Unexpected Friendship and Love

A/N: Turns out that Silas isn't going to allow me to use his characters. He wants to see how far I can go with this and what I can do, so no Lewis in Equestria anything. Now let's go on with what we left off.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything I don't own, except for Primus and Strings.

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

"So what have you been doing since you've been gone?"

"Nothing much, just the normal stuff I usually do."

"Those beings 'blow stuff up to see what happens.'"

"Yep, most of the time, of course."

Primus and Celestia, who is still wearing his cloak, were in a corner area of SugerCube Corner, talking about everything that happened since he left and since the accident. Primus had his wing wrapped around her, keeping her close and warm. Everypony else was either partying or taking a nap, hilariously in fact, on the tables and chairs. Twilight, Luna, and Chrysalis is somewhere among the crowd or learning about changelings. The party is still going strong into the night as Luna's moonlight shines through a skylight that may have been put recently.

Primus soon remembers something and goes to his bags that were right beside him. He removes his wing and folds it back onto him, making Celestia whimper a little at the lost of the warmth. He reaches in and pulls out a strange dagger that is curvy and black all over. What's more is that it has markings on it that is barely legible. He showed it to Celestia and she took it carefully as if it would come alive and bite or stab her.

"That's for protection because it is infused with some of my magic. It can poison the target to put them to sleep, so be careful where you cut it and who." Primus informed.

Celestia looks over the dagger to see any signs of the poison he mention but couldn't find any liquid or small hole where it could come from. Primus gives her a sheath that could the cover the dagger and not hurt anypony intentionally. She places the dagger inside the sheath and hides it under her left wing. Soon Twilight, Luna, Chrysalis, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity, and two other mares join them. One is orange pony that has a blonde mane and tail, with the mane tied in a pony tail (pun intended), three red apples as a cutie mark, and wearing her trademark western hat. The other is a cream pony with a pink mane and tail, a few butterflies as a cutie mark, and her wings fluttering her along the ground, of course she kept her head hidden slightly by her long mane.

"Howdy Primus." The orange one spoke up. "It's nice to see you again."

"Um, yes, welcome back Primus." The cream one said shyly and quietly, barely anypony could hear but Primus had heard her no problem.

Primus looks upon Applejack and Fluttershy then everypony else. "You know I got presents for all of you."

Everypony in the group became excited at the prospect of getting gifts. Primus reaches into his bag and pulls a long rope. "The first one is for Applejack." He hoofs it to her. "Made from strong silk, it's the strongest rope you will ever get." Applejack winds it and makes a lasso at one end then puts it on her back.

"Why thank ya kindly Primus." She said with a smile and a tip of her hat.

Primus reaches into his bag again and pulls out a square fabric. "Rarity this fabric is from long ago. I have no use for it." He hoofs it to her and she examines it with trained eyes. "It's made from the same fabric that my cloak is made from but not long lasting or magical like it is. Just thought that you should have it so you can make more." Rarity looks at him and gives a smile and a nod.

He reaches into the bag again and pulls out a piece of paper that had some type of recipe on it. "Pinke, I'm giving you a recipe for my blackberry fruit juice drink. Not only is it tasty, but it's extremely healthy and taste like wine. You'll never want to stop." He said with the last part with a chuckle. (This is actually a real drink. You can get in England, India, or their stores in America. They should be in the drink section. It's called Ribena Blackcurrant.) Pinkie took the recipe and looks it over. "I could do this." She smiles with excitement at selling a new drink for the Corner.

He reaches into the bag, but could not find the last few presents. He looks inside and finds the answer. He then looks over to the others with a nervous smile. "I'll be right back." They look at him in confusion while he reaches in with both hoofs and pulls. What they didn't expect was that he would pull his head into the tiny bag then his body until all that was left is his legs shaking like crazy upside down, almost mirroring his emotions and actions. A tiny bag that is the size of a foot long box and he could fit in, impossible, well not for Pinke. "I think I got it. No…wait…ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" His legs fell into the bag.

