Cantervania: Symphony of the Nightmare

Tempest wiped a trace of spittle from Twilight’s chin as she began to tell of when she was a filly.

She told Twilight of her nightmares. Her face twisted as she remembered the thing pretending to be her mother.

“Changelings,” she growled as she remembered the flashes of green light. “Shapeshifters that feed off of love, they destroyed our village and replaced my mother.”

Twilight listened in horror. She’d never even heard of such creatures, let alone knew that they attacked entire villages. Her mouth trembled as she weakly raised a hoof to try and comfort her friend. The Shadow took it gratefully and smiled sadly as a cough wracked the mare’s body.

Tempest continued as Twilight’s coughing settled. “My father had left me in a hollowed out tree after we ran... when I awoke he was just... gone.”

Luna looked at her with pity. She too knew of the struggles of family. “Keep going, Tempest,” she said quietly.

Twilight groaned in pain as the Princess cauterized another wound and weakly nodded her head, reaching out with a hoof.

Tempest took it and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and cast her memory back to all those years ago.

***

As the Sun rose above the hills, a young filly wandered through the woods. The trees and branches around her formed monsters leering at her, their branches long claws ready to snatch her up. She sniffed and glanced back towards where she had came from, towards the hollowed out tree where she last saw her papa and stifled some tears. She remembered seeing the flashes of green light, and him turning to run. She remembered his last words to her as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I love you too, papa...”

Tempest wandered for hours. Her tummy grumbled and her eyes were red from crying. Her horn ached as it sputtered and fizzled. She stumbled and tripped over some roots, and as she cradled her grazed knee, felt a presence behind her.

A large shadow appeared over her. She gazed up in fear as a large creature looked down at her, large wings behind it spread out and it traced sharp looking claws on the ground in front of her. A small squeal escaped her throat as she slammed her eyes shut.

“What have we here?” a voice asked. Gruff and old, the voice reminded the filly of her grandpa, stern but friendly.

She quivered and trembled in fear as it clacked it’s beak. “P-p-please d-don’t-” she mumbled, through chattering teeth.

She heard a sigh and something touched he top of her head, the beast no doubt readying itself for a meal. A claw gently grazed her head, and smoothed her messy mane. As the seconds crept by, she slowly opened her eyes and gazed up. Two soft gold eyes stared down at her kindly.

“Hello there. Don’t be afraid little one.”

She recognised him from the storybooks her mama used to read, a griffon. Tall, with black feathers and tones of grey, the only colour his yellow shaded beak and his golden eyes. His talon ran through her mane and wiped the tears from her eyes. She mumbled something and looked down. “Are you lost, chick?” the griffon asked.

Tempest nodded and sniffed.

A smile formed at the edges of his beak. “Where are your parents?” he repeated.

The filly’s eyes began to well with tears. “Gone...”

The griffon’s eyes widened. “I see.” He flexed his wings and checked them for any damage. “I was on the trail of a swarm of changelings, chick. Do you know of such creatures?”

She shook her head. The griffon sighed. “Why are you alone, child?”

“My papa was chased by things firing green magic at him... I don’t know what chang--changell….” She stammered and fell as her body gave out from exhaustion. Her tummy grumbled once more, suddenly realising how hungry she was.

The old griffon caught her gently and cradled her. “Come, let me see if I can make something for you to eat. I’ve got some apples, would you like one, chick?”

Tempest nodded weakly as he swung the pack on his back down onto the ground and procured a shiny red apple. His claws were so sharp they pierced the apple, drawing it’s juice and making her mouth water. He handed it to her, and she bit into it, relishing it as the flavour trickled down her dry throat.

“Most griffons,” he said as he munched his own apple. “Can’t stand pony food.” His beak clacked as he ate and regarded the apple in his claw. “Say we need to eat meat, small animals and such.” He took another bite and smiled.

Tempest looked t him curiously as she ate her own apple. “Are you not like other griffons, mister?”

He laughed. “No, chick, I am not. Most would say I am not a ‘real’ griffon.” He placed the apple in his beak and made air quotes with his claws. “Because I teach ponies how to fight like griffons, how to use their wings for speed and agility, how to show earth ponies how strong they can be, and how unicorns can perform great feats of magic.” He paused as he saw her broken horn and pained expression. He swallowed a chunk of apple and regarded her carefully. “Tell me chick, how came you by such a thing?”

She grimaced as tears welled up in her eyes again. He cooed and gently stroked her mane, calming her slightly.

“I... tried to defend my papa and the mean thing stopped it. I don’t remember after that...”

The griffon’s eyes flashed coldly. “Mean... thing? Explain, chick, carefully.”

Tempest swallowed. “She was tall, and pretended to be my mama. She had holes in her legs, and a horn--but it was nasty looking. She was mean to papa, and there was a buzzing.”

The griffon’s eyes narrowed as he took in the information. He sighed sadly and rested a claw on the filly’s head. “I believe that was the Queen of the Changelings, chick. She is known as Chrysalis, and is a blight on Equestria.” He turned his head and gazed up at the sky. “She was who I was sent here for. Sent to kill.”

Th filly squeaked in fear. Her hooves began to tremble as she watched the old griffon stand. “W-where are you going, mister?”

