Heart Of Equestria

Chapters

Chapter 1: Strange New World
Chapter 2: The New Arrivals
Chapter 3: The Hood Comes Off (1/2)
Chapter 3: Lifted Veil (2/2)
Chapter 4: Sowing the Seeds
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Final Notes

Chapter 1: Strange New World

The Heart Of Equestria

Chapter 1: The Next Step

Lyle Dolorem was not new to hearing a person in trouble, nor was he all that unfamiliar with rushing to help them from whatever was putting them in peril.

Which probably also explained the familiarity with hospital.

But he had to admit, this was new.

He didn’t recognise the girl, she only looked to be in her pre-teens and didn’t look like one of the local children; her assailent on the other hand…

The closest he could possibly think was that of a giant ant with not enough legs standing upright, but that really didn’t describe it well; the small creature was barely bigger than the girl with a featureless body of pitch blackness, three ferocious looking claws ended each hand.

But it was the face that made it scary.

The creatures head was little more than an orb of pitch blackness, on which two bright glowing yellow eyes stuck out, glaring at the intruder; anger and hatred radiated from the eyes like physical waves washing over Lyle as the creature abandoned the screaming girl, who wisely ran for her life.

Lyle was not so fortunate; even as his mind still struggled to comprehend exactly what was happening the creature had buried its claws into his shoulders; he roared in pain and began thrashing his shoulders back and forth, swatting at the creatures arms with his own as its claws made for his eyes.

Thinking quickly, Lyle threw himself backwards and heard a satisfying (and painful) crunch as the creature connected with brick; pulling himself up quickly, Lyle felt the creatures’ claws release his shoulders. He wheeled back around to face the creature only to just barely have time to see it lunging right toward his face, toppling them both backwards from the impact of its surprisingly heavy form.

Dimly aware of several new holes in his chest, Lyle aimed a desperate kick at the creature, missing by several inches in his pain.

So, he thought dimly as his mind strangely cleared, this isn’t exactly how I planned to go out; was sort of hoping it would be a bit more heroic.

The Creature now standing above him twisted its claws causing Lyle head to shoot straight down in agony; he wondered vaguely whether this creature even had a sense of sadism, it certainly seemed so.

As his vision focused for what he believed would be the last time, he saw it.

Across the alleyway he had almost forgotten existed in his pain, he could see what reminded him of a pulsing black hole composed almost entirely of black shadow and purple mist. There and then he made his decision; he had no chance of surviving this but no way was he allowing this creature to wander around and claim more victims.

With the last of his strength quickly draining Lyle forced his feet to obey, dragging himself and the angry creature upright; ignoring the renewed slashes of the claws, he set off as fast as his feet would allow toward the portal.

Not exactly “go toward the light” then, Lyle thought bitterly as he half fell, half threw himself toward the opening.

The creature, still dangling from his chest, realised too late exactly what its intended victim was doing; almost immediately it made to dislodge itself and flee but found itself trapped as Lyle snapped his arms shut across his chest, before one final leap carried them both through, into the depths.

Lyle had one last view of the alleyway behind him before the opening closed itself and darkness surrounded him.

He sighed and slumped to the ground, content; the creature had taken his life, even now he could feel it draining, but he had stopped it from claiming anymo-

His heart turned to ice.

His veins burst into valleys of pure pain.

His very skin seemed to crawl and writhe, to escape, separate from its host out of sheer agony; nothing of The Creatures assault had been pain on this level, surely even the grasp of death could do nothing to rival this.

Lyle did not even have time to notice that his former attacker had vanished before the pain washed over him as the cloud of darkness gathering before him did the same, folding itself inward on his now limp form until Lyle Dolorem was no more.

****

“Sora!”

Kairi jogged along the beach of the small Islet that made up part of the Destiny Islands; even as she looked to give Sora the newest message, she couldn’t stop the smile that spread to her face being back here caused; she had sworn to herself that she wouldn’t come back here, to where they had all spent their childhoods playing, until she had her friends back home where they belonged.

Every time she thought of their newly restored bond she could not help but smile.

“Hey Kairi, you planning to wake up and tell us what that letter is anytime soon? Or do you want to plan the wedding in your head a little more?”

Kairi blushed furiously as she heard the ever snarky voice of Riku behind her; even though she couldn’t see his face, she could hear the smirk in his voice.

“I don’t know Riku, what would I do if I ever came between you two, I mean can you stand to not be together forever?” Kairi returned to her still grinning friend, a grin of her own appearing as Riku chuckled.

“Oh, I’m sure we can share him; his ego will make more than enough to share.”

“Oh yeah, coming from you Riku! Tell me, how’s our score right now?” Sora’s voice cut into their discussion, full of the same cockiness and cheery attitude it always seemed to hold, even in his darkest moments.

Kairi looked down again at the letter she held in her hand; it had been a great temptation for her to simply tear the letter up on the way to her friends, or else to bury it somewhere no one would find it. The seal holding the letter shut, blazing red with an all too familiar mark emblazoned on it, would surely spell the end of the tranquillity and peace she longed to spend with her friends for the rest of her days.

But at the same time, she knew what rested upon them; like it or not the three of them held a great deal of responsibility, not just on their own world but to all worlds, every person in every worlds safety could (and knowing their lucky probably did) rest on their shoulders depending on what was contained within this letter.

She sighed.

“Sora, Riku; this was in my house today. It’s from The King.” She tried to keep her voice optimistic but from the look in Sora’s eyes she could tell some of her worry slipped through.

Riku noticed none of this; he had already snatched the letter from Kairi’s hand and ripped it open. Riku and The King had always been close, closer perhaps even than Sora and his own companions, and the glint in his eyes only spoke of his joy at possibly hearing from his friend again.

Sora gently laid his hands on Kairi’s shoulders and turned her to face him, his eyes full of apprehension.

“Kairi… I know what you might be thinking but I promise; no matter what The King wants from us, I don’t care if he wants us to walk into Kingdom Hearts itself and take it down bit by bit, me and Riku? We’re coming back, always. Got me?” He finished his promise with a grin.

Kairi couldn’t help a smile as she gently hugged him.

“And you know that if you two idiots don’t come back I’m coming to kick your butts right?”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way, right Riku?”

No answer.

“Riku?”

Sora and Kairi separated and looked at their friend for the first time since he had opened the letter. What they saw amazed them.

Riku’s face was positively glowing with joy as he read from the letter, still held open in his hands; his eyes were wide and his grin growing by the second.

“Riku? Riku? RIKU!”

At last Riku turned to his friends and, with no change in expression or any kind of explanation.

Now extremely curious, Sora unrolled the letter again and began to read aloud for Kairi’s benefit.

Dear Sora, Kairi and Riku

I hope this letter finds you well, I do hope you’ve been enjoying your time at home; it’s been long overdue for you three to earn some peace.

I’m sorry to bother you again but this is very important: I’m sure you were sorta dreading me writing again, thought I would drag you away from your lovely beaches huh?

(Sora glanced at Kairi and Riku with a slightly guilty look).

Don’t worry, I wouldn’t write you guys if I didn’t have a really good reason, Donald and Goofy have been holding down the fort for you guys since Sora and Riku defeated Organisation XIII.

I’ve been keeping myself busy too you know; even though you guys stopped them from threatening worlds again, I still thought we should do something about The Heartless.

I think I might be onto something, at last; I’ve been hopping around worlds in the Gummi Ship, just taking glances at a bunch of different worlds, always just long enough to get a look at what it might be like.

Welp, remember, how Goofy once said if we could get everybody’s heart full of light we could get rid of The Heartless? I know, it seemed like that was way too simple but thing is, I think I might have found us a world that’s exactly what we need. It’s a world called Equestria, I know, I’d never even heard of it either, but it seems like exactly what we need right now.

I’d really appreciate it if you three would be willing to come along with me, Donald and Goofy just once more guys; if this Equestria really is as pure as it seems to be, we could honestly end the Heartless forever.

I’ll be around with the Gummi Ship, along with Donald and Goofy, tomorrow in the afternoon; even if you don’t want to come with us, we’d love to see you guys again, it’s been months.

Hope you’ll consider it guys.

Best Wishes

King Mickey

Sora finished the letter and faded into a shocked and hopeful silence; he heard no noise from either of his friends as the Kings’ words sank in.

No more Heartless… ever. Peace…

***

It was no secret in Ponyville that the Cutie Mark Crusaders could be honestly called a walking disaster area with no exaggeration, not that they were the most disastrous thing to ever happen in Ponyville.

But still most of the inhabitants of the small rural village couldn’t help a certain affection for the three fillies on misadventures for their cutie marks, they had all been there once and it was nice to see three friends helping each other with the coming of age tradition and having fun with it.

The crusaders though took it more seriously.

“Come on Sweetie Bell! Just take it to the top; it’s only a bit further!” The orange egasus named Scootaloo called up to the scared alabaster unicorn on top of their amateur scaffolding.

Sweetie Bell was sitting on her flank, forearms covering her eyes as she shivered in fright from her perch on the metal structure; Scootaloo was many things but encouraging wasn’t one of them. She wished more than ever that she could use her magic properly right then, just one flash of light and she could be up and down in a snap.

“What’s goin’ on; is Sweetie Bell still up there? Come on Sweetie Bell, ah promise you’ll be fine!” Applebloom, the final crusader, called up to Sweetie Bell as she arrived with drinks and cupcakes for the crusaders.

“Yep, and she won’t come down either.” Scootaloo sighed.

“Should ah get Applejack?”

“Nah, she’ll just be angry we borrowed Big Mac’s tools.”

Applebloom thought that over; her siblings were pretty understanding considering everything she and her friends got wrapped up in but Big Mac angry…

She shuddered; that was not a sight she or her friends ever wanted to see again.

“Naw, we can get ‘er down ourselves, right?”

Scootaloo looked again at the rickety scaffold, roughly 20 feet high, looking and sounding like it was held together with duct tape and a lot of good luck.

Then again, it was.

Before any of them could think on what to do, they all jumped as they heard a tremendous crash from somewhere else on the apple farm. Scootaloo and Applebloom both leapt in fright and stared in the direction of the noise, oblivious to Sweetie hitting the ground with a thud behind them.

“Come on, somepony’s causing a ruckus on mah family farm!” Applebloom called, galloping toward the noise, Scootaloo and a very dizzy Sweetie Bell on her tail.

The source of the noise was clear to see; a strange lump of black cloth lay on the ground, with a dirt path behind it as though it were a comet from space. Before any of them could get around to approaching it, Sweetie shrieked as the lump of cloth started moving and stood up.

As one the girls tilted their heads, unsure of exactly what they were looking at; whatever the thing was its features were all hidden by the billowing black cloak it wore, the huge zip on the front done up all the way. It had four limbs like the fillies but it stood on only two of them and the other two were way further apart than theirs; it didn’t seem to have hooves either, but had five weird stubby things at the end of each of its forearms.

“Mister,” Applebloom began, then hesitated, “uhh, it IS Mister, right?”

The creature looked over at the fillies and visibly jumped as it laid its eyes on them for the first time, before it started acting very oddly; it pinched itself on its own forearm then trod on its own hind leg with the other before it looked back at the fillies, then around the farm, all very fast.

“Uhh, no offense but why are you horses, erm, talking?” The Hooded Creature asked gently, still looking around as if expecting the farm wouldn’t be there if it checked again.

The three crusaders looked to each other; was the creature stupid or did it honestly not know about Ponies?

“Why shouldn’t we be? Why are YOU talking?” Sweetie seemed to have found her voice, and her courage, as she spoke up and gently poked the edge of the creatures’ cloak.

The Creature looked down in what they could only guess was shock from the way it moved at its own clothes; it didn’t seem to have noticed them. It ignored that for now and turned back to the fillies.

“Why shouldn’t you be talking? Okay, weird question, but you guys do know you’re horses right?”

“Not horses, PONIES.” Scootaloo chipped in, emphasising the last word.

The Creature sighed.

“Okay, “ponies”, don’t usually talk where I’m from.”

The three looked at each other in shock; what bizarre land was this creature from.

“Okay,” The Creature spoke again, “let’s start again; my names Lyle and I’m not from around here. I’m not too sure how I got here to begin with but anyway, what are your names?” Lyle’s tone had become considerably friendlier.

The three friends grinned to each other and stepped forward in turn.

“Ah’m Applebloom!”

“I’m Sweetie Bell!”

“I’m Scootaloo!”

AND WE'RE THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!!! They finished together.

Lyle snapped his hands to his ears and nearly fell backwards at the last shout but the three crusaders took no notice.

“So, we’re you from?” Scootaloo asked, still curious.

Lyle, still rubbing where his ears presumably were under the cloak, answered.

“Well, I’m from you know, Earth?”

The three fillies gave him blank looks.

“You came out of the dirt?” Sweetie asked.

Lyle raised an eyebrow, and then remembered they couldn’t see it.

“No, you know, Earth, the planet, the place where we live and which I just realised now I’m probably not on anymore and this is just nonsense to you and now I’m rambling aren’t I?”

The three fillies nodded together.

Lyle restrained himself from face palming.

“Okay look, kids,” he paused, “err, you ARE kids right?”

Scootaloo shook her head, “I still say we’re not fillies anymore but that’s all anyone ever tells us is “we’re too young to build rockets” or “fillies shouldn’t play with zip lines”; as if I was playing with it!”

Lyle quickly decided to not follow along with any plan of the crusaders.

“Well okay then, kids, do you know where there’s an adult I can talk to?”

Applebloom nodded, “mah sis is just up at the farmhouse, you can talk to her if ya need help.”

“That would be brilliant Applebloom.” He made to leave then noticed he couldn’t see the farmhouse from the field.

“Uh, Applebloom, d’you mind giving me directions?”

Applebloom beamed.

“Yeah, this way CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS STRANGER GUIDERS YAY!!!”

The three fillies took off toward the house, leaving Lyle and his battered ear drums to bring up the rear.

****

In the grand city of Canterlot, the royal palace towered over the city as a truly majestic sight to behold; home to the rulers of the land Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, the palace was always calm and serene even in times of crisis, at least it seemed so to the outside observer.

The higher ups of the Canterlot Elite had much to gossip about therefore when earlier in the day Princess Luna had zoomed overhead, challenging the sound barrier to crash right through the front castle doors, worry etched into her face.

Inside the tension was almost tangible; Celestia, for the first time since the escape of Discord, seemed deeply troubled, while Luna seemed worried but also angry.

“THEY DARE TO INVEST OUR KINGDOM, WE SHALL SEE WHO IS LAUGHING BY THE END, WE SHALL TAKE AWAY ALL THE FUN OF THEIRS AND RUN THEM OUT-“

“Luna dear, you’re doing the voice again,” Celestia said, unable to help a small grin at the embarrassed look on her little sisters face as she returned her voice to normal volume.

“Tell me though, dearest sister, is it a sign of his return or is it something worse?” Luna now seemed scared for the first time.

Celestia sighed.

“Luna, my dear sister, I won’t pretend to know; as much as my little ponies wish it were so, I am not omnipotent, I don’t know why they are here or if he has returned. Though I will admit, I don’t see how he could be back after Twilight and her friends defeated him.” As she said this she glanced behind her to the most recent stain glass window added to the castle.

“Sister, he has survived us once before, surely we should take precautions to ensure we eliminate any chance of his return?”

Celestia nodded.

“Agreed, please send word to Cadance and Shining Armour; I believe a meeting is required.”

Luna nodded, “And what of the Element Bearers?”

“I will see them myself; they have proved themselves more than worthy of being allowed to know.”

Luna wrapped her wings around her sister in a quick hug before taking to the air and flying at high speeds to the south, toward the Crystal Empire.

“Phalanx!”

The current captain of the guard bowed.

“Yes your majesty?”

“Please fetch Discord for this meeting.”

Phalanx visibly gulped.

“Y-Your majesty?”

Celestia patted his shoulder with a foreleg encouragingly.

“I trust you Phalanx, Discord knows the fate that awaits him if he harms anypony ever again. Now please, fetch him.”

Phalanx saluted and trotted with perfect composure through the huge double doors of the throne room.

Celestia looked once again at the many stained glass windows around the throne room, detailing the history of Equestria; her eyes lingered particularly on the image of a young dragon, vanquishing a ferocious looking armoured unicorn with the light from a heart carved from pure crystal.

“Sombra… if this is your doing I swear on my mothers’ life, I will destroy you once and for all. I will see you thrown to Tartarus myself.”

****

“Applebloom, what in tarnation are you and your friend doin’ bringing strangers to the house, ESPECIALLY strangers you don’t even know what they are! Y’all said you just found this sidewinder out in our fields and ya bring him back with ya?”

“Hey, I asked them if they had anyone who could help me Miss, forgive them for being a little confused to what to do. And speaking of that d’you have any scissors?”

The non-sequitor briefly baffled Applejack but she recovered quick, used to it courtesy of Pinkie Pie.

“And just why do you need scissors?”

Lyle stood by the kitchen sink tugging at his black cloak, Big Macintosh right beside him and keeping an eye on him. Lyle looked back at Applejack and the fillies, still sat at the kitchen table.

“Well in case you haven’t noticed, this cloak is very, very annoying and I Can’t. Get it. Off!” He punctuated each word with a tug at the zipper or hood.

“Big Mac, give ‘em a hand.” Applejack sighed.

Big Mac put both forelegs onto the hood and yanked suddenly.

“Ahh!” Lyle was pulled along with the cloak and smashed into the kitchen cupboard as Big Mac’s pull did nothing but fling him across the room.

Big Mac stared in surprise at the “human”, as he had called himself, now clambering to his feet.

Applejack glanced at her brother, “That all you got in ya?”

“Eeyup.”

And you can’t pull the zip up either?”

“Nope.”

Applejack held herself from growling in frustration; she didn’t like this sort of sudden change, it was Twilight who usually dealt with-

“Oh darnit, Ah’m being mighty dull today!” Applejack said, now smiling.

Everyone looked at her in confusion (or she guessed in Lyle’s case).

“Lyle, y’all wanna get out of that weird hoodie right?”

Lyle nodded.

“Well let me take ya to mah friend Twilight, she lives in town and she knows way more about magic than any of us, maybe one of her spells can get ya out of that thing!”

Lyle nodded, choosing not to question the presence of magic; after all, talking horses.

“Sounds good to me, sooner she can get this thing off the better. This thing is way too tight anyway; feel like I’ve been forced into my little brothers’ jacket over here.” Lyle groaned, tugging at the collar again.

Applebloom spoke up, “Oh ya have a bruther? What’s he like?”

Applejack wondered if she only imagined it but she could swear she saw Lyle tense at the question for the briefest moment before answering.

“We… don’t see much of each other anymore, not as close as you and your family Applebloom. Anyways, Applejack, should we go see about getting this grim reaper costume off?”

“Uh, Grim what now?”

“Never mind.”

****

Lyle had to admit, the library where this Twilight lived looked almost as cosy as it was bizarre; the room Applejack lead him into was rounded and cosy, the walls almost entirely covered by countless books in innumerable colours and size.

“Hey Applejack, what’s that with you?” A childlike voice piped up from behind the door.

Lyle turned back to see who had opened the door for them; the dragon he saw was small, about the size of the CMC, and was looking at Lyle with a look of confusion but also curiosity on his face.

Almost as soon as he saw the Dragon, dislike rushed into Lyle’s thoughts, a desire to insult, belittle the small dragon, even to physically harm him. Lyle pushed those thoughts aside and barely kept from giving an audible gasp, surprised and frightened by those thoughts, where had those come from?

“He’s a human Spike; not sure ‘xactly what they are but he’s got this darn coat stuck on him. We reckoned Twi might be able to help, she around?”

Spike shook his head.

“She had to go to Canterlot. It was so weird, Princess Luna just swooped right in and they flew off, didn’t even tell me why she had to go so fast.” It wasn’t hard to hear the slight hurt in Spike’s voice.