THUD

"I'm okay!" His voice yelled from inside the bag. Then a creaking sound is heard. "No don't fall!" The bag jumps into the air and shakes widely then settled down back onto the seat.

THUD

"Less okay." His voice now muffled than before. (If anybody can guess that reference than you automatically get a free virtual cookie.)

They soon hear a grunting sound and some stuff falling inside the bag as it shook to point it out for the deaf. A leg stuck out and grips the seat the bag is on and then another until Primus comes out with a large bag hanging from his mouth. He climbs out and spits the bag onto the ground. He falls back onto the couch next to Celestia, a little tired but not much. "Okay, that's was fun…not." He digs around in the bag until he comes out with an old book that was titled 'Healing Spells and Potions for Ponies.' He gives this one to Fluttershy. She takes the book and reads the title but then realizes something. "I can't do magic." She said in small voice.

Primus gives her a reassuring smile. "This can actually be done with any type of pony, whether they are Earth, Unicorns, Pegasus, or Alicorn. It doesn't matter because it's both simple spells and potions." Fluttershy opens the book and lands with shock. She realizes that she can do this; all she has to do is understand the concept for the spell portion, the potions are easy enough. Twilight reads by her and gains a shock look at the fact the other non-magical types of ponies can do this.

Primus then reaches in his bag again and pulls out another book, this one titled 'Blood Wards.' He gives this one to Twilight. She reads it over then opens it. To her shock it was scribbled with markings and notes. She looks at Primus for an answer. "The book was full of errors. The blood wards in there either are weak or don't work. I took the liberty to change them to make it safer and more powerful." Twilight nods at this. "But," He raises a hoof and looks at her seriously. "I want you to keep this in the restricted section and never let anypony who isn't skilled enough to at least do the first ward to even touch it." She turns to the first ward and sees that all it does is makes a light ball to see in the dark. She turns back to Primus. "I promise."

Primus gives a knowing smile and turns to Rainbow. "That Wonderbolt ticket I gave you." She nods fearfully. "I spoke with the manager of the team and since he is a good friend he gave me that ticket which can let you in any Wonderbolt party, show, or even a convention for free and it last forever." Rainbow gets a shocked look and her jaw drops, literally. "You still have to pay for concessions and other gifts." He informed. She drops to the ground in a faint.

He takes out a large rectangle box that is gift wrap with dark colors. "Luna," Luna steps forward and takes the box. She unwrap the box to find a telescope. Luna looks at Primus, confused. "This telescope isn't like the one in the observatory or in the castle. It…well…take a look for yourself." She looks at the telescope weirdly then goes to a nearby window. She brings up the telescope and looks through and then gasps loudly. "This is…all the stars…" She looks at him. Primus only grins, showing that he actually has sharp teeth instead of a flat style. "Yes Luna, they all are marked with every constellations in the world. This is real useful for anypony to find out what's going on at a specific star." She looks through it again and looks around quickly to take in the new style of stargazing.

"Well I think that's everypony." Primus lies back into the seat and just relaxes while everypony else either goes off partying or enjoying their new presents. He closes his eyes as he feels sleepy from the last few hours. He soon feels a pair of legs wrapping around his neck. He didn't need to open his eyes to know it is Celestia doing that. He only smiles and rest easy on the fact that everything is done and there is no trouble.

KNOCK

KNOCK

KNOCK

One of the partygoers answers the door only to receive a kick to the face. He lands into the crowd bringing down whoever he hit and knocking him out. The rest of the crowd looks to the door to see three red ponies that had blood smeared all over them. They ran their eyes all over the crowd and room while menacingly walking in, everypony around them backing away in fear. They soon land their eyes on Primus and Celestia and run their way over, displaying their teeth in an evil way. Primus opens his eyes and just when they are punching distance he does a roundhouse kick that sends them flying into the tables, knocking over everything on them into the air and landing on the assailants. Dazed and hurt they quickly got up only for one on the left to receive a kick, sending him into his friends and into the wall. They quickly untangle themselves and got to see Primus waiting for them. He turns his head to Celestia while keeping an eye on them. "Celestia get it!" He dodges punches and kicks while waiting for her. Celestia digs around in his bag until she grabs onto to something, pulls it out and tosses it to Primus. It files through the air as it spun wildly only to be caught and stop completely. Primus pulls on the handle of it making a slicing sound as he did. He now holds a white sword that had gold on the inside and white coverings for the handle and a very white and bright blade that seems to make its own light. The three red ponies' only hisses like a snake and lunge at him only to receive another kick this time through the wall and into the street.

