The Castle of Dreams

by Wolven5

Rating: everyone
Tags: Tragedy, Adventure, Dark
Length: 39912

Midnight Blaze, Leader of the Knights of Adventure, recieves a dark vision that foretells the Crystal Empire is in danger. Rounding up his friends, he will face a dark enemy and uncover a terrible secret.

A horrible vision warns Midnight Blaze, the Leader of the Knights of Adventure, that the Crystal Empire is once again in danger of a dark enemy, thought to be destroyed.

Gathering his friends, Midnight, Big McIntosh, Starfyre, Bravissimo, Thunderlane, and Forester, make their way to the Empire and learn that the Crystal Heart has been stolen! Without it, Princess Cadance is powerless, so Prince Pollo must stave the darkness until the Heart is recovered.

But Midnight is captured, his friends learn a terrible truth, and only by finding a long-lost artifact can they hope to save him, and all of Equestria!

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-04-29 16:10:06 UTC

What started off as a pleasant day...

MLP Friendship is Adventure

The Castle of Dreams

Chapter 1

By the will of Princess Celestia did the sun rise over Equestria, heralding a bright shiny morning and a new day. In Ponyville, everypony was already beginning to wake up, getting up and about. Shopkeepers were opening up for the day, mares were kissing their foals and sending them off to school, the Pegasus ponies clearing the sky to make way for the dawn.

In the Library, Twilight Sparkle was busy rearranging the books as Spike kept a checklist.

“So Spike, what’s next?”

“Hmm, next section is… Pony Genealogy,” he replied when the door opened and in walked Twilight’s good friend, Midnight Blaze.

A unicorn stallion with turquoise eyes, a sapphire blue coat, his mane was short and swept back in a style between formal and casual, black at the roots, the rest a gorgeous dark blue while his tail was mostly aside from a streak of dark blue visible on either side. He wore saddle-bags, one had some kind of antique sticking out of it, the other contained a book.

His cutie-mark was a cyanish-white crescent moon on its back with a five-point star in the crux, surrounded by five white twinkles. Midnight and Twilight had been friends since they’d met as foals back in Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. Like her, Midnight was a studious and skilled magician, and had moved to Ponyville sometime ago and opened his own shop after he and his own friends became the Spirits of Adventure and prevented Endless Winter.

“Good morning, Twilight, Spike,” he greeted, “come to return the book I borrowed.”

“Thanks, Midnight,” Twilight said, taking the book and placing it in the “Returned Books” compartment as Midnight moved it towards her from his saddlebag.

“What’re you doing?” Midnight asked, noticing the levitated ring of books orbiting overhead.

“Just the weekly rearrangement,” Twilight answered, “to make sure everything’s in its proper place.”

“Wouldja like some help?” asked Midnight, taking off his saddlebags. “I have some errands today but I got time to kill.”

“Sure! We’re just about to straighten out the Pony Genealogy Section,” Twilight answered.

In no time at all, all the books had been rearranged in their proper sections.

“Thanks for your help, Midnight, usually that takes a while.”

“No problem, though it’s no wonder considering how many books you often read at any given time,” Midnight chuckled, “but I hope you don’t mind if I check out another.”

“Go ahead,” Spike said, “I’ll just get the records.”

Not too long later, Midnight was on his way, taking a shortcut through the marketplace, to run some errands, looking through his library book.

Hmm, this book on the Crystal Empire is very interesting, he thought. The Crystal Ponies certainly have a rich culture. Maybe I’ll visit someday.

At the marketplace, Midnight bought a few snacks before heading to the Mayor’s to deliver the antique she’d requested him to appraise. Leaving Town Hall, he bumped into his good friend, Bravissimo, a unicorn stallion with a coat as black and shiny as obsidian whereas his combed-back mane and well-kept tail were marble white, gleaming from mane-spray so not a hair stuck out of place. His eyes were a gorgeous purple and his cutie-mark a pair of spotlights.  He was the stage director of the Ponyville Theatre, as well as one of the Spirits of Adventure, embodying the Spirit of Confidence.

“Ah, Midnight, what brings you here?”

“Hello, Bravissimo, just dropping off something for a client,” Midnight greeted.

“At Town Hall? Said client wouldn’t happen to be the mayor, would it?” asked Bravissimo, a brow raised in intrigue.

“Can’t tell you that.”

“Why ever not?”

“I gotta protect my clients’ anonymity," Midnight replied while thinking to himself, and you and Rarity have an unappealing interest in gossip.

“Well, either way, I’m here to talk with the mayor about another performance I’m putting together," Bravissimo stated though his mood deflated a bit.

“I hope it’s better than the last one you cooked up,” quipped Midnight with a raised brow, chuckling at the memory of it.

“If that imbecile Ditzy Doo hadn’t messed up…!” muttered Bravissimo through his gritting teeth as he shoved past Midnight who just laughed, “Well, at least Doctor Whooves was in the opera-house, ha-ha-ha!”

To himself, Midnight thought, Wonder when Ditzy and the Doc will officially tie the knot? They already have a daughter, and last time I saw Ditzy, their daughter, little Dinky, can surely expect to become a big sister soon.

Putting those thoughts aside, Midnight headed off for his next destination: Sweet Apple acres. On the way there, he was surprised to see his good friend, Thunderlane, another Spirit of Adventure, embodying Wonder. While he worked mostly as one of the weatherponies, Thunderlane often volunteered as a part-time gym teacher and coach for the foals at Ponyville Schoolhouse (partly because it allowed him to keep an eye on his little brother, Rumble). A pegasus pony, he had a dark gray coat with a blue-silver mane in a mohawk –like style, his cutie mark was a storm cloud with a lightning bolt. At the moment, he was leading some of his students on a brisk trot as he yelled with a smile, “Proud to live in Ponyville!”

“Proud to live in Ponyville!” echoed his class as they all briskly trotted in his wake.

“Always, ponies, go for the kill!” Thunderlane added, and there was an inexplicable sound of a record-scratch as everypony skidded to a halt, giving him a questionable look. He looked back at them, laughing, “I’m just kiddin’!”

“Hey Thunder,” greeted Midnight as he approached, “hello, kids.”

“Midnight! How ya doin’?”

“Dandy, just on my way to see Big McIntosh,” Midnight replied, “what’s going on?”

“Oh, once a week or so, I like to take the class out on a quick jog,” Thunderlane said with a smile, “build up their lil’ muscles for the games and sports we play. Cheerilee doesn’t mind so long as we don’t take too long.”

“Well, I gotta go, I’ll tell Mac you said hi,” Midnight said as he trotted off and chuckled when he heard the Pegasus yell to his class, “Now everypony drop and gimme twenty!”

The following groans and whines made Midnight feel a little sorry for them, but he knew Thunder had their interested at heart.

Continuing on, Midnight was almost to the outskirts of Ponyville when he noticed a yellow streak in the sky. Chuckling to himself he continued on and was not surprised to see a green earth-pony with a green and brown mane, a pinecone cutie-mark, and amber-yellow eyes, holding what appeared to be a stopwatch.

"Hey Forester! What's up? Besides Starfyre, that is."

The earth-pony almost leapt out of his fur when he'd heard Midnight and looked to see him.

"Oh! Midnight, it's only you..."

Shy and timid, Forester was another good friend of Midnight's, and smelled of fresh dirt and flowers, which made sense because of his job as a gardener at the Ponyville Greenhouse, and the care he put into raising the herbs and flowers reflected well his Spirit of Adventure, Empathy. As Midnight approached, Forester said, "Starfyre... asked me to time a new trick for him."

"And by ask, you mean he dragged you out here so you could time his "awesomeness"," Midnight corrected with a knowing smirk.

Forester shrugged, only to leap unrealistically high as somepony shouted, "Forester, dude! You're supposed to be keeping time of my new trick!"

"Star, knock it off," Midnight intervened, seeing Forester clutching a tree branch above and shivering. "You know how high-strung poor Forester is."

"Aw, he's fine," Starfyre dismissed. Another member of Ponyville Weather patrol and a recently recruited trainee for the Wonderbolts, Starfyre was an impressive Pegasus stallion, sporting a coat that was yellow like a harsh ray of sunlight, a wild mane and tail flaming orange at the roots with the rest a burning blue, like the most intense tongue of flame, his ruby eyes gleamed with determination, his cutie-mark a lick of flame shaped like a Pegasus wing.

The overall impression of him made his Spirit of Adventure obvious – Bravery.

"Maybe you could time me - I'm planning to challenge Rainbow Dash to another race soon, but I wanna be at the top of my game beforehoof."

"Sorry, bud, I'm already on my way to see Big McIntosh," Midnight apologized as he continued on his way. "Keep practicing though! Rainbow Dash could certainly use a bruise on her ego, she's been getting kinda braggy lately."

"Will do!" promised Starfyre as he then tried to coax Forester out of the tree.

Sweet Apple Acres  was located on the far side of town, a great place, and home of Midnight’s closest Ponyville friend,  Big McIntosh (aside from Twilight). He saw him just resting on the fence, like he always does when he’s either done with his chores or taking a break, chewing on a sprig of wheat.

Big McIntosh was an earth pony stallion with no equal, in all of Ponyville, in both size and muscle. He had a light apple-red coat with a short and wavy ginger orange mane while his tail was kept short. His cutie-mark was a green apple sliced in half, the same green as his eyes narrowed in a tranquil manner. Ordinarily he’d be wearing his work collar around his neck but the sight of it resting against the fence by him told Midnight Big Mac was taking a break.

Midnight approached and leaned onto the fence next to the big earth pony, saying, “Enjoying the scenery?”

“Eeyup. Just takin’ a rest ‘fore Ah get back ta’ work,” replied Big McIntosh as he looked at his ranch. Seeing the barn, the fields of apple trees, his house, and the forest surrounding the other side. Bathed in the late-morning sun, it was a splendor of natural bounty and beauty. His own little kingdom, kept running by the sweat of his brow and the strength of his back, and the Honor of his Spirit of Adventure.

For a while, they just stood there, enjoying the fresh air and each other’s company.

“How’s that plan fer that school yer hopin’ ta’ open up?” asked Big McIntosh.

“Still saving on bits that I can spare,” Midnight answered, “it’s gonna be quite a while before I can even get started, but someday I’m gonna open my own magic school for unicorns, one where any of them can learn.”

“Ah know yer a bit sore about the one you came from, Midnight. But y’know the Princess ain’t t’ blame.”

“I never did blame Princess Celestia for how her school is run, I blame those snooty office-types for admitting ‘only the most exemplary and promising’. Did I ever tell you about this friend I had who wanted to get in when we were colts?”

“Ah take it he didn’t?”

“Marble Cake, he’s Mr. & Mrs. Cake’s nephew. He wanted to get in but… the examiners’ said he wasn’t “School for Gifted Unicorns”-material. After his rejection I went to see him; he said he was ok but… I could see it as plain as the horn on his head. He was really crestfallen.”

“He th’ reason you decided t’ open yer own school?” Big McIntosh asked.

“Him and other unicorn foals who got rejected,” Midnight admitted. “I decided I wanted to open a school for any unicorn to come and learn magic, because they all deserve a chance. No unicorn should be turned away just because some tightwad examiners think they’re not good enough.”

“Yer a rare kind’a soul, Midnight Blaze,” Big Mac said with a smirk of respect. “Almost makes me wish Ah’d been born a unicorn, so Ah could get in yer school.”

Midnight mused the idea of the big red earth pony with a horn and found the mental image just wasn’t right.

“Do you wish you’d been born a unicorn?”

“Nah, Ah’m an earth pony, Midnight, born an’ bred. Ah ppreciate th’ land beneath mah hooves and the work Ah put into caring for it. Magic’s great, but if it were used fer ev’rythang we wouldn’tppreciate the tasks that involve good n’ honest hard work.”

“No wonder you’re the spirit of honor,” Midnight replied in admiration. “I feel so lucky to have a friend like you.”

“Ah don’t believe in luck, Midnight,” Big McIntosh snorted, “Ah believe wer friends cuz wer s’posed ta’ be. That th’ light inside you brought all six of us together.”

“Never pegged you for a believer in fate, Mac,” Midnight neighed with a smirk.

“Ev’rythang happens fer a reason, Midnight. Big and small.”

So the two friends enjoyed the peace and quiet for a little longer before Big McIntosh said, “Welp, better get back ta’ work.”

“Good talk,” Midnight said before taking his leave. But Big McIntosh's words held a lingering effect on his mind, as Midnight soon started to have another idea for his school.

Maybe its’s not just unicorns who should be able to learn magic…

That night, Midnight had just closed shop to hit the hay. He brushed his teeth, fed his pet wolf, Dreamer, and crawled into bed, and let his dreams take him away.

W-where… am I…?  Midnight looked around, and gasped to see buildings of shattered crystal, a bleak sky overhead, black thorny crystal constructs everywhere, and he was watching it all from a balcony.

Below, he saw… the Crystal Ponies! All of them, looking hopeless, their coats dull, all of them chained and shackled as they bowed their heads… towards Midnight! But worst of all, he saw crystal statues of all his friends. He saw Twilight, Spike, Big McIntosh, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Starfyre, Pinkie Pie, Thunderlane, Bravissimo, Rarity, Forester, Fluttershy, Shining Armor, his sister Eponya, even the Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Florinda, and Prince Polaris. All frozen in crystal as were their faces in horror.

Then, a voice that was not Midnight’s came from his mouth. It was a low, cruel voice, a voice that sounded like something from Midnight’s darkest nightmares.

Bow to me, my Crystal Slaves! Bow before King Sombra reborn!

Midnight cried out in terror as thrashed about, only to find himself on the floor next to his bed, Dreamer at his side, whimpering in concern.

It was- It was just a bad dream! He thought as his heart pounded in his chest.

The next morning however, Midnight found out he hadn’t been the only pony with a bad dream. As he walked through Ponyville, he heard talks, whispers, and the like from everypony.

“That dream last night was horrible…”

“I was about to be eaten by a dragon!”

“I showed up to my meeting in underwear!”

“There was a fire…”

Maybe I should go see Mac, Midnight thought as he headed for Sweet Apple Acres.

There, Midnight found Big Mac sitting on the porch of his house, chewing on a sprig of wheat, looking troubled.

“Howdy Midnight, what’s new?”

“Everypony in town having a nightmare,” Midnight answered.

“Eeyup, heard all about that,” Big McIntosh sighed. “Everypony havin’ a nightmare on th’ same night? Could it mean sumpin’, Midnight?”

“I’m not sure. But the one I had certainly has me scared,” Midnight replied, shuddering as he recalled his bad dream.

Suddenly, an agonizing jolt pulsed through Midnight’s head, as he let out a cry of pain, falling down on his stomach as he placed his hooves on his head.

“Midnight! What’s wrong, haystack?!”

“My head! …I hear… a voice!” Midnight answered through his teeth.

I need your help… The Crystal Empire…

Midnight groaned, opening his eyes as he saw all his friends looking at him, hearing them talk.

“…gonna be alright?” spoke the voice of Fluttershy.

“He jus' collapsed! Said he heard voices,” answered Big McIntosh.

“Look, he’s waking up,” exclaimed Rarity and Bravissimo.

“Ooh… What happened?” Midnight asked sluggishly, as he found himself in a hospital bed.

“You collapsed, buddy,” Starfyre answered, “you’ve been out for hours.”

“Midnight, how are you feeling?” asked Twilight.

“Ugh, lousy,” Midnight replied as in walked Doctor Stable.

“Well, let’s have a look, shall we?” he suggested.

Doctor Stable took Midnight’s temperature, listened to his heart rate, checked his blood-pressure, as well as a few more tests until he said, “Well, Midnight, perhaps stress from the nightmare you had last night, along with hearing how everypony else had one as well, and a little heat simply caused you to pass out.”

“But, Doctor Stable, what about the voices he heard?” Bravissimo asked.

“An’ what about Midnight’s head a‘hurtin’,” Big Mac added.

“More side-effects,” Doctor Stable assured. “I’m sure a little rest and a nice snack will help settle him down. But I’d like to keep him overnight.”

“What?! I don’t have time to stay overnight,” Midnight protested. “I have to get to the Crystal Empire!”

“What?!” everypony all gasped.

“Midnight, why would you need to go to the Crystal Empire?” Twilight asked.

“The voice I heard mentioned it, and it was asking for help,” Midnight replied.

“Well, whether or not this voice was real, Midnight,” Doctor Stable butted in with a firm tone, “you are my patient and under my care, and I say you are staying the night.”

“Doctor’s orders, Midnight,” Applejack agreed apologetically.

“Alright then, everypony, it’s time for you all to go home,” Doctor Stable announced, “you can see Midnight tomorrow.”

“Hey Mac? Could you feed Dreamer for me?” Midnight asked.

“Sure thing, haystack,” Big McIntosh promised as he followed everypony out.

But Twilight looked back and whispered to Midnight, “I’ll send a message to the Princesses, they’ll know what to do.”

Midnight nodded to her and she left while he groaned, hating to be confined. Although he was apprehensive, Midnight’s eyes eventually closed as he fell asleep.

Meanwhile in Canterlot, Princess Celestia was talking with Princess Florinda when in flew a scroll.

“Oh! A message from my faithful student,” exclaimed Princess Celestia as she undid the seal and began to read.

“How is Twilight Sparkle, Your Majesty?” chuckled Princess Florinda but the chuckles died when she noticed a look of worry slowly spread across her teacher’s face.

“Princess Celestia…?”

“Something is wrong in Ponyville,” she answered, “Twilight explains in her message that everypony last night was plagued with nightmares and horrible dreams. Not only that, but your apprentice, Midnight Blaze, collapsed and states he heard a voice that gave him a warning that concerned the Crystal Empire…”

“Nightmares? The Crystal Empire? What could this mean, Your Highness?” asked Princess Florinda in worry.

Before Celestia could answer, the doors to the room flew open and in ran a guard, yelling, “Disaster! The Heart, Your Majesty! The Crystal Heart!”

“Calm yourself,” urged Celestia in a gentle voice enriched by magic, “What is this disaster about the Crystal Heart?”

The magic from her voice becalmed the guard’s heart, as he removed his helmet and bowed, stating, “Your Highnesses, we just received word from Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, the Crystal Heart has vanished without a trace!”

“Princess Celestia, this cannot be coincidence,” cautioned Florinda, looking at her mentor as she nodded with a look of uneasiness.

“Call Midnight Blaze and the rest of the Knights of Adventure to Canterlot,” she instructed. “I want them all here tomorrow morning.”

“It will be done, Your Highness,” Princess Florinda complied before she dismissed the guard and then flashed into a sphere of light that zoomed away, leaving Princess Celestia to dread.

Celestia looked towards one of the stained-glass windows, portraying Spike below the Crystal Heart with Princess Cadance above it, shining with power. Her heart sank as she saw the image of the Crystal Heart fade away, and she thought, I fear a storm is coming, a darkness that will enshroud us all…

Tally Ho!

Chapter 2

In Ponyville, Midnight left the hospital that morning after a quick examination and Dr. Stable gave him a clean bill of health. He hadn’t made it to Town Square before Twilight and Spike came running to him.

“Twi? Spike? Where’s the fire?”

“In Canterlot,” Twilight panted, as Spike hopped off her back and held up a scroll.

“‘My loyal apprentice, Midnight Blaze,

You and the rest of the Knights of Adventure are henceforth summoned to Canterlot by order of Princess Celestia. This summit is final and inarguable. You are to gather your fellow knights and immediately depart for the train station where the conductor awaits you.

Yours truly,

Princess Florinda.

P.S.

This involves the nightmares.’”

“A summons from Princess Celestia?” whispered Midnight in fearful awe.

“You should get going, Midnight,” Twilight urged, “This sounds serious.”

“I will,” Midnight said but before he could leave, Twilight threw her arms around his neck, hugging him close to his surprise.

“Be careful,” she whispered.

Midnight smiled and hugged her back. They’d been friends ever since they’d been fellow students in Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. At first they’d been rivals, Midnight had been jealous, that a new student had not only gotten her cutie-mark but had become the personal protégé of the Princess, all in the same day. Midnight had worked hard and eventually proven himself before Princess Florinda, and he’d earned his own cutie-mark. Then the Princesses had partnered up Twilight and Midnight for a project. At first all they’d done was argue but then when the deadline was just around the corner, they’d put their rivalry aside, finished their project, and passed with flying colors, but the real success they’d achieved was their friendship. However, for Midnight, while he wasn’t sure if she felt the same way, he had often wondered if his friendship with Twilight could be something deeper.

“I will,” he whispered.

“Pinkie Promise?” asked Twilight with a small smile.

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” laughed Midnight in confirmation while going through the motion associated with the vow, and they shared a laugh. Then to Spike, Midnight asked, “Spike, look after Dreamer while I’m gone?”

“Dragon’s honor,” promised Spike with a dedicated salute.

“Then I’m off, wish me luck!” Midnight declared, and before they could say anything, Midnight’s horn glowed and in a whirl of silvery-blue mist he vanished, the mist zooming off towards Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight look on, whispering, “Good luck…”

Midnight quickly gathered his friends; first Big Mac, then Starfyre, then Bravissimo, Forester, and Thunderlane for last, all in a rather unceremonious way of whisking them from their homes in the form of mist and bringing them to the train station.

The stallions all landed in a heap as Midnight deposited them from his mist-form and reformed his body in front of them, just in time to hear their protests and complaints.

“Wha’ in Sam-Hill, Midnight?!”

“Yeah, what’s your deal?!”

“Honestly, Midnight, I was in the midst of preparing a backdrop!

“Um, I was… kinda busy.”

“Whoa, what a ride! Can we do it again?”

“Thunder!” the others all growled with rises of their voices, and he giggled in sheepish response.

“Guys, please! Let me explain,” Midnight pleaded rather sharply. He showed them the scroll, explaining, “We’ve been summoned by Princess Celestia, and are to leave for Canterlot immediately. The conductor is already waiting for us.”

“The Princess, you say?” Bravissimo asked abruptly, stars in his eyes. “Ugh! Midnight, I am hardly presentable to appear before Her Royal Highness!”

“Trust you to worry about appearances, Bravissimo,” huffed Starfyre.

“Ah understand if’n it’s important, haystack,” Big McIntosh spoke up, “but tarnation! Tha’ wuz’ a lil’…”

“Over the top?” asked Midnight sheepishly, earning him an “eeyup” in response.

“What’re we waiting for, guys?!” Thunderlane fluttered his wings like an excited schoolcolt. “The Princess awaits!”

And without waiting for them to answer,Thunderlane flew straight for the train station, Midnight saying, “Let’s go, everypony!”

The train arrived in Canterlot about an hour later, whereupon their arrival the Knights of Adventure were approached by a group of guards.

“Sir Midnight Blaze, Captain of the Knights of Adventure?” asked the apparent leader.

“Affirmative, corporal,” confirmed Midnight, familiar with the Royal Guard protocol. “All the Knights of Adventure, present and accounted for, here to answer the summons of Princess Celestia.”

“Follow us.”

“Say, if Midnight’s our ‘captain’,” Starfyre muttered to Bravissimo, “does that mean one of us is second-in-command?”

“If so, then I vow to lead you well should ever Midnight be indisposed,” Bravissimo sounded rather smug.

“Now hold your apples!” Starfyre muttered, “What makes you so sure you would be second-in-command?”

“But of course, I would be second-in-command,” Bravissimo replied as if the very concept was an obvious truth.

“After all, I am more than worthy of leadership.”

“Ppth, yeah, like an actor has what it takes to lead the Knights of Adventure,” Starfyre scoffed. “Now I, the Spirit of Bravery, am the perfect choice for second-in-command.”

“Ugh! A ruffian weatherpony? There’s a difference between bravery and recklessness, my dear Starfyre.”

“Why I oughta…!” Starfyre started gearing up for a confrontation when they heard Midnight say, “You know I can hear you guys back there, don’t you?”

Both Starfyre and Bravissimo blushed a little, the latter then asking, “Well, Captain, if you do have a second-in-command amongst us, by all means enlighten us!”

“The proper term you’re looking for is ‘lieutenant’,” Midnight corrected, then appeared to muse, “and in this unit, that would be Big McIntosh.”

“Eeyup!” Big Mac chuckled as he and Midnight could practically hear the sounds of jaws dropping onto the pavement.

The stallions were led straight for the throneroom, inside which they saw Princess Celestia, sided by the Keepers of the Seasons, Midnight’s teacher, Princess Florinda of Spring, and her twin brother, Prince Polaris of Winter. Princess Florinda had a coat of sky blue, her mane and tail fluffy like white clouds yet radiated with the sunshine of a warm summer day, her eyes green like the beginning of spring, her cutie-mark was a stylized sunflower. Her horn behind her golden tiara encrusted with a flawless emerald, her wings folded.

Her brother, Prince Polaris, was a little taller, his coat as white as fresh-fallen snow, his eyes a deep-orange like a maple-leaf during autumn, his tail was an icy-blue and looked like a flurry of snow, he wore armor and a galea-style helmet with the plume matching his mane and tail colors, his horn protruding from a hole, shimmering like the northern lights, his wings, flecked with patterns like fallen leaves being blown in the wind, also folded. His cutie-mark was a fanciful pattern of frost, like one might see on a window.

“Knights of Adventure, Heroes of Spring,” welcomed Princess Celestia, “thank you all for coming.”

“I gathered my fellow knights as soon as I received your summons, Your Highness,” acknowledged Midnight as he and the rest of them bowed in respect of their Princess of the Sun.

“Practically shanghaied us, more-like- Ow!” muttered Starfyre who got kicked in the flank by Bravissimo to be quiet.

“I am aware of the mysterious nightmares that plagued everypony in Ponyville the night before,” Princess Celestia spoke, “but I’m afraid things are even worse than you can imagine.”

“Does it involve the Crystal Empire?” asked Midnight abruptly, but gasped and covered his mouth, fearing he’d been rude.

Princess Celestia shared a look with the Keepers of the Seasons before she asked, “Could you explain why you have come to that conclusion, Midnight Blaze?”

“My… my nightmare…” Midnight answered with a frightened edge in his voice. “I dreamt of the Crystal Empire, but… It was horrible! I saw so many dark crystals, the Crystal Ponies enslaved! But the worst part of it was… they all bowed to me, and I spoke in a voice that wasn’t mine. It was… an evil voice, filled with hate, anger… It spoke ‘Bow before King Sombra reborn’… Then, everything went black, and there was another voice… It asked for help, and mentioned the Crystal Empire.”

