Chapter 15
Old Friends
As the next hour came around The two Princess’s of Equestria found themselves at the border of the crystal Empire with heavy hearts. The King of shadows escorted by a group of black armored ponies. Sombra grinned as he saw the two scowling.
“Ah Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, so good to see you again.” Luna growled at the stallion. “That’s quite unbecoming of a Princess.”
“Enough.” Celestia said as she stamped her hoof on the ground.
“So, have you accepted my agreement?”
“Do you give me your word that you won’t hurt the ponies?” Celestia asked.
“Of course, your highness. Why would I want to hurt my own subjects?” He said in an innocent voice.
“And that you also release Twilight Sparkle, her friends, Shinning Armor and Princess Cadence.” Luna added.
“Um, no.” He said in a flat tone. “They openly attacked and tried to kill me. As King, I have every right to execute them.” Celestia’s eyes shrank. “Since I’m a merciful ruler,” He said with a small smile. “I’m keeping them as political prisoners. They get three meals a day and any wounds they sustained will be healed.”
The dark stallion then turned and trotted away. “Pleasure doing business with you.” Celestia’s eyes were burning as she casted a death glare at the dark stallion. Luna looked at her sister and gulped.
“Come Luna. We must return to Canterlot.” Celestia said as she turned away.
“But sister-”
“We have to go.” Luna’s eyes shrank as she saw a few tears roll down her sister’s cheek.
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It had been seven days since Sombra took over the Empire. The Crystal ponies were in chains once more while the six Elements were forced into maintaining the castle and Shining was locked away deep in the dungeon. The only comforting thought the white stallion had was that he had managed to get his daughter out of the Empire before the plan confronting Sombra went out the window. Cadence was magically chained to Sombra at all times.
Outside the crystal wall, the red stallion and the five other Crusaders snuck around towards the outskirts of kingdom. Geode had told the group of ponies to use the name he made when he got to Ponyville. As they walked through some rock fields the red stallion stopped and put his ear to the ground.
“What are you doing Geode?” Rumble asked.
“Shhh!” He said as he tapped the ground with his hoof. “We’re right above one of my old tunnels.”
“Great." Pip said. “Lets get digging.” Geode grinned and held up his hoof. His horn glowed a bright red and grew five times it size in width and length. The stallion jumped up high and fell head first as his horn started to turn and drill into the dirt. The group watched in amazement as the stallion's horn cut through the stone like a hot knife through butter and made a large hole. The red body then vanished and fell into the hole. The group looked down and saw the red Unicorn’s horn glowing.
“It’s all clear.” The ponies nodded and hopped down into the pit. Sweetie immediately activated her horn and illuminated the tunnel. Geode’s horn glowed and the hole he had dug was sealed up. “Don’t want anypony following us in here.” He said before he sat on the ground and panted.
“You okay?” Scootaloo asked.
“Yeah, that horn drill just uses a lot of power and puts a strain on my horn.” He said with a sigh. Sweetie focused her light and saw that his horn was smoking. “I usually dunk my head in a bucket of water after I dig out a tunnel like this.”
“So that’s how you made those back in Ponyville?” Pip asked.
“Yup.” He said as he lightly tapped his horn. “C’mon, we’d better get moving.” The stallion said as the group made their way down the long carved tunnel. The interior reflected Sweetie Belle’s light spell down the hall way. Sweetie flinched when she heard a rock fall.
“What was that?” She asked with a gulp.
“Is there somepony else down here?” Rumble asked.
“Impossible. These caverns haven’t been used in centuries.” Geode said. “No pony even knows that they’re here except for me.” He said as they came to the end of the tunnel. The stallion’s smile shattered when he saw a yellow crystal stallion walked forwards wearing a set of silver armor with a red plume sticking out of his helmet.
The group of five turned and looked at the red Unicorn. “Well....except for him.” He said with a gulp. The stallion trotted forwards and drew his blade. “Guys run.” Geode said as his horn glowed.
“Not a chance.” Applebloom said as she stood next to him and cracked her hooves.
“These guys wanna rumble?” The blue Pegasus said as he cracked his neck.
“On guard!” Pip said as he got in a defensive stance. The armored stallion trotted up to Geode and looked at him with an unwavering gaze. The guard stopped in front of the red stallion and dropped his sword before removing his helmet to show his faded black mane. The red stallion extinguished his horn and motioned for the others to back off.
