Alex watched as the snow covered terrain moved feeling down. Tempe stood nearby she then looked at her little brother and asked, “Why does where we are going get you down? You were confident when we ended up in that jungle on Earth. But here? You're a nervous wreck.”

“In all my travels with Doc I never went into any arctic areas. Blame most of the areas he took me to were either deserts or jungles.” he says.

“It's not cold for me but then again I used to live on the moon where near absolute zero was the norm.” Tempe said, “I'll help you get through this, I promise.” With that the girl summoned her armor, the rough fit from before having been refined with the help of the royal blacksmiths into something beautiful. No longer just crudely shaped pieces of lunar titanium, the excess metal had been reformed into a blade which she now wore strapped to her back.

“First things first though we need to make sure the others are safe,” she said taking to the air. “You keep close to them and I'll keep an eye out for threats in the distance.

I chuckle at the sight of it. “The Royal armorsmith who worked on you must've not only been a thestral, but a descendant of the armorsmith that crafted my armor. By the way, Thanks Sis.”

They walked back into the car the rest of his herd was to be mobbed by Fluttershy, Twilight & Rainbow Dash.

Suddenly Alex was slammed in the back with a blast of magic. “BASTARD I'LL KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID TO MY SISTER!!!” Shining Armor said but Tempe stopped Alex from retaliating when she noticed the black crystal growths on Shining’s horn.

“Sombra already attacked him. Something must have partially corrupted him or brought out anger that was deep below the surface considering we both talked to him a while ago.” Tempe said recognizing the greenish glow in his eyes as a signature of mind control. “We either knock him out or shatter the growths on his horn that should break the spell.”

Alex growled, “By elements of harmony I ask the world to aid me. His hands left rainbow trails of dust as he did the somatic element. “Remove that which clouds and bind free will.” His amulet glows. “DISPEL MAGIC!”

A pulse leaves the amulet and fills the car EVERYPONY IS WEAKENED BY 5%. The Crystals on Shining's horn turn into a cloud of fiery Sparks and fly away. I grin. “Sombra isn't going to like it when the backlash hits him.”

"Viatoooor!!!!” They could hear from far off as Shining fell to his knees.

“Seems that he knows you.” Tempe said as she flew over to Shining the effects not having truly weakened her due to Harmony’s power running through her. “I warned you, Shining!” the draconic alicorn said as she slammed her fist into his stomach.

“Well our father did fight him.” He replied. “I learned what magic I know from his friends. My magic signature is a lot like his. He probably thinks dad is here. Too bad for him it's me.” I grin then yelp as Rainbow & Fluttershy force onto his stomach and begin with Twilight’s help examining his back.

“Luna!!!” The voice shouted as a giant cloud of darkness approached.

“He thinks mom is here too. Maybe in his current form can't recall everything, like his mind is spread out as thin as his shadow.” Tempe said as she flashed over to Alex adding her own magic to Twilight's healing spell, rapidly regenerating any lost tissues and fur thanks to Harmony using her as a conduit. “Can’t have you stuck on the ground Harmony help me we’ll keep you from getting hurt too much.”

“Why would he think tha… Nevermind.” Alex says. “Thanks. I'm assuming where I got hit could result in a grounding injury.”

Rainbow Dash then said, “You're lucky, Thestrals though similar are different from Pegasi. Where Shining hit you would've grounded a pegasus.” She got up to glare at The Captain of the guard.

Twilight finished healing Alex then marched over to a groggy Shining Armor and slapped his horn HARD. “SHINING ARMOR AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE YOU STANDING UP FOR ME FOR THE RECORD I FORCED MYSELF ON HIM BECAUSE OF HEAT MADNESS. NOW YOU BETTER APOLOGIZE TO ALEX.” She shouted.

“He wasn't in his right mind, sister. I do not worry that he wouldn't have done that ever if he was. He may have grumbled about it but Sombra's magic turns you into a comically extreme dark version of yourself if he can get a hold of you. Whether that's being consumed by fear or amplifying mild anger into a full-out murderous rage.” Tempe said.

“She's right,” Shining said as he stood back up. “Sombra wrote about how he could put someone in a mental recursive loop so deep that it would turn even the mildest annoyance into a berserker rage. This process was how he created fighters that would never back down in the day. Those helmets we found have an enchantment that makes you see your worst annoyance and think you're going after them giving Sombra full control. The crystals weren't nullifying my magic, they were absorbing it to power the recursive loop. I connected with him for a moment so I can confirm that this is all true. His memories are there but like Tempe said he's thin spread mentally as he is physically.” Shining turned to Alex. “Still man, I'm incredibly sorry for what I just did.”

Alex got and calmly walked up to Shining Armor and before even his half sister could react, decked the unicorn. “You're forgiven but that shot could've taken from me something that I've just gained.”

“Understandable man.” Shining said, rubbing his jaw as he got back up. “For someone not trained in traditional combat you hit hard! You take boxing classes or something?”

“No. Trained in martial arts since 5. Plus got caught in too many bar room brawls when traveling with my menor” Alex responded.

The Unicorn nodded and rubber his sore jaw.

They soon reached the last stop and disembarked. Shining had them rush for the Crystal Empire to get to safety fast. They were moving fast as their hooves could carry them when they heard a roar. Fluttershy whimpered at the sound. Looking back they saw a back cloud with two glowing eyes pots bearing down on them.

Tempe, Shining, & Himself stopped and told the others to go on. He then turned to the captain of the guard and said, “Guard & escort them!”

“But…” Shining Armor started to say.

“THAT'S AN ORDER CAPTAIN!” He shouted. Shinny hesitated but followed the mares with a frown on his face

“Tempe please join the others. I'll catch up. While he's like that, your Harmony attacks won't even Harm him.”

“What about you?” She asked.

“If he can hear then my sonic attacks can affect him. Now join The others.”

Tempe relising Alex had a joined others, saying, “Take care of yourself Bro”

After his sister left he turned to face Cloud Sombra. “YOUR NOT GETTING PAST ME YOU POOR BASTARD. I’M GOING TO PROTECT MY FAMILY!” He began taking deep breaths.

Cloud Sombra laughed. Just as he was about to envelope the thestral they shouted in unison, “YOU'RE MINE!!!”

Author's Note

Ah the cliff hanger. A classic trope.

Sorry about the crystal Empire Arc Comming before the Canter lot wedding Arc. I got two reasons for it. I forgot about it in the first place. And this is an alternate universe. Events may not happen in the same order as the show

If you're wondering why Shining Armor obeyed Alex. Alex pulled Rank as Alex was a prince through his father marrying Luna.