Meanwhile, back at Canterlot, after losing badly against Twilight and Flash Sentry, Morning Blade shows up at cabin down at the western district. The cabin happens to be Professor Felhand's summer house. Upon reaching the door of the cabin, Morning Blade knocked on it with his left hoof.
"Felhand, it's me, Morning Blade." The crippled altered unicorn announced. "I need your help."
After several minutes, the cabin door slowly opened with Felhand coming out with his eyes widen seeing Blade's broken robotic attachment.
"Morning Blade!! What happened to your Metal Claw??" Felhand asked in a startled tone of voice.
"That Damn harlot smashed it into pieces and Red Moon and her men are dead." Morning Blade shrieked. "I can't face Queen Majesty looking like this. She'll cut my head off for failing to kill Luna and Twilight."
"Let's go inside, Blade." Felhand told the crippled unicorn. "I've got a few ideas to make your right attachment more deadlier and more durable."
Without giving it another thought, Morning Blade went inside as he used his magic to close the cabin door behind him. As Blade and Felhand went down the basement, Felhand turned on the lights to see more of his research and experimental creations. On Blade's right, he sees several creations inside huge pods and on his left, there is weapon blueprints hung up on the basement walls, different kinds of drugs and materials stored in small barrels stacked up in metal shelves, and experimental weapons and explosives stashed inside metal crates. On Felhand's workbench, Morning Blade sees another robotic attachment on the table; it happens to be a some sort of small double-barreled cannon that has two switches, one attached to each barrel, and a third switch attached to the trigger.
"What is that??" Morning Blade asked the Professor.
"This is my latest experimental weapon, the U217-type Conversion Beam Lancer." Felhand announced to Morning Blade. "It fires an fusion laser that can cut down anything it touches from a very long range. After making some test runs over this weapon, the fusion lancer is also powerful enough to break through a unicorn's magic shield in less than 10 seconds. It can be activated into three versions. The fusion laser is one thing, but the fusion overdrive is another. When activating the fusion overdrive, it can fire a very powerful charged projectile at your enemies causing a small explosion that'll disintegrate any pony that is within its 10-inch radius. However, because of how unstable it is, there is a good chance that using the fusion overdrive on your Lancer will overheat and will explode if anything shoots at it, when it is overheated. Also, I strongly recommend you to only switch to use one version to fire, not two, or else it'll cause a rupture that will disintegrate your entire arm. For the third version fires both barrels at the same time. However, it does not shoot anything that'll damage your enemies. Instead, it generates a Green Stasis Shield that spreads out in a rectangular space that covers up 10 x 10 feet. As long as the Green Stasis Shield is on, it'll block and absorb any incoming enemy fire. However, if the Beam Lancer overheats when the shield is on, the shield will automatically turn off until it cools down."
"I understand." Morning Blade said to the Professor.
"Oh, and one more thing. Amadeus wants to speak with you." Professor Felhand said.
As Morning Blade turned around, he see Amadeus appear from the shadows. As he revealed himself again, Amadeus has an eye patch covering up his left eye.
"Well, it seems that you found another weapon to use on that harlot, huh?" Amadeus said to Morning Blade. "This is should be fun. I can't wait to use one of the experimental weapons on Twilight someday."
"Not to worry, my lord." Professor Felhand said to Amadeus. "You'll get your turn very soon. In fact, I have a really big surprise for you at the Canterlot Palace. It'll take about 12 to 24 hours to tune it up."
"Well, if you finish this big project that you have in store for me in less than 12 hours, I'll give you 60,000 more bits." Amadeus told Felhand.
"Be my guest, sir." Felhand said as he went back to his research.
"So, Morning Blade, are you still having trouble dealing with that harlot?" Amadeus asked the unicorn general.
"Yes, but no matter, I will find a way to beat Twilight Sparkle at her own game and make sure she won't succeed in restoring Equestria to its formerly, foolish glory." Morning Blade vowed to himself as he took apart his broken attachment from his right hoof and replaced it with the Conversion Beam Lancer. "In fact, one of these days, I am going to command an army that cannot be defeated by mere ponies."
"Not to worry, Blade. I will try to help any way I can when the time comes." Amadeus said as he walked back up the stairs. "One other thing, if you cannot find her anywhere out there, then don't worry about it. I already sent word to the Diamond Dogs about Twilight Sparkle. I promised them a bag full of 50 gems to any Diamond Dog that brings me Twilight Sparkle's head, in which I already have in the Canterlot Treasury. And don't forget, that I also received word that Queen Cicada has sent in her Changeling Scouts to hunt down Twilight and her rebels."
