> Unpredictable: Journey of a Thousand Miles
>  by Grendeer
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> Mission Suspended
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Chapter 1: Mission Suspended




Magic is sometimes difficult to understand or control. Those of us ponies who have been gifted with its use are to always remember the sheer power we possess. I find myself in dire need of very powerful magic, the kind of magic that can only be found in the hooves of Alicorns like myself, or so I thought. The spell I created was no different from any other teleportation spell, except that it was to first scan all the lands for powerful magic ponies, the most powerful mage would be the one it teleported me to. So why am I standing outside a back water pony town in the middle of nowhere? Surely, the greatest pony mage is not here.
Shrugging off my doubts, I disguise my wings with a simple camouflage spell and cautiously enter the town. The locals do not seem to notice me much, as it is the peak of the day. School has just let out and all the fillies and colts are running about in the streets while their parents arrange the family’s evening. One mare in particular, a bright pink one with an unbelievably fluffy mane and tail draws my attention. She is the cashier for some kind of bakery. As I examine the building it appears to be made of sweets, and not only serves as a bakery but also doubles as a home.
“This town may not be so boring after all. However, I still need to find the pony that attracted my spell.” I mutter to myself.
The pink one seems to know everypony in town, as she has a quick conversation with each of her customers, so I decide to see if she knows any powerful magi, big mistake.
As I approach her register while trying to blend with the crowds, she seems to become more focused on my presence. Is she somehow aware that I am not a local?
As soon as I stop in front of her register she fires off a rapid monologue that leaves my mind reeling from the impact. “Hi, you’re new around here aren’t you? I know because I know everypony in Ponyville. You’re a unicorn with wings! Does that mean you’re special? Oh, I love special ponies! My name’s Pinkie Pie, I live here at Sugar Cube Corner. What’s your name? Where do you live?”
Her high-pitched happy voice carries through the speech without a break, and I find myself growing more concerned about the overall sanity of everypony in town if they think this one normal.
Haltingly, as I am still processing everything she said, I respond, “My name is Lightning Quill, and you’re right. I am new here.”
She is quivering with pent up energy, I think. I ask her, “Are you okay, Pinkie Pie?”
She squeals in delight and jumps, rocketing several feet into the air as she says, as soon as she lands, “Then it’s time for your new-pony-in-town-party! Whoopee!” She darts off before I have a chance to reply, and I shudder with the realization that the entirety of Ponyville is about to know I’m here.
I wait a few minutes for Pinkie to return, but when she doesn’t, I decide to go about my business. I create a spell that allows me to detect powerful magic users, even if they are masking themselves. The spell designates that I should head toward the center of town.
But as I’m about to enter the town square, Pinkie returns, she immediately says, “Follow me, there is somepony important I want you to meet.”
Her dead serious, but still smiling, face tells me I should follow her, but I decide to do so from a safe distance. “Alright, Pinkie, who’s this important somepony?” I respond. She squeals again and bounces away. Sighing, I follow her. There isn’t any point to figuring her out right now; I’ve got a mission to complete.
A few more minutes pass, and my detection spell is going absolutely ballistic. Whoever she is taking me to could be my target. I spot a purple unicorn reading a book on a park bench, it is at this point that I notice that Pinkie and I have traveled through most of town, and I was so distracted with her crazy antics and my spell I barely noticed!
Berating myself for such negligence, my thoughts are interrupted by Pinkie saying to the unicorn, “Twilight, I have a new friend you need to meet, he’s a unicorn like you, but he also has wings! How cool is that?” This “Twilight” sighs lightly, closes her book, and looks up at me.
One eyebrow arches as she turns to Pinkie, “Uh, Pinkie, he doesn’t have wings.” I relax a little knowing that my camouflage works on at least one pony. But I am still hopelessly confused by Pinkie Pie.
She stands up and offers a hoof as she says, “My name is Twilight Sparkle, and other than you, I’m the newest mare in town.” We shake hooves.
I respond, “My name is Lightning Quill.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance Lightning Quill. Don’t worry about Pinkie, she can be a little much for new ponies, but once you get used to her, quirks, she really is a very nice mare.”
“I don’t doubt it.” I smile warmly. Pinkie interjects, “I’ll bet you Fluttershy would really like this stallion.”
“Who’s Fluttershy?” I ask.
Twilight answers, “Fluttershy is a Pegasus that lives just outside of town. She’s a bit of shut-in, but loves meeting new critters. She’s really shy around new ponies though, so just let me and Pinkie do the talking.”
“Let’s go then!” Pinkie says excitedly.
Oddly enough, my spell seems to be directing me toward Twilight Sparkle, but my thoughts are constantly being interrupted by Pinkie. I find it impossible to concentrate between her antics, and Twilight’s questions. Twilight is very inquisitive, but not overbearing like her bouncy friend, and I find myself growing slowly fond of both of them in a strange sort of way.
After several minutes of walking, Fluttershy’s cottage comes into view. I assume she is the yellow Pegasus with long, flowing pink hair.
As we approach Twilight turns to me and says, “It would be best if I do the introductions. Because, no offense Lightning Quill, you’ll probably scare her. It’s not your fault. Like I said, she needs time to warm up to new ponyfolk.”
As promised, Fluttershy is quite timid around me, although she seems to be talking with her friends without any trouble. Twilight introduces me to Fluttershy, and I bow low to her. She blushes lightly and hides her eyes behind her locks.
I speak softly and gently, letting me voice project strength and gentleness, “Miss Fluttershy, you don’t need to be frightened of me. I’m not here to scare you or your animals.”
She shows her enough to look into mine, quietly she whispers, “Okay.” She jerks sharply as her eyes start darting back and forth. As she does an agitated little dance in place she says worriedly, “My new critter friend is missing!”
She starts looking around frantically. The four of us start searching as well. I get the sense that a pair of fearful eyes is resting on me. Following the sensation, I discover a young rabbit hiding in some bushes near Fluttershy’s cottage. As I approach she starts curling herself into a ball and withdrawing from me, but as soon as I see this I lie down to make myself look smaller.
Using the same technique I used on Fluttershy, I ask, “Are you the friend Fluttershy is looking for?” I tap into a Ranger ability I learned long ago as I say this. This ability allows me to communicate with animals of any species, although it doesn’t work too well on sentient races. She nods slightly, still unsure whether or not to come out. I continue, “My name is Lightning Quill. I’m a new friend of Fluttershy’s.” She looks at me with unsure eyes and backs away a little more.
Pinkie soon finds me sitting across from the rabbit next to the bush. I see her bouncing rapidly toward us with the other mares close behind. I stand up and shield the little rabbit from Pinkie’s, well, Pinkieness.
“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! Now I get to throw two parties, one for the new pony, and the other to celebrate finding Fluttershy’s new friend!” Pinkie exults.
“That won’t be necessary Pinkie; I don’t plan on living in town for long.” I respond. Everypony seems dismayed by this, so I feel the need to elaborate. “I will need a place to stay for a few days while a find a house of my own, or a place to build one. After that I’ll be settling in.” This news causes everypony to perk up.
“If you need help building, my friend Applejack will be happy to lend a hoof.” Twilight offers. I nod in response.
“Where do you plan on sleeping?” Pinkie asks.
“I’m not for sure. If I can stay in a guest room at one of your homes, that would be preferable. But if that’s not an option, I’ll rent one at the town inn.”
“That won’t be necessary, the Ponyville Library has plenty of spare rooms that nopony regularly uses.” Twilight offers.
“Thank you, Twilight. I’ll be sure to repay your kindness in the future.”
That night I lie down on the cushions Twilight dug out of a storage closet, and I start contemplating the fact that my spell is still leading me towards her. Why would it lock onto this humble unicorn as the most powerful magician in Equestria? Deciding to save the questions for when I’m not exhausted by an evening spent partying with Pinkie Pie and company I quickly drift off to sleep. Pinkie ended up not throwing a celebration. She was talked into just enjoying the arrival of a new pony in town. I defuse my spell allowing its energies to bleed away. My mind clouds over as I get a good night’s sleep. It’s been a long time since the last restful night.

> The Elements have Company
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Chapter 2: The Elements Have Company




The next morning I awoke to, screaming!? Bolting from my bed, I found Twilight backed against her bed’s headboard. Her panicked body language, and the shallow, rapid breaths running from her frame trigger my fight or flight instincts. Slowly, with my senses firing on overdrive, I enter her room.

