Changeling Empire

Miasma wakes up from her nap and gets up.

"Your highness, did you sleep well?", a Changeling soldier asks.

"Very well.", Miasma said with a evil smile. "I had alot of fun tormenting Celestia."

"What else did you add?"

"I made her see Twilight being treated as a criminal over something she didn't do and have her banished.", Miasma said. "I love it when she keeps on crying on that she would never do such a thing and that she doesn't treat Twilight as a tool."

"I'm glad you enjoy it."

"Is my training equipment ready?", Miasma asks removing her royal robes.

"Yes, ma'am! We set it to Level 100."

"Good.", Miasma said putting a blindfold over her eyes. "I must keep in shape."

Miasma flies off the airship and lands on the beach surrounds by hundreds of Automatons and Changeling Elite along with ten Titanic Beings. The Changeling Elite all change into Equestria's worst enemies; Nightmare Moon, Discord, Sombra, Tirek and Storm King.

"Shall we begin?", Miasma asks.

An Automaton makes the first move and throws a green orb towards Miasma. Only inches away Miasma moves her head to the side avoid the orb resulting in it hitting the Tirek copy turning it to stone.

"I'm amaze these ponies haven't thought of dodging.", Miasma mutters in disgust as she blasts a large hole on the Titanic Being's chest. "This will be done in less then ten minutes."

"Why are you following me?", Assassin asks entering the research lab with Trixie behind him.

"Starlight is a victim as well.", Trixie said. "Besides you need an assistant."

"Mr. Royal Guard, sir!", a white mare with a green mane calls out.

"I'm not a Royal Guard.", Assassin said. "I'm part of an Intelligence Division."

"Please abandon this case.", the mare said.

"What? Why?", Assassin asks. "And who're you?"

"My name is Dream Scape and the reason I'm telling you this is because Darkhorse appears in my dream.", Dream Scape said. "He wants the Royal Guards to give up or else he'll put nightmares on fillies and elderly and we know their body can't handle the stress."

"That sick beast.", Assassin said in disbelief. "All we can do is to prevent the fillies and elderly from sleeping, but that means we have just a few days to solve this. This is a problem."

"Wait, why did he tell just you?", Trixie asks.

"That's a good point.", Assassin said. "Why didn't he tell us himself through the orb?"

The last Titanic Being stomps on Miasma, but she easily stops the blow with her bare hooves. She then fires a point blank magical blast blowing the Titanic Being from the inside.

"Nine seconds flat.", the trooper said stopping the watch. "A new record."

Miasma removes her blindfold and flies back to the airship leaving behind a large pile of broken Automatons, Titantic Beings and badly beaten Changeling Elite. "That wasn't even a warm up."

"Queen Miasma, our spies report that Princess Luna has ventured into the Unknown."

"Is that so? Is it possible that she is heading for the Golden Castle of Stormberg?"

"The Golden Castle? The former home of Lauren Faust before she came to Equestria?"

"If that's where she's going then she'll have to take the hard way to get there."

Miasma looks to the Unknown and raise her horn to the sky.

Luna flies to the direction where the map leads, but then notice the sky darkening. She then sees storm clouds forming over her and then starts firing lightning bolts towards her. Luna creates a shield blocking the bolts albeit barely.

"Give it up, Luna!", Miasma calls out as the clouds take form of Miasma's head.

"Miasma!"

"You can't even avoid an orb thrown by a broken horn unicorn!", Miasma laughs. "What makes you think you can even avoid something as fast a lightning? Especially when I can make them shoot faster!"

The storm clouds fire a continuous barrage of lightning bolts at Luna. Luna quickly raise her shield to block them, but it was in vain as the bolts breaks through the shield and electrocutes Luna. Luna's badly burnt body falls straight towards the ocean.

"Farewell, failure of a princess!", Miasma laughs as the storm clouds dissipates.

"Such a pity.", Miasma said in disappointment. "I was hoping for a rematch against her."

"My queen, the bottle you requested.", the trooper said handing Miasma the Essence Bottle.

"I wonder how much Celestia will cry when I turn her into Daybreaker?"

"You sure this will work?", Trixie asks Assassin force-feeding the comatose Shining Armor a bottle.

