The Hidden Adventure

-TEN YEARS LATER-

A mass military transport chariot pulled up on the Canterlot landing port in the night sky, the soldiers inside it feeling an odd mix of emotions. Some were dead tired, some were full of grief from the death of close companions and few odd ones were even upset by the end of the blood bath. But all of them were happy as they had won the war, Hoof Kong unwillingly raising the white flag after twenty straight years of war. The soldiers filed out slowly of the chariot, many of them headed straight to their bunks to crash. However, there was a pegasus and a unicorn, the latter with a baby dragon on his back, that went to the throne room first.

Upon arrival at the throne room, the unicorn guards opened the doors to the two ponies. Both approached the princess and bowed respectfully. Princess Celestia was overjoyed to see them.

“Dusk! Storm! Ashley! You’re all fine!” Princess Celestia said, the only thing preventing her from tackling-hugging the unicorn, pegasus and dragon was her royal etiquette.

“I knew you could do it,” Shining Armor said, ecstatic that the two ponies had arrived back safely.

“We’re back your highness,” Dusk said, removing his helmet, “Where’s Twilight?”

“She’s currently in Ponyville supervising the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration” The princess replied. Dusk thought he saw a face of worry flicker across her face for a second. Then she said, “Dusk, you’ve grown so much since I’ve last seen you.”

“Thank you for noticing your highness,” Dusk said, his body now more shaped and built due to the war. He held the air of a war veteran despite being only a teenager. Princess Celestia noticed the baby dragon on his back.

“I see that Ashley has grown too,” The baby dragon was now slightly larger than before, her fiery red eyes full of innocence, as if she hadn’t entered a war at all.

“Why thank you your highness,” The baby dragon said politely, performing a curtsy.

“Oh, yes… I forgot that you learned how to talk Ashley,” Princess Celestia said, “You sound very cute.” Ashley blushed at this.

She turned to Storm. “Storm, you look good in your royal pegasi armor,” She remarked, “I also see that you’ve gotten your cutie mark.”

“Gee thanks your majesty,” Storm said, blushing slightly and spreading his wings. On his flank was a cutie mark of an electrified feather, representing his speed on the battlefield.

Princess Celestia noticed his wings and said, “Oh my... what big wings you have.”

“I get that a lot,” Storm said, scratching the back of his head. His wings were larger than many pegasi of his age, rivaling the size of those even of the princess, as they had been forced to adapt to the wartime situation.

“Now I assume that you are both very tired, so you may report back to your bunks. I thank you for coming to see me first.” Princess Celestia said dismissing them. Then she added, “Oh, please remember to wake up in four hours’ time, I will need you to escort me to Ponyville.” Dusk and Storm groaned back in response.

Outside the throne room, the two ponies went their separate ways. Dusk headed back to his room while Storm returned to the pegasi dormitory.

Back in his room, Dusk saw that it had been pretty much left alone except his room was cleaned and his food replenished. He then tucked Ashley into bed and was walking over to his bed when Ashley asked, “Hey Dusk,”

“Yeah?”

“You know Spike, Twilight’s dragon?

“Yeah, what about it?”

“I was just thinking, do you think that he’ll be with her?”

“More than likely,” Dusk replied, slipping under the covers of his bed, “Their bond is pretty much the same as ours unless something happened when we were gone.”

“Oh, Okay” Ashley said before quickly falling asleep.

As Dusk lay down to sleep, he felt that was something that he could not put his hoof on, why did Princess Celestia look worried for a second? He turned in his bed and guessed that it was his imagination.

Dusk looked up at the ceiling as doubts concerning Twilight began invading his mind. “Does she still remember me? Did she get another special somepony? Does she hate me for being gone so long?” These are some of the thoughts that flashed quickly across his mind. He shrugged them off and told himself, “I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.”
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Dusk woke up an hour earlier than expected. He yawned then went to wash up. Afterward, he went over to wake up Ashley. “Ashley, time to wake up,” he said, shaking her gently. All he got as a response was a ‘Mmmnnnnn…”

“Ashley, it’s time to get up,” he said, his voice rising. He got the same response.

“Ashley! I said it’s time to get up!” Dusk yelled at her.

