Twilight had dashed off to the train station to get on the next train to Canterlot spouting how there was another in about twenty minutes or so. We watched her leave weighed down with enough quills and extra parchment to start a second library and with Spike in tow while the rest of us cleaned the library.
It took us roughly fifteen minutes to finish thanks to there being six of us and Rarity’s magic. We left the library and hurried to the station to catch the train. We arrived at the platform just in time and boarded the train.
I sat next to the window across from Rarity so I could look out the window. Pinkie Pie sat next to me excitedly. For me it felt like I had just left Canterlot behind not too long ago but the girls were glad to be returning to the city.
“So do you think this test is going to be hard?” Pinkie asked rocking back and forth to some random rhythm in her mind.
“She’ll do fine, she always has.” Applejack commented from under her hat which she had used to cover her face so she could rest. I zoned out from the conversation and watched the hills roll by.
We made our way to Canterlot once again only this time I hoped there would be only good news waiting for us.
We pulled into the station after some time and we stepped out onto the platform. I turned and saw Twilight walking towards us with her head down in disappointment.
“Twilight!” Applejack called out to the unicorn. Twilight looked up and smiled. Applejack leapt forward and embraced her friend.
“Did ya pass?” Applejack asked. Pinkie Pie rolled out her cannon.
“Are we going to celebrate your awesomeness?” Pinkie asked as the cannon erupted and she jumped into the air.
“Not quite.” Said Twilight. Pinkie paused mid-air and fell back to the ground and the confetti appeared to be sucked back into her cannon.
“We’re going to the Crystal Empire.” Twilight proclaimed.
“Huh?” my friends all gasped at once.
Snow fell thick and slow and lay like a heavy white blanket across the ground. I smiled remembering my home in the winter. The pristine snow was a beautiful thing after all.
We arrived at the platform and stepped off of the train out into the howling wind. Only I and Rarity had prepared for the cold in any way. We had gone home prior to pack for the journey but Twilight had assured us we would only be here for a few days at most.
While we were home she had informed me of the enemy we were up against and had warned me against Sombra and his powers. She didn’t know if he had returned or not but I was not going into the situation unprepared.
“And you all laughed at me for bringing so many scarves.” Rarity said with a smug smile on her face.
“I didn’t say a word.” Spike said from underneath a pile of her luggage.
We moved to the edge of the platform the girls were holding hooves in front of their faces to shield themselves from the icy gale.
“Twily!” came the call through the blizzard. Shining Armor materialized out of the snow like a specter with a black mask and cloth cover over his face. Twilight ran forward and embraced her brother. Shining Armor turned about and removed the mask from his face.
“Come on, we don’t want to be caught out in the open.” The stallion said.
“Why?” asked Twilight.
“Let’s just say that the Empire isn’t the only thing that came back.” Shining said. Through the blizzard a howl sounded low, mournful and sinister.
“What was that?” Fluttershy asked shakily looking about.
“Sombra.” I growled.
“Come on!” Shining Armor yelled taking off into the snow. We ran after Twilight’s brother into the wind.
On the horizon I could see a light blue dome that could only be a magic shield. From behind the howl sounded again only closer giving us cause to run faster. Twilight lifted Spike as he began to fall behind. I looked over my shoulder and saw a dark mass coming after us. Shining Armor saw it as well.
“Go, get to the palace!” he yelled. Twilight and the others ran on but I halted and turned to stand with the captain. I drew both of my axes as the top of the smoky mass formed into a massive head of a unicorn and roared its triumph to the sky. The head was massive in scale with boiling green eyes and red irises that trailed purple mist the king’s horn was massive and tipped red like the color of blood. I was not to be dismayed however as I stood side-by-side to Shining Armor.
“Good thing you’re here.” He stated as Sombra came on.
“Good to be back in the swing of things.” I replied raising my axes as the head opened its maw and charged us.
I felt blood trickle from the cut above my eye as I threw Shining Armor through the shield wall and dived after him feeling the tendrils of darkness grasp at my leg one last time. I was through the wall and looked back to see Sombra smash his face into the shield. I did not boast over my victory as the series of gashes and bruises the king had left began to be felt.
I placed my axe into its place on my belt and stood up helping Shining Armor to his feet. His horn appeared to be infected as black crystals were showing along the length. Twilight and the others moved to help us.
Twilight took a hold of me and made me stand still as she began to patch up my minor wounds numerous as they were. The others helped her brother fully to his feet.
“We need to get to the palace.” Shining Armor said putting a hoof to his head. We began to move and I finally took in my surroundings.
