Zemrite stood in front of the train tracks, awaiting the train to come and pick him up so that he and the others could be on their way to the Crystal Empire. The train itself was going to Canterlot first, then to go to ponyville. He leaned against one of the beams of the station, wondering what is was exactly that he needed to be so ready for. This was a fault of his memory vanishing from his past life. Should it have stayed intact, he’d of known exactly what he was going to face. The sound of the train grew louder as it neared, eventually coming to a stop

“Aaallll Aboarrrd!”

Shouted the pony in charge of getting passengers on. Zemrite walked over to the stallion and handed him his ticket. He looked down at the ticket, making sure it’s authentication was real. He smiles and nods

“You are clear sir. Hop on.”

“Thanks bud.”

He said before making his way into one of the cars of the train, finding himself a good seat and making himself comfortable. A few minutes later the train starts its way off to Ponyville. Zemrite was still wondering about why he was needed. Twilight is a smart mare She has her friends as well. So why exactly would he need to go along as well? He knows that Celestia spoke of something or...rather someone who was return, but that was all he had to go on.

Whatever the case may be...I will do my best to make sure she is kept safe. Along with the others.

He thought to himself, closing his eyes and lowering his head, dozing off into a little nap before the train car got too loud with passengers at the next stop. Once there, he hears the brakes of the train screech, this waking him up from his nap. He looks out the window to see his group of friends conversing with each other. Though, when Twilight looks his way to the car, her eyes widen and she turns to her friends, they all immediately show their tickets and then pile into the car that Zemrite was in. Twilight leaps up and pounces on him, wrapping her arms around him tightly and nuzzling into his chest. This nearly knocked the wind out of him, even though he was prepared for something like this.

“I am so glad you are all better!”

She exclaimed as she squeezes him as tight as she could, nuzzling into him more with her eyes closed and a smile on her face. The others smiling as well and nodding in agreement.

“Yeah, we were wondering’ if ya’ll’d be alright to come with us on this trip. But it looks like you are quite the tough stallion after all.”

“Applejack said with a nod of approval.

“Of course he is, he took on Chrysalis all by himself! That takes guts AND coolness. He is like...twenty percent cooler for that!”

Exclaimed Dash, lightly punching him in the arm. The others giggle lightly and take their seats, Twilight remained next to him, though. As the train started going after all its passengers boarded, she looked over at Zemrite with a nervous look on her face. He indeed noticed it right away.

“I know you are worried twi. But don’t worry. I know you can do this. You are a very smart mare and very capable.Should things come to me helping you though, I will be there for you. Tia made that very clear.”

“I know that, Zemrite. And thank you very much for coming with me. But it’s just...helping to protect an entire empire. It seems like such an overwhelming task. I am going to admit...I am a little scared.”

Zemrite slowly brings his arms around the lavender unicorn and holds her closely, running his hands up and down her back comfortingly, Twilight clinging to him.

“I won’t let any harm come to you or the others, Twi. I promise.”

Once they got to the Crystal Empire however, it certainly wasn’t what they were expecting. There was snow. Lots of snow and a blizzard blowing fiercely when they stepped out of the train car. Zemrite walked out behind them all, his cloak flowing behind him front the heavy wind.

“Uuuh...I was thinking the Crystal Empire would be more...crystal-y. I see nothing but snow.”

He said as he kept himself alert. Something about this place made him feel uneasy. A feeling of something sinister and dark run up his spine as they walked.

“Twilight!”

A voice called out from the snow. Zemrite nearly drew his bow before seeing who ti was that approached them. It was Shining Armor, Twilight’s brother. She smiled and ran to him, hugging him tightly. He then looks over to Zemrite and arches a brow.

“Ah, hello again, Zemrite. It’s good to see you again. I never got to thank you personally for helping my wife and I. Thank you very much.”

“You are welcome Shining.”

He nods and turns to lead the way.

“We better get going, there are things out here we don’t want to get caught up in.”

The walks through the blizzard, making their way to the empire. Twilight and the others seemed to be freezing. The hadn’t planned on there being snow here. Even Rarity with her scarf was shaking.

