Chapter 6
Celestia feared the worst for her apprentice. Although having absolute faith in her and knowing that she will be strong she feared deeply that if Twilight couldn't be saved then the fate of Equestria could hang in the balance. Although she knew that Twilight's five friends also had the capabilities of saving her but also knew that there were only five of them and one of them was injured. Celestia wished she could go with them but knew that Nightmare moon was already stronger than her. Celestia gazed at the desk in-front of her uncertain what to do about the problems that taunted her. Dilemma and uncertainty seemed to spiral round her like a pair of vultures.
Celestia had thought of almost everything she could do but nothing seemed good enough to help get back Twilight. It wouldn't be easy but all the remaining five needed was someone to help them, someone she could trust to get the job done and quickly. It suddenly dawned on her that there was one pony that could defiantly help the main five, but Celestia knew getting him to do it would be costly. After thinking through what seemed like a thousand times she finally made her mind up and got up from the confinements of her work desk. Celestia considered ordering the guards to go and find him put she decided to do it herself, after all she knew where he would be.
Using her magic she burst the door open and launched herself into the open air wings spreading gracefully as she took the skies above Canterlot. Celestia swooped around the tower that once was Luna's room. Luna. The thought of her sister made her close her eyes tightly as she played back the memories of herself and her sister before the events that took place more than a day ago. Sadness swooped over Celestia as she glided through the air. Celestia wasn't angry at her sister; instead she was angry at herself. Angry about how she dealt with Luna's punishment for rebelling. Ever since she sent her sister to the moon she had regretted that day so much. Although it had occurred more than a millennium ago Celestia still felt like it was only yesterday that she had done it. But she couldn't change things round now. She could only correct what had already been done.
Celestia stared down at what had begun to look like a wasteland. She knew she was on the far corners of Canterlot where small clusters of settlements where scattered around the great city. It had been dubbed the shadow region because the great mountain that cast a shadow over the small towns and villages. Celestia knew where she now having visited the region on numerous occasions. Celestia scanned the region with her eagle like vision until spotting the stallion she was looking for. She swooped down quietly as she landed with almost no sound. The mare was lying with the back of his head leaning against the wall. He had a hat over his face and seemed to sleep soundly in what looked like a terribly uncomfortable position. Celestia approached him quietly and when he spoke she jumped at the sudden outburst of words from the dozed stallion.
"It's been a while" he said still with the hat covering his head, his horn making a dent in the top of the hat. Celestia stared at him for a while then spoke quietly. "It has" she said as she finally stood completely over the pony slumped against the ally wall. "What do you need this time Tia?" said the stallion still covering his face with his hat. He wore a leather coat and was dark grey in colour. His blood red main zigzagged down like a lightning bolt formation and his cutie mark resembled a light blue lightning bolt with a similar one inside of that of the colour red. Celestia looked down at him only to still see his hat instead of face.
"I need your help Shadow Night". Shadow Night finally looked up to be greeted by Celestia standing almost motionless and confident in-front of him. He gripped his hat with his hoof and placed it on the floor next to him.
"Well isn’t that a surprise" he said getting up from next to the bunch of garbage cans that where next to him. Shadow Night's expression held nothing but pure confidence and charisma. His zigzag flopped down across his face and his eyes glistened in what sparse bit of light was present where he stood. Although past his charm self-confidence he looked like he hadn't shaved in months. The ally way smell almost burnt Celestia's nose as she cringed at the stench of her surroundings.
"Please Shadow this is important, the fate of Equestria hangs in the balance". Shadow chuckled mockingly at her seriousness and stared at her with his big grin. "You know it's not the first time you told me this" he said as if the whole situation was some kind of game. "You know you really need to be more careful while being rule of Equestria". Celestia sighed in frustration. His annoying remarks where only agitating her more as she desperately wanted to brief Twilight's friends on their rescue mission.
"Look, I can pay you one thousand bits if you do it" Celestia said hopefully. She was trying not to act annoyed by his mind games which if she did would only fuel his sarcasm over the serious situation. Shadow Night's expression changed suddenly as money was now in evolved. His grin had become even wider.
"Ten thousand" he said amphibiously. Celestia looked at Shadow, her expression dropping into anger more and more by the second.
"I've known you all these years, I helped drop your charges for the stupid mistakes that you've made in the past and this is how you repay me?" Celestia said containing most of her anger knowing if she did he might not do what she wanted. Shadow laughed yet again for the second time that day. "And yet you forget how many times I've helped you, look I need the bits okay, look at me! I'm bankrupt"! Celestia looked at him for a moment and then her eyes were drawn to the vodka bottles on the floor where his hat was. "Yeah I wonder how that happened..." Celestia mumbled under her breath just load enough for Shadow to hear her.
Shadow Night stared at her blankly for the first time in a while and finally gave in. "look okay I will do it as long as I get to go back to Canterlot" said Shadow, all confidence replaced by hopefulness. Celestia gave shadow a look that said "are you kidding me?”
