//------------------------------// // The Heart of the Crystal Empire // Story: My Little Pony and the Wolves of Imperiacus // by commander369 //------------------------------// Few hours later, nearly sundown. Twilight was leading five of her tiresome companions to the road of the Crystal Empire. It was a long walk, but they still managed to make it to the empire. Things are normal here, the sky was clear and not a single Nightwalker in sight. "We…. made… it.." Twilight breathing hard as she turned to her direction where all of her friends are lying on the ground. "That was a long walk…" Applejack said while collapsing on the ground. Rainbow Dash also dropped down to the ground, knowing that her wings are also too weak and tired. "Finally…. can we rest for a….. bit…." "We don't have time to rest, we have to…." Twilight was interrupted when she heard her name calling out to her. "TWILY!" Over by the street, a white unicorn in gold-trimmed violet armor and helmet came running towards Twilight and the others. "SHINING ARMOR!" Twilight screamed in joy as she recognized her brother. She ran to him and gave him a big hug. "Twily! You're safe. I am so glad you are here. I was beginning to worry. Are you okay?" Shining Armor cried. Twilight signed in relieve. "I'm fine, Shining Armor. We all a little tired, but we're all safe." She pointed out to her friends, who are all panting on the ground. "Hurry, we must get into the crystal library at once." Shining Armor walked along while his sister and her friends followed. "Did you hear what has happened in Canterlot?" Twilight said. Shining Armor nodded with a serious frown. "Yes, Princess Celestia sent us a message last night. She told us that Dark Lord Bloodfang has returned and he is planning to invade all of Equestria as we speak." "Then you must know what we're here for." Twilight asked. "Yes, and I figured you already went to the buffalo village, right?" Shining Armor asked "How do you know that?" Twilight confused. "Let's just say, we got this all planned out for you." Shining Armor continued walking. Shining Armor, Twilight, and everypony walked through the center of town, where every crystal trees are now bedecked with flowers and banners. All the crystal ponies are having a crystal faire. The difference was that this faire was filled with wolf decorations. Applejack was shocked to see all these crystal ponies outside and having fun instead of running or hiding from any incoming invasion. "What are all these crystal ponies doin' out here, aren't they aware that the Nightwalkers have returned." "Apparently, they don't know anything yet." Shining Armor signed in depression. Twilight gasped. "They need to be warned! The Nightwalkers could invade the empire anytime soon!" Shining Armor stopped and faced Twilight and the others. "I don't think we should do that." "Why not?" Twilight confused. Shining Armor's face gestured towards the crowd of crystal ponies at the crystal faire. Every crystal ponies are holding up wolf flags in their mouths, some gathering around a crystal pony who was blindfold while whacking a Nightwalker piñata, and little crystal fillies dressed up as a Guardians and Nightwalkers playing sword fight. All of the crystal ponies are showing the expression of excitement and happiness on their faces. "They all look so… happy." Twilight frowned. "Yes, they are very happy. They haven't been this happy since the Crystal Heart has been restored. For the first time in a thousand years, the crystal ponies have a chance to celebrate this special holiday of the century." Shining Armor said. "These crystal ponies must be very excited about the eclipse than the ponies back in Ponyville." Applejack replied. "A good reason why they must not know yet. They deserve this day." Shining Armor continued on to the library. Everypony followed except for Twilight, who was still standing there with a sad frown as she watched all the crystal ponies having fun and having a good time. In her mind, she knew that the Nightwalkers will come for them sooner or later and it will be all her fault. The best way for them was to keep them happy. She took a deep breath and catch up with the others. They arrived at the crystal library and entered. Giant stacks of random books, globes, and celestial devices tower over them. Bright rays of light beam down through the glass skylights, casting filtered light on shelves and shelves of tomes, papers, and artifacts. They continued walking down the path and spotted Princess Cadance studying a document on a work