Terror in Equestria 5: A Thousand Years Later

Chapters

An Early Global Summit
The Moments Before
The Return of the Dark Goddess
The Sparkle Siblings
Twilight's Next Acquisition
Lyra's Timely Return to Ponyville
Arrival in Prancington
A Deadly Storm
A Huge Recruit
Happiness and Rage
Two New Allies
Preparing for the Battle
Collapse of the Alliance
The Days Before
The Final Preparations
The Final Battle
The Trial of Shining Armor
A Difficult Defendant
The Deliberations
Punishments and a Return to Normal

An Early Global Summit

It has been one thousand years since Princess Celestia and the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle had been banished to the sun. The entire planet has experienced nothing but peace and prosperity since Colgate did away with the one world government. Despite every nation having a strong military, no nation has even thought about waging war on one another.

In her tower Colgate is preparing for a global summit which will involve the leaders of other nations. Colgate was in her commander's room when General Ice Storm came running in. "Colgate, the first of our guests have arrived. Lyra is here."

Colgate replied, "That is great, bring her up here. I want us to catch up on things before the other leaders arrive."

Ice Storm went down and brought Lyra up. When Lyra saw Colgate she ran to her and said, "Colgate, long time, no see!"

Colgate replied, "Likewise Lyra. How has life been treating you?"

Lyra replied, "It is going alright. I do have a question. I know you did away with it a long time ago, but why did you replace the old throne with a commander's desk?"

Colgate replied, "Well I do need a flat surface to write on and after all, who ever heard of a military leader sitting on a throne?!"

Lyra said, "Well I guess with the rest of us having adopted the title Queen it is still hard to get used to, even though it has been nearly a thousand years."

Colgate said, "Yeah, it has been nearly a thousand years since Celestia was banished. That is why I called this summit early."

Lyra asked, "Why? Is there something bad going to happen?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, there is. On the one thousandth anniversary of Celestia's banishment, her and Twilight's sentences will end and they will return to our world. We must be ready for this."

Lyra asked, "When will this happen?"

Colgate replied, "On the 7th of September, which is one month from today. That is why I scheduled this summit. We all need to be prepared for their return. I am not so much worried about Celestia, it is Twilight that I am concerned about."

Lyra had this sick look on her face and asked, "Didn't they hate each other at the time of Twily's punishment?"

Colgate said, "Yes, they did but I have a strong feeling that they have made up during their time in the sun and look to take this world back. Let's grab a bite to eat, I am hungry and I think we need to wait to discuss this until the rest of the leaders are here."

Lyra replied, "I agree, let's grab a bite to eat."

Two days later LaurFa, Lemon Hearts and Luna arrive in Ponyville. They are greeted by Colgate and Lyra.

"Luna, LaurFa, Lemon Hearts! How is everything going?" asked Colgate

Luna replied, "Things are going great. I don't remember the world being this peaceful and all of the nations getting along so well."

Colgate asked, "Where are your parents? Did they decide not to come?"

Luna said, "Well they both thought that it would be best if I came and they stayed at home. They didn't want our subjects to think they were abdicating the throne."

Colgate replied, "They couldn't have addressed them and told them that the generals would watch over things? This is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Well you will just have to let them know what happens, we don't have time to wait for you to go get them and then come back."

Luna asked, "That will have to work. Why is this summit so important?"

Colgate replied, "Just come up to the Commander's room. I will discuss it there."

Everypony headed up to the Commander's room and gathered around Colgate's desk.

LaurFa asked, "Why did you call this summit so early? Normally we don't hold the late summer summit until the late part of August."

Colgate replied, "I called it early this year because next month is the 1,000th anniversary of when Celestia was banished to the sun. On September 7th, her and the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle will return to this world and we need to be prepared."

Lemon Hearts said, "I thought both were pretty much drained before they were sent to the sun."

Colgate replied, "They were, but I have this nagging feeling that not only have they reconciled, they have regained some of their powers and will try to force their will upon our world once again."

Luna asked, "What are you thinking we should do?"

Colgate replied, "Well I am thinking that those that Twilight transformed into Alicorns, with the exception of Rarity, will need to be called to duty. The Apple family may be reluctant, but if I could at least get a couple of them to help, that would help immensely."

Lemon Hearts suggested, "I am betting that Big Mac and Applejack will want to work on Applebucking. What about Apple Bloom and her adopted sisters?"

"Yeah, it isn't the same with them since they earned their cutie marks. For so long we just called them the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Who would have thought that all three of them would get their cutie marks involving apples?" said Colgate

"I know," said Lyra "I remember when I lived here and those three little fillies were so adorable doing anything and everything trying to get their cutie marks!"

Colgate replied, "I know. Ok, back to business. We need to come up with plans to handle the return of our enemies."

LaurFa asked, "What about the others? Do you think that any of the others will object to being called to duty?"

Colgate replied, "I doubt it. With Fluttershy, all I will have to do is say that those two are a threat to her woodland friends and she will arrive ready to crush our enemies."

Lemon Hearts said, "I was just about to ask about her. I know she was a very tender pony but I forgot about how wrathful she can get when her friends are threatened."

Colgate asked, "What are all of you willing to do to save this world from falling into their hooves?"

Luna replied, "Well I am ready to use as much force as I need to. Of course I am thinking that once we defeat them they could be banished to the sun again."

Colgate said, "No, not this time. Once they are defeated I am going to banish them to the void. The problem with banishing ponies to either the sun or moon is that even if their sentence is permanent, eventually some sort of alignment of celestial objects will allow them to escape. There is no escaping the void."

Lemon Hearts asked, "How easy do you think they will be to defeat?"

Colgate replied, "Well given that they probably will not have gained much of their former power back, they should be easy to defeat. Now if Twilight were to remember her loyalty spell, things could get more difficult."

Lyra said, "For some reason I thought that they couldn't remember their spells once they were defeated and banished."

Colgate replied, "I thought so as well. Over the past couple of months I have been doing some reading in the archives since I knew their release date was coming. It is possible for them to remember the spells they once knew."

LaurFa asked, "Who will be more powerful, Celestia or Twilight?"

Colgate replied, "Twilight. She learned a lot more magic than Celestia did and while I did drain her of her magical abilities before Luna banished her to the sun, chances are she remembers them and will just need to relearn how to cast them."

Lemon Hearts asked, "Will she still be evil and have those green eyes?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, she will be. Starswirl said that before she was banished that there was no spell to cleanse her of that evil and unfortunately, there still isn't."

Luna asked, "Colgate, your eyes are still blue. Does that mean that you are still technically a goddess?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, it does. I still have the same powers that I have always had, which means that they shouldn't be all that difficult to handle."

LaurFa asked, "I know you mentioned Starswirl earlier. What ever happened to him?"

Luna said, "He moved to Alicorn Island. He likes the climate there the most out of anywhere, that is why he moved there."

Colgate replied, "Well we will need him to fight in our cause. He does have wisdom from ancient times. Yes I am extremely smart and extremely powerful, but he lived through the ancient times and real life experience just can't be learned through books."

Lyra asked, "Wasn't he loyal to Twilight?"

Colgate replied, "He was. All of her loyalty spells were shattered when she was banished."

Lemon Hearts asked, "What about her parents? Are they loyal to her?"

Colgate rolled her eyes and snapped, "Lemon Hearts, they were just regular unicorns. They died over 900 years ago. We don't have to worry about them."

LaurFa asked, "What about Spike? Wasn't he as loyal as they come?"

Colgate replied, "Once he saw what Twilight did to Rarity and learned of her casting loyalty spells, he wanted nothing to do with her. Besides, he is all grown up and has most likely forgotten who Twilight even was."

LaurFa's stomach started to rumble as she said, "Colgate, what time is supper. I'm awful hungry."

Colgate said, "It is supper time now. This is so unlike me. I never lose track of time. Let's go to the dining room and eat."

Colgate thought that she had everything in order but one thing she didn't realize was that Twilight's return would restore some old alliances and the world that she thought would remain so peaceful would become full of chaos and turmoil once more.

The Moments Before

The summit came and passed, everypony headed home so they could prepare their forces and their defenses for the day that Twilight and Celestia would return. The night of September 6th arrived. Colgate and her officers had just finished their supper and headed into the commander's room.

General Stinging Haze asked, "Colgate, you seem a bit nervous. Are you alright?"

Colgate replied, "For the most part. From what I understand they will be freed from the solar disk tomorrow morning as soon as the sun is completely above the horizon."

Stinging Haze asked, "Will it be when it rises above the horizon here or in Faustica, since that is where Celestia was banished?"

Colgate replied, "Here. This is where Twilight was banished. I just hope they don't land here in Ponyville. I never thought I would be nervous about anything, but this is one thing I am nervous about."

Colonel Black Mist asked, "Really? I thought you were never scared of anything in your entire life."

Colgate replied, "I'm not so much scared as I am nervous. The last time I was nervous about anything was whether I would get accepted into the Manehattan Dental Academy."

Ice Storm asked, "I have heard that some old alliances could be restored once they return. Shining Armor is Twilight's brother. If any alliance is renewed, it will be between him and her. I think we need to have some sort of plan for action."

Colgate replied, "Agreed. I think we need to have a contingency plan in the event that he betrays us, which unfortunately is very likely."

Stinging Haze asked, "Could you banish him to the void?"

Colgate replied, "I could but I will not do so until he commits an act of treason such as siding with her and does things that are not in the best interests of Equestria."

Ice Storm asked, "Colgate, do you want to be awake before sunrise tomorrow morning?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, I do. I need to see this happen. After breakfast tomorrow I will go and call every Alicorn with the exception of Rarity into duty."

Lieutenant Cold Wind asked, "Why aren't you going to call Rarity into duty?"

Colgate replied, "Because 1,000 years ago when Twilight and I were trying to turn her into soldier material, she became a disobedient brat, refused to take part in military exercises and I could see her stabbing us in the back and joining Twilight's side simply to spite us, no matter how much she hates Twily now."

Captain Iron Chains asked, "Where is Shining Armor anyway?"

Colgate replied, "He is in a meeting in Maredrid. I sent him there because I needed to be here because of this anniversary. I'm getting tired and I need to get some rest. I need to be up before dawn tomorrow."

"Alright Colgate, you're the boss." said Ice Storm

They all hit the hay for the night, nervous about what the next day would bring. Colgate was the most nervous she had ever been in her life. She wasn't so much worried about herself or her power over Equestria, it was a worry about the whole planet's well being.

In Maredrid the sun rose just like it always had. The shops were setting up in the streets, the foals were heading off to school and in the east rose the sun with the silhouettes of Celestia and Twilight, one last time.

LaurFa asked, "Shining Armor, do you know what today is?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yeah, it is September 7th. What is so special about that?"

LaurFa said, "It was one thousand years ago today that Celestia was banished to the sun. Legend has it that when the sun rises in Ponyville that both Celestia and Twilight will finish their sentences and return to this world."

Shining Armor asked, "Where will they make their return to? Will they return to Ponyville or will they go somewhere else?"

LaurFa replied, "I don't know but I do know that Colgate is certain that they have reconciled during their time in the sun."

Shining Armor asked, "Why is she paranoid about that? I have never seen her paranoid about anything. I think this is actually scaring her."

LaurFa said, "I agree. I think that is why she called the summit so early. She thinks that Celestia and Twilight are going to have some sort of supreme plan to retake the world. She also thinks that once Twilight returns, that a lot of her old alliances will be reformed."

Shining Armor asked, "Does she think that I will stab Equestria in the back and become loyal to the Dark Goddess again?"

LaurFa replied, "Yes, she does. She is worried that all of the leaders except for her and Luna will fall under the spell of Twilight again simply because she will have returned."

Shining Armor replied, "I can understand why. It doesn't make sense to me but I can understand why she thinks that. Please don't tell anypony else this, but I am scared of her return. I have heard that both of those two will have regained some of their former powers."

LaurFa said, "Colgate done a lot of studying and in our summit last month, she told all of us that she learned that they will have regained some of their powers and may remember their spells. She is most worried about Twilight remembering her loyalty spell."

Shining Armor replied, "I can understand why. That would scare me too. The thing I am most scared of is falling under her spell again."

LaurFa said, "Same here. But we can't allow ourselves to get terrified over everything. How about we go grab a bite to eat. It might calm our nerves."

Shining Armor agreed that it would be a good idea because he was hungry as well. Little did they know that they would be the first targets of the Dark Goddess Twilight and Celestia.

It was afternoon in Faustica as Luna was looking at the sun as it continued to get closer to the horizon. Cosmos could see the concern in her eyes and asked, "Luna, what has you so worried?"

Luna replied, "Today is the day that they return. This has me very worried."

Cosmos asked, "Why are you so worried. I can understand your worries involving Twilight, but why would Celestia's return bother you so much?"

Luna said, "Why? Because while they did hate each other when I banished Celestia, at the Ponyville summit, Colgate mentioned that they may have reconciled during their time in the sun and became allies."

Cosmos asked, "Does Colgate think that they would want to take over the world?"

Luna replied, "Yes, she does. She knows the absolute most how Twilight's mind works. She knows her desire for global conquest, she knows her thirst for absolute power and she knows that Twilight will stop at nothing to achieve her objectives."

Galaxia flew down to the balcony and saw their discussion. She asked, "Are you two nervous about what is going to happen?"

Luna replied, "Yes, I am, very nervous. I didn't expect all of this to happen but we will just have to deal with it."

Cosmos said, "I really don't know what happened. One moment Celestia was our little filly and then the next she is seeking to conquer the world."

Galaxia shouted, "It is TWILIGHT that is seeking global domination, not Celestia."

Cosmos said, "Geez honey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or anything!"

Galaxia said, "Well everyone seems to always point the blame at Celestia. Oh, let's blame Celestia more, oh Luna is so wonderful, Luna is so perfect, I can't take it anymore."

Luna shouted, "STOP IT, BOTH OF YOU! Look, I know there is a lot of frustration among all of us but we can't just go blaming one another for the things that are happening. What has happened has happened and we can't just go back and change it. We need to focus on the matter at hand."

Both parents were stopped in their tracks to see their daughter reprimand them like that. They finally realized that dark times were at hand and that arguing was no way to handle things.

Luna asked, "Do you two feel better now that you have calmed down a little bit?"

Celestia smiled and said, "Yeah, I guess."

Luna said, "Well I need to go set the sun and raise the moon. Those things won't do those on their own."

Luna headed off to handle her royal duties while Cosmos and Galaxia watched Luna set the sun and raise the moon. They both realized that this may be the last peaceful sunset and sunrise this world will see for a while, so they figured they better enjoy it.

Dawn was approaching in Ponyville as Colgate woke up. She saw the horizon growing lighter and lighter. She headed out to her balcony with a great sense of dread. She thought to herself, "What if once the sun is up and they are free, they come here? What if they start a global war?"

Ice Storm walked out onto the balcony and stood beside Colgate. He said, "I know you are very nervous about this, but you have to keep your composure. You have told us to keep calm more times than I can count and now it is you that needs to remain calm. With composure comes victory, without it comes certain defeat."

Colgate replied, "Thanks Ice Storm. I really needed that pep talk right now. I guess right now we just wait for the sun to rise above the horizon?"

Ice Storm said, "Yeah, that is the most we can do. Oh, I see it. It is coming over the horizon."

A bright orange disk started to rise with the silhouettes of two ponies in it, Princess Celestia and the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle. The sun continued to rise until the whole sun was above the horizon and then *FLASH* the silhouettes were gone leaving an empty solar disk.

Colgate flew down to the base and shouted, "EVERYPONY, WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY! PRINCESS CELESTIA AND THE DARK GODDESS TWILIGHT HAVE ESCAPED FROM THE SUN! PREPARE FOR BATTLE!"

Colgate then sped over to Sweet Apple Acres. She saw the Apple family standing over by the barn. Applejack approached her and said, "Howdy Colgate, how are y'all doing?"

Colgate replied, "Not good Applejack, not good."

Applejack asked, "What is going on?"

Colgate replied, "This morning at sunrise Celestia and Twilight finished their 1,000 year banishment to the sun and have returned to this world. Where they are, I am not sure but I need to know something."

"What is that?" asked Applejack

Colgate replied, "I need you and your family to be ready for duty. I don't want to anger you but we really need every hoof we can possibly get."

Applejack said, "Sure we can help y'all. Come on Big Mac, come on Granny Smith, come on y'all! We have a war to win!"

Colgate replied, "Thanks Applejack. You have no clue how much this means to me. Now I need to go gather the others."

Applejack said, "What about Rarity? What are you going to do as far as she is concerned?"

Colgate replied, "I'm not even going to mess with her. If I try to get her to answer her call to duty she will just yell at me or hurl insults."

Applejack said, "Good move. Let's get things organized. You go rally the rest of the troops while we head to the base."

Colgate sped over to Fluttershy's cottage and started banging on her door. "Fluttershy, it's Colgate. We need to get moving! War is upon us."

Fluttershy opened her door and said, "WAR?"

Colgate said, "Yes Fluttershy, war. This morning Celestia and Twilight escaped from the sun and have returned to earth. Where they went, I'm not sure but I don't want them harming your woodland friends."

Fluttershy shouted, "They're not hurting my woodland friends, I will see to that! I will KILL THEM before they touch them!"

Colgate replied, "Great to hear it, now off to Cloudsdale. I need to rally Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow Dash was sleeping on a cloud when Colgate landed next to her. Colgate shouted, "Up and at 'em Rainbow! We have an emergency!"

Rainbow asked, "What kind of emergency? Is it so important it couldn't have waited until later?"

Colgate replied, "No. It can't wait. Listen, Celestia and Twilight have been freed from the sun and they have returned to our world. Where they went, I don't know. We just need to keep them from coming here."

Rainbow said, "You got it boss! Let's get started!"

Finally Colgate flew over to Sugarcube Corner to round up Pinkie. She was banging on her door when the door finally came open.

Pinkie said, "Oh, hi Colgate! How are you doing today?"

Colgate replied, "I'm not doing all that good. We have a serious problem."

Pinkie asked, "What is that? What problem do we have?"

Colgate said, "Ok, here is the problem we have. This morning, as soon as the sun was raised fully over the horizon, Celestia and Twilight both escaped. It has been 1,000 years since Celestia was banished and now she has returned. We need your help in corralling those two. We can't have the world plunge into darkness again. Will you help us in this?"

Pinkie replied, "Of course I will! You are a friend to me and a great commander. Let's get this going!"

Colgate was very frustrated with everything that was going on but at the same time she knew that everything was working in an orderly manner and that nopony had anything to worry about. Unfortunately though, this would not be the case around the entire planet.

The Return of the Dark Goddess

It was mid-afternoon in Maredrid when a bright flash appeared in the sky. Nopony could figure out what it was from at first but very quickly it was realized that Princess Celestia and the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle had returned.

Twilight levitated above the crowd and had her wings spread wide, she along with Celestia landed on the stage and began to speak.

"Hello my little minions!" said Twilight "It has been 1,000 years since I have seen any of you and I am sure you are all happy to see me again!"

Celestia asked, "Twily, don't you think you better tone it down a notch?"

Twilight shouted, "ME, TONE IT DOWN? NEVER! I AM THE DARK GODDESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE AND I OWN ALL OF YOU AND YOU WILL LIKE IT!"

Celestia spoke to the crowd, "Ok everypony, as you all know the leaders of the world claim that things have been so wonderful since we have been gone but I beg to differ."

Twilight interrupted, "Well guess what? Things have gone downhill dramatically since I was banished. It was great after Celestia was banished but once I was gone, I know things have gone down the toilet! I am what made the world great!"

This irritated Celestia a lot but she managed to hold back her anger. She said, "Listen Twilight, you do know that it wasn't until you rose to power that things fell into despair, don't you?"

Twilight decided to bite her tongue and held back her rage. She said, "Oh come on Celestia. I knew what I was doing was what made things great. You do know that, don't you?"

Celestia shouted, "Look Twilight, I thought we had reconciled during our time in the sun but I can tell that your hunger for power is still as strong as it ever was."

Twilight yelled, "Well duh! You honestly don't think that I am going to just hand the crown jewels of this world over to you, now do you?"

LaurFa shouted, "STOP IT YOU TWO! What do you two want now that you have returned?"

Celestia said, "Well I want to take Equestria back and allow the stewards that Twilight put in power to continue to rule over their countries."

LaurFa asked, "What about you Twilight?"

Twilight shouted, "First off, that is Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle to you steward LaurFa. I am the top pony in charge again. My goal is to conquer everything again and have you "rulers" maintain stewardship over the lands you govern. You answer to me now LaurFa and very soon everypony will answer to the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle once more!"

Celestia yelled, "You haven't changed one bit have you Twilight?"

"Look Celestia," said Twilight "I know you just think you are entitled to everything but you're not. Do you want to go to the void along with Cadence, Sombra, Chrysalis, those stupid royal guards of yours and that bumblebee I tested my spell on?"

Celestia got a scared look on her face and said, "No, please Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle, don't banish me there. I'm scared of bees."

Twilight replied, "Well then obey me and do what I say or you might just get sent to be with that bee."

Celestia said, "Ok everypony. I want you to pay attention to Twilight. She is the boss now. LaurFa, you especially need to obey her."

A pony in the crowd asked, "Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle, what sorts of plans do you have for the ponies of the world? I really hope you won't put us in chains."

Twilight smiled and said, "Now why would I want to put you in chains? I have learned that ponies who are forced into labor do not do that good of a job. It is ponies who are offered great pay because of their excellent work ethic that do the best work."

LaurFa asked, "When should we have a meeting to discuss what we are doing?"

Twilight replied, "I think we should do this now. Thanks for being here everypony, but we need to have a meeting and considering the fact that I along with my second in command, Celestia, haven't ate in a thousand years, we really want to go get a bite to eat!"

The three headed to the throne room in LaurFa's castle where much to the dismay of LaurFa, Twilight sat in her throne. LaurFa glared at her for doing this.

Twilight shouted, "Why are you glaring at me LaurFa? Do you want to go to the void again? You do know I could just let Celestia be the steward here. You are not irreplaceable. Do you understand?"

LaurFa replied, "Yes your Majesty, I understand."

Both Celestia and LaurFa knew that Twilight was going to be far meaner and harder to get along with since her sentence had ended.

Twilight asked, "Ok you two, what do you think would make things great in this world now that I am back?"

LaurFa replied, "Well first I think you need to conquer the whole planet again before you start talking like that."

Twilight shouted, "WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME? LaurFa, I want you to restart my revenue generating program here again."

LaurFa said, "But your Majesty, I don't even remember what it was."

Twilight shouted, "Are you kidding me? I want you to force ponies to pay 10 percent of their monthly income in revenue to me. Those who can't pay or refuse to pay will have all their assets seized. Does that ring a bell?"

LaurFa replied, "Oh, yeah. Now I remember. When do you want me to start enforcing this?"

Twilight shouted, "NOW! Get your generals in here, I want to speak to them as they will be the enforcers."

LaurFa headed to the dining room where her officers were and told the dark Alicorn general Thunder Ice and the changeling general Green Toxin that Twilight wishes to speak with them.

They headed back into the throne room where they were greeted by a nervous Celestia and a Twilight with a stern look on her face.

"Hi Twilight," said Thunder Ice "It is nice to see that you have returned. I do have a question, what happened to you. You used to be bigger than Celestia?"

Twilight shouted, "THAT IS DARK GODDESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE TO YOU! What do you mean I used to be bigger than Celestia?"

LaurFa said, "Twilight, right before she had Luna banish you to the sun, Colgate drained you of much of your size and a lot of your magical abilities."

Twilight yelled, "She did what? Oh when I get my hooves on that power hungry wretch, she will wish she was never born!"

Celestia said, "Twilight, you need to be careful. She is so powerful now that she could do anything she wants to."

Twilight growled, "Then why doesn't she own the whole world?"

LaurFa replied, "She wanted to restore stability to the world, and she has. Every nation is far better off than they were a thousand years ago."

This did not sit well with Twilight. Her green eyes began to glow and she fired a bolt of energy at LaurFa, knocking her back against the wall and stunning her."

Twilight shouted, "This is what happens when you say something that pisses me off!"

LaurFa replied, "I'm sorry your Majesty, I guess I am just saying what other leaders have told me."

Twilight realized something though. She realized that she still had nowhere near the amount of power that Colgate or even her former friends have. Twilight said, "I am going to be honest. I know I don't have near the power that Colgate or even my former recruits have. What am I going to do?"

Celestia asked, "Twilight, Shining Armor is still the second in command there. Do you think that since you are back, that maybe he would be loyal to you again? Maybe he could help you get into the archives."

Twilight replied, "I doubt it. When I was there even he didn't know the spell to get into the archives and I am certain that Colgate has probably changed the spell since I was banished."

Celestia asked, "LaurFa, do you know if there are any other places in this world that have collections on magic?"

LaurFa replied, "Yes, there is a small collection of books regarding magic here. There isn't much but it would at least help Twilight gain a little bit of ability back."

"Really? Could you show me where it is? I want to study, and I want to study everything you have!" shouted a happy and excited Twilight

LaurFa led her into the palace library and showed her the magic section. While it was small in comparison to anything else Twilight had ever seen, she was happy as she was when she got into Celestia's school when she saw it she said, "Thank you LaurFa! I will make this worth your while!"

In Ponyville Colgate saw all of this happening and she snickered when she saw Twilight getting so excited over such a tiny collection of books regarding basic magic. She thought to herself, "This is going to be a piece of cake! I do know that Saddle Arabia and Neigh Zealand have collections similar to the one in Maredrid, so she won't learn much more from those. Of course she took all of Faustica's collection so I don't have to worry about that!"

Colgate flew down to the base and saw that her entire army along with Twilight's former friends. She decided that she would tell her troops about what was going on.

Colgate said, "Alright troops. I have been watching the events unfolding in Maredrid. First, Twilight has cemented herself as the pony in charge. LaurFa is merely a steward once more and Celestia is basically Twilight's little lap dog. We need to prepare though. While it is tiny in comparison to what I have, Maredrid does have a small collection of books about magic that Twilight is studying."

Fluttershy asked, "Colgate, where is Shining Armor, I thought he would be here considering the importance of what is going on."

Applejack asked, "Ah don't want to upset you Colgate, but do you think that he may have defected and headed off to Maredrid? Would you be able to see him flying off that way or sailing there if he did so?"

Colgate replied, "Actually yes. When was the last time somepony saw him?"

Ice Storm said, "Well this morning when the two silhouettes in the sun disappeared and they returned to our world, I saw him take off towards the east coast."

Colgate replied, "Well let me go check and see."

Colgate flew up to her bedroom and tapped into the eye. Sure enough, Shining Armor had reached the east coast and set sail for Maredrid. When Colgate saw this, she became enraged and shouted, "I WILL KILL HIM FOR THIS!"

She sped back down to the base and said, "Alright troops, Shining Armor has betrayed us. He flew to the coast, stole a ship and has set sail for Maredrid. When he returns with her I will kill him. Given that he was the second in command, this form of treason is punishable by death."

Stinging Haze said, "I thought Alicorns don't die."

Colgate replied, "Alicorns can not die of old age or some form of illness, but they can die in battle or be executed. How I will execute him will be a surprise for all of you."

Ice Storm asked, "What are we going to do about a second in command now Supreme Commander?"

Colgate replied, "Well who here thinks they have what it takes to be the second in command?"

