35: Sombra

THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE, FOURTH EQUESTRIA

"So…what is this Alicorn Amulet, anyway?" Rapunzel asked as she followed Celestia, Cadance, Shining Armor, and Eugene toward the palace.

"Something powerful…and evil," Shining Armor answered. "It's a magic amulet that gives whoever wears it super magic powers, but also turns them evil. Twily used to have this rival, a pony named Trixie, who wanted to be better at magic than everypony else. She took the Alicorn Amulet and used it to turn Ponyville into a disaster."

"That is the part of the story you know," Celestia sighed.

"What do you mean?" Cadance asked.

"There's more to the story of the Alicorn Amulet than that," Celestia said softly. "When Trixie found it in a curio shop, it was being held there as an artifact from past days. Days I lived. I've seen the full extent of what the Alicorn Amulet can do. Especially to this empire."

"What are you talking about?" Shining Armor punctuated.

"I don't know if I should say in present company," Celestia replied.

"You can trust Rapunzel and Eugene," Cadance assured her.

"And we're all caught up about Sombra and the Crystal Heart and everything," Eugene added.

"We already had to deal with a Changeling invasion and a faerie with near unstoppable dark powers," Rapunzel reminded Celestia. "We can handle hearing about anything."

"I suppose…" Celestia looked around. Ponies she passed in the street were turning their heads to look at her and her group. She attempted to make her tones even more hushed. "Nopony knows where the Alicorn Amulet came from, or where it was made. But we do know who the first wearer of it was. King Sombra."

"WHAT?" Cadance, Shining Armor, Rapunzel, and Eugene all cried at once.

"You had probably noticed that when you placed the Crystal Heart," Celestia went on, "Sombra was easily defeated."

"Yeah…that is weird," Shining Armor admitted. "Why didn't it just keep him out in the first place?"

"Because he was assisted by the powers of the Alicorn Amulet," Celestia continued. "When Luna and I defeated him using the powers of the Elements of Harmony, Sombra himself was sealed under the ice…but the Amulet was left behind."

"So what happened then?" Rapunzel asked. "How'd it get where it is now?"

"It was passed down through shops that stocked arcane magic," Celestia answered. "Trixie attempted to use it to run Twilight Sparkle out of Ponyville, but Twilight outwitted her. Zecora, one of the wisest residents of Ponyville, was put in charge of guarding the Amulet. She only recently discovered that it was missing. Do you now understand why I fear for this empire?"

"Yes," Cadance answered.

"It is unfortunate that it had to coincide with your arrival, Rapunzel, Eugene," Celestia said. "After all…all of Equestria was searched for an origin of the Amulet. It was made with materials not found on this planet, and the magic was like nothing ever seen here before. It came from elsewhere…somepony else, I believe, used it not to control Sombra exactly, but to turn him into the Sombra we know in order to topple the Empire. And now, when there is travel between the worlds again, it goes missing…"

"Hang on," Rapunzel interrupted loudly. "Are you…are you saying that you think WE had something to do with it?"

Celestia paused, then shook her head. "I am sorry. I did not mean to imply that. It is simply…old memories and old coincidences."

"Well, Rapunzel and Eugene aren't like that anyway," Shining Armor vouched. "They're good ponies."

"I am certain of that," Celestia agreed. "It does not seem to me that they have ever been the types to harm others or even to steal."

After a brief silence, Eugene muttered, "Actually…"

"What is it?" Celestia asked him.

"My hooves may not be as clean as you'd hope," Eugene replied. "I…used to be kind of a big time criminal in Corona. Actually, the biggest time criminal in Corona. Just…little thefts. For the money. No murders, no kidnappings…I'm not saying I took your Amulet. I didn't even know what it was until now, and I'm clean anyway. Most importantly, I wouldn't mess with something that would hurt everyone else. I just wanted to clear the air, since you said that you didn't think I'd ever be a thief…"

"So…you have been dishonest in the past," Celestia reiterated. "That is rather disappointing to me, Eugene."

"But he hasn't done anything like that in years!" Rapunzel cried. "Things are different!"

"I found things that were more important than money," Eugene added.

Celestia nodded. "I am sorry for the accusation, Eugene."

