//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Refuge and Resistants 
// Story: Land of the Lustrous: Battle for the Crystal Empire 
// by Kyetta Cubid 
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After regaining the Mane 5 and a few Crystal Guards, they all then decided to take refuge in the School. Due to the Gemstones lacking anything else, such as Eating or anything else, they all had to do their parts and share the entire Building with anyone else.

Shining Armor made the Request to Kongo to live with the Gemstones for a while, just until the rule of Sombra was over. "I can't thank you enough, Kongo, for letting us live here until Sombra is stopped!" "I better hope so. Whatever Phos or my Gemstones took from that Kingdom must be very important. If they don't know how to save that Empire, I'll be so mad!" Shining didn't want to know how mad he'll be and just left him alone. Him and the Guards then set up refuge inside the School.

The Mane 5 were quickly thanking Diamond, Bort and Phos for freeing them, even though it was Zincon who did it using Screaming Shatter. "Again, we all thank you for freeing us and those Guards." Rarity thanked all free, but was interested in what they are and what their hair are. "No problem. We didn't think we'll be followed by... whatever you are." Bort replied, as the Gemstones still had no idea what they are. "Please forgive us for not introducing ourselves earlier. I'm Rarity and everyone here are my friends." Rarity apologised and introduced herself, which her friends also did.

"I'm Rainbow Dash" Rainbow Dash said, as the others followed. "Howdy. I'm Applejack." "I'm Fluttershy" "And I'm Pinkie Pie!" Once they introduced themselves, the Gemstones did theirs. "I'm Bort and this is my Partner, Diamond and the other one is Phophophyllite, or if you wish, Phos." Bort introduced themselves to them. "Greetings" "Hey!"

After they said their names, Rarity thought their Hair Colours and names were familiar. "A Bort, Diamond and Phophophyllite? Those are three Gemstones I heard about, never seen before!" They didn't think she would of known about Gemstones. "I don't use Phos very often. Too Brittle! They'll end up making the dresses a disaster." "You got that right." Phos then pouted. "Why?" Fluttershy then remembered and realised something. "I remembered using our Magic in front of another one. A Blue and Red one? Where are they?" "Whatever power you Five have overpowered Spinel, which almost shattered them. They're being taken care of by Rutile." Bort replied to her.

Meanwhile in another Hall, what Bort said was true, as Rutile was taking care of them and their shattered pieces, putting them back together. "Thanks Rutile! I don't know why the others see you as a 'Quack'?" "Don't remind me. I only take care of the Shattered Gems if they need it. Not many of us was lucky." They said to Spinel. Ming was also with them, looking after the Pieces. Rutile heard about the refuge for the Ponies and how the Crystal Heart was now inportant to the Empire. " I didn't think what Phos stole was also important." "Whatever it is, perhaps helping everyone is also our key to getting home." Rutile thought that would also be it, as they were ready for Spinel's body. "Now open up your shirt. I'm going to start with your check next. Luckly, your not as bad like Padparadscha."

After the Mane 5 realised they were saved by Gemstones, they wanted to know why and how. "Ok, we were saved by this Gemstone called 'Zincon', and they had some kind of Power? What was it?" Rainbow Dash asked. They then entered the Forbidden Power's room, which where they found the power and others. "Screaming Shatter?" "Dreadful Disintegration?" Applejack looked at another. "Devastating Decay? Remind me not to make you guys angry when I prank a cake." Pinkie Pie said. "And that's a Pinkie Promise!"

"And from whatever that promise is, I don't want anyone touch them!" They then saw Spinel was back in their normal shape, as they didn't recognise Ming. "Spinel, your back!" Diamond was happy to see they were fine. "A Spinel, huh? I didn't think one could be a Half version?" Rarity examined them. She then saw Ming, as they then attacked her with a flapping wing attack. "What-What is that?" Fluttershy then saw Ming and got curious. "A Hummingbird? You know these creature are rare and could be found in Warmer regions. Why is one on your Shoulder?" Spinel looked at Ming, as she was addressing them. "Ming here is a Rare case, like me. We met after I awakened from a Lab. I helped them transform into my Shield." "Huh?" The Girls then growned confused as Ming then glowed and glew towards Spinel's Left Wrist, which they transformed into a Shield.

"That is so Awesome!" Rainbow Dash was surprised to see. "It is. As Mings like this, I can accumulate Three Powers at once!" Spinel said, which then made the Mane 5 realise something. "Even with our Powers combined, we'll still need to get Twilight back from Sombra, otherwise we may do more harm to another Gemstone." "No worry about that. Obsidian will help out with Weaponry and Defence. Spinel created ours." Bort said, which made them glad they had some way to Fight.

