“This place hasn’t changed at all,” said Faust as she and Chrysalis looked over the sight known as Ponehenge, “just a bit of wear and tear.”

“And your sure they trapped the pony of shadows here?” asked Chrysalis.

“Yes,” said Faust as she dropped her disguise and began power her magic, “after all this place is a font of infinite magic, therefor it works as the perfect prison.”

Concentrating hard on what she wanted to do, Faust reached out with her magic to find the keys to the prison before her, before summing forth an old journal, a shovel, a potted flower, a shield, a mask, and finally a blindfold, before placing the items on the pedestals set before the great stone pillars that made up Ponehenge, and then turning her attention to the central dais

“…What is it with you and using six as your power number,” said Chrysalis as Faust began to ready herself to undo the spell, “Six elements, six element bearers, six pillars, six objects of power, its always bloody six.”

“What can I say,” said Faust, “it just seemed to be a powerful number.”

With that said, she cast her spell, causing energy to begin swirling around the objects before beams flew out of each and connected over the central dais, forming a ball of light before it exploded out, and all at once six ponies popped into existence before falling to the ground, before slowly rising to their hooves groggily while one, the famous Starswirl The Bearded, looked around in a panic before spotting Faust and speaking. “My lady…?”

“Best you and your friends get behind me Starswirl,” said Faust as she spread her wings out, watching as dark magic began to swirl over the center dais of Ponehenge.

The stallion and his friends quickly fell in behind her, just in time as a giant alicorn formed entirely of shadows appeared with a cackle, only to stop as Faust cleared her throat, looking down at her before screaming like a girl and then trying to flea, only to get trapped inside a bubble of magic.

“Now Shadow darling,” said Faust with a smirk, “you really didn’t think I would let you out of your prison and then just let you go did you?”

“Whatever you want I will not be part of it you witch!”

“Well we can get to whether or not you have a choice later,” said Faust, “for now I want to know why you are linked to one of my little ponies?”

“I can answer that my lady,” said one of Starswirl’s friends, a pegasus by the name of Flash Magnus if Faust guessed correctly. “The ponies name is Stygian, and he allied with the Pony of Shadows after he grew jealous of our power and tried to take it for himself, causing us to banish him from our group.”

Before Faust could inquire further, the Pony of Shadows began to chuckle darkly. “So what the poor colt told me was true, you truly are terrible friends.”

“What could you possibly mean by that?” said Starswirl.

“He wasn’t trying to steal your powers,” said the Pony of Shadows, “he was trying to copy your powers so that he could fight along side you and share in you glories as an equal like he always should have been, and instead of asking him what he was doing, you leaped to the worst conclusion possible, and sent him running right into my hooves! I listened to him when he needed an ear, I comforted him after he told me what you did to him, and I gave him exactly what he wanted, which made it easy to trap him and use his body for what I needed!”

He chuckled again, drawing satisfaction from the horrified looks on their faces, but before he could speak further he began to choke as a green aura wrapped around his throat, Faust looking over to see her mate’s eyes were glowing with rage.

“You know its monsters like you that give your race it’s terrible reputation,” said Chrysalis with a growl, “and the fact that you would take advantage of someone in such a compromised emotional state sickens me to the core, so I think for his sake I will be rectifying that issue.”

She then sent a cord of green magic through Faust’s magical bubble and into the chest of the Pony of Shadows, before giving a mighty tug and ripping a gray coated, blue mane and tailed unicorn out from his chest, causing the Pony of Shadows to loose his form while the unicorn went sailing through the air, though he was swiftly caught by Starswirl, who lowered him to the ground near him as the others gathered around.

Slowly, the young unicorn awoke, and upon seeing the Pillars surrounding him, he dawned a look of confusion. “Wha…where am I?”

“Your at Ponehenge,” said Starswirl, “what’s the last thing you remember?”

Stygian grimaced, “last thing I remember was after you all banished me, I was alone in the forest, and then suddenly this…pony came up to me, asking me what was wrong. I told them my story, and they did their best to comfort me…and then next thing I know I’m waking up here.”

“That pony was an Umbra called the Pony of Shadows,” said the pink pegasus known as Somnambula. “He…he took advantage of your vulnerable state due to us leaping to conclusions about what you were doing and not giving you the chance to explain yourself.”

