Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony

The Crystal Empire was enjoying another day of peace and prosperity under Shinning Armor and Cadence. In the palace, the two were seating down for breakfast with Twilight. After their pancakes were delivered (hoping to help Twilight feel at home) they began to eat.

"So, is there anything special going on today?" asked Twilight.

"If looks like the Crystal Empire might be getting the Equestrian Games." answered Shinning happily.

"Oh wow. That's a big honor." replied Twilight, with mock interest.

"It is, but we have a lot of work to do." said Cadence.

"I'm going to personally oversee the athletes and make sure they're in top shape." said Shinning.

"Good, but there's so much to do to prepare the empire." noted Cadence.

A thought came to Twilight's mind.

"I can help." said Twilight.

Shinning and Cadence shared a concerned glance.

"Are you sure Twily?" asked Shinning.

"With all you've been through, we don't want you overwork yourself." added Cadence.

"Working could help me take my mind off things." answered Twilight.

"If you say so." replied Cadence.

"Thanks so much Twily. You'll be a big help." said Shinning.

"It's no problem BBBFF." said Twilight.

"We have to get started right away. Ms. Harshwhinny is notorious for being very stringent." said Cadence.

"You two go ahead and do what you must. I will run things around here." stated Twilight.

"Thanks Twily, you're the best." said Shinning.

"You're a real life savor." said cadence.

"It's nothing." said Twilight, waving her hoof.

The two royal finished their breakfast then took off.

"Those two idiots made this too easy." said Twilight, grinning.

Twilight leaned back and finished eating. She trotted off and quickly began using her new found power to completely undermine their defenses. She scattered defenses under the name of "covering all our bases" and because they had to move immediately, they had no time to discuss and had no way of knowing the capital would be utterly defenseless. Naturally, she maintained a small core of soldiers not to draw suspicion. By the end of the night, a confident Twilight trotted down the hallway with a satchel bag. She met with a white pegaus guard dressed in full armor.

"Does anypony suspect your true identity?" asked Twilight.

"No. My identity as a Changeling is still a secret." answered the "guard" confident.

"Quiet. You don't want anypony hearing you." replied Twilight strongly.

The Changeling was taken aback, not pleased an outsider was ordering it around.

"How is the situation?" asked Twilight.

"Excellent. We've successfully infiltrated the Royal Guard and Imperial Army with no suspicion." answered the Changeling.

"Good. Once the assault beings, you are too attack the non - Changeling members. Their forces will collapse and we should take over." explained Twilight.

Twilight used her magic to open her bag and handed a map and detailed notes to the Changeling.

"Take these." said Twilight.

The Changeling started looking over the items Twilight gave them.

"Those are not for your eyes." said Twilight angrily.

The Changeling let out an annoyed snarl.

"I would refrain from taking such attitude against me." said Twilight in a condescending manner.

"I only answer to my Queen." replied the Changeling.

The two stared each other down with neither cracking.

"I've scattered their forces as best I could. That map shows the locations I sent them." said Twilight.

"The Queen will be pleased with that." admitted the Changeling.

"I expect a counterrevolution following our coup." noted Twilight.

"That won't be surprising." admitted the Changeling.

"The other papers explain important information." added Twilight.

"I get off soon. I will send them as soon as I do." replied the Changeling.

"Be sure you do." said Twilight, trotting off.

In Ponyville, it was business as usual for the time being. The memorial for Twilight Sparkle had grown and ponies contributed as best they could. At her residence, Rainbow Dash was enjoying her next nap. She had carried out her job and wanted nothing more than a nap. However, a knock on the door interrupted her. Rainbow grunted and left her room to answer the door. She found her marefriend Fluttershy there.

"Um, hello Rainbow, can I come in?" asked Fluttershy.

"Sure Flutters." answered a surprised Rainbow.

Fluttershy entered and Rainbow closed the door behind her. The two then made their way back to Rainbow's bedroom.

"What's up?" asked Rainbow.

"I wanted to see how you where doing." answered Fluttershy.

"I'm fine. I was just taking a nap." replied Rainbow nonchalant.

"I meant about Twilight." said Fluttershy.

Rainbow winced slightly at this.

"I'm good Flutters." said Rainbow.

"You don't seem fine." noted Fluttershy.

Rainbow let out a long sigh.

"Look Fluttershy, I'm fine okay. I just don't want to talk about this." said Rainbow.

"But our friend is gone." noted Fluttershy surprised.

"I know and it sucks, but you can't cry forever." shrugged Rainbow.

Fluttershy gasped surprised at this.

"Rainbow!" cried the meek pegasus.

"I am being realistic." said Rainbow

"You don't think she's...dead...do you?" asked Fluttershy, worried by the answer.

Rainbow smirked and shook her head.

"Twilight isn't strong, but she's an egghead. She'll find a way to survive." answered Rainbow.

Fluttershy let out a relieved sigh at this.

"I'm glad to hear that." said Fluttershy.

"Twilight would find a way to survive..without us." said Rainbow sadly.

Fluttershy winced slightly at this.

"What do you mean by that?" asked the shy pegasus.

"Twilight can survive." answered Rainbow.

"Rainbow, the way you said that...sounded like Twilight ran away from us." said Fluttershy.

"She did take off." shrugged Rainbow.

"That is true." admitted Fluttershy.

"Twilight left us. We tried to help her help her and she ditched us." said Rainbow bitterly.

"I know you represent the Element of Loyalty..." began Fluttershy.

"Exactly! I can't stand it when somepony ditches their friends! That's exactly what Twilight did!" snapped Rainbow.

Fluttershy wrapped her leg around Rainbow.

"I know we're all shaken up about what happened with Twilight." said Fluttershy.