We were in a beautiful grass field that stretched for miles about and was peppered with huge crystal monoliths. The sky above was clear and bright showing a beautiful blue that few other sights could rival. In all it was breathtaking but it paled in comparison to the sight of the crystal palace in the center of the city.
I followed from the rear keeping an eye on the shield behind us. It did not take long to move into the city which was utterly breath taking in its serene and clean cut beauty.
Shining Armor led us to the entrance of the palace which was below the main portion in one of the four pillars that held up the palace proper.
We moved up into the palace. The interior was the color of fresh ice with heavy red carpets and the walls were hung with fine tapestries.
We entered a grand throne room with massive windows on each side and covered in thick velvet carpet. On the far side was a massive and ornate throne and Cadence sat upon it looking bedraggled and worn. Her horn was aglow with power. She smiled as she saw us enter. Shining Armor stepped forward and embraced his wife. Cadence then broke away from her husband to greet her sister-in-law with their sunshine song.
“One of these days we need to get together when the fate of Equestria doesn’t hang in the balance.” Cadence said. Twilight laughed at the statement.
The smile was wiped from the princess’s face as a burst of power shot up her horn causing her to grimace in pain. Shining Armor gripped his wife holding her so she didn’t collapse.
“The effort required to keep the shield up is killing her. Cadence hasn’t slept and has eaten little and it’s been days. My spell won’t work Sombra is countering it but Cadence has managed to keep him out by using love which seems to be working for now but she’s fading fast and I don’t know how to help her. I haven’t had any time to go ask the crystal ponies for any information.”
Rarity inhaled audibly.
“There are crystal ponies!” she exclaimed pulling on her mane. Everyone stared at her awkwardly.
“Uh sorry.” She said.
“I’ve had no time to research this place either with all of the excursions I’ve needed to take out into the blizzard.”
“A research paper!” Twilight exclaimed putting a hoof in the air.
“Huh?” asked her brother.
“That must be part of my test is a research paper. Let’s go.” Twilight stated.
“Is there a library around here?” she asked Shining Armor.
“Yes I’ll escort you.” Shining said. “Ol can you stay here with Cadence?” he asked me. I nodded and the princess smiled at me.
Shining Armor led his sister and friends away to the library while Cadence trudged her way back to her throne. I stepped beside her and assisted her up the steps.
“Thank you Ol.” she said gratefully as she plunked down onto her rear and sighed tiredly.
“Looking at this you’d think the changeling invasion was a stiff breeze.” Cadence said looking out the window. I chuckled a bit.
“My ribs and shoulder would disagree with you princess.” I told her.
“Ol we’re friends, you don’t need to call me princess. Call me Cadence.” She said as cheerfully as she could considering the circumstances.
“Cadence.” I smiled at the name. “How long have you and the captain been here?” I asked her. She put a hoof to her chin in thought.
“About three weeks now.” She said. I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
“So long and Shining hasn’t been able to come up with anything?” I asked her.
“Nothing, the arctic is harsh on him and he’s been coming back with more and more bruises and wounds. I can’t heal him because all of my magic is being taken up with this.” She pointed to her horn. “And it’s been brutal.” Cadence looked down at the floor looking dismayed. “He’s right though. This shield has taken its toll and it feels like screw is turning in my mind especially whenever Sombra attacks.” She sighed heavily. “It’s good that all of you are here though, I don’t know how much longer I could hold out for but now that you’re here Ol,” She looked at me and smiled. “It’s like someone took my magic armor and added another layer on top of it. Between you and Shining Armor nothing will ever take this place no matter how strong or evil it is.” I smiled back at her.
“I’m not that strong prin- Cadence. I just know what I have to do to protect those who are important to the land and to me.” I told her staring off through a massive window. “If I have to give up my life to preserve those around me then it is spent well. When I first came here I was told to not expect a glorious death but after going through the changelings and then this,” I indicated through the window to the blizzard going on. “I know that I’ll die as I should, protecting those I’ve come to care about.” Cadence set a hoof on my armored shoulder.
“I hope I’m one of those ponies now.” She said. I smiled but didn’t answer her. I thought about the circumstances.
Twilight had become like family to me. Taking me in and caring for me like one of her own and the others even after I’d tried to put an axe into them. They had accepted me and to think that I would lose them to Sombra or some other evil cur. I felt anger well up inside me at the thought. I would not let that happen I would not lose another set of people I cared about even if they were ponies they were like people to me.
Shining Armor returned to the chamber.
“Well their off doing research we should go back out Ol and see what we can do.” I stood.
