Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony

The Crystal Empire was cloaked in the darkness of the night sky. A stallion white pegasus with a sword as his cutie mark landed just outside the city. This pegasus was a scout who was meeting with an informant. He had been promised vital information and was eager to get it.

"Hail Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor." said the scout.

A blue earth pony came out looking around. He had a shove as his cutie mark.

"We need to be careful. We might be being watched." whispered the earth pony.

"What is your name?" asked the scout.

"I cannot give it to you. That is too risky." answered the earth pony.

"What information do you have for me?" asked the scout.

"Sombra has died." answered the earth pony.

"Really?" asked the scout surprised.

"Yes.

"Excellent." said the scout excited.

The scout almost rushed off, but he had to keep himself calm.

"What about his subordinates?" asked the scout.

"Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer are fighting over who will succeed him. A civil war seems possible." answered the earth pony.

"Not if we strike first." mused the scout.

"If you attack soon, a restoration is possible." said the earth pony.

The scout nodded his head in agreement.

"Thank you." said the earth pony.

The pegasus turned and took off.

"That went well." said the earth pony.

Kevin (the Friendly Changeling) reverted back to his natural Changeling form.

"I guess I should let them now it work." sighed Kevin guilty.

The pegasus had returned and fed Rusty Dagger the false information Kevin had given. Rusty Dagger quickly planned an invasion of the Crystal Empire hoping to broadcast Sombra's "death" to garner support. Sunset and Twilight would be arrested while Equestrian support would quickly been sought after to prevent the (inevitable) Changeling assault. As the sun rose, Rusty Dagger and his forces arrived at the Crystal Empire.

"What's going on?" asked Amber Waves.

Rusty Dagger led his forces to the entrance of the city.

"Attention Crystal Empire citizens! Sombra is dead!" declared Rusty Dagger.

The crystal ponies began to murmur among themselves.

"We have come to restore Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence to the power!" declared Rusty Dagger.

A handful of ponies began cheering when Twilight and Sunset appeared in a flash.

"Look what we have here. The traitors allying with the Equestrian puppets." mused Sunset.

"It seems these pathetic fools still resent Master." added Twilight.

Sombra's Crystal Imperial Army arrived behind the two unicorns.

"Just surrender. Sombra is dead and your power is gone." stated Rusty Dagger.

"Who said I was deceased?" asked a too familiar voice.

A cloud of black smoke appeared behind the two smirking unicorns. Sombra took his form staring down Rusty Dagger.

"It was a trap." realized Rusty Dagger in horror.

"Kill them." ordered Sombra coldly.

"Retreat!" cried Rusty Dagger.

The Crystal Liberation Army ran away in total disorder. Crystal Imperial Army earth ponies threw their spears which rained down impaling many soldiers.

"No." said Rusty Dagger mortified.

Crystal Imperial Army unicorns ran forward carrying swords with their magic. They quickly began hacking the rebel forces to death.

"Master, the rebel forces are still escaping." noted Twilight worried.

"Shoot them dead." ordered Sombra.

Twilight and Sunset began firing volleys of magic at the fleeing rebels striking them down. The pegasus scout Thorax fed the false information too was among the dead. Rusty Dagger was nearby.

"Sir...I...am...sorry..." stammered the pegasus.

"You have nothing to apologize for." replied Rusty Dagger.

The pegasus closed his eyes and died.

"Thank you for you service." whispered Rusty Dagger.

Rusty Dagger ran off and caught Sombra's eye.

"Twilight, stop him." ordered Sombra.

"Yes Master." replied Twilight.

Twilight aimed her horn, but Sombra raised his hoof.

"Do you know of the Blood Manipulation Spell?" asked Sombra.

"I've mastered it." answered Twilight.

"So have I." added Sunset.

"Use that." ordered Sombra.

Twilight obeyed and used the Blood Manipulation Spell. She took control of Rusty Dagger and kept him from running.

"How shall we kill him?" asked Sunset.

Sombra thought for a moment.

"We won't." answered Sombra.

"What?" asked both mares in unison.

"We shall keep him captive and stag a public execution!" declared Sombra.

The dark king then slowly turned and faced the petrified crowd.

"For now, kill these traitors who cheered my death." ordered Sombra coldly.

In Equestria, it was simply another day for most ponies. In the palace, word had just arrived about the failed revolt and subsequent massacre. It also confirmed Sunset Shimmer had also allied with Sombra and Twilight. Flash Sentry took the report and presented it to three of the royals in Canterlot. Princess Luna, Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor listened to the report told to them. Luna was on the throne while Cadence was on her right and Shining on her left.

"Is that all?" asked Luna sadly.

"Yes, your majesty." answered Flash.

"You are dismissed." replied Luna.

Flash bowed then turned and left.

"I did not want to belief Sunset Shimmer had truly returned, but I cannot doubt it anymore." sighed Luna.

Shining Armor gulped and turned to his wife.

"Cadence, do you know Sunset?" asked the prince.

"Yes. I met her when she was auntie's pupil. However, she was very distant." answered Cadence.

"Her desire for power caused her to push everypony away." stated Luna.

"It wasn't bad at first, but shortly before her exile Sunset Shimmer became verbally abusive toward me. I honestly thought she hated me." stated Cadence sadly.

"That was her lust for power." said Luna firmly.

The Princess of the Night shook her head.

"I cannot judge Sunset Shimmer. I fell into the same pitfall." stated Luna.

"What are we going to do?" asked Cadence.

Luna thought for a moment.

"War is inevitable. A formal declaration will be drawn up." answered Luna.

"Twily-" began Shinning.

Luna shook her head back and forth.

