With their beloved princess among the captives in Tambeleon, the ponies of the Crystal Empire were left with no other choice. They were going to surrender everything they had: their freedom, their way of life, all to King Sombra. The black hearted unicorn smiled evilly as he approached the Empire's top generals and officials, who held a large white flag in their magic auras.

"King Sombra," the lead official said. "Is our princess among the captives?"

"Yes," replied Sombra in his dark voice. "Your princess is now a prisoner and a trophy of his highness, Emperor Grogar. And you have all wisely agreed to surrender yourselves in exchange for her life."

"We wish that no harm befalls upon her, King Sombra," added the lead official.

"And there won't be any harm as long as you declare Emperor Grogar as your new lord and master."

With no other choice, the Crystal Empire's citizens watched as Sombra motioned for a large group of donkey soldiers to step forward, carrying chains and cages behind them. One by one, each and every citizen of the Crystal Empire was stripped of their freedom and forced into imprisonment or slavery. Each sound of chains clicking, and cages slamming was like music to Sombra's ears. He then proceeded to the Crystal Heart and firing a blast of magic from his horn, destroyed the heart, shattering it to pieces.

"King Sombra," cried a donkey general as he walked over to him. "We have found no trace of Prince Shining Armor nor Princess Flurry Heart."

"Has Shining Armor returned from Canterlot?" he asked.

"No, your highness," answered the donkey general. "In any case, he is perhaps in hiding."

Sombra reached into his flowing robe and pulled out a small dagger.

"Then we will make him come out of hiding by any means necessary," he remarked. "General, I want you to organize a search party. I want the Prince of the Crystal Empire brought to me in chains along with anypony who tries to protect him. Is that clear?"

"Yes, your highness."

With the Crystal Heart destroyed and Shining Armor's death order given, Sombra moved his way into the Crystal Empire's main castle and soon found himself in the throne room. Making his way towards the throne which up until that point had belonged to Cadence, he sat down and activated his dark magic that transformed the throne room back into the black crystal that adorned the empire during his reign long ago.

"It certainly feels good to be back here, I will say," laughed Sombra.

…

Back in Tambeleon, Grogar watched as the citizens of the Crystal Empire were forced to put up reminders of Sombra's return to their kingdom. He then proceeded to look down at the prisoners he had recovered, being treated even more shabby than when the Storm King occupied Canterlot.

"Ah, I love the sight of ponies being stripped of their mercy," he chuckled to himself before turning towards the statues of the four petrified alicorn princesses now placed on either side of his throne. "And there is nothing you four can do to stop me."

Just then, the doors to the throne room knocked and in stepped the Storm King. Grogar muttered to himself at having to face him again.

"What do you want, Storm King?' groaned Grogar, rolling his eyes. "If you have seeking more of what you want…"

"Well, that too, but I have come with something else to ask of you," he replied. "You see, there is this fact that you classify me as an…"

"An amateur?" remarked Grogar. "Yes, despite the fact that you were among the pieces of this victory, that doesn't excuse you from being an amateur."

"Oh, come on!" cried the Storm King. "Can't you at least drop the title of amateur from me? Pretty please with a cherry top?"

"No."

"But…"

"I said no, Storm King! You will get what you seek in due time, but for now, I need to move on to the restoration of Tambeleon to its former glory. Leave me at once!"

Disgusted, the Storm King stormed off from the throne room. But, the Storm King's presence didn't discourage Grogar. For he had another matter of business to attend to concerning another one of the heroes he had caged up.

…

Down in the dungeons, the captured Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy were left to wonder what was going to become of them.

"Well, this is great," muttered Quill, who was in a cell with his fellow Guardians. "Here we are stuck in a jail cell in some strange kingdom that is total bull…"

"I am Groot!" cried Groot, interrupted Quill from dropping a mulligan.

"Sorry Groot," sighed Quill. "It's just that I hate being stuck in here, that's all."

"We don't have a choice," remarked Peter Parker who was sharing a cell with Dr. Strange. "We're stuck here with no way out. But I haven't given up on any hope of being rescued. We lose when we quit and I am not ready to quit."

"True we haven't quit," added Dr. Strange. "But we cannot act now because that is not how everything works."

A sense of confusion befell the other prisoners.

"Then what does work?" asked Bucky Barnes in a cell he was sharing with Wanda Maximoff. "Tell us."

"If I told you, then we would be in danger," replied Dr. Strange. "We need to let things run their course if we are to have any chance of survival."

"What? Do nothing?" cried Quill, looking right at Dr. Strange. "Let these ponies suffer? We have to do something, Doctor!"

"We let things run their course, Star Lord."

Letting out a disgusted sigh, Quill released his grip on the bars of his cell and sat down in disgust.

…

Meanwhile, T'Challa had been placed in an office instead of a cell, but all that the King of Wakanda could do was pace back and forth, trying to figure out how to get himself out of the situation he was in. Just then, he heard the sounds of hoofbeats coming towards him. Knowing it was Grogar, he prepared himself for whatever was coming his way, including the possibility of being put to death.

At that moment, the doors to T'Challa's office cell opened and there in the doorway stood Emperor Grogar.

"I trust you like the accommodations, your highness," Grogar remarked as the donkey guards shut the office cell door behind him. "Given your status as a king, I knew you demanded a little more respect than the others."

"Why do you treat my friends any less differently than me?" T'Challa asked as Grogar approached him.

"Because they are nothing short of vagabonds, King T'Challa," Grogar replied. "You are just like me, a royal. That is why I have come to you with a proposal. A proposal that can not only save your life, but save all of the subjects in your kingdom."

"What is this proposal you wish to make of me?"

T'Challa had a sense of suspicion developing inside of him, but was willing to let Grogar say his peace, whatever it was…