Sunset Shimmer wandered around palace. She quickly realized this wasn't Canterlot. Her wandering ended when she was confronted by two guards who dragged her to the throne room. A unicorn sat on the throne while a purple unicorn was seated at his foot.

"We found this unicorn wandering the halls." said the guard.

The male unicorn nodded and the guards left.

"What is your name?" asked the male unicorn.

"I am Sunset Shimmer." answered the girl.

Sunset looked at the purple unicorn who was giving her daggers.

"Where am I?" asked Sunset.

"You don't ask questions!"snapped the purple unicorn.

"Settle down Twilight." said the male unicorn.

The male unicorn gave his attention back to Sunset.

"I am King Sombra and this is my Crystal Empire." answered Sombra.

"Crystal Empire." repeated Sunset confused.

"Yes." confirmed Sombra.

"That bitch never mentioned this place to me." said Sunset bitterly.

"Who are referring to?" asked Sombra curious.

"Princess Celestia." answered Sunset.

Twilight quickly jumped to her hooves.

"Tell me how you know that bitch!" demanded the purple unicorn.

The yellow and red unicorn smirked at this.

"I was her former student." noted Sunset.

"She never mentioned a former student." said Twilight seething.

"She never mentioned the Crystal Empire to me." said Sunset.

"I only heard of it when she sent my ass here because she wouldn't get off hers." replied Twilight.

The two female unicorns shared a laugh at this.

"Interesting." thought Sombra.

"What happened to you?" asked Twilight.

"She held me down and when I tried to get around her, she banished me." answered Sunset.

Twilight let out an annoyed sigh.

"She used me like a puppet even overthrowing Master and replacing him with Equestrian puppets." explained Twilight.

"I am not surprised." replied Sunset.

"Luckily, Master released me from my bondage and I allied him in regaining power." said Twilight.

Sombra thought for a moment.

"Being a former student of Celestia must mean you're good with magic." mused Sombra.

"Of course." said Sunset confident.

" How would like to get revenge on her?" asked Sombra.

"I would." answered Sunset.

"Then join us. We will fight Celestia together." said Sombra.

"What is in it for me?" asked Sunset.

"A side from the revenge?" asked Twilight.

"To be Queen of Equestria." answered Sombra.

Twilight's eyes shot open in horror.

"Master! You promised me that!" exclaimed the purple unicorn.

"Celestia and Luna share power so you can as well. Twilight will rule the night and Sunset shall rule the day." explained Sombra.

Twilight sighed and nodded.

"I understand and respect your decision." said Twilight.

"That's fine with me." said Sunset.

"Twilight, please show Sunset around. I'm sure you'll bond." said Sombra.

"Understood." agreed Twilight.

"Okay." shrugged Sunset.

The two unicorns left together.

"Those stupid fools actually think I'm going give them power." chuckled Sombra.

The two unicorns left and talked. Twilight gave Sunset Shimmer an overview of what had gone on from her becoming Celestia's student to taking Sombra regaining control of the Crystal Empire. By the time they were done, the two unicorns reached the Crystal Heart.

"Man, this room really got damaged." noted Sunset.

"My brother and his wife put up a fight." shrugged Twilight.

"Maybe you're not as strong as you think." said Sunset.

Twilight turned and shot her a death glare.

"I was joking." laughed Sunset.

Twilight sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Whatever." replied the purple unicorn.

Twilight thought for a moment.

"Sunset , why did you return to our world?" asked Twilight.

"I wasn't going to be stuck in the shit hole." answered Sunset.

Twilight thought for a moment.

"Sunset, what was it like when you were under Celestia?" asked Twilight.

Sunset snorted at this.

"She acted like a loving mother." answered Sunset.

"But, she held you down fearing your potential." guessed Twilight.

Sunset nodded in affirmation.

"It's sad she has done this before." said Twilight.

"Not surprising." huffed Sunset.

"Of course not." agreed Twilight.

A moment of awkward silence.

"So, tell m about yourself." requested Sunset.

Twilight was surprised by this.

"Why?" asked the lavender unicorn suspiciously.

"I'm curious about you." answered Sunset.

Twilight continued staring at her suspiciously, but she then shrugged it off.

"I lived at a library." began Twilight.

"Do you like books?" asked Sunset.

"Yup.I love reading." answered Twilight.

"I like reading too." said Sunset.

