A/N: Here it is at last! Another two-part chapter, with the first part done.
I have been doing very good outside of writing the story. I went to both Toronto Comicon and two concerts in February, Lordi and Billy Talent.
I met the band Lordi in-costume after the show as part of the Meet and Greet, at the venue The Opera House. For Billy Talent, it was at the Air Canada Centre with both Monster Truck (2nd time seeing them) and The Dirty Nil opening for them. Funny thing is, at the Billy Talent show; Alexisonfire actually jumped on stage and played three songs for the audience. I actually did not expect that to happen.
As you know, Season 7 starts this April 15. I will try to catch a Season 7 episode when I can depending on my work schedule. Other than that, there is two shows I will be going to this April: Delain / Hammerfall and Sabaton with Leaves' Eyes and Battle Beast opening for them. Already have a ticket for a Xandria show in May, to which it is VIP.
I'm currently working on renewing my passport to travel, so I might be making visits to other provinces in Canada, more parts of the United States as well as Europe.
Review Responses:
billykilly: Thank you as always :)
AntiVillain1: I couldn't resist! xD
lollol695: Future chapters will be coming soon, with some epic stuff coming to.
WarHusky2000: There definitely was. There will be more references in later stuff.
Need4SpeedLover: I actually did come up with the idea that what if Equestria was on the other side of the galaxy and the humans of Earth didn't know it.
Cheshire shadow: Thank you for the reviews.
"I can sense that you are troubled inside..."
My eyes opened up with the area around me in a bit of a golden tint, as I knew this was the presence of the Song of Order itself speaking with me, usually when in training with the claymore's spirit inside. I might not able able to see what the spirit looks like inside, but as long as it gives me the training then all is good.
I did feel a bit of stress in my head as I had been thinking about my training, and my new everyday life. To be honest though, it was something completely different from those happy thoughts as it was mostly my regrets that still roamed in my mind.
"Perhaps I am, maybe. I try to stick with my good thoughts."
Both myself and the blade were in a train car in one of those private cabins. A window's view could show that it was on the Friendship Express travelling up north from Ponyville as I can recall being with my friends, aunt and mother for this ride as it was an invitation for us to the Crystal Empire for a dinner party. Something like that...
The Song of Order spoke with me once again. "One of those past thoughts crossed in the pathway of your other thoughts. I could sense that small brief feeling of trouble... of when you had run away."
I could still remember that day... after Twilight had initially broken up with me, the pain of it was too much and I thought running away would solve the problem. All it did was bring me more pain.
"Yes. I remember that well." I respond to the voice.
The Song of Order still floats there as I remain in that meditation status, my eyes looking to its shining silver. "What you did running away even after I said you would regret it - was both foolish and childish of you."
"Well, what was I supposed to do?" I questioned calmly to him.
"I warned you many times and look what happened. Most of the power was given right to the control of the Changelings, along with you under the influence and manipulation of Queen Chrysalis herself. I had no control over the darkness until your friends snapped us out from the darkness itself," The blade scolded me. "I highly request that if something bad happens again, do not abandon or run off again. Your heart within is better than that."
I hung my head downwards towards the ground, feeling a bit of shame within even from hearing the voice of reason out from the weapon itself. It might have been right, and I might have acted out of line that day.
"It's all in the past Brayden, it's time to let that thought go as I know deep inside your soul, that you are more better than that."
"Maybe so," I said to it. "It'll take some time to go off and away."
"Of course, and eventually you'll forget that small incident," The Song of Order tells me. "But now, you are still in need of training but with the current events going on as of the moment, it'll have to hold until we're back in Ponyville. Next training session will be about using magic with your hands while I am in your possession and how to better it, as you've used it before."
I move my head upward to look at the blade again followed by a nod afterwards. "Many times." I stated.
"The kind of examples used for the powers were the beams in battle, the shield defense and the burst of magic. The power is channelled out from me into your body when in use of me in attacks or battles huge or small."
The magic around me would be felt, underneath my crossed legs in the position of relaxation and its presence across in the room atmosphere. I take in almost silent deep breaths in and out.
Knock knock knock!
A sound was at the cabin door as if somepony was there to get my attention away from the meditation. The Song of Order retracts it's magical essence a bit in the room, but leaving the golden tint to the cabin itself. A detection that somepony was coming.
"It looks like it'll have to wait a bit on the training. We've got company... friendly company."
It's golden tint disappears as I turn towards the cabin door and look as the knocking continues a few moments afterwards. Not sure who it was, but I figure I should tell them to come in.
"Come in!" I called out.
The cabin door opens up and I knew I recognized that midnight blue color itself pushing it open to trot inside. Aunt Luna herself looks happy and calm to see me again, using her magic to close the cabin door shut behind her.
"I didn't expect to see you come in Luna," I said to her, getting up onto my two feet and taking the Song of Order and sheathing it behind my back. "I thought it was Twilight or my mother."
She kept that smile on her face. "Celestia sent me to check up on you and see how you were doing. Are you well, my nephew?"
I nod my head in response to her question. "Quite well. I'm looking forward to the Crystal Empire state dinner this evening." I am right about the day becoming evening because of what position the sun was taking and the tint of blue turning to the dark.
"We figured you would. Twilight and your other friends are looking forward to it as well, though I hope of how close you stand by me and my sister that it won't raise suspicions yet about how you share the same bloodline with Celestia."
"Figures," I stated to her, signalling if both her and myself wanted to leave the cabin. Luna of course accepts it, opening the cabin door for both of us to leave it unoccupied for any other pony on the train wanting to use it for privacy. "If they do figure it out, hopefully she'll have that bill passed about not having the tabloids of Equestria follow me."
Luna giggles behind me for a moment, before catching up next to me. "I'm sure she'll work something out. You do like your privacy after all, but the news will be chaos all over the land."
"I can just imagine the headlines: 'Human Turns Out to Be Celestia's Son!'... this-that." My response to her was jokingly sarcastic, but she knew that by now judging by the tone of my voice.
Her eyes look to me. "Anything else you are looking forward to at the dinner?"
"Not much else, with the exception of meeting Spike's new friend Thorax," I responded to her question. "Spike's told me some stuff about him when he first met the pony. Seems really nice to meet as well."
Luna looked like she was holding something back when I brought up Thorax himself. "Yes... you will..." She sounds a bit nervous when she spoke.
"Aunt Luna, is everything alright?" I asked, placing my right hand onto her left shoulder.
She paused in speaking with me for a few moments as we continue towards the next train car. "It's... nothing. Just some memories of being back to the Crystal Empire again as always."
"Because of King Sombra?"
"Perhaps..." She manages to get out. "Just some bad memories for the things that he did..."
"You don't have to worry about him. He's been gone for a long time, and forever. There is no way that he survived."
She exhales a sigh. "That's just what I fear."
