Steel Thy Hooves!

Chapters

Prologue: Steel Thy Shovel...Again!
Chapter 1: The Rival, and Friends, Old and New
Chapter 1.5: The General Idea (Or 'Choose Your Character!')

Prologue: Steel Thy Shovel...Again!

All he saw was darkness. Miles upon miles, his vision was flooded with nothing but shadows. The cerulean-armored knight tried to gather his bearings, but something odd kept him from standing normally. 'What in the world...where am I? What is this place?'

"The space between spaces, foolish knight."

The knight directed his gaze toward the sound of the voice, which despite lingering in a black abyss, clearly came from his left. What he saw was a face he never expected to see again. "You again! How many times must I put you away, vile sorceress?!"

The Enchantress chuckled darkly. "Ah, but you did not even 'put me away' the first time, Shovel Knight. You failed...and now my magic will take us somewhere new...a new world to conquer, and I am bringing my knights with me! I and my order shall take this world by storm, lay waste to its populace and rule for all eternity!"

"Not if I stop you first!" Shovel Knight struggled to stand, but he was still immobilized. "What have you done to me, witch? Release me at once!"

"I've done nothing, knight. Your body is merely adjusting to its new form. Farewell, Shovel Knight. We will meet again...but you won't last half as long as you did the first time." The Enchantress cackled as she faded into the shadows. Shovel Knight continued to strain and fight, but nothing budged, until finally, he felt something other than the cold darkness...

He was falling.

It was a perfectly normal morning in Equestria...and because of that, Twilight was worried beyond belief. Over the past few months, at least some minor form of disaster had forced the Princess of Friendship out of her bed and springing to action, but today was a completely ordinary day. She strode down the stairs cautiously, looking left and right any chance she had. She hurriedly bolted to the kitchen, checking every drawer immediately before sitting down in a nearby chair and sighing as she slumped down into it.

"Morning, Twilight!"

Twilight jumped, and she was now practically clinging to the chandelier. "Uh...I take it you're not having such a good morning?" She glanced down to the drakeling who had just entered the kitchen as he immediately began making coffee.

"That's the problem, Spike!" Twilight hovered down to the floor. "I'm having a perfectly normal morning! Ponyville plus normal isn't exactly normal!" As Spike finished the coffee and began to pour himself and Twilight a cup, the princess herself began pacing back and forth. "I mean, if Discord isn't turning SOMETHING upside down, there's usually some kind of creature from the Everfree Forest attacking, and if it's not that, some new pony's come to town to challenge me or my friends to SOME kind of game or test. And if it's not THAT-"

"Twi, you really need to relax." Spike held the drink out to her. "Have some coffee, wake yourself up. Trust me, you're a lot less...kooky after you've had your morning coffee."

Twilight grabbed the mug in her magic. "I can't relax! A perfect day like this only spells great disaster and-" Twilight suddenly took a sip of the coffee, stared down the mug for a second and took another sip, sighing contently. "Ahh...perfect coffee as always, Spike..."

"You're lucky we both like it black. All I gotta do is toss some powdered emeralds in for my personal style." Spike wrapped his arm around Twilight's back. "It's not often we get such a nice day like this. Instead of anticipating the end of the world, let's just enjoy it for what it's worth. Sound like a plan?"

Twilight seemed to be attempting to speak, but she sighed in defeat. "You're absolutely right, Spike. I can't just jump on my Doomsday Clock bandwagon every single time something isn't going wrong in my life. In fact, and I may regret this later..." Twilight brought forth one of her scrolls containing her daily list and crumpled it up. Spike audibly gasped and grinned. "No lists today! I'm just going to go on a nice, casual walk through Ponyville, say hi to a few friends and-"

Suddenly, a rainbow streak crossed her vision and landed in front of her. Rainbow Dash, out of breath, took a deep inhale and exclaimed, "TWILIGHT COME QUICK SOMETHING CRASHED ON AJ'S FARM!"

Twilight's eye twitched before she brought her list back before her and slowly started to unfold it. Rainbow blinked twice and looked at Spike. "Uh, she gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, she'll be fine..." Spike walked back over to the coffee maker. "She's just gonna need more coffee."

It was an ordinary day at Sweet Apple Acres. At least, it had been until a wild blue meteor crash-landed in front of one of the orchard's tallest trees. All but Granny Smith had come out to inspect the crater, and Applejack immediately forced her other siblings to head back inside. The apple farmer crept as close as she felt comfortable to the strange object, which had shown no reactions upon landing. All it seemed to be was a cluster of blue metal, almost like armor. "Ah sure hope Twi gets here soon...Ah ain't touchin' this thing, but no way in Tartarus is it stayin' on mah farm."

"Applejack, Rainbow came to get me, is everything al-...whoa." Twilight screeched to a half as she got her first glimpse of the impact crater. "What the...what is this?"

"Ah don't know, and ah rightly don't care. All Ah know is it's on mah property, and Ah can't get ta work without worryin' if it's dangerous or not." Suddenly, a clanking sound came from down within the crater, and all three mares jumped back a few feet. "Whoa, nelly! Ah...ah think it moved, Twilight!"

"T-that's...ridiculous, Applejack, it couldn't possibly have-" The alien metal clanked again, but this time, the trio did in fact see it move. As it rose up, a groaning sound was heard and the blue steel took the shape of an Earth Pony stallion.

Rainbow stared, jaw dropped. "It's...it's a pony...but how could a pony have survived a crash like that?"

"I'd put my bits on that armor. Looks to be high-quality mithril, probably enchanted."

