Summer nights in the Crystal Empire were usually clear and cool, and this night was no exception. With its blue and red buildings that looked to be carved from gemstone and it’s massive, white, tetrahedral palace that seemed to pierce the sky with its soft, gently glow lighting the entire city, it was a sight to behold. It was particularly early this time of night, only an hour or so after the sun had set. Regardless, not a soul was out on the streets, instead surrendering within the safety and comfort of their homes.

Inside the palace, it was an entirely different story. Even during the serenity of night, the possibility of danger was always present. The castle’s guards shimmering indigo coats and light purple armor even contained some luster inside the icy-white halls they patrolled.

Inside one of the rooms, whose crystal walls radiated with royal blue, frames of art, large and small covered nearly every foot of its area while display cases featuring golden cups, chalices, and goblets wrapped around the edge of the room.

In the very back, however, was an odd mirror. Standing upon a circular base with horseshoes decorated around its edges was a purple, horseshoe-shaped frame, standing at around six-and-a-half feet tall. Atop it was another horseshoe design, pointed upwards and featuring a primitive drawing of a pony atop it.

The room was still and quiet, slightly dusty with a lack of use. Suddenly, a wind blew into the room from the source of the mirror itself. The mirror began to glow slightly as smoke began to drift from out of it. Just then, a human, late-teenage woman stepped from out of the mirror as if the surface were water. Carried out with her were even larger plumes of smoke as they flew about her like a macabre aura.

The woman had unnaturally light-yellow-colored skin, cyan eyes, and long, wavy hair streaked equally in red and a brighter yellow. Underneath her waist cut leather jacket with a studded collar was a purple t-shirt with a sun decal on the chest divided into six rays, the bottom half, along with the two right rays and the right halves of the top and bottom rays colored red, while the other halves and the two left rays, along with the top of the sun were colored yellow.

She wore and orange knee-length skirt with a purple and yellow stripe running down the right thigh, as well as black boots that featured a purple design that ran along and around the top of her feet and ankles and up to her mid shin. Her exposed legs were wrapped up in a brown, leather harness that ran into her boots and skirt. Fastened to her back was a slightly worn 3D Maneuver Gear, both its sheaths each filled with four blades and two ice-blue crystals atop of it.

The woman looked about her surroundings, smirking as she did. She took a comfortable walk around the mirror and behind it, looking upon the thin crystal surface of the back of the mirror.

“Au revoir,” she whispered as she stepped back towards it.

Crossing her left leg in front of her right and onto the base, she leaned her body back. Thrusting her right leg and foot out, she kicked the back of the mirror, sending it and the mirror itself shattering out into the room. While the bits of the crystal plating fell to the floor with subtle clinks, the shards of mirror separated like water before they evaporated in small, bright flashes.

The woman stepped back onto the base and walked through the frame of the mirror, smiling viciously at the act she had committed. The sound of hoofsteps came towards the door, leaving the woman to stand perfectly still, her face instantly changing into that of determination. The sounds stopped; the guard had to be outside the door. The woman reached for the left side of her jacket, clutching something inside.

The waiting felt like hours as the guard waited for another noise to ensure he was not imagining things. With a shrug, the guard stepped away from the door to the room and resumed his patrol. The woman continued to wait until the guard was far enough away so she could go through with the next part of her plan.

Having waited just enough, the woman reached into the jacket and pulled out a small, but modern-looking walkie-talkie from her pocket. With a turn of the knob, a faint static sound emitted from the ear-piece. Pushing and holding a small button on the side, the static stopped, allowing the woman to put her mouth to the receiver.

“Chrysalis?” whispered the woman. “Do you copy? This is Sunset Shimmer. Copy? Over.”

Letting the button go, the static came back on. A few seconds passed before the static sound stopped on its own.

“Sunset?” questioned the eerie, female dual voice of Chrysalis on from the receiver. “You made it out of your world? Over.”

“Affirmative,” Sunset Shimmer answered, annoyed. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be talking to you right now. Over.”

“That’s good. Tell me, how is your old world now? Over.”

“This is my old world; it always has been. As for the alternate, I assume it will continue on. I can’t really say the same for the boys and girls at Canterlot High, however. Over.”