Both her and Celestia's history with Sombra went way back years before I was even born. I can recall from what the two-parter had explained to me of how they had to banish him straight into the ice after enslaving the Crystal ponies to bow before his will. Had he thrived judging by the alternate Equestria I saw, he would have wanted to spread throughout the land.
"But... anyway, as I was saying about this Thorax, I'm looking forward to meeting him."
She looks a little glad that I had changed the subject quickly. Again, very sensitive material... even for my mother to tell me about King Sombra's evil deeds. "I hope he is honored to meet you as well."
"I already know it." I smiled as I told her.
Her magic channelled once again, opening up the train car door into the next one. "And I'm looking surprised that you would bring the Song of Order with you."
"You can tell that I have been training," I said to her, but knew I had to make a point to prevent myself from getting enrolled to where I wouldn't be able to stay with my friends. "But I don't plan on joining the Equestria guard or military. I stick with my friends."
We step into the next train car, joining up with everypony who was invited for the Crystal Empire dinner. Twilight sits there with Starlight, just talking with her about all of the things that they were planning out for the next lessons. Spike is by himself watching the landscape as the train moves, looking really excited as I can tell that he and this 'Thorax' were good friends. Everypony else converses with one another and has a fun time with small candies provided by Pinkie being passed around.
My eyes turn to Luna for a moment after seeing the baby dragon this excited, and she nods to go and talk with him. I move towards the dragon, appearing behind him in the reflection of the window.
He turns around and smiles when he sees me. "Hanging in there?" I asked.
"Of course!" He said to me. "Just thinking about the things that me and Thorax will do once we get to the palace."
"Well, we're practically almost there, so hold on tight. Give him a friendly hug when you see him again," I said to him. "What kinds of things? Ice cream? Walks in the park?"
"The 'ice cream' bit I can agree with, because he really enjoys the strawberry flavor on the cone. But I think walks in the park is a bit much. We might go explore the castle and the rest of the Empire."
"Okay," I said to him, a bit of caution in the tone of my voice. "As long as both of you are careful not to wander off cause it's practically dark at night."
Spike looks a bit confused. "What do you mean Brayden? The moon's light can reflect down on the palace from afar so that we know where to go."
"Just giving you careful advice, even for this 'Thorax'. I have only heard the mentions from you, Starlight or my Twiley-bear anyway other than Cadence or Shiny, so I don't really know too much about him."
Twilight must have heard me mention her name via the nick name that I gave to her. I can swear that her cheeks went pink for a moment as she was sitting there in front of us and beside her student. Starlight snickers to herself after having heard it too, but it's mostly silent so she couldn't hear it.
"Oh, he's really nice when you get to know him. Did I mention that he is a Ch-"
Twilight was quick enough to jump from her seat and plug her left front hoof onto Spike's mouth with a guilty smile on her face. Before that guilty smile, she looked like she was trying to keep him from leaking out a secret. Funny... because she wouldn't like it if I kept a secret from her and never let her know about it at all.
"Sorry about that Brayden," She says to me while Spike has an annoyed look on his face, crossing his dragon claws together as he glares at her. "Words almost accidentally slip out."
"Don't worry about it Twi, it's reasonable and understanding." I said to her. "Looking forward as well?"
She giggles for a moment. "You know it," She tells me, removing her hoof from Spike's mouth. "I'll be right there beside you at the dinner with every one of our friends, and being that this is the first for Starlight it'll be fun. Did I mention that I will show her the library they have?" Her smirk became larger as I knew she loved to read books, and enjoys reading them with me when spending some 'time' together.
Starlight manages to talk with us. "I'm actually looking forward to seeing Sunburst again. I haven't spoken with him since we met Thorax last time we were here."
"Ooooooh, somepony's got a crush." I teased her.
Her cheeks turn pink a bit. "What?! N-No, I-I don't!" She was in complete denial about it when her tone tried to give off her innocence on that topic.
"Maybe she does!" Pinkie joins us and speaks out from listening behind us in the conversation we were having. "Last time I was at the Crystal Empire, it was during the Crystalling. Starlight was right there, talking with him and both of them were smiling and looked really happy to see each other!"
Starlight blushed harder as Pinkie was able to dig down more. "Well, that was just private talk between me and him. Nopony's business." She lets out a weak laugh, that also sounds a bit embarrassed at the same time.
"You sure about that?" I asked her, raising an eyebrow as I knew that this was most likely true.
"Yep. Nopony's business for sure." She confirms, still trying to hide her blushing.
Pinkie giggles again. "We'll see soon enough, Starlight." The pink pony sounded rather sneaky when she said it.
"Okay girls, let's not get too carried away," Twilight tells them, trying to calm the situation down. "All that matters is that we're seeing friendly faces again for a dinner that doesn't really happen too much."
Applejack turns in her seat. "Ah'm just excited ta see Flurry Heart 'gain."
"I did sew some new curtains for her window," Rarity says, her horn channelled with magic and unveiling a beautiful set of curtains that were pink with a crystal essence to it. "Isn't it wonderful?"
"Sure is somethin' Rarity," Applejack commented on the curtains. "No doubt Flurry'll love it!"
Fluttershy has a smile on her face. "I'm looking forward to seeing how things are with Princess Cadence and her progress on the Crystal ponies," She spoke in her usual soft voice. "I'm also just wondering what'll be on the table for dinner."
Pinkie zooms up to her. "Hopefully not rock soup, Brayden already tried some and it was too much for him to let alone handle." She says to her, still probably thinking of when I was visiting the rock farm and had to belt out. But fuck it, it's an old subject and she probably brought it up as a reminder.
My eyes turn to Celestia and Nightmare who are sitting across from each other. Both of them are staring outside of the window, with the black mare herself looking very excited to go to dinner in the Empire. Celestia probably looks forward to it, but describing the emotion on her face, she looks a little sad.
I walk away from my friends who are in the middle of conversation about past events, and go forward towards both one of my loves and my mother. Neither of them notice me approaching them, as Celestia's pale, light grayish magenta colored eyes stare off to the upcoming northern city.
"Is everything alright mom?"
The sound of my voice was enough to grab her attention, turning her eyes towards me and being snapped out of her thoughts. Nightmare takes her focus from the outside past the window and looks at me with a smile on her face.
She exhales a sigh. "Yes Brayden, I'm fine... I was just thinking about something." She tells me, sounding like she was going to revisit an old memory.
"My ears are all open to listen to what this 'something' is. Is it King Sombra?"
She didn't speak for a few moments, but finally opens her mouth. "Part of it, yes... but it's about your birth father."
This was enugh to raise an eyebrow on what she meant. "My father?" I asked her, knowing that this probably would be a pandora's box opened up. After the confession and surprise that Celestia was my mother, I never did really think about who my father could have been. "You never did tell me about him... what was he like?"