"Her presence will be kept classified. For now it will mention Sombra and his alliance with Chrysalis." explained Luna.

"Shining, have you told your parents?" asked Cadence worried.

Shining Armor winced at this question.

"I can't. If I told them what was going on...it would kill them." answered Shining with a heavy heart.

A moment of silence followed this.

"I assume Spike and her friends do not know either?" asked Shining.

"They do not. For the same reason." answered Luna.

The Princess of the Night let out a deep sigh.

"We cannot tell Celestia about Sunset Shimmer." said Luna firmly.

"But, she is going to know eventually." stated Cadence.

"Indeed and she will probably hate me for hiding this from her." replied Luna.

"Princess Celestia has been taking losing Twilight very hard. This will only make matter worse." mused Shining Armor.

"Exactly." agreed Luna.

Cadence let out a sigh of her own.

"I understand." said the Princess of Love.

Hours past by and the warm, glowing sun of Celestia was replaced by the cold moon of Luna. In Ponyville, most of the town's residence where tucked into their homes. However, a secret meeting was occurring in Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Apple Jack and Spike where gathered around a table.

"Spike, have you gotten any word fro Princess Celestia?" asked Apple Jack.

Spike sadly shook his head.

"No. I swear they're hiding something." answered Spike.

"How is Discord?" asked Pinkie.

"He is still at my cottage and is slowly recovering." answered Fluttershy.

"I am quite surprised the Princess is allowing Discord to stay with you darling." mused Rarity.

"She doesn't care." said Spike annoyed.

"Let's throw a "We're so glad our friend didn't kill you" party!" declared Pinkie.

"Ah don't think this is the for that." replied Apple Jack.

"But, that might help him feel better." countered Pinkie.

"Discord is still shaken. What Twilight did...it really affected him." said Fluttershy worried.

"Serves him right!" snapped Rainbow.

"Rainbow!" snapped Apple Jack.

"He stole the Elements of Harmony, turned us against each other and tried to take over Equestria!" cried Rainbow.

Apple Jack bite her tongue sympathizing with her point of view.

"Discord deserves another chance." stated Fluttershy.

"Oh come on!" cried Rainbow.

"We have given Princess Luna another chance." noted Rarity.

"Yeah, but she's changed." stated Rainbow.

"Discord can change too." stated Fluttershy.

Rainbow sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Whatever." huffed the cyan pegasus.

"Something is going on. I just know it." said Spike.

"Gossip around Canterlot says Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor arrived a few days ago." noted Rarity.

"That must be it! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna must be busy meeting with them!" declared Pinkie.

"They must have come because of Twilight." noted Fluttershy softly.

An awkward moment of silence followed.

"Should...we go visit them?" asked Spike unsure.

"We would just get in the way." answered Apple Jack.

"Besides, I'm sure the Wonderbolts are on the case and they're the best." added Rainbow.

"You seem to have a lot of faith in them." noted Fluttershy.

"Why wouldn't I?" asked Rainbow.

"Oh. There was that time Rarity knocked the Wonderbolts out at the Younger Fliers' Competition! And Spike trapping them in the water tower when abducted Rarity after growing super big!" answered Pinkie.

"It's easy to make them seem bad when you pick out their worst moments!" snapped Rainbow.

"Calm down you two. We ain't here to discuss that." noted Apple Jack.

"You're right." agreed Rainbow.

"Then, what should we do?" asked Fluttershy.

"We go to Canterlot and demand to know what's going on!" declared Rainbow.

"We cannot barge in like a group of ruffians." protested Rarity, "It would be uncouth."

"I agree with Rainbow. We're Twilight's friends and we deserve to know what is going on." stated Apple Jack.

"Me too. I've know Twilight my whole life and I will not let her down!" declared Spike.

"Oh. I wanna go too!" declared Pinkie.

"Um, I am going to stay here." said Fluttershy.

"Why?" asked Rainbow.

"I want to be with Discord. He needs me right now." answered Fluttershy.

Rainbow let out an annoyed grunt at this.

"I will stay with Fluttershy." offered Rarity.

"Thanks Rares." said Rainbow.

"We go tomorrow." stated Spike.

"Right." agreed the others.

Spike leaned back and looked at the ceiling.

"Twilight, please be okay." thought the baby dragon worried.

Back in the Crystal Empire, the night had settled in there as well. The Crystal Imperial Army had buried those killed earlier in a mass grave outside the city. Twilight was in the library looking over war strategies while Sunset Shimmer was in her bedroom lying on her bed. Sunset Shimmer was lying on her back and did not notice the black smoke creep under her door.

"This is perfect." whispered Twilight.

Twilight's room was net to her own, so Sunset Shimmer was not surprised to hear her voice.

"Sunset will never see it coming." snickered Twilight softly.

"What?" asked Sunset to herself.

"She excels in magic, but I cannot trust her loyalty to Master. Especially when she betrayed Celestia." continued Twilight.

"So did you." thought an irritated Sunset.

"Of course, she only left Celestia because she knew I would be a better student." said Twilight boasting.

"Damn here." thought Sunset bitterly.

"Oh well. I'll just have to get rid of her and find a way to divert blame." said Twilight nonchalant.

"That's it. I cannot trust Twilight!" declared Sunset softly.

The black magic left her room and returned to the throne where Sombra resumed his form.

"The seeds of doubt have been planted." mused Sombra confident.

Author's Notes:

A/N: There is another chapter done. I hope you enjoy this because I am enjoying writing this. Next time; Spike, Rainbow, Apple Jack and Pinkie go to Canterlot and Sombra plots his next move. Please review.