Life in Ponyville seemed to have returned to normal. Everypony smiled and waved to one another in the streets as they always had, there was no longer any sympathies for Starfall being as he was awake, and with Shadow back, everypony figured the struggles were over.
As Fluttershy walked through town, it did make her smile to see everypony happy again. In the past, she and the others were often met with well wishes for their fallen or missing friends, but at least now everything felt normal. Although this were true for everypony else, Fluttershy knew nothing would ever be normal again.
Walking towards the bakery for a scheduled breakfast with her friends, Fluttershy tried with all her might to think about anything else other than Shadow and the offer Cadence made to him, but her efforts were futile. Now it was all she could think about, and she feared her worry would show.
Opening the door and stepping inside, she immediately saw her friends all sitting in a booth together. Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity, Pinkie, Starlight, Spike, Starfall, and Shadow.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” She said to them, taking her seat beside Rarity. “I hope you all haven’t been waiting long.”
“It’s alright, sugar cube,” Applejack told her. “We ain’t been here long at all.”
Pinkie pushed a plate over in front of Fluttershy with a muffin on it. “I ordered you your favorite!”
Rainbow turned to Twilight. “So, what’s the plan anyway? Should we leave for the empire today and stay the night in the castle?”
Twilight shook her head. “Cadence and Shining Armor have their hooves full already, besides, we all still have a few things we need to do before we leave.”
“Darn right we do,” AJ replied. “Ah still have to deliver a shipment of apples to the folks from Baltimare. They’re only in town for a few more hours, so ah ain’t got much time to spare.”
Rainbow looked at her, squinting. “You’re worried about an apple shipment at a time like this?”
“It’s the last shipment ah’ll have to make for the next week or so, Rainbow.” AJ clarified. “Once I deliver ‘em, ah won’t have nuthin’ else to worry about till we get back from the festival.”
Rarity scoffed. “Well, I still need to pack. I’ve only managed to organize my scarfs since we’ve returned from Canterlot yesterday.”
Fluttershy nibbled on her muffin while everypony else talked. She glanced up at Shadow, who was remaining silent during it all. Although his head was slightly lowered, he watched his friends as they spoke to one another.
“What are we gonna do when we get to the festival?” Spike asked, curious about how Twilight had their visit organized.
Twilight shook her head. “We are attending, that’s all the planning we need to know.” She looked around at everypony. “The search for Stormclaw and Chrysalis will continue regardless of what we do while we’re in the Crystal Empire.” She then turned to Shadow. “I want us to take the time to enjoy those days together.” Shadow managed a smile in response.
“I received word from Ember,” Starlight said, gaining Twilight’s attention. “She and Thorax will both be there at the festival tomorrow, they have left Scorch and Pharynx in charge of the search.”
Pinkie remembered her own news as well. “Oooh, right, Gilda is coming too! King Gale is gonna oversee their own search while she’s gone.”
“Looks like we have a lot to look forward to.” Twilight said with a chuckle. She stood and flew over the table and onto the floor, turning around to face them all. “I’m going to return to the castle and make sure everything is set for me to leave tomorrow morning. When you’re all certain you’re ready, meet me there, we still have some mysteries to solve ourselves.”
Everypony nodded, stepping out from the booth. Rainbow went with Applejack to help deliver her shipment of apples, Pinkie left with Rarity to help her pack, and Spike stayed with Starlight, the two of them wanting a little something more to eat for breakfast.
Shadow went to follow after Twilight, but Fluttershy reached him before he could get to the princess. “Shadow?” She asked, her voice more timid than usual.
He turned to her. “Yes, Fluttershy?”
Her nerves kicked into gear and it made her thoughts go blurry all of a sudden. She looked over in the direction Twilight and Starfall walked off, looking back to Shadow again, who now tilted his head in confusion. “Umm… I’ll see you at the castle, okay?”
Shadow paused, nodding afterwards. “Yeah… sure.”
Without another word, Fluttershy trotted out the door, disappearing from sight in a flash. Shadow walked out and looked around, but it seemed she had bolted. Taking a deep breath, the shadow pony’s composure crumbled, having held it all in while facing the pegasus. Getting a better grip over himself, he turned to spot Twilight and Starfall once again, trotting after them.
