The day was young and warm as everyone woke up to do their daily routine.

Today everything will be a normal day like every day….or so they thought.

In a remote location an expedition was taking place in a reported ancient temple but the one leading the dig was getting frustrated.

“For the love of Celestia Hurry up I don’t want to spend more time here than needed!”

A humanoid pony with a grey coat, black mane and tail with grey streak, he is wearing a white collared shirt with a red tie with white pockadots, blue jeans and fine tunic boots.

His face had a bit of darker fur that went from is lower chin to just below the nose, bushy eyebrows under light green eyes.

You may know him as Dr.Caballeron.

“Come one put your backs into it.” He ordered.

The workers he ‘hired’ were griffons and ponies, they kept digging for ‘The Lost City of Ravens.’ The name isn’t well known in equestrian history.

“Doctor!” a womanly voice calls to him from a distance, coming over to speak.

That woman was a griffon, in fact the one who is suppling him the griffon workers…for a cut that is.

She wore some tattered clothes, a sleeveless t-shirt, leather pants and boots.

“How much longer?” She asked her tone was showing her annoyance.

“If the workers would hurry up we would’ve gone our separate ways.”

The griffon smiled sultry.

“Oh really…I’ve grown quite fond working with you~.”

The doc blushed a bit but then cleared his throat.

“Yes well, it’s still undergoing but if the workers find something they-”

As he was about to finish his sentence a loud noise came from the dig site as the sand caved in.

Quickly both jump back from the sand before it could swallow them, the workers doing the same.

After the sand fell a very large stone slab was visible.

The doctor slowly approached the slab, he gave an order for the workers to investigate the stone to see if there is anything.

“Sir its cracked open here.” One of the ponies called out.

The doctor ran over to the crack, and leaned his ear to the ground.

“Water.” A worker passed his canteen and he opened it and poured a bit in the crack.

“What is the-”

“SHHHH” he interrupted the griffon he was talking to and listened closely.

*Drip.*

He smiled widely.

“I believe we found it.”

With that he grabbed a nearby pickaxe and started to chip at the stone.

“Help me you idiots.” He yelled at the workers who were quick to comply and started to dig at the stone, and after an hour they get a break.

“Rope.” Again one of the workers hands the doctor a rope and he ties it to a rock that was nearby and tosses it down the new hole.

“You.” He points to a random pony worker.

“Yes sir.” The green pony with blue mane and hazel eyes. He wore a white t-shirt and pants like the rest of the workers.

“Name?” the doctor asked.

“Apple berry.” The pony replied.

“Well ‘Apple berry’ todays your lucky day, you’re going down first.”

“M-Me?”

“Yes, you go down there and take a look for anything dangerous.”

The pony gulped but did what he was asked, he grabbed a hold of the rope and slowly descended down into the dark cavern below.

Once he reached the bottom he looked around, he couldn’t see much in the pure darkness, the opening being the only source of light.

As he was about to call out a loud noise startled him, a large group of bats flew around him and out through the hole forcing everyone back from the entrance.

After a few seconds apple calls out.

“All Clear.”

The Doc went to his tent and grabbed his essentials, torch, machete and a piece of parchment.

He ran to the rope and started his decent into the deep depths.

“Let’s Go!”

All the workers and now a few guards who were with the griffon woman climb down into the big room.

“So shall we go Sartha Shadow claw?” The Doc asked the woman.

The griffon smiled with glee.

“Can’t wait to get paid.”

The doctor struck flint and steel against the torch, once lit Dr. Caballeron used the limited light to look for a pathway.

“Over there.” One of the workers pointed to a series torches down a hall way.

“Grab a few and bring them to me.”

Few did as asked and brought the torches, using his lit torch he lights the ones brought to him.

“That’s better, lets continue.”

With that they continue down the hallway.

The doc was in the lead with his torch and the parchment in his own little world.

But the workers were uneasy, even the griffons.

The air was stale, and silent…a sense of dread that made everyone uneasy.

Apple Berry was looking around for any treasure or something, he looks ahead and saw a sliver line in front of them…and the doctor was about to walk into it.

