So that is the famous Crystal Empire, seems like it'd be an interesting place to live but what's there that would make Sombra want to take it over? I asked myself as I watched it get closer and closer as the train sped along the tracks.
"If I had to wager I think it was because of the crystal heart that's powered by the positive emotions of the kingdom's citizens. It's said that the happiness radiated from it also radiates through not only Equestria but the other countries that surround the Empire as well. All expect for the Windigoe Capital which possesses very high concentration of negative emotions that would keep your own dark magic reserves supplied for millienias." explained Nova in her teacher voice.

"So basically the anti-DarkHeart, I can definitely see why he'd want that. If he was able to corrupt it King Sombra could have became invincible as long as it was active. Though I wonder how he was able to remove it in the first place, the barrier it created should have kept him out, and now that I think about it won't it do the same to you as well." Shadow did make a good point, how did Sombra get close enough to the heart to remove and hide the damn thing. If the stories I heard from Pinkie Pie and the others are true then he shouldn't have been able to touch the heart, let alone remove it from its place under the castle. It would seem there's more to this story then I originally thought.
I won't have an issue thanks to Nova and the H.O.L. plus not being in my darkness form should help as well considering that unlike Sombra my body doesn't really give hints of the effects of dark magic since it isn't corrupting me in any way. Like it would stop me anyway. Our mission is to find the Windigoe Capital and rescue Diamond Sky from that asshole that calls himself her father we aren't here for sightseeing. If Hyperion and Ember need anything before we take off I'm than alright with that but I want to get there as soon as I can.

"You know it won't do any of you any good if you're already this tense, and we haven't even gotten off the train yet." Cadence said jokingly as she came up beside me. "A bit for your thoughts, it may help you calm down."
"I am calm it's just that something occurred to me that may provide more details concerning Sombra's takeover of the Crystal Empire. I know there's a lot of mystery concerning that very subject but my main idea is in regards to the Crystal Heart." I voiced my thoughts to her hoping that maybe there are a few gaps she could fill since she's the ruler of ponies that are a couple of decades older than I am but they've been affected by time as much as I have.
"If you're talking about how he got in here the answer to that is very simple," I look at her when she pauses for a few seconds then gesture for her to go on. "He was actually a citizen of the empire before he usurped the throne. He knew of its defenses as well as its weaknesses."

"But what about the heart? Even if he was a citizen it should have recognized that he was a threat since he had dark magic at his disposal, or at least that's what I'm assuming anyway, after all there should be guards around such an important artifact of the empire right?" I asked with a curious expression that turned stern when she gave me a sheepish chuckle and rubs the back of her head. "Please tell me you're joking." I got nothing but a turned head from Cadance which got my eyebrows twitching madly. "The citizens were happy and prosperous so the previous rulers thought better of it since it would show distrust towards their citizens of the empire and cause them to become unhappy that their loyalties were in question, especially since there were so few outsiders that actually came to visit the Crystal Empire with how things were back then. Of course me and husband aren't going to make the same mistake with all of my aunts' old enemies making appearances." She finally says after staring at her for an answer for a minute or so. "Well at least she sounds confident that they've done the right thing but I would like to see how the guards actually hold up."

"You and me both"

You and me both. Nova said/ I thought simultaneously.

"Oh come on Dark Heart, let the mare be. After all your family wears the artifact you've been protecting for centuries and make yourselves living targets for perhaps one of the most dangerous dragons in the world. I don't think you have much room to talk when it comes to effectively protecting important magical items." I hear Hyperion say as she and Ember walk up to us. I just shrug my shoulders and go back to looking out the window to see how close we are to the station. Sure enough it seems our conversation has killed the rest of the time as I see us pulling in now. Being as impatient as I am at the moment, I head towards the exit before the train comes to a complete stop and jump onto the platform. I take a look around and see ponies giving me weird looks but I don't really care what they could be thinking about me at the moment as I have more important matters to attend to.

"I didn't think my company was that bad." Said Cadance as the girls all get off the train as well, after it stopped of course. "Sorry Cadance but I want to get this done as soon as possible." I tell her as I look towards the frozen tundra the three of us are going to have trek through to get to Diamond.

