I awoke the next day slightly exhausted. Memories of yesterday came to me as I slowly allowed my body to wake up. The rest of yesterday was spent with Fire, he trained me how to control how explosive my fireballs could be, much to the gratitude of Luna who I accidentally woke from her sleep with my first fireball.
As I got out of bed I heard someone knocking on the door to me and Trixie’s room. As I got changed the knocking became more loud and fast paced. Once I reached the top of the stairs that led down to my room I saw that the knocking didn’t wake Trixie up.
Once I reached the door I realized that whoever was knocking had stopped knocking. I could barely hear whoever was on the other side of the door talking saying something. I then opened the door to see who was on the other side of the door. As soon as I opened the door I was tackled to the ground.
When I looked down to see who had tackled me to the ground I saw Pinkie Pie. “HIRYANHOWSITGOING!” She said as fast as she could.
I immediately placed my hand over her muzzle as I looked up the stairs that led to Trixie’s room, not hearing any noises from up the stairs I turned my gaze back down to Pinkie. “Pinkie I need you to be very quiet okay.” I whispered to her not wanting to wake Trixie up.
She gave me a nod in response as I removed my hand from covering her mouth. It was then that I noticed the rest of the mane six and Spike enter the room. “Sorry about Pinkie, Ryan. She’s been excited to see you since we were summoned by Princess Celestia.” Twilight said as she levitated Pinkie off of me.
After standing up I gave one last glance upstairs before turning my gaze back to the others. “No problem Twilight. By the way try to keep it down Trixie’s upstairs asleep.” I said gesturing up the stairs to where Trixie was hopefully still asleep.
“Well hopefully we haven’t accidentally woken her up darling.” Rarity said giving Pinkie a slight glare at her nearly waking Trixie up.
“Well anyway Princess Celestia sent us to get you, she wanted to see you as well as us.” Twilight stated.
“Okay. Let’s get going then.” I said walking towards the door. Once every-pony was outside of the room I closed the door behind us, I then turned to look at Twilight. “Do you know where Celestia would be?”
“She told us to meet her in the Throne Room.” Twilight said before heading off in that direction.
After a few minutes we arrived outside the throne room doors to find Luna waiting for us.
She turned to look at us as we approached. “Twilight good to see that you and your friends have arrived.” Luna said. “My sister would only like to see you and Ryan, your friends will have to wait out here.” Luna said whilst she opened the doors for us.
Twilight turned to look at the others. “Don’t ‘cha worry sugarcube we’ll be waiting right here fer ya.” AJ said whilst the others gave nods of agreement.
“Well c’mon Twilight let’s not keep Celestia waiting.” I said as I approached the open doors. Before crossing the threshold, I stopped in front of Luna and gave her a small bow. “Thank you for opening the doors for us Lady Noctis.” I said getting a small smile to cross her muzzle before she re-donned her look of seriousness.
I then turned back to the open door frame to find Twilight had already entered the room. After entering the room, I found Celestia talking to Twilight, when she noticed me walk in as the doors closed behind me. “Ryan good to see you could make it. Now please come here I have something I need to discuss with you and Twilight.” She said waving a hoof towards herself to get me to approach them.
“So what’s up Tia?” I asked her casually. “Okay something serious to talk about then.” I said noticing her serious expression.
“Twilight, Ryan, I must inform you that the Crystal Empire has returned.” Celestia stated whilst levitating a small pink crystal in front of us.
“The Crystal Empire? I’ve never read anything about that.” Twilight said to Celestia a look of confusion adorning her face.
“Yes the Crystal Empire.” Celestia said as her magic surrounded the small pink crystal. The crystal then projected an image of what I presumed was the Crystal Empire. “It is no surprise that you have not read about the Empire, very few remember it’s existence, even my sister and I have very little knowledge about the Empire.” She said whilst gesturing to the model of the Crystal Empire. “1000 years ago the empire was ruled by a tyrannical leader by the name of King Sombra, an evil unicorn with a heart as black as night, he ruled with an iron hoof enslaving the Crystal Empire forcing its citizens to work in the crystal mines. Once word of this reached me and my sister’s ears we acted swiftly.”
“What happened?” I asked wondering exactly what Celestia and Luna did.
“My sister and I fought the tyrannical King and banished him to the frozen north. Before he fell he cursed the Crystal Empire to disappear for 1000 years.” She then turned her gaze from looking at the hologram to me and Twilight. “Twilight, Ryan, if the Crystal Empire is filled with hope and love then hope and love will spread across Equestria.” She said. She then charged up her horn and fired a yellow beam into the pink crystal causing bright lights to emanate from the crystal filling the room. “But if hatred and fear take hold…” She said letting her sentence hang in the air as her horn glowed purple, her eyes started glowing a sickly green as she shot a pitch black laser into the crystal.
