//------------------------------//
// Meet the Princesses. Part 2 
// Story: Guilt of a Phantom 
// by Powerdrainer 
//------------------------------//


Edits done by Vates Despero, Halusm, and King of Kings.



Meet the Princesses.

Part 2.

<<>><<>><<>>


On the ceiling it sat, hanging upside down as it observed the beings that came through the tear, bringing various forms of equipment with them as they did so. The roar of a forklift drowned out the sounds of hard labor, as it brought through heavy crates, aided by a small team of unicorns.

It didn't take long, and in no time at all the various items -both big and small- were placed within the embarkation hall, completely cluttering the room, while the truck moved back through the tear as those beings still present gathered.

"Okay, listen up everyone," it picked up with its sensors, recording and analyzing the voice pattern. "This was just the easy part."

"Okay, everyp— one. Listen up," a new voice cut in, diverting its attention to the four legged creature speaking. "My name is Technal, and I am in charge of this operation. Now, we need to get all this stuff down into the crystal caverns found under the mountain you are now standing on. Most of the things here will be easy, and our unicorn team will take them to their designated location through teleportation. Some things, however, as I think we all know, will not be so easy." Its processes focused on what the creature was saying, as its programming recognized several key words indicating this might be of importance to its master, and the creature was tagged as one of possible importance.

It recorded everything else said, as well as the reactions of those present, while also keeping a background scan going, analyzing the first voice picked up. It observed the multiple beings, both two legged and four legged, as they were led into a nearby room, departing through the room's single exit. The room they entered, a scanning unit, if its information was correct. 

It watched as the two legged creatures entered the room in small groups, with the black haired woman one of the last to go in. The one whose voice was still being analyzed. The one with a strange electronic cloaking field around her. The one wit-....

Analysis conclusive! Subject Dani identified! 


<<>><<>><<>>


Coughing and grunting echoed through the smoke filled room, while a large cloud of the suffocating layer billowed out of the hole in the wall. A hole made by the fearsome and skilled human known as Specter. More coughing and hacking filled the room, but fortunately for those occupying the chamber, they were not dependent on oxygen, and the ominous green glow of four pairs of angry eyes pierced the blackness of the smoke as it finally began to thin.

"THAT WRETCHED BITCH!" Technus yelled. "I'LL DESTROY HER!"

"Oh, can it!" Ember coughed.

"Yes," Spectra agreed. "Just tell me you've got what we need. Or do we have to chase after those fleshlings?"

"Oh, I'm going to do that any way," Skulker grunted. "If they think they can out match me, Skulker, the greatest hunter the Ghost Zone has ever seen,"—his thruster pack deployed as he approached the hole in the wall—"then I guess I'll just have to remind them who is in charge around here," he growled ominously before flying out of the hole, a trail of black smoke following in his wake. 

"Right. Numbskull notwithstanding, do we have what we need, or not?" Spectra queried, patting her legs to remove any dust that may have soiled her clothes, before placing her hands on her hips.

Grunting through his teeth, Technus stiffly flew over to one of the many consoles built into the walls of his basement, hidden from sight unless he called upon them. It was a safety feature that now proved its worth, as those meddling fools had completely missed them. Upon his beckoning, one of the walls seemed to disintegrate, and a multi screen console became visible. Many of the screens showed the various images and readouts from the scans conducted on the pony they had captured, while a few other screens showed a multitude of mathematical equations. 

"Well? Do we have what we need?" Spectra asked once again, looking over Technus' shoulder at the information shown.

"Most of it, yes," he answered irritably, frowning.

"That's good, right?" Ember asked, looking at the screens herself.

"Mostly. Enough to get this to work, I believe," Technus replied. "Still, I will have to make sure we're not missing anything important. The scan was interrupted, and there might be some corruption in the data gathered. Give me some time to sort it all out."

"Fine with me," Ember said, stepping back.

"Anything we can do?" Spectra asked, sounding bored as she checked the manicure on her left hand.

"Yes! Stop bothering me," Technus snapped, irritated.

"That, I can do. Come on, Ember, I'm sure there are more interesting things for women like us to do, other than being stuck in some techno geek's basement," Spectra said tauntingly, making Technus growl in response.

Spectra and Ember flew out of the basement through the hole in the wall, leaving Technus behind, who continued to work on the scan's data. "Women," he muttered. "Can't live with them. Can't murder them either. They'll just come back to irritate you all over again." He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright, let's see what we have here. Skeletal structure. Bone density. Heart rate. Hmmm… Oh, well, what do we have here?" He said, grinning. "Anomalous energy."


<<>><<>><<>>




-->Unit online. 
-->Main hub signal relay drone, number CTN 0452-9 responsive. 
-->/
-->Awaiting signal.
-->/
-->Signal received.
-->/
-->Receiving data stream of unit: 09311-R2D2... Received.
-->Receiving data stream of unit: 88845-BB… Received.
-->Receiving data stream of unit: 0117-3CPO… Error.
  -->Error. Data corruption detected.
  -->Data incomplete… Units no longer responsive.
  -->/
-->Synchronizing.
-->/
-->Alert.
  -->No signals received from remaining units.
  -->Processing.
  -->Processing.
  -->/
  -->Transmitting data.
  -->/
-->Unit on standby.




<<>><<>><<>>


The sun's light shone down on the frozen wasteland. The light caused the many dark and somber crystals to gleam, but failed to reflect off of the crystals' surfaces as the light vanished into the darkness of the suffocating aura emitted by the unnatural minerals. Everywhere you looked, you could see these spires of light absorbing crystalline malevolence spearing through the snow covered ground. Piercing and wounding the virgin landscape as they surrounded and infected the large city which had at last returned to the mortal plane. 

Snow had already begun its work to cover the city that had so suddenly forced its way back into this world, and the many houses were already beginning to turn white. A pure and untainted blanket, trying to cover up the darkness and corruption festering within the walls of each and every building. A corruption which had slumbered for a millenium. A corruption which would lay dormant no longer. 

Darkness and shadows moved through the many abandoned streets, leaving nothing untouched as it made its way through the city's center. Buildings, lifeless before, now showed the faintest signs of life when doors creaked open, and grim, listless forms lumbered out; cold eyes staring down at the ground as these beings' hooves dragged through the thin layer of white, disturbing the illusion of serenity nature had tried to create. 

The shadows gathered high up at the center, flexing and molding themselves into the solid form of a dark gray furred, four legged being as its hooves touched the solid surface of the grand balcony overlooking the city. A curved horn stuck out of its forehead, its color as dark a gray as the shadows that made up the being's fur, but fading into red halfway to the tip. Thick metallic armor covered the entity's body, while a royal red robe covered its back. Now, with the form set and solidified, the remainder of the shadows gathered to form the being's mane and tail, their color blacker than the darkest night, and moving as if they were billowing in an eternal breeze. 

The being's eyes snapped open, a dark purple blue fog seeping out of their corners, while glowing green eyes looked down, their burning red irises narrowing slightly while a fanged smile formed on the creature's face. Down below, out in the streets surrounding the castle were thousands of ponies. All of them under the control of their king. A control exerted on them through his crystals. 

All of the ponies bowed down in a stiff, soulless manner. 

The dark form laughed maniacally. Its corruption free once more.


<<>><<>><<>>


"So, Danny, how has your stay in Ponyville been so far?" Celestia asked, sipping her tea, held aloft in the golden aura of her magic. 

"Uhh… Interesting, to say the least," Danny answered after only a moment, still holding onto the apple he was more than a little reluctant to surrender to Twilight, much to Twilight's chagrin. "Lots of, uh, eventful things happen there. That's for sure."

Celestia chuckled as she set down her teacup. "Ah, yes. I have heard of many noteworthy things myself. Thanks to Twilight. That is, her and her friends. So, anything interesting in particular you have experienced down there?"

"Well… Not too long ago there was this crazy thing going on with all those Pinkie Pies," he answered, saying the first thing that came to mind.

"Pinkie... Pies?" Luna spoke up, puzzled, cocking an eyebrow. "Plural, as in more than one?"

"Uhh… Yeah," Danny answered, unsure, looking at the Princess of the Night. "She kinda duplicated herself."

"By my sister's massive flank," Luna exclaimed. Celestia, who had just taken another sip of tea, sprayed the warm beverage out with the force of a geyser as she turned to her sister with angry eyes, while Twilight sat shocked, mouth open and unable to react at all. And Luna? She continued as if nothing had happened, "And I thought just the one of her was bad enough. How did Miss Pie manage to do such a thing?"

Danny shrugged in response, staring at the wet mark on the ground some distance away, impressed. "I'm not really sure, to be honest. Twilight seems to know more about it than I do."

Turning to the purple mare, Luna asked her the same question. "Twilight, pray tell. How did your friend manage to accomplish such a feat?"

Shaking her head to free herself from her stupor, Twilight straightened up before answering. "Pinkie Pie managed to find the Mirror Pool, which, according to her, she was told about by her grandmother. That, as well as a magical rhyme which allows one to bring their reflection to life. And, seeing that this is Pinkie Pie we're talking about, her reflection made a copy of itself as well. And those reflections made copies of themselves and so on."

"The Mirror Pool?" Luna repeated in a low voice, turning to her sister. "I thought that place was lost during the collapse brought on by my Nightmare." Danny raised a puzzled eyebrow at this, but remained silent, for now.

"Wait. You know of this place?" Twilight asks, her interest piqued.

"But of course," Luna confirmed. "The Mirror Pool was, and still is, one of the great mysteries of this world. It is a place many ponies once studied to try and figure out the magic behind the Pool's unique abilities. However, as I just said, after my fall into the Nightmare's corrupting grasp this place was lost, along with many other things."

"It was. But it would seem Pinkie Pie has found this lost place," Celestia replied, refilling her cup.

"Yes, she did. By accident, might I add," Twilight spoke up. "And my friends and I have closed off the entrance to the Mirror Pool to avoid any future incidents of similar nature."

"That would be for the best, I believe," Celestia answered, before turning to her sister, "But it would be wise to look into this matter ourselves in the near future."

"I agree," Luna confirmed with a small nod.

"Yeah. Forgive me for interrupting," Danny cut in. "But what do you mean by that? This nightmare thing, I mean."

"Ah, yes," Luna said as she looked away, ashamed. "I suppose you wouldn't know about this." She sighed, before looking at Danny. "You see, a bit over a millenia ago, my sister and I ruled over this country, living in a castle which now lies cold and abandoned in the Everfree Forest. A ruin. How this came to be is something that I am still ashamed of to this day," she began, and Celestia draped a wing over her back comfortingly as she told her tale. 

"You do know about the role my sister and I fulfill, correct? How we maintain the cycle of day and night. This was no different back then, but I longed for something more. Every time my sister would bring forth the sun, I would watch as the ponies living here would come out to play and work. But when I ushered in the night, they would all leave and slumber."

"Uhh… Isn't that how that goes?" Danny mentioned, earning a glare from the Night Princess, before guilt replaced it.

"Yes, you are correct. And I know this. I knew this even back then. But I wanted more. I wanted the ponies to come out at night to see my night's bejeweled sky. To play and laugh just as they do during the day," she paused to sigh regretfully one more. "I grew jealous. And jealousy led to greed. I became jealous of my sister, as I wanted to be revered as she was. I wanted to have the ponies praise my night just as they did Celestia's day. And if they wouldn't do this willingly, then I would force them." A shudder went down Luna's spine. "I'm not completely sure what happened. It was almost as if some dark presence took over, trapping me in my own mind. Doing all those horrible things to our ponies, to my sister. But I know it was I who was doing those things. And I alone am to blame for this."

'A presence taking over? A corrupted form of herself?' "Somehow that sounds familiar," Danny muttered in a soft voice, drawing the Princesses' and Twilight's attention.

"Excuse me. But what did you say?" Celestia asked, curious.

