Zhou walked down the dirt road that leads into town. E had just washed up from training and was making his way to the town hall, in which the sun summer festival as to take place this year. Yes, he had decided to go.

Hey...what could go wrong? I am not even sure if the princess knows I have been living in this world for as long as i have. And who knows, maybe I will bump into some of the ponies there from town.

Once he was in town and was coming up to the town hall, however. He stopped in mid-walk. Something wasn’t right. It was as if the ground was telling him that a very dark and negative energy was within that building. Sure enough, there was a sinister looking blue mist looking cloud that flew out of town hall. It stopped immediately once it seemed to notice Zhou. The mist started to drift closer to him. As it did this, he reached back and quickly drew his hook swords. He wasn’t sure if it would be of any use but, at least it would help him maneuver around should he need to be quick. These hook swords were the same design he had when he came here. But just recently he made a new set out of a meteorite that had crashed nearby a year ago. He needed large ones to work with his more grown-up self and the black metal blended in nicely with his choice of attire. The mist was mere feet away from him when it stopped. It quickly flew away from him.

“That...was weird…”

He said to himself. He hears hoofsteps going on behind him. He looks back to see that it is Twilight making a mad dash to the Golden Oak, the local library, with Applejack and a few other ponies in tow. His curiosity gets the best of him and he follows behind, hanging back however so that he isn’t spotted by the others. He even pulls his hood over his head and lifts his face mask up. He couldn’t help but chuckle to himself in his mind.

It’s been quite since I have snuck around. Let’s see if I still possess some of the Dai Li’s skills.

He lowers into a crouch on the ground as rock gloves form around his hands and feet. He had seen this done by the elite branch of the stealthy earthbenders and had watched them for the three years he was without family. Zhou had always taken an interest with their stealth-like skill and precise attacks. This is his first live test run however. He slides along the ground silently from building to building, following them and then sliding under an open window to listen to their conversation.

“Hmmm...the elements of harmony?”

He asked himself as he soon caught sight of the mist hovering above him, then flies off again. This time, however he gives chase. He runs into the wood after the mist. Little did he know that he was taking a different path than Applejack and the others. Though eventually, he did come across a broken bridge. That wasn’t going to be a problem for him, though He backs up a good few feet for a running start, and right at the edge of the ledge a rock propels him forward, during which he leaps across the valley and onto the other side barely making it. But he couldn’t stop now. He had to move on and see exactly what was going on.

--Thirty minutes later--

The six ponies were able to get the bridge up after Rainbow Dash’s loyalty was tested. As they crossed the bridge, however Applejack noticed a strange rock formation that did not look like it was natural. In fact, it looked like it was forced out of the ground to serve a specific purpose. Applejack stops Twilight half way across the bridge while the others go on ahead.

“Twilight...something seems very off about that rock formation. It doesn’t look natural...and Ah only know one pony who could do that…”

Twilight knows as well, her eyes widening.

“You don’t think he’d…”

They both start running ahead of the group to make their way inside, leading the herd. The other run behind them a bit confused as to why they were in such a hurry all the sudden.

--Thirty Minutes Earlier--

Zhou walks into the castle, making his way to the uppermost room after following the blue mist inside. Once in the room, he stops, looking at the mist that was floating in front of some kind of artifact display. He squeezes the hilt of his swords as he approaches.

“What matter of being are you, mortal?”

Asked the mist. Taking a solid form of a tall alicorn with black fur and dark blue armor. She has sharp teeth and slitted eyes.her armor was very revealing in all the right places but still served its purpose.

“I am just a humble human is all. You, on the other hand, must be Nightmare Moon. I have heard quite a bit of your legend.”

The dark alicorn arches a brow and slowly starts to approach the shorter male, though she stops when she sees him take his usual stance with his blades.

“I am afraid you and I are not of the same alignment. Do not let my appearance fool you.”

She laughs and draws her own sword, a shimmering black and dark blue double edge blade that glowed in the moonlight.

“And what can you do to me then? You don’t even have any magic!”

“Tch, I don’t need magic to fight you. And even if I do lose to you. I know I will have Applejack on her way here to literally kick your teeth in.”

“You dare speak to me like that?! Pathetic welp!”

She was baited by his words. Believing that no being under her has the right to speak to her in such a manner. Zhou slid across the stone floor as if he was levitating, he didn’t have his stone gloves on anymore, but he did indeed keep the stone boots around his ankles intact. With the swing of their blades and the clash of their metal, the fight began and was under way.

CLINK! CLANK! SHING!

Those are the sounds that echoed throughout the castle as Zhou and Nightmare moon went blade to blade. Through a series of acrobatic flips, jumps, and flips, Zhou was moving around Nightmare and trying to pry off pieces of her armor to make her more vulnerable. Hook swords aren’t meant to stab or impale, they were slice and slash, but also used to break apart armor. Nightmare Moon growled in annoyance as he was tearing her armor apart.

“Just what are you trying to accomplish by this?!”

She asked while still trying to keep herself covered as she swung her sword at him. He chuckled lightly.

