the insanely first and only chapter
Nightshade came across a tomb raider wanted flyer and since he needed the money he took the job. He went to sugercube corner to meet his employer. He saw a earth pony stallion sitting at one the tables. The stallion had a short dark black mane, a medium pearl white tail, a pearl white coat, and he was wearing a pure white top hat.
"Are you Trick? I'm the Tomb Raider that took the job." Nightshade asked.
"Ahh yes, good good. You're Nightshade, your coat might help in this raid. Come come, follow me." Trick lead Nightshade towards the Everfree forest.
"Umm, Trick, I've already raided the Everfree castle." Nightshade said confused.
"Yes I'm aware of this, but you only gotten one piece of the puzzle. We sleep here tonight and we set off at dawn!" Trick said and then a green flame erupted from his right foreleg. When the flame dispersed Trick was wrapped in a warm sleeping bag.
"How di-" Nightshade didn't get to finish for his employer interrupted him, "I'll explain in the morning."
Nightshade lifted his fedora off his eyes and noticed it was morning. His employer was still asleep so he decided to make breakfast. Finally his employer wake up and dispersed the sleeping bad in a green flame.
"Hohohooo, Nighshade! Let's us be off!" Trick said before a smell of eggs filled the air. Trick looked over and saw his partner is making breakfast.
"Morning Trick, by the way you snore." Nightshade said smirking. After they finished eating, the two of them set off towards the castle.
"So I suppose your wondering how I did that little... Trick!" Trick said chuckling at his own joke.
"Yeah, I thought only changlings can do stuff like that? Care to explain?" Nightshade asked. He wasn't going to raise an eyebrow, he didn't want to give his employer the wrong idea.
"Hohoho, yes but back in my guard days I was captured by the changlings at the wedding. I was taken to a nearby by cave to be transformed, but by the time my right foreleg changed form I was out of that cocoon. I can change my whole body, buuuut I can only hold it for about an hour. Oh, look here we are!" Trick explained. They stepped inside the castle and Trick asked which ways Nightshade had gone.
"I went pretty much everywhere! I don't even know why we're doing this." Nightshade said.
"Well did you go this way?" Trick said and galluped towards the throne. When Trick got there, he took a stick of dynamite and placed it on the cushion.
"Wait don't do that. There's a pressure stone next to your foot. Your don't need to blow things sky high." Nightshade said panicking.
"Calm down. Just because I'm an expert strategist, doesn't mean I know other things. The stone plate takes you the wrong way." BOOM the stick explodes revealing a passage going deeper under the castle.
"Yeah I get that, but I was talking about the one that is camouflaged in the rubble your standing next to." Nightshade replied.
"Oh... But it's more fun this way!" Trick said clapping his hooves together and jump down the hole, "ADVETURRRRRRE!!!".
"I need the money. I need the money. Just deal with the fact you have a bomb crazy employer." Nightshade said quickly to himself and jumped down the hole as well.
"Ah! I see your still here! Good." Trick said and started walking down the hallway. After a few minutes the two of them come to a split.
"Well, go ahead Nightshade, left or right?" Trick asked. Nightshade looked at the two passageways and said, "the right side is rigged a trap that pushes us into a dead end. The left has spikes that eject out of the walls. I'd choose the left. Bombs won't help on the right." Nightshade looked at Trick hoping to get a response. As Trick study the paths, he was more interested in the right path. Trick threw a stick in the right passageway and the trap rams it into the dead end. When the traps resets a loud boom is heard and it reveals another hallway. "Hohoho! Will you look at that!" Trick said, then changed his leg into a grappling hook and swing towards the other side.
"ADVENTURE!! Who needs daring doo?" Trick yelled gleefully.
"Correction my employer is completely bonkers." Nightshade said to himself and pulled a whip out of his jacket. He whipped the and swung to the other side. They came to a large corridor with columns and a giant metal door with a lock. In the corner is a potion making set. Trick walked over and start mixing when he was done Trick showed it to Nightshade. Nightshade gave him a puzzled look as Trick drank it. He drank half the bottle, then his body starts to morph and shrink. When it's done Trick became a white parasprite.
"Okay, I'll never understand you." Nightshade said shrugging.
"Well, I don't want to die looking for the key, go head, drink up and help me eat this lock." Trick said.
"Or I can just do this." Nightshade said pulling out a stone in the wall and pulled out a key. Nightshade then unlocked the door and turned to face Trick.
"Humph! Yand asure know how not to be fun. And I was hoping for a little snack. Oh well". Trick said and drank the antidote, before starting off once more, "Come come Nightshade! ITS TIME FOR ADVENTURE!".
"I'm starting to wonder why I'm even here. I take tomb raiding very seriously. You haven't even told me what's here." Nightshade said to Trick.
