Prevailing Shadows

The griffon guards revealed their true forms by transforming back into changelings. Thor laughed.

"Why do this, King Thor? What purpose does this serve other than creating more bloodshed?" Twilight reasoned.

"We will throw all into darkness and despair under King Umbra! All shall fall before the might of the Six Sinestros! You now face Phobus, Sinestro of Terror!" Phobus declared. Phobus leaped upwards into the air, beating his wings against the air.

"What about your people? The Griffon Kingdoms are suffering!" Twilight cried.

"Mere puppets! I am not King Thor. Both father and son fell to my magic!" announced Phobus. Twilight gasped.

"To arms, my Twilight Guard! We must oust this usurper before he brings more havoc to our lands!" Twilight commanded. The Guards formed two circles around Twilight. Judicators protected the weaker Magus and Spirits while they cast their spells.

Changelings charged with battle cries of "For The Hive! For the End of All!". The beasts leaped onto the closest Judicators, biting and clawing. A few changelings would manage to get through, only to blasted by elemental fire and air of the Spirits or pierced by the magic of the Magus.

"Magic and strength alone will not avail you! Fear bites deeper than any blade!" Phobus shouted. He dived down towards Twilight. Phobus started to spin, using air magic to turn himself into a living spear. Twilight countered with a blast of magic from her horn. The magic of each impacted resulting in a concussion wave. Phobus was flung back and those on the floor were knocked down.

The Judicators were the first to recover. "Kill the monsters where they lay, ponies!" Flash cried.

"You WILL fail! I cannot let you escape Twilight Sparkle!" Phobus howled. He again went into an aerial dive, but instead aimed for Flash.

Flash rolled to the side. Phobus and Flash faced each other amid the chaos. The two charged each other. Phobus yelled the word "Aero Puncta!" and a knife like gust of wind shot towards Flash. Flash charged right into the gust which was then repelled by his armor. Flash thrust his rapier forward in an attempt to skewer Phobus. Phobus leaped over the blade and landed on Flash. The two rolled on the floor, Phobus clawing and Flash bucking.

Twilight watched hopelessly. I can't get a good line of sight. I might hit Flash!

"Blast him, Your Highness! Take us both!" hollered Flash.

"I don't want to have to tell Celestia that I had to kill you along with him!" Twilight countered.

Twilight gritted her teeth, lowered her head, focused energy into her horn, and bull rushed towards the two.

"Let go, Flash!" Twilight warned. I hope this works!

Flash let go and shoved Phobus towards Twilight. Phobus turned towards Twilight, eyes widening. Phobus took off into the air. Twilight followed suit.

"Fool, the air is my domain!" Phobus cackled. Phobus spun back to Twilight.

Lavender and black collided. Twilight was sent sprawling to the floor. Blood trickled from her horn.

"Victory is ours! Exalt yourselves in their fear!" Phobus declared.

Flash rushed to stand in front of his charge. The remaining Guards did like wise.

"We will not stand idly! You face the Twilight Guard!" Flash yelled.

Phobus laughed. Then his face went rigid with seriousness. "Stand down and give your precious princess to us. Otherwise, these changelings will eat your innards while you lay screaming for pathetic mercy," demanded Phobus.

"Never!" yelled one of the Judicators.

"Your death wishes are granted. Tear the soft flesh from their bones!" replied Phobus. The changelings charged from all sides.

The double doors exploded open, clipping nearby changelings. Debris flew and smoke filled the room.

"DAMN you Eclipse! You came sooner than expected. You win this for now!" Phobus screeched. He dived down into the gorges encircling the throne room. Seeing Phobus flee demoralized the changelings and they too began to flee.

Twilight struggled to stand up. Flash helped Twilight off the floor. Twilight glanced at the area where the doors once where, gazing through the smoke. The vague shape of an alicorn could be seen standing.

An alicorn? Could Celestia or Luna come to our aid? But... Phobus was screeching about an Eclipse.

"Who are you?" Twilight asked through the smoke.

"I am Eclipse. That is all you need to know. Now we must leave, before Phobus returns with worse things than changelings," replied Eclipse, with the deeper voice of a stallion. Eclipse turned before the smoke cleared.

Flash looked at Twilight. "We must follow Eclipse," was all he said.

"We must? How can you be so sure? Normally, you would object to following someone we don't know," Twilight inquired.

"I do know Eclipse, but not personally. I will explain later. We must go now though. Eclipse speaks the true, there are worse variations of changelings," Flash answered. "Can you walk?"

"I can run if I have to. But you will explain yourself when we get the chance," Twilight confirmed.

Twilight and the rest stumbled through the clearing smoke. Twilight looked around for the elusive Eclipse.

"Up the stairs! Hurry!" called Eclipse. The stallion still remained out of sight.

I don't know about this. But I will have to take Flash's word on this.

Those who could fly decided to forgo the stairs and ascend aerially. The rest used magic to leap from railing to railing or raced up the stairs. Twilight reached the top of the stairs and realized that this was were the group had slept last night.

Further down the hall, Eclipse shouted, "Follow the laughing griffon statues!It will lead you to the outside of the mountain!" He still stayed out of sight. Sure enough, in the corner, a laughing griffon pointed in a direction. Better get Viridian and the others before we leave.

The group raced onwards.

Right.

Up the stairs.

Left.

Up more stairs.

Left.

Right.

Right again.

The group reached a dead end room. Twilight growled in frustration and looked up. And gaped.

Does he honestly expect us to get through that window? Rarity's cat could hardly squeeze through that!

Movement above attracted her attention. Twilight caught a glimpse of Eclipse flying straight towards the window. Purplish-black energy arced from his horn towards the open window. Eclipse flew through the dust.

I guess that works...

Outside the window was an unused and decaying balcony overlooking the city. To the right was a rugged path along the side of the mountain. Eclipse was waiting when everyone got through what was left of the window.

Eclipse was a tall and handsome stallion. Wait... handsome? His coat was a light grey, except for the patches of black above the hooves. His mane was crimson with streaks of black. His eyes... deep blue as the night sky, piercing and scrutinizing. Eclipse wore silvery mithril armor, edges decorated with gold.

"We are almost there," he said. Before Eclipse could turn Twilight interrupted him.

"Before we go any further, I need to know who you are," Twilight demanded.

"You wouldn't believe me, and there are some things that should be kept secret," Eclipse replied.

"If you won't tell her, Eclipse, then I will," Flash announced.

"How do you know who Eclipse is, Flash?" Twilight inquired, narrowing her eyes.

"It is royal duty of Judicators to know the history of royalty. The-"

"Royalty!? You mean Eclipse is from royalty? Which line?" Twilight interjected.

"I will tell you, please be patient Your Highness. The Judicators are not a new order. They have been around since the founding of Equestria. We guard the royalty and aid them. This is why with I can tell you Eclipse's heritage with certainty," Flash explained.

Twilight hoofed the ground with impatience. "Continue," Twilight commanded.

Eclipse stood forward, staring into Twilight's eyes.

With absolute confidence, "I am the son of Princess Luna." Everyone except Flash and a few other senior officers gaped.