The weather was terrible. The blizzard was raging around like a wild dragon and the freezing cold was tearing away the skin and bones of the ponies in the heated carriage. Whilst the cold flakes of icy blades ran through the whitened plains of this tundra, the sky was dark and purple in color. Even some of the snow that was flying by seemed to be affected by it. The carriage itself was being pulled by two stallions wearing full-body wear for winter. They looked like gray suits of leather with white visors. As for the transport, it looked like a giant metal box with plastic windows. Frost seemed to be trying to engulf it.

"Twilight, what do you think happened? Do you think that your brother and Cadence are alright?" Rarity asked whilst snuggled in her warm blanket.

"I don't know. The message she sent to Princess Celestia was a week ago. The messenger was in terrible shape. He's in the hospital as we speak."

The six friends were resting on the comfortable seats heated by bonfires beneath. They were controlled by magical seals, of course. This WAS the transport the princesses used to get to the Crystal Kingdom, after all. Yet, even in this warmth, they were still shaking and could see their breath. The only one who seemed to enjoy this shaking was Pinkie Pie. She was taking advantage of the situation by holding several milkshake canisters and stirring them up as she shook.

"These'll be the best milkshakes ever." she eagerly thought.

"Rarity, ah'm sure that Twah's brother'n Cadence are alright. T'ain't nothin' that can get through that crystal heart, after all. Spike IS the one who found it 'n ah don't think that anypony else can make it disappear so easily after that. It's most certainly protecting the crystal ponies." Applejack reassured her friend.

"I don't know. i have this tickling feeling in my stomach like something awful happened. It feels like what happened to me when I went searching for the crystal heart."

The lavender pony was most certainly quivering from something other than the cold. In fact, she had a glint of something rather malevolent twinkle at the edge of her eyes, if only for a moment.

"I'm sure they're fine. I've also heard that the Piuts are flying around this time of year." Fluttershy gleefully exclaimed.

"The what?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"It's like a phoenix. They're extremely big and look like beatiful ice sculptures."

"How fast are they?"

"I don't know, but I've heard that even the fastest of ponies alive has never managed to even come close to its trail."

"Hmmmm." a devilish grin formed on the rainbow pegasus' face.

"Rainbow Dash, this is serious."

"Fine, but Fluttershy is going to help me find one and race it after this."

"So Twah, we know that the princesses told us that this was a bad thing and we all needed ta go, but what was the message about? She said that you'd read it to us." Applejack asked after rolling her eyes to Rainbow Dash.

"Well..."

The lavender unicorn took her bag from the holders above their seats and fumbled through it to find a partially singed letter. The other's reacted to its appearance with widened eyes.

"Here I go:

'To Celestia,

We're having problems here. I don't know what it is, but the crystal heart doesn't seem to be protecting my subjects like it used to. It is still as bright and powerful as before, but I sense darkness befalling us. It seems the inhabitants of this kingdom are being tortured and hunted by dark images and nightmares. I have been trying my best to help them, but it doesn't seem to be working.

I fear that Sombra may have returned. Please send Twilight and her friends here. I would love to see Twili again. I don't know why, and I don't know how, but that evil being seems to have somehow found a way to break through the barrier of our love and friendship.

-Sincerely,

Cadance.'

That's all it says."

"Well...that isn't too worrisome." Fluttershy shyly added."

"Twilight, here's what we'll do. We'll--"

Rarity was cut off by Pinkie Pie who shouted:

"DO A HAPPY PARTY?! It's great for making ponies not so glum anymore. It'll put a smile on their faces and we can all be friends again."

Her friends just stared at her and the canisters that fell out of her blanket and onto the floor.

"Pinkie, what are--"

"It's a secret! You should know better, Applejack."

"So, like I was saying before being rudely interrupted by Pinkie Pie, we'll go directly to the castle and ask your sister-in-law what is wrong." Rarity scowled at Pinkie Pie.

"I guess. When are we going to get there?"

Rainbow Dash smashed her face against the freezing window and looked outside through the blizzard as best she could.

"I think...around fifteen minutes at this speed."

"Ugh! I'll never get to enjoy my milkshakes." Pinkie pouted.

Surprisingly, just as Rainbow Dash said, almost fifteen minutes had passed that they had arrived at the Crystal Kingdom, although there was something wrong. This was more impressive once Twilight and her group got out of their carriage. The two stallions who were pulling it seemed shocked as well. It was still bright and sunny inside, but there were some portions of the shield that were darkened and seemed to be vibrating at irregular intervals. There were crystals everywhere as well, but these did not seem like the normal ones of this kingdom, bor were they the fear-inducing crystals of Sombra. Twilight was sure she had seen these before, but where? It had been two years since last she saw them...or was it somewhere else? Regardless, they had to enter.