Primus goes to the hole in the wall and slices his right hoof, drawing blood. He throws the sword on the ground and swipes his bloodied hoof on his other foreleg, making a red light in the shape of a circle show. He then holds out his leg and shadows form over it, globing and changing until it forms three menacing claws with a shrink that were transparent and had some unknown substance flowing through it. He starts running on two legs like a bipedal and drags his claw into the ground, tearing it up and leaving marks. The three ponies hiss like crazy and lunge at him one by one. He jumps and brings his claw up and swipes one into the air then spins in the air and swipes into the other two sending them into a leftover stand that was packed up, making it smash on impact. The one in the air comes back down only to feel himself stake right through his heart, the three claws scrunch up together to make one claw. He spikes the ground with the pony still on it and places a leg on him and pulls the claw out making blood spurt out from the hole in the side.

He looks over to the other two to see them getting out of the rubble and trying to run. Primus lets loose his wings and flaps after them. He kicks an unhooked wagon, while in the air, sending it after them. It hits one sending him to the ground with the wagon in pieces around him. While passing by the wreckage he grabs a wheel that was intact and throws it, making it spin like it was still attached, but with a killer motion. The other runaway looks behind only to see a spinning wheel dig into his neck, actually slicing it and sending his body parts sliding into the ground, blood spurting out wherever it could to escapes the pressure left behind. Primus lands and the shadow claw dissipate into thin air upon hitting the ground.

He looks at the body for a few, making sure it was dead, before going to the one hit by the wagon. The pony is groaning and struggling while getting up only to be lifted by the neck like a foal. Primus only looks at it for a few while it hisses and struggle. "Leftovers?" He asks in a knowing voice. The pony only hisses in response. Primus just shrugs. "Alright have it your way." He starts dragging it behind him and head back to SugerCube Corner.

When he gets back he sees everypony outside looking at the damage, even a pony at the stand crying at the sight of seeing his stand destroyed. Mothers and fathers were keeping their children's eyes covered at the sight of the dead pony in the square. He drags the struggling pony and throws it in front of him. It quickly got up only to be brought back down with a leg to the neck. Primus searches the crowd until he sets eyes on his friends. "Pinke," She snaps at attention, her mane bouncing at the quick change. "Need some rope now." She quickly zooms off to search for rope. The others come over to see what he caught who is still struggling despite the obvious loss.

"What is it?" Twilight asks. "It isn't any creature or pony I've never read about."

Primus and Celestia share a look that says 'time to tell.' Celestia looks to her student with a forlorn expression. "Twilight this is a Shawdowling." Twilight only looks at her confused. "It's a dangerous creature that was made long ago, maybe in Primus's time. It can take control of anything that has the capacity to kill or at least damage." She shakes her head and looks down at the next piece of information. "Unfortunately because it is a virus it makes the victim mad and crazy. They are beyond hope of curing because those in Primus's time tried to find a cure but no such hope has ever been found."

Twilight looks at Primus and he confirms it by nodding. She then looks at the pony that is still struggling and hissing. Primus only looks down at it for a second before bring his leg up quickly and bringing it down just as quick and snaps the neck making a loud snapping sound. The movement stops for everypony at the sight of the killing. "There was nothing I could do." Primus speaks quietly. "It would only be fair to make sure the victim has the least amount of suffering as possible because it kills you steadily inside, slowly and painfully."