Midnight’s friends all shifted in nervous worry behind him as Princess Celestia had a private word with Princess Florinda and Prince Polaris.

“Midnight, this nightmare of yours,” said Princess Celestia, “it feeds my fearful suspicions though I pray I am wrong.”

“What suspicions, Yer Highness?” asked Big McIntosh.

“Last night, brave ones, the Crystal Heart vanished from the Crystal Empire, without a trace,” replied Princess Celestia, much to their surprise, and spoke further, “and with this information provided by Midnight, I fear the worst… that Sombra is behind all this.”

“But, Princess Celestia!” spoke up Bravissimo. “Forgive my interruption, but… I thought King Sombra was destroyed. Did not Twilight find the Heart and entrust it to Spike who delivered it to Princess Cadance?”

“It appears we have underestimated King Sombra,” answered Princess Florinda, her voice as melodious as the music of rainfall.

“It is true that when Princess Cadance utilized the power of the Crystal Heart, she called upon the hopes and dreams of the Crystal Ponies to help her, and in doing so, they destroyed King Sombra.”

“Or so we thought,” seconded Prince Polaris, his tone as chilling as a blizzard. “Sombra is a Unicorn whose Heart is as Black as Night. He wields dark powers we can only begin to imagine, and it seems that he was destroyed only in body. In other words, Sombra’s infernal spirit may have survived the destruction of his physical form, and possibly reverted back to incorporeal shadow, as he was when he was initially vanquished millennia ago.”

“Though even if he has survived,” Princess Celestia brought up, “he has no physical form so he would have had to force somepony into his service.”

“You mean to say somepony’s in cahoots with Sombra,” surmised Starfyre.

“At this point, there is no way truly to be sure,” replied Princess Celestia as she looked towards something next to her throne.

The stallions watched as she levitated a glass container, and revealed a lavender crystal to them. As soon as it alighted upon the floor, she charmed it with a spell that showed a shining illusion of the Crystal Empire.

“As you are aware, the Crystal Heart is the source of the Empire’s power. Millennia ago, King Sombra took over the Crystal Empire…”

They watched as the glorious landscape became a wasteland riddled with dark crystals, some of which seemed to infect the castle centered in the Empire, transforming it from a dazzling crystal castle to a bleak and nightmarish citadel, as they saw the wicked face of King Sombra, causing Midnight to shiver. Even worse, the Crystal Ponies were all chained and shackled, enslaved.

Though he kept his composure, Midnight became increasingly disturbed, It’s just like my nightmare!

“He was ultimately overthrown,” Princess Celestia continued, “transformed into shadow and exiled to the Arctic North.”

They watched as the silhouettes of Princesses Celestia and Luna unleashed their powers upon the black unicorn, his body dispersing into a shadowy smoke, his wretched face twisted into rage as he sank into an icy crevice.

“…but not before he was able to place a curse upon the empire, a curse that caused it to vanish into thin air for a thousand years. But you know all of this, and the events that transpired upon its return.”

The stallions all nodded.

“Then you also know why the Crystal Heart is so important. If the Empire is filled with love and hope, they are reflected by the Crystal Heart over all of Equestria.”

She gave them an example by making the crystal rise and shimmer a rainbow of benevolence. Then Midnight stepped forward, “But if hatred and fear take hold…”

Everypony watched as black and purple light bubbled around his horn; his eyes furrowed into ominous concentration as they smoldered a terrible green, his turquoise pupils flashed an angry red while a purplish miasma emitted from the corners of his eyes.

From his horn, Midnight shot a beam of shadow at the crystal, and the crystal turned black as its shadow lengthened towards Midnight, a dark crystal sprouting before him as the shadows surrounded the rest of the stallions, to their fear.

More dark crystals sprouting before Midnight reared up, concentrating a magical light into his hooves before he slammed them onto the floor, a pulse of power shattering the dark crystals into nothing.

“Exactly, Midnight…” Princess Celestia concurred, “And the vision you had concerning all this tells me you and your friends must be the ones to recover the Crystal Heart and protect the Empire.”

“But you must act quickly,” cautioned Prince Polaris. “The Crystal Ponies have already begun to fall into despair over the loss of their most sacred treasure.”

“Which is why you must not only seek the Crystal Heart but you must keep the hopes of the Crystal Ponies alive and strong,” added Princess Florinda.

“We won’t let you down, Your Highnesses!” swore Midnight, his friends all making similar vows.

“Then go forth, the train is waiting to take you all to the Empire,” instructed Prince Polaris.

The stallions all hurried out but before he could follow his friends, Midnight heard Princess Florinda.

“And Midnight?”

He turned to his teacher, who walked up to him, stating, “In the end it will be up to you to safeguard the future of not just the Crystal Empire but possibly all of Equestria.”

“Eh, as if I didn’t have enough on my shoulders,” Midnight sulked, but Princess Florinda laid her horn onto his shoulder in a reassuring way.

“Take heart, my loyal apprentice. For I believe in you,” she said as Prince Polaris and Princess Celestia approached.

“We have full confidence you will not fail, Midnight,” added Princes Celestia, “and you may possibly even restore something that was once thought to be lost forever.”

“But take heed, young mage,” warned Prince Polaris. “Often the greatest adversity we face is the darkness within our own hearts.”

Seeing that Prince Polaris was probably speaking from experience, Midnight felt a little disturbed by those words but only nodded in acknowledgement before taking his leave. When they were all gone, Princess Florinda asked, “Princess Celestia, I’m worried for him…”

“Have faith, my old student,” assured Princess Celestia as she looked up towards the stained glass where the image of the Crystal Heart had been.

“Midnight has proven himself before, and I am confident he will do it again. By overcoming the trials he and his friends shall surely face, it will prove that he is ready for the next level of his training.”

“Hey may yet prove if he is ready for his training,” Princess Florinda agreed, “but is he ready for the truth?”

The train arrived at its stop, and the six stallions stepped out into a freezing snowstorm. Looking around, they saw nothing but a frozen wasteland for miles, and the sky above was strangely dark given it was supposed to be just a half-hour after noon.

“Which way are we supposed to go?!” Starfyre shouted over the roar of the snowy winds.

“The Empire is supposed to be straight ahead,” answered Midnight.

“Hey guys, I see somepony!” Thunderlane yelled, pointing ahead with his wing.

They looked ahead and saw a figure coming towards them. It was a pony, tall but the winds made it hard to see until he was close enough, and Midnight gasped.

“Shining Armor!” he neighed happily.

It was Shining Armor, older brother of Twilight, one of Midnight’s closest friends since colthood.

Shining Armor was a tall unicorn pony, with a pure white coat while his mane and tail were long and unkempt in a way that made them attractive, colored in three shades of blue. His cutie-mark was a blue shield with a six-point magenta star over which were three blue stars.

He wore a black cloak with goggles to protect his eyes.

“Midnight!” called Shining Armor as they hurried up to each other, and gave each other salutes, just like they did as colts.

Then the two of them spoke, word for word.

“To Equestria I pledge my life,

Along to everypony!

To safeguard all from fear and strife,

Alongside my best brony!”

The two chuckled happily as they gave each other a hoof-bump. They then noticed the others giving them a look, and both of them blushed a little when Shining Armor urged, “Come on, we have to get to Cadance and Pollo.”

“Who?” asked Big McIntosh.

“Wait! Did you just say Pollo?!” Midnight asked. “What’s he doing here?!”

“Let’s go, I’ll explain along the way,” promised Shining Armor.

The stallions trekked terrible tundra, unaware of a dark presence watching them from afar, red eyes narrowed with malicious satisfaction as they fell upon the blue unicorn. All the pieces were coming together, and soon the unicorn-turned-wraith would have everything he required to rule not just the empire but perhaps all of Equestria!

The Welcoming Comittee has... Mixed-Results

Chapter 3

“Ever since the Crystal Heart vanished,” Shining Armor explained as they braved the cold, “a bunch of dark storm clouds have overshadowed the Empire! Nopony was able to do anything about it, so Cadance called upon Prince Pollo for help!”

“But why would Cadance need that guy?” complained Midnight as he walked alongside Shining Armor. “She’s a princess, for pony’s sake!”

“The situation’s worse than you think, Midnight,” Shining Armor continued. “After Cadance used the Crystal Heart to vanquish Sombra before, her magic was bonded to it. Since it’s been stolen, her power is weakened! What little magic she has left she’s been using to try and keep the Crystal Ponies’ hope alive. I sent for Prince Pollo at her request to help.”

“Midnight? This Prince Pollo guy – Ah take y’all got a history?” assumed Big McIntosh, put off by Midnight’s behavior.

“Don’t get me started… You’ll find out when we get there,” sighed Midnight in a touchy manner.

Starfyre and Thunderlane shared a private chuckle, the red Pegasus pony saying, “Three bits on this Pollo guy that he pulls something on the know-it-all!”

“You’re on,” giggled Thunderlane.

“Huh, such foalish behavior,” muttered Bravissimo to Forester, who simply nodded.

“So what is it that’s so bad that Cadance had you call in tall, not-so-bright, and bothersome?” asked Midnight, genuinely curious but no less aggravated.

“The clouds were so thick and dark they blocked out the sun, and every time somepony fell asleep in the darkness, they’d have nightmares and couldn’t wake up,” Shining Armor answered morbidly.

That one got everypony’s attention.

“Cadance asked Pollo to use his power to create a smaller temporary sun to keep the darkness away. It’s the only way to be able to sleep without being subject to waking nightmares.”

“How bad are the nightmares?” asked Forester fearfully.

The look in Shining Armor’s eyes answered that question, as the rest of the stallions looked at each other.

“Come on,” Shining Armor urged. “The longer we’re out here the more we’re at risk.”

“Whattya mean?” Big McIntosh asked.

“I mean… some of the Crystal Ponies tried to leave,” Shining Armor answered ominously. “None of them made it to the train station.”

“W-Where’d they go?” asked a shivering Forester.

“I tried to get one of my friends to stay,” Shining Armor explained. “His name was Long Jump. He ran, I chased him, trying to convince him to come back to the empire… There was this massive shroud of blackness. He was scared out of his mind. He ran blindly into it. I used a wind spell to try and blow it away. It didn’t at first, but then the haze crept off and dispersed, like it was alive! Long Jump had vanished… Gone like dust in the wind.”

“I’m sorry, Shining Armor,” Midnight said sadly. “But who knows? Maybe the ponies that disappeared are still alive, we just have to have hope.”

“Yeah, and whatever this Sombra guy has up his sleeve,” Starfyre boasted, “we’ll kick his flankhole clear outta Equestria!”

Suddenly, a fearsome moan sounded over the blistering cold winds!

“Wh- ! What was that?!” Forester started to freak.

“No…!” whispered Shining Armor before shouting, “We have to get to the Empire – Now!”

Suddenly, a black haze erupted from the snow, a pair of burning red eyes glaring down at the stallions.

“Run! Everypony, run!” shouted Midnight.

“You heard him! On the double, men! On the double!” agreed Bravissimo.

All the stallions ran (except for Starfyre and Thunderlane who flew) as the darkness pursued them like a tidal wave.

“We’re almost there!” shouted Shining Armor, as the Crystal Empire came into view. “Don’t look back!”

But in his heart, Midnight felt a terror of that evil behind them. A terror so vibrant he just couldn’t stop himself as he looked back. Those eyes! Those horrible red eyes were glaring right at him, hungrily, as the fear overrode his senses, and he froze, tripping over a rock and tumbling across the snow.

Shining Armor noticed and shouted, “Midnight!”

The darkness descended towards Midnight, who, despite the fear, screamed as he surged his magic into his horn and unleashed it.

The darkness roared in fury as Midnight’s magic blasted it, yet it reformed and extended tendrils of blackness to pull the blue unicorn into its smothering embrace. Midnight was frozen, and weakened from his failed attack, helpless.

He closed his eyes, waiting for the darkness to take him when he felt himself lift off the ground and flung through the air. The last thing he saw was Shining Armor as he stood alone before the fury of the darkness.

An endless void of stars and mist, a few constellations here and there.

Where am I…?

He looked around, unsure of what he was seeing.

Shining Armor! Big Mac! Starfyre? Forester!

None of his friends answered. He was alone.

Cold icy fear slowly started to tighten its wicked grip onto Midnight’s heart when he saw something.

What is that…?

The mist slowly but surely cleared as a moon appeared with a gentle glow, and basking in its calming light was a castle! Midnight didn’t recognize it, it didn’t match any castle in the books on them he’d read.

It looked to be made of marble and obsidian, with curtain walls, stained-glass windows, some windows shaped into five-point stars. The towers were so tall Midnight could just barely see the tops. It was a sight of such splendor it even outmatched the beautiful architecture of Canterlot and had a resplendent design that rivaled, if not outshined, the castle of the Crystal Empire.

But what really drew Midnight’s attention was ring of stars orbiting the main tower. They were enthralling, each glowing a distinctive color however similar it was to another. He sensed something about them, something familiar, a feeling he’d felt for as long as he could remember.

Ugh! What is it?! It feels like it’s right there in front of me yet why can’t I recognize it?

Shaking his head, Midnight decided to get a closer look and galloped towards the castle. Drawing closer, he noticed something he had not earlier. Here and there were statues of ponies, situated like gargoyles, each of them in expressing horror, fear, all of them shimmering like… like…

Crystal! Midnight realized in horror.

But there was one statue that didn’t shimmer like the others. In fact, it was the only statue of a unicorn, a unicorn he recognized!

Shining Armor…?! Midnight whispered in horror.

The statue of Shining Armor showed the unicorn warrior in a position where he was holding up his forelegs, as if trying to shield himself, standing on his hindlegs, his eyes scrunched. But the cutie-mark on his flank was unmistakable.

W-what’s that doing here?! Midnight whispered in horror, a horror that suddenly intensified as a familiar feel of dread overcame him.

It’s here! Celestia’s mane! It’s here!

The moon suddenly vanished into blackness as shadowy smoke flowed out the windows, and the portcullis rose up. Midnight looked ahead, preparing a spell in his horn, as a pair of red eyes slowly flared in the darkness, and he heard heavy hoofsteps slowly approaching.

Then, a voice called out, a voice so horrifying it made a dragon’s roar sound like a puppy’s yap.

Midnight Blaze… You are mine!!!

The voice was horrible yet it felt familiar. Scared as he was, Midnight stood his ground, prepared to fight, when the Unicorn whose Heart was as Black as Night stepped out of the shadows. He was just as he appeared in the history books! Taller than any unicorn but not quite as tall as Princess Celestia. His coat dark gray like ashes, his mane swept back yet ominously handsome, black like obsidian, his tail was similar, he wore a red cape like a king, that covered his flank, hiding his cutie-mark, and silver armor covering his forelegs, neck, and a crown with three horn-like points. His horn, unlike regular unicorns, was curved and smooth, gray at the base, like his coat, but faded to a hateful red at the point.

His eyes blazing red with hate were furrowed and focused on Midnight, a cruel sneer stretched across his face, revealing a pair of fangs he licked with his tongue. His hooves leaving behind black-flaming hoofprints with step.

What do you want?! Midnight demanded, doing his best to keep his composure.

Many things, Sombra answered, but right now, you’re on the top of my list!

Sombra launched himself at Midnight, who gasped in fear, releasing the spell he’d prepared as he fell over onto his back. The spell hit Sombra square in the face, and he reared back as the spell hurt his eyes. Scrambling to his hooves, Midnight turned around and ran, Sombra’s enraged screaming urging his every step to get him as far away as possible.

As he ran, he heard a voice.

Midnight!

But it wasn’t Sombra. The voice was concerned, worried.

Come on, buddy! Wake up!

Wake up? What did that mean? Midnight wondered.

Midnight, for pony’s sake, wake up!!!!!!!

“BLAUGH!!!!” Midnight yelled, as he bolted up, holding his aching ear.

“Midnight!”

He found himself being glomped, as Big Mac pulled him into a lung-collapsing hug.

“Yer alright, haystack!”

“Mac! C-can’t… breathe!” Midnight choked.

“Oh, sorry `bout that, pardner!” apologized Big McIntosh sheepishly as he let go and hoisted the unicorn onto his hooves.

“Step back, gents, give him some air,” urged the voice of Bravissimo.

Midnight took in his surroundings, chief among them were the worried faces of his friends. But he then noticed they were all in a bright and beautiful room! Everything was made of crystal, the bed he’d apparently been on looked like it was made of clouds, and sunlight streamed in from a nearby crystal-paned door, which led out to a balcony. The rising sun heralding a new morning.

“A-are we in…?”

“That’s right, know-it-all!” laughed Starfyre, “Welcome to the Crystal Empire!”

One of the servants led the six stallions to the throneroom, where, to Midnight’s shock and fury, sitting on the throne was, not Princess Cadance, as he’d expected, but a tall alicorn pony, with a coat of sunshine gold, and a long and wavy cream-colored mane and tail. His eyes were amber, his cutie-mark was a stylized solar eclipse.

“What the hay are you doing, sitting in Princess Cadance’s throne?!” snapped Midnight with such fury, his friends all flinched in surprise.

“Blaze buddy! Long time no see,” greeted the alicorn in a welcoming yet aloof manner with a casual wave of his wing.

“Don’t you ‘Blaze buddy’ me, Apollomino!” Midnight seethed as he walked towards the prince in a challenging way.

“How dare you sit in the throne of the Crystal Princess?! Where is Cadance, anyway? I need to speak with her!”

Prince Pollo shifted uncomfortably in the throne, a look on his face telling Midnight something dire had occurred.

“W-what’s wrong” Midnight asked, then looked to his friends, all of them looking sullen as well. “What happened to Princess Cadance?!”

“Haystack…” Big Max began to talk.

“Let me explain,” Pollo insisted as he came down the throne and approached Mdnight.

“Princess Cadance fell unconscious not long after you all arrived here yesterday, Midnight.”

“Y-yesterday?!” gasped Midnight. “I’ve been asleep for a whole day?!”

Suddenly, Midnight remembered.

“Shining Armor! Where is he?! He was with us and-”

Pollo looked down, crestfallen.

“Shining Armor vanished without a trace after you all came here. Just like all the others that tried to leave.”

“No…” Midnight whispered. “It’s my fault…!”

“Midnight, that’s not true!” Forester assured, but Midnight insisted.

“If I hadn’t froze up! If I hadn’t looked back!” despaired Midnight when he felt a whirl of magic spin him around and then force him onto his hooves, facing Pollo.

“Get ahold of yourself, stallion!” yelled Pollo, earning everypony’s attention. “Shining Armor sacrificed himself to protect you, to make sure you’d get your job done! And right now, your job is to find and recover the Crystal Heart! Got it?!”

Midnight was blown away for a few seconds but gathered himself with a confirming nod.

“Alright, Pollo. What’s the situation here?”

Pollo took a deep breath and began to explain.

“When Shining Armor… disappeared, Princess Cadance sensed it. Her heart was crushed, and in her weakened state… She just fell unconscious. But before she did, she said ‘Tell the Knights of Adventure to have hope… that everything will be alright.’ So, with Princess Cadance unable to carry out her duties, it’s up to me to keep out the darkness. And let me tell you, Midnight…”

Suddenly, Pollo winced, and the sun outside flickered, dimming for a few seconds when Pollo took a breath, grunted, and the light stabilized, brightening up again.

“Keeping the darkness out to protect the empire is really taking its toll on me,” Pollo went on, a bead of sweat going down his face.

“Honestly, guys, I don’t know how much longer I can keep that temporary sun out there alit. You guys have got to find the Crystal Heart.”

Midnight was surprised by Pollo’s behavior. He’d certainly changed since they were colts. He saluted as he promised, “We won’t let you down.”

Then Pollo chuckled mischievously as he pulled Midnight close and gave him a noogie.

“Same ol’ Midnight!”

“Apollomino!” Midnight snapped indignantly as he teleported out of Pollo’s embrace and over to his friends, who were all chuckling under their breaths but zipped their lips when Midnight gave them all a death-glare. He sighed and looked to Pollo, asking, “Where do we start?”

“The Castle Guard will get you started, “Pollo answered, “They’re waiting for you outside the throneroom. I have to stay here, conserve my strength so I can keep the light alive. But be careful, everypony. The Crystal Ponies are losing hope, now that Cadance is out.”

The head of the Castle Guard, a Crystal Pony stallion named Ivory, led the Knights of Adventure to the courtyard of the Crystal Heart.

“This is where the Crystal Heart would always be placed,” Ivory explained, “It takes in the love and hope of all the Crystal Ponies in the empire, and feeds that power through the castle. In doing so, it spreads the light of love and hope throughout Equestria. After Princess Cadance vanquished Sombra, she placed it back here in its rightful place and ordered a security force to protect it twenty-four-seven.”

“So if the Heart was guarded at all times,” Bravissimo asked, “how was it stolen?”

Ivory sighed as he answered, “The guards who could tell us that… are in no shape to tell us.”

“Y-you mean…?” Forester shivered.

“They’re suffering waking nightmares,” Midnight realized. “Sombra must’ve lured them to sleep then inflicted upon them nightmares from which they couldn’t wake up. But that leaves the question, Sombra no longer has a physical body, so how did he steal the Heart?”

“That has us just as perplexed, Sir Midnight,” Ivory admitted.

“Thank you, Captain Ivory, you may resume your duties,” Midnight replied with a grateful nod.

Ivory gave a respectful nod, then left.

“Ok, guys,” Midnight announced, “I’m about to do a complex spell, so… don’t move.”

“What’re you gonna-” Thunderlane was about to ask when Big McIntosh stuffed an apple into his mouth to shut him up.

They watched as Midnight furrowed his eyebrows in concentration, and felt a whirl of magic spread throughout the courtyard when all of a sudden it looked like it was night. At first they thought perhaps Pollo’s magic had run out when they saw images at each corner of the courtyard. They looked closer and saw they were images made by magic, showing four crystal ponies clad in armor.

Midnight then opened his eyes and panted a little as he whispered to them, “It’s a spell that makes an illusion of what happened in the past, almost like a replay.”

“This is cool,” Starfyre whispered as he looked around.

The Crystal Heart, or rather an illusion of it, was situated in the center of the courtyard on its pedestal. The stallions watched as the guards stood at their posts, keeping constant vigilance. Nothing unusual happened.

“Ya sure ya did tha’ spell right, haystack?” Big Mac asked.

“It’s among the more complicated spells,” Midnight admitted, “but I know I did it right! Hold on…”

Midnight concentrated again, and the stallions marveled as the events seemed to fast-forward. This went on for a few minutes when Bravissimo exclaimed, “Wait! Go back a little!”

Midnight paused the image and concentrated, reversing the events a little slower, Bravissimo scrunching his eyes, carefully looking at every detail, when he said, “There, stop!”

Midnight released control, and the events continued at a normal pace. They watched as a mist slowly crept into the courtyard, a mist they’d seen before. They watched as it move unnaturally as the mist split off towards the guards.

The mist hugged at their feet as tendrils snaked up towards the guards’ ears. The guards heard something from the look of their faces.

“What’s up with them?” Starfyre wondered aloud.

“Sombra… he’s whispering to them,” Midnight deduced.

“And it looks like he sent them off to dreamland,” Thunderlane pointed out as they saw the images of the guards get drowsy as they lied down, one by one, and were sleeping like foals. All of sudden, they started twitching, sweating, tossing and turning.

“Eh, more like nightmare-land,” commented Bravissimo.

“Ok, that explains how nopony noticed the Heart gettin’ lifted,” Big McIntosh noted, “but how in the hay did he steal th’ goshdarn thang?”

His answer came in the image of a pony walking into the courtyard. Unfortunately, the pony wore a cloak completely concealing them. The stallions couldn’t tell if it was a mare or a stallion, what color he or she was, nothing. They watched as the pony slunk to the pedestal, and everypony watched as the pony span, cloak billowing as for a split-second it covered the Heart, and just like that, it was gone, as the thief rushed out of the courtyard.

“Wait!” Starfyre brayed as he flew after the thief, only to stop as light came back, and instantly, the thief was gone.

“Starfyre, that wasn’t really the thief,” Midnight panted, “it was an illusion showing us what happened.”

“You alright, haystack?” asked Big Mac, putting a concerned hoof on Midnight’s shoulder.

“The spell takes a lot of magic,” Midnight replied, “I won’t be able to use it again for a while. Shame, we would’ve at least known which way the thief went.”

“Why don’t we all take a break? I’ll whip up something for us all to sink our teeth in,” Forester suggested, and everypony agreed.

After a good meal, the stallions met in a counsel room, gathering around the table as Midnight took his place at the head:

[Midnight Blaze]

Prince Apollo needs our help

His magic will not lost forever

I know we can do this

But we need to work together

We must maintain the Light

To set everypony free

We must find the Crystal Heart and solve this mystery

[Starfyre]

I’ll search with a birds’-eye-view

[Bravissimo]

I’ll up morale with a grand stageshow

[Big McIntosh]

Serve sweets, like crystal berries

[Forester]

I’ll plant a garden once I clear the snow

[Midnight Blaze, Big McIntosh, Starfyre, Bravissimo, Thunderlane, and Forester]

Oh we must maintain the Light

To set everypony free

We must find the Crystal Heart and solve this mystery

[Thunderlane]

I’ll sound the crystal flugelhorn to announce that we have saved the day

[Midnight]

To save the Crystal Ponies’ kingdom

I vow we will find a way…!

[Midnight Blaze, Big McIntosh, Starfyre, Bravissimo, Thunderlane, and Forester]

Oh we will maintain the Light

To set everypony free

We will find the Crystal Heart and solve this mystery…!!!

The Knights of Adventure split into two groups:

Bravissimo, Big Mac, and Forester would work to keep up morale and hope with the Crystal Ponies while Midnight, Starfyre, and Thunderlane searched for clues on the thief.

Investigation

Chapter 4

In the Crystal Empire Theatre, Bravissimo prepared a simple backdrop with the help of a few Crystal ponies that had not given up hope; together they would make a grand show to cheer everypony up!

Big McIntosh was cooking up some sweets after gathering some crystal berries, which he would serve outside the theatre, for everypony to eat.

Forester got to work with a couple foals who wanted to learn gardening. So he had them shovel away the snow while he fitted himself to a plow.

