I was heading back home with a smile on my face. Working with Fancy and everypony else to help the citizens had felt great, the bubble was down to a few minor cracks here and there, and the doctor had decided my ears were fully healed. The cherry on top of the whole event had come at the end, and I remembered it fondly.

For eight days, I had helped serve those in need. Fromage, despite being younger than me, had done a really good job coordinating everything and running the food line. The trains kept bringing in supplies to work with, and things had gone quite well. Recovery hadn’t been easy, yet it had gone quite smoothly.

It was during the cleanup that another train arrived. The first class car opened up and the rest of the Canterlot Nobility appeared, each carrying a number of small boxes in their levitation.

One snooty mare that I didn’t know the name of stepped out in front. “Citizens of the Crystal Empire, we have come from Canterlot to bring you the finest cuisine in your hour of need. No need to thank us, we bring this to you out of the kindness of our own hearts.”

I stepped forward to meet them. Fancy and his family were helping tidy things up elsewhere, and I would see to it that they were not bothered. “Nobles of Canterlot, on behalf of the Crystal Empire, I say this: you’re late.”

The mare briefly flinched. “Better late than never, right?”

“We’re wrapping the party up right now. You missed your chance. It’s done. Over. Finished.” I glanced over the boxes. “You didn’t even bring ten minutes worth of food. A slow ten minutes at that, if I’m being generous. I bet you didn’t even make it yourself, did you?”

“Our chefs did their very best to make this, and you dismiss it so easily?” A stallion accused. “Have you no sympathy?”

I turned to the crowd behind me and put on a grin. “Can you believe this guy?” The crowd started laughing at him.

“Silence!” He only made the laughter louder.

I waited for the crowd to quiet down a bit. “You know what, I do apologize for how I’ve been talking to you. I am so sorry about that. Maybe there’s something you can help with anyways, to show how much you care. After coming all this way, it would be a shame to see you leave so soon.”

“There’s still lots of dishes to clean!” Brooke called out.

“Yeah, that sounds good,” a stallion in the crowd said.

“Make them do it, Inova!” A mare called out.

I turned to the crowd and held up a hoof. “I won’t make them clean the dishes just because three ponies said so. It’ll take a lot more to get me to make them clean the dishes. If you really want them to clean the dishes, you need to speak up and speak together.”

The response was faster than I’d expected. Within less than half a minute, the whole crowd was chanting, “CLEAN THE DISHES! CLEAN THE DISHES! CLEAN THE DISHES!” It almost sounded like a battle chant or warcry.

I turned back to the nobles once I got the crowd to quiet down. “You heard them. I’d be happy to take you all to where the dishes are. We have multiple locations, all packed with plenty of dishes to clean.”

The lead mare recoiled. “You. . . You would make us do the work of the kitchen staff? By ourselves?”

I scoffed at her accusation. “Oh please. I wouldn’t make you do it alone. I’d team you up and put you with somepony that knows how to clean the dishes. You wouldn’t want to disappoint the crowd, the Empire, and Equestria, would you?” I gave a sideways glance to Lucky as he wrote down what was happening with an infectious grin. That stallion really had a knack for being at the right place at the right time.

I chuckled as I recalled the frustration the snooty nobles felt the whole time. They did nothing to hide it. Even with the benefits of teamwork and telekinesis, it wasn’t pleasant for them at all. I expressly told every citizen helping them that, as long as there was progress, they had full permission to get snarky with the nobles. There was barely a moment without snark. It was a thing of beauty and amazingly entertaining.

The idea of creating a one pony department for dismissing complaints crossed my mind, and I was having fun imagining some nobles getting their complaints dismissed by Quick Quip when what looked like a living shadow with a splotch of color in it sped across the street ahead of me.

“Mama!” Flurry cried out as she was carried away by the shadow.

“Flurry!” Mom called out as she ran to try and catch her, only to stumble and fall in the road. “No. . .”

I ran up to mom. “What happened?”

“I thought he was dead. . .”

“Who?” I suddenly noticed some dark gray crystals on mom’s horn. “Mom, what happened?”

“I’ll tell you what happened,” dad said as he and Skyla came out of the house, both with crystals on their horns as well. “Sombra’s back again. He put these crystals on our horns to nullify our magic, then took Flurry for some reason.”

I looked down the road that Sombra had sped down. I’d heard stories of how he’d been defeated shortly after mom and dad arrived to become the Empire’s rulers, and I had thought he was dead as well. “Where’s he going?”

“I think I heard him say something about the highest platform in the castle,” Skyla said.

I looked to the castle just in time to see a dark gray bubble appear around it. The crystals on my family’s horns started glowing and caused them to start screaming in pain.