"Ehh..." he stammered as he tried to come up with an answer, when a guard, obviously in great haste, rushed towards the Princesses, giving a hasty bow before straightening himself.

"News from northern Equestria. Ehm, Your Highness."

"Yes?" Celestia calmly replied.

"I was sent here to tell you; 'It has returned.' "

A gasp came from both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and both of them straightened themselves, looking quite alarmed.

"Guard, summon Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor immediately," Celestia ordered, standing up, mirrored by her sister a moment later. Meanwhile Danny and Twilight looked around in confusion, with Twilight alternating her gaze between Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and the guard who was now galloping away to carry out his new order.

"Princess, what is going on?" She asked, standing up herself. 

"Something that we've been expecting for a long time," Celestia answered.

"Sister, we must hurry," Luna called out to her urgently.

"Right," she confirmed with a nod. "Twilight, Danny. I am sorry, but it would seem our meeting has to be cut short. You're welcome to stay in the palace if either of you so wishes," she told the confused pony and human, before falling silent for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly. "In fact, Twilight. I would prefer it if you stayed close by."

"Why? What is going on? Do we need the Elements?" Twilight asked frantically.

"We may very well have need of the Elements, Twilight," Luna answered for her sister, before motioning with a wing for Celestia to hurry. "All will be clear in time," she added, quickly turning around and sweeping through the door, leaving behind Twilight and Danny, neither one of them understanding what was going on. Nor did any being notice that, as Luna walked away, her shadow wavered around the edges, a flash of two orange orbs showing for the faintest of moments, before splitting off of her shadow, and returning to the perplexed human still sitting on the cushion.

"So," Danny began lamely. "Does this kinda thing happen often?"

"More than I'd care to admit," Twilight said with a sigh, staring at the half empty cup of cooling tea Celestia had left behind.


<<>><<>><<>>


Vlad Masters was sitting in his office at the Fenton Corporation's main office, an angry glare on his face. He knew who was responsible for the latest transgression against him, but he couldn't prove it. Not that something as minor and trivial as 'proof' would stop him, it just meant he would have to deal with those meddling fools in a more ghostly way, instead of sending the bureaucratic hounds after them. Of course he preferred it that way, the devious plans, the pushing and prodding from behind the scenes, all the while keeping up the façade of the kind and caring mayor of this city. It was a role he played like a master, fooling everyone. Everyone, save for those damned kids. 

'Still, even they won't be able to stop me when everything comes together,' he thought as he looked at the closed door of his office. 'I'll just keep this façade up for a little while longer. Besides, even if they do tend to annoy me, there is not much they can actually do against me. Vlad Masters, Mayor of Amity Park, eccentric billionaire, half ghost, and board member of this very corporation which provides me with all the tech I could possibly need, all while allowing me to keep an eye on those irritating brats. Yes, there is nothing they can do to stop me now.'

A smirk found its way onto his face as he keyed the intercom on his desk.

"Oh, Deborah. Has the security issue been resolved?" He asked his secretary, who was currently hunkered down underneath her own desk as the ecto turrets were still aimed at Vlad's office, and ready to fire.

"... Not yet," came the hesitant response.

"Very well. Let me know when it is," he replied, before closing the line.

'It's a good thing I've had those weapons removed from my office,' he thought as he heard the whirring of one of the turrets outside, before keying the intercom again. "Oh, and Deborah. Could you please bring me a coffee."

"... Uh… Yes Sir, right away Si—" ZZAPP.
 
"And make it fast!" He added, and closed the line once more. 

Leaning back in his chair, he turned to the small holopad built into his desk. Giving the key command, a miniature version of holo Maddy appeared, hands placed on her hips, and giving a large simulated smile.

"Good day, dear. Is everything alright?"

"Oh, you know. The usual; planning for world domination, seeking incredible power, and dealing with the latest nuisance caused by those Phantom brats," he answered with a careless wave of the hand. "But how about you?" He queried, resting his elbows on the table, and placing his head on his hands. "Anything new?"

"Actually, I am just in the process of receiving the next batch of data from the drones sent into Equestria."

"Oh," Vlad replied, his interest piqued. "Anything useful?"

"Uncertain, sweetness. It would seem most of the drones sent are unresponsive, and we must assume they're no longer functioning. There are also several cases of corrupted data, which I am trying to reconstruct to see if there is anything useful within them… Oh," she replied, when a ping in her internal systems alerted her of some very interesting facts. "But this is certainly worth your time."

"Yes?" Vlad said eagerly, urging holo Maddie on.

"I am glad to report that the main hub unit has located subject Dani as she came through the tear found in the city of Canterlot," she answered, and a victorious smirk formed on Vlad's face, although a hint of annoyance could be seen flashing in his eyes over the city's name.

"Well, that is good news."

"But that's not all, cupcake," holo Maddie cut in. "And I am sure you will be even more pleased with what the other drones have found. First off; It would seem there is a creature, scans show one of those ponies, who registers on the scans as a being of spectral origins in a similar fashion as you, subject Dani, and subject Danny."

"What!?"

"And there's more," she continued with simulated enthusiasm. "Oh, Vladdy. Great ruler of all ghosts and humans. I am absolutely thrilled to report that subject Danny has been located."

"What! Where?"

"Drone's coordinates place Danny in a small town known to the locals as Ponyville."

"So, we finally found him. And yet, here I am. Stuck in this office with no means of getting out while the security is still active," Vlad muttered angrily and reached for the intercom again to give Deborah a piece of his mind.

"VLADDY, NO!" Holo Maddie called out in alarm. "That button activates the self-destruct in your mansion's laboratory."

"What?!" Vlad replied, and looked at the button he was about to press.

Two small red buttons sitting next to each other. One for the intercom, the other for the self-destruct.

"What idiot designed this?"

"You did, dear."

Blinking dumbly, Vlad leaned back in his chair. "Fair enough," he said, when the door opened with a click, and the rattling of a cup of coffee on a plate became audible as a nervous Deborah came in. Holo Maddie vanished in a flash as the woman entered so she wouldn't be seen.

"Ah, Deborah," Vlad began with fake innocence.

"Y-yes?"

"You're fired."


<<>><<>><<>>


The sound of crates shifting and boxes being moved echoed throughout the cavernous space, with humans and ponies alike busy unpacking the many crates and sorting the various items stored within. Every item was also inspected for any damages or other defects. Something that wasn't necessary per se, but after the day's earlier fiasco concerning the matter of two crates overlapping during teleportation, and the subsequent damage as a result of it, they didn't take any chances. After all, these things were some of the latest anti ghost equipment there was. Which also meant they were rather expensive.

Of course, this also meant Dani was now saddled with yet another task she didn't particularly care about. But she had to maintain her cover, so she was forced to deal with the situation, wearing a fake smile the entire time. Although there wasn't much to smile about, if the latest news she picked up on was anything to go by.

They had been busy for the better part of an hour when a small group of ponies joined them. Four ponies who, if she understood correctly, were some of the leading experts on ghost hunting on this world. Dani scoffed at that, but didn't respond to it otherwise.

Still, 'experts' as they may be, they proved to be an excellent source of information. Of course, there was the general information given to them all as they introduced themselves, which meant nothing if you got down to it. But the things they discussed with this captain pony, Shining Armor, were a whole lot more interesting. Unfortunately, she was only able to pick up bits and pieces, unable to get very close as she couldn't turn invisible with so many witnesses around her. Still, what she heard was more than enough for her to get the gist of what they were talking about.

There was a town not too far from here, called Pony- something. Something about a human living there. And their suspicions about ghosts being near this individual.

Interesting, very interesting. But it was what Shining Armor added to this hushed conversation that really grabbed her attention.

'… Confirmed… ghosts… Danny,' she repeated in her head. Just three words, but a whole lot of meaning behind them. She didn't need to be a genius to connect the dots, yet what it meant was troubling. 'So, ghosts, as in more than one. And confirmed?! What is going on? And he definitely said Danny, I'm sure of it. Does that mean Danny is in that town they talked about? Heh… Well, I guess I'll just have to find out myself.'

A small, confident smile grew on her face as she considered the possibility that Danny might be just the next town over, and she was determined to find him. Yet she also knew she couldn't jump the gun, so to speak. 'Still, I can't just 'disappear' to give this Pony-whatchamacallit a visit. It would take too long, and someone would notice… probably. I guess I'll just have to wait till it's night, and head out under the cover of darkness.' 

With her mind made up, she continued her official work, trying to get through the boredom without showing it… too much. And this continued for about twenty more minutes, before something else drew her attention. A lone guard entered the cavern, heading for Shining Armor in a hurry. Yet managing to keep a professional composure as she did so. 

Keeping an eye on them out of the corner of her eyes, Dani observed what happened. And although she wasn't able to hear them, it must have been serious, as Shining Armor gave a tense nod, and hurried away, leaving only Technal in command of the ponies' part of this project.

'Interesting,' Dani mused. 'What was that all about?'

Looking around, she spotted the same guy who she had already decided she didn't like.

"Hey, you!" She called out, drawing the attention of multiple humans and ponies, "No, you. Third guy on the right, two back. Yes, you," she said, sighing as the guy pointed at himself questionly, before stepping towards her.

"Is something the matter, Ma'am?" He asked in that particular slur Dani disliked, while also adding to her frustration by calling her 'Ma'am' again. "Not really," she told him in a neutral voice. "I just remembered there is another area I need to inspect. Shouldn't take long, but could you keep an eye on things for me while I'm gone?"

"Another area?" He asked in confusion. "I wasn't aware of another area."

Dani fought the urge to roll her eyes, while trying to keep a somewhat believable smile on her face. "That's because it isn't important to your task. So don't worry too much about it. Now…" she said, taking a moment to read the guy's name off of his name tag. "Pete, can you keep an eye on everything while I am away?"

"Uhh... Certainly, Ma'am," he said after only a moment.

"And stop with the Ma'am," Dani added, unable to stop the faint groan. "... I'll be going now," she added, and turned on the spot, her long ponytail swishing around, and she walked away with a brisk pace; a smug smirk on her face. 'Let him deal with this mess for a while. I've got more important things to do,' she thought as she headed back up through the maze of tunnels, making sure there was enough distance between herself and all the anti ghost tech back in the cavern. Then, in a flash of white, she transformed into her ghost alter ego, and flew up through the solid rock the cave was made of. Though she did make sure to avoid all the weird glowing crystals sticking out everywhere. She didn't know what might happen if she touched them, but if those guys thought they might have some strange effects on their equipment, then who knows what they might do to her? 

It only took her a moment to fly up, and the warming rays of the sun met her. Or they would have, if they weren't currently shining directly through her invisible body. Flying up and above the city of Canterlot, Dani looked around to see where Shining Armor was, taking notice of a village somewhere in the distance. 'Well, at least I know where to go next,' she told herself, when she spotted the distinct form of the pony she was looking for. 'Now, let's see what you're up to.'


<<>><<>><<>>


"So… You're not just a psychiatrist. You're also a ghosthunter?" Soarin said, shocked, after Jazz had given him a quick explanation of things.

"Actually, that's my thing," Specter's warped voice cut in. "She just tagged along for the ride because of you."

"Wha?" Soarin uttered in confusion as he looked at the armored human, having almost forgotten about her in the chaos, and Jazz's explanation. 

"Specter is right. She's the ghosthunter, not me. We're working together, though. But I do my things more on the sidelines, whereas she is out in the field. There are others as well, who I am sure you will meet, with everything that has happened," Jazz explained, when a beeping alarm came from the cockpit, drawing everyone's attention.

"Looks like the happening is not over yet," Specter called out in an oddly calm voice, before making a quick left to avoid the missile racing towards them. Jazz and Soarin, not expecting this, were sent flying against the far wall. Jazz screamed out in pain as her broken wrist slammed into the metal surface, while Soarin wheezed as the air was knocked out of his lungs.

"Right," Specter remarked as if she only just realized she had passengers with her. "Better brace yourselves."

