Crystal Empire

The Crystal Imperial guards began unloading the carriages and bringing them into the Crystal Empire as Princess Amore, Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor watched on. Commander Hurricane stood at Amore’s side, barking occasional orders to ensure everything went smoothly.

"What did Queen Novo and King Creswting said when you told them about the situation in the empire?" The Princess of Love asked her mother.

"They said that they understood the situation and agreed to hold the summit meeting until the situation in the empire is dealt with, though Princess Skystar was a little disappointed that we had to leave early." Amore responded.

"Now we know that Cadance's dreams are visions, what are you going to do?" The prince asked.

"I don’t know..." Amore sighed. "It is something I will be discussing with Celestia and Luna soon however. We must get ready and ready the defences before Sombra arrive. If I know Sombra, he will not stop until his goals are achieved."

"And we're all out of the way." Hurricane noted with a groan, dragging a hoof down his own face.

"Exactly." Amore replied.

"So, what now?" Cadance asked.

Amore turned to face her daughter. "Like I say, we must get ready and ready the defences before Sombra arrive. By the time he arrives, he will be facing a lot of our troops against him."

The Princess of Love didn't say anything but she nodded her head as she looked grimly on at the distant horizon. The silence seemed to last for hours, and in that time all the carriages were fully unpacked and all the guards retreated back further into the empire.

"Your highnesses." Hurricane gently called. "I think it is time we too went inside."

Amore looked at Hurricane. "I agree. Take the rest of the day off Hurricane, you’ve earned it."

"Thank you your highness, but I don't think I will be..." Hurricane started.

"No buts." Amore interrupted, her voice being firm but kind. "You’ve worked yourself to the bone the past few days along with the rest of the guards, go and be with your wife, she missed you. Don’t make me order you to do so."

Hurricane opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it. Instead, he sighed in reluctant acceptance. "Very well, your highness. It would be great to spend the rest of the day with my wife."

Amore nodded her head, and as Hurricane made off towards his house, she turned to her family. "Cadenza? Shining?"

The royal couple looked at Amore. "Yes? What is it, mom?" Cadance asked.

"I understand you two are tired and want to spend the rest of your day with your daughter, but could we talk? Preferably in private." Amore asked.

"Of course." Shining nodded his head in agreement, along with his wife. "We're always here if you need to talk about anything."

Amore smiled and gave the two loving nuzzles on their head. "What did I ever do to deserve a daughter and a son-in-law as wonderful as you two?"

The royal couple giggled as they returned the nuzzles back to Amore. "Coming back to us." The Princess of Love responded.

Amore couldn't help but let a giggle of her own. "That is true after all. Come then, let's go."

The three ponies entered the empire, not knowing that Sombra was watching behind the rock he was hiding.

'So, it's true. Amore has returned.' The umbrum pony thought before smirking sinisterly. Well, not for long.'

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Canterlot

Princess Celestia hummed softly to herself in her study room, the melody a soothing counterpoint to the monotony of her task. She skimmed through a scroll, her quill ticking off checkboxes with practiced precision. Treaties, updates, and endless stacks of paperwork lay before her, each requiring her signature or review.

Though overwhelming to many, the solar princess moved through the workload with effortless grace as she had done this even alone during a thousand years banishment of Nightmare Moon.

The knocking of her study's doors interrupted Celestia's work, prompting her to lower the scroll. "Come in." She called out.

As the doors opened, the solar princess smiled at the sight of her little sister who entered the room before gently closing the doors behind her.

"Tia." Princess Luna greeted warmly. "I trust I'm not interrupting anything."

"Nothing is more important to me than you Lulu." Celestia said as she got up and gave her younger sister a nuzzle.

The lunar princess giggled at the sentiment and accepted the nuzzle while returning the nuzzle to her elder sister. "Ah, that is great to hear."

The solar princess levitated a nearby teapot and two teacups towards them while motioning her younger sister towards some cushions set up by the window. "Would you like some tea, Lulu?"