"Ah'll put it on the feller bein' an Earth Pony. At least it looks like one from here."

The stallion soon began climbing out of the crater. Rainbow crouched down, assuming a position to strike if necessary. Applejack seemed to do the same, but Twilight merely stood back and watched. As the mystery pony left the crater completely, it became clear that he was not wearing a helmet to match his armor. His golden mane, light blue fur and hazel eyes were clearly visible. He groaned again as he placed a hoof to his forehead. "Agh, my head...what in all the kingdoms did she mean 'another wo-'..." The armored stallion glanced up at the trio of mares before him, quickly realizing two things. First: He was definitely standing up straight, and these horses were the same size as he was. Second: These horses were not the same size as he was, as he had now become one himself. He stared agape at the hoof now attached to his body. He looked himself over several times before he could truly affirm what had happened...and he then immediately proceeded to pass out.

Shovel Knight awoke before a campfire. He sat down casually at it, staring up at the stars. He recognized this as his usual dream. He knew any moment now, his beloved Shield Knight would come falling from above, and he would catch her as always. But something was different this time. There were no monsters, no trees, and all of a sudden, no campfire. He glanced up and Shield Knight, clad in her crimson red armor, began to fall. He moved to jump up to catch her, but something kept his body from leaving its current spot. As he watched her fall, he could only focus on the pained expression on her face. He saw her lips make out two words.

'Shovel...Knight...'

"Shield Knight, I...I can't reach you! I can't move! I'm trying, but I can't move!"

'Shovel Knight...'

"Please, gods above, let me move! Let me save her! PLEASE!"

'Shovel Knight!'

*CRASH*

"SHIELD KNIGHT!"

The knight suddenly shot up in a panic. He looked around at his current whereabouts and found himself now in an unknown bed. His strange new body, covered in fur, was soaked in sweat. He sat up in the bed as best he could in this unusual form. As he was adjusting himself, one of the mares he had seen earlier, the one with the blonde hair, entered the room. "You all right up here, partner? Ah could hear ya tossin' an' turnin' from all the way downstairs."

He eyed the mare curiously. He still wasn't sure what to make of the situation, but he found himself sheltered by this horse. By his honor, he would have to make it up to her. He immediately stood up from the bed and knelt before her. "I apologize for making you worry, ma'am. As a knight, I am bound by my code to aid you who cared for me in a world quite foreign to me."

Applejack flushed and waved him off with a hoof. "Aw, shucks, y'all don't gotta do nothin'. It's what any good-natured pony would do."

"And you...'ponies' are common here?"

Applejack's confusion toward the question was obvious. "Whadda ya mean 'you ponies'? You're a pony too, feller."

He looked down again, recalling his change of appearance. "Ah, yes, of course...the form I've taken in this world...I still do not know-" He glanced down again, realizing something was missing. "My armor...where is my armor?! A knight is nothing without his armor!"

Applejack placed a hoof on his shoulder, which got him to stop, or at least prolong for a moment, his panicking. "Calm down, sugarcube. Yer fancy getup is right behind ya."

He turned toward the window in the room to see his armor set down on a storage chest close by. Sitting before them was a matching shovel. He sighed in relief. 'Nary a scratch...luckily the spells held. I would be lost without my magic. But...' He glanced down at his hooves again. 'I don't have my relics. The Spectral Orb, the Ichor Goblets...all of that was left behind. And the Enchantress is somewhere in this world...I cannot fight her without those. But until she shows herself...' He walked over and looked out the window. Though it should have been expected based on the vague images he recalled from the first time he'd woken up in this world, this mare who took him in lived on a farm. 'Perhaps living my old peaceful life for a while wouldn't be so bad.'

"Uh...you all right there, pal?"

"Hm?" He turned back to his host. "Oh, yes, of course. Apologies. I was merely reminiscing. Back home, when I set my armor and adventuring aside, I, too, was a farmer."

"Ah figured that much from yer cutie mark."

He blinked. "My...my what now?"

"Yer...cutie mark? That thing on yer flank?"

He glanced back to his posterior to see his blue shovel crossed over a red diamond emblazoned upon it. "I...I am not familiar with the traditions of your race. What...what exactly does this strange insignia mean?"

"What does it...yer jokin', right?" He shook his head. Applejack's eyes remained wide. "Yeah, ah'm gonna take ya to Twilight. Maybe one'a her fancy spells'll be able to figure out where ya came from."

Shovel Knight grinned. "Ah, a local sorceress! Very well! Lead the way, Miss, uh..."

"Applejack."

"Excellent! Lead on, Miss Jacqueline of Apple!"

Applejack stopped in her tracks. "...Ah'm gonna have ta ask ya ta never call me that again."

The cerulean stallion coughed nervously as he followed her out. "Understood, Miss Applejack."

The library in Twilight's palace was extensive. With directions, it took Shovel Knight nearly fifteen minutes to find his way to the princess' location. Twilight had prepared for his arrival, setting up her various note-taking devices. And of course, as a true scientist, she asked a series of precursor questions that the knight could not wrap his head around. Half of them were as simple as name and occupation, while some made absolutely no sense. Of course, he was not going to question a magical talking pony, let alone a princess to boot.

"And you said you were...what now?"

"Um...Human, Your Highness."

"Okay, just because Applejack told you I'm a princess doesn't mean you need to keep up the royal terminology."

"B-but I must! As a knight, I must honor nobility, and as it stands, you are as such, Your Highness!"

Twilight sighed. "One more 'your highness' out of you, and I'll stop trying to figure out how you got here." Shovel Knight suddenly froze up and remained completely still and silent for the next minute. Twilight sighed again. "I didn't mean you had to stop speaking."