"Thanks for the warning," Jazz muttered sarcastically and angrily as she pulled herself from the wall, seeing Specter give her a sideways glance through her visor.

"You'll live. Besides, this is the reason I work alone. Now buckle up, hold on, or whatever you think is needed to keep yourself from flying all over the place, because this is going to be a bumpy ride."

"Right. So, who is shooting at us?" Jazz asked as she and Soarin moved to the nearby seats, quickly securing themselves in a harness; Soarin struggling somewhat with the odd design not meant for a pony.

"Do you need to ask?" Specter replied as she steered the craft into a barrel roll, narrowly dodging two missiles and a ectoplasmic beam; the latter scorching the bottom of their vehicle. "Damn, that was close."

"I say," Jazz remarked, looking at one of the many screens located in the dashboard to see what the damage was, and who was shooting at them. "... Tucker isn't going to like this," she muttered as she read the report about the blackened underside. "He did say to watch the paint job."

"Don't we have more important things to worry about?!" Soarin almost shouted, not understanding why these two woman sounded so calm during a situation like this. "... And who is this Tucker?... Wait, you're talking about him, aren't you? The Tucker Foley from the Fenton Corporation?"

Specter shot him a sideways glance, her helmet covering the smirk on her face. "Didn't we have more important things to deal with?"

"Ehh..?"

"Heh," she chuckled, before addressing Jazz. "But he does have a point. Jazz, you're closest to the weapons control. Think you can manage a few shots at our less than friendly friend?" 

"Gladly," Jazz replied, a hint of ice in her voice as she turned to the aforementioned controls. Activating them, a targeting screen lit up, showing the characteristic silhouette of Skulker.

"... Just try to hit him this time," Specter said after a moment, only half joking, earning an annoyed grunt from the red haired woman.

An ecto-gatling deployed from the craft's roof, and with the flick of a button Jazz aimed the weapon at their pursuer using the system's automated targeting program. Seeing the crosshair on the screen turn a dark red to indicate a lock on the target she slammed a fist down on the firing button, prompting the gun to let loose a barrage of glowing green blobs. Skulker immediately dodged and weaved to throw off the gun's aim, while the gun automatically tracked the ghost hunter; a trail of glowing green left in his wake with each shot fired.

Seeing his prey putting up a fight, Skulker activated his right arm's weapons with a dark, sinister grin. Aiming the weapons at the craft, he fired, before narrowly avoiding the gatling's fire himself. With a grunt, he deployed his sideways thrusters, forcing him to the side, and leaving the destructive projectiles to pass harmlessly next to him. The bolt of glowing energy he fired, however, flew straight and true, hitting the craft's backside, knocking it off course before crashing into one of the many smaller pieces of land floating around the endless expanse of the Ghost Zone. The impact shook the bones of the three occupants of the craft, while their seatbelts were strained in the effort to keep them securely in place; cutting into the skin of Soarin and Jazz, but not Specter, as she was clad in her protective armor.

"Damnit!" Specter swore. "This thing is a whole lot less agile than my board," she muttered as she looked out of the viewport, seeing the front of their craft partially embedded in the dusty rock and dirt. 

"What are we going to do now?" Soarin asked, concerned, absolutely not used to anything like this. Strangely enough, they didn't cover this during basic training. Nor the more advanced courses either. 

"What're we going to do now?" Specter repeated. "You're going to get the hell outta here," she instructed as she released her safety harness and moved to the aft of the craft.

"While you do what?" Jazz asked, worry raising her voice. "Go out there to hold him back?"

Specter shot a sideways glance at Jazz, depolarizing her faceplate and revealing her face for all to see. A feral grin the most prominent feature to be seen above all else. "Something like that. Now, go!" She told them as she slammed the outer door open and jumped out while deploying her board out of her boots, blasters in hand. "I'll catch up with you later," and with that she shot off towards the hunter, intent on making him her prey. 

"Is she crazy?!" Soarin almost shouted as he stared at the closing door in disbelief.

"Yes, yes she is. But she's also the only one here who can take that guy out," Jazz replied as she took Specter's seat, using her one good hand to steer the craft out of the shallow trench it had dug, and speeding off towards the Fenton portal. Explosions, bursts of light, and two sets of maniacal laughter accompanied them as they fled. Jazz holding on to the control stick so tightly her knuckles turned white, while Soarin could only stare in absolute bewilderment at both the woman he thought he knew, and the flashes of light coming from outside.

'What have I gotten myself into this time?'


<<>><<>><<>>


"Your majesty," Shining Armor said, saluting both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. "We came as soon as we could."

Cadance nodded in agreement, "Yes, aunties. What happened? The guards you sent to summon us didn't tell us anything, other than that we had to come here with haste."

"Yes," Celestia began with a firm tone. "With good reason. Cadance, tell me. What do you know about your ancestors' Empire?"

"The Crystal Empire?" Cadance said, surprised. "Just what my parents told me about it. Just as their parents told them, and their parents before them. I was told it was a city to the far North, made of the purest of crystals, with a castle in its center. A place where the ponies lived in harmony with one another through the magic of the Crystal Heart. A harmony that lasted for many centuries, until they were betrayed by the one they trusted most."

"Yes, that's the gist of it," Celestia confirmed with a small nod. "The one who betrayed the Empire was a unicorn named Sombra. A pony who lost himself to the darker aspects of magic, and had his mind corrupted in the process. My sister and I fought him, even using the elements to do so, but he proved a more cunning adversary than we had originally expected. When defeat seemed imminent, he revealed a magic unlike anything Luna or I had ever seen before, and used it to remove the entire empire from this world. Where it went, we do not know."

"I see…" Cadance replied, somewhat lost in thought. "But what does that have to do with Shining and I being here?"

"You're here because, after more than a thousand years, the Empire has returned to this world," Celestia revealed, much to Cadance and Shining Armor's shock. Yet Luna, who had remained quiet, seemed lost in thought, and unaware of everything that was said.

"It has returned?!" Cadance cried, unable to believe it.

"Indeed it has," Celestia confirmed. "And it is clear what needs to be done. I've received a report from my guards stationed in the North about what has happened, and what is happening still. Although there are some inconsistencies due to an unknown illness that befell the ponies present when the city reappeared. An illness which we saw back when my sister and I confronted Sombra, but for which we could never determine the origins. Most likely it is caused by Sombra's dark magic, but I'm afraid we can not be certain." Celestia sighed as she shot a sideways glance at her sister, noticing her glazed over eyes, before continuing. "You and Shining Armor must go to the Crystal Empire, secure it, and ensure the safety of anypony who might be there. I'll send some guards with you for added protection, you're going to need it."

"But, your majesty," Shining spoke up. "If this Sombra is as dangerous as you make him sound, shouldn't we use the Elements against him?"

"I'm afraid it isn't that easy. Luna and I used the Elements against him before, but their power seemed to have almost no effect against him. Although they were able to weaken him, ultimately, they failed. Sombra was able to escape, taking the entire Empire with him."

"... The- The elements failed?!" Both Cadance and Shining Armor gasped out.

"Indeed they did," Celestia confirmed with a bitter tone. "Why, we do not know. That is why I want you to go find out what is happening for yourselves, and inform me and my sister about anything you might find. They're going to need all the information they can get."

"They? Who's they?" Cadance asked.

"Why, your little sister and her friends," Celestia answered with a thin smile.

"But, didn't you just say the Elements didn't work?"

"I did, but that doesn't mean they can't help. I'm sure, once we have some idea what is going on inside the city, Twilight and her friends will be of great assistance to the Crystal Empire."

"If you say so," Shining Armor said, frowning.

"You're worried about Twilight, aren't you?" Cadance asked her husband.

"Of course I am," he answered, nodding, "Even though she's the Element of Magic, it doesn't mean I like it when she's put in harm's way. And now this? Of course I worry."

Cadance draped a wing over his back as she gave him a sideways hug. "I worry too, but Twilight is a grown mare, and she has proven to be quite resourceful when it comes to situations like this. She'll be fine. After all, she has her friends to look after her, as well as her big brother."

Despite the situation, Celestia couldn't help but smile down on the couple. Only for a worried frown to take its place as she noticed her sister was still standing in a trance like state for reasons unknown.

"Sister, is everything alright?" She asked as she gave a gentle nudge to Luna's side.

They surrounded her, maws open, revealing rows of razor sharp fangs. They pounced, and she moved. She lashed out, her claw ripping through flesh as she avoided the attack. Blood gushed out, staining her black fur as her attacker howled in pain. Others jumped her, and she reacted. Sinking her own fangs in the bodies of those who dared to try and take her down. Blood filled her mouth. Blood filled her nose. Blood filled her vision, and she lost herself in a haze of red.

"Luna?" Celestia called out again, giving a firmer nudge to snap Luna out her thoughts.

Blinking a couple of times, Luna looked around in confusion as if she had forgotten where she was.

"Is everything alright?" Celestia asked, and Cadance and Shining gave her a confused look.

"Yes... Yes, I'm fine. Just lost in thought," Luna answered, a hint of confusion in her voice.

"Anything I should know about?" Celestia queried. 

Opening her mouth to reply, Luna found that the more she thought about what she had just seen, the more it seemed to slip away from her. And before long, she had entirely forgotten what it was she had observed. 

"No, nothing."

"I see," Celestia murmured, before turning back to Cadance and Shining Armor, "Right. The Empire. There is a train waiting for you at the station, ready to leave when you arrive. Gather your things and depart as soon as you are able. A countless lives depend on it, I'm afraid."

Giving a determined nods, Shining and Cadance left the throne room, leaving behind the two alicorns.

Silence. 

"Alright, Luna. What happened?" Celestia asked, worried.

"I… I am not sure, sister," Luna answered. "Just lost in thought, I guess. It won't happen again."

Celestia regarded her younger sister for a moment, finding no deceit in her words. "You do know you can come to me whenever you need to?"

"Of course I do," Luna confirmed. "I was just lost in thought, nothing more. There is no need to worry, sister," she added with mock irritation.

"But you're my little sister, and it's my responsibility to look after you," Celestia replied, smiling slightly.

"Just because I'm a couple of years younger than you doesn't mean I'm little," Luna countered, pouting.

Laughing, Celestia pulled Luna into a hug. "You will always be my little sister, but that doesn't mean you're little. Now, come on. There is still a lot we need to do."

"You're talking about your plans for Twilight, aren't you?" Luna asked, turning serious instantly.

"I've never said I had made any sort of plan for her, but yes. If Twilight is the one, then this might be the perfect way to make sure of it," Celestia said as, with a flash of her horn, a thick book materialized. Its cover was a dark, almost black, blue, with two stars joined together in a swirl printed on it. 

"If she's the one?" Luna said.

"Actually, there is no doubt in my mind that she is. But still, we have to make sure."

"... You think she's up to this task?"

"Alone, no. But with her friends, there isn't any obstacle they can't overcome. Of that, I am sure."


<<>><<>><<>>


Dani hovered near the ceiling, invisible, pondering what she had just seen and heard… and felt. 

'Okay...' she mused, 'Who's this "Twilight", and what are the elements?' She looked towards the door Shining Armor and Cadance had exited through, 'Guess I can follow them for a bit and find out… maybe?' Her gaze then drifted to the two alicorns still in the room, 'And what do they mean by a city disappearing and coming back? Do they mean like what happened with Amity Park when Pariah Dark seized control?' Her gaze then focused on Princess Luna. 'But more importantly, what was up with her?' She wondered as she recalled the strange sensation she felt. 'And what was with that horrible chill I felt coming from her? Those other guys didn't seem to notice, though,' she bit her lower lip in thought, not sure what to make of everything that had just happened in this room. But she did know that if she stayed away for much longer someone would begin asking some difficult questions. So, reluctantly, Dani phased through the thick marble wall.

'All I want to do is find Danny. But all I seem to get are more questions,' she contemplated as she descended through the solid rock of the mountain. 'Why am I getting the feeling that this is going to be much more complicated than we originally thought?'