On the other side of the city, Thunderlane was using his… detective skills to search for clues. Wearing a ridiculous hat and holding a big magnifying glass, he approached a crystal pony, looking at her through the glass, asking her, “Is my eye big?”

“Uh… yeah?” she answered, a little uncomfortable by his behavior, not to mention he was invading her personal space.

“Good! Good, that’s… that’s progress,” Thunderlane replied and continued searching for clues, leaving the crystal mare bewildered.

Above, Starfyre was looking through crystal binoculars for any signs of anything unusual.

At one of the residences nearby the Crystal Heart Courtyard, Midnight, accompanied by Captain Ivory, was talking with a local.

“Are you sure you didn’t see anypony that night?”

“I’m sorry… I wish I could help you,” replied the crystal mare, but she wasn’t looking well, as she’d lost some of the shimmer of her coat.

“I was fast asleep that night, so I didn’t see anything. Ugh! What if… what if he comes back?!”

“I promise, we’re doing everything we can to get that Heart back,” Midnight assured her. “But the first step to doing that is finding a clue about the thief!”

“Y’know… I do remember something,” the mare brought up.

“What is it? Did you see something?” Ivory asked.

“No, something woke me up that night,” the mare replied. “I heard a loud noise, like somepony had crashed into something in the alley between my home and my next door neighbor’s place. I thought perhaps it was just a cat or something.”

“Thanks!” Midnight said before he galloped straight for the alley.

Ivory followed and found Midnight giving the alley a careful inspection.

“What’re you looking for, sir?”

“Whatever stands out,” Midnight replied as he kept his eyes on the ground. He noticed a trash can with a lid set askew, and noticed around it were a few pieces of trash.

“I think we might have found our first clue, Ivory. Stand back and let me concentrate.”

Ivory watched as this time Midnight furrowed his brows and clenched his teeth, and the light was gone, it was dark. They watched as a cloaked pony ran into the alley. The pony looked out the alley, checking if anyone was following him or her. The pony stepped backwards into the alley, and bumped into the trashcan, spilling trash, bumping into another one, making a loud noise. The pony winced and froze, expecting for somepony to show up.

When nopony did, he or she quickly gathered up the trash and put it back into the can, dropping a few pieces, and carelessly putting the lid back on but not properly. The pony sighed in relief, and, to Midnight and Ivory’s relief, the fool lowered his hood. They saw it was a stallion, with a light-blue violet coat and a light and modern arctic blue mane.

“Anypony you know?” Midnight asked, releasing the illusion and everything was back to the present.

“`Fraid so, and I’m afraid it’s not good,” Ivory lamented. “The thief… I can’t believe he did it. That was Rubinstein, one of my best guards, and my friend! Or at least, I thought he was. How could he do this…?”

“Sombra manipulated him, Ivory,” Midnight assured him, placing a hoof on the Crystal Stallion’s shoulder. “I’m sure of it, that’s what he does! Now, do you know where we can find Rubinstein?”

“Finding him’s no problem,” Ivory replied sadly. “It’s trying to reach him that won’t do any good.”

“You mean…?” Midnight asked, hoping he wasn’t about to hear what he dreaded when Ivory said it.

“Rubinstein got caught in the darkness when it was over the empire,” Ivory confirmed, “he fell asleep, now he can’t wake up.”

“Because he’s trapped in a waking nightmare,” Midnight sighed with a hoof on his forehead.

After gathering the others, Ivory led them to the Crystal Empire hospital, where they were saddened to see so many ponies strapped to hospital beds to prevent them from thrashing about in their nightmares. Relatives of the patients sat in the hallways or by the sides of their tormented loved ones, there was nary a single smile anywhere.

“Nurse,” called Ivory to one of the mares at work. “Can you lead us to patient Rubinstein?”

“Of course, Captain,” obliged the nurse.

The nurse led them to a room that had nopony in it but Rubinstein. Unlike most of the others, Rubinstein wasn’t thrashing about in his bed. Instead, he was curled over in a fetal position, whimpering, his eyes closed, sweating, and mumbling.

“I’m afraid Rubinstein’s the same as he was when we found him.”

“Wait, nurse,” Midnight said, “where exactly was Rubinstein found?”

“He was found just outside the...” the nurse cleared her throat nervously, “the cemetery.”

“Th-th-the cemetery?!” whimpered Forester before he keeled over in a faint, Starfyre shaking his head in sympathy, Thunderlane stifling a giggle.

“Thank you, nurse,” Midnight said, “we’ll look into it.”

The nurse nodded and left.

“So what next?” asked Big Mac.

“All of you keep doing your jobs,” Midnight instructed, “Bravissimo, Big Mac, wake up Forester and continue to do what you can to keep the Crystal Ponies’ spirits lifted. Starfyre, you and Thunder keep searching for clues or anything suspicious, just in case something comes up.”

After they left, Ivory asked, “What’re you gonna do?”

“We are gonna go investigate the cemetery,” Midnight corrected. “The nurse said they found Rubinstein there, but if he’d had the Crystal Heart with him, you all would already have it right now.”

“So then… Rubinstein hid the Heart somewhere in the cemetery?” Ivory gathered.

“Exactly, I bet Sombra told him to put the Crystal Heart somewhere in the cemetery,” Midnight speculated, “and once all the crystal ponies had lost hope, he would take over by infecting all of them with waking nightmares!”

“But that still wouldn’t give him a new body,” Ivory brought up, “and even if everypony in the empire was under his spell, what could he do then?”

“We’ll soon find out,” Midnight said with a determined smirk, “lead the way to the cemetery.”

The Crystal Empire’s cemetery was located at the very northern edge, and like everything else, it was mostly made of crystals, even the headstones! Except the crystal resembled the dark crystal King Sombra had created with his dark magic, sharp and crooked like thorns. These crystals were cloudy, opaque, dull and lifeless like the many ponies buried beneath them. There were a few statues, alone with a decrepit tree here and there. Midnight and Ivory stood at the wrought-iron gate, the both of them a little nervous.

“Ivory, you should head back and continue overseeing security.”

“With all due respect, sir, no way I’m letting you go in there alone,” Ivory refused. “Besides, this place is big. No telling where Rubinstein put the Heart. You’ll need an extra pair of hooves to help you search.”

Midnight smirked, and motioned for him to follow.

They looked here and there throughout the cemetery, but as time dragged on, they started getting discouraged.

“We’ve looked around every headstone, and nothing!” snapped Midnight, sitting on a stone bench. “Where did Rubinstein hide that blasted artifact?!”

“There is one place we haven’t checked, Sir Midnight,” Ivory brought up before gulping nervously, “the mausoleum.”

They looked towards the crystal crypt, carved from crystals of dark and gloomy colors. Upon a closer look, Midnight saw that whatever writing had been carved into the panel above the door had long worn away.

“So… who’s the stiff laid to rest in here?”

“Stiffs, as in plural,” Ivory corrected shakily before regaining his composure. “I’ve only been down there once and that was back when I was a scamp of a colt.”

“You?” Midnight chuckled with a raised brow.

“Hey! I used to get into all kinds of trouble, till my dad straightened me out,” Ivory chuckled with a sheepish smirk. “Come on, I’ll help you open it.”

“Not to worry,” Midnight dismissed, and his horn flared but to their surprise, it sputtered out. “Hmm, guess I’m low on magic from those last few spells. Ah well, nothing wrong with getting your hooves dirty every once in a while!”

It took some doing, but before long the two had opened the door and were walking down a long decrepit hall, a lantern hanging by its handle from Ivory’s mouth to light the way, and revealing stone coffins on shelves along the walls, much to both stallions’ discomfort. Cobwebs and dust were abundant, as Midnight sneezed a few times.

“You’d think I’d be used to a little dust, considering all the books and antiques I take care of,” he sniffed.  “Still, I wonder who this mausoleum was built for.”

“I don’t know,” Ivory answered solemnly, “Back when Sombra took over, keeping track of history was the last thing on anypony’s mind. After he cursed the Empire and made us disappear for a thousand years, we’ve all but forgotten our history. If it weren’t for Princess Cadance, along with Twilight Sparkle and her friends, Sombra would’ve resumed control over us all… I’d hoped we’d seen the last of him.”

“Whatever he has planned, he won’t win,” Midnight promised, his turquoise eyes glimmering with resolve.

But soon they came towards an archway, above it carved “Within this chamber lies Evening Star, may her memory always give comfort and inspire hope”.

“Evening Star…?” Midnight read, “Why does that name sound familiar?”

“It does to me, too,” Ivory added, “…I think… she was a healer. Yeah, it’s coming back a little. Evening Star was a unicorn pony who once visited the Crystal Empire during a time of great sorrow. She helped us using herbal remedies for a sickness we’d never come across. But that’s all I remember.”

“It’s just come back to me as well,” Midnight replied, “my mother mentioned her a few times when I was a colt, back when she used to read me… bedtime stories.”

Ivory just gave him an understanding smirk.

Midnight cleared his throat and said, “Well then! Shall we… proceed?”

They entered the chamber, and in the center was a coffin.

“Think that’s her?” Midnight asked warily.

“Prob’ly,” Ivory answered, not wanting to be there, “but why would Sombra have Rubenstein hide the Heart here? Or is it even here at all?”

“Hold on,” Midnight said, as he closed his eyes. This time, his horn glowed but it was steady.  He opened his eyes, saying, “It’s here, alright, and it’s in that coffin!”

“Hate to disturb Evening Star,” Ivory hesitated.

“She’s long passed away,” Midnight reminded him although his tone was in agreement, “and besides, disrespectful as it may be, the Empire matters more.”

Midnight and Ivory approached the coffin, the both of them taking a side. They looked at each other, Midnight nodding, Ivory mirroring in hesitant agreement. Then they each put their hooves under the lid, and heaved!

They flinched, their eyes scrunched shut, as they shied away from the open casket. Nothing happened. Slowly opening one eye, Midnight looked to the casket, standing far enough away that he couldn’t see into it. He noticed Ivory had opened his eyes as well, but was just as apprehensive. Midnight slowly approached the coffin but gasped at what he saw!

There was no body; there was no Crystal Heart; within the coffin was an opaque shard of crystal that glowed dim like a dying ember.

“What is this…?” whispered Midnight, his eyes furrowed. “Where’s the Crystal Heart?!”

“For that matter, where’s Evening Star’s body?” seconded Ivory, having worked up enough nerve to approach and see for himself.

“Do you have any idea what that is?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure,” Midnight answered. “But I keep sensing the Crystal Heart from it! Maybe…”

Midnight approached the shard but all of a sudden, Ivory was overcome with fear.

“Sir Midnight! Don’t touch it!”

It was too late – Midnight’s hoof had barely touched the shard when it cracked, and spilling from the crack was a smoky shadow and the last thing Midnight heard was a triumphant laugh as deep as the bowels of the earth, as the shadow enwrapped around him.

Midnight fell unconscious, Ivory catching him, yelling his name, begging him to wake up.

…What… What happened?

Midnight looked around and found himself in the same place he’d been before, in front of the mysterious castle beneath a starry night sky. This time, Midnight focused on the statue of Shining Armor. Concentrating, he felt an unusual magic flow through him as a spell launched from his horn and hit the statue, first teleporting it in front of Midnight, and then cracks slowly spread across it and Midnight was blown back by a force and when the dust cleared, he saw…

Shining Armor!

Shining Armor lied on the misty ground, looking exhausted and dazed. Midnight helped the Captain to his hooves, as Shining Armor gathered his wits.

Midnight?

Well it looks like I’m here to rescue you, old friend.

Oh…When did you get a bigger horn? the big white and blue unicorn cracked

Don’t insult me, scoffed the blue and black unicorn in retort, lashing out his tail and whipping Shining Armor in the face. Now tell me, do you know what this place is?

Shaking himself to full awareness, Shining Armor looked around.

I honestly have no idea. When Sombra captured me, I couldn’t see or hear anything. Everything was dark… until you set me free, I guess.

Midnight looked up at the castle, is expression inscrutable, his eyes furrowed.

Midnight?

He’s after me… Midnight whispered.

Whattya mean? Shining Armor asked, knowing who his friend was talking about. What does Sombra want with you?

I don’t know, but I’m starting to see it. Sombra, for whatever reason, is after me, Midnight insisted fearfully.

Then we should get out of here while we still can, Shining Armor stated.

No, we have to find out what Sombra is planning! Midnight brayed, continuing before Shining Armor could argue, And what did he do to the Crystal Heart? He led me and Ivory on a wild goose chase – All over the Empire! – and somehow lured me with something I sensed and mistook for the artifact. Unless we get it back, or even get a new lead, Pollo won’t be able to maintain the Light!

Shining Armor looked torn, between his sense of duty telling him Midnight was right and his feelings of loyalty and concern for his friend. Finally he sighed but took on a commanding tone.

At the first sign of danger, we bolt! Is that clear?

Crystal, sir! Midnight saluted, smiling as Shining Armor returned the salute. Then they both nodded as they spoke their old vow.

To Equestria, I pledge my life, along to everypony! To safeguard all from fear and strife, alongside my best brony!

They hoofbumped, smiling at each other, just as they did when first they made that vow as colts. Then together they galloped into the shadowy castle, unaware that they were being watched.

The Choice

Chapter 5

In the airspace above the Empire, Starfyre was still looking around for suspicious activity when he noticed…

“Ivory?”

Looking through his binoculars, Starfyre could see Ivory running as fast as he could while carrying an unconscious Midnight on his back! Instantly knowing something was wrong, Starfyre zoomed down to meet them.

“Ivory! What happened, dude?!”

“Sir Starfyre!” panted Ivory while just barely managing to salute, his legs wobbling a bit as he grunted and shifted Midnight to make sure he didn’t fall.

“Something’s happened to Sir Midnight! I don’t know what though!”

“Give him to me,” Starfyre ordered, “I’ll take him to the castle, you round up the rest of the guys.”

“Yes sir,” Ivory complied as he carefully passed Midnight over to the Pegasus stallion. Without a word, Starfyre heaved a mighty flap, sending him and his vital charge skyward.

Before long, all the Knights of Adventure, along with Ivory and Prince Pollo, were back in the room where they’d originally put Midnight. Pollo’s eyes were furrowed in concentration, Thunderlane reaching over to wipe away his sweat, as the prince divided his efforts in maintaining the artificial sun outside and using a spell to diagnose Midnight.

“This is very disturbing,” Prince Pollo stated when he was done.

“What’s wrong with Midnight, Prince Pollo?” Forester asked, trying his best not to whimper in concern.

“He’s caught in a waking nightmare?! Oh!” Bravisimo started making a scene. “Say it isn’t so!”

“I’m afraid it’s worse,” Prince Pollo reported. “I’m not sensing Midnight’s essence!”

“Wha’ in th’ hay does that mean?” Big McIntosh wondered.

“Well, physically Midnight’s healthy as a horse. But at the moment there’s… no one home,” Prince Pollo explained while tapping his head with his hoof.

Meanwhile, wherever they were, Midnight and Shining Armor explored the mysterious castle, the shadows around them reaching out as though they were alive. And considering who they were up against, they probably were, for at that very moment, somepony watched them through the door-sized facet of a crystal. Chuckling darkly, the observer whispered, Come to me, my prey…

He then focused and his horn brightened crimson with bloodlust.

The dark hall the two unicorn stallions walked down was eerily empty, devoid of any furnishings aside from an occasional statue of a pony, all of them faintly sparkly. Midnight was vigilant, kept moving and looking forward, waiting for whatever might jump out. It was a few seconds before he realized he heard only his own hoofsteps.

Shining?

He looked back, and saw that Shining Armor was looking sadly at a statue of a stallion, lying on his back, holding his hooves up to shield himself, along with a look of terror on his face. Midnight went over, looking at the statue a moment before he asked, Somepony you know?

Long Jump, Shining Armor nodded. He was part of the team I was training for the Equestrian Games. He was so dedicated, driven to succeed! …It was such a stomp in the face when he ran. Not a lot of good it did him…

We’ll free him, Midnight swore, his voice edged with a little rage. Then Sombra will get what’s coming to him.

It was in that moment, the two of them heard something – A distant series of cracks and clattering of something falling to the floor echoing distantly behind them, as they whipped their horns in that direction, spells charged.

What was that…? Midnight asked.

I don’t know, Shining Armor replied.

But then, they could hear multiple hoofsteps. They both suddenly feared what it might be, which only escalated when they noticed several pairs of glowing green eyes glaring at them from the darkness.

This doesn’t look good, muttered Shining Armor.

As responding to his words, they heard a crackling sound and looked to see the statue of Long Jump, webs and lines cracking here and there as pieces fell to the ground, and Long Jump got up. But before either of the unicorns could say anything, Long Jump’s eyes opened, glowing a fearful green and his pupils red, a look so menacing spreading across his face as he glared at them.

Definitely not good! agreed Midnight.

RUN!!! Shining Armor brayed as they bolted, continuing down the hallway, as they heard the mindless equines behind them give chase.

Their hearts pumping, the two unicorns ran as hard as they could, the furious herd behind them braying and screaming with such fervor it drove their hooves all the more to escape for any form of sanctuary. All of a sudden, Shining Armor noticed an arched doorway ahead.

Midnight! Exit coming up, to the left!

Midnight looked to see it but felt a shiver inside him.

No, Shining! Keep going forward!

Midnight, we have to! They’ll be on us in seconds!

Midnight felt his insides squirm but the frightful sounds behind them getting closer invigorated his instinct of self-preservation.

Ok… Now!

The two of them leapt through the door, and suddenly, they both shot a spell from their horns. Each spell hit one side of the door, spreading until they outlined it in a white light before a transparent wall of magic formed, barring the horrible herd from entering. The two stallions panted, trying to calm their beating hearts, but Midnight felt that shiver turn into a cold-sweat. Suddenly, the door and the wall of magic disappeared, as it appeared to burn from bottom to top in a wreath of black flames, until the door was gone, like it was never there at all.

What happened…? whispered Shining Armor.

I happened! thundered a voice behind them.

They looked ahead, and almost at once torches of purplish-green flames ignited along the walls, revealing in their grim light, a ruby red carpet leading towards a raised platform with stairs. Atop it was a throne of dark crystal. Astride this throne was a stallion even bigger than Shining Armor, his coat gray like the ashes of a pony cremated, clad in cold metal armor, a cape fit for a king covering his back, his swept-back mane black like a void, his eyes burning red with rage tempered only by a chilly satisfaction evident by the wicked sneer stretching across his face, revealing a pair of fangs. His horn was unusually smooth and seemed to curve a little backwards with the tip reddened, joined alongside the spiked protrusions of his steel crown.

King Sombra…! whispered Midnight in horror.

At long last my guests have arrived, Sombra spoke in a dark voice that oozed with wicked intent.

Please come in. We mustn’t lurk in doorways, gentlecolts – It’s unbecoming…

How can you still be here? Cadance destroyed you! Shining Armor exclaimed.

Your insipid sorceress destroyed my body, Captain, corrected he black unicorn, with mocking spite of Shining Armor’s rank.

My spirit however is made of stronger stuff, so to speak. I have bided my time, recollected my strength, but everything you’ve seen thus far has been but a prelude of what is to come.

Where is the Crystal Heart! demanded Midnight but a slight shake in his voice betrayed his shaken confidence despite his attempt at composure.

Ah, Midnight Blaze, Captain of the Knights of Adventure, Sombra praised although his tone was clearly sarcastic.

I am so pleased to finally make your acquaintance.

It took everything in him to maintain his cool as Midnight asked the thousand-bit question.

You lured me here… You were the voice that told me to come to the Crystal Empire, you tried to get me before I made it into the Empire, which is protected by Pollo’s conjured sunlight, you left that crystal shard in Evening Star’s coffin, which means you knew I would figure out Rubenstein’s trail, and you kidnapped Shining Armor to give me more reason to find you. There’s just one thing about that I want to know, Sombra. Why?

As your Royal Guard friend here so fervently reminded us, Midnight Blaze, Sombra answered with a hungry look in his eyes as they fixated on the blue unicorn.

My body – My physical body – was destroyed... and while my powers seem potent now, I require a more…personal presence to utilize the full of my potential. In other words, I’m in the market for a new skin…

Horrific realization fell upon Midnight like ice-water as whatever bravado he’d been clinging to suddenly washed away, and he felt frozen in mind and body.

Rearing, Shining Armor charged a spell, shouting, You’re not getting him!

Sombra smirked as a red spark danced off his horn, and Shining Armor felt the magic he’d charged instantly dispel, and he was thrown back by a dark pulse of power, held against the cold stone wall, well off the floor.

Shining Armor! yelled Midnight, the sight of his friend being so easily overpowered thawing the cold that had held him in place.

But the cold returned when Midnight saw, in horror, a dull crystal substance spreading over Shining Armor, as the white unicorn struggled to free himself, unable to charge his magic.

Chuckling darkly, Sombra sneered, Princess Cadance shattered my body… See how she feels when she learns I shattered her precious hubby!

Wait!

Sombra stopped the crystal as he looked to Midnight… who was bowing to the dark king.

King Sombra… I beg you, return Shining Armor, alive and unharmed, to the Empire… and I’m yours.

Midnight, no! Don’t you dare! Shining Armor shouted.

Really? Sombra chuckled, but not sounding surprised. You swear, in the name of your teacher and as a Knight of Canterlot, you make this offer of your own free will?

Midnight, I’m not worth it! pleaded Shining Armor. You know what he’ll do once he has what he wants!

Unable to face him, Midnight ignored Shining Armor’s pleas as he stepped forward, and stated, I swear…

Never had Shining Armor ever heard a voice that sounded so defeated.

…Done, Sombra agreed, his eyes flaming with triumph. He looked at Shining Armor, who struggled to free himself, cast a spell, anything to stop the black unicorn.

You services are no longer required.

Midnight! Shining Armor screamed as a shadowy aura surrounded him.

He watched as Midnight finally turned around, smiling sadly with a tear going down his face.

So long… best friend…

Nooo…!!! Shining Armor shouted as he vanished.

Midnight felt it in his heart that Shining Armor, his friend since foalhood, as true as a brother, was safe. But the presence behind him, so vile with depravity it made him sick to his stomach as it breathed a cold breath on his shoulders, told him he was not.

Don’t be sad, my prodigal son returned… You are about to become the face of Equestria’s new Monarch…

And the following sound of Midnight’s agonized screams was truly music to the ears belonging to the Tyrant King of the Crystal Empire.

Darkness Falls!

Chapter 6

In the counsel room, the Knights of Adventure (minus their captain) were debating with Prince Pollo and Ivory.

“If Midnight isn’t in his body, then where is he?” Starfyre asked the question in everypony’s mind.

“Ah reckon this here crystal shard has sumpin’ ta’ do with it,” Big McIntosh speculated, gesturing to the shard on the center of the table.

“That cursed object released some kind of thick mist when Sir Midnight touched it,” Ivory explained, “then he just fell unconscious.”

“This shard was undoubtedly crafted by Sombra himself,” Bravissimo eyed the shard with heavy scrutiny, his horn shining. “But I’m no expert like Midnight, so I haven’t the foggiest how it works.”

“Perhaps… there’s a way to use it to wake Midnight up,” Forester offered, his amber-gold eyes wary.

“Yeah, maybe if we bust it up,” Thunderlane got excited, “then whatever spell Midnight’s under will break!”

“I doubt it would be that easy,” panted Prince Pollo, dividing his focus on the debate at hoof and maintaining the conjured sunlight.

“Midnight can’t be awoken unless he is restored to his body. Destroying this crystal shard is out of the question, it could very well be-”

Prince Pollo was interrupted as the shard suddenly flared with life! Everypony in the room gasped and backed up a little, seeing the shard slowly start spreading over the table, like frost freezing over a window, all the while a rushing wind blew through the room.

“What’s happening?!” shouted Starfyre over the roar of the indoor gale.

“It’s the shard!” Ivory answered, “It’s growing!”

Indeed, the shard was now a pony-sized crystal, radiating with a white light. Finally, it stopped, and they heard a sound as webs of cracks suddenly spread across this giant crystal.

“Everypony, git down!”  Big McIntosh shouted.

Everypony ducked for cover, as the crystal suddenly burst open like a balloon, shards flying out, nailing themselves to the walls. A fit of coughing followed, and Thunderlane shouted, “Shining Armor!”

They all looked, and there he was! Shining Armor, flat on his stomach, coughing and shaking fragments of crystal out of his mane.

“Prince Shining Armor!” Ivory brayed as he went over and helped Shining Armor to his hooves. “Sir! What happened to you? Where have you been?”

“Koff-koff! Midnight…” Shining Armor rasped, thumping his chest.

“He’s unconscious,” Starfyre explained, “we put him in the guestroom on the-”

Suddenly, Shining Armor lunged past them all and tore out of the counsel room.

“Hey! Wait up there, pardner!” Big Mac shouted, as they all followed.

He can’t be gone! Shining Armor dashed, running faster than he had ever run before, desperate to see his friend.

He has to be alright!

Guided by the magic of friendship, he found the room. Tearing open the doors, he gasped to see he was too late, as were the others as they caught up and crowded behind him. They looked on in horror as a ruby red aura surrounded the pony levitating above the bed, yet it did not brighten the room, which was actually shadowed by an ominous air.

“Midnight!” Big McIntosh shouted and started forward, only for Shining Armor to bar his way.

“That’s not Midnight…” he told them with a heavy heart.

Then they watched as the pony doubled over, his sapphire blue coat darkening until it was almost black, his mane and tail flared out as if they were alive, and the streaks of dark blue in them brightened into an infernal red. His eyes were scrunched shut as though he were in pain, but a horrific smile slowly spread across his face, revealing his teeth as a pair of fangs jutted out.

Midnight’s cutie-mark, the circular crescent moon facing upwards, with the five-point star surrounded by five twinkles, faded completely away, and then the pony’s eyes flared opened, revealing them to not be the friendly turquoise blue of their friend, but the burning red eyes of a monster.

Suddenly, this dark pony’s body grew, his muscles pumping, his bones cracking, until he was bigger than Country Daze, Shining Armor, or even Prince Pollo. His horn thickened and lengthened until it looked like menacing spearhead of obsidian, the tip reddening as though it were drenched with blood.

A shadowy aura covered his back, quickly dissipating to reveal a cape fit for a king, and the crystal in the room suddenly flared as they cracked and flew towards the pony, cladding him like armor, along with shards and pieces forming a thorny crystal crown around his head and horn.