Lyle stepped forward.

“Don’t worry, Spike was it? I’m sure if this Twilight is as important as Applejack told me she just has a lot of jobs to do, she probably didn’t want to leave but it must have been urgent. Oh, I’m Lyle as well, I would say nice to see you but I don’t think you can really return that at the moment can you?”

“Nah, you kinda look a little freaky with that hood on.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me.”

Applejack came back from the upstairs bedroom.

“Welp, she didn’t leave a note or nuthin’, who knows when Twi’ll be back. Say Lyle, it’s getting late; if you need a put up fer the night we could spare a room for ya.”

Lyle’s eyes widened and he was very glad neither could see it.

“A-Are you sure? I mean you barely know me and that’s gotta be really annoying on a farm to have someone who can’t help hanging around, besides I’m sure the Inn has a room-“

“And where, pray tell, are you going to get the bits to pay for one of those?”

Lyle faltered and let his shoulders slump.

“Hey come on now,” Applejack whispered as she put her foreleg on his shoulder, “it’s not a problem at all, Applebloom’ll be bouncin’ off the walls with you around, she loves meeting new people. Besides, ya’ll get more sleep on Big Mac’s spare bed; reckon it’s the only one that’ll fit you.”

“Wait won’t, y’know, Big Mac be sleeping in his bed?”

“Ah said “spare” bed; when ya live in the same house as Applebloom ya learn to have replacements handy. Anyways, we better head back, Spike ya gonna be alright by yourself?”

Spike nodded with a smile and waved them off, Lyle again had to fight inexplicable urges to kick the small purple dragon as he passed.

In no time the two had returned to the farmhouse; Applejack bid Lyle goodnight and headed for her room after pointing Lyle to the guest room.

The room itself was bland but the bed was thankfully big enough and designed right for a human to be comfortable; relaxing himself under the covers, Lyle couldn’t help but be amazed at everything that had happened in just one day. He was honestly surprised he hadn’t started babbling incoherently at some point or just stared in awe at any of the strange and wonderful things he had seen on his day.

Finally he let himself slip into dreams. It was not a restful slumber, booming voices, pitch black claws and glaring eyes haunted his dreams, providing no answers and no real questions, just more confusion as if more was needed.

Chapter 2: The New Arrivals

Chapter 2: The New and The Weird

Guys, I'm sorry for this, I know we have authors note for a reason but I felt this needed to be before the chapter; while I have no intention of making this fic gorey there is some serious nightmare fuel coming up in this story, just thought I'd warn you all[

On the quiet beaches of Destiny Islands, Sora, Riku and Kairi sat and waited; their rucksacks were full of everything the trio could possibly think would be needed. In spite of the king’s assurances of how this would be a simple journey, the three had long ago learned to expect anything in their travels.

Sora paced up and down the beach, unable to stay still longer than he needed to, which as far as he was concerned was never at all; just when Kairi was about to tell him not to dig a trench in the sand with his feet, he stopped and pointed to the sky.

“Look, it’s the Gummi Ship, they’re here!”

Riku leapt to his feet, followed closely by Kairi; sure enough, against the horizon they could see the familiar jagged red and yellow ship that had carried Sora to so many worlds.

In no time the ship had lightly touched down a short distance away; almost before the ship had even touched down the exit ramp was lowering at the back.

The second the ramp touched the sand they saw the small figure of King Mickey running toward them, Riku ran to meet him in a hug halfway. Sora and Kairi couldn’t help a chuckle at Riku; he had learned to loosen up much more since their journeys began.

Mickey and Riku separated so that Kairi and Sora could give welcoming hugs of their own; once his hug ended Sora looked expectantly at the exit ramp, his smile faltering slightly as he saw no sign of his dear friends anywhere.

Behind him he could hear Mickey chatting energetically to Kairi and Riku, as cheerful and full of life as always.

Sora turned to Mickey and asked the question he hoped he wouldn’t have to.

“Um, Your Majesty?”

“Yup Sora?” Mickey turned to Sora, frowning as he saw the concern in his face.

“I mean, it’s wonderful to see you again Your Majesty-“

“Mickey please Sora, you three are more deserving of a throne in my book.” He beamed at the three of them, Sora’s shocked but grateful expression in particular.

Sora shook his head and carried on.

“Uh, Mickey, where are Goofy and Donald, I just thought they would be coming with us?” He couldn’t keep a slight hopefulness out of the question.

Mickey’s ears drooped slightly.

“Aww Sora, I’m sorry; I coulda sworn I put it in the letter I sent you all. I’m sorry but Goofy and Donald had to help out Donald’s Uncle in Traverse Town; they’ll be coming to Equestria a few days behind us.”

Sora tried not to look disappointed but he must have failed because he felt Mickey’s hand on his arm and Kairi’s on his shoulder.

“Sora, don’t worry; we’ll see them really soon, I bet they’re dying to see you too. You don’t think they would have chosen to delay seeing you do you?” Kairi’s voice was warm and comforting, almost how a mother would calm a child.

It worked; he still felt the urge to see them but Sora smiled at the thought that he would soon be seeing his two other closest friends very soon.

“Alright, how about we get on the ship before Sora starts pining?” Riku smirked as he carried all three rucksacks onto the ship.

Sora blushed as Kairi giggled at his expense before making her way onto the ship, Mickey and Sora following behind.

In the familiar control room Riku was already sat at the co-pilot seat, which of course was the most comfortable, and Mickey made his way to the pilot seat, leaving Sora and Kairi to strap themselves into the passenger seats behind them.

“So, Your Ma- Mickey, what’s this world we’re going to like?” Kairi asked, relaxing into her chair as they felt the rumble of the ship powering up.

Mickey didn’t answer right away, waiting until the ship had taken off from the sandy beaches of Destiny Islands; Sora got a good final look at the Islands from above as they took off.

No, not final: if we pull this off, we may never need to leave again.

“Well, to tell you guys the truth, I don’t know a terrible amount about Equestria; me and their Princess Celestia have been in contact for a while but we’ve never met in person. All I know for sure about the world is its inhabitants and that they rely on Friendship for magic.”

“Seriously,” Riku asked from beside Mickey, “it’s a wonder the Heartless haven’t attacked that world before now, you’d think it’d be number one on the list of things they hate, a world running on Friendship.”

Mickey grinned.

“Oh I’m sure they’d love to, but this Princess Celestia isn’t just there to be a ruler; from what she’s told me, she and her sister are two of the most powerful beings I’ve ever heard of. They control the night and day on their world and they’ve protected it for thousands of years now.”

Riku’s eyes widened; that was certainly an impressive boast.

The rest of the flight passed relatively quietly, with the ship now in the Void the group of friends were able to relax and entertain each other with stories of their lives since they had last seen each other; Riku in particular seemed very glad to be able to enjoy time with Mickey instead of being constantly in danger when with him.

Just over an hour after they had left, there was a sudden beeping from the ships radar; Mickey excused himself to go and check it.

Sora was just about to ask Riku how he and Mickey had even ended up in an arcade machine when Mickey’s voice sounded from the front.

“Quick everybody, something’s coming right at us out there, Sora and Kairi, man the guns!”

They nodded and ran to the two laser cannons on either side of the ship while Riku returned to his chair and manned the outside camera, searching around for whatever was coming at them. He glanced at the radar and frowned.

“Wait a minute Mickey, this thing is smaller than us.”

Mickey gave him a strange look.

“Riku, this ship is as small and light as it can be while withstanding the void, you don’t GET smaller than this travelling around worlds.” Mickey reminded him, though he looked worried.

“Well look for yourself my friend, half our size, moving very fast and…” He trailed off; in the few seconds since he had looked away, the object had already reached them.

Whatever the object was, it was circling the ship from underneath right at that moment.

“That’s impossible; you can’t move that fast through here without hurting your own vessel, this doesn’t make any sens- Ahh!” Riku yelled as an explosion of confetti and spiders interrupted him from the console.

“Making sense, now why in all the worlds would you do that?”

Riku froze; that voice sounded like it had been whispered right into his ear, and he could just barely see from the corner of his eyes that Mickey had clearly heard the same.

In a flash both of them held their keyblades at the ready, slowly rising from their chairs and facing the room behind them, only to find it deserted.

The two scanned all around themselves, sure they had heard the voice right beside them.

“Now, why would a ship full of warriors with magic swords be flying towards Equestria; oh I could ponder the possibilities all day… oh well, time to die!”

Riku scowled.

“SHOW YOURSELF, come out and fight you coward!” He yelled, hoping he sounded braver than he felt.

“Oh now, tut tut, it’s not polite to raise your voice to your betters boy; say, that’s a thought, why don’t I take you to them, they’ll deal with you.”

The ship rocked violently as soon as the mocking voice stopped; even as it stabilised Riku and Mickey could see darkness engulfing the ship from the outside, accompanied by a strange popping sound.

As the light finally disappeared, leaving the cockpit lit by only the glow of computer screens, Mickey and Riku looked to each other faces full of fear and worry as the unknown creatures words repeated in their minds.

****

The Everfree Forrest terrified the ponies of Ponyville and with good reason; all manner of horrible creatures lived within, some even their own dear Fluttershy could not tame or reason with. Many ponies in town refused to even approach it and greatly admired their friendly neighbour Zecora for willingly living within it.

Never was that fear more justified than tonight.

In a clearing of the Everfree Forrest, the darkness of the night and the shadows cast by the trees buzzed with a life of their own; a horrible, seething hatred took on form as the darkness coalesced in the centre, great chunks of shadow breaking away and forming in the centre; initially no more than a mass of pure shadow and darkness, soon a horrible pulsing took over as the mass of hatred and evil forced itself into a more defined shape.

The being that eventually stood within the clearing was an impossibility; its horn was ferocious looking, a horn of jet black bone jutting from the forehead, ringed purple markings up and down the length.

To the ponies side large, imposing wings flared outwards in a show of strength, a wingspan rivalling or possibly exceeding the princesses of the land themselves. Like the rest of her body, the mare’s feathers were the most impossible black, seeming to suck what little light existed in the clearing away by her very presence.

But it was the mare’s eyes that were truly awe inspiring and terrifying; as she opened them her captive audience could see countless auroras, event horizons, supernova, countless celestial displays of pure, unbridled destruction danced within her sockets. It was like seeing the destruction of every world, in every possible scenario, all at once in the eyes of a mare who would clearly revel in the endless possibilities for pain.

For the first time, she acknowledged her surroundings and her admirers.

In the clearings darkness most of her observers were hidden but it mattered little to her, nothing hid from her; the very depths of a ponies mind was not safe from her, a darkened clearing would provide no safe haven. In the depths of the darkened trees, she could sense them, an emptiness that only they could instil filling her senses.

It almost excited her to feel so much concentrated aggression and hunger gathered in one place.

Heartless.

Hundreds, thousands, possibly even tens of thousands of Heartless observed her from the forests depths; some hid in the shadows of trees, some within the branches, some even merged with the darkness itself but all were staying respectfully out of sight of their new deity. They were weapons to be used, creatures of savage instinct, nothing more.

The pitch black mare stepped closer to her subjects; now more visible, her mane became visible to their eyes. Like most of the Alicorns’ body it was black and sleek, shimmering like the stars in the night above; much like the shadow she herself had emerged from and which made up the Heartless, it seemed to writhe and occasionally lash out with a will of its own.

“I must admit,” The Alicorn whispered to herself, “these pitiful creatures know more of respect than some other creatures I have known, more of love, compassion and gratitude, yet they are considered monsters. Hah! Just as much as I am a monster?”

Even as she allowed the question to hang with the mindless vermin, she heard the scurry of hooves within the thrush; a sharp snap sounded from within the ditch as several tendrils of darkness burst into existence and entangled the unwilling spy.

Dragging and clawing at the ground all the way, The Alicorn could not help but let herself beam in delight at the creature dragged before her; she had never been given the opportunity to torture a creature such as this before, the possibilities ranged so far and wide so as to be positively endless.

“After all,” she mused as one of her tendrils casually forcefully snapped a leg into an awkward angle with a horrible crack, “a Changeling can be wonderful for practice against certain other nasty people, see how they’ll die. I confess I don’t think that seeing Celestia die in agony once will be quite sufficient. Aren’t you a special subject of mine?”

The Changeling child could only cry in fear and pain as The Alicorn returned to the clearing, the cries of the child ending as darkness enclosed into a seemingly solid dome around the clearing; as it cleared a plain clearing stood, no Heartless, no Alicorn and no screaming child, as if they had been nothing but a nightmare of the dream state kind.

But Zecora knew better, as she recovered from the horror of what she witnessed; she didn’t need the Alicorns ranting or the thousands of dark creatures to know a threat when she saw one. She had a theory on who this new threat could be already in her head, only time and tests would see if it were anything more than that.

She prayed to Celestia, Luna and any other possible deities that she was wrong.

****

“Wake up buddy.”

Lyle grumbled but grudgingly clambered to his feet out of the comfy bed as the curtains were drawn in his room to expose the sunlight; the orange sky showed it could not be far past dawn.

Looking toward the windows he was surprised to see not Applejack but her brother Big Macintosh pulling the curtains apart and giving him an odd look; Lyle had the distinct impression he was trying to see beyond the hood and glare at him.

Yeah, you figure out a way to see my face you tell me buddy.

“So, Big Mac, what you doing today anyway? Applejack told me there’s not much to do on a Saturday, got anything planned?” Lyle asked, eager to get to know the friendly family better.

Big Mac said nothing but looked away with an almost guilty look on his face.

“What? Did I say something bad? Touchy subject?” Lyle frowned.

“Nope.”

Lyle tilted his head to the side before something clicked in his head; he was glad the almost herculean pony couldn’t see his smirk.

“Ah; got yourself a special someone eh?”

Big Mac’s slight blush was answer enough.

Lyle, still grinning broadly, walked over to the red stallion and gave him the closest he could manage to an elbow bump.

“So, come on, whatcha got planned big guy? Romantic picnic with expensive wines, watching the sunset together in the park on a blanket, can’t see you busting out into love poetry anytime soon though… as much as that sounds awesome!” Lyle couldn’t hold back anymore and succumbed to laughs as he finished.

For his part, Big Mac couldn’t help an embarrassed smile of his own; the human was certainly odd but he was nice enough at least.

Big Mac nodded and left the room, Lyle following him downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast; Lyle was delighted to see that while there were things such as hay as he expected, there was also an abundance of apples and pie which he could eat. He hadn’t eaten since before he had arrived in Equestria.

Looking around after filling his plate, he was surprised to find he and Big Mac were the only ones in the kitchen.

“Say Big Mac, where’s everyone else right now?”

Big Mac looked up from his salad to answer, a slightly odd look passing over his face as he laid eyes on Lyle again.

“Applejacks’ gone to see Twilight. Dunno where Applebloom goes, ah tend to just follow the noise when ah want to find her.” The stallion promptly returned to his salad.

Lyle shrugged; he could understand how Applebloom would be easy to find by noise alone.

Suddenly, he remembered the first part of Big Mac’s answer.

“Wait a minute, if she’s gone to see Twilight, that means she’s back and if she’s back then I’ll be able to talk to her and then hopefully she can get this coat off, thanks for the breakfast Mac, I gotta go, see ya later!”

Mac had to admire the speed with which Lyle managed to wolf down the apple he had held and zoom out the door as if he had wings propelling him but he couldn’t ignore the feeling of dread that spread over him as he saw him disappear over the hills leading back into Ponyville.

Guess being a bad liar runs in the family…

*****

“Darling, can you please just tell us why you have called us here so early? A mare such as myself does require beauty sleep, much as it may surprise you.” Rarity yawned; the six friends who also happened to be the bearers of the Elements of Harmony were sat around a long, official looking table in the Royal Canterlot Throne Room.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were both asleep in their chairs, while Pinkie was buzzing with energy and trying to examine every detail of the throne room all at once.

Applejack and Rarity sat alongside Twilight, all the mares clearly tired from the early hour.

“I’m sorry Rarity but we really didn’t have a choice, Luna said that this might be the darkest hour Equestria has ever faced.”

“No offense sugarcube but hasn’t it been that way the last three times?”

Twilight had to sigh at that and almost flapped her wings in frustration; Applejack and Rarity were lucky she was gaining more control or they would probably have ended up across the room.

“Twiley!”

Twilight bolted upright, instantly awake though she didn’t remember falling asleep; she swivelled right around in her chair and thought her smile overtake her face as she saw her Big Brother his wife and best foalsitter ever Cadance in the doorway to the Throne Room both rushing toward her.

She met them halfway and wrapped both her wings and forelegs around them in a crushing hug, which they returned happily; Shining moved off to say hello to the others as Twilight and Cadance performed their special welcome for each other, as they had done since Twilight was a filly.

He could only hope the meeting would not be as sombre as he expected it to be.

****

Lyle tried his hardest to ignore the looks he got as he walked through town; he had briefly considered sneaking to the library but he wasn’t about to hide from the townspeople, surely that would look even worse than just walking through town.

To their credit, the other ponies did make at least a token effort not to make their looks judgmental or overtly suspicious, putting on looks of innocent curiosity or confusion. He appreciated it nonetheless, if they had enough decency to try and hide their fear it probably meant they wouldn’t let it make their minds up for them.

Soon enough he had found the bizarre tree/house/library again but after five minutes there was no answer from inside.

Sighing in frustration, Lyle decided he might as well get to know the town he was stuck in for a while, at least until he could figure out how and when he would be getting home and out of the cloak.

He was glad to see that the park benches in Ponyville were mostly the same as human ones, allowing him to sit back and relax peacefully.

“OH CELESTIA THANK YOU!”

Lyle almost fell off the bench as the loud voice interrupted his dozing; looking to his left he found himself almost nose to nose with a mint coloured pony that was grinning broadly and hopping with excitement.

“Um, hello?”

“Hi!” The mare responded, still bouncing in place.

Lyle shuffled nervously across the bench to make room for the mare, who immediately plopped down into the spare seat; Lyle was amazed to see her sitting on the bench just as a human would.

“So, what’s your name miss?” Lyle asked delicately.

The mint mare looked as though he had told her she was more beautiful than the princesses.

“Oh I’m Lyra, it’s so awesome to finally meet someone like me, I’ve always sat on a bench like this and never got why and when I use magic it has those weird stubby things on the end of your hooves and I even try to walk on my hindlegs even though Bon Bon says I’m just going to hurt myself and that I probably just dreamt up a creature who could do all that stuff but now you’re here, like right in front of me and talking to me and sitting right by my house like it’s destiny, this is so awesome!” Lyra finished, grinning like a mad pony.

Lyle wouldn’t have been surprised if his head was physically spinning; Lyra had finished her entire joyful exclamation in the amount of time it had taken him to ask her name.

“So, Lyra?”

Lyra nodded.

“Are there really no humans on Equestria, like never, no books on them, no visitors, nothing?”

Lyra shook her head sadly.

“Nope, never. I always knew I wasn’t just crazy though when I walked and sat like I did, I mean I wouldn’t just do that for no reason right?”

Lyle chose to change the subject rather than answer that.

“Hey Lyra, if you’re so excited to meet a human how’d you like to show this one around town? I have to admit I really don’t know what you guys do for fun around here.”

Lyra looked as though she might explode from sheer happiness.

“Yesyesyesyesyesyes!!! Come on, this way!” Lyra took off at a full gallop toward the town square, forcing Lyle to run after her wondering if it was just customary to lead strangers around at top speed or if it was just Lyra and the CMC.

****

In a sky of blackened clouds adorning a blood red sky, an Alicorn as black as the depths of a black hole itself looked down upon her kingdom with a gleam in her celestial eyes; everything would soon be ready for her to take vengeance on Celestia and to drag Equestria to true glory, whether it liked it or not.

Below her a bright blue pegasus with a snow white mane emerged from the huge building of clouds, the huge double doors shutting behind him.