Luna smiled. "I don't see why not."

Celestia nodded with a smile and placed two teacups on a nearby table before pouring the tea into them while her younger sister sat one of the cushions.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Lulu?" The solar princess asked, her tone light yet curious as she sat down on the other cushion.

Celestia sipped her tea, savoring its warmth as she looked at her younger sister. "You seem deep in thought, Lulu. What's on your mind?"

Luna exhaled softly, her gaze momentarily drifting to the sky outside. "I’ve been reflecting on some of the crystal bat ponies who had decided to join ranks with the Royal Guards. Au Hasard has retained his title as captain of my guards. I decided for him to retain his title since he spent a thousand years in the Crystal Empire banishment and another five years in rebuilding Amore."

The solar princess chuckled, setting her teacup down. "I figured you would want him back. And his sister, Midnight Blossom? How has she been faring?"

"Ah, Midnight Blossom." The lunar princess’s expression softened. "She’s been promoted to lieutenant. Her determination, and quick thinking she learnt from her brother and the Crystal Imperial guards have made her indispensable. She is a credit to her role and a fierce protector."

"I’m glad to hear it." Celestia said, her voice warm with approval. She reached out a hoof to touch her sister’s. "It sounds like your guard is in excellent hooves."

Their conversation was interrupted by a burst of emerald fire in the air. A scroll materialized, glowing faintly before it landed neatly on the table in front of the royal sisters.

"Ah, Spike’s magic fire." The solar princess remarked as she unrolled the scroll. "A letter from Twilight, no doubt."

The lunar princess leaned in slightly, curious. "What does it say?"

Celestia began to read the scroll aloud.

Dear Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,

I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to inform you that my visit to Klugetown is progressing better than I could have imagined. Mayor Capper and Ambassador Silver Quill have given me a thorough tour of the town. It’s remarkable how much progress they’ve made in fostering unity among the citizens.

By afternoon, I will sign the official alliance agreement between Equestria and Klugetown. Capper and Silver has assured me that this partnership will be mutually beneficial for both our nations. I’ll provide further details upon my return.

Your faithful friend and fellow princess,
Twilight Sparkle

The solar princess finished, she glanced at her sister, who looked thoughtful with her brow slightly furrowed.

Luna spoke cautiously. "Tia, I cannot help but find it surprising that Twilight has placed such trust in Capper. You remember what she told us—how he once attempted to sell her and her friends to his boss two and a half years ago."

Celestia’s serene smile didn’t falter. "Yes, I remember. But I also recall that Twilight and her friends forgave him two years ago, after he redeemed himself by helping to rebuild Klugetown back to its former glory."

The lunar princess tilted her head, her skepticism evident. "Forgiveness is admirable, but entrusting him in becoming a mayor and running Klugetown?"

"Twilight and her friends sees the good in others, even those who’ve made mistakes." The solar princess said gently. "Capper’s actions since then have proven his loyalty and commitment to bettering Klugetown."

Luna sipped her tea again, her expression softening. "Perhaps you are right, Tia. I should trust Twilight’s judgment. She has become a remarkable princess."

"Indeed, she has," Celestia agreed, pride shining in her eyes. "Twilight is a beacon of hope and friendship. Her ability to forgive and inspire others is her greatest strength."

The lunar princess gave a small nod, allowing herself a smile. "Then let us hope this alliance brings prosperity to both Klugetown and Equestria. Twilight deserves success in this endeavor."

The solar princess's smile widened as she nodded her head in agreement with her younger sister.

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Crystal Empire

Hurricane walked through familiar streets of the empire, quickly approaching an even more familiar house of his and his wife. He saw crystal ponies and creatures going about their days with several children playing in the crystal playground in the centre of the two crystal resident buildings. Several nodded to him as they passed, but none stopped to chat.

