It was early in the morning when Twilight and Spike ran to the Ponyville train station to catch an early train to Canterlot.
After the incident at night, Twilight immediately sent several letters to Princess Celestia about what happened during the night and that she and Pike would immediately arrive in Canterlot to discuss the incident with an unknown Alicorn.

Because it was early in the morning, when all the residents were still asleep. Twilight wasn't surprised when she arrived at the station to find no one but the still-sleepy ticket seller. The deafening honk of an approaching train attracted the attention of Twilight and Spike, who were waiting for the train to stop in rows.

When the train finally stopped, the doors of the carriages opened and several ponies got off the train. As soon as the doors swung open, Twilight scooped Spike up with her wing, and they boarded the train together. The carriage was completely empty, so Twilight and Spike found a comfortable place near the window and exit of the train. When Twilight and Spike sat down in their chosen seats, the train horn sounded, symbolizing departure.

Twilight could have easily flown to Canterlot if she hadn't been so tired and sleepy after the night's incident. She spent the rest of the night poring over old history books and various scrolls. As a result, she found nothing but fatigue. All Twilight did now was think about what had happened and think about it. Stranger's Glory: “I am an Alicorn. You could say I'm the first Alicorn.”

"Twilight." Spike said, nudging Twilight with his shoulder.

She didn't answer him right away. Her mind was still full of what had happened. “Did you say something Spike?”

"Tvi, maybe you should get some rest. You look very tired." Spike said with sadness in his voice.

"I'm not tired, Spike. I was just thinking a little bit." Twilight said a little testily.

"That's what worries me. You've been rummaging through old books all night, trying to find something, but you haven't found anything." Spike chided her, crossing his arms over his chest.

Twilight just silently tilted her head down, looking at the floor. “You're right. But I have to find the answers!” Twilight raised her voice and swung her hooves up.

"You don't owe anyone anything. If this guy is really an Alicorn, then the princesses might know something about him. That's why we're going to Canterlot, right?" Spike spoke, placing his hand on Twilight's shoulder.

"Right." Twilight said softly.

"Well. That's why you should rest now. The trip will take several hours. And when you meet other princesses, you will definitely come up with something." Spike was encouraging.

"Yes, you're right, Spike." Twilight turned to face Spike and smiled.

"Now get some rest. I'll wake you up when we arrive in Canterlot." Spike said, removing his hand from Twilight's shoulder.

Twilight settled comfortably into the seat and drifted off to sleep.

***

• White marble floor, black stone walls with decorative red crystals. The ceiling, which consisted of red crystal and marble, had the same chandelier as in the library, only turned on. There were white crystals on some of the walls, which served as lamps when charged with magic. A large bed stood in the left corner of the door, next to which was a chest of drawers made of black crystal. In the opposite corner, there was a large and long table made of red crystal, on which lay various scrolls and alchemical supplies like flasks with different liquids and different materials. There was also a book on Equestria history on the table during the time of the two sisters a thousand years ago. In the center was a small table on which lay various types of crystals and parchments with notes. The other two corners of the room had different shelves, some with books, others with different objects. There was a large red carpet on the floor by the bed. The door to the room was ordinary, black with golden designs that looked like thorny vines. There were different purple rune-like markings on some parts of the door.

Erzit was sleeping peacefully in his bed under a large purple blanket. His sleeping face was peaceful, but a sudden knock on the door caused a grimace of annoyance on his sleeping face. The door opened and Shands entered the room. He slowly walked over to the bed and abruptly threw the blanket off the sleeping Erzit. Now the blanket was levitating a meter away from the bed. In the magical grip of Shands.

"It's morning, Master Erzit. You asked to be woken up early." Calm down, Shands said, looking at the still sleeping Erzit.

"Five more minutes, Shands." Erzit said sleepily, groping for the blanket with his hooves. Shands just rolled his eyes. “Sir, if you haven't forgotten, you have a meeting in Canterlot today.”

"Who is the meeting with?" Erzit asked, still sleepy.

"With the princesses." A little irritated, Shands said.

"With the princesses?" Erzit spoke softly.

