(Story is pending outlining and rewrites, thank you for your patience!)

Featured on 2023-10-01! Thank you!

After the shade's attack on Ponyville, Mute and Zarathon are brought before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. The two are questioned as to their purpose and intentions with Equestria and its people, and eventually, a deal is struck. In return for Celestia and Luna not destroying Zarathon, he and Mute will watch over Ponyville and other affected areas as "shade hunters" and destroy any shade they come across. Their jobs as shade hunters also include teaching the Ponyville guard how to deal with shades and they are also forced to participate in normal guard duties. One such duty is to defend the town from various non-shade threats. Surely letting the maniacal talking pebble defend a town is one of Celestia's best ideas yet.

Yet the shades and other monsters from the Everfree are not the only creatures that wish harm upon Equestria. There are rumblings in the changeling Hive and envious eyes look upon ponykind. And from the west comes a cold wind that speaks of ill tidings...

As the world grows more and more chaotic and enemies approach from all sides Mute and Zarathon will have to take desperate measures to perform their duties as Lords of Cinders and protect what they have gained. If they fail all shall be lost to the Darkness.

No pressure.

(The sex tag is there for implicit stuff and possible future stuff. The violence tag will be absolutely necessary for this story. The death tag might be added if it needs to be as there will be mentions of characters that have died in the past. The cover art is not mine and I will eventually change it to something that fits the story better, but I need money for that and I am dead broke.)