Cadance noticed the looks they were getting from passerby. "Maybe we should save talking about this until we're actually at the palace…"

"You're right, Cadance," Celestia said. "We will discuss it later."

However, damage was done.

Artemis had overheard the conversation from where he and Magnet Bolt shared a table at the café. "Did you hear that?" he asked.

Magnet Bolt nodded. "The Amulet's gone, and…"

"Those were the ponies we saw compete after us in the joust."

"You don't think they really did have anything to do with it, do you? They're friends of Cadance and Shining Armor…"

"But they're also strangers. We don't know anything about them. What if they're from somewhere far away, like the pony who made the Alicorn Amulet?"

"That's a bit of a big leap…but still, you can't be too careful…"

Later, at the library, Magnet Bolt overheard a pair of mares whispering about the Amulet. She approached them. "Are you talking about…"

"We heard in the train station that the Alicorn Amulet is missing. Who do you think did it?"

"I don't know. I mean, Artemis and I had a hunch earlier, but I don't want to make an accusation if it isn't true…"

"Who did you think?"

"Do you remember the two ponies that Cadance and Shining Armor set up to compete after us in the joust?"

Meanwhile, in the open-air market, Artemis had caught up with an old friend and was speaking to him about the matter.

"I didn't know the Alicorn Amulet was so important to the history of the Empire. Now, these ponies you mention…did one of them happen to be the mare with the short, sparkling mane I saw with Cadance earlier?"

"As a matter of fact…"

Back at the café, the waiter who had served Artemis and Magnet Bolt, who'd also happened to have served Cadance, Rapunzel, Eugene, and Shining Armor earlier, kept going over what he'd heard Artemis and Magnet Bolt say. Could it be true? Could those two friendly ponies he'd served crystal berry tarts really have something to do with this great tragedy?

Fields of Gold settled down at the table the waiter managed. "Hard day?" the waiter asked.

Fields of Gold nodded. "I had to deliver the message to Cadance and Shining Armor that Celestia wanted to see them. I know what Celestia had to say. She told me. It's about that…that THING that Sombra always used to wear. I don't…I can't…I don't even want to think about it."

The waiter swallowed hard. "When you told the prince and princess…were they accompanied by two strangers?"

"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"…nothing. What do you want?"

"The usual."

But when left on her own, Fields of Gold couldn't help but think about the Amulet and Sombra—memories she tried so hard to repress. And the waiter's cryptic mutterings about the strangers with Cadance and Shining Armor…who were they, anyway? Where had they even come from? And how could anypony be so sure they could be trusted?

"Celestia," Cadance said as soon as the group of five had reached and entered the palace, "can you and Shining Armor and I talk in private for a moment?" She turned to Rapunzel and Eugene. "I'm very sorry. Are you all right having some time to yourselves in town?"

"No problem," Eugene answered.

"You talk about what you need to," Rapunzel said. "We'll be fine."

"All right," Shining Armor replied. "Your bedroom from last night will be ready for you whenever you want it."

Celestia, Cadance, and Shining Armor moved to a side room, closing a crystalline door behind them.

Rapunzel and Eugene exchanged glances. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Eugene asked.

"It would be kind of an invasion of privacy," Rapunzel said, "but…I feel like we have to know."

They silently crept up to the door, pressing their ears to the crack.

In the small side room, Cadance stared Celestia down sternly. "Why did you make those implications in public?" she growled. "About Rapunzel and Eugene and the Alicorn Amulet."

"I'm sorry," Celestia replied. "I did not mean to insinuate that—"

"I know you probably didn't mean it," Shining Armor said, "but you did draw a pretty big connection between them and the Amulet in public. What if somepony overheard you and got the wrong idea?"

"I only wanted to protect you," Celestia admitted. "I have to admit…I don't quite trust them."

"But you heard all about them in the letters from our friends on the Starlight," Cadance argued. "What's the problem?"

"It simply strikes me as odd that their arrival came at the same time as the disappearance of the Amulet," Celestia reiterated. "Especially since I'm sure the Amulet originally came from outside forces."

"You traveled a lot," Shining Armor said. "Who do you know out there that would want to attack the Crystal Empire? And why?"

"I don't know," Celestia sighed. "In all likelihood, the one who made the Amulet was as far away from Corona as one can get. At the same time, I want to be very careful. I don't want what happened to the last Crystal Princess to happen to you."

