Changeling Empire

Hundreds of doctors and nurses are mending the Royal Guards injured from the invasion. Shining Armor, who is also bed ridden could only watch in guilt. He is Captain of the Royal Guard and he once more failed Equestria. He then turns to the unconscious princesses.

In the throne room...

"Can you believe this?!", Spitfire shouts tossing the newspaper to the floor. It was all about Celestia and Luna being false leaders and decisions of joining the Changeling Empire. "I can't believe this all happen in just one day!"

"Don't forget, Gold Star is also the master of psychology warfare.", Soarin said.

"If I may, who is this Gold Star you guys are talking about?", Starlight Glimmer asks. She, Trixie and Discord were in Thorax's kingdom for a visit during the Gala, thus unaware to the events that unfolded. Upon receiving a message from Spike on what transpired the trio and Thorax hurries to Canterlot.

"Well...", Spitfire starts, but stops when she hear the doors opening and Shining Armor limping inside.

"Shouldn't you be resting?", Spitfire asks.

"How can I rest with all the noise?", Shining Armor said before turning to the others.

"Gold Star was a royal guard like us.", Shining Armor starts.

"Gold Star is an Earth Pony, who grew up in Canterlot. Unfortunately it wasn't fun for him, luckily he had friends like us."

Blueblood bullies a young Gold Star by lifting him to the air by the leg with magic, while other unicorns and pegasus laughs. Shining Armor use his magic to free Gold Star, while Spitfire threatens to report Blueblood to Celestia and Big Mac shooing the crowd away.

"He sees himself as the bottom of the food chain as pegasus can fly, while unicorns can do magic. In fact he even lack the strength of an earth pony, but makes it all up with his genius intellect. After graduating from high school he joined the Royal Guard training camp along with me."

Both Shining Armor and Gold Star have a sword duel. Despite being an Earth Pony with is controlling the sword telepathically. With skill and grace Gold Star easily disarms Shining Armor.

"Wow, Gold Star! That's some necklace you made. Hard to believe it'll give you the power of telekinesis.", Shining Armor said hoof bumping Gold Star.

"Thanks, Shining Armor.", Gold Star said. "I based it off of the Alicorn Amulet. I took me some time, but I was able to get the basic solved."

"Shining Armor! Gold Star! You're on patrol duty."

"While his heart is in the right place, his methods are considered extreme."

Gold Star catches a thief, but rather than restraining him he slams the thief's body hard to the ground and then punch his face several time. Gold Star interrogates a suspect, but the suspect keeps on saying "I don't know!". Gold Star picks up a metal rod from a furnace and a painful scream can be heard.

"Eventually things turn to the worse!"

"Why haven't I've been graduated to the Royal Guards?", Gold Star asks his instructor. "I mean Shining Armor is among them now despite the fact I am the best in the class."

"You are indeed a high achiever and a genius, Gold Star, but that is not the only qualifications of being accepted.", the Instructor said. "Rather than focusing on what you have, focus on what you lack." Gold Star could only growl as he lacks nothing.

"Eventually he got accepted to the Royal Guards, but that didn't make him any happier and I fear things went bad to worse as time moved on."

"You useless incompetent piece of garbage!", Gold Star said shouting at the three pegasus guards. "You were tasked to guard Princess Celestia and you let some moon butt alicorn take her away tossing you aside like rag dolls!"

Gold Star punches each of the guard hard to the ground. "The Royal Guard will not have weak links! Pack your things, cause you're all fired!"

"But we need this job to support our families."

"That's not my problem! Now get out or I'll throw you out myself!"

"The final straw was when Celestia and my mentor promoted me to captain and Gold Star wasn't happy about it."

Gold Star storms out of the throne anger and gives a laughing Blueblood a broken nose. "They have the brains to make Shining Armor captain?!", Gold Star shouts. "Without me, this kingdom won't last!"

"That was the last time we ever saw him, until recently.", Spitfire said. "And in a cruel way, Gold Star words came true. The only reason Equestria survived was because of the princesses and the Elements of Harmony."

"I don't see how one earth pony could've made a difference.", Trixie said.

"Take a look at this.", Spitfire said handing Starlight a book. "It's Gold Star's journal. In their are plans on how to counter threats on Equestria."

Trixie, Starlight, Discord, and Thorax looks inside and are visibly disturb on what they see.

"Okay, I can see how he'll defend Equestria from Tirek, Discord, Sombra and many other threats.", Starlight said closing the book as Trixie faints.

"He truly is a genius.", Discord said trying not to throw up.

Gold Star's Fleet...

Gold Star stands in front of an orb speaking to a shadowed figure.

"So your going along with your plans?", Gold Star asks.

"Of course! I hate that white coat unicorn bastard.", the silhouette answers. "I definitely won't be satisfied until I end his life myself! But before that I will break him!"

Shining Armor is seen busy dealing with his usual paperwork combined with the princesses work.