They all looked on in horror, as this wraith who had been their friend, spoke in that terrible voice, “Bow to me, my crystal slaves…Bow to King Sombra reborn!!!!”

They ran, as the tyrant’s dark magic erupted around him, spreading like pestilence, corrupting the crystal castle. The light that had kept the darkness at bay snuffed out. Panic spread like a wildfire as the Crystal Ponies started to scream and run, trying to protect their loved ones, others attempting to escape. Their efforts were futile, as large dark crystals erupted from the ground, bringing in every pony Sombra had already captured, or the ponies who’d been subject to waking nightmares woke up, as the mindless slaves of the Unicorn whose Heart is as Black as Night.

“We gotta get out of here!” shouted Forester, verging dangerously close to a panic.

“Wait!” Shining Armor skidded to a halt. “Cadance!”

“Shining, wait!” Ivory yelled as he chased after the Captain. But he looked back at the knights and Prince Pollo, shouting, “Go! We’ll catch up!”

“We’ll wait fer y’all at th’ train station!” Big mac shouted back, then urged the others, “Let’s go!”

“You heard him – On the double, men! On the double!” urged Bravissimo as they followed the big red earth pony.

“I can’t, I have to protect the Crystal Ponies!” Prince Pollo argued. “All of you go, I’ll try and get as many to meet you at the station as I can! Go!”

Without waiting for their reply, Prince Pollo flew out a window, leaving the Knights of Adventure.

“We have to get outta here!” Starfyre urged, “Come on, everypony!”

As they ran out the castle, they took in the chaos. The Crystal Ponies were running to and fro, dark crystals erupting all over the place, shadows spreading like a wild fire, infecting some of the Crystal Ponies unfortunate enough to get caught.

Big Mac ran out and shouted, “Everypony to th’ train station!”

The Knights noticed a shining light above and knew it was Prince Pollo. The light was warm, beckoning, and calming. The Knights noticed immediately that the Crystal Ponies still in command of themselves were running after it.

“Pollo’s leading everypony to the train station!” Thunderlane yelled, “Let’s follow them!”

The Knights spread out, to help the Crystal Ponies keep moving, to stay calm. But the dark crystals and shadows were gaining on them all, and unfortunately, some still got infected, left writhing on the ground as they fell into waking nightmares.

“Mommy!”

Forester looked back, and saw a crystal pony colt, shaking his mother, begging her to get up. The Crystal mare was lying on the ground, shaking, shivering, her eyes widened in glazed horror, as she was trapped inside herself, with her demons.

Seeing that little colt crying, Forester remembered something from a long time ago, something that caused him, in that moment, to cast aside his fear, and run over to the colt and pick him up.

“No! What about mommy!?”

“You can’t help her, little one!” Forester whispered gently, trying to keep the colt still, “But you’ll get her back, I promise!”

Carrying the crying colt, Forester hoofed it to catch up with everypony else, as the survivors managed to get out of the empire, and into the tundra. Forester looked ahead and saw everypony piling into the train as the Knights tried to keep them calm. Forester ran to join them when he and the colt looked back, and saw in horror as the black shadowy fire of Sombra’s dark magic burned away the beautiful Crystal Empire, leaving behind a crude and forbidden fortress surrounded by wasteland riddled with dark crystal sprouting from the ground like patches of briar.

“Wait!” a voice shouted.

Running towards them all were Ivory and behind him was Shining Armor, carrying his wife, Princess Cadance on his back. The Princess of Love was still unconscious, but it was his own love that drove Shining Armor to keep moving.

Looking ahead, Forester yelled, “Shining Armor and Ivory have the princess! They’re coming!”

In his distraction however, Forester did not see a dark crystal erupt, causing him to trip. Though he rolled around to make sure the colt was unharmed.

The other knights managed to get in the last few survivors and join him, along with Prince Pollo, who alighted himself next to them. Relieved, they hurried out to meet them when, not far behind Ivory, Shining Armor, and Cadance, did a tidal wave of darkness erupt!

And riding it, like a sinister surfer, was Sombra, his red eyes glowing a sickening green, wreathed in a purplish miasma, licking his fangs, as he slowly but surely began to descend upon his prey.

With a sprained hoof and the colt bruised and too frightened to move, Forester didn’t know what to do.

“I’m scared!” sobbed the colt.

Forester held him close, and whispered, “Just close your eyes…”

At the station, the rest of the knights all began to panic.

“They’re not gonna make it!” Thunderlane shouted.

“And we’ll never reach them in time!” Bravissimo added.

“Whadda we do?!” Big McIntosh worried.

Without warning, Prince Pollo took flight, zooming forward. He cast a spell, causing a surprised Forester and the colt to levitate and quickly float to safety on the station platform. Ivory and Shining Armor noticed the Prince coming but at that moment, Shining Armor’s only concern was getting his unconscious wife to the train. But at that moment, as the prince passed the Captain by, everything seemed to slow down, as Shining Armor heard Pollo say, in a voice so clear he may as well have been talking right next to him, “Find the Light.”

Realization dawned in his mind, as Shining Armor looked back, screaming, “No, don’t!”

But Pollo was already a long way as he flew right up to the rage of darkness conjured by Sombra, and used the last of his strength to cast a spell. Pollo’s whole body radiated, as if he were a living sun in the form of a pony. That light, shined with the desire to protect, a desire that stemmed from compassion, a concept the dark unicorn could not understand.

Sombra screamed with agony tempered by infuriating rage instilled by the very idea of being thwarted, his shadowy crystals spearing out to bar the light from touching him.  Shining Armor looked on in helpless horror, as Pollo’s light died, and he flopped to the ground, unconscious, having used the last of his power to give everypony the chance to escape. The darkness blew away like smoke, as Sombra approached the unconscious prince, sneering in irritation as he stomped his hoof. A bleak crystal enveloped Pollo, and he was beyond any help.

His eyes tightened shut as a storm of emotion swirled in his heart, Shining Armor made his way onto the train, Bravissimo, asking, “Shining Armor! Where is-”

“Get this train moving.” The look on Shining Armor’s eyes told Bravissimo he should obey first and save all questions for later.

In less than a minute, the train was chugging at full speed to put as much distance between itself and the bleak wasteland now ruled by a tyrant.

Ivory looked on, seeing his home perverted and lost as if slowly but surely disappeared beyond the horizon. He sensed the rest of the Knights of Adventure behind him, and turned to them.

“The Crystal Empire… has fallen.”

How long had it been since he’d sat in his throne, he wondered. How long had it been since he’d felt so powerful!

The dark king stood up from his throne and walked out onto the balcony, licking his fangs, delighting as his mind-slaves, clad in crystal armor, started reestablishing his old rule. The despair had already begun to spread, nopony dared attempt even the slightest defiance as they were put in chains.

The Crystal Empire is mine again! Sombra’s black heart pounded in triumphant excitement, until he looked at his reflection in the crystal walls surrounding him.

“This face…” He scrutinized his face. No… His face.

His work was not done – He’d reclaimed the Crystal Heart, seized this vessel, taken back his throne.

But those infernal escapees will return… Sombra mused as he went over to a wall, and tapped it with his horn. The wall shined with the radiance of a dying star as it shattered into fragments of magic, revealing a long-forgotten hallway. It led him to a familiar place, the one place where Sombra could contemplate, the safest site for his old schemes.

He took it all in, his secret refuge. An old armchair set near a dark and cold fireplace that had not been used for a long time. A table covered with old manuscripts and scrolls, a bookcase making up an entire wall, filled with ancient tomes and spellbooks, some pertaining to the forbidden arts. In here he had hidden his prize, the Crystal Heart set upon a pedestal, its cherished magic contained within a glass container cursed to allow no good out.

Sitting down, he cast a burning spell to ignite the fireplace, as he pondered, The Knights of Adventure are nothing without their leader, and those miserable mares who wield the Elements of Harmony cannot stand against me as I draw power not just from darkness but from the despair of my slaves. Still… I have sacrificed a great power to get this vessel, and it appears it comes with further expense. If I am to secure my power and crown, I must make it absolute.

He looked to a particular book and his red aura enveloped it, levitating it to him and opening to a particular page.

To regain the power that place afforded me, I must acquire two things. My true body must be restored… and then… I must find this!

His hungry eyes fell upon the artifact illustrated on the page.

And once I secure it, nopony will be safe from me…

His depraved laughter echoed throughout the halls of his fortress, as he plotted his next move.

Answers & Secrets

Chapter 7

The throne room in Canterlot was filled with heartbreak and despair. Everypony was downtrodden, their hearts despaired and grieving. Even the Princesses looked hopeless as the horrible knowledge plagued their minds.

Prince Polaris was seeing to the security of Canterlot and doing his best to restrict Sombra’s movements by conjuring a blizzard around the Crystal Empire. Ivory was managing the Crystal Pony refugees along with the help among the Castle Staff. But without Prince Pollo, whose conjured sunlight had been the one true repellant against the darkness, it was like trying to stop a slow but surely destructive oil spill. Wherever the darkness spread, it corrupted, turning splendiferous sites of natural beauty into barren wastelands, withering trees and then coating them with crystal, flowers withered and died, grass yellowed and turned to dust.

King Sombra had returned, and Midnight Blaze was his vessel. The Knights of Adventure, along with Shining Armor, could not get that horrible moment out of their heads, when they had bared witness to Midnight’s terrifying transformation as the Unicorn whose Heart was Black as Night slowly took him over. Prince Pollo had used the last of his magic to buy them time to escape, and had been imprisoned by Sombra.

Shining Armor had only barely managed to get his wife, the still comatose Princess Cadance, as they had all made their escape.

The Elements of Harmony were there too, devastated by what they had learned, Twilight most of all.

She looked at the stained-glass window where the image of Cadance and Spike, minus the Crystal Heart. It had dulled in color until it was almost gray, black, and white. Even worse was the window showing the Knights of Adventure and their Spirits of Adventure. But now, it too was dulled gray, black and white, and the image of Midnight and the Helm of Light was gone. Spike himself stood by her side, wiping tears.

“But… he Pinkie-Promised,” she whispered.

She heard hoofsteps and looked to see Princess Celestia stop by her side.

“Do not give in to despair, my faithful student. There is still hope.”

Then Princes Celestia called everypony’s attention.

“Hear me, my friends and loyal subjects. The situation, as the Knights of Adventure have explained, is dire. Not only has Sombra returned and reclaimed the Crystal Empire, he has taken over Sir Midnight Blaze as his new vessel. Although some of the Crystal Ponies managed to escape, the many that did not Sombra has enslaved once more to his twisted rule, and Prince Apollomino has been taken prisoner. We must pull together, to save not just them but Midnight from Sombra’s thrall.”

“But how?!” Starfyre neighed as flapped himself aloft. “Sombra’s got Midnight, he has the Crystal Heart, what can we do to stop him?”

“Never pegged you for a quitter, Star,” teased Rainbow Dash in a good-natured way.

“You got something to say, fillyfriend?!” growled the yellow Pegasus stallion, in no mood for jokes.

“Enough!” shouted Prince Florinda, earning their attention. “An Empire, my apprentice, and my nephew are all counting on us to save them! This is not the time for petty rivalries.”

“Thank you, Florinda,” said Princess Celestia. “As I was saying, King Sombra must be stopped. But in order to defeat this enemy, we must know this enemy.”

Then the doors to the throneroom opened, everypony looking to see two unicorn ponies enter, one a stallion, the other a mare. The stallion was well-muscled, a dark red, like rosewood, with a mane and tail of ebony, the mane brushed back into a coltish-ponytail, while his actual tail was shortened and styled the same way as the members of the Royal Guard, and he had fetlocks almost concealing his hooves completely. His horn extended like a thorn yet shimmered like oil on water.

His cutie-mark was a trio of twinkles, colored gold, arranged with one above a silver shield similar to the one on Shining Armor’s cutie-mark, the other two at its lower sides. He carried himself with the regal and commanding composure of a general, with a resolute gaze in his ruby eyes tainted only by a look of guilt.

His wife was white like fresh-fallen snow with a mane, held in place by a hair-band, colored azure with streaks of alice-blue, her tail was wavy, colored the same as her mane. Her horn glittered like an icicle, and her cutie-mark was a storybook with three sky-blue twinkle stars on the cover, and a gold ribbon set in its pages like a bookmark.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, for those of you unfamiliar with them, may I present Knighthoof, semi-retired General of the Canterlot Royal Army, and Madame-Librarian Faerie Tail,” announced Princess Celestia before adding, “Midnight Blaze’s parents.”

“General Knighthoof!” gasped Shining Armor and he rushed over and gave him a salute. “Request permission to apologize for failing to saving your son, sir!”

“Granted,” obliged Knighthoof in a gruff voice, “but seriously. At ease, soldier.”

“Sir! Yes, sir!” replied Shining Armor, secretly glad to see his old mentor.

“General Knighthoof, Madame Faerie Tail,” welcomed Twilight, the many memories of spending time in the royal library with her, “it’s good to see you both again.”

“Twilight, dear,” greeted Faerie Tail in a warm voice, “you’ve become such a beautiful young mare.”

“Uh, General? Madame?”

Knighthoof and Faerie Tail looked ahead and noticed the Stallions of Adventure (minus their leader) approached them, looking ashamed, as Big McIntosh said, “We’re mighty sorry.”

“We should’ve stuck close to Midnight,” added Starfyre, who sounded like he didn’t have a lot of fire in him at the moment.

“And in that, we failed miserably!” exclaimed Bravissimo in a way that would’ve been theatric if the words weren’t sincere.

“We understand if you can never forgive us,” whimpered Forester, both apologetic and a little afraid of this militant unicorn.

“We’ll accept any punishment,” Thunderlane  moped.

“STOW IT!” roared Knighthoof, making them all flinch as the general now had everypony’s attention. “Save the tears when we’ve rescued my son! That’s an order! Understand?!”

“Sir! Yes, sir!” the stallions all agreed, straightening their poise at Knighthoof’s command, hearing as well as feeling the authority in it. Shining Armor just smiled, the sound of his former superior officer’s voice as he took charge was reassuring.

“General,” greeted the two princesses.

“Your Majesties,” replied Knighthoof with a bow, his wife bowing as well.

“Thank you for coming, old friend,” said Princess Celestia, “I apologize for what has transpired. I should never have entrusted Midnight with the task of recovering the Crystal Heart.”

“Hold, on!” brayed Starfyre, “Are you calling Midnight a failure?!”

A silver-gold magical aura enshrouded him as he was suddenly plowed into the floor, Knighthoof shouting, “How dare you show such disrespect to your princess?!”

“At ease, General. He’s just upset,” calmed Princess Celestia. “Starfyre, everyone… the failure is not Midnight’s. It is mine…”

“That can’t be true, Princess!” Twilight protested.

“How could this possibly be your fault?!” seconded Shining Armor.

“No, Shining Armor,” spoke up Knighthoof. “The fault is not Midnight’s nor is it the Princess’s. It’s ours.”

“We have kept this secret for far too long,” Faerie Tail agreed with her husband, holding his hoof.

“What secret?” Twilight asked, instantly becoming wary.

“Everypony,” Knighthoof called, “there is a reason Midnight was the one Sombra took over, the reason why Midnight was drawn to the Crystal Empire, the reason why Sombra did not just take anypony to be his host.”

“Because he couldn’t,” Faerie Tail added. “Sombra was drastically weakened when Princess Cadance used the Crystal Heart against him. In his frail state, all he was capable of was whispering dark thoughts into ponies’ minds and thrusting them into nightmares. In doing so, he manipulated another to steal the Crystal Heart for him, enabling him the strength he needed to move forward with his plans. But there was a certain kind of pony he needed, a pony with whom he had a connection that is undeniable.”

“What kind a’ connection? Midnight never even met Sombra till we went t’ th’ Empire!” Big McIntosh brought up.

“This has long been the darkest and most shameful secret of my family,” answered Knighthoof with a heavy heart.

“Through me, everypony, my son, Midnight Blaze, is a direct descendant of King Sombra…”

The Mares of Harmony and Stallions of Adventure, along with Shining Armor, and Spike, were shaken to their very cores the moment those words left Knighthoof’s mouth.

“Princess!” cried Twilight as she turned to her teacher, her eyes threatening to shed tears, “Please tell me this isn’t true!”

“Of course it’s not true, Twi!” snapped Rainbow Dash, Starfyre adding, “No way Midnight’s related to that creepazoid Sombra!”

“Midnight’s a pony like no other!” Spike declared.

But Princess Celestia lowered her eyes sadly, and everypony realized…

“It’s true…?” whispered Fluttershy and Forester, who said, “Our friend Midnight? Descended from the Unicorn whose Heart is as Black as Night?”

“It can’t be…” whimpered Fluttershy.

“So, what you’re saying,” Bravissimo gathered, “is that Sombra required a pony related to him by blood to use as a host and new body, which is why he chose Midnight.”

“Indeed,” Knighthoof confirmed. “Sombra could easily have chosen me, but it seems Midnight beholds qualities Sombra desired that I apparently lack. That or he wanted Midnight, who also poses a great threat to Sombra.”

“What do you mean, General Knighthoof?” Twilight asked. “Midnight’s a great mage an’ all, but what exactly makes him a threat to Sombra?”

“It’s us…” realized Big McIntosh, all eyes turning to him. “Midnight an’ us are th’ Spirits of Adventure, and Midnight’s our leader cuz he’s th’ Spirit of Light!”

“That is correct, Big McIntosh,” Faerie Tail answered, “and Sombra thrives in Shadow and Darkness. By robbing Midnight of his body, Midnight cannot utilize his Spirit of Light against him nor can the rest of you, the Knights of Adventure, utilize your own Spirits because the Spirits of Adventure draw their power from the Spirit of Light!”

“Hold on a second!” Pinkie Pie spoke up. She then reached behind her back, pulling out a glass of water, drank, and then spat out the water as if she were startled.

“If that meanie Sombra took Midnight’s body, then where’s the real Midnight?”

Nopony had an answer.

“In any case,” Princess Celestia broke the silence, “we must find out what Sombra is planning next. Only then can we-”

Princess!!

The voice was unmistakable but it sounded like an echo, distant yet persisted like the peal of a bell.

“Midnight?!” Twilight gasped.

Is somepony there? Can anypony hear me?!

“That’s my son!” stated Knighthoof urgently, as he looked around, trying to see where the voice was coming from. It sounded like a desperate cry for help.

“Midnight, honey?” Faerie Tail called, sounding close to heartbreak. “Where are you?”

“The windows!” Thunderlane pointed out.

Everypony looked towards the windows, and sure enough, they could see a shadow moving across them, from window to window. Bravissimo and Rarity, with their eyes for detail, saw it.

“It looks like…” Bravissimo started, Rarity finishing, “Yes, like the shadow of a unicorn!”

“Midnight, is that you?” called Shining Armor.

Shining Armor! Big Mac! Anypony!

“Where in th’ hay is he?!” Big McIntosh asked, sounding confused.

“Can he even hear us?” Bravissimo added.

Is somepony there? Please! Help me...!!!

Then the voice stopped.

“Midnight? Midnight!” yelled Twilight hopefully.

She was answered with silence.

Faerie Tail broke down into heart-wrenching sobs, her husband holding her as she cried, “Tell me he’s gonna be alright…!”

“We’ll get him back…” he whispered solemnly, as everypony looked at a loss.

“I fear the situation is worse than we imagined,” Princess Celestia worried

“Indeed, my sister.”

Everypony looked to the doorways and saw…

“Princess Luna!” Shining Armor awed, as everypony, but Princesses Celestia and Florinda, bowed to the Princess of the Night. Neither did Knighthoof as he continued to console Faerie Tail.

“Luna, my sister,” greeted Princess Celestia, “have you some wisdom or other to offer?”

“I believe I know where Midnight is,” answered Princess Luna. “I fear he, or rather his mind, is trapped.”

The Knights of Adventure gushed with questions.

“His mind?”

“Trapped?”

“But where?”

“Details, details!”

Princess Luna approached them as she explained, “When Sombra stole Midnight Blaze’s body, he, to put it simply, kicked Midnight’s mind out so that he could settle in. In which case, there is only one place Midnight’s mind could go after being forcibly evicted from his body – The Dream Plane.”

“Of course!” Princess Florinda gasped, “It makes perfect sense!”

“What’s the Dream Plane?” asked Shining Armor. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“I read about it once,” Twilight volunteered, “the Dream Plane is where the minds of all sleeping Ponies go.”

“Correct, Twilight Sparkle,” answered Princess Luna, “the Dream Plane is a part of my sphere of influence as the Princess of the Night. It is my duty to calm the sleeping minds of ponies who suffer bad dreams; I do so by entering their dreams and helping them face their fears or destroy the figment of their imagination that plagues them with nightmares.”

“Incredible…” Shining Armor whispered.

“However, even my power in the Dream Plane is limited,” Princess Luna continued, “for only if somepony is asleep can I enter their dream, and I am limited to their dream itself. I cannot leave their dream and explore the Dream Plane, which is where dreams truly take place. Since Sombra now inhabits Midnight Blaze’s body, I can only surmise Midnight Blaze’s mind is trapped in the Dream Plane, for there is nowhere else I can think of he could go.”

“But if Midnight’s mind is in the Dream Plane, was he really here just now?” Starfyre asked.

“Not entirely,” Princess Luna amended. “I believe Midnight Blaze was attempting to reach out and communicate through the windows. The windows of Canterlot Castle are not ordinary – The glass is composed of minute traces of crystal, and crystal itself is magical in many ways.”

“So what you are saying, my sister,” spoke Princess Celestia, “that somehow, Midnight connected to the traces of crystal in the windows in an effort to communicate.”

“That, or… he reached out through his connection to the Spirits of Adventure to make contact with his friends while using the windows as a medium,” Luna confirmed. Big McIntosh, Starfyre, Bravissimo, Thunderlane, and Forester all felt their hearts sink.

“Alas, it seems that his effort failed. We were able to hear him, but it appears he could not hear us.”

“Then wha’ can we do ta’ reach Midnight?” Big McIntosh asked.

“There must be some way,” insisted Bravissimo.

“We can’t leave our buddy hangin’!” Starfyre stated.

“We gotta get him back!” yelled Thunderlane.

“Please, Princess! What can we do?” asked Forester.

All eyes were on the Princess of the Night. She closed her eyes and sighed before declaring, “I have an idea but it’s not guaranteed to work.”

“Anything at this point could be helpful, Princess Luna,” assured Princess Florinda, her eyes betraying her concern for her apprentice.

Nodding, Princess Luna called, “Knights of Adventure! Your leader is in peril, and without him your own Spirits of Adventure are powerless – Would the five of you brave the unknown to save him?”

Big McIntosh, Starfyre, Bravissimo, Thunderlane, and Forester answered her with determined expressions.

“Very well – The plan I have in mind is to establish contact with Midnight Blaze. Perhaps speaking to him will unveil a means of overcoming Sombra or a way of restoring Midnight Blaze to his body. I shall cast the five of you into a slumber and connect your sleeping minds into single dream. I shall enter your united dream, and hopefully what we do next will enable us to make contact with Midnight Blaze. What say you?”

“Like you even have to ask!” neighed Starfyre.

“Let’s saddle up, pardners!” Big Mac reared, ready for anything.

“As we in the theatre say,” Bravissimo added, “break a leg, everypony!”

“Let’s do it!” Thunderlane cheered.

“I’m ready,” Forester looked nervous, but the look in his eyes was undeniable.

“And me as well,” Shining Armor stepped forward.

“What?” everypony said.

“Midnight and I are friends, we’ve been friends ever since we were colts!” Shining Armor reasoned. He looked at his sister and smile.

“And if my little sister has taught me anything, it’s that anything’s possible with the Magic of Friendship!”

Twilight smiled. Knighthoof and Faerie Tail both smiled in gratitude, and the Knights of Adventure nodded in approval.

“Very well,” Princess Luna replied. “Until Midnight is rescued, the Knights of Adventure require a leader. Shining Armor, Prince by right and name, you are charged to lead the Knights of Adventure to save Midnight, to save the Crystal Empire, and to stop the Unicorn Whose Heart is as Black as Night!”

“I accept this honor and responsibility,” Shining Armor swore, “to lead the Knights of Adventure until we rescue their true leader, at which point I will gladly step down and relinquish leadership to Midnight Blaze.”

“Now that that is settled,” Princess Luna responded, “I shall take my leave.”

“Wait!” Thunderlane flew up and over to her, asking, “What about Midnight? I thought you were gonna help us try and talk to him!”

“In order for this plan to succeed, Thunderlane,” Princess Luna reasoned, “I must be at my full potential, which I will be once the Night arrives. For now, all of you must be patient. I will meet you in the Castle Gardens tonight at seven o’clock.”

It was torturous, having to wait all that time, but seven pm eventually arrived. Everypony gathered in the Canterlot Royal Gardens, in the center of a lush patch of grass. The Knights of Adventure, along with their temporary leader gathered in front of Princess Luna.

“For this to work, you must first all surround me in a circle.”

They obeyed, and Princes Luna announced to the spectators, “This spell requires my full concentration – No interruptions.”

Everypony looked at Pinkie Pie who was absent-mindedly tinkering with her party-cannon, until the silence earned her attention and she noticed everypony was looking at her with raised eyebrows.

“I guess I should do this another time, huh?”

“Stallions! Art thou ready?” Princess Luna asked in the Canterlot Royal Voice.

“You Highness, we were ready the moment you proposed this course of action!” Shining Armor declared, the other stallions nodding in agreement.

“Then close thine eyes and relax…”

The Stallions all sat down, their eyes closing, as Princess Luna began her spell. Her horn flared with a soothing glow like moonlight. Her magic reached out like ribbons of silvery silk, touching each stallion’s mind, and they all let out a collective gasp.

Twilight stifled a gasp, when she felt a wing on her shoulder. It was Princess Florinda.

“Have faith,” she whispered. “Come, everypony. Let us leave them to dream. Hopefully, of a solution.”

Shadows of the Past

Chapter 8

The Stallions all groaned, getting up, some of them yawning as though they were waking up.

Whoa… that was weird, Starfyre muttered.

Eeyup, Big Mcintosh agreed, rubbing his head.

I say, did nothing happen? Bravissimo was looking around and everypony followed suit.

They were still in the gardens.

What’s the big idea?! I thought we were out! Thunderlane sounded like he’d been stood up.

