In the newly re-formed Crystal Empire King Sombra, Queen Chrysalis and Princess Cadence sat down in the throne room to discuss their plans. Knowing that Equestria is ruled by the military now they realized that things would need to be handled a bit differently, that things would not be easy like they were in taking Canterlot many millennia ago.

Chrysalis asked, "Sombra, out of all of us, I would think you would be the one to know the most about taking on a nation ruled by it's military. So what do you suggest we do?"

Sombra replied, "Well we need to get more of their soldiers to defect to us. Given that this Supreme Commander Colgate rules Equestria now, I have a feeling that she has troops stationed throughout the country. That is the difference between a military leader and a leader of royal blood."

Cadence interrupted, "Wait a minute, are you saying that this pony of non-royal blood is better than my aunts were?"

Chrysalis replied, "Now, now Cadence, you don't want to get banished somewhere now do you? Remember, you swore allegiance to us."

Sombra added, "Cadence, when it comes to handling military affairs, a military leader will always have a nation well defended. If I remember correctly, your aunts didn't even have a military, all they had was a royal guard."

Chrysalis sternly interrupted, "We are getting off topic here. We need to discuss how we are going to get more of their military to defect to us."

Cadence asked, "Chrysalis, instead of having to travel great distances between all the cities where they have their bases why don't we just duplicate the ones you brought with you. You said you remembered Twilight's duplication spells."

Chrysalis smiled and said, "I did say that now didn't I? Good suggestion Cadence."

Sombra suggested, "I have an old map of Equestria. I think we need to gather around the table and decide how we are going to take the country over. Despite us being able to duplicate our troops numerous times, I still think we need to go take care of their soldiers at the other bases."

Chrysalis threw her hooves up in the air and said, "Well that sounds all good but we don't even know which cities they have their bases in. That map of yours is older than dirt, who knows if any of these cities even exist anymore?"

The three realized that this was not going to be an easy land grab. They knew that even if they did conquer Ponyville and overthrew the leadership there, that Equestria would be far from theirs.

Over the next few days while Twilight's friends were out gathering all the Equestrian forces Sombra, Chrysalis and Cadence were wracking their brains trying to figure out what the best plan of action was when suddenly Cadence suggested what should have been obvious all along. She suggested, "Sombra, Chrysalis, I don't know why we didn't think of this a few days ago but why don't we just duplicate our forces to the point of where no force could take them out? That along with some powerful armor spells should guarantee victory."

Chrysalis replied, "Well it took us long enough to realize this but you are right and besides, I can continue to duplicate them after each battle."

Sombra asked, "You don't think that since Colgate knows we have returned, that she would have all her forces head to Ponyville to be ready for an attack do you?"

Chrysalis replied, "Well that would be awfully stupid on her part but with as arrogant as she is, I could see her doing it."

Cadence said, "Well then I think the best plan of action would be to duplicate our forces, have them engage in high intensity military exercises and then head down towards Ponyville. Once we get there, we can duplicate our forces more, cast powerful armor spells on them and then go in there and crush them."

Sombra was stunned by Cadence's suggestion. He was shocked because the plan she gave sounded much more like what a member of the military would suggest than a princess of royal blood. Sombra got an evil grin on his face and asked, "Cadence, you know the title princess doesn't sound very intimidating. I am thinking that with the plan you suggested, maybe you should go by the title of Commander Cadence instead."

Cadence stood there for a minute, realized that the old royal title means nothing and that she is smarter than she gave herself credit for. She replied, "That does sound good! Commander Cadence it shall be!" She paused for a minute, looked over towards the royal guard and asked, "What do you two think we should do with the old royal guard?"

Chrysalis replied, "Well they seem rather useless if you ask me but I have a feeling you have plans which would make them worthwhile."

Cadence said, "Yes, I do. I think that they could go in there as decoys. Colgate was never fond of the royal guard, or anything from Canterlot for that matter. Send them in, she would think they are enemies. While she and her powerful friends were handling them, the rest of us could go in there, DECIMATE HER TROOPS and then bring her down." She paused for a minute, began to lick her chops and replied, "I want to crush her. I want to devour her lifeless corpse. I will fight to the death if I have to."

Chrysalis and Sombra had huge grins on their faces. Despite Cadence having a lot of Canterlot influence in her, they realized that her hate for Colgate would work to their advantage. Chrysalis said, "Sounds good to us. Cadence, since you know the royal guardsponies better, why don't you approach them over this."

Cadence nodded and headed over to where the old royal guardsponies were standing. She looked at the tan guard and asked, "Hey boys, I have a favor to ask of you."

Flash Sentry, who had declared himself their captain, asked in return, "Yes Cadence, what is that?"

Cadence asked, "What would you think about being able to return to Equestria? What would you think about being able to be a royal guardspony again?"

Flash replied, "That would be amazing if we could. I just know that with Twilight being in power it won't happen." He paused for a minute, got a dreamy look on his face and continued, "Oh Twilight! How I wish she loved me. Do you know where she is?"

