Val and Amore moved to the city square where Iso was waiting, in front of the Warp Gate, her dark blue chitin, tree branch-like horn with two small horns were beside the original, one above each eyebrow and about a third of the original’s size; her long tendrils with a leaf-shaped end that acted as ears and were coiled around her shoulder-length mane in a ponytail, lastly, her dragonfly-like wings as long as she was tall. She was wearing a pretty simple and casual sundress since she planned to meet Val and Amore on the beach but that plan was ruined thanks to Celestia’s action.

“I’m sorry our day had to be cut short like this,” said Val to Amore and Iso as they stood on the city square. Then he focused on Amore and said, “Normally I wouldn't oppose to you coming with me because I know that you want to help but you are still recovering, so I’m asking you to please stay here.”

“Had it been anyone else I wouldn’t listen but I trust you,” said Amore and Val nodded.

“Iso will stay with you, I’m not going to ask you enjoy the rest of the day without me but I promise you I will be back by the end of the day,” said Val before leaning down and kissing the pink unicorn mare, then she turned to face Iso and asked, “Can you keep her informed using the Hive Mind?”

“Of course,” said Iso and Val just leaned down and kissed her as well before turning around and press the gem on the pedestal-shaped computer terminal that had a gemstone, which then projected a map as well as a keyboard made of hard light and Val just tapped Diamond City on the map. One of the four stone arches located near the center of the plaza, located in the cardinal points around the fountain with a beautiful statue of Iso and a sea pony swimming on opposite sides of a whirlpool. Val activated the south gate and as she looked at the stone arch the image started to distort and change until it showed the Royal Palace in Diamond City from the perspective of the north gate in the Diamond City’s plaza.

“Be careful,” said Amore and Val just nodded before crossing the Warp Gate and once he was on the other side he waved at the pair before closing the Warp Gate with the dial on the other side.

“Come, Amore, we can wait in the mansion, I’ll have some of the servants prepare tea for us,” said Iso and Amore just nodded before following Iso.

Diamond City

Once the Warp Gate was closed Val teleported herself to the master bedroom in the palace, she could do that because she was keyed in the protective ward that existed around the palace, anyone not keyed would be teleported either to the dungeon or the entrance depending on their intention and/or magic. Once inside she used the Hive Mind, both of them, to inform that she arrived and would be heading to the throne room soon.

Val stood in front of the wardrobe and used her shapeshifting powers, she might not like it but she had to represent both herself and the Empire very carefully since a mistake could mean a war with Equestria and she really liked to avoid one if she could help. She assumed her battle form and her entire body minus her head was covered by the biological looking suit of armor she used on the siege of the Crystal Empire when it was under Sombra’s control before tying her hair into a ponytail. Once she was done Val exited her room and met Hedy and Lyca before the trio of lightsmiths headed for the throne room, the two princes flanking their leader.

“What happened?” asked Val as she walked through the hallway.

“Well…” started Hedy.

Border of the Crystal Empire beyond the Equestrian Northern Outpost, an hour ago

“Shining come on, we have to make it to the Crystal Empire as soon as possible!” said a pink alicorn wearing a rather thick light blue winter dress to a group soldiers wearing leather armor covered by thick cloaks of fur —the leather and fur were artificial, of course— in addition to the thick paddling of their gambesons.

“Calm down Cadence, we still need to pass through the Northern Wastes and even if we didn’t have a blizzard to deal with rushing will only get you lost here,” said the stallion with a white fur coat and two-shaded blue mane walking in front of the group and beside the Princess of Love.

Shining Armour just trudged through the snow after Cadence along with seven Royal Guard, four pegasi and three unicorns, he wanted to bring some earth ponies as well but they had to depart immediately and there wasn't time to prepare their gear, pegasi had a natural resistance to cold because they were used to high altitudes and unicorns could use their magic to keep themselves warm, they were all assigned to accompany the Captain/Prince and his wife in this expedition. The Equestrians were sent this far north in hopes of freeing the recently returned Crystal Empire from the tyrant and usurper, the self-crowned King Sombra. The Royal Sisters hoped to recover the last remaining sister nation of Equestria, especially after the mysterious cataclysm that destroyed Flutter Valley.