He ran toward the Doctor and pulled him back…making him hit the ground.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING IDIOT?!”

Apple didn’t respond to him instead he kneeled and got a closer look at the sliver line.

The Doctor sat up and went to his side.

“What is this?”

The Doc pulled his machete and cut the line.

*SHWOOOM*

A large blade dropped in front of them, nicking both their noses, blood stained their coats.

“HOLY!-” Apple grabbed his nose after he felt the blood started dripping.

“WHOA.” The Doctor was doing the same for his.

The doc took a closer look at the blade.

“T-This is…Dracosharick…”

Sartha didn’t understand.

“Draco what?”

The Doctor looked to her in shock.

“Dracosharick translated means Dragon Steel in ancient Dragon…it’s known as the most strongest and flexible steel…but the most rarest and most difficult to forge.”

“Ok…How is this important?”

“Well…if I were take a guess…Someone didn’t want us to get in…by…killing us.”

That made every one unnerved.

Doc looked ahead.

“We have to be careful if any of the traps are like this one...they don’t want anyone here.”

With a new cautiousness they continued.

<________________________________________________________>

A pair of wings were flapping over the desert looking for the temple from rumors.

Two Pegasi, one wore a tan jacket, dark green shirt, brown adventure hat, khaki jeans, green boots, and a satchel. She was a tan pony with jet black mane and tail.

This is Daring Do, the enemy to Doctor Caballeron.

The other pony was wearing a Tan jacket as well but had a blue shirt, green pants, and blue boots. This pony was a cyan blue with a rainbow mane and tail.

Her name is Rainbow Dash the element of loyalty.

Both were flying at a fast speed to Dr. Caballeron’s excavation site.

“How much longer we’ve been flying for hours now.” Dash asked in a hurried tone.

“We have to hurry we don’t want to have Dr. Caballeron steal any powerful artifacts.”

“I Know Daring but I’m trying not the leave you behind.”

“Whatever we just need to get there now.”

<________________________________________________________>

Both make it to the dig site and find out that Dr. Caballeron had already found the ancient temple.

“Crap he must be inside already.”

They find a hole and fly down inside, the darkness was eerie.

“Look.” Dash points to a torch that was laid on the floor.

Daring grabbed her flint and steel and lit the torch.

“Let’s go.”

The duo started trotting down the path towards the doctor.

While heading down they notice that traps were sprung…the first one made them uneasy.

“Who or What ever didn’t want anypony to enter…that steel is prove of that.” Daring’s voice showed a tinge of shocked at the revaluation.

There were other traps such as poisonous darts to fire spraying out at the wrong step of a floor puzzle.

When they got past the traps something happened that sent chills down their spine.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

“WHAT IS THAT THING!!?”

“IT’S KILLING US!”

They ran to the voices of terror.

(15 minutes earlier.)

Dr. Caballeron and his ‘team’ just past the deadly traps and were in a large monastery showing a story of a ruler named. The Raven King.

Most of the text was destroyed by time…and it was in ancient equestrian which has only been translated by 1/10th.

“This place is thousands of years old.” The doctor’s voice showed awe.

“Well where is the gold?” Sartha asked.

“Might not be any.”

“WHAT.” Shartas voice showed anger but Dr. Caballeron was quick to react.

“Some riches come with discovery…perhaps there might be gold here, we are in a monastery so makes sense that treasure isn’t here.”

“Darn better be.” With that they continued down the path.

After a while they enter a room with more than one pathway… with a puzzle.

“Oh boy.” Apple said with doubt.

“Relax I’ll see if I can find out the right path.”

Sartha was looking around the space trying to distract her mind from boredom.

She sighed and looked at the words on the wall…that’s when she knew.

“Hey Doc…”

Dr. Caballeron came over.

“Yes?”

“Isn’t this equestrian.”

When Caballeron took a closer look he noticed it too.

“No…its griffon…but that makes no sense.”

Sartha turned to one of her workers.

“Do any of you know ancient griffon?” luckily one did know a bit.

