Silver Spirit, Ghost of Equestria.

by Powerdrainer


He's a Phantom

Edited by Slayerseba, Clayton the Hunter, and Halusm.

He's a Phantom.

<<>><<>><<>>

'Because we believe in you,' Her friends' voices echoed through her mind as Sweetie Belle flew as fast as she could through the city towards the tunnel they'd entered from. 

'That's right, and if ya can't do that for yourself, then believe in us, who believe in ya.'

Eyes narrowing in determination, Sweetie Belle angled up and shot through the relatively narrow passage with blurring speed, zig-zagging from left to right, up and down whenever this was required; even doing a barrel roll once or twice to avoid a particularly nasty obstacle in her way.

'No way I'm letting them down. No way!'

Her eyes burned brightly with sheer determination and spectral might.

<<>><<>><<>>

"Okay… now what?" Scootaloo asked after Sweetie Belle had left, her confidence sagging a bit.

Looking around, Apple Bloom hummed, a pondering hoof pressed against her chin. 

"Well, first we must make sure tha fires don't go out while tha changelings are gathering those leaves," she said, and Scootaloo nodded in agreement. "Then, when they return, hopefully those leaves will be able ta keep tha fire going for a while longer."

"Hopefully?" Scootaloo asked, and Apple Bloom looked down at her hooves, sighing.

"They’re leaves. Those usually don't burn all that long. It's because we don't really have an alternative, but this is a real long shot.

"Oh," Scootaloo replied dejectedly.

"Yeah," Apple Bloom sighed her agreement. "Still, we said we would help, so we will. Whatever it takes," she added with new found determination.

Both fillies gave each other a firm nod and set out to do… something. Apple Bloom, with at least some idea of where to focus her efforts, quickly moved to one of the dying fires; staring at the glowing pieces of wood with a pensive frown, slowly shifting her gaze from one fire to the next. 

"Hey, Scootaloo. Are there any pieces of wood still intact in tha other fires?" She asked. 

"Hold on," Scootaloo replied, sprinting to the nearest fire, taking a moment to inspect the pile of glowing rubble. "Some small bits here and there," she answered.

Looking around, taking notice of the number of changelings lying around the fires, all scattered in no discernable pattern, Apple Bloom got an idea.

"Hey, Erlea. Are there still some other changelings around here who can help move some of tha sick?" 

"What!? Why would you want to move them?!" Erlea asked, irritated.

"If we move them all closer together, we can combine some of tha fires," Apple Bloom replied readily. "The way Ah see it, we can make at least three larger fires if we take tha still good pieces out of tha fires near tha centers, and put them in tha fires closer to tha wall. That way, tha fires will be able to burn a bit longer, and larger, while tha heat will bounce off the walls as well. If we put tha sick in between, it will be much easier to keep 'em warm."

Erlea looked at Apple Bloom with stunned expression, slowly shifting her gaze across the room. 

"Tha- that could actually work," she gasped. Not wanting to waste any more time, she called some of the other changelings through the hive mind while also sharing this new idea with the rest; hoping that they could do the same with the fires outside.

Within minutes, the buzzing of wings pulled Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's attention to the still open doors, watching as several young changelings came flying in. 

"I told them what you're planning," she told Apple Bloom. 

Nodding, she and Scootaloo hurried into motion to help the changelings. 

"Okay if we use tha wood from those fires—" she pointed a hoof towards the less crowded fireplaces "—and put it in those—" she proceeded to point towards three likely fires near one of the corners "—we can raise tha temperature quite a bit over there."

Nodding, two of the older changelings ran for the fires Apple Bloom had pointed out; using what little magic they had left to pull the usable pieces of wood out of the dying flames and rushed them over to the small piles Apple Bloom had suggested.

Meanwhile, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, neither of them fireproof, rushed to help the rest of the small group to move the sick into the heatzone.

It took them the better part of forty minutes to move all the changelings, and make sure they were lying comfortably; small beads of sweat dripping down from their faces, both from exertion and the noticeable increase of temperature in the corner where the fires now burned brightest.

During this time, the group Erlea had sent out to gather leaves had also returned, hooves full of leaves. Unfortunately the pile they gathered was barely enough to even fuel one fire, and it was with great reluctance that they were sent out again to gather more. Not wanting to waste what little they had, they all agreed to wait to use the leaves until it was absolutely necessary. 

"Well, that's about all we can do now," Apple Bloom sighed out, placing a small bundle of leaves on one of the fires; watching them curl up in the small flames, glowing embers drifting up in the air; the glow mirrored in the eyes of the changeling foals as they watched them drift up with sadness.

"This won't last," Scootaloo complained, saying the thought they were all having out loud.

"Ah know," Apple Bloom admitted. 

"How do you think Sweetie Belle's doing?" Scootaloo asked, looking up at the ceiling.

"Hopefully better than us," Apple Bloom wished, looking around, falling silent as she spotted the massive form standing still in the doorway, looking around with unreadable expression.

"Fenris?" she piped up, and all turned to look at the massive wolf with wide, and in the changelings' case, fearful eyes.

"It truly is everywhere," Fenris rumbled. "Sickness born from hate. The stench is almost unbearable." Looking towards the fillies, he slowly stepped inside. "Your friend has sent me, choosing to remain above to fight."

"It's 'bout time ya showed up!" Apple Bloom all but shouted. "We REALLY need your help!"

"Yeah," Scootaloo agreed feverently.

"So it would seem," Fenris rumbled, taking a step closer, eyes narrowing at the changelings as they took a frightened step back. 

"Can ya use yer claws like ya did with Sweetie Belle, an cut out this thing?" Apple Bloom asked, hopefully.

"No," Fenris replied, looking at the numerous bodies lying around the fires. 

"""WHAT!?""" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Erlea all shouted their disbelief.

Snapping his head towards them in a flash, Fenris leered down on the trio. 

"Hate is not something easy to get rid of. I know this better than most. If I were to attempt this, they will most certainly die."

"No!" Erlea cried out, falling to the floor while the other changelings hung their heads; their last hope unable to help.

"However," Fenris stepped up, and Erlea slowly looked up with red, tearful eyes, watching as the gigantic wolf stepped closer to one of the sick; a young adult. 

Kneeling down, Fenris lowered himself until he held his nose directly above the sick mare, inhaling deeply. 

Growling as he reared back, he unsheathed his right claw and sunk the glowing protrusions into the mare's side with a powerful slash.

The mare's eyes shot open as she screamed out, black ooze seeping out of the wounds inflicted by Fenris as he pressed in even deeper; cutting, slicing, severing.

She quickly passed out again as Fenris pulled back with a wet squelch, all around watched with widened eyes at the black ooze seeping out of the green glowing marks on the mare's body. A sickening sludge pooling on the floor until Fenris destroyed it with another slash of his claw. 

"Wha… What was that?" one of the changelings asked.

"Hate runs deep, and consumes more than you realize," Fenris answered. "It's impossible to remove it all, not without losing even more," his eyes narrowed into slits. "But if you remove even a little bit, it may get diluted, spread thin."

They all looked at Fenris as he spoke, yet his gaze remained affixed on the mare lying on the floor before him, watching as her breathing leveled out, becoming calm.

"What did you do?" Scootaloo asked in shock and disbelief, looking at the mare as the trembling of her body slowed down, then stopped completely; her chest rising and lowering with calm, deep breaths.

"I can't cure this disease," Fenris spoke as he stood back up. "But I can buy you time to find a solution."

The colts and fillies all looked up at Fenris with a new sense of hope, hope that, maybe, just maybe, they would be able to pull through this after all. 

Slowly, they looked at one another, then their eyes moved towards the throne and the lone figure sitting slumped against the side; her sickly form illuminated by the glow of the two fires besides her.

They all looked up at Fenris, hope brimming in their eyes.

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Erlea and all the other changeling foals ran across the room, carrying out one task, or another. Making sure they stayed out of Fenris's path as he moved from one changeling to the next; cutting out the same black sludge they'd all seen with the first changeling he'd 'helped'.

Each time he did so, a bone piercing scream echoed through the chamber. 

They flinched each and every time. Still, with no other option available to them, they tried their hardest to ignore the cries of anguish. Though, hearing their queen, Chrysalis cry out with as weak a voice as she still had, almost made the foals attack on instinct. And it was only through gritted teeth, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo holding them back that kept them from actually lashing out.

Now though, having seen what Fenris could do, they had accepted the screams, as much as they hated hearing them.

Having just taken care of yet another changeling, Fenris slowly stood back up, glaring at his claw, and the sludge that still clung to it. He destroyed it with a single, powerful swipe. 