"You know," Cadance realized, "I can't believe I've never asked. I don't know anything about the last Crystal Princess. What did happen to her?"

"She was killed by Sombra," Celestia informed Cadance and Shining Armor. "Along with her brother. It was just after Sombra first appeared wearing the Amulet. On his way to take the Crystal Heart…" Celestia closed her eyes. "Crystal Princess Sirius tried to stop him. Her brother Polaris stood by her. They were cut down before the eyes of all their subjects. Quickly, but violently. After that, nopony dared challenge Sombra. Luna and I were left to use the Elements of Harmony to stop him." She exhaled, long and deliberate. "Sirius and Polaris were good friends to Luna and me. Polaris and I…well, that's a long story, and it's buried with the past. Do you understand, now, why I fear for you?"

"Yes," Cadance admitted. "I'm…I'm very sorry about your friends, Celestia."

"You don't need to be. It was a thousand years ago."

"But Rapunzel and Eugene aren't evil," Shining Armor insisted. "The letters we got should be enough proof of that!"

"Forgive me," Celestia said somberly. "I was caught up in memories of old tragedy. It was my fault."

On the other side of the door, Eugene and Rapunzel signaled to each other with a mutual nod that it was time to back off. They didn't speak until they had left the palace completely, afraid that they would be overheard by somepony within and would betray the fact that they had, themselves, been overhearing things.

When they were a good distance away, Rapunzel said, "I don't feel very good that Celestia thinks we might want to hurt Cadance and Shining Armor…but at the same time, I think I understand, if they remind her of her old friends who died. Is it just me, or did it sound to you like she might have had something more than just friendship going on with Polaris?"

"I don't know," Eugene replied. "I just REALLY don't like being trashed—"

"But did she really trash us? It was just an implication, and I don't think she actually meant to make it."

"Yeah…you're probably right. Okay, I'll drop it. So, what do you want to do while they talk about the amulet of doom?"

"Let's just walk around and see what we find." After a pause, Rapunzel asked, "Do you think that Amulet going missing really will come back to haunt us? And more importantly…do you think the Empire is in danger?"

"As much as I want to be optimistic, I'm pretty sure we're going to have to deal with whatever this means."

"So am I." Rapunzel sighed. "I wish I knew what to do."

Eugene was taken aback. "But YOU'RE usually the optimistic one. Okay, we need to get our minds off this." His attention was caught by a large building from which loud music was emanating. The sun was beginning to set, and as it fell lower in the sky, more ponies entered this building, dressed in glimmering outfits that incorporated crystals in one way or another. "Well, that looks promising."

The pair entered, finding a great ballroom where an orchestra played jazzy swing tunes at one end while ponies danced to the rhythm all across the floor. Intrigued, Rapunzel caught the attention of one mare dancing nearby. "Excuse me…we're from out of town. What is this place?"

"This is the dance hall!" the mare replied happily, raising her voice over the music. "It's where everypony comes at night to dance their troubles away!"

"Oh my gosh!" Rapunzel cried. "Eugene, can we—"

"Let's do it," Eugene replied.

Rapunzel galloped out onto the floor, finding a somewhat clear space, and Eugene followed. It took Rapunzel a minute to find her coordination, having four legs to work with instead of two and no arms, but eventually, she found a way, and she followed the music across the floor—stepping, spinning, leaping. Eugene did his best to keep up with her, playing the counterpart to her every action.

The song ended. Rapunzel and Eugene came to a halt, panting and smiling. Somewhere during the dance, the majority of the hall had stopped to stare at the pair. At first, they thought it was a mirror of what had happened to them during Rapunzel's first trip to Corona, that everypony was enraptured by the energy with which they danced. Then several quiet whispers and some whispers that weren't quite as quiet as they should have been revealed otherwise.

"—you don't think they—"

"—the Amulet and everything—"

"—not from around here—"

"Hey, excuse me?" Eugene said loudly, turning to face the majority of the crowd. "Is there something you want to say to our faces?"

All were silent. Then one spoke up. All recognized Artemis as he made his declaration: "Things haven't been easy for us in the Crystal Empire. It's only been a short time since we've been able to enjoy the rule of the Crystal Princess instead of…that monster. You'll have to forgive us if we are afraid, but several of us heard the things Celestia said on the street today. Sombra's old powers came from strangers, and you are strangers."

