Starting Over 3: Return Of Spectra

Shadow and Aeb stare at the Darkane colt before them. He was knocked out, Shadow could tell when he picked him up. The duo moved him inside Shadow's cave. Aeb and Shadow were talking about what to do with him while he was sleeping in Shadows bed soundly.

"We should tell Spectra. He is the Darkane King now after all."

Aeb shook his head. "Spectra would kill him!"

Shadow smirked. "Even somepony like Spectra wouldn't kill a defenseless foal."

Aeb nodded. "Right. Well then, we should actually take it to him and ask what to do."

Shadow nodded and looked to the colt. He had a royal blue mane and tail and a coal black coat. He didn't have a cutie mark yet, but Shadow knows Darkane can get them. Cruor had one, after all. Aeb stood up and walked over to the colt and smiled.

"He's cute."

Shadow nodded. "Yeah. But don't forget he's a Darkane."

Aeb shook his head. "I know. But still."

Shadow and Aeb both watched the foal sleep. They guessed he was roughly 4 years old, same age as Rose. Although it is Roses birthday soon and she'll be 5.

Shadow facehoofed. "Celestia damnnit. I have to get Rose a present soon. You got her present yet, mate?"

Aeb nodded. "Yeah. Got her the crown of Queen Chrysalis."

Shadow looked at Aeb in confusion.

"You went through my trash?"

Aeb laughed. "Well yeah, where else would I have found it?"

Shadow and Aeb heard a moan and looked to the bed. The foal had now woken up and was looking at the two.

"Where am I?"

Shadow walked up to him with a small smile.

"I'm the Caretaker of the Everfree. Name's Shadow. This here is Aeb. We found you unconscious in the forest. Do you remember how you got there?"

The colt shook his head.

"No. I can't remember anything except for my name. It's Tenebra."

Shadow nodded. "Okay, Tenebra, do you remember your parents?"

Tenebra shook his head and looked sad. "No..."

Aeb dragged Shadow back and whispered in his ear.

"He never had parents, Shadow. Darkane are born from chaos, remember?"

Shadow gave him the "Oh, right" face and looked back to Tenebra.

"We're gunna take you to somepony who can help decide what to do with you, okay?"

Tenebra nodded and got out of the bed. The three ponies left the cave and followed Shadow out of the Everfree and into Ponyville. They reached Spectras House and stopped. Shadow tried to find traces of the blue pony.

"Spectra?! Spectra!"

Shadow turned to Aeb.

"Turn into a pegasus and fly up there, would ya?"

Aeb nodded and changed into a pegasus version of his earth pony self. He flew up to the house and went inside. Shadow turned to Tenebra and saw him looking shocked. Shadow laughed.

"Aeb's a Changeling. I'm all Unicorn, don't worry."

Aeb flew back down and turned back into an earth pony.

"Nopony's home. He must be in town with Rose and Rainbow."

Shadow silently cursed. "Fine. Wild Goose Chase activated."

Shadow, Aeb and Tenebra walked into Ponyville looking for the Speeds. Soon enough, Aeb found them.

"Over there! They're inside Vinyl's Club."

Shadow walked over to where Aeb was with Tenebra. He was looking into the window of the club. Inside the club, Spectra and Vinyl were on the stage, whilst Rose and Rainbow were down watching from below. Shadow, Aeb and Tenebra walk in just as Spectra starts a song.

-----Spectra's Perspective, A Few Minutes Ago------

Spectra walks in the club with his wife and daughter behind him. He walks up to Vinyl while she was setting up equipment on the stage. She turns around and gives Spectra a smug look and gets behind her DJ Table she aptly named "Bass Cannon" and puts her special headphones on.

"Ready?"

Spectra nods and steps behind his own DJ table and dons the headphones he loves to use. They fit perfectly and they never hurt his ears.

"Yeah, Vinyl. Lets go!"

The music started playing and Rainbow heard the door open behind her. She looked and saw Shadow and Aeb with a small foal behind them. Shadow walked up next to Rainbow and listened to the music. Aeb and the foal did the same.

Pony Rock! Yeah! Woo! Let's go!

