T'was a dark night in Canterlot, when suddenly, one pony came galloping up the steps to the castle.
"Halt!" the guard pony exclaims. "Who are you?"

"Listen here, pal, if I don't get this news to Celes-"

"I said, who ARE you?" Insisted the guard.

"I am Silvia Stardust, the 25th enlisted Stargazer, Rank I. I have news that BOTH the Princesses must see at once."

"Hmph, " the guard mumbled. After a short while (to which Silvia did not take kindly), the guards let her in. As she galloped to the throne room, her bright white coat shimmered with her silver mane in the moonlight. Upon entering, she slowed to a halt, and bowed before Celestia and her sister, Luna. After some words were exchanged, Silvia decided to bring out the news.

"Celestia, I'm sure you've noticed, but the stars, the constellations, they've..."
"Faded away? Yes, I have heard." Celestia finished. " Luna has seen it happen before her very eyes, and came to me. This is a very serious matter, Silvia. I assume you know that."

"Yes, princess."

"Well then, I assume you know what this means as well. Am I correct?"

"Y-Yes, princess. The prisoner of the Dark Void... he is..."

"Returning," finished Celestia. They took some time considering their next move. After some hushed whispers and urgent nods, Silvia went out, warning as many of the other Stargazers as she could. As for Celestia, she would have to wait until morning to tell Twilight, for if she knew now, she would stay up all night trying to understand who the prisoner is.

Morning. Ponyville is just starting to wake up. the lights are flickering off, and everypony is starting to wake up.

Except for one.

A newcomer to the town, Andante Cantus, just trotted into town. He's walked all over Equestria, from Hoofington to Manehattan, he's been all over, lugging his own, small, upright piano with him everywhere he goes. He makes a living by playing in the streets, near busy towns, anywhere where ponies can hear his music, he's there. His pitch black mane on top of his grey body with specks of dust and dirt in it all sway in the wind. His gold eyes searching for a spot to rest. He's been through a lot, and he needs a break. When he finds a spot somewhere near the edge of town, he sets his upright near a tree, kneels down in the shade and catches a few winks of sleep before starting his casual 'Will play for bits' business. After a couple of hours he wakes up to a band of ponies behind an unfamiliar pink face merely inches from his.

"WOW so you play for bits? OMIGAWSH if only I had some bits for you i would listen to you for HOURS but only if you're good, wait are you a good player, a good pianist? I haven't seen a pianist in AGES omaigawsh this is the best day EVER if only we could hear you play that would be....."

" Uhm, excuse me, but who are you, exactly?" 'Man is she energetic. If only I had that kind of energy...'

"OH oh oh oh I forgot to introduce myself and my friends I'm SOOOOO sorry. I'm Pinkie Pie, this here is Twilight, AppleJack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and...Fluttershy? FLUTTERSHY WHERE ARE Y-"
She was interrupted by a purple unicorn, who Andante could only assume was Twilight.

"I'm terribly sorry about Pinkie Pie, she's kind of a party animal," Twilight managed to say. Then a yellow pegasus slowly flew
her way out from behind a tree.

"I'm Fluttershy..." she could only muster.

"Uhm, come again? I didn't quite hear you..." Andante said. Twilight covered for Fluttershy, and after some explaining and a couple of hoof-shakes, the ponies all got along together.

"So, piano-boy," AJ insisted, "why don'tcha play a song fer us?"
After some consideration, a quick "Sure, why not?" from Andante and he was playing a fitting morning tune on his upright. He picked an old time favorite, Canon in D. Of course, he faded his own little notes and rhythms to it, making it more beautiful by the second. Not to long after, a crowd started gathering at his playing spot, and one request after another, followed by some encouraging bits, Andante was playing tune after tune.

When break time hit, he decided to use some of the bits he got to go to the bakery and buy a breakfast roll, buttered up and with a nice hot cup of tea on the side. After some thought, he decided to stay in Ponyville a bit longer than usual, just to get to know some ponies, particularly the six he met in the morning.

But out there, somewhere, in the Dark Void, a dark and mysterious voice rings in the mind of the prisoner...

"Ahhh Solari. It's nice of you to come down here with me to this lonely, solitary prison..."

"Shut it, Malice. If I had the power I would rip you from my soul and blast you apart, you unholy demon spawn."

"Now now, Lumino, no need for this vulgarity. Remember, I am a part of you now, we're both stuck here."

"That's exactly why I hate you, Solari. You unjustly took hold of my mind, rooted your seeds of insanity, and forced my to destroy Equestria. I hate you, you filthy writhing heap of idiocy." The words were spat out with anger all over them.

"Whatever, Solari. Just keep this in mind. Every last drop of your hatred fuels me and my malicious deeds. I suggest you start liking me, lest you give me more power every time you express your hatred if me..."

"You will die for this, Malice."

"Oh, I'd love to see that happen...

After all, there is a world out there...

without any constellations to guard it from me..."

Author's Note

I'm sorry if the actual telling of the story is horrifically bad; I'm not a professional writer.
Still, I hope this is a good enough story for you guys. It's just the first chapter though, so leave a comment if you have any suggestions.
I'm working on this story as I go along, so if there are any horrible, horrible mistakes, please tell me so I may fix them. Thank you.