//------------------------------// // Arrival At the Empire // Story: The Storm Rider // by FoundFamily //------------------------------// The express chuffed to a stop as it arrived at the Crystal Empire. Rightfully named as well. From the navy blue roads to the tall houses and buildings, everywhere was made out of pure crystal. Many ponies with glistening coats walked around the station, minding their own business. Soon, the Mane 6 and CMC all disembarked the train, all the while Twilight was giving the rules and regulations to the CMC. “...And try not to cause a mess at the empire. Cadence may be benevolent, but I will not take the chance of you being thrown out of the empire because you wanted to try and find your Cutie Marks!” Twilight lectured as they all exited the train. “Fine…” All three groaned at the lecture. “Seriously, Twi. They get it. I know she’s your sister-in-law but Cadence isn’t gonna kick them out or anything! She’s too cool!” Rainbow said in an exasperated tone. “I know but I have to lay down the law! I know what sort of antics your sisters do back in Ponyville and like I will let them do them here!” Twilight said with a raised head. The girls and Spike all rolled their eyes. Classic Twilight. Soon, all of them trotted to the empire, unaware of the green storm clouds coming their way. All except for Scootaloo, who grimaced at the feeling in her feathers. ‘I hope that isn’t what I think it is…” At the entrance of the castle, there were four ponies, all of whom they all recognised. “Shiny! Cadence!” Twilight said as she bound towards them. The ponies in question were a pink female alicorn with a long, curly triple toned mane of purple, pink and yellow and lilac eyes, wearing a golden necklace, shoes and a small golden tiara on her head. On her flank was an aqua crystal heart in front of a gold band Next to her was a white stallion with two toned hair of light and dark blue plus blue eyes with a cutie mark being a blue shield with a pink six-pointed star on it and three small blue stars on top. “Twily!” Shiny said as he hugged his sister while with Cadence, they did their greeting. “Sunshine!, sunshine! Ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” It ended with them hugging. “What, no acknowledgement for us?” A melodious voice spoke. “Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” Twilight exclaimed as they all bowed. The alicorns in question were two female ones. The taller one had a white mane, violet eyes and a four-toned coloured mane that moved on its own. It was cerulean, turquoise, light cobalt and pink. She also had on a golden regalia with an amethyst in the center and golden heels. Her Cutie Mark was a golden sun Next to her was one that was shorter, with an indigo coat, a two toned dark and light blue mane that moved on its own as well as cyan eyes. She had on a black regalia with a quarter moon symbol, the same moon in a night sky as her cutie mark. “Twilight! It’s so wonderful to see you!” Celestia said as she nuzzled her favourite and best student. “It’s good to see you to, Celestia. Luna” Twilight spoke as they all bowed at her presence. “Why are you here anyways, Princess?” Rainbow asked in curiosity. “What? We’re not allowed to spend time with family? Cadence had invited us for a spot of lunch. And considering that our schedules are open, we figured why not?” Celestia asked. Luna scoffed. “And by cleared, she meant that we both teleported out of the castle while the nobles were arguing about who had the biggest house or statue or something like that…I really don’t care.” She spoke in a deadpanned tone. Celestia giggled at the looks she had been given. “Anyways, shall we? You and your friends plus the three fillies you brought along may be hungry after a long trip.” Cadence asked with a smile. All of them agreed as they followed Cadence to the dining hall. Meanwhile outside the region of the Empire, the mysterious unicorn and the sentient storm cloud looked at the empire. “Now remember, what your objective is?” He asked the cloud. “I do. Just remember.’ The cloud then glared at the unicorn ‘Bring me the Storm Rider. And I will help destroy this empire till it is nothing but ruins.” “It shall be done. But I do think you should tell me what the Storm Rider is and why is it so important to you.” He asked. All the cloud said was as he began to sprout a pair of long green arms and a spiked maw was shown. “An old link to my past.” He said as thunder and lightning rumbled behind them. Inside the palace, the mares all chatted at some old adventure, the elements of Harmony. “And then I swooped down and snatched that gem out of his hands. That poor dragon had no idea what was going on!” Rainbow bragged “Ya’ll forget that I had ta hold the varmit back from roastin ya!” Applejack countered. “Darlings, please! I managed to distract the brute with the many gems I found!” Rarity said with a raised nose. “True! But Fluttershy helped you out with those birds finding them for you!” Pinkie remarked. “Well…yes. But it was also thanks to you with making that disco ball to distract him…” Fluttershy muttered. “We ALL helped in stopping that dragon. I’m just glad the locals were happy with their precious gem returning.” Twilight said as she sipped her tea. “I’m glad to see that the bonds you share with your friends are still as strong as ever. Especially after you took out Tirek.” Celestia said with a smile. “Well, duh! No one can take us down! We’re the Elements of Harmony! Any bad guy that faces us? We’ll send them packing via the Rainbow Express!” Rainbow bragged. Everyone rolled their eyes at the boast but she had a point. There weren’t any enemies that could stop their friendship or shatter their bonds. No one had stronger friendships than them. The CMC also agreed. “Darn right! No one can stop them!” Scootaloo chirped. “True dat! Mah sister and her friends are the best!” Apple Bloom added. “Yep! No one can stop them! I hardly think anyone can beat them at all!” Sweetie Belle added. Spike was about to say something when a loud thunder crash resonated in the area followed by a few bolts of lightning. “What in Equestria’s name is that?!” Spike yelled. “I don’t know…” Shining Armour said in an uneasy tone. Suddenly one of the guards came out with a panicked look. “Your Highness! We’ve got trouble! A giant storm cloud is brewing! It’s annihilating the empire!” “Can’t the pegasi control it?” Rainbow had to ask. The guard shook his head. “No…This storm…It’s alive!” Meanwhile, the storm cloud in question was busy firing bolts of lightning as the many ponies ran off screaming as they were struck. The unicorn in question watched from on top of one of the buildings “Yes…Ravage this city! BRing them to their knees! Make them fear the fury of…’ Soon the cloud began to change shape. The body soon had a tornado as a tail while a set of obsidian black armor formed around his upper body with a green and red circle in the center being struck by a v stylised by two lightning bolts. ‘VORTEX!” Vortex only screamed one thing. “WHERE IS THE STORM RIDER?!”