Spike stood in the middle of the mayhem as the mares galloped back and forth, crying out Twilight's name. His heart was torn as he thought about never seeing his best friend ever again and closed his eyes to hold back the tears. Pinkie Pie, however, had already let the waterfalls come and she lay in a pool of tears, stamping her hooves regretfully.

"Why Twilight? Why?" she asked desperately though her wails.

Frowning, Spike stumbled forward and noticed that the shield was now down and the snow was gone. "Err, guys, where'd the snow go?" he called over his shoulder. They all stopped and joined him, walking forward across the new spring grass.

"Do you think it's 'cos we can't send him back into the ice anymore, ya know without one of the elements?" Applejack suggested anxiously.

"I don't know," Rarity mumbled, looking out towards the horizon whilst newly glowing Crystal ponies continued about their business.

"What'll we tell Cadence?" Fluttershy whispered.

"Worse still," Rainbow moaned. "What'll we tell Shining Armour?"

Every pony groaned at the thought of it as they turned shamefully and headed for the castle.

---

Twilight sat in the cell, frozen with shock, whilst Shimmer paced continuously, stopping every few minutes to attack the walls. If there were no doors or windows, how could they get in or out? Already, the purple Unicorn had tried teleporting only to find that her magic failed. It seemed like they had been there for days but Shimmer was certain it had only been a few minutes.

Suddenly, a dark stallion moulded into view before them, his curving red horn frightening. Twilight glared at King Sombre as he stood, watching them both with eager eyes. Then, he glanced at Twilight and tutted.

"Can't have my Queen looking like that, can we?" he said softly, his horning glowing dimly.

A moment later, Twilight found herself taller than before wearing a tight red dress with a long train and a red tiara with a black diamond set into it. Her feet beheld red slippers and her hair was longer than before. Her eye lids were coated with red eye shadow. Moreover, she had a set of sleek purple wings.

"Ah, you look ravishing, my Queen!" Sombre purred.

Twilight took a disgusted step back only to knock into Shimmer, who was examining her wings.

"And my advisor, we need a suit for you!" Sombre cried.

His horn glowed once more and a flash ensued. Then, Twilight saw Shimmer stood beside her with bats wings and wearing a full black suit which stopped at her neck. Her crystal sparkle was gone and her mane was in a loose ponytail.

"Yes, much better," Sombre nodded.

"What can I do, King Sombre?" Shimmer-bat asked, her voice rough and gravelly.

"Go to that petty Crystal Empire and tell them I have Twilight Sparkle and soon I shall have their home!" Sombre ordered.

Shimmer-bat nodded and as she beat her wings a portal appeared, allowing her to fly through and into the Crystal Empire. The moment her tail tip vanished it closed and King Sombre flashed to Twilight's side, smiling evilly.

"Shall we, my Queen?" his snake-like voice wracking her heart. He lifted his hoof to her and, reluctantly, Twilight put her hoof on his as a portal appeared and they stepped through.

They appeared in a mysterious black room with a black throne on top of a stage, a red carpet leading from the towering black doors to it. Next to the black throne was a small throne made of deep red and it didn't take much to know this throne was for Twilight. Gulping, Twilight walked up to it with King Sombre.

"Hmm…" King Sombre tapped his chin in mock-thought before grinning. "We need slaves, my Queen!"

Twilight winced as his horn shone and twelve foals filed in, heads hanging and this steps glum. Each pony seemed familiar and Twilight instantly recognised the Pegasus colt who had been admiring Rainbow Dash. Racing forward, she swept the spring-bud colours foal into her arms, his ruffled feather's twitching.

"Silver Core!" Twilight cried, lifting him out so she could see him. "Are you alright?"

Silver Core looked sadly in her eyes and recognition sparkled in his but he did not smile. "Hello Miss Sparkle, what are you doing here?"

His flat tone was a shock to Twilight and she lowered him gently, stroking his wild Dartmouth green mane and staring into his harlequin eyes.

"Is this a friend of yours, my Queen?"

The snaky voice startled her and she stepped in front of Silver Core, spreading her wings defensively. She could hear the colt's teeth chattering with fear and noticed him scrambling under her, the other foals following him into a safe place.

"All of them," he lifted an eyebrow suspiciously. "Well, we'll make them happy, won't we?"

He fired a beam at one of the walls and a barred door appeared, a moment later with the foals locked behind it. They wailed in fear and Twilight shied away, her courage disintegrating as she saw what the king could do. Her ears fell back and she folded her wings slowly, her shoes tapping softly on the rough ground.

"Now then," he fired at them again and this time red spirals filled their eyes and they made groaning sounds. "Be quiet, slaves! Now, get your queen a meal!"

The door crumpled and the foals marched out through the double doors, closing them with a stiff bang, before King Sombre's vines caught Twilight's attention.

Looking down, she saw the vines wrapping around her and pulling her towards him inch by inch until their snouts were touching. Struggling, she noticed his mouth opening a little and his head cocking to the side, diving in for a kiss.

Just then, the door swung open and Shimmer-bat darted through, her bat wing striking the air powerfully.

