Shining Armor swirled the last bit of hard cider in his glass as he leaned against the barrister of the balcony overlooking his sleeping empire. The city was still and peaceful save for the occasional night watch making his or her rounds. The Prince-Regent looked up from his drink at the pale moon shining above him.

“I should have asked for a few of Princess Luna’s thestrals." He thought. The bat-ponies make excellent night patrols.”

He downed the rest of his drink and refilled it from a nearby cooler. He was worried. He had not heard from the Canterlot researchers or their escorts since they had departed for the wastes. Now it was the dead of night and they were still out there. Even with the protection of Crystal Captain Carbon Copy and a few of the Solar Guard’s finest, Armor felt that he had dropped the ball, again.

“You should have sent more.” The white stallion admonished himself. “You should have sent squads loaded for bear with them, not Copy and a few ponies.”

He tilted his head back and slammed the stiff drink. He did not drink often but when he did, it was usually due to stress. Plus this brew was a special gift from Applejack and he hated to see it go to waste.

“Hell, I should have asked for the Element Bearers. Then this would have all been settled in a few hours.” He thought. “Come to think of it, why didn't Princess Celestia send Twily and her friends?”

The good stallion sighed and rubbed his head with a hoof. He had questioned decisions the Solar Alicorn had made in the past but she always seemed to just smile, tell him not to worry and then leave it at that. It was maddening to the Captain of the Guard how his liege did not include him in her plans.

“Maybe she’s testing me. She likes to pull stuff like that. It’s how Twily became the Element of Magic in the first place so perhaps this is my challenge.” His face lit up as a thought crossed his mind. “Maybe I’ll get a set of wings of my own after this!”

He imagined flying around the Crystal Tower and performing feats of magic he could only dream of. It may have been the cider in his system, but Armor struck a regal pose and addressed an imaginary crowd.

“My little ponies! Raise your glass and raise your voice!” He held his drink in a toast over the fantastical crowd as mental trumpets proclaimed his majesty. “ Shining Armor, Alicorn of…I don’t know…justice? Yeah, justice...and Emperor of the Crystal Empire, has arrived! Come before me and bask in my presence!”

He gave a grandiose bow as the imaginary crowd erupted in cheers and applause.

“Shiny?” A soft voice said from behind him, shattering his fantasy.

The unicorn quickly composed himself as Princess Cadenza trotted out onto the balcony, a heavy blanket wrapped around her body like a cloak.

“Cadence, did I wake you?” The unicorn asked, hoping that she had not noticed his little act of role-playing.

“No. I just wanted to snuggle but you were gone.” She said as she approached her husband. "What are you doing out here in the cold?"

“I needed some fresh air to clear my head.” He responded, turning back to the city. "It's been a stressful day."

The Princess came up alongside him and draped half of her blanket across his back and snuggled up beside him, pressing her warm body to his chilly one. She rested her head against his but righted it when she smelt something. She sniffed the air a few times before looking at the now shifty-eyed Armor.

“You've been drinking, haven’t you?” She accused.

“How did she… oh, right. The stallion thought. "She can probably smell it on my breath.”

“A little.” He admitted. “From that case Applejack gave us.”

“You know I don’t like you doing that…” Cadenza said critically before her horn glowed and two glasses and a bottle floated over. “…without me.”

Armor raised an eyebrow as a sly smile spread across her lips.

“I thought it was unbecoming of a Princess to drink.” He said teasingly. "You must be pillars of poise, grace and tact."

“Hehe. If Celestia can have her cakes, I can have my cider.” The Alicorn giggled as she poured out two drinks for them.

The Crystal Princess passed Armor a full glass. He took it in his magic with a nod of thanks and raised it in the air.

“Here’s to the vices of our Princesses.” He cheered. "May they eternally vex those tight-ass puritans in Canterlot."

"I'll drink to that." Cadenza said deviously.

The couple clinked their glasses together and took a long swig of the special brew. When they finished, Armor leaned over and kissed his wife on her flushed cheeks. The lingering scent of her perfume mixed with the warmth of her body made his heart flutter in joy.

"Mmm, have I told you lately that you are the most beautiful Alicorn in Equestria?" He asked flirtily. “How did a plain old stallion like me find a perfect mare like you?”

“Your parents needed a foal sitter for Twilight.” Cadenza recalled in a somewhat embarrassed tone. “You came back from the academy and trotted in on us doing our secret hoof shake.”

