believed it all. Discord touched his chin, thoughtfully. Maybe he was a great actor, impersonating Radiant Hope was difficult, he spent hours searching for the right words! But in the end she believed him.... Cadance was a good puppet regarding dark magic, maybe Discord told her a lot of information there, in the letter, about the dark magic he believed grown her. In her heart. Discord teleported out of the cave.
All this time Cadance thought she was in Canterlot, clumsy Alicorn, she was in a cave in the middle of Everfree Forest.
"Maybe the illusions won't turn out so bad after all," Discord praised himself.
He sat down on a dusty chair and began to play with his puppets. One was dressed in the armor of the royal guard, while the other had only part of it.
Discord looked at the throne, it was a pile of dirt in the shape of a throne. The chaos creature hid as she watched the princess sit on the earthen throne, she didn't notice that she was dusting her hooves with dust, while her hair was somewhat dull. She looked tired.
"Guards!" she called, it seemed her words were laden with pain.
Discord snapped his fingers and had two guards appear running down the hallway. He article his mouth ready to speak through them.
"Yes, your majesty?" Cadance arched an eyebrow, somewhat confused. 'Your majesty' sounded so odd.
"I want to see Celestia's armor."
Discord was transfixed, how was he going to get said armor? "Your majesty..." spoke Discord, through one of the guards. "Only Princess Celestia knows where it is, I'm sorry princess..."
Princess Cadance kept staring into nothingness. "Oh... Well, could...could you...could you get me some water? Please?" the princess suddenly felt very dizzy. Discord did nothing, he let his puppets stay silent and still. While the dark magic acted.
Cadance fell to the ground, her gaze became weak, her eyes started to become a ruby color. Until she passed out.
Cadance saw herself, in a mirror in the middle of nowhere. Everything was dark, her reflection exposed. Suddenly, her reflection was double, one was herself, while the other was... She was different, her hair was black and her eyes were mean.
"Cadance, you have to fight!" shrieked the normal Cadance. The other one looked sideways.
"Don't."
Cadance looked carefully at the two, walked backwards, but saw that the mirror was following her.
"Don't listen to her, she's a monster."
The mean Cadance turned to the other Cadance and let the mirror only show her." You don't understand, Cadance. If you accept this part of you, you can be on Celestia's level. Even better."
"What? Who are you?" asked Cadance.
"A pleasure, Cadance. I'm Twisted Princess Love, don't you recognize me?"
"No..." Cadance could not recognize that individual in front of her. Princess of twisted love? She is a princess of unconditional love! Not twisted love, Cadance steeled herself. "I don't know you, you're not real. I'm... Too stressed, you're a figment of my imagination." repeated Cadance to herself, several times.
The wicked princess wore a devilish grin. "How are you sure I'm not real? You want me to tell you a secret?" Cadance looked at her with glittering eyes, intent on her twisted words. "Sombra didn't usurp the Empire, on the contrary, he's saving it. No one is actually coming to wage war, because there isn't one."
Cadance let out a chuckle. "I don't believe you. Sombra did usurp the Empire, and he's coming for Canterlot soon."
Evil Cadance stepped out of the mirror, Cadance stepped back looking at her with wide eyes. "Hmm, yes? Open your eyes, time is passing through your eyes as fast as possible, you have no notion of time, because they are messing with your reality."
"What?"
"Discord, he's the one you need to watch out for. Take care of us." the evil Cadance projected with her horn a dark aura, which suddenly made several papers appear. They appeared to be letters or... "Discord has been playing with your reality, do you really think you've been locked up in a dungeon?
Cadance sobbed." No... What are you talking about? I can't understand you! I was in that dungeon, it was torture! You're trying to play games with me," Cadance shrieked.
Evil Cadance frowned." I don't like games. Discord has long had his eye on the Crystal Empire, but he couldn't play the cards alone, he had to seek help. Sunset Shimmer, Celestia's former student, has been helping Discord gather information about you. The least powerful princess, the least recognized, the princess of mysterious lineage, curious isn't it? Discord knows how to make chaos perfect, and he really has, with you of course. "
Cadance sobbed." Wh-wh-what did Discord do?
