The Rise and Fall of Dark Fire and The Elements of Disharmony

by Shady pillow

Chapters

Chapter 2
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10 A
Chapter 10 B
Chapter 11 A
Chapter 11 B
Chapter 12 A
Chapter 12 B
Chapter 1
Chapter 3

Chapter 2

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Diamonds are Forever
Four days before the incident…

"You're becoming friends with the Elements of Harmony!?" The darker version of Night Shadow said to the original.

"Yes, what is so bad about that? I have had friends before… I think." Night Shadow stated.

"And they have betrayed you, stabbed you in the back… What makes you think they are any different from the others?" The darker pony said as his red eyes shimmered.

"Because even you can see the good in them." The lighter version of Night Shadow said to his darker half.

"Affiliation can change at anytime you fool! Everyone's opinion of good and evil is, and always will be different." The darker pony said to the lighter one.

"In addition to that comment, you are the evil one here." Night Shadow said to his darker half.

"Fine then, if you want to fall for the same trick three times in a row, so be it!" The dark unicorn shouted, causing an echo to spread around in the small, dark atmosphere. "However… this is your last chance before I rip the gift of freewill away from your pathetic hooves." He whispered into Night Shadow's ears.

"Now, go Night Shadow." The lighter pony said, attempting to comfort him. "You have a job to do… and I believe in you." He said as his blue eyes glowed brightly. Night Shadow then started to regain consciousness.

As Night Shadow opened his eyes, he witnessed that Twilight was staring at him frightened.

"Did I frighten you again Twilight? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-"

"It's okay Night Shadow, you don't have to apologize for everything you do." Twilight said putting her hoof in his mouth.

"I'm sorry…" Night Shadow said softly.

"Don't apologize, you've done nothing wrong." Twilight said to calm him down.

"Im afraid I will though… I have before." Night Shadow said shifting around to get out of bed.

"It's just that your bracelets started to glow red again." Twilight said a bit concerned.

"They're not bracelets Twilight, they're suppressors, they prevent me from turning into… that."

"What do you mean?" Twilight said looking at him worried.

"It means that without these, everyone would be in danger because of… me." Night Shadow said softly.

Twilight looked a bit pail as she backed away slowly.

"Twilight… that's not going to happen unless something very drastic ensued, please don't be scared." Night Shadow said approaching her slowly.

Twilight continued to back away until she hit the wall behind her, still frightened.

"And under what conditions would you…do that?" She asked still concerned.

"Only if somepony very dear to me was hurt, or if my heart was… broken." Night Shadow said as his eyes watered.

Twilight, witnessing his sorrow, dropped her fear and replaced it with pity.

"What happened to you?" She asked.

"T-they… they betrayed me, Twilight. They left me to suffer like the worthless pony I am." Night Shadow said as tears flowed down his cheeks. "I gave them my heart… and what did they do in return? They shred it before my very eyes, laughing at my sorrow and pain as I laid there to rot in the void of my own mistakes. To be swallowed up by the darkness of my own desires, never to be fulfilled or be completed. This is what they turned me into, and I can never be whole again."

Finishing his sentence, Night Shadow closed his watering eyes not being able to bear to look at Twilight's face. She on the other hoof couldn't stand to see him like this. As he continued sobbing, Twilight embraced him with a long hug.

"You don't have to feel like that ever again. Me, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy; we are your friends now and we will never betray you." Twilight said wiping the tears away from his eyes and then started holding him tightly.

Letting the last of his tears fall, Night Shadow hugged Twilight back.

"Promise me… promise me that you won't leave me like they did. I care about you so much, all I ask is that you do the same." He asked holding on to Twilight.

"I promise, but there's just one problem." Twilight said short of breath.

"What, what is it?" Night Shadow asked fearfully.

"You're… suffocating… me." Twilight struggled to say.

After helping out with Applejack and playing games with Rainbow Dash during the previous days, Night Shadow found it only fair to help out the rest of Twilight's friends. Today was Rarity's turn, except she wasn't the only one waiting.

"Rainbow Dash, I told you to stay still!" Rarity said trying to pull her down with the loose ribbons.

"I can't help it, being grounded is so boring." Rainbow said plopping back down to the floor.

"Well if you stood still for a minute, your dress would have been done by now." Rarity said tying the ribbon to the dress. "Now I will be right back with rubies." She said walking into a room.

Shortly after, Night Shadow walked through the door to see Rainbow with the biggest "Kill me now" face he had ever seen.
"You mad, Dashie?" He teased.

"Oh shut up, you're only here mock me like the rest, but your turn will come soon enough." Rainbow said irritated.

"Well, with all jokes aside, you actually look beautiful in that dress." Night Shadow complimented.

"That won't make me feel any better about this, but I know what will." Rainbow said with an evil smile.

"You don't mean…" Night Shadow said fearfully.

"Yeah I do, it's time to fulfill your end of the bargain, Night Shadow." Rainbow said approaching him.

"If this will make you happy… then I guess so." Night shadow said taking in a deep breath. "She-"

"Rainbow Dash, this is terrible!" Rarity said barging in on the conversation.

"What is it, zombies, vampires, wereponies, or worse… the old guy from down the street?!" Night Shadow asked panicking.
"No, this is the worst, possible, thing!" Rarity yelled, emphasizing.

"What could be worse than the old guy down the street?" Night Shadow said in disbelief.

"I… ran out of rubies!" Rarity bluntly said.

Night Shadow went from panic to dead-pan face.

"You're freaking out because you ran out of… RUBIES!" He practically shouted.

"Yes, now I can't finish Rainbow's dress." Rarity said looking around frantically.

"Oh… well we can't have that can we." He said looking back at Rainbow sinisterly.

"No darling we can't, so I'm going to go find some, if you want to help that is." Rarity said putting on a fancy purple scarf and walking outside.

"Of course, I have nothing better to do." Night Shadow said picking up his trench coat and trotting to the door.
"Hey! What about your promise!" Rainbow yelled.

"Sorry, but it seems I'm busy at the moment… please leave a message after the-"

Night Shadow, quickly slamming the door behind him, left Rainbow in the room.

Ten minutes passed before Rarity and Night Shadow reached the excavation site.

"Are we there yet?" Night Shadow complained.

"No Night Shadow, you have asked thirty-four times already." Rarity sighed.

"Are we there yet?" Night Shadow asked again.

Rarity paused, looking over a hill.

"Yes, we're finally here." Rarity said relieved

"Oh… I didn't care anyways." Night Shadow said teleporting in front of her.

Rarity rolls her eyes.

"Anyways, your job is to dig up the diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and any other stone of value that I highlight with my magic." Rarity said already searching.

"You know… I can do that to… just saiyan'." He said.

"It's not lady like to get your hooves dirty, so please Night Shadow." Rarity said with puppy eyes.

"Fine… you win." He said walking along faintly. "But why couldn't Spike come along as well, from what I've heard he loves helping you." He asked curiously.

"Spike was going to help, but he isn't feeling well… the poor thing, he really wanted to help." Rarity said feeling remorse.

"It must have been from yesterday, being out in the cold all day. That can happen to anypony or any dragon in his case, but I have a way to fix that after we are finished here." Night Shadow said walking alongside her.

"How do you suppose that, darling? You don't look like the doctor type." Rarity asked still searching for jewels.

"Not to brag, but look at my cutie mark, it stands for my talents with alchemy. This means that I know my fair share of info on healing potions." Night shadow said proudly.

"You're an alchemist, but that talent hasn't been seen for thousands of years, how could you possibly know?" She asked dumbfounded.

"Uhhhh, I like to practice ancient arts." Night Shadow said stepping over a large stone.

"And it's the middle of winter, where could you possible find the plants you need?" Rarity asked.

"I'm an expert for a reason; I just need to inspect what plants ponyville has and make exceptions. It shouldn't be hard to make a basic potion with that." Night Shadow said confidently.

"Just don't try anything dangerous now like explosions, or I will have to fix your hair again." Rarity said smiling.

"Yeah, I wouldn't want that again." Night Shadow whispered to himself. "Have we found anything yet?"

"Nothing but rocks and snow, Night Shadow." Rarity said disappointed. "Wait, there's something under that tree."

Night Shadow went to inspect the location.

"I don't mean to disappoint you, but there's nothing here." Night Shadow said digging up dirt.

"No-no, there in that tree… literally." Rarity said back to him.

Night Shadow looked back at her doubtfully, and then bucked the tree which happened to be hollow making it fall to the ground revealing all sorts of priceless jewels.

"Oh my gosh, you were right." Night Shadow said shocked.

"Of course I am, now get the jewels before they show up again." Rarity said almost nervous.

"I don't know who they are, but it would explain the jewels in this tree. This means there's more around here!" Night shadow said excited and ran off.

"Wait, I don't think that's a good… idea!" Rarity said, turning around to see three large figures.

One hour later

"Hey Rarity, look at all the things I've found... where did she go?" Night Shadow asked looking around for her.

Ten more minutes passed before Night Shadow started to get worried.

"Rarity, where are you!" He shouted causing an echo with no response.

Ten more minutes pass

"Rarity!" He shouted once again waiting for a reply. "Oh, this isn't working; I shouldn't have left her behind." He said to himself. "Where are you?!"

"You won't see her again until you return what you have stolen from us." An obnoxious voice said behind him.

"And if you don't we're-"

"Yeah yeah, you will beat me up and take my money. Been there, done that, now let's get to the chase where I beat the information out of you." Night shadow said facing the three large figures. "So let me guess; you're the tall, strong thug who happens to be dumb. He's medium sized so he must be the brains behind this, and you're the small, fast guy." He said as he criticized the group. "And together, you make the talking fur ball gang."

"So you're not going to ask us where we took your friend?" The smaller one asked.

"Why should I, you're not going to tell me anyways so why waste my time, but by all means I would like the names of you dogs before you're hospitalized." Night Shadow said assuming a fighting position.

"Fine, since you don't play by the rules of kidnapping, my name's Rover." The medium sized figure said.

"I'm Spot." The smaller one said.

"And I'm uhhh… Fido." He said scratching his head.

"And we're the Diamond Dogs!" All three of them said together.

There was a long awkward pause after they finished their introduction.

"What… Is that supposed to be a David Bowie reference?"

"GET HIM!" Rover shouted to his lackeys.

Spot and Fido quickly charged at the red unicorn who smirked at their approach.

"Too easy." Night Shadow whispered before dashing under Fido and jumping over Spot to land in front of a surprised Rover.
"And you're not going to do anything I take it?" Night Shadow mocked.

"Why you little-"

"Pony… it's always been pony." He said, cutting him off by tripping Rover to the ground.

As Rover fell on his face, Fido came back to grab Night Shadow, but instead was tripped by him and fell on Rover. Spot, taking no time at all, jumped at Night Shadow with great speed, and ended up missing due to Night Shadow's dodge causing him to land in the pile.

"You guys are not very coordinated, are you?" Night shadow ridiculed.

"Shut up!" Fido yelled as he got up.

"Oooo, that wasn't very nice." Night Shadow teased as the rest recovered.

Fido charged to grab Night Shadow as he stood there, however Night Shadow leaped out of the way, causing him to crash into a rock. Rover and Spot continued their onslaught attempting to capture the mocking unicorn only to fail every time. Eventually, even Night Shadow was growing tired of evading every attack that came his way. Fortunately, so were the Diamond Dogs.

"This... has… been fun." Night Shadow said panting. "Now where is Rarity?"

"We aren't so easily defeated." Rover said with a sinister smile.

"You're done, what more could you possibly do?!" Night Shadow asked becoming annoyed

"This!" Rover said as Spot whistled into the air.

Suddenly, about twenty diamond dogs emerged from the ground and seized Night Shadow, pinning him to the ground.

"Nothing much to say now little pony?" Spot mocked as he approached with Rover and Fido.

Night Shadow struggled as they stood him up on his hind legs.

"This could have been much easier on you if you had listened to us, now you will spend the rest of your life as a pack mule doing whatever we want." Rover said, holding Night Shadow's face up.

"I will give you one last chance to give me back Rarity… before I get serious." Night Shadow whispered.

The entire group of Diamond dogs laughed at his comment.

"Don't you get it, you have lost little pony… it's over, you work for us now." Fido said to him.

"And soon all your friends will too." Rover said backing up Fido.

Laughing along with everyone else, they started to haul Night shadow to a nearby cave.

"You can torture me and enslave me all you want, but when you involve my friends you have gone too far!" Night Shadow started to yell.

Rover, being in front of the group, stopped the diamond dogs with his paw and walked towards Night Shadow.

"What can you do about it? Your friends are perfect for the job, and you can't do anything about it?" Rover whispered to Night Shadow.

Rover, Fido, Spot and the rest of the group started to laugh maniacally as Night Shadow's anger increased before them.
"You will leave my friends… ALONE!" Night Shadow yelled as his body exploded in a blinding flash of white light, making everyone blast off of him. There he stood, freed from his bonds, in a fit of rage.

Everyone stood in fear at Night Shadow's outburst of power until Rover, almost overcome by fear, gave the command to restrain the rebellious unicorn. All twenty diamond dogs charged from different angles, unfortunately for them, Night Shadow was done playing around. Charging to the two nearest targets, he delivered two strong punches to them that shattered the dog's armor like glass. Whipping around to face the others, he charged his horn and fired two explosive blasts that instantly knocked out seven diamond dogs and created a smoke cloud.

With nine dogs down, Night Shadow still showed no signs of weariness as he teleported into two other dogs, forcing them to crash into the snow and bucked another behind him through a boulder. Using the cloud of smoke to his advantage, he quickly finished off three more in less than seconds, shattering their armor to pieces with just his hooves. When the smoke dissipated, it revealed fifteen unconscious diamond dogs in the snow. The last five were almost cowering in fear as Night Shadow dashed in front of one and upper cut his chin making him back-flip into a tree.

As they tried to run off, Night Shadow appeared in front them and sidekicked one across the face, forcing him into another. One of the last two dogs decided to be bold and grabbed Night shadow's long mane in hopes to stop his rampage. Having his hair grabbed, Night Shadow back-flipped and bucked the dogs face, shattering his helmet. Being free, he tripped the helpless diamond dog into the air and using his hind leg, kicked it into a group of rocks. The last diamond dog could do nothing but run in fear, disobeying his orders.

Blindly running, he did not notice Night Shadow teleport in front of him on his hind legs with his back turned until he back-hoofed him into the air. Not stopping there, Night Shadow close-lined the dog to make him stop mid-flight and slammed his fore-hoof into his stomach. He then stood up and teleported into Rover forcing him to the ground and placed his hoof into his throat.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" Night Shadow screamed as his eyes flashed with red color.

"She's… she's… in, in, th-that cave." Rover said pointing at a nearby cave, horrified.

Night Shadow remained silent as he removed his hoof from his throat, and walked passed Fido and Spot who gave him shocked stares.

"Now, get out of my sight, AND NEVER THREATEN MY FRIENDS AGAIN!" Night Shadow shouted as the trio ran off.
Night Shadow's eyes went back to a dark purple as he entered the dark cave.

One hour later

"I already told you, I forgive you." Rarity said as she trotted out with Night Shadow.

"I know, I know, I'm just not used to anypony forgiving me so easily." Night Shadow said smiling softly.

Rarity started to focus magic into her horn before she was stopped by Night Shadow.

"No-no, allow me, I'm the reason we got in this mess." Night Shadow said as he quickly teleported them back to Rarity's boutique.

"And that's what happened!" Night shadow said as he sipped on some hot chocolate.

"You have some of the weirdest stories, Night Shadow." Twilight said with a warm smile.

"It's much funner than working like everypony else." Night Shadow said sipping his drink.

"Funner? Funner is not a word, Night Shadow." Twilight said as her smile faded.

"Uhh, yeah it is, I've looked it up before." Night Shadow said as his smile increased.

"What, the dictionary for the grammatically incorrect?" Twilight asked slightly annoyed.

"Well Twilight, I actually looked it up on one of those books on the shelf." Night shadow said pointing to a book shelf with about five-hundred books on it.

"You mean here… in this library!" Twilight said starting to twitch.

"Yeah, but I don't remember which book." Night Shadow said chuckling.

"I have to find it!" Twilight yelled, searching through all the books making a mess within seconds.

Night Shadow slowly creeped to his room unnoticed while Twilight was still trying to find the "book."

"Good night Twilight, you're going to need it." Night shadow whispered before closing the door.

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Cutie Mark Troublemakers
Three days before the incident…

Night Shadow decided to sleep in, being tired from yesterday's fight. But by the time he even decided to get out of bed, it was seven at night. Opening the door to the library, he found Twilight still looking for the book. With Twilight busy, he grabbed his black bag and easily snuck by her to check up on Spike.

"Feeling any better little guy?" Night Shadow whispered to him.

"I'm not little you know." Spike said coughing loudly in his bed. "Uhh… I feel terrible."

"You sound like it to." Night Shadow said reaching into his black bag.

"Oh great, medicine." Spike said plopping his head back into his pillow.

"What's wrong with medicine?" Night Shadow asked.

"It always looks, smells, and tastes horrible." Spike said sticking his tongue out.

"Well it's either medicine or…" Night Shadow paused taking a huge needle out.

Spike's face went to pale blue to bright white.

"I'm kidding, geeze." Night Shadow said laughing. "So, can you tell me exactly what is wrong with you?"

"Well I feel very cold, with lots of coughing, headache, and throat pain." Spike struggled to say.

Night Shadow nodded his head before enveloping Spike with a purple glow.

"It seems as if you have a fever. Poor thing, but nothing to worry about." Night Shadow said taking out a blue mountain flower, a butterfly wing, and garlic cloves.

"How are flowers going to help me?" Spike asked confused.

"You'd be surprised at what plants can do." Night Shadow said putting the ingredients into a bowl.

Mixing the ingredients together, Spike noticed that Night Shadow was thinking about something other than brewing.
"What's on your mind? You seem worked up." Spike asked sickly.

"That's just the bed hair, Spike." Night Shadow replied still concentrating.

"No really, what's up with you? You're not normally like this." Spike asked attempting to start a conversation.
Night Shadow chuckled at his statement.

"You've only known me for five days, how could you know what I normally act like?" Night Shadow asked rhetorically.

"Although… now that I think about it, you're right Spike, I haven't been normal."

"Do you know why?" Spike asked curious.

"It's because of Twilight." Night Shadow said still brewing ingredients.

"Well… what about her?" Spike asked becoming interested.

"She's… well… different from anypony I've met, i-in a good way that is." Night Shadow said stuttering.

"Like how?" Spike asked still coughing.

"She's intelligent, social, funny, organized, loyal, fun to mess around with, attractive-"

"What was that?" Spike asked rubbing his ears after he cut him off.

"V-very active, that's what I said!" Night Shadow shouted blushing bright red, realizing what he just said. "Anyways, your medicine is almost ready."

"Oh… great." Spike said sarcastically.

"Actually Spike, I'm going to try an experiment. You remember what you said about medicine tasting horrible?" Night Shadow asked.

"That's because they always taste horrible, it's like chugging a bottle of liquid hay." Spike said disgusted.

"Wait… that's it!" Night Shadow exclaimed

"What… what is it?" Spike asked confused.

"These medicines are made for ponies!" Night Shadow shouted excited.

"Which means…?" Spike asked, still wondering what he was so joyful about.

"Which means they were not made for dragons!" Night Shadow said with joy.

"I still don't get it." Spike said not following along.

"You'll see." Night Shadow said with a goofy grin.

Night Shadow spent the next five minutes focused on the potion before speaking again.

"So, what is your favorite flavor or food?" Night Shadow asked.

"Well, I would have to say gem stones." Spike said rubbing his hands together.

This caught Night Shadow off guard as he stood there stunned.

"Dragons eat priceless gems?" Night Shadow asked dumbfounded.

"Yeah, you should try them sometime." Spike said jokingly.

"Okay... what do gems taste like?" Night Shadow asked attempting to get useful facts.

"Gems are like eating fruits in my opinion, the color represents the flavor." Spike said sickly.

"Interesting. Well then, I'm going to try a sapphire, ruby mix. Or a cherry and blueberry blend if you're a pony." Night Shadow said happily.

A few more minutes passed

"Okay Spike, drink up." Night Shadow said levitating the bottle to him.

"It looks like sludge." Spike said pushing the bottle away.

"Looks can be deceiving Spike, and besides, you will feel a lot better afterwards." Night Shadow said handing him back the bottle.

Spike was still resilient as he grasped the bottle and looked at it disgusted. Looking away and closing his eyes, he took a sip from the bottle and was surprised that it tasted way better than he imagined. Drinking the entire thing in less than three seconds, he handed the bottle back to Night Shadow and felt a healing sensation envelope him. In a dim green light, Spike was cured instantly.

"H-how did you… how did you do that?" Spike asked shocked.

"No need to thank me, you guys have done so much for me as it is." Night Shadow said walking away. "Oh, and stay in bed today."

"Why should I do that, I feel better than ever!" Spike asked standing up on the bed.

"Because you would have the rest of the day off." Night Shadow said, winking at him before he descended downstairs.
He made it halfway down the stairs before Twilight addressed him.

"Night Shadow, where the hay is that book!?" She shouted popping out from a pile of books.

"What book?" Night Shadow asked heading to the door.

"The book that had… that word in it." Twilight said paranoid.

"There was no book, Twilight." Night Shadow said smirking.

He could have sworn he heard some glass shatter when he said those words. Twilight just smiled and twitched as she approached him with her messed up mane.

"There… was… no… book!?" She said twitching at every word still grinning.

"Are you okay?" Night Shadow asked a bit freaked out.

"I spent twenty-one hours looking for…NOTHING!?" She screeched.

Night Shadow took this queue to run out the door before he heard a huge explosion behind him screaming his name.

"I-I'm so glad you could help me out with this, Angel is always picky about his food around winter." Fluttershy said timidly.

"It's no problem at all, just trying to help." Night Shadow said calmly.

"I will be back soon okay? Try not to stress out too much." Fluttershy said before trotting off.

"Don't stay out too long and remember what I said about assertiveness." Night Shadow said before closing the door. "So what are your names, girls?"

Before Night Shadow, were three innocent looking fillies with halos over their heads sitting in front of him. He recalled them saying some kind of cheer before they came into Fluttershy's cottage to spend the night. Something to do with cutie marks was the only thing he caught out of it.

"Who are you again?" The white filly asked, cocking her head.

"Don't you remember stupid? He's the guy that lost to Rainbow Dash!" The orange Pegasus said.

"Hey I tied her and she cheated!" Night Shadow almost shouted.

"Rainbow Dash doesn't cheat, she's the best ever!" The orange Pegasus shouted defending her idol.

"Hey ya'll, he just wanted to know our names, that's all." The yellow filly said in a country accent. "My name's Applebloom."
"Scootaloo." The orange Pegasus said bluntly.

"I'm Sweetie Belle!" She shouted making Night Shadow rub his ears.

"And I am Night Shadow." He said proudly.

"That's such a cool name!" Sweetie Belle said awed.

"It's not as cool as Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo said under her breath, crossing her hooves.

"That's exactly what she said to me too, until we became friends and stuff." Night Shadow said avoiding eye contact. "So what do you girls want to do?"

"We usually go crusading around outside, but it's dark out." Applebloom said, almost in a disappointed tone.

"There are still crusaders in this time zone?" Night Shadow asked surprised.

"Well… no, I don't think so. It's just what we call our group." Applebloom said innocently.

"Are you templars by any chance?" Night Shadow asked, taking out a strange gauntlet.

"No not at all, we are the cutie mark crusaders. We are trying to gain our cutie marks." Scootaloo said backing up Applebloom.

"Oh, then I don't need this then." Night Shadow said throwing the gauntlet through a window, resulting in somepony screaming in agony outside.

"So I was thinkin' we'd try snow shovelin' as our cutie marks." Applebloom suggested.

"That sounds so stupid and boring!" Scootaloo blurted out.

"Well what do you want to do then?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Something Rainbow Dash would think is cool." Scootaloo said pondering.

"Is that all you think about Scootaloo?" Applebloom asked, a bit ticked.

"No it isn't, and all you think about is dumb ideas that never work!" She countered.

"I do not!" Applebloom shouted.

"Yes you do!" Scootaloo yelled.

"I DO NOT!" Applebloom practically screamed.

"YES YOU DO!" Scootaloo yelled, getting in Applebloom's face.

"Hey, if you two are going to yell at each other, you're going to need drinks. Do you girls want anything?" Night Shadow asked, attempting to stop the fight.

"That's it, Cutie Mark Crusader drink mixers!" Applebloom shouted.

"YEAH!" The all shouted in unison charging past Night Shadow to the kitchen.

"Aren't you a BIT too young to be mixing… drinks?" Night Shadow asked tapping his hooves together.

"We're just going to make hot chocolate, nothing much." Sweetie Belle said taking milk out of the fridge.

"Oh… those kinds of drinks! Well then make me one, I will be waiting on this couch." Night Shadow said sitting down.

Sitting there for five minutes, he dozed off to the sound of peace. Only to be woken abruptly to a crash in the kitchen.

"What are you three doing in there!?" He called, walking into the kitchen only to see a pillar of fire on the stove.

"Making hot chocolate, duh." Scootaloo replied as Night Shadow turned off the stove.

"You took the term "HOT" too far! You could have hurt yourselves!" Night Shadow yelled protectively.

"Why does everypony assume we're going to hurt ourselves?" Scootaloo asked annoyed.

Night Shadow simply pointed to the stove.

"You burned the milk… EXPLAIN HOW YOU EVEN DO THAT!" Night Shadow said aggravated.

"B-but it's not our fault." Applebloom said redirecting the blame.

"YOU EVEN MELTED THE POT!" Night Shadow yelled out in disbelief.

"I don't even know how that happened." Scootaloo said looking towards the ceiling.

"Do you have anything to say for yourselves?" Night Shadow asked staring at them angrily.

The three fillies looked at him sadly as they ducked their heads in shame, making Night Shadow feel bad for them. After all, they are just little kids that don't know any better. But to make it worse, they looked at Night Shadow with puppy dog eyes with their ears plopped down.

"D-don't do that to me!" Night Shadow pleaded.

The fillies only stared at him longer and then they started making their eyes teary.

"Okay, okay just stop it please… you will make me cry. You're not in trouble anymore." Night Shadow said starting to beg.
"Yay, we're not in trouble anymore!" The fillies all yelled in unison, happily rushing out of the kitchen.

"I will only say this once, but you girls need to stay out of the kitchen and never come back!" Night Shadow shouted in a serious tone.

Sweetie Belle looked at Night Shadow worried before cheering up.

"I have an idea for our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle said excited.

"Does it involve more burning?" Night Shadow asked in a blunt tone.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders, mane designers!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

"And where are you going to find a poor victim for that, huh?" Night Shadow asked sarcastically until the fillies looked at him, smiling sinisterly. "Oh no… no, no, no, NO, NO!"

"Why do you three insist on torturing me?" Night Shadow asked beginning to whine.

"You're almost as bad as my sister." Sweetie Belle said jokingly.

"B-but you braided my mane like a mare." Night Shadow whimpered.

"That's because you look like a mare." Scootaloo said laughing.

"And you look like a tom-colt." Night Shadow said before Applebloom pulled on his hair. "Oww! What was that for!"

"Stop bein' mean!" Applebloom said behind him.

"I'm not being mean, she's just being a jerk." Night Shadow said gesturing to Scootaloo.

"I like his mane." Sweetie Belle said softly while brushing Night Shadow's hair.

"Well, I'm right though, his hair is so long that all three of us could fit in it." Scootaloo said exaggerating, although in reality, they all COULD fit in his hair.

"Why don't we dye it a different color?" Applebloom suggested.

"You already tried all the colors in the light spectrum; my hair is PINK for goodness sake!" Night Shadow shouted shamefully.

"Well here, put this blindfold on." Scootaloo said, handing him a black handkerchief.

"This again… fine!" Night Shadow said irritated, putting on the blindfold.

"What do we do now?" Applebloom asked in a whispering tone.

"Just you wait." Scootaloo said leaving the room.

Several moments later, she came back holding a shed tool.

"Is that what I think it is?"Applebloom whispered.

"Shhh… just watch." Scootaloo said chuckling until Night Shadow removed the blindfold.

"What are you three, AAAHHH!" Night Shadow screamed at the sight of Scootaloo holding a hedge trimmer.

"Hey, put the blindfold back on!" Scootaloo shouted.

"Get that contraption away from me!" Night Shadow yelled in horror.

"What's wrong, why are you yelling?" Sweetie Belle asked confused.

"She's trying to cut my mane!" Night shadow yelled pointing to Scootaloo.

"It will look better trimmed." She said approaching.

"WITH A BUCKIN' HEDGE TRIMMER!" Night Shadow screamed reversing his own gravity.

"Come back down here and get your haircut!" Scootaloo yelled frustrated.

"No! I don't want to!" Night Shadow yelled childishly.

The next fifteen minutes consisted of Night Shadow dodging a broom from Scootaloo.

"Stop being a child!" Scootaloo yelled swinging the broom.

"You're the one who broke the chandelier!" Night Shadow said dodging the broom.

"You're just a chicken." Scootaloo said making excuses.

"Excuse me… you're the chicken, not just a chicken, THE chicken." Night Shadow emphasized.

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle laughed at his comment making Scootaloo angry enough to throw the broom right at Night Shadow, knocking him to the floor. He could have sworn he heard some mare yelling "K.O!" in the background.

"You won't make fun of me after this!" Scootaloo yelled, charging at him with the hedge trimmer.

Night Shadow quickly got up and converted the object into red velvet ice-cream with a golden bowl. Taking the bowl in his hooves, he ate the bowl and chucked the ice-cream out the window resulting in a burst of light and fire.

"Here's an idea for a cutie mark, Cutie Mark Crusader janitors, NOW GO CLEAN IT UP!" Night Shadow yelled, ticked off.
All three fillies left the room in a single file, too frightened to even look up. After five minutes, Night Shadow, feeling bad for what he did, went outside.

"Hey look… I'm really sorry I yelled at you three, but you're going to get a cold if you stay out in the snow for too long..."
Night Shadow paused looking for them. "Uhhh, where are you girls? This isn't funny!" He yelled.

"Night Shadow how were the kids, and why is your mane pink?" Fluttershy asked coming up a pathway.

"Well, you see, about that…" Night Shadow stuttered.

Ten minutes later

"Why would you do that, Night Shadow?" Fluttershy asked running along with him.

"They tried to cut my hair." Night Shadow tried to reason with her.

Following the trail of hoof prints, they ended up at the opening of the Everfree Forest. Night Shadow continued along for five seconds until turning around to see Fluttershy still at the entrance.

"I know the forest is scary at night for you, but we have no choice. By the way the trees are swaying, I say there's a blizzard coming, a BIG one. Those girls don't have a chance surviving alone unless we find them now!" Night Shadow said concerned.

"I-I-it's just so d-dark and there's so many animals that can h-hurt us." Fluttershy said shaking.

"Then stay close to me and I will keep you safe, I promise." Night Shadow said conjuring an illumination of light from his horn.
"The trail leads on this way." He said, signaling Fluttershy to proceed.

Continuing along the path of hoof prints in the seemingly endless forest, Night Shadow and Fluttershy had hoped they would come across the three fillies. Unfortunately though, Night Shadow was correct about the fast approaching blizzard. With their only lead to finding the fillies covered up by snow, all seemed lost, and time was running out for both them…and the girls.

Two hours later

"APPLEBLOOM, SWEETIE BELLE, SCOOTALOO, WHERE ARE YOU?!" Night Shadow attempted to shout over the raging wind. "It's… its hopeless now."

"We've come so far, we can't give up now." Fluttershy reassured him.

"Fluttershy, this wasn't your doing, it was mine. Go back the way we came from and-"

"No, I'm not leaving you here!" Fluttershy said in a serious tone, cutting him off.

"Please listen to me! You and I both know that you can't withstand the harsh conditions of a blizzard. Let's cut our loses and-

"You won't survive out here alone!" Fluttershy said, taking a stand after she cut him off again.

There was a long pause of silence between the two ponies before Night Shadow spoke.

"Neither will you." He said softly turning away from Fluttershy. "Now go, and don't look back."

Fluttershy, still being resilient, eventually had to agree with his statement and turned the other way.

"Please come back Night Shadow, we care about you." Fluttershy whispered to herself.

Suddenly, over the rage of the storm, a large black form leaped over Night Shadow, landing right in front of Fluttershy. Creating a crash that knocked her to the ground, the figure roared into the victim's face without remorse.

"FLUTTERSHY, STAY DOWN! Night Shadow shouted, about to fire a magical beam.

"No wait!" Fluttershy pleaded standing to her hooves. "Are you lost little guy? Oh you poor thing, let me help you find your family again." Fluttershy said softly approaching the wild animal.

Night Shadow was in a mix of amazement and confusion as he lowered his guard a little. However, when he stared into the manticore's eyes, he saw that the whites of the beast's eyes were replaced with bright green with red pupils giving off a black aura. The beast, having Fluttershy distracted, raised his paw to deliver a deadly strike.

"That manticore is under the influence of dark magic! GET AWAY FROM IT, FLUTTERSHY!" Night Shadow shouted jumping in the way of the attack.

Taking the entire blow, Night Shadow was thrown into Fluttershy by the great force of the animal. They came to an abrupt stop after Night Shadow, unwillingly, sandwiched Fluttershy against a tree. When the two struggled to stand, Fluttershy collapsed back down in the snow screaming in pain. Night Shadow stood in a mix of horror and anger when he saw Fluttershy's wing completely bent backwards and her chest cavity swollen from her rib cage being broken. He abruptly turned to look at the manticore with an angry look.

"I promised her that she would come to no harm, that she would be safe from creatures like you. I promised this because I was confident she would be protected from the likes of you! But I never thought that a beast would have the mordacity to use me to hurt his victims! YOU MADE ME HURT HER!" Night Shadow screamed causing echoes to boom around the forest.

The manticore stood up on its hind legs and then crashed back down roaring into Night Shadow's face sending riffles through his fur coat and hair.

"Your intimidation strategies only reveal your weakness to the world! NOW PAY FOR YOUR ACTIONS!" Night Shadow yelled as his horn illuminated with a bright purple light.

The manticore charged at the enraged unicorn to finish what he started. Night shadow, taking the initiative, leaped over the charging beast, grabbed its tail, and flung it through a tree.

"Fluttershy, don't make sudden movements, I will be back to help." Night Shadow said comforting her.

"D-don't hurt the poor thing, he's just confused, please help him." Fluttershy struggled to say.

Night Shadow was taken aback by her kindness towards the animal that just hurt her.

"The manticore is under the influence of dark magic, but I will remove it from him." Night Shadow said confidently as he chased after the beast.

Five minutes later

"Is that all you got!" Night Shadow shouted from behind multiple bushes.

A loud roar boomed once again through the forest before the manticore flew into a clearing in the trees. When the corrupted beast stood back up, Night Shadow emerged from the thick shrubs unfazed and calm.

"You disgust me, cruel beast. The only thing keeping me from destroying you where you stand is because of the mercy Fluttershy is giving you. The one you hurt in your blind rage and ignorance!" Night Shadow yelled.

The manticore once again charged at Night Shadow to overpower him with strength. Instead of this happening, Night Shadow appeared above the creature's head and pinned it to the ground. Once grounded into the snow, Night Shadow stood on its head and raised his hooves into the air. Powering magic though his hooves, he slammed them into the manticores head, casting out the dark magic within the animal.

"You have been freed from your curse, now live your life in peace. For I will call upon you again soon." Night Shadow declared to the manticore before it acknowledged him and walked off.

"Now to find Fluttershy and fix the damage that has been done." Night Shadow said to himself before running back to Fluttershy.

Not long afterwards he found Fluttershy still crying in pain as she lied under a tree. Night Shadow was experienced with alchemy and healing, but he never dealt with something like this.

"Can you tell me exactly where your pain is?" Night Shadow said nervously.

"I-I… it h-hurts so much, my chest I think-" Fluttershy said in pain before cutting herself off by screaming in agony when she attempted to stand up.

"Don't try to move Fluttershy, it will only make it worse." Night Shadow said almost abruptly.

"I-it's not worth it, Night Shadow, just…just leave me-

"NO! I'm not leaving you here!" Night Shadow tried to say over the raging winds.

"Isn't it funny, I said the same thing to you." Fluttershy whispered before coughing up blood and shutting her eyes.
Night Shadow couldn't bear to see her in pain anymore, but he had no choice. He couldn't possibly get the needed items to save her in time.

"PLEASE STAY WITH ME, FLUTTERSHY, DON'T GIVE IN TO YOUR PAIN!" Night Shadow said in tears holding Fluttershy's head up and realizing she stopped breathing. "I-I don't know what to do… I can't do anything to help." Night Shadow said to himself, letting some tears fall. "I failed you Fluttershy, I have failed every friend I have ever had... I'm sorry."

Night Shadow said his final words softly before closing his eyes as he held Fluttershy in his hooves. Suddenly, as all hope seemed lost, Night Shadow's eyes shined bright blue and enveloped Fluttershy in a bright aura of magic. Placing a hoof on her and saying the words, "Dry your tears, for your pain is no more", Fluttershy was cured instantly and breathed the breath of life again. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes were Night Shadow's as he gave her a warm smile.

"Go get help, Fluttershy, I will find the fillies." Night Shadow said softly.

