Shadow Crusaders

by DrabFelmore

Rating: mature
Tags: King Sombra, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Adventure, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Sad
Length: 10757

A red spike, a strange voice, an eerie glow that can't be explained... what have the CMC gotten in to?

(This is my first story ever done on here and i hope it is well received. This takes place a small wile after Sombra is defeated since i have yet to watch past season 4 so keep that in mind. I also ask you keep in mind this is set to be in an alternate universe than the main story as to not conflict with the show.)

The CMC will do anything to get their Cutie marks but when Scootaloo gets an idea to help her do a Sonic Rain boom like Rainbow Dash things start to get weird. Will an unseen force lure the gang of three in to a foreseen fate for Equestria?

WARNING READ BEFORE YOU READ: this story gets pretty intense as it goes on and i will be updating the story maturity if some readers feel it should be done. The story of what i have right at this time (may or may not be up when you read this) there is abuse, torture, blood/ gore (obviously), and feels that will make reading this a roller coaster. This is what i was aiming for so if you can't handle it i apologize but it will not change.

consider this story as a... pre true story. a lead up to the main course. One for me to back to as a record and two to show what is not recorded in history in the continued story after this one.

Published 2017-03-21 02:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-04-03 20:08:36 UTC

Prologue

Far into the frozen north of lies an Empire that shines as a beacon of hope in the desolate land that surrounds it. The Empire holds a city made of pure crystal. A trio of young ponies climb the side of a nearby mountain range.

"Scootaloo why in the hay are we climbing this doggone mountain?" The farthest behind filly known as Applebloom shouts to try and get the leader known as Scootaloo to hear her over the mountain winds.

"She said she wanted the best possible starting point to do a sonic rain boom like Rainbow did." The middle filly known as Sweetiebelle replies, but she does not avert her gaze from Scootaloo who leads a few paces ahead of her. Wind howls around the fillies with an unnatural fury. Scootaloo's ears perk up at the sight of the peak of the mountain coming into sight. Reinvigorated Scootaloo begins a hasty climb to reach the goal she had longed for, though she did not consider the amount of snow she was throwing at her following friends.

"Scootaloo, Rarity is going to kill me if you ruin my mane again," Sweetiebelle whined. When she caught view of the peak, she and Applebloom took hot pursuit with their now far ahead friend. Grunting as they pulled each other up the last bit of the incline, the two noticed their Pegasus friend was already suiting up in safety equipment for her flight. To say the Wonderbolts themed safety equipment went well with her orange coat and purple mane would be pushing it, but it might be due to the fact that the color scheme did not suit safety equipment in the first place.

"Scootaloo are you sure about this ah mean it is pretty high." Apple bloom looks down the incline the fillies had just climbed, but it showed only minor signs of their presence. With a gulp she returned her gaze back to Scootaloo who only gave them a toothy grin before nodding.

"Sweetie you aren't worried ab-..." Apple Bloom stops mid sentence at the sight of her white-coated friend laying on her back wheezing still. 'Obviously she will not give any sort of reply until she has breathed enough to satisfy an elephant' thought Apple bloom. Ready to go, Scootaloo narrows her eyes as she looks down onto the ravine below that she plans to use to help give her the necessary momentum to create the sonic Rain boom. She spreads her wings wide and crouches down into a stance to propel herself forward and down into the ravine.

"I am not going to take the blame if you get hu-" Before Apple bloom could finish her friend was gone and was zipping through the air at remarkable speeds. While she flew and was reaching the speed she desired, a darkness creeped into her vision. Trying to ignore it she closed her eyes but instead heard ringing in her ears followed by an echoing cackle. She open her eyes once more to see that she had veered off course due to a wind gust. In a desperate attempt to dodge the cliff face she was shooting towards, she sharply turned a bit too late, causing her hit her wing on the cliff. Sparks of pain shoot through her right wing and as she cried out. She crashed into a fluffy pile of snow in the ravine. Applebloom having seen it all unfold was already sliding down the mountain with Sweetiebelle to their friends aid. Though Scootaloo's wing stung with pain, it was surprisingly still functional. As she looked at the injury she saw a small red object buried in the snow.

"Scootaloo!" Her attention was brought back to her friends, but the pain also came back to mind making her take a hold of her hurt wing, while putting snow on it to soothe it.

"Scoot... loo." There is another voice one that is faint but is unmistakably a stallions.

"Hello?" Scootaloo looked around in surprise, but by then her friends were almost by her side. Her attention was brought back to the red object.

"Scoot... a... Loo" With every sound of the voice the red object lit up faintly with an eerie glow that captivated Scootaloo. She shifted herself around to dig up the object that was buried there. Her friends saw what she was doing and stopped to ask questions, only to fall silent at the sight. Once Scootaloo had the object out of the snow, they all marveled at it. It was a curved, red object that was shaped much like a spike that glowed every time it emitted a sound.

"Scoot... a... loo... Apple... bloo...m... Sweet...ie.... bel..le...?"

"What in the hay is that?"

"I think it’s an enchanted sound creator. Like what they have to show if someone walks into the supermarket in big cities!" Sweetiebelle quickly responded, earning her strange looks from her friends.

"Then how does it know our names?" Sweetie gave a shrug to the new question, but as if an idea hit her, Scootaloo gasped and then smiled at the others.

"There is a pony in town that would know what this is!"

"Oh right Vinyl Scratch knows anything there is to do with sound making devices!" The three smile at each other, but then look back to the mountain the climbed to get where they were and their smiles drop.

"So… how do we get back down?"

*end of prologue*

Author's Note

Welp first bit of the story. Sorry if it is rough or what ever... i am not a great writer but i hope me and my friend can make this better than it was. XD

Chapter 1: Shadows hide

"Sorry kids, can't tell ya what the heck that thing is." The renowned Dj of Ponyville was seated at a kitchen table with her iconic glasses resting beside the curved red spike. Vinyl looked at the object with a puzzled expression while the three fillies across from her looked to her in anticipation, hoping that she would have the answers they sought.

"You mean it isn't something you’ve seen before?"