"Understood, sir." Morning Blade said as he saluted Lord Amadeus before he back up the stairs.
After they left Canterlot, Twilight and her group ventured into the woods, with Soarin and Flash Sentry towing a stagecoach while Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, and Sunset on board. Trixie and Starlight moved on to scout ahead. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity stayed close to the stagecoach. In just 4 hours later, they stopped by at an abandoned bunker, which used to belong to Princess Celestia's forces. As most of the ponies went inside the bunker to rest and eat lunch, Flash, Applejack, and Rainbow were on guard.
"So, Twilight, Trixie told us about what you did to Amadeus." Rainbow Dash laughed. "I'm glad you showed that asshole who's boss."
"I know, right?" Twilight said to Rainbow Dash as she laughed with her. "That actually felt good. I should've done all of that before everything in Equestria fell apart."
"You know, Twi, if only we were able to seeing our parents again." Applejack muttered to herself. "We all miss them very much and I'm sure you missed your brother and your parents too, right?"
"Yeah well, we do need a bigger area for all of our parents to stay at, before we let all of this blow over." Twilight suggested to the rest of the group.
"So, Starlight, what happened to Sunburst, ah?" Applejack asked the pale purple unicorn.
"Well, the last time I saw him was when he got captured by Queen Cicada." Starlight replied before continuing her flashback.
When Starlight entered the Crystal Empire, she sees a huge crack in Princess Cadence's shield. As soon as the shield broke, a massive swarm of Cicada's changelings stormed through the Empire like a meteor shower. Upon impact, the changelings made small explosions all over the street and Crystal houses were hammered and caught of fire. Every crystal pony was fleeing in terror and Crystal Pony guards are scrambling to repel the changeling invaders. However, as the changelings keep coming in endless waves, the Crystal Pony guard weren't able to hold them off. Instead, most of the guards were falling back to the Crystal Palace with several of them were immediately captured by the Changelings.
"SUNBURST, WHERE ARE YOU???" Starlight screamed as she ran with her life on the line.
As Starlight kept on running, she sees the changelings storm through several Crystal Houses and rounded up all of the Crystal Pony residents in each and every one of them. Unable to run for a moment, Starlight hid in the alleyways to take a breather.
"If only Twilight Sparkle was still here." Starlight said as she cried while holding up a picture of her and Twilight with Twilight's Castle behind them.
Suddenly on the other side of the alleyway, Starlight heard a scream coming from a male unicorn. By the time she went to see where was the sound coming from, her eyes widen with horror. It was an orange unicorn with glasses and a orange mane and tail named Sunburst. She saw Sunburst running away from the Changelings only for him to stumble into Queen Cicada herself. Before Sunburst was able to get away, the Changeling Queen used her magic to restrain the orange unicorn putting him to sleep.
"My Queen, we secured the Crystal Palace and the Crystal Heart." One of her Changeling Guards reported. "What are your orders?"
"Take the Crystal Prince to the concentration camps south of here, make sure the crystal heart is stored in a secured area, and lock up the Crystal Princess." Queen Cicada ordered her men. "And you, Sunburst, you will be my butler for the rest of your life. MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"
"NOT SO FAST!!!" Starlight screamed. "Give me back my Sunburst."
"You wish." Cicada cackled. "This is my Kingdom now!! MY KINGDOM!!!!"
Without warning, Starlight charged at Cicada, unleashing her magic upon her.
"You can't take away Sunburst from me." Starlight snarled. "It's already been over ten years since I last saw him. I am not going lose him again."
"TRY ME, IF YOU DARE!!!" Cicada hissed as she shoot out her magic at Starlight Glimmer.
As Cicada's magic and Starlight's magic clashed into each other, Starlight slowly is losing her ground against the Changeling Queen. Suddenly, Starlight's eyes widen with horror as Cicada's magic exploded upon her face, sending her slamming to a wall of a nearby Crystal Building. The unicorn collapsed on the Crystal floor. Just as soon as Starlight was about to get up, she started coughing up blood from her mouth. The next thing she knew, Starlight's vision was getting blurry and disoriented before her world went black.
"Foolish little unicorn." Queen Cicada jeered. "You cannot defeat me. I am the last living heir of Queen Chrysalis and I am dedicated to lead the Changelings to their natural born glory!!!! Thanks to the forces of Unicornia, I will see to it that the Changeling Republic pipsqueaks will tremble before me!!!"
