//------------------------------//
// Chapter Five 
// Story: Shadow and Twilight 
// by The-Black-Knight 
//------------------------------//


Chapter Five: The Battle


While Twilight slept in the medical bay, her friends went to find Celestia, who was in the throne room talking with Cadence and Shining Armor.
“So, Twily will be alright?” Shining asked, a concerned look on his stoic face.
“Yes, the medic said she needs rest. Twilight is rather weak but it is to be expected.” Celestia said, smiling at the unicorn’s older brother.
“That is good to hear, Princess… When I saw her in the snow, my heart sank.” Cadence said, giving a smile at the information.
By this time, Twilight’s friends walked up to the three royal ponies, Celestia taking notice of them quickly. “Oh, shouldn’t you five be with Twilight?” She asked, walking up to the five representatives of harmony.
“She’s a restin’, Princess… And, about Twi.” Apple Jack spoke up, looking at one another, before looking back at the elder Princess.
“Hm? Is something wrong?” Celestia tilted her head, “When I was there, I didn’t see any trouble.”
“That’s the thing, it happened after you left… She started talking to someone who wasn’t there… Calling him Mr. H, saying he was the one that rescued her, that they got into a fight, and everything! Even seemed like some pony popped her on the head. It was weird.” Pinkie Pie spoke up, every pony giving her a strange look.
Celestia, however, went wide eyed at what was said and suddenly froze up. “Princess Celestia, is everything alright?” Cadence asked, walking up to the elder Princess.
Without a word, Celestia galloped around the five friends, and headed straight for the medical bay, fast as she possibly could. Everyone else left dumbfounded at the sudden reaction from her, before they started to follow Celestia to the medical bay. “Princess! What is the matter? What’s wrong?” Shining Armor called out, but Celestia ignored him.
It can’t be… There’s no possible way it can be him. Her thoughts repeated, as she rushed down the hallway, dodging guard ponies that were patrolling the palace corridors. When Celestia reached the medical bay, she stopped herself before crashing through the door. She quietly opened the medical bay door, and peaked in to see her student just sleeping, with Spike laying right next to her. She continued to open the door, and looked further inside but saw no one else. She probably… Made it up, to help cope with being locked up.
	Celestia slowly closed the door, smiling a bit, as the group finally caught up with the Princess. “P-Princess… What was that all about?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking up at the elder Princess.
She looked at everyone, and sighed. “Sorry… I thought she may have… Met someone I knew a long time ago.” She admitted, closing her eyes.
Unknown to her, hiding behind up in the ceiling of the medical bay, Mr. H gave a heavy sigh of relief. She didn’t see me. Good. He thought.


After an hour or two of resting.


Twilight slowly woke back up, and looked around the medical bay. She noticed Spike was laying right next to her still, but didn’t see Mr. H. “Um… Mr. H? Are you there?” She called out but got no response. She carefully sat up, and noticed that her strength along with something moving around her body within the darkness. I guess… Some spells are unconsciously cast. She thought, noticing that they were helping her move a bit while helping her body recover.
Twilight slowly got out of the bed, trying her best not to wake Spike up from his sleep. When out, the young mare quietly made her way to the door, and poked her head out to see an empty hallway. “H-Hello?” She called out, looking around, but got no answer. Without hesitation, she carefully made her way into the hallway, looking around. Twilight could still feel the shadows helping her walk, but they looked like her normal shadow.
After some time walking, Twilight soon found herself right outside of the throne room… She could hear talking within, and walked inside to see Cadence and Shining Armor up at the throne. “Shining!” She called out, trying her best to run, but it hurt with each step of her hoof.
“Twily!” Shining Armor yelled out, rushing over to his sister and quickly embraced her in his forelegs. “I was so worried about you…. We searched day in, and day out, with no luck.” He said, slowly rubbing up against her neck.
“He’s right, Twilight… Every guard in the Crystal Empire and Equestria were searching for you.” Cadence said, walking up with a smile on her face, seeing that her sister in law was alright.
Twilight just nuzzled into her older brother’s neck, happy to see him again. “I’m sorry I scared every pony… And you won’t believe the stuff he tried to put into my mind.” She said, a tear forming in her eye.
“Shh… You’re safe now Twily.” Shining Armor said, as Cadence slowly walked up and embraced Twilight as well.
“Shining is right… You’re safe now.” Cadence agreed.
That was when Twilight remembered, jumping back from the two. “But we’re not… I learned about something while in Sombra’s Castle.” She said, looking at the two older siblings. “He plans to attack the Crystal Empire, with corrupted ponies.”
The two royal ponies looked at one another, before returning their gaze to Twilight. “How does he plan on doing that, Twilight? I mean, the shield is up.” Shining Armor asked, raising an eyebrow. “Not to mention, the Crystal Heart is still here.”
“That’s the thing! He isn’t going to do it himself, he plans on using the corrupted ponies! They are going to enter the Palace, and start corrupting whoever they touch with Sombra’s Magic!” Twilight answered, making both Shining Armor and Cadence go wide eyed.
Cadence walked over and leaned down to eye level of Twilight. “Tell us everything, Twilight… I want to know what he is planning to do exactly.” She asked, Twilight telling them everything she knew.


