> Twilight Causes the Demise of King Sombra > by iAmSiNnEr > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Return of the Crystal Empire > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Are you sure you don’t want me to go as well, sister? They could use my help.” “Twilight and her friends have this. Besides, they have our niece and Shining Armor there as well.” “The Empire’s magic is powerful. We cannot let it fall again.” “I know. But we must have faith in Twilight to-” “We both know she’s just going to blow Sombra up.” “I have faith that she won’t. She’ll do it the right way, this time.” “Bah, sister, you’ve grown soft. I wish I could go. The glory of battle is something I wish to relish in again.” “Luna, really?” “What? I’d like to watch young Twilight blow that dark king up!” “LUNA!” Twilight Causes the Demise of King Sombra By iAmSiNnEr An evil laugh filled the sky as Cadance’s love barrier cracked, the shadowy form of King Sombra striking it again and again.  “I have to find the Crystal Heart!” Shining Armor exclaimed. “It’s the only way to stop him!” “No, you stay here with Cadance,” Twilight ordered. “She needs you, Shining Armor. I'll retrieve the Heart.” “Let's do this!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Together we can-” “No, Dash,” Twilight cut across her. “I've been trying to figure out how I'm meant to pass Celestia's test. Retrieving the Crystal Heart must be it, and I must do it without your help. But there is something else you can do.” “Name it.” Rainbow grinned. “I’ll get it done, Twi.” “You and the rest of our friends have to keep the Faire going,” Twilight told her.  “What? With that thing moving into the Empire?” Rainbow blurted out. “Isn’t it safer to evacuate the Faire?” “The whole purpose of the Crystal Faire is to lift the spirits of the Crystal Ponies, so they can activate the Crystal Heart,” Twilight explained.  “Yeah, so?” “If the Crystal Ponies find out that King Sombra is trying to take over the Empire again, their spirits are gonna be anything but lifted.” Twilight continued. “It won't matter if I find the Crystal Heart. They won't be able to make it work. You have to keep them happy here at the Faire.” “Keep the Faire going and the Crystal Ponies' spirits high. Done and done!” Rainbow saluted, and flew off to join the rest of their friends. “Twily, be careful.” Shining Armor cautioned, before galloping off to rejoin Cadance. “It’s him who needs to be careful,” Twilight muttered once Shining Armor was out of earshot. She glanced around, then started galloping to the Crystal Palace. “She’s doing what?!” Spike exclaimed.  “If my theories are right,” Twilight told herself as she galloped. “The Heart should be in the basement…” “Wait, Twilight!” Spike shouted. “I’m coming with you.” Twilight dug in her hooves, and skidded to a halt. “You can't. I have to retrieve the Crystal Heart by myself.” Twilight shook her head, before resuming her gallop.  “I know. I promise I won't lift a claw to help you!” Spike assured her. “Not a claw, Spike,” Twilight sighed as they entered the castle. “I think I know where he hid the Heart.” “The castle?” Spike asked. “The king would've been counting on the fact that nopony would dare come looking for it here. They'd have been too afraid to even try.” Twilight explained. “I hope you’re right.” Spike said. “I know I’m right,” Twilight replied confidently.  As Twilight finally reached the bottom of the stairs, she was delighted to see a door in front of her. “This must lead to the Crystal Heart!” She smirked. “I was right!” Using her magic, she reached out to dug the door open, but it dodged aside. “Ugh, really?” She rolled her eyes. “Well, whatever, time to use dark magic again…” She sighed and fired a ray of black-colored magic at the door, and it stopped moving and swung open. She peeked inside the door to see Celestia standing there looking disapprovingly at her. “Yeah, no,” Twilight shook her head and closed the door. “Illusion magic. Did he really think I’d fall for it?” “Twiiiiiilight!” Spike’s voice came down the stairs as he descended them. “You alright? I know you told me to wait-” he blinked as he reached the bottom, the door’s effect striking him as it swung open by its own. “Ponyville?! Well, how did I get... No! I don't wanna go! Please, Twilight, don't make me!” Spike begged. Twilight growled and slammed the door close, causing Spike to shake his head in bewilderment as the door’s effects were removed.  “King Sombra's dark magic. A doorway that leads to your worst fear.” Twilight explained. “Maybe you should come with me this time.” A ray of light magic sprang from her horn to strike the door, and this time it opened to reveal yet another staircase. “What’s there?” Spike asked.  “Stairs. Lots and lots of stairs.” Twilight shrugged. “Let’s just use the gravity spell then slide down the top of the stairs. It’d work, I think?” Focussing, she cast the gravity spell, and both of them flipped upside down to land on the ceiling of the stairs, Spike hanging on for dear life. “Well, this is new.” He commented, once he had gotten his bearings. “Let’s go!” Twilight grinned as they started sliding down the stairs, or rather, sliding up the stairs. Before long, they were at the top, and Twilight quickly cancelled the spell out before they went flying into the sky. “The Heart!” Spike exclaimed, just as Cadance’s love barrier broke, Sombra finally managing to break past it. “No! Sombra broke past the barrier!” “Spike, back up,” Twilight ordered. “I have a plan.” “What do you mean?” Spike gestured with a claw. “The Heart’s right there! Let’s grab it and go help the Crystal Ponies!” “It’s definitely booby-trapped,” Twilight explained. “We have little time. Here’s what I’m going to do…” “Hahahaha!” Sombra laughed as he landed on the platform on which the Crystal Heart was on. As he did so, his form shrunk down into a haughty unicorn stallion clad in silver armor. “Long live the king!” He strode towards the Heart confidently, cancelling the spells he had set there just in case someone found the Heart. “The Heart is mine! ALL OF THEM WILL BECOME MY SLAVES!” He never got to the Heart. As soon as he stepped within two metres of the Crystal Heart, his world burst in a crescendo of flames and explosions.  “Yes!” Twilight cheered once she saw her traps had activated. “It worked!” “You sure that’s not gonna break the Heart?” Spike peered past the smoke from the explosions, emerging from their hiding place.  “Ninety-nine percent sure, Spike,” Twilight said confidently. “Here, let me clear the smoke.” She flicked her horn, and the smoke clear to reveal the Crystal Heart, intact, and the only thing remaining of King Sombra. A burnt and blackened crown.  “Don’t tell anyone what I did,” Twilight winked. “I’m not supposed to be blowing up any more ponies.” “Gotcha,” Spike winked back. “But I get to be the hero.” “Deal.” “Sister,” Luna addressed Celestia. “We both know she blew Sombra up. He couldn’t have just disappeared.” “Ugh,” Celestia slammed her head on the table. “I know.” she mumbled. “Should we still give her the book?” “Yes,” Luna nodded. “I want to see what she can blow up as an alicorn.” “LUNA! THIS IS WHY I NEVER WANT YOU TWO TO MEET!” “Pfft. Spoilsport. She’s still getting the book.” “Fine.” “And I think I’ll pay her a visit to learn her explosive spells.” Celestia slammed her head into the table again. “I live with explosive idiots,” she muttered.