My Little Pony: An Unexpected Return

"Is he gonna be alright?" Applejack asked

"He'll be alright, don't worry," Doctor Hooves said reassuringly, yet looked at the unconscious pony with concern. "Using that healing magic took quite a toll on him, but he just needs to rest...I hope..." The doctor mumbled before clearing his throat and continuing. "Those Crystal Guards, however..."

"How many more are left?" Celestia looked at the medic seriously.

"Out of the three dozen? Less than half, including that one pony... Lazuli, right?"

Rarity nodded gravely. "Oh, I do hope they heal well."

"As we all do. Now, if you excuse me..."

"Thank you, Doctor, for coming out here from Ponyville," Celestia said, causing the medic to nod before he left.

Celestia turned towards the group of ponies in front of her. "Sombra has grown more powerful than I feared. He needs to be stopped." Turning towards the door, she added, "That is why I am going to help Cadance."

"By yourself? Are you insane, sister?!" Luna cried in outrage.

"Let's be honest, alright? Moonshadow is down at the moment, and we need somepony to rule in Canterlot while I'm gone. Which leaves you."

"What about me?" Twilight asked in annoyance.

"We need somepony with experience ruling over a kingdom."

""You really are such a nuisance," Luna sighed heavily. "However, you do have a point."

"I rest my case. I will pack my essentials and then be on my way." She turned to see two Royal Guards arriving to accompany her. "Alone."

"Good luck, Celestia!" the Mane 6 cried in harmony.

"Stay safe, dear sister," Luna said softly.

Celestia nodded, then walked out the door, sighing as she did. I hope I do...

...

"Since we have the spare time, I might as well continue with the story," Luna stated, clearly trying to clear the mood.

"Yeah... might as well," Starlight said, a grin forming on her face.

Pinkie Pie zipped out of the room, coming back in a few seconds later with a giant bucket. "And I got POPCORN!" she said, stuffing her hoof into the bucket and pulling out a hoof-full of the buttery treat.

"Where'd you leave off?" Twilight asked. "Moonshadow said that he was working at Canterlot after he became an alicorn... But how did that happen?"

"Well, to start things off, he became an alicorn while he was living in the Dragon Lands," Luna started. "As Moonshadow said, his powers continued to grow, but he was still unsure how to use them. Naturally, I wanted to get a tutor for him, as I had one, but Celestia refused the idea, considering he still lived in the Dragon Lands. Therefore, I took the opportunity to teach him the magic I knew.

"Now, being half-pony is hard, especially living in an area of full-blooded dragons. The dragons picked on Moonshadow, no matter how much his father and I protected. Still, he was able to have one friend - A young dragon by the name of Brisk. Unlike the others, she was a hydro-dragon, so she was picked on as well. Despite this, she and Moonshadow soon became friends.

"Then, one night, while Moonshadow was having a sleepover at Brisk's cave, a young dragon gang snuck in. They grabbed Brisk and started to take her away, but she cried out for help, awakening Moonshadow and caused him to run after the group.

"He found the group at the edge of the lava pit - the one place that Brisk cannot survive in. Once confronted, the gang begin to surround the dragon-pony. Instead of cowering, however, Moonshadow only grinned and lowered his horn Almost immediately, strange symbols formed around him, and he began to absorb a shadowy substance. The Dragon Gang watched in horror as the creature before them opened his eyes, then roared and blasted them all with a blast of indigo light.

"The indigo light sent the dragons into the lava pit, but it stunned Brisk, sending her in as well. Moonshadow cried out in horror, then jumped off the edge after her, pulling her in to keep her safe. As they fell, he was surrounded with a shadowy substance and transformed the both of them into shadows, moving them back onto the edge of the lava pit. As they changed back, Brisk watched in shock as Moonshadow began to glow purple and finally grew his wings."

Suddenly, the ponies heard a faint groan. "Talking about me saving Brisk?"

"Good ta see ya up, pardner," Applejack said, walking up to Moonshadow's bed.

"Good to be up," he said, rubbing his forehead. "Ugh...I really need to catch up on my healing magic. That took quite a large chunk of me..."

"You really cared about Brisk, didn't you?" Fluttershy said tenderly. 'You risked your own life to keep her safe."

"Yeah," he muttered, then suddenly his colors began to fade - his purple tips on his hair beginning to turn a light shade of gray, his eyes turning snow-white. "She was my only friend from the Dragon Lands - the one friend I could actually relate to." he sniffled, wiping away a tear. "I miss her."

"Oh, Moonshadow," Luna said, hugging her son as he began to cry.

"But...You can go see her now, right?" Spike said hopefully. "I mean, now that you're back, you can visit her...right?"

This only caused the stallion to cry harder. "It's...It's not that easy..."

"Why do you say that?" Twilight asked, almost regretting what would come next.

"She's...She's gone. While I was helping the Princesses in Canterlot... The Dragon Gang... They came back...and, well..."

"Oh,no," Starlight and Rarity gasped.

Everypony lowered their heads in sorrow as they heard what came next.

"They... They finished what they started...She's no longer here to visit."