They departed yesterday when Celestia that the reports of the Northern Outpost were suspiciously uneventful, especially after the three alicorns felt a surge of magic coming from the North. When they arrived on the Outpost after a train ride the two guards stationed there one of them was revealed to be a changeling and the other was under that bug mind control. The guards wasted no time in trying to capture that parasite but unfortunately, it managed to escape even after it was placed in an anti-magic bubble, from there they proceeded to free the remaining guard. After such a discovery Cadence seemed to be filled with dread at the thought of the changelings getting to the Crystal Empire where the crystal ponies might get caught in the crossfire between Chrysalis and Sombra, or worst, the thought that Chrysalis and Sombra might have met and allied with one another in making the life of the poor crystal ponies miserable.

“SHINING!” shouted Cadence and Shining stooped when he heard his wife’s voice ringing out from the front, piercing through the noise of the blizzard that seemed to suddenly stop as well. He lifted his head cloaked under a dull brown hood that protected his head from the cold winds and spotted Cadence looking at him sternly from under her own pink hood before saying in a stern and commanding tone, “We have to hurry up, with our chariot grounded Sombra and Chrysalis could have already arrived enslaved the crystal ponies, who knows what horrors they could be subjecting the poor crystal ponies to!”

Cadence, Shining Armour and the six guards —one pegasus stayed behind to help the remaining guard in the outpost and to sent a message back to Equestria— looked behind them and saw that the blizzard was still going but in front of them was a snow dune with the light of the sun was being reflected. Cadence ignored all that in favor of climbing the snowbank while the guards and Shining placed their hands over their eyes to shield them from the glare.

“But… how?” questioned Cadence from the top of the snowbank just as the caught catch up to her. They looked at where she was looking and saw the city made of crystal and other unknown materials, but some of the organic looking materials were almost alien.

The sunny and colorful city was under a transparent dome, also because of the angle they couldn’t see the beam of light that hitting the top of the central tower, all that was unexpected to the pink alicorn and she expressed her surprise by asking, “Why would Sombra activate the Crystal Heart?”

Shining was confused too, however, he had been told very little about the city by Celestia and Cadence and only knowing that Sombra usurped the throne, hid the Crystal Heart and enslaved the population before being banished by the Princesses and taking the Empire with him. Although he was very cautious about this whole thing since what little he had been told didn’t add up to what they were seeing and that was the first indication that something was going on.

“Princess Cadence, wait!” shouted one of the guards and Shining Armor came out of his introspection. When he looked at the source of the sound he saw a guard reaching out for Cadence who was flying full speed towards the dome and in the direction of the city.

“Great, welcome to married life Shining Armor,” the Prince Consort muttered under his breath as he facepalmed, Cadence could be such a stubborn mare.

“Should we go after her Captain?” asked an orange coated blue maned pegasus guard, looking at the pink blur rapidly speeding toward the city.

“No, stay on the ground, Cadence should be able to take care of any trouble she finds herself into, or at least for long enough for us to catch up,” said Shining to the the orange pegasus guard and the guards nodded, then Shining Armor used his magic to unstrap the shield that was on his back before placing it on the ground and use it as an impromptu snowboard. The unicorns did the same while the pegasi jumped and glide near the unicorns in formation.

While her husband and their escorts were catching up Cadence landed in the midst of a busy market on the edge of the Crystal Empire’s capital, however, in her hurry she ignored the obvious discrepancies between what she knew of the Capital and this city and just as she landed the crystal ponies stared at the pink alicorn in puzzlement while said alicorn also looked around in puzzlement as she thought, “Why were all of these ponies walking about happily as if nothing was wrong? Where was King Sombra? And where were Chrysalis and her changelings?”