Fluttershy obeyed him, but noticed that Night Shadow was different. As if a calm wave of confidence and humility had come over him to make him like this. Making him seem totally changed, but still in the same body of Night Shadow only with a gentler and caring heart. To top it all off, Night Shadow had a bright glow, making everything near him have a sense of hope and happiness. With that, Fluttershy went to get help as fast as she could.

"The dark magic in this forest had prevented me from finding the fillies before, let's see if…" Night Shadow trailed off trying to sense out the girls. "There they are!" He said joyfully before teleporting in a bright blue flash of light.

As soon as Night Shadow reappeared, his bright blue eyes regressed back to dark purple

"Wooh, what happened!?" Night Shadow asked himself.

"Night Shadow, is that you?" Applebloom called from the distance.

"Yeah, where are you girls!?" Night Shadow shouted, turning around to see the three of them huddled together to keep warm under a rock formation. He also noticed icicles forming under their noses, as well as their pale blue coats. "Where have you three been!?" He asked in a stern but worried voice.

"We were trying to get our cutie marks." Scootaloo said shivering.

"By freezing your flanks off?" Night Shadow yelled calmly.

"No, Cutie Mark Crusaders lumberjacks." Applebloom said to Night Shadow.

"Then it turned into Cutie Mark Crusaders rescue crew." Scootaloo said cutting in.

"Except we're being rescued instead of rescuing." Sweetie Belle said disappointed.

"Well you're the craziest fillies I have ever seen, and that's saying something. Come on, let's get you girls home." Night Shadow said softly.

As if fate could be crueler, a large tree next to Night Shadow collapsed onto his hind legs. The fillies stood there, horrified by what happened.

"Tell me… did a very large tree happen to land on my legs?" Night Shadow asked quietly.

"Yes!" The girls yelled in unison.

"That's what I thought…AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Night Shadow screamed as he used what little magic he had left to remove the tree from his legs.

"Are… are you ok?" Sweetie Belle asked innocently.

"Well let's see, a ten ton tree just landed on my legs, and I screamed so loud it would make a super saiyan jealous. Do you think I'm fine?!" Night Shadow said rhetorically.

"Do… do you need help?" Sweetie Belle asked again.

"Noooo, not at all, let me just walk over there with my BROKEN LEGS!" Night Shadow yelled sarcastically.

"So, is that a yes or a no?" Sweetie Belle asked confused.

Night Shadow face planted into the snow.

"Yes!" He said muffled.

The three fillies then dragged Night Shadow's limp body into their little "slice of heaven" in the wrathful blizzard.

"What are you goin' to do now, Night Shadow?" Applebloom asked concerned.

"What are we going to do?" Scootaloo asked fearfully.

"What can we do?" Sweetie Belle asked looking outside, hopelessly.

There was a long pause as the blizzard continued to release it's fury upon the group.

"We're just going to have to wait it out." Night Shadow said doubtfully.

"Are you crazy?" Sweetie Belle practically yelled.

"Nope… just insane." Night Shadow said as he casted a magical barrier to seal off the entrance. "That was all the magic I had left… but it should keep the snow and cold out." Night Shadow said before passing out.

"Great, we're all going to freeze!" Scootaloo said shivering.

"Cutie Mark Crusader icicles." Applebloom said sobbing as the other two fillies hugged her for warmth.

Night Shadow laid there as he heard the cries of the fillies. Feeling even worse for them than before. He couldn't help but remember that he was the reason they were in this predicament.

"Girls, I'm sorry for yelling at you three before. I acted out of rage." Night Shadow said dimly. "Do you forgive me?"

"Of course we forgive you, but we were the ones that made you angry, do you forgive us?" Sweetie Belle asked sorrowfully as the other two nodded their heads.

"Of course I do… but this entire scene just sounds cheesy and predictable." Night Shadow said chuckling. "Anyways, you know my hair that you're so fond of Scootaloo?"

"Yeah what about it." She asked puzzled.

"It's not just for looks you know; it also supplies heat for me… and others." Night Shadow said softly.

"Are you saying we should use it for heat?" Scootaloo said surprised.

"That's exactly what I want you three to use it for, as weird as it may sound." Night Shadow said pondering. "However, the most important thing is it will keep-"

"I CALL FIRST!" Sweetie Belle yelled as she dived head first into Night Shadow's hair. "Hey, it's not that bad in here." She said poking her head out.

"It does look cozy in there." Applebloom said, walking towards Sweetie Belle before disappearing into the mane.

"Are you kidding, this is so weird." Scootaloo said, standing alone.

"Suit yourself, if you like the cold that is." Night Shadow said dozing off to sleep.

Scootaloo sat alone for ten seconds before she realized how cold it really was in the rock formation.

"Okay, okay, you win." Scootaloo said dashing into the hair.

Soon, the fillies were fast asleep in Night Shadow's mane. However, even though the fillies were safe for now, Night Shadow could not take his mind off of Twilight. He tried to think about how he and the girls would be rescued, or how they would get out of this, and even how he was sorry for the prank he pulled on her. However, the thoughts came back to the same subject he didn't want to admit for so long. Night Shadow, the pony who defends his friends from danger and harm, had fallen in love with Twilight Sparkle.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Pink Prankster

Two days before the incident…

"So it comes down to this… the great Night Shadow, in love with Twilight?!" The darker version of Night Shadow yelled in disbelief.

"I've made up my mind, and I'm sticking with it… you've always hated everything I do anyway." Night Shadow stated.

"Because it gets you banished and practically destroyed, you fool!" Dark Night Shadow exclaimed.

"She's different from the others!" Night Shadow said backing himself up.

"She works with your enemies, this makes her worse than the others!" Dark Night Shadow pointed out.

"And what have you done? All you do is bash him for every mistake he does, his-"

"Don't even talk to me, don't think for a second that I don't know what you did to the yellow pegasus." Dark Night Shadow scorned cutting off the lighter version of Night Shadow.

"Night Shadow didn't know what to do, and you certainly wouldn't help her." Light Night Shadow said with reason.

"She's a friend of your enemy, OUR enemy. Must I remind you why we are in this predicament in the first place!" Dark Night Shadow said angrily.

"We are here because of YOUR advice!" Night Shadow yelled into his darker copy's face.

"NO!" Dark Night Shadow yelled, punching his neutral self into the ground. "WE'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES!"

"You're one to judge." Night Shadow said wiping his muzzle.

The darker version of Night Shadow then became enraged, casting flames all around his neutral self.

"I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER LIKE THE WORTHLESS DOG YOU ARE!" Dark Night Shadow yelled with fire spouting from his hair, and then lowered his voice. "Regret will come upon you when you realize your assumption about that slave was wrong. And when that happens, don't expect any mercy from me… NOW BEGONE!"
________________________________________
Opening his eyes, Night Shadow was greeted by familiar faces, though the scenery was not as he remembered. Being on what appeared to be a mattress, he recalled the cold and hopeless situation he was in not too long ago. Except now he was in a hospital with the faces of six colorful friends that cared for him, though he didn't recognize the white stallion with a medical hat.

"Is he going to be okay doctor?" Twilight whispered concerned.

"Of course he's going to be okay. After all, he did go hoof-to-hoof with me." Rainbow said with confidence.

"To be honest, I've never seen a case like his before. His recovery and metabolism are off the charts, and his legs healed overnight. I'd say he is one lucky pony to even be breathing right now." The doctor said confounded.

"I'm right here you know!" Night Shadow said bluntly.

"Night Shadow, your awake!" Twilight shouted joyfully as she ran over to hug Night Shadow's head. He would have hugged back if he wasn't strapped down to the mattress. "Your safe now, we found you with the girls and-"

"The fillies! I have to find-"

Night Shadow attempted to sit up, but failed to notice the neck brace before almost choking on it.

"Sorry about that, you were thrashing around in your sleep; let me take those braces off." The doctor said removing the neck brace.

"Thank you. But still, I need to find them." Night Shadow said, practically throwing himself off of the bed.

"Relax, they're safe, because of your selflessness." Twilight added.

"Where are they then?" Night Shadow asked freaking out.

"They went back home, but not before checking up on you, they were worried sick." Twilight responded.

"We were all worried for you." Fluttershy said timidly.

"Rarity and I also owe you our thanks." Applejack said removing her hat. "I don't know what I would've done without my little sis."

"Or mine. I mean who else would clean the house, fold the cloths, and…"

Rarity looked around to see everypony looking at her confused and shocked.

"What I want to say is that I'm glad you saved Sweetiebelle." Rarity said showing gratitude.

"Group hug, everypony!" Pinkie yelled happily to everyone as they hugged Night Shadow, and she meant everypony. Even the doctor was pulled into it by Pinkie.

"Anyways!" The doctor said, forcing himself out of the hug. "Night Shadow here should be ready to leave in about two hours."

The group of friends cheered with delight at the news, even the doctor couldn't help but smile at how close these ponies were to each other.

Two hours later

"Goodbye everypony. Thanks for visiting me." Night Shadow said as Fluttershy, Rainbow, Applejack and Rarity left to do their own thing. Only Pinkie and Twilight were left. "Twilight, are you… doing anything today?" He asked nervous.

"It says on my schedule that I'm late for the Winter Moon Celebration, its due tomorrow! I don't have the time to do anything today, sorry." Twilight said worried.

"You've had time before now, why didn't you do anything?" Night Shadow wondered.

"Because you keep distracting me with your shenanigans and situations. Don't take it the wrong way, but I just need time alone." Twilight said trotting off.

"Okay then. Bye Twilight, see you tomorrow!" Night shadow said, waving his hoof frantically.

Night Shadow started trotting off towards the road before being stopped by Pinkie's hoof.

"Call me crazier than a mad cow on a sugar rush, but I think you're in love with Twilight!" She said in a sing song voice.
"Really… and how could you possibly know that?" Night Shadow said annoyed.

"I also know that prank you did on her, that was so funny, I had no idea you were into pranks." Pinkie added joyfully.
"But you weren't even-"

"Oh and your birthday is tomorrow!" Pinkie yelled as confetti shot out of nowhere.

"NO ONE KNOWS THAT, HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS!?" Night Shadow shouted backing away in fear.

"That's just my pinkie sense, Nighty." Pinkie said smiling as usual.

"Nighty?" Night Shadow asked confused."

"It's your new nick-name silly. I give everypony one, Dashie is just my favorite." Pinkie said, showing Night Shadow a list of nick-names.

"But what about your sixth sense thing?" Night Shadow asked dumfounded.

"Pinkie sense isn't labeled under that, Nighty. It's on a totally different scale." Pinkie exaggerated.

"That still doesn't make any sense!" Night Shadow yelled, shaking Pinkie back and forth.

"I know it doesn't, but that's how it works." Pinkie said joyfully.

"Ok… what about the whole Twilight thing?" Night Shadow asked still puzzled.

"Well when hooves shake, cheeks blush, and the heart flutters; it means some pony is in love. There was also the fact that I looked at the last line of chapter five." Pinkie bluntly said.

"You did what?" Night Shadow asked, completely lost.

"Oh I forgot you can't break the fourth wall, silly me." Pinkie apologized.

At this point, Night Shadow didn't know if he should be mad at Pinkie, or be glad his mind wasn't officially blown due to the confusion.

"Teach me your ways, Pinkie Pie!" Night Shadow shouted as he plopped to Pinkie's hooves.

"Well I don't know…" Pinkie joked, using her hooves to stroke an imaginary beard.

"I must know your secrets; it's my job to learn fromm the best. Please Pinkie." Night Shadow begged.

"You have the determination… but one does not simply break the fourth wall." Pinkie said imitating a voice no pony had heard before.

Night Shadow simply got up and stared into Pinkie's eyes with confidence.

"Challenge… accepted."

"Good, now the first step is to go prank someponies with me!" Pinkie said excited.

Night Shadow's left eye twitched rapidly before he was launched onto his back, imitating an anime faint.
________________________________________
"Okay padawan, your first target is none other than Dashie." Pinkie said pointing to a list.

"Any suggestions, master?" Night Shadow said winking.

"Be creative… and use the force, Night Shadow." Pinkie said before jumping into a nearby bush.

"Soon your secrets shall be mine …MINE!" Night Shadow laughed menacingly as random lightning bolts shot behind him.
He continued laughing until one of the bolts hit him directly, snapping him back to reality. Looking up, he found a rogue storm cloud above him, giving him his first prank idea.
________________________________________
"Who gives orders to buck the clouds on Thursday? Now I have to do it because nopony else will!" Rainbow Dash said annoyed.

Rainbow was assigned cloud duty for the Winter Moon Celebration that would take place tomorrow. However, Twilight still didn't inform anypony about it yet because of her "distractions."

"Stupid last minute assignments, stupid weather team, stupid clouds." Rainbow bickered to herself as she bucked clouds.

"There's… so… many." Rainbow panted as she approached another cloud.

Unexpectedly, this cloud flung itself into Rainbow's face, causing her to crash into a tree.

"I AM SO NOT IN THE MOOD FOR THIS!" She shouted angrily, attempting to buck the cloud again.

The cloud was practically moving at the same speed as Rainbow, constantly dodging her every attempt to buck the it.
"Stand still you stupid, flying, white thing!" She yelled, bucking the cloud with all her strength.

Just as she made contact, Rainbow Dash was electrocuted and fell out of the sky. As she was falling, a dark purple aura enveloped her, resulting in her safe descent to the ground and sounds of laughter in the distance. Getting back up, she inspected the sounds to find Night Shadow and Pinkie on their backs, struggling to breath from laughing so hard.

"And then she was like, 'I am so not in the mood for this!'" Night Shadow said, imitating Rainbow's voice.

"Then she chased the cloud everywhere and lit up like a Christmas tree!" Pinkie tried to say before bursting into laughter again.

"YOU TWO ARE SO… oh what's the use, I don't have time for this!" Rainbow said, dropping her anger.

"Time for what exactly?" Night Shadow asked, recovering.

"I'm clearing the sky for some event tomorrow that I don't even know about. They could at least tell me what it is before sending me out here!" Rainbow said, trailing off the subject.

"Well if you go pranking with me and Nighty here, he could clear the sky for you in a jiffy." Pinkie said to Rainbow.

"Nighty… *snicker* ...okay Nighty *snicker*, can you clear-" Rainbow attempted to say before exploding in a fit of laughter.

"That's not funny Rainbow." Night Shadow said, becoming embarrassed.

"Your right, it isn't funny… it's hilarious!" Rainbow said, laughing harder.

Night Shadow, still being ashamed, simply swiped his hoof across the sky, clearing the clouds in the process.
"Are you done laughing yet?" Night Shadow asked irritated.

"Just about done." Rainbow said, wiping away a tear from her eye. "Okay, let's go…hehe, Nighty."

"Yeah, yeah… lets go prank Applejack now." Night Shadow suggested.

"Ooo, I got one for her." Pinkie said excitedly.

"Which is…?" Night Shadow and Rainbow asked in unison.

"Let's get to Sweet Apple Acres first, and then you see." Pinkie reinsured them.

"So are we just walking there or should I-"

Before Night Shadow finish, Pinkie vanished in a pink blur and Rainbow had already flown off.

"Just teleport." Night Shadow said, finishing his sentence before disappearing in a purple flash.
________________________________________
Night Shadow reappeared in a bush in front of Applejack's home

"Ha, I'm first as always, there's no way they could-"

"HI!" Pinkie shouted as Night Shadow turned around, resulting in him to jump backwards into the snow.

"Holy horse crackers don't do that!" Night Shadow said frightened.

"Oops, sorry." Pinkie apologized, rubbing her mane with a hoof.

Seconds later, Rainbow flew in and skid across the snow, covering both Pinkie and Night Shadow in it.

"Dashie, were you trying to turn me into a snowpony?" Pinkie asked, shaking the snow off.

"No, but consider that payback from earlier." Rainbow smiled triumphant. "Where's Night Shadow though?"

"Here!" Night Shadow said shoving a hoof out of the snow. "And can I get a hoof?"

"Just get out of the snow you lazy pony." Rainbow said back to him.

"Fine, but you asked for it." Night Shadow said, putting his hoof back into the snow.
The pile of snow then glowed dark purple before Night Shadow exploded out of the snow pile, getting Rainbow and Pinkie covered in it.

"What was that for?" Rainbow said, removing the snow from her muzzle.

"You asked for it, what could I say." Night Shadow said, smiling.

"Okay Dashie, I need you to create a gust of wind that will knock Applejack's hat off when she comes out." Pinkie said to Rainbow.

"Got it." Rainbow saluted before launching in the air.

"And Night Shadow?" Pinkie said turning to him.

"What needs to be done?" Night shadow said, flowing magic through his horn.

Pinkie then trotted over and whispered the plan into Night Shadow's ear.

"Easy enough, but what are you going to do?" Night Shadow asked.

"Just watch." Pinkie said cheerfully.

Before Night Shadow even realized it, Pinkie was gone and already at the door to Applejack's home. She then knocked on the door rapidly until Applejack opened the it.

"Well hi there Pinkie, what brings you to Sweet Apple Acres?" Applejack asked, curious.

Pinkie simply stood there with a big grin on her face. Applejack didn't know what to think of it until Pinkie chucked a snow ball into her face.

"SNOWBALL FIGHT!" Pinkie shouted before darting off.

"Hey no fair, you got a head start!" Applejack shouted playfully as she ran out of the house.

Rainbow Dash took this as her queue, thus swooped down right above Applejack to create a small gush of wind that knocked off her hat.

"Gosh, I've forgotten how cold it could be in the winter, better get my hat first." Applejack said to herself.

Walking towards the hat she noticed a faint purple outline around it, but chose to ignore it as she went to grab it. After tugging on it three times, Applejack realized that she could not get it to budge.

"Hmm that's strange, I don't remember my hat weighing more than a wagon." Applejack said to herself.
She then, with all her strength, attempted to pick up her hat but still couldn't get it to move.

"What in tarnation is goin' on here!?" Applejack shouted.

"Hey Applejack, you left the door open." Big Mac said in the doorway.

"Big Mac, can you come out here and pick my hat up?" Applejack replied.

"But you're right next to it." Big Mac replied confused.

"I know it is, but it weighs more than a barn." Applejack said as she kicked her hat.

"Are you losin' your touch little sis?" Big Mac asked, approaching her.

"Can you help me with this or not?" Applejack asked, slightly frustrated.

"Eeyup." Big Mac said, grabbing the hat with his teeth.

Thinking none of it, Big Mac lightly pulled on the hat, but was surprised that her sister was not kidding about the weight. Bracing himself, he strongly gripped the edge of Applejack's hat and yanked.

"Having any luck?" Applejack asked.

"Nope." Big Mac replied before letting go of the hat and plopping into the snow.

"We've got to try harder, you take the left side and I'll take the right." Applejack declared.

Meanwhile Night Shadow, Pinkie, and Rainbow were struggling to keep themselves from laughing at the scene before them. It took Applejack and BigMac five minutes before they realized that even with their combined strength, the hat was not going anywhere.

"What are you youngins doin' out in the cold for?" An old voice said from inside the house.

"Granny Smith, as silly as this may sound, we're tryin' to pick up my hat." Applejack responded, slightly embarrassed.
"Well you're not doin' it right, let me have a crack at it." Granny Smith said, walking out of the door slowly.

"With all due respect ma'am, I don't think..."

Applejack and Big Mac then witnessed Granny Smith lift up the hat with ease as she carried it off inside.

"You see, you just have to give it the old one, two, three." Granny Smith said before entering the house.

Applejack and Big Mac were still in shock and couldn't move a muscle. Seconds passed before they looked at each other in confusion before reentering the house. In the mean time, Rainbow and Pinkie were laughing their flanks off while Night Shadow simply sat there.

"Night Shadow, you genius!" Pinkie said struggling to breath.

"Yeah, wait until they give up, only to take the weight spell off when Granny Smith came and picked it up." Rainbow said, patting Night Shadow's shoulder.

"But… I didn't." Night Shadow said in confusion.

"Didn't do what?" Rainbow asked, joining the confusion.

"Remove the spell, Rainbow… it's still in effect." Night shadow said, pointing to his glowing horn.

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Come on, we have more ponies to prank." Pinkie said, ignoring the situation.

"Hold on, you picked last time, I think I should pick the next victim, I-I mean pony." Night Shadow said rapidly.

"And what gives you the right to pick before me?" Rainbow demanded.

"You joined this group late, and the fact that you're a mare." Night Shadow said casually.

"I'm sorry, I forgot that being a mare meant that I had no privileges!" Rainbow said aggressively.

"Rainbow I'm going to say this now… your way to easy." Night Shadow said, not thinking.

Rainbow blushed strongly at what Night Shadow said.

"Too easy, what's that suppose to mean!" Rainbow shouted, still blushing.

Night Shadow stared at Rainbow for five seconds before he realized what he said.

"TO MESS WITH, DASHIE! TO MESS WITH!" Night Shadow exclaimed as his face flushed bright red.

Two minutes of sentences taken out of context later.

"Hey let's prank Rarity." Pinkie said, breaking up the awkwardness.

"Yeah that sounds good." Rainbow said, hiding behind a tree out of embarrassment.

"It does, but why don't we prank Fluttershy?" Night Shadow said, pointing to the yellow Pegasus from behind another tree.

"No we can't do that." Rainbow said emerging from her hiding place.

"Why not… oh is it because she's easily intimidated?" Night Shadow asked.

"Yeah, and easily scared." Pinkie said to him.

"What's she doing out here anyways? Rainbow asked Night Shadow.

"Seems like she's carrying three baked pies, I wonder what that would be for?" He asked himself before getting pulled into a bush.

"Who cares, let's just go to Rarity's place." Rainbow said before dashing off.

"Okay Pinkie, do you need…transportation?" Night Shadow finished after realizing she had left. "You're not beating me this time Pinkie."

Night Shadow then vanished in a bright flash to head towards Rarity's boutique.
________________________________________
Night Shadow emerged from a bush in front of the boutique in hopes that he got there before anypony. Looking up and down, left to right, and even under rocks and trees, he concluded that he got there first.

"That's more like it, even if she's Pinkie it's impossible for her to be faster than-"

"Hey Night Shadow what took so long?" Rainbow asked, lying in a lawn chair next to Pinkie.

"Rainbow… not you too. Why does everypony here break logic… that's my job!" Night Shadow shouted abruptly.

"Well I am the fastest in Equestria, and Pinkie here is just… well Pinkie." Rainbow admitted to herself.

"But how does she beat me here when I teleport… it's not possible!" Night Shadow declared, attempting to bring light to the situation.

"Silly Nighty, I can just jump to the next scene in the story." Pinkie said happily.

"I just call it, 'The speed of Pinkie.'" Rainbow exaggerated.

"Whatever, I was always told that making sense was boring anyways." Night Shadow pointed out. "So any ideas for Rarity?"

"Just… one." Rainbow said sinisterly.
________________________________________
Rarity was sowing and stitching what remained of Rainbow's dress when she ditched it two days ago, until she heard a knock at the door.

"Hmm, I wonder who that could be at this hour?" Rarity thought to herself, approaching the door.

She opened the door to reveal a dark yellow pegasus mare with a green mane and tail that was similar to Rainbow Dash's.

The mare had sunglasses on, so Rarity couldn't tell what her eye color was.

"Hello there and welcome to my shop, how can I help you today?" Rarity asked in her usually fancy tone.

"Well… umm, you see I have this friend-"

"Not a problem ma'am, just tell me your name, his or her name and we talk about the rest darling." Rarity said, taking out a quill and paper.

"My name? Ummmm, Sunlight…Sprinkle?" The mare said in a high pitched voice.

"You know, you sound very familiar to a friend of mine." Rarity thought out loud.

"Really? Umm, lots of ponies say that, hehe." The mare said nervous.

"So, what's your friend's name, hmm?" Rarity asked curious.

"Drake!" The mare blurted out.

"Drake? That's an odd name for a pony." Rarity stated.

"That's just it, he's not a pony he's… a dragon." The mare finally said.

Rarity instantly stopped writing and put the quill down.

"I'm sorry, but did you say dragon, as in a fully grown dragon?" Rarity said in shock.

"Yes that kind of dragon, and he needs a suit by tomorrow morning." The mare said bluntly.

"TOMORROW MORNING!" Rarity practically shouted. "But it's already five in the afternoon, I don't have his measurements or anything!

"I tried to get him to show up, but that would be too much of a hassle for him and me." The mare said, containing a giggle.

"You realize that what you're asking is almost impossible to do in one night!" Rarity said, panicking.

"I know it is, but you have to do it or… or-"

The yellow mare burst out laughing as she hit the floor with a loud thump.

"Rainbow Dash, is that you?" Rarity asked, confused.

"Darn it Dashie, you ruined it." Night Shadow said, walking through the door.

"I couldn't help it, her facial reaction was priceless!" Rainbow said, still laughing.

"And what kind of name is Sunlight Sprinkle anyways?" Night Shadow asked, holding in his own laughter.

"I don't know, but it sounded so stupid." Rainbow said, agreeing with him.

Meanwhile, a yellow Pegasus was crying a river.

"HEY, I was apart of this too!" Pinkie yelled, bouncing through the door.

"So all three of you were involved in this shenanigan?" Rarity asked, finally getting it.

"Yeah pretty much, so don't worry about the suit okay?" Night Shadow said, leaving the boutique with the others. "Actually before I go, I would like a suit for myself tomorrow, it's a special occasion."

"Is this another prank?" Rarity asked, sort of frustrated.

"No not at all, in fact Pinkie can back me up on this. Tomorrow is my birthday and I plan to…" Night Shadow gulped loudly, attempting to build up courage. "Ask Twilight out on a date."

"Yes, I knew it!" Rainbow shouted triumphantly.

"What can I say, the Pinkie senses are never wrong." Pinkie said, looking towards you.

"That's marvelous darling." Rarity said with encouragement.

"So that's it then, wish me luck. Come on girls, let's continue to spread chaos." Night Shadow declared before leaving the boutique.

"Why does that sound familiar?" Rainbow whispered to herself.
Moments later

"Okay Fluttershy here's three pounds of ink, but what are you using this for?" Rarity asked curious.

"It's umm, a surprise for somepony. Just remember to be there at the right time." Fluttershy said, putting the containers of ink into her bag and then walking out the door.
________________________________________
Throughout the rest of the day, the trio of ponies collaborated and pranked practically everypony in ponyville. Going from simple letters to complex tricks, they used every prank in the book. There was only one last pony to prank…

"Now in my opinion, I saved the best one for last." Night Shadow said excited.

"Yeah… best for last, huh?" Rainbow said smirking.

"Oh hush, we're going to prank Twilight with this."

Night Shadow then presented the two mares with a letter with Celestia's symbol engraved into it.

"Ooo, how did you get that?" Pinkie asked, interested.

"I snagged it when Twilight wasn't looking, I was going to use it for… other purposes." Night Shadow said regretfully. "Aside from that, the writing is forged to look like her hoofwriting, it is perfectly believable." He said with confidence. "However, I can't deliver the letter to her personally otherwise she will assume it's fake."

"Then how can we convince her otherwise?" Rainbow questioned.

"Hopefully the stress that Twilight is going through should keep her from asking too many questions." Night Shadow said confidently.

"I don't know Night Shadow… if Twilight is going through a lot of stress then I don't think we should prank her." Pinkie suggested.

"She's Twilight, I'm sure she can take it." Night Shadow declared. "So who is giving this to her?" He said, waving the letter around.

"I can do it! I have to tell her it's your birthday anyways." Pinkie said, taking the letter.

"You do that, after this we can call it a day." Night Shadow said, sitting down behind a bush.

Pinkie then bounced up to Twilight's door, holding the "letter", and knocked on the door. She noticed a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door before she knocked again.

"I don't have time for you right now, go away please." Twilight said, with a tone of stress.

"This is important Twilight, open up!" Pinkie yelled, bashing her hooves on the door.

"Seriously! I don't have time for anything, especially you Pinkie!" Twilight Shouted, more aggravated.

"It's something really, really, really, really, really, REALLY important!" Pinkie exaggerated.
There was a long period of silence before the door cracked open to reveal only Twilight's face.

"Make it quick." Twilight said rapidly.

"YOU'RE INVITED TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY!" Pinkie shouted with joy as she fired her party cannon, giving her the invitation.

"YOU GOT ME TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR THAT! DO YOU EVEN-"

"Oh and Celestia sent you a letter." Pinkie added.

"What, why?" Twilight said, taking the letter.

"I really don't know, just that's its important." Pinkie said casually.

"'Dear Twilight Sparkle, it has come to my attention that the population of Ponyville has grown over the time that you have lived there. I would like for you to take a census of all the ponies that live in the area by tomorrow. Signed, Princess Celestia' …but doesn't she know I'm scheduling the Winter Moon Celebration?!" Twilight shouted into the paper.

There was no response because Pinkie had already vanished… leaving Twilight all alone.

"Spike! Write this down for me, I'm going to try to reschedule this for another time." Twilight said, slamming the door.
________________________________________
It was now dark out, as the three prankster ponies gathered in the center of Ponyville's park.

"That was so fun!" Pinkie shouted.

"It was better than I thought it would be. We should do that more often!" Rainbow admitted.

"We should, well goodnight you two. See you tomorrow." Night Shadow said, waving his hoof.

"See you tomorrow!" The two mares said in unison.

As soon as Night Shadow turned around, his face was pelted with a giant pie filled to the brim with ink. Standing there in shock, he heard the laughter of multiple ponies from all directions as the remains of the pie slid down his muzzle. Wiping the ink from his eyes, he also saw that Rainbow and Pinkie were in the same predicament as he was.

"D-did everypony in Ponyville show up to this?" Rainbow said in surprise.

"Yep, everypony we pranked to be exact." Pinkie exclaimed.

"OK, WHO'S THE PONY THAT THREW THAT?!" Night Shadow yelled.

The crowd of ponies then parted to reveal a very timid pegasus.

"Ummm, I hope that wasn't too mean or anything, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

"FLUTTERSHY!?" The three pranksters shouted in shock.

"Out of all the ponies to pull off something like this, you were the least expected! For that… congratulations." Night Shadow declared happily, extending his hoof to shake her own.

Everypony then cheered at the results of the performance. Seeing the opportunity, Pinkie announced Night Shadow's birthday to everypony, declaring that the party would be around 8:00 pm tomorrow… the same time future Night Shadow warned Twilight about.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: The Misunderstanding

Ten hours before the incident...

"Balloons check, party hats check, presents check, cake..." Pinkie then slammed a giant chocolate kiss into a cake that would dwarf a wedding cake. "CHECKAROO!" Pinkie shouted joyfully.

"Pinkie… that thing is buckin' huge!" Night Shadow said as he sat on the floor, looking at the very top of the cake.

"I've always wanted to try this recipe; I give the best to my best friends, Nighty." Pinkie said, sliding down a twenty-five-foot ladder.

"Aww, you're my best friend too." Night Shadow said, hugging Pinkie tightly.

"Well I did want to make this the best birthday party you've ever had." Pinkie said hugging back.

"It will be, considering that I have never celebrated my birthday before." Night Shadow said with a bit of sadness in his tone.

"And that's why I'm going to make it up with this, and then celebrate… how old are you?" Pinkie asked, realizing that she never knew his age.

"Age wise, I'm currently twenty-three. Time wise would put me at about… 5,023 years?" Night Shadow pondered. "But I turn twenty-four today at eight in the afternoon."

Pinkie stared at Night Shadow confused for a bit before reassuming preparations.

"Then that's twenty-three more birthdays to celebrate!" Pinkie said, excited.

"Well one party is good for one day, no need to rush anything." Night Shadow said, attempting to calm her down. "Oh bucking carbuncles, I need to get my suit.

"Okay Night Shadow, be sure to take your time." Pinkie exaggerated as Night Shadow ran out of the room.
________________________________________
In the streets of Ponyville

"Going to get my suit, which happens to be on the other side of the buckin' town. Well at least it's my first birthday being celebrated, and I might have a chance with Twilight. Wait, why am I running …I can just teleport. Oh yeah, the narrator wants me to run for some filler until some incident occurs. Well buck that, I'm going to teleport anyways in three, two-"

Night Shadow then teleported to the boutique to find that it was empty.

"Oh buttered biscuits she's gone, now where am I going to get a suit, and why am I asking myself these questions? Oh well, as long as I don't answer my own questions I should be fine." Night shadow said, twitching as his eyes became uncoordinated.

"Hey… your eyes are acting like mine." A gray pegasus said next to him.

"Oh sorry, I didn't see you there. I'm still trying to learn everypony's name. What's your name?" Night Shadow asked kindly.

"Some ponies call me Derpy Hooves because of my eyes, but my actual name is Ditzy Doo." She said happily.

"Does the name Derpy bother you though, I mean… it's the name they gave you because of your eye condition." Night Shadow said, attempting to not be offensive.

"Well… it depends on how you say it, I guess." Derpy said, still unsure.

Night Shadow happened to glance to Derpy's left side to find a timid, unicorn filly hiding behind her tail.

"Hey Derpy, there's a little filly behind you." Night Shadow said, pointing to the filly.

"Yeah that's my daughter, Dinky Doo, she's a bit shy though. Say hi Dinky." Derpy said, in a motherly tone.

"Ummm… hello." Dinky said shyly.

Attempting not to frighten her, Night Shadow leveled his eyes with hers.

"I'm not going to hurt you, there's no need to be afraid of me. Your mom is right there if something happens." Night Shadow said, calming her down.

"Okay..." Dinky whispered before approaching him.

"Well aren't you the most adorable thing I have ever seen!" Night Shadow said, patting Dinky on the head. "So who's the lucky stallion?"

As if the question changed the atmosphere and mood of the situation, Derpy instantly went into a depressed state.

"I'm so sorry if I brought up something, I can just lea-"

"No no… it's just I haven't seen him for so long." Derpy said, attempting to brighten up the mood.

There was a long pause of silence.

"Did he just leave or… pass away?" Night Shadow asked, breaking the silence.

"Neither of those… he was imprisoned five years ago by princess Celestia." Derpy said, avoiding eye contact.

"Ouch, knowing her punishments they can never be good. I bet they never told you why he was punished did they?" Night Shadow said, trying to make a point.

"They told me that he was going away for a long time, tried to tell me to find a new stallion to be with…" Derpy tried to say as tears formed in her eyes. "Told me he was evil and corrupted with hatred. That he could never love anypony, especially me ever again."

As she let some tears fall, Dinky ran back to her mom to comfort her.

"You know it's not true… don't you Ditzy?" Night Shadow said silently.

"None of it! Please believe me he's not evil, he's misunderstood, he's been through so much in his life that makes him believe that he is evil and could never be loved. He's not what everypony thinks he is; he has a heart that beats like everpony else, he feels pain and sorrow just like we do. He's everything to me, I love him for who he really is and not what everypony assumes. I miss him so much." Derpy said, letting the last of her tears fall.

Night Shadow was in a mix of sadness for this poor Pegasus and anger that ponies, including Celestia, would instantly think the worst of somepony that obviously needed help from others. Night Shadow then comforted Derpy with a hug.

"Soon everything will be made right, I promise this one way or another." Night Shadow said, releasing Derpy from the hug.

As if on cue, Night Shadow's suppressors started to beep rapidly, flashing red.

"I-I have to go!" He shouted fearfully before running off.
________________________________________
Twilight's tree house.

"How could I be so naïve to think that these would hold for the next week?" Night Shadow said ridiculing himself.
He approached Twilight's door, however, instead of just a sign, the door was now magically enchanted to not let anything through.

'I don't have time for this, I need to get my bag and fix this.' He thought as he teleported to the balcony.

Unfortunately, the balcony door was magically sealed as well.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Night Shadow shouted.

With only one option left, he jumped down to the back of the tree house.

"It's now or never!" He yelled, letting his horn flow with magic.

"Twilight please, can we take a break?" Spike said, plopping into the floor.

"NO, the Winter Moon Celebration is today Spike, and I can't afford anymore distrac-!"
Before Twilight could finish, a huge explosion occurred behind her, leaving a huge gaping hole in the wall. Night Shadow then quickly ran inside to get his bag from his room.

"Night Shadow, what the buck are you doing!" Twilight yelled angrily.

"Trying to save the world here!" He replied before kicking down his door.

"Oh no you don't, you're leaving NOW!" Twilight shouted, attempting to teleport the intruder out.

"You and I both know that won't work on me!" Night Shadow declared, grabbing his bag while fighting off the teleportation spell.

"Why can't you ponies just leave me alone!?" Twilight screeched.

Night Shadow then blasted another hole into the wall before running off.

"Thanks a lot Night Shadow, now I have to fix your mess again!" Twilight yelled, as the stress got to her head.
________________________________________
In a secluded area away from civilization

"This should be far enough." Night Shadow said, putting his bag in the snow, removing a black screwdriver.

Putting his left foreleg onto a nearby rock, he unscrewed the latch for his upper suppressor. Inside were multiple flashing lights, cables, and wires connected to each other.

"I can't believe that I have lasted so long with these things. Sadly, I think my time is running out and I still have no solution to stopping the inevitable. Heck, not even the Elements of Harmony could cure it, so maybe Twilight can. If she returns the love that I give her that is, then I just might have a chance." Night Shadow said, adjusting some wires.

After five minutes of fixing the device he moved on to the lower one and did the same. The two suppressors went back to glowing purple before he removed his foreleg from the rock. He then placed his other foreleg onto the rock stand and popped open the suppressor.

'So far so good… for now. I just need to adjust this and-'

Striking a wrong wire, a flash of light streamed across his eyes as he heard voices.