“With the princesses!” Erzit shouted loudly, jumping up from the bed. Shands just rolled his eyes at his master's usual demeanor. Shands has been serving Erzit for more than several thousand years, and therefore he is already used to such antics. The shadow magic that Erzit created allows you to slow down aging very much, thus allowing you to live for a very long time.

Shadow magic changes the very nature of a pony, changing it from the inside out. Subsequently, allowing you to use all the abilities of shadow magic. An ordinary unicorn can use shadow spells, but those who enter the service of Erzit undergo a special ceremony that turns them into those very ponies with shadow powers. The ponies that became shadow ponies became known as Umbrums. That's how ordinary ponies started calling them, who met them on the streets or in other places. The shadow ponies exuded a strange aura that even Earth ponies and pegasi could sense. However, in order to remain unnoticed, the Umbrums turned into shadows and moved exclusively in the form of shadows. Thus, even the unicorns couldn't detect their strange aura. Shadow ponies also lost their insignia. It was a side effect, as was the strange aura emanating from them.

"Yes, sir. You were planning to meet the princesses." Shands said calmly, taking a step back so that Erzit could get down. beds.

Turning into a shadow. Erzit quickly crossed the room and materialized at the exit of the room. “Get my clothes ready, Shands.” Erzit said quickly as he left the room. Shands just nodded after him.

The corridors were spacious, consisting of marble floors and walls, with a ceiling of black stone, sometimes covered with different crystal formations of different colors. Sometimes there were paintings and statues from different eras of Equestria. There were also various flags with the coats of arms of Equestrian tribes. There were even large vases with different flowers, tended by the mares of the maid.

Passing through another flight of endless corridors, Erzit came across two Pegasus shadow guards who were talking to each other. The first was a yellow pegasus with a red mane and tail, the second was a blue pegasus with a black mane and tail. When they saw Erzit, they stopped their dialogue and bowed to their master.

"Don't bow your head. I'm not a king to be bowed down to. I thought you'd already figured that out after a thousand years." Erzit spoke calmly, looking at the guards.

The guards were dressed in black and gray plate armor. In some places, purple crystal plates were attached to the armor, such as on the sides and shoulders. On his chest was a small plate with the coat of arms of Erzit: In the center was a purple eye with a cat's pupil. It has light purple wings on its sides and a light purple horn on top.
The helmet was similar to the helmets of the Canterlot Guardsmen, except for the color and crest. The helmet was the same color as the rest of the Shadow Guards' armor. Instead of the usual crest on the helmet, there was a red crystal plate.

"We remember the master." Said the first guardsman.

"But General Thane says it's the right thing to do." Said the second guardsman.

Erzit rolled his eyes. ”Thane is like always.” The guards just looked at each other and looked at Erzit with bewilderment. Taking a deep breath, Erzit continued on his way to the bathroom to tidy himself up. “Okay, good luck to you." The guards just nodded. When Erzit disappeared around a nearby bend, the guards began their discussion again.

A few minutes later, Erzit finally made it to the bathroom. After quickly taking a shower with various gels and shampoos, he combed his mane and left the bathroom, where the maid mare was already waiting for him.

"Good morning, Master Erzit" She said, bowing.

"Good morning, Emily. I suppose Shands is waiting for me?"

Emily was one of the younger residents of the castle and Erzit's newest student. For a thousand years, Erzit has not accepted new students, until one day Shands returned to the castle with a bloody young mare, Without telling why he brought her and what happened to her. Shands began to beg his master to help save her. In the end, Erzit couldn't refuse his old assistant and friend. After a long period of treatment, Emily wanted to stay at the castle. Therefore, Erzit had to accept her as a student. About a hundred years have passed since then.

Emily is a Mare, assistant to Shands and a young student of Erzit: A yellow earth pony with a blue mane, in which there were several red strands. A blue ponytail with a few red strands. And pink-crimson pupils.

"Yes. He's waiting for you in your room." Emily said with a hint of uncertainty.

"Good. Thanks Emily." Erzit said calmly, taking a few steps forward to get next to Emily.