<<>><<>><<>>


Tucker sat behind his desk, working fervently on his computer to make sure the security systems would remain active for as long as possible, while also masking his involvement with the 'accidental' activation. As planned, the people working in the building had evacuated per protocol. But there was an unexpected complication as Vlad, the one they wanted to get rid of the most, decided to hunker down in his office, instead of leaving the building.

"I knew there was a reason he removed the security systems from his office," Tucker muttered, annoyed, frowning as he continued his work.

A couple of hours had passed, and with every passing moment it became harder to keep the system active while also hiding his involvement. If Jazz and Valerie didn't show up soon, the situation might grow out of his control. He was already gathering reports through the company's network about people working on the systems from multiple locations, and that they believed they would have the systems back to normal before long. As things now stood, he thought he could squeeze out maybe another ten to fifteen minutes. 

Using the closed off feed from the portal room's security cameras, he observed the swirling green vortex leading to the Ghost Zone, seeing no sign of his friends emerging from the other side.

"Come on you guys, hurry it up!"

And, as if summoned by his words, the very craft Jazz and Valerie flew into the Zone emerged from the green veil, coming to a jarring stop in the relatively small area surrounding the portal.

"Jazz!?" He called out over the comm unit, "Valerie!?"

"I'm here," Jazz replied after a short pause, grunting a bit. "And I've got Soarin with me."

"Good. I'm sealing off the portal now."

"No, don't!" Jazz called out in alarm. "Valerie is still out there. We need to wait for her."

"What!? Why isn't she with you?" Tucker almost yelled.

"She stayed behind to fight off Skulker. We need to give her time to get back here!"

"I know! I know! But I'm running out of time here. If this goes on for much longer, then we'll be found out," he replied over the comm.

"Just do it!" came Valerie's voice from over the headset.

"Valerie!?" Both Tucker and Jazz said simultaneously.

"Yeah, it's me. Guess I'm within comm range," Valerie grunted, her voice accompanied by the distinct sound of multiple explosions. "Look. There is no way I can shake this guy off in time, and we can't risk compromising everything we've worked for for so long. Close the portal, and do whatever else you need to do to cover our tracks. I'll find another way out."

"You're sure?" Jazz asked, concerned.

"Jazz. I survived your cooking. This is a walk in the park in comparison."

Nothing was said after that, save for the amused snort coming from Tucker despite the situation. 

"Okay, if you're sure," Tucker said, finally breaking the silence. "Good luck."

"Oh, don't worry. I make my own luck." Tucker and Jazz could practically see the confident smirk plastered on Valerie's face as she closed the line. Tucker hurried to close the portal, guiding the craft back to his safe room, and wiping all the digital footsteps he left behind in the system. 


<<>><<>><<>>


"Oh, don't worry. I make my own luck," Specter said, smirking as she sat crouched on her board, observing her surroundings, and watching the distant portal close. "Alright, ghost. It's just you and me," she said as she stood back up, holding a two handed blaster, charged and ready. "Come out and face me!"

Yet, despite her words, Skulker remained unseen. Knowing that such a thing didn't mean much for a ghost, Specter continued to observe her surroundings, not dropping her guard for a single moment.

A faint ping on her scanner made her whirl around, and aim her blaster towards seemingly empty space. But experience had taught her that empty space was often more occupied than one would originally think, and she didn't hesitate to pull the trigger. 

An electrical signal was sent to the blaster's ecto containment unit, energizing the bolt of green energy as it was pulled from the chamber, before being launched through the barrel at supersonic speed at the empty spot of air. An empty spot of air which began to shimmer and distort as an invisible form hurried to get out of the bolt's path.

Skulker faded back into view as the super charged bolt shot past his armor's head, missing him by just a hair's breadth and scorching the metallic surface.

"There you are," Specter said with twisted glee. "Are you done playing hide and seek now?"

Growling in response, Skulker turned to face the armored human, a black scorch mark on his face. Wordlessly, he slowly lifted a closed fist, holding it before his face as a large blade slowly slid out of his wrist.

"Now you're talking," Specter said in a challenging tone, and the pair launched themselves at one another. Skulker's blade clashing with Specter's blaster, sparks flying off of it as the fight started for real.

Apex predator against apex predator.

Neither of them holding back.


<<>><<>><<>>


Twilight was wandering through the castle halls, followed by Danny, who held a look of bewilderment and awkwardness. It had been close to half an hour since the Princesses had left them, and all that time Twilight had been indecisive as to what course of action to take. Princess Luna's remark that they might have need of the Elements not helping her there. 

'Do I need to write a letter to my friends, telling them to come to Canterlot as fast as they can? Or do I wait, and see what it is the Princesses want, but risk making them wait longer for my friends if they are needed?' She suddenly came to a halt, causing Danny to bump into her. But she didn't seem to notice, while Danny quirked a puzzled eyebrow at the purple pony as strands of her mane began to stick out. 'Oh, what do I need to do? If I call my friends, and the Elements aren't needed then I will have wasted their time. But if they are needed, and they aren't here, then I will have wasted the Princesses' time, as they will have to wait.' An idea came to her and she used a hoof to smooth down her mane before slamming it down in determination. "I've got it!" Twilight proclaimed as she exhaled loudly, a slightly crazed smile gracing her lips, much to Danny's apprehension, which had been building ever since Twilight began her relatively silent wandering around. With nowhere to go, and next to no knowledge of either the castle or the city, all he could do was follow the confusing mare, getting no explanation out of her whatsoever.

"You've got what?" He asked.

"The answer. Of course, it's perfect. Well, not perfect, but it is better than disappointing the Princesses," she said, leaving Danny dumbfounded, with only a dumb 'ehhh' coming out of his mouth.

"I'll just send a message to Spike and have him ask my friends to be on standby in case they're needed here. That way I can show the Princesses that I didn't completely waste their time during a possible emergency."

"O-kay?..." Danny said, confused. "And what exactly is this about?"

"Didn't you pay any attention?" Twilight gasped. "Princess Luna herself said we might have need of the Elements, which means there is some kind of crisis that we might have to deal with."

Blinking dumbly, Danny scratched his head. "Okay, let's assume for a moment that I don't know what these elements are. And why would you need to deal with a crisis anyway? Don't they have the guards to deal with that?"

Twilight's eyes widened at Danny's confession that he didn't know about the Elements, and the downward spiraling thoughts she was stuck in a moment ago came to a sudden and abrupt stop. Here stood someone who didn't know something. Something she knew almost everything about. Something she could teach him. 'Something I can use as an excuse to spend even more time with him.'

Twilight's thought processes came to a second sudden stop. Where did that come from? Had… had she really thought that? Why? 'This requires closer examination,' she made a mental note, when her eyes met those of Danny, who was still waiting for an answer. 'After I've taught him about the Elements...' she added, a dreamy smile forming on her muzzle.

"Just come with me, Danny. I'll explain everything to you," she told him as she turned around and headed to the royal library. 'No matter how long it takes,' she added in thought, a permanent smile on her face as Danny followed her, the latter wondering again what he'd gotten himself into today.

Neither of them knowing that Cadance’s magic was working its… well, magic, on them both. Although only with great difficulty in Danny, who proved to be surprisingly resistant. 

Together they walked through the halls, while Twilight wrote a quick note to Spike, telling him to instruct her friends to prepare for a possible mission from the Princesses, before sending it to him with a quick flash of her horn. But, as she happily continued leading Danny to their destination, Danny took notice of a strange sensation in his chest.


THUMB-THUMB



<<>><<>><<>>


"Honestly, Lyra. I can't believe you did that," Bon Bon said, shooting an annoyed look, with just a hint of embarrassment, towards the mint green unicorn. 

"What? What did I do?" Lyra asked, confused, as the two of them walked through town. 

"Do you even need to ask?" Bon Bon replied, receiving a nod from her horned companion. 

Sighing, Bon Bon facehoofed for a moment. "Alright, in order. First there is that strange, and quite frankly disturbing obsession you have with those hands, a—"

"Hey, I'm not that one dimensional," Lyra cut in, annoyed, earning a flat look from the beige mare. "I like feet too."

The force with which Bon Bon's hoof met her face could be felt by everypony in a half mile radius of the impact.

"Second, that 'list' you are constantly carrying around. Third, those 'visits' you make to the cafe to just 'order' something to eat every time Danny is working."

"So?" Lyra asked, shrugging. "I've been doing that for a while now. Why bother bringing it up now?"

"Why? Because, of all the things you have done, what you did last night was just, just..."

"Last night?"

"Oh, you know what I mean. Shaking your tail around while trying to dance on two legs."

Silence settled down between the two, and the only sound came from the group of crickets sitting on Fluttershy's head and back as she walked by.

"PFHAAAHAHAHA!" Lyra burst out in laughter. "That's what's gotten you all worked up?"

"Of course it is!" Bon Bon replied, ashamed.

Lyra chuckled a little while longer, before turning to her marefriend, her muzzle almost touching Bon Bon's. "Oh, but I thought you liked it when I shake my tail around like that?" She said in a husky voice, eyes half-lidded; Bon Bon sputtered as she stepped away, face burning bright red.

"B-but that was different," Bon Bon sputtered.

"Different? Different how?" Lyra asked, amused.

"You know what I mean," she replied, and Lyra looked to the side as she recalled last night's festivities,


[img]https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8374033152/h5D09CA27/[/img]


a grin forming on her face.

"Oh, that," Lyra said with a chuckle.

"Yes, that. Honestly, what were you doing?"

"Partying," came her honest answer. "Cutting loose. Something you should try sometimes."

A roll of the eyes was all the answer Lyra got from her beige companion, when, without warning, two earth pony fillies came running by. Knocking Bon Bon over without so much as an apology, before running around a corner, disappearing from sight.

"Whoa! Are you alright?" Lyra asked, concerned, as she helped Bon Bon back on her hooves.

"Yes, I am. But what is up with those two?" Bon Bon replied, dusting herself off as she shot a glare after Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

Lyra shrugged in answer, before a grin returned to her muzzle. "So, about cutting loose…"

Her only response was a throaty groan.


<<>><<>><<>>


Two dark hooded figures stood on a shadow covered rock, observing the events transpiring in the Ghost Zone. One, a tall biped, the other, a small quadruped. Both were holding a scythe; either in a bony hand, or the pale glow of a spectral aura. Their piercing red pupils glowing ominously from underneath their hoods, watching. Watching as a skilled human fought against an equally skilled ghost in a fight to the death, or after death, depending on who would lose. 

Not that they would let it come to that. Both still had a vital role to play in the coming events, their souls still bound to this physical plane. And they, as the shepherds of all souls, were tasked to keep it that way until such times came that their souls were meant to cross over.

"It's strange, isn't it?" Mort asked, and the tall form tilted his head slightly to signify he was listening.

"What is?"

"Us, the Grim Reaper and the Pale Pony being here, making sure they don't die… again in Skulker's case."

"Yes, I guess it does hurt your brain just thinking about it," the tall figure said, when an awkward silence settled over the pair for a couple of seconds. "Oh, but as skeletons, we don't have brains," and he burst out laughing; his companion sighing and rolling his non-existent eyes.

"Right," Mort sighed. "You just focus on those two, and I'll deal with the three from my world." They both turned their heads to look at the three young ponies who had managed to sneak into the Ghost Zone.

"That one has questions," the tall form observed. "So does the other. Although she seems to be suppressing them."

"If there is one thing we have learned throughout the eons, it's that losing a loved one is a very difficult thing for those left behind. Them having questions is only natural. But being in a position where they might find an answer, is not," Mort's voice explained, accompanied by a tired sigh drifting from beneath his hood, despite the absence of lungs, and his eyes shifted to the last of the three. "Do you know why he did it? Why he turned her, that is."

The tall form lifted a bony hand, and stroked a non-existent beard, deep in thought. "Maybe for an alternate storyline?"

