Blueleaf moved with a furious purpose in his eyes and disregarded the annoyed sneers from the minotaurs guarding the door to Blackbeard's private office. Rearing up and slamming his forehooves into the door to force it open, he paused to adjust his bicorn hat and sash before striding inside.

"Commodore! Commodore!" He roared, kicking the door shut behind him. Scanning the room lit by the light from its open window, he quickly spotted the man he was hunting for on the little balcony connected to the room. "Blackbeard!" The man's shoulders slumped as he uttered a cheery sigh before he swung about and faced the stallion with a smile.

"What is it, Blueleaf?" He purred, leaning against the balcony railing and casting his gaze skyward. "I was contemplating the three deaths before you burst in." Blueleaf stomped toward him before pausing once he was at the threshold of the exterior door.

"The what?" He muttered after a moment of consideration. Blackbeard hummed a laugh, still with his face turned upward.

"The three deaths," he replied. "It's something that a comrade of mine once proposed." Finally, he looked down at Blueleaf and extended a hand as he spoke.

"A fellow endures three deaths in the end," he continued, counting off with his fingers. "The death of the body, the death of the image, and the death of the self." As Blueleaf furrowed his brow, Blackbeard rolled his hand at him.

"The first you're probably familiar with, it's when your flesh gives out," he explained before offering a strangely grim and mirthless chuckle. "And believe you me, I'm keenly familiar with that one." His smile turned dark as a pause followed, though Blueleaf didn't seem to notice the change and just looked at the pirate expectantly. Finally, Blackbeard's expression softened and he waved his hand.

"The second happens when they drop you in the ground or at sea. When, finally, the image of you is hidden away in your final resting place," he explained before barking a curt laugh and leaning close. "Though, personally, I've plundered enough crypts to know there ain't much final about most resting places!" He laughed in earnest as Blueleaf's eyes darted left and right. Finding he was laughing alone, the pirate cleared his throat.

"Bit of humor for you. Anyway!" He held both his hands up for emphasis. "The death of the self occurs long after you're well and truly dead." He bent to one knee and pointed a single finger at Blueleaf.

"It's when a man's name is spoken for the last time," he added with a firm, low tone before sweeping his hand in a cutting motion. "Forever." Even though, as his vacant expression conveyed, Blueleaf plainly hadn't followed most of what had been said, the pony's ear twitched and he recoiled slightly. Blackbeard let another pause hang in the air as he raked his fingers through his namesake.

"This colleague of mine believed it's that last death that, well," he shrugged and offered a strangely somber expression. "That's when a man is gone." He took a heavy breath before standing to his full height and adopting a smile.

"This recent nonsense with our dear imposter simply reminded me of something that scrawny git said when I first met him," he said before chuckling and sweeping one arm out. "A few hundred years off, and they're still talking about me!" He threw his head back with a laugh as Blueleaf furrowed his brow.

"Guess in one way at least, I really am immortal, ain't I?" Blackbeard chortled, folding his arms and grinning at the pony. Another silence followed.

"Commodore, I must protest to some of your new hires," Blueleaf finally declared, drawing the mirth from Blackbeard's face and a groan from the man himself.

"Must you?" He sighed, rolling his head before fixing the pony with a wry, weary smile.

"I must! One of them is the loathsome hound who assaulted and robbed me within recent memory!" Blueleaf declared with a stomp. He waved his hoof back at the building with an expression of disgust. "He came along with that Sneaky Stumble mare, or whatever her name is." Blackbeard's face lit up as he spoke.

"Ah! So he's an experienced highwayman, then? Excellent!" He declared, clapping his hands, to Blueleaf's shock.

"No! Not excellent!" He cried, adjusting his sash and firmly nodding. "I cannot abide that ruffian being involved in this operation!" A pause followed as the two locked eyes. Finally, Blackbeard shrugged and drew a knife.

"Well! Feel free to kill him yourself, if you feel so incensed!" He said, slipping the blade into Blueleaf's sash. The stallion froze at his response.

"Bwuh?" He squeaked as Blackbeard picked him up with one hand and turned him around before scooting him inside with his foot.

"Until then, go and fetch Yendrek. Alongside Vane's vain philosophies, I was thinking we have enough numbers to begin the next phase of our plan," Blackbeard said before snapping his fingers and pointing at the pony. "And Miss Salvage has already proven herself an asset, mind you! She's delivered me intelligence on an easy target she learned about shortly before coming here." Blueleaf blinked and looked back at Blackbeard who was now looking south with a wicked light in his eyes.

"Hippogriffs from Mount Aris trade at a port a few days south and east of here," he added with a grim chortle.

Rarity threw her head back with a cry of alarm that filled the whole throne room. "An entire noble house bankrupted in one fell swoop!" She cried, shivering as she considered the scale of what had occurred. "What a dastardly action!" She looked up at Celestia, who stood just before her and the other Element-bearers, but had her gaze cast off to the side at one of the stained-glass windows. Twilight furrowed her brow and glanced up at the window, which depicted the construction of Canterlot, before turning to her friends.

"Dastardly is right. But, and I hate to say it, this does work to our benefit in one regard," she offered a weak smile to the princess, who blinked and returned an inquisitive leer. "The baron will be tied up for some time as he attempts to remedy his financial situation." Celestia furrowed her brow as Twilight shrugged meekly.

"Meaning the gathering of all the noble families will be delayed as well," she concluded, to the quiet murmurs of her friends. Celestia glanced to the side for a moment before humming.

"Yes, that is a silver lining, though I hate to consider the personal benefits such tragedies award," she replied before taking a quiet breath and shrugging her wings. "And perhaps as the baron works with Canterlot over the coming months, his position and stance towards my sister and I will be swayed before the nobles convene." Despite everything, Rarity, Applejack, and Twilight perked up, while Fluttershy hummed and tilted her head slightly.

"Discord mentioned something like that. He thought it was awfully funny that one of his, uh, 'Agents of Malignance' would wind up helping you so much, Princess," she said before wincing and blushing when she realized what she said. Looking around, she saw all eyes were on her and she wilted as Celestia was the only one smiling.

"Can't believe you're still spending time with that weirdo," Rainbow grunted, shaking her head and waving a hoof through the air. "Especially since pretty much everything that's happening is his fault one way or another!" Fluttershy wilted harder as the others murmured in agreement.

"Well-" Celestia hummed a laugh and stepped closer, spreading her wings as she did.

"Now, now, the fact that Fluttershy is willing to showcase such empathy with one of our foes is not something to deride," she declared, drawing all eyes to her. She considered the smaller ponies before nodding sagely. "Discord remains snared, and if his amicability with her is any sign, who knows?" She faced Fluttershy and winked.

"We may find he comes around sooner or later," she added, drawing a smile from the yellow pegasus after a moment. Nodding again, she considered the other ponies present. "Let's continue to focus on the bright side of things, shall we?" As the others offered her a set of determined smiles, Pinkie sprang up.