“No.” Cadence said adamantly.
“What?” Shining Armor cocked an eyebrow at her.
“No I won’t let you go back there not with your horn like that.” Cadence said coming up out of her throne and walking to her husband.
“I won’t let you go back out there even with Ol, it’s too dangerous.” Fear showed across her face. She was obviously more afraid of Sombra than she had told me.
“Okay, okay, I won’t go out again I promise.” Shining Armor quietly reassured his wife as he put his forelegs around her. “But I am going to patrol the city. We need to get some information from these ponies.”
“I thought Twilight was doing that.” Cadence said.
“We’re going to help her.” Shining stated smiling an award winning smile. “And I promise I won’t go out again.” Cadence nodded and put her head on his shoulder. He patted her as he guided her back to the throne.
“Now sit and rest and Ol and I will be back to talk with Twilight.” Shining Armor beckoned to me and together we left the throne room.
“What exactly are we going to do?” I asked the captain.
“We’re going out.” Shining said to me a steel determination creeping into his voice.
We moved through the streets and even spotted Applejack asking about the town but we avoided her. The two of us made our way to the shield.
“What exactly are we looking for?” I asked the captain.
“A rematch.” Shining stated putting on his mask. I laughed at him.
“Why are you laughing?” he raised an eyebrow as he asked.
“Where I come from captain we don’t break promises.” With that I launched a strike to his jaw knocking the captain out cold. “And I’ve been looking for an excuse to pay you back for what happened in the pit.” I pulled on fake leather and fur gloves that Rarity had made for me and smiled wickedly as I stepped into the chill. I was indeed in the mood to see the good king again.
The wind howled like a banshee and the snow had turned to ice in my short time from being inside. I smiled it felt so much like home. The snow muffled my steps as I set out in search of Sombra. It felt like hunting not like when I was home where you stalk your prey carefully tracking it down until you were nearly close enough to touch and then ‘thwack’ an arrow is protruding from your kill. This was different though I had hunted things that could kill a man but not something this dangerous, this exciting.
Trying to find Sombra, however, was something that seemed meaningless when I could bring the king to me.
I reached down and drew both axes. I kept my forefingers just underneath where the steel met the wood and spun the weapons on my hands. It felt good to have steel in both whole hands again and a purpose for it. I locked my hands around the hafts of both weapons and pressed the wood into my thighs to push weapons to their full length. I inhaled the biting air into my lungs and felt the beast within me stir again like an old friend filling my breast with power and fury. I let that fury go and have its control continuing to suck air in until my lungs and belly were full and then I truly let go.
I roared to the icy heavens like one of the gods my call echoing about until my lungs ran dry and my throat went raw and ached. I sucked in air my chest heaving after my verbal outburst. The wind seemed almost silent by comparison. I didn’t have to wait long for the reply. Sombra’s mournful howl sounded out across frozen plain the call answered to the beast within and I could feel the rage build even more.
I could see him coming, the black cloud of shadow moving in leaps and bounds like a dark and dying frog. I gripped my weapons tighter and snarled as the King’s head materialized once again and he was glaring at me. I began walking calmly through the snow towards him as he surged and lurched his way over to me roaring at me like a crazed animal.
The King lunged at me screaming his fury. I screamed back and swung my right axe. I had timed the swing nearly perfect and the steel bit into Sombra’s nose. The King didn’t flinch and plowed into me smacking my chest and burying me into the snow. I swung my left and put the steel into his snout deep enough to be used as a handhold. The King pulled himself from the snow with me still attached by the axe. I pulled my right axe from his nose and swung it again pulling myself belly down onto his snout. The King tried to shake me off but my axes were in too deep and my grip was too strong.
Sombra was again dove for the snow and smashed me into the ground and he disappeared into the air. I rolled over and stood up. I put my right axe back in my belt and I knelt to snatch my dagger from my boot.
I looked about into the wind half-crazed from battle lust and covered in snow. The King however had disappeared into the blizzard. My rage grew again. I had been cheated from a fight that cowardly bastard.
You fight well. A voice sounded from within my mind. It felt greasy and thick dredging its way through my thoughts. I tried to step forward but my boot felt stuck. I looked down to see a pool of thick black muck growing around me.
I wonder how you taste. The voice taunted. Sombra’s eyes rolled up out of the muck and a slit appeared around my ankles and began to open. I fell into ever widening hole slipping down into the hot, wet mouth of King Sombra.
The maw was stinking and wet filled with spit and a writhing pink mass of a tongue. I looked down and could see the King's throat throbbing and pulsating waiting to consume me. I was determined to make myself the last meal this evil unicorn would ever try to eat.
