At the Canterlot Castle

"So… tell me again. WHY should I care that the guards are bringing over a two legged wolf?" Moon hissed as she looked down at the dark pony from her throne.

"He wields power older and stronger than even your own… my queen." He replied.

"And there is no way for us to take it?" She asked. After a few moments of silence she added. "You realize this is information that would have been useful BEFORE I SENT THE GUARDS TO PONYVILLE!!!" She spat. After taking a deep breath she sat up and smiled. "Perhaps… we just have to break him first."

"Sadly my queen. There is little in this world that is close to what we need to break him."

"He's a mortal male." She huffed. "All men can be broken." She looked out the window for a moment in thought. "See if we have any allies. Offer them slaves as a reward for taking on this task."

The stallion smiled. "As you wish, my queen." He said with a bow. "I have just the one in mind." Turning he saw a white stallion walking up to them. A look of terror crossed his face. "W…. W…. What are you doing here?"

The stallion stopped next to him and gave him a smile. "You best run along. You have more pressing things to worry about."

At that the dark stallion fled the room shouting back. "Fear him my queen!"

Crystal Empire

"Well now." Cadence praised. "You did an amazing job Caption Breeze. You not only got me four more ponies for the breading pins. But several uniformed recruits." She clapped her hoofs. "You earned time with any made you wish."

Zeffer bowed and made his way deeper into the castle.

Cadence turned to her prisoners. "Now then. Caption… Spitfire was it? I will give you and your team the choice. Join me. Or surrender… or suffer. Any is good with me."

"We would rather die than betray our nation!" Spitfire spat as her team stood proudly next to her.

"Oh?" Cadence remarked in faint shock. "None of you will join me? Even if I was to say… offer anypony you want as a reward? Or that the alternative is… let's say… get the same punishment as my husband?" She remarked motioning to the window.

The group looked out to see Shining Armor tied to a pole near the crystal heart. His body was drenched in what they could only guess was cut from multiple ponies, as he was forced to face the heart as it pulsed with different colors.

The team forced themselves to look away and turn to each other. After a few moments Spitfire turned back to Cadence. "We refuse to be…" She was quickly cut off as a stallion jumped her from behind. Shocked, she looked back to see Thunderlane on top of her and she wasn't the only one that was tackled by a teammate.

"We want to join. And want our teammates as payment." Thunderlane called.

"Then claim them as your own before me, and prove your loyalty." She replied as several stallions penatrated their female partners.

Soarin glared up at CloudKicker as she straddled him. He had his doubts about her feelings toward him. And the look on her face now told him that she was doing this to save them more than for pleasure. Knowing this he let out a slow breath and helped her get past her fears the best way a teammate can.

Appleloosa

Troubleshows sat in the bar happily named "the Saltliick" as he looked around on one side of him was a father plump buffalo chieftain petting a fat black dragon, and on the other was a lazy, almost depressed looking pony.

"When do you think something will happen?" The pony asked. "Nothing against this place. It's my kind of town. Quiet, peaceful… old. But didn't you say ponies show up when things change at this level?"

Troubleshows shrugged. "Guess they haven't heard about it… just my luck." He sighed.

"Hay. With luck like yours. It's no wonder we get along so well." The pony laughed.

"And with all the great pies this town has…" the chief started.

"It's no wonder we're such good friends." The dragon finished before motioning to Its mouth and reserving a gem. "I can get used to this."

Yakyakistan

The Yaks huffed and started smashing rocks outside the walls of their town. "Yaks smash rocks. Get ready for when puny ponies come to boss Yaks around. Yaks show ponies that YAK BEST AT BOSSING AROUND!" The leader called, as a minotaur stood next to him with a proud smile.

Changeling Hive

Chrysalis sat on her throne and sighed looking out on her subjects as her king was being serviced by a drone. "I'm starting to think the other nations only see us as pests." She huffed. "Do you think we should try and take over a town?" She asked as her king motioned the drone away.

"But who should we go after? It's not like they wouldn't see us coming. Most of the Hive forgot how to change." He replied.

"We can start small. Regain our lost power, then go after the bigger towns one at a time."

With a smile the two flew off with two groups of changelings and left a smirking drone to lick Its lips before it changed into a green unicorn. "They grow up so fast. If only I had such powers." He laughed at the irony.

Dragon lands

A large black dragon sat on a pile of gems with Ember changed next to him like a prize. As he watched the other dragons tossing more gems into an ever growing pile, he laughed and pulled her close before booping her with the staff he took from her.

"Isn't this better? No more fighting over the gems. It belongs to the herd. And the herd belongs… to me. As my mate. That means it'll belong to you too. Now wouldn't you prefer that over being just another bitch to law my eggs?" He asked, clearly growing tired of her 'playing hard to get'.

"Maybe she just needs a better alternative." An old griffin laughed as several others flew by to add coins to the pile. "Maybe we can come to an agreement? Say… 50/50 bitch exchange?" The dragon smiled as he watched several griffins being walked over to him. "Sadly the sea ponies were sent to another leader. Or I'd offer you them as well."

"Either way. It's a win win." The dragon laughed.

Ember was shoved to the claws of a waiting griffin as one was passed to him.

Castle of Friendship

Twilight blinked as a wite stallion sat in front of her with a smile on his face. Looking around she saw mirrors with what looked like other hers in the same place. Each with differences, ranging from small ones like makeup, to large ones like gender.

"Where?"

"Are you?" The stallion finished. "Good question. So is when. That one I always seem to get wrong." He laughed. "You'd think I'd be better at it. Considering it IS my job."

"Wait… WHAT?!?" She gasped.

"Oh my child… you have much to learn." He replied with a fatherly smile.

Ok. So I cheated a little. But this gives a small glimpse at what's happening in the other nations as the girls get ready for war.

And yes. The next chapter will be split between the two white ponies. Let me know if you would like to see more detailed looks into anything for future chapters.