Meanwhile on Zecora cottage...
Andrew, the human, was giving little knowings of his to Zecora. He is teaching her how to make a potion that could bring the 'drinker', back to his/her past or back to the time he wants to go. Intrigued by the effects she asked.
"Tell me. How do you know that? These plants are only present here, how can you do that without knowing what they do?"
He grinned a little and immediately answered.
"It's been a long time that I visited this place. I was able to get enough flora from this planet to study them on my laboratory."
Zecora looked at him with a confused look. "What is a laboratory?"
"Oh, I forgot that you don't know about that. It's... it's...". As he tries to explain to her what a laboratory is, he looks around and smiles. "It's basically like this division of your cottage. But better, believe me."
"OK. So you study plants and try to find a useful way to use them. Am I correct?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered. "I've got a notepad in my laboratory with all the plants that I study and what they do and what they do when combining with other plants. To create this potion we need some grass, some leaves from the Everfree Forest, preferably the haunted leaves and some haunted mushrooms."
"So... Are you a shaman?" she asked, "Like me."
"Kind of," he answered.
After the last ingredient was poured on into the cauldron, it starts to boil and after a few seconds, a strange smell was noticed by them.
"It smells awful." she protested.
He laughed and said. "It's the sign that it worked."
Grabbing a small jar from the table Andrew started to pour in the content from the cauldron. Giving it a little shake it turns from grey to white and the smell was dissipated.
"It's ready to drink. So... Any idea now?" he asked.
"I don't know. It's too risky for us to drink, we are the only ones who know how to revert the effect, so... it's out of the question if one of us is going to test it."
A sudden knock on her door made Andrew and Zecora jump, grabbing his talisman he hurried to metamorph himself into a pony.
Zecora looked over at him and confirming that he is a pony now, she decided to ask at the door.
"Who is it?" she asked.
From the other side, a familiar voice answered.
"Shadow Night. I got something that you might find interesting and I brought somepony with me."
She quickly opened the door and let him in, noticing that Luna was accompanying him she bowed herself and said.
"You were able to save Luna. That's great."
Noticing a new pony inside the cottage and since Zecora bowed herself he decided to do the same.
Luna greeted the new pony inside Zecora cottage and asked.
"New apprentice?"
Zecora shook her head to the sides and answered. "No, he's here to teach me something."
Luna looked confused.
"But he doesn't have a cutie mark," she said while pointing towards his flank, "How can he...?". A sudden click on her mind made her look again to the pony and back to Shadow Night. 'This guy is similar to those who ponynapping me.' she whispered at him.
He sighs and sets the pony he was carrying on the guest bed.
"That's what I was talking about, Luna," he said.
Looking back at the pony version of the human he sighs, looking back to Luna he says. "I think it's time to let you know what is going on here."
Stepping towards the pony he said. "Show her. Please for your life sake don't try anything stupid."
Noticing those 'red demon' eyes on his face he gulped and nodded. Grabbing his talisman he concentrates and after a few moments, a bright light was emitted by the talisman. After the light disappeared a human appeared in his place.
Luna eyes widen and hide behind of Shadow Night. Putting a hoof on her shoulder he says. "There's no need to be afraid of him, for now, I think. But... He is helping us and warned us about this problem," he said while looking back at the pony laid on the bed.
Turning back to the human he said. "They're here already. I got this one but I don't know if he's alive or not."
Luna closed her eyes and focuses her aura on the pony laid on the bed. Noticing that he had life essence inside of him she said. "It's still alive, but... What are they?"
"They are Humans, as he said,", Shadow Night said while pointing towards the human, "And it seems that this guy..."
"He has a name," Zecora interrupted him. "He's Andrew for your information."
Looking at Zecora he looked frustrated and resumed his discussion. "As I was saying before getting interrupted. Andrew here got teleported by some kind of magical gate, portal, whatever it was but he got here, and he told us that..."
"Wait, are you one of the Princess?" he asked.
Luna nodded.
"Good, I couldn't keep myself from looking at your wings and horn," he said. "So let me finish this, please."
Shadow Night sighs in frustration. "Okay. Just told her everything you told us."
"Thanks," he said. "So the thing is, all began when..."
After a few minutes.
"And that's why I'm here. I'm trying to convince you that you're in danger but... your guard here..."