Maybe we were, Shining Armor suggested. This place doesn’t feel the same.

Um, where’s Princess Luna? Forester had asked the million bit question.

Over here.

They looked to see Princess Luna approach them.

Do not let thine eyes fool thee, for this is indeed the Dream Plane.

But… this looks just like the Royal Gardens, Your Highness, Forester replied in a respectful way. Far be it from the timid gardener to conflict with a Princess.

No it isn’t, Shining Armor disagreed. I feel it – This place… I’ve felt it every time I’ve dreamed and slept.

Hey, I feel it too! Starfyre closed his eyes and concentrated.

All at once, everypony, but Starfyre and Princess Luna, gasped to see the garden turn into a large cloud not far away from Cloudsdale.

Awesome! How did I do that?!

This is the realm of dreams, Starfyre, Princess Luna reminded, here it is our imaginations that dictate what is and what isn’t.

Curious, Shining Armor explored his memory and concentrated. The scenery of Cloudsdale cleared away, revealing a playground in Canterlot.

What’s this? Thunderlane asked, intrigued by the slide and swing-set.

Before anypony could answer him, they all heard a distant laugh. Looking towards the cobblestone path that wound its way through the park, they saw two young colts who looked uncannily familiar. They were both unicorns and looked similar in age. They ran side by side, the white one yelling, “The enemy is storming the castle!”

The blue one responded, “Quick, comrade! To the battlements!”

Laughing the two colts ran to the jungle-gym, stabbing their little horns at imaginary enemies.

Shining Armor! Are those two colts…? Big McIntosh could definitely see the resemblance.

Yeah, that’s me and Midnight when we were colts, Shining Armor replied with a small but sad smile. Back then, we dreamed of joining the Royal Guard together, to be warriors and protect everypony in Equestria. We were each other’s first friend.

The two colts then cheered as the young Midnight shouted, “That’s right, run you cowards!”

“And don’t come back!” added the young Shining Armor. “High Hoof!”

They laughed as they did so, but both stopped when they heard a distant laugh, a laugh both the current and past Shining Armor recognized, as the latter pulled the young Midnight down to a nearby bush, whispering, “Get down!”

“What is it?! A dragon, changelings?” young Midnight asked, peeking out from the bush.

Everypony watched as a young pink alicorn filly with a teal crystal heart and gold lace as a cutie mark led a younger very familiar unicorn filly with a lavender coat and dark purple mane to the swing-set.

“Hey, it’s Cadance and your sis!”

“Shh!” young Shining Armor shushed, to the young Midnight’s bewilderment.

They watched as young Cadance started pushing the younger Twilight on the swing, and both Shining Armors smiled as they saw their little sister laugh, gleefully saying, “Higher, Cadance! Higher!”

“Not too high,” amended the young Cadance. “We don’t want you getting another owie.”

“Ok,” agreed little Twilight.

The swinging slowed a little as little Twilight said, “I am so lucky to have you as my foalsitter!”

“I’m the one who’s lucky, Twilight,” insisted Cadance.

“You’re a princess!” scoffed Twilight who then looked a bit discouraged. “I’m just a regular old unicorn.”

Cadance stopped the swing and hugged Twilight from behind, saying, “You are anything but a regular old unicorn.”

Smiling, little Twilight let Cadance take her off the swing, as they then did their secret hoofshake and said together, “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!”

They both giggled as Cadance then led Twilight out of the park, neither of them knowing they’d been watched as young Shining Armor and Midnight stepped out of the bush.

“Why didn’t we ask them to play? We could’ve used some damsels in distress.”

Shining Armor observed his past self’s longing expression as the colt he once was looked on after the young princess foalsitting his little sister. It was then Midnight understood as he chuckled, saying “You like her, don’t you!”

Everypony watched in understanding amusement as the young Shining Armor tried to answer, but all that came out was, “Well- Uh- I…”

“Hey, it’s cool, bro,” Midnight assured with a shrug of his shoulders. “But you’re gonna have to tell her one day.”

“Yeah…” agreed the young Shining Armor. He then noticed Midnight saluting him, and laughed as he did the same, and they spoke their own little secret hoofshake.

“To Equestria, I pledge my life, along to everypony! To safeguard all from fear and strife, alongside my best brony!”

The two colts laughed and hoofbumped, as the scene faded away.

Shining Armor looked crestfallen as Forester said, You two were really good friends back then, huh?

You seemed more like brothers, Captain, Bravissimo noted.

But there was a snag that almost ruined our friendship, Shining Armor admitted.

At the sound of his words, the mist around them faded to reveal a courtyard. The stallions and princess noticed a nearby assembly of Royal Guard practicing a drill. But what drew their attention was the young Shining Armor and Midnight standing near a door, with a sign that read ‘Recruiting Office’.

“How can you do this?” the young Shining Armor asked, sounding hurt and disappointed. “We promised together! We’d join the Royal Guard, we even made an oath!”

The young Midnight Blaze looked sad but unwavering.

“Shining… I’m sorry. But I’ve been asking myself lately, ‘Why do I want to be a Royal Guard?’ I thought about it over and over! …Then I realized why – I wanted to join the Royal Guard, because it’s what my father wants.”

“So? Lots of colts join cuz’ they wanna make their dads proud!” argued Shining Armor.

“But that’s just it, Shining!” admonished Midnight. “This is what my dad wants me to do. But he has never asked me what I want! …Shining, I don’t want this. I thought I did, but I can’t do this just to please my father. That’s not a good enough reason to dedicate my life to the Guard.”

“What about honor?!” the young Shining Armor was beginning to sound angry. “What about loyalty to the Princess? What about our oath and friendship, Midnight?!”

Everypony watched as the young Midnight was silent for a few moments, and the current Shining Armor felt his heart tighten with guilt as he saw the emotional turmoil on his friend’s face.

“I’m sorry, bro…” Midnight turned around. “But I have come to the conclusion that my destiny is not with the Royal Guard. I’m gonna take the entrance exam to Princess Celestia’s School of Gifted Unicorns. Maybe I’ll find my way there. I wish you the best of luck, Shining Armor, and know that you’ll always be my best friend.”

The young Midnight slowly walked away, as the young Shining Armor yelled, “Fine! Walk away, like a coward!”

The young Shining Armor turned to enter the Recruiting Office, but he stopped, suddenly looking sorry as he turned just in time to see Midnight leave the courtyard.

The scene faded away, as Shining Armor shook his head with guilt and sorrow.

I can’t believe I said that to him…

Hey, buddy, Starfyre, assured, patting Shining on the back. We say a lotta things when we’re colts, things we don’t really mean. I know I’ve said some stupid things, and I prob’ly still do.

I have to handle a lot of foals in Ponyville, and my weather team buddies, Thunderlane butted in, and they get into bunches of fights, but I always help `em make up.

Past is past, pardner, Big McIntosh said. Cain’t do nothin’ about it. But ya have ta’ remember, friends might bump heads ev’ry now and then, but true friendship is always worth fighting for.

Shining Armor let the words wash over him, cleaning away a little of the guilt, as he managed to regain his stature, and said Thanks, guys.

Perhaps now we can proceed with the task at hoof? Princess Luna reminded them. After making sure she had their attention, Princess Luna continued.

Thou hath witnessed the power of the Dream Plane. Here, thy imaginations become reality. Along with thine fears and thine memories. Here, you have the power to make possible the impossible.

So we could get Midnight back? Shining Armor asked.

Not exactly, Princess Luna answered, for we haven’t any means to restore Midnight to his body, and it’s still hosting Sombra’s fallen spirit. For now, we must try and contact Midnight, and hopefully what we do next will unveil a direction to take. Now, everypony, concentrate! Focus on each other, and focus on summoning Midnight’s spirit to us.

You heard the princess, Knights of Adventure! Shining Armor looked to them all, as they snapped to attention, determination showing in their eyes and blazing in their hearts.

Think of Midnight! Focus on the friendship each of us shares with him, and we will bring him home!

Big McInotsh focused on the last good talk he and Midnight shared, when Midnight told him about the school he wanted to open up and the pride Big Mac took in being an earth pony.

Thunderlane focused on the last soccer game had coached with Midnight’s help, and their team won.

Bravissimo focused on his last big play, where Midnight helped using magical special-effects.

Forester focused on the day they planted a seed and Midnight’s spell helped it grow into a beautiful willow tree.

Starfyre focused on that awesome moment when he and Midnight skydived together and fell into a giant pillow Midnight conjured with a spell, and how they high-hoofed afterwards.

They felt his presence as it slowly arrived.

Guys…? Is that you?

His voice sounded afraid and sad. They looked and saw a distant figure in the mist.

Midnight, is that you?! Shining Armor called.

Shining Armor, you’re here too! the figure sounded rejoiced.

Taking a careful look, Bravissimo noted that figure was indeed shaped like a unicorn.

Hold on, if you are Midnight, then who played the part of Private Pansy at the last Heart’s Warming Eve pageant?

Fluttershy played Private Pansy while Rainbow Dash played Commander Hurricane, the figure answered and everypony laughed.

Midnight, are you ok? Shining Armor asked as he began to approach the shadow of Midnight.

No! Don’t come any closer, Shining! the shadow shied, Sombra has me trapped, and he might have done something to me that could hurt all of you.

Shining Armor stopped, looking unsure, when Big McIntosh, asked Haystack! Are y’alright?

Big Mac, everypony! You have to stop him! Midnight pleaded.

Are you talking about Sombra, buddy? Starfyre asked.

Yes! King Sombra plans to restore his real body, but that’s not the problem! He’s seeking something, something that will enable him to invade the sleeping minds of everypony!

I thought he could already do that, Thunderlane brought up. Y’know, trap ponies in waking nightmares?

He doesn’t have that power anymore, Midnight explained. He’s seeking some kind of artifact, an artifact that will enable him to physically enter the Dream Plane!

But why would Sombra want to enter the Dream Plane? Bravissimo wondered. He seemed rather determined to escape it using your body.

It has something to do with this strange castle.

Castle?! Princess Luna echoed. Midnight Blaze, this castle thou speakest of, does it have a ring of lights encircling the highest tower?

Yes! Sombra was using it before he took my body, I sensed it gave him some kind of power. But he lost that power when he took my body and awoke in the real world.

And this artifact, he covets… Have you any idea what it might be? Princess Luna pressured.

I think it’s some kind of mirror, Midnight confirmed, although Sombra is using my body, sometimes I can see what he’s seeing.

Then our problems have only begun, Princess Luna dreaded. Midnight Blaze, until we can find a way to restore you to your body, you must try and learn more of Sombra’s schemes.

I understand, Your Highness, Midnight obliged. I’ll do my best to learn what I can.

Midnight! I promise, we’ll get you back, Shining Armor swore.

I know you will, the figure replied, Shining Armor could hear the faith his friend had in him just from the sound of his voice.

Suddenly, everything started to shake, the stallions and princess all cried out in alarm, as Midnight yelled, It’s Sombra! He knows I’m up to something! Quick everypony, wake up! You must go, now!

Midnight…! The stallions all called as Princess Luna cast a spell.

“Midnight!” shouted Shining Armor as he bolted up panting, and found himself lying on the grass, covered in sweat. Looking around, he saw the others wake up, and they were back in the garden.

“Everypony wake up! We have to go back!”

“No, Shining Armor!”

Princess Luna’s Royal Canterlot Voice snapped them all out of their drowsiness as a shimmer of magic revealed the Princess of the Night.

“Even were we to go back, none of us can help Midnight now. I sensed it, even in the Dream Plane Midnight is a prisoner. Sombra did something to chain Midnight to the Dream Plane.”

“But why?! What could Sombra gain from keeping Midnight trapped in the Dream Plane?” Shining Armor demanded.

“And what were you and Midnight talking about?”

“I shall call an assembly in the morning,” Princess Luna promised. “Everypony should hear what we have learned, and all of you need your rest. I’ll have a guard show you to your rooms.”

Without waiting for a response, Princess Luna disappeared in a flash of magic.

Shining Armor sighed in vexation as Big Mac wondered, “Wha’ in th’ hay is Sombra up to? It ain’t enough he takes our friend and th’ empire, he wants all a’ Equestria?!”

“That jerk…” Thunderlane agreed. “I wanna knock him inta’ next week!”

“That’s enough, stallions,” Shining ordered, his tone was low but almost instantly it had earned their whole attention, as the Captain faced his new company.

“As much as I wanna go back and help Midnight this very instant! …We need our rest. To bed, all of you! We’ll attend the assembly in the morning, and hopefully we’ll have our next move planned.”

Seeing the look in Shining’s eyes made the stallions know at once there was no point in arguing, and so they departed. But Shining Armor did not follow, Forester noticing as he asked, “Shining? Aren’t you coming?”

Shining Armor was looking towards a statue of a guardspony, whispering loud enough, “I’ll be along.”

Forester felt it, that Shining Armor was upset. But he decided to leave Shining Armor alone and followed his friends. Shining Armor felt his heart sink, in grief, in shame, in guilt.

How could I have been so selfish? he thought to himself, those horrible words echoing in his mind.

Walk away, like a coward.

What kind of friend am I? he pondered.

But then he stood tall.

I let Midnight down once… I won’t do it again!

Rage burned in his heart, resolved fortified his nerve.

Sombra… You will pay!

Morning broke, and it wasn’t long before the assembly was called, as everypony gathered in the throneroom.

“Now that everypony is here, let this meeting come to order,” declared Princess Celestia. “First item of business, Prince Polaris – What is that status regarding Sombra?”

“Sombra is slowly but surely spreading his evil across Equestria,” reported the Prince of Fall and Winter. “He has taken Neighagra Falls and is spreading his influence to the Eastern Sea, where Manehatten is in crisis. What’s worse, anypony caught in the spread of his darkness is enslaved and added to Sombra’s mind-controlled army of ponies. I’ve sent two battalions of our Royal Guard, along with a squad from the Wonderbolts to aid in the resistance effort. Alas, it is a losing battle. There have been multiple casualties and some of our warriors have also been enslaved to Sombra’s depraved control.”

“You said his darkness is spreading across Equestria,” noted Princess Luna, “but from the sound of it, it seems more like Sombra is taking the east.”

“For the moment, Princess Luna,” Prince Polaris clarified, “I have conjured a series of blizzards and whiteout around the north-east of Canterlot, in efforts to waylay Sombra’s troops and darkness. For the moment we are safe, but the snowstorms are only forcing Sombra to continue conquering more of Equestria!”

“If this continues, Your Highnesses,” Knighthoof offered, “we’ll be completely outnumbered and surrounded once Sombra finally turns his attention to Canterlot.”

“I must agree with Knighthoof,” Princess Celestia stated. “Fighting Sombra’s mind-slaves will only result in more casualties and more soldiers for Sombra. I am ordering an immediate evacuation of all Equestria to here in Canterlot.”

“But Princess!” Twilight objected, “Canterlot can’t possibly offer haven to everypony in Equestria!”

“We must, Twily,” Shining Armor disagreed. “It’s better if we gather everypony’s strength rather than allow ourselves to be thinned out.”

“I can use my magic to help earth pony farmers to quickly grow more food,” offered Princess Florinda, “and summon rain for drinking water. We’ll have enough provisions for everypony, as well as our guard.”

“Now, sister,” Princess Celestia addressed, “I believe you, along with the Knights of Adventure, have something to share with us.”

“Indeed,” Princess Luna confirmed, “Our troubles are only beginning. Sombra is not only spreading his darkness across Equestria, he plans to gain more power by two methods. The first is to restore his original body.”

“Why would Sombra want to restore his own body when he has Midnight as his new vessel?” Rarity asked.

“My guess is, Sombra finds Midnight’s body to be insufficient,” Prince Polaris offered. “Sombra developed an impressive fortitude to master the dark magicks he has at his disposal. Midnight has not. It is quite possible that Sombra is barely able to use the dark magic he mastered in his original body because Midnight’s body has not built up the kind of internal strength necessary to manipulate the dark powers.”

“Which brings us to the other method Sombra covets to conquer Equestria,” Princess Luna continued. “Everypony, I fear Sombra is seeking a way to physically enter the Dream Plane.”

“How would he do that?” Big McIntosh asked. “Cain’t he just hit the hay and dream himself into the Dream Plane?”

“But more importantly, why?” added Applejack, as confused as her brother. “Why in thunder-ation duz Sombra wanna enter the Dream Plane like that?”

“Sleep does enable one to exist in the Dream Plane,” Princess Luna explained, “but almost everypony never realizes their dreams are just dreams. Sombra certainly knows how to interact with his dreams, and control them to an extent. But this offers him very little, compared to what he could gain by entering the Dream Plane physically.”

“How do you mean, Your Highness?” Shining Armor asked.

“If Sombra were to enter the Dream Plane physically,” Princess Luna explained ominously, “he would possibly gain access to a power too horrible to face… I believe Sombra seeks to take control of the Castle of Dreams.”

Princesses Celestia and Florinda, along with Prince Polaris, gasped in horror, immediately setting everypony else on edge.

“Wait a minute, what’s the Castle of Dreams?!” Spike asked.

“I’ve never read about it!” worried Twilight.

“Wait, is that the same castle Midnight and I were in?” Shining Armor asked. “He had me imprisoned there until Midnight set me free.”

“The Castle of Dreams…” Princess Celestia mused grimly. “I thought it was a myth.”

“It would appear otherwise,” Prince Polaris debated. “This is even worse than we thought. To gain the power of the Castle of Dreams would make Sombra unstoppable.”

“But he can’t enter it,” Princess Florinda disputed, “perhaps he did as a spirit but since he now inhabits Midnight’s body, he is limited to his own dreams in the Dream Plane.”

“Which explains something else Midnight informed us of, last night,” Princess Luna informed them. “Midnight stated Sombra is seeking artifact… I believe the artifact he spoke of, is the Mirror of Fantasia.”

The look on Princess Celestia’s face told everypony this news was not good.

“Wait a minute, I have never heard of this Mirror of Fantasia,” Princess Florinda remarked.

“I believe I might have read mentions of it long ago,” Prince Polaris offered, “but even I do not possess this knowledge.”

“Few would,” Princess Celestia confirmed. Everypony’s eyes were on her as she went on. “In the waning days of the tribes of Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies, when Equestria was just beginning, Clover the Clever sought to make dreams reality, and believed the method was to physically enter what later came to be known as the Dream Plane.”

“Wasn’t Clover the Clever the apprentice of Star Swirl the Bearded?” Twilight asked. “I remember when I played her at the Hearth’s Warming Eve play, she was the adviser of Princess Platinum, and came to be known as a great magician in her own right.”

“Indeed she was,” Princess Celestia confirmed. “Clover was fascinated by the concept of dreams, how anything is possible in a dream. She pondered, if anything is possible in a dream, why not could she make it so for reality? So Clover researched extensively in anything pertaining to dreams, and conducted several experiments, often putting herself at risk, for she would not force nor ask anypony to risk themselves for her pursuit of knowledge.”

“Sound like somepony we know,” Starfyre kidded as he gave a wink to Twilight, only to flinch at the glare he got from Shining Armor.

“As I was saying…” Princess Celestia said with a fake cough, “Clover soon invented a spell for Lucid Dreaming, which allows one to know they are asleep and in a dream, thereby allowing one to control their dreams. Using Lucid Dreaming, Clover soon found something beyond the parameters of her own dreams.”

“The Dream Plane,” Shining Armor, Bravissimo, and Fluttershy all realized aloud.

“Indeed,” Princess Celestia confirmed. “Clover soon realized that dreams take place, not within one’s mind, but on a different plane of existence, which is how she discovered the Dream Plane and named it so. This only urged Clover to learn more, and soon she invented a way to physically enter the Dream Plane… via her creation, the Mirror of Fantasia.”

“So this mirror lets anypony just mosey on in t’th’ Dream Plane, Princess?” asked Applejack.

“Exactly, Applejack,” Princess Celestia replied, “and it was for that very reason the Mirror was dangerous.”

“How exactly does walking in the Dream Plane become dangerous?” Thunderlane asked, Pinkie Pie adding, “Yeah, the Dream Plane sounds like a place to have fun!”

“The Dream Plane is indeed a place where dreams are real,” Princess Celestia clarified, her horn shining as the Princess of the Sun cast a spell.

Over everypony’s head an image of a misty meadow appeared.

“In the Dream Plane, anything is possible. One can simply sprout wings and fly, cast spells without a horn, make their dreams come true as easily as stamping one’s hoof. But the Dream Plane draws power from imagination. And Imagination is a powerful thing, especially when it comes to Fear.”

“You’re talking about nightmares and bad dreams,” Forester presumed with a shudder.

“The Dream Plane isn’t just where our dreams take place, it is where we experience our fears made into nightmares.”

“And not only that,” Princess Luna added, “What happens in dreams stay in dreams. But what happens on the Dream Plane is real… Given the correct method, these dreams-made-real can potentially invade this world.”

“You mean… something bad could happen in the Dream Plane, and come into the real world?” asked Twilight fearfully.

“It’s happened before,” Princess Celestia confirmed. “When Clover the Clever completed the Mirror of Fantasia, she tested it by being the first pony to ever step physically into the Dream Plane. Here, she sought to make everypony’s dreams come true.”

“And the road to Tartartus is often paved with good intentions,” Princess Luna added. “Clover conjured a great Castle in the Dream Plane, from where she could work and observe others’ dreams. She planned to learn what others dreamed so as to ascertain their desires, and make the corresponding dreams real before bringing them out of the Dream Plane into the waking world.”

“And this castle is the Castle of Dreams you mentioned before,” Shining Armor surmised.

“Yes, and the master of the Castle would have access to the dreams of everypony in Equestria,” Princess Luna went on, “and most likely every dreaming creature in the world.”

“Clover then exited the Dream Plane so as to present the results of all her work to her mentor, Star Swirl,” Princess Celestia continued.

“But in her carelessness, she’d left the Mirror of Fantasia open.”

Both Princesses fell silent.

“…Then what happened?” Spike broke the ice.

“Discord happened…” Princess Celestia replied, much to everypony’s shock! “Nopony knows how, but a dream running rampant found its way out of the Mirror on its own, and somehow this dream became Discord, the Spirit of Disharmony.”

“So Discord came to be because Clover the Clever opened a door into the Dream Plane?” asked Twilight. “How is that even possible?”

“There is no way to be truly sure,” Princess Celestia answered. “For just as with Chaos, anything is possible with Dreams. With such power, Discord was able to enslave al of Equestria and subject everypony to a period of misery.”

“It was then my sister and I utilized the Elements of Harmony in order to depose Discord’s wretched rule over Equestria,” Princess Luna concluded.

“In shame of what her actions had caused, Clover the Clever decided to seal the doorway between the Dream Plane and the waking world and hide the Mirror of Fantasia. She destroyed all her research on dreams and swore never to share her findings with anypony.”

“So… Sombra now seeks the Mirror Fantasia,” Shining Armor gathered, “and if he gets it, he’ll get the Castle of Dreams and nopony will be safe from him! He’ll be able to access the sleeping minds of everypony in the world!”

“And he’ll use the power of the Dream Plane to remake his real body!” Twilight added.

“We can’t waste a moment,” Princess Celestia declared, “We must find the Mirror of Fantasia before Sombra, and hopefully we will uncover a way to restore Midnight to his body.”

“Then what’re we waiting for?” Shining Armor asked. “The Knights of Adventure stand ready, Your Majesty!”

“Very well,” Princess Celestia agreed, “The Knights of Adventure shall take up the task of finding and recovering the Mirror of Fantasia. Twilight, you and your friends must remain here to aid in protecting Canterlot; we will need the Elements of Harmony. Prince Polaris, continue overseeing military operations, and Princess Florinda, you shall oversee handling all refugees.”

“Princess Celestia,” Faerie Tail spoke up, “There is something more everypony should hear.”

“By all means,” Princess Celestia conferred.

All eyes fell to Faerie Tail and her husband Knighthoof.

“As my wife stated, you must all hear what we have to say, for it may provide insight or some knowledge that could be of use.”

“What do you mean, Sir?” asked Shining Armor.

“Sombra was not always evil,” Knighthoof explained. “Once upon a time, he was a wandering warrior, searching for a purpose. He was once a knight of the old Unicorn kingdom.”

“Sombra was a knight?!” Shining Armor was in awe. “Are we talking about the same Sombra whose known as ‘the Unicorn whose Heart is as Black as Night?’”

“He was,” Knighthoof confirmed. “Honorable and selfless, Sombra served the Unicorn Kingdom and was revered as a hero. He was born the bastard child of a noblemare and a squire. Because of his black coat and the circumstances surrounding his birth he was seen as an omen of ill-fortune. Because of this, he had a hard childhood. Even so, Sombra strove to achieve his dreams, and proved himself worthy of knighthood, becoming Sir Sombra de Obsidian. Over time, Sombra’s exploits and adventures made him revered and a legend. To many unicorns, even earth ponies and pegasi, he was honored and hailed as a hero. But he soon became disillusioned by the rift of distrust and persecution between the three pony tribes.”

“Sombra attempted to convince the Unicorn King that the tribes should unite and put their differences behind them,” Faerie Tail added.

“Alas, his words fell on deaf ears. So Sombra chose to leave the Kingdom and find his own way. He wandered the lands, lending his horn, his blade, and his magic as a mercenary. Eventually, he heard tell of a new land, Equestria.”

“Arriving there, he was happy to find the tribes had united into a single community,” Knighthoof went on. “He travelled around Equestria, lending a helping hoof to everypony. But then he found a wonderful place, the Crystal Empire. There, he was astonished by its beauty and the love and hope. But then, the Crystal Empire fell into a dark time, when a plague started to infect many crystal ponies.”

“But help arrived in the form of young and beautiful unicorn healer, Evening Star,” Faerie Tail explained. “She combined her knowledge of herbs with her unique magic to create an elixir, healing the sick and relieving the crystal ponies of their suffering. Sombra assisted her, and during their time together helping the crystal ponies, they fell in love.”

“How romantic!” swooned Rarity. “Brought together by compassion and sympathy a romance is born betwixt the unflinching compassion of a healer and the rough yet gentle heart of a warrior!”

“Indeed,” Faerie Tail agreed. “Never had there been a romance so loving as that shared between Evening Star and Sombra. They fell in love, and were married, and eventually they had two children.”

