//------------------------------// // The Crystal Amulet // Story: The Return of Sombra // by WriteAboutHorses //------------------------------// Chapter 5: The Crystal Amulet "This is really really bad!" Twilight panicked on the train as the clear blue skies in the Crystal Mountains turned to a dark, miserable brown. "We need to make sure Sombra does not leave the mountains or else he may take over all of Equestria" Luna paced along the carriage which was specifically made to carry royalty and their companions. The panic was stopped by a blinding bright purple light in the carriage. After it passes, somepony who nopony expected to see emerged, Trixie. "You!" Cadence pounced at Trixie and pinned her to the ground, showing a very out of character rage. "This is all happening because of you!" Twilight was not happy at all to see Trixie. "I know, I'm sorry, this was all because of this stupid Alicorn Amulet!" Trixie levitated her amulet off and threw it to the ground, the gem had already shattered after Sombra's escape. "The Alicorn Amulet!?" Cadence gasped "That's why this is all happening, Sombra sealed some of his magic inside this and when some fool puts it on he becomes stronger until he can fully possess the wearer and free himself from the amulet." "My sister knows of an ancient artifact that can be used to defeat Sombra without using the Crystal Heart" Luna explained "If we can go to Canterlot and get the information we need from her we can defeat Sombra once and for all" As the train exited the mountain range it stopped in Vanhoover. A shadowy figure was following behind the train to Canterlot, who could it be? Eventually the train arrived in Canterlot where Sombra's return was not even heard of. The ponies exited the train and headed for the castle, hastily followed by the shadow. "Princess Celestia!" Twilight cried as she and her friends ran into the throne room "King Sombra's back! He escaped through the Alicorn Amulet and-" Twilight was cut off by Celestia "I am aware of this" Celestia began "The ancient artifact which Luna may have told you about that will defeat Sombra is the Alicorn Amulet itself!" Cadence was confused "I thought it was the-" Once again, she was cut off by Celestia "Alicorn Amulet! Do you have it?" Celestia impatiently asked? "Yes" Trixie levitated the broken amulet to the Princess, who took over and levitated it herself Only Luna noticed the black aura on Celestia's horn "So, how does the amulet stop Sombra?" Twilight asked Celestia turned her back to the ponies as she tried to repair the gem "The magic should trap Sombra inside the amulet for another 1,000 years" Everypony stayed silent as Luna crept up behind her "sister", knowing she must have a reason. Luna focused her magic and used a truth spell on the larger alicorn. A black aura surrounded the monarch as her pure white coat slowly turned black and she became more muscular "Sombra!" Shining Armor growled at the dark stallion, he was posing as Celestia to trick the ponies into giving him the Amulet, and it sort of worked! "Ha ha ha!" Sombra laughed "Thanks for the Amulet" He dissapeared in a shadowy glow as the real Celestia emerged from the shadows, only she wasn't walking. She was standing completely still "Sombra has crystallised her!" Luna gasped as she ran to her sister and tapped her on her side, her body was as hard as a crystal. Celestia was now nothing more than a crystal statue. Twilight levitated a book that was beside the princess over to her and read the title "Ancient History of the Crystal Empire, Volume 2: Protection". Twilight quickly flipped through the book, it was mostly about Crystal Guards, the Crystal Princess and the Crystal Heart. Suddenly she stopped turning pages, she noticed something that could help. "The Crystal Amulet!" She read out loud, grabbing the attention of the other ponies. "The Crystal Amulet was used as a substitute for the Crystal Heart when it wasn't available. It was simple to make, and there have been many different amulets created. The ingredients are: A shard of the Crystal Heart, 300g of Magic Crystal Dust and the blessing of the Crystal Princess" Twilight read out the information. "Well that seems easy enough, the heart is in pieces anyway, we have the Crystal Princess right here, but where can we get Magic Crystal Dust?" Applejack wondered. "It's Simple" Luna began "We need to return of the Crystal Empire!"