“Twilight?” He asked, making the two ponies stop and turn to him. “Can I talk to you about this crystalling thing?”
“Of course, Shadow,” The princess replied, the three now walking together. “What would you like to know?”
Shadow hesitated with his questions, but mustered up the courage to ask. “Princess Cadence said I would become a citizen of the Crystal Empire… does that mean I’ll become a crystal pony?”
Twilight nodded. “You will join with the Crystal Heart, and it will become stronger, it always does when somepony becomes a citizen.”
“But, will it change me?” He asked, slightly confused. “Will I still be a shadow pony?”
Twilight muffled a light chuckle. “Becoming a crystal pony doesn’t mean you’ll be a whole different pony, Shadow. When my friends and I first went to the empire, we became crystal ponies for a time, but it didn’t last. The only difference with you will be that because you will join with the Crystal Heart, you will be able to help it protect the empire from the forces of the Frozen North.”
That was a bit of a relief, but the biggest question was still there, stinging his mind as he wanted… no, he needed an answer to it. Much like Fluttershy, however, his nerves got the better of him.
“Okay… I just wanted to ask.” He replied, nodding afterwards. Facing forward, he looked around. “Are you two returning to the castle?”
Starfall chuckled, but Twilight answered for them both. “No, not quite. Starfall’s parents are arriving at the station in a few minutes.”
Shadow looked to Starfall. “When did they get word you woke up?”
“I sent them a letter before we left for Canterlot,” Starfall replied, smiling. “They had to wait until morning, but they got on the earliest train.”
The three of them arrived at the train station, stepping up onto the platform. After waiting for only a few minutes, the Friendship Express came into sight, rolling on the tracks as it slowed down. Reaching the platform, the whistle sounded off and the passenger doors opened.
Cosmic Lights and Nimbus Flare, Starfall’s mother and father came off the train in full gallop, as the royal guard fully expected them to. They both raced up to Starfall and embraced him in a hug, the three of them holding each other tight.
“Hey mom, hi dad.” Starfall said softly.
Cosmic latched onto Starfall, eyes tearing up even as they were tightly shut. Nimbus held the two of them from the outside, head arched over by Starfall’s. “We knew you would wake up, son.”
Starfall glanced over at him, almost choking up himself. “Those aren’t tears I’m seeing, are they dad?” He half-joked, playing on his father’s reputation of being a tough stallion.
“To hold my son again?” Nimbus asked, his own voice trembling slightly. “You bet they are, boy.”
Starfall closed his eyes and held onto them even tighter. Cosmic took in a sharp breath. “My little Starfall…”
The three of them separated only slightly. Nimbus shook his head. “He’s not so little anymore, Cosmic.” He said with great pride.
With a chuckle, Starfall peered behind his parents, returning his gaze to them. “Is Auraglow here?”
Cosmic only slightly shook her head. “She wanted to, Starfall, really she did. She told us she’d find you at the festival in the Crystal Empire tomorrow.” Starfall nodded, understanding since his sister only had a day to react to the news of his awakening.
Nimbus smirked. “On our way here the train stopped in Manehattan. A mare boarded who was also on her way to see you.”
Starfall squinted, about to ask but not given the chance. Moon Frost walked out from the train cart, stopping when she saw him. It was a slow reaction, but the two smiled at one another. Moon trotted over and hugged him as well. “Took you long enough to wake up.”
“Hehe, sorry about that,” Starfall replied. “When I said we’d see each other again soon, I didn’t mean for it to be this long.”
The two of them separated and Moon sighed, shaking her head. “Yeah, I figured that.”
Twilight, having given her guard time to reunite with his parents, took a step forward. “Cosmic Lights, Nimbus Flare, welcome to Ponyville.”
Cosmic lifted her hoof up to Starfall’s face and smiled again before turning to Twilight. “I hope you will forgive us our sudden arrival, princess.”
“Please, of course you two are welcome here any time.” Twilight replied, waving them over. “You’re staying the night, yes? I have the perfect guest room in the castle for you.”
