Shining Armor is playing chess with Blade Dancer, while Flash Fire flies to Flurry Heart's room to check-up on her as Sunburst is in Canterlot taking part of the Friendship Festival. Blueblood left the throne room to pick up another book to read.

"I just hope this threat isn't as dangerous as Tirek, Sombra, or Chrysalis.", Blade Dancer said moving her rook.

"With our luck I doubt it.", Shining Armor said moving his bishop with difficulty due to his body shaking.

"You alright?", Blade Dancer asks in concern, with the two failing to notice a stallion wearing a trench coat entering the room.

"Not really. I've kept this hidden from Twily, Cadance and the Princesses so please don't tell them any of this.", Shining Armor said.

"I'll try, but if they ask you know I can't lie.", Blade Dancer said.

"It'll have to do.", Shining Armor said. "After Chrysalis second failed attempt to take Equestria I've been having nightmares. I keep on seeing horrible things happening to the princesses, while I just watch it happen completely useless. Then I keep hearing this voice in my head."

"What did the voice say?"

"It's you fault you couldn't save them. You're weak! You lack power! The death of those you love came from your hands not your enemies, because you fail to protect them!"

"That's really harsh.", Blade Dancer said.

"No matter how much I tried to deny it, can't help but agree with the voice. I mean everything is fine now, but what would've happen if things gone differently?", Shining Armor asks.

"I see what you mean. They mean everything to you and you can't help, but feel powerless to do anything about it. Chrysalis, Sombra and Tirek were the perfect examples of this.", Blade Dancer said. "But you shouldn't worry about it. All of that have passed and they're still fine."

"You're right. I guess I shouldn't put too much worry in this.", Shining Armor said. "So long as those I love are fine, I'm fine."

"Umm...", the trench coat stallion said. The two turn and scream in fright falling off their chair seeing a ghost-like pony next to them.

"You being too noisy!", Blueblood said entering the throne room in annoyance. "Just what is this ruckus about?"

"You!", the stallion said walking up to Blueblood in shock. "Why are you in a place like this?"

"Eh?"

"Ah... no..."

"Hey... do you know Blueblood?", Shining asks regaining his composure.

"No. I don't. Wrong pony.", the stallion said.

"A better question is, who are you?", Blade Dancer asks.

"I want you to find someone.", the stallion said handing Shining Armor a photo. "Ten years ago, I was separated from my family."

Unknown to everypony in the room, this was just the beginning of a big storm.

Near Tartarus...

Ryubee Templar, an old brown unicorn stallion with grey mane and cutie mark of a gold sceptre, eats his meal with his daughter Hera Templar, a young white unicorn mare with pink mane and a cutie mark of a large crown.

"Father.", Hera said. "When did this dinner table become just you and me?"

"This is no time to be sentimental.", Ryubee said wiping his mouth. "Our spy reported that Canterlot is taken and three of the princesses are statues while the last one is missing. The perfect time to put my plan into action."

"Hera...", Ryubee said turning to his daughter. "You're time of becoming queen of this very kingdom is near."

"But father, I have to be an alicorn in order for that to happen.", Hera points out. "And becoming an alicorn must be earned not given. An alternative is by birth, but that's extremely rare."

"You'll leave that to me. For now... a messenger from our supporting organization, PURGE, will come.", Ryubee said. "Please prepare yourself."

Gold Star sits in the lounge of Manehattan Hotel looking at the photos of Princess Cadance, Flurry Heart and Shining Armor then to a file labeled the Artificial Alicorn Project. The desk clerk walks up to him with his room key.

"I'm terribly sorry for making you wait, sir. Your room has been prepared.", the clerk said.

Gold Star puts his files inside his briefcase, takes the key and heads for his room. On the way he bumps into a gothic mare.

"Excuse me.", Gold Star said turning to the mare and notice a grasshopper stuck to her mouth. "You've got a bug."

The gothic mare eats it up and reveals a container of grasshoppers. "Want some?"

Gold Star drops his key in shock. "No thank you.", Gold Star said picking up his key and leaves.

