After a bright flash of light Shadow, Pinkie, and Spike appeared in what seemed to be the center plaza of Ponyville, that is, if Ponyville was normally filled with propaganda posters.
"What in the hay is this stuff," Pinkie asked.
Shadow looked at the poster that Pinkie had been looking at.
"Looks like propaganda," Shadow answered.
Spike looked at him quizzically, "Propaganda?"
Shadow nodded, "Yeah, its used to promote things, however, this looks like its trying to promote having ponies obey somepony or be thrown in prison."
"Who would put these up," Spike asked. Shadow looked at the poster once more and found the Royal Seal and the seal of the holders of the Elements of Harmony.
"You don't wanna know," Shadow finally answered.
Spike looked at the seals that Shadow was looking at and went wide eyed.
"Is this some kind of joke," Spike asked.
"It's no joke young one," came the answer from a stranger.
Shadow turned to look at the cloak wearing stranger.
"Who are you," he asked.
The stranger took off her hood.
"I am Smooth Melody but call me Melody," she answered, "and who are you?"
"I'm Shadow Volt, these are my friends Spike and Pinkie Pie," he replied.
Melody took a defensive stance, "Did you say Pinkie Pie?!"
Shadow looked at her bemused.
"Yeah, is there something wrong," Shadow asked before he froze, "Does it have something to do with those posters?"
"You're kidding right," Melody asked, "She's one of the Mane 6 that serve under Empress Celestia, they've caused more pain and suffering than anypony, and Pinkie there is one of them."
Melody pointed her hoof at Pinkie just before Shadow moved in between the two of them.
Melody called for some of her friends from the nearby buildings and soon Shadow and the group found themselves surrounded.
"You're making a mistake, Melody, she's not who you think she is," Shadow yelled.
Melody wasn't listening and ordered for everypony to attack.
"Damn it, gotta try taking these ponies out without hurting them too much," Shadow thought as he readied himself.
Several ponies lunged at the group before Shadow took each of them out with a single hit to the head and knocking them unconcious.
A few more went straight for Shadow but his combat experience and skill were too much for them and they fell just as fast.
After a while Shadow had managed to knock all the attackers out except for Melody.
"Melody," Shadow yelled, "listen to what I'm trying to tell you!"
Melody shook her head and lunged at him.
Shadow grabbed her in his magic and pinned her to the ground.
"Melody, we are not from this world, we came here on our quest to find a way home," Shadow pleaded.
Melody was wanted to be skeptical but knew by the sound of his voice that Shadow was being completely honest.
"I believe you," Melody replied, "its hard to believe such a tall tale, however, you sound completely honest, not to mention that Ponyville has always been the center of such strange things."
Shadow released her from his magic and helped her up.
"You wouldn't believe half of the stuff I've been through and then there was earlier today before dimension hopping here," Shadow replied, "though most of this morning was good though."
Pinkie blushed slightly and giggled.
Melody looked at them for a moment, "Wait, are you two?"
Shadow nodded, "Yes, atleast I hope so."
Pinkie giggled, "Of coarse we are silly."
Melody laughed, "You're pretty strong, follow me, there's somepony I want you to meet."
The group left the still unconcious ponies and soon arrived at a building that looked abandoned, however, once inside Melody lead them to a secret entrance.
Melody spoke as they decended into the secret hideout.
"I really hope we can trust you," she said.
"Yes you can, unless of coarse you turn out to be evil, then no you can't," Shadow joked.
Melody laughed, "I pretty sure we aren't evil, we fight for the freedom of Equestria."
Shadow nodded, "So what in the hell is with all those posters? Why do they have both Celestia's and the seal of the wielders of the Elements of Harmony?"
"Well," Melody began, "up until a year ago Princess Celestia was a king and benevolent ruler loved throughout Equestria, then one day she declared that all must obey her or suffer imprisonment for she was now Empress Celestia, all of the Mane 6, except Rainbow Dash joined her we thought, that is until a few weeks ago when we found out that she had been working with them the entire time she was with us. I'll let you look over the files we made on them later. It's this way, follow me."
Shadow nodded and followed Melody with Pinkie and Spike next to him, after a couple minutes of walking, Melody led them into a large room with quite a few ponies standing around looking at them, well more like glaring at Pinkie, Shadow felt the glares they were giving Pinkie and moved in front of her and blocking their line of sight.