Nimbus bowed his head to her. “Thank you, princess.”
Twilight smiled. “Please, call me Twilight.” The six ponies exited the platform, walking together back towards the castle.
Spike pushed his empty plate forward with only a few crumbs on it. “While I still do prefer gems, the muffins they make here are amazing.” He said, rubbing his stomach.
Starlight responded with a light laugh. “While I can’t speak for the taste of gems, I can’t argue with you there.”
While Spike picked at his fangs with his claw, Starlight was left wondering about something. Everypony who went out in search of Stormclaw found something of interest, and in Spike and her case, they found 2. The only difference is, they still had no idea what it was they saw in the caverns. It had already been a lingering question in her mind, but ever since she and Twilight saw that desolate future… she felt as if the mural on the wall of the cavern was more important than anything else they found.
“Hey Spike,” Starlight said, grabbing his attention as he stopped picking at his fangs. “You haven’t mentioned our discovery of the Caverns of Maretania to Twilight yet, have you?”
Spike shook his head. “No, I thought you were going to.”
With the consideration of everything that’s happened so far, perhaps it would be best if Twilight was told about it as soon as possible. “I am, I just wanted to be sure. Whatever it was we saw in there, I just want to make sure we don’t overwhelm Twilight with everything that we and our friends have found.”
Spike didn’t look too worried. “I kinda figured you were gonna tell her at the festival, you know, after Shadow’s Crystalling Ceremony. That way you can be sure her biggest stressor will be gone before bringing it up.”
Starlight thought about that. “That’s… actually a really good idea.” She smiled at the little dragon. “Thanks Spike.”
“No problem.” He replied, lifting up his claw to her hoof and bumping it.
“Well alright then,” Starlight said, getting up. “How about we head on over to the castle early and see if we can help Twilight?”
Spike hopped up and out of the booth. “Sounds like a plan!”
“A Breath of Wind and Fire…” Twilight said, reading the title again as she brushed the cover with her hoof. “Let’s see what secrets you have to tell us.” Opening it to the first stone page, Twilight saw that the text was so large, very little fit on each page. Taking a deep breath, she began to read.
Through the endless ages of the world to come, our histories shall fade into legends, and those legends into myths. May those who find this book listen and listen well, for not all myths and legends are meant to be forgotten.
Many years have passed since my grandfather told me the stories. Stories about how the world fell to ruin, and we were forced to abandon our home upon the great mountain of Alarei. So few remember that name, and what few there are cannot recall what it looked like, as if the memory of our home is being stolen from us all. We fight amongst ourselves for what little wealth we have, never seeing just how much we have changed. The storm to the west, it shrouds the horizon, I fear I will never see the beauty of the setting sun.
Of all the tales my grandfather has to tell, only one matters. The tale of a dragon. A dragon who led us griffons and his own kind towards the rising sun in the aftermath of The Great Cataclysm. My grandfather spoke of him as if he were some kind of god, back during the time our kinds cared for one another, a time long since passed. I speak of him now because I never believed in him, that a dragon could be selfless and humble. This was until the day came that I met that dragon myself.
The stories of him depict only a fraction of the legend, for he is vast, with scales black as a clear night sky, and eyes more bright than gleaming gold. His voice is deep and foreboding, and yet graceful like a song sung on the high winds. With this voice he spoke to me about a world I have never known, even as my grandfather tried every night to recall. Though he bears little sorrow at the loss of his home, he mourns those he will never see again; a changeling, a pegasus, a nymph, and a griffon. Though he does not speak of it, those who know the eyes of a lost love can see within him the memories of another. I could never find it in me to ask, for I too bear the burdened memories of one I loved.
Before we parted ways, this legendary dragon told me of a way to save my kind from the greed that had consumed us. He spoke to me of a crystal, one of terrible power that caused us griffons to turn on one another, and that it lied somewhere in the heart of our homeland. He told me that should the day come when that crystal’s power was suppressed, our kind would be able to thrive once again, and that the entire world would become a brighter place. As he rose into the sky, I vowed to him that I would find that crystal, and save the griffons from the evil that had befallen us.