"Apologies, Your Hi-I mean...Miss Twilight."

Twilight smiled brightly. "Good! Now hold still while I focus my spell." The knight nodded and stood still once again. Twilight channeled a beam of energy from her horn and it began to wrap around Shovel Knight. To her left was an ink pen and scroll on which she began to write down observation notes. To her right was a white board which began filling with formulas and variables, all while she continued her spell on the cerulean stallion. "Hmm...this is very odd. Your form change seems to have been brought about by a powerful enchantment, but I can't recognize its magic."

"A dark spellcaster from my land simply known as the Enchantress sent me here, and she claimed to have been targeting this world herself. If she was successful, she and her lackeys would be hiding somewhere in your land under a simular guise to which she cast me into."

Twilight listened, but continued her 'research mode' with increasing fervor. She finally completed her notes and ended the channeling, leaving a slight tingling sensation across Shovel Knight's body for a few seconds. "All right, that should do it."

"And...what, pray tell, might 'it' be, Miss Twilight?"

"I'm going to try and make something that could get you back home. And not only would it send you back, it would force that Enchantress and her peons back to your world as well."

Shovel Knight smiled, but it seemed half-hearted. "But if she is merely sent back, she may attempt to return."

"Not if I can craft the relic in such a way that it prevents a two-way rift gate. Teleportation spells are easy for me, but making one with such power behind it, and then making it a one-way ticket, is going to take some time. In the meanwhile, Applejack told me she'd offer you a temporary job on her farm if you wanted to take it. It might be more than a month before I can finish the spell, let alone the relic itself."

Shovel Knight tapped his chin with a hoof. "I...suppose. I do still owe her, and you, for that matter, for healing me and taking me in."

"Oh, it's nothing, It's just-"

"'What any good natured pony would do', correct?" Twilight nodded. "Miss Applejack said the same thing. Is such kindness truly so common in this land?"

Twilight thought for a moment, then waved a hoof side to side. "A bit...mostly in Ponyville and other rural towns like it. In big cities like Canterlot, you're far less likely to find a friendly face. I mean, it's not like everypony there is in it for themselves, but you get what I mean, right?"

Shovel Knight nodded. "There are many of my world like that as well. Some might have even considered me as such, being a 'simple treasure hunter.' I may seek jewels and glory, but as a mere pastime. I protect those who cannot do so for themselves...the weak and innocent who have no choice in the matter whether or not they are as such. Villagers, civilians, men and women and their children who want nothing more than to live a peaceful life." He seemed to be off in his own little world for a split second before he awkwardly cleared his throat. "My apologies, Miss Twilight...sometimes my own memories get the better of me."

"It's all right. I think I understand that feeling fairly well myself." She shook her head. "But enough of our nostalgia for the time being. I'm sure we have plenty of stories to tell, but Applejack will want to know you're sticking around to help for a while."

He nodded, heading towards one of the massive bookshelves before stopping. "Um...pray tell, how might I exit your palace?"

Twilight couldn't help but giggle at the knight's predicament. "I could just teleport you to the foyer, if you want."

He nodded. "That would be most appreciated."

In an instant, Shovel Knight found himself standing back before the large palace doors leading back out to Ponyville. He pushed one open and stepped forth, a sense of sudden confidence filling his mind. "Perhaps...this will not be so difficult. Miss Twilight seems to have the situation under control. I may not even need to worry about the Enchantress' threat upon this land." He walked slowly onward, glancing to his left foreleg where Twilight had placed a sheath of sorts for his shovel. "And perhaps I can figure out how to use my beloved shovel in this quadrupedal form."

"He is unaware of us, milady."

The Enchantress and her knights met in a dark place hidden away from the surface and any ponies who might stumble across it. Far underground, in the twisting caverns of Celestia and Luna's old palace, rested a chamber unseen by all but the Order of No Quarter and their glorious mistress. "Of course he is," spoke the shadow of the Enchantress. "He could not sense us before, nor will he this time."

"Mistress, I grow weary of this infernal waiting!" A gold-armored unicorn slammed his front hooves to the ground. "Was I not born to rule? Did you not say-"

"Be silent, you golden goon!" A rather large snow shovel bopped the golden knight upon his head. Standing behind him was an exceptionally large snow buffalo with a horned helmet. "The Enchantress has plans for us all...be patient, or I shall follow through on my orders and put you down."

The unicorn swallowed hard and went dead silent. The buffalo nodded. "The floor returns to you, milady."

"Thank you, Polar Knight." The eyes visible through the dark veil darted to the unicorn. "As for you, King Knight, I do indeed have my plan for you. I will grant you a special, one-use spell that will put down the Alicorn princesses in the kingdom called Canterlot. This magic should cancel theirs as long as I reside in the realm. Without their precious princesses, these pathetic ponies should fall rather quickly."

"And what of the the impudent Shovel Knight, my dark lady?" inquired a light green Pegasus with a golden mane decorated with a rose. "What if he does not come to face his demise before the other princess can send us back?"

"Fret not, Propeller Knight." A flourish of energy surged as a spotlight sprung forth in the center of the group, revealing an imprisoned female knight in red armor and a shield lying just outside the cage.

"He will come."

Chapter 1: The Rival, and Friends, Old and New

Within the week, Shovel Knight had grown rather used to the peaceful yet hard-working life of a farmer once more. Though he was much less accustomed to apple farming, he adapted quickly. He learned the 'art of apple bucking', as Applejack had called it, and he managed to use his shovel, now conveniently attached to a part of his foreleg armor thanks to Twilight, to fell dead trees much more easily and cleanly than Applejack ever could, although she would never admit this to anypony else.

