It was a bright morning on the streets of Canterlot. All was quiet and peaceful until there was a commotion. Three Diamond Dogs were making a mess in the marketplace. Ponies around them were running away from the ruckus as a five other ponies with a baby dragon were going over to the dogs causing the riot.
"Hey, you!" shouted a pony wearing a Stetson hat.
"Who, me?" the smaller of the Diamond Dogs pointed to himself.
"Yeah, you! Stop that right now!"
"Or what?!" The dog mocked, and then he laughed as he picked up a ripe tomato and threw it at the pony.
"I'm warning-" But she couldn't finish as the tomato got all over her face.
"Food fight!" the pink, hyper pony shouted out as she grabbed for a cream pie and threw at the big dog. It landed on his face.
Pretty soon, a food fight commenced and in the midst of it, a white unicorn was ducking to avoid the flying food.
"I refuse for my hair to get dirty!"
"I'll protect you, Rarity!" said the dragon as he shielded her with an umbrella.
"Oh, thank you, Spikey-Wikey."
The dragon's eyes filled with hearts.
Meanwhile, the pegasi ponies created a barricade.
The blue one with rainbow hair was throwing all sorts of vegetables, "Broccoli? Yuck! Cauliflower? Double yuck!" She looked down at the whimpering Pegasus, "This is a lot of fun, ain't it, Fluttershy?"
"Oh, yes…" she gulped. "Fun…" She ducked as a piece of cake zoomed past her.
"Wrong way, Pinkie!"
"Oops! Sorry, Dashie!" She turned herself around and aimed at the dogs with her party cannon.
Suddenly, a voice shouted out, "What is going on here?!" Shining Armor, wearing his armor, rushed in with a squad of royal guards.
"Drats, it's the coppers!" the small Diamond Dog yelped.
"Let's get out of here!" said the medium size dog and they made a break for it.
"And don't come back!" Applejack yelled after them.
"This is the third time this month those ruffians have caused a mess in our fair city." huffed Rarity.
"Is every pony and… dragon all right?" Shining Armor asked.
"We're fine, but it's getting to be tiresome to clean up after those canine gem stealers." AJ sighed.
Rainbow clomped her hooves together, "Sure wish there was some way we can keep them out for good."
By then, a griffin swooped in after she had given out a mighty hawk call. She said, "Do you want me to track them down, Dash?"
"That'd be great, Gilda. Make sure you report back if you spot them."
"Duh." Gilda flew up and made it to the edge of the city, where she landed and ended up bumping into some pony.
"Hey!" the blue unicorn with a silvery mane who wore a purple hat and cape complained.
"Watch where you're going!" Gilda huffed.
"Excuse me?! Do even know who I am? I am the Great and Powerful Trixie!"
"Like I care. Now get out of the way. I'm trying find a bunch of dumb Diamond Dogs that invaded Canterlot, so it would be best if you just stay out of my way!" she out a lion's roar and then took off for the air.
Trixie humphed, "How rude of her to be like that to Trixie." She stuck her nose up into the air and trotted off.
On the borders of Equestria was a dark and gloomy-looking castle. Inside of it was a throne room, where a large and muscular centaur sat on a throne. He gave no expression towards the three sirens that were singing on the sidelines.
Suddenly, a voice shouted out, "Tirek!" The changeling queen came to him, "You said that we would take over Equestria!"
Tirek waved his hand in command and the sirens went silent as they watched the two forces argue it out.
"You promised we would overthrow the princesses and rule all of Equestria!"
"And we shall, when the moment is right." the centaur declared.
"But when is that moment?!" the queen demanded.
"Soon, but for now, we wait and watch our opponents' every move. We keep them distracted with other things until we attack!"
"If we keep sending those idiot Diamond Dogs out, they're liable to spill the beans!"
"If they ever do, they shall be severely punished…" he moved a vase with his magic and threw it across the room until it smashed into pieces against the wall.
"Aww! I liked that vase!" said the blue siren named Sonata Dusk.
The purple siren named Aria Blaze glared at her associate, "Just keep it zipped, Sonata."
"You zip it!" Sonata retorted.
"Shut it, you two!" the yellow siren, Adagio Dazzle, exclaimed.
Chrysalis shouted out, "If you three don't stop that, I'm going to-"
"Can't we once stop yelling at each other?!" A grey unicorn stallion with emerald eyes walked in. He wore only armor around his body and legs. "We'll never get anything done if this racket keeps up!"
Chrysalis eyed the stallion, "I am well aware of our business! I don't need some Umbrum to tell me otherwise!"
Sombra's eyes briefly changed to red and green before he reminded himself that he was in control of his emotions and that anger would not get the best of him. All his life, he was treated different because he did not have a cutie mark. When he learned the truth as to why that was, he went against his Umbrum heritage and learned to deal with the darkness inside him. But because he was afraid ponies would never accept him for who he was, he remained a misfit until he came across other beings that were like him. They had all been together since then. Sombra wasn't entirely sure he wanted to conquer all of Equestria, but it was what the others wanted and they were the closest thing he had to a family, or so to speak.
