The eight of them ran. The seven ponies were galloping as hard as they could, while Spike was sitting on Twilight’s back, clinging as tight as he could. Behind them, they could hear the sounds of battle continuing. The Royal Guard were still fighting, even now.
A shape flew over them, slamming into the ground a dozen feet from where they were. It was a Guard, who had been thrown from the battle by Sombra’s dark magic. As they passed the body, they noticed multiple horrible things about it.
Sharp black crystals were growing in and out of the guard’s body, to the point that Twilight couldn’t tell if he had been a Unicorn or earth body. The guard’s crimson blood seemed to be feeding the crystals, causing them to grow faster. The worst part about? When Twilight saw his eyes, she saw them moving around frantically. The guard couldn’t scream on account of the Crystal that had pierced his throat, but he was still alive. She felt like she wanted to throw up, and her worry for her brother only grew.
But then they were past the tortured guard, and Twilight caught a glimpse of their destination. A towering spire pierced the heavens in front of them, yet it lacked any color and was a dull gray. The weather was less intense here, which only revealed more of the desolation that had come to the once-grand city.
The buildings were the same gray color as the castle, all life leached out of them. Many of them were crumbling into pieces, mere remnants of what they were. Sombra had all but razed this place, so ruined it was.
They had made it about a third of the way to the castle when they heard it. His Laughter had finished up with the guards, then. Shiny. Her worry for her brother tripled, but his sacrifice would mean nothing if they didn’t stop Sombra.
It happened too fast. One moment, they were racing through the broken streets, then a pitch-black shadow descended on them. Twilight saw its trajectory, and through some of the quickest math she’d ever done in her head, knew that it would hit her. At least it would have, until some pony slammed into her.
It was Fluttershy. She had acted quickly, so quickly, and pushed Twilight out of the way. Twilight and Spike took a little tumble but were otherwise fine. The same could not be said for the Element of Kindness.
Fluttershy didn’t scream, not that she had the chance to. Black crystals erupted out her body, yet none of them drew blood. Instead, the crystals continued to grow around the pegasus, eventually wrapping her completely in the black crystals. The crystals then solidified into one, greater gem. The black faded slightly, so that they could see through the crystal.
Fluttershy was frozen, her mouth opened in a scream that would never come. Her body was completely still, and Twilight could still see where the crystals had pierced her skin. Then Twilight met her eyes, and saw that they were still moving.
Go.
Twilight didn’t have a chance to move, as the horror hadn’t finished yet. Twilight watched as Fluttershy’s eyes were completely overtaken by a green energy. Then the crystal exploded. Twilight had to duck for cover, but she was still able to quickly recover. What she saw when she got back up was something that was horrifyingly familiar.
Fluttershy stood perfectly still, green eyes leaking what looked like purple shadows. She was wearing armor now, a horrible mix of black crystals and dark metal. Twilight knew in an instant what had happened- for she had been in a very similar situation during the wedding.
“The King demands obedience. You will kneel before him.” Fluttershy said robotically, her mind and will overwritten by dark magic.
“Fluttershy-you got to snap out of it!” Rainbow Dash pleaded. Fluttershy simply cocked her head.
“Why would I want to?” Rainbow Dash went still, but memories crashed into Twilight’s mind. “I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I don’t have to worry anymore-My King took it away. He’s so thoughtful.” Rainbow Dash looked horrified, but Twilight remembered. Those thoughts- they were an addictive poison.
She grabbed Rainbow Dash, and tried to pull her away from her corrupted friend. Rainbow Dash didn’t budge an inch. Twilight was about to tell her that they needed to go, but Rainbow Dash spoke first.
“Go, Twilight.” She said softly, voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t-I can’t fail again.” Her voice was starting to crack up. Her wings were twitching, but Twilight could see that it wasn’t sadness alone. No, Twilight could see the building anger in the eyes of the Element of Loyalty.
“Where do you think you’re going? It's so much better…to serve the King.” Fluttershy said huskily, but she was no longer the Element of Kindness at this point. No, the Element of Kindness had saved her from this fate.
“Twilight, I’m sorry. I abandoned you,I failed you when Loyalty was what you needed most. I can’t do it again. So go, stop Sombra, do what you do best. Go be awesome, and save the world.” With that, Rainbow Dash launched into motion.
She crashed into Fluttershy, but Twilight didn’t see the following scuffle between two ponies who had been the closest of friends. No, as she galloped away, Twilight heard the sound of the pony who had saved her life on countless occasions, of who was now fighting a corrupted horror of another friend. Twilight heard the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash, give her will and mind to buy them time.
The five ponies and baby dragon had made it about halfway through the city when they stopped to catch their breath. The constant galloping, along with the loss and sacrifice of their two friends, had severely affected the mood’s morale. Even the normally energetic and flamboyant Pinkie Pie was now dragging her hoofs as they slowed to a trot.
Twilight looked at the sullen group, and knew that something had to change. If they continued like this, they would fail. Despite her ill feelings towards those she once called friends, Twilight also knew that she couldn’t fail Equestria. She knew how it felt to have your mind shackled by someone else, and she knew what Sombra would do if he won.
“Girls…” Twilight said weakly, her voice trailing off. Still, she had succeeded in grabbing their attention. “We-we can’t stop here. For Rainbow and Fluttershy…we have to keep going.” Every word dripped with exhaustion, but there was still strength in her message.