"He was keeping a close eye on Radiant Hope, he knew that Sombra wanted his close friend to steal Crystal's heart. So he let her do it, but seeing that wolf attack you, it was his perfect plan. He has created a reality, for your eyes only. Did you really think Sombra saved you? Radiant Hope stole the heart from your hooves and never came back. Discord has been playing with your reality, very chaotic isn't it? Twilight doesn't know anything about you, everyone thinks you're missing.
"So, the story about Sombra that Radiant told me, it's a lie?" asked Cadance, totally in confusion.
"No, that part is true. Rabia too, minus the part about you guys meeting. They don't even know what your voice is like, ironic isn't it?
"Wow, this is really weird, I know the Sombra King's story, and I think I know Amore's too."
"Our mother, you say?" the evil princess smiled.
Cadance's mind was exhausted.
"Nothing is real?" she asked.
"I never said that."
Suddenly, everything went blank, and Cadance awoke. She was on her throne, but she was now awake. She knew it wasn't a real throne. Maybe Cadance didn't know about magic, but she did know about casting blasts. She emitted a great blast with her power, the walls shattered, they seemed to be made of illusion.
And there it was... Discord, behind a wall sipping tea, his eyes filled with embarrassment. Cadance snorted.
"You! Being rude, selfish and foolish!" shrieked Cadance, approaching Discord. He was offended.
"Silly? You're the fool here! Wait... What?
Cadance slammed his helmet on the ground." No, it isn't. You've been doing your own thing for a long time, Discord. It's time to put an end to you.
Discord burst out laughing. "You? And what are you going to be? May I remind you that you are the least powerful alicorn? Or the least recognized?" Discord's words were laced with venom.
Cadance took a long look at the chaos creature. "During those illusions, you taught me that cunning is not part of you."
Discord arched an eyebrow. "Now I'm not understanding you, hmm." he stammered, turning like clockwork.
Cadance took a step forward. "Create a reality before my eyes, for what? Cunning wasn't it, revenge? Maybe? I don't think so, tell me your motives. Draconequus."
Dicordia stopped rolling, and folded his arms somewhat offended. "I will not tell you."
"Then you wouldn't mind if I got out of the cave without being chased. Or do you?" Cadance was least suited for persuasion, but it seemed someone else was speaking for her.
"No, I wouldn't mind." the answer caused Cadance to smile, she turned her back to him, while her mane was provided at her side. It was jet, dark as a raven in the nights. Discord watched her leave, utterly disgusted and angry, now his plan was ruined. But why? What had gone wrong?
Cadance came out of the cave, she started walking towards the sun, towards the Empire. Perhaps the journey would be long, but it was certainly mysterious. Because Cadance was no longer Cadance, she was now asleep. Now she was now Princess of twisted love, a new princess, evil. What would become of the Empire now.
Had it really all been an illusion?
Or was it all true?
Author's Note
And now what has happened?
Discord, inventing illusions?
Nothing was real? I never said no... Or did I?
Doubts should be clarified as soon as possible, see you in the next chapter!
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Chapter Ten: Knights or guardians of harmony?
DISCORD
The figure of the princess faded into the mist, the creature of chaos waited. It raised its wings and teleported with a snap into Zecora's cave. A few poses fell, while the zebra's gaze was expressionless. Discord was nervous, he knew he had made a big mistake, messing with the Knights of Harmony.... And their trees. He gulped, Zecora knew why he was there.
"So you came back, you lost creature" Zecora's unusual way of speaking made Discord nervous.
"Y-You were right" Discord spat, humiliating his ego "I shouldn't have messed with them, let alone altered the reality of that little princess" Discord fiddled with his hands, making an offended expression. "Anyway, they already found out didn't they?"
Zecora held out a posion for him to keep near the door. Discord threw it on the floor. "Trying to escape, you won't make it. You'd better tell the others, of your repentant actions."
Discord shouted. "Don't talk like that! I don't understand you!" Zecora paid no heed to his reproaches, she continued stirring her potion. Discord stood erect. "Well... And do you know when they're coming?"
"In a month, you'll find them." and with those words, the zebra walked out the door.