"How is the combat skills training progressing? Isn't Thane being too strict?" Erzit asked, staring intently into her eyes to see if she was going to lie or not.

After Emily completed her initial shadow magic training, she expressed a desire for someone to teach her how to fight. And who better than the general of the Shadow Guards of the castle can teach her how to fight. Moreover, Thane is also an Earth pony. He will teach her how to combine shadow skills with combat skills.

"N-no. Everything is fine." Emily said uncertainly, still looking down at the floor. Even after a hundred years in the castle, Emily still feels insecure. When with any of the castle residents.

"Well, that's good. But if you're afraid to tell me, at least tell Shands. He vouched for you, and if something happens to you, he won't forgive himself." Erzit said, gradually moving away from Emily. Looking back, he saw that Emily had blushed a little when Erzit mentioned Shands. “It looks like Shands has a fan.” Erzit chuckled to himself as he continued walking.

Slowing down his gait, Erit walked and mentally reflected on the events that had brought him to today.

The return of Sombra and the Crystal Empire brought back the events of a thousand years ago. When the Empire returned, Erzit immediately arrived there to find out what was going on. Upon arriving at the Empire, he only saw a magical surge and a black cloud that was being destroyed by this magic. And also, Erzith saw Sombra, and what was left of him flew far beyond the borders of the Crystal Empire.

After Erzit took Sombra's horn, he placed a Seal of Purification and a Seal of Deterrence to safely purify Sombra from the effects of dark magic. Three months have passed since that moment.

A few weeks after the victory of a group of mares over Sombra, it became very interesting when one of those mares became an Alicorn. The series of events and the victory over Lord Tirek attracted even more of Erzith's attention.

And so, after a long time, when Erzit refused to leave his castle, he finally leaves it because of his interest in the princesses. Instead of continuing to hide, Erzit gets the crazy idea to reveal himself to the princesses. And also to reveal a little bit about Equestria's history, which even Princess Celestia did not know. Besides all this, there was a little theory about Twilight Sparkle, and it needed to be tested.

In addition to the above-mentioned points, there were other factors that prompted the action. For example: The return of Chrysalis, the newly found Alicorn amulet, and other minor minor moments.

After many minutes, Erzit finally gets to his room. So he interrupts the flow of his thoughts.

Upon entering his chambers, Erzit saw Shands holding a tray of food, and on the bed were already the usual clothes that Erzit had worn almost all his life. Few people knew, but enchanted crystals were sewn into the depths of the fabric, which preserve clothes in their original form.

After taking a couple of steps to enter the room and sit down at the central table, Erzit asked Shands what was for breakfast today.

"Today, there's a fruit salad, some sweet blueberry buns, and the juice of a freshly squeezed orange." Shands spoke monotonously, pushing aside everything on the table and placing a tray of food on it.

"A light breakfast means." Erzit muttered as Shands placed the tray in front of him.

"Exactly. According to the plan, your meeting with the princesses will be short, and therefore you will have time to have a snack either there or back here." Shands said, picking up clothes from the bed. Into his magical grip.

"Do you think they'll want me to have lunch with them!?" Erzit asked perplexedly, staring at Shands.

"Knowing you, Erzit, it can happen. Your extravagant antics can lead to unexpected results." Raising an eyebrow, Shands chided.

"Extravagant antics!? I haven't left the castle in a thousand years!" Erzit tried to reproach.

"That's why I'm saying that the result can be anything. Even I do not know what you can do. It's been so long since you've left the castle." With a grin, Shands said.

"Well. Maybe you're right." Erzit whispered, taking the fork in his magical grip.

After finishing lunch, Erzit put on his usual clothes and left the room with Shands.

"General Thane is waiting in the training room." Said Shands. Before he disappeared into the shadows.

Nodding, Erzit continued on his way through the corridors of his castle. After dozens of turns and stairs, he finally reached the training room. Large double doors stood open, inviting Erzit in.

The training room was a large stadium inside the castle. There is a large field in the center and several lines around it for regular running or steeplechasing. There were various rings and other items on the ceiling for Pegasus training, including weather crystals that could release enemy lightning. These crystals were set by a mare from the Crystal Empire many years ago. The field in the center consisted of designated areas for various training sessions. From fighting with dummies to deflecting attacks from the same crystals. There were also various simulators.