“We never realize you felt lacking in regards to being one of us,” said Starswirl, “I just hope you can forgive us all for our oversight.”

Stygian made to speak, only to startle along with everyone else as a roar sounded behind them, causing them to turn to where Faust was standing, her bubble still intact and keeping the mass of shadows inside, which was trying its hardest to break free from the bubble.

“Why do you keep me here witch!” roared the Pony of Shadows, “you deprived me of my vessel, what more could you want from me!”

“Because as harsh as this is going to sound, Stygian was not why I am here, for I am actually here for the sake of your son.”

The shadows within the bubble seemed to still, and then the several eyes formed within before looking directly at Faust. “What possible interest could you have with my half breed spawn?”

“I have interest in him because he is one of the most powerful soul-magic practitioners in the world, and I will need him to face a enemy just as experienced, but to do that I need him restored to his true self, which means I need that shard of his soul he gave you.”

“That was given to me freely in exchange for enhancing his gifts,” roared the Pony of Shadows, “he has no more right to it!”

“He has every right to it!” said Faust, this time with a growl, “and unless you give it to me freely so that I may return it to him, I will rip you apart piece by piece till I find it!”

Glaring at her, the shadow seemed to fall within itself, before a bright glowing shard of energy left the billowing mass, which Faust let pass through the bubble before grabbing it and letting it float next to her, before she looked back at the Pony of Shadows as he spoke.

“Now what witch?”

“Now I return you to where you belong.”

The Pony of Shadows eyes widened at this, and he began redoubling his efforts to break free from the bubble, even as it lowered to the ground and expanded, and then a gate opened in the very middle of the bubble.

The moment the portal had opened the area around it had become darker, as the realm it opened to did not react well to the light. Then, from the portal, a form emerged, making its way to the edge of the bubble before passing through it, allowing it to finally become clear.

The form was that of a female alicorn of jet black coat, mane, and tail, and her eyes were a deep blood red, which matched the color of her curved horn.

Her wings shared a similar structure to the Pony of Shadows before he had lost his form, and wisps of shadow billowed at the edges of her hooves, which mimicked her mane and tail.

Smiling, Faust spoke to the being. “Hello Umbranox, it has been a while, I hope I did not catch you at a bad time.”

“Actually you spared me a rather dull meeting with several members of my court, so no harm done. Now, why am I here, and more importantly why is their a bubble around the portal to my realm?”

“Well the bubble is there to keep one of you wayward sons from escaping, which is one of the reasons I called you here.”

Looking back, Umbranox saw the shadowy form cowering at the farthest edge of the bubble, which caused her to smirk as she spoke to it. “So this is where you have been hiding E’sol, many of your brothers and sisters thought you dead, as did I.”

“I wont go back, YOU CANT MAKE ME!!!”

“I can and I will,” said Umbranox, “now you stay there and behave, for I have a feeling Faust has more to tell me in regards to you.”

She turned back to Faust, only to dawn a look of surprise as she saw several ponies had come up beside her, one in particular looking to her before speaking. “I am sorry to interrupt this conversation, but did I hear my lady correct when she called you by the name Umbranox?”

“You did indeed hear her correctly, why?”

“Because the daughter of my old friend Sombra actually shares your name, a remarkable coincidence to be sure.”

“Actually it is not that much of a coincidence Starswirl,” said Faust, choosing at that moment to interject due to the confusion she could see on Umbranox’s face. “For Sombra is actually Umbranox’s grandson, making his daughter her great granddaughter.”

Umbranox’s eyes had widened at this point, “I have grandchildren who are not full Umbra, I will admit I find this surprising, though that would explain the soul shard you are carrying. Also it would be safe to assume that this grandchild is the son of E’sol?”

Faust nodded, “I had to free him from being trapped in limbo because he took this shard from his son in exchange for enhancing his Umbra half, and I needed that shard to help restore him, for I will have need of him soon.”

“I see,” said Umbranox, “well once this business of yours is concluded I will have to come visit him sometime, till then I shall return home, and I’ll be taking this one with me.”