"Yeah! Like how we finally have a solid lead on that hairy old bully!" She cried, punching her hooves in the air. "And we know he's flying now, so we know to look up instead of down!" Then, she paused and narrowed her eyes before rubbing her chin.

"Oooh, unless he knows that we know he can fly, and now he's going to be focusing all his piratey business-" She gasped and stamped her hoof. "UNDERGROUND! The LAST place we'd look!" She adopted a critical leer and glared at the tiled floor, searching the grooves between each tile. The others watched her for a moment before Twilight cleared her throat.

"Well, I don't know how true that is, but Pinkie's right! We have a heading!" She declared before nodding at the princess. "We'll set out immediately, Princess!" With a nod of her own and a wave of her wing, Celestia watched as the ponies bowed and then all but stampeded out of the throne room, leaving her alone.

Again, her attention drifted to the stained-glass relief of Canterlot's construction before she sighed heavily and conjured up the morning's newspaper. Reading the front page story again, her expression fell.

"Well, Mr. Fremont, despite my initial assessment, you are a willy one," she quietly said as her eyes drifted across the page. "And I don't appreciate you placing me in a position in which I must see the misfortunes of others as a positive." Closing her eyes with a hum, her horn lit up and the paper burst into smokeless flames and vanished completely. She turned and began to ascend to her throne.

"So, I hope wherever you are, you appreciate me diverting the girls," she said once she was halfway up the stairs as a wry grin worked its way onto her face. "Let's see what else those disaffected souls can convince you to do." Before she could continue, the door burst open and a guard came rushing in. Turning, she fixed him with a surprised look as he bowed.

"Your Majesty, it has returned!" He cryptically hissed. Celestia paused and blinked for a few moments.

"It?" She repeated, causing the guard's ears to shoot back. Her head swiveled as she searched her thoughts. "It. It. What are you talking about?" She fixed the guard with an annoyed, expectant expression as his jaw dropped. After a moment he coughed and rolled a hoof at her.

"The uh, Cadenza affair?" He replied. Celestia tilted her head before squawking and nearly tumbling down the stairs to the guard's alarm. Steadying herself, she stood sputtering and snarling.

"Oh for the love of- Now?!" She all but roared, causing the guard to hug the ground in fear. Celestia stomped down the stairs, hissing as she descended. "Sombra you slack-jawed, snaggle-toothed little-" Once her hooves touched the floor she threw her head back with a chesty growl before blowing a full breath through her lips. After a moment of silence, she considered the terrified guard with a weary expression.

"Well! At least we are prepared, hm?" She more declared than asked as a weak smile came across her face. Then, as the guard stared at her in silence, her wings snapped out as she adopted an even cheerier look. "And let's look on the bright side: Cadance acquiring her birthright could be a major boon during such trying times."

With my open book in one hand and my eyes locked on the page I'd just found and spent a few minutes reading, I stepped down to the deck of the airship where Honeysuckle and her chums were shacking up.

"Hey, Honeysucks. What do you know about the Crystal Heart?" I looked down at her in the hammock she was lounging in. Beside it, Snowpea and Violence looked up at me in mild horror as Honeysuckle sat with her belly up and her head thrown back. After a second more, she slowly looked up at me as well, her mane parted so both her eyes could lock with mine.

"Excuse moi?" She replied. I pursed my lips and read the entry in my book again.

"What do you know about the-" She grunted and waved her hooves at me, adopting a narrow-eyed, sour expression.
"Non, non, I heard that," she said, rolling forward to sit up as best she could. Shaking her head her mane remained parted as she again locked eyes with me. "What did you call me?" My attention remained on my book.

"According to my books, the Heart's supposed to be an emotion-fueled magic item, like the Elements, right?" I pressed, rubbing my chin. I saw some of the other critters dwelling on his deck out of the corner of my eye, looking between me and Honeysuckle.

"Uh-uh! What did you just call me?" She hissed, standing up and causing the hammock to swivel. I offered her an inquisitive leer as I tapped my chin.

"Do you think if we got our hands on it it'd be able to go head-to-head with the Elements?" I asked, causing her to fall into a sputtering, hissing, snarling fit which caused the the hammock to finally spin out from under her. As she hit the deck with a shout, Snowpea winced before looking up at me again.

"Why're you worried about fighting the Elements, Goober?" She asked as Violence helped Honey to her hooves. The cultists nearby began whispering to each other and some trotted off to other decks. I huffed and brought a hand to my chest.

"Oh, pardon me! I was under the impression we just launched a huge ass act of terror against the State of Equestria, which is defended by the Elements, is all," I retorted, causing Snowpea to recoil. I frowned and tapped my book. "Anyway, according to my book it was hidden away in the Crystal Empire like a thousand years ago or something." Now that Honey was on her hooves and glaring at me through her bangs, Violence and Snowpea shared a look.

"Yeah, that's right. But uhm," Snowpea cleared her throat and offered a meager shrug. "The Empire itself vanished a thousand years ago too. I think." She furrowed her brow and looked off in thought.

"You think?" I murmured, causing Honeysuckle to groan and shake her head.

"Much of Equestrian history from that period was lost, so some things aren't well known to the public," she sighed before brushing her chest with a hoof. "But if you know where to dig in the Canterlot archives, or if you're an officer, you can learn all kinds of lesser-known legends." I hummed and nodded before folding my arms.

"And where does the Empire and the Heart stand?" I pressed. Honeysuckle shrugged as she climbed back into her hammock.

"Hidden in the north, vanished a thousand years ago, and currently being monitored for its predicted return," she replied once she was settled, kicking one of her hooves at me once she was lying on her back. "There's an entire northern regiment dedicated to monitoring the area where it disappeared." I drummed my fingers against my chin.

"Could be worth a peek," I offered. "God knows we can't risk returning to the fort."

"Can't we? We can at least pass by to see if it's being overrun by guards," Honeysuckle retorted, tilting her head. "Which would be a better plan than trudging through the frozen north, might I add." I smiled and leaned close.

"That's a good point! Allow me to retort," I snapped my fingers at her. "Captain gives orders on the ship." She snorted and donned a wry smile.

"You'd barely make private," she spat. I pulled back and began to make for the stairs. As I did, I noted the cultists were mostly dispersed, though a few regarded me with a familiar hopeful expression.

"My ship," I called back. "Makes me captain."

"And I command the crew on how to sail," Honeysuckle contended, causing me to pause halfway up the stairs. I turned and wildly gestured at her.

"That just makes you," I paused and frowned as I searched for a title. "Chief- Sailing- Director." I nodded firmly before resuming my ascent. As I marched for my private quarters, I saw the crew whispering amongst themselves. Mainly, each little group of ponies was listening to one of the cultists who had been below decks just a few moments ago, during which time they'd heard my questioning and therefore, guessed my intentions.