Twilight looks like she’s ready to bolt, and I, not yet seeing the problem, stop and contemplate what to do. Knowing that she won’t volunteer the information I need to understand what is going on, I ask, “Twilight, what’s wrong?”

“He was just here and then gone. I saw him disappear right in front of me!” She nearly screams at me.

“Was there a flash or did he just vanish?”

“He just faded from sight!”

They’re here. I’m too late. Damn them to Tartarus. These monsters will not claim this kingdom nor this young dragon. I’ll not have it.

Stirred into wakefulness by my righteous fury, a new form begins to emerge, my eyes glow red with the heat of my wrath. Twilight stops panicking and gawks as my body changes before her. My voice goes from calm and collected to thundering and bone chilling. My body flashes from pale cyan into a blistering orange. My wings appear and flash the same color as my body, but the tips are gently burning in the same way as my hair. My irises change from chocolate brown to blazing white and the whites spark into flame. My glasses have disappeared, and my vest as well. My mane and tail now move like Princess Celestia’s, but this movement is much more violent, and they are now flames. My hair has shifted from locks of plain dirty blonde into raging fires white hot at the base and merging into violent, writhing greens and blues all the way to their tips. This form is only assumed when I am consumed by a burning anger kindled by actions of pure evil. With the transformation complete I turn to Twilight and say, “They have come, and they shall die this day!”

She gulps, “Who?” Quivering, her eyes dilate, she flinches when I gesture with a hoof my burning wings revealing themselves as they flare out.

“Them!”

With a bone-shaking boom five creatures shriek as they are forced to reveal themselves. These creatures of the shadows have no real form until they have stolen one from another. And the one they steal nothing but an empty husk unless the intruder is expelled and the mind and spirit returned to their rightful place.

The five beasts before me all shudder as I bellow, “You have two options, cretins. Release her friend willingly and die with no pain. Or refuse him his freedom and die slowly and agonizingly as I strip his location from your shriveled husks!”

These five Shadow, as my people call them, simultaneously attack. Their soul rending shrieks having no effect on me other than to enrage me further. Twilight cowers on her bed, her hooves covering both her eyes and ears as I do battle with these viscous spirits.

As promised, the beasts died slowly. They move too quickly for me to strike them fatally at first. Instead, I wound them, as they wound me, until they begin to feel their unholy strength beginning to fade. In desperation they withdraw and charge. Clipping the first with a mighty left hook the creature shrieks and hisses as my flaming form sprawls him. The second is a bit wiser. He charges me from above, but all that the maneuver accomplishes for him is to be skewered by my sword. I created a spell several years ago that allows the transportation of several items without their physical presence. As the second Shadow cried out his death, the rest drew their own blades. They all attack as one. The strikes come from different directions all at the same time. This tactic forces me to determine which blades are most dangerous and deflect them. Gritting my teeth, I parry two blows going for my core, while absorbing two strikes on by shoulder and flank, as the first Shadow has recovered from my blow (they are quite resilient). Now I unleash a fire bolt from my horn that blasts through the Shadow’s chest directly in front of me. The other three press the attack as another of them falls. These three were woefully unprepared. With three quick swipes I behead one and cut another in two. The last is disarmed, and wisely chooses to give me what I want.

As he lies before me, badly wounded gasps out, “The Hive will never release her prey. You have lost him.” He cackles triumphantly as my horn sends a spectral dart through his skull.

His dying laugh fades on the winds now blowing through the shattered windows and the holes in the walls of the library. Although this was a minor scuffle, quite a few spells had been used before the swords were drawn. My vision begins to blur as the backlash from assuming “Indictment” rolls through me. I can’t maintain my footing as I fall to the floor exhausted. I try to stand but cry out in agony as my body erupts in pain. It feels like I’ve been dipped in boiling oil, and now I foam at the mouth and writhe on the floor. All I can do is scream as my mind ejects.

Several hours later, I assume by the dark sky outside the window, I wake up in a mineral bath. My body cool and unblemished. My wings, wait, MY WINGS!! Jerking forward in the water, splashing a good amount on the bathroom floor, I accidently wake Twilight. She had been napping on the windowsill, and I assume she has been keeping watch. Turning to me, she asks (with a tear streaked face), “Can you get Spike back?” Her voice is about to break as if she dreads the answer.

Slowly, I pull myself from the bath. My glasses vanish, and my irises become a pale golden brown. I unfurl my wings and opening my eyes I look at her, nay, I look into her soul. I respond with determination in my voice, “I will not stop until Spike is safe. I will not give any quarter neither ask for any until he and all others they have imprisoned are safe!” I raise my left hoof to eye level, and a dagger appears in it. Placing the blade against my upper leg I look at Twilight and say (as the blade cuts a shallow gash in my leg), “So swear I, Lightning Quill, Prince of the Sovereign Family of Foorren!”

Twilight just stares in a mixture of horror and fascination as the blood glows a bright golden red. The glow vanishes and a dimly pulsing, almost invisible, golden rune appears where the cut was. Twilight stares, unable to comprehend what she has just witnessed.

I see her confusion and say, “Twilight, my people have a special oath. Not surprisingly, it is called the ‘Blood Oath’. Blood Oath’s are eternally binding, and they cannot be forgotten until they have been fulfilled.”

“How can they be so binding? It’s just a cut with an arcane symbol.”

“Because, the rune burns like magma when the oath is forgotten. If the oath is broken then the cut returns as a bright red scar that never fully heals. Depending upon the circumstances of the broken oath, the pain can be quite severe.”

I close my left eye and release the camouflage spell being held there. The eye itself is undamaged, but a bright red scar starts three inches above the center of my eyebrow and ends two inches to the left and up from the left corner of my mouth. It is a perfectly straight line. Opening my eye, I look at her with a mixture of long felt sorrow and a desire for someone to understand. Twilight stands up and timidly, shakily touches the scar. She touches the bottom and her eyes dilate as she gasps in surprise.

Her vision swirls through the scar and she sees blurry pony forms frolicking through a gorgeous field being views through a window. A beautiful unicorn, bright tan with a grassy green mane and tail, lies on her side in a pool of blood. The thorny spear piercing her heart clearly tells what happened. Twilight hears weeping as cyan hoofs come into view from the bottom. They are coated in blood. Twilight feels sick. Then the weeping breaks through as the images fade away. They are the broken, heart-pierced cries of a stallion filled with incredible, unknowable suffering. Lightning Quill’s voice speaks softly, echoing gently in Twilight’s mind, “That was the day my wife died. She was killed by Shadow. Through her death, my marriage vows were broken. Because she died by the hands of others in my sight, my eye was burned, but only lightly. Fortunately, the scar created is not nearly as severe as others I’ve seen.”

“What was her name?” Twilight meekly asked.

“She was Crystal Bolt. A powerful magi like yourself. She was kind, warm, and beautiful to even the harshest critic. Now she’s gone, and I have a scar to remind me every day of my mission to stop the Shadow and save our world.”

“Do you fight alone?”

“No, usually there are others who help as best they can, but I am the only one who can fight them alone. I came here looking for a powerful magi to help me craft a spell that will allow others to assume, ‘Indictment’ and the other Dueler forms. I have other objectives, but they can wait for now.”

The mournful eyes of Lightning Quill appear as Twilight returns to her own body. She now understands my display of hatred toward the Shadow that invaded her home. She also fully understands the gravity of the Blood Oath, but she can’t decide whether to be honored or worried by how readily I made it. I can see all this in her body language and the way her eyes have a reflecting look in them.

Twilight looks at me and says, “We should contact Princess Celestia. She’ll know what to do.”

“No! We cannot involve the Princess, yet. If she knows and tells anypony else, eventually, everypony will know. Fear will rule your cities, and Shadow thrive on fear. There are two things that draw Shadow out: fear and malevolence. They are blinded by benevolence and hope. If you wish to be invisible to them, then fill yourself with hope and be kind to as many as you can.”

“How can I when Spike has been abducted by these things? How can I have hope when he could be dead or worse?” Twilight starts to weep with fresh tears as the realization of what might be happening to Spike hits her.

I walk up beside her and place a reassuring leg over her shoulders. This isn’t the first time that I’ve comforted a distraught mare, and it is not the first time that I have been a shelter for the heart broken to hide. Gently, I pull her close and she does not resist. Now that my power is unrestricted by camouflage, I stand somewhere between Luna and Celestia in height. I smile lightly, remembering so many times in a former life when Crystal and I would lean against each other and enjoy the company. I silently cry as I relive a distant past and remember the day my beloved died.