"Well you never a aasskked! Its something that star swirl the bearded left behind. But we have to nab that item to enter the next area, to get an item left by Discord to enter the next area that holds an item left by... Well I don't know who! So let's find out.". I walk down the hall yelling my catch phrase. "ADVENTURE!!!!". Nightshade started to think to himself, "so we are finding star swirl's journal, that holds the location to Discord's ring, that opens Luna's secret door. Well at least I'm now not clueless on what we are finding." Nightshade continued to follow his employer.
"Doo dee, boo doo dee daa!" Trick started to sing as we headed down the hallway. We come towards a bottomless pit. I drop a stick down and listen. BOOM!
"hohoho! Nowhere else to gooooo but a deep hooooollleee in the grrrooouuunndd!!" Trick said before turning his leg into a grappling hook and jumped down. Nightshade shrugged and tied a rope to cavern pillar. He then threw the rope down the pit and descended it. As we reach the bottom of the hole we come to a door the has been blasted away.
"Now see Nightshade. Dynamite solves lots of problems." Trick said.
"Maybe, but it is still reckless."Nightshade said And he walked through the hole in the wall and ended up in a forest like garden.
"Huh, Star Swirl's garden. Of all the places, we ended up in the most flammable location. Perfect."Nightshade said sarcastically. Nightshade knew that one bomb will blow them both up and he believed that he might have jinxed himself.
"Flammable indeed, but I know Starswirl knew that some tomb raiders would think he was a puzzle maker. Me however, I'm not a puzzle solver." Trick said and turned around, walking into the massive garden.
"Hold up, the journal could be anywhere. Let's figure out our next more before something bad happens." Nightshade said hoping that Trick will agree with the logic.
"Okay, I guess I can be sane for while. Lead the way...employer." Trick said.
"Actaully your my employer and I think that we need to find a path. Star Swirl liked puzzles yes, but most of his puzzles are brain teasers or to be more accurate brain busters." Nightshade explained.
"You forgot my point, he knew most tomb raiders would think he had a puzzle planed out." Trick said, turning his leg into an axe and choped a tree down in one swing, reveling a lever.
"This is a trick lever. He never made one puzzle in this chamber, in the others there are but not here." Trick said as Nightshade facehoofs.
"Not what I was trying to say. I did count your statement and I agree with you, but what no tomb raider will expect is a physical challenge. You pull that lever and there will be a lot of running, jumping, swinging, and dodging involved." Nightshade explained again.
"Hohoho, indeed indeed my friend. I see you are starting to under stand me." Trick said flipping the switch and nothing happened.
"Well blast! I guess it's back to choping!" Trick said and started to swing, but Nightshade stops him.
"One it scares me that I'm understanding you and two it wasn't a dud. It was only delayed." Nightshade said and pointed to the crazy maze of traps.
"Hohoho! Then shall we!?" Trick said excitedly. Nightshade sighed and said, "I don't think that I have a choice."
"Unless you like unemployment then no you don't." Trick said jumping into the course, reaching the other side with ease.
"Come come Nightshade. ADVEEENTUUUUUUURE!!!" Trick said, then heard Nightshade moan as he jumps into the course. About the time Nightshade got to the other side, Trick smiled and ran ahead to the location they were heading to.
"If this job doesn't kill me, my employer will." Nightshade said grumbling. Trick heard the grumbling from Nightshade behind him.
"Come on Nightshade. THIS IS AN ADVENTURE!!!! Not a tomb raid. Which means we're having fun in the journey, no the destanation... Well kinda both. Oh well, just let out your sense of adventure!" Trick said.
"The flier said tomb raider wanted. I take my tomb raider profession seriously. Your going to get me killed if you don't have a little santity in the adventure." Nightshade said with a serious tone.
"Oh Horseapples! I am sane! I know these tunnels like the inside of my hat. And that's a lot of ground to cover, see!" Trick said putting his hat down and jumping in, the whole hat engulfs him leaving a confused Nightshade staring.
"What the..." Nightshade continued to stared in the hat, but failed to find his employer. Trick waits for nightshade to come into to hat, but he was taking to long. Trick poked his head out.
"Well? Come on!" Trick said going back inside. Inside Trick's hat is basically a whole empty universe. Stuff is everywhere and you can fly around to look for things. Nightshade started to back up when Trick came out halfway and pulled him in.
"I give up." Nightshade said with a facehoof.
"I give yooooou, my Haat!" Trick said pointing at the universe of stuff. Things are everywhere, someponies would think it's disorganized but like Trick said, 'I know where everything is'. Trick looked back at 'Wide eyes Nightshade'.
"So what do you think? I hope I didn't break you yet!" Trick said, doing some backflips while laughing.
"Yeah, I pulled a pony out of the dimension between two dimensions. It's called the Nether. You know, a pitch black space like dimension that lost ponies float endlessly asleep in until they die. This barely fazes me." Nightshade said sighing. He gives up trying to reason with Trick, that he just went with it.