A large black Alicorn mare walked up to them.
"What is the meaning of bringing her here Melody," she asked, "And who are these outsiders who look like they would defend this monster?"
Melody was about to answer when Shadow cut her off.
"Monster? Coming from you of all ponies makes me laugh, Princess Luna, or should I say Nightmare Moon? I'll say this once so listen up," Shadow said moving closer with fire in his eyes, "this Pinkie is not from this dimension and neither am I, I will not let you hurt her and don't think for a moment that you can hurt her."
Luna looked at him bemused, "Not from this dimension?"
Shadow nodded, "That is correct, we're trying to find out way to my home dimension and that is why we are here. By the way, why are you speaking normally instead of your royal way?"
Luna was still a bit confused, "Too many ponies didn't know what I was saying some of the time so I stopped. Now back to the matter with Pinkie, I think we sho-"
Luna was cut off by another pony running into the room.
"What is it," Luna asked.
The pony came to a stop without noticing Shadow and the others.
"Pinkie and Fluttershy were just seen arresting some ponies in the Southwestern part of town, some of those ponies were our members," he answered.
"How long ago was this," Luna asked.
"Just now, they are still there, we have several ponies keeping an eye on them," he answered.
Luna looked back at Shadow and the others.
"Looks like you were telling the truth," Luna said turning from Shadow to Pinkie, "please accept my apologies, though we do need a way to tell you two apart just in case."
Shadow thought for a moment, "I have an idea."
Shadow turned to Pinkie and used his magic on her, after a few seconds Pinkie's mane was no longer its fluffy, messy self, it was now brushed and slightly styled.
"How's that Pinkie," Shadow asked, "I made it where your hair can't return back to its fluffy state that way we can tell you apart."
Pinkie pulled out a mirror and looked at her mane for a moment.
"I like it, it's kinda cute actually," she answered.
Shadow nodded, "So what now Princess?"
Luna smiled, "Well that depends, do you wish to join our cause?"
Shadow looked at Pinkie who nodded.
"Yes we will, on one condition," he answered.
"And that is," Luna asked.
"I'll help out, but I need to be given free range to go about it in my own way, I don't do well following orders and I do a lot better when I do it my way, and I'll still do what needs to be done. Also do you have a training room here," Shadow replied.
Luna thought for a moment, "I accept your condition and yes we do, its the last door on the left down the hall. Why do you ask?"
"Cause your members need better combat training, I'll take over that for a while," he answered.
Luna gave a puzzled look.
"Before we came here, Melody ordered a large group to attack us and they didn't seem to have any combat training at all," Shadow said.
"Do you have any combat training," Luna asked.
Shadow nodded, "Yeah, I've been trained in several martial arts, I've mastered close quarters combat, and I've mastered most sword arts."
"Thats impressive, I'm sure our members will greatly improve under your training. Is there anything you need to get started," Luna asked.
Shadow nodded, "I need all your files on Celestia and the Mane 6, I wanna know what I'm dealing with since they aren't the same ponies I know, I let you know about the training supplies, and we also need a place to stay while we're in this dimension."
Luna nodded and instructed a pony that looked like her assistant to gather up the files, before turning back to Shadow and the others.
"We have a room available with two beds if two of you don't mind sharing one," she said.
"That'll be perfect," Pinkie replied.
Shadow looked at Pinkie and back to Luna.
Luna's assistant finally returned with the files.
"Thanks," Shadow said taking them in his magic, "I'll go over these tonight and I'll being training the other members tomorrow morning."
Luna nodded as Shadow, Pinkie, and Spike left the room and followed Luna's assistant to their room, they made themselves at home and Shadow cracked open Twilight Sparkle's file.
"I have to take her down, she may be my cousin in my dimension, but here she is a serious threat that must be stopped," Shadow thought to himself.
"Shadow, this is gonna be difficult, even if they aren't strong enough to beat you physically, they'll still be difficult to beat due to your emotional connection to your friends," Nightshade replied.
"Yeah," Shadow thought, "these ponies aren't my friends, they have to be stopped."
"Are you okay," Pinkie asked.
"Yeah," Shadow answered nuzzling her, "just deep in thought."
Pinkie nodded and laid back down on the bed while Shadow continued going over each file.