After explaining Sombra’s plan to them.


Shining Armor’s had a look of surprise on his face, his sister was so detailed about the plan, like she was standing right there when Sombra was talking about it. “Twily… How did you know the whole plan? You even gave us the name of a traitor…. I doubt he’d tell you all this, knowing you weren’t broken.” He asked, walking up to his little sister.
Twilight looked to the side, before looking up at her older brother. “P-Promise not to laugh? Or think any different of me?” She asked, worried what Shining Armor and Cadence would think if she told them the truth.
“Promise.” The two royal ponies said together.
Twilight took a deep breathe, knowing this’ll take quite a few seconds. “Ok…. I was locked up in Sombra’s cell and on the third day, after he left, a cloaked figure appeared and began to help me. To prove he wasn’t one of Sombra’s tricks, he actually put him in a trance to leave me alone for the rest of the day. After a day of rest, and what not, he helped me deal with being in Sombra’s dungeons. When Sombra came to kill me, yesterday, I think, he quickly got me out of the cell and into a cave not too far away. It was there, that he revealed Sombra’s plot, so I could come and warn you two.” Twilight took in a deep breath and sighed. The explanation, despite having been dumbed down some, was still a long one.
The two Royal Ponies were wide eyed at how she explained her escape, before looking at each other, then back at her. Keeping to their promise, they nodded. “Sounds like you had a rough time, Twily…. You sure you don’t need any more rest?” Shining Armor asked, tilting his head.
“I just feel weak, is all. Rest won’t help with that, I need to get out and stretch my hooves some.” Twilight said, nodding to her brother.
“Alright, if you-..” Cadence was about to say, when a guard threw the doors open.
“Princess Cadence! Prince Shining Armor! We have a problem!” The Guard yelled, rushing up to the three of them, and stopping with a salute.
Shining Armor saluted back. “What’s the matter, Captain?” He asked, tilting his head.
“It’s Sombra… He’s just outside the shield with a small army of dark armored ponies. It seems he has prepared for war.”
The two Royal Ponies nodded, as Shining Armor rushed off with the guard. Cadence was about to go get Celestia, and Twilight’s friends, when the unicorn stopped her. “Cadence… I want to help.” Twilight said, stopping the princess in her tracks.
“Twilight, you’re still in no condition to fight… You need to stay in the Palace, where it is safe.” Cadence said, hugging the young mare before rushing off.
Twilight frowned as her old foalsitter rushed off, falling on to her rear. “But… I still want to help…” She said, looking down at the ground. Where is Mr. H when I really need him…? She thought, getting up and going to the window. She could see the dark magic forming outside of the northern gate, and could sense Sombra in front of it.


After Celestia and Twilight’s friends were told, outside of the North Gate.