"Hmm I don't know that. Well feel free to look around for a bit grab anything that might be useful to you. But you can only have ooooonnnnnneeeeee. and don't go into the house of cards, and I'll know if you go in." Trick said, then looked straight into Nightshades eyes, "You got that?".
"I always have what I need in my jacket." Nightshade said crossing his hooves.
"Oooo! You have a universe in there too!? Can I seeeeee?" Trick squee with glee.
"Not a universe, just a jacket. I have to admit, my jacket does have a lot of room though." Nightshade said double checking that it is just a normal jacket and confirmed it.
"Hohoho! Indeed indeed, so many pockets! But tell me do you have this!" Trick said flying out into the void, coming back with some wierd contraption.
"This is from planet Earth, only accessible from the mirror portal. The human call it a machine pistol. I modified it for my hooves and duplicated a galaxy full of bullets for it. You like?" Trick asked.
"I don't know what to think." Nightshade said raising a eye brow. Trick grabs Nightshade and pulled him through the portal out of his hat. Trick puts it on and look back at the weirded out Tomb raider.
"Ok, now that you know that I can be sane..." Trick said, then winked and Nightshade face hoofs.
"It's time for Adventure!!!!" Trick shouted, then turns and start walking. Behind Trick, he hear the pony beating the ground with his hoof.
"Okay I don't know how that can be sane, but frankly I don't care. I just hope I'm still sane when this is over." Nightshade said clearly showing that he wasn't amused. They finally made it to Star Swirl's journal which was on a pedestal and Trick picked it up.
"If you want, I can decipher it. As long as it's in another language of course." Nightshade said smirking.
"Hohoho, yes of course!" Trick said handing Nightshade the journal and lay on his back, with his hat over his eyes while he waits.
"Well he did this in code, not a different language, but I'll still will be able the decipher it." Nightshade said and pulled out a pen and paper to decipher it.
"See? This is why I called for you, for I wasn't much of a student back in my day. Then I was introduced to the royal guard. But then I discovered my true love. Thing that go BOOM hahahaha!" Trick said.
"True love? Finally something sane to talk about. Who is your special somepony?" Nightshade asked not looking away from the journal.
"Well, no one right now... But... Back when I was a guard I did date Luna. But alas Celestia kicked me out of the guard for being a half changeling and finding out I was dating her." Trick said looking over to wide mouthed nightshade.
"Well that's really uncalled for, but then again that reminds me of Flin. He a changling that was kick out because he feeds on fear and not love. He can also change into something that will scare ponies instead of ponies themselves." Nightshade said then looked back at the journal.
"Hohoho! Interesting... Maybe we could meet over some nice tea and biscuits sometime. Though most ponies would thick that's how a changeling would and should act." Trick said waving his hoof giving Nightshade the hint to continue the story.
"I met Flin the same time I met Daring Do, Applebloom, and Fluttershy. Somehow I ended up helping them find and destroy an artifact called the Philosopher's Stone. All it was is a stone of greedy power stained red." Nightshade said tapping the pen to his chin.
"Hohoho! Sounds like like an exciting adventure, I remember when I met Daring Doo. I hired her as well, she quit halfway through the adventure though. I wonder why?" Trick said tapping his chin mimicking Nightshade. Nightshade looked at Trick with a stern look.
"Yeah I wonder why." Nightshade said sarcastically.
"Yeah, I even met that Azulieo or what ever his name is and he ran when Daring told him what I was capable of. He was trying to steal the staff of Starswirl from my hat! The nerve of that guy, am I right?" Trick said.
"Finished deciphering." Nightshade said and held e paper out to Trick.
"Hohoho! See, this is why I needed a Tomb raider." Trick said taking a look at the notes and laugh. Nightshade raises an eyebrow.
"I see the Important stuff, but there's also some raunchy stuff in here too if ya know what I mean." Trick said elbowing Nightshade and his eyes widen as he realizes what I mean.
"Still it is scary to understand you, but I translated it perfectly. Whatever is in those notes is it that journal, no matter how crazy. I don't think that that journal could be crazier than you." Nightshade said. Trick gets up real close to Nightshade's face until he's eye to eye.
"Nopony is crazier than Trick the adventurer." Trick said backing off laughing on the ground.
"I have to agree with you there." Nightshade said with sigh. Trick instantly stood up like he wasn't having trouble breathing.
"So, what does ol big beard have to say?" Trick asked.
"Well I gave you the paper I decoded with. Why don't you read it." Nightshade said like it wasn't obvious already.
"Oh hold on it's it my hat" Trick said, reaching in and pull it out.
"Ehem! Ive been building this dungeon for years, for weary travelers must look within them selves and there partners worst Nightmares to gain the keys." Trick said, then looked over at Nightshade and give him an evil smirk.
"Don't get any ideas, continue please?" Nightshade said.
