White Feathers On A Black Night

===============Bulk===============

The train ride wasn't that bad. Seats were kinda small though. We talked about random things and our game plan.

"So we first look through the library and if we find nothing there we check the royal archives?" Ditzy asked.

"Yes, and if that doesn't work... I have no idea then." Royal said.

We defiantly got some looks pointed our way. I mean we're only a famous author, a mare with wonky eyes, a royal guard, and a extremely buff pegusus.

The train stopped and the conductor yelled, "The Crystal Empire stop."

"That's our cue." Royal stood and walked to the exit, we quickly followed.

===================Daring Do==========

The library was worthless and so were the archives. Nothing, na-da, zilgls. We are in nothing but facts aren't we. We started heading down to the hotel. First day of many I'm guessing.

========Ditzy Do============

On the walk to the hotel I saw two of those creatures standing around, nopony else can see them or apparently hear them.

"The Black King is alive," one of them said to the other. They were clearly speaking in a different language, but I could still under stand them.

"Oh come on, you're just being paranoid."

"No Vaenomadigon he is, just look at signs."

"What signs Yemotagoha?"

"A watcher, one of the Black King's watchers."

"Ha! What proof do you have of a watcher?"

"Idounezipe was killed because a watcher saw him and warned the other ponies around."

"So what have you heard of the Black King's rebirth?"

"He's somewhere in the tundra, chained to crystal walls that are slowly draining him of all power."

"And the sun-donkey, the one who can't stand the thought of taking a life, put him in that?"

"Yes."

"Well it doesn't matter. All we need is he's horn, which they have in the castle and will be shown at the anniversary of his defeat, and we will have almost all the pieces to complete the sacrifice on the blackest night."

I never made it look like I was listening, but when we got to the hotel and our rooms I told them.

"We need to get that horn!" Bulk said.

"And how do you purpose we get it?" Daring questioned him.

"Uh, well... I don't know."

"They said Sombra is alive, yes?" Royal asked.

"Yeah, why?" I asked him.

"Because we share a common enemy, and I think the king of all darkness and hate would make a very powerful ally. At the very least we could get some information out of him."

"You're insane. First off, we don't even know if he's alive and going out into the up coming blizzard is suicide. Second, if we find him what makes you think he'll join us. Third, if he does join us we would release one of the deadliest ponies in history witch is a crime ageist ponanity." Daring was not happy with the idea.

Royal looked at her, a cross look on his face, "OK Ms. Archeologist, you tell me how we stop this threat, save the foals, and all of Equestria."

"Warn the princesses! Or at the very lest warn the crystal princess so they beef up sercerity around the horn."

"Yes let's tell them of a threat that only Sombra knew about and defeated. They'll think we're mad!"

"They'll still listen to us and we don't know if Sombra was the only one who knew!"

"Both of you stop arguing!" I yelled. "Royal's right, they won't believe us, but Daring is also right. If Sombra is alive the chances of finding or recruiting him are impossible."

Royal stopped talking a looked away. Daring on the other hand had more to say. "So what do we do now? Give up!?"

"No, we just need to find a new lead."

"How do we do that?" Bulk asked.

I thought of what I could tell him, but nothing came up. Then something caught my eye, a small black cloud of smoke. "Do you guys see that?"

"See what?" Royal asked.

"Come," the smoke cloud said. It seemed the rest heard it too.

"What the Hell was that?" Bulk said taking a fighting position.

"It's asking us to follow it." I told them.

"Great. Well, we have no choice really." Daring's curiosity being her downfall as always.

"Can it hear us?" Royal asked skeptically.

"Yes," it said.

"Then how can we trust you?"

"Come," it said again.

"What do we do?" Bulk asked.

Royal looked out of the window. "If we hurry we can make it to where this thing wants to take us."

"What's wrong with you?" Daring asked him.

"Oh come on. If we live it can make a great Daring Do book. Plus, aren't you curious?"

"Fine. But we need to get supplies first, we won't last a minute out in a blizzard."

"Ok are we all in agreement?" Royal asked looking at us.

"Yes," I said.

"YEAH!!!" Bulk agreed.

"Then let's go."

==========Royal==========

We stopped at a store to buy some gear for the hike. Then we set out.

After Celestia knows how long, the blizzard hit and it hit hard. After another long time Ditzy said, "I can't see the smoke anymore!"

"What!? It left!" Bulk screamed.

"Damn it! We'll die out here. Do any of you know the way back!?" Daring yelled.

We all looked around. "I'm sorry!" I yelled. "I'm so sorry I lead you all to your deaths."

"Don't beat your self up, we'll get out of this." Bulk said. Then suddenly a loud crack sounded. I looked down a saw cracked forming below us.

Rumble

The ground caved in and we fell, unable to fly. I hit the ground and blacked out.

After a few minutes a came to my senses and saw a large grey figure chained to walls made of crystals. It's eyes opened and there I saw red, surrounded by green with purple smoke coming out of them.