//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: The Crystal Heart 
// Story: Lone Wolf of Equestria; Battle for the Crystal Empire 
// by JNKing 
//------------------------------//

As Logan bore up his claws, lightning ready to stab into Twilight like a Sith Lord, Twilight feebly prepared a defense. Celestia and Rainbow Dash’s bodies still flashed before her mind, and Spike’s crying still somehow reached her, all overcut with the demonic laughter of King Sombra.
King Sombra…
Seconds before Twilight could say it, hesitation flared across Logan’s eyes. He faltered. 
“No…” he muttered, "I wouldn’t… do this…”
“What’s the matter, whelp?” Sombra asked, “Suddenly getting cold feet about murder?”
“I…” Logan muttered. 
"Logan, stop, please!” Twilight exclaimed, “He’s tricking you. None of this is real.”
Logan’s claws clenched, but lightning still flickered around them. “You’re right.”
“Don’t let her fool you, pup,” Sombra bellowed, “Finish it!”
Logan raised his arms again, and the lightning brightened. As Twilight’s heart sunk in her chest though, he gave her the tiniest of grins.
"No one controls me,” Logan snarled. 
Then he blasted Twilight. Twilight felt confusion before she realized the bolt didn’t hurt. 
Sombra bellowed in rage, as the entire throne room lit up in light. 
Memories shot by Twilight faster than she could process them:
The time she first met her friends. 
Logan howling out from a cage while in chains. 
Twilight’s venture against Nightmare Moon.
Logan racing away from a burning building. 
The Canterlot Wedding.
Logan being brought to Equestria. 
They all flashed by in a blur, before the whole thing dissolved into light. 
Twilight, Logan and Spike all screamed as they were hurled backward. They pulled themselves up, and looked around frantically. Twilight felt herself start to breathe easier as she saw they were back at the bottom of the stairwell. The door stood before them, the crystal dead and the gateway open to a room of brighter crystals. It looked as innocent as an obsidian door could look. 
Spike started to pull himself up, but Twilight yanked him back from the door. Thankfully, all their eyes had returned to their proper shades. 
“What… was that?” Logan stammered. They looked over to see him trembling, staring at the door like it had knives.
“King Sombra’s dark magic,” Twilight said faintly, “A doorway that leads to our worst fears.” 
Logan bent down, and breathed. 
“But… how did we get out of there?” Spike stammered. When Twilight looked at him curiously, he elaborated, “After you touched Logan, you both froze up and just started staring at… that…” he glanced at the door again. “I thought it was just a wall, but then…” he went closer to Twilight, hugging her. “We were home. You… let me get taken away…”
"That didn't happen," Logan said grimly.
"H-How do you know?" Spike asked.
"Sparkle's not the only one with a few tricks," Logan said, indicating his sparking claws. Twilight's face dawned in realization.
"A memory spell," she guessed. "You reviewed our memories, and found the gaps in time showing how that didn't happen?"
Logan stared at her, confused for a moment. "I guess?" he said. "I just noticed how we went from my world to Canterlot in a manner of you getting knocked out. Sombra's nightmare couldn't explain that." 
Twilight rubbed the back of her mane sheepishly. "Well, yeah," she admitted. "That works too." 
"Still..." Spike trembled as he looked at the door again. "It felt so... real."
“Spike, I would never let you get sent away,” Twilight promised him, holding him close. “Just as I’m not going to fail the Empire.” She looked over at Logan, “And…”
“Don’t,” Logan said, looking away. “I've been keeping myself going on false hope. I don't need yours.” 
“It’s not false hope,” Twilight said, determined. “We’re finding the Crystal Heart. And we’re not just going to save the Empire.” She touched him softly. “We’re going to get you home.” As he looked back, she grinned softly, “And your pack will be waiting for you.”
Logan's eyes narrowed, and he nodded.
With her team reformed, Twilight turned back to the door, and they cautiously stepped through the gateway, ready to jump back in case another nightmare began. 
“Is it… safe?” Spike asked, trying to look past Logan. “What’s in there?”
Twilight sighed, as she took in the light blue staircase snaking up the exterior of the tower. 
“Stairs,” she replied, “Lots and lots of stairs.” 
“Well,” Logan said, shaking himself off, “No use moaning about it.” He hopped onto the first set. 

#

Back outside, the Crystal Faire was still in full swing. Above them, Cadence limped out to the balcony, Shining struggling with her as their shield faltered under Sombra’s assault. 
“Twilight,” Cadence whimpered, as several buildings began to turn black, “Please hurry.” 