Once she shot the beam into the crystal a dark shadow crept out from the crystal, once the shadow had surrounded Twilight and I dark crystals sprung up from the shadows. As soon as they appeared Celestia blasted them with a beam of light causing them to shatter. She then looked at us as we recovered from seeing the dark crystals. “Twilight, Ryan, I need you to go to the Crystal Empire and protect it. Now you two must be off I have already arranged for a train to take you and your friends to the empire, the train is waiting for you at the Upper District’s train station.” She said as she led us to the now open double doors.
Before I could join Twilight and the others I was stopped by Luna, I then turned around to see Celestia looking at me. “I’m guessing you two want to talk to me.” The two sister then gave me a nod. “Okay then.” I then turned to see Twilight talking to the others. “Hey Twilight I’ll meet you guys at the train station.” I said she then gave me a nod as I followed the two sisters back into the throne room. “So what do you want to talk about?”
“Ryan, we need to tell you something, something very important.” Luna said a serious look upon her and Celestia’s face. “It concerns something that happened a thousand years ago, when Celestia and I went to face Sombra.” She said a look of sadness and worry on her face.
“What happened?” I said concerned for my friend.
“When my sister and I battled Sombra I was slightly corrupted by his magic, which caused me to become a darker version of myself to defeat him.” She said looking down at her hooves in sadness. “That corruption was what led to me becoming jealous of my sister and in turn turning me into Nightmare Moon.” She said her voice cracking up at the sad memories.
Celestia the draped a wing over her sister’s back to comfort her. “What my sister is trying to say is that Sombra may have returned along with the Empire, and that we wish for you to be careful.” Her horn started to glow as a black trench coat with a blue and red trim appeared levitating in front of me. “That is why we made this. The Thaumonomicon called this the Arch Mage’s Cloak. We have enchanted it with multiple protective enchantment, as well as an enchantment which allows the cloak to adjust to the temperature around it, so if you are in the freezing colds of the north the cloak will keep you warm, and if you are in the boiling heat of the badlands then the cloak will keep you cool.” She explained as I put the cloak on.
“Wow thanks Tia.” I then looked at Luna who still had a look of sadness on her face. I decided to pull the lunar princess into a hug. After ending the hug, I looked into her eyes seeing the sadness disappear. “Don’t worry about me Luna I’ll be careful and if I do encounter Sombra I’ll take him down for you.” That managed to get a small smile to don her muzzle. “Well I best get going. Already keeping you from getting your sleep Luna.” I said whilst making my way towards the doors.
“Be careful Ryan.” Luna said.
“Don’t worry about me Luna, I’ll be fine. Just get yourself some sleep okay.” She then gave me a nod as I left the room heading for the train station.
Once I finally got on the train after the conductor not letting me on without a ticket, and him not believing that I was sent here by Celestia. Dash came out and told the conductor to let me on. It turns out that we had the whole train reserved for ourselves as each of the mane six and Spike spread themselves out on their own individual couches.
As I took my seat across from Pinkie, she immediately sat up and looked at me with interest. “So Ryan, how has your stay up in Canterlot been?” She asked me.
“Yeah what did you do, ‘cause Princess Celestia said that you were staying up there to learn a few more spells from her.” Dash said taking a seat next to me.
“Well I did learn a couple more spells.” A mischievous thought then crossed my mind. “I’ll show you one but you have to stay perfectly calm okay.” I then got a round of nods from the ponies and dragon as they circled me. I then decided to start off with something simple as I ignited my hand in purple illusionary fire.
“Whoa that is cool.” Dash said looking at my flaming hand.
“Darling isn’t that burning you?” Rarity asked worry lacing her question.
“Don’t worry about that Rarity, it’s not real fire it’s an illusion.” I said as Dash decided to place a fore-hoof on my flaming hand.
“Yeah it’s fake.” Dash said as she removed her hoof from the fire. “So any other spells you learn?”
“Well one other but I’m not giving you a demonstration.”
“Aww how come?” Pinkie asked disappointed at me not showing her another spell.
“Because Pinkie, the other spell I learnt was how to launch fireballs.” I said.
“Yeah that’s probably a good reason not to give us a demonstration.” Twilight said as she looked at my jacket. “So where did you get the jacket?”