“Excuse me,” said Cadence catching a nearby light blue crystal pony mare, she almost smiled and cooed at the sight of a adorable a young teal colored filly standing behind the mare trying to hide from the Princess while staring at the said Princess in awe, more specifically at her wings, but Cadence had to focus, so she asked the mare, “Where is King Sombra?”

“He was destwoyed and eaten by Empewor Volthoom!” the filly happily answered

“‘Destroyed and eaten," said Cadence with a tone of disbelief before shaking her head and ask, "This unicorn, Emperor Volthoom, how did he accomplish that?”

“He’s not a unicown, he’s ouw Guawdian and he didn’t use magic,” said the filly as she came out of her hiding spot and her mother didn’t seem to mind the questions.

“Then how did he defeat Sombra?” asked Cadence trying to gauge how much worst this Volthoom was.

“Well,” the mare began uncomfortably as she looked at the Equestrian before continuing, “I’m not sure of the details but I heard one of the guards say that he ‘punched a hole through his chest’ at the end of the battle.”

“This Emperor must be truly evil, possibly worse than Sombra for him to brutally kill with his own hands! This brute is probably in league with Chrysalis and she must be using her mind to keep these ponies happy and docile,” thought Cadence as she paled after hearing how Sombra was defeated, so she just took off to the center of the city where she would hopefully save these ponies.

On her way to the palace Cadence spotted a mare on the roof on one of the buildings, she was sitting in front of a canvas facing the palace, and by her movements, she was painting, however, Cadence spotted a familiar figure of a changeling approaching the mare from behind. Hoping to save that mare from being kidnapped and being fed on by those parasites Cadence dived toward the mare to save her.

On the roof, a few moments before

Copper Flower, a simple pegasus mare with a blue coat as well as teal and orange mane wearing plain white clothes as she painted the Central Tower of Sapphire. She was a painter and while she loved the sights of Equestria when she traveled to the surface as well as the vibrant underground ecosystem she wanted to experience something new. In the end, she and her family decided to visit the Crystal Empire for a few days.

“Flower!” a voice called out and when she turned she saw her husband, a black colored changeling from Cepha’s Hive with a head crest/fin and dark blue corset. Nico Gryl was an artist like her, however, he was a musician and dancer while Flower was a painter and sculpturist. They came with their young filly and teenager son because they wanted their children to experience the world beyond the underground.

Copper Flower just smiled as her husband brought some snacks for her, however, she saw his eyes widen as he glanced to his left and he dropped everything before jumping in her direction. When she glanced to the side she saw a pink blur coming toward her at great speed, she thought she heard a whistling noise similar to the wings of a pegasus when “cutting” the air, out of reflex she placed her arms in front of her.

Gryl was almost reaching his wife when the blur changed direction and tackled him out of the building roof. Whatever tackled him did so with enough force to crack his chitin and he was barely conscious when the blur landed beside him.

“Guards!” screamed Copper Flower and Cadence nodded thinking that maybe whatever hold Chrysalis had on them was not that strong and she was about fly to the roof to see if that mare was ok. She extended her wings when she saw the guards approach the scene, however, she was taken by surprise when crystal ponies guards surrounded her.

“Stand down, Equestrian, you're under arrest for assaulting a citizen of the Empire,” said one of the guards.

“What you mean ‘citizen of the Empire’? I, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, the rightful heir to the Crystal Empire came to save you from the tyrant that sits on the throne as well as free you from this parasites and place this nation under the protection of the Royal Sisters,” announced Cadence and she expected the ponies to be inspired to rebel against their conqueror, however, that seemed to have the opposite effect if the hardening of the guards eyes and the horrified looks of the crowd were any indication.

Without hesitation the guards reached for a cylinder on their belts before pointing the open end of said cylinder toward Cadence, then suddenly a rope came out and coiled around her arms and wings.

“Cadence!!” shouted Shining as he came from behind followed by his squad, he saw a crowd gathering and a group of guards, the moment his group was spotted the crowd run to the security of their homes of behind the Crystal Guards.

