Changeling Empire

Gold Star is working on his Grand Plan trying his best to ignore the whining and complaining of the Queens.

"Can I help you?", Gold Star in annoyance.

"We're bored.", Misama groans. "Aren't you finish?"

"I just started.", Gold Star mutters. "If you want something to do then use some of my old work projects. I'll keep you and Equestria off my back."

Gold Star passes a small bottle to Miasma.

"I'm sure you make good use of this.", Gold Star said.

"Strange, I can feel Luna's presence in this bottle.", Miasma said.

"It's what's left of Nightmare Moon after her defeat.", Gold Star said. "A piece of her remained. You do with it as you wish."

"Oh, I'll make perfect us of it.", Miasma said with an evil smile. "I'll have fun breaking poor Lulu even more."

"PURGE wanted to test the new experiment.", Gold Star said. "And it's a perfect opportunity to test it."

The beaten Wonderbolts and Luna lie on their beds in the infirmary, unaware of an argument outside of their room.

"You want to relieve the Luna and the Wonderbolts from duty?", Shining Armor asks in rage. "What gives you that idea?"

"Because they are completely useless!", Storm Cloud shouts back. "The Wonderbolts and an alicorn princess, who can move the moon, were easily beaten by two Changeling Queens! And those Queens didn't even bother to use most of their magic!"

"Even so, she is still a Princess and she outranks you.", Shining Armor points out.

"Then maybe we should never had princesses in the first place.", Storm Cloud said before storming off. "If only Queen Faust was still with us."

"I hate to say this, but Storm Cloud made some good points.", Assassin Creed said coming out of the shadow.

"I know, it just makes me wish this was all a bad dream.", Shining Armor said massaging his forehead. "Before Nightmare Moon's return it was just the two sisters that did the defending and after that it was my sister and her friends that did the defending."

"I'm afraid we've been too dependent on them, while at the same time Celestia put too much reliability.", Assassin said sitting next of Shining Armor. "For each threat it is the Elements that did the saving and no alternative was used. This allowed the enemy to realize that the Elements of Harmony are our only means of defense that a threat, while the rest is just a walk in a park."

"I'm afraid we share as much blame as the princess.", Shining Armor said sadly. "How much difference would it been, if Faust was still with us?"

"I hear stories about her during my time away. Apparently she was well known outside of Equestria.", Assassin said. "I even eavesdrop of conversation in a bar."

"Hey, have you heard? The Changeling Empire is launching an attack on Equestria?"

"They're crazy! Everyone knows that land is under the rule of Lauren Faust. She's practically one of the strongest beings in the world. Only Empress Irian of that Empire will be an even match."

"I see, so that's how much of a difference the Queen made.", Shining Armor said. "I don't want to disrespect the princesses, especially my wife, but I too wish Lauren Faust was still with us."

With that said both Shining Armor and Assassin Creed walks off, unaware that Luna overheard everything in the hallway intersection. She falls to the floor and quietly weeps.

"Is this the best Equestria has to offer?", Miasma laughs fiddling with her mane. "Well, I suppose it's no surprise, your sister being who she is. After all, Celestia is nothing but a loser from a curse era!"

Luna could only stare at Miasma with hate. "Take that back! Or else!"

"Take it back?", Miasma asks. "It's not an insult it's the truth. Let me tell you a story..."

"You mother defended this land against foes beyond your imagination, even ward off out first invasion. But she also defeated Chaos himself, something no one had ever accomplished. After that she opened the Age of Harmony during her reign. I hate to say it, being a enemy to this very land, but she truly deserved the title of Harmonic Queen. In comparison you and Celestia have failed to live up to you mother's legacy."

"Mother, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!", Luna cries. "I failed..."

"What do you see Luna? Celestia?", a shadowed alicorn asks.

"Equestria!", the two sisters answer.

"That's right and what you see is just how beautiful it is.", the alicorn said. "Promise me to protect and preserve this lands beauty."

"We promise!"