"Okay so they no long hold the Elements of Harmony, instead they've corrupted the Elements into the Elements of Treachery, seems fitting, Twilight is Treachery and Celestia's right hand mare, Rainbow Dash is Betrayal and used to spy for Celestia, Applejack is Deception and sells false imformation while giving Celestia correct information to Celestia, Fluttershy is Torture and tortures anypony unlucky enough to wind up in Celestia's dungeons, Pinkie Pie is Insanity and also runs the dungeons with Fluttershy but spends most of her time killing and mutilating her torture victims, and Rarity is Thievery and spends her time stealing rare items. That is some pretty gruesome information," Shadow said to himself.
Shadow layed next to Pinkie deep in thought before turning to look at her now sleeping body.
"She's not gonna like my plan," Shadow said with a small gulp, "I don't even like my plan."
Shadow snuggled up to Pinkie and quickly fell asleep, the next morning he trained the other members intensily before training Pinkie personally, after training was complete he went and met with Luna.
"I've got a plan," Shadow began, "mind you, its a fairly horrible plan that puts me in extreme danger, but we need to free everypony from Celestia's dungeons."
Luna nodded in agreement, "So what's you plan?"
Shadow took a deep breathe and made sure Pinkie didn't have anything to hit him with.
"I need to be captured and taken to Celestia's dungeons, from there I'll break out everypony and escape," he answered.
Saying this got him hit in the back of the head by a flying object that was thrown by Pinkie.
"They'll have you binded by chains and they'll place an anti-magic collar on your, there won't be anyway for you to escape," Luna replied.
"The standard anti-magic collar only resticts the magic of a unicorn it cannot, however, restrict the magic of an Alicorn correct," Shadow asked.
"That's correct but I'm the only Alicorn here, and I am not allowed to take such a risk," Luna replied.
Shadow smirk before removing his vest and spreading his wings.
"I'm afraid you aren't the only Alicorn here Princess, as long as I wear this vest they won't know until its too late," he said putting his vest back on.
Luna snapped out of her stupor and nodded.
After going over several details about the plan Luna gave her approval.
"We'll be waiting with the carriages when you get out with everypony," Luna said.
"Alright, let's get started," Shadow replied preparing to leave and be captured.
Pinkie stood in front of him and kept him from leaving just yet.
"Be careful," she said before giving him a small kiss.
Shadow smiled and nodded before leaving.
Shadow walked around Ponyville until he saw a group of Celestia's guards, Shadow walked by them before using his magic to shatter several windows, which successfully got him captured.
Shadow soon found himself bound to a wall by shackles with an anti-magic collar fastened to his neck, he decided to wait until the guards were mostly gone so it would be easier to free the other prisoners.
After waiting all day the dungeon had gone silent, indicating that most of the guards had gone to perform other duties, Shadow built up his magic until it burst through and blasted the collar off his neck, as soon as he was free of the collar he used his magic to shatter the restraints and freed himself.
Shadow ran from room to room freeing all of the ponies that were still alive and healing those injured, he knocked out any guard unlucky enough to get in his way.
There was only one room left and when Shadow opened the door, he was face to face with somepony he thought he'd never see again, somepony he thought was dead.
Shadow stood in the doorway looking at the pony still restrained to the wall, he stood there staring at her body, wounds still fresh from the last time he saw her, and new wounds from being tortured and stitches from from where organs were removed, he could tell because those organs were sitting on the table nearby but were no longer healthy, she could only have been there a day, but she looked as though she had been there for weeks, the sight made Shadow want to gag.
"Have you come to gloat," asked the mare.
Shadow shook his head, "How is this possible? How are you still alive and how did you end up here Pinkamena?"
Pinkamena coughed up some blood, "I don't know."
Shadow knew that he could just turn and leave her there, but he wouldn't, he would never leave somepony like that.
"Pinkamena, I want your help, I'll free you on the condition that you don't kill anypony," Shadow said.
Pinkamena looked him straight in the eyes. "Even if you free me, there's no garantee that we get out of here, nor is there a garantee that I survive these wounds while on the move," she said coughing up more blood.
Shadow lit up his horn and after a few seconds all of Pinkamena's wounds were healed.
"I'm offering you a chance to be something more than just a murderer, I'm offering the chance to fight against the one that twisted you into a murderer," Shadow said moving closer.