"So you're implying we're trying to hurt your empire just because you've never seen us before," Eugene reiterated with a growl.

"Eugene…" Rapunzel whispered. "Let's go…please…"

"Fine," Eugene conceded. "I don't want to be glared at anyway."

Rapunzel and Eugene made their way quickly to the exit.

"Do you think I was mistaken?" Artemis asked those around him. "I was merely afraid…but now I'm afraid I've just accused innocents. Ponies who could have been our friends."

"But the Amulet IS missing," Fields of Gold reminded him.

"I suppose we shall have to wait," Artemis sighed. "If this turns out to be fruitless…I owe them both an apology."

"How'd your night out go?" Cadance asked; she and Shining Armor met up with Rapunzel and Eugene in the palace atrium.

"Could have been better," Rapunzel sighed. "They…heard. About the Amulet and that it came from outside. Everyone's kind of worried that we had something to do with it."

"Ignore them," Shining Armor advised. "We know the truth. You would never do anything like that. You know, I think Celestia should issue a statement of apology. Anypony who heard it, heard it from her."

"It's all right," Rapunzel answered. "They've been through a lot, and it is kind of a weird coincidence that this happened right when we turned up."

Eugene didn't agree. To him, it wasn't all right. But he didn't want to start that fight. Instead, he said casually, "Well, I'm beat for the day. I think it's time to call an early night."

"Me too," Rapunzel agreed. "See you in the morning?"

"See you then," Shining Armor replied.

"Don't feel too bad," Cadance begged. "We can fix this and set everypony right. I know we can. And we'll find out what really happened to that Amulet. No matter what, we're with you." She winked. "Sweet dreams."

Outside of the borders of the Crystal Empire, the windigos began to circle.

They couldn't enter, not with the Crystal Heart spinning so perfectly in place. The love of the civilians for their empire, their princess, and themselves was still greater than the hatred any of them harbored.

But still, suspicions were growing…collectively. Enough that the great horses of wind and ice could still notice. They wanted in; they gravitated as closely as they could possibly get toward this collective suspicion and resulting animosity.

They had been promised that soon, their time would come. Not only that, but the conflict they felt would grow into something greater, even more palatable. Of course, were that denied them, they would just have to seek conflict elsewhere…but the Empire was growing ever more promising.

"What was that?"

A heavily armored member of the Crystal Guard, posted for the night at the edge of the palace, approached his fellow guard. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" the other replied. "I didn't see any—"

Then he did. A lithe figure darted through the shadows.

"THERE!" the second guard cried.

"What's going on?" A third guard rushed over to his companions.

"Intruder!" the first cried, extending a hoof in the direction down which the figure had galloped. "Follow him!"

The three guards rushed under the palace, to the courtyard below it. Other guards turned inward to see what the commotion was.

The shadow of a tall, lean stallion could be discerned against the darkness. He moved closer and closer to the Crystal Heart, stretching out a hoof.

"HALT!" the guards cried at once.

They moved in closer, the unicorns among them lighting up the courtyard so they could get a good look at the face of the intruder.

Guiltily, Eugene Fitzherbert stared back at them, both forehooves set upon the Crystal Heart. "Okay," he said, "I know…this looks pretty bad. But I swear…I have a good explanation."

"And that is?" a guard demanded gruffly.

Instead of answering, Eugene threw a small item—a smoke bomb—onto the ground. The smoke obscured him and the Crystal Heart. All the guards charged at once.

When the smoke cleared, Eugene was nowhere to be found. The Crystal Heart lay beside its pedestal, its shine dimming.

Quickly, the guards set it back in the pedestal; it resumed its shine once more. "Does he not realize he could have doomed the entire empire?" one of them cried out.

"He won't get away with this," another vowed.

Dawn broke. Eugene and Rapunzel were tucked snugly into bed, Eugene's foreleg wrapped around his wife and his face pressed against her mane. As the motions of wakefulness overcame him, he shifted, then rolled over to the other side of the bed. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

Seven soldiers of the Crystal Guard stared angrily down at him.

"Um…can I help you?" he asked.