	*	*	*


The next morning, I wake up in my bed of cushions, now with a few blankets for added comfort. I hears Twilight slowly walking down the stairs. Her step is heavy and I can feel the sorrow weighing her down. Enough of this! She needs something to help her cope. I think. “Twilight, now would be a good time to get your friends together. You need them.”

She is uncertain how wise this move may be, “How can you be so sure that they can handle the truth? What if one of them tells the Princesses?”

“Luna already knows.” I admit drily, not at all pleased.

“How?”

“She visited me when I dreamed of my former life last night. Her words were, ‘You have lived a long, troubled life. Perhaps I can ease your suffering by helping you to forget and move on.’ My response was, ‘I won’t forget. I must remember because right now, I’m the only one who can do anything about the crisis at hand. You must not tell your sister yet. If the timing is off by only a few hours, then the war-to-be will be lost.’ She looked at me quizzically, and I looked at her resolutely. If only she had stayed I would have explained my plan more, but she shifted my dreams and my focus elsewhere.”

“How can you remember this?”

“Because one of my many gifts is the ability to remember almost any dream so long as it is vivid enough. But now to contacting your friends. They will want to know why you disappeared for a few days. Tell them the truth, if they understand that you have been mourning, then they will almost surely want to help. I’ll explain to them the repairs being down ‘round here, if needed.”

Twilight nods and starts out into town to organize a meeting with her friends. I leave a few minutes later. As I travel, I gathers my strength and prepares to summon “Insight”. Insight is one of six forms that Shadow Duelers learn to use as their skills grow. The six forms are: Indictment, Insight, Empathy, Humor, Allegiance, and Plenty. Each of the six forms serves as a part of the master form, known as Justice. No Shadow Dueler has been able to summon Justice in the entirety of the order’s history. I am currently the leader of the Shadow Duelers. Thus I am responsible for organizing the Duelers so that they may wage a never ending war against the insidious Shadow. I feel my power click into place, a light surrounds me as Insight manifests.

Insight is a tall pony with dark emerald green hair that moves like it is always being blown by a gently breeze. His eyes are the same color as his mane and tail, but his coat is a vibrant earthen brown that is dark, like fertile earth deep beneath the surface. Insight is not a warrior, but rather a thinker. He is capable of seeing through even the most devious of plots and can deduce even the most hidden secrets. His is a tall, medium build Earth pony. Unlike Indictment, which is flaming warrior Alicorn, Insight is a form designed to blend in with normal ponies and help protect them by sleuthing out all the mechanisms the Shadow devise. Despite his more tactical approach, Insight is still a very dangerous opponent when forced to fight.

Insight walks slowly and casually down toward the town market. He hopes to find the mare Applejack there. Twilight will not be due to arrive for several more minutes. Fortunately, Applejack is at her market stall selling away. Sensing his connection with the element of Honesty, and that Applejack is very worried about her friend, Insight approaches her as a customer and asks for seven of her largest red delicious apples. She obliges and he pays with the appropriate bits. After spending a few minutes making small talk he asks, “Applejack, you look worried. Is there something bothering you?”

“Well, yes, I guess thar is. My friend Twilight has been missin’ fur a few days. Ah’m concerned that somethin’ big happ’ned to ‘er.”
“Your concern is well placed. I saw her headed for Fluttershy’s cottage but a few minutes ago. She looked very perplexed. Perhaps you should prepare your stall for closing. Call it an educated guess, but Twilight will be coming along seeking your aid before long.”
“How can you be so sure? Y’all are a newcomer to these parts.”

“Oh, it’s just a feeling. Good day to you madam.”

Insight leaves with his apples in a stall bag. He walks toward Sugar Cube Corner. Watching the clouds along the way, Insight spots one that is sagging a bit heavily. He can also see a rainbow tail hanging on the far side of the cloud. Calling up to the Pegasus reclining there, “I’m looking for the local weather mare, you wouldn't happen to know where she is, would you?”

“Know her!? I am her!” Rainbow Dash responds huffily. She is not pleased with having her afternoon nap disturbed, but Insight looks very different from anypony in town. She asks, “Who wants to know?”

“I am Insight. You must be the weather mare, Rainbow Dash. I've heard so much about you.”

“Yea, that’s me. Wait, what have you heard? Who’s been talking about me?”

“Your friend Twilight is looking for you. Perhaps you should meet her at Applejack’s market stall shortly.”

“Uh, sure. Why not? Anything for Twilight.” As she starts to fly off, she stops and turns to ask the stranger what the big deal is, but he’s gone. “What a strange character. I thought Pinkie Pie was weird, but that guy was just off.” Shrugging she resumes her flight.

Insight makes the trip to Rarity’s Boutique but sees her leaving with Twilight and Fluttershy. Twilight is looking a little better, and the other two appear very concerned. He does not reveal his presence to them. Instead he makes his way to Sugar Cube Corner, there Insight purchases seven cupcakes, each frosted with a different color frosting, and he also makes it a point to get Pinkie on her way to the library. Now balancing two bags of food on his back, Insight walks to the back door of the library. He stops just before entering and decides to prepare his snacks now, instead of when the ponies will know he’s there and likely be bombarding him with questions. Insight flickers out of sight and I take his place. Sweating lightly from the exertion of maintaining a form for so long, I lift the cupcakes before me. On each wrapper I imprint a faint symbol matching the intended recipient. I then lace each cupcake’s frosting with a dormant power surge that will allow the consumer to manifest the form within.

I teleport to my room in the library to be greeted by the chatter of six mares in the lobby. Walking out to them, I am greeted with six pairs of curious eyes as Twilight says, “This is my house guest, Lightning Quill. He was here when Spike disappeared and has vowed to do everything he can to return him safely.” Smiling, I quickly think through what to say as I offers the cupcakes and apples. He also prepare to defend himself from the more warrior like forms. The Mane Six, as I like to call them, take the pastries. Twilight is the first to notice something off. She says to me, “What’s in these cupcakes? I feel strange.”

I respond, “I feel fine. Are you sure that it’s not just the stress making you queasy?”

Applejack asks, “I feel a little off kilter too. What’re you up to?”

All six mares begin to glare questioningly at me, but I continue. I tell them, “Nothing evil is going to happen from eating these cupcakes. Besides, I bought them from Sugar Cube Corner.”

Pinkie pipes, “But I don’t remember seeing you.”

I respond, “Oh? But do you remember this?” I shift into Insight before continuing, “Now do you know who I am?” I shift back.
“What the hay?” Rainbow Dash shouts as she jumps into the air. She charges at me, and I merely sigh.

Rainbow Dash abruptly stops, her eyes change color from the bright pink into flaming red and the whites of her eyes glow like coals. She yells sharply as her body is engulfed in strange sensations. She lands on the floor and collapses as the rigors of the transformation take hold. Her body becomes boiling orange, and her wings erupt into flames as does her tail and mane. She says, in a deceptively calm voice, “What have you done?” Her body is tense as she stands.

Simultaneously, all five of the other Mane Six gasp as their bodies go through their own changes. Twilight’s eyes become monocular golden, brightly glowing. Fluttershy has sapphire eyes that spark and sizzle. Rarity has amethyst eyes that are pulsing with an inner light. Applejack has the dark emerald eyes of Insight. Strangely, Pinkie Pie’s eyes only change in that they become more mischievous. They all convulse as the full forms emerge. Applejack assumes Insight, and the form is the same as seen on Lightning Quill, except that the body is a warmer shade of brown instead of the deep subterranean earth of Lightning Quill’s Insight form.

Twilight with her golden eyes is wrapped in a flowing suit of golden armor that looks more like a second skin than pieces of plate metal. Her hair becomes living light gently and uniformly undulating down. Her horn turns a snowy white and what of her body is visible under the armor is the same color. The irises and whites of her eyes merge into one brightly glowing mass while her pupils turn opaque white. Twilight has become Allegiance.

Rarity, now manifesting Plenty, is a stout being. She is shorter now but much heavier set. Her deep amethyst eyes are living gems that have jet black centers to represent her pupils. Always her eyes pulse with a hidden light. Her body is dotted with bright specks fused into the wavy white marble pallet of her coat. Her hair has turned into wavy leaf-like locks that are only a few shades lighter than her eyes and cascade like cave formations.