Celestia looks past me for a moment as if she glanced to somepony who saw that saddened look on her face. I turn to see Aunt Luna standing behind me, looking right back at her. "He... he was an ordinary pony like any other..." She sounds like she is holding back something like this was fed to her. "Me and him shared a unique relationship with one another a thousand years ago, and my sister was quite happy for me. But in the end, there is always a tragic end to what happened in the Empire."
"And what exactly was the fate of my father?"
"King Sombra himself took your father's life when he came into power," Luna continues for her. "There was nothing we could do to save him from the powers of darkness that eventually strangled him and tossed him into a pit of spiked crystals..." Her tone also sounds like she was holding something back, as if there is something I don't want to know. "Your father believed the legend and myths that the First Alicorn predicted herself of everlasting peace in Equestria by her own texts."
"I wish I could have seen what he looked like." I commented, unable to paint myself an image of my own father.
Luna held a sad look on her face. "We've long since forgotten what he looked like since the thousand years of being on the moon." Mentioning the banishment to the moon might have embarassed Nightmare, so she turns to look at her. "No offense."
Nightmare could only sigh when thinking of that bad memory of her past self. "None taken..." She does manage to let out a small smile. "...I'll get used to it."
Outside of the window, the train station is approaching and fast so it would be as good a time to get myself seated so I don't fall flat on my face or ass for that matter. The train's speed begin to initiate a slowdown for a stop at the station. I take my seat next to Nightmare Moon and wait for it to stop.
I can feel the black alicorn's left wing move around my back, and be placed behind me. I turn and look at her, those eyes looking at me with hopes that I am feeling comfortable with her wing on my back. My lips form a smile to confirm this, as the North can get a bit of a chill sometimes.
"Your wing feels warm." I commented to her. "It feels like a heavy coat to protect me from the frost of a cold winter."
"It does get cold up north," She tells me, hearing the brakes go off underneath the train. "It's not cold as of what had been reported before stepping on the train. So hopefully this counts as a wing-hug for you."
I took her left front hoof and held onto it. "It'll do just fine Nightmare."
She smiles at me, gently nuzzling my right cheek with her own when she moved closer. I was comfortable with her doing this, and accepted it. "What about you though for the dinner? What will you be doing?"
"I... don't know. If I'm not with Celestia or Luna, I'm usually by myself, just thinking."
"What exactly would you be thinking of?"
Nightmare's cyan cat eyes are looking at me while I asked her that question. "It's mostly my thoughts about you," She tells me, having the courage to speak her mind on what she was planning. "Whenever I enter the dream realm to watch over you, I'm also very worried about you sometimes. I fear you would probably do something stupid that results in you getting killed."
"Nothing like that would ever happen though," I told her. "You gave me your gift, remember? The spell over me that would help protect me from harm."
She nods for a moment, understanding. "That may be true, but it doesn't work most of the time. It could protect you from a few magic attacks..."
"It should be fine Nightmare, and you shouldn't worry about me as you know I've battled timberwolves, the queen of the changelings, Tirek, my own corruption within... countless things."
The sound of Pinkie's voice could be hear sounding off as the train makes itself at a complete stop to the station. "WE'RE HERE!" She called out to us, with only a few ponies that weren't with us releasing a few shocked expressions before resuming their own business.
With the train now at a complete stop, Nightmare releases her wing off of me and I let go of her black hoof. I go up onto my two feet and join up with Pinkie who eagerly is standing there by the train doors and waiting for them to open up. She bounces up and down with that same bright smile that I knew from her.
Twilight is out of the seat already, and trots over towards the train doors to join me at my side. A smile forms on my face as her hoof gently takes and holds onto my right hand, and ready to re-introduce me to Shining Armor and Cadence, since it has been a month since we last saw them which was our wedding. Nevertheless, they should be happy to see us.
"Nervous?" She asked me.
I didn't feel nervous at all, in fact I was feeling quite neutral as of the moment. I've met them numerous times by now so they know who I am. "No, not at all." I responded to her.
"I'm just wondering, that's all. Nothing to worry about too much."
A smile was on my face as I glance at my wife, knowing she was happy to keep an eye on me if I needed anything or if I was feeling down or a bit like I was hiding an emotion inside of myself. "I see, but no matter. I am quite happy that you are keeping an eye on me to make sure I'm okay."
She smiles at me and giggles. "Cadence is most likely looking forward to calling you 'Prince Brayden', because why not?" She did have to tone down the volume a bit especially when mentioning the 'prince' part. Even so because besides Flutters and the other princesses, nopony else knew of this and would be such a reaction I can imagine, especially Rarity who'd probably faint upon hearing the reveal.
"Yeah, but... no nicknames for now."
The train doors open on our right, giving us access to head outside and onto the station for the glorious empire. "Understood." She says to me, understanding my wish to keep it still a secret for now.
Shining Armor stood right there a couple of feet away from the train itself by the time we were getting off. He was quite to see all of us have arrived, though I did suspect we would be here at 4:40pm as the station's clock displayed, so we have a load of time to say our hellos and explore a bit.
"Shining." Twilight says, smiling at her brother.
He kept that emotion on his face when he was looking at her. "Twiley," He says her name, and then turning and seeing me with my hand holding her hoof. "Brayden, it's good to see you again."
"Good to see you too Prince Shining." I responded to him, nodding my head as a way of saying hello to him.
He chuckles a bit. "Good manners, but you don't have to call me Prince. You know me well enough now to call me by my own first name."
"That's a good point there." I scratch the back of my head when I was saying this.
Celestia comes forward to the young stallion with that dear smile she always displayed to her own subjects before her. "The Crystal Empire looks beautiful in the evening, Shining Armor. How are Cadence and Flurry?"
"Flurry's had a few hiccups but she is doing great. Sunburst is doing splendid as he has given us an extra set of defense especially when we brought in a few things for display in the Palace's new history room."
"History room?" Starlight asked behind me.
He nods his head. "Yes," He responds to her question. "We use that room for when visitors and diplomats come to the empire for a tour and in their own spare time. We loaded the relics in there about a week ago. Contains the history of the other Crystal princesses, the leftover artifacts and the horn of the dark unicorn, King Sombra."
"Wouldn't that be a little dangerous in having the horn of that evil king there?" I asked, realizing that they brought back his horn. I say it because I can recall that his red-curved horn was seen flying right out from the Empire when the Crystal Heart was placed back in its original spot thanks to Spike and Cadence herself.
He shook his head with a doubtful smile. "Not at all. When the guards found it in the middle of the snow out in the fields afar from here, they made a check to ensure that it was not active with any dark magic that could cause him to return."
In my thoughts, I guess it's all okay then since King Sombra no longer poses too much of a threat to the Crystal ponies. "As long as it is sealed, that's good."
Shining smiles and pats me on the left shoulder with his right front hoof. "No worrying about it Brayden," He looks to the rest of the group with us. "I suppose we should head out now to the Palace. Don't want to keep Cadence waiting now."