table. A few books and scrolls covered the entire floor. "Princess Cadance!" Twilight cried rushing over to her sister-in-law, giving each other their little welcoming handshake. "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Twilight and Princess Cadance laughed. Princess Cadance smiled with relieve and happiness. "I am so glad you made it, Twilight." "Glad to be here, Princess Cadance." Twilight said. "Please Twilight, just call me Cadance." Princess Cadance giggled. "Whatever you say…. Cadance." Twilight smiled. Princess Cadance noticed that Twilight isn't very much happy as she used to be. "You look very depressed." "I take it that you also heard." Twilight said with a frown. Princess Cadance nodded. "Yes, we know. We have been doing some research when Princess Celestia warned us last night. "Have you been here all night?" Fluttershy questioned. "Ever since, and we have made many discoveries while we're at it." Shining Armor answered. "You and your friends came at the right time, too. I just finished up the last book." Princess Cadance pointed the book on the table where she was reading. "Ok, what do you got? We're all ears." Twilight preparing to listen what they are about to hear. Finally, Shining Armor called for everypony to gather around so they can explain what he and Princess Cadance had been speculating in secret. Princess Cadance explained, looking at Twilight and her friends. "Tell us, what did the buffaloes told you when you were there?" Twilight rub her chin, remembering what they learned. "Well, they told us that the eclipse was our creator." Pinkie Pie interrupted and began to speak in her hyperactive, obsessive way. "They also told us that the Nightwalkers were one of the seven original tribes in the world and we went to their sacred ground and the eclipse was the source of our way of life and love and cherish the wonders of our creator and Bloodfang wants to prevent the eclipse from shining its power to the earth and they want to rule and take over the world and…" Then, Rainbow Dash came in and put her hoof over Pinkie Pie's mouth, but this only muffles the babbling instead of shutting her up. Twilight signed in annoyance and relieved. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash, anyway as I was saying, they told us that we might find a map here that will lead us to Imperiacus." "I see. There is something more we should tell you." Shining Armor said. "What do you got so far, Shining Armor?" Twilight asked. Shining Armor cleared his throat and continued. "Well, the story started when the eclipse created life, such as us." "Yeah, we all know that part." Rainbow Dash interrupted. Shining Armor picked up a scroll that has a drawing of a bat king on it. "Well, we also learned that when the eclipse first created us and shined its power to the earth. The king of the bat tribe grew jealous." "Jealous? Why?" Applejack confused. "He believed that he and his subject were the most strongest and the mightiest of all the tribes. He thought that all living creatures should be praised and worshiped by power of fear instead of love and harmony. So, in order to achieve the power of fear, he seek out a powerful wizard that knows the secret to immortality." Shining Armor pointed out. "Do you know the name of the wizard?" Fluttershy asked. Princess Cadance spoke out to Fluttershy. "It doesn't say. But it did say when the wizard gave him the magic of life, the bat king transformed into this unspeakable beast named Lord Bloodfang. That was the dawn when the bat tribe gained power and became the Nightwalkers." Shining Armor continued on the research. "When the eclipse saw that one of its own creations have grown into this treacherous demon and on a verge to create a path of destruction… the eclipse went out to seek a tribe to become the protectors. That's when the story was made. The eclipse needed a tribe with strength, loyalty, and bravery. And by that time, there was only one tribe that was capable to prove their worthiness." "The wolves of Imperiacus!" Everypony said at the same time, obviously knowing the answer. "Precisely." Princess Cadance agreed. "The wolves of Imperiacus was ruled by a brave and wise king, who cared about honor and fairness for not only his subject, but to all of subjects of the world. The eclipse gave the wolf king its powerful magic in order to defeat this vile creature to save the planet from destruction." Shining Armor explained. "But he couldn't do it. The wolf king could never take a life, no matter how evil as Bloodfang