Fluttershy has become Empathy. She now has opaque blue eyes that sizzle and spark with electricity. Her body has become a deep, dark blue color with the appearance of water. Her wings have retained their shape, but now they appear as a dense mist moving at her will with a faint blue tint trailing behind them. Her hair has become a blue-white plasma color that flows like water whenever she moves it.

Pinkie Pie has become a scintillating purple that is constantly shifting into different shades all over her body. Her bouncy curls have become much more defined. Her eyes appear mischievous although their happy blue has only changed slightly into a crafty blue. She moves with a comical jerkiness. She is now Humor.

I stand in awe at the majestic beings now giving me angry, surprised, and disappointed looks. Raising my right foreleg I show them all the Blood Oath. I say, “You all know this symbol. You all know what the terms of this particular oath are. I hope you can understand why I summoned you here.”

Allegiance says, with a kindly voice as her armor retracts from her face, “You needed to show us how we can help you.”
Humor adds, with a contemplative voice, “This was a clever way to reveal our inner power to us and all at the same time too, impressive.”

Plenty says, with a brazen tone, “Surely we did not know of such power being hidden within us. Tell us, how did you know this was possible? How did you accomplish this?”

I respond, “I manifested Insight today and visited three of you. I did so because I knew those three would need to be prepared to leave or would need to travel a short way to meet up with the others. I was able to perform this action by invoking the nature of each of the forms into the appropriate cupcake. Each of you, in essence, consumed a battery that now needs only to be charged in order to summon the being within. These apples will release the forms when you are ready. I guessed at your ability to assume these forms because, as Insight, I sensed a connection with Applejack.”

Empathy asks, “Could you have taught us how to make these batteries?”

I answer, “Not without taking a very long time to teach you how to tap into your unique pony magic. Even with this short cut, there are only a limited number of transformations in the batteries. I must teach you how to summon your forms, and all of the others as well, before the batteries are exhausted. In addition, I must also teach you to fight as a Shadow Duelers.”

Insight asks, “And why should we trust you? You have already pulled tricks on us once.”

“Because, Insight, I told you no evil would come of eating the cupcakes. I wasn’t lying, as I’m sure you all noticed. Your training will need to commence soon, for the clock ticks ever closer to a full scale war. That is something that Equestria and Fooren are not ready for. My kingdom, Fooren, is already taxed enough without having to devote resources to holding off the Shadow while Equestria is gearing for war.”

They look at each other and huddle up. After a few minutes of hurried, energetic discussion, they all turn to me and Allegiance says, “We understand why you did this and will not exact a punishment upon you, but, in return, you must explain your presence in Equestria.”

“I wish this was a simple, happy story. But it is full of woe and pain. Great suffering has been my people’s taskmaster for centuries now. How about this arrangement: I will tell you my story as your training progresses. In exchange for your cooperation, I promise to reveal to you what I am not bound to keep hidden.”

Plenty responds, “Then where do you wish to begin?”
> Motivations of the Powers
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motivations of the Powers



I now stand in presence of six beautiful, and incredibly powerful, beings. Each of them could defeat me with ease. Indictment, the form of Rainbow Dash, still hovers slowly in place where Rainbow Dash’s charge was interrupted. She says to me, with that same booming voice I used on the Shadow, “What have you done to us?”

“I have revealed to you a powerful tool. If you accept it, I can teach you to use it effectively.”

Plenty responds, “And why should we trust you?”

Insight adds in, “How do we know that you won’t trick us again?”

“I had no real choice this once.” I calmly respond, “You would have known what the cupcakes contained if I could have told you. However, if I revealed to you the effects of the pastries, how many of you would have eaten them anyway? Furthermore, from now on, I will tell you when I cannot reveal an answer you seek.”

Allegiance, after a few moments thought, asks, “What exactly are we now?”

“That is a very Twilight thing to say, Allegiance. And what more could I expect from Celestia’s star pupil?” I smile as I continue, “You have become the Guardian Spirits. These beings that you are now manifesting are six specially chosen servants of the Creator. These servants have but one mission, to help the physical creations of the Creator fight off the Dark Ones.”

Empathy hisses, “Those infernal creatures. They are the sole reason for all suffering in our world.”

“Not necessarily. Much that is suffered in this life could be avoided by following the will of the Creator, but few are brave enough to try such a feat.”

“I could.” Indictment says in Rainbow Dash’s voice.

I sigh, “It would seem that this manifestation is beginning to weaken. These apples will defuse the form around you. If you choose not to eat them, then the full backlash of your first transformation may be enough to incapacitate you, and it will be quite painful. Also, your individual personalities are clashing with those of the bonded Guardian. Eventually, you each will form a symbiotic relationship with your native Guardian forms, and after you have mastered your native form, you will begin on the same kind of bond with the others. All of this will take time, and I fear that is one thing we have in very short supply. I hope you will pardon the bluntness, but please do eat quickly.”

We each hurriedly grab an apple, and all take a bite. The sweet taste, coupled with a sturdy crunch, is a delicious melody in my mouth. Since I closed my eyes to further savor the flavor of Sweet Apple Acres world famous apples, I felt, more than saw, the mares returning to their original forms. The level of arcane energy saturating the room plummeted sharply, although I still sensed the presence of each of mare. Slowly I opened my eyes to see them rapidly devouring their apples. At the pace they set, it would appear that these apples were the first things they had eaten in a few days, rather than only a few hours, at most. After they finished, I tell them, “We should leave soon. The journey to an ideal training ground may take a long time.”

Twilight responds, “Why do we need to train? After all, we have these incredibly powerful beings bonded with us.”

“True. But what happens when you are too exhausted to summon your Guardian? Will you surrender to Shadow, or will you try to beat them with your own power? I assure you all, that even Twilight’s magic is not yet strong enough to defeat Shadow alone.”

Rainbow Dash boasts, “I’m one of fittest ponies around, and you’re saying I couldn’t handle these ‘Shadow’ by myself. You don’t know us, how can you be so sure?”

I respond, “Because, unlike you, Rainbow Dash, I have fought and killed thousands of Shadow. I am one of only twenty who can manifest the Guardians, and I am the only one who can sustain manifestations for long. Until you have faced the Shadow in combat, I don’t expect you to comprehend just how horrifying and powerful they really are.”

Rainbow Dash looks at the floor a little sheepishly. They all start scuffing their hooves. I wait a few minutes while they work up their nerve. Finally, Applejack asks, “How are you goin’ to train us?”

“I’m glad you asked.” I answer quickly, “The training regime is going to be grueling, but it will shape you mentally, physically, and emotionally into elite Shadow Duelers. Each of you will have many tests designed to target your greatest weaknesses, and after those weaknesses have become strengths, you will be halfway to your goal.”

“Only halfway?” Applejack looks at me quizzically.

“Yes, because at the same time you, the pony, are getting in shape, you must also fashion a bond with the Guardians. This is a very difficult task, and each of you must succeed in it if Equestria is to survive. Time runs short; we must travel to a secret place so that I can begin your training.”

I trot quickly to the door, pushing it open with a hoof, I turn and beacon the mares to follow me. They do so readily but not enthusiastically. We trek to the Everfree Forest, then under its bows. I head in the general direction of a mystical energy emanating from somewhere in the Forest.

After wandering through the forest for a few hours, I was beginning to lose hope of finding the space I needed, but the Creator smiled upon us today, for just as I was going to give up, a break in the trees revealed exactly what I was looking for. “This will serve us perfectly.” I state as I break through the foliage into the clearing. “I suggest that you stand back.” I say this as my horn ignites. My golden aura spreads throughout the clearing as I carefully summon an obstacle course using very complex spells and enchantments to prevent this area from being comprised by any other than the most skilled mages.

Once I finish summoning the course I turn my attention back to the six very startled mares standing below me (the spell I used caused me to levitate a little). Creating a grid out of light, I proceed to give them an animated briefing of what will be accomplished over the next several weeks. I show them the grueling physical, emotional, and spiritual training they will endure and conquer on the road to becoming Shadow Duelers. I show them the nature of their enemy, and why they must fight. Everypony is very quiet the entire time. At the end of the presentation, Twilight asks, “Why do we have to be able to manifest all six Gaurdians?”