"Gotta say, Shovel Knight, it's been mighty helpful havin' ya 'round this past week. Yer friendly, courteous, and hard-workin' ta boot!"

The knight flushed at the assorted compliments. "Tis nothing...mere exercise to me."

"Right. Ah forgot y'all were an adventurer an' whatnot. Ever consider doin' that again? Treasure huntin', monster fightin' an' such?"

He shook his head. "Nay, that life rests behind me. I may be temporarily flung back into the fray upon the return to my world. The Enchantress may fail to take this world, but the strength she has gained from it will likely remain. I will have to smite her once more."

Suddenly, a dark shadow cast itself across the land Shovel Knight was digging into. "Excuse me, but do you mind-"

"Yes, my old rival. I do."

Shovel Knight glanced up in shock, not expecting the familiar voice. "It...can't be..."

Standing before him now was his old rival and 'friend', the ebony-armored Black Knight. In this world, the knight appeared as a Unicorn. 'I should have expected that much...he always was better than me with spells.'

"You know why we are here, Shovel Knight."

"Black Knight, I do not wish for any conflict. I merely bide my time before a friend grants us passage home. If you've come to drive me towards fighting the Enchantress-"

"They have Shield Knight."

Shovel Knight gasped. At least, he tried to. He felt all his breath leave his body in an instant as his mind fell into a void. 'No...that was the last thing I'd expected...how could I have been such a fool? Of course the Enchantress would plan for me to save my beloved...that wretched-'

"You can waste time mourning, or you can help me try to find her. The Enchantress isn't possessing her, they actually have her prisoner. I saw it in my dream before I was flung into this...rather colorful land."

Shovel Knight stood stunned for a moment. "Y-you...you're asking for my help? Since when are you so compliant, Black Knight?"

Black Knight said nothing at first, continuing to walk to the far end of the field. He stopped when he was just five meters away. "I care for her just as much as you do. But I need to see just how much you truly care." A dark purple glow erupted from Black Knight's horn as his shovel was pulled from its sheath at his side. "Face me, just like before. I need to know your resolve, Shovel Knight."

"Now, hold on just a second there, partner!" Applejack stepped between the two of them. "Now, Ah dunno what's the deal with you two, but y'all ain't fightin' on mah farm!"

Shovel Knight and Black Knight continued to stare each other down, despite Applejack standing between them. The dark knight sheathed his weapon. "Very well. Come, old friend. We will handle this in a much less public place."

Black Knight began to walk off. Shovel Knight started to follow, but Applejack pulled him back. "Hold up there, Shovel Knight. I gotta know somethin' before ya go off...who is this Black Knight feller?"

The blue knight sighed. "An old friend and rival...more to the latter than former. We once faced off many a time for the affections of my beloved Shield Knight. She favored me, and Black Knight would not hear it. Now, he acts like an overprotective sibling to her...and sometimes, to I as well. Whenever he challenges me like this, he is ensuring I have not 'lost my luster', as I had the first time. Since I bested the Enchantress before, he's called for this 'test' once every week."

"Why don't ya just, I dunno...ask him to stop?"

"Because he is right to do this." Shovel Knight continued to walk, following Black Knight's path. "Should I falter at all, Black Knight must know he is to take my place. If I truly do become too weak to protect my home, he is more than capable of and willing to doing so."

The knight pressed on, leaving Applejack to dwell on his words. It took no more than a fifteen minute walk for Shovel Knight to arrive at a wide, open field with only a few trees around. Black Knight stood at the far end, seeming only slightly impatient. "Does this area remind you of our home, old friend?"

Shovel Knight nodded. "I recall the Plains of Passage looking much like this. Simple...quiet. Almost peaceful. With the exception of-"

"Crossing spades and spiteful words." The two shared a light chuckle, but kept their serious tones. "It is...still somewhat difficult for me to call you a friend. Mostly for the sole fact that I feel you do not see me as one."

"I see you as more than that at times, Black Knight." Shovel Knight stood firm, checking his shovel gauntlet to ensure its functionality. "A friend...a rival...a brother. We are knights now, but we knew one another long before our chivalrous paths sprung out before us."

Black Knight nodded. "The days of youth...how many wish to return to such innocence. I, myself, often yearn for a simple life again."

"It can be done, Black Knight. We can put the Enchantress away forever, ensure her Order will never try to bring her back...and then we can retire our spades to naught but farmland."

The obsidian knight chuckled again. "One must hope. But I must test your resolve if we are to go anywhere with this plan of yours. You'd been living the quiet life with Shield Knight for several months before you arrived here." Black Knight drew his spade again, holding it firm in his magic aura. "Let me see if you've still got what it takes to face me. Steel thy shovel!"

Recommended Listening

Black Knight immediately galloped forth, swinging with his sword vertically. Shovel Knight saw the approaching strike and quickly side-jumped, easily avoiding the attack. "You are still as quick as always, friend. But I did not call you out here to watch you bounce!" Black Knight aimed his horn at the blue knight, firing several purple fireballs. Not wanting to dodge again, Shovel Knight swung his spade-gauntlet at them, deflecting all three back at the dark knight, sending him sliding back across the grass.

"You seem to have mastered your new form rather quickly. Did you find a suitable teacher in this world as well?"

Black Knight nodded as he spun his shovel twice to demonstrate his basic grasp. “A traveling performer found me along the side of the road and took me in. We bonded over shared experiences with a past desire for vengeance, and she taught me the basics of Unicorn magic. But enough idle chit-chat. There will be plenty of time to swap stories once we’re too spent to move!” Black Knight charged again, this time thrusting with his spade.