"You know I can't do that" said Celestia flashing back to the memories of her and Shadow Night.
Shadow Night had once been a very loyal general in the Equestria army. He was very close with Celestia because Shadow was so trustworthy he was also very powerful with magic however his behaviour was somewhat unpredictable. There was once an incident where Shadow was convinced that a neighbouring kingdom was going to attack Equestria but had no proof to back up his theories. Celestia dismissed the claims and Shadow became outraged. He had begun using his magic to wreak havoc on Canterlot but was stopped by Luna and Celestia. Shadow Night was originally charged and sentenced to banishment from Equestria but was later reduced to banishment of only Canterlot itself under order of Celestia who still had great trust in the stallion. Since then Shadow has wondered the streets of the shadowed region Equestria wondering and drinking.
Shadow looked at Celestia disappointing but with the smile gradually reappearing. "Well, if my assistance is that important then I guess you don't need my assistance after all". Now Celestia’s look dropped, as much as she though Shadow was irritating she still needed his help like never before. Celestia looked at the ground and then back at Shadow. Her expression was one of defeat and desperation.
"Please" begged the great and powerful princess," anything you want and I will grant it just do as I ask and you will get you wish. Shadow looked straight at Celestia. A séance of victory but serious crossed his face.
"What do you need me for princess?"
"I'm fine" Yelped Rainbow dash as she was being attended by the nurse. Her wings where heavily bandaged up but so that they could hardly move. "Dashie stay still or you might hurt yourself!" said a concerned Pinkie pie looking over her injured friend in the hospital bed along with her other friends. Dashie had been lying in the bed for well over 3 hours and wanted desperately to get up and stretch her wings. Although not being able to get out of the hospital bed Dash was still happy with the company she had after all it felt good to spend some time with all her friends in on room. She listened while they told stories about their previous adventures and about ones yet to come.
It comforted Rainbow dash to a degree however Dash was worried about Twilight. She hadn't told her friends about exactly what happened that night only telling them that Nightmare moon had taken her, the name struck fear into her heart within a split second. None of the other ponies had witnessed the anger of Nightmare moon and now that Dashie had she sincerely wish she hadn't. She could only guess what might happen to Twilight and hope she stays strong; she knows she will stay strong.
"We need to get out of her and find Twilight" said Rainbow dash urgently. She was already struggling to get up without feeling the sharp pain in her wing. Applejack grabbed her gently by the shoulder and stopped her in her tracks. "Wow now sugar cube easy there, I wanna go out there and save Twilight as much as you do but you’re in now condition to be going anywhere" she pointed to Rainbows injured wing as if she didn't already know it was injured. Rainbow dash rolled her eyes and slumped back into her bed helplessly. "She's right Dashie, as much as I want to save Twilight we don't know where she is" Rarity was cut off by the voice of princess Celestia coming from the door. They all bowed apart from Rainbow dash that lay back on her bed staring out of the window.
"I know where Twilight is, and I need all of your help in doing so" Celestia said her voice steady but firm. All of the ponies in the room turned to look at Celestia.
"Where is she?" said Flutter shy quietly. That question was also repeated by numerous others in the room. Celestia raised her head and cleared her throat ready to speak.
"Not long ago when I was looking through some old letters of Twilight's did I receive a message spell from wherever Twilight is being held. She told me she was at the old prison which holds Chrysalis captive, not long after that did I received the news that my advisers told me that the prison has been overrun by Nightmare and Chrysalis. I told my guards it was too costly to send the Equestrian forces forces in so instead I would like to offer you the mission of rescuing Twilight Sparkle from the clutches of Nightmare moon and the changeling queen.
Uncertainty swept like a wave across the ponies faces in the room but that was quickly replaced by determination. They all exchanged the glance which was also shared by Rainbow dash that wasn't going to let an injury stop her from saving her best friend. Then finally Applejack spoke first. "I'll do it" she said confidently as she smiled at the princess. She was then followed by Rarity who was then followed by Flutter shy, Pinkie pie and finally Rainbow dash.
Applejack looked down at her wounded friend. Like a soldier not ready to give up Rainbow dash stared into Applejack's eyes and spoke the words without even saying them. "I can do this". With that Rainbow dash got up carefully as she was helped up by Applejack who held out her hoof to her friend. "Need a hoof?" she asked still smiling at her friend’s bravery. Celestia glanced around the room happily knowing that determination was hopefully going to drive them through to victory. "Okay so I presume you're all in then?" said Celestia with a wide grin. The five ponies nodded when finally flutter shy spoke up to the princess.
"But just the five of us can't match the power of both Chrysalis and Nightmare, We need a plan, we can't just make an entrance..." She was cut off by an unfamiliar voice she hadn't heard before. All the heads in the room turned to the new figure standing in the doorway. His confidence seemed to radiate of him and amplified with his voice. "You’ll have me", said Shadow Night, "And trust me... We’ll make an entrance".