Krampus, Harmony's Shadow

Today was finally the day, after watching Twilight study the legend of Daybreaker and get closer to the five ponies that became her friends. I was standing in the shadows behind the crowd of ponies in the town square of Ponyville, waiting for Luna to show up to raise the moon. Everyone was waiting patiently and talking amongst themselves and I was watching the shadow on the sun as it glimmered and disappeared. My eyes widened, as I looked from the sun to the balcony of town hall as shadows started to form and a cackling laugh could be heard throughout the square.

"Bwahaha, foolish ponies, you have been basking in the night for too long, I have returned to save you!" Daybreaker shouted, looking around menacingly. Everyone in the square looked horrified, I started walking through the shadows, towards town hall when a voice made me stop.

"What have you done with the princess Daybreaker!?" I heard Twilight shout. Turning to look at her, her and her friends didn't look scared, well except for Fluttershy, turning back towards Daybreaker I smiled as I saw her grin eb slowly away.

"I am the princess you foals, and day will rule eternal, ahahaha" Daybreaker cackled and disappeared in a flash of red magic just as I was about to jump. Cursing my timing, I turned and watched as Twilight and her friends ran from town hall, knowing where they were going I leaped through the air. Landing on a rooftop, I ran beside them leaping from roof to roof to keep up with them, until Twilight ran right into the library door, landing from my last leap on the ground behind the mane six. I winced slightly and watched as Fluttershy and Pinkie helped her to her hooves, as Applejack threw the door open and all six mares rushed inside.

"Who exactly was that Twi?" Applejack asked and I saw the same question on the rest of the girls' faces.

"That" Twilight started grabbing a book off her coffee table. "was Daybreaker, a thousand years ago she attempted to dethrone Princess Luna and plunge the world into eternal day. But that's not even the worse part, she believed ponies were the superior species and was going to attempt to have ponies start a genocidal war." She finished, causing everypony in the room to either blanch or turn pale.

"Wait, if she was defeated before she can be again right?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight smiled as she said "correct all we have to do is find the elements of harmony, and if I'm right I know exactly where they are, follow me." With that statement everyone in the room took off after Twilight, I knew exactly where they would end up from the run so stepping outside, I lept towards the everfree forest. Landing on the outskirts of the forest, I knew how everything would go in the show, but then again Daybreaker wasn't a thing until much, much later in the original timeline, I decided to wait for the mane six.

As I was waiting for them to arrive I found something hanging from a branch of one of the trees. Walking over, I noticed it was a silver pocket watch with a symbol I recognized from my world.

"The state alchemist" I said, slowly reaching out and picking it from the tree, a jolt of energy ran through me and I heard.

I am the one who constructs and deconstructs, the partner and protector of the moon, I aid the Innocent and protect the children, If you require aid, Call my name and I will come forth, The Crimson Sage.

I also noticed not very far from the pocket watch was what looked like a yellow and brown choker, walking closer. I noticed the sections were a trapezoid with a narrow center and long angles. "Yang Xiao Long's choker" I said, realizing what it was. Carefully picking it from the tree the same jolt of energy ran through me as I heard.

"If you need me, preferably not for fighting, call me over. The phrase is Come forth, calm flame.”

Deciding to investigate the strange objects I found later, I put them in my cloak pocket and continued my wait. I didn't have long to wait because no more than five minutes later I saw the mane six running up the trail leading to the everfree, I watched as Twilight stopped and turned to talk to the rest of the girls. I watched as they all nodded their heads to whatever Twilight was talking to them about and as Twilight turned and entered the forest the rest of the girls followed suit, and I followed along in the shadows. Deciding that a couple more pairs of eyes and ears would be a good thing, I envisioned my toy sack and when I felt the weight of it in my left hand I smiled.

Opening it up while following the mane six I called forth a couple toy owls. As they flew out of the sack, I closed it and once vanished into the shadows, "search the woods, and send me a message when you spot anything that Daybreaker will do differently from my memories" I said to the owls. Watching as the three of them fly away, I continued following the girls until they came upon the first challenge that Daybreaker had set up.

The trees had started to take on ghostly faces, and we're starting to scare most of the girl's. Except for Pinkie, just like in the show she laughed and made faces at the trees and told the girls to giggle at the ghosties and the faces would disappear. As the girls did this, the faces slowly disappeared all except for one, noticing the face taking on a body I slowly walked up to it and put my arm around it.

