The rain poured hard against the forest trees and floor as the sound of a horse’s hooves stepped along the muddy ground. Her icy grey flaming mane and tail causing the rain to evaporate before it even touched her skin. And atop her back rode her master, Zemrite. The two traveled through the Ebonheart Forest just on the outskirts of Equestria. And from what his division has gathered, this was the place where the main headquarters of De Ordine Tenebrae was located.

The rain was mostly kept off of them both thanks to the thick canopy above them, but because of that, it was rather hard to traverse the forest itself especially when the sun was blocked out by both that and the clouds above. But with Zemrite, venturing through the dark was a rather easy task, given his profession. The memories of what he had discussed with Celestia and the others started flooding back to his mind as he rode forth.

--A Few Days Ago--

“It would seem I have been told the location of the Order Of Darkness. Or rather, De Ordine Tenebrae. They are in a rather unfriendly forest on the outskirts of Equestria. And I plan on going there to see what I can gain from them. Even if a little support. I know you and even Luna are against this. But if there is even a chance to forge an alliance with them to stop De Ordine Lux, then I am willing to work with them.”

Luna looked over at Zemrite from across the war table with a look of concern mixture with a gaze of doubt. Zemrite could tell that she was thinking that her fanatics would be just as bad as Celestia’s. If not even worse.

“Zemrite, I know you want to take care of this before things get even worse for everyone else. But how do you know that my fanatics will be much more kind to you than Celestia’s? If they are upset because you are married to her, don’t you think mine would be just as aggressive towards you?”

Zemrite leaned forward, resting his hands on the edge of the table and lowered his head in thought, then lifts it back up.

“Have you two ever heard the old saying, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”? Think about it. Plus, they have not come seeking me to put an end to me as the others have. Perhaps they would side with us because of who and what I am. But if it makes you two feel better about my safety. I will bring a few members of my division along. I promise you that I will return with good news or simply return unharmed.

Zemrite came upon and opening that was fenced off by a large metal barbed fence and a heavy gate. Once he dismounted off his mount, the creature whinnied and galloped off into the forest and disappeared. As Zemrite ventured closer to the gate, he closed his eyes and began to speak with his mind. Reaching out to those who had accompanied him that hid in the shadows.

“Once we go in, maintain your hiding place within my shadow. If things get dicey, all of you come out and get ready for a fight. But if you get overwhelmed, I want you all to make a hasty retreat while I keep them busy.”

“B-but Mentor! We cannot simply leave you behind! We are bound by-.”

“It will be fine, Swiftstep. Just stick to the plan and we will all get out of here alive. I will not have my students die when I can protect them. I will be fine, I promise.”

“Y-yes, Mentor…”

The soft yet deep stallion’s voice echoed through his mind as the then took a running start towards the gate and leaped over it effortlessly. Once on the other side, he swiftly and quietly makes his way across the courtyard of the large structure and into the entrance. He quietly and carefully hugged the walls as he snuck about in the interior of the building. Avoiding the patrolling guards in both armor and robes with ease as he used to darkness to his advantage. One thing he did like about the place was that architecture and design of its decor. It reminded him of a temple he’d frequent back in his world and it felt rather…inviting.

Once Zemrite had found his way down into what appeared to be the main central chamber. There appeared to be many robbed ponies with deep hoods upon their heads. There was what appeared to be a priestly looking stallion in the middle, lightly swinging a burning incense holder around. They started to chant...something. it was in a language that Zemrite wasn't familiar with. And the priest seemed to be the one leading them along with the chanting as they kneeled before three large statues that had beams of light illuminating them within the darkness. Two o0f them he could see right off the bat. Both of them being Luna and Nightmare Moon. But this one in the middle...it was a cloaked and hooded figure holding its right hand up as if conjuring some kind of spell and in its other hand held a blade of some sort. In fact, once Zemrite focused in closer upon it, it was an exact look-a-like of Demon’s Demise. It also had what looked to be Death’s Whisper mounted on its back as well.

“I am not sure if I should be flattered...or afraid that they hold me in such high regard to place a statue of my likeness among their princess. I am certainly not one for this kind of...attention.”

He sighs lightly and starts to make his way down to the lower circle. He walks past those who are still kneeling and chanting, apparently going unnoticed until he got closer to the priest who immediately stopped the chanting which caused all the others to stop as well and gaze upon Zemrite. After a few moments of absolute silence, the priest drops the incense burner and staggers back a bit before collapsing to his knees, gazing upon Zemrite as if he was looking upon a divine being. All the other ponies in the room soon followed after with the same gaze. Their eyes fixated on one whom they considered an existence above their own just as they considered their princess.

“Lord Of Shadows…you have seen fit to grace us with your presence on this fine, dark and rainy day. Praise to the moon and our princess of the night. We welcome you to our humble sanctuary…”

“Lord Of Shadows…?”

All the ponies around him started lowering themselves into a bowing position which started to make Zemrite feel super uncomfortable. He placed a hand upon his face and immediately waved his hand to dismiss the action.

“No, nononono. None of that. All of you on your hooves now. I do not respond well to anything like that.Please.”

The ponies were in awe as they rose to their hooves on his command. They began whispering and pointing towards Zemrite.

“It’s really him...the Lord Of Shadows.”

“The one who our beloved princess was destined to become eternal lovers with…”

Zemrite listened to all the whispers around him with slight discomfort He would have actually preferred a bit more hostility rather than this. As his gaze fell back to the priest who had now risen to his hooves, the older stallion approached Zemrite with a smile upon his face and held out his arms in greeting.