The griffon nodded in a direction. “I must report to my superiors in the area, I am returning to our base in that direction.” He looked down at her and smiled. “What is your name, chick?”

She told him.

He smiled and gave her a small bow. “My name is Griffomir. Would you like to come with me?” he asked.

Tempest nodded. “You’re nice Mr Griffomir.”

“You are too kind, young chick. Come then, climb on my back, I can fly us there.”

The filly climbed on his back with wide eyes and clutched onto his feathers. She buried her face in his back and squealed as he soared into the air. He chuckled to himself as they flew over the trees and high into the air. From over the griffon’s shoulder, the filly spotted what looked like a ruined castle nearby.

“Is that where we’re going Mr Griffomir?”

“It is, chick. Hold tight now.”

She obeyed him and held on tight as they began their descent.

***

The sounds of light breathing made Tempest pause as she saw Twilight Sparkle had drifted off to sleep, Luna retracted her head and looked at the Shadow. “The bleeding has been stopped, but she still has many internal injuries.” Her voice quietened. “She may not survive, Tempest Shadow.”

Tempest waved a hoof. “She will. I don’t know how but I just... know she will.” She gazed at the young mare, her chest rising and falling with steady breaths.

The Princess watched her sadly. “You should continue your story, I believe she can still hear us.” She gestured to the sleeping mare. “Meanwhile I will read, and study these pages for any sign of advanced healing magic. We must move soon.”

The Shadow nodded thoughtfully. She took another deep breath and hunkered down next to her friend. She rested her chin on the small pony’s chest and started the next chapter of her story.

***

The young filly Tempest shivered as they landed. All around her ponies in dark armour stopped what they were doing and watched, some only a year or two older than her. She gulped as they stared, and her ear flicked as she heard whispers about her companion, the grizzled griffon.

Three ponies, a unicorn, a pegasus and an earth pony, all wearing dark armour turned, surprised by the sudden intrusion.

“Master Griffomir,” the earth pony of them said as Griffomir wrapped his claw around an outstretched hoof. Hs voice was stern, like the old griffon’s, but meaner, Tempest thought. “We were not expecting you back so soon. Do you have something to report?”

Tempest gazed up at them as they spoke. Each one’s armour was rusted somewhat and bore the marks of many fights. She shivered again and recoiled as one, a deep earth green earth pony, had a nasty looking gash over his left eye, and wore an eyepatch over where his eye should have been.

Griffomir bristled his feathers and cleared his throat. “I have confirmed that changelings have been sighted in the area.” He gestured down to the filly, prompting the other ponies to look down at her as well. “This filly’s village was attacked by the Queen-”

One pony, a unicorn with a coat as orange and bright as the sun, and a shock of bright red hair spilling out over his yellow eyes, glared down at the filly. “You confirm this, child?” He spoke with complete authority, and slight disdain.

Tempest squeaked in fear and nodded.

The pony tutted and turned away. “The swarm is moving faster than anticipated. We should have acted sooner, and spent less time on scouting missions.”

Griffomir glowered at him. “Perhaps if I had been given more of a force I could have moved faster than by myself and saved this filly’s village.”

Another pony raised his hoof. “Enough, Masters, please.” He turned to the filly and stretched out a hoof. “My name is Tornado Shadow, young one. What is your name?”

The filly squeaked again and glanced up at the griffon, who looked down at her and smiled. He gave her a gentle push and gestured to speak.

She gave her name.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, young one,” Tornado said. He was a dark grey pegasus, his wings a darker grey than his body, and his mane and tail as black as night, but his eyes shone with a clear sky blue. “We are the Masters of the Shadowguard, child. Do you understand?”

She shook her head slowly, remaining silent as the ponies all looked down at her.

He glanced at Griffomir, who silently nodded. The pony nodded back. “The Shadowguard, we are called Shadows, protect ponies, child. We are deeply sorry we could not save your village in time.” He gestured to the other two ponies at his side. “This is Master Inferno Shadow-” The fiery red unicorn. “And Master Stoneskin Shadow.” The earthy green earth pony. Both nodded at her.

“And of course you’ve met Master Griffomir.”

Tempest looked up at the griffon. “Mr Griffomir is really nice,” she mumbled quietly.

The feathers on either side of the old bird’s beak darkened slightly as a shade of red broke out, causing the ponies to burst out laughing.

“Child,” Tornado continued with a smile. “Would you like to avenge your family?”

Tempest turned to him and nodded eagerly. “I don’t now what avenge means, but I wanna help my papa!”

Inferno Shadow snorted. “Child, show me what magic you can do.” He glared down at her, noting her broken horn. He held up a small cup with his own magic and placed it in front of her. “Levitate this above your head.”

The filly mustered up her courage and focused her magic. Her horn sputtered and fizzed, and a bolt of magic fired out, scorching the cup and shattering it. Her face fell as she looked at the smouldering ceramic ruins.

Inferno glowered at her. “Not even a simple levitation spell, as I expected.”

The filly’s eyes welled up at his mean words. Griffomir stepped in front of her and glowered at the unicorn. “Be that as it may, Inferno, this filly’s horn was capable of enough magic to repel the Queen’s own dark sorcery. With proper training, she could channel that destructive energy and become a far more dangerous opponent than even you or I.” He spread his wings, as if to illustrate his point.