He walks inside and grabs the sword he threw to the ground and places it back into his sheath. The others follow him in while the townsponies goes back to their respective home, seeing as the party is over and there is no point in staying near a dead body. Pinke comes back with some rope but then sees everypony she knows personally inside and Primus at his seat with his head in his hooves. Her mane and tail deflates as she drops the rope and gains a sad atmosphere around as everypony else feels it. She walks ever so slowly to the group in front of Primus. "I hate killing these victims but it's the only way." He pause for a few and looks to them. "Twilight I assume that you read about the Black Death that spread among the land long ago." She only nods. "Well about one sixteenths of the infected were infected with the Shawdowling. I and the current ruler kept it off the historic books to prevent panic." He rubs one of his legs on his neck to relieve tension. "Now I killed all of them and the guards and cleanup crews threw them into the fire thinking they were infected with the Black Death. I kept the killing blow to them same as the Black Death so as to not arouse suspicion. I didn't expect the virus to hit again, I can promise you that. Now you know why I have to do this?" He looks at the group and sees that everypony were in a state of shock.

Twilight is the first to speak up. "Didn't the ones in your time made any breakthroughs?"

Primus only shakes his head. "If you call the virus evading us and killing the host and the virus dying itself a breakthrough then be my guest." He leans back into the couch and looks out the window to see the whole town of Ponyville going to sleep based on the fact that the lights were turning off. He feels a shift in the couch and a pair of hooves wrap around his waist. He turns around and sees Celestia looking at him worried. "Don't beat yourself up at this. You know that there is nothing you can do to help besides sending them on their way." She leans her head on his chest to keep him calm down for time being.

"Isn't there a spell that can help with their suffering and take out the virus?" This time Luna spoke up.

Primus shakes his head again. "We tried that. It only made it feel like tiny pieces of metal were coming out straight to point of magic or item. The suffering spells couldn't do anything because the virus takes over the nervous system making them feel pain all over, including the head which is the biggest amount. This is what turns them into mindless monsters." He leans his head on top of Celestia's.

"Then what do you suppose we do?" Applejack said.

Primus looks at them with a steel gaze and spoke in a low and commanding voice. "Kill them. It's the only way to deal with this." The whole group flinches at the thought of killing another of their species like that. "I know it's hard but…you have to…for your safety and others."

"How do we know that they have the Shawdowling in them?" Rainbow asks.

Primus looks up in thought. "They usually don't respond verbally and only by hisses and grunts. They would usually have blood spilling from wherever it could from their body and for those that had it longer will have blood smeared all over them."

"Wait it looked like the ones you killed were searching for you, but the question is why." Rarity said with a confusing glance.

Primus chuckles at that. "That's simple, I was facing them a long time ago on my journeys and they were…elites so to speak so they had the brain power to hunt me down but still have enough for their dangerous appetite." He brings a hoof to his chin in thought. "Now that I think about it, all the infected work like there is a hive mind somewhere. That attack was way too coordinated and so were the ones in the past."

"Then there must be a queen or something." Twilight exclaims.

Primus thinks for a few before looking at Chrysalis. "Chrysalis you know a thing or two about insects. What do you think?"

Chrysalis hums in thought, though it sounded like an insect buzzing. "Well it could possible. A virus would be erratic and living on its own. This one was kind of helping each other and targeting specific threats. So there might a queen or king somewhere controlling the whole thing. After all how else they were able to punch that stallion and not kill him." She informed.

Primus nods at this. "Yeah that could be true. The only problem is finding it in one place in the choice of the whole world."

Chrysalis nods at this. "Yes and if it is long living as you say it is then it must be really strong with the message keeping and itself."

Celestia brings her head up from Primus's chest and looks at everypony. "Well there is nothing we can do now. Everypony will go home and get some rest. I'll call some guards to clean up the mess." Everypony except Luna and Chrysalis left; of course Pinke having her mane and tail inflated back to normal after hearing everything and heading upstairs to her room since she lives here. "Now Chrysalis," She looks at her worriedly. "Primus's house is under a lock and key with a blood ward and he can't do it at this time. So I thought of bringing you to the castle for the time being until he can get it ready." She stood up and gives the cloak back to him. "Let us be off." Luna walks away with her while leaving Chrysalis and Primus lagging behind. Primus packs his sword into the bag and throws it onto his back.

