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.