Unlike equestrian, griffon language has nearly stayed the same for a very long time.

The griffon worker came up and started to read the lines.

“It sounds like a riddle…”

The doctor gestured for him to continue.

“As the sun shines bright I’m scarce only an obstacle makes me known, as the moon glows I’m everywhere my glory is shown…what am I?”

The worker looked to the two.

“I see, the right answer leads to the right path.” Dr. Caballeron concluded.

He looked above the door ways he saw more text.

“What are the answers?” he asked the griffon worker.

“The left says bats, the center says life, and the right is…The Darkness?”

“So…” The doctor thought about the riddle.

“It mentions the sun and moon…could be Celestia and Luna…but it also could mean something else.”

Everyone pondered for a minute until apple spoke up.

“It’s Darkness.”

Everyone stared at him.

“How So?” Sartha asked.

He rubbed his arm.

“Well the answer is in the riddle…the sun can make shadows if something blocks it, but the moon doesn’t cast as much light so it’s pretty much darker.”

Dr. Caballeron hummed.

“That sounds like a good answer…alright lets go.” With that they take the path with darkness at the top.

A few hours later they meet a big room with some light from an unknown source.

Roots lined the place with a white glow and mist flowing off them.

Everyone entered and all stood in awe at the place.

Dr. Caballeron smiled ear to ear.

Apple looked ahead and saw a statue of a figure in the middle of the light, he walked forward; he noticed a large sword was in front of it with the figures hands resting on top of the handle and its head bowed down as if it was resting.

The tree behind the statue was unlike anything anypony has seen a large oak that was white and the leaves were a beautiful crimson.

Sartha was next to him with curiosity.

“Who’s he?” she asked to herself.

“That, would be The Raven King.” Dr. Caballeron came up and looked at the statue. “And our treasure.” He looked at the sword in its hands.

“That’s it?” Sartha started to get angry.

“A Stupid statue and a sword.”

She pick up a rock and threw it at the statues face causing a crack.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Dr. Caballeron shouted at her in anger of damaging a thing of history.

As the two argued Apple stared at the crack…it started to crack even more…then the upper right of the face was broken.

Darkness was inside…nothing like a normal statue.

Then in a split second a yellow orb…an eye staring at him from inside…He froze in terror.

The cracks started to run through the statue as the creature started to break free from its stone prison.

With one jerk most of the stone broke off of it, it leapt into the air and landed with a loud thud. Getting everyone’s attention.

Dr. Caballeron and Sartha both stared at the dark figure.

Its eyes were fixed on every living thing in the room.

One of Sarthas guards jumped in front of the three while the other two were on the sides.

“Well…Hi?” Sartha said a bit nervously, despite her being taller…the air around the figure was heavy.

Just then the front guard charged at the figure hoping to get a blow to the head.

The figure out stretched its right hand slightly behind its back the sword came flying to it…and he ran it straight through the guard.

“Ghaah.”

The guard was slumped as he felt his life being drained from him, then the figure put its right hand on the griffons head and a blueish white form of magic came from it, as it pulled its hand away from the guard’s head a mist came from the griffon into its hand and up its arm.

After that it grabbed its sword and pulled it from the griffon who is now a lifeless corpse.

The other two guards got in front of the three.

It charged at them with impossible speed, both the guards raised their weapons and started to swing at the threat…to no effect as it dodged them like a dancer, one guard flies back and throws an axe.

With its sword it swung to intercept the axe being thrown at him, with both hands on the blade it sliced the guard to its left cutting into his flesh and spilling blood.

Dr. Caballeron noticed that the sword was absorbing the blood it spilled.

The imposing creature continued its assault and cut up the griffon in front of him each time his sword absorbing some of the blood, with a thrust it impaled the griffon and like the first one he too was being drained like a water tap.

Everyone was in shock and terror at this thing…it was slaughtering them.

The last guard took flight and in a roar cry charged at the being…only to be beheaded by it as he flew by.

All 3 guards are dead…panic sets in.

“AHHHHHHHHHHH!”