"Well it has magical energies in it, there’s no doubt about that. But as for it's intent and origin, I’m not sure. What I am sure of though it that it is most definitely not meant for DJing." The white mare gave a light hearted laugh, but the fillies remained silent for they had set out on a mission that had failed to garner any solace.

"Look girls... if you want answers I recommend going to one of the major cities to scour their libraries for answers. I don’t often say that so that really is saying something." The fillies looked at the object then turned their gaze back to the mare in unison. Almost as if on cue, the object began to glow.

"Can...ter...lot... cas...tle..."

"... Well uh. It seems that the artifact is trying to guide you three. I personally would try to figure out what it’s leading you guys to... never know, maybe you guys will find treasure or something… Just be sure to stay safe!" This made the fillies perk up and look to each other in glee, excited by the idea of finding treasure just like Daring Do. With that the three took their leave. Once they got back to their tree house, they crossed out ‘Sound Emitter’ on their chalk board and just below wrote ‘Clue Giver’.

Scootaloo stood at the front of the room while the other took their seats, the spike resting on the desk just in front of where Scootaloo stood. Though it still glowed, it said nothing, so Sweetiebelle broke the silence by tapping her desk.

"One of us needs to keep this thing safe so nopony like Diamond Tiara takes it on us."

"Ya ah agree with Sweetie on this. We should keep it on us at all times and every time we meet up we can switch who holds on to it." The three thought briefly on the matter, but Sweetie smiled as an idea came to mind.

"I’ll take it this time! I just remembered that Rarity had plans to go to Canterlot for supplies she couldn’t get here. I could go there and do some looking around at the library while she goes shopping!"

"In case ya forgot, Sweetiebelle, y’ain't really one to love books." Applebloom had a valid point. True to what she said, Sweetiebelle did not like having to read books any more than she had to.

"She could say that it’s for a school project or somethin’."

"There are enough books here to debunk that in a heartbeat,” Sweetiebelle said with a bit more hostility than she had intended.

"We could just outright say it’s to find out what the spike is." The others thought about this for a moment but sighed as they realized it was likely the only way they would get Sweetiebelle a ticket along with Rarity.

"So we know what the plan is then?"

"Yes," said Sweetie and Applebloom in unison. With that, the white-coated filly took a saddle bag and placed the spike in it... Out of the corner of her eye she could have sworn she had seen a shadow of a tall pony. She shook the thought from her head and left the tree house.

***

Sweetie arrived at home with a smile on her face, for she knew she wouldn't let her friends down on this task.

"Rarity I'm home!" Rarity came down a set of stairs with a bag in tow, but before she placed it with the others by the front door she went and hugged her younger sister in greeting.

"How was the meeting after the big trip you guys took?"

"It was good! I’ve actually been tasked with a mission of sorts!” Using her magic, she began to pull the spike out of the bag, but as if somepony was next to speaking very quietly, she heard, "Do not let her see."

"A mission?” Rarity chuckled, “Getting all serious now are we?" As she asked this, she set the bag with the others and didn’t notice the gentle glow of her sister’s magic. Sweetie withdrew the magic aura upon noticing this and then nodded to confirm that it was serious.

"Yes we found some weird object that emits some kind of sound... we left it at the treehouse until we find out more about it."

"That seems like an interesting little task, Sweetie."

"We were thinking our best bet on finding any information would be the Canterlot library." Rarity froze at this and Sweetie knew she was about to be interrogated.

"What’s wrong with the books we have in town?"

"We don’t have the same variety here that Canterlot has. And best to take an opportunity when it presents itself, right?" Sweetie hardly had to think about what she said, as if the words just flowed out on their own.

"Well I guess I could use a helping hoof with the packing. Do that then you can tag along to look for information on your mystery object." Rarity kissed Sweetiebelle's forehead and climbed the stairs with her sister following behind. If either were to have looked back, they would have seen what appeared to be the shadow of somepony standing where Sweetie once was.

*end of chapter 1*

Author's Note

Ok so i probably will get asked this. The voice in the object is a stallion yes it is broken down because i wanted to have a broken feel to it and no it was not me being a novice... actually it might be but deal XD

Chapter 2: Flying lessons (UNEDITED/FIXED)

Once Scootaloo had left the tree house she went to try and find her role model Rainbow Dash who was still sleeping off the exhaustion from the trip she did with Rarity, Applejack and the three crusaders. The filly however was upset at the sight of her teacher just laying back when she promised to have a lesson with her, with a huff she looks around as she sits down.
'Leave it to Rainbow Dash to sleep on the job.' Scootaloo thinks but the hostility in the thought takes her back a moment in surprise. Sure her tutor was lazy at times but to be out right angry at her tutor it was not normal.

"Maybe i should just get started on my own." Scootaloo looks at her wing which she hurt on the cliff side, surprisingly to most it healed quite fast but maybe she shouldn't over work it to much this time. Standing up the filly readies her wings but before she takes off she grins to herself.

'I will show Dash... if I train hard enough i may even over take her and her Sonic Rain Boom.' With a new found goal and hope Scootaloo takes of on a furious pace in the air but to her dismay she was hardly going fast enough to get anywhere.

"Rhyth...m... slow...er... wing... spread... more." As the voice tells her she spreads her wings and slows her movements to be like a rhythm.

"Cut in... to air... cup... push.... propel for...ward." With this she dose as she is told and she is forced downward with a push of her wings, this brings a smile to her face. She increases the speed of her rhythm but keeps the same beat. After a small wile she finds herself exhausted and so she comes to a rest on the ground taking deep breaths of air, the fact that she heard the spikes voice wile training had just hit her and with it came questions as to why and how. These however are cut short by her tutor who was asleep on a cloud a moment ago coming to join her.

"Hey i just seen you training squirt, nice job."

"Ya no thanks to you." Rainbow Dash visually recoils at this but then laughs slightly as she rubs the back of her neck, obviously she was shocked Scootaloo was showing her such hostility.

"Sorry squirt the trip really took a tole on me."

"Ya whatever." Rainbow Dash is about to ask what is wrong but Scootaloo takes flight once more following the voices advice and leaves Rainbow Dash in a daze of confusion about what had just happened.