In just moments later, Cicada used her magic to lift up the unconscious female unicorn. However, before she can drain Starlight of her magic and her love, another unicorn appeared from the shadows. It was Trixie Lulamoon.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!!" Trixie yelled as she used her magic to blast her way through Cicada's Changelings. "You're not taking Trixie's best friend away from her!!!"
Before Cicada and her changelings can do anything, Trixie blasted Cicada in the face with her magic, making her lose her grip around Starlight. As Trixie lifted an unconscious Starlight Glimmer with her magic, she hurls a smoke bomb at Cicada's feet. When the smoke disappeared, Trixie and Starlight both vanished without a trace.
"Damn, that unicorn. They both got away." Queen Cicada muttered to herself. "But no matter, they do realize that they can't hope to save this city anymore. I rule the Crystal Empire now! MEEEEEEEE!!!!!
As Cicada and her changelings took over the entire Crystal Empire, her laughter can be heard from a mile away. About 100 miles away from the Empire, Trixie and Starlight appeared in a nearby forest.
"Take it easy, Starlight." Trixie said in a worried tone. "Trixie just finished treating you of your injuries."
As Starlight slowly got up, she felt her body wracking with internal pain and internal bleeding. The next thing she knew, the pale-purple unicorn had a body cast bandaged all over her coat.
"Oh, Sunburst. I'm so sorry!!!" Starlight Glimmer cried as she felt Trixie embracing her in her hooves.
"Don't worry Starlight, I'm sure that someday we'll find a way to retake the Crystal Empire." Trixie said as she sympathized the sad unicorn. "Well, right now we need to find a safe place to hide until we can get help."
"Okay, I understand." Starlight said as she let tears come out of her eyes while looking down in shame.
"You've got nothing ta worry about sugarcube." Applejack told Starlight. "As soon as we find a way into the Crystal Empire, we'll help you find that Sunburst fella and the Crystal Heart."
"I glad you guys came with me." Starlight said to the group with a weak smile.
"Every pony quiet!!" Twilight ordered the group. "I hear something rustling in the forrest."
As every pony looked up through the bunker portholes, they see strange dog-like shapes appear from the bushes. Upon getting a closer look, the ponies see several Diamond Dog Bounty Hunters searching everywhere outside of the bunker.
"Keep search the area, you mangy mutts!!!" One of the Diamond Dogs barked at the other Diamond Dogs as he drew out his cutlass. "We know you're out there Princess!!! You can't hide forever!!!"
The Diamond Dogs spread out all over the forest area near the Bunker that Twilight and her group are in. Some of them were howling up into the sky before they drew out their weapons.
"Every pony stay away from the bunker doors and keep quiet." Twilight whispered to the others as they all backed away from the closed bunker doors, while drawing out there weapons.
After a couple of minutes, the Diamond Dogs were about to leave the area, when all of a sudden, Pinkie Pie accidentally tripped over a empty metal can on the ground.
"THEY'RE INSIDE THE BUNKER!!!" One of Diamond Dogs howled. "BREAK IT DOWN!!!"
"PINKIE PIE!!!" Applejack yelled at the pink pony for her negligence.
"Oopsies!!!" Pinkie Pie said sheepishly, followed by a smile.
"Get ready for battle every pony." Twilight said as she drew out her two swords with her magic.
The sword in her right hoof is enchanted with fire magic and the sword in her left hoof is enchanted with ice magic. As Twilight drew out her weapons, she made a dual-wielding battle stance in front of the door, with her fire sword raised up high above her head and her ice sword held straight in front of her eye level. All of the ponies were able to back away from the door and formed up into a defensive formation, with Rainbow Dash, Soarin, and Flash Sentry up front, with their long-shafted weapons pointing straight at the door, Rarity, Trixie, Sunset, Starlight, and Twilight in the middle, and Fluttershy, Applejack, Spike, and Pinkie behind them. As soon as one of the Diamond Dogs made a hole in the wooden bunker door with his club, Sunset Shimmer fired her repeating Henry rifle at the Diamond Dogs. After shooting down 2 of them, the Dogs knocked the door down and charged at the ponies with their weapons held in their paws. As soon as they got close all of the ponies, except Fluttershy charged at them with all their might. When several of the Diamond Dogs charged at Twilight, the purple alicorn unfurled her wings, spin around up in mid-air few feet from the ground and started attacking the dogs. Every time she swung her 2 swords, a wave of magic started shooting out of her blade and struck at the dogs with deadly precision.
