A train arrived in Canterlot and Twilight and her friends dashed out, breaking into full gallops towards Princess Celestia's castle, save Rainbow Dash who was flying instead. Spike was riding on Twilight's back.
"Ah reckon this must be important if the princess has summoned all the other princesses of Equestria," said Applejack, the ponies still running.
"Or perhaps it could be serious," suggested Rarity.
"Maybe it's both!" said Pinkie. "Maybe it's seriimportant!"
"Pinkie Pie," said Applejack. "That's not even a word."
"She's just being Pinkie Pie," insisted Rainbow Dash.
"I still don't see why you all had to come with me," said Twilight. "The princess has only called on us alicorns so far, so I think this is part of my royal duties."
"Twilight, honey," said Applejack. "It's us. Do ya honestly think we would miss out on this?"
"Not to mention we want to be there to back you up," Fluttershy added.
"And there's no way I'm leaving Twilight's side!" said Spike proudly.
"We're your friends, Twilight," said Rainbow Dash. "If you're involved, we're all getting involved, whether you like it or not."
"We're all in this together, darling," said Rarity. "Never forget that." This made Twilight smile warmly.
"Thank you," she said. They soon barged into the throne room finding the other three princesses waiting for Twilight. Shining Armor was present as well. He greeted her first along with Cadance.
"Twiley!" said Shining Armor as they hugged. "Good to see you again!"
"Same here, big brother," said Twilight. Then, she and Cadance did their little chant from their youth days.
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" And they laughed.
"I wish we could have met on better terms," said Cadance. "But unfortunately, Equestria is in peril again."
"It is Discord again?" asked Twilight.
"We wish," said Shining Armor. Twilight's friends gasped.
"Is it that bad?!" asked Rainbow Dash.
"I'm afraid so," said Princess Celestia. "This new threat is much greater than any foe you have ever faced. Twilight, I'm sorry to have gotten you involved, but we need your help. This involves all four of us princesses of Equestria. We have to protect the royal throne from a coup d'état." Twilight gasped.
"Who could possibly want to do such a thing?!" asked Spike.
"We know who," answered Celestia. "Unfortunately, we thought he left Equestria years ago, never to return, but we were all deceived. He was actually in hiding, gaining power and rallying other ponies to his cause. Twilight Sparkle, we must prepare to face... Martinet, the Shadow General."
"Shadow General?" repeated Twilight. "You mean..." She gasped. "We have to lead Equestria into... war?!"
"I'm afraid so," concluded Celestia.
"But... Equestria is peaceful! Why would anypony do this?!"
"I'm afraid that I might be partially responsible," Celestia admitted. "But I did what I thought I had to do."
"What happened?"
"It all started in the distant Hollow Shades," Celestia explained. "Martinet grew up living his life as a proud pony, yet he believed that his home was secluded from the rest of Equestria. So he wanted to spread his nation far and wide, but it was obvious to a lot of ponies, particularly Canterlot, that he wanted to be in charge of all of Equestria and run things his own way. Ultimately, we had no knowledge of what ambitions Martinet had if he were to run his regime, but I did not wish to take any chances. I did what I believed I had to do. I had to suppress Martinet and his followers. We then believed that he fled from Equestria, but we were wrong. Now we know he's back, his heart stained with revenge. Since you became a princess, he grew more furious than ever before and now believes that you will start a reign in which the denizens of Hollow Shades will be suppressed under a tyrannical rule because of what he almost did."
"But I wouldn't!" said Twilight. "I would never!"
"I know you wouldn't, dear," said Celestia. "But I'm afraid that it is impossible to convince Martinet."
"If he wants to stage a coup d'état, why would he want all of Equestria to know that he's back?" asked Twilight.
"Fear," answered Celestia. "He wants everypony to fear him. He believes that if we show fear and are terrified of him, we will be that much easier to subdue."
"Unfortunately," added Luna. "Martinet's time in exile has permanently solidified his heart with hatred and twisted his mind beyond insanity. He now cares about nopony except himself. Once he strikes, he will spare no one. Not stallions, not mares, and not even foals." Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie were wide-eyed and horrified.
"Yeah, that!" said Rainbow Dash to her friends. "Look at your faces! That's what he wants to see! Don't you see? We can't let him scare us! We'll fight back! If he wants a war, we'll give him a war! Who's with me?"
"Unfortunately, Rainbow Dash, that's another problem," said Celestia.
"Huh?"
"You see, Martinet isn't just all talk and stature. He's a master unicorn, one of the highest level unicorns of our time. Rumor has it his power is said to match that of Star Swirl the Bearded himself." This shocked Rainbow Dash to her core as well as Twilight and her other friends. "Yes, he's even mastered the age spell," Celestia went on. "If he leads his army, I fear we will be no match for him."