Ashley just turned over in her bed. Dusk sighed then said softly in a musical voice, “~There are gem pancakes dripping with rose syrup on the table~”

Ashley instantly sat upright in her bed looking around and murmuring, “Wha? Gem pancakes?” Dusk chuckled and said to himself, “Works every time.”

“That’s not fair!” Ashley complained, pouting.

“Well we had to get up,” Dusk said calmly.

“But still!” Ashley said crossing her arms, her eyes like little mirrors, reflecting the betrayal she felt. “Oh alright,” Dusk said, giving in, “I’ll make some for you after the ceremony.”

“Really?” Ashley said, happily.

“With rose syrup and emeralds, just like you like it.” Dusk replied smiling slightly. Ashley hopped out of bed, pumping her fist in the air screaming, “YES!”

“Alright, alright,” Dusk said, moving to the door, “we have to hurry; we don’t have much time before we leave.”
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“Are you all ready?” Princess Celestia asked the two ponies and dragon before her.

“Yes your highness,” Dusk replied perkily. Storm mumbled something in audibly, shaking his head. He was obviously still very tired as his hoof claws, a weapon designed by Storm himself, were on the wrong way. “Here, let me help you,” Dusk said as he assisted Storm in equipping his weapon properly.

“Can I see that weapon?” Princess Celestia asked.

“Sure, your highness,” Dusk replied, handing her one of the hoof claws. It was a hoof gauntlet with three serrated blades welding to the front of it. “Very interesting,” Princess Celestia said as she inspected the weapon before passing it back to Dusk.

“Yeah were pretty much ready.” Ashley said yawning.

“If you say so,” Princess Celestia said getting into the royal escort chariot slowly, almost nervously.

“What could be bothering her?” Dusk thought, “She’s the princess, nothing can out-power her.”
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When they arrived in Ponyville, the pegasi that pulled the chariot went to sleep under a tree near the chariot. Princess Celestia approached the staircase at the back of the town hall, her two guards close to her. Suddenly, a black mist exploded at her hooves, shrouding her from anyone’s sight. Dusk, Storm and Ashley were blown back by the black mist, causing them to tumble backward. Dusk was on his feet in a flash. “Who dares to ambush the princess?” He yelled fiercely. The mist quickly formed into a black alicorn with violet armor. She had a long and misty mane a shade darker than her armor. On her flank was a moon cutie mark surrounded by a purple cloud.

Dusk instantly recognized the pony from his studying. “Nightmare Moon,” He hissed under his breath and then yelled, “What have you done with Princess Celestia?”

“Nightmare Moon?” Storm asked, still recovering from the tumble.

“Celestia’s younger sister turned evil,” Dusk replied, still glaring at the mare before him. Nightmare Moon’s turquoise eyes shone evilly. “I am glad to see that at least one of my subjects is not ignorant of this nation’s history,” She said smugly. “I shall allow you to serve me if you swear your fealty.”

“Never!” Dusk Shouted back, his horn glowing red, “I pledged my loyalty to Princess Celestia!”

“What a shame,” Nightmare Moon said, frowning, “You have the raw power of your ancestor, K-”

“Don’t say his name!” Dusk interrupted, visibly disturbed by the topic. Storm quickly got into his flight stance. “Don’t you dare upset Dusk!” He roared baring his hoof claws threateningly, their blades glinting in the moonlight. Nightmare Moon turned her attention to Storm. “My what a defensive friend you have,” Nightmare Moon commented lightly, then said, “I can’t stick around any longer, I have to replace my sister’s appearance to her loyal subjects.”

Dusk’s horn glowed red brightly. The ground beneath Nightmare Moon suddenly erupted in red blast of magic. After it subsided, Nightmare Moon could clearly be seen in the center of a shallow hole in the ground, unscathed.

“Impossible,” Dusk whispered in disbelief. Storm’s jaw hit the ground. Eruption; he had seen Dusk perform that spell many times on other ponies during the war with brutal results and was shocked to see Nightmare Moon brush it off as if it were a spray of water.

Nightmare Moon laughed evilly before saying, “Young fool! You think that your petty magic can hurt an alicorn?” She then stepped forward, her horn glowing a sinister black, “Allow me to demonstrate REAL magic.” From her horn erupted a black wave of magic engulfing the ponies and knocking them out instantly.

“Well that’s settled,” She said, dusting herself off, “Time to greet my subjects.”