My response does not come immediately. After taking a few moments to compose my thoughts, I answer, “Each of the Gaurdians specializes in a different type of magic. For example, Indictment is focused on combat magic. Whether he must be on the offense or defense he can do it. Plenty specializes in supply and logistical magic. Each of the others have their own specializations.”

Fluttershy enquires, “Just what are we getting into?”

“As I’ve explained, the Shadow are a terrible enemy who only understand violence. They feed off it. Truthfully, they weren’t the first evils to plague our world. That position belongs to the Primus. The exact role of the Primus in the war is not fully understood, yet.”

Pinkie chirps, “What are their names? I wanna make a special surprise party for each of them.”

“That would be most unwise Pinkie. Even if you could surprise them, the evil members of the Primus would make short work of you.” I respond. “Their names, however, are just as simple as the Gaurdians. The Primus have two factions. The first is the Solace who were the original beings of good, while the second group are the Necron, the first evil beings.”

“The names of the Solace are: Diligence, Forgiveness, Kindness, Humility, Charity, Temperance, and Chastity.” I pause for a few moments to remember the names of the vile Necron.

“The names of the Necron are: Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust.” I shudder with each name given. “I would much rather talk about the Solace, for the Necron names leave a bitter taste in my mouth.”

“You never told us where you came from. How did Fooren come to be at war with the Shadow?” Twilight asks.

“Let me show you.” I respond as the light grid begins to morph into a wireframe plane with the seven of us standing in the midst of a massive battlefield. All around us two armies do battle. I narrate the scenes playing before the Mane Six, “Before you is the battle of Zeru. In this battle, Creator’s angelic armies clashed with the forces of Falloor. Falloor was at one time a top lieutenant of Creator, but he allowed pride into his heart. Not long after Falloor was corrupted he tainted the minds of seven strong angles. These angels became the Necron. The Necron set about gathering a following of like-minded angels, and after an unknown time, for time did not exist then, Falloor went before Creator’s throne to challenge Him for the right to govern creation. Creator did not entertain the challenge, but rather threw Falloor out of Zeru. Falloor did not go quietly. He turned at the gates of Zeru and tried to fight his way back into the Golden City. Even with all the might at their backs, Zeru’s armies were only one third of all the Creator’s host, defeat for them was inevitable. When they lost, all those who followed Falloor were cast from Zeru down to the world of mortals.”

As I told this tale, the mares watched as a tall angelic warrior shifted from gold to red, he then was before a throne with a light shining from it. He is thrown from the gates of a great city, and immediately a red army appears behind their master. He raises his sword and charges as the full might of Creator’s army bars his path. A flash followed by slowing clearing smoke reveals trails of fire raining down toward an empty globe, but not one of these meteors reaches the planet.

Rainbow Dash asks, “Wait a minute, how come those comets. . .”

Twilight interjects, “They’re meteors Rainbow Dash.”

Dash huffs at her, “Anyway, those meteors aren’t hitting that planet. Why?”

“Because Creator placed his hand over the created worlds He had yet to form. His protection remained in place until His work of creation was over. Creator formed the first ponyfolk as Alicorns. These Alicorns then had many children and it is through them that the Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns came into existence. And it is because the Alicorns were the original ponies that so few now live, and none from that golden time of youth survived to this day.”

Twilight asks, “So how are new Alicorns made?”

“Alicorns possess immense power, to the point that they are hailed as gods. They are also the purest of the pony races, and can only be born of pony parents with pure mixed blood. Alicorns may also be born from the union of an Alicorn with any pony mate, or the union of two Alicorns, but it is rare for even two pure Alicorns to have an Alicorn child. The only other way I have heard of is ascension. This only occurs when a powerful Alicorn sees the potential in a pony to become an Alicorn. They will mentor the pony, and teach them all that they know to the pony. When the pupil is ready, they will be given a test, and the completion of that test will prove if they are ready to be Alicorn, and with a little magic from the master, the student will ascend.”

Twilight looks troubled at this. Rarity asks, “So, why tell us all this?”

“It is important for you to understand why Shadow and Forrenian hate each other with such zeal. The Shadow are born out of the darkness festering within each pony. Every evil act gives birth to at least one Shadow, great acts of evil give life to several powerful Shadow. Foorenians, however, are almost direct descendants of the original Alicorn families. It is partly because of our heritage as children of the Creator that we fight so relentlessly against the Shadow.”

I wait a few moments to see if any further questions are forthcoming, “The obstacle course behind me is going to become your best friend over the next eight weeks. Prepare yourselves; you’re in for a long day.”

As the day begins to end, I call the Mane Six to the edge of the clearing. All of them walk to me, drooping, limping, and clearly on the verge of collapse. They had run the course several times, and spent the last several hours trying to fellowship with their native Gaurdians. Now they stand before me trembling on their hooves, even Applejack and Rainbow Dash seem to have reached their physical limits.

“Surely all this training isn’t really necessary. We don’t need to be in top condition, do we?” Rarity enquires, “Training is so hard, and we’re all so tired.” She draws out her final statements with a very high-pitched whine.

I grimace at her whining before answering, “You seem to have forgotten that none of you have the strength required to save your kingdom, not yet. But if you stick with the training, even when I’m not here to push you, you’ll become more powerful than any lone Shadow. Now, let’s get you all home.”

As we travel toward Ponyville, I get the feeling that something is watching us. Falling back to the rear of the group, I slowly turn my head to look over my shoulder, I see two golden eyes watching me from the dense foliage on the side of the road, and I could have sworn I heard the tinkling of wind chimes as the eyes vanish. I hear on the wind a whispered warning, “Watch and guard them carefully. They do not yet understand fully. Each day that they grow, the more your enemy will know.” I wonder who this shadowed figure could be, for true Shadow never have golden eyes.

The first home we arrive at is Flutterhsy’s cottage. “Good night everypony.” She says.

“You did very well today, Fluttershy. Keep going, you’ll make it.” I offer as encouragement.

“I don’t know, Sir Lightning.”

“You will, be ready tomorrow, I’ll be returning early.” A collective groan informs me the others are not terribly pleased with that idea.

Pinkie Pie is somehow able to muster the energy to bounce a few times when we reach her home. “Tomorrow I promise to bring snacks.”

“It would probably be better to bring light meals. We’ll be training all day tomorrow.” She droops a little at the thought of more training. I smile and add, “Don’t worry, once you get over the wall it becomes much easier.” She looks at me puzzled, and asks, “What wall? I climbed over your wall several times today.”

I smile, “You’ll understand what I mean when it happens.”

Rarity is thoughtful the whole trip back to her boutique, when we arrive she asks, “I think some uniforms would definitely be in order for our little group.”

“An excellent idea Rarity, just don’t go overboard with the flare. You’ll be designing military uniforms. There are three uniforms worn by Shadow Duelers, although I encourage all my Duelers to customize their uniforms. I’ll send you the designs in a few days.” I answer.

She smiles and enters her boutique. The sounds of her being greeted by an ecstatic Sweetie Belle are clearly audible.

It takes several minutes for us to reach Sweet Apple Acres. When we reach the gates Applejack turns to Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and I, she says, “This is as far as y’all need to go. Big Mac can see me from here, he’ll be downright worried by now.”

I tell her, “Tell him that you’re going to be going with a friend and the gang to do some training. If he asks what kind, contact me.”

She nods and starts the long walk up the path to her home. Rainbow Dash takes off almost immediately after Applejack leaves. She salutes from a hover and rockets off to her home in the sky. Shaking my head slowly, I say to Twilight, “Don’t wait up.” I unfold my wings and shoot off after Dash. Twilight huffs and begins her long walk back home.

In the clouds above the town, I see Rainbow Dash enter her cloud house. I land at the door and knock. It takes a while for her to answer, and she isn’t exactly happen to see me. “What do you want?” She asks.

“I wanted to tell you that I understand. You think I’m just torturing you with relentless orders and exercises. I’m not. I have to be hard on you now so that you’ll grow the steel you need to survive in the field.”

“Hmph. . .” She is clearly not impressed.

“Be ready tomorrow morning Rainbow, we start again bright and early.”

“What about my duties?” She asks, “I’m the weather mare here.”

“I know you have a life, and I’m just dropping in. Fortunately for you, six of my associates are going to arriving soon to sub for you while you’re training. Once you’re done, they’ll be helping you in the field.”