We arrive outside of the Crystal palace after passing through the business and downtown district of the city. A lot of the ponyfolk there were quite happy, though I knew Spike was going to insist that we pass by his statue that was made for his bravery of stopping the dark unicorn king. And yes, that statue still stood proudly there.
The Crystal Heart was seen in the center of the palace's exterior, turning around slowly and looping that way. It was another time seen it, even after hearing that it had accidentally been shattered by the powers of Flurry. Thank the First Alicorn that Sunburst was able to get her in control of her own magic.
Even as a newborn Alicorn, Flurry will eventually get control of it and learn how to secure it as she grows.
The royal Crystal guards stand there by the double doors notice my mother with us, bowing to her and proceeding to open them up with their own magic. I did appreciate the gesture from the guards themselves as even they held a friendly look on their faces as they welcome us as guests for this event.
I salute to the guards, but they do not move at all as it is by tradition that they do not acknowledge that the guests or any tourists are right there.
The outdoor orange colored sky soon changes around to a crystal like setting as it was the walls for the monarchy's building that stood proud and tall as the sign of the times so ancient; by the time the other Crystal princesses founded and built it by their own hooves as a beacon of hope to all who lived there and outside the blessed ground.
We ascended upward in the entrance stairway, making it to the main floor above that kept every room in touch, including that of the throne room itself where Crystal Empire diplomats connecting with other kingdoms including those that ran Equestria met to improve relations and make fair trade.
"Cadence is probably getting Flurry Heart to take a nap before the dinner. We'll go and see if she is in Flurry's room." He informs us, turning down a hallway to proceed ahead with a few guards marching en route past us.
The magic above on the ceiling controlled by Cadence was able to keep the castle alit for the hours that we would be here into the night to come. My eyes only saw the essence above as I was moving forward with the group. Can't really focus on that right now as it was with other things.
One thing caught my eye and got me to stop though... King Sombra's horn?
Inside a dark room and lit in a small display in the middle of the room, I can see the curved horn of the king remaining there. I can still remember his death very well when the Crystal Heart had been united with the Crystal ponies, and his own scream. Waiting for the group and having let go of my wife's hoof, they passed by and I slip into the room to approach it, eager to look a little more at it.
"I don't know if it's safe to check out the horn. I am sensing very little magic being embursed from the horn's bone." The blade's voice suggested to me, with caution in its voice.
My feet tread slowly forward to the display where the horn was kept. "Well, no worries. The king has been dead since the third season, so it should be fine to at least... touch once." I did give off by the sound of that last word a bit curious of what it would just be like to touch the horn.
Both of my hands removed the glass display and I place it onto the ground. I observed it for a few moments, letting the right hand move forward to touch it on the display.
"Crystals..."
Flashbacks of the show were heard from the third season's premiere that had introduced the Empire to all and its mysteries after King Sombra had made it disappear. Each one created an image of his own eyes in my head the closer my hand moved to touch the horn.
All turned out worse when my hand finally laid the index finger onto it...
I felt myself get frozen when my vision of what I was seeing in front of me were turned into darkness, but the only difference is that I haven't fainted. My right hand was getting shocked all over, and it felt like icicles were being jabbed into my right arm. Kind of like the Timberwolf Alpha scratching me but was much lesser.
In front of me was only the color black, and I couldn't even see anything at all. A deep laugh could be heard in the distance of that vision and that same chill could be felt moving around me like a cobra snake seeking out small victims like rats.
Those eyes of red and green... that purple aura past them... they stare right back at me with a glare. There is probably a smile, but most likely it will be hidden from sight by the shadow itself.
I knew that it was King Sombra, staring me down as if something went on with the shocks that had been felt. In the distance, I could hear screams that sounded like Twilight... my mother... my friends... I cannot move though, as I was paralyzed with the cold feeling.
"Release yourself immediately Brayden! Let go!" I can hear my blade's voice tell me by the telepathic presence.
Above the eyes of the dark unicorn king, the red curved horn that I still held appeared in the vision as part of the shadow form. Magic begins to channel on his horn and it unveils an aura of black with the same colors as the eyes that the evil within powered. A ball of magic appears on the tip of horn in a turquoise to light blue.
That blast of magic sent and having done contact with me was enough to throw me out from the vision and to let me go of the horn.
From snapping out of it, an unknown force upon release looks to have thrown me away from the curved horn as there still were sparks igniting all over the horn as I find myself slammed against the crystal wall and falling to the tiled floor.
I got up, feeling cold and was shivering as well. I mean, I was completely fine before I took ahold of the horn, and now it was like I was quickly batched into the coldest winter and spit right back out.
The horn was still sparking by itself, and I believe I caught a small bit of darkness crawling out from the back of the horn that connected with King Sombra's head. I knew I couldn't stay in this room to investigate further, as I could get myself in trouble with Cadence and Shining Armor or the Crystal guards if they found out.
Hurriedly, I ran past towards the door and quickly slammed it behind me, leaving the horn sparking and smoking out more black smoke. I don't think even the guards will think of going in there, and I'm hoping that no one will even try to open the door. God forbid that happens.
No guards patrolling the halls, I began to make a run down the hallway, heading in the direction that I feel that Flurry's bedroom could be, breath coming in and out from my mouth silently as the adrenaline was pushed to my legs as much as it can. I can go only a certain length from running until my legs got tired of running.
A turn of the hall to my right coming up, and I can hear the sound of a deep laugh behind me. I had to go faster and transition into a sprint as it was like King Sombra was in pursuit to torture and have him return which I feel I might have done...
I looked behind me when I turn to leave the hallway, slamming right into somepony that caught my attention once again.
Stumbling backwards, I could recognize that coat color and the golden shoes on her hooves with even her crown and light purple eyes. It was Cadence herself and she looked quite surprised to see me.
"Brayden!" She sounds a bit surprised to see me, even as I was catching my breath. "I thought you were with the others when they came along to see me."
"I... know..." I said, still taking breaths as I spoke. "Got distracted."
"That's okay to be distracted, even by the little things. But why do you feel like you're freezing?"
I had to lie, as I couldn't let her know that I touched the horn of the dark unicorn king. "I, uhh, I'm not really sure." Not even my own wings could be able to warm me up as they were cold on the same level as well.
Cadence opens up her left wing and places it around me, a fuzzy feeling to warm up the coolness. "Here, this should warm you up. My wing has a bit of warmth to help get that cold away. I'm sure none of us want you to get a cold or get sick for that matter." She tells me, sounding a little worried.
"Wouldn't your husband Shining Armor get any ideas of your wing around my back?" I asked, the shivering beginning to get reduced.
"You don't have to worry about him. He trusts you enough as you're married to Twilight, and have treated her well. He wouldn't get angry with you, as anypony who is a friend to Twilight is a friend to him," She tells me. "Why do you think that he gave you a warm welcome on the first meeting?"