Twilight grinned at this.

"Great. It's so nice to met another intellectual." said Twilight pleased.

"I take it there weren't that many in Ponyville." mused Sunset.

"Only one had some class. The others were a hick, a butch, a social inept and a hyper nutcase!" declared Twilight.

The two unicorns shared a laugh at this.

"It's nice to met you as well." agreed Sunset.

"So, was there anypony like you in the other world?" asked Twilight.

"They were a bunch of bipedal idiots." answered Sunset.

"It feels like we were destined to me." said Twilight.

"I think you might be right." agreed Sunset.

"I'm glad you're here." said Twilight.

"Yeah. I'm glad I'm here too." said Sunset.

Both of the unicorns' eyes shot open.

"I'm falling for Sunset." thought Twilight.

"I'm falling for Twilight." thought Sunset.

The two looked at each other and quickly adverted their eyes.

"Is there anything else you wanted to ask?" asked Twilight nervously.

"No." answered Sunset nervously.

More silence followed this.

"Well then...I let you be." said Twilight.

"Yeah." said Sunset.

The two unicorns parted and took off.

"This is bad." thought both unicorns.

In Canterlot, word of what happened in the Crystal Empire was largely suppressed by the order of Princess Luna. Aside from raising the sun, Princess Celestia had largely abandoned her duties even suspending her day court. Cadence had taken up her daytime duties to make sure Luna could get sleep. On this day, Cadence was preparing to lower the sun when Luna visited her.

"Hello Cadence, did anything of interest occur today?" asked Luna.

"Not." answered Cadence.

"Has word spread of the Crystal Empire?" asked Luna.

"No. It seems we've managed to keep it confined to the Canterlot." answered Cadence.

"So others know." sighed Luna.

"Rumors of something happening there are flying around, but no mention of Twilight." explained Cadence.

"That is good." said Luna relieved.

"Yeah. It hasn't gotten out thanks to censorship." noted Celestia.

"I hope you and Shinning are doing okay." said Luna.

"I'm holding it together." replied Cadence, "Shinning on the other hoof..."

"Considering how close he was, it is no surprise." said Luna.

"He gets out ever now and again, but he spends most of the time in his room."said Cadence sadly.

"You can tell me if something is wrong." said Luna.

"I am fine. I've...accepted it." said Cadence, pain in her voice.

"You don't need to put up a front." stated Luna.

"Who says I am putting up a front?" asked Cadence.

"It is obvious." answered Luna.

Cadence let out a sigh.

"I've never been a good liar." admitted Cadence.

"How are you handling this?" asked Luna.

"It's rough. I've know Twilight since she was a filly so this really hard for me." answered Cadence.

"I could only imagine." replied Luna.

"It's just..." began Cadence, her voice breaking.

Luna wrapped a leg around Cadence.

"Let it out." said Luna.

Cadence began to sob and did so for several minutes.

"Do you feel better?" asked Luna.

"Yes." answered Cadence, sniffling.

"I am glad to hear that." said Luna warmly.

"How is Princess Celestia?" asked Cadence.

"She is not doing well." answered Luna sadly.

"I haven't seen her leave her room." noted Cadence.

"That is because she has not." said Luna.

"We have to get her to go out. It's not healthy to stay cooped up in her room all day." said Cadence worried.

"Agreed, but it won't be easy." said Luna.

"I assume you've tried." mused Cadence.

"Indeed." confirmed Luna.

Luna mused for a moment.

"Didn't you say Shinning was locked away in his room as well?" asked Luna.

"Yes, but he does go out." answered Cadence.

"He also admits Twilight has joined Sombra." sighed Luna.

"Please tell me Celestia is not pretending Twilight hasn't joined Sombra." pleaded Cadence.

"I am afraid so." said Luna.

"I can understand why. I've seen they way they interact." said Cadence.

"Yes. They were very close indeed." said Luna.

"Let me try talking to her." proposed Cadence.

"That would be excellent." replied Luna gratefully.

"I will talk with him later. Hopefully, I can get through to her." sighed Cadence.

"Thank you very much." said Luna.

The two ponies embraced.

"You have truly matured a lot. I know Celestia is proud of you." said Luna.

Author's Notes:

A/N: There is chapter sixteen. It is a bit shorter, but I didn't want to repeat myself too much. Next time, we continue onward. Please review.