"Is this not what you asked for… the perfect soldier to do away with your enemies?"

"Yes it is, I just expected him to be more, you know… better kept."

"Do you want this feebleminded idiot or not!"

"Of course, he shall be taken off of your hooves."

"I don't have hooves you confused hybrid!"

Night Shadow then came back to reality after hearing the last sentence.

"No, please… don't remind me of my past." He said regretfully.

Continuing on to the next device, he made sure that he didn't hit a lose wire. However, this did not stop another flashback from hitting him. Only this time, he could see the scene more clearly.

"Don't worry master, these two sisters could never surpass you in means of power or knowledge. Allow me to show you what I've learned by destroying them as my final test to prove my worth!"

The scene before him was of him, standing before his old master and friend, in a throne room. The two sisters were blurred from his memory, but he could remember one being white and the other of a dark blue before he snapped back into consciousness.

"These flashbacks are either becoming stronger or too real for comfort." Night Shadow said, as his heart rapidly started to beat.

Finally finishing his forelegs, he sat down next to a tree to work on his hind-legs. When he finished one of his legs, he shut his eyes and rested his head on the bark of the tree. This time the image was of him in a third-person view of his past self laying before a white alicorn.

"Celestia please stop! You have already punished me once before by turning the love of my life against me. What more do you want of me!?" He said, tears forming into his eyes

"I'm sorry Night Shadow, but until you turn from your evil ways, you will never be able to live among us. You are a danger to all that live among you and I can't allow you to continue your reign of terror!" Celestia boomed, as a portal opened behind Night Shadow that threatened to suck him in.

"Don't you realize that your acts of judgment won't change me but only make me worse! I beg of you, don't do this again!" Night Shadow screamed in fear, latching on to whatever he could grab.

"I really wish there was another way Night Shadow, I really do. But this is the only way… I'm sorry." Celestia said, as tears streamed down her face as Night Shadow lost his hold.

"CELESTIAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Night Shadow screamed out of horror as he reopened his eyes.

"THAT FELT WAY TOO REAL TO BE A FLASHBACK!" He yelled, as a shiver went down his spine. "I should finish this quickly before anything else happens."

True to his word, he worked quickly on the last two inhibitors. He focused on his work to the point where everything around him seemed to slow down and blur. Straining too hard on the assignment, his eyes blackened out as he appeared in a black void. When he attempted to move, he realized that he was bound down by shackles that were chained to two iron pillars. Soon a sudden shock hit him harder than a ton of bricks as he screamed in agony.

When the yells dissipated, two mares appeared from the void of darkness, laughing at his pain. The one to his left had a dark blue coat, gray mane and tail with dark sapphire eyes. The one to his right had a black coat, purple mane and tail with bright amber eyes. As the laughing continued, Night Shadow's darker self approached him with a menacing smirk and motioned him to look up. What Night Shadow witnessed was Twilight hanging from a cage, completely bound and unable to speak due to a magical enchantment.

What he would see next would be engraved into his memory forever. Dark Night Shadow caused the cage's bars to glow bright red before they burst into flames before Night Shadow's eyes. When his horn ceased to glow dark red, Night Shadow heard the screams of pain coming from Twilight while the other three laughed at her suffering. Night Shadow attempted to move and try anything to free her, but the bindings were too strong, forcing him to watch and hear Twilight burn. Soon the cage fell and shattered in front of him, showing what was left of Twilight.

If Night Shadow wasn't sobbing and filled with anger before… he was now. The only thing left of Twilight was ash… nothing but ash and dust as Dark Night Shadow levitated the remains and threw it into Night Shadow's face. Night Shadow attempted to break free of his bindings and make these three pay with their lives, but instead was slammed down onto the cold floor and tied down with magical tendrils. Dark Night Shadow then leaped over him and crushed his horn with his hind hooves, resulting in Night Shadow screeching in pain. His darker self then conjured up a dagger and slammed it into Night Shadow chest and made a huge circle, ignoring the screams of his victim.

Using his dark magic, Dark Night shadow slammed his hoof into the hole in Night Shadow and removed his heart. Before Night Shadow went unconscious, his darker self lit his heart on fire and said the words, "It's not like you used it anyways."

"YOU SICK ^%^#*&$!" Night Shadow shouted as he abruptly woke up. "That was a dream? How could… it have felt so real?" Night Shadow said, before being relieved that it was just a nightmare.

Looking up, he saw that the sun was setting in the distance.

"How long have I been out for?" He asked himself before fixing the last suppressor.

'I guess it doesn't matter, I need to get back to Sugar Cube Corner and tell Pinkie where I've been.' He thought before teleporting to his destination.

Two hours before the incident…

"These ponies need to invent a watch, it's not like everypony can read the sun's positioning." Night Shadow bickered to himself.

He walked up to the main entrance and noticed that all the lights were out. Lightly tapping the door, it creaked open to reveal the empty bakery being illuminated by the sun set. Slowly walking in with caution and looking around, he started to get intimidated.

"I swear Pinkie, if you're dressed up as Slendermane I'm not going to hold back." He said, putting his hooves up.

Instantly the lights came, cameras flashed, and multiple ponies shouted, "Surprise" as Night Shadow hit the ground, dazed.

"How was that for a surprise party!" Pinkie shouted, slapping a party hat on his head.

"I think I'm blind." Night Shadow said still stunned.

"Nonsense you silly filly, if you're blind how are you going celebrate your birthday?" Pinkie said, leaving Night Shadow's presence.

"Oh Pinkie, you shouldn't have." Night Shadow said as his vision returned to show Pinkie on a mountain of presents. "You really shouldn't have."

"Hey Night Shadow!" Rainbow said, walking next to him. "Happy Birthday you big jerk."

"Normally I would say takes one to know one… but knowing you that's the best compliment I've gotten, so thanks." Night Shadow said with a smile. "Wait Pinkie, I just remembered, you said the party would be at eight?"

"Yes I did… but everypony came early and got ready really really fast. So we did a surprise party for you!"

Night Shadow looked around to see all of his friends and other ponies at the party enjoying themselves with games, food, and other things… except Twilight, who was nowhere to be found.

"Then where's Twilight?" He asked.
"We tried to get her to come, we really did." Rarity said disappointed.

"She insisted on finishin' her celebration doohicky." Applejack finished

"We're really sorry." Fluttershy said, apologetically.

Night Shadow had a look of disappointment before he cheered up again.

"You shouldn't apologize for things that aren't your fault Fluttershy… after all this is supposed to be a party, SO LETS PARTY!"

His friends then assumed party mode as they joined the rest of the ponies. It was just like any ordinary party, well… if you've been around Pinkie long enough that is. The only thing out of the ordinary was Night Shadow. Being his first birthday party, he was practically clueless to the entire ordeal. He just guessed at what to do and what to say, and it turned out fine. One hour of partying passed before Night Shadow got his friends to sit with him to ask each other questions.

"Don't you ever find it awkward that all your best friends are girls?" Rainbow asked bluntly.

"It's not like it matters, you're the best friends I've ever had… who am I to pick and choose." Night Shadow said, chugging his seventeenth cup of punch. "Pinkie I've always wondered, how do you jump around and run so much without losing energy?"

"Silly Nighty, always trying to use logic. I just do it." Pinkie declared.

"Figures, I don't think anyone can describe you logically." Night Shadow admitted.

"Well I'll be right back, I have to finish the last thing on the cake." Pinkie said, leaving the room.

"Okay Rainbow Dash, I have a question for you, did you dye your hair like a Rainbow or did you spill Technicolor bleach into it by accident?" Night Shadow joked.

"Ha ha very funny… my mane is like this naturally." Rainbow remarked.

"I-I have a question Night Shadow." Fluttershy asked, somehow overcoming the noise in the background. "Is it true that you like Twilight?"

"I will be blunt with all of you, I really like Twilight, I really do. I'm just afraid she won't in return. So after the party… can you come and help me ask her out?" Night Shadow asked, nervous.

They all agreed to help afterward, adding their own side comments of how they will help. Then Pinkie launched out of the door and grabbed Night Shadow.

"It's time to sing happy birthday!" Pinkie announced to everypony.

After Night Shadow awkwardly stood there while everypony sang happy birthday, it was time to blow out the candles.

"Yeah Night Shadow, do what the narrator says." Pinkie suggested.

"I know what he said… it's just that I don't know what you mean." Night Shadow asked, confused.

"What do you mean you don't know what I mean?" Pinkie asked, smiling.

"How to blow out the candles." Night Shadow said as everpony stared at him awkwardly.

"That's easy, you just use your mouth and blow on it, like this." Pinkie demonstrated.

"Oh okay, I was derping for a moment there." Night shadow said, laughing at himself.

Forty-five minutes later/fifteen minutes before the incident…

"Goodbye everypony!" Night Shadow said as they all left.

"I think Night Shadow should open gifts now." Pinkie said, handing him a gray present.

"Yay I got a gray box!" Night Shadow said excited.

"Your supposed to open it genius." Rainbow said smirking.

"Why would I want to do that?" Night Shadow asked, confused.

"Because there's a present in it, silly." Pinkie chuckled.

"So I get two gifts for the price of one, awesome." Night Shadow said excited.

Everypony was now wondering if he was just joking or being serious.

"Hey look, I got a muffin!" Night shadow shouted.

"Well let's open the others." Pinkie suggested.

"That can wait, remember what I wanted all of you to do… I think I'm finally ready." Night Shadow said with confidence.

"Then let's get you that date!" Rainbow declared to him.

One minute before the incident

"Dear Princess Luna" Twilight wrote, some tears forming in her eyes. "I am sorry to inform you that I have failed to carry out the assignment that you have entrusted me with. Please try to forgive me, but I understand if you can't, so I will accept any punishment that you will give me. I will try to-"

There was a loud knock on the door, next to the huge gaping hole with minor repairs.

"Twilight is it okay if I come in?" Rainbow said knocking again.

"No!" Twilight said in a mix of anger and depression.

Rainbow disregarded this, flew in the large hole, and opened the door from the inside, letting the others in. Twilight's anger was now increasing, but not noticeable to the others.

"We need to ask you a serious question." Applejack pushed.

"Didn't you hear me the first time… I said NO!" Twilight shouted.

"It's important!" Pinkie said, bouncing up to her.

"Pinkie, you're the reason I was distracted yesterday!" Twilight accused.

"There's no need to yell darling, we're just trying to-"

"Trying to what, distract me so I can't accomplish what the Princess of the Night assigned me to do!?" Twilight yelled to Rarity.

"Hold on, you never said anything about-"

"Don't even get me started with you Rainbow, with your Iron Pony Competition and pestering about Night Shadow!" Twilight shouted, practically losing all respect.

"Rainbow's right here sugarcube, we never heard of this-"

"I was given the task to schedule the Winter Moon Celebration TODAY! I never finished one buckin' thing because of all your distractions!"

"Umm… g-girls, can we stop fighting." Fluttershy said, attempting to calm the group down.

"Now I have to send this letter to Luna saying why I couldn't do a simple task for her… and it's all your FAULT!" Twilight screamed, silencing everything in the room.

"Twilight?"

Everypony looked at the doorway to see Night Shadow, with a confused look on his face.

"Why are you yelling at your friends?" He asked, a bit frightened.

"You… you're the one who is truly to blame!" Twilight yelled, teleporting into Night Shadow.

"W-what… I didn't do anything." Night Shadow said frightened.

"You didn't do ANYTHING… no the question is, "WHAT DIDN'T YOU DO?!" Twilight shouted furiously into his face.

"I-I don't know what you mean, stop yelling at me." Night Shadow pleaded.

"You're the one that planned it all, planned everything to make me look bad in front of the princesses!" Twilight accused.

"I just wanted you to have fun… what's wrong with that?" Night Shadow said, trying to prove his case.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT!? Ever since you got here you've been nothing but trouble and a pain to me and my friends.

"That's not true, you're-"

"You embarrassed me in front of everypony, trash my house, start a rivalry with Rainbow Dash, eat all the food I have, spread a rumor that I actually liked you, tell me to look for an imaginary book, make me waste my time to find you in the everfree forest and give me a fake letter from Celestia! What else did I miss… oh yeah, BLEW NOT ONLY ONE, BUT TWO HOLES IN MY HOUSE!"

"I never meant to harm-"

"Get out of my house… AND NEVER COME BACK!" Twilight shouted, throwing what was left of Night Shadow's things into his face.

Night Shadow eyes were streaming with tears at the last words she said.

"I was wrong about you Twilight… I loved you and this is what you do to me?" Night Shadow said, tears rolling down his muzzle. "I try to give you happiness… and you throw me out! I HATE YOU!" Night Shadow declared before running out of the door.

When he made his disappearance, the grandfather clock on Twilights wall started to chime signifying it was eight o' clock.

*DING*

Instantly Twilight was hit with a flash back.

"Darn it Twilight, why do you have to be so cute when you're confused?" Future Night Shadow asked.

*DING*

Another flashback occurred

"I should of had more time than this, something is affecting the spell! Twilight whatever you do, when I walk through that door eight days from now at exactly 8:00 pm, do not-" Future Night Shadow attempted to say before vanishing.

*DING*

"It's just that your bracelets started to glow red again." She remembered saying, a bit concerned.

"They're not bracelets, Twilight, they're suppressors. They prevent me from turning into… that."

*DING*

"What do you mean?" She said, looking at him worried.

"It means that without these, everyone would be in danger of… me." Night Shadow said softly.

*DING*

"Twilight, that's not going to happen unless something very drastic ensued, please don't be scared." Night Shadow said approaching her slowly.

*DING*

"And under what conditions would you…do that?" She asked still concerned.

"Only if somepony very dear to me was hurt, or if my heart was… broken."

*DING*

"You don't have to feel like that ever again. Me, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy; we are your friends now and we will never betray you." She said, wiping the tears away from Night Shadow's eyes, holding him tightly.

*DING*

"Promise me… promise me that you won't leave me like they did. I care about you so much, all I ask is that you do the
same." Night Shadow asked holding on to Twilight.

"I Promise."

The flash back ended at the last stroke of the clock.

"What have I done? NIGHT SHADOW, COME BACK!" Twilight asked herself before running after him.
________________________________________
"Little sister, why have you not raised the moon?" Celestia asked in a concerned tone.

"I sense much pain, anger, …and darkness."

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The End Begins

Night Shadow stood on a cliffside in the Everfree Forest, overlooking the huge plains of Equestria. Looking down from the ledge, he couldn't tell the trees from the bushes due to the height. Looking up he saw the beauty of the full moon. He thought this would be the last thing he'd ever see…

"Twilight hates me, my friends abandon me, my family's leaving me, WHAT MORE CAN YOU TAKE AWAY FROM ME!?" Night Shadow screamed over the land. "Ever since I was born, my life has been a living hell, constantly feeling pain and losing loved ones! I have done nothing to deserve this. WHY… WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME!?" He asked, tears streaming over his eyes.

There was a long pause of silence as rain started to fall over Equestria.

"You think it's just a big joke Celestia, to just toy with somepony's life just because they don't follow your laws! You wanted me to submit to your power by DESTROYING EVERYTHING! I should have known that Twilight was to be your instrument of revenge for finally ending me… and it worked. It actually worked…and now, you can truly say that you've robbed me of every, single, thing that I have ever worked for." He said, approaching closer to the edge of no return.
"It not like they cared about me anyway… I will soon be forgotten by everypony. The only comfort I can give myself now… is that it's all about to end." He stated, taking his first step off of safety and into the depths of darkness.

Just before he met his fate, a red burst of light flung him back away from his doom.

"That's it, huh… you just give up?" The dark voice rang through Night Shadow's head.

"No… not now." Night Shadow begged.

"Throughout the time that I have watched, YOU HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT A FAILURE! You have stood against your enemies for so long, and now you just give up?! No… I won't have any of it! Three chances I gave you, three times you failed, I believe you struck out. Now, IT'S MY TURN TO SHOW THESE PONIES WHAT TRUE POWER IS!"

"W-what are you doing!?" Night Shadow said, unable to control his right foreleg approaching one of his suppressors.

"WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE A LONG TIME AGO!"

Then, using Night Shadow as a puppet, he smashed one of the devices with his hoof.

"No… no… NO!" Night Shadow shouted, eyes bursting with bright red color.

"Now you will watch and witness what could have been yours." The dark voice continued to say.

"I-I'm not like that now, I don't want to hurt others anymore!" Night Shadow pleaded.

"I don't care what you want… I'm going to make everypony that ever hurt you pay for what they've done."

"Stop it… STOP IT!" Night Shadow screamed, trying to control the situation with magic, but realized the aura was red… and not his anymore.

Night Shadow continued to scream out of panic and pain as lightning boomed throughout Equestria and the rain grew heavier. His purple aura burst into a dark red , engulfing the screaming unicorn as he lost all control of his body. This continued for a while until Twilight finally found him. Aware of the situation, she screamed his name to get his attention. Suddenly everything stopped, giving Night Shadow control of himself once more.

"Night Shadow?" Twilight asked, still unsure and with regret in her voice.

Night Shadow slowly turned around to face her, looking darker than normal.

"Twilight… you did this to me." He said before his eyes flashed with red once more as the suppressors burst off of his legs.

Night Shadow let out one last cry before black aura engulfed him again. He exploded with a burst of red light that could have been seen for miles. What stood in the crater was a unicorn with the same features as Night Shadow, but only now… he was black with a dark red mane and tail. His cutie mark resembled a red energy ball surrounded by electricity. When he spoke, it sent shivers down Twilight's spine.

"I must thank you Twilight… for finally freeing me that is. However, that doesn't mean you won't suffer like the rest, I will just save you for last."

Twilight's eyes were now full of tears after realizing that Night Shadow was gone.

"Don't cry Twilight, for soon you will be part of a new era of rule, and you will have front row seats… to the fall of Equestria!" He said, laughing menacingly.

"You can't do this Night Shadow, Celestia and Luna will stop you!" Twilight shouted.

"My name is not Night Shadow anymore, you may address me as Dark Fire, THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS! As for Celestia and Luna, hahahahahaha… let them try to stop me!" He declared, confidently.

"I'm sorry Night Shadow… please; snap out of it, this isn't like you!" Twilight begged.

"You really don't know a thing about us do you? Night Shadow was trying to turn all of you against Celestia and help him defeat her. Don't you see, he was evil to begin with and never cared for any of you." Dark Fire stated.

"I don't believe a word you're saying!" Twilight yelled to him.

"You don't have to, it's not like your opinion matters to anypony."

Silence fell over the two as the rain continued to fall on both of them.

"Now I'm going to prove to all of Equestria that even a demigoddess like Celestia…CAN FALL!"

"I won't let you do this!" Twilight shouted as magic flowed freely from her horn.

"Do it then, try to hurt me!" Dark Fire declared.

Twilight tried to use whatever she could to somehow attack Dark Fire, but underneath all of the evil, she could still see Night Shadow's face, and drooped her head.

"That's what I thought… and if you have any more ideas of rebelling against me, just remember this."

Dark Fire went back to the cliff side that overlooked a huge portion of land and with one flash of light from his horn, destroyed everything with a magical blast of power. Nothing remained but a large crater of dirt and ash. He laughed at his creation before teleporting in an explosion of darkness and fire.

"H-he's completely lost his mind, I have to warn Celestia!" Twilight Shouted before teleporting to Canterlot.

Dark clouds enveloped the skies of Canterlot as the rain and lightning grew stronger and louder with every passing minute. Meanwhile two royal guards stood to watch over the main gate to Celestia's castle. Even under the harsh conditions, they didn't move or speak until dark fog from all directions, started to approach them. When the fog stopped dead in its tracks, the dark unicorn emerged slowly and walked towards the gates until he was two feet from it. The two guards then jumped in his way.

"Hault! Visiting hours are over, stallion. Return to your home or be charged with a fine." One of the guards ordered.

"Oh I'm not here for visiting…I'm here for much more than that." Dark Fire said, chuckling.

"That wasn't a request stallion, leave now or be fined."

"Such harsh punishments for something so little… do you even know who I am!" Dark Fire demanded.

"This is your last chance, leave now or-!"

"Yeah yeah, just one more question, can you open the gate?" Dark Fire asked before grabbing the stallion and throwing him into the golden gate, causing it to swing open. "Thank you very much."

"That's it, you're under arrest!" The other guard stated.

Dark Fire then vanished in a shadowy aura and reappeared, pinning the guard by his throat into a nearby wall.

"Tell your princesses that, just for name's sake, Night Shadow has returned for vengeance!" Dark Fire ordered before flinging the guard into a worm hole.

The guard soon reappeared in Celestia's thrown room, leaving everypony in the room shocked.

"What's the meaning of this!?" Luna demanded.

"There's a mad unicorn outside trying to get in the castle, he said his name was Night Shadow!"

The guards in the room didn't seem to care, but after seeing Celestia's reaction to it, they became worried.

"Guards, prepare to defend the palace!" Celestia ordered as they scrambled to different locations.

Dark Fire slowly trotted in the outer courtyard until reencountering the guard he threw.

"Sweet dreams." He joked before hoofing the guard in the face, knocking him out.

"Come no closer criminal scum!" A guard wearing more distinctive armor declared, standing in front of ten more stallions.

"Oh look, you must be the meet and greet group." Dark Fire mocked.

"Charge!" The guards shouted, running towards him.

Dark Fire laughed at their petty attempt before summoning a huge wall of fire before them, stopping the guards in their tracks. With them distracted, he leaped through the wall, knocking out two guards at once with his hooves. Using his magic, he magnetized the armor of the other eight guards, and pulled them towards him. Punching each one in the muzzle, he made two piles of unconscious stallions. The last guard with distinctive armor backed up a bit out of shock, but was stopped when he bumped into something. Turning around, he saw Dark Fire smiling evilly at him.

"Hey… that's some cool armor you have." Dark Fire complimented.

The stallion gulped nervously.

Inside the castle's main door.

"I hate this job!" One of the guards said to his friend.

"Dude, you get paid to watch a door, stop complaining." His friend said back to him.

"I just wish something exciting would happen soon, and fast!"

Just then the stallion that stood watched outside, was flung threw the door, knocking it down instantly. Dark Fire then walked in, indifferent of who saw or heard.

"You mean something like this!" The stallion said to the board guard.

"Exactly, let's get him!"

The two guards lunged at the intruder from both sides before getting back-hooved into the walls behind them.

"Stupid low paid teenagers." He remarked as he continued walking.

Fifteen guards from both sides approached Dark Fire as they encircled him. Dark Fire showed his indifference and confidence by allowing them to surround him until there appeared to be no way out.

"There's no way out for you, give up!" A guard of higher rank declared.

"Yeah, the narrator just said that genius!" Dark Fire scorned before punching him in the face.

The guards then started to attack him in all directions in pairs of twos, threes, fours and even fives, attempting to capture the unicorn. This all resulted in failure because of Dark Fire's superior strength. He defeated each one with simple punches and kicks. The ten remaining guards then retreated to the other remaining door and regrouped to make one last attempt. Dark Fire simply stood there, then he charged at them. The ten remaining guards charged to meet him in the middle for one last attack.

What they didn't expect was for Dark Fire to jump in front of them. He slammed his hooves together in a clapping motion, sending them flying into random decorations. Dark Fire then grabbed the higher ranked guard and slammed him into the next very large door. Everypony was instantly shocked at the sudden intuition, telling him that news of his arrival still didn't reach the level he was on. Regardless he could care less as more guards came from practically nowhere to try to fight him. This time however, it was a mix of unicorns and pegasi, giving him a bit more excitement.

Running in the center of the hallway, he blasted unicorns with magic and fought earth ponies with hoof-to-hoof combat. The pegasi guards were like the earth pony battalions, except way more agile, able to dodge him easier. That didn't stop him from punching their teeth out however, as he slowly but surely toyed around with every guard in the room. As more guards flooded the room, the bigger the body count became. After bucking a pegasus into a pillar, he saw some unicorns lining up side by side.

"READY!" A red unicorn captain shouted to his firing squad of twenty unicorns.

"AIM!" The voice boomed as the first ten crouched down to allow the others firing room.

"Fire." Dark Fire whispered, getting up on his hind-legs, deflecting every magic blast back at the casters.

The captain stood there in anger and fear as he summoned all the magic he had to fire one last beam at Dark Fire. Dark Fire then ran towards the unicorn at full speed, again indifferent of the situation. When the captain fired his wave of magic at Dark Fire, he lunged towards it, pushed all the magic back with his hoof and punched right through the blast, hitting the unicorn in the face. This sent him crashing into the twin gold-plated doors, however they did not open on contact.

"I'm impressed captain, not only did you fight decently, but you've left an impressive dent in the golden door."

"I… hate… you." The captain struggled to say.

"Who doesn't hate me?" He said, leaning the guard on the door. "Now be a good stallion and don't move, this will only hurt a lot!" Dark Fire said, laughing maniacally before bucking the captain all the way through the golden door.

The captain skid across the floor before stopping in front of a barricade of seventy royal and lunar guards of every pony race. Dark Fire looked around, slightly impressed.

"You made this barricade just for me, I don't know if I should be impressed or disappointed." He complimented.

"FIRE!" Everypony shouted, launching a barrage of magic towards him.

Dark Fire then stood up on his hind hooves and casted a magical shield that diverted thirty separate colored beams around him. Behind the barricade, twenty pegasi flew in the air in sync and dived towards Dark Fire while twenty earth ponies ran to tackle him. He waited for just the right moment before releasing the built up power in one explosive burst that instantly blew over every guard on the ground and in the air.

"This floor bores me… you, tell me where Celestia is."

"You won't find her." The lunar captain said before losing consciousness.

"Then I'm going up!" Dark Fire said before tossing him in the ceiling like a javelin.

Jumping through a hole in the ceiling, he casted a magical ball that magnetized every guard in the room, sending them into the ball and causing it to explode in a magical outburst.

"I've forgotten how big this place was, but she can't hide forever." He stated before blasting his way into another room.'

Celestia overlooked the castle, hearing and witnessing multiple explosions that shook the very foundation.

"Celestia… the platoon and I are ready, but if we fail, I need to let you know-"

"Don't think like that Shining Armor, you're going to make it through this, I know how Night Shadow is." Celestia said calmly to him.

"Yes I believe you, but by the off chance that we don't make it, I want to say that it's been an honor." Shining Armor said, making his departure.

"One more thing Shining Armor…take Black Blade with you." Celestia said before resuming her observation.

"Of course princess." He said before departing the room. 'Black Blade, the captain of Luna's guard? This is going to be harder than I thought.' He thought worried.

Celestia continued to watch as she slowly lost ground with her guards.

"Tia, what are we going to do?" Luna asked, standing next to her sister.

"Little sister, I need you to find whatever guards you can and get out of here while you can." Celestia said concerned.

Silence fell upon both of them as the rain continued.

"If he's that powerful, then you can't face him alone!" Luna said, not backing down.

"I can't afford to lose you to darkness…not again." Celestia said, still regretful.

"We will fight him together, like we always have with every threat we came across."

"FALL BA-!" A soldier attempted to say before being blasted with magic.

"How brave of you… but such a waste." Dark Fire scorned as he walked past multiple defeated ponies. "There doesn't seem to be any left on this floor, better check the next one."

He was about to blast another hole in the ceiling before four guards descended from separate pillars, standing on all four corners of the room.

"Elite Lunar Guards… I've heard stories of your training. Don't disappoint me." Dark Fire said, assuming a fighting position.

The four guards attacked him in synchronization, attempting to hit Dark Fire at least once with their punches and bucks, but all for not. Dodging every attack, he countered one of the punches and delivered a punch of his own. However, to his own shock, he wasn't instantly knocked out like the others. The dodging continued until one of the guards launched a purple magic charge at him. Deflecting it into the ceiling, Dark Fire then teleported into the next floor through the hole created. The four guards quickly followed, continuing their assault of punches until Dark Fire punched one in the stomach and side kicked him across the face into the wall.

"So you can feel pain? Pity, you're going to feel a lot of it." Dark Fire declared to the other three guards.

They growled in anger as they charged him again, soon afterwards Dark Fire knocked two of them away to deal with only one. The guard put all his weight into his punch and as a result to Dark Fire dodging, lost his balance. He took advantage of this and grabbed his hoof, pulling the guard towards him, and elbowing him in the jaw. With the guard distracted by the blow, he then delivered a massive hit to his chest with his hoof, slid upward to his jaw, picked up the guard by his neck, and fired a magical burst that launched him into the ceiling. As the guard came back down, the other two guards nodded to each other as they vanished in a dark smoke.

"They think I'm an amateur don't they." Dark Fire said to himself.

He then casted a ball of light that illuminated the room so brightly, that the room itself turned white from brightness. After two seconds, it vanished, revealing two dazed lunar guards. Dark Fire chuckled to himself before attacking the two guards again. Two minutes passed before the fight lead to the door where Dark Fire planned to go through. Ducking under, the guards smashed their hooves into the metal door and were unable to move. With that, he quickly gave both guards twenty jabs in the stomach.

With the guards completely immobilized, me smashed both of their heads together and knocked them unconscious. Dark Fire then kicked the door open, taking two steps forward before magical restraints hit him around his horn. He was then tackled by fifteen guards.

"We got him, we actually did it!" Shining Armor shouted joyfully. "Ok stallions, bring this criminal to the throne room."

As they carried Dark Fire off, he couldn't help but chuckle at them for leading him right to his target.

"What do you think about this, Black Blade?" Shining asked.

Black Blade was an extremely large earth pony. When they compared him to Celestia, they measured equally in height and length. He had a very dark blue coat with a spiked up purple mane and tail. He also had purple eyes and a shield with two crossed black swords behind it. What was unique about him, besides his height, was that his irises didn't reflect off any light, even bright sunlight. This made him a perfect candidate for captain of the Lunar Guard.

"Just get him to Luna." He said angrily.

"Are you ever happy with anything?" Shining Armor asked, relieved of the situation.

Black Blade simply growled at him before pushing the huge throne room doors open with ease. All of the guards and even Shining Armor were surprised at this feat. Dark Fire, however, took mental notes of his strength.

"Celestia, we captured the intruder!" Shining announced to everypony.

In the throne room was Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Blue Blood all gathered together.

"Wait, how did you bind him?" Celestia shouted, worried.

"Once we placed the magical restraints on him and put him in chains, he was easy to capture."

"You didn't use anything else!" Celestia stated, now in panic.

"He's a unicorn… why would we-"

"HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! Do you inform your guard of anything Celestia? Your lack of information will get your guards destroyed!" Dark Fire stated.

"Silence pony, your rampage is over; you've lost again Night Shadow!" Luna shouted angrily.

"I'm not Night Shadow anymore, and as for you Luna… I have only just begun."

"Your strength is gone and your magic has been rendered useless, what could you possibly do now?" Shining demanded.

Dark Fire just smiled as he stood on his hind hooves and started to ascend in the air slowly, carrying all the guards that bounded him.

"How is he… what the!?" Shining asked, in complete shock.

"NO GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Celestia shouted to her guards.

"Magic isn't the only thing I can control, allow me to demonstrate." Dark Fire said, proudly.

He then crossed his hooves together in an "X" as red aura surrounded his body. He then shouted loudly as an energy wave erupted from his body, sending the guards around him flying in all directions. The explosion busted all of the lights, disintegrated the restraints and bindings on him. He then stretched his fore-hooves out of pride.

"It's been so long since I've done that…I've forgotten the feeling of energy manipulation." Dark Fire declared. "It's too bad that the guards couldn't take it though… such a shame."

Shining Armor and Black Blade were the only ones that weren't knocked out after the blast. The two captains brushed it off, getting ready to fight.

"I find it so surprising that you would still want to fight me, even after demonstrating my power. I don't know if you're being brave or just stupid." Dark Fire mocked.

Shining then shot a magic blast to hit Dark Fire, but when it made contact, the image of him vanished in a cloud of black fog.

"Where did he go?!" Shining panicked.

"You shouldn't use your eyes to rely on everything you do." Dark Fire said in the shadows.

He then reappeared through the floor and uppercut Shining in the chin. This caused Shining to skid across the floor and everypony to gasp in shock. Dark Fire then kicked Black Blade in the face, but instead of crashing into a wall like he planned, Black Blade simply looked at Dark Fire unamused.

"That's impressive." Dark Fire complimented.

Black Blade then lunged at Dark Fire to punch him square in the face, but missed when Dark Fire dodged out of the way.

"Ooo, I felt some wind on that." Dark Fire teased as the purple stallion continued to miss, becoming angered. "What's the matter, can't hit your target?"

"EEERRRGGHH SHUT UP!" Black Blade shouted as he punched the ground where Dark Fire used to be before he evaded.

This created a huge crater in the ground as cracks shot out from all directions because of the force of the impact. By this time, Shining had recovered and joined back into the fight. He created a magic bubble to shield him from any magical blows or attacks.

"Such strength, but too slow to hit your target, allow me to demonstrate how to properly use it." Dark Fire said, as his hair glowed bright red with energy and became spiked up.

"You won't be demonstrating anything Night Shadow!" Shining shouted as he launched a blue wave of magic towards Dark Fire.

He then blocked it and diverted the magic around him, blasting a huge hole behind him.

"For the last time… MY NAME IS NOT NIGHT SHADOW!" Dark Fire screamed in rage as he shot a red ball of energy at Shining.

Shining couldn't react in time as he attempted to shield himself with his hooves. Luckily for him, the magical shield repelled the blast, but was shattered when he hit the wall from the explosion. Dark Fire was about to throw another energy ball until Black Blade's hoof stopped him. Black Blade then attempted to punch Dark Fire, but he ducked under him and kick-flipped his chin. Black Blade was stunned for a moment, but it was a moment too long as Dark Fire sent a burst of air into Black Blade's chest, sending him into the wall. Not letting up, Dark Fire teleported and kneed Black Blade in his stomach.

When he bent down in pain, Dark Fire punched his muzzle back into the wall, making an even bigger crater within it, and then rapidly punched him while he was still pinned. Black Blade then went limp from the beating, but was magically held up by Dark Fire.

"I can feel so much pain in your heart… so many questions unanswered… so much built up anger and hatred. I can help you if you would let me, but only if you're willing to learn." He said, almost feeling sorry for him before releasing the magical hold he had on the stallion.

"I'm not done with you yet!" Shining yelled, as he charged Dark Fire.

Dark Fire then lunged under Shining and tossed him over his back, making him slide across the floor. Shining then fired one last blast of magic at Dark Fire, which he couldn't simply let pass by. Dark Fire then fired a magical charge of his own that collided with Shining's to make a beautiful but deadly display of power. After about thirty seconds, Dark Fire exerted more power into his blast until he defeated Shining in the duel.

"I'm sorry Celestia, Luna, and especially you Cadance… I've failed you." Shining struggled to say before fading into unconsciousness.

"Hey, what about me?" Blue Blood said, annoyed.

Dark Fire started to laugh menacingly and he approached the princesses.

"I don't know who you two are, but I'm here for Celestia and Luna… mainly Celestia so hoof them over nice and easy." Dark Fire demanded.

"Well I don't know who you think you are, but you're in no position to demand from us. We're royalty and I'm not going to listen to a peasant like you." Blue Blood stated arrogantly.

"Then listen to this!" Dark Fire yelled, casting a blue smoke around the arrogant prince.

When the smoke dissipated, the only thing left was a blue frog.

"What did you do to him!?" Cadance commanded.

"Can't you read what the narrator wrote, geez… I turned him into a frog, although I think this is one prince no mare would ever kiss."

"Change me back this instant!" The frog croaked.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think you're in a position to demand from me." Dark Fire said before conjuring a magically sealed cage and tossing him into it. "Do you have any more smart comments!?"

At this point, Cadance was caring for Shining, attempting to wake him up, while Celestia and Luna stood side-by-side at the foot of the throne.

'We must strike now Tia, while we still have a chance.' Luna pleaded telepathically.

'I-I can't Luna… I just can't.' Celestia said sorrowfully.

'Why have you always held back when we fought Night Shadow? We are trying to defend the freedom of Equestria, Tia.' Luna pointed out.

'Luna, I'm sorry that I have never told you this… but Night Shadow is-'

'Hey… what are you girls thinking about?' Dark Fire mocked, invading their conversation.

Luna had enough of this unicorn and was going to fight him with or without Tia. As her eyes brightened up to a pure white, conjured armor appeared from the shadows and attached itself to her. This was the same armor that Nightmare Moon wore, giving her a height and power boost.

"It's about time one of you mared up. Now, come at me bro!" Dark Fire motioned with his hoof.

Luna's magical aura grew three times its size as she lunged towards him. Dark Fire leaped to the left just before Luna hit him and bucked her to the side. The attack made a metallic clang noise, but nothing else. Dark Fire was confused at first because he couldn't remember Luna having armor that protected her sides, but when he turned around, he saw that Luna had blocked it with her hoof.

"At least you can recover quickly." Dark Fire stated, circling around Luna like a wolf.

"We have had enough of your talking, now start fighting for real!" Luna said, using the royal Canterlot voice.

"Oh, using your big boomy voice I see. Why don't I try it." Dark fire smirked as he took a deep breath.

Luna then teleported in front of Dark Fire for a surprise attack, but this is when he screamed at the top of his lungs. Luna was blown back a good twenty feet from the sound waves that Dark Fire was emitting from his voice, which also shattered the floor tiles in front of him along with what little windows remained.

"You see Luna, you had no chance to defeat me in the first place, just give up." He demanded.

