They come at night... Mostly

Downe in yonder greene field,

There lies a Knight slain under his shield,

His hounds they lie downe at his feete,

So well they can their Master keepe,

~The Three Ravens - Thomas Ravenscroft~

There I stood before a living legend. Twilight Sparkle. Renowned throughout Equestria as it's saviour thrice over. A heroine to all ponykind, including myself. It was saddening to see what the incursion did to her. Along with her dishevelled appearance, her clothes, which consisted of torn black skin tight jeans, a tattered white dress shirt and (from what I could see) worn black panties.

"Friend or foe?" she demanded. Her voice betrayed her bravado. She was terrified. Almost as if I was the first pony she'd seen since it all began. Despite her question, she didn't seem to be prepared for either answer. Were I to answer foe, she would probably faint. Regardless, I humoured her and raised my hands.

"Technically, neither. But compared to what's out there, I'm a friend." I replied.

~Twilight~

I looked upon the strange intruder with a mixture of awe and confusion. I knew nothing of what happened after the first attack. Perhaps he could enlighten me? I thought.

"Friend or Foe?" I demanded, knowing that my voice had failed me. I needed to be assertive if I was to get anything out of this pony. I could feel his presence. I was pushing my luck just with that question. It took me by surprise when he raised his hands, as if humouring me.

"Technically, neither. But compared to what's out there, I'm a friend." he said. Despite his gruff appearance, his voice was pleasant to hear. Perhaps it was the solitude getting to me. I'd heard nothing but my own voice and Spike's for the last two months. I took the time to examine my intruder. He obviously hadn't been to Rarity's yet if those were the clothes he was wearing. He was young, perhaps my age, if a little older. His dark grey coat blended in with the hooded jacket underneath his Duster. Were he to wear the hood up, I'd only be able to see his smile (were he to actually smile) and those fiery orange eyes. Then there was his mane. Blacker than Nightmare Moon's coat, it was cut short and seemed to be pushed forward.

Having read books on how to read the psychological state of a pony, he was surprisingly calm, almost normal, as if the incursion had never happened. "What's your name?" I asked.

"Jaeger." he replied.

"Jaeger? You're from Germane?"

"Born there, but raised in Equestria. Tall Tale to be exact." Tall Tale. That was the second closest settlement to the archaeological sight.

"How badly was Tall Tale hit?" I asked, fearing the answer.

"It doesn't exist any more." was his reply. I suddenly felt a pang of guilt for bringing the subject up, followed by sadness as his indifference to the town's loss rattled me.

"Well Jaeger, my name is-"

"Twilight Sparkle; Student of Princess Celestia and world renowned heroine of Equestria. First Unicorn under Princess Celestia's tutelage to ever become an Alicorn. I knew about you, Miss Sparkle. I strove to be just like you before the incident occurred." he interrupted. I couldn't hide my surprise. I knew I was well known in Canterlot and Ponyville, maybe even the Crystal Empire, but other places too? I felt my cheeks flush for a moment and I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

"Flattery won't get you anywhere. Now, tell me about what's happened since the attack on Ponyville?" I asked. I saw his expression change from dead to curious.

"You don't know?" he asked. I simply shook my head. "Do you have a map of Equestria somewhere?" I looked around for the map, trying to remember where I'd put it. Spotting it under a pile of books, I used my magic to clear everything off of it before lifting it up to give to him. He took it in his hand and moved towards me. I stepped to the side and he just kept going towards the wall.

I watched as he placed the map flat against the surface of the wall, using his own magic to hold it there. His aura was a light orange, much like his eyes. "Do you have a pen or marker or something to write with?" he asked. My eyes widened.

"You're going to deface my map?" I cried.

"I'm going to update it. Equestria doesn't look like this anymore." he replied. With a nervous groan, I floated a red marker over to him. he took it and uncapped the lid. The first thing he did was to place an 'X' over Apple Loosa. Then Tall Tale. Fillydelphia, Manehattan, Los Pegasus, Dodge City, Baltimare, Hollow Shades, Vanhoover. Even Cloudsdale was crossed out. He then drew a circle around Canterlot Castle, but crossed out the surrounding city. He put a line through the Crystal Empire and crossed out the left half.

"What is this?!" I asked, unable to believe my eyes.

"It's all that remains of Equestria. Canterlot is gone, but the Castle still stands strong with the Princesses trapped like rats. Prince Shining Armour has managed to direct the defences of the Crystal Empire so at least half of it is still safe, but that's a fast failing shield. No offence to your brother." he said. I placed my hand over the map brushing my fingers over Canterlot Castle.