"Keep... breath...ing steady." Scootaloo listened to the voice and tried to steady her breath but anger had filled her heart at how her teacher had the audacity to act so relaxed after how hard she worked.

"I'll show her what it really takes to be a Wounder Bolt... I'll become one and rub it in her face."

"In... due... time yo...ng... one." With that the little filly smiles ear to ear for she knew this voice would help her to the ends of the world and back if it so came to that.

Author's Note

reminder this was not edited yet.

Chapter 3: Hammer time (UNEDITED/FIXED)

Apple bloom walks out of the tree house to see her sister Apple Jack heading over to help Big Mac their brother who was hammering some boards together. The filly decides to go and lend a hoof as well seeing as she already did her daily chores on the farm before the meeting, when she gets to her sisters side she sees that he is in fact working on a garden box for them to grow vegetables in.

"Would ya like help Big Mac?" The burly stallion looks to two sisters with a smile that is hidden by the hammer in his mouth.

"Eeeup." The hammer muffled the reply but the two knew that he wanted some so they take up hammers as well an began to hammer the boards. Apple bloom was almost done done her corner when she noticed her sister drawing near her.

"So how was your little get together with your friends?"

"It was fine." The filly replied lazily wile hammering her final nail in to the corner.

"Just fine?"

"Not like it was anything special." The lax emotion seemed odd to Apple jack especially from her little sister who usually gabs her ears off from what all happened in the meeting. Apple jack drops her hammer out of her mouth and Apple bloom dose the same but when she looks at the big box that lay in front of them she shoots Big Mac a glare.

"Why would we build it out in the middle of nowhere?" Big mac looks at the filly in slight surprise but gives only a mere shrug.

"Apple bloom what is wrong?"

"What is wrong? This fool started to build this away from where it is going so we would have to carry it back and put it in to position when we could have built it closer to the area we needed it to be in." Big mac recoils at every word like it was venom to him but Apple jack was just gobsmacked at how her sister was acting.

"Apple bloom stop it."

"Stop what? I am just pointing out this fools mistake." Apple bloom noticing her anger tried to be calm now but the anger was unbearable.

"Apple bloom you are grounded until you learn to be more respectful of everyone's contributions." Like a twig Apple bloom could feel something in her snap... fury built in her and before she could register what was happening she was tossing her hammer directly at her sister. once it his Apple bloom watched as it ricochet off her sisters muzzle, red started to come out of her sisters nose and her eyes became wet from the pain but she did not cry out.

"You... you big meanie!"

"Apple bloom you are grounded now go to your room until I come to get you for supper!" Obediently Apple bloom did so but once she was gone Apple jack finally took notice of the blood coming from her nose.

"Big mac can you keep an eye on her wile i go to town to check this out?"

"Eeeyup"

Chapter 5: Books (UNEDITED/FIXED)

Scootaloo kicks a rock that lay on the road wile she walks but when she looks up afterward she sees the library that Twilight lives in so she heads in to try and do a bit of looking for the object they found.

"One moment." Sootaloo looked to were Twilight's voice originated from but she didn't reply, she took the time to start looking for any book that may hint at what the spike may be.

"Oh hi Scootaloo, what brings you here?"

"Me and the others found an object that we want to research." Twilight laughs then walks over to beside the filly, but she could have sworn the filly was a touch smaller than she was now when she last visited.

"So what is this object?" Scootaloo takes a quick glance at Twilight then back to the books she is looking at.

"It is a spike that emits a eerie glow wile it emits sound." intrigued Twilight looks at the filly but she didn't get any looks back so she looks at the wall of books again but she begins to skim along to find one in particular.

"A spike that emits sound and light... like an artifact?"

"I guess you could say that." Twilight brings out a book with no title on it, with ease she places the book on to the table in the middle of the room.

"This should have records of any known artifact in recorded history. You would't have it on you so we could reference it with other documents would you?"

"Sweetie Belle has it." The filly flatly says as she pushes the book open, the pages are visibly worn but it is still readable so she begins to read. Twilight smiles at the drive this young filly has and decides to go make some hot chocolate for her wile she reads the book.

***

"Twi are you home?" Scootaloo looks to the door where Apple jack is calling from and quickly Twilight is there to welcome her friend in. Apple jack walks in but is taken aback by the sight of Scootaloo at the table, the filly gives her a smile then a wave but then returns to reading.

"Hi Apple jack, is there something i can help you with?"

"Twilight can we uhh... talk alone for a second." Twilight arches an eyebrow but then nods as she leads her friend up stairs to her living area but Scootaloo quietly followed the two so she could hear what the problem was.

"Twilight we... Apple bloom needs to be taught how to use and control magic. Like what you got from Celestia all that time ago." Twilight remains silent for a wile to allow what her friend had just said to sink in.

"Why would she need to lear-"

"She just destroyed her room with flame spells and... and.... i don't know what else sugar cube but she left her room in utter destruction." Scootaloo let a grin spread across her face as she heard the terror in the mares voice. If Apple bloom could do such a feet than surly any pony could, and that meant she could learn those tricks.

"Celestia might be willing to teach Apple bloom but i have to be sure of what you are saying because... this has never happened before and there should be an explanation for it."

"You can come see what she has done first hoof but i warn you that she left even Big mac in a fright." Twilight sighs then with that Scootaloo slips away and back to her book before they could see her eves dropping on them. When Twilight comes to the room Scootaloo is in she gives the Alicorn a smile but when she comes close she loses it.

"Apple jack needs my help Scootaloo... could you watch the Library for me until i return?" With an nod from the filly the two leave the filly alone, she returns to the book but she had a hunch since the start that it would hold nothing to aid her search.

"Take... it... burn... it... mis...lead....later." Scootaloo nods then finds a saddle bag to put the book in to she goes in to the back yard of Twilight's place were a small ring of bricks sits. obviously meant for fires she tares pages out of the book then puts them in the fire place, she then finds a pack of matches but when she returns she just puts then on the ground. She tries to focus on the paper and try to light it on fire with her mind, she focuses on it so hard it starts to strain her.