With a quiet huff, I pushed through the door to my cabin and closed it behind me. Once it was shut, I turned to meet Sash's concerned eyes from atop my bed where he was waiting.

"So?" He demanded quietly. I smiled and nodded.

"Word's spreading like you said, I think," I explained, shaking my book at him. "Not only did I hint at where we were going but I also dropped that I've got eyes on a magic item that could let us defend ourselves against the Elements of Harmony." I stepped to just before him and folded my arms.

"So, that should quell those murmurs of uncertainty you've been hearing," I said with a confident nod and a smug grin. He took a deep breath and sighed with a smile.

"Excellent! Excellent work, Victor. And again, I do apologize, but three whole days of simply drifting around without any proper course, well," he grimaced before offering me a shrug. "It does get creatures antsy, I'm sure you understand. Now, where did you hint that we were heading?" I nodded and sat down beside him.

"Yeah, according to Honeysuckle the thing is up north," I explained jutting a thumb in the direction I thought was north, before clapping my hands and wagging a finger. "Oh! Added bonus was I got to show up Honeysuckle in front of the gang while I was at it!" I snickered and fixed him with a cheery smile. His own expression was one of mild horror, however.

"What's up?" I asked.

"How far north?" He demanded with a tone more dire than I'd ever heard him use.

A dire tone wasn't the only new thing I'd heard Sash utter. Seemingly, the word 'scruff' is a sheep swear that covers a wide array of profanity, but Sash was attentive enough to ask for my species' version of 'mother fucking dumbass.' Considering, as he made certain to press upon me alongside his hooves into my chest, that the frozen north was a vast empty wasteland of snow and ice and freezing temperatures all year round, that endured week-long night cycles followed by twelve-hour day cycles, and so it was just about the worst place to venture, I empathized with his frustrations.

He'd settled down a little when I revealed we were looking for the Crystal Heart. As he put it, if we could get our hands on it, that'd be huge for doing the whole 'new and better society' thing everyone's been after. But then he remembered what he'd learned during his tenure amongst the upper class, which had allowed him to study ancient history. A few cross-checks with my book hadn't helped his reignited concerns, either.

The Crystal Empire, which was more of a city-state than anything, had been ruled by a cousin or something of Celestia's back in the day. She was overthrown and murdered by an evil unicorn named Sombra, who had a fucking entry in my monster book. Being able to see that he was physically an average unicorn didn't help when I saw the array of special powers he had as well as what he did to people. The book was kind enough to let me know he cast spells as a 15th-level wizard. For comparison, Celestia and her sister were level 18 and 16 respectively. How much those numbers matter for unicorn wizards, I hadn't a clue. But they matter to me, and so I was very scared.

The only consolation to myself and to Sash was the fact the book specified Sombra was pure evil, and thus very susceptible to Protection from Evil 'and similar spells.' Whatever that bit meant.

With that narrow assurance, as well as the muddy hope that the Empire hadn't even returned yet and so we were going into the frozen north for nothing, Sash had departed to prepare the crew and let me prepare my spells for the coming expedition. And prepare I most certainly would. According to the book, I was a proper 'Magician' now. Cause Gary thought it'd be cool to give levels names to go with the number.

You win this time, Mr. Gygax.

Anyway, as a Magician, I was up to four first-level spells and two second and third-level spells. Each. My power grows, my skill increases, and my legend unmatched. Hopefully. And I mean I really hope. If I actually understood how my Clairvoyance spell worked, I might've been able to spy on Celestia and others to see what they were saying about me after what I just pulled. As I didn't know how the spell really worked, I really only had my cult to work off of.

So boy howdy, wouldn't that be just the funniest thing? I leave this huge impression on all of them and get them all hyped up for me only for us all to freeze to death in the fucking snowy north.

Before I could muse on that possibility or on what spells to prepare, a knock came at the door.

"Enter if you dare," I bellowed. A familiar, frightened squeak came in response and I groaned. "I was joking. Come in, Sugarplum." The door creaked open and I sat up on the edge of my bed, setting my books aside. Sugarplum nervously poked her head in first before slowly stepping into the room once I'd beckoned her closer.

"Hi, uhm, Mr. Fremont," she said once she was right in front of me. She had something folded upon her back which she kept glancing back at.

"Hello, Sugarplum," I replied, folding my hands and leaning on my knees. "Did you need something?" Her ears shot back and she didn't answer right away. When she did, she sat down and removed the thing from her back with her magic.

"I know it's probably wrong of me to say, but," she hesitated and scrunched her muzzle. "Thank you for-" I raised an eyebrow as she took a breath and finally got the words out.

"What you did to the baron," she hastily added, with no small amount of shame in her voice. I smiled and gently patted her head.

"Hey, don't worry about it," I replied, tipping her chin up to look at me. "And if you feel that bad, just remember: I'm the evil wizard." I smirked and tapped her nose.

"You're just caught up in the whirlwind of malevolence that is me," I declared, drawing a quiet giggle from her.

"Well, however you want to put it, I wanted to give you something," she lifted the folded thing up to me. It was slightly fuzzy and brow with some obvious stitchwork all over it. "It's not much, but since we're going somewhere cold, and I know you like to stay up reading your magic books, I made this for you." I furrowed my brow as I took the thing and unfolded it, at which point I recoiled.

"I heard those old unicorn wizards wear stuff like this to keep warm, so," she offered as I inspected what she'd given me. "Yeah!"

It was kind of cruddy. It was a little uneven in places, especially at the sleeves. And hell, I wasn't even sure if it was entirely my size.

But this little pony had just given me my first honest-to-God evil wizard robe. She'd even stitched on a simple, but effective, spooky skull on the chest.

"Awesome," I finally declared, turning to her with a smile. "Thanks a million, Sugarplum." She beamed at my response.

"You're welcome," she giggled as I continued appraising my robe. "Let me know if it's warm enough! I don't want that cough to get any worse. It must be pretty dusty in here, 'cause I heard you through the door last night!"

"Yeah, yeah, drafty," I idly replied, still taking in the sight. "Damn, thanks again, Sugar. I really appreciate it."

Honeysuckle reared up on the railing before the helm. "The wind has died down! You three! Check our envelope! Break off any ice that has formed!" She yelled, jabbing a wool-wrapped hoof at three of our pegasi, who shared a look and a groan before zipping up to the balloon and out of sight. I huffed and tightened my robe before glancing up at the balloon.
"You sure I can't-" Honeysuckle whirled around and thrust her hoof at me.

"Non! I already told you, any fire magic could burst the whole thing!" She declared before turning her attention forward with a snort. "Imbécile." Wincing, I looked back over the deck where only half of the crew was present, with the rest hiding inside as it was their turn to warm up outside of the frigid air.

