Zemrite woke to the sound of rain hitting the window of the room he was in. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked over to the window to indeed the a grey sky and rain falling heavily. He sits up carefully from the bed he was lying in and looks around, his body was sore and his vision a bit blurry until it cleared up after a moment. He then looked around the room to see where it was he was at. The last thing he remember is the battle he had with Chrysalis. And then passing out from the poison that had drained him of his energy and hurt him internally. She he was sore now, but at least he was still alive.

“Geez...that poison really did a number on me. If I hadn’t had that antidote. Who knows what condition i’d be in now…”

Zemrite noticed suddenly, that he had no clothing on except his boxer shorts. He looked down at his markings that covered his entire body, running his hands along the pitch black hardened skin..

“I be whoever got my clothes off had one hell of a shock when they saw this.”

He laughed to himself lightly as he slowly stands up and walks over to the window. The rain was really coming down hard, and lightning and thunder happened every few seconds. He blinks a few times at the seriousness of the storm.

“Hmmm...they must really be lacking rain if they need it this badly…”

He looks around the room afterwards. From the view he saw and the rather comfy bed surrounded with medical devices, he assumed he was in the castle medical wing. He looks around his his clothing first off, which appear to not be in sight. Though he did notice the rather large scar on his left shoulder from where Chrysalis’ blade had shoved into. Just then the door opened with a nurse holding a tray with a few items on it. When she saw that her patient was up and moving around however, it startled her and caused her to drop the tray.

“Ah...you are awake!”

He turns to the mare and nods with a light smile walking over and starts helping her pick up the items.

“Oh you don’t have to..”

“It’s fun. I take it you have been the one who has been tending to me while I have been out?”

She nodded, leaning down to gather what he didn’t.

“My name is Healing Vision, it is a pleasure to finally meet you when you are awake Mr. Zemrite. Luckily when they brought you in, all we had to do was patch up the wound. They said you were poisoned, but we couldn’t find any trace of any kind in your body.”

He looked the mare up and down. She was a rather beautiful one indeed. Sky blue fur with a dark blue mane, beautiful golden eyes and an hourglass figure that would make any stallion’s jaw drop, and the sweetest softest voice, almost as soft as Fluttershy’s.

Healing Vision indeed...I am sure a lot of stallions and a few mares feel better after laying their eyes on you.”

She blushed heavily at his comment, a giggle coming from her.

“And yes. U was poisoned, but I took an antidote before it could have caused more serious complications. How long was I out?”

“You were out for two days. We hadn’t expected you to be up and around yet. Though it is a wonderful thing to see you moving around. Are you in any pain at all?”

“Well, I am a little bit sore still from the hits I took, but other than that I feel fine.”

She nods and lightly guides him by the arm to have him sit on the bed. Her touch was gentle and loving. It felt nice to him.

“Well, I still need to check your vitals.All part of the job after all.”

Zemrite nodded and sat down on the bed. She began checking his heart rate with her stethoscope. Smiling as he sounded healthy, she removes them medical tool from her ears and looks him over, writing down a few things on her clipboard.

“Sounds good. Though I have to say what concerns me the most is these markings all over your body. They look like they are completely scarred over. But they are leathery and black. What in the name of Celestia happened to you?”

Zemrite rubbed his chin a bit in thought. Think back to his past. Wait, HIS past or his human past?

“Well, lets just say that in order to gain my shadowmancing abilities, I was part of a ritual when It was but a child. And it involved me getting carved up by an obsidian dagger possessed by a shadow demon. Nothing too dangerous.”

He said with a laugh at the last part. Though she did not seem to find it very amusing.

“And they did this to you when you were a colt?! That is just...awful!”

She said with a sad look in her eyes, she looked like she was on the verge of tears.

“H-hey...it’s a;right. I didn’t feel any pain. Honestly I really didn’t.”

It would have been rather hard to explain why he didn’t but she only saw it as him being brave and wanted to hug him tightly, but she was on the job after all..

“Well, your vitals are in good shape Mr. Zemrite. I know the princesses will be thrilled to hear you have made a full recovery..”

And right on cue, Both Celestia AND Luna lean in from the doorway with curious eyes, hoping to find the man awake. They eyes light up with the utmost joy. He was awake! Thank Faust he was alright! They both run in and both wrap their arms around him and nuzzle into his body, the man falling back onto the bed and is once again squished by large princess breasts.

“Oh Zemrite, you are alright! We were so very worried about you when you fell unconscious!”

Celestia said as she smothered him with affection along with her sister.

“”Yes, Tia told me what had happened! That was awfully reckless of you! But..very brave.”

There was no response from him, they did not understand why until the nurse pointed this issue out.

“Um...begging your pardon princesses, but you are...smothering him…”

She said with a light blush. They both look down to see that they were indeed cutting off his air supply with their rather ample breasts. They both blush hard and quickly scramble off him. He lays there with a goofy grin on his face and his eyes closed.

If I was to die from that...I would have died happily….

