Ponyville
It had been about five days since the meeting, and so far the Shadowbolts had been quiet. Rainbow Dash, wanting to take the stress off her shoulders, had gone with applejack to look around Equestria for good wedding spots. As she quietly walked through Ponyville and into the castle, she noticed Applejack waiting for her.
"Hay, sugarcube," Applejack said as Dash came walking in through the castle door.
"Hay," Dash replied. "Any luck finding a place?"
"Not yet," Applejack said. "It’s harder to find a wedding place than it is to round up a bunch of cattle on a hot summer morning."
"Where’s Twilight?" Dash asked.
"She went to the Crystal Empire to be with Flurry Heart," Applejack said. "Cadence and Shining Armor said they found a lead, so they’re going to investigate."
"Really?" Dash said excitedly. "We finally caught the bastards!"
"I said it was a lead," Applejack said. "We don't know if they’re even there or not."
"I hope they find them," Dash said. "I’d like to give Lightning Dust her own metal wing."
"Rainbow, I know that she took your wing, but doing to her what she did to you makes you no better."
"Sigh I just want her to be caught, that's all," Rainbow said.
Just then, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie came bursting into the door, followed by Starlight. As they came running in, Dash and Applejack could see that they were panicked.
"Rainbow, Applejack!" Rarity said. "Twilight just sent us a scroll, Shining Armor and his royal guards found he Shadowbolt cave, and she wants us to head over to the Crystal Empire!"
"Well then, there’s no time to waste," Applejack said.
The Outskirts of The Crystal Empire
As the cold wind blew through Rainbow’s fur, she knew that this would be a tough battle. She saw Twilight, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer, and Starlight Glimmer in the royal chariot, followed by at least twelve guards; behind them was Shining Armor and his 1,000 royal guards for Crystal Army: 500 pegasi, 400 unicorns, and 100 earth ponies. Behind them was Princess Celestia and her royal guard. Rainbow had put on her Wonderbolt uniform to symbolize that the Wonderbolts would not give up that easily.
"So this is where The Shadowbolts are hiding," Rainbow said.
"Listen up, everypony," Shining Armor shouted. "Earlier today we got a message from Princess Cinch. She told us in detail where her base is. This is no doubt a trap, and we know that she has a large army of ponies. Some of you may not come home today, and some of you may return home a different pony, but what happens here will make history. We do this for Equestria, and for those who lost their lives to the Shadowbolts." The army then stomped their hooves and returned to formation, preparing for battle. "We are almost there," Shining Armor said. "When we get to the cave, Twilight, you and your friends will find the seventh element while me and Celestia take on the Shadowbolt army."
All of a sudden the sky stopped snowing, and storm clouds appeared in the sky.
"Twilight, run to the cave, NOW!" Just then, an army Shadowbolts came out of the clouds at once and began diving at the Royal Army. Hooves began to clash and the battle had begun. So doing as Shining Armor said, Twilight and Rainbow Dash ran towards the cave with the rest of the group.
The Shadowbolt Flight Camp
As the group went into the cave, they were surprised to find what awaited them was an exact replica of the Wonderbolt Flight Camp standing before them. As they walked onto the runway, they stopped to catch their breath.
"Okay… Now that we are in, let's find the element," Sunset said.
“Rainbow, since you know the Flight Camp well, can you find the captain's quarters?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, I’m pretty sure it should be right where Spitfire’s quarters were in the original camp," Rainbow said.
"Okay, here is the plan," Twilight said. "Sunset, Applejack, and Rainbow, and I will go find the element, while the rest of you look for whatever we can defend ourselves with," Twilight said. "We might not be alone in here, so be careful."
As the gang split up, Rainbow was wondering what Lightning Dust was up to, and if she herself knew what she was doing.
"So why do you think The Shadowbolts have decided to attack now?" Sunset asked.
"What do you mean?" Rainbow replied.
" I think it's safe to say that this entire thing has been planned, and that Cinch has had access to The Shadowbolts for some time. A pony like that can’t get an army that big in over two days."
"Well I think it's safe to say that somepony like Cinch is no one to mess around with, so be on your guard.”