"Arrest him!" one of the guards ordered.

Rapunzel wasn't sure what was going on at first; all she heard was indistinct clatter. She forced her way into wakefulness, turning to look at the scene going on in her chamber. When she beheld the sight of Eugene in twin sets of cuffs—one binding his forelegs at the ankle, the other binding his hind legs—she scrambled out of bed, putting all four feet on the floor. "EUGENE!" she cried. "What's going on?"

"We are taking Eugene into custody for his attempted theft of the Crystal Heart," one of the guards announced. "And you are going to be taken into questioning as a possible accomplice."

"To think," another guard said, "you had the nerve to hide in the very bed Princess Cadance and Shining Armor gave to you!"

"What?" Eugene looked about, confused. "I don't have any idea what you're even talking about! I didn't touch the Crystal Heart!"

"What is going on here?" Cadance asked sternly, practically storming into the room with Shining Armor and Celestia hot on her heels.

"Your majesty!" a guard reported. "We observed this 'Eugene' attempting to steal the Crystal Heart in the night! He displaced it from its pedestal, then fled from our forces once he knew we had discovered his betrayal!"

"Eugene," Shining Armor said, stunned. "Is that true?"

"No!" Eugene protested. "I don't have any idea what's going on!"

"I wish I could believe that, Eugene," Celestia said sternly. "However…you yourself admitted yesterday that you have partaken in thievery in the past."

"But I don't anymore!" Eugene argued. "And I wouldn't steal the Crystal Heart! You think I WANT to bring the apocalypse on the Crystal Empire? I would only steal things for money! No, wait, that didn't come out right. I mean, that's how I USED to—"

"We've heard enough," the guard insisted.

"Rapunzel?" Cadance asked. "Do you know what's going on?"

"No," Rapunzel replied, practically shaking. "I don't…"

"What made you think you could trust two strangers to enter this palace, especially after the Alicorn Amulet had gone missing?" another guard asked.

"Please," Rapunzel pleaded, "whatever you do, don't hurt him…don't kill him…"

"Don't worry," Cadance reassured her. "We don't harm or kill the convicted here. If Eugene really did try to steal the Crystal Heart…I suppose the proper punishment would be imprisonment…"

"Shall we ready a cell?" the guard asked.

"No," Cadance said. "I get to decide the ultimate sentence."

"We can't keep these dangerous criminals here!" the guard insisted.

"Then…" Cadance inhaled deeply, then exhaled. "Then exile them. Make sure they don't come back to the Empire. But don't harm them. Rapunzel, Eugene…you can get back on your boat. I'm sorry about all this."

"Are you certain?" Celestia asked. "I don't want to see you harmed if they turn around and re-enter the Empire with the Alicorn Amulet."

"It's my Empire," Cadance reminded her, "and I'll give the final verdict." She hung her head. "You may go."

The guards nodded, turning to lead Rapunzel and Eugene out of the room. Flanked by guards, the pair had no choice but to follow.

"We must make an announcement to the Empire about what has happened," Celestia insisted. "The ponies here deserve to know—"

"Make it yourself," Cadance snapped. "I'm not going to do it." She turned and stormed from the room.

"Cadance…?" Shining Armor called after her. Then he turned to Celestia. "Sorry…" He then galloped after Cadance.

Left alone, Celestia turned to make her way to the balcony from which to give the announcement that a threat had penetrated the Empire. She walked out, looking over the entire Empire and its waking subjects.

The sky, she noted, was beginning to darken, to turn red. This displeased her. It wasn't supposed to happen yet. She hoped it was merely coincidence as she looked down upon the streets, then magically amplified her voice to tell the entire Empire:

"Attention: a threat has entered the Crystal Empire. The ponies known as Eugene Fitzherbert and Rapunzel have attempted to steal the Crystal Heart from us, and are in the process of being exiled from this land. I know this comes as a great disappointment to you all. But worry not. The threat has been contained, and all will be well."

The guards unlocked Eugene's chains before they trotted him out of the palace. The troop set down Main Street, Eugene and Rapunzel walking amongst them with heads downturned. Neither wanted to look at the ponies staring at them from the sides of the streets. They could feel the hatred coming from the glares. The glares of those who had "known it"; that these strangers from outside could only be connected to a plot of destruction of the Empire. Celestia's announcement had only confirmed it.