Primus goes into deep thought because now he has to deal with Shawdowlings and Changelings assassins. At least he doesn't have to deal with the targets that are now dead. Chrysalis looks at him worry. "Are you okay?" They pass the two dead bodies in the square which is now making a blood pool under them and soaking the ground.

Primus looks at her with no expression. "Do I look like I'm okay?" Chrysalis looks at him with a concern feeling. When he gets like this only a few hours or a night's sleep will help. "I just realize that the Shawdowlings followed me here and I still have to deal with the changelings still after you. So no I'm not alright." He stalks away from and follows more closely to the princesses but stay behind enough. Chrysalis sighs because he is right. Once far enough away the princesses build up magic in their horns and teleport to the castle making a bright shining light and large ball of energy that enclose them and disappeared just as it appeared.

In the Castle personal quarters

A bright ball of light came into existence in a large room. The bright ball shot sparks of magical energy and then disappeared and left behind four beings. One of them went to the door leading to the rest of the castle. "I will see you in the morning. Good night." Luna said to them and she left.

Chrysalis looked around and sees that the room is painted with bright colors and the bed a pure white. A window door leading to a large balcony that has a view all the way to Ponyville. Carpet interlaced with suns in different styles and colors marked that this is Celestia's room.

Celestia pulls a hanging rope besides her bed and turns to them. At that time a servant pony comes through the door and bows. "Would any of you like something to eat for the night?" Celestia asks.

Primus walks over to the bed. "Just some beard and water." He sits down and puts his head in his hoofs.

Chrysalis follows him. "Water for me please." Sitting down thereafter and comforting him.

Celestia just looks at them in worry then turns to the servant. "Water for me too." The servant only bows and heads out the door, closing it behind her. Celestia walks to them until she is right in front of them and hunches down. "Are you okay Primus?"

Primus only looks at her and then lies down onto the bed and looks at the ceiling, seeing an intricate pattern from the pictures of suns and cosmos. "I don't know now. The last thing I wanted to do is fight and kill again. I mean, I just finish killing every single enemy against me and now I got to deal with Shawdowlings. Come on!" He shakes himself like a foal with a temper on the bed messing up the sheets.

He soon feels something on his chest and brings his head up to see Chrysalis placing her hoof on him. "Listen I know now isn't the best time but I need to feed again." She said with regret.

Primus brings himself up in a sitting position and looks at her. "Alright, come here." He said with a caring voice. Chrysalis only nods and pounces at him bringing him down on the bed and starts kissing him. Celestia only sighs and goes to the balcony door and heads outside, completely aware of the fact that her lover is kissing somepony else on her bed. She thinks on the fact that she now has to share Primus because his caring nature got him far and actually got her. She chuckles at the memory she has when she first met him. She was just a foal right by her parents in the throne room…

2900 years ago

…when he came in. Her parents in their throne with her and Luna right by them, playing like all foals do. Her father was a purple alicorn who had a dark black mane and tail cascading around him, with some, what looked like galaxies, bunched up together as a cutie mark, and the royal family jewels he was wearing. Her mother is a white alicorn with, believe it or not, white mane and tail that flows even though there is no wind, and unlike her husband only the earth as a cutie mark, and her royal jewels. The guards escorted a black cloak pony who real tall for an alicorn. Her parents look the figure with question glances to him and each other. She and Luna look at the mystery guest, with wonder.

Her father is the first to speak up. "I hear from the guards that you want to have a job with the royal family?" His voice is deep and filled with authority.

The cloak figure only nods, although they could only see the hood move in what they assumed to be a nod. "That is correct your majesty." The hood turns to the foals playing nearby which have turn to a game of tag, that being chasing each other around the room.

The queen looks at her husband for a moment before asking this. "What do you have to offer us and the family?" Her mother had a calm air around her with the voice of an angel.

The cloak figure doesn't responds when it brings a black leg and pulls his hood down. They now see a black alicorn, because they can see the bugle of the wings underneath his cloak and a black horn, with a white mane and possibly his tail too. "I am long living, longer even more than you and excellent swordsmanship of the highest caliber with large flying capabilities and the largest amount of spells and magic to back it up. So basically everything you search for in a guard." He finishes in one breath.

