The Fallen Star Returns

Shining Armor entered the prison, with his guards behind him. The only source of light came from outside, which only made the first few feet visible. He was able to spot the start of stairs at the end of the light.

"Check where those stairs lead," he gave the order.

Prism casted a spell, which made his horn glow, so he, and the others could see in the darkness. He discovered torches mounted on the wall. After casting a fire spell at one of them, the others immediatly caught on fire, illuminating a huge staircase, leading to the top of the mountain.

Shining was still at the entrance while the others checked the remaining area. He felt something strange, as if something was watching him. When he raised his front hoof to move, he was struck by and an unnatural wind. He quickly turned his head to see what's outside, but he saw nothing. After this moment he was even more worried to enter into a place like this.

As soon as he left the entrance to join the others the door shut quickly behind him. It was much faster, then before. The runes shone up again in their clear blue light. Thanks to the torches they were still able to see clearly. All of them stood in front of the first stair, imagining how long it will take to reach the top. The stairs led upward in a spiral way, without balustrades.

"This will make it hard for you guys. But don't worry me, and my brother here will catch you if you slip." Lightning flew up, ready to leave everypony behind, and to reach the top first.

"Hold it!" Blitz grabbed his brother by the tail and dragged him back to the ground. "You forgot the most important aspect of our little group," he then whispered the next few words in Lightning's ears "We stick together. You know, like a team."

"Oh.. right. Like a team." he was a little disappointed about walking all the way through. He stepped next to Shining Armor, waiting for him to start moving. "Captain, can we start climbing up these stairs?"

"Yes, sorry. I was distracted a bit." Shining snapped from observing every last inch of the cave.

"Is there something wrong, Captain?" Prism asked from him.

"Nothing. I just have a bad feeling about this place."

"That we all do." Blitz noted from behind.

So the climbing began. The first hour went past quickly, but as time went on it started to become really tiresome. As they looked up, they noticed they still didn't see the top. Of course Lightning tried to lighten up the mood with silly stories, however the others didn't pay much attention. Shining Armor was still contemplating about the strange feel he had before, Cloud Blitz had heards these a hundred times, and Steel Prism was starting to get annoyed with him, again.

When Lightning gave a pause, Prism tought he might stop, but he just began an other story. He and Blitz were a little behind. so they could talk without the others hearing it.

"How did you put up with him through all these years?" Prism turned his head back to Blitz, while letting out a sigh of annoyance.

"Believe me, it was difficult at first. He was always brash, which got him into trouble many times. I was the one, who had to get him out if it, of course. However, every time we solved a problem, he learned from it, and tried to avoid it from happening again. The key word being 'tried'." Blitz was honest about his brother. "He tried to improve, but he was way too hot-headed."

"These qualities might lead to his demise one day."

"Maybe. But I think you are underestimating his skills, because you are judging him by his nature."

To Prism the conversation ended. He did'nt want to waste time by starting an argument with Blitz about Lightning Chaser's abilities. The two of them didn't have a good first impression on each other. Prism has reached the rank of lieutenant, when Lightning has entered the guard training camp. As his new post required, Prism had to check on the recruits from time to time to see their progress. He got to know Lightning as a disrespectful slacker, a pony who never obeyed his commands.

Lightning's opinion on the lieutenant was no different. Whenever Prism showed up at the training grounds, he most likely had a prank he could pull on him. To him, Prism was just an arrogant stuck-up, who made his days in training camp hard. Lightning also made sure every recruit in camp knows that Prism has never been with a mare. At least that's what he thought.

During his inspection, Shining Armor looked up, and saw the stairs are coming to an end. He let out an easing sigh, for the long exercise is over. He turned around, and happily announced, "We made it. I can see the exit a few meters above."

"Praise Celestia! If I had to listen to one more of Lightning's stories, I swear, I would choke a filly." Prism clearly stated his frustration by this rather morbid statement.

"If you would do that, you would be fired from the guard. And possibly thrown in a prison just like this one," if his stories would really cause Prism to act like this, Lightning would have continued them. He wouldn't miss the lieutenant, that's fro sure.

As the group reached the top, they came across a small hallway with a door at the end of it. Shining looked at his team, and he saw how exhausted they were. He didn't want to go onward like this, so he suggested them to get a little rest first. All of them sat down in the hallway to regain their strength.