“Oh yeah, this thing. Well Celestia gave it to me, she said it’s design is from the Thaumonomicon. Celestia said she enchanted it with a few protective wards, as well as an enchantment that either cools or warms up the jacket depending on the temperature around me.” I said as Twilight gave a few nods of understandment.
“Interesting.” Twilight said still looking at my jacket with interest. “Urgh when am I going to get to look at that book.” Twilight said frustrated at the fact she still hadn’t seen the Thaumonomicon.
“Well how about this Twilight, I’ll tell the Princess to give you the book when we get back from the Empire.” I said giving her a hopeful smile. “Now if you don’t mind can you guys please wake me up when we get to the Empire.” I said getting nods from the ponies.
I then decided to drift off to sleep.
I was awoken from my nap by someone poking me. I slowly opened my eyes to see Fluttershy slowly poking my side. “Hey Fluttershy, I’m guessing we’re getting close to the Crystal Empire.”
“Yes we are.” She then decided to look down at her hooves. “I hope I didn’t interrupt any good dreams.” She said a slight amount of guilt on her face.
“No you didn’t Fluttershy.” I then looked around to see that the rest of the cabin was empty. “Hey where are the others?”
“Oh their waiting for us in the next cabin.” Fluttershy said as I got up from my seat.
“Well let’s not keep them waiting.” I said whilst walking towards the door that led to next cabin. I then held the door open. “Ladies first.” I said whilst Fluttershy gave me a quick thank you as she went through the door.
“Ah good to see you’re awake Ryan.” Twilight said before turning to Fluttershy. “Thanks for volunteering to wake him up Fluttershy.”
“Well you’re welcome Twilight.” Fluttershy said as she walked over to her friends.
“So how far away are we from our stop Twilight?” I asked as I looked out a nearby window at the frozen wastes.
“We should be there in a few minutes.” The train then came to a stop. “Or a few seconds. C’mon guys let’s go.” Twilight said as she opened the door to the frozen wastes.
As we exited the train we found ourselves on what seemed like an abandoned and old train station, I then turned to look back at the train as it made a quick reverse away from the station. “I’m guessing that this isn’t the Crystal Empire.” I said looking at the deserted station.
“No it isn’t.” It was then we realized we weren’t alone on the platform as we turned to look at as stallion who was standing at the edge of the platform walking towards us. As he got closer we saw that he was wearing a scarf and goggles. When he was standing in front of us he removed the scarf and goggles to reveal Shining Armor.
“Shiny!” Twilight said whilst she pulled Shining into a hug.
“Good to see you too Twily.” Shining said returning the hug. “Look we need to get going, it’s dangerous out here beyond the empire’s borders.”
It was then I noticed a black cloud off in the distance behind Shining, as I looked closer I saw that the cloud was slowly approaching us. “I’m gonna guess that is dangerous.” I said pointing to the black cloud.
“We need to go now. Every-pony follow me!” Shining said whilst running off the platform.
We didn’t need anymore motivation to follow Shining. “Hey Shining what is that thing!” I yelled out to him as he led us to what looked like a giant light blue dome.
“I’ll explain once we get through that shield.” He said gesturing with his horn towards the dome.
As we got closer to the dome Shining and I looked back to see the cloud was getting closer to us, I also noticed that the cloud had grown a set of eyes. Shining then looked back at me. “Ryan get the others through the dome I’ll hold this thing off!” Shining yelled at me over the freezing wind.
At this Shining stopped and fired a few bolts of energy into the cloud as the rest of us passed through the dome. Twilight then looked around to see if we had made it. “Wait where’s Shiny?!” She then looked back to the part of the dome that we had entered through. “I’m going to go get him.”
I then rushed a head of Twilight stopping her in her tracks. “Twilight stay here with the others I’ll get Shining.” I said to her. Before she could say anything else I rushed back through the dome.
Once I ran back out into the freezing weather I could’ve sworn that the snow storm had become more violent. It didn’t take me to long to find Shining as I found him fighting with the dark cloud. Unfortunately Shining was losing the fight.
As I got closer to the fight I saw that Shining had been picked up by the cloud, as he was levitated to be looking at the cloud’s eyes a dark beam fired from the cloud at Shining’s horn. It was then I decided to intervene, luckily for me the cloud hadn’t noticed me so it didn’t expect the fireball that I had launched at it’s eyes.
One screech of death later the cloud disappeared dropping Shining directly on top of me. “Oof.” I groaned out as I levitated Shining off of me. “You okay buddy?” I said once I placed him back on the ground.