The fire coloured pony rolled his eyes. “Maybe so, but the road will be hard, and I am in care of enough students as it is. I do not have the time to babysit one filly who can barely cast a simple spell. I am sorry, Griffomir, I will not take her on.”

The griffon squawked and bristled himself. “Then I will.”

The other ponies stared at him. Tornado spoke quietly. “Are you sure, Griffomir? You usually specialise in-”

“That doesn’t matter. Do you remember the stories of our founder centuries ago?” he eyed them all carefully, and clacked his beak. “Also a unicorn with a broken horn, and she was the strongest of her generation.”

Tempest’s ears pricked up at that. She felt something well up inside of her as they turned their heads to look at her. She straightened up, and although small, radiated with energy as she bowed. “Please teach me, Mr Griffomir,” she said as she knelt in front of the old griffon. “I will try my best.”

Griffomir smiled and tousled her mane with his claw. He gave the ponies in the tent a curt nod and ushered her out. “We start tomorrow, chick. Come, I will show you where the new recruits sleep. I expect you to be awake before dawn.”

She beamed and trotted after him. The ponies in dark armour, colts and fillies and grownups alike all gave her small nods and a few even cheered. She gazed up at the banner flying high.

Two lightning bolts mirrored each other.

***

Grogar strode through the castle, his eyes red and bloodshot. Several of Nightmare Moon’s guards surrounded him, escorting him to her chambers. He cursed them, and Chrysalis for turning against the Queen. He flared his nostrils as the guards knocked on her door.

He raised his head high and strode forwards as the heavy oak door swung open silently. “My Queen,” he started, with a bow. “I assure you this escort was not necess-”

Magic surrounded him and dragged him forwards. Nightmare Moon’s eyes stared daggers at him, swirling with a cold intensity. her mouth curled into a sneer as she threw him down before her.

The ram gasped and struggled to stand.

“Be still, wretch,” she growled as she placed a hoof on him.

He ceased squirming and lay as still as possible, his breath laboured and heavy.

“Chrysalis has betrayed me, and Sombra lies dead. I assume you are aware?”

He nodded and gulped.

“Good. And I assume your monsters were unsuccessful in acquiring Twilight Sparkle?”

The ram paused before slowly nodding. “I have seen, your majesty, that they are indeed in the ancient library of the Shadowguard...” he swallowed as she glared at him, her cold eyes seemed to pierce his very soul. “I... underestimated their prowess, and I suspect the Princess will be coming here very soon.”

A low growl emanated from Nightmare Moon’s throat.

Grogar prostrated himself before her. “My Queen I shall send more after them. They will not reach this castle-”

He fell silent as she held a hoof up. His jaw quivered as he watched the black mare lick her lips.

“Let them come, Grogar. Have some soldiers stationed in the main lobby, but let them come.” She stretched her wings out and reared her head back. “Let them struggle before the end.”

***

“Raise your head. Take a deep breath. Relax your muscles.”

Griffomir’s words punctured the quiet air. He stood next to her, watching her carefully. The young filly had grown into a teenager in his care, and was quickly developing the same skills as her comrades in the training grounds. A small crowd had gathered to watch her latest display.

“Exhale,” Griffomir murmured.

She obeyed, and exhaled slowly.

“Aim.”

She lowered her head and pointed her horn towards the target: a large watermelon on a table about twenty five feet away. A soft wind blew through the campsite as she waited for his next order.

“Fire.”

Her eyes focused in concentration on the target in front of her. Her horn crackled and fizzed, and a bright flash of light sprung forth. Lightning soared through the air, striking the target and causing it to burst into flames.

Griffomir clapped and the crowd cheered. “Well done, Tempest Shadow. Your fruit killing skills are remarkable.”

She swished her mane out of her eyes and smiled at him. “Only because I had you as a teacher, Master.”

The old griffon scuffed the back of her head. “Flattery won’t get you far in life, my young student. Again. Raise your head, relax.” He snapped his fingers at a recruit, who scampered forwards and placed another melon on the table before beating a hasty retreat.

She repeated the motion as she had for several days. She was growing impatient, eager for a chance to go out into the field, despite his protests that she was not ready, and too foolhardy.

His beak clacked as he watched her. He shifted her leg an inch to the right, and clasped her head in his claws, lowering slightly before stepping aside.

“Fire.”

Tempest let loose another blast. The lightning crackled through the air, striking another watermelon. He watched and placed a claw around his beak, grimacing slightly.

She looked at him with confusion. “Did I do something wrong, Master?”

He sighed and shook his head. “No, my student. Again.”

She flared her nostrils and stamped a hoof. “Why again? We’ve done this several times now. Why can’t we go out and actually do something for once?”

Griffomir sighed and waved his claw. “Because you are not ready, Tempest Shadow. Again.”

“At this rate I’ll never be ready,” she muttered under her breath.

“Muttering does not befit a Shadow, even one as petulant as you, chick,” he grumbled at her and gestured for the recruit to scamper forwards. A small colt, smaller than Tempest when she had arrived. She watched him as he ran back and forth, wondering if his village was also destroyed.

Tempest sighed and readied herself, separating her hooves slightly and taking deep breaths.

“Use your anger. Harness it,” the griffon whispered.