“General Amber Shield.” Geode said with a gulp. The stallion hung his head and slumped to the ground.
“Forgive me your highness.” He said as a few tears filled the old soldier’s eyes. The stallion sobbed and punched the hard stone ground with his hoof. “I’ve done terrible, terrible things. Not only to your family, but to you as well.” The red stallion patted him on the back and helped him up.
“It wasn’t your fault.” Geode said as he glared into the man’s golden eyes. “Sombra used a very powerful mind control spell on you. No pony, safe for an Alicorn or two, could have resisted it.” The stallion raised his head and took a deep breath.
“We can talk this out later, right now we need your help.” Geode said as he picked up the stallion’s sword. Geode pointed the handle towards the old General. “Can I count on you?” The stallion looked at the sword and gave him a smile and nod. “The on your hooves soldier. That’s an order.”
“Yes sir!” He yelled as he saluted the red stallion.
“Ahem!” Bloom said under her breath.
“Oh right, guys this is General Amber Shield. Ranking General of the resistance and my old foal sitter.”
“Your old what?” Rumble yelled.
“What? Twilight had a Princess, I had a General.” He said with a shrug. “Anyway, he is going to help us take down Sombra, free your sisters and save an entire empire.”
“Can we really trust him?” Scootaloo asked.
“Without a doubt.” Geode said. “He had my back for three hundred years during the resistance.” The other members shrugged and followed the guard down the hall way. The group introduced themselves as they walked and told the guard what had happened up above.
“I see. So its begun again.”
“Unfortunately yes,” Geode stated. “but it will be short lived.” He said in a serious tone. “I need a way to get inside in order to free the elements, Cadence and Shining Armor before facing Sombra.” He said as he walked next to the stallion.
“It’ll be far from easy. No doubt Sombra is looking into these old networks as we speak.” The General sighed.
“Figured. He won’t be fooled a second time. Any information?”
“We know that Captain Shining Armor is being held in the lowest dungeon and is under guard at all times.” The stallion said. “The elements are acting as servants and just as the Captain, are under constant watch.”
“What about Cadence?”
“She is under Sombra’s personal watch and has her chained to him twenty-four seven.”
“Sounds bad.” Sweetie commented.
“We’d better start planning then.” Geode said. Scootaloo then stopped walking.
“Are you insane? Sombra’s got an entire army at his disposal!” She gulped. There’s no possible way we can win.” The older stallion grinned and chuckled as the group neared the end of the passage. “What’s so funny?”
“Sombra isn’t the only pony with an army.” The red stallion said as they exited the tunnel. The group shielded their eyes to the light and their jaws hit the floor. Before them stood at least three hundred armored mares and stallions. The massive army stood at attention when they saw the red Unicorn and the General. The older stallion gave Geode a nudge and the red stallion took a deep breath.
“You all know me and I you.” He said as he saw several of the guards gulp and beads of sweat form on their brows. “I want it to be made clear that I don’t hold any of you accountable for your actions. You were not yourselves.” Some of the guards hung their heads in shame. “We may discuss things later. Right now we have to save this empire before Sombra’s influence spreads. I won’t force any of you to do this for me. If those of you wish to leave and be with your families, then no pony will stop you.”
The red stallion’s eyes scanned the room and saw not one of the guards budge. “Right then. Let’s get to work.” The army cheered and saluted the red Unicorn.
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The dark King looked out towards the far reaches of his black jeweled kingdom and smiled. Beside him, wrapped in magical chains was the pink Alicorn. Her horn had been rendered useless thanks to the small black gems that Sombra had placed on her horn that soaked up any magic. Her wings were magically tied to her back and the ties only seemed to get tighter each time she tried to break them.
“A beautiful sight no?” Sombra chuckled as Cadence looked out at her once shining kingdom. The pink Alicorn casted him a death glare. “Oh come now Cadence. I spared your husband despite his...aggressive attitude along with those six other mares. What more could you possibly want?”
“My kingdom returned and my subjects set free.” She said as she narrowed her eyes.
“Good one.” He chuckled as he tugged on the chain that was around her neck. “Any who time for bed.” He yawned. His horn glowed and the chain around her neck vanished. Cadence knew that Sombra easily had a few platoons of mind controlled guards stationed outside the doors and window. Without her wings or magic she couldn’t be of much use.
The pink mare laid down in the pile of hay that was her bed for the time being. She only prayed for her husband’s and daughter’s safety as she quietly drifted off to sleep.