The crystal slowly began to crack as a figure within it started to move, the crystal’s cracks grew larger and larger until it broke into large shards revealing a humanoid figure. It shook it’s head and the sunlight hit the figure and crystals sending up a wave of light which showed the figure to look like a human female; though with purple hair and golden eyes.
The girl, for she looked no older than twenty three; shook her head, dislodging the crystal that had become stuck in her hair. She took a deep breath and smiled.
“How wonderful it is to be able to breath again.” She said, her voice had a lilt to it.
She hopped down from the pedestal which had been created after she had destroyed the large crystal she had been entombed in, she glanced around; the only thing for miles around in the snowy wasteland seemed to be a large crystalline castle glinting in the distance, though that quickly vanished as a snowstorm started up; blowing the girl’s dark purple hair as she headed in the direction of where she saw the castle.
The girl’s name was Willa, but she was better known as the Shadow Queen; the creature that had single handedly taken down Sombra, but to only be sealed in crystal for Celestia knows long by a last attempt spell from Sombra.
She had worked with Princess Luna before her banishment to save the Crystal Empire, without Celestia’s knowledge. Celestia herself didn’t know who or what had saved her that day from the evil tyrant; she didn’t know why her own sister had stopped her from engaging the battle between Sombra and the shadow creature.
Celestia also didn’t know why her sister had cried when she saw the creature had been frozen within crystal, but she didn’t ponder it; Luna hadn’t brought it up again after the battle. The Crystal had been moved from the throne room to the outskirts or the Crystal Empire and avoided being lost along with the Empire when Sombra’s twisted spell kicked in.
Willa herself was sent into suspended animation as soon as the crystal had gone over her head, but now the Shadow Queen was free; and she wanted answers.
Chapter 1 - This Is How Much I've Missed You
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I was currently trudging through the snow, my smoke wrapped around me to keep myself warm; it was completely freezing and I wanted to find somewhere to hunker down till the snow stopped, thankfully I didn’t have to breathe in the frigid air around me; so that was a bonus.
Eventually I made it to the outskirts of the city, the shadows I had wrapped around myself dispersed as soon as I walked through the barrier; I ignored the ponies which were staring at me in shock and fear, I needed to see whoever was currently in the castle.
After a minute of walking I made it to the entrance, the guards just let me pass because of their shock. “Goddesses, who trains these ponies?” I muttered, making my way to the throne room; the way being had been memorized when I had been plotting with Luna for the downfall of Sombra.
I pushed the doors open to reveal guards in a circle around the current monarch, they weren’t a unicorn so that was a bonus; it was a pink Alicorn with dark purple and yellow hair with a small golden tiara. She was a bit smaller than Luna, I glanced around the room and nodded appreciatively; last time I had been in the room was when I had been frozen in crystal, it had been all dark and gloomy. It was now brightened up and looked quite nice.
“I’d like to speak with the current monarch of the Crystal Empire, or Luna. Either works.” I said, making sure to breathe; I occasionally forgot seeing as I didn’t need to.
“I’m the current monarch.”
“Name?”
“Huh?”
“Name.”
“Oh, Princess Mi Amora Cadenza; but just call me Princess Cadance.”
“OKay then Princess, first things first; get a better guard trainer, Sombra’s guard’s were better trained than they are.”
The white unicorn stallion gave me a glare.
“What do you know of Sombra?!” He hissed, his eyes boring holes into me.
“I know I’m the one who defeated him.”
“Lies, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna did.”
“Huh, so Celestia still gets her name said first; even after all of Luna’s sacrifices… I’m the one who defeated Sombra, I’m the Shadow Queen; I’m sure you’ve heard of the stories of the being trapped in crystal.”
There was a moment of awkward silence as they stared at me.
“No reaction? Damn, I was hoping for this huge legend to spring up,” I said with a grin.
“Princess, do you want me to alert your Aunts?” A guard asked, he had paper and a quill hovering in front of him; Cadance nodded. The guard started to quickly transcribe a message and then sent it.
“Wow, seems a lot has changed,” I muttered. “Now, all of you; your form is sloppy, you’ll get no power in a thrust the way you’re holding that… Goddesses, Cadance; your personal guards are a disgrace. Well, not this one,” I said, pointing at an orange pegasus who looked like he was going to say thank you before one of his mates nudged him.
“Oh, and the captain,” I added, I had ignored the captain seeing as he seemed to be properly trained. The guards looked speechless at my evaluations.
“Princess, your Aunts are coming immediately; they’re teleporting,” said the unicorn who had sent the message.
“Oh, damn,” I muttered, cloaking myself in smoke; only letting my eyes show through, the guards leveled their weapons before they lowered them again thinking I was no threat.
I heard a popping sound behind me and I turned and spotted the Alicorn sisters, Celestia had a steely gaze on while Luna had the same before she saw me.
“W-Willa?” She half whispered, staring at me; I debated saying no.
“Yeah, it’s me Lulu,” I said with a grin.
“THY DOESN’T KNOW HOW MUCH WE MISSED THEE!” Luna said, accidently using the Royal Canterlot Voice; she immediately dove at me and glomped me. I hugged her back with as much force she was using.
“I could guess?” I offered, Luna pulled back with a snort; a smirk on her muzzle, I knew what she wanted me to do. I expanded the shadows that were around me to surround the Princes of the Night, I heard Celestia’s panicked voice before the shadows blocked it out.
Luna and I sat on the comfortable smoke, listening to the chaos outside.
“Wanna let them know it’s okay?” I asked, Luna shook her head with a grin.
“Tia should’ve known not to take my Angel Food Cake,” Luna said simply, I giggled.
“It’s great to see you Luna, my sister.”
“It’s great to see thy as well Willa, my sister.”
We had greeted each other like that ever since we had done a ritual so we were spiritual sisters, we had grown so very close in the short time we had together.
“She’s blasting the smoke with some sort of solarbeam, it’s kinda hurting Lulu.”
“Let Us let her know We’re okay then.”
I opened a small hole for Luna to poke her head through.
“SISTER! We are fine, We were just catching up with Our other Sister.”
“Our other sister?!” I heard Celestia say, perhaps in panic.
“Yes! Our sister Willa, who thou is hurting by blasting with thou’s magic.”
“You’re using the Royal We.” Was all Celestia said.
“We know,” Luna replied, she pulled her head back in and I closed the hole.
“So, what’s it been like since I’ve vanished? And who didn’t start up a huge legend about the Shadow Queen?”
“Thou be the same as always, and We are sorry there were no legends spoken about. A year or two after thy left I was tricked by a creature called the Nightmare. And thy knows that only thou calls thyself that, tis a horrible name.”
“Sorry, like I can avoid my greatness. I’ve heard of the Nightmare, wasn’t it who got Swirly? Also drop the Royal We, We command thou.”
“I can only hope, now you can officially meet Celestia!”
“Greeeaaaat, that can only end well.” I drawled sarcastically.