"Less... force... mo...re... anger... rage." The filly looks around for a second then returns to what she was doing but obeying the voice, she remembers how angry Rainbow Dash made her and she focused on trying to form it in to a flame and feeding it to the paper. The anger she felt for the situation and the paper not lighting made her blood boil but then she seen smoke. She looked at the paper and seen it was smoldering so she quickly blew on it and soon the paper was blazing in front of her.

"Yay i did it."

"very... good... Scoot...a...loo." feeling like she completed a great goal she puffed out her chest as she continued to burn page after page. by the time every page was gone the cover was in the mix and was slowly burning away.

"No... more... prob...lems... in... our... way." beside Scootaloo there is a shadow of a stallion that would have been invisible if it were not for the dull fire in front of them.

Author's Note

OOOOOhhhhhhh spooky ghost stallion is doing thing. :derpyderp1:

what is he doing and who is he?

Chapter 6: Resistance(UNEDITED/FIXED)

Apple jack and Twilight arrive at the Apple family farm but in Twilight's eyes everything seemed fine. upon entering she seen Granny and Big mac sitting in the living room and they were obviously out of it, deep down Twilight knew that apple jack was not over reacting. When they were both in and the door was firmly closed the earth pony looked to her friend with a sigh.

"Be careful in there Twi... she has had outbursts and i couldn't bare to see you get hurt because of her." Big mac brought Apple jack her pills which Twilight kept her eyes on in curiosity.

"What are those?"

"Pain medication... Apple bloom broke my nose with a hammer earlier today." Twilight gasps then looks to Big mac who just nods wile looking at the floor, they all seem so have gone through hell so Twilight decided to continue to her destination alone. When she open the door to Apple blooms door she saw the filly just sitting there in the middle of a ruined room, She didn't get a step in before the filly piped up.

"You are going to take me away aren't ya?" The filly said with an even tone to her voice... one Twilight had never hear Apple bloom use before.

"That depends on if your sister was right in her accusation." The filly focuses her emotions and tries to lift splinters and pieces of wood in to the air, once many had good height the filly forced them in to the direction of the Alicorn with a scream escaping the filly. Twilight quickly closes the door but what she had just seen froze her to the core... the filly was using dark magic.

"Twi are you ok!?"

"Yes i am." Twilight walks down to the others and sits in the living room to talk to the whole of the family.

"So what are your thoughts on poor Apple bloom?" Granny smith looks at Twilight with a weary look on her face.

"Apple jack has she read any odd books or letters before she started acting like this?" The earth pony shook her head but when she looked to the other three she received the same answer.

"I am sorry Apple jack to have to say this but Apple bloom has begun to use Dark magic."

"Now hold up a minute Twi is that not the same as what king pony was using when he tried to take over the Crystal Empire?" with a slow nod from Twilight questions started to fill Apple jacks head but she couldn't find any words.

"I know it is dark magic because she tried to throw wood at me when i was in her room, the way her eyes changed when she levitated it told me everything i need to know." Once Twilight finish as if on cue Apple bloom came in to view in the door way to the living room but she to the trained eye was a few inches taller and she did not hide her dark magic eyes.

"Oh Twilight why would throw such a young girl under the bus like that?"

"Pro...tect... frien...ds...to... fin...ish...miss..ion." With a laugh the filly pulled a knife out from behind her, it was a kitchen knife but it still is a potential weapon.

"I am not going to be taught by anyone, I am going to live here and do what I like. understand that twilight?" The Alicorn stands up then walks over to the filly slowly in order to hopefully get the knife after calming her a small amount.

"Apple bloom how did you learn Dark magic?"

"I read a book in the Crystal empire Library on our down time."

"The ones that had knowledge of dark magic were discarded a long wi-"

"There was one left." the bite she had in her voice was noticeable to everyone in the room but Twilight continued to slowly approach her.

"So what did this book teach you in Dark magic?" The filly grinned at this and slightly laughed at the question.

"What did it teach me?" the fillies voice had a noticeable echo in it at this point and the magic around the knife was far tighter than it was when she first entered the door way.

"It taught me how to kill you Twilight." before the sentence was even done Apple bloom had driven the blade in to Twilight's chest and a scream from Apple jack was heard but before Apple bloom could do much more Apple jack had kicked her like she was a tree and the filly went flying in to the wall unconscious. Twilight gritted her teeth as she looked at the knife now resting in her chest, but the whole Apple family came to her aid quickly.

"Big mac get the carriage we need to get her to the Hospital. Granny you need to come with us. I'll lock up the house and take Apple bloom to the barn, I'll block her in so she won't do any more harm to any pony." The group separates to each do their part, within a few minutes they had Twilight on a cart and bandaged as best as they could but without removing the blade as to not have more blood come out. Apple bloom lay in the now blocked barn and the two elder siblings pull Granny and Twilight off to the hospital.

Author's Note

Chapter 6 unfinished but it is here. promise updated copies will come soon.

Chapter 7: Letter (UNEDITED/FIXED)

Apple jack runs in to the hospital with Twilight hung over her back but once ponies seen the reason for her running they jumped in to action by bringing a bed over to them that Twilight quickly go put on to.

"What happened to her?" one of the nurses says to Apple jack wile the run down the hall towards an emergancy room to work on her.

"She got hurt... attacked by my little sister."

"Apple jack." Twilight weezes which catches Apple jacks attention quite quickly.

"Ya Twi?"

"Talk to Spike... send a letter to Celestia explaining everything. She will know what to do." With that Apple jack slows to a walk as she watches her friend continue to a set of doors, Apple jack could only thik of if she told Celestia she may lose her sister for more time than she origonally wanted. She ends up walking out of the hospital to her waiting brother and Grandmother.

"Big mac, Granny you two go back on home and keep an eye on the barn... but do not get close to it whatever you two do."

"What are you going to do dear?" With a sigh Apple jack looks at Granny smith who seemed forn from the whole experience.

"I have to write a letter to the princess."

***

Apple jack walks in to the Library to see a nearly asleep Scootaloo who sits at the table. When she sees Apple jack she smiles at her but the mare dose not do the same, she simply goes up the stairs to Twilights living area and finds Spikes bed where he is curently asleep.