She looked at him in confusion. “Master Inferno says a unicorn should never use their magic in anger.”

Griffomir snored as his feathers bristled. His back paws scraped in the dirt as he stretched. “Inferno does not have my experience. More often than not my anger was the only thing that kept me alive.” He looked at her sadly, and with a glimmer of something terrible. “Rage is one hell of an anaesthetic. Now focus.”

Tempest looked ahead and closed her eyes. She thought of her father and mother. She thought of the flashes of green as her village went up in flames. She thought of her papa leaving her in a tree stump and turning to run, flashes of green following and chasing him. She felt a darkness rise up in her as her horn crackled to life. The Shadow winced in pain and felt something creep along her face. Her eyes snapped open, the world now darkness. Shapes of ponies moved around her, all a blinding white amidst the darkness. She turned to look at Griffomir, who was also white.

She heard his muffled voice call to her.

“Fire.”

She obeyed, and a surge of black lightning spewed forth from her horn, destroying the watermelon and the table, and crashing forwards further than her regular magic. A black fire scorched the ground, and the ponies training around them stood frozen, watching in fear and somewhat awe. She reared back in fear and confusion as the world began to turn into it’s normal colours again. She stumbled and fell, panting for air.

Griffomir watched in amazement. “I had heard stories but...” he murmured as he caught Tempest.

“Master?” she panted and looked up at him. “What was that?”

“That, my student, was anti-magic. Said to only be used by unicorns with broken horns, a technique passed down by our founder.” He smiled at her and helped her stand. “Congratulations, you are the first to cast such a spell in over one hundred years.”

“GRIFFOMIR! TEMPEST!” a voice boomed out over the camp. “HERE!”

The griffon sighed and scratched at his beak. He smiled sheepishly at her and gestured to the source of the voice. Master Inferno Shadow stood, his horn ablaze with his own fiery magic. He tapped a hoof impatiently as they made their way to him. Tempest shook her head and saw spots.

“Griffomir you know that technique is forbidden. Explain yourself.”

“She’s ready,” the old griffon replied as he stood eye to eye with the pony. Tempest’s eyes widened at him as she rubbed her temple.

“Ready? You presume much, buzzard.” Inferno rounded on her. “Child, what you did was a forbidden magic, said to be too dangerous for anypony to control. Should you listen to this old fool, that magic will destroy you. Do you underst-”

“I am ready,” she replied and glared into his eyes. “Griffomir has taught me well, I know my own limits.”

Inferno’s nostrils flared in annoyance as he glowered at her. “If you say so, but it is neither myself nor Griffomir’s place to decide that. Your trial will begin at dawn. I pray that you are indeed ready as you say you are, Tempest Shadow.” He waved a hoof and gestured to the entrance to his tent. “Dismissed.”

Tempest strode out of the tent with renewed purpose. Finally her time had come. She turned to the old griffon beside her and smiled. “You really think I’m ready, Master?”

He nodded. “I’ve seen ponies come and go a lot in my time. I’ve never seen one with your determination or resolve, even as a young filly.” He looked a her and tousled her mane. “Come, chick. Let us find something to eat. You have a big day tomorrow.”

***

“Tempest, a word, please.”

Luna called to the Shadow and waved her over. Twilight stirred lightly as her friend left her side, keeping a watchful eye on her from a distance.

“What have you found?” she asked as she glanced backwards.

The Princess pointed to a page in the arcane spellbook she was reading. “There is a spell here that could heal her. There is a catch, though.” She looked at the Shadow sadly as the latter tapped an impatient hoof and glanced at the book.

“Yes? Well?”

Luna took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. “It requires a blood transfusion, life for life as it were. I am an alicorn, and my blood is stronger than hers, it could corrupt her. But you...” She trailed off and gestured to her horn. “You are of the same species, it should pose no problem for you, but it is your choice.”

Tempest thoughtfully looked back and felt her heart flutter as she watched the young unicorn. “What do you need me to do?”

“Tempest this will tax you. Giving blood is no laughing matter, and especially when combined with advanced magic like this.”

The Shadow closed her eyes and breathed deeply. “I know, Luna. I’ll do it.” She crossed over to the young unicorn and nestled down next to her again. She held a hoof out and looked at Luna. “Do what you have to, take it all if you have to.”

Luna looked at her in admiration. “You are a truly noble spirit, Tempest Shadow. Stay still, this will only hurt a bit.” She lowered her horn and made a small incision in the Shadow’s leg, drawing blood.

“Ow.”

“Oh shut up.”

The alicorn lowered her horn to Twilight and made a similar incision. As the blood trickled out Luna’s horn lit up in magic. She focused herself, weaving their blood together and forming a macabre connection between them.

“Perhaps you should continue your story,” the Princess murmured quietly as she traced a hoof over Twilight’s forehead, preparing herself for the spell. A smile broke out across her face. “I was also quite enjoying it.”

“So you were eavesdropping?” Tempest snapped and shot her a look. She smiled softly as the alicorn glared back. “Alright. It does feel good to talk to somepony about it all. Where was I? Oh right my first mission. I learned then exactly what being a Shadow meant.” Her expression darkened and her eyes narrowed. “And it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows...”