"But it's good.", the mare said eating another one.

"That stallion been staring at you for some time.", Shining said to Blueblood. "You sure you don't know him?"

"I never seen him in my life, yet for some reason I seem to know him.", Blueblood said, just then a scroll appears in front of him. Blueblood opens it up. "It's from Hera!"

'Hera?', the stallion thought upon hearing the name. 'Hera Templar?'

"She wants me to meet her.", Blueblood said. "I'm going to check."

Blueblood proceeds to leave, but the stallion stops him.

"Oh... hey, you...", the stallion said. "M-maybe I'm butting in, but I don't think you should."

"Why?", Blueblood asks suspiciously.

"Uh... no, well...", the stallion said walking away. Blueblood then leaves to meet up with with Hera. Suddenly Soarin bursts into the throne room through the balcony.

"Bad news!", Soarin screams causing everpony to duck as he crashes to the wall. "Canterlot has been taken!"

"What?!", Blade Dancer shouts standing back up, while Shining grabs Soarin.

"What about Cadance?!", Shining shouts in worry. "How's my wife?! And my sister?!"

"I'm sorry, but she's been turned to stone and your sister is missing.", Soarin said regretfully. Shining simply drops Soarin feeling as if his entire world broke apart.

"I need to be alone!", Shining said leaving the throne room.

"Assassin, your sixth sense is pretty sharp.", a griffon said writing what he said down on a scroll. "That stallion is pretty dangerous."

The griffon rolls it up and tosses it into a barrel of green flame.

"Now that what to do now?", the griffon said before the gothic mare rudely bumps into him. "What's that for?!"

The griffon notice the container she is holding. "Are you eating a grasshopper?"

"Want some?"

"No, I...", the griffon said, but the mare shoves one into him beak.

"Is it good?"

"It's surprisingly good!"

"Do you know this stallion?", the gothic mare asks showing the griffon a photo of the tench coat pony. This got him nervous.

"No. I have no idea...", the griffon said innocently only to get a kick to the face. She hooks the griffon's neck with her leg revealing a taser horseshoe.

"No! I don't like shocks!", the griffon said in panic. Fortunately Kuwaga and Kabuto happens to stroll by and notice the situation.

"Hey! What're you doing?!", Kabuto asks.

The gothic mare release the griffon.

"Save me, Royal Guards!", the griffon screams crawling to the two only for the gothic mare to stomp onto his back and shocks him unconscious.

"Wait! You're that hit mare, who escaped from Tartarus when Cerberus left his post.", Kuwaga said recognizing the mare. "She was once hired to assassinate Princess Celestia and would've succeeded had it not been for our last captain stopping her. Are you still after her?"

"Somepony else already got to your precious princesses, so I no longer need to bother.", the gothic mare said. "I still want payback on the Royal Guards for sending me to that vile place."

The mare jump and attack the twins.

"Not again!", Shining cries pounding his hoof onto the wall. "Why does this keep happening?! I wasn't even their to protect her!"

Shining Armor falls onto his knees sobbing hard.

"First Chrysalis, then Sombra, then Tirek, then Chrysalis again, and now this! What good am I if I can't protect my love ones when they need me the most?! I'm a big brother, a husband and a father and I'm completely useless."

"Fear not. Soon you'll no longer feel so useless and will have the power to protect those you love.", a voice calls out from behind. Shining turns and gets punched hard to the stomach knocking him out. Coming out of the shadow was Blood Stalk along with two other shadowed artificial alicorns. "You two get the brat, I'll take Mister Knight in Shining Armor to the lab."

Blueblood hurries to where he is suppose to meet with Hera.

"Blueblood, you here!", Hera said smiling.

"Well you wrote you were in trouble, so I came as fast as I could.", Blueblood said smiling as well. "Though it looks like it's a lie."

"Actually I need some advice.", Hera said. "My older sister suddenly left the family."

Blueblood widen his eyes upon hearing that. "Your older sister?" 'She was suspected to have hired an assassin to eliminate Aunt Celestia, but there was no proof.'