Applejack shouted, "Ah could do it Colgate. Ah offer you my services to be commander."

Colgate replied, "Thank you Applejack. Don't let it interfere with your job applebucking or any other jobs you have over at the farm but I thank you for your services."

Applejack said, "Don't worry about it Colgate. There are plenty of other members in the family to take care of it."

Colgate replied, "Alright Commander Applejack, but remember, if they need your help they come first and also remember if something happens to me, Equestria belongs to you!"

Applejack said, "Thank you Colgate. Ah certainly hope nothing happens to you!"

The ponies cheered Colgate's decision to make the hardest working pony in all of Ponyville the commander and second in line to the role of Supreme Commander. Colgate was easily able to rally her troops to not only want to save their country, but to make Shining Armor pay for the crime of treason. As Shining Armor headed off to rejoin his sister, he had no clue that Colgate had issued a death warrant against him.

The Sparkle Siblings

Four days later Twilight and Celestia were just leaving Maredrid and had set sail for Ridead when they saw an Alicorn approaching from the west. Twilight immediately thought it was Colgate coming after her to destroy her so she started firing energy at the Alicorn. Celestia could see that it was not Colgate, but Shining Armor.

"Stop!" shouted Celestia

Twilight screamed, "Whose side are you on? Her's or mine?"

Before Celestia could say anything Shining Armor landed on their ship shocked that Twilight would fire energy at him.

"Twilight," said Shining Armor "Why are you firing energy at me?"

Twilight replied, "Shining Armor, I thought you were Colgate but you're just as bad. After all, you took her side when Luna banished me. I ought to fry you with energy."

Shining Armor said, "Twily, I am loyal to you again. I want to help you remove her from power. I overheard her telling one of her generals that she wants to kill us both so the Sparkle family will be no more."

Celestia shouted, "WHAT? She wants to kill both of you?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yes. Twilight, remember how Spike and I were always so paranoid about you leaving Colgate alone there in Ponyville?"

Twilight said, "Yes Shining Armor, and it appears as though your paranoia was actually foresight. She always seemed so loyal, she seemed like the perfect Alicorn to me, but instead she betrayed and supplanted me. I feel like it is all my fault for not having her come on the trips and leaving you home instead."

Shining Armor added, "Well it is just not that. She has turned all your friends against you, they are all almost as powerful as her now. The only things of hers that she didn't teach them was her spells to lock and unlock the archives and some sort of time spells she was discussing with Applejack once."

Twilight shouted, "TIME SPELLS? She is a Time Lady, isn't she?"

Shining Armor said, "Yes, she is. Remember when we were sailing east to Maredrid from the east coast of Equestria when we were having all those meetings? Remember how we remember everything grinding to a halt for a few minutes a couple of times? Well that was her freezing time so she could do whatever it is that she did to get Lyra to Ponyville so quickly. She has the ultimate ally on her side, time."

Twilight's eyes began to shine green and she shouted, "Well she will learn that in the end you do not cross the path of the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle and you sure the hell don't threaten my life or my family!"

Celestia said, "You know Twilight, I guess you have to be careful on who you give what powers to. When I discovered you not only transformed Colgate into an Alicorn but gave her a ton of power, I had a bad feeling she would do what she did."

Twilight started to cry and said, "Why didn't you tell me and I would have given the power to somepony else."

Celestia replied, "You already hated me at that time and you wouldn't have listened to me. Also, by the point I did learn, she had already gained the loyalty of most of your forces and had you tried to remove her as commander, they would have fought to the death for her."

Twilight asked, "Wait a minute, you mean to tell me that she didn't cast loyalty spells on them? She simply earned their loyalty?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yes Twilight. I think it is just something about her that causes her to gain the respect of the military. I know once she was bragging about not having any Canterlot influence and how she worked hard for everything that she ever had in life. She said you were raised by Celestia and had things handed to her on a silver platter. That is what won them over. They preferred the idea of a leader with her background opposed to your background."

Twilight asked, "If she hated ponies with Canterlot influence, then why did she give you the job of general of the army and second in command?"

Shining Armor replied, "Well Applejack decided that she would rather work full time on the farm so she just gave me the job since I was loyal to her and had military experience."

Twilight asked, "Well why didn't you just do something to overthrow her and claim Equestria for yourself? You knew that I would eventually be free and that I would return. You knew that Equestria could belong to the Sparkle siblings eventually."

Shining Armor replied, "Well I never even thought about it because of how powerful she had become. I didn't want to wind up in the void or have Luna banish me to the sun with you two."

This hit Twilight wrong. She shouted, "WHAT? SO, I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO BE AROUND? YOU WOULD RATHER BE COLGATE'S SLAVE THAN BE WITH YOUR SISTER?"

Celestia said, "Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle, put yourself in his hooves. What would you have done if you were in his situation."

Twilight growled, "I would have done what he did. Well I guess at least he has a good thousand years of information that we can use against her."

Shining Armor said, "Well given that she never shared much with me and with things being so calm all over the world, there wasn't much information to be had. Any important information she did have she didn't share it with me. She shared more information with all her officers and her friends than she did me."

Twilight asked, "Who do you mean by 'her friends?'"

Shining Armor said, "Your former friends. I think she only wanted me to be general of the army so that if we had a serious attack, that she could make me lead the charge and die in battle."

Twilight said, "You're probably right. I wouldn't put it past the miserable wretch. I do have a question. Even though he hates me now, what happened with Spike? Did he move to Canterlot with Rarity?"

Shining Armor said, "Yes, he did. But someday around 500 years ago, I remember seeing a full grown dragon flying away from Canterlot heading to the southwest."

Twilight said, "To the southwest? Do you think he was headed to Dragon Island?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yeah. Rarity reconciled with her friends and she was crying about her Spikey-wikey flying away to go be with his own kind."

Twilight asked, "I know he was very mad at me when I was banished, but do you think that if we were to go there that he would remember me and forgive me?"

Celestia smiled and said, "Maybe. But the problem there is that while dragons will co-exist with ponies everywhere else in the world, their island is the one place they don't want ponies to be. A majority of ponies who have gone there have been killed. The crew that we sent out to get the egg Spike was in was the only one to escape Dragon Island, and that was because they were never seen."

Shining Armor asked, "What about the great dragon migration, when they migrate from their western island in the Pegasus Ocean to their island in the Alicorn Ocean and vice versa? Do you think that if Twilight went into the dragons' rest area in Equestria that he might remember her?"

Celestia replied, "He might but going in there is extremely dangerous, as Twilight herself learned."

Twilight said, "Yeah, good thing Rarity cobbled together a dragon costume or we would have been eaten for sure. You have no clue how much disdain those dragons have for ponies. The way they talked you would think that they viewed ponies as the scum of the world."

Celestia replied, "Yeah, I remember you telling me that after Spike ran away from home when he was wondering where he came from."

Twilight started to cry and said, "I miss Spike so much. Is he forever grown or do you think if he saw me and remembered me that he would return to being a baby dragon?"

Celestia replied, "I wish, but like all other creatures, once a dragon has grown up they stay grown up."

Twilight asked, "What time is it? My stomach is really growling."

Celestia said, "It is 6:30 in the evening."

Twilight shouted, "Already, well I guess when you're talking with friends, time really flies! Before we know it, we will arrive in Ridead!"

Shining Armor said, "I know. Don't worry little sis, I will do whatever I can to help you reclaim your world and most of all, I will not let Colgate kill us like she wants to."

Celestia asked, "What would she do with me?"

Shining Armor replied, "She would probably banish you to the void. It is the Sparkle family she wants out of the picture. Since mom and dad passed over 900 years ago, Cadence and I never had any foals and Twilight never had any foals, we are the only Sparkles left. She views us as the number one threat to the world."

Celestia got a terrified look on her face and said, "No, please no! Please don't let her banish me to the void! I'm afraid of bees!"

Shining Armor asked, "What does being afraid of bees have to do with getting sent to the void?"

Twilight replied, "I tested my banishing spell on a bumble bee and now it is in the void. I threatened her with that earlier when she made me mad. Don't worry Celestia, neither one of us will let her send you to the void."

Celestia said, "Thanks Twilight, now can we go eat. I am starving."

Twilight replied, "Yeah, we can. I'm starving."

The three ponies headed into the ship's cabin to have supper. All they had for their voyage was apples and some hay as there is not much variety in a meal aboard a ship. After that they decided to stay under deck and simply relax and forget their troubles for the rest of the day. They figured that they would deal with them when the time is right.

Twilight's Next Acquisition

In Ponyville Colgate had been watching everything Twilight, Celestia and Shining Armor had been doing and hearing everything they have said. She was not impressed with what she heard. She figured though that she would deal with Twilight when the time was right.

Twilight held a meeting with her friends in the commander's room to inform them of what she has learned.

Colgate said, "Alright everypony, here is what is going on. I have visual confirmation that Shining Armor did indeed betray us. He landed on the deck of Twily's ship shortly after they left Maredrid and has sworn allegiance to her. The fact that he was my second in command and defected to the side of the enemy, means that he is guilty of high treason. Right now I am trying to figure out how I am going to execute him. Do any of you have any suggestions?"

Applejack suggested "How about we behead him. That way you could always have his head hanging in here on the wall as a reminder of your triumph."

Colgate replied, "True, but it would be kind of creepy having his head hanging in here. It would feel like he was always watching me. I like the beheading idea, I just don't like having his head in here on the wall."

Applejack said, "Just a suggestion. Ah suppose we could turn him into fertilizer."

Colgate replied, "That would be excellent and all that fertilizer would belong to Sweet Apple Acres since you suggested it."

Fluttershy asked, "What would you want to do to Twilight?"

Colgate replied, "With her it would be more difficult. She would be captured as an enemy seeking to overthrow the government, which in my mind is a crime punishable by death. But some nagging part of me is saying to just cast her in the void instead along with Celestia."

Rainbow said, "But Colgate, it wasn't that long ago that you were saying that you believe the only way the world will be safe is if the Sparkle family is extinct."

Colgate replied, "That is true. Perhaps she will simply have to go as well."

Applejack asked, "How do y'all think that will make you look in the eyes of ponies across Equestria? One thing that worries me is that it will turn everypony against you, maybe even our own military."

Colgate replied, "Good point Applejack. We will cross that bridge once we cross it."

Out at sea Twilight, Celestia and LaurFa could see Saddle Arabia on the horizon. This pleased everypony greatly. They were all ready to arrive at Ridead so they could get a substantial meal in their bellies. Twilight said, "Finally! I am so hungry for something other than apples. After a while you just can't handle any more of them."

Shining Armor replied, "Same here little sis. I don't think I could handle another bite!"

Later that day they docked at Ridead and were greeted by Lemon Hearts. "Twilight," said Lemon Hearts "I thought you and Celestia were imprisoned in the sun."

Twilight shouted, "THAT IS DARK GODDESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE TO YOU! Also, if you would bother to look at the sunrises and sunsets, you would have seen that there were not silhouettes in them anymore."

Lemon Hearts replied, "I was wondering why they weren't as beautiful as they used to be here over the past few days."

This really angered Twilight. She shouted, "You little wretch! How dare you think things were so much prettier when I was being held prisoner there! I ought to banish you to the void!"

Celestia said, "Twilight, if you want her to be on your side you can't go threatening to banish everypony to the void."

Shining Armor added, "Celestia is right you know. I wouldn't swear allegiance to a pony that threatened to do that to me."

Twilight growled, "Oh I guess you're right. So Lemon Hearts, how have things been here since I was banished?"

Lemon Hearts replied, "Oh they've been good. The economy has been great and everypony seems happy."

Twilight shouted, "Those little rats! How could they be happy without me being here to make sure they are contributing their part for the honor they have of living on MY planet?"

Lemon Hearts asked, "You've already conquered the whole planet? With as powerful as Commander Colgate is in Equestria I'm surprised by that."

Twilight fired a bolt of energy at Lemon Hearts, hitting her and knocking her to the ground and said, "Listen Steward, I have only reclaimed the Equine Empire so far but you will be joining the rest of us in MY MISSION to retake everything."

"Steward?" asked Lemon Hearts, "You do know that I'm the queen here now, don't you?"

Twilight screamed, "Not anymore you're not. I'm back and this territory belongs to the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle!"

Lemon Hearts started to cry and said, "But why? Why must you go and take everything?"

Twilight shouted, "Because it is MY birthright! I was destined to have it all the moment I was born."

Celestia glared at her and said, "Twilight, nopony has a birthright to own everything. I know you were the ruler of the world until Colgate took Equestria and then everything else. Don't get mad but it was your own carelessness with your spell book that led to this. If you would have locked it up like I would have, you would still be sitting on the throne in Ponyville and you would have never been banished to the sun."

Twilight glared at her with those green eyes and fired energy at Celestia with them, hitting her and leaving burn marks on her.

"Ow!" shouted Celestia "That hurt!"

Twilight smiled and snickered, "Well duh! I wouldn't have done it if it wouldn't have. Even better, now your chest can watch where's it going, hehehe!"

LaurFa said, "Celestia, don't go angering Twilight. She was destined to have it all. Lemon Hearts, just remember you answer to Twily now."

Lemon Hearts sighed, "I know. Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle, what plans do you have for us next?"

Twilight replied, "Well if you are on my side, just call me Twily. As far as my next plans, how about some supper? We want something other than just apples. Do you have any meat? Shining Armor and I are starving for some."

Lemon Hearts said, "Well I do have some. Not a whole lot since the ponies here don't really eat much. Would a pork chop do along with some oats, hay and orange juice?"

Twilight replied, "Yes, that would be great! Let's go get some food!"

They headed into the dining hall where they were served their meal. Lemon Hearts and her generals were shocked by how fast Twilight and Shining Armor devoured their supper.

Lemon Hearts said, "Wow, you two must have really been hungry!"

Shining Armor replied, "Yeah, we were hungry, FOR MEAT! I don't know about Twily, but I really would like seconds if you have any to spare."

Twilight said, "Same here Lemon Hearts. If you have any, bring it to us. Remember who is in charge now."

Lemon Hearts walked back to the kitchen and told the chefs to cook four more pork chops, two for Twilight and two more for Shining Armor.

Ten minutes later they brought out the extra pork chops to Twilight and Shining Armor. They devoured those in under ten minutes but were finally satisfied.

Twilight said, "Thank you Lemon Hearts. When you're a pony who is used to feasting on meat and you don't get any, you get kind of nasty. I am in a much better mood now! With us all having eaten our supper, let's go into your throne room so we can discuss things."

Lemon Hearts replied, "Sounds good to me!"

They headed to the throne room and much to Lemon Hearts's dismay, Twilight sat on the throne. She said, "Lemon Hearts, I'm in a better mood now, don't ruin that. This is my seat now."

Lemon Hearts looked scared and said, "I wasn't going to say anything."

Twilight said, "Alright everypony, as you all know I am slowly but surely retaking the world, one province at a time. Lemon Hearts, who do you swear allegiance to?"

Lemon Hearts replied, "My sole allegiance is to the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle, owner and ruler of the whole world."

Twilight smiled and said, "Good, I am glad to hear it. I have a bad feeling that Lyra will not be as loyal as Lemon Hearts and LaurFa though. What do you think we should do about her?"

LaurFa asked, "Do you think she has taught her military anything that she learned from Colgate?"

Lemon Hearts said, "I am sure she has. We haven't talked in quite some time. She knew about how Twilight and Celestia would return and for the past 200 years she has been paranoid about me stabbing her along with Luna and Colgate in the back. She is far more like Luna and Colgate than the rest of us, she is extremely paranoid."

Celestia asked, "Twilight, do you remember of any spells that could wipe out her forces so we could give her two options, either join our side or die?"

Twilight replied, "I don't think I ever even learned any spells to take out entire armies all at once. If I did I certainly don't remember it."

Shining Armor asked Lemon Hearts, "Does Saddle Arabia have any kind of library regarding magic?"

Lemon Hearts looked sad and said, "We used to. Around 200 years ago Lyra and a huge army came and stole every last bit of information. Whether they took it to Prancington or Ponyville I'm not sure. I just remember her coming in with a large number of dark Alicorns and changelings, terrorizing every pony here, killing half of my forces and hauling off every last bit of information from here."

Twilight slammed her hoof on the ground and said, "Crap. I should have figured she would do something like that. She is Colgate's lap dog and would do anything to keep her in the black tower. For all we know she may have relocated all of her information to Ponyville just to keep it out of my hooves."

Shining Armor asked, "You don't think Colgate may have went as far as going to Prancington very quickly, getting Lyra and taking her back to Ponyville again do you?"

Twilight replied, "Well we haven't been frozen in time yet so I wouldn't count on it. I could see her doing it though."

Celestia asked, "What are you talking about? Freezing time? How in Equestria could anypony do something like that?"

Lemon Hearts explained, "Colgate is a Time Lady. She discovered at a very young age that she has the ability to manipulate time, which is why she has an hourglass cutie mark."

LaurFa asked, "Does she have the ability to reverse time?"

Lemon Hearts replied, "I don't know. The thing is, if she was to reverse time, go back and change something she would be the only pony who would ever know that she did it. For the rest of us, the outcome of things that she switched things to would be the only one we would know."

Twilight said, "In other words she could go back and make me fail my entrance exam?"

Celestia said, "She could, but the moment she did that she would lose her wings because under the new path, she would have never become an Alicorn. I highly doubt she would ever travel back to before you transformed her. I know she enjoys being an Alicorn and being a military commander way too much."

Twilight replied, "Tell me about it. I should have known that when she was such a good commander underneath me that she enjoyed the power that came with her post. I should have known that when she would get so excited for me to leave after a while that she already had plans to supplant me."

Lemon Hearts said, "I don't know about any of you, but I am getting tired. I think I am going to hit the hay."

Everypony else agreed with her, that it was time to go to bed. They were scheduled to have a full day of meetings the next day and then a couple days of rest and relaxation after that, so they would need plenty of rest.

In Ponyville Colgate was watching all of this and listening in on them. She realized that bringing Lyra to Ponyville would be the best option, as LaurFa and Lemon Hearts had already fallen back under Twilight's control without a loyalty spell. She decided she would do this after breakfast the next day.

Lyra's Timely Return to Ponyville

Colgate woke up early the following morning realizing that she needed to get Lyra out of Prancington before Twilight and her envoy went there and brainwashed her to be on their side. Colgate realized that she would need to use her time spells to get this done in time, and she decided she needed a fast flyer to get the time bubble moving even faster, so she flew up to Cloudsdale to enlist Rainbow Dash to aid her in this mission.

She arrived up there after a quick flight and landed on the cloud that Rainbow was sleeping on. She said, "Wakey-wakey! Duty calls!"

Rainbow Dash woke up to see Colgate standing there with a huge grin on her face and she asked, "Ugh, why did you wake me up so early? Is there some sort of emergency?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, there is. Twilight and her envoy have already conquered the Equine Empire and Saddle Arabia. LaurFa and Lemon Hearts have already fallen under her spell and she didn't even have to use a loyalty spell. I do not want the same thing to happen to Lyra. Of all the leaders, she is the most loyal to us and we must save her. I need you to help us get that time bubble moving faster than we could without you."

Rainbow Dash said, "I will do it if you invite me for breakfast. I'm starving."

Colgate replied, "Well that was what the plan was. You honestly think I would ask you to do something like this and not give you a good, huge meal? I'm not like that."

Rainbow and Colgate headed back to the tower, flew through Colgate's balcony and headed into the dining hall where they were greeted by Colgate's officers.

Ice Storm asked, "Colgate, why are you only having Rainbow Dash here this morning. I thought you would have brought everypony."

Colgate replied, "General, we will discuss things after breakfast. That is the one thing from Twily World that I am keeping in place, no discussing business matters."

Rainbow added, "Yeah, I don't like almost everything Twilight did, but the thing involving things that are to not be discussed at meals worked perfectly."

Stinging Haze said, "Speaking of meals, here comes our breakfast!"

Rainbow Dash had a smile on her face and said, "Good, I'm so hungry!"

"Me too." added Colgate

They had their meal and then headed to the throne room to discuss the trip to Prancington. Colgate started out, "Alright troops, we have an important mission. This will be a quick one but I want to get it done immediately."

Ice Storm asked, "What do you want to do?"

Colgate replied, "We are going to be flying to Prancington. We are going to get Lyra and bring her here. Twilight and her lap dog Celestia have already taken over the Equine Empire and Saddle Arabia. Both LaurFa and Lemon Hearts initially were questioning her but very quickly they fell under her spell and she didn't even have to cast a loyalty spell."

Major Hurricane asked, "Seriously? She must have more power now than she used to."

Colgate replied, "Yes, I think she does. While she is weaker in other things but when it comes to brainwashing, I think she has the same power Chrysalis had. Yes she still has those green eyes so she is just as evil as ever."

Colonel Green cloud asked, "So who all is going to be going on this trip to get Lyra?"

Colgate replied, "Well you will Green Cloud. Colonel Black mist will be joining us as will be Rainbow Dash. I need each of you to get 10 of your kind of soldier. Don't worry, about a quarter of a mile away from Prancington, I will be unfreezing time, removing the time bubble and will cast an armor spell in the event that we are attacked by Lyra's troops. We shouldn't be but you never know. Let's get going guys. I want to be back well before noon."

"You got it boss!" said Rainbow Dash

Colgate, Rainbow Dash, her two Colonels, ten dark Alicorns and ten changelings gather together. Colgate begins to glow a deep shade of blue, her eyes begin to shine and her horn begins to glow as she recites, "A bubble is what we need, so from frozen time we can be freed, in this bubble we can move fast, while everything else is stuck in the past, it is frozen time which through we must pass so we will never be late to class."

Colgate and her forces were now in a time bubble. Colgate then pokes the very edge of her horn outside of the bubble. She begins to glow and recites, "Tick tock, tick tock, look at the racing clock, what is short is time and being late is a crime, we must finish on top so it is time I must stop, with time froze, it is my enemies I shall bulldoze."

Everything outside of the time bubble is frozen. There is no movement, no wind or no activity of any sort. Colgate says, "Alright everypony, let's get those wings flapping! Let's get to Prancington!"

They all were flapping their wings as hard as they could and they quickly broke the sound barrier. It took a grand total of three minutes for them to reach the area just outside of Prancington where Colgate wanted to unfreeze time, undo the time bubble and cast the armor spell. Colgate shouts "Stop!"

The ponies stopped and the time bubble ground to a halt. Colgate said, "First I must unfreeze time. '"Look at the clock, it is stuck in place, with this there can be no pace, everything is still but that does not fit the bill, for now the clock shall again run so everypony can have fun."'

Time was unfrozen and activity resumed to normal. Next Colgate needed to undo the time bubble. She began to glow and recited "In the bubble time continues to run, but now the time outside runs and allows fun, the bubble must burst so we can quench our thirst, from the bubble we are now free and everything we can clearly see."

The time bubble was gone and Colgate had just one more spell she needed to cast before they headed into Prancington, the armor spell.

Colgate began to glow very brightly, her eyes began to shine like laser beams, her horn began to glow and even her cutie mark began to glow as she recited, "The one without armor does not stand a chance, so it is what we must enhance, the unarmed one will likely receive death, with armor he shall continue to draw breath, without armor he will be torn to shreds like a rag but with armor victory is in the bag."

The energy fired out of her horn in a ball. She released a huge amount of energy but it was absorbed into the bodies of her soldiers and herself. She said, "Alright troops, into Faustica we go!"

It was a normal day in Prancington. Lyra was looking off to the northeast when she sees Colgate and her forces heading into town. Colgate lands on her balcony and says, "Hi Lyra, we need to talk. This is important."

Lyra gets scared and asks her nervously, "What is going on? Is Neigh Zealand under a threat?"

Colgate replies, "Yes. In fact, the whole world is under threat. I need you to come to Ponyville with me ASAP. We will discuss things once we get back there."

Lyra asks, "Won't that take a long time? Ponyville is a long ways away."

Colgate rolls her eyes and said, "Lyra, last time we used a time bubble. We will do so again."

Lyra asks, "But what about things here. What if Twilight was to show up?"

Colgate replies, "Everything will be fine. Put your generals in charge. Go tell them what to do and come back. We need to get back to Ponyville, the sooner the better."

Lyra headed over to the balcony where General Dark Dusk and General Green Moon were sitting. She said, "Guys, I have to go to Ponyville again. Colgate said that this is very important and I don't want to risk angering her."

Green Moon asked, "What are we supposed to do if Twilight was to come here? I have heard rumors that she has already taken the Equine Empire through mind control."

Lyra replied, "Cover her and her envoy in ooze. Render their magic useless. I thought you would know to do that."

"I'm sorry Lyra. I see Colgate getting impatient over there. You better get going." said Green Moon

"Alright guys," said Lyra "I am not sure when I will be back but hold down the fort as best as you can."

Lyra headed over to where Colgate was standing. Colgate ordered that they all gather around her. She casts the time bubble spell and the freeze time spell. They flap their wings and get the bubble moving faster than it did on the way there. After three minutes they arrive back in Ponyville where Colgate unfreezes time and undoes the time bubble. They all float down to the ground.

Colgate says, "Alright Lyra, come up to the commander's room and I will let you know what is going on."

They headed up to the commander's room and once they arrive Colgate starts out by saying, "Alright Lyra, I am sure you are wondering why I have brought you here. Remember how your generals were telling you about the rumors they have heard? They are right."

Lyra asked, "Seriously, Twilight and Celestia have already taken back the Equine Empire?"

Colgate replied, "They have done more than that. They have also taken Saddle Arabia. Lemon Hearts has been reduced to being a steward there just as LaurFa has been reduced to being the steward in the Equine Empire. Twilight and her envoy were discussing how they know that you wouldn't be so willing to give into Twilight."

Lyra asked, "They are right. I wouldn't be so easily swayed. But I can understand why you brought me here. What about Luna and her family? What about Starswirl? What are your plans for them?"

Colgate replied, "Well regarding Starswirl, I'm not sure if he will join us or not. Even after Twilight's lies and tyranny were exposed, he still supported her some. Luna's parents will most likely stay at home and hold down the fort but Luna will likely come here for yet another last stand."

Lyra asked, "Do you think it might be easier if we face off against Twilight and her forces on Alicorn Island? That way Ponyville won't get exposed to war again and we will have Luna's parents there with us."

Colgate replied, "Well here is the problem. That is where Starswirl lives. He is still loyal to Twilight. We can not have a loyalist of her's being guaranteed to be in the battle. Also, we have all of our Alicorn recruits here. That will provide us with a huge advantage. You saw what happened last time she came here. Her dark Alicorns and changelings were decimated in under a minute."

Lyra realized that Colgate was right about where the final battle against Twilight should be. She worried about what would happen if Twilight were to win.

Lyra asked, "Colgate, what would happen if Twilight was to win and take the whole world back?"

Colgate replied, "That ain't going to happen. We will do what we did last time and crush her. You will hear other ponies saying that I plan on killing them for treason. I have decided that I will just banish them into the void instead. After all, I don't want everypony to start hating me and view those two as martyrs."

Lunchtime arrived and Colgate had lunch with Lyra and all of her recruits along with her generals. With Lyra safe and sound in Ponyville, she figured that Twilight wouldn't cause any problems.

Arrival in Prancington

In Ridead, Twilight, her stewards, Celestia and her brother were resting after going over how things will be with Twilight being the top pony again. Twilight just couldn't help but think that Lyra would not cooperate.