Cadence growled, "That bitch is no longer in power. Equestria is now governed by the military. This pony named Supreme Commander Colgate rules there now. As far as Twilight goes, I don't know what happened to her and I don't care. That bitch banished me to the void, just as she did you. How can you still love her? She never wanted a thing to do with you anyway."

Flash replied, "Well I will always have a soft spot for her, regardless of what she did to me. Regarding Colgate, I have never heard of her but I do know that a military leader will be much tougher to deal with." He then asked, "Now back to the original topic, what did you want us to do?"

Cadence replied, "Well, what the three of us want you guys to do is to fly ahead of the rest of us. Head into Ponyville first. Colgate hated you guys. You could go in and distract her. While the ten of you are distracting her, the rest of us can wipe out her army."

Flash became very angry. He shouted, "WE ARE SIMPLE PEGASI. I WANT TO TALK TO CHRYSALIS. SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE ENEMY."

Flash stormed away towards Chrysalis. She sees him coming and asks, "Yes soldier? Why are you so upset?"

Flash growled, "Cadence wants us to fly into Ponyville first. We are only Pegasus ponies. We have no power. How are we supposed to defeat this unicorn Colgate?"

Chrysalis shied back a bit and replied, "Colgate is not a unicorn. She is an Alicorn. Don't worry, I know armor spells that Twilight taught me."

Again just upon hearing her name Flash got all dreamy eyed. Chrysalis glared at him and shouted, "PAY ATTENTION! WHERE WERE YOU, DREAM WORLD?"

Just like with Cadence, Flash knew he could not talk to Chrysalis about his feelings about Twilight. He replied, "Oh, I just got distracted for a minute." He regained his composure and continued, "Well that is good that you have armor spells. At least we won't get hurt going in there first."

Chrysalis smiled and said, "You won't. However, I am going to have to have Sombra work with you on staying focused. We can't have soldiers going into battle who aren't focused." She then nodded at him and barked, "DISMISSED."

Chrysalis headed over to Sombra as she was ready to give him his wings. She knew that he was getting impatient and was frustrated being the only member of the military who can't fly. She approached him and asked, "Sombra, are you ready for your wings?"

Sombra replied, "You bet I am."

Chrysalis's horn began to glow green and she recited, ""The unicorn who has no wings is bound to the ground, they can not really get around, their smarts are great yet without flight they will be late, with these wings they will be great and they shall never have a bad fate."

She fired a powerful bolt of energy at the unicorn king. Just like what happened when Twilight would transform unicorns into Alicorns, he was encircled in energy for three minutes. Finally the energy dissipated and Sombra began flying around using his new wings. Chrysalis was relieved that he had wings similar to his soldiers so that they would truly relate with him better. The way Sombra flew at first, one would think that he always had some pegasi in him.

Sombra landed next to Chrysalis and said, "Thank you Chrysalis. Now I won't be a weak link."

Chrysalis replied, "Don't mention it."

With Sombra's transformation into an Alicorn, they could finally begin to make legitimate plans to invade Equestria and take it as their own. While Sombra and Chrysalis would be more than willing to share power, they had their doubts about Cadence's desire to share power yet they knew, that unlike Twilight, she was a weak Alicorn and would be easy to handle if she tried to take more than what was rightfully her's.

Author's Notes:

Colgate's Nuke spell---- "The atoms must be split so I can send my enemies into a pit. The explosion shall be big so my enemies will squeal like a pig. The time has come to make my enemies numb. The big fire shall be great, it shall destroy all the hate."

Colgate's dark Alicorns

x- General Dark Night
Colonel Black Mist
x- Major Frigid Wind
Captain Black Ice
defected- Lieutenant Dark Crystal

Changelings

x- General Lightning Storm
defected-Colonel Green Toxin
x- Major Deadly Cloud
Captain Green Storm
Lieutenant Southern Haze

NOTE: Since the changelings and dark Alicorns that Colgate duplicated for Scootaloo to take to the Equine Empire, the officers will have the same names since duplicates are EXACT duplicates.

Luna's dark Alicorns

General Black Night
Colonel Dark Rocks
Major Black Seas
Captain Gravel Crusher
Lieutenant Night Sky

Changelings
General Green Waters
Colonel Choking Mist
Major Dim Sun
Captain Dark Rage
Lieutenant Steel Wrath

Brevity's officers
General Green Star
Colonel Stargazer
Lt. Colonel Moonrise
Major Starry Skies
Captain Moonlight
Lieutenant Soaring Skies

Invisibility----"Whether it be one or a bunch of ones, nopony needs to see so that we don't have to flee, invisibility is the treat of not having to retreat."

Visibility---"The unseen shall now be seen, with their friends being present, hiding only shows resent, those who have disappeared shall now appear."

Duplication---"From one to two, two to four and so much more, when one is simple mere, more and more shall appear."

Banish to void--- "You have committed treason and that is not in season, you are a threat to me and I simply can not let that be, I can no longer be annoyed so you shall be cast into the void."