***

Tempest and her mentor walked slowly down the road through the small town. Even with their heavy muddy cloaks covering their bodies, they must have looked a sight as Griffomir kept his head down. The pony couldn’t help but look around at the ponies around her. Several of them tutted and shook their heads. A few spat at the ground and continued their own conversations as the sun shone bright in the sky

“Master... why are we here?” she asked.

The griffon held up a claw, signalling to stop as a cart rolled past them. “The eadlormare here has posted a bounty for a manticore that made it’s nest nearby. It is our duty, and our job, to take care of such a matter.” He eyed a group of surly looking ponies several feet away from them, muttering amongst themselves and motioned to move on. “Best not to tarry. Folks tend not to like Shadows in this part of Equestria.”

“Why?” Tempest asked as she trotted next to him.

“Because-”

“Hey tough guy!” a voice called out. The crowd fell silent as the townsponies turned to watch. Griffomir stopped, the filly at his side also stopped, and stared ahead as the surly looking ponies blocked their path. “We don’t want no griffons here. You like keeping fillies as pets?”

A heavyset pony with a five o’clock shadow and some construction equipment as a cutie mark grinned as the group behind him sniggered.

Tempest felt her temper flare up and she started forwards. Griffomir held a claw out and stopped her. “We don’t want any trouble, sir, just doing a job.” He gestured to the pony. “Please. Let us move on and nobody needs to get hurt.”

The heavyset pony roared with laughter at him and marched forwards. he stood at least a head taller than the griffon, and towered high above the young Tempest. “I think you’re lying tough guy. You wanna dance?”

“Yeah show him, Dozer!” one of his cronies jeered from behind him.

Tempest glanced at them, all of a similar stature. She chanced a look at the griffon next to her, who stared up at their obstacle. The crowd around them started to chime in, calling them names and jeering at them.

“Freak!”

“Murderer!”

“Foalnapper!”

The young filly felt her ears burn as the crowd grew loud and unruly.

“Dozer, was it?” Griffomir asked quietly.

“Bull Dozer.” The heavy pony grinned and jabbed a hoof at the griffon. “What’s it to ya?”

Griffomir clacked his beak and flexed his talons. “I’m going to ask you once more, nicely. Let us pass, and nobody needs to get hurt.”

The crowed murmured amongst themselves as Bull Dozer glared down at the griffon. His crew behind him continued to jeer and egg him on. His eye twitched as he leaned forwards. “Or what, tough guy?”

In a flurry of feathers, the griffon’s talons found themselves around the pony’s throat. The crowd, and Tempest, gasped, and his crew fell silent very quickly. The pony struggled his eyes swivelled around as he was taken by surprise.

“Or I will kill you, Mr Dozer.”

The filly glanced at her mentor, his demeanour suddenly changed. He resembled a demon for than the friendly old griffon she thought she knew, his eyes blazing with fury and his talons digging into the pony’s throat, puncturing his neck ever so lightly and drawing a tiny amount of blood.

Dozer squeaked a noise out and raised a hoof. Griffomir relaxed his talons slightly and sneered at him. “What was that?”

“There won’t be no problem.” The pony’s voice came out as a barely audible whisper. The whites of his eyes clearly visible to all who were watching.

“Good stallion.” Griffomir released him completely and inclined his head an inch forwards. He started off towards their original destination, up the hill. Tempest trailed after him, avoiding the accusing eyes of the crowd as they silently parted and dispersed. Dozer coughed and meekly shuffled away, his cronies quickly catching up to him and checking to see if he was okay.

Tempest looked at her mentor in silence as they approached the ealdormare’s house. He banged on the door with a muddied claw and said nothing to his student.

The door swung open, revealing a thin light brown pony with a greying mane. “Are you the Shadow?”

Griffomir nodded.

“Good, come in.” She paused as she saw the filly at his side. “A filly?” she asked curiously.

The griffon nodded again as they entered and shook their cloaks. “My student. She will be observing on this hunt. Treat her like you would me.”

“Interesting.”

Tempest watched as the mare trotted away from them, towards a table with a small map on it. Griffomir strolled after her, holding his head high.

“Where is it?” he asked.

“In the swamp nearby, it’s cave is located here.” The mare gestured to a small patch on the map. “It’s killed a few of us already after we tracked it down. We’ll pay you double if you kill it’s young as well.”

Griffomir scowled and turned to the filly. “Amateurs. This is why we need to hurry, before more of them kill themselves playing the hero.”

Tempest nodded. The eadlormare explained exactly where to go and before too long they were outside again. The filly glanced at the griffon as they walked in silence. He bristled his feathers as they approached the nearby swamp. “Stop. Listen,” he muttered.

The filly cocked an ear out and listened. She heard nothing. Not a single sound. “I don’t hear anything,” she murmured.

He nodded. “Exactly.” He flexed his talons and spread his wings, remaining at the ready. “Be on your guard. A manticore is a vicious beast.” He began to decloak himself, and left it in the mud. “As large as a bull, with the body of a lion, wings of ab at and tail of a scorpion. If you get stung, may Celestia forgive you.”

tempest gulped as she decloaked herself as well. Her armour glowed slightly in the mists of the swamp. The mark of the Shadows emblazoned on her flank seemed to pulse with energy as they trudged forwards. “What about a manticore’s young?” she murmured quietly.

“If we’re lucky, they won’t be old enough to fight back, and we can focus on the mother first.”