Looking around at who he had already helped, and who he still had to take care off, Fenris took several whiffs of the air, noticing the still pungent smell of hate had diminished noticeably.

Hearing the buzzing of wings, he turned to the throne room's doors, watching as a small group of changelings flew in, carrying numerous leaves which were soon deposited on the dying fires; providing only a few seconds of additional warmth before they turned to ashes. The foals watching the glowing embers slowly drift off in the sky.

"WHAT THE HAY!!??" He heard one of the children suddenly call out, and he twisted himself around in time to see an unlikely intruder phase through the solidity of the floor. A human ghost, carrying Sweetie Belle on his back.

"Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle cried out, dropping down from the ghost's back. "Apple Bloom. Look who came to help!" 

"Danny!?" Scootaloo breathed in amazement as she looked up at the human ghost, while Fenris glared at the intruder with slowly narrowing eyes, inhaling deeply.

"Are ya kiddin' mah!?" Apple Bloom called out, stepping towards Danny, eyes equally wide. "What's he doing here? How did he get here?"

Eyes widening in rising anger upon recognition of the smell exhumed by this Danny, Fenris shot into motion, tackling him to the ground.

"YOU!" He bellowed, his rancid breath rolling over Danny in waves while his claws pressed uncomfortably close to the human's face.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle cried out on alarm, rushing to Danny's aid, only to come to a screeching stop as a thick, shadowy haze drifted up from Danny. 

Fenris, seeing what was happening as well, barked in rage, pressing down on Danny even further.

"BACK OFF!" A frighteningly​ familiar voice yelled, and the dark haze surrounding Danny solidified into a strong hoof, kicking Fenris away. 

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and the few changeling colts and fillies all backed away in fear as Fenris pushed back in. The shadowy haze, however, drifted in between, its form growing, solidifying. 

Four tendrils flowed down; becoming strong yet slender legs, leading up to an equally proportioned body. A long neck formed next, followed by a strong, feminine face; a long spiraling horn growing out of her forehead, while her mane and tail flowed in an ethereal breeze. Glowing dots of orange formed constellations within the shadowy haze that comprised her mane and tail as bat like wings flared fully to either side in dominant display. Then her eyes snapped open, and orange glowing eyes with green glowing irises locked on Fenris.

"IT'S NIGHTMARE MOON!" Apple Bloom shrieked.

"EVERYPONY, RUN!" Scootaloo yelled, scampering away herself.

"You!" Fenris barked bitterly, growling, claws flexing.

"Hello… grandfather," the mare of the moon replied tensely.

<<>><<>><<>>

The silence was deafening. Almost painfully so.

No sooner had Nightmare Moon spoken, and all eyes were locked firmly on her and Fenris; with Danny lying unmoving behind the shadowy mare, eyes wide and unblinking.

Surrounding them, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and several changeling children stood frozen; clearly terrified, yet unwilling to even twitch and draw any unwanted attention to themselves.

Then a growl escaped Fenris, the hate behind the primal sound thick enough to make the conscious changelings shudder and retch. 

Lurching forwards, Fenris lashed out with strong swipes; cutting nothing but air as the shadow mare smoothly drifted out of the way, never breaking eye contact. 

"Please, grandfather, there reall-" she attempted, only to be silenced by Fenris. 

"SILENCE!" Fenris roared, using his muscular legs to quickly close the gap between the two of them; eyes intense, full of rage. "YOUR WORDS SHALL NOT POISON ME AGAIN!" And with glowing claws, he slashed into the darkness born from his own hate. 

This time his attack connected, and Nightmare Moon cried out in anguish as Fenris' glowing claws tore through her torso. 

Danny, eyes widened, screamed out as well, and the foals all looked at him in fear and worry.

Screaming, Danny clutched his side in the same general area Fenris had hit Nightmare Moon when, in a flash of white, Danny transformed, writhing on the ground.

His scream of anguish echoed through the throne room, halting Fenris' advance on shadow mare as he looked down at the human in disbelief. 

"DANNY!" Sweetie Belle cried out. She, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo rushing to his side.

Seeing what happened, Fenris closed his paws into fists, shaking noticeably with rage as he slowly turned back to the shadow, eyes burning.

Panting from pain, Nightmare Moon struggled to righten herself, eyes locking once again. 

Fenris looked down at the mare with unchecked rage and anger; worsened by the fact that all he could see in her fake eyes was sadness as she stood unnaturally calm before him.

Jaw set, Fenris pounced again, nearly missing the darkness as she sluggishly sidestepped.

"Our fight is over," Nightmare Moon said strongly, standing tall despite the searing pain. "It ended millennia ago."

"AS LONG AS YOU EXIST, OUR FIGHT IS NEVER DONE!" Fenris growled, readying himself to strike again. 

Nightmare Moon sadly shook her head. "We both know where this path leads. Stop now!"

"And allow you to claim yet another," Fenris answered, his voice suddenly much lower, darker; one of his paws tightening into a fist. "NO!" He roared, leaping for the dark mare. "YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT! NOW I WILL MAKE SURE YOU DO!" And with glowing claws, Fenris slashed at her.

Jumping back and smoothly gliding out of his reach, Nightmare Moon circled around the enraged wolf as he quickly spun around, snarling as he readied himself to try again. However, before he could even attempt another attack, the human roared out as, in a flash of white, he transformed yet again, slamming into Fenris with his shoulder while his attention was focused on his ancient sin.

Taking several heavy sidesteps to catch his balance, the human took this opportunity to kick off the wolf and flew backwards away from him while firing several bolts of ectoplasm. 

Raising a single, broad arm to shield himself, the bolts impacted. Mostly the ground near his feet was hit, the human's aim sloppy. However, several sizzling orbs of contained energy hit their mark; burning into Fenris' shoulder and shielding arm.

After the unexpected attack ended, Fenris slowly lowered his slightly smoking arm, eyes now locked on Danny, growling with bared teeth.

"I will only give you this one chance. Surrender, or I'll destroy you along with this corruption." Fenris barked harshly.

"You know," Danny said irritably, standing defiantly before the wolf. "I have had a really long and tiresome day, which I really just want to forget ever happened. But instead of going to bed, like I wanted to do hours ago, I instead find myself flying halfway through Equestria looking for those three—" he shot a glance towards Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle "—only to have some oversized wolf attack my shade and me. So, no. I'm not backing off. In fact, I have a lot of pent up frustration right now, and I know just the way to get rid of some of it. So, bring it!" He challenged, securing his stance as his fists burst aglow with energy.

"So be it," Fenris snarled, flexing his claws. "There shall be no leniency for those willingly succumbing to the corruption."

"Eclipse," Danny said simply, eyes flashing towards the mare behind Fenris. 

Nightmare Moon gave a single nod in confirmation.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, their attention fully focused on the madness unfolding before them, shared a quick glance; Apple Bloom mouthing the word, eclipse. The others shrugged in confusion as well.

"Alright, let's dance," Danny said with confidence, looking up at the massive wolf.

<<>><<>><<>>

Danny, Fenris and Nightmare Moon were standing frozen, waiting for the other to make the first move. 

Danny with an angry, yet confident gleam to his eyes. Fenris with rage and fangs bared. Nightmare Moon with regret and sadness noticeable in her facade.

Tension built as they stood with eyes locked, growing thicker and thicker with each passing moment towards the inevitable climax; a slight twitch of Danny's finger. 

The three blurred into motion. 

Fenris moved towards Danny, the new host of his ancient sin. Nightmare Moon moved in for the large wolf, fangs gleaming and wings flaring as she intended to halt his advance. And Danny met Fenris head-on, blocking one of his swings with his right forearm, then slammed his glowing left fist into Fenris' torso.

Staggering back, Fenris glared at Danny.

"So, you willingly accepted this corruption?"

"I didn't accept anything," Danny shot back. "And, seriously. Cut it out with the yelling. I'm right here."

Growling, Fenris allowed just that much. "You say you don't, yet the evidence proves otherwise."

"Yeah, about that," Danny responded, eyes flashing over to the shadow mare by his side. "You know this guy?"

"I'm afraid so, yes," she admitted after a moment's pause. Fenris growled threateningly upon her speaking, readying himself to attack anew. 

"ENOUGH!" Erlea cried out, bravely stepping towards the hostile group. "THIS HAS GONE ON FOR FA-" a sudden bark took her by surprise; as did it all others. 

Turning to the source, all were surprised to see a small, green glowing pup standing before the throne room's open doors, it's fur on end.

