The train chugged onward to the Crystal Empire. It was packed with ponies bound for the Crystal Empire. The Crystal Games where set to begin the next day these ponies where headed to cheer for their teams. Twilight and her friends where tucked away in a passenger coach. Twilight was trying to stay as discrete as possible.

"I can't believe the Equestria Games are still going on!" exclaimed Pinkie excitedly.

"Apparently they wanted to show the Crystal Empire was break." shrugged Applejack.

"Now that Sombra is gone there is no threat." noted Rarity.

"No threat except the threat of Ponyville taking home all the medals!" declared Rainbow enthusiastically.

"Yeah!" cried Bulk Biceps.

"Yeah." said Fluttershy.

"Go Ponyville!" cried Derpy jubilant.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders Flag Bearers!" cried out the Crusaders.

Nearby, Twilight was looking out the window with Sunset and Spike next to her.

"How are you feeling?" asked Cadence.

"I feel like crap." answered Twilight sadly.

"You don't have to go if you don't feel like it." noted Sunset.

"Cadence really wants me to go." said Twilight.

Twilight sadly shook her head.

"This'll be my first time to the Crystal Empire since..." began Twilight, trailing off sadly.

"You're not the pony anymore!" declared Sunset.

"Tell the Crystal Ponies that." replied Twilight sadly.

"We will." said Spike.

"They won't listen." shrugged Twilight flatly.

"We'll be right by your side." said Spike.

"So we can make sure nothing bad happens." added Sunset.

The train stopped.

"Crystal Empire!" called the guard.

The ponies disembarked from the train. They made their trip to Crystal Empire with Twilight staying low. They arrived and passed by the Crystal Ponies. Twilight and Sunset kept their heads low to avoid being spotted. However, Crystal Ponies kept shooting them glances. Twilight and Sunset noticed this. Crystal Ponies began following them. Twilight and Sunset began getting and more anxious.

"They're watching us." whispered Twilight.

"I think they're following us." said Sunset.

"We won't let anyone hurt you Sugar cubes." said Applejack.

"Indeed. I might be a lady, but I shall fight to protect you." agreed Rarity.

"Thanks." said Sunset.

The group kept walking, but where soon surrounded.

"Oh boy." said Applejack worried.

"It is them!" cried one of the Crystal Ponies.

"They've got some nerve coming here!" declared another Crystal Pony.

"Let's teach them a lesson!" called another Crystal Pony.

"These ponies are a dadgum lynch mob." noted Applejack worried.

The group continued closing in.

"Oh my." said Fluttershy worried.

Rainbow shot up in the sky.

"Alright you ponies! Back off!" cried Rainbow.

The mob angrily closed in.

"Get ready to fight." whispered Applejack.

Suddenly, a whistling was heard.

"Back off!" demanded a familiar voice.

The crowd backed off revealing Shining Armor and a squad of royal guard arrived.

"We'll handle this." said Shining.

The crowd whispered mainly about the fear Shining would be lenient on his sister.

"Let's go." ordered Shining.

"No problem." said Sunset relieved.

The group made their way to the Crystal Palace. Once there, they found cadence waiting for them.

"I'm glad you made it." said Cadence happily.

Cadence walked over to Twilight.

"Sunshine, sunshine..." began Cadence.

Twilight silently responded with a sad smile.

"Sorry, but I'm not in the mood." said Twilight.

"I get it." replied Cadence.

"Well, we gotta get ready." said Rainbow.

Rainbow, Fluttershy, Bulk, Derpy and the Crusaders left.

"So Twily, how are you?" asked Shining.

"It's been rough." answered Twilight flatly.

"Sorry I couldn't visit." said Shining.

"Cadence explained everything. I understand." replied Twilight.

Shining hugged his little sister.

"Happy to hear it LSBFF." said Shining.

"What?" asked Sunset confused.

"Little Sister Best Friend Forever." answered Shining.

"How's the Crystal Empire?" asked Sunset uneasy.

"It's been hard rebuilding." answered Shining.

"That lynch mob provide that." sighed Applejack.

"What are they talking about?" asked Cadence worried.

"A group of ponies where giving them trouble." answered Shining.

"They haven't forgotten." noted Rarity drably.

"This was a mistake." said Twilight.

"It might not be wise for us to attend the games live." added Sunset.

"I understand." said Shining flatly.

"I know Rainbow and Fluttershy will understand as well darlings." agreed Rarity.

"Twily, it's great to see you again." admitted Twilight.

"Yeah, I missed you too." agreed Shining.

The two siblings shared a hug.

"Of course, last time we together here..." began Twilight.

"Don't say that! That isn't how you are!" cried Shining.

