A few more months passed by, again with little incident other than Twilight freaking out over a friendship report and sending the whole town in to a frenzy, Spike getting greedy on his birthday and nearly destroying the town, and a disaster of a royal wedding where changelings invaded Canterlot.
Rainbow was furious after receiving another rejection letter from the Wonderbolts. She tore it to shreds.
“Fuck!”
When will they ever recognize your potential.
Never in looks like. I helped save Equestria at least twice and saved three of them while winning the best young flyers competition and they still won’t take me. What do I have to do, sleep with them? Not that I would.
Now you truly see what I’ve been telling you all these years.
You’re right. You’ve been right all along. I’ve tried doing things their way and where has it gotten me, nowhere. I mean even the other ponies don’t think me and the others are anything special anymore. They see us as equals, like were just as good as them. We are not equals! When was the last time any of them stepped up to the plate and defended their nation or something. Well screw them! If the Wonderbolts don’t want me then I don’t want to be a Wonderbolt.
Dash was on the verge of tears.
It’s ok Dash, you still have me.
Yeah but…dreams are fine and all but I want to be with you for real.
Well then I have good news for you. Recently I’ve felt the bonds holding me start to weaken. I estimate I’m only days away from being strong enough to break free.
R-really?
Yes and then we can be together. Rainbow when I return will you marry me and be my queen?
Rainbow smiled. Did you really have to ask?
I’ll take that as a yes. We must take this time to plan and prepare. I have no doubt that Celestia will be alerted when I escape and try to send you and the others to defeat me. That will be her undoing.
Princess Celestia was in the throne room filling out paperwork when a guard entered with news that the Crystal Empire had returned. She quickly penned out a letter to Twilight asking her to come to Canterlot to take a test. Twilight then proceeded to inform her friends to meet her at the library. Dash was flying there when she heard Sombra.
Rainbow it’s happened, I’m free.
Really, that’s awesome! That must be why Twilight called us to the library.
Be careful Dash. You need to play it cool, act casual, and pretend to not know what’s happening.
Right.
After they all arrived Twilight explained the situation and they hopped on a train. Once in Canterlot Twilight headed for the castle to take her test. Only when she got there did she learn that it was a different kind of test. Celestia told her about the Crystal Empire and the unicorn king whose heart was as black as night. Then she tasked Twilight to find a way to protect the empire from him. When Twilight came out she returned to her friends and she told the others that they were going to the Crystal Empire much to their confusion. Soon enough they were on a train bound for the frozen north.
Rainbow we’ve run into a snag.
What do you mean?
I’ve managed to reach the empire but it would seem that other alicorn Princess Cadence and her husband Shining Armor beat me there and put up a shield blocking me from entering. I’ve already scouted the landscape and know exactly where you’re going to be when you arrive. I’ve placed a black crystal shard under a bench on the train platform, grab it when no pony is looking and tuck it under your wing. I believe Shining will be meeting you all at the station. I’ll arrive soon after and do my best to neutralize Shining’s and the others magic so they won’t interfere. If I succeed then you’ll have to take out the alicorn’s magic as I won’t be able too.
How?
Use that crystal I left for you. Merely touch it to her horn and it will infect it with magic suppressing crystals cancelling out her magic. The shield will drop allowing me to enter.
Got it.
They arrived in the frozen north and departed the train. Shining Armor soon appeared and while the others were distracted Dash took the opportunity to grab the crystal from under the bench and tucked it under her wing.
“We'd better get moving. There are things out here we really don't want to run into after dark.”
Fluttershy gulped. “What kind of things?”
“Let's just say the empire...isn't the only thing that's returned.” They began making their way to the city. “Something keeps trying to get in! We think it's the unicorn king who originally cursed the place.”
“But Princess Celestia said I was being sent here to find a way to protect the empire! If King Sombra can't get in, then it must already be protected.”
*Howl*
Fluttershy gasped. “Th-That's one of the things, isn't it?” she said in a panicked voice.
“Guh. We have to get to the Crystal Empire! Now!”
Just then a mass of shadows shot up from behind and started chasing them. They began racing toward the shield. Shining had turned back to face Sombra. The others made it inside the barrier and seconds later so did Shining, but his horn had black crystals sticking out of it cutting off his magic. They then made their way to the palace.
Excellent, Shining’s magic is disabled. I don’t think Twilight or Rarity will give us trouble so that just leaves Cadence. You still have the crystal right?
Sure do, and believe me, they won’t know what hit them. Sombra chuckled.
They reached the Crystal Palace and went inside where Twilight met Cadence and they did their sunshine, sunshine ritual. After, Cadence’s magic flickered for a second and so did the shield.
This will be too easy.
“One of these days we need to get together when the fate of Equestria isn't hanging in the balance.”
“Are you okay?”
“Cadence has been able to use her magic to spread love and light. That seems to be what is protecting it. But she hasn't slept, barely eats. I want to help her, but my protection spell has been countered by King Sombra.”
Cadence took a deep breath. “It's alright Shining Armor, I'm fine.”
“She's not fine. She can't go on like this forever, and if her magic were to fade...well, you saw what's out there waiting for that to happen.”