Barking again, the pup charged for Fenris; the wavering aura surrounding the pup intensifying as it suddenly increased in size exponentially. And before anyone fully registered what happened, a massive, aggressive looking hound tackled Fenris.

"What tha hay is that!?" Apple Bloom shrieked.

"CUJO!?" Danny yelled in surprise. 

Hearing Danny's voice, Cujo's demeanor quickly changed from angry to happy. Turning his head towards Danny, tongue lolling out while wagging his tail. 

Using this opening, Fenris used his feet to kick the dog off of him; sending Cujo flying halfway across the room before he slammed into the ground. 

"Oh no you didn't," Danny growled, eyes burning brightly as they changed from toxic green to icy blue. Sweetie Belle gasped out as she saw this, recognizing the glow from what she had seen outside.

Quickly looking around, she jumped in between before anyone else could act, arms stretching out to either side while screaming at the top of her lungs: "STOOOP!!!"

Her voice echoed through the suddenly extremely quiet chamber, all eyes on her.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked angrily, while also trying her hardest to keep from crying. "In case you haven't noticed, there are changelings dying over here. And you said you would help. Instead, you're only making things worse," she cried out, not specifying who it was she was talking to, nor did it matter.

Danny's eyes widened marginally, slowly scanning the room. It was only now, not under sudden attack that he noticed the many bodies. Most of them still, some of them twitching and shivering. Now his eyes widened fully, and the icy blue glow of his eyes faded back to toxic green; his hands falling to his side as all anger and fire to fight left him.

Fenris growled lowly, slowly looking around as well while keeping the corruption in the corner of his eye. Quickly snapping towards the shadow mare, claws unsheathed as she stepped forwards, looking around as well.

"You know you have failed when it is the young who speak as the voice of reason," she then turned fully towards Fenris. "This fight is over!"

Fenris growled angrily, about to lash back when a cry of outrage drew all their attention towards the enraged Erlea stomping towards them, her fangs bared.

"GET. OUT!" She seethed, "Whoever the buck you are, you will NOT endanger my subjects."

Danny looked down at the young changeling with a look of shame and pity.

Erlea, as well as the other changeling foals further back flinched in surprise and confusion, looking oddly at Danny. Apple Bloom looked oddly towards Scootaloo, who had seen this strange development too. Sweetie Belle, however, remained transfixed on just trying to keep everyone apart, and seemed to have missed the odd flinch just now.

"I'm afraid I am the reason for the unfortunate chaos just now," Nightmare Moon spoke up, slowly approaching the changeling, bowing her head. "The reason for which is far too complicated to explain in just a few words. Needless to say, he—" she looked at Fenris "— and I have a… difficult history. One that still needs fixing," she sighed out. "Or at the very least, salvage what can be saved."

Fenris hissed through teeth, eyeing the mare with distrust.

"I don't care about whatever it is you're talking about!" The changeling shot back, pointing an accusing hoof towards the shadowy mare towering above her. "My kind is dying of hate, and instead of helping you're only worsening our condition."

Nightmare looked down on the filly with a saddened gaze, and this time it was Danny who spoke, stepping up besides the corruption.

"Then it should also be up to us to set this right," he said firmly, eyes locking with the filly. "You need help. That much is obvious, even if I don't fully understand everything that is going on."

Sighing and scratching the back of his head, Danny glanced back at the large wolf. 

"Are you going to be a problem?" He asked.

Fenris flexed his claws, carefully studying the human and his sin with slightly narrowed eyes. 

Something was different, he'd realized that much merely from the interaction with his ancient sin. It was a disease born from his own hate, cut out by his own claws. He knew what it was on the deepest level of his being, yet this thing now before him, it was different. More defined, grown stronger, wiser… and more dangerous. 

"Grandfather?" Nightmare said.

And then there was that. 

"What's with this grandfather thing?" Danny asked the question on everyone's mind, eyeing the shadow mare while Fenris growled lowly upon being called as such.

Biting her lower lip, Nightmare sighed out, shaking her head. "It is a long story."

"And the short version?" Danny asked.

"I, originally, was an entity born from his hatred; shaped by his rage, and subsequently cut out by his guilt."

"Hold on. Then what abo-" Danny interjected, confused, only for Nightmare to cut him off.

"Like I said, a long story," Nightmare said quickly before he could finish.

"Seriously, this day just doesn't stop with the unanswered questions​," Danny grumbled, sighing in frustration. "Fine. We'll add that to the 'we'll answer this later' pile."

Nodding, Nightmare Moon agreed. "Now back to the matter at hand," she said, looking at Fenris. "You don't like me, which is understandable. However, this is neither the time, or place to settle any unfinished business."

Danny glanced at Fenris as Nightmare spoke, eyes narrowing slightly before moving towards Cujo; seeing the oversized pup standing on the sideline, teeth showing and ready to attack.

"Easy, boy." Danny said, reaching up and placing a hand on the dog's head, giving him a light scratch.

Cujo, at first aggressive and growling, immediately relaxed as his hind leg started to kick; leaning into Danny.

Within moments a wavering aura surrounded the massive dog, and much to the shock and surprise of most there, Cujo shrunk down to a small, adorable looking puppy. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and even Erlea and the other changelings all found their mouths hanging open.

"Good boy," Danny complimented, now needing to kneel down as he gave Cujo a final scratch behind the ear.

"Did anypony else see tha?" Apple Bloom asked, eyes wide.

"You mean that massive ghost dog suddenly shrinking down like that?" Scootaloo replied, stupefied.

"You'll get used to it after a while," Danny remarked offhandedly, taking a step back from Cujo and then focused on the changelings around. "Eclipse, you good?" He asked, glancing back at her.

"Not the best way to describe it, but we've come to an… understanding… sort of."

Danny, able to sense some of the underlying feelings implicated through their linked minds couldn't help but snort, giving Eclipse a level stare.

"Uh huh."

"Meaning he won't do anything that would put any innocent bystander in jeopardy," she clarified.

Fenris watched this exchange with anger, seeing the human look at him, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. Flexing his claws in reflex, he shot the human his most heated glare.

Turning to Sweetie Belle, Danny then gave the filly a quizzical look. "I take it this is that Fenris guy you spoke of."

Nodding hesitantly, Sweetie Belle continued to nervously stare at Nightmare Moon.

"I see how he got his supposed reputation. Still, if you vouch for him…"

"Forget that!" Scootaloo yelped, pointing a hoof at the mare of the moon. "Why is Nightmare Moon here, helping you?!"  

All eyes swirled to the shadow mare, then back to Danny for an answer, then back to Nightmare Moon again as she cleared her throat.

"That is another long story," she said. "But know that, despite my appearance, I'm not who you think I am," she smiled at the fillies, which did little to put them at ease; a shiver traveling down their spines.

"Seriously, it's one long story after the other. It's all this is right now. A long story," Danny sighed out as he rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers. "At the end of this, I really would like some answers. Buuut… that'll have to wait as well," he released another tired sigh. 

He then proceeded to move towards Erlea, lowering himself to eye level as he looked into her large, teary yet anger filled eyes. 

"Look, I know you have probably no idea what is going on right now. Heck, I know I don't. Still, Sweetie Belle told me what has happened; what is still happening to your kind," he then slowly looked up, seeing the large alicorn slumped down on the throne behind the young filly. Frowning, he continued. "You've done all you could've; gone through things no child should. I know you have no reason to trust me, especially after what just happened, but I ask you to please allow us to help."

Erlea faltered, trapped in a downwards spiral of anger, grief, hopelessness and despair. Any flicker of hope she'd felt on saving her kind; her friends, her family died the second she'd seen just how far her mother had slipped. Then there was the additional blow when they were forced to gather the leaves of their living history, only to have this strange human to suddenly appear and immediately start a fight; filling the air with anger and hate.

And yet, there was something about this creature. Something she couldn't quite place. He emitted a feeling, a sensation. Only for a fraction of a second, but undeniably there. Something so alien, yet so familiar at the same time. And as she looked up and into his green glowing eyes something clicked. 

She didn't know why, and that in itself frightened her. Yet for reasons she didn't understand, somewhere deep down she knew she could trust him.

"I- I…" she stuttered, fell silent, then weakly nodded.

"Alright," Danny said, standing back up and looking around with a purpose, catching sight of the slowly dying fires. "First thing first, we need to get the temperature up. Is there anything we can use to fuel the fires?" 