"Oh, he's not my guard. He's the Prince but everypony considers him as my guard." Luna corrected him.
The human looked confused at Shadow Night and asked. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't like the ponies to treat me like a Prince. I just can't accept that I'm one," he answered.
Andrew turned back to Luna and continued his story. "Where was I? Oh yes. I'm trying to make myself known here so I could warn you about all of this but since you're here. Can you help me and spread the message?" he asked.
"Well, I can summon all of the princesses instead. What do you think?" she asked
"If you can do it, go ahead, it will be simpler to do it this way," he answered.
Luna nodded, slowly closing her eyes and started to charge up her horn, using her mind talking with the other princesses she informed them about this new thing.
After a few minutes, Luna opened her eyes and smiled, at that moment a shining light appeared behind of her. Celestia and the others appeared behind her.
"So what do you need to talk with us?" Celestia asked.
"Well, I will let him explain to you what he explains to me," she answered while pointing towards the human, "Go ahead they are all yours," she said while joining her sister and the others.
The human gulped and took a large breath. "So... How do I begin?"
"And that's it." he finished his explanation.
Celestia slowly trotted towards the human. Knowing that it should be better to bow, he found impossible to do it because of her magic was holding him in place.
"There's no need to bow yourself," she said. "You took your time and put your life in danger to come and warn us, I'll accept your explanation and yes I will warn everypony to keep an eye for this mysterious ponies."
"But you're a..." he tried to speak but was shut up by her magic.
"Princess? No, I'm a Queen now since I have married King Sombra".
The human eyes widen and yelled. "You're the Umbrum Queen now."
She nodded.
"Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. I know why they were after Luna," he said, "Can I call you by Luna, can I?" he asked while looking at Luna.
Luna nodded.
"They wanted to..."
"Get Celestia in our grasp, yeah but it seems that failed." A sudden voice from behind of them made all of them jump.
Sombra and Shadow took a defensive position while Shining Armor summoned a large shield that kept them protect from anything.
"Oh, so you know that spell," he kept talking. "And you how can you betray us, Andrew. You're not telling them the whole story are you?"
Suddenly, his talisman shined and a human appeared in its place.
'That face.' Andrew said to himself.
"Mathew?" he asked.
"Bone and flesh," he answered.
He still is trapped by the ropes that Shadow Night had placed around his hooves that now are hands.
"Tell them the whole story man. They need to know the whole story," he said.
"What whole story, Mathew? The part that our current boss forged was it, huh," he said.
"Of course I know was forged," Mathew said. "I'm not that stupid but before I believe that was forged I need to...HEY."
A magical aura surrounded him and brought him towards Celestia.
"Put me down. Your crazy horse."
"I'm a pony. Pony mare. It's a pleasure to meet you." she said.
A sudden lullaby was making him back to sleep. Looking towards the source of the sound they noticed Luna singing.
She smiled and said. "Works every time."
Andrew slowly walked towards Mathew sleeping body. "We need to keep him at bay, now he knows where we are and what we going to do from now on."
Celestia used her magic to lift his sleeping body and said. "Well I've got the best dungeon in the realm and I've got the best dungeon keeper. Lighting Hooves, she is the best dungeon keeper and the best Captain that I ever had. No offense Prince Shining Armor." she said while looking towards Shining Armor.
Shining Armor heavily breathed and said. "It's ok."
The ponies inside the room agreed with that and let Celestia take care of the new human.
Andrew and the others were returning inside the main room when he was stopped by Shadow Night.
"Look. I wanted to apologize for what I did to you when I noticed that you had Zecora in your hands. I thought that you were hurting her. I just acted..."
"It's ok, man. You were just defending her and I understand but next time try to at least see what I'm doing before doing that ok?"
Raising his hoof he signals to him and decided to return to Luna's side.
"Oh wait," he called him back.
"What?" he asked.
Andrew grabbed the small jar and delivered it to him. "Look, I don't know if you're going to test it or not but, this is a potion that could bring you back to a certain time that you want or back to your past. We don't know if this works properly that's why Zecora and I, we are trying to find an antidote in case of this fails. I would like if it was you to test it and give us the results. If you want to help us take it and maybe in three-four days, come meet us and let us know what happened or what effects had on you."