“But while all this had been happening,” Knighthoof stepped in morbidly, “Clover had been tampering with powers she should not have tampered with. For when Discord appeared, he wrought havoc upon all of Equestria, bringing misery and suffering unto everypony. During one of Discord’s rampant bouts, he had caused an earthquake that scarred the Crystal Empire with destruction. Sombra and Evening Star’s youngest child, their only daughter… was killed in the chaos.”

The Mares of Harmony all gasped.

“His child’s death and his family grieving was only the beginning of Sombra’s fall,” Knighthoof said with a heavy heart.

“Clover’s accursed creation, the Mirror of Fantasia, unleashed not only discord into the waking world but something else as well, something evil, something born from the nightmares of all ponies. An evil that sensed the grieving hate within Sombra’s heart. After Princesses Celestia and Luna defeated Discord and imprisoned him within stone, Sombra felt cheated of revenge, and outraged that the Princesses has only jailed Discord instead of destroying him.”

“Sombra’s hate and rage attracted the evil that Clover’s mirror had allowed escape,” Faerie Tail said.

“But it was only when Faerie Tail passed away did Sombra finally fall to darkness. The evil infected Sombra’s grieving heart and transformed him into the threat we now face: King Sombra, the Unicorn whose Heart is as Black as Night…”

Everypony was silenced with awe, until big McIntosh asked, “Wha’ happened to Sombra’s other kid? Y’all said they had two.”

“Sombra’s other child, his firstborn son,” Knighthoof explained, “was also my and Midnight’s ancestor, Rising Hope. Rise was almost a grown stallion when his family was broken. He’d lost his sister to Discord’s selfish bouts of havoc, his mother to an illness, and his father to evil. He left the Crystal Empire when his father lashed out at him in his grief, and was not there when Sombra took over the Empire. Rise grew up, found love, raised a family, and passed on. His family continued all the way down to mine.”

Twilight and Shining Armor shared a sorrowful look of sympathy.

“And Midnight has no idea…” Shining Armor supposed.

“None…” Knighthoof confirmed in shame. “I should’ve told him.”

“The fault is not yours, old friend,” Princess Celestia insisted. “I should never have placed Midnight at risk – I only did what I felt as necessary, and my reasons were flawed.”

“With all due respect, Princess Celestia,” Prince Polaris spoke up, “I believe we must get a move on; I must return to command my troops, and my sister should prepare to receive the refugees.”

“Agreed,” Princess Celestia said and Prince Polaris nodded respectfully before leaving the throne room. “Twilight, as I said before, you and your friends must remain here and use the Elements of Harmony to aid in protecting Canterlot.”

“Yes, Princess,” Twilight replied.

“Spike, prepare to send some messages, I’ll need you momentarily.”

“Ready and able, Your Highness!” Spike said while whipping out a quill and parchment from his back on reflex.

“Princess Florinda, stand ready,” Princess Celestia said to the Princess of Spring and Summer. “We have much work ahead of us.”

“Of course,” Princess Florinda said before turning to the Stallions. “I am counting, on all of you. Save the Empire, save my nephew, and save my apprentice. Midnight and Prince Pollo sacrificed themselves already, and I don’t want to see anypony else suffer a loss.”

The Knights of Adventure all saluted, and Florinda left to make preparations. Knighthoof and Faerie Tail approached them as the old general said, “Midnight is our son – We have faith you won’t let him down.”

“We believe in you, because we know Midnight certainly does,” Faerie Tail agreed.

The couple left.

Princes Celestia then stood before The Stallions of Adventure and the Mares of Harmony.

“All of you represent the hopes of Equestria: Harmony will always prevail, just as Adventure tests even the strongest of Friendships, but the Magic of them all is truly worth fighting for.”

Princess Luna stepped forward, saying, “Twilight Sparkle, I recommend you aid the Knights in the Royal Library; perhaps there you will all discover a lead to the whereabouts of the Mirror of Fantasia.”

“Wait, whattya mean the whereabouts of the mirror?” Starfyre asked.

“After realizing her creation had unleashed untold havoc upon Equestria,” Princess Celestia answered, “Clover the Clever decided to hide the Mirror, that its magic was too dangerous to allow anypony to use. She hid the Mirror in a location known only to her and destroyed all her research on dreams to cover her tracks. The only one she entrusted the secret of the mirror to was her mentor.”

“In that case,” Twilight announced, “We’ll look in the Wing of Star Swirl the Bearded!”

Ups and Downs

Chapter 9

Surrounded by endless misty grasslands, everywhere he looked was depressing and dreary. But it wasn’t on his mind as he panted, tired from having just galloped what felt like miles.

I have to keep moving… I don’t have long before he catches up to me.

In fact, I’m here already!

Midnight froze up as he heard that familiar dark chuckle and he looked behind him to see those horrible red eyes… on a tree?

The tree was black and decrepit, with Sombra’s red eyes in the trunk. But it caught on ebony flame, burning away to reveal the black unicorn.

What took you so long?

But- How did you know to I would come here?! Midnight gasped.

Here? Where is here, my little pony? chuckled Sombra, appearing as Midnight had first seen him. This is the Dream Plane – There is no “here” or “there” unless you count the Castle of Dreams. Everything here is exactly however I desire.

I see you’re not too keen to my good looks if you’re talking to me with your own ugly mug, Sombra, Midnight smirked.

Your back-sassing would be annoying were it not so pitifully amusing. I simply thought I should appear to my son without a mask.

Shut up! You’re not my father! Midnight screamed as he charged Sombra, only to be blown away by some unseen force that sent him careening a distance and landing painfully on his back. But even in pain, he remained defiant.

I am nothing like you!

Do you think so? Sombra sneered maliciously as he circled Midnight like a shark, leaving flaming hoofprints behind him with each step.

We’ll get to that…

Whatever you have planned, Sombra, my friends will stop you!

Ooh! I’m quaking in my hoof boots! Sombra simply laughed, sounding not even in the least concerned. Your Knights of Adventure are nothing without you, Midnight, because their Spirits draw their power from your own, that miserable Spirit of Light! As for those insufferable mares who wield the Elements of Harmony, my spy in Canterlot has already informed me that Princess Celestia is keeping them close, thinking it will keep them safe from my power. The very fact she refuses to wield possibly the one thing that might have a chance of giving me a tickle shows just how much they fear me! As they should…

You won’t take Canterlot so easily… Midnight warned, trying to sound threatening.

True, but soon I’ll have amassed enough mind-slaves and thinned out enough enemy ranks to take Canterlot, Sombra’s expression sent chills up Midnight’s spine as he looked upon the grin of a mad stallion.

If your annoying body was better-able to withstand the strain of using my dark magic, I would already be storming the castle. Unfortunately, even certain dark spells that were originally colt’s play for me now tax my strength, and I must keep it up in order to retain control of my slaves…!

Hearing the frustration in Sombra’s voice, Midnight got an idea.

Perhaps you should’ve thought of that before you body-jacked me but you must have been pretty desperate to resort to such a method without such foresight, if not then you were stupid. Just as it was stupid of you to blab all that to me right now…

Growling, Sombra turned his horn to Midnight and Midnight screamed as he was engulfed in crimson aura of crackling energy.

Make any smug remark you want, my pitiful descendant! I’ll have the last laugh once I restore my original body! And when that bridge is crossed, my power will truly be at its peak, and I’ll have no need of you any longer…

Sombra released the spell, taking a cruel delight as Midnight collapsed in pain, groaning. However, the dark king was admittedly a little irritated to see Midnight’s defiant glare.

I suppose you have more smart-alecky remarks to say…

No matter how much you conquer, how many you oppress, Midnight seethed, you will never truly rule Equestria, so long as there is even one pony who has hope!

Sombra broke out into a roaring laughter in response.

It’s so adorable the way you continue to delude yourself!

Suddenly, Sombra looked truly frightening in such a way Midnight couldn’t help letting out a frightened whimper at the thunderous stamp of Sombra’s hoof.

But don’t get me wrong – I fully intend to snuff out that annoying “light” inside you, and believe you me I will make it hurt! But that won’t compare to the pain you’ll feel knowing that it is your face that will haunt the darkest nightmares of everypony in Equestria!

Steeling himself, Midnight stood tall and met Sombra’s gaze with a look unflinching.

The path you walk has no end, Sombra. No matter how much you conquer, how much you destroy, how many you oppress, you will never know the peace of feeling content. You will always fear losing your power, just as you do right now.

SHUT UP! snarled Sombra, as he launched an energy bolt at Midnight, knocking down the blue unicorn who let out another cry of pain. Stomping over, he stamped down on Midnight’s back, making him grit his teeth but refusing to scream. The Black Unicorn bent down as he whispered, *I was going to allow you to bear witness to the eventual downfall of Canterlot, but now… You just signed your own death warrant! Come this time tomorrow night, I am going to get rid of you, once and for all…!*

Sombra stamped Midnight’s head to get his point across and vanished, leaving Midnight to stew, as the young mage couldn’t help but shed tears, hating how helpless he felt.

“Ugh!!!!” Starfyre groaned as he laid on a balance beam. “This is taking forever!!!”

Everypony was in the Canterlot Library – Twilight and Shining Armor had led their friends there and spoken to Faerie Tail about their mission. At that moment, everypony was in the Wing of Star Swirl the Bearded, looking through a book or scroll that pertained to magic involving dreams, sleep, magical artifacts, or even portals.

Twilight was juggling several books at once while Rainbow Dash looked to be enjoying a particular novel.

“Hey Twilight! Didja know Star Swirl also tangled with an Ursa Minor? He was even younger than you when he did!”

“Stop goofing off, Rainbow,” Twilight gently scolded her.

“Star, get yer tail down here an’ help us!” Big Mac snapped, waving his hoof angrily at the red Pegasus.

“I don’t have the patience for books, bro. I’m a professional athlete!” scoffed Starfyre, as he lounged on the support beam above them.

“AJ?” Big McIntosh asked without taking his eyes of the book he was skimming.

“Ah’m on it,” Applejack assured as she went over to the pillar with the support beam Starfyre was lying on, and bucked it.

“Yow!!!”

*Whump/Crash!!!*

Seeing Starfyre with a scroll enwrapping his middle and an open book on his head made everypony laugh, and even Starfyre found the situation amusing.

Hours later…

“Nothing!” Shining Armor exclaimed in frustration. Looking around, he saw everypony wasn’t exactly happy either.

Books law sprawled everywhere, scrolls unrolled and trailing, everypony was exhausted.

“An entire wing of books and not a single mention of that blasted mirror!” Bavissimo was in theatric-mode again.

“Is this fate turned against us? Is this a test of our resolve?! O woe is we, the striving saviors!”

“Enough already!!!” Starfyre and Rainbow Dash snapped, Bravissimo miffing at their outburst.

“I just can’t believe it,” Twilight wondered aloud, “how could Star Swirl not mention in even one of his works about the Mirror? Granted, it is a dangerous artifact, but still…”

“Maybe this Star Swirl feller did record mentions of th’ mirror but wer’ lookin’ in th’ wrong places,” Big Mac suggested.

“The question is, where did he put information of the mirror?” Rarity added.

“Um, pardon me…” Fluttershy said politely as she held up a booklet, but nopony except Forester seemed to hear her.

“Maybe we should look into finding a way to restore Midnight to his body,” Starfyre suggested, “I mean, we aren’t getting anywhere in this mirror-search.”

“Hey, uh, Fluttershy says-” Forester tried to say but Twilight cut him off.

“We have to find anything we can on the mirror!” she insisted. “If Sombra gets his hooves on it, Equestria just might be doomed!”

“This page here looks like-” Fluttershy tried again.

“But we can’t just forget about Midnight!” Thunderlane butted in. “He’s counting on us to help him!”

“Hey, Fluttershy, what’cha got there?” interrupted Spike, and his query alone got everypony’s attention as their eyes fell upon Fluttershy and Forester.

“I- Uh, I found this old booklet under a table leg,” Fluttershy answered, holding it out to Twilight. “I think it’s an old journal.”

She levitated it to herself and looked at the page Fluttershy had it open to, reading aloud for everypony to hear.

“‘It has been a year to the day my old student, Clover the Clever, entrusted to me the knowledge of her work on dreams, and the location of her creation, the Mirror of Fantasia!’”

Everypony listened closely as she continued.

“‘I am torn by her trust in me to never reveal the location of the mirror and the unshakeable feeling that one day the mirror might be crucial to the fate of Equestria. In my many years as a magician, I have always trusted my instincts but the trust of my student is something I hold sacred. So to protect the trust she has in me but to insure the mirror fulfills the purpose I feel is intended by fate, I leave behind this clue to one who seeks the mirror not for one’s self but for the welfare of everypony in Equestria.’”

“So what’s the clue?!” urged Starfyre and Rainbow Dash.

“Oh no!” gasped Twilight as she twirled the booklet around for them all to see…

“The page is torn!”

“Now what’r we gonna do?” Big Mac groaned.

“We can’t give up!” Rarity stamped her hoof. “Just because the page is gone, it proves for a fact that Star Swirl left a way for somepony to find the mirror.”

“But who knows when the page was lost?” Bravissimo started another episode only to get tripped up by Starfyre, as he threatened in a low voice, “Don’t do that again…”

Sighing, Shining Armor stated, “Why don’t we all take a break? If we can’t figure something out, we’ll talk to Princess Celestia later. Twily?”

“Yeah, Shining?” Twilight responded as everypony left to ponder.

“Could we talk somewhere private?”

“My old room here in Canterlot Castle.”

The room was just as Twilight had left it, books placed in the wall-to-wall shelves in alphabetical order by their titles, each shelf dedicating to a certain subject, the giant hourglass, the embroidered carpeting, it smelled of familiarity and warm memories. As the brother and sister walked in, Shining Armor said, “Twilight… I think Midnight’s in trouble.”

“Well, of course he is, Shining Armor,” Twilight replied. “He’s trapped in the Dream Plane.”

“No, I mean… I have this bad feeling that he needs my help,” Shining Armor claimed, “right now.”

“Well… what do you wanna do?” Twilight asked, seeing Shining Armor was serious. “If your instincts are telling you Midnight needs you, then you’re probably right! Star Swirl was right to leave a clue since we need to get the mirror.”

“Well, Twilight, you studied the works of Clover the Clever, right?”

“Of course! I studied her biography and some of her scrolls on magic, why?”

“Did you learn her spell for lucid dreaming?”

Realization dawned on Twilight’s face.

“You want me to put you to sleep so you can see Midnight in the Dream Plane.”

“Unless I can control my dreams, I don’t have a chance of reaching Midnight! Twily… I made a mistake years ago, back when we were colts… I said something horrible to him and I never apologized. Please… use the spell on me.”

Seeing the look in her brother’s eyes, Twilight sighed.

“I’ll do it. But I’ll only let you sleep for an hour under the spell’s effects. Then I’m waking you up.”

“Let’s do it!” Shining Armor smirked with resolve, and Twilight couldn’t help smiling.

In a few moments, Shining Armor was lying on Twilight’s old bed as Twilight looked at a spellbook.

“Just to be sure, I’m looking the spell over so I cast it properly. Remember, once I cast it you’ll quickly fall asleep, and you’ll be aware that you’re in a dream. After that, it’s all up to you.”

“Got it, wish me luck!” Shining Armor yawned.

Twilight concentrated as she chanted the spell.

“To dreams we escape our waking dilemmas

For a bliss so heavenly

But now to rest with a clear vendetta

To explore all reverie!”

Shining Armor felt the effect almost immediately, and felt the haze of sleep overtook his mind. But then, suddenly, he bolted up and was confused to see himself in the same room, still in Twilight’s bed. But she wasn’t there with him.

Twily? What happened? I’m not sure the spell worked.

There was no answer.

Sighing, Shining Armor got out of bed, muttering, *Maybe she went to get a snack.*

No sooner did the words leave his mouth did Shining Armor start when a floating tray appeared in front of him, with his favorite comfort snack.

A glass of chilled applejuice, a cheeseburger, and a side of hay-fries.

Now I know I’m dreaming, Shining Armor chuckled as he took the snack in stride and helped himself. Ordinarily, the captain kept to a strict diet but occasionally allowed himself to indulge, especially since this was probably just a figment of his imagination.

Let’s see. How to find Midnight…

Responding to his thoughts, Shining Armor watched as the scenery around him changed and he saw the thickest part of the Canterlot Royal Gardens. Walking through them, Shining Armor remembered.

Our old secret hideaway!

He pushed through a few thick branches, and sure enough there it was! An old log set near the pond, nearby was a makeshift table made from a wooden board set on two rocks, but what drew Shining Armor’s attention was a hollow at the base of a tree. Looking in, he gasped!

It’s still here!

Out he levitated what looked to be an old toychest, the white and gold paint dusty and peeling, the golden hinges slightly rusty but Shining Armor opened it just fine, and inside he found four Royal Guard toys, a stuffed dragon, toy castle building blocks, a couple wooden swords, capes, a home-made castle flag, and an old storybook. Just seeing them made Shining Armor feel like a colt again.

Oh what the heck…

Kneeling down, Shining Armor levitated the blocks to form a castle, the flag behind it, and set the dragon nearby.

Oh no! Shining Armor pretended as he moved the dragon. *A ferocious dragon is attacking the castle! Who can save us?*

Then Shining Armor moved the Royal Guard toys into a line and spoke heroically.

Never fear, my little ponies! The Royal Guard is here!

Laughing, he made the dragon growl and made the toys attack each other, playing roughly when his hoof lashed out and knocked over the storybook. It was then Shining Armor noticed something in it.

Huh? What’s this?

Opening the book, he was surprised to find an old envelope. Opening it, he was blown away!

*[]From Midnight? he read.*

‘Dear Shine,

If you’ve found this letter, I guess you might be feeling bad or confused about what you said yesterday.’

*He wrote this the day after that?! Shining Armor realized, and kept reading.*

‘I’m not even sure *when you’ll get this message, but I want you to know this. I don’t blame you in the slightest for what you said. I broke a promise, and for that I am so sorry. When next we meet, I won’t bring it up, because that’s what friends do. No argument is worth a friendship, and though friends may argue sometimes, true friends always make amends.*

You and I may have chosen to walk different paths but our friendship will always keep us connected. And wherever our paths may take us, I have faith that they will cross again the future. Then perhaps one day, you and I can go on a real adventure, just like we used to pretend.

Friends Forever,

Midnight’

Shining Armor read the letter thoroughly, wondering if it might not be real. But it was! It was Midnight’s old sloppy hoofwriting, and the words, how they just came together.

He really wrote this…* Shining Armor whispered. *But this is the Dream Plane, how can this be here?

It was at that moment Shining Armor heard something. It sounded like sniffling, like somepony was crying.

*Hello! Shining Armor turned around and realized the garden was gone! He stood in the Crystal Empire cemetery.*

Is somepony there? Are you ok?

Listening hard, he followed the sound of the crying towards the mausoleum. He slowly walked down the decrepit halls, the crying getting a little louder. There was something familiar about the crying, he was certain he’d heard it before. But soon he came towards an archway, above it carved “[ul]Within this chamber lies Evening Star, may her memory always give comfort and inspire hope[/ul]”. The crying was coming from inside!

He entered the chamber, finding it empty aside from the coffin in the center. Going over, he heard the crying and looked behind it to see…

Midnight?!

Dare to Hope

Chapter 10

Shining Armor could not believe what he was seeing – It was Midnight but as a colt! He was sitting there, sniffling into his hooves, his mane messy, but what frightened Shining Armor was the blank flank! Midnight was missing his cutie-mark!

Midnight, is that you?

The colt flinched at his voice before looking at the stallion, and Shining Armor knew it really was Midnight the moment those turquoise eyes looked at him, flowing with tears, scared.

Who… Who are you?

It’s ok, Shining Armor slowly approached. I’m here now.

The colt instantly turned tai land ran down a corridor, Shining Armor giving chase as he shouted, Midnight!

The colt ran into a vast chamber, filled with crystal columns, many reduced to rubble, Shining Armor following. The colt then leapt onto an old pedestal and kept going, Shining Armor following as well although the colt was surprisingly nimble.

Lookng ahead, Shining Armor saw the colt was headed for a bridge across a chasm.

Wait! I mean you no harm!

The colt ignored him and just ran across the bridge for a tunnel. Following him in, Shining Armor found himself in a grotto and almost didn’t notice a black and dark blue tail slip into a crack in the wall. He looked in and saw the colt, scared.

The captain reached in with his forehoof, saying, Please, I just want to[-/i] *Ouch!***

He was answered by a jab from the colt’s horn, not cutting him but the pain was sharp enough that he pulled his hoof back, the colt quickly rushing out of the crack past him. The colt ran but teetered close to an edge, causing him to slip and almost go over. Whimpering as he held on, Shining Armor rushed over, yelling, *Midnight!*

Shining Armor grabbed the colt’s hoof, and pulled him up. The colt stopped and looked up at the white unicorn stallion who said, *Midnight, it’s me! Remember?*

The colt whimpered sadly, *I’m lost.*

I know,* Shining Armor said gently as he kneeled down to the colt’s level. But I found you, and I want to help you. But I can’t unless you let *me.

Shining Armor gestured to his back, and, though hesitantly, the colt climbed on. Smiling, Shining Armor made his way back the way they came. To past the time, Shining Armor suggested, *How `bout a story? This one is about Midnight Blaze, he was my first friend, my best friend. A friend I considered a brother. He was kind and brave. We played together all the time when we were colts, pretending to fight dragons and villains, and dreamed of going on real adventures someday, and we hoped to join the Royal Guard together.*

But then Midnight realized he was meant walk a different path, a path that divided the two of us, and I said something to him, and never took the chance to say… I’m sorry.

[]…What was it you said to him? the colt asked.

But before Shining Armor could answer, they found the tunnel barred as thorn-like crystals jutted out from everywhere, a fissure opened beneath them, Shining Armor leapt to the safety of a narrow ledge, but gasped! He felt the colt slip from his back and screamed, MIDNIGHT!!!

The colt screamed in terror as he fell towards the darkness. Thinking quickly, Shining Armor cast a spell and whipped a line of light towards a stalactite and dived down after the colt. They both extended their hooves, and Shining Armor caught the colt in a tense swoop, swinging them back up towards another ledge. They landed in a tumble, Shining Armor panting as the letter he’d found fell in front of the colt.

The colt took a look at it, his eyes widening as he read it.

Standing up, Shining Armor looked to the colt, asking, Are you ok?

…Shining Armor, the colt said, much to the stallion’s surprise. Why did you come here?

You remember! Shining Armor said with a smile.

The colt faced him, and Shining Armor couldn’t help but notice Midnight’s cutie-mark slowly come back.

I wrote this… they day after I told you I was going to take the entrance exam for the School of Gifted Unicorns. I remember it all… The argument, our friends… Sombra! It’s all my fault...

What did he do to you? Shining Armor asked, feeling bad as Midnight seemed to sulk while sitting down.

All of this is my fault, Midnight said, tears welling up in his eyes. Because I gave up, everypony in Equestria is suffering.

That’s not true! Shining Armor insisted, lifting Midnight’s face to look at him. Midnight, listen! It’s easy to make the wrong choices, regardless of the consequences. It’s harder to make the right choices because sometimes it means giving up something important. I understand the choice you made, and when I think about it, I know I couldn’t have chosen different.

Then why do I feel so guilty? Midnight asked as he walked to the edge, looking towards that one ray of light that led to outside the chamber.

Why do we have to make such hard choices that end up hurting others one way or another?

Your father once told me something, Midnight, back when I was training in the Royal Guard, Shining Armor placed a hoof on his friend’s shoulder.

Good is restricted by honor while Evil doesn’t play fair. It is because we are Good that we must adhere to honor and morals. Otherwise we begin to loose respect of morals, that we no longer care for honor, and that is the path to Evil. There may still be a way to stop him.

Nopony can stop him, Midnight lamented. You came here for nothing.

I came here for you, Shining Armor corrected.

Why?! Midnight demanded, his eyes flowing with tears. He has my body, my powers! What good am I to anypony now?

Midnight sank to his knees, Shining Armor placing his hoof on the colt’s shoulders again, comfortingly.

He used me, Shining… He lured me right to him like a moth to the flame… I came from him, I share his blood. How can I ever face anypony knowing this?

I know, he’s your ancestor, but so what? Shining Armor insisted. You are not Sombra, Midnight. Blood means nothing when it comes to family. Family is tied together by love and friendship, bonds more meaningful and powerful than any blood-tie. So yeah, Equestria is in trouble. But we haven’t given up!

Look at what he did to me, Shining Armor! Midnight yelled. I can’t help anyone! He’s broken me… I’d be a fool to hope otherwise.

Then I guess I’m a much bigger fool, Shining Armor said with a smile.

Looking at that smile, Midnight recalled something he said to the Black Unicorn.

No… You’re not a fool. You’re the one pony whose Hope is unyielding.

No sooner did he finish speaking did they both feel a great power! The scenery around them faded away, revealing something familiar to them both.

I’m sure I know this place, mused Shining Armor, Midnight agreeing, Yeah, it looks so familiar…

It was the Crystal Empire but it looked like from a long time ago. They saw Crystal Ponies along with a few unicorns, pegasi, even earth ponies, all in what appeared to be a trader’s marketplace. Ponies everywhere were happy, talking, trading, foals ran and played.

But there were three ponies that drew their attention. One of them was a big unicorn stallion who looked rather familiar. He had a swept-back mane and tail black and shiny like obsidian while his coat was dark gray, his eyes as green like pine. His cutie-mark was a red crystal in three points.

He walked with a unicorn mare with a coat silver-white like starlight, her mane was a deep blue like the Nightsky, braided with woven gemstones, her eyes golden like an eclipse.

Her cutie-mark was a radiant star.

With them was a little unicorn colt.  He had inherited his father’s gray coat but it shimmered silver like his mother’s, his mane was white-gold with a silver highlight, and his eyes were blue like turquoise.

“Mom, Dad, can we go to the big jousting match today?”

“I don’t know, son,” said the unicorn stallion. “Your mother has been a little under the weather lately.”

“Oh, Sombra, stop fussing over me,” said the mare with a light laugh.

Sombra…! Shining Armor echoed, Midnight saying, That’s him?

“Evening Star,” Sombra said, sounding insistent, “I would just feel better if you took it easy today.”

Evening Star…! Midnight was blown away similar to Shining Armor.

“Mom, if you’re not feeling well,” said the colt, concerned, “then I can go see the jousting any other day.”