"I had no idea. I've been hiding in my basement for the past two months. There was enough food to last Spike and me another four." I felt tears welling up in my eyes. It felt weird to cry in front of a complete stranger, but I knew it didn't matter.

~Jaeger~

I listened and watched as Twilight cried. I began to wonder what she was thinking. Having saved Equestria many times before, did she feel as though her fear had caused her to fail us? Even if other ponies may have thought so, I didn't. Her fear was understandable. Nightmare Moon, Discord, even Chrysalis were pushovers compared to what emerged from underground.

"What did this?" I heard her plead. Her defences were broken, her bravado completely gone. I saw a girl, no older than myself, uncomprehending of the way things were now. I couldn't leave her with questions like that.

"I call them Shades; the creatures that emerged from the underground. They come out at night, but there is the occasional day walker. They're strong, smart and slightly resistant to magic, making them incredibly difficult to kill. What's worse is that they learn from their failures like we do." I explained. Twilight watched me as I explained to her the basics of the monsters that wiped out her homeland.

"How so?" she asked.

"I remember when I escaped the attack on Tall Tale. I ran to Vanhoover. The Royal Guard had stationed a defensive task force of nearly a hundred soldiers. I watched as the Shades went for a frontal assault. They failed quite spectacularly. We thought they'd gone to regroup, but almost instantly, a smaller number of them tried for another frontal assault. The guards stood no chance. That small group was just the distraction. The true onslaught came from the sides. Vanhoover's defences were crushed in a vice movement."

I saw this information register with Twilight as her face grew horrified. "And the worst part is that they brought a plague with them." If her eyes could have widened any more, they would have. "The plague is a virus that slowly kills any living thing infected with it. After you're dead, the virus takes control of your body and turns you into a zombie. And that's what happened to most of Equestria. The Shades either took us, killed us or left us battered and bruised only to die a slow and painful death and come back as a flesh eating corpse." I couldn't help but feel I could have said that better as Twilight covered her mouth with her hand, shaking her head.

"This is too much. I can't handle this!" she began to grow hysterical. I made no move to comfort her. We were still strangers after all.

"So what are you going to do, Twilight Sparkle? Will you shut yourself away in your basement until you run out of food and you have no choice but to come out and face the harsh realities of the world, or will you venture out now and take things one step at a time?" I asked. She looked at me, probably hoping to find an answer in me.

~Twilight~

His question boggled my mind. What could I do with the information given to me? It seemed so unreal, like a fantasy; a story for only the strongest of heart to read. Despite my exploits, I was not strong of heart. I knew that I was weak. I was only ever strong when I knew my friends had my back, but two months was a long time. And they could be anywhere by now, if they were still alive. I remembered that night. Everything was turned upside down. Tall silhouettes that stood on two legs, with arms so long their claws nearly scraped the ground. Their eyes were white orbs, glistening in the moonlight. There was nothing behind those eyes, just whiteness, surrounded by darkness. Those monsters, those... 'Shades' were blacker than the night sky, in both body and soul. I'd cowered upon seeing them. A living nightmare the likes of which I couldn't hope to stand up to. I took Spike and hid in the basement. I didn't even bother to check up on my friends. That was the power they held over me. To terrify me so much that all I could think about was my own survival. I'd only helped Spike because he was within sight and in my way.

I searched for an answer in Jaeger's eyes. What could I do, what should I do? My options were to cower in the basement again until forced to emerge, for fear of starvation. Or to leave now and be like him, a drifter, seeking to just survive.

"Twilight?" I heard a voice say from behind me. I'd unknowingly backed away towards the entrance to the basement. Realising this made me pause, as did Spike. Under the light of the sun, he looked so... weak, tired.

"Which is the easier option? And am I allowed to take it?" I asked, turning to Jaeger.

"It's easier to choose to leave, than it is to be forced to. I know that better than anypony." he replied. I could see the truth in what he said. He did know. Which made my subconscious act of retreating to the basement upset me even more. I hated this feeling. Being helpless. I used to always rise to a challenge, if only after some slight hesitation. But what he was saying, was more like a death sentence than anything else.

I looked to Spike once more before turning my attention back fully to Jaeger. "Will you help us?" I asked him. I could see the pause he gave as the question surprised him. "Help us learn to defend ourselves against what we may face?" I fell to my knees and pleaded to him. I grabbed his shirt tight and looked up at him, showing my desperation. I could see the hesitation in his eyes, but it only lasted for a moment.

Jaeger knelt down before me and placed his hands on my shoulders. The touch was unfamiliar, but strangely soothing. His grip was firm, but gentle. And with that kind and soothing voice, he gave me hope. "I'll do you one better," he said. "I'll join you."