Cadence and Shinning squared off against Twilight having decided to fight her together. However, the two of them knew time wasn't on their side as the Changeling Army was storming the palace.

"I am not waiting all day." huffed Twilight.

Shinning Armor suddenly used his magic to teleport away.

"You're not going to fool me!" cried Twilight.

Shinning landed to the southwest of Twilight.

"Got you!" exclaimed Twilight.

Cadence suddenly fired off a magical blast toward Twilight.

"Oh please." huffed Twilight.

Twilight fired off a magic blast herself which easily intercepted Cadence's. However, a blast of magic from Shinning Armor hit Twilight knocking her to the ground.

"Cowards!" cried Twilight.

Twilight turned to Shinning, but was forced to teleport away by a blast of magic from Cadence.

"Damn." swore Twilight.

Shinning quickly fired a blast of magic at Twilight and she had to teleport away again. This happened several times over.

"Enough!" screamed Twilight.

Twilight threw up a shield and blocked both attacks.

"Do you two idiots think I'm not able to deal with a two-pronged attack?" asked Twilight, almost offended.

Cadence and Shinning Armor shared a glance.

"I'm sorry Twily." said Shinning weakly.

Shinning used his magic to teleport landing by Cadence's side. The two fired a combined attack at Twilight. Twilight threw up a shield, but the combined attacked broke through her shield and sent Twilight crashing against the wall.

"Oh Twilight." said Cadence sadly.

Shinning began to comfort Cadence when they both heard a maniacal laugh.

"Is that all you have!" laughed Twilight.

Twilight pointed her horn at Shinning who suddenly turned and bucked Cadence.

"Cadence!" exclaimed Shinning.

"Why did you do that?" asked Cadence.

"I was controlling my body." answered Shinning.

"Blood Manipulation Magic!" cried Cadence.

"We have a winner." said Twilight, clapping her hooves.

Twilight began to bend Shinning's limbs with her magic.

"Stop it!" screamed Cadence.

"Give up and I will." relied Twilight confident.

Twilight backed to bending Shinning's limbs, when a orange streak flew by and tackled Twilight to the ground free Shinning.

"Dammit!" cried Twilight.

Flash Sentry got up Cadence raced over to Shinning.

"Why are you here?" asked Shinning.

"Chrysalis killed the other guards and invaded the palace. She's currently seated on your throne." answered Flash.

"Excellent. It looks like Chrysalis does have use." mused Twilight.

"Flash, look after Shinning." ordered Cadence.

Cadence squared down Twilight. Cadence then tried to attack Twilight, but fond herself unable to move.

"You're such an idiot. You're babbling just allowed me to put my Blood Manipulation Spell on you." laughed Twilight, "Did you really think I'd stand her quietly while you morons talked?"

Cadence didn't talk trying to escape the spell.

"Now, how will I kill you?" asked Twilight, "Should I cut off the blood to your heart so you die of heart failure? Maybe I should cut off the blood to your brain and let your go brain dead."

Twilight mused for a moment.

"I've got it! I'll cut the blood to your lungs and let Shinning watch your suffocate!" declared Twilight.

Twilight began doing just this as a desperate Shinning whispered to Flash. Shinning then stood up and charged Twilight.

"Oh please." sighed Twilight.

Twilight dropped Cadence and focused on Shinning. But, he used his magic to teleport away.

"What?!" exclaimed Twilight.

Shinning landed at the nearby window. Flash appeared moments later carrying Cadence.

"Twily, I'm not leaving you." vowed Shinning.

Shinning used his magic to shatter the window. He and Flash then fled.

"Dammit!" cried Twilight.

Twilight turned and used her magic to removed the Crystal Heart.

"Welcome home, Master." said Twilight.

With the Crystal Heart removed, Sombra was able to make his triumphant return to the Crystal Empire. Sombra easily overwhelmed the pro-Shinning/Cadence forces. Sombra quickly re-established his previous dictatorial regime. He enslaved all the subjects immediately opened the crystal mines forcing them to work. Those unable to do so were fed to the Changelings. Sombra placed the Crystal Imperial Army under his control using helmets infused with dark magic making them his unwavering slaves willing to die for him. After this, Sombra sat back on his throne with Twilight by his side.

"I must congratulate you on your victory." said Chrysalis, waling over to the throne.

"I assume you and your children have had your fill." said Sombra.

"Well, my children and still feeding. I feed first." replied Chrysalis.

"I must thank you for assistance." said Sombra.

"Your majesty, she sat on your throne." whispered Twilight.

"So, you sat upon the throne." mused Sombra.

"I kept it warm for you." said Chrysalis.

Sombra thought for a moment.

"I will allow it, but stay of my throne in the future." said Sombra.

"Understood." said Chrysalis.

Chrysalis mused for a moment.

"I will depart now. I must see my children." said Chrysalis.

Chrysalis turned and departed.

"I still do not trust her." said Twilight.

Sombra let out a chuckle.

"I understand Twilight." replied Sombra.

A moment of silence followed suit.

"So, what is next master?" asked Twilight.

"Equestria will never allow my return to stand. So, we will strike first." answered Sombra.

"Excellent. I can finally enact my revenge against Celestia." said Twilight.

"As well as Princess Luna." added Sombra.

"Forget banishment, I am going to kill them." said Twilight seething.

Sombra let out a hearty laugh during this.

"That is perfect." said Sombra.

"After we finish, I want to burn Ponyville to the ground." said Twilight.

"We don't need to wait." replied Sombra.

