Author's Note

Quick Disclaimer: Sombra being reformed from the IDW Comics is canon within this timeline I'm writing.

Twilight, Starlight, Cadance, Ember, and Sunburst are on their way to Canterlot. When they arrived, another threat rises to the occasion.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Comment if you please.

Have a nice day/night reading.

More Problems

Hours later after their travel from the Crystal Empire to Canterlot, Twilight, Starlight, Cadance, Ember, and Sunburst are now at the Castle looking for Princess Celestia to inform her about the troubles at the Crystal Empire. Unfortunately, they aren't able to find Celestia. A Royal Guard came up to Twilight Sparkle about Tirek's recent prison break. It gave Twilight quite a heart attack. Now Equestria has two threats running amongst them. Tirek's possible destruction and a siege of another creature in possession of Shining Armor set to rule the Crystal Empire. How can things get any worse for all of Equestria; Twilight asked to herself. Princess Celestia and Luna came in with Starswirled, Rockhoof, Mistmane, Mage Meadowbrook, Flash Magnus, Somnambula, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie.

"Great, now that everypony is here side by side, we can go after Tirek and Cozy before it gets complicated," Celestia said as she trots up to Twilight.

Everypony but Twilight is in shock for what Celestia said.

"Princess Celestia, we have a situation," Twilight said as she looks in the eyes of her teacher.

"Yes, Tirek is back and is now building up a small army to bring us down. It'll take more than a small army to defeat the Magic of Friendship each of us possesses."

"No," Twilight said as she shook her head. "It's worse than that."

Everypony in the room but Twilight, Cadance, Ember, Starlight, and Sunburst had mixed reactions and emotions.

"How worse can it be Twilight?" Princess Celestia asked in a toned manner.

"A..," Twilight held back some tears while trying to explain the whole situation in detail.

"Twilight; what's wrong sugar?" Applejack asked.

Twilight sighs heavily. "Shining Armor and Spike are being possessed by an unknown creature who is seizing control of the Crystal Empire."

Everypony in the room is silent. Princess Celestia and Luna couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"Discord must be behind this elaborate prank," Celestia said.

"No, he's been lounging at home all week long," Starlight said. "Discord isn't pulling any punches on us. What is happening is caused by a serious unknown threat."

"How did you know that Discord is not responsible here, Starlight?" Applejack questions Starlight.

"He told us himself numerous times."

"Well.., that's good enough for me," Fluttershy stated.

"Alright, we have two serious threats on our hooves. We need to come up with a plan." Celestia said.

Everypony took a while to come up with an idea for handling the situation.

"I think it's crystal clear on what we should all be doing," Starswirled said.

"What do you have in mind, Starswirled?" Luna asked.

"We split into teams of two. One team will go after Tirek and the other to the Crystal Empire."

"Starswirled, draw up the two teams. Then we'll commence from there." Celestia said.

"Certainly," Starswirled said.

After a good hour of preparation, Starswirled is now ready to announce the two teams.

"Alright, everypony and dragon. Listen up for your next objective."

"Princess Luna, Rockhoof, Magnus, Mistmane, Somnambula, Mage Meadowbrook, Ember, and I will be Team Luna."

Team Luna stood side by side with Starswirled.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Cadance, Princess Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Starlight Glimmer, and Sunburst will be Team Sun."

The ponies gathered around Twilight.

"Team Luna's objective will be stopping Tirek from creating his new army by any means necessary. With Ember on our side, we can use her Dragons to aid us in case Tirek's new partners have formidable powers that can harm our ponies. Team Sun's objective will be stopping this unknown creature in the Crystal Empire. We cannot underestimate the capabilities the creature has which is why Team Sun is a bit stronger than Team Luna. Now that the two teams know their objectives, let's get moving," Starswirled said.

Team Sun takes the train to the Crystal Empire while Team Luna searches for Tirek and his army of foes.

At the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor has commanded everypony to remain indoors so he can continue on his research. The Crystal Guards and Spike stood next to Shining Armor as he gathers all the information from the Crystal Heart and library.

"I want no pony outside of their boundaries. This body isn't strong enough for my envisionment. If only that other pony with wings didn't fly off."

"Sir," one of the possessed Crystal Guards said. "There might be an opportunity coming your way."

"Explain."

"If one left, more will come."

"One of the Princesses will have to do. Also, giving me the pleasure to influence every other creature of Eternal Life."

Shining Armor, Spike, and the possessed Crystal Guards go into the Castle to set an ambush on anypony that comes in. A few hours later, Team Sun exits out of the train and see that nothing has changed. As they came closer to the Crystal Empire, they saw no pony in sight.

"Something doesn't feel right," Celestia said.

"Yea," Rainbow said. "Normally, there will be plenty of ponies having a good time. Why is everypony not outside?"

"I have a feeling that Shining Armor...the possessed Shining Armor scared them off," Twilight said nervously.

"Well, in that case, we should split up," Celestia said.

"Alright, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack go and check the Crystal Library. Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Celestia and I will check the Crystal Castle. If no pony is unable to find Shining Armor and Spike within the next two hours, regroup at the Crystal Heart to form another plan. Cadance said.

"Right!" Everypony shouted.

"Let's move and let's hurry," Celestia stated.

Twilight and her friends trotted towards the Crystal Library as Celestia, Cadance, Starlight, and Sunburst headed towards the Crystal Castle. On the way to the Castle, Cadance told her group that everypony should split up within the castle. Cover more ground and to inspect every room possible. On the way to the Crystal Library, Twilight asks her friends to split up to look for Spike. He can still be reading a book. Her friends nodded. Twilight also told her friends to shout when they find Spike.