"We will guard this carriage from any threats so as for you to retreat or leave whenever you feel it, Elements." one of the pullers spoke through his mask.

"Brrr. Let's quickly get inside." Rarity begged.

The others nodded, but were very cautious of the appearance. The second they passed through the shield, they were overswept by a powerfully warm breeze that swept their fur and manes away.

"Ahhhh. That's soooooo much better." Rarity sighed in relief.

"That's 'cause ya ain't used ta workin' hard." Applejack teased.

"I'm always working hard. Why, the other day I chipped my hooficure after trying to cut some textiles. It's the worst for a mare!"

"Riiiiiight." Rainbow Dash snuffed at Rarity.

"Well, you wouldn't know, being a tomboy and all."

"Meh."

Rainbow wanted to take it as an insult, but she couldn't. She just couldn't care enough.

"That's enough with your whining. We have to go to the castle and see what's going on."

The five other ponies nodded and continued forward. The grounds were still hilly as always and some flowers were even starting to bloom in this atmosphere. Rock formations were still abundant. Some even looked like donuts...that Pinkie Pie tried to chew on, unfortunately. Despite these things, the city was still close. The six walked into it only to notice that some of the crystal ponies were locked in their homes whilst others were running towards the castle. Fluttershy tried to ask for some explanations, but she was still too quiet.

"Ferget 'em, Shy. We'll just have to get there ourselves. Perhaps the princess has prepared somefin' for us?"

The abundance of the gigantic, dark crystals appearing everywhere became more apparent as they arched the higher they got. Some had even engulfed houses or grown through them outright! The energies even the air were getting even darker than before, but the crystal heart could still be seen shining like a beacon at the top of Crystal Castle.

"Ah wonder what happened to this place?" Applejack spoke aloud.

"I dunno, but I don't like it. It feels too...sad." Pinkie struggled to find the appropriate word.

"I...what's...that?!" Twilight gasped in horror.

At the town center stood two, terribly tall obelisks of dark crystal. They seemed to be only a bit lower than the balcony of the castle, which, itself, started becoming engulfed in these putrid growths. And it was neither Cadence nor Shining Armor who were staning on it. No. It was a smiling Sombra. His cape fluttered in the wind just as his fanged teeth shone brightly in this darkness.

"My dear, pitiful subjects." he started gently."I am glad that you would have the audacity to oppose me. Why, you developped a backbone! Ahahaha. However, what better to break courage than fear? You dared to destroy my reign by letting two outsiders take my place! I will teach you where your loyalties should lie from now on, but I believe that the ones who started this whole mess should be punished for it first." Sombra looked behind him and said:"Turn them around."

The six were already angry enough at Sombra's return, but how did he return and how did he even get inside the Crystal Kingdom with the barrier up? Nonetheless, the monoliths rotated, kicking up chunks of dirt as they did so. The whole town, except for some strangely darker crystal ponies, gasped in horror, but none were more horrified than Twilight Sparkle. Cadance and Shining armor were attached to the obelisks with Sombra's dark magic serving as cuffs to torture them and fill their hearts with fear and submission.

"CADANCE! SHINING ARMOR!" Twilight yelled as she galopped down the street towards the castle.

The mare was violent struck by another crystal growing out of the ground, tossing her towards her recieving friends. She rubbed her jaw, but she wasn't beaten yet.

"Ah, yes. The Elements of Harmony. I was certain you would recieve our messenger."

"Our? Sombra, release Cadance and my brother right now!"

"Or what? Are you going to desintegrate me again like you did last time? Are you going to be influenced by my magic like you were before? You and your friends destroyed quite a large amount of planning I had prepared for this place and its...subjects." he grinned and looked at the ponies who shyed away from his gaze."The Crystal Kingdom is mine now, and you cannot stop me!"

"We'll just use the elements and the crystal heart and cast you outside again."

"Not this time, foals. I have met a friend who wishes to meet with you. I met him during my recovery and he has been of extreme help to me. Come and show yourself to these lower beings."

Hoof steps could be heard. Slowly, they landed on the ground and became ever louder. Finally, after several unnerving seconds, the being that had caused such devastation presented itself. It was a crystallion. Its crystal body still swirled with the semi-sentient cloud of darkness from before, but his face seemed to show no emotions. The glowing white crystals that served as his eyes simply stared at the entirety of the populace, but seemed to concentrate and Twilight specifically.

"A-Abstract the Dark?!" the six shouted in horror and disbelief.

Next Chapter: Abstract's silence Estimated time remaining: 7 Minutes