"What?"

Shrugging, the tall form looked down on his smaller companion. "I don't know. Ask one of the Eternal Watchers."

"You know they don't talk," Mort deadpanned. 

"So that's why they never call back," the tall form proclaimed, sounding genuinely surprised at this bit of information.

"... Eddie, do you ever take things seriously?"

At his words, Eddie suddenly straightened, while his head hung down a bit; a dreary sigh escaping his non-existent lips as he tightened his grip on his scythe. "Yes. My job. Which is exactly why I am who I am. You have it easy in comparison, with your happy pony world. Sure, it isn't perfect, and bad things and unfortunate events do happen, I know. But I. I watch over the humans, and their endless struggles, wars, and hate. If I act crazy, or seem uncaring, it's because I care more than you know. But even we, Death's envoys, can only take so much misery before something snaps. We're not godly beings who stand above the rest. We are merely the other side of life, intertwined for all eternity. When I reap a soul, I reap a part of myself, just as it is for you… Am I wrong?"

"No… No, you're not." A silence settled down between the two, and they observed the fight still in progress.

"Is that… Is that why you were so happy wh—" Mort finally spoke up, before Eddie cut him off.

"Yes. Reaping a soul is a tragic thing to do, no matter the reason, and whether they are ready for it or not. But, him? He wasn't ready, his soul wasn't ready. He needed to stay where he was, as he is, for now. So, yes. Of course I was happy when I could return his soul to his mortal shell, even though I had to take one of his friends, and the misery he had to live with as a result. But despite all that, I know he has found a measure of peace and happiness where he is now."

"Yes, I know. I've met him, back on my world. He seemed happy, but afraid."

"Can you blame him?"

"No, but I think I will be helping him in the not so distant future," Mort answered, and Eddie looked down at him, cocking an non-existent eyebrow in puzzlement.

"You will? How?"

"Clockwork," Mort answered, shrugging.

"Ahh, say no more. As I'm sure you don't know more," Eddie replied, when, with a feral shout, Valerie managed to break off Skulker's knife from his armor, and aim her weapon at his head point blank.

"It's time," Eddie said, and he vanished where he stood.

"So it would seem," Mort agreed. And he, too, disappeared.


<<>><<>><<>>
 

Skulker glared at his beaten face in Specter's reflective visor, a defiant snarl staring back at him as he was unwilling to give up, even in defeat. 

"You got lucky, welp," he grunted angrily, while Specter aimed her weapon at him, ready to fire.

"I make my own luck," Specter's warped voice replied, and she fired. She fired, and she missed.

"What!?" She shouted in disbelief, already going through the motion to try again, when a dark cloaked figure materialized out of nowhere between her and Skulker. 

Specter barely had time to shout her surprise when a bony finger touched her forehead, through the helmet, and she collapsed, unconscious. At the same time, Skulker met a similar fate, as Eddie's hand phased cleanly through his armor, and knocked him out.

"So much for the easy part," Eddie muttered, and pushed Skulker away; the limp form drifting away through the green expanse of the Zone, while he looked down at Valerie, the red glow of his pupils reflecting in her visor. "Now, what should we do with you?" he wondered, when a loud chorus of screams caught his attention.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

Looking towards the source of the disturbance, Eddie gave a weary sigh. "Well, that just happened." Grabbing Valerie, and slinging her over his shoulder, he slowly flew towards the distant rock. "Mort, what did you do?"


<<>><<>><<>>


Metal wheels screeched as the brakes were applied, and the frozen metal of the rails warmed up from the friction as the train came to a gradual stop; the howling wind pushing against the locomotive and single car, while a flurry of snow obscured everything from sight.

"Alright everypony," Shining Armor said loudly, making himself heard over the noise coming from outside. "We've all been briefed, and know what to do. Covertly enter the city, and track down the individual known as Sombra, who Princess Celestia and Luna have described to us."

Cadance took over from him. "Don't let anypony who might be in this city see you. The few reports we've received made notice of the original residents of this city still being here. How this is possible, we do not know. But they did show signs of mind control, and will most likely react... poorly when seeing one of us. Don't let them see you, and don't harm them either."

A multitude of salutes, and a chorus of: "Yes, your majesties," was the collective response of the small team of guards. Sharing a brief glance with one another, Shining and Cadance nodded slightly before stepping out of the car; They immediately used their magic to shield them from the cutting winds and blinding snow.

Slowly the group moved towards their destination, hidden from view by the white flurry assaulting them, yet impossible to miss all the same. They could feel it, all of them. But none could feel it as strongly as Cadance did. A dark, suffocating presence which grew thicker and thicker with each hesitant step she took; a sensation as if she was drowning in despair slowly tightening its grip around her heart, made bearable only by the stallion at her side.

Slowly they progressed through the thick layer of white covering the ground, when, as if it were a grand presentation, the crystalline form of the Empire revealed itself to them. The snow died down as if somepony flicked a switch, and their destination, hidden from view before, was now clearly visible.

They stood still for several moments as the full scope of the city came into view, yet it was something none of them could enjoy. Everywhere they looked they saw sorrow, sadness, and darkness. Dark crystals spearing out of the ground everywhere in and around the city, a cold, mind numbing aura coming off of them; a sensation that drained any feeling of joy and happiness, leaving the ponies shivering not only from the cold outside, but from the cold they felt coming from within. 

Yet despite the cold taking hold of them, one of them could feel it melt away in the burning heat of anger. An anger towards the one responsible for this. The one who dethroned her ancestors. The one who claimed this land as his own, and corrupted it with dark magic. The one who enslaved and tortured every single soul, young and old, mare and stallion. The one who even managed to outsmart Princesses Celestia and Luna. The one who took this city, and dragged it to who knows where. The one she knew was still there. The one who was still holding this city, and those in it, in his corrupting thrall. The one who she would see brought to justice. 

"Let's go," she proclaimed in a strict, serious tone, eyes narrowed. "We've got a city to free."


<<>><<>><<>>


The clopping of their hooves echoed ominously through the abandoned streets, only faintly muted by the thin layer of white; signs of it having been disturbed before, even here in one of the many side alleys, was still visible despite the weather's attempt to cover it up. Everywhere they went they were greeted by dark, cold, lifeless buildings; looking for any sign of either the ponies who lived there, or the one responsible for everything that had transpired here, both past and present. 

Hours ticked by as they slowly moved from building to building, leaving nothing to chance as they inspected every building they could, while heading towards the tall castle standing in the city's center. Yet nothing was found, and the continuing silence only added to the tension they already felt.

"There has to be somepony, anypony? Shouldn't there be?" Cadance asked, unsure, looking around nervously. "I mean, the reports said ponies were sighted in the city some time after it appeared."

"I agree," Shining Armor muttered, observing the snow covered ground. "The reports were clear. And look. The snow shows multiple hoofprints, not counting our own. Multiple ponies have moved through here not too long ago," he pointed out, frowning as he looked up at his wife. "And all tracks seem to point towards the castle."

One of the guards exhaled loudly through her nose, producing two puffs of fog. "This has 'trap' written all over it," she remarked, following the trail of upturned snow all the way to the large crystal creation. "No pony to be found. Multiple clear trails, all leading to the same place. Yeah, you don't need to be a genius to figure this out." The other guards muttered their agreement, while Cadance looked around, unsure.

"Are you sure about that?"

"I'm not so sure myself," Shining spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Cadance asked.

Shining looked at the seemingly empty buildings with a steely gaze before answering. "I don't think this is a trap. It seems more like everypony who supposedly lives in this city moved all at once to the same destination. Just look. There are hoofsteps everywhere, all leading to the castle. Why go to all the effort to lay out so many trails just to lure our group into a trap? No, I don't think this is a trap. At least, not a trap for us."

"Then who is the trap for, Sir?" A guard asked.

Looking towards the castle, Shining spoke, voice full of unease. "Whoever these hoofprints belong to." And with determination in his eyes, he moved for the castle.


<<>><<>><<>>


The group had slowly crept closer to the castle's courtyard, only to be stopped by the sight that awaited them. They jumped into hiding, only because training had drilled this response into them. Save for Princess Cadence, who was unable to move, and had to be pulled into the relative safety of their shared hiding place; her mind locked and her body frozen at what she saw. 

Ponies, hundreds, if not thousands, of ponies. All gathered together, bowing down so low that their faces pressed against the ground. But that was not what shocked her. No, what had frozen her so soundly, was the dark and menacing form standing on the grand balcony. His mane a twisting mass of darkness, which had spread out and reached down towards everypony groveling on the ground. Energy seemed to flow out of the ponies' bodies; a weak and faint glow coming off of the wisps of energy as they were absorbed into the darkness reaching down to them.

Cadance watched in horror as she saw the suffering of the ponies. The ponies who she knew were the subjects of her ancestors. The ponies who she, as the Princess of this land, was supposed to protect.

A faint groan caught her attention, and she saw a young pony, a colt who couldn't be more than ten years old, stumble before succumbing to Sombra's darkness and collapsing to the ground.

There was a flicker. A waiver in the air that made Cadance blink. She reared back in shock when Sombra suddenly stood towering over the colt, looking down at him with cold, angry eyes.

Raising his hoof, its size as large as the helpless colt's head, clearly showed what he intended to do. The colt was no longer useful to him. And those who were not useful to him would be punished. Harshly. Permanently.

His hoof streaked down, and Cadance blurred into motion, quickly crossing the distance between them.

"DON'T YOU DARE!" she yelled, slamming into Sombra before his hoof connected, knocking him away from the colt; the colt's empty eyes stared into nothing, unable to register what was happening, or even whether he was dead or not. 

"Everypony, move in!" Shining armor bellowed, charging in after his wife, his horn alight. 

At his command, the guards all moved out of hiding. Acting quickly, they surrounded the dark king; their horns glowing, wings extended, and hooves scraping over the ground as they all prepared for Sombra's next move.

Cadance, however, knelt down to scoop up the young colt; feeling his ribs through his dirty and thinning fur. "Don't worry, my little pony. Everything's going to be alright," she said in a caring tone, gently rocking the child. However, she received no response, the young pony remained almost completely lifeless save for his shallow breathing.

Looking back up, she shifted her gaze to the many grim and somber ponies, finding that they had surrounded her, Shining, and the rest of their guards. Their eyes cold, dull, and focused on all of them.

"You arrogant fools," a rough, masculine voice growled. "Do you really think you can oppose me!?" Sombra's body dissolved into a thick, billowing cloud of darkness; Shining and the guards took a step back in shock. "Whoever you might be, there is nothing you can do to stop me. My powers are greater than any of you can comprehend. Even the immortal Princesses couldn't stop me. What chance do you think you have?" He spoke, the dark cloud solidifying back into his mortal shell once more on the grand balcony. "You might as well give up now."

"Funny," Shining Armor said with a humorless laugh. "I was about to say the same to you," and he charged his horn, taking a mere second to form a spell matrix, and fired an orb of magic at his foe. Sombra simply slided out of the way, his legs turning into wisps of darkness. 

Shining Armor, seeing the dark stallion dodge out of the way, quickly unraveled the spell before it could strike any of the ponies around them, keeping them safe from harm.

Looking down with a snarl, Sombra gave a faint tilt of the head, his horn glowing a dark red.

The zombie-like ponies surrounding them flinched as if struck, before moving and closing in on the group; some of them calling on whatever faint shreds of power they had left to charge their horns and cast any spell they could think of to defend their king. But their strength was nearly depleted, and the few who did manage to light their horns collapsed as the last of their energy faded out.

Cadance looked on in horror as the other ponies simply walked over those that fell, seemingly uncaring about what they were doing. Meanwhile, the guards and her husband were having a hard time stopping the advancing army of Sombra's mind controlled victims. They couldn't hurt them, so they were forced to use non lethal methods to stop them. But every time they knocked out one of the enslaved, Sombra would simply revive them using his mental control and send them back into the fight, regardless of their well being or the injuries the ponies had sustained.