"No, there isn't," Scootaloo replied, slowly moving towards Danny while giving 'not' Nightmare Moon a wide berth. "The changelings used everything they could find before we even got here. We've tried burning those strange glowing leaves, but…"

"Thay only burned fer a few seconds… didn' really do much," Apple Bloom said with disappointment.

"But with the windigos calmed down, at the very least it won't get any colder," Sweetie Belle quietly added. "Still, won't do us much good now."

"Damn," Danny muttered, frowning. "There has to be something."

"Maybe you can use your powers to warm the place up?" Scootaloo suggested, looking at him expectantly.

"Not really," Danny answered immediately. "Sure, ectoplasm burns when you get hit, but it doesn't really work like that. Unless, of course, these ectoplasmic powers are fire based. Which mine aren't."  

"Maybe ya can make those windigos take back this cold of theirs?" Apple Bloom suggested.

"I don't thin-" Danny replied, only to fall silent, looking at his hand while he flexed his fingers.

"Take back the cold…" he murmured.

"Danny?" Sweetie Belle stepped up, looking up at him. While, from a slight distance, Nightmare Moon watched Danny with slowly widening eyes.

Danny's eyes suddenly changed color, going from toxic green to icy blue.

"Whoa," Scootaloo gasped. "They changed color again."

"What are you going to do?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Honestly, I have no idea," Danny told her, raising up an arm, hand aglow with ice blue light. "But I'm about to find out."

A burst of ice blue light radiated out from his outstretched hand, casting the room in its unnatural light while Danny seemed to strain himself to contain the glow.

The pulsing aura around his hand slowly diminished, while the glow of said aura began to extend beyond his wrist, spreading up his arm as flakes of ice formed over the sleeve of his jumpsuit.

The next moment the foals around him gasped out as they saw icy cold vapor being pulled from the air, flowing to and into Danny's glowing hand; the buildup of ice increasing, now fully covering his arm and even spreading onto his shoulder as the contained glow now shone brightly from within, revealing a ghastly sight: Danny's skeleton.

Several of the youngest changelings cowered behind their older brothers, sisters and friends in fear as they watched as more and more cold was pulled out of the air and into Danny, continuously adding to the growing layer of ice, which now covered his neck and half his chest until Danny released his hold with a grunt, his frozen arm dropping to his side while he clutched it with his unfroze appendage; the temperature in the room noticeably warmer.

"Ghaa," Danny grunted, staring at his arm with wide eyes, slowly bringing it up.

"What the…" he murmured as he looked at his appendage, flexing his fingers.

"What did you…" Sweetie Belle gasped out, too dumbstruck to finish.

"That," Scootaloo squeaked. "Was AWESOME!"

"Wha- what did you do?" Erlea asked, taking a hesitant step towards Danny. "H-how did you…"

Frowning, Danny flexed his arm before raising it up high; looking through the translucent appendage and seeing his own skeleton. 

"Just like Frostbite," he murmured, not reacting to her.

"This is just like what I saw after you were hit by the crystal heart's energy," the mare who looked like Nightmare Moon said, stepping towards Danny, eyes locked on his frozen arm.

"The crystal heart?" Danny said, pulled out of his own musings. "Hold on. Yeah, I remember you saying something about my ice powers back there."

"Ice powers?" Apple Bloom spoke up, interest piqued.

"Yeah," Danny muttered his confirmation, again looking at his arm. "I have the power to create, shape, and control ice and snow… This is new, though," he revealed, dropping his arm to the side as he looked around, all eyes on him. Most of them wide in awe and amazement, even some fear while Fenris only bore the unmistakable glare of distrust. "It worked, though," Danny picked up after a moment, feeling the room's warmth sting in his frozen arm; wisps of cold condensation seeping off it. 

"It looks just like Frostbite's arm," said Sweetie Belle as she slowly stepped closer.

"Yeah...it does," Danny agreed, flexing his frozen hand, then clenching it shut tight into a fist. "And yet another thing to figure out," he sighed out. "For now, I'll just go with it. Maybe I can use this to get rid of the cold all around while you help the changelings?"

"You can do that?" Erlea, shaken by everything that had happened, spoke up; the faintest glimmer of hope hidden behind despair.

"I sure as hell can try," Danny stated firmly.

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle joined in. "You and me both."

"Don't forget about us," Scootaloo piped up as she and Apple Bloom stepped up besides Sweetie Belle. "With you helping, we can beat this stupid disease's sorry flank.

Nodding, Danny turned to his shadow. "Any idea how we can actually stop this thing?"

Not Nightmare Moon shifted nervously on the spot, eyes darting to Fenris and back. "Yes," she answered nervously. "But it won't be easy."

"It never is," Danny remarked with a sigh. "Just do what you can." Hesitantly, Nightmare Moon nodded.

"And what about us?" Erlea asked, clearly surprising herself for doing so.

"I'd say you've done more than enough already," Danny replied as he looked around. "Now it's our turn."

"Wha-" Erlea faltered.

"Yeah, he's right," Apple Bloom agreed with a strong nod, her ribbon bouncing in response. 

"Bu-"

"No buts, Erlea," Sweetie Belle said. "We said we would help, and we will."

"Yeah," Scootaloo agreed. "And now that the cold is gone, we also won't have to burn any more of those leaves that are so important to you."

"Alright," Danny said, hovering up. "As inspiring as this all is, we really should get going before it is too late." The ponies and changelings looked at one another, their priorities put back in perspective and they all scrambled to get going. They came to a full stop a moment later, looking back up at Danny.

"So, uhh… What do we do?" Scootaloo asked. 

"You can look after him," Danny said, nodding his head towards Cujo. " Eclipse," he called out to his shade, looking at her. "I don't know what it is you're planning, or how he—" he looked at Fenris "— and you are connected. But whatever it is you're planning, I know it somehow involves him. With how this day has gone for me, I will only say this once: No more surprises. Figure out whatever is going on between you two, because I really don't want to be jumped again when I return."

Silenced, the mare he called Eclipse could only nod.

"Good," Said Danny, then he flew just a bit higher, looking at all below him. "Everyone, let's go save a species."

<<>><<>><<>>

 

Sure, it sounded inspirational, heroic even. But saying it was nowhere near actually doing it.

No sooner had Danny left, and the tension between Fenris and the Nightmare, which Danny kept calling Eclipse took firm hold over the room again.

"Grandfather," not Nightmare Moon said again, standing before Fenris, only separated by a short distance.

The ponies and changelings all looked with large, frightful eyes at the two as Fenris' claws flexed; his muscular form tense and ready to strike.

Another wildcard which had thrown itself in the mix, was Cujo. The impossible pup lying off to the side, front legs crossed over each other and resting his head on them, yet keeping a close eye on Fenris while growling ever so lightly. 

Taking another step towards Fenris, the mare of shadows ignored the harsh bark Fenris threw at her.

"Shouldn't we stop her?" Scootaloo asked in a whisper, trying not to draw any attention to them. 

"An’ get eaten by Fenris, or worse, by Nightmare Moon? Apple Bloom shot back fearfully.

Well, we've got to do something, Sweetie Belle told them. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, and to stay her slightly shaking legs, she took a hesitant step forward. Then another, then another.

""What are you doing!?"" Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo hissed at her, quickly closing their mouths as they noticed the eyes of Fenris and Nightmare Moon now looking in their direction.

"Ehh…" Sweetie Belle tried, her voice sounding unusually loud in the otherwise silent room. "... Eh, Nightmare Moon-"

"Please, call me Eclipse," the mare told her, giving the child what seemed to be a kind smile, although the situation and her fangs made it seem more predatory than it actually was.

"Eep," Sweetie Belle squeaked, took another deep breath, then tried again. "Okay… Eclipse. Could you please try not to have Fenris attack us all?" She asked with unexpected bluntness. "I mean…. he really doesn't seem to like you here," she quickly added, hiding away as best she could.

"Fear not, child," Eclipse replied. "Hurting others is the last thing I want to do, either directly or indirectly." Closing her eyes and sighing out, she turned back to Fenris. "I just wish he'd see this. Although I can't blame him for the way he acts towards me."

"Ehh… Could you maybe back off?" Sweetie Belle tried again. "He was actually really helping before you and Danny showed up, and it would be a real help if he did so again. But…. well, you're not really helping," she said, daring. Hoping that she was true to her words.

Looking as if punched in the gut, Eclipse hung her head. 

"I see," she murmured. "If this is what you want, then I will not interfere." Taking a step back, her eyes met Fenris' once more. "I shall respect the child's request, and I hope you will do the same. I know you have no reason to trust me, and every reason to hate me. Still, I hope that, before this night is over, the two of us can come to an understanding."

