Nightmare walked along the desolate tundra where the snow whipped around him furiously. Around him the biting cold kept its distance as he stopped in the open snow, barren of anything, no rocks, trees, shrubs, or creatures as far as the eye could see. But through the eyes of Nightmare he looked upon the brilliant Crystal empire caught between time and space. Lifting his hoof he pressed against the invisible layer that separated the them. The area around his hoof began to contort and warp but id was not completely giving way, putting his other hoof against the warping area he began to pull apart the air. Lightning and streaks of water from heated snow began to fall on him. His face began to show signs of contentious effort.
A small tear opened in the air between his hooves. Grunting in effort Nightmare with a great exertion of magic and strength ripped open the tear forcing the Crystal empire back to his plain of Equestria. He was now standing under the castle at the center of the large capital. He grinned with victory. A dark presence flooded forth from the west and he looked in that direction. He hated leaving anything to chance so he spread his wings and took flight heading to the evil presence.
-Canterlot-
"Send the third guard squad to help with the repairs with the local shops." Shining Armor said to his second in command
"Of course." He said saluting and going to complete his task.
"Never time for a break?" Cadance said walking past the second in command.
"Cadance, how are thing at the castle?" Shining Armor looked up from his papers and smiled walking to her nuzzling her affectionately.
"Oh as well as it could be most of the damage was done to the city not the main castle. But i fear something is wrong. Something happened that had put princess Celestia and Luna on edge." she said perplexed and concerned. Shining Armor smiled and hugged her.
"I am sure whatever it is we can help her anyway we can." he assured her. She looked at him lovingly. A knock on interrupted their moment.
"Come in." Shining Armor said.
"Captain, your audience is requested." one of the guards began seeing and also looked to Princess Cadance then bowed.
"Princess Celestia requires Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor to the throne room." he stood back up. Cadance looked to him unsure.
"We are on our way." Cadance said beginning to follow the guard. Shining Armor followed suit with Cadance making their way into the throne room. Celestia and Luna were both at the throne waiting for the. The Guard was about to announce their entry but Celestia Raised her hoof silencing him. He nodded and stepped aside for them to walk in.
"Guards please leave us." she said as the guards nodded and left them closing the doors behind them.
"Princess Cadance, Shining Armor. We have had a major event happen." Celestia began and looked to Luna who continued.
"An empire that was lots for a little over a thousand years had suddenly reappeared. This Empire is called the Crystal empire." she said making Cadance looked at Shining Armor who was frowning in concern. He stepped forward.
"Can we expect problems from this Empire?" Shining asked. Both Luna and Celestia looked at each other.
"We do not know, last time it was still here it was under control of a powerful dark unicorn by the name King Sombra." Celestia explained.
"He rules the crystal ponies there ruthlessly and caused darkness to spread till Luna and I confronted him with our forces but before we could truly defeat him he cast a spell that made the Crystal empire disappear and with his last words said that if his empire ever reappeared he would return." Celsetia looked concerned
"We are afraid that he is to return and need you both to go to the crystal empire and see if he has returned, if he has Equestria is in great danger." Luna said stepping forward. Cadance and Shining looked at each other and came to an agreement.
"We are on our way." Shining said. The next morning the group comprised of Shining Armor, Princess Cadance, and six of his guard set out to the Crystal empire with quick haste.
-North Equestria-
Nightmare landed outside a cave where black tendrils seemed to suffocate the light of the day. He smiled as he began to walk down into the cave and the darkness enveloped him.
"Sombra..." he said almost as a whisper. The darkness recoiled at his voice.
"Time to wake up Sombra your empire is under attack by the sisters." he said now and a pair of green and purple eyes glared at him and his body materialized from the inky blackness.
"Master..." he said
"Ah so i see the time spent away has not warped your mind." Nightmare jested.
"If not for anything it has given me time to think of how to destroy those blasted alicorns." Sombra said stepping forward.
"But first..." he said as his horn began to glow then shot a beam of energy at Nightmare who jumped to his left dodging it and opened his wings then propelled himself at Sombra striking him across the jaw sending him fly across the cavern into the wall.
"You were beaten not because of my absence but because you did not consider them a real threat." Nightmare landed on the floor walking toward him as he struggled to stand. Nightmare stepped on his neck cutting off his air. Sombra turned to a pitch blackness and reappeared beside him with his horn glowing.
"I lost my Empire because you were out scheming!" he blasted at Nightmare again striking him sending him against the wall. He stood up again and glared.
"Arrogant unicorn." he lifted his hoof and the darkness around him dissipated making Sombra look around in surprise
"Who gave you the power to dominate the Crystal empire! I did and I can take it away." he said threateningly. Sombra glared and grudgingly bowed his head to his superior. Nightmare looked down at him and let the darkness flow back into his puppet.
"Now go and take back your empire before somepony takes your empty throne.
-Outside of the Crystal Empire-
The cold wind blew on the group as they trekked through the snow. Shining Armor lead them over a hill and saw the crystal empire for the first time. Cadance then stood beside them in awe shared by the guard contingent.
"Come on it seems the storm is negated at the edge of the city." he said as the group began the last leg of their small journey. The wind picked up and the cold air seemed colder all of a sudden. A large wall of darkness began to rush towards the city. Shining Armors Heart stopped for a beat.
"GET TO THE CITY!" he ordered as the group picked up pace Cadance led the group to a gallop towards the city.
"Cadance! Get to the city and put up a shield!" Shining yelled to her. A look of uncertainty flashed across her face but she spred her wings and took flight over through the storm. Shining Armor turned on the darkness and fired a beam of energy from his horn at the darkness. It slowed only slightly as its shadow then had piercing green and purple eyes looking down on the guard.
"Go captain! one of his guard yelled at him as he stopped beside him letting loose a blue energy beam at the darkness. Two more unicorns joined him. Shining Armor reluctantly agreed and nodded to them. He turned and ran with all he was worth. Screams erupted from behind him but he dared not look back. The rest of his guard were shooting bolts of energy over him at the creature before a black tendril wrapped around his hind leg making him fall.
"NO!" Cadance cried out as the rest of his guard bolted into action to save their Captain. Two pegasus took to the sky and dive bombed the darkness with their swords unsheathed but were batted away as if flies the rest of the guard of unicorns launched a barrage of magic making the dark tendril let go of Shining.
Landing on his back his world spun but he looked to see Cadance fright with worry. That centered him.
"Fall back!" he ordered running to Cadance. The ponies began to fall back in twos one covering the others but the creature rushed forward so fast it caught two of the unicorn guard leaving Shining Armor and the two guards running for the city. Shining passed into the city turning to see his last guard ripped away in the dark wall.
"NO!" shining screamed but dare not go to them as the dark wall slammed into the field Cadance had put up. The darkness enveloped the entire city in a matter of moments and then a loud cry of anger was herd as the eyes shifted to Cadance.
"I WILL HAVE WHAT IS MINE!" he proclaimed
"Sombra..." Cadance whispered. Shining Armor looked to her.
"Lets get to the castle and establish what has happened to Celestia she will have to know of this and his return." he said taking her by the hoof as Sombra bellowed with rage at what was so close but so far.