“Your majesty.” He began, bowing low. “I assure you, we are all ready to be a part of your wondrous plan; that you would bestow Equestria such an honour as to be ruled under you speaks of your kindness and mercy.”

The Alicorn smiled, pleased to see such loyalty from her subjects.

“And you are confident my loyal subjects within the Everfree will maintain their loyalty after so many years?” The Alicorn lowered her head so that her horn was directly poised in front of the Pegasus’s eyes.

For his part, the blue Pegasus did not look remotely threatened, though she suspected that was out of loyalty rather than actual bravery.

“They will have little choice Your Majesty; they are trapped in their torture forever until you see fit to release them. Well, there is another who could release them but- gahhk!”

The Pegasus struggled momentarily then ceased as he saw the tendrils of shadow pinning him to the door by his neck; his Queen’s expression had not changed, in fact she had not even moved, but her voice dripped venom.

“That mare is not any of your concern, nor any of my subjects’. I shall deal with her if and only if the time comes.” She sighed and released the Pegasus, who collapsed in a heap.

“I understand Your Majesty; I shall never even think of that mare ever again, nor shall any of my subordinates or I shall make them pay dearly.”

The Alicorn smiled almost warmly, though it was a façade.

“Excellent, you have done very well today; for now I must check with my other lieutenants, they must all be prepared.” Before she could take off The Alicorn spoke again. “You are sure your leader could not meet with me today?”

The Pegasus gulped.

“She is deeply sorry Your Majesty, she and I both know the penalty but I am afraid it was unavoidable, truly. She and I are both willing to offer penance for our actions that have displeased you.”

The Alicorn nodded and left the shivering Pegasus in front of the cloud building as her flight took her towards a rural settlement not far from her royal palace; this was where only those ponies who represented the very ideal of what all ponies should be resided.

Her loyal guard pegasi swooped just low enough to confirm it was her before retreated to their hidden perches within the clouds; had it not been for The Alicorn’s remarkable sense she would never have known they were there.

Touching down, she was pleased again to see her subjects all drop what they were doing and emerge from their homes to bow before their ruler; she raised a hoof in acknowledgement before their leader, silently ordering them to cease their worship and to stand before her as subjects.

She beckoned to their leader, a purple earth pony, who swiftly marched up to her Queen and fought the urge to bow.

“Walk with me my little pony.”

The Earth Pony nodded and followed at a respectful distance to The Alicorn; as respected as she knew she was in Her Queen’s eyes, she would never deign to consider herself even remotely an equal or anywhere close.

“Are you and my Earth ponies ready?”

The purple pony spoke in a voice free of emotion.

“Yes Your Majesty; we are ready to do whatever you command of us and bring another kingdom into your reign, to have them experience the joy of your rule, to-“

“That will do.”

The purple pony almost blushed and stopped as she noticed they had come to a cliff edge which The Alicorn was now staring out over, almost as though she were reminiscing.

“Do my subjects know what they volunteer themselves for?”

The Purple Pony was surprised, The Queen hardly ever spoke of uncertainty when others were in her presence, though she kept silent, unsure of her place.

The Alicorn turned, slightly annoyed.

“I ask you again my subject, do you know what you are about to do?”

The Purple Pony bowed low; to converse with the Queen and give input was a rare, possibly even unique, opportunity.

“I do. We all do Your Majesty, we are all ready to die for you, suffer for you and kill for you.”

The Alicorn chuckled. “I rather think you don’t need my encouragement for that last one my dear pony.”

The Purple Pony grinned sheepishly.

“Oh my dear little pony, you will have to be ready for more than that; I wish I could avoid it but our enemies have far worse punishments than death. I hope you understand why I must do this, put you at such risk?”

The Purple Pony nodded, either oblivious or uncaring to the grin on The Alicorn’s face as she once again showed her blind loyalty.

“Wonderful; I have one more visit to make my loyal subject, please return to your people and ensure they are ready to begin at a moment’s notice; glory will not spare the ill prepared.” As she spoke black tendrils wrapped around The Alicorn, engulfing her form until it concealed her completely, where it faded into nothingness, The Alicorn gone once again.

****

Finally, it seemed to have taken hours for Rainbow Dash though it had been only ten minutes, everyone was gathered at the long council table; the element bearers sat together, beside them, now next to Twilight, sat Shining Armour and Cadance.

Across from them Princess Luna sat, looking more sombre and concerned than any could remember seeing her for a long time; Celestia herself had yet to sit and was conversing with two other ponies that were just out of sight by the front doors.

Eventually Celestia returned with her two companions.

Rainbow was shocked to see-

“Ditzy? No offense but why are you here, isn’t this like a meeting of all the guardians of the realm and all that good stuff?” Rainbow questioned before she could stop herself.

Ditzy Doo for her part just smiled and shook her head.

“No silly, me and The Doctor were called by Celestia to talk about other worlds and stuff.” She spoke with the tone of explaining to an overexcited filly.

Beside her the Mayor of Ponyville’s assistant Doctor Whooves seemed, if anything, even less attentive than Pinkie Pie, going on about “big flashy lighting things” at the chandelier and asking for a jelly filly.

“Ahem.” Celestia serene voice carried around the room.

Doctor Whooves immediately snapped his attention to Celestia with a silly grin.

“Doctor Whooves, if you would please to explain the situation to our friends.”

He nodded.

“Absolutely, hello everybody I’m the Doctor, though I guess you already knew that which is a shame I do like to introduce myself and see everybody’s expression when they realise that my name is the Doctor because-“

Luna clicked her tongue impatiently.

“Ah, of course, to business, the business of this whole new threat lark, never understood why evil threats can’t sometimes just take a holiday, maybe Barcelona or Fillydelphia, or perhaps even-“

With a loud crack and a flash of white The Doctor was cut off by the chaotic form of Discord, the spirit of chaos currently the size of Celestia and wearing a bizarre suit with a bubble helmet. Doctor Whooves knew it as an astronaut suit but the others were baffled.

“Ah, am I interrupting something, oh well I was invited after all, I just don’t think you expected me to actually appear did you my dear Celestia?” He smirked as he leaned right across Luna to leer at Celestia.

Celestia was not amused and nodded with approval as Luna used her magic to shove the Spirit of Chaos out of their personal space.

“Who’s that?” Ditzy asked, having never encountered the spirit of chaos before.

Rainbow Dash scowled.

“The jerk who tried to turn Equestria into a madhouse and who everyone decided deserves another chance even though he’s probably just another- but he’s probably better now.” She trailed off as Fluttershy showed signs of unleashing The Stare.

“Ah, I see someone brought the Derpy little pony.”

Doctor Whooves moved in front of Ditzy with a scowl as Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood from their seats to stomp their hooves in Discord’s direction.

“Fine! No one has a sense of fun anymore, I just came by to dump a burden on you anyway, and it’s not my problem.”

Before anypony could ask what he meant, Discord reached into his ear with his entire left arm; his head inflated like a balloon as he pulled and pulled, expanding his head even further until a full sized spaceship was sitting in the middle of the room. Even as it his head returned to normal Discord disappeared with a laugh.

****

Inside the Gummi Ship, Riku and Mickey looked in confusion toward each other; mere moments since they had been enclosed in impenetrable darkness the shadows had cleared. The Gummi Ship now looked to be in a grand throne room, not unlike Mickey’s own back at Disney Castle though this one was decorated with many stained glass windows and a large council seat at which sat-

“Princess Celestia!”

Even having never met the pony before, Mickey could make a pretty good guess as he took in the rising sun cutie mark, long flowing mane of many colours and the dark pony sitting beside her with a mane that looked to be made of the night sky itself, clearly her sister Luna.

He quickly leapt toward the exit ramp and rushed out to meet the ponies.

He swiftly found himself pinned to the side of the ship by Luna’s magical aura as the Alicorn approached him with anger in her eyes.

“What is this, yet more of the fool Discord’s trickery, we have no need of your pranks in a time of crisis you lout!”

“Luna, calm yourself.” Celestia spoke in a diplomatic tone.

Luna swivelled to her sister with eyes widened in surprise.

“King Mickey of Disney Castle?”

Mickey nodded.

“Yup, here to help you with The Heartless, well me and my friends.

Celestia observed Riku coming down from the ramp, looking momentarily stunned at the idea of talking horses but quickly shrugged it off, having seen much stranger in his travels.

“Okay, I think we all need to do a bit of explaining here, how about I start?” Mickey asked as he began explaining to the others everything that had happened before their sudden arrival.

****

From behind the trees of the Everfree Forest one could get a clear view of the majority of Ponyville, the town square bustling with activity, fillies playing at the schoolhouse and the hundreds of apple trees making up Sweet Apple Acres.

All of it would soon be dust.

A Pitch Black Alicorn shifted into a cloud of pure shadow and slinked her way deeper into the trees, weaving between poisonous plants and sharp drops that made this path almost impossible for Ponies to navigate.

Soon, she saw it.

The remains of what had once been a village still held a vaguely medieval feel to them, with their once thatched roofs and banners and flags for a party, which had long since rotted to nothingness.

She smiled as she sensed many pairs of eyes on her.

No, not eyes; these creatures had lost that particular part of themselves many years ago, possibly even immediately after their punishment began. She turned sharply to face one before it could retreat into the shadows, catching it by surprise.

It was a truly wondrous creature; the skeleton of the pony was clearly visible, bones that had rotted to black and were encrusted with both mould and what she hoped was dried blood. The eye sockets were empty as she had expected but a tiny red pinprick of light could be seen peeking from within the seemingly never ending darkness.

Their flesh hung in loose ribbons from their ribcages and hooves, various forest mosses and tree branches tangled in with the ribbons of flesh and for some vague remainders of manes but all that had retained that had the same colour, blood red patches of manes matted by blood and mud.

She delighted in seeing them examine her for a moment before recoiling in fear, though some hissed in hatred and anger. Clearly they had recognised her.

She observed the only one that hadn’t backed away; this creature seemed even ragged and ancient than the others, and was looking at her with an almost pleading look, with what little she could express with so little of her face remaining.

Apparently deciding that The Alicorn was just not understanding her rather than enjoying her plight, she flung herself forwards and sobbed at her feet, careful not to touch her hooves or any other part of her.

“Please! Please, let us die, we have paid for our crimes surely, we have regretted and suffered over our choices, I beg of you let us die!” She sobbed pitifully into the ground, tears of blood staining the grass.

“No.”

She looked to the Alicorn with a broken look in her face as the others hissed and muttered angrily; why had this monster come here then, simply to mock them?

“You have not regretted your crime; you have killed anypony who has come your way, forced them into your ranks as your pitiful guards. You are a pathetic people to think you can lie to me.”

She hesitated just long enough to let them prepare a response before interrupting it.

“But I have an offer to make of you.”

The creature at her hooves peered up at her with hope and desperation, while the others seemed genuinely curious; some even emerged from their pointless hiding places.

“Equestria… is dead. It does not know it yet but this land cannot continue to exist this way, it is on a path to degradation and uselessness. I do not intend to let this happen.”

She turned toward the criss-crossing path of jagged spikes, poisoned plants and steep drops that she had drifted to in order to reach the town; her horn illuminated as, as one, the obstacles cleared, shifting to other parts of the forest or rotting into dust, whole trees also fell until a clear path opened in the Everfree Forest.

The path exit looked straight out onto Ponyville.

She turned to the Creatures, pleased to see that some had adopted sadistic grins while others had a look of gratitude toward the Alicorn, one had even gone as far to bow.

“You will find your way into the town of Ponyville tonight and eliminate any abominations you find; the unblemished are to be captured and brought to me but if I find a single one of them has been harmed in any meaningful way I will ensure you will wish for your old punishment back.” The Alicorn grinned and bared her teeth as the Creatures bunched together, already planning how they would enter the town and who would do what.

“We thank you Princess Luna; we shall not disappoint you your majesty!”

She turned to the evident leader of the group, a tall and lanky creature that was bowing to her.

She scowled. “Just “Your Majesty” will do my ponies; you are going to be the first in a series of steps for Equestria to reclaim its glory.”

He nodded and went back to his colleagues as The Alicorn perched herself on a mountain further into the Everfree Forest and looked down on Ponyville, every detail leaping out at her with her near perfect vision.

“Time to begin,” She muttered to herself.

Illuminating her horn once again, The Alicorn revelled in her show of power as Celestia’s Sun was forced below the horizon, and the majestic moon rose into place only thirty minutes after she had left The Creatures.

Tonight, Celestia will see how futile her kingdom is, I will take her down pony by pony and then drown her in her subjects own blood. If she’s lucky.

Chapter 3: The Hood Comes Off (1/2)

Chapter 3: The Hood Lifts

Big Macintosh was not an easily phased Stallion, far from it, living in Ponyville and being the brother of one of the Elements of Harmony taught him quickly to always expect the unexpected and to be ready to defend himself or just ready to duck.

He was not ready for this.

Whatever the hay the things emerging from the Everfree Forest were, they weren’t ponies; they might look like them in some small ways, shape, having manes but the pure hatred they radiated had no business in their town, or Equestria.

He growled as he saw them from his patch of orchard; abandoning his apples he headed down the dirt roads leading into town and marched past nervous and frightened onlookers to the south entrance to Ponyville and glowered in the direction of the advancing creatures, his face set in a mask of anger and determination.

By now other ponies were reacting to the advancing horde; some brave souls stepped up to confront them with him, he could see Colgate and Bon Bon among them. Some prepared for the worst; he could hear Berry Punch rounding up a group of fillies and colts who had been playing and taking them into the nearest house. Still more chose to get assistance, Thunderlane hurriedly muttering about going to Canterlot for help before speeding off toward the mountains that hid the city.

It seemed to take entire days but the hordes of what they could now clearly see as undead ponies halted just 20 feet from the small group of defenders; for every brave defender there were at least 5 undead and none of them were fighters.

“What the hay do y’all want?” Big Mac demanded, his voice even deeper than his usual baritone.

A particularly tall undead pony stepped forward, his (or he assumed, he couldn’t tell the mares and stallions apart) steps twitchy and unnatural.

“You all bear the marks, and you are surrounded by freaks; we’ve come to get rid of them, to protect you.” Its voice was as dead as its appearance hollow, emotionless and seemed to be a whisper even as it shouted its declaration.

Beside him he saw Colgate gulp.

“Y’all ain’t coming in here; we don’ need no protectin’, ‘specially not from the likes of y’all.” Big Mac’s voice had dipped again; even the Ponyville residents could not help a slight shiver travelling their spines.

Evidently the undead ponies were still able to comprehend that; the speaker actually took a step back before regaining its composure.

“You are deluded noble stallion; the mark on your flank diminishes you as we knew it would, we were able to spare ourselves from such a gruesome fate but alas, it seems it is too late for you. You are surrounded by those afflicted and these, freakish abominations.” The Speaker nodded its head towards Colgate, disgust evident.

Big Mac scowled as Colgate shivered at being directly addressed.

“You keep calling ma friends abominations and Ah’ll rearrange ya face for ya, can only be an improvement.” Looking over the assembled horde, he finally saw what they were referring to; the undead ponies all had no trace of cutie marks, and unless they were degraded even further than he thought they all appeared to be Earth Ponies too.

Oh Celestia, this can’t end well.

“Enough of this, it’s time to rescue those lucky few who have escaped corruption,” The Pony began to walk toward the group, “any who oppose us shall suffer a terrible-“

CRUNCH.

The Pony never finished its statement as its skull collapsed under the force of Big Macs’ forehoof; before it had time to hit the floor he whirled around and bucked as hard as he could with both backlegs.

The Undead Pony exploded in all directions as shards of bone, nothing bigger than a hoof remaining.

Big Mac snorted in the direction of the remaining ponies and stomped his forehoofs, challenging them to approach. He tried not to falter as he noticed the un-phased appearance of the other undead, in fact some seemed almost amused.

He quickly realised why as he heard a stallion yell in fright from behind him.

The fragments of bone that were the pony were moving, twitching and sliding along the ground to make a pile in front of Big Mac; Bon Bon smashed a leg bone under her hoof but it did not good as the remains moved independently.

The assembled ponies could only watch in horror as the fragments slotted themselves back together, poking and twitching until they found their correct place like some sick jigsaw puzzle until finally the undead pony once again stood before them.

For a being without most of a face, the pony looked remarkably smug.

There was no warning as the horde suddenly galloped, crossing the distance between themselves and the defenders in a moment. The defenders responded in kind and soon the two groups collided in a mob of flailing kicks, headbutts and bites.

Big Mac advanced on a zombie with ribbons of flesh hanging from its back like a cape and aimed a kick at its head. It dodged to the side and snapped its jaws towards where Big Macs’ neck had been just seconds before, Mac responded by slamming a forehoof into its muzzle and shattering most of its’ teeth.

Behind him a zombie pony advanced to aid its comrade but soon felt a mighty slam into its ribs as Bon Bon bucked with all she had and sent the creature colliding into a cohort that had been moments from chomping down on Colgate.

A scream tore Big Macs’ attention away from the thoroughly beaten zombie, his heart seemed to drop from inside his chest as he saw a thoroughly beaten Roseluck, two zombie ponies biting down on her legs.

Big Mac reared in anger and charged his way to Roseluck, scattering enemies and allies alike until he reached her; both zombie ponies did not run fast enough and soon found themselves pinned to the ground by an enraged stallion.

The first zombies head was crushed to dust but repeated stomping as its friend tried to squirm out from under Big Macs leg; when there was practically nothing left of the first zombies head Big Mac turned on the second and grabbed its legs with his mouth while still pinning its hooves and, with an almighty tug, the ponies flank and back legs separated from the rest of its body, as the zombie roared in agony.

Big Mac turned to Roseluck; she was bleeding badly and unconscious but seemed to still be breathing at least. He quickly whistled for Colgate, who nodded and levitated Roseluck onto her back and took off into Ponyville, as Big Mac returned to the fray.

Even as he headbutted another zombie and split its skull Big Mac was becoming increasingly aware that they were delaying the inevitable; he and his friends were powerful but they tired and they hurt like anypony else, these creatures seemed to do neither, content to return again and again to attack no matter what they did do them.

Bon Bon rushed past Big Mac to aid Carrot Top; she looked as though she had been dropped off a cliff and though her eyes still burned with determination he could see her movement slowing down. Likewise he could see Aloe and Lotus back to back fending off attacks from all sides, exhaustion and fatigue clear in the two spa workers.

He galloped his way over and lowered his head in a charge, scattering the gathering wall of attackers, giving Aloe and Lotus room to organise as Bon Bon and Cherilee charged in to maintain the chaos.

Cherilee?

Big Mac did a double take as he indeed saw his marefriend joining the chaos, splitting a zombie ponies skull down the middle and tumbling another into a zombie that was reassembling, causing the two to become conjoined and immobile.

Cherilee caught Big Macs gaze and nodded with a fierce, determined look; any thoughts of telling her to leave were quickly invalidated.

He and Cherilee backed up together as a group of five zombie approached.

“I thought you were protecting the foals, sugar bunny?” Big Mac asked, hardly able to believe the joke at the end of his question had left his lips.

“Your human friend volunteered to guard the schoolhouse, sugar bear.” Cherilee returned, blocking a kick aimed at Big Macs head and flipping the attacker head over hoof.

Big Mac thought over that, where the hay had Lyle been all day? And why hadn’t he come back to the house?

Returning his thoughts to the battle, Big Mac threw yet another kick at a zombie but before he could have it connect he felt his knees buckle; even a pony as strong as Big Macintosh tired and he had been leading the fight from the beginning.

He heard Cherilee gasp and saw her stand directly over him, shielding him from attacks as he laid exhausted his limbs disobedient and useless.

Even as he glanced around, Big Mac could see their defence crumbling; injuries came faster and in greater severity, zombies faced fewer opponents as ponies either fled or were overcome by wounds and overwhelmed those who remained.

Looking back to Cherilee, he saw at least ten zombies approaching the two.

