Welcome to Equestria

Waking up in the morning is not always the most pleasant. Even if I don't get any mental breaks, I, at least, gave my body a chance to take a break from all the chaos in my life. I get dressed quickly before moving myself down stairs to sit in the kitchen seeing Spike making pancakes.

"Wait, pancakes?" I was a bit awestruck at the food similarity.

It wasn't long before Spike noticed my presence. "Oh, good morning Shadow. How many pancakes do you like?" He asked.

"Uh. Three is fine, Spike..... Do you have any idea where Twilight is?" I asked.

Spike shrugs serving the three pancakes to me. I hastily gobble the delicious pancakes down. "She was here, but she decide to take a walk outside for a while." Spike said.

I thank him for the help and the pancakes before a green flame appears above me, something lands on my plate. I frown slightly before opening up a scroll that had the royal seal on it.

"Wait, how can you get letters? I thought I was the only one that could get a message like that." Spike asked a little confused.

"I'm not sure," I lied. "It just sort of happens like my magic reaches out and grabs the letter through space."

Spike went silent as I read it:

Dear Shadow,

I would like for you to meet me at the castle with my sister to discuss the disaster that transpired last night. Meet at the palace in an hour of receiving this message.

Sincerely,

Luna

I roll the scroll back up before putting it away. "I'll see you later Spike. And tell Twilight I'll come back later on this afternoon." I said.

The baby dragon nods before I exit the library and teleport to Canterlot. I made my way to the throne to see Luna and Celestia talking to themselves.

"I see you came here earlier than I expected." Luna said.

"I couldn't wait any longer to deal with the situation. I prefer to get it over with." I said.

"Very well," Luna looks at Celestia again. "Sister, I'm afraid to say that Hades' henchmen have return."

Celestia seem shocked by the news. "What? But that's not possible. The Elements of Harmony has sealed anything relating to Hades into Tartarus forever."

"I have no idea how either, but he somehow got pass the system and is sending his minions to continue the quest to kill us." Luna continued.

"Maybe handing the Elements to the main six made the bonds weaker." I suggested.

"I wish it was that simple, but even if the Elements influence had weaken it would have still kept the demon ponies and Hades at bay even if the Elements were to shatter." Celestia said.

I was shocked. "Damn, that's one powerful spell you both used."

"Indeed." Luna said.

"In any case, I think it would be best if you took care of investigating their plans and locations." Celestia said.

"What?!"

"Yes, I told my sister about the skills and sword you used against the demon ponies that night. I must say that I myself am also impressed." Luna said.

"Also, we would have our hands full ruling a kingdom together. And since you have nothing else to do I assign you the task." Celestia finished for Luna.

"But I'm technically not in your army my princesses." I said.

Celestia only smiled saying. "Then welcome to the Royal Guard."

"*sigh* There is always a catch to being accepted into society."

"Of course Princess Celestia, I'll hunt down Hades and his little unholy army." I said.

"Oh! Also, keep this a secret from my other subjects. Very few know the existence of Hades still, and my sister and I prefer it to stay that way."

"Yes Princess."

"You may go now." Luna said.

I quickly made my exit from the palace. It did not take long for me to get to the park in the capital city. I stay at the park for many hours as the very place itself gave me comfort that I never thought possible. After gazing at the sky for a while. A few hours must have passed because I noticed some clouds being pushed out by pink ones. Seeing the change, I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

Suddenly, the pink cloud rains chocolate rain which confused me even more getting soak in the chocolate milk. I heard many of the asswipe versions of aristocrat ponies panicking or wailing at their ruined fashion. I didn't care much as I made my way to the the palace again.

I finally made it only to see that the throne room felt different. The girls were there along with Celestia. For some reason, Luna was no longer at the castle. I stood by to listen in.

"Is this about the weather? The animal's weird behavior? What's happening out there? Why isn't my magic working?" Twilight asked in one breath.

Celestia paused looking at each of the girls. "It seems an old foe of mine, someone I thought have defeated long ago has returned..... His name is Discord."

Fluttershy takes one good look at the creature in the stain painted glass before quickly catching up with the group, however, I carefully look at the features the glass pane displayed. He was quite.... A unique creature having a long neck and equine head, leg and tail of a dragon, paw of a lion, claw of a griffin, and the other leg as a bull hoof.

"Discord is the Spirit of Chaos," Celestia said.

I walk up to the pane glass of Discord while Celestia went on about her and Luna defeating Discord a thousand years ago.

"-But since we are no longer connected to the Elements of Harmony, the spell that was placed on Discord has been broken." Celestia continued.

Celestia then walks over to this unique looking vault that reminded me a bit of the older advance tech on another world I went to. "Now it's your turn to use the Elements against Discord and defeat him once and for all before he puts Equestria into an eternal state of chaos."

"But why us? Why don't you-" Twilight said.

"Hey look! We're famous!" Pinkie suddenly shouts looking at the pane window with them defeating Nightmare Moon only that there was no picture of me anywhere in it.