"Spike."

"Five more minutes." the baby dragon grumbles then roles over but Apple jack just brings her head closer.

"Spike Twilight is in the hospital." Spikes eyes jump open and he looks at the mare who stands over him, as if he had heard the worst news ever he starts to cry litely.

"No... Why?"

"Apple bloom attacked her, Twilight wants me to send a letter to Celestia right away spike and I need your help to do that." The dragon looks around then scurries over to a table nearby to grab a scroll and a quill so he can start writing.

"Princess Celestia.

It is with great regret that I send you this letter to inform you that your student and long time friend Twilight Sparkle is currently in the Hospital here in Ponyvill. I Apple Jack asked Twilight to look in to a problem that i was having with Apple Bloom my little sister, unknown to me at the time was the fact that she had been learning to use Dark magic. I thought it was just normal magic for i was being fooled but when Twilight had figured it out my sister used a knife from out house kitchen to attack her.

The conflict has only lasted for a moment but the damage was already done to Twilight. Apple Bloom stabbed her in the chest but I kicked her out of intinct which knocked her out. Apple Bloom is now blocked in to the family barn wile Twilight is getting aid at the Hospital, I ask for your aid because i don't want any pony else to get hurt because of my sister.

Yours truly

Apple Jack"

Chapter 8: Leave it to me (UNEDITED/FIXED)

Sweetie belle lays on the ground of an isle of the Library that is in Canterlot, around her lay many books ranging in genres. The one she lay reading however is on a topic that involved her sister and her five friends, the defeat of Sombra and protecting the Crystal empire.

"De...feat." Sweetie belle looks up to see a shadow in front of her but she just gives it a smile that stretches ear to ear.

"I knew this belonged to some pony."

"Re...sur...ecti..on?"

"Right, Resurrection." The filly flips through the pages hastily then freezes before the grab one from behind them, the flip through this new one and stops on a page.

"Sp...ell."

"Yep we can bring you back through a spell my king."

"Tha...nk...you." the filly nods then gives the shadow a toothy grin before her eyes get a purple flame and the whites go green, and to contrast the irises go red.

"You know a weak filly like me can't cast a spell of this magnitude right? I would need a helping hand my king."

"Chee...ky." A gurgled laugh could be heard from the shadow but once it was done the horn that rested in the saddle bag Sweetie started to glow. The filly took the horn out and as she got filled with what energy it had she re-payed it with the power of the spell to en-ravel it, The filly Watched as the horn is pulled towards the shadow and once it is in place the form of the iconic kings face becomes visible. Though his body is still a shadow he revels in the feeling of his head getting returned to him.

"Good work my little pony."

"Thank you my king." The filly bows to him still bearing his iconic eyes, he smiles to her even after she rises from the bow.

"As i promised you and your friends are gaining what you deserve nut it is slow to come."

"I can already tell you are holding up the bargain." The filly has visibly grown and her coat has dulled in tone a good bit, if she hadn't woken up before Rarity this morning she would have had questions to answer and questions from her would have worn on the girls patients. Though Sweetie was taller she was still not a full fledged mare yet and that is what she wants.

"You and your friends are turning out to be quite the asset but we must make hast."

"What troubles you my king?"

"Apple Bloom is in trouble with Twilight. She kept you out of spotlight right now but soon there will be suspicion shone on you and Scootaloo." With a nod the filly stands at attention for the king.

"What do you ask of me my lord?" With that the shadow envelops the Filly and forms in to armor of a dark clad look. on each shoulder there is a red plus mark and to accompany the armor the filly gains a Claymore of dark steel.

"You are a Shadow Crusader my dear, about time you look the part i think."

"Yes sir." Sweetie belle says with much enthusiasm, she walks towards the exit but when she catches a glimpse of the Librarian she takes her sword in her aura then takes one slice at her. The Librarian slumps over behind her desk without a single scream, sweetie seeing her handy work only chuckles as she walks out of the library.

"No witnesses right sir?"

"I believe that is what they call a job well done." With a maniacal laugh She sets of down the road towards the train but her presence draws unneeded attention but good thing her face is covered a bit from the helmet.

"Ignore then Sweetie belle."

"Understood sir." The filly sees the train station and gins and she knows what is about to come. for almost a month she and her friends have been dedicated to this mission and soon it will come to a conclusion.

***

Once she steps off the train she is greeted to the sight of a friendly sight, Scootaloo stands in front of her and the two stand at the same height now. Scootaloo has larger wings that look fit enough to even compare to Rainbow Dash herself.

"Let's head to the farm girls and release your friend, I do not believe she has had any visitors as of yet but it is only a matter of time for there are Royal Guards around." Sombra changes his form in to a shadow as to not raise alarm on to Sweetie belle, he then turns in to two styles of dresses that then fit the two mares.

"You sure are quite handy." Scootaloo remarks then gives a polite laugh as they start to walk to their destination but they try and look natural in the little town as they do so.

"So what is the plan?"

"I checked out the situation a few after hours after she got locked up... i believe it is only the bored on the out side." Sweetie nods to the information Scootaloo provides to her but a pony jumps in their way.

"Oh my gos-"

"Not the time." Sweetie puts a hoof in the Pinkie pies face and walks around her obviously inconvenienced by her sudden appearance in front of then, Scootaloo makes sure not to fall behind her friend as she start to trot off.

"Aww but you are new and i wanted to throw a party." At this Sweetie freezes and grins at the thought she just got.

"This could work... Umm my apologies dear we actually are in a rush. You see we are a long lost line of the Apple family and we wanted to surprise them by show up at their place to introduce ourselves." As if this was the best news she heard in her life Pinkie pie jumps in to the air and showers confetti on them.

"Oh my gosh that is amazing because believe it or not i am related to them as well. Huu then we should have a big Apple family party at their house!"

"You know pinkie that is a great idea... but can you really set up that fast?"

"Heck ya i can with my party cannon." Sweetie belle grins then hugs pinkie wile she winks at Scootaloo who just looked at them with a blank expression.