The house in front of Hurricane was two stories tall, with a gently sloping roof crafted from translucent crystal tiles that glimmer in the sunlight, casting rainbows on the ground below. The front door is an arched, polished wooden piece painted deep blue, adorned with a brass handle shaped like a stylized feather—a nod to Hurricane's pegasus heritage. Flanking the door are two tall windows with diamond-patterned panes, framed by shutters painted in soft lavender. These shutters are carved with intricate symbols of stars and leaves, likely designed by Clover to represent wisdom and growth. A small garden stretches along the front of the house, enclosed by a short fence of light green crystal. The garden is a burst of life, with colorful flowers like tulips, daisies, and a few magically-enhanced blooms glowing faintly in the twilight. A pathway of smooth crystal stones leads to the house, and a weathered wooden bench sits just to the side of the door. The bench is often used by Clover to read or Hurricane to relax after a long day.

Looking back toward the door, Hurricane took in a soft breath, taking off his helmet and putting it on the ground before knocking the door. A few noises were heard inside as Clover’s ears shot up and she made her way to the home’s front entrance. Hurricane heard a key turning just before the door swung open.

"Hurricane? You're back early? I thought I will see in two to three days later." Clover asked, her face showing confusion.

"It's a long story to tell." Hurricane said before ushering his wife inside, making sure to grab his helmet on the way.

Once the door was closed, Hurricane gestured Clover to sit on the nearby couch. Once the couple had sat, Hurricane told his wife everything, from Princess Cadance dreaming Sombra to the discovery of the dreams being visions, and the subsequent leaving Mount Aris.

"That's... that's doesn't sound good." Clover admitted. "But Crystal Heart shattered King Sombra into million pieces. How could he return?"

Hurricane nodded gravely, his wings shifting uneasily at his sides. "That’s what we all thought. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from Princess Amore about King Sombra, it’s that he’s relentless. Whatever’s left of him—whatever he’s become—it’s dangerous."

Clover reached out, placing a comforting hoof on his foreleg. "I'm sure that Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor can defeat him. After all, the Crystal Heart destroyed Sombra, so the artifact can be used again to destroy him."

Hurricane chuckled before draping a wing over his wife and nuzzled her. "You're right, Clovy. As long as the Crystal Heart remained in the empire's hoof, Sombra wouldn't be able to touch the empire."

Clover giggled as she laid her head on her husband's shoulder. "So, what do you want to do now?"

Hurricane hummed himself as he thought about it. "Well, let's go and have a walk around the empire. Get some fresh air."

Clover nodded her head in agreement. "That's a great idea."

Hurricane smiled before turning his attention on his armor. He took his armor off of him and placed it aside near the side of the couch.

"Clovy, you don't mind if I sort out my armor before I get myself washed up while you get yourself ready?" Hurricane asked as he started to sort out his armor and helmet.

"No problem, honey. I can wait for you even while you're washing yourself up." Clover replied as she walked toward her husband with a smile.

Hurricane smiled as he nuzzled his wife's neck before heading to the bathroom after he gave his armor a quick clean and placed back on the stand near the entrance of the house.

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In the throne room of the Crystal Castle, Princess Amore froze mid-step, her gaze fixed on the horizon through a wide window.

"Mom?" Cadance’s voice broke through the silence, tinged with concern. Shining , standing beside her, gently closed the door behind them. "Are you alright?"

"No, Cadenza... I am not," Amore admitted, her voice low and troubled. "“I am tired. Tired of Sombra's games. Tired of you getting attacked by threats."

The royal couple gasped as they spotted the tears forming at the corners of Amore's eyes. They rushed toward her, the Princess of Love draping a wing over her mother while the prince placed a hoof on Amore's shoulder.

"Mom..." Cadance responded as she nuzzled her mother's neck. "Please don’t be upset…"

"Cady's right, mom." Shining agreed with his wife.

"I'm sorry, Cadenza and Shining. It's just... it just that I'm tired of dealing with Sombra. Ever since he petrified me before shattering and scattering my pieces across the world a thousand years, I’ve felt this unrelenting exhaustion. Even now, as he threatens to return, I can’t help but feel the weight of it all."

