About two weeks have passed since putting down Discord for me. Everything had went back to normal eventually. The only difference is now from then on a pony would occasionally come up and ask for me to sign stuff for them. Of course, I turn them down lightly not trying to be rude to the other ponies in town.

Anyway, every now and then I would visit the other ponies in Ponyvile like Bon Bon's sweet shop or Berry Punch's drinking bar. I decided to go to the local drinking bar today since I had nothing else to do. I set myself in the same stool at the only corner of the bar counter. Berry was busy cleaning a glass before she caught notice of me sitting behind her.

"Oh, Shadow, what a pleasant surprise, how is my faithful costumer. You looking for some more wine to drink?" Berry asked.

I gave a smile. "Of course I would like some. After all, I don't come here for the eye candy."

Berry just smiled unfazed. "Very flattering Shadow, but you know flirting never had worked with me..... After all, I am the town drunk."

She quickly goes off to prepare a serving of wine for me.

"So tell me, how is your daughter?"

"She's doing fine. I just only worry for her being alone on business days." Berry said setting the shot in front of me.

"Well, I could help with that if you need a babysitter." I said picking my drink up.

"Are you sure about that," Berry replied a little uncertain. "I have known you for a while, but I have not known you to be the type of pony to do favors."

"I don't mind at all. I have my experience with ki- foals." I self corrected.

"Thanks Shadow, I needed it. You can help foalsit her in two days. That's when my next shift of my business starts again."

My ears perk up. "You mean during 'Nightmare Night'?"

From what I gathered from the holiday, it's when the children collect candy, from house to house, to then give some of their candy to the supposed Nightmare Moon in exchange for her sparing the children's lives. It remind me of a holiday similar to Earth's-

I forced my thoughts off of that train of thought.

"Yes, I'm sure you can handle that. I'll even pay you since it'll be like a job for you." Berry continued.

"Thank you for the offer, but you don't have to," I said, yet she insisted until I gave up on trying to be generous. "Alright, I'll let you pay me."

"How about 70 bits each time you baby sit her?" she asked.

"I'm ok with that."

"Great!" she said with a pleased expression.

I then noticed a strange figure out of the corner of my eye. I said nothing until I finished my shot and paid the bits I owed Berry. "Catch ya in two days." I said before leaving the bar in a haste.

I walk until I caught up to the figure I saw earlier to see that they were demon ponies. A bad feeling rose in my gut, so I sneaked behind a part of the walls that lead directly into the alleyway the demon ponies are in to listen into their conversation.

"Did you get the artifact?" the first male demon pony said. This stallion wore crimson red armor similar to the armor the lunar guard wear. The only different I see is a fiery fire gem softly glowing in the center of the breastplate armor piece.

"I-I'm sorry, sir. I can't-" the first demon pony slapped the second one. The second demon pony just rubbed his suddenly swollen cheek.

"Sorry is no excuse! The Archdemon is expecting the 'Hell Gazer' before 'Nightmare Night' begins." The first demon pony said.

"Y-Yes sir." the second demon pony said before running off. As he hits the light of day his appearance turns into one of a pegasus.

"So that's how they are able to not be seen..."

Silently, I walk away from the alleyway after the first demon pony quickly bursted into a hell fire returning to the earth below. My first instinct was to return to the Golden Oak Library. Once I was there I began my research. It was not long before Spike noticed me going through the books in the library.

"Hey Shadow, what are you looking for?" Spike asked.

"Ah! Spike, just the drake I was looking for. Could you find a book on artifacts please?"

Spike went off through the shelves for a short while before pulling out a leather back book called All the Arifact Names and History a Pony Should Not Know of. "Found it!" he said.

I grab it with my magic. "Perfect. Wow, you are a great book finder Spike."

"No problem. It's a borrowed book from the Canterlot Archives. Twilight requested it about a week ago." Spike said.

I open the book and quickly read through the pages until I found the artifact that I was looking for. "Yes! The artifact Hell Gazer is in here."

Spike looked confused. "What is the Hell Gazer?"

"Well, according to this book, the Hell Gazer is an ancient stone tablet and a purple gem enchanted together by forbidden magic. It's purpose is to open a gate.......to......" I trailed off.

"What's wrong?" Spike asked, but I was too busy thinking critically to hear.