Inside, I felt a cold fury quickly building up. My family was hurting, my little sister had been taken, and Sombra was clearly threatening the Crystal Empire.

As I walked into my room, I reflected a bit. My one memory of Flurry was when she destroyed my ears, which was the least of what she destroyed. I’d spent the better part of two weeks helping clean up the mess she’d made when she broke the crystal heart. Part of me really, really, really, just wanted her gone. At the same time, it was impossible for me to stop myself from preparing to get her back.

I left with the Valor System and alicorn sword in my telekinetic hold and the gravity gauntlet equipped. I was just about to pass my family when mom held a wing up in front of me. “You’re not going alone.” Her breathing was rough, her voice was a little hoarse, and her limbs were shaking.

I gave an irritated sigh. “Fine, but I’m not going to wait for you.” I spread my wings and took off towards the castle, plans forming in my head the whole time.

Atop the castle’s largest and highest landing platform, Flurry looked up at the malicious green eyes and wickedly curved horn floating in the congealing living shadows surrounding her atop the Crystal Empire’s castle. She didn’t know what it was, but she didn’t like it. It was something worse than bedtime or an empty bottle.

“You are powerful,” Sombra said, each word revealing his maw of sharp teeth. “I will make you my new living vessel and reclaim the Empire as mine!”

“Ga?” Flurry responded, not sure what the shady stallion was talking about.

The gray bubble had provided all the resistance of fog to me as I flew in low, then through an open doorway. I didn’t think about the bubble as I got my bearings, then flew through the castle. Like my hooves, the gravity gauntlet was not suited for sneaking around on a crystalline floor, and I made a mental note to add a rubber layer to the bottom of the gauntlet later.

The Crystal Guard was already on alert in the castle, and started following me. After I made it to the spiral stairwell that led to the hall leading to the landing platform, I felt something brush my tail and slam behind me. I turned and saw a crystal wall blocking the entrance. While the guards started figuring out how to get through, I carried on and flew upwards.

The hall had a soft rug running along its length, giving me an opportunity to gently land, rest my wings for a moment, and catch my breath. The idea of spending a summer in Wonderbolt boot camp to improve my flying skills was noted and set aside.

The hall wasn’t a straight run to the platform, as it made a short turn at the end before opening up to it. I was able to look ahead using the reflections in the corner once I got close enough. Sombra was sitting in front of Flurry, and it looked like he was using some kind of illusion spell to show Flurry something. He had raised dark crystal walls around the platform, keeping anyone outside from looking in so easily.

My fury went from cold to inferno in a flash and I drew the hammer as I ran out. “SOMBRA!” I threw my hammer at him with all the force I had.

Even though he had been distracted, he managed to dodge the hammer, letting it embed itself in the crystal barrier. He spared it a surprised glance before turning back to me. “Another alicorn?”

“Let her go,” I ordered. Flurry saw me and tried to reach out to me.

He looked between Flurry and me a couple times. “I’ve made some progress with her already, but I will oblige.” He suddenly leapt at me and started turning into a living shadow.

At that moment, I tossed my sword and shield up and split myself.

Pegasus Inova flew over Sombra, while Earth Inova went to his right and Unicorn Inova to his left. The sudden split briefly confused Sombra, making him lose focus and reform. Human Inova, with the preset gravity gauntlet on her right arm, threw a right hook at his muzzle. The punch itself didn’t carry much power, but the shockwave released by the gauntlet on impact did.

Sombra was sent flying towards Earth Inova, who tensed up and bucked with all her might, sending him upwards.

Unicorn Inova caught the sword and shield with her magic and moved the shield over Sombra. Pegasus Inova rocketed downwards, her forehooves hitting the shield, then Sombra, slamming him into the platform and cracking it.

Pegasus Inova leapt off and took the shield with her, giving Unicorn Inova a clear opening to fire a volley of magic bolts at Sombra. The volley would only hit the ground, as he took to his shadow form to escape and reform behind Flurry.

“What are you?” Sombra demanded. He was glancing between all four of Inova’s parts, but his attention hovered on the unusual Human Inova the most.

“Furious,” Human Inova said, speaking for all four parts. She folded the grip on her gauntlet back to free her hand so Unicorn Inova could guide the sword to her. Blade in hand, she pointed it at Sombra. “You will release that little pain in my ears or die.” The Equine Inovas gathered around Human Inova. “And we’re really hoping you pick the easy option.”

Sombra snorted at the threat. “With a ceremonial blade like that? Have such things really fallen to decadence and vanity?” He levitated Flurry in front of him and pointed her horn at the Inovas, making them tense up. “I will not let you impede me any further.”