“WHAT IS THAT THING?!!”

“IT’S KILLING US!”

All of the workers and the two leaders run in a panic to the exit…but it was sealed off by a magic door that wasn’t there before.

All the workers stared in terror.

Dr. Caballeron was at the front Sartha was behind him.

The doctor pulled out his machete and waited as the figure approached towards them.

He took a swing at the monster but it caught the blade in its hand, and with one quick jerk broke the machete in half, it grabbed Caballeron by the throat and lifted him up.

Dr. Caballeron was fearful of his own life.

‘This monster…it…this dig…it was a mistake.’

The creature tilted Caballeron head to the side…and bit down on his neck.

Dr. Caballeron could feel his blood being drawn from his neck…his life being drained.

‘I’m…Gonna die…here…’

‘Not if you change your ways.’

A voice rang in his head…he knew who it was.

‘Greed will lead to loss, loss to pain, pain to suffering, suffering to sadness, sadness to death.’

The words replayed in his mind over and over again.

‘Be thankful I have mercy.’

After that sentence the creature stopped biting Caballeron neck and tossed him aside.

It noticed two more figures that weren’t there before…but paid no mind as it turned around and leaped to its once stone prison and to the other side.

Daring Do and Rainbow dash quickly followed him.

Placing the sword on its back and with a jerk of a hand to the side, a powerful magic formed from the lower arm to near the floor.

Some of the workers curiosity got the better of them, a blade similar to the one on its back was on its arm, only it was blueish white…

The other side had a large door sealed by a powerful magic, a hole in the door was leaking a foreign magic as it was leaking a green mist. But in a sudden change the magic in the creature’s possession turned green, as it raised the long magical blade parallel to the hole, the being proceeded to push the blade into said hole.

When that happened the door lit up the same green mist traveled throughout the entire door and the sound of a singing opera echoed in the entire room. The door slowly opened and the sound of the wind came through. It turned to the two behind it staring at them with a hawkeyed gaze, then to the workers…then to one being. It lifted its hand and a purple aura with green tendrils formed in its hand.

One of the workers started to levitate…that worker was Apple.

“Wh-Whoa!” In a split second Apple was in front of the creature…then he went unconscious.

In a burst of smoke the creature was on the move with the worker in its grasp.

“Hey!” Dash said taking off after the being, with Daring hot on her tail.

The rest of the workers looked at each other then went for the door…Sartha was carrying Dr. Caballeron on her shoulder.

<________________________________________________________>

The creature moving at super-fast speeds making Dash actually having to try her best just to keep up…plus it was moving around obstacles with surgical precision.

“Who is this guy?” Dash said while panting.

Then in a quick motion a pair of double doors open to the light of dusk.

Dash makes it out of the doors and the…thing was gone, taking the pony with it.

“DARN IT!”

She stomped in frustration.

Daring came from behind panting heavy.

“Did…it get away?” she asked as she was catching her breath.

“Yes.” Dash said defeated.

“Well we got Dr. Caballeron maybe he can help us track him…maybe.”

Dash didn’t like this…this thing…reminds her of Sombra…however unlike Sombra it kills and…bites on the living.

“I’ve got to warn the girls.”

<___________________In a remote location_____________________>

I ‘hide’ in one of my old sanctuaries where no mortal can enter, not without the Soul Reaver that is.

Anyhow I was inside with the pony I…kidnaped but for a good reason, speaking of which the one who is waking up.

“Ugh…what happened?”

His voice was groggy and rasp.

“You’re in my sanctuary.”

My voice made him froze his fear was ever so present.

“Please don’t-” he was looking everywhere for me.

“Kill you?” I asked.

All I got was a gulp and a moment of silence.

“Calm your fear, I do not intend to harm you.”

That didn’t seem to help too much so I summoned a fireball and light the once pitch black room.

He instantly stared at me.

“Let’s shed some light.” I split the fire in half and shot out in both directions lighting torches surrounding the room.

Once the room was lit you could see the inside was filled with pictures and writings.

I see that the pony was staring in awe of the place.