Using the fortune we'd stolen we were able to send a few teams of ponies into some smaller settlements along the way and have them purchase supplies for our journey. Now at least, with everyone given a proper set of winter clothing, we wouldn't freeze to death, and we had some navigation tools Honeysuckle could use to keep us from losing our way. But freezing to death and still being fucking cold were two very different things. Currently, Turnip and Sugarplum were on deck together, taking Violence and Snowpea's post, while Sash, the only creature who wasn't miserable due to the cold, was doing his best at the helm.

"Six degrees south! NOW!" Honeysuckle suddenly barked, causing the poor guy to jump out of his wool. He did as ordered before shooting me a nervous glance. Wincing again, I looked over the deck to see similar expressions of unease aimed my way. "Fix your face, Goobèr." Furrowing my brow, I turned to Honeysuckle, who kept her eyes forward.

"They're looking to you for stability," she said. "You dragged them out here. The least you can do is appear confident in your decision." Considering her and her words for a moment, I turned forward and glanced down at the crew. At that moment, the pegasi returned and landed on deck, where two of them began stamping their hooves to shake some of the frost off before all three looked up at me.

Taking a shallow breath, I furrowed my brow and cast as confident a glare out to the horizon as I could before scanning the wasteland around us. Through the corner of my eye, I saw them still studying me and so I made my way down from the helm to the front of the ship, scanning the horizon all the while. As I paced toward the front, Turnip and Sugarplum moved to intercept and join me.

"You know, back when I joined the guard, the other recruits said the northern watch was more of a punishment than a job," Turnip said before craning his neck to look out over the snow and ice. "Definitely see what they meant now." I hummed in response, causing a small gout of steam to waft through the air from my nose. Before I could say anything though, a rumble rolled across the deck.

"Brace yourselves! The wind is picking up again!" Honeysuckle roared. I hissed through my teeth and tucked the hood of my robe tighter around my head. As the crew scrambled and huddled together at their stations, I squinted against the sudden burst of frigid air that blasted across the deck. In doing so, I spotted something glittering in the distance and leaned forward to get a better look.

Through the snow being whipped through the air, I could definitely see a tall, shimmering shape far away around which the heavy clouds seemed thinner.

"Hey! Look that way!" I cried, turning to the helm and pointing out what I was seeing. "What is that?" The whole crew hurried to my side of the ship and looked at what I'd spotted. After a moment, Honeysuckle shook her head.

"It's just the sun bouncing off the ice!" She replied.

"Sure, but doesn't that mean there's a hole in the clouds over there?" I shot back. She considered me for a moment before nodding.

"Good point! Hard to east!" She barked at Sash. When we didn't immediately begin to turn she snapped around and glared at him. "Hard to-!" I furrowed my brow and looked at Sash as well, who was turned to the opposite side of the ship with his ears back and his face drawn in a wide-eyed frown. Blinking, I slowly looked that way as well.

"Protection from Evil," I immediately declared, throwing my hand up. My hand glowed golden for a moment before the air around me shimmered with a similar light. Now surrounded by my divine nimbus of power, I nervously approached the opposite edge of the boat, drawing everyone's attention as I did.

"What the heck is that?!" Someone cried once their eyes fell upon what Sash had spotted. And if I hadn't read my books, I might've been just as lost as him. Instead, I faced the looming, rumbling cloud of darkness that completely hid the entire horizon on its side with only mild pants-shitting terror.

"Sombra," I called to the cloud. The cloud rolled in on itself for a moment before a smirking, faintly-equine shape swelled forward and two green eyes lit up. A sharp, jagged red horn burst from the clouds followed by a bellowing cackle. His eyes fell upon me and I pounded my chest. "Give it your best shot." His grin wavered for a moment, so I decided to press my luck.

I flipped him off. "Bitch." His eyes lit up and his horn crackled before he plunged toward me face-first with a bone-shaking roar. I didn't even have time to clench my eyes before he made impact. I did however have time to gasp in relief when my evil-warding shield flashed and he threw himself back with a howl of pain. His cloudy shape rolled back with him and then snapped down to ground level where it vanished from sight under the wind-whipped snow.

Panting and clenching my hands, I slowly turned back to the crew, all of whom, Honeysuckle included, had me fixed with looks ranging from abject shock to teary-eyed despair. A few were even passed out on the deck. Sucking in a breath, I thrust my arm toward the shape in the distance.

"Hard to east."

Even as we drew near to what steadily revealed itself to be a crystalline city that Honeysuckle and Sash quickly declared to be the Crystal Empire, my eyes were constantly glued back the way we came. The snow continued to rush through the air giving the no-doubt angry unicorn wizard plenty of places to hide, and I found myself zoning out as I kept mistaking dark spots in the storm for him.

I had two more Protection from Evil spells and one ten-foot protection spell prepared. If nothing else, I could hold him at bay if he tried to attack us head-on again, but the guy was a wizard.

And I had no idea what else unicorn magic users could pull off.

Fortunately, as the book had implied about the guy, he was a schemer and cautious. He preferred to lay traps and only engaged his enemies when he was confident he had the advantage. As my spell had proven that we were better defended than he first assumed, I hoped that he was hanging back and observing us, giving us time to locate the Crystal Heart and hopefully kill him with it.

And my second level 'Locate Object' spell would hopefully speed that search up. Hopefully.

Damn it, how many evil wizards find themselves relying on hope and the power of love? I should be the one other people are hoping and praying about and using hokey touchy-feely magic powers against!

"This is bullshit," I grumbled.

"What?" I blinked and turned to see Sash beside me. He tilted his head. "Is that another human curse?"

"Yes."

"Ah, I'll keep that in mind," he hummed, before gesturing with a hoof. "Anyway, we're about to begin descending, Victor." Looking toward the front of the ship, I saw we were now right on the fringes of the city. In fact, we were actively crossing a sort of invisible threshold where the snow and wind seemed to die down in a perfect sphere around the city.

The crystal streets and buildings were still dusted with snow and frost, but it was gentler compared to everything we'd seen so far, and a faint glow from the sun was visible through the clouds. How daylight worked here when, as Sash had said, the rest of the area endured a full week of night, I hadn't a clue.

Chalk it up to hokey magic gobbledygook.

At the center of the whole place was a massive tower made of, you guessed it, pure crystal and no doubt the object I'd spotted from afar. What was cool was the fact that, now that I'd noticed the tower, I realized the entire place was set up like a big ass snowflake with how the streets spread between the blocks of buildings.

"Dollars to donuts that's the palace or whatever," I declared.

"I think you're right," Honeysuckle called back as she stepped back onto the helm deck. Her gaze lingered on the structure for a moment before drifting to me. "Might be a good place to hole up for the time being."

"Agreed," I idly replied. A silence followed. After a few seconds, we shared another look and then noticed Sash looking between us with surprise written on his face. After another moment of silence, Honeysuckle whipped around and marched to the lower deck while I focused on the approaching city.

"Dork," she spat.

"Your mom," I replied. Sash sighed quietly before joining me in observing the city.