Roaring in absolute rage, spittle flying out of his mouth, Fenris almost jumped at the corruption, only two small hooves of a levitating filly pressing against his chest kept him standing in place. Not because of any strength Sweetie Belle possessed, no. He could have easily pushed past her and not even notice. But the effort of the action, the look of worry in her eyes, the memory of this child flying head first into danger to help a friend calmed his anger. 

"I shall respect the lives of those who sought my help," he spoke with a low, dark voice. "But dare even come close to me, and I will strike you down without remorse."

Not saying another word, Eclipse only nodded in understanding, backing away even further.

"Fenris," Sweetie Belle said, looking up at the massive wolf

Looking down, seeing the still innocent eyes of youth past the dark fur of his chest, Fenris felt his anger calm just a bit. 

"Could you please help the other changelings?" Sweetie Belle asked. 

Looking away from the child, he turned his focus on all the sick still lying shivering on the floor near nearly burnt out fires.

"Just keep it away from me," he growled, and Sweetie Belle pushed away from him, dropping to the floor, nodding once.

Turning to her friends, she could see them staring at her with wide eyes, mouths hanging open in amazement.

"What?" she asked.

The two fillies were too stunned by their friend's actions to even utter a response.

<<>><<>><<>>

Out in the city, many colts and fillies panted from exertion after they had moved as many of the sick as they could, while also tending to the fires per their princess'​ instructions. And although it was a most laborious task, it did prove fruitful as the once scattered fires were now burning brighter and warmer, and larger groups of the sick were placed around them. However, as much as this helped, it also meant that what little wood they managed to scavenge from the dying flames now burned up even faster as a result. And it wouldn't be long now until everything was burned up, exposing the sick and dying to the bitter grasp of winter's cold.

Most saw it as a sure sign of the end when the land above froze, forcing the icy grasp to reach down even here in their city. And all looked around listlessly, hopelessly as they tried to defy the odds with little to no hope left. 

But then something happened. Something amazing. Something impossible.

A star shone within their city. A star shining its bright, icy blue light upon all. And feeling it as much as they saw it, the cold itself was drawn from the air and into the impossible star, which in turn shone brighter and brighter still.

The displacement of air they felt, the visible streams of cold vapor swirling to and around this star soon turned into a true vortex, and everyling looked up at the impossible with wide eyes, unable to believe what they were witnessing. The youngest among them cried, terrified, truly believing this was how it would all end. The eldest of them staring at the sight with no answers to give.

Then, just as sudden as it had appeared, the star vanished, and the tiniest of specks could be seen falling down before it landed onto one of the many spiral walkways.

"Wha… What in the queen's name was that?" A filly asked aloud, receiving no answer. 

And although she didn't know what just had happened, soon, she would find out just exactly who was responsible for this miracle.

<<>><<>><<>>

There was a monster on the loose. A terrifying beast made from the cold which had tried so hard to freeze them to death.

At first they had believed the blue star to be a blessing, but now its true nature revealed itself. It was truly the end of times for them, as sliding down from one of the ramps leading to one of the higher plateaus was a terrifying creature of ice. Its piercing, icy glare, as it stared forwards and out in the city only surpassed in fearsomeness by its throaty groans as it approached.

Slowly it approached, the ground pounding with each step this abomination took; its blue glowing eyes locked on them.

"Hey," it rumbled.

Everyling screamed.

"Really?" It spoke with terrifying voice.

Every single one of them backed away in fear as the thing took another step closer; revealing yet another horror to them as he approached. Contained within the things frozen body, there was a skeleton clearly visible.

"EVERYLING, RUN!" A filly screamed, and they all scattered. Most of them running, some using the last of their dwindling strength to fly.

"Hey, hold on," it shouted. As terrifying as the beast was, it must've been stupid to think that would have worked.

"Seriously?" It groaned as it began to pursue one of the fillies. "Can you guys please stop moving?" The beast called out after them. The filly being chased screamed loudly in response as she ran for the castle.

"I just want to ask where I can go to the surface," it called out with a heavy rumbling voice, yet his words were lost on the retreating foals, and the monster slowed down just a bit; sliding forwards through his momentum before he caught himself.

"Gee, Danny. Let's move to Equestria, leave all the ghost business behind," the monster groaned. "Why didn't I just go to bed?" 

<<>><<>><<>>

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Erlea and several of the other changeling colts and fillies were moving from one sick changeling to the other; aiding them in whatever way they could; helping those conscious to drink, applying medicinal paste on the cracked and brittle chitin, and making sure Fenris wouldn't attack Eclipse, both of whom they gave a wide berth whenever they could. 

Eclipse, for her part, seemed friendly enough. Helping in whichever way she could. Yet she always tried to approach Fenris, who reacted aggressively every time she tried. This wouldn't stop her, of course. Something the children found out quickly enough. A pensive frown clear as day on Eclipse's features, something weighing heavily on her mind. Something she clearly wanted to address, and which obviously involved Fenris. 

Fenris, opposite of Eclipse, snarled and barked most of the time, despite Apple Bloom's insistence he didn't really mean it. Something about all bark, and no bite. Still, this didn't help the changelings to feel at ease around him. But, as he had proven before Danny and Eclipse had shown up, he was able to relieve the sick from some of their burden. Enough even, for it to become a turning point for those not too far gone, which was also why the foals were as busy as they were. For those others past the turning point, unless some kind of miracle happened they wouldn't make it. 

Of course, the same would still hold true for all the sick, whether Fenris cut out the poisonous hate or not. As long as even a little bit remained, in their weakened state they would easily succumb to it again.

"Grandfather," Eclipse tried again, carefully approaching the large wolf.

Fenris growled, loudly, eyes burning with barely contained rage; saliva dripping from his fangs and glowing claws unsheathed. 

Eclipse stood her ground, looking back with defiance despite her saddened gaze.

"We both know what needs to be done if we are to save them."

Fenris took a step closer, his intent clear when a loud scream echoed in through the partially open doors of the throne room, pulling everyone's attention to the absolutely terrified filly who came rushing through.

"M-m-monster!" She screamed, rushing to hide behind the first bit of cover she could find.

"Sheesh," a rough, gritty voice rolled in from behind the shadows past the doors. Heavy steps indicating something was approaching. "I know I'm not much to look at. But really, a monster?"

Out of the shadows, a frozen behemoth stepped forth, a creature that shone with icy blue light coming from within. A light that also revealed his skeleton. 

Numerous shocked and frightened gasps rose up upon the sight, making the creature grunt in annoyance.

"WHAT THE HAY IS THAT THING!?" Scootaloo shouted, backing away.

"Seriously?" The creature droned, then sighed out, shaking his head with a hand placed against it.

"Master," Eclipse said in recognition, taking a step closer, not surprised by Danny's changed appearance in the slightest.

"Wait, what!?" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, shocked, looking at the frozen creature. "Danny?" 

Another round of gasps echoed through the chamber upon recognition of the frozen human.

"The one and only," he replied. 

"What happened to you?" Sweetie Belle queried, shocked, worried.

"I caught a cold," Danny said, completely serious.

Silence.

"Yeah, okay. That one was bad," he admitted. "Still, I managed to take the cold away," he said. "Wasn't really expecting me to become an icicle the way I have." Lifting a hand, he once again looked at his bones.

"That," Scootaloo gasped, slowly stepping closer to Danny, craning her neck to look up at him. "Is so cool," she looked wide eyed at the ice encased skeletal human. "Can you do that?" She asked Sweetie Belle a moment later.

"I hope not," Sweetie Belle answered, shivering upon the sight of Danny's skeleton. "Honestly, it's kinda scary."

"Yeah," Danny murmured. "She thought so, too," he nodded towards the filly still hiding away from him; peeking past the throne at him. "Most of them did, actually," he added almost as an afterthought. "I had to walk here because, for some reason, I can't fly. And because I didn't know where to go, I thought I'd go ask for directions."

"An how did that go?" Apple Bloom asked. Danny merely pointed a finger towards the cowering child. "Ah."

"But enough about me. How're things going here?"

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at one another, then around the room, before settling their sights upon Erlea.

"Well, Erlea seems to be petrified in fear," Sweetie Belle noted, and they all turned to look at the seemingly frozen changeling, staring at Danny with wide, unblinking eyes and mouth partially open. 

"Abella and Devora are helping their friends outside, bringing in as many of the sick as they can." Scootaloo picked up. "But now that it is warmer out there, it probably isn't necessary anymore."