"Sorry Spike, but I need to go. Do you mind if I keep this book for a bit?"

"Yeah, as long as you bring it back in one piece." he said.

"Will do." I said walking out of the library.

Two days have passed in that time frame, and I have found no other trance of the demon ponies I saw before hand. I also found no traces or markings of where they could be hiding. The worst part about this is Nightmare Night is tonight.

I get up from the piles of papers of work on my desk in my room. Then I remember something important. "Oh yeah, I'm foalsitting Berry Punch's foal this Nightmare Night. (Technically my first ever Nightmare Night)"

I quickly pack my things before heading to Berry's house knocking on the door. Berry answers it smiling at me. "Ah, Shadow, just who I was expecting." She said.

She motioned me in as I could see a filly that had an adorable outfit on her. Berry points from between me and her. "Rum Barrel, this is my friend Shadow Faze. Shadow, this is Rum, my daughter."

I smile slightly. "It's an honor of meeting you Rum." (I'm just going to not say anything to the fact that she is named off of a type of alcohol.)

Rum smiles widely before walking up to me. She looks at me curiously. "Nice to meet one of mommy's friends."

"So now that you two are introduced I'll be off with getting some business done. Behave yourself Rum!" Berry said before walking out the door. Rum, of course, said her good byes to her.

Once we were alone she went back to staring at me for some reason. "I'm guessing you are ready to go get some candy, right?"

"Yeah!" She said jumping up a little.

I had to restrain myself from chuckling at the cuteness charm she had. "Alright, let's go then." I said.

Some more time passed as we had went out to see Luna's moon shown through the night sky. Many activities for the colts and fillies were set up. Some of them for fun and others to scare the living crap out of foals and ponies alike.

But the only ones I could find and recognized in costumes were Twilight, Pinkie, and Spike. Twilight wore a tacky wizard costume, Pinkie wore a chicken outfit, and Spike wore a dragon costume.

Suddenly, a thunder clap sound through the air scaring the crap out of Pinkie and the foals around the thundercloud. The owner of the thundercloud was Rainbow Dash in a Shadowbolt customs was laughing hard at the prank she pulled. It was pretty funny in a way. Rum and I progress further to spot Applejack near a Bobbing-for-Apples activity. She was dressed as a scarecrow.

We walk up to her. Applejack sees us as she smiles and waves. "Well howdy Shadow! Nice t' see ya here on Nightmare Night."

"Same to you Applejack."

Applejack then noticed the filly beside me. "Now who might be this little filly's name?"

"Rum Barrel, Ms. Applejack...." Run said softly.

"Don't be shy. I won't bite. Promise," Applejack said warmly.

"Thank you every pony," the Mayor of Ponyvile said after the audience clapping died down. "And welcome to a Nightmare Night festival."

The crowd grew bigger and Rum was interested, so we joined the crowds as well.

"For all the foals with a heavy amount of sweets should follow our friend Zecora to hear the Legend of Nightmare Moon!" Mayor Mare gave a slight evil laugh at the end.

Suddenly, a puff of green smoke appears on stage and out from the green cloud came Zecora who was dressed in her Nightmare Night attire showing most of her skin while keeping modesty.

"Follow me and soon you'll all hear the Tale of Nightmare Moon." Zecora rhymes before she exits the stage.

I looked at Rum as she had a puppy dog expression that could give anyone a heart stroke. "...Alright, we'll follow." I said. She seem excited at being able to hear the tale.

We went up a hill near the edge of the Everfree forest. Surprisingly, the stone statue looked exactly like Nightmare Moon was when I fought her.

Zecora then spoke again. "Listen close my little dears. I'll tell you where you got your fears of Nightmare Night so dark and scary, of Nightmare Moon who makes you wary."

She pulls out some green dust as she blows on it making a green version of Nightmare Moon swooping down to get the foals. I sprung into action folding my forearms for protection for the foals. The green dust impacts my body making the Nightmare Moon dissipate in a cloud of green smoke surrounding the foals and I.

"Every year we put on a disguise to save ourselves from her searching eyes," The foals almost scatter. "But Nightmare Moon wants just one thing, to gobbel up ponies in one quick swing!"