"So, Captain, what did the Princess tell you about the prisoner, before we left Canterlot?" Blitz was waiting to ask that question a long time ago, but he didn't get the opportunity to do so.

"Other then the fact, that he is a very dangerous unicorn, who wields dark magic, she also told me about his confusion. He might not even now why he is here, or what crimes he have committed."

"What were his crimes?" Prism asked.

"He attacked Princess Celestia, and killed two guards in the process. After he was caught, he claimed he did this to save somepony. A pony who doesn't exists."

"So, he killed two guards just to protect his imaginary buddy? That's what Princess Celestia told you?" Lightning asked in disbelief.

"Technically, yes. But I think there is more to the tale, then she let us know."  Shining had to admit, he was curious about the full story, but he wasn't here for that. His job was to keep this prisoner locked up tight.

They spent a little time in quiet, without saying a word. They didn't know what awaits them at the other side of the door, so they wanted to prepare for almost everything. When Shining Armor felt that it was time to move out he stood up and the others did as well. All of them stood before the door, ready to go past it.

"And here we go," Shining said, and he opened it.

As they entered the new area the torches lit up, and they could see the size of the place. They were in a huge cavern, which made the previous one look like a little pit. The road went on next to the wall without any balustrades, again. The bottom and the top was clouded in darkness, the only source of lightning being the torches, and something in the middle. They couldn't tell what it was, but their guess was the cell itself. They slowly went along the road, doing a semicircle around the center.

Then the road split into two ways. One led to the cell, the other to a huge door. It must have been the main entrance, which was at the top of the mountain. They turned their back to it, and started walking towards the cell. Halfway there, Shining gave an order to the others to stop, and wait for him there. They weren't happy about it, but he wanted to talk to the prisoner alone.

When he closed up to it, he saw the light is coming from a magical barrier, which was probably put there by Celestia. But what he saw beyond that was something he never would have guessed. The cell was decorated like a normal everyday room. It had a bead, table, chairs, shelves and even a food container. It didn't look like any cell he had seen before. He must have been close to the Princess, if she decided to go this easy on him, Shining thought.

He saw the unicorn sitting at the table, writing something. He was so immersed in it that he didn't notice Shining Armor approaching. He had black mane with smoke gray pelt, and Shining got a glance at his cutie mark. It was the moon surrounded with little stars, however the moon was divided into two parts. As if it was torn in half by an explosion. Shining reached the barrier, and he politely knocked on it with his hoof.

"I'm sorry for the interruption, sir. My name is Shining Armor. I'm the Captain of the Royal Guard, and Princess Celestia sent me to check up on you," he said in a lowered voice. The unicorn finished writing the last sentence, then he placed his quill on the table, while sealing the ink bottle. Shining was surprised that he was allowed to use magic in there, but as he turned around he saw a magical seal placed on his horn. This allowed him to use simple spells like levitation, however it stopped the more complicated ones. When they were face to face, the prisoner looked directly in Shining's eyes. Shining stood the uncomfortable stare. He didn't back down, even though those midnight blue eyes felt like knives piercing his own.

"So, she sent you? Was she too scared to come here on her own?" the unicorn sounded angry, and disappointed.

"She sent us here, because she thinks you are trying to escape," Shining answered, keeping his calm attitude.

"She did get our message then. Great! She remembers us after all. For a while now we thought she forgot about us. You know, letting us rot here for hundreds of years didn't help in our relationship." his mood changed after each sentence from dark, and shady to happy, and cheerful.

"You and who else? I don't see anypony in there with you?" Shining started to get worried. These quick mood changes and they way he referred to himself as 'we' made him uneasy.

The prisoner didn't answer immediately. He closed his eyes, shook his head a couple times, and mumbled something to himself, something Shining couldn't understand. Finally he opened his eyes, but as Shining looked at him again his eyes changed. Instead of the midnight blue, they were crimson.

"He was referring to me and himself," he said in a much deeper voice. After finishing he closed his eyes again, and when he opened them they were the same blue as before.

Shining took a few steps backwards. Out of the things he expected to find here, he never would have imagined the prisoner to be a crazy unicorn with personality disorder. Now, he saw what Celestia meant by this pony being confused.

"Who are you?" he finally asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"My name is Moonlight Shadow. I apologize for my brother's rude interruption. He always comes out without my permission. His name is Crimson Star by the way." the gray unicorn sounded more gentle, then he was before.