Rapunzel said nothing, but she was awash with curiosity. Why did they believe that Eugene had tampered with the Crystal Heart, much less tried to steal it?

Eugene was even more confused. He'd slept the whole night through. He certainly hadn't wanted to even touch the Crystal Heart. What had the guards really seen?

Soon, a pair of voices were clearly heard getting closer from behind: "Wait!" "Wait!"

Rapunzel, Eugene, and the entire troop of guards turned to see Shining Armor and Cadance galloping down Main Street. "We can take them from here," Shining Armor said.

"You are dismissed," Cadance told the guards.

The guards all exchanged glances, confused; then, obediently, they turned back for the palace, leaving Rapunzel and Eugene alone with Cadance and Shining Armor.

"I'm so sorry," Cadance gushed. "I really thought we could fix this before it got out of hand. I know we barely know each other, and that now of all times isn't the time to trust ponies we've only just met, but…"

"But we don't believe you actually did anything wrong," Shining Armor finished. "You aren't the kind of ponies who would try to hurt the Empire. Whatever the guards saw, it wasn't you."

"Thank you," Rapunzel replied, "but still…I think it's best that we leave. Nopony trusts us, and…we wouldn't want to cause trouble because of that."

"Besides, I don't think we're really that welcome here," Eugene pointed out.

"Then we'll go back to the boat," Cadance resolved. The four began walking in that direction again. "But I want you to know that even if nopony else trusts you…I do."

"And so do I," Shining Armor agreed. "You're our friends!"

"Thank you," Rapunzel gushed, nearly in tears.

"Thanks," Eugene added.

They continued down Main Street in silence until Eugene looked up. "Well, that's a weird sky."

Rapunzel, Cadance, and Shining Armor also looked up. "I'd love to paint that shade of red," Rapunzel remarked offhandedly. Then she noticed that she and Eugene had gone three paces ahead of Cadance and Shining Armor; the latter two had stopped in their tracks. "What's wrong?"

"It's…nothing," Cadance said warily. "It's just that I've only ever seen a sky that red over the Empire one other time. And that was when—"

She was stunned into silence when a great fork of black lightning struck across the redness above.

She wasn't the only one who noticed. All over the Empire, eyes were on the sky.

"No," Fields of Gold muttered. "No, no…nonononono…I'm seeing things, it can't…"

Across town, Artemis repeated, "It's only bad weather…only bad weather…"

"Cadance!" Rapunzel said insistently. "Shining Armor! What is going on?"

From the balcony, Celestia scowled at the horizon, at the red sky, at the black lightning.

"You were supposed to wait," she growled.

"I'm sorry," Cadance said, taking her eyes down from the sky. "As I was saying, the last time I saw a sky like this over the Crystal Empire, it was because…"

Once again, she didn't finish the sentence. Horror overtook her visibly; she shook, stepping back two paces. Her wide eyes were fixed on whatever was behind Rapunzel and Eugene. Shining Armor was looking at the same thing, and he, too, was backing away slowly.

Then the screams erupted. Everypony in the direction down which the royal couple stared screeched in absolute terror, running as quickly as possible away from…whatever it was that was coming.

Slowly, Rapunzel and Eugene turned to look down Main Street. They saw right away what the others had seen. A tall, well-muscled black stallion in a red cape, slowly making his way down the road.

"Who is that?" Rapunzel asked, though she had a feeling she knew the answer already.

Shining Armor and Cadance said it in unision: "Sombra."

"Yessss…" Sombra hissed as he made his way toward Cadance, Shining Armor, Rapunzel, and Eugene. "Crystals…" He grinned broadly at all those running from him, showing off his fangs. "Slaves," he labeled them all.

"Hey, you!" Eugene called out. "What do YOU think you're doing HERE?"

Sombra just smiled ever more broadly and maliciously, continuing to advance. "Crystal Heart," he said, loudly enough that all four could hear him clearly. "MINE!"

"NO!" Cadance cried, stepping forward to the front of the group. "Sombra, I order you to leave this Empire NOW before I have to take decisive action!"

Shining Armor stood beside her. "You heard her! Get out! Go and…uh-oh. Cadance?"