"I couldn't keep my promise!", Luna cries.

After an entire day of attempting to free Discord from his crystal prison, Starlight retires to her bed to rest.

"You sure you don't know how to get out yourself?", Trixie asks the imprisoned Discord.

"This crystal created in the days of Lauren Faust.", Discord said. "She used them to imprisoned the worst of the worst beings."

"In other words, those with no redeeming qualities.", Trixie said.

"Before Queen Faust opened the doors to the Age of Harmony there was the Dark Age.", Discord said. "The villains at that time were real monsters compared to ones we faced today. Tell me, Trixie. Has a single villain ever killed someone?"

Trixie thought about it and realize, not a single villain the Elements had defeated ever killed. Sure there the threats and imprisonment, but not one of them crossed the line, but the ones from the Dark Age have no problem in doing so.

"Just like Queen Faust opened the doors to the Age of Harmony, I fear Gold Star and the Changeling Empire are opening the doors to a Second Dark Age."

The two then hear Starlight screaming.

A guard bursts into the Shining Armor office.

"Sir, we have a problem! A kingdom wide problem!"

Celestia closes her eyes to enter the dream world taking over for Luna due to her injuries. The moment she enter the Dream World she hear screams and notice all the dream bubbles are covered in dark aura.

"What's going on?", Celestia said in shock. She grabs one of the bubbles in order to enter it, but the bubble electrocutes her aside.

"I was expecting little baby Woona, but I suppose the Sun Princess will do just as well.", Miasma said comming out of the shadows.

"You did all this?", Celestia asks in anger.

"I did come up with the plan, but I'm not the one giving these ponies nightmares.", Miasma said. "Oh, and unlike those weak I'm scared types these nightmares are more traumatic. The best case scenario is comatose, while the worst is death."

Miasma picks up Starlight's dream bubble and shows Celestia the nightmare.

"You did this to me!", a gigantic monstrous Chrysalis roars chasing after the fleeing Starlight. "You took away everything from me! My hive! My title! My family! My body! My sanity! My life!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know!", Starlight screams in tears. "I didn't think this would happen to you! If I had known more about you I would've done something."

"You stole everything from me!", Chrysalis roars. "Now I'll destroying everything from you!"

Chrysalis fires a powerful energy beam from her mouth straight towards Canterlot, vaporizing the city into nothing.

In every hospital in Equestria, soldiers and medics are strapping the nightmare victims on their beds and sedates them to stabilize their condition.

"We can't keep this up.", Assassin Creed said bringing another victim. "The number of victims are growing and we're running low on sedation equipment."

"We need unicorns capable of sedating, can you find them?", Shining Armor asks.

"I'll try, but the main concern is keeping ponies from sleeping until the problem is solved."

"I know, the enemy picked a clever plan.", Shining Armor curse. "We're powerless in the Dream World and only the princesses can handle that."

Shining Armor then receives a call from an orb.

"These things are more handy than scrolls. Too bad we don't have the materials to make these.", Shining Armor said picking up. "Yes?"

"Captain!", Flash Sentry screams.

"What is it Flash?"

"You wife and daughter are screaming in their sleep and we can't wake them up!", Flash screams in panic.

"What?!", Shining Armor shouts.

"Wait, they're waking up!"

"Are they alright?!"

"Shining, you must get to Celestia! The attacker is going for her!", Cadance screams grabbing the orb. "He sensed Celestia entering the Dream World and sees her a much bigger prize."

"You three, follow me!", Shining Armor shouts with three guards following. The moment the reach Celestia's room they were already too late. Celestia is in a catatonic state.

"This is a disaster.", Shining said pacing in circles in the throne room. "Nearly a quarter of the population have fallen victim to the nightmare attack and what's worse Princess Celestia is a victim as well."

"If the citizens find out about this there's going to be chaos and riots.", Assassin Creed said. "Not to mention Princess Luna is in no condition physically and mentally."

"I wish I could help, but I don't have the ability to enter dreams and if I fail I'll just leave Flurry without a mother.", Cadance said sadly.