"Hohoho! But look! Another reason why i needed a partner. Ehem! When you get the keys one must present the spirt of adventure and the other present the spirt of skill. Three! Three reason why I need you. And since you were the only Tomb raider in Ponyville I was delighted!" Trick said putting down the book and hugged Nightshade.
"You think that journal is talking about me?" Nightshade asked barely able to breath.
"Hohoho! Of course, I looked at your file! You have to most skill I've ever seen! You definitely have the spirt my friend you do you do!" Trick replied.
"Thanks, can you do me a favor?" Nightshade asked still barely able to breath.
"What?" Trick asked.
"Please let go." Nightshade said. Trick let go and Nightshade falls to the ground gasping for air.
"Hohoho, let us be off my friend!" Trick said turning and headed down the corridor.
"First off! The nightmare transferer thingy!" Trick said.
"The what?" Nightshade asked finally catching his breath. Trick pointed to the big clunky contraption that's at the end of the corridor.
"That will let us explore each other's Nightmares to look for the keys! Hohoho! I trust you will do very well in this part my friend!" Trick said.
"I guess if it helps us find Discord's ring, then so be it." Nightshade said and stood up. The two stallions come up to the machine and then they both get into the two port.
"Ok, now be carful in this beautiful brain o mine. The journal says the key is the most important item to the ponys nightmare your in, so I guess well be guessing!" Trick said, then pulled the switch and they both fell asleep both fall asleep.
Nightshade was standing in a black hallway looking back and forth. Suddenly a pained voice spoke behind Nightshade, "Help me." Nightshade turned around and saw a snow white mare Pegasus laying on the ground all bloodied and bruised.
"Winter!" Nightshade yelled and ran towards her, but couldn't seem to get closer.
Bb"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Nightshade yelled again and in the next instant Winter stopped breathing. Nightshade woke up laying on the ground in a hot sweat.
Trick was in a room, a bed chamber actually. A depressed Luna on the bed.
"Trick. Why did you do it? Why did you leave?" Luna said And Trick tried to talk back, but the dream had him tongue tied. She grabs a rope from her drawer and started to tie. Trick tried to stop her but the dream had him confined to his standing position. She tied... And hung. After a few seconds of choking, she was gone. Trick's tear rolled down cheek as he could now move. The crown on her head started to glow, that must be the key. Trick grabbed it and woke up on cold hard stone floor next to a sweating Nightshade.
"Did you... Did you get it? Did you get Discord's ring?" Nightshade asked and flipped over on his back. Still silent, Trick held up Luna's crown.
"I got my key to the next area, where's yours?" Trick asked. Nightshade stayed silent processing the nightmare.
"I think that it's with Winter. She must have acquired it when she was in the Nether. Damn I thought she died. It felt so real." Nightshade said doing a facehoof.
"You go get your key I'll stay here. Don't worry I just need to think for awhile." Trick said and Nightshade looked up surprised in the change in his bosses attitude.
"Fine, but your coming with me. I'm not leaving you here." Nightshade said nearly recovered from his nightmare and stands up wobbling. He then swung his employer over onto his back and started carrying him.
"I saw your dream the same time I saw mine. Luna is still alive. She's tougher than you think. I'm sure that she is waiting for you right now. So don't you dare give up now." Nightshade said in a angry tone. Nightshade had every right to be angry and rude, because he wasn't only saying it to Trick, but himself as well. Trick gave a lite sniff then said, "Th thanks friend." Nightshade carried Trick back through the dungeon, when they reached the surface Trick's strength and adventurous attitude was back.
"So! Where are we headed!?" Trick said.
"My place. Winter lives at my place in Ponyville. By the way, on the friend comment. Your a crazier friend then Pinkie pie and I didn't even think that was possible." Nightshade said smirking and then fell to the ground exhausted.
"Hohoho! Let me help you pal!" Trick said grabbing Nightshade and stuff him in the white hat. Inside Trick's hat there is a healing factor of anypony who is inside. As Trick walked into Ponyville, Trick asked where Nightshade lived and set off. When he had arrived, he knocked on the door and a mare opens.
"Hohoho! You must be Winter! May I come in?" Trick asked politely.
"Sure come on it." Winter said flashing a smile.
"My my! You have a beautiful house my dear. Ehem, I am an employer of your dear Nightshade. Just today we went to explore the real dungeon of the Everfree castle." Trick said taking off his hat and sat on the couch. Trick shook his hat and a sleeping Nightshade pops out.
"Oh well, thank you. It's good to meet you. So what did you find?" Winter asked and Nightshade finally woke up.
"I think I passed out in your hat." Nightshade said yawning.
"Hohoho! It's a very comfy hat indeed! Well dear Winter, we found Starswirls journal and it told us to find the keys to Discords ring in our worst nightmares." Trick said, then pulled out the crown.
"Nightshade here says you have the next key, has anything been glowing a weird green lately?" Trick asked.
