From her vantage point atop the Crystal Palace, Twilight watched as the black fog blanketed the city. She looked on as a large twister cut a path through he fog, only to crumble as black crystals enveloped the city.

As the crystals closed around the city, a solitary beam of sunlight shone upon a single tear, slowly making it's way down Twilight's cheek. The tear shone with white radiance before fading to black as the crystals completely encased the city.

With the sun blocked by the dome, Twilight found herself standing on a tiny island amongst a sea of black. The only light that remained, came from the Crystal Heart.

Stepping away from the blackness, Twilight edged closer to the Crystal Heart. It's low, pulsating light bathed her troubled soul in it's comforting embrace, putting her mind at ease and calming her nerves. Feeling slightly rejuvenated, Twilight sat down next to the Crystal Heart to await Sombra.

Her wait was short, the blackness at the edge of the light appeared to grow darker as it roiled and churned. A slight tremble of fear found it's way into Twilight's voice. "Sombra?" The only reply she received was deep laughter that radiated all around her. As the laughter grew louder the blackness became more violent in its movements. As both reached a crescendo Twilight again called out Sombra's name. Again no answer. She was about to call out once more when the laughter and churning abruptly stopped.

"Sombr.." She was cut off as the blackness rushed over her. All her senses were overwhelmed at once, darkness obscured her vision, thunderous noise deafened her to all else, the smell of burning bodies and the taste of rancid blood made her gag for air, and pain, unbearable pain wracked her body.

Then it was over. She remained sitting by the Crystal Heart, none the worse for wear. The laughter was gone as well as the churning blackness. Even as she thought back to what she had just experienced the memory was difficult to recall. What she did recall was just fuzzy recollections, almost like a dream. "Was I dreaming?" thought Twilight. "It felt so real, but I must have dozed off without realizing it, yes that's the only explanations." Having convinced herself that it was only a dream, Twilight got to her hooves and was about to turn and look at the Crystal Heart when a voice stopped her.

"Hold a moment, my dear. I'd suggest you not turn around just yet."

Having stopped mid-motion, Twilight was unable to quell her curiosity and looked anyway.

Standing next to the Crystal Heart was a pony or rather most of a pony. The skeleton was standing erect while muscles and tendons twisted and weaved around it in a whirlpool of blood, covering the bones in a glistening under-skin. Grey flakes materialized from the air and weaved together to form a sheet of skin that wrapped it's self around the muscle. Finally black hair sprouted form the skin and grew rapidly into a majestic flowing mane and tail.

The now complete stallion stood tall, his tail and mane waving ominously despite the lack of wind. He opened his newly formed eyes to reveal two blood red irises surrounded by green sclera that glowed brightly with ancient power.

Twilight was transfixed, her mind tried to make sense of what she had just witnessed but all she could do was stare into those two blood red orbs. After several moments of silence the stallion coughed slightly, breaking Twilight out of her trance and jump-starting her brain. "What...huh?!" Blinking rapidly and violently shaking her head. "Sombra?!"

The stallion bowed his head slightly. "Yes, my dear. I am Sombra."

Twilight was unable to speak, her mouth worked but no words were forthcoming.

Sombra smiled slightly at Twilight's display. "I'm sorry you had to see that but I did warn you."

Twilight blinked again and closed her mouth. Taking several deep breaths to calm her nerves and gather her thoughts. Sombra watched and waited patiently while Twilight composed herself. "You have questions." he said. Twilight nodded her head. "Yes I do, several in fact."

"Then I must ask you to wait awhile longer, I sense that the spell impending your brother is weakening, he must be dealt with as well as the Alicorn."

Twilight's ears perked up at his statement. "You said you weren't going to hurt them!"

"If it can be avoided, yes. The Alicorn is weak and should pose no threat, your brother on the other hoof is not. I am not yet accustomed to my new body and I fear I would be unable to best him."

Twilight scratched under her shin as a plan began to form. "Shining Armor is one of the best soldiers in Eqestria but he has one glaring weakness that we can use against him."

Sombra's eyes lit up with delight as his smile widened. "Oh? And what would that be?"

Twilight looked into Sombra's eyes and felt a twinge of sadness that she quickly buried deep inside. "Me."

"Gah! Dammit that hurt!"

"Sorry, they're really stuck on there." said Spike.

Shining Armor sat back down, having jumped to his hooves when Spike broke off one of the many black crystals imbedded in his horn. Spike began to work his claws under another crystal and Shining Armor took a moment to glance towards the throne where his wife lay.

After her barrier failed, Cadence lost consciousness and Shining Armor tried to get her to safety but found that all exits from the palace were sealed. With his magic still blocked he decided to barricade them inside the throne room, the central and most defensible room in the palace.

Upon arriving in the throne room, Shining Armor found a very distraught Spike frantically running back and forth in front of the throne.

"Oh what do I do? What do I do?" Spike said to himself. "She said to stay here and stay safe but what if she's in trouble? I should get help but what if she comes back and I'm not here? Oh!"

After calming him down, Shining Armor got Spike to help him barricade the doors and make a place for Cadence to rest. Shortly there after they heard distant screams coming from outside along with horrible sounds of destruction, followed by silence and darkness.

With his thoughts distracting him, Shining Armor did not hear Spike tell him to ready himself. Only after Spike ripped another crystal from his horn did his mind return to the present.

"AHHHH! By all that is holy does that hurt!" Yelled Shining Armor as he gently touched his horn.

"Sorry!" said Spike. "I'm trying to be gentle but they're really stuck in there."

"Yeah, I heard you the first time." he said through clenched teeth. "I need a break, go check on Cadence."

Spike did as he was told, walking over to Cadence and making sure the curtain turned blanket was still covering her.

The pain in his horn subsiding, Shining Armor got to his hooves and prepared to cast a simple light spell. As he drew power for the spell the crystals imbedded in his horn acted as leeches, sucking the power out of him before it was ready. Each time before the spell would fail almost immediately. This time, with fewer crystals drawing on the energy he was able to successfully cast the spell, greatly illuminating the darkened throne room.

"Hey you can use magic again!" cried Spike excitedly.

Shining Armor grinned despite the situation. "Yeah if I can cast simple spells then I should be able to do more powerful ones as well." As he was about to test that theory a knock was heard at the door. They both froze and Shining Armor raised a hoof to silence Spike as he was about to speak.

Quietly as possible, Shining Armor moved to the barricade in front of the door. As he crept closer, more knocks sounded as well as a faint whisper that he couldn't make out.

Coming to a stop directly in front of the barricade he strained to make out the whisper.

"Please...Shining...its me...Twilight..." The whisper trailed off but the knocks continued. Shining Armor's eyes widened as he forgot to whisper. "Twilight!?"

He was blown across the room followed by splinters of chairs and the door. Hitting the ground he skidded to a stop in front of the throne. Quickly regaining his bearings, Shining Armor jumped to his hooves and whirled to face this new threat... only to feel his heart sink at what he saw.

Standing amidst the ruins of the doorway, bathed in a sickly green light was Sombra, ancient tyrant of the Crystal Empire and by his side was Shining Armor's younger sister, Twilight.