Cadance’s gaze was brought down to the colt as she felt him struggling in her grasp, seeing him try to hit her with what little strength he had left. Even now, with nothing left to give, and even after Sombra tried to kill him, the poor soul was still controlled, and still trying to please his insane master.

Tears streamed down Cadance’s face as she looked at the young pony, droplets falling on his face as he continued his futile struggle. Laying him on the ground, Cadance slowly stood up, head down and mane covering her face.

She stood there for what seemed like minutes, unmoving, listening to the silent screams of anguish echoing from her ponies' hearts. She listened, and trembled, rage beginning to build. 

She heard the clopping of countless hooves as the ponies dragged themselves towards Shining and the guards, and her stance stiffened. She heard the grunts of those poor souls as their strength left them, their bodies collapsing, and she felt her own strength rise. She heard Shining call out an order, and the sound of her teeth grinding together. She heard the maniacal laughter of the dark king, and smoke began rising from her mane. And she saw the young colt, dragging himself towards her, attempting to bite her leg. 


SNAP
 

"HOW DARE YOU!" she screamed, her mane and tail bursting out into a seething inferno, her coat turning a shimmering white, the sudden transformation drew the attention of Shining Armor and the guards.

"HOW DARE YOU!" she screamed again, burning eyes focused on Sombra, seeing only a brief flicker of shock on his face, before it was replaced with smug arrogance.

"How dare I? It is not a matter of daring. I am merely their superior, just as they are my lesser."

"You're a monster," Cadance seethed through gritted teeth. "I won't allow you to hurt these ponies any longer!" And she launched herself at the corrupted king.

"Sir," the guard closest to Shining Armor said in a half whisper. "Your wife kinda scares me," and they watched the burning Princess as she shot up.

Wings spread out, the air seeming to boil at the feathers' tips from the heat pouring off of them; her mane and tail burning brightly, a stark contrast to Sombra's dark billowing mass. Diving down at full speed, Cadence tried to slam the dark pony down, only to have him slip away from her in a shapeless cloud, leaving her hooves to hit the balcony with a thunderous crack, fissures forming through the crystal structure.

Not pausing for a moment, Cadance charged her horn and fired several spells in the blink of an eye before Sombra could reassert his form. The magic flew straight and true, but the dark cloud shifted and turned to allow the magical projectiles to pass cleanly through the holes Sombra made in himself. Yet one orb of glowing fury managed to hit a stray wisp of shadowy darkness, and the effect was instantaneous.

Sombra roared in pain as he slammed into the ground, his form flickering and shifting between a solid stallion and a shapeless cloud, before solidifying back into his equine self, wildly thrashing as Cadance's magic clashed with his own, otherworldly power. 

"I won't let you hurt another pony ever again! Not while I am here!" Cadance stated, mane ablaze, eyes and horn glowing brightly.

With a sound akin to a growl, Cadance blasted Sombra straight in the chest; her magic reacting with Sombra's spectral energy, amplifying the force. Sombra was launched away with a medium sized explosion, cracking the balcony, while the shock wave drove Cadance back, as well as knocking everypony below to the ground. Their master cast out, the enslaved ponies all fell unconscious.

It took several long seconds before Shining Armor and the guards were able to pull themselves back up, all the while looking up at the balcony, seeing Princess Cadence standing tall and proud, mane still ablaze as she stared with glowing fury in her eyes at the spot Sombra was launched to, knowing this was not yet over.

Giving an angry grunt, Cadance's horn pulsed, and a large teal dome of magic formed over the entire city, sealing out the dark king, whose corruption she wouldn't allow to harm the ponies of this land ever again.

"... You know," Shining Armor finally said after a while. "Sometimes she scares me too."


<<>><<>><<>>


A dark blur shot through the air, a shadowy cloud following in its wake as it crashed into the snow covered ground, digging itself a deep trench through momentum alone. Several long tense seconds ticked by, the desolate howl of the wind only adding to the sense of foreboding. 

A massive explosion of darkness erupted out of the trench, blowing away the snow in a fine powder, obscuring everything from view, save for the red and green glow of the dark king's eyes. Eyes filled with rage and hate, glaring daggers at the city that was rightfully his. A city now covered by a dome of magic.

"Fools. Do you think such petty defenses will stop me?" he muttered darkly, his body dissolving into a shadowy fog. "I'll show you the real definition of power," and he launched himself against the shield, slamming into the glowing surface. 

He growled in anger and defiance as the shield resisted him, sparks of blue coming from it as Sombra's form pushed into it, deforming the dome to a certain degree. But it wasn't without consequence for Sombra, as the dome pushed back just as hard, ripples of energy flowing over its surface towards him. Energy met energy, spectral and magical forces meeting in a fight for domination. Sombra grunted from the strain, while, back in the castle, Cadance gritted her teeth to push back twice as hard against Sombra's attempts.

With a cry of rage, Cadance pushed back and won, the shield's magical energy hurling the corrupted king away with incredible force. A force which was sent directly back to Cadance through her connection with the shield, sending her crashing into the ground, barely hanging on to consciousness. Shining came rushing in, holding his wife in his grasp.

Cadance struggled to say something; just a few whispered words, and Shining knew what to do.

His horn crossed his wife's, magical energy combining in a bond of love. Their shared energy flowed into the shield, filling the frigid air with the warming aura emitted by their union. The many crystals located within the dome were affected by the foreign energy as well; their dark, somber surface slowly fading into a deep, dark red.


<<>><<>><<>>


"And that's how my friends and I used the Elements of Harmony to stop Nightmare Moon, cleansed her darkness and freed Princess Luna from her corrupting grasp," Twilight finished, closing the sizable book and placing it on top of the pile of books she'd used. All the while, Danny sat next to her, processing the figurative avalanche of information Twilight had thrown at him, almost without stop. Danny had soon learned that once Twilight entered lecture mode, there wasn't much you could do to stop her. Something he had already experienced several days ago, yet still managed to take him by surprise.

Still, there was something else. Something he didn't understand the reason for, only knowing that it was true... He wasn't bored. Normally during a lecture like this, more often than not during his time back in high school, he would have found his face stuck to his desk by a thin layer of drool. But not now. In fact, he might even say he enjoyed himself. Of course, this particular subject had an evil alicorn, magic, and an actual captivating story. All things that were sorely lacking in, well, all the subjects in school. But that was not all. In fact, putting a bit of thought into it, he found himself enjoying this sudden crash course in history because of the cute teacher, and the fact she was enjoying herself as well. 'But why?' he wondered.
 
He wasn't allowed the time to delve deeper into this peculiar situation, as a guard walked in on them; her hooves clip clopping on the marble floor.

"Miss Twilight. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would like to speak with you."

"They would?" Twilight asked, momentarily confused. Then the worries she had before becoming engrossed with tutoring Danny about the Elements came rushing back to her like an oncoming train. Her eyes widened in realization, and she leapt back on all fours. Almost knocking Danny over in the process, while she actually did manage to knock over the pile of books, sending an avalanche of paper and hard covers cascading down over the floor… and Danny. The unfortunate human could only stare with an open mouth as a literal mountain of information crushed him under its bulk, leaving only his arms and legs to stick out from underneath the pile; a weak, muffled groan coming from underneath.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," Twilight stammered, embarrassed. Using her magic to levitate the mass off of Danny, she gave him the most sheepish grin she could while returning the books to their proper places. "Eh… are you alright?"

Groaning, Danny sat up; resting a hand on his knee, the other rubbing his head. "Yeah, I'm… fine. I've been hit harder than that."

"You have?" Twilight said, sounding a bit shocked and worried. "When, and by who?" She asked him, the faintest hint of anger could be heard in her voice.

"Ehh…" Danny stalled, having trouble coming up with a good answer. Fortunately for him, the guard still with them saved him.

"Miss Twilight, the Princesses are waiting."

A small gasp escaped the purple mare. "Oh no, you're right," she said as she looked at the royal guard, then back at Danny. "I need to go, I'll be back soon," she told Danny, who stood back up. "I just hope I haven't made the Princesses wait too long," she added, more to herself, as she hurried away. "Or they might think I'm tardy."

"Uhh… I don't think you have to worry about tha..." Danny called out after her, but she didn't seem to hear him. And the last thing Danny and the guard accompanying him heard from her was when she gave voice to her concern a second time: "Taarrddyyyy," quite a bit of worry present in her voice.

"... Well, that was different," Danny said dumbly, blinking a few times.

"Meh, you get used to it if you're around her long enough," the guard next to him commented.

"You do?"

"Eh, I suppose so," the mare said with a shrug. "Haven't been with the guard for that long, so I don't have much experience with her myself. But I've heard a lot of stories from those who have been on the job for a while."

"Such as?" Danny asked, intrigued.

"You sure you want to know?" She asked, giving him a grin.

Danny took a moment to think, but the answer was all too clear. Returning a grin of his own, he gave his answer. 

"Definitely."


<<>><<>><<>>


Twilight came to a screeching stop before the double doors to the throne room, trying to get her breathing under control. The two guards stationed at the door were more than used to such scenes, and they shot each other a quick glance while grinning slightly.

"Okay," Twilight said to herself as she breathed in deeply. "Can't keep the Princesses waiting."

With a subtle roll of their eyes, and a flash of their horns, the guards opened the door to the throne room, allowing the purple mare to enter without any further ado.

Quickly walking inside, Twilight bowed down to the two alicorns. "Princesses. I came as soon as I could."

"Rise, Twilight," Celestia said with a gentle tone, "How many times have I told you you don't need to bow before me?"

"Exactly ten thousand four hundred thirty three times," Twilight answered truthfully, leaving both Princesses staring dumbfounded.

"She kept count!?" Luna whispered to her sister.

"It would seem so," Celestia replied, before turning her attention back to Twilight with a gentle smile; Luna, however, slowly stepped back to leave her sister to reveal the latest development. "You never cease to amaze me, Twilight," Celestia spoke up. "Now, please, listen closely," she said, then her smile fell and she turned serious. "There is much to discuss."

"I'm ready for anything," Twilight said confidently, ready to take on whatever task the Princess had in mind for her.

Celestia sighed. "Twilight. The Crystal Empire has returned."

"The Crystal Empire?" Twilight repeated, confused, her confidence evaporating like snow in the sun. "I’ve never heard of that place," she said, more to herself, when a horrible realization hit her. "Oh no. Is it important for me to know about it? I mean, I've tried to study just about everything, but I don't recall anything about a crystal empire."—she began pacing around, her mane beginning to stick out—"But if I missed this, then who knows what else I have missed? I- I need to get to the library, find anything I can about this empire. An—" 

Celestia cut her off before things could get out of hoof. "I'm not surprised you don't know about the Crystal Empire," she said as she turned around and used her magic to levitate a glass dome off of a pedestal, revealing a dark crystal underneath. "Few remember it ever existed at all."

Grabbing the crystal in her magic, she levitated it over to Twilight, placing it on the ground before her. "Even my knowledge of the Empire is limited," she explained before firing some of her magic into the crystal, and a beam of energy shot upward out of the object. A map of a large and majestic city materialized before Twilight, showing in minute detail the ponies that live there as they went through their daily routines. "What I do know is that it contains a powerful magic. Over a thousand years ago, King Sombra, a unicorn whose heart was black as night took over the Crystal Empire," with her words, the castle standing in the center of the projection turned dark and grim; the head of the aforementioned dark king displayed above the structure.

The scenery changed once again; going from bright and beautiful, to dark and evil. Sombra standing on a balcony of the castle, while down on the ground ponies were forced into slavery, linked together by chains around their necks. When out from the shadows, two forms emerged. Celestia, and Luna; horns and eyes glowing.