“…and do a little shake.” Armor remembered the sight of the young pink Alicorn shaking her rear in the air, inadvertently exposing herself to the colt. "I will cherish that moment forever."

“You turned a wonderful shade of red.” He said as he gently rubbed a hoof up and down her back.

“Hey, you did too.” She shot back playfully, lightly smacking his cutie mark.

The Prince-Regent shared a warm chuckle with his lovely Princess as they enjoyed each other’s company and watched the night sky. The stars twinkled like diamonds against the celestial canvas as if showing their approval of the couples love. Brilliant auroras occasionally manifested before fading back into the dark, adding splashes of color to the otherwise deep midnight.

“Princess Luna has really outdone herself tonight.” Cadenza said wistfully. "I don't know if it's the higher latitude but the night sky seems so much more beautiful here than in Canterlot."

“Hopefully Copy, Mica, and Tomes are enjoying it as well.” Armor said with a tired sigh.

“You’re worried about them?” Cadenza asked.

“I am.” The unicorn nodded. “They should have been back before nightfall and with Luna knows what out there... I don’t know.”

The stallion downed the rest of his drink with a frustrated groan. The Alicorn sensed that her husband had more to say. This was not the first time he had been frustrated only to suppress it less his loved ones worried.

“There’s something else, isn't there?” She questioned gently.

Armor inhaled deeply, held it for a minute, and then exhaled. He shifted his posture until he was looking Cadenza in the eye. She straightened up to show he had her undivided attention and gestured for him to let it out.

“I'm…frustrated.” He began. “I swore an oath before Princess Celestia and my entire family to protect Equestria from those that wish it harm.”

Cadenza listened with a sympathetic ear. She had suspected that the events in recent years had weighed heavily on the Solar Guard Captain turned Crystal Prince-Regent. The vicious gossip that the protectors of Equestria were a bunch of useless glory hounds probably did not help the matter.

“Sure I talked a good game, even got the crime rate in Canterlot to an all-time low but look happens on my watch: Nightmare Moon abducts Princess Celestia from right under our noses and plunges the world into eternal night, Discord escapes and makes a mockery of us, and the changelings invade Canterlot and defeat us almost immediately!” Armor’s glass cracked in his magic field as he vented. “I was even brainwashed into helping those bugs! And don’t even get me started on Tirek.”

The white unicorn groaned again and buried his face in his hooves.

“It’s been one failure after another. Now I've lost two citizens of Canterlot and my own damn Captain of the Guard." He lamented. "I feel so useless and powerless!”

Once the Prince-Regent had finished, Cadenza wrapped her forelegs around him and pulled him into a comforting hug.

“You’re not useless, Shiny.” She said softly as she stroked his blue mane affectionately. “You helped me cast out those loathsome changelings, stopped Equestria from panicking whenever a crisis arrives, and you even helped defeat Sombra.”

“By throwing you off this balcony, as I recall.” The stallion added with a dry chuckle.

“You’re the bravest stallion I know and Equestria is a safer place because of you." She smiled sweetly and kissed him below his horn. "Don’t let things you had no control over keep you down.”

Armor returned the kiss and got to his hooves. He looked at his ruined glass and drained the rest of the drink over the balcony before setting it aside. There was an outraged cry from somepony down below but the Prince-Regent ignored it.

“Thank you, Cadence. I needed that.” He said warmly.

He looked back out over the Crystal City, his mind returning to the issue of the missing Equestrians. After some thought, a plan of action formed in his mind.

“Come sunrise, I'm going to send squadrons of fully armed and armored pegasi to look for our missing guests and bring them home.” He stated resolutely. “No seek and destroy; no confrontation. Just search and rescue.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Cadenza said as she draped a wing over his withers and guided his back toward the doorway leading into their bedroom. “Now, let’s get inside and get some sleep. It’s freezing out here.”

Side by side, the two returned indoors and trotted to their bed. The pink Alicorn tossed the blanket back on the large mattress and gracefully slid underneath it. The white unicorn joined her and after one more kiss goodnight, they snuggled together.

“I love this mare.”Armor thought as he closed his eyes.

“Shiny?” Cadenza whispered.

“Hmm?” Armor cracked an eye open to see his wife about an inch from his face, a familiar lusty gleam in her eye.

“Uh-oh.” A twinge of pain made itself known in his groin.

“I know I've been a little pushy about it but…” She trailed off as she rubbed a hoof against his chest. “…I still want a foal.”