Discord stood thoughtfully, he rested his index finger on his chin. Thoughtful. "So in a month, huh." Discord's eyes widened, like saucers. "Perfect!"
Discord teleported to a snowy mountain, it appeared to be near the Crystal Empire. He spotted the castle, Discord pointed with his hand, and cast over all of Equestria again: the oblivion of Cadance.
No one would remember her, only Discord. The knights would never know of her. How chaotic!
"I am a genius!" he exclaimed, watching his chaotic magic spread across the skies of Equestria. The Empire was no longer Cadance's. Discord knew it was Sombra's, and so it always was. From now on of course. The crystal ponies suffered, while Radiant Hope was locked in a dungeon. Celestia and Luna were still at war with him, but now Twilight was a princess.
She had fought with Sunset Shimmer, for the crown of friendship, but Twilight won. And with that, she became a princess. And now, Sunset Shimmer was good. Or so she tried to be, but she was in the mirror. Discord wouldn't see her for a long time.
Discord projected Cadance, saw that she was headed for the Empire. He knew what to do. To destroy the Elements he would have to convoke them with the same harmony. He would steal the powers of Celestia and Luna.
"My reign has begun."
"Discord... "Cadance mumbled, he detested that individual. Wait, she hated him? Cadance felt hatred? The princess shook her head, totally elated, she knew that dark magic was at work.
Cadance shook her head, she set her sights on the Frozen North. But before moving forward, she noticed an image on the ground. It appeared to be a poster, it was the image of Twilight, she was posing with her friends. "No..." whispered Cadance, the wind blew her words into oblivion. Twilight was a princess, she had wings and seemed to have a rather changed crown as well.
Cadance with her magic flipped the poster, behind it clearly said a warning.
"Do not pass into the Frozen North, there ambria shadows abound." Cadance read aloud. His muzzle wrinkled.
What was going on? Why was everything so confusing? Cadance heard footsteps, she hid behind a snowy tree.
"Did you hear that noise?" exclaimed a voice, it seemed to be very familiar.
"No." Replied the other voice. It was... It was Shining Armor.
Cadance looked up at him from the tree, the unicorn was very changed. It seemed to have dark, jet locks. While he kept dark circles under his eyes. Cadance ran up to him.
"Shining Armor! Finally we meet again!" she shrieked. Cadance crossed a glance with his companion, it seemed to be someone.... Rather strange.
The royal guard upon seeing the alicorn, let out an exclamation of disgust and conjured a ball of magic up to Cadance. The princess dodged it and fell to the ground. Cadance's jet-black hair fell into her face, long and dark as the Moon's night itself. Cadance's eyes blinked in astonishment.
"What's your problem!" blurted Cadance, from the ground. He stood up to cross a sharp glance at the creature again. They seemed to be on the defensive.
"You!" blurted Shining, intent on attacking Cadance. He approached with clear intentions, but the pierced hoof stopped the stallion.
"It's not worth it, dear husband. Princess Celestia knows very well that Queen Cadance has no more power." blurted out the creature.
Cadance blinked. Queen Cadance? "Who are you? Cadance muttered, trembling.
She raised an eyebrow." What has happened to your memory? Don't you remember me anymore? I am Princess Chrysalis, of the Crystal Empire.
Husband? Princess? What illusion was this? Cadance thought. "You are not, I am the princess of the Crystal Empire, princess of love and the element of love. And you, you are an imposter!!!" shrieked the princess.
They both looked at each other.
"What? What's with the looks?" asked Cadance, somewhat nervously.
Shining Armor kept his distance. "Is this some kind of trap from King Sombra?" he spat, angrily. Chrysalis smiled slightly.
Cadance burst out laughing. "What?! Sombra trap?! That's the most clumsy insult I've ever received! Even Pinkie Pie doesn't make jokes that bad!" laughed Cadance.
Shining Armor snorted. "You better get away from here, before I do something I'll regret."
Cadance was in shock, the once her friend, had just brutally threatened her. She turned to him. "Fine ."
Cadance turned around and began to move forward into nothingness. She stopped, and looked again at Shining Armor and Chrysalis. "Just answer me something, Armor."
"Depends on the question, maniac" Shining spat, Cadance rolled her eyes at the insult.