He struggled harder than he had ever struggled in his life to rise to his hooves but still his muscles failed him. It looked like this was truly the end, they had put up a fight at least, some would have escaped…

A bright flash of light made him reopen his eyes; before him their attackers barely stood, several engulfed in flames, others jolting painfully from muscle spasms. As he watched another sharp flash of lightning crashed down on them from the thundercloud that had appeared above them.

“Bring it on you freaks, I’ll blast you all night or take you apart bone by bone, your choice!”

A cheer erupted from the surrounding defenders as they all recognised the cocky and boastful voice of Rainbow Dash even before she zoomed down from her thunder cloud perch and joined the fray, scattering zombies left and right, compensating for weakened ponies and taking pressure off those still able to fight.

She wasn’t alone.

From nowhere above Big Mac a large a ferocious looking blade, stylised as a bat wing, swung down and decapitated a zombie; Big Mac, finally standing again, watched in amazement with Cherilee as the head screamed in agony before both it and the body exploded into a cloud of darkness and did not reappear.

The sword was held by what Big Mac could only guess a human actually looked like, or at least this person was standing and shaped the same way Lyle was; he had a long flowing white mane that somewhat covered his eyes and he also wore far more clothes than ponies tended to, with denim covering his legs and a white jacket covering his torso.

Behind him Big Mac could see more humans; a human with a spiked hair style to make Vinyl Scratch envious was slashing away at zombies with what Big Mac could swear was a giant key, while another human, a girl, was slashing away with a similar key that seemed to have metal carvings of flowers engraved to it.

As each of these warriors sliced at the zombies they did not return, fading away to wherever they had come from he hoped; the others had taken notice, several zombies were attempting to retreat to the Everfree Forest only to be bottlenecked into the warriors’ blades by Rainbow Dash.

Soon, there was stillness as they cast glances around at the battlefield that the Ponyville outskirts had become; several ponies hadn’t made it that much was clear. Big Mac almost felt guilty that he didn’t know many of them by name.

A cry of anguish came from behind him and he turned to face Aloe, her face seemed like it had been carved from sheer grief; beside her lay her twin Lotus, still, bloodied and very obviously dead.

Big Mac really had no idea what to do in this situation and was grateful to the female human who rushed to comfort Aloe, taking her in her arms and whispering comforts to her.

“So, where’d they come from big guy; I wanna make them hurt now.”

Big Mac didn’t need to face Rainbow Dash to hear the fury in her voice but before he could answer her voice perked up again, now frightened.

“Wait, where’s Scoots?”

Big Macs’ blood turned to ice as he thought of Applebloom; Lyle was no warrior, if a zombie had made its way to the school house, but no, surely they had kept them all at bay, there was no way they could’ve.

“Come on, they’re at the schoolhouse with Lyle!” He took off at a gallop but turned confused as Rainbow Dash hadn’t followed him. He turned to her, almost physically flinching at the look of fear and dread on her face.

“Y-You, left her alone. With that thing!?” Big Mac had never heard so much anger and fear in one ponies mouth but before he could get an answer Rainbow Dash had zoomed off at speeds threatening a Sonic Rainboom toward the schoolhouse.

Dreading what he might find, Big Mac galloped after her; if anyone had laid a hand on Applebloom they’d be begging to die…

****

As soon as she shattered the schoolhouse door into splinters for her entrance Rainbow Dash’s worst fears were confirmed; the schoolhouse was quiet and abandoned but desks had been overturned, a chair had splintered and what looked like a bloodstain was smeared on a cracked window.

Rainbow Dash slumped to her hooves and sobbed, forgoing any sense of strength, bravado or reputation, it didn’t matter; she didn’t care if everyone in Equestria saw her breaking down like a filly, Scoots was in trouble, which was all that mattered.

She shook herself slightly to regain composure.

“Well, that certainly shook you up.”

Fire almost burst from Rainbow Dash’s eyes with the glare she bestowed on the hooded figure across the classroom; his pose spoke for his lack of face, his smug sense of superiority, his sadistic glee at having Rainbow Dash in such a terrible position.

“Lyle, what do you want? Answer me, name it, I don’t care what it is, just please, anything!” Rainbow Dash’s attempt at a threat died as she succumbed to begging, pleading for Scootaloo to be okay.

“Hmm, that’s going to be a bit difficult; see, all I can really think that I want is what I have, you and your friends squirming and begging at my feet, and releasing that worthless, flightless bird kind of undoes that.”

“Don’t call her worthless! She’s worth ten of you, her and all of her friends. I don’t care if she never learns to fly, she’s my little sis and you’re nothing but a cowardly backstabber!”

“Funny, to be a backstabber wouldn’t I have had to be on your side to begin with?”

Before Rainbow Dash could respond she heard the tell-tale thundering of Big Mac as the red stallion marched into the room, eyes promising pain beyond imagination.

“Where is mah sister you varmint?” His voice was soft but it oozed hatred in every syllable.

Neither pony needed to see Lyles face to know he was smirking.

“Well, depends which one we’re talking about; the annoying brat is who knows where and the dope in the Stetson I don’t know, I can tell you where she will be when I’m done with her though, six feet under.”

Big Mac growled in anger which only made Lyle chuckle. He calmed himself; if he attacked Lyle might run off and this might be their only chance, he’d learnt that from Applejack from the Changeling invasion, “keep ‘em talking, they’ll let somethin’ slip”.

“Why are you doing this partner? We put you up, you got no reason to be hurtin’ us, hay those zombies woulda torn you apart without us; ain’t they got a thing called honour wherever the hay you came from?”

Lyle twitched in annoyance, as if ridding himself of an annoying insect.

“Oh we had honour; I was once bound by honour, and for what? I was never appreciated, never respected or recognised. Oh but I guarantee my friends, they know me now; even now the ones who disrespected me dread that I may one day return to punish them for their injustice once again. Well, the day has arrived, and they will suffer at my hands a thousand times what they suffered all those centuries ago!” Lyles voice rose as he spoke and his tone became laced with venom as he confused Rainbow Dash and Big Mac, just what the hay was this madman talking about?

He collected himself.

“Well, as much fun as this has been, I’m afraid it’s time for me to take my leave; The Monarch will be most displeased if I don’t return after all, and it would be so rude of me to disappoint her after everything she’s done for me, wouldn’t it?” He laughed as shadows engulfed him before he had disappeared completely, leaving two ponies to stand confused, emotionally wrecked and alone in a ruined schoolhouse.

Chapter 3: Lifted Veil (2/2)

Lyle Dolorem was writhing; a storm of sensations forced itself onto him in the pure darkness that he lay in. Sensations that were foreign to him replaced familiar memories, a lifetime of faux recollections washed away by sensations, anger, pride, betrayal, sadistic glee…

In reverse they came, beginning with memories of a blast of light, the brightest of blues and a great ordeal of pain.

After this came a long stretch of darkness, his vision was blind in this part of his life but he could still feel; hatred, wrongful pride, greed and anger washed over him in waves but soon those waves broke to bring more, this time of resentment, a more righteous feeling anger and even betrayal, though of who or who by he had no idea.

“No!”

The loud booming voice rivalled the CMCs ecstatic cries and he was surprised to hear it come from his own mouth. The voice echoed down a long, slightly wonky hallway leading to a large, spiked throne carved from black stone.

Finding himself inexplicably drawn to the black throne, Lyle jogged down the long hall until he finally ascended the steps to the throne and sat in it.

Sensations bombarded him, as senses of sight, touch, smell, it all came back.

He tried to move but found his body was unresponsive; he could see the world around him, he was sat in what looked a rather dark and dingy room, hooks dangling from the ceiling by chains.

In reverse they came, beginning with memories of a blast of light, the brightest of blues and a great ordeal of pain.

He wrenched himself back to his physical being, refusing to let himself be lost to the memories; he had to find a way out of here, any other mysteries could wait for later.

Finding himself inexplicably drawn to the black throne, Lyle jogged down the long hall until he finally ascended the steps to the throne and sat in it.

Sensations bombarded him, as senses of sight, touch, smell, it all came back.

He tried to move but found his body was unresponsive; he could see the world around him, he was sat in what looked a rather dark and dingy room, hooks dangling from the ceiling by chains.

“Human! The Monarch orders your appearance!”

Lyle wished more than ever that he had control over himself so he could spit right in the speakers face; the Pegasus before him had a chaotic mane of green with yellow streaks that seemed to spike in all directions. His eyes were full of disgust as he looked at Lyle, as though he were some kind of unpleasant mess on the floor.

“I admit, I wondered when your ruler would summon me to her side, finally she has seen sense to restore me to my former glory I suspect; if you and your pitiful employees are the best she has under her wings I can’t blame her.” Whatever was using Lyle’s mouth and voice was smug and very self-assured; Lyle could feel what it felt, the knowledge that this Pegasus could not lay a hoof on him and he could say what he liked.

He had to doubt that as a truly murderous expression settled on the Pegasus’ face.

“I would mind your tongue human; just because The Monarch has ordered me to spare you for now doesn’t mean she will remain so merciful. You may wish you had not crossed me when that moment comes!” The green maned Pegasus turned to leave with an angry swish of his mane.

“Thank you that will be all Glaze.” Lyle mentally struggled to at least remove the mockery from his tone; could whatever was controlling him not see how this Pegasus was clearly dangerous.

Glaze did not respond, giving no acknowledgement of the comment other than an irritated twitch.

It was a bizarre sensation for Lyle to be moving on his feet with no control over it, he could feel and see everything but he had no control and was merely being dragged along.

He exited the room he was in, which had a door barred like a prison cell, and made his way along a metal catwalk in a mostly blackened chamber: he could vaguely hear noises of machinery beneath him and the occasional trotting of a ponies hooves but he could see virtually nothing until he exited onto a balcony where a small carriage awaited, pulled by two pegasi in matching uniforms, skintight flight suits that mixed purple and black.

Lyle wrenched himself from the black throne, unaware of how hard it had become to move physically, and only once he was off did he become aware that his body was burning with exhaustion and he desperately needed sleep.

But he forced himself to stay awake and reached out into the memories he had been ignoring, determined to finish washing away his false identity; perhaps they would reveal the truth behind whatever had happened, where he was, who was in his body and how this was even possible?

Soon enough the answers revealed themselves…

It was perhaps fortunate that no one could conceivably have shared the same area as Lyle at that time; the anguished, almost animalistic screams of fear and rage that came from him as his memories finally cleared and the full weight of his situation hit him was something that no one should ever have to hear first-hand.

****

Glaze could feel his anger bubbling as the hooded human left for his meeting with The Monarch, the insolence of such a pathetic creature, under his own roof no less. He quickened his pace down the dark steel corridor, lashing a kick at an employee on his way past, who didn’t dare object or protest.

“Sunny! Get down here; you better have made some progress on that thing!” Glaze yelled upward to a Pegasus working on a large machine in the middle of a room that resembled an assembly line.

The Pegasus landed in front of Glaze, spitting out the wrench still clutched in his mouth; his body was Glaze’s double in almost every respect, only his mane gave a clear indicator to tell them apart as red replaced the green in Glaze’s mane, with black streaks replacing yellow ones.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve got the conveyors working again and the claw can get at all of the holding cells again, it was jamming on the ones to the East. Still no idea what the hay this thing is for though.” He aimed the last sentence at Glaze with accusation in his voice.

Glaze scowled. “You never complained before now that I didn’t tell you what these do. What was it you called it. “Plausible Deniability”? It still amuses me that you think it would matter anyway; do you really think anypony would be all that shocked to find out what goes on in here?” Glaze smirked.

Sunny Chaser gave an sigh of annoyance but didn’t answer; he knew Glaze was right.

“Glad we understand each other; now look, the hooded ape has gone to meet The Monarch and hopefully get torn apart. If she’s honestly giving her time to that thing, it means we probably don’t have much time til we’re needed: how much room do we have left in the holding cells?”

Sunny nodded over to a pegasus in a lab coat and opaque goggles to bring him a clipboard and read off from it.

“Most of the Eastern Cell Block is full, Western could hold a few more but we’d be squashing ‘em in-“

“Because of course the comfort of those abominations is our top most priority.” Glaze deadpanned.

“And the Southern Block is mostly empty because of your own orders.” Sunny finished, ignoring Glaze.

“What about the underground cells; aren’t they still open?”

Sunny dropped his clipboard and glared at his brother as though he were insane.

“Glaze, don’t even joke like that. You know full well why we can’t open those tunnels anymore, it’s a miracle they’ve held this long, the cells are probably all in ruin by now and if there was ever a chance that we couldn’t secure it again then we would be practically trapped in here with-“

“Okay!” Glaze snapped in annoyance. “I get your point Sunny, no need to wet yourself little brother, just an idea was all. You can’t deny it’s tempting to throw some of those pathetic wastes down there though, maybe you and I prop up some chairs and listen with some Sweet Apple Apples to go when we have off time?” Glaze’s tone softened significantly as he imagined himself and Sunny Chaser getting time to relax again as brothers.

Sunny smiled but shook his head. “You know we won’t have time off for a while yet Glaze. Definitely gimme a raincheck though?” He held his hoof out to his brother, who bumped his own against it then trotted toward the stairs that lead to his office.

Sunny smiled; Glaze had been under considerable stress recently, at times he even resembled the stallion that had broken down when the original factory they worked in had been closed. More and more as the days passed he was resembling the brother that Sunny remembered racing against as a Colt and, as he picked up his wrench and set back to work, he found himself again re-motivated by fantasies of him and Glaze able to enjoy their time together again.

****

The Monarch was pleased as she looked upon her newest subject kneeling before her on the dark storm clouds of her kingdom. For all his objections and foolish pride, he had proved himself most effective when she needed him; though of course, a minion of his calibre would be needed for more than simple foal-napping.

Then again, as she glanced around at the crowd of ponies in the coliseum surrounding their patch of clouds, the mere fact that he could hold his murderous instincts back for more important goals made him valuable.

“You may rise my newest subject; today you have proven yourself worthy to serve under me as one of my trusted lieutenants.” The Monarch filled the coliseum with the sound of the traditional voice of royalty.

The hooded humanoid rose to his feet and continued to avert his gaze from The Monarch.

“You may now ask your Queen anything you wish, though watch your tone and any insolence shall be punished severely.” The threat was unneeded, the glare of her now black hole-esque eyes enough.

“Fine then, your majesty, I have but one question; why have you confined me to this mockery of a form? Have I not proven myself loyal to you, surely I have earned my true self after I have shown my willingness to sacrifice it?” The humans’ voice gained strength as he spoke, ignoring the gasp from around the stands.

To his and everyone else’s surprise, The Monarch nodded with an approving smile.

“Indeed, this pitiful form will see you not much further; whatever is the point of keeping for myself a servant of such magical potential without their ability to use it?” The threat of punishment for betrayal was obvious in The Monarchs voice.

The Hooded Figure honestly believed that had he not been a much dignified warrior, an exemplar to others, he may well have cheered or laughed in delight as he felt the familiar clutch of darkness encase his body, the delicious cold clutching at his heart and the writhing shadows encasing his form as he felt the remnants of his humanoid form melt away, finally freed from the prison his own body had become, free to once again lay claim to the glorious feeling of his magic.

He could feel it all rush back to him, a great wave of euphoria and bliss as his true power rushed to him once again; it had been far too long since had felt the rush of true magic through his being, the power to raze towns, to terrify and destroy, to once again establish himself as the truly indescribable feeling of becoming whole once more settled over him.

He almost felt disappointed as the flurry of feelings faded, leaving him restored as he had once been; even his armour remained as it had been in life and he noted with approval that his appearance had kept the appearance he had forged for himself after realising his true potential.

“Rise my noble warrior; you shall be a valuable addition to us. You shall be an asset to be valued for many ages.” The Monarchs voice was stoic but her eyes spoke of images of torture and death to be delivered by her newest weapon, truly the finest jewel to her collection of subjects thus far.

With a growl of approval at his restoration and a flair in the tendrils of shadow surrounding him, the pony before her met The Monarchs gaze for the first time, green eyes ablaze with glee and a renewed desire for destruction.

Lyle Dolorem could only weep as his physical state was eradicated.

In his place, King Sombra was reborn.

Chapter 4: Sowing the Seeds

Chapter 4: Sowing The Seeds

The mood in Ponyville was decidedly bitter even as Celestia’s sun rose over the horizon though it only seemed to emphasise the remnants of a battle that ultimately felt lost, smashed carts and bloodstains littered the scene of the battle.

Sora looked around as Ponies began emerging from their homes and trying to go back to their jobs or make their way to town hall if they were needed for the meeting that morning. All night he had stayed awake, patrolling the backstreets and the darkened outskirts of Ponyville, just in case of any straggling Heartless or any other threats that could come their way, he had hoped even for a possible clue to where this Lyle might have taken the children but so far he had no such luck.

As he wandered back towards the inn that had offered them rooms for their stay, he could see Riku returning from his own patrol of the edge of the Everfree Forest; a single look told Sora that he had found nothing more than Sora himself had.

“Riku. Quiet at the forest then?”

Riku nodded solemnly.

“No sign of anyone, no creatures, no escaping kids and sadly no guys in black hoods to beat for info.” Riku gave an irritated scowl as he finished, memories of Organisation XIII no doubt surfacing.

“Hey don’t worry Riku, we’ll get them, we beat the Organisation and Ansem right?”

“You mean not-Ansem?” Riku asked.

“Whatever, he was evil and we killed him, that’s the important thing.” Sora responded, clapping a hand on Riku’s shoulder as they re-entered the Inn, greeted by Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash sitting at a table with a very nervous looking Kairi. This caught Sora’s attention.

“What’s wrong? Please tell me nothing else happened?”

Kairi nodded to a letter on the table but before he could read it Riku had already snatched it from the table and read it.

“Says here that Princess Luna is coming down to help us look into what went on with the rest of Rainbow’s friends, Shining Armour is going to stay in Equestria as, wait, as a regent?”

“Huh?” Responded two humans and two ponies all looking equally confused.

“Says it right here, Celestia won’t be able to rule Canterlot while she performs some kind of diplomatic duty and so she’s leaving Shining Armour in charge of Equestria.” Riku snapped the scroll shut again. “Honestly can’t say I envy the guy.”

“Wait a minute,” Rainbow Dash spoke for the first time, “why can’t Princess Luna rule in her absence, she’s her sister for the hay’s sake!”

Riku re-scanned the letter.

“Doesn’t say.”

“Ah reckon that the Princess’ll tell us herself when she gets here.” Big Macintosh spoke in his monotone voice that gave away no emotion.

Sora clapped his hands together.

“Right then, we’ll have someone who can teach us about this world better so we can help out more and get the kids back!” Sora’s enthusiasm returning as (he hoped) their situation finally improved.

“Ah reckon y’all have done quite enough helpin’.”

The three keyblade wielders looked to Big Mac, shocked at his words.

“What do you mean big guy, these three can totally help, you saw them last night!” Rainbow answered, indignant for her newest friends.

Big Mac glowered at her.

“What ah saw was a no good sidewinder steal the towns foals right from under our muzzles, while these three saved us from something that only happened to begin with because the first of these varmints let Tartarus loose on us.” His voice was level but the hate was clear in his expression. Before the others could answer, Big Mac shoved himself out of his seat and stomped out of the Inn, accidentally leaving a large hoof imprint in front of the doors.

The four looked after the angered stallion, shocked at his outburst. But even as the other ponies around them returned to their own activities, Sora could notice some odd looks directed at the three humans, whether from fear or anger he couldn’t tell.

“Well,” Kairi muttered, “let’s hope when we find the person behind this he knows who to aim that temper at.”

“It’s not like him,” Rainbow whispered, “he might not seem it from what you’ve all seen but he’s one of the gentlest, nicest stallions I’ve ever known. Just don’t tell him I ever said that okay, I think Cherilee might get defensive.”

