Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?

The last thing Shadow remembered with any degree of clarity was fighting alongside Sonic to stop the ARK from destroying everything. He’d become unable to maintain his super form after that, and he fell. If he had fallen through outer space and toward the earth itself, though, then why was it that he could see crystalline shapes in the distance? Why could he feel grass beneath him? Shouldn’t he have been…?

I won’t get answers if I just keep laying here, Shadow told himself. The next course of action was clearly to get on his feet and figure out where he was. Except, when he tried to move, the hedgehog was met with a throbbing sensation in his head and aches in his body. What he did see in the brief moment he was able to look around, though, was one or two shapes of equine creatures. One in particular seemed more elegant than the others. And their colors were bright.

Where was he?

Again, Shadow tried to make himself move. As he did, he decided to speak. If those really were intelligent creatures nearby, then perhaps they could assist him.

As Cadance popped up with a quick downward flap of her wings, she spotted a black and red…thing. Then she heard their voice. The alicorn made her way towards them and as she landed she said, “Did you ask where you were? This is the Crystal Empire.”

“Your Majesty!” her guard yelled after her.

“Truly an honor that you think so highly of me, Princess”

It took her by surprise and finally she realized Rarity was still waiting on an answer.

She should respond.

The answer was yes, of course. But words. Words needed to happen.