My Little Pony: An Unexpected Return

Twilight and Starlight walked alongside each other as they talked. They tried to talk about major events that have occurred, but it all became small talk as the two biggest concerns continued to surface themselves:

1) Sombra was planning on attacking Canterlot as soon as he got the chance to, and

2) Equestria's best defender was departing, leaving a mostly defenseless kingdom, even if it was only for a few days.

"He'll be back before we even realize it, it's no reason to worry," Starlight comforted, but Twilight only shook her head.

"It's only going to get worse, Starlight. Once Sombra realizes Moonshadow's not here, he'll attack Canterlot with all he's got. How can we stand up to that Shadhavar without him?"

"If I may, Twilight." The two mares looked up to see Moonshadow glide down to land next to them. "You will not be defenseless. I may suck at healing magic, but I will say that I am pretty decent at barrier magic. I can create a force field that will protect Canterlot until I return, and I can even teach the current captains here a few tricks I picked up while I was her the first time." He looked at Starlight, a smirk on his face. "By the way, did you know I am still the Commander of the Royal Guard?"

"You're WHAT?!?!" Starlight cried in shock.

"Yeah, why else do you think the guards at the door stood down upon seeing me?" Moonshadow turned back to Twilight. "Apparently, I was a legend that was passed between captains from my time to this day. But, anyways... I won't leave this place unprotected, i promise."

Twilight nodded, blushing slightly again as she sighed in relief. "Thank you, Moonshadow."

"You're not leaving until tomorrow, right?" Starlight asked, curiosity burning in her eyes.

Moonshadow chuckled. "You want me to finish my story, don't you? Well, yes, I am leaving tomorrow, so I guess I have time to continue. I warn you, however, this is the first time I will ever explain to anypony about my banishment, even if there is almost nothing to it."

"We'll understand if you get emotional," Starlight smirked.

"Not funny. Anyways...

"After I fled from Canterlot, I immediately went to the Dragon Lands - the only place where I thought it would be safe. My father welcomed me with a welcoming smile, but saddened upon hearing the news about Mom, and what I had done to Canterlot. He wasn't mad about what I did, but rather, he was upset that I let my emotions take me over. Same with Mom - not mad, just upset.

"For the entire year I waited for Celestia to arrive, I was regretting having to face her - and her wrath. I continuously tried to think of something to say that would calm her down, but I always came up blank. The only solution that was always resurfacing was to fight her, but I obviously didn't want to do that.

"Sooner rather than later, I heard news that Celestia was travelling to the Dragon Lands. When I heard this, I went to the edge of the Dragon lands to face her. Seeing me, however, seemed to only fill her with rage. She shot a beam of bright energy at me, enwrapping me very much like a lasso and pulling me up to her.

"Celestia, yelled at me, calling me a traitor for destroying her castle because she was battling Mom. No matter what I said, she only grew more enraged, as well as refusing to hear it. Then, she said something that completely changed my attitude on battling her:

"'I should have banished you alongside your mother. Both of you are monsters, never to be accepted in Equestria.'"

Twilight gasped upon hearing this. Would Celestia truly say something like that?

"But...Celestia didn't truly say that...right?" Starlight asked uncertainly.

"Unfortunately, she did," Moonshadow sighed. "But the way that I reacted was a completely different story.

"When I heard this, I first went slack with shock, then was filled with rage. I emitted a purple shock wave, releasing me from Celestia's grasp and knocking her back before I felt my power growing rapidly...making me feel unsteady, ready to burst.

"I looked into Celestia's eyes and saw only fear, and realize that was the source of my power. I blasted her with a massive beam of purple energy, which snapped her out of her momentary paralysis and began to battle me.

"The battle lasted for week straight, without a single break, and the results were obvious: Both of us were exhausted, both almost out of magic, yet I was the first to fall. As Celestia struggled to her hooves and walked towards me, I looked into her eyes and knew what she was planning to do with me: Plunge me into the darkness where I belonged. Looking closer, however, I realized that she was going to intend that I never returned to Equestria - unless as a ghost, of course."

"She was going to kill you?!" Twilight cried in horror.

Moonshadow nodded. "Keep in mind, however, she was not acting upon the Elements of Harmony. Instead, she was acting upon revenge for her kingdom.

"Before she could strike, however, Psykari landed in front of me, blocking me from Celestia. Though stubborn, he helped her realize that killing me would not be the correct answer. They decided, therefore, to send me to the one location that I could not escape unless summoned - Limbo. The last thing I remember was seeing their faces as I was sent away... Then, the next thing I knew, I was crashing through the sky towards Ponyville.'

"Geez, Moonshadow, I'm sorry," Starlight said sympathetically. "That must have been tough."

The dragon-pony shrugged. "It's fine, I guess. Hard to miss something when it was so long ago...Though it only felt like yesterday..."

"Hey, Moonshadow!"

The three ponies looked up to see Rainbow Dash above them, relaxing on a cloud.

"Rainbow Dash? What are you doing?" Twilight asked suspiciously.

"Well, I was going to ask Moonshadow if he wanted to come to the Wonderbolt track with me, thanks for asking."

"The Wonderbolt...track?" Moonshadow asked, completely bewildered.

"Yeah." The blue pegasus flew down to him and rubbed herself on his side. "Wanna go?"

"Um...Well..."

"You should go, Moonshadow," Starlight suggested, which was rewarded with a slap on the head from Twilight.

"But...I have to pack still...." Moonshadow started, not meeting Rainbow Dash's eyes as he began to flush furiously while she still rubbed him.

"OK, first off, Rainbow, back off of him. Clearly you're making him uncomfortable," Twilight stated, then looked at Moonshadow. "What do you have to pack?"

"Food...Survival kit...My armor..."

"Go ahead, Moonshadow." Starlight pushed him away. "Go enjoy herself."

Though still hesitant, he looked at Rainbow Dash - and gave a smile so mischievous, nopony knew what he would've done. Opening his wings, he was suddenly gone, leaving a singed spot where he was.

"Whoa!" Starlight cried.

"Geez! That pony's fast!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed in surprise.

Suddenly, Moonshadow reappeared again by Rainbow's side. "Too fast for ya/"

The smile on his face was so comical that everypony couldn't help but laugh.