Manhunter 1: Twilight's Power

The hooded pony was at the bottom of Princess Celestia's window. On the grassy floor before him was the golden key. He picked it up and ran off.

He went around the castle to the back area where there was a trapdoor to the basement. A light rose glow covered the lock and it shattered immediately. He jumped into the hole, his magic closing the doors behind him.

In the damp darkness, finding his way would be difficult but he couldn't risk using his magic to light the way. He ran silently ahead. His innate memory of the basement allowed him to dodge any obstacles he might come across. He was a pony on a mission. The black hood fluttered behind him making him virtually invisible in the shadows but his hooves could still be heard faintly as he made his way to the rubble that was once the wall that hid the dungeon.

The guarding ponies turned toward the sound of the oncoming hooves and he knew that stealth was no longer a priority. He thundered toward the first one and reared up on his hindhooves. He struck him violently in the temples, knocking him out instantly.

This gave the others time to retaliate. Three colts ran at him. The armor they wore gave them a pseudo horn. The cloaked unicorn used his REAL horn to deflect one, then Judo swept the other two to the ground. He turned his back and kicked them all from consciousness.

The last three were more cautious. One went to his left, one went to his right and the other charged him dead center. He smiled. He raised his head upward and a brilliant light flew from it. The glow stopped the three ponies in their tracks but after a while it died. Confused, the looked at each other and then at the hooded pony. The one to the left took a careful step forward and fire began raining from the ceiling. The guards ran around in circles before two of them passed out from the heat.

The last one did not fall until he saw the cloak burn up revealing their assaulter. None other than their captain, Shining Armor. He looked into the scorched guard's eyes and used his magic to form a protective bubble around his head. The colt struggled and gasped for air and eventually fainted.

The dark sapphire alicorn made her way haughtily past the defeated guards. She turned to Shining Armor and waited for his respectful bow.

"M'Lady," he said. "I have done all you ask." When he spoke, the key fell out of his mouth.

Luna used her magic to pick it up and insert it into the keyhole.

"May I ask what you needed the key for?" queried Shining.

"To open the dungeon," Luna answered.

"We have a dungeon?" asked Shining.

Luna shrugged. She got ready to turn the key when...

"What is all the noise going on down here?" Celestia asked as she trotted into view. The darkness was converted to a sunny day in her presence. She looked at all the unconscious guards around her then looked up at her sister and her captain. "Well?" she demanded.

"Hello Celly," greeted Luna in a deep, male voice. "Remember me?"

Celestia was confused but as she looked into her sister's eyes she understood.

"Get away from that door Luna!" she warned.

"Too late Celly," Luna taunted. "Your sister's mine now. And your precious playmate."

Celestia charged a bolt of lightning on her horn but her sister simply said, "uh uh uh. You wouldn't want to hurt your little sister now, would you?"

The charge died immediately.

Luna grinned and turned the key.

The door swung open and a horrifying laugh echoed around the room. The light Celestia's presence made was blown out and shadows began streaming into the room.

"Such a pity, Celly," the shadows said. "You bound me five hundred years ago and your sister sets me free."

"Luna!" shouted Celestia.

Luna did not answer. Her mind was lost to the creature that was still in the room. It, however, amused the creature to release Shining Armor.

"What is it M'Lady?" he asked.

Celestia looked at him. "It is a creature that I had encounter five hundred years ago. One that had nearly destroyed all of Equestria without a single pony knowing. It called itself Manhunter," she explained.

Shining tried to generate a shield that would contain all the shadows but the creature was determined not to be captured. Its shadowy tentacles twisted everywhere and each time a portion was caught, they would absorb the energy and continue filling the room.

Shining soon found that he couldn't breathe. The shadows pressed in, suffocating him. His vision blurred and ultimately went out. When he awoke, he saw seven pony skeletons, a burnt out Princess Celestia and the wide open door of the dungeon.

Neither Luna nor the Manhunter were in the palace anymore.