"Zecora assures me that this potion will allow Shining Armor to enter my dream.", Assassin said before drinking his bottle. "This taste terrible though."

Assassin lies down.

"If something is happening in the real world, wake me up.", Assassin said before going to sleep.

Luna wakes up finding herself at the base of a gigantic mountain.

"I see you're awake.", a gold stallion with silver mane said feeding the fire with wood.

"Where am I?", Luna asks.

"You are at the base of Harmonic Mountain and on top of it is the Golden Castle of Stormberg.", the stallion answers.

Luna then notice all of her injuries are gone.

"You had a nasty fall and severe burns.", the stallion said. "No doubt from Miasma herself."

"You know her?", Luna asks in shock.

"Of course I know her, she tried to gain access to the Golden Castle herself, but failed miserably.", the stallion said. "As for you! You might as well give up!"

"Why?"

"Because the castle does not see you worthy.", the stallion answers. "All the castle sees in you is a weak lazy alicorn, who couldn't even protect her own kingdom and must rely on innocent civilians to do all the work."

"How dare you make such an accusation?!"

"Who are the current wielders of the Elements of Harmony? Who defeated you, Discord, Sombra, Chrysalis, Tirek, the plunder vines and the Storm King?", the stallion said. "I told Lauren that you and Celestia were not worthy to be alicorns, but she keeps me on saying that she has faith in you two. In my eyes I'd say Princess Twilight Sparkle should be the rightful ruler of Equestria, since she did all that tasks that were meant for you."

"What do you mean?"

"Those villains Twilight Sparkle defeated were meant for you and Celestia to defeat in order to prepare you for the far bigger threats like the Changeling Empire, but you haven't done a thing."

"But at least we defeated Tirek!"

"You actually believe that garbage?", the stallion asks. "This is what really happened?"

The fire reveals the time during Tirek's first defeat.

Tirek stands over the defeated Celestia, Luna and Scorpan.

"I told you you're own brother would betray you, Lord Tirek.", Dark Reaper said standing next to Tirek.

"You were right and thanks to your warning I was more than prepared for those fools.", Tirek said.

"We I did told you all about Eqeustria and it's vast magic after all.", Dark Reaper said.

"And you are more than willing to betray your home and your master Starswirl.", Tirek said. "You're evil is almost a match for my own. Now all of Equestria is mine!"

"I'm afraid there's a change of plan.", Dark Reaper said as she cast a Magic Drain spell of Tirek.

"What?! No!", Tirek screams as the magic leaves his body and he change into his frail weaken state. "You betrayed me!"

"You always said treachery and deceit are the corner stones of power.", Dark Reaper said. "Can you blame me for learning your lessons so well?"

Tirek could only chuckle in amusement. "It appears I trained you too well as a teacher I am very impressed."

Tirek then falls unconscious and Dark Reaper walks to the defeated heroes. She cast a spell healing their injuries and alter their memories into thinking that they defeated Tirek.

"Oh, how devastating it'll be when they learn the truth."

"No...", was all Luna can said after watching the whole scene.

"Now, you know the truth. You never defeated Tirek back then and you never defeated him now.", the stallion said. "Equestria is now a lost cause and beyond saving. Leave this place and never come back. You are a failure to not only to your kingdom, but to your mother as well."

The stallion makes his leave only to Luna to gallop in front of him and enter a begging bow.

"Please! I know how much of a failure to my kingdom and to my mother. I'm know how much of a coward I am! I was treated like a ragdoll again Miasma and I got caught by a broken-horn unicorn easily.", Luna cries breaking into tears. "With the Element Bearers gone I'm one of the only defenses against our foes, but even with my best I could do nothing! Please! Give me another chance to prove myself. I don't want to see Equestria suffer. I promised my mother to protect it!"

"Very well.", the stallion said. "Normally I don't give second chances, but your plea convince me that there is still hope for you yet. However you must still pass the trials, which you failed to do during your time a princess."

"I'll do anything.", Luna said. "Thank you!"

"First things first.", the stallion said before casting his spell on Luna removing her horn, wings, cutie mark and her magic causing her eyes to turn white. "You must climb to the top of the mountain without magic. That is your first trial."