There were only seven ponies in the training room. Two shadow guards of earth ponies, Two shadow guards of pegasus, two shadow guards of unicorn, and General Thane himself. When Thane saw Erzith approaching, he shouted loudly for all the guards to form a line.

"There's no need for such formalities Thane" Smiling, Erzit said when he came close to the group.

"Of course, Master Erzit." Thane said, nodding to the guards, signaling them to relax.

Thane was a large light gray stallion with a black mane and tail, which had several yellow and blue strands. Her eyes were emerald green. He was wearing the same armor as the other shadow guards, except for the crystal crest, which was purple in color. He was the commander of a noble's guard until he was robbed, and he decided to throw all the blame on Thane, as if he was to blame for this or connected with the robbery. After that, it was difficult for Thane, because this nobleman did everything so that Thane would not even be hired as a florist. Eventually, Erzit found him sad and broken in an alley when Thane was kicked out of his rented apartment. Erzith invited Thane to become his apprentice and later the general of the Shadow Guard.

"Are you ready, Thane?" Erzit asked, looking around at those he would take with him.

"Sure. I have chosen the best guards." Thane said proudly, looking around at his fighters.

"Good. But I want to remind you that no one should be maimed. You just have to neutralize the palace guards and ensure the safety of everyone, including those whom you have neutralized." Seriously, Erzit was saying, looking at everyone one by one.

"Yes!" In unison, the shadow Guards said.

"Great. Now go ahead. We act according to the plan and begin the performance on the signal." Erzit said loudly. So far, I've activated shadow displacement magic to move everyone to Canterlot Castle.

***

A few hours later, the train finally stopped at Canterlot Station with a deafening hum. However, the howl of the train could not wake the snoring Twilight.

"Hey, Twilight, get up." Spike tried to wake her up.

"Tvi, we're already in Canterlot!" Spike said louder, shaking her by the shoulders until she woke up.

"I get up. Spike, I'm getting up." Twilight said sleepily, rubbing her eyes. hooves.

Finally waking up, Twilight got off the train with Spike. Jumping onto her friend's back, Twilight quickly took off and flew straight to the gates of Canterlot Castle.

A few minutes later, Twilight and Spike were already at the castle gates. When the standing guards saw Twilight, they immediately opened the doors, allowing her to enter. When Twilight walked past the guards, they only nodded at her and Spike.

Entering the halls of the castle, Twilight picked Spike up with her wing, throwing him on her back, and quickly ran to the doors of the throne room, where Princess Luna and Celestia were already waiting for her.

Upon reaching the doors of the throne room, two unicorn guards opened the majestic double doors, allowing Twilight to enter the throne room. Two more Pegasus guards stood on either side of the open doors. She took a couple of steps towards the dais with the throne, where Princess Luna and Celestia were standing, waiting for Twilight. At that moment, Spike jumped off Twilight's back and just waved at the princesses with his hand.

"Greetings, Twilight." Celestia greeted him with a smile. Princess Luna just smiled and waved at the newcomers.

Twilight quickly ran up to the princesses and hugged them.

"How was the road?" Princess Luna asked.

"It's all good. But more on that later." Twilight said a little nervously.

"She didn't sleep all night." Spike said skeptically as the princesses looked at him.

"I was relaxing on the train. But that's not the most important thing right now." Twilight said, pulling away from the princesses a little.

“Have you received my letters?” Twilight asked. Looking first at one princess and then at the other.

"Received." Celestia replied softly.

"But they didn't understand a bit. What did you mean by that." Said Princess Luna.

Twilight sighed, shaking her head, and began to tell everyone what had happened the night before. Twilight also told about the book she found in the castle of the two sisters.

"I don't recall any such book, and I certainly don't remember such a secret room." Celestia said, looking at Lunu.

"What? This is not one of my Secret Rooms. I didn't make a secret room for some weird book." Luna replied. When they are. Two sisters also lived in the old castle. Luna often liked to joke around and therefore created numerous secret rooms and passageways for her pranks.