“Come.” I said as I passed him

“We have much to discuss.”

I also noticed that he stared at my face but didn’t question it.

“So…You’re not going to kill me…or bite me?” he asked hesitantly.

“Kill…not unless you try to against me…bite…well maybe.”

He still had a bit of fear but I could see that he was starting to relax bit by bit.

“Why…did you bite Dr. Caballeron?”

I look to him which made him regret asking.

“I Fed on his blood.”

That made him pale.

“Y-You…”

“In order to sustain myself I must feed upon a mortal’s blood.”

He stepped back away from me.

“No need to fear…I have fed on this Caballeron so I’ll be fine…for now.”

Still didn’t help.

“And I made it painless.”

Helped a little bit.

“Let’s continue.” I walk down the hallway.

“What is your name?” he seemed quite down for a moment

“Apple Berry.” He said quietly.

“Hmmm that sounds familiar…” that made him curious.

“What do you mean?”

“Are you…related to Blackberry Barron Berry?”

Apple Froze again but of shock not fear.

“He…he was my 13th Grandfather…my family’s legacy…my mother told me of him a long time ago…”

“And where is your mother?”

I noticed Apple wince.

“I-I…can’t…tell…”

The feeling of sadness clouded his mind.

“Then show me.” I raised my hand to his head.

‘…’

‘…’

In a town all the buildings were old in looks and falling apart a town filled with the ill, elderly and the poor, a young boy went to a house from playing outside a beautiful blue mare with mango hair met him with a hug.

“Did you have fun today my little stallion?” Her voice was soothing.

“Yes mama!” the young boy cried in joy.

“Well it’s time for bed.”

The young boy yawned and started to fall asleep.

The woman picked up the boy and laid him on the bed and then lying beside him.

“Mama…”

“Yes Apple?”

“Will we be poor forever?”

The question made the mare beside him pause.

“No sweetie…not forever.”

Both drifted off to sleep.

After a few hours the sounds of screams made both wake up in a scare and panic.

The mare instantly grabbed the young boy and ran to a side of the house.

She opened a floor hatch and stuck him in the open space.

“Stay here!” she closed the hatch.

“Mommy!”

Soon after the boy could hear his mother shouting and then a crash.

The boy wanted to jump out and stay with his mom…but he was too scared to move, tears flowed down his face.

‘…’

I lowered my hands and looked at Apple; he was crying.

“I see.” An idea came to mind.

“You’re in luck Apple.”

I walked to a certain room with a pool of white misty water.

Apple followed and saw the pool and looked at the center.

“What is this? I can feel the magic from where we were.”

“A foresight pool.”

“Foresight?”

“Give me your hand.” Reluctantly he did, I grab a nearby knife and slice his palm, and expectantly he jerked at the sudden cut.

“Now place your hand above the water and let the blood drip.”

He stared at me with doubt but did as I told him. When his blood dripped into the pool it started to bubble and changed color to a blue.

“What is happening?”

“The pool is using your blood as a catalyst for your vison.”

“Vison?”

I gesture to the pool.

Apple looked in and saw shapes and a flow of blue.

“The pool shows your desire, the color of the pool indicates the type of emotion behind that desire.”

“It’s blue…”

“So it’s loss, pain, and sadness.”

Apple looked further into the pool…but didn’t see much.

“I Don’t-”

“Works better if you submerge your head.” I cut him off.

Apple stared at me for a moment then back to the pool.

In one big breath he stuck his head inside no water overflowed from it.

“Relax your mind and let the water show you that you seek.”

Apples’ body slumped a little and the water was still.

I didn’t need to know what the water showed him…I knew already.

Apple’s head rose form the pool in a gasp.

“That’s! My Mother!”

I nod.

“B-But how…where-”

“Relax and let the pool show you.”

Apple stared back at the pool and with another breath he dumped his head back into the water.

About half a minute passes and he comes back up gasping.

“She’s…in a mine…surrounded by diamond dogs.”

“Did you see the path?”

“Yes it’s not that far from Whooversvile.”