was." Princess Cadance said next. Shining Armor then used his magic horn to hold up a painted scroll of Bloodfang being sucked into the coffin. "So instead, he imprisoned him into a silver coffin and buried him deep in the earth. Which ended the great war and free the world from darkness." "But then he was once again reawakened." Fluttershy said. "Yeah, from a no good pony." Rainbow Dash shouted with frustration. After hearing that, Twilight looked down in extreme guilt. Princess Cadance wrapped her hoof around her for support. "Don't worry Twilight, there is still hope." Princess Cadance smiled at her "There is?" Twilight asked. Shining Armor nodded and pointed at a book on the table that Princess Cadance was reading. "Yes, you see according to this….. When the Legendary War has finally ended, the wolves have brought freedom, peace, and harmony to the whole world. The eclipse trusted the wolf king to accept responsibility for its power. And then on, the wolf king has become the great and the proud, Prince Eclipso." Princess Cadance said the next part of the story. "Since then, his duty is to combine the sun and the moon into the great eclipse and bring life to our world for once every hundred years. But as they say, with great power, comes with great responsibility. With such power, it must be kept safe, protected, and isolated from the outside world. So, accepting full responsibility, Prince Eclipso and his subjects decided to hid themselves from the world and went back to their faraway land of Imperiacus... never to be seen again." "So, that's how it is." Rainbow Dash now convinced. "But, Prince Eclipso couldn't leave Equestria unprotected. He knew that someday that Lord Bloodfang or any forces of evil shall rise again, so he gave his pure heart to the hearts of Equestria and eventually ended up here at the Crystal Empire. If evil ever returns, the heart will guide you to seek the wolves, so they will swear to protect the peace and fight for your freedom." Shining Armor explained. "So, it isn't a map we are lookin' for. We must be lookin' for a pure heart." Applejack said. Twilight took a moment to think, when suddenly an answer popped into her mind. "The heart! Of course." Twilight then got up and ran out the room, leaving everypony confused and surprised. Outside of the library, Twilight ran down the stairs and started to run towards the crystal streets, everypony also ran out the library and followed her. "Twily! Where are you going?!" Shining Armor called to her while running. Twilight didn't have time to talk; she just kept on running. She ran though the crystal faire and through the crowd of crystal ponies. She made it towards the front of the Crystal Castle, and slowly walked up towards a crystal sculpture that was holding the empire's important relic: the Crystal Heart. Shining Armor and everypony finally caught up with her. "What is it, Twilight?" Princess Cadance asked. "You said Prince Eclipso gave his pure heart to the hearts of Equestria... I think you were right. Quite literally." Twilight pointed at the Crystal Heart. "I think the Crystal Heart is Prince Eclipso's heart, I think this is the key that will lead us to Imperiacus. "So, the Crystal Heart is the map all along?" Rarity confused. "But, if the Crystal Heart is the key, then how come the crystal ponies never used it? Even when King Sombra took over the empire." Rainbow Dash rubbing her head. Twilight was thinking while rubbing her chin. "Maybe, they can't." She walked closer at the Crystal Heart and spotted something very unusual. She looked at the crystal sculpture and spotted some words written on it. "Look. There is also an inscription written on it." "How did we miss that?" Rainbow Dash said while scratching her head. Twilight looked through the words and noticed that there is a cracked hole on the last sentence. "I'm afraid this inscription won't help us. There's a piece missing from here." Applejack then took off her hat and took out the piece of stone that Thunderhooves gave them. "This must be why the buffaloes gave us this." Applejack gave the rock piece to Twilight. "Twilight, finish it." Twilight placed the small rock into the hole and made a perfect fit. She then read the inscriptions. "Power of life and heart of the light. To the eye of the great land... Lead us the way." The Crystal Heart began to change its color, changing from blue to red, red to green, and green to yellow. Tendrils of energy suddenly arced between the heart and the sculpture that was holding it. Everypony stepped back