"Fenris seems ta be able ta 'cut' out some of this disease," Apple Bloom continued. "Not all of it, but enough to matter in tha short run. Although Eclipse keeps trying to talk to him."

"Eclipse?" Danny aimed at his shade.

Sighing out tiredly, Eclipse hung her head. "I tried to, yes, because as much as he'd done so far, it will not hold. The changelings will get sick again if nothing else is done. He knows it just as well as I do."

"What do you mean?" Danny asked.

"I mean, he can't remove the disease, merely its symptoms. The changelings aren't better, they are merely feeling better. But it won't hold. They will get sick again, unless…"

"Unless, what?"

All eyes shifted to queen Chrysalis, her eyes partially open, voice raspy as she spoke with dried, cracked lips. 

"MOM!" Erlea cried out, snapped out of her stupor, running for her mother and hugging her. 

The queen coughed violently, messily, chest heaving.

"Are you alright?" Danny asked, stepping in. Erlea hissed at him as he approached, making him stop in his tracks.

"Does it look like she's alright?" She growled. A weak hoof pressing against her side calmed her down, and she looked back up at her mother.

Chrysalis' eyes, only partially open, first looked at the frozen creature several steps away from her, then towards the ponies doing what they could to aid her subjects. Then her eyes drifted towards the massive wolf, the one she picked up was responsible for reducing the agony she and her children suffered through. Then her eyes locked with those who resembled the Nightmare, and she repeated her question: "Unless, what?"

"Queen Chrysalis," Eclipse gasped, not having expected for her to regain consciousness so soon. Shaking her head to focus, she answered. "As I stand before you, my name is Eclipse. Child of the entities named Shadow and Nightmare Moon. Grand daughter of Fenris, born from his hatred to the name Fenrir." She paused, feeling all eyes upon her. "Long ago, before I was as I am now, I clouded and corrupted the mind of Fenris, turning him against all. Through his own actions, and by his own claws, he cut me out at the cost of his own life, losing a part of his very soul as well." She then looked at Fenris, who glared at her with murder in his eyes. "This is why he can't cure the disease ravaging all of you. Cutting out the hate which is killing you would equal death."

Chrysalis sighed heavily, coughing as she rested her head against her throne, eyes closed. 

"I see," she murmured. "And the solution?"

Eclipse sucked in a stuttering gasp, then continued.

"Fenris can't remove a disease born from hate, for I am the part of him that knows how to do this. Apart, neither one of us is capable. But if we were to reunite-" That was all she could say as, with a terrifying growl, Fenris attacked.

"Oh hell," Danny muttered with a rumble, jumping in between; grabbing one of Fenris' wrists in his frozen hand while missing the other. The one clawed paw he did manage to catch immediately froze, immobilizing it completely. The other, however, went on to pierce Danny in his shoulder; cutting cleanly through the ice.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo gasped in shock when Danny cried out in pain, the claw cutting deep, scarring the bone underneath his frozen skin. While, at the same time, Fenris' claw immediately started to freeze the second it sunk into Danny's frozen flesh; locking it in place.

Fenris howled in rage, the freezing cold biting deep, and with all the strength his muscular body provided, he pulled himself free.

Now, again, Danny cried out, loudly, full of anguish as Fenris did not only pull away his claw, but a sizable chunk of his shoulder broke off as well, exposing the bone underneath.

Danny screamed, grabbing his damaged shoulder with his hand purely on reflex as he stumbled backwards, then dropped to his knees.

"""DANNY!""" Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle cried out in alarm, rushing over to his side while Eclipse did the same.

"GHYAA," Danny grunted, ever so carefully looking at his injury.

Stepping up to defend the fallen ghost, Eclipse took a defensive stance between Danny and Fenris. 

"No matter what, I will protect my master!" She stated strongly, her horn starting to glow with spectral might. 

Fenris took another step backwards, looking with a hint of shock at Danny, then his claw; chunks of ice still connecting it. Then his eyes met Eclipse's, and he felt himself freeze up. 

Here stood before him, the monster of his own creation, opposing him, defending one it recognized as its master. Defending the human against him, just as he did for the shade a second ago. Each protecting the other. Protecting each other from him.

As much as he hated and feared his past sin, looking into its eyes there was something he recognized. Something which frightened him as much as it enraged him: shame.

Shame for him, for lashing out as he did. Shame for herself, for allowing this to happen. Shame for the changelings, reduced to this state by the very same thing that gave life to his corruption. Shame for the human, for stepping in between. And most of all, he saw her shame for existing.

"GHAA!" Danny cried out again as cold steam began to flow from his injury.

"Danny, what's happening?" Sweetie Belle cried in alarm, the wisps of cold vapor quickly increasing to an all consuming fog around his shoulder.

Fenris felt himself go weak. In many ways he allowed his anger to take over again; lashing out against his hate given form, regardless of who, or what came in between.

"Arf!" A new voice spoke up, and Fenris slowly turned to the small pup near his feet; looking up at him with angry eyes.

"Bark, arf arf, arooo. Grrr-arf arf!" Cujo growled and barked.

"You know not of which you speak," Fenris barked back.

Cujo narrowed his eyes. "Ghrrr, arf," then he lifted his tail and farted.

"You dare!?"

Cujo did, in fact, dare. And he repeated the action. Not stopping there, he turned his back to Fenris, a clear show of fearlessness; an open challenge. "Arf arf, woof ghrr. Arooo," he took a step towards Danny, stomped a paw on the floor, then glared over his shoulder at Fenris. "Woof, arf. Arf woof aw-awroo. Arf!" He finished strongly, leaving Fenris speechless as Cujo glared up at him.

"What just happened?" Scootaloo asked, confused.

"I have honestly no idea," answered Sweetie Belle.

Apple Bloom opened her mouth to give voice to her thoughts, but then she noticed something amazing happening with Danny. "Uh, girls…"

"You speak with reason belying your age," Fenris suddenly spoke up, lowering his head towards Cujo in respect. "I shall listen to what he has to say."

"Girls," Apple Bloom tried again. "Look!"

This time she managed to get their attention, and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, as well as all the others turned back to the severely injured human.

"Ghraaaa," Danny grunted in pained exertion, massive amounts of supercooled vapor rising up out of the wound; filling the space and regrowing the ice.

"Whoa!" Scootaloo awed, eyes wide.

"Is… is he healing?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Ghyaaaa!" Danny gasped out dropping to the ground fully, managing to catch himself with his hands. 

His eyes shot open, and he glanced wearily to his shoulder. A gasp of shock escaped him.

His shoulder was completely whole again, with only the exception of a visible scar present on the bone.

"What the?" He murmured, pushing himself to a sitting position, then gingerly prodding his shoulder with a couple of fingers. "How…?"

"It must be because of all the cold you've absorbed," Eclipse surmised. "It must allow you to regrow any part of your body that's damaged."

Grunting, Danny pushed himself back up. "As likely as that sounds, I'm in no hurry to find out if that is true." Slowly rolling his shoulder to see if everything was in working order, Danny stared at the scar inflicted on his bone, frowning angrily.

With heavy steps, Fenris slowly approached under the watchful eye of Cujo. Still glaring at Eclipse, but the fire in his eyes had diminished considerably.

"You, who my sin calls its master. Speak, and I shall listen."

"Just like that, huh," Danny muttered, voice thick with suspicion.

"No," Fenris rumbled. "If it wasn't for the guardian, and how highly he speaks of you, I wouldn't give you the chance to speak."

"Guardian?" Danny blinked, confused as to who Fenris was referring to.

"Arf," Cujo barked.

"... Guard dog," Danny said slowly, looking up with a flat gaze. "Of course," he droned.

Sighing out and filling the air with cold vapor, he turned to Eclipse. "So you originate from him?" He asked, and the shadow mare nodded once. "How?"

"For many years my former host watched with growing anger and hate as those who corrupted their way of living massacred countless innocents, unable to do anything against this by the rules he and his brothers had set for themselves. Over time, his rage grew into something much darker; a creature born from hate itself. Me." She told with downcast eyes. 

"You?" Danny asked, clearly not liking this one bit.

Nodding, Eclipse continued. "Yes, but I was not the individual standing before you today. I don't really recall what happened after my… removal from Fenris, only that, somehow, I managed to find a new host on a world alien to me. Princess Luna," she revealed, and Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle gasped out. "I'm still trying to piece everything together. The memories of Shadow and Nightmare Moon are overlapping, mixing, blurring each other. But what I do recall with perfect clarity is that I, an entity of hate, latched onto the negativity of Princess Luna, amplifying it past anything she would have been capable of herself; corrupting her in much the same way I did my first host, even translating some of his features to her." She sighed out, deeply, head held low.

