The Crystal Empire: One Year Later
"Shining Armor?" Princess Cadence asked. "Shining, I need your assistance."
"Cadence, what's wrong?" Shining said as he walked through the door. He could see that his wife wasn’t looking well.
"Shining, it’s Flurry. She isn’t settling down for her nap, and I have a lot of things to do. Can you please take care of it?"
"Alright Cadence," Shining said, then walked into Flurry's room. As Cadence walked down the hall she looked out the window of the Empire she was proud to call her home. As she continued to walk down the hall she came across a darkened hallway. Unable to see she lit her horn, only to find the body of a Royal Guard.
"Oh my Goddess," Cadence ran to the guard and cradled his head. He was still breathing, but barely. "Guard, please speak to me, what is your name?"
"Cough Flash, Flash Sentry."
"Flash, what happened? Who did this to you," Cadence asked with motherly concern in her voice.
"I...I don't know, she was wearing a mask," Flash replied.
"Guards!!!" Cadence shouted. "We have a man down!" She saw something in the corner of the room, something alive.
"Show yourself!" Cadence shouted, flaring her horn in defense.
"You will find out in time. For now, take this as a parting gift!" the mare replied. She threw a silver dagger at Cadence, who quickly dodged out of the way, but before she could get up, the mysterious mare flew into the air and sped down the hall.
"Princess Cadence!" a guard replied. "What happened?!"
"A mare in a black and purple suit just stabbed this guard and took off down the hall, you need to apprehend her!"
"Yes ma’am!" the guard said, then started running down the hall until he reached the balcony. He then saw the mare in question, she was wearing a black, purple, and yellow jumpsuit. She also had goggles with purple with a yellow stained glass in them, on the suit where the Cutie mark usually was a pony skull with a wing popping out of the back. The only distinctive features of the mare were her mane and tail, a combination of light and dark yellow.
"Halt! Stay where you are!!"
"Sorry sir, but I have other things to do," the mare replied, then took off in a fancy takeoff style towards the Crystal Empire outskirts.
Guard what happened?!" Shining Armor said as he ran up to him.
̈ ̈ I'm afraid not sir, however, I must meet with you and Princess Cadence in private, I believe you should know some things our Intruder did
̈ ̈Shining!̈ Cadence said, running up to the guard and Shining.
”Cadence, how is the guard? Shining said.
"He...he is dead, ̈ Cadence said with deep sorrow.
̈ Don't worry Cadence, this guard says he has valuable information, ̈ Shining said.
̈ ̈Yes sir. When the suspect took off it was different from other pegasi, suggesting training. Something that The Wonderbolts might know. ̈
̈Well then, it looks like we should contact Spitfire and tell her of the incident. She might have a rogue bolt, ̈ Shining said.
Just then another guard came up to the group. “Sir, we found this weapon at the crime scene, we thought you should look at it.”
̈ ̈Let me see it, ̈ Princess Cadence said. As she inspected the dagger she saw the symbol on the hilt. "No, that's impossible ̈
̈ ̈Cadence, what is it?" Shining asked.
"We need to go to Wonderbolts HQ immediately, ̈ Cadence said.
̈ ̈Ma’am, I don't understand. What's so important about that symbol?" the guard asked.
̈ ̈Because it's the symbol of King Sombra’s royal air force, the Shadowbolts, ̈ Cadence said.
Shadowbolt Cave
As Lightning Dust landed on the runway, she saw that Cinch was waiting for her.
̈Ma’am, I successfully did as I was told. ̈
̈Were you spotted?̈ Cinch asked
̈ ̈Yes mam, Princess Cadence and a Royal Guard got a good look at me ̈ Lightning said
̈ ̈Excellent, now we can begin with phase two. ̈ Cinch said.
̈And what exactly is phase two?" Lightning said.
̈ ̈Knowing the Princess, she will most likely go to The Wonderbolts. When they hear of your description they will want to mobilize every unit they have, for this. ̈ Cinch held up a flyer in the air with her magic.
̈ ̈The Grand Galloping Gala?̈
̈Yes, this is the first celebration they are having since The Storm King Invasion, ̈ Cinch explained, ̈and so it will be the perfect opportunity to attack the Wonderbolts HQ. Most of the bolts will be at the Gala, giving us the element of surprise. ̈
̈And I will lead the attack?" Lightning said.