Celestia smiled at the girls. "You did showed the full potential of the Elements by harnessing the magic of friendship to beat a mighty foe. We may have once wield the Elements in the past, but now it is you and your friends that now control their power. And it is you that must defeat Discord!" Celestia said spreading her wings.

Twilight stepped in front of the group. "Princess Celestia, you can count on us!"

Without warning, a pink blur makes it beside Twilight. "Hold on a second! Eternal chaos comes with chocolate rain. Chocolate. rain!"

However, the girls seem to ignore her plead as they agreed anyways. Celestia then carefully opened the vault, but to everypony's surprise they were not in the chest Celestia placed them in.

Everyone, but me and Pinkie continue to state in shock and mouth gape. "Oh well, if anyone needs me, I'll be outside in the chocolate puddles with a giant swizzle straw." Pinkie said beginning to leave to throne room. I however seem quite shocked Pinkie got over something like this so easily. It's almost a bit concerning.

"That chamber is protected by a spell that only I can break. This doesn't make sense."

A suddenly sinister laugh filled the throne room causing all of us to look around for the source of the laughter.

"Make sense? Oh, what fun is there in making sense?"

Celestia knew the voice instantly. "Discord, show yourself!"

Discord seem amused by Celestia's tone asking. "Did you miss me Celestia?" he appeared on the glass pane in the drawing of himself. "I've missed you. I have been frozen in stone for all this time, but you wouldn't know that, would you, because I don't turn ponies into stone."

"Enough! What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?" Celestia demanded.

He flows from one pane to another like he didn't seem to care. "Oh I just borrowed them for a tinsy little while." Just then he snaps his fingers taking the Elements from the pane in the window.

"You'll never get away with this, Discord."

Discord inspects his talons. "Oh I forgotten how grim you are Celestia. It's really quite boring."

"Hey, nopony insults the Princess!" Rainbow Dash states before charging at the pane only to smack herself into the window pane herself.

He appears larger on the pane staring at Rainbow Dash. "Oh, you must be Rainbow Dash. Fame for her loyalty and the Element of Loyalty." Discord appears from the window pane again.

"I can't believe we are wasting our time talking to a tacky window." Rarity said just as Discord popped into a window beside her.

"The beautiful Rarity, the Element of Generosity if I'm not mistaken." Discord said.

Applejack steps in. "So you know who we are, big deal."

"Oh, I know much more than that, honest Applejack."

"You seem to know our strengths too." Twilight said.

"Yes Twilight Sparkle, and yours is the most powerful Element of them all, magic," Discord said. "Fluttershy is Kindness and Pinkie Pie's is a personal favorite of mine. The Element of Laughter."

Pinkie seem to be laughing at that for some reasom. However, Discord finally took notice of me before looking my way.

"Oh, aren't you a strange one." he said as the group focused at me.

"When did you get here?" Twilight asked.

"I came here a while ago."

"Not truly a pony, yet is a real pony. Fascinating." Discord said getting closer to me.

"I won't get too close if I were you buddy. Spirit or God of Chaos whatever, I'll make sure you are sent home into many pieces." I said.

The spirit of Chaos seem to laugh at my threat. "Oh, I would like to see you try, but I'm afraid I have other things to tend to then abnormal noponys." With that, he snapped his fingers returning into the glass pane.

"Stop stalling Discord! What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?" Celestia demanded again.

"Oh, so boring Celestia. Fine, I'll tell you, but I'm going to tell you my way." He said disappearing once more.

"To retrieve your missing Elements just make sense to these change of events. Twist and turns follow my master plan then find the Elements back where you began." he said moving around the windows before returning to its own pane glass in its original position leaving us.

"This is not good. What did he mean?" Applejack asked.

"Well, twist and turns could mean like a maze." I suggested.

"That's it! I bet Discord hid the Elements in the palace labyrinth." Twilight said.

"Good luck my little ponies " Celestia called back as we left the Palace. I had a terrible feeling in my gut.

-:-

We make it to the labyrinth which kind of remind me of the maze hedge version of the labyrinth Daedalus created for King Minos. It felt a bit disturbing to think about.

"Do we have to go in there?" Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow Dash flapped her wings a few times. "No, Discord completely forgot about these babies." gesturing to her wings.

She takes off over about to reach the hedge before her wings suddenly disappear causing her to fall instantly to the ground. "My wings!" She cries.

Not soon after, Fluttershy's wings disappear too along with Twilight, Rarity and my horns. Twilight, Ratity, and Fluttershy seem to freak out while I was only concerned where my horn went off to. I could only think of one logical reason for this.

Suddenly, Discord appeared in front of the group laughing like a mad man with lightning flashing behind him. All the group were shocked with their mouths dropped open to see the actual dracoequus in the flesh. His presence was very disorienting to see myself.

"You should see the looks on all your faces, priceless!" Discord said.

"Give us our wings and horns back!" Twilight demands.

"You'll get them back in good time," he said teleporting over to Applejack while she was completely taken aback by his sudden appearance. "I simply took them to insure there is no cheating. You see, this is the first rule of our game. No flying and no magic."

"The first rule?"

