Only a few hours. I expected a day until the riots began, and Dainn two. Jeez, and I thought humanity was easily riled up. Okay, so, the basics are that the Caribou soldiers-especially those in positions of command- thought it was heretical of Dainn to ally with us to remove Sombra as a threat. In the palace? Shining Armor at least kept it private, as did my second in commands and the other royals.

Anyways, I was in the palace library reading what I could find on Sombra and the Umbrum-essentially shadow ponies who sent Sombra here to destroy the Empire- when I heard the doors to the library open. I spared a glance toward the large, double doors, and saw Shining Armor-along with Twilight and Cadence on their hands and knees trailing behind him- enter. "And to what do I owe this illustrious honor of the crystal prince visiting me?" My voice dripped with sarcasm, especially at 'illustrious'.

Shining just scoffed. "You should just be glad the king doesn't have me kill you while I can."

It was my turn to scoff. "And what makes you think your ass can kill me?" I asked, putting the book I was reading down on the table. "At Ponyville, I cracked Dainn's armor. In Manehattan, I was involved in killing the literal embodiment of chaos, and, in case you didn't notice, a few hours ago, I sent Dainn's ass flying into the arctic. Only reason I didn't kill him was because I had enough sense to not listen to pride and testosterone when Sombra showed up. If I wanted, I could kill you here and now, and it would take an entire army of your soldiers to take me down."

"Please, your only one pony."

"Two things," I said, holding up my hand with two extended fingers. "First: I'm not a pony, I'm a Cabal. Second: my armor has taken high-intensity laser beams to the helmet as I wore it, and I still live. How high-intensity? Enough to go through steel and keep going. What makes you think spears and swords will do anything? Plus, I don't use magic, which is what your armor protects against. Oh, and a third thing: I actually use tactics while you just go into a battle dick first and out. And I don't mean literally. Now, why did you come here?"

"I shouldn't explain myself to you," he said before he tried to walk past me, Cadence and Twilight following beside, before i stopped him with a hand to his shoulder.

"No, but if you even think of sabotaging me just to satisfy some false pride, I'm sure Dainn will switch you before Sombra kills you and everyone else. And that's assuming the microscopic-no, nanoscopic- chance you survive my retribution. Now, why are you here?"

Shining growled. "You want to know so badly? Fine. I came here so I could find a spell to make you bow to Dainn!"

"Ladies and dumbasses, I present what passes for a prince and a leader in this damned world," I said, getting a surprising chuckle from the two red collared alicorns. "Only a moron would tell someone he sees as an enemy his plans. And why? To make my forces bow to Dainn?"

"As all should!"

"Then," I said, "I challenge you to a duel. You win, I will order my forces to bow to Dainn and follow his doctrine. I win, and every mare under your control, including your sister and former wife, come to my side." And, if i am right, his pride addled mind will reply in three. . .two. . . and the answer is-

"I accept! Training field! One hour."

Here, I scoffed. I swear, it's to easy to piss them off. Now I have to finish this quickly, seeing as how I was seeing if just a sliver of tactical sense remained. "Actually, let's sweeten it: it's a fight to the death." Note how he could say no to all of this.

He grinned. "I don't see why not."

"Then I'll see you in an hour. 'Til then, I'll be reading." With that, I picked the book I had been reading when he arrived back up, and continued reading.

"Well, I hope you'll be ready to lose," Shining said. "Come on, mares. We're going somewhere else." And with that, he and the two alicorns left.

One hour later- Crystal Empire stadium

"So does anyone know why we're here?" Silver asked as she, Chrysalis, the two lunar alicorns, and- to the disgust of the ponies and changeling- Dainn sat in the royal viewing box near the top of the stadium, a large crowd in front and around them.

"I heard someone from the Resistance was stupid enough to challenge Shining Armor," Luna said. "Much as I wish him to lose, even I think it stupid given how adept he is in defensive spells."

"That is something we agree on, mare," Dainn said, eyeing the stadium that had become the training grounds for the forces of the Empire.

"Dainn can you at least pretend to be courteous to females while this alliance is going?" Silver asked. "I know you have the potential, given our past."

Dainn just rolled his eyes and remained silent.

"Well, whoever it is, they'd better have a plan to deal with Shining's shield," Chrysalis said as a doe that was under Dainn's ownership walked into the middle of the arena to announce just what was going on.

"For the entertainment of the masters and guests," she said, "the Crystal Empire is proud to present our ruler, Shining Armor, Crystal Prince, and the leader of the foolish Resistance, Valus Mau'ual in a fight to the death."

"Okay, now I'm wondering how that happened," Nightmare muttered.

"In addition to that, the following terms are those given by Shining Armor: should Mau'ual win, all females under his ownership, including the two former princesses, are to be given to the resistance. When the Prince wins, the resistance is to stop this foolish resistance, and bow to Dainn and the females take their rightful place."

This was followed by a face palm by each of the resistance leaders. "Dumbass," Luna said as the resistance members in the crowd roared with outrage.

"Now, if you'll please welcome, Prince Armor!" the doe shouted over the angry crowd with permission from Dainn as Shining walked out, wearing his old guard armor, though it was now inscribed with runes to protect from magic and brute strength. In his left hand was a shield, his right a sword. On his back was a war hammer. At a quieter volume after the crowd died down, the doe added, "And Valus Mau'ual."

Without ceremony, the alien walked into the field wearing his now iconic armor on, and he was met with cries of disapproval. "Can we just get this over with, I still need to do research and make sure not all of those important are in one place for Sombra to kill easily," he said, ignoring the 'boo's and obscenities thrown his way.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you," Shining said before he charged. He raised his sword and swung, only for Mau'ual to catch it in his hand.

"So, you attack an opponent with who knows much tougher armor, is strong enough to rip a Caribou in armor in two and punch your king miles out of the city, and someone who can fly without magic?" Mau'ual said. "Clever. Wait, no. What's the word I'm looking for?"

"Retarded?!" A buck shouted from the stands.

"Bingo," Mau'ual replied before using the sword as a counter balance to throw Shining into the wall as said unicorn's grip slipped from the sword. After he hit the wall, Mau'ual flipped the sword to where he held it by the blade tip, and threw it at the unicorn with enough force to send the tip of the blade through the helmet and into the former guard captain's skull. As an extra precaution, Mau'ual activated his thrusters, and flew toward Shining before turning his chest into pulp with the mauler.

He pulled his bloodied arm back from what remained of Shining's chest, and said, "If you need me, I'll be working on a way to defeat Sombra. Princesses Cadence and Twilight- along with all other females formerly under Shining Armor's command- are to be sent to the resistance camp. Any other morons who try to interrupt me with sex will get castrated!" With that, he left the stadium, which was silent in shock, seeing as how A: he just left; B: they expected a longer fight.

Still, the soldiers n the crowd didn't remain for long, as they didn't wish to be caught by their commander away from their post, and they quickly left as well, followed by everyone else.

Author's Notes:

Next chapter: the invasion. Also taking crossover requests for that chapter and those after it for the Empire.