She accepts this answer (huffily) and I bid her good night. It takes me a few minutes to catch up with Twilight. She doesn’t acknowledge my presence. I let her have the privacy of her thoughts all the way back to the library.

I cook dinner for two, we eat it, and I relax at the table for several minutes before she finally breaks the silence with a quiet, “Why haven’t you done anything?” I look at her quizzically. “As far as I can tell, you aren’t doing anything to find Spike. Don’t you care?” She is on the brink of tears, her eyes glistening with them.

“That’s just it Twilight. I am doing something. I am training you to be ready to take the fight to the Shadow. I’m only one pony, and I have almost none of my strength right now. I used a tremendous amount of power just getting here. I used even more to create and conceal the obstacle course. You probably felt it both times. The Shadow more than likely know about your discovery of the Guardians as well, and they’ll be coming for you.”

“But you’ll drive them off, right?”

“I won’t always be here to save you. Eventually, you must fight them alone, and that day is what I’m preparing you for. Besides, I’m going to search for Spike while I sleep.”

“How is that even possible?”

“I will use my body as an anchor and travel the far reaches of Equestria in the form of a projection.”

“Like astral projection?”

“Similar, astral projection occurs while one is conscious, but what I’ll be doing is called dream walking. While my body rests, I will be out dreaming my way through the lands of Equestria, searching for your lost friend.”

She stares at the table, her body quivering with the silent tears dripping from her eyes. “Good night, Twilight.”

“Good night, Lightning. Don’t worry about me.”

I know that her grief won’t let her rest, but I also know it is best for the pain to run its course. I stand from the table, clean the dishes with some quick sparks of my horn, and make my way to bed. That night, a certain princess of dreams visits me as I travel across the dreamscapes of my subconscious and out into the night.

> Shadow, Dreams, and War
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Shadows, Dreams, and War



The next morning, I decided to try to get Twilight’s mind off Spike by having her recount her adventures over the past few days. Her slouched stance and sunken eyes tell me that she did not get very much, if any, sleep last night. I doubt getting anything out of her before breakfast is going to happen. “What are you in the mood for this morning, Twilight?” I ask as I open her frigde. I look over my shoulder at her when she does not immediately respond. Twilight slowly lifts her head and looks at me vacantly. “Ah, I’ll just throw something together.” She returns to staring at the same spot on the table as last night.

Several minutes later, “You know, if you keep staring at the table, you’re going to bore holes through it.” My attempt at humor does return a small snicker from her. I continue prepping breakfast, quickly slicing several different types of fruit, and I even managed to snag enough flour to make a handful of pancakes. I made sure to add a pinch of magic to enhance their flavor. Twilight eats slowly, as if each bite tastes like ash in her mouth. “I know that my special talent isn’t cooking, but they can’t taste that bad.” She does not respond.

A few minutes into the meal and Twilight’s eyes light up. She says, “That little spell in the pancakes was a good call, while they are tasty on their own, that little bit of magic doesn’t hurt.” Her cool aloofness is quite unsettling, as if my magic was merely a young foal’s parlor trick.

“I only made them that way because I figured you’d enjoy them more.” I respond a little sheepishly. Resuming my usual businesslike stance, I add, “We need to prepare for today. I have a milestone for you all to meet, and enough day has been lost already.” Twilight slumps a little, “But before that, I want to hear a story.” She perks up slightly.

“Oh?” She enquires cocking her head.

“How did you become such a powerful magi?”

“Well, the short version is my special talent is magic. It’s hard for me to explain it, because I’ve always been extremely good at magic. I guess overtime, I’ve learned a huge variety of spells, and my power has grown with each one I successfully mastered. Princess Celestia always stressed that I make friends, but I never took her seriously.” I nod and Twilight continues, “Celestia sent me to Ponyville to check up on preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration and to make some friends, but, again, I decided not to take her seriously on the friendship part. Had not my friends been so stubborn and accompanied me into the Everfree Forest a few nights ago. . . I don’t know where I’d be right now.”

“So, what exactly happened during the Summer Sun Celebration? There was a tremendous magical disturbance a few days ago in Fooren. Almost all of us felt it.”

“Nightmare Moon returned. I and the other Element bearers defeated her, restored Luna, and freed Celestia. After that, Spike and I (she chokes a little on his name and needs a few moments to recover) came to live here.”

“So, Nightmare Moon returned. How did she escape her prison?”

“Well, we didn’t dispatch her, as I’m sure you guessed, we only freed the princess within. She escaped because after one thousand years, the stars aligned, and Nightmare Moon used their innate magical power to break the bonds holding her to the moon. I presume that Celestia was banished to the sun for the brief time that Nightmare Moon was free.”

The Elements of Harmony are perhaps the most powerful magical artifacts in the world. Yet they are controlled by six young mares barely into adulthood, intriguing. I think as I stand from the table. I clean the dishes with a flick of my horn.

Gathering up the other Elements only takes about an hour. On the way to the clearing, I began detecting a strange fluctuation emanating from deep within the forest. It felt vaguely like a dense pocket of Shadow, but it had been too long since I had served on the front lines. If there were Shadow within the deep recesses of the Everfree, then there must be a Queen or other Shadow source somewhere under the boughs of these dark trees.

After another long, hard day the Elements seem to be tiring beyond immediate recovery. I decide that it is time to teach them their first true Guardian ability. These poor mares are nearly collapsing from exhaustion, although I can see definite improvement beginning to emerge in their muscle tone (for those who didn’t have any) and overall stamina. To fix the fatigue issue, I call them into a circle around me. “I want you all to know that I am proud of how much dedication you are showing. I understand that I’m asking too much of you, and I am not blind. Even the mighty Applejack and enduring Rainbow Dash have their limits (both mares blush lightly at my compliments), and, today, we shattered them. To help you recover, and thus accelerate your training, I will show you the first Guardian skill young Shadow Duelers learn.”

“How can a lil’ magic help us hoo cain’t use it?” Applejack asks.

“But you do use magic. Every time you buck a tree, you are unconsciously channeling magic. Every time a Pegasus manipulates a cloud, that is magic.” I respond.

“So all ponies have magic then?” Fluttershy asks.

“Yes, and no.” I answer, “Unconsciously, yes. Each of you use magic every single day without even being aware that is what you’re doing. Consciously, if you attempted to channel that magic untrained, the results could be potentially cataclysmic for you and anypony within several miles. Now, this Guardian ability is simply called ‘Communion’, and it will accelerate your body’s natural regeneration rates. This is accomplished by allowing the Creator’s energy into your being. This energy will flow through your souls like water through a dam. The power created by this flow will be consumed by your bodies to heal them. I must caution you though. This skill takes immense amounts of concentration and should not be used when under stress. Its healing ability is unlimited, but too slow for the heat of battle.”

Wordlessly, the mares sit in front of me, even Rainbow Dash. I power up my horn with a flash, Insight manifests. He says, “Each of you has a bonded Guardian, this Guardian has the most compatible personality with you. The Elements are a source of incredible amounts of power that you are permanently bonded to. Today, I will show each of you how to contact me and my brethren to heal.” Lifting my hooves, I cause three runes to appear in front of it. These are the words of power used by inexperienced magi to focus their magic into a spell, Twilight and Rarity are familiar with the arcane tongue, although the others have no idea what their looking at. “The words are ‘grun, nal, voorrune’. Which translates to ‘bind, purge, and heal.’” I release the runes and they hover freely in front of the Mane Six. I motion for them to come forward, and they do. I touch the runes, and they spark. “Each of you shall touch these runes, and the knowledge of the spell will pass to you.” I step back to give them space.

Each of the mares touches the runes in turn. Applejack grimaces slightly when her hoof makes contact. Rainbow Dash gently hovers over to the runes. Her wings skip a beat and she almost misses her landing. She draws herself up to full height and struts back to her place calmly. Rarity yips in surprise when the magic passes to her. She walks regally back to her seat her horn sparking a little sporadically. Pinkie bounces up to the runes and touches her nose to them. Her hair stands on end at the power surge. Fluttershy walks up to the runes timidly, her head hung low. She lightly touches the runes and eeps as the power courses through her. She quickly withdraws her hoof and curls into a ball below the runes. Finally, Twilight approaches. She charges her horn and uses it as a magnet for the spell’s energy. A tendril of power is drawn to her, and she gasps as her eyes dilate during the transfer. She helps the still cowering Fluttershy to her hooves, and they both walk back to their seats.