Unicorn Inova put up a barrier in front as Sombra’s shadowy tendrils found the base of Flurry’s horn. He manipulated her magic and released a huge beam at the quartet.

Down below, Cadence, Shining, and Skyla tried to get through the bubble around the castle. Inova had gotten through with ease, the guards had gotten in and out with ease, but it was like a reinforced brick wall to the royals.

Part of the crystal barrier around the landing platform shattered from twin magic beams. At the same time, the bubble evaporated, letting the family pass. “The way up is blocked by a crystal barrier,” Captain Shard informed them. “We’ve been making progress breaking it, but-”

A hammer that the family recognized crashed into the ground between them and the guard, its lopsided landing making a small crater in the ground. “We can use that,” Shining said.

Captain Shard picked it up with his magic. “This way.” He led the three through the castle.

Human Inova held the blade up and braced it with her forearm. The barrier was on the blade and was being constantly reinforced by Unicorn Inova. The Equine Inovas were behind Human Inova, all four of them doing their best to push back. The Equine Inovas were making full use of their magic, strength, and gravity gauntlets to help.

“Keep pushing!” Unicorn Inova shouted. “He’s the weak one!”

Human Inova reached up with her left hand and spun the sword’s horn, making Unicorn Inova glow. The glow went unnoticed by all.

“We will stop at nothing to get Flurry back!” Pegasus Inova declared.

Human Inova pulled the wing, and Pegasus Inova began glowing.

“Just because we’re the weakest alicorn doesn’t mean he can underestimate us!” Earth Inova added.

Human Inova hit the horseshoe, making Earth Inova glow.

“You’re just a bug compared to this one!” Sombra decried. “And bugs! Get! Squashed!” He increased the power of the beam coming from Flurry’s horn, causing her to scream in pain.

The increase in power and sudden cry stunned the Inovas, causing them to falter and slide back. What little of the barrier was left behind them fell away, leaving only a long fall behind the quartet.

Despite the howling beam, piercing cry, and the approaching edge of the platform, Unicorn Inova suddenly had an idea. She thought through the spell diagram, and realized that she could rearrange it to better control it. With nothing to lose, she tried it.

Pegasus Inova was providing the least help against the beam, so she got absorbed into Human Inova. Human Inova suddenly had pony ears on her head, a pony tail, and she sprouted orange feathered wings from her back, tearing through her clothes. An aura formed around the wings and shot backwards, giving Human Inova more forward power, but only enough to stand against the beam.

Human Inova did not flinch, waver, or pause when the change happened. Earth Inova noticed what happened, looked at her unicorn counterpart, and nodded once before getting absorbed. Human Inova gained a lean layer of muscle all over and a huge strength increase, letting her press forward.

Unicorn Inova kept the barrier up until Sombra’s green eyes were visible. She reinforced the barrier one more time before tossing herself into Human Inova.

I pressed forward against the beam and kept the shield up. The only thing between me and Sombra was Flurry and the beam, and he was slowly backing away. With a bit of telekinesis, I set the gravity gauntlet to Fire mode. I put all the earth pony magic I could into my legs, and with a burst of pegasus magic from my wings, leapt forward out of the beam. When I was directly over Sombra, I pulled the trigger on the supercharged sword and activated the gauntlet, coating the sword in fire.

I brought the activated blade down on his horn as he tried to take his shadow form and escape, slicing down through him. The sword still had power, and I slashed across his body, sending him flying back. The glow around the blade faded and I cut the flames off.

Sombra couldn’t disperse or reform himself. The slashes I’d delivered were still glowing, and getting brighter. He let out a final scream of agony before being consumed by a fiery explosion.

I cut the magic coming off my body, stood up straight, and dropped my sword. Flurry’s beam and crying had stopped, the explosion had been oddly satisfying, and it made me feel a bit calmer.

I turned to Flurry. She looked tired when she turned to me. “Mama?”

I manually set the gauntlet to Safety mode. “Let’s go find her.” I bent down to pick Flurry up, only for my leg to give out and make me fall over. “Or, you know, we can wait here a bit.” I reached over and pulled her against my body. Just as Aunt Celestia had done for me so often, I draped a wing over Flurry. “I’m your other sister. My name’s Inova. Can you say Inova?”

“Noba?” Flurry said.

“Close enough.” I held her tightly as exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks and I passed out.

The crystals on Shining, Cadence, and Skyla’s horns suddenly shattered, the pain they caused quickly fading away. The guards had broken through the barrier with Inova’s hammer, and were just getting onto the stairwell when it happened.

