Shining Armor and Princess Cadence were fast asleep in their bedroom early the next morning when a loud knocking sound was heard on their door. The sounds of the knocking caused Shining Armor to fall out of bed and onto his head. Getting back up, he made his way to the door and answered it.

"What is it?" he muttered, trying to wake up as he opened the door and saw Sunburst, Flurry Heart's crystaller on the other side. "Sunburst, do you know what time it is?"

"You might want to see this," replied Sunburst, handing a scroll to Shining Armor.

"Shining Armor, what's going on?" moaned Cadence, rising up as Shining Armor unfurled the scroll and read it. Reading it carefully despite his exhaustion, Shining Armor studied each word posted. "What's happening?"

"It can't be," Shining Armor whispered with a look of deep concern on his face. "Sunburst, are you certain that he is planning to attack?"

"I think there is no doubt about it. What do you want me to tell them?"

"Tell them we'll ready the Empire at once," Shining Armor ordered. "I want every available soldier ready to attack at a moment's notice."

Nodding in reply, Sunburst left to pass the order along. Concerned, Shining Armor then turned to Cadence, who immediately sensed that there was danger forthcoming. The look on her husband's face made it clear that something was amiss.

"Cadence, what we both feared is happening," he said. "King Sombra is back from the dead and planning an attack."

"Impossible," gasped Cadence, her eyes widening in shock. "But, how?"

"Emperor Grogar is behind this. We have to prepare for war."

Immediately racing out of bed and putting on her royal accessories, Cadence raced out of the bedroom to meet with the Crystal Empire's military leaders.

…

Meanwhile, the Guardians of the Galaxy were starting to come around from their injuries and Quill slowly climbed out of his bed to stretch his legs when he heard Cadence and Shining Armor running down the hall by the hospital room.

"What…what is that, Quill?" asked Drax, slowly trying to get himself back up. "What's going on?"

"I'm gonna find out," Quill replied, opening the door and stepping outside to meet Cadence. But Cadence raced by Quill, ignoring him. "Hey! Stop!"

Sighing heavily, Quill turned back into the hospital room. No sooner did he walk in that Gamora opened her eyes weakly.

"Pe…Peter?" she gasped and upon seeing her open her eyes, Quill ran over to her and bent down to embrace her. "Where…where are we?"

"Quill, something's going on and we'd better find out what's happening," suggested Drax as Rocket Raccoon also came around.

"Wha…what's going on here?" muttered Rocket. "What's all the commotion?"

"I…am…Groot," Groot said weakly as Mantis also woke up.

"Something's happening," she said, her antennae picking up the disturbance. "Evil…is coming…here."

"Yeah, no kidding," remarked Quill, pulling himself away from Gamora. "I'm beginning to get the sense that something doesn't seem right here. Can any of you move?"

"I can move, Quill," said Rocket, slowly climbing out of his bed only to fall back down on the floor. "Or at least I can move."

"I'm Groot."

"Okay, anyone who can move, follow me," ordered Quill and accompanied by Drax and Groot, followed the source of the noise that was coming from one of the meeting rooms down the hall.

…

Inside the meeting room, Cadence and Shining Armor immediately called to order an emergency meeting of their top military officers.

"Now," Cadence began as Quill, Drax and Groot listened from outside. "When did this message come out and what is King Sombra planning to do right now?"

"It came out early this morning, your highness," said a pony in high ranking crystal armor. "King Sombra is indeed resurrected from the dead by Grogar and planning an assault on the Empire. It's my recommendation that we hit him before he strikes."

"I completely agree," cried a pony in naval armor. "We strike him before he strikes us."

"Has it occurred to either of you that if we do strike King Sombra," remarked Shining Armor. "That Emperor Grogar will be backing him up? I suggest we focus on the defense of the Empire before we plan any type of counterattack. For that matter, I am recommending that we evacuate the city as a precaution. The last thing any of us want is any civilian casualties."

"Especially by a pony who has a heart as black as night," added Cadence, placing her hooves down hard on the table. "Perhaps many of you have forgotten just how dangerous King Sombra is to begin with."

The two rulers of the Crystal Empire stared down their officers who responded with an equal stare of concern. From outside the room, Quill and his fellow Guardians understood the gravity of the situation.

"Guess we'd better help in any way possible," whispered Drax and Quill quickly agreed.

"I'm Groot."

"Yeah, Groot, I agree with Drax."

Still, they continued to listen to what was going on.

"Your highnesses, we also know that Sombra doesn't have an army," said the pony in Crystal Naval armor. "If he doesn't have an army…"

"Grogar will provide him one," interrupted Shining Armor. "Admiral, you have to understand, in fact you all should understand that Grogar has the power to bring souls back from the dead. You kill a soldier, he will bring that soldier back from the dead."

…

Just then, the door to the meeting room creaked open and the meeting was interrupted by the three Guardians who immediately fell to the floor.

"Excuse us," chuckled Quill, quickly getting back up to his feet, much to the shock of all in attendance. "We…we couldn't help but overhear what was happening."

"What are you doing here?" asked Shining Armor. "You should be in recovery."

"I am Groot."

"I'm Shining Armor and I demand you leave at once!"

"Shining, please!" cried Cadence, walking over to him before motioning for Quill, Drax and Groot to come over. "If they can help us, we have to let them."

"Um, for those of you who don't know who we are," said Quill, awkwardly looking at the highly important ponies present. "I'm Peter Quill, otherwise known as Star-Lord, leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy. This here is Drax the Destroyer and Groot, who doesn't really speak much."

"I am Groot."

"I'm Princess Cadence, ruler of the Crystal Empire and this is my husband and co-ruler, Shining Armor."

Of course, Shining Armor said nothing.

"There are a few more of us, but they are all in recovery. By the way, I just wanted to thank you all for saving us from death."

"There are a lot of questions that we need to ask of you, Peter Quill," said Cadence.

"Call me Star-Lord and ask away."

So, the Crystal Empire's leaders began to question Quill and the uninjured Guardians about how they could contribute to the growing fight ahead.

…

Meanwhile, at the school of friendship, Peter Parker was about to start his first day of classes along with Rachel and they would soon meet the rest of the Student Six for the first time…