"Such a powerful tool, laughter" I said, causing the face to lose its snarl and turn to me with a look of fear. "Hopefully you've enjoyed being a toy, because you'll be one for as long as I draw breath" I said as I slowly molded the face, head and torso the shadow had managed to create and turned it into a nutcracker. Continuing to follow the girls into the forest one of the owls returned to me, making a few low tone hoots, nodding to it and sending it back into the woods I made sure to stay closer to the mane six.

It didn't take too long to come across Fluttershy's test, the manticore. I knew something else was wrong the second I saw it, so as five of the mane six decided to fight it I slunk through the shadows until I found what I was looking for. Looking at the elongated shadows around the manticore, I followed them leading to a small imp of some kind. Carefully walking forward so he wouldn't see me, I looked back towards the mane six and saw Fluttershy cooing to the manticore, looking back to the imp a grin started forming on my face.

"Such a wonderful thing, kindness" I said, causing the imp to drop the shadow strings and spin around. Staying hidden I watched as it's eyes turned as big as dinner plates as it realized no one was there.

"H-hello?" It asked in a very small voice. "W-w-whos t-t-there, please whoever or whatever you are I just want my peaceful life back."

"And you shall have it youngling" I said, making myself known, kneeling in front of the imp. "What has Daybreaker taken from you, to cause you to create such disharmony?"

"She, *sniff* she took my family hostage and told me that *sniff* if I didn't stop six mare from reaching the castle of the two sisters" it said unable to hold back the tears. I frowned and furrowed my brows as I thought of a way I could help the imp in front of me, snapping my fingers as my eyes sparkled. I had an idea, a wonderful idea, a horrible wonderful idea.

"You will get your family back, help me instead you will not need to cause such disharmony" I said watching as his eyes sparkled. "Come, there are still three more challenges we need to make sure the mares win, by the way what's your name?"

"I shall help you because you have shown me great kindness, and I am called Rockto (Rohktoh) it will be an honor to work with you Krampus" he said causing my eyes to widen.

"You know of me?" I said motioning for him to follow me so we could keep up with the mane six.

"Of course, every being on Equis knows of you" he said following closely behind me. As we walked through the woods we talked about his family and where Daybreaker might have hid them. Rockto actually didn't know very much except that if he didn't do what Daybreaker said, he'd never see his family again, nodding to the small being walking beside my hulking frame we continued onward.

Catching up with the mane six we came upon the third challenge, generosity. Unlike what I knew from the show of a hydra with his mustache shaved off, we came across the mane six facing a crying imp.

"Is that one of your family members Rockto?" I asked the imp with me.

"Yes! That is my sister Grenda (Grhendah)" Rockto said.

"How many members of your family did Daybreaker take?" I asked watching as Rarity gave Grenda her own coat.

"Six Krampus" he started. "Me, Grenda, my brother Shadow, my other sister Flori, my mother Shadra and my father Groton" after he finished speaking I thought back to the shadow I turned into a nutcracker. Imagining said toy in my hand, I opened my eyes to see the nutcracker in my hand. Focusing my power into the toy, I changed it back into the shadow that I had captured. As soon as the shadow saw me it turned to run, only to see Rockto standing in front of me, I watched as the shadow solidified into a dark imp.

"It seems I already caught one of your siblings, but I assumed it was an actual shadow. Hopefully you can both forgive me for not checking more closely, now let us get your sister" I said, slinking into the shadows as the brothers hugged. I slunk through the shadows around the mane six as the imp they just helped stood stock still with her mouth open. Sneaking up behind her, I figured it would be best to do what I did with Rockto. "And what has you flabbergasted, child?" I asked, I watched as she jumped and spun around to see who spoke only to start trembling as she saw me.

"T-the legends are true, Krampus?" she spoke. I nodded to answer her, I watched as her jaw almost unhinged and her eyes grew as large as saucers.

"Do not be alarmed child, I am here to help you, as I have helped your brothers" I said pointing to where Rockto was. I watched as her jaw closed as she ran headlong, towards her brothers, I laughed madly as she tackled them both to the ground in a smothering hug. I watched as the three hugged and cried to have each other in their arms, I heard the low hoot of one of the owls. Turning my head I watched the owl fly towards me erratically hooting loudly, my eyes widened in disbelief.

"Rockto, gather your siblings, we must hurry if we are to gather your parents and other sister before Daybreaker destroys them" I said, turning towards the three imps. I watched as Rockto's eyes widened before they narrowed with a fire burning deep inside.

"Can you carry the three of us Krampus?" He asked me. I nodded, smiling wickedly, I picked up the three imps and readied myself for one of my flying leaps.

"Hold on lady and gentlemen, and please enjoy your trip on air Krampus" I said wickedly. Leaping into the air, I flew with speeds that would rival Rainbow Dash, focusing my powers on the clouds in the everfree, I watched as they turned dark and followed me through the sky towards the castle of the two sisters. I flew over the ravine just as Rainbow Dash showed loyalty and the rest of the mane six crossed the old rope bridge, but as they crossed I watched as Pinkie convulsed.

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"Ooohhhh, that was a doozy," Pinkie said, bouncing behind us as we crossed the rope bridge.

"What was a doozy?" Twilight asked as the mane six skidded to a halt before the doors to the castle.

"Well, I got a twitchy tail, floppy ears and an itchy hoof. I don't know what that combination means though" Pinkie said.

"Ughh, girls I hate t'be the bearer ah bad news but" Applejack started as she pointed towards the sky. The rest of the mane six looked up and watched as the clouds above the Everfree forest darkened and congregated above the castle, thunder rumbled and lightning flashed in the sky as snow started to fall.

"Quickly girls" Twilight started kicking the doors to the castle open. "We need to get the elements and quickly" and with that the mane six ran through the castle until they reached the doors that lead to the tree of harmony. As they entered they were met with the sight of the elements of harmony and Daybreaker.

"Ahahaha I have the elements and know you will never stop me" she yelled as she fired a beam of magic towards the mane six. As they scattered Twilight lit her horn and teleported beside Daybreaker blasting her with her own magic as she grabbed the elements. Daybreaker quickly stood back up and blasted Twilight back, before getting hit behind by a cyan blur knocking her forward. Cursing loudly she attempted to teleport herself and the elements away from the six to one battle but as her horn flashed she was tackled by Twilight causing them both and the elements to be teleported to a different part of the castle, as soon as the flash was over the rest of the girls took off to look for Twilight, Daybreaker and the elements.

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As I was looking through the castle for the other three imps the ones I had with me were also searching. As we were looking through the shadows we came upon the throne room where we found Shadra, Groton and Flori, the four of us quickly untied the three imps and as the family embraced each other I slunk through the shadows until I was standing in the middle of the two thrones. All of a sudden I heard the buzz of energy and quickly lept to the side as Daybreaker, Twilight Sparkle and the elements of harmony appeared where I had been standing.

Quickly getting back to my hooves I watched as Twilight grabbed the elements and attempted to ignite them to cleanse Daybreaker. The elements shined slightly and then turned grey and fell, before Daybreaker.

"I don't understand" Twilight started as she looked at the grey stones. "When the elements are together they bring out the sixth but it didn't work, why didn't it work?"

"Can't you see child?" Daybreaker started laughing madly, "the elements will never work and you will never defeat me" she said as she ignited her horn. Seeing what would happen I decided to buy the Twilight and the other girls some time, grabbing some tinsel from my sleeves I followed into a ball and threw it at Daybreaker. I watched as the tinsel came alive mid throw and un-balled itself and flew straight and true for Daybreakers horn, landing on her head the tinsel quickly set to wrapping itself around her horn cutting off her magic.

"What is the meaning of this" Daybreaker yelled as she clawed at the tinsel on her horn. I watched as the six imps walked out of the shadows and engaged Daybreaker head on with Shadow and Shadra turning into their shadow forms, to hold her in place as Rockto sent out his shadow strings to control Daybreakers movements. Groton, Flori and Grenda hit the ground with their hands causing the stone to rise up and encase Daybreakers legs up to her knees.

As she continued to struggle I heard the door break open and the rest of the mane six came charging in yelling about how they were going to help Twilight. Nodding to the imps and having the tinsel return to me I watched as Twilight gave her speech about the elements and her friends being kindness, honesty, generosity, loyalty and laughter. The elements ignited into the correct colors and flew towards their correct bearers turning into beautifully crafted necklaces and settled around their necks. The element of magic came into existence as a beautiful crown with a six point star at the forefront, the six elements ignited and flew towards Daybreaker as she yelled at the mane six.

I watched as the circle of rainbow power encircled Daybreaker, I watched as her shadow form broke away from her and attempted to escape. Having the shadow imps cut off it's escape I snuck in from behind of it and grabbed the shadowy mist with my left hand.

"You have caused issues for this nation, my friend, her sister and these six mares. For your transgressions I sentence you to serve me for the rest of eternity" I said darkly as I forced the shadow to bend to my will. I forced the shadow to take on the form of the most useless toy I had in my canvas sack, I forced the shadow into the form of a bouncy ball the size of a tennis ball, as the transformation completed the orbital rainbow cannon stopped firing. I turned back towards the thrones to see the prone form of Princess Celestia, and the mane six high hugging each other for a job well done, I felt a magical signature I recognized, shaking my head I awaited the arrival of my first friend Princess Luna.

Once more I heard the faint buzz of magic, and felt the air grow lighter, I watched as a dark blue light emenated from in front of the mane six, it flashed and standing where the light was, was Luna. I snickered as the mane six bowed to her I stalked in towards my friend. As I stepped beside her I heard her say.

"Rise my little ponies, you have done me and Equestria a service for returning my sister." She said as she turned around to face Celestia, who was just starting to open her eyes. As Celestia looked around her eyes landed on Luna and grew to the size of dinner plates, Luna kneeled in front of her sister and wrapped her in a hug, I didn't hear what she said but I knew she was ecstatic to have her sister back in her life.

"So everything is back to normal, though I have a feeling your student will stay" I said as Luna ended her embrace with Celestia.

"Hopefully she will" she whispered to me as she stood up.

"Who are you speaking to sister?" Celestia asked, causing me and Luna's eyes to widen as we looked at each other silently asking the same question, 'should we tell them?'

"Yeah princess, besides why are you staring into empty space like that?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah, you do that a lot" Twilight started. "I've seen you do that a lot whenever I'm around. I see you either stare into nothing, swivel one of your ears like someone is talking to you when I'm the only one with you. You did it the day I left, I even watched you roll your eyes as your ear was facing your left a few seconds after I stopped talking."

"Yes sister, I have a hazy memory of you wanting to introduce me to someone before the nightmares took over" Celestia said looking worried.

"It's time my old friend," I said, sighing to Luna as she nodded.

"My faithful student and friends, what do you know of Krampus?" Luna asked, I playfully shoved her in mock hurt.

"Easy he's just an old mare's tale told to keep fillies and colts in line" Twilight said.

"Yet Daybreaker was real?" Luna asked, causing the mane six's eyes to widen, especially Twilight's. "Sister it is a very long time coming but I would like you to meet my friend, Krampus" she said as I left the shadows and let everyone in the room see me.

As the mane six gasped and Celestia's eyes widened as once more I kneeled in front of her. "A thousand years ago your sister Princess Luna found me sitting alone by a river in the forest. She thought it best to seek your council on what would be done with me. Instead of an honorable meeting, you referred to me as beast and chose to act unbefitting of a princess. I forgave you a thousand years ago when I helped Luna banish you and I do not need an apology now. I have lived peacefully amongst the beings of this world, and once more I introduce myself, I am Krampus, watcher of the night, protector of the innocent, and I wish to be your friend."

Waiting for what Celestia would say I heard "rise Krampus, please you don't have to bow to me. Once I saw you the memory of that day returned with a vengeance I could never apologise enough for my behavior, and yet you forgive me. You have watched the night as my sister took over in my place to watch the day, I have no right to judge you and I...I would love to be your friend." Looking up it was Celestia who spoke, in her eyes were tears and standing up I wiped the tears from her eyes and embraced the returned Princess of the sun.

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The mane six stood stock still as Luna introduced her sister. Godsmacked that Daybreaker was a twisted visage of her, but what really had them on the ropes was when Luna looked at them and asked.

"My faithful student and friends, what do you know of Krampus?"

Rainbow, Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy's eyes widened at the prospect of the old tale their parents had told them was a true living being.