“Yeah I’m fine. Let’s save the pleasantries for later. He’ll be back.” He said as we ran back through the dome.
As soon as we got back through Shining was immediately tackled by Twilight. “Shining Armor don’t you ever do anything stupid like that ever again.” Twilight said whilst hugging Shining.
“Okay I won’t do anything like that again.” Shining said whilst Twilight hopped off of him. He then turned his gaze to me. “Thanks for saving my flank back there Ryan.”
“No problem. Also can you use magic?” I asked pointing at his horn.
“What do you oh.” He said looking at his horn. He then tried to cast a spell as his horn slowly lit up, but the black crystals jutting out of his horn cancelled his spell. “Seems I can’t.” He then shifted his gaze towards the Crystal Empire. “C’mon you guys let’s go see Cadance.” With that said he led us towards the Empire.
After a few minutes we made our way through the deserted streets of the empire, to the base of what Shining said was the crystal palace. As we made our way up the castle I looked out nearby windows looking out at the city.
Soon enough we found ourselves in the crystal palace’s throne room. When we entered I noticed that Cadance was sitting at the opposite end of the room slouched in her throne. When she noticed us enter she immediately leapt off her throne and met Twilight in the middle of the room as they performed their ‘Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake’ rhyme.
It was then that I noticed two things about Cadance. The first was that her horn was constantly giving off a blue glow. The second was the bags under her eyes. “Geez Cadance I didn’t think that running an Empire would drain you of sleep.”
Cadance then shifted her gaze to me as Shining whispered something in her ear. The next thing I knew I was pulled into a hug by the pink alicorn. Once she separated the hug she looked at me with a warm smile. “Thank you for saving my Shiny, Ryan.”
“You’re welcome least I could do.”
“Okay then. As for how exhausting it is to run an empire it’s actually not that tiring.” Cadance admitted before a clap of thunder could be heard outside, causing Cadance’s magic to flicker slightly.
“Here dear sit sown you need to relax.” Shining said whilst carrying Cadance back to her throne. “As for why she’s exhausted Ryan. Cadance is the one projecting the shield that’s around the empire keeping Sombra out.” He said a grim look adorning his face.
“So that cloud was Sombra.”
“Yes it was Ryan.” Shining said still wearing that grim look on his face.
“Good that makes me feel better knowing that I threw a fireball at his face then.” I said clenching my fists in anger knowing that Sombra was still alive.
That managed to get a smile to replace the grim look on Shining’s face. “Good to hear someone hates him as much as I do.” He then gave me a questioning glance. “So what makes you hate Sombra, Ryan?”
“Sorry Shining but I’m not going to tell you, it’s a secret.”
“Oh alright then, as long it’s a good enough reason.” He then turned his attention to the others. “Twilight I need to ask you and your friends to do a favor for Cadance and I. We need you to go out and ask the crystal ponies about what life was like before Sombra.”
“Sure thing Shiny.” Twilight said before turning to the others. “Well let’s get going.” She then turned back to me. “You coming Ryan?”
“No thanks Twilight, probably best if I stay here might do a bit of research in the palace’s library.” I then turned to Shining. “This place does have a library right?”
“Yeah it does, I’ll take you too it.” Shining said before trotting back to Cadance’s side and gave her a kiss. “Follow me then.” He said as he led me to the library. Twilight and the others followed us out of the room but instead of following us into the library they went out into the empire.
As we entered the library we were greeted by an elderly librarian. “Hello you two, what can I do for you?” She asked giving me a few glances, probably wondering what I was.
“Ryan, I would like to introduce you to Amethyst Maresbury.” Shining said gesturing to the elderly mare. “She’ll be able to help you. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go check up on Cadance.” With that said Shining left me alone with Amethyst.
“Well Amethyst do you know where the history section of the library would be?”
She then gave me a look of confusion. “Sorry dear but I can’t remember. I don’t even know if I work here or not.” She said looking around the library.
“Okay then. Well thanks for your time.” I said giving her a wave as I went searching for the history section.
After about a few minutes I had managed to find a book labeled ‘History of the Crystal Empire’ after spending an hour browsing through the pages a familiar voice graced my ears.
“Excuse me miss, you wouldn’t happen to know where the history section is?” I looked up from the book to see Twilight talking to Amethyst, the others were slowly entering the library.
“Hey Twilight over here.” I said waving the unicorn and her friends over to me.
Once they reached the table I was sitting at they each pulled up seats for themselves. “So what did you find Ryan?” Twilight asked looking at the book that was on the table in front of me.
