"Daddy, my tummy hurts." Walking into Ponyville was a little pink Earth filly with a rather large blonde mane and tail. She was accompanied by a dark-colored unicorn stallion with a wavy brown mane and tail. His horn was slightly curved and he sported a pair of black shades.
"You're just nervous, sweetheart," said the stallion, trying to comfort her. "Ponyville is new to you... and to me as well. I've heard that it may not be the greatest place in Equestria, but it's the only place I could book us into on such short notice."
"But I've heard that kids around here do terrible things to anypony without a cutie mark!" the filly squeaked. "I think I'm scared."
"Don't worry," assured the stallion. "I promised that I would protect you from harm. And I will. Nopony will lay a hoof on you." But somepony was watching the two of them. It was the mischievous Diamond Tiara, and she had an evil plot behind her sweet and innocent-looking face.
"Heh heh heh..." she snickered, rubbing her front paws together gleefully. "Another blank flank to become my victim!"
Meanwhile in Canterlot, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were inside the castle's throne room when a royal guard rushed in, bowed respectfully, and removed his helmet.
"Your Highnesses," he spoke. "I regret to bring you most unfortunate news. 'He' has been sighted." Both princesses gasped in horror.
"Sister, what can we do?" asked Luna.
"Luna, please hurry to the Crystal Empire and inform Princess Cadance and Shining Armor," replied Celestia. "They both must know about this. I will summon Princess Twilight Sparkle."
"As you wish, dear sister." After Luna departed, Celestia looked worried.
"Oh, my dear Twilight," she thought. "I'm so sorry I will have to put you through this..."
Back in Ponyville, Cheerilee was organizing her desk inside the schoolhouse in preparation for the start of a new school year. She then came across an old card that had been given to her by the Cutie Mark Crusaders, three of her students. As if remembering it, she had a look and the card read "We love you, Miss Cheerilee!". The card had a photo of the Cutie Mark Crusaders hugging while posing for the camera attached to it and the card itself had been signed by all three of them. It made Cheerilee smile, but at the same time, tears came to her eyes and she seemed saddened. Not long ago, the three fillies had been wrongly accused of an accident they didn't commit. And although things had been settled, as a steep price to be paid, they had fallen into a state of anxiety and depression and it seemed that they wouldn't be their cheerful selves for a long time, if ever again. It also didn't help that at one point Rarity had initially believed Sweetie Belle was pulling a prank on her back when Discord's chaotic vines were steadily taking over Ponyville. Now that Cheerilee thought of it, she realized it wasn't fair for other ponies to accuse the Cutie Mark Crusaders of being silly pranksters. They had only been trying to find out their special talents, albeit the hard way, but they had just been going at things the wrong way as if they were being misguided, nothing more. They obviously never intentionally wanted to bring harm to anypony.
Soon, there was a knock at the classroom door. Brushing hair out of her eyes, Cheerilee went and answered the door. It was the dark-colored stallion and his little pink filly daughter.
"Ah, hello!" said Cheerilee. "Do come on in." The dark stallion nodded and removed his shades, exposing his bright blue eyes. He then put on a friendly smile.
"My name is Shadowstealth," said the stallion. "This is my daughter, Thick."
"Oh, you must be the new transfer student!" said Cheerilee, addressing Thick. "It's nice to meet you, sweetie." Thick smiled and blushed. "My name is Cheerilee and I will be your new teacher."
"Miss Cheerilee," said Shadowstealth. "I am most sorry to have to tell you this, but... my daughter is very nervous, particularly with the unsettling things she believes are happening here in Ponyville."
"Such as?"
"She heard that some kids can be cruel to those without cutie marks."
"Oh... that. I'm afraid so." Cheerilee winced. "But believe me, I've tried everything. But nothing seems to get resolved. Just recently, three of my students who also don't have cutie marks have become too afraid to even leave their homes. And I'm deeply worried about them. However, I think that they will love your daughter and welcome her with open arms."
"That is at least comforting to know," said Shadowstealth. "However, it is also my job to tell you that Thick is a filly with special needs. She's had a rather dark past and as a result, she has become frail."
"So she needs protection?"
"That's fair to say," replied Shadowstealth. "And because of this, I'd like to ask you a favor."
Elsewhere, standing on a cliff, a tall, dominant-looking crimson red unicorn stallion looked out at the view from up on high. A torn cape hung from his back, blowing in the wind. His horn was frighteningly sharp, looking like it could run a pony through. An angry look soon crossed his face. That's when a rather rugged-looking male pony approached him and saluted.
"Status report, sir!" said the pony. The tall stallion said nothing in response, but continued staring into the distance. "All of Canterlot knows of your presence," the rugged pony continued. "Soon, everypony in Equestria will know that you are here!" The stallion drew in a deep breath through his nostrils and then snorted, but yet at the same time, he seemed to be perfectly confident knowing this.
"Excellent," he said. "It's about time. Just as I planned."
"Sir?"
"With my presence acknowledged, fear will course through the veins of everypony in the land. Fear will make them all bow down and submit to me! They will know who I am and what I stand for! And with that, I will rule Equestria and establish my empire once and for all!"