Rainbow let out an annoyed sigh.

"She didn't need to ditch us." huffed Rainbow.

"I know you must be hurting..." said Fluttershy.

"I'm not hurting!" screamed Rainbow.

"You're getting emotional." noted Fluttershy.

"Whatever." huffed Rainbow, turning her head.

"Rainbow, I know losing somepony close to you is hard, but you can't blame Twilight." said Fluttershy.

"I can't lose Twilight." said Rainbow, biting her lower lip.

Fluttershy embraced her marefriend.

"I don't want to lose Twilight!" sobbed Rainbow.

"That's it. Let it all out." said Fluttershy.

Rainbow sobbed for a few minutes until she finally finished.

"Do you feel better?" asked Fluttershy.

"Yeah." answered Rainbow, with a sniffle.

Tank waddled over and rubbed Rainbow with his head.

"Thanks Tank." said Rainbow.

Meanwhile, Celestia was seated on her throne as Day Court went on as normal. That is, until a brown Earth pony royal guard member walked into the throne room. she ended Day Court earlier. The royal guard member confirmed why he was here and left. Moments later, Spitfire walked in and bowed before Celestia.

"We have returned, your highness." said Spitfire.

"Did you find Twilight?" asked Celestia.

"No ma'am. We searched the Badlands with no result." answered Spitfire regretful.

Celestia let out a sigh.

"Our search was hindered by Dragon Lord Torch." noted Spitfire.

"I am not surprised." replied Celestia.

"He was resistant to our presence in the Badlands and we had to have a dragon escort the entire time." explained Spitfire.

"First we couldn't find her in the Hayseed Swamp, then we couldn't find her in the Macintosh Mountains, then we couldn't find her San Palomino Desert and now we couldn't find her in the Badlands." said Celestia.

"That just means we've narrowed down the places she is." said Spitfire, trying to be optimistic.

"You are right! Me mustn't give up!" declared Celestia

"Is it safe to assume the Everfree Forest has been explored?" asked Spitfire.

"Yes. We combed it high and low." answered Celestia.

"I see." mused Spitfire.

"They even had Zecora search through it with them." added Celestia.

Spitfire raised her eyebrow.

"Who is Zecora, your majesty?" asked Spitfire.

"A zebra who lives in the Everfree Forest." answered Celestia.

Spitefire bit her lip for a moment.

"I see." said the Wonderbolts' Captain apprehensive.

"We can trust her. Even if she lives the Everefree Forest." said Celestia reassuringly.

"If you say so." replied Spitfire.

Celestia closed her eyes for a moment.

"Please rest for the night. You must be tired." said the Princess.

"Yes ma'am." said Spitfire, saluting.

Days passed with nothing exciting happening. In the Crystal Empire, it seemed like just another average day. However, this changed as a dark cloud began closing in. The citizens gathered and began murmuring among themselves. Everypony seemed concerned and once they heard a familiar chuckle, the all panicked.

"It's Sombra!" cried one of the Crystal Empire.

The ponies began running around screaming as word quickly spread. At the palace, a red unicorn dressed in armor quickly rallied his ponies armed with spears. Strong Shield was the Captain of the Royal Guard selected by Shinning Armor.

"Ready men! We have to be ready to die here!" cried Strong Shield.

The Royal Guard all cheered.

"Such a foolish ideal." cooed a female voice.

The guards turned to see Queen Chrysalis land before them.

"Fire!" cried Strong Shield.

Moments later, the sound of piercing flesh and an anguished groan followed. One of the other royal guard members had killed another with a spear through his throat.

"What are you doing?!" exclaimed Strong Shield.

The guard laughed before revealing himself to be a Changeling.

"No!" cried Strong Shield.

A number of other guard began turned on their comrades killing them.

"It appears your forces have been infiltrated." cooed Chrysalis.

"It can't be." said Strong Shield horrified.

Strong Shield fired a blast of magic at Chrysalis, but she easily blocked it with a shield.

"You have to give it more than that." said Chrysalis.

Strong Shield fired another magic blast at Chrysalis, but the Changeling Queen easily cut through it with her only magic. Chrysalis' magic cut through Strong Shield's. Strong Shield was hit by the magic which shattered his armor sending shrapnel into his body. Strong Shield suffered major internal injuries and his ribs punctured his lungs.

"I'm sorry your majesties...I failed you." said Strong Shield weakly, before dying.

Chrysalis let out a laugh at this. Luckily, Flash Sentry escaped and told the royal what was occurring.

"Where is Twily?" asked Shinning freaking out.

"I don't know. We have to get to the Crystal Heart too." noted Cadence.

Shinning took a deep breath.

"Cadence, go hold back Chrysalis, Flash go find Twily and I will get the Crystal Heart." said Shinning.

"Yes your majesty!" cried Flash.

"Be safe Shiny." said Cadence worried.

"You too." replied Shinning.

The three split up and Shinning raced to the Crystal Heart. It wasn't long until he arrived seeing a familiar face.

"Twily!" cried Shinning happily.

Twilight stood by the Crystal Heart with her head down.

"Hello brother." said Twilight stoic.

"Twily, what's wrong?" asked Shinning.

Shinning began trotting over to his sister, but a blast of magic from Twilight's horn hit the ground near Shinning.

"That was a warning." said Twilight, with malice in her voice.

"Twilight, what's going on?" asked Shinning shaking.

"I am serving my master." answered Twilight.

"You're master?" asked Shinning.

Twilight raised head revealing her irises where yellow.

"King Sombra." answered Twilight.

Author's Notes:

A/N: There is chapter thirteen finished. I don't know what I'm going to do because of the hiatus so this story might go on hiatus its self soon. Next time, the Battle for the Crystal Empire. Please review.