“Lord Of Shadows, we humbly welcome you to De Ordine Tenebrae. This is our main facility out of many smaller ones that dot the landscape. Have you come to grace us with your dark presence and examine this dark sanctuary to see if it befits our princess and yourself?”

Zemrite was speechless at how highly regarded he was to these ponies. He quickly put up a hand and shook his head.

“No, I am not here to be worshiped by you or her other followers. You keep her and her dark self just like that. And when was ‘Lord Of Shadows’ a thing? While it is true that I am capable of commanding shadows to do as I wish, but the title is a bit much> Not to mention I shouldn’t be revered as if some kind of god or deity to ponies. I am simply here to ask for your aid and-...”

“Ah, so humble with such great power at his disposal, The Lord Of SHadows is truly a great being and our princess deserves no finer! Followers of the moon, let us give thanks and praise that He has come here today! Praise the moon and shadows!”

“Praise the moon and shadows!”

The rest of them chanted with fervor. Bowing down to him once more. Zemrite growled in annoyance and shook his head.

“As I was saying. I have come here seeking aid from you and your capable soldiers. While you celebrate in my future union with the sisters, your enemies of De Ordine Lux would rather not have either or happen.”

He then started walking back and forth in front of the whole room as he addressed them all. His heavy boots echoing along with his words. The ponies watched his every move as if they were solely fixated on his presence alone. But he wasn’t going to let that bother him for now.

“Do I have all of your support the make sure that De Ordine Lux will not cause trouble for the princesses and the kingdom of Canterlot? Can I count on you all to help us neutralize the threat that we face? We share the same enemy. And should they come knocking at Canterlot’s gates to cause trouble, I’d be forever grateful, as would the princesses of Equestria.”

Suddenly, Zemrite’s soldiers rose from behind him from his shadow and stood close behind him with their fists upon their chests, showing the allegiance to their mentor. The ponies gasped in all at this display and were quick to rise to their hooves and respond with fighting chants of their own, even those clad in heavy armor seemed willing to aid Zemrite with his offer.

“Those capable warriors, mages and rogues, come and join my division within the kingdom to keep it safe from those seeking to disrupt its peace. Join the Shadow Division, And work in the shadows to preserve what we have while the royal guard work in the light! And together, we shall repel De Ordine Lux and keep both our princesses and everyone else safe from them and any other evil that crosses the kingdom!”

He says as he thrusts his fist in the air, almost all of the room joining in on the motion and began to cheer loudly. The priest behind him bowed his head and clasped his hands together as if giving thanks to Luna herself. He then looked upon Zemrite with that same gaze he gave him earlier, the gaze of some kind of divine being.

“However! Do not look upon me as an almighty being. Look upon me as your commander and comrade in the struggle to keep our country safe and treat our citizens fair. I don’t want to hear of any kind of corrupt acts that involve innocence. Should you take up the mantle of shadow, I and my trusted companions here along with others who could not be present will teach you all you need to know!”

After a while, Zemrite and his followers soon came from the gothic structure and exited the gate which was opened for them this time by two of the armored escorts that followed them out. The rain that was pouring before had slowed down to a light drizzle. The group had waved goodbye to the others seeing them off and made their way into the forest back to a secluded cave that they had made their base for the time being.

“Mentor...are you sure about these fanatics? While they welcomed you with open arms, do you think that they could follow the rules you have set forth as we follow?”

Zemrite nodded to the cloaked female unicorn as they walked along the path that was left behind by Zemrite and his mount on the way there. Their steps silent and their movements like shadows themselves.

“Not to worry, Dusk Blade. Apparently, they see me as much of a deity as they do the princess. But, I’d like you and the others to watch them during and after their training. We need to make sure that they do not cause trouble for the citizens. After all, this is supposed to help protect the kingdom and all of Equestria. I plan on making this division almost half the size of the actual army. That way, all of our bases are covered and we will be well prepared against outside AND inside threats.”

After they had stayed the night in the cave. They immediately set off towards Canterlot by which time they arrived just at the beginning of the sunset. Zemrite parted with his soldiers at their usual hidden entrance so as to not raise the suspicion of the guards and his future wives. Once he was within the castle walls, he was greeted by them both who then lead him to somewhere more private so that they could speak without others eavesdropping. They went into the royal parlor, the guards closing the door behind them. Zemrite collapses on one of the couches and sighs as he sees his two princesses sit on their hooves in front of him with both concern and excitement on their faces.

“Well…? Did it all go alright, Zemrite? Do we have their support?”

Asked Celestia as she ran her hand through her fiance’s long white hair, Luna gently running her hand up and down his side and back in a comforting manner.

“You seem so exhausted after your travels...I do hope they didn’t cause you any trouble.”

YThey both leaned in and rested their heads on his chest and stomach as they gave their lover lots of affection. Having missed his presence even though he was only gone for a few days. He reached up with both hands and gently placed them upon their head, petting and caressing their manes in a gentle manner.

“We do indeed have their support. And get this. I saw the statues of Luna and Nightmare Moon. But, they had a statue of me between them. And they were calling me the “Lord of Shadows’. I swear fanatics are crazy when it comes to that kind of stuff. I am no divine being. Anyway, I set out for what we needed and obtained it. The Shadow Division will handle things with them though.”

He said as he gently caressed both of their cheeks

“Everything will be fine, ladies. I promise.”

Author's Note

Here you go, enjoy another chapter :D

May the darkness grant you peace