“I am simply going to remove you of your armor. You seem to be more concerned about covering yourself rather than defending yourself. This makes you an easier target.”

He said while idly twirling his swords in his hands, even shuffling his feet along the stone floor to taunt her.

That’s right, make her angry, she will not think clearly and that will give you the timing you need….

His eyes widen as she then sends a large beam of pure concentrated magical energy at him, he slides to the side and chuckles lightly, sheathing his blades onto his back.

“So you plan on using magic now huh? I suppose I can switch it up as well.”

Nightmare lets out a hardy laugh

“Oh you brave, stupid little mortal. I am the ruler of the night! You think you can even get close to me without any magic?!”

Zhou grins widely and takes his earthbending stance, taking in a deep breath slowly, then lets it back out.

“I may not have magic, but I have this!”

Suddenly the crumbled ruins of the castle begin to roll towards Zhou and form into a large pile behind him. Without hesitation, eh back throwing punches through the air, the rocks flying at neck breaking speed toward Nightmare moon. Along with a few kicks in the mix as well. This caught Nightmare off guard, a few rocks hitting her in the ribs and midsection of her body. Not only did they cut into her flesh a bit, they were leaving bruises as well.

“How is that even possible?! You don’t have any magic!”

She screamed in anger, throwing more magic at him, landing her fair share of blows. But Zhou was resilient. Even though he was receiving burns from the concentrated energy, he still held up as he continued casting more rocks at her. She charges up another large beam of magic, however, this time Zhou blocks the oncoming blast with a large thick wall of stone that rises up from the floor, Then slams his palms against it to send to large slab flying at Nightmare. She was able to destroy the slab before it could hit her, but right behind it was Zhou, now reequipped with his glove hands and a glare. He swung his right fist directly into her cheek, blood flying from her mouth when he did so. He then proceeded to land as many hits on her body as he could

Hit her vitals, but not enough to cause her lingering damage, but make it hurt…

He thought to himself as he slid around her, landing hit after hit. She was furious now. She suddenly lets out a loud scream, a large shockwave pushing Zhou back into the wall hard away from her. He lets out a grunt of pain, then a yell of agony when he looks over to see that she had flung her sword into his shoulder, pinning him. He takes hold of the blade and pulls it out as hard and quick as he could. He falls to his hands and knees and lets out an annoyed growl.

“Tch...dirty trick….”

“All’s fair in battle, mortal...now I am going to end this once and for all!”

She exclaimed as she charged up another large beam, Zhou’s instinct is to move again, but he suddenly feels heavy, like he can’t move. He notices a dark blue aura surrounding him. Was this her magic?!

Now..die!”

She shouted before making direct contact with the beam. Zhou lets out a loud scream of pain as it burns all over his body. And to make matters even worse, all this happened right in front of Applejack when she and the others made it up to where they heard the commotion. Her eyes widen as she sees Zhou fall to his knees, covered in bloody wounds from the blast and the shoulder wound he had received from Nightmare’s blade. Zhou looks over to see Applejack, tears flooding her eyes as she watches him fall to the ground, it felt like an eternity as she watched.

“Sorry AJ...I guess I didn’t train hard enough…”

He said with a weak smile before hitting the ground.

“ZHOU, NO!!!”

Was the last thing he heard before he lost total consciousness.

_________

It was dark. Zhou's body laid motionless in the dark void, nothing but the sound of his own heartbeat slowly starting to come to a stop. He felt like this was indeed going to be the end, that is until a white light filled the void he was in. It lowered down and revealed a figure, he couldn’t tell who it was because of his blurred vision. Though once it made contact with him by wrapping its arms around him in a gentle, warm embrace and not to mention the soft ample breasts that pressed against his body, it was definitely female.

“You can’t die here, Zhou...they still need you, and she will need you even more so.”

The voice he heard was warm and soft. It made him shiver, that warm tingly feeling running down his spine when he heard her.

“You are a brave man, Zhou. And you did what you thought was right. But you need to train more and become a master of your element. Those six will be needing your power sooner down the road…”

She said as she wraps her wings around him lovingly.

“Now...return to them, Poor Applejack is sobbing over your body as we speak. Don’t let her shed anymore tears.”

_________

Zhou slowly opens his eyes and takes in a breath, Applejack was leaning over his body with her head buried in his chest, her arms wrapped around him tightly.

“Please come back….Ah need you Z...the family needs you…”

He slowly lifts up a hand and lightly runs his fingers through ehr mane, a weak smile forming on his face once more.

“”Come on AJ...you can’t be rid of me that easily.”

She gasps and lifts her head up to look at him. He was alive!

“Oh thank Celestia!”

She shouted as she hugged him tightly.

“What...about Nightmare Moon?”

“We took care of her, Z. it’s all said and done.’

“Good…”

He said before his stomach growled.

“...Because I am starving. Did you bring any food?”

Applejack sighs and shakes her head, lightly bumping her forehead with his.

“You are a dang fool. You know that, right?”

Author's Note

Alrighty, gonna stop here for now. If you guys want more, let me know.

May the darkness grant you peace.