"We fought him for a long time, even using the Elements of Harmony against him. But, for reasons we were never able to ascertain, the Elements proved to be ineffective against Sombra," Celestia revealed with a forced calm, making Twilight gasp. "He was ultimately overthrown," Celestia explained as Twilight observed the projection of Celestia and Luna combining their magic to fight Sombra. "Our magic weakened him, turning him into a being of shadows and darkness and banishing him to the ice of the arctic North,"—Twilight watched with large eyes as the events of so long ago played out before her, unable to believe it all—"but not before he was able to put a curse upon the Empire. A curse that caused it to vanish into thin air," Celestia said dramatically, and the projection vanished in a flash, blinding Twilight.

"If the Empire is filled with hope and love," Celestia continued, picking up the crystal with her magic and firing another beam into it, turning it to a gleaming white, "those things are reflected all across Equestria,"—an aurora of rainbow colors spread around the chamber—"But should hatred and fear take hold," she said as her eyes turned a dark glowing green, with dark purple fog seeping out of the corners; while a dark glow surrounded her horn as well, and a beam of negative energy was fired into the crystal. In mere seconds the crystal reverted back to its dark form, a shadow spreading out from it, reaching all the way to Twilight hooves. Everywhere this shadow touched more crystals of darkness grew, and Twilight looked on in shock at what was happening.

A bright white glow came from Celestia's eyes, and a wave of positive energy cleansed the area, breaking apart the dark crystals. "Which is why I need your help to find a way to protect it," she continued, walking towards Twilight.

"You want me to protect an entire Empire?" Twilight asked, unsure, unable to believe the words coming out of her own mouth.

"It is, as I said, a different kind of test," Celestia replied as she placed the crystal back on its pedestal; replacing the glass dome over it, "But one I'm certain you will pass."

Twilight looked down in uncertainty, a million thoughts going through her mind. Yet, the more she thought about it, the clearer the answer got. "How do I begin!?" She asked confidently.

"By joining Princess Cadance and Shining Armor in the Crystal Empire," Celestia answered.

"My brother is there?" Twilight asked, surprised.

"He is. And your Ponyville friends will join you there as well. I have every confidence that you will succeed. And when you do, I'll know you are ready to move on to the next level of your studies," Celestia told her, and they moved to the exit of the chamber. There they saw Princess Luna, who had watched everything in silence. Yet, as Twilight looked up at her, all she saw was a blank, distant gaze; her ears drooping a bit.

"But what if I fail?" She asked, turning back to Celestia.

"You won't!" She stated, full of confidence.

"But, what if-" Twilight began, and Celestia placed a hoof on her back to reassure the young mare.

"You won't!" She stated once more. "But Twilight," she added."In the end, it must be you, and you alone who ultimately assists Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in doing what needs to be done to protect the Empire. Do you understand?"

"Hm-hem" Twilight hummed while puffing out her chest, standing proudly.

"Then go, there is no time to lose," Celestia said, then closed the doors of the chamber with her magic.

Silence settled down as Twilight was sent on her way, yet something still disturbed Celestia. Mainly, her sister, who was still standing next to her, completely unresponsive.

"Luna?" She said, concerned. "Is everything alright?"

Bodies littered the ground around her. Claws, twisted in a bloody heap; fangs broken and scattered across the ground. Anger burned through her veins as darkness surrounded her. A darkness that was pierced by nothing save the light of the full moon.

"Luna?" Celestia gave her sister a gentle nudge, which seemed to snap her out of her trance. "Are you sure you are alright?"

Blinking several times, Luna found herself lost for a few short moments before current events caught back up with her. "Yes… Yes, I'm fine. Just tired, that's all," she answered, confused. "Normally I'm asleep during the day."

"I see," Celestia replied, worried. "Perhaps it's better for you to rest now, then."

Only nodding in response, Luna opened the doors and walked out, lost in thought while her sister watched her with a worried frown. Yet, as Luna headed back to her chamber to retire for the day, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had forgotten something. Something very important. Something that would raise as many questions as it answered.

A lingering thought. A mere shadow lost in the maelstrom of her mind.


<<>><<>><<>>


Twilight was walking through the hallways of the castle, deep in thought. She knew now what to do, just not how to do it. This was nothing like anything she had ever done before. 'Studying for a surprise test? Easy. Reciting the first hundred digits of pi? Piece of cake. Traversing through a dangerous forest at night to find an ancient artifact to take down an evil Princess? No problem at all. Taking on a creature of chaos akin to a god? Challenging, but not impossible. A changeling invasion led by an imposter Princess Cadance? Hah! I was the only one who knew something was off. Saving an entire Empire…'

"I'm gonna need some help," she said to herself, when a chorus of laughter caught her attention. Looking around, she realized she had subconsciously walked back to the library. Nothing new about that, of course. More laughter escaped the doors leading to one of her most cherished places in Equestria. Her curiosity piqued, she headed inside to find out what was going on.

"And then, when Celestia finally found her, she had somehow managed to get her head stuck in the cookie jar."

A new eruption of laughter filled the air, and Twilight watched in both confusion and embarrassment at the scene before her. The embarrassment was due to the fact she knew exactly where that story came from, the confusion because of just who was there to hear it.

"No way!" Rainbow Dash managed to wheeze out through her laughter, legs kicking in the air as she rolled around on the ground; legs clutching her sides. 

"That's even funnier than the one where she accidentally set her tail on fire," Pinkie Pie piped up, and another round of laughter erupted from the group of ponies, human, and dragon. 

Applejack was holding her stetson in front of her mouth to mute the joyous laughter, whereas Rarity showed her amusement in a more refined, ladylike manner; laughing daintily behind a hoof. Fluttershy's laugh was barely audible, with her face partially hidden behind her mane. While her complete opposite, Pinkie Pie, was squirming on the ground similar to Rainbow Dash. Danny showed his own amusement as he wheezed for air, his sides hurting, while a few tears glistened in the corners of his eyes. And Spike gave a good, hearty chuckle as he remembered some of the stories told.

"And then there was the time wh—" The guard who had summoned Twilight continued, much to Twilight's horror.

"AH-HUM!" Twilight called out loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

An awkward silence descended as everyone looked at the purple mare all the stories told were centered around. An awkward silence, which was promptly shattered when the image of Twilight's head stuck in the cookie jar went through Pinkie Pie's mind, and she snorted loudly, before bursting into laughter once more.

This set off a chain reaction in which each and every mare, man, and dragon lost their flimsy composure, and another round of laughter filled the room, much to Twilight's annoyance.

"Yo, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash spoke up through her chuckles. "I know you once made Spike all big, but you never told us about making yourself all small… while trying to make a sandwh- hahahah!" unable to finish her sentence as she was laughing too hard, Rainbow Dash instead leaned against Pinkie Pie for support; her pink friend mirroring Rainbow as she herself stood unsteady on her hooves as well. The others also joined in with the amusement, though they at least did manage to keep some composure; while a certain guard tried to make a silent retreat as they all saw the less than amused look on Twilight's face.

"I, eh, I should probably go, patrolling to do and such," the guard said, nervously; giving a sheepish smile towards Twilight, before hurrying away. 

"Wait, hold on!" Danny called after her. "I never actually got your name."

She shouted something back at him, but Danny was unable to catch it as she hurried away. 

"Huh…" Pinkie Pie piped up. "Where's she going all of a sudden?" And she stood with a serious look on her face, until a certain story involving a purple unicorn shot through her mind, and she broke out laughing again.

"Ugh," Twilight groans. "Why are you even here?"

"What do you mean, why are we here?" Rainbow Dash shot back, confused. "You sent us a message saying there was a serious emergency."

"Yeah, don't you remember?" Spike asked, pulling said letter from behind his back, making Danny wonder where he kept it.

Spike took a deep breath, and was about to read the letter, when Twilight interrupted him.

"I know what I wrote. But I never said you had to come here right this instant. Just to be ready should a serious situation arise."

Raising a single eyebrow, Spike scanned the contents of the letter once more. "Dear friends, yada yada ya. A possible serious situation… Prepare to use the Elements… Let you know when I know more…" scratching the back of his head, he read the letter for a third time, still coming to the same conclusion. "Yeah, this doesn't really tell us to stay put, what with all the 'serious situation' and such."

"Which is exactly why we also brought this," Rarity added, levitating an ornate box out of her saddle bags. Opening the lid, she showed the precious treasures which lay inside.

"So, those are the Elements you told me about?" Danny asked, remembering seeing the items back when he visited Twilight back in her library home. While he also experienced a vague feeling of recognition deep in the back of his mind.

"Yes, yes they are," Twilight confirmed. "Those are the Elements of Harmony. Very powerful magical artifacts which my friends and I use to stop various threats no ordinary force can deal with. We used them to free Princess Luna from the corruption of Nightmare Moon, like I told you. And to stop Discord, a creature of chaos."

"Discord?" Danny said, curiously.

"He's a creature of mismatched body parts, who uses his magic to warp reality to his will," Twilight clarified, and a shudder went down Danny's spine.

'A creature with the power to warp reality?! Does this Discord have a reality gauntlet? I thought I destroyed it? Are there more than one?'

"Yeah, which means they are totally up to the task of kicking whoever's flank it is that's causing whatever problem it is we need to deal with," Rainbow Dash brashly stated, hovering a bit off of the ground.

"I'm afraid not," Twilight replied. "The Elements are unable to help," and Rainbow Dash promptly dropped to the ground in shock.

"WHAT!" All the ponies, and Spike said loudly, leaving Danny with a ringing in his ears.

"What do you mean, the Elements won't work?" Rainbow Dash shouted, her muzzle almost touching Twilight's.

"I don't know!" Twilight said, forcefully, making Rainbow Dash back off a bit. "All I know is what the Princesses have told me."

"And what might that be, darling?" Rarity asked.

Sitting down with a sigh, Twilight rubbed her hooves in circles over her temples before answering. "Just that an ancient empire, called the Crystal Empire, which vanished over a millenia ago, has reappeared. And that the one responsible for its disappearance is a dark unicorn king by the name of Sombra, whose corrupted reign the Princesses fought to bring an end to. But, nearing defeat, he used a magic unknown to the Princesses to take the empire away, along with everypony living in it."

"Wow!" Spike, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie uttered; the last one sitting with 3D glasses on her muzzle as if she was watching a very exciting movie. Fluttershy, however, shrank into herself, and hid behind her mane at the mention of a dark unicorn, while Rarity stood by her side to comfort her. Applejack seemed mostly unfazed by it all, but a pensive look showed on her face. While yet another shock of recognition came over Danny.

"Now the empire is back, and we need to help my brother and Cadance protect it. But as to why the Elements won't work, even the Princesses don't know. Just that they don't."

"So, what yer tellin' us is that we gotta go ta this empire thingy, protect it against some sorta evil king, an' do it all without tha Elements?" Applejack asked, and Twilight gave a small nod in answer. "Aw shucks, Sugarcube. Ah reckon we can handle that."

"Yeah, we can totally take this guy on," Rainbow Dash said excitedly, hovering off the ground once more while punching the air.

"Oh, I know. We throw this kingy a BIG party to make him all happy, and not a grumpy meany," Pinkie Pie added her voice to the mix.

"I'm not sure that that is the best way to go about this," Rarity replied. "But I agree with our friends. I'm sure we can find a way to help this empire."

"I- I'll h- hel- p too," Fluttershy quietly added, one eye peeking through the pink strands of her mane.

"Count me in," Spike said. "An entire empire of crystal…" he added as he drifted off, a small string of drool seeping out of his mouth.

"You're not going to eat it," Twilight said flatly.

"Aww, not even a little bit?"

"Not even a single lick!"

"Not fair!" Spike muttered, crossing his arms, much to the amusement of the ponies around him.

"Anyhow, the Princesses told me we must go there as soon as we can, as time is of the essence."

"Then it is a good thing I came prepared," Rarity remarked, and with a flash of her horn multiple bags and suitcases floated out from behind one of the many bookcases.

"Uh, Rarity. What exactly did you bring with you?" Twilight asked with a voice of concern.