"However, the negativity of princess Luna was not born from hate, but jealousy. Two different emotions which, in some ways, are closely connected. And such, the two mixed. And where princess Luna jealousy turned to hate, I in turn learned to be jealous."

"So ya are Nightmare Moon?" Apple Bloom asked.

"No, not exactly," Eclipse shook her head. "If anything, she's my mother."

"Say what!?" Scootaloo shouted.

"Nightmare Moon has a daughter!?" Apple Bloom cried in alarm.

"No no no, nothing like that!" Eclipse tried to calm down the situation.

"But didn't you just say you were?" Danny pointed out, arms crossed and looking quizzically at Eclipse.

"I did," she admitted. "But only because of a lack of better words. Your shade, Shadow, originally was merely a drone. Mindless and only able to perform certain tasks."

Danny slightly shifted on the spot, head cocked to a side, thinking. "Yes, that's right. Shadow couldn't even move all that far away from me without disappearing. And he certainly couldn't talk."

"Indeed," Eclipse murmured grimly. "His sudden growth in abilities was the direct result of him absorbing Nightmare Moon. Completely by accident, mind you. He was merely trying to protect your mind from Princess Luna as she tried to gain access to your dreams."

"Yes, I remember Shadow mentioning something like that. He referred to Princess Luna as a bad pony, mostly so because he wasn't able to speak all that well. Still, what he said, not to mention what Ruby and Grill told me back at the café; this whole dream entering and controlling thing sounds a whole lot like Nocturn to me." Danny said, his head tilted slightly to the side as he thought back.

"Who's Nocturn?" Apple Bloom piped up, sharing a confused look with her friends.

"He's the ghost of sleep and dreams," Danny revealed. "He uses his power to put people to sleep so he can absorb their dream energy to charge himself up for world conquest."

The fillies' mouth dropped open upon Danny's revelation.

"Yeah," Danny sighed out. 

"Well, Princess Luna ain't like that at all!" Apple Bloom was quick to defend the princess.

"True, but I wouldn't have put it past my mother had she known about this," Eclipse continued. "Regardless of what ifs, as Luna tried to gain entry to your mind in an attempt to find out what troubled you each night, Shadow thwarted her every time."

"What troubled me each night?" Danny repeated, looking of to the side, thinking. 

"That nightmare," Eclipse told him, and Danny sucked in a sharp breath. "You haven't had it in a while now, have you?"

"No," Danny replied, only now realizing this himself. "... Did princess Luna do that?"

"No," Eclipse shook her head. "Shadow did, at first. Now it is my task to keep your past from resurfacing."

"I see," Danny mumbled, thinking all of this over. 

"Hold on," Scootaloo cut in, pointing a hoof at Eclipse. "You said you were Nightmare Moon's daughter. How does that even work?"

Turning to the filly, Eclipse continued her story. "After Danny's shade, Shadow, absorbed the remainder of Nightmare Moon from princess Luna, a change occurred within​ him. Nightmare Moon was still very weak, and she latched onto him in order to restore herself, enhancing the abilities he already had, while also bestowing numerous new traits onto him as well. Intelligence for one, as well as the ability to speak. Of course, this was not done out of any kindness on her part. Just a necessity to save herself. And as she grew, the two fought long and hard over control over their physical form—" she used a hoof to indicate the whole of her body "—as well as Danny's mind."

"Say, what?!" Danny shouted.

"Do you recall the blinding rage you felt while facing Sombra?" She asked, and Danny, thinking for awhile, shook his head.

"No. Now that I think about it, there is quite a large gap, between me first fighting Sombra outside the shield, and then finding myself at the edge of the city, meeting you," he summed up, slowly looking up at the shadow mare. "What the hell happened?"

"Nightmare Moon took control, turning your anger and hate for Sombra, and what he did, against you," she revealed, and Fenris flinched, looking at Danny with wide eyes. "You became unstable, volatile, blinded by unchecked rage. Nightmare Moon used this to take control over you and Shadow."

All the fillies and colts standing around the group gasped out in shock, looking wide eyed and frightened at Danny.

"Then how-" 

"The Crystal Heart saved you," Eclipse answered before he could even finish. "It's energy cleansed you, while also merging Shadow and Nightmare Moon into one: Me. I'm both Shadow and Nightmare Moon, while neither of them at the same time. The Crystal Heart brought balance between two extremes, creating a new entity in the process. So, for all intent and purposes, I am the child of Shadow and Nightmare Moon."

"Crystal Heart?" Chrysalis coughed. "Does that mean, the Empire-"

Looking at her with worry, Eclipse gave a faint nod. "It has returned." She then turned to Fenris, looking up at him with made up resolve. 

"Danny," she aimed at her master, never averting her gaze. "My former host said he'd listen to what you have to say, yet it was I who did all the talking. So far Fenris has allowed me to do so," —she then spoke directly to the wolf before her— "But I fear you will lash out again when I explain my plan to save the changelings." A rough growl answered her.

"Do not think sharing your previous transgressions will make me see you any different," Fenris barked. "I allowed you to talk merely because the human wished this. And only then, because of the guardian's words." His voice then lowered, becoming much darker of tone. "You are a disease. A plague on the world. Don't think I will have anything to do with what you're planning." 

"Not even to save a species?" Eclipse confronted him, then sighed out heavily, slightly shaking her head.

"What is it that you even want to do?" Danny asked with a hint of worry.

"I wish to reunite with my first host," Eclipse answered with heavy voice. Fenris' growled deeply, tensing up and preparing to strike.

"You what!?" Danny balked. 

"I wish to reunite with my first host. Together we are able to remove the hate which is killing the changelings without killing them should Fenris do this himself."

Danny quickly stepped up, standing in between Eclipse and Fenris as a means to keep the two apart, even though Fenris had already demonstrated such actions were foolish at best.

"I'll ask again," said Danny. "You want to do what!? Reunite? How? By possessing him? You and I both know that won't work; how dangerous it is. Not only that, you are a part of me now. If something would go wrong, who says it won't affect me too?"

"It won't be a possession as you think it to be. I already am part of him, so I should be able to rejoin without any ill effect."

"You were a part of him," Danny stated firmly. "Didn't you just say so yourself, how you grew as you first possessed princess Luna, then me, before finally being merged together with Shadow. Any part of you that is still his—" he indicated Fenris "—has most likely changed as much as you have."

Head held low, Eclipse stood silently as Danny spoke. Then, ever so slowly, she lifted her head, eyes set in confident determination. 

"This will work," she stated. "I'm sure of it."

Fenris snorted in disgust, spitting the foul taste to the floor.

"No," Danny stated firmly. "There has to be another way. But you are not going to 'reunite' with your grandfather, or whatever he is to you. Regardless of who or what you are now, you are still a ghost. And ghosts don't possess ghosts. The very reason you are even here in the first place is because I did just that. And we both know where that got me. Besides," he added after a short pause. "Even if you're right, he isn't going to let you go through with it."

Eclipse looked up, past Danny and into the murderous eyes of Fenris. Finding no forgiveness there.

"Look," Danny pulled her attention back down. "I understand you want to help. So do I, but not in a way as dangerous as what you're suggesting. Now, I still don't fully understand what is going on with you, seeing that you are you only since today. And I wasn't even conscious when you came to be, so I'm not entirely sure what to make of you, too. You're not exactly Shadow. How about, instead, we just let Fenris do his thing, which does seem to help. And while he does that, I need to find a way back to the surface and get rid of this cold. Because, in case this wasn't obvious yet, I'm a literal walking and talking icecube."

"But can't you just fly up and through the ceiling, like what you did when we were looking for the throne room?" Sweetie Belle asked, turning all eyes towards her.

"I'm afraid not," Danny sighed, blowing out a dense cloud of cold air. "Somehow, because of this—" he gestured the whole of his body "—I can't fly or even turn intangible. I had to walk here. I did try to ask for directions back to the surface, but, well," he pointed a finger at the filly who came into the throne room screaming. "So if anyone could show me the way up, that would be really helpful."

"You can't fly?!" Scootaloo cried out, aghasted. 

"No… sliding down without control, however…" He fell silent there, staring blankly.

"O-kay…?" said Apple Bloom, then a thought hit her. "Hey, maybe Wind Chill knows what's goin' on with ya?" She suggested.

"Hey, yeah," agreed Sweetie Belle. "Maybe he also knows a way for Nigh- eh… Eclipse to help without doing what she said she wanted to do."