"I know you're worried and all but do you really need to? You did say that she had her own supporters that would help her should things get that bad, not to mention the countless shadows you got watching over her at this very moment." Hyperion points out as she places around me. "I know you haven't heard anything from them so for now calm now and lets worry about getting our butts there first"

"Yeah, yeah alright, I'll chill for now but we are leaving as soon as you two are ready." They give me affirmative nods and we look towards Cadance. "So where do we go to get some decent winter supplies because I don't know about you but those two-" I points towards Hyperion and Ember. "Don't exactly have the biology suited for this journey but I already know that anything I say to get them to stay behind won't really work." After I say that the two give their triumphant poses which causes me to face palm and Cadance to giggle a bit.

"Well you won't have to worry about that. We have actually have guards stationed outside the influence of the Crystal Heart that are more than well-equipped to survive an intense blizzard if the need ever arises so I'll be able to get you the three of you set and ready to go on your trip to the Windigoe Capital." I hear ponies all around us gasp and I can't help but look around and just notice that we've walking to the castle this whole time. I also notice how the crystal ponies are now whispering to each other while they look over our little group. I look back to the princess as I go ahead and ignore them to speak to her, Thanks, but I won't need it. My own suit will be more than enough to keep out to cold." She looks at me skeptically for a second before shrugging and returned to guiding us to the castle.

"Would you stop tugging at your collar!" I shout at Hyperion an she's been doing this since she put on the magically enchanted, but ordinary looking, fleece coat Cadance got her, as well as a modified one for Ember.
"You where this damn thing and tell me how comfortable you feel in it!" She yells right back and she persist with trying to shred the apparently uncomfortable garment off of herself.
"Why can't you be more like Ember, at least she ain't whining about it" I tell her as I look over at Ember who seems to be just about prancing in her own fleece as we head towards the most northern part of the city and make our way out to our destination.
"She doesn't count, her entire body is made up of wood, leaves, and sap, I bet she doesn't even feel it." Hyperion humphed as she finally gives up as we're approaching the city limits.
"And you have an incredibly tough, scalely hide that is damn hard to get through so I don't want to hear it missy." She just sticks her tongue out at me and turns her head away from me. I sigh as I shake my head and turn back to where we were going only to stop as I see we're finally here. Looking across the frozen landscape before us and I can't but wonder what dangers await us on the way there. From the information I've gotten from my shadows, it shouldn't take more than two days to get there, if I made this trip alone and ran full speed all the way there. Now that I have two tag along that are not only as fast but not as prepared for this as I am but I don't really have the heart to send them back and make them wait back at home, or here at least, when all they want to do is help.

"You two ready for this?" I feel both of them slip a hand grab a hold of my right hand as I feel Ember nudge my side which causes me to squeeze Hyperion's hand and place my left hand onto Ember's back. "Then lets go find and beat down some Windigoes." And with that we run into the frozen unknown, ready and raring to demolish anything that gets in our way.

"You know for a dragon that managed to wreak havoc and an entire for four days straight you sure do lack endurance." There was a patch of burnt ground where I stood a moment ago after saying that.
"Fu *huff* uck you. *huff huff*"
"As much as I wouldn't mind we kinda have some where to be." I say with a grin as I bend forward so my face is close to her ear. "But I'll tell you what, after this is over the two of us will have go on a date to wherever you want as a thank you for coming with me." And with that her violet scales turned red as big blush came over her face.
"R-r-really?" She asked in a soft but hopeful voice as she stares up at me from her position with her claws still planted on her knees. I merely nod with my grin still planted on my face and I soon find myself on the snowy ground with rather warm pair of lips pressed against my own. I don't hesitate to return the kiss as I cup her cheeks and hold her close to me. "I would love to Dark Heart but until then we have a mission to complete." She says after pulling away and looking at me with those loving eyes.

We hear whining and scratching to our left and we look over to Ember who is there with that sad little puppy dog look directed at us and I can't help but smile as I use my hand to beckon her over to us. She instantly gets excited as she hops up on all fours and bounds over to us and forces herself to be in between Hyperion and I. We laugh at her antics as I give her a scratch behind the ears. I'm glad these two came along. It ma take longer to get there but at least like this I won't be such a stiff hard ass when I see Diamond. I think as I enjoy the moment.