"You are lucked up here because of him, right?" Shining couldn't help but to go along with the divided mind story. He wasn't sure if Moonlight was telling the truth or not. Changing ones eye color is simple, the seal can surely let that pass.

"No. We are here, because Celestia refused to believe me. She saw my brother as a curse, and she wanted to get rid of him. I couldn't let that happen." he sounded hurt as he was telling this. He still remembered that day clearly, as if it was yesterday.

"I see. Now, me and my troops here, are going to check this entire prison to make sure you will stay where you are now,"  the captain pointed at his team, who were a few feet behind him.

"Do as you please. But after you are done, leave this place. I send Celestia my regards." Moonlight's eyes changed again for the last sentence. He turned his back to Shining Armor, and sat back to his table. Shining knew the conversation was over. He started to head back to the others. Everything seems to be fine around the cell. The barrier is still strong, the seal was holding up after all this time. If what Moonlight said was true, then he has been locked up for 500 years, which means Celestia somehow managed to keep him away from aging. He ha never heard of such magic before. When he was about to tell the others how the meeting went, suddenly he heard Moonlight's voice behind him.

"Oh and Captain. Thank you for letting our little friend inside. We didn't want her to catch a cold, and we really needed an old friend to talk to." as Shining heard this he immediately turned back to the cell, where he saw Moonlight standing at the barrier with an evil smirk on his face.

The next second he, and his team were assaulted by set of magical blasts, which shook the bridge under their hooves. The attack came from above, but they didn't see anything. A new series of bolts came down upon them, though this time they were ready for it. Both Shining, and Prism used magical shields to protect the others from the assault. The blasts raised the dust from the cave's floor, making it hard for them to see what is happening. As the guards were expecting the next wave of the attack, they noticed the spells were aimed at the cell's barrier.

It only took a few hits before it disappeared. Moonlight stepped out of it, and now they saw what attacked them. A black bird flew down onto Moonlight's put out leg. It wasn't just any bird though. It was a phoenix, but it looked differently from the average. It had glowing yellow eyes, black feathers, which had strange markings on them in the same yellow color as it's eyes.

"Amazing, isn't she? It took her just a few days to find us, after her escape. However, we didn't know which mountain we were sealed into, so thank you for showing her the way." Moonlight petted the bird for a bit by stroking it's feathers, and then cuddled her. In return the phoenix blasted the seal off her master's horn. "I missed you so much Nicka."

"That's adorable," Shining said in an ironic tone "I'm going to ask you only once! Go back to your cell, and we can end this peacefully."

"Seriously, Captain did this ever work on anypony?" Moonlight raised his eyebrow.

"No. Normally we have to use violence to put down ponies like you." Lightning Chaser stepped forward, showing off his lance. He was ready to charge at him whenever the order came.

"I see, you are the jumpy one. That makes the other pegasus your smart brother, and that unicorn is probably the arrogant jerk, who you really despise." Moonlight Shadow kept on his evil smirk, while he was inspecting Blitz and Prism.

"How do you know all this?"

"Nicka told me. She was watching you since you left the Neighagra Falls."

"Quit it birdlover. You are going back in to your cell anyways." Prism used his magic to pull out his sword, and he aimed it at Moonlight.

As Blitz was watching these events he noticed something. The cavern got a lot darker since Moonlight escaped. He saw the shadows crawling down from the ceiling. When he looked back at the door, which led outside, he was shocked to see that it was gone. All he saw was the darkness getting closer. He patted Shining's back to inform him about the change of their surroundings.

"Guys, we seem to be having a problem." to this, everypony turned around, and they saw what Blitz was talking about. The shadows surrounded them, leaving only that part of the bridge clean, which they stood on. As Shining Armor turned back he saw that the darkness have reached Moonlight, whose eyes were crimson again.

"Now, you will be held prisoner here!" came the voice of Crimson as the shadows encircled him.

"Over my dead body!" Lightning picked up his lance, flew up in the air, and started charging towards Moonlight.

"You idiot, get back here!" Prism shouted after him, but he was too late. Both Cloud Blitz and Shining Armor pulled out their weapons and followed Lightning. Steel Prism was given no choice, he had to follow his comrades. "May Celestia watch over us."