"Can you be ready for say ten minutes?" Pinkie smiles then nods at them before she takes off towards Sugar Cube Corner. One look at Scootaloo told Sweetie she made a great plan on the spot.

"So we have a distraction, now we need to figure out were to hide out wile we finish up the job."

"I could help in that department." Sombra chirps up at the problem they brought up, the two mares perk up but act as if they are still quietly chatting to fool any guards they walk by.

"The two sisters used to have a Castle in the Everfree Forest that i assume is in ruins now. If my memory of charts of Equestria doesn't fail me i will be able to lead us to the castle assuming it is standing still."

"And the Everfree is not that far from the Apple farm." Scootaloo adds to the suggestion Sombra tossed in, So now they have a plan that has room to change a bit if things turn against them.

"We need to be ready once Pinkie pie is in position."

Chapter 9: For the king (UNDEITED/FIXED)

Scootaloo looks to Sweetie belle who sits at the back of the barn, Scootaloo returns he sight to the house of the Apple family. Celestia is inside with the other apples but at the entrence of the barn about four feet from Scootaloo stand two guards. Once Scootaloo sees Pinkie pie roll up to the houses door with her party cannon and enter Scootaloo nods to Sweetie who starts to charge a spell as Scootaloo sneaks back to her but once she is at the back Sombra changes their dresses in to the dark clad armor Sweetie earlier wore and each had a weapon to suit them.

Sweetie had her Claymore and Scootaloo got a weapon resembling a blunder buster but instead of a ball of lead it shot a condensed blast of dark aura, Most times it will leave its foes paralyzed for a short time.

"Ready?" Scootaloo nods to Sweetie and once they heard the boom of the cannon Sweetie let the spell fire which blew a hole in the barn. The now mature looking Apple bloom smiled at them then narrowed her eyes.

"What took you two so long?"

"Who is back there?" Scootaloo quietly gestures for Apple bloom to be quiet then readied her gun for the two guards to come around the corner. Come around they did and before they could say a word a thump comes from her gun causing then to collapse then she pulled their blades out of their own sheath and slit their throats.

"If you are done with them Scootaloo we should be heading off."

"Burn the bodies before you leave." The three look at each other with a grin before they comply with the order but they don't just burn them, they want to make a statement to the princess.

With the bodies in the barn Sweetie belle lights a few bundles of hay on fire as they leave to make their get away to the Everfree Forest, Apple bloom too is suited up in the dark armor now. Her weapon is a hook and blade that extend from the armor she wares if the dagger she has tied to her flank fails her.

The mares in dark armor do not slow unless they require directions from their king and before the sun falls over the horizon they have found the ruins of the Castle. The mares take this moment to rest but with how much Sombra has modified them over the last wile they hardly need such a thing.

"Very good girls, I am proud of all three of you for this went better than thought."

"Thank you sir." All three say in unison, and they bow to him but he quickly looks around with a sincere smile at how it has held up over these years.

"We will need the carpet out of the way and Sweetie you will need to draw the ritual runes on the floor with chalk as you remembered."

"Yes sir."

"Apple bloom go find black candles for the ritual." Apple bloom nods then hurries away wile Sweetie belle gets to work on the ritual runes and drawings.

"Scootaloo we need eyes out on the situation until the ritual is ready."

"I will be moving like the shadows themselves sir." He smiles then the Pegasus takes off to do as she is required.

"With no Crystal heart at easy access we will need to go an alternate route to get to our goal." Sombra says as he walks past Sweetie belle and she only nods to this as she draws the ritual.

***

"Princess Celestia?" the princess stands before the flaming barn with only minor glimpses in too the two ponies that wear scorched royal guard armor but there is no sign of Apple bloom inside.

"This was a planned maneuver."

"Who would do this?" Apple jack comes to stand beside the princess with her hat being held by Big mac.

"I do not want to accuse any pony but it might be the other crusaders."

"But... princess Scootaloo is acting normal and Sweetie is in Canterlot with Rarity." the princess takes these facts in then gives Apple jack a nod, with a sigh she shakes the idea from her head.

"Yes my apologizes, But there are other forces at work. The fact Pinkie pie got sent as a detraction for the back of the barn to be blown open shows this." The princess has a point but Apple jack could not for the life of her understand why some pony was helping her sister escape.

"Princess Celestia!" A Royal guard yells out as he fly's to the princess but the look he had was grave to say the least.

"Princess there has been a murder in Canterlot along with a reported missing filly."

"What?" the princess could feel her heart sink but Apple jack froze in place as if those words meant the world was about to end.

"There was a librarian murdered we know it was due to a blade but we have no leads and the missing filly was supposed to be there said by the fillies sister. The filly is named Sweetie belle." In one foul swoop Apple jack had her entire world collapse around her, the cutie mark crusaders were all working together on this and when had the never worked together. Apple jack for the first time in a long time sobbed, she cried her heart out. What lurked in the shadows though was the mare who not that long ago was a filly and she heard all she needed to know.

Author's Note

This has begun to get to a nice point in the story.

Chapter 10: One less problem (UNEDITED/FIXED)

Scootaloo slips away from all the crowds and in to a quiet place outside of town, she uses dark magic to make contact with her king. "Sir?"

"What is it Scootaloo?" The stallions voice echoes in her ear but even tough she is nowhere near him she stands at attention.

"The princess has figured out that me and the others are working together and i judge that it is only a matter of time before they figure out you are also involved."

"Then we must not give them time to think."

"If i may make a suggestion sir. The Draconequus Discord lives with Flutter Shy, she will not put up much of a fight and Discord being reformed dose not bode well in our favor."

"You know your mission then."

"Understood sir." With that the filly takes flight but when she is a decent bit in to the air she gets hit by something but she quickly retaliates on who it was.

"Hey sorry guard guy i couldn't see you in the dark." Scootaloo noticed the voice before the actual pony it was and so she quickly took off and headed in the direction she needed to go. Having not heard what was going on Rainbow dash shrugged it off and kept on going on her way towards the commotion. Scootaloo lands softly at the door to the cottage and knocks politely, after a moment the yellow Pegasus answers the door and immediately thinks it is a night time royal guard.