"The second rule is everypony has to play or the game is over and I win. Oh, except our little abnormal friend over here. He does not count." Discord continued looking at me.

The crazy in his eyes told me what was to happen. He snapped his fingers as spikes impaled me. I let out a cry of pain before a fall to the ground.

"SHADOW!" The girls call out.

The blades themselves made me feel much more pain than normal ones would. I could not move my body to tell it what to do. The girls were about to help me when Discord teleports between me and them. "Oh, and another rule, if you help your little abnormal friend over here you also forfeit the game."

"You monster! You are going to kill him!" Rainbow Dash shouts angerily.

"On the contrary, he is simply unable to move." Discord said snapping his fingers once more to disappear in thin air. The girls looked at me, all on some level of confliction to go, before hesitantly heading into the labyrinth. The pain grew too much bare as I drifted unconscious.

-:-

I wake up to see a pink sky. The spikes in me where still impaled inside of me, but the pain dulled. I quickly take out the spikes and dress up the wounds right away with my own clothes. Once I taken care of my wounds I observe my surroundings. All kinds of chaos stirs dancing buffalo in tutu's, soap roads, candy houses and more.

I immediately go to the library to see Twilight look depressed about something, so I go over to see what's up only to get slapped in the face. "Where were you! Huh Shadow?! We needed you there and you just laid there and did nothing. You're worthless!" She yelled in my face.

My eyes widen in shock as unwanted memories return to me.

"You're nothing special, you're just another body to dump on the streets after your used up!"

"You call that a decent job?! That's not even worth a dime of anyone's pleasure time. TRY HARDER, YOU WORTHLESS BOY TOY!"

"FIFTY MORE LASHINGS FOR YOU, WORTHLESS BOY TOY, and then back to work!"

"I should have killed you when you were first born, worthless piece of life!"

A few tears escape my control before I could stop them. I quickly wipe them away, but not before Twilight noticed.

"I'm so sorry..... I didn't mean to be-"

"I know what you mean, Twilight. My life is filled with mystery that I don't even know about, but don't feel sorry for me. I have my own problems to deal with. You just deal with yours and free your friends." I said.

She nods hesitantly before heading out the door. I just stare at the wall feeling the phantom pain on my back.

After a while, Twilight manage to get all her friends back to normal before we all face Discord for a final battle. Discord didn't seem too impressed by the main six appearance though in his chaotic throne chair in the middle of the once Ponyvile. He seem to more be amused at their appearance than anything else. Each of the girls wore their Elements of Harmony.

"Oooh, this again?" he said.

"That's right, you could not break our friendship for long!" Applejack said.

"Oh Applejack don't lie to me," Discord said using his magic to drag her up to him. "I'm the one that made you a liar!" He then used the rest of his powers to pick everypony up except me into his grasp. My horn comes to life only for Discord to snap his fingers causing my horn to disappear. The girls had genuine fear in their expression while Discord's smile grew sinister.

"Let's have none of that my abnormal little pony. I prefer my encounter with these hopeless mares and their nativity. I'll give them a taste of reality and rip their hearts out!" I could tell the expressions on each of their faces were painted in terror.

I ball my fists as the same black magic aura that my horn had was around my hands. I could feel my instincts scream for blood and damnation. "I've just about had it with you."

Instantly, I vanish from his eyes planting a sucker punch straight in his mismatched teeth. The impact of the punch sent him flying out his chair and releasing the girls from his magical grip.

Discord got up spitting out a few of his teeth into his paw. "Now this is new. I knew you are abnormal, but this is not even a power ponies have." he said wiping the blood still in his mouth chuckling to himself.

"Get up." I only respond summoning Apocalypse.

The dracoequus gets up before charging at me with blinding speeds. His tail forms into a type of sword as he slashed at me. I block the attack with Apocalypse and before you know it I went toe to toe with him. We exchanged a few light wounds with each other before Discord stares me down trying to catch his breath. I was doing the same only my grip tightened on Apocalypse.

"I don't get it why a pony, or whatever you are, is doing here...., but I don't get why you would join forces with these intolerant naive ponies," Discord said chuckling. "And even if I'm turn back to stone more enemies will come to take down Equestria. You can't stop them if that's all you got."

"Well, then you just don't know me." I said as Apocalypse disappears. I ran faster than he could blink. I then turn my hands into claws giving a deep claw wound over his left eye. He cries out in pain clutching his left eye gushing out in his blood. Just then, a rainbow of light appears from behind me. It tactically lands on Discord as he seems infuriated.

"You'll pay for this Shadow!!!" He yelled out before he completely turns back into a statue in a face expression of utter rage.

Almost immediately, the chaos all around the land instantly turns back to normal. The girls land back on the ground as I let out a sigh of relief.

"Um, Shadow?" Twilight asked.

"Yes?"

"What did he mean he's not the only one?"

"......I don't know yet, Twilight. We'll just have to wait it out until it comes." I said.

Once we got back the girls told what happened and the princesses had a celebration that recognized us all as heroes of Equestria. I, of course, just went with it, but Discord's last words had me on edge for the rest of the day.