“If we’re unlucky?”

“Then this will hurt.”

They soon located the cave. A foul stench radiated from within. Griffomir flexed his talons and strode forwards, taking a whiff of the foul air as he did so. “Yeah. They’re home.” He whistled to her and gestured with his head. “You’re up, chick.”

Tempest looked at him in confusion. “What? Master?”

“A Shadow’s trial is to perform her first hunt successfully. I will remain outside in case things go south, but fear not. Remember your training, remember to relax. Use your anti-magic if necessary.”

The filly took a deep breath and stepped forwards. Her heart pounded in her chest as the darkness surrounded her. Her horn fizzled weakly and cast a small light around the cave, lighting her way. She hard a heavy breathing coming from ahead and glanced back. She saw the figure of Griffomir sitting outside, seemingly so far away. She turned back and focused on the breathing. Strange white rocks that she could barely see in the dim light lay dotted around the cave.

The breathing grew louder, and saw spotted the fel beast in it’s lair. It was indeed the size of a bull, it’s teeth looked razor sharp and it’s tail ended in a cruel looking sting. It growled softly as she approached. The young Shadow dove behind a nearby rock and waited with bated breath. Her hoof touched one of the small white rocks and she recoiled as she examined it. Bones. Strewn across the cave. Any sympathy she had for the creature vanished in a split second.

It growled again and rolled over. She poked her head out and saw it was asleep. She breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out from her cover. Lightning begin to crackle around her as she focused her magic.

The manticore roared in pain as a searing white light scorched it’s face. It swiped blindly, unable to see from the explosion of sudden light in it’s dark lair.

Tempest gritted her teeth and focused herself. Lightning fired forth once again, piercing the beast’s skin and leaving bloody, burnt marks over it’s body.

Soon it keeled over in agony. It’s cubs shuffled under it’s weight and mewled pathetically. The young Shadow’s heart softened somewhat as they pawed at their mother. The beast’s breath came heavy and ragged. It didn’t even stand a chance against her magic, whether she used anti-magic or not.

She took a deep breath and lowered her horn again. She knew what she had to do, and to be a Shadow, she knew she had to do this. Lighting flashed through the cave and the manticores’ breathing stopped.

Soon she left the cave and re-joined Griffomir. They shared a solemn look as he clapped a claw on her back. “Well done,” he said with a hint of regret.

“Can we leave?” Tempest croaked. Her throat felt extremely dry. She glanced back into the dark maw of the cave, now silent as the grave as a cold wind blew past them.

The griffon nodded and gestured towards the town. Ponies once again sneered at them, but nobody gave them pause. The filly spotted Bull Dozer still tenderly holding his neck. He glared at them both and turned away.

The town’s eadlormare paid them handsomely, and without much thanks. Griffomir draped the coin purse over his fathered neck and bowed to her. Tempest followed in silence as they left the unfriendly town.

“Master,” she mumbled. Griffomir turned to her expectantly. “Did the cubs need to die?”

“They would have grown, Tempest. They would have terrorized another village had we not intervened. This is the way Shadows work. Taking lives to save lives.”

The old griffon grimaced as she looked down sadly. “Come. Climb onto my back.”

She obeyed and climbed aboard him. She remained in silence as he flew them over the trees and towards their encampment. The purse of coins jingled lightly around the griffon’s neck as his wings beat heavily on the wind.

Tempest closed her eyes and thought of her family. Her old family. Anger flashed through her mind as she remembered the changelings. She opened her eyes and glared at the horizon.

She was a Shadow now.

The hunt was all she had left.

***

“I followed the routine for years after that,” Tempest explained. “Griffomir came with me on my first few hunts afterwards, then eventually he stopped as I grew. I left the Shadowguard as they headed west, towards the oceans.”

“Where is Griffomir now?” Luna asked.

The Shadow shrugged. “I haven’t seen him in years. He taught me a lot in the years I was with him, though.” She looked away sadly, towards the gaping hole in the wall the satyrs had poured through. “I hope he’s alive somewhere.”

She shivered as the Princess nodded silently. Luna’s horn had been dim for a while now, and they waited with bated breath as Twilight rested quietly in between them.

As she gently stirred, the young unicorn opened her eyes. She gazed up at her friends and smiled weakly. “Hi.”

The Shadow smiled down at her as she turned over. “About time you woke up.”

Twilight laughed and coughed, giving her chin a gentle wipe. She groggily attempted to stand, with both Tempest and Luna rushing to hold her steady.

“Guys I’m fine,” she mumbled shyly.

Luna shook her head. “A powerful spell was cast between you, Twilight.” She nodded to the Shadow, who grumbled something inaudible.

Twilight turned to her and smiled. “Thank you, Tempest. I heard your story...” She paused as tears welled up in her eyes. “I-”

“It’s alright. It’s just a story now.”

“Even so...”

Tempest shrugged and held up the spellbook Twilight had been reading several hours ago. “Are you ready to try this or do you need a moment?”

The unicorn smiled and took the book from her. “Is the Sun hot?” She couldn’t explain it but she felt a renewed sense of strength inside her. Her horn felt longer as well somehow, and magic she never felt teemed behind her eyes. She concentrated as a magenta glow began to surround them.