"I thought he would keep a close eye on me, if in the case that I did something bad and..." I could not really say more, as I couldn't let myself get paranoid over the past things.
Cadence listened as I told her before pausing. She was able to speak at this point on my worries. "You don't have to worry though, he's not like that. Just remember that from there on forward, as he is your brother in-law."
"You do prove a point."
She gave me a trusting smile, and continues to trot with me with her wing on my back to warm me up from that chill I recieved back there. To my relief though is that she doesn't know the reason behind it.
The warmth from the wing was beginning to give off and raise the temperature a bit on me so that my wings can feel like it normally felt. Warm and fuzzy like any other pegasi or alicorn wing alike. Even so, they do need to unfurl to gain some of that heat from Celestia's sun above in the blue sky. My body is also getting a little more as well so I should be fine in a few moments.
Heading to the throne room seems to be calm as ever, as there are occasionally the sounds of the Crystal guards marching in the crystal halls with no trouble in sight. A few other ponies trot by as well, nodding their heads in greeting to the Princess of Love. Most likely the servants themselves by chance, getting the dinner ready for all of us.
The throne doors were just ahead down the hall on the next turn to the left. Close, but not too far from us. I can feel Cadence move her wing off of my back as I knew I had become at least warm enough to not be shivering anymore. I can't help but keep that horn of King Sombra on my mind though...
Did I possibly succeed in resurrecting the dark unicorn king from the dead by my own hand?
...Nooooo, no. That wouldn't be possible.
We both make approach towards the throne room doors, with Princess Cadence opening them both up with her magic. From there is where I can recognize the throne itself and the carpet that rolled out from the royal seat to the entrance.
"There you are!" I can hear Rainbow Dash call out to me with a smirk on her face, as if I gave out a look like the cat that ate the yellow canary, even though I haven't smiled. "All of us were just wondering where you went off to."
"Sorry about that Dashie," I said, the tone of my voice sounding a bit awkward. "It's easy for me to get distracted."
Brief laughter was there for a moment, and then she nudged me on the shoulder. "We all get distracted, especially when I'm thinking of the Wonderbolts. The one team that I have joined," She paused for a moment. "But seriously though, don't call me Dashie."
"Why not?" I asked her.
She turns her head around on both sides, issuing to Cadence that this was something that needed to be shared between me and her. The princess was happy to understand and trots towards her husband to talk with him.
"That nickname is something that Alex is using to... attempt to flirt with me." She whispers to me in my ear.
My friend Alex has been flirting with her? "In what kind of way?" I sound a bit curious.
"Like that nickname you gave me, or about how I'm very 'beautiful' but with using a different word to describe it."
"Sexy, that would be the word, wouldn't it?"
"Yes, that's the one! Ever since he's come to Equestria, he's been on my tail and trying to hit on me. When we get back to Ponyville, could you tell him to stop that. It's a bit... creepy in a way."
I placed my left hand onto Rainbow's right shoulder. "I knew him growing up, sure he will act a bit rough like that and he tries to push a bit with that as I saw him do that with other girls before."
She sounded a bit angry when she was telling me about what Alex was doing, but her anger in that tone dropped. "Look, I'm not mad at him. I still want to be his friend, but he just needs to lay off the behaviour that he is pulling. I want him to see how it is properly done, on friendly terms. You and me are an example, as I know you're smart enough to know not to do anything like that."
"That's right," I respond to her with my head nodding in response to her statement. "Just don't let him bother you. When we get back to Ponyville, I'll talk with him and set him straight forward."
"Thanks Brayden," She sounds relieved to hear that I will go with the request. "Another thing that I am wondering, when do you think we should our get-together so that we can hang out? We still haven't done that since the swim with you, me and Scoots."
I release my hand off from her shoulder. "Well, I might off sometime soon as I am usually free. Twilight however is suggesting that I find something to do in my time, and find a job in Ponyville."
"Well hey, look at me. I'm a Wonderbolt, so you should know that I do work hard," She tells me. "I think you would do well in a career besides just being the Paladin of Equestria and helping us from danger with that blade on your back."
"Oh, I am offended..." The Song of Order's voice tells me with a sarcastic touch to the word 'offended' so that I can tell that was really sarcasm.
I scratch my head for a moment. "Uh, I'll have to give it some thought."
"Alright, I'm available anytime as well, just as long as it isn't a day where I am with the Wonderbolts in training, shows or rehearsals."
"Something will work out for the both of us." I said to her, finally releasing my hand off from her shoulder. "In the friendly way of course."
She jokingly groans with a smile on her mouth. "I know..." But giggles and flaps her wings a bit to nudge me on the shoulder. "Looking quite forward to what plan you or I could come up with. I have many interests."
"Interests, hm? Probably some that youmight have got into thanks to me or the other Earth friends."
At this point she would proceed to go on with the list from her mind of all the things she liked to do like swimming, adventures, conventions like the one she went to with Daring Do and that 'Quibble Pants' she mentioned at one point, this... that... you know the deal with her. Yes, she mentioned something about 'chillaxing'.
My eyes stray off from her rose colored eyes and I turn to see what the rest of my friends are doing. Twilight and the other princesses are gathered in conversation, while the others are laughing probably because of something Pinkie told them like a joke or something. I could see Starlight Glimmer talking to that familiar stallion Sunburst who was her friend in childhood.
Both her and Sunburst look quite happy together and something in my own heart knew that they'd be perfect for one another. I would try to probably work on getting them together, but most likely it's not going to be easy because even though Starlight trusts me; she doesn't really like it when I step into her business. But even so, I'll leave them alone and let her introduce me to Sunburst.
Can't forget about Spike either, so I turn my eyes to the left past the throne to see him chatting with Nightmare Moon and...
Oh fuck...
That's a Changeling that he is talking with! Seeing about my experience with the Changelings and their queen, I am pretty sure that he is trying his best to brainwash the poor baby dragon before taking the love out of him.
A look of fury crosses onto my face as I walk at a fast speed towards the little bug itself. How dare this creature talk to one of my friends and try to get away. This fucking spy from the Changeling hive is definitely going to get what he rightfully deserves for messing with my mind and making me a Changeling mind-possessed slave that had the result of almost endless nightmares because of it!
My right arm grips onto the pommel of the Song of Order and pulls it right out into my possession. Spike looks to see me coming with a smile on his face at first, at least until he saw the angry look on my face, then it would give him a reason to be this shocked. I'm pretty sure that Cadence and Shining Armor saw me as well approaching the Changeling drone.
The sound of conversation drops and unveils gasps of shock when I drew the blade right at this Changeling's throat, ready to give it the rightful death it needs.
"Brayden! Stop there for a moment!" Spike tells me, a bit scared for how I was this angry that a Changeling was here and most likely for the bug itself.