"You mean Strife right," Pinkamena asked.
Shadow nodded, "So what do you say?"
Pinkamena thought for a moment before she had a look of pure anger on her face.
"If he's the one behind all this, then yes, I may have tortured ponies and turned them into cupcakes, but I never wanted to until he came along, I absolutely hate cupcakes now," Pinkamena gagged at the thought, "however, that doesn't mean I won't kill anypony, but I'll try to restrain myself."
Shadow nodded and shattered the restraints with his magic.
"Okay, lets get out of here," he said galloping out of the dungeon with Pinkamena and the rest of the prisoners.
They all followed Shadow, who had managed to remember the path the guards took when they dragged him to the dungeons, after plowing through several unlucky guards, Shadow and the others made it outside.
"Follow me," Shadow called as he galloped.
They followed him down a path and out of sight of everypony and met up with several rebellion members with carriages, Shadow turned around and did a quick head count.
"Okay, thats everypony, get on the carriages everypony, Pinkamena, you're with me," Shadow said.
Pinkamena nodded and got on the carriage with him, Pinkie and Luna were on the same carriage.
When Pinkie saw Pinkamena her blood ran cold and she had a look of horror on her face.
"Pinkie? It's okay, she's on our side, we need to put our differences aside for now," Shadow said trying to snap her out of it.
Pinkamena couldn't even bring herself to look Pinkie in the eyes let alone look at her at all.
Pinkamena finally let out a sigh and looked at Pinkie.
"I'm sorry," Pinkamena began, "I'm sorry for everything, I didn't know the pain I had caused until I had the pleasure to feel it myself all night as, what I'm assuming is this world's Pinkie, even though you healed the wounds, I can still feel the pain, she removed several organs and the pain was excrutiating," Pinkamena started to break into tears, "I can't believe I did that to anypony, I didn't know it actually hurt like that, I assumed it was all in good fun."
Pinkamena had broken down, Shadow could tell that what she had experienced last night was enough to break anypony, even her, he was still shocked that she could even be broken.
"Shadow, I want to help you, I know you can't trust me, but I really do wanna help you," Pinkamena pleaded.
Shadow was absolutely stunned by what he was hearing, what happened to the mare that he had seen inside the dungeon just moments ago, why was she all of a sudden crying and wanting to change, Shadow wanted to believe it had been because she had seen the error of her ways, but he knew the real reason behind it.
"Nightshade, Strife's influence over her is broken isn't it," Shadow asked mentally.
After a few moments of silence, Nightshade replied, "Yes it is, it was weakened when she was sent here and then broken when she got into the carriage after agreeing to help you.
It seems if somepony under his influence decides to help you, even for a moment, they can be freed." Shadow gave a smile, "Pinkamena, you are no longer under Strife's influence, you have my full trust," Shadow looked over to Pinkie who gave a nod, "and we will help you."
"Shadow, be warned, there is still darkness in her heart, and she is still capable of murder," Nightshade warned.
After a while the carriages arrived at a safe location and everypony unboarded. Shadow paused for a moment, "Anypony else have the feeling that was too easy?"
Almost as soon as the words left his mouth they found themselves surrounded by Celestia's Royal Guards, with the Insane Pinkie Pie leading them.
"Yep, too easy," Shadow groaned.
"So, you think you can just trot in and take away the funnest pony I've had the pleasure of experimenting on," Insane Pinkie growled.
Shadow gave a signal to the rebels, thanks to the training he gave them that morning they knew what it meant and immidiately backed away while covering Pinkie and Pinkamena.
Shadow cracked his neck, "Then why don't you do something about it?"
Shadow threw off his vest and glasses and stood in a defensive position.
Insane Pinkie laughed and ordered all her guards to attack at once causing Shadow to smirk.
Shadow unfurled his wings and used the force from one strong flap to send himself flying at a group and took them out, he then used his magic to create a concussive blast knocking out several guards, Shadow's combat training made short work off the rest of the guards and he had yet to break a sweat.
Insane Pinkie was absolutely livid, "worthless maggots, I'll be sure to make their torment extra long and painful. As for you, I'll handle you personally."
Insane Pinkie took a vial of black liquid from her mane and before she could drink it, it was snatched away by Pinkamena who had immidiately retreated back to the group of rebels.
