Chapter 7

The following week, the pony caravan steadily made its way northward. In that time they had come upon a second outpost that had shared the same fate as the first. The only difference was they found a survivor, a worker pony who had been found unconscious under the ruined remains of a vending cart. The survivor sat before Luna, Twilight, and her friends as he had his injuries bandaged.

"Can you tell us what happened here?" Twilight asked the worker.

"Yes, Princess," the pony said as he gingerly rested his leg on the ground. "It happened only a few days ago; a squadron of Equestrian Guard showed up at the gates. They claimed that they were sent as relief; the garrison commander said they were early as their replacement was a week away yet. But the other commander had a letter with the royal seal and our commander took it as truth." He gulped, his expression distant as he recalled the memory. "That night, the guards had a big dinner to celebrate the end of their tour."

"A good reason to throw a party if you ask me," Pinkie Pie said, nodding sagely. She received a number of huffs and glares before the worker pony continued.

"The entire garrison was there, all of them but the new arrivals. I was out by the cart, getting more food, when I saw them surround the mess hall—" he hesitated "—I don't know why, but I hid. Something about what they were doing scared me. It was then they all changed into some sort of black creature. They all started to glow and used some sort of magic on the mess hall. One minute there was laughter, then there were screams, then just silence. Afterwards the black creatures just disappeared. I was so shocked I stumbled back and hit my head. I must have been out for a while because you were the ones who found me."

Luna frowned softly. "Was there a tall dark stallion with these black creatures?"

The pony shook his head. "No, Princess, only them."

Again she frowned, and Twilight stepped forward, her expression troubled.

"I need you to hold still, sir," she said.

"P-princess?" The pony blinked, a worried expression on his face.

"Twi?" Applejack looked to her with concern.

Twilight assured her with a look before turning back to the worker.

"This won't hurt; I am just making sure of something," she told him.

He nodded slowly, and Twilight's horn began to glow. A nimbus of light surrounded the pony and quickly vanished.

Twilight nodded. "Good."

"What did you do, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

"It was a detection spell. The spell would have made anything that can change its shape revert back into their real form." She looked to the worker pony. "I was only making sure you were not one of the shadow creatures in disguise."

He nodded quickly. "Good thinking, Princess."

Luna looked on with a distant expression. She turned towards the barracks as the guard captain exited from within.

"Did you find anything?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, Princess, it is like the first outpost. There is no sign of them." Luna frowned at the news.

"Are you well, Princess?" Rarity asked.

"Something troubles me, yes, but I will speak of it later," she said, and looked to the worker pony. "Do you require any provisions to get you to the nearest town?"

"No, Princess, I can get what I need from the stores here. I can't take food from the princesses."

She smiled softly to him. "As you wish. Take care on the road."

He bowed to her and soon departed.

"Man, this Tyranny guy is really started to cheese me off. What's he doing to all the ponies out here?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Wish I could give that guy a swift kick or three."

"I hear ya there, Rainbow, it ain't makin' a lick a sense what he's up to," Applejack crossed her front hooves irritably.

The girls discussed the mystery among themselves before Luna spoke up.

"Perhaps I should share some information with you all." She directed them from the abandoned outpost and to their caravan wagons. As they gathered around, Spike joined them; as he had remained behind with the wagons rather than enter the outpost.

Luna took a moment before speaking. "I believe I know what may have happened to the ponies here and at the other outpost, but I wish to be sure before I speak with any certainty."

"What is it, Princess?" Twilight asked.

"I wish to be sure before I say, Princess Twilight." The dark alicorn closed her eyes and her horn glowed softly. When she opened her eyes, it was not the teal-colored irises they were used to, rather they were pure black orbs. It did not take her long to gasp suddenly with sadness. "It is as I feared," she said as her eyes returned to normal.

"What?" the group said in unison.

She sighed. "It will be easier to show you." Luna cast her spell again, her eyes darkening once more.

An image came to Twilight's mind and she saw darkness. Several ponies from the outpost floated into view. They hovered listlessly in the darkness, occasionally twitching or moaning like one caught in a terrible nightmare, one from which there was no awakening. Twilight could see they were all unharmed but could not wake from their tormented slumber.

One of the ponies made her gasp with recognition. "Trixie?" Luna's spell ended and the visions faded.

"Ya saw her too?" Applejack asked, and all the girls nodded.

"What was that place, Princess? What is happening to them?" Twilight could not shake the horrible images she saw from her mind.

"It was so dark," Fluttershy said quietly.