Shovel Knight raised his spaded hoof to block, sending the blade directly up toward the sky instead of its intended destination. He then swung his weapon back down, striking Black Knight directly on the tip of his horn, knocking him back and forcing him to drop his shovel. “So the horn is a focus point...good to know.”

Black Knight groaned and rubbed the horn. “Damn it all, that smarts...seems you haven’t grown any weaker, at least.”

Shovel Knight smiled behind his helmet. “The benefits of hard work, spade-brother. It also does not hurt that, apparently, the Earth Pony race of this world is rather formidable on its own.”

“As it would seem.” Black Knight picked his shovel back up in his magic and quickly cast a spell that wrapped around his hooves. “But I am not some pushover mage myself!” Black Knight jumped into the air, ascending nearly twice the height of some of the nearest trees. He aimed his spade downward, combining the tip of the tool with a purple fireball. Shovel Knight stood strong, rearing his hoof back and waiting for just the right moment. Within an inch of impact, the cerulean knight swung forward, knocking the black shovel to the side and sending the quickly-moving fireball back at the Unicorn who conjured it. Black Knight was launched farther this time as he crashed into a tree, sliding down and falling to one knee.

“Have we...done enough yet...old friend?” Shovel Knight dropped to his knees as well. Though stronger than usual in this form, countering an attack of that speed and force took much more out of him than he had thought. Black Knight rose up, slowly walking over to the blue-armored warrior.

“I think...for now...we can call this match a draw.”

The silence persisted for a few minutes before Black Knight spoke up. “Shovel Knight...this is going to sound exceptionally odd coming from me. And I mean, exceptionally odd, considering our past, but...” Shovel Knight looked over to his friend. “The Enchantress...she is stronger here, somehow. Far more powerful than she was in our world, and I can’t understand why. But...I believe, in order for you to face her Order of knights once again...you will have to bring others with you.”

Shovel Knight stared in momentary shock. “Do...do you mean yourself?”

“Perhaps...but this world, nay, this town alone seems to be filled with incredibly helpful characters. Perhaps, dare I say it...you should make some friends. After all, it is their world that hangs in the balance, and there is no guarantee your friend will finish the relic in time.”

“Wait...how did you know-”

“The traveling showmare also happened to have some minor scrying talent...and apparently, she rather enjoys spying on that new friend of yours for some reason.”

The blue knight shook his head. “I won’t pry. Perhaps you are right, though. Some of these ponies seem a lively bunch. I might find some brave spirits among them.”

Shovel Knight walked through the busy roads of Ponyville. He noted that this town was no different than the villages from his own world...there were traders, passers-by and shoppers, and the occasional but very rare individual screaming about the end of the world. Today, it was apparently a mare named Lyra spouting on about a ‘human invasion’ and Shovel Knight had to hold back an ironic chuckle as he walked past. He continued on his rather peaceful walk until a pink ball of fluff bolted up in front of him and took a deep inhale of breath.

“Oh my gosh I’ve never seen you before that means I’ve never met you which means you’re new to Ponyville which means I have to go set up your party bye!” The pink mare suddenly vanished in a cloud of smoke, leaving an incredibly confused Shovel Knight standing in its wake.

“I...what...?”

“Eh, don’t worry about Pinkie Pie. She’s a whole lotta crazy, but she’s got a big heart to carry it in.” Shovel Knight looked around, trying to pinpoint the source of this new conversation partner. “Up here, buddy.” He glanced upward to a rainbow-maned Pegasus. “Sup? Name’s Rainbow Dash. You’re that shovel guy Twilight was talkin’ about, aren’t ya?”

He nodded. “Correct. I am Shovel Knight. And you are a...Pegasus, am I right?”

“Not just any Pegasus!” Rainbow did a sudden loop-de-loop midair. “I’m the fastest, coolest and best stuntmare Equestria has ever seen! Not to mention, proud member of the Wonderbolts Reserve Corps!”

The odd name piqued the knight’s curiosity. “Wonderbolts? Are they your military?”

Dash hovered to the ground. “Kinda? I mean, Princess Celestia calls on them if her own guards can’t handle the immediate threat. I’ve been in plenty of battles, so if they need me anywhere between here and Manehatten, I can be there in a split-second to help!”

“I see...so you would say speed is your special skill?”

“Well, not exactly. Sure, I can fly fast, but my real special talent is the ability to create a Sonic Rainboom!”

Now Shovel Knight was completely lost. “A...a what now?”

“Wow, Twilight wasn’t kidding. You really are from another world if you haven’t even at least heard of a Sonic Rainboom. Twilight told me only one other Pegasus in all of Equestrian history was able to pull off flight at supersonic speeds, and that was the great Commander Firefly the First over three hundred years ago. Anyway, I’ll tell ya more about it later, considering you’ll eventually find yourself at Sugar Cube Corner for Pinkie’s party. Trust me, there’s no escaping a Pinkie Party. Catch ya later, shovel dude!”

‘”Shovel dude?”’ He readied to question the odd dialog, but Rainbow Dash had already taken off into the sky faster than he could react. “...She certainly wasn’t lying about her speed. I barely had a chance to blink.”