“How about you guys go first.”
“Alright then. Well we haven’t been able to find any information about the time before Sombra. None of the crystal ponies remember anything, it’s like they all have collective amnesia.” She then looked back at the book. “So what did you find out?”
I then closed the book showing Twilight what the cover said. “You may find this more interesting than the front cover.” I said whilst opening the book to a page labeled ‘The Crystal Faire’.
“So we have to perform this Crystal Faire in order to protect the Empire from harm.” Twilight asked looking at the page.
“Yep.” I said. I then tried opening my mouth to say something else before I was cut off by Twilight.
“Okay girls let’s go show this to Cadance and Shining.” With that said Twilight and the others left the library except for Spike who had seen I wanted to say something.
“So what did you want to say Ryan?” Spike asked me.
“I wanted to tell Twilight that a page was ripped out of that book.” I then looked back to Spike. “You best go help them out with the faire Spike, I’m going to go see if Cadance and Shining need help with anything.”
“Got it Ryan.” Spike said as he ran out of the room to help the others with the faire.
As I left the library I turned to Amethyst. “Thanks for all the help Amethyst.”
“Your welcome Ryan.” With a final wave I left the library heading back up the stairs to the throne room.
“Hey, hey, hey. How’s the royal couple doing?” I asked as I walked over to Cadance and Shining Armor. “Hey Cadance, you’re looking a whole lot better.” I said noticing that she looked less tired than she was before.
“Thanks Ryan. Me looking better is probably thanks to the good news that Twilight delivered.”
“Well good to know.” I said as she led Shining and I over to a nearby balcony. Looking out at the empire I could hear Twilight and the others singing a song as they prepared the faire. “So Cadance can I ask you a question.”
“Of course you can Ryan. What’s the question?”
“How exactly are you related to Celestia and Luna?” I asked.
“Well I’m the descendant of the first queen, Princess Amore, she was the first ruler of the Crystal Empire before the rise of Sombra. Turns out she was a distant relative to Celestia and Luna.”
“Oh okay then. Well I guess that explains why your full name is Mi Amore Cadenza. Have to have a connection to your relatives.” I said as she gave me a nod at my statement.
We were then joined on the balcony by Twilight and Rainbow. “We have a problem.” Twilight said as her and Dash joined us.
“What’s the problem Twilight?” Cadance said a look of worry on her face.
“The book didn’t say anything about a Crystal Heart.” She said as she pulled the history book out from a saddle bag that she was wearing.
I then grabbed the book out from her magical grasp. I then turned the book to the last page. “This is what I wanted to tell you about before you ran out of the library.” I said gesturing to the evidence of the page being torn out.
“Don’t worry about that Twilight.” Cadance said before fainting into Shining’s arms gasping for air.
“Cadance!” Twilight said running to her side. It was then that Cadance’s horn stopped glowing I then looked out across the empire to see that her shield had fallen.
“Um we may have a slight problem.” I said as the others noticed the shield had fallen.
Luckily for us Shining leapt into action helping Cadance recover from her small faint. After recovering from her faint Cadance fired up her horn once more. With a look of pure exhaustion and weariness she restored the shield.
Shining then looked up at us whilst he still supported Cadance. “Twilight, you and your friends need to find the Crystal Heart.” He said a look of worry crossing his face.
Twilight was in slight shock at what had happened to Cadance, I then gave her a slight shake as Shining took Cadance inside. “Twilight!” I said managing to get her to snap out of her trance.
“Huh? Wait where’s Cadance and Shining?” Twilight asked looking around the balcony.
“Twilight you need to go find the Crystal Heart okay.” I said pulling her attention back to me.
“Got it. I’ll just need to grab Spike and the girls and then…”
I decided to cut off her train of thought. “No Twilight. Me and the girls will keep the faire going okay. You and Spike will have to look for the heart by yourselves, think you can do that?” I asked as she gave me a nod. “Good.” I said as Twilight ran back inside.
After running back downstairs Dash and I found the rest of the mane six (Excluding Twilight) waiting for us next to what I presumed to be the fake Crystal Heart.
“Dash, Ryan what happened up there? The shield disappeared for a few seconds.” AJ said a look of worry on her face.
After a quick explanation of what had happened a few minutes prior Rarity decided to speak up. “So what are we to do while Twilight and Spike look for this Crystal Heart?”
“Simple Rarity, we have to keep the faire going.” I said to the others.
“How come?” Pinkie asked.
“Because Pinkie, we have to keep the crystal ponies distracted until Twilight and Spike finds the real heart.” With that said the ponies gave nods of understandment.