"How's Twilight?" Cadance's sincere question tipped the glass over, Shining Armor lunged at Cadance and they both rolled on the ground.
"Shining, no!" shouted Chrysalis, becoming shrouded in mist.
They both kept rolling on the ground." How dare you ask about her!!! Did you forget what you did to her too?!"
Cadance looked closely at the guard, who was pressing his neck to the ground. "What, I would never do anything to her! You're wrong!" he spat, suddenly images of Twilight came to his mind, the same Cadance locking Twilight up, it seemed to be the day Sombra resurfaced. On the day Cadance came to the heart, but.... It seemed that this time she hadn't reached it, because she herself had given it away, to Sombra. Suddenly Cadance gasped in pain, with a burst of magic she threw Shining a long distance away.
"No, no, no!!! It can't be true! This is the work of Discord!" mused Cadance.
"Equestria's ally, are you kidding?" spat Shining, glaring at Cadance from afar. "Discord has allied himself with Equestria, he no longer uses chaos."
"Uh-huh." mused Cadance.
"Why are you here asking about Twilight? What plans does the Sombra King have now?"
"What does Sombra have to do with any of this? Didn't you hear what I said? It's Discord! He's messed with reality! He's making chaos!!!"
Shining Armor raised an eyebrow. "I never thought I'd say this but, Amore really thinks you can switch sides, but I doubt it."
"A-Amore?" Cadance's words were the last thing she heard, suddenly black crystals came out of the ground and she herself was hit with one. She fell to the ground as her head throbbed in dizziness. Her jet hair fell all over her face, it seemed to be like the night, but without stars.
Suddenly in front of Cadance's eyes hooves appeared, she recognized them, and felt like running away.
Instead, she let the dizziness win.
Even knowing that when she woke up she would have to deal with the darkness.... And the Umbrums.
Author's Note
The chapter does not bring the exact information of what happens but some clues can be seen....
What has happened now?
Chrysalis and Shining Armor?
Cadance and her confusion?
See you in the next chapter!
Chapter Three: Tormented or destroyed?
CANTERLOT
Days before...
In Canterlot the weather was beautiful, Celestia's sun was more radiant than ever, while small constellations made by Luna could be seen everywhere. A guard narrowed his eyes as he noticed a burst of light coming from the sun itself. A pegasus carried on her hips a backpack with crumpled papers, she seemed in a hurry. The guard allowed her to pass.
The pegasus trotted in quickly, her yellow wings spread as she flew until she reached the kitchen. The pegasus dropped pieces of bread in front of the dining room window, unseen, took the papers out of the backpack and held them out to a bird lying in the corner watching curiously.
The bird was about to catch the papers in its mouth, when both were rudely interrupted by the sound of the door.
"You, pegasus, who are you?" asked a voice, terribly angry.
The yellow pegasus suddenly trembled. "F-Fluttershy" he whispered, a barely audible whisper.
The unicorn took a few steps forward, looking at the pegasus with utmost attention. She looked familiar. From where?
"You're Twilight's friend, aren't you?" she asked, Fluttershy nodded shyly. As she locked her hair in her mane. The bird squeezed the papers with her mouth, but only one was taken, spread her wings and flew out the window.
"What are you doing in Canterlot?" the unicorn asked again, raising her eyebrow. Fluttershy stirred uncomfortably.
"I-I was just visiting my bird friends" she muttered, hiding even more. Until she got stuck in the wall, and felt her hooves climb up the wall.
"Ah, of course, your bird friends" she exclaimed. Fluttershy nodded, calming down a bit, seeing how the unicorn understood. Until she burst out in anger. "You think I believe me that you come just for your 'bird friends'?! I know you have Celestia's papers! Give them to me!
Fluttershy shrieked in horror as she was lifted into the air, the unicorn's aura charged her and shook her, and the papers fell to the scattered ground. Fluttershy felt nauseous, to the point of letting out a few tears.
She pulled Fluttershy close to her face, and smiled as she watched the pegasus trembling in reverse.
"Tell Celestia and Twilight for me, that Sunset Shimmer is back."