"Am I interrupting, King Sombre?" Shimmer-bat asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.

Sombre released Twilight and she leapt away as he marched towards his advisor who hovered in the air.

"No, not at all, I was only going to kiss my fiancé! Not a big deal, I mean, we'll kiss all the time after the wedding!" King Sombre rolled his eyes.

"Oh, good!" Shimmer-bat said delightedly, taking his sarcasm seriously. "Because her princesses demand I return her immediately. I was wondering what I should do."

Sombre smacked his hoof to his head.

"Sometimes I really hate hypnotism," he muttered and then, louder, "Tell them, 'Over my dead body!'"

"Okay!" Shimmer-bat saluted and glided out, the doors closing behind her.

"Now, where was I?" Sombre wondered and then he smirked. "Ah yes."

He approached Twilight who was straightening out a picture of her friends which she had summoned, hoping he wouldn't mind. Sombre barely noticed it as he wrapped his hooves around her waist and pulled her towards him. She unfolded her wings in shock, hitting him, and then felt something lifting her up and carrying her towards him.

King Sombre perched on the bigger throne and put her gently down on the smaller before leaning towards her, eyes locked on hers. She winced and he groaned.

"You know, I could always force you," he said coldly and reluctantly, Twilight leant into him, eyelids pressed tightly together, and felt a chill run up her spine as his lips closed on hers. If this ever happened again, she would flee.

---

Fluttershy stood in front of the mirror with Rarity fretting about her mane. It had been almost an hour since Twilight had gone and everyone was dressing up for Twilight's farewell, knowing she would never return. Spike and Pinkie lay sprawled over each other, sobbing uncontrollably. Rarity had told them that giving ponies make-overs calmed her down, after every pony noticed her fussiness.

Staring at the full length mirror, Fluttershy took in the mourning figure that was reflected back at her. Was it truly her? Surely not. This stranger had dark circles beneath her sad teal eyes and her mane was chaotic with lack of sleep. This stranger wore a long black skirt and tight black blouse and her hooves were houses in knee length black boots. Surely it wasn't her!

But deep down she knew it was and this hurt her more than she thought as Rarity tightened the skirt and combed her mane and tail or rearranged her ruffled feathers.

Rainbow mourned for both Twilight and the young Pegasus colt Silver Core who had been the cutest green colt on four hooves.

Applejack merely sat on a chair, looking normal with her mane brushed and no clothing but her hat, her eyes clear of visible sadness or lack of sleep. In fact she looked practically healthy. The only thing wrong with her was her voice. Ever since they had told Celestia and Luna of Twilight's disappearance, Applejack had not spoken a word. Her friends fretting was enough to cover her share and she knew already about the loss of a family member – and that's what Twilight was, a family member.

Fluttershy squealed as the door opened and Luna strolled in, her head hanging and her mane clinging to her neck in desperation. Her wings dragged after her.

"Celestia is weeping," Luna explained. "She needs a little more time and refuses to attend the assembly. She has her heart set on getting Twilight back."

"We understand," Rainbow muttered. "They're really close."

Luna nodded unhappily, obviously desperate for her sister to come back and replace the weeping creature who had entered their lives. Her wings unfolded and flapped weakly before turning and trotting out, beckoning them with her hoof when she paused outside.

"Come on Pinkie," Fluttershy whispered.

Applejack caught Spike by one of his spine scales and set him on her back without a word before trotting out, her mouth in a straight line.

---

Rarity's cloak was tied over a statue of Twilight rearing in the middle of the Crystal Empire, her hooves outstretched and holding the heart. Applejack stood with Spike gripping her leg, her head bowed in memory. Rainbow flew and completed a sonic rainboom only to return without the usual grin. Pinkie Pie prodded her straight, deflated mane as tears rolled from her crystal blue eyes. Fluttershy stood by one of the pillars that held up the Crystal palace, hiding her face behind a thick strand of pink mane which had fallen from the elegant bun piled on her head.

"Please come back, Twilight," Fluttershy murmured, looking up at the floor of the Crystal palace. "We need you more than ever."

Crystal ponies came and dropped flowers by the statue and at one point Shining Armour and Princess Cadence came, their eyes dark with worry as they set a bunch of roses in the crook of Twilight-statue's arm.

Afterwards the staff came into the dining room and gave them an enormous feast but no pony touched their plate except Pinkie who ate to satisfy her loss. Fluttershy was certain that if Pinkie kept that up then she would double her size and, even after years of cake and no change, Fluttershy knew this would happen.

"Please, Twilight," Fluttershy whispered, her eyes locked on her plate.

The ponies left to go to their rooms but Fluttershy found no comfort from the smooth mattress to the silky duvet. She missed her friend extremely, if there was a way to get Twilight back she would take it.

Why did it have to be Twilight? Why not some pony else? Why didn't she, herself, go? Couldn't she see the pain that Twilight was going through at the idea of marrying a villainous king?

"I'm a horrible friend," she muttered bitterly, pulling the duvet over her delicate head.