After a few minutes, we had set the ship down and were disembarked and making our way down one of the snow-dusted crystal roads toward the tower. Though there was still a chill in the air, it was way more bearable here than in the wasteland outside. Every so often, I glanced back to see if I could spy any looming clouds of shadow but saw only snow.

"I can't believe you were right. The crystal city's real!" someone chirped, drawing my attention to the cultists following my, Sash's, and Honeysuckle's lead. I quickly found the voice's owner, a pink pegasus with bright yellow eyes that were darting all around as we passed between a few smaller rock buildings. I smiled and brought a hand to my chest.

"I always aim to please, little lady," I replied, causing the pony to pause and turn to me before furrowing her brow.

"I'm a guy," he spat. I choked and stumbled before looking at him in horror. Scanning the rest of the group, most of them wore expressions of shock and a few of severe disappointment. Except for Honeysuckle, whose attention was firmly locked on our surroundings as she marched on without us. I cleared my throat and meekly gestured at the guy.

"Fuck. Sorry," I murmured, at which he snorted and trotted right past me. I stood there for a moment as everyone else walked around me, with one hand over my mouth and my face hot enough to ward off the cold. Eventually, I overcame my soul-crushing embarrassment and ran to catch up with the rest of the group. By now we were well and truly inside the city and hemmed in on all either side by increasingly tall crystal buildings with the tower looming in the distance and growing closer every second.

"Wait," Honeysuckle suddenly snapped, holding up a hoof and causing everyone to freeze, allowing me to make it to the front of the group.

"What's up?" I quietly asked once there. She scanned our surroundings before humming and lowering her hoof. Blinking, I looked up and saw what she'd noticed.

Slowly, one by one, we found ourselves surrounded by a large crowd of ponies. Unlike most ponies I'd seen, these ones seemed universally depressed. It was strange; they seemed to have an almost glossy sheen to them, but it was dull and grey, like poorly stained glass. What's more, there wasn't a single ear that wasn't pressed back, and they all had their eyelids half closed as they looked at us with uniform and vacant stares.

"Huh," I murmured, glancing back at our group who huddled close together and looked out at the others with trepidation.

"I don't think they mean us harm," Honeysuckle quietly said, drawing my attention back to her as Sash came up beside us.

"Even if they did, they don't look like they have much fight in them," he added. At that moment, one of the new ponies, a glossy yellow pony with a full-on greaser-style pompadour, stepped out from the crowd and approached us.

"Who- Who are you," he said in a near whimper before wilting. "Are you with him?" Guessing who he meant, I frowned and folded my arms.

"They are with me, Victor Fremont," I replied, raising an eyebrow. "And who are you?" The crowd murmured amongst themselves as the forepony winced.

"I'm Ivoryhoof, I was," he paused and then winced hard, holding one hoof to his head. After a moment he blinked and shook his head. "Somepony important, I think." I shared a look with Sash before nodding.

"Hello, Ivoryhoof. And who are they?" I gestured to the crowd, causing Ivoryhoof to blanch.

"You-" He sighed quietly before pointing at some of the others. "Uh, well, that's Amberlocks, that's Dandygloss, that's-"

"No, no, damn it," I huffed and waved a hand. "I mean in general. Who are all of you?" A look of relief washed over his face and he nodded.

"Ah. We're, well," he hesitated and frowned slightly before shrugging. "The Crystal Ponies of the Empire, Mr. Fremont." I recoiled slightly, but Honeysuckle spoke before I could press him.

"How long have you been here?" She asked. He sighed again and rolled his head.

"Well, my mother-"

"I meant the lot of you," she corrected.

"Oh. Uh, forever, I guess?" Ivory replied with a shrug. He looked over the crowd as he continued. "Most of us were born here before-" He froze and shivered.

"Before he came," he all but whispered as a similar dreadful vibe washed over the crowd. Scanning them, I saw a few hugging the ground or each other. Honeysuckle meanwhile slowly shook her head.

"The Empire vanished a thousand years ago," she said, taking a step closer to Ivory and glancing at the crowd. "You've all-" She paused and then locked eyes with Ivory.

"You've been here this whole time? Alive?" She finished with a curt huff, drawing a look of shock from Ivory.

"A thousand years?" He gasped, shaking his head. "I don't-" Again, he winced and held a hoof to his head. A few other ponies in the crowd mimicked his action. Oh cool, magic gobbledygook. I leaned to Honeysuckle and pulled Sash close.

"They must've gotten caught in the magic that vanished the whole place," I whispered as the crowd recovered from whatever mind-fuckery was done to them. Sash and Honey recoiled at my assessment before the latter looked over the crowd.

"That's," she paused and shook her head. "Awful." I shrugged and stood up before stepping past them, sweeping an arm out and drawing the crowd's attention.

"Hear me, Victor Fremont the Great and Powerful!" I roared in my wizard voice, causing some of the crystal ponies to quiver. "Sombra is no friend of mine, and I have come to this city seeking the means to dispatch him once and for all!" Ivoryhoof and a few others recoiled at my proclamation, and several gasps and lively whispers sprang up. I stepped forward again and pointed at the tower.

"My companions and I shall sojourn to yonder palace to prepare the next steps of our quest! I beseech ye to select one from amongst yourselves to treat with my representative while we hunt!" As the crowd took in my declaration, I leaned to Sash and whispered. "Do you mind handling these guys while we search? Maybe see if any of them have an idea where the Heart is?" He blinked before adopting a wry smile and nodding.

"Sure thing, Victor."

The inside of the crystal tower was much warmer and so the cultists began to disrobe from their winter gear before huddling into little groups all around the foyer. As they did, I took a breath and held my hands to the heavens to unleash my 'Locate Object' spell, focusing on the details of the Crystal Heart as my book had presented them. My hands glowed and then the light pinged out to like twenty feet, maybe. I dunno, distance estimations of weird magical light are hard.

Especially since I was more frustrated when nothing happened.

"And," I sucked in a breath and groaned. "Wherever it is it's out of fucking range. Great." I let my arms drop and slap against my legs.

"So what do we do, Avatar?" Looking over at the cultists, some of whom were still shivering from our trip, I hummed and rubbed my chin. My gut told me that some clue to the Heart's location was here, we just had to find it. There was no way this huge ass tower didn't get used back in the day by Sombra. Towers and wizards go hand in hand, I don't care what species you are.

"Okay," I murmured, looking around the foyer and eyeing up the exits. As I did, my eyes fell upon Honeysuckle who was relaxing beside Snowpea and Violence and a grimace worked its way onto my face. Making my way to her I huffed. "Alright, as much as it pains me to suggest this, why don't you and I go search the castle for the Heart or anything else useful while everyone else warms up and relaxes?" She recoiled slightly and tilted her head. I rolled one hand at her as I continued.

"I've got one more locate spell prepared that we could fire off if we come across something suspicious, but more importantly, I've got a shield prepped and, well," I sighed and gestured to her, causing her to perk up.