Scratch and Neon's in the club tonight.

Oh yeah, we're gonna have a good time.

So grab some pony now don't be shy.

It's our job to make you feel alright. (Clap your hooves!)

Let's raise the roof, tonight's the night.

We're gonna' party till the morning light.

The house is hot, the beat is tight.

We just wanna' see you ...shake it!

The name's Neon Lights and I wanna' see you shake it.

I'm the host of this party and I'm glad you could make it.

I've got the music that booms, show me what you've got.

Now do your thing girls and flaunt that plot.

On the dance floor is where we're living.

You keep moving to the beat and the beat I'll keep delivering.

Now that's a promise, we're gonna' commit.

Hey, Vinyl Scratch! Spin that.

Ayo what's up? I'm the other half of this duo.

Got my bass cannon set to max it's gonna' blow.

It's Pony Rock! (It's Pony Rock!)

Yeah, so get them tails a-bouncing and get them

hooves up in the air 'cause we are announcing it is-!

Scratch and Neon's in the club tonight.

Oh yeah, we're gonna have a good time.

So grab some pony don't be shy.

It's our job to make you feel alright.

Let's raise the roof, tonight's the night.

We're gonna' party till the morning light.

The house is hot, the beat is tight.

We just wanna' see you... shake it!

Everyday I'm partying!

Put the lights on me. It's time for the only true party pony.

It's Pinkie Pie here and I know you all missed me.

But hey, wait! There's room for three.

Let's get some balloons! (The pretty ones!)

Let's turn up the bass! (Getting louder now!)

Gummy's here with me! (He's rocking out!)

Now it's a party! (With thanks to me!)

Get up. Get down. Put your hooves up to the sound.

Jump up. Stomp down. Every pony hit the ground. (x2)

Every pony hit the ground. (x2)

Get up. Get down. (x2)

Put your hooves up to the sound. (x2)

Put your hooves up. (x4)

Every pony's in the club tonight.

We're gonna' keep on having a good time.

We got some help from Pinkie Pie.

With Vinyl Scratch and Neon-on-on Lights.

Woah (x4)

Everyday we're partying!

Everypony clapped. Spectra and Vinyl get up and do a bow. Rainbow flew up to the stage and walked up to Spectra.

"What's with mentioning Neon all the way through the song?"

Spectra rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"I didn't write the song. A pony named Neon Lights did it with Vinyl. She just wanted to hear who sounded better. What do you think, Vinyl?"

Vinyl nodded violently with a smile. "Aw yeah! You definitely sound better then Neon!"

Spectra blushed and looked behind his wife. He saw Shadow and Aeb with smiles but he also saw a unicorn colt. Around Rose's age with royal blue mane and a coal black coat and no cutie mark. Next to him, Spectra saw Rose talking to him. Spectra flew down and walked closer.

"Hi, I'm Rose! What's your name?"

"T-Tenebra..."

Rose cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"Are you afraid of me or something?"

Tenebra shook his head.

"No. It's just that...I..I..."

Shadow side stepped in front of Spectra before he could get to Tenebra.

"We need to talk, Spectra."

Spectra pointed behind Shadow at Tenebra, Shadow nodded. Spectra lead Shadow to a table off the sides and let the others talk to each other in their absence. Shadow sighed and looked to Spectra.

"I know what you're thinking. Who's foal it is, right?"

Spectra nodded slowly. "Yeah, that's one thing I'm thinking."

Shadow looked to the foal and looked away. He seemed to be in thought. He looked back up to Spectra with a sad look.

"His name is Tenebra. The thing is...he's lost. He has no idea who he is and where he comes from. He doesn't remember his parents, either. I want you to take care of him. I'm not father material and neither is Aeb. I don't trust anypony besides you, Spectra. Promise me you'll take care of him until you find somepony to hand him off to."

Spectra looked to Tenebra and hummed in thought. He looked back to Shadow and nodded with a smile.

"Sure. I guess it can't be too hard, right?"

Shadow nodded. "So, you promise?"

Spectra raised a hoof and used the other to cross a mark over his heart.

"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. OW!"

Spectra poked his eye while doing the promise. Shadow wiped some sweat from his forehead.