“So what do we do next for the faire darling?” Rarity asked me as I turned the pages of the history book.
“Who’s up for a little bit of jousting?” I said getting a look of excitement to be worn on Dash’s face.
After a while we had sent up a small jousting area with Dash at one end and Fluttershy at the other. They both were wearing sets of armor fit for a pegasus, each set of armor had a small dull lance attached to the chest plate. I had decided to sit in a small booth next to Pinkie Pie as she commentated over the jousting match.
“Here comes Knight Dash running down the field towards Knight Fluttershy. Oh it seems like Fluttershy is up to something.” Pinkie yelled into a megaphone as Fluttershy laid on the ground with her fore-hooves over her head. As Dash reached Fluttershy, Dash tripped over Fluttershy not expecting the yellow pegasus to stay in the same spot causing Dash to trip over Fluttershy. “And Fluttershy, wins the first match. Hooray for Knight Fluttershy!” Pinkie exclaimed as the crowd went wild with excitement.
“I can’t believe that you ponies have jousting.” I said to Pinkie, as Dash congratulated Fluttershy on her win.
“Wait you have jousting where you come from?!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“Yeah. Well humans used to play it along time ago. Few humans actually joust anymore.” I explained.
“Do you know how to joust?” Pinkie asked.
“Unfortunately not.” I said.
Rarity and Applejack, joined Pinkie and I in our little booth looks of worry on their faces. “Pinkie, Ryan we got a problem!” AJ exclaimed.
“What’s the problem?” I asked as Pinkie went to go get Dash and Fluttershy.
“Oh darling the crystal ponies have realized that the crystal heart is a fake.” Rarity said as the others joined us.
It was then I noticed the sky start to turn dark. “Uh oh.” I said before looking back at the others. “Okay then I have a plan. You guys get back to the palace.” They then gave me a nod in response. “Good. I’m going to go stall Sombra.”
That managed to get looks of shock on the ponies faces. Dash then hovered in front of me stopping me from leaving the box. “No way, if you’re going to go fight Sombra I’m coming with you.”
“No way Dash.” I then turned to the others before they could speak up. “None of you are.” That managed to only increase the worry on their faces. “Look guys I’ll be fine okay, it’s not my first scrap.” I then turned back to Dash. “Hey Dash if I need your help I’ll fire a fireball into the air. But you’re only to come and get me out of the fight not to get involved. Got it.” I said giving her a look of seriousness.
“Okay then.” She said reluctantly.
“Good.” I then pulled her into a hug, I then gestured to the others to join us. After our hug I made to leave the box but before I left I turned back to the ponies. “Guys if I end up in a medical ward or something don’t let the doctors take off my pants.” That managed to get looks of confusion on their faces. “Look tell Cadance I said that, she’ll know what it means.” With that said I made my way out into the empire.
“So we’re going to go fight Sombra eh?” Orion said as I passed a small group of crystal ponies as they made their way towards the Crystal Palace.
‘Yep we are. Well more so I’m going to fight Sombra.’ I thought back to him.
“Well I wonder if I’ll claim your body if you die?” Orion pondered that thought.
‘Well if you do make sure you kill Sombra for me will.’ I admitted wondering if he would do such a thing.
“Sure thing. He won’t expect you to come back to life.” He chuckled.
‘Good to know you’ll do that.’ I thought letting out a small chuckle as I approached a few of the corrupted crystal houses.
“You sure you’re ready?” Orion asked as the shield broke down, Sombra’s shadow form coming towards the empire.
‘Hopefully I am.’ I thought before something crossed my mind. ‘If I do die and you take over my body don’t let anyone know that you’re in control.’
“Got it oh look who’s here.” I then looked up to see Sombra’s shadow looking at me.
“So you’re the great and powerful Sombra eh?” I asked the shadow thinking he’d give me a response. He didn’t. I then decided to charge up a fireball behind my back. ‘Thank god these gloves are fire proof.’ I thought to myself.
Sombra just stood there looking at me probably trying to figure out what I was. I decided to interrupt his train of thought by launching a fireball directly at his face. He didn’t like that. Not at all.
I soon found myself being hit by a blast of dark magic. My body was sent flying back into a crystal house. Somehow the blast of magic had sent me flying through the air at a high enough velocity to break the wall that I had collided into.
The effects of Sombra’s dark magic didn’t just stop there. After the dust had settled from the crystal home (One that now lacked a wall) that I had crashed into my vision was filled with I can only describe as my worst fears. Partway through my fear filled visions my vision grew dark, as I slowly lost myself to the realm of unconsciousness.