“Wait here a moment.” I walk out the room for and into another down a few doors. An armory for my old soldiers.

I found a decent piece of armor and two weapons.

“Thank the dragons and zebras.”

With the items in hand I walk back to the room.

Apple sees the items and stared.

I toss him the items and started to adjust my armor.

“Get ready were heading to…’Whooversvile.’”

“Why are you helping me?” Apple asked.

“You want the truth?” I replied with a question.

Apple nodded.

“Black berry was an old time friend of mine.”

Apples eyes widen.

“And you remind me of him quite a bit…both of you are honest stallions despite your upbringings.”

“That and I need to earn your trust…for I need your assistance later.”

I refasten my chest plate and greaves.

Then I did my gauntlets.

Apple started to put on the armor.

A dark blue with sliver trim, a red head of a unicorn with the symbol of my raven head on the other side was on the shoulder plates.

“How is this so light?”

“The Mystics Elite unicorn armor has a special enchantment that makes it easier for them to move.”

“Mystics Elite?”

“The Elite are the personal troops of my lieutenants, the Mystics are the unicorn faction.”

Apple looked at the weapons, a sword, and a bow with no quiver.

“No quiver or arrows?”

I smile.

“I’ll tell you on the way.”

With that we both leave the sanctuary.

<________________________________________________________>

Dash was on a blimp to Ponyvile, Sarthas to be exact.

“How much longer?” Dash grew impatient.

“About 2 hours.” The griffon worker said.

“UGH THAT’S TOO LONG.” Her raspy voice had long since annoyed everyone one the blimp.

“We’re going as fast as we can this ain’t a race.” The pilot was…well doing his job.

“Dash I know it’s urgent but we can’t just fly as fast as you.” Daring gave Dash an idea…a daring idea at that.

Dash started to run to the back of the blimp.

“Dash?...DASH?” Daring took after her.

When daring found her she was already out the door to the top and was flying to Ponyvile.

Daring just shut the door and shook her head.

<________________________________________________________>

Dash flew fast towards Ponyvile.

She noticed Twilights castle and the friendship school, she flew to the castle door and opened it.

“TWILIGHT!” Dash shouted as soon as she opened the door.

“TWILIGHT!!”

“TWILIGHT!!!” Dash was looking around the castle for her friend.

“Dash!” A familiar voice called her from a distance down the hall.

Hearing the voice Dash flew towards the voice to find a purple dragon with green wearing a gray t-shirt, sport shorts, and sneakers.

“Where is Twilight; Spike?” Dash asked quickly.

“She’s at the crystal empire speaking with Chrysalis and Candace.”

Dash huffed.

“I need to speak to her and the girls.”

“Why?”

“It’s urgent.”

“How urgent?” Spike asked slightly worried.

“Like super-villain conquering the world urgent.”

Spike nodded.

“Let’s tell her.”

Dash followed Spike to the Friendship table.

Spike grabbed the ‘Emergency letter’ and started to write.

“Tell me what happened so I can inform her of the situation.”

Dash stared on for a while…then sighed.

“It was in a crypt or tomb of some ruler…The Raven king…the rumors that me and Daring heard of from some older stallion…From what he told us the ruler was a powerful figure…and had many of powerful artifacts that he created…as for the ruler himself…he was feared by all of the other rulers…enough that they all tried to overthrow him.”

Spike paused for a moment.

“Sounds like Sombra…only more…threatening.”

Dash nodded.

“We also found out that Dr.Caballeron was digging for ‘The lost city of Ravens…’ and he did find it…and the ruler’s tomb…once we got past the Lethal traps we heard screams of terror and we followed them to the place where they…woke him…w-when-” Dash shuddered the gruesome sight still fresh in her mind.

“When we got there…the monster…was biting Caballeron on his neck…and behind him, Sartha…the one who was working with Caballeron…her personal guards…were all killed…with hardly any blood.”

Spike also shuddered, he got up and patted Dash in the back.

She continued.

“He threw Caballeron to the side like nothing…and leapt over his…prison, much like discords…and to the other side.”