My head slipped below his teeth into the fleshy pink mass. I reacted by jamming my dagger into the roof of his mouth to halt my fall. I could feel the unicorn’s tongue on my back trying to push me down but I fought back. I placed my boots on the roof of his mouth and pushed as hard as I could forcing the massive muscle back into its place still holding onto my dagger and axe.
Sombra closed his jaws up over me but I was not going to die like this. I took my axe and slammed it against his gum to my left just above the tooth. The steel cut through the flesh like paper and the King groaned as blood began to trickle out but I was not finished. I pulled my axe back and continued to assault Sombra’s molars striking chunks of flesh and bone with each swing. Sombra’s tongue continued to writhe against my back which made me push all the harder. I twisted the dagger to make sure the hold kept true and Sombra opened his mouth to roar his pain out flecks of spittle and blood coating my face and armor as his hot putrid breath blew past me.
I slammed my axe into the gap between his two front teeth. Sombra slammed his jaw shut again forcing the axe into his gums. I heard a loud snap as blood spurted down onto my head. The King screamed again as one of his teeth wobbled. I reached up behind and felt the handle of my axe. I gripped and pulled the handle to the right causing another loud snap and another scream from the unicorn. He seemed to have redoubled his efforts with his tongue trying to pry my axe loose. I put all of the power I could into another pull and the tooth came free. The tooth fell and struck me in the head causing stars to dance before my eyes. The beast pushed the pain from my mind in a rush of anger.
Sombra screamed again louder this time in frustration. My axe was free once again and I sunk it back into his exposed gum. I pulled the dagger free and stuck it into the hole with the root of the tooth sinking the steel up to the hilt.
Using all of my power I pulled myself up. I pulled my boots beneath me and pushed off of Sombra’s tongue. I pulled my axe free and sunk it into the side of the other front tooth. No matter who or what the being was nothing could stand this much pain and blood inside of their mouth and Sombra was no exception. Sombra bunched his tongue beneath me and he spat me out into the air.
The change from putrid and hot to cold was exhilarating as the air whistled past my head. I looked down to see the King Sombra retreating back into the ground but I was not about to let this kill get away. As I fell I readied my weapons aiming for one of those massive green eyes.
I’ll be back for you. The voice promised as Sombra disappeared into the white. I slammed into the snow with an audible ‘oomph’. And just like that Sombra had disappeared back into the snow to hide away and lick his wounds. I screamed into the snow surrounding my face. I stood up fury raging through me and I screamed into the howling blizzard my face and body covered in blood, spit and snow. I roared again and again challenging the cowardly king to come finish what we had started. But I received no challenge in return. With every scream the rage began to dwindle like bonfire that had used up its wood too fast.
I fell to my knees my chest rising and falling quickly as I tried to compensate for my outbursts. I finally managed to stand shakily my body catching up with me. I could feel the fatigue in my muscles and an ache in my back as I stood and sheathed my weapons. I began my trudge back through the snow heading for the protection and warmth of the shield as the cold began to set in as well.
It took me several cold and slow minutes to cross back into the warmth of the Empire. My first goal was to find the captain. Stepping onto the grass and feeling the sun upon my skin was a blessing and my mood improved almost immediately.
I picked up my pace and moved to where I had left the captain. He was awake when I found him sitting up with an angry look on his face and a new black eye. He looked up at me.
“That was unfair Ol.” He scolded me. I smiled through blood flecked teeth.
“I just made sure you kept your promise.” I told him.
“How am I supposed to explain this?” he asked me pointing to his eye which had swelled up to the point of closing. I shrugged.
“Tell her the truth. It’s not like she’ll get mad at you for not going out, she might get mad that you lied to her but then you’ll look all the better when you dragged me back in through the wall.” I told him as I plunked down onto the ground next to him.
“What you mean lie to her again?” Shining looked at me. “That just might work.” He laughed.
“It might and then again it might turn out that I should’ve let Sombra eat me.” I chuckled darkly. Shining raised his good eyebrow.
“You’re kidding right?” he was confused. I shrugged again.
“I wish I were.” I told him. “But I made a poor meal for the old king what with my pointy bits and all.” Shining Armor laughed at that.
“Sounds like quite the fight.” I snorted.
“That it was.” I went on to describe my encounter with Sombra. By the time I had finished his mouth was wide open in shock.
“You, sir, are becoming quite the legend.” He told me. I held up a hand defensively.
“I’m no legend captain, I’m just a man with an axe.”