“Well, at least she’s bringing it up before we’re in the middle of rutting.” The stallion thought as her hoof trailed southwards.

Armor propped himself up and took his wife’s hoof in his before it could go any further.

“I know you do, Cadence, but I don’t.” He paused when he saw the pink Alicorns eyes flash in anger and a frown tug at the corner of her lips.

He needed to think of a good reason or he would be spending the night in one of the guest beds all the way downstairs.

“I mean, I don’t think now is the best time, what with the current crisis and all.” He corrected himself quickly. "We have to prioritize these things, you understand?"

The Alicorn’s eyes narrowed and Armor felt something at the back of his mind tell him to start running but the moment passed and her gentle expression returned.

“You’re right.” She said, nodding. “It can wait.”

“Oh thank Luna.” The unicorn released a breath he did not realize he had been holding.

She leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

“Can we at least spoon a little?” She asked coyly. "I'm a little...warmed up already."

“I’ll be the big spoon.” He responded with a smirk.

Cadenza rolled over while Shining pressed against her back, meshing his strong thighs with her full flanks and wrapping his front legs around her barrel. The downy feathers of her wings and soft tail were as soft as a heavenly cloud. He rested his head against her neck and held her tight.

“Goodnight, my pretty little Princess.” He whispered.

“Goodnight, my handsome little…emperor.” She whispered back teasingly.

“Ah, dammit!” Armor mentally groaned.

---

Out in the wintry wastes, the small party of legion vanguards, the Equestrian prisoners, and the Lurker trudged and floated through the snow to the legion encampment. The majority of vanguards gave the shadowy being a wide berth, the memories of the spectral scourge still fresh in their minds. At the head of the group, Stone Skin and Max discussed what to do with their potential ally as the tree line grew ever closer.

“How do you think the big boss will react to use bringing back the freak?” Max asked the burly minotaur, jerking a talon back at the Lurker.

“Well, he’ll either thank us for finding him a powerful new ally or crush us with that hammer of his for getting most of his troops killed.” Stone winced slightly at the thought of being pulverized by the warlord's weapon of choice. "Could go either way really."

“To be fair, that was mostly this crystal cunt’s fault.” The griffon said bitterly as she shifted the bound and gagged form of Mica on her back to stop her from lying on her tattered wings. “I’m really tempted to just leave her out here in the ass-end of nowhere.”

The crystal mare in question let out a muffled protest only to be silenced by Stone thwacking her on the forehead with a finger like a disobedient foal.

“Quiet you.” He growled.

From the woods in front of them, a flight of pegasi and griffons emerged from the forest and flew low over the ground toward them.

“Good, here comes the welcoming committee.” Stone said with a relieved sigh. "Without Longshot, they were probably wondering what happened to us."

The flight leader, the pegasi dispatch, passed over them once before landing before the head of the vanguards while the others continued to circle overhead.

“Stone.” The straight-faced mare greeted bluntly. “You should have returned to camp two hours ago.”

“Sorry about that. We ran into some trouble.” The minotaur made a point of showing off the wounds he and his vanguards had suffered.

“Crystal Empire?” The flight leader asked, noticing the captive Mica.

“Yes and no.” Max pointed to the Lurker who now had a few of the fliers circling above it like vultures.

“What the hell is that?” The mare asked, her mask of professionalism slipping slightly.

“Something that found us in the alps.” Stone answered. “It wants to talk with Dugore and Sombra.”

The pegasus regained her composure and took to the air.

“They’re testing the siege engines deeper in the woods.” She informed. “You may enter camp for medical attention but that…thing…stays out here.”

With that, the pegasus flew off back into the woods to retrieve her legion superiors.

“Pretty sure we don’t need permission to enter the camp.” Max sneered, her feathers ruffled by the mare’s imperious attitude.

“Let it go, Max.” Stone said placidly. “She’s just doing her job.”

The group continued on until they reached the tree line where numerous legionaries stood guard. A few welcomed the returning vanguards but most where focused on the tall, sinister creature following them. Stone let the survivors of his team head back into camp, telling Max and the earth pony to take their prisoners to the cages, while he waited for the Lurker to get within earshot.

“You’re going to have to stay out there; Dugore and Sombra will come to you.” He shouted. "No offense but the others might be put off by you."

The Lurker halted a few feet from the forest. It looked across the array of weapons and magic aimed at with its pale eyes before nodding.

“I’ll be waiting.” The dark creature said calmly. "Take care, Stone Skin."