"I know it's hard to remember with everything that's been going on but you must remember Dark Heart, that your ancestors have been given the strength they need to protect not only me but those they care about by the ones they love the most. I know it kinda goes against your nature seeing dark magic draws its power from negative emotions but if you ever hope to bridge the gap between light and darkness that is a lesson that you need to take to heart." Though her voice is stern I could easily hear the compassion behind it as well, and I have to admit she does make a valid point. Darkness will only take me so far. If I hope to bring dark magic any kind good reputation I'm gonna have to find a way to show the masses that both it and normal magic can indeed work hand in hand. For now that's neither here nor there, and as much as I hate to end this little moment we must keep going.

"Hey you two, we gotta get going so I hope you're rested." I tell as I sit up with both of them in my arms. They linger there for a bit before Hyperion goes to stand up, then Ember, and finally myself. After dusting to snow off ourselves, well shaking it off in Ember's chase, we begin walking on towards our destination. Though it isn't a few minutes later that Hyperion asks me a question. "Hey Dark Heart?"

"Hmm?"

"Well I was just wondering how you weren't cold laying there in the snow cause even with this fleece on I still feel a bit chilly."

"Oh well that's rather simple actually. My suit here helps keeps my body at normal body temperature, though even without this thing I wouldn't really be bothered by the cold since one of the things I did was intense weather training while I was trapped in the amulet. Comes in handy for situations like this as well as any time I find myself without my suit." I explain to her as I remember some of things I did while I was imprisoned by Nightmare. I also remember the anger, the rage, and the pure unadulterated murderous intent I felt after discovering what she had done. Now though, after everything that's been going on, I'm not so bent out of shape about it. In fact as may even go as far as to say that I'd be willing to try helping her should she rear her head again, but I can't say that for sure until I ever confront her again. Something I'm suspecting to happen rather soon actually since there's no telling what the Elements of Harmony actually did to her.

"And you didn't make anything for us!?" Hyperion's shout knocked me from my train of thought.

"It took quite a while just to make mine and I'd rather get this over with as soon as possible, so yeah I did't make another to fit you two, though if you recall correctly I did say that I wanted to do this solo in the first place." She puffs out a bit of smoke and, obviously, is making it very clear that she's agitated. I do nothing more than sigh and look out ahead of me. Am I glad that Ember isn't this temperamental otherwise I'd think that they would do me in when we stop for the night.

"I thought you were going to travel the entire way there to make it there sooner.

I am but neither of them need to know that, they're going to need they're strength if they actually plan on helping me but at the same time I'm in a rush.

"So you've mentioned for the thousandth time since the shadows found her." I could feel his eyes rolling.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, you were thinking of doing WHAT!?" Nova screeched in.

Problem, Nova?

"Yes there's a problem! You actually thinking of not only traveling at night but of also doing it while carrying those two!?"

That was pretty much the plan yeah

"Are you nuts!"

Listen Nova, I understand where your concern is coming from but I've already decided that this is the best course of action and there's nothing you can say or do that will get me to change my mind. There's nothing but silence after that and I can't help but feel a bit worried. Nova?

"I think it may be best to leave her be for now Dark." Shadow says in a tone that causes my ears to lay flat against my head. What am I to do now, Hyperion is mad at me for once again reinstating that I'd rather do this alone, Ember hasn't really tried to voice her opinion, and now Nova and Shadow seem to disapprove of my decision of how to handle all of this, or at least Nova is and Shadow just seems to be trying to make sure things don't get worse.

This really is going to be a long trip after all. I think to myself as I feel my fluctuate even even more from the emotions swirling around us.

Author's Notes:

So cutting off the chapter here as I don't really have anything exciting planned for the trip itself so the next chapter will begin with them just arriving and maybe a little bit about how things went. With all that said I gotta say it's good to be back and Outcasted Hero is next for an update, and after that...... well I'm still deciding on what to do for Lighting Master.