A small group of ponies were gathered at a station, each one carrying saddle bags as they waited for the train to arrive.
“Come on girls! Let’s get going!” The leader of the group said. She had a purple coat and eyes with a long, indigo mane with a pink stripe. What made her stand out was the fact that she had both a horn and wings along with a mark on her side being a pink six-pointed star with six tinier stars at the points.
Coming with her were five more mares and a dragon.
The first was a cyan pegasus with pink eyes and a rainbow mane that was rather messy and untamed with a mark of a cloud with a lightning bolt coloured like a rainbow, who was hovering just above the station floor.
Next was a unicorn with a white coat, sapphire blue eyes and a purple mane that was done in an elegant curl. Her eyes were done up with light blue eyeshadow and mascara, with her mark being three diamonds.
Third was an earth pony with an orange coat, green eyes and blond mane in a ponytail, with a brown cowgirl hat on her head. Her mark was simply three apples.
Trailing behind was another pegasus with a buttercream coat, pink mane and aquamarine eyes who looked shy as she trailed behind them. Her mark was three pink butterflies.
Bouncing behind them with a wide grin was a pink earth pony with a poofy pink mane and baby blue eyes with her mark being three balloons, two blue and one yellow.
Carrying several large bags was a small dragon with purple scales and green spines and eyes.
These characters are the Mane 6, the Elements of HArmony, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie with their companion Spike.
“Can’t believe that CAdence called us to the Crystal Empire for something.” Rainbow said as they waited for the train.
“Yeah. Any idea why she invited us?” Applejack asked.
“No reason. She was feeling lonely and wanted to have some lunch with us.” Twilight spoke to the girls.
“That’s it?” Fluttershy asked.
“Oh posh, darling. Any chance to visit the exquisite empire is a good reason.” Rarity said with sparkling eyes.
“Plus, my fans will love to see me!” Spike said with a puffed up chest, making everyone roll their eyes.
“Shame it isn’t a big party, though. It would be way more fun!” Pinkie said with a grin.
“Pinkie, not everything has to be a big party you know. It’s good to relax and have a small get together.” Twilight said.
Pinkie pouted at that but then they heard a young voice.
“Wait!”
Turning around, they saw three fillies run up to them.
The first was an earth pony filly that had a bright, yellow coat and red mane with a pink bow in her hair plus orange eyes.
The next was a unicorn filly with a white coat, a fluffy lilac and purple mane and green eyes.
Finally, it was a pegasus filly with an orange coat, a short electric purple mane and purple eyes.
These are the CMC, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
“What the? Apple Bloom? What are ya’ll doin’ here?” Applejack asked.
“We heard that you were going to the Crystal Empire and we wanna come!” Sweetie Belle said with her friends smiling widely.
“Can we, can we, can we?!” Scootaloo asked, wings buzzing.
The mane six looked at each other in concern as they contemplated the decision.
“I dunno…” Rainbow said, rubbing the back of her head.
“Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaase?” Apple Bloom asked, giving off the infamous puppy dog pout.
“No…no! Not the puppy dog pout!” Twilight groaned as they all looked away.
But the three fillies pulled the same look, which wore down their wills.
“OK! You can come!’ Twilight exclaimed as the three fillies cheered. ‘But you better behave.” She said in a stern tone.
“OK!” The three fillies said in agreement.
Soon, the train arrived and the group boarded it.
“Twi, are you sure that it’s a good idea to allow them to come along?” Fluttershy asked.
“We’re just visiting the Crystal Empire, girls. It’s not like we’re going to be battling Sombra again.” As the girls took their seats, she looked outside just as the train left the station.
“What could happen?”
Suddenly, they heard a yell.
“WILL YOU FILLIES GET OFF THAT CART?!”
Looking back, they saw the three fillies riding the cart with the station pony chasing after them.
All of the girls and Spike looked at Twilight with deadpanned looks, as the princess chuckled nervously.
Meanwhile in the Crystal Empire.
“The Crystal Empire…A kingdom that was thriving under the great Sombra. Now in the hands of a weak-willed princess.”
A voice spoke in a raspy tone as the dark cave.
“But now she will face something even she may not be able to withstand. Not even the precious Elements of HArmony.”
Soon another voice spoke.
“So…we are nearly arrived at the destination?”
The figure then turned to a pair of blood-red eyes.
“YEs. You help me take over the Empire and Equestria, and I will get you what you desire.’
The figure then grinned evilly.
‘The Storm Rider.”
Soon, a shrieking laugh ringed through the area.
“Perfect. I will enjoy this as the Maelstrom happens! The Storm Rider will be mine!”
Soon, two laughs ringed through the air as dark green storm clouds rushed to the area.
Meanwhile on the train, Rainbow saw the storm clouds coming.
“What the…?” She said, which caught the attention of everyone else.
“Something the matter, Rainbow?” FLuttershy asked.
“You guys see the clouds, there? I was sure that we weren’t scheduled for a storm.” She said.
Everyone looked outside and saw the giant storm clouds in the distance.
“Wow. That is some storm.” Applejack whistled.
“I thought there was no storm scheduled?” Twilight said in confusion.
“I must’ve missed the change or something. It looks bad but it doesn’t look like it’s gonna be any trouble.” Rainbow dismissed.
Everyone shrugged their shoulders as they took their seats.
But no one noticed Scootaloo still looking at the incoming clouds, with a narrowed look on her face.
“Scoots! You comin’?” Apple Bloom spoke.
“Er…yeah! In a bit!” She said as she took her seat, a look of worry and suspicion on her face.
“I have a feeling I know what that storm is…”