The brawny minotaur gave the guards a “good luck” look and walked back into camp to look for a healer. His Lurker wounds were stinging and he wanted to be sure the monster hadn't cursed or poisoned him by slashing him with its blade-arms.

Meanwhile, deep in the arctic woods, Dugore looked on in silence as a team of legionaries prepped a newly assembled trebuchet. They loaded a large crystal into the sling and then unicorns fed some of their magic into the payload, causing it to glow an angry crimson. The team leader gave a signal to stand clear and looked to his warlord. Dugore nodded and the leader pulled a lever, releasing the counter-weight. The load of stones fell down, causing the long end of the main beam to swing up quickly. The payload was pulled back, slung around, and then shot forward with a whoosh of air. The armored dragon watched the glowing red crystal sail through the night sky for some time before it fell to earth with an echoing boom. The siege team looked to their master for a verdict.

“It can go further.” The draconic warrior mused aloud. “Strengthen the pivot axle and add more weight to the counterbalance.”

The team set to work making the necessary adjustments as the spectral form of Sombra drifted over to the warlord.

“Ah, a fine display of engineering.” He commended as he approached. “It’s amazing what those without magic can accomplish when they set their minds to it.”

“I've always preferred might over magic.” Dugore said, glancing over at the collection of completed rams, trebuchets, ladders. “There’s a thrill I get from crushing an opponent up close that spells simply can’t replicate.”

“I favor subjugation over destruction, but to each his own, I suppose.” The tyrant said with a shrug.

Sombra glided up beside the pillager and watched the siege team finish reloading the complicated machine. With another whoosh, the trebuchet released its payload again. The glowing crystal flew through the sky at a much faster rate and did not hit the ground until it passed the previous test crystal by a wide margin.

“That’s more like it.” The dragon said as the siege team cheered their success. “Do the same with the rest of the engines and then you can call it a night.”

The team gathered their tools and went to work on the rest of the machines. The warlord turned to regard his undead companion.

“The walls and armies of the Crystal Empire don’t stand a chance.” He said confidently. “There’s just one obstacle that stands in our way.”

“Back to that, are we?” Sombra asked with a roll of his eyes.

“I’ll keep coming back to it until we find a solution.” Dugore asserted firmly. “Speaking of which, how goes your search for one?”

“About as fruitful as a vegetable garden.” The tyrant admitted with a sigh.

“I suppose we couldn’t use the diamond dogs to dig under their defenses, could we?” The legion's lash ventured.

“They would have to dig through permafrost and crystal foundations as hard as diamonds.” Sombra said dejectedly. “It would take them weeks if not months to get through it.”

“It seems the only way to breach your city is to be an Alicorn.” Dugore grunted.

“You got any unicorns on the verge of creating a new form of magic?” The undead slaver asked half-jokingly. “I heard that’s you become one nowadays.”

Before the warlord could respond, a pegasus landed a few feet away from them and saluted smartly.

“Sorry to interrupt, sirs, but I have urgent news to report.” She said respectfully.

“Speak.” The warlord commanded.

“Vanguard Stone Skin and his scouts have returned after a couple hours of comm silence." The winged mare reported. "They have taken severe losses and the survivors are all wounded in some way.”

Dugore shared an anxious glance with Sombra.

“Equestrians?” The warlord asked testily.

“I'm... not sure, sir." The pegasus hesitated before answering. "Stone can tell you more than I can.”

“Take us to him.” Dugore ordered.

The pegasus turned and began flying back to the main encampment. Dugore unslung his hammer as a precaution and followed after her with Sombra not far behind.

“Severe losses, she said.” The phantom mused aloud. “What, did they pick a fight with an ice dragon?”

“If Stone has compromised us, I swear, I will stake him out in a field for target practice!” The armored dragon growled as he stomped through the forest.

The two made their way back to the main body of the camp where most of the legionaries had retired to their tents for the night, save for the skeleton crew working on the siege engines and those assigned to night watch. They passed a tent where rather than raucous snoring, deep grunts and soft moans emanated from it.

“Sounds like some of the troops are enjoying your thrall’s company.” Dugore commented dryly as they passed.

“Sharing is caring.” Sombra said with a knowing smirk. "And Spinel is a giver or should I say 'taker'."

Leaving the brainwashed mare to her newfound friends, the pegasus led them to a healer’s tent where Stone was being tended to by a sleepy-eyed unicorn. The vanguard attempted to rise but the doctor firmly sat him back down and continued his practice. Stone settled for giving the legion salute from a seated position.

