I trotted through the damp crystal caverns, my armor clinking with each step. The emblem of Lord Crystallus—a pair of golden wyverns—shone on my chest, making me look way cooler than I felt. I wasn’t really paying attention to the treasures around me. Gems, gold, and crystals glittered in the dim torchlight, but touching them? Nah, not worth the pain of Lord Crystallus’ wrath.

Behind me, a ragtag group of slaves—a mix of diamond dogs, ponies, and griffins—dragged carts full of loot, all shackled and grumbling under their iron collars. I didn’t care about their misery. They were there to work, not whine. If they slowed down, I whipped them. Simple.

“Hey, Straw Bind,” I said, trying to kill time. “How long you been with Lord Crystallus?”

“Two years. Why?”

“Just curious. I’ve been here three. I used to guard the Inner Circle, you know.”

“Really? Me too. I was a sergeant in the Crystal Guard before the princesses took over.”

“Ha! I was a lieutenant! Small world.”

“Yeah, but it feels like a lifetime ago. Everything’s different now.”

“True. King Sombra’s gone. Now we have Crystallus, and it’s... better, I guess.”

“Yeah, no complaints. He pays well, lets us do whatever we want as long as we don’t mess up. I like the perks.”

“Exactly. Those rebels still clinging to the past? They’re living in denial. Crystallus is the future, and they can’t touch him.”

“Right? Those diamond dogs are just pests. We caught a bunch of them yesterday, remember?”

“Oh, yeah. They squealed like pigs. So fun.”

As we reached the treasure room, I paused to admire the stacks of loot, my eyes glittering with pride. Straw Bind didn’t seem as impressed, probably because he’d seen it all before. The slaves, on the other hoof, just looked miserable.

That’s when I spotted something odd on the floor. “Hey, what’s that?” I asked, pointing.

Straw Bind looked over. “Huh. Looks like a demon or something. Probably came from Tartarus.”

I squinted. “Should we kill it?”

“Nah,” Straw Bind said with a grin. “Let’s capture it. Crystallus loves weird stuff. Maybe he’ll use it for an experiment or just for fun.”

I thought about it for a second. “Good idea. Let’s do it.”

We approached the creature cautiously, ready to pounce if it woke up. It was snoring loudly, oblivious to our presence. We grabbed it by the limbs and dragged it toward the exit.

“Man, this thing smells terrible,” I muttered.

Straw Bind chuckled. “Yeah, but it’s a good find. Crystallus will love this.”

We tossed the creature behind the last slave, whipped them into motion, and made our way out. Just another day in the life of Lord Crystallus’ loyal minions.

I trotted along, chains rattling, dragging a demon the size of a damn house behind me. It was foaming at the mouth, snoring like a drunk at a tavern. Even though I towered over most, this thing was almost as big as my brother Ironhorn. I shot him a look, sweat beading on my brow as I muttered under my breath.

"Y'know, Ironhorn, I think we would’ve been better off with those stupid Diamond Dogs. At least they wouldn’t have us dragging around a demon."

He shot me a withering glance. "Wasn’t it your bright idea to head north instead of south? Remember? You know, away from the Dogs?"

I stopped dead in my tracks, a headache already forming. "South would've had us walking right into their jaws! We had to head deeper into the mountain, idiot."

"Sure, yeah. Totally." He snorted. "But south was closer to the exit. But I guess we’re stuck here now."

I rolled my eyes. Of course, this was his brilliant plan. "Don’t start with me, bro," I growled.

From behind us, Grimbeak—the grumpy old griffin—cut in, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Oh, here we go. The mighty Minotaur brothers, fighting over their bad decisions."

I bristled. "Watch it, featherbrain, or I’ll pluck you clean."

"Ha! Like a couple of dumb cows could take me down." Grimbeak scoffed.

Ironhorn gave me a look that said don’t do it, but my patience was wearing thin. "Keep talking, Grimbeak. We’ll settle this later."

The younger pony stallion, who was always trying to be the peacekeeper, stepped in. "Grimbeak, calm down. The demon’s bad enough; we don’t need you losing it too."

Grimbeak sighed, rubbing his face. "It’s not just the demon. It’s all this damn dark magic. Those things practically took over the world once, ran the Empire after the King fell. Now look at us. We’re stuck with this thing."

I snorted, not feeling an ounce of sympathy. "Aw, poor old griffin’s scared of a little demon? Pathetic."