"No, not that I noticed." Winter said tilting her head. Nightshade noticed a bandaid on Winters hoof at the same time as Trick.
"oh my! Darling did something cut you?" Trick said, then looked over at Nightshade who was giving him a nasty glare for calling her Darling.
"It was only a paper cut. It's no big deal." Winter replied smiling, but the reply caught Nightshade' s attention. Nightshade then glared at Winter.
"Winter do you remember the first thing that I raided with you?" Nightshade asked catching both Winter and Trick off guard.
"Hohoho! A first raid artifact of love!" Trick said then did a play punch Nightshade telling him to continue.
"It was likken' s dagger, yes?" Winter asked and Nightshade instantly pounced on Winter gritting his teeth.
"No it wasn't! Where is she?" Nightshade yelled which surprised Trick.
"Hohoho! I was wondering when you'd figure it out!" Trick said. Trick wasn't stupid, changelings can't see through other changeling disguises but he could, the entire time a could see a changeling talking to them.
"So it didn't work to begin with, you should already know me Trick. I'm the one that changed you. You remember your friend Wikkol, right?" Wikkol said changing to her true form.
"Umm I can't say I do. I locked many memories in my vault. I'll need a refresher." Trick said. Wikkol wiggled to get free, but Nightshade was stronger than her and held her down.
"Very well I'll tell you. I infiltrated to be a royal guard to find out Celestia's weakness. Then I found out that it was the safety of her beloved younger sister. So I when I found out that you were Luna's personal guard, I became you partner." Wikkol explained and changed into a pegasus mare with a ocean blue coat and a bright yellow mane before continuing, "keeping Chryssi informed, I got her into Canterlot for the wedding. Then came you changing and then I told Celestia. You got kicked out, yadda yadda yadda. You know the rest."
"Hohoho! Sword drawn! That's your name. Had to look in my vault for that one. But if your in disguise I can't see it. I actually had to look in my vault." Trick said, thenpulled the machine pistol from his hat and point it at the confined changeling. Trick spoke in a calm voice, "So tell me, what brings you to Ponyville?"
"You know how no pony knows what is behind Luna's secret door. The ponies I'm now work for wants whatever is behind it." Wikkol said smiling.
"So where is Winter? Tell me!" Nightshade yelled angrily, "tell me you bitch! Tell me!" Getting worried Nightshade would kill the only lead, Trick grabbed knock out gas from his hat and knocked Nightshade out. Wikkol starts to get up, but he grabbed a cage from his hat and threw her in, then knocked her out as well. After a few hours they both start to stir.
"What happened?" Nightshade asked still coming to.
"You were about to kill our only lead." Trick replied. He was stern, but not mad. Trick knew what Winter meant to him so he didn't want to accuse anyone. Trick looked over at the weakened changeling and point the gun.
"Where the buck is Winter Rose?" Trick asked. Wikkol just laughed and Trick wasn't about to sit there any longer and have two lovers separated for to long, no more mister nice pony.
"Ok, if you won't answer Trick. Then maybe you'll answer Vault." Trick said. Wikkol backs up in here cage quickly, knowing who he was talking about. Trick's eyes go red and his voice gets deeper and more terrifying.
"Okay you motherbucking flankhole! I only have a few minutes till a Trick shove me back in. So where the BUCK is Winter! " Trick said in a the deep voice.
"She's at a changeling cave near Applelosa! Please don't hurt me!" Wikkol said. Trick reached in the cage and smashes the changelings thick skull, smiling the whole time. He then yells into the sky as he is being forced back into Tricks vault.
"Trick? I'm um... I'm sorry. Didn't mean to lose my cool." Nightshade said looking with a worried face, "are you okay?"
"I haven't had to ask Vault for something in a while.". I rub my head in pain.
"So, did Vault get anything out of her? Or did he just do... That?" Trick asked. Nightshade realized that it wasn't Trick at the moment, but something else called Vault.
"She's at a changling cave in Applelosa. Don't you think that we should tell Luna what Wikkol did to you?" Nightshade asked still worried. Now he knew how Trick became crazy and he hated himself for being rude at the beginning. Trick looked down at his changeling foreleg. Memories locked away inside of his Vault had started to pour out. He felt his dam break and he fell in a fettle position and started to cry.
"It's- it's all coming back! Nonononnonono! Stay in there Celestia damn it!" Trick said. Nightshade quickly picked up Trick and slapped him across his face.
"Get a hold of yourself. Remember Luna and Winter?" Nightshade said and was about to slap him again, but was stopped by Trick. Trick's eyes were red again as Vault took over.
"MORTAL!!!! You dare slap the immortal Vault! I can destroy you in and instant!" Vault said, then the eyes change back and Trick run out of the house.
"DONT FOLLOW ME!!!!" Trick shouted.
"Trick!" Nightshade yelled, Trick vanished out of the house. Nightshade gritted his teeth.
