I do not own MLP

Chapter Twenty Four: The Fallen Empire

Sombra grinned as he looked upon the Crystal Empire watching the ponies running away in fear. It was surprising to him that the Heart hadn't cast him out. The dark king watched as the Timber Wolves captured ponies all over the place.

"SOMBRA!" yelled the voice of the pink princess. He turned around to see Cadence coming towards him a look of fury on her face. He grinned as he summoned shards of black crystal into the air.

"So you have returned." he chuckled before launching the crystals towards her. The princess dodged them before throwing a lance towards the unicorn. The dark grey stallion vanished into shadows before appearing behind her.

"It is too late Princess." sneered the king as the lance jammed into the ground. "Your empire has fallen. Soon the Shadow Empire shall rise again."

"NO!" Cadence yelled turning around Dragoste was jerked out of the ground flying towards him. Sombra vanished again before the mist split into multiple versions of him. The Princess of Love turned to look at each of them her eyes wide. The corrupted unicorns grinned down at her before their horns glowing. The violet maned pony was launched down into the ground. The mare struggled to get to her hooves turning her head to see another attack being summoned.

"Cadence look out!" yelled Shining Armor before running in the way of the blast. He managed to summon his shield to block it for the most part. Soon the attack overwhelmed him and he used his body to shield his wife.

"SHINING ARMOR!" she screamed as the white stallion collapsed in front of her. "No!"

Sombra laughed loudly as the clones merged back into his body as he stared down at the couple. His magic surrounding him keeping him in the air. The black aura representing his magic surrounded prince dragging him up into the air.

"You took something from me Princess so I shall do the same." he chuckled waving the captain of the guard around. "And this one you shall never take back."

"SHINING!" cried Cadence as her husband vanished before her eyes. "Bring him back you fiend!"

"Only if you get on your knees and beg." the black maned stallion whispered in her ear causing the princess to turn around snapping. "You said three months!"

"Oh? Did I not explain?" chuckled the unicorn king vanishing in the shadows. "Three months I gave to you prepare. This is me reclaiming what is mine. This empire never left my possession, I just leant it to you."

"You are nothing but a liar." Cadence felt herself grow faint, she was still weak from her previous battle. "A coward. A false king."

"Oh?" hummed Sombra walking up to her his black magic surrounding the alicorn dragging her forward. "I don't think I heard you Princess Cadence. What did you just call me?"

"I called you a false king you PATHETIC COWARD!" the pink alicorn just snapped before launching a spell right into his face causing the unicorn to fly backwards. The multicolored hair princess fell to the ground. She struggled weakly to her feet only for Sombra's magic to surround her throat dragging her forward. Soon she was dragged up into the air coming eye to eye with Sombra. He glared at her before throwing her into the ground.

"This is the difference in our power. A king versus a princess." the red eyed stallion growled keeping her to the ground. "This is my power that the Princesses had to seal instead of destroy. Because they couldn't."

"What?" panted Cadence trying to get up but found the crystals surrounding her. "How?"

"You need not know." replied Sombra walking past her to look at the Empire. "Telling you will only give you an advantage."

The purple maned alicorn focused on the lance watching as it floated in the air. She glanced towards him and Dragoste soared past her as crystals grew on her horn blocking her magic. The dark king felt something pierce him causing him to look down seeing the lance sticking through his chest. Shadows surrounded the wound before pulling the weapon out as he coughed up a little blood. Thick black shadows surrounded the wound sealing it up as the crystal lance dropped to the ground. Red eyes glared at the pink princess as he took a step towards her.

"Did you think such a weak attack would be able to kill me?" he growled standing over her just as a blast of white light sent him flying. Cadence glanced over to see a pure white unicorn standing there with Crystal at his side.

"I am sorry Princess, I barely managed to escape." apologized the aqua earth pony as she slammed her hooves against the crystal shattering it. "Arcane saved my life, as did the Other."

"Has he made it back yet?" questioned the princess trying to climb to her hooves.

"No, the Other says that he is waiting the full three months for some reason." Crystal replied as a unicorn made from pure light walked beside Arcane. "The Other returned at Arcane's request."

"I see." Cadence watched as Sombra stood up smoke rising from his body. "Return the Crystal Empire to its previous state and leave."

"Do you think two spirits and two mares can stop me?" spoke the corrupted stallion the burns healing. "The Empire will never be yours."

"GIVE IT BACK!" yelled the Princess of Love as Dragoste lifted into the air much to her surprise. A pale silver hoof rested on her shoulder as The Other shook its head.

"We have to retreat." spoke the pale gold mane crystal pony looking at her with sad blue eyes. "With you in the state you are in, we will lose you as well."

Cadence felt tears well up in her eyes before she bowed her head. Sombra grinned as he watched them back away.

"You will not be escaping that easily." he growled before launching a spell, black swords made from pure magic, towards the ponies. Only for it to be block. His eyes widen as the other stared him down before they vanished in a white light. Sombra looked at where they vanished before laughing loudly. He had conquered the Empire, soon Equestria would be next. His eyes glowed as he headed towards the palace and to the Crystal Heart.