In spite of their situation it felt good to the group to have a smile at Rainbow’s joke.

It would only be a short while before Princess Luna arrived to help them with whatever those things that had attacked Ponyville were; once they found out whoever Lyle was and what he wanted, they would make sure that he never hurt a child again.

****

Princess Celestia was for the first time in living memory showing signs of stress and exhaustion to an outsider; what made her even more surprised was how little she cared, as Mickey also seemed sleep deprived from worry.

“Gosh Princess, are you sure it’s wise for you to leave?”

“As opposed to you leaving your own castle on a routine basis?” Celestia replied with a raised eyebrow.

Mickey blushed.

“Your friends do love to share stories Mickey.” She chuckled.

Mickey gave a chuckle himself, wondering what other “stories” the three keyblade wielders had told to their new friends.

“But to answer our question my friend, I’m afraid this is quite necessary; if my sister and I are correct in our theory, we cannot handle this threat alone. And if what you have told me is true, I fear things may only become worse.”

Celestia looked out onto the horizon, Ponyville just visible beyond the mountains that hid Canterlot.

“Do you plan on telling the others about your own leaving Mickey?”

Mickey glanced at the ground guiltily.

“They’re more important here; this is something I need to do on my own, and well, they wouldn’t have any of that if I told them up front.” Mickey smiled sadly, quietly admiring his friends’ loyalty.

Celestia nodded.

“Very well. Shall we depart?”

Mickey nodded and followed the Sun Princess to the Gummi Ship, still parked where Discord had unceremoniously dropped it after his interception of them; any questions Mickey or the keyblade wielders had about how or why Discord had done so was answered with a simple “because he’s Discord” or “he does that”.

The atmosphere in the castle was notably solemn as the two rulers left Equestria in the brightly coloured Gummi Ship, the emotions of the ponies still in the castle varying as wildly as the ponies themselves.

****

As the ship departed, Phalanx could feel anger fill him; they were in a time of crisis, and possibly even war, and their Princess was leaving them without a true leader in this time of crisis.

“Phalanx, move your flank!”

Get stuffed, Phalanx grumbled in his mind as he reluctantly obeyed the Pegasus in bright purple armour ahead of him. How Razorback had ever gained the title of Captain of the Guard was a mystery still lost on Phalanx; as if the first dolt hadn’t been bad enough, they now had an even younger stallion in the position, he was practically still a colt compared to Phalanx for Celestia’s sake!

“Hey Phalanx, we’re going to need you pull up around here, we’re short one Princess as of now.” Razorback looked back with an excited grin on his dark face.

“I fail to see why that is cause for celebration, captain.” Phalanx grumbled with as much malice in the title as he could get away with.

Razorback either ignored him or didn’t notice.

“Well duh, I love Celestia and all but now we have a regent! This is so cool, we haven’t had someone else in charge for centuries, longer than anypony else can remember at least!” His grin was only growing, Phalanx decided to cut him off.

“Yes, and now with Celestia gone we’ll have first-hoof evidence of why she’s the only pony who should be in charge around here.”

Razorback stopped and faced Phalanx, irritated.

“Phalanx, if I hear you say one word against Shining during his time here I’ll be certain to have you guarding the Blueblood estate for the next month.” Razorback glowered at his second in command.

Phalanx tilted his head in confusion.

“Excuse me sir but why exactly would I saw something against Prince Shining Armour?” He asked with genuine confusion.

Razorback gave him a strange look.

“Are you that out of the loop Phalanx? Alright then, well simply enough, Prince Shining Armour is going to act as Regent while Celestia-“

“WHAT!!!”

Phalanx’s yell startled a group of cleaners nearby who responded with reproachful glares but he paid them no mind.

“Yes, Prince Shining Armour,” Razorback began, emphasising on the title, “is going to be in charge of Equestria for an unspecified period, possibly a few weeks. While he’s here we will obey him like we would Princess Celestia, are you going to follow that or do I need to beat it into you?” Razorback shoved his face toward Phalanx, almost nose to nose.

He knew better than to disobey; Phalanx knew that Razorback would not hesitate to kick his flank from one side of Canterlot to the other for showing disrespect to Shining Armour. Of course that was precisely why Phalanx saw him as a poor leader but there was nothing to be gained here but a few unnecessary bruises.

“Sir, yes sir.” He gave an acceptable but unenthusiastic response, which Razorback returned.

“Good, now please find Nimbus and tell him to take this to the Wonderbolt academy; he’s the fastest, he should be there and back in less than two hours.” Razorback handed a rolled up scroll to Phalanx which the unicorn took in his magic, scowling at the little wax shield emblem on the seal, the seal of Prince Shining Armour.

Phalanx again saluted and proceeded to look for Nimbus, turning on himself in time to see Razorback use one of his famous wings to slam the throne room door shut, as he no doubt went to converse with the new “regent”.

Phalanx mumbled angrily to himself, various curses and threats against “peasant kings” and “bat winged freaks” audible as he made his way to the guard chambers.

****

Shining Armour fidgeted awkwardly on the throne, trying to get comfortable; even while ruling over the Crystal Empire he had never sat in a throne for long periods, Cadance more than happy to handle the actual ruling of the Empire while Shining focused his efforts, he felt, more effectively on training themselves an army.

He still had no idea why Princess Luna had refused to take up Regency, and he had the distinct feeling that he was not alone in feeling confused if the looks of befuddlement on Celestia and Cadance’s faces had been any indication. He was only more confused as to why Celestia and the mysterious King Mickey would choose now of all times to leave, now when they were facing a crisis, surely they would be needed?

“Your majesty?”

Shining was pulled from his thoughts by a familiar voice from the throne room doors. His face split into a wide smile as he saw the familiar night guard.

“Razorback!” Forgetting about any sort of protocol, Shining trotted over to the now bowing night guard and pulled him into a one legged hug.

“It’s been way too long since I’ve seen you and the others Razorback, how’s it going nowadays royal guard?”

Razorback grinned.

“Very well, and it’s Guard Captain now your majesty.” Razorback swelled with pride at the mixed look of surprise and glee on Shining Armour’s face.

“Well, they couldn’t have given it to a better stallion, I told them you were up to the job when I left! How long did it take before they realised I was right?”

“Well the next thing I knew after a certain Changeling invasion I was being fitted for Captains armour.”

Shining rubbed a hoof through Razorbacks grey mane before nodded toward the door.

“Well, seems like it would be only right to meet everyone, care to give the old Captain a tour new Captain.”

Razorback gave a melodramatic salute and trotted as though someone had shoved a flagpole somewhere painful, chuckling along with Shining before the two walked more casually down the grand halls together, Razorback telling the staff to spread word to meet in the Great Hall in an hour.

“Think we should send word to the nobles Razorback? They’ll probably want to bore us with facts and who should be allowed to squeeze the new ruler for the most bits, might as well get it over with.” Shining’s voice spoke of his enthusiasm to the idea, or lack of.

Razorback looked at him, surprised.

“Why are you asking me? You’re the Regent.”

Shining smiled warmly at him, much like how an older brother would smile to a younger sibling. It was a smile he had used many times with Twilight.

“Well, does Celestia ever act like her word is the only one that matters?”

“Of course not.” Razorback replied, shocked at the idea.

“And does she ever act like her position makes her better?” Shining questioned.

“Well duh, you know she doesn’t.” Razorback met Shining’s eyes, getting his point.

“Okay, okay. If you really want to ask me I reckon that you’re right, better just to get the all rich snobs complaints out of the way. It’ll be more fun for me anyway, you have to put up with their nonsense and I get to hit them or throw them out a window if they lay a hoof on you.” He grinned dreamily at the thought.

“So pleased to see my Guard Captain has his priorities in place.” Shining Armour deadpanned.

“This from the Regent who’s going to spend most of his time figuring out ways to make the throne more comfy?” Razorback countered.

“Fair enough.”

The two continued their walk toward the guard chambers, nodding to the various passers-by and staff on their way. Shining Armour was still trying to get used to it, the very idea of him being ruler over anything was still bizarre to him, even at the Empire he was more a general than a ruler.

As they passed the kitchens he caught the whiff of the royal feast no doubt being cooked for the meeting with the nobles later.

Well, maybe there are perks, he thought to himself then trotted to catch up with Razorback.

****

Across Canterlot the news spread quickly of the arrival of a Regent ruling in place of Celestia; the rumours were far spread and wild; who was the new Regent? Were they royalty? Who would they favour in the Canterlot Elite? Were they a member of the Canterlot elite? All these questions buzzed throughout the nobles, equal parts excited and nervous.

With the exception of one stallion; only indignation existed in the Blueblood estate.

“Of all the things, I mean I appreciate that Auntie Celestia would need a break eventually but surely she would think to entrust such information to her most loyal subjects first, especially those of us who have more than proven themselves belonging on the top rungs of society!”

“Yes sir,” came the thoroughly bored reply from a pink mare with a long and flat mane of sky blue, “I’m sure the Princess was simply on urgent business and had no time to inform her trusted advisors. Clearly this is a new development.” The mares tone remained utterly deadpan through the entire sentence.

“Yes but a ruler of a country does not simply leave, least of all a pony as experienced and professional as Auntie Celestia. And if she left, who decided who put this Regent in place? Did they not consider that my family have been loyal to the Royal Sisters for as long as our line has existed, never wavering in our loyalties?” Blueblood’s voice grew increasingly more dramatic and, frankly, whiny with every question.

“I am sure not sir, I’m sure it was simply short notice.” The pink mare repeated, no longer even looking at Blueblood; she could swear she had seen movement on the landing.

“I mean, after that fiasco at the Gala she should have surely seen my potential leadership! Did I not demonstrate excellent calm in such a mess? Did I not show why I am that which the Canterlot Elite should strive to be? Have I-“

“I couldn’t agree more Prince Blueblood.”

Blueblood squeaked and jumped so badly his feet left the floor, the pink mare in the corner dropped into a defensive stance, ready to fight.

The Pegasus before them was clearly not normal, even to Blueblood that was clear.

His coat was of a dark purple for the most part, but across his neck the fur changed to black and red to form a symbol that resembled a heart, with what they could guess was a spear like shape coming from beneath it. The same symbol was also evidently his Cutie Mark, while his mane seemed to be made of pure shadow, flickering and almost twitching as they watched. His eyes were also unusual, they seemed to be looking right through Blueblood as he stared at him.

“Who in the hay are you? How dare you intrude upon the house of royalty! Dusk Remnant, remove him at once!”

Dusk nodded and advanced on the Pegasus, who spread his wings to prevent her getting a good angle to attack and continued talking.

“Forgive me your majesty, but I come with urgent news.”

“Dusk Remnant, stand down!” Blueblood wore a smirk that breathed superiority, clearly being addressed as “your majesty” was something he could get used to.

This stallions smarter than he looks, Dusk thought to herself.

“Sir, I would strongly advise against-“

“Dusk Remnant, you will remember your place, no one asked you for your opinion.” Blueblood snapped.

“Sir I’m afraid I really must object-“

“Well, sadly for you Dusk, you have no right to object to anything I do, now kindly remove yourself from my presence or I will have the guards haul you off the property. I doubt your brother would appreciate that.” Blueblood smirked as Dusk Remnant paled.

“You wouldn’t.”

Blueblood advanced on her, Dusk Remnant unknowingly being backed out the door.

“What you fail to realise Dusk Remnant, is that you are beneath me, an animal to be used for its purpose when it is obedient, and to be put down if it cannot control itself, now I will give you one final chance to leave my estate immediately before I personally see to it that your brother spends the remainder of his “glory days” rotting in a dungeon cell.”

Dusk fought the desire to growl at Blueblood and galloped out of the estate into the pouring rain of the night, the rainfall hiding the now freely falling tears of sadness and fury.

“Anyway, may I offer you some of Canterlots finest wines my good fellow?” Blueblood asked of the purple and black Pegasus, who had still not moved from his position in the centre of the room. Blueblood was now beginning to wonder exactly how he had got there.

“No, I am here to discuss business your majesty.”

Blueblood could not help a minor pout, torn between the prospect of work and the flattery of being addressed as a monarch.

“Very well then, I have not much time as I am a very busy stallion, make your case quickly Mr-“

“My name doesn’t matter Your Majesty, I am here on behalf of a power much greater and further reaching than myself.” The Pegasus seemed to insist on maintaining eye contact with Blueblood at all costs, twisting its neck to surely painful positions as Blueblood paced up and down trying to look important.

“Hmm, carry on.” Blueblood said, trying to hide that he was not used to being approached by messengers of the powerful and influential.

“I heard your own objections to this farce of Regency your majesty. Suffice to say, you are not the only one who sees this development for the disaster it is, and there are those who would desire to see somepony with more competence placed in power: my master believes that you would be an excellent candidate.” The Pegasus actually bowed as he finished his statement.

Blueblood smiled and drew himself up to his greatest height, pleased of his importance finally being acknowledged.

“My, you seem to have a master more intelligent than most of the uneducated drivel that have polluted the Canterlot Elite over the years; so tell me good sir, who is this master of yours?”

The Pegasus bowed once again.

“I apologise your majesty, but my master is not highly regarded amongst the Canterlot Elite and would prefer to remain

anonymous until such a time as the name of Blueblood sits upon the throne; the name of a noble not well regarded as say Fancypants he fears may hurt your case.” The Pegasus still maintained the same monotone and blank face.

Blueblood nodded, pretending to understand the logic behind this; in reality his mind was preoccupied with images of himself finally in his rightful place on the throne of Equestria and ruling over the subjects who had for so long refused to acknowledge his noble bloodline, even if it would only be for as long as Auntie Celestia was away.

“Very well good sir,” Blueblood nodded to the Pegasus, “please inform your master that I am honoured to accept his offer, I shall make myself present at this “induction” of our new Regent so that I may assess for myself the fool they have picked out for the job. For now, begone from my presence, I need to prepare myself for the evening ahead.”

The Pegasus bowed a final time before marching smartly onto the balcony and shooting off into the setting sun, leaving a very excited Prince to mull over what he would do when he was in charge.

****

It was still strange for Luna to be around other ponies casually, even after over two years of her return to ruling Equestria. Still, she couldn’t help the smile on her face as she watched the remaining Element Bearers sitting and laughing together, Rarity and Fluttershy were being entertained by Pinkie Pies antics while Applejack made sure those same antics didn’t destroy their chariot.

“Princess Luna?”

Luna looked to Twilight Sparkle.

“Twilight, I have told you before that there are no formalities between me and you six, I would’ve thought you especially would appreciate that.” She nodded with a slight giggle to Twilights fairly recent wings.

Twilight blushed, realising her wings had once again stuck themselves out firmly to the sides; fortunately it seemed no one had noticed and she forced them back to her sides.

“I take it you still haven’t told them?” Luna was speaking in whispers now, much better than her first attempt at whispering which most other ponies would call yelling.

Twilight was blushing furiously now.

Luna sighed and wrapped a wing around her.

“You know they won’t think any differently of you. They are still your friends, and if they still thought of you the same after you grew wings, I hardly feel that they will think poorly of you for your choice in ponies.” Luna gently stroked Twilight’s mane with her wing as Twilight just nuzzled into her.

Over in the corner, Rarity grinned; she had not missed a moment of Luna and Twilight’s cuddle as much as they tried to be subtle about it. She only wished that her friend would trust the rest of them with her choice but she was sure that Twilight would tell them when she was ready. For now she amused herself watching Pinkie playing with Gummy, content to simply watch the funny antics rather than wonder where the toothless alligator had come from.

Soon they would be in Ponyville again and soon they would have answers to what exactly had happened there.

On one of the many long dirt roads of Equestria, a bizarre contraption chugged along, two very lean unicorns sitting in place on a seat just behind a large funnel that, their horns aglow and powering an engine atop the machine.

The brothers Flim and Flam were angry; still their genius had not been accepted among the masses of Equestria, their reputations still in tatters.

Being ran out of a town tended to do that.

Both brothers were dozing atop their machine, barely even awake as their magic carried them along their path to Manehatten where they would once again market their genius device and delicious cider.

They were pulled from their pleasant day dreams by the machine jerking to halt, lurching the brothers forward and fully awake.

“Flim, did you fall asleep again?” Flam asked irritably.

“Not me brother, was it you who dozed off?” Flim returned, rubbing his head where he had hit it.

“Ahem.”

The brothers snapped their heads to look at the road directly ahead of them; a unicorn stood blocking their path, his body was blood red and it was topped with a mess of brown mane.

“Gentlemen? Pardon my interruption but I am seeking the world renowned Flim Flam brothers?” The unicorns’ voice was very smooth, the kind one would often see playing a romantic lead in plays.

Flim and Flam grinned to each other before jumping down from their machine, their matching straw hats levitating magically to them as they landed.

“Pleased to meet you good sir, I am Flim, purveyor of fine merchandise and fine beverages with my brother Flam here!” The one without a moustache declared in a businessman announcing voice.

“And I am Flam, together we’re the Flim Flam brothers, well renowned inventors and merchants extraordinaire across all of Equestria, we deliver fine customer satisfaction with every purchase.” Flam spoke with great gusto just like his brother.

The unicorn quirked an eyebrow.

“Odd, the last thing I heard related to you two you were run out of a rural town for trying to ruin the lives of one of the Elements of Harmony bearers?”

The two brothers noticeably sagged; yet another customer lost because of one mistake.

“Now now my good sirs, I am not about to judge two fine businessponies such as yourselves on one mistake, after all, you did not know who you were contending with or the special treatment they are afforded, correct?” The unicorns’ smile was back, now reassuring.

The brothers nodded, hope flickering ever so slightly.

“But do not lie to me again.” His tone was suddenly dangerous.

The brothers shivered slightly but again nodded.

“Now, to business, I am well aware of what this fine device you ride upon is capable of.” He tapped a forehoof against the front of the Super Cider Squeezy. “Tell me, did you never considered going full scale with this device, larger chasis build, multiple duplicates, perhaps even a factory?”

The unicorn grinned at the glint that showed in the brothers’ eyes as they imagined themselves rolling in the bits that would surely result from such a venture.

“Why of course, we are business savvy stallions my friend! But sadly such a venture requires bits that now seem, well, rather unlikely all things considered.” Even Flams moustache seemed to droop.

The unicorn grinned once again, though there was now a gleam in his eyes that Flam didn’t like.

“Quite. Well my dear stallions, I find myself in a rather difficult positions; a dear friend of mine, Celestia bless him, has recently passed and has left me his old factory to run in his stead, as decreed by his will. However, I am not a man of machinery or business, I fail to see how I could possibly maintain such a factory without a technical aptitude or experience as a businesspony.”

The brothers swelled. This was too good to be true…

“What’s the cat-“Flam started but Flim slapped a hoof over his mouth, silencing him.

“Well good sir, it just so happens my brother and I would be happy to hash out terms for us to run that factory for you, assuming you are willing?” Flims grin was so big it threatened to engulf his face by this point.

The unicorn seemed to think for a moment before nodding.

“Indeed my good sir, I believe that may well be the best way to go about this, shall we split initial profits say, 25-75 and go from there?”

“You mean 75-25 right?” Flam asked suspiciously.

The unicorn shook his head.

“Oh my no, I think it is quite clear that you two are both the metaphorical brains and brawn in this business relationship; I am merely there to provide funds for you to use in your operations it would appear, so the profit margin should reflect it, 75% for you and your brother.” The unicorn showed no signs of joking or lying on his face, and Flim and Flam were both experienced liars.

The brothers whirled around to face each other; what they had planned to be a private business talk soon became the two brothers nodded their heads as fast as possible, huge smiles on their faces, before turning back.

“Very well, we accept your offer Mr-“

“Oh I do apologise, it seems I never introduced myself, I do get myself in a flap sometimes while talking to such esteemed gentlecolts” the brothers beamed again, “my name is Cascading Aurora, and it will be a pleasure working with you, shall we depart?”