#

Twilight and Spike panted and heaved as they trekked up the stairs, Logan easily ten paces ahead of them. 
“What if this is just more of his magic?” Spike asked, “He makes a door that leads you to your worst nightmare. Why not a staircase that goes on forever?”
Logan laughed from above them, making it to eleven paces ahead. “You two are easily the laziest heroes I’ve ever seen,” Logan crowed, “Come on; it’s not that bad.”
Twilight grimaced, but then a devious smirk came to her features. “Spike,” she said, “Hold onto me.”
“Uh… okay?” Spike mumbled. As he held onto Twilight, she flared her horn, and her devious smirk widened into a full-on smile as her body suddenly fell upward. 
Logan’s smug grin turned into a look of shock as Twilight and Spike hit the smoother underside of the staircase, and began sliding upward like the thing was a massive slide. Twilight waved cheekily to Logan as they easily passed by him.
Logan cursed as he raced after them, though he couldn’t hide the wag of his tail as he shook his head in respect. Spike laughed as the wolf fell behind before turning to Twilight, who was whooping in glee. 
“I actually studied gravity spells,” Twilight stated to Spike, “Thinking it might be on my test. Turns out I was prepared for this!” She raised her hooves and whooped again as they slid their way to victory. 

#

Outside, Applejack’s smile completely faltered. None of the Crystal Ponies looked happy anymore. They were all whimpering and moaning, looking around desperately for the Crystal Heart. On the outskirts, the sky was growing darker and darker by the minute, Sombra’s green eyes staring hungrily into the holes in the shield. And on the castle balcony, Shining broke off from maintaining the shield, looking at his wife helplessly as she fainted into his forelegs.
Rarity managed to squeeze her way through the rapidly thickening crowd. “Excuse me, pardon me,” she said with a nervous laugh before reaching Applejack. As soon as she reached her, her nervous laughter turned into a worried hiss.
“I’m running out of materials for the traditional crafts booth!” She indicated a mare wearing one of the oddest hats ever. “I just made a hat out of three pieces of hay and a drinking straw.” For a moment, she paused and admired her work. “I made it work,” she added before returning to worried on a dime. “But still!”
“We gotta do everything we can to keep this thing goin’,” Applejack whispered sternly, “The Princess isn’t looking too good. I can’t imagine her magic is gonna last much longer.” She glanced up at Shining and Cadence before noticing the worried expressions of her friends. 
“Hey, it’s gonna be fine,” Applejack said out loud, “These ponies are gonna power up that Crystal Heart when the time comes, and we won’t be needing her magic anyway.”
“I sure hope that time comes soon,” Pinkie Pie said, bouncing by on a ball while juggling flugelhorns. “Even I can keep this party going forever.” That was when she slipped on her ball. With a shriek, her flugelhorns went flying, and one of them smacked the fake Crystal heart right from its pedestal. It shattered into a million pieces.
Silent dread filled the air as the crystal ponies took in the sight of the destroyed fake heart. 
“This…” one of them stammered, “T-This isn’t the Crystal Heart!”
Rarity laughed nervously. “Oh, of course it isn’t,” she said, “The real one… is…”
“On its way,” Applejack intercut. 
Rarity glared at her. “I was going to say ‘being polished,’” she hissed, “To buy us more time.”
Applejack covered her mouth. “Oops.”
Suddenly, thunder boomed overhead. Worried whispers began to turn into shrieks as a familiar laughter echoed over the landscape. 
“It’s him!” several of the crystal ponies shrieked.

