The Canterlot Palace was in utter turmoil. News of the brutal attack on Vanhoover quickly reached and pegasus where sent out to the observe the city. Celestia sat on the throne with Luna, Shining Armor and Cadence nearby waiting the report. Suddenly, the door opened and Spitfire entered. She walked as close as possible then bowed.

"Your majesties." said Spitfire.

"No need to bow." replied Luna.

"What bring you here?" asked Celestia.

"The pegasus you sent to Vanhoover where assaulted by Sombra's forces." answered Spitfire.

The Wonderbolt Captain got back up.

"How many where lost?" asked Cadence worried.

"Out of the fifty pegasus, a total of three and a half dozen where killed. The surviving eight are in terrible condition and might not survive." answered Spitfire.

"Those poor souls." said Shining mournfully.

"So...it is Sombra?" asked Luna.

"Indeed. His flag is flying high above Vanhoover." answered Spitfire.

"How is Vanhoover?" asked Celestia concerned.

"The city is largely in ruins. Nothing was spared." answered Spitfire.

Spitfire bit her lower lip and gulped.

"I have...grave news." continued Spitfire.

"What is it?" asked Shining, hiding his nervousness.

Spitfire winces took a deep breath.

"Twilight Sparkle...is leading the Sombra forces." answered Spitfire.

Deafening silence filled the throne room as the royals took this in.

"Are you...sure?" asked Cadence, hoping this was a mistake.

"Yes. They saw her quite well leading the Sombra forces." confirmed Spite solemnly.

The eyes of all now fell on Celestia who was clearly heartbroken by this.

"Then...we will have to treat Twilight as an enemy...until we get her back." stated Celestia.

Another awkward silence followed.

"I...see." said Luna accepting.

"The pegasus also spotted another unicorn." continue Spitfire.

"What did she look like?" asked Celestia.

"I am sure it's just another one of Sombra's minions." answered Luna nervously.

Celestia raised her eyebrow at this.

"She was yellow with a red and yellow mane." noted Spitfire.

Celestia felt a chill run down her spine.

"Did they seen her cutie mark?" asked Celestia, her tongue dry.

"A red and yellow sun." answered Spitfire.

"Sunset Shimmer." muttered Celestia, shaken.

Celestia turned to see the others avoiding her gaze.

"How long have you know?" asked Celestia demanding.

"A very short time." answered Luna.

"Did you all know?" asked Celestia, hurt.

The other three did not reply, but this was all the answer she needed.

"You hid this from me!" cried Celestia.

"We were trying to protect you!" cried Cadence.

"You where so hurt by what happened with Twilight...we did not want to further your distress." said Luna.

Celestia took a deep breath and sighed.

"I understand." said the Princess of the Sun.

Luna wrapped a hoof around her sister.

"Ready our forces. Send them north and have them cut of Sombra's forces before they can strike again." ordered Celestia.

"I will take the lead." offered Shining.

"Be careful." said Cadence worried.

"I will." replied Shining with a wink.

"Twilight and Sunset. I will save you both." thought Celestia.

In another part of Canterlot, a grey pegasus and baby dragon had arrived. Spike and Derpy Hooves first went to Spike and Twilight's former residence, but it was locked and they could not enter. Spike was sure it did not the answers anyway as he was familiar with all the books there. Knowing they couldn't get into the palace, they went to the public library instead. They spent nearly an hour looking before meting up again.

"Any luck Derpy?" asked Spike.

"No." answered Derpy sadly.

"Me either. I figured the answer wouldn't be here." sighed Spike.

"Sorry we couldn't find anything." sighed Derpy.

"It's not your fault." said Spike.

"I just wanted to be helpful for once." confessed Derpy sadly.

"What do you mean?" asked Spike surprised.

"I always seem to mess things up." answered Derpy.

"That's not true." replied Spike, reassuring.

"Yes it is. I am the one who wrecked town hall." said Derpy.

"Yeah, but Apple Jack worked in Appleloosa to help raise the money." noted Spike.

"She wouldn't have needed to if it weren't for me." stated Derpy.

Derpy kicked the floor with her hoof.

"I even dropped a bunch of stuff on Twilight once." noted Derpy.

"Oh yeah. That time we were trying to figure out Pinkie Sense." said Spike, recalling the day.

"I always get in the way." sighed Derpy sadly.

A thought suddenly hit the baby dragon.

"Is that why you set up the memorial?" asked Spike.

The mailmare shook her head in confirmation.

"Yes. I felt like maybe...I could do something without screwing up." answered Derpy.

"What about Dinky?" asked Spike.

"My little muffin." sighed Derpy happily.

"She's a great little filly. You didn't mess up with her." noted Spike.

"Yes." confirmed Derpy smiling.

"See, you're a great mom. There's no need to beat up on yourself." said Spike.

Derpy wiped away tears with her hoof.

"Thanks Spike." said Derpy sniveling.

The baby dragon blushed at the compliment.

"It's nothing." replied Spike, rubbing the back of his head.

Derpy rubbed her chin with her hoof.

"Now what?" asked Derpy.

Spike let out a long sigh.

"I...don't know." answered the baby dragon worried.

"Are you sure there's no way you can met with Celestia?" asked Derpy.

"No. We've tried and failed." answered Spike.