Sunset Shimmer smiled as Chrysalis’ voice came back on.

“So,” she said, “decided to have a little fun before you left? Over.”

“Yeah. If you can call it that. Over”

“I assume you won’t miss it? Over.”

“Absolutely not… Over.”

“Forgive me, I’m getting us off track. Now, tell me. What time do you have on your watch? Over.”

Sunset Shimmer pulled back the left sleeve of her jacket, revealing a cheap-looking rubber watch.

“It’s 10:23 where I am,” she responded. “Over.”

“Good,” Chrysalis responded. “Any problems with navigating the palace? Over.”

“I hate to admit it, but this is the second time the portal has opened since it’s been shipped to this Crystal Empire, and I never had a chance to navigate it since our last meeting, so could you please remind me of the route? Over.”

“Of course. At 10:25, the day guards will switch their shifts with the night guards. They will all gather together at the center rotunda of the palace to switch positions. At promptly 10:26, you will exit the room. Take the hallway straight across from the room, then, turn right. From there, you will turn left and continue down the hallway. All I can tell you is to check down the right side of each passing hallway until you see the southwestern balcony.

“Take that and run straight at it. Using your Maneuver Gear, jump off towards the western leg and swing down to the ground. Once you hit the ground, take the northwestern path one above the one closest to the palace’s leg. Take that straight until you reach the Crystal Empire train station. At promptly 10:30, a shipment of wool and crystal is set to leave the station for Canterlot. Hitch onto that train from the very back car where the workers are least likely to see you.”

The sound of galloping hooves ran wild outside the room, making Sunset Shimmer uptight.

“You might want to finish that,” she urged. “It’s 10:25 now and they’re changing. Over.”

“That is fine,” Chrysalis assured, “That is all you need to know for now. Once you near Canterlot, call me again for further instructions.”

“Copy that.”

“Best of luck to you, Sunset. Chrysalis, over and out.”

Sunset Shimmer placed the phone back into her pocket, quickly stepping up to the door. One last set of hooves came running by the room, completely unsuspecting of the human inside. Sunset checked her watch one last time. Seven seconds left.

Six.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Sunset Shimmer gently pushed the door open and slipped out, gliding across the floor on Chrysalis’ route, the only audible sounds were the light taps of her feet hitting the ground and the short, but heavy jingle her blades made inside her large, bulky sheaths. Without a guard anywhere around her, it made little difference. All she needed to do was to get to the train in less than four minutes.

She reached the end of the hallway, following Chrysalis’s instructions and turning right. Continuing down the hallway, there seemed to be no more places to go, other than the left turn at the end of the hallway. Sunset Shimmer quickened her pace to the corner, turning left when she finally reached it.

Now, Sunset faced a much longer corridor, seeing many intersections coming on both sides. As per Chrysalis’s instructions, Sunset Shimmer turned her head left. Finding anything that could be considered a balcony. With each new hallway that crossed the one she ran through, all they seemed to do was lead her to dead ends.

Finally, one came where a large passageway was open, revealing the open night sky. Almost instantly after she saw it, Sunset Shimmer turned right into the hallway and quickened her pace, happy to see that her mission would not end in vain.

The entryway came closer and closer, and Sunset Shimmer’s time got shorter and shorter. Looking at the other intersecting hallways to check for any guard ponies late in coming up, she continued her long and quiet-as-can-be strides on the floor.

Making it to the balcony, Sunset Shimmer ran to the right side of the balcony, reaching inside under her jacket, pulling out two operational devices. With a single hop, her foot landed upon the banister. With another push, Sunset Shimmer was airbound towards the west leg of the palace.

Halfway through her fall, Sunset Shimmer aimed her operational devices for the edge of the underside of the palace, pulling the triggers and firing a hook and wire from her waist. The hook made its mark, catching Sunset Shimmer and swinging her under the main body of the palace and towards the inside of the western leg.

Sunset Shimmer relinquished her hook allowing herself to fall once more. Then, firing a hook at the middle of the palace leg and one at the ceiling, Sunset Shimmer was caught once again, but just a foot or so above the ground. With her speed and the angles of where her wires were set, Sunset Shimmer began to swing around the leg.

