//------------------------------//
// Disrupting the past 
// Story: Darkness Returns 
// by BronyNathan 
//------------------------------//

	While the rest of the ponies huddled outside the door, trying to listen in on the private conversation, Twilight slipped away and headed upstairs. She found Fluttershy sitting on her bed. "Are you alright?" Twilight asked taking a seat next to her friend. Fluttershy looked distraught. 
"I can't do this." She said sobbing. "I can't keep putting Woodwind in the state he's in anymore!" 
Twilight held her friend closer, hoping to comfort her. "You've done nothing wrong. I'm sure he'll be so excited about it!" 
Fluttershy looked at her with bloodshot eyes. "But with Buck and Tinyhooves turning two, and Squeak starting school in a few weeks, how can we afford another foal?" 
Twilight sighed. She didn't know what to say. She knew all the sacrifices they made together to keep their family afloat. Fluttershy had to sell a lot of her animals, Woodwind was working about two or three jobs now, and Squeak had to be home schooled just so they could save enough money to keep her house. 
"I don't know, Fluttershy. But you need to tell him, one way or another. This foal is unexpected, but also a blessing." Twilight said hoping that would calm her down. 
The door creaked open to reveal a tiny face poking through. "You're having a baby?" Squeak asked, walking slowly up to her mother. Twilight twiddled her hooves and Fluttershy didn't know what to do. 
"Umm-" She started, then sighed, knowing she couldn't hide it anymore. "Yes Squeak... I am." 
Squeak let out a little squee and bounced around the room, "Yay! I get to be a big sister again!" 
Twilight knew how much Squeak meant to her father. If she was happy about it, then Woodwind would be, too. 
"Woodwind will be thrilled Fluttershy. Just tell him." Twilight pleaded. Fluttershy let out a long sigh. 
"I'll tell him when i'm ready. I promise." She said holding up her hoof in honesty. "But, lets go see what's going on down stairs." 
"C'mon what are they saying in there?" Rainbow asked Pinkie, who had her whole head placed against the door. 
"I dunno. I can't hear anything." She said, pressing her face harder into the wood. 
The door opened and she crashed to the floor. Celestia and Woodwind looked down at her quizzically. 
"Well, i'm glad the word "privacy" means something to you, guys." Woodwind said sarcastically, rolling his eyes at the bright red Pinkie Pie at his feet. 
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Enough chit-chat! So what's the deal?" Rainbow demanded, hovering over them with her arms crossed. 
Woodwind looked up at Celestia, who nodded in agreement. 
Woodwind told the tale. The cave of power, traveling back in time helping Celestia and Luna in the past, and of Caltroth, the demon leader who lead the conquest for Equestria thousands of years ago. 
"Do ya think we have any chance of stoppin' those two?" AppleJack asked, "We had a hard enough time beatin' Discord on his own!" 
"He is a master manipulator." Twilight added coming down the stairs, a sheepish Fluttershy on her heels. "He corrupted us before, so if we're going to fight him again, we have to prepare ourselves for this time." 
Woodwind nodded. "Sounds reasonable. Should we all head to Canterlot now?"
Celestia nodded. "Come. Let us prepare for what is to come." 
She opened up a portal to the capital city, and they all disappeared in the bright light.

Luna strode down the dark empty halls of the castle. She knew how this would end for the Elements if they were to go against Discord AND Caltroth. 
They would fall. And hard, too.
She sought out the only pony who she knew would aid her in her fight. 
Woodwind.
Woodwind slept peacefully in the comfy bed, beside his wife and children. The bed was large enough to fit his family three times over. The twins were curled under their mothers arms and Squeak snuggled close to him, still scared by all the happenings going on. 
He felt a hoof shake him. He tried to ignore it but it shook him again, harder. 
He leaned over to see Luna. What in Equestria did she want? She held a hoof to her mouth, a "shush" gesture, and waved him to follow her. 
He slowly rose, careful not to wake Squeak up, and left. 
"What is it you need Princess Luna?" Woodwind asked, running a hoof over his sleepy eyes. 
"I know you don't want to wait to destroy them. Which is why i need your help now." She said bluntly. 
"What do you want to do?" He pried, hoping to get a clear answer out of the princess of the night. 
"Discord and Caltroth are at the entrance to Tartarus. They killed Cerberus and are amassing an army greater than Equestria has ever seen. I know what they plan to do..." She said sadly. 
"And that is?" Woodwind asked her. She sighed and stared out towards the mountains across the land. 
"They are going to attack, holding all they find captive, forcing us to release the other dangerous beasts from the lowest levels of Tartarus. I know that you were there with us all those centuries ago. You know what they could do to Equestria if they were to escape. 
How did she know? Did Princess Celestia tell her? He gulped and tried to keep a brave face. 
"Yes i do. And I don't want to see Equestria in their hands again. So what would you have me do?" He asked again, hoping to get a clear answer. 
"Fly out and meet them head on with me." She said. "You hold the most powerful Element at your disposal. You can vanquish them with ease." She lied. She had to say something to coax his soldier's ego out.
He smiled as the neckless appeared around his neck, summoned by his will. "Well, I hope I don't have to play the sacrifice again." 
Luna frowned, the sarcasm going right over her head. "Not again, Woodwind. This time, it's my turn." 
Fluttershy rolled over, hoping to snuggle close to her husband, but she only felt the empty space where he had once been. She sat up slowly, brushing her flowing, pink mane from her face. "Woodwind?" She called out quietly. Maybe he went to use the bathroom, but the light in there was off, so thats not where he could be. 
She looked over, made sure the children stayed asleep, and headed for the corridor. It was as dark and empty as a tomb, and there was no sign of Woodwind. 
She was heading back to her room, when she heard a whisper calling for Luna. 
"Thats strange-" she thought. "Who would be calling for Luna at this time of night?"
Celestia rounded the corner and saw Fluttershy standing in the hall. She quickly walked to her, a look of panic on her face. 
"Is Woodwind still in your room?" She asked hastily.
"N-no. He's not. I was just looking for him." She replied, looking over the princess' worried face. 
"I know where they went. Luna and him went to the entrance to Tartarus, to face Caltroth and Discord."
Fluttershy couldn't believe it. Woodwind would never do anything so brash. Why would he follow Luna into a fight they couldn't win.
"W-what do we do?" She asked, beginning to sob. Celestia looked down at her, thinking why Woodwind would do this to her. The two had started their lives together not to long ago. He had given up that rough and tumble lifestyle he once had to become a family pony. He loved his family, so his decision didn't make much sense. 
"We can do nothing, but wait."