The foals and Pinkie Pie at this point were running in circles as Zecora continues. "Hungry as she soars the sky if she sees nopony she passed by," the green version of Nightmare Moon searches through the clearing for the foals not finding them. "So if she comes and all is clear Equestria is safe for another year!" As she said that the green version of Nightmare Moon explodes in the air.

A colt with brown and white fur tugs on Zecora's outfit. "Uuum, Ms. Zecora, if we wear costumes to hide from Nightmare Moon so she won't gobble us up, how come we still need to give her some of our candy?" the colt asked.

Zecora seem happy about the question. "A perfect question my friend for Nightmare Moon you must not offend," the green version appeared again in front of the colt coming up to him. "Fill up her belly with a treaty or two so she won't return to come eat you!"

The green version of Nightmare Moon lunged at the colt bursting into a green cloud on contact with him. All the children immediately dumped all their candy at the stone statue including Rum.

As they finished dumping the candy the winds around the clearing picked up. Everypony did not know what was really going on until the moon looked like it glowed. A figure wearing In a cloak over on a chariot pulling bat ponies came out of the moon. The chariot hovered moving toward the clearing everypony was in. I was also a bit afraid at who it might be too.

"It's Nightmare Moon, run!" Pinkie shouts. The fillies and Zecora did as she said running with Pinkie out of the clearing.

Lightning flashed making the features on her face appear white as she smiles. The chariot then flys away while Twilight goes after it.

"Well, I'm not sure what that was, but I know for certain it's not a threat if the Element bears are there."

However, I heard a twig snap around the clearing. I turn my attention on the noise immediately. I barely dodge a fatal blow from a spear that quickly made itself at home in a nearby tree. Demon ponies came out of the Everfree as I summon Apocalypse. "So now you show yourselves you timey bastards." I said.

A demon pony in the same crimson armor the other demon pony I saw two days ago in was in the lead. He unsheath two twin swords that glowed like it was fresh out of the furnace. "I'm afraid we don't have time to spar with you, so move out of the way little pony." the leading demon pony said.

I get in a fighting stand. "Anything your cause is for will be somehow related to Hades." I spat.

The lesser demon ponies seem surprise I knew while the leading demon pony let out a short laugh.

"All the more reason to kill you. Torch, Pyro search the statue immediately." he said.

Before I could stop his soldiers, the leading demon pony crossed blades with me faster than I could have thought possible. Fortunately, my reflexes were more superior barely blocking his strikes. We fight, but out of the corner of my eye I see where a piece of the cleavage of the stone statue faded into a really clear purple gem as big as a baseball to the lesser demon ponies.

"We found it sir!" the demon pony named Pyro shouted.

The leading demon pony grinned clashing blades with me again sending several sparks in the air. However, I lit up my horn sending a magical blast at the three lesser demon ponies. The blast blew up on impact sending them sprawled on the ground and freeing the gem from their grasps. Unfortunately for me the leading demon pony took that time to cut my waist with his left hot blade sending terrible pain and a burning sensation through my body. My body wouldn't stop though because I blocked his other sword before headbutting him stunning him momentarily.

Without hesitation, I easily slice into his right bicep and left foreleg. He sprawled and grunted in pain on the ground as he realize I cut a major legiment in the leg.

"Take the damn gem and run to the Archdemon!" the leading demon pony yelled before I plunge Apocalypse into his abdomen. He cries out in more pain.

The demon pony named Torch, Pyro, and another demon pony listened to his final orders grabbing the gem before running off. I quickly end the leading demon pony's life following the three demon ponies as best as I could.

They did not stop until we reached another clearing. This time it only had Mayan looking ruins in the area. The trees themselves in the Everfree seem to be trying their best to hid the structures from prying eyes.
Many more demon ponies in crimson armor and not stood near the ruins. There we at least sixty of them. If things turn like I imagine them to, I would be over run quickly if I try something stupid. So I teleport in a hiding place near the Mayan looking ruins as the three lesser ponies burst forth into the clearing.

The other demon ponies take notice of them as one of the crimson armored demon ponies approach the Torch, Pyro, and the other demon pony.

"Did you find the gem as requested from the Archdemon?" the crimson armored demon pony asked.

"Of course sir." Torch said handing him the purple gem.

"Good, you are now relieved of your duties."

"But sir there is a-" Pyro didn't have a chance to finish before he and the others were swallowed in hell fire returning into the earth once more.