Four guards were using some whip made of energy to bind and subside Cadence while seven other guards stood in front of the Equestrian before reaching behind their backs and take out an axe, they twisted the blade and a spear-like tip came out from the top before the handle extended turning their weapons into a strange combination of spear and axe that the Equestrian haven’t seen before. Any hesitation that Shining Armor left his mind when he looked at the fear in the eyes of his wife as she was bound by the guards. He and his guards took out their swords and shields before standing ready to fight. It was a tense standoff and they had yet to see who would do the first move.

As the Equestrians were preparing to fight when suddenly they were captured by glowings ropes that appeared out of nowhere and Shining tried to use a spell to escape but his magic didn’t react, when he looked at his squad he saw a glowing ring in the base of their horn and when he looked at Cadence he noticed that he and his squad were surrounded by a barrier. It didn’t take long for him to find the source of the barrier, he saw a black and red changeling floating above the street wearing a skin-tight suit with plates and said changeling had a glowing multi-colored aura similar to the barrier holding them captive.

“Equestrians, you are all under arrest for trespassing into our borders and attacking our citizens,” said Ambly as she floated down and undid the barrier for the guards to escort the prisoners. Ambly resisted the urge to groan, this whole thing could start a war, and she thought that she could have an uneventful shift. She concentrated on the focus embedded into her horn and channeled the energy into her hand, then a hologram of Val appeared above her palm.

“Yes?” asked Val.

Crystal Palace, Diamond City, present time

Val groaned at the situation, it seemed that Chrysalis’ invasion caused more damage to Princess Cadence and Shining Armor’s view of the changelings than she thought. That was to be expected since one was under imprisoned in a cave while the other was under Mind Control and Chrysalis did cause a great deal of panic to cover her infiltration and exploration of the tunnels beneath Canterlot.

“So, apparently Cadence reaction to changelings is the most extreme out of the two. Do you think Shining Armor can be reason with?” asked Val after processing what was said.

“Well, she spent a few days locked in a dark cave with little to no interaction and considering that love is closely tied to hatred her reaction kinda makes sense, even though we expected her to be a bit more diplomatic,” said Lyca expressing his opinion.

“Shining Armor has military training and should be able to keep a calm and reasonable mindset if needed, I mean, he wouldn't do anything to purposefully endanger either his wife or his country,” said Hedy and Val nodded. It wasn’t long before the trio arrived on the throne room where the eight Equestrians had their wings and horns bound as they knelt before the throne, behind each one of them was a guard with the same energy whip that was wrapped around their arms, wings and/or horns.

The prisoners’ attention was drawn to the clopping sound from the hallway where Val, Hedy and Lyca came. Their eyes widen at the three changelings that arrived and it was already surprising for them to see the variety in color and types on the species that they assumed it was just black and blue. But, the beauty of those three was just otherworldly, the ones on the side carrying spears that glowed with energy while wearing a colorful yet hypnotic armored suit similar to the one that restrained them, that combined with their butterfly wings gave them a beauty that the Equestrians have never seen before and to some it reminded them of the old tales of the flutter ponies.

However, even as the unblinking solid eyes of the two butterfly-like changelings stared at the prisoners their eyes were fixed on the figure in the middle, a tall female changeling wearing an almost organic looking armor that didn’t hide her voluptuous body. The changeling with a figure and presence that they could only be compared to Princess Celestia's, but were their Princess had a warm and motherly aura this one seemed aloof and cold as her silver eyes briefly glanced at the prisoners as she walked toward the throne, that plus long silver hair trailing behind her seemed to be made of the finest silver as they reflected the light of the sun.

Val just climbed the small set of stairs that led to the throne before sitting on it while Hedy took his place on Val’s right while his sister stood by Val’s left and Val just crossed her legs before resting her right arm on the armrest of the throne.

“Now, what to do with you?” asked Val as she rested her head on her right arm giving off a powerful and alluring disposition after all presentation was important for a ruler.

Author's Notes:

The design of the Warp Gate is based on the Elf Gates from Pathfinder.

Iso antennas are based on the ones that most life forms from Pandora have, more specifically the Pa'li/Direhorse, from Avatar(2009).