"Me? Stop?!" I said with sarcastic anger, not attempting to take my eyes off from the bug. "What the hell is a Changeling doing here in the Crystal Empire?! I want to fucking know right now!"
Because I swore in the room within their earshot, I could hear the sounds of their gasping because of the profanity being used as they know not to do that. Spike in defense of the Changeling scum itself, stands in front of it as if he is protecting it.
"Don't hurt him, Thorax's on our side!"
"What are you doing Spike?!" I said with a bit of shock. "It's a Changeling, and you remember what the queen did to me! Get away from that thing!"
The changeling looks a bit frightened, especially with the Song of Order pointing at it. The blade isn't singing, so I'm not sure why it wouldn't consider this scum to be a threat to my friends or Equestria for that matter.
"Please, just listen to reason! I do not want to bring harm!" I can hear that changeling named Thorax beg to me.
I laughed off his so-called attempt to sway me on lowering the blade from his neck. "Oh really? Then do you remember how your queen had me brainwashed? Or are you pretending you know nothing about it?!"
"I know nothing about what Queen Chrysalis did to you, and I'm sorry she did that to you!"
My tone began to sound a little more aggressive as I now have the blade right at its throat. "Sorry doesn't cut it for what your friends did to me!"
A hoof was gently placed onto my right hand that gripped the Song of Order, as in a way of trying to get me to calm down. I turn and look to my right, seeing that it's Twilight herself with a look on her face that told that she would remain calm for me as she was my wife, and that she was going to probably stand up for that Changeling son of a bitch which I knew I wasn't going to like one bit.
"Please ease down," She asked of me, knowing that she didn't like it when I was this pissed off about anything. Knowing that I was always quite calm with her or my other close friends, I had to keep myself away from fury as she knew what happened when it got corrupt. "I understand that you've had bad memories with the Changeling queen herself, but she is far away. Thorax here ended up leaving the hive which he has committed betrayal to the queen; he is with us."
"You're just going to let this Changeling get away with it?!" I was quite shocked, but the look in her eyes told me that she wasn't brainwashed. This was the real Twilight speaking truthfully to me.
She shook her head. "I shall make myself quite clear. He is on our side, lower the Song of Order..." A reminder of how I was known for the balance of good graces reflected into my mind, even when she stood closer to me, her left front hoof still ahold on my blade-wielding hand. "Please, for the sake of all of us..."
I didn't look at Twilight, Thorax, Spike or any of my friends for that moment as I closed my eyes to think it over. If I did strike down Thorax because of his Changeling appearance, it would devastate Spike and I could end up losing friends because it is the law of Equestria that none should be slain or killed unless they committed murder themselves.
My mind considers sparing the Changeling himself as I did not witness anything wrong. What was the quote Zecora had once said? ...Never judge a book by its cover.
I opened my eyes and brought the silver blade away from the neck of the bug, placing it behind my back to end my usage of it. The emotion on my face was quite clear though of the message I was giving to Thorax. "Alright, you shall be spared," I told him with a pause after that.
"Glad to see that you-"
"But sparing your life doesn't mean that I trust you completely." I warned him, sounding a little harsh as I turn away from the Changeling.
Twilight trotted next to me, probably still trying to make sure that I was alright. Nightmare who was watching the entire thing trots forward to join up with me and her. Both of them are concerned about me, especially when I let out a bit of a fury there.
"Are you okay Brayden?" She is gently rubbing my arm gently with her hoof to give me a bit of comfort as I was feeling a bit uncomfortable from losing my cool.
I turn and look at those heavenly eyes of hers, exhaling a sigh. The sound of hooves approaching was Nightmare's who I did see before. "What if he turns his back on you all?"
Twilight opens her left wing and wraps it around me. "He won't. When we first met him, we all deemed him to be a threat, but after Spike gave us the bigger picture on him actually befriending him; we all gave him a chance."
"I was there when I met him for his integration into Equestria society," Nightmare Moon commented. "Spike seemed to really open up friendship to him, which is extraordinary as no other Changeling would ever accept it."
That would seem almost impossible for a Changeling to take sides with us, as the rivalry of them has been going on since as far as the wedding incident in Canterlot long before I arrived in Equestria. "How in the h-" I pause for a moment when Twilight gave me a mild, yet stern look on my face like I was going to swear. "How is he overall?"
"He and the Crystal ponies are getting along quite well, though he does have to avoid getting into the eyesight of any tourists in the city as they tend to still have that frightened feeling of Changelings." Nightmare continues.
"It's not really easy for Thorax to befriend anypony who isn't a Crystal pony, as the two incidents that happened already in Canterlot twice now have shown their fear for them," Twilight tells me. "The royal guards of Equestria's capital would be all over him should he step into the city. All the streets would be practically empty should anyone turn and look at him."
"Brayden?" I can hear Princess Cadence grab my attention as she trots towards me. "I heard all the commotion. Are you calm?"
"A little bit, but it was more of a shock for me."
"Oh good," She looked worried as well. "I'm thankful that you didn't take Thorax's life."
"But why him? Why a changeling?"
Her worries did ease, so she could tell me the truth in whole. "We thought that he was a spy working for Queen Chrysalis, but after Spike stood up to us to say that he was a changed one... at first we didn't believe it. Now he is our friend, and we hope that you can be his as well."
"I don't know..." I had my doubts, hanging my head.
The pink alicorn placed her golden shoe-covered hoof onto my right hand. "It's okay, we're already aware of you being traumatized by the Queen herself. She isn't here though, so please stop worrying about her. It's worrying us that all of us will lose you to her again, as we know she'll try to have her revenge on what you did for the second invasion."
I looked up at Cadence when she moved and placed that same hoof onto my chin to make me see her face. "Well... maybe I will, but I won't trust him still." I told her, my doubts still clinging onto me. "But with that action there, I might have lost a bit of trust with Spike."
Twilight spoke to me with the concern of my actions with a calm tone in her voice. "I'll talk with Spike and make sure that he hasn't. He might have only been a little frightened about losing a friend, but you won't lose him in your friend circle."
My eyes turn to look at my wife's violet eyes. A small smile creeps up a bit when she told me of this. She gently brushed close to me with my arm moving around her neck and giving her a quick romantic hug. "Thanks, I appreciate that."
She nuzzles her cheek with mine and manages to let her lips touch onto my left cheek, giving it a kiss. My arm gently strokes her soft, silky mane at least two or three times before I remove my arm from around her neck, and release from the embrace.
"My love," I can hear Nightmare Moon acknowledge me. I continue holding onto Twilight's hoof, while I turn and look at her. "To get that incident off of our minds, would I suggest that we change the subject to something else?"
"By all means, yes." I agreed with her.
She nods her head with a pleased expression on her face. "With you and Twilight, how are both of you faring together?"
"Quite well," Twilight is the first to speak out about us on this topic. "He and Spike help in cleaning up the castle, and we do lots of things on our spare time. We read books together, we take long walks... you get the picture. Going out to dinner or eating at home in the castle with him is my favorite though."
"And you're helping me out in searching for a job in Ponyville."
"Of course Brayden, I want to help you find one now that you're married as you can't keep staying in the castle forever," Twilight tells me, my hand holding her hoof and gently rocking it back and forth. "You've got to find something to do."
"From what I know, I think Zecora does some potion brewing... but I'm not really for that. Maybe working on Applejack's farm so it'll build up strength from lifting up heavy objects around the farm, or bucking the apple trees."
She nods with another suggestion on her mind. "Even Pinkie Pie has a spot open in the Sugarcube Corner, besides Sonata Dusk and Andrea who are currently working there."
"I'm not really up to working there. Even as a best friend figure to Andrea, I should let her keep her workplace there and not let me nor her get distracted as we usually tend to goof off when the time comes."
Twilight thinks for a moment. "...Carousel Boutique?"
I shook my head again. "I'm not a fashion person, plus I don't want to intrude on Ann. I know that she is one of my loves; but as a human herself, I need to give her privacy."
"Reasonable," Twilight nods with understanding. "I'm not going to force it, but there are many job opportunities open in town. I think even the Ponyville guard is looking for recruitments to protect the town from dangerous creatures... but I don't think that would be for you, as you don't want time taken away."
"Probably something closer within the township, you know the folk there really enjoy my presence now that they're used to seeing humans here."
"Besides you or the others mentioned, there is Alex as well. He's currently working at Sweet Apple Acres and..."
The sound of hooves galloping outside of the throne room caught our attention. I turn and look to the open doors to see a couple of guards swarm past the door, en route to stop the cause of trouble. Seeing how there was more though... I thought for a moment...
Oh no... what if one of them discovered the horn was sparking and going all out loose? Was this a return for the dark unicorn king who was defeated a second time? I feel a little worried inside of this cause and possibility.
"Brayden? Brayden."
Cadence's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I turn and look at her. "You seem a bit worried. Is everything alright?" She asked me.
"It's... it's just the guards galloping. I..." I knew Twilight didn't like it when I lied, especially Applejack who is known for not believing something false or made-up. "I just get nervous about it. That's all."
I can hear the Song of Order groan in annoyance, knowing I would go as far as to make up a lie like that.
"Nervous?" Cadence asked me. "There's nothing to be nervous of. They are aware that you are a friend, and would not prevent you from visiting."
"Are you sure you're not lying about it?" Twilight questions me, as with the shaking in my tone she caught.
One of the guards came galloping into the room. "Princess Cadence! Prince Shining Armor!" The royal guard pants as he stays by those open double doors. "This is an emergency!"
"What is it?" Her voice grew concerned.
"In the history room being created... the horn of King Sombra is coming to life and it's darkness is spreading!"
There is the sound of the guards screaming that caught all of our attention. All of us gallop towards the open door still hearing the sound of hooves galloping for each and every guard, along with a haunting sound that sounds a bit too hollow. I was on the side when I managed to take a peek at what was going on.
My god... there are no words...
The shadow has spread at an alarming rate and by the blackening smoke encovering the soldiers of crystal and spreading upwards into the upper floors and to the top of the palace. Encrusted black crystals were encarved onto the soldiers' horns.
"Flurry Heart!" Shining Armor sounds very shocked as he remembered that she was sleeping. "I have to get to her!"
He begins to gallop, but is stopped by the voice of his wife. "Shining, no! Who knows what'll happen to you?" She sounded like she didn't want to lose him.
"Cadence, I'll be fine! I promise I will! The shadow may have encrusted my horn once, but it won't this time!" Shining responds to her, taking her hoof to assure her.
Her pink horn channels magic and I could watch as she casted some sort of protection spell on her husband. It looks to resemble the shield that surrounded Canterlot in the wedding episode to prevent the Changelings from attacking which didn't work because when the queen controlled Shining Armor, it lost the ability to produce a stronger part for the shield to be powered.
"Be careful Shining!" Twilight sounds worried about her brother as he gallops off to the left hallway outside of the throne room. I had to place my hand on her back to assure her that everything was going to be okay.
"HE'S BACK!"
The sound of the Crystal ponies outside of the palace could be heard among the panic outside as the shadow continues to rise upwards. I turn towards the open door accessing to the balcony and run towards it, as I had to see what was going on.
Hooves followed behind me as I ran past the crystal etched door and outwards to the balcony railing.
The sky itself has turned into a orange-ish color, but was more darker in appearance, just like the flashback of when King Sombra first ruled the Empire. The crystal ponies below began to lose their crystalness and became dull once again when they feared King Sombra and his tyrant rule over the Empire. A nightmare to them has become a reality again... he has returned to rule over them with them as his own slaves.
Above the top of the palace, the black shadow loomed over the skies and then diving right down towards the balcony. Those horrifying eyes of green and red... the haze of purple... I remembered them from touching the curved horn of his...
What have I done... I brought him back to life...
"Crystals..." I can hear his voice say out loudly in that recognizable deep tone of his, as he dives down to the balcony.
I look to see who is right beside me, seeing as it is Starlight Glimmer herself who looks horrified to see the dark unicorn king reborn. Seeing that he was going to crash down onto the balcony close by us, I jump towards her to knock her and myself to the ground to avoid getting hurt by the slam of the shadow.
There is the sound of the slam and a couple of hooves gathering at the balcony door. I begin to get up slowly and off of Starlight, seeing the shadowed smoke rise up with a visible figure made of steel and a robe, a dark crown upon his head and his red eyes opened.
It was King Sombra himself in the flesh before my eyes when the smoke was gone. He was laughing to himself as he was victorious once again. He stares right to the throne room, being blocked off by Twilight, Cadence, my aunt and mother. Sunburst who was with them, gallops over to Starlight, concerned and wondering if she was alright.
"You're supposed to be dead! How did you even come back to life?!" Aunt Luna questions the king himself, who only can smile at her among that glare on his face.
He laughs once more, and trots towards her. "A special kind of magic managed to bring me back to life, and it is finally my chance at last to take revenge on all of you for what happened last time. But you and Celestia are here now... the circle is complete."
"If you think you'll take back and keep the Crystal ponies under a horrible rule, you're wrong!" Cadence shouts at him.
His horn channels magic while he grins, lifting her up into the air. "You must be the Crystal princess who protects her subjects... No matter, you are useless now that I am back."
I got up onto my feet and join by the other princesses while Starlight and Sunburst stay together trying to ensure that they keep out of the fight that is bound to ensue between him and the princesses. The blade on my back sings to warn me of danger that was the unicorn, and I take it from behind my back, readying the power to me.