"You guys have saved Equestria twice and even saved the Crystal Empire. I thought meeting with Celestia would be easy." mused Derpy.

"So did I." grumbled Spike.

"I guess this war is really taking its toll." said Derpy.

"Yeah." replied Spike, unsure.

"What's wrong?" asked Derpy.

"I think...information is being kept from us." answered Spike.

Derpy gasped in surprised.

"Why?" asked Derpy shocked.

"I don't know." answered Spike frustrated.

Spike began to shake.

"I just want Twilight back." said Spike crying.

Derpy trotted over and wiped the tears away.

"It'll be okay." said Derpy.

"I'm sure." agreed Spike.

While the baby dragon agree externally, internally he had other thoughts.

"We can't trust anyone." thought Spike grimly.

Back in Ponyville, word of the war reached fast. The residences where doing their part to help secure the city. Mayor Mare ordered a defensive wall built up to hold off an attack. Because of this, a makeshift wall had been erected. Applejack, Big Mac and Rainbow where helping erect the wall. Rainbow was in the air pulling up slabs of rock in a rope with her mouth while the Apples moved them into place.

"Hello!" cried Pinkie.

The cyan mare and two apple farmers nearly jumped out of their fur. Rainbow barely held onto the rocks she had.

"Pinkie, we're tryin' to work!" snapped Applejack.

"Eeyup." added Big Mac.

"I was just wondering how Derpy and Spike are going to get back." mused Pinkie.

Rainbow placed the rock and landed.

"Derpy can fly." noted Rainbow.

The hummed and rubbed her chin.

"Yeah, but how do we know if they're the Spike and Derpy?" asked Pinkie.

Rainbow let out a sigh.

"We know who they are." answered the cyan mare annoyed.

"Princess Celestia did not Chrysalis was helping Sombra." noted Pinkie.

"We don't know if Changelings have infiltrated Equestria." mused Applejack worried.

"Exactly!" exclaimed Pinkie.

"Rainbow, how is Fluttershy?" asked Applejack.

"Since the Everfree Forest is outside the wall, she's gathered her animals." answered Rainbow.

"We can make some room at the farm...if she needs it." replied Applejack.

"Eeyup." agreed Big Mac.

"Thanks." said Rainbow pleased.

"Cranky and Matilda are staying at Sugarcube Corner in the guest room." noted Pinkie.

"What about Zecora?" asked Applejack.

"She's staying at the Hay and Stay." answered Rainbow.

"I offered to let my family stay here, but mom and dad wanted to stay at the rock farm." said Pinkie.

"What about yer sisters?" asked Applejack.

"Maud, Limestone and Marble said they were going to stay with my parents." answered Pinkie.

"I can sure respect that." replied Applejack.

"Eeyup." agreed Bic Mac.

"Where Fluttershy?" asked Pinkie.

"In Cloudsdale visiting her parents." answered Rainbow.

The cyan mare let out a shutter.

"And Zephyr." added Rainbow disgusted.

"He flunk out again?" asked Applejack.

"Yeah." answered Rainbow.

The cyan mare gave an anxious look in the direct of he hometown.

"Maybe I should visit her." mused Rainbow.

In the ruins of Vanhoover, Sombra's army quickly secured their rule. The soldiers had rounded up and enslaved the citizens. The city hall had survived the assault, but was destroyed on the order of Twilight. Twilight had ordered the library spared and she was using that as her base. A large portrait of Sombra sat outside watching over the ruins of Vanhoover. Twilight was in one of the room studying a map.

"Twilight, can I come in?" asked a familiar female voice.

Twilight turned to see Sunset Shimmer in the doorway.

"Sure." answered Twilight.

Sunset came in and walked over near Twilight.

"What is it?" asked Twilight.

"There have been questions about recruiting among the Vanhoover ranks." answered Sunset.

Twilight had to hold a laugh back.

"Those peons are not worthy of serving Sombra." scoffed Twilight.

"But, we are Equestrian." noted Sunset.

"We are different." replied Twilight softly.

Sunset was quiet, so Twilight simply continued.

"We are the the greatest unicorns this land has know since...no, we are greater than even Starswirl." said Twilight confidently.

Sunset's eyes became almost as wide as saucers as this audacity.

"Nopony has ever compared themselves to Starswirl. It's considered almost profane." noted Sunset.

Twilight chuckled at this.

"Oh Sunset, those fools worship a dead pony. We are better than that." said Twilight.

Sunset Shimmer gulped.

"What...about me?" asked Sunset.

The smile was erased from Twilight's face.

"Oh Sunset, you and are I special." answered Twilight.

Sunset thought for a moment.

"Twilight, how do you see me?" asked Sunset uneasy.

Twilight stopped for a moment.

"I have the utmost respect for you." answered Twilight.

Sunset looked Twilight in the eyes.

"I...believe you." said Sunset surprised.

"Good." replied Twilight.

"Does Twilight not have it out for me? Maybe, I can trust her." thought Sunset.

"Now come her." beckoned Twilight.

Sunset obeyed and trotted over beside Twilight.

"This is our next target!" declared Twilight, pointing.

"Cloudsdale." noted Sunset.

Author's Notes:

A/N: This is where we'll end this chapter. Next time, the attack on Cloudsdale. Please review.