Canterlot.

Once a city of great wealth and prosperity.

The seat of power for a beloved princess and her equally beloved sister.

The very heart of Equestria and the pony race.

Now?

Now it was a filthy, rundown, decrepit, oversized joke of a town not even fit to be called a shadow of it's former self. The castle that once graced the cliffside of Mount Canterhorn had long since crumbled and fallen into and around the river far below, right along with the rest of the cliff.

What remained was a broken, war-torn city overrun with bandits, cutthroats, prostitutes, and equally broken ponies.

No longer was Canterlot the heart of Equestria.

No longer did anypony remember their benevolent Solar Princess.

No longer could Cloudy Dawn bear to call this place her home.

The snow white unicorn mare cast her somber gaze over the wretched city from atop a cliff further up what remained of Mount Canterhorn. Her cold magenta eyes swept across the town and stopped at the far edge, where Canterlot Castle had once stood, every bit as regal and graceful as the sisters who once ruled there.

Her gaze lingered for another moment before she snorted and turned to leave, her dark brown cloak and bright pink mane flapping vigorously in the strong winds buffeting the mountain.

Canterlot will rise again one day, sister, the mare thought as she began her long trek down the mountain, with their help, I will find you, and we'll take back this city together.

I swear it.

Over sixteen years.

I've put up with this farce for over sixteen years.

I've had to keep that mare alive, hidden, and contained for over sixteen years.

For over sixteen years I've been a puppet, dancing on the strings held by that accursed stallion.

For over sixteen years I've had to wear this mask, and I'm sick of it!

A chitinous, hole-riddled black hoof slammed into the vanity, sunken emerald irises glaring into the fractured reflection in the shattered mirror.

I curse the day I found that wretched horn!

The emaciated hoof slowly dropped back to the floor.

"I was a fool."

A desperate fool, but a fool nonetheless. I wanted my power back, I want my revenge, I wanted to make my children strong again.

I wanted love.

And he gave me nothing.

Nothing but a false crown.

Nothing but the threat of total extinction for what remains of my race.

And there's nothing I can do.

Nothing except to sabotage his little project.

A cruel smile appeared on Chrysalis' gaunt face.

"Oh, Sombra," she said with a chuckle, "You'd better pray the fruits of your labor never make it out of that facility."

A sharp knock sounded on the door of Queen Luna's royal bedchamber.

"Pardon the intrusion, Your Highness," a nasally voice called out from behind the door, "but King Sombra has requested your presence in the throne room."

A flash of green fire lit up the bedchamber briefly.

Donning her crown and royal raiment, Queen Luna stepped out of the bedroom and into the grand halls of the Crystal Palace, an imperious frown adorning her features.

"Run ahead and tell His Royal Majesty I will be there shortly."

Author's Notes:

Virtual cookie for anyone who called it.

But seriously though, thanks to everyone that supported the story, and to those who didn't like it, thanks for at least checking it out.

See you in the as-of-yet unnamed sequel!