He looked intrigued at the jar and said. "I will try it when I get back to the castle."
He waved his hand towards him, receiving a hoof shake in return.
Andrew decided to walk towards the guest room but was stopped by Cadance.
Noticing that she was acting strange he asked. "Can I help you?"
"No, actually I'm the one that is here to help you," she answered.
"What you mean?" he asked.
Stepping away from him and towards Shining Armor she answered. "I think that we know what I'm talking about."
Using her horn she teleports herself and Shining Armor back to the Crystal Empire. Scratching his head in confusion he heard some movement behind of him.
Twilight trotted towards him and asked. "You think that guy could help us?"
Andrew sighed and answered. "He can. But his head is full of hate over you."
"Why? What have we done to him?" she asked.
"It all happened when he and his dad came here to find some flora to study. When they found a village and in that village... they... they... It's hard for me to remember that moment, even more for him. But I could tell you what happened there took his dad life. He returned home with his body wounded and shocked by his lost. He was one of the guys who voted for this kind of act but I know that he's against it. But his seek for revenge can't be taken away from his mind."
"It's a sad story. I hope we can show him that we are not like those ponies," she said.
"I know you aren't like those ponies. We will make him join our side. Believe me." he said.
"Well, I think I will take my leave they need me at Ponyville. So farewell," she said while waving a hoof at him.
Alone in the cottage, Zecora came to his room and asked. "Have you seen the potion? I can't find it anywhere."
"I deliver it to Shadow Night. He will test it and he will bring us the results in three-four days."
"That's great," she said.
Leaving his room she headed towards her room. She laid in her bed and started to read her notebook to register her new research.
Back in the Canterlot Castle...
Shadow Night was in his chamber inspecting the small jar that was given to him by the human.
'Maybe it's poison.' he said. 'I don't know. I will test it, I will try to go back to the day I meet him maybe it works.'
Trembling and slowing raising the jar towards his muzzle. He finally drinks it and his eyes widen when a large bright light appeared in front of him. Stroking his eyes he noticed that he's on Zecora cottage. Looking around he saw himself standing in front of him together with Zecora and the pony.
'Hmm, I remember this. It was the day I meet him, it appears that worked.' he said.
Looking back towards the potion he said. 'Now, how do I get back?'
A sudden urge of burping took over him. A large burp was emitted and he reappeared inside of his chamber.
'Excuse me. I know there's nopony here but...' he said.
'So that's how you get back. Burping. It makes sense. I think.' he said while looking at the small jar.
A sudden knock on his door made him look at the door and ask. "Yes? Come in."
Luna stepped inside their chamber and headed towards the bed. Noticing a strange jar on his hoof she asked.
"What's that?"
"Oh, this. This is a potion that Andrew gave to me. It appears that could bring you back to a certain time you want."
Her eyes widen and she jumped off the bed in happiness. "Really."
He nodded.
"Could it take me back to the day that my mom died?" she asked. "I want to see her again."
"Why would you want to teleport to that day and not another day? Maybe a day that she was alive," he asked while raising an eyebrow.
"Well, my mom died the day I was born," she answered.
His eyes widen and he tried to argue with her. "I don't know if that's gonna work."
"It won't hurt trying it," she said.
"It maybe can teleport you towards a time before you were born," he said.
"I don't know, that doesn't make sense. If I wasn't born until my mom died. How can I see her before that?" she asked.
"You're right," he said.
He walked towards Luna, giving her the potion and raised a hoof to tell her what she needs to do to come back but she grabbed his hoof and drank the potion.
After a few seconds, both of them appeared inside a castle. That appears to be the old Canterlot Castle.
"Well, it appears it could work with two ponies," he said. "Now, Luna be quick, it will stop and brings us back as soon as you burp."
She nodded.
They walked around the halls of this castle because they aren't noticeable by the guards they could walk normally without being detected. After a few minutes walking they heard a foal cry. Looking around they saw a large number of guards waiting on a door.
"It's coming from there. Let's go," she said while grabbing him from his hoof.
'This is a bad idea a very, very bad idea.' he said to himself.
"The Queen is giving birth now, we could hear her cries and the foal cries too, that's amazing." one of the guards said.
The cries intensified and one of the guards. "That's not normal cries of birthing."