“You will get used to that brash behavior the longer you’re around her, I assure you.” Shovel Knight turned, and what he saw could very well have been the definition of raw, untamed beauty itself. The mare standing before him was pure white with a purple mane, had the most dazzling eyes and an astounding smile. Of course, this going through the mind of an ordinary stallion would rend them speechless. Shovel Knight, however, had his own beloved to think of, so the allure of the alabaster mare was lost on him. “You must be Shovel Knight. Twilight has spoken of you...not much, merely that you are from another world. I am Rarity, dressmaker extraordinaire. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Shovel Knight, being the chivalrous soldier that he was, took her hoof in his, raised it and kissed just above the tip. He count himself rather lucky this pony in particular seemed to care for hygiene in every manner of the word. “You are truly a vision of loveliness, Miss Rarity. Should I not have had a beloved of my own, I’d imagine your beauty would have swept me away.”

Rarity flushed, not having expected such words from a total stranger. “My, such a gentlestallion. Whoever she is, she is quite lucky to have you.”

“And I, her, Miss Rarity.” He looked behind her to see a wagon being carted along in the tow of a young, but pony-sized, drake with green and purple skin. “I...do hope I have not interrupted anything.”

“Hm?” Rarity glanced back at the young dragon. “Oh, dear. Spikey, I’ve forgotten you again, haven’t I?”

“Nah, it’s okay, Rarity.” Spike looked back at the knight with a rather neutral stare. “Name’s Spike. I’m a dragon. Hope that’s not a problem with you, pal.”

Rarity gasped. “Spike! What kind of attitude is that?”

The drake sighed. “Sorry, Rarity. As of that little ‘invasion’ two years ago, me and knights don’t exactly have the most healthy relationships.”

Rarity nodded, a somber look crossing her face. “Yes, of course, I remember...” She looked back to Shovel Knight and smiled. “Apologies, but I must be off now. So many gems to find, so little time.” Rarity and Spike continued walking along the path, and Shovel Knight was once again left alone on the dirt road.

“Are all the ponies in this town...simply mad or something? I feel as though I have waltzed into Mister Hat’s haberdashery once more.”

“You might well have, sir knight.” Shovel Knight jumped back, and quite nearly jumped out of his skin. Before him stood an Earth Pony stallion with a backpack adorned with hats over his back. He also wore a golden helmet and a lightish brown trenchcoat. “Hail, Shovel Knight...how nice to see you again.”

“...Mister Hat? How in the world-”

“The Enchantress’ spell did not only send you, your friends and the Order to this odd world. The vile woman tested her teleportation spell on us several months ago. We wandering knights have been exploring this place ever since. I have once again opened a wonderful haberdashery right next to Miss Rarity’s boutique. It isn’t nearly as extensive as the one back home, but it is a start. I may even keep a branch open here if I ever find a way to return home. Equestria has such...interesting clientele.”

Shovel Knight continued to stare awkwardly. “I...so are you...not here to fight?”

Mister Hat gasped. “I should say not! At least, not in such a public place. Come by my shop should you ever find yourself in a rather...sticky situation. I shall provide aid...should you be able to beat me again.” Mister Hat suddenly pulled a cane from within his cloak and bounced off into the distance on it, leaving the poor knight once again stranded.

“I believe...the pink one made more sense than he ever will.” He shook his head and continued to walk. “Perhaps this time, I’ll meet a ‘normal’ pony, or at least one that passes for it in this world.”

“Looking for sanity in Ponyville? Not likely.” Shovel Knight recognized the voice and sighed in relief. He glanced up to see Twilight walking through the marketplace in his direction.

“Ah, thank the gods. A friend that is already a friend.”

“I take it you’ve had a few run-ins with some of my friends then, Shovel Knight?”

The knight nodded. “Miss Dash, Miss Pie, Miss Rarity and your dragon friend. He seemed...rather displeased with my very being here.”

Twilight took a sharp breath. “Ooh, I probably should have told you about that. A few years back, a gryphon knight named Sir Gilahad living in a neighboring kingdom came barreling into town, claiming he’d heard word of a dragon living here. I tried to assure him Spike wasn’t hostile, but he demanded to ‘face the beast’. Needless to say, both Spike and Gilahad left that fight with scars. The gryphon had nearly all his primary feathers scorched off, but he managed to nick one of Spike’s scales. It grew back, but he still considers it that he ‘lost’ to a knight.”

“I take it dragons in this world are much like mine own knights, then. For most of us, even a single loss is a black mark on our near-spotless record. “

Twilight nodded. “He took it pretty hard. He’s always looking for a chance to redeem himself, so when I told him the newest knight in town was friendly, he wasn’t happy.”

“Perhaps he may yet have his chance, Miss Twilight. I have received word from an old friend of mine who was also sent to this world that the Enchantress has already captured my beloved Shield Knight here...and she and her army are preparing to march soon.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Soon? Oh, that isn’t good...I haven’t even begun on the artifact. The research is all sitting there, but I still need to get the items I need to make it, and-”

“Miss Twilight.”

“-And I can’t forget the calculations of the teleportation trajectory. I can’t have you end up in some twisted void of darkness-”

“Miss Twilight!”

“-Thirty moons, and-...Oh. I, um...I was panicking, wasn’t I?”

“That would be an understatement, Miss Twilight.”

Twilight chuckled sheepishly. “Ehe...seems like I’m forgetting to sleep again. I should probably go back home and nap for a while.”

Shovel Knight nodded. “Perhaps I should do so as well...making friends seemed rather simple, but meeting your friends, Miss Twilight, was quite a chore.”

“Tell me about it.” The two shared a laugh and prepared to go their separate ways, when all of a sudden, two bright flashes of light emerged before them, and standing in all their resplendent glory were Princess Celestia and Luna. Shovel Knight, recognizing royalty by crown and royal regalia, immediately fell to his knees. Twilight, however, seeing only the armor as unusual, immediately moved to ask of it. “Celestia, Luna, what’s going on? Why are you wearing your armor?”