NOW
Cadance woke up feeling that annoying noise in her ear, it had been weeks of being locked up. She had not even seen the light. Her mouth was dry, and her stomach was anxious with hunger. No one had come to give her any food, no one had come through the door since King Sombra had walked through it. Cadance lost count of the days she lay in that darkness, perhaps she was in a room, or even a dungeon, she could never see beyond the door.
Her horn stopped hurting, as she made no more effort to fight.
Cadance wondered what was going on outside, in the Crystal Empire. Had the Sombra King conquered it? Couldn't the princesses of the sun and moon defeat Sombra? The only friends Cadance had so far were her thoughts.
Cadance sobbed, she was tired of crying. She missed the warmth, the silk and the food. She felt the weight of the chain on her leg, she imagined it was no longer there, and she could fly free.
From the princess's cheek a tear came out, it fell to the ground, rumbling in a melancholy melody.
Had Sombra abandoned her? He was so capable of doing so, he was treacherous, selfish, a liar and a manipulator without ups and downs. But she thought of that unicorn, the tyrant's accomplice.
How could a crystal pony have betrayed Cadance? Even though her face was unfamiliar to him.
"KING SOMBRA!!!" shrieked Cadance, she knew no one would come, but she undid a lump in her throat that tormented her for days.
She spread her wings, used one of her hooves to lift herself up. Cadance was weak, limp. She hadn't eaten or drunk anything for weeks. But a burning flame inside her whispered to her to get up, to fight the ambrune, the pain and the loneliness. Cadance had to stand up for her ponies, for her family, for her friends. Using her horn was as painful as falling off a mountain, but she endured the pain. She used a magic trick Celestia had taught her, teleportation.
Dark magic prevented him from using it, but he fought.
Cadance broke free.
As he freed his helmet no longer hurt, he saw the chain turn to rust. It was too easy.
He took a helmet to his horn, he felt no pain at all.
Had it been a miracle? Cadance stood up and proceeded to the door, the door handle opened with Cadance's aura. His eyes widened as he saw what was behind the door.
The crystal throne.
She walked a few muzzle, bounced forward as the door evaporated leaving ashes on the floor.
Cadance was back in the Empire again, she galloped up to her throne, sliding her hoof on it sweetly. She let out a gasp of horror as a dark mist transformed into a stallion.
Cadance gritted her teeth leaning back, nearly slipping on a step.
Sombra watched her from below, slowly approaching. Until he stood just inches away which was torturing to Cadance. "Princess, I see you've gotten off easy," he rambled, Cadance looked up at him.
"Where is everyone?" She asked, looking around, seeing how the place was too quiet and empty of ponies.
Sombra smiled, "I don't know, probably looking for you" he replied simply. Cadance frowned trying to understand.
Suddenly, Cadance took the opportunity to throw a blast at the king, he, bowed and the magic impacted on the throne. Cadance spread his wings, launching himself towards the tyrant without thinking. He fell to the ground, feeling nervous as he ghosted like a ghost to the king's body, Sombra let out a diabolical laugh.
"What...?" muttered Cadance, rising from the ground. Her magic was useless, or at least she thought so.
"Deluded princess, did you really think you would break free from my chains easily?" exclaimed Sombra, Cadance swallowed spit uncomfortably, her wings drooped at her sides, Sombra continued. "Imagine you're the mouse, and I'm the trap.
"I've fallen into the trap..." muttered Cadance.
Sombra arched an eyebrow, lifting Cadance's chin. She jerked away sharply with her helmet, striking Sombra's helmet in disgust. He grinned.
"Why fall into the trap when you were already in it? No, you haven't fallen into the trap yet. I just wanted you to meet my family" he uttered, passing by Cadance's side.
"Your family?!" the princess startled, as she felt a burst of light pass through her eyes. The king disappeared, or the illusion of him at any rate. King Sombra himself had family..., and he still wanted to introduce her to her? Cadance shook her head, walking off into nothingness. She saw only white and more white.
Until a figure materialized. Cadance opened her eyes to find herself lying on her back in the night, the stars not too bright. She finally opened them to find a worried unicorn.
"Are you all right, princess?" asked the mare.