"Hold on a second!" said Rainbow Dash. "You mean to tell us that he's invincible?!"
"Well... almost."
"What a terrible thought," cried Rarity dramatically. "To be aged to death! What a way to go-o-o-o-o!" She then keeled down to the floor in a dead faint.
"So how are we supposed to stop him?" asked a very worried Applejack.
"Ooh, ooh!" said Pinkie Pie, bouncing up and down. "Why don't we just use the Elements of Harmony? That'll solve everything!" The other ponies just stared at her. "What? What'd I say?"
"Pinkie," said Applejack. "We don't have them anymore. We gave them up, remember?"
"Oh... Okay, we're doomed."
"We must not give up hope," said Luna.
"But if we try anything, he could use that deadly age spell of his!" insisted Twilight. "Plus, he probably has an army or something."
"So that's it, then?" said Rainbow Dash, somewhat disgusted. "We just quit?! Right here and now?! Let this jerk walk all over us?!"
"Well, what can we do?" said Applejack.
"We fight back! I'd rather go down fighting instead of just sitting here scared!"
"Honey, we don't have a chance."
"Oh yeah?! Well answer me this then! Why did the princess summon Twilight in the first place?! If she knew this was a fight we couldn't win, she wouldn't have even summoned Twilight and gotten her involved, much less all of us!"
"We chose to follow Twilight!"
"Right! So we're gonna choose to fight then!"
"Ah don't think this bully's gonna let us even make our first strike!"
"Fine! I see how it is! So why not just hand over Equestria's throne to Martinet right now?! Huh?!" All the other ponies, including the princesses, looked downcast.
"What are we supposed to do?" asked Twilight sadly. "Martinet will spare no one, not even mares and foals. He's definitely going to try something. We need help."
"I know," said Celestia. "We must form factions. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor will lead the crystal pony guards. My sister, Princess Luna, will lead her bat-pony guards. And I will lead my own guards. Also, I established contact with the Griffon King. He has agreed to form an alliance between the griffons and the ponies for this one time. And... we may to enlist the Changelings to help us as well."
"What?!" said Twilight, aghast. "But... princess... the Changelings are evil! Not to mention their queen turned my friends and you against me! You think I want anything to do with that maniacal bug queen?!"
"I'm well aware that the Changelings have brought terror to Canterlot in the past," said Celestia. "But I'm afraid desperate times call for desperate measures. I have already cast a reform summoning spell on Queen Chrysalis and her army, so when we call on the Changelings, they will fight for us."
"Let's hope so," said Twilight.
"What about Discord?" asked Fluttershy. "I think we could use his help."
"I have discussed the situation with him as well," said Celestia. "Unfortunately, all he told me was that he would only consider helping. Apparently, he's still having a hard time adjusting to using his magic for good."
"But my dear Celestia, I'm reformed," insisted Discord as Celestia had remembered him saying earlier. "Certainly, I'll consider your request to save Equestria... if you really need me, that is."
"Well, if he doesn't bother, then I won't be friends with him anymore," said Fluttershy sternly.
"Fluttershy, that might be a problem."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"You see, if all you do is warn Discord that some of his actions put your friendship on the line, he might just think that you're using your friendship with him as a tool." Fluttershy bit her lower lip, seeing exactly where Celestia was going with this. "And if that's the case," Celestia went on. "Discord might not find friendship to be as valuable as he thought it would be and return to his evil ways with nothing to lose. And without the Elements of Harmony, nopony would be able to stop him, not even Martinet."
"Oh dear..." murmured Fluttershy. "I wish things were more simple."
"It's okay, dear," assured Celestia. "I know it's hard to keep a leash on Discord, but he is trying to change. And it's because of you."
"M-me?"
"Yes, Fluttershy. As I had hoped, you were the only pony of your friends willing to give Discord a second chance, and I sense that alone meant a lot to him. You were even willing to consider him a friend, something that your other friends found very hard to do because of how miserable he made them. And it's not just because you represent the Element of Kindness. It is because kindness is a part of who you are. And as much time as it will take, it will be rewarding in a long run. I am certain that Discord will lend a hoof should we need his help." Fluttershy smiled at Celestia, feeling the same.
And so, it was decided. The four princesses of Equestia prepared to lead their factions to civil war against Martinet the Shadow General. Even if they were fully aware that they might not win, they would at least show Martinet that they were not afraid of him and that they would not just let him walk all over them like dirt on the ground. Seven factions were formed.
Solar Empire
New Lunar Republic
Crystal Empire
Griffon Kingdom
Changeling Swarm
Order of Discord
Twilight Alicorn