“My lords.” He said while wincing slightly as the medic stitched up the gashes across his chest.

Dugore dropped the head of his hammer on the ground with a heavy thud and clasped his gauntlets over the pommel on the other end, sending a clear message that Stone had better choose his words with exceptional care.

“What happened to my vanguards?” The warlord asked simply but testily.

“I can explain!” Stone said quickly. “You see…”

The minotaur went on to tell of how he and his scouts had ambushed a group of ponies in the wastes, making sure to shift the blame for the, in hindsight, reckless action on to Longshot and his infectious greed. He continued with how the Equines had fled and led his vanguards on a merry chase through the broken terrain to the Broken Horn mine. They had held up inside so he and his troops camped out in front of the entrance.

“Ah, I remember those mines.” Sombra interrupted. “I had to close it down because some of the slaves and taskmasters had claimed it was haunted by vengeful spirits or something.”

“Well, it was.” Stone confirmed with a grimace as the medic sterilized one of his wounds.

“Continue.” Dugore rumbled, his claws impatiently drumming on his hammer.

Stone swallowed nervously. He told of how one of the ponies ran out of the mine, screaming her head off about some sort of demon. The Lurker emerged from the mine soon afterward with a horde of ghosts and basically crushed him and his vanguards.

“The only reason I'm alive is that we managed to parlay with it.” The wounded vanguard said carefully, not wanting the massive warlord to know he had begged for his life. “It demanded we take it to you two and here we are.”

The warlord rumbled in thought for a moment. Stone feared he was about to feel the weight of the hammer on his skull when the dragon nodded in affirmation.

“It is fortunate that you managed to prevent the Equestrians from escaping." Dugore said in a marginally calmer tone. "Just one of them could have compromised our entire venture out here.”

“Of course, sir.” Stone sighed in relief. "I promise, I will be more cautious in the future."

“After you get patched up, head over to a chuck wagon for some food and rest.” The draconic said as he turned away from the vanguard and faced the pegasus.

“Where is this fiend now?” He asked.

“It’s just outside the forest." The professional mare pointed in the relevant direction. "A few of the guards are watching it.”

The three began moving again, leaving Stone behind with the doctor. There was a sense of urgency about them. For all they knew, the creature was devouring the guards at that very moment.

“Have you ever heard of a creature or demon like this, Sombra?” Dugore asked his ghostly companion.

“Can’t say that I have.” The wraith replied. “We mostly get ice and crystal themed monsters up here and the demons I know are of the ‘MAIM! KILL! BURN!’ variety, not the shadowy diplomatic sort.”

Sombra rubbed his translucent chin in thought before speaking again.

“I have read books that tell of living shadows and nightmarish fiends that once stalked the land but they were supposedly wiped out during the mythical Dark Ages before the Reign of Discord.” He mused aloud. "I know this isn't very helpful, I'm just rattling off ideas."

“Forgive my impertinence, sir, but you were one, were you not?” The pegasus called out from in front of them.

The former slaver recalled that when he had first attempted to take back his empire, he was but a shifting mass of darkness. It was an unforeseen consequence of using terrible magic he did not fully understand to bring the city and its populace out of their banishment. Luckily, it was temporary and he was restored to his physical form once he was in close proximity to the Crystal Heart. That was until he was blown apart by it. The wraith glanced at the crimson horn lashed to Dugore's belt. He had to foresight to anchor his soul to it before escaping his prison, just in case he suffered critical existence failure. The tyrant shivered at the thought of what would have happened had he not.

“I was in a different state of being, not born that way.” Sombra answered after his reconciliation. "Magic is funny that way."

Eventually, the pegasus lead them back to the edge of the forest where most of the legionaries assigned to night watch had formed a shield wall, weapons and magic at the ready. At the approach of their warlord, the wall of troops parted to reveal the looming form of the Lurker a few feet out in the snowfield, waiting patiently.

“That is one tall bastard.” Sombra said once he caught sight of the dark being. "Definitely not anything I've seen before."

“Greetings esteemed lords of the Marked Legions." The being said cordially as it brought up one of its arms and mimicked the legion salute. "I trust this night finds you well?”

"Oh, I like it already." The wraith smiled at the polite greeting.

“Better than most.” Dugore replied evenly. “However, there is the issue of the deaths of my vanguards.”