I searched far and wide, from the deepest depths to the highest peaks of our lands. Long after I made my vow to discover that crystal, my son and I have finally found it. It has taken nearly as long as it had to find it, but at last he and I have contained its evil. For decades this search had consumed my life, and I grow weary. I shall pass this secret onto my son, Grover, so he may carry on the promise I made that black dragon; to unite the griffons and protect this idol for all the countless ages to come.
I, Boreas, shall find a place for this book where evil cannot touch it. Should the day come when the darkness returns; our history shall endure. I have hope we can overcome the evil someday, and return to the land of our forefathers.
As Twilight read the last word, she felt a stillness befall her, and everypony else in the room with her. Reaching to the cover, she slowly closed the stone book, looking at the illustration on the front. “This is a history of how Grover found the Idol of Boreas…” She said quietly, looking up and around at everypony. “It was named after his father, and it was the cause of the Griffon’s greed, that’s why when King Grover came forward with the idol that all of their greed disappeared.”
“The crystal was causing their greed?” Rainbow asked, tilting her head. “What was a thing like that doing just lying around in the griffon’s homeland?”
Rarity understood almost immediately. “That was one of the crystals Stormclaw gave to Sweetie Belle, wasn’t it?”
Twilight nodded. “It has to be, that’s why he wanted you all to have them, so their magic would corrupt each of you.”
Spike finally caught onto the theory. “So, the artifacts he stole… those were the crystals? But they didn’t look anything like them.”
Starlight looked down at the book, having thought that part through. “The book says Boreas and Grover had to contain the evil in the crystal, so maybe that orb on the Idol of Boreas had the crystal inside of it, and they had found some way to suppress its power.”
“Hold up just a second,” Applejack said, remembering what she and Rarity were told. “That there black dragon, do y’all figure it’s the same one that the Sphinx told us about? She did tell us a black dragon led the griffons and dragons out east.”
“Oh, right…” Rarity replied, pondering to herself. “What was his name again?”
“Gelder.” Shadow said aloud, catching everypony’s attention. “His name was Gelder.”
Twilight, catching Shadow’s reaction, took a step towards him, her hoof lifted from the ground a little bit. “Shadow?”
Shadow looked around at them all, his eyes showing fragility. “He was my friend, we grew up together on the Great Mountain in Alarei.”
Starlight looked confused. “Why didn’t you say anything before?”
Shadow lowered his head a little, his vision blurring upon recalling his memories of the black dragon. He shook his head. “Every time I think of him…” He looked up, and everypony recoiled at the sight of Shadow’s irises turning red. They returned to normal upon him blinking and he lowered his head again.
Fluttershy walked to his side and wrapped her wing around him in comfort. “Do you want us to stop talking about him?”
He shook his head again. “No… I need to hear it.” He lifted his head, locking eyes with Twilight. “I’ll be free of this soon enough, but I want to know more about him.”
Twilight appreciated his endurance at the presence of the darkness inside of him, but wondered about something that had been on her mind for a while now. “Can you tell us any better than Boreas about what he looked like?”
Shadow envisioned Gelder in his mind. “Well… the only thing that could help describe him better is that the first time I saw him in my memories, I thought he was Stormclaw.” A few ponies in the room gasped upon hearing that, which called for his next statement. “That is… until I saw he had gold eyes, like me.”
This puzzled Twilight. “How alike did they look?”
“Almost exactly.” Shadow replied.
“How does this help us?” Rainbow asked, trying to see where Twilight was going with this.
Twilight paused, but then shook her head. “It doesn’t, I’m just trying to get all of the facts.” She then turned to Rarity and Applejack. “Can you two tell us what the Sphinx told you about him?”
“Well, remember when Celestia told us about how the five races of Alarei were separated?” Rarity asked, everypony recalling the story all those months ago in Twilight’s Castle. “The Sphinx told us that Gelder was the one responsible for it.”
Starlight tilted her head. “For all of them, or just the griffons and dragons?”
Rarity shook her head. “She told us he led those two races to the east, but that he purposefully sent all five in different directions.”