With that said, she turned around and grabbed the Pony of Shadows before disappearing through the gateway which vanished, allowing Faust to dispel the bubble.

“Well she hasn’t changed much,” said Chrysalis as she walked up beside Faust, “though I have to ask love, why did you not ask her to help against our current predicament?”

“You know she would have said no,” said Faust.

“Um…” said a voice behind them, Faust turning to look and see that the pillars were looking up at her, the mare named Mistmane speaking up once Fausts full attention was upon them. “What issue is Queen Chrysalis talking about?”

Faust sighed, before smiling as she spoke, “A problem that now that I think of it you could help with, for you have battle against a soul thief before yes?”

All the pillars nodded, and then Starswirl spoke, “admittedly not many, but we know the kind of threat they pose. Do you know the age of this particular soul thief?”

“A little over three thousand years.”

All the pillars blanched at this, but before any of them could speak up, Stygian came forward and interjected. “But how can that be, from everything I have read that would make the soul thief a monstrous being, which means it should have been noticed well before now.”

“I have to agree with Stygian on this,” said Starswirl, “for the oldest soul thief we have encountered was less then five hundred years old, and that being was a monstrous one.”

“This one has not altered herself since becoming a soul thief,” said Chrysalis, “making her rather unique, but we can explain more of this to you once we get our last ally.”

Everypony nodded, before gathering close to Faust as she began charging her horn, all save for Stygian.

“Stygian,” said Starswirl, causing the stallion to look at him, “your one of us too, its time you participated in one of our missions.”

Stygian smiled, and then ran up to the group as Faust cast her spell, whisking them all away to their next destination.

*

Back in the pocket realm which acted as the current prison of all the Fell Shadows victims, Cadance was in the mists of talking with Fuji when Luna appeared in the realm, who looked surprised for a moment before smiling and walking up to give her a hug. “So you have decided to join us.”

“It wasn’t really a choice,” said Cadance as they finished the hug. “I love my mother, but I cant let her keep doing what she is doing, the cost is too high.”

“On that we are agreed,” said Luna, before looking to Fuji, “could you gather the others, for if I am correct we should be able to start our plan tonight.”

Nodding her head, Fuji tapped her hoof on the ground, and after only a few moments everyone was gathered, including Shining, much to Luna’s surprise.

“I had to bring him in on all this, but he’s behind us all the way.”

“Good to know,” said Luna, before addressing the room at large. “Now everyone, recently an ally has joined up with us, sent by my mother Faust, whom you all know doubt have heard of. Thanks to her, we will be able to set our plan into motion beginning tonight, so make what preparations you need, for things will only get more hectic from here on out.”

Everypony nodded and then began moving about, many looking like they were prepping spells, while Twilight, Cadance, Shining, Fuji and Umbranox walked up to her.

“Who is this ally?” asked Twilight, looking genuinely curious.

‘Well as it turns out Twilight, your friend Zecora is actually the Zebra fertility goddess, one whom many of the Ascendancy thought died ages ago.”

“Ascendancy?” said Twilight in confusion.

“Ponies aren’t the only ones who have alicorn like beings Twilight,” said Cadance, “though that makes me worried, for is she is the one they have all been talking about then Ponyville is in for white the uptick in pregnant ponies.”

“…Mayor mare is going to kill us when this is all over.”

“Agreed,” said Luna, “now, Cadance, Shining and I will return to the waking realm, where we can begin putting our own skills to work, but the linchpin will be you five reforging your connections with the element bearers.”

“I understand your highness,” said Twilight, “we’ll be ready.”

Nodding her head, Luna closed her eyes before vanishing from the realm, followed soon by Cadance and Shining after they gave a hug to Twilight.

“You need to win this Twilight,” said Umbranox after Cadance vanished, causing Twilight to look at her and note the tears traveling down her face. “I just got to speak with my daughter for the first time, and I cant loose her…I wont!”

“We’ll win Umbranox,” said Twilight, “I promise.”

*

Out in the snows of the Crystal Empire, a group of ponies, along with an alicorn and a changeling queen, appeared and began moving through the snow as if looking for something.

“And your sure its here?” Faust called out to Chrysalis.