With that said the stallion teleports outs of the area.

"Why do I get the feeling fighting Tirek is much easier than this?", Luna asks herself as she starts climbing.

In Assassin's dream...

Assassin was cleaning his katana when suddenly Dream Trixie wearing japanese clothing hits Assassin's head with a slipper.

"What was that for?", Assassin asks in annoyance.

"I apologize. You were showing off so much that I could not resist.". Trixie said.

Dream Dream Scape also dressing in japanese clothing enters the room.

"Please help me!", Dream Scape said. "I cannot sleep!"

"What for you mean?", Assassin asks.

"In my dream... a freaky alicorn... I'm really scared!"

"Assassin!", Shining Armor shout wearing samurai armor enters the room. "We've got a situation!"

"What's the matter, Captain?", Assassin asks revealing himself to be wearing ninja clothing.

"There's a corpse at the town square!", Shining said. "Wait a minute..."

Shining looks at himself.

"What are you having me do, Assassin?", Shining asks looking at his armor. "This is your dream that you brought me too."

"Eh? ", Assassin asks before coming to realization. "Oh! That's right. To stop myself from sleeping I watched those drama movies I picked up when I was away from Mystica."

Assassin, Shining and Dream Scape hurries to the crime scene and sees Dream Storm Cloud in charge of the investigation.

"So you're here?", Storm Cloud asks.

"So, where is the one who has gone to the afterlife?", Assassin asks.

"Castle Entertainer and Jester... Discord.", Storm Cloud answers removing the cover revealing Discord's body. "It seems he slipped and drowned from a lack of sleep in the fountain."

"Hey, isn't this Discord?!", Shining asks.

"Plus he's smiling. I guess not even death can stop that.", Assassin said clearly impressed.

Dream Discord's body gets up causing everypony to back up and scream.

"This isn't a smile. It's a face frozen in terror.", Dream Discord said. "And... the one who frighten me this much..."

Before he could finish a blowpipe needle hits his neck causing Discord to fall back down dead, again.

"Over there!", Shining said pointing to where the needle was fired.

"Why is she in your dream?!", Darkhorse Knight shouts casting a spell to shrink Dream Scape and stuffs her inside his saddlebag. "Later!"

"Hold it!", Assassin shouts flying to the air giving chase.

"Out of the way!", Darkhorse shouts flying through the crowded street. "I said move! Move!"

He then spots Assassin chasing after him. "Stay away!"

Darkhorse summons a building in front of Assassin.

"What the...?!", Assassin shouts as he crashes through.

Luna looks down after reaching a resting spot of the mountain.

"I can't even see the botton and still there's still more to climb.", Luna pants. "I guess I relied too much on magic to the point my body is no longer physically fit. I wonder if Miasma had to deal these hardships each day."

With that said Luna continues climbing.

Assassin manage to catch up to Darkhorse and pins him to the wall with a chariot. Darkhorse's saddlebag flies in the air and Assassin catches it. Dream Scape grows back to full size in Assassin's arms.

"Answer me!", Assassin demands. "Why put the ponies into comas?! Specifically the students?"

"Everything was for her.", Darkhorse answers struggling to break free.

"For Dream Scape? What's that mean?!"

"It was a fated meeting. I am her prince."

"Huh?"

Assassin then feels somepony stroking his face.

"Not now, Dream Scape!", Assassin said turning to her only to see Dream Fleur de Lis. "Eh? Who are you?!"

Assassin then turns back to the pinned Darkhorse only to find Dream Prince Blueblood pinned in his place. "Oh, and you?"

"Move! Move!", Blueblood screams painfully.

"Oh! Huh? What's this?!", Assassin said completely lost.

"Dummy! Later!", the freed Darkhorse said fleeing with the once more shrunken Dream Scape.

"Hey! Stop!", Assassin shouts, but is stuck dealing with Fleur and Blueblood first.

Luna finally makes it to the top of the mountain and there in front of her is the Gold Castle of Stormberg.

"Castle I wish to enter.", Luna calls out to it.

"Welcome, Luna. Long have I awaited your arrival.", the castle answers opening the gate allowing Luna access. To her surprise she sees the stallion she met at the base of the mountain standing before her.