“That's why we're here.”
“Why we're all here.” The others agreed.
“Well, with Cadence putting all her strength into keeping her spell going, and me trying to keep an eye on signs of trouble in the arctic, we haven't been able to gather much information from the Crystal Ponies.” Rarity got excited about Crystal Ponies. “But we have to believe one of them knows how we can protect the empire without having to use Cadence's magic.”
“A research paper!”
“Huh?”
“That must be part of my test, to gather information from the Crystal Ponies and deliver it to you! This is gonna be great! I love research papers! Don't worry, big brother. I am really good at this sort of thing.”
Now is your chance.
They were about to leave when Rainbow spoke up. “Well doing a research paper is fine and all but I think we have a problem.”
“What do you mean?” said Cadence.
Rainbow closed the distance between her and Cadence until she was right in front of her. “Well, the way I see it, there is one element here that can ensure King Sombra’s return.” Dash said, as she started to reach under her wing.
“And what would that be?”
“Me.”
Rainbow whipped out the crystal shard and touched it to Cadence’s horn. It instantly absorbed in and the same crystals on Shining’s horn appeared on hers. Cadence back peddled and everypony was shocked as to what just happened while Dash just had a smile on her face. She then flew to the opening to the balcony and watched the shield disappear. Her smile grew wider and the others snapped out of it while Sombra made his way in.
“Rainbow! What in tarnation are you doin?!”
Dash turned to face the others. “What’s it look like?”
“Dash, how can you do this? You’re the Element of Loyalty. We’ve your friends.”
“Oh Twilight, we were never truly friends, even though we did have some fun times together, and you’re right. I am the Element of Loyalty, but my loyalty is to Sombra, not you. You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this very moment. I’ve known him longer than any of you with the exception of Fluttershy. We go back to when I performed my first Sonic Rainboom.”
“B-but that was nearly ten years ago. You’re really saying that we weren’t friends, not even me?” said Fluttershy looking sad.
“Sorry Futtershy but we just grew apart over the years.”
“You’re a disgrace to your nation and your element!” said Shining.
“Like I care what you think.”
“I’m sorry darling but I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around this. You do realize your sentencing the Crystal Ponies and possibly the ponies of Equestria to a horrible fate!”
“And what have the ponies of Equestria ever done for me? Nothing but put me down. They continued to deny me entry into the Wonderbolts and treated us like we were nothing, like we were no better than them. We only helped save them at least twice and yet they don’t give us the recognition we deserve, like we’re not special but we are. They should be treating us like heroes, like nobility practically. Well if they won’t respect me then they shall fear me.”
“Can’t you see he’s just using you? Once Sombra gets what he wants he’ll just toss you aside,” said Cadence.
“That’s not true, we love each other, and you’re looking at the soon to be queen of the Crystal Empire.” Just then there was a rumble and a crystal spike jetted out of the ground up to the balcony where King Sombra in pony form stepped off with a toothy grin. Dash couldn’t contain herself and rushed over to him, wrapped her hooves around him and kissed him passionately. When she pulled back she gazed into his eyes. “Please tell me that this is real and not another dream because this feels way too good to be a dream.”
“This is not a dream, I’m real.” Rainbow couldn’t be happier to finally meet him in the flesh. Sombra pulled back and started walking to the others. “Now then, what to do with the rest of you?”
“EVERYPONY TO ME NOW!” yelled Twilight while flaring her magic.
Sombra cast a sell to nullify her magic but it was too late and they all vanished in a bright flash.
“Damn, I didn’t think she could cast a mass teleportation spell like that.”
“Should we go after them?”
“No, let them flee like cowards. There’s nothing they can do to stop us now. We have control of the Crystal Empire and must make preparations for war.”
Twilight and the others appeared a little ways south of the city. Twilight had spent so much magic that she could barely stand so Shining had to carry her as they hoofed it south. In that time Celestia sent a message through Spike and they penned out a response saying that the empire had fallen. It took them a few hours to reach the town of Stalliongrad and they hopped on a train which took almost a half a day to ride but they made it back to Canterlot Castle and entered the throne room where Celestia and Luna were waiting.
“There you are. Are you all alright?”
“Yes, but…I failed,” said Twilight looking depressed.
“It’s alright Twilight. It wasn’t your fault,” said Cadence.
“I’m sure it wasn’t but I need to know exactly what happened.”
“Wait! Where is Rainbow Dash?”
Celestia hadn’t noticed Dash was missing until Luna pointed it out. “Did she not make it? Was she captured?”
The others exchanged looks and Shining stepped forward. “Rainbow Dash has betrayed Equestria and joined King Sombra.”
Celestia and Luna were taken aback by that. “But she is the Element of Loyalty. It’s not in her nature to betray,” said Luna.
“It’s true. Apparently she’s known Sombra for years and even clamed to love him,” said Cadence.
“Then this is worse than I thought. Without Rainbow Dash we can’t use the Elements of Harmony against him, which will make this situation exceedingly more difficult. As of now I’m instituting a draft and declaring a state of emergency. Captain Shining Armor return to your station and prepare your troops. For the first time in a millennia, Equestria goes to war.”