"If only there was a way for us to enter the Dream World and fight back.", Shining Armor said in frustration.

"There is a way, but it'll be very dangerous.", Storm Cloud said with a grim expression.

"I never knew there was a research lab here.", Shining Armor said entering the building with Storm Cloud, Cadance, Trixie, and Assassin Creed.

"This place was originally meant to be a weapons development lab through Gold Star's recommendation and you pretty much know what happens next.", Storm Cloud said entering the building. "This lab specialize on the research of dreams, during Luna's tie on the moon."

Assassin notice some curtains covering the windows. He attempts to look through when suddenly the curtain rolls up and an old pony dressed as a manticore pops out of nowhere scaring Assassin.

"A colt said he was afraid of dreaming.", the old pony said as Assassin screams in shock. The old pony the stares face to face with a Ursa Major statue. "The father asked if he had tried fighting."

He then hugs a life size Luna plushy rather disturbingly. "The colt's response was that he got scared and ran away. The father ordered him not to run next time."

The group enters the room as the old pony walks to a younger pony riding a coin operated ride.

"Do you know why, Sweet Dream?", the old pony asks the younger pony.

"I don't know, Professor.", Sweet Dream said as the ride starts moving faster.

"Conquering fear in a dream is the first step towards controlling the dream itself.", the professor said.

"Control the dream?", Shining asks.

"Yes!", the professor shouts causing Cadance to jump a bit. "An old tribe from a long time ago have trained eventually allowing them to control their dreams. It is truly marvelous as you don't have to be an Alicorn to do so."

The professor then laughs hysterically.

"I'm Captain Shining Armor.", Shining said introducing himself.

"The Royal Guard and... the Paladins?!", Sweet Dream asks getting off the ride.

"Professor Snooze...", Storm Cloud starts. "I was told by the hospital that six of your pupils were the first victims of the nightmare attack, correct?"

"That right.", Snooze said entering his serious persona. "They worked with me in researching 'Lucid Dreaming'."

Snooze puts on his lab coat.

"It means knowing when you are dreaming.", Snooze explains entering a tent and lies down on a sleeping bag. "We analyze the brainwaves of ponies as they dream. We're trying to solve the mystery of lucid dreaming."

"And so, you used your students as test subjects resulting in them not awakening again.", Shining Armor said causing Snooze to get back up shocking Shining Armor.

"They're just asleep from fatigue!", Snooze shouts. "Besides my work can't allow ponies to got into other ponies dream. That stuff is only Alicorn worthy."

"Can you let us use the device that you're testing on?", Assassin asks.

"Sure.", Snooze said pointing to some headphones and a large visual orb. "This will allow you to see the pony wearing the headphone dream and will prevent you from having any panic attack when having a nightmare."

"Hard to believe this thing can allow us to see somepony's dream or in this case nightmare.", Shining Armor said looking at the equipment.

"Too bad, there's only a few of these. They could help with the panic attack.", Assassin said grabbing the headphone. "Let's test this on Celestia just to see if it works."

Assassin puts the headphones on the sedated Celestia's head and turns on the orb. Through the orb they see Celestia weeping in darkness hugging the body of Twilight Sparkle.

"I'm sorry, my little ponies.", Celestia cries. "I'm so sorry."

"You should be sorry.", a voice calls out revealing to be Nightmare Moon followed by Chrysalis, Sombra, and Tirek. "You knew the danger, yet you sent children to face it and now look what has become of them."

Celestia then sees the time the Mane Six confront Nightmare Moon.

"You can't destroy the Elements of Harmony that easily, becau-", Twilight said but stops when Nightmare Moon fires a piercing beam through Twilight's throat.

"You talk too much.", Nightmare Moon said before doing the same to the rest of the Mane Six.

"You thought you're sister wouldn't kill?", a shadowed Miasma asks. "You banished her to the moon for a thousand years, I'm sure killing you're student is an even payback."