“I see you’ve spoken with Stone Skin.” The Lurker said coolly. “I won’t lie; I did slay your troops but only as a precaution.”

“You better explain yourself, now.” The armored warmonger said with a low growl as he hefted his hammer to make sure the caliginous creature could see it.

If he was intimidated, the Lurker showed no sign of it as he told of his side of the battle between Stone’s scouts and its shades. He began with how he summoned the dead and convinced the more right-minded ones to fight for it.

“Wait just one moment.” Sombra interrupted. “This crystal stallion you killed, you said his underling called him captain?”

“I believe that is what I just said, yes.” The figure deadpanned.

The wraiths face broke into a toothy grin as he rubbed his hooves together, obviously pleased with this information.

“You were getting to the part where you slaughtered my scouts?” Dugore brought them back on track.

The shadowy individual gave the abridged version of the one-sided fight while placing the scouts in a positive light as brave, if somewhat foolish, warriors. He ended its tale with Stone’s surrender and their subsequent parley.

"In exchange for my mercy, I was to be brought before you.“ The Lurker concluded. "We reached an accord and now, here I stand.”

The pillager had relaxed his stance at this point. From what he had been told by both Stone and the creature, the situation was a misunderstanding perpetuated by the crystal mare and her Equestrian companion. While it meant that the fiend was not acting against him, it also meant that his scouts had perished for no good reason. The armored dragon would be sure to have a chat with the two later.

“Well, my friend, what do you think?” Sombra leaned over and whispered. “Yes, it killed a few of your troops but it also took out a high ranking officer of the Crystal Empire. I would consider that a fair trade-off.”

"Perhaps." The heavy warrior grunted. "There is something I wish to know, however."

Dugore returned his attention to the tenebrous terror.

"Why did you seek us out?" He demanded. "What is your purpose for coming here?"

"I wish to learn more about the powers vying for control of these northern reaches." The Lurker answered calmly. "The equines of the Crystal Empire have rebuked me while you at the very least have had the good judgment to exchange words."

"Hahaha! Such delicious irony." Sombra cackled. "We are acting more harmonious that Equestria's vassal! Oh, this made my night!"

The dragon ignored his companion and mulled over his predicament. After a few moments, he slung his war hammer across his back and addressed the Lurker again.

“I see that you are not my enemy.” He said bluntly. “So I shall overlook this incident and allow you to stay within our camp.”

The dark figure made as if to say something.

“However...” Dugore held up a plated claw to show he was not done yet. “If you cross me, I promise you pain without end. Am I clear?”

“Transparently.” The Lurker said smoothly.

Satisfied, the large warlord turned away from the creature and began trudging back into the woods. Sombra caught his attention, an eager look on his phantom face.

“If you don’t mind, I'm going to stay and chat with our new found friend.” Sombra whispered, indicating the shadowy creature with a toss of his head. “I think it might be the infiltrator we've been looking for.”

“That would be very convenient.” The brute said uneasily. “Keep a few legionnaires with you though, just in case. I'm going to have a ‘chat’ with those Equestrians; see if they have anything important to share with us.”

The wraith waved him off as a few of the legionnaires followed behind their master, eager to get away from the tenebrous terror that had slaughtered their comrades. Soon only Sombra and a few of the more hardened troops remained. The undead tyrant drifted a little closer to the figure, a smug smile plastered on his face.

“You’ll have to forgive Dugore." He said casually. "He is a warrior through and through; he does not quite grasp the fine art of diplomacy.”

The Lurker said nothing but bobbed his head from side to side in partial agreement. Sombra gestured to the woods where the Marked Legions had set up camp.

“Might I suggest we move this conversation out of the open?” The ghost cast a wary glance at the pale moon hanging above them. “I feel kind of vulnerable.”

"As you wish." The inky figure replied. "Lead on."

The two headed back into the arctic forest with guards in tow. They moved in silence until they reached the area where trees had been cleared for the tents and supply wagons.

“Hrmm, hot quite what I was expecting.” The Lurker said with an edge to its voice.

“We may be more horde than legion.” One of the guards said from behind it. “But we get the job done.”

From the rows of tents, Spinel trotted, or more accurately, waddled to the group. She had a very satisfied smile on her face along with some sticky substances. The undead slaver patted her affectionately on the head before leaning in to avoid being overheard.

“Did you do as I commanded?” He whispered.

“Of course.” The thrall replied in a sultry tone, her eyes briefly glowing with the same witch-fire as Sombra’s.

