Chapter One

Twilight Sparkle trotted through the derelict and rusting city of Iacolt. The once lustrous City had become such a shadow of itself over the Solar Cycles. She looked over at the Buttercream Mare trotting with her. She kept looking at every darkened alleyway and shuffling her hooves around nervously.

"Are we getting closer to it?" She asked. "You haven't said anything this entire Trip, are you okay?"

"I- I'm fine. Y- Yes, we're getting closer." The Mare quietly told the Purple Engineer.

"T'ch, She should have sent some Pony else. Like Dash and Do. Or Ol' Buckhappy." She complained as they came to a large Pyramid type structure. "Is This it?"

"Y- Yes, I'll open it." The Mare pushed a hoof against a Scanning panel. It didn't function. "I- It worked a few Cycles ago." She was about to run again, but Twilight Wedged the door open with a stray piece of debris.

"Huh, I'm not seeing any Energon." The two trotted in side by side. Looking around, there wasn't the Tell tale Green glow of the Energon. Until, she came to a panel. And a Series of Circular Rings. "Oh, wow."

"O- oh? I- Is something of interest?" The Mare asked.

"Fluttershy, I don't know what you think you've found, but it's not Energon. It's Much more Invaluable." She looked over at the mare who was dragging out a Pallet of unrefined Energon Crystals. Fluttershy gave her a look, then continued to drag the Pallet across the floor. "N-nevermind..." Twilight looked back down at the panel. She pushed a few buttons, the lights in the building turning on a few millicycles later.

"W- wait, What are you doing? T- turn that off!" Fluttershy galloped over to the Purple Engineer.

"No one comes by here, we'll be fine." Both mare's Energon Crystalized when they heard a series of Thumps outside of the Building.

"Y- you just had to say it." The two turned around and looked at the Dark Alicorn standing in the Doorway. Behind her came out Sunset Shimmer and her Seeker Lieutenants; Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst and Discord.

"Your a Long way from safety, Autoponies.” Nightmare Moon Began.

“Why don’t we just skip the formalities and get to scrapping already.” Sunset’s remark earned her a Hard Back hoof by Nightmare.

“You will speak when I tell you too. Am I understood?” Sunset nodded, grasping her Shattered Cheek.

“Now, Where was I? I’m going to give you a choice. You can Join my ranks, and together we restore life to our planet and end the war. Or stay with Celestia and face Termination. What’ll it be?”

Twilight gave it a Cursory thought over, Before replying, “Till all are one.” Fluttershy gave her a glance of confusion, then Looked back at Nightmare.

“I-I’m Not with her!” She said frightened. “I- I’m just an Energon scout. I- I’m not with her!” Nightmare gave an order and the Four Seekers Sprung forwards, pushing Twilight to the ground and restraining her.

“Twilight Lavender Sparkle, you have been charged with several crimes against Ponytron. The Punishment is Capitol.” Nightmare Raised her Arm cannon to Twilight’s head. “You don’t get last words.” Just before she could pull the trigger, a Sniper round Soared through the air, implanting itself into her shoulder. The same shoulder her Fusion cannon was attached to.

All ponies looked to the Direction it came from, Then the direction of A singular engine. The hum grew in intensity as a White Flat-faced Truck through the Doorway. It transformed midair into a White Alicorn.

She skidded into the Group and Decked a Distracted Nightmare. Twilight Managed to Trip Discord from his hold on her and Elbowed him into the ground. Sunset attempted to shoot her with her pair of Nullrays, but didn’t get the Chance when Fluttershy Bonked her over the Head.

“Ah, Celestia Prime.” She spat some Energon on the floor. “Long time no see.”

“Luna, this war has gone on for-”

“I no longer respond to that name. Do not call me that ‘Dearest sister.’” Nightmare sneared at Celestia. The other Five ponies and Singular Draconicus just sorta stood there and watched as the Two Traded blows.

The Fight drew to a close with Celestia Gasping for Air on the floor. Nightmare Towered over the Alicorn with Malicious intent.

“If I can’t persuade you for peace, then I will just have to terminate you.”

“No matter what happens, we will continue to resist your control.” Celestia head butted Nightmare Moon square in the Chest. “Auto ponies Retreat.” She called out.

