It's been four years since Scott and Mateo arrived in Equestria, and the ever busy Celestia has not yet shown herself to them. Working at Sweet Apple Acres has been rough, but it managed to pay for a home just outside Ponyville. Scott had taken on odd-jobs to make some extra money instead of working with Applejack. Mateo had moved in with Twilight and the two have been studying ever since. Rainbow Dash and Scott constantly challenge each other to races, and he has finally mastered his stamina issue. The two race for hours at a time, sometimes forgetting its a competition. Currently, Scott is racing her right now.
"Four years and you still can't keep up? Ha!" Dash shouted back at him. He smiled, and got ready to use the one trick that would give him an edge. "Hey Dash, sorry to tell you this but...See ya at the finish line!" All of sudden, he surged forward, leaving nothing but a black and red streak through the sky. Dash wasn't about to let anypony beat her, so she did the same move with her own rainbow streak through the sky. Scott had almost reached the finish line, when Rainbow Dash appeared next to him. They were tied when they finally reached reached Twilight's. "See, I totally beat you." He said laughing at her. "Oh no, I don't think so. We at least tied, or I won." The two spent five minutes arguing before deciding to leave it at a tie. They heard voices from inside and put their ears to the door. "Worshipers of Nightmare Moon brought that portal here. They are meant bring her back. I won't allow it." It was Celestia. "One of them has lived with me for three years now, doing nothing but reading and talking with his friend. They aren't evil!" Twilight had raised her voice. 'She doesn't normally do that...' thought Scott. Rainbow Dash and Scott flew to a window to get a better view. Celestia held a straight face as Twilight was keeping hers in an angry position. Mateo was upstairs eavesdropping as well. "I take it you assume before questioning." He shouted out, standing tall. They both turned their heads to him. "Yes, our world is corrupt, but no, not everyone is." Scott sighed, and lowered himself to the front door. He pushed it open, and all three of them looked towards him. "So let me get this straight. Nightmare Moon worshipers opened a portal that was supposed to bring people full of hate to change Luna?" They stared at him, but Celestia was the one to speak. "Yes, it was meant to do that." He glared at her. "Then why haven't we changed her yet?" Celestia stood there, thinking. The three stood there waiting for her answer. "It will happen. One of you or both of you." Rage filled inside him, after four years there was not even the smallest bit of trust from the princess. There was only one thing he could do.
"You don't even know what we have been through...In our world, no one cares about anyone else. So yes, we could have been full of hatred to change your sister. What can't breach your royal head is that why haven't we done it in four years?" They all stared at him, shocked at his outburst. It was silent for a few minutes, until someone broke the silence. Mateo. "You aren't acting like yourself. Whats getting at you?" Scott shot a glare at his friend. "What's getting at me? The fact that I have been nice and caring for four years and this one pony doesn't believe that we aren't evil." He looked at his friends face, his expression told him that he was screaming. "I'm..." He galloped out and started flapping his wings, taking off, leaving nothing but a red and black trail. There was one place he knew he could go to where no one would bother him. One place not even his friend remembered...
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He flew over the ancient ruins deep inside the Everfree Forest. "If I'm lucky...No one will find me." He trotted inside, his head hanging low. He went to the room where Twilight and her friends used the elements to defeat Nightmare Moon. It was empty, as he knew it would be. He made his way up to the edge of the room, and looked out the window to the moon. "Magnificent isn't it..." A voice said from behind him. He turned around quickly, but saw no pony. "Show yourself." The voice laughed. "In due time. What do you think of the night?" Scott kept scanning across the room. "It hides those who wish to remain unseen, like me." From the ceiling dropped a pony wearing a cloak that had markings that made him think of Nightmare Moon. "Not all of us worship the night. Most don't even remain awake to admire Luna's work of art." Scott just stared at him. He looked at himself, then back at the strange pony in front of him. "You're the one who opened the portal?" The figure nodded. "I guess I should thank you, but then again, why should I?" The figures smile faded away. "Because our master took you from your world and brought you to this one. She saw how troubled you and your friend were." One thought plagued his mind at this very moment. Who was his master and how did she open the portal? "Why didn't your master show up then? Explain that to me." The figure began pacing around. "Our master can't be seen, because she is trapped." Scott looked confused. "She is trapped within her former self." Luna. "I see what your getting at. The answer is no." The figure stopped pacing. "What do you mean...No?" Scott took a few steps towards the figure. "I mean no. I refuse to bring her back. She did nothing but torment the fair ponies of this world, I will not stand for a repeat of what happened in my world." The figure moved aside. "You plan on going back? Do think for one second they will want you there? You spoke against the princess." Scott stopped in his tracks. "I will take my chances. Go worship to your false leader." He left the pony in solitude.
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The night air was crisp, but calming. Scott flew to his house, unsure of what awaited him. He landed and went to his front door. He opened and went inside, walking towards the table in the kitchen. A note was placed there. "Something's wrong with you. You were always cheerful and happy, but after what I saw today...I don't know what to think. You always had my back, but if you go down a dark path....Your on your own. I'm sorry. -Mateo" He smiled at the letter. "At least your heart and mind are in the right place. I don't know about mine..." He trotted to his bedroom, and fell asleep before he even hit the bed. His dreams weren't sweet ones, though. He had dreamed that he had sided with the hooded pony, and had brought Nightmare Moon back. He saw scared faces of both adult and children ponies. He felt something grab him, and woke up. "Huh? Who the...?" He quickly opened his eyes, squinting them to see better while they adjusted to the light. It was Mateo. "Easy, I came over to see if you were here and heard screams. Your shaking, are you ok?" He looked at himself, shaking his head no. "I'm not ok...Something isn't right with me. I just...Can't explain it." He got up from his bed, and walked to his mirror. He had been sweating. "I had a dream where Nightmare Moon had returned...And I had helped her regain power. Innocent ponies hurt and afraid...It was terrible." Mateo put a forearm around his friend. "It was only a dream, Dash was pretty upset when you left and didn't come back. Where did you go?" Scott thought about telling his friend what had happened, but decided not to. "No where, just for a flight....A very long flight." Mateo smiled at his friend, but he didn't return it. "Lighten up, I got some news. After you left, Celestia said she knew you were watching with Dash. Once you left, she said that this was exactly what she wanted to happen." Scott had a hard time taking this in. It was like a joke, one that he did not find funny. "Hey, come on. Race you to Twilight's?" At this Scott smiled. "Your on!" The two began their race, unaware that the entire time they talked the hooded figure had been watching them.
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"Shade, come forth." A voice called to the hooded figure. "Yes, my lady?" He took a few steps towards the window where she stood. "Has it been done?" He nodded. "Good. He will join us, we just need to give him an...Incentive..." He looked at her confused. She sighed. "He needs to be tricked. How, is up to you. The sun will be up and our connection will be over." He stood there, thinking. "My lady, it will be done. The age of eternal darkness will rise again." An evil laughter filled the room as the sun rose. The form of Nightmare Moon had begun to disintegrate. All that was left was for him to trick the one named Scott. His friend is too stubborn to fall for what he had in mind.
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