"And give you Equestria? …We don't think so!" Luna declared.

She once again charged at the unicorn with great speed that could match up with the Wonderbolts, throwing hoof after hoof and kick after kick towards Dark Fire. He dodged and blocked every attack until he countered with an attack of his own. Luna reacted by smashing her hoof against his, causing both of them to fly back ten feet from the explosion of power.

"You disappoint me Luna… all those attacks and not one of them hit." Dark Fire mocked until he noticed a bit of blood trail down his cheek. "THAT'S IT, I'M DONE FOOLING AROUND, PREPARE TO PERISH!"

The entire room started to glow red as it heated up from Dark Fire's anger. His hair burst into an even brighter tint of red before completely being engulfed in flames. Luna spared no time as she opened a portal next to her and Dark Fire and leaped in to buck him in the face. Dark Fire then grabbed Luna's hind-hooves and tossed her into the wall. Seeing this done before, Luna leaped over Dark Fire before he struck the wall where she used to be, putting cracks into it. Luna then attempted to use Dark Fire's finishing technique on him to pin him to the wall, however, Dark Fire swayed left as she knocked down the wall behind him.

He then delivered a side tornado kick to Luna's chest cavity while she was on her hind-legs that made her skid back to the center of the room. Dark Fire then let out a blood-thirsty roar as he hurled a large, dark red energy ball at Luna. She stood her ground as she smashed her hooves into the ball, split the ball in two, and deflected them away from her and the others. Dark Fire then teleported into the distracted Alicorn and kneed her in the face. He then went for another punch with his right hoof, but was blocked by Luna's punch into his hoof with her right hoof. Dark Fire then tried with his left hoof; however Luna did the same, resulting in their hooves crossed in an "X."

Celestia could do nothing but watch the power struggle unfold before her eyes. On Luna's side of the room it was dark blue, but on Dark Fire's side, the room was bright red. Continuing the power struggle, the floor beneath them started to cave inward, forming a crater. After two minutes, both Dark Fire and Luna fired beams of magic into each other's horn, causing an even bigger light show to form.

"THIS IS THE END FOR YOU LUNA! I CAN FEEL YOUR POWER SLIPPING!" Dark Fire declared, making his last push.

"What are you trying to get out of all of this?" Luna asked, losing strength.

"Revenge… FOR WHAT YOU DID TO ME ALL THOSE YEARS AGO!"

Dark Fire then charged up to maximum power and launched Luna across the room in a large explosion, winning the power struggle. He then approached the fallen princess until he was right over her.

"You know Luna, that it's not the Nightmare that makes the mare, but the mare that makes the Nightmare." Dark Fire said, with an evil smile.

"No… NO YOU CANT DO THIS!" Luna begged as he put his hoof on her chest.

"By my will and my command… YOU ARE FREED FROM YOUR BONDS!"

Dark Fire then enveloped Luna in a black aura before ripping out her alter ego that she kept hidden and thought was destroyed. Before them all was the nightmare herself… Nightmare Moon.

"What have you… done?" Luna whispered before joining the others in unconsciousness.

"WHO IS THE BEING THAT REALEASED ME FROM MY PRISON?!" Nightmare Moon boomed.

"I am Dark Fire… the prince of darkness! You now owe me your allegiance… like I had when I served under you."

"NO PONY COMMANDS… Night Shadow, is that you?" Nightmare Moon asked, shocked.

Dark Fire let out a huge sigh.

"It's Dark Fire now… I'm the quote-unquote evil third of Night Shadow." He said with pride.

Nightmare moon stood there in a confused state.

"It's because I'm black isn't it?" Dark Fire said annoyed.

"No no no, you just caught me off guard and-"

"Just do your everlasting night thing-a-ma-jig." Dark Fire said casually.

"Fine then… I will just be going now." She said before disappearing.

Celestia stood at the foot of her throne completely lost in sadness. As Dark Fire slowly walked up to her, a pink blur appeared in front of him.

"I WONT LET YOU HURT HER!" Cadance screamed, defending Celestia.

Dark Fire then pointed his hoof towards Cadence and formed an energy ball.

"Move… or perish in fire." Dark Fire threatened.

Cadance's response was standing on her hind-hooves and extending her hooves and wings to the left and right of her.

"Then do it!" She said courageously.

Dark Fire's ball of energy grew three times bigger as he stood on his hind-legs. He then placed his other hoof under the foreleg charging the ball. Celestia was able to glance into his eyes to see that he intended to do his worst.

"NO!" Celestia shouted, diverting all the attention to her. "I'm the one you want, leave Cadence out of this." She said as she teleported in the center of the room.

"So you've finally given up?" Dark Fire laughed as he powered down the ball. "Just one more thing…"

Dark Fire then side kicked Cadence across the face, flinging the alicorn into a nearby stone pillar which then collapsed on top of her.

"CADANCE!" Celestia screamed before a red aura enveloped her.

Celestia was then slammed into the ground by magic. As Dark Fire turned around, she noticed his horn glowing as he wore an almost depressing look.

"I never wanted to do this Celestia… but it's not like you gave me a choice." Dark Fire declared as his horn grew brighter.
Magical chains then grabbed on to each of Celestia's hooves, spreading each of them apart.

"Everypony has been given the gift of free will, you can't deny this!" Celestia said to him.

More chains then emerged from the ground and bounded Celestia to the ground abruptly.

"THEN WHY DO YOU TORTURE ME LIKE THIS!" Dark Fire shouted, with sadness in his tone. "My entire life was filled with agony and pain… and then you came and took everything I loved away from me! What do you have to gain from this…nothing… YOU GAIN NOTHING FROM IT! You have punished me so cruelly for just trying to find a reason to live, you take from me because you can, you don't care for me at all!"

"You're wrong Night Shadow, I love you more then you could possibly imagine!" Celestia said in a calming tone.

"LIES, ALL LIES!" Dark Fire shouted as he punched Celestia across the muzzle. "You hate me… that's why you took everything from me!"

"I sent you forward in time to allow you to escape the nightmare that was haunting you."

"SHUTUP!" He shouted as he smashed Celestia harder into the ground. "YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT RUIN MY LIFE WITH YOUR JUDGMENTS!"

"You were destroying and endangering everypony in Equestria, what choice did you give me?"

"What choice did I give you? WHAT CHOICE DID YOU GIVE ME!?" He yelled, bruising Celestia's side with his hind hoof. "TWICE HAVE YOU TOOK MY LIFE AWAY FROM ME, TWICE HAVE YOU TAKEN MY FRIENDS AWAY! …And now thrice that you have taken my loved one away from me."

"It is your fault that-"

"I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR TALKING… IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO FEEL MY PAIN! IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO SEE EVERYTHING TAKEN FROM YOU AGAINST YOUR OWN WILL, AGAINST YOUR OWN WISHES! TO SEE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, KINGDOM, AND LOVED ONES PASS AWAY BEFORE YOUR OWN EYES!"

The room grew silent as a shadow of a unicorn entered from the main door of the throne room.

"Night Shadow?" Twilight asked, with tears in her eyes.

"RUN TWILI-!"
Dark Fire cut off the princess by electrocuting her with magic that caused her to revel in agony.

"Well if it isn't Twilight Sparkle, the one who freed me in the first place… you just couldn't wait your turn?" Dark Fire snickered.

"Night Shadow… please… I'm sorry. I didn't mean those things I said… please come back to me… I love you."

Dark Fire halted his movements as he let those very words, "I love you," flow through his mind.

"Night Shadow is dead because of you…AND SO ARE YOU!"

Dark Fire then shot a gust of wind that launched Twilight out of the window behind her, where a 2,000 foot drop waited.

"TWILIIIGGGHHHHHT!" Celestia shouted, completely in tears.

"HOW DOES IT FEEL CELESTIA… TO HAVE YOUR LOVED ONES TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU JUST LIKE YOU'VE TAKEN AWAY MINE! YOU ARE HEARBY BANISHED TO THE SUN WHERE YOU SHALL SUFFER FOREVER!"

Celestia then vanished out of thin air, leaving Dark Fire the only one standing in the room.

"I have won! I HAVE FINALLY WON!" Dark Fire shouted happily before sitting down on the throne. "Now Equestria shall be truly… free."

As Twilight continues to fall, she couldn't help but think that everything was her fault. Even though she was warned of the coming tragedy… she did nothing to prevent it. Thus she accepted her fate. Her entire life flashed before her, from her childhood, to her acceptance as Celestia's student, and her friends in Ponyville, she remembered it all as she continued to let tears fall. Just before impacting the ground, a dark figure landed in the spot she would crash, and caught her in the nick of time. Twilight was already unconscious by the time the figure recovered.

"Your journey does not end here Twilight Sparkle… you still have much to do." It said before vanishing into the shadows.
\

Chapter 9

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 10 A

Author's Note

So, to your benefit... or hindrance, I have split up the chapters into subsections because they were getting so long. This is so I can keep my promise of one chapter a week. For those that didn't see it before, Enderpearl and Endershine belong to another friend. I think I've said enough as it is.

Chapter 10 A

Chapter 10 A: A New Kind of Harmony

"Forming an alliance with all of Celestia's enemies was much easier to do than I thought, once I've convinced them to join us that is. This is day two of my glorious democracy, and I'm writing in this journal to inform those in the future of how to overthrow an empire when the time comes. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.', a good example. 'Find all that oppose your government and force them into one group', 'Remember, you're stronger as a whole than as a separate unit, it's how your voice is heard.' It's funny though… I have everything I could ever want but there is still this emptiness in my heart that cries out to be filled. I have tried to research what it is but to no avail. I have no reason to believe that it's…love."
Dark Fire sat at a table in what used to be Celestia's chambers writing in a journal; of course he had it redecorated as soon as he found it. This is where he would be spending his free time, away from any noise or distractions, or so he thought.
"Are you writing in a diary?" Stardancer asked, hanging from the ceiling.
"I would ask how you got in here, but then I wouldn't be surprised if you told me. Do you have anything to report?" Dark Fire asked, not looking up from his journal.
"Sombra said something about a war meeting, do know anything about that?" She asked, swinging on a chandelier.
"Yes the war meeting. It's hard to tell time without the sun anymore. Stardancer, get down from there!" He said as he opened the door.
As he walked out, the chandelier collapsed behind him. Dark Fire then gave her a glare.
"I got down at least…" She said, rubbing the back of her head.
"Mares." He whispered to himself before leaving the room.
"So can I listen to this meeting?" She said, catching up to him.
"If you want to listen to a bunch of ponies bicker about things you wouldn't be interested in, then fine." Dark Fire said sarcastically.
"It's so boring around here though. I want something to do."
"Soon Stardancer, soon, now wait out here like a good girl." He said, closing the door behind him.
He then appeared in a large hallway with a long red carpet that led throughout the room to where the others would be. When the guards noticed him, they rapidly ran to the closest side of carpet and saluted him as he walked past. Reaching the other end of the hallway, he turned to face the guards he just passed.
"At ease stallions… you may now take the day off." He said before disappearing behind a door.
All the guards looked at each other confused before one of them threw his helmet in the air and shouted joyfully. The rest of them simply followed the leader.

At the meeting.

"As you may know, the hatred wave was able to reach the outskirts of Ponyville but nothing past that, which means that not all of Equestria is under my control."
Dark Fire stood next to a map of Equestria as he pointed out land control with a stick, while Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysallis, and Sombra watched from a distance.
"What do you suppose we do then?" Sombra asked.
"We take every single city, one… by…one." Dark Fire said evilly.
"Does thy realize that we have no army? How does thy suppose we get one?" Nightmare demanded.
"The guards will make a good start, but they will soon be trained to be soldiers along with every new recruit."
"Knowing the snobs in this city, nopony would willingly sign up to be in the military, even under mind control." Chrysallis pointed out. "Plus my swarm still needs to recover their strength and numbers."
"I am aware of both of these facts, but then it came to me. I remember back when I was still under Discord's care that he mentioned something about elements that were opposed to harmony. Elements that would work for us instead of against us to bring Equestria to its knees, supposedly they are called, 'The Elements of Disharmony', or 'The Elements of Chaos.'"
"But they require ponies with strong mental strength and will, not to mention special talents and abilities unlike anypony before them. Where are you going to find anything like that in Canterlot?" Discord asked, drinking some chocolate milk.
"I have one in mind… but I was hoping that one of you knew of a potential candidate." Dark Fire said, disappointed.
"I used to know one that fit this category, but I don't know where that pony is anymore." Sombra stated.
"We know of one, follow us back to the throne room." Nightmare said, making her way out of the door.
"This meeting is now over. Do as you please, but try to find other potential ponies." Dark Fire said before following Nightmare out.
An explosion then occurred just as they walked out of the room. Chrysallis and Sombra rapidly turned around to see milk splashed eveywhere. Discord stared at them innocently.
"Don't blame me… it's not my fault you can't drink chocolate milk properly."

In the throne room.

"Ok Nightmare, the stage is yours." Dark Fire said with a smile.
Nightmare then summoned her Shadowbolts into the room through dark magic.
"What is it that you require princess?" The lead Shadowbolt asked.
"Tell us why we selected thou to lead the Shadowbolts." Nightmare demanded.
"Because I am the fastest male stallion in Equestria, princess, or at least that's what you said." He said with respect.
"Good, the others can leave and enjoy themselves. We require thou to stay here and answer Dark Fire's questions." She ordered.
The rest of the Shadowbolts left, leaving the other three behind.
"For starters, you can remove your uniform. You don't need to be formal for me." Dark Fire said kindly.
The Pegasus had a worried and confused look about him, but he soon removed his Shadowbolt uniform. He had a dark orange coat with a long gold colored mane that looked like it was blow dried backwards and stayed that way. His tail was the same color as his mane, only shorter with six spikes on the end. He also had bright green eyes and a red hurricane with a white center as a cutie mark.
"You can also relax pegasus, I'm not here to hurt you." He said to calm him down.
He then took a deep breath and awaited more commands.
"What is your name?" Dark Fire asked, writing on a piece of paper with magic.
"Lightning Flash, sir." He stated with newfound confidence.
"Is that a title or your actual name?"
"It is my name, but it's like a title to me." Lightning said, applying his hoof to his chest.
"So you take pride in your name?"
"Oh of course, I'm the best there is, there's no stallion faster than me." He said with pride.
"You say you're the fastest stallion… do you know the fastest mare?" Dark Fire said with a smirk.
"That would be my stupid but daring sister, Lightning Dust." He said almost shamefully.
"Really now… I used to know a mare that claims she's the fastest in all of Equestria. Care to prove me wrong."
"Sir with all due respect, our family is named after the fastest thing on this planet besides light!" He yelled.
"Well her name is Rainbow Dash and she-"
"RAINBOW DASH?!" He shouted with rage. "That stupid mare is the reason I was shunned from Cloudsdale and kicked out of the Wonderbolts training, she is the reason why my sister came crawling back to me in shame, SHE IS THE REASON WHY MY LIFE IS RUINED!"
Lightning Flash became so enraged that his veins could be seen popping out of his fur. Nightmare was about to intervene if it wasn't for Dark Fire's hoof stopping her.
"AND WHEN I FIND HER… I'LL… I'LL!"
Lightning Flashe's wings unfurled as they started to glow brightly, then from seemingly nowhere, lightning bolts struck both his wings. To Nightmare it was an over-the-top display of brightness, but to Dark Fire it was a demonstration of abilities. Dark Fire then conjured an image of Rainbow Dash in the enraged Pegasus's head, making him think a nearby barrel was Rainbow. Lightning then stood on his hind-hooves, slammed his fore-hooves together, and with an ear-piercing scream, fired the lightning bolt built inside him at the box.
"You can control weather I see… well I've seen enough. Lightning Flash, your new name shall be Ammisive, the bearer of the Element of Rage. Wear this title with pride and honor."
"Wait… WHAT?!" Lightning said shocked.
Just then, dark energy erupted from underneath him, causing his mane, tail, and fur to shoot upwards from the eruption. What surprised Lightning the most was that it didn't hurt, in fact, it felt good to him, and it fed him power. When the dark energy calmed down, a black necklace with his cutie mark formed around his neck.
"This newfound power that you have received not only makes you stronger, faster, and more agile, but also give you control of your weather abilities as well. If that's not O.P. then I don't know what is." Dark Fire said to him.
"So I have full control of the weather now... thank you for this gift lord Dark Fire." Ammisive said, giving thanks as he left the room.
"Now for my suggestion… GUARDS, BRING ME PRISONER SIXTY-EIGHT-FIFTY-FOUR!"

Twenty minutes later.

Ten guards dragged in the familiar dark purple stallion, Black Blade. He was bound by multiple chains and hoofcuffs that bonded his hooves and legs together. Dragging his hind-hooves across the floor, they finally reached the desired location.
"Nightmare Moon… escort the guards out, you may leave as well." Dark Fire ordered.
As soon as the guards entered, they left, taking Nightmare with them. Dark Fire then magically unlocked Black Blade's chains and cuffs, resulting in a huge crash of metal and chains to land on the floor.
"Tell me, are the slaves enjoying their new home?" Dark Fire asked in a mocking tone.
Black Blade made no response as he lay on the floor.
"Ah, the strong silent type, I will soon break you of that." He declared.
Still no response and Dark Fire was getting impatient.
"When I first saw you Black Blade, I knew there was something special about you, something that separated you from all of the others." He complimented, trying to get a response.
Sill no answer from the silent stallion.
"WHY DO YOU NOT SPEAK?!" Dark Fire shouted as fire exploded from his mane.
The stallion continued to lay there in silence. Dark Fire then raised a hoof and was about to smack him across the muzzle, but then held back, putting his hoof back on the floor.
"I do not wish to hurt you, but you are leaving me no choice. I don't know if I should be impressed or annoyed that you resisted the hatred spell." He stated aggravated. "I'm starting to wish that you were."
The stallion then looked down to avoid eye contact with the dark unicorn.
"LOOK AT ME WHEN I TALK TO YOU!" Dark Fire screamed.
"As you wish." Black Blade said as he stood up abruptly and stared into Dark Fire's eyes.
As Dark Fire looked into his eyes, he could see nothing but the black void that enveloped them. Only then did he realize what he was doing.
"NOW CRINGE IN FEAR… TERROR CANNON!" Black Blade shouted.
Black Blade had the most insane facial expression the Dark fire had ever seen. As he laughed maniacally, a dark black and purple void appeared behind him that covered the entire room. Ten seconds later the void vanished without a trace.
"The fear must have gotten to your head Dark Fire!" He said evilly. "BEG FOR MERCY YOU PATHETIC WELP OF A PONY!"
Dark Fire couldn't help but laugh evilly at his attempt to control him with fear. If there was one thing that he was used to resisting, it was fear.
"What… no… IMPOSSIBLE! NOPONY BUT PRINCESS LUNA HAS BEEN ABLE TO RESIST THAT KIND OF AMOUNT OF FEAR!" Black Blade said, experiencing horror overcoming him as he backed away.
"As you can see… I'm not Luna." Dark Fire whispered as he approached him.
"Leave me alone… LEAVE ME ALONE!" Black Blade screamed in terror as he hit the ground and covered his head with his hooves.
"You hide behind your strength as if it was a wall of protection. You use it to intimidate others to hide from your own fear in life. But I can see right through you, your heart aches from loss and pain from those that hurt you. Your mind cries out for answers to questions that you alone can't solve. The only difference is that you don't want to admit it. You run from those that want to help you, but I am here to change that, I AM HERE… TO SET YOU FREE!"
"I'll do what you ask... just as long as you-"
"Submit to me." Dark Fire whispered.
Black Blades experience was exactly like Amisive's as dark energy erupted from underneath him. When it dissipated, a necklace similar to Amisive's formed, only this time, it had his cutie mark on it.
"Your shall now be known as Stritin, the strongest stallion in all of Equestria and the bearer of the Element of Fear. Now, retrieve Amisive… we have some elements to find." Dark Fire commanded.
"It will be done my lord." Stritin said without question.

"Thou is not going out into Canterlot like that, is thy?" Nightmare said laughing.
Dark Fire stood in front of a mirror with his mane in all sorts of places. Almost the result of bed hair times twenty.
"Since when did you care Nightmare, you're not exactly a fashion pony to me." He said, pushing his mane off of his eyes.
"The ponies of Canterlot think you're a prince, Dark Fire, at least wear something to show your position." Sombra suggested.
"I'm like the only black pony in this city, how can they not know who I am?" Dark Fire asked.
"At least use a hair brush." Nightmare pleaded.
"A hair what?" Dark Fire asked dumfounded.
"UGH… DISCORD!" Nightmare moon yelled.
Instantly, Discord appeared in the room wearing sunglasses and a tye-dye shirt while roasting some ice cubes over a bucket of pudding. Everypony looked at him confused.
"Why are you all looking at me like I've never done something like this before?" Discord asked, removing his sunglasses.
"It's the middle of winter Discord, why would you… never mind." Sombra said, losing interest.
"Fix him up Discord." Nightmare demanded.
"Not with that attitude I won't." Discord said, crossing his arms.
"Can thy fix him up or not?!" She asked, losing patience.
"I don't know… can I?" He responded, smirking.
Dark Fire and Sombra were cracking up at how frustrated Nightmare was getting. She on the other hoof wouldn't take it.
"WE WILL PUT THOU IN A CANDY CANE PILLAR IF THOU DOES NOT LISTEN TO US!" She threatened.
"Ooo, is that a threat or a treat?" Discord teased.
Nightmare was at her breaking point until she took a deep breath to calm herself down.
"M-m-may thy p-please fix Dark Fire up to go out?" Nightmare struggled to say.
"See… was that so hard?" Discord said, patting Nightmare on the head before snapping his fingers.
Dark Fire's hair was then instantly straightened and cleaned. His coat also glowed as if buckets of gel were dumped onto him. Along with this, he was given a robe similar to an English king: a golden crown with multi-colored gems, golden shoes for his hooves, and four golden bracelets.
"Geeze narrator… did you say the word gold enough?!" Dark Fire shouted to the ceiling.
"Now thy is able to go." Nightmare said, chuckling.
Dark Fire gave her an angry look before he stormed out.

It didn't take long for Ammisive, Stritin, and him to reach the main gate, but that wasn't the hard part. The hard part was the paparazzi and fans surrounding Dark Fire within seconds, flashing him with cameras.
"There he is!" One of the ponies shouted.
"So how does it feel to be prince of Equestria?" A newscaster asked.
"Do you have tons of bits?" A fan asked.
"How does it feel to be the first black prince?"
"Can I have your autograph?"
"CAN I BE YOUR MAREFRIEND!"
The sad part about that was… he was a stallion.
"BACK AWAY FROM THE PRINCE!" Stritin shouted, slamming his hooves down.
Everypony then ran off screaming from the scene faster then timberwolves seeing fire for the first time.
"THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS IS NOT FRUITY!" He screamed to the retreating crowd.
"They seemed nice… underneath all of their arrogance." Amisive laughed.
"Whatever, we need to find another element anyways, not please the hoards." Dark Fire said as he made his way into town.
Stritin and Amisive looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders before catching up to him.
"Anypony in particular you're looking for?" Stritin asked him.
"Somepony that's at least resisted the hatred wave, like you two did." Dark Fire complimented. "When I find that, the next qualities will kick in."
Two hours later.
"You two. Anything to report?" Dark Fire asked, losing hope.
"Nothing." Amisive and Stritin said separately.
"Ok, well I guess we should take a break, it's hard to move with all of this metal and stuff." Dark Fire said. "How does Seventh Heaventh… wait is that a Final… where's Tifa?"
Amisive and Stritin looked at him confounded.
"Just… just follow me."
Inside the club bar thing… I don't know what it is, okay! It was my friend's idea!
"You two, go sit at that booth, I'm going to have look around. You may enjoy yourselves, but try not to overdo it."
The two stallions nodded before leaving him. The club was very dim and had multiple colored lights that flashed in every direction. Dark Fire looked around in every location in the club, but still no luck. Fortunately for him, everypony was either too tipsy or didn't even care about his presence. He eventually got access to a back room in the club, where the higher paying ponies could go. Everything was okay until a silver stallion jumped onto a table. He had a strange but large, purple, pokadotted hat with a red phoenix feather to the side of it. His tail was large and copper-colored with a golden stripe in the middle, along with a cutie mark of a royal flush in poker. The stallion also had a monocle and bright yellow eyes.
"Hey everypony look at me, look at me, look at me, LOOK at me! No don't look over there, there's nothing to look at over there, look at me, look at me, look at me!" The silver pony ranted. "Are you looking at me? Is everypony looking at me, do I have everypony's attention?! Don't get the wrong idea; I'm not trying to take over your life! What, what do you need, what do you need, you need to go get a drink? FINE, go get a drink, then come back here, and look at me! What, you need to go use the bathroom? OKAY THEN, get up, go to the bathroom, come back, and look at me. Do what you absolutely have to do, then come back, and look at me! Do we all have an agreement?!"
Everypony in the room was either confused, annoyed, or too drunk to care. Either way, he had everypony's attention, including Dark Fire's.
"Don't worry about your schedule. I am here for you, I am here for you. I am here for you every day, twenty-four hours, seven days a week, I am here for you! Ponies will try to tell you that I'm bad... well you know what I hear? Rotten hay. Just keep looking at me, I am unbelievable, I am unbelievable. You can't believe it because it's unbelievable! And all you have to do *pant* is look at me!" The silver stallion finally finished.
"*HICK*… then show us your 'unbelievable' talents!" One of the drunken mares mocked.
"Gladly…"
The stallion then levitated his hat off with a silver aura, revealing his unicorn horn and copper colored mane. His horn illuminated in a gray color as everypony in the room suddenly started to throw money and items towards him. Dark Fire knew that he casted a spell on the others to force them into "donating" their potations to the stallion. The stallion had just put on some gold shoes by the time Dark Fire reached him.
"Oh how kind, you're here to give me your potations." He said, putting loads of bits into his bag.
"Actually, I want to know how you pulled that trick off." Dark Fire said, already knowing the answer.
"I'm sorry… but I believe you were giving me your bits." The unicorn said, waving his hoof in front of his face.
"Yeah… that's not going to work on me." Dark Fire said bluntly.
"Well why don't you stare directly into my horn?" The unicorn said, flashing his horn brightly.
As the flash died down, Dark Fire was seen wearing some dark sunglasses.
"Are you going to tell me something stupid now? Like this is the reason you don't flush your filly's goldfish down the toilet." Dark Fire said, removing his sunglasses.
"Who are you again?" The stallion asked, as beads of sweat went down his muzzle.
"I'm that unicorn that took over Equestria. You know, nothing much." He said with sarcasm.
"Wait… Dark Fire?!" The unicorn said, worried.
He simply nodded his head with a sinister smile.
"OH, hahahahaha… hahaha… haha…ha… oh crap."
The unicorn then casted a huge smoke cloud as he made an escape.
"A SMOKE BOMB? REALLY?! THIS ISN'T ASSASSIN'S CREED!"
Dark Fire then chased after him, attempting to catch the silver trickster.

Chapter 10 B

Chapter 10 B: The Not So Great and Powerful Apprentice

"You think you can get away that easy!?" Dark Fire shouted.
"I never said it would be easy." The silver stallion said with is back to the wall.
"I'm not trying to hurt you… yet. So just listen to me you annoying snob!" Dark fire said ticked off.
"Such harsh words, but no knowledge of how to use them." The unicorn scorned.
"Shut up!" Dark Fire replied back.
"Silly stallion, or should I say mare, do you even practice what you preach?" The unicorn said smirking.
"THAT'S IT, I'M GOING TO SNAP YOU LIKE A TOOTH PICK!" Dark Fire shouted angrily.
"Really, so how are you going to do that with hooves?" The stallion mocked.
Dark Fire's anger had gotten to the point where his mind was starting to fog up from all the rage.
"And that's how Silver Tongue wins!" He said before illuminating his horn brightly.
Dark Fires eye's suddenly started to glow silver as the spell took effect. It only lasted for a good five seconds before Dark Fire blasted him with his own magic.
"You almost infiltrated my mind. YOU ALMOST MIND-BUCKED ME!" Dark Fire said angrily as his eye's returned to normal.
Silver Tongue layed on the floor, dazed, as stars appeared over his head.
"That hurt you jerk!" Silver said, dusting himself off.
"I'm going to hurt you more than that if you keep this up!" Dark Fire yelled.
"Well what do you want from me, a cookie? Well that's not going to happen because Santa Hooves has just put you on his hit list!"
"I don't want your stupid cookies, I just need to talk to you!"
"You want my bits don't you? My fantastic, awesome, precious, golden, wonderful, little-"
"Do you ever shut-up?" Dark Fire said, covering his ears with his hooves.
"You wanted me talk… now you're shutting me up?" Silver asked, getting annoyed.
Dark Fire then tackled Silver Tongue through the wall… which wasn't very strong.
"You're coming with me." He said, picking him up by the ear, and dragging him away.
"Get your filthy hooves off of me!" Silver said, hitting Dark Fire in the ribs.
"Then try to get away because I'm not letting go, and you also hit like a mare." Dark Fire smirked.
"How dare you call me a mare you stupid laborer!" Silver yelled, continuing to hit him in the ribs.
Dark Fire continued to ignore his insults as he dragged him to the exit. Silver would have none of it though, he was too filled with pride for this, so he made himself intangible and ripped himself from Dark Fire's grip.
"What's the matter my lord, you can't capture what you can't see?" Silver said, vanishing from view.
Dark Fire shook his head disappointedly before lifting his left forehoof to the side and blasted the area with magic.
"STOP DOING THAT!" Silver said before getting punched across the muzzle.
He hit the wall so hard that it left an imprint of him on it.
"Y-you hit me… you… you…" He said before hitting the ground and fading into unconsciousness.
Dark Fire walked over to his body, almost relieved.
"When you awaken Silver Tongue, your name will be Castigate, the most impressive illusionist in Equestria and the Element of Slander… for obvious reasons." Dark Fire said as he waited for the dark eruption to dissipate around Silver and for the necklace to form.
When that was done, Castigate subconsciously started to fondle with the black necklace.
"What, no gold?" He whispered as he slept.
"Even when you sleep Castigate, you still don't shut up." Dark Fire said as he levitated the unicorn onto his back.

"Stritin, lay off the drinks. This is your tenth bottle of dandelion wine!" Ammisive said, trying to snatch the bottle from his hooves.
"I don't *HICK* know what yer talkin' about… *HICK!*" Stritin said as he patted Ammisive's back very hard, making him crash through the table.
"HEY! I'm going to have to ask you two to leave." The bartender said angrily behind the bar table.
"You can't… kick me out *HICK!* I'm captain of Nightmare's guard… *HICK* I have an army!" Stritin said as blood rushed to his head, making him blush.
He then tried to get up and walk out, but he ran into another tipsy pony.
"Watch where you're going bub." The pony said, drinking out of a bottle.
Stritin then grabbed the pony by his neck and held him in a choke hold.
"I DON'T HAVE YOUR BACON!" He shouted as he slammed him through a chair.
Ammisive finally got up from his smackdown to see Stritin getting surrounded by ten ponies with twenty more backing them up.
"Well… this won't be good." He said to himself.
"Ok everypony, if we could just calm down and line up in a single file to get my autograph, we will be out of here in no time."
Nopony listened to the pegasus as ten, drunken ponies tackled Stritin to the ground. Resulting in a bar fight breaking out.
"Or we could just beat the living hay out of you." Amisive said as he dodged a flying bottle and punched a pony across the muzzle.

Thirty-seven seconds later.

"Well... I hope you're happy." Ammisive said, picking Stritin off from the ground.
"I could have *HICK* taken them." He said, falling into unconsciousness.
Dark Fire then came through the back door to see thirty knocked out ponies laying all over the floor.
"Nice to see that you didn't overdo it." He said sarcastically.
"He started it!" Ammisive said, gesturing to Stritin. "It's not like you did any better."
"Actually... no, but I found your new element." Dark Fire said, smirking.
"It looks like he's…"
"Quiet, yeah I had to do that myself."
"Are you ponies going to pay for this?" The bartender said, hiding behind the counter.
"There's money in the back room, go get some for yourself." Dark Fire said, teleporting his friends out of the bar.
"So this is your room Ammisive. It's nothing much, so try to make the best of it."
The room was plated with gold along with some of the best furniture bits could buy. It had a fireplace, red rug, king sized bed, and many other things that would make anypony squeal.
"Nothing much?!" Ammisive asked, amazed. "I feel like royalty in this room!"
"Well good uh, night?" Dark Fire said awkwardly.
"Good night my lord." Ammisive said before Dark Fire closed the door.
Dark Fire stayed at the door and stared at it for a good while before walking off.
"Why does it still feel like something is missing?"

Two days later.

"Stritin, focus on your speed rather than your strength, what good is it if you can't hit anything?" Dark Fire said, dodging another punch.
"Stop moving then!" Stritin yelled angrily as he continued to throw punches.
"I'm not even trying right now. You're just too slow." Dark Fire said, blocking another attack.
"Then can I take a break? I need to breathe." Stritin said, plopping to the ground.
"Ok Stritin, but just watch how Ammisive does it."
"He's a Pegasus though. I can't keep up with that."
"It looks like the strong earth pony isn't as tough as he thought." Castigate said from the side lines.
Stritin then got up abruptly and looked directly at him.
"I don't see you practicing."
"I don't have to, I'm already better than you." He said as he drank out of a fancy bottle.
"You're joking right? You're joking."
"If I was joking I would say, 'Two unicorns walked into a bar, you would think they would have ducked.'"He said with a smirk.
"Then prove it loud mouth." Stritin said approaching him.
"Clean yourself off first… you smell like a sweaty horse."
Stritin then grabbed Castigate and wiped his sweat off with his coat before tossing him back down to the floor.
"You ignorant beast, do you realize how long it takes to get my coat to perfection?!"
"The better question is, should I care." Stritin said with a grin.
"Both of you knock it off. Castigate, he does have a point, you need to practice even if you don't want to." Dark Fire pointed out.
"But he ruined my coat!"
Dark Fire took a large breathe and exhaled loudly.
"Ammisive, can you demonstrate what you've learned by cleaning off his coat?" Dark Fire said to him.
Ammisive was relaxing on a black storm cloud when he got the command. The problem wasn't that he was relaxing; it was that he brought a storm cloud inside the castle where they were training.
"Ok, one cooked unicorn coming up!" He said, stretching his hooves.
"I said clean, not cook!"
"Awww, but that's not fun." Ammisive said as he pouted.
"Just do it!" Dark Fire said losing patience.
Ammisive then leaped off of the cloud and pushed it above Castigate. Instead of stomping on the cloud, he manipulated the rain to fall on the prideful unicorn. Once enough rain fell, Ammisive stopped the rain fall, and evaporated the fallen water back into the cloud.
"That's pretty good Ammisive, but now you have to dry him off."
"I'm getting there, hold on." Ammisive said, tapping his chin with his hoof. "I got it!"
Ammisive then rapidly stood up on his hind-hooves and launched an air wave by flapping his wings. It did dry Castigate off, but it also flung him into a statue."
"You can never trust these statues Ammisive, good job." Dark Fire complimented.
"I… hate… all of you!" Castigate said, pushing the broken statue off of him.
When they all were about to leave, a large brown earth pony with a black cowboy hat and leather jacket entered the room. He had a spiky mane that had three points in the front and back. His tail was similar, but on the tips of the spikes was the color dark brown. He was also dragging Filthy Rich on the ground with his hoof. Behind him were two fillies, one pink and the other gray.
"What's the meaning of this?!" Dark Fire demanded.
"This contact known as Filthy Rich, has decided to evade his taxes for more than two months. I was hired by the princess herself to bring him here, so where is she?" The stallion said, looking up at him with his bright blue eyes.
"If you mean Celestia, she decided to take a thousand year vacation. If you mean Luna, she will remain behind bars where she belongs." Dark Fire said, laughing.
"You overthrew the princesses?! Are you insane?!" The brown stallion said showing some surprise.
"Do you have a problem with this?" Dark Fire said wickedly.
"Yeah I do, now who the hay is going to pay me now?"
"Shadow Hunter, what are you doing here?" Castigate said, approaching him.
"Don't pester me about your runaway mares Silver, I don't need another hit-and-bag assignment."
"Since when did you do contracts for that waste of space Shadow?" Stritin asked.
"Since I started working here, Black Blade, pretty much anyone with the right amount of bits can find me."
"So all of you know this guy?" Dark Fire asked confused.
"Yeah, he's like one of the best bounty hunters in all of Equestria." Stritin said respectfully.
"Actually, I am the best if you don't mind." Shadow Hunter said proudly.
"Is everypony like the best at something?!" Dark Fire said annoyed. "It's like every character is just O.P. in some form of fashion."
"Back to the real problem, where's my bits?" Shadow said darkly.
Everypony in the room slowly turned to Dark Fire.
"How much was it?" Dark Fire responded.
"Ten thousand bits. No less."
"And the fillies?"
"They tagged along, the pink one is Diamond Tiara and the other is Silver Spoon. They are of no use to me."
The pink filly then stepped out from behind Filthy Rich and approached Dark Fire cautiously.
"Please Lord Fire, don't take my daddy away from me."
"Why should I care what you-"
*DING*
"Why are you taking my dad away…WHY?!" A familiar red unicorn said to a blurred figure.
"He's a threat to you and every other blasted pony in this dimension! He's working for Celestia, Night Shadow, and everything that supports her must perish." The figure said as its eyes glowed.
"Everything that supports Celestia must perish." Night Shadow repeated.
Dark Fire shook his head furiously as he came back to reality.
"I will give you twenty-thousand to let him go and an extra ten if you stay and talk."
"As you wish."
The dark brown stallion then released his grip on Filthy Rich.
"GUARDS! Escort these ponies to the dining hall. I believe they need to be better acquainted with what we do here.
Several seconds passed when Shadow Hunter, Filthy, and the two fillies left the room.
"Lord Fire… your eyes… they're glowing purple." Ammisive said worried.
"WHAT!?" Dark Fire shouted, shaking his head more. 'That's not suppose to happen… I'm in complete control over that whelp.' He thought as his eyes returned to normal.
"Is something wrong?" Ammisive asked.
"No… nothing is wrong. You three can take a break, I will return to you later." Dark Fire said as he left the room.

