ALICORN KING:

Crystal Empire

Pt 2

By Scarlet Rhine & Tempest Flare

[Pinkie's V.O. “Last time on Alicorn King”]

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

Intro

Tempe, the main six, & Shining Armor get past the barrier that kept the Crystal Empire warm when they heard, “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!” Twilight, Fluttershy & Rainbow Dash recognized the cry Alex made on his first night after he moved into the Golden Oaks library. All of them got worried and stayed that way until he flew in and landed. They ran up and hugged him.

“I chased him off, but I gave myself laryngitis.” He hoarsely said.

“Careful, you’re a little horse,” Tempe said with a chuckle before seeing the barrier fade momentarily. Sombra tried to rush the opening, but Tempe slammed her sword into the crystal gate, and the barrier sprung back up, augmented by Harmony’s energy. “Cadance is running herself ragged that’ll give her a 30-hour break. Which is enough for us to find the heart and craft the Fair.”

“Thanks.” Shining Said, seeing the rainbow glow of Tempe’s magic on the blade. “By the way, have you become an avatar of Harmony?”

“Not exactly sure I can channel the power she gave me. I thought I used it all up, but it seems to be a refilling pool similar to my magic.” Tempe said. “And yes, she's a real thing, sort of like a deity.”

“Figured, considering Celestia always talked about her as if she were real,” Shining said before Twilight smacked him upside the head.

“Just because your captain of the guard does not mean that you can disrespect her. She's still…” she trailed off as she realized her mistake. “Sorry, big brother, I forgot your relationship with Cadence. I'm still getting used to the fact that we are blood relations to the princesses distantly, considering Tempe is found family.”

Alex put his hands in his pockets, and his eyes widened at what he felt. He pulled out the key to the Viator vault. Smiling, he put it back then; after that, he wrote in the dirt, “May I have some honey?” Pinkie pulled a jar out of her mane and handed it to him. Nodding his thanks, he poured a small portion into his mouth. After he closed the jar, he put it into his hammerspace. After waiting a few minutes, he said more clearly, “Sorry for pulling rank on you, but I couldn't allow my cousin to lose you.”

Shining Armor leads them to a large structure that reminds Alex of the Eiffel Tower. As they walked through the city, he noticed the buildings were made of crystal. “Nice,” he commented. “Reminds me of a famous landmark on Earth.”

“Oh,” Twilight said. “What is it Called?”

”The Eiffel Tower.”

Alex & Twilight chatted about Earth as the group entered the Crystal Palace. Of course, the moment Alex stepped foot on the floor, he slid in the direction he was walking and hit the wall. “Ow.” Was all he said before falling onto his back.

His herd ran up to him and helped him up.

When they got to the throne room, they found a haggard-looking Cadance

Upon seeing each other, both Twilight and the exhausted Cadance hurried to meet in the middle and then started chanting in unison,

“SUNSHINE SUNSHINE

“LADYBUGS AWAKE!

“CLAP YOUR HOOVES

AND A LITTLE SHAKE!”

They shook their rumps in the air; when they finished, Alex playfully swatted Twilight's rump. “EEP!” The mare in question said, bolting straight up as she was swatted.

Cadance then walked up to Tempe and hugged her adopted sister. “Thank you, Big Sis; maintaining the barrier was pulling on my life force, but it was the only way.” She whispered.

“I know; just because we can do that doesn’t mean we should do so lightly.” Tempe’s eyes shifted to rainbows before saying. “Use your magic to find love. Your Element is here, and I'll give you the time needed.” Then Tempe passed out.

Alex looked at Tempe & said, “I'm going to head to the library to do research. Maybe I'll find some clues. Come on, my princess.” The last was said to Twilight as he scooped up his studious wife and carried her bridal style out.

“Eep! ALEX, I CAN WALK,” She complained.

“Let me pamper my pregnant wife,” Alex said teasingly. The two of them made their way to the library while the rest of the herd dispersed into the city.

When the pair got to the library, the immediately sought out the librarian. After about ten minutes of talking with her, they found out that someone had messed with the memories of the crystal ponies. “Looks like we're going to do this research the hard way.” Twilight chirped.

As they went, the rest of the herd followed. Rainbow Dash commented, “I still can't believe our stallion is both an athlete & a nerd.”

Fluttershy giggled. “Why Don't you start reading Daring Doo”

As his first two wives talked, he got a feeling, and, after telling Twilight, he'd join her later, flew off. And found Umbra's unconscious Sombra. Using an enchanted globe, he placed Sombra into a healing dream from which he'd awake when he was healed.

“So what we see is the Umbra unshackled from the colt's form; if the creature outside reaches him, the true Sombra will return,” Tempe said having followed her adopted brother. “We have to sever the connection. The heart will be able to do so but it will also severely damage the colt. I still can't believe that Amore never found a way to do it without killing him but with Harmony we can channel Harmony through the heart which should amplify its power and give it better control allowing it to sever the connection safely and allow this little one to grow up without fear of his darkness.”

“I'LL stay here and keep the darkness away for as long as my throat holds out. You, Twight & spike find the heart.” Alex then stood over the Colt & spread his wings protectively over the Colt.

“I’ll have to figure out the exact nature of my connection with Harmony to make this work,” Tempe said as she began heading out. “Keep this innocent safe Bro Aunt Tia likes the real him.”

Alex nods then turns to the darkness closing in and jams a Fedora on his his head and shouts, “Okay you vaporous asshole, in the words of my father's generation,” He takes takes a deep breath and channels the love every of his & Cadance’s element & shouts, “UP YOOOOOUUURRRRSSSS!!* Resing a powerful love infused attack striking the darkness I the center.

Alex stood over the Colt protectively. Every time the darkness attempted to merge with the colt he let out a sonic blast that chased it away. 5 minutes into the battle an artic popped out of the ground and handed him, a squeeze bottle of honey. Taking the bottle he nodded his thanks. The hare dashed away.

With the help of honey Alex was able to last until Tempe rejoined him. Brother and sister fought together to sever the connection, and as they fight the pair began to sing;

[Alex]

I know what like to lonely, to not have any to chase away the darkness

[Tempe]

I know what like to be scared not knowing if any pony would know of my plight

[Both]

Then someone came into my life the lift the clouds of loneliness and show a better life a life without loneliness one filled joy & companion

and taught me

Taught how stand alone without fear but honesty

Loyalty

Kindness

Laughter

Generosity

AND MAGIC!

As they sung image showing either Alex & Indy or Tampe & Twilight doing things and one last image showing Alex, Tempe & the mane six confronting nightmare moon. At the conclusion of the song both shot sleight up then came down to land on opposite in protective stances Alex’s Amulet shot out a white beam with hearts in it. Tempe created a protective dome over the trio.

The Darkness felt it's connection to the colt as the beam hit it. Then a white dome shot out from the Palace and erased the darkness. Alex picked the colt Sombra.

“Looks like Twilight found the crystal heart.” He said.

Brother and Sister walk in the throne room Alex carrying sleeping Colt Sombra. There was some discussion about his fate until the colt woke up.and stared the ten ponies with eyes that seemed to be looking at the world for the first time.

“I believe this colt is a blank slate.” Alex said with an intense gaze. “The darkness must've kept his mind from absorbing information and developing”

“And with the darkness dispelled his mind is developing.” Twilight said.

Soon the fate of the colt was decided. The Viator-Sparkle herd would adopt and rename Sombra. His name would be changed to Somnuther. The Family soon was heading back to Ponyville larger by one.

Author's Note

Apologies to Dogger807 for using the name Somnother. It was the perfect nome for mind blanked colt Sombra