//------------------------------// // The Crystal Vist // Story: Shadows and Sunlight // by King Sombra Returns //------------------------------// The Friendship express rolled on the tracks heading to the Crystal Empire, the Mane Six Five were in one train car with Spike the Dragon, while The Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle was in the other train car. Despite there being plenty of room in the car with the others. They all had gotten letters to come to the Crystal Empire, to spend time with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. Twilight's 'friends' were like family to Cadence and Shining Armor, and treated them like so. " Whoo-ooe! I say it's awful nice for Princess Cadence and Twilight's brother to invite us to the Empire." Apple Jack said. " I know Darling, It seems like only yesterday my little Spikey-wikey saved the Empire during the Equestria games." Rarity proclaimed as she flipped her mane. " Aww shucks thanks, Rar." Spike said a light pink blush making it's way onto the baby Dragons face. " I J-just can't wait to see the animals." Fluttershy stated. " Well you'll get your chance we're almost there." Rainbow dash said looking out the window. " Hey Pinkie are you ok Sugarcube?" Apple Jack said a hint of concern in her voice. " Huh, oh yeah I'm fine just kinda worried about Twilight." She said sadly, Everypony turned to the door where Twilight rested unknowing of their concern. " I can't wait to see Cadence and Shining, they will be happy to see me and the girls.......No! They have betrayed me they, they......" Twilight sighed ' perhaps it was just a dream the Girls wouldn't really shun me like that, Would they?' She thought when a voice interrupted her ' Of course they would you idiot! They were lying to you from the Start!' 'Wait, I am talking to myself?' 'Perhaps, you're smart enough to figure it out.' ' I didn't know I could be that rude, yeash.' ' Ugh, well I am you you are me and we both know that they betrayed you! We know the difference between a Dream and a Vision, and that was a Vision we both know it so don't deny it!' 'Your right! I mean, I am, Ugh that is confusing' '........' ' Hey were did you,... ugh never mind. And to think I thought they were my friends, they were just using me! Calm down Twilight just calm down you can talk to Cadence when you get there.' Twilight practiced the breathing exercise Cadence taught her, and it worked! She was fit as a fiddle, and confused where did that phrase even come from? The Crystal Empire, Beacon of hope of love. It has stood proud against many attacks, Battles and even a thousand year banishment. Even if that was by accident, but now it was calm, peaceful, now that the new Prince and Princess had proven themselves to be kind and generous. Cadence and Shining looked over the Railing of the crystal Palace, they watched as the Train came to a stop and dropped off there visitors. Twilight was walking away from the group as fast as she could with her head in the book, she was trying to avoid them as much as possible. Then she saw the crystal Heart, she looked at it and only one thought crossed her mind. How it sparkled in the sunlight how it moved a such a gentle pace, it was all so disgusting. Rainbow Dash and AppleJack caught up with Twilight, and looked at her strangely. " Why is she looking like she hates something?" Rainbow whispered to AppleJack. " I don't know sugarcube,maybe we should ask?" " I don't know if that is such a good idea Aj." " Well I'm gonna help her, she looks like a pig who just got a good ol bath." Applejack told Rainbow " Fine, but if she yells at you I'm not gonna help ya." Rainbow said sticking her muzzle in the air. " Why in tarnation would she do that, she wouldn't yell at us." " Well I don't know maybe because she has been avoiding us for three days and the whole ride here and now, she's looking at the whole Empire like somepony just blew up a bookstore!" Rainbow told her friend very clearly annoyed. " Well just because she has been acting a little off doesn't mean she isn't our friend!" AppleJack said pushing RainbowDash away. " Yeash sorry, I know how you are about our friendship. I shouldn't have pushed your buttons, I'm sorry."Rainbow said looking away. " It's ok RD, I understand where you're coming through as well. Twi has been acting very weird and I want to see if she's ok. I mean why in tarnation would she avoid us for three and a half days?" AppleJack said tilting her hat down. Twilight was storming through the crowd, everywhere she looked she saw the citizens of the Crystal Empire. They smiled, laughed, and played all through the city. Twilight