and raised their hoofs to shield their eyes from the flashing, flaring lights as the heart began to spin in a fast motion. Then, the heart finally released a wave of light and pushed it into the Crystal Castle; the light slowly moved up from bottom to top of the castle and fired an aurora light directly in the sky. All the crystal ponies at the faire looked up at the sky and were wowed by the unknown light. When the aurora light was released, it then slowly formed a straight path and head out in only one direction, the light was heading south. "The light is pointin' that direction." Applejack pointed her hoof on the south side of the sky. But just then, Shining Armor took a moment to analyzing the direction that the aurora was heading. "Hold on a minute." "What's wrong?" Twilight worried. "This could be bad." Shining Armor shocked. A while later, back at the library's reading room; Shining Armor was digging through a large pile of books, picking them up one by one and throwing them out of place. He eventually found the book he was looking for and started flipping through the pages. He stopped at a certain page and began reading through; his face began to show the expression of fear and nervousness. "Just as I thought. The Crystal Heart's light is shinning at the far south side of Equestria. Across there, there is an ocean at the end of the land." "So, what's so bad about it?" Rainbow Dash asked. Shining Armor signed as he closed the book. "Because according to this, the south side is the land of Mortarn." "Mortarn?" Fluttershy questioned. Shining Armor nodded. "Yes, and it is a very dangerous place. All who have traveled there have perished." "How bad is the land of Mortarn?" Rainbow Dash tilted her head in confusion. "Because, Mortarn was the original territory of the Nightwalkers." Shining Armor explained. "You're kidding?" Twilight gulped. Shining Armor shook his head. "Back in the ancient times, Mortarn was once part of Equestria's land, until Lord Bloodfang took it as a capital city for the Nightwalkers Empire. Since then, it became the most dangerous place even now." He stopped for a moment to see how everypony would take it. "There has to be something we can do." Rarity asked. "We have to get through there." Twilight said. "The land of Mortarn is impossible to make it thought. Once you leave, you will never return." Shining Armor worried. "We have to try, Shining Armor. It's our only hope." Twilight said. "It's far too dangerous. I won't allow it." Shining Armor begged. "If we don't try, Shining Armor, Princess Celestia won't survive!" Twilight asked, desperately trying to get her brother to listen. "If Bloodfang isn't stopped, nopony will survive." Fluttershy added. Seeing as she is going to Mortarn one way or another, Shining Armor sighed heavily. "I really don't want you to go, Twilight. It is not safe out there." "Please, Shining Armor I have to." Twilight said softly "Mortarn may not be a safe place, but all of Equestria will be even more a dangerous place if we don't go." Applejack pointing out to support Twilight. Princess Cadance walked to Shining Armor and placed her hoof on his shoulder. "She's right. She must go. It is her destiny." She said proudly. Shining Armor paused to take a deep breath. "You sure you want to do this?" "We must." Twilight desperately said. Shining Armor closed his eyes and accepted her decision. "Then please, be careful out there." "Thank you," Twilight hugged her brother, happy that her brother understands. Princess Cadance kissed her husband on the cheek for making the right decision and turned to Twilight. "It's going to be a long journey, Twilight. You and your friends should spend the night here, get some rest for tomorrow." Twilight want to reject the generous offer, but then she looked over to her tiresome friends and saw them yawning and rubbing their eyes. She knew it's been a long and exhausting day, and they deserve some rest. She responded with a smile. Inside the Crystal Castle, the door opened, Twilight, Cadance, and all the other ponies came walking in the room. Princess Cadance flickered the lights on, revealing a huge royal bedroom. "We have it all planned out for you." Twilight looked around the beautiful bedroom. "You don't have to do this, Cadance." "Nonsense, you all deserve to rest in a comfortable place, and this bedroom is the best place. Now, get some sleep. You deserve it." Princess Cadance insisted. "Thank you, Cadance and good night." Twilight said to her sister-in-law. "Good night, Twilight. Good night, everypony." Princess Cadance walked out the room and closed the door behind her. Twilight looked around; the bedroom was exquisite, with a sort of living room set with six king-size beds. "Nice room they have here." Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy look around, amazed by the bedroom. "She's right, y'all. Let's get some sleep. We got a big day ahead of us." Applejack yawned. Rarity climbed in bed. "I agreed, for something that we are going to do tomorrow; I really need my beauty sleep." Pinkie Pie climbed up the top bunk, fluffed her pillow, and rested her head, then something in her mind popped in. "Hey, I just noticed something." "What is it now, Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash groaned. Pinkie Pie darted and bounced excitedly on the bed. "I just realized if we are going to Imperiacus. That means, I'm also going to meet Cherrybomb, too!" "It'll be the most amazing, incredible, tremendous, super-fun, wonderful day of my life! I've always, always, always wanted to meet Cherrybomb! We are going to have so much fun stuff together. We going to play games, parties, dancing, and eat all the sweets we want." "Oh shucks, I've completely forgot about that. Which means, I'm goin' to meet Mudshield, my favorite hero of all time. I'll finally be able to see him in real life. I bet he is twice as strong as it said in the books." Applejack surprised. "Oh dear! I can't believe I didn't thought of that. If we do get to Imperiacus, I will finally be able to meet Bladesword. I've never thought I will have the opportunity to meet him. Oh, he will be so glorious and sophisticated as I've read in books. And I can't believe I'm about to meet him!" Rarity squealed in delight. "First Aider will be there, too. I can't wait to see him. I especially can't wait to see him use his magical healing powers to help all those injured adorable animals in need." Fluttershy giggled with excitement. "This is so awesome! I can see it now. I'll be able to finally see Thunderbolt doing his amazing "Spinning Lightning Attack". Everypony back on Ponyville would be so jealous of me when they see me hanging out with the fastest and the bravest wolf on earth: Thunderbolt! Even the Wonderbolts will be left speechless." Rainbow Dash shouted with joy and turned to Twilight. "Don't you think so, Twilight?" Twilight snapped out when her name was mentioned. "Huh, um… great." "Don't feel bad, Twilight." Applejack said softly. "Yeah, even though, you don't have a hero on Imperiacus, it still not too late." Rarity said quickly. "When the wolves defeated the Nightwalkers, you'll definitely find the right hero." Fluttershy said. Pinkie Pie jumped on her bed one last time and made a flat landing. "Just like the rest of us did." Twilight paused for a minute. "Um... thanks." Applejack yawned. "That's enough talk for one night. Let's get some sleep." Everypony nodded and lay back down on their beds and rest for the night. Twilight lay down on her bed and shut her eyes to get some sleep. But in her mind, all she can think of was how to tell her friends that she was the one who woke up Bloodfang. That was the only horror that was running through her head, all she can do now was sleep through it. On the night sky with stars tinkering in the dark, Twilight and her friends are now fast asleep. The sound of snoring was heard everywhere around the room, peacefully sleeping in a sweet dream. But then, outside of the crystal bedroom window; crystal bushes and crystal trees suddenly start tossing themselves in a strong strange wind. The wind ringing violently outside the window. Somewhere short miles from the Crystal Empire, a mysterious fog came across and one Nightwalker emerged from it, flying towards the empire. As the creature flew on, more Nightwalkers also emerged from the fog. There were millions of them, maybe more and they are heading towards the empire. The Nightwalkers have arrived. Focus back on Twilight's face as she slept in the bed, her eyes slowly opened as the outside sound grow louder and louder, and then accompanied by flashes of light. A loud explosion sounds momentarily filled the room. Twilight popped up from her slumber, her face staring at the window in shock. Then all six ponies woke up as well and stared at the crystal bedroom window. Fluttershy started shaking. "What was that?!" Twilight can only gaze at the light flashing out from the window. "I don't know." Then a haunting shriek shattered the glass of the window as the walls began to violently shake. Everypony looked