Dash continued to speak about her encounter and that the figure captured a pony and ran off with him.

Spike wrote everything and blew his emerald fire and sent it to Twilight.

“That should be good enough.”

There was a knock at the door.

Spike and Dash run to the door and open it, and to their surprise they found Daring and the two rulers behind her.

“Dash.” The royal figure in a sun dress and white heels. Next to her was her sister in a moon dress and dark purple sandals.

“Celestia, Luna! I’m glad you’re here.” Dash said with excitement and relief.

“Good to see you to Dash, Daring told us the dire problem.”

“Wait how…we were 2 hours away.” Dash asked Daring.

“The princesses saw the blimp long before we got close to the city.”

“But that isn’t the important thing…from what we heard from Daring here…we have a dangerous being that Dr. Caballeron had awoken from slumber.”

Dash nodded.

“Spike has already sent a detailed letter to Twi and the other girls.”

Both Celestia and Luna nodded and went inside the castle.

“Let’s wait for their arrival…should be only a couple of minutes.”

“Wait, what…” Dash didn’t have time to question the thought when a flash of light formed behind them.

Next thing Dash and Spike know all of the rest of the main 6 had shown up…plus the other two royal representatives, Candace and her husband Shining Armor; whom is also Twilights brother, and Chrysalis who seemed annoyed.

“Mind you tell me what is going on?” The changeling queen asked her voice chitty and frustrated She wore a green dress and high heels, her dress seemed ripped at the bottom with holes in it, it fitting her features black with holes in her arms and legs and her eyes were an emerald green while her mane was a dull green.

“Dash.” Twilight ran to her.

Twilight was a princess herself, she was wearing the crown of friendship, and was dressed in formal ware, a blue dress with some purple highlights, and black high heels, she was purple with the nearly the same color only a little brighter, her mane was a dark blue with a purple and pink highlight.

“What is the issue?” Twilight asked in worry.

“We have a problem…A BIG PROBLEM.”

Dash flew up and got everyone’s attention.

“Let’s head to the Friendship room.” Dash said as she darted to said room.

…

Once everyone entered Dash started to tell everyone what had happened along with Daring…and one unexpected guest.

Sartha was also present…and slightly unnerved.

She explain the riddle they did with the pony that got foalnapped figured out the riddle.

Chrysalis was finger tapping and bored out of her mind until I got to the part where they found the tomb.

Sarthas guards tried to capture the creature…but it didn’t end well.

All three were killed and all life drained from them…blood and spirit.

“The eyes of the one that the blue magic came from…were pale no color left in them…no life.”

The princesses shivered when they looked at the bodies, gruesome and scaring. In fact celestia almost lost her lunch at the site.

“Oh my.” A timid yellow Pegasus in a teal blue dress that matched her eyes and her pink hair tied up backwards showing her face in full.

Dash did her best to spare the shy pony but it was hard to not describe the encounter.

“It sounds evil.” The yellow mare said quietly.

“It is Fluttershy, no pony can do what it did and be a good guy.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t change him!” A pink energetic pony bounced up and down, wearing a red t-shirt that really doesn’t cover her body well, and blue jeans with pink tennis shoes.

“I Mean Come ON we changed discord and later Chryssi here.” Chrysalis stared at the bouncy mare.

“Don’t, Call, Me, That.” The queen hissed in frustration.

“Pinkie Pie dear…please refrain from annoying Chrysalis until we’re done here.” A refined mare spoke, she in a white dress and purple heels, her mane purple with curls.

“Come on Rarity we can try!” Pinkies’ enthusiasm didn’t change.

“She has Ah point Pinkie.” A mare with a country accent, t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up showing her fit arms, jeans and ankle boots, a sexton hat lied on her head covering a small bit of her blonde mane done in a ponytail.

“If we have ta we will fight em.”

“AJ it’s not like we can fight him either.”

Everyone looked at Dash and stared in shock and worry.

“Dash?” Twi asked she felt worried and confused, Dash is usually the one ready for a fight but for her to say that they couldn’t made everyone nervous.

