A few hours later the Chariot rolled to a stop at a large castle, a panic stricken Captain bounding off and into the throne room, with a solemn, silent and unseen Shadow following him.
Shadowkin had spent years preparing himself for this moment, the time when he would see his great betrayer, see the one who unjustly cursed him, and see the one who nearly ended his life.
And put a knife between her damned eyes.
The door to the throne room burst open, a very scared Captain quickly bowed, removed his helmet and told his tale.
"Princess! We were investigating the disappearances like you ordered us ma'am."
Celestia leaned forward, eyes wide in anticipation.
"And what happened to my little Ponies?"
Shining gulped, a fresh line of sweat forming on his face.
"Dead."
Celestia bolted up from her throne, eyes blazing with fury.
"WHAT!? DEAD? BRING IN THE OTHERS OF THE GROUP! I WANT FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS!"
Shining gulped again, tears welling up in his eyes, his legs barely able to keep him standing.
"They're dead too."
Celestia grew angrier. Her hooves trembling with hate.
"What happened? What did this?"
"I don't know! All I heard was a voice that sai-!"
WOOSH!
Every torch, lantern, and brazier was immediately snuffed out. Princess Celestia charged her horn up, casting a dim glow.
"WHO GOES THERE?!"
An eerie voice boomed across the darkness, causing the Captain to fall to the ground in fear.
"Oh no, it's back!"
"What's the matter Princess?"
"SHOW YOURSELF!" She roared back.
"I'm hurt you don't remember me."
"SHOW YOURSELF COWARD!"
"Oh no Princess, besides, other than Captain blunder over there, you're all alone."
Then it dawned on Celestia. Where were her other guards? She searched frantically back and forth, her horn casting a glow. Where did they go? How did the voice bearer get in? She had a dozen guards posted around the room.
"GUARDS? GUARDS!"
"Right here Princess."
Several 'THUNKS' could be heard around the room. Celestia recoiled in horror, before her on the ground laid.
The heads of her dozen Guards.
"You, when I was an infant, sentenced me to doom, for a crime I hadn't commited. You sent me to die on the frozen ground, to be at the whim of anything passing by."
"You see Princess, I've got one question."
Celestia was starting to vaguely remember.....something.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?"
The voice appeared right beside her, gone from a booming sound, to a soft whisper."
"Do you believe in ghosts?"
All the lights flashed for a second, revealing a tall biped. Celestia instantly recognized him.
"I'm back bitch."