Starlight read the latest reports brought to her by her most trusted watchers. They had been following some interesting events. Reports held that there were some new players in her game, and they seemed to be the exact resource she needed. Twilight and Shining Armor had been working against one another for long enough that Starlight had been able to withdraw and build on her plans. All she needed to initiate the next stage in her world domination was to capture one of the rival rulers; but with nieve duplicate Starlight in the realm, things would be so much simpler.

Starlight held up three photographs. Each displayed fairly clear images of a small Spike and an unscarred Starlight Glimmer. For a brief time, she mourned her appearance to that of her younger self. Her scars had made her ugly to her own mind, and she could not stand it. Starlight now wore a dark grey mask and covered herself in a black cloak. The Starlight in the picture appeared to be the same age but was unharmed, and still walked around in full view of the world.

'These Ponies think they are so sneaky. They all think I am a fool, but they have no idea what they are in for,' thought Starlight as she set the reports and photos ablaze with a simple flash of magic from her horn.

Starlight Stood up from her throne and stretched. She headed down the stairs and crossed the long carpet to the other end of the room. Each stained glass window she passed displayed an achievement in her life. The first displayed her discovery of the equalizing spell. The second displayed her bringing the liberation of cutiemarks to her first town. The third displayed her rising to succession over Twilight in Ponyville. The fourth displayed the day she overthrew the celestial sisters and brought equalization to Canterlot. Each window proceeding those until the end displayed her triumphs in her campaign across Equestria.

Starlight threw open the doors leading to the balcony and stepped out into the cool night air. She looked out over her reconstructed Canterlot -no longer a pampered city containing the wealthy minority, but instead a solid fortress dedicated to research, industry, and military superiority. She took in a deep break and the smell of smoke, sulfur, and metal hit her nose and pleased her senses as though it were the scents of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls.

After several minutes Starlight looked into the sky and began to draw energy into her horn. A burst of light came forth from her horn and with it, light on the horizon. Starlight concentrated and held her spell in place long enough to draw the sun into the sky bringing the morning and setting the sun into motion for the day.

No sooner had she completed her task did the soldiers of her military appear in the courtyard before her. "Hail Queen Starlight Glimmer! Hail Queen Starlight Glimmer!" they all chanted in unison.

Starlight's General bowed before her and then climbed onto the podium before the gathered soldiers. Starlight grinned at her minions and nodded to her General. Her empire functioned like clockwork.

"Sweetie Drops!" barked Starlight. Her General saluted and turned to look at her immediately. "We are marching on Shining Armor in one day. Make the preparations. Call in the special forces and Glimmerbolts from the Crystal Metropolis."

"With haste my Queen," replied Sweetie Drops.

Starlight did not acknowledge Moondancer, she simply smiled and withdrew back into her castle.

Through a well-memorized maze of hallways and staircases, Starlight made her way through the castle to her personal labs underground. She walked past her own door and proceeded to her weapons department. When she opened the doors she found her staff hard at work as she expected. Starlight examined the five armored carts they were building she moved towards the designer's table where she found her head builder, Moondancer.

"Are the designs complete?" asked Starlight.

"They are," replied Moondancer. She walked over to a large board with an inside view of the tank sketched out on a large piece of paper. "You place the element and the slumber crystal here," she explained while pointing to the center of the device. "Then the energy is channeled through these to the cannon."

"Seems too simple, will it work?" asked Starlight with a look os skepticism.

"Yes, would you like to test it?" asked Moondancer.

"Show me," demanded Starlight.

Moondancer signaled her staff and the lab began to buzz with activity. A firing range was brought into view as they removed a nearby wall. One of the tanks was then turned and positioned to fire within the range. Starlight watched with anticipation as a large crystal, holding inside itself a permanently slumbering pink Pony, was placed inside the tank.

When the preparations were complete Starlight went to the safe stored in the back of the lab and unlocked it. She retrieved the needed Element of Harmony and examined it. The element still showed signs of damage caused by the creation of her amulet but she could feel that the artifact still contained great energy. Starlight brought the element to the tank and fixed it into place.

With everything set the staff and Moondancer all dispersed and remained behind a set of safety lines. Starlight confidently remained in place and then took control of the tank with her magic. It took a few moments for her to gain complete control of the massive object but once she had hold it became easy. She used her magic to activate the energy flow of the element and just as Moondancer had predicted the cannon began to glow with power. Only a second later a massive surge of magical powers spilled forth from the cannon and beamed across the firing range colliding with the wall on the other side and collapsing it instantly. The shockwave cracked the walls, ceiling, and floor of the range and could be felt by those on the surface.

With an evil smile, Starlight turned to Moondancer and her team. "Perfect," she said sinisterly.

The Queen's approval was met with a chorus of cheers, congratulations, and clapping hooves.

Author's Note

Glimmerbolts: Obviously re-named the Wonderbolt's after herself.

the Crystal Metropolis: After she conquered the Crystal Empire she renamed it and refuses to acknowledge any independent sovereignty including that of Shining Armor.