Meanwhile in a Forgery inside the Building, Shining Armor was heading to the Forge, where they met Obsidian, who was a Black Gemstone. They saw him coming in. "I didn't think any other Creature would come in here." He heard in their tone they were Chirpy and was smiling. "Anything I can help you with?" Obsidian asked him, as he brought out his Sword and Shield, damaged from both the attack and Relentless Rust. "I might need new Armor as well. Whatever Cinnabar did to my Armor and Weaponry took out everything!" He tried to stay jokely, but his tone wasn't happy. Obsidian then smiled. "Ask Red Beryl about your Measurements? With them, I can make Armor for you and your army!" Obsidian happily replied.

As the Refuge inside the School was finished, everyone now had somewhere to sleep, stay and train. Spinel was inside the same room they was in just before they got transported. Applejack and the girls saw they were Meditating as they brought in an Apple Pie. Spinel heard the door open with through the entire room. "You Five do know the rooms are very Echoy." Spinel said to them, as Applejack out the Pie down. "I baked an Apple Pie to apologise for being shattered by our Magic." "I don't think we can Eat? We're Gemstones!" Applejack didn't think of that. "Well, I guess it's not for everypony and Gemstone." The Girls each had a Slice of Apple Pie, leaving one alone, which made them quiet. "Something on your minds?" Spinel asked.

"Well, you see, just before we were about to face Sombra in a final blow, he already brainwashed Princess Celestia, the ruler and our friends Mentor. He Brainwashed us, but left her. We guess she's under his control now." Applejack said, which made her ears droop a little. "We're all best friends, but now what's going on, we don't know what to do." Pinkie Pie replied, as her Hair became flat and smooth. "We miss her!" Spinel saw they were now upset they lost a friend, and because of it, they're now here. Maybe helping them could maybe get the Gemstones back home. "Well, whatever magic Sombra has, we'll save everything and everyone! Doing so, may help us get back home too!" Spinel thought.

"And now because we have something Sombra want, it's a fight!" Diamond also thought. "Not a fight, a war!" They thought Bort said, until they found Shining found them. "Shining Armor, we're happy to see your fine." "What did Kongo say about everyone Refuging here?" Shining thought about that and told them. "He said it's fine for everypony to refuge here until Sombra is stopped. However, without my sister, Twilight, we're apparently defenceless without every Element of Harmony." They all then looked down, knowing they don't have enough power to stop Sombra.

The Sunlight outside shined inside the room and hit the Gemstones, making them look more shinier and colourful. They all then thought about something about the Gemstones, their fighting skills and weaponry. "Maybe not. Maybe we have our warriors and our defence all along. Them!" They all then looked at the Gemstones, who didn't think they were thinking about them. "Look, you all seem to be... unique creatures, but our main cause is to get back to our universe." Spinel looked at them, seeing they were defenceless. They gave a sigh. "But, if it's Sombra's Magic who brought us here, then stopping him will also be our key to getting home. We'll all do it!" They were happy to hear the Gemstones were now on their side, just as another came in.

They were also a Red Gem, like Cinnabar, but their Hair was in a Pig Tail style. "Obsidian told about wanting to make you Armor, Shining, so I'm here to take measurements!" "Red Beryl? Didn't think you'll now be measuring Armor?" Spinel addressed the Red Beryl, who then brought out a Measuring tape. "Well, since we're going into a war against this Empire we're now transported near, we'll have to be quick on our knees!" Rarity was then interested to see a Gemstone interested in making measurements. "Well, never thought to see a Gemstone here being a Tailor." "It's my job! I love it and I don't want to get into anything else!" Red Beryl said as they were starting to take measurements. "Maybe when your done with the measurements, why don't we both make dresses together? I know some Gems that'll fit perfectly to your bodies and..." Before Rarity could finish, the Gemstones brought out their weapons as a threat, which made her laugh a little. "Maybe leave the Outfit design for the Gems to me. I like them as Cute, Frilly and Femmine!" Red Beryl told Rarity, which she let them.

Back at the Crystal Empire, Celestia, Twilight and Luna were planning out an attack on the Gemstones School Building. "If they have a real Resistants' in that building, then we'll have to be prepared." Celestia said in a stern tone. "Please sister! Let me go after those creatures! When I'm through with them, I'll bring the Crystal Heart back in no time!" Luna said, through her mask, with some muffle tones through the stuff on her face. "That won't be nessercery!" They were then greeted by Sombra, which they bowed down to him. "Your preparing the attack of that Building, I'll want to give them a war!" "To retrieve the Crystal Heart and our Slaves, my king?" Twilight asked, as Sombra then gave them a grin. "And also Shatter some Gemstones! Once they're done with, they'll make some fine Jewellery for me and my Crystal Queen!"

Back at the School, Kongo was doing some Meditating. He was being quiet a lot after what happened, as he got the Flashback from Spinel absorbing the Mane 5's Magic, ending up in a Shockwave that freed many Ponies surrounding the building, as he then opened his eyes. "This is no coincident why we are all here!"

Meanwhile somewhere else, a Pony got a message from Shining Armor, telling them they might have a way to fight back. They also felt the Magic Blast just a day ago, which got them thinking as they used their magic to bring a book over to them, realising something. "This could change everything!"