Orion’s P.O.V
“Urgh my head.” I groaned out as I raised my hand to my head feeling a bit of blood trickling out of the back of my head. “Damn. What’d I hit my head on…” I then looked around me taking in my surroundings. “Wait a second. Where am I?” I said standing up looking down at myself whilst patting the dust off of myself. “Okay how am I in control of that idiot’s body.” A thought then crossed my mind. I then decided to search my mind to see if what I thought was correct. “Dammit he’s still alive.” I said feeling Ryan’s sub-conscious still in my mind (Also when Orion says his body/mind he means Ryan’s body/mind) although it was fun feeling him experience his worst fears.
I decided to get out of the crystal house as I could’ve sworn some of it was collapsing. As I stepped out of the house I heard the house’s roof collapse behind me.
“Whoa that was close.” I said to myself a chuckle escaping my lips at the thought of what Ryan would do to me if I injured his body. “Not like he could do much anyway. Hmm wonder if this little role change is permanent.” I said walking back to where Ryan had decided to face down Sombra.
“Ah you’re still here!” I yelled out as I approached Sombra. “Wouldn’t think you’d have stuck around.” That managed to get Sombra to raise a smokey eye brow at me. I then saw that he had decided to shed his smoke form. Revealing the regal king. His armor shining thanks to whatever sunlight could break through the dark skies, his blood red cape slowly blowing in the wind.
After I had taken in his appearance I noticed his red horn charging up to become a brighter red. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down buddy!” I said raising my arms out towards him getting him to calm down. “Not here to hurt you okay. We started out on the wrong foot or in your case hoof.”
“What are you creature?” He asked me, his voice sounded like two stones being rubbed against each other.
“Well I’m a human.” I said Sombra still giving me a look of confusion.
“A hugh-man?”
“Yeah but you don’t over pronounce the hugh part.” I explained.
“Okay then human.” He said I gave him a nod in response to how he correctly pronounced it. “How are you not quivering in fear, your eye is glowing like it would whenever I showed a pony their worst fears.” He stated as I looked at a nearby crystal house, seeing that my right eye was giving off a red smoke.
“Well I’ve always seen nightmares as pleasant dreams.” I said calmly.
“Well whatever. By the looks of it you’ll make a fine slave.” What he said got me to freeze in place.
“Sorry what did you say I’d be?” I said edging closer to him.
“I said you’d be a fine slave.” He stated.
“Oh okay then well let’s shake on it.” I said raising my left hand towards him.
“Why should I?” He asked looking at my outstretched hand.
“Because where I come from that’s what slaves do to say they sign themselves over to their new masters.” I said as I wrapped my right hand in fire preparing to punch the crap out of him.
Before he could say anything or do anything, I smashed the crap out of his chin with my flaming fist.
This action had two affects to it. The first was seeing him fly into the air. The second affect was that when he landed back on his hooves he fired a dark lance directly at my chest, I soon found myself tumbling backwards through the crystal’s that made up the Crystal Empire’s roads.
After coming to a painful stop against a small crystal wall I found Sombra had turned back into his smoke form and had started approaching me. “Man you pack one hell of a punch.”
“Impressive you’re still alive.” He said whilst charging up his horn again.
Before he could fully charge up his spell I sent a fireball directly at his horn, causing him to reel back with a pained scream. Before he could recover I decided charge up another fireball shot with enough force in it to rival a mini nuke from fallout.
Once he recovered from the shot to his horn he looked back at me rage and hate filling his eyes. “Hey Sombrero burn in hell.” I said launching the mini nuke fireball at his face. As soon as the fireball came in contact with his face he disappeared leaving behind a hate and pain filled scream.
I then decided to do a little bit of premature celebrating. I then looked down at the gloves to see that there was barely any blue coloration left in the main gems. “Okay then seems I only have enough magic left for one last fireball.” I said as I looked around hoping that someone had seen my awesomeness.
I soon found myself thrown against a crystal house. As I collided with the crystal house I could hear a few of my ribs break. As I looked up I saw something that filled me with dread. Sombra was standing over me. “Hello there human.”
I then decided to fire off a fireball directly above us. “You missed.” Sombra said before he looked towards the Crystal Palace. “It can’t be.”
“What someone find your crystal heart?” I asked as I felt a bit of blood trickle down my face.
Before Sombra could respond I found myself grabbed by some blue blur and I was flying away from him thanks to the blue blur. “You okay Ryan?” The blur asked me it was then I noticed that Rainbow had saved my ass.