Pulling the ceiling wire back in, Sunset Shimmer landed to her feet as she reeled herself in with the pillar wire. The momentum of her swing had her slide around the leg as she still pulled herself closer, waiting for the opportune moment. Finding the right path Chrysalis told her to take, Sunset Shimmer pulled the other wire back, resuming her run down the path.

Sunset Shimmer continued to run, passing the houses of the empire’s citizens and the buildings that were closed for the night. Soon enough, Sunset found herself outside of the actual town, running upon the grass. However, the train station was just in sight, and much like Chrysalis had said, a moderately short freight train of boxcars was waiting at the station.

With smoke pouring out of the smokestack, it looked like the train would leave any second. Sunset Shimmer pulled back her sleeve and looked at her watch; 10:30 already. Sunset Shimmer scoffed, knowing that watch wouldn’t be exact, but she would still more than likely barely make it.

As she passed the left side of the station to the second to last boxcar, which looked slightly ajar enough for her to fit in, the train lurched forwards, already beginning its journey to Canterlot. Sunset Shimmer hardly had to worry. With her train outmatching the train’s current speed, she managed to leap into the boxcar in one bound, sliding into the closed door on the other side.

Sunset Shimmer turned to the gap in the door to see the train pass the station and leave the Crystal Empire. Taking long, exhausted breaths, she continued watching as the train reached a speed that she would not have been able to match on foot, the Crystal Empire slowly getting smaller in the distance.

Putting her operational devices back into her jacket, Sunset Shimmer slid her back down one of the crates inside the car and sat on the floor, continuing to pant. With her arm still in her jacket, she pulled out her walkie-talkie and pushed the button on the side.

“This is Sunset Shimmer,” she gasped. “I’m on the train and it has departed the Crystal Empire. Over.”

A second passed before Chrysalis’s voice came on the server.

“Why are you talking to me on the train now?” Chrysalis hissed. “Do you want to be noticed?”

“I’m in the second to last boxcar. Too far from both the engine and the caboose for anyone to hear me. Over.”

A moment of silence.

“Very well,” she said. “Do not call me again until you see Canterlot. Chrysalis, over and out.”

Sunset Shimmer placed her walkie-talkie back into her jacket. Sitting comfortably against the crates, she looked out the gap in the door as the Crystal Empire began to disappear beyond the horizon.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Sunset Shimmer stood by the right-side door, which she had opened for lookout. Canterlot was fast approaching, and she could only rely on moonlight to see any of her surroundings beyond the train. The land was getting very mountainous, the tall bridges and steep climbs becoming more and more common. Sunset Shimmer awaited for the familiar spires that made up Canterlot’s palaces and buildings. While she hadn’t seen them in years, they still rung like a sweet melody in her memories.

Finally, the spires could be seen as the train passed through a craggy ravine and along the left edge of the mountain range. Sunset Shimmer marveled at the sight, even with the city and castle nothing more than a silhouette in the moon. Shaking herself from her wonder, she reached into her jacket and put the walkie-talkie to her ear.

“This is Sunset Shimmer,” she reported. “Canterlot has been spotted. I repeat, Canterlot has been spotted. Over.”

“Good,” cooed Chrysalis. “Now, all you must do at this point is keep your eyes peeled along the mountain. You will see three green flashes when I get visual of the train, no more, no less. That will be your entrance to my lair. Jump from the train and make your way to there with your Maneuver Gear. Do you understand?”

“Copy.”

“I shall see you momentarily. Chrysalis, over and out.”

Sunset Shimmer put her walkie-talkie away as the train passed through a small tunnel made in the mountain. The tracks bent to the left once again, revealing another part of the mountain. As she leaned outside the car and kept her eyes open, she noticed a bright green light from the bottom of her vision. Looking back down, Sunset Shimmer could see two more green flashes emanate from a spot on the mountains slope. As warned, there were no more after that.

The train followed the mountain range, bending to the right again. Sunset Shimmer knew this was the side where Chrysalis signaled her, making her open the door wider. Moving herself with her back to the edge of the car and into the nightly abyss, Sunset took one last deep breath.