Luna gaped. “Impossible... perhaps...” She looked at Tempest, who glanced back with a worried expression. “It is possible the bond between you had doubled Twilight’s magical power. How does your horn feel, Tempest Shadow?”

“It doesn’t. It never does.” Tempest replied bitterly.

The world began to fade around them, and Twilight closed her eyes in concentration.

Soon the familiar walls and shelves around them dematerialized, and they found themselves adrift in a vast empty void. And then, the Canterlot castle itself sprung into view, and they found themselves in the castle courtyard. Luna looked sadly around at the messy streets, littered with debris and remnants of bodies, the cobbled stone stained red with blood and cast in a silver light by the Moon. Twilight gasped as the magic wore off, and she shook her head. She twisted her neck around to see the marks around her side, already fading as Luna’s magic had worked it’s purpose.

“Are you ready for this, Luna?” Tempest asked quietly as her gaze rested on the alicorn, staring silently up at the dark castle.

“No.” Her voice was heavy, wracked with emotion. Her horn flashed with magic and her eyes narrowed. “But let’s put an end to this anyway.”

Twilight nodded in solidarity. “We’re with you, Luna.”

The three of them pushed together on the heavy doors.

***

Moonlight spilled through and silhouetted the three figures as they approached.

The soldiers Grogar had assembled readied themselves and observed the intruders. Their weapons and armour clinked and clanked together as they shuffled in nervousness, their breaths all hung in the cold air. Grogar sneered as he registered them. “The princess comes at last...” he muttered. The two ponies on either side of her he deduced were the Shadow and Celestia’s Student. “Fools.”

The Shadow with the broken horn took a stance, ready for combat. “I terrify them, Twilight disorients them, Luna goes over the top and we support her, agreed?” Her voice was calm, calculated.

Twilight nodded as her horn flared with magic. “Yes.” She swallowed as her nerves settled and the adrenaline she had felt in Ponyville began to take hold once again. She glanced at her friends and allowed a small smile to cross her face.

Grogar’s face twisted in irritation and anger. “Don’t just stand there!” The old ram screamed, his horns aglow with his own magic. “Kill them!”

Luna swished her horn and snorted air out her nostrils as she glared up at the sorcerer atop the stairs. “Begin.”

The Princess flapped her wings and shot into the air, moving with lightning quick speed, quickly slaughtering anypony who dared stand in her way, while Tempest Shadow started blasting bolts of high powered energy at every pony she could see. One by one, they dropped to the floor, only their smouldering bodies and charred armour remaining.

“On your left!” Twilight shouted to the Shadow as she cast a shield around her in the nick of time, as a pony’s sword glanced off the magic.

Tempest grunted and leapt into the air, dodging another blow from a guardspony wielding a spear. She gracefully landed on his outstretched weapon and grinned as he gazed up at her in fright. He gurgled as her hoof connected with his throat and down he went. She flipped backwards and somersaulted through the air in a graceful dance of death, landing next to her friend, her armour reflecting the light of both her and Twilight’s magic.

The two looked at each other and nodded, both leaping backwards to avoid strikes by two more ponies. Twilight tore off to the left as one earth pony slashed at her with a sword in his hoof. Her horn flashed as she teleported behind him, using her magic to fire blasts of energy at him from different angles. He dodged and ducked under her shots and lunged for the kill. She focused her energy and sent a small shockwave outwards from herself, ending the soldier soaring through the air and colliding with the stone walls of the castle, leaving a bloody stain behind as his body crumpled to the floor.

Meanwhile, Tempest leapt into the air, firing a blast below her as a pegasus charged her. He cried out in pain as her magic clipped one of his wings, she landed on him and propelled herself upwards and grappled with another pegasus mid-air. She grunted in frustration as the pony jabbed her with the tip of his spear, nimbly dodging her counter blows. A ring of magenta magic lit up around the pony’s neck, causing him to choke and stop in his tracks. Tempest looked behind her and smiled at Twilight, who nodded in response. The Shadow charged forwards, she leapt into the air with a spin and crashed her hoof into the pegasus’s jaw. His eyes widened in terror as he landed, clutching at his broken teeth. Tempest shook her head and cast lightning from her horn. The bolt of energy zapped through the air, and collided with the guard. His mouth lit up with light, culminating in an explosion of blood and smoke as what was left of him was disintegrated with the sheer intensity of her magic.

The Shadow chuckled to herself. “I haven’t had a fight this good in years,” she thought as another four ponies charged her. Twilight teleported next to her in a flash of pink light and grabbed a hold of her. She squeezed her eyes shut in concentration as she teleported them both out of reach of the ponies’ weapons.

Tempest grunted as she lunged forwards again, her horn igniting and fired a beam of light towards Nightmare Moon’s servants, engulfing two of them in flames. Her unicorn friend created a small platform for her to jump on, and propelled her into the air towards the remaining two pegasi. Both clad in the sapphire blue armour of Nightmare Moon. The Shadow collided with the guard, headbutted him, and grabbed his shoulders and used her momentum to flip herself around, slamming the pony to the ground. His body lay still in the ground and a small pool of blood formed underneath him, such was the force she had thrown him with.