"Even more reason for me to get back up there, then," Danny mused, turning towards Chrysalis, and in extend her daughter, Erlea, still sitting at the foot of the throne. "Do you think one of you can show me the way around here? This place is like a maze, and with my abilities currently being uncooperative it is rather difficult for me to get around."

Erlea blinked, slowly, looking with slightly crazy eyes at the frozen human, then the shadow mare who resembled the corruption and claimed to be Nightmare Moon's daughter. Then her eyes moved to Fenris, a massive wolf with questionable motives to help, and who, by Eclipse's claims, was also her grandfather; the one who was responsible for the corruption's creation. And finally, her eyes shifted over to the fillies who so stubbornly tried to help her ever since they rescued her from the timberwolves. All of what had happened since she'd met those three, especially everything that had just happened the last twenty or so minutes had thrown her mind for a loop. Nothing made any sense anymore. Not Sweetie Belle, who claimed to be a spirit and the ridiculous claim for there to be a ghost world, nor the subsequent traversion to said ghostly realm and everything that followed after as a result. And now, standing before her, asking for directions as if this was just another regular day was a human, an alien from another world, who she was told was just like Sweetie Belle, but not a spirit but a ghost. A creature who demonstrated to be capable to suck the freezing cold forced upon them by the mythical windigos out of the air, only for him to freeze solid as a result. And he was asking her for directions.

Nothing made any sense anymore. 

Up was down. Left was right. Inside was outside. And all of this contributed to her well thought out response to his question.

"Whu…?"

Looking at her expectantly, several long seconds passed in awkward silence until Sweetie Belle slowly edged closer to her; pushing the tip of her hooves in her side to gain a response.

"I think we broke her," she said after a moment, receiving no reply from the young changeling. 

"Arf!" Cujo called for attention, ears perked up as he looked up at Danny.

"What is it, boy?" Danny asked the pup, who then moved for the partially open doors. Stopping after several steps, he looked back at the frozen man, barking again.

"Ah think he wants ta show ya tha way," Apple Bloom realized, recognizing similar signs from Winona.

"You sure?" Danny asked. In answer, Cujo barked again. "Okay, lead the wa- hey, hold up!" He called after the pup as he quickly ran away. 

Not wasting any more time, Danny hurried after the canine, leaving the others behind in a tense silence; all eyes back on Eclipse and Fenris.

".... Sooo… Now what?" Scootaloo asked after a moment. 

Sweetie Belle perked up, mouth opening to answer. She then froze mid-motion, and deflated with a heavy sigh. "I have no idea."

<<>><<>><<>>

With slow steps, and the accompanying 'tap tap tap' of her staff as she walked, the Elder approached a tall, grandfather clock-like building. 

Looking up at the swinging pendulum, the Elder took a slow breath, then jumped from the floating rock she stood on towards the building floating in the green void of the Ghost Zone; dropping down a few steps shy of the large double doors. Doors which slowly swung open the moment she righted herself.

Not hesitating one moment, she calmly moved inside; not even flinching as the doors closed behind her with a dull thud.

She moved through the large hallway with purpose, not deviating from her path; clearly showing her knowledge of the building's layout.

The slight tapping of her staff was the only sound filling the ancient hall as she neared one of the many arched doorways, the green glow of a swirling vortex shining through, basking her in its light as she looked towards the lone ghost hovering before the swirl of energy; holding a staff of his own.

"Hello, Elder," Clockwork greeted, not averting his gaze from the time window. "I've been expecting you."

"So it would seem," the Elder concurred, stepping inside the room, joining the time ghost's side. "I take it this precognitive perception of yours has something to do with this hastily closed viewing portal," she said lightheartedly. 

Clockwork chuckled, finally turning towards the frost giant besides him.

"As perceptive as always, I see," he said, grinning slightly. 

"Did you expect any different?" 

"Of course not," he told her. "But viewing portal, or not, I knew it was only a matter of time before you would show up here. After all, with everything that has unfolded; what is still going to unfold… Pieces are being put in position, ourselves included."

Sighing heavily, the Elder nodded. "Indeed. And speaking of such, I must thank you," she told him. "For helping Scootaloo."

Clockwork arched a single eyebrow, only slightly surprised that she'd knew about that too.

"Yes," he said. "She was lost, blinded by her own unwillingness to accept reality as it is. She had to see, experience all sides of probability, and be put in a position where all the consequences of both her actions, as well as others could not be denied any longer; horrible as this might have been."

"I agree," the Elder sighed sadly. "She was troubled. Very much so. I just hope this will set her back on track."

Now Clockwork was confused. "You mean you haven't already seen?"

"Some things are hidden, even for me," she reminded him. "Although I have good reason to believe your intervention has bore fruit."

"How so?" he asked.

"Tree of Life," she told him, and Clockwork gasped.

Looking around quickly, Clockwork lifted his staff and created a time bubble around the two, preventing anyone to hear what would be said further.

"What about her?" he asked most seriously.

The Elder didn't answer immediately. Instead, she took a step towards the swirling mass of the viewing portal, looking into the endless. 

"She bares fruit once more," she revealed, shocking Clockwork. "Three seeds of life. One for each of the children."

"What!?" Clockwork shouted.

"Indeed," the Elder agreed. "Although they are still young, undeveloped. Yet with noticeable growth in accordance with the children. Sweetie Belle has shown the most promise, yet she is still doubtful. Scootaloo has come to accept reality as it is, and this growth has undoubtedly shown itself too. Young Apple Bloom, however. She has difficulties coming to terms."

"Coming to terms with what, exactly?" 

"Denial, anger, bargain, depression and acceptance," she summed up.

"The five stages of grief," Clockwork realized. "What about it?"

Looking at the time ghost, the Elder explained. "The children all show signs, connections to these traits. Scootaloo lost her parents, just like Apple Bloom, where as Sweetie Belle did not experience such tragedy. Three different variations with distinct results. Scootaloo still recalls certain details of her parents, faint and obscure as they may be. Whereas Apple Bloom does not. While Sweetie Belle grew up to know her parents, none the wiser of what such tremendous loss could be like, even though her parents are away more often than not, leaving her older sister to take care of her. This makes them react to their loss in different ways. Scootaloo, to start with, was angry. Very much so. Even wishing for things to be different, one way or the other. Bargaining for it. Then she came to accept how things were thanks to you. Sweetie Belle, who hasn't suffered any loss like that which troubles her friends, still deals with the reality those who gave life to her are not part of it as much as she would have wanted. It makes her unsure of herself, to some extend. There are times where she doesn't believe she is capable of doing what her friends know she can do. Although her friends do help her overcome this denial of her own capabilities every time. Her spirit transformation only added to her uncertainty, although she has slowly coming to accept these changes, and growing stronger both in mind and body as a result." she sighed out wearily, slowly shaking her head.

"But then there is Apple Bloom. She misses her parents, very much so. Even though she doesn't remember them, and all she has to remember them by are the stories and pictures shared by her family. Yet she denies missing them, making herself believe that something she never knew can't be missed. And although she smiles, laughs, and plays with her friends​, the truth is this denied feeling of loss does make her depressed when she believes no one is there to see it. And it is because of this denial, much so like Scootaloo, which now stands in her way, preventing herself from growth and reaching her full potential."

Clockwork remained silent for several long minutes, staring into the endless of the vortex, lost in thought.

"... You mean to tell me that… that those three are-"

"Chosen to represent the stages of grief, yes. These Seeds of Life,which Tree of Life has grown, are theirs. Their Embodiments."

"But… that can't be possible. Can it?" 

"I know what you mean," the Elder picked up. "While I see no reason for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo not to receive an Embodied Artifact, Sweetie Belle is a different story."

"Has it ever happened, in all of history, for one to represent two Embodiments?"

"No, never."

"Then, how?"

"Choice," the Elder sighed. "It has always been the problem. Sweetie Belle represents choice, but it seems she herself has also been chosen. Chosen to be something far greater than we have ever seen before, I only hope she can accept the role put onto her."

Clockwork took a deep breath, then slowly let it go; tightening the grip he had on his staff.

"Choice has always been the problem. Especially when we don't have a choice to make."

No further words were said, and as Clockwork collapsed the time bubble around them, a lone figure, hidden in the shadows, watched the two with great interest. Her bat wings twitching in nervousness.

"Yet there still remains one thing that needs to be said," the Elder said, and she slowly turned to where she was hiding.

"Hello, Sam," she said, and Sam released a startled gasp upon having been found out. "It's good seeing you again."