"Ah, you're giving me the option to smash your head into things as hard as I can?" She purred before rolling to her hooves with a little bow. "I accept your offer with grace and humility." Snowpea frowned and looked up at me.

"Just the two of you?" She murmured, drawing a shrug from me.

"When my shield's up, we're pretty deadly as a pair, so I'm not too worried about us," I wagged a finger at her and Violence. "But you two and Turnip are pretty competent yourselves. That's why I want you three to keep an eye on everyone else. If something happens, I'm sure you can handle it." She scrunched her muzzle before finally relenting with a nod that I mirrored.

"We'll be back," I declared before setting off with Honey, who giggled quietly as she followed.

"My my, he's actually using his head for once," she said with a snort. "And I thought that honor was reserved for me."

"Your mom, actually," I replied, drawing a hiss from her. Despite our banter, we carried on from the foyer and I found myself admiring the tower's interior. It really seemed like the whole place was built from a single, giant piece of crystal. The windows, the chandeliers, the blasted open door, the framed-

Wait.

"Quoi?" Honeysuckle murmured as we both turned to inspect the destroyed crystal door. On the other side was a library with dozens of tomes ripped from their shelves and hurled to the ground. As I braced to fire off my shield spell, Honey inspected the scorch marks on the door. "This is fresh."

"Sombra probably threw a fit or something way back when, and since the city just reappeared it only seems fresh," I offered, scanning the room and the ceiling. Somehow, my explanation offered me no comfort, especially as Honeysuckle hummed with an unsure tone.

"Well-" Just then, we heard some gentle humming coming from the hall and whipped around. Before I had a chance to raise my shield, Honey snatched me up by the legs and brandished me like a club.

"Wait! Wait!" I cried.

"Non! This is what we trained for!" She retorted, taking up a stance. Before things could escalate, the pink pony from earlier appeared in the doorway. We both froze as he turned into the door and recoiled at the sight of us.

"Uh, hi?" He squeaked, meekly waving a hoof. Honey and I both sighed in relief, though my sigh turned to a squawk of pain as she let me drop.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded. "We told you all to wait behind. Did something happen?" He flinched and scrunched his muzzle before snapping his wings and closing them.

"Oh, well," he murmured and then perked up. "I figured you could use some help!" By now I had made it back to my feet, and Honey firmly shook her head.

"Non. Return to the others unless something happens," she ordered. The guy wilted and turned away with a whimper. I sighed and stepped forward to stop him.

"Hey, I know I said it earlier, but genuinely, sorry about, uh, you know," I offered with a shrug. He blinked and tilted his head. "Sorry." He considered me for a moment before smiling.

"Aw, don't worry about it big guy! Everypony makes mistakes," he said brushing my leg with his wing. "I'm a big mare, I try not to hold on to grudges." I paused. A few seconds of silence passed, during which time he tilted his head again.

"Mare?" I pressed, furrowing my brow. He recoiled and blinked.

"What?" He squeaked. Turning to Honeysuckle, whose attention was firmly on him, I folded my arms and fired off my shield. As if sensing the shift, I was again swept off my feet and then snapped through the air. The whole room spun by in a blur and when I stopped, I had the imposter pinned against the wall hard enough to crack it. They squealed and wheezed before going limp and falling to the floor. Once there, yellow flames rolled up their body, revealing one of those crazy bug horses I'd seen at Canterlot.

However, this one had a yellow underbelly and eyes compared to the green ones I'd seen back in the city.

"A changeling!" Honeysuckle cried, working me like a lever to pin the creature. "From a different hive than the one that attacked Canterlot, too." The changeling hissed and struggled in vain against me.

"You'd better believe it, you dirty grazer!" It hissed. "I serve Queen Apterygota, not that buzzy loon, Chrysalis!" I exhaled hard as the thing kicked and scratched against my shield.

"Man, I was worried Sombra had crept up on us somehow," I sighed, before glaring at the bug. "Fuck do you want? And be quick before I fireball your ass." It fixed me with a smug leer.

"You don't scare me! I braved the frozen north alone to find the Crystal Heart! You think some lanky weirdo and his unicorn hussy can spook me?" It spat.

"HAAaaah?" Honey wailed. I meanwhile, nodded in understanding.

"Oh hey, we're looking for the Crystal Heart too," I declared. "Small world." The changeling's eyes went wide.

"How'd you know that's what I was after?!" It squealed, before wilting as Honeysuckle leaned almost nose to nose with it.

"Because you told him, imbécile," she growled. "Goobèr, let's kill them." I waved a hand at her.

"In a minute," I tapped the changeling on the head. "The fuck do you want the Heart for?" It hesitated but whimpered upon glancing at Honeysuckle.

"Oh, Queenie. Please forgive me!" It sobbed. "The Crystal Heart's supposed to be an infinite love battery. If we got our hooves on that, we'd be able to feed our hive and leverage its power against the others!" I blinked.

"Huh?"

"Changelings eat love. That's why they developed magic that lets them disguise themselves, so they can replace a pony's loved ones and feed on their love," Honeysuckle grumbled, drawing a long frown from me.

"Creepy," I declared before inspiration struck. I tapped the changeling again. "If you eat love, can you sniff it out?" It blinked and tilted its head.

"Uhm, kinda yeah?"

"Cool," I declared before hurling my 'Suggestion' spell at them. As my hand swept out at them, a line of garbled words flowed out in a line that shot them straight between the eyes. "I'm Victor Fremont and you're going to help us find the Crystal Heart." As I spoke, the garbled words shifted to match what I was saying before sinking into their head. They blinked and then smiled.

"Okay!"

"Huh?" Honey murmured, looking between me and the changeling who was now smiling cheerily. Catching on to what I'd done, she lifted me up allowing the creature to scurry to its hooves. "How long have you been able to do that?"

"Recent development," I explained.

"Hm," she replied. Now that the changeling was upright, I turned to them.

"So, hey, what's your name? And what the fuck were you trying to accomplish by sneaking up on us?" I asked. They perked up and brought a hoof to their chest.

"I'm Scuttle! I was about to sneak into the palace when you all arrived, so I was watching you from the shadows," they declared, adopting a creeping pose as they did. "When you made it to the palace, I crept away and found a secret passage!"

"Really?"

"Yep! It was thin, but I could smell the scent of a whole lot of love coming from it. So I was going to trick you two into leading the way in case there were any traps!" They added. Honeysuckle and I shared a look.

"Secret passage huh? Good place to start," I assessed before thrusting a hand at Scuttle. "Lead the way."

"Okie-dokey!"

Boy howdy, did we give the cult a scare when we came traipsing back through with a changeling since the foyer was the quickest route back to the throne room where this secret passage was located. Despite their protests, Honey and I still followed the critter on our own, and soon found ourselves standing before a big, ominous black rock throne and looking down a spiral staircase into a vast, deep pit.

"Crazy huh?" Scuttle asked.

