The golden rays of the sun started to reach over the mountain, bathing the town below in its warmth as a shimmering white alicorn with her waving prism mane behind her, as she flew above the waking town of ponies.
‘Things are peaceful here in Equestria, my sister Luna was returned to us and the Elements of Harmony once again protect our home.’ She was lost in her thoughts as an eerie laughter drifted along the morning breeze towards her, stopping her in mid-flight.
She thrashed her head around searching for the source of the voice, her horn beginning to glow a soft pale gold as she erected a shield around herself as her eyes glowed white and she teleported.
The land changed from the peaceful morning valley, to a screaming tundra, the winds howling from one direction to the other as it pounded the ground with heavy snow, but it was blown aback as the white alicorn reappeared in a flash of golden light.
She walked along the tundra her shield protecting her from the harsh winds, looking from side to side, to see if there was anypony around. ‘I know that laughter, but how is this possible?’
Slowly moving against the raging storm, she climbed a small hill and looked below. ‘The Crystal Empire has been gone for over a thousand years. So I know that voice must simply be a trick of the wind.’
‘Celestia......Celestia....’ An ominous voice filled her ears as a chilling breath hit her neck.
She spun around in an instant her horn glowing as a blast of energy shot from it destroying a nearby snow mound. Again the laughter was heard behind her as she teleported a few meters from the spot, spreading her wings and taking to the air. “Where are you, you foul demon!?” She shouted into the winds, yet no reply came besides the howling of the storm.
The laughter echoed in all directions as it slowed before being replaced with the same ominous voice,‘Celestia are you ready?’
“Ready...ready for what?” She wondered as a blast of dark magic slammed her into the ground. Celestia got up from the small crater she had formed as her shield manifested around her, encasing her form in its pale glow.
The creature laughed as his horn glowed and released another blast of dark magic, slamming against her shield, pushing her a little deeper into the crater.
Celestia growled and took to the air, “Where are you!?”
Her answer never only came as a deep rumbling shook the land as a glowing light engulfed her vision, causing her to land and shield her eyes. But in that instant, the light was gone as she slowly removed her wings and stared at the sight below her.
At first she gasped and shook her head, but reality soon sunk in. ‘The Crystal Empire has Returned!’ She screamed in her thoughts as she began to look around again, ‘But that also means.......’
She stopped in mid-thought as she looked down, seeing the slithering black form around her hooves before it quickly retreated to the horde of shifting black in front of her muzzle and at its center, the very core of her nightmares. Her eyes widened in fear as he lunged at her.