I look at Twilight curiously, wondering if my eyes deceived me, or if she actually had wings for just an instant. Only a flash, like lightning, showed them, but could she be a dormant Alicorn? Pushing that thought aside for now, I smile, “Congratulations! Now I want you to cast the spell and open your souls to the Guardians.” At this time, Insight dissipates. They each speak the incantation and immediately their bodies begin to glow a gentle white. Twilight sighs as she is fully relaxing for the first time in a few days. I observe as sore muscles loosen all around and bodies heal from two consecutive days of intense training.

After allowing them a few minutes to enjoy their paradise state, I enter the enchantment myself. Before me stand twelve figures chatting and/or watching their bodies through the ethereal fog. I hear heavy hoofsteps next to me and turn. Before me towers a being I have never met, but I have felt his presence before. The other Guardians speak of him as their leader. I bow before Justice. Nopony has ever manifested him and lived. According to the other Guardians, he can only be summoned by a pony who has mastered them, and only then for brief times. These ponies are considered paragons of the Shadow Duelers, for they were the best warriors and ponies among us. It is a shame that those who could summon Justice did not survive, for none are pure enough for his power to flow through without bursting the dam.

Justice is an imposingg figure, his face masked by a golden helmet with drawn visor. He wears no neck or leg armor, but his chest plate is awe inspiring in its glowing, gold splendor. The white spear on his back glows in the same way his armor does, his shod feet leaving glowing hoofprints with each step. He walks slowly around me, as if weighing me on a scale. “Maybe someday.” His voice is harsh but friendly, powerful yet approachable. He truly is an Arch-Servant. “Come, I wish to show you something.” I look into his eyes for the first time. They are a bright, smoldering blue with trails of smoky light following them at every movement of his head. He walks pasts me, and I follow behind his shoulders as I should. He turns slightly and says, “What you are about to see will stir emotions you buried long ago. An old enemy who took much from you is here, and he has already begun his work. You know what must be done.” I nod without hesitation.

Several minutes later, we arrive at another clearing north of the training grounds. I feel heat rising as Indictment begs to be called. Before me is a Shadow Hive. Their Queen rests in the center, her tendrils holding Spike firmly as she examines his unconscious form. But that is not what angers me. The source of my rage is the Shadow warrior watching the Queen. His name is Despair. The Queen hisses, “He will do well.” With a-none-too-gentle swing she passes him to waiting Nurses who proceed to waken him. He does not struggle, for their illusion keeps him from seeing the truth. His attendants seem to be pony nurses collecting fluid samples to aid in his recovery. What they are actually trying to do is too vile for words. The Queen again hisses, “Hurry my daughters, if the Duelers finds us before we have the child, then the Dark Ones will have our hides.” I smile, it is already too late for them, too late for them all.

I awaken with a start, for the vision broke sharply. I observe that the Mane Six seem to be fairly rejuvenated in body, although their minds are exhausted. I wave them over. They come with a spring in their steps, except for the Pegasi, as they are flying to meet me. I look at Twilight with trepidation in my gaze, and she looks back quizzically. “While you may not want to know right now, I have news concerning Spike. There are two sides to this story, the bad side is that a Shadow Queen has chosen him to become a Taint. The good news is that I know where she is, how strong the camp is, and how I’m going to free Spike.”

Twilight stiffens as I deliver my report of the camp, and she seems to be preparing to bolt for the enemy should I name a direction. When I finish, she asks, “How can you, a lone pony, possibly defeat an entire encampment? We should all help you in the attack. All of us are close friends with Spike, but you’re just a stranger. Who better to save him than his closest friends and family?”

“I cannot endanger you like that Twilight. You are the lynch pin for the war effort both here and in Fooren. If any of you succumb to Shadow, then the war is lost.” I pause for a moment, “If you truly wish to help me ,there is something each of you can do.”

The others seem relieved to not be venturing deeper into the Forest, but Twilight appears as resolute as ever. I have my suspicions that if I don’t occupy her especially well, I’ll have two wounded Equestrians to drag home in addition to myself. I decide to teach each of the Mane Six a unique ability given to them by channeling their native Guardian. Twilight will learn how to project her consciousness into the planet’s natural magic energy, and Applejack will learn how to create short range shock waves from her hooves. Rarity will learn how to scan for specific compounds commonly used by Shadow, and Fluttershy will learn to harness her empathy to quickly identify and treat ailments in her fellow ponies. Pinkie will be responsible for counteracting Shadow propaganda using augmented joy bringing, and Rainbow Dash will learn how to synthesize clouds from raw moisture.

I return them to Ponyville and begin checking my gear. During my off hours in the past few days I set up a Waygate. I had brought a few small provisions with me in my saddlebags that I simply forgot about in all the excitement of my first day. Last night I was able to activate a crystal that allows me to connect with specific items back home. I chose several items to bring over. The most important of these are my sword, shield, bow, and armor. I also summon a handful of potions and strap them on as I begin preparing several dozen spells that might come in handy during the mission. I check and re-check over every piece of equipment before I leave, and once all preparations have been made, I set off. But before I depart, I tell the Mane Six, “While I have no doubts I will succeed, if you have a deity, pray to them for me. I’m going to need all the help I can get while I fight to save Spike.” Turning away, I begin the long hike to the camp’s location.

Several days later I return to Ponyville with Spike in hand. My armor is dented and torn in many places. Blood seeps from several wounds, some much more severe than others. My wings hang limply by my sides. My back left leg is broken. Fortunately, they are minor fractures. I drag my nearly unconscious form through the center of Ponyville to the Library. I no longer care if the locals know that an outsider, and an Alicorn no less, has taken up residence with Twilight. On my back, Spike has not even twitched during the entire rescue. This would not be a problem if he was an Elder Dragon, but he is far too young to have been so quiet. I hope it is some kind of sedation magic the Shadow were using to keep him controllable.

As I stagger into the Library, it is late in the day, I am greeted by several gasps, followed immediately by celebration at the sight of Spike on my back. He stirs a little bit at all the noise, but I am not able to enjoy the celebration. My world spins and vision winks out to black.

I awaken in a warm bath. It is charged with magical energy. At the head is Rarity, and Fluttershy is at the foot. Applejack is standing at the door waiting on something. I can vaguely hear voices in the lobby, perhaps Twilight is calming the residents of town, and Rainbow Dash is seems to spinning some kind of story to help Twilight in that effort. I turn my attention to Rarity at last, and I can clearly see the compassion in her eyes. Slowly, I start to sit up in the bath, she moves to restrain me, but I give a “don’t you dare” look to her. She withdraws her hoof swiftly but still watches e intently. I sense a scan run through my body is I sit in the bath. I snap my attention to Fluttershy, for I would have seen Rarity cast the spell, and I see the glow fading from her eyes that confirms my suspicions. “Well done, Fluttershy. I honestly didn’t expect you to master that ability so quickly. What did you find out with that little scan?” I wince as the injuries throughout my torso throb. This reminds me that I have spent a little too much time studying and practicing, and not nearly enough actually fighting.

She smiles and hides behind her mane a little before quietly answering, “Well, you have several cuts and abrasions all over. A profusion of bruises, sprained tendons in your wings, and three simple fractures in your leg. I suggest that you allow Rarity and I to dress your wounds before you step out into the lobby.”

“Very well.” I see a stool set up in the middle of floor and carefully step out of the tub assisted by my nurses. My broken leg throbs with even the slightest movement and the lightest nudge sends shockwaves of pain racing through me. When I finally settle on the stool, my leg sticking out awkwardly, the medics immediately get to work. “How far did you get with your training without me here to push you?”

Rarity responds, “Well darling, we maintained those work-out schedules you gave us at the start. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to grow so fond of them.” She chuckles sheepishly. I notice she flexes her forearms as she mentions being fond of working-out.

Fluttershy adds, “After I mastered my ability, it became very useful in treating animals, and I might be able to line up a job at the hospital thanks to you.” I’m too busy gritting my teeth around a magical gag right now to respond as they are working on putting my leg in a cast.

Fluttershy continues, making note of my discomfort, “We’re going to have to set the bone. This is going to hurt. Ready?” I nod. “On three. One, two” *Crack!* I bellow into the gag as a tear runs down my face. Even caught off-guard like that, having a bone broken to set it is not an enjoyable experience.