Twilight said, "You know something everypony. I have a very bad feeling that Lyra will not cooperate with me on anything and that I will have to punish her."

LaurFa asked, "What kind of punishment would you have in mind and who would be the steward in Neigh Zealand?"

Twilight replied, "Well my number one choice would be Celestia, since she has leadership experience. Would you be up for that Celestia?"

Celestia said, "Yeah, I could do that. If Lyra does indeed have to be punished and removed from power, I promise you I will enforce every single one of your laws."

Twilight replied, "Thanks Celestia. I will greatly appreciate it."

Lemon Hearts asked, "What sort of punishment would you impose on her?"

Twilight replied, "I would banish her to the void. That is what I plan on doing with Colgate and all my former friends who betrayed me once we take over Equestria, although deep down I really wish I could just execute them."

Shining Armor asked, "Would that be for the crime of treason?"

Twilight replied, "Yes, it would be. I have a feeling that when we go in to take Ponyville and if we were to lose, she would probably impose that punishment on you as she will view you as a traitor."

Lemon Hearts asked, "So what day will we depart for Prancington?"

Twilight replied, "I want us to leave tomorrow. The sooner we leave here, the sooner we can get there and then it will be sooner for everything else to happen. In the end, it would be sooner to my overthrowing that tyrant Colgate, banishing her and reclaiming everything as my own."

Celestia asked, "Uh, don't you think we will need an army for that. Right now you have no soldiers."

Twilight said, "I will duplicate many in Faustica and take them home with us. I will duplicate them enough so that Colgate and her forces won't be able to just wipe them out. As for now, I think we need to get plenty of rest because we will set sail early tomorrow morning and it will be a 4-5 day voyage to Prancington."

They all rested the rest of the day and got a good night's rest before waking up early the next morning where they all met in the dining hall.

Twilight said, "Alright everypony, enjoy this breakfast. It will be the last substantial meal we will have for a while. While we are out at sea, we will primarily be eating apples, oats, hay, plums and other berries."

Shining Armor added, "I know little sis. I am glad it is only four or five days we have to go without meat again, I don't think I could handle a whole lot more than that without meat."

Lemon Hearts asked, "Why are you two so obsessed with meat? Most ponies around the world don't eat it. The only place I have known of ponies to eat meat is in Equestria and on Alicorn Island, when they have access to it."

Twilight replied, "It is primarily a Ponyville thing. In Canterlot we didn't eat much meat and neither do most ponies across Equestria. Only in Ponyville, Dodge Junction and Appaloosa do ponies consume larger quantities of meat."

Shining Armor interrupted, "Twily, since we have finished eating think we should get on board our ship and get going? You are the one who wants to get there sooner after all."

Twilight replied, "Let's leave now. I don't want to have to wait too long to complete my objective. Let's go everypony."

Twilight and her envoy headed to the ship and set sail for Neigh Zealand. Twilight was dreading arriving there as she knew that Lyra would not just cave in to her demands. She also knew that Lyra would order her forces to open fire upon them since she is an enemy to Lyra now. All she could do was hope for the best.

Four days had passed with perfect weather when Shining Armor finally sees Neigh Zealand on the horizon. He said, "Twilight, finally. Our target is on the horizon!"

Twilight took a look and sure enough, there was Neigh Zealand and the capitol city of Prancington on the horizon. Twilight said, "Well very soon we will know whether or not Lyra will be with us or against us."

LaurFa interrupted, "I don't mean to burst your bubble Twilight, but I wouldn't count on her being on our side. She is too much against your tribute laws and most likely won't surrender full control of Neigh Zealand."

Twilight growled, "Yeah, you're probably right. I don't know why she can't just accept things the way I want them. Back in the old days, had she been good friends with the rest of us, she would have been the element of generosity, not Rarity."

"Seriously?" asked Shining Armor "She did help you guys out a lot and gave all of you many things."

Twilight replied, "That is true but she has never risked her life the way Lyra has to prevent me from going into her country and taking what is rightfully mine."

Lemon Hearts asked, "What is rightfully yours?"

This really angered Twilight. She shouted, "Ten percent of their monthly income you moron. Don't you ever pay attention to anything?"

Before Lemon Hearts could say anything their ship made landfall at the port in Prancington. They all rushed off the ship hoping to get something tasty to eat. Twilight and Shining Armor were hoping to feast on bacon. Twilight was also wondering where Lyra was.

"Figures," growled Twilight "I knew she would be the one to not be here waiting to meet with us. Well I guess we will just have to go find her."

Twilight and her envoy were walking around town headed towards the palace when a changeling officer stopped them. He asked, "Who are all of you and what are you doing here?"

Twilight snapped, "Well I am the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle, this is my brother Shining Armor, this is Princess Celestia, this is Steward Lemon Hearts from Saddle Arabia and this is Steward LaurFa from the Equine Province."

The officer replied, "I am General Green Moon. I need all of you to come up to the castle. We have been expecting you."

Green Moon led them up to the palace into the throne room where they were greeted by many other changeling officers, dark Alicorn officers and General Dark Dusk.

Twilight saw Dark Dusk sitting up on the throne and asked, "Who are you and where is Lyra Heartstrings?"

Dark Dusk replied, "I am General Dark Dusk. Regarding Lyra, she is gone. I don't know where she went. All I remember is that some blue pony with a bunch of changelings and dark Alicorns of her own came, took Lyra, put all of them into some sort of weird bubble and then it seemed like time froze and when we finally came to, they were long gone. It is as if that blue pony froze time."

Twilight asked, "This blue pony, did she have an hourglass for a cutie mark and have a blue and white mane and tail?"

Dark Dusk replied, "Yes, that is an accurate description of her. I take it you know her?"

Twilight said, "Yes, I know her. She is a pony that at one time I made my top commander. She ultimately turned on me and overthrew me. Would you happen to know where they went?"

Dark Dusk replied, "I heard the blue pony mention something about Ponyville, but that is all I was able to hear. I am sorry that I couldn't provide more information."

Twilight was angered that Colgate came and got Lyra but was thrilled that the general knew that. She said, "Thank you General, that is all the more information I needed. Let's go to Faustica, I need to tie up some loose ends there."

Dark Dusk said, "Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle, aren't you guys hungry? Wouldn't you like to at least sit down to a good meal before you go?"

Twilight replied, "Yeah sure. That would be good. What are you guys having?"

Dark Dusk asked, "Well we are going to be eating bacon, eggs, apples, cider, pork chops, oats, hay and sausage."

Twilight got a huge grin on her face and started saying "Bacon, bacon, bacon! Oh you have no clue how badly I want some bacon!"

Dark Dusk replied, "I knew that was what you were hungry for. I know that Ponyville ponies are known for their appetite for bacon and other meat. Come on everypony, let's head to the dining hall and eat!"

Twilight and her envoy headed to the dining room. Twilight was unsure as what to think about the hospitality and friendliness of the changelings and dark Alicorns but she did know that if she retook the whole world, that Dark Dusk would be given stewardship over Neigh Zealand, not Celestia.

Not too long after they arrived in the dining hall their meal had arrived. Changelings and dark Alicorns have a voracious appetite for meat but they were surprised to see how quickly Twilight and Shining Armor devoured their meals.

Dark Dusk commented, "Wow, I knew that Ponyville ponies liked their meat, but you two must be the biggest meat lovers there."

Twilight replied, "Oh, I wouldn't say that. Colgate tends to eat a ton of meat as well."

Dark Dusk said, "Well you seem to have huge appetites for it. Are you sure you two don't have a bit of dark Alicorn in you? You sure have our eating habits!"

Twilight replied, "I don't think we do. I think our parents would have said something about it when we were growing up, oh wait, it was Celestia that raised me, not my parents."

Celestia growled, "Twilight, I thought we got over that."

Twilight snapped, "Celestia, I have forgiven you. It is my parents am still mad at. I know it does no good now because they have been dead for over 900 years but still."

Green Moon asked, "Your parents didn't raise you?"

Twilight replied, "No, they didn't. When I was very young I was accepted into Celestia's school for gifted unicorns and because of the raw power I had, Princess Celestia here wanted me to move into the palace so she could guide me and help me control my powerful magical abilities. I never saw much of my parents so of course my lineage is a complete mystery to me."

Dark Dusk said, "I'm sorry to hear that. That must be tough not knowing where you came from."

Twilight replied, "Now I know how Spike felt when he wondered where he came from."

Green Moon asked, "Who is Spike? Was he an orphaned pony?"

Twilight replied, "No, he was my assistant. My entrance exam involved hatching a dragon egg using my magic. It took me a while at first, but I was able to hatch it and he was inside the egg, so he became my assistant. During a dragon migration, he started to wonder where he came from."

Dark Dusk commented, "I feel sorry for the lad. I know dragons are very family oriented creatures and for him to not know about where he came from, must have been tough."

Twilight replied, "Yes, it was tough. Supper is over and before we all hit the hay, I would like for us to have a meeting in the throne room. Oh wait, I guess I should ask first. Would it be ok if we stayed the night here before heading out tomorrow."

Dark Dusk said, "Sure. Just be sure and have a filling breakfast with us before heading out. It is always best to head out with a full belly!"

They headed to the throne room where Twilight addressed them. Twilight said, "Well I had initially came here to tell Lyra what I wanted her to do but since she is not here I will give you this honor instead. I want you, General Dark Dusk and General Green Moon, to share stewardship over Neigh Zealand. You have proven yourselves beyond worthy of having this position. You are great hosts and I know you will treat your subjects well."

Celestia jumped in, "But Twilight, you promised me stewardship here!"

Twilight replied, "Well things change. These two know this land very well, they know the ponies and I think that is what would make them perfect for the job. I do want you two to do one thing for me though."

Dark Dusk replied, "Consider it done. We will start collecting tribute as soon as possible."

Twilight was stunned by this statement. She said, "Wow, you already knew what it was before I said it. You two are beyond perfect for the job. I do want to know when Lyra said she would return."

Green Moon replied, "Well she didn't give us any given amount of time. That blue pony seemed to want to keep her once she took off with her. It seemed like she had some sort of plan for her."

Twilight replied, "The blue pony's name is Colgate. She is the commander I was talking about. At first she seemed like the ideal commander but once my brother and I started taking a lot of out of town trips, she decided that the world needed a pony who would actually be in the capitol to do her job and took it upon herself to supplant me."

Dark Dusk said, "Well that isn't a very good reason to want to over throw you. It sounds like she was simply jealous and found some lame excuse to justify what she did."

Celestia interrupted, "That is true and then she decided to use treason as an excuse to banish Twilight to the sun for a thousand years."

"Whoa!" said Green Moon "That is terrible. How could any one pony be so evil."

Twilight said, "She was just power hungry. When ponies get an insatiable thirst for power they will become a tyrant. I am getting tired. What do all of you say that we hit the hay?"

Dark Dusk replied, "That sounds good to me. I'm getting tired myself."

Everypony headed to their sleeping quarters but were unaware that from Ponyville Colgate was watching and listening. Lyra was in her room with her at the time.

Colgate said, "Lyra, either your officers are betraying you or they are playing nice to earn Twily's trust so that they can stab her in the back later. I hope it is the first thing I listed and not the latter."

Lyra replied, "I hope so as well. I know Twilight is getting good at turning ponies loyal to her without loyalty spells here lately, but these are dark Alicorns and changelings. I just hope they have enough brains to not fall into her trap."

Colgate replied, "You and me too. It's time for lunch. Let's go and grab a bite to eat."

Lyra said, "Sounds good to me, I'm hungry as well."

A Deadly Storm

Twilight and her envoy decided to stay for three days instead of setting sail the morning after they arrived. They were tired and were enjoying the hospitality that the dark Alicorns and changelings were providing. Before they set sail their hosts wanted to talk to Twilight.

Green Moon said, "Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle, before you head out we want to know what a pleasure it was having you here. You certainly kept things lively!"

Twilight replied, "Thanks for the hospitality. You are the only ones who have treated us all like royalty. Now I know for sure that I want you and Dark Dusk to share stewardship here. You will do what is best for this province and I know I don't have to worry about you not going out and collecting tribute."

Green Moon said, "Well you don't have to worry. I sent Colonel Poison Mist along with some dark Alicorns and changelings to start collecting it. We will hit all of the main island first and then we will hit Marelaysia and Singapony. Chances are we will need ships for those areas. Those places have a lot of wealthy ponies so there will be plenty of tribute brought back and then we will get it to you."

Twilight was beaming with happiness over this. She said, "Thanks guys. Well, we better get going. It is quite a ways up to Faustica. You all have a good one!"

"Bye Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle!" said Green Moon

Twilight yelled back, "Just call me Twily! You are on my side now! Bye!"

Twilight and her envoy set sail for the north knowing that it was going to be a very long journey to Faustica, especially since they were sailing into a northerly wind.

Twilight asked, "Shining Armor, with this wind how long do you think it will take us to get to Faustica?"

Shining Armor replied, "Probably six days unless the wind lets up. I have a real bad feeling about this wind, I am worried it might brew into something worse."

Twilight said, "Come on big brother, there aren't even any clouds in the sky. The worst thing it will produce are rougher seas than we already have!"

LaurFa interrupted, "I don't know Twilight. I am having the same feelings that Shining Armor is. I just feel like something bad, but also something unnatural is going to happen."

Twilight replied, "Something unnatural? What do you mean by that?"

LaurFa said, "What I mean is something that shouldn't happen. Whatever it is, it won't be good."

Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed, "Yeah whatever, nothing is going to happen."

Colgate was watching them sailing northwards and knew that within a couple of days they would be sailing within 20 miles of Dragon Island. She was thinking that if she could create a storm, send it their way and throw them far enough to the east that they would crash there and then get eaten by dragons.

General Stinging Haze heard Colgate laughing so he headed up to her room. He asked, "Colgate, what are you laughing about?"

Colgate replied, "Oh a plan I have that will save me from having to banish some ponies. I initially wanted to kill them, but I will let the dragons do it instead."

Stinging Haze asked, "Oh, and how are you going to do that?"

Colgate laughed, "This happened over a thousand years ago but Twilight cast a hurricane spell to maim some dissidents that fled Equestria and her rule. I plan on doing the same, only this one will be far more powerful than her's was."

Stinging Haze asked, "When do you plan on doing this?"

Colgate replied, "In a couple of days, when they get to where the hurricane will blow them into Dragon Island Oh boy, is Twily going to be in for the shock of her life! Let's get a bite to eat, I'm hungry."

Stinging Haze said, "I agree, let's go get something to eat."

Back out at sea Twilight is feeling confident and feels like absolutely nothing can go wrong and is looking forward to her re-taking of Alicorn Island while LaurFa, Shining Armor and now Lemon Hearts are nervous about the wind as it started to get stronger, rocking the ship back and forth more.

Finally darkness arrived and they got under deck for the night. Twilight said, "Ugh, these waves are making me want to throw up. Maybe that is the ill thing all of you felt. You could tell that it would generate rough seas and make me seasick."

LaurFa replied, "It ain't just you that is getting seasick, I think all of us are. Oh crap, here we go."

LaurFa ran over to the corner where there was a bucket and started throwing up. Very soon all of them were throwing up and just laying on the floor to minimize the effects of the motion of the ship. They did not get much sleep that night and couldn't do much the following day because of the wind.

Finally after dusk the following day, the wind died down. Twilight said, "You see, nothing bad happened. Hopefully the seas will have calmed down by the morning."

By dawn the seas had calmed down completely and they headed above deck to an absolutely wonderful day.

LaurFa said, "Wow, I guess our paranoia was all for nothing. Now we can all relax and enjoy the day."

Twilight replied, "Yes, we can. I know Spike probably wouldn't remember me anymore but sometime soon we will be sailing within 20 miles of Dragon Island. I wonder if any of them ever fly out this far?"

Shining Armor said, "I doubt it. Why in Equestria they would fly out here anyway is beyond me. Besides, remember how he hated you once he discovered your tyranny? If he did, he would probably want to kill all of us."

Twilight replied, "Yeah, you're right. That probably wouldn't be a good thing to see him."

Back in Ponyville Colgate was watching all this unfold. They were in the area where she wanted them to be and hearing Twilight talk about Spike made her realize that the time has come. She thought to herself, "The dark goddess is finished, this storm will send her to Dragon Island and she will be dragon food!"

Colgate flew off about ten miles to the west to cast this spell as it was going to be very powerful, the most powerful spell she will have ever cast. She thought to herself, "I hope this doesn't cause the earth to shake so much it does damage at home."

Colgate began to levitate skywards, she lowered her head to where her horn would be facing the direction that Twilight was. She began to glow so brightly it was like there was a blue sun in the sky, her eyes were firing out blue lasers, her cutie marks were shining brightly and her horn was shining a bright blue as she recited, "The nice weather must come to an end, for without a storm the enemy will not bend, the wind shall be strong and my enemies won't last for long, a hurricane is a must so the tyrants will sink and go bust."

As she finished reciting the spell her horn fired a powerful bolt of blueish-white energy and her eyes fired powerful blue lasers. She was floating above Galaxia Ridge as she recited the spell. Her spell was so powerful it caused the whole ridge to collapse and created a huge rock slide. After this Colgate was exhausted, but she flew back to her black tower. Once she got back it was time for lunch.

She arrived in the dining hall. General Ice Storm asked, "Colgate, you look exhausted and your mane and tail are a mess. What happened?"

Colgate was short of breath but she replied, "I cast the hurricane spell to slam Twilight and her envoy into Dragon Island. I am thinking this storm will shatter the record books. It could even have more powerful winds than the strongest tornadoes do."

Ice Storm said, "Wow, something that powerful might just lift the ship out of the water and throw it into Dragon Island, smashing it to bits."

Colgate laughed, "That would be really funny! Then the dragons there would be sure and have some nom noms!"

Back out at sea Twilight and her envoy were enjoying a pleasant day with sunny skies and no wind and calm seas. Twilight said, "I think this has to be the absolute best day that anypony has ever experienced at sea. Conditions couldn't get any better!"

Lemon Hearts added, "Yeah and there isn't even a cloud in the sky!"

Suddenly out of nowhere they saw a bolt of blueish-white energy accompanied with two laser beams soar across the sky coming in from the northeast. Shining Armor shouted, "What the hay?"

Twilight said, "Oh crap, I hope that isn't what I think it is."

Lemon Hearts asked, "What do you think it was?"

Twilight replied, "Back when I cast that hurricane spell on Rarity when she was helping mom and dad and the Canterlot elite ponies flee Equestria, it looked like this. This bolt of energy looked far more powerful than the one that I cast."

LaurFa asked, "With the blue energy, who do you think cast it?"

Twilight sighed and said, "I think Colgate did it. Her eyes are the same color of blue as those laser beams. If something happens to us it is all my fault."

Shining Armor asked, "Why do you say that little sis?"

Twilight began to cry and said, "Because of when I left my spell book on my night stand when I had Colgate sleep in by bed when we were gone. Why I didn't listen to you and Spike is beyond me. If I would have locked my book up like everypony else suggested, none of this would have happened. I never would have wound up being banished in the sun and none of this would have been necessary."

Celestia tried to comfort Twilight. She said, "Twilight, you never knew any of this would happen. Don't blame yourself. Maybe this was supposed to happen."

Twilight shouted, "WHAT? WHY THE HAY WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN? WHAT, SO WE CAN GET KILLED JUST LIKE FANCY PANTS AND FLEUR DE LIS?"

Celesita replied, "I'm sorry Twilight. I know that some ponies have that ideology."

Shining Armor looked off to the southwest and saw dark blue clouds headed their way, very fast. He said, "Oh crap, I think we have a major problem."

Twilight shouted, "Everypony under deck, now! We have no time to spare!"

They were able to get under deck right before the storm hit. The winds picked up and were blowing very fast and a heavy blue rain began to fall accompanied by blue lightning. The ship was rocking back and forth violently and nopony was able to even stand up.

Twilight said, "How much power did she put into this thing? I put a lot into the one that I sent after Rarity but I don't think the winds were this bad."

Shining Armor replied, "Twily, I think she put so much power into this that she wanted to guarantee our destruction."

Suddenly the winds picked up to a record speed. It was blowing so hard it actually picked the ship up out of the waters and started to carry it east.

Shining Armor said, "Holy moly! Those winds have to be blowing at least 400 miles per hour to pick us up like this and keep us airborne for this long."

Twilight started to cry hard and said, "What is she doing? This is twice as strong as the one I created. I know for sure she is trying to kill us! What do we do?"

Celestia said, "We need to huddle together before this thing starts spinning. Once it does, we will be slammed against the walls of the cabin many times. If we huddle together only our backs will get hit."

While they could they huddled together in a ball right before the ship started spinning. They were getting slammed against the walls of the cabin very hard when BOOM, lightning struck the ship.

Colgate was watching this with glee. She was smiling and snickering knowing right where their ship was headed. They were right on track to slam into the west slope of Mt. Dragon, a high volcano.

Colgate watched as finally, SLAM, the ship hit the side of the mountain and tumbled down to the base. She yelled, "YES! That should have killed them! BOOYAH!"

Twilight and her envoy lay underneath the shattered ruins of their ship at the base of the mountain. The impact knocked all of them unconscious except Celestia, who wound up getting LaurFa's horn rammed straight through her heart, killing her instantly.

Several hours later the winds had died down considerably and they finally came to. LaurFa came to and she discovered that her horn was rammed into Celestia. She pulled her horn out of her and screamed, "NO! NO! NO! OH PLEASE NO!"

Twilight got up to discover blood all over LaurFa's horn and the wound in Celestia's chest where LaurFa's horn was rammed into her. Twilight began to sob loudly and hard, "No, oh please no!"

The other pones crawled out of the rubble and walked over to where Twilight, LaurFa and the deceased Celestia were.

Shining Armor asked, "What happened?"

Twilight cried and screamed, "Celestia is dead! When we got slammed into the mountain, LaurFa's horn was slammed into Celestia, piercing her heart! CURSE YOU COLGATE, CURSE YOU!"

LaurFa began to cry, "My horn! No, please no! Please come to Celestia, please come to!"

Shining Armor began to cry as well and said, "LaurFa, it's too late. She is gone. When your horn pierced her heart it killed her instantly. She probably didn't even feel anything."

Twilight began to cry harder and harder and shouted, "Celestia, NOOOOOO! Why couldn't it have been me instead! I'm so sorry I had you banished to the sun. Why couldn't it have been me? NOOOOO!"

Shining Armor said, "I know we need time to grieve but none of us even know where we are, our ship is ruined and only dad knew the ship fixing spell, besides we have to be several miles inland at least. We need to figure out what we are going to do. Besides, I think Celestia would want us to pull ourselves together and do what we need to do to survive."

Twilight looked up at her brother and said, "You're right. Let's get up everypony and try to figure out where we are. The storm has moved off to the east so it should be safe to look around."

Colgate watched this and was angry, very angry. She shouted, "ONLY CELESTIA DIED, DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAMN IT. THAT WAS MEANT TO KILL AT LEAST TWILIGHT, IF NOT ALL OF THEM!"

Colonel Black Mist heard Colgate screaming and kicking things and headed up to her room and asked her what was wrong.

Colgate shouted, "What is wrong? I will tell you exactly is wrong. Their ship got thrown into Mt. Dragon but the only one that the impact killed was Celestia. That was meant to kill Twilight at least, if not all them. DAMN IT, DAMN IT!"

Black Mist said, "Well maybe they will get eaten by dragons. After all, dragons don't like for ponies to go onto their island. They consider that THEIR turf."

Colgate replied, "Well that is true. I will have to keep an eye on things but I am thinking that a pound of bacon will calm me down. Let's go down and eat. I'm hungry anyway."

With that they headed down to the dining hall to eat. The meal did calm her down a little, but Colgate was still enraged that the storm didn't kill Twilight.

A Huge Recruit

Twilight and her envoy, devastated by the loss of Celestia, begin to explore the island that the hurricane threw them into. It was lush with dense forests and has some open grasslands. There is abundant wildlife and hills full of gems. Twilight saw a few gems on the ground in the forest.

She said "Hmmm...I wonder where these gems came from? You normally don't find gems just laying around like this."

Shining Armor replied, "You don't think that storm threw us onto Dragon Island do you? If it did, we are probably dead meat."

LaurFa said, "Well maybe not, perhaps the dragon that we will run into will be Spike and he will have forgiven Twilight and will protect us."

Twilight sighed, "I don't know if he would even remember me anymore. Grown dragons rarely remember those who weren't dragons from their youth. Also, it is rare for grown dragons to be able speak. For some reason, as dragons age their ability to speak goes away."

Lemon Hearts said, "That is odd. I wonder why that is?"

LaurFa replied, "It is because when they are young, they are often around ponies who have the ability to speak, thus they learn to speak. As they grow older they go to where they will only be around other dragons and they forget how to speak. All they know how to do as adults is grunt, growl and roar. It is sad really."

They continued to walk through the forest when they finally reached a clearing. There were many animals that roamed in the grasslands they entered, all of which ultimately become food for the dragons. They could see dragons flying in the sky off in the distance. This scared all of them, except Twilight, who was fascinated by it.

Twilight said, "Wow, that is amazing! I never imagined I would see dragons flying around like that on their home turf."

Shining Armor growled, "You won't think it is so amazing when they come after us and eat us. I doubt the last thing you want to see is the inside of a dragon's mouth."

Twilight sighed, "Come on big brother, there is no guarantee that they would kill us. They might like us!"

Lemon Hearts saw a couple of dragons flying in their direction from the west. This terrified her. She shouted, "Come on everypony, we have to get back in the forest. There are dragons headed our way from the west!"

Twilight laughed, "Oh come on, don't be such a chicken! I bet they will love us!"

Shining Armor grunted and said, "Yeah, they will love us alright, love us when they eat us."

Before they could take one step back towards the forest, two dragons landed in front of them. One was red and yellow and the other one was green and orange.

Twilight said, "Uh, hi fellows. Nice day isn't it?"

The red and yellow dragon, Bone Crusher said, "Yeah, nice day for eating ponies!"

The green and orange dragon, Fire Rage said, "They won't even make a mouthful but they will have to do!"

LaurFa asked, "Wait a minute, I thought full grown dragons didn't speak."

Bone Crusher replied, "Well you thought wrong pony! Hey Fire Rage, what do you think we should do with them? Shall we kill them quickly, kill them slowly or just swallow them alive?"

Fire Rage said, "Well I think we ought to torture them slowly. I'm in the mood to watch someponies suffer!"

Bone Crusher laughed, "You know something little brother, we think way too much alike!"

Fire Rage then realized how small the ponies are compared to them. He grunted and said, "Now we do have one problem. How the hell are we going to torture them with them being so small?"

Bone Crusher laughed, "Oh we will just scratch them gently with our talons and then after a while we will just bite their tiny little pony heads off!"

The two dragons began to laugh when suddenly a larger dragon was flying over head and landed next to the ponies. This dragon was purple with green spines and had a white belly and the underside of his tail was white. Twilight immediately knew who he was.

Spike shouted at the two dragons "LEAVE THEM ALONE OR ELSE!"

Bone Crusher laughed, "Oh well look who it is, Spike, the pony loving dragon! Ooooh, what are you going to do, kick us or something?"

Spike growled, "You want to find out what I have in store for you two if you don't leave them alone?"

Bone Crusher laughed, "Bring it Spikey-Wikey!"