“Something keeps trying to break into the empire, we believe it’s an old unicorn king who used to rule!”

Suddenly, there was a loud low howl coming from the snowy wind. This especially put Zemrite on edge.

“Th-That’s one of the things, isn’t it?!”

“We need to get to the Crystal Empire, NOW!”

Shouted Shining. Right on cue, a large smoky shadowy creature appeared behind them. They immediately began to run as fast as they could.As they got closer, there was a bright light visible. Both Shining and Zemrite slid to a stop and turned to face the beast. Shining shot a beam of magic at the creature but it dodged. Zemrite only had seconds to react as the creature swallowed them whole into the smoke.

Twilight and the others made it in on the other side. She looked around for her brother and Zemrite. Only to see them push through the barrier, Zemrite holding Shining up with an arm around his shoulder. Twilight runs over to them both with worry on her face.

“Oh no..your horn!”

She said as she looked at her brother’s horn which was covered in black crystal., then looked at Zemrite.

“Thank you for making sure he got here…”

“It alright Twi. Nothing a little shadowmancer skill couldn’t take care of. A simple shadow image was enough to distract him.”

She nods with a smile, wanting to hug him, but now wasn’t the time for that. Once they finally make it through the town and to the castle, they are taken to the throne room where Cadance was sitting on her throne. Zemrite could see that the poor mare was running ragged. She looked extremely exhausted. His thoughts were correct. No doubt the barrier they went through is of her conjuring.

“Cadence!”

Twilight said happily as she ran up and hugged her tightly, then they did their little dance. However, Cadence nearly collapsed afterwards

“One day we need to get together when the fate of Equestria isn’t hanging in the balance…”

She looks to her friends and notices Zemrite had came along as well. She walks over to him tiredly and smiles up at him. Wrapping him in a hug.

“Good to see you again, Zemrite. Thank you again for what you did.”

“You are welcome, Cadence. Have you been holding up that barrier all on your own…?”

“Yes...but I am fine, don’t you worry...”

She nearly collapses against Zemrite, but he holds her up carefully. Shining comes over to take care of his wife, nodding to Zemrite.

“She is not fine. She hasn’t slept, barely eats…”

As Shining gets everyone up to speed, Zemrite walks over to one of the windows and peers out. Something was right here. This was one of those times when that burning feeling of deja vu hits him, but can never really remember why.

“I feel as if I should know what happens here...but I cannot remember it for the life of me…”

He whispered to himself, rubbing his chin in deep thought. He suddenly gets an idea, but he’d have to sneak out unnoticed by the others. He uses a walking skill called ‘nanba’.No, this skill wasn’t exclusive to any class. If you had the patience and time and a high enough dexterity and cunning rate, nanba could be acquired. Once he was out of the castle, he took on his wolf form and darted back to where they had come in from, leaving the safety of the barrier and back out into the blizzard. He shifts back to his elven form again just in time to see Sombra approaching him once more.

“Brave, but foolish of you to return here.”

“Zemrite chuckles lightly.

“You seem pretty confident in yourself, Sombra. Things are going to go your way when those ponies have someone who can fight fire with fire.”

He said before holding his hand up and forming it into a fist, a fiery black aura rising from it. Sombra arched a brow in his smoky form. This had him very curious.

“You wield that shadows and darkness as if you are their friend, but I can see that your heart is not as black as night. How are you able to maintain the dark power and not be affected by it?”

“I shall not tell you for the security of my own mind and heart. I don’t know why, but I feel that i should tell you nothing of what keeps me the way I am.”

Sombra growls lowly.

“Hmph...clever. No matter. I will just dispose of you when this barrier falls.”

“Why not try and dispose of me now hmm? Are you afraid of coming into the barrier and fighting me when there is no darkness to be used?”

Sombra growls again in anger. Zemrite knew he had hit a nerve. He turns and head back into the barrier, but turns and looks at Sombra again.

“You will fail, Sombra. You may put up a fight, but you will fail.”

He said before vanishing fully into the barrier.

Author's Note

Decided to save the best part for the next chapter. :P

May the darkness grant you peace.