What lays behind the chaos.

On the tracks of a better future

Shadow left the room angrily, and stomped the ground with every step he took. He was determined to stop Midnight, and he knew he couldn't do it alone. He also had an idea of who could help him. He started running, went down the stairs, and found himself in front in the dungeon of the castle. Only one guard on duty was down there, and the guard saluted Shadow.

"At ease soldier." Shadow said. The guard lowered his hoof. "I will take the next guard shift, you are free to go"

"Thank you Sir!" The guard replied, and left the room.

Shadow waited until the guard had climbed the stairs and he couldn't hear his hoofsteps anymore. When the guard was far enough, Shadow opened the cell's door, and entered the confinement. Inside was one prisoner alone, chained to a wall. The pony was nothing but skin and bones, barely surviving out of the little food that was brought to her daily. Shadow closed the door behind him, reached the further wall and hit angrily with his right hoof.

"DAMN IT!" he said as he hit the wall, the loud noise woke up the prisoner from her sleep.

"Wha-what is going on?" asked the pony as she awoke, "Shadow? Is that you? What is going on here?"

"Midnight started it, Twilight! That's what happened!"

"What do you mean he ‘started it‘?" asked Twilight Sparkle, starting to worry.

Shadow turned to face Twilight, -the sole survivor of the legendary six wielders of the elements of harmony, after the events that took the lives of the other five.- He then released her from the chains and let her walk through the cell freely.

"As we thought, Midnight went mad with power." Shadow started. "He... he took full control of the republic, and is planning to end the war on his terms."

"But how could he do that? I thought Princess Luna had gotten full control of the situation and was keeping the war from going to further measures."

"That's the thing... I don't know how, but" Shadow paused for a second as he was about to cry. "He somehow took her away."

"What!?" Twilight asked in shock and fear, "How could he do that?"

"I don't know, but I'm gonna do anything to stop him, I have to do it! I can't let him do as he wishes, I WILL TAKE HIM DOWN!"

"Calm down, Shadow!" Twilight interjected. "Think about this! You are talking nonsense! Please calm down for a second!"

"Sorry." Shadow said.

"You are usually quick minded and think before acting! What has gotten into you?"

"Is just...Luna. I can't believe she's gone. I-I don't know if I can keep..."

Twilight put her hoof in Shadow's shoulder, comforting him.

"OK." Shadow started again. "Lets think this through"

"That's the Shadow I know. So what do you mean ‘took her away‘? What did he do?"

"I'm not sure, but I fear the worst. I believe he might have killed her"

"This is worse than I thought, do you have any idea how he did it?"

"I don't know, sorry."

"Well if he did it, he must have a really strong power on his side. Something strong enough to take down an Alicorn"

"Whatever it is, he didn't do it alone. For I heard the same happened to Celestia, so I fear he might have gotten into a deal with the empire"

"Celestia?! This is... this can't be true. What is going too happen now, without the princesses?"

"I don't know but I will do anything I can to stop them and give peace to this land once and for all."

"If you plan on doing that, you can't do it alone. You will need help."

"But what can I do?"

"I believe there is only one thing that might be stronger than what Midnight used to take Luna and Celestia down."

"What is it!? What can we do to stop them?"

"There is nothing WE can do. Unfortunately I am confined to this cell, and even if you can get me out, I'm too weak, and I would only drag you down. You have to find the elements of harmony."

"The elements?! But there is no way to use them!"

"You know where they are right?"

"Well yes, I know where the five necklaces and the crown are, but still there is no way to use them, not since your friends-they... I'm sorry."

"You don't have to remind me, and you don't have to apologize again. Anyway, there is a way to use them, as you know the spirits of the elements can be found in 6 special ponies. Since my friends... passed away, a new group of ponies gained the spirits of the elements, and this new group must use the elements now that they are most needed."

"But how am I supposed to find them? They could be anywhere in Equestria."

"The elements are meant to be joined, and I believe you are meant to do this. I trust you. I am sure you can find the five ponies that you need to stop Midnight from dragging this land to its doom."

"Five ponies?"

"You already have the element of magic, and you need to find the remaining five in order to use the elements."

"Still you are the only one who knows this much about the elements, without you there is no way I can find them."

"There is somepony else who can help you. Your friend, Luna's old apprentice, she knows as much as I do about the elements-maybe even more. If you can find her, you can find the elements too. If you really want to stop Midnight, I think this is the only way you can do it."

"Alright, I will find her, if you think she can help." Shadow reached to Twilight and hugged her.

"Thanks you for your help." He then tied her up again. "I promise I will do all I can to stop them, and bring peace back to Equestria."

He turned around and faced the cell's door. As he left, he ended the conversation.

"And Twilight... I'm sorry for everything that has happened, I never expected it to go this way."

Twilight smiled as Shadow left the room. Shadow got out of the cell, closed the door behind him, then climbed up the stairs and headed out of the castle and citadel. He knew what he had to do, but before he could do it, he had something else to do.

He had to find out exactly what had happened, and he knew where he could find out, and to do so, he needed to go to the capital of the Solar Empire and find out how Midnight had gotten their help. Shadow was determined to stop his old friend and his madness, and would do everything in his power to keep the war from going any further.