“Good.” The wraith said as he caressed his servant. “Now could you be a dear, and take care of those fine legionnaires? I need to discuss business with the shadow demon away from prying eyes.”

The mare’s eyes glowed again as she approached the guards with a swish in her hips. While a few tried to decline at first, it was not long before they all fell to her bewitching charms. The male and female legionaries alike followed after Spinel as she lead them somewhere private. Left alone, the wraith was able to speak with the voidian creature undisturbed.

“There, now I think proper introductions are in order.” Sombra said more easily. "So whom might you be?"

The Lurker spoke his true name in its native language, sending an unnatural chill through the air and causing Sombra to falter. Though he could not explain it, the ghostly slaver felt the strange urge to kneel before the dark monster. The stygian creature waited for the ghost to recover before he continued.

“Apologies, I have not learned the proper modernization of my name and when spoke in my native tongue it has a rather unpleasant effect on mortals." The dark being thought for a minute as Sombra tried to shake off the oppressive sensation that had seized him. “The crystal ponies, as you call them, have dubbed me ‘The Lurker’. I suppose you may as well, for the time being.”

“Well then, Lurker…” Sombra composed himself and held a spectral hoof aloft in a regal gesture. “I am Sombra, first of his name, son of Morose, King of the North and the true ruler of the Crystal Empire.”

“Charmed.” The Lurker said flatly.

He was about to bow his head in a gesture of respect when a questioned crossed his mind.

“Forgive my impertinence, but if you are the true ruler of the Crystal ‘Empire’ as you claim, shouldn't you be ‘Emperor’ Sombra?” The abyssal shambler asked. “I'm not up to date on current politics but that sounds suspect.”

“Haha. You are not the first ask me that."Rather than be insulted, the ghost merely laughed a little. "Let me explain.”

The wraith described how, at one point in the past, the Crystal Empire was comprised of many smaller client kingdoms and vassals that stretched all across the Frozen North and even some parts of Northern Equestria. As part of his upbringing as heir to the Crystal Throne, Sombra was entrusted with the crown of one of these small kingdoms to hone his skills at statecraft, thus the title ‘King Sombra’.

“You following so far?” The wraith-king asked his attentive companion.

“I would have thought you would have been granted a duchy or principality. Not a whole kingdom.” The Lurker responded. “But as I said, I'm out of touch.”

“I’ll admit it’s a little complicated but Duke Sombra does have a nice ring to it.” Sombra agreed. "Emperor Sombra even more so."

The ghost continued with his crash course in crystal hierarchy. He told of how his father, the emperor, vanished while out on a diplomatic mission. Sombra had taken the throne then so that somepony could rule the empire but had agreed to not be officially crowned emperor until the previous one's fate could be discovered.

“We never found out.” Sombra informed the nebulous interloper, a hint of melancholy coming into his voice. “He simply fell off the face of Equus.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” The Lurker said in a somewhat comforting manner. "I’m sure he was a great stallion."

Sombra took a moment to recover from the sudden sorrowful feeling and continued on to the end of his lesson. He explained that while he ruled the empire, the rulers of their southern neighbor, Equestria, banished him and the capital city for, quote, 'evil and tyrannical practices that threatened the security of the land'. The Lurker noticed that Sombra did not say where he was banished. He was about to ask when the wraiths eyes suddenly flared in indignant rage.

"The things I saw. The suffering I endured." He seethed in barely contained rage. "I swore that I would return it upon the Alicorn's a hundredfold!"

He went on to tell of how once the opportunity presented itself, he had returned along with the city to the Frozen North, but not together. The wraith had attempted to retake the city only to be stopped by what he called ‘meddlesome little whores’. That had led to his current state as a ghost.

“Now the once mighty Crystal Empire is but a single city ruled by the puppets of those conniving, sanctimonious Alicorns. It’s a disgrace!” Sombra ranted as if he had forgotten he was talking with someone. "Centuries at the forefront of civilization only to end up as a vassal!"

The Lurker looked on in silence, his attention shifting away from the mad ghost to his inner thoughts.

---

“And therein lays the second major obstacle in my quest for knowledge: overcoming the bias of the sources.” The Lurker sighed in the privacy of his mind.

