She had been there when the first revolts started, when Marquis Fleetwood rose in rebellion, eager to take advantage of the weaknesses of her rivals and the apathy of the princesses to expand her power. That had been a bloody week for the guard, but it only got worse and worse as the heartland fractured and neighbouring lords had invaded to steal a piece of glory for themselves. The then virtually unknown unicorn Sombra, however, rose to the fore in the chaos. He had defeated all comers through his slave armies and his mastery of black magic, a corruption on the ancient and venerable art of crystal magic. Eventually, the imperial demesne capitulated to his iron hooved rule, willingly or not.