"Don't worry, mom. You know what? I think you need a break." The Princess of Love responded.

Amore looked at her daughter. "What?"

"Cady's right, mom." The prince said, prompting Amore to glance at her son-in-law to see him giving her a determined face. "You need a break. A holiday. When was the last time you took a day off?"

Amore hummed to herself. "Well, I would say two and a half years ago since ."

"How about this? While you take a break, Shining and I can hold our own running the empire. Take at least a week or two, let us run this place while you clear your head. You could even play with Flurry Heart." Cadance said with a smile.

Amore looked at her family. "Are you sure? It seems to be a lot of work-"

"We will not take no for an answer." Shining insisted.

Amore stared at her family before sighing. "Alright, I will take a break."

The Princess of Love smiled. "Good. You deserved to have a break."

Amore wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes. "You know... it's been a bit long since I played with Flurry. I wonder what she's up to?"

The prince giggled. "Probably playing with Sunburst by constantly conjuring weird spells on him for fun."

The three ponies all shared a laughter for a good minute before it died down.

Amore giggled. "Alright then. I will go to Flurry while you two-"

Suddenly the shield shielding the Crystal Empire started to flick before disappearing, prompting the three ponies to look in horror as crystal ponies and creatures started to panic.

"What-what happened? Why did the shield just go off?" Cadance asked.

Suddenly, the voices of panic turned into shouts of horror and terror as the crystal ponies and creatures screamed.

"What in Faust’s name is going on?!" Shining shouted, just as a crystal griffon guard burst into the throne room.

"Your highness!" The crystal griffon shouted without saluting or bowing at them.

"Private! What is happening? What is going on out there?" Amore asked.

"We have a serious problem." The crystal griffon replied with fear in his voice.

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Crystal Palace's base, Moments Earlier

Hurricane smiled over at his wife, who had a smile on her face.

The base of the Crystal Palace, like yesterday, was packed full of Crystal Imperial guards guarding and patrolling to protect the Crystal Heart, now double in size after Princess Amore ordered more guards to ensure that the heart was fully protected. Outside where the guards are stationed were many crystal ponies and creatures citizens walking around in happiness from shopping at the marketplace to going to restaurant to eat.

The atmosphere was calm and vibrant.

Though one Crystal Imperial guard stuck out considerably to Hurricane.

The guard named Strawberry Dusk kept glancing at the heart, her eyes shifting around at the Crystal Imperial guards and the crystal ponies and creatures. Her forehead were full of sweats as they streamed down.

As he subtly observed her, Hurricane’s suspicion grew. This mare wasn’t who she seemed to be.

But before Hurricane could do anything, he and his wife heard commotion coming from the shield shielding the empire.

"Get a medic now!" One of the Crystal Imperial guards from a patrol sent by Captain Tourmaline called out as a crystal yak carried an injured Florence on his back while a crystal pegasus carried a hypothermia Skystrike by his hoof.

The sight of the injured bat pony prompted a crystal hippogriff to flew up into the sky and toward the hospital to get a medic while nearby Crystal Imperial guards grabbed nearby towels to warm both the crystal griffon and his friend.

Hurricane and Clover exchanged a look of concern and worry before making their way through the crowds of the crystal ponies and creatures to check on the two crystal guards.

"Private Skystrike." Hurricane began as he and his wife reached to the crystal griffon while the griffon wrapped himself tighter with the towels he was given to. "What happened to you and your friend?"

"We were ambushed by King Sombra at Outpost Crystal. Everypony and every creatures there were slaughtered by him. We were the only ones who survived from him." Skystrike reported.

Hurricane and Clover widened their eyes in horror while the nearby Crystal Imperial guards shared each other a look of concern and worry.

"So, the dreams Princess Cadance had been dreaming were really visions." Hurricane muttered to himself. "What else, private?"

