Celestia and Luna were on their way to the Crystal Empire in an attempt to stop King Sombra from bringing more pain and suffering to the people. They were resting in the woods when a pulse of magic ran through them.

"Did thou feel that, sister?" Luna asked.

"Indeed I did," Celestia replied. "We shall investigate in the morning."

"I just wonder what it was. I shall go and investigate right now." Luna got up and walked away to where the pulse came from.

"Blast! That's the last time I let someone else teleport me someplace." This pony was trying to get away from Sombra's forces who had pursued him the moment he appeared near the palace. "Come on, almost out of trouble." Just as he said this, he ran into a dead end. "Me and my big mouth." He tried to turn and run the other direction, but was surrounded by Sombra's men.

"You're surrounded. Give up and we shall take you to our king to be executed!" The leader ordered.

"Not a very tempting invitation," the pony replied. Unknown to them, Luna was on the top of the cliff watching the whole thing. When she saw the guards advance on the pony, she got ready to stop them, but was shocked by what the random pony did next. He brought out a set of wings he had hidden and flew into the air while firing spells at his attackers.

'Another Alicorn!' Luna could not believe there were other Alicorns around. The guards were soundly defeated as the new Alicorn landed away from them. Luna decided to teleport back to her sister to inform her of this new discovery.

"Are you sure, Luna?" Asked Celestia. She too was in shock that there was another Alicorn, and from the way this one fought, he or she was not from Equestria.

"I am sure. There is another Alicorn out there. It also appears Sombra wants this one dead." The two decided to just get to bed and find the Alicorn after their fight with Sombra. That night, Luna had a strange dream. She found herself in the middle of a massive palace.

'What is this place?' She looked around to find multiple Alicorns talking. She soon recognized the one from earlier. He was dark blue with a red mane. The blue hat and glasses seemed different for an Alicorn, but she assumed for them, it was normal. What stood out, was his cutie mark. It was two black crossed swords, just like the flag he was showing. With him were two more Alicorns. One with a crown and the other with a mask.

"This new flag will be perfect for our new empire, Crimson. The one with the crown said. "You shall be rewarded after you complete a task for me."

"What do you wish for me to do, Thomas?"

"You should call him, King Smith!" The one with the mask exclaimed. The other one just laughed.

"He can call me that. He is the founder of the Imperial Army and Navy. The task is to head for an unknown place called the Crystal Empire. There have been rumors of a tyrant there that must be wiped out. After that, travel to the many places throughout the world. See the sites and learn as much as you can."

"Yes, sir." The one now known as Crimson left the room. Luna watched him leave, just as the one with the mask ran up.

"What do you want, Deceit?"

"I can help you travel there much quicker if you will allow me."

"Fine, but make it quick." He was soon enveloped in a white light and sent to the Crystal Empire. The dream soon switched to his arrival.

"Intruder! He is here to kill the king!" Luna soon saw him running to where she first saw him. Before the dream could continue, she felt a nudge on her shoulder. She woke up to find Celestia standing over her.

"What were you dreaming about, Luna?"

"That Alicorn I saw, I saw into what brought him here. He is on a quest for a King he serves, and was teleported right in the middle of the Crystal Empire. I also got his name. It seemed to suit him cause of the mane, and his cutie mark is two black crossed swords."

"Then we must be careful of this new Alicorn." The two got up and ate breakfast before flying off to the Crystal Empire. Not long after taking off, they heard spells and screams in the Crystal Empire. When they arrived, they found Sombra's guards knocked out and the new Alicorn fighting Sombra.

"Give up, you cannot win against me."

"That remains to be seen!" Sombra soon unleashed a deadly spell, knocking the other Alicorn out.

"Now you shall be destroyed!" Before Sombra could strike the killing blow, Celestia and Luna appeared and drove Sombra back. Sombra decided to use a spell to make the Crystal Empire disappear for centuries. Luna grabbed the Alicorn before he could vanish with it and brought him to a safe place. Luna and Celestia used their healing spells to wake the Alicorn. A few minutes later, he opened his eyes to find himself in the woods.

"Where am I?"

"You're among friends." The voice made Crimson jump to the ceiling, causing him to hit his head hard on a beam. He turned and saw the two Alicorns watching him.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"My name is, Celestia, and this is my younger sister, Luna. What is your name?"

"Crimson Crown. One of three founders of the Imperial Empire." He answered. He got out of the bed and walked to the nearby window. Luna noticed he was the same height she was.

"What is the Imperial Empire?" Celestia asked.

"We're a group of different ponies that live together. I lead the Earth ponies. The King leads the Pegesi, while another leads the Unicorns. Only one main ruler, while me and the other try to help keep peace among our ponies."

"Sounds like Equestria."

"I was sent here to deal with Sombra, but I failed. I need to get out there to fight him."

"There's no need to. He is gone now."

"Then you two have done what I couldn't."

"What about those guards you fought yesterday and today?" Luna asked.

"How did you know?"

"Because, we felt the magic pulse when you arrived, and I went to see what it was. I saw you fight those guards that went after you. I can also tell you fought the guards on your way to fight Sombra. You're by no means weak."

"I know that my king would not send me here unless there was something for me to learn. I now realize, he sent me here to learn from the two of you." He turned to the two Alicorns. "Will you be willing to teach me what I must learn?"

"Of course we will." Celestia said. "You should also know, you will be learning from the princesses of Equestria." Crimson's mouth dropped ten feet with that revelation.

"Then I shall not let you down." He said as he bowed. The three soon set off for Canterlot.