With a glow of purple around his horn, a large, swirling portal appeared behind Cascading, who turned on his hooves and walked right through it.

The Flim Flam brothers wasted no time and drove their device through the portal as fast as they could, eager to finally make their millions.

****

At the Royal Canterlot Palace, the Grand Hall was now packed with tables and servants preparing various meals for the flood of nobles attending the formal function; even though it was mostly an open invitation to any nobles interested, they were attending with almost the same gusto as they would the Grand Galloping Gala.

“No doubt trying to suck up to the new Regent.” Razorback muttered as he saw how many nobles had agreed to come, the list already accounted for at least one member of every noble family and this didn’t include those who would undoubtedly arrive unannounced.

“Well, they’ll have better luck with him than Celestia.” Phalanx muttered as he gestured for a young recruit to fix his helmet.

“What was that Phalanx?” Razorback flared his bat wings angrily.

“You heard what I said Razorback; our Regent is only eligible in the first place because he’s in bed with Celestia’s niece, you think he won’t be above showing favouritism to ponies he likes, look at you, what qualified you to be Guard Captain before me other than being friends with the old captain?” Now Phalanx was right in Razorbacks face, the challenge more blatant than he had dared before now.

“Oh is that what it is Phalanx? At least that explains a lot about why you hate all the Guard Captains, just angry because you couldn’t cut it hey you old mule?” Razorback didn’t let him respond but instead drew back and head-butted Phalanx in the nose, knocking him to the ground.

“Get up to the south-east tower, you’re on aerial watch duty for the night. We needed a replacement anyway since Soarin’ went to the Wonderbolts, look like you win the prize.” Razorback declared mockingly.

Phalanx scowled but felt a hoof holding him back and could see other guards, both Celestias and Lunas gathering around Razorback. Still scowling he stomped his way out the Grand Hall and up to the South wing.

“More problems with Phalanx Razorback?” The guards all bowed quickly to Shining Armour before marching off to their duties after he waved a hoof.

“He’s just bitter, he does his job at least, wouldn’t put up with him otherwise.” Razorback trotted over to the massive double doors that the nobles would enter through. “So, ready for us to sound off?”

Shining nodded.

“Let the torture begin!” He declared in his best kingly voice, giving him and Razorback a chuckle as the two unicorn guards sent up huge blasts of magic in a multitude of colours, which exploded into a grant fireworks display as several Earth ponies lowered the drawbridge to the castle, the dozens of well-dressed and expectant nobles filing their way in across the bridge, ready to give their best to the new Regent and come out richer.

****

Prince Blueblood prepared himself, taking a deep breath to calm himself before he made his way across the bridge. He had no idea why he was even nervous, he had the rights of royalty on his side, this Regent had only a tangential claim at best.

“Ooof!” Blueblood found himself face first on the floor as somepony slammed into him from behind.

“Hey, keep your flank moving dude, can’t stop right in front of me like that, you could’ve broke my shades!” The voice was distinctly not that of a Canterlot noble.

Blueblood hauled himself to his hooves and glared back at the mare who had slammed into him, jaw dropping in shock and disgust.

The mare before him was the very epitome of the kind of pony that did not belong in Canterlot, the mares’ mane was wild, reasonably short and a shocking electric blue that shot out in all directions over a white coat. Her eyes were hidden behind a pair of clearly custom made purple sunglasses that rested just under her horn and she was wearing what he could only describe as a leather jacket.

“Begone you wretch, guards! Guards! Who let this rabble in?” Blueblood called out, other nobles simply ignoring the pair and going around them.

“Sir, please calm yourself, what seems to be the matter?” The unicorn guard was younger than either of the other two but he was composed and professional nonetheless.

“What seems to be the matter?! I’ll tell you what is the matter, you guards are so careless and ignorant you let a peasant slip into this most formal of functions and I demand that she be removed this instant!” The guard scowled at Blueblood.

“Sir, if you insult Ms Scratch one more time I will personally see you ejected from the castle.”

“What! You would side with this, this-“

“Mare of noble blood?” The guard had to fight with every ounce of his will not to smirk at Bluebloods horrified look.

“Wh-what, t-th-this, no, can’t, shouldn’t, what?”

“Yup, names DJ-PON3 buddy, and I’m as noble blooded as any of the rest of you, and if you could kindly move your flank out of the way, my marefriend just got swept up in the crowd, I need to go catch up before someone sweeps her off her hooves.” Openly laughing at Bluebloods increased spluttering at the mention of “marefriend”, Vinyl Scratch trotted off to catch up to a grey mare that was being carried away by the still moving crowd.

“Honestly Vinyl, couldn’t you have at least tried to dress yourself up, this is a formal event!” The grey Earth mare groaned, trying to use her hooves to straighten out Vinyl’s mane only to have them slapped away.

“Come on Octy, you can’t mess with the DJ-PON3 mane, it just isn’t right!” By now they were attracting a great deal of irritated glances from other nobles.

Octavia sighed and leaned her head to Vinyl and whispered in her ear.

“Vinyl I know what the DJ-PON3 is to you. I know what she means. But tonight, just tonight, we need to be respectable. So please, just for tonight, would you please drop the persona and just be Vinyl Scratch, for me?” Octavia looked deep into the DJ’s eyes, gently easing her sunglasses on top of her horn to look into her scarlet eyes.

Vinyl momentarily maintained her cockiness and arrogance in her eyes but she quickly buckled under Octavia’s pleading gaze; with a sad frown, her horn glowed and pulled her mane into a more acceptable style, flattened straight and teleported her leather jacket away, no doubt back to their home.

“Can I please keep the shades?” She sounded like a child asking for sweets.

Octavia smiled and nuzzled her DJ before gently placing the sunglasses back over her eyes.

“Of course you can. You are MY special pony, and only I get to see the amazing mare behind those glasses whenever I want to, right?”

Vinyl finally smiled again.

“Yep. But there are other things that no one else gets to see of mine…”

“Vinyl.” Octavia growled.

“I swear, last one of the night.” Vinyl held her hoofs up in mock surrender.

Octavia groaned but couldn’t hide her smile as the two of them pressed into each other’s sides as they finally made their way to a table in the Grand Hall, Vinyl amazing Octavia by pulling her seat out for her before seating herself.

“Most esteemed nobles of Canterlot, may I please ask you to help me in welcoming the newly declared Regent of Equestria, Prince Shining Armour!”

Prince Blueblood nearly spat his wine across the tablecloth as Shining Armour made his appearance, decked out in his old Guard armour minus his helmet and waved to the various bowing nobles. Blueblood quickly realised that he was not bowing and forced himself to falsify enough of a bow to not raise eyebrows.

After a typical speech about the new Regent and their absolute authority (Blueblood resisted the urge to gag), the nobles began their socialising, many feigning interest in others of their calibre briefly before badgering the new Regent, if only to appear not to be hoof lickers.

Blueblood excused himself to the Royal Gardens, seething.

“What seems to be the issue your majesty?”

Blueblood whirled at the voice, sitting atop one of the many walls of the hedge maze was the same pegasus from earlier at his estate.

“I will tell you what my issue is you uneducated grunt, up there is a pathetic colt with no claim to the throne who has been given special treatment by Auntie Celestia because he’s rutting Cadance. Meanwhile you sit there and infiltrate my estate as you please-“

“I did no such thing.”

Blueblood growled at the pegasus’ unwavering face.

“Do you take me for a fool, you were there, you told me to make myself present at this farce and I deman-“

“I did not break into your estate, I am merely a representative of The Shadowbolts. And you are in no position to demand anything of us.”

Blueblood was taken aback, whether more by the shock of two so identical Pegasi, a group he had never heard of or the fact that this Pegasus had talked back to him, the other had never done so.

“The Shadowbolts? I know only of the Wonderbolts, I demand you tell me of The Shadowbolts and what they are, and especially why in the hay you have taken an interest in wasting my time so thoroughly!” Bluebloods face was turning red.

The Pegasus seemed to mull his questions over for a moment before answering.

“I cannot tell you everything-“

“WHY IN THE HA-“

Blueblood was dazed as he suddenly found himself on his side, a thundering pain against his head and flecks of concrete surrounding him. The Pegasus had dropped down from the hedge maze and now stood before him, an annoyed look the first emotion that it, they, had ever shown.

“Listen your majesty, I regret that I had to do that but the Shadowbolts value our secrecy, it is what allows us to operate as we do. As it stands, if you will follow me, quietly this time, I can explain what I am allowed to.” He lowered a wing, helping a dizzied Blueblood to his feet, who whether from fear or concussion raised no more objections and followed the Pegasus as they wandered into the hedge maze.

“Now, what I am allowed to tell you about the Shadowbolts is this: we predate the Royal Sisters, shut up!” He snapped a wing over Bluebloods mouth before he could speak. “We are unknown even to them but we have long been in place, always watching and always waiting for when we are needed.”

The Pegasus turned to face Blueblood and stopped walking. They were now in the very centre of the hedge maze.

“It has come to our attention that Princess Celestia has made some, well, very unwise rulings over the last few years; the escape of Nightmare Moon, entrusting the Elements of Harmony to mortal ponies, the escape of Discord, or hay even the inability to run a wedding or gala properly. As much as it pains us if the Princess cannot fulfil her duties then, we have no choice to but ensure a new monarch. Her decision to place Prince Shining Armour on the throne over you only confirms our worries that her mind is no longer sharp enough to run Equestria effectively.”

Blueblood nodded, he had always felt his ideals for Equestria were superior to his Aunties though he would never challenge their authority. Now it looked like he wouldn’t have to.

“So, Prince Blueblood, tonight at the opportune moment you shall raise your objections to Prince Shining Armour’s claim to the throne and with support of the nobles we shall have you elected as the next Regent and soon after we shall see to making you a permanent monarch, should you prove capable.”

The Pegasus frowned as it saw Blueblood was now literally bouncing on his hooves like an overactive foal. It resisted the urge to facehoof and flapped its wings to hover above the prince.

“For now, I must leave you alone once again, your role is critical tonight in deciding the future of Equestria, it may well be the most important moment of your life.”

The Pegasus turned to leave but heard the Princes voice once again, sounding confused.

“Wait, the opportune moment, when’s that?”

Growling softly enough so that the Prince could not hear him, The Pegasus turned back to him.

“Your majesty, I highly doubt that you will be able to miss it. To say anymore would be to compromise our plan.”

“Oh right.” Blueblood nodded furiously, pretending to understand as the Pegasus took off into the night sky until he lifted above the clouds.

“Right Blueblood, time to embrace your destiny and prove to all those fools accepting that peasant as their ruler what true royalty looks like; Equestria shall enter a golden age under your rule and you shall gain the respect that has been kept from you since you took on your royal duties.” He swept himself up into a triumphant pose and then remembered where he was.

“Okay. Now, how do I get out of this maze?”

Chapter 5

“Hey Glaze, did you let the guards know to reinforce the southern railing? I get the feeling some of the stock is going to try and jump.”

Sunny Chaser trotted along the corridor to his brothers office with a frantic look; everything had to be arranged perfectly if the two of them wanted to keep their wings.

“Glaze? Glaze!”

Still his brother didn’t respond. Sunny Chase groaned in annoyance and took a detour to his brothers office, pushing through the door without a thought.

“Glaze, will you just answer first time for… once.”

Sunny looked around in horror at the scene before him; Glaze had collapsed at his desk, his face planted firmly against the oak table. Around his head and on the floor were several bottles that while unmarked Sunny didn’t need much to figure out exactly what his brother had been doing.

He crossed the room in a few strides.

“Glaze, wake up! You can’t do this again, if you get caught doing this again you’re going to get run in and I won’t be able to back you this time!” Why today of all days? Why had his brother chosen now to fall back to his old ways? And how in the hay had he even found the stuff, the factory had produced none of it for months.

Glaze gradually forced his eyes open and yawned, interrupted half way by a coughing fit. Even with his mouth open only briefly the repugnant smell of his breath filled the room, remnants from the bottled liquid no doubt.

“Oh my, ack! Couldn’t you have at least distilled it first?” Sunny mumbled, one hoof clamped over his nose.

Glaze turned to Sunny like a lumbering zombie; he must have been out for over an hour, his eyes were showing none of the more tell-tale signs of his… habit. Still though his eyes were bloodshot and unfocused.

“Ugh, hello Sunny. Is it time for the Monarchs new pet to throw us out yet?” He mumbled, his mouth seemingly unable to decide whether to scowl or grin.

Sunny facehoofed.

“It will be if you show up like this.” He growled, pulling Glaze out of his seat and keeping his wings pressed to his back until he could stand steadily. “Honestly Glaze, now? Of all times you choose now?!”

Glaze tried to look indignant but instead looked slightly confused.

“Hey, I’ve kept away from it for over half a year, isn’t that impressive?”

“It would be if there had been any to steal in that half a year. Where in the hay did you get the batch you just guzzled?” Sunny replied, sniffing one of the empty bottles with an annoyed glare.

Glaze seemed to be racking his brain for a moment before another grin overtook his features.

“Welp, remember the newer batch of stock?”

Sunny whirled to face his brother, his face a mixture of fear and anger.

“You didn’t, Glaze please, PLEASE, tell me that you are just too out of it to know what you’re talking about?” A hint of a plea was in Sunny’s voice now but he was disappointed; the dopey grin on Glaze’s face was answer enough.

“ARRRGGHHH!!!”

Exactly how much Glaze was aware of the hooves smashing into his muzzle repeatedly was unclear but in his frustrated outburst Sunny Chaser didn’t particularly care. All he cared was that his hooves were inflicting as much pain on this stupid, irresponsible mess of a brother as possible.

Again and again he slammed his hooves down, Glazes head smashing into the wood of his desk over and over again, blood was now flowing steadily from a clearly broken nose and blood was also seeping from under his green spikes of mane, some of it staining the green in horrible shades.

“I think that might be sufficient.”

Sunny froze; the voice was unfamiliar but he could not have been given more shivers if somepony had emptied a snow cloud over him. No doubt who it belonged to.

Well, he thought, it’s been nice knowing you brother.

Sunny turned away to face the unicorn, wincing as he heard Glaze slump into a mess on the floor behind him. He didn’t dare turn away to check if he was conscious or not.

King Sombra stood as imposing as he had when he had once ruled the Crystal Empire; while he was not a particularly large unicorn, indeed he was thinner and slightly shorter than Sunny Chaser, his appearance more than compensated, a mane that flickered and whirled like pitch black fire, eyes of red surrounded by an unnatural glowing green where white should have framed his irises. His armour was elegantly crafted and covered almost his entire body; a long and royal looking cape flowed from his shoulders that occasionally seemed to flutter despite the obvious lack of wind. His face was fixed on the scene before him, a mixture of disapproval but also amusement.

“I appreciate a bit of blood sport as much as the next pony Sunny Chaser but I think it may be wise to stop before you do some permanent damage to your brother. I’m afraid he is still very necessary.” Sombra spared a glance to Glaze, now babbling incoherently into the floor. Sombra sighed in irritation and focused on Glaze; a green glow with flecks of darkness enveloped him briefly before fading once again, leaving Glaze staring around confused and once again coherent. Glaze only looked around briefly before he spotted Sombra and gave a grudging but clear salute.

Sombra nodded.

“Now then, assuming that there are no more Pegasi turning their brains into mush when they should be working, can I please ask you to show me what exactly The Monarch has had you working on?”

Sunny Chaser nodded and bowed again.

“Absolutely Sombra, Glaze, if you stay here and oversee the incoming delivery I will show Sombra around.” Sunny shot Glaze a look that clearly ended any arguments before they began and trotted from the office, Sombra behind him.

****

Princess Luna was awakened by a slight jolt as their carriage finally touched down; she could feel that Twilight had cuddled into her side during their sleep and gently extracted herself to clamber out of the door that one of their royal guards was opening: it was still the middle of the night, Shining Armours inauguration would surely have begun by now.

She sighed. The questions about that particular call would be uncomfortable when they arose; she could almost hear Twilights lecture in her head already.

“Princess, shall we awaken the Elements?” The lead Pegasus of their guard asked her, still stood straight and proper.

Luna shook her head.

“No good guard; there is something I must attend to first. Please guard the carriage until I raise the sun and then awaken them, though I must admit I imagine Pinkie Pie will have seen to that for you.”

“Understood.”

Luna shared a nod with the guard before she stretched her wings and took off, ignoring Ponyville and heading right for her true destination.

The Everfree Forest.

Ever since she had heard the rumours of an assault of the undead on Ponyville Luna had feared the worst; to have it confirmed seemed to chase any doubt but still, until she witnessed her suspicions confirmed first hand she could not be certain.

She would cling to that flimsy hope as long as it was possible.

The alternative was… painful to imagine.

Bypassing the dangerous paths of the forest entirely, Luna followed a path through the treetops that to many would seem like zigzagging nonsense but to her it was a clear, defined flight path, and one which she had hoped that neither she nor anyone else would ever follow again.

“By Equestria…”

Luna fought the tears but they still forced their way through.

Before her a village stood; not a burnt and hollowed ruin as should’ve stood, no, a true village, as though somepony had merely scooped away a section of Ponyville and dropped it in the Everfree without anypony the wiser.

Luna shook her head in desperation, hoping against hope to see the village disappear, to have been hit by a hallucinogenic plant, to see Discord laughing at her suffering or hay even to find that she had passed away and was in Tartarus.

All were preferable.

“So, planning to explain this?”

Luna whirled around, magic gathering in her horn and wings flared to the side in a combative pose, prepared to strike down whatever abomination had been foolish enough to approach her.

“Well, Princess?”

Luna felt her heart freeze; in the glow of her magic stood Sora and Kairi, keyblades drawn and with angry glares on their faces. She racked her brain, desperately trying to think of a plausible explanation but Sora cut her off.

“Don’t bother Princess, we don’t want to hear anymore lies like we always here whenever someone in power makes a mistake; we just want to know what we’re dealing with because that really doesn’t look like Heartless to me.” Sora’s tone was strangely empty, there was no cheer but also no anger, just undertones of accusation.

Luna considered telling them that it was simply none of their business but soon relented and allowed herself to sag, knowing that lying would be futile.

“Very well. I will tell you and the Elements everything… but first there is something I must do.”

Sora nodded but kept his keyblade trained on Luna as she, much to his and Kairi’s shock, walked straight toward the village.

The reaction was instantaneous; the moment Luna put a hoof over the perimeter of the village the joy seemed to be sucked from the world as buildings and ponies alike rotted before their eyes, buildings became overgrown or burnt wrecks and ponies lost their manes and rotted their skin away until the undead creatures from the previous night once again stood in view.

The undead ponies hissed collectively and all began glancing around for the disturbance before their eyes, or what should have been their eyes, fell on the advancing form of Luna. Immediately a pony threw itself at her hooves.

“PLEASE, I beg of you Princess Luna, we performed your duty as commanded, we couldn’t have expected the help they had, PLEASE let us die, pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease…”

The ponies begging dissolved into unintelligible sobbing as Luna looked around at the assembled crowd, still horrified but now also confused.

“My subjects; who on Equestria ordered you to attack Ponyville?”

If the undead had the ability to look confused, they would’ve done.

“Y-y-you did, p-p-princess. Y-you ordered it, as –r-r-recompense during the late hours o-of last night.” The pony at her feet sobbed once again, Luna had to hide a look of revulsion as she realised the pony had been sobbing blood all over her hooves.

Luna considered the possibilities.

“You are certain this pony was me?” She questioned gently.

“Y-yes, we knew it h-h-had to be you, the Princess who bears t-the strengths of all ponies and the weaknesses of none.”

A nasty shiver seemed to run through the crowd at this but Luna ignored it; she suspected that this was the most useful info she would get.

Now, to correct a millennia old mistake.

Luna’s eyes closed for a brief moment before she snapped them open again dramatically, the light of the full moon shining from her sockets as Luna rose from the ground without even flapping her wings, magic enveloping her.