"Cadence!" called voices as the pink princess appeared in a familiar throne room. Looking up she saw Twilight's friends surrounding her though the Princess of Friendship was nowhere to be seen. Cadence knew that the only thing holding her up was Crystal. The white and gold maned unicorn was steadying her by keeping one of Cadence's legs over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry." whispered the alicorn tears welling up in her eyes. "I am sorry."

"The Crystal Empire has fallen." informed Arcane earning a gasp from all around them. "Sombra used Applejack as a distraction for Cadence. It seems his powers are growing."

"But how?" asked Rarity looking worried. "He was defeated by the Crystal Heart before and the Princesses."

The pure white stallion glanced towards the Other before nodding his head saying. "Sombra's powers were new when he was defeated the first time and he was not yet fully restored the second. A portion of his powers was sealed inside the Crystal Heart... with Aqua Star. He had regained them, three months might be the time he needs to be truly restored."

"And he won't take over Equestria bit by bit would he?" Applejack inquired and Arcane shook his head. "Well, we're going to have to start reenforcing our cities. Do somethin' to keep them safe."

"We do that and we might as well start giving up. Smaller towns just don't have the supplies." replied Rainbow Dash looking over at her friend in a huff. The gamboge colored pony looked at her asking. "What do you suggest we do? Leave them open for attack?"

"That's not what I'm saying!" growled the light blue pegasus glaring down at the farm pony. "Unless you know a way to get supplies to the smaller towns that plan won't work!"

"He hasn't blocked off our connection to them yet!" the apple farmer snapped back as Crystal glanced towards the Other. The featureless pony shook its head before vanishing. The two friends argued back and forth about their opinions as Pinkie tried to stop them with Fluttershy's help. Neither would listen. There was a popping sound as Twilight appeared confused with Midnight Sun and Gears.

"GIRLS!" called Twilight and both the mares stopped to look at her. "What in the name of Celestia is going on here?! And why was I taken from my expedition by a faceless pony without even an explanation?"

"Speaking of which where is it?" the small bronze-gold filly asked in a bored tone but none paid any attention to her. "Seriously?"

"Do not question it, let's go before I receive anymore glares from the rainbow maned one." whispered Midnight Sun before heading out of the throne room glancing back at Rainbow Dash. 'To be honest she reminds me of a younger me.' he thought before coughing harshly before pulling his hoof away and seeing blood on dark grey.

"Are you alright?" inquired Gears and the black maned unicorn nodded his head. "Liar."

"Are you seriously fighting about that?" asked Twilight looking at her friends. "Supplies can be delivered to the towns Rainbow Dash. Even if I have to do it myself. My biggest concern is how few escaped the Crystal Empire. Cadence, did my brother..."

"Sombra has him." whispered the Princess of Love sadly as tears filled her eyes. "Oh my Shining."

"No." the purple alicorn choked her violet eyes filling with tears as well. "Not my brother."

"Sombra will not kill him." spoke Crystal looking at them. "He would not be put to work either. Sombra would not give him a chance to escape."

"Cadence, who is this?" asked Twilight looking at the strange pony.

"She's..." Cadence began her explanation before Flash Sentry entered the room interrupting them saying. "PRINCESS TWILIGHT COME QUICK!"

The Princess of Friendship looked towards the others before they all rushed after him. When they got to the front of the castle they saw Princess Celestia and Luna on the ground in a heap. They were both injured heavily.

"Princess Luna! Princess Celestia! What happened?" the fourth princess inquired rushing over to her mentor and her mentor's sister. Celestia managed to crack open a magenta eye staring at her former student.

"W-we failed." she managed before slipping unconscious Twilight gasped looking over at her friends.

"Get them to the hospital wing!" ordered Rarity earning a look of surprise from Twilight. "They will take care of them, don't worry now dear."

Medics rushed around the fallen princesses, one even helping Cadence. Sweetie Belle was seen with them as she was in the medical unit.

"Find out what they were up to." the princess requested looking at Flash Sentry. "I need to know what they failed."

"Um, Princess Twilight?" called out a voice causing her to turn around and see a pine green pony with a yellow and dark yellow mane. "I might know where they were."

"Where?" asked Twilight moving up to her in a hurry, the gold eyed pony looked to the side for a bit before saying. "I'll have to show you. It's kind of hard to pin down without a certain map."

"Alright. Girls get ready." the Princess of Friendship replied before looking at her friends who nodded their head. "What's your name?"

"Astral Pen. Make sure you have some bits with you." said the pine green earth pony looking over at Inkwell. "I'll see you later for the collab."

"Alright." the tan unicorn responded before looking at Fluttershy. "Good luck."

"You too." Fluttershy told him before hurrying off to get some supplies. The author looked at Astral Pen asking. "Where are you taking them?"

"I... can't tell you." the gold eyed mare told him before hurrying off.

Please comment and/or review