This sent Spike into a rage, he pounced on Bone Crusher and they started fighting. This caused Fire Rage to jump into the fight and caused the ponies to take a few steps away from the fight.

Twilight asked, "How is Spike going to beat both of them?"

LaurFa replied, "Spike must remember you and I don't think he is mad at you. He is fighting with a lot of heart. I think he will beat both of them."

Spike was biting and clawing both of them as they were biting and clawing him as well. Spike shouted at them, "You two aren't going to harm these ponies, they are my friends."

Bone Crusher shouted, "Oh, I knew you were a pony loving dragon, perhaps we should call you Spike the.........."

Bone Crusher was unable to finish his sentence as Spike bit his neck and ripped his head off, causing him to fall to the ground. Spike then turned all his fury and rage at a stunned and terrified Fire Rage. Spike easily overpowered him and bit his head off. He then turned back to Bone Crusher and started to feast on his carcass.

Twilight said, "Uh....Spike, is that you?"

Spike stopped feasting on Bone Crusher and asked, "Twilight? Is that really you?"

Twilight replied, "Yes, it is Spike. I hope you still aren't mad at me."

Spike asked, "Why would I still be mad at you? You were like a mother to me!"

Spike laid on the ground and Twilight went and hugged him. Both of them cried tears of joy as they hadn't seen one another in over a thousand years.

Spike asked, "How did all of you get here?"

Twilight replied, "Well we were sailing from Neigh Zealand up to Faustica when Colgate cast a spell creating a super storm that actually picked our ship up out of the waters and slammed it into Mt. Dragon."

Shining Armor added, "The winds in that storm had to be over 400 miles per hour considering it picked our ship up and carried it over 20 miles."

Spike shouted, "Over 400 mile per hour winds? I didn't even know that was possible. I knew she wasn't trustworthy. What happened to Celestia? I have a feeling she was with you guys."

Twilight replied, "She was with us. When the ship went airborne we all huddled into a ball right before the ship started spinning. We started hitting the walls and sadly, LaurFa's horn got rammed into Celestia's chest, piercing her heart."

Spike started to cry and said, "Twilight, I want to help you guys. Colgate will pay for her tyranny! She is evil, pure evil!"

Shining Armor said, "It is great to see you again Spike. You have no clue how much Twily and I have missed you."

Spike asked, "Twilight, did Colgate banish you to the sun? For a while I saw your silhouette in the sun along with Celestia's."

Twilight replied, "Yes, I was. Colgate banished me to the sun for challenging her. When we traveled the world Colgate took it upon herself to overthrow me and name herself Supreme Commander of Equestria. Equestria is ruled by the military now, not a monarchy."

Spike asked, "What? The military rules there now?"

Twilight replied, "Yes, the military. I am so sorry I didn't listen to you Spike. You were right about Colgate. I should never have given her so much power. The sad thing is, she is way more powerful than me now. I don't know how I will face off against her. I can't fight her horn to horn, she would easily win and probably throw me into the void."

Spike said, "Not if I have anything to do with it! I will do anything and everything to aid and protect you Twilight!" I know you said you were going to Faustica, could I take you there?"

Twilight replied, "Of course you can! It is so good to have you around again. You always did help out with everything!"

Shining Armor added, "We would greatly appreciate it Spike, it would mean the world to us."

Lemon Hearts said, "You know Spike, Twilight always spoke so highly of you when I would ask her about you!"

LaurFa added, "I can tell you're not an ordinary dragon Spike. Here you are all grown up yet you remember everypony from your childhood and are still loyal to them."

Spike blushed and said, "Aww..Thank you LaurFa. Twilight always did say I was a very special dragon!"

Shining Armor asked, "Uh guys, think we should get going before it gets dark?"

Spike replied, "Yeah, we should. I know the way to Faustica. Crawl up on my back and hold on. I will get you guys there!"

Twilight replied, "Thank you Spike, this means the world to us!"

They hopped up on his back and as they headed north towards Faustica Spike said, "Well all of you mean the world to me!"

In Ponyville Colgate was watching this and went into a rage. She started kicking things, she even kicked a hole in the wall she was so enraged. She shouted, "DAMN YOU SPIKE, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO EAT THEM, NOT SAVE THEM. DAMN IT ALL TO HELL, WORTHLESS SON OF A MULE SPIKE. YOU THINK YOU CAN PROTECT HER FROM ME? WHAT A JOKE YOU LITTLE RAT. YOU'LL GO DOWN WHEN YOU COME HERE! GET READY TO MEET YOUR DEATH!"

General Ice Storm rushed up to her room to find her kicking and smashing other furniture in there and saw that she had kicked four holes in the wall. He shouted, "COMMANDER, CALM DOWN! DOING THIS WON'T HELP ANY!"

Colgate stopped and growled, "Don't you tell me what to do! I'll just go kick and smash things elsewhere. I know that stupid dragon will come with her to Ponyville. He's dead meat when he gets here."

Ice Storm said, "But Colgate, there is nothing that can pierce a dragon's scales, they are too thick."

Colgate replied, "There is one thing about dragons you don't know. They have one little bare spot on their chest, right over where their heart is. If one of us can fire an arrow or some other sharp object at him and have it go straight into that soft spot, we can kill him."

Ice Storm asked, "So you think it will be easy to hit that soft spot? You know that soft spot is tiny, don't you?"

This only enraged Colgate further and she yelled, "What, do you think I'm stupid or something? Of course it is small! You just have to have some damn confidence!"

Ice Storm said, "Supreme Commander, calm down. You're losing your composure. Remember, a good commander is a calm and collected commander."

Colgate suddenly calmed down and said, "Thanks for reminding me of that Ice Storm. I really need to learn how to control my temper."

Ice Storm replied, "No offense Colgate, but yes you do. I have a bad feeling that Twilight would get a laugh out of you losing your composure. Just keep that in mind. Stay calm and don't let Twilight or her dragon make you mad and win."

Colgate replied, "Good point. I'm in the mood for some raw hamburger, I want to feel that blood running down my face."

Ice Storm asked, "Are you sure? That can't be good for you. Even dark Alicorns don't eat their meat raw."

Colgate replied, "I've ate it raw many times before so that is how I want it. Let's go eat."

Colgate and Ice Storm headed downstairs. Colgate was running things through her mind how she would punish Twilight and Spike. She had decided that she didn't care what anypony thought. She was going to kill Twilight, Spike and Shining Armor and throw LaurFa and Lemon Hearts into the void. Little did she know that Twilight was about to get some very powerful allies on her side.

Happiness and Rage

Late that afternoon Spike, Twilight and her envoy were approaching Faustica. Galaxia and Cosmos were looking off to the southeast when they saw a dragon headed in. When they saw this, Cosmos shouted, "WE HAVE A DRAGON COMING, EVERYPONY INSIDE!"

This caused all of the citizens of Faustica to head into their homes. Luna, Galaxia and Cosmos headed into the basement of their palace. Once Spike got Twilight and her envoy to Faustica, the streets were empty, it was an eerie, dead silence. Twilight and her envoy jumped off of Spike's back and walked around the streets, looking for somepony who would be out and about.

Twilight said, "The streets are empty! Totally empty!"

Spike asked, "Do you think that perhaps they saw me coming and all hid thinking that they were going to get attacked by a dragon?"

LaurFa replied, "I bet so. That is probably why everypony is hiding."

Twilight shouted, "You can come out everypony! Spike ain't here to attack you, he is a long friend of mine!"

Some of the ponies began to come out of their homes and were astonished to see such a friendly, full grown dragon. Finally Luna and her parents came out of the palace and flew down to where Spike and the ponies were.

Luna said, "Wow Spike, you have really grown but I see you are as loyal as ever!"

Spike answered, "Yep. Well Twilight always did say that I was a special dragon."

Galaxia smiled and said, "Wow, I have never seen a full grown dragon that is still able to speak before."

Cosmos added, "I haven't either and I have came across many full grown dragons. You certainly are one of a kind."

Spike blushed and said, "Thanks your Majesties."

Galaxia asked, "Twilight, wasn't Celestia part of your envoy? I know you two reconciled but did you and her get into another fight again?"

Twilight started to cry hard and said, "She was with us, but she was killed on the way here.....I can't say anymore."

Shining Armor added, "Well we were headed here from Neigh Zealand and it was windy, but ultimately the wind and seas became calm by the third morning. We were thinking the rest of the voyage was going to be perfect when we saw a whitish-blue bolt of energy and two blue laser beams soar across the sky from the northeast."

Cosmos asked, "What happened next?"

Lemon Hearts replied, "Well suddenly these blue storm clouds were racing towards us and we were able to get under deck right before it hit."

Luna asked, "Before what hit?"

Shining Armor said, "The hurricane. This had to be the mother of all storms. The rain was blue and very heavy, blue lightning was flashing around us everywhere and the winds were very strong. Then they picked up much worse, they actually picked our ship up out of the waters and carried us over 20 miles to the east and slammed us into the west slope of Mt. Dragon."

Cosmos looked stunned. He said, "What?"

LaurFa began to cry and said, "The storm was so powerful. We huddled together while we could but then the ship began to spin and we were getting slammed against the walls of the cabin. When we hit the slope, I got thrown to where my horn went into Celestia and pierced her heart. I can't say anymore."

Luna asked, "You saw a whitish-blue bolt of energy and two blue laser beams fire from the northeast. What do you think could have caused that?"

Twilight screamed and sobbed, "COLGATE CAST A HURRICANE SPELL. SHE WANTS TO KILL ALL OF US. NOOO, SHE KILLED THE ONLY PONY THAT TREATED ME LIKE A DAUGHTER. NOOOOO!"

Twilight then just laid on the ground and cried harder and harder. Nopony had seen the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle so emotional before. Galaxia asked Twilight, "Twilight, are you still a dark goddess or are you just a goddess. I don't think a dark goddess would cry like this."

Twilight went from crying tears of sadness to being in a rage. She shouted, "DAMN IT, YOU KNOW I'M STILL THE DARK GODDESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE! HOW DARE YOU ASK ME SUCH A MORONIC QUESTION!"

Galaxia shied back and said, "Ok Twilight, I'm sorry I asked."

Twilight shouted, "Well Dark Goddesses do have feelings too you know. We're not all like that wretch Colgate who has one desire and one desire only, which is to kill the dark goddess who deserves this whole world. She will pay dearly for this!"

Spike said, "Twilight, don't worry. I've got your back on this. Whatever you do, I will support you 100%. You were wronged by Colgate. I think you should use any means necessary to take back YOUR world."

Twilight was ecstatic to hear this. She was worried that he would hate her after what she said. She ran over to him, hugged his leg an said, "Thank you Spike! I'm so happy you're with me on this!"

Luna was not thrilled with what she was seeing or hearing. She did not want to merely be a steward that answers to Twilight. Luna told everypony that she had something to do at the palace. She flew up to the palace and then headed east without any pony noticing, except for Lemon Hearts."

Galaxia asked, "What on earth would Luna have to do that is so important up in the palace?"

Lemon Hearts replied, "Your Majesty, I saw her fly to the palace but then she sped off to the east with great haste. She seemed angry when she left."

Spike said, "What? I bet she's going to go help Colgate. I'll stop her!"

Twilight shouted, "NO SPIKE! JUST LET HER GO."

Cosmos said, "We will deal with her and Colgate when the time is right. I am betting all of you must be hungry. Now what on earth we will feed a full grown dragon is beyond me, but we can find something."

Spike stated that the dragons on Dragon Island do not have to eat that much once they are grown as there isn't enough to completely fill their bellies there. Spike did ask if they had any gems.

Galaxia replied, "Of course we have gems! We have more than we know what to do with!"

"Wow!" said Spike "Thank you! I haven't had but a few gems in over 500 years!"

Spike smiled and said, "Oh Spike, some things never change! Just don't eat them out of house and home!"

Spike replied, "Oh, don't worry! I don't eat anymore than I did when I was a baby!"

Galaxia said, "Come on everypony, let's go eat everypony."

Twilight looked sad and sighed, "I wish Spike could come in and eat with us."

Cosmos replied, "Hey, why don't we all eat outside? That way we can all be together!"

Spike was ecstatic and said, "Thank you Your Majesty! I am so happy I can eat with all of you!"

Cosmos replied, "Anytime Spike. Oh, and you can just call me Cosmos, you don't have to address me by a royal title."

"Same here." added Galaxia

They sat down to eat their meal of oranges, oats, hay and cider. Twilight and Shining Armor were really wishing that they had some meat but knew that only in Equestria do ponies eat meat and Spike had a meal of fire rubies, emeralds and sapphires. He hadn't had fire rubies since before Twilight was corrupted by Chrysalis.

Spike said, "Wow, fire rubies! I haven't had any of these in over a thousand years! Thank you Galaxia and Cosmos! You are so kind and generous!"

Galaxia replied, "Well anything for you Spike. We know you are on our side and since full grown dragons don't eat anymore than baby dragons do, we have plenty of gems for you!"

Lemon Hearts looked off to the southeast and got a scared look on her face. Twilight asked, "Lemon Hearts, what is wrong?"

Lemon Hearts replied, "Uh, Twilight. I think we have a serious problem heading this way. Turn around and look."

Twilight said, "Oh great, is Colgate going to come here and kill me?"

Shining Armor interrupted, "Twilight, if she were coming to kill any of us she would have brought an army with her. I know she is beyond powerful but I don't think she would come alone."

Galaxia looked harder and said, "It's her!!"

Cosmos asked, "Who is her?"

Galaxia shouted, "It's our baby! It's Celestia!"

Galaxia, Cosmos and Twilight all ran towards her as she landed. Twilight ran up to her and hugged her. She said, "Celestia, I thought you were dead."

Celestia said, "My Twily! I am so happy to see you! I thought I was going to die there for a while. LaurFa's horn did indeed pierce my heart, but just barely. When an Alicorn's heart just barely gets pierced, it will send her into a state in which it appears that she is dead, but she is just more or less in a deep sleep."

Galaxia said, "My sweet daughter, I am so happy to see that you are ok! I am sure when you come over to eat with us that LaurFa will be ecstatic that you are ok!"

Celestia went over to where they were eating and when LaurFa saw her, she immediately flew over to her, hugged her and started crying, "Celestia, I'm so happy to see you! I thought I had killed you."

Celestia smiled and said, "LaurFa's horn didn't pierce my heart enough to kill me, it just stunned me really bad."

Cosmos said, "Well Celestia I am so happy to have you back. I was so worried when you didn't show up with Twilight. Then when they told me how you had died I was devastated. I need to go up to the palace for a minute, but I will be back."

Lemon Hearts was thinking, "Oh no. He is going the same way Luna is, to help Colgate."

Sure enough, he flew up to the palace, headed east and BOOM, he broke the sound barrier and was beyond eyesight in a matter of seconds.

Twilight shouted, "Cosmos is betraying us too! Those two will pay once we defeat Colgate. Celestia, would you want to banish her to the moon again or should I banish them to the void?"

Celestia replied, "We will deal with them when the time is right. Let's just relax right now. I am happy to see that you have taken everything except Equestria. Once Colgate is defeated, everything will belong to my Twily, as it should. Let's finish our meal and relax. I know that with all of us together that we can defeat Colgate and her forces and reclaim Equestria for you."

Twilight said, "I agree Celestia, let's finish eating and relax. I hope we can stay here for a few days to build up all our strength for the trip to take Equestria back."

Galaxia replied, "Of course you can stay here for a few days! We will all be heading with you when we leave anyway and Spike is the driver so I guess he will decide when we go."

Spike said, "It is however long you guys want to wait. I am all for it."

Twilight replied, "Well I think after everything we have been through we should wait 14 days before we head off to Equestria, would that be ok with all of you?"

Galaxia said, "Hey, you can stay for however long you need to regain your composure after that last trip."

LaurFa asked, "Twilight, weren't you wanting to get there the sooner the better?"

Twilight replied, "Well I changed my mind. I want us all to have the maximum amount of composure."

Celestia was very happy to see her parents. She had not seen them in over a thousand years but wondered what was up with her dad with him leaving and heading east. She also wondered where Luna was, as she thought she would be here.

Celestia asked, "Mom, where are Luna and dad?"

Galaxia replied, "Well there is a strong suspicion that Luna has headed to Ponyville to aid Colgate and now I believe that Cosmos did the same thing. I heard Luna ranting to herself about not wanting to be a mere steward and would fight you to the death to prevent that."

Twilight replied, "Well she won't get to be in any sort of position of power. Celestia, once we defeat Colgate and her allies, what would you think of banishing Luna to the moon again?"

Celestia replied, "Sure, I would love to!"

In Ponyville Colgate saw this and was in a furious rage. She flew down into town and started smashing anything and everything she could get her hooves on. She started firing powerful beams of energy at the hills to the east of town, shattering them. She could be heard yelling, "DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAMN IT. CAN'T ANYTHING GO RIGHT. CELESTIA COMES BACK TO LIFE? SHE DIDN'T DIE IN THE STORM BUT SHE WILL DIE WHEN SHE ENCOUNTERS ME!"

Colonel Black Mist flew over to Colgate and asked, "What is wrong Commander?"

Colgate shouted, "I thought my storm killed Celestia, but it didn't! I am so mad I feel like killing somepony!"

Black Mist said, "Colgate, don't. There has to be some other way for you to release your rage or satisfy your thirst for blood."

Colgate replied, "Actually, yes there is. Some raw hamburger will do. If I can feel lots of blood dripping down my face I will feel better. It will give me the feeling as though I am feasting on an enemy I have vanquished."

Black Mist said, "Uh Colgate, don't you think this obsession with feasting on your enemies after you kill them is going a bit far? It seems like since Twilight and Celestia finished their sentences on the sun and even more so here lately, that you are thirsting for blood more and more. Do you plan on killing Twilight and then feasting on her?"

Colgate replied, "I want to knock her unconscious, painlessly tear her skin open and then eat her heart as it is still beating. That would satisfy my thirst for blood."

Black Mist suddenly became fearful for his own life. He worried that if Colgate didn't get to feast on Twilight's heart, that she may just put him in a sleep and eat his heart while it was still beating. For the rest of the day, he avoided Colgate. He thought to himself, "Here I thought Twilight was evil, I think Colgate wants blood so bad she might end up killing anypony just to get it."

General Stinging Haze flew up to Colgate's balcony where she was standing and asked, "Why did Black Mist fly away from your balcony looking like he was terrified?"

Colgate replied, "Oh he probably thinks that I am going to kill him and eat his heart because I told him that is what I want to do to Twilight."

Stinging Haze asked, "Colgate, I do have a question. I have never heard of ponies having the thirst for blood like you do. Has there ever been any other ponies that have?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, there was one other. She was a pony from long, long ago. She was a shy pegasus who was made fun of constantly who overnight transformed into a wrathful Alicorn who went killing those who made fun of her and would feast on them after they were dead, but she did eat the hearts of those who tormented her the worse while they were still alive."

Stinging Haze asked, "What happened to this Alicorn?"

Colgate replied, "Well her friends helped her find her true self and transformed her back into the shy pegasus she was before."

Stinging Haze asked, "Going back to what I was going to say, Twilight never made fun of you so why do you want to do that to her?"

Colgate replied, "Because she mocked my power a thousand years ago, right before I had Luna banish her to the sun. That is enough for me."

Stinging Haze said, "Let's go get a bite to eat. I'm hungry."

Colgate replied, "Agreed. Some raw hamburger sounds so good to me!"

Colgate is enraged but one thing she doesn't know is that she has two strong allies headed her way, both of which have never felt truly loved by anypony but one another and both who feel like Twilight stabbed them in the back by becoming so close to Celestia and Galaxia again.

Two New Allies

Two days after Colgate went into her rage she was standing out on her balcony facing the west when she saw two Alicorns coming. She looked harder and realized that it was Luna and Cosmos. At first she thought they were going to attack but then something inside her told her that they weren't here to attack. She flew down to the base of the tower and they landed there. Both gave Colgate a smile.

Luna said, "Colgate we are here to join forces with you. Twilight has somehow managed to retake everywhere but Equestria without any sort of loyalty spell."

Cosmos added, "What irks me is that Galaxia just loves Twilight so much and Celestia thinks the whole world should belong to 'her Twily.' Ugh, why doesn't she just marry 'her Twily' if she loves her so much!"

All three of them began to laugh and Colgate said, "Oh that's a good one Cosmos! Hmmm.....maybe I should banish them to the void together, or I know of an even better idea. I will imprison them in the dungeon and then Celestia can be with her precious Twily forever!"

Black Mist was in the area and he flew over and said, "What, you want to put Celestia and Twily in the dungeon together?"

Colgate laughed, "Yeah, since all of a sudden Twilight seems to love Celestia again and Celestia loves 'her Twily' so much! They may be in the dungeon but at least they will be happy!"

Luna suggested, "You know what Colgate? We should marry them before we take them down to the dungeon. Hey, I handled various legal contracts when I was a princess here."

Colgate replied, "That would be awesome! Hey, what happened to Galaxia? I thought she would come with you Cosmos."

Cosmos said, "Well like I said before she just loves Twilight so much. She doesn't love her the way Celestia does, but gag me, it is bad enough. Celestia seems to think that the world revolves around the same pony that has tried to kill her twice, deposed her and ran her out of Equestria."

Colgate replied, "Good grief. I wouldn't feel that way towards a pony that did that to me. If anypony did that to me, I would probably cast them into the void or kill them and eat their heart, depending on how hungry I was."

Luna suggested, "Wow Colgate, I never knew you had that mindset! Regarding their punishment, I think it should be a bad one, something to where they will never see each other again. After all, punishments are supposed to be bad, not making the prisoners happy."

Black Mist had a smile on his face and said, "Wow, I never heard of two ponies that were once student and teacher building something that more resembles a mother/daughter. I agree with Luna, don't let them be together. Punishments are supposed to be bad!"

Colgate laughed and said, "Oh you guys are right, being apart for all eternity will be the worst punishment possible."

Luna asked, "Hey, do you have anything to eat? We are pretty hungry."

Colgate replied, "Of course we do! Let's go gather up other officers and get my friends. They are all over at Sugarcube Corner right now. I need to let them know that they are being called to duty."

They all headed over to Sugarcube Corner and went in where they were greeted by Rarity.

"Cosmos and Luna, it is so nice to see you! Oh hi Colgate, sorry I didn't see you there at first." said Rarity

Cosmos said, "Hi Rarity, how is everything going for you?"

Rarity replied, "Well things are going ok, but I just wish I could get even with Twilight. Yes even after a thousand years and despite Colgate giving me my wings back, I still view her as an enemy that I want to put in her place."

Colgate said, "Well Rarity, you might just get your chance. I am calling all of you to duty. As you all know I can see things from afar with the jade Alicorn. Twilight, Shining Armor, Galaxia and Celestia have employed a huge dragon into their service. I have been listening in and Twilight wants to reconquer Equestria and make herself the dark goddess that rules the world again."

Applejack shouted, "She wants to take over the world, AGAIN?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, she does. I have been watching her since her and Celestia finished their sentence on the sun and landed in the Equine Empire. She has already decreed that LaurFa will be the steward there, she has decreed that Lemon Hearts will be the steward of Saddle Arabia, she has decreed that two of Lyra's generals will be the stewards of Neigh Zealand and she has basically named Celestia and Galaxia stewards of Alicorn Island."

Rainbow Dash asked, "And what about her and her stupid laws?"

Colgate replied, "She will rule over Equestria and the stewards will answer directly to her. She has reinforced the tribute laws she had in place before. She may not seem as evil this time, but don't let her fool you, she still has the same plans she had before."

Rarity shouted, "That wretch! Colgate, I am coming back to Ponyville and I am going to work hard at getting my accuracy and power much better!"

Colgate said, "Thank you Rarity! You have no clue how happy I am to hear that!"

Applejack asked, "What about Granny Smith, Big Mac and the Cutie Mark Crusaders?"

Colgate replied, "It depends, is there a lot to do on the farm right now?"

Applejack said, "No. Right now we have to wait for the apples to mature before we can do anything. All of us can fight if you needed us."

Colgate replied, "That is great, what about the rest of you?"

Rainbow said, "You've got it boss! Let's start training!"

Fluttershy shouted, "She will probably try to hurt my critter friends, I want to crush her and her envoy!"

Pinkie shouted, "Let's go, weee! After we defeat them we will have to throw a huge party! Weee!"

Colgate said, "Pinkie, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's win the battle and save the world from Twilight's wrath before we go planning any parties."

Pinkie replied, "Oh, ok. I understand."

Colgate said, "Ok, there are a few things we need to do besides training. I need to fit all of you with proper body armor and proper soldier helmets for this. They are bringing a dragon with them, a dragon who seems dead set on killing all of us."

Rarity looked scared and asked, "All of us?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, all of us. Twilight told him the names of everypony who stayed here with me and the names of ponies that I transformed and he said he would do absolutely anything she wanted him to."

Rarity asked, "Is the dragon Spike?"

By this time Colgate was an even better liar than Twilight. She would tell her forces anything and everything to make sure that she would have them on her side ready to fight when Twilight and her forces arrived.

Colgate replied, "Yes, the dragon is Spike. She must have him completely under her control because when she mentioned your name, he growled and told her that since you wronged Twilight and didn't love him the way he loved you that he would kill you if she asked him to."

Rarity said, "Well guess what, I am going to get my accuracy and power down pat and I will find a long, sharp piece of metal and fire it straight into that soft spot on his chest. It will penetrate all the way through his heart and kill him."

Applejack asked, "Ah wonder if he truly means that or if he is just trying to placate Twilight?"

Rarity replied, "I am guessing he is being honest with Twilight. I know how disappointed he would be when I didn't just gobble up all the attention he gave me. I bet that as an adult dragon he has decided that he will punish me for 'my crimes against him' when he was a child."

Applejack asked, "What happened to Shining Armor? I haven't seen him in a long time."

Colgate replied, "Well as you all know he was second in command here but once Celestia and Twilight finished their sentence on the sun he first started to act strangely. Then one day he simply flew east towards Maredrid where Twilight was. I am thinking he decided to put family first. However, what he did was a crime against Equestria. He is guilty of both treason and going AWOL right now, and he will be punished if he comes back."

Cosmos said, "I knew he was the second in command over here and I was wondering why he was with Twilight. I figured that he had betrayed you."

Luna added, "I seriously thought that her loyalty spells were forever broken. I had no clue that they would be restored on some of her victims once she came back."

Rainbow asked, "Colgate, is she still the same size she was when Luna banished her to the sun?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, she is. However, I have this strong suspicion that Galaxia will cast a spell to increase her size. One thing they can't do though, is restore the knowledge I took from her."

Rarity asked, "I know this is off-topic but could I measure everypony who is getting armor? I miss having my shop so much and I haven't measured anypony in ages."

Colgate replied, "Sure, why not. You always were good at doing things like that."

Rarity began to cry and said, "Thank you Colgate. Ladies, I want to apologize so much to you. I know it took me forever and you may not believe me but I missed being around normal, everyday ponies who work hard. I hope you can forgive me."

Rainbow Dash and her other friends gathered together and began to talk. Rainbow Dash said, "I don't know whether to believe her or not. She might just be trying to get on our good side and then betray us and join Twilight's side."

Applejack replied, "Ah can tell she is being truthful. I think we should give her another chance. Besides, after what Twilight did to her, tearing her wings off with her teeth, Ah know she hates Twilight."