“Because, Twilight...” Celestia took a few seconds to try and find the right words, but could find nothing other than the blunt truth. She sighed as she spoke.

“Canterlot has been taken over.”

Author's Note

Next chapter! Chapter 2 might take a bit longer. Heavy-hour weekend for me coming up at work. Gonna be dead tired by Saturday so probably won't be doing much but playing Smash and sleeping.

Speaking of Smash, anyone grabbing it? I could use some ~~punching bags~~ friends to play with.

Chapter 1.5: The General Idea (Or 'Choose Your Character!')

“W-what?!” Twilight stared in utter shock. “Canterlot has been...but how? Who could defeat you two?!”

“The Nightmare.”

“However...” Luna looked over at Shovel Knight. “The vile shadow acquired a new name in your friend’s world...when she left this plane and entered his, she took over a body and became a dark sorceress with great magic and a desire for nothing but destruction...”

Shovel Knight’s eyes widened. “The Enchantress...when she first came to be, it was merely dark magic that possessed Shield Knight, a mere trinket of evil...but now she has taken on a physical form...how could this ‘Nightmare’ of yours have come to my world in the first place?”

“The same way it was purged from my being...the Elements of Harmony.”

Twilight’s gaze shrank to the floor, her face plastered with guilt. Celestia immediately moved to comfort her former student, draping a wing across her back. “You could not have known such a thing would happen, Twilight. Neither I nor my sister expected what happened to us today.”

-Less than an hour ago-

Princess Celestia and Luna sat in their throne room, once again surrounded by the cacophony of the Day Court. The solar diarch had invited her sister to join her for a session of her court, and both immediately regretted the moment they set foot in the room. Normally, Celestia would expect a few requests from citizens in the lower circle of Canterlot, but today was, as the royal guards would say, ‘one of those days’. The high nobles of the court once again raised constant question as to why Twilight Sparkle was made a princess to begin with, despite Celestia putting their arguments down with the obvious fact that Twilight was not nearly ready to run a kingdom of her own and therefore did not have such political power. Aside from this, the court had requested the Princesses don their royal regalia, which both sisters had agreed was not only pointless, but incredibly uncomfortable. But the arguments went on and on, and the princesses sat listening, annoyed and cramped in the intentionally-decorative armor, until finally...

“...And that is point number seventeen on why ‘Princess’ Twilight Sparkle should have her title and Alicorn status revoked immediately!”

Celestia sighed. “And Duke Blueblood, for the twentieth time I’ve told you, one cannot simply ‘revoke Alicorn status’ from a mare or stallion who hath rightfully earned it. Unless you’d like to track down and decipher an ancient centuries-old spell written by my fifth boyfriend, I don’t think you’ll be reaching anywhere near the right to become an Alicorn yourself, let alone say who should or shouldn’t be one.”

“But, Princess Celestia, I implore you-”

A loud explosion cut off the duke’s ramblings, and though Celestia thanked her lucky stars internally, she and her sister immediately bound to action. The source of the blast was a powerful force destroying the doors leading into the throne room itself. The nobles, as well as the cowardly duke himself, had immediately fled to the back of the room behind the royal guards. As the smoke cleared, the figure behind the attack revealed himself: a golden-armored Unicorn knight wielding a glowing sword. Upon closer inspection, the sword was not held in his magic aura...it had been created by it.

“Princesses Celestia and Luna, you are to immediately surrender this castle to me, King Knight, by order of the Enchantress!”

Luna growled and stepped forth. “What kind of fools do you think we are to simply surrender our home to some decadently-dressed dandy with mere pyrotechnics and a simple sword?”

“Sister, look closer...he does not wield that sword, but conjures it...”

The lunar sister eyed the blade more carefully to see that it was not a physical weapon. The rage building within her was enough to invoke the Royal Canterlot Voice. “YOU DARE TO ENTER OUR COURT WIELDING FORBIDDEN MAGIC?! WHO IS THIS ENCHANTRESS THAT SENDS YOU?! WHY DOES SHE SEND A MERE PAWN?”

“She claims she does not wish to awaken too many painful memories for you, Princess Luna. A backlash to those thousand years imprisoned would be such a shame, wouldn’t it?”

Memories flooded forth like blood from a wound, and Luna knew the entity King Knight spoke of. Her veins went cold and she could not move. “N-no...you LIE! The Nightmare was cleansed by the Elements of Harmony!”

“Your silly rainbow magic merely delayed our glorious mistress! The Elements sent her to our world, where she became all powerful! Now she has grasped the magics of both realms, and will now take them and all worlds connected to them for herself! Starting with this one...” King Knight reached to his left side and pulled forth a flask. He popped the top using his magic and an indigo-violet mist poured out and surged across the floor, wasting no time in arriving before the two princesses and grappling around their forms, slowly but surely pulling their magic from them.

“S-sister...help...” Luna looked over to see her sister suffering far more than she was. Luna had exposure to the Nightmare, but Celestia had not felt its sting before. “I...I c-can’t...”

“Worry not, Celestia...I will free us from this twisted spell!” With all her might, Luna focused and released a surge of magic against the Nightmare Mist. It pushed weakly, but managed to give the Princesses enough time to cast one final teleport spell...one that brought them right to Twilight.

“So...neither of you have your magic?”

