//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Radiant Hope // Story: Equestria Wars Episode XVI: The Crystal Princess // by sonicdash123 //------------------------------// Charming Thunder landed his TIE Advanced at the Crystal Empire castle and exited his ship. He entered the castle to see Cadence as he arrived at the throne room. Cadence looked at Charming Thunder with a smile and rushed to give him a hug. "It is good to see you, brother," Cadence greeted. "What brings you here?" "I seek information about 'the crystal princess'," Charming Thunder said. "You mean Amore; my distant relative?" "Who is Amore?" "She was the first princess and ruler of the Crystal Empire before your father's rise to power. She was turned into a black crystal statue and its shards got scattered around the world." "Has my father looked for them ever since his redemption?" "No," Sombra's voice said from behind. He entered the room and walked up to the two. "I looked where I put them, but they were somehow...taken." "I only need to find them." "There is only one last location I haven't looked, but it is dangerous." "Maybe I could help," a voice said as Charming Thunder and the others turned to see a cloaked pony. "That voice. I've heard it before since--" The figure removed the hood to reveal a unicorn mare with a grayish heliotrope coat, a pale light grayish arctic blue mane, and arctic blue eyes. "Radiant!!!" Sombra rushed to her and gave her a tight hug. Radiant smiled as she hugged back. "It's been far too long, Sombra." Charming Thunder walked up to Sombra and Radiant as the hug broke. "Son, this is my old friend; Radiant Hope. I met her before I was a dark king." "It is a pleasure to meet you," Charming Thunder said as Radiant bowed to his presence. He smiled and gestured her to rise. "I've heard of you, your highness," Radiant said. "You are Sombra's kid. You know I was a Crystal Knight a long time ago before I left to study magic with princesses Celestia and Luna. I promise you I won't be any trouble." "Nonsense. Any friend of my father is a friend of mine. So what was it you said about help?" "To be honest with you, I have found the other pieces of the statue. As your father said, the last one is dangerous to find. It's at a temple constructed at the frozen north." "Expect wampas on our journey through the frozen north then." "Wampas?" Cadence asked. "You mean like that one beast that attacked you while you searched for Danny when his memory was erased?" Charming Thunder nodded. "I would like to help, really I do, but I have business at Canterlot." "What about Starlight; Twilight's student? Maybe she would like to help?" "I'll send a letter to Twilight of that request." "Good. This is going to be a long journey." --------------------- At an unknown location, there was a dark red pegasus with bat wings floating inside some sort of bacta tank. His mane and tail were white and blonde. The most noticeable thing on him was a medallion, it looked like a yellow-orange alien dragon symbol. He was curled up in mid-air, his hooves were on his chest and his back hooves were down. His eyes were closed and he looked like he was sleeping. That is when the figure slightly opened his eyes, revealing them to be yellow and the sclera was black. Outside the tank, Mephiles was looking at the being inside the bacta tank. Mephiles looked at the controls and pressed a few and then the water began to drain. When it reached just below his mouth, the being inside gasped and inhaled the air that entered the bacta tank and it showed that he had fangs. Once the water fully drained, he was on the ground on the tank and the being looked at Mephiles. "Get up, we have work to do," Mephiles said to his creation. "W-Who are... you?" The being rasped out with his new voice being used for the first time. "My name is Mephiles. Mephiles the Dark." Mephiles said as the tank opened up and he turned. "Come, there is work that needs to be done." The being got up and followed Mephiles out of the room. "You were cast from the mold of my dead son and Charming Thunder. You inherit their skills, but also their weaknesses. You have been created for one purpose; killing Charming Thunder." The being looked down to the ground and back at his creator. "Who is he?" "He's your enemy. The king of harmony and the ruler of Equestria. You bear the medallion of the Predacons. You are loyal to a race of an ancient Cypertronian beasts." "Predacons. Who was your son?" "It does not matter anymore. He was broken and weak. You are already more powerful than he ever was. Do you even understand your role? What it means to you?" "Yes, Mephiles." "Good. Very good. You may yet survive. You will hunt down Charming Thunder with the power of the medallion and destroy him. Come." Midnight followed Mephiles to another room as the doors closed behind them. --------------------- Starlight arrived at the Crystal Empire by train to meet Charming Thunder with bags on her back. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to come along," Starlight said. "Twilight said that she and her friends have to solve another friendship problem." "I hope it's no trouble for them," Charming Thunder said rubbing the back of his head. "There's something else to this, is there?" "Keep this between us along the way to the castle." Charming Thunder and Starlight then walked to the castle as they talked. "There is someone haunting me ever since the defeat of Lelouch and the Eternal Fleet. I think that Valkorion; the immortal emperor is in my mind. I saw things. Dreamed about him. He was the one who told me about Amore; the crystal princess." "Valkorion? Here?" Charming Thunder nodded. "What do you want me to do?" "Keep a close eye on me if anything goes wrong during our journey." "If he were to control you like Cyber tried to you, I'd know about it." "I haven't heard his voice since that dream. He said that he was going to help me." "I don't trust him. Just try not to get yourself killed while we are on this quest. I won't tell the others about Valkorion in your mind." Charming Thunder and Starlight then see both Radiant and Sombra talking in front of the Crystal Heart and approached them. "Radiant, this is Starlight Glimmer; Twilight's student." "It is a pleasure to meet you, Starlight," Radiant greeted. "I am Radiant Hope. I hope we can become good friends in the future." The group then walked away from the castle as they began to take their leave of the Crystal Empire.