Fluttershy said, "Well we all have enough power that if she does betray us we can all take her out."

Pinkie added, "Yeah, that sounds like a great plan. I think we should welcome her back."

After a couple more minutes of talking all four of them decided to forgive her completely. Applejack said, "Rarity, we have all decided that you are being truly genuine in what you are saying. We want to be friends with you again."

Rarity started flying around smiling like a school filly, flew over to them and hugged them. She said, "Thank you ladies! I'm so happy to be back! Now let's get ready to save the world from the dark goddess!"

All five of them shouted, "Death to the dark goddess Twilight Sparkle! Glory to team Colgate!"

Colgate smiled and said, "Alright everypony, let's gather the other Alicorns up and get them fitted for armor. This will not be an easy battle. We need to be alert, have full stomachs, and like always, we do not discuss anything involving battle or business during meals. Let's go round up the rest of the Apple family, head over to my black tower for a bite to eat and then do what we need to do to win this."

Preparing for the Battle

The afternoon that Luna and Cosmos arrived, Colgate rounded up all of her recruits. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, Lyra, Rarity and all of her friends headed to Colgate's black tower to get measured for their armor. Rarity was ecstatic that she was finally going to get to do what she loves to do so much again, measure ponies for apparel.

Rarity asked, "Colgate, who measured you for your armor since I wasn't here?"

Colgate replied, "The blacksmith, Steel Hooves, measured me. It was something he wasn't used to but he did a perfect job on it though. However, he is no longer alive but his great-great-great... well you get it, grandson Steel Mane will be making them. Our armor will be made out of steel as will our helmets. The distance around the base of your horns will have to be measured as well so the hole for your horn will be just right. Don't worry, they will be made so that your wings will fit through perfectly as well."

Scootaloo asked, "Wow, you want everything to be perfect with this, don't you?"

Colgate replied, "Of course I do Scootaloo! I want us to fight the battle in comfortable armor!"

Rarity asked, "So Colgate, when do you want me to start measuring everypony?"

Colgate replied, "Now. Alright everypony, go into the throne room so Rarity can measure you. I am going to go let Steel Mane know that later today there will be an order placed for 14 suits of armor and 14 soldier helmets."

Babs asked, "So how much is this going to cost?"

Colgate replied, "Don't worry about it. He is the blacksmith for the army so this won't cost anypony anything."

Fluttershy shouted, "YAY!"

Colgate said, "Wow Fluttershy, you must be getting determined to do this."

Fluttershy got a determined look on her face and shouted, "HAY YEAH I AM! I'M NOT GOING TO LET HER OPPRESS US OR ANYPONY ELSE!"

Rainbow Dash said, "Wow Fluttershy, except for when you took Iron Will's assertiveness course and became Brevity Thrash, I've never seen you like this!"

Fluttershy replied, "Well I don't want her oppressing anypony, whether it be here in Equestria or anywhere else in the world."

Colgate smiled and said, "That is the spirit I want out of everypony, do you guys have it?"

Big Macintosh said, "Eeyep!"

Everypony else shouted, "HAY YEAH WE HAVE IT!"

Colgate said, "Alright everypony, follow Rarity into the throne room while I head over to see Steel Mane."

While everypony else headed into the throne room to be measured by Rarity, Colgate headed over to Steel Mane's shop. When she entered she was greeted by him.

"Hi Colgate, what brings you in today? Does somepony in your military need new armor?" asked Steel Mane

Colgate replied, "Well I have 14 new soldiers that I will need armor made for. All of them are Alicorns, so the helmets will need holes for the horns."

Steel Mane asked, "When will you be able to get the measurements to me or will I be measuring them?"

Colgate replied, "One of my new soldiers used to work in a fashion boutique so she is measuring them. She is also measuring the distance around the base of their horns as well. There will be 14 total needed."

Steel Mane asked, "Would it be ok if I had a couple of my apprentices help me out with this. It would take a while if I do it alone. If they help me, it will take 3 days, if I have to do it alone, it will take 2 weeks."

Colgate replied, "It is fine if you have your apprentices help you. I am sure they are just as good as you are and we need this done within a few days. I will have the measurements to you late this afternoon."

Steel Mane said, "Well I close up shop at six, so just get them to me before then."

Colgate replied, "Will do."

Colgate arrived up in the throne room right as Rarity was finishing measuring the last pony. She went over and asked Rarity if she had written the measurements for each suit of armor and the size of hole for each helmet.

Rarity said, "Yes, I do. I even wrote the names of each pony next to them."

Colgate replied, "This is spectacular. I am going to take this list and get it down to Steel Hooves. I will be back."

Colgate flew down to Steel Mane's shop and said, "Steel Mane, here are the measurements. The name of each pony is next to their measurements."

Steel Mane asked, "Is one of them a stallion?"

Colgate replied, "Yes. Why do you ask?"

Steel Mane said "I asked because one of the suits of armor you are requesting is larger than the others. Don't worry, I am going to go get my apprentices and we will get started on all of these right away."

Colgate replied, "Thank you! All of us really appreciate this!"

Colgate flew back up to the throne room to address everypony. She said, "Alright troops, Steel Mane and his apprentices are going to get to work on these right away. He said that they should be ready in three days. I want us to rest for the rest of the day and then tomorrow after breakfast we will start fine tuning our power and levitation skills."

Sweetie Belle asked, "So how long will it be before they leave Faustica and come here?"

Colgate replied, "I was watching all of this yesterday and they said it would be two weeks. That means that they will be here in 13 days. That will be more than enough time for us to fine tune our battle skills and we should have our armor and helmets in three days. So we will be perfectly ready for them."

Rarity asked, "What are you going to do with Twilight and Celestia?"

Colgate began to laugh and said, "Initially I wanted to kill Twilight and eat her heart but I thought of something much better. Her and Celestia have not only made up but they are growing very close. They are starting to act more like mother and daughter. I was thinking that Luna could banish Celestia to the sun and I would banish Twilight to the void. Then mama Celestia and baby Twily wouldn't see each other ever again!"

Rainbow Dash laughed, "Oh Colgate, that would be hilarious!"

Colgate continued, "I have watched from afar and Celestia is always referring to Twilight as 'her Twily' which to me means she views Twilight as a daughter again. This mother/daughter pair will fight hard for one another but we will fight harder. We will bring down the alleged dark goddess and her puppet."

The next day arrived and after breakfast they all headed down to the target range. Colgate said, "Alright, along with all of you, I also will be taking part in these exercises. With there being 15 of us, this may take us all day or it may even extend into tomorrow. I have decided that each pony will do both exercises at once. Who wants to go first?"

Rarity raised her hoof and said, "I want to go first."

Colgate replied, "Alright Rarity, give it your best shot."

Colgate was not expecting much out of Rarity but much to her surprise Rarity levitated the rock to a height of 60 feet and held it there for three minutes effortlessly.

Colgate asked, "Rarity, were you feeling any sort of stress while holding that boulder up at that height?"

Rarity replied, "No, not at all. It felt more like I was levitating some ribbon."

This thrilled Colgate. She was ecstatic to see how much Rarity improved. She said, "Alright, let's do the target and energy exercise next."

Rarity headed over to the target area and fired three bolts of energy at the targets. She scored direct hits and put out quite a bit of energy into them. Colgate flew down to the other end of the range and was stunned by what she saw.

She smiled at Rarity and said, "Wow Rarity, you put three times more power into this than Twilight ever did! I am so proud of you!"

Rarity flew down to the other end of the range where her and Colgate did a hoofbump and in unison they shouted, "BOOYAH!"

Rarity's friends saw this and began to realize that Rarity was starting to become more like them. She was starting to lose the elegant, sophisticated part of her and was becoming your normal, everyday pony like everypony else in Ponyville. This made all of them happy.

Colgate asked, "Who wants to go next?"

Sweetie Belle started shouting, "Pick me, pick me!"

Colgate replied, "Alright Sweetie Belle, give it your best shot!"

Sweetie Belle had the same performance that Rarity had on both the levitating test and the accuracy/energy test. Colgate flew down to the end of the range and said, "Wow Sweetie Belle, you and Rarity did the exact same! You two are doing spectacular!"

Next up was Big Macintosh. He was easily able to levitate the rock to a height of over 100 feet and his power and accuracy were equal to Colgate's.

Colgate shouted, "Wow Big Mac! Your energy is equal to mine! You'll be able to take them out for sure!"

Big Mac replied, "Eeyep!"

Everypony else went through and had similar results to Big Mac and Colgate. Finally it was time for Princess Luna and King Cosmos to test their skills.

King Cosmos was next. He was able to levitate the rock to a height of over 250 feet and held it there until Colgate told him to put it down. Next he did the accuracy/power test. He hit all three targets and put in twice as much power as Colgate did. Colgate thought to herself, "Good thing he is loyal to us, or we would be in serious trouble."

Colgate said, "Wow Cosmos, you did spectacular. You levitation skills are spectacular, you have perfect accuracy and your power is beyond great. You will fry our enemies for sure!"

"Thanks Colgate," said Cosmos "I know we will win this."

Finally it was Luna's turn. Luna was ready to prove herself as the most powerful pony of them all. Luna levitated the rock to a height of over 400 feet and held it there for five minutes, it was effortless for her. Next she did the accuracy/power test. She fired her energy, she hit all three targets and incinerated all three of them. When Colgate saw this, her jaw dropped open.

Colgate said, "Wow Luna, you did spectacular! Let's just say I'm glad that I have extra targets here!"

Scootaloo asked, "How did we all do today?"

Colgate replied, "Well let's just say that if the battle were today, you would all be ready and easily defeat our enemy. Let's keep working on our skills though. Twilight is bringing a dragon with her. It will take a lot of power and accuracy to fire a sharp metal pole into that tiny bare spot on his chest and a lot of power to get that far enough in him that it will penetrate his heart."

Everypony shouted, "WOOHOO! TEAM COLGATE ROCKS!"

Colgate stood there and blushed. She then said, "Alright everypony. It has been a long day. Let's go and have a filling supper."

Everypony headed up to the dining hall where they had a huge supper to fill their bellies after a long day of training. They would have several more days of this as Colgate wanted to make sure her recruits were ready for the battle that would not only decide the fate of Equestria, but the entire planet.

Collapse of the Alliance

It had been three days since Luna and Cosmos betrayed Celestia and Galaxia and flew east to aid Colgate and her cause. Everything seemed to be going on perfectly normal in Faustica except for one thing, Twilight and Celestia had been spending more time together and less time focusing on the task that Twilight was so eager to take care of, which is to take Equestria. West of town, Celestia and Twilight were taking a walk.

They stopped and Twilight said, "Celestia, I have a major question for you."

Celestia asked, "What is that Twilight?"

Twilight replied, "Well as you know I am kinda paranoid. I am wondering that if once we take back Equestria and I rule everything again, if eventually the stewards will want to have full power over their provinces, declare independence and name themselves queen."

Celestia said, "They might, I'm not sure. If any of them did it, it would be Lyra. She wants full power down in Neigh Zealand because she thinks you are a money hungry tyrant and know absolutely nothing when it comes to the economic aspect of ruling."

Twilight slammed her hoof to the ground and said, "I know. Once we win, she is going to the void. She thinks she knows so much about governing, she can govern the void."

Celestia said, "You know Twilight, I am thinking we need to forge a secret alliance. I say this because my mom, LaurFa and Lemon Hearts will ultimately want more power. I am thinking it would be better if we put loyal changeling and dark Alicorn generals in as stewards. We need to do something with the other Alicorns."

Twilight replied, "Well I could always banish them to the void and you could send your sister to the moon."

Celestia said, "I like that idea. I am still mad that Luna had the audacity to send me to the sun."

Twilight replied, "Well you know how she is. I think she is spiteful and I know she will probably be just as ruthless as Colgate will be when we attack."

Celestia said, "Well she is a brutal, heartless tyrant."

Twilight replied, "I know. Once I became the Dark Goddess and gave her a commander's spot, I think I taught her too well. It doesn't help that I accidentally left a spell book to where she could read it and get into the archives either. I still feel like an idiot for doing that."

Celestia said, "Well you can't change the past. Twilight, if we are to stand a chance I need to increase you to the same size as me. With you being small like this, you won't stand a chance."

Twilight replied, "Ok, let's do this."

Celestia pointed her horn at Twilight. She began to glow as she recited, "The small one wishes they were tall so that they won't have to crawl, with height their future is bright and everything will be alright, for the small one is small no more, with height their happiness shall be galore."

A powerful bolt of energy hit Twilight and she began to grow. When she quit growing she was the same size as Celestia. This made both of them very happy. Twilight said, "Thank you Celestia. Now Colgate won't see me as a little fly she can easily crush."

Celestia replied, "Well hey, we need to increase our chances to win if you are to rule the world again."

They then continued to head down the road but had no clue that Lemon Hearts had seen and heard everything. Very soon they would discover that they were being watched and would endure the wrath of Galaxia.

Shining Armor was having a lot of problems going on in his mind. He was divided on whether he should help Twilight in her quest or if he should just stay in Faustica. He was also wondering where Twilight and Celestia were, as he thought that his sister would have wanted to have a meeting by now. He saw Galaxia down in the courtyard and decided he would ask her about what is going on.

Shining Armor flew down to the courtyard to where Galaxia was. He said, "Hi Galaxia, how is everything going?"

Galaxia replied, "It is ok, but it could be better."

Shining Armor asked, "Why do you say that? What is going on?"

Galaxia went on a rant. She said, "It involves my daughter and your sister. Here Twilight was so gun-ho on going and conquering Equestria yet all she does is spend every waking moment with Celestia. Those two don't even seem to care about that anymore."

Shining Armor replied, "I know. There for so long she hated Celestia but I know she doesn't now. A pony doesn't go spending so much time with another pony that they hate. I just wonder what they are up to."

Galaxia said, "I am wondering the same. I don't know if they are just trying to become as close as they used to be or if maybe they are planning on betraying us."

Shining Armor replied, "They might be doing both. This might sound like me being overly paranoid, but I have noticed that Twilight is starting to view her as a mother again but at the same time seems to have very in depth conversations with her."

Galaxia said, "Well I think we need to get Lemon Hearts and LaurFa and hold a meeting. Twilight and Celestia won't even notice so it's not like we will have to worry about them being upset."

Galaxia and Shining Armor headed out to get LaurFa and Lemon Hearts from the cafe as this was an extremely important meeting.

In Ponyville Colgate was watching all of this and was not thrilled. She yelled, "DAMN IT ALL TO HELL, CELESTIA MADE TWILIGHT THE SAME SIZE AS HER. WELL THEY WILL STILL BE DEAD MEAT WHEN THEY GET THERE, THEM AND THEIR DAMN DRAGON TOO."

Ice Storm could hear her yelling so he headed up to her room and asked, "Colgate, what is wrong? You seem mad as hell."

Colgate replied, "I am mad as hell. Celestia and Twilight are talking about her conquering the world, casting me into the void and she cast the enlarging spell on Twilight and now she is the same size as her. But they're still going down when they come here. Now I know I will cut her open and eat her heart."

Ice Storm asked, "Commander, remember, you need to keep your composure. You can't be going into battle with this much rage. You won't think clearly."

Colgate replied, "Oh you're right. I hate her with a passion and I want to bring her down but I do need to focus my determination to defeat her."

Ice Storm said, "Now that is the Colgate I know so well. Just keep your composure. Composure is the best way to defeat an enemy. Being emotional will only lead to defeat."

Colgate replied, "Well I am going to work on keeping my anger in check. Losing is not an option. I don't want us getting banished to the void."

Ice Storm asked, "Do you want me to let everypony else know about this?"

Colgate shouted, "NO, DO NOT TELL THEM ANYTHING. IF THIS GETS BACK TO ME I WILL PUT YOU IN A SLEEP, CUT YOU OPEN AND EAT YOUR HEART WHILE IT IS STILL BEATING, GOT IT?"

Ice Storm said, "My lips are sealed."

Back in Faustica Galaxia, Shining Armor, Lemon Hearts and LaurFa gathered in the throne room. Galaxia said, "Alright, we need to discuss something very important, something that involves my daughter and Shining Armor's sister."

LaurFa asked, "What is that? Is it about them spending so much time together here lately?"

Galaxia replied, "Yes, it is. Shining Armor and I have noticed this and we are wondering if you two know what they are up to."

Shining Armor added, "I don't know about you but I personally think they are going to stab us in the back sooner or later. I'm sorry Galaxia, but right now I am having a hard time trusting either one of them."

Galaxia said, "Don't worry about it. I don't trust them either. I have a question for you two, have either one of you two seen them today?"

LaurFa replied, "No, not at all. I was certain that Twilight would want to hold some sort of meeting or something, but low and behold, her and Celestia are nowhere to be found."

Lemon Hearts replied, "Well I saw Celestia cast some sort of enlarging spell on Twilight and caused her to grow to where she was the same size as her."

Galaxia asked, "Did you see anything else?"

Lemon Hearts replied, "Yeah, after that they stopped for a few minutes and started talking about what they would do once Twilight conquered the world. Twilight and Celestia want to forge a secret alliance because they think that as stewards we would want too much power."

Galaxia shouted, "WHAT THE HAY? OH GREAT, NOW WE HAVE ENEMIES WITHIN. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. THEY WILL WISH THE HAY THEY NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. WE WILL HANDLE THEM WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT."

Lemon Hearts replied, "Yep, they want to forge their own alliance. Twilight and Celestia were both talking about how Lyra wouldn't just be a mere steward and they talked about what they would do to the other stewards if they wanted more power."

Galaxia said, "Well they can forget about me helping them. I will go help Colgate instead."

Shining Armor asked, "What road were they headed down?"

Lemon Hearts replied, "Well it is this road that heads south out of the city and it looks like the one that loops around some mountain."

Galaxia had a worried look on her face and said, "Oh crap, that is a very, very bad thing."

LaurFa asked, "What is up that road anyway?"

Galaxia replied, "That road goes to the temple of Brevity Thrash. Ponies who want to get revenge against others will go up there and very often, those who go up there wind up winning."

Lemon Hearts asked, "Are you going to let them go to the temple of Brevity Thrash or can we stop them?"

Galaxia asked, "Lemon Hearts, how long ago did you see them head down that road."

Lemon Hearts replied, "Right before you guys came to get me to notify me of that meeting."

Galaxia replied, "Alright everypony, let's go. Follow me, I know exactly where that place is."

Shining Armor said, "Well what are we waiting for, come on everypony, let's go stop this!"

Twilight and Celestia were walking up the roads when Twilight told her that they have to stop.

Celestia asked, "Why do we have to stop?"

Twilight replied, "We just do. Now look into my eyes."

Celestia looked into Twilight's eyes very deeply for about five minutes. Finally Celestia blinked and fell to the ground. Twilight thought to herself, "I'm even better at this than Chrysalis! Maybe I need to do this to everypony else!"

Celestia got up and she looked at Twilight like she was very fatigued. Twilight was thrilled with what she saw. Celestia now had the same green eyes that Twilight had.

Celestia asked, "Ugh....I feel like I've been hit by a train. What happened?"

Twilight replied, "Nothing bad happened. Don't worry about it. We need to get to the temple, the sooner the better."

Celestia said, "Yes ma'am! Let's hurry and get there. We need to do this, rally our allies and go crush Colgate!"

Twilight was beyond thrilled with this. She replied, "Hay yeah Celestia! That is the attitude I like to see in a soldier!"

They continued up the road and finally the temple was within their sights when suddenly there were four very angry Alicorns blocking their path.

Galaxia was in a rage and shouted, "CELESTIA, HOW DARE YOU FIGHT FOR HER! DON'T YOU REMEMBER SHE HAS TRIED TO KILL YOU ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, DEPOSED YOU, DROVE YOU OUT OF EQUESTRIA AND MOCKED YOU MERCILESSLY?"

Celestia replied, "Mom, those days have long passed. Things will be far better off when she is ruling the world again."

Twilight added, "Yes Galaxia. You know the last time I ruled the world things improved for everypony."

Shining Armor said, "Look little sis, all of us have gave up so much to help you with this quest but we all know what your plan is now. You want to oppress us all and tax everypony to death."

Lemon Hearts shouted, "I am not happy with you Twilight. I let my generals take care of things down in Ridead and now I discover that you will basically rule with iron hooves and give the stewards very little power."

LaurFa said, "I have the same view that Lemon Hearts has. I should be back in Maredrid taking care of things, protecting them from your taxes which would devastate the Equine Empire. Yet somehow you got me back into your service but no more, I'm headed home. The hell with both of you."

Shining Armor added, "You know what, I don't know where I can go. I can't go back to Equestria because Colgate will either throw me in the dungeon or banish me somewhere for going AWOL and even if she didn't do that, I know she has plenty of other ponies that she could name General of the Army. I'm sorry little sis, but I will not help you with your quest to take it all."

Galaxia said, "Twilight, if you think I am going to help you now you are delusional. You two along with that dragon may stay here until you are ready to leave, but do us a favor, don't come near the palace. I have no desire to even look at either one of you."

Celestia went into a rage and said, "You idiots don't know what is good for the world. My Twily will make the world perfect."

Twilight asked, "Are you four going to let us pass or not?"

Galaxia replied, "Sure, just a minute."

While the other three continued to block Twilight and Celestia's path, Galaxia flew above the temple and fired powerful bolts of energy at it, leveling it. She wound up killing a couple of other ponies who were in there asking Brevity Thrash to aid them in killing their neighbors but she didn't care. She viewed this as an issue of global security.

Galaxia shouted, "WELL, WELL, WELL. IT LOOKS LIKE TWILIGHT AND HER LITTLE LAP DOG WON'T CONQUER EVERYTHING AFTER ALL!"

Celestia shouted, "DAMN YOU MOM, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE?"

Galaxia replied, "Why? Because we don't think it is Twilight's destiny to take over the world, AGAIN! She should never have had control of it in the first place. She did it once but she will not do it again!"

Just as Galaxia and her envoy began to leave for Faustica Twilight and Celestia started firing energy at them. Galaxia and her envoy started firing energy back. One of the bolts hit Twilight, knocking her out cold. This caused Shining Armor to have a sudden change of heart as to who he will help.

Shining Armor shouted, "Stop the battle, Twilight has been knocked out!"

Lemon Hearts shouted, "YOU TYRANT, SO YOU'RE JOINING HER SIDE NOW, HUH?"

LaurFa added, "Get ready to meet your death you treasonous son of a mule. All three of you are finished!"

Galaxia shouted, "WE'LL DEAL WITH THEM LATER, LET'S GET BACK TO FAUSTICA."

Galaxia, LaurFa and Lemon Hearts headed back to Faustica but they all had other plans. They would soon learn that all of them have the same plan, to go to Ponyville and aid Colgate in her quest to save the world.

Twilight finally came to and asked, "Shining Armor, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with the three wicked mares?"

Shining Armor replied, "Look little sis, when Lemon Hearts knocked you out cold. I realized that blood is thicker than water. I am going to help you reclaim everything. When should we take off to do this?"

Twilight replied, "In ten days. I still think we need time to get well rested before that long flight and then the battle. Besides, getting knocked out cold drains a lot of energy from a pony."

Celestia said, "Yeah I think it would be best if we waited ten days. What do you think Shining Armor?"

Shining Armor replied, "It sounds good to me. Twilight is the top pony in charge so it is her decision."

Back in Ponyville Colgate was watching this and was not thrilled that Shining Armor was going to be joining them. She was also not thrilled that Celestia had the same evil green eyes that Twilight did. She threw her hooves over her head and shouted, "DAMN IT ALL TO HELL. WHAT ELSE COULD GO WRONG?"

Black Mist heard her shouting and headed up to her room. He asked, "Colgate, what are you mad about now?"

Colgate replied, "Well first Shining Armor has decided to help his precious little sister in her quest and second Twilight brainwashed Celestia to be evil just like her."

Black Mist asked, "Is there any good news?"

Colgate replied, "Yes there is. LaurFa, Lemon Hearts and Galaxia told Twilight to her face 'the hell with you' and have decided not to help her. I have a feeling that they will be coming here to help our cause instead."

Black Mist said, "That would be a very good thing. The more soldiers we have, the better."

Colgate replied, "Yes, it would be. I will have to have them measured for armor and then have Steel Mane make it, but it appears as though Twilight is still going to wait ten days. If Lemon Hearts, LaurFa and Galaxia leave tomorrow even, they will get here seven days before Twilight's attack and they will have their armor within three days of their arrival. This will work out just fine."

Black Mist asked, "Do you want me to tell everypony else about this?"

Colgate shouted, "NO, JUST LIKE WITH ICE STORM, IF THIS GETS BACK TO ME I WILL PUT YOU INTO A DEEP SLEEP AND EAT YOUR HEART WHILE IT IS STILL BEATING."

Black Mist asked, "When they do come here, why don't you just put Twilight into a deep sleep and eat her heart in front of Celestia?"

Colgate replied, "Hmmm...That is a good idea. It would be taking care of Twilight and punishing Celestia even more before I have Luna banish her to the sun."

Black Mist asked, "If you did that would that finally satisfy your obsession with eating somepony's heart?"

Colgate replied, "Yeah, it would. Now let's go grab a bite to eat. I'm hungry."

Colgate and Black Mist headed down to the dining hall. Colgate was thrilled to see Twilight's allies abandoning her and thought it was hilarious that Twilight and Celestia were in a situation where their love was blinding rational thought. Colgate thought to herself, "Maybe it was destiny that Celestia survived. It has led to her allies abandoning her and her not having clear judgement!"

The Days Before

Four days had passed and in Ponyville Steel Mane had just finished everypony's armor. Colgate along with her recruits headed to the blacksmith shop. Colgate really hoped that everything would fit. Once they arrived, Steel Mane greeted them.

"Hi Colgate, Hi everypony." said Steel Mane

Colgate replied, "Hi Steel Mane. These are the ponies that you made the armor and helmets for."

Steel Mane said, "Come on in everypony. Your armor and helmet is laying on this table with a tag that has your name on it. I hope all of them fit."

Colgate replied, "Yeah, you and me too."

Everypony put their armor on and it fit perfectly. Rarity asked, "Excuse me Steel Mane, do you have a mirror that I could take a look and see how I look in this? I want to see how marvelous I am in it."

Steel Mane replied, "You won't find mirrors in any blacksmith shop Rarity, I'm sorry."

Rarity asked, "Colgate, what about you? I'm certain you have to have some in your tower."

Colgate replied, "Nope, I don't have any mirrors. As soon as Twilight was officially gone as ruler here, I took them out and incinerated them. I think mirrors are portals for evil spirits."

Applejack said, "So Ah'm not the only one that thinks that. Ah'm glad to know you do too Colgate."

Colgate replied, "Well when I was a filly there was this mirror that hung on the wall in my bedroom. At first I didn't think anything of it until one night I saw an evil spirit in it. It got even worse when it came out of the mirror, I screamed really loud hoping my parents would hear me, but they didn't."

Applejack asked, "So what happened next."

Colgate continued, "Well my horn began to glow and it scared the evil spirit back into the mirror and then I fired a bolt of energy at the mirror, shattering it. After that, I felt safe because the portal was destroyed."

Scootaloo asked, "So what did your parents do when they discovered you had broke your mirror?"

Colgate replied, "Well they grounded me for a month. They made me clean the neighbor's house until I had paid off the cost of the mirror. I remember how they belittled me when I told them why I broke it. My brother was sympathetic with me though because he had seen the same things."

