Celestia was up early the next morning to raise the sun. She even managed to spend time with the ones created to be their family. It was interesting to her to learn about them, though she didn’t have enough time to learn everything. Her first priority was to sort out the nobles, she had a feeling that they thought through all the time they spent with her that they were the ones in charge. ‘Well then, let us hear the truth.’ she thought as she entered the throne room keeping to the shadows. Spike was already seated upon his chair, he nodded to her briefly. He gritted his teeth as the nobles walked into the room, a few of them he could handle. ‘Those who follow Upper Crust and Jet Set are annoying.’ he thought as the nobles walked into the room. Up front were the nobles who supported him, Fleur and Fancy Pants, they were normally the voice of reason. Behind this group were the ones who hadn’t said a word yet. ‘I don’t even know what they are thinking.’ the dragon said observing them, among those was Prince Blueblood, he did support him at first but haven’t expressed his opinion after that. Then came Jet Set, Upper Crust, and their supporters. These were the ones who wanted to take control, to change things to suit them. “They are the ones who will cause disorder.”

Spike shook his head trying not to worry about the ever growing presence in his own mind. The nobles who were led by Upper Crust seated themselves in the thrones while the others stood. Once again they all started to complain about those they considered their allies. Disregarding the princesses’ hard earned peace and wanting more power. They even rubbed it in his face that they knew how to get rules to allow them more power, in action.

“I do not remember allowing such rules in place. Yet if you think that you can rule a kingdom better than I, perhaps you can start your own.” Celestia’s voice rang out clearly as she walked out of the shadows the nobles sitting down turning to look. Her face was calm as she watched them a few scoffing thinking it wasn’t her. Jet Set and Upper Crust knew that it was their princess, Prince Blueblood walked up and gave her a bow saying. “It is good to see you again Princess Celestia.”

“And you too Blueblood.” she responded before turning her attention to the nobles. “Is this how you are going to act when are embroiled in a war. Doubting every decision leaders make?”

“Princess Celestia we…” Jet Set looked at her husband trying to figure out what excuse to use but saw him shaking his head. “We are ashamed, we panicked and shouldn’t have tried to take control. It is juist none of us know how to fight and you expect us to trust these strangers that were brought in?”

“I trust that you would have faith in all of our decisions.” answered the princess of the sun looking at the yellow unicorn who looked down at the floor. “The thrones that you sit in, each belong to a hero of Equestria. The Council of Friendship, those who aid and give advice to the Princess of Friendship herself. They represent: Honesty, Generosity, Kindness, Laughter, and Loyalty. They use these traits throughout their lives and when they protect you from danger. Please put your trust in those that they choose for allies and those that have been by their side. The same trust that I hope you have in Luna and myself.”

From what Spike could tell the two who were in objection to most of what was going on were taking what Celestia said seriously. The others scoffed under their breath yet didn't speak out at all. They were already plotting on how to take power the next time she vanished. ‘Hopefully that would b the first and last time this happens.’ thought the purple dragon as the nobles headed out passing by Twilight who looked shocked at something one of them said. His green eyes narrowed but something in his mind told him that anger would get him nowhere.

“Did everything go well, Princess?” Twilight asked looking between the two and Celestia replied. “They will not be a problem for now, but keep an eye on them just in case.”

The Princess of Friendship nodded her head just as the map began to glow. The cutie marks of Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie appeared floating around the Kingdom of Griffonstone. Her eyes widened in excitement as she read up on the city. There was so much rich history around it, she sighed as she thought. ‘Rainbow Dash and Pinkie are so lucky that they get to go.’

Celestia chuckled as she headed out of the room, looking out of a nearby window seeing her castle surrounded by a dark energy. ‘I only hope that we will be prepared when the time comes to fight.’ She moved away from the window as her reflection changed, Illidan watching her.

“I haven’t forgotten my promise.” she said quietly her eyes facing forward. “I will help you vanquish the Legion once and for all.”

“Do not forget.’ Illidan replied before vanishing just as Luna walked down the halls saying. “There you are Celestia. I am worried about Sombra, apparently he has not made a move since the Gala.”

“He is not the type to make a move like that unless he is planning something big. Contact Cadence and have her ponies to keep an eye on the Northern front.” Celestia told her sister who nodded her head before heading off. “What are you up to Sombra?”

Sombra walked through dark halls his eyes focused in front of him. This was the only place that he could go to without being found. ‘Hidden from Sargeras and Abyssia.’ he reminded himself looking to his left as the wall ended and railing began. It was a large cavern and bellow him was pool of magical water. His horn sparked and the door on the other side of the room opened. Passing through the archway the unicorn king closed the door behind him. The halls were winding in front of him, but his journey wasn’t far. He opened the third door on his left and walked in bringing up a dark crystal shield blocking an attack. He shut the door with his back hoof asking. “Are you not pleased with your living arrangement?”

“Why should I be?” panted the pony glaring at him positioning herself in front of the bed. “I wake up after returning home to find myself in the hooves of the corrupted stallion who has threatened us.”

“Threatened?” scoffed the dark grey stallion as he produced food from his magic. “Here, I prepared it myself.”

“And why should I trust you to not tamper with it?” the mare questioned earning an eyeroll from Sombra who replied. “I have no reason to tamper with yours or Midnight Sun’s food. You and your allies will be useful in the war to come.”

“You started this war!” she snapped only to be lifted in the air by the dark unicorn’s magic as he growled. “This war started long ago! Abyss is started this war and I will protect my homeland from her influence!”