"So my father told me to take over her work...", Hera said. "I'm not sure what to do. What do you think I should do?"

"About that work...", Blueblood said. "...does it involve usurping the throne?"

Hera went silent on Blueblood's question.

"It is, isn't it?", Blueblood said sadly.

"Quit jumping around!", Kabuto shouts swinging his spear, which the gothic mare keeps on dodging. The mare throws in a powerful kick sending Kabuto crashing onto a pile of barrels.

Kuwaga moves in swinging his two blades. The mare block the swords with her horseshoe and use the taser to shock them and Kuwaga in the process.

"What total pushovers.", the mare said in disappointment as Kuwaga falls to the ground. "Equestria gotten weak during my time in Tartarus."

The mare then leaves the defeated Kabuto and Kuwaga.

"I don't know why, but whenever I see you I feel whole.", Blueblood said to Hera.

"I feel that same way.", Hera said to Blueblood. "It's as if we're siblings."

"Siblings... I like that.", Blueblood said with a smile. "I never knew my family and only the info about me is being related to my aunts."

"What a coincidence, my family are related to the royal sisters as well although our blood relation is due to our ancestors being siblings to Queen Faust."

"This... is your wife and son's current address.", Assassin said giving the stallion the information.

"Oh... you've really helped me out. Thank you!", the stallion said. "Then... I'll be going."

The stallion prepares to leave, but stops when Blueblood returns.

"Ah! Blueblood, welcome back! How'd it go with Lady Hera?", Blade Dancer asks.

"Oh... She's okay.", Blueblood answers.

"Oh... Well, bye.", the stallion said heading for the door.

"Wait a moment.", Assassin said stopping the stallion. "I think you do know Blueblood."

"What do you mean, Assassin?", Blueblood asks in confusion.

"This unicorn is a famous neurologist. Isn't that right? Professor Shiro."

"This pony is a neurologist?", Blade Dancer asks.

"The funny thing is that, ten years ago, you died.", Assassin said. "That's not all. At the same time, other ponies similar to yourself numbering at least seven, disappeared as well. All of them were scientists. Please tell me, Professor. What happened to you?"

"I can't say...", Shiro said nervously.

"Then I will answer for you.", Kabuto said as he and Kuwaga enters the room. "You were taken by an organization and were coerced into doing research for them. Isn't that right?"

"Yes.", Shiro said knowing it's pointless to hide it. "I escaped because I wanted to see my family. But... I'm sure... I'm dead if they find me."

"What is this organization you were forced into?", Assassin asks.

"Faust, named after the queen and the leader of it is Ryubee Templar.", Shiro answers causing Blueblood eyes to widen. "Ryubee isn't the only one. All of the Templar's family's blood relatives are chief executives in the organization. Their goal is to usurp the throne from the Royal Sisters claiming that they failed their royal duty."

"Then that means Hera is also...", Blade Dancer said as Blueblood sits down completely devastated.

Elsewhere near the Crystal Empire, a cloaked pony digs through the snow searching for something and at last finds what she is looking for.

"At last... my chance to revenge on my father for casting me aside.", the mare said holding the horn of King Sombra.

"Ryubee's name has always floated around the point of suspicion on severe crimes from assassinations to illegal experimentation, but there was never any proof to link him.", Assassin explains. "There's a possibility he's secretly controlling the government and media, but what's worse is that the number of supporters grew starting with the Nightmare Moon incident where Celestia failed to protect the kingdom. He's an unbelievable monster comparable to Tirek."

Blade Dancer punches the wall in angers. "In other words he's nearly at the point to being nearly untouchable."

"But even if he did usurp the Royal Sisters an alicorn is needed to rule Equestria. Having a unicorn would upset the earth ponies and pegasus.", Kuwaga said.

"That's what the experiments are for.", Assassin said. "He's been trying to make an alicorn, although those are just rumors."

Suddenly Flash Fire bursts through the doors injured.

"Flash Fire what happened to you?!", Apple Tea asks helping the injured Pegasus.