Scootaloo asked, "Did your brother break his mirror too?"

Colgate replied, "No, he was an earth pony. I don't know if you remember him but my brother was Dr. Hooves. Many ponies wonder how a unicorn and earth pony can be siblings but my mom was an earth pony and my dad was a unicorn. He did not have magic to shatter his mirror and he was afraid to get up and shatter it. He told mom and dad he was afraid of the mirror every day until he left for college in Vanhoover, and then they took it down. They wanted to put it in my room but I begged them not to. Finally they caved in and stored it in a closet."

After hearing all of this Rarity asked, "Wait a minute, you had an evil spirit come out of your mirror? Does that happen with all mirrors?"

Colgate replied, "It can. I don't know if you ever saw any in yours or not. Going back to the original topic though, you look spectacular in your armor and helmet Rarity. You will help us bring down our enemies and you will do it looking spectacular!"

Rarity said, "Oh Colgate, you're just saying that!"

Luna looked at Rarity and said, "Rarity, you look fabulous! When they come here, you never know, Shining Armor may take one look at you and defect to our side!"

Rarity blushed and said, "Oh I don't know if I would say that."

Colgate shouted, "Shining Armor comes here and he will be punished severely for his crimes."

Cosmos asked, "What crimes is he guilty of?"

Colgate replied, "So far it is treason and going AWOL. Once they get here and he is part of the attack, the crimes of aiding an enemy in an attack against Equestria and aiding an enemy in attempting to overthrow the government as well."

Cosmos asked, "What would the punishment for that many crimes be if you don't mind me asking?"

Colgate replied, "He would receive the death penalty for that many crimes. Had I never made him General of the Army or had him be in the army the AWOL wouldn't be there and he would get banished to the void, but I take going AWOL very seriously."

Luna asked, "You have a very military minded take when it comes to governing, don't you Colgate?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, I do. When Twilight made me a commander I had a different perspective on things. Once her and Shining Armor took off globe trotting I decided I would take over, scrap the monarchy and make Equestria a nation ruled by the military."

Luna said, "Well Equestria certainly seems to be in great shape since you took over. I never imagined Equestria would be this well off economically."

Colgate replied, "Well I let the individual communities handle their own finances rather than having somepony here, far away from the other communities handle things. After all, I'm a military commander, not a financial analyst. They know what works best for them."

Luna said, "You are the first leader I have ever heard say anything like that. Now I know why you are so well liked."

Colgate replied, "I didn't know I was all that well liked. Alright, everypony has their armor on. Let's go see how they look."

Everypony was lined up with their armor on. Theirs was modeled after Colgate's so that it would fit them perfectly. Colgate thought they looked spectacular and everypony loved their armor.

Pinkie said, "Wow Colgate, thank you for the armor! We are sure to win now!"

Colgate replied, "Yeah, and I also have an armor spell for us as well, along with a spell to shatter their armor. I not only want to win this, but I don't want any of us to get injured even in the slightest amount."

In Faustica, Lemon Hearts, Galaxia and LaurFa were getting ready to leave when Galaxia ran after them. Galaxia said, "Alright everypony, let's get going. I think we need to get out of here before Twilight and her minions catch us."

Lemon Hearts asked, "How long will it take us to get to Ponyville.?"

LaurFa replied, "Well it should take us around 12 hours to get to the coast of Equestria, then we will rest and eat for an hour and then it will be another 4-5 hours to Ponyville, unless we have the power to break the sound barrier and keep at that pace all the way to Ponyville, then it will take us about an hour and a half."

Galaxia said, "I wish we had a way to get a hold of Colgate. She could create a time bubble, freeze time, come and get us and then we would go back. We wouldn't get tired and we wouldn't have to worry about getting caught."

Lemon Hearts said, "Well let's rest for a couple more minutes and then get going."

Oddly enough, "Colgate was watching them through the eye and decided that she would go and get them so that she could get them to Ponyville as soon as possible, get them measured, get them armor and train them enough that they would be ready for the battle."

Colgate flew to the base and ran into Ice Storm and Black Mist. She said, "Alright guys, there are three ponies I need to go pick up along the coast of Faustica. Gather around me."

"Will do." They both said in unison.

Colgate began to glow brightly, her eyes began to shine and her horn was glowing as she recited, "A bubble is what we need, so from frozen time we can be freed, in this bubble we can move fast, while everything else is stuck in the past, it is frozen time which through we must pass so we will never be late to class."

Colgate and her top dark Alicorn officers were in the time bubble. Colgate poked the edge of her horn through the bubble. She began to glow as she recited, "Tick tock, tick tock, look at the racing clock, what is short is time and being late is a crime, we must finish on top so it is time I must stop, with time froze, it is my enemies I shall bulldoze."

Time was frozen. Colgate and her dark Alicorns began to flap their wings and very quickly they broke the sound barrier and were soaring towards Faustica. In what was three minutes in the bubble. They got within eyesight of Faustica. Colgate shouted, "STOP!"

Colgate then began to glow as she recited, "Look at the clock, it is stuck in place, with this there can be no pace, everything is still but that does not fit the bill, for now the clock shall again run so everypony can have fun."

Time was now unfrozen and the wind was blowing, the waves were rolling and the gulls were flying around. Colgate said, "Alright, now we need to undo the time bubble."

Colgate began to glow brightly as she recited, "In the bubble time continues to run, but now the time outside runs and allows fun, the bubble must burst so we can quench our thirst, from the bubble we are now free and everything we can clearly see."

Colgate, Ice Storm and Black mist flew towards the coast and very quickly found Galaxia and her envoy. They landed down by them and were greeted first by Galaxia.

Galaxia said, "Wow Colgate, here I was wanting to get a hold of you and low and behold, you are here!"

Colgate replied, "I was watching this island with the eye. I saw you three here, focused in on you and heard your conversation. I am glad that you three are going to be part of Team Colgate. Let's get going before Twilight and her minions find us."

Colgate performed the same spells to get back to Ponyville that she used to get to Faustica and in what was just a few minutes, they were back in Ponyville where Colgate unfroze time and undone the time bubble.

Lemon Hearts said, "Wow Colgate, that was so quick. You are absolutely amazing! How did you do it?"

Colgate replied, "Lemon Hearts, I am a Time Lady. I have the ability to manipulate and freeze time. As to how I did it, I am not going to teach anypony. It's not that I don't trust you, it is the sacred oath that every Time Lord and Time Lady takes once he or she discovers that manipulating time is their special talent."

Galaxia asked, "So what do we do now?"

Colgate said, "Follow me. I need Rarity to measure you so the blacksmith can make you proper body armor and a good soldier's helmet."

Rarity was over at Sugarcube Corner eating cake with Fluttershy and Pinkie when Colgate brought in her new recruits.

Pinkie said, "Hi Colgate. I'm not sure who you other ponies are but would any of you like a slice of cake?"

Colgate replied, "Sure. Rarity, could you do me a favor. These three have defected from Twilight's side to our side. I am wondering if you could get them measured as soon as possible. I am hoping to have them in armor in three days."

Rarity replied, "Of course I can. I was over here measuring Pinkie for a new dress so I have my measuring ribbon with me! Who are these three ladies?"

Galaxia said, "Rarity, you have met me before. I am Queen Galaxia from Faustica. These two are Lemon Hearts, Queen of Saddle Arabia and LaurFa, Queen of the Equine Empire."

Rarity felt so stupid and said, "Oh I am so sorry your highness, how could I have forgot who you are? I guess a thousand years really kills a pony's memory."

Galaxia replied, "Yeah, it has been a thousand years, hasn't it. In one way it seems like it was just yesterday but in another way it seems like it has been much more than that."

Very soon Rarity had the measurements written down for each pony. She handed the paper with the measurements on it to Colgate. Colgate said, "Thank you Rarity. Alright ladies, I know you have done this before, but that was over a thousand years ago. I need to see how your skills are and also, there is another test that you need to take part in."

Galaxia asked, "What is that?"

Colgate replied, "You will find out when we do the test. I need to make sure that you are on par with everypony else. But first, I need to get these measurements to the blacksmith."

Colgate headed over to the blacksmith shop where she was greeted by Steel Mane. He said, "Hi Colgate. I see you have a sheet of paper there. Do you have more soldiers that you need armor made for?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, I do. Here are their measurements. Do you think you could have your apprentices come in and help you? I want these done as soon as possible."

Steel Mane said, "Of course! If I bring both of them in, these should be done in two days."

Colgate replied, "That would be great. I need them to get used to being in body armor before the battle."

Steel Mane asked, "There is a battle coming up soon?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, there is. Twilight is going to be launching an attack on us anywhere between five and ten days from now. I need them to be comfortable in it."

Steel Mane said, "Alright, I will get my apprentices in here and we will start on these right away!"

Colgate replied, "Thanks, now to get out to the range, I have some training with them I have to do."

In Faustica Shining Armor was flying around trying to find Twilight and Celestia. He finally spotted them at a table outside of the cafe. He landed down there and was shocked by what he saw. He noticed that not only did Twilight have green eyes, but so did Celestia.

Shining Armor asked, "Celestia, what happened to your eyes? They look exactly like Twilight's."

Celestia said, "My Twily gave them to me. Now we look more alike. This will scare Colgate for sure!"

Shining Armor shouted, "Those green eyes aren't going to scare Colgate. I honestly don't know if that pony is scared of anything. I do know she won't be scared of you."

Celestia asked, "Shining Armor, do you know where Galaxia, Lemon Hearts and LaurFa are because we need to talk to them?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yeah, they're up in the throne room, well that's where they were ten minutes ago anyway."

Celestia, Twilight and Shining Armor all flew up to the throne room and to their dismay, they could not find them. They flew all over the city and had no luck finding them anywhere. They headed back to the throne room after thirty minutes of searching.

Twilight asked, "What do you think happened to them. It is almost as though they simply disappeared."

Celestia said, "I know all three of them are very angry with Twilight and I and I am wondering if they didn't just head off to Ponyville to aid Colgate.

Twilight replied, "Well I don't think that is the case. Lemon Hearts can't fly that far. The only way all three of them could have done that is if they rode on the back of a dragon and Spike hasn't gone anywhere."

Shining Armor suggested, "What if they rode in something? I have a very bad feeling that Colgate saw them getting mad at us, came and got them in a time bubble and then went back to Ponyville so quick that none of us even noticed."

Twilight said, "I did notice things froze momentarily. Colgate has to have time frozen to use the time bubble. I bet that is what she did. Great, just great, now we have three more ponies over there that we have to worry about."

In Ponyville Colgate was watching all this and realized that things were not going to be quite as easy but knew that even with Twilight having Shining Armor that it wouldn't be difficult. She also realized that with him going to be joining them, she could still eat a heart and banish both Twilight and Celestia. She also realized that with her three new recruits, that things would be much easier. She then flew down to the base.

She flew with great haste down to the base and shouted, "ATTENTION!"

This got everypony's attention. Colgate said, "Alright troops, I have been watching our enemies from afar and they will be leaving ten days from now. Like I had said before, they will be bringing a dragon with them. They will be riding on this dragon's back so we will have eight more days of exercises and then we will rest so we will be at our most alert when they arrive. There is one more test that we need to do.

"What is that?" asked Rarity

Colgate replied, "Ok, you see that brick wall with that tiny gap in the middle of it?"

Rarity said, "Yeah, I see it."

Colgate replied, "Alright, I am going to be levitating that thing around the same way a dragon would be flying around. What you guys will do is fire these ten foot spears and try to get them into it. This is to improve our accuracy for hitting that soft spot in the dragon's chest."

Sweetie Belle asked, "Who will be doing that with the wall while you are doing the test?"

Colgate replied, "General Ice Storm, I need you to get over here. I need you to levitate that brick wall and have it be moving around so all of us can fire those spears at it and try to hit that tiny hole."

Ice Storm asked, "Why do you want to do that."

Colgate put her hoof up to her head and said, "This is supposed to simulate trying to hit a flying dragon. The bare spot on their chest is the exact same size as that hole. All of us will be firing at him at once so we need to do a real life exercise, not one where we do this individually."

Scootaloo said, "Wow Colgate, that is an amazing idea!"

Colgate replied, "Thanks Scootaloo. Alright Ice Storm, start levitating it and move it around the way a dragon would fly."

Ice Storm started levitating it and making it move around like a dragon and Colgate shouted, "FIRE!"

Everypony began to fire the spears at the hole and within a couple minutes everypony had hit the hole twice. Colgate was ecstatic with these results. She shouted, "AT EASE SOLDIERS, AT EASE!"

Galaxia asked, "So, how did we do?"

Colgate replied, "All of you did perfect, that dragon doesn't stand a chance against us. It is getting close to supper time, let's go grab a bite to eat. I'm getting hungry anyway."

Ice Storm asked, "Are you going to be eating raw hamburger again? I am worried that the blood running down your face will scare your new recruits."

Colgate replied, "Don't worry, I will eat my meat cooked. After all, I do want to save some appetite for the final victory meal."

Galaxia and Lemon Hearts wondered what she meant by it. LaurFa had an idea of what it was and personally hoped she would get to see her eat either Twilight or Shining Armor's heart while they are still alive.

The Final Preparations

Eight days had passed since LaurFa, Lemon Hearts and Galaxia had defected and joined Colgate in Ponyville. They had their armor and had become comfortable in it. Everypony was down at the base engaging in exercises when Colgate flew down there. She was going to address her troops one more time before they would end their military exercises and rest before the battle.

Colgate said, "ATTENTION!"

This got everypony's attention and they stopped their exercises and faced Colgate, awaiting what she was going to say.

Colgate said, "Alright troops, the battle is fast approaching. There is one more exercise that we will be doing before we relax until our enemies arrive, which should be in a few days."

Lemon Hearts asked, "What is that going to be?"

Colgate replied, "We will be firing spears at that brick wall with the hole in it again. I want to make sure that our accuracy is perfect. Again General Ice Storm will be levitating the wall and have it simulating the motion of a dragon flying."

LaurFa asked, "Why do all of us have to do this at once?"

Colgate put her hoof to her face and snapped, "LaurFa, this has to simulate a real life battle. The changelings and dark Alicorns will be focusing on Twilight's changelings and dark Alicorns while we will be working on bringing that dragon down. Remember, we discussed this the first time we did this exercise, right after you got here."

LaurFa replied, "Ok, I remember that, I'm sorry."

Colgate said, "Alright Ice Storm, levitate that wall and levitate it around. Troops, this time some of us will be flying during this exercise, as some of us will probably be doing so when the attack takes place. Is everypony ready?"

Everypony shouted, "HAY YEAH!"

Ice Storm began to levitate the brick wall to simulate a dragon's flying. Colgate shouted, "FIRE!"

Everypony began firing the spears at the brick wall. Very quickly they were hitting the hole with ease as they had timed each other's firing and knew that only one spear would fit in that hole. After ten minutes Colgate had them stop the exercise.

Colgate gave them a huge grin and said, "That was perfect! I love how you all timed each other's rate of firing. That will make things much easier."

Granny Smith said, "Well, I told everypony that only one spear could fit in that hole before the exercise began and that we needed to time our firing so we wouldn't be trying to all hit the hole at the same time."

Colgate replied, "Wow, now that is something that even I wouldn't have thought of. You are awesome Granny Smith."

"Thank you youngin', I appreciate your compliment." said Granny Smith

Colgate said, "Alright troops, now we will rest and relax until the day of the battle. I will be increasing the size of our meals by a little bit. After all, a full stomach always results in more alert soldiers. I will be keeping an eye on our enemies in the event they decide to change the day when they will attack us. I have a feeling they may try to either get here sooner or push the time of their attack back to catch us off guard. Get some rest everypony."

In Faustica Twilight was talking with Shining Armor and Celestia over what their plans will be.

Twilight said, "Alright everypony, I want us to keep this attack scheduled as planned. Yes I have pretty much recovered from being stunned by Lemon Hearts, I still want all of us to be at our best."

Shining Armor asked, "Twilight, if we are going to be riding on Spike's back, what are we going to do about the changelings and dark Alicorns?"

Celestia added, "Yeah, what will we do. Can they fly as fast as Spike?"

Twilight replied, "Well not quite, but I am not going to have Spike flying at full speed. If we were to just go in there without any soldiers, we would not fare very well. Yes Spike can probably wipe them out with a few breaths of fire but I still think it is best if we take them with us."

Shining Armor said, "What about the armor spells? Colgate's spells are much more powerful than yours and I am certain that she has made her armor shields fire proof."

This sent Twilight into a rage, she yelled, "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT ABOUT MY SPELLS! THEY ARE JUST AS POWERFUL AS THAT WRETCH'S SPELLS. WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON ANYWAY?"

Shining Armor replied, "I'm on your side little sis. I have seen her spell power though. Remember the hurricane spell she cast? Remember how powerful that was?"

Twilight growled,"Yes, I remember it. No need to remind me of that. Ok, so her spells are more powerful. There is more to a battle than the power of a pony's spells. What matters the most is the heart that ponies put into their battle."

Celestia replied, "My Twily is right on this one. You know she is the top pony in charge and she is always right."

Twilight said, "Well we could always have Spike burn Ponyville to the ground. That would certainly teach them a lesson and force them to bow down to the Dark Goddess Twilight Sparkle."

Shining Armor suggested, "Perhaps we should do something else, such as have Spike scare them. Burning down Ponyville would only cause the whole community to hate you and once word of this got out, all of Equestria would hate you."

Twilight replied, "Oh, here you go being a softy again. Half the time I wonder whose side you are on. Besides, those in Ponyville who hate me will be executed and the news of it would not get out. I will see to that. Let's get some rest, I want us to leave right after dawn on the day after tomorrow."

Celestia asked, "What about breakfast? Aren't we going to eat breakfast?"

Twilight snapped, "Well duh! Of course we are, we will just eat it before dawn."

Shining Armor asked, "How long will it take us to get there?"

Twilight replied, "Well I plan on us flying to an area 20 miles east of Dodge Junction, rest for the night and then head on to Ponyville where we will crush that tyrant Colgate and all her minions."

Twilight's allies seemed unsure about Twilight's aggressive behavior and plans for their assault on Ponyville. They were very worried that they were going on a suicide mission but knew better than to back out of this. Shining Armor stayed because of family loyalty and Celestia always viewed Twilight as a daughter so she stayed as well.

In Ponyville Colgate was watching all of this and realized she needed to keep her soldiers informed. She flew down to the base and shouted, "ATTENTION!"

Everypony stood at attention as Colgate started to address them. She said, "Alright everypony. They will leaving right after dawn over there the day after tomorrow. Their trip will take one day, so three days from now we need to be ready for the assault, however I do not trust them. I think we need to be ready for their assault at any moment. For all we know they could take off now."

Applejack asked, "Will they be bringing any changelings or drones with them?"

Colgate replied, "Most likely. They would be very stupid if they didn't. I will tell you one thing, if they came without changelings or dark Alicorns, Twilight would prove to me that she has become an incompetent commander."

Luna said, "I don't know why, but I just have a feeling that they will be arriving sooner than that. I know you have been watching them through the eye but I think that everything they are saying is a lie. For all we know, they could be taking off right now."

Colgate replied, "True, very true. I will keep an eye on them and if anything changes, I will let all of you know. I'm headed back up to my tower. You guys relax and remain alert."

Back in Faustica Twilight decided later that afternoon that she wanted to leave right now. She flew to the courtyard where Shining Armor and Celestia were and shouted, "GET OFF YOUR FLANKS, WE'RE LEAVING NOW!"

Shining Armor said, "But Twilight, don't you want us to leave when we are 100% well rested?"

Twilight screamed, "WE CAN GET 100% WELL RESTED ON THE WAY. SPIKE, WE'RE LEAVING NOW! GET READY TO FLY TO PONYVILLE!"

Spike replied, "Alright Twilight, I'm ready to go. Climb on board everypony!"

Celestia asked, "Twilight, don't we need to get our changelings and dark Alicorns?"

Twilight screamed, "WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THAT. SPIKE CAN JUST BREATHE FIRE AND KILL THEM ALL, I WANT THIS FINISHED, THE SOONER THE BETTER!"

Everypony climbed on board and Spike began to fly to the east. Twilight was certain they would win but Shining Armor and Celestia truly feared that they would be killed or captured and punished severely.

In Ponyville Colgate saw this and flew down to the base. She shouted, "ATTENTION!"

Everypony was wondering what was going on this time. Cosmos asked, "What is going on Colgate?"

Colgate replied, "Twilight decided to change their plans. They just took off from Faustica. The way she is right now, she may force Spike to fly through with no rest. Be ready for them within 18-24 hours. I will keep an eye on things and keep you informed as to what is going on."

Colgate flew back up to the tower and said to herself, "Twilight has officially proven herself to be the stupidest commander ever. Maybe she should change her name to the Dumbass Goddess Twilight Sparkle!"

The Final Battle

It was sunrise the following morning in Ponyville and everypony was awaiting Colgate's arrival at the base and waiting for breakfast. It was a few minutes after sunrise that Colgate and the chefs arrived with everypony's breakfast. That morning they were going to have oats, bacon, eggs, sausage, hay and apple cider. Everypony was thrilled with what they were going to eat.

Scootaloo said with excitement, "Wow Colgate, this is a huge breakfast you are giving us! I don't know if I've ever seen this much food on one plate!"

Colgate replied, "Well I am giving you guys more food than normal this morning because I am expecting them to attack around noon, so we need to eat more this morning. If you want seconds, I urge you to ask for them. I don't want anypony here being hungry when Twilight and her minions fly over Galaxia Ridge."

Applejack said, "Well thank you kindly Colgate. Ah'm so happy that you are our commander. Ah am ready to save the world from the wrath of Twilight."

Everypony else shouted, "HERE, HERE!"

This made Colgate very happy, she said to her soldiers, "After we finish eating, we need to keep our eyes facing to the west. I will be keeping an eye on them and once they get within 10 miles of the city, I will cast the armor spell on us. Yes, us Alicorns, both regular and dark Alicorns have armor. The changelings are the ones that need extra protection, but all of us shall receive that protection. I will use the armor shattering spell on Twilight and her minions. Do any of you have any questions?"

LaurFa asked, "What would you do to anypony who was to flee the battle scene?"

Colgate glared at her and growled, "You aren't planning on that, are you? Anyone who flees the battle scene will be executed for treason."

Ice Storm added, "All of you know that Colgate is our Supreme Commander. Don't pull the same type of crap that Shining Armor pulled, who will be punished severely once he is captured."

Granny Smith said, "You hear that all you little whipper snappers? Do not flee the battle scene. If Colgate doesn't kill you for it, I WILL!"

Colgate shouted, "Wow Granny Smith, maybe I should make you my second in command!"

Ice Storm said, "Well everypony, now we just wait. They will be here in a few hours."

Colgate added, "Alright everypony, I am going to go monitor our enemy, you all relax but stay alert."

Colgate headed back up to her tower and kept an eye on Twilight and her minions. She saw them land at the coast to have some breakfast.

Out at the coast Spike lands on the shore and everypony gets off his back. Twilight said, "Alright everypony, let's eat some of these apples. They are delicious and very filling."

Celestia asked, "Is there any fresh water around. I am thirsty."

Twilight replied, "Yes, just a little bit inland, there are several lakes."

Shining Armor asked, "Twilight, are you 100% sure you want to go through with this? We are vastly outnumbered, Colgate will shatter our armor and if we are captured, we could receive the death penalty."

Twilight went into a rage. She screamed, "YOU DAMN COWARD! EITHER YOU FIGHT WITH US OR I WILL KILL YOU RIGHT NOW! THE SAME GOES FOR YOU CELESTIA!"

Shining Armor replied, "Twilight, I wasn't saying that I was going to not help you. I am just worried about what will happen, especially to you if you are captured."

Twilight screamed, "I WILL NOT GET CAPTURED. THE DARK GODDESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE WILL NOT GET CAUGHT, SHE IS INVINCIBLE!"

After around thirty minutes of eating and drinking water, Twilight decided that it was time to go to Ponyville. She said, "Spike, it is time to go take back the world."

Spike replied, "Alright Twilight, let's get going! Crawl back on board everypony!"

They all crawled on his back and he took off again, heading towards Ponyville with great haste. Shining Armor and Celestia were nervous but Twilight was thirsting for blood. Despite them being vastly outnumbered, Twilight was certain that they would win.

Once they got to within twenty miles of Ponyville Colgate flew down to the base to rally the troops before she cast the armor spell on them.

Colgate said, "Alright troops, they are only twenty miles away. The time has come to finally eradicate what has been the biggest threat to this world, Twilight Sparkle."

Everypony shouted, "HERE, HERE. TO WAR, TO VICTORY!"

Colgate said, "Alright everypony, gather around me. It is time for me to cast an armor spell on you. This one will have to be fire proof, which will require a lot more energy. I strongly advise you close your eyes and look away, I will be glowing very brightly."

Everypony shouted, "WILL DO!"

Colgate began to glow so brightly she appeared as a second sun in the sky, her eyes began to glow so brightly they shot out blue laser beams, her horn began to glow a bright blue and her cutie mark was radiating it's own energy as she recited" The one without armor does not stand a chance, so it is what we must enhance, the unarmed one will likely receive death, with armor he shall continue to draw breath, without armor he will be torn to shreds like a rag but with armor victory is in the bag."

A bright blue burst of energy radiated from Colgate's horn and was absorbed into everypony's body, making them completely immune to all attacks, including fire. Colgate was thrilled once this was done.

Apple Bloom said, "Wow Colgate, Ah'm so glad you are our leader. That must have been an awful powerful spell for even your cutie mark to shine so brightly!"

Colgate replied, "I'm glad I have so many wonderful soldiers and I'm glad to be your leader. Yes that was a very powerful spell I used. We will now be immune to all attacks, even fire attacks from the dragon they are bringing."

Fluttershy shouted, "YAY!"

Colgate said, "Alright troops, they will be here at any moment. Stay alert, watch the western horizon and be ready for battle."

Everypony shouted, "YES MA'AM! GLORY TO SUPREME COMMANDER COLGATE!"

Twenty miles west of Ponyville Twilight saw a bright blue ball over the eastern horizon and did not like what she saw.

Celestia asked, "Twilight, what was that?"

Twilight replied, "I'm not sure, but I think Colgate may have cast an armor spell on everypony. Well there is no way that she could cast one that would protect them from you Spike!"

Spike said, "Oh, I don't know, you give me too much credit Twilight."

Shining Armor replied, "Spike, there is no such thing as an armor spell that protects those who have it from fire. All you will have to do is breathe fire on them and victory will very quickly be ours."

Finally Galaxia ridge was in their sights and Twilight was so excited to fly over it and see her black tower, knowing that her bed awaits. Twilight shouted, "Finally everypony, Galaxia Ridge! My bed is calling my name!"

They finally clear Galaxia Ridge and see Ponyville. The army of changelings and dark Alicorns is not as large as it was when Twilight was banished to the sun but they were still vastly outnumbered. Twilight ordered Spike to stop.

Twilight said, "Ok everypony, I need to put an armor spell on us. If we go in without an armor spell, Spike would likely be the only one of us who would survive."

Celestia replied, "And we certainly don't want that."

Twilight began to glow and recited, "The one without armor does not stand a chance, so it is what we must enhance, the unarmed one will likely receive death, with armor he shall continue to draw breath, without armor he will be torn to shreds like a rag but with armor victory is in the bag."