Twilight used her magic to encase the remaining pegasus, forcing him to the ground and giving him a hard kick with her back hooves. He grunted and wiped blood from his mouth, raising his weapon with a sneer. The unicorn braced herself and cast a shield around her, but before he could strike, he crashed to the ground as Tempest landed on his back and pounded him to the cold hard stone. Twilight saw an opportunity, and jammed her horn against his face and focused her magic. His head flung backwards, his flesh burned and turned to cinders as her magic ignited inside his skull.

***

With every explosion, Grogar’s resolve weakened. He turned to flee as the Princess bared down on him. He growled and raised upon his back legs to defend himself, his horns glowing. “Have at you then, child.”

Luna growled and regarded him with disdain. With her wings outstretched and her eyes ablaze with fury, she resembled one of Nightmare Moon’s demons of the night. “Never again shall you threaten the sanctity of Equestria, Grogar.” She easily deflected a blow of his magic as he fired at her.

He continued to use his dark magic against the Princess, growing fearful as she slowly strode towards him, ignoring his attacks. She fired her own magic at him, knocking him off of his feet and sending him careening through the air. he landed with a dull thud and skidded to a halt.

Grogar scrambled to his feet, grinning with yellow and rotten teeth and fired another blast at her. “Princess, if you should spare me, I will gladly share my knowledge-”

She held a hoof aloft and silenced him and glowered at him with hate.

“Tell me where Nightmare Moon is.”

Grogar laughed. The old goat regarded her and grinned with crooked yellow and blood stained teeth. “There are forces at work here beyond your ken, Luna,” he murmured quietly.

Luna cocked her head at his words. “Explain.”

“So naïve. Did you really think Nightmare Moon acted alone?” He cackled again and shook his great horns. “The chan-”

As what sounded like a short whistle sounded through the air, he suddenly stopped. He clutched at his throat as blood trickled out of his mouth. Luna grimaced as he slumped over. She narrowed her eyes as she spotted a small dart embedded into his neck. Her magic wrapped around it and held it to her eye. A blackened solid strip of obsidian, almost insectoid in nature, she determined, as she examined it.

“The Hive...” she murmured as she released the object into her pack. From the corner of her eye she noticed one pony in a black cloak, conspicuously avoiding the fighting, grin at her. His green eyes seemed to almost mock her silently. She started towards him, her nose snorting with frustration as he vanished in a puff of smoke. She gathered her thoughts and leapt to join her friends, where she stood amidst the corpses and looked around, dusting off her shoulder .

With the remaining soldiers and guards either dead, or surrendered and knocked out, the trio looked at one another.

“Excellent work, Sparkle,” Tempest said to the young unicorn with a grin. “I still say you’d make a good Shadow yet.”

Twilight squirmed uncomfortably. “Maybe so.” She glanced at the destruction behind them and shuddered. “But I hope I never have to do that again.”

The Shadow clapped her back with a hoof. “And you.” She turned to Luna. “Where were you during most of that?”

The Princess gravely looked towards Grogar’s corpse.

“it doesn’t matter now.”

Luna produced the dart which had felled him and showed it to the Shadow. Tempest’s face fell as she examined it.

“This is from the Changeling Hive,” she growled. Her horn crackled with lightning as rage filled her eyes. With a trembling hoof she passed it to Twilight to look at. Rage threatened to consume her as flashes of green filled her memory, and her father...

Twilight gazed in wonder at the craftsmanship. Simple, yet elegant. “I’ve never seen anything from the changeling world in person, just images in books. What would they be doing here?” she asked as she gave it back to the Shadow, who carefully pocketed it.

Luna cleared her throat and glanced at the old ram’s body, now rapidly decaying, the foul magic that kept him alive fading from the world. “Nor would anypony expect you to. Changelings are immensely secretive, and extremely loyal to their Queen. It is possible Nightmare Moon had allies inside and outside of Equestria.” She contemplated before shaking her head. “Enough, we shall investigate this matter later, for now-” As she turned to leave she flicked her ear in annoyance. A deep growling emanated rom the dark corners of the stairs before them, and a monstrous hulking mass of living wood bared it’s fangs at them and howled.

“A timberwarg,” Tempest growled and readied herself. The rage inside of her fuelled her, electricity crackled from her horn into the air around her, and singed the carpet at her hooves.

“It’s not alone,” Twilight gasped and pointed. “Look.”

From behind the great beast, several more of the creatures appeared, each snarling and growling, their jaws dripping with saliva, their yellow eyes glaring at the intruders.

Luna’s eyes darkened, and she braced herself, horn lowered, wings down. “For now, we fight.”

***

The three finally reached the royal study, bloodstains and broken twigs in a messy trail behind them. “This is where she will be,” panted Luna as she traced her hoof along the wall. “I can feel her.” She took a deep breath and turned to her companions. “Wait for my signal, then attack as I do.”

“Understood,” Tempest replied. She glanced at the young unicorn next to her and grinned. “Keeping up, little one?”

Twilight scowled. “I’m ready.” Her voice was heavy with dread, but she took a deep breath and steadied herself. “For Equestria.”

The Shadow nodded and raised a hoof. “For Equestria.”

Luna regarded them both. So fortunate was she to have found such admirable and dependable friends in such a dark time. “For Equestria.”

She smiled for a moment, then swung the heavy door open.

And her eyes locked with Nightmare Moon herself.