“No, no!” Evening Star insisted. “I am not gonna cut short our family-outing. Hey, let’s go see that fortune-teller!”

The two friends followed the family into a tent, inside which was a table covered by a cloth of purple, the air shimmered and hung thick with incense, and upon the table was a crystal ball.

“Hello?” Evening Star called, her son and husband both sharing a look and lightly shaking their heads.

There was a flash of light and they saw a robed pony, whose face was hidden in the shadow of her hood, and spoke with an accent from a faraway land.

“Welcome, ponies young and bold, have you come to hear your futures told?”

Giggling, Evening Star stepped up, asking, “Yes, I would like to know if what I’m hoping for is going to happen.”

“What?” Sombra asked, seeing a mischievous look in his wife’s eyes, but the fortune-teller spoke.

“In the crystal ball, let us peer, so you may see for yourself, my dear.”

The fortune-teller’s eyes glowed yellow, as did the center of the crystal ball, into which Evening Star bored her gaze in concentration.

“Many things for you I see, something soon will bring you glee. The future distant will play a part, a coming shadow will break your heart. A trial tragic, you will not cope. But in the end, there is always hope.”

At once, the scene dashed away like smoke, and they found themselves in what looked to be a bedroom, the family huddled around Evening Star, who looked exhausted but happy, as she held a bundle in her arms.

“Oh, Star,” Sombra whispered. “She’s perfect.”

“Hey there, baby girl,” whispered Sombra and Evening Star’s son. “I’m your big brother!”

“What shall we call her, everypony?” asked Evening Star.

“I was thinking… Star,” Sombra brought up, looking at his new daughter lovingly, “Little Star…”

“I got a better name,” their son said. “Nova.”

“Nova… I like it,” Evening Star agreed.

Sombra nodded, saying, “Let me hold our little Nova.”

Evening Star held out the bundle, and Shining Armor and Midnight saw it was a tiny filly with a coat black like the night sky while her mane was a deep blue like her mother’s. She slept soundly as her father held her close.

“Nova, welcome to our family. I’m your daddy, that beautiful mare is your mother, and this scamp of a colt is your big brother, Rising Hope.”

How touching…

That voice cut through the love in that moment like an executioner’s blade!

Shining Armor and Midnight gasped as it all was blown away, and they found themselves in a desolate looking prairie that looked like it went on forever to nowhere. Standing before them was Sombra.

This is just perfect, the black unicorn sneered. Now I shall have the pleasure of killing you both.

Sombra… Or should I call you Sir Sombra de Obsidian? Shining Armor narrowed his eyes.

That name no longer has any meaning for me. Sombra instantly lost his zeal, now looking murderously serious.

I have entertained your existences long enough. Enjoy oblivion…!!!

An orb sparked from Sombra’s horn, radiating red with hatred, but at that same moment, everything seemed to shake.

What is this?!

Shining Armor! What’s happening?! Midnight yelled.

It’s Twilight! Shining Armor realized. She’s waking me up!

You will not escape me! Sombra roared as he launched the spell.

Midnight! Come with me! Shining Armor held out his hoof to the blue unicorn colt.

Shine, I can’t! I don’t have my body!

If you don’t, who knows what Sombra will do to you?! Shining Armor insisted. Just trust me!

Although unsure, Midnight reached out, Sombra concentrating more power, his spell racing all the more. But the moment before it would hit the two best friends, they took each other’s hoof, and a golden light burst, extinguishing Sombra’s spell and blowing him back. Groaning as he got up, he saw they were gone, and let out an unearthly scream of rage.

“Shining Armor!” Twilight worried as she kept shaking her brother. “You have to wake up!”

Shining Armor was sweating and moaning, obviously having a bad dream when he thrashed a bit, causing him to fall out of bed.

“Shining!” Twilight cried but then gasped!

She watched as the cerulean streaks in her brother’s mane and tail, along with his left hooves, turned black, and his cutie-mark on his left flank faded away and was replaced by a very familiar cutie-mark, of a moon facing up, containing a five-point star surrounded by five twinkles.

Shining Armor groaned as he slowly stood up but sat down on his haunches, rubbing his head.

“Shining Armor!” Twilight said, holding his face. “What happened?! Is Midnight ok, how’d you get his cutie-mark?”

“Midnight…” Shining Armor whispered as he opened his eyes and Twilight gasped!.

While Shining Armor’s right eye was still the same cerulean, his left had turned a very familiar turquoise.

“Shining Armor, tell me what happened!” Twilight was really getting worried.

“Twily, Midnight…” Shining Armor groaned. “He’s… inside me.”

Solutions

Chapter 11

Everypony was in the Royal Dining Hall, discussing what they should do.

“Ah still say we oughta find th’ missin’ page from th’ book!” Big McIntosh insisted.

“But who knows when it went missing,” Rainbow Dash debated, “or if it even exists anymore!”

“It’s proof that the clue we need is out there somewhere!” Thunderlane added.

“Um, maybe we should talk to the princesses,” Fluttershy offered.

“I think she’s right,” Forester agreed while giving Fluttershy a kind look.

“Darling, finding the clue is the logical choice,” Rarity mused, “but the threat we face is imminent!”

“Do we even have time to search for a clue that may no longer even exist?” Bravissimo asked. “We wouldn’t even know where to begin!”

“Ooh, ooh! It could be like a scavenger hunt!” Pinkie Pie giggled.

“Um, doesn’t a scavenger hunt mean looking for a bunch of stuff, Pinkie?” Spike deadpanned.

“Maybe we shuld wait fer Twilight and Shining Armor ta’ get back,” Applejack amended.

“We’re back!”

Everypony looked to see Twilight at the double-doored entrance to the Dining Hall but noticed Shining Armor shying from the threshold so they only saw his horn.

“Hey Twi, Shining!” Starfyre called. “What’s up?”

Everypony then noticed the nervous look on Twilight.

“Uh, guys? We have good news and we have bad news…”

“Well, sugarcube, let’s hear it!” Applejack and Big Mac insisted.

“Well… The good news is…” Twilight hesitated. “Midnight is no longer trapped in the Dream Plane and at Sombra’s mercy.”

“That’s wonderful, darling!” Rarity swooned.

Thunderlane whooped as Pinkie cheered, saying, “Lemme get my party cannon!”

“Hold everything…!!!” Starfyre yelled in mid-air and oddly everypony in the room froze in place as they gave him an intimidated look.

Then Starfyre flew closer to Twilight, asking, “If Midnight’s not on the Dream Plane anymore, then where is he?”

“Well, that’s kind of… the bad news,” Twilight admitted, sweating a little, “depending on how you view the situation…”

“And why in thunder-ation are ya hiding, Shining Armor?” Big McIntosh asked suspiciously.

They all heard Shining Armor let out a deep sigh, and in he walked.

“Darling, have you done something with your mane?” Rarity asked. “Not that I’m complaining, the black streaks make you look rather refined.”

“And what’s with your eye?” Rainbow Dash asked as she got a little nosy and zoomed right up into Shining Armor’s face.

“They look… different somehow.”

“Rainbow!” Twilight scolded, making the rainbow-maned Pegasus mare back off a little. Twilight sighed, and said to her brother, “Show them.”

Shining Armor gulped and then showed off his left flank, and everypony gasped!

“Haystack! How’d’ja get Midnight’s cutie-mark?!” Big Mac was blown away.

“You don’t have the cutie-pox, do ya, sugarcube?”Applejack hoped not, after having gone through that with her sister.

“No, no, everypony!” Shining Armor calmed them down, and sighed. “Midnight’s not on the Dream Plane anymore, because… he’s inside me.”

“What?!” everypony brayed.

“Listen, I know you want to find out what happened,” Twilight spoke up, “but I think we should include the Princesses in on this explanation.”

About fifteen minutes later, everypony was back in the throneroom, not including Midnight’s parents. Princess Florinda was scrutinizing Shining Armor’s flank with Midnight’s cutie-mark while apparently using some kind of spell.

Shining Armor stood in the center, feeling uncomfortable as everypony looked at him as if he’d grown a second head.

“This is most perplexing!” Princess Florinda declared. “This is definitely Midnight’s cutie-mark but I know for sure he is here, within you Shining Armor, because I can feel his essence, his spirit has buried itself within you!”

“And the story you told us of how this occurred is very interesting,” Princess Celestia agreed. “Never before has two ponies occupied the same body, even Star Swirl thought it to be impossible.”

“Uh, Shining Armor?” Forester asked, “Can Midnight… talk to us through you?”

“It’s not that simple,” Shining Armor explained, “I feel him, like he’s literally in the back of my mind, but it’s as if he’s asleep.”

“I would imagine that it’s because Midnight has sought refuge within you,” Princess Florinda deduced, “From what you told us, Midnight trusted you to save him from Sombra, and he’s chosen to bury himself within you.”

“The way he was when I saw him in the Dream Plane,” Shining Armor gloomed. “He was so… dejected, he blames himself for everything. And when Sombra showed up, he looked so scared… No wonder he’s hiding.”

“Well, we gotta get him to buck up!” Starfyre insisted, and suddenly he zipped over to Shining Armor and did a pretty convincing imitation of the Royal Canterlot Voice into the white unicorn’s ear.

“YO, MIDNIGHT BLAZE! BUCK UP, BRO!! WE NEED YOUR HELP TO BEAT SOMBRA…!!!!!”

This earned him a look from everypony in the room as Shining Armor turned an unhealthy shade of angry as he glared lightning bolts at the yellow Pegasus pony, Starfyre letting out a very un-stallionly squeal.

“And they call us immature,” Thunderlane cracked, Pinkie giggling.

One psychotic rant of a scolding later…

“Now that we’re back on track,” Princess Celestia spoke, ignoring the others’ fuming at Starfyre, who shrank at the persecution, “we must address the concern of the missing clue.”

“Is there any way to determine when the clue was lost?” Princess Florinda asked.

“Unfortunately no,” Twilight reported. “The page was completely torn out, and without it we have no means of finding the Mirror of Fantasia.”

“But we can’t assume Sombra hasn’t a means of locating the mirror,” Bravissimo stated, “If he is truly determined to take the power of the Castle of Dreams, and restore his original body, I daresay he will.”

“Perhaps if we knew who it was that took th’ page,” Applejack said, “we could find a way ta’ get it back!”

“Hold yer apples, AJ!” Big Mac gasped. “Ah think there is a way we can find out wha’ happened to th’ page!”

“Speak your mind, Big McIntosh,” Princess Celestia invited.

Big Mac stepped forward and said, “When we were in th’ Crystal Empire, Midnight used a spell to help us find th’ Crystal Heart, a spell that let’s y’all see what happened in th’ past! As if y’all were there!”

“Oh yeah!” Starfyre said, ignoring how everypony, Shining Armor particularly, wasn’t quite done being angry with him, “Midnight said it was an illusion, like a play-back of past events!”

“Eeyup!” Big McIntosh declared. “We jus’ need ta’ use th’ same spell and maybe it’ll show us who took th’ page or when it happened!”

“That is an excellent idea, Big McIntosh,” Princess Celestia agreed rather unenthusiastically, “but I’m afraid it won’t work.”

“Why not?” Rarity asked, “You agreed it to be brilliant!”

“I’m afraid the princess is right, everypony,” Twilight said.

“Because the only pony who can use that spell is Midnight himself,” Shining Armor explained.

The Princesses led everypony towards a room with a heavy metal door, engraved with many magical symbols and sigils, reinforced with multiple heavy-locks, crisscrossed with iron chains. It looked haunting and forbidden, and made everypony shiver.

“This is the Sorcerous Sanctum,” Princess Celestia declared. “Contained within are all the greatest secrets of Equestria. Besides us, the Princesses and Princes, very few have ever had the privilege of seeing what’s inside.”

“Ooh!” Thunderlane and Pinkie said with eyes filled with wonder.

“Twilight, Shining Armor, if you would assist me?” requested Princess Celestia, and the two siblings stood at her sides, and the three of them charged their horns with magic.

Everypony watched as the three different magicks worked in concert, symbols on the vault door brightening up with colors shifting like a kaleidoscope, undoing the locks, the chains falling away, as the door rumbled open, revealing a long dark hallway.

“Now then,” Princess Celestia invited, “shall we?”

Everypony followed as Princess Celestia shined her horn to provide light. They passed by multiple doors a lot like the vault door, with signs over them written in some old language most of them didn’t recognize. Finally, they came to a certain door, and Princess Celestia opened it to reveal a circular chamber, a light shining from the ceiling onto an ancient lectern, upon which laid an ancient tome.

At first glance, it looked like any other tome, like the ones Twilight and Midnight often buried their muzzles in. But as they approached it, all of them, even the earth ponies and pegasus ponies felt its power, ancient, foreboding, demanding of respect. The tome was in surprisingly good condition, bound in leather, with gold clasps and embellished with symbols, with three gem stones, a sapphire, a ruby, and an emerald, on the cover.

“What’s that, a spellbook?” Big Mac asked.

“Not just any spellbook,” Shining Armor said, Twilight saying, “That is the original spellbook!”

Princess Celestia and Princess Solar went over to stand by the book, the Princess of the Sun explaining, “Behold, my little ponies, the Grimorum Unicorum! The first spellbook ever written, containing magicks and spells that predate even the tribes of unicorn, earth pony, and pegasi.”

“Within this tome is one hundred ancient spells, unique and powerful in their own ways,” Princess Florinda added.

“Only the most trusted, proven, and worthy are allowed to learn a spell from this book.”

“Are you saying Midnight learned that spell to playback the past from that book?” Starfyre asked.

“Indeed, and it is for that reason the spell can only be used by Midnight alone,” Princess Celestia explained. “The Grimorum Unicorum was written by an ancient unicorn mage whose name has long been forgotten though it is a popular belief that Star Swirl was descended from the Mage. Anyway, this Unicorn Mage recognized the power of the spells within this book, and believed no one pony should be able to use them all after the mage passed away.”

“So the mage wove a very specific enchantment upon the Grimorum Unicorum,” Princess Florinda stated. “this enchantment would insure each of the hundred spells could only be used by a single pony at a time.”

“In fact, my Shield Spell is one of the hundred spells in this book,” Shining Armor added.

“Y’mean th’ one you used to cover all a’ Canterlot just b’for yer wedding?” Applejack asked.

“That’s the one,” Shining Armor confirmed.

“That particular spell is this one,” Princess Celestia said as she levitated the book and opened its pages, which were understandably yellowed with age, to a specific entry.

“The Bastion Barrier, purported to protect an entire kingdom with the resolve equal to the strength of a pony’s heart.”

“That didn’t work out so well at the time,” Shining Armor admitted rather guiltily as he looked at his sister, “because I put my trust in the wrong pony.”

“That wasn’t your fault,” Twilight assured her brother. “I didn’t exactly go about that the right way.”

“So if Midnight’s spell is from this book, which one is it?” Bravissimo asked.

Princess Celestia turned the pages until it showed, “The Spell of Retrospection, to look back upon events past and inspect them as if you’d been there. This is the spell from the Grimorum Unicorum Midnight alone is able to use.”

“Whattya mean by that, Yer Highness?” Big McIntosh asked.

“Well, there are certain ways for a mage to be able to use one of Hundred Spells,” Princess Celestia explained. “As you recall, before Shining Armor was Captain of the Royal Guard, that rank and title belonged to Midnight’s father, General Knighthoof. Back then, Knighthoof was the wielder of the Bastion Barrier, but once he stepped down, he bestowed the power of the spell to Shining Armor, his successor.”

“So what did Midnight do to earn him the right to use one of these spells?” Spike asked.

“Take a look at his cutie-mark,” Princess Florinda said, pointing at Shining Armor’s left flank, which bore Midnight’s cutie-mark.

“Note the moon. Did Midnight ever tell you how he earned his cutie-mark?”

Everypony shook their heads no.

“Back when Midnight was still a colt in my school,” Princess Celestia explained, “there came a day when I fell ill. This was before the Return of Nightmare Moon, mind you. At the time I was so weak, I barely managed to lower the Sun, but I did not have the strength to raise the moon afterwards.”

“If the Moon had not been raised in time, Equestria would have been thrown out of balance,” Princess Florinda added.

“I could not do it because my magic is to manage the Seasons.”

“So what happened?” Pinkie Pie asked, having inexplicably acquired a bucket of popcorn as the story got good. Though her munching earned her some looks from the others Thunderlane joined her.

“One young unicorn colt took the initiative,” Princess Celestia stated proudly. “Although merely a student, Midnight had somehow come across the right spell during his studies, the very spell the unicorn tribe once wielded together to raise the sun and moon before my sister and I came to power. Midnight snuck into Canterlot Castle and made his way to the highest tower, and it was there he single-hoofedly performed a miracle!”

“Midnight raised the Moon…?!” Shining Armor was in awe. “Why didn’t he ever tell us?”

“We felt if the wrong ears heard that a mere unicorn colt had such power and potential,” Princess Celestia explained, “Midnight might become a target.”

“Not only that, it was that magical feat that earned Midnight his cutie-mark,” Princess Florinda confirmed. “Midnight raised the Moon and preserved the Balance of Equestria, and that was when I met him for the first time, and offered to be his mentor.”

“And the rest, as they say, is history,” Princess Celestia closed the book and placed it back on the lectern. “For his act, I chose to reward Midnight with a spell from the Grimorum Unicorum.”

“And he chose the Spell of Retrospection?” Twilight asked.

“No, Twilight he did not,” Princess Florinda clarified. “One does not choose the spell one learns from the Grimorum; the Grimorum chooses the spell for you. That’s part of the enchantment the Mage worked on the book, so one cannot abuse the powers of the book through deliberate intent.”

“Hold yer apples,” Applejack interrupted, “if th’ Spell is Midnight’s to use, and Midnight’s inside Shining Armor, maybe he can use it wit’ Midnight’s help!”

“I… don’t know, Applejack,” Shining Armor shied.

“Hmm, it is plausible,” Princess Celestia mused. “Perhaps with the right magic, we can help Shining Armor tap into Midnight’s power, so that he can cast the spell himself!”

“Uh, ah hate ta’ interrupt,” Big McIntosh piped up, “but there’s one more question we gotta answer. Do we tell Midnight’s folks about this?”

That one question hung heavily in the air. The one to break the silence was Shining Armor.

“No. We don’t.”

“But Shining!” Twilight gasped. “General Knighthoof and Faerie Tail have every right to know!”

“I know, but…” Shining Armor hesitated, “I keep getting this feeling of apprehension, and the very idea of telling Midnight’s parents… I think Midnight can hear us through me, but he doesn’t want his parents to know!”

“Well we cain’t keep it secret fer-ever!” Big Mac argued. “All they gotta do is see Midnight’s cutie-mark on yer rump and th’ jig is up!”

“But why doesn’t Midnight want his parents to know he’s safe now?” Fluttershy wondered aloud. “I mean, the situation is a little… strange, but they’d want to know!”

“Well, whatever the reason,” Princess Florinda said, “I feel we should respect Midnight’s wishes. If he and Shining Armor are sidetracked by Knighthoof and Faerie Tail, it could interfere with further proceedings. It may be a little deceptive, but the tasks at hoof demand priority.”

Although it made everypony uncomfortable, they all nodded hesitantly in agreement.

Expectations, Differences, Disappointment

Chapter 12

Before long, everypony had exited the sanctum when they heard…

“You’re Highnesses! Everypony!”

They looked down the hall and saw General Knighthoof approaching, and it was in that moment Shining Armor felt a need to be elsewhere.

“Uh- Twily?” he nervously asked.

“Go ahead, I’ll distract him,” she invited, and Shining Armor quickly took off before Knighthoof could get closer.

“Where’s the Captain off to?” the old general asked.

“Oh, uh… Shining’s just gonna consult with somepony,” Twilight explained and started leading Knighthoof away.

“So…. What should we do, Princess Celestia?” Bravissimo asked.

“Take a break, my little ponies,” the Princess of the Sun suggested. “For the moment, we’re out of leads. But perhaps a little rest will unveil a new one.”

Shining Armor didn’t stop until he was clear across the other side of the castle, in a long gloomy hall, all the windows curtained.

“I don’t understand, Midnight,” he whispered, holding his hoof over his heart, which fluttered with anxiety that he knew was not his own.

“Why don’t you want your parents to know you’re alright?”

The situation isn’t exactly ideal, my friend.

The answer was in his head but Shining Armor felt as though somepony had been next to him, talking to him!

“Midnight?” Shining Armor looked around but saw he was apparently alone in the hall.

Open one of the curtains, the voice suggested.

Shining Armor looked at the nearest window, and a spark from his horn all but tore the curtain open, revealing that Princess Celestia was already beginning to lower the sun. But it was in that fading twilight, in the very window that Shining Armor saw…

“Midnight Blaze!”

There he was! Standing right there, next to Shining Armor’s reflection. The white unicorn looked to his side but saw nopony was there.

“Are-are you really here?” Shining Armor asked.

In a sense, answered the image of the blue unicorn. My soul currently resides within you, but our spirits remain separate and independent, which is why I can show myself to you in a reflection.

For a few moments, the two friends said nothing until Shining Armor broke the ice.

“How did it come to this, Midnight? And what do we do now?”

I honestly can’t say, Shining, Midnight replied, sounding tired. As far as I know, something like this has never happened before in Equestrian history. Even Star Swirl the Bearded didn’t think it possible for two spirits to inhabit the same body. But I placed my trust in you, and when we took hooves just as Twilight woke you up, I can only guess that somehow I came with you from the Dream Plane and wound up inside you.

“Hmm, I suppose that makes sense,” Shining Armor amended, “but right now, we haven’t got a clue to the whereabouts of the Mirror of Fantasia. If we don’t find it before Sombra, Equestria may very well be doomed.”

And you need the Spell of Retrospection to discover a lead to the clue Star Swirl left behind, I know, Midnight pondered for a moment.

Perhaps it’s possible… Maybe, Shining – Just maybe! – you can cast the spell by channeling my magic.

“But that spell is yours to wield!” Shining Armor debated. “I already wield the Bastion Barrier, and nopony can use more than one spell from the Grimorum Unicorum!”

That is true, but it’s never been said nopony with two spirits inside his body can’t use two spells from the Grimorum! Midnight debated.

I think if you channel my magic, you can act in my place and be able to use the Spell of Retrospection!

Shining considered Midnight’s idea, but then he said, “You didn’t answer my first question – Why don’t you want your parents to know you’re ok?”

Midnight’s image in the window looked away, his ears drooping.

“Midnight…” Shining pleaded. “I think it’s been proven well enough by now – We’re friends! You can tell me anything.”

Midnight sighed, muttering, Maybe if it was just my mother…

“What do you mean? You’re dad’s quite worried about you too,” Shining Armor assured.

…General Knighthoof has not been my dad in a very long time, Shining Armor, Midnight stated.

“What do you mean?” Shining asked.

I’m not saying anything else… until you put on your armor and conceal my cutie-mark on your rump. Midnight stated with a very final tone, looking away from Shining Armor, in a decisively immature and coltish manner.

The white unicorn, exasperated, was about to try and convince Midnight to talk until he noticed ponies of the castle staff were staring at him from the end of the hall.

“Nopony else can see you in the window, can they?” Shining Armor muttered.

Nnope! Midnight smirked, taking a guilty amusement in seeing the faces of the ponies as they gave Shining Armor questionable looks.

Before long, Shining Armor stepped out of the Royal Guard barracks, completely clad in his old armor.

“It feels a little weird wearing my armor while not on duty,” he sighed.

But… considering a psychopathic tyrant is currently trying to conquer all of Equestria… mused Midnight in the reflection from a nearby shield, looking a bit smug.

“Perhaps now you’ll-” Shining Armor started when he heard…

“Captain Armor!”

Shining Armor looked and saw Knighthoof coming down towards the barracks from the castle doors. Instantly, Shining Armor felt Midnight wanted to leave, but the Captain found he didn’t want to avoid his old commanding officer.

Not one word… warned Midnight, before his image in the shield faded.

“Captain, might I inquire as to why you’re not with your unit?” Knighthoof asked, sounding all-business.

“Er, unit, sir?” Shining Armor asked.

“The Knights of Adventure!” Knighthoof facehoofed with a sigh. “As I recall, you accepted the responsibility of leading them until you rescue their original leader. Really, soldier, I thought I taught you better than this.”

“Of course, sir,” Shining Armor straightened up. “I was just… getting my armor, in case we might have to leave for an excursion. Sir.”

Sighing, Knighthoof stepped past Shining Armor into the barracks, taking it all in. The bunkbeds, the lockers, the armory, a few pieces of armor carelessly left out of their proper places.

“…Where did I go wrong, Shining Armor?” he whispered.

“Sir?” Shining Armor asked.

Knighthof looked disheartened as he said, “For so long, generations of my family have served in the Royal Guard, protecting the Princess and Equestria. When I learned of our lineage, that we are descendants of King Sombra… I felt it was my obligation to give everything to the security of our home, and that it must be for those who would come after me…”

“Are you talking about Midnight?” Shining Armor asked.

“Please understand, soldier,” Knighthoof said, sounding apologetic, “the night he was born, I felt as if Princess Celestia had given me the sun and moon, and when his sister and brother came along afterwards, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. But then I realized I was lying to myself… I played with Midnight when he was still a young colt, but really I was preparing him for the Royal Guard, for a lifetime of protecting and serving. Then the two of you became friends and I felt that you and he would be brothers-in-arms once you became junior recruits.”

“I like to think we always were, sir,” Shining Armor corrected.

Knighthoof gave Shining Armor a grateful smile and continued.

“Then, one evening, Midnight told me and his mother that he wanted to enroll into the School for Gifted Unicorns, that he wanted to learn magic and grow up to be a mage. Faerie Tail gave him all her support and encouragement, and I told him ‘Work hard and do your best’… But I didn’t mean a word of it.”

“But why, sir?” Shining Armor asked. “How could you not support Midnight’s choice?”

“Because at the time, I felt as though Midnight was turning his back on what I had always deemed our family’s ancient obligation, something we had long taken as atonement for the crimes of our disgraceful ancestor. Midnight passed the entrance exam with flying colors, but then he soon found himself becoming slowly overwhelmed by the school’s curriculum. He was often tired, bored, and his grades started to slip. I spoke with Faerie Tail and came clean to her about my feelings – I was disappointed in my own son, and it was then I spoke something that has haunted me ever since…”

“What was it?”