"ARGH, IT BURNS!!!" One Diamond dogs screamed as his fur got caught on fire. The next he knew, he was running around, screaming in pain before he fell on the ground, burned to death.
When the second Diamond Dog got struck by Twilight's Ice sword, he immediate froze into a big ice cube, much to Rarity's excited reaction. Rainbow and Flash made a relentless spearheaded attack that knocked out and stabbed most of the Diamond Dogs, making them fall flat on their backs while bleeding. Starlight shoved her warhammer at a Diamond Dogs face and whacked him across his head before he smashed his face on the bunker wall. Trixie used her magic to cast a lighting nova spell that zapped 5 dogs all at once. Rarity parried against a Dog's cutlass with her ninja only to have her make a deep bloody gash into the Dog's abdomen. As the Dog screamed in pain, the white unicorn shoved him to the ground and finished him off with a killing blow with her ninja sword. When Applejack made a back kick that send one of the dogs flying straight into a wall behind him, the earth mare picked up his wooden shield and started slamming it one of the Diamond Dogs in the head, making blood squirt out from his brain, as well as breaking the wooden shield apart. After Applejack dropped that shattered shield, she took out her retractable talons and launched into the air and stabbed a Diamond Dog in the neck. Just when one of the dogs takes out his musket rifle, the earth pony mare made a mid-flip that slammed her rear hooves into the dog's skull, breaking his neck. After Sunset ran out of ammo when shooting down 7 more Diamond Dogs, she drew out her Flamberge with her magic and chopped one Diamond Dog in two. The next thing Sunset Shimmer did was making a wide arc that chopped off a Diamond Dog's right arm before being stabbed in the stomach. When she pulled her Flamberge out, Sunset kick the Dog with her left front hoof, knocking him out of commission. After Twilight slashed her ice blade at another Diamond Dog in the neck, she clasped two of her blades together and made an spinning attack over her head, that cut down 5 more Diamond Dogs, and slashed at one with both of her blades, simultaneously. Spike sprayed his fire breath at the dogs before whacking them away with his sword. After 20 minutes of fighting, the Diamond Dogs retreated into the forest.
"All right everypony." Twilight announced. "We better leave this place now before more enemy reinforcements come."
As Twilight and the group packed up everything on their stagecoach, Rainbow Dash heard a buzz coming from the east of their position.
"Uh, Twilight, you're hearing what I'm hearing?" Rainbow Dash asked the purple alicorn.
"Yes, Rainbow." Twilight replied. "Flash! Soarin! Get us out of here."
"We're on it!!!" Both of the male pegasus acknowledged Twilight's orders.
Just when Twilight went inside the Stagecoach, Rainbow Dash, Flash Sentry, and Soarin pulled the stagecoach with all their might as they made a run for it. When they left the forest, a platoon of Changeling Scouts were pursuing them from behind. Without hesitation, Pinkie pops out above the stagecoach and started firing a chaingun that she retrieved from one of the dead Diamond Dogs. Before any of the Changelings got closer, the pink pony opened fire at them with a spray of bullets heading in their direction. As some of the Changelings avoided being shot at, they returned fire with their venom rifles. Not wanting to have her friends get shot, Rainbow Dash and the other two pegasus started making sharp turns, while Starlight and Twilight used their magic to form a shield barrier to protect their stagecoach from enemy fire. Before they could see what was coming in front of them, several more Diamond Dogs popped out of the ground and tried to attack the stagecoach. However, Sunset opens up a window from inside the stagecoach and started blasting them away with her blunderbuss.
"After them, boys!!" One of the Changeling Scouts screeched. "We can't let them get to the Crystal Wastelands!!"
The chase continued until Twilight and the ponies reached to Neigheria Falls. They all fled into a dark cave in order to lose sight of the Changelings and Diamond Dogs. It was decided that Twilight and her group lay low until nightfall before continuing their trek to the Crystal Wastelands. As they slept, Flash Sentry and Starlight kept on watch for any impeding threats. When the sky turned dark, they got up on their hooves again and pressed forward in silence as Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash pulled the stagecoach through the dense fields.
"Rainbow, I'm getting tired." Fluttershy quietly said. "I wish Discord didn't leave me like this."
"Come on, Fluttershy. We're not much further to the L.R encampment at the Crystal Wastelands." Rainbow Dash said to the yellow pegasus. "I'm sure he'll still be waiting for you on the other side."
