The train shook slightly, and Fluttershy wasn't sure if it was because of a bump in the land, or because of the rapid hoof beat of her dear friend Twilight. The lavender unicorn was tapping her hoof with anxiety at an incredible rate. Twilight had never been good with stress, and with this new test of protecting the Crystal Empire from the powerful and evil tyrant King Sombra supposedly the most challenging of all she was in a frenzy. Fluttershy was actually worried Twilight would accidentally tire, or hurt herself.
Luckily Rainbow Dash voiced her concerns so she wouldn't have to be rude. "Twilight calm down, I'm certain everything will be fine. Shining and Cadence are already over there, and I bet that together the eight of us will kick his flank to Tartarus." Dash hovered in the middle of the train car and gave a fake karate kick for emphasis.
Twilight sighed and finally stopped shaking her hoof. "I hope your right Dash."
Fluttershy hoped that Dash was right as well. She was terrified of facing some pony even Celestia was scared of.
Three Days Later...
Rainbow Dash smiled smugly at Twilight, "I told you. No problem at all."
Twilight sighed frustrated. "That's the problem! We didn't even see Sombra, and I wouldn't call using black magic not a problem, but still it doesn't make sense. Why would he just not show up." Twilight shuddered at the thought of using that forbidden magic to reach the crystal heart.
Rainbow Dash leaned back in her seat smug as ever. "He probably heard that we were coming and ran for the hills. We won't have to worry about Sombrero any more."
Everypony was silent the rest of the ride back to Ponyville but Fluttershy prayed that dash was right again. From what she learned from the Crystal Ponies, Sombra was a terrifying, blood thirsty, unstoppable monster. She didn't want to face somepony like that. She would gladly face Discord again. At least he wouldn't murder some pony simply for entertainment. She shuddered and wished that Sombra was as far away from ponyville as physically possible.
Pinkie however was wishing for tacos, Rarity was brainstorming how to use the crystal pony designs into her clothing, Apple Jack couldn't wait to go home, and Spike wished that he could have actually done something and was thinking about how good Rarity looked as a crystal pony.
Meanwhile if the conductor had actually checked the cars of his train, instead of thinking about the very attractive made he had recently met, he would have found that the train had an extra passenger. Fortunately for the fondue who very much would like to remain alive, he didn't find the lone dark figure who waited at the back of the train. After all it didn't want to be found, it had made several plans already, sure it would take a considerable amount of time to complete said plans, but what was a century to a god? Two glowing red eyes and a deep chuckle broke the dark silence of the last car, of the first train to return from the Crystal Empire.
One Year Later...
Fluttershy yawned with exhaustion, she had a difficult day tending to the animals. (though she would never admit it) A recent unplanned storm had destroyed many of the animals' homes and now she was helping repair or find as many homes as she could. She almost wished Twilight would use her princess power to help her out, but she quickly shot it down. Twilight was far too busy and had far more important things to deal with.
Fluttershy went to her kitchen and began eating a few apples before bed, and by a few she meant twelve. Recently she had started to have a craving for apples before bed, and she had no idea why. However since it only happened every few days, she thought nothing of it. After all Pinkie had been convinced that some pony new had moved into Ponyville, even though she never found them, for nearly a year now. So comparatively an occasional craving wasn't so bad.
After her craving was satisfied, Fluttershy crawled into bed and drifted off to sleep. That night she had the strangest dream. She dreamed that she was at Apple Jack's orchard and was so thirsty, but she wanted only one thing; Apple juice. She would grab apple after apple and suck the amazing fluid out. She was almost satisfied when she heard something behind her. She quickly turned around ready to defend her glorious apples. She puffed up her chest and hiss as loud as she could, however her hiss died in her mouth at what she saw. Two slitted red eyes stared down on her from above. From how many stars were blocked out she could tell that the owner of those eyes was massive. Seeing as just how incredibly massive and dangerou this thing looked she tried a new plan; look as small and insignificant as possible and hope this thing leaves her alone.
She his herself in her wings, but it simply opened her wings, grabbed her head and forced her to look in its eyes.
A deep commanding voice echoed through the night. "Sleep." Fluttershy obeyed thinking of how odd it was to fall asleep in a dream.
Fluttershy slowly awoke but seeing as the stone wall beyond the soft red bed was still dark she closed her eyes and began to drift back to sleep. Suddenly she bolted awake when she suddenly realized that she had no stone walls in her entire housd, and that her bed was not red. Her heart rate skyrocketed and she began to hyper ventalate as it became more and more clear that she had no idea where she was. The room was very dark and barren with only a single dress or, the bed she was on and a small magical lamp on a bedside table lighting it all. There were no windows so she had no idea what time it was. A million thoughts raced through her head. 'Maybe I've been kidnapped and held for ransome, and I have to wait for Dash, Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie, and Apple Jack to save me. Maybe I have had an amnesia spell put on me when me and the others went to stop a villain and now I have to save them and avoid Celestia knows what. Maybe I've been in terrible accident and this is my home, and I have a husband and foal but I can't remember it.'
Fortunately Fluttershy's panicked thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door to her room unlocking. She held her breath, her eyes grew large, and her entire body locked up with fear. The door creaked open and a stallion walked in, the lamp barely allowing her to see him clearly. He was a tall gray unicorn, with a strange dagger shaped horn. He wore a black elegant suit, and cape that covered his body and a strange black and red amulet. He had long black hair that was slicked back and managed with care. His most distinguishing feature though, was his red slitted eyes that almost seemed to glow.
He spoke in a deep resounding voice with a air of contempt. "Ah, you're awake. I was beginning to wondering if you ever were going to arise."
Nervously Fluttershy gulped and gathered up the courage to ask her greatest question. "W-w-who a-are you?" 'Pleasedontsayyourhusbandpleasedontsayyourhusband'
"I am Count Arbmos (Are-ba-mos) and you are a batpony."
