A Mare's Defense

Prologue

King Sombra growled as the crystal heart started to glow. He had to leave, or he'd be destroyed by the light and love inside it. Sombra prepared to teleport away when a thought crossed his mind. An idea. . . his trump card. He reached out with his magic to the young unicorn trapped inside his black crystal cage. He snatched her up in his dark aurora and fled from his once beautiful empire. A whisp of red smoke was the only sign he had ever been there. Moments after the former king had fled, the crystal heart burst forth a wave of pure white magic, banishing all remnants of Sombra. The crystal ponies cheered as the five other elements, the royal couple, and a baby dragon stood on the balcony above them. They all smiled and waved before a nervous Spike looked up to where Twilight had been moments ago.

"We. . . we should go get Twilight."

The others agreed and trotted happily up the stairs to the top of the tower. Cadence smiled as she cantered in.

"Twilight! It worked! The crystal heart-"

Cadence froze in shock. Where Twilight should have been, was a pile of broken black crystals. Shining Armor pinned back his ears.

"Twilie? Twilight?"

Everypony cautiously walked around, looking for the purple mare. She wasn't there. Cadence circled the black crystals before she lifted them up in her magic. The black shards seemed to ripple like water. Electricity sparked between the broken crystals. Red smoke filtered from their black surface. Cadence had her eyes closed in concentration as dark magic started to form at the tip of her horn. She gasped and dropped her magic. The broken dark crystals fell to the floor with a clink. Cadence back away, shaking her head frantically.

"Noooooooo! Bring her back! Bring her back!"

The princess began to sob, her wings quivering on her back. Shining Armor cam to his wife's side.

"Cadence, what is it sweetie?"

"He- he-"

The young alicorn chocked on her tears

"Sombra took Twilight!"

"What? No. NO! That bastard took my sister! My baby sister!"

Shining began to beat the wall with his hooves. Rarity frowned.

"No no no no, wait a second! Are we sure Sombra took her? Maybe-"

Applejack stomped her hoof.

"Who else would it have been! Look a' the evidence! Nopony else coulda' done this!"

Rainbow Dash huffed.

"Well, lets go after him! Cadence, can't you use your magic and follow him or something?"

Cadence sat down on her haunches as she cried into her hooves.

"N-Normally, yes. But when the crystal heart pushed out all the dark magic, it also erased any trail leading to Twilight!"

Everypony was silent as the information sunk in. They could only do one thing.

"Send word to Princess Celestia! We have to find Twilie!"

Twilight backed up as far as the chain and collar around her neck would allow her. Sombra stood over her, an evil glint in his eye. Twilight tried to use her magic, but the black crystal ring around the base of her horn prevented her from summoning even a simple spark. Twilight whimpered as Sombra grabbed her horn and smashed her face into the floor of the cave they were in. By the amount of light, Twilight took a guess that they were underground, and far away from civilization. Twilight snorted and glared up at the pure black stallion. She opened her mouth to yell at him, but a muzzle was quickly placed over her snout. She could breathe through her mouth, and probably drink, but it wouldn't let her open her mouth enough to speak. She mumbled in the back of her throat, making her unhappiness known.

"Aw, come now pet. I think it suits you."

Twilight simply glared as she tugged against the thick leather collar around her neck. The young mare leaped forward, intent on tackling Sombra. He simple sidestepped her and swiped at her hooves. She tumbled head over hock and landed on her stomach. Somrba placed his hoof on her back, pressing down.

"Want to try that again?"

He pressed down harder as Twilight winced. She shook her head no. Sombra let her up and brushed back her messy mane.

"Now was that so bad? I don't think it'll be all that hard to train you. Oh, I have so much planed for you, Twilie."