The crimson armored demon pony walks up further the Mayan looking ruins, so I secretly follow the demon pony until he led me to the top of the structure.

"My Archdemon, we have the other half of the artifact."

"Great news loyal servant. Let me have a look." a feminine voice said.

I look up to see something that I thought not possible. Unlike all the other demon ponies I have seen in this world, she was in the shape of a human demon instead with a pair of horns on her head and leather wings. She wore black armor that was barely a tight for for her body.

She materialized a hollow stone craved with demon language on the outside. The color of the stone is close to black.

Before they could make the exchange, I jump out of my hiding spot and grab the gem in my magic putting it in my hands. I then draw Apocalypse just in case. The she demon seem to be furious.

"What is a normal pony doing here! Hand over the gem. You can't hope to wield its power, mere mortal." she said.

"I wasn't trying to use this power, demon. I'm going to make sure you can't ever use it again." I said.

However, the she demon was gone in seconds before reappearing behind me. She slashed my arm that had the gem in it before kicking me sideways into the wall making a side wall crater.

She picks up the gem with a sinister expression. If she is going to use it like I have read in the book. She'll be able to unleash everything and even Hades on the surface of Equis. It would be the end of the world as we know it. Not even the Element bearers would be able to stop the end.

"Now then, let's continue on with the operation. General Leviathan, dispose the little equine unicorn here." She said putting the two parts of the artifact together.

"Of course Archdemon." The demon pony General named Leviathan walk up to me.

But the strange part was his physical body seem to be changing as it grew and morphed into a eventual giant sea serpent of a size that almost filled the entire room. His bright red dragon slit eyes gleam in the darkness like a blood lust predator ready to massacre its prey. Intense heat strangely rose from his transformation. Leviathan bares his jagged teeth.

"Holy shit on a brick."

I had barely any time to dodge before the creature released a torrent of flames at me. I then move back behind him as I see the she demon. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Leviathan move quickly around to take me. I went to slash it only for Apocalypse to bounce harmlessly off the mighty creature's slender body.

Leviathan then whiplashed me into the opposite wall before wrapping it's solid scaly tail around my body. "I'll enjoy every last bit of your delicious corpse. You can be assured of that, little pony." Leviathan said.

"Come on stupid magic! Give me something to work with!"

My horn lights up as my body began to feel more power running through my muscles. In a surge of strength I burst out of his coils. Leviathan snarled at me before breathing another torrent of fire. I used the Apocalypse's blade edge to deflect the flames beside me while the creature's anger rose.

I move Apocalypse in a downward slash across its midsection. A cut appears on the creature's body as Leviathan recoils before crying out in pain with a shriek.

"Insolent little piece of meat! HOW DARE YOU CUT ME!" Leviathan roars.

It charges at me with blinding speeds while I quickly charge Apocalypse with energy I hadn't used in a long time. The blade soon glows a soft black in a matter of seconds before I slice the air in the general direction of Leviathan's position. The air seem to slice itself cutting another mark into Leviathan. The air cut also sent a blast backwards sending the demon flying out of the Mayan like temple.

Once I was sure I couldn't see him, I continue where I last saw the she demon. The spell I had placed on myself wore off as I felt my muscles then screaming in pain and relief. Ignoring its cry, I head up to the very top. I could see her from this distance. In the center was the Hell Gazer attached to a stone alter that had glowing Mayan writting. The she demon just seem to sigh.

"It looks like Leviathan wasn't enough to stop a simple pony like you. Although, I must say that you have power behind your blade." She said.

"Don't think I'm not familiar to your kind, she demon." I said firmly.

She laughs. "My, my, aren't you one to talk."

"Enough chatting, she demon, stop the ritual, or I'll destroy your little toy."

"Hmmmm, let me think. Break Lord Hades and his creatures out on to a world that should be exterminated, or stop because you say so." She said in a playful manner.

"Wrong answer," I said speeding at her. I sent my blade in a downwards slash at her only for her to side step me. She then slugs me into the floor of the Mayan like temple.

"You should not underestimate the power I wield wench." she said.

I rolled out of her distance before she could stomp the life out of me. I sprang back into action using Apocalypse to collide with her unnatually sharp claws. Luna's moon above began to turn blood red.