At the Dining hall.

"I was going to pay the taxes later!" Filthy Rich declared.
"You were two months late, and your telling me that with all of those bits you still couldn't pay?!" The brown stallion remarked.
"My dad works really hard, so back off!" Diamond Tiara defended.
"Learn your place you spoiled brat, your father is free from his crimes anyways, so why don't you back off!"
"You need to back off!" Silver Spoon yelled.
"I don't need comments from the peanut gallery, so shut your muzzle!"
"I bet you're so mean because your mother never loved you."
Shadow Hunter then flipped the table out of pure anger, unsheathed his black hoofblade and pointed it directly at her throat.
"Don't you EVER say anything about my family again!" He said, losing control of himself.
"But it's true." Silver Spoon remarked.
Shadow Hunter then raised his hoof and was about to slash the filly in two if it wasn't for his hoof being restrained by magic.
"What the hay are you doing!" Dark Fire demanded.
"About to make this little bi-"
"No need for harsh words assassin, we are civilized ponies are we not?" Dark Fire said calmly.
Everypony in the room then let out a deep breath when Shadow Hunter retracted his blade.
"Now, Filthy Rich, we are going to have to work on your tax problem. Please stay here for the next few days along with your daughter. Shadow Hunter, you will stay here."
Filthy, along with the two fillies, were escorted out to their new room.
"Now Shadow Hunter, how would you like to be part of something bigger than yourself?" Dark Fire said, tossing him a large bag of bits.
"You would have to do a lot of convincing." Shadow said, looking through the bag.
"There is fifty grand in that bag. And there is more where that came from... if you accept that is."
"What, your Elements of Disharmony gang? No, I think I'll pass." Shadow Hunter said, making his way to the exit.
"Or you can just let the organization that ended your families live's continue to strive and gain power."
Shadow Hunter instantly froze up at the sentence.
"How do you know about the United Silhouette Clan?" Shadow whispered.
"I know many things Shadow, and I can help you get revenge for everything they have done."
"You have my attention." He said, turning around.
Shadow Hunter was later anointed the name Eccentric, the Element of Cruelty. With his newfound powers, he easily decimated the group and declared his loyalty to Dark Fire for the rest of his life. The story of this will be explained another time.

One week later.

"They will also need to be ponies of great potential and have a powerful mentality." Dark Fire listed off.
"You do realize that this will give you some unwanted attention?" Castigate said, writing down Dark Fires words on paper.
"What do you mean?"
"Let's just say that I've seen many boasters proclaim many things. They aren't worth your time." Castigate said before walking off with the papers.
Nightmare Moon then appeared in the room abruptly.
"Dark Fire, we are going shopping with Chrysallis, we will be back at nighttime."
"It's always nighttime though." Dark Fire pointed out.
"Oh… then we will be back at seven."
"Is that all?"
"Thou may also have a Windigo problem." She said before teleporting off.
Dark Fire sat completely annoyed by her last sentence.
"AMMISIVE, GET IN HERE!"
He came running in five seconds later.
"What do you want Lord Fire?" Ammisive said, bowing.
"Make the climate warmer, I will also-"
"I can't change the climate uhh… sir." Ammisive said, nervously.
"What do you mean you can't?!"
"Climate is different from weather. It's not in my jurisdiction."
"Ok then, I will do it." Dark Fire said, getting off of his thrown.
He then opened a window and casted a magic beam that penetrated the night sky. The falling snow was then converted into rain as it got warmer.
"That should last another two weeks before the Windigos freeze the atmosphere again."
Two guards then came through the main doors holding a dark purple mare pegasus. She had a red, straight mane and tail with a bright green stripe in the middle. She also had orange eyes and a rose with several diamonds as a cutie mark.
"Dark Fire, we found this mare trying to steal some very valuable items, what should we do with her?"
"Let me go you stallions! This is no way to treat a mare!" She said aggressively.
"Let her go and return to your guard positions." Dark Fire ordered.
He then walked over to the released mare.
"This is getting to be very repetitive." He said with a sigh. "Hi my name is Dark Fire, I'm assembling a group called the Elements of Disharmony, would you like to join blah blah blah?" He said extremely dully.
"Oh so the big strong pony wants me to join his little group… how cute." She said, circling Dark Fire like a cat.
"Seductiveness won't work on me, so don't try it." Dark Fire said menacingly.
Meanwhile, Ammisive was having trouble controlling his wings.
"Really, are you certain of that?" The mare said, rubbing Dark Fire's chin with her tail.
"Yeah, so get off of me." Dark Fire said bluntly.
"W-what… are you gay?" She asked, suppressed.
"What! Now hold on, lets not jump to conclusions-"
"Well my lord, you do show signs of being a colt cuddler." Ammisive said, rubbing his head.
"Just because I was betrayed by three mares and deny any of them who try to be my marefriend doesn't mean that I'm a colt cuddler!" Dark fire yelled to Ammisive.
There was a long silence as Dark Fire recovered his breath.
"So… are you gay?" The pegasus asked again.
Dark Fire was on the verge of slapping the mare if it wasn't for Sombra entering the room.
"Diamond Rose?!" He said in shock.
"Sombra?!" She replied.
They both teleported into each other's face and gave each other angry looks. It was broken when they both hugged each other.
"You're alive! After all these years." Sombra said happily.
"I should say the same for you." Diamond said joyfully.
"How the heck did she just teleport?!" Ammisive asked in confusion.
"I can use magic, duh." She responded in a sassy tone as she released Sombra from the hug.
"I personally trained her in the art of magic, even though she is a pegasus." Sombra said with pride.
"That is really impressive Sombra, you must have been like a father to Diamond." Dark Fire said, being happy for the two.
"Well of course he's like a father to me... because he is my father." She replied.
This time it was Dark Fire's turn to be confused.
"How, what, that dosen't…"
"When the crystal empire vanished, I was caught in the blast. So when it reappeared again, I was still the same age as when it disappeared. Only recently have I been outside of the kingdom." Diamond said to him.
"My daughter was the mare that I recommended back before you started your pursuit for the Elements. Can you still recruit her? She's an excellent thief and very skilled in magic."
"Yes of course, her name shall be Maneful, the bearer of the element of Malice and a quite beautiful mare I might add."
"So you're not gay then?"

Two weeks later in the throne room.

"We have five Elements and an army now. The invasion of the rest of Equestria will begin in two days minimum. Chrysallis's changelings have now recovered to full strength due to the amount of "love" they have been receiving from us and the citizens of Canterlot. Our first attack will be on the floating city of Cloudsdale, with Ammisive being the commander of the first Pegasus division. Let them fall under the might of the New Conflagration Confederacy."
Everypony cheered when Dark Fire finished his war plan, but then it happened. A huge explosion knocked down the throne room doors as a figure with black robes and hood walked in from the dissipating smoke.
"Where is Celestia?" It said with a fearsome voice.
Fifty guards then surrounded the figure in a semi-circular pattern.
"Celestia was defeated by me, I doubt you haven't heard the news." Dark Fire mocked.
"So you're the fool that defeated her. That was supposed to be my greatest triumph to prove her wrong. I guess you're the next best thing!"
"Guards, arrest this idiot." Stritin commanded.
The dark figure then threw off his robes and they combusted into flames, revealing a dark green unicorn with scars all over his face. He had dark purple eyes and a pure white mane and tail with a strange cutie mark nopony had ever seen before. It was a black diamond shape surrounded by a gray cube on its side within a purple circle. Outside of that was a black outline of a circle with six points around it. The cutie mark also had ash marks, two specs to the right, left, top, and bottom the circle.
"NOW LET ME SHOW YOU TRUE SUFFERING!" The unicorn shouted
As the guards lunged at him, the unicorn took no time at all to completely annihilate every single one. He threw punches and kicks faster than anypony Dark Fire had ever seen, it was almost frightening to him. Once the unicorn ripped apart the armor of one of the guards with his bare hooves, the remaining forty backed up in fear.
"Are you afraid of me? Hahahahahahahaha… you better be."
The unicorn then teleported into another guard and smashed his armor into the guard's chest. When five more came to attack him from the back, the unicorn back-flipped out of the way and slammed them into the ground with magic, and threw them out of the window without remorse. Luckily, they were teleported back into the room by Dark Fire before they made contact with the ground. The unicorn then started to teleport so rapidly that it left after-images of himself. The guard's numbers were diminishing, but Dark Fire still didn't care as one guard after another was defeated in the most brutal way possible.
The green pony then smashed the helmet of one of the wounded guards on the floor as he continued to laugh maniacally, causing fear to penetrate the remaining guard's hearts. With only fifteen remaining, the unicorn dashed into the crowd and used one of the guards as living paddle to smash seven others into unconsciousness. He then fired a dark green beam of magic into another guard that caused five of them to fly into random objects. Only two guards remained, and the unicorn spared no time in delivering a fast kick into one of the remaining guards, sending him crashing through a five-foot thick pillar. The last guard was a unicorn, so he fired a magical beam into the dark green pony's face.
It made direct contact, but when the pony turned to look at him, the guard lost all sense of sanity. The green unicorn had a large scorch mark on his muzzle and seemed to take absolutely no damage from it. The unicorn then teleported into the guard and punched him in the stomach so hard that the outline of his hoof formed behind the guards back. The guard was clearly defeated but the unicorn continued to pummel him with rapid punches aimed at every part of his body. As the guard's life faded, the unicorn slammed him through the ground and kicked him through the floor, creating a huge crater.
"Nightmare, heal that guard before we lose him." Dark Fire said angrily. "Guys, deal with this."
As the unicorn made his way to the throne, Ammisive, Stritin, Eccentric, and Maneful appeared in front of him. Castigate simply walked and stood behind the four ponies.
"Get out of my way you weaklings!"
"Oh please… we've all tried to fight his control, you won't be an exception." Castigate said calmly. "What's your name anyways? You will be remembered as the fool that tried to fight Dark Fire.
The unicorn then formed energy into his hooves and blasted Castigate into a nearby table.
"My name is Desolent… the last name you will ever hear."
Ammisive then vanished in a flash of light and reappeared behind him. He slammed both hooves into him, only for them to be countered by Desolent who then kicked him into the wall. Stritin and Eccentric came full speed towards him and crashed their hooves into him with great strength. Desolent blocked both of these, but lost some ground while doing so. Maneful then appeared behind him and threw five magical balls towards him. Desolent then regained his posture and threw off the two earth ponies before reforming the five balls of magic into one.
He then threw it back at her, only for Castigate to appear in front of it and throw it off its course. Ammisive then manipulated the air around Desolent and threw him into the air. Unfortunately, Desolent regained control and launched a magical blast at him. Ammisive was able to dodge, but only just. As Desolent came back down to the ground, Stritin smashed his hooves into the floor, causing the ground beneath Desolent to rise up suddenly like an earth quake. Ammisive then made a small hurricane that threw Desolent off balance.
Stuck between two hard places, Castigate and Maneful charged up their magic and fired into the gap, resulting in a huge explosion of magic and power. Eccentric finished the job by powering his hoof cannon, which was a gift from Dark Fire, and fired a large blue beam into the mix that made the explosion five times bigger. When the elements relaxed, five dark green blasts emerged from the smoke and knocked them all unconscious. Desolent then emerged from the smoke unharmed.
"You see, all of your men are weak compared to me." Desolent said with pride.
Dark Fire had to hold Nightmare Moon and Sombra back due to their anger getting the better of them.
"You want to fight me, fine, but it better be good." Dark Fire said, jumping down to him.
"I just beat your best men, and you question if this fight will be good?!"
"You're powerful yes, but clearly lack discipline." Dark Fire pointed out.
"I WILL SHOW YOU DISCIPLINE YOU PATHETIC WELP OF A PONY!" Desolent shouted as he lunged towards Dark Fire.
Dark Fire then shot volts of lightning into Desolent's body, making his skeleton show in between the flashes of light. When Desolent lasted a minute without passing out, Dark Fire put full force into his lightning attack, making Desolent pass out within seconds.
"He's too dangerous Dark Fire, we have to end him." Nightmare Moon said, applying her hoof to his head.
"No… even he can be useful to our cause."

Desolent awoke in an unfamiliar room. He also noticed that he was lying on the most comfortable couch he had ever been on. He got up and looked around to see lots of decorative furniture and windows that showed the beautiful lights of Canterlot. Looking around, he saw a bowl of apples on a table and approached them to eat one. As he reached for the apple, he noticed a fast approaching shadow and ducked. Dark Fire had just smashed the table and rapidly turned around and kicked Desolent in the chest. He, on the other hoof, barely blocked it.
Desolent then teleported, attacking Dark Fire, but he blocked his move with more precision and tripped Desolent to the ground. He then attempted to do a ground attack, but was blocked yet again, this time with more painful consequences. Dark Fire grabbed Desolent's leg and threw him into the wall and punched his stomach. He quickly recovered and swiped at Dark Fire's head, but missed once more as Dark Fire threw him off the wall, teleported behind him, and back-hoofed him into a desk. The unicorn then rapidly got up and continued his angry assault at the unicorn.
"You fight with much strength and speed, but you show no control over it." Dark Fire said, blocking another punch.
Dark Fire then threw a punch of his own, but Desolent ducked under it and went for Dark Fire's chest area. He then latched on to Desolent, flipped over the punch, and slammed him into the ground.
"You also have so much arrogance and ignorance when you fight." Dark Fire said, pinning him to the ground.
Desolent then went through Dark Fire, reformed, and slammed into him. However, it was just an image, as Dark Fire threw an energy ball mixed with magic at the tricked unicorn. This caused Desolent to lose control of his magic and energy manipulation as he hit the floor with a crash.
"And that is why you were defeated." Dark Fire remarked as he walked over to Desolent.
"Then teach me what you know."
"Since I have found your name and what it represents, you shall keep it. Rise Desolent, for you are now the Element of Corruption and leader of the Elements of Disharmony!"
Desolent was then given a necklace like all the others as the black energy dissipated.
"You see Discord, even the strongest will can be convinced of a higher cause."
Discord was in the distance with popcorn as he clapped slowly.
"So… who wants chocolate pizza?"

"As leader of the elements, you must be better acquainted with them and be their friends. Because the elements are whole now, you will all share your abilities with one another to become the strongest fighting force in all of Equestria. It will also require-"
"Lord Fire, your presence is needed!" A guard rushed in.
"What for, we already have the last element?!"
"It's urgent… she won't leave us alone."
"She?"
Dark Fire then walked into the throne room to see Ammisive and Stritin standing next to the throne. However, before it was a very loud blue unicorn with white hair and a cape.
"Get out of here, call backs have been canceled." Ammisive said rudely.
"What's going on here?!" Dark Fire demanded.
"My Lord, this mare is crazy, she claims to be the best magic weilder in all of Equestria." Stritin said respectfully.
"HA, that would be me." Desolent said with pride.
"Enough. Who are you?" Dark Fire asked kindly.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie! The greatest and most powerful unicorn in-"
"Never heard of you." Dark Fire said bluntly. "But please, don't let me stop you from performing awe inspiring tricks.
"How could you have not heard about Trixie?!" She asked dumfounded.
"Look, I have an invasion planned tomorrow, if you have nothing to show me then-"
"But Trixie is the best magician the world has ever seen!"
"Then demonstrate."
Trixie was taken aback from this statement.
"With what?" She asked with newfound confidence
"With anything, just do something." Dark Fire said, losing interest.
"Ummm, I have defeated the dreaded Ursa Major!"
Dark Fire facehooved while Ammisive and Stritin kept themselves from bursting out laughing.
"Look, I don't think you-"
"Trixie is the most powerful unicorn, why don't you believe her?"
"THEN PROVE IT!" Dark Fire said, ticked off.
Trixie then conjured up a random bouquet of flowers, but then they burst into dust.
"Trixie, I'm sorry, you're not strong enough to be one of us. You will just humiliate yourself."
The word humiliate rang through her mind as she was reminded of what Twilight and her friends did to her. It caused a hidden spark to ignite deep within her heart.
"Trixie is the most powerful unicorn in history …I AM THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!"
She then stood up on her hind hooves and conjured a light blue ball of energy and magic into her hooves. Her eyes went pure white as she released the built up power with a loud scream resulting in all the lights and windows in the room to shatter into pieces. Desolent, Ammisive, and Stritin were left completely stunned at the demonstration of power. Dark Fire, however, was blushing furiously.
"Trixie… THAT WAS AWSOME! That's exactly what I've been looking for in somepony." Dark Fire said, jumping down next to her. "Together, you and I, will be the most powerful force on the entire planet. You will be my apprentice and princess of Equestria."
Trixie tried to show signs of disinterest, but fainted out of excitement.
"You have to be joking. I thought I was your apprentice!" Desolent shouted.
"You're the leader of the Elements, is that not good enough for you?"
Desolent stormed off angrily as Dark Fire continued to hold Trixie in his hooves.
"Together… we shall rule Equestra."

Chapter 11 A

Chapter 11 A: The Broken Soul

One day after Trixie's arrival.

"Stop assuming things Desolent, you are very powerful, but I chose Trixie because she had hidden potential and could become a strong ally." Dark Fire stated.
"I'm clearly better than her! Why do you deny me this fact?" He asked aggressively.
"Within time my friend, things will become clear. Now, I believe that you still have a task to complete."
"You did inform me of this, but what was it about again?" Desolent asked, not changing his tone.
"My guards acquired a rebellious alicorn and put him in a locked down cell. I want you to corrupt him… permanently." Dark Fire said evilly.
"Ha, is that all you want? You act like it's hard."
"He resisted the hatred wave and I know he's not an element, but he has royal blood."
Dark Fire then pulled a lever that led down to a dungeon.
"Soon, not even the princesses will be able to resist my power. It will just take an example."
They soon made their way to the cells deep within the castle's depths. This is where Luna and the others stayed.
"Take note of these fools, you could learn something from it." Dark Fire said without looking.
Desolent then passed each cell until she reached Luna's.
"So I take it that this is Luna. Not so talkative when she's chained up."
"Who are you suppose to be?" Luna asked, weakly.
"I don't expect you to know me Luna…after all it was your sister that imprisoned me for five years in the blasted crystal mines!" He said, losing control of himself.
"Desolent, she can't hurt anypony else anymore. Leave her to rot." Dark Fire said, pulling him away. "Your real concern is the next cell."
Dark Fire then pointed to the cell on the left. Inside was a white alicorn with a sundial as a cutie mark. His mane and tail was dark purple with red tips on the ends. He also had pure white eyes, no iris, no pupils, just pure white."
"His cutie mark represents time, as in he can control it to some extent, I need that power." Dark Fire said, opening the cell.
Desolent then walked in and flowed dark yellow magic through his horn.
"Now all you have to do is-"
Desolent then grabbed the alicorn, ripped the chains off of him, and kicked him into the wall.
"DESOLENT, HE'S ALREADY BROKEN, STOP FIGHTING A BATTLE YOU'VE ALREADY WON!" Dark Fire ordered.
"Sometimes you have to make it clear that you're in charge." Desolent said, grabbing the alicorn by his neck and lifting him up.
"W-why… do you do this to us?" The alicorn struggled to say while being held.
"Your royal family and Twilight are the reasons why I was shamed in front of everypony, now you will pay with your blood!"
Desolent then transferred energy into the hoof that was holding the alicorn. He then held the alicorn there, ready to finish the job.
"Do it… you already took my family from me." The alicorn said bravely.
"Desolent...don't." Dark Fire said as red magic flowed into his horn.
Desolent then returned his look to the alicorn.
"And now I will take your freedom."
Desolent's horn then illuminated in a dark yellow color before he blasted the magic into the alicorns body. He then threw him across the cell, making him crash against the bars.
"NOW THANK ME FOR YOUR PAIN!" Desolent yelled.
The alicorn laid there, complete immobilized. Desolent then slammed his hoof on the alicorns face.
"BEG FOR MORE SUFFERING!" He said, applying more pressure.
"Desolent release him… NOW!" Dark Fire said enraged.
Desolent showed hesitation before removing his hoof. Dark Fire then healed the wounds the white alicorn took before removing him from the cell.
"You must forgive my friend here, he tends to overdue things a lot." Dark fire said in a friendly voice. "What is your name by the way?"
Desolent snarled as he walked by the recovering pony.
"Zepher, and why did you summon me in the first place?" He asked, as the yellow aura faded into his coat.
"NO DON'T LISTEN TO HIM, SNAP OUT OF IT!" Luna shouted from a nearby cell.
"Silence you worthless rat!" Desolent said, throwing a magical blast at Luna that caused her to yell in pain.
"Remember who you are Zepher, remember that we love you, REMEMBER WHAT THEY DID TO YOUR MOTHER!"
The alicorn struggled to concentrate as two sides battled within his mind.
"I… can't… SHUT-UP!" Zepher shouted, losing the last of his free will to corruption.
"No… no" Luna whispered, sobbing heavily. "I'm sorry Tia… I couldn't stop him."
"Mother you say… HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Now I have truly won the ultimate battle. I've turned Celestia's son against her!" Dark Fire said, continuing to laugh evilly. "Come Zepher, leave your pathetic life behind with the other weaklings."
Dark Fire, Desolent, and the newly recruited Zepher walked away from the dungeon, shutting the door for the last time.
"Luna, they're gone." Cadance whispered to her.
"Along with what remained of my sister…" Luna said silently.
"I know how It feels to lose somepony too Luna, how do you think I felt when they took Shining away?" Cadance said softly, holding back tears of her own. "You must never give up, always have hope."

"Desolent, you mentioned something about Twilight back there, what did she do to you?" Dark Fire questioned.
He gave a harsh glare at the mere mention of her name.
"What did she do?! WHAT DID SHE DO?! She did everything to me, made me a failure in everypony's eyes, took the title of Celestia's apprentice away from me, and made me look like a traitor in front of all of Canterlot! I was imprisoned for five years Dark Fire. FIVE BUCKEN YEARS FOR PROVING MY POINT! I am better than her at everything, magic, fighting, strength, you name it! So why, WHY DID CELESTIA CHOOSE HER INSTEAD OF ME!?" Desolent questioned as his voice echoed through the halls.
A long moment of silence came over the three as Dark Fire and Zepher stood there in thought.
"You no longer need to have those thoughts, for both of them have met their fate at my hooves."
"What do you mean… Twilight was never-"
"I ended her. She will no longer hurt anypony again." Dark Fire said, softly.
Even though Zepher and Desolent didn't notice, Dark Fire was struggling to hold back tears of sadness at the thought of Twilight's fate.
"No… she's alive, I know it! She's just like a virus that you can't destroy, and I'm the cure that will end her forever!"
"I threw her out of a window, Desolent!" Dark Fire said aggressively, trying to conceal his sorrow. "Nopony could have survived a fall like that and you know it. Nopony is left to stop us from taking over Equestria, which is why we make our attack today. You may rest for now though; Ammisive will lead the invasion force to the northeast, taking Cloudsdale and anything else in its way. You will go Southwest and do the same. I do tolerate some failure, but only just a bit. Do I make myself clear?"
"Of course... my lord." Desolent whispered as he walked off.

Twilight and the rest of her friends waited for almost three weeks now, but still no news or even a glimpse of hope. Despite the situation, everypony did what they could to stay positive... except Twilight.
"Sugarcube, I know there's not much to do, but starin' at that rock all day can't be good for you." Applejack said, sitting next to her.
"I just can't stop thinking about it... it's just so-"
"Sometimes we just have to keep lookin' until we find the needle in the haystack. We'll make it out of this. We always do."
"But how do all of you keep going? I just don't have to strength to go on." Twilight whispered.
"Believe me it's hard, but we've been findin' fresh food in the forest, and there's a clean spring in the cave. That's probably because it's been rainin' or snowin' outside, either way it could be worse." Applejack said, smiling at her.
"Your right Applejack, I should stay positive, we still have a chance to save everypony." Twilight said with confidence.
Once she finished, Endershine rushed through the cave looking worried.
"It's about time you showed up!" Rainbow ridiculed.
"You try acting as a spy for more than a week and see if you're not tired after that!" Endershine responded
"Okay sign me up, I would be the fastest spy ever." Rainbow declared.
Enderpearl then emerged from a dark corner of the cave.
"What news do you bring?"
"I have good news and bad news." She said, her concerns increasing.
"Lets hear the good news first, we have been through the worst conditions ever." Rarity said, brushing dust out of her mane. "Ooh, where can a lady get a bath around here?"
"Okay here it goes. Twilight, they think your dead."
"How is that good news?" Rainbow asked rudely.
"I know why! It's because you get free ice-cream in heaven!" Pinkie shouted joyfully.
"No, it means that they're not going to be looking for us." Endershine explained.
"S-so what's the bad news?" Fluttershy asked, cuddled next to a rock.
"Dark Fire has united every known enemy that Princess Celestia has ever delt with." She said grimly. "This includes Discord, Chrysalis, and Sombra."
"They're all back! I thought we took care of them for good." Twilight said, losing what little hope she had.
"It gets worse, Dark Fire has made a group called the Elements of Disharmony."
"The Elements of what now?" Applejack asked, confused.
"The Elements of Disharmony, or, Elements of Chaos, are on the complete opposite ends of the Elements of Harmony and are incredibly strong. Even though they might not have the exact negative element, their personalities are nothing like yours, they're ruthless and will not stop until you are all defeated. Another thing is, Dark Fire has started an invasion. They attack Cloudsdale today." She finished explaining.
"Then I'm not going to wait around anymore!" Rainbow said, getting up and running to the exit.
"NO!" Endershine shouted teleporting into her path. "If you go, you run the risk of never seeing your friends again! You will also expose us and cause the last hope of Equestria to perish."
"What good is hope if you can't defend your home!" Rainbow said, dashing past her and flying off.
"RAINBOW!"
Endershine was about to catch up to her, but was stopped by Enderpearl's hoof.
"Let her go. This is her fight and she will come back. She'll have to."

Back at the castle.

"Dark Fire, why did you even let this failure inside in the first place?" Castigate said, pointing to Trixie.
"Why do you hate her so much, why does everypony I meet hate her, WHY DOES MOST OF THE FANBASE HATE HER?!" Dark Fire yelled, going off into a rant.
"Shut-up Castigate, it's not like you could see talent within Trixie anyways." Trixie said.
"And I'm supposed to listen to a poor showpony like you? It's a wonder how you even became his apprentice." Castigate replied.
"Trixie's skills and looks must have convinced him otherwise, something you could never understand." Trixie spat back.
"Hold on Trixie, you're my apprentice because of your potential, not for your…looks. And second, why do you two fight like a brother and sister?" Dark Fire demanded.
"Because we unfortunately are, it's such an embarrassment." Castigate said.
"An embarrassment! You wouldn't know a thing about embarrassment, you have the easy life." Trixie again replied.
"So it's my fault my father took me and left you with mother? Both of you were mistakes to him, a shame to my family. I was the perfect son until you showed up." He said with hatred in his voice.
"Do not insult Trixie's mother! She cared for you even if you didn't." She strongly replied.
"How is she anyways? ...Begging for more bits as usual or pampering you with lies on how you're the best."
"Silence you stupid loudmouthed piece of garbage!" Trixie shouted angrily.
"If that's what I am, I don't even want to know what you are… oh wait, of course I do."
"Castigate, leave her alone." Dark Fire ordered.
"Oh sure, take her side... you're just like that fool she calls a mom." He said as he walked off.
"You will never understand the Great and Powerful Trixie!" She stated with pride.
"Trixie, as your new master I demand to know what happened to you." Dark Fire said, walking up to her.
"Trixie… doesn't know what you're talking about." She said, looking away.
"You might be a good boaster, but definitely a horrible liar." Dark Fire said with a smile.
"Trixie never lies about herself." She stated.
"Then why are you shaking? Please tell me. I know what it's like to feel pain, just let it out."
She continued to shake until her eyes started to water up.
"A-are you… crying?" Dark Fire asked in shock.
"N-no… the Great and Powerful Trixie never cries… she never… never…"
She then collapsed onto Dark Fire and sobbed heavily.
"I'm so sorry mom… I couldn't save you…I COULDN'T SAVE YOU!" Trixie yelled, weeping to the point where Dark Fire's coat was getting soaked.
Dark Fire stood there as she let her tears, waiting for her to build up strength once again.
"There, there. Just tell me what happened." He whispered.
"You know that Trixie's parents separated, right?"
Dark Fire nodded.
"That's where it all started. When Trixie was still young, her mother always believed in her, always told her that she could be anything if she believed hard enough."
"Your father didn't though did he? instead he took your brother."
"His name was Affluent, and along with him went mother's bits."
"Affluent? Isn't he the founder of Equestria's metal factories?"
"Yes. That greedy pony, he wanted nothing but more bits and left mother because she had none. It was only six years later that it happened."

Years ago, in a worn down building.

"Mom, I'm back from the soup kitchen. I managed to get the last one." Trixie said, entering a beat up house she called home.
"Well, isn't that just sweet of you, but I have to make sure the neighbors have something to eat first." Trixie's mother kindly told her.
She had a light gray and blue coat mixture with a similar mane and tail as Trixie. The only difference was that it had a light green tint within the mane and tail instead of blue. She also had dark orange eyes along with a star and moon as a cutie mark.
"But mom, you haven't eaten anything in days… you need this." Trixie pleaded to her.
"Others come before us Trixie. You're a fully grown mare now, surly you understand this."
Trixie hesitated before giving up what was supposed to be her gift.
"Now come along Trixie, let's give these ponies the gift of love and kindness." She said, humming a song as she walked out of the door.
"I don't understand you mom, you give even when you have nothing to give and expect nothing in return. You give even when you're in need… I hope I can be like you one day.
As Trixie walked out of the door, she saw her mother giving the bowl of soup to her neighbors.
"Here you go Mr. Pepper, I hope this is enough."
"Just seeing your smile is enough to warm everypony's heart, Mystic Charade." The dark gray pony said happily.
"Please, just call me Charade, there's no need to be formal with me." She said as the gray pony closed the door.
"What are we going to eat now?" Trixie asked worried.
"We must trust that within good deeds, good things will come in return. Showing ponies kindness, even when we have no reason to, lets them know how this world was meant to be. A world where there is no greed, hate, or depression, but of happiness and joy."
"You act like everything will be ok, I don't see how though."
"You need to open your eyes to the hope in this world, now go inside the house and get some rest."

Later that day.

"Thanks again Charade, you're the best." A tan colored pony said as he walked off.
"Mom, how'd it go?" Trixie asked, practicing some magic tricks from a book.
"It went well… I had a great time helping the other ponies... how are you?" She asked a bit faintly.
"Mom… is something wrong?" Trixie asked in a fearful tone.
"Nothing… nothing is wrong dear, just keep practicing." Charade whispered, putting her hoof over her heart. Before collapsing.
"MOM!"

"Trixie tried everything possible, but nothing was working. The only thing left was to call this doctor that could apparently cure everything."
"How could you afford something like that?" Dark Fire asked.
"Trixie couldn't afford him because he was corrupt and took advantage of everypony that was desperate. Trixie had no choice…"

"FIVE THOUSAND BITS!" Trixie shouted in shock. "Where am I supposed to get money like that?"
"I really don't care, sell yourself if you have to, but your mother won't last long with this heart disease." The doctor said, grabbing his bag.
"I refuse to stoop to that level of shame!" She yelled, blushing.
"Then I hope you're ready to say goodbye to her. And your taxes for this house are due in two weeks, this is your last chance to pay before we take your house from you." He said as he slammed the door.
Trixie, completely filled with sadness, walked over to her mother.
"I promise you mom… I will get those bits for you." Trixie said, grabbing her mother's magician had and cape. "I will be just like you. I will become... The Great and Powerful Trixie."

"So you took on the role of your mother as a magician and show pony?" Dark Fire said.
"Yes, her show name was Sharada. Trixie kept her name though."
"Then why do you lie about what you do? Didn't she teach you her skills."
"She never had the time, and I was always told that if I believed hard enough that I could become anything and be anything."
"So that's why you say you're the best…because you believe it will come true."
"It was to save mother. But as I came closer and closer to my goal, I let it go to my head. I was so close, but then I did a show… in Ponyville. Everything was fine, I put on a fantastic show and got the bits that I needed, but then two stupid colts brought an actual Ursa Minor to the town. They all believed that I could stop the enraged animal… but I couldn't. Then that stupid mare had to show up, Twilight, yes that's her name. She exposed me as a fraud, and as a result I lost everything. The bits, the cart, all gone… all gone."
"What happened after that?"
"What I had feared for so many years…"

"Mom… I was so close to getting the bits… but… but-"
"It's ok Trixie… it's ok… don't worry about me." Charade said, lying on a torn up bed.
"I've failed you… I couldn't raise the money to cure you… I CANT SIT HERE AND WATCH YOU GO!" Trixie said, tears streaming from her eyes.
"You… you've done so much more than I could possibly ask of you. You are now the light of this world Trixie, remember that." Charade whispered, losing strength.
"NO… NO DON'T LEAVE ME!" Trixie shouted, holding on to her hoof. "I LOVE YOU! ...DON'T LEAVE ME!"
"My life has been a happy one because of you… I couldn't ask for a better one." Charade said, smiling to her daughter.
"Please… please hold on… I will get help, you're going to make it, I WONT LET YOU GO!" Trixie yelled as more tears flowed.
"Always remember who you are, Trixie Lulamoon. Remember that even you can change this world."
"I can't do it without you… I'm not ready."
"I have raised you since you were a filly… I see so much in you Trixie, don't let it go to waste."
"I won't mom… I won't."
"And remember T-trixie tha-at I… I… Lo-"
Charade could say no more. Her time in Equestia had passed right before her trembling daughter's eyes.
"Mom… mom… wake up… wake up mom! WAKE UP! …WAKE UP! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! MMMMMOOOOOOMMMM!"

"One day later, the taxer's came and took the house away from me… they didn't care that my mother was gone. They threw her out into the dirt… not even giving her a proper burial." Trixie said, sobbing into Dark Fire's coat. "That's when I heard about you, the last hope that I had."
Dark Fire stood in silence as he tried to digest what he just heard.
"Trixie… I want you to stay here… until I call upon you."
"Where… where are you going?"
"To take care of something that should have been dealt with long ago."

Dark Fire later went to an old shelter.

"Is this the place?" Dark Fire said to a nearby pony.
"Yes, this is where Charade used to stay before her passing, but it's now owned by a company." Mr. Pepper said honorably.
"Tell everypony here that their debts are paid, that they will no longer live under such horrible conditions." Dark Fire said, taking out his seal from a bag. "This seal will give you access to Equestria's reserves of bits, food, and water. If you or anypony else in this place need anything, anything at all, please don't hesitate."
Dark Fire continued along the path until he reached a fairly large building. When he entered, he had no regret for what he was about to do.

Inside the building.

"You think I care if your son is starving? You will get me that money or else." A light green pegasus said, counting multiple stacks of bits.
"Sir… I have nothing to give. You've taken everything from me." A charcoal earthpony responded sickly.
"Well then, I guess I need to show you what happens when those who borrow from me don't pay."
The pony then pressed his hoof onto a speaker.
"Take our friend's son away from him, and make sure he doesn't see the light of day again!"
"No… don't take my son, he's the only thing left of my wife!"
"Take him away." The Pegasus ordered as two earth ponies grabbed the begging stallion.
"You can't do this to me!"
"But I can… and I will do it to others!"
A huge explosion then occurred as Dark Fire entered the room. He didn't even bother for a response as he grabbed the two bouncers by the neck with magic and flung them into the walls.
"Prince Fire?!" Both ponies shouted in confusion.
"You, sick, twisted, filthy minded, under graded, uncaring, simple, greedy, %^$ $#*!" Dark Fire yelled, teleporting in front of the business ponies' desk.
"N-now… can we talk about this?"
Dark Fire then put his hooves on the desk, and ripped it in two as he flung both pieces away from him.
"I… I never did anything to you!" The Pegasus shouted in fear.
"IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME... BUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO OTHERS! NOTHING SICKENS ME MORE THAN PONIES THAT TORTURE OTHERS FOR THEIR AMUSEMENT!"
"I don't know what your-"
"SHUT-UP YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF %#%^! YOU TAKE AWAY SOMEPONY'S HOUSE EVEN WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THE WORST TIME OF THEIR LIFE AND YOU JUST SIT BACK AND LAUGH!"
Dark Fire then punched the Pegasus to the point of tears.
"You want it to stop do you? Is that what you're crying about? Did you stop when they suffered?!" Dark Fire said, kicking him through a couch.
"I'm… I'm sorry!"
"You will be… and an apology won't be enough for you."
Dark Fire then dragged the pony and the rest that worked there out of the building.
"One only learns when they lose… WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU WILL LEARN PERMANENTLY!"
Dark Fire then shot an energy blast into the building, destroying everything in one, huge explosion of light.
"Now suffer like everypony before you has...AND NEVER COME BACK!"
Dark Fire, to the corner of his eye, caught sight of the doctor that Trixie talked about.
"You're the doctor that can cure everything right?" Dark Fire mocked.
"Yeah… why?" He replied fearfully.
"CURE THIS!" Dark Fire said as green fog surrounded the pony.
The pony doctor then collapsed onto the ground, almost lifeless.
"This sickness was claimed as incurable to even the greatest scientists… first it paralyzes, then soon destroys every. single. organ in your body. I will require one hundred thousand bits to cure it… I don't care how you get the money though, sell yourself if you have to, but you won't last long with that disease. Maybe next time you will show mercy to those that suffer...in the afterlife."
Dark Fire then walked off, leaving everything in ruin behind him. One hour later, Dark Fire recovered the body of Charade and gave her a proper burial in the Canterlot royal cemetery. Where royalty and war heroes were put and recognized by everypony of all raises. Dark Fire and Trixie both honored her for what she did, and who she was to everypony she helped and served. As Trixie walked away, she noticed a new star in the sky, one brighter than any she had ever seen. A star that honored the mare named Mystic Charade.

