"Grandmother, urgent news from Cadence!" Night Wing said, gasping for breath.

It was two days since I had sent Cadence north to the Crystal Empire to protect it from Sombra. This was the first letter she had sent me in those two days and it was sent by hoof?

I took the letter from Night Wing and opened it.

Max,

You have some explaining to do.
Signed, Cadence

What? I thought as I stood up. I was in the throne room and court had just started for the night, but I was going to get to the bottom of this incredibly short letter.

"Court is canceled for the next few days, I have urgent business to attend to," I said as I slipped out the door into the hallway.

A day and a half later we were standing at the stop to the Empire, bundled up in cold weather clothes and waiting for Shining Armor to show up.

"I still don't know why you wanted to bring both of us and the foals along," Sol said, shaking even though she was wearing more than everyone else.

"You don't have to worry, between the three of us we'll be able to take on anything this wasteland can throw at us," I said. Besides, I don't trust the guard or the nobles right now, I thought soon after. I also wanted to see if a certain someone would take the bait. Hurricane has been far too quiet for far too long.

Sol perked up as if she saw something out in the distance. "It's not the wasteland I'm worried about."

I looked the direction she was and saw a massive black cloud heading straight for us at an alarming rate. "Uh, yeah, that's bad."

Just as Sol and Mun looked at me with a look that said 'Naw, ya think?' we were engulfed in shadows.

"Did you have to use Dark magic?" I heard Cadence ask as I woke up.

"Well excuse me princess," a voice said, sounding almost exactly like Link from that one video. "I'm sorry I don't know light magic, what with me being a natural dark mage."

"Did anyone get the number on that chariot?" I spoke up. I was laying on a large bed in what looked to be a crystal bedroom with Light Sweet, Rainbow Dash, and Golden Spark all laying on top of me. I gently pushed them down to my lap and sat up.

"Max, you're up," Cadence said. She was sitting next to a grey-ish unicorn stallion that had red eyes and a cutiemark of a red crystal formation.

If it weren't for the cape and various pieces of armor on him I wouldn't have recognized him. "So this is the one that doesn't come true?"

"Ah, so you're the 'Prophet' Celestia was cursing when she came here looking to destroy me because I was 'corrupting her sister'," Sombra chuckled at that only to sober immediately. "She showed me what too much power could do to someone."

"I'm sorry for stopping you from returning to what was rightfully yours, then. And I'm glad this resulted in only a misunderstanding."

He shook his head. "On the contrary. From what Cadence and Shining Armor have told me, you would be the perfect pony for getting the Crystal Empire back into modern society."

"Uuuuuugh. No! No more! I already have too much to do as it is."

"I know. You're currently trying to rework the government, the guard, and you're trying to capture the one that killed your lover." Sombra smiled evilly. "I just don't care."

I gave him a glare before realizing something and returning my face to a neutral expression. "Very well then, I shall have to compensate you for surrendering so peacefully."

I saw surprise on both of their faces and gave them my own evil smile before saying, "Congratulations and welcome, Captain of the Royal Guard." Sombra looked as if he was going to protest, but I interrupted him before he could say anything. "It's this or you become King again."

He immediately shut his mouth and turned a lighter shade of grey, gulping audibly.

Damn, I wasn't trying to scare him.... Well yeah I was, but not that much, I thought before saying, "I think it's time for someone to have a bit more responsibility as well." I turned to Cadence with an expectant look on my face.

"Oh no, you aren't going to saddle me with this," She said, taking a few steps back.

I looked at her in confusion. "I was going to have you send a letter to Twilight to see if she would like to take on the organization challenge that the Empire would be."

She bit her lip, obviously trying to think of a way to have me put her in charge instead of Twilight. Finally, she said, "I think this would be a good opportunity for the two of us to get to know each other as sisters."

I smiled and said, "I knew you'd agree with me!" I gathered my foals in my arms and slid out of the bed. "Now, where are Sol and Mun? I haven't seen them since the train station."

"Don't worry, they're fine. They tried to take a few shots at Sombra because you fainted, but I got them calmed down," Shining said as he walked into the room. He paused and looked away blushing as he saw me.

I glanced down, noticing that I was completely naked. "Seriously?" I sighed, shaking my head.

Just then we all heard a tapping coming from the window. Looking over I saw Murphy outside on the balcony with a sign that said, "You're welcome! Nice body you have there...."

He didn't see the dresser until it slammed into him.