Loyalty spell---"From another to me, that is where your allegiance will now be, you thought your old commander loved you like pie when all they wanted was for you to die. With me all shall be great, there shall be no hate."

Giving drones a mind of their own---"those without a mind are in a bind, no longer shall they just be, but they will still be loyal to me, for officers they are now but they don't ask how."

Unbanish---"The one who has been banished has done their time, they are now forgiven for their crime, their time has come, now they need to contribute some, it is Equestria that they must serve or into the spiral of the void they shall curve."

Transform unicorn to Alicorn--- "The unicorn who has no wings is bound to the ground, they can not really get around, their smarts are great yet without flight they will be late, with these wings they will be great and they shall never have a bad fate."

Transform multiple unicorns to Alicorns--- "The unicorns who have no wings are bound to the ground, they can not really get around, their smarts are great yet without flight they will be late, with these wings they will be great and they shall never have a bad fate."

Transform Pegasus to Alicorn---"The one who can fly likes to fly free desires the powers that allow the unicorn to be, he/she wishes so much to levitate and create, rather than berate, for the winged one now has magic, without that it would be tragic."

Transform Earth Pony to Alicorn---"The pony without magic or flight is in a bind, for they feel like they have fallen behind, they work themselves to death, even to their very last breath, for now with magic and wings, great things shall be what life brings."

Increase size of pony---"The small one wishes they were tall so that they won't have to crawl, with height their future is bright and everything will be alright, for the small one is small no more, with height their happiness shall be galore."

Mature pony--"The innocent pony is unsure of who she wants to be, that may be cute but it is not what is good for me, she needs to mature if she is to be strong for without maturity she won't last for long, the naive one shall be so no more, for her maturity will carry her into lore."

Strengthen Armor---"The one without armor does not stand a chance, so it is what we must enhance, the unarmed one will likely receive death, with armor he shall continue to draw breath, without armor he will be torn to shreds like a rag but with armor victory is in the bag."

Activate Jade Alicorn---"The jade Alicorn will help me see all, without it I might miss a brawl, while the distances are great, I can see all the hate, wisdom is what comes along with the eye so that overthrowing me nopony will try."

Hurricane spell--- "The nice weather must come to an end, for without a storm the enemy will not bend, the wind shall be strong and my enemies won't last for long, a hurricane is a must so the tyrants will sink and go bust."

Fixing spell--- "The city was devastated by a storm, which is not the norm, their suffering is great yet we can not allow normalcy to be late, the city must be restored to the way it was before so they can pay taxes like they did before.

COLGATE'S SPELLS

Unlock---"The door is locked, but from me my information is blocked, a lot of learning I have to do, but with this locked I won't have a clue, now the door is open for me and infinite knowledge for me shall now be."

Lock---"Right now the door is not locked, from others the information is not blocked, the others must not be allowed to learn, for this is not theirs to earn, the door is now closed for all but me because infinite knowledge is not free."

Shatter Armor---"Our foes' armor is great, that is something I hate, with their armor they are strong, but them having armor is just plain wrong, now their armor is gone and it is time for them to say bye as they are struck by energy and die."

Return Blue sky---"The sky is purple which is ok for some, but it just makes me numb, for I miss the way it used to be, blue is beautiful to me, the normal sky shall be back and everything will return on track."

Drain pony---"The large pony is too big for me, for smaller the pony shall be, the size and knowledge will become mine, but the negative qualities is where I draw the line, for what must grow is my power, so that I may remain in the tower."

Change eye blue---"The green eye is not for me, for blue is what it shall be, the evil shall be banished as the good can not vanish, what shall return will be an eye of blue as it is the perfect hue."

Freeze time---"Tick tock, tick tock, look at the racing clock, what is short is time and being late is a crime, we must finish on top so it is time I must stop, with time froze, it is my enemies I shall bulldoze."

Unfreeze time---"Look at the clock, it is stuck in place, with this there can be no pace, everything is still but that does not fit the bill, for now the clock shall again run so everypony can have fun."

Time bubble---"A bubble is what we need, so from frozen time we can be freed, in this bubble we can move fast, while everything else is stuck in the past, it is frozen time which through we must pass so we will never be late to class."

Undo time bubble---"In the bubble time continues to run, but now the time outside runs and allows fun, the bubble must burst so we can quench our thirst, from the bubble we are now free and everything we can clearly see."

Release Brevity Thrash--- "She was banished long ago, but her power she will not forego, it is revenge she wants, it is her sister she shall taunt, for Brevity Thrash shall return once more and be more than just long lost lore."

PINKIE'S SPELL

"The changeling's power is good, but not great, they can fire ooze but not enough to make their foes lose, for them to be great, they must fire bolts of hate, the energy shall be strong so their enemies won't last for long."

Twily's plans for Flash Sentry

Beat with chains
whip
slam against buildings
pour scalding water on
waterboard
Impale & move up and down on spear before removing him
cut open and remove heart
bite down on and eat heart
cut head off and put it on fence post
use magic to make the head talk
feed carcass to wild animals