Applejack nodded, remembering the specifics. “Yeah, she said the changelings and nymphs went south, the griffons and dragons went east, and that the ponies went west.”
Rainbow grimaced. “Well that’s oddly specific. If all five races lived in harmony before all that craziness went down, why send them in completely different directions?”
Twilight tried to understand, but there simply were not enough facts to conclude anything. This was groundbreaking, and would stand as a great intellectual discovery, but like many times before, this was a puzzle that lacked all of its pieces. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out, perhaps there is something in Clover’s secret library that could help us, we’ll find out before long.”
The longer Shadow was left to think, the more he thought about Ponyville and that one question on his mind. Looking to Twilight, he stood. “I’m gonna go take a walk, I’ll be back in a bit.” Twilight nodded, so he turned and walked out from the room.
Fluttershy watched him leave, her own mind caught in a similar trance as his. She closed her eyes and faced her friends again, taking a deep breath.
It had been too long since Shadow took his lone walk around Ponyville. He had done it so many times before; the main road through the marketplace, the town park, and the outer road which led around to the hills just south of the town limits. It had become a weekly tradition for him to just walk about on his own and feel what warmth he could from the smiling ponies to the beautiful scenery.
The sensation was different now than it had been. Although he had never really taken the time to describe the feeling before, it was clear to him that everything had changed. Tomorrow he would leave for the Crystal Empire… and…
Stopping on the dirt path, Shadow stood still for a few moments. They discovered a way to free him from his torment, to live without the fear of that horrifying vision coming true, why wasn’t he smiling?
“You know why…” Shadow said to himself, closing his eyes. “Stop pretending you don’t.”
He was answered with silence, not even a blur of his vision or sound in his ear. Everything, everywhere was quiet. The gentle breeze on his fur attempted to sooth him, with no effect. There was no rush of cold, but the warmth was gone as well. He was motionless, and yet caught in a swirling vortex from which there seemed no release; his past, it seemed, would never allow him a normal life.
“Shadow…?” Came Fluttershy’s voice from the silence. Shadow opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder, turning to the pegasus. “I knew you’d be here, you always did like sitting at the top of the hill there. May I join you?”
Shadow managed a smile, nodding to her. The two of them walked side-by-side as they ascended the inclined path up towards the crest of the hill. They reached the top, the both of them turning to face the view overlooking Ponyville. Almost in unison, they sat down, admiring the scenery.
“You can never come back, can you?” Fluttershy asked quietly.
Shadow shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
Her ears went flat to her head and her eyes lowered to the ground. “It’s not fair…”
Shadow looked over at her, placing his hoof on hers, earning a teary-eyed gaze from the pegasus. “You can come visit me… you don’t even need to give me a heads up, you just hop on the train and come see me.” He shook his head. “I will always make time for you.”
Fluttershy was never the one for sudden, life-changing decisions, but the situation called for a solution. She didn’t want to be apart from him… she didn’t know if she could take it again. She took in a sharp breath to be sure she was clear enough to be understood. “What if… you didn’t have to…?”
Tilting his head ever so slightly, Shadow blinked a few times before replying, “What do you mean?”
“What if…” Fluttershy started, drawing up her courage to ask. “What if I went with you?”
Shadow felt his heart stop in that moment, as if a shock ran through his body from head to tail, making him numb for an instance of realization. He squinted at her, saying, “Fluttershy… you… you would come to the Crystal Empire… just to be with me?”
Fluttershy felt a similar rush, her cheeks turning red. “…yes.”
Almost lost within this feeling, Shadow felt the warmth on its approach, ready to sweep over him and blanket him with that sensation he loved. It goaded him into answering quickly, tempting him beyond all belief to say yes and have her be with him there… in the…
All in an instant, Shadow realized what he had to do. He shook his head. “No, Fluttershy, you can’t.” Before she could respond beyond being shocked, he continued. “Your place is here, with your friends. It would… mean the world to me, for you to come with me to the empire, but…” He paused, looking out at Ponyville, that wondrous place that made him feel important, cared for, and loved. He slowly turned back to her. “This is your home, and I won’t let you give it up for me.”