"Oh umm hello... can i help you?"

"Discord is needed for questioning." As if his name summoned him he appears wearing a onesie in Twilight's likeness and with a yawn he looks at Scootaloo.

"What is the problem moon butt lose her chocolate again?"

"You are wanted for two accounts of murder of royal guards and the aided escape of an attempted murderer." Flutter shy gasps at the accusations made but Discord keeps a steady face but even for him it is hard, Scootaloo however has a small grin spreading across her face.

"Where do these charges come from?"

"Celestia herself, there are charges yet to be confirmed like a third murder and filly-napping."

"What if i refuse to go quietly?" Scootaloo smiles as she pulls out her buster and fires at Discord, Flutter Shy screams then jumps to cover Discord in his frozen state.

"I am meant to use lethal force if need be."

"NO!" Flutter shy screams at Scootaloo and with that she glares at the the mare in hatred.

"I will not hesitate to kill you." Flutter shy lunges at Scootaloo but she quickly dodges the mare, with the buster loaded again she fires at Discord to keep him paralyzed.

"I guess i tried." Scootaloo smiles and loads fire aura in to the buster and readies to fire but she is hit before she could get a shot. Flutter shy now has a base ball bat, and it seems she doesn't want to hit a home run in this ball game.

Scootaloo ducks under a swing Flutter shy takes but instead of fire at the mare she takes the chance to fire at Discord who gets lit on fire immediately. Muffled screams come from the Draconequus as he burns but is unable to move, Flutter shy looks at her long time friend in tears as she drops the bat and runs to get the garden hose. Scootaloo takes her helmet off to reveal her face and with her dark magic eyes she pulls his face to look at her.

"You were once in stone... how dose it feel to be in the same prison but slowly die Discord?" Scootaloo places the blunder up to his heart and before she pulls the trigger with her dark magic she laughs a small bit.

"DISCORD!" Scootaloo gets a jet of water shot at her face from the Pegasus who had just a moment ago ran away, Scootaloo did not hide her eyes from the pony this time but it is not that which made the pony stall.

"Sc...Scootaloo?"

"Sorry Flutters but you are in our way, no hard feelings." Scootaloo shot but before her shot hit the Pegasus Discord teleports in its way. The shot tore his entire rib cage to shreds and in the end his heart had been punctured multiple times from it. He collapses in a bloody pool in front of Flutter shy who quickly takes him in her arms but Scootaloo is furious about how difficult he was being so she walks over to Flutter shy wile he lay there dying and she took the mares face in her wing. She tried to struggle but once the butt of the gun first hit the mares head she stopped moving as much. Hit after hit Scootaloo watched as the mare became more bloody and more weak until she felt Flutter shy had had enough, with a simple push she let the crying Pegasus fall on to her now dead friend Draconequus. Taking up her helmet Scootaloo smiled at a job well done and the wails of the mare would surly draw every pony in from miles around.

Author's Note

This is a very "bad" end in the chapter but in their eyes... it is progress.

Chapter 11: For you my friend (UNEDITED/FIXED)

"What the heck is going on here?" Rainbow Dash runs up to the crying Apple jack and tries to comfort her but when she sees the sad expression on the princess she flies in front of her.

"Celestia what is goin-"

"Have you seen Scootaloo lately Rainbow Dash?"

"No she has been grumpy at me for not giving her lessons before my afternoon nap why?" Celestia holds out a hoof to the burning barn and Rainbow Dash just makes a confused sound.

"The girls have started using dark magic sugar." Apple jack sniffs as she forces the tears to stop for now, but they still sting in her eyes. Rainbow dash looked at both of them and then to the building.

"Where is your sister then, is she out looking for them?"

"No she was left in Canterlot to over look the Royal duties wile i am gone." Rainbow Dash thinks about the guard she bumped in to wile heading over her.

"Did any of the guards under her command come with you?"

"No only my guards."

"Celestia..." Rainbow Dash is taking steps back in realization of what this mean. "We need to go now."

"What is wrong sugar cube?"

"I bumped in to a pony in pure black armor heading towards Flutter shy's house a wile ago but they were not fillies."

"There are more ponies helping the fillies?" Celestia shrugs then runs to help get guards and head over to Flutter shy's cottage, but they arrive to late to help Discord. Flutter shy is laying on him crying with all the little might her body has left to cry with.

"Discord come on... you can wake up... they are gone. Scootaloo is gone Discord."

"Flutter shy!" Rainbow flies over to her friend who doesn't look at her friend at all, she is transfixed on the body she lay on.

"Please wake up Discord... don't leave me." Flutter shy sobs in to his bloody chest and ribs, Rainbow dash looks at Discord and almost reaches then and there at the sight but she holds herself together.

"Flutters he is dead we need to go."

"NO! Go, go get Scootaloo and make her pay for what she did Rainbow Dash."

"Flutters?"

"It was her... she was... mature but the look in her eyes... she came here only... only to..." Tears came out once again from Flutter shy and this time Apple jack, Celestia, Pinkie pie, and a few guards were there to see it and soon the other apples arrived to morn the loss of Discord. later on on the night once she had cried herself asleep Flutter shy was taken to the hospital and Twilight was informed of what had occurred. Celestia almost feel asleep immediately once she got a chair to sit in, the others though stayed up to talk to Twilight and Spike who had arrived later in the night to see how Twilight was doing.

"So everyone is sure it is the girl doing this?"

"Yes but some how they have matured according to Flutter shy."

"Ya if it was the pony i bumped in to wile mid-flight Scootaloo must have aged like ten years in the span of a short wile."

"Actually i noticed she seemed a bit taller than i expected when she came to my library." Rainbow dash laughed then caught her self a bit to realize she was serious.

"Wait what she actually went there and you only questioned why she was a bit taller than usual? I thought the reading thing would have gave something away."

"Well maybe some ponies desire to read a bit on their free time Rainbow dash."

"Ya but Scootaloo would ne-"

"GIRLS!" Apple jack yells which silences both of them immediately and so she takes her seat again, with a huff she looks to both of them before even speaking.

"Being divided about simple things like that will make whatever they are up to easier." They both nod then sigh before they look back at the table where they have some papers of what is going on spread around.