"Now that you promised, you can't back out, right?"

Spectra nodded and gave him an accusing look.

"Yeah. Why?"

Shadow frowned and looked to Tenebra.

"He's a Darkane."

Spectra looked to Tenebra then back to Shadow. Spectra gave Shadow and angry look.

"Why didn't you tell me this before I promised."

Shadow glared at Spectra.

"You wouldn't have gave him a chance."

Spectra looked insulted.

"What!? No way. I would've gave him a chance  I'll raise him into a fine stallion. What made you think I wouldn't give him a chance?"

Shadow shrugged. "I guessed that you would've killed him or something."

Spectra threw his head back and laughed.

"I'm not pure evil, Shadow. That sounds like something Cruor would do."

Shadow nodded and got up from the table.

"We better go tell the others."

Spectra nodded and stood up. He and Shadow walked over to the group. He cleared his throat and everypony, even Tenebra looked to him.

"Well, it appears that we have a new member joining my our family."

Rainbow's eyes grew wide and she quickly scanned herself. She looked back to Spectra.

"I'm not pregnant."

Spectra laughed and shook his head.

"No, Rainbow. Tenebra is joining our family."

Everypony looked to the colt. His eyes were wide and he was in shock.

"W-W-What? Really?"

Spectra nodded and walked up to him. Spectra held out a hoof.

"Welcome to the family, son."

Tenebra looked to the hoof, then to Spectra. Instead of giving Spectra a hoofshake, he reached out and grabbed Spectra in a tight hug.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Spectra smiled and rubbed his mane.

"Welcome to the family, Tenebra."

Tenebra released his grip and looked up at Spectra with happy eyes. Rose bumped into Tenebra from the side and grappled him in a hug.

"Yay! Now we can be brother and sister!"

Spectra smiled and Rainbow walked up to him with an angry look.

"Since when do you decide when ponies join our family!?"

Spectra cringed and closed his eyes, ready for impact. What he felt instead was a warm hug. He reopened his eyes and saw that Rainbow was hugging him. She gave him a wink.

"I heard the conversation with Shadow. I understand."

Spectra laughed and had a sudden thought.

"How's he gunna live with us?"

Rainbow released him and puffed out her chest in pride.

"My house is made of reinforced clouds. All species can walk on it. Its how Discord was able to visit us when you were in stone. A pain to make, but its worth it."

Spectra smiled and looked to Tenebra. He was laughing while Rose was still grappling him and laughing with him. Spectra was glad to have a son in his family.

That reminded Spectra of something. His foster parents were still in Manehatten. He even had the address burned in his memory. Then he realized how much he hated them. Then, he realized something else.

He was a powerful pony. It took a lot to stop him, even more to kill him. Spectra had an idea, an evil one at that.

'I'm going to tear them apart.'

All the while Spectra was thinking about his foster parents, Shadow was thinking about his real ones. How much they hated him, how they treated him, how they abandoned him. Then Shadow remembered how he had an immortal demon war general trapped inside him.

'I will find them and kill them all.'

-----Somewhere Deep In The Everfree, Darkane Castle Ruins------

A pony with a red coat and black mane was looking through a crystal ball with his yellow eyes. His cutie mark was a bloody knife, the same knife he kept concealed beneath his cloak. Through the crystal ball, he saw Spectra and his new family cheering and laughing. Thats when the pony noticed the foal.

"A Darkane? Oh, boy. What a delight. One of our own has joined the enemy!"

The pony turned around and zapped the ruined wall behind him with a bolt from his horn. A Darkane drone rushed inside.

"Requiem, sir. Do you need any assistance?"

Requiem shook his head.

"No, I'm quite fine. Begone."

The drone bowed and rushed out of the room. Requiem looked back into his crystal ball.

"If you're my new king, then...we need a new one. Drone!"

The drone walked back into the room.

"Yes, Requiem?"

Requiem turned and pointed to him.

"I'm planning on visiting our new 'king' and overruling him. Prepare a chariot!"

The drone bowed and exited the room. Requiem stared back into his crystal ball.

"The armies of the Darkane shall be mine."