"Damn it! Why do I always mess up when it doesn't involve tomb raiding." Nightshade said feeling totally worthless.
"Maybe I can help." Nightshade spun around to see Wikkol healing.
"I thought that you'd died." Nightshade said confused.
"Changlings don't die that easy. By the way I lied back their." Wikkol said with half her head still smashed.
"Why?" Nightshade asked.
"He already killed the traitor, but I locked up his memories to protect him. Vault was the cause of something else. The only lie was saying it was me, everything else is true. I've already explained to Luna long ago. She still loves him. Please save Trick, I've already failed him." Wikkol said. Nightshade nods and left out the door.
"Your message has been sent, my lady Luna." Wikkol said and she let her head stop healing. Leaving her to smile without a tear.
"All the death, the killing, the faces of ponies right before Vault would... Luna, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... Why did he chose me!? Whyyyyyy!" Trick said And then looked right at the sky.
"WHY DID YOU BUCKING CHOSE ME!!!!" Trick shouted, then heard something behind him. With the staff of Starswirl in hoof, Trick turned around. Trick lifted the spy with the staffs power and see Nightshade.
"I told you not to follow me. It's over, Vault is taking over. It's to late. It's to BUCKING late!!!!!!!!!" Trick shouted. Nightshade grips Trick with all his strength so he couldn't pull away.
"Luna still loves you. She wants you back. Trust me, okay. Aren't we friends?" Nightshade said with a stern voice. He had to get through to Trick. He had to.
"I KNOW SHE DOES, THAT MAKES IT WORSE DONT YOU SEE!!?? IF I SHOW HER VAULT SHE WILL HAVE ME BUCKING KILLED!??! AND THEN SHE'LL KILL HERSELF, KNOWING THAT I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE!!!! THEN CELESTIA WOULD GET BUCKING DEPPRESSED AND NOT LOWER OR RAISE THE SUN!!!!" Trick shouted. He didn't want to yell at Nightshade, but Nightshade was the first pony beside Luna to stick with him through thick and thin. Still he had to, to protect Nightshade and Winter from Vault.
"I'm sorry Nightshade I'm doing this to protect you and Winter." Trick said and with the power of the staff, he teleported Winter into Nightshade's hooves after pushing him off. Trick then teleport them back home and ran for the train station. Trick was planning on going to the badlands.
Winter should be glad to be safe, but the pain in Nightshade' s eye was to much. She didn't even know what to do. Plus a Changling mare was dead in a cage smiling with the top half of her head gone.
"Winter?" Nightshade asked choking on his own words.
"Y-yes?" Winter asked completely worried.
"Have you seen anything glow green?" Nightshade asked.
"Just a dark blue gem that looks like it belongs on a crown. I don't know how I got it though." Winter answered.
"Can you give it to me?" Nightshade asked and that next instant Winter went upstairs and brought down the gem. She then handed it to Nightshade.
"I'm going after Trick. I'm not going to make the same mistake I did with you." Nightshade said firmly.
"But I already forgave you. It wasn't your fault that I ended up in the Nether." Winter protested.
"The fact remains that I gave up back then. I'm not doing it again. Don't bury Wikkol yet until I get back." Nightshade said and stormed out without another word. Winter turned her glace to the changling.
"I suppose that your Wikkol, huh?" Winter said and then sighed.
Trick had bought some first class tickets to the badlands. Trick has teleported and walked out into the desert. He wanted to show a certain bug queen who they had brought back. When he came up to a small hive, he destroyed it with ease with a few sticks.
"I'm coming for you you over grown insect!" Trick said, then start in a full Gallup towards the giant hive and he would've gotten there too, if he wasn't tripped by a whip wrapping around his legs. When he tripped, he hit his head on a rock and was instantly out... Trick got knock out, leaving an evil being to take over.
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Nightshade finally got to Canterlot and ran all the way to the palace. He would have entered if it wasn't for a couple guards standing in front of him.
"Move aside! I have to tell Luna about Trick!" Nightshade yelled trying to push pass the guards. He needed backup and Luna is the only way to save Trick.
"It's been forever since the last time I've taken over Trick. But I think I should get rid of this pony, he might be a major annoyance." said a voice behind Nightshade. Nightshade quickly spun around to see who was talking behind him.
"Your the pony who slapped my face." Vault said snapping the whip with brute force.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Vault, and I am more powerful than anypony is history. So if you want to live until I take over, I suggest you leave and go back to your dear Winter." Vault said, then let out an evil laugh. Nightshade let out an angry humf and tackled the pony.
"Like hell I'll leave. What's with the whip? Can't take me on without some kind of weapon." Nightshade said though his gritted teeth. He kept Vault pinned to the ground with all the strength he could muster. Vault just laughs.
"Your bravery amuses me. But your struggle is worthless, like I said... I'm more powerful than any other pony in history. You have no chance." Vault said.