"Ah, you made it. For a moment I though you didn't.", the stallion said.

"You are the Keeper of the Castle? Why didn't you tell me?", Luna asks.

"You never asked.", the stallion answers before his body fades away and a pillar of light emerges from a large hole in the center of the castle. "I am Light Hope and what you see before you is my true form."

"Do you know why I am here?"

"I do and it is a grave situation indeed. The enemy you face before you are beyond those you have fought in the past and they are finding means to become even stronger.", Light Hope said. "Not only do they surpass you in magic, but their bodies and physical strength as well."

Light Hope shows Luna, Miasma's training time in the beach. Miasma only use her magic in a more conserving way mainly using it to finish off foes, while most of the damage was done through sheer brute force. She even shatters an Automaton into pieces by punching it as fast as a machine gun.

"Even if Tirek drained all of her magic, her physical abilities are more than enough to defeat him."

"We relied too much on magic and it cost us greatly. I couldn't even dodge an orb from turning me into stone."

"Indeed, Tempest Shadow is the only pony in Equestria that had actually harmonized her body."

"What do you mean?"

"Just like day and night they must by harmony with your body, mind and magic, and it is the body we must focus on now. Be warn this training will be harsh and brutal."

"I already came this far. I will not back down."

Assassin resumes his chase on Darkhorse Knight.

"See if you like this?", Darkhorse said as he casts a spell. Assassin's wings disappear and he finds himself riding a bicycle.

"What is this?!", Assassin screams struggling to properly ride the bike as he continues pursuing Darkhorse. "Hey! Stop screwing around! Why, you! Stop!"

"Pests, disappear!", Darkhorse said having all the dream ponies to disappear.

Darkhorse runs through the gate of a japanese version of Canterlot Castle running out of breathe.

"The Shogun of Feudal.", an unknown voice announce as Shining Armor comes out of the building now dressed as a completely armored japanese shogun with two sashimono on his back.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! You better not be causing trouble in my city.", Shining said intimidatingly. "Wait... What are you having me do now, Assassin?"

Assassin staggers through the gate completely out of breath.

"You're annoying. Get lost!", Darkhorse said casting a spell to get rid of Shining Armor, but nothing happen. "What?! Why isn't it working?"

"Just like you, I too am a special condition in this world.", Shining explains.

"Wait, you're the real one! I put you to eternal sleep!", Darkhorse said. "And only I and Princess Luna should be the only one able to enter others' dreams!"

"Although temporary the potions Zecora brewed made it possible.", Shining Armor said. "Now, answer me. Who are you? Professor Snooze?"

"Snooze? Wrong.", Darkhorse answers. "I already put him to sleep."

"Professor Snooze.", Dream Scape call out knocking the door before entering. "Are you in here?"

She sees Professor Snooze a victim to Darkhorse, causing her to drop her books and screams loudly.

Trixie pokes her head up.

"What was that scream just now?", Trixie wonders when suddenly the doors gets torn down by a Artificial Alicorn.

"Well. Well. I originally came to steal the Alicorn Amulet, but it looks like I found something just as valuable.", the alicorn said. "The Perfect Artificial Alicorn along with a candidate."

"How did you get past the guards?", Trixie asks in panic.

Behind the Artifical Alicorn is a hallways littered with beaten Royal Guards.

"We really suck at our job.", the guard groans in pain.

"If you're not Professor Snooze then just who are you?", Shining asks before disappearing.

"Shining?", Assassin calls out in shock at his friend's sudden disappearance.

"HHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP!", Trixie screams carrying the comatose Shining Armor on her back fleeing from the Artificial Alicorn.

"Lucky! Now the obstacle is gone.", Darkhorse cheers. "I can take my time to finish you off."

Darkhorse attack Assassin forcing him on the defense.

The Artificial Alicorn continues to give chase on Trixie then a green orb strikes his leg slowly turning it to stone, but the alicorn breaks out of his confinement.

"It's been a long time...", the Artificial Alicorn said turning to the pony behind him. "...Tempest Shadow."

"It has indeed...", Tempest said. "...Blood Stalk."