Her parents look bewildered at him for a moment, not believing this for a moment. Young Celestia and Luna run past him, but Celestia hit his leg face first making her land on her back from the impact. The black alicorn looks down at Celestia who is slightly cringing in fear of him. The alicorn only smiles and pushes her up with his head. "Hello there little one, my name is Primus."

Celestia loses her fear when she realizes that he is a nice pony. "Hello Primus, my name is Celestia." Her sister Luna comes over when she realized that Celestia wasn't following. "This is my younger sister Luna." Luna only waves sacredly because of his tall stature. Celestia looks to her younger sister who is downright scared of him. "There is no need to be afraid of him. He is a nice pony." Luna perks up at this and waves normally.

Primus only smiles at the two younglings, knowing he'll be having a long friendship with them.

Now

She smiles warmly at that memory. That was the day when he first came into her life. He was there for her and her sister for everything, their foalhood, their parents' death, their coronation, and Nightmare moon's banishment. He's been there for everything they've been through. Now it will probably end with him living his life with her and now Chrysalis, speaking of which they should be done. She turns back into the room and sees Chrysalis drinking some water that the servant left and Primus eating like an animal. She takes her glass of water from the tray and drinks hers steadily.

After a while of one eating and three drinking they decided to turn in for the night, while a servant takes the tray with empty glasses. Celestia climbs into bed and pulls the covers up around while Chrysalis does the same on the other side, staying away from a distance leaving a space between them. Primus sets down his bag on the table and climbs on in the space between them. Celestia only replies by wrapping the sheets around him and snuggles into his side with Chrysalis doing the same on the other end. Primus wraps his legs around them and brings them close. Together they sleep into the night as the Luna's moon shines brightly over the whole land.

Somewhere

A dark carven lays deep underground, making sounds of dripping water and squelching from some type of mass of flesh on whatever it could cover. Tendrils of the mass reach into one point of the large cavern, covering a cocoon of something. The mass of flesh suddenly moves and a rip is made on the cocoon. The sound of ripping flesh fills the flesh filled cavern as a mass drops out. It lands with a squelching thud on the floor. An area which is assumed to be its head suddenly opens its eyes shining bright with blood red and lighting the area. It looks down at it arms and, with it shining eyes, sees white ivory claws coming out of its sides like wings on a bird. Its hoof is blood ridden like its claws because of the fleshy cocoon. It slowly stands up and walks around, getting used to it after thousands of years of holding and sleeping.

A chilling laugh fills the cavern as the figure looks for the source. "Welcome to a new age." The figure looks to its left and sees a red pony with brown mane and tail and a skull and crossbones as a cutie mark. He comes into the red light from the eyes and laughs deeply. "I assume you want revenge against him." The pony asks him. The figure only nods. The pony only laughs deeply evil again and points at him. "Then you must do what I say and you might get your chance." The figure growls like a feral animal and lunges at him, its leg pulled back for a strike for its new claws. The pony only stands there when the figure gets in range rings of purple diamonds link together like a chain form around him, blocking the figure and cutting into him. The figure gets launched back to where he was and lays on the ground whimpering, it knows when it's outmatch.

The pony with rings still around him walks ever so slowly to the figure. It then stares at it in an evil happy way. "You will do what I say or you will go back onto there and live for another thousands years." The pony threatened, the rings mirroring his emotions with speed and movement. The pony monster only lies down and covers its head with its legs like a dog cowering, even making a whimpering sound to boot.

The pony only laughs at its successes of gaining the thousand year old monster as his pet. "Now let's go and deal with some pests." The pony monster only followed like a good little dog to its master's orders and follows with its head down and never looking up at the pony with Deadpony powers. It couldn't believe that it came out to get revenge only to fall under the control of another with Deadpony powers and follow him like a servant to a master. Together they walk out of the flesh filled cavern and out to the open world where there will be trouble.

If you are keeping track of how many words I'm doing then this one is because of the fact that I'm out of ideas for this chapter and I want to keep the rest for the others. Now read and review, flames accepted.