Two days later, Twilight was in her castle library, trying to find anything on Sombra. Three hundred books had been read through, and nothing. "Now I can see why he's feared," Twilight said to no one in particular. "He probably didn't want anypony to know what he did in private, which actually begs the question: What in his private life was so secret he didn't want anypony to know it."

Spike was out getting supplies for their upcoming trip to the Empire. As such, due to Twilight's lists, he would be gone for a few more hours. The lavender alicorn continued to read for an hour before she found something, even if said something was just a theory. But that's better then nothing.

It was in a particularly thick book in which she found it. "Some crystal ponies, though their minds had been messed with, those that were Sombra's personal slaves, say that they remember there being a second pony who ruled alongside him, though they can not remember what the unidentified mare was. Some have said that she was just as cruel as Sombra, if not more so."

Twilight gulped. "Some pony worse then Sombra. How is that possible? Only ponies corrupted by dark magic could be anywhere near as cruel. That's the only reason ponies think of him being the worst ruler ever," she said. "Looks like I'm going to need to read his personal journal as well," she remarked.

Twilight decided to put the book into her bag, which contained all of the books she'd be bringing with her, and went on to a few other history books.

When Spike came back a few hours later, he found Twilight still at her desk, looking over a book that she had gone through yesterday. "Uh, Twi, you do realize we checked over that book yesterday, right?"

"Yeah, but I found something in another one that may put something in here in a new light," she said.

"And what would that be," Spike said in a bored tone, as this had happened a lot over the past few days.

"One of the books I'm bringing theorized that there may have been a queen of the Empire that ruled alongside Sombra, maybe a bride."

"How do we know she wan't just a slave he took?"

"Because, Spike," Twilight said, getting annoyed at the fact he kept asking questions, "it said that the mare was just as cruel, if not more so, then Sombra. If she was a slave, she wouldn't be that way to those that were potentially her friends."

"Twilight, hasn't it occurred to you that Sombra used dark magic on her to be like that?"

Twilight was about to retort before she stopped and thought about what her assistant just said. "I suppose that is a possibility, but I think we should still go over everything possible. So can you get everything packed and help me out. The train for the Empire's leaving in a few hours, and I want to be on it."

"Right. I'll get on it," Spike said.

The dragon went to the throne room, where the suitcases were, and began to pack the stuff the two of them would need. He was finished quickly, as their clothes had been packed earlier, before he left, and they really only needed to pack stuff for entertainment, mostly books, but some card games for the two of them as well. Food too, obviously. When he was done, he looked at the clock. He saw that they, in fact, did have plenty of time. He began to make his way back to the library when he burped up a letter with Cadence's seal on it, with him being the receiver. He grabbed it out of the air and opened it.

Dear Spike,

How are you and Twilight doing? More importantly, has Twilight been caught sleeping at her desk. Probably, this is Twilight after all. Still, Shining and I can't wait for the two of you to get here. And please don't tell Twilight this, though she probably suspects it, we also invited the others. We still hope that she'll make amends with them. Still, i hope both of you have a good time here in the Empire when you arrive. Speaking of which, we're going to be there to meet you guys personally.

Cadence.

"Figures," Spike said with a small smile. "Of course they'd invite the others, knowing Twilight practically hates all of them."

Spike simply used normal fire to burn the letter, and continued on his way to the library, where Twilight had put the books away and was making sure that the anti-theft spells were in place over those she wasn't bringing. "You ready, Twi?" Spike asked.

"Yeah," Twilight said. "Just need to head to the station and wait for the train."

"Then let's go. The suitcase is packed with everything we're gonna need while we're on the train and in the Empire that we can't get there."

Twilight smiled. "Then let's go."

Train station-an hour later

Twilight and Spike were sitting on one of the benches at the station, their suitcase nearby.

"You know, Twilight, I just don't see why you don't teleport there."

"Because I need to do as much research on the Empire's history as possible. Besides, you said it yourself: Cadence and Shining are meeting us at the train station. Plus, I don't want to interrupt anything they might be doing."

Spike shrugged. "Fair enough, I guess," he said juts as a certain pink mare came skipping by the bench.

"Hey, Spike. Hey, Twilight," Pinkie said.

"Hey, Pinkie," Spike said in a disinterested tone, while Twilight, surprisingly, had a happier tone.