As the group continued to walk around they came across a grassy area, and on the grass were two stones.
"Guys, check this out!" Rainbow yelled.
"What is it?" Applejack said, as she walked over she saw the thing that caught Rainbow’s attention.
"Sky Striker and Nightshade," Rainbow said. "Who are they?"
"I don't know, but if these are what I think they are, then I think it's best to keep going."
Captain's Quarters/Throne Room
As Twilight, Rainbow, Sunset, and Applejack walked to the captain's quarters, Rainbow immediately noticed that it was different from the captain's quarters from the Wonderbolts flight camp; instead, it was an exact replica of what appeared to be Princess Celestia’s own throne room.
"Princess Cinch must have wanted to feel the comfort of royalty after she left," Twilight said. "Sunset, when Princess Cinch was in your world, did she by any chance say anything that might help us?"
"The only thing Principal Cinch did when she was in my world was corrupt my Twilight," Sunset said. "She didn't really reveal anything about Equestria. When you told me she was originally from Equestria, I was surprised."
"Then I'm afraid that's not going to be useful, sugarcube," Applejack said. As Rainbow and Applejack walked over to the throne, they saw something that made Rainbow Dash sick to her stomach, she could have bucked the first person behind her. Above the desk and throne was a frame, inside of which was Rainbow Dash’s cut-off wing, framed like a trophy.
"What kind of sick pony would do this?!" Applejack yelled.
"More importantly, how in Celestia's name did they get this?" Twilight said.
"Cinch must have assets outside The Shadowbolts," Sunset said.
"You mean spies?" Rainbow said.
"It's the only way she could have gotten something like this," Sunset said.
Just then, they heard the door open behind them, and a familiar dangerous pony stood right behind them. "Welcome to my humble abode, Rainbow Dash!" Lightning Dust said. "Enjoying my prized trophy?"
"I’m gonna buck you so hard that you’ll die before you hit the ground!" Applejack said.
"Really? I would love to see you try," Lightning Dust said, "but I don't think you want to hurt me while I’m wearing this."
Lightning pulled out what appeared to be a necklace that looked exactly like the Elements of Harmony, except the necklace wasn't made of gold, but silver, and the shape of the element on her neck was Sunset's cutie mark, only dark blue.
"This is no longer the Element of Empathy," Lightning Dust said. "This is the Element of Apathy, the first-ever Element of Disharmony."
"What did you do to it?" Twilight asked.
"Let's just say you’re not the only one who knows a princess," Lightning Dust said.
"Enough!" shouted a mysterious voice.
A tall alicorn stepped out from behind Lightning Dust. She looked older than Celestia, with a purple and black mane, and her fur was light blue, slightly lighter than Rainbow Dash's. "I will take it from here Lightning," The pony then continued walking forward "You may call me Princess Cinch," she said.
"We know who you are," Sunset Shimmer said, coming out from behind Twilight's back.
"Well, well, well! I'm surprised that you came through the mirror—or were you originally from here as well?" Cinch said.
"I'm not going to let you corrupt this world like you almost did to mine!" Sunset said.
"We would like to see you try," Lightning Dust said.
"Cinch, as one of the four Princesses of Equestria I order you to surrender. Hopefully we can work this out peacefully," Twilight said. "You don’t have to hurt any more ponies."
"Oh you poor, naive pony. You have no idea how to run a country, none of you do," Cinch said. "Celestia and Luna are weak, and sooner or later they will lead Equestria to its downfall. Meanwhile, I have the assets and the will to do the things Celestia refuses to do."
"Please Cinch, we don’t have to resort to violence," Twilight begged.
Having had enough of this bickering, Rainbow Dash emerged from behind the desk. Her metal wing and real wing lifted her high into the air, and then she hurdled herself towards Lightning Dust, bucking her right in the chest. As Lightning fumbled into the wall, Rainbow Dash pulled out her metal wing.
"I’m going to end this!" Rainbow shouted, but Lightning bucked Rainbow in the chest, regaining her stance.
"Oh, so it's a fight you want?" Lightning said "Then it's a fight you will get!!"