“I said to my wife, ‘When that boy gets his head out of the clouds and fails, he’ll see things my way once I induct him in the Royal Guard’.”

“Sir, with all due respect,” Shining Armor frowned, “that’s terrible.”

“…I know,” Knighthoof admitted, sounding ashamed, “and it wasn’t long before I realized that Midnight had heard every word I said. The very next night, he came home and dove into his studies like a stallion on a mission. He barely ever said a word to us, he stopped socializing with others, and always insisted he be left alone because he was always so busy.”

“I remember that,” Shining Armor stated, remembering how he once tried to talk to Midnight after their argument, and Midnight had ignored him.

“I thought Midnight didn’t want to be my friend anymore.”

“I’m sorry,” Knighthoof said, his face maintaining a composure but a tear flowing down his cheek betrayed his true feelings.

“My words caused Midnight to want to prove me wrong. I once overheard him when he was busy with a project, and he said ‘I’ll prove to him I’m no failure, that I can be a better mage than he’s a royal guard’. But I was so stubborn and proud that I refused to apologize… and I paid for it with my relationship to my son.”

“Then Midnight showed all of Equestria what he was really made of,” Shining Armor brought up,” that night, when he raised the Moon!”

“So you know about that,” Knighthoof noted. “I won’t deny that I felt proud of my son when he accomplished a miracle and saved Equestria from being thrown out of balance. It was on that night however that I all but truly lost my son. He earned his cutie-mark and became Princess Florinda’s student. Midnight didn’t speak to me again for years afterwards… and now he really is gone.”

“That’s not true!” Shining Armor insisted. “He’s-”

A sharp pain in Shining Armor’s head made him flinch and interrupted his sentence.

Midnight…! Shining Armor seethed to himself, but regained himself when he noticed the look on Knighthoof.

“Are you alright, Armor?”

“Uh- I was gonna say, sir,” Shining Armor shook off the anxiety got serious, “we’re not giving up! Midnight isn’t lost to us, and we’ll get him his body back. Whatever Sombra might have in store for us, we will overcome it and set everything right.”

Knighthoof snorted and smirked, saying, “You’re just like you were when you first joined the Guard. Even now, Shining Armor, I can see that same hopeful determination in your eyes as when I first did in the eyes of a certain junior recruit.”

The general put his hooves on the shoulders of his old student, saying, “I know you will save my son and Equestria, I expect nothing less from my successor.”

Then, without another word, Knighthoof left the barracks, leaving Shining Armor (physically) alone. He looked into the shield, seeing his reflection, and said, “Y’see? Your father cares for you, and he wants you back.”

It was a moment or two before Midnight’s image appeared in the shield but one look told Shining Armor his friend was not convinced.

Oh yeah, sure, the great General Knighthoof has faith that his successor will save his foolish son and Equestria from the pony whose legacy he’s been running from his entire life.

“Midnight! You…. kinda sound like you’re angry at me,” Shining Armor shied a bit from the shield.

Midnight sighed and gave Shining Armor and apologetic look.

Please understand, Shining… There are reasons my father and I haven’t spoken to each other for a long time. One of them is that he forgets I have a mind of my own.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shining Armor was genuinely confused.

You heard him, Midnight reminded with a huff. My father has long felt it was our family’ obligation that each generation serve in the Royal Guard just because of our ancestor’s crimes, not that he ever told me about that! And he uses that as an excuse to try and run my life and decide it for me!

“Well, I… guess that is unfair,” Shining Armor took off his helmet and rubbed the back of his head. "But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about you, Midnight! I think on some level, he just wanted what he felt was best for you.”

Don’t you dare take his side, Midnight growled, suddenly giving Shining Armor a glare. Not you, of all ponies!

“Me? Midnight, what’s wrong?”

Oh, for Faust’s sake, Shining! Midnight exasperated. You really are a soldier, blinded by your loyalty to your commanding officer, so caught up in “honor” and “duty” you don’t see my father’s faults!

“What are you talking about, Midnight?!” Shining Armor demanded, starting to become defensive.

Midnight was silent for a few moment before he said, My father didn’t tell you the whole story, Shining Armor… He left out the part concerning you!

“Me?!”

Yes, you! Midnight sighed, sounding forlorn. I did overhear my parents talking, that my father expected me to fail and how he planned to induct me as a junior recruit… But then he said something so hurtful…

“What did he say?” Shining Armor felt his heart beat uncomfortably.

He said… ‘Why couldn’t I have had a son like Shining Armor? Why was I saddled with an irresponsible colt who chases after bedtime stories and hocus pocus?’ Midnight sighed. Do you get it now, Shining Armor? General Knighthoof said he would rather have had you for a son instead of me.

Shining Armor wished he hadn’t heard it. In truth, he had always considered his mentor to be a second father, and had felt nothing but respect and loyalty to him. But now he realized, it was because Knighthoof had all but chosen him over Midnight, all because the mage was not the son the general had wanted.

“Is this why we lost touch after that day?” Shining Armor felt like crawling under a rock. “Were you…”

Jealous? Yes… Midnight admitted. But Shining, I made my choices, my father made his. You are not responsible for any of them. I won’t deny I envied you, for the bond you shared with my father, but in a way I was relieved that he looked away from me, because I was able to pursue my own dreams without him hovering over my shoulder with that disappointing frown.

“But…. I feel like I stole him from you.”

No, Shining. General Knighthoof chose the fulfillment of his pride over the love of his son. Can I ever forgive him? I don’t know, but it does not change the fact that you and I are friends, and I have never stopped valuing our friendship, even after that day when we took different paths.

“Yeah, I…” Shining Armor suddenly realized something. “Midnight? Back in the dream Plane, that letter!”

Without waiting for Midnight’s response, Shining Armor put his helmet back on and grabbed the shield before galloping off towards the Castle Gardens. He found their old hideaway, and looked in the tree after placing the shield next to it.

“Our old toychest, and the stuff inside! It’s all still here! But does that mean…”

Shining Armor found the storybook and out fell…

“The letter!” Shining Armor opened it, and smiled. “So it was real!”

It was.

Shining Armor looked to the shield and saw Midnight giving him an understanding smile.

“But… I don’t understand,” Shining Armor held the letter up so Midnight could see it. “I found this letter in the Dream Plane, but I’ve never seen it before in the waking world. How could I have found something from your past?”

If I had to guess, Midnight mused, you stepped into one of my memories when you came for me in the Dream Plane. Honestly, Shining, I can’t tell you how often I’ve thought of this letter, because I never really forgave myself.

“For what? What could-” Shining Armor suddenly remembered, and felt bad. “Because you broke our promise of entering the guard together.”

It was promise made between the best of friends, Midnight recalled. I chose to be selfish and broke it.

“…Don’t feel bad anymore, Midnight,” Shining Armor put his hoof on the shield, and Midnight reflected the gesture.

“If you had chosen to keep our promise, you would’ve been sad. I would never ask anypony to dedicate themselves to a life that doesn’t bring them happiness or fulfillment. If anypony should feel bad, it’s me. I was the selfish pony, and I said to you something have regretted ever since. I just wish I took the time sooner to say… I’m sorry.”

Midnight smiled and a tear went down his face.

Let’s just forgive and forget, bro.

“Agreed,” Shining Armor said when he noticed Midnight saluting him. Smiling, Shining Armor mirrored the gesture, and they remade their old vow.

“To Equestria I pledge my life, along to everypony! To safeguard al from fear and strife, alongside my best brony!”

To Equestria I pledge my life, along to everypony! To safeguard al from fear and strife, alongside my best brony!

Suddenly, Shining Armor felt a warmth within himself and he gasped as he saw his helmet glow with a blinding light.

“What’s happening?!” he brayed.

I don’t know!

Then the light dimmed, and Shining Armor and Midnight gasped to see…

Shining! …You’re wearing my Helm of Light!

Busy day for spies and secrets

Chapter 13

“What?!” Shining Armor gaped at Midnight in the shield. “You know I can’t see with you there…”

Take a look for yourself then, Midnight’s image shimmered away and Shining Armor gasped to see his helmet had been replaced with the Helm of Light!

Composed of a gleaming silvery metal, a hole for his horn, the plume matched the colors of Midnight’s mane, black at the roots, the ends a dark blue, and upon the piece that came down between his eyes was a pale blue jewel shaped like the star of Midnight’s cutie-mark.

“I don’t understand,” Shining Armor wondered as he took off the Helm and looked at it. “Why did the Helm appear on me?”

I have a theory or two, said Midnight’s voice in his head. Perhaps our choice to forgive and forget, as well as re-making our pledge, was able to summon the Helm to me but it appeared on your head because I’m inside you.

“I wonder if there’s more to it than that,” Shining Armor debated.

…Go find Twilight and ask her to give you Star Swirl’s diary, Midnight instructed, I have another theory that I’d like to test.

“Something tells me we’re thinking the same thing…!” Shining Armor grinned and galloped off back to the castle.

“Shiny!” gasped Twilight as she gaped at the Helm he was wearing.

Shining Armor had found Twilight back in the library where she’d been looking through Star Swirl’s diary.

“Why do you have the Helm of Light?! How’d you get it, where’d it come from, why-”

Shining Armor held up his hooves in a “timeout” gesture, prompting his little sister to stop talking.

“Twily! I need you to give the diary, I think we have an idea!”

“We?” echoed Twilight, then gasped as Shining Armor pointed to Midnight’s cutie-mark on his left flank, and then his head.

“Can… you talk to him?”

“Midnight says, ‘Yes, Twilight, I can talk to your brother, and quit gaping at us like your brother’s grown a second head’,” Shining Armor laughed at the look on Twilight’s face.

“After all, I just have a second pony in my head, Twily!”

“This is too weird…” Twilight muttered, rubbing her head.

“You’re telling me!”

“Anyway, why do you want the diary?” Twilight asked as she levitated it to him, and Shining Armor set it on a nearby table.

“Just an idea…” Shining Armor answered as he concentrated.

Twilight felt it almost at once! Her brother’s power, the light rose aura enveloping his horn, but then Twilight saw it! Shining’s aura became mixed with another aura of a different color, a light cyanish-white aura she’d seen before, and she felt two great powers at work before her!

Midnight…?! Twilight wondered and just for a moment, she could see him, standing in Shining’s place, the same expression of determined concentration upon his face. But the mixing auras radiated so intensely, that Twilight averted her eyes before looking again and saw Shining Armor again.

All of a sudden, the library around them seemed to change a little, and Shining Armor gasped in delight.

“It worked…!” he whispered, as they saw the illusion begin.

The Canterlot Library looked different, bookcases and furniture in different places, the floor now hardwood instead of carpeted, some furnishings Twilight was long familiar with, gone.

“I can’t believe it…!” she said in awe, Shining Armor next to her. “You really did it! You cast Midnight’s Spell of Retrospection!”

“No, Midnight and I both cast the spell,” Shining Armor corrected her, holding his hoof over his heart. “Because friends work together.”

Twilight beamed at him but then they noticed somepony coming towards them. Twilight had to remind herself it was only an illusion of the past as she felt the inclination to make herself scarce and hide, as she and Shining watched to see a stallion approach. He was a unicorn with a golden coat while his hooves, mane, tail, and muzzle were all black. His eyes were turquoise, and his cutie-mark was hidden by armor he wore that made him look like a member of the Royal Guard. He walked right past them as he approached a bookcase. He looked around to make sure he wasn’t being seen (at least, by somepony then when the actual event took place), and then his horn glowed a white aura, as the books on the top shelf moved out of the way, revealing the back. The brother and sister heard what sounded like the springing of a mechanism and watched as the back of the bookcase revealed a compartment, and Star Swirl’s journal!

“Do you think he’s the one who took the page?” Twilight asked.

“We’ll soon see,” Shining Armor replied, “but… there’s something familiar about him.”

“That’s good! If you can figure out who he is, it’ll help us find the page!” Twilight beamed at him before they looked back to the unicorn.

Levitating the book, the unicorn skimmed the pages, and then…

“So Clover didn’t destroy that accursed thing… even after all the harm it caused. I wonder if she’s even deserving of the name ‘Clever’.”

Then they watched as the unicorn’s aura ripped the page out of the book and he folded it before putting it in his armor.

“If I have anything to say about it, that wretched mirror will never again see the light of day! …But Star Swirl, if you thought the mirror would have such a role to play… I only hope it will one day save my father from himself.”

Finally, Shining Armor gasped, Twilight asking, “BBBFF, what is it?”

“Rising Hope…!” he uttered, Twilight gasping, “You mean Sombra’s son?!”

“We have to talk to the General,” Shining stated, as the spell stopped, and the illusion faded, leaving the siblings back in the library they knew.

“But Shining, how do we tell General Knighthoof about this?” Twilight wasn’t trying to dissuade her brother, not really.

“I mean, he’ll ask how we got this information! We can’t just show up out of the blue, saying we’re following a hunch!”

“It’s alright, that’s exactly what we can say,” Shining replied, his brow furrowed. Shining had always held his mentor in high regard, but lately he’d begun to question the sort of pony Knighthoof was.

“Midnight says, his father doesn’t know about the Spell of Retrospection, so we can just say we found something during our research. “

“It’s still hard to wrap my mind around Midnight communicating through you,” Twilight looked at Shining’s left eye, which had turned the same turquoise as Midnight’s own eyes.

“What’s it like? You said before it was like feeling Midnight in the back of your mind! Is there ever some physiological sensation? Is he like another voice in your head? Oh! I could write a thesis on this!”

“Twily, you know I love you…” Shining glowered at her in an amused yet irritated kind of way. “But Midnight says, ‘shut up and let’s get back to the matter at hoof’. I did not!”

Shining held his hoof to his mouth, gasping, as did Twilight. That outburst wasn’t his voice.

“Uh, Shining? I think…”

“Midnight spoke through my mouth? Yes, I think he-” Shining suddenly looked like he was pondering, and said, “Ok, so I was shifting the blame on you, sue me! …Hey you thought so too, I can hear everything you think in my head… We are as close as two ponies can possibly be right now, and you’re the one complaining about invasion of privacy?!”

Twilight giggled, she couldn’t help it. Although logically, she realized Shining and Midnight were having a discussion, but it still looked like Shining was talking to himself.

“Rising Hope?” The Sparkle Siblings had just explained to Knighthoof what they’d learned (albeit an edited version of how it happened). The general puzzled their words, Shining and Twilight watching him closely as he paced back and forth in the hall.

“…Perhaps… Maybe… Yes! There is something that could possibly lead to the missing clue!”

“What is it?” Shining Armor asked.

“A family heirloom that’s been in our family for centuries,” explained Knighthoof, “passed down from father to son. I meant to do the same with Midnight but…”

The way the red unicorn looked away and his manner said it all.

“He chose to do what he wanted instead of what you wanted,” Shining Armor gathered, his tone making Knighthoof feel ashamed.

“Yes… I realized long ago that was my mistake,” Knighthoof admitted, “but I was too full of pride to say so to my son.”

“General, what exactly is this heirloom you speak of?” Twilight asked.

“It’s a shield,” Knighthoof explained, “forged by master craftsponies with a blacksmithing art that has long been lost. It was originally wielded by my ancestor, Rising Hope, after he joined Princess Celestia’s Royal Guard. Although it looks like a mere shield, it possesses fascinating power.”

“Where is it?” Shining Armor urged.

“I’ll run home and get it,” Knighthoof promised, “alert the Knights of Adventure, and I’ll meet you in the counsel room.”

The siblings watched him leave when they heard someone behind them. They looked and saw it was a crystal pony colt, looking sad. His coat was white like a diamond, his mane purple like quartz crystal, and his eyes, dampened by sadness, were blue like the sky.

“Oh, hello there.” Twilight greeted the little one who immediately ran to her, whimpering. Twilight and Shining both smiled understandably as Twilight nuzzled the colt.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?”

“…I miss my mommy,” the colt whimpered, “you… kinda look like her.”

Twilight comforted the whimpering colt, then said to her brother, “Why don’t we bring him along to meet with the general? I think he needs some comfort.”

“I don’t mind,” Shining replied.

But as they made their way to the counsel room, the colt narrowed his eyes, which turned from their crystal blue color to a hateful red.

The colt shuddered as he felt that familiar presence inside.

That’s right, my little pony… Spy on them for me, and when you have carried out my will, you’ll be reunited with your dear mother…

Shining Armor, Twilight, the colt, and the other Knights met up in the counsel room. Twilight had sent her friends, the other bearers of the Elements, to help out wherever in the castle. Forester recognized the colt whom he’d protected when they’d had to leave the empire but said nothing.

“Gentlecolts,” Shining Armor declared, getting their attention as he paced alongside the table, “Twilight and I are relieved to tell you, we’ve found a possible lead to the missing clue Star Swirl left about the mirror of Fantasia.”

“You’re kidding!” Thunderlane gaped at the captain with a positive grin.

“I say, good show ol’ boy,” Bravissimo clapped his hooves.

“Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed.

“So what exactly did you find?” Forester asked.

“General Knighthoof will arrive momentarily with what might be the lead we’ve been looking for,” Twilight answered, and no sooner did she did the doors open and in walked Knighthoof, a shield strapped to his back.

“Here it is,” Knighthoof announced as he unfastened the shield and levitated it onto the table.

Everypony looked at it, it was shaped just like the shields on Shining and Knighthoof’s cutie-marks but colored gold with a white star in the middle, edged in gleaming blue.

“Through the generations of my family, this shield has been passed from father to son. Were it not for my pride and insensitive behavior to his feelings, I would’ve passed this shield onto my son. But now, I pray for the chance to do just that once we’ve rescued him just as I pray this shield may hold the key to our salvation.”

“Let me see,” Twilight requested, and Knighthoof gestured in a way that said ‘by all means’. She levitated the shield over to herself and examined it. Despite centuries it had clearly weathered, it was in a condition that could only be described as pristine.

“Amazing…! Such craftsmanship! I can feel it, this shield has very special powers.”

“The techniques used to forge it made the shield so as not to wane or break,” Knighthoof explained. “It can withstand the fury of a hundred warriors’ hooves and rebound them with the force of a storm. Whosoever holds it is all but invincible in battle.”

Starfyre gave an impressed whistle as Twilight continued to examine it.

“But if Rising Hope somehow left the clue in this shield, he hid it well because I can’t see where… Hold on!”

“What is it, Twily?” Shining’s ears perked at her words as he went over to look.

“There’s something here on the interior,” Twilight said as she looked at inside of the shield that faced the holder.

“It’s some kind of...”

Then they watched as Twilight’s horn glowed lavender and Shining noticed a vertical rectangle appear on the shield interior, and words revealed themselves as glowing sentences, brightening from left to right downward, before dulling to reveal the words to be engraved.

“Aha! A glamour spell,” Twilight declared. “Cast long ago to hide this clue!”

“Let’s see what it says,” Shining said as he looked over his sister’s shoulder. But the two siblings realized the message wasn’t words but rather numbers. A lot of them.

“What’s this? Are these… latitude-longitudes?”

“No…” Twilight squinted at the numbers, seeing them all in sets of three except for the numbers on top.

“I think… the numbers on top are a substitution cipher.”

“A what?” Starfyre and the other knights looked at a loss.

“You know,” Shining answered, “where you substitute the letters with numbers or different letters? You simply figure out how they’re substituted, and you can figure out the message.”

“Right, and if I‘m right,” Twilight mused as she conjured a piece of paper and pencil, her aura spelling something out.

“Then this message on top says… ‘A Knightly Adventure’.”

“That’s a book!” Knighthoof gasped, “It was written by Rising Hope when he became a knight under Princess Celestia’s rule!”

“Then if I’m correct,” Twilight added, “I bet all these numbers set in threes, are a Trottenford Cipher!”

“Which is…?” Shining asked.

“A simpler term is a book cipher,” Twilight explained, “each of these numbers corresponds to something in a book, based on set of threes! The first number refers to the page, the second number refers to the word on the page, and the third number corresponds to the letter in that word!”

After acquiring the book, Twilight and Shining got to work decoding the message while Knighthoof, at Shining’s request, got to work on whipping the other knights into shape and teaching them the basics of the Royal Guard. He knew that he would the knights to find the Mirror of Fantasia, and of Rising Hope went to the trouble of taking Star Swirl’s clue and making it all the harder to find and understand who knows what else they might face in this expedition?

Unbeknownst to them, the crystal colt continued to spy on them, diligently awaiting the perfect opportunity.

A couple hours later…

“Whoo!” Shining Armor wiped his brow, as he levitated the papers he and Twilight had worked on. “Finished! Now we can share this with the others.”

“How `bout I gather everything and you go get them and we’ll meet back in the counsel room,” Twilight suggested.

“Sure, see you there,” Shining said as he all but galloped off to get the others.

Glad to see things are coming along, said Midnight in his head. Shining felt relieved to hear a positive tone in Midnight’s voice.

“Well hopefully it won’t be long before you come out of me,” Shining Armor chuckled, “and move along back into your own body.”

Ten minutes later, Shining was leading the knights towards the counsel room when he heard a shout and struggle. They hurried towards the counsel room and noticed the crystal colt run past them, papers in his mouth, and Twilight running out, shouting, “Stop him! He’s stolen the clue!”

“After that colt, men!” Shining shouted, and at once it was a mad dash.

The colt ran as fast as his little legs could carry him but he would certainly not outrun six grown stallions, particularly since two of them were pegasi. He ran into a hall of doors, and went through one. Only Bravissimo saw which one and followed him in. The others stopped and looked around the hall, and then saw the colt come out of a door further down and quickly run inside the third door to his left, Big Mac going after him, braying, “Nnope!”

The situation quickly devolved into the classic hallway chase gag, as the stallions and the colt went to and fro different doors, going into certain doors and exiting out of doors to far away to be connected or even from the doors on the other side of the hall. Thankfully, Twilight caught up and gaped at the madness going on. She sighed and quickly cast a spell, forcing all doors open, and Everypony involved in the chase (not counting her) stepped out of a door, and it was just the colt’s bad luck he exited out the door that was right next to Twilight.

“Eep!” he yelped as Twilight cast another spell, enveloping him in her aura and levitating him off the floor while taking the decoded clue from him.

“Give that back!”

“You will tell me why you tried to steal this,” Twilight said firmly, the stallions all converging, each of them with a stern or disapproving look on his face.

The colt looked from them to Twilight, looking squirmy and uncomfortable, sweating bullets as tears welled up in his eyes. Forester stepped forward and gently said, “Little one, please tell us. Why did you try to steal the clue? We want to understand!”

Hearing the kindness in the green earth pony’s voice, the colt lost it and bawled, “I just wanted my mommy ba-ha-hack…!”

“Huh?!”

Th-th-the evil pony!” the colt sobbed, “He said i-if I spied on you for him, he-he-he’d give me my mommy back, and I thought if I gave him that clue…”

The colt said no more, whimpering, sounding upset, scared, and confused.

“Sombra, that creature…!” Shining growled. “Twily, let him down.”

“Of course,” Twilight obliged and set the colt down, the colt hiccupping as he continued to cry.

Shining placed a hoof on the colt’s back in a comforting way, and the colt looked up at him, looking scared and sorry.

“Listen, little colt, we understand. You just wanted your mom back! But you must understand this: Sombra is a bad pony. If we don’t stop him, how many other mommies do you think will be taken away from their foals? How many other ponies would be trapped in their bad dreams, unable to find comfort in their loved ones?”

The colt looked down in shame, his tears continuing to flow, but Shining lifted his face to look at him.

“We’re gonna stop him, little colt. We’ll get your mom back. But you have to have faith in us. You can’t give up hope and you can’t trust Sombra. So whaddya say?”

The colt said nothing for a few moments but then he looked up at the ponies around him, and they all gasped! The colt’s eyes had turned red, green, and his tears were now a purple miasma, as the colt levitated off the floor, an ugly sneer stretching across his face.

“Oh dear, it seems my little thrall went and got his poor little self caught!”

The voice belonged to Sombra.

“Sombra!” Shining blazed his horn with his magenta aura, the other knights and Twilight all standing ready. “Release the colt!”

“I wouldn’t be so quick with the spells, Shining Armor,” warned Sombra using the poor colt as his mouth-piece. “I just might have to order him to damage himself if you should be so foolish as to try and break my control. Now, that clue, dear Twilight Sparkle. I believe you’re going to give it to me.”

“Not even in your dreams, Sombra!” Twilight narrowed her eyes contemptuously.

“Are you certain you want to say no…?” Sombra’s wicked voice mocked and they all gasped to see the colt’s eyes start to cry tears of blood.

“Either fork over the clue or this poor colt will have to wait to be reunited with his mother… in the afterlife!”

Twilight groaned, the knights growling, until Shining said, “Alright, Sombra, have it your way…”

“Shining!” Twilight admonished as Shining Armor took the clue from his sister and levitated them towards the colt.

“Wise choice,” Sombra smiled wickedly through the colt as the poor boy floated down to take the clue, only for Shining to grab the colt and cast a spell.

“What’re you doing?!”

“By the Spirit of Light!” Shining Armor chanted, “I compel you, Pony of Darkness, leave this poor soul!”

Everypony watched, gaping as Shining then telekinetically forced the colt against the wall. They saw the colt leer hatefully at the white unicorn as Sombra spoke again.

“If I go this brat dies!”

“You did not kill Midnight,” Shining reminded him, “You will not kill this child!”

“The Empire is mine!” hissed the colt in Sombra’s voice, but his head was forced against the wall.

“Be gone…!” Shining whispered forcefully.

It was horrifying, to see this colt used like a puppet as his face was twisted by Sombra’s hate, glaring with rage at Shining. Finally, the colt raged as he lunged at Shining Armor, only for the Captain to rear up and blast his spell right into the colt’s face.

In his secret sanctum, Sombra was thrown back from the crystal he’d been looking into to see through his puppet’s eyes, the black unicorn crashing against the pedestal that held the ensconced Crystal Heart. Groaning, Sombra noticed the Heart wobbling precariously, and gasped as he bolted up and steadied the glass holding the Heart, preventing it from tipping over. But he realized too late his error, and looked to see his viewing-crystal had cracked. His control over the colt was gone, and with it his chance to take the clue to the Mirror of Fantasia!

He let out an earth-shattering roar that made many crystal throughout the empire crack under the pressure of his fury, that his many slaves all cowered when they heard the tyrant’s rage at being thwarted.