looked at behind her and saw AppleJack and Rainbow Dash right behind her, she looked at both of them, hate clearly visible. Then she saw AppleJack plush Rainbow away, a smile was clearly evident. " Wait what the hay! Why am I smiling when my....my...friends..are......NO! They are not my friends why would a thought like that cross my mind? Perhaps all the stress is making me scatter brained. Yes, that's it the stress that is what is making all these thoughts pop up." Prince Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadence as she preferred were looking over the balcony of the Crystal Palace, with smiles plastered upon their faces. They looked down and saw all of the 'Girls' as Twilight referred to them walking and bouncing through the city towards that Place. Something that Cadence noticed was that, Twilight was walking as far away from her friends as possible and had a scowl upon her muzzle. " Darling , do you think something is wrong with Twilight?" Cadence said gently "I can't tell but something is bothering her, I mean look how far away she is from her friends and look how she's ignoring them." Shining said concern clearly evident in his voice. " I think you're right, but what could it be?" Cadence said " I don't know Cadence, I don't know." Shining said breaking his gaze away from Twilight and towards Rainbow And AppleJack. The Royal couple saw how the were trying to pick up their pace to catch up with Twilight, but ultimately failing. Twilight looked up and saw the Castle doors right in front of her. She would finally get to talk to Cadence and her brother about her problems! ' Or perhaps they will take your so called ''friends'' side, have you thought about that?' " They wouldn't do that, they are my family." She told........herself ' Uh Huh, but don't you remember how gullible your brother is falling for that Queens trap and how-' " Don't you Dare talk about my brother like that!" ' Geez, well than. I suppose you love yelling at yourself, don't you?' " Shut up you thing, I mean Pony, I mean me.....Ugh! Just shut up, who and whatever you are!" '......' " Hello? Well you're gone finally." Twilight stopped and wiped the back of her hoof against her forehead, wiping away sweat she didn't have. " Perhaps I should just stop talking to myself, go inside, talk to Cadence and Shining, and hang out for the rest of my time here." " Twilight!" The Alicorn in question, turned around and looked for who called her name, It was Starlight Glimmer her student. " Starlight!, how was your trip with Sunburst?" " Oh it was fine, we looked at all kinds of magic." Starlight said a light blush on her face. ' Tututu, isn't she part of your so called friends?' " yes but Starlight will understand my point of view!" She said gritting her teeth inside of her head. " Um...Twilight are you ok? " " Oh yeah, sorry got caught up in my thoughts." " uh huh, let me guess checking over your checklist or thinking about that cute guard Blast Lentry, I think?" " Uh uh....." " It's ok Twi I won't tell anypony." she said winking " Thanks, I guess Starlight?" " haha, So anything happen while I was gone?" " Ugh, I will tell you all about it later. " Twilight said gritting her teeth Rainbow Dash and Applejack watched as she and Starlight had a little reunion. " What the-" Rainbow said her jaw almost hitting the ground. " She ignores all of us, but hangs out with Starlight. Something weird is definitely goen on." Apple Jack said. " Yep!" Rainbow Dash said gritting her teeth Starlight saw Twilight walk away, as soon as the purple Alicorn walked away she made her way over to the group. " Ok anypony want to tell me why Twilight is acting like Somepony blew up a bookstore, when she talks about you?" " Thank You!" Rainbow Dash said " Well it all started three days ago-" Applejack said telling the story about the four days Starlight was gone. " The voice in my head was right, I can't trust her." Twilight said as she saw her student walk away to see her X-friends. ' I told you so, but anyway just stop calling me you. Just call me....Midnight.' " Midnight....Huh, thanks for your help." ' Any time, Twilight, now let's go see if we can trust your Crystal family." she said If she was real others would have seen a smirk on her face. 'The Dark one' was wandering through the mind of the Princess of Friendship, his plan was moving along even better than he had thought! She was putty in his hoofs, she would eat up everything he said. His smile turned into a cruel smirk, It was going to be soon very soon,he thought as sharp fangs brushed against his gums. As a very good ally of his once said, " This day is going to be Perfect!"