"Better to have an Umbrum than a cowardly draconequus!" Tirek spat.
Chrysalis gave a chuckle, "That creature has his own interests at heart. The reason he doesn't join us is because he's afraid the princesses will turn him to stone again."
Sonata wore a blank expression as she asked, "Um, who are we talking about here?"
Adagio and Aria groaned as they smacked their faces.
Aria grunted, "Try to keep up, Sonata! They're talking about Discord, the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony!"
"O-oh! Why didn't they say so?!"
The other sirens, plus the changeling queen, rolled their eyes.
"And that is one of the reasons we've haven't been able to take control yet!" Tirek gestured, "If he's taken sides with the ponies, then we can't take over! This is why we must wait until the right moment." He glared down at the queen, "Is that understood…?"
"Perfectly…" she hissed.
By then, a bad smell fill the room and they turned around to see the Diamond Dogs covered in food stuffs.
"Pee-ew!" Sonata held her nose, "That smells awful!"
"I agree." Adagio held her nose, too.
Aria exclaimed in disgust, "No kidding."
Chrysalis told the Diamond Dogs outright, "What is that Tartarus-forsaken smell?!"
"It's not our fault!" Spot cried out.
"Yeah, those ponies were the ones who started it!" Fido proclaimed.
"Yeah, right!" shouted another voice. Trixie came in behind the dogs as her nose scrunched up, "Trixie saw how you threw that tomato at the one with the bad hat."
"But they threw a pie!"
"Enough!" Tirek shouted, creating an eerie silence. "I don't care if they threw a piano on you! Did you at least make sure you got away without being seen?!"
The dogs whimpered as they nodded their heads repeatedly.
"Good!" He took a seat on his throne as he told them, "Now leave me, except you three," he looked at the sirens, "you shall resume your singing."
Adagio bowed, "Of course, Lord Tirek." She and the other two sirens started to sing.
Sombra knew then it was best to steer clear of the sirens' vocal range. He went to Trixie and said, "Want to take a walk with me?"
She nodded her head as they made their way outside.
She said to him, "Trixie is getting tired of having to cover for the Diamond Dogs. They are so clueless as to hide their trail. I wish that Trixie would stop being treated as a lackey!"
"So you're saying there would have been a chance that they would have been tracked down and exposed where we were?"
"Yes! And after I covered their tracks, a rude griffin bumped into me! Trixie has never been so insulted in her life!"
"There's no need to get aggravated. Griffins aren't known for their politeness after all."
"I know… but still! She was the most unpleasant griffin I have ever met!"
"Have you met other griffins before?"
"Well… no. No, I have not."
Sombra shook his head.
"So what have you been doing? Moping around the castle?"
"I do not like hearing Tirek and Chrysalis talking about their plans to take over Equestria. I wish for things to remain the way they are. I'm happy where we are: away from the prying eyes of the pony race who view us differently."
"Now who wants that?!"
They turned around to see Discord floating above them.
Sombra pointed, "Discord, it might be wise that you stayed away as much as possible. If Tirek finds you here, I can assure you it won't be congenial."
"Well then, why aren't you turning me in if you're so worried about the big bad Tirek finding out?"
"Because, as I have told Trixie, I want things to stay the way they are. Since Tirek considers you a threat, it would be a shame he got hold of you and gained control of Equestria much sooner than he expected."
"Well, thanks for the heads-up, old boy! I'll have to make a memo to deal with that big, horned dope when I get the chance. And as appreciation for telling me this," he waved his hand and conjured up two golden tickets, "I have two tickets for the Grand Galloping Gala!"
Trixie's eyes lit up, "The Grand Galloping Gala?!"
"The Grand Galloping Gala?" Sombra questioned.
"The Grand Galloping Gala!" Discord repeated. "What are you? Deaf?"
"Well, we thank you for your generous offer, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to attend."
"Oh, come on! Haven't you wondered what the biggest night in Equestria is like? That it is as grand and spectacular that ponies have claimed it to be?"
Trixie, looking star-struck, was nodding her head. Sombra gave an unsure look, "I… don't know…"
Trixie turned to him and started pleading, "Aw, can we go, Sombra? Pretty please? I've always wanted to attend the Gala so they can see how magifancant the Great and Powerful Trixie is!" She went on her knees, begging, "Please say you'll come with me? I don't want to go alone!"
Sombra cringed as both Trixie and Discord were showing big puppy-dog eyes. He gave a sigh and said, "All right, we'll go."
"Yes!" Trixie cheered and then realized, "Oh, but what is Trixie going to wear?!" She rushed back into the castle.
Sombra faced Discord, "Thank you again. But now you better get out of here."
"I don't need to be told twice. See you at the party!" He snapped his fingers and was gone in a flash.