"They've taken Flurry Heart and Shining Armor.", Flash Fire said weakly before falling unconscious.

"What?!", Assassin shouts running to Flurry's room.

"First we lost Canterlot and the princesses, then the Templar's betrayal, and now this! Is this kingdom cursed or something?!", Kabuto shouts in annoyance following Assassin along with the others.

An Automaton holds onto a crying Flurry Heart as Blood Stalk and two other artificial alicorns carry a vat containing Shining Armor. They all teleport to an island near Vanhoover.

Discord's Time

"Welcome to Discord's Time. I'm your host Discord the Lord of Chaos.", Discord said sitting on a couch wrapped with bandages due to the Monster Chrysalis attack. "Our guest in this chapter is... I don't even want to look at his face. Why this guy?!"

The camera turns to frail weak Tirek sitting on the guest chair.

"I'm Lord Tirek.", Tirek said introducing himself.

"You bastard...", Discord growls. "You've got some nerve coming here after what you did in Twilight's Kingdom!"

"Well, I'm a villain so have no choice on the matter.", Tirek said.

"Hey! Isn't that my bed robe?!", Discord asks in shock standing up. "Why're you wearing it? Take that off!"

"What're you doing?! Don't touch! Don't touch!", Tirek said pushing Discord away when Discord tries to take his bed robe back. "My legs are dirty, don't touch them!"

"What?!"

"I left my cloak behind in the stage theater so I need something to cover myself with.", Tirek said. "Besides I manipulated you into my hands and bested the princesses twice, until my defeat at the hands of Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Overall, I'm one of the best villains of this series."

"Oh, is that so?!", Discord said sitting back down. "So let me say this, in this fanfic series you were betrayed and have your powers stolen by a pony after defeating the Royal Sisters and your brother."

Tirek makes a shush signal.

"Don't shh me! You're the master of deception! How could you not see a pony betraying you?", Discord asks pointing to the TV showing Tirek laughing over the defeated Celestia, Luna and Scorpan when suddenly Dark Reaper drains Tirek of his magic turning him into his frail form. "How could you not see that coming?"

"To be honest, Reaper's and my brother's betrayal are the reason why I betrayed you. I can't take the chance of you betraying me.", Tirek answers. "Plus she was one who told me about Equestria and it's magic, warned me of my brother's betrayal and assisted me in defeating the Royal Sisters. To think she used to be a student of Starswirl."

"What became of her anyway?", Discord asks.

"After betraying me, she alters the sisters' and Scorpan's memories into thinking they defeated me and left Equestria in search for more power. I've heard rumors that she joined an organization and is working along side Gold Star.", Tirek explains.

"What? Who's that?!", Discord asks.

"One of the newest big bad in this fanfic series. I can't read that guy at all and he's the one who freed me and the other prisoners.", Tirek answers.

"What?! If that's true then he'll hurt Fluttershy!", Discord said. "This guy is a big threat! This is no time for us to fight!"

Tirek nods in agreement and the two shake hands. "We should join forces and defeat Gold Star!"

"Got it! You got a plan?", Discord asks.

"Yeah! Listen.", Tirek said. "Back then Gold Star have a habit of throwing tantrums when something goes wrong, but recently during the movie he seems to have a habit to dropping things when surprised."

"Just like this.", Tirek said dropping a dumbbell onto Discord's foot.

"That hurts! It hurts!", Discord screams clutching his foot. He then trips and falls onto the floor hard.

Author's Note

After seeing how Shining fare against the big bad villains in the show and the fact Cadance is a victim, I saw him somewhat similar to Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars) both failed to protect their loved ones, though in Shining's case more than once. Shining transformation into the Perfect Artificial Alicorn, is like Anakin becoming Vader, though Shining's is not permanent.

Certain OCs and MLP contents do not belong to me.
MLP and everything related belongs to Lauren Faust/Hasbro
Blueberry Frost is owned by Sword-of-Akasha.
Blade Dancer belongs to fiddlesticks
I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS FEATURED! ALL CREDIT FOR THEM GOES TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS!