To say that Equestria was in a perpetual state of fear and chaos was not just an understatement.
It was an insult.
When news got out that Canterlot Castle had been breached by a armored monster and Princess Celestia attacked, everypony essential lost it.
Inquisitors were in a state of paranoia, giving suspicious glances to anyone they suspected of heresy or ill intent, Priestess where praying more often than they usually did and the guard force in every settlement in Equestria was doubling their rounds and patrols.
And no one who didn't live in Equestria could blame them.
The avenge outsider knew that Princess Celestia was a God to her little ponies, someone who had nurtured and protected them for over a millennia, everything they had was because of her, so when you hear that your deity, the person you worship and devote yourself to is attacked and incapacitated, plus the fact that the offender is still loose.
Wouldn't you be scared stainless?
Shining Armor had never been to a hospital before.
At least not under these circumstances.
As his mind began to catch up to him, he began to recall the reason why his nostrils now detected that distinctive clean hospital smell.
He remembered the castle being invaded, how he and his fellow guards tried to stop an unknown armored assailant from invading the castle. He also remembered just how well his attempt went.
The Field Marshal groaned as he tried to open his eyes and get up, despite every pain in his body telling him not to.
He was about to falter in his struggle, until he felt another presence in the room.
"Waky waky BBBFF!"
Shining didn't know whether to smile or frown as he opened his eyes to see his floating chaotic sister above him, their muzzles just inches from each other.
"Feeling better?!"
"Twilight, must you float above me like that?"
"But, if I don't above you, then who will watch over that BBBFF head of yours?"
Shining let out a small chuckle. "Well I can't argue with that logic."
"Exactly! Why would anybody argue with chaos!"
"Dunno" Although I keep trying "So, how bad did they find me?"
"Well, the nurses say you didn't break anything important, but then again a tower did collapse on you so there is that. Other than those several dislocated joints and a fractured rib cage, I'd say you're fine."
The Field Marshal could only deadpan at his sibling. "How is that in any way fine!?"
"Hey, I said you didn't break anything important."
"...And just what do you classify as important?"
"Well, your nose for that matter, after all you can't smell chaos coming without that, plus your tail in still attached to your body and I won't be able to cuddle it if it weren't, and then there is the fallopian tube which you need to-"
"Twilight! I don't have a fallopian tube."
"....Oh right, you're not a chaos magi."
"No its-.....never mind."
"Okide dokie! So I guess you all wide awake now right?"
"*sigh* Yeah, I guess."
"Goodie! Cause that means you get to tell me!"
"Tell you what?"
Before Twilight could answer she put one a certain smile, and not just any old crazy smile, it was a smile that if she ever flashed then you know someone was gonna be either in a world of chaos, or dead as a doorknob.
The floating unicorn grabbed her brother's cheeks and stared right into his eyes, and in a slow calm voice asked.
"Do you like black, or red licorice?"
"Ummm, what?"
"Black or red licorice, which is your favorite?"
"Uh, red....why?"
"Oh you know" Twilight said in the most innocent voice. "So know what to use when I strangle the guy who put you in here."
Celestia woke up with a start, getting her bearings the Sun Goddess realized she was in a bed, and most likely in a hospital.
The solar alicorn however was still reeling from the effects of the dream she woke up from. She didn't remember all of it, but she did vividly remember the part before she woke up, it involved her, Luna, and something truly heartbreaking...
The Princess decided for the best if she just pushed it to the darkest recess of her mind, she didn't want to think about it.
The opening of her door interrupted her thoughts as she saw a nurse walk in, only to stop when she realized that her patient was awake.
"Oh, Princess Celestia! Umm, how are you feeling?"
Celestia could only smile at her subjects initial reaction. "I am feeling better, thank you for asking."
"Ah yes, so the doctors say you only suffered a concussive blow to the head, it was hard, but nothing time and healing magic couldn't fix."
"Alright, that's good." Celestia's smile faded when her thoughts drifted to another related subject.
"Nurse."
"Yes?"
"Do you know, how many were injured or died during the attack on the castle?"
"I um, I don't know."
"I do."
Both mares turned to the doorway to see High Inquisitor Fervent standing there.
"Oh Fervent, you're here."
"I am always here for you your majesty."
Sensing this was going to be a private conversation, the nurse left the room, while the Inquisitor walked up to his Princess and bowed.
"So, how many?"
Fervent’s face was a mixture of a scowl and respect. "31 Guards and 13 Knights injured or in critical condition, 32 Guards, 5 bearers of Flame, 2 Knights, and 1 Inquisitor are now among the dead."
"And...the intruder?
The Inquisitor then made a real scowl. "It got away, unfortunately, taking with it a significant sum of power gems, some of which were made by Hephaestus"
Celestia then dropped her head back on her pillow at this news. "Do we at least have any idea as to what it was?"
"All witness is could say was that it was someone, or something running around in an armored suit. If anybody had to guess a species it would most likely be human considering the body shape."
"Well, whatever the case this thing was bold enough to break into the castle, steal something right from my vaults, and incapacitate and attack me to a degree. Something like this has never ever happened before."
"And it will never happen again, your highness."
Before the conversation could continue, a loud and familiar voice rang out.
"Where is she, I need to see her!"
"Princess please! She is still recovering from the incident, she needs to rest"
"What she needs is me!"
The door swung open to reveal the frustrated but worried face of Sunset Shimmer.
"Mom!"
Celestia was surprised for a moment before smiling at her daughter.
"Sunset, you're he-"
The alicorn was cut off as she found herself in a bear hug with her adoptive daughter.
"I'm so glad you are alright!"
"Princess Sunset! Princess Celestia does not need you to on top of her right now!"
Without even looking, the fire blood mage gave a retort.
"Quiet Fervent, I have half a mind to assume that she wouldn't even be here if your Inquisitors did there jobs!"
"What was-"
"Fervent, it's okay, a little family love never hurt anyone." Celestia spoke up.
"Thank you mother." Sunset smiled.
"And Sunset, I expect you to treat Fervent and his Inquisitors with respect, they may enforce my word but it is ultimately up to the guards and Knights to see to my well being."
"I- Yes mother"
"Good, now tell me how you are?"
Sensing he was no longer needed, Fervent begrudgingly left the room.
"Well was worried sick for one thing! When I heard what happened I had half a mind to teleport hop all the way here!"
"And why didn't you?"
"....Because Spike pointed out that he would have to take to long way, plus it would be to exhausting to teleport me and him."
"Of course, but speaking of which where is Spike?"
As if on cue, Celestia's question was answered by an out of breath teenage dragon walking into the room.
"S-sorry, long run from the train station to here."
"It's not your fault Spike, come here and give your mother a hug."
The three of them shared a moment in each other's arms, but Sunset broke the silence.
"So, where is the walking roast that did this to you?"
"Umm, what?"
"Oh just the person who trashed the Castle and put you in here," Sunsets countenance darkened "Cause when I find him I will burn him so hard that their won't be any ashes left!"
"How do you know it's a guy?" Spike pointed out.
"Well what do you expect me to call it Spike?"
"Sunset" Celestia said "Look at me."
"Yes?"
"I appreciate your concern, and know that this villain will be brought to justice, but I must ask that you and Spike stay out of this."
"What! Why?"
"Sunset, this creature bested the my forces, it bested me. It... it had some kind of chains that negated my powers and left me at its mercy, the only reason I'm alive is because it apparently only left me alive as a warning"
Both Spike and Sunset nearly took a step back at this news, the only other time their mother was restrained was during the night Nightmare Moon came back, and even then she got out of that trap easily. To hear that she was completely helpless when facing that monster....
"I will not allow you to put yourself in danger just to avenge me Sunset, I cannot guarantee that thing will show the same mercy to you as it did me"
"But-"
"Sunset please, you and Spike are not to try and find this creature."
Sunset just stood there for a few seconds, unable to find a response.
"Sunset."
"Yes mom, I'll stay out of it."
After a while the doctors came back to relive Princess Celestia with a clean bill of health, due to her healing powers as a goddess, she need not stay in the hospital for long, soon the family left the building to a royal escort waiting outside.
When Celestia got into her carriage, she spoke to Sunset and Spike again.
"I must return to the castle to deal with the aftermath of this attack, meanwhile I trust you two to go back to Ponyville and leave this situation to me"
"Yes mom." They both said.
Satisfied with their answer, Celestia gave them warm smile and the carriage pulled away.
Sunset and Spike just stood there smiling and waving innocently, but as soon as he was certain she was out of sight, Spike spoke up.
"You have no intention of staying out of this do you."
Sunset only looked at her brother with the most convincing grin she could give him.
"Oh Spike, mother said that you and I are not to find this creature, and that's exactly what I intend to do"
Spike could only raise an eyebrow.
"Key words being you and I"
*facepalm*
The Entity looked through the eyes of one of its "extensions" as it took in the land that Equestria had become.
Before going to sleep, it had left behind various familiars that disguised themselves as local wildlife, when it awoke, the collective history that they had observed for centuries was fed to it, bringing the Entity up to speed with what the world had become.
One such familiar had concealed itself as what the natives called a “Fire Serpent” that coincidently was taken in and "tamed" by Princess Celestia as a beast to attack her enemies. It was because of this particular familiar that it learned the existence and location of the Power Gem Vault in the castle( apparently Celestia was talking about it to somepony, and the familiar just so happened to be in the same room).
When the Entity sent the Black Knight to retrieve the Power Gems, it was not only to get them, but also have some alone time to sort and take in over 1,000 years worth of history and information. When all was said and done, it now knew enough lore and information to rival the Canterlot Archives, it even knew some things that the Archives probably didn't have.
With this information in hand, it now had a proper plan to find enough power to free itself, while at the same time retrieve some things that had been scattered throughout the land.
"Servant!"
The Black Knight manifested into the room, standing at attention.
"Yes master?"
"I have another assignment for you, one which involves the retrieval of some items I displaced."
"Of course, what is it that you want found?"
"You recall the chain I gave you for your raid on the Castle of the Sun Princess correct?"
"Yes"
"Well when I came to this world I also brought with me several other "Anti-Divine" Weapons, one of which is an Olympian Crystal"
"I see, and what exactly is this Crystal?"
"It is a weapon created for the purpose of killing Gods, specifically those belonging to the Olympian council"
"Ah, pardon my curiosity, but for what reason would you need a weapon of that caliber?"
"That is a story for another time, why?"
"Nothing, it's just I recall meeting the one they called Hercules sometime during the Grail W-....never mind."
"Very well, I shall now give you the location of where the crystal is being kept."
Hilltop overlooking Ponyville
It was common knowledge that most Equestrians did not trust Nighttime, or rather is patron deity that was associated with it. No that no one could blame them.
But if one could look past all that, they could appreciate the beauty and calming effect the still sky and stars gave off.
Very few seemed to acknowledge the fact that the Moon and the Night where just as important when it came to the lives of everyone on this planet as the Sun and Day, although those very few kept quite out of fear to Inquisition would take that acknowledgment as comparing Celestia's glorious day to Nightmares "evil" Night.
The Night, however also provided opportunities for events and activities that could be very hard to pull of during the daytime.
One such being was taking advantage of the Night’s shroud by being able to look over the town of Ponyville without being able to be seen by some of its still active residents.
The being in question was adorned in shining golden armor, he had golden hair that stood up in comparison to a blaze, but the most notable thing about him was his blood red crimson eyes which spoke volumes of his ego.
"So, this is world I have been summoned to....it is certainly more colorful then when I last came here"
A rabbit walked up beside the human, seemingly unable to notice that he was there.
"Well, let us just see if this "Equestria" and it's gods will provide with me with at least some form of entertainment."