around in panicked. Applejack tried to keep her balance from the quake. "WHAT ARE WE GOIN' TO DO?!" Then Shining Armor and Princess Cadance suddenly rushed in for the bedroom door. "TWILIGHT! HURRY, FOLLOW US!" Shining Armor and Princess Cadance ran out the bedroom, while Twilight and everypony followed. They ran down the hall and stopped in the middle of the hallway. Shining Armor pulled out the carpet from the floor and revealed a sewer hole without a moment to spare. "THIS WILL LEAD YOU OUT OF THE EMPIRE. GET DOWN THERE!" Princess Cadance urged. "WHAT ABOUT YOU?!" Twilight panicked. "JUST GO, TWILIGHT! REMEMBER, YOU MUST GET TO IMPERIACUS!" Shining Armor shouted. "GO TELL THE GUARDIANS! THEY'RE OUR ONLY HOPE!" Princess Cadance pushed Twilight inside, as everypony dived in as well, they quickly leaped down the latter, climbing down as fast as they could and reached the bottom. Back at the top, Shining Armor closed the lid of the sewer hole and Princess Cadance covered it back up with the carpet. Then, they heard the noise of dozens of wings flapping behind them; they turned on their hooves and ran. Outside, the empire was under attack. Red fire energy was being fired by the Nightwalkers, destroying everything on sight. Buildings, houses, and bridges being blown to pieces. Buildings were falling down one by one. Houses on fire, burning to ashes. Bridges shot off and collapsed into the waters. Screams and yells heard all over the empire as the crystal ponies panicky run for their lives. It was heard everywhere. Through the halls of the Crystal Castle, Shining Armor and Princess Cadance are running as fast as possible, there were noises behind them, the sound of vicious hissing and shrieking of a small army of approaching Nightwalkers. They reached the throne room doors. Princess Cadance opened the doors and walked in, but Shining Armor stayed behind. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? COME ON!" Princess Cadance shouted at Shining Armor. Shining Armor formed himself in a battle position, ready to engage the Nightwalker enemy. "NO, I'LL STAY! LOCK THE DOOR. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, DON'T OPEN THE DOOR!" Princess Cadance gasped in shock. "But…" "JUST DO IT!" Shining Armor then kicked the doors and shut it with Princess Cadance still inside. Princess Cadance's start banging on the door, but it was no use trying to get it open, because she made a promise to her husband. She can only sit down, breathing hard and sobbing. Then she heard her husband screaming from the other side of the door. She quickly ran towards the door and whimpered out to him. "Shining Armor, are you there!? Please, say something!" There was no answer, only but silent. Then all of a sudden, a Nightwalker's head smashed thought the plywood of the throne room door. Princess Cadance quickly backed away as the Nightwalker tried to squeeze it way in through the hole. But it was no use; the hole was just too small for the Nightwalker to dig through. Knowing it can't break in, the Nightwalker's head pulled out. The Princess looked again and saw through the hole that the Nightwalker made and saw Shining Armor's head appeared. A metal claw gripped his head, wrenching the stallion's head was exposed with a sharp claw touching his neck. "SHINING ARMOR!" Princess Cadance shouted in fear, and then closed her eyes, trying to hold back her tears. Another head appeared next to him, it was Darkclaw. The General smiled an evil grin. "Knock, Knock, anypony there?" Princess Cadance gasped in shock and nervous stepped back. Darkclaw grinned at her again, and then made a point of pulling Shining Armor's head with his sharp claw pressed to his throat. "If you truly love him, you will open the door nice and slowly, so we can come in and play." Darkclaw hissed in a devilishly sweet way. "DON'T DO IT, HONEY!" Shining Armor shouted as he shook his head slowly. Princess Cadance looked at her husband, fearful, unable to listen. "Just open the door, and I promise you, your dear knight in shining armor will be unharmed. I give you my word." Darkclaw threatened as he positioned his claws closer under Shining Armor's chin. Princess Cadance lowered her head down in defeat and walked slowly towards the door. "HONEY, NO!" Shining Armor begged her. "I'm sorry….. I have to." Princess Cadance's eyes are filled with tears as she opened the door with her magic horn. Darkclaw grinned as his Nightwalker Guards ran into the room and hold the Princess into custody. Darkclaw pulled his claws away and pushed