“Go!” Shining’s order sent Cadence and Skyla, along with the pegasus guards, into the air while the unicorns used gravity inversion to let themselves and the earth ponies slide up the underside of the stairs. It was a move reserved for emergencies and dreadfully slow shifts.

Shining was the first up to the hallway, and he canceled the inversion spell at the perfect time. With cat-like reflexes honed over some dreadfully slow nights, he landed on his hooves, ran to the exit, and surveyed the platform. The damage to it was extensive, and in the middle of it was Inova. He recognized her immediately, even though she had more features than her human part normally did.

Cadence arrived next to him. “Where’s Flurry?” She ran up to the downed Inova and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Flurry sleeping under Inova’s arm and wing.

Skyla noticed a pile of red dust behind her sleeping sisters and the alicorn sword. “What’s that?”

Shining’s attention locked onto it. “Get that dust pile into a jar and put it under lock and key,” he ordered. “Put every magic nullifier you can on it too.” Some of the unicorn guards followed the order while he inspected the alicorn sword. The weapon was completely drained of its enchantments, the blade was dulled and warped from intense heat, and when he moved it, there was a rattling sound in the hilt. Not too far away was a bent shield. It would have to be carried separate from the hammer.

Cadence and Skyla worked together to lift Inova and Flurry and make a barrier under them. “Let’s go home,” Cadence said. “Guards, thank you for your vigilance and haste.”

Skyla looked at the bubble around the Empire and smiled. “I don’t see any cracks in the sky.”

I woke up in my bed, and that was the first thing I noticed. The second thing I noticed was I was alone, and that jolted me awake. “Flurry!” I got to my feet and ran out of my room. “Flurry!”

“Over here,” Skyla said from the living room.

I looked that way and all my anxiety was replaced with relief. “Thank goodness.” Skyla was watching Flurry play with some toys. “I was so scared.”

“I can tell. Oh, take a look at this.” Skyla made a reflective barrier appear in front of me. “By the way, it looks like Sombra’s gone for real this time, Hero.”

I looked at my reflection in confusion. I had my pony ears, horn, wings, and tail on my slightly more muscled up human body. “Ooookay then.” I turned around and saw that my wings had torn through my clothes, giving me an excuse to go back to Ponyville at some point. “Let me think a bit. . . Ah.” I cast the splitting spell.

All four Inova parts looked at each other and smiled. Flurry was safe, the bad guy was dead, and things were alright. Unicorn Inova cast the normal splitting spell.

I checked myself over after reforming. My body was equine again, everything seemed to be working normally, and I let out a sigh of relief as I took the gravity gauntlet off. “That’s better.” I walked to the living room as Skyla dropped the barrier. “Hi, Flurry,” I softly said as I lay down next to her. “Inova’s back.”

“Noba!” Flurry leapt at me with a big hug. Her legs, the only normal sized part of her, weren’t quite big enough for the hug, so she used her wings for most of it.

“Yes, I’m safe too.” I returned the hug with a foreleg and turned to Skyla. “So. . . How long was I out this time?”

“We got both of you from the castle two days ago,” Skyla said. “Mom and dad are getting some pizza. They should be back-”

The front door opened. “We’re home,” mom said, a short stack of pizza boxes on her back. “Skyla, how’s Flurry. . . Inova, it’s good to see you’re awake already.”

“And here I thought she would make week-long naps a regular thing,” dad remarked.

“Yeah, I’m trying to break that habit.” I got to my hooves and hugged mom and dad. “I’m happy to be back.”

“We’re glad you’re back,” mom said as she and dad hugged back.

“We knew you’d be back,” dad assured.

“Help me!” Skyla called out in feigned despair, catching our attention. Flurry was sitting on her back.

We laughed at her for a bit.

“You’ve made quite a name for yourself, Inova,” dad said over supper. “Our subjects are calling you the Hero of the Empire. Fixing the crystal heart, feeding those in need, mocking the nobles, saving Flurry, and ending Sombra once and for all, all within two weeks.”

I felt exhausted just being reminded of what I’d been doing. A bite of pizza helped a bit. “I don’t want to do any of that heroic stuff for a while.”

“You’d mock the nobles again in a heartbeat,” Skyla pointed out as she pointed the crust from her slice at me shortly before eating it.

“Oh I will,” I assured her. “They’ve earned that.”

Mom sighed. “I wish more of them were at least tolerable.”

“Why not reasonable?” Dad asked.

“That’s asking too much.”

Author's Note

Part of this chapter was inspired by a spectacularly well done scene from a show of mine. If you find the scene, you'll find where the idea for the alicorn sword came from.

And on a side note. . .

HELP HELP! I'M ALMOST OUT OF BACKLOG! I NEED IDEAS! If you wouldn't mind. You don't have to.