"And spooky," Pinkie Pie added.

"It is the Realm of Shadow. An alternate dimension where there is no light. It is the birthplace of darkness. There have been only a few who have been able to travel there and return. Tyranny often used the Realm of Shadow for his own ends," Luna explained.

"Is there any way to bring them back?" Twilight's brow furrowed in silent determination.

Luna shook her head sadly. "Only the one who sent them there can release them. Unless we defeat Tyranny, they will remain trapped there."

"Not even Trixie deserves that," Rarity said gravely.

Twilight looked to Luna. "Is this where Tyranny gets his shadow creatures from?"

"Their substance yes. The shadow beasts are made from the darkness of the Realm of Shadow, but they lack any driving force behind them." She paused and considered a more apt comparison. "Think of them as statues of shadow or Rarity's clothing mannequins. That is all they are, dolls, without a force to give them life."

"What force does it take, Princess?" Applejack grimaced. Twilight felt she already knew the answer.

"The life essences of the ponies sent to the Realm of Shadow," she answered before Luna could.

Luna nodded. "Indeed, Twilight Sparkle. The ponies sent there give life to the shadow creatures that Tyranny conjures. He can make dozens of them from just one pony."

"Sweet Celestia, he is building an army," Rarity breathed.

"Think how much cake batter you'd need to feed all of them?" Pinkie Pie said flabbergasted.

"Pinkie!" Twilight said sharply, giving the pink earth mare a glare.

"It would be a whole lot, Twilight," she said defensively.

Twilight could only sigh. "We're going to have to stop him quickly, Princess. Not only to save all the ponies he sent to the Realm of Shadow, but also to keep him from building his army. He could easily make thousands of them if he finds more outposts or even a town."

"We might catch up to him if we ditch these here wagons." Applejack waved a hoof at the caravan.

Rarity winced at the thought of having to actually walk all day on dusty roads.

"Don't ya say it," Applejack said to her.

"Wouldn't dream of it, darling," Rarity huffed.

Luna was about to say something when Spike, who had sat quietly throughout the whole discussion, suddenly belched. A rolled-up parchment formed from the burped flames, bearing the royal emblem.

Twilight was quick to snatch up the letter with her magic and unrolled it. "It's from Princess Celestia." She said to them as she began to read. Her startled gasp was so sudden, she dropped the letter and made her friends jump.

"What is it, Twilight?" Rainbow asked, looking to her worriedly.

Twilight recovered from her shock and picked up the letter again and read the message out loud.

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,

You, your friends, and my sister must make all haste to the Crystal Empire. It has fallen under attack by Tyranny and his shadow creatures. Do whatever you must to make haste; Princess Cadence and Shining Armor are in need of you all.

---

Princess Cadence sat on the balcony of the crystal tower overlooking the Crystal Empire. Her husband stood beside her, his determined expression set in stone as he looked in the same direction. A pair of crystal pony guards stood by stoically, but Cadence could see it in their eyes; they were afraid, and with good reason.

She looked back out over the Empire and to its borders. Surrounding the entire Empire was an army of shadow creatures, ones she had never seen nor heard of before. They had not made a sound or moved to invade since they first appeared. The creatures, however, stopped all who tried to leave; not even the trains were able to depart. Any that tried to cross the protective barrier of the Crystal Heart, vanished in a puff of smoke; even the armor they wore crumbled to nothingness. Being unable to proceed, they had settled into a holding pattern around the Empire. The Crystal Guard attempted to break their lines to keep the trains going, but were beaten back.

Cadence sighed softly; the Empire's fields were within the protection of the Crystal Heart, so there was no fear of starvation. It was the attrition she knew would take its toll. The crystal ponies continued with their lives, keeping their spirits high, but it would only be a matter of time before those spirits would be hard to hold. It was Cadence's hope that Princess Celestia would send aid to rescue the Crystal Empire before that were to happen.

Her frown was small, but her husband was quick to notice.

"Don't worry, Cadence. I am sure Princess Celestia is sending help. She won't leave us to fend for ourselves."

"I know. I just worry what this will do to the crystal ponies. They have been through so much lately; they do not deserve more hardship."

Shining Armor frowned, unable to argue the point. "But as long as you are strong for them, they will see it through." His smile attempted to reassure her.

She smiled warmly at her husband. "As long as we are strong,"

He chuckled a bit. "You're the one they look to for guidance, Cadence, but I'll be here to protect you."

She smiled and leaned against him, feeling comforted next to him.