He knew Sombra was not exactly lying but was rather the victim of a self-serving memory. The Lurker may have believed him were it not for the memories it had gleaned from Captain Copy. The crystal ponies were in celebration of the ousting of their king and they seemed perfectly content under the rule of these ‘puppets’. Combined with the fact that the wraith had the same eyes as the memory block, the Lurker concluded that the undead king was not quite the innocent victim that he claimed to be. Also, it was hard to believe someone who worked with the likes of Dugore could be on the side of right but that was just speculation.

“By the Lethe, is he still going?” The ruminating creature noticed that Sombra was still going strong in his ravings.

The stygian figure approached the practically foaming wraith and backhanded him, dissipating his head in a wisp of spectral matter.

“Get a hold of yourself, Sombra." He instructed coldly. "You’re spiraling.”

Sombra reformed his head and blinked a few times, processing what just happened. The ghost composed himself back into a dignified stance and addressed the dark being.

“Thanks. I needed that.” He said in a much more calmer tone, temper now subdued and sober. “As you can tell, I do not care for those Equestrians ruling my realm which leads me as to why I wanted to talk with you in the first place.”

“You mean not because I'm a charming fellow? The Lurker mentally quipped. "I'm insulted!”

“The dragon and his fine legionaries can topple walls and crush armies but when it comes to magic and tact…” He looked across the sleeping horde. “…they are not quite up to the, heh, mark.”

The Lurker wished he had pupils to roll at the pun.

“You, however…” The wraith refocused on the creature. “…do not seem to be quite so limited.”

“Oh, let’s just get to the point already.” He decided to move things along.

“You want me to aid you in retaking your city.” The Lurker inferred evenly.

“Perceptive, I see.” Sombra said with an amused smirk. “To be specific, I need you to disable a powerful artifact under the control of the usurper Prince and Princess and give the legions a chance to take the city by force.”

“Prince and Princess…those two lovers." The voidian escapee mused. "So this artifact must be what obliterated me. Good to know.”

“Since you mentioned tact and magic, I assume you want this done quietly.” The shadowy creature said plainly.

“That would be preferable.” The phantom confirmed. “Dugore wants to remain out of sight and out of mind so we can take the city before they summon reinforcements.”

“Sneak into hostile territory, disable their weapons, and then open the gates for the main force. This is the Titanomachy all over again.” The Lurker mused with a hint of nostalgia. “I hope this shade plans on compensating me; this trip was not what I expected.”

“Answer me this, wraith-king.” The tenebrous being said coolly. “Why should I help you?”

The ghost’s face fell in surprise. He thought that he had already won the Lurker over.

“What?” He asked simply.

“The whole reason I followed Stone and his troops back here is that I thought they were part of a rival civilization to the Crystal Empire, not a marauding horde.” The shadowy figure explained. “There is little for anyone to offer me here so why should I help you topple the Crystal Empire?”

Sombra quickly looked around, trying to think of some incentives for the creature.

“What do you want? Gold, power, land, mares…stallions?” He ventured. “Name it, it’s yours.”

“Information.” The Lurker stated plainly, earning a confused look from the wraith. "I have been absent from this world for what feels like eons. I’ve only recently acquired the most common language and now I wish to know of what has transpired in my absence. If you cannot aid me in this task, then I shall not aid you in yours.”

The spectral slaver deflated slightly at the stygian stalker’s conditions. He looked around awkwardly in thought until his face lit up with a solution.

“Actually, I can help you in your quest for knowledge.” Sombra said knowingly. “What if I told you there is an archive that has existed since the early kingdoms of the north?”

“That’s more like it.” The void escapee though.

“This collection of books, scrolls, and tomes has been the private library of every king of the crystal ponies since their formation in the Dark Ages.” Sombra continued. “I've seen works that date back to mythic times and some that defy comprehension; some that have driven readers mad. We called it the Black Library.”

“And just where is this ancient archive?” The interested interloper inquired.

Sombra gave him a wicked smile.

“It’s in the lowest reaches of the Crystal City but only the rulers of my line know how to access it.” The wraith’s smile grew wider, showing his sharp, translucent teeth. “Obviously, I can’t do it from out here.”

“You have a really punchable face, you know.” The tenebrous terror thought.

“Indeed.” The ethereal entity mused evenly. “Very well then. I help you take back your empire and you grant me access to this Black Library.”

The Lurker extended an arm and solidified the end of it into a rough approximation of a pony's hoof.

"Do we have an accord?" It asked.

Sombra bumped his spectral hoof against the Lurker’s pure black one, sealing the agreement.

"That we do, my friend." He grinned deviously.

Next Chapter: Mind, Body, and Soul Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 34 Minutes