"So we know the CMC are using dark magic and we can assume it is for all three. We know that Sweetie went to Canterlot with Rarity and went to the library there, obviously to find out something and she probably got it. Scootaloo came to my library for an unknown reason since Sweetie probably already had a better chance to find what they needed. Apple bloom however seems to have a very large unknown part in this." Twilight looks to everyone present and they nod in confirmation to this then twilight wrights on a paper 'Spike Object'.

"You think that is the cause of this?" Apple jack asks as she sees the paper land in front of her but before she got an answer there is a thump at the door.

"What ever the cause i want first dibs on Scootaloo... and why are you having a meeting without me."

"Flutters you shouldn't be out and around without help."

"I am fine Rainbow... i need to do this... i need to be a part of this for my friend i failed to protect." Flutter shy pulls up a chair and sits in the group but everyone there car thinking one thing. With all the marks covering her face and how one eye will not open and she still wants to be a part of this she must have a lot of will power to power through all of it.

Chapter 12:Let's get started (UNEDITED/FIXED)

The ruins are in place and the candles sit lit at their required positions, Sombra grins at the sight of the ritual that lays before him. Behind him his three new followers slowly stride in to position with their eyes emitting the dark flames. Sombra glides in to the center of the ritual circle and once he dose the runes light up signaling Sweetie belle to chant wile fueling the circle with magic. The other fallow suit one after the other but once the final step is reach the ground begins to quiver from the power the ritual is emitting. The three mares stand ready for candles to go out and each time one dose so it will try and force them out of their circle and if they do fall out the ritual will fail. One candle goes out and they do not as much as quiver, two they as till steady as stone, and the final one goes out causing Sombra to be engulfed by a dark mist that entangles him.

After he is released from the dark mist the mares see him in all his glory. The king had finally returned and more than likely better than ever before, when he open his eyes he sees his followers bow before him and with a grin he puts his horn to use. Shadow warriors are brought forth in to being by his magic, first there are ten then twenty and before to long and to much strain he has a platoon of a hundred shadow warriors at his command. The king allows the mares to rise and join him at which point they marvel at his creation.

"Twenty five troops for each of you. Pegasus troops for you Scootaloo, earth troops for you Apple bloom and unicorn troops for you Sweetie belle." They look at him with glee in their eyes and when he motions for them to go they quickly bow then run down to start commanding their troops.

"You all will listen and obey to your respective Generals understood!"

"Yes my king." The shadow troops reply and they split off in to groups of twenty five and wile Sombra hardly did mush with his right away the others decided to see what these shadow troops could do by putting them through tests. Each test varied on the group but over all it checked the same things. the tests check their strength, endurance, speed, and agility.

"Think they will be able to take on a mission girls?" The sound of this made the girls smile and look to Sombra with full attention wile the troops kept testing.

"We need to shut down the train so access to Equestria will be hard and any reinforcements will have a delay to arrive."

"What are we waiting for then? Let's get started!" Scootaloo called out and her troops cheered in agreement to this sentiment, Sombra nodded to this and so he and the mares decide to make a plan of attack. Night crawls over Equestria and the mares get their troops organized, the three of them walk back and forth in front of the small blocks of shadow troops in anticipation.

"Troops! Tonight we seek to cripple the town of Ponyville but destroying access by rail road, hopefully the dark of night will provide cover to work but be ready for a fight to occur because there are sure to be stationed guards everywhere. Your goal is to deal with the rails if that mean you die so be it because this if for the good of all of us. We are the Shadow Crusaders and we will bring Equestria in to a new and golden age under the Shadow empire!" The troops cheer to show their support for this mission and so the three mares draw their weapons and cheer along with the troops. Above them on an over hang Sombra holds out a scythe and cheers with them.

"FOR THE SHADOW EMPIRE!"

Author's Note

Sorry about the break between the chapters being released had some problems come up but now i am back at it.

Chapter 4: Magic (UNEDITED/FIXED)

Apple jack returns home with a bag of pain medication with her but what she seen when she walked through the door was surprising. Granny Smith usually would be having a nap right around this time but she was in the living room wide awake.

"Granny what is wrong?" Apple jac came to her side but the granny did not look at her.

"Apple bloom is upset my dear."

"Did she do anything wrong Granny?" To this the Granny did not answer but she looked up with a dazed excretion to a chair that sat empty.

"She isn't herself is she?" Apple jack lowered her head before she shook it to confirm the accusation that she had, but the silence was cut short but a thunderous bang coming from upstairs. With a new found energy Apple jack left the pills and bolted upstairs to see what the commotion was about but what she seen was a cowering Big mac in front of Apple bloom's door.

"Big mac what is wrong?" he gave no response so Apple jack opened the door but the sight of the room was not one she expected. The walls has scorch marks wood and splinters and shreds of wood were everywhere the bed was torn to shreds like a beast has ravaged it, the window was shattered but the wood above it was collapsed and some of the roof was the same. In the middle of it all Apple bloom was curled up as if nothing was going on. One of her eyes opened wile Apple jack was not looking, the whites were green and the irises were red. the eye also had purple flames coming out of them but in front of them formed a little ball of flame the then shot at Apple jack. Apple jack took notice of the flame quick enough to make it miss and it the roof behind her but before she could look back and see the eye apple bloom had open she had closed it to act as if she was asleep.

Startled to the core Apple jack closed the door then lied beside Big mac, both gripped by terror and confusion they lay there un-moving for a long wile. 'What did this mean? Was this why Apple bloom was on edge? What should they do about such a situation?' these and many more circled in Apple jacks head.

"She needs to... go away." Big mac looked at Apple jack with a confused look that told Apple jack she needed to clarify. "she needs to be taken to a school where she can learn to control that, like how Twi did when she was young."

"Eeeyup." The two layed their heads down angain for some more time of silence or as much as Apple bloom would allow. In the other room however across from Granny smith sit a Shadow only few can see and see it Granny did.

Author's Note

Short chapter but sometimes short allows space between big situations.

that and once gone through it should pick up more fluff, that and later parts will make up for it.