"Hey, Pinkie," she said. "How are you?" The question got the looks of surprise from both the dragon and pink mare, to which the alicorn said, "What? She's the only one that even tried to be a good friend during the whole 'Raridash' thing, and the only one who actually helped me through my depression then. Out of the others, Pinkie, you're the only one I still consider a friend."

"Aw, thanks, Twilight," Pinkie said, scooping Twilight up in a hug, a large smile plastered on her face.

"Pinkie! Air! Lungs!" Twilight yelled as her lungs were being crushed by Pinkie's hug.

"He he, sorry, Twi," Pinkie said as she released her friend from the death grip of a hug.

"What are you doing here, Pinkie," Spike asked.

"Just waiting for the train to the Empire. Did you really think I was gonna miss the Crystal fair when we've been going every year?"

"I guess not," Twilight said before she frowned. "Which means the others are probably coming too."

"Probably," Spike said in a dead pan.

"Aw, don't worry, guys," Pinkie said. "They'll try to stay out of your way, right, author?"

..I..

"That's rude."

Teenager.

"He's got a point, Pinkie," Twiight said, getting looks of surprise from the others.

"You can break the fourth wall too, Twilight?"

"Yeah. How else do you think I got to that black screen to give you back your mouth when Trixie came back?"

"What are you two talking about," Spike said.

"Just that the author is essentially saying that I'm going to run into the others," Twilight said, which got a look of confusion from her assistant, to which she rolled her eyes. "Just hold on," she said,  lighting her horn and shooting a beam of magic at Spike.

"And what was that supposed to do," Spike asked.

"Well of course-. . . wait, who said that?"

Me. Pinkie, Twi, you mind explaining this while I put a footnote here to appease the readers?

Both Twilight and Pinkie agreed, and, five minutes later, Spike, though still confused, got the basics.(1)

"This is going to be a major headache," Spike said.

"You get used to it," the pink mare said.

Before anything else could be said, Rainbow and Rarity walked up. "Hey, guys," Rainbow said.

"Hiya, Dashie," Pinkie said in her usual cheerful tone.

"Hello, Pinkie," Rarity said. "Spike, Twilight."

Pinkie was the only one who responded by saying, "Hey, Rarity. I'm surprised you only have one suitcase."

Indeed, the white unicorn had only a single suitcase, as did her marefriend, both of which matched their owners coat color.

"Well, Dashie here made me bring only one, on the condition that, next time we traveled together, I could bring ten," Rarity said.

"Much as I didn't want that," Rainbow said, "it was the only way to win this one."

"I knew you guys were going to the Empire too," Twilight said.

"Twi, could you please lighten up at least until we get there?" Rainbow asked. "I doubt that we're going to have our own cars for the ride there."

"Yeah, yeah," Twilight said just as Fluttershy came in. She could sense the atmosphere, and decided to stay quiet.

An hour later, the train arrived, with Applejack arriving just in time. "Sorry, y'all," she said. "Had ta finish getting tha apples inta tha barn."

"It's quite alright, Applejack," Rarity said as they all stepped on the train. "After all, there are some things you can't hasten."

"Ah know, but still," the farm pony said. "We woulda been done quicker if Applebloom an' the others hadn't been crusadin'."

"I'm surprised they still haven't discovered their talents," Rainbow said.

"Indeed. Normally, fillies would have done so by now," Rarity said. "I'm actually a little worried for the three of them."

"One thing we can agree on," Twilight said as she brought out a book, just so she wouldn't have to talk to the others.

"Twilight, can't you lighten up at least while we're on the train," Rainbow said as she and the others sat down.

"Depends."

"On what?" Rainbow replied before Rarity tapped her on the shoulder, which didn't do anything.

Twilight, calmly, set her book down, and Spike, Pinkie, and the others all backed away. "On if you and the others are keeping secrets from me, like the fact you liked Rarity, and didn't even try to tell me when I asked you out. How about you, Rainbow, not following me into the mirror, and don't say Celestia said so. Spike said he rushed after me, and while you all tried to stop him, Celestia, who was in the same room, didn't try. Which, I'll admit, does beg the question as to why she didn't. But you still should have tried, Rainbow. You are the Element of Loyalty, after all."

"She does bring up a good point, even if she is pissed," Spike said as he read his book. ironically, it wasn't a comic book, but a recent release that detailed the possibility of a new kind of entertainment coming out soon. Still nerdy, but it shows that he is willing to try new things.

"Spike, would you please stay out of this," Rainbow said.