Chapter 11 B

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 12 A

Chapter 12.A : Forming the rebellion.

One day after the battle

"She flew off in that direction my lord…that was the last time I saw her." Amisive said, pointing with his hoof.
"So Rainbow Dash has gotten involved…she always was stubborn." Dark Fire said to himself.
His horn started to illuminate faintly as he secluded himself.
"Do you two have any knowledge or eyes in the Everfree forest?"
"We had a castle there once…we believe it is still there." Nightmare responded.
"What about you Chrysalis."
"I might have a few drones there, I'm not sure though." She replied, doubtful.
"Then send some drones there for a reconnaissance then. Meanwhile, Nightmare will regain her castle and use it as a base. Those are your orders…uh, bye." Dark Fire said abruptly.
"Well that was quick, trying to be like me." Amisive smirked.
"No, I'm just running out of minutes and I hate horn calls. Aside from that, how could Rainbow make such a comeback so quickly? She should have been easy to take care of." Dark Fire said to himself.
"I hate to admit it, but Rainbow trash still has some tricks up her hooves."
"You underestimated her…but so did I. Regardless, we shall take the precautions and learn from our mistakes so it never happens again. Now, retrieve the prisoners."
"But sire, I ordered my army to take no prisoners…if we take prisoners now it would make me look bad."
"Silly Amisive, how would they be prisoners if there on our side?" Dark Fire chuckled evilly.

Four hours later

"So this is Cloudsdale…looks a bit out of shape." Stritin said out loud.
"That's because a battle happened here smart one." Castigate insulted.
"Celestia must have made this city after she over threw my father…it's kind of cool." Maneful said, joyfully.
"Do they have a bar up here; I could really go for something…strong. Other than that these clouds look so comfortable." Eccentric admitted.
"You should take your cowboy boots off Eccentric, the clouds up here can relieve lots of stress on your hooves." Amisive suggested.
"Well…I actually like wearing my boots, and cloths for that matter." He replied
"We've noticed, the servants have to string you down just so they can clean that leather coat of yours." Castigate remarked.
"You don't put leather in a washing machine though!" Eccentric yelled.
"Just try it before we leave…what's your opinion Desolent?"
The dark green unicorn was off to the side, leaning on a cloud wall of a destroyed building with his hooves crossed.
"Looks like Celestia chewed up a bunch of marshmallows, spit them out, and called it art."
"Oh come on, your one of the first unicorns to set foot on Cloudsdale and your acting like this?" Amisive commented.
"It not acting, I just want to get this assignment over with so we can win the war faster."
"Is that all you think about, lighten up at least." Maneful said softly.
"I will when all that oppose me and Dark Fire are dealt with, now let's get moving." He said, pushing past the group.
The other five ponies stared at him awkwardly as he trotted off.
"We can hang out later I guess…let's go meet up with Dark Fire at the coliseum." Amisive said as the rest of them followed.
The coliseum was similar to that of roman culture where gladiators would duel…only ponified and made of clouds. Like everything else in the city. Dark Fire, along with the elements, stood in the center while those captured were being forced in the stands.
"Is everypony accounted for?" Dark Fire whispered to Castigate.
"All but one…she escaped before she was captured." He replied confidently.
"I'm aware that Rainbow escaped, you don't need to-
"It was somepony else Dark Fire…our soldiers couldn't keep up with her."
Dark Fire showed irritation as he sighed loudly.
"News of what happened here will spread rapidly to other cities…not that I don't mind. It's just that I wanted to take over Equestria quickly, not slowly and surly."
"I understand, so what should I do?"
"Continue your propaganda about us, put wanted posters our enemies and hire anypony to track them down."
Castigate continued to write on paper as Dark Fire spoke.
"So what are the names of these traitors and their bounties?"
"Fluttershy, yellow coat with a pink mane and tail, two and a half million bits. Rarity, white coat and purple mane and tail…"
Dark Fire listed off what he remembered of Night Shadow's friends and adjusted the bounty according to their threat level.
"And Pinkie Pie…twenty-five million bits."
"Twenty-five million?! Rainbow doesn't even surpass ten million!" Castigate said in shock.
"Trust me…you have no idea what's she's like, and the price for her capture is well deserved. Anymore questions?"
"No sire…"
"Then let's show these's turncoats a power to be truly feared. Take your place in the group."
Castigate smirked as he teleported into the group. Dark Fire then cleared his treat in preparation.
"Fillies and gentlecoats…what you are about to witness is a power not seen for thousands of years! I am quite excited to see this power for the firsttime myself, and I'm SO glad I can share this experience with all of you! As your prince, this is my gift to you…GUARDS, BRING THE PRISONERS!
The crowd booed and shouted hateful remarks to Dark Fire when he finished talking. Dark Fire started to laugh maniacally as his horn and hair burst into a bright red color.
"That's it, keep insulting me…your hatred only makes me stronger then before! It's the only think anypony has ever given me, and I love it!" Dark Fire said, drooling as more hatred was feed into him. "YOU ARE ALL IDIOTS, GIVING YOUR ENEMY MORE POWER, YOU WERE BORN TO SERVE ME AND ME ALONE! I think a demonstration is appropriate for you cretins.
The guards soon brought forth multiple ponies in distinct uniform to the center of the coliseum. As quickly as the guards came, they left to keep the crowd in line.
"So you're the ponies that allowed Rainbow to escape…should I remind you of the punishment of defectors."
"You're the one that betrayed us, and you claim that your cause to control Equestria is for peaceful methods!" Spitfire yelled over the crowd.
"You were all under her spell and I will make you free from it." Dark Fire said, getting in her face. "And you can't do anything about it."
Spitfires then spat into his face abruptly. Dark Fire got out of her face and laughed towards the guards and Elements of Disharmony. He continued to laugh as he wiped the spit from his muzzle, turned away from Spit Fire before rapidly rotating back around, and back hoofing her across the face. The entire crowd and Wonderbolts gasped in shock when she hit the floor. Before she could get up, Dark Fire stomped on her back wings, making her cry out in pain.
"DON'T YOU DARE DO THAT TO ME AGAIN YOU LITTLE %# (&!"
"LET HER GO!" Soarin shouted angrily.
"WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO DEMAND FROM-?!"
A flash went before Dark Fire as he saw another scene before him.
"Let her go…LET HER GO!" Night Shadow shouted as his eyes were flooded with tears.
A loud bang was heard as the mare, that the all too familiar dark figure was holding, fell to the dirt…lifeless.
"She was weak Night Shadow, something I don't want to see in my child soldiers, if you fail to do my biding again…you will meet the same fate!"
"SHE DIDN'T DESERVE THIS, WHY DID YOU TAKE HER FROM ME?!"
"Your tears show weakness! I WILL NOT HAVE WEAKNESS!" The figure said, removing a black wipe with a spiked tip.
When the flash back ended, Dark Fire removed his hoof from her and backed away. He then gave the signal the elements with the wave of his hoof. Desolent, and the others, put on their elemental necklace and formed a triangle behind the leader. Soon, all of their eyes glowed in a bright green color as black aura flowed freely away from the sides of their eyes. Their irises were then enveloped in a bright red as their pupils narrowed and dilated. They then started to float in the air as a gray bubble formed around the group.
"You chose to reject me, refuse my gift of freedom…now you feel what I've felt."
Dark Fire smiled at the panicking crowd as a loud explosion occurred behind him. The elemental blast was almost similar to the elements of harmony, only this time it was a black and white rainbow. The rainbow shot into the atmosphere and enveloped Cloudsdale, soon everything was back to normal…except for Dark Fire. As he walked away, only some saw his eyes glowing purple as he had a grim look about him, it was almost…paranormal.

"She's been gone for almost two days, and you're telling me to calm down!" Twilight yelled to her friends.
"We're talking about Rainbow here Twi, she's capable of taking care of herself." Applejack reinsured her.
"And if something did go wrong, my Pinkie sense would go off." Pinkie said, smiling.
Twilight closed her eyes as a tear formed.
"Night Shadow told me that Twi was his favorite word…" Twilight whispered, as she sobbed silently.
"You must understand that the past is the past…Night Shadow wouldn't want to see you like this." Enderpearl commented.
Silence overcame the group before thunder was heard outside. They looked towards the entrance to see Rainbow weakly standing, wet, tired, and full of anguish. She took a few more steps in before collapsing.
"Rainbow Dash!" Everypony shouted in unison except Enderpearl.
Pinkie ran towards her, with a worried look, and picked her back up onto her hooves. Fluttershy and Applejack quickly followed along with the rest of them.
"Are you ok Rainbow?" Rarity asked.
"What happened in Cloudsdale?" Applejack asked, comforting her.
Rainbow shut her eyes and looked away from her friends.
"A better question would be what happened to her?" Endershine intervened.
"You can tell us anything Rainbow, we're your friends." Twilight said, recovering from depression.
Rainbow slowly rotated her head with her eyes still closed. When she opened them, tears flowed freely off of her mussel.
"They won…they destroyed everything…I've failed." Rainbow said, crying loudly.
"It's going to be alright, you-."
"HOW CAN YOU SAY IT'S ALRIGHT?!" Rainbow screamed in anger before sobbing once again. "I saw my home disappear before my eyes, and you want to say it's alright…"
"Actually…It could be." A voice said from behind the group.
They turned around to see a light green Pegasus with an orange and yellow mane.
"You have some nerve to come here and tell me this, Lightning Dust! Let me guess, you work for Dark Fire now and want revenge for getting you demoted?!" Rainbow yelled, angrily.
"No that's not why I'm here!" She stated quickly.
"Then why…WHY ARE YOU HERE?!" Rainbow screamed, pinning Lightning to the cave wall. "TELL ME!"
"I have information that you need to know about my brother, Lightning Flash!"
"YOU'RE HIS SISTER…I should have known you were related to that freak!"
"Please listen to me Rainbow…I'm sorry for what I did, but we can't hold grudges in a time like this."
"You're no better than your brother…your just a liar and a fraud!" Rainbow said, about to punch Lightning Dust.
Rainbow was then hauled back by pinkish-violet magic.
"Stop it Rainbow, this mare come in offering us help and you want to fight her?!" Twilight ridiculed.
"Plus, I don't know if you haven't noticed, but these are dark times. I think Equestria has seen enough violence for an eternity." Enderpearl stated.
"I can't trust her for what she's done, don't you remember that you guys almost got hurt because of her." Rainbow said, attempting to reason with her friends.
"I've told you I'm sorry, why don't you believe me?!" Lightning Dust yelled.
"I believe you." Enderpearl said calmly.
"You don't know here like I do." Rainbow whispered aggressively.
"Well for starters…if she was evil, she wouldn't be able to enter the cave. This cavern is protected by a spell that won't let anypony of evil intentions in. That was to prevent Nightmare Moon from releasing me, and it also makes a great hiding spot."
"It could just be a trick…a spell to make it seem like she's good."
"Then I will look into that." Endershine said, approaching Lightning Dust.
Lightning gulped loudly when she was mere inches away from her.
"Don't be afraid, I believe you…I just need to prove to Rainbow that you're telling the truth."
She then placed her horn on Lightning's forehead. The horn then glowed brightly for several seconds before it stopped.
"She's telling the truth, there's even a surprise outside of the cave." Endershine said, surprised.
Everypony walked towards the entrance of the cave to see a pony in a commander's uniform tied up in rope.
"I found him unconscious but severely wounded from what seems to be a lightning strike. He should give you the information you want." Lightning Dust said, smirking.
Endershine then turned to Rainbow.
"Do you believe her now?"
Rainbow let out a sigh before walking over to Dust.
"You might have everyponies trust…but I'm watching you. If you even look at my friends the wrong way…" Rainbow said, sliding her hoof across her throat. "You'll get it."
Rainbow then walked back into the cave, leaving the other's outside.
"Don't mind her; she's been through a lot…poor thing." Fluttershy said timidly.
"I think we all have darling." Rarity commented.
"Anyways…I think it's time for questions." Dust said, yanking the gag from the commander's mouth. "What do you know about Dark fire's plans?! She shouted, slapping the pony.
"Tell us everything you know!"
The dark pony opened his mouth to speak, but was slapped once again.
"I didn't even say anything!" The commander shouted.
"Answer the question!" Dust yelled, smacking the pony again.
The commander looked at her angrily until getting smacked for the fourth time.
"I don't think that going to work darling, let a lady handle this." Rarity said elegantly, pushing Dust to the side.
Dust groaned at her comment.
"Finally, somepony that can actually-
"WHERE DOES DARK FIRE HIDE THE CONDITIONER?" She shouted, slapping the guard like Dust did.
"OH…MY…GOSH, STOP SLAPPING ME!"
Soon, everypony in the room was taking turns slapping the commander to get information. One hour passed before the commander started crying.
"I don't know what you want from me! Please stop hurting me…!" He said through his weeping.
"I-I'm so sorry, p-please don't cry, I didn't mean to hurt you." Fluttershy said, hugging the commander.
The commander was now wailing loudly as Fluttershy comforted him.
"Well that didn't work." Endershine said casually.
"He wouldn't even talk to me…that meany!" Pinkie said, somewhat annoyed.
"He's still under the hatred spell, even if he's cooperating, he's still a threat." Enderpearl stated, returning into the cave."
"Well where are you going then?" Twilight questioned.
"The spring in the cave is sanctified and unadulterated…it will remove the spell from him if placed correctly."

Five minutes later

"Here, give him this." Enderpearl said, handing Twilight a glass of water.
"What makes you think he's going to drink it?" Applejack asked.
"I don't really know…but if he doesn't, just dunk it on him."
"Why don't we just do that?" Lightning Dust.
"It's not as effective." Enderpearl commented.
"Buck that!" Dust said, snatching the cup.
She then tossed the glass into the guards face, shattering on contact.
"OWWWWW, MY EYES!" The commander screamed, still bounded by rope.
Everpony looked at Dust in an agitated way.
"Ok, now I see why it's not affective…hehe."

Another five minutes later

"Here's the other glass." Enderpearl said frustrated.
"Let's get him to drink it this time." Endershine added.
"He's not going to listen to us now, we've practically broke every bone in his body." Dust exaggerated.
"He might listen to Fluttershy." Applejack said, gesturing to her.
Her ears perked up at the sound of her name.
"D-do what now?" She asked, a bit nervous.
"You need to get that guard to drink this, Fluttershy." Twilight said, levitating the glass to her.
"I-I-I can't…I mean, I don't know if he wants-
"We're possibly saving lives here darling, do it for your friends." Rarity encouraged.
"O-ok…"
Fluttershy took the glass and walked over to the guards. Getting eye level with him, she could tell that he was shaking with fear.
"You poor thing, are you thirsty?" Fluttershy asked softly.
The guard closed his eyes tightly and nodded. Fluttershy smiled, causing a "squee" sound to be heard, and helped the pony drink the water. After being complimented by her, the guard's fur went from dark gray to white. Opening his eye's again, they we're no longer red, but bright green.
"I…I feel like a train rammed my head."
"You were under Dark Fire's spell…do you remember anything?" Twilight asked, curious.
"Dark Fire?" He asked confused.
"Dang it…I thought his memory would be-
"THERE GOING TO TAKE OVER EQUESTRIA!" The commander screamed.
"Nah really?" Dust said sarcastically.
"No that's not what I mean! Untie me and get me a map!"
"Whoa hold on…we still don't know if he's trustable."Applejack stated.
Endershine, with her magic, disintegrated the rope around the pegasus. He then got up and ran into the cave.
"Well I guess he's a good guy now." Pinkie said happily.
Everypony went back into the cave to see the commander and Rainbow setting a map onto the floor.
"Everypony gather around quickly."
"Is this a guessing game, I know what it is…IT'S A MAP!" Pinkie yelled.
"No…I mean yes, but that's not the point."
The guard then placed his hoof on Canterlot.
"This is Dark Fire's capital correct."
Everypony nodded.
"What has happened recently is the capture of Clousdale, setting up a circle and boarder of his kingdom."
"A what?" Twilight asked.
"He's extending his boarders, much like a power hungry dictator would." The commander stated.
He then circled his hoof around the cities around Canterlot.
"This is all the land he controls."
"We already know this, how is this helping us." Rainbow said angrily.
"Because I'm about to tell you Dark Fire's plan to take over Equestria.
The Pegasus waited several moments for the words to sink in. He then slid his hoof from Canterlot to Cloudsdale.
"This is the war path that Amisive, the element of Rage, is taking. It includes all land North-West of Canterlot."
"Do you know the names of the other elements?" Twilight asked.
The Pegasus nodded happily before giving their names, race, and elements.
"Stritin will head north, Maneful to the North-East, Castigate to the east, Eccentric to the south, and Desolent to the South-west."
"What about the South-East and the West." Enderpearl asked.
"There's nothing much out there besides swamps and forests, but expect Dark Fire to take them anyways. He mentioned something about, "purging the land with fire", but Princess Trixie said-
"PRINCESS TRIXIE?!" Everypony shouted in shock before collapsing to the ground.
"What…was it something I've said?"
"Of ALL the mare's Dark Fire could have chosen…he chooses her." Rainbow said aggravated.
"I don't know why either… he saw potential in her and made her his apprentice."
"AN APPRENTICE!?" Everypony shouted again.
"I think Dark Fire fancies her or something."
"Wait…WHAT!" Twilight shouted angrily.
"Of course this was after he gave her the Element of Vengeance."
"ELEMENT OF VENGEANCE?!" They shouted for the third time.
"It's not official though, it's more of a symbolic title. Just like how Dark Fire is the Element of Hatred." The commander stated.
"Ok that one makes sense…but Trixie being an apprentice to anything doesn't." Twilight said, still trying to process.
"It doesn't matter…what Rainbow did in Cloudsdale showed that we have a chance to fight back! We just need you girls to lead the resistance."
"I'm sorry, but we're no generals here commander." Rarity commented.
"We're just six ordinary mares against an army…we have no chance." Applejack stated.
"I-I don't want to fight." Fluttershy whispered."
"Come on…you're the Elements of Harmony, you've single handedly stopped evil so many times to save Equestria, and you can and will do it again! Now who's with me?!"
The guard extended his hoof out to all of the girls.
"I am." Rainbow said with confidence, quickly followed by Lightning Dust.
"I am to; they're not going to take my home without a fight!" Applejack said, smiling.
"Me three!" Pinkie yelled, bouncing into the group.
"It it means we can get out of this cave, then I'm in to!" Rarity declared.
"I'll do it for all the animals that Dark Fire will try to hurt!" Fluttershy said, boldly.
"For Equestria!" Twilight said, putting her hoof into the group.
Enderpearl and Endershine then put their own hoof into the mix.
"FOR EQUESTRIA!" They all shouted, ready to fight for their freedom and liberty for all of Equestria.
Twilight then walked out to the exit of the cave and looked to the heavens. As shooting stars flew by, she made a wish.
"And I also do it for you…Night Shadow."

Chapter 12 B

Author's Note

Enderpearl, Endershine, Zepher are not my characters. They belong to a friend, that is all.

Chapter 12 B

Chapter 12 B: Judgment of a Princess

Six months after fall of Canterlot and banishment of Celestia. Five months after formation of the resistance. Four and a half months of constant war across the land.

"Along with that, you now have the cities of Trottingham and New Filly my lord." A messenger stated.
Dark Fire couldn't help but smile at the news.
"And how about Ponyville?"
"Discord has made it into the capital of chaos, nothing much gets out of there." Another messenger informed.
"Very well couriers, you are dismissed…and take the money bags with you on your way out."
The messengers bowed happily as they made their leave. Nothing was left in the room but Dark Fire and his comfy throne chair. Looking around the room to make sure it was empty; he jumped out of his chair and danced joyfully.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!"
"What are you dancing about Dark Fire?" Trixie asked cheerfully, entering the room from the back.
"U-uumm…y-you didn't see that." Dark Fire said nervously, pawing at the ground.
Trixie chuckled at his embarrassment.
"Ok Dark Fire…Trixie will grant you mercy only once."
"You are very generous, princess…how could I ever repay you?" Dark Fire asked, grinning as he bowed.
They both started to laugh at their role-playing, and how cheesy it was.
"So did you sleep well Dark Fire…not that Trixie cares or anything." She said abruptly.
"Fine…how about you?" He responded.
"Good…Trixie still finds it hard to get used to eternal night…and the servants, and luxury, and pampering, and popularity, and-
"Yes, yes, I know, I know…" Dark Fire said, making her stop.
Moments passed before the silence was broken again.
"Trixie wants to know what you were so happy about."
"What did I tell you about third person?"
"And what did Trixie tell you about fourth wall breaking!"
"I…"
"Trixie…"
"You do it first!" They both shouted at each other.
"NO YOU!" They both yelled again.
"EEERRRRR."
"You requested our presence Prince Fire?"
Dark Fire and Trixie looked towards the voice to see the Elements of Disharmony standing their patently.
"We're not interrupting something are we?" Castigate asked, smirking.
"No, no…you came just in time."
"Well this better be good Dark Fire, my so called army gets sloppy after days without practice and they need to know who's in charge." Desolent said, angrily.
"That reminds me…lay off the punishments Desolent. I get more wounded soldiers from you area then I get from anywhere else." Dark fire said in a serious tone.
"Surely you know that failure is not tolerated." Desolent countered.
"Yes, but not when you punish your stallions for playing a card game."
"There is no such thing as fun in war!"
"There's a time and place for everything under the sun…or moon for that matter."
Desolent groaned angrily at his new orders.
"As for the rest of you…I called you back to witness something I have been planning for so long."
"What, are you going to ask somepony on a date?" Maneful snickered.
"NO YOU IDIOT!"
"Dark Fire…" Trixie said, staring at the angry pony. "You know how Trixie feels about your anger issues."
He let out a frustrated sigh before rolling his eyes.
"I'm sorry…it's just that SOMEPONIES NEED TO-
"Dark Fire!" Trixie shouted over him, tapping her hoof on the ground.
"Fine, I'll calm down just for you…you happy now?" He pouted
Trixie smiled happily, making her own version of a "Squee" sound. However, the Elements were too shocked at the scene before them to even move. It was enough to make Eccentric drop his cigar to the ground and Desolent to stare dumbfounded. It was almost unreal to them, Dark Fire, the prince of darkness and Equestria, taking orders from a mare.
"Now was that so hard?" She asked, rhetorically.
"Aside from the delays, I am happy to say that only six major cities-
"Five now, Vanhoover surrendered days before your message. The entire North-West is under now you control." Ammisive said proudly.
"What about Rainbow Dash, that little twerp can hide forever." Trixie affirmed.
"She…got away…AGAIN!" Ammisive shouted, silently cursing himself.
"Don't worry about it; she will forever be in hiding, removed from her home like you were. You got your revenge…enjoy it, revel in it, you have won."
"Then tell me…why does this victory seem so empty! So fruitless and void…what gain have I gotten from this?"
Dark Fire was taken aback from his comment, not because he was shocked that Ammisive would say something like this, but because he had the same thoughts before.
"Sometimes…doing the right thing will get you no gain, but actions speak louder than words. Your governor of Cloudsdale…isn't that what you wanted."
Ammisive shook his head in agreement, but his heart said otherwise.
"Now for the occasion, you are to meet me and the others at Nightmare's castle in four hours. There we shall await a very, special guest." Dark Fire said sinisterly as the others walked away.

"Get inside quickly." Endershine whispered to Rainbow.
Nodding her head rapidly, she darted past the Alicorn as the metal door slammed behind her.
"Of all the places to escape…you pick a sewer?!"
"Ssshhh Rainbow…we need to get you out of Vanhoover." The pony commander said to her.
This was the same commander that helped out after the attack on Cloudsdale. He had white fur with an orange mane and tail. He had bright green eyes and a cutie mark with three, horizontal, blue wavy lines stacked onto each other. This represented wind.
"I appreciate your concern Silent Wind, but you should know that I don't give up easily."
"Look, I'm the one that gave you Dark Fire's plan to take over Equestria, I know what his next step is…we need to go now!"
"Quiet both of you." Endershine whispered.
Continuing down the sewer tunnels, they heard the loud of marching ponies above them. It was enough to cause the tunnels to shake. When the sound dissipated, Endershine gave the signal to talk again.
"Dark Fire's army continues to grow and you want me to run?" Rainbow shouted in a whisper.
"Twilight assigned me to protect you at all costs…let me do my duties, please." Silent Wind begged.
Rainbow sighed at the overwhelming odds against her.
"Fine…but you need to regroup the stragglers." She ordered.
Shouting was overheard above as an ominous humming noise increased in volume.
"I'm sorry Rainbow…but in less than ten minutes, there won't be any."
"I can't just leave them!" Rainbow shouted.
"Remember, they can't win unless one of the Elements of Harmony is corrupted…I won't stand here and watch that happen." Endershine declared.
"This is why we must leave." Wind affirmed.
"I hate this…running and hiding like cowards." Rainbow remarked.
"We live to fight another day, now keep moving. We have about eight miles of tunnels before we reach the outskirts of town." Wind said, pushing forward.
"So why don't we teleport?"
"We would get traced Rainbow, didn't we discuss this?" Endershine asked.
"Darn it, I was hoping that was a joke, but apparently you weren't lying."
Suddenly, a huge ringing went throughout the tunnels as an explosion was heard above.
"ENDERSHINE TELEPORT US OUT NOW!"
She hesitated at first, but when she saw an all too familiar wave of red energy heading towards the group, she had no second thoughts. Grabbing Rainbow abruptly, she shielded her from the blast as it made contact and teleported the trio to the outskirts of the Everfree forest in a blinding flash.
"Are you ok Rainbow?!" Endershine panicked.
"Yeah, just dizzy from teleporting. What about you Silent…Wind?"
Rainbow looked around to see the commander nowhere in sight.
"Now where did he-
Before she could finish, a dark gray pegasus tacked her to the ground and stared into her eyes with his bright red ones.
"Silent Wind what are you doing?!" Rainbow panicked.
"FINISHING YOU ONCE AND FOR ALL!" He snarled, bringing up his hoof over her head.
Before he could strike, a magical bolt was shot into the corrupted Pegasus, knocking him off Rainbow. Before he could get up, Endershine uncapped a water bottle around her waist, and blasted the water into him with her magic. The pegasus's fur and eyes were soon back to normal.
"What just…OOOOWWW!" He shouted, rubbing his side.
"I'm really sorry, but you almost turned on us." Endershine said chuckling.
"Yeah, I almost had to beat you up…again." Rainbow smirked.
"At least you're safe, no telling what you would do under that curse. Let's regroup with the others before we're tracked down." Wind said as the others disappeared into the forest.

"Hey guys, there coming back!" Pinkie shouted excitedly.
"ATTENTION!" A voice shouted from nowhere.
Multiple guard ponies then rushed out of their spots on the wall, formed two lines at the entrance, and saluted. The most significant of the group were the four commanders, two earth ponies, one pegasus, and one unicorn. The two earth ponies looked exactly alike, maybe because they were twins. They had light green fur, identical yellow mane styles, and brown eyes. They even had the same cutie mark of a war hammer. The only way you could tell them apart was because one of them flipped his mane to face the left instead of the right like his brother. His name was Vivum and the other was named Animum.
The Pegasus commander had purple fur with a huge, red, mohawk as a mane. His tail was red to, but it resembled more of porcupine on a bad day then actual hair. His eyes were light yellow with a target mark as a cutie mark. His name was Bluster Cloud. Lastly, the unicorn was red with light blue mane and tail. This was also the same unicorn that attempted to fight Dark Fire with his firing squad. He had reddish-orange eyes and a drum with drum sticks as a cutie mark. His name was Shrill Shot and with Silent Wind, this made five commanders.
As Rainbow and the others walked in, the guards still showed no signs of movement.
"At ease soldiers!" Silent Wind ordered as he walked by.
"By the look on your faces…I'd say you've lost." Shrill Shot guessed.
"Cut her some slack, she's been through enough." Wind said as he sat down.
"Haven't we all?" Bluster Cloud commented.
Rainbow gave them all a stern look before retiring further into the cave.
"I'm going to check up on her." Fluttershy said saddened. "Pinkie do you-
"YEAH, LETS CHEER HER UP, RIGHT GUYS!" Pinkie shouted as she looked at the twins.
"RIGHT, SHES NOT GOING TO KNOW WHAT SADNESS IS AFTER THIS!" They shouted in perfect synchronization.
"AND THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR, RIGHT!?" Pinkie responded.
"RIGHT!"
"THEN LET'S DO THIS!"
"U-umm, could you keep it-
They ran off before Fluttershy could finish. As she followed the trio, Applejack and Rarity caught up with her and disappeared into another cavern.
"I can never get used to those three." Twilight smirked.
"It's surprising how they can be so happy after all that's happened." Endershine said in realization.
"Well she is Pinkie." Twilight pointed out.
"True, true…but what of the rest?" Endershine said, pointing to the commanders.
Just then a guard rushed in holding a poster.
"Commander…uh…however this concerns, I found this on the side of the road."
"What…let me see?" Shrill ordered, snatching the poster with his magic. He then read aloud.
'Witness the tormenter that has ruled over you all for so long, be punished and defeated at her own game and rules. A trial that will make history, a case that will stand the test of time. Watch as Celestia, the princess of hypocrisy and deception pays for her crimes by those that has suffered at her hooves for centuries. The event will be held near Ponyville, the capital of chaos. Just follow the signs and light and long live the New conflagration Confederacy.'
"This is outrageous, how can anypony believe this!" Shrill Shot yelled, almost disintegrating the poster.
"Calm down, we can use this as an opportunity to strike back and-
"These ponies in power make me sick! How could anything serve them loyalty?!" Shrill shouted, cutting off Silent Wind.
"Get the soldiers together, we'll attack one of the occupied cities while their leaders are away!" Bluster Cloud avowed. "Twilight get the…oh no…"
The commanders turned around to see that Twilight had vanished from sight.
"Endershine, call your brother here, quickly!"

"Do you remember what I've told you Zepher?"
"Yes Dark Fire, just give me time!"
"Time is what you should be bending, so don't give me that excuse!"
Dark Fire and Zepher were in a dark room as they heard faint cheering from down the dark hall. Zepher horn was practically overloading with yellow magic that his horn was leaking pure magic and made the room flare wildly.
"Just…a bit…more!" He struggled.
Zepher then put all he had into the spell until he collapsed onto the ground. Dark Fire then walked over to him and helped him up.
"It is done sire." Zepher said panting.
"Good…but I've just noticed that you look just like…me." Dark Fire said, walking over to the rune in the middle of the room.
"What are you saying Dark Fire?" Zepher asked confused.
"No, no…that's impossible, it could never be true." Dark Fire whispered to himself.
"Care to tell me what you're thinking about."
"It's nothing Zepher…just get the elements in here."
Zepher then walked out of the room without another sound. Dark Fire then lit up the rune with fire as it glowed brightly. His horn then glowed bright red as his hair did the same.
"VESTRA NOTA SIT ITERUM IN MUNDO. UT VENIAT AD IUDICIUM PECCATIS TUIS POTERIT MALEDICTA! NUNC CELESTIA, VESTRI EXILIUM FINITA, REVERTIMINI, ET RENASCI SEMEL ITERUM PER INFERNI, ET ARDET!"
The room shook wildly as a bright beam flashed into the rune. When it ended, all that Dark Fire saw was Celestia lying on the floor, almost lifeless.
"Get up, I know you're faking your pain, trying to make me feel sorry. Your hopeless…don't try to hide it."
Celestia struggled to stand but managed barely.
"It is you that is hopeless Dark Fire…and it is you that I feel sorry for, not I."
"Always one with sweet words the drip like honey, but it's nothing but a lie! You should be thanking me for speeding up your banishment. Sure it was a thousand years on the sun, but only six months here. If it wasn't for that, you would still be on the sun!" Dark Fire barked.
"I will never thank those that harm other ponies for selfish gain."
"Coming from a power hungry dictator that plants fear into ponies hearts!"
"Yet you declare war on my country."
"It's not yours anymore."
The door behind then burst open, revealing Stritin and Eccentric holding cuffs and chains. Ammisive and Maneful followed closely behind as the held the double doors open.
"Is the prisoner ready?" Stritin asked.
"I didn't realize princess Celestia had returned." Eccentric said, a bit surprised.
"Don't address her a princess! She lost that title long ago." Dark Fire exclaimed.
Ammisive and Maneful looked at each other confused before looking back at Dark Fire.
"You could have told us that the prisoner was Celestia though." Ammisive said.
"We would have come sooner rather than later." Maneful added.
"Silence, both of you…where's Castigate?"
"Yeah…about that."
"Whatever! Stritin and Eccentric, restrain the so call 'princess'! Ammisive and Maneful, lead her to the trial room!" Dark Fire commanded.
"So these are the ponies that you manipulated into becoming the Elements of Disharmony?" Celestia whispered in sadness.
"How could you possibly know-
"Such cruel names…they don't represent any of you at all. The names you all bare now is just another way to torment yourselves with your past mistakes. You all put on this image of what everypony thinks of you, but none of it is true. You allowed them to turn you into what you are today, but deep down you're still the ponies that I know and love. Many of you do this because you're afraid of what might happen…but I've forgiven you, all of you. Don't become a nightmare to your own selves." Celestia said, meaning every word.
"Don't listen to this witch…she will do anything to deceive you to get free!"
"No Dark Fire…you're the one that has been deceived by your master."
"I've stood by Discord for as long as I can remember…he would never betray me like that." Dark Fire declared.
"Discord…was not always your master."
"Then who was…tell me!"
"Herus…"
Dark Fire twitched at the sound of the name before exploding in rage.
"TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME!"
As they carried her off in chains, Dark Fire struggled to even think after countless, faint memories hammered his mind.
"How much do you know Celestia…nopony ever knows about that."

"Bets here, place your bets here! Will she burst into flames, explode or implode, or be sent into a black hole!? You decide as long as you place your bets here! Any is excepted, big or small, stupid or creative, we take them all!"
Castigate was in the main lobby, collecting "bets" from ponies behind a stand.
"Hey you, the entry fee is fifty bits!"
"But I just paid at the front door!" The pony shouted at him.
"That was to get in the lobby, to see the show is fifty bit…now pay up!"
"That's so stupid…you're just a frau-
Castigate quickly removed his pimp hat before casting his spell on him.
"Never call me a fraud, that's reserved for my sister only. Now give me your wallet."
The pony nodded happily before handing him all his bits and trotting off. Castigate then opened up the wallet and dunked the bits onto the table.
"Ahh I love the smell of stolen coin…bets here, place your bets here!"
He continued this for five minutes before sitting down to take a break. Hearing a loud ruckus, he glanced to his left to see two yellow stallions, with a big strange contraption, making apple cider.
"That will be ten bits ma'am." The pony with the mustache said.
"What do you two think you're doing?!" Catigate yelled over to them.
"What's it look like we're doing." The other pony said, popping out from behind the machine.
"It looks like you're taking my business, so beat it." Castigate ordered.
"We were here first so you should take a hike."
"Do you even know who I am…I can raise your taxes and make you bankrupted!"
"The better question is do you even know who we are?" The mustached pony asked.
"No and it shouldn't matter, you have about twenty-
The pony then shoved his card into Castigate's face.
"I'm Flam."
"And I'm Flim."
"And we're…the Flim Flam brothers!" They shouted, doing their pose.
Castigates left eye was twitching violently to the point that it almost broke his monocle.
"I'm going to tax you into poverty!"
"Not possible." Flam smirked.
"Why not?"
"We're traveling sales ponies; your power over us is inert." Flim stated.
"Then I'll make you go!" Castigate shouted, flickering his horn.
Castigate casted the spell on them with no second thought.
"Now that you're under my control… I command you to-
Flim and Flam looked at each other before exploding in a fit of laughter.
"You're laughing? Why are you laughing?! You're under my spell!" Castigate yelled angrily.
"We're sellsponies." Flam declared.
"We're naturally deceptive and clever." Flim said, poking Castigate's nose.
"And these horns aren't just for show." Flam added.
"So scram!" They both said, using their magic to throw him back into the stall.
They both laughed and then continued their work, acting like nothing happened.
"Those rip-off artists…that's my job!"
"You need help?" Stardancer asked, popping up from under the stand.
"H-how did y-you just-
"Don't ask…it's complicated."
"What were you doing down under the stand?" Castigate asked confused.
"Ummm…nothing much."
Castigate let out an annoyed groan as he continued to stare at the two sales ponies. Stardancer, on the other hoof, was staring at the bits on the table.
"Sooo…not that I care or anything, but do you need any help?" She asked, reaching for the bits.
Her hoof was instantly smacked away.
"Yeah, those two over there!" He yelled, pointing with his hoof. "They're stealing my business!"
"Well with a simple payment of-
Stardancer's face was then abruptly hit with a money bag.
"Take care of them will…you."
Castigate looked around for her, but it seemed as if she just vanished from thin air. She later popped up behind the, "Super cider squeezy 6000", and read aloud.
"Warning do not press…NOPE!" She shouted, bucking the button.
The machine gave a good shake before exploding. Flim and Flam then popped out of the rubble enraged.
"Ok, who's the pony that pressed the self destruct button?!" Flim screamed.
"Why would you even have that?" Catigate asked, smirking as he sat down and placed his hind-hooves onto the stand.
Meanwhile, behind the smoke of the explosion.
"Will you stand here for a moment?" Stardancer asked as she vanished.
"Umm, ok…why?" The pony asked confused.
The smoke dissipated within moments, due to magic, leaving the confused pony at the scene.
"So you're the one!" The Flim and Flam shouted.
"What n-no i-i-I was j-just-
This was all he said before multiple ponies tackled him.
"Hi, I'm back!" Stardancer shouted, appearing next to Castigate.
"Yeah, yeah, it's time to go now." He said, taking the bits.
"What…why? We were just getting started."
"The trail starts in five minutes; I'm the overseer of it to make sure nothing goes wrong. So goodbye." He said before teleporting.
Stardancer smirked as he vanished, taking out Castigate's money bag.
"That idiot didn't even notice I pick pocketed him. I'm just going to put this…in…my…
She looked down to see that her own money bag was taken.
"Why am I not surprised."