Spitting out the gag, it dissipating almost instantly, I say, “Thank you ladies. I appreciate your willingness to help. I did not expect such kindness so quickly. Especially considering all the suffering I’ve caused.”

“Darling, if we thought you were responsible, you more than made up for it by returning Spike to us.”

“I’m not sure that what I brought is actually Spike. Something wasn’t right about him all the way back. He’s a young dragon, but he didn’t make a sound or stir even a little on the return trip.”

“Did you sense anything strange before or during your attack?” Fluttershy asks.

Before I could answer, Applejack came bustling into the room. She says, “Soup’s on Lightning. Y’all best eat up quick, the crowd out there is getting antsy.”

Rarity immediately rebuts, “He’s not going anywhere until we’ve finished patching him up!”

Applejack is a little taken aback, “Ah know y’all have ta medicate him before he goes out there. But it’ll take awhile for him to finish eatin’ anyways.” They scowl at each other briefly.

“Um, ladies?” I interject, “I’m the one who needs patching, and I will decide how much I need to eat before taking care of the public’s questions. Before you rebut me (I hold up a hoof to keep them from arguing), where’s my armor?”

Applejack responds, “It’s in y’all’s room, why?”

“Wait here until a few minutes before I’m ready to go out. When the time comes, I want you to set up my armor in the lobby on a stand.”

“Why would you want everypony to see that mess?” Rarity asks, recoiling in horror.

“I’m going to use it to make a point. They need to understand exactly what threatens them.” I respond calmly.

Several minutes later, Fluttershy declares that only a handful of injuries remain to be bandaged, and the small talk ceases. Applejack hastily dismisses herself and trots from the room. Rarity starts making sure my bandages are nice and clean. I halt her and don my Unicorn disguise instead. She looks at me quizzically, and I remind her that it will cause less of a disturbance if a Unicorn addresses the townsfolk. Currently, the princesses do not need to perceive me as a challenge to their thrones. Fluttershy assures me that they aren’t like that, but I still hold to my doubts.

I hear Applejack brushing ponies aside and detect the clanking of armor, the many gasps and statements of shock tell me the locals are astonished at the damage. Slowly, I stand. I instruct the two mares to flank me once we’re in the crowd. They do so gladly, as the pack of ponies in the lobby press against us. Many of them immediately start shouting questions. Some are angry, others afraid, and still others confused. I can see so many different expressions in the sea of faces before me. Carefully, so as not to bump anypony, I limp to where my armor stands guarded by Applejack, Pinkie, and Twilight. I turn to the crowd and begin my story.

“Ten days ago, I left Ponyville by backroads to enter the Everfree Forest. Under those darkened eaves I hunted for an enemy both ancient and foul beyond words. These creatures are known as Shadow. They are the physical incarnation of all things evil in our world. Their birth is fueled by our mistakes, and they perish when we ponies choose good over evil. These abominations I hunted for three days before I found their spawning ground. It was there that my people’s war with them broke out in your land, for that, I am sorry.” I pause and wait for them to register what I just said. The reactions are as varied as the questions had been, but before they flood me with more, I continue, “War is a terrible thing. My people have known it since our beginning. While times of peace were plentiful in our history, that same history has taught us that peace is just an eye of the storm. We fight so that peaceful nations such as Equestria do not have to. Today, The Shadow War has begun in Equestria. Today, they know I’m here. Today, Shadow will begin abducting and using your own against you. But all is not lost. For today, I bring news of a Shadow Hive burned, a Queen slain, and a prisoner rescued.” They seemed to be uplifted by the good news, although I could several skeptical faces in the crowd.

Continuing my story, “When I arrived at the Shadow Hive, I was surprised they had no perimeter defenses. Their guards were few and far between, and they had few of the typical facilities. This Queen was young, and she didn’t expect the speed of my strike, or how powerful I truly am.”

“My first step was to locate where they held prisoners. To my disappointment, they held them right under the many-tentacled body of the Queen. I could sense the evil magic she was weaving over Spike from my hiding place, but I could also sense his good nature fighting her. But he wavered, and I could not delay. I waited until twilight and struck. Unleashing my fury upon them, their startled soldiers were swept aside as chaff. The fizzling corpses serving to bolster my momentum. Spells, sword technique, and the element of surprise rendered their forces destroyed in only a few minutes. I summoned great spells of destruction and razed their base to the ground.”

“Turning my attention to the Queen, I saw that she was trying to slither away, but her permanently bloated form hindered every movement. I attacked her just as viciously as her minions, despite the many, minor injuries they inflicted upon me. Our battle was more equally matched, for I was tired from destroying her base, and she was enraged by watching her children die. It was she that broke my leg, but not before I had positioned her to be slain. As one of her slithering arms crushed me beneath it, my sword flashed as it struck through her skull. She died without a scream, just astonishment. She slumped and began to fizzle as defeated Shadow always do.”

“I retrieved Spike, and spent six days traveling back to Ponyville. My injuries slowed me down, Spike’s dead weight did as well, and the unforgiving terrain of the forest was a further obstacle. Finally returning here, my appearance, bleeding, limping as I was caused quite a stir. I understand your concerns, but now is not the time for further discussions, for I need to heal and discover the full extent of the damage done to our dear Spike.” I stepped down into the crowd and, flanked by the Mane Six, threaded through to crowds to the back of the Library where my bed called to me.

I wait until the mares have ushered the last of the Ponyvillers out before beginning their next lesson. I will need help to recover quickly. When they enter, I tell them, “Thanks to the ministrations of Rarity and Fluttershy, my recover has been expedited. But the war will rage on with or without me. To speed my healing along as much as possible, each of you will learn a healing spell.” I smile at their shocked expressions, especially Applejack’s. “Earth Ponies have the ability to call upon the planet itself to restore injuries, harden themselves, or even compromise the ground on which their enemies stand. Unicorns through a simple enchantment can heal the most grievous of wounds if they have the power. Pegasi may call upon the weather to send cleansing rain to restore those who need help, or squash the morale of the enemy. But these are all advanced spells.”

Fluttershy looks concerned because she cannot summon clouds at will as Rainbow Dash recently learned to. Rarity looks concerned because her magic is not very powerful. Applejack just scowls at the floor. She knows I’m right, but she is not a fan of using magic herself. To her, magic is cheating the way nature intended things to be done.

“I understand that half of you are worried that this spell will not be very helpful. Your concerns are valid. Fear not. Your Guardians will assist you. Just as Communion restores your bodies, this spell, called simply ‘Restore’, will allow you to call on them to heal those around you.” Again I summon the runes, this time the spell calls for “Koog, vocii, staan”. They quickly learn the spell, even Fluttershy does not hesitate to touch the runes, but the effort it took for me to create them nearly drained me completely. “Each of you must cast this spell on me, and we will learn how much affinity you have for the healing arts.”

Applejack tries it first. Her spell heals a handful of small cuts and bruises. The healing leaves no scars, which tells me she has a dormant affinity for this type of magic, but it is a power that must be coaxed from her. Pinkie’s healing causing every remaining open wound to seal itself with a scab that is more like skin than dried blood. Her healing will have a longer, less potent effect, but with a little practice she will be able to accelerate the most desperate of recoveries by weeks. Rarity’s attempt removes the injuries on my face and chest completely. It is a powerful spell, but her obsession with cosmetics prevented her focusing on the more bothersome injuries. Fluttershy seems wiser, her spell is so potent that I feel the muscles in my wings stitch back together, and my leg has almost completely mended. Twilight is last. Her spell is so strong it feels like my body is being supercharged. Energy bursts through me, leaving me breathless as every remaining injury (however slight or grievous) is simultaneously healed. I look at her amazed, my mouth hanging open.

She blushes, “I told you I have an affinity for magic. I guess it’s more than an affinity, huh.” She rubs her head, embarrassed.

Quickly finding my voice, I respond, “Never has a magi produced such a powerful healing spell on the first casting. What you have Twilight is expertise with magic. You are an up-and-coming Arch Magi. If only you could study at the Foorenian schools, then your powers would be unfettered by the fears of those around you. There you would be more than a prodigy, you would be a name to watch. You will do great things, Twilight. Perhaps Equestria will one day be ushered into a new Golden Era under your leadership.” I say this because I know I saw wings, and a crown, on her when she cast the healing spell. Twilight is a dormant Alicorn, and all she needs is the right push to Ascend.