“I think a few of my ribs are broken, can you please take me to a hospital or something?” I said as we landed on a balcony next to Shining and the others. I then began to feel myself lose consciousness as the others ran over to me. As my vision began to fade I saw that Sombra was standing on a black crystal column. The next thing I knew he was letting out a pained screech as his body was covered in blue cracks. “I guess Twilight found the heart.” I said before I fell into the black void called unconsciousness.
Ryan’s P.O.V
I awoke to find myself in a very bright crystal room. As I tried to sit up I was rewarded for my efforts with a stabbing pain in my side. “Argh.” I exclaimed falling backwards onto the bed that I had woken up in.
Luckily for me my scream had alerted a unicorn stallion who had come rushing into the room. His coat was a shade of dark blue while his mane was a pinkish red, his cutie mark from this angle was a red cross set upon a blue med kit. “Calm down sir. You’re injured you need your rest.” He stated.
His horn then began to glow as it glowed I could feel the pain in my side begin to disappear. “Thanks for that.” I said whilst looking at my side to find that my waist was wrapped in bandages. “Hey what’s your name?”
“Oh well my name is Sapphire Bandage, and I’m your doctor Mr…” He said before looking at a clipboard which was attached to the foot of my bed. “Mr. Ryan.” He said giving me a smile.
“Okay then. Well then doc do you think you could go tell the princess that I’m awake. Also can I please get a moment to myself please.”
“Sure thing.” He said making his way out the door.
As soon as he left I checked once more to make sure I was alone upon completing my inspection I decided to speak to Orion. ‘Okay Orion what the hell happened?’ I thought to him not wanting to test whether the door to the room was soundproof or not.
“Well I saved your ass. Once you passed out I took control of your body and fought Sombra.”
‘Which explains why I’m wrapped up in bandages.’
“Yep so you can now begin thanking me.”
‘No way am I thanking you. No I’m instead going to ask you how you took over.’
“No clue.” He said as a knock was heard on the other side of the door. “Oh seems you have visitors I’ll leave you alone.”
“Ryan I have visitors for you. Do you want me to let them in?” I could hear Sapphire say.
“Oh yeah, send them in.” Once the door opened the mane six walked in along with Spike and the royal couple. “Hey guys how’s it going?” I asked them as they surrounded my bed.
“Ryan what were you thinking!?” Twilight exclaimed.
“What someone had to stall Sombrero, and I wasn’t going to let any of you run off after him.” I said as they gave me looks of worry.
“I guess you’re right.” Twilight said. “But you could have at least asked one of us to help you.” The others then gave me nods.
“Sorry I’m not letting any of you six go rushing into battle, you’re to important.”
“How are we so important darling?” Rarity asked.
“Because if something happened to you six then Equestria would have to find some new bearers for the elements of harmony.” I said causing looks of realization to plaster themselves on their faces.
I then turned to Spike. “So what happened after I fought Sombra?”
Spike then decided to tell me about how he had retrieved the crystal heart and had managed with Cadance’s help to save the empire and defeat Sombra.
“You did all that?” He gave me a nod. I then turned to Cadance. “You better make this guy a statue y’know.”
“Oh don’t worry we will be. You’ll also get a statue for your bravery in facing down Sombra.”
I then shook my head at what she said. “No thanks Cadance. Just get me a small plaque or something else small okay. Spike saved the day not me.”
“You sure?” She asked uncertainty on her face.
“Yeah I’m sure.” Spike then started coughing like something was stuck in his throat. After a few seconds he coughed up a scroll.
Twilight then took it in her grasp before she could even open it she gave it to me. “It’s for you.”
“Thanks.” I then decided to read it out. “Dear Ryan. Luna and I have sensed Twilight’s success in the empire. We would like for her and her friends to return to Canterlot immediately along with yourself. Sincerely Celestia.” I then looked up from the letter. “Well then let’s go to Canterlot.” I said whilst try to get up but found the same pain in my side. “Ow.”
I then decided to push through the pain and sat up. What surprised me was that I was still in my clothes and that they had apparently been cleaned. I then noticed Sapphire whisper something into Twilight’s ear. Her horn then began to glow as I felt the pain in my side subside. “There something to keep you from hurting yourself.” She said with a small smirk.
After managing to get out of the palace and through the empire, (The streets flooding with ponies who wanted to see Spike) we arrived at the train station that had been set up temporarily inside the empire’s borders. After giving goodbyes to Cadance and Shining I found myself on the train heading to Canterlot.