"Woah, you got your work cut out for you.", Spitfire said placing another pile of paper.

"It kinda makes he wonder why my mentor chose me to be Captain of the Royal Guard and not Gold Star.", Shining Armor said. "I'm just a warrior with no leadership capabilities, while Gold Star one the other hand does."

"I'll admit it was rather strange.", Spitfire said.

"And now the one who truly deserved to be Captain is now an enemy to this very kingdom.", Shining Armor sighs. "I don't know if I can protect this kingdom or not..."

"Why're you so worried? Gold Star wasn't the only one to gain infamy, you used to be called the "Unbreakable Shield".", Spitfire said. This cause the others to turn to the two.

"Unbreakable Shield?"

"Hm? You didn't know?", Spitfire asks in surprise. "Before becoming Captain of the Royal Guard, Shining gained that nickname not only because of his magical barriers but also his skills with the sword as he can easily block off any attack coming towards him. Criminals feared him as much as they feared Gold Star."

"That true, Shining Armor?", Discord asks.

"It's just a nickname.", Shining Armor answers. "Plus that was the past."

Back in the infirmary, a shadowed figure approach the unconscious princesses with a menacing grin. Behind him are beaten doctors and nurses.

An orb smashes through a window surprising everyone. The orb fires a projection image revealing the shadowed figure.

"You recognize me?", the figure asks. "Shining Armor."

"That voice!", Shining Armor said in recognition.

"That's right.", the figure said. "You took my life away... I'm Blast Bomber!"

"But you died.", Shining said thinking back the last time he saw Blast Bomber.

An orange earth pony with a red mane picks up a string and and prepares to light it up with a torch.

"Hey, what are you doing there?", Shining Armor calls out spotting Blast. Blast panics and make a run for it with Shining giving chase. Blast however trips and fall onto several barrels and the torch lands on one creating a large explosion.

Shining Armor was able to pull Blast out of the blaze with his magic, but the earth pony suffered severe burns.

"Unforgivable...", Blast said before falling unconscious.

"So the rumor of your survival were true?!", Shining asks in shock.

"I'll repay you for the bitterness of what you've done... paid back by a hundred fold!", Blast said moving to the side revealing Celestia, Luna and Cadance chained up and a ring on their horns to prevent their magic.

"Cadance!"

"Princess!"

"Look! Shining Armor!", Blast said pointing to several barrels next to the princesses. "With these explosives... isn't this an interesting sight?"

Blast then lights up the fuse.

"You know what'll happen when the flame reach the barrels.", Blast said. "Perfect time to test their immortality. I'll be where we last met. If you want to save the pathetic princesses, come right away!"

"Oh, and just to make sure. The Steel Beast will keep your friends occupied."

A large metallic object tears down the city wall and fires a fireball at one of the buildings.

Theme:

"Impressive isn't it?", Blaster said. "You'd be surprise at what you see beyond this continent Mystic."

The projection fades, leaving the worried group.

"We'll pursue him immediately!", Soarin said.

"But... You've got to stop the Steel Beast attacking the city.", Shining Armor said.

"But..."

"The Wonderbots can do that, so we'll go save the princesses...", Starlight offers.

"No. This challenge was directed toward me.", Shining Armor points out.

"Captain, it's too much for you all alone!", Soarin protests.

Shining Armor finall yhad enough and grabs Soarin by the collar. "Do not underestimate me.", Shining Armor said in a more authorized tone shocking the others. "I want all of you to deal with that Steel Beast. I'll deal with Blaster. That's an order!"

The Wonderbolts complies and departs with Starlight, Trixie, Thorax and Discord leaving Shining Armor alone.

"Unforgivable.", Shining Armor mutters thinking of Blaster holding the princesses captive.

The Steel Beast crushes anything in it's way with it's treads while firing the cannon everywhere. The civilians could only panic as the Beast is laying waste to the city.

"I'll handle this.", Discord said snapping his fingers to make the Steel Beast disappear, but nothing happens. "Huh?"

Discord snaps his fingers again several time and still nothing happens. The Steel Beast fires at Discord sending him crashing though several buildings.

"That thing must have the same properties as Chrysalis' throne!", Thorax said.

"That's just great! We can't use our magic on it and any weapons we have are useless.", Trixie curse seeing the Royal Guards futilely throwing their spears at the Steel Beast.

In Blaster's hideout...

Celestia, Luna and Cadance regains conscious and finds themselves chained to the wall.

"I see the three "Sleeping Beauties" are up.", Blaster said coming out of the shadows. "How the mighty have fallen."

"Blaster?!", Celestia asks in shock recognizing the voice.

"I see you still remember me, Celestia.", Blaster said. "We haven't seen each other since my trial."

Blaster then takes a seat. "Since we have some time. Let's talk."

Shining Armor wearing a different armor stands before the pathway leading to where Blaster and the captured Princesses are. He drops the message orb to the ground and crushes it before continuing on with his eyes cold as ice.