The walk was long, dark, and full of silence as the four ponies guided Celestia though the passage ways. The roaring sound continued to get louder and louder with each passing second. Soon, the light at the end of the tunnel made its presence known, and Celestia took the opportunity.
"Why do you obey him…Dark Fire? What has he promised you in return for serving him?"
There were no words from the four ponies. There was, however, silent nodes and expressions from them.
"Revenge." Ammisive said proudly.
"Redemption." Stritin whispered.
"Repayment." Eccentric replied.
"Rehabilitation." Maneful believed.
Celestia said nothing until they finally reached the light.
"Is it what you truly wanted…or just a lie you've forced yourselves to believe."
"I've had enough of your talking! You think you're so perfect huh! THEN WHY DID YOU TRY TO DESTROY MY FATHER!"
The doors then slammed open, revealing the full extent of the cheering and light. Celestia was the only one unfazed.
"Well look what we have here…a fallen princess with no scenes of honor." Castigate remarked, inspecting the prisoner.
"So you must be Castigate…tell me, does all that money make you truly happy."
"Let's just ask all the rich ponies who buy huge houses and throw big parties if money makes them happy." He said, sarcastically.
"On the outside they appear happy, but they put on a mask to hide their true sentiment."
"If money is so evil Celestia, then why do you have so much of it?" He countered.
"I never said money was evil Castigate…but the pursuit of wealth is. This is what you have done."
"And what about your determination for absolute power, is that not a sin as well! IS THAT NOT A SIN AS WELL!" He shouted in anger.
He then took a deep breath and laughed it off.
"You almost got me there 'princess'…but sadly for you, this is where your reign ends."
Castigate then signaled to the others to continue forward. Beyond the door was a huge arena like room surrounded by ponies that once served Celestia. Making her way to the center platform, ponies from all directions booed and threw multiple food items and objects at the princess. Celestia made and gave no gestures or responses to the ponies calling her names and throwing objects. In the distance, elevated above the action and crowd, were Stardancer and Trixie.
While Stardancer gave a look of approval, she noticed that Trixie barred a look of sorrow. Her train of thought was broken however, by a loud whistle on the top of the platform. Turning to look, she was surprised to see a familiar dark green unicorn smiling wickedly at her.
"Desolent?"
"Yes…it's me…YOUR ONCE IMPRISONED STUDENT!"
Desolent, out of anger, grabbed Celestia and threw her onto the platform. Before she could retaliate, he landed one solid punch to her mussel that knocked her back down. The crowd roared with endorsement at the sight before them.
"How does it feel Celestia…to have everypony hate you for just who you are! To have everything you loved stolen from your own eyes! Well this is what we have felt at your hooves!" Dark Fire yelled from a newly placed thrown.
"If you think you can control Desolent then you're a bigger fool than I've thought Dark Fire!"
"I've had enough of your talking, it's time that we talk, and it's time for our voices to be heard! IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO BE JUDGED LIKE WE WHERE MANY YEARS AGO!"
In a blink of an eye, Discord, Sombra, Nightmare moon, and Chrysalis appeared before her. Everypony then when silent as the Elements of Disharmony took their places around Celestia.
"I have already punished you according to your standard; but I shall be speaking for them on behalf of your punishment. Also, to make things better or for worse…
Dark Fire gave a gesture with his hoof, signaling the former princess Luna and Cadence into the room.
"They too will be put under the same punishments…let the trials begin."
Discord was up first, casually waving to ponies as he went.
"Hello, Tia and Lulu, how have you two been?"
Luna glared daggers at Discord and took two steps forward before Celestia stopped her.
"And who is this?" He asked curiously, approaching Cadence.
"I know about your tricks Discord, you can't fool me!" Cadence affirmed.
"I don't have too, your Shining Armor is good enough little pony."
Discord then conjured up two puppets of Cadence and Shinning Armor.
"Oh, I'm Cadence and Shining Armor, and we're in looove." He said in a childish voice, smashing the puppets together.
"Discord, we don't have time for that!" Dark Fire shouted.
"You're no fun." He pouted.
"Now let's start from the beginning…you, Luna and Discord used to be close friends. You helped each other out in all situations no matter how tragic or devastating…then you decided to betray him. Destroyed the friendship that you once held on to with your life. Do you have any-
"We did what we had to; Discord was getting out of control with ciaos and hurting everypony around him!" Luna shouted angrily.
"YOU PUT HIM IN A STONE, LET HIM TO ROT FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY!"
"WHY YOU IGNORANT LITTLE-
"Luna!" Celestia said, raising her voice to silence her sister. "This is my trial, let me fight my own battles."
Celestia took a step forward, affirming her presence to the accusers.
"I imprisoned Discord not because I wanted the throne or power or money, but because of his actions. Before I was separated from my family because of the Alicorn persecution, I swore that I would protect and defend everypony that cried for help. Everypony that cried out for peace and an end of suffering and hate. What Discord did went against everything I swore to keep, and I was going to stop him…even if he was my friend."
"So you admit that you had no remorse or regret when you overthrew your best friend?"
"Even though you may not believe, but when I heard of the grave news, my heart was broken. I gave him so many warnings before me and my sister were forced to use the elements of harmony on him. I was devastated when I saw him imprisoned; it was like losing a close relative."
"You must have really cared about him if you locked him up in stone and forgot about him!"
"That…was my fault." Celestia whispered.
"And so the truth flows." Dark Fire snickered.
"Even though I never forgot about him, I couldn't find an answer to change him from his ways. It ate away at my heart to see his stone statue in the royal gardens, thinking that it would be his final resting place."
"Then tell me this…why did you repeat the same process when he escaped his prison?! Why didn't you try to change him with your so called 'Friendship'?!"
"I thought that with the newly added element of magic that it would be enough to change him."
"Yeah, and we all know how that went. Surely you know that you can't force someone to become something new. This is what everypony calls free will Celestia, something you just don't get."
"So is this why you've corrupted everypony to serve you unwillingly."
Dark Fire silently cursed himself for pulling himself into a loop hole.
"They were under your control first Celestia, I simply freed them from it!"
"Convince yourself first before you try to convince others Dark Fire.
"Regardless, the punishment you gave him was ridiculous. For somepony to claim and speak highly about the powers of friendship, this was a low blow. It shows what a hypocrite you truly are."
In an abrupt flash, Celestia's right hind leg was turned into stone, causing her tail to fall limp.
"Unlike you Celestia, I don't turn ponies to stone…but Dark Fire does." Discord whispered.
Discord showed signs of regret at the sight before him before returning to his place among the others.
"This is ridiculous, you're accusing us of actions we were forced to perform for the good of Equestria!" Luna yelled
"SHUTUP AND LEARN YOUR PLACE, SLAVE!" Desolent yelled, back hoofing her across the jaw.
"Thy wants to fight me, so be it you disgraceful-
"LUNA…peace." Celestia said calmly.
"That right, listen to your slave master little filly." Desolent laughed.
Luna would have lunged at the mocking unicorn if it wasn't for Cadence holding her back, but only just.
"According to the timeline, Sombra was next on your punishing list." Dark Fire said, reading from the book.
"You better have a valid reason too; my father was wrongfully imprisoned in ice and destroyed because of you." Maneful said angrily.
"Are you blind Diamond Rose, your father turned all the crystal ponies into slaves for his benefit. He practically destroyed the crystal empire!" Cadence informed.
"How do you know my name!? And how can you even say that my father enslaved everypony!?"
"I did my research on the crystal empire princess rose. You were sheltered so much from the outside world that you believed everything your father told you without question. Sombra lied to you about everything you know to be true."
"No…NO …my dad would never…"
"ENOUGH!" Sombra yelled over the crowd. "You will cease to tell your lies to my daughter, or I will throw you into the pits of darkness myself!"
"That won't be necessary my friend, she will pay soon enough." Dark Fire reinsured.
Sombra felt uneasy as he stood in his place.
"So to back up my statement about you being a power hungry ruler, I shall tell Sombra's story. It begins when Celestia finding out about poor little Sombra." Dark Fire explained, taking out a Celestia, Luna, and Sombra plushy.
Celestia, Luna, and Cadence stared in confusion.
"Don't worry, Hasbro won't bust my flank for theses…unlike some fighting game we all know about." He whispered towards you. "Anyways, there you were, doing what you do best…nothing. That was until that certain article in the paper showed up."
Dark Fire, with his magic, manipulated the plushy to do whatever he wanted.
"Tia, that hot stallion called Sombra was just elected as king because of black pony month!" Dark Fire said, mimicking Luna's voice.
"I know right, he's like so cool and stuff…lets go beat him up!" He said, making his voice a high pitch to represent Celestia's.
Everypony was now either laughing, blushing out of embarrassment, or just plain awkward. After ten minutes of randomness from Dark Fire's stuffed ponies, he concluded.
"OH NOSE, NOT THE COMBINED POWERS OF THE PRINCESSES!"
After mimicking Sombra's voice, he made an explosion on the table, symbolising Sombra's defeat.
"Yay we won…DERP!"
"Well dur hur we won lupa Luna, we're jerks…and jerks always party! SYNCHRONIZED DANCE EVERYPONY!"
"We never said any of this!" Luna shouted unamused
"Wait wait wait... it gets better!"
Dark Fire then conjured the mane six, shining armor, and cadence plushies.

Another ten minutes later

"And that's how the crystal empire was made…THE END!"
"Even for you Dark Fire, this is stupid." Luna insulted.
"What, you don't like plushies!"
Sombra coughed loudly as he glared at Dark Fire.
"Oh sorry…the point I'm trying to make is that you never tried to help or befriend Sombra. You just showed up and took over without a second thought!"
"You know for a fact that Sombra was enslaving ponies, I had to stop him." Celestia declared.
"Did you even try to save him, explain what he was doing was quote unquote wrong!"
"I sent him so many letters, so many warnings, but he refused my help or reasons. He sent my messenger ponies back to me almost insane, babbling about what they had seen there…what choice did I have."
"You didn't even try to talk to him! Just like with Discord, when he came back you didn't care or try to help! You just let your servants handle all the work, thus destroying his physical and spiritual body."
"It pained me to see him cast into that prison twice, but there was no other way."
"There's always another way!"
Celestia's Left hind-leg was then converted into an ice pillar, immobilizing her.
"Nightmare moon…this is just self explanatory. SHE'S YOUR SISTER, AND YOU BANISHED HER TO THE MOON FOR ONE-THOUSAND YEARS!"
"She-
"Tia, we can talk for ourselves." Luna said to her. "We were still young, still ignorant, we felt jealous and unloved by our ponies. That is when she came to be." She said, pointing to Nightmare Moon.
"We felt thy pain to Luna, we just wanted to help, to show Equestria who the strongest princess was." Nightmare said with passion.
"It wasn't right, and my sister had no choice."
"Maybe at the time Luna, but did she ever visit you when you were on the moon. Try to talk you out of your believes. NO, she didn't, because she realized with you out of the way, she would have absolute power. No pony to turn to but her, she wanted you gone anyways, it was just an excuse to get rid of you for good."
"NO!" Celestia yelled. "If you think I'm horrible and a liar, fine, but please believe this. I was so close to finding a cure for her, but my research was always destroyed and sabotaged by those that wanted to see me suffer."
"A cure…from what?!" Dark Fire questioned.
"Miasma…it's a virus that travels in the air, through clouds, and anything imaginable. It's the most wicked magical energy there is." She explained.
"I've never heard of this before now, how do I know it's not just a lie like everything else you say?!"
Celestia then pointed to Nightmare Moon with her horn and fired a bright beam of light into her left fore-leg. This caused Nightmare to yell in pain.
"There is your proof."
Nightmare's left fore-leg was completely disintegrated, only showing a black cloud of smoke and shadow floating around where her fore-leg used to be. After some moments, the smoke and shadow energy reformed back into her fore-leg, as if nothing had ever happened.
"Why do you think she wants eternal night so much…it's because direct sunlight damages her. The Miasma is all in all just the same."
Everypony was in a fit of rage and rebellion as witnessed Nightmare being hurt by Celestia.
"Silence everypony! Judgment will be made soon…then you can all witness her end!"
Everypony cheered except Trixie, who in turn, stood and just watched.
"This doesn't feel right." Trixie said to Stardancer.
"Yeah I know…I paid forty bits for this?!"
"No that's not what Trixie means, she means that what Dark Fire is doing is…well…unnecessary."
"I don't care, as long as I get paid I'm fine."
"Do you ever think for yourself?!" Trixie yelled at her.
"No…thinking costs extra." She smiled.
"Oh Dark Fire, you selected Trixie to be princess over Equestria, but this isn't what Trixie had in mind."
"What's so bad about Celestia getting what she deserves?" She said, sipping on a drink.
"He plans to execute her."
Stardance abruptly spat her drink into Trixie face at her statement.
"Really, THAT'S AWESOME!" She said looking over the ledge.
Trixie coughed loudly to get her attention.
"Oh I'm sorry, ummm, you want a sip?" She said, handing Trixie the drink.
Trixie grabbed it with her magic and smiled; causing Stardancer to smile to before she threw it into her face. Staring at the unconscious pegasus, she noticed a black and green flash from the corner of her eye. When she looked, Celestia's right fore-leg was enveloped in black magic with Chrysalis taking Nightmares place.
"And now the last and most ironic case out of all of us, the changing invasion. This was was short but the most recent, excluding Sombra's second return. She had invaded Canterlot because she needed to feed off of love and to feed her army as well as her family. So surely of all places, if Celestia wasn't a hypocrite of course, Equestria would be the perfect place to acquire love. But what happened…I will tell you what happened, she exiled them out! Left them to starve on the outskirts of Equestria!"
Celestia's last leg was then magically changed into that of a changing's.
"They needed love to survive, and you kicked them out anyways! These are the reasons why you are being punished, these are the reasons why you will suffer, THESE ARE THE REASONS WHY YOU ARE DEEMED GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES!
Everypony, for the last time, cheered as they continued to insult and throw objects.
"So this is how it ends Celestia…"
Desolent was about to place a blindfold around Celestia's eyes until being halted.
"No…I want her to see this." Dark Fire said wickedly.
He then whistled loudly with his hoof. Then a door to the right of Celestia opened to show Zepher holding a sword in his mouth. On his back was a heavily sealed black box. Walking next to Dark Fire, he levitated the box off of his back and busted off the lock with magic.
"Zepher…my son…what have they done to you?" Celestia said, almost in tears.
He then spat the sword in front of Celestia.
"I'm assigned to execute you; it is a great honor to finish you off Celestia. After this there will be no question of loyalty to Dark Fire!"
"Zepher, wake up, you don't know what you're doing!" Cadence shouted.
"Shut up, both of you!" Dark Fire said, reaching into the black box and taking out a book.
"Is that…no… that book is too powerful for anypony to control!" Celestia screamed.
Dark Fire laughed maniacally at Celestia's concern.
"I can…and with this book, I control everything…I CONTROL ALL REALITY!"
Wait…what!
"That's right narrator…this book has the entire fanfic in it! With this I've become the ultimate ruler, and everypony will bow to me!"
"Only in your dreams Dark Fire!" Luna shouted.
"Now it doesn't have to be…"
As Dark Fire opened the book, a dark feeling overtook all of Equestria, as if all hope drained from everything around him. After writing several moments, he closed the book and smiled. Luna and Cadence looked at each other confused before the abruptly hit the floor and bowed to the very pony they hated.
"Now watch your princess parish from this life."
He signaled Zepher to pick up the sword and end the princess once and for all. There was no hesitation or regret in Zepher's face as he positioned the sword above Celestia's neck.
"Zepher, I just want to say that I'm sorry…I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you. It's all my fault. They took everything from me because I couldn't stop them. My kingdom…my ponies…my student…and now you. I have lost everything…so just end it already…I deserve it."
As Celestia started to shed tears, Zepher's eyes started to flicker, showing his true eye color of gold instead of pure white."
"Forgive me mother." He whispered, raising the sword.
"STOP THIS NOW!" A voice shouted from behind Celestia.
Everypony stopped in shock as they witnessed the impossible. At the entrance was none other than Twilight Sparkle.
"Let her go…RIGHT NOW!"
Zepher dropped the sword out of amazement leaving Celestia crying alone, but not out of sadness, but of joy.
"She's alive…I knew she was alive." She sobbed happily.
Luna and Cadence turned around, equally shocked at her appearance along with everypony else in the room.
"Celestia, I've come to save-
She was cut off by a sudden wave of fire erupting only one foot away from her. Jumping back in fear, she was grabbed by Shinning Armor.
"Big brother?"
"Yes twily, it's me…YOUR BIG BROTHER!" He shouted, punching Twilight across the face.
"W-what are you-
Magical aura then enveloped Twilight, making her lose control of her limbs.
"Trixie hasn't forgotten what you've done to her."
"Trixie? Why…I thought we were friends?"
"You, a friend of the great and powerful Trixie…don't make me laugh!" She said as lightning shot out from her horn, making Twilight cry out in pain.
"NO, Twilight!" Luna shouted before Nightmare Moon pinned her to the ground.
"Luna!" Cadence yelled before Sombra did the same to her.
During the chaos, Desolent parted the wall of fire and walked towards the trio of ponies.
"Desolent, we have her restrained for-
Desolent ignored Shining Armor as he forcibly launched him and Trixie into the pillars behind Twilight with wind blasts. Not caring who was hurt, he grabbed Twilight by the throat and held her by it.
"I knew you were alive Twilight, now I can finally absorb you and your magic and make it my own. Think about it…you will be part of the strongest unicorn that has ever lived. With that power, I can overthrow Dark Fire and become the absolute ruler of the world."
As he said this, Twilight felt her magic and life fading away rapidly as Desolent's hoof glowed dark yellow.
"And when that is all done, I shall throw the world into an apocalypse and destroy the world FOREVER!"
"NNNNNOOOOO!" Celestia screamed in rage.
Celestia's imprisonment was then illuminated bright white as her bindings were shattered. Her eyes then glowed bright white as her entire body lighted up like the sun, blinding everypony that saw her. As Desolent laughed evilly, Celestia flashed by him and punched him across the chin, releasing Twilight from his grip.
"NO PONY IS GOING TO STOP ME, ESPECIALLY A FALLEN PRINCESS!"
As Desolent charged up his magic, multiple explosions formed behind him, revealing the rest of the Elements of Harmony, the five pony commanders, Enderpearl and Endershine.
"You think bunch of colorful ponies will stop me!" He yelled, whistling loudly.
Just then, the rest of the Elements of Disharmony came to back up Desolent as they stood behind Celestia. Dark Fire then walked through the pillar of fire, quickly followed by Nightmare, Chrysalis, Sombra and Discord.
"You can't stop us Celestia." Dark Fire stated, throwing Luna and Cadence before them.
Desolent then backed up to regroup with the Elements of Disharmony. Meanwhile, Trixie and Shinning Armor blocked the only exit. They were still dazed from crashing into the pillars.
"STARDANCER, GET DOWN HERE!"
As Stardancer landed on the floor abruptly, Dark Fire noticed Lightning Dust hogtied to her.
"This is your fault." Lightning Dust said, aggravated.
"You're the one that tied me up!"
"I don't care…you will all be obeying my whim after this!" Dark Fire said, opening the black book.
"Celestia quickly, while he's distracted."
"I can't Twilight…the book he has is too powerful, I can't allow him to unlock its full potential." Celestia affirmed.
"AND NOW…" Dark Fire laughed, flipping the pages.
"But I came to save you Celestia, I can't leave you again!"
"YOU WILL ALL…" He yelled, as his horn glowed to right words.
"You already saved me Twilight, you're our last hope…NOW RUN!" Celestia ordered, slicing the rope that bound Lightning Dust.
"SUBMIT TO DARKNESS!"
Celestia turned around abruptly and shot the book out of Dark Fire's hooves. Before he could even react, Celestia unfurled her wings and caused a massive solar flare that blinded everypony in the room. When she knew that they had all left, she stopped her solar flare and surrendered.
"Be safe Twilight…you're our last hope."

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: A New Friend

One week before the incident

It was a beautiful winter night in Equestria, but then again, when wasn't it? Everypony was doing their own thing; from sleeping, to going out to late night parties with friends. Twilight however was snug in her living room, with a nice book in front of the fire sipping some hot chocolate. Around 9:00 PM, she started getting ready for bed until Spike walked in the room.

"I thought you were going to bed?" Twilight asked.

"Well Twilight, it's kind of hard for me to fall asleep so early." Spike replied.

"I told you to go to bed Spike. You need your sleep." Twilight said, glaring at him.

"Aww, can I have five more minutes? Please Twilight?" Spike begged.

"You asked for five more minutes ten minutes ago." Twilight said, looking at the clock.

"I promise, just five more minutes and I'll go to bed." Spike pleaded.

"Fine, five more minutes, but that's it." Twilight said as she sighed in defeat after watching Spike go into his room.

"Goodnight, my little assistant." Twilight whispered to herself as she closed her book about the history of Equestria, which was mainly based on the past events before Nightmare Moon. Suddenly, she felt a chill fill her home. As she looked around the room in surprise, a small tornado formed in the center of it.

'This can't be right. All of the windows are closed and the door is shut. What is causing this?' Twilight thought as lightning soon started striking the floor near the tornado.

If it had continued any longer, it would have caused some serious damage to her home. Suddenly, a bright light burst out from the center of the lightning twister, revealing a pony covered in smoke. Twilight recalled this event to be the same thing that happened long ago when her future self came back in time to tell her not to freak out. However, the pony that appeared in her living room was not her future self. As she examined the pony on the ground more closely, she discovered that he was a male unicorn about the same size as Big Mac.

His coat was dark red, with a long black mane and tail. It was obvious this pony did not know what a mane cut was. He also had a cutie mark of a green chemical bottle which meant alchemy, with a strange insignia on it almost resembling a backwards six. When he opened his eyes to look at her, Twilight then noticed that his eye color was a deep violet. Realizing that she was staring at his eyes for too long, she quickly looked down at the floor embarrassed. The unknown stallion then
began to speak in a calm, soft voice.

"Hello, I didn't mean to scare you with my fancy entrance Twilight, but that is not important at the moment." He told her.

"Wait, how do you know my name?" Twilight asked, reestablishing eye contact with him out of suspicion and curiosity.

"Twilight, if I remember correctly, this is the exact same thing you experienced with your future self, so please listen closely.
Everything around you will be put in danger if you don't do exactly what I say, do you understand?" He asked her in a serious tone.

Streaks of lightning started to come off of the red unicorn as he waited for her response.

"Yes, I understand but that still doesn't explain- " She was cut off by a black hoof being shoved into her mouth.

"Darn it Twilight, why do you have to be so cute when you're confused?" He asked her.

"What was that?" Twilight asked, almost shouting after she swatted his hoof away.

"That's not important, just listen to me, I don't have much time." The mysterious pony said exasperated.

"No, see you clearly said-."

"I don't care what I just said, just listen! You will be given a special assignment from Luna either today or tomorrow and it will be big. Also, tomorrow I will come into town by the road you took the first time you came into Ponyville. Don't tell him, I mean me, what I have done today or it will mess up the time frame." He said.

Lightning started to form around the unicorn at a rapid pace signaling the inevitable.

"Darn!" The unicorn shouted. "I should of had more time than this, something is affecting the spell! Twilight whatever you do, when I walk through that door eight days from now at exactly 8:00 pm, do not-" He was suddenly cut off when in a blinding flash of light the unicorn vanished, the only thing left was black marks on the floor and a lot of unanswered questions.

"He could have at least cleaned up the room!" Twilight shouted in frustration, looking around her messy space. "But what did he mean by all of that and that assignment?" She wondered, thinking about the information the mysterious stallion provided her with. "UGH, this is so confusing!"

Twilight decided that it was time for sleep, and hopefully she thought, it would make more sense tomorrow. However, what she didn't know was that Spike was eavesdropping the whole time on the conversation. He jumped in bed to act as if he was asleep as soon as she approached the room.

The next day came as Twilight awoke to the sun's bright rays, shining in her face. It was Monday and it was always hard to get up on Mondays for anypony, even for her. However, this did not stop her at all from what she had to do today... nothing, or at least that's what she thought. She then went to the kitchen to have breakfast with Spike who was still half asleep. Soon, while enjoying a nice fresh bowl of honey and oats, the subject of what happened yesterday popped up.

"Sooooooo..." Spike elongated, "When were you supposed to meet that red pony again?"

Twilight, who had been drinking some of her orange juice, suddenly spat it out on to the table and looked terrified. She forgot that one thing she was supposed to do.

"Oh my Celestia, he never told me exactly what time he would come into Ponyville! Quick, what time is it?" Twilight asked, panicking. "Wait how do you know about this?" She asked, glaring at him.

"Well, you see, about that..." Spike started trailing off from the rest of his sentence, looking left and right desperately trying to find an answer to her question.

"Never mind, you can tell me later, we need to go now!" Twilight said forgetting that she had a table cloth around her neck as soon as she ran out of the kitchen.

"Oh brother." Spike said, frustrated as he ran to catch up.

On the outskirts of Ponyville

"So this is uuhhh… what is this place?" The red unicorn pondered, as his downright ancient map levitated up into his face. "Why isn't this on my map? And what the hay is Ponyville?" He shouted to himself.

He soon decided to keep on trotting down the road because, well, there was nowhere else to go, and he was hungry as a horse.

"Okay, I will make refuge here for today and maybe I could get some answers." He said, beginning to carelessly walk with his map in his face again.

He soon reached the small bridge that went over the stream along Ponyville until he tripped on a loose cobblestone. The map he was levitating began to fall to the floor in front of him only to be stopped short by a certain lavender mare.

"Oh man, I am so glad I found you, I have been looking everywhere. Oh, where are my manners? I'm Twilight Sparkle, what is your name?" Twilight asked.

"I'm sorry, have we meet before?" The red unicorn asked as he looked up at her. "My name is Night Shadow by the way."

"No… I don't believe we have." Twilight said, extending her foreleg to help him up off the ground.

"You know, I am perfectly capable to get up on my own..." Night Shadow grabbed hold of Twilight's hoof, getting pulled up. "But thank you."

Twilight now noticed that he was wearing some strange devices, two in fact, that fit on each leg like bracelets. There were eight in total. They were silver and each had a glowing purple gem in the center. She was curious about them but didn't want to ask yet.

"Nice cape, where did you get it? I might want to get one myself, a black one though." Cutting her off mid-thought.

"What are you ta…" Twilight stopped and looked behind her, noticing what he meant and began to blush lightly. "Oh that... I was in a rush." She said blushing, then she took it off casually, hoping that no one saw her.

"No kidding. Well I will be off unless you want to assist me in finding a place to stay for tonight." Night Shadow said.

"That sounds wonderful, I can introduce you to my friends while we're at it." Twilight said cheerfully as they walked along the bridge. That's when Spike finally caught up with them.

"There you are, Twilight!" Spike said as he walked up to Night Shadow and pointed at him. "Hey isn't that the guy from the, mmmmffpp!"

He was silenced by Twilight who closed his mouth like a zipper using a spell. This made Twilight nervous as she looked at Night Shadow, thinking that the time span would collapse if anything were to be said. Instead he looked confused and impressed at what had just happened.

"I have never seen a spell like that before! You must be quite good at magic to pull that off without even looking at whoever is talking to you. Who's teaching you, or are you self taught?" Night shadow asked, now looking interested.

"Well I do self teaching sometimes, but Princess Celestia is the one who teaches me the most." She said this with confidence, expecting a surprised response from Night Shadow, but instead got the opposite.

"Oh her... I should have known better." The interest of the subject seemed to drain from his face as she spoke.

"What's wrong with Celestia?" Twilight said in a now defensive manner.

"Well, she and I have had some…disagreements. But it's nothing you should worry about." He said in a dismissive tone.

Twilight was about to say something until Spike unzipped himself and started to speak.

"Twilight, you know that I hate it when you do that!" Spike said rubbing his mouth as the zipper disappeared.

"Well if we're done standing around, can I have my map back?" Night Shadow said almost abruptly as if trying to change the subject.

"I am... sorry, here you go." Twilight levitated the map to Night Shadow who then caught it with his own magic.

Twilight also noticed that his magic aura was dark purple which were somewhat similar to his eyes. He put the map in a golden container for protection, and then stuffed it into his black bag.

"Okay Twilight, lead the way." Night shadow said pointing a hoof forward.

Twilight took the lead as him and Spike followed her to the center of town. She explained that the town hall was where Mayor lived, and other information she thought he should know. Everything was normal until they ran into a certain pink pony that gasped when she saw Night Shadow, jumped twenty feet into the air, and took off.

"Who was that? And how did she…" Night Shadow looked at Twilight, confused and frightened.

"That's Pinkie Pie, one of my friends, and don't try to understand her. I tried and it ended badly. That's when I learned to accept the way my friends are no matter how weird. Although you can expect her to throw you a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party." Twilight said, laughing at the expression on his face.

"Just like that? No one has ever been that nice to me before, but I don't plan on staying that long unless I change my mind." He said.

"Well, let me introduce you to another one of my friends, she lives at Sweet Apple Acres." Twilight declared with a wide smile.

"Why do I feel like I have done this before?" Spike asked sarcastically.

Soon, after twenty minutes of walking, they arrived at the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres.

"Well here we are." Twilight said looking at Night Shadow.

"Does your friend have enough trees; there must be hundreds of these things!" Night Shadow asked in amazement.

"Well she supplies all the apples for Ponyville, so logically there would be a lot." Twilight said.

"A lot doesn't even come close to this."

Night Shadow continued to stare in awe at the apple trees until a certain orange pony snuck up on him.

"Well howdy there partner, what brings you to Sweet Apple Acres?" Applejack asked in her usual southern accent.

Night Shadow would have responded if he had not gotten scared out of his hooves.

"T-Twilight, who is that?" Night Shadow asked stuttering behind her.

Twilight chuckled at this and then responded. "This is my friend, Night Shadow meet Applejack, Applejack, Night Shadow." She said calmly.

"Sorry about scaring you there, I see you're a friend of Twilight. Um… are you from out of town?" Applejack said apologetically.

"Yeah… let's go with that, but me and Twilight just met if that's what you mean." Night Shadow said.

His stomach began to grumble loudly, making him blush out of embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry if this sounds rude, but can you make me some food. I don't have any money to pay you with…"

"Not a problem sugar cube, this one is on me." Applejack said happily as she interrupted him.

"Just like that? I mean you're not angry or anything for me not having any money?" Night Shadow asked with a worried expression.

"No, I would do that for one of Twilight's friends or just about anypony." Applejack said leading them on through the orchard.

"Thank you Applejack, I swear I will repay you back tenfold." He said trying to reassure Applejack his gratitude.

"Aw shucks, how kind of you, but it's not necessary." Applejack said, now blushing.

"No, no, I insist." Night shadow said pressing on his exchanging gratification payment.

"Well then, I will just introduce you to the rest of my family." Applejack chimed, smiling happily.

"The… the rest?" Night Shadow asked bearing a frightened look on his face.

Applejack then turned around and whistled towards the barn. Just then all of Applejack's family charged out from random directions and carried Night Shadow to a nearby table. After all the chaos and introductions he received from each member of the Apple family, he was finally able to sit down. Before him were plenty of apple-based products, which was able to feed all of Ponyville. Night Shadow took no time at all to start devouring everything in front of him at an insane speed.

"Um, Twi, how long has it been since he last had food?" Applejack asked with a surprised glance at the lavender mare.

"He… never… told me, Applejack." Twilight responded to Applejack's question and was just as surprised as her; Spike on the other hand didn't seem to care.

Night Shadow was on the verge of eating his fourteenth apple pie until he was yanked away by Twilight.

"Well Applejack, thanks for everything, we will come back tomorrow." Twilight said, dragging Night shadow away from the table.

"Okay, see y'all tomorrow." Applejack waved her hoof.

"Hey, I wanted to eat that!" Night Shadow said with a look disappointment.

"I think, no, I know you have had enough. Come along Spike, we're leaving." Twilight said.

Twilight still had to drag Night Shadow with her magic to the next destination, where she had no idea was.
After several minutes, Twilight released her grip on Night Shadow to ask him something.

"What was that back there, you acted as if you hadn't eaten in days." Twilight said with a concerned tone.

"Ha, more like weeks. I have tried before now, but there was no way I was going to beg for food, that's just disgraceful. Converting clouds to water was also tricky, but manageable." Night Shadow said scratching his head and gave one more quick laugh.

"Oh yeah, you starved but at least your pride was intact." Twilight said glaring at him.

"Hey, I was trained to survive the worst of what Equestria had to offer and come out stronger, like griffins, fires, blizzards, and… rainbows." He said looking up in the sky.

Just then Night Shadow was hit by what looked like a rainbow bullet only to be revealed as a cyan coat pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail.

"Rainbow Dash, why would you do that?!" Twilight asked almost shouting.

"I was practicing my latest trick for the wonderbolts until I got carried away, and your coltfriend just happened to be in my way."

"Coltfriend!" Twilight shouted, blushing furiously.

"Colt what?" Night Shadow asked as he pushed Rainbow Dash off of him. "I can't really hear anything right now, everything is all fuzzy."

Rainbow Dash would have informed him, but burst out laughing at Night Shadow's new mane and tail style. It was full of mud, dirt, and it shot out like a porcupine's spikes. Spike burst out laughing as well and even Twilight let out a few chuckles.

"Here let me fix that for you. Now you can say that the one and only Rainbow Dash helped you with a… slight problem." Rainbow Dash said still trying to hold in her laughter.

"Actually, the last time you did that…" Twilight couldn't finish her sentence in time before Rainbow Dash blow dried his mane with a small tornado.

"I don't see a difference." Rainbow Dash commented after finishing.

"That's because you didn't use water." Twilight said as she levitated him over to a nearby lake and dunked him in several times.

"Will you two stop this, I can fix it myself!" Night Shadow shouted as he broke the spell around him with his own magic without thinking and crashed into the water again. He emerged with his black, wet mane brushing along the grass. "Okay, I will only show you all this once, now what I do first is uh… no that's not right." Night Shadow said as he continued to fumble around with his mane for a minute.

"You don't even have a style for your mane do you?" Twilight asked still watching him fumble with his mane.

"Yes I do, it's called… natural?" Night Shadow said, now questioning himself, he never touched his mane with a comb, he just let the wind do it for him. The two mares in front of him were even wondering if he ever heard of a brush before.

"That's it whoever you are, I am going to fix your mane and there's nothing stopping me this time." Dash said, now determined.

"Wait you two, we don't have to fight." Twilight said with concern for her friends.

"Don't worry Twilight, this will be over in ten seconds flat." Night Shadow said with a newfound confidence.

"Hey that's my line!" Rainbow said as she tackled him.

They began to wrestle, trying to pin each other down. This continued for more than ten seconds before Twilight shouted at them.

"Night Shadow, Rainbow Dash, stop fighting! This is not how ponies become friends!"

"So that's your name huh, it's not as cool as mine though." Rainbow said, having Night Shadow pinned to the ground on his stomach. He then used his magic to lift her off gently, only to lunge at her in mid-air knocking her on her back with his hoof on her chest.

"Really, I think it's twenty percent cooler than yours actually." Night Shadow said with a smirk on his face.

"Stop doing that!" Rainbow said with an annoyed look.

"Stop doing what, my magic or your phrases? Because you're going to have to make me." Night Shadow stated now with a playful smile.