"Well, we'll deal with that later. Now let's think about this strange stranger." Celestia replied with a sigh.

"What did you say he looked like?" Luna asked.

"It was a Purple Stallion. Dressed in a strange costume with wings and a slightly bumpy horn." - Twilight replied.

"I don't recall ever having an Alicorn like this in Equestria's history." Celestia replied, placing one of her front hooves on her lower lip, pretending to look thoughtful.

"Were there any special signs?" Celestia asked, looking first at Twilight and then at Spike.

"He didn't have a badge on his sides." Twilight replied.

"He didn't teleport like normal unicorns. Instead, he disappeared into a cloud of black mass. He also said that he was the first Alicorn." Spike shouted.

"What did this black mass look like?" Celestia asked in a slightly agitated voice.

"It was similar to the darkness used by King Sombra in the Crystal Empire." Twilight explained.

"What else did this one say…" Princess Luna didn't have time to finish her sentence when she heard a commotion outside the throne room door.

The two Pegasus guards exchanged glances, taking a couple of steps away from the door, pointing the spears they held in their hooves at them.

Two small streams of shadows crept out from under the lower slits of the doors. In the second that the pegasus guards had time to react, a shadow earth pony in armor and a shadow pegasus in armor appeared from their own shadow. The two shadow ponies knocked the Pegasus guards to the ground with a single movement of their hooves.

"What's going on!?" Spike exclaimed, hiding behind Twilight.

As soon as the doors of the throne room swung open, Princess Celestia lit her horn with golden light and erected a protective dome around herself and others. At this time, Princess Luna lit her horn, preparing for battle.

Two shadow unicorns stood in the open doors, holding the other two royal guards in their magical grip. There was also a shadowy earth pony and a Pegasus. The remaining shadow Guards entered the throne room. The shadow unicorns loosened their magical grip and threw the other two royal guards into the corners of the throne room.

"Who are you? And what do you need here!?-" Princess Celestia shouted angrily in her Canterlot voice.

After the princess's shout, the shadow guards formed two lines on both sides of the throne room. They stood there with a straight face, waiting for something, or rather, for someone.

"What are they doing?" Spike whispered.

A swirl of shadows erupted in the center of the room.

"Sombra?" Celestia whispered.

"It doesn't look like him." Luna answered, closing her eyes.

A light gray earth pony came out of the shadow vortex, wearing the same armor as the other shadow ponies.

"Greetings, dear princesses." Thane said, bowing to all three princesses. The other shadow guards followed suit and bowed.

The princesses exchanged glances. “I'll repeat my question. Who are you? And what do you need?” Celestia repeated.

"I'm General Thane. The commander of the Shadow Guards. Our master would like to talk to you." Proudly straightening his chest, Thane said.

"What kind of master?" Twilight called out questioningly.

"I think you already know him." With a soft smile, Thane said.

"What do you mean?" Twilight replied questioningly.

"Who is your Master?" Luna intervened, still in the attacking stance.

Thane ignored Luna's question. “He'll tell you himself.” Thane said, standing sideways to the princesses.

The soft clatter of hooves could be heard from the open gate as a purple Alicorn stallion appeared in the opening.

"Greetings, princesses." Erzit said with a smile, leisurely walking up to the dais where the princesses were standing.

"It's him!" Twilight whispered to the other princesses.

"Hello to you again, Princess Twilight Sparkle." Erzit said with a warm smile, looking at her.

Princess Celestia looked at Twilight and shifted her gaze to the unknown Alicorn. “Who are you?” Celestia asked with concern.

"I am Erzit. And I am the first Alicorn." Erzit declared loudly and as if kindly.

"Who are you?!" Luna shouted in confusion...

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And I'm sorry for the slightly tedious narration. The next chapter will be released a little later, but it will be about one of the characters in this story.

Sooner or later, all the backstories of the characters you will see will be revealed. Some stories will be sad, some funny. In general, I have a lot of plans for this story. So I hope you enjoy it all. :)

Don't forget to leave your feedback so that I understand that you like this story and I need to continue it. Thank you in advance.