Shining Armor into the ground. "I should just kill you now, but luckily, I have question that need to be answered." Shining Armor slowly got up and saw that his wife was being held by a gang of Nightwalkers. "RELEASE MY WIFE, YOU DEMONS!" Darkclaw laughed. "Don't be a fool, your highness." "What do you want from us?" Shining Armor growled furiously. "The ponies that arrived here, where are they?" Darkclaw hissed impatient. "GO BACK TO THE UNDERWORLD WHERE YOU CAME FROM, YOU BEAST!" Shining Armor shouted angrily. Darkclaw smacked Shining Armor in the face. "Stupid ponies. I guess we'll just have to make an example of this." Darkclaw turned to the direction at the gang of Nightwalkers who are holding the Princess. "Brothers, it's feeding time." The Nightwalkers snickered at their prisoner as they started to drool in hunger. Princess Cadance cried with horror and tried to struggle hard as the Nightwalkers started to violently assault her. "CADANCE! NO! STOP! LEAVE HER ALONE!" Shining Armor begged. "THEN TALK, WHERE ARE THEY?" Darkclaw shouted as he made his point. Shining Armor couldn't say. He can't betray Twilight, but he also couldn't risk the life of his wife. "SHINING ARMOR, DON'T DO IT! DON'T SACRIFICE YOUR SISTER FOR ME!" Princess Cadance shouted without hesitating. Darkclaw looked at the Princess, surprised what he just heard. "Sister?" Princess Cadance gasped what she just said and covered her mouth with her hooves. Darkclaw grinned and slowly walked to Shining Armor. "So, the unicorn that Lord Bloodfang was talking about happens to be your sister." Darkclaw surprised. Shining Armor was trying so hard to hold back. "Tell me now." Darkclaw said angrily. Shining Armor knew there was no way out. No matter what answer he picked, it will all be the same fate. So, instead of giving the answer, he said this. "Eat dirt, Nightwalker Scum." With anger flowing through his veins, the General punched the stallion in the face in an instant knock out. "Take them to the castle. Lord Bloodfang will be pleased that we have captured the Prince and the Princess of the Crystal Empire. They might be good use to us." Nightwalker Guards lifted Shining Armor's unconscious body and carry him off, along with Princess Cadance. Then, two Nightwalkers came through the door with an urgent message. "SIR!" "What is it?" Darkclaw answered. "No sign of the Canterlot ponies. But, they were here alright. Some of the crystal ponies witnessed that they saw them at the library. We investigated and found this." One of the Nightwalkers handed Darkclaw a book. He looked closer and noticed that this book was about the wolves and Imperiacus. Darkclaw gasped in fear, knowing what the ponies are planning to do. "Oh no... HURRY, FIND THESE PONIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!" "Yes, sir." The two Nightwalkers said and flew off. Darkclaw growled as he started to shake in fear and nervousness. "LORD BLOODFANG WILL HAVE MY HEAD FOR THIS!" Somewhere near a river, Twilight and her friends ended up on a muddy bank, tired, groggy, and dirty. They stumbled only for a few moments before rushing up the bank. They reach a hilltop which offered a perfectly disturbing view of the entire Crystal Empire. There, they saw a clear disturbing view of the entire Crystal Empire covered in flames, the Nightwalkers are scanning the area, collecting crystal ponies everywhere, snatching them up into the sky. The screams of the innocent crystal ponies are heard everywhere. Twilight and her friends ducked for cover as two giant trolls walked right by the hill they were watching from, somehow missing them and moving on to collect more crystal ponies. They look on to get another sight: coming over a hill on the same side of the river as them, a crowd of crystal ponies come running over, stumbling down, being chased by huge swarm of Nightwalkers. One by one, Nightwalkers swooped in and start collecting them all. Twilight and her friends ducked into the safer part of the forest. "This can't be happenin'." Applejack breathing hard in tiresome. "Now the Crystal Empire is gone." Fluttershy sniffed. "The Nightwalkers are getting stronger. They are starting to take over all of Equestria." Rainbow Dash said as she hovered in mid air. "What should we do?" Pinkie Pie asked sadly. "We have to get to Imperiacus and fast." Applejack answered the obvious. Rarity nodded her head in agreement. "She's right. The Guardians are our only hope. We have to get to them before it's too late." Fluttershy looked around and noticed that Twilight was