//------------------------------//
// In which the Mane 6 and the Sonic Trio meet a Bumbling Idiot 
// Story: The Unfortunate Secret Story of Us 
// by Commander Rainstorm 
//------------------------------//



A group of bats awakened as the 8 travelers trotted into the castle. Everypony gasped. The castle, though plain outside, was decorated beautifully on the inside. Gold and silver fanned out on the walls, meeting on the roof to create a dome. Blue and green tiles checkered the floor in an complicated pattern. Accents of bronze completed the look, the ivy making the the place look even more mythical. Murals done by famous artists covered the ceiling, one half a perfect replica of the blue sky, the other of the night. 

"Oh my! Look at the choice of colors! And the patterns! The murals are absolutely amazing! Who would leave such a castle?" Rarity swooned.

"Uh... Rarity, I think we have more of problem than abandoning a castle..." Rainbow said, pointing a hoof towards the staircase. On it, a black unicorn stood, mane red and grey, with different shades of brown. He was impossibly huge, almost as big as Celestia herself. Muscles rippled underneath his coat, eyes red. 

"I am Shade, ruler of the Shadows." Everypony cringed, recalling the tales their mother told them as fillies. Shade was once the most powerful unicorn ever, though his power corrupted him. Celestia banished him to the shadows, though he ruled them instead. They were told that he had killed a hydra with his bare hooves. Of course, they thought they were just filly tales. Seeing this, though, they seemed to be wrong.

"I have been expecting you, famed travelers." Shade continued, walking forward. "You have been quite popu-" BANG! Shade's face hit the floor, tripping over a stair. The sound echoed around the room, as the floor shoke from the impact. The ponies were quiet, not knowing how to react. Suddenly, Rainbow, Solarflare, and Rainstorm burst out laughing, rolling on the floor and banging on it, clutching their stomachs. 

"Ho.. How dare you laugh at the great Shade!" He said, stuttering. 

"So much for..He he heh.. Ruler of the.. Phump! Ruler of the Shadows! You can't even... Ha ha ha! You can't even see through them!" Rainbow said, cracking up.

"Ugg. Well, welcome Nightmare Moon, ruler of the Moon. Who is, apparently, better than me." Shade said, walking away and almost tripping again. The Sonic Trio stood up, preparing for battle and still stifling giggles. Twilight rolled her eyes, tuning her attention to the doorway, stance wide. Then she remembered. She was here for Celestia. Why was she confronting the pony named Nightmare Moon?

"Because I am Celestia dear Twilight." Said Nightmare Moon, standing in the doorway, "And I am here to get rid of you."