"Easy he's just an old mare's tale told to keep fillies and colts in line" Twilight said. Causing the other five to gasp at what she had said.

Luna just smiled a knowing smile as she said "yet Daybreaker was real." Twilight's eyes widened as the shadow next to Princess Luna shimmered and soon all right mares bore witness to a myth just as old as Daybreaker. Standing about as tall as Luna, was a stocky bent over figure wearing a soot covered read cloak with stained white fur trim. He was covered in chains that rattled and bells that chimed as he shifted his position, and they could see his cloven hooves as he started walking towards Princess Celestia. He had ram horns that came out of the hood of the cloak and curved slightly, his face was wrinkled and his once white beard was a dirty grey in color.

None of the mane six dared to move a muscle, they had just faced Daybreaker. The dark version of Princess Celestia who a thousand years ago attempted to throw the world into eternal day, they had proven themselves the true elements of harmony. Yet even Rainbow Dash who never feared anything in her life refused to unfurl her wings to attempt to beat the creature in front of her, Applejack who was strong and honest, held her hat to her chest as she couldn't tear her eyes away from the being her parents told her about truly being real.

Rarity who was generous and believed in prim and proper fainted as he walked past her. His once pristine suit dirty and once shiny chains and bells rusted and creaking, Pinkie who was always jovial, bouncing and loved to meet new ponies couldn't even bounce as he walked past her. Fluttershy who was kind to everyone and everything yet afraid of her own shadow couldn't hide, couldn't look away. She felt no kindness when she looked at him and as her eyes met his, her mind stopped, for in this eyes kindness and spite walked hand in hand there was kindness for the innocent yet spite and hatred for the wicked.

Finally as he walked past Twilight, the gears in her mind kicked into overdrive. She had read about him not more than three days ago, she had memorized how the book described him. She looked for flaws in the projection for that is what it had to be, Krampus wasn't real. Her analytic mind couldn't comprehend the possibility of someone who could fight for the innocent and harmony that could even vehemently harm those that were wicked. As soon as Celestia saw him her mind brought forth memories from a thousand years ago when she first met Krampus, and how she had treated him.

Then she remembered what the shadow did, and how it forced her prejudice to only see ponies as good and every other species as evil. Her eyes watered and the tears fell like a waterfall as she remembered all the horrible things she had said, all the plotting and scheming she did behind everyone's back. How she planned to imprison her own sister for not being loyal enough to pony kind. Her heart broke and then was ground into a fine dust that blew away into the breeze as her mind made her relive every horrible thing she had done a thousand years prior.

She watched as once more Krampus kneeled in front of her and as his words entered her mind she berated herself. She heard everything he said but her subconscious broke her, beat her and removed her ponanity in her mind. And as the voices we're about to win and her magic destroy her, his words stuck.

"I forgave you a thousand years ago when I helped Luna banish you and I do not need an apology now. I have lived peacefully amongst the beings of this world, and once more I introduce myself, I am Krampus, watcher of the night, protector of the innocent, and I wish to be your friend."

Celestia wept even harder for this kind being who she was nothing short of disgusted to forgave her. He wanted to be her friend, her voice subconscious couldn't understand it, he should hate her, resent her, yet he forgave her. "Rise Krampus, please you don't have to bow to me. Once I saw you the memory of that day returned with a vengeance I could never apologise enough for my behavior, and yet you forgive me. You have watched the night as my sister took over in my place to watch the day, I have no right to judge you and I...I would love to be your friend" she said as she continued to weep.

Krampus stood and she was taken aback as he wiped the tears from her eyes and embraced her. She hugged him back and cried, she was back to normal, she had her sister back, and the being she attempted to harm forgave her and wanted to be her friend. Celestia knew it wasn't going to be an easy road, but as she felt another six pairs of arms wrap around her she heard Luna's comforting words as her mane was stroked.

"You will never be alone, sister, you can change. You have friends in these six girls if you ask nicely and Krampus has forgiven you and become your friend. Soon Equestria will have two rulers and shall once more feel the glory of your day." As Celestia pulled her head away from Krampus's chest she looked at her sister's bright smile and caring eyes and nodded slowly as her head rested once more on the chest of the satyr she had wronged a thousand years ago.