"Shit, I'm running out of time."

Thinking fast, I release a blast of magic that caused her to stumble backwards slightly giving me enough time to teleport to the Mayan alter, and slicing it into two clean pieces. The air suddenly stood still.

"You fool!" She shouted at me.

In a matter of seconds, the two pieces release a giant shock wave explosion outwards that shook the earth below us sending the she demon and I into different directions. The Mayan like temple not long after begins to crumble because of the abuse it took. Many cries of the demon ponies for help echoed in the clearing before it grew to just silence. I get up to realize my body had taken more abuse then I thought it did from the fall. My body also still ached from the strength spell I previously used.

I look at the moon and see it return to normal as well. I dematerialized Apocalypse before walking up to the rumble the collapse made. Gore and stones were just about everywhere in the wreckage. It took a while of searching until I found what I was looking for, the two pieces of the Hell Gazer. I sent them to my pocket dimension to study later.

I then get out of the rubble and look around to see where the she demon had landed only to find no trance of her or Leviathan in sight. My guess they escaped while I was preoccupied. With nothing else to do, I walk back in the direction to Ponyvile.

Once I made my way down to Ponyvile, many of the ponies in town were spooked for some reason. Twilight and her friends (still wearing their costumes) run over to me. Applejack had Rum Barrel right behind her.

"What in tarnation was that huge explosion? Where were ya?" Applejack asked slightly peeved.

"I got lost in the Everfree when I saw the hooded mare." I replied.

"Twilight?" Everypony had eyes on her.

"I was too focused on Luna to notice him, sorry girls." Twilight said. The girls groan while I chuckled.

"Well, I'll take care of Rum now, Applejack. And thank you for taking care of her in my absence." I said as I held Rum's hand.

"No problem, Shadow. Take care." She said before we walked off.

Third Person POV

"Ya know Twilight that Shadow was lying to us." Applejack said.

"What reason does he have to lie to us, AJ. We are his friends." Rainbow Dash said defensively.

"I'm just sayin' that he might have been responsible for the moon turning red or the explosion in some way.

"Maybe you're right, Applejack, but how can he turn the moon red? He has no powers over the moon. Only Princess Luna or Celestia has any power over the moon." Twilight countered.

"Maybe we should have a stake out at his place, then we catch him in the act of doing something weird." Rarity suggest.

"Oo, oo, I love stake overs!" Pinkie declared bouncing on her hooves.

"Then it's settled, we'll have a stake out near Shadow's place tomorrow." Twilight said.

Twilight and her friends then go have some more fun on Nightmare Night.

Shadow's POV

Rum and I had so much fun on the Nightmare Night activities. Soon we surprisingly ran into Luna at the spider tossing game.

"Ah, greetings Shadow. How was your Nightmare Night been?" She asked.

Rum grabbed a toy spider trying to toss it in the web target. "Oh, it's going great." I said with a smile.

"Shadow look! I got a bullseye!" Rum declared jumping up and down in triumph.

"Nice one kiddo," I said.

Rum got some candy for getting a bullseye while I direct my attention between Rum and Luna.

"Also, did you know what that explosion and my moon turning red was all about?" Luna asked.

I paused. "I'll tell you tomorrow of what happened, but for right now I don't think it would be wise for the public in Equestria to hear anything about the incident." Luna nods her head before directing her attention back to throwing a perfect bullseye at the web target.

Not long after that game, Nightmare Night was coming to a close. I head to Berry's house to drop the bundle of joy, I had with me, back to Berry Punch. She paid my the bits that she said she would. Then I quickly head straight for the Golden Oak Library.

I sigh in relief as soon as my head and body touch the bed. Dozing out at the window to get a perfect view of the moon.

"Who and what was that she demon? Why do they want to end this world so badly? It doesn't make sense why the humanoid demons would even be able to travel from another world to the next."

I automatically let out a yawn that quickly reminded how beat I truly was. I gently lay still and close my eyes drifting to sleep in minutes.

Author's Note

Hey everyone, I would just like to say that if you have made it this far in reading my story then I would like to thank you. If you all are reading it to kill some time off your day then that's okay too. If you like it then please give a like. Also, let me know if there is any misspelled errors anywhere. Your input is greatly appreciated. Until next chapter...