Fluttershy wasn’t certain how to respond. “B-but, you’ll be alone… you won’t-”
“Fluttershy,” He said, stopping her. He smiled, lifting his other hoof up to her cheek and holding it there. She leaned into his hoof, closing her eyes for a moment before slowly opening them again. “It’s alright… everything is going to be alright.”
Remembering her own words, the pegasus felt tears forming again as she nodded. Shadow pulled her into a hug, where she closed her eyes again and held him tight with her head against his chest. He watched her for a moment, and then looked back over at Ponyville. His smile faded away and he closed his eyes as well. The two of them sat there in silence, knowing full well that this would be his final day in Ponyville.
The Element of Magic rested on the library table. Twilight sat in her chair in front of it, keeping her head held up by her hoof with her elbow on the table. Using her magic, she lifted it up to be at eye-level with her, only to lower it slowly and sigh.
“What is it, Twilight?” Starfall asked, walking to her side.
“Hmm?” She glanced over at him, but then shook his head, facing the crown once more. “Oh, nothing, just kinda hoping something magical would happen and the elements would work again. I’m debating on whether or not to take it with me to the festival.”
Starfall tilted his head, moving to her other side and pulling up a chair to sit in beside her. “Do you think you’ll need them?”
Twilight thought about that for another moment. “I want us to be ready, I know Stormclaw is going to try and stop Shadow’s Crystalling tomorrow… I just hope Starswirl was right, and that after this is done, Shadow will finally be able to live like a normal pony.”
“I think we all want that for him,” Starfall replied. “And as for Stormclaw, with all of us together, he won’t stand a chance. Especially now that Sombra is on our side.”
Twilight smiled, but the smile didn’t last long. “Say everything goes according to plan. Shadow’s Crystalling goes perfectly and Stormclaw’s plan is thwarted… what happens then?” The question stumped Starfall, who hadn’t yet thought that far ahead. “You know he’s going to have to stay in the empire, so does that mean Stormclaw will leave him alone? Or is there something else to all of this?”
“Something… else?” Starfall asked, not sure what she meant.
“Why would he hide all this time and not make another move?” Twilight asked. “During the time we thought he was doing nothing, he was setting our friends up for being affected by those ancient crystals. He’s never gone dormant, and he always seems to be two steps ahead of us… so what’s he waiting for?”
Starfall thought about that, not sure how best to answer. “I heard about how he’d been beaten down by Garble, Ember, and Starlight… perhaps he’s just been too wounded to do anything…?”
Twilight shook her head, only wishing it could be that simple. “You were wounded far greater than he was and you made a full recovery… besides, that dragon is relentless.”
“Well… all we can do now is prepare for when he comes.” Starfall said, trying to lift the princess’ spirits. “And when he does… we’ll be ready this time.”
There’s the spark. That defining trait in Starfall that made Twilight smile each and every time. She took a deep breath and returned her gaze to her crown on the table. With a nod, she replied, “You’re right… we will.”
The light of the setting sun reflected off the icy peaks of the Crystal Mountains. Even during the hottest of Equestrian summers, the lonely heights of these mountains stood covered in snow and permafrost, never to thaw completely.
Chrysalis watched as the sun sank on the horizon. Her breath showed through the cold, dissipating in the frigid temperatures shortly after leaving her. Her green eyes lie honed in on the colors drawn across the sky, as well as their reflections from the icy peaks. She couldn’t recall when last she took the time to watch the sunset, something so common and meaningless couldn’t possibly be worth her time. That was how she felt, up until now.
It was so strange, experiencing everything she had over the past year. Losing her kingdom, being forced to survive alone, then finding Stormclaw and starting her return to power. Not strange because of anything trivial, but strange because her perspective of the world had become so severely altered since when she ruled her changeling hive. The smaller things she took for granted then had so much more meaning now, and although she craved for her authority to be restored… she realized it wasn’t something she needed to survive. All that time believing she needed her drones and her drones needed her, all dashed by the cold reality that they changed and could now live without their hunger. This would anger her more if not for the fact her own hunger had now been quelled by her partner.