The four guards begun their unorganized attack, and Moonlight used his magic to make the shadows cover the whole cavern. In a split second the darkness absorbed everything. Shining stopped his charge in confusion and let his guard down. He tried to look around, but he couldn't see anything.

"And you were only one day away from retirement," Moonlight said in a very joyful tone.

Shining turned to where the voice came from, however he only saw a blue blast coming towards him. He didn't react in time, and the spell hit him directly in his face, making him unconscious. The last thing he felt was his head hitting the ground hard.

When Blitz regained his consciousness, he realized he was in the same cell, which Moonlight was locked into a few minutes ago. He saw the rest of his team still didn't come around. Shining and Prism had the same magical seal on their horns as Moonlight did. Blitz could barely move his limbs, probably because the spell Moonlight Shadow used had an immobilizing effect. After a few minutes of leg stretching he was finally able to stand up. He then spotted Moonlight standing not far from the barrier they were sealed behind of.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Blitz asked loudly to make sure Moonlight can hear him.

"Revenge is the only answer we can give you. The rest of our plans is no longer your problem." he answered bluntly.

"And what are you going to do with us?" the guard continued the questioning.

"You will serve as leverage, if our plans don't succeed. We know Celestia won't abandon her loyalists the same way she abandoned us." Moonlight turned his head to Blitz for he knew the pegasus was not done asking questions.

"Can't you just talk to her about this. She is very understanding. I'm sure she can find a way to fix this." Blitz hoped to ease up Moonlight, but he didn't succeed.

"If she really wants to fix this situation, she would have done it a long time ago. Believe me, I know her more then you ever did." After this answer Blitz knew he could never convince Moonlight. He sat down next to his brother, waiting for the others to wake up.

Moonlight approached the main entrance with Nicka sitting on his back. He recognized the spell that was needed to open the door, so there were no problems about getting out. The door opened slowly, since it was very big and heavy. He stood there patiently, waiting for the damn thing to move. When it opened he was struck by a strong, fresh wind.

He was on a mountain platform, when he went outside. After breathing in the same place for 500 years, the feel of fresh, outside air in his lungs was liberating. He felt as if he was reborn. He noticed the storm, which was placed here for extra defence, was gone. There was one thing that interested him in the distance. The sun.

"How long has it been since I felt her light on my face? How long have I waited for this moment?" He pinned his eyes at the sun, without blinking.

"Long enough, brother. Today we are going to fulfill our purpose. We will get our revenge." Crimson spoke through Moonlight.

He went to the edge of the platform, and looked around. It was the highest one in the Crystal Mountains as far as he can tell.

At least she chose the one with the best view. Still, she could have picked someplace warmer. He shivered, as he was starting to feel how cold it really is out here.

Moonlight looked back at his phoenix, who was waiting for him to give the sign. He let Nicka know it was time to leave, with a simple nod. The phoenix took to the skies, her markings glowing on her black feathers. She stretched out her wings, then suddenly she turned into a cloud of shadows. In this from she aimed back at Moonlight and clashed onto him. The unicorn was covered in the cloud, while lights popped out if it from time to time.

It took only a few seconds for the cloud to disappear. When it was done, Moonlight was still standing there, although changed. Now, he was wearing light armor, which covered most of his body. It's scales looked like feather, however they were made out of obsidian. The same markings were present as on Nicka, and the birds glowing eyes were stationed on the chest piece. The biggest part of it were the wings. These were also part of the armor, but Moonlight was able to move them as if they were his own. He played around with them for a while, moving them around, and flapping them until he was just above the ground. He hasn't done this for centuries, so he needed practice.

As he looked around on the cliff he spotted a dragon, who just came out of it's cave. It probably hid there from the storm, and now it was ready to begin it's hunt. It's roar echoed in the mountains, making sure every living creature knows that it has awakened. Moonlight watched closely as the dragon took to the skies, and how it flew down into the valley. He stood at the edge of the cliff, as he was looking down. It was a scary image, being on the top of the highest mountain, but as he defeated his fears, he took the dive.

For a few seconds he was calmly falling. He didn't pay attention to anything, he was just enjoying the freefall. When he felt it was time, he opened his wings. He clashed into a little resistance, but he managed to pull himself up. The next minute he was flying above the mountains, inside the clouds. He saw the sun was going down, it will possibly turn night time, when he reaches Canterlot.

"Don't worry Celestia. Your little shade will arrive just in time for dinner," he said as he turned south, and began his journey.