Cadance stood up quickly, startling the unicorn. Her wings spread, while her mane returned to its former elegance. She looked around, seeing how they were outside a ruined castle, and how in one of its windows someone was staring down, Cadance hesitated.
She turned to the unicorn, who she could now see well who it was, his mane was light blue, while his body was pink. It was a crystal pony, but all the same, Cadance didn't know who it was.
"Who are you?" she asked, the mare looked down.
"My name is Radiant Hope, princess," she answered, in a whisper.
Cadance looked at her carefully, she had never heard of someone called: 'Radiant Hope'. But she was sure she was an accomplice of the Sombra King, in taking Crystal's heart....
"I'm sorry for what I did, princess, I had no choice..." she lamented, sitting down on the ground with her eyes on the floor. Cadance lifted her chin gently.
"We all have a choice, join me and fight the Sombra King, Radiant, he's only going to use you" Cadance pleaded.
Radiant stared at her turning away from the confused princess.
"No."
Cadance turned away.
"No?" she repeated.
"I already betrayed him once, I won't do it again!" she shouted, running away from Cadance.
Cadance was startled as she made the unicorn burst with emotion, she furrowed her brows sadly, she felt guilty as she felt footsteps behind her warning her that someone was there.
Cadance's eyes remained fixed on the figure of Radiant Hope, watching her disappear somewhere. He turned around to meet the cold presence of the stallion, stumbled over his armor and fell awkwardly to the ground.
"I don't think I can let that go, princess" he warned, Cadance looked up at him from her spot, the size was too different. Cadance imagined Sombra as a voiced iceberg.
"I...I can't believe this is happening..." muttered Cadance, looking at the ground, then looking into those empathy-less eyes. "What did you do with Crystal's heart."
Sombra walked up to the gate of the ruined castle, Cadance couldn't identify the place, though she could see the flags. Cadance on an impulse followed the tyrant keeping a distance, he pierced the place with his gaze a couple of times, glancing at it out of innocent curiosity. Sombra turned around, looking bitterly at the princess, Cadance slowed her hooves: so as not to crash again.
Cadance glanced a couple of times at the tyrant king, not knowing what they were doing there. He with his magic opened a curtain, showing the heart of Cristal, Cadance, without a second thought, ran to him. But she crashed.
He caressed the invisible glass that prevented touching the crystal heart, the heart was flying in the air, still, it seemed that an unusual magic kept it in the air, one similar to that of the Crystal Empire. Cadance gritted her teeth as she leaned into the invisible glass, trying to figure out how to get past it. "Don't even try, princess of my empire, it's dark magic." Sombra interjected from behind.
Cadance moved towards Sombra, readying her wings, ready to strike. She walked towards him, defiantly, hearing his warning growl Cadance kept her distance. "Princess of your empire?! It has NEVER been yours! And it never will be!
Sombra leaned toward Cadance, attacking her. She moved to the side, impacting a wall, he cornered her. Cadance readied her horn, ready to cast blasts of magic, Sombra conjured his dark magic, she shrieked in horror. In all the years Cadance had spent in The Crystal Empire, she had never been so close to the tyrant, only when Twilight and Spike saved the empire from Sombra's clutches, when Cadance sacrificed herself by launching herself into the air.
And on that day, Cadance became what she is now, an alicorn.
The princess let out a gasp of terror, as she felt the dark magic on her hoof. Sombra looked at her, then smiled and arched an eyebrow. "My family, my legacy, my life. All is lost, except for the Crystal Empire. Do you think the curse of the Empire will ever go away? Never. Only I will ever be able to undo that event, and I never will.
"Why, who are you really?" asked Cadance, nudging the king with his magic, Sombra leaned back, clenching his fangs.
Suddenly, dark figures began to emerge behind Sombra, slowly they began to take a shape, dark eyes lay in them. There were three in all, three evil shadows....
"An Umbrum" replied King Sombra.
Cadance stiffened, seeing the figures that-now they had taken shape-were in front of her, behind Sombra. One appeared to be a mare, with hair as jet as the king's, even the three figures had a familiar touch in appearance to the tyrant. Then there were two more mares, one appeared to be younger than her youthful eyes, but then there was she....
The most terrifying.