“This was the direction I saw the horn fly when Sombra’s form was destroyed by the heart,” said Chrysalis, “though whether it is fully intact or not I could not tell you.”

Nodding, they continued with the search, and as they did, Faust and Chrysalis filled int he Pillars on the threat they face, allowing them to better know their enemy and thus start making their own mental preparations for the battle that might be coming.

“I found it!” cried Starswirl from far away, everyone running toward him as he pulled a glowing red horn, which bore the signature curve that all umbra ponies shared.

“Are you sure this is going to work your highness,” said Stygian as Starswirl handed Faust the horn, “for this seems like quite the feet.”

“I helped to create most of the life on this world,” said Faust as she brought the soul shard towards the horn, “this will be trivial compare to that feet.”

Then she began concentrating with her magic, the shard disappearing into the horn as it began to glow brighter and brighter, and then slowly, life began to take shape.

The first thing to form was the skeleton, then the tendons and nerves, followed by the organs and muscles, till finally the skin, fur, mane and tail formed, and then the pony collapsed to the ground.

Faust stayed everyone when they went to check on the now restored Sombra, and after a moment he slowly rose to his hooves, looking around before his eyes settled on Starswirl, causing him to speak. “Old friend, is that really you?”

“It is old friend,” said Starswirl, “but we will have to catch up later, for I am afraid Faust has need of you.”

Sombra nodded, and then turned to Faust, taking a deep breath before speaking. “Lady Faust, how may I be of service to you?”

“I have need of you for a delicate mission,” said Faust, “but first, what is the last thing you remember.”

Sombra looked confused for a moment, before suddenly he growled. “I had just woke up from my self imposed sleep brought on by banishing the Crystal Empire so that the Fell Shadow could not have it, and at first I was happy, for I sensed my granddaughter had entered the city. But then I sensed the Fell Shadow heading towards my cities boarders, which caused me to loose myself to the chaos that I had left myself in due to…”

Suddenly he stopped talking, a hoof shooting up to his chest before he let out a gasp, “My…my soul, how…”

“I payed a visit to your father,” said Faust, causing him to look at her in surprise, “for I needed you whole of form for the task I will be setting you to.”

“And that is?”

“Battling the Fell Shadow should she be able to resist the elements, and I needed you clear of mind for that fight, for you will be working with others should things go truly south.”

“I see,” said Sombra, before cracking his neck and then looking to the others before speaking, “and I am assuming they will be helping as well?”

When Faust nodded, Sombra spoke up. “Then by your leave my lady, I would like to go to one of my workshops and gather some things, and to prepare for the battle to come.”

“May do so,” said Faust, watching as he teleported away before looking to the Pillars and speaking. “As for you all, I will be teleporting you to the outskirts of the town of Ponyville, where I expect you to wait and watch till you feel the time is right, for if we are lucky the elements will be able to take care of this.”

“If I may be so bold your grace,” said the mare named Mistmane, “but what are these elements you speak of?”

Faust dawned a look of surprise, and then looked cross when Chrysalis began chuckling behind her, before sighing as she spoke. “I forgot that you were not around for when they began being used, even though you had a hand in making them, for the elements are the crystalline fruit created by the tree of harmony, whose seed you planted well over a thousand years ago.”

All the ponies eyes widened in surprise, and then surprisingly, Stygian moved forward and spoke “Are you…are you telling my the seed I created actually bore fruit?”

“It did indeed,” said Faust with a smile, “though knowing this, I am surprised your friends planted it considering what happened.”

“We did it to honor the friend we thought we had lost,” said Rockhoof as he place a hoof on Stygian’s shoulder. “With the hope that in someway he would continue to help us, despite what he had become.”

“I see,” said Faust, “then till next we meet, I wish you all luck.”

She then lit up her horn and teleported them to their destination, before looking towards Chrysalis as the changeling queen walked up to her.

“Now what beloved?” said Chrysalis.

“Now…we make our way back to Canterlot, and prepare for the battle to come.”

Author's Note

And thus Gathering Foes comes to conclusion, but this story is far from over.

The next five or so chapters will be coming out in rapid succession, for most of them are already written, they just need some edits in order to make them work with the new cannon.

Till then guys, feel free to share any questions or comments, I love hearing from you guys.