Thoughts of Stormclaw led Chrysalis to her report she had to give to him about what she heard today in Canterlot. It hadn’t become apparent to her until she just now arrived at the cave at sunset. Everything she had heard and everything she knew about ambition pointed towards one truth, but it conflicted with what she felt.
Growing as a queen, she had come to understand that the world was cruel and unfair, and that only the ambitious had the right to stay at the top. Stormclaw was one of those ambitious individuals. He had the intelligence, the cunning, and the power to become so much more, and yet he was so willing to step aside for another. This made no sense to the Changeling Queen… but ever since she gave in to her feelings for him, it made all the sense in the world. He who had been scorned, written off as an outcast, and scarred by his pain… it made sense that all he would want was her.
A year ago, this wouldn’t even be a choice, but now, it was all so confusing. The Changeling Queen and Chrysalis were now two different sides, battling with one another over dominance of her willpower. This night would decide how she carried on, of that she was certain.
The sun had disappeared and night began to fall, the Crystal Mountains plunging into darkness all the more swift than the lands below. Turning from the horizon, Chrysalis entered the mountain cave, now their hideout since they narrowly escaped their pursuers at the previous one. The cave had a few narrow, sharp turns before reaching the small chamber at the end, allowing for Stormclaw to light several fires for Chrysalis, who was much less impervious to the cold as he was.
Stepping into the small chamber, Chrysalis found him lying down on his back, holding the Etherus Diamond in his claws. The diamond had an influence of darkness around it, almost like an aura that sparked on occasion. It had been like this since that night in Canterlot when it became empowered. Chrysalis found him staring at it often, enraptured as if it were a treasure beyond all others, which it very well could be.
“Well?” He asked, looking over at the stationary changeling. “I know you are cold, come here.” He chuckled, patting the floor beside him. Chrysalis complied with his invitation, sitting down beside him as the two were now in between several fires, making for a much warmer atmosphere. He put the diamond down and sat up to meet her gaze. “What news?”
“You were right,” She told him, letting out a sigh. “Sombra has joined the princesses against us in return for him not being banished again.”
Stormclaw shook his head. “The fool… so predictable.”
Chrysalis tilted her head. “So, you did know he would betray us from the start?”
“I had hoped it would take him longer,” the black dragon replied, running his claw down her back. “But yes. I had hoped it would happen after we disposed of Princess Twilight, but it seems he was brighter than I thought. He figured out too quickly that you and I were going to cut him out of the equation.”
Chrysalis took a deep breath, the defining moment had come. “Stormclaw?”
“Hmm?” He replied, still rubbing her back with his claw.
She paused only for a moment, lowering her gaze as she was unable to look at him. “I have something I need to tell you… but I don’t know how to say it…”
The black dragon halted her back rub, a smirk forming on his face. Sitting up in the space behind her, he placed both of his claws on her upper back around her shoulders. Chrysalis, not reacting beyond a shiver from the sensation, let the dragon massage her back. “You don’t have to say anything, my queen…” He whispered to her, leaning his head down to hers and nuzzling it a little. “Let tomorrow come and go, we will have all the time in the world to say what we must to one another, but for now…” He moved his claws lower on her back. “Why not enjoy our last night in the shadows? Ruling a kingdom means bearing many burdens… so tonight, just focus on me.”
Chrysalis felt her body tremble, the feeling of the dragon’s claws indescribable. His breath upon her neck shattered her focus, making all other worries fade away. She had no idea how he was able to create this effect on her, but every time he did, she simply didn’t care to try and explain it. Slowly, she turned her head to meet his scarlet gaze only a few inches away from her face. Chrysalis had never been one for soft thoughts, but when he looked at her like that, it made her goals and ambitions fall away. She could be seated on the highest throne with all the world bowing before her, but the kiss he gave her in that moment… she knew nothing would ever compare to it.
The two of them stayed in that moment, untouched by the cold within the warmth of their cave. Come tomorrow, the world would change. Awaiting the rising sun, the dawn of Chrysalis’ promised return to power, and the fall of the princesses once and for all.