A cloaked figuer floated along side Aria Blaze as she walked along a balcony over looking the Crystal Empire.
"Saddle Arabia is sparsely populated. If the trace was correct, I will find them quickly, Father." Aria said looking up at the figure.
"Move against the Knights first...you will then have no difficulty in taking the King to Neighboo to sign the treaty." The figure said with an evil voice.
"At last we will reveal ourselves to the Crystal Knights. At last we will have revenge." She said happily, watching the Crystal Ponies going about their day.
"Chaos has made you strong, my child, they will be no match for you." The figure said making her smile.
The giant sandstorm contiued to blow out side as Star Swirl, Sombra, Wa-waush-ka'-ehe and Puledro sat around a table.
"All slaves have small locater crystal placed inside their bodies somewhere." Shadow Flower explained as she surved the group lunch.
"I've been working on a locator crystal to try and locate mine." Sombra said looking up from his food.
"Any attempt to escape..." She contiuned taking a seat.
"...and they blow you up... boom!" Her son finished.
"How rude." Wa-waush-ka'-ehe exclamied.
"I can't believe there is still slavery in Equestia." Puledro said bewilder. "The Princesses' anti-slavery laws..".
"The princesses' authority isn't recognised out here...we must survive on our own." The pegasus mare said as Wa-waush-ka'-ehe used his antlers to grab an apple, everyone giving him a dirty look.
"'Scuse me." He said looking around the table.
"Has anypony ever seen a Crystal Chriot Race?" Sombra asked changing the subject.
"They have Chariot Racing in Minostare. Very fast, very dangerous." Star Swirl explained.
"I'm the only pony around here who can do it." The black colt said proudly.
"You must have Knight like reflexes." The bearded unicorn said stoping Wa-waush-ka'-ehe from using his antlers to steal more food with his magic. "Don't do that again." He worrned before letting him go.
"You're a Crystal Knight, aren't you?" Sombra asked.
"What makes you think that?" Star Swirl asked as Puledro and Wa-waush-ka'-ehe shared a look.
"I saw your crystal sword. Only Crystal Knights carry that kind of weapon." The colt explained.
"Perhaps I killed one and took it from him." The elder Unicorn said leaning back and slowly smiling.
"I don't think so... Nopony can kill a Crystal Knight." Sombra declared.
"I wish that were so..." Star Swirl laughed before sighing.
"I had a dream I was a Knight and I freed all the slaves..." He stated. "Have you come to free us?"
"No, I'm afraid not..." The Crystal Knight said, sadly shacking his head.
"I think you have... why else would you be here?"
"I can see there's no fooling you..." Star Swirl said leaning forward. "We're on our way to the Crystal Empire, on a very important mission."
"How did you end up out here?" Sombra asked confused as to how they ended up in one of the farthest places from it.
"Our airship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it." Puledro said finishing his meal.
"I can help!" Sombra declared. "I can fix anything!"
"I believe you can, but first we must acquire the parts we need." The unicorn said.
"And with nothing to trade." The deer continued.
"These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind." The king's advisor asked.
"Gambling." Shadow Flower stated "Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races."
"Chariot racing..." Star Sirl said thinking. "Greed can be a powerful ally."
"I've built a Chariot. It's the fastest ever!" Sombra said thinking of a way to help them. "There's a big race tomorrow, on Summer's Eve. You could enter mine-"
"Sombra!" His mother said stopping him. "Gerardo won't let you."
"Gerardo doesn't know I've built it." the colt said turing to Star Swirl "You could make him think it's yours, and get him to let me drive it for you."
"I don't want you to race. It's awful. I die every time Gerardo makes you do it." Shadow Flower said pleadingly.
"But Mom, I love it." Sombra said before sighing. "The prize money would more than pay for the parts they need."
"Sombra!" The mare said worring him to drop it.
"Your mother's right. Is there anyone friendly to the Princesses who might help us?" Star Swirl asked to which she shook her head.
"Mom... you said the biggest problem here is that nopony helps each other..." Sombra said sadly.
"I'm sure Star Swirl doesn't want to put your son in danger. We'll find some other way." Puledro said streaching a bit.
"No." Shadow Flower said with a sigh. "There is no other way... I may not like it, but... he can help you... he was meant to help you."
When the storm finaly subsided Sombra left to tell Gerardo that he would be entering the next chariot race, Star Swirl, Wa-waush-ka'-ehe and Puledro following soon after.
"Are you sure about this?" Puledro asked stoping the elder unicorn before he entered the shop. "Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know. The King will not approve."
"The King doesn't need to know." Star Swirl said giving him a knowing look.
"Well, I don't approve." He said grumpily.
"The boy tells me you wanta sponser him in a race." Gerardo said as Star Swirl walked into the shop. "How can you do this? Not on Imperial Credits, I think, huh." He said flying over to him.
"My ship will be the entry fee." Star Swirl said levitating a small Crystal out of his pocket, and a hologram of the Neighboo airship appeared about a foot long in front of them.
"Oh, not bad... not bad... ah Neighbian, ah." The griffin said studying it.
"It's in good order, except for the parts I need." The unicorn explained putting the crystal away.
"Alright, but what would the boy ride?" Gerardo asked. "He smashed up my Chariot in the last race. It will take some time to fix it."
"It wasn't my fault really." Sombra said a bit embarrassed. "Alduin pushed me with his thu'um. I actually saved the chariot... mostly."
"That you did." Greardo laughed. "The boy is good, no doubts there."
"Well, I have acquired a chariot in a game of chance. The fastest ever built." Star Swirl lied.
"I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it." The griffin laughed nowing how most games of chance end. "So, you supply the chariot and the entry fee; I supply the colt. We split the winnings fifty-fifty, I think."
"If it's going to be fifty-fifty, then I suggest you front the cash for the entry." Star Swirl said putting his plan into motion. "If we win, you keep all the winnings, minus the cost of the parts I need and If we lose, you keep my ship." He said as the griffin thought about it. "Either way, you win."
"Deal!" Gerardo said pumping Star swirls hoof to make it offical. "Your friend is a follish one, I think." he said to Sombra as Star Swirl left.