"Did you gave birth?" one of the maremaid asked.
"No." he answered.
"Then don't make these comments if you don't know the pain," she said.
Luna grabbed his hoof and moved towards the door, she pushed her hoof to the door and saw that it got past through the door.
"We are ghosts, maybe. Come on I want to see her before she dies from birthing me," she said while grabbing him and pushing through the door.
"Wait, she didn't die by birthing you," he said while small tears formed in his eyes.
"Of course she died they told me that," she said.
When they entered her bedroom he finally spoked out.
"They lied to you. Your mom was assassinated. Luna, the killer of your mom was..." he said while pointing towards the window.
She used her magic to illuminate the room, suddenly a stallion appeared in the room and was carrying those capes that shadow ponies wore.
She concentrated her magic on the pony and when the pony approached her mother, his cape fell off and she immediately recognizes the pony.
Igniting his horn it killed the pony and readied himself to kill the foal but a sudden noise from the door made him forget about the baby and runoff, leaving his cape behind.
Luna trembled and slowly turned around and saw his father rushing inside the room and noticed the blood on the bed and a strange cape on the floor, knowing already what happens he sounded the alarm. "Guards, remind alert there's an assassin in the castle. Search for him, bring him to me ALIVE preferably."
Luna trembled and started to move backward in fear until she tripped on Shadow Night hooves. She looked back at him and noticed some tears running down his face as well her tears running down her face.
"It was you... Wasn't it?" she asked while she kept her tears forming in her eyes.
He slowly nodded and answered. "Yes, it was me."
"How? How? We are about the same age." she asked.
"We can travel back in time," he answered. "I should never let you see this. I never knew that you were that foal."
"Why?" she asked, "WHY?"
She summoned her magic and shoot a beam at him that made him lose control of his body. She ignited her horn and absorbed his immortal power and readied herself to deal the final blow but...
"I know. I know. I won't blame you for what you're going to do go ahea----"
A sudden embrace made his words slipped and he used his magic to cover his body from her. Feeling his immortal power getting through his body he dispelled the shield. Hearing her sobs, curses and complains she finally spoke.
"Why are you crying? You were supposed to be laughing at this, shouldn't you?" she asked with an angry look.
"I know that I'm sorry isn't going to solve anything but... I felt the same pain as you, I discovered that foal I was about to kill was the mare that showed me the right way of life. If I could change the past I would but I can't. If you change a thing little thingy, it could change everything."
"Shadow Night... You...Are you serious?" she asked.
He nodded. "You don't know what I saw Luna. If she was alive the future that you know now would be completely different. You've to believe me."
"Don't speak nonsense, there's no way in the world that a pony could time travel," she said angrily.
"Should I remind you that WE are more powerful than Alicorns? It doesn't matter now, what matters now is..."
He ignited his horn, absorbing the immortal power he delivered it to Luna. Feeling the tears run down his face he spoke again.
"Now there's nothing in your way to stop you from killing me," he said while closing his eyes. "Be quick."
She ignited her horn and readied herself to shot a beam at him but...
'Mama... The mare that showed me the right way of life... Stay away from her... How can you took her form while she's been turned into stone?... I would do anything to keep you and Lysithea safe, even if it cost my life.' these words started to come to her head. 'Concentrate this stupid pony took your mother's life. How can he be forgiven? But he stood with me when I was Nightmare Moon, he faced Celestia and the Elements of Harmony for my sake. He could've hated me but... no, he stood with me until the last moment. I can't do this. I need to know. I need to know why he did that.'
She released her magic and gave him back his immortal power. Looking surprised and confused he asked but her magic shut him up.
"I'm not forgiving you but you need to prove to me what you're saying it's true," she said.
"As you wish your Highne---"
He felt her hugging him and squishing his neck.
"I wanted to thank you for stood with me when I turned into Nightmare Moon. You could just leave me and join Celestia but you stood up for me," she said.
'Luna...' he said. "There's no need to thank me, Your Highness"
A sudden urge of burping took over her body and a sudden burp was emitted by her.
After a few minutes, they appeared back at their chamber. Feeling Luna snoring near his neck, he tried to free himself, finding it impossible he stopped.
'I feel that even if I was lying she couldn't kill me. She loves me, and I hate myself from that.' he said. 'I will prove it to you.'