"Only if he wants to," Twilight said. "And while I'm getting stuff I find annoying about each you out, might as well do so for the others." She turned to Applejack. "Applejack, you're an idiot sometimes. I know you'll hate me for this, but I don't care; Flim and Flam should have won that cider contest. Wanna know why? Their product actually worked, and they did win it. They were thrown out because you family were being too much of a jackass for stealing it from them when you didn't try to stop them from running out. If they hadn't come back a second time with that tonic, I'd be inclined to think you were a less honest business person then them, and that's saying something, compared to them."

She then turned to Fluttershy, who backed away in fear. "Fluttershy, the only thing I have to say is that you need a backbone. You let ponies walk all over you, even after Iron Will."

She turned to face Rarity. "Rarity, I always thought f you a more petty then generous. I just never told you before because we were friends. You used Spike's love to help you with gems, when you knew the rest of us would have helped. Couldn't you have waited a few hours, and before you pull that time limit bull shit, Flutter shy could have easily helped you with making the outfits. Tartarus, you thought just two days ago that Spike was still infatuated with you, and wanted to use it to help you. I'm currently thinking that the Elements just went with those who were closest who did a great feat of their Element recently, and it couldn't undo it. You are a self centered  who hides behind your friends doing it willingly to avoid it."

She then turned to Pinkie and said, "Pinkie, out of everypony here, you and Spike are the only ones I still consider friends, but you really need to think about what you say before speaking sometimes. That's a reason Fluttershy became an emotional wreck last year."

What she was referring to was Fluttershy studying for a test to get her vet license renewed. Needless to say, Pinkie nearly made her fail from making her nervous, even if it was unintentional.

"Yeah, I know," she said, her hair deflating slightly. "I still wish I hadn't done that." Her hair inflated back to it's norm, though, as she said, "But I am getting better."

"Well, that's something," the angry alicorn said as she grabbed her suitcase in her magic and made her way to the car behind them. "Come on, Spike. We're going to a different car. You can come if you want, Pinkie."

Pinkie smiled and said, "Okie dokie," she said, then hop followed the alicorn and dragon as they made their way to the other cart. "Sorry, guys," she said.

"Meh, it's alright, Pinks," Rainbow said. "Just make sure she doesn't get mad enough to kill you."

"Oh, please, I've never gotten somepony that angry," she said as she and the other two entered the other car.

"Well, looks like things just got worse," Rainbow said after a few minutes. "She did just yell at us."

"Perhaps not, Dashie," Rarity said. "She, unintentionally, did give us all another reason as to why she no longer considers us friends. Plus, much as I hate to admit it, she was right, about me at least. I was using Spike, and the only reason I stopped was because he stopped wanting to help, and I simply hid behind the fact that he wanted to until then. I guess it was also the fact I knew, in my mind, at least, that you all would never point it out while we were friends, and I kept giving you all clothes and such to make sure it stayed that way."

"Yeah, she was right 'bout me, too," Applejack said. "Hay, she said so during that first applebuck season, and I guess I only gave in there, but I guess I was to stubborn to admit ta even mahself when I needed help. Like when I planned the apple family reunion. I was so determined to make it perfect, I overlooked what really made it that way, even when Applebloom told me it was anything but perfect."

"Hey, at least you were able to fix it," Rainbow said.

"Yeah, Ah guess."

"She was right about me, too," Fluttershy said. "Even after Iron Will, I was still pretty much a doormat. Sometimes, I even try to use the star on myself, but that doesn't do anything."

"Maybe it's supposed to mean that your good just the way you are, Flutters," Rainbow said.

"Maybe, but I'd rather at least be able to be able to do stuff with you girls and not have a panic attack."

"Flutters, how many times we gotta say it: your fine just the way you are," Applejack said.

"Thanks, AJ," Fluttershy said

"So, I guess we have something to thank her for," Rainbow said.

"Indeed we do, Darling," Rarity said as she nuzzled Rainbow. "Unfortunately, though, I doubt she'd listen to us right now."

"Which means we'll have to wait until we get to the Empire, at least," Fluttershy said.

With Twilight, Pinkie, and Spike

"Twi, don't you think that was a little harsh," Spike said.

"No," Twilight said. "I think it's time they knew that and faced it. If they want to be my friends again, then they need to fix those issues. Pinkie being the exception, obviously."

"Aw, thanks, Twilight," the overactive mare said as she gave Twilight a small hug.

The alicorn just chuckled and said, "No problem, Pinkie. Can you let go now, I'm starting to get tunnel vision from lack of air."