The energy from Twilight hit her forces and provided the armor that would protect them for the most part, although Twilight believed that they would be invincible, but blinded by her arrogance, she failed to realize that Colgate could and would destroy her armor.

Colgate and her forces saw them stopped above Galaxia Ridge while Twilight cast the armor spell. Colgate asked Luna if she could transform into Nightmare Moon.

Luna replied, "Sure!"

Clouds began to shroud Ponyville and there was lightning and powerful winds. This terrified Celestia at the worst possible time. Twilight was enraged by this. She shouted, "CELESTIA YOU DAMN COWARD. GET WITH THE PROGRAM! IF COLGATE DOESN'T KILL YOU, I WILL UNLESS YOU GROW UP!"

Shining Armor said, "Uh Twilight, are you sure you want to go into this. I can tell that Colgate is thirsting for blood, literally."

Twilight shouted, "OH, AND WHAT MAKES YOU THINK SHE IS LITERALLY THIRSTING FOR BLOOD YOU PATHETIC COWARD?"

Shining Armor replied, "You know what? As soon as you and Celestia finished your sentences on the sun she immediately developed this thirst for blood. She started eating all her red meat raw so that she could feel blood running down her face. I even heard her say once that she wants to cut you open and eat your heart while it is still beating. Do you really want to suffer that fate?"

This sent Twilight into a rage like she had never experienced before. She screamed, "THAT WRETCH WILL BE THE ONE THAT GETS HER HEART EATEN. ALRIGHT SPIKE, CHARGE!"

Colgate and her forces saw them charging towards Ponyville. Colgate shouted, "Alright troops, the battle that will decide the fate of the entire planet is upon us. TO WAR, TO VICTORY!"

Her forces shouted, "TO WAR, TO VICTORY!"

Colgate began to levitate and glow brightly like a second sun in the sky as she recited, "Our foes' armor is great, that is something I hate, with their armor they are strong, but them having armor is just plain wrong, now their armor is gone and it is time for them to say bye as they are struck by energy and die."

Her first bolt of energy struck Spike. She remained glowing as she fired bolts of energy at Shining Armor, Celestia and Twilight, shattering all of their armor. This enraged Twilight further.

Twilight shouted, "You miserable wretch, how dare you try to stop me! You never mess with a dark goddess!"

Twilight then swooped down and her and Colgate began to fight hoof to hoof, the old fashioned way that earth ponies did. Twilight was determined to knock out Colgate while she was bound and determined to destroy Twilight.

Twilight shouted, "I SHOULD HAVE NEVER MADE YOU A COMMANDER! YOU'RE GOING TO THE VOID FOREVER!"

Colgate laughed, "Yeah, uh huh. I will feast on your heart after I knock the shit out of you!"

While they were fighting Spike started breathing fire on Colgate's forces, yet to his dismay, it did not even harm them. This sent him into a rage. He decided he would set fire to Ponyville instead. He began breathing fire setting numerous buildings on fire. This sent everypony into a rage. They began to fire spears at him, but missed the hole in his chest.

Spike shouted at them, "YOU FOOLS. YOU CAN'T KILL ME. NOTHING CAN PENETRATE MY SCALES."

He began to swoop down at Colgate's forces picking them up and throwing them down. They continued to fire spears at him but just couldn't hit the hole in his chest. He went after Fluttershy, picked her up and threw her down to the ground, breaking her left wing leaving her unable to fly.

Spike laughed, "FLUTTERSHY YOU FOOL, YOU DO NOT CHALLENGE TWILIGHT, NOW YOU MUST DIE!"

Rarity flew over and stood in front of the injured Fluttershy and screamed at Spike, "YOU DIRTY OLD BEAST, YOU WON'T TOUCH HER AGAIN!"

Spike replied, "Rarity you uncaring wretch, I gave you all the attention in the world but you never loved me. I will kill both of you!"

Rarity shouted, "THE HELL WITH YOU SPIKE, GET READY TO MEET YOUR DEATH!"

Rarity had a long spear levitated ready to fire it at Spike. Before he was going to scoop both Rarity and Fluttershy up and eat them he reared his head high, leaving his bare spot perfectly visible.

Rarity said to herself, "Alright Rarity, let's do this!"

Rarity fired the spear at Spike with as much power as she had. It hit the soft spot and went straight through his heart.

Spike fell to the ground with a great thud that shook buildings all over town and was growling during his last moments. Rarity stood in front of the dying dragon and shouted, "BOOYAH! IT SERVES YOU RIGHT YOU DIRTY OLD BEAST!"

Spike shed a few tears in his final moments and asked, "Rarity, why? I always loved you."

Rarity shouted, "BECAUSE YOU HURT FLUTTERSHY AND NOPONY HURTS FLUTTERSHY AND GETS AWAY WITH IT. JUST HURRY UP AND DIE ALREADY!"

Spike replied, "But Twilight corrupted........sigh."

Spike was unable to finish his sentence as he died before he could finish it. Rarity's primary concern though was Fluttershy. She ran over to her to fix her broken wing.

Rarity asked, "Fluttershy dahling, you need serious help! A broken wing is no laughing matter."

Fluttershy replied, "Oh, it's ok Rarity. It isn't life or death."

Rarity would not just let her lay there. She placed her horn on Fluttershy's broken wing. She began to glow as she rectied, "A broken wing is full of pain, it hurts worse than icy rain, the pain must go so the pony won't have to stay low, what is now healed is the wing so that this pony may fly when the alarm bells ring."

Rarity sent a calm beam of white energy to Fluttershy's wing, healing it immediately. Fluttershy got up and started flying around. She said, "Thank you Rarity, I didn't know you could do that!"

Rarity replied, "Well Colgate let me study a little bit of stuff in the archives with her and I ran across a medical magic book."

Fluttershy shouted, "We better get back up and fight. Our friends need us!"

Rarity and Fluttershy got back up into the battle firing energy at Shining Armor and Celestia while dodging theirs. Fluttershy fired a powerful bolt of energy at Celestia, hitting her on her left flank and leaving a burn mark where her cutie mark is. This caused Celestia to plunge to the ground.

In their earth pony style brawl Colgate had gained a huge advantage over Twilight and was hammering her with punch after punch while Twilight was simply using her hooves to cover her face at this point. Finally Colgate landed the knockout blow on Twilight. She fell backwards and Colgate stood over the knocked out Twilight victorious.

The changelings covered Shining Armor in ooze and finally he fell to the ground. They then covered Celestia and Twilight in ooze as well. Colgate dragged Twilight by the tail over to the base of her tower while Applejack took care of Shining Armor and Luna took care of Celestia.

All of Colgate's troops gathered around the three vanquished enemies and Colgate said, "BOOYAH! We did it! The world has been saved from Twilight and her tyranny!"

Scootaloo asked, "What are we going to do with that huge dragon carcass? We need to do something with it before it starts stinking!"

Colgate replied, "Good question Scootaloo. Ice Storm, Stinging Haze, how would you all like a huge dragon dinner?"

All the changelings and dark Alicorns shouted, "OF COURSE!"

Colgate said, "Well go over and eat to your heart's content, there is plenty for all of you."

Twilight was finally coming to when she found herself along with her allies covered in green ooze. Colgate walked up to her and glared at her with those blue eyes and said, "Game over Twilight."

The battle was over, Colgate and her forces were victorious. Everypony believed that the world was safe from tyranny, all except three, Twilight, Shining Armor and Celestia. Now Colgate had to decide how she was going to handle them. Some nagging part of her told her to put them on trial for everypony to see but she was undecided at the moment.

The Trial of Shining Armor

The battle was over and Supreme Commander Colgate and her forces were victorious. Half of Ponyville wound up being burned to the ground because of the now dead Spike's fiery breath. This angered Colgate greatly and she decided that since Spike was Twilight's dragon, that she would be charged as though she were the one who started all those fires.

Colgate walked over to where her enemies stood, covered in ooze, in front of her tower. She stood there, shook her head and asked, "Twilight, did you not learn your lesson when you were banished to the sun last time when you tried to retake the world? Is your thirst for global power so great that you don't care what your punishment will be if you fail?"

Twilight growled, "I never think I will fail. I am, after all, a dark goddess."

Colgate replied, "I know you THINK you are a dark goddess, but you are a flesh and blood pony just like the rest of us. I remember how you complained about Celestia sitting up on her throne being pretty and acting like she was better than everypony else. Once you took everything, you quickly became the same way except you felt that the world owed you. You felt as though you should own the world. Celestia never done anything like that."

Celestia added, "Twilight Sparkle, I feel betrayed by you. I gave almost everything for you. I almost died because of you. If Colgate were to put us on trial, I would GLADLY testify against you."

Colgate said, "Well Celestia, you will get that chance. I am going to put all three of you on trial. Rather than simply punish you like I did last time. I am going to have an impartial jury of five ponies gathered for this."

Shining Armor sneered, "Oh, and where are you going to find an impartial jury around here? They all saw Spike burn half the town to the ground. They will be biased against us and convict no matter what."

Colgate replied, "Excellent question Shining Armor. I have decided to get one juror from the following cities, Manehattan, Vanhoover, Las Pegasus, Mareami and Neighark. Those are cities that Twilight did not attack during her reign of terror. After all, I want this trial to be fair."

Twilight growled, "Supreme Commander, what are we going to do while you go on this search for the jurors?"

Colgate replied, "You will be held in prison with no bond. Ice Storm, Stinging Haze, help me get these three down to the dungeon."

Ice Storm said, "Of course."

Colgate, Ice Storm and Stinging Haze took the three captives down to the dungeon. While Celestia and Shining Armor were easy to get into their cells, Twilight was screaming and yelling and struggling the whole time. Colgate finally just levitated her and threw her into her cell.

Twilight shouted, "That is a crime Colgate, being that mean to a prisoner!"

Colgate snapped, "No, it isn't Twily. I rule Equestria, remember. If I wanted I could forego the trial for you and just execute you. I would advise you just shut the hell up. Further outbursts will lead to a more brutal punishment if you are convicted."

Twilight shouted, "OH YES COMMANDER, I'M SO AWFUL, SO EVIL AND SUCH A WITCH THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO BE MEAN TO ME."

Colgate replied, "Just shut up already. Ice Storm, Stinging Haze, let's get going. We have to find jurors and besides, if I have to hear any more of her complaining, I can't be held responsible for what I might do."

The three left the dungeon, slamming the door behind them leaving the three in complete darkness. Because of the ooze, none of them were able to use their horns to make any light. Celestia felt like the complete darkness was worse than any punishment imaginable. She actually began to wonder if she would get an easier punishment if she pleaded guilty.

Colgate said, "Stinging Haze, Ice Storm, I need you to take 5 of your soldiers with you to the cities I mentioned. Take the train. Go get a pony from there who you think would make a good juror. I am anticipating your return in seven days. If you are not back by then, I will start the trial without them."

Stinging Haze and Ice Storm grabbed five of their soldiers and headed off first to Vanhoover and would then loop around until they got back home.

Applejack asked, "So what crimes are you going to charge them with?"

Colgate replied, "Well Celestia will be charged with aiding an enemy in attacking Equestria and aiding an enemy in an attempt to overthrow the government. Shining Armor will be charged with treason, going AWOL, theft of government property, aiding an enemy in attacking Equestria and aiding an enemy in an attempt to overthrow the government. Twilight will be charged for attacking Equestria, attempting to overthrow the government and 12 counts of arson, which I will probably convert to mass arson."

LaurFa asked, "Why the arson, wasn't it Spike that burned everything?"

Colgate replied, "Spike was her dragon and I watched through the eye and saw her instruct Spike to set fire to Ponyville. Since Spike is dead and she instructed him to do so, those charges are passed over to her as it is included in the arson laws of Equestria."

Lemon Hearts said, "Wow, you have very well thought out laws here. In Saddle Arabia if this happened there would be no arson charges filed."

Colgate replied, "Well I make sure that criminals are punished. It is getting time for supper, let's go and eat."

Six days had passed when Colgate's generals returned with five jurors. Sunrise Breeze of Manehattan, Brown Mane of Vanhoover, Waterfall of Mareami, Jackpot of Las Pegasus and High Seas of Neighark.

Colgate flew over to address them. She said, "I want to thank you five for serving Equestria in these trials. There will be good sleeping quarters and you will receive the same good filling meals that I along with my other higher ups will eat. I do ask that you do not read the Ponyville Express even though I have ordered that they do not publish anything regarding this trial or anything involving the defendants until after these trials are over. Failure to comply with these rules will result in immediate dismissal from the jury and forfeiture of any pay you would have received. Do you understand?"

They all replied, "Yes, we understand."

Colgate told them that the trials would begin tomorrow in the throne room and warned them once more about what they are not to do. After that they were given a good filling supper and were taken to their sleeping quarters.

The following morning arrived and the jurors and defendants were led up into the throne room. Since she was once a judge in Equestria, Judge Luna was the judge for this.

The bailiff said, "All rise, court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Luna shall be overseeing the case of Equestria v. Shining Armor."

Everypony stood up as Luna entered the court room. Luna then said, "You may be seated."

Luna asked, "Shining Armor, Colgate has decided to have your trial take place first, are you aware of how serious the charges against you are?"

Shining Armor asked, "What crimes am I even being tried for? Colgate just had the three of us imprisoned and never told us of the charges."

Luna replied, "Well you are being charged with treason, going AWOL, theft of government property, aiding an enemy in an attack on Equestria and aiding an enemy in an attempt to overthrow the government. How do you plead on these charges?"

Shining Armor said, "I plead not guilty on all charges."

Supreme Commander Colgate was the prosecutor but also had testimony of her own to give. Colgate said, "Your Honor, I have testimony of my own that I need to give before I will call the other pony who noticed his absence to the stand."

Luna replied, "Colgate, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury (like it would matter with Colgate)?"

Colgate replied, "I do your honor."

Colgate began her testimony. "Your Honor, I was informed by Applejack that she had not seen the General of the Army, Shining Armor, in several hours around midday on April 8, 6271. Normally he would visit the base each morning right after sunrise. Then on that day around midday, Applejack informed me that he had not checked on the base. I checked his sleeping quarters and he was not in there. I had this nagging feeling that he had flown off somewhere. I used the eye to scan the world and he was headed to the east. I continued to monitor his movements. He took a government vessel and headed to the east. He arrived in Maredrid on the afternoon of April 12, 6271 where he let Twilight Sparkle know that he would aid her in her conquest of the world."

Luna asked, "What do you think caused him to sail to Maredrid and what do you think caused him to let his sister know that he would help her in her global conquest?"

Colgate replied, "Personally I think it is a matter of blood being thicker than water. On April 6, 6271 Twilight Sparkle and Celestia finished their sentences of being banished to the sun and they returned to this world in Maredrid. Immediately after they returned, he began to behave like he was distracted and then two days later he had left without permission."

Luna asked, "Now regarding his return to Equestria and Ponyville. What did you see that would constitute him being charged with the crimes involving aiding an enemy in crimes against Equestria?"

Colgate replied, "On September 27, 6271 he along with Twilight Sparkle, Celestia and Spike the dragon launched an attack upon Ponyville. They were firing beams of energy at the city which would constitute aiding an enemy in attacking Equestria. Also, it was the intention of Twilight Sparkle to overthrow me and take control of Equestria, which would constitute the charge of aiding an enemy to overthrow the government."

Luna asked, "What ultimately wound up out of this attack?"

Colgate replied, "In the end Shining Armor was taken down when changelings covered him in ooze and he was taken into custody."

Luna asked, "Is there anything else you would like to say?"

Colgate replied, "No Your Honor."

Luna replied, "Colgate, since you are the prosecutor as well, who do you wish to call to the stand?"

Shining Armor shouted, "THAT IS NOT FAIR, THE PROSECUTOR CAN NOT GIVE TESTIMONY! THIS IS RIGGED!"

Luna shouted, "ORDER IN THE COURT! SHINING ARMOR, SUCH OUTBURSTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN MY COURTROOM. FURTHER OUTBURSTS WILL LEAD TO ADDITIONAL CHARGES. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Shining Armor said, "Yes your honor, I understand."

Colgate said, "The prosecution would like to call Applejack Apple to the stand."

Applejack walked up to the stand and Luna asked her "Applejack Apple, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"

Applejack replied, "Ah do your Honor."

Colgate asked, "Applejack, when did you first notice that the defendant was absent from his normal duties?"

Applejack replied, "Well on April 8, 6271 around noon Ah noticed that Shining Armor had yet to show up to the base when he normally shows up right after sunrise. Then around noon I notified Supreme Commander Colgate of his absence and she went to check on what was going on."

Colgate asked, "Was there anything else that you were the witness to on April 8, 6271?"

Applejack replied, "No, there was not."

Colgate asked, "When was the next time you noticed any act regarding the charges against Shining Armor that you were witness to?"

Applejack replied, "The next time I saw him was on September 27, 6271 when he helped Twilight and Celestia attack Ponyville."

Colgate asked, "What did you see him do when he aided them in their attck?"

Applejack replied, "I saw him firing bolts of energy at our forces. Thanks to Colgate's armor spell, his energy bolts bounced off of me. After that he was brought down by changelings that covered him in ooze."

Colgate asked, "Was there anything else."

Applejack replied, "Nope."

Luna said, "Applejack, you may be seated. Colgate who do you wish to call to the stand next?"

Colgate replied, "I would like to call Twilight Sparkle to the stand."

Twilight headed up to the stand and glared at Colgate and Luna the whole time.

Luna asked, "Twilight, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"

Twilight sneered, "Yes your honor."

Colgate asked, "Twilight Sparkle, when did Shining Armor first make contact with you during your recent attempt at conquering the world?"

Twilight replied, "On April 12, 6271. What does it matter anyway, the jury will probably find me guilty anyway you wretch."

Luna said, "Twilight, such behavior is not allowed in my courtroom. Further behavior will result in additional charges. Anser the question."

Twilight growled, "My brother first made contact with me on April 12, 6271. He came to Maredrid and told me that he had defected from Equestria and that he wanted to help me take back the world."

Colgate asked, "What other activities did he do with you prior to the attack on Equestria?"

Twilight replied, "Well after winning over LaurFa to help her with her conquest he traveled with me to Saddle Arabia and Alicorn Island, where initially there was no problems with some of the leaders. Eventually Cosmos, Luna and Galaxia would come here and join Colgate and her cause, damn traitors anyway."

Luna said, "Twilight, this is your last warning. Behave or additional charges will be charged."

Colgate asked, "What about the attack on Ponyville? What was his reaction on doing this?"

Twilight replied, "Initially he was unsure as to whether we should attack or not, but ultimately he sided with me. He flew in with the rest of us and attacked Ponyville. That is all I have to say."

Luna said, "You may be seated. Does the prosecution wish to call anypony else to the stand?"

Colgate replied, "Yes. I would like to call Celestia to the stand."

Celestia walked up to the stand realizing that this was her first chance to take down the Sparkle siblings. She arrived up at the stand with a confident look on her face.

Luna asked, "Celestia, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under the penalty of perjury?"

Celestia replied, "Yes your honor."

Colgate asked, "Celestia, from what I understand you and Twilight Sparkle were banished to the sun together. When Twilight was banished to the sun, she hated you. What happened during those almost 1,000 years you two were imprisoned together than caused you to reconcile?"

Celestia replied, "For the first couple hundred years we would constantly bicker and then we ignored each other. It wasn't until the final 10 months that we began to talk and reconcile. In the days right before our sentences ended, I agreed to help her reconquer the world."

Colgate asked, "What caused you to decide to help her?"

Celestia replied, "We had been at odds for a very long time but once we reconciled I felt like that mother/daughter relationship had returned and I thought of her as 'my Twily' again and wanted to do anything to make her happy."

Colgate asked, "From what I understand you and Twilight arrived on April 6, 6271 and Shining Armor arrived on April 12, six days after you two returned from the sun. What kind of interaction did they have once he arrived?"

Celestia replied, "Well at first Twilight asked him why he was not in Ponyville aiding Colgate. He told her that he realized that blood was thicker than water and that he wanted to help her conquer the world."

Colgate asked, "What happened in the days and weeks after that?"

Celestia replied, "Well like Twilight said, we went through from place to place and won over the leaders without spilling any blood. Of course a storm then knocked us into Mt. Dragon on Dragon Island on our way to Faustica, which caused LaurFa's horn to get rammed into me, nearly killing me. We then finally reached Faustica where Twilight and I would spend more time together. We ultimately discussed forming a secret alliance and attempted to go to the Temple of Brevity Thrash but we were stopped by Galaxia, Lemon Hearts, LaurFa and Shining Armor, before he turned loyal to Twilight."

Colgate asked, "What happened that you were unable to reach the temple?"

Celestia replied, "Galaxia used a bolt of energy to level the temple. Then a battle between us ensued. Lemon Hearts struck Twilight with a powerful bolt of energy, knocking her out cold. Shining Armor was initially mad at Twilight and sworn allegiance to Galaxia but when he saw his sister go down, he had a change of heart and rejoined our side."

Colgate said, "Well thank you, you answered what would have been my next question. Now tell me, what caused you to join Twilight in her attack on Ponyville?"

Celestia replied, "Because I viewed her as a daughter and I wanted to do anything I could to make her happy. I would have killed anypony for her. Not anymore though, I can finally see the real Twilight again. I just went into the battle completely blinded by my loyalty to Twilight. The last thing I remember was getting hit in the flank by a bolt of energy and then coming to covered in ooze."

Colgate asked, "Is there anything else relevant that you remember?"

Celestia replied, "No, there is not."

Luna asked, "You may be seated big sister. Colgate, is there anypony else that you want to call to the stand?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, I would like to call Shining Armor to the stand."

Shining Armor headed up to the stand with a nervous, terrified look on his face. Once he got up there Luna asked, "Shining Armor, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"

Shining Armor replied, "I do."

Colgate asked, "Shining Armor, what caused you to leave your post in Ponyville without receiving permission from Supreme Commander Colgate?"

Shining Armor replied, "Because I knew that YOU would not give me permission to go once I told you where I was headed and why. I knew you would ask me that."

Colgate asked, "Despite knowing that you would be committing treason and that you would be going AWOL, you left anyway. Why did you do that?"

Shining Armor replied, "Because blood is thicker than water. I wanted to help my little sister."

Colgate asked, "What happened after you arrived in Maredrid?"

Shining Armor replied, "Well I arrived right as LaurFa, Celestia and Twilight were getting ready to set sail. After that we went and won over Lemon Hearts before heading up to Faustica."

Colgate asked, "Celestia mentioned something about a storm. What happened with that?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yes, we encountered a strong hurricane, also known as a hypercane, which had blue clouds the same color as the blue in your mane and tail. The winds picked our ship out of the water and carried us 20 miles to the east and slammed us into the slope of Mt. Dragon on Dragon Island."

Colgate asked, "Did anything in particular happen on Dragon Island before you headed to Faustica?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yes. When we crashed into the mountain, LaurFa's horn got rammed into Celestia's chest, which almost killed her. Also, we wound up being confronted by two dragons who wanted to eat us until Spike came along and saved us. He then took us to Faustica on his back."

Colgate asked, "Once you arrived in Faustica, did anything in particular happen?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yes, like what Celestia said, I was angry with her and Twilight and turned against them for a while because they talked about forging a secret alliance. It wasn't until after Lemon Hearts knocked out Twilight that I realized again that blood is thicker than water and rejoined her."

Colgate asked, "Regarding the attack on Equestria and Ponyville. I did it for my little sister and if I had the chance to do it all over again. I would definitely do it. Blood is thicker than water, that is all I will say."

Luna said, "Shining Armor, you may be seated. Colgate, does the prosecution want to call any more witnesses to the stand?"

Colgate replied, "No your honor. The prosecution rests."

Luna said, "Alright everypony, court is adjourned for the day. The jury will not deliberate on any of these cases until after the final defendant faces their day in court."

Colgate said, "Ice Storm, Stinging Haze, help me lead these three back to the dungeon."

They led them back to the dungeon and while Celestia and Shining Armor went into their cells with no problems Twilight was again screaming and yelling. She screamed, "These trials are rigged. You wretch Colgate, you are the prosecutor and provide testimony, Luna is on your side and she is the judge. Curse you Colgate, curse you!"

Colgate shouted, "Shut up already! Come on guys, let's go before I decide to add the charge of pissing me off to her long list of crimes."

Colgate and her generals left the dungeon, slamming the door behind them again leaving the three in complete darkness. Shining Armor had a very bad feeling that things would not turn out well for him. He had a very bad feeling that with the way Twilight's attitude is, that she may wind up piling up more charges than she already has.

A Difficult Defendant

The following day arrived and everypony was in the courtroom waiting for Judge Luna to arrive. Finally Luna arrived, the bailiff said, "All rise, court is now in session. Presiding over the case of Equestria v. Celestia will be the honorable Judge Luna."

Luna entered the room and said, "You may be seated. Celestia, do you know how serious the charges are that you are facing?"

Celestia replied, "I was never even told of what charges I am facing. I know they are bad, but I was never told."

Luna asked, "Celestia, you are being charged with aiding an enemy in an attack on Equestria and aiding an enemy in attempting to over throw the government. How do you plead?"

Celestia replied, "I plead guilty on both charges. I know I committed both crimes little sister."

Luna said, "Celestia, your sentence will be read after the last defendant has finished her trial. Colgate, what are your plans regarding her sentencing since she plead guilty?"

Colgate replied, "I plan on reducing her sentence dramatically but she will still face some form of punishment."

Luna said, "Celestia, you may leave the defendant's stand but you must remain in the courtroom as you will most likely be asked to provide testimony in the next trial."

Celestia replied, "Yes Your Honor."

Luna said, "Well now comes the case of Equestia v. Twilight Sparkle. Twilight, do you know how serious the charges are that have been filed against you?"

Twilight growled, "I don't even know what the charges are that have been filed against me Colgate's lap dog? What are they?"

Luna said, "Alright Twilight Sparkle, I have warned you. I am holding you in contempt of court. Regardless of whether you are convicted or acquitted, you will serve 30 days in prison. Further outbursts will continue to add time to your sentence."

Twilight mumbled, "I am going to kill you."

Luna shouted,"What did you say?"

Twilight replied, "I am going to kill you."

Luna said, "Colgate, add the crime of threatening the life of a judge to her list of crimes."

Colgate replied, "Will do."

Luna asked, "Who does the prosecution call to the stand first?"

Colgate said, "The prosecution would like to call LaurFa to the stand."

LaurFa headed up to the stand. Once she got there Luna asked her, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"

LaurFa replied, "I do Your Honor."

Colgate walked up to LaurFa and asked, "LaurFa, during Twilight's most recent attempt to take over the world, what was your first interaction with her?"

LaurFa replied, "It was April 6, 6271 when I saw a bright flash of light in the sky. At first I was unsure as to what it was but then I quickly discovered that it was Twilight and Celestia returning to our world from the sun."

Colgate asked, "What happened once they arrived in Maredrid?"

LaurFa replied, "Well at first Twilight was yelling at the ponies telling them to bow down to her. Her and Celestia then started fighting so I flew over to where they were and told them to stop fighting. Twilight then told me that she owned the Equine Empire and that I would merely be a steward instead of a queen."

Colgate asked, "What was your reply to this?"