Timing herself, Sunset hopped backwards out of the car and down the mountain’s edge, shifting her body so that it faced the mountain once again, but just inches from her body. Pulling out her operational devices from her jacket, she shot two of her wires into the face of the mountain, catching her and sliding her down the wall before she slid to a stop.

Clicking the bottom triggers, she reeled herself down further, looking out for the entrance. She then looked left to see a sizable cave entrance. Running to the left along the wall, Sunset Shimmer fell inside, releasing her wires as she landed to her feet.

Looking about her, the cave looked to be made of purplish-pink crystals. As Sunset Shimmer ventured further inside while she put her operational devices away, the cave darkened. Before the darkness could overtake her vision, a faint, flickering green glow was visible further down. Sunset Shimmer finally reached the source, what she saw amazing her.

The area was much larger and roomier than the cavern she had wandered, being held up by four large pillars that were wrapped on all sides with torches that burned a green fire. Along the left end of the room, a stream of water passed through, providing a peaceful ambience. Along the walls of this cavern, there were numerous holes that appeared to fit a black, pony-sized creature in each one as they slept.

“Welcome,” Chrysalis’s voice sounded behind her.

Sunset Shimmer turned around to see Chrysalis in the flesh, lit frighteningly in the fire’s glow. She resembled a very skinny black alicorn, although her body housed no fur, only a smooth, hard skin. The shins on her legs as well as her hooves were filled with holes that traveled completely through them and out the other sides. Her kelpy mane and tail were a dark cerulean, and also featured holes inside of it.

Her insect-like wings looked torn and useless, poking through a lime-green plating that covered her back. Her horn was quite large and very jagged, but not quite as large as her bright-green, catlike eyes. Her mouth featured four sharp fangs like a vampires. Sitting atop her head was a tiny black crown with large, turquoise beads atop the points.

“Chrysalis,” sighed Sunset Shimmer with a smile.

Sunset Shimmer approach Chrysalis, giving her a warm, snug hug. Chrysalis chuckled gleefully in Sunset Shimmer’s comforting embrace. Chrysalis’s horn began to glow slightly, stopping once Sunset Shimmer let go.

“It’s been far too long,” Chrysalis said.

“A year always is,” Sunset Shimmer responded.

“Follow me.”

Chrysalis walked around Sunset Shimmer and further into the cavern. Walking around to the top side of the square pillar formation, There was a hallowed-out, lime-green cocoon with a gelatinous surface on the bottom.

“Please,” Chrysalis insisted, “make yourself at home.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” Sunset Shimmer responded.

Undoing the fastening on her Maneuver Gear, the machine and sheaths came to the ground with a slight crash that echoed violently inside the cave. Inside the holes inside the walls, the black creatures stirred, opening their beady-blue eyes to see what the noise was.

“My apologies, my pretties,” called Chrysalis about the cavern. “Go back to sleep.”

The black creatures curled back up into their holes, closing their eyes and resting once again.

“I do ask that you be more quiet around my subjects,” whispered Chrysalis. “It’s still nighttime after all.”

“Tough,” Sunset Shimmer quietly snapped as she shed her jacket and lied it atop her Maneuver Gear. “I can’t sneak out of a busy castle and busy town during the day, so we’re making due.”

Sunset Shimmer sat down in her makeshift bed, the surface feeling like a smooth and firm gel.

“I understand, Sunset,” replied Chrysalis, “but now that you’re here, please get some sleep.”

“I did get a bit on the train,” Sunset Shimmer spoke as she removed her boots, revealing the harness that wrapped around her feet. “I should be ready for planning by sunrise.”

“Please, do take as much rest as you want. We still have several days before the Summer Sun Celebration, and in order for this plan to work, we have to make each… second… count.”

Chrysalis’s brow furrowed, knowing how risky their objective would be.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Inside the dungeon-like underground chamber of Canterlot Castle’s forbidden library, two half-filled bookshelves rested along the backside of the room, while a table featuring a shattered crystal ball siting in the center. In between the two bookshelves, a black, dusty book sat in a glass display, locked with chains. Only one word was written upon the stained metal plating on its cover.