As they got closer to the encampment, they spotted Lunar Republican Flags waving up high into the air.
"Guys, we finally made it!!" Rainbow Dash said to the rest of the ponies.
As they came out of their stagecoach, they were immediately greeted by Princess Luna and Discord when they both came out of their tents.
"Twilight, I thought you wouldn't be able to make it in time." Luna said to the purple alicorn in a worried tone. "I heard that several groups of Diamond Dogs and Changeling Scouts were dispatched by the enemy earlier."
"Everything's fine, Luna." Twilight said to the night alicorn. "What's our plan?"
"We'll discuss it in the morning." Luna said. "For now, go get some rest."
As every pony left Luna's tent for some R&R, Twilight went with Flash Sentry. As the two ponies looked up to the night sky, Twilight could not help but worry what will become of her future after they deal with Amadeus and his cronies.
"Say, Twilight. Are you still having doubts over your royal entourage?" Flash Sentry asked.
"Yes, because I don't know if I can continue taking care of the Equestrian Throne any longer." Twilight said in a worried tone.
"It's okay, my dear." Flash said to Twilight. "When I first joined the military, I used to have doubts in myself because of how dangerous it can be. However, it just takes quite a while for some pony like me to get used to."
"Well, I still don't know how are we going to save Equestria from Amadeus Blueblood." Twilight said. "I mean, even if we were able to put him down, there will still be a chance that some pony else will carry out his evil legacy someday. If that happens, this whole nightmare will start all over again."
"You already came a long way, Twilight." Flash said as he comforted the princess in his wings. "So, I can assure you that we will work something out with those selfish nobles."
"I'm glad that I met you, Flash." Twilight said to the orange pegasus, as she smiled at him. "Let's go get some rest, tomorrow will be a big day."
Before they went to one of the tents to get some rest, Twilight gave Flash Sentry a kiss on the cheek. After she went inside the tent, Flash stood there smiling at the purple alicorn.
"It's so good to have you back, Princess Twilight." Flash Sentry thought to himself as he went to his tent.
Meanwhile at the Crystal Empire, after Queen Cicada took it over, the entire city turned into a darker version of its former self. As crystal ponies were being enslaved with huge restraints over their necks and chains attached to their hooves, they walked down the road as Changelings were keeping a close eye on them from above and on the ground. Throughout the entire area, there was green Changeling cocoons stuck on most of the crystal houses. At the walls of the Crystal Empire, there were Changeling Guards patrolling the battlements. Many flags bearing the Changelings were raised up high on top of the guard towers around the city. Right after Cicada secured the Crystal Heart, she hid it in her makeshift private chambers. In the Crystal Throne room, after Cicada took over the Empire, she transformed it into a darker version of it and filled the room with green cocoons hanging above the ceiling and instead of a red throne chair, it was replaced by a changeling seat that made Cicada very comfortable to sit on. Behind Cicada's throne, several banners were displayed right above her, bearing the Changeling Emblem. On her right is Sunburst, who is now wearing a steel harness around his neck and is chained next to Cicada's seat. As several of Cicada's scouts appeared before her, she gave them an angry look before any of them could say anything.
"You fools!! I gave you the order to eliminate Twilight Sparkle, yet you all have failed me!!!" Queen Cicada hissed as she used her magic to disintegrate several of her scouts, turning them into ashes. "General Rasputin, if the Lunar Republic attacks this city, you will be in charge of the city's defenses. So, don't fail me."
"Yes, your highness." General Rasputin said as he bowed down to the Changeling Queen before leaving her throne room.
As he emerged from the shadows and walked up to the balcony of the Crystal Palace, General Rasputin is wearing obsidian Changeling armor with red linings. He has a black sword attached to his back, in which is enchanted with dark changeling magic. His eyes are glowing in a dark-green color and has red and black changeling wings. As soon as he came out of the Crystal Palace, he made his announced to the rest of the Cicada's armies down below the balcony.
"By the order of Queen Cicada and by the order of Queen Majesty, we have been given the right to destroy the Lunar Republic resistance." General Rasputin. "For they cannot defile the legacy of us Changelings. As soon as they launched their assault upon our city, we'll drive them back with everything we've got. ANNIHILATE THEM, FOR YOUR QUEEN AND COUNTRY!!!!"
As Rasputin finished his speech, all of his Changeling soldiers cheered for him as they all prepare for battle by tomorrow morning.