Sora tightened his grip on his keyblade which had been lax as he observed the scene.

“PONIES OF SUNNY TOWN; YOU HAVE COMMITTED ATROCITIES UNDER THE FALSE PRETENCE OF HAVING MY SISTER AND I’S APPROVAL. YOU HAVE SUFFERED MY WRATH FOR OVER A MILLENNIUM AND I, AS PRINCESS OF EQUESTRIA, DECLARE YOUR SENTENCE SERVED; GO IN PEACE MY LITTLE PONIES, AND PRAY THAT THE AFTERLIFE IS MORE MERCIFUL THAN I!”

The Royal Canterlot voice caused Luna’s voice to reverberate across what seemed to be the entirety of the Everfree but both humans and ponies alike could care less, transfixed as the moon above them almost burned with moonlight, focusing on the clearing like some heavenly spotlight.

The moment the undead ponies came into the moonlight they became to fade, not as the violent puffs of shadow as they had from the keyblades strikes but gradually, their bodies shifting from hollowed bones and rotted flesh to tiny orbs of light which dispersed, no longer forming solid shapes as they faded away into the night. As the last of the ponies disappeared it was clear to see the rage, bloodlust and cruelty leave them; only relief graced what was left of their forms as they faded away, allowed to rest in peace at last. Luna even heard a brief “bless you”, hidden underneath renewed sobs as the pony at her feet faded away to join her friends in the afterlife.

Luna allowed her tears to fall before turning back to face the Keyblade Warriors; their faces reflected exactly what she expected, fear and confusion.

“It would seem… that it is time to, as Rainbow Dash would say, “fess up””.

****

“Noble, I mean really. The only part of that which is true is that she’s a royal pain.”

The gathered nobles gave themselves a chuckle at the joke of Prince Blueblood as he nodded to Vinyl Scratch, who had not moved from her table and seemed content to indulge herself in the fine wines on offer, her marefriend was busy on the next table with what looked like a member of her ensemble.

“I say Prince Blueblood, could you not simply have her removed?” Jet Set inquired as he wrinkled his nose in disgust as Vinyl downed a glass of wine in one gulp.

Blueblood shook his head.

“I am afraid not, she is of royal blood and only on our new “Regents” authority can I have her escorted from the palace.” Blueblood said, getting a lot of groaning from the gathered nobles.

“Well, surely a stallion of your standing could simply make Shining Armour see reason; you are Princess Celestia’s niece after all.” Responded uppercrust, whose nose was held so high it was threatening to cause her to fall backwards.

Blueblood gulped; this was a very delicate situation.

“Ahem, um, very well, I shall indeed request this of our dear Shining Armour, excuse me all, shouldn’t be a moment.” Blueblood excised himself from the crowd and made his way to the still armour clad Shining Armour, who was conversing with a slender and beautiful unicorn Blueblood knew only by sight.

“Ahem.”

Shining Armour didn’t seem to notice but instead laughed at a joke the unicorn was telling.

“Ahem.”

Once again Shining Armour did not respond.

“Oh, your majesty-“

“I’ve told you sir; please just call me Shining Armour.”

The suited unicorn gave a chuckle with Shining Armour, both completely oblivious to Bluebloods jaw dropping almost to the floor behind them.

“Anyway, Shining Armour, I was wondering whether I could trouble you over that research funding I was after; I was hoping to get some business done tonight.” Fancypants asked looking slightly guilty but Shining Armour waved a hoof.

“It’s no problem Fancypants; after all, I’ve looked at the project, I’d be amazed if you weren’t invested in it as much as you have been. I think it’s so inspiring to see a pony as rich and powerful as you giving so much money to a cause like this.”

Fancypants and the unicorn looked slightly saddened, the slender unicorn nuzzling Fancypants safely.

“Well, you understand of course, we do have a personal reason for this?”

Shining Armour nodded, suddenly sombre.

“I know, and believe me; even if this project is a failure, I promise to do everything I can to help you, even if I have little of worth.” Shining Armour placed a hoof on Fancypants shoulder and nodded as their eyes met.

The trio wandered off to a side chamber, away from the bustle of the grand hall.

By now Prince Blueblood was fairly certain that he had begun collecting flies in his open mouth, which he snapped shut, enraged at being ignored for some businesscolt and his trophy wife!

He felt his blood boil as he heard a loud whoop of laughter that could have only come from one pony; sure enough, he saw Vinyl Scratch laughing at some poor noble who had evidently fallen over her outstretched legs and was now spouting off insults that she clearly didn’t understand.

Right then, Blueblood decided, magically tightening his bowtie as tight as it could go; time to show her how royalty actually handles ruffians. He pulled himself up to his fullest height and marched over the table, making a show of seating himself opposite the alabaster unicorn who, to his fury, didn’t seem to acknowledge him.

“You, Ms Scratch, I do not approve of being ignored.”

The unicorn hesitated, her horn pulsing momentarily before she pulled herself to face Blueblood.

“Oh hey, you’re that noble guy who doesn’t know what happens when you stop in the middle of a crowd.” She said, chuckling slightly and not looking at Bluebloods face.

Blueblood twitched in annoyance.

“Correct, I am indeed the royal stallion who you assaulted at the castle gates, and I am here to tell you Miss Scratch, that you are not welcome here.” Blueblood looked immensely pleased with himself as he saw her ears droop slightly.

“Now come on guy, I haven’t even done anything that bad here; the guard even said you can’t have me chucked for bumping you a bit.”

Blueblood smirked; he loved when people brought up the guards, it meant they knew he had them on the ropes.

“On the contrary Miss Scratch; by your behaviour, hay, your very presence at this event, you make a mockery of the Canterlot Elite and of our Regent. As if the mere fact that a parasite such as yourself even existing among our noble ranks wasn’t bad enough.”

He was surprised by the reaction he got; Vinyl Scratch shot up from her chair, her horn illuminating briefly again and she took a step back, obviously trying to keep from crying.

“H-How did you find out? WHO TOLD YOU?!” The mare sounded like she was in hysterics.

By now several ponies had stopped to observe the scene, some even gave approving nods to Blueblood.

He decided to press this unknown weakness; whatever it was, he could clearly use it to his advantage. He leaned in to whisper into her ear, feeling her jump as he did so.

“I know all about your dirty little secret; it’s honestly quite embarrassing and frankly I think disgusting but then, I really don’t think it would matter. I can think of very few ways a mare such as yourself could contribute to society, and honestly I doubt you could be competent at even those pitiful existences.” Blueblood smirked as Vinyl fell on her haunches, her lip quivering as she desperately fought not to cry.

He allowed himself a chuckle at his triumph, which was shared by several other nobles around him. It didn’t last however, as stars exploded before his eyes when a hoof connected with the back of his head.

“You foul, evil, little mule!”

Blueblood tried in vain to shield himself from a fury of blows being rained on him by at least to sets of hooves, failing miserably as he felt his nose break and pain explode in his sides as he was kicked ferociously, the strength of an Earth pony clearly behind one set of hooves.

Even as he writhed on the floor guards quickly advanced to pull his assailants away but his satisfaction was momentary as he also felt strong hooves restraining him to the ground as well.

“What in the name of Celestia do you think you are doing, unhand me you gormless grunts or I’ll see to it you guard the gates of Tartarus for the remainder of your lives.”

“Really? Will you Blueblood?”

The guards parted and allowed Blueblood to stand; he could now see his attackers had been the grey mare accompanying Vinyl Scratch, who now sat comforting the sobbing unicorn and, he wasn’t sure whether to be amused or offended, the slender and delicate looking unicorn who Shining Armour had been conversing with. The unicorn appeared to have a cut lip but didn’t seem to notice it, glaring at Blueblood with more hatred than he would’ve thought possible.

“Well Blueblood?” The voice repeated.

Blueblood panicked; though he kept it internalised, he panicked, all control was gone in his brain as he turned to Shining Armour, who looked murderous.

“Is this the Canterlot Elite? Is this what you all are? I heard a ton of bad things from Twily but I never thought it could all be right, but this? This is a bucking insult.” Several nobles gasped at the cursing.

Ignoring the loud objections of the Prince, Shining Armour grabbed Blueblood by the over-groomed mane and dragged him into the centre of the Grand Hall before dumping him on the floor.

“Well, it appears my first trial as Regent is on; an impromptu night court hearing shall now commence, Prince Blueblood is accused of blackmail and bigotry.”

Blueblood spluttered.

“Blackmail! What in the world are you blathering about you grunt in royal clothing?!”

Both stallions ignored the loud gasps and mutterings, content to glare at each other.

“You threatened a pony to reveal a disability in an effort to discredit them and get them to remove themselves from this event, under full knowledge that you could not do so via legitimate complaint.” Shining Armour nodded to Vinyl, who by now had calmed down and was nuzzling Octavia.

Blueblood stared in shock; what in Celestia’s name had he stumbled into?

“Well, Blueblood. We’re waiting to hear your defence.”

Blueblood decided do the one thing any noble pony would do in his situation.

Call in his acquaintances to back him up.

“Ponies of the Canterlot Elite I beseech you; will you stand for this sham. This stallion, barely, to lord over-“

“Enough.”

The voice was calm but it echoed across the Grand Hall with an effortless authority.

“And who are you to object-“ The snarl died in Bluebloods throat. “-to me?”

Fancypants had marched to join the two stallions in the centre, the slender unicorn on his hooves; both were looking murderous.

“Who am I? I doubt you need to be told Blueblood but just in case you are as dense as you appear, allow me to clarify for you: I am everything that you should be, I am wealthy beyond imagine, I am influential in those who have power within our city and I am held in high regard by many.” Fancypants crossed the distance between them, Blueblood was now practically nose to nose with him but he still spoke loud enough for all those gathered to hear. “But unlike you Blueblood, I am not some pompous ass who is content to use his titles, which I might add you inherited and I earned, to bully other ponies for my own amusement; I am a stallion of principle, why just moments ago I was discussing with our Regent on a new charity venture but now rather than contributing to the good of Equestria we are pulled away to deal with the waste like you!” Fancypants was advancing slowly, backing Blueblood toward the double doors. The guards were ready to leap in but for now did nothing.

Blueblood desperately glanced around for aid but he could see his associates nodding along with Fancypants, Jet Set and Uppercrust seemed to be whispering to others in support of Fancypants.

“And finally Prince Blueblood, I must simply express my relief that you are not our Regent, clearly the Princess shows her wisdom even in her absence. Now, do a favour to all of Equestria for once in your miserable life, AND LEAVE!!!” The shout caught Blueblood off guard and he stumbled back. Unaware that Fancypants had backed him to the top of the staircase.

The trip to the bottom was a blur of humiliation and painful knocks from the staircase, leaving Blueblood to pull himself to his feet and glance back up at the nobles now gathered atop the staircase, seething. He knew he could do nothing.

The Shadowbolts would be sure to hear about this, he thought as he adopted his usual dignified march and left the palace.

Shining Armour looked to Fancypants with a worried expression.

“Perhaps it might be better to end the night?”

Fancypants nodded.

“Agreed. Would you mind me and Fleur staying to hash out details of our arrangement?”

“Of course not, but what about Vinyl?”

Fancypants turned to look back at the mostly composed DJ, who was glaring daggers at Bluebloods retreating back, Octavia ready to restrain her.

“She stays; this is for her after all.”

Shining Armour was suddenly reminded why he respected Fancypants so much.

“That’s great Fancypants, she and her marefriend should have a say in this. I’ve got to say it’s nice to see such kindness among the elite.”

Fancypants shrugged.

“What sort of father would I be if I didn’t?”

****

“As you can see Sombra, we have all you could need to execute your plans in our wonderful facility-“

“I am not a tourist Sunny Chaser. I want to know the exact capabilities of these devices and to see your livestock. After that I will tell you what I require of you, firstly that you get your idiot brother under control.”

Sunny flared his wings and faced Sombra.

“I won’t let you insult Glaze, Sombra. He’s proven himself more useful than you have so far, he’s operated with a lack of resources for years and kept his loyalty, while all you managed to do was get yourself sealed away then shattered to pieces!” Sunny slapped a hoof over his mouth at his outburst and waited for the inevitable fiery death that Sombra would inflict.

Instead, he chuckled.

“Hmm, that’s admirable bravery Sunny Chaser. It will be necessary for the upcoming war.”

Even as Sunny sighed in relief he felt himself lifted from the floor in a green glow and slammed into the wall, before rocketing forward into the opposite wall. This repeated a few times before Sombra dropped him to the floor.

“But be careful who you direct it at; you and your brother cannot stand against me and you will obey me or I will personally put you through suffering beyond even what you two inflict on others. Now shall we continue?”

Ignoring his aching body Sunny continued down toward the main production line.

“This is where the magic happens as they say. As you can see the machines external devices and mechanics seem like they need no modification, as to what you want to modify on the insides I can have one dismantled and shown to you in greater detail within an hour.”

Sombra nodded.

“Do so now; it would be prudent to modify these devices as soon as possible, lest we run into any problems in development.” Sombra was not looking at Sunny but examining what he could see of the machine before him with what looked like awe in his eyes.

Sunny nodded and signalled to one of the Pegasi who were constantly flitting around the room and signalled for a dismantling; she nodded and sped off to collect the appropriate mechanics.

“Now then, is this where you store your livestock? The reinforcement seems excessive.”

Sunny Chaser glanced back to Sombra and felt the bottom drop out of his stomach.

“DON’T TOUCH THAT YOU FOOL!!!”

Sombra recoiled as if the huge vault door had burnt him and glared in annoyance.

Sunny Chaser shook his head.

“Apologies Sombra but that is a high security cell; The Monarch herself reinforced this door with her magic, nothing ever goes in and nothing EVER gets out.” Sunny Chasers voice was filled with fear, which caused Sombra to smirk.

“Really? Fascinating… From what I’ve seen of your world, do tell what could possibly be so evil and twisted that even you ponies feel it should be locked away?” He sounded caught between mocking and genuine curiosity.

Sunny Chaser shivered and shook his head wildly.

“Alright, alright! Understood Sunny Chaser, now please show me to your livestock.”

Sunny Chaser nodded and moved over to a corridor leading further into the facility, past several empty blocks of cells before coming to a locked door.

“This is where we’ve been keeping those that you snatched from Ponyville; so far we’ve heard not a peep out of them.”

Sombra narrowed his eyes.

“And you consider this a good thing?”

Sunny Chaser looked at him in confusion.

“Well, yes. If they aren’t making any noise then we don’t have to-“

“Check on them and ensure they aren’t up to something?” Sombra growled.

Sunny Chaser suddenly knew what Sombra was getting at and didn’t know whether to laugh or simply humour him.

“Look Sombra, I appreciate that you obviously have experience at this but a bunch of foals aren’t going to be able to cause a problem for the strength of the Pegasi.”

Sombra growled and flared his magic, blowing the door off its hinges.

“Tell me then, oh masterful Pegasus, does this look right to you!?”

Sunny Chaser followed him into the cell block and promptly wished he hadn’t.

“Can you explain this Sunny Chaser? Is this a typical part of your prisoner restraint system?” Sombra’s voice was mirthless as the two ponies stared in stunned silence at a doorway that had opened into an open field, the dense trees of a thick forest on the horizon.

“But-but-but-“

Sombra ignored the stunned Pegasus and lit his horn, scanning the world before him, his influence spreading itself over the entirety of this bizarre pocket of forest. He smirked as he recognised traces of unicorn magic, clearly someone simply trying to delay the inevitable, they must have some-

His eyes glowed red and widened as he recognised a familiar power in the illusion.

“Stay. Here.” He snarled to Sunny Chaser. “If anything tries to get out, you kill it, understood?”

Sunny nodded and adopted a combat stance.

Sombra focused his energies and gradually felt his physical form unravel, replacing his physical form with that of the cloud of shadow that had previously limited him but now complimented his power; he took off and sped through the woods, murder on his mind and a name ringing through his head in a mantra of hatred.

Cascade, Cascade, Cascade, Cascade…

Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Fury of a Goddess

The villagers of Sunny Town were almost jumping for joy as they saw their princess landing among their party decorations, fillies were laughing and playing as the adults bowed low for their princess.

Princess Luna had always been kind to Sunny Town; the ponies were old fashioned much like the princess herself and they had always loved the night. Indeed several of the ponies actually chose to sleep through to the afternoon and then stay up with the moon and stars.

But as she came closer, several of them felt confusion wash over them; their Princess held none of the love or care that graced her beautiful eyes. Instead there was only cold fury and hatred, so intense that several could swear that they felt it burn them.

“Where is Ruby?” Princess Luna had clearly dispensed with the Royal Canterlot Voice; the level but still threatening tone promised unimaginable pain and washed fear over the assembled ponies like a wave.

Greyhoof, the town mayor, decided to answer her.

“Your majesty, you understand that we didn’t have any choice in the matter-“

The collected ponies screamed as a beam of moonlight flew from their Princesses horn and struck Greyhoof; his fur and flesh rotted and melted away before their eyes as he cried in anguish, reaching his hooves out in desperation toward his friends and family, who recoiled in horror.

“You shall know pain… You shall suffer worse than she, feel the agony of death a thousand times… but you shall not perish, you will live in eternal agony, always knowing, always remembering… you did this.” As she spoke Luna rose from the ground without her wings flapping; her eyes had taken on a snow white glow and before their eyes her appearance morphed.

Regular teeth elongated and narrowed into fangs, feathers linked together and turned black as shadows coiled and crawled along her body, solidifying into vicious warrior armour. Her beautiful mane, blue as the night sky and decorated with stars, changed its tone to an eerie purple and took on the movement of flames.

The moment the transformation was completed, a light shone down on the entire area like a spotlight; it was coming from the full moon but it was unlikely any of the gathered ponies ever realised this as they felt the fire erupt under their flesh, burning away at them, destroying organs and exposing muscle yet not allowing them to die.

Some unknown time later Greyhoof managed to force himself to stand and open his eyes, agony still assaulting his very being; the village was in ruins and the forest overgrown with plants of poison and jagged spikes, sealing them in their hollowed corpse of a town to suffer until their princess saw that they were right and forgave them.

****

Princess Luna could feel the horrified stares even as she refused to meet their eyes, the tears streaming freely from her face.

“Now you know why I refuse to take the throne; Equestria deserves better than a monster ruling over them.” Her voice was barely audible and she sounded vulnerable, as though afraid someone would hit her.

The keyblade masters and the Elements had been silent since the story began and now most seemed to have no idea how to react; Twilight seemed more worried about Luna’s grief while Riku had an odd look of pity on his face but the others seemed simply scared.

“Luna.” Twilight moved to the Princess and laid a wing around her, nuzzling her not caring in the least about the others presence. “It wasn’t your fault, it was Nightmare Moon. Please don’t do this; I thought you understood that we will never hate you for what Nightmare Moon did.”

Luna shook her head but leaned herself into Twilights wing, tears still gently falling.

“But that’s just it my dear Twilight: that wasn’t Nightmare Moon. That was what caused me to become her. The action was mine and mine alone.”

There was silence again except for Luna’s almost silent crying.

Sora and Kairi were sharing a concerned glance, clearly their trust was shaken.

“Don’t even think about it.”

They jumped, as did everyone else; none of them had been aware of Riku watching the two.

“Don’t think about what?” Sora asked.

Riku scowled.

“Sora you might be the best warrior in the world but you’re a terrible liar; you and Kairi are thinking whether Luna can be trusted.” His tone had turned accusatory.

“Well, yeah.”

Everyone turned to stare at Rainbow Dash.

“What? I mean if she’s willing to do something that screwed up without Nightmare Moon we kinda have to wonder, right?” She sounded unsure of herself for once.

Riku’s glare could rival Fluttershy as he levelled his eyes to the remaining ponies.

“Anyone else got something to add?”

The others hesitated; before they could answer Riku felt Sora’s hand on his shoulder.