Twilight bucked Starlight who was standing right next to her and Transformed, Fluttershy following suit.

The Two followed Celestia back out the Door with some pony extra behind them.

Nightmare Growled as she watched her Delusional Sister slip through her Hooves again. She does this every single time.

An Entrance Ramp folded down to allow a White Semi, Purple Rally car and Buttercream Buggy entrance to their base. Ponies of all colors and Races looked at them and waved.

Twilight pulled up next to a different purple Mare. Transforming, they looked Identical. Even more so than the Actual Twins. In fact, both twilights were clones of Twilight Velvet. A deceased scientist from the Golden age. She found her doppelgänger stacking empty Energon cubes.

Fluttershy followed Celestia deeper into the Base. A Black and Teal Beetle crawled into the Base and transformed. Adding to the amount of changelings working on the base.

“C- celestia, nice operation you got here but…” they drove past a group of Ponies and Changelings welding some fuel lines. “W- what is it all for?”

“We are attempting to leave Ponytron. To retrieve the Celestial Spark.” She replied. The two Transformed and walked into a Room where Celestia Called for a ‘Dos’ over what she assumed to be Commlinks. A few moments later and one of the Twilights walked in. The only thing that told her that this wasn’t the same twilight as the one who almost died, was the fact her left hind leg was reduced to welded together plates. That, and the 2 emblazoned on her right Cheek.

“You called Prime?” She asked the white Alicorn as she trotted into the infirmary.

“Do you mind giving Fluttershy a cursory examination? For any damages sustained.”

“I- I’m fine, I swear!” Fluttershy objected.

“I just wish to be sure. Are you sure you’re undamaged?” Celestia prodded.

“O- one hundred percent miss. I- I’m fine.”

“Suit yourself.” Dos trotted back out of infirmary to, presumably, continue stacking Energon cubes. “GET OUT OF BOX!” Both Celestia and Fluttershy heard Dos scream. Moments before a metallic clang was heard.

“I- I think I should go…” Fluttershy moved to exit the Base, but was stopped by Celestia.

“Maybe consider joining our cause. We can always use an extra hoof helping with our ship, and your talents may be of use.” Celestia asked the Buttercream Mare.

“I- I’m going. Bye.” She brushed Celestia’s hoof off of her shoulder then Trotted out of the room, leaving Celestia by herself. She pressed her hoof against her bridge before a voice startled her.

“You know you can’t appeal to every single pony you meet right?” Cadence spoke from the doorway. “That’s an important thing to remember.” She trotted up to the white Alicorn.

“I know that Cadence, that doesn’t mean I can’t try.” She said back to the Pink Alicorn. The two looked each other in the Optics directly.

“What did you plan on using her for anyways. More cannon fodder?”

“No. No pony here is fodder for the Cannons. You know that. I try my hardest to keep every pony safe.”

“Oh Celly. Please, stop lying to yourself.” Cadence Poked Celestia in the chest. “If you really cared for us, you wouldn’t have let things get This bad.”

“There are things out of my control. I can’t plan for everything.”

“Lunar Hex wasn’t? Iacolt wasn’t? The Crystal Spark wasn’t? My Husband is dead because of your negligence. The Twilights’ Brother is dead because of you!” Cadence yelled into Celestia’s nearly aching audio receptors. Celestia barely struggled to keep her face Neutral. Perhaps she showed too little emotion. “You don’t even care enough to frown do you?” She watched as Golden tears began to leak from Cadence’s Eyes. “Do you?!” That was enough.

“Of course I care! You don’t think I lie awake at night and think of all the Ponies I hurt?! Of all the ponies who’s lives I’ve ruined?! I know I’m not fit to lead. I’m leading now because it’s what we need right now-”

“‘What we need’? Give me a Break! We don’t need your leadership. We need you to hop of your high strung pistons and accept Nightmare’s terms. Finally end the war. That’s what we need. Not you or your narcissistic tirade!” Cadence stopped to catch her breath. Her face had long since turned and almost molten red. “Get. It. Through. Your. Thick. Plating.” She punctuated each word with a jab to Celestia’s chest. She turned around and headed back out of the room.

“Cadence, I’m sorry but I can’t accept Nightmare’s-” She wasn’t able to finish.

“YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY ARE!!!” Cadence whipped around and screamed. Had the Cruiser always been this quite? “You’re so insufferable!” Cadence ran out of the Ship at full sprint. Celestia watched Cadence transform and drive off into the Horizon. She looked at the Various creatures who just stared at her. They all wore various faces of Shock.

Celestia coughed. “I’ll talk to her when she comes back.” She said, then walked off further into the ship.

The ponies looked amongst themselves, then continued their work in new, uneasy silence. They all knew she wasn’t coming back. But no one wanted to tell Celestia that.

“My fellow Shadowcons. I stand before you now with sorrowful news. It comes with a heavy heart that I must divulge that Celestia’s Spark still beats with its malice.” The crowd erupted in boos of disapproval. “I know your angry and my failure. But I assure you that one of the cycles, she shall receive her retribution. Justice will be enacted on her tainted mind. It shall be slow, and it shall be painful.” The crowd pulled a one-eighty and began to cheer. “I shall inflict A retribution no pony has experienced for Millennia. She will feel the pain that she put you all through. Mark my words, for my name isn’t Nightmare Moon!”

“My liege, If I may.” Moondancer trotted up to the Armored Mare and appealed.

“Granted.” Nightmare steeped away from the Microphone to allow Moondancer her chance to speak.

“I never get that treatment.” Sunset complained.

“That is because you suuuuuuuuuuck.” Vinyl Scratch said in her modulated voice. She successfully ticked the Proud mare off.

“I’ll show YOU who sucks!” Sunset Shimmer was about to throw her punch. Vinyl directed her to meet Nightmare’s steel gaze. Sunset immediately retract and smiled. “You, me, the pits. At 15:00 sharp.”

“Challenge accepted.” Vinyl and Sunset glared at each other.

“Are you two finished?” Moondancer spoke, having heard the entire thing.

“I must say I would appreciate an invitation to your scuffle.” Discord chimed in.

“You both are fools.” Nightmare shook her head.

“Are You two finished?” Moondancer tried again.

“Yes!” Vinyl and Sunset said in unison.

“Thank you!” She cleared her throat, and spoke. “Shadowcons, I bring you news on my latest discovery.” A Chemical formula appears on the large Board behind herself. “I call it synthetic Engeron. Or Synthen, if you will. I am in the process of stabilizing it, but once completed it will provide a temporary solution to our energy crisis. In other knews, I have narrowed down the Crystal Spark’s Most probable location. To reach it, we will require fuel for our vessel, the Tyranny.” Moondancer.

“Please, change the name.” Nightmare asked.

“Sorry.” She through for a moment. “The nightmare?”

“Are you trying to suck up to me?”

“How about the Hyperion?” Moondancer suggested.

“Let us go with that name.” Nightmare Moon approved.

“Understood. Our Vessel, The Hyperion. While the Synthetic Energon will have adverse effects on our biology with repeated exposure, our Vessel with have no issue running off the Material. That is all.” Moondancer concluded.

“That is Excellent news Moondancer. Vinyl, report.” Nightmare called. Vinyl Scratch trotted up to the Mic and began to report.

“Sectors 3a, 3b and 4b have been sweep of Autopony activity. Sectors 8g, 8h, 9g, 9h, 15j, 15k, 29a, 30c and-” Vinyl stopped when a Pink pony trotted into the Arena. She was escorted by four seekers. Nightmare Immediately recognized her face.

“Cadence? Why are you here?” Nightmare inquired. Cadence looked disheveled and distraught. Dried tracks of oil trailed from her Optics.

“I- I want to join the Shadowcons.” She stuttered. Her voice not quite having cleared up.

“I apologize, but I must ask. What the buck? This is such a turn.” Nightmare moon, for once in her stellar long life had never had such a look of confusion ever cross her muzzle.

“I want to join the Shadowcons. I can’t deal with it anymore.” Cadence looked up at the Tall, dark Alicorn as she trotted down the Steps of the stage. She ran at Nightmare, embracing her in a hug. “I know where they’re hiding.” She whispered into her ear as extra insurance.

Nightmare partially broke when she heard that news. It was arguably the best thing to have happened but, Cadence also needed consoling. Nightmare decided that Cadence was a more pressing issue right now.

“Welcome to The Shadowcons Cadence. Together Celestia May finally see justice.”