nowhere on sight again. "Has anypony seen Twilight?" "Twilight?" Rarity cried out while everypony look for Twilight. "There she is." Pinkie Pie spotted Twilight, who was sobbing in tears. Applejack walked up to the sad unicorn and wrapped her hoof around her. "Twilight. What's wrong?" "This is all my fault." Twilight sobbed like crazy. "Don't say that, hon. It's not your fault." Applejack patting her on the back. "But it is." Twilight interrupted. Rainbow Dash came in; trying to understand what was going on. "How is this "your" fault?" "Yeah, you didn't do anything wrong." Pinkie Pie said. Rarity nodded. "That's right. You have to stop punishing yourself, dear." "No, you don't understand…" Twilight took a deep breath and finally let it out. "…..I was the one who woke up Bloodfang." She confessed, finally looking up at her friends with shocked look on their faces. "Huh?" Applejack gasped in surprise. "Wait, WHAT!" Rainbow Dash shouted, couldn't believe what she just heard. "It was me... I was the pony who disturbed his resting place." Twilight was sitting up with a guilty expression. "Hold on. It was YOU?!!!" Rarity felt a sharp pain stabbing her in the chest Rainbow Dash's insides were boiling with anger and heartbroken. "You mean… YOU WERE THE NO GOOD PONY WHO DID THIS!" Pinkie Pie gasped in shock, trying to deny this. "Please tell us that this isn't true, Twilight?" "It is true. I was just trying to prove to everypony that the Guardians are a fake. But I was wrong... I'm so sorry." Twilight's eyes were glistening with watery tears and were slowly moving down her face. "Sorry?... IS SORRY THE BEST YOU CAN SAY!?" Rarity shouted as started to cry. "OUR HOME IS BEING DESTROYED BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT?" Rarity shouted, wasn't holding back. Tears were falling from her eyes like a waterfall. Her entire body was shaking in sadness and hate, all because of Twilight. "YOU HAVE DONE MANY WRONG THINGS SINCE YOU CAME TO PONYVILLE, BUT THIS IS WORST'S THING YOU EVER DONE, TWILIGHT!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Look everypony, calm down." Applejack tried to calm Rainbow Dash and Rarity down. "CALM DOWN! HOW COULD WE CALM DOWN! IT WAS HER THIS WHOLE TIME! SHE IS THE CAUSE OF ALL THIS!" Rainbow Dash screamed her lungs out at Applejack. "THIS IS ALL HER FAULT!" Rarity shouted with tears. "Please, that's enough. It wasn't entirely her fault." Fluttershy pleaded, desperately trying to get everypony to listen. "Give her a break, girls. Even though, she woke up the most ruthless, the evilest, and the cruelest creature in all of Equestria. There still is a bright side to it." Pinkie Pie said with a little hope. "What bright side?!" Rarity asked with a grim. "Without Twilight waking up Bloodfang, we wouldn't be here right now to go to Imperiacus and find the Guardians." Pinkie Pie let out a big happy smile. Rainbow Dash groaned in frustration to Pinkie Pie's stupidity. "Pinkie Pie, you are such a…" "That's enough, y'all! We don't have time for this. Let just hurry out and get to Imperiacus. After tonight, there is now only two days left. So, let just stop the blamin' and pointin' each other and just move out." Applejack sighed heavily. Rainbow Dash growled at Twilight and has no choice but to accept it. "Fine, but I am never speaking to her again!" She flew off. "Neither will I." Rarity agreed and walked off as well. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie looked back at Twilight with disappointed frown and turned back to follow the others. Only leaving Applejack and Twilight. Twilight watched in dismay as everypony fell apart in front of her. The guilt was practically crushing her, because he knew she was the cause of it. "I'm so sorry, Applejack." Applejack interrupted with tears. "Sorry doesn't even count to compare what you did….. As we speak, my little Apple Bloom, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, my whole family are probably imprisoned or killed right now because of you!" "Look, I….." Twilight started choking up, to the point where she couldn't even finish a sentence. "Save it, Twilight. How could you do somethin' like this?" Applejack went on with the crowd. Twilight dropped back to her haunches and aimed a helpless glance back toward the others; their faces show expressions of disgust, horror, and shock. Instead of talking to her, they just left her behind while they go on with their journey. Twilight began to tears welling up in her huge purple eyes, and slowly followed her disappointed friends.