Celestia lay silent on the makeshift cot. Her regalia had been removed, set aside to allow for her comfort as she rested. All the while, small tendrils of Sombra's presence sat wavering about the room. As such, any and all visitors had to don protective suits to prevent any spreading.
As for the Princess herself, she had been unconscious for the past three days now. A permanent frown now stretched across her face, and as for her mental state, not even Luna could enter her dreams anymore.
"Are you ready, Princess?"
Sombra stood on the balcony overlooking West Canterlot. A gentle breeze rolled over his mane, which wavered lightly in the cool air. He turned to face Celestia.
"Well?"
Celestia nodded. For the past couple of days, the newly pronounced husband and wife had been introducing drastic changes in Equestrian law, allowing for a greater export to import ratio, as well as branching out to emerging economies. Sombra smiled warmly as his supposed "wife" stepped up beside him.
"Ready." Celestia grinned, lighting her horn. The few clouds that hung in the sky began to part, and a bright beam of light burst down, striking both the princess and the king.
~~~{Equestrian Badlands}~~~
Everything sat still. The Badlands Hive had disbanded years ago following the war against the Crystal Empire. A stray gust curled a stream of dust through the air. Then another. And another...
Soon enough, a small dust devil had formed, encasing a brightly glowing ball of light. In an instant, the dust was dispersed, in it's place lay four ponies, and a ghastly figure of dust and light.
The light figure was the first to recover, immediately darting upwards into a standing position. From the surrounding dust it formed an arm, followed by a hand. It proceeded to place said hand over the area in which it's supposed head would've been, peering over the barren landscape.
"Safe at last," a mare in the pile of ponies murmured, clutching onto the Orb.