̈ ̈No, you are going to crash the Galla. ̈
̈But ma’am, you just said that all the bolts will be there, I will be outnumbered!"
̈ ̈Not if you do Maneuver 17, ̈ Cinch said.
"You mean, you want me to create a tornado in the Gala?!" Lightning said.
"It’s only fitting to do the very Maneuver that got you kicked out of the Bolts at the place you will take them down, ̈ Cinch said. ̈And if you do the maneuver correctly, you may even knock out some of the Wonderbolts, including Rainbow Dash. ̈
̈Rainbow will be there?" Lightning said, shocked.
"I have reliable sources that tell me she is going to be going there, ̈ Cinch said ¨Now before you leave, Lightning, I must show you something. ̈ She started walking past the throne room to a dusty old building with a metal door and lock on it. Cinch used her magic and opened the door to reveal an orange crystal shaped like a sun, and surrounding the crystal was a golden necklace.
̈ ̈Ma’am?̈ Lightning asked ̈What is this?"
"I have kept this a secret for some time now, Lightning Dust. This is the 7th Element of Harmony, ̈ Cinch proudly said, ̈ otherwise known as the Element of Empathy. ̈
̈But, why do we have it?̈ Lightning said. ̈To my knowledge only an Element of Harmony can use it. ̈
"This is true. However, I am working on a spell that will change that. ̈ Cinch levitated a book off of a dusty shelf. ̈This is a copy of Starswirl the Bearded’s Diary. I went to great lengths to acquire it. ̈
̈ ̈So, what exactly do you need from it?" Lightning said.
As Cinch flipped through the pages, she stopped at a page that had a picture of the Elements of Harmony.
"You recall that Starswirl and the Pillars made the Elements?" Cinch said.
"Yes, why?" Lightning said.
"When The Pillars created the Elements of Harmony, they brought peace to the land. But little did The Pillars know, there was an old legend that states for every good thing that is created there must be an opposite, and so when the Elements of Harmony were created, their twins were created as well, The Elements of Disharmony," Cinch said, then closed the book and put it back on the shelf.
""So we need to find The Elements of Disharmony?" Lightning asked.
"The Elements of Disharmony have not been created yet," Cinch said. ̈ That's why we have this. ̈
"Now I’m confused. What do you mean, not created?" Lightning said.
"In order for the Elements Of Disharmony to be created, you need to have its twins," Cinch said.
"Just like the Elements of Harmony, they need people with the traits of the elements and with them being the Anti versions of the elements they would be; Dishonesty, Cruelty, Loneliness, Greed, Betrayal, Negativity, and Apathy," Cinch explained.
̈So how do we create the Elements of Disharmony?" Lightning said.
"I have studied a spell that can turn the elements we have into their counterparts. However, it will take the energy out of me, so the Wonderbolt HQ attack will most likely take place tomorrow. ̈
"I understand ma’am, but if I may ask, who will wear the element?"
"I am hoping that both me and you will be able to use it, however you will mainly be the one to use it, Lighting, ̈ Cinch said.
"I understand, ma’am, ̈ Lightning said.
̈Now go. The Gala is in a few hours, so go to Canterlot and do what you have trained to do. Soon we will show Equestria that The Shadowbolts have returned!"
̈ ̈Yes ma’am!" Lightning said.
Canterlot
As Lightning Dust looked at the castle she saw the ballroom. After the Canterlot Tour she went on, she took notes of where each room was and what it was for. She knew that the ballroom was the perfect area to meet her rival. As she looked through the binoculars she could see her target, the Main Stage. As she saw the band ponies play music she got up and then saw her next target, a cyan blue pegasus, the one who ruined her life: Rainbow Dash.
̈Now it's my time, ̈ Lightning said, then flew into the air and started spinning in a circle, over and over again until the area around her got grey. Then, using all her might, she flew straight into the ballroom window, pushing the tornado with her. As she flew in the center she could see all the ponies in the Gala. None of them knew who she was, but they would soon know. They would all know.
"All right," Lightning Dust said, "tell me where I can find Rainbow Dash and Princess Celestia, and no one will get hurt!" Right then and there, Lightning knew if she ever wanted to leave… she would have to fight her way out.