Grimbeak bristled. "You have no idea what those demons did to the Stronghorn Dominion, kid."

I shrugged. "I don’t care about that. My clan’s all that matters."

Grimbeak opened his beak to say something, but I didn’t get to hear it. A whip cracked across my skull, blurring my vision for a second. "Shut it!" the guard barked, his voice rough. "Move it, or I’ll break your legs."

I bit back a curse, forcing myself to march forward. I wasn’t going back to the Dogs, not after all this. At least I was with my clan, even if they were a bunch of idiots. We just needed the right moment, and this whole escape would be worth it.

I woke up with a cough and the taste of candy in my mouth. I spat out something rainbow-colored and raised an eyebrow. What the hell happened last night, and why did my head feel like a rock band was holding a concert inside it?

I glanced around. Stone walls, crystal floors, and—of course—metal bars. Outside, I could see a whole area of cages with ponies, griffins, and minotaurs. Great. Another day, another hellhole.

This place was like a twisted version of the Diamond Dogs' base, but with a serious crystal obsession. I knew only one group who loved their crystals and slavery this much—Sombra's army. Well, that’s just perfect. I had just escaped from the mutts, and now I was stuck with this.

"Rise and shine, buttercup! Time to get to work, haha!" A pony from the cell across shouted. His voice was a bad Joker impression, his fur a mess, teeth missing—yeah, real winner. I rolled my eyes and decided to ignore him. The last thing I needed was some wannabe villain giving me a headache.

The other prisoners around me? Yeah, they all screamed bad news. Their dark vibes practically oozed out of them. Scum of the earth.

I lay on my side, playing with the shadows, letting them morph like clay before crumbling when I let go. Bored as hell, I decided to mess around with my magic. I grabbed a chunk of shadow, packed it into a ball, and infused a little magic into it.

To my surprise, it didn’t fall apart. It started moving like a little shadow creature. Maybe I should kill it? Nah, it’s not my problem anymore.

I tossed it out of my cell. A pair of glowing white eyes appeared on it, and it scurried off into the dark as a guard walked by. The idiot didn’t even notice. I chuckled. Maybe today wouldn’t suck after all.

Just to mess with him further, I flicked a little shadow at the guard. It hit his helmet with a satisfying clang. He spun around like a chicken looking for its head, completely clueless.

I watched with a smirk as the shadow slid down his helmet and slithered into his eye guard. Perfect. Just in case.

I sighed and made myself comfortable—if you could call being locked in a cage in a cave comfortable. I had no idea where the hell I was, couldn’t go back to Earth, and the Crystal Empire was off-limits for now. Not to mention, I was on the radar of some serious guards and maybe the princesses.

But what the hell was I supposed to do? Try to build an army? With what? I had no power, no resources, and no solid foundation. And let’s face it, anyone I tried to control would probably break free. I needed power, loyalty... maybe a few loyal minions. But that’s a lot of work.

I lay back, staring at the ceiling. The glow from the crystal lights was almost soothing. The guard—looking like he’d seen better days—stood at the front, his armor covered in black crystals with a dim green glow. It was a subtle sign of something bigger going on here. Sombra didn’t just hang out in the Crystal Empire in the show, so this was some weird alternate Equestria nonsense.

How bad is it, really? Are they at war? Is it over? And who won? Sombra couldn’t have won—there’s no way. The guards in Timberlake praised the princesses like they were literal gods. Rebels, maybe? But they didn’t seem like the first responders. Plus, the town looked... normal. A little too normal. Like a Disney version of normal. Ugh. Where am I? When am I?

I gritted my teeth as my claws dug into the stone floor, cracking it. My eyes flashed white for a second before I calmed myself, pushing my smoky hair back with a sigh.

It’s fine. It’s fine. The song may have changed, but the dance is the same. Find powerful items, use them to build a base, get stronger, then... wing it.

A sudden wave of memories hit me, and I realized that the magic I slipped into the pony’s head was working. I winced as my vision blurred, fading into a familiar bluish-black void filled with white dots—like stars in the sky. A path appeared, glowing with white energy, and around it, monitors flickered to life, displaying screens of the same energy.

I’ve been here before, but this time’s different. Maybe because I’m not hunting for anything specific? Well, whatever. I’ll take a look around. Might be something useful here to help me achieve my goals.