Celestia shook her head. “The most we can do is teleport short distances or create minor images. We are not nearly as weak as when Tirek attacked, but this is a different kind of enemy...as you may recall, we mentioned the Unicorn we faced used conjuration magic...a school of magic no longer allowed in Equestria.”

Twilight nodded. “I’ve always wondered about that...every book I’ve ever read on conjuration has merely stated that it was banned...why was it, exactly?”

The four began walking toward Twilight’s palace as the lunar princess spoke. “Some ponies started using it to make themselves appear wealthy.” Luna’s horn flashed and produced a small cloud. Within it stood a unicorn that began to focus and suddenly, piles of gold coins and jewels appeared around him. “They created mansions filled with vast fortunes that looked and felt real as real could be. No spells could discern their nature...that is what made conjuring magic so dangerous. It could not be detected, not even by my sister or I.”

“But you, Twilight...” Twilight suddenly turned toward Celestia. “You are the Princess of Magic, and the greatest scholar in Equestria since Starswirl himself. You have the means and the power to trace such untracable types of magic. There is no doubt this ‘King Knight’ is not alone, not counting the ‘Enchantress.’”

“This much is true, your highnesses.” The Alicorn princesses turned to the knight who up to this point had remained silent. “Apologies for not speaking up before. The Enchantress has more than just that decadent dandy of a knight in her service. She has an entire order...the Order of No Quarter, they call themselves. Before I arrived here, she told me in a vision she had brought them here and would take this world and mine with the power she would gain here. Had I known she was from this world to begin with, I would not have allowed her to escape here.”

“Tis by no fault of thine, sir knight. Thou could’st not have known.”

“Sister, you’re reverting to the olden speech.”

Luna flushed. “Apologies...seeing a knight, a true knight, not just some royal guard...it brings me back to our youth. Do you remember young Sir Lancetrot?”

Celestia shared in her sister’s blush. “Ah, how could I forget? Our first sibling rivalry...as I recall, you still haven’t forgiven me for dropping that cake on you.”

Luna’s right eye twitched slightly. “Before we lose ourselves in reminiscence...Shovel Knight. You say you know this ‘King Knight’, yes?” The blue knight nodded. “Very well, then! You shall face him!”

Celestia’s eyes widened. “Sister, you must be joking. He took our magic, who knows-”

“I will fight for you, your highnesses.”

The solar princess stopped and stood expressionless for a few seconds. “I...what?”

“The Enchantress and her Order are my responsibility. I will do whatever it takes to stop them.” Shovel Knight turned to Twilight. “But I may need assistance.”

The group arrived at the palace and entered. They were greeted by the voice of a young drake. “Hey, Twi, welcome home! I just got back a few min-” Spike came walking in and the first thing that captured his attention was the two armored princesses entering the palace. “Uh, hey, Princesses, nice to...see...” The second thing he saw was the knight from earlier. His confusion was quickly replaced with a scowl. “Oh. It’s you.”

“I, uh...I assure you, my good dragon, I have no intention of harming you-”

“That makes one of us.”

“Spike, behave, please!” Twilight glanced over to Shovel Knight again. “What do you mean by ‘assistance’?”

“An old friend...he goes by Black Knight...he told me that I would need to ‘make friends’ that might help me in facing the Order...I believe he meant you and your friends...without entirely knowing it, of course.”

“So...what are you suggesting?”

“That you or Spike accompany me to your city of Canterlot, and we take it back from King Knight.”

“With all due respect, Shovel Knight...” Celestia stepped forth. “While I appreciate your offer to assist...I mean...are you certain you can win?”

Shovel Knight nodded. “I have bested them once before...I shall do it again. But as stated before, I will need help.”

Spike scoffed. “Yeah, right. Like I’m gonna help you.”

“Spike!” The drake grunted and crossed his arms. Twilight sighed. “I’m sorry about him.”

“It is understandable...to lose part of oneself, physical or otherwise, is a grave tragedy.”

Spike’s eyes widened and he immediately rushed the knight, stopping just short of him and placing an open claw inches away from his throat. Twilight, Celestia and Luna gasped, but Shovel Knight remained calm. “What do you know about loss, huh?! You’re some ‘brave and heroic knight’! How could you lose anything?”

Shovel Knight’s silence lingered for a moment. “Tell me, Spike...the mare I saw you with before. Rarity, I believe was her name. If anything happened to her...would that feel the same as losing a few scales...or worse?”

Spike felt his stance weaken as he almost stumbled back. His arm dropped away from Shovel Knight and he looked to the ground. “...Worse.”

“That, Spike, is my loss. I have had my beloved Shield Knight taken from me twice now, by the same wretched witch. And yet I press on to take back what matters most to me...to find my love and be with her again.” Spike remained wordless, either unable to fully take in what Shovel Knight was saying, or completely enthralled by it. "So I ask you, Spike...will you come with me to face King Knight and take one step forward in my quest to rescue my Shield Knight?"

-WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?-

Author's Note

CHOICE TIME! That's right! I need you, my faithful readers to choose how the next chapter begins! Each pre-battle chapter (Each one with a .5) will function like this. Some filler, some Shovel Knight meeting new friends who might come with him on his next adventure, learning which Order member is causing chaos next, and then you voting on the outcome of the chapter's end, and subsequently, the outcome of the following chapter's start!

And keep this in mind as well...Shovel Knight has a chance to RECRUIT each and every member of the Order of No Quarter this time around. That will all be dependent on what gets picked!

Edit: Strawpoll finished! Spike will be joining Shovel Knight in the battle for Canterlot Keep. Chapter 2: Halls of the Usurper and The Decadent Dandy, will be coming next! Stay tuned!