Twilight at her brother's tone.

"I didn't mean to freak you out." said Shining.

"That's fine." replied Twilight meekly.

"Twilight, you aren't that pony anymore. You're freed from Sombra's command." noted Sunset.

Twilight shrugged indifferently.

"Twilight, are you hearing voices again?" asked Sunset.

"Of course not." answered Twilight anxiously.

"Twilight, you have to tell us if you're hearing voices." stated Cadence.

"I'm not!" declared Twilight.

The group shared worried glances.

"Okay, I believe you." said Sunset.

Twilight sighed in relief.

"Head to your room and unpack." said Sunset.

Twilight was led off by a guard to her room.

"She's hearing voices." stated Sunset.

"Are you sure?" asked Rarity worried.

"Without a doubt." answered Sunset.

"What do we do?" asked Shining.

Sunset sadly shook her head.

"I'm not entirely sure." answered Sunset flatly.

The others hung their heads.

"Don't worry. We will find a way." promised Sunset.

Hours passed and soon it was time for the Equestria Games. Cadence, Shining, Rarity, Pinkie and Applejack said goodbye and left. Spike opted to stay with Twilight and Sunset. Twilight, Sunset and Spike decided to hold up in their bedroom unsure of how the guards felt. Twilight and Sunset said on Twilight's bed with Spike laying on the edge of the bed.

"I wonder how the Games are going." mused Twilight.

"I'm sure they're fine." shrugged Sunset.

"Probably." agreed Twilight.

Twilight tapped her hoof on the bed.

"Hopefully, Ponyville will win a lot of medals." said Twilight.

"Knowing Rainbow, anything less wouldn't be acceptable." chuckled Spike.

"After what happened in Rainbow Falls, I think she's gotten better at that." replied Sunset.

A pregnant pause hung in the air.

"Twilight, you have to tell me if you're hearing voices." said Sunset.

"I'm not!" cried Twilight defiantly.

"Please don't bullshit me." requested Sunset.

"It's kinda obvious." added Spike.

"I am freaking fine!" declared Twilight.

Sunset and Spike both gave Twilight worried glances.

"Look, I'm okay." sighed Twilight flatly.

"Please be honest with us." requested Spike.

"Look, I've been struggling since I got out of prison." said Twilight.

Twilight sadly shook her head.

"I should have just stayed locked up." said Twilight sadly.

"No way!" cried Spike.

"You are a good pony. Your friends are have forgiven you and other ponies will too." said Sunset.

Twilight mulled this over.

"I pray you're right." said Twilight sadly.

Twilight hung head.

"But, I am beginning to doubt that will ever happen." said Twilight depressed.

After a while, Sunset and Spike headed out to see how the games where going.

("They're onto you.") said the voice.

"I know." sighed Twilight.

("You have to do something.") said the voice.

"What can i do?" asked Twilight.

("Anything!") answered the voice firmly.

"That doesn't exactly limit my options." noted Twilight annoyed.

("You could kill yourself.") said the voice.

:Maybe." sighed Twilight sadly.

The unicorn suddenly shook her head.

"That's always you're go to." said Twilight.

("I'm just pitching ideas.") said the voice.

"How about an idea other than suicide." requested Twilight.

("That's the best solution.") countered the voice.

"Are you sure they're isn't another option?" asked Twilight.

("I don't understand why'd you want to keep living.") answered the voice.

"Everypony does hate me." said Twilight depressed.

("Exactly.") said the voice.

"But, I need to stay optimistic!" declared Twilight.

("Stay blind to reality.") said the voice.

"Why are you so negative?" asked Twilight.

("It's called by a realist.") answered the voice.

"A realist wouldn't encourage me to kill myself." noted Twilight.

("Well excuse me.") said the voice offended.

"What's your deal?" asked Twilight annoyed.

("You're the one being offended.") huffed the voice.

"You're telling me to kill myself." said Twilight angrily.

("Because I'm telling you my advice.") replied the voice.

"That's not the advice a friend would give." said Twilight.

("I'm hurt.") said the voice.

Twilight thought for a moment.

"I've figured it out." said Twilight.

("Figured out what?") asked the voice.

"You...Sombra." answered Twilight.

The voice laughed at this.

"What's so funny Sombra?" asked Twilight.

("I'm not Sombra.") answered the voice.

"You have to be." said Twilight surprised.

("I can tell you who I am.") offered the voice.

"Tell me." demanded Twilight.

("I'm you.") revealed the voice.

Author's Notes:

A/N: That is where we'll end this chapter. So the voice has been revealed and we'll go more into it next time. Next time, we get to the penultimate chapter. Please review.