It was then a pegasus guard flew to the balcony and landed before them. His orange coat and neon blue mane was a stark difference from the other crystal ponies' coloring.

"Have you seen any sign of relief from Princess Celestia?" Cadence asked the pegasus.

"No, Princess. I was pursued by a couple of those things, but I was able to fend them off," Flash Sentry said.

"I am glad."

Shining Armor spoke up. "As long as the Crystal Heart stays strong, we can wait them out."

"Yes, I just hope help comes—" she was interrupted by a loud explosion that sounded like from inside the tower.

"What was that?!" Cadence yelled in concern.

"Go find out, Flash," Shining said, but the pegasus was already on his way.

---

Flash Sentry flew past a number of other guards who were stationed in and around the throne room. He sped down the hall until he came across another guard, this one a ranking officer. The officer was bellowing orders to others around him as many of them raced down the hallway towards the crystal tower's entrance.

"Sir, the princess wishes for an update?" He saluted respectfully. He looked down the hallway where other pony guards were running. He could hear shouts and the sounds of magic being cast in that direction.

"I don't know, there is some sort of commotion at the front door. We think it is an intruder. Tell the princess I am heading there to take care of it. Stay there and guard her, Flash," he said before running towards the entrance.

---

It did not take Flash long to return to the throne room, where princess Cadence and Shining Armor awaited his return.

"What is going on, Flash Sentry?" Shining Armor demanded, sounding very much like the commander of the guard that he was.

"It isn't clear, sir. The officer said it might be an intruder and that he was going to deal with it."

The sound of conflict still came from the hallway, but it sounded as if it were drawing closer.

"Bar the doors! Protect the princess!" Shining shouted to the small squad of guards assigned to protect Cadence.

As the doors were closed and secured, the guards formed a defensive line in front of the royal couple. Unicorns and earth ponies stood shoulder to shoulder, and the pegasi, Flash among them, hovered above. The commotion grew louder until it sounded like it was just outside of the door, but suddenly, it stopped.

Concerned glances were shared, and just as Shining was about to order they go find out what happened, the doors were blown inward. One them was completely blasted off its hinges, and the other hung from the ruined remains of its lower hinge. Through the dust and smoke strode Tyranny, his gaze locked on the pink alicorn on the throne.

Flinching under his glare, she glanced to Shining Armor. "Shining, your spell!"

"Right!" He gathered his power around his horn and unleashed a purple sphere that expanded outward. It was the same spell that had expelled the changelings from Canterlot so long ago. The spell would expel this stallion from their wall in a similar manner. As the sphere moved towards him, Tyranny lowered his shoulder and lunged into it. As it connected, he was pushed back a few feet but stopped; the sphere struggling to continue but held back by Tyranny's power.

None of them, most of all Shining, could not believe what they were seeing. Not even the Queen of the Changelings could resist the sphere, but this stallion was holding it back single-hoofedly.

With a growl, Tyranny lashed out and the sphere shattered before him, its magic dissipating into nothing. With a contemptuous snort, he started forward again.

Shining was quick to recover. "Now!"

The unicorn guards lowered their heads and launched a barrage of magical blasts at the intruder. Tyranny held forth his right hoof and a barrier appeared, their magic offensive unable to penetrate his magical defense.

"Not nearly enough," he told them matter-of-factly.

"Earth ponies!" Shining barked.

The earth pony guards set themselves, and with a shouted battlecry, they charged. In response, Tyranny rapped his scepter once on the crystal floor. Suddenly, a black wall of force appeared in front of him and rushed out to meet their charge. As it connected, the ponies were hurled backwards, landing hard and groaned wherever they lay.

"Pegasi!" Shining Armor yelled.

Flash Sentry and the other pegasi dove down to fend off the intruder. With an amused grin, Tyranny chose to meet them in combat; swatting away each one as they tried to bring him down.

Flash ducked a swipe, and lashed out with a side kick. Tyranny didn't bother dodging, and the strike glanced off his armored chest, and he punched with his right hoof, but it came up short as the faster pegasus jumped back. However, Flash did not expect a shadowy claw to reach from the hoof and grab hold of him. It chucked him behind Tyranny, where he smashed against the wall and fell to the floor. The unicorn guards wasted no time in charging themselves, but they fared no better than their comrades.

"Now that the foolishness is done, it is time that we speak," Tyranny said to the royal couple after the last of the guards fell.

"We have nothing to say to the likes of you." Shining Armor stepped protectively in front of his wife.

"Leave our kingdom in peace; we have no quarrel with you," Cadence said.