"I'll say," I replied, examining the crystal that composed the stairs and pit. "It's completely different from the rest of the tower."

"Must be dark magic. If any place was going to be trapped, it'd be here," Honeysuckle replied, eyeing the staircase warily. I was eyeing the stairs too, but for a different reason.

Shit was steep and long. Fuck that noise. House Telvanni for life. Ground walkers get out.

Scooping up my unicorn hussy, and bug friend, I cast fly on myself and began to glide down. And I was now officially tapped out on third-level spells. Worth.

"Since when can you fly?" Honeysuckle demanded.

"Since I saw how long this wack-ass staircase was," I replied. She considered me for a moment before looking a the stairs, which were still going. And going. And going.

"Ah, très bien," she finally said. Shortly thereafter, we touched down. I sighed with satisfaction as I set Scuttle down and dropped Honeysuckle.

"What would you do without me?" I mused, pondering the vast distance we'd descended.

"Would you like an itemized list?" Honeysuckle growled. "Becau-" I clenched my eyes shut and grimaced.

"Ah-hah! See? Traps!" Scuttle cried. Slowly, I opened one eye and turned to see Honeysuckle inches away an open door filled with some spooky, shadowy crud. She was stock still and from this angle, I could see her eyes wide open with a greenish tint. Humming and preparing to write her off as k.i.a, I heard her murmuring.

"Non," she whispered, flinching as she did so. "I- I didn't mean to. I'm sorry." Rubbing my chin as she whispered and whimpered, I considered the void she was staring at from a safe distance. Humming and rocking my head back and forth, I finally sighed with a nod.

"Protection from Evil," I declared, lighting myself up and running my warded arm through the void. The void screamed.

Fingers crossed I won't ever hear that again.

At any rate, the shadow shrunk in on itself and then vanished with a ghoulish whisper, revealing a passageway to a bright, white crystal chamber with another staircase going up. As soon as the void had vanished, Honeysuckle gasped and stumbled back before whipping her head around and panting.

"You good?" I asked, causing her to jump and look up at me. After a moment, she looked at where the darkness had been and then back at me.

"That was a magical trap?" She panted. When I nodded she did likewise before swallowing and looking at me again, still breathing hard. "You saved me?"

"Yeah, guess so," I shrugged, considering where the shadow had been. "The fuck was happening to you?"

"Ah," she squawked. Turning, I saw her stammering and looking every which way but mine. Finally, she cleared her throat. "A nightmare. Just- Just a nightmare." I nodded and looked at the space again. Literal doorways to your worst nightmare definitely tracked with what I'd read-

"Thank you." I blinked and looked down at Honey who was still averting her gaze.

"Mr. Fremont! Look!" Scuttle cried. Turning, I saw in the doorframe where the spooky void door thing had been, was a four-legged figure in a cloak, lying on its side. "There was a pony in there!"

"They must've been the one running that spell," I grumbled. Scuttle carefully inched up to the pony.

"Really? I thought Sombra set all these up," they said, leaning forward to get a better look at the figure. "They look like they're out cold." I hummed and slowly crept closer as well.

"Sure, but who's to say he didn't have someone running his traps while was away?" I replied. Honeysuckle stepped past us both and hopped over the pony. "And they probably got knocked out when I killed the spell."

"I'm not sure if your spell would cause that," Honey said. Using her magic she pulled back the pony's hood and then jumped back with a shout. "This is-!"

"What's up?" I asked, reaching down and pulling back the pony's hood, revealing a red mane with a yellow streak. My hand was snapped back by Honey's magic.

"That's Sunset Shimmer! She's a rogue unicorn trained by Celestia herself!" She cried. The news of who'd trained this specimen sent a chill up my spine and I all but flung myself back. Scuttle meanwhile just inspected the pony closer.

"Sunset Shimmer? I've never heard of her," they muttered.

"Every guard in Canterlot and beyond knows her!" Honeysuckle explained, her attention rapidly snapping from Scuttle to Sunset. "The princess offered a three million bit reward for her capture!"

"Damn," I huffed before considering the unconscious unicorn. Pondering her helpless state for a moment and then her value, I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips. "You think we could-"

"Wha.." the unicorn murmured as she stirred, clenching her eyes before opening them and looking around in a mild daze.

"Shit," I grumbled, quickly backing up from the mare. She rolled onto her belly and looked around.

"Where- Where am I?" She murmured, blinking and rubbing her eyes which were a sharp, stingy red. "Where's Celestia?"

"Back in Canterlot, presumably," I offered before adopting a more confident posture and my wizard voice. "And you're in the presence of the All-powerful Fremont." She paused and looked back at me. Swallowing, I gestured to my companions.

"And company." She blinked again and looked at Honeysuckle and Scuttle, the former of whom shivered at her attention. After a moment, Sunset glanced at me again with an incredulous look.

"Who?" She asked. Before I could respond she waved her hoof. "Never mind, forget I asked." Rising to her hooves she scanned the chamber above us and paced the floor, allowing me to slowly creep past her to Honeysuckle and Scuttle.

"This is the Crystal Palace," she murmured before grimacing. "Damn, I must've run into one of Sombra's traps. And after being so careful opening that passage, too." She grumbled and stared at the floor for a moment before looking back at us.

"Did you break me out?" She asked, furrowing her brow.

"Yes," I quickly replied as I pulled Scuttle closer to me and Honeysuckle. "So you owe me."

"You sure about that?" She shot back.

"No," I retorted with a wide frown, drawing a smirk from her.

"Good answer," she declared.

"Speaking of answers, can I ask you something?" I asked, causing her to crack her neck with a hum.

"Only if you don't mind the answer coming in the form of me blasting your face off if the question ticks me off," she explained before fixing me with an annoyed glare. Honeysuckle of all creatures squeaked in response, which was all the confirmation I needed that I shouldn't press my luck this time.

Instead, I scooped up Honey and Scuttle and shot straight up the second staircase. As we raced upward, I cast a glance back down to see the tiny yellow terror peering back up at us. To my eternal relief, instead of doing.. Whatever the hell a professional unicorn wizard can do, she turned and disappeared back through the door.

"What in the world was she doing here?!" Honey cried.

"Whatever the fuck she wants I'm guessing," I replied.

"Très bien," she gurgled, clenching her legs close to herself. At that moment, Scuttle gasped.

"Hey! You smell that?" They squealed. Honey and I shared a look before glaring at them as they looked up above us. "I think we found it!" Turning my attention upward, I saw the exit of the staircase and aimed for it. Slipping through, we found ourselves at what must've been the tip-top of the entire tower if the open sky around us was any indication.
And there, floating right in the center was a big old rock matching the description of the Crystal Heart.

"Hell yeah!" I cheered as we hovered in place.

"We found it!" Scuttle squealed, kicking her legs with glee.

"Let's grab it and flee this horrible place!" Honey demanded. Nodding, I flew straight for it and let Honey reach out and snatch it from its resting place.

