My Little Pony: An Unexpected Return

"Are you sure Sombra's back, Celestia?" Twilight asked, voice filled with worry.

"I'm afraid so, child," the Solar Princess said, eyes concerned. "Cadence sent us a message about an hour ago, stating Sombra appeared out of the Crystal Cavern, causing it to collapse. Soon after, he obtained the Crystal Heart, and, well..." She looked at the younger ponies. "I'm afraid the Crystal Empire is lost again."

"NOO!!!" Rarity cried, voice filled with grief. "Who will send me my gems now?!"

She covered her eyes with her hoof, but uncovered them to see everypony glaring at her. "What?"

"Right," Celestia said.

"We gotta go help!" Applejack said. "We all were able to help blast Sombra back into oblivion, can't we just do it again?"

"But last time, he didn't have the Crystal Heart. He was at a weakened state..." Fluttershy stated, shivering. "But now he has it in his possession."

"And that's not the least of our concerns," Celestia continued. "A message came from Ponyville a few minutes ago, stating a 'shadow-pony' appeared from the sky. Either it is one of Sombra's servants, or..." She shook her mane. "I am about to leave for Ponyville. I want you all to come with me."

"You bet we will!" Rainbow Dash cried, pumping a hoof into the air.

As the Mane 6 walked away, Twilight held her student back.

"Someway to come back, huh?"

"Yeah... but, on the plus side, I'm back with you." Starlight wrapped her hoof around her friend's neck. "Besides, what's wrong with an adventure to start the day off?"

...

Even before the chariot landed, the group knew there was a major problem.

"Why is everything so..." Fluttershy started.

"Dark?"

A dark cloud covered the Mane 6's beloved home, making it appear as total night.

"Is Nightmare Moon back?" Rarity asked, looking on worryingly.

Pinkie Pie giggled. "No, silly. If Nightmare Moon was back, ALL of Equestria would be dark, not just Ponyville.

"Pinkie's right," Applejack agreed. And besides, that looks more like a cloud to me. Don't y'all agree?"

"Hmm..." Twilight looked up at the cloud. It was clearly magic being used, but not for offense...

"Princess Celestia? Didn't you say that the 'shadow-pony' fell from the sky?"

Celestia looked at her former student oddly. "Yes..."

"Well, if he did fall, obviously he'd be in pain. What if, just maybe, the shadow pony uses the darkness as a healing source? Since it's only over Ponyville, it could be how, the...um...'visitor'...heals himself."

Before Celestia could answer, the chariot landed with a soft bump in front of the Town Hall.

"Excellent thinking, Twilight," Celestia praised. "Let's see how you right you are."

"Oh, Twilight, Celestia! Thank goodness you all are here!" Mayor Mare came galloping towards them, her mane standing on its end. "I see you got my message?"

"Yes, Mayor," Twilight said. "Is everypony okay?"

"Ponyville's fine," the mayor said, then turned. "Come, he is this way."

As the ponies followed, Rainbow Dash looked at her home in disbelief. Literally, two days ago, it was one of the brightest days in Equestria. Now... It was just like when Twilight first showed up.

"Um, Mayor Mare?" Starlight cleared her throat. "What exactly did this pony look like?"

"Hard to say. He was completely surrounded in the darkness when landed - funny, since he fell from a white portal. As soon as he landed, it grew dark, and next thing you know..."

"Here we are now."

Mayor mare nodded. "The medic team took him to their operation room, and that's where he is now." She looked forward again. "Speaking of which, here we are."

Opening the door, Twilight looked at her friends. "If you don't want to come in, you don't have to. You can stay out here and keep guard if you like."

Starlight stepped forward. "I'm going in."

"Me, too!" Rainbow Dash cried.

"And the rest of us will stay out here," Applejack concluded. "Good luck, y'all"

"Ready, Spike?" Twilight said, grinning.

"You bet!"

"And I'll come in as well," Celestia said.

Twilight noticed a quiver of worry in her voice.

No, not worry...

Panic

Better not to ask...

As the small group walked in, they failed to notice the well-hidden figure sitting on the beams above them, staring with fierce reptilian eyes...