The screens lit up suddenly, responding to my thoughts. I jumped back, startled by the flash, but curiosity quickly overpowered my caution. This might be interesting.

I stared at the monitor to my left. A warped version of the Crystal Empire, completely covered in a dome of blackness. Outside, undead skeletons shuffled around while dark guards patrolled the city. I could almost feel the magic oozing from the screen, the memories of some poor grunt flooding my mind. I forced myself to snap out of it and turned to the other monitor.

A dragon. A huge, smug-looking thing, sitting on a hoard of gold and metal. My claws itched to grab it. As my fingers brushed the screen, whispers filled my mind. Hard to catch the words, but I caught enough: invincible, strong, valuable. That’s all I needed.

I broke the mental connection with the guard, the void around me flashing to white, blinding me before I found myself back in the cage. Greed surged through me. I looked up at the ceiling, muttering, "Power… ughhh..."

The guard glanced at me, rolling his eyes before walking off. I could practically taste the fear of the other captives. I was getting out of here, and when I did, I was going to make them regret it.

I shifted into a shadowy mist and tried to phase through the bars, only to get zapped by some kind of magical barrier. I slammed into the wall, cracking it. Fantastic. I shook my head, glaring at the door, and yelled at the guard.

"Hey, moron! What time is it?"

The guard froze. "What the hell—?"

"Yeah, you, lard face. You got cotton in your ears or something?"

He marched over, horn glowing. "You want to die, trash?"

I flicked a piece of dirt at him. He snapped, his magic crackling, but before he could do anything, Mr. Ball—yeah, that's what I called the shadow blob now—wrapped around his neck. Crack. Guard down. My new friend grabbed the keys and opened the door.

The other captives stared, terrified, but I didn’t care. I could smell their fear like a fine wine. Shadows leapt from me, spreading through the cages. The others cowered, except for one. A crazy pony with a jester's hat and a grin full of missing teeth.

"Hey, hey, hey! You're a demon, huh? From the crystal wars? You just killed that guard? You’re amazing! I'm Jinx, by the way. Pleasure!" He stuck out his hoof for a shake.

I gave him a skeptical look but played along, shaking his hoof. Suddenly, a jolt of electricity shot through me. "Oops, couldn’t help myself. I love pranking ponies here," he giggled.

"I'm...," I said, then paused. Robert? No one was going to fear or respect Robert. I needed something more... menacing. "I’m Vex, the Father of Shadows."

The crowd of misfits stared at me, confused. Time for some dramatic flair.

"I know your fears, your pain, your plight, But I bring a gift to turn the dark to light." I struck a pose atop a rock, feeling like a god.

A pony raised an eyebrow. "Fools we are not, to trust a demon’s lies."

An older griffon scoffed. "What makes you so special?"

Jinx, the psycho, jumped forward. "We need a sign, man! Prove you’re not just another demon full of hot air!"

I smirked, pulling out a glowing, golden contract from nowhere. "A simple deal, nothing more, nothing less. Sign here, and freedom is yours."

Ironhide, a muscle-bound Minotaur, stepped forward. "I’m no fan of words or song, but I know a chance when I see one. I’ve been a slave to worse than you. I’ll sign."

The crowd murmured, buzzing with hope. Ironhide signed with a flourish, and suddenly, Jinx was wrapped in shadows, glowing with newfound power. "Oh man, this is grand!" he yelled, laughing wildly.

The others, confused but intrigued, followed suit. Their doubts faded, their hopes rising. Well, all except the pony and griffon who stood back, still skeptical.

"And so, my friends," I declared, "Our tale begins. Power awaits, and together, we’ll claim it. No mere dream, but a destiny forged in shadows."

As the last words echoed, I grinned. This was only the beginning.

Evergore lounged in his plush chair, sipping tea like a boss. His mansion hung on the edge of Canterlot Mountain, a place so luxurious it made even the air feel posh. But just as the tranquility of his perfectly orchestrated life settled in, his two most insufferable—yet somehow charming—guests walked in: Honey Berry, the food mogul who could sell you rotten apples if she pitched it right, and Bronze Bull, a minotaur who could turn raw iron into gold just by staring at it. Together, they were House Crystal Tech’s power trio.

"So, Evergore, how’s that Crystal Tower coming along?" Honey Berry's voice dripped with the kind of sweetness that made you wonder how many people she'd tricked today.