As soon as she grabbed it, the entire floor flashed a dark grey, and then a cage of black crystals sprang up to surround us. But as I was already speeding toward the edge of the roof, I smashed into them and my evil warding spell shattered them.

Yeah, go fuck yourself, Sombra. You and your wacky fun house antics.

All at once, the frozen wasteland around the Crystal Empire was rolled back like a scroll as a massive, pink bubble sprang up from the palace at the Empire's center and spread all the way to the city's fringes. In place of snow and ice, green fields and flowers and trees sprang up as if by magic, and the sun shined upon the entire realm brighter than it had in a thousand years.

But beyond the barrier, the land was still frigid and snow-blasted and dark. And atop one frozen glacial peak, an armored black unicorn stood, glowering at the Empire's sudden revival. Taking a heavy breath that he released in a growl, he firmly nodded.

"Alright, you foul-mouthed poltroon," Sombra spat. "We'll see how well that ward of yours is when I-" He paused and frowned.

"I hurl a big rock at you," he pursed his lips. "A really big rock." He narrowed his eyes as he glared at the city again.

"Several really big rocks at you."

Who woulda guessed the Heart could cause such a transformation? Not only was the city shining and glittering in the midday sun, surrounded by vibrant green fields as if we weren't in the middle of the frozen north, but the crystal ponies themselves, and even my own cultists now had a magical, glassy sheen over them.

I seemingly didn't receive an invite to the shiny festival, however, and remained unchanged.

That didn't stop the crystal ponies from rallying around me in the city square, cheering for me like I was the best thing since sliced bread. They'd even gone to the trouble of hauling out a big ass seat for me to lounge upon as they heaped praise upon me for my daring rescue of not only their city but the Crystal Heart as well.

It was all so gratifying that I almost completely forgot about Sunset Shimmer, who seemingly vanished after I'd lost sight of her. Nearby, as the cult was also at the center of the celebration, Honeysuckle sat with her head on a swivel, scanning the entire congregation with anxiety. Just beside her, Scuttle lay gently snoozing, having apparently gotten her fill from the initial burst of 'pure love energy' or whatever it was the Heart did upon activating.

As I considered her sleeping form, Sash came trotting up to me with Ivoryhoof. "Victor, Senator Ivoryhoof here has just proposed something I think you'll be thrilled to hear!" He said with no small amount of glee written on his face. Taking a step back, Ivoryhoof bowed his head to me.

In addition to cleansing the dreary miasma that had gripped the whole town, the Heart had also cleansed the fog clouding the crystal ponies' minds, allowing many, like Ivoryhoof, to remember exactly who they'd been before Sombra appeared.

And as Sash had said, in Ivory's case, he was a senator and therefore one of the highest-ranked ponies present, a fact reinforced by the crowd going silent as he spoke.

"Master Fremont," he said upon rising. "I believe I speak for the whole Empire when I say we are in your debt." He began to pace before me, seemingly addressing the crowd as he spoke.

"When Sombra came and usurped the throne, we were cast into an age of darkness that seemed without end," he gestured to me with a hoof. "And you have liberated us of that." A brief chorus of cheers rang up.

"Unprompted and without any promise of repayment, you braved the dangers of Sombra's citadel and stole back that which provides our home with life," he added, gesturing to the Crystal Heart and palace. With another round of cheers, he fixed me with a smile. "Therefore, I would like to propose-"

"What is going on here?" A voice suddenly split the air and the crowd. Ivory blanched and whirled around as a pink alicorn came marching through the crowd. She looked around in bewilderment before locking eyes with me, at which point my heart sank. She glared hard at me. "What the heck are you doing here?" Oh no.

"Excuse me, who are you?" Ivory demanded. The alicorn blinked and glanced at him before looking around and seeing all eyes were on her. Adopting a more confident stance with her wings spread, she addressed the whole crowd.

"I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and I have come to liberate the Crystal Empire and reclaim the throne of my ancestor, Princess Amore!" She declared to the audible surprise of the crowd.

Celestia's niece. Called it. Frick.

Before I could bolt from my seat, Ivory cleared his throat.

"It's a little late for that, no offense Your Majesty," he retorted, causing her to tilt her head. He then gestured to me. "Master Fremont already liberated the Empire and we were preparing to give him the throne."

"Huh?" She huffed.

"Huh?" I croaked. She and I shared a look of shock as a pony from the crowd sprang forward.

"It's true! This whole place was covered in ice and darkness until like, thirty minutes ago!" He cheered, pointing to the Crystal Heart. "Master Fremont found the Crystal Heart and returned it to us!" Mi Ame whatever, I'mma call her Clarice, blanched at the guy's assertion.

"You're kidding," she all but gasped, looking at me in horror as her wings drooped. "But- I- He-"

"But if you're really a descendant of Princess Amore then, hm," Ivoryhoof hummed, tapping his chin. "That does complicate things." He paused and turned to face her.

"If it's true anyway, and you're not just trying to ride on Master Fremont's coattails," he added with a suspicious glare that caused Clarice to recoil. Sash sprang forward between the two.

"If it is true then there's still no issue!" He exclaimed, waving a hoof at her and then me. "Not if she serves as more of a national icon while Victor serves as the proper administrator of the nation!" Clarice's jaw continued to droop as Ivory and the other crystal ponies murmured at the notion. Sash meanwhile winked at me before facing Ivoryhoof again.

"Yeah! That could work!" Ivory chirped. That proved too much for the pretty pony princess.

"No! Absolutely not!" She screeched, stomping her hoof and making everyone jump. "Celestia would never stand for that! This creature is a criminal! He escaped from Canterlot after causing all kinds of chaos." She stomped toward me, causing me to shrink into my seat with my hands up.

"Because he is an agent of chaos, summoned by Discord himself to do evil!" She declared, jabbing a damning hoof my way. "And Celestia has been seeking him to have him arrested!"

"Are you saying Celestia is going to invade the Empire?" Ivory gasped with a hoof to his chest. All at once, the fury in Clarice's face melted and she looked at him in shock. Then the rest of the crystal ponies peeped up.

"She already did when Sombra was around," one offered.

"That was just to get Sombra!" Another contested.

"Yeah! And Fremont isn't anything like him!" Someone added.

"He brought the Crystal Heart back!" Someone sobbed as they fell to the ground and covered their face with their hooves. "Is she really going to-"

"No! Absolutely not! She would never! She wants to help the empire grow, not go to war with it, even over a weirdo like him!" Clarice cried, desperately waving her hooves in rejection of the question. My eyes lit up and I took a deep breath at her assertion, however. "What I meant was-"

"I accept your offer with humility and grace," I declared, thrusting an arm out. "I will be your emperor." The effect was immediate as the ponies all recoiled before looking at each other, then jumping and cheering. Clarice meanwhile recoiled doubly hard and then stared at me with wide eyes and her jaw hanging ever so slightly slack.

Author's Note