#

Twilight and Spike reached the top of the tower, Twilight deactivating her spell with a flick of her horn. Mere seconds later, Logan raced up after them, his tongue lolling as he wheezed and panted for breath.
“Tired, buddy?” Spike asked with a grin.
Logan wheezed at first. “Not… even… close,” he got out. 
But Twilight didn’t turn to her companions. Her eyes were on the center of the tower, where the resplendent, light blue Crystal Heart sat floating above a wide circular disc. 
“We did it,” Twilight said, “The Crystal Heart.” 
Logan’s panting died down as he took in the sight. “It’s more beautiful than I imagined,” he said softly. 
Twilight glanced at him, and then started towards the Heart. But the second she stepped onto the disc, things went wrong.
The disc flashed like some sort of alarm. Outside, the smoky trail turned to them, green eyes flashing in anger. 
Logan and Spike yelped as a beam of black energy shot right for Twilight. 
“Twilight/Sparkle, look out!” they both yelled. But as they both lunged for her, the beam of black magic hit the disk, and spiky obsidian shot up around them. Twilight grabbed the heart and jumped for an exit, but the obsidian grew too fast, and knocked the heart right out of her hooves. As the obsidian completely surrounded Twilight, Spike and Logan were knocked to opposite sides of the tower. And the Crystal Heart fell...
...Right into Logan’s claws. 
Twilight briefly tried to teleport out, only for her to reappear right back in her cage. She bucked at the obsidian in anger.
“The heart,” she yelled, “Where’s the Crystal…?” 
Through a hole in the obsidian, she saw where it had landed. As Logan pulled himself up, he had an odd look in his eyes, as if the Heart was hypnotizing him. 
“Logan?” she asked. 
He barely looked up at her. “I…” he said, “I got it.” He looked back down at the heart, which pulsed in his grip. “I really… actually got it.” 
“Yes. You do,” A familiar, slithering voice echoed through the obsidian. “Well done, Lone Wolf of Equestria.”
Logan tensed. “How does he…?”
“Logan, do not listen to him!” Twilight protested.
“He’s trying to manipulate you!” Spike yelled, but obsidian blocked his path. 
“I have seen your nightmares,” Sombra continued, his voice circling Logan like a vulture, “I have tasted your wrath. I know what it is you seek.”
Logan gritted his teeth, and tried to turn away from the dark king.
“Be warned,” Sombra continued, “If you let them use the Heart to defeat me, its power will be forfeit. You have only one chance to use it to get back home.”
Logan looked up. “Bull,” he snarled.
“See for yourself,” Sombra tempted, “Use your magic. I know you can. Focus on those you love so dearly. And the Heart will respond to you.”
Logan looked down at the heart again, as it pulsated in his grip.
“Logan,” Twilight begged, “Don’t.” 
But despite her please, Logan’s eyes began to glow. 
“I don’t have much left,” he whispered, “My parents… My uncles…” He gave a ragged breath. “Carol…” He almost hugged the Heart. “I’d give anything to see them again.” 
The Heart responded. As his lightning flickered around it, it’s glow brightened. A portal started to appear. But at the same time, the heart trembled in his grip. It began to vibrate with an intensity that made Twilight’s heart race. She wasn’t sure if the Heart could survive Logan’s spell.
“Logan!” Twilight screamed, slamming against the obsidian.
“You have to get out of there, Twilight!” Spike exclaimed, as Logan began to glow along with the portal. “You have to be the one to get the Heart. If you don’t, you’ll fail Celestia’s test.” 
“Test?” Logan snarled, glancing back at them. “That’s still all you care about?” He turned away from Twilight. “Screw it.” 
“No!” Twilight begged. “Logan, please!” But the wolf didn’t turn to her. An ominous cracking sound was emanating from the Heart, but Logan’s glow was brightening. He was almost impossible to look at. Sombra chuckled darkly as Twilight raced around the obsidian cage, frantically thinking. Finally, she looked over at Spike. He was only protected by a wall; a wall he could easily climb over. 
Spike! The panic faded from her by a fraction.
“Spike,” she said, “You have to be the one to get the Crystal Heart back.”
“Me?” Spike stammered, “But…”
“This is why I brought you,” Twilight said, “This is what you are here to do.” She glanced over as another cracking sound emanated. “Now go.”
“But…!”
“GO!” Twilight shrieked. 
Spike bit back a curse and jumped over the wall. Obsidian didn’t grow in his path; Sombra didn’t even seem to care about him. Shrieking sounded from below, but Logan didn’t hear it. His eyes – pure orbs of gold – widened as time and space itself split around him.
“Logan, wait!” Spike yelled. As Logan turned to him, one of his free claws baring, Spike stopped, keeping his hands up. “If you use the Heart to get back home, you’ll break it. You’ll leave this empire defenseless. Thousands of ponies are going to suffer!”
Logan didn’t stop. It was almost like trying to look at the sun now. The Crystal Heart was cracking. It was seconds away from shattering!
Spike raised his voice. “You said that you hated Celestia because of her power. Well, you’re letting Sombra get the exact same thing!”
Logan paused at that. His glow dimmed. The Crystal Heart’s vibration lowered to a bearable level. 
“Maybe Celestia is hard to deal with,” Spike said, “Maybe she is a time bomb. But if she’s close, Sombra is a time bomb that has gone off and is trying to hurt everything around him. Sombra would make it obvious that we were enslaved. Sombra would make it clear that you were a prisoner. Sombra would overthrow Celestia, enslave Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie… every pony.” He paused, “Just like what happened in that doorway.”
Logan’s glow dimmed even further, even as he looked down at the Heart instead of at Spike.
“I don’t know what it’s like to have another... pack,” Spike said, desperately. “Twilight is the only pack I’ve ever had. I wish you could go back to your own, but please… don’t let it be at the cost of mine.” 
Logan stood there for the longest time. The heart pumped frantically in his hands, it’s glow a pure golden. Logan looked down at it, a whimper of sorrow escaping his lips.
Twilight wisely kept her mouth shut, both hooves pressed over her mouth as she watched, hoping against hope that Logan could make an impossible choice. 
To choose saving an Empire over reuniting with his loved ones.
Logan bowed his head. “Forgive me…” he said quietly.