The crystal griffon's face turned into anger. "There's a traitor working with King Sombra. She was on his side when he slaughtered Outpost Crystal."

Hurricane and Clover dropped their jaws in shock while the guards all gasped in shock that one of their own would work alongside with King Sombra.

"Who?" Hurricane demanded, his voice icy.

Skystrike’s eyes burned with fury. "Her name is Radiant Hope."

As most of the guards looked towards the commotion, no pony or creature noticed Strawberry creeping toward the Crystal Heart.

Just then, a voice called out.

"Hey!" Hurricane, Clover, the crystal griffon and the nearby Crystal Imperial guards turned to see a bruised up another Strawberry Dusk slowly making her way to them, one of her hoof holding at the back of her head.

"Strawberry Dusk?!" Captain Tourmaline gasped. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at the base of the Crystal Palace guarding the Crystal Heart!"

The crystal unicorn guard blinked her eyes in shock. "What?! That wasn't me! I was ambushed and knocked out at my home! The pony that you thought it was me was not me at all!"

Everypony and creature including Hurricane, Clover, Skystrike and the captain stared at Strawberry for a full minute before turning just to see the imposter grabbing hold of the heart with her magic and pulling it towards her.

As soon as the imposter pulled the Crystal Heart toward her, the shield shielding the Crystal Empire started to flick before vanishing.

"Get her!" Tourmaline shouted and pointed at the imposter, prompting a group of Crystal Imperial guards to charge towards her.

The imposter quickly teleported behind the group before running, causing the group of patrols to stop and turned around to chase after her.

The imposter shed off her disguise just as King Sombra arrived in front of her and at the south entrance of the empire, prompting her to stop as the group of guards approached her. But before they could reach her, the umbrum pony casted a spell and caused several black crystal shards to erupt from the ground and in front of the guards.

"Sombra! Here, use the heart to cure your darkness before the Crystal Imperial guards break through!" Radiant Hope called out as she gave the Crystal Heart to her best friend.

Sombra grabbed hold of the heart and looked at it for a few second before he corrupted it with his dark magic, causing the heart to turn black.

"Sombra?! What-what are you doing?!" The crystal unicorn exclaimed, her voice trembling with shock and betrayal as her best friend corrupted the Crystal Heart.

"What I wanted to do when you brought me back to life." The umbrum pony replied before the corrupted Crystal Heart flashed across the ground, causing puddles of shadow. As soon as the puddles of shadow appeared, umbrum ponies emerged from the puddle, each wielding a weapon. Soon, an army was amassed behind him. With that, he pointed his hoof toward the Crystal Imperial and the umbrum ponies charged with a roar.

The crystal ponies and creatures citizens began to scream in terror as the army advanced further into the empire. Hurricane saw several civilians and guards engulfed by spells casted by the umbrum unicorns as more umbrum ponies emerged from the puddles of shadow.

"Guards, to me!" Hurricane shouted as he retreated back to his wife who blasted a umbrum earth pony with a spell, killing him.

A umbrum pegasus flew down in front of him and charged toward him with a sword in his mouth. Hurricane ducked as the pegasus swung his sword.

"Commander!" An approaching crystal kirin blasted a fire spell at pegasus, causing him to catch on fire as he thrashed in agony before the kirin threw a spear at Hurricane's direction, which he quickly grabbed and used to finish the pegasus.

"Commander, what are your order?!" The captain shouted as he moved toward Hurricane.

Hurricane growled as he saw the umbrum ponies slaughtering some of the civilians. "Evacuate the base of the palace and the palace, and block their access further into the empire! Get the civilians to safety!" Hurricane shouted as he began to head toward the palace, Clover following behind him.

"What's the plan, Hurricane?" clover asked.

"We need to link up with the princesses and the prince and form a defence before the umrbum army overrun the empire." Hurricane responded.

Clover nodded her head before they sprinted away as the Crystal Imperial guards dragged nearby civilians to safety.

The battle had just began.

Author's Note

And it begins...