Twilight saw Applejack scowl, open her mouth-and then close just abruptly. Her eyes went wide, and then she spoke. “Twilight…Ah’m sorry. Ah am supposed to be the Honest one, but Ah haven’t even been honest with myself. We abandoned you when you were needin’ our help the most. Ah-we cannot do that again. So ah will follow you, Twilight. For Rainbow and Fluttershy, for our friends.” Applejack said. Behind her, Twilight saw Rarity and Pinkie Pie stand a little straighter.
It was then that they heard the hoofsteps. There were a lot of them, coming from almost every direction. They marched in unison, echoing off the buildings. The girls moved into a tight circle, readying themselves for whatever happened next.
They weren’t ready. Twilight realized that the second she saw the army of corrupted ponies. There were hundreds of them,coming from every direction-but one. The way forward, towards the castle, was clear of corrupted ponies.
The ponies marched closer, and Twilight was able to make certain details about them. Their coats were dull, most blue or pink. They wore dark helmets, their eyes glowing green. They were the ponies that had accompanied Sombra when he had pulled the Empire into the shadows for a Millenia. Worse, were the two ponies leading them. Fluttershy, in her dark crystal armor…and Rainbow Dash, in the same armor. Curiously, Sombra was absent from the gathering of enslaved ponies.
Just as Twilight was about to step forward, a hoof crossed her chest. Orangish Fur covered the leg, and with a sickening realization, she knew what was about to happen. Applejack stepped forward, and with her, Pinkie and Rarity. Even after everything that had happened to her, a part of Twilight wanted them to run. To get to safety, to get away from this cursed place.
“Twilight, you need to go. We’re just regular ponies-you’re the Element of Magic, and one of the most powerful Unicorns Ah’ve ever seen. You can stop Sombra, we can’t. Go, save Equestria. Go!” Applejack yelled, pushing Twilight away. She felt a pain in her eyes as she watched the three charge into the army. Her last view of the three was of Pinkie Pie charging into the mass hoard, throwing cakes and shooting her party cannon; of Rarity throwing magic around like it was going out of style; and of Applejack charging the two Pegasus, intent on keeping them back.
So they galloped once more, rushing towards the castle. Now they were having to dodge ruins, massive black crystals, and the occasional corrupted pony. They pushed past the threats and obstacles; more than once did Cadance create lances of blue energy destroying rubble or forcing back dark soldiers.
They got to the bottom of the castle, and it was there that they found the trap waiting for them. As soon as they got below the castle, where four massive pillars were holding the entire building up, hordes of corrupted soldiers poured into the area.
They managed to get to the center of the area, punching and kicking their way through. As soon as they got to the center, Cadence created a shield of pure teal energy. While she was not as skilled with shield magic as her brother, Cadence was still an alicorn.
The dark Ponies hammered against it, and Twilight found herself freezing up. She knew she should add her magic to the shield, but she saw her reflection in one of the crystal tiles. A twisted and monstrous visage, her horn an abomination. There was a reason Twilight hadn’t cast a single spell since waking up in that bed, and it was staring at her.
Twilight never got the chance to cast her magic into the shield. Instead, the dark army backed off from hammering the shield, creating a circle around the two ponies and baby dragon. Then they heard it, the marching. The circle opened up to reveal a new force, and to Twilight’s horror, there were five familiar figures at the front of it.
A corrupted version of Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity all stood at the front of the formation, escorting a dark figure. A pony, wreathed in shadows and wearing a red cape. His horn was curved and sharpening, turning a baleful crimson at the top of it. Most striking were his eyes, which glowed a horrific green and leaked purple smoke. King Sombra had arrived.
Surprisingly, he bowed before speaking. “Princess of Love, and Element of Magic. Welcome to the Crystal Empire.” His voice was rich, but there was power hidden in it. “Come now, end this silly shield spell, so that we can get to business.” He said with a smile, but the shield remained where it was. “Come on, Twilight Sparkle, look at your friends. They love it here, and I am certain you would too.” A voice echoed through Twilight's mind, saying a statement that had plagued Twilight since the wedding. My Queen.
Cadence scowled and spoke quickly. “Enough of this, Sombra. You are a Tyrant and a monster; you know nothing of love.” She practically snarled the last word.
Sombra leaned back, and he seemed…saddened? “If it must be that way, then so be it. But before we begin, know that I am not heartless. I will let you see your loved ones one more time.” With that, he made a motion with his hoof, and Twilight screamed.
Corrupted ponies moved away to reveal the most horrific of sights. A Dark Crystal stabbed upwards, and inside of it…was her brother. Shining Armor was frozen inside of it, his mouth opened in an agonizing wail. The crystal blocked all sound, but it didn’t matter to her, as the horror was just beginning. Shiny’s horn had been shattered into many pieces, many of which had been fused into a monstrous crown.
The crown was placed on his head, dark bits of crystal, metal, and horn cutting into his skull. Where each joint should have been was instead a horrific growth blackened gems, cutting everything they could. The blood somehow flowed through the crystal, falling to the base and to the back. There it formed a spike that had plunged into his back, most likely paralyzing him.
There was more still, but she couldn’t focus on it. Twilight could barely stand straight, anger filling her veins. But it was nothing compared to the Alicorn next to her.
The Shield exploded, transforming into a thousand shards of magic. They sliced into the crowd of dark soldiers, and Twilight knew that some of them died right then and there. With a roar that shook the entire castle, Cadence let out a beam of bright blue energy straight at Sombra. Shadows surged, blocking the lance of pure magic.
Twilight could hear Cadance growl, but before anything else could happen, the princess of Love spoke. “Get the Heart.” Without letting Twilight do or say anything, Cadence cast a spell. For a split second, Twilight was covered in blue energy, then she was slammed somewhere new.