"Oh, you're so going down!" Rainbow said before she grabbed Night Shadow's hoof that was pinning her down with her forelegs, flipping him over her head making him land on his back.

Just then a magical bubble envelopes the both of them making them float and unable to move, but it wasn't coming from Twilight.

"What are you two ruffians doing?" Rarity asked as she emerged from an ally nearby.

"Oh, I'm glad you came when you did Rarity, things were getting out of hoof." Twilight said a bit relieved.

"No darling, what's out of hoof is that mane, just look at it, it's a fashion disaster." Rarity said with clear disgust in her voice.

"Rarity, we went over this already." Rainbow said rolling her eyes.

"Not you… him." Rarity said, pointing a hoof at Night Shadow.

"HEY, it's not that bad ok, just put me down and I will be out of your hair." Night Shadow said with pleading eyes.

"My hair? What about your hair, we must get it fixed." She said looking at his mane inattentively.

"Where are you taking me, put me down, Twilight, help me!" Night Shadow yelled panicking.

Spike subconsciously started to follow them with hearts in his eyes as they disappeared from sight. Twilight, realizing what just happened, chased after them.

Twenty-five minutes later

"This one looks too bulky, find a new one in the closet will you Spike." Rarity said waving Spike off toward the closet.

"Of course, Rarity." Spike said without question.

"Well what do you think, Night Shadow?" Rarity said behind him, laying more clothes on top of him.

"Rarity, we've been through ten different suits, twenty-five different hats, and five hair styles on my mane, can you please give me a break." Night shadow said getting close to collapsing onto the ground.

"Oh but a fashionista never sleeps dear, now you were telling me where you were from." Rarity says while trying to think of a new way to do his mane.

"I was?" 'Ok Night Shadow, no pony can know of your past, just say a place and that should be enough.' He thought before speaking again. "Um, I'm from... Canterlot?"

"You are from Canterlot too!" Rarity said with joy.

"Yeah... 'Oh great.'" Night Shadow thought.

"Twilight is from there as well, and speaking of Twilight" Rarity said, turning to the door.

Twilight was half-way through the door before she was noticed.

"Twilight, what do you think about his suit, do you think it's too bulky?" Rarity said in doubt.

While Rarity was turned around, Night Shadow mouthed the words "help me" to Twilight. Unfortunately for him, she didn't get the message.

"Wow Rarity, I love what you did with his mane."

Night Shadow couldn't help but face-hoof.

"It makes him look cute, especially with the suit." Twilight complimented.

He was now in a dilemma of embarrassment and hopelessness until Spike walked in with the suit that was requested.

"Oh good the suit is here, Night Shadow try this on as well." Rarity then notices the suit has emeralds on it. "Emeralds, what was I thinking when I made this, let me get this some rubies!"

Rarity then ran out of the room, but she wasn't the only one. Twilight swung around when she heard the window crash behind her only to find a note that said, "Sorry about that" On the ground where Night Shadow used to be.

"Spike I'm going to find him, you stay and help Rarity… shouldn't be too hard right." Twilight said sarcastically as she ran out the door. Spike didn't respond as he stared off into the hallway where Rarity had disappeared to.

"Can you please come back down from there; I'm not trying to hurt you." Night Shadow said looking up into a tree. "I just need some directions and you seem normal compared to everypony else I have spoken to, so please come back down."
There was no movement or even noise for about a minute until Night Shadow became frustrated.

"FINE, be that way, I didn't need your help anyways, I will just leave you up there!" Night Shadow said, about to walk away until he heard Twilight calling for him.

"Change of plans." Night Shadow said, teleporting next to the pony in the tree only to have her fly back down at the sound of Twilight voice.

"Oh thank goodness you're here, this strange looking stallion was trying to ask me all these questions and he scared me so much that didn't know what to do." The pony said, timidly.

"That was probably Night Shadow, do you know where he is." Twilight said.

"He's… he's in the tree over there." The yellow Pegasus pointed in the direction.

"Night Shadow, get down from there, I want you to meet my other friend." Twilight said.

"Do I have to be friends with everypony in this town?" Night Shadow said sarcastically.

"Night Shadow, this is Fluttershy." Twilight said happily.

"Ah ha!" Night Shadow shouted as if he found the cure for mad pony disease. "That's why you were all shy and stuff, it's in your name! I should have known!"

Fluttershy was taken aback from this and hid behind Twilight.

"Is… Is he always this loud?" Fluttershy whispered.

"Well he is forty feet high in a tree… wait FORTY FEET HIGH IN A TREE! Night Shadow get down from there or you will hurt yourself! You're not exactly built for flying you know!" Twilight shouted at him.

"Me hurt myself? Don't make me laugh…well actually that happens all the time but that's not the point!" Night Shadow said as he made fun of himself. He then started to lean on a branch that wasn't exactly stable. "The point is, I have been climbing trees since I was a young colt, and I'm a unicorn. I could always teleport or levitate my way out. What could possibly go wrong?"

As soon as those exact words were spoken, the branch he was leaning on instantly snapped and he fell head first into the ground.

"Oh no Night Shadow! I told you that you would hurt yourself!" Twilight yelled as she trotted towards him.

"Is it happy hour yet?" Night Shadow said as he tried to get up only to fall on his head again. "There are stars everywhere Twi!" He said before he blacked out.

"Will he be okay? I think he's hurt really bad." Fluttershy said to Twilight.

"Don't worry; I have dealt with head injuries before, just need to get him to my house so I can concentrate on it. Besides, he's really hard headed." She said to cheer up Fluttershy, who was still worried.

Twilight levitated Night Shadow onto her back after saying goodbye to Fluttershy and left to her tree house. It wasn't long before Twilight got to her house, mainly because she teleported. She instantly got to work and helped Night Shadow, who was still unconscious, into the guest room. The room was dark with only a candle as a light source, it would have to do for now.

"Step one." She said to herself as she tucked the unicorn into the guest bed.

After taking his temperature and hooking him up to a heart monitor she became a bit worried for him.

"Both are abnormally high for just a head injury. There must be something else going on that I can't explain." Using her magic, she attempted to alleviate some of the tension and possible pain she thought he was experiencing in his head, but to no avail.

"Whatever is going on in there, it is pretty serious." She said as she wiped away the beads of sweet forming on his forehead.
The devices on his legs started to glow purple and hum silently as she continued to work.

"Please be okay Night Shadow, there's so much we can learn from each other." She said as she slowly dozed off next to him.

Night Shadow was wandering around in a black void deep in his mind. This would typically happen to him when he sleeps or in this case, became unconscious. The only thing he could do in this situation was wait until he woke up; however, it was not that simple for this particular unicorn.

"You were always a failure Night Shadow; you deny your true potential and who you really are. Why not use your gifts for yourself instead of hiding it away from all those that would shudder at your power." A familiar voice echoed in the darkness in Night Shadow.

"You can't control me to do your bidding! I will not hurt others for our past mistakes." Night Shadow yelled.

"OUR MISTAKES!" The dark voice boomed through the invisible walls of his mind. "May I remind you that it is YOU who is in charge of this body Night Shadow, not me! I only provide the advice necessary for you to succeed, but you ignore me, you shun me farther into the empty shell of your mind! This is why you constantly fail to achieve greatness in this world, you're nothing but a red carpet who is going to be walked all over and taken advantage of! Am I supposed to just sit here and watch this happen before my eyes?!" The dark voice boomed.

"Do you have to yell, it's not like you will change my mind that way." Night Shadow said with an uninitiated look.

"As you wish." A figure emerged from the darkness into the small spectrum of light surrounding Night Shadow. He was an exact replica of himself, from hair to the tail. The only difference was he was paler and had blood red eyes.

"Are you happy now, oh wait, you're never happy." He said as he laughed maniacally.

"Ha ha, very funny, so you never even told me your name, or did you steal that from me too?" Night Shadow countered.

"My name will be known in time, to you and all of Equestria when I'm done with you." The dark pony said.

"Now, now, no need to be like that." A much calmer voice said behind the darker clone of Night Shadow. He looked like him as well, but only lighter and with bright blue eyes.

"Oh look, are you here to preach to us." The darker one said with a smirk.

"You would be right if it wasn't for the situation." The lighter unicorn said. "Anyways, Night Shadow should be free to select his own path without you interfering with his emotions and thoughts, it's not called free will for a reason you know." The blue eyed pony said.

"Guys please stop, you're giving me a headache!!" Night Shadow finally shouted.

"Shut up Night Shadow, you're too weak to act anyway..." The darker one then placed his hoof on Night Shadow's forehead. "This is why I will be taking over FOR YOU!"

Just then Night Shadow awoke abruptly and screamed out at the top of his lungs. Twilight, being shot out of the bed, experienced a wave of fear as she witnessed the purple aura begin to surround him like a fast twister of light. She had no idea how to respond as the purple aura was being dominated by red aura and his eyes changed from purple to bright red. Night Shadow started to levitate in the air as the room was being torn apart by the raw destructive power.

She was about to use her magic to attempt to calm him down until the devices on Night Shadow flared bright red and stopped the screeching unicorn. Slowly floating back down, the devices' colors changed from bright red to purple once again. Only when his eyes went back to normal did Twilight decide to try to talk to him.

"What in all of equestria just happened?!" She asked as if she saw a ghost.

"What just happened?" Night Shadow asked Twilight as if she knew.

"That's what I asked you!" Twilight yelled.

Night Shadow then looked at the devices on his fore-legs and it came to him.

"Oh my gosh, are you ok, I'm so sorry it happens at random, please don't hate me." He said with a frightened look on his face.

"No, its fine, you're just full of surprises. You should be lucky Rarity didn't cut your hair or your head would have been in a lot worse condition." She said with a chuckle.

"Well she tried to; I had to enchant my hair so she couldn't cut it, you could say it was a close cut."

Twilight started laughing like he told a really good joke. Night Shadow smiled but not because of the joke, but from her response.

"Oh, and speaking of surprises." Twilight said as she casually walked to the exit and bucked the door open to reveal the pink pony he met earlier.

"Surprise!" The pink pony shouted. Night Shadow was taken aback by the sure strangeness of this mare, but considering the events earlier, this was normal to him, or so he thought.

"Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie and I made this party just for you, were you excited, were you, were you, were you?"

Night Shadow looked at Twilight for an answer that he should give, she replied with a nod.

"Yeah… very surprised." He said sarcastically as he walked over to meet her. It was then he noticed multiple groups of ponies in Twilight's home. "Wait, how did you have time to organize this Twilight?" Twilight was nowhere to be found in the crowd.

"Oh a lot of things can happen off screen." Pinkie said to Night Shadow who was left confused and intrigued.

"How did you do that?" Night Shadow asked.

"I will tell you later, but first we have a party to celebrate!" Pinkie shouted. "I invited everypony too, and since you hit your head I thought I would make it a welcome to ponyville, get well soon party!"

"How did you know I hit my head?" Night Shadow said amazed.

"Well that one was easy; you have a big bump on your head, you kind of look like a bicorn." She said laughing. Night Shadow, however, felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him at the statement.

"Don't worry about it, this party is about you remember." Pinkie said to cheer him up. "Besides, everypony is here to meet you personally."

"Everypony!?" Night Shadow almost shouted.

"Yeah, I said that several sentences ago silly… did I say them right?" Pinkie said looking up.

"Oh great." Night Shadow mumbled.

After being introduced to all of the ponies in Ponyville and then some, the party officially began with a bang as Pinkie shot her party cannon. There was lots of food, games, and of course music to it all. Celestia had already lowered the sun for the moon to appear by the time everypony left. Both Twilight and Night Shadow could agree on something for once, it was some party, which they would have to clean up after.

"That was amazing!" Night Shadow shouted, still hyper from all the sweets. In addition to this his horn would not stop glowing. "I think I'm going to stay a bit longer in town until I decide if I should leave or not."

"I just realized you don't have a place to stay for tonight." Twilight said.

"Oh don't worry, I can just find a tree to sleep under outside, it doesn't bother me." Night Shadow said reassuringly.

"You know, that my house is technically a tree?" Twilight said rubbing the back of her neck.

"Oooohhh I get it, you want me to sleep under this tree outside." Night Shadow said, causing Twilight to face hoof.

"No you oaf, you can sleep here, I have a spare room you can use. That is, until you decide if you want to stay or not." Twilight shouted.

"Well... um… about that…" He was soon cut off by Spike entering into the room with a scroll in his claw.

"Twilight, Twilight!" Spike shouted showing her the scroll. "It's a letter for you, but it's not from Princess Celestia."

"Let me see it." Twilight said as she levitated it in front of her for everyone to see:

'Dear Twilight,

We are sorry for such short notice, but there has been a recent disturbance that needed our attention. An old foe has returned but has eluded us for the time being; however this is not the reason for this letter. You have been assigned to be in charge of the winter moon celebration that will take place in Ponyville seven days from now. This celebration is exactly like the summer sun celebration only with the moon and a different season in which we shall raise the moon instead of the sun. Your organizing skills shall be most useful for your assignment, and expect a pleasant surprise tomorrow.

Signed,

Princess Luna.'

"This is great Twilight." Spike said, reassuring her after seeing her worried reaction to the letter.

"What did she mean when she said an old foe has returned?" Twilight asked confused only to find Night Shadow jump inbetween her and Spike.

"Oh Twilight, don't worry about it." Night Shadow laughed nervously as he took the letter. "Besides, you have more important things to do like this celebration Princess Luna has told you about." He continued to laugh nervously.

"So do you know who this new enemy might be?" Twilight asked Night Shadow who started sweating. "Do you have a fever Night Shadow?" Twilight said.

"Nope… haha… just tired… haha… I'm going to bed, good night." He said in a hurry as he closed the door to his new room.

"He's so weird." Spike said as he walked up to his room.

"To be honest Spike, we fall into that category sometimes as well." Twilight said out loud as she lay in bed wondering where to begin with everything.

She then recalled the prediction made by future Night Shadow about this event, wondering if this old foe will cause the tragedy seven days from now. Many thoughts went through her head before she finally fell asleep.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Iron Pony Competition
Five days before the incident….

The snowy weather of winter did not let up until about 11:00 am, the same time Night Shadow was outside training for his recent challenge. He chose the location of a field surrounded by trees because of its peacefulness and security from those that could potentially sneak up on him. Continuing his training for three more hours, it became apparent that his opponent had forgotten.

"Where in the heavenly hay bale is that darn rainbow pony?!" Night Shadow wondered, pacing back and forth in the snow.

"She said she would be here by now… or did she even give a time? No matter, if she's not going to show up, I will make her show up."

Night Shadow's horn started to glow dark purple as he said those words.

"Now how did this spell work again? I think it was: sense out target, change location of target, bring target in said spot… Okay, I hope that's it…" Night Shadow said without confidence.

Doing just as he said, a rainbow pony landed behind him indicating that the spell worked.

"So Rainbow Dash, you thought you could get away from what you started?" Night Shadow paused for an answer smirking.

"How many times must I tell everypony, my name… is Rainbow BLITZ, get it right!" He said angrily as he flew off.

"Sorry, I thought you were somepony else!" Night Shadow shouted back to him. "Apparently I needed to add more detail: stubborn, competitive, and… oh yeah, female." Night Shadow said to himself.

Surely enough, he finally got the right pony he was looking for after several other misunderstandings with other ponies of the same color or similar names.

"It's about time!" Night Shadow shouted. "I have never been so happy to see you; do you know how many times I have been yelled at today? Like over nine-thousand times Dashie, that's like nine-thousand, plus one."

"Don't call me Dashie, no one calls me Dashie!" She said getting into Night Shadow's face.

"HI, DASHIE!" A familiar but sometimes annoying voice shouted, resulting in Night Shadow bursting out laughing.

"Pinkie Pie, I was trying to make a point to him." Rainbow Dash said turning to face her.

"Well, why would you want to make a point silly, and shouldn't you be practicing for your competition?" Pinkie asked happily.

"The only thing that I practiced is flying tricks and stunts. Everything else is a piece of cake." Rainbow Dash said to Pinkie.

"Ooo, I love cake. Chocolate cake with the ice cream, and sprinkles, and frosting and-"

"But Pinkie… the cake is a lie!" Night Shadow shouted cutting her off.

"That's silly, you can't eat lies… but I wonder what those taste like? Probably sour and spicy at the same time, or maybe salty but with a twist, or maybe even-"

"Pinkie, you're off subject again, and the reason I said that is because I'm a world class athlete. Everything by default will be too easy for me." Rainbow said, proudly interrupting her.

"Calm down Dashie, just because you're good at something doesn't mean you can't get better. That's how you keep your skill up and advance higher in that category; I'm sure that even the tyrants, I-I mean princesses practice their magic as well." Night Shadow said sweating.

"Wait, what do you mean by-"

"New subject Dashie, NEW SUBJECT!" Night Shadow yelled becoming paranoid, cutting off Rainbow's question.
"Wait, I just wanted to ask-"

"I didn't say anything, what are you talking about hahahahahaha, you guys, always joking around and hearing things that AREN'T TRUE!" Night Shadow said almost losing his sanity and cutting off Rainbow again.

"What are you tal-"

"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME!" Night Shadow shouted before Pinkie slapped him across the muzzle.

"That was awesome, is it my turn now?" Pinkie asked excited.

"NO… but thank you Pinkie, I really needed that." Night Shadow said as his eyes readjusted from the slap. "Now on the other hoof, I'm still wondering how Pinkie even found us."

"Yeah Pinkie, how did you even know we were here?" Rainbow Dash asked puzzled.

"Well, when Night Shadow started making ponies fall from the sky, I ended up in this bush, so here I am." Pinkie said joyfully.

"How did you even fall into the category I was thinking of?" Night Shadow asked confused.

"I have no idea." Pinkie said after thinking for a bit.

"Well that escalated quickly, if you need me I will be training." Night Shadow said walking over to Rainbow Dash. "Hey Rainbow, you want to help?"

"Help how?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Just find things that are heavy and I will try to balance them, same goes for you Pinkie if you want to." Night Shadow said getting into position.

"So, let me get this straight, all we have to do is find things for you to balance?" Rainbow Dash asked in order to make sure she understood what he was getting at.

"Pretty much, but only when I say go." Night Shadow pointed out.

"He just said go!" Pinkie said, already getting objects to throw.

"No, that's not what I meant, when I say go, you go." Night shadow said waving his hooves at her.

"He just said it again!" Pinkie yelled, picking up a big stick.

"Okay, Pinkie, let's get him!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she quickly grabbed a rock.

"What have I gotten myself into?" Night Shadow said to himself bracing for impact.

One by one, objects of all shapes and sizes were flung at Night Shadow. Catching all the items, he balanced them on his back, hooves, muzzle, and even his horn. The assault continued for a good minute before even Night Shadow had enough and told them to stop. The objects collected ranged from rocks and sticks, to pianos and giant flower bags, courtesy of Pinkie.

"Pinkie Pie, where did you find an extra large pickle jar again?" Night Shadow asked while doing a hoof stand on his right foreleg.

"I don't know." Pinkie said shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, anyway, the next step is to try to distract me. Just no hitting, pushing, bucking, or any of the sort." Night Shadow said before Rainbow Dash spat in his face. "Or spitting." He said as the spit traveled off his face.

"Ooo, I have an idea!" Pinkie said whispering her plan to Rainbow Dash.

"That's perfect, oh this is going to be so awesome!" Rainbow Dash said smiling at Night Shadow who was looking up at them.

"What are you two planning?" Night Shadow asked nervously.

"You will see soon enough… or feel." Rainbow Dash said, walking out of his sight along with Pinkie.

Night Shadow could do nothing but wait for the impending torture. Almost becoming impatient, he tried to talk to them to hurry up but was instantly poked with a pointy stick.

"Oww, what was that for?" Night Shadow asked before being poked in the chest.

"Shh, no talking." Pinkie said before poking him again.

"Stop stabbing me with that stick!" Night Shadow pleaded to Pinkie.

"Hey, I think its working, keep it up." Rainbow Dash whispered to Pinkie.

"I heard that and let me tell you, it's going to take a lot more to-"

Night Shadow tried to say before Rainbow's tail started to rub his nose. She continued to do this until Night Shadow sneezed, unfortunately for him his other hoof was occupied carrying a birthday cake.

"Bless you." Pinkie Pie said, smiling at him.

"Thank you, but you two should try something else." Night Shadow said regaining his balance.

"I say we tickle him." Pinkie said to Rainbow Dash before lunging at Night Shadow.

"Wait, don't Pinkie, I'm begging you!" Night Shadow said before Pinkie started to tickle him in almost every place possible. Night Shadow had to use all his strength and willpower to not fall right then and there to Pinkie's onslaught.

"You do that Pinkie; I'm just going to wait over here."

"But why Dashie?" Pinkie asked, pausing her assault.

"Because tickling is so not cool." Rainbow Dash said propping herself onto a nearby tree.

"Oh well, suit yourself." Pinkie said continuing her attack on the red unicorn.

Several minutes later

"I don't think its working." Rainbow Dash said finally getting bored.

"Well what else can we do?" Pinkie looked to Rainbow Dash for an answer who in turn stared blankly.

"I see that you girls are finally realizing that I won't fall down no matter what you do, so I win!" Night Shadow announced to both of them laughing. Pinkie looked down in defeat, but Rainbow Dash seemed to be looking off in the distance.

"Hey Twilight, we're over here!" Rainbow Dash yelled waving her hooves.

"Twilight?" Night Shadow said being distracted, before gravity got the best of him and the objects he was caring resulting in a big crash. Emerging from the rubble, he looked around for Twilight.

"I don't see her, where is she?" Night Shadow asked Rainbow Dash.

"I can tell you where she is not… here." Rainbow Dash said smiling with triumph.

"You dirty little-"

"If a white lie is what it takes to win, then I'm more than happy to do so." Rainbow Dash declared.

"The only thing white here is the snow, and you still lost despite your little trick." Night Shadow said trying to turn the tables on her.

"How? Your entire body was covered in rubble, and you want to say you won?!" Rainbow Dash shouted becoming aggravated.

"The game ended when I said I had won, therefore I still win, end of story." Night Shadow stated to her.

"You're just a sore loser." Rainbow Dash said under her breath.

"Takes one to know one, Ms. Dash." Night Shadow said, getting in her face.

"Are you two playing the angry couple game? I call therapist!" Pinkie said bouncing, raising her hoof in the air.

Night Shadow and Rainbow Dash stared at Pinkie, wondering where she got the assumption from. They both stared into each other's eyes, slowly backing away from each other and blushing.

"Uhhh, that's just wrong Pinkie, I couldn't see myself marrying her!" Night Shadow said looking away embarrassed.

"I couldn't even see myself dating him, and besides he has his eyes on Twilight." Rainbow Dash blurted out.

"What did you just say!" Night Shadow shouted in shock.

"Oh come on, it's so obvious." Rainbow Dash said to him smiling.

"I… d-don't know what you're talking about." Night shadow said stuttering and backing away.

"Really now? The way you act around her, talk to her, how you're reacting right now, and not to mention how you completely blew it in the game we just played." Rainbow pointed out.

"What do you want from me?" Night Shadow said being cornered against a tree.

"I want you to admit." Rainbow Dash said to him.

"Admit what?" Night Shadow asked, already knowing the answer.

"Admit you like Twilight Sparkle!" Rainbow yelled.

"Uh, yeah I like Starlight Sprinkle, he's a good friend of mine." Night Shadow said avoiding contact with Rainbow.

"Stop avoiding the question!" Rainbow yelled pinning Night Shadow to the tree.

"Stop harassing me with questions!" Night Shadow yelled pushing her off.

"Is this twenty questions? I love that game!" Pinkie randomly said, butting in on the argument.

"NO!" Night Shadow and Rainbow both yelled.

More arguing continued until all three of them were out of breath.

"Enough, at this rate we won't have enough energy for the competition. We will continue this conversation never." Night Shadow said walking to the heap of rubble. "Now Dashie, make yourself useful and throw these things at me."

"Can I help, please, please, please?" Pinkie asked him.

"Yes, yes you can help too." Night Shadow sighed.

"Yay! So throw things at you like this?" Pinkie asked, chucking a huge metal pole at him.

"Oh great, not again!" Night Shadow said before chopping the metal pole in half with his fore-hoof. "Yeah, like that, but wait for me to GET READY!" He shouted.

Rainbow and Pinkie could do nothing but stand in awe at what they just witnessed.

"I thought all unicorns were eggheads, yet you did that with ease and without magic." Rainbow said still in shock.

"Hey, just because some unicorns prefer to study the world around them doesn't mean we all do. It's like saying all earth ponies are just for working, or all Pegasus ponies are for weather control." Night Shadow said to Rainbow as he stood up on his hind-hooves. "Okay, now I'm ready."

"Wait, before you do your little thing again, put this on." Rainbow said taking out a blindfold.

"Rainbow Dash, how is Night Shadow here going to be able to see then silly?" Pinkie asked happily.

"That's the point Pinkie, I want to see if Night Shadow is capable of such a thing." Rainbow said looking at Night Shadow. "Unless, of course he is too chicken to do so." She said mockingly.

"I am not a Scootaloo, so give me the blindfold!" Night Shadow commanded snatching the blindfold from Rainbow. "No magic, correct?" He said putting it on.

"Correct." Rainbow said with a wicked grin. "This is going to be too easy." She whispered to Pinkie.

"I don't know Dashie, he seems very confident." Pinkie pointed out.

"Yeah he might be, but not for long." Rainbow said, holding a wooden plank.

Night Shadow stood there with his hooves close to his sides waiting for their first move. With his sense of sight gone, he could only rely on hearing and instinct as he waited patiently. He couldn't tell if a minute or an hour had passed before the first object came quickly towards him. Perking up his ears, Night Shadow located the object and with a quick punch, shattered it into pieces. Hearing a small gasp before him, all he could do was smirk at their surprise as he assumed position again. A gush of wind passed over the trio, causing a branch to fall in the distance making a loud thump, which is when Rainbow and Pinkie decided to open fire upon him. Soon all the objects lied in pieces around the blinded unicorn except one.

"Hey, Twilight?!" Rainbow called from the distance.

"Oh no, if you think I will fall for the same trick again, you are sadly mistaken." Night Shadow said.

"Night Shadow, what are you doing!?" Twilight Sparkle said behind him.

"Wait, what?!" Night Shadow said, turning around before a block of wood scattered over his head. He then fell face first into the snow before Twilight.

"Bull's eye!" Rainbow shouted.

"That's not fair." Night Shadow said muffled in the snow. "And Twilight, why are you here?" He asked getting up.

"You said that Rainbow Dash had challenged you to an Iron Pony Competition. So I'm here to take score like I did last time." Twilight said taking off his blindfold.

"And I'm the announcer!" Spike stated, standing on Twilight's back while holding a stick with a red leaf.

"There's no one to talk to out here, are you going to announce to the bushes and trees?" Night Shadow asked sarcastically.

"No, I'm going to be talking to them." Spike said pointing to Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack emerging from the hill.

"Oh… how convenient. Well me and Rainbow Dash are ready, so let's get this started." He said with a competitive smirk at the end of his muzzle.

Soon after, the games and equipment for the Iron Pony Competition was set up for the two challengers. At first the audience only consisted of Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack with Spike being the announcer, but soon more ponies from Ponyville started to join the crowd.

"The first event is the barrel weave!" Spike announced to the crowd.

"BARRELS!" Night Shadow shouted behind him.

"Hey Night Shadow, can I talk to you for a sec?" Rainbow said pulling him aside.

"Yeah sure, what's up?" Night Shadow asked curiously.

"Let's make a bet on who will win, what do you say?" She asked.

"Now you are speaking my language Dashie, what do you have in mind?" He asked.

"Well when I win, you have to admit to anything I say… no exceptions." She said.

"When you win… HA! You mean when I win, you have to wear a fancy dress all day." He said smirking.

"Then it's settled." Rainbow said spitting into her hoof to seal the bet.

"Eww, that's disgusting!" Night Shadow said backing away.

"Just do it you chicken." Rainbow said before Night Shadow hoof-bumped her in agreement.

"Please make your way to the starting line." Twilight announced to Night Shadow.

"Ladies first, Night Shadow." Rainbow Dash said mockingly as he stepped up to the starting line.

"Losers follow." He said before Spike clicked the timer and shouted go.

Taking no time at all, Night shadow returned in the blink of an eye without bumping into a single barrel.

"What was my time Spike?" Night Shadow said panting.

"Seventeen seconds! That was Applejack's best time!" Spike said congratulating him.

Rainbow dash was up next, but was a bit hesitant and nervous.

"I would be nervous if I was fighting myself too, Dash." Night Shadow commented. "You will do fine."

"Go!" Spike shouted as Rainbow took little to no time at all to finish and return.

"How did I do?" Rainbow asked recovering.

"Fourteen seconds!" Spike shouted in amazement.

"W-what, how!?" Night Shadow said in disbelief.

"They don't call me Dash for nothing." Rainbow said rubbing it in.

"Rainbow Dash wins the barrel weave!" Twilight announced to the ever-growing crowd of ponies.

"Up next is the bucking contest!" Spike proclaimed.

"Rainbow Dash, you're up first." Twilight said to her.

"Good luck." Night Shadow said leaning on a tree.

"Who needs luck when you're Rainbow Dash?" She stated proudly.

Rainbow Dash, with her newfound confidence, went up to buck and successfully rang the bell on the high striker.
"Good job… for a mare. Now let me show you how a stallion does it." Night Shadow remarked as he approached the machine.

Taking a deep breath to focus, he turned around bucking the high striker, destroying it in the process. As the weight flew through the cloud layer, it exploded in a beautiful; display of fireworks. Rainbow sat back on her haunches in amazement.
"You've get to go out with a bang, Dashie." Night Shadow said smirking.

"Night Shadow wins the bucking contest, leaving the score one-to-one." Twilight said as Fluttershy updated the score.
Night Shadow stood in the middle of a pen preparing himself for the Bronco Buck as Rainbow Dash watched from the sidelines.

"Night Shadow you're up first, and try not to hurt Spike." Twilight said smiling.

"I can't guarantee anything Twi… but for you, I will try." Night Shadow replied warmly as Spike grabbed onto his mane.
"Hey, watch the hair." Night Shadow said abruptly to Spike.

"Why me?" Spike wondered, preparing himself for the worse.

As soon as the timer was set, Night Shadow galloped towards the railing and jumped off from it. In mid-flight, he did ten back flips forcing spike to land in a nearby pile of hay.

"Gravity is a harsh mistress, Spike." Night Shadow said before noticing Twilight staring at him frustrated.

"What, I said I'd try." Night Shadow said walking to the sidelines.

"Rainbow Dash, are you ready?" Twilight asked her.

"I was born ready." Rainbow said walking towards Spike. "Ready for another pony ride?" She asked Spike.

"No…" Spike replied, nervous.

Using the strategy from last time, she bounced up and down like a jackhammer, sending Spike flying.

"Rainbow Dash wins the Bronco Buck, leaving the score two-to-one with Rainbow in the lead!" Twilight declared.

"Yeah, only barely." Night Shadow said to himself.

"And now, for the lasso contest!" Twilight announced yet again.

A lasso was given to both Night Shadow and Rainbow Dash.

"Umm, can we skip this one?" Rainbow asked Twilight already knowing the answer.

"Night shadow, can you get Spike?" Twilight asked him ignoring Rainbows question.

"Just one second." Night Shadow said as he focused on finding Spike and teleporting him back.

"Spike put this helmet on." Twilight said holding a helmet with horns with her magic.

"Do I have to do this again?" Spike asked her.

"Yes, you're the only one capable of this job, so please Spike?" Twilight asked, handing him the helmet.

"If I have to…" He said sighing, putting on the helmet and getting back into the pen.

As Spike stood awkwardly in the middle of Rainbow and Night Shadow, he wondered how he got roped into this until he flew backwards, tied to a rope.

"You know, if it wasn't for the poorly made helmet, I would have thought you were the Dragonborn… ha-ha get it." Night Shadow said, smiling to a very annoyed Spike.

"Umm… does this count?" Rainbow asked, tied to a tree watching the two of them.

"Night Shadow wins the lasso contest, putting the score at two-to-two." Twilight broadcasted to the ponies.

Rainbow Dash took the lead back in the ball bouncing contest, but Night Shadow fought fiercely to not only take the lead from Rainbow, but also win the Hay Bale Toss, Hoof Wrestling, and Football Kick. Putting the score six-to-three, leaving Rainbow no other choice.

"Ninety-seven… ninety-eight… ninety-nine!" Twilight counted, in-between the two competitors.

"Are you ready to give up?" Night Shadow said to Rainbow, doing push-ups with only one hoof.

"I... never… give… up!" Rainbow struggled to say halfway through her last push-up.

"Your mind may say no, but your muscles say otherwise Dashie. You're on your last moments, and everyone will see your loss." Night Shadow said holding off his last push-up and provoking her to see if she could actually make a comeback.

"You… won't… win this time!" Rainbow shouted before picking herself up with her wings, finishing her last rep.
"One-hundred! Rainbow wins the push-up contest putting the score at six-to-four!" Twilight said not noticing the use of Rainbow's wings.

After a crowd of ponies carried Rainbow Dash off, Night Shadow, instead of acting out of anger, simply stood there silently as they cheered Rainbow's victory, taking note of what happened. Using her newfound method, Rainbow won the next three games easily taking the lead from Night Shadow.

"I win again Night Shadow, and if you don't clean your act together, you have to admit to anything I want." Rainbow said, cleaning the mud off of her wings.

"I know what you're doing, and you might be fooling everypony else, but know this." Night Shadow said before getting into her face. "I won't stoop to your level and I will still beat you."

True to his word, Night Shadow kept up with Rainbow's score despite her advantage. Soon, after a long conflict, it came down to the concluding event to finally prove who was better.

"This is it everypony, the final event of the Iron Pony Competition!" Spike announced to the crowd of cheering ponies from practically everywhere. "The score is nineteen-to-nineteen, so the question remains, who will win the title of Iron Pony?!" He shouted. "Will it be Rainbow Dash or Night Shadow? We will soon find out!"

Both ponies grabbed the rope for the tug-of-war. The rules were common sense, first in the mud loses. The two of them pulled on the rope with all their strength. The struggle lasted for ten seconds before Night Shadow started getting the better of Rainbow. Seeing that she would lose, Rainbow used her wings to prevent her immediate loss, picking up Night Shadow in the process. Rainbow was floating above the mud pit holding onto the rope that Night Shadow was grasping onto with his mouth, waiting for him to let go.

"How is this fair!?" Night Shadow tried to say with the rope in his mouth.

"What, I can't hear you!" Rainbow said muffled by the rope.

Night Shadow, with his mouth, lunged upwards and grabbed the rope again with his hooves.

"I said how this is fair, you have been using your wings the whole time, and now you're using gravity to your advantage!" Night Shadow shouted at Rainbow.

"You never said-"

"I don't care, if you want to play like this…then so be it!" He said charging up his magic after he interrupted Rainbow.

"No… what are you doing? Rainbow asked almost frightened.

"Taking away your advantages!" Night Shadow declared to her.

"If you do that… we will both lose!" Rainbow almost said pleading.

This stopped Night Shadow almost immediately, but not permanently as he continued to charge his magic.

"I have thought about this, and I accept the consequences. I have already proven your assumption about me wrong, and proven that I truly am better."

"You are not better than me!" Rainbow said still muffled by the rope.

"Then prove it." Night Shadow said as he shot a magical spell into her wings causing them to stiffen and then levitated himself.

With years of experience in the air, Rainbow would not go down so easily. Using her wings to glide, she flew into the levitating unicorn resulting in the two crashing in the mud. Everypony stood in astonishment and silence at what they had witnessed.

"It's a tie?!" Spike shouted in amazement. "This means that they are both equally athletic."

After a few moments of stillness, Twilight made her decision.

"So it's settled… Night Shadow and Rainbow Dash… you two are both Iron Ponies!" Twilight shouted to them as the crowd cheered in excitement.

Finally emerging from the mud, Night Shadow and Rainbow Dash wiped the mud from their eyes and looked at each other almost frightened.

"You know Rainbow… that a tie is just…"

"A nicer way to say…" Rainbow Dash said joining in on his sentence.

"We both lose." They both said in unison.

Both of the "winners" washed up and helped clean up afterwards. Soon everything seemed to be back to normal, except for the two embarrassed ponies in the center of the field.

"So… Rainbow Dash… see you in a dress tomorrow." Night Shadow said avoiding eye contact.

"Yeah… I guess, so about you admitting to something?" Rainbow asked looking at a nearby tree.

"Fire away." Night Shadow said losing all resistance.

"Do you or do you not like Twilight Sparkle, and tell me the truth. I can help you with these feelings, so just tell me already and stop avoiding the question!" She asked.

Night Shadow looked toward Rainbow Dash and then looked down in defeat.

"I guess I have no choice…I-"

"Night Shadow, are you ready to go home." Twilight said approaching him, causing him to pause.

"Uhh… yeah I'm all set, let's go home." Night Shadow said before Twilight teleported them home.

Rainbow stood there alone as Celestia's sun descended behind the trees leaving her in the dark.

"Tomorrow Rainbow Dash… tomorrow you will know, just… be… patient." She said before taking off.

Unaware of anything that was in the area, a dark looking figure, hidden in the dark, retreated back into the shadows after watching the two competitors finish their dispute. A bright but silent flash appeared in the shadows before the night finally settled over Ponyville.

Author's Note

Yes, it's repetitive from the show...but it makes a point.