Tyranny smiled mockingly at her. "There you are in error, Princess. You sit upon the throne of what will be the start of my Empire, and you are what stands in my way."

"I won't let you pass me," Shining Armor growled. Tyranny simply smirked at his gesture of defiance.

"We know who you are, Tyranny. It doesn't matter what you do here; you will not have Equestria. Princess Celestia will see you stopped beforehoof."

The Spirit of Order laughed.

"Why has the Crystal Heart not stopped you as it has your creatures?" Shining demanded, trying to buy time to think of a plan.

Tyranny looked at him. "The Crystal Heart is powered by the emotion of 'love,' and it was a challenging ward to bypass, I will admit. However, it is something that draws power from a—" he looked up suddenly and whirled, his scepter lashing out. Flash Sentry, who had picked himself up and charged the distracted stallion, was knocked aside.

"Persistent," Tyranny muttered as the pegasus stood up once again. This time the shadow talons that latched ahold slammed him into the high ceiling of the throne room and let him drop. As Flash fell, Tyranny pointed his hoof at the falling pegasus and the ebon ray struck out. Flash Sentry shattered into a million black pieces as he crashed into the floor, the shards vanishing into nothingness.

"Flash!" Cadence shrieked in horror, her hooves covering her mouth.

"You monster," Shining growled through clenched teeth.

"He yet lives."

"What?" the couple said.

"None who have battled me have met their ends. Doing so serves no purpose. I am, after all, no mindless monster."

"I don't care what you are! Leave now before—" Shining stopped as Tyranny, who had stood a distance away, was suddenly before him with his hoof on Shining's forehead.

"Silence!" Tyranny yelled, and an arc of electrical energy burst forth and sent the white stallion flying across the room to land in a daze at Cadence's hooves.

"Shining!" She fell to her knees to hold his head protectively. Tears streamed down her face as Tyranny approached.

"Surrender your sovereignty to me, Princess, and this senseless violence will cease," he said, leveling his scepter at her.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I seek to bring stability and order to this chaotic world, and to that end, all must submit to my rule. There are none more suited to rule than I." She looked up at him slowly, her expression saddened but holding great strength. It was something Tyranny had not expected from the young alicorn.

She looked at her senseless husband. "How did you get past the Crystal Heart?"

With no change of expression, Tyranny held up his hoof; in a puff of black smoke, the Crystal Heart appeared. To Cadence, the Crystal Heart had lost its luster, and more worriedly, it was not on its pedestal.

"A powerful relic, yet one with a flaw; it is powered by 'love,' a fickle emotion that changes as easily as desire, another emotion that has led to no end of despair, hatred, and jealousy. It is an unreliable thing to use for protection." Contemptuously, he tossed aside the relic sending it skidding across the floor. "Now, surrender your authority to me." His tone indicated that he was fast losing patience.

She looked at him, and so did Shining Armor, though his eyes were still unfocused.

"They will never accept you," she said.

Tyranny smiled wickedly at her on his way to the throne. "They have no other choice."

Tyranny sat upon the throne and smiled victoriously. He cast a spell, and a huge projected image of him on the throne appeared around the crystal tower. All the crystal ponies turned in shock to view the image.

"Citizens of the Crystal Empire, I am Tyranny. Your princess has surrendered her throne to me, thus making me your new Emperor. I am sure you have many questions, but answers will come with time. Know that your lives will change little, as long as a monthly tribute is paid and all laws are followed to the letter. Obey me, and no harm shall come to you or your families. Any defiance shall be met with swift and firm punishment. For now, go about your lives. My minions will pose no threat to you, but know that they are my enforcers." He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the stunned masses. "Rejoice, for we are the beginning of a new world that will be without strife or chaos."

The image faded and Tyranny summoned a half dozen of his shadow creatures. "Take the royals to the holding cells below; they will remain my guests," he instructed, more for the royal couple's sake than to actually give orders to the creatures.

"You intend to imprison us?" Cadence demanded as her husband leaned on her for support.

"Of course. Your presence here will ensure that the crystal ponies will remain loyal to me."

"You hold us hostage then," Shining stammered.

"It also serves another purpose, but one you need not concern yourself with." He turned to the shadow creatures and held up his hoof. A small marble appeared out of the air. "Take this one as well; I tire of carrying her around."

"Who is that?" Cadence looked to the marble with sympathy.

Tyranny grinned wickedly at her. "One you are well acquainted with. She has told me much of you, and I believe a reunion is in order."