"Right," Pinkie said, letting Twilight go. "Sorry."

"It's alright, Pinkie," Twilight said as she blushed a little. "I know you didn't mean to."

Awkward silence passed for a few minutes before Twilight said, "So, want to play some card games until we get to the Empire?"

"Absolutely," Pinkie said with a large smile. "What'cha got?"

"Mostly poker related games," the alicorn said with a shrug. "You wanna play, Spike?"

"Nah, I'm good," the dragon said as he continued to read the book from earlier.

"Looks like it's just you and me, Pinkie," twilight said as she drew a deck of cards from an outer sleeve in the suitcase with her magic. She sat down on one of the nearby seats, leaving a space for Pinkie, who sat down close by.

"So, when were you able to break the fourth wall," Pinkie asked.

"Just a week after the first rainboom," Twilight responded, as if it came up in a conversation everyday. "Kinda freaked me out at first. You?" she asked as she dealt out two cards to her and Pinkie each.

"Same day as the rainboom, and same," Pinkie replied. "You think Celestia and Luna can too, and that's why she stopped me and the others from following you?"

"I guess. It makes sense," Twilight said, "but it only brings up more questions, like why she didn't try to go there with me, in order to help me. I get it was my Element, but still."

"Might have been that Sunset would have tried to kill her."

"Yeah, I guess. So, should we start?"

"Yep."

Crystal Palace-meanwhile

"Is everything alright, Cadence," Shining asked, as his wife looked a little upset.

"No, or, at least, I don't think so," she replied as she got up from the throne she had been sitting on for the past hour. "I just don't feel right, like I'm not supposed to be here, but I am at the same time."

"Huh, weird. Maybe Twi knows something about it."

"Hopefully," Cadence said. "What do you say to getting something to eat, Shiny? I haven't had anything to eat today."

"Sure, Cadence," Shining said with a smile on his face.

"Then come on, we need to get to the kitchens. Twilight and the others are going to get here later, and I want to be able to have a full stomach," Cadence said, making her way to the doors.

When she opened the doors, she got a strange feeling, and, instead of turning towards the kitchens, which was to the left, she turned to the right, and began to walk that way, almost in a trance. She walked for what seemed like an hour to her, but was only thirty minutes. When she stopped, it was in front of a blank wall.

Almost as if by instinct, she lit her horn, and a rectangle appeared on the wall in front of her, and the part of the wall that was surrounded by Cadence's magic disappeared.

Shining had followed Cadence, trying to get her attention the entire time, but nothing, from tapping on her shoulder to screaming in her ear. He stopped doing this when he saw the wall disappear, and his wife walk into a crystal corridor, a scarily determined look on her face. He followed slowly, worried for Cadence.

Nearly twenty steps in, Shining heard something behind him, and turned to face it, but found nothing. He turned back around, only to find himself face to face with a very angry Cadence, and he fell to the floor in surprise, and a little of fear.

"Why did you follow me," she asked in a snarl.

"B-because you said we were going to get something to eat, but you came to. . . what ever this place is instead, and I was worried," he said.

"Well, that's sweet of you, peasant," Cadence said, "but you need not worry about your queen."

"But Cadence, it's me, Shining, your husband," the unicorn said, worried for his wife, and having a strong suspicion as to who was behind this. Cadence read his mind, though. Literally.

"Ah, so, you think I'm a changeling." She laughed. "That's classic. Why would they do that to me?" As she laughed, or chuckled, to be more accurate, Shining saw a piece of crystal on the floor. He picked it up in his magic, and moved it to just behind Cadence's head.

"I'm sorry," he whispered before he hit her in the back of the head hard enough to knock her to the floor, unconscious. He got off the floor, and walked over to his wife, checking to see if she was bleeding, which she, fortunately, wasn't. He picked her up in a fireman's hold, and exited the mysterious corridor, and made his way to the infirmary. If he had paid attention, though, he would have seen the fake wall reappear.

The first gaurd he encountered o the way to the infirmary, a few halls away from said area, said, "Sir, what happened to the princess?"

"I don't know," Shining said/ "But I want you to take a squad of guards and escort Princess Twilight and her friends here as soon as they arrive. I also want a second group ready to do the same for Queen Chrysalis and her entourage. Am I clear?"

The guard saluted. "Sir," he said before running off.

Shining continued heading to the infirmary, all the time saying, "Just hang on, Cadence. Whatever's going on, we'll fix it." Next Chapter: Arrival Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 37 Minutes