"Just the bare basics, of course. Nothing too heavy."

"Yeah, just fourteen bags," Rainbow Dash said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"Indeed," Rarity agreed, missing the sarcasm. "I wanted to take more, seeing that I didn't know what kind of situation we might end up in. But I ended up packing everything, so some sacrifices had to be made in favor of traveling light."

Silence.

"Well, I hope you packed for cold temperatures," Twilight spoke up, breaking the silence in which everyone agreed to just let Rarity be Rarity. "Because the Crystal Empire is to the far North."

A look of pure horror spread across Rarity's face. "The far North!? Oh, Celestia no. I didn't bring anything to wear in such a horrid climate!" She said in full panic mode, using her magic to open the bags and cases and sift through the contents. "I expected many things, but this… Oh, no no no no no. This will simply not do," she proclaimed in a panic as hats, sunglasses, dresses, and various other pieces of clothing, jewelry, or other accessories flew through the air in her magical aura.

"Jeez, Rarity," Rainbow Dash groaned, rolling her eyes. "It's just the far North. There's no need to panic about some clothes because of it."

"No need to panic!?" Rarity almost gasped, then she realized who it was that said such a thing. "Rainbow Dash, not everypony is an unrefined ruffian such as yourself. Some ponies do know how to show some class, everywhere, anywhere. And this is no exception."

"Hey! Who are you calling unrefined?!" Rainbow Dash shouted, narrowing her eyes.

"Alright, settle down everypony!" Applejack called out, trying to defuse the situation.

Twilight, however, facehoofed over her friends' behavior. Which didn't seem to stop them at all. Rarity and Rainbow Dash were getting louder and louder, with Applejack somehow being dragged into the argument. Spike, meanwhile, was already hard at work cleaning up Rarity’s pile of clothes with hearts in his eyes. While Pinkie Pie was rummaging through the same pile, putting together an ensemble of mismatched clothes and a hat, which caused Rarity to shriek as she spotted the fashion nightmare. Pinkie Pie didn't seem to mind, however, as she was giggling madly as a wide brimmed hat drooped in front of her eyes. Fluttershy was quietly watching everything, giving voice to her concern every now and then. But her voice went unheard in the loud argument all ponies now seemed to be a part of.

Danny, on the other hand, stared at the arguing group, only paying them half a mind. No, most of his thoughts were centered around something Twilight had said. An entire empire taken away, and through means unknown to the Princesses.

'Is it just me, or does that sound scarily familiar to what Pariah Dark did to Amity Park all those years ago?'

The arguing group of ponies provided him with no answer.


<<>><<>><<>>


The guard moved quickly through the hallways of the castle, putting as much distance between herself and the library as she could without drawing too much attention to herself. Her primary objective completed, she was now returning to the Princess to report her findings.

As she rounded a corner, she was forced to a screeching halt as she found Princess Luna blocking her path. Quickly snapping to attention, she shot off a salute. Much to her surprise, however, the Princess seemed completely oblivious to her. And the only reaction she gave to the presence of the mare before her, was a slight adjustment of her course to avoid collision.

While the guard certainly found this strange, she had a mission which needed completing. Besides, she knew the Princess of the Night usually slept during the day. Maybe she was just tired? Regardless of what it might have been, the moment Princess Luna moved out of sight she continued on her way; quickly reaching the double doors leading to the throne room. 

Taking a moment to straighten herself, she knocked three times in a particular pattern. Several seconds ticked by before the doors opened in the golden glow of Princess Celestia's magical aura, allowing the guard entry.

Stepping inside, the doors closed behind her without a sound. And, as she looked around, she took notice of the fact that she and Princess Celestia were the only one's in the room. As expected.

"Ah, Vigilant Shield," Celestia greeted with an inquiring tone, and Vigilant Shield removed her helmet before saluting. The glamour spell altering her appearance vanishing around her face, "What have you learned?"

"Not much, I'm afraid," she answered. "I've been able to get near Mister Manson, and to get a scanner in close proximity as well. But nothing showed up as suspicious, or indicated any kind of spectral activity going on around him. Which is strange, I might add."

"How so?" Celestia inquired, intrigued.

"I mean that the team back in Ponyville has reported a confirmed hit on multiple spectral entities near Mister Manson's house. Something that has far reaching implications on its own. But for some reason they seem to be centered around him. And yet, I didn't pick up anything from him. Nothing at all… It's bothering me… Princess."

"I see," Celestia mused.

"But this also means that, whatever entity is haunting him, it is still in Ponyville. I do not know why it is still there, and didn't follow Mister Manson, but it stands to reason that this entity will lay low now that it knows we are onto it. At least…"

"Until Danny Manson returns to Ponyville," Celestia finished, the temperature of the room seeming to drop a bit.

"Yes, Princess."

Celestia's eyes narrowed slightly, "Which means, unless the team in Ponyville manages to track down and capture the ghost or ghosts on their own, we will have to use Danny as bait."

"It… isn't the best of situations."

"No, it isn't. And in good conscience I can not do such a thing to anyone… However, we are talking about the potential safety of the entire town. And what's more, should we keep Danny away from Ponyville, who's to say the ghosts won't go looking for him."

"There is a good chance the entities will leave the Ponyville area in search of Danny, or another potential victim," Vigilant Shield agreed.

"And that's what worries me most," Celestia admitted, looking down as she sighed. "The safety of the many outweigh the safety of the few, or the one," she said, eyes closed, a bitter taste in her mouth. "He needs to return to Ponyville… Hopefully there won't be any incidents when he does."


<<>><<>><<>>


Hours had ticked by before everything was said and done, and the night was slowly making its approach, but everyone was finally on their way to the train station to board the train meant to take them to the Crystal Empire. All except Danny, something Princess Celestia was quite clear about. 

'This ordeal is not meant for you, and the possible dangers are too great,' her words echoed through Danny's mind. It wasn't as if he asked to join Twilight and her friends, but she told him that anyway. Yet, there was something else about this that irked him. She didn't want him to go, but six mares plus a baby dragon wasn't a problem. Yeah, something was not right about that, and it bothered him greatly. 

And then there was this whole Pariah Dark copycat issue, if Danny's suspicions were correct. He didn't say anything about it for fear of giving too much away about his past, but the thought never left him. Something kept it in the forefront of his mind. A constant reminder of his past, and his friends' present.

Things just didn't add up. 'Are there really ghosts on this world, too? I mean, there was that Mort guy. Who I think is these ponies' Grim Reaper. But that makes sense… I think. But for there to be another Pariah Dark… Is that possible? Here?' his gaze wandered to the ponies with whom he was walking to the train station, his eyes lingering on Twilight for just a moment. 'And if there really is someone like him, do they stand a chance? Pariah Dark was almost impossible to deal with. Heck, it almost killed me. If this Sombra is even half the challenge Pariah was Twilight's li— their lives might be in danger,' he thought, catching the slip up, and promptly ignoring it.

Together they continued their relatively silent walk back to the train station. Although Rainbow Dash decided to fly, while Pinkie Pie was pronking the entire way; giving an amused giggle and snort every now and then. Twilight was diligently reading through a rather thick book, researching what she could for the coming mission, while somehow managing to walk without bumping into anyone. Fluttershy and Applejack were simply trotting along with the group, although Fluttershy was doing her best to fade into the background; head kept low. And Rarity, she was still going on about the lack of proper clothing for the task at hoof. She was scanning every shop they passed to see if they sold clothes, and if they did, whether or not they held up to her standards. So far, no luck.

It was a rather uneventful walk, until Twilight snapped the book closed, also snapping Danny out of his thoughts. Looking up, he saw they had arrived at the train station; a steam whistle blowing as one of the trains departed, with many ponies standing on the platform waving goodbye to their friends and loved ones.

"Okay, this is it," Twilight proclaimed, heading towards a singled out train with only two cars. "Girls, this is the train the Princesses have provided for us to take to the Crystal Empire," she continued as she turned around to look at her friends, then turned to Danny. "This is also where we split up," she said with clear disappointment, which didn't go unnoticed by her friends. Well, most of them. Rainbow Dash was more focused on a Wonderbolts poster hanging on the station's wall. "The train to Ponyville is on platform three, over there," she told Danny, pointing a hoof at the correct train. "It should leave in another ten minutes. We, on the other hoof, must leave immediately. Too much time has already passed, and our help is needed in the Empire."

"Right," Danny replied with a frown, looking at the train back home. A frown which was misread by some.

"Oh, don't worry dear. We'll be back sooner than you know. Then Twilight can tell you all about how we saved an entire empire."

"Wait, what?" Danny and Twilight said in stereo, blinking in confusion. 

"Oh, nothing," Rarity said with fake innocence, giving a wink.

Danny and Twilight stared at each other in blank confusion, not sure what she was hinting at. They were snapped out of their stupor when a steam whistle from the mares' train signaled it was ready to depart. 

"Right, we need to go now," Twilight muttered, reminding herself of what needed to be done. Looking over her shoulder, she saw her friends were already boarding the first car; a playful grin on Rarity's face, while Applejack's showed a knowing smile. Twilight didn't know why, but she had a feeling they knew something she didn’t. Pinkie Pie was smiling as well, but the exact reason behind this was even more of a mystery for the mare. Shaking her head, she focused back on the tall human before her. "Well, see you when we get back," she said with a noticeable level of awkwardness. Turning around, she stopped in a moment of hesitation, biting her lower lip.

Turning back around, she reared up and gave Danny a warm hug, while he stood completely frozen on the spot by the sudden affection.

"Ehh..." he mumbled, hands half raised; his mind frozen in debate on whether he should return the hug or not. However, Twilight broke off the hug before he was able to regain his senses, and she quickly hurried onto the train, leaving a flabbergasted human standing on the platform.

"Huh?" Danny finally managed to say, when the train departed with another blow of its whistle. A couple of muted "Oohhs," could be heard coming from within the car, while he blinked slowly a couple of times. Finally, the train gained some momentum, and left the station. Danny, still stuck in a daze, watched the train slowly getting smaller, a chill going down his spine.

They were heading to this Empire, facing someone who sounded just like Pariha Dark. And if this Sombra truly was what Danny feared he was, they were heading into a potential deathtrap. They didn't know how to fight a ghost. She didn't know how to fight a ghost. And if this guy was even half as bad as the dark ghost king…


THUMB-THUMB


Danny's left hand twitched, before both hands balled into fists. Looking around, he searched for a spot hidden from view. 

'Just this one time,' he told himself as he dashed behind a wall. 'Just once… What's the worst that could happen?'

A flash of light came from his hiding spot, his shadow projected on the wall of the nearby building. Glowing green eyes looked up through the low hanging strands of white hair, burning bright with determination. 'Not again… I can't let her… them, get hurt too.'

Turning invisible on the spot, he flew up and after the train, pushing himself to catch up. The wind cut into his face as he pushed himself to go faster, but to no avail. His former speed, more than capable of catching up with the train, had dwindled down to a much slower pace. Then, in a moment of clarity, he turned himself intangible to allow any wind resistance to pass cleanly through him, allowing him to speed up without any effort. Closer and closer he got, and before long the puffs of smoke coming from the locomotive's chimney blew in, and then through his face. Angling himself downwards, he aimed at the second car, phasing through the roof.

"Alright!" He exclaimed triumphantly.

"Hey, did any a' y'all hear that?" He heard Applejack's voice coming from the other side, having heard his mistake. 

More in a flash of panic than actual rational thought, he transformed back into his human self while dropping to the ground; only for it to give way and shift. In a loud ruckus of suitcases falling and a human shouting, the door separating the two cars opened. Danny looked up in shock and embarrassment, while a look of shocked confusion showed on the faces of the six ponies and one baby dragon who stared back at him.

"Ehh… Hey," Danny said weakly, waving a hat-covered hand. "Fancy seeing you here."

The only answer he got was silence, as the train continued on its journey to their next adventure.