LaurFa replied, "Well I had no other choice than to give in to her considering the fact that she had immense powers. She told me that if I help her conquer the world again, she will allow me to be a steward and if I didn't, that I would regret it."

Colgate asked, "So basically you were forced to help her out with this?"

LaurFa replied, "Yes, I was. Had I not helped her I probably would have wound up dead or would have been cast into the void."

Twilight shouted, "I WOULD HAVE KILLED YOU LAURFA YOU LITTLE WRETCH!"

Luna said, "Alright Twilight, that is an extra month on your sentence. General Ice Storm, General Stinging Haze, could we get a muzzle put on her until she is called on the stand?"

"Yes your honor." said Ice Storm

Twilight was struggling and shouting but finally they were able to get a muzzle put on her. Luna was confident now that she could get this done without any more outbursts.

Colgate asked, "LaurFa, what did you do once you joined Twilight on her quest to conquer the world?"

LaurFa replied, "Well we first headed to Ridead where we were able to get Lemon Hearts to help us on our quest. We headed down to Neigh Zealand only to discover that Lyra was already gone but we did get the two generals to join our side."

Colgate asked, "How did you manage to do that?"

LaurFa replied, "Well from what Twilight told me they simply liked her and were willing to help her out. She also offered both generals down there a share of stewardship."

Colgate asked, "Tell me about the trip from Prancington to Faustica. What happened during that voyage?"

LaurFa replied, "Well we set sail with a northerly wind slowing us down. Ultimately things calmed down but once we were about twenty miles west of Dragon Island, a super storm moved into the area. The winds were so bad it picked the ship up and carried it all the way to Dragon Island where we were slammed into the western slope of Mt. Dragon."

Colgate asked, "What happened after your arrival at Dragon Island?"

LaurFa began to cry and said, "Well we were all knocked out for a while......."

Luna said, "It's ok LaurFa, take your time."

LaurFa continued, "like I was saying, we were knocked out for a while but when I came to I discovered my horn was rammed into Celestia's chest. She was unresponsive and I was worried that I had killed her. Ultimately we tried to find our way to the coast and were confronted by two hungry and mean dragons. We thought they were going to eat us until Spike came along and saved us."

Colgate asked, "What happened after Spike saved you?"

LaurFa replied, "Well Spike had us ride on his back and he flew us to Faustica."

Colgate asked, "From what I understand, you, Lemon Hearts and Galaxia fled from Faustica after you had discovered that Twilight and Celestia were forging a secret alliance behind your back. Is that true?"

LaurFa replied, "Yes, Lemon Hearts heard them talking about this. Initially we just stopped them from going to the Temple of Brevity Thrash but then we decided that we needed to leave entirely, and then that was when Colgate showed up and brought us to Ponyville."

Colgate asked, "Regarding her attacking Ponyville and her attempt to overthrow the government, what did you see or what did you hear?"

LaurFa replied, "Regarding her attacking Ponyville and trying to overthrow the government, I remember in Faustica Twilight was constantly talking about wanting to crush you and once they arrived, well everypony saw her firing beams of energy at everypony and then the fight with you."

Colgate said, "I have no further questions."

Luna said, "LaurFa, you may be seated."

Colgate was feeling confident that they had a decent amount of testimony against Twilight and that there would be no need to call Lemon Hearts to the stand. She had just one more witness she was going to call to the stand, Twilight Sparkle herself.

Luna asked, "Does the prosecution have any more witnesses they wish to call to the stand?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, you honor. I would like to call Twilight Sparkle to the stand."

Ice Storm and Stinging Haze led Twilight up to the stand and removed the muzzle from her. Stinging Haze covered her in ooze to render her magic useless.

Luna asked, "Twilight Sparkle, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"

Twilight growled, "What if I don't?"

Luna replied, "Well then you would again be held in contempt of court. I'm getting sick of your attitude Twilight. Do you swear to tell the truth or not?"

Twilight sneered, "Ok, I do. Good grief, no need to make a federal case out of it."

Colgate asked, "Twilight, from what I understand, you and Celestia finished your sentence on the sun on April 6, 6271. Prior testimony states that you arrived in Maredrid. Is that correct?"

Twilight replied, "Yes, it is true."

Colgate asked, "Upon arriving in Maredrid, what was the first thing that you did?"

Twilight replied, "Well I remember Celestia and I flying around and I was scaring them and telling them that they better bow down to me or die."

Colgate asked, "From what I understand, you and Celestia got into a fight shortly after you two arrived in Maredrid. Is that true?"

Twilight replied, "Well duh it is true! She was being a coward and didn't want to punish anypony who showed dissent and didn't like the fact that I wanted to take over the world again."

Luna snapped, "Twilight, show the prosecutor respect. Such behavior is not allowed in my courtroom. I'm getting sick and tired of your childishness."

Colgate asked, "What happened after that?"

Twilight replied, "Well LaurFa came and told us to stop fighting. Celestia and I calmed down. Then I told LaurFa that I own the Equine Empire and told her that if she helped me with conquering the world, that she would get to be steward there. I said that if she didn't, that I would kill her."

Colgate asked, "What happened next?"

Twilight replied, "LaurFa agreed to help me. Before we left for Saddle Arabia Shining Armor landed on my ship and swore allegiance to me. So he sailed to Ridead with me and LaurFa. We had no problems swaying Lemon Hearts to help us, it was the trip to Neigh Zealand that had me irritated."

Colgate asked, "Why were you irritated?"

Twilight replied, "I was irritated because Lyra was gone. It is my guess that YOU made one of your stupid time bubbles, went there, got her, brought her here and trained her. I was happy that her generals were so welcoming and so easy to sway to help me in any way possible, which included collecting the tribute that the ponies owed me for living on MY PLANET."

Luna reached down and smacked Twilight. She said, "Twilight, what part of behave don't you get. So far you have racked up 2 years worth of contempt of court. If you want more, keep it up. If you don't, then show respect."

Colgate asked, "Alright, you say you were treated well by the generals in Neigh Zealand, what happened next."

Twilight was getting very agitated. She growled, "I'll tell you what happened. We sailed north, we came within 20 miles of Dragon Island when your idiotic hurricane came along, slammed us into the west slope of Mt. Dragon. Celestia had LaurFa's damn horn rammed into her. Luckily later on we would discover she was alive. Next we were confronted by two piece of shit dragons but Spike saved us from getting eaten. Then we went to Faustica on Spike's back."

Luna fired a bolt of energy at Twilight, shocking her but not knocking her out. She said, "Look Twilight, do you want to finish your testimony or do you simply wish to be executed. I'm sure Colgate wouldn't mind executing you at all. If you wish to live, would you just answer the questions in a civilized day and quite being such a spoiled brat?"

Twilight sneered, "Fine, I will behave."

Colgate asked, "From what I understand, you and Celestia decided to forge a secret alliance while you were in Faustica. Is that correct?"

Twilight replied, "Yes, it is correct. I decided that those who would become stewards were not trustworthy fighting along side us so that Celestia and I needed to take control of things ourselves."

Colgate asked, "From what I understand through prior testimony, you and Celestia headed up to the Temple of Brevity Thrash to ask her to help you two conquer Equestria. Is that correct."

Twilight replied, "Yes, that is correct."

Colgate asked, "I also understand that LaurFa, Shining Armor, Lemon Hearts and Galaxia managed to stop you two by standing in your way and I understand that Galaxia leveled the temple, is that correct?"

Twilight replied, "Yes, that is correct."

Colgate asked, "From what I understand, this was also the time that Shining Armor forgave you and rejoined your side. Is this the truth."

Twilight replied, "Yes, this was when he rejoined me. Lemon Hearts fired a powerful bolt of energy at me and this angered him. He decided to leave them and rejoin me."

Colgate asked, "Alright, regarding your attack on Equestria and your attempt to overthrow the government. What did you tell your forces regarding this."

Twilight replied, "Well, I remember Shining Armor telling me that you wanted to eat my heart after you defeated me. I told him that I will eat your heart. That really rallied me. I remember flying over Galaxia Ridge on Spike's back and saw how outnumbered we were, but I didn't care. I wanted to go in there, kill you, kill your forces and reclaim Equestria and the world as mine."

Colgate asked, "Regarding Spike and him setting Ponyville on fire. What was behind that?"

Twilight replied, "I ordered him to do so. I decided that I would teach this place a lesson by burning it to the ground. I hate all of you, I hope you all die horrible miserable deaths. That goes for you pathetic, piece of shit jurors as well."

Luna smacked Twilight again and told her to just shut up.

Colgate said, "The prosecution rests."

Luna ordered the generals to put the muzzle back on Twilight.

Luna said, "Alright jurors, you have heard all of the testimony. I want you to start deliberations right away. Do not let us know anything until you have reached a verdict on both Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor. Court is adjourned for the day and will not start again until the jury has reached a verdict."

Colgate, Ice Storm and Stinging Haze took the three back down to the dungeon. Celestia hoped that the jury would hurry up and finish the deliberations so she could begin her sentence and hopefully get out of the dungeon. Twilight knew her punishment would be severe, but she didn't care. She wanted to pound the point home and she felt like she had.

The Deliberations

The jury began their deliberations. They decided that they would start on Shining Armor first since Twilight had a lot more charges against her. Sunrise Breeze was named the jury foreman. She said, "Alright everypony, which charge should we start with?"

Brown Mane suggested, "I say we start out with the treason charge.

Waterfall asked, "Under Equestrian Law, what exactly constitutes treason?"

Jackpot replied, "I know about the treason laws. Treason constitutes defecting from Equestria to a hostile nation, swearing allegiance to an enemy of Equestria and/or making plans to attack Equestria or making plans with a hostile leader or hostile nation to attack Equestria."

High Seas said, "Based on the testimony, it sounds like he did commit treason. Yes I know it was just based on testimony and there is no physical evidence of this but he seemed like he was telling the truth when he told the court about what he did."

Waterfall said, "I agree with High Seas, his testimony along with the testimony of others gives me no doubt that he is indeed guilty of the crime of treason."

Jackpot said, "Given what I know about the treason laws, he is definitely guilty of treason."

Brown Mane said, "I personally think he is guilty as well."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Well it is obvious that we all seem to think he is guilty but we still have to have a vote on this. It is part of Equestrian law that the jury has to vote, even if they have all said in comments that they think the defendant is guilty. Everypony who thinks he is guilty, say aye."

Everypony said, "Aye."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony who thinks he is not guilty, say nay."

Nopony said "nay."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Well it is agreed on a unanimous vote that Shining Armor is guilty of treason. Alright, now we shall move on the charge of going AWOL. What constitutes going AWOL? I am not that familiar with the military terms."

Jackpot replied, "Going AWOL means a member of the military leaving their post without permission from the commander of their unit. In this case, it would be Shining Armor leaving without asking for Colgate's permission."

Waterfall said, "Well he said it himself, that he considered blood thicker than water and the testimony that Twilight gave indicates that on April 12, 6271 that he was in Maredrid."

Brown Mane added, "Also, he said that he did not ask Colgate for permission because he knew that she would not let him go once he told her where he was going and why he was going, yet he still went anyway. If that doesn't constitute going AWOL, then nothing does. I think he is guilty."

High Seas said, "Also, he seemed a bit irritated when he was asked that question. Often times when a defendant gets upset over the questions that are asked, that usually indicates guilt. I have been on a jury before and that is what all of us felt that time, and that is how I feel this time."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Well, it looks like we are ready to vote on this one. Everypony who thinks he is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony who thinks he is not guilty, say "nay."

Nopony said nay. Sunrise Breeze said, "Well then it is agreed by a unanimous vote that Shining Armor is guilty of going AWOL. Next we will discuss the charge of stealing a government vessel."

Brown Mane said, "Regarding this charge, the only testimony we have is that Colgate saw him leaving on the ship using the green eye. That isn't really convincing. I feel that I would need more testimony or more evidence than just a visual sighting by Colgate."

Jackpot added, "I am with Brown Mane on this one. If Shining Armor, Twilight or somepony else would have mentioned him arriving in a vessel then I would be more likely to believe this. All Twilight said in her testimony is that he arrived there. She didn't mention how he got there."

High Seas said, "Well given that Colgate did have a visual on this, I think he did it. Colgate seemed very convincing to me and I don't think she would lie just to put a pony away on any charge."

Waterfall said, "Well I just didn't hear enough testimony to be 100% sure that he did it. The testimony of one pony just isn't enough for me."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Well personally I think Colgate's testimony is plenty for me to believe it. I think the time has come for a vote. Everypony who thinks he is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Sunrise Breeze and High Seas said, "Aye!

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony that thinks he is not guilty say 'nay.'"

Brown Mane, Waterfall and Jackpot said, "Nay!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Alright it appears as though by a vote of 3-2 he has been found not guilty on the charge of stealing a government vessel. Next we need to address the charge of aiding an enemy in an attack on Equestria.

Brown Mane said, "Well there is plenty of testimony regarding him aiding Twilight and Celestia in the attack. He even said he did it and said that if given another chance, he would do it again."

Jackpot added, "I heard the same thing, I think he is guilty on this one."

High Seas said, "I heard it come straight out of his mouth. What more would you need?"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Ok, let's vote on this one. Everypony who thinks he is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony who thinks he is innocent say 'nay.'"

Nopony said anything. Sunrise Breeze said, "It appears as though by a unanimous vote we have found Shining Armor guilty on the charge of aiding an enemy in attacking Equestria. Next we need to discuss the charge of aiding an enemy in overthrowing the government."

Waterfall said, "Well that was what Twilight's goal was and since Shining Armor was helping her with the attack, I personally believe he should be found guilty."

Brown Mane said, "Well he did state that when he arrived in Maredrid that he told her he wanted to help her retake the world, which would require the overthrow of Supreme Commander Colgate, so I think he is guilty on this one."

High Seas said, "Brown Mane makes a good point. He wasn't helping her simply to attack Equestria, he knew she wanted to attack Equestria and even in his testimony he said that he wanted to aid her in her quest."

Jackpot said, "Well I am seeing the same thing that you guys are seeing. I think he is guilty."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Same here. It is time to vote. Everypony who thinks he is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony who thinks he is innocent, say 'nay.'"

Nopony said nay. Shining Armor was found guilty on four of five counts, which may not result in quite as severe of a punishment, but Colgate would most likely still punish him severely.

Sunrise Breeze said, "Now it is time to deliberate on the charges against Twilight Sparkle. Colgate decided to merge the 12 counts of arson into a more serious mass arson crime."

Jackpot asked, "Why is she being charged with these crimes when it was her dragon that set half the town on fire?"

Sunrise Breeze replied, "She is charged with them because she instructed the dragon to do so. Under Equestrian law, if a pony instructs a dragon to set fire to a town and he/she does so, the charges will be filed against the pony, whether the dragon is alive or dead."

Jackpot said, "Oh, ok."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Ok, I think first we should handle the charge of threatening the life of a judge, since we were all present. All of us saw and heard her do this. Personally, I am going to vote guilty."

Everypony else replied, "Same here."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Ok, everypony who thinks she is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Anypony who thinks she is innocent, say 'nay.'"

Nopony said anything. Sunrise Breeze said, "Alright, it is by a unanimous vote that Twilight Sparkle is found guilty on the charge of threatening the life of a judge. Now we will handle the charge of attacking Equestria."

Brown Mane said, "Well she did admit to attacking Equestria quite blatantly and seemed quite sincere in her desire to destroy Ponyville using her dragon."

Waterfall added, "Yes and I can tell by her pent up rage that she is angry that she was unable to finish her goal. She obviously attacked Equestria, this is a no brainer."

Jackpot said, "Well considering all the testimony states that she attacked Equestria, not to mention she actually did come here and attack, I consider her guilty."

High Seas added, "I don't mean to sound out of line, but this is one of those facehoof moments. Of course she did it!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "You know High Seas, I was thinking the exact same thing. It is time to vote. All who think she is guilty, say aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony who thinks she is innocent, say 'nay.'"

Nopony said anything. Sunrise Breeze then said, "Alright, by unanimous vote Twilight Sparkle is found guilty on the charge of attacking Equestria. Now to address the charge of attempting to overthrow the government."

Sunrise Breeze continued, "Personally I think that she is guilty of that. After all, she did say she wanted to conquer the world and eat Colgate's heart. If that doesn't prove her desire to overthrow the government, then nothing does."

Brown Mane replied, "You are 100% right there Sunrise Breeze, i think she is guilty."

Waterfall said, "When I heard the testimony that she wanted to eat Colgate's heart, I realized that her sole goal was to overthrow the government."

Jackpot said, "Well I think she is guilty. After everything I have heard, the only way she could be found not guilty is if she paid off the jury."

High Seas said, "Well I think she is guilty as well. Everything I have heard has caused me to think that there is no other verdict that guilty."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Well now it is time to vote of this one. All who think she is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Any who think that she is innocent, say 'nay.'"

Nopony said anything. Sunset Breeze said, "Alright, by a unanimous vote we have decided that Twilight Sparkle is guilty of attempting to overthrow the government. Now on to the last charge, the charge of mass arson."

Brown Mane said, "Well given the laws regarding arson in Equestria she is guilty. She ordered her dragon to set fire to Ponyville, which he did do."

Waterfall added, "Yes, under Equestrian law she is guilty of this. This is a no brainer, she is guilty.

Jackpot said, "If I didn't understand Equestrian arson laws, I would say she is innocent. But knowing the Equestrian laws on arson, she is guilty.

High Seas said, "I agree, under Equestrian law she is guilty."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Same here. Alright, now we need to vote on this. Everypony who thinks she is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Anypony who thinks she is innocent say 'nay.'"

Nopony said nay.

Sunrise Breeze said, "On the charge of mass arson, it is found by a unanimous vote that Twilight Sparkle is guilty on the charge of mass arson."

Sunrise Breeze continued, "Wow, we were able to get all this deliberating done before sundown. This I am very happy about, now we can get a normal night's rest before court resumes tomorrow when the verdicts are read. But first, I must get the verdict to the bailiff."

Sunrise Breeze went to the bailiff's office and said, "Bailiff, we have reached a verdict on all charges for both defendants."

The bailiff replied, "Alright, I will get these to Judge Luna tomorrow morning as court resumes."

Sunrise Breeze and the rest of the jury returned to their sleeping quarters glad that very soon they would get to go home. They were also glad that it is Colgate, not them that determines the sentences for the guilty defendants.

Punishments and a Return to Normal

The Sparkle siblings have fallen so far. At one point Twilight Sparkle was the Dark Goddess who ruled the entire planet and Shining Armor was the Grand Prince, General of the Army and first in line to the throne. Now both find themselves awaiting verdicts on very serious crimes that could result in the death penalty. Shining Armor was nervous about what his sentence was but Twilight still saw herself as a dark goddess who could never be punished for anything.

The next morning arrived after breakfast. Luna, Colgate, the jury, the defendants and the bailiff arrived in the courtroom.

Luna asked, "Has the jury come to a verdict?"

Sunrise Breeze replied, "We have your honor."

The bailiff took the verdicts to Judge Luna to read.

Luna said, "Shining Armor, please stand while your verdicts are read."

Shining Armor replied, "Yes your honor."

Luna read the verdicts

"We the jury, find the defendant, Shining Armor, guilty on the count of treason."

"We the jury, find the defendant, Shining Armor, guilty on the count of going AWOL."

"We the jury, find the defendant, Shining Armor, not guilty on the count of stealing a government vessel."

"We the jury, find the defendant, Shining Armor, guilty on the count of aiding an enemy in attacking Equestria."

"We the jury, find the defendant, Shining Armor, guilty on the count of aiding an enemy in attempting to overthrow the government."

Luna continued, "Shining Armor, you have been found guilty on four of five counts. Your sentence will be determined after Twilight's verdicts are read. You may be seated."

Luna added, "Twilight Sparkle, please read while your verdicts are read."

Twilight growled, "Oh yes, of course you lying tyrant."

Luna fired a bolt of energy at Twilight, shocking her but not knocking her out. She said, "I am sick and tired of your behavior Twilight. Hopefully I won't have to put up with you in a courtroom ever again."

Twilight shouted, "OH WHAT, IS COLGATE GOING TO EXECUTE ME? FINE, GO FOR IT YOU WRETCH!"

Luna read the verdicts

"We the jury, find the defendant, Twilight Sparkle, guilty on the count of threatening the life of a judge."

"We the jury, find the defendant, Twilight Sparkle, guilty on the count of attacking Equestria."

"We the jury, find the defendant, Twilight Sparkle, guilty on the count of attempting to overthrow the government."

"We the jury, find the defendant, Twilight Sparkle, guilty on the count of mass arson."

Twilight shouted, "IT WAS SPIKE THAT SET PONYVILLE ON FIRE, NOT ME. THIS WAS RIGGED."

Luna said, "Twilight Sparkle, would you just shut up. If you knew anything about Equestrian law, you would realize that since you ordered your dragon to set fire to Ponyville, it is as though you set the fires yourself."

Twilight growled, "Whatever."

Luna said, "Twilight, Shining Armor, Celestia, Colgate will now read your sentences as I am certain that she has decided what your punishment will be given what you have been found guilty on. Colgate, do you have your sentences decided?"

Colgate replied, "Yes your honor."

Luna said, "You may read them now."

Colgate said, "Celestia, since you plead guilty you may return home with your parents. However, you are forbidden from coming to Equestria, flying over Equestrian airspace and sailing in Equestrian waters for 1,000 years. There is one other thing I need to do."

Celestia asked, "What is that?"

Colgate replied, "It is nothing bad."

Colgate lowered her horn and she began to glow as she recited, "Evil is what resides within the pony, that causes her to be lonely, green is the color of the evil one's eyes, those look terrible i will not lie, the evil must go so the pony may return to go with the flow."

Colgate sent a gentle beam of energy to Celestia. Her eyes began to water but the tears were green, not clear. Her eyes stopped watering once the evil was gone.

Celestia asked, "Colgate, what did you do? Why were my tears green?"

Colgate replied, "Your tears were green because that was the evil leaving you. Your eyes are normal again. Once your parents decide to go home, you and Luna will return to Faustica."

Celestia said, "Thank you Colgate. I am eternally grateful to you for this!"

Twilight and Shining Armor shouted at Colgate, "WE WILL KILL YOU WHEN WE GET THE CHANCE COLGATE! YOUR ARMY CAN'T PROTECT YOU FOREVER!"

Colgate said, "Stinging Haze, Ice Storm, help me get these two outside. I need to handle their punishments outside. Threatening my life is not wise."

Stinging Haze and Ice Storm took the two outside so Colgate could read their punishments to them and Stinging Haze covered them in ooze to stop them from using any magic.

The whole town gathered around Twilight and the guilty Sparkle siblings. Colgate walked over to them and shook her head. She said, you two have committed the worst crimes against Equestria in well over a thousand years. Twilight, you threatened to kill a judge and both of you threatened to kill me. For those crimes, I have no choice but to permanently banish you two to the void. I would have given you the death penalty but I figured putting you out of your misery would be giving you the easy way out. Merely existing in the void would be much worse."

Twilight said, "Colgate, I want to know what I ever did for you to banish me to the void?"

Colgate replied, "Twilight, you attacked Equestria, AGAIN. You threatened the life of a judge and you said that you would eat my heart. Things like this simply can not be tolerated. I am also doing this for the security of the entire planet. Put yourself in my hooves, wouldn't you want to hold on to your country and allow other nations to be their own nation and not a mere province of yours?"

Twilight ranted, "You are too nice, you know that? If you were a real leader you would demand tribute, you would want the whole world and you certainly wouldn't want anypony else having full rule of a distant land."

Colgate replied, "Look, during your time in the sun the world prospered. Every nation's economy improved. Since you went in, took those lands, started collecting tribute and ruled over them again, their economies are sinking. Besides, you are STILL evil and we can not have an evil pony roaming the world."

Twilight asked, "Well you took the evil out of Celestia. Why won't you take it out of me?"

Colgate replied, "You are going to the void forever, so what does it matter? Shining Armor, are there any issues you wish to address before your banishment?"

Shining Armor asked, "Yes there are. Why couldn't you understand that I left to help my sister? Wouldn't you want to help your sibling in his or her bid to conquer the world?"

Colgate replied, "No, I wouldn't. I do not believe that a one world government is a good idea. I saw how the world went to hell when we had that. Besides, this nation is ruled by the military. Going AWOL and treason were the most serious of your crimes. If I wanted to give you the easy way out, I would have simply executed you."

Shining Armor said, "Well I hope one day your banishing us will come back to haunt you. There aren't any more members of the Sparkle family in Equestria but there may be some abroad. Hopefully they will come free us from the void and we can take you down!"

Colgate replied, "Oh you silly pony! Don't you know that the only pony who can unbanish a pony from the void is the pony that banished them to start with? Besides, not you or anypony else could banish me anyway. You know how powerful I am. Alright, time to finish this so we can move on with our lives. Ice Storm, Stinging Haze, could you move those two right next to each other?"

Ice Storm said, "Of course we can!"

Ice Storm and Stinging Haze moved Twilight and Shining Armor so that they would be standing right next to one another. This way Colgate would only need to cast one banishing spell. Colgate said, "Any last words from you two."

Shining Armor said, "Well everypony, I feel really sorry for you if you think that this is a good thing, banishing us. At one time Twilight was your Dark Goddess and I was the Grand Prince and second in line to the throne. May all of you have a good life. Good bye everypony."

Twilight shouted, "I HATE ALL OF YOU! I HOPE YOU ALL DIE HORRIBLE AND PAINFUL DEATHS! I WISH THAT ON EVERYPONY ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET! THE HELL WITH ALL OF YOU!"

Colgate was irritated by Twilight's statement. She decided the time had come. She began to glow brightly and her horn began to glow She recited, "You have committed treason and that is not in season, you are a threat to me and I simply can not let that be, I can no longer be annoyed so you shall be cast into the void."

A black vortex opened up and swallowed the Sparkle siblings. The crowd cheered as they disappeared down the vortex.

Colgate said to the crowd, "Well everypony, two of the world's biggest villains have been banished to the void forever. Don't worry, I am the only pony that could release them from the void. In the event that there are other members of the Sparkle family who may seek revenge, don't worry, we will be able to handle them easily."

Pinkie shouted, "You know what this calls for? A PARTY!"

Colgate replied, "You bet it does. Alright everypony, let's have a huge, multi-day party to celebrate our triumph."

Lyra, LaurFa, Lemon Hearts and the royal family out in Faustica stopped Colgate and asked her what she had planned for them.

Colgate replied, "Well Lyra, you will be the queen down in Neigh Zealand, Lemon Hearts, you will be the queen in Saddle Arabia, LaurFa, you will be the queen in the Equine empire and the royal family will be the rulers in Faustica. Oh by the way Celestia, I am lifting your ban from coming to Equestria. I can tell you are genuinely sorry for what you did and since you are no longer evil, I have no worries about you. I only said that was your punishment so the Sparkle siblings wouldn't cause any more trouble than they already are. For right now, let's help Pinkie get this party going and celebrate!"

Finally, after over a thousand years, the Sparkle siblings would never again be a threat to Equestria or anywhere else in the world. Lyra became the queen of Neigh Zealand, Lemon Hearts became the queen of Saddle Arabia, LaurFa became the queen of the Equine Empire, the royal family continued their rule in Faustica and Colgate remained as Supreme Commander in Equestria. She wound up naming the fierce and strong Scootaloo as her second in command.