"Oh, the Crystal Tower?" Evergore replied with a grin, setting his cup down like he was about to drop some knowledge. "It's coming along marvelously. Think of it as a magical version of your crystal balls—only this time, it's not just for wartime comms. We’re talking about a device so advanced, it’ll allow families and businesses across the empire to communicate without sending a damn letter!"

Bronze Bull chuckled, his deep voice vibrating the air. "You sure about that? My old man would’ve rather sent smoke signals than deal with any 'advanced magic tech' like that."

Honey Berry rolled her eyes. "Classic minotaur," she muttered, though with a smirk. "But seriously, Evergore, that tech’s a game-changer. If House Goldleaf doesn’t try to muscle in on that, I’ll eat my weight in cake."

"That's the plan," Evergore said with a devilish smile. "If they want in, they'll have to kiss my—" he cleared his throat. "Well, you know. But it’s good business, which means I’ll be rich, and you’ll both be even richer from the scraps."

Bronze Bull raised his glass. "To that, then. No complaints here!"

They clinked glasses, and after a few more sips, the conversation shifted to business—well, mostly business. Honey Berry leaned forward with a wink.

"So, how’s your farm doing, honey? Your jam is so popular, even the Royal Guard’s buying it by the crate."

Evergore smirked. "She's got her fingers in every pie, doesn’t she?"

Honey Berry just winked. "It’s called diversification, darling."

Bronze Bull snorted. "Couldn’t agree more. You think that jam could save a marriage?" He leaned back, grinning. "Because my wife’s expecting again. The fourth one, and we’re betting on a colt this time."

"I see," Evergore said with a chuckle. "The great Bronze Bull, a master of metal, and yet... you still can’t forge a son with your bare hands?"

"Hey, I’m not picky. Just want something that isn’t covered in pink bows this time," Bronze Bull joked, nudging Honey Berry, who was laughing along.

As the trio basked in their perfectly comfortable, rich-folk banter, the tone shifted once again, and the topic of Luna came up. Evergore, ever the tactician, steered the conversation with a sly smile.

"So, speaking of family matters, how’s Princess Luna doing with her... hobby of chasing remnants of Sombra’s cult?" he asked, like he was ready for a good debate.

Honey Berry shrugged, making a face. "It’s a waste of time. I mean, they’re dead, Luna. Let. It. Go."

Bronze Bull slammed his fist down. "You’re wrong, Honey. Luna’s got a point. Those cultists are a serious problem. You underestimate them at your own peril."

Honey Berry raised an eyebrow. "You really think chasing shadows in the Crystal Empire is worth it?"

"Of course I do," Bronze Bull growled. "You never know when those bastards might pop back up. They’re like bad plumbing—always coming back to bite you when you least expect it."

Evergore leaned back, eyeing the two. "Both of you make valid points," he said smoothly. "But let's be honest—Luna’s stuck in the past. She’s too obsessed with her ‘warrior’ days. And her inability to connect with the court is... obvious."

Honey Berry nodded. "Exactly. We need Celestia. She’s the one holding Equestria together, not Luna."

Bronze Bull huffed. "I don’t know about that. Luna’s not useless. Yeah, maybe she’s a little... direct, but her heart’s in the right place."

Evergore smiled coldly. "Well, why do we even need two princesses?" He paused dramatically. "What if Equestria only had one? Imagine the power, the unity, the glory of a single voice guiding us—Princess Celestia’s voice."

Honey Berry’s eyes lit up, clearly on the same page. "I like the way you think, Evergore. Why settle for two when we can have one flawless ruler?"

Bronze Bull winced. "Oh, now hold on a second—Celestia’s great, but Luna’s got her value. They both bring something different."

"Does Luna really?" Evergore shot back. "Or is she just the moon to Celestia’s sun, existing only for contrast?"

The air thickened as Honey Berry and Bronze Bull exchanged uneasy glances. But before the discussion could spiral further, Evergore’s necklace buzzed with an urgent red flash. His mood darkened immediately.

"Excuse me," he muttered, standing up and striding into the mansion. He glanced at the message. His face tightened. "Well, shit."

The rest of the party followed his lead, but Evergore knew this would only get more complicated.

Author's Note

Hey, TrashManic here! Chapter 7 is here! And I shorten the chapter a bit to fix the chapter pace.

Bronze Bull and Honey Berry