"You think that I can't take you?" Nightshade yelled and started strangling Vault, "your nothing without Trick! You hear me? Nothing!" Tricks body take form of a shadow, much like nightmare moon, and slips out of Night shades grip.
"Yes, that is true. But keep in mind that this is Trick and Vault!" Vault said then lets out another laugh just as the Celestial sisters drop from above. Nightshade started laughing which confused Vault.
"What! You think the Celestial sisters can defeat me!" Vault said.
"That wasn't my plan. I never used it, so I didn't know if it was the real deal. I wasn't strangling you I placed an artifact called Lukilla's necklace on you. There is no way you can take it off. It was made by the first alicorn Lukilla long ago. The first alicorn to be correct. This was only used once. The purpose of this artifact is to seal away a double ego. Since I put in on you I'm sealing you up Vault, making Trick once again assume control. You should have looked into me Vault. I never come unprepared when I get serious and I always have a plan." Nightshade said smirking at the fact that he won. Vault down at the necklace and laughs.
"So if it locks out other personalities... Then you have done me a favor. I now have complete control over Tricks abilitys, even his expert strategies." Vault said, then falls to the ground in pain.
"Arrrrggh, what is happening!" Vault said, then his eyes turn back an a weary Trick is smiling back.
"Ho.ho.ho." Trick said, then fall to the ground after using up so much energy.
"I didn't chose Trick to be sealed away. I chose you Vault." Nightshade said and carried Trick to his place. Waiting for Trick to wake up.
Trick began to stir back awake.
"Wha? Where am I?" Trick asked.
"In my bed." Nightshade said sitting in a chair facing Trick and smiling at him, "how are you feeling?"
"Like somepony blew up my mind and mushed it back together with tape." Trick said, rubbing his eyes and lay back.
"Other than that I feel great. I feel like I'm up for a good ol adventure! What do ya say?" Trick asked, then sat up fast, but was stopped by surprisingly Winters hoof.
"I'm so glad that I don't have two bodies to bury." Winter said gently squeezing Trick.
"He is only experiencing the quick side affects of Lukilla's necklace. You shouldn't be to close to him, he'll vomit any second now." Nightshade said picking up a large bowl. Right when he said that I got a pain from my stomach, I grab the bowl and puke.
"Ugh, ok give me a day and then... It'll be time for adventure." Trick said, then puked into the bowl again and lay back.
"I feel like crap." Trick said.
"I don't think that you'll need a day." Nightshade said smiling. Trick looked up and smiled.
"Hohoho. Is that so?" Trick asked, then reaches out his hoof and grabs Nightshade, pulling him into a hug.
"hohoho! Nightshade my dear friend. You are the first pony to stay with me this long." Trick said, then released the bone crushing hug and put on his hat.
"So shall we? And if miss winter would like to come she may." Trick said.
"I guess, but Nightshade told me he was going to explain what happened to the both of us." Winter said wiping vomit from Trick's muzzle.
"Hmm, I was wondering that myself, I blacked out when I hit that rock. " Trick said.
"This is what happened. I located were Vault was heading and got there first. I pretended to be surprised and tackled Vault. Hidden in my jacket sleeve was Lukilla's necklace. Pretending to strangle Vault, I attached the necklace to Vault. That means only I can remove it if you were wondering. Anyway I ended up sealing Vault. Trust me, it was necessary. So to some it up, I took on Vault and won." Nightshade said shrugging leaving Winter and Trick with there mouths gaping open.
"Well paint me blue and call me Sally! Well done!" Trick said and slapped Nightshade on the back, then he stagers forward.
"So I think we should go open that door." Trick said and put up his hoof for him to shake.
"What do you say!?" Trick asked.
"Sure, but we won't have to search that hard. The door not only opens, but appears as well. Hand me the crown." Nightshade said.
"Hohoho!" Trick laughed and Nightshade smiles happy to hear that laugh. Trick hands him Luna crown and watched Nightshade do his stuff. Nightshade placed the gem on the crown and a blue light came from the gem. Then the light shot a beam at the nearest door. The door morphed into a fancy looking door with Luna's cutie mark on it. Nightshade then placed the crown on the chair and before he opened the door to see what the big secret was he said, "I hope you don't mind. I'm stealing your line. ADVENTURE!!!" Nightshade then opened the door and froze instantly.
"I can't believe it. Luna's secret was plushies. The entire time, we did all this for a room full of plushies?" Nightshade said wide eyed at that fact that it wasn't what he thought it was going to be. Trick and Winter fall on the floor laughing. After a few second Trick instantly shut up and stood up.
"Nightshade, I want to thank you for your help." Trick said, then started picking up the plushies and shove them all in the hat.
"I now have memories of my dear Luna." Trick said.
"If you miss her so bad, go to her. She is willing to help you with the Vault problem. The seal is stronger than Vault, trust me. The two of you will be safe." Nightshade said smiling while Winter picked out a couple plushies of her own to keep.