Everypony began to search for Shining Armor and Spike in their designated areas. They search high and low for them. In the Crystal Castle, Celestia had suspicions of checking out the hidden library within the castle. She flew upward to the fifteenth level and check from there. Unfortunately for her, Shining Armor and Spike ambushed her as she enters the library. Celestia gasps and tries to scream but couldn't; Shining Armor covers her mouth. Spike uses his newfound magic to create a silencing circle in the library. Then Shining Armor releases his grip on Celestia's mouth.

"There..,now we have importance to take care of."

"Who are you? What have you done to Shining Armor and Spike?!" Celestia said.

"I am a collector of worlds. You are going to help me."

"Help you? Why would I help a demonic creature like you?!"

"Resistance is futile. No creature on this planet has what it takes to defeat me."

Celestia gets up and shoots a stream of magic at Shining Armor. The creature within relinquishes his body to block Celestia's magical attack with one hand. The Collector of Worlds smiled as Celestia powers up increasing her magic at will. The Collector of Worlds stood there unfazed by the attack. Celestia is in pure shock to see the results of her attack.

"Powerful and yet, futile."

The Collector of Worlds walks towards Celestia. She tries to escape by flying out of the room but she couldn't. Spike and the possessed Crystal Guards block all exits in the library. In pure terror, Celestia resorts to screaming but remembers that Spike placed a silencing circle in the library. She's trapped in the room now awaiting her fate.

"Before I take you, you deserve to know my name."

Celestia pants as the Collector of Worlds grabs her horn thus transferring himself into her mind.

"My name is Brainiac. Your woooooorld will soon be mine."

Celestia fell back to the floor as Brainiac seizes control over her. Shining Armor is in a deep sleep and won't be reawakening anytime soon. The possessed Crystal Guards took Shining Armor away from the library and put him in confinement. He is no longer necessary and will only get in Brainiac's way. Brainiac taps into Celestia's memory. He sees everything Celestia witnessed in her life.

"Celestia, the power of the Sun is mine. Your kingdom is mine. All ponies in Canterlot shall receive Eternal Life."

Brainiac, Spike, and the possessed Crystal Guards went onward to Canterlot leaving Cadance, Sunburst and Starlight Glimmer in the castle.

Two hours passed and everypony meet up in front of the Crystal Heart. All except Celestia.

"Where is Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked.

"Still searching for Shining Armor and Spike," Cadance said.

"Were you able to locate Spike in the Crystal Library?" Starlight asked.

"No!" Rainbow shouted. "We looked high and low in that freaking library!"

"So...uh...now what?" Fluttershy said.

"We go back inside the Castle and look for Celestia," Cadance said. "Then, we'll form a new plan of action."

The girls went back to the Castle and searched for Celestia. After a half hour of searching, Twilight and Cadance saw two Crystal Guards carrying Shining Armor into a different room. As the Crystal Guards left the room, Twilight and Cadance went in and see if Shining Armor is alright. To their surprise, Shining Armor is asleep but chained to the bed. Twilight uses her magic to break the chains off of Shining Armor. Then Cadance uses her magic to levitate Shining Armor.

"Something must have happened to him with those Crystal Guards," Twilight said.

"This creature that possessed my husband will regret that decision when I get my hooves on them."

Twilight and Cadance hurried back to the group carrying Shining Armor with them. Rainbow Dash comes soaring in the corridors as everypony came to meet up with urgent news.

"Girls, I just saw..." Rainbow pants. "Princess Celestia flying with Spike and several Crystal Guards..."

"To where Rainbow?" Starlight asked.

"Canterlot! I think the creature that Twilight saw may have switch bodies!"

"SWITCH!" Everypony shouted.

Twilight and Starlight thought about that theory. It would make sense but why is on their minds until they both realize the true meaning of switching bodies.

"Of course," Twilight groaned in anger. "It needs a stronger host with powerful magic."

"It may have taken a stronger Princess but the creature sure as Tartarus doesn't know how to control the magic deep inside," Rainbow stated.

After hearing Rainbow's statement, Twilight starts to have a panic attack. Her friends try their best to calm her down before she does something frantically.

"Alright, this is serious. What shall we do now Princesses?" Applejack asked.

"We're going to need help. We need some creature that can defeat Celestia in a weakened state but who..?" Cadance thought out.

Everypony took the time to think about some creature that can defeat Princess Celestia.

"Oooh! Oooh! I know!" Pinkie shouted.

"Uh, who exactly you have in mind, darling?" Rarity asked.

"King Sombra, silly." Pinkie said as she smiled widely.

"Uh, Pinkie Pie. Sombra is traveling around the world with Radiant Hope searching for Princess Amore. I don't think Sombra is capable of stopping Celestia now that he's reformed. Also, we can't make him evil again. He's uncouth." Rarity said.

"Darn it." Pinkie quietly shouted.

"Well, how about we ask Discord to take down Celestia. He's powerful enough to bring her down." Fluttershy said softly.

"I don't think Discord is the answer. If the creature that is possessing Princess Celestia sees a much more powerful creature that can change reality in an instance, chances are it'll want to possess Discord. We are left with no choice but..." Twilight paused as she gagged a bit.

"Left with who Twilight?" Rainbow asked.

Starlight and Cadance realized who Twilight is talking about.

"Queen Chrysalis," Twilight said.

Everypony remained silent but Cadance and Starlight. They had an eerie feeling Twilight was going to bring up Chrysalis' name.

"She has more than enough magic to take down and drain Celestia's magic and weaken her to a point that the creature will have to escape the body thus we can use the Elements of Harmony to banish the creature away from here."

Everypony did not like going after Chrysalis a second time. Planets away from Equestria, a Skull ship is on its way.