Author's Note

Man, I'm a writing machine right now, The end of the story is approaching the next chapter, stay tuned.

Also, I have a poll up for my next DD story in my blog posts, if you want to swing by.

The empire

Twilight looked out the window of the carriage as she and the others made their way to Canterlot.

“Whoa,” Sora and his friends said as they looked out at the giant city but Twilight focused instead on the present problem.

“Celestia, did Cadence, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart get out in time?” Twilight asked.

“I’m not sure, they weren’t among the escapees however so it is possible they were captured,” Celestia said.

“Then we have to hurry, let’s go talk to Luna,” Twilight said.

“Ok,” Celestia said as they made their way to the chariot landing zone.

As they made their way out and into the castle Spike was riding on Sora’s back.

“So, are we going to go an kick some more heartless butt?” Spike asked.

“Not that simple, they may have hostages and we can’t take any risks,” Celestia said as they arrived in the throne room soon enough.

“Wow, and I thought this place looked big on the outside,” Sora said.

“It’s even more impressive than the king's castle… don’t tell him I said that please,” Goofy said.

“Maaaaybe,” Donald chortled.

“Sister!” the group turned to see Luna running up to them.

“Hello Luna, how have the heartless incursions been going?” Celestia asked.

“Dreadful, but I have defeated enough to repel them for now, did you get the message?” Luna asked.

“Yes, we must gather the forces, I have a plan,” Celestia said as she turned to Twilight and the others “Since the elements are out of commission for the time being we need to focus on other means then, Sora,” Celestia said.

“Yes?” Sora asked.

“I am hoping you can lend us your aid again,” Celestia asked.

“Sure,” Sora said.

“You can count on us!” Donald said and Goofy nodded.

“Thank you, the keyblade will be essential to help end this,” Celestia said glancing at Spike “And yours as well,” Celestia smiled.

“Yep!” Spike said with a smile.

“Now here’s the plan, me and Luna will create a diversion and draw at least most of the heartless away, you must rally your efforts towards saving the hostages and defeating Sombra,” Celestia said “That being the case Spike will be the hostage rescuer while the rest of you will confront Sombra,” Celestia added.

“What? Why?” Spike complained.

“Because you possess a keyblade now, you’ll be essential in protecting the hostage rescue group, you’ll go with a group of guards trained for missions like this,” Celestia said.

“But I can help beat Sombra,” Spike said.

“You’d rather not save your brother?” Celestia asked with a raised brow.

Spike paused and realized she was right and thinking of it, he nodded “I’ll do it,” Spike said, still a little disappointed admittedly.

“Alright, the rest of you be careful, A lot hinges on Sombra and Maleficent not obtaining the crystal heart,” Celestia said.

“Ok,” The group nodded and they left to get ready.

As they made their way to the carriages along with the others Spike walked to another and Twilight caught up to him and hugged him.

“Spike, I hope you don’t think we’re excluding you, those hostages need you,” Twilight said.

“I understand, I’m just… I’m worried,” Spike said.

“Don’t be, we’re going to be alright,” Twilight said “Now get with your group and be prepared to infiltrate,” Twilight said.

“Ok,” Spike said and they went off to the carriages to begin their missions.

Luna met the attack group to confirm the plan.

“Ok, we’ll land you all outside city limits when the battle starts make your way in,” Luna said.

“Ok,” Sora said.

“Spike and the others will make their way in from the opposite side and they will escort the prisoners, if Sombra doesn’t suspect anything, we will get through without a hitch," Luna said.

“Ok,” Sora said.

“Let’s get moving then,” Twilight said.

“Alright,” Luna said and they made their way into the carriages.

Sombra trotted through the halls of the Crystal Empire, overcome with spires of black crystal and heartless lining the halls.

“Now that we have finished our invasion it’s time to prep for the coming battle,” Sombra said with a chuckle.

“Remember our deal,” Maleficent said.

“Yes yes, you get the crystal heart and I get everything else, but the fools were clever enough to seal away the crystal heart within a chamber that cannot be breached by normal means before they were captured,” Sombra said.

“And the power of the crystal heart is too pure for the heartless, but once I have it I’ll corrupt it into a power of darkness, and soon, not even those meddlesome brats can stop me,” Maleficent said.

“Heheh, you need not be impatient, I have a special method of getting that door unlocked, it will take time though,” Sombra said.

“Get to it then,” Maleficent said as she vanished.

“Hmmph, order me around…” Sombra snorted before he entered a dungeon and saw Shining and Cadence in a cell with Flurry Heart.

“You can’t hide in there forever, the wards you put up around that jail cell will fail eventually and then, I’ll clip then dangle your daughter over the edge of the castle until you tell me what I need to know,” Sombra said.

“You won’t win Sombra,” Cadence said.

“With the power of the heartless I cannot be stopped, and besides, I have a secret weapon that will assure my victory,” Sombra said with a laugh as he made his way to the door.

“Maybe I’ll hold your sister at knifepoint to make you leave that warded area,” Sombra said before leaving.

“Tch,” Shining wanted so badly to wipe that smug look off of Sombra’s face, but he had to put his family first.

The carriages made their way into the Crystal Empire area and settled down where it couldn’t be seen and Twilight, Sora, Donald, and Goofy.

“Alright, we’re in position, now we wait,” Twilight said.

“Can we wait inside the carriage? It’s cold out,” Donald complained.

“Don’t worry we got this,” Sora said as they trotted up to the edge of the cliff and looked out at the empire, seeing it covered in spires made Twilight upset but they knew they had a chance to set everything right.

Spike and a group of seven guards made their way over to the edge of the cliff on the other side of the empire.

“Alright, now we have to be careful,” A guard said.

“Don’t worry, you got me,” Spike said, pulling out his keyblade.

“Alright, now we just wait,” The guard said as they stared out at the many carriages descending outside the empire.

Meanwhile, Sombra and Maleficent were standing outside the empire and watching the chariots landing by the dozen and many pegasi in the air.

Celestia and Luna exited their chariot and trotted out to meet them.

“Princesses,” Maleficent mock bowed.

“Cease the fake gestures and surrender, we can still-”

“Don’t bother with the niceties, we want Equestria, and you will hoof it over if you wish to ever see your student again,” Sombra said.

“Release my niece and son in law or else,” Celestia said.

“I’m afraid their time will be up soon enough, as will your little, ‘surprise attack’ as well,” Maleficent said.

Celestia looked surprised “How did you-”

“Check your shadow,” Sombra said and Celestia did and saw a shadow heartless leave her shadow and crawl back over to them.

“You…” Celestia said with a troubled look.

“Yes, we’ve been tracking you since minute one,” Pete laughed as he walked into view “All thanks to Maleficent's planning too,” Pete said.

“We’ve been played,” Luna said begrudgingly.

“And that’s not all, shall we unveil the surprise?” Sombra asked.

“Yes, we shall,” Maleficent said before she shot a glowing light into the air and suddenly the ground rumbled.

“Now what?” Luna demanded.

“A gift, to the leaders of what will become an Equestria… of darkness,” Maleficent laughed as suddenly the ground rumbling intensified and the guards became restless as suddenly the ground erupted all around them and they turned to see giant Tatzelwurm heartless popping up around them.

“AMBUSH!” Celestia cried and the guards immediately moved to defend themselves as the Tatzelwurm heartless began firing spawning spheres out of their mouths and spawning in shadow heartless and soldiers.

“Wait a minute, what are those?!” Sora said.

“Tatzelwurm's?! When did those-” Twilight exclaimed before more popped out of the ground around them and they turned.

“We’ve been predicted!” Twilight said as she formed a barrier blocking one from attacking them.

Spike and the guards looked shocked as shadow heartless swarmed the area they were in.

“We’re blown!” Spike said as he struck one back “Run!” Spike yelled and the guards fled the area with Spike as the Shadows chased them.

“Deal with them here, I’ll go greet the invaders,” Sombra said as he vanished into smoke and flew back into the empire.

“Hmmph,” Maleficent huffed as she approached Celestia who had managed to fend off an attack from a heartless.

“Well princess of the sun, shall we?” Maleficent said.

“Let’s,” Celestia said as she got ready.

“Hyah!” Sora struck a wurm heartless several times and it responded by swinging its head and whacking him back.

“Agh!” Sora grunted.

“This isn’t good!” Twilight said as she blasted one several times with her magic.

They spawned more shadow heartless and Donald had to use lightning to blast them away.

“Not good!” Donald said as he ran around avoiding a bite from a wurm.

“We’re being overwhelmed!” Twilight said as she saw more Tatzlewurms closing in.

“We gotta move it!” Goofy said and they all ran for it down the hill as the wurms gave chase.

“Come on!” Twilight said as she took to the air with Sora and grabbed Donald and Goofy as well and took them into the air with them.

Both groups made their way to the empire while running from their pursuers.

Twilight and Sora flew higher and higher as a wurm lunged out of the ground at them but fell short of snagging Donald by a few feet.

“YIKES!” Donald yelped as it nearly got him.

“We made it,” Goofy said.

“Yeah, let’s just hope Spike’s having an easier time then us,” Sora said.

“This is not an easy time!” Spike screamed as they ran for it while the shadows chased them, they ran until they entered the city and were approaching the castle, several more heartless joining the chase in the process, pretty soon with Spike’s directions they saw the castle and knew they had to make it, they saw they were approaching a doorway so they jumped for it and they made it in and two guards shut the doors.

“We made it,” A guard wheezed.

“Ok, let’s move,” Spike said as they made their way in.

Twilight and Sora landed on a balcony and made their way into the building.

As they entered the room heartless teleported in.

“Figures he had a welcoming committee set up,” Sora said.

“Let’s get ‘em!” Goofy said and they began fighting the Heartless.

As Spike and the others made their way deeper into the castle shadow heartless began appearing and Spike ran faster.

“My turn to be a hero!” Spike said before he slashed a heartless taking it out and then he struck another two down.

As he fought them off the guards did their best to help by taking down a couple more heartless.

Twilight struck another down with her magic and Sora took out another few with a swing.

As they continued fighting the door was busted down by a big one and it came charging at Twilight.

“Huh?!” Twilight put up a barrier blocking that attack and Goofy came to her aid by shield bashing the big one in the back.

Spike managed to take the last one down and he turned to see the guards were successful too.

“Alright, c’mon,” Spike said as they made their way towards the dungeons.

“You! Um…” Spike forgot his name.

“Sturdy shield!” The stallion responded.

“Right, you’ve been to the dungeons here before, so can you point the way?” Spike said having forgotten.

“Got it!” Shield said as he took the lead and they made their way down the castle.

Sora and the others jumped out the doorway and made their way down the halls.

“Where do you think this Sombra pony is hiding?” Sora asked.

“He has to be where the crystal heart is, it’s the main reason he attacked the Crystal Empire in the first place,” Twilight reasoned.

“Then we’re going to the crystal heart!” Sora said and they dodged down another hallway as heartless swarmed from the other side.

“This way!” Twilight said as they turned another corner.

“This way!” Shield said as they went down some more steps and they saw the dungeon's doorway.

“I got this!” Spike said as he jumped up and broke the door down with his keyblade.

As he got up the guards ran ahead and began searching the jail cells.

“Shining where are you?!” Spike called out.

“Here!” Shining Armor called back and Spike followed the voice all the way to a cell surrounded by wards.

“They're here!” Spike called and the guards arrived.

“Captain Armor, we’re are here to save you,” A guard said.

“Alright, come on Cady, Flurry,” Shining said as they exited the cell.

“Let’s get moving before-” Spike turned when he saw something and he hurriedly got in the way and blocked an intended attack on Shining.

“Huh!?” they all turned and saw Sombra approaching.

“Heheheh, I knew when help had arrived you’d leave protected area, now that the wards are broken you’re exposed,” Sombra said.

“GO! I can hold him off!” Spike said.

“Are you crazy! Come on!” Shining grabbed Spike in his magic and ran for it with his family and the guards while Sombra turned into smoke and chased them.

Shining looked back as saw Sombra gaining on them, he knew they couldn’t escape so he had to make a sacrifice….

He levitated Spike onto Cadance's back and stopped.

“Shiny!?” Cadence exclaimed.

“Keep going! I’ll slow him down!” Shining said.

“Shining! No!” Cadence said.

“GO!” Shining said as he fired a beam at Sombra and it hit him causing him to slow and he hissed at Shining.

“I can help!” Spike said.

“....Come! We need to hurry and get to the other hostages, there’s only a few!” Cadence said and they ran off.

“SHINING!” Spike called as he saw his brother fighting off the demon.

Twilight shot down a pegasus heartless and continued on as Sora and the others followed.

“We’re close!” Twilight said.

Spike and the others had retrieved the remaining hostages and ran back to aid Shining but when they got there, he was gone.

“Huh?” Spike said.

“It’s just around the corner!” Twilight said as they ran around the corner and when they saw what was ahead they paused.

“Shiny?” Twilight said.

Sombra’s magic was holding shining in the air and Sombra was standing there.

“Heheheh, and the plan reaches fruition, now open this door for me, or your brother dies,” Sombra said.

“No… RELEASE MY BROTHER!” Twilight flared her horn.

“You’ll get him back when I have the crystal heart!” Sombra said.

“Twiley, don’t,” Shining pleaded with her.

“Let him go!” Sora said.

“I will not tolerate meddling by fools! Either open this door or else!” Sombra said.

“We…” Twilight looked scared.

“Don’t believe me? Here’s some incentive,” Sombra then made a black crystal shoot out of the ground and it landed in Shining’s leg.

“AGH!” Shining grunted.

“NO!” Twilight cried.

“OPEN THE DOOR!” Sombra yelled.

“...OK OK! Just let him go!” Twilight said.

“Twilight!” Sora said.

“Don’t!” Shining cried.

“I… can’t, I’m sorry,” Twilight fired a blast of unlocking magic at the door and it unlocked.

“Yesss!” Sombra said before throwing Shining at Twilight who caught him while running through the door.

“Twilight! You shouldn’t-” Shining said but Twilight shook her head.

“I couldn’t let him kill you, I’m sorry,” Twilight said.

“We have to hurry, before he-”

“WHERE IS IT?!” They heard Sombra scream and they looked at eachother and ran into the room, Goofy carrying Shining.

When they got in the saw the chamber was empty and Sombra looked around.

“IT WAS HERE! I KNOW IT!” Sombra said before turning to the group and snarling “What did you do?!”

“I don’t know where it is!” Twilight said.

“Grrrrr! Very well then, I’ll simply torture the answer out of you all!” Sombra roared before shouting “COME HEARTLESS!”

Suddenly the heartless came in through the door and the group had to step out of the way as they swarmed over to Sombra who was surrounded by the darkness and grew gigantic and shadowy.

“TIME TO DIE!” Sombra shouted.

“Get ready guys,” Sora said as they got ready.

“Got room for one more?!” Spike yelled as he ran in.

“Spike?! Why are you here? What about the-”

“Taken care of,” Spike said.

“Huh?” Twilight asked.

“Come come!” Cadence said as she and the other prisoners made their way out of the building heartless on their tail.

And it was thanks to a certain Draconequus.

“Boy, the viewers have no context whatsoever with what happened to me throughout the story!” Discord said.

“Later!” Cadancer said.

“Don’t worry whoever's reading this! I’ll explain later!” Discord said, looking at the reader.

“Stop speaking at nothing and run!” Cadence said.

“Anyways, let’s go!” Spoke said.

“....Ok, nevermind, get ready!” Twilight said.

The final battle is upon us…