Trick pondered it. He could but, how would Celsestia react to the two of them together again, wait... Trick don't give buck what she would think! Trick pulled Nightshade and Winter into bone crushing hugs.
"Thank you... I'll be back!" Trick said, then pulled out the staff of star swirl and a big bag of bits from my hat. Trick then smiled and toss Nightshade the bag knowing he's used to my hugs by now... Winter however not so much. Trick waved the staff and disappear.
"Well that hurt. I might need some medical treatment for that, but I'm glad that it all worked out. What was that artifact?" Winter asked. Nightshade took the blue gem off the crown and the door went back to normal.
"He didn't give me a chance to say goodbye, that crazy basterd." Nightshade said smiling and Winter just stared at him. Only in one day, Nightshade became friends with his employer.
"Looks like our crazy tomb ra-.." Nightshade paused at what he was saying and before continuing he smiled, "our crazy adventure is over."
*Five days later*
"Are you sure this is the place Hon?" Luna asked. Trick looked over at his wife and point at his cutie mark.
"I'm an expert strategist honey, I know all of Equestria." Trick replied. She rolls her eyes and pecks Trick on the check.
"I know Tricky poo." Luna said, then Trick knocked on the door and stood back. A stallion in a jacket, then opens the door.
"It can't be. Trick? I thought that you've left to be on your Honeymoon." Nightshade said extremely surprised. He didn't expect Trick for a couple months, but there he was and next to him was princess Luna. Trick pulled Nightshade into a hug.
"Hohoho! I know! But I can't leave my favorite pony with out a goodbye now can can?" Trick asked, then let go of Nightshade and all three head inside.
"So, you are the pony who helped seal away Vault? It's a pleasure to meet you." Luna said, then put out her hoof formally and Trick play punched her.
"Come on Lulu, don't be so formal." Trick said and then Luna blushes as Trick pecked her cheek.
"One, you left before I could say goodbye. Two, my twin brother is formal twenty-four seven, so I'm used to it. Finally three, I didn't come to the wedding, because of that bone crushing hug you gave Winter. She needed medical treatment, because of that. She's fine now though. She's taking a shower at this moment." Nightshade said smiling. Trick then smirked at the hug comment. Trick and Luna have been known to give hugs like that.
"So have you gone on any other Raid or I hope Adventures lately." Trick asked.
"No I've been looking after Winter. I do have some requests for that next couple of days." Nightshade answered.
"Hohoho! Very well!" Trick said, then Luna hit him in the back of the head.
"Hey! Don't worry, I'm not going to use your bit card." Trick said.
"Bit card?" Nightshade asked raising a eye brow and Luna nods.
"Yes, it's a new thing Tia is trying. Don't bother asking Trick, he knows how to works, but has no idea how to explain it."
"Very well." Nightshade said shrugging and a snow white pegasus mare hugged Trick from behind gently.
"It's good to see you Trick." Winter said.
"Hohoho! Winter! It's good to see you as well." Trick said, then turned and gently hugged her.
"So Nightshade, what can I do for your favor." Trick asked.
"For my favor? What did I do? Besides become your friend." Nightshade asked.
"Well not a favor, you said you had a request?" Trick asked.
B"That right, I totally forgot. Catch." Nightshade said and tossed the crown to Trick.
"Hohoho! I see, Luna, here you go my pretty princess." Trick said winking at her.
"Oh stop Trick. Your embarrassing me." Luna said And blushed. Trick then shrugged and hooved over her the crown.
"So, you might be wondering why I'm here so early. Well, I talked to Luna and we decided to bring you and Winter along with us!" Trick said, then threw his hooves in the air in a tada moment. Nightshade just sits there wide eyed as Winter sat down next to him.
"This is so unexpected. Really I swamped myself with raider jobs for the whole week." Nightshade said and pulled out the blue gem, "I'm keeping my half."
"Ok, you can keep your plushie room." Trick said and both ladies let out a small giggle. Trick hopped off the couch and headed for the door.
"Pack you things ladies! It's time for a..." Trick said Luna whispers to Winter, "Here it comes."
"Adventure!!!!" Trick shouted.
"You need both halves to open the door, remember? I'll ask Raider to take my jobs. Adventure?" Nightshade said.
"hohoho! I know, so come on and pack your things!" Trick said, then grabbed the staff and wave it around and disappear. Then Luna facehoofs.
"If you haven't noticed, Trick like to leave ponies in mystery, I love that stallion." Luna said and teleports out of the room after Trick.
"Again with the teleporting." Nightshade said with a sigh. Nightshade didn't seem to care though, for at first he thought Trick was a crazy lunic. Now he's not only used to Trick's craziness, but he finds it entertaining. Once again he makes a friend while raiding. The only problem is, how will bowling day go?
Author's Note
[Blank authors note]