"Shining Armor," Cadance replied, never taking her eyes off Sombra, "what is it…"

"Look at his neck."

Cadance did so, and she gasped. The Alicorn Amulet glimmered there, plain as day.

"Maybe now isn't the best time to bring it up," Eugene said softly, "but I do want to reiterate that I had NOTHING to do with that!"

Sombra's horn glowed bright red. Cadance's quick reflexes saved her; she shoved Shining Armor aside right before a great blast of red exploded where they had been standing. Rapunzel and Eugene backed away hurriedly.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Sombra's laughter rang out through the street, echoing off every wall.

"He's going to go for the Crystal Heart!" Cadance realized.

"We have to protect it!" Shining Armor cried, standing up straight. Cadance took her place beside him, ready to face down Sombra.

Even though Rapunzel had never seen what Celestia had, the scene still matched what she saw in her imagination. "NO!" she cried. "It's just like Sirius and Polaris! He'll kill you both!"

"Challenge?" Sombra asked.

At Rapunzel's words, Cadance and Shining Armor began to back away slowly. "You have a good point…" Shining Armor muttered.

"I say we get out of here," Eugene recommended, "NOW!"

All four turned tail and galloped for the palace at top speed. Sombra laughed as he watched them go. He still had time. He made his way leisurely down the street, causing the facades of the buildings he passed to melt off. Ponies struggled to escape the collapsing buildings, crying out in fear as the walls liquefied.

"What's the plan?" Rapunzel asked as she ran.

"Celestia will know what to do!" Cadance replied confidently.

They reached the base of the palace, then rushed up into the atrium to find Celestia already waiting for them. "Celestia!" Cadance cried. "Sombra is attacking the Empire!"

"I know," Celestia said sternly. "He was supposed to wait."

"What?" Shining Armor replied. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You have to help us!" Cadance urged. "He has the Alicorn Amulet! If he gets any closer to the Crystal Heart, he'll—"

"Take it?" Celestia finished, smirking. "Spell doom for the Empire? Unleash an army of windigos and Changelings upon the populace to ravage them?"

"Exactly!" Shining Armor confirmed.

"I'm not sorry to say that I have no intention of helping." Celestia's smirk broadened.

"WHAT?" Shining Armor and Cadance cried as one.

"Wait…" Rapunzel interjected, gears turning in her head. "Changelings? You…it's YOU! How did I not see it earlier? All this time, it's been YOU!"

"Rapunzel?" Cadance asked nervously. "What are you talking about?"

"It never was Celestia," Rapunzel stated. "Celestia was never here. That isn't her! That's the Changeling queen!"

"Honestly," the one who had appeared as Celestia sighed, "I had hoped you would be a little smarter. After all, this isn't the first time I've dealt with any of you."

The white coat melted away; the white feathers of the wings dropped off. The four-colored mane shifted, becoming limp and teal. Rapunzel, Eugene, Cadance, and Shining Armor fully faced the true visage of the one they had invited into the Crystal Palace.

"However," Chrysalis said, "I do intend for this to be the LAST time."

Chapter 35:

· So here's where I start to put in my fanon about the backstory of the Alicorn Amulet. Of Sombra using it.

· I know, Artemis, Fields, and Magnet are the only three names I've been using. I didn't want to dump in a slew of OCs and background ponies just to get across the point. Besides, it might do to have you more attached to those three.

· Sirius and Polaris are my OCs, and actually, unlike most of my OCs for this story, I actually plan on really developing their past role and what happened with them because they're part of that cool backstory idea I had at the last second. Though it never really is explained what happened to the Crystal Princess before Cadance. One can assume there was one, and that Sombra did away with her somehow.

· I imagine a lot of electroswing gets played in that dance hall (due to "Clash" and "Catgroove" reaching memetic status among bronies).

· In canon, when Sombra enters the Crystal Empire, the sky turns red and flashes black lightning. I have no idea why. It's awesome, so I went with it.

· Polaris and Sirius were not lies Chrys made up. In this story, they were the royal family of the Empire before Sombra took over. She just knows about them because she was also causing tyranny at that time and observed their relationship with Celestia and Luna. I fully intend on eventually revealing what Polaris and Sirius have to do with everything. Though I don't know when that will be.