“It….It’s too fast…and strong for a normal fight…plus it had a magical sword so who knows what it’s capable of.”

“Too fast?” Pinkie asked with concern.

“Strong?” AJ doing the same.

Dash gulped as if swallowing her pride.

“It moved at speeds so fast and efficient, I had to give my all too barely keep up to it…as soon it reached the exit I lost it.”

“Not to mention it snapped Caballeron’s machete like a twig.” Sartha said with some dread.

“Hard griffon steel if I recall.” Daring pointed out.

“Indeed.”

Twilights eyes widen at notion of it breaking one of the harder materials like nothing.

“So what else do we know of this Raven King.” Celestia asked grimly.

To most of the beings present this wasn’t as imposing, to 3 other individuals they knew all too well.

“Uh-oh.” Spike said in slight fear; knowing that Celestia was angry.

Sartha rose to her feet.

“Other than some rumors we don’t know much.”

Sartha started to walk out.

“Hey Where you going?” Daring asked.

“To bed.”

With that Sartha left the room and out the castle.

“Well what do we do?” Dash asked.

“Well considering the situation we have to take action and soon, we have no idea what this villain could be planning” Shining sighed.

“This thing from what I heard…it’s probably worse than Tirek hearing about the murders of the three guards makes even me shiver.”

“I don’t like this idea, it seems too dangerous for us to face.” Twilight felt uneasy, very uneasy.

“As much as I don’t like confrontations it may be our only option.” Celestia’s voice shook in fear for a brief moment.

“There has to be something to this Raven King in the Canterlot library.” Dash blurted out loud.

Everypony in the room stared at her, making the cyan mare slightly embarrassed.

“That’s a valid point Dash…” Twilight rose to her feet.

“Princess Celestia is it alright with you if I can do research in the library?”

The mare in question nodded, but her sister leaned into her ear and whispered something to which Celestia nodded.

“We’ll look into the forbidden parts as well.” That made the atmosphere even denser than it already was.

“We have to stop this creature before it can reach its goal.” Everypony at the table agreed.

All rose to their feet and bid their farewells for the night.

‘Tomorrow is gonna be a long day.’ Dash thought to herself as she undressed herself for a bath.

Once in the bath she relaxed her body tired from the long trip with Daring.

Thinking of what she saw made it hard to think clearly since the violence would scar anypony…even the princesses.

Her coat glimmered from the water sticking to her.

She had no idea that this was only the beginning of a long series of events.

<________________________________________________________>

We walked down the forest path on the way to the newer city of Whooversvile which was founded only 2 years ago, and in the area there has been victim to captures from diamond dog rebels who have taken the mines.

Apparently Apples’ mother has been working there for years…so I believe it’s about time I did something.

“So…” Apple trailed trying to start a conversation.

“Yes?” I asked questionably.

“You’re gonna help me save my mom…what about the others?”

“What about them?”

Apple stared at me before speaking.

“Y-You know…if there is others what are we going to do?”

I remain silent as to pretend like I don’t care.

“We can’t just-”

I cover his muzzle with my hand to silence him and lifting him off the ground.

“You dare talk back to your master!”

He was frightened but to ease him I spoke telepathically

‘Silence….were not alone.’

“Be thankful I have mercy and that I don’t kill you right here and now.”

‘There’s someone here watching us.’

‘Who?’ he asked hurriedly.

‘As of right now I have no clue.’

‘Then why are you-’

‘Relax and act along with it…’

I toss him to the ground and stand on his chest.

“Give me any reason to kill you…”

I take my blade from my back and point it right at his face.

“I won’t hesitate to drain you; like a puddle in the desert.” I say with a bit of iciness to solidify the ‘point’ I was making.

Apple was scared but that made it more believable to our stalker.

I remove my foot and holster my blade and walk forward.

Apple stared at me and laid there for a few moments.

“Well? Come on or I’ll leave you here for whatever is hungry.”

That got Apple to move fast and catch up to me.

We both keep a steady pace.

And now the culprit moves away from us making me grin.

Author's Note

This is The beginning...so be prepared