With the same temperament as the king, there was the tallest and even malignant one. Her eyes were red, her hair was jet with red highlights. Crimson. Her armor was made by rubies, of the oldest and brightest. Cadance fixed his eyes on her, wanting to see her no more.... Who were they?
Family...
"I feel the love in her, it's too cloying, sister" commented one of them, the youngest.
"W-who are you?" asked Cadance, her voice came out clipped. She backed away from the wall a little, only to press herself against the wall as she noticed a grunt coming from the middle one of them. "What are they...?" she whispered.
Sombra's smile appeared, he turned into a shadow and walked away from the set of mares. To appear near the Crystal Heart, slipping her hoof into it, Cadance gritted her teeth. The heart began to turn to a different color, seemed in one part to rust, Cadance's chest ached.
"Stop it! I won't let you pollute the heart's love! Never!!!" Cadance's warning came true, she cast a spell of magic that was immediately done in a flurry, it impacted near the Sombra King, while the mare figures leaned towards Cadance wanting to catch her.
The princess of love teleported, appeared in the air, her wings outstretched. She had an advantage, being an alicorn. The figure of Radiant Hope came into view near Sombra, squeezing the king's shoulder in fear. Cadance tried not to cast any aggressive spells, as he was not yet accustomed to using his horn at all.
How long had it been since Celestia picked her up from her foster home? Cadance seemed to have forgotten, but she knew it hadn't been long. Then to be Twilight's nanny by order of the princess, Cadance grew fond of the filly right away, then to disappear from her sight a few years. Until Celestia called her to be ruler of a certain 'Crystal Empire' that had disappeared from the map for years. And then came the curse, and Twilight; with her new friends. Even the Elements of Harmony appeared, a curious story.
Cadance felt that sound in her ear, she paid attention, it was like words, she looked at the unconscious Crystal's heart.
And suddenly, Cadance was awakened from her thought bubble when one of the unknown mares cast a spell with dark magic on Cadance's hind hoof. The princess grunted, flapping her wings to the side.
"The Crystal Empire will belong to the Umbrums once more, what do you think, Amore, you won't get away with this once more" stated a voice, it came from the Darkness. A new figure appeared, even more terrifying than the others, it seemed to be a queen. An evil queen.
She had the same horn as Sombra, but hers had another red one, a darker one. From her eyes a crimson mist gushed forth, while her armor was similar to Sombra's, maybe it was his...
"Mother?" exclaimed King Sombra, holding to Radiant Hope at his side, Cadance looked away from him as Sombra gave her a glare.
The queen let out a laugh that echoed everywhere in an echo, Cadance frowned.
"I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, heiress and ruler of the Crystal Empire by order of Princess Celestia. And today, I will end the evil reign of the Sombra King, the Crystal Empire will never again feel its darkness at its gates" Cadance exclaimed firmly. She glanced sideways at the Sombra King, raised an eyebrow and scowled at the princess. Cadance hesitated to continue speaking, seeing the mocking faces, she steeled herself and opened her lips. "There may even be a pardon..." it was too late when she uttered those words, Cadance did not want to see their mocking faces, a pardon? Forgiveness was difficult.
"Ha! Don't make me laugh, silly princess. You have something in common with Amore, you want to know what?" interrupted the queen, Cadance hesitated to go down to the ground or stay in the air. Unconsciously her curiosity led her to nod slowly." That they were both destroyed. "
Cadance didn't have time to react, a dark light interposed with her vision, only to end up on the ground. Cadance rose and flew, until she was at a defiant height, she had something of an advantage, being an alicorn.
Sombra trapped Radiant Hope with her body when suddenly dark magic and love magic exchanged combat. Cadance conjured a bubble of protection, stretched her hooves as three more figures joined in taking down the princess, Cadance resisted.
The four figures cast dark magic toward Cadance. Even she was still resisting, her bubble began to crack. Cadance's eyes widened when the dark magic caught her, dark rays pierced the bubble, shattering it completely, the princess shrieked. She felt pain, then cold. Her eyes were tinged with darkness, the last thing she felt was to fall to the ground, and see the Umbrums approaching, had they won?
Cadance was destroyed?