He thought to himself before taking in a gasp of air. Opening his eyes and looks between the two royal sisters. They saw the look on his face and blushed even more. He appeared to like their generous bust size from what they saw. Celestia clears her throat softly.

“Please...forgive me and my sister, Zemrite. We...were very worried about you when you collapsed. We are just happy to see you are back in good health.”

“Indeed, poor Tia here has been crying over you ever since.”

Luna said with a big grin, poking fun at her sister.

“I have not! Lies and slander!”

Celestia said in a defensive tone. Folding her arms and pouting cutely at her sister, who was having a giggle fit. Soon enough the nurse came back with good new. A smile on her face.

“Well, since you are feeling much better. You can leave the hospital wing. I am sure that makes you very happy to hear that.”

“Awww, that’s too bad. I won’t have you come and visit me and tend to me anymore.”

He said with a wink. The mare giggles lightly and hides her blushing muzzle behind the clipboard.

“Thank you for taking care of me, Healing Vision. I am pretty lucky to have had you as my nurse.”

“Oh...it was no trouble at all Mr Zemrite..I just wish I had more time to know more about you.”

He chuckled lightly, turning to ehr.

“Oh, I am sure this won’t be my only visit here...as bad as that sounds.”

They all laugh at that. Though the royal sisters can’t seem to keep their eyes off his nearly nude form, admiring those markings all over his body, their wings slowly rising up. He looks to Healing Vision again clears his throat.

“Um….where is my clothing and my armor? I’d like to get back into it if you don’t mind.”

“Ah, I have that right out here for you.”

She walks out of the room and comes back in with his things on a cart. He walks up to the and wastes no time in getting himself fully clothed.the leather stretching as it forms it’s tight fit around it’s owner as he moves about, making sure that every strap was fit just right. He then slides on his cloak and belt, making sure his black book and bag of holding was still there. As well. And last but not least, he slid on his gauntlets, the metallic claws lipping back onto his fingers where they belonged. He squeezed his hand into fists, the sound of leather stretching again and cold metal pieces running against each other.

“Aaah...feels good to be back in these.”

He said before looking over to the pair of sisters.

“Thank you for keeping me here while I recovered, ladies. It was very sweet of you, even though you know you didn’t have to.”

“Oh Zemrite, you need to stop being so serious all the time! Let loose for once!.”

“Indeed, Lulu makes a good point, you do need to loosen up a bit.”

Zemrite grins and crosses his arms. Staring directly at them both.

“Says the two most serious ponies in all of Equestria.”

They both cross their arms at him with smirks. This makes him arch a brow and tilt his head. Before he knows it, he is grabbed by them both and they disappear into teleportation, leaving behind a confused Healing Vision in the process.

--Celestia’s Bed Chambers--

All three of them reappear within Celestia’s bedroom on her bed.. They both smile down at the man and nuzzle into him lovingly, wrapping their arms around him and lacing their legs with his. Obviously, they could not wait any longer to snuggle up with him and show him just how much they had missed their garou friend.

“In all seriousness though, Zemrite. We are glad you are back. We are going to need your help once more tomorrow. More specifically, Twilight will need you.”

Zemrite blinks and nods, sitting up and looking down at them both.

“What do you need me to do? You know I am more than happy to help how I can.”

Celestia sighs and sits up next to him, as did Luna.

“We have been informed that the Crystal Empire has returned. For a thousand years, it was sealed away, only to have just returned yesterday. Twilight Sparkle has been given a test. I have every faith in her abilities that she will succeed in this. But, I ask this of you. Please accompany her and her friends to them empire. A cruel being may have been unsealed along with the empire. And should things go wrong. I want you there. To fight shadow with shadow.”

Luna nodded.

“Long ago, Tia and I overthrew him when he ruled over the kingdom.Who is to say he hasn’t returned as well. And if anyone can vanquish the Shadow King, it is you, Zemrite.”

He looks down at his hands for a moment, then back to them, rather unsure of himself with this task.

“Why does this all seem so familiar to me? Could this be part of my former life’s memory that is melting away? And while I have fought off a demon dread wolf...and held my own against the queen of the changelings. I am not sure about this one…”

He saw Luna reach over and gently cup his jaw in her hands, locking eyes with him.

“Listen to me, Zemrite. My sister and I wouldn’t have asked you to do this if we didn’t think you could do this. Besides, you are a gifted individual. In all the times we have seen you in action, there isn’t one of them you haven’t come out on top of because of your cunning and improvisations.”

Celestia nods with a reassuring smile, wrapping her arms around him and nuzzling into him gently.

“Indeed. You are a shadow that is made to defend against evil. You know what shadows do and how they attack and when they do so.. Please, by my precious student’s shadow. Make sure she is kept safe from harm. I know you can do this. We know you can do this.”

These two really had that much confidence in him? He knew he was a skilled fighter, but he never would have thought they saw him in such high respects.

“Alright...I will do my best to help her. But only when needed. After all, she is a very dear friend of mine as well. And I want to see her succeed. You can count on me.”

Author's Note

Here you go everyone, next chapter will be one of the toughest fights our hero will ever face!

May the darkness grant you peace.