“Aren’t you?” the pony choked out and she was set down trying control her breathing the wheels in her head beginning to turn. “You were at first weren’t you? When you took control of the Crystal Empire. When you tried to rule your own and turn them into slaves.”

“Discord turned me against my own, he whispered falsehoods in my ears so he could enter into Equestrian and cause chaos.” Sombra told her setting the food down before moving to the bed starring down at Midnight Sun. “I was born from that deception, Abyssia granted me control of the corruption growing in me. Or so I thought. She was using me to destroy the Crystal Heart, when I was sealed beneath the ice she twisted my mind. Made me focus on reclaiming the Crystal Empire and destroying the Heart once and for all. Not caring that the spell that was cast would not let us. When my physical form was banished from this world I found myself falling into a Void. There I was approached by Sargeras, a fallen Titan who had never seen a being like myself before. He showed me what I could do with his power, rule worlds. All I had to give up was my soul and my service in destroying all worlds created by his brethren.”

The mare swallowed not wanting to ask the most obvious question as the unicorn King tended to the stallion on the bed. He glanced at her before continuing. “He offered me a new form, one more powerful than the previous one. I declined, power for a price is never one worth taking. If I was that weak than I would have travelled to the Core Realm and made a deal with an Avatar. My answer did not please him, he tore my soul in half and fused it with a demon’s. Midnight Sun is suffering from the effects of what happened to me. Corruption and a demon’s soul? It is tearing me apart, and it is tearing his soul to pieces. Sargeras has a way into our world if Abyssia wins, if my soul is consumed, if any of the Spirits die.”

“Are you proposing an alliance?” questioned the mare with a raised eyebrow and Sombra let out a dark laugh as he said. “A temporary alliance, I have a few things that I want out of this. Nothing too harsh on your peaceful pony society. You see a king is useless without his own people or his own kingdom. Once this is over I will take this over with Celestia.”

“One problem.” the mare pointed out her eyes narrowing and Sombra moved to the door opening it with his magic. “They will notice that I’m gone. How do you expect an alliance when they find out that you captured me?”

“You think I would just take you without having a backup plan…” laughed the black maned stallion before walking through the mare charging towards him. “You are much more foolish than I thought.”

“Sombra!” shouted the mare her horn glowing just as the door shut her magic being absorbed into the stone. “How does he open it? It can’t be the stone, maybe it is the type of magic he uses. If only I can find a way to open it than I could get us both out of here. I wonder how everypony else is doing”

Inkwell poked at his food boredly, he didn’t know who he was looking for. Spike had given him a brief description about Sunset Shimmer and the Sirens he was supposed to find. Yet since the very first time he stepped through the portal he and Comet had no luck. It was summer time so the school was not in session. The money he had on him, thankfully, had changed over to the currency of this world. They had enough for a hotel and some food. People chatted all around him as Comet walked over a frown on his face.

“Is something the matter?” Inkwell asked looking at the young boy who looked at him rubbing his stomach saying. “It isn’t enough, I’m still hungry even after eating half of your food.

The author felt his brow furrow as he observed the former Changeling. He had gotten weaker since he got here, they had to find out what was wrong.

“You’re not from around here are you?” a voice inquired causing them to turn around to see a girl with blue hair and raspberry eyes. She was watching with her head tilted to the side, though like Comet she seemed rather starved. Inkwell took a deep breath as she sat at the table eyes never leaving his as he replied. “No, we’re actually searching for someone.”

“Sunset Shimmer, right?” this startled the unicorn and the changeling who gave a glance to each other. “I can smell the Equestrian magic on you. If I was Adagio I would want to obtain it, but I’m just too hungry. Normal food isn’t satisfying anymore.”

“Kind of like me.” mumbled the child with the dark grey hair and she nodded. “Changeling or Siren?”

“Siren. My name is Sonata Dusk.” the girl grumbled holding her stomach. “I don’t think Princess Twilight and Sunset Shimmer knew what they caused when they destroyed our pendants. It allowed our bodies to process the negative energy to give ourselves energy.”

“Well since we are stuck here until we can find Sunset Shimmer how about I help you. Do you have the shards of your pendant?” Inkwell asked earning a strange look. “I want to try to put it back together.”

“Adagio has it, she won’t let either of us near them. She wants to gather up what she can to strike back at Sunset Shimmer then Equestria.” moaned Sonata trying not to cry. “Aria left because she thought she could do it on her own. They left me because I was too weak in their eyes, I don’t even want my pendant back. When we got them it messed with us, I’m going to find out what I can do on my own. I don’t need a cursed gem from a corrupted dragon.”

“Corrupted dragon?” asked Comet, that catching his attention. “How long ago was this?”

“Around the time we started feeding on negative energy. A thousand or more years ago.” the blue haired siren replied as the former Changeling began to write this information down. “You got something?”

“I’m not sure, but it might be something important.” the youngling replied and Sonata hugged him happily saying. “If you could find a way to break my connection to that ridiculous looking thing I will love you forever.”

Comet’s nose twitched as a sweet scent caught his attention. It was love, what he was craving was love. ‘I’m back to normal, travelling through the mirror must have severed the spell.’ he thought before biting down on his lip. ‘Later, if we get back to Equestria I might just go back to normal. I have to hold it in.’

Author's Notes:

I do not own MLP or the characters/places from Norse Mythology.