“Riku, calm down. We know Luna can be trusted, it’s just… surprising is all. I mean, we have to always wonder don’t we, we’ve been betrayed before.”

Riku turned to face Sora.

“I can tell she isn’t like that anymore.” He assured with no emotion to his voice.

Luna spoke up for the first time.

“And how can you be so sure of my alter ego?”

Riku sighed and his shoulders sagged slightly.

“First hand experience.”

The ponies gasped.

Sora turned Riku back around and spread his arms; Riku groaned but still accepted a hug, with Kairi giving him another as soon as Sora released him. He visibly calmed down.

“Sorry.”

Kairi shook her head.

“You’ve got nothing to be sorry about.”

Riku nodded and sat back down.

“It’s just a sore spot is all.”

“We understand sugarcube.”

Riku smiled as he saw the other Elements, including Rainbow Dash, nodding with encouraging smiles, Fluttershy was even giving Luna as best a hug as she could with the size difference.

Sora spoke up. “So, Twilight; we at least know where the undead-“

“Blanks.”

He stared at Luna in surprise.

“Those creatures… they are called Blanks.”

He decided not to upset Luna anymore and didn’t question her knowledge.

“Right, so those Blanks; any ideas who could’ve called them, we know Luna’s out she was with us the entire time.”

Twilight immediately began her pacing; from the top staircase her assistant Spike was following her progress and noting everything she said.

“Well we know Luna is off the list and Celestia and Cadence didn’t know about them; but they still thought it was Luna that released them.” She stroked her chin with a hoof, eyes deep in thought.

“Another Alicorn maybe?” Rarity offered.

“Pony with wings, magic and strength.” Applejack answered before Sora could ask.

Twilight shook her head.

“Couldn’t be; Alicorns are some of the most powerful creatures in existence, if there were more than three Alicorns running around-“

“Four.” Kairi reminded her.

Twilight nodded. She kept forgetting her relatively recent change.

“Four Alicorns, we would know if there were any more of them, they aren’t exactly hard to notice. No, we’re looking for something that can impersonate an Alicorn, something that can look like Luna but isn’t but has powerful enough magic to combat… her.”

The Elements and Luna all hit the same realisation.

“Queen Chrysalis!”

“Who?” Riku asked.

“Short version, evil pony things that can shapeshift, leader is a big icky queen that kinda looks like an Alicorn and hates us.” Rainbow Dash responded.

“Like this!” Immediately the three keyblade masters were greeted with the sight of Pinkie Pie dressed in insect wings made from plastic bags and a bent cardboard tube for a horn.

“Riiight, anyway.” Twilight continued, used to Pinkies antics. “Chrysalis could have unleashed the Blanks to try and kill our friends, if she knew we were away somehow she probably assumed Ponyville was defenseless.”

“Didn’t count on mah big brother then!” Applejack declared proudly.

“Yeah, Big Mac and the others totally kicked their flanks!” Rainbow exclaimed, miming some punches and kicks in the air.

“True, we didn't come out of it unscathed though.” They all grimaced as they remembered Lotus; Aloe still hadn’t left her house despite Cheerilees best efforts to comfort her.

“Still, at least we now have a suspect to bring to justice!” Luna declared, finally gaining back some of her confidence at the thought of Chrysalis.

Sora nodded.

“I agree, we should find where she is a get her back for what she did to you all.”

“Ah like that plans.”

“Me too.”

“It’s agreed then.” Kairi asked and everyone nodded, Fluttershy just barely visible from her curled up position. “Good, we’ll all meet in an hour at the edge of the forest then?”

“Wait, I thought you said the forest was full of dangerous creatures?” Riku asked.

Sora rolled his eyes.

“Come on Riku, we’ve got two goddesses, someone who works with those animals all the time and us! We’ll be fine.” He grinned punching Riku on the shoulder in a challenge.

Riku returned the punch and smirked as Kairi and Applejack shared an exasperated look.

****

“Well then just who the hay is he?”

“Ah dunno Scoots but keep your voice down!”

“But didn’t Miss Heartstrings say he was nice?”

“Yeah but she totally looked freaked when she said it Dinky!”

“Well if he helps me get back to mummy I love him.”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders trudged their way through the dingy woods, conversing under their voices with Dinky Doo; ahead they could see Lyra Heartstrings clearing away branches in their path while behind them was the unknown unicorn stallion they were discussing. He seemed tense and walked backwards occasionally; scanning the sky and the path they came down.

“Anyways, if you guys are really sure he isn’t the Headless Horse-“

“Well he does kinda have a head Scoots.”

“Well then who could he be; you heard Miss Heartstrings when she thought we were asleep, you can’t just teleport out of that place!”

“Well, maybe he’s a traitor; maybe he decided he didn’t like those nasty ponies and helped us escape, that’s what ah reckon.”

“What about you Sweetie?”

The three turned their eyes to Sweetie Belle, who was trudging with a blank look on her face and didn’t seem to be really listening; ever since she had managed to force her head out of the sack Lyle had thrown them into she had been in her own world.

“Ah’m startin’ to really worry about her.”

“Me too…”

“We should take her to Doctor Whooves, he can fix her!”

Both Scootaloo and Applebloom exchanged glances.

“No offense Dinks, but the Doctor is kinda… well, weird, ya know what I mean?”

The look Dinky gave clearly showed she didn’t.

“Fine, we’ll take her to him when we actually get the hay out of here, how long have we been goin’ anyway y’all?”

Scootaloo shrugged.

“About an hour?”

Suddenly they heard a whoosh of air overhead.

“Get down.” Came the hushed voice of the mystery stallion.

They all threw themselves into the brush; Scootaloo couldn’t help but wince at how badly some of them stuck out, with her hot pink mane, Appleblooms huge bow and the mystery stallion’s shiny red coat and horn.

As they listened overhead the stallion suddenly tensed and smiled.

“Lyra, I think I’ve found a spot!”

The group all winced and the stallion growled; that had been much louder than he’d intended.

A moment passed.

Then another.

“Maybe they didn’t hear?” Lyra whispered hopefully.

The stallion shook his head.

“No… they’re watching us now I’d wager.”

All the foals cast their eyes around, all trying to find any trace of spying eyes but none of them saw anything but leafs.

The stallion seemed to be pondering something.

“Lyra, do you trust me?” His eyes were pleading.

She nodded, though hesitantly.

He turned to the foals.

“Kids, I think I might have a way to get us home… but it’s going to be really dangerous. Is everypony willing to take that risk?” The looks of hope and joy he got answered him.

“Alright, hang on everypony.”

The Stallion buzzed with energy and lit up; not just his horn, his whole body illuminated as though someone had lit him up with a light bulb. After a few moments the light coalesced in his horn and shot out into a clearing; it writhed and spiralled before forming an opening with what looked like…

“PONYVILLE!!!”

Immediately all the foals took off for the opening.

Like a snap on a mousetrap, the Shadowbolts descended.

The first Pegasus made a diving movement toward Dinky and was slammed into a nearby tree by a bolt from Lyra; the Shadowbolt rebounded with a crunch and fell to the floor.

Two Shadowbolts began flying in circle formation, luring Dinky and Twist away from the portal; neither noticed the sliver of shadow that had connected them until it was too late. The sliver quickly gathered energy from their movement and expanded, engulfing the two pegasi even as they struggled to escape.

There was a scream from the east side of the clearing as Applebloom was grabbed; the Pegasus rose but didn’t get far as a bolt of green severed several feathers, a cloud of shadow catching Applebloom before she hit the floor and depositing her through the portal.

“Cascade, defence!”

The stallion grimaced as he noticed a pair of Shadowbolts make it through the portal; he positioned himself in front of it and met a third with a red jet of light, what remained of the Pegasus cartwheeling into the portal with a sickening crunch on the other side.

Lyra yelped as a passing Pegasus escaped her blasts and sliced into her side with serrated steel feathers woven into the natural ones; she winced but turned and sent a stream of sparks his way, satisfied to hear the yell of pain that meant they connected.

Cascade was promptly being overwhelmed; for every Shadowbolt they killed it seems three replaced them, and only about half the foals had escaped, the others were forced into the bushes or the edges of the clearing to dodge the onslaught of pegasi dive-bombing their position.

He cried out as two Shadowbolts dodged around a burst of flames and sliced him, one cutting his temple and the other drawing a long gash into his side. His legs shook but he stayed upright and fired off a series of combustion spells, the blasts and resulting shrapnel buying them some time.

Lyra panicked as she saw five Shadowbolts rushing her at once in a V-formation; she fired off bolts in a desperate attempt to scatter them but while two pegasi dropped and one was forced to pull out of the dive to avoid it, the remaining two grabbed her without breaking pace and slammed her into the nearest tree.

Cascade scowled as he saw Lyra drop to the ground in a heap, the culprits circling around to try the same against him but they slammed straight into a wall of flames that had not been there previously. Their cohorts took full advantage and aimed a well-placed buck at Cascades already injured side, catapulting him into a nearby willow tree.

He growled as the world became a blur of colours and sound, forcing himself to stay awake and alert; he was out of practice but he would not fall to these welps!

As the thought occurred his legs failed completely.

As the last traces of consciousness left him he could see Scootaloo struggling in the grip of a Shadowbolt, flailing her limbs at his face while in another’s Dinky was crying for her mother to save her.

He prayed for a miracle as two more Shadowbolts descended on him.

****

“Guys… you’re gonna want to see this.”

Sora and Riku glanced up from their fencing session to where Kairi was pointing to with her own keyblade; on a field just outside of the Ponyville borders a large swirl of red light was illuminating the hilltop.

“Oh great, what now?” Sora asked.

The three tensed as they saw figures emerging from the portal.

“Wait a minute, are those…”

****

“The Children!”

Big Macintosh jumped as he heard Cheerilee call out from their table at Sugarcube Corner, but even as he turned around he saw her set off at a gallop toward the hills outside town.

“What in the hay?” The question faltered as he saw exactly, what.

As his eyes adjusted to looking at a bright light like the portal he was seeing, Big Mac could swear he saw figures emerging from it, including…

“APPLEBLOOM!!!”

The shout rattled nearby windows and sent ponies fleeing for their lives as a red blur of muscle zoomed toward the hilltop, quickly overtaking his marefriend.

****

Across town at a tree that was also a house, seven very startled ponies and one dragon glanced away from their work.

“What was that?” Spike wondered as he threw open a window. “Hey guys, check it out!”

He regretted his choice in words as he was squashed against the window frame by seven very insistent ponies.

They all saw the portal at once as well as the small figures emerging from it.

“Dat’s Applebloom. Hold on sis, Big Sis’s comin’!” Applejack took off like a rocket and smashed her way through the library door. She was followed swiftly by Rarity as the others still at the window were nearly deafened by the roar of wind from Rainbow Dash as she too made for the portal. Before their eyes they could see more figures making their way to the portal, recognising the keyblade masters.

“Come on, we’ve got to help them!” Twilight called, pulling Spike onto her back and flying off toward the hill, Luna and Fluttershy right behind her.

****

Applebloom hit the ground with a soft thump as the cloud of shadows that had caught her threw her through the portal; she shook it off quickly and offered a hoof to Twist and Sweetie Belle.

“Applebloom!”

Forgetting her fellow foals, Applebloom wheeled around, beaming and with tears in her eyes as she felt herself lifted into the air by the force of Applejacks hug, another rough thump indicating that Big Mac had joined them. Over their shoulders she could see various other figures making their way toward them.

The advancing figures didn’t all stay; three humans with bizarre weapons continued straight on through the portal as did Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash and, to her surprise, Princess Luna.

“Applebloom, just what in the hay happened?” Applejack asked between kisses to her forehead and soft crying.

“Ah dunno, we were just in the schoolhouse with Lyle, he told us to go asleep and we all just nodded off, like we had no choice! Next thing ah knew ah was in a sack with the others and chucked in some kinda prison!”

Big Mac had broken away from his sisters by now to take a glance through the portal, the battle within had turned swiftly, strange pegasi of black and purple, all identical, scattered under a barrage of magic and slashing that he reckoned would even make the Princesses afraid.

Within the clearing Luna could tell she was snarling as she launched spell after spell at the attackers but she didn’t care, these pegasi were nothing but animals and they would be put down like them.

While impressive the Alicorns were well aware that many of the pegasi were surviving their barrage but to her relief when Twilight got a second of breathing space she saw that the keyblade masters had positioned themselves around the perimeter of the clearing, any new pegasi were met with a blade to the head while their retreating comrades fared no better. Their speed was unreal, several times they would become little more than a blur of colour, dodging and weaving between their opponents and occasionally even around and over each other, never taking a hit from the Pegasi and never faltering. It was no wonder that Celestia had said they were widely feared and respected; they could probably have challenged the entire Castle Guard and put up a decent challenge.

“That’s all of them guys, let’s get the hay out of here!” Rainbow Dash yelled out as she carried the last filly through the portal.

The group nodded and began working their way back toward the portal, Kairi and Riku walking backwards, keyblades at ready in case any of their foes tried to hit a retreating target.

As they passed through Sora stopped with one foot through the portal and focused on something none of them could see but whatever it was his eyes went wide and he immediately dashed back into the clearing.

“Sora, what are you doing!?” Kairi yelled.

“There’s two more ponies here, adults! Gimme a hand, this one’s really heavy!” He called back, hoisting a unicorn that was oddly familiar to Twilight.

“That’s Lyra!” Rainbow Dash called. “How the hay did she get caught up in this?”

“No idea but let’s get her out of it, now!” Riku declared, charging through the portal again to help Sora; the two hoisted the unconscious unicorn between them and ducked low as more magic flew from Luna and Twilight into the tress, any Pegasi that were hiding would have no chance to leave their cover.

“Hang on, there’s another one here!” Riku broke back off from the group to another unicorn, a stallion this time with a blood red coat and horn, who had been knocked to the side out of view from the portal entrance. He was much lighter than Lyra and Riku slung him over his shoulder effortlessly, sprinting back to the portal as he heard the sounds of more Pegasi behind him, at least one meeting a nasty end from a lightning blast from Luna.

Riku and his passenger fell through the portal as they all saw on the horizon something moving; a piece of the black sky almost seemed to separate itself as a cloud of shadow flew toward their portal, too great in size to be simply a spell.

The Elements of Harmony could only stare in horror as they recognised the green, glowing eyes at the front of it, burning with hatred.

“Sombra…”

Luna was just as horrified as the elements but unlike them she composed herself enough to direct her full magic at the portal, willing it to close with all her might but something was wrong; this was ancient magic, from her own time period. She could not recall how to close it.

“Get ready to fight guys, he’s a big one!” The keyblade masters readied their weapons; they had thought unknown foes before and they were not about to let this one hurt anyone.

But even as they readied them, the portal seemed to sputter and began folding in on itself.

The group had one last glimpse of Sombra roaring with rage, some of his physical form appearing before he was cut off; they now stood once again on an ordinary hilltop with a group of scared but alive foals.

While the others looked around in confusion, Cascading Aurora rose to his hooves, just barely able to stand on his own; he promptly lit his horn and a gentle green glow enveloped himself and Lyra, their injuries of battle fading.

The act caught the attention of the others in the group who all turned to face him, most simply curious about who he was. But as he looked them over he saw one face full of nothing but hatred and rage.

Oh, horseapples.

It was all he had time to think before the Princess of the Night physically hauled him off his hooves and threw him into a nearby tree, the impact threatening to re-shatter his recently repaired ribs. Before he had time to fully comprehend the pain he felt the tell-tale hum of magic pulling him up and felt an intense pressure on his windpipe, choking him.

“Princess Luna, what in the name of Celestia has gotten into you?” He could see Lyra physically wrestling with the Princess; while it did nothing to actually move or hurt her, the act of defiance must have surprised her, as Cascade was released and fell to the ground with a thump.

The rest of the group just looked on in confusion as Lyra glared daggers at Princess Luna, whose eyes were still burning as they had been when she first saw the unicorn.

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS? YOU MEAN TO DEFEND THIS MONSTER!!! HE SURELY IS A SPY FOR THE ENEMY!!!”

Lyra jumped back as did the keyblade masters, none of them had heard the Canterlot Royal Voice so close before. But Lyra did not relent.

“He saved us, he opened the portal and he just risked his life fighting off those Shadowbolts when he could’ve just left. Don’t you tell me who’s an enemy Princess, you weren’t there to see how much he risked!” The loudness of their voices had drawn several other ponies away from town to inspect the hilltop.

“HE IS A DECEIVER, HE WILL DECEIVE YOU ALL AND DESTROY EQUESTRIA LIKE HE ALREADY HAS TRIED ONCE!!!”

At this point they were interrupted by an almost literal stampede as ponies from town recognised loved ones; Lyra herself was tackled to the floor in a hug by Bon Bon, who was laughing and crying in relief as she clung to Lyra like a vice, as if afraid she would vanish if she released her.

Riku was nearly knocked head over heels by two very odd looking ponies who looked like they were on holiday, both of them tripped and fell into a hug with Sweetie Belle and Rarity. He could only guess that Rarity was in fact not her mother as he had thought.

“MUFFIN!!!”

This was the loudest shout of all as a grey blur shot past the group and slammed into Dinky Doo, it was so fast it was miraculous none of them were hurt but when the dust cleared all that was there was, sitting in a crater, a blonde maned Pegasus desperately hugging and kissing a giggling filly, who was doing her best to throw her arms around her mother just like her mother had done with her wings. Both were crying but they were most certainly tears of joy as Ditzy Doo took a second from their hug to check Dinky was unhurt, only for her relief to increase when she saw no injuries.

“It seems one thing hasn’t changed in Equestria.”

Luna and the others whirled back to the stallion, who by now had pulled himself to his hooves again and was looking at the reunions with a somewhat hollow look, which reached his voice.

“It seems… I will be forever reminded of what I did. Fitting I suppose, if death was not a fitting punishment then revelling in my own mistakes shall suffice.”

Luna advanced on him again but the stallion made no moves to retreat or flee.

“Cascading Aurora?”

The stallion laughed bitterly.

“Princess, I told you I don’t like that, just call me Cascade, it’s what… what… what the others used to… call me, remember?” Cascades tone shifted drastically, he now sounded like he was barely holding back tears.

Luna had no sympathy and pressed on.

“Tell us welp; how is it you come to be here when we just saw you through the portal? You were skilful Cascading Aurora but duplication on this scale is impossible, even for my sister.”

None of the others knew what to do about the situation other than listen in, not noticing or caring that everypony else had departed back to Ponyville with their reunited loved ones except the CMC and Dinky and Ditzy.

Cascade once again laughed with no joy to his voice.

“That’s not duplication Princess, that’s separation. Me and him, well, we aren’t exactly one and the same anymore. Well, not literally at least.”

Finally Twilight asked the question on everyones mind.

“Luna, I know you’re angry but just who the hay is this stallion? Why do you hate him, what did he do, and what do you mean we just saw him?” Her tone grew louder with each question, ensuring Luna could not ignore her.

Luna honestly looked like she might lie or refuse to answer but sighed and turned to face the group.

“What we have here is a pony who should be dead, a pony dead by the hands of people he himself corrupted and tormented, much as he did me, my sister and countless others.” She took a breath.

“Elements of Harmony, Keyblade Masters. You stand here and look upon Cascading Aurora, or as we know him better, King Sombra.”

Final Notes

To my dear readers.

I'm sorry to say that through a mixture of writers block, personal issues and other factors, that Heart of Equestria is being officially cancelled and will not return. I will not delete this story but it won't be finished.

As announced previously a prequel to Heart of Equestria, Path to Ruin was in the works; it is now retitled as False Harmony: The Path to Ruin and will be the first in a trio of stories covering much of what Heart of Equestria was supposed to cover but will be contained solely to the MLP universe without crossover.

I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to read this story, I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted and I hope that the False Harmony trilogy will also entertain you.

ObsidianPony.