Shadow opens his eyes but sees nothing but a black void. For some reason, he knew exactly what was coming when he was in this state. Two figures appear before him completely hooded in long black robes. He could feel malicious intent. But at the same time, not towards him. And once one of them spoke, he knew exactly who it was.

“Would you look at this, Malumi. Looks like he was able to get a third chance at life. Seems like the higher ups REALLY have a thing for this one here. First a pony, then a human, and now a humanish pony? Very interesting. Should we put a mask on him as well?”

“Hmm, that may be a fun idea, let's do i-”

A black and blue vortex of lightning appeared in front of Shadow as the same hooded figure that he had seen in his dreams. The man glared daggers at the couple as he walked through, lightning sparking from his hands and eyes behind the mask that he used to wear when he was alive.

“You will not interfere with my life again. Do you understand me? You had your fun when you brought me back to this world. But Faust is the one who brought him into this world. So unless you want a more powerful being to hunt you down. I suggest you back off.”

The hooded male and female back away a bit. Though the male chuckled lightly.

“Aaah, so you chose to wear the mask as a phantom did you? How very mysterious. Fine, we will back off the young stallion. But that doesn’t mean that we won’t have our fun along the way. After all, you know exactly who we are. Don’t you, Taylor?”

Before he could react, the figures disappear into a black smoke. And the dream changes from a black void to a moonlit lake that both he and Shadow now stood in the middle of, literally walking on water. Shadow looks up at the human who was now facing him. Taylor removed his hood, finally revealing his appearance to the young stallion. He wore that very same mask that he was given the night he appeared in Ponyville. Though his eyes were still their normal colors, brown and hazel gray. His hair was long and slicked back, a deep brown with natural red highlights in them. And a neatly trimmed straight beard. The rest of his skin was bare, a pale white. And from what he could tell, he wore the same kind of clothing he did, but his boots were built for feet rather than hooves When shadow saw this man, he knew it was someone important.

“You...are the one I have been seeing in my dreams since I turned sixteen. I know you. I know you like I am you. These memories I possess of the baton, they are yours aren’t they?”

Taylor chuckled lightly, the wind flowing through his hair and bellowing his cloak a bit. He walked over to

“Believe it or not, Shadow. That same baton was mine. And yes, those same memories, those skills you possess in how to use it are indeed mine. In fact, your ability to conjure and control lightning is also mine. To put it simply. I am you. That is to say, I was your former life. And you want to know how I can prove it? I'll show you mine if you show me yours.”

He pulls up his right sleeve and holds out his arm, revealing the very same marking that Shadow possessed on him as well. Shadow gasped a bit as he lifted his arm up slowly next to Taylor’s. They indeed matched his to the letter. Shadow staggered back a bit as he saw this. Then turned his gaze back up to Taylor.

“Was I...did I really...have a past life? And you were my past life? Is that why I have both the physical appearance of what you are and a pony?”

“That is the case, Shadow. I would tell you what happened, but now is not the time for me to share those memories with you.However…”

He said as he then placed a hand on Shadow’s head with a firm but not a tight grip.

"I am allowed to give you these."

With a strong surge of lightning and shadow swirling into one coil around Taylor’s arm, they flowed quickly into Shadow's head, the stallion’s eyes glowing brightly as this happened, his mouth agape. As all the knowledge and know-how about Taylor’s skills and powers store into his mind. Every single use of the lightning and dark crystal abilities that Taylor had used to protect Luna and all the once he cared about when he was alive. All this leaving Shadow with a large headache that fades over the course of thirty seconds. He looks up at Taylor again with great confusion as he falls to his knees. The man backing away a few steps.

“The more you work at your abilities, those very ones that now lay in your mind will unlock and be at your disposal when you are ready for them to be used.”

He said before offering a hand to help Shadow back to his hooves. He takes it and lifts himself up.

“Taylor...I have many questions about what in all of Equestria is going on with my life. Now that I find out that I am you. My thirst for these memories grows even stronger. When will you reveal them all to me?”

“In time, Shadow. You are not yet ready for what is yet to be seen. But I promise that I will reveal them to you when the time is right.”

“Just then, a blue light appears out of the night sky and out comes Luna with a frantic look on her face. Quickly galloping to Shadow’s side as she lands on the water. She looked worried.

“Oh Shadow! Thank the moon! I couldn’t get into your dream, and I feared something had happened to you! And-”

Her gaze falls upon Taylor, who was now hooded once more to hide his face. Though he was very much smiling when he saw Luna. He may be a phantom, but he could feel the warm, loving feeling come over him as he locked eyes with her, she to could feel it.

