Canterlot Castle Entrance....
Celestia and Cadence watched as the victims of the latest shadow spawn attack were hauled away.
"That makes 7 in past few hours. All of them loyal Sunguards." Cadence noted. Celestia nodded grimly, wondering if she should tell Cadence about the dark presence that she was feeling right now. It had grown in the short time that it had been there.
"I'm going to inform Twilight about this." Celestia said finally.
Cadence nodded,"Yea, she deserves to know that there is a killer beast on the loose."
Celestia turned to leave...Then caught sight of him.
The creature was standing on the top of the roof above her chambers, its red hot fires glowing as its hollow eye sockets seemed to be looking straight at her. Its black and red bones shone through the fires that burned around its body. Its bones seemed to made from molten blood and its wings where made from the screaming souls of ponies past. Its skull was that of a dragon, yet it had the body of a pony too. But before Celestia could make out further details about it, it vanished.
"Celestia, what is it?" Cadence asked when Celestia did not respond for some time.
"Where is Shining Armor?" Celestia demanded, suddenly whirling upon the other allicorn.
Cadence backed up,"He went to check out the prison this morning since i had to bring the sun up. Is something wrong?"
Celestia's eyes widened. If that monstrosity had escaped then that would mean...
"Fly to the Everfree and get Shining Armor out of there now!" Celestia ordered.
Cadence was a little shocked at her tone, but heeded it none the less. Soon she was nothing but a pink speck in the sky. Celestia just hoped that Cadence would make it there in time...
Old Abandoned House, 10:52 AM
(Interesting, so these six ponies that broke the seal are element bearers?
(Yes)
BAMBAMBAM!
Lucid Dream snapped out of his meditation when he heard the banging on the door.
"Heeeey Lucid! Come on outside, we got something for you." came Pinkie Pie's voice. Lucid Dream chuckled and trotted to the front door and opened it. He looked surprised as he saw a small crowd had gathered with tools and paint.
"W-what's this all about?" He stammered, wondering what was going on. The allicorn resident, Twilight Sparkle stepped forward.
"The other ponies told me about how you saved them from the hydra that had followed us out of the Everfree. So me, Pinkie Pie, and a few others decided to make you a better place to stay as our thanks." She said. The gathered ponies nodded in agreement.
Lucid Dream smiled,"Thank you. Its been a while since i have seen kindness like this. i would be honored to help you to as well." The ponies gathered cheered and rushed in to work.
(Well done avatar. Gain their trust by helping them and acting just. That way the intruder cannot place blame without turning the populace against him. Lucid Dream smiled as he helped a young foal by the name of Sweetie Belle lift several large boards to Twilight. As they worked, different ponies came by and introduced themselves. Lucid Dream warmly greeted them all, and was pleased to find out that they did not really seemed bothered by the fact that he was as real nightmare, despite their bad experiences with Nightmare Moon.... Or the burned grass around the house. Lucid Dream felt a pang of loss at his friend's name, but shook himself out of it. After about an hour of working, he began to have a mental conversation with the one who had talked to him before.
[You mentioned an intruder, what do you mean?] he asked.
(I mean, the princess has sent one of her top captains to investigate the shift in the balance of power. His wife is chasing after him to prevent him from going further, but she will arrive just in time to become caught by the lost souls.)
Lucid Dream grinned as he caught one of the earth ponies that had lost his balance. Things were going as planned...
\
Everfree Forest, Prison Entrance
Shining Armor stood at the entrance to the prison, bracing himself for whatever was down there and dressed in his normal enchanted armor. However, he was still reluctant to enter the prison.. The only reason that he had come here was that Cadence was busy. After what happened with Sombra, Shining Armor had become super protective of Cadence, much to her displeasure. He knew that Cadence was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but after King Sombra took his magic away for a bit, he felt so helpless. Shining Armor took a deep breath, there was no point in dwelling on the past, especially near this place. He took a deep breath and took a step forward into the dark entrance to the prison...
"SHINING ARMOR!" Came a scream from the inside.
""Cadence?!" Shining Armor called back, alarmed.
"SHINING ARMOR HELP ME!" She screamed in reply. A booming roar echoed through the prison, along with Cadence's scream of pain.
"CADENCE I'M COMING!" Shining Armor howled. He charged inside, his horn glowing with power-
And fell into the pit. His back legs broke from the impact and all he could see was red. After a few minutes, his vision cleared and he came face to face with King Sombra.
"You!" Shining Armor snarled weakly. King Sombra chuckled and stepped to the side revealing Cadence, but...
"No, CADENCE!" Shining Armor howled, tears streaming out of his eyes as he looked at the bodiless corpse of his wife. King Sombra began to laugh, a harsh echoing laugh- that spat out some pink and purple feathers...Then laughed again, mixing with Shining Armor's cries for Cadence...