A chuckle came from his lips when he turns and sees me. "My dear boy, I have to thank you for touching my horn. I wouldn't have come back to life if it weren't for the magic coming from you..."
The princesses look shocked to say the least, and turn to look at me. I didn't know what to say, but only a few things on my mind. "It's my fault for letting my curiosity get the best of me... I'm sorry..."
"It's not your fault Brayden..." I can hear my mother say to me in a calm tone, as trying to keep me from blaming myself.
"Ah, Brayden is your name, hm?" The king begins to trot towards me. "What a clever name, and a unique claymore you have."
By how he trotted towards me, I watch as Celestia and Twilight stand in front of me to act as a barrier between me and the dark unicorn king.
"King Sombra?! Yer back?!" I can hear Applejack call out behind Luna.
His eyes created the green and purple essence for that moment, and from the doorway, I can see a dark colored bubble take ahold of my friends in the throne room and encase them in it, with no sound coming outside or inside, so that cannot hear what was going to be said.
"Wouldn't want any interruptions from your friends, Twilight Sparkle." He says to my wife with a cruel smile on her face.
I cannot see her face, but I can tell she was pissed. "You let them go!"
"In due time, there's business with me and Celestia. Perhaps this human boy I am seeing."
Celestia readied her horn in case he got closer. "You're not going anywhere near my son!" I was quite happy that even in her role as a mother that she would protect me from any harm he could try to cause to me.
"Your son, hm?" He chuckles on that thought.
"Wait a minute..." I can hear Sunburst speak out loud. "Brayden is your son Princess?!"
A red aura surrounds both the crystaller and Starlight, levitating them above the crystal tiles they were on. "Can't let you disturb this moment for all of us." Sombra chuckles once again, tossing them downwards off of the balcony and onto the floor of the streets of the Empire below the palace, disappearing below the ground. "Good thing I still have the dungeon hidden within the palace basement walls. That will be their new home."
Twilight growls herself as I can see her horn channel magic to attack the dark unicorn king. He notices this coming, sending a spell that sends her flying to the palace walls. She slams against it and collapses onto the floor, weakening her and injuring her.
I ran towards my wife to see if she was okay. I could see that she felt weak and finds it hard to get off of the tiles to stand up and fight him. "Twilight..." I said to her, worried that she was hurt.
"That's it!" I can hear Celestia shout at him, moving to the side and Luna joining her. "None of us will let you succeed in conquering and taking the Empire again!"
"Oh but with your son here, this is something worth my while, so it'll come first!"
"He's my son! You will not bring harm to him!" Celestia shouts at him, and I've never seen her or heard her get this angry before.
The sound of magic was heard from him, surrounding her and Princess Luna, and encasing in a dark crystal prison that they could see through.
"No!" Princess Cadence shouts, charging at the dark unicorn king.
The king noticed her coming, and clashes horns with her in battle while I could only stay there and watch as being in his presence seemed to make me seem very fearful of what he could do to me next.
Would he torture me just like Queen Chrysalis did? Would he trick me into joining the evil side and cause me to betray my own friends and wife? The possibilities are endless... and that is why I was afraid of what the dark unicorn kind would do. Even then, I cannot take myself to lunge at him with the Song of Order that is singing.
"What are you doing Brayden?!" I can hear the Song of Order's voice tell me with such alarm. My arms and hands felt frozen in place as if I couldn't move them.
Cadence was struggling to keep Sombra from winning over her, but she was beginning to weaken and eventually is knocked back by him. Another blast of magic at her, and she is knocked to the tiles of the balcony. She gets up, her mane looking ruined as she glares at him.
He begins to approach me, a dark grin upon his face. "So Celestia is your mother, hm? I should've known she was give birth to a child, and a human no doubt."
"You won't hurt her..." I said, still afraid.
"You're afraid... good. You should be," He says to me with a chuckle. "Don't let yourself get destroyed as Nightmare Moon's darkness did when she was banished to the moon!"
"Never mention my banishment!"
A sigh of relief came to me when she trots outside and joins at my side to tackle the unicorn king. "You're the reason alone why I was born as a jealous spark within Princess Luna! A curse that has changed for the better good of Equestria!"
He keeps that vicious smile on his face as he listened to every word the black alicorn had said to him. He transforms into his shadow form and disappears into the ground, but from the corner of my own eye can see him reappear behind Nightmare. A chuckle is heard, and I can feel Twilight motioning to sit up.
She was still unable to get up completely, but could only watch what was happening when I turned to look by the sound of one of her hooves.
"Well, it was the only other thing I thought would divide Celestia and Luna. Both of them were fools to betray me after what they did in the past. But with both Celestia her son here in the return to take back what was mine, the circle is complete."
A streak of bravery came quickly to me when I heard those words, and I grip onto the Song of Order and pull it out. "You're not going to send the Crystal ponies back to the mines! Not while I am standing!"
Surprise came mildly onto the face of King Sombra, but then grows a smile slowly. After that... a chuckle is heard. The green in his eyes glow again as he trots towards me, as if he was planning to attack me.
I lunge at him when he came within a close range, striking him on his curved horn. The attack almost looks to be useless to him, as that look on his face remained. Nevertheless he took the opportunity to clash with me. He felt much stronger, but I knew I had to keep it locked in to prevent him from overpowering me.
"Weak as ever... just like your mother..." He mutters to me as he releases from the horn-sword lock and pushes me to the ground with his iron hooves.
I attempt to get up onto my two feet, but the aura on his horn told me otherwise. I jumped to the side when he fires it towards me, striking the balcony and destroying part of the railing.
On the crystal tiles below, I turn and see him trotting right behind me. "You have no clue what I could do with my rule of the Crystal Empire and what I am capable of. So I make this offer with you and your claymore you hold in your hands; join me. If you do, we can end the conflict between my version of the true Crystal Empire and Equestria."
"I will never join you!" I shouted at him, swinging at him again with his horn clashing again. Magic sparks appear and disappear in the lock that we were in.
"There are may things you do not know, like the truth of Celestia. She's been making lies to you."
"None of your business!" I shouted at him, struggling to win in the lock but getting pushed back. "I was already pissed at her for not telling me that she was my own mother."
"You are clueless of the other half of the story of who laid the seed in you..." He manages to push me back.
I stumbled backwards from his hooves pushing me, still standing there with an angered, but yet curious look on my face. "You are the one who put my real father to death! I am not clueless at all!"
"You are though, and even Celestia knows she has been hiding the truth from you by her nervousness. You won't be able to take the news lightly." He tells me, transforming by his dark magic into his shadow form, and coiling around me like a snake. I can hear his breath right behind me, sounding very deeply.
Despite all of my anger, I lowered the claymore in my hand and don't even turn my head to look at him. "What do you mean?"
From that moment, everythin changed with a single whisper.
"I laid you, the seed into Celestia herself. I created you... the imperfect balance of good and evil."
TO BE CONTINUED...