Shadow couldn't help but let out a burst of laughter, "Now that's just funny."
Insane Pinkie had turned from pink to red and pulled a knife from her mane. "Seriously, how much crap do you have in there? Is your head really that empty," Shadow asked.
Insane Pinkie lunged at him and was prepared in case he dodged.
Shadow stood ready and caught her in his magic and restricted her movements with a simple paralyzation spell.
Insane Pinkie had had enough and decided to use her Element of Treachery which broke her free of Shadow's magic, she used it to launch several beams at Shadow and had finally managed to hit him.
"Gah," Shadow yelled as his mind was being invaded by Pinkie's Element of Treachery.
"Shadow, you have to fight it," Nightshade yelled.
Shadow's sanity was being torn from him, he was quickly losing control over himself.
"Shadow! You have to fight it, for me," Pinkie cried.
Hearing Pinkie's cries was like throwing a match on a pile of dried grass soaked in lighter fluid and gasoline, Shadow's eyes, mane, and tail turned red and he managed to create a barrier around himself.
"So," Shadow said slightly out of breath, "you don't need the other Elements to use them against somepony."
Insane Pinkie laughed, "That's right, they become more powerful when used together though, and the result is having the target blown to pieces," Insane Pinkie let out a much darker laugh, "and that's the best part."
Shadow used the time she was laughing to move in at high speed and grabbed the Element right off her neck, he looked at it for a moment and noticed that it was once her Element of Laughter but was now cracked and twisted, it didn't take much force from Shadow's magic to shatter it.
Insane Pinkie realized what had just happened when she heard it shatter.
"What the hell did you just do?! Are you bucking insane," Insane Pinkie screamed, "Twilight is going to kill me now!"
Shadow shook his head, "She won't have the chance, because you're being locked up for your crimes," he said paralyzing her once again with his magic and signalling the rebels to arrest her.
Shadow moved away and joined Pinkie and Pinkamena but kept an eye on Insane Pinkie until she was contained.
"What was that vial you took from her," Shadow asked turning to look at Pinkamena. Pinkamena took the vial out of her mane, "It was extracted from me last night, this world's Pinkie called it Zalgo blood."
Shadow froze when he heard the word Zalgo.
"Have you heard of it Shadow," Pinkie asked.
"I have," Shadow began, "its only been associated with beings of evil though, those beings are said to be able to survive almost anything, even death, and they have abilities that are far more powerful than magic without even needing to use magic."
Pinkamena gave the vial to Shadow, "You keep it, if you decide to use it then be careful."
Shadow nodded and took it in his magic, after putting his vest and sunglasses back on he put the vial inside of one of his pockets.
"Shadow, if you do decide to use it, do not ingest it, it is far more fatal that way," Nightshade warned.
"How much do you know about Zalgos," Shadow asked mentally.
"Not a lot, but, you'll have evil desires and urges if you use it, however, it will be up to you if you decide to give into them, the power you would get from it is far greater than what you have now though," Nightshade answered.
"Understood, I'll only use it when it's absolutely necessary," Shadow replied mentally.
"Okay so that's one down, just five more Element users to take down. Let's get back to the hideout where it's safe," Shadow said trotting next to Pinkie and Pinkamena.
After about fifteen minutes of walking they reached the abandoned building and went through the secret passage.
Shadow kept an eye on Pinkamena who seemed to still be in pain, Shadow finally came to a stop and turned to Pinkamena.
"Hold still," Shadow said as he passed a wave of magic through her several times, "you still have internal damage, it was far worse than I had thought it was at the dungeon." Shadow charged up his magic and passed a powerful wave through Pinkamena, completely healing all the internal damage.
"How's that," he asked.
"Much better, thank you," Pinkamena replied.
"That's good," Pinkie replied.
Shadow called for Luna's assistant and asked him to find Pinkamena someplace comfortable to sleep for the night.
"It's okay, I'll be comfortable anywhere," Pinkamena replied.
Shadow and Pinkie said goodnight and returned to their room where Spike was already asleep.
Shadow yawned and stretched out on the bed as Pinkie layed down next to him.
"Don't do anything like that again," Pinkie scolded.
"I know you were worried, but I had to free them," Shadow replied snuggling her.
Shadow soon fell asleep cuddling and snuggling Pinkie.