The scene then change to the Canterlot Wedding Event.

"You have a lot to think about.", Celestia said to the already devastated Twilight.

"I'm sorry.", Twilight cries to 'Cadance'.

"You will be!", "Cadance' said before transforming into Chrysalis and pounce Twilight with her sharp teeth bare. The sound of Chrysalis eating and Twilight's scream can be heard, but nopony is nearby to hear them. Chrysalis licks the blood off her mouth, while using her magic to erase the evidence.

"Gold Star was right. This pony's magic is incredible and is it now mine.", Chrysalis laughs before changing back into Cadance.

The scene then change to Twilight hanging herself after failing her test in saving the Crystal Empire and being removed from being Celetia's student.

"I would never..."

"But you could. After all she did cost the Crystal Empire.", Miasma said.

The scene then change to Twilight giving her magic away to Tirek in order to save her friends.

"Oh, by the way.", Tirek said. "I lied."

Tirek fires a powerful blast vaporizing the Mane Six and Discord.

"Please no more!", Celestia cries unable to take anymore vision of Twilight's death.

"You're no better than those villains.", Miasma mocks. "You don't care about Twilight. You only care about your own status as a princess using your student as a tool to fight off threats and now she is gone from your reach and now look what it has gotten you into."

Celestia finds herself stripped of her royal attire and being dragged of a jail cell by two Automatons. Other Automatons and rebels are guarding the area with airships swarming the sky. The voice of Gold Star can be heard all over Canterlot.

"Today, we will rise once more as a mighty kingdom, to face the corrupt and the traitors!"

The two Automatons toss Celestia into a prison cart, but not before one of them smacks a rifle to Celestia's face.

An earth pony rebel signals the cart to go and the cart moves out of the area.

"We all trusted the intention this mare to protect our great kingdom and lead her into a new era of prosperity."

Automatons are seen running down the sidewalk in the opposite direction of the cart.

"She had every chance to end the lives of our enemies from Tirek to Discord, but instead she simply puts them in prison and now look what happened."

On one side of the road an Automaton is seen pinning a civilian and then gutting him. On the other several Automatons are firing into buildings. A Steel Beast comes out of an alley closely followed by civilians. Soldiers aren't far behind. The tank stops near a market place, soldiers get out and start shooting and stabbing the shoppers. The cart goes down a hill. At the bottom a garbage can is rolling with a pony under it. The pony gets out and is shot from behind. The cart comes to an intersection. A cart chock full of rebels goes ahead of the cart. The other roads are swarmed with Automatons. Many civilians are lined up against it with their hooves behind their heads and their faces against the brick. Several civilians are on the ground being arrested by Automatons.

"Her hooves are covered in blood of our people for she did nothing against the threats!"

On a corner bend there is another empty area behind a building where some more civilians are being killed and arrested for resisting Gold Star. Several unicorn guards fire their magic upon the Automatons in a small courtyard, but all were killed.

"For years the stupidity of the princess and her reliance of the Elements of Harmony have severely weaken our military force. The sight of the devastation brought by Tirek have left me scarred and heartbroken, but I assure you my resolve have never been stronger!"

"The ponies loyal to Celestia are lined up with their backs facing the road. Automatons reload, aim at them and fire.

"In order to ensure the security and the continuing stability, the Kingdom of Equestria will be reorganized into the Equestrian Empire! For a safe and secure society!"

The citizens of Canterlot clap their hooves cheering Gold Star's name.

"He'll keep us safe!"

"He won't fail us like Celestia!"

"And now for the grand opening for the Equestrian Empire!", Gold Star said as he sees two Automatons dragging Celestia through the street by her rear legs, while the citizens angrily throw fruits, vegetables and anything that would cause injury, while the hard gravel plucked her once proud alicorn wings and cut into the snow white coat of her body.

The Automatons ties Celestia up to the wooden stake in the middle of the plaza. Gold Star walks up to Celestia, aims his flintlock at her face and cocks it. Gold Star fires.