"Oh. That sounds grand." cooed Twilight.

"I am glad you think so." said Sombra.

"You will be a great ruler there as well." stated Twilight confident.

Sombra simply shook her his head back and forth.

"I have no desire to rule Equestria." replied Sombra.

"I see. We'll just rape Equestria of its resources and enslave the ponies." said Twilight smiling.

"Actually, I had another plan in mind." stated Sombra.

Twilight was genuinely surprised by this.

"What is that master?" asked Twilight.

"I want you to rule Equestria." answered Sombra.

Twilight was taken aback by this.

"But, master..." stammered Twilight.

"You deserve this." said Sombra softly.

"Princess of Equestria." said Twilight amazed.

"No. Queen of Equestria." corrected Sombra.

"Thank you master." replied Twilight.

It was generally a normal day in the Canterlot as the ponies went about their daily business under Celestia's sun. However, the mood quickly soured when a ragtag contingent of refugees from the Crystal Empire arrived. Shinning Armor and Cadence arrived at the palace where word quickly spread. Even Luna was awoken by the noise. Luna joined her sister in the throne room to met Cadence and Shinning Armor. However, neither of the sister were prepared for how battered they were.

"Cadence! Shinning!" exclaimed an horrified Celestia.

The two sisters quickly ran over to the two.

"What has happened?" asked Luna, just as taken back.

"Sombra. He has reclaimed the Crystal Empire." answered Shinning.

"But how?" asked Celestia.

"Wasn't he slain by the Crystal Heart?" asked Luna.

"He must have survived." answered Shinning.

The two alicorn sister could not help but notice how quiet Cadence was.

"It got help." noted Shinning.

The two sisters were surprised to hear this.

"It was Chrysalis." stated Shinning.

"I am not surprised." replied Celestia, shaking her head.

"The Changelings infiltrated the army and killed our own soldiers." explained Shinning.

"I hope they were able to maintain their positions." said Luna.

Shinning sadly shook his head at this.

"They totally collapsed." said Shinning.

Both royal sister shared a glance as they were not surprised, but disappointed.

"Our forces were overwhelmed and they managed to storm the palace." noted Shinning.

"Damn." sighed Luna, allowing a minor profanity to slip.

"Cadence and I might not have survived if not for Flash Sentry." stated Shinning.

"Sombra had another ally." noted Cadence, speaking up.

"Who?" asked Celestia and Luna in unison.

"Twilight." answered Cadence, heart broken.

The two royal princess almost were left speechless by this revelation.

"No. You have to be making some mistake." said Celestia, shaking her head.

"She's not mistaken. Twilight declared Sombra was her "master" before we fought." said Shinning.

"No. That is wrong." replied Celestia.

"If Twilight fell under dark magic than it makes sense." noted Luna.

"What do you mean?" asked Cadence.

"Sombra is a shadow pony and their kind have the ability to manipulate dark magic." answered Luna.

"Sombra proved very talented at this. It was part of the reason he was able to seize control of the Crystal Empire." added Celestia.

"So he was controlling Twilight this whole time." said Shinning horrified.

"It would seem he got to Twilight during your first encounter with Somba." noted Celestia.

"She lied to us the entire time." said Cadence shocked.

"What did Twilight do well in the Crystal Empire?" asked Luna.

Shinning thought for a moment before his eyes widened.

"She offered to help us by running the Crystal Empire while we prepared to try and win the Equestria Games." answered Shinning.

"Come to think of it. Our forces did seem thin during the Changeling invasion." added Cadence.

"Twilight must have diverted forces to ensure a victory." sighed Luna.

"No!" exclaimed Celestia.

The others were stunned and turn their attention to the solar princess.

"Twilight is not following Sombra!" snapped Celestia.

"Sister..." began the lunar princess.

Celestia used her magic to teleport away.

"Just give her time. For now, we must prepare." replied Luna.

"It's very likely Sombra will attack Equestria. Plus, we have forces in the Crystal Empire to help us." said Sombra.

"Excellent." said Luna.

Luna let out a sigh.

"Sister. I hope you are okay." thought Luna.

Back in the Crystal Empire, the tyrannical rule of King Sombra was being forcefully reinstated. Twilight as placed in charge of the making sure this was done. Twilight was currently before her mast giving an update on the situation.

"It is my honor to report that all resistance as in the city vicinity has been quashed." said Twilight beaming.

"Excellent." replied Sombra.

"The mines are open and ready for use." added Twilight.

"I want the mining to begin immediately." ordered Sombra.

"Of course. I have more good news: Chrysalis and her forces have returned to their kingdom." said Twilight.

"You truly do not trust her." noted Sombra.

"You are the only one I trust." replied Twilight.

Sombra let out a laugh at this.

"Oh, is there any news of a counterinsurgency" asked Sombra.

"Not yet master. But, it seems forces loyal to the Equestrian puppet are moving so it should start soon." answered Twilight.

"I trust you can command forces against it." said Sombra.

Deep in the palace, a lone mirror sat idle. Soldiers saw it, but as it was a mirror they took no interest. Alone in the dark room, the mirror suddenly began to glow and a unicorn passed through it.

"I'm back Princess." said Sunset Shimmer, with a sinister smile.

Author's Notes:

A/N: That's where we'll end this chapter. The armor Sobra's forces are wearing are the ones seen in the first universe from the season five finale. As I said, I have an important announcement: updates will become more sparing because I am starting a new story focusing on Sunset Shimmer. I will alternate between the stories. Next time, Sunset gets thrown into the mix. Please review.