“My sweet Luna...It has been sixteen, long years since I have seen you. I miss you dearly, and think about you every day…”

“Who..are you…?”

He chuckles lightly and backs away, that same vortex appearing behind him as his gaze turns back to Shadow.

“Keep her safe, won’t you Shadow? I imagine someday soon, she will be yours. And what we discussed, keep it to yourself for now. She doesn’t need to know the memories either. Just as I have been ordered to keep them from you, Faust ordered somepony else to hold onto her memories, but that pony shall remain nameless.”

“Wait, please! Tell me who you are!”

Luna cried out as she tried to catch him before he vanished into the vortex. But it vanished right as she got to it. She plops her rear down and lowers her head. She was so so close. And he managed to slip away from her again. Shadow walks up to Luna and places a hand on her back gently.

“Luna...I know who he is. All I can tell you is that he is my past life. Anything else he is currently hiding from me. He says I am not ready for the rest.”

Luna quickly turns and trots up to him, leaning in closely as her eyes were mere inches from his.

“Did you get his name?! I must know it, please! Ever since I have seen this image of him, I can’t get it out of my mind!”

Shadow leaned back a bit, taking a few steps as well. Placing his hands up in front of him.

“H-he said his name was Taylor. The name was very familiar to me when he said it. And when I saw his face, I knew I knew him. Even with the mask he wore..”

Luna blinks and falls back onto her rear. She lets out a sigh of slight disappointment as she looks to him again.

“I feel like I should know him as well. Like somepony who was extremely precious to me. But the only pony I remember who I had such strong feelings for was the one who shared your same name. He was a very powerful unicorn wizard who could wield both lightning and shadow crystal magic. Much like a foe my sister and I sealed away over a thousand years ago. He was the one I was to marry. Since He and I were betrothed at a young age. And when we married, we were to share immortality with one another, but he was taken from me before it could happen…”

Shadow could tell that that bringing up that very same memory brought a look of sadness in her eyes. He walked up to the princess and gently placed his hands on her forelegs and took her hooves into his hands in a gentle grip. This took Luna by surprise, but she didn’t pull away from him, instead, she locked her teal eyes with his sky blue colored hues.

“Listen to me, Luna.I know talking about that isn’t easy. But whatever is happening here, you and I are connected somehow. I want you to know if there is anything that you wish to talk about, or if you need a friend at all. I am going to be here. In this realm or the waking one. Over the past month, you are your sister have been nothing but kind to me. Not only are you teaching me. But you have given me a place to stay while doing so. You and I will get through this together. Alright?”

Luna was shocked by his words, not in a bad way of course. But he seemed so..serious. His gaze, his words, they all reminded her of the pony she loved all those thousands of years ago. She leans in and wraps her forelegs around his neck and holds him close, nuzzling into his shoulder and nodded quickly.

“Yes..thank you so much Shadow...I am so very happy that you are the way you are with me. You don’t act like most around a member of royalty. You allow me to let me be myself around you, just as you are around with me…”

She said in a quiet, but happy tone, continuing to nuzzle into him as she tightened the embrace slightly. Then Shadow remembered what had happened before she came in.

“Ah, I forgot to mention, Taylor gave me these..memories that involve the use of lightning and shadow magic. He said the harder I work at them, the more of the locked abilities I will be able to use. I think I am more eager to learn them now, now that I know what is in store if I do.”

There it was, that combination of magic only made her more hopeful that this young stallion was indeed the one she had been hoping that had returned to her from his death long ago. The thing is, he is that same pony, and later down the road as their relationship develops, they will both learn that this will be the beginning of something greater. A chance to make sure what happened to Taylor, will not happen again. He will be able to not only save Luna and those he will grow to care about, but he will be able to save himself.

“First thing tomorrow evening...I am going to see what you are capable of with these new abilities. I want to see them.”

He may very well be my lost love. If he is..thank you so much mother for giving him back to me...but for now, I will watch him. And make sure that he is the powerful wizard he once was.

She thought to herself before standing up. Making her way to leave his dream.

“Sleep well, Shadow. Should you ever need me..for anything. Just call out to me in your dreams. I will come running.”

“Thank you Luna...I greatly appreciate it. See you tomorrow.”

Author's Note

Here ya go guys, enjoy!

May the darkness grant you peace.