The defenders stood outside of the Palace gates, staring down Sombra and his own army. From what they saw, both groups were evenly matched, when it came to strength. The Crystal Empire hadn’t really formed a fighting force just yet, and not many wanted to face off with the tyrant again.
“It seems we’ll have quite the fight on our hands…” Celestia said, walking forward with Shining Armor, Cadence, and Twilight’s friends.
“We’ll win, I know we can! After all, I’m here.” Rainbow Dash said, as she and Fluttershy hovered over the others.
“Y-Yeah…” Fluttershy muttered, afraid of Sombra’s presence.
“It is good to hear such confidence from you young ones.” Celestia said, with a smile, before noticing Sombra stepping in front of his army.
“Well then! Isn’t this quite the surprise? Princess Celestia….. It is so good to see you again. How long was it? Over a thousand years, if I recall.” The Dark King said, keeping his fanged grin.
“I came to find my student, and defeat you once and for all, Sombra! I should have done so back when I had the chance, all those years ago.” Celestia responded, her group preparing for the fight.
“Then by all means, Celestia. I’m giving you, and your allies there, a chance to defeat me… You all, against me.” King Sombra taunted, taking a fighting stance while his army stood back.
“We can do it! It’s eight against one! And one of the eight is the Sun Princess.” Rainbow Dash said, smirking and preparing for a fight.
“I gotta agree with Dash, these are good odds.” Apple Jack agreed, getting ready to charge.
Celestia glanced back at them, before returning her gaze to Sombra. “Don’t underestimate him, every pony… After all, Luna and I were only able to banish him.” She admitted, before the group charged straight for their enemy.
Rainbow Dash flew in fast, with Fluttershy, attempting to battle ram the dark king, but they were quickly sent flying away by a dark tendril that appeared with a quick motion of his horn. Apple Jack and Pinkie Pie attempted to double team Sombra, but when Pinkie fired her party cannon… She noticed that Apple Jack had been grabbed by another tendril and sent in front of the blast instead! When Rarity and Shining Armor attempted to blast Sombra with their magic, he put up a dark shield, and cased dark crystal to explode from under the two unicorns, ending them flying away.
Celestia and Cadence were left, they tried to do the same as Shining Armor and Rarity, but stay out of reach by flying above. Sombra used his own magic to collide with theirs… The power seemed to have stalemate, but Cadence wasn’t Luna and she started to falter with the pressure of magic going towards the two alicorns. When it was about to reach them, the two Princesses separated before it could hit them, Celestia getting out of the way in time but Cadence was hit and sent falling to the ground.
Before she hit the ground, Celestia was able to catch her, and set the younger Princess with Shining Armor, before using her magic to pull the others behind her and took a defiant stance. “So quickly? Haha that was rather pathetic, Celestia. Your comrades are weak, like you.” Sombra taunted, approaching the Sun Princess.
“I’m still standing, Sombra… And while I still draw breath, I will defeat you.” Celestia said, charging another spell to fight him.


From a window in the Palace, watching the battle.


“Oh no… Oh no. Oh no.” Twilight repeated, after watching all of her friends fall one after the other, until only Celestia was left to fight Sombra… Alone.
“Twi… What are you doing up?” A small voice asked, making her turn around to see Spike, walking up.
“I couldn’t sleep, Spike… Especially now.” She looked back at the window. Her body was almost fully recovered, but she still felt weak. Spike joined her at the window, and saw Celestia now fighting Sombra alone, their friends laying near the guards.
“She can defeat him… Right, Twi?” Spike asked, looking up at the unicorn mare.
“I… I don’t know. Sombra isn’t like any other pony, he’s cruel, vile, dangerous, evil…” She admitted before remembering something that Mr. H taught her back in the cell.
“The real nature of Shadow Magic is to protect others, by defeating the enemy with something they can’t defend against, what they don’t expect… A power that can fight fire with fire.” His voice ringed through her mind, making Twilight think of something very brave, or very stupid.
“S-Spike… Can I ask you a question?” She said, covering her eyes with the banes of her mane.
“Sure, Twi, what is it?” Spike said, looking up at his mother figure.
“If you had a power that could stand it’s ground against evil, even one like Sombra, but many thought it was evil itself and didn’t understand it’s true nature… Would you use it?” She asked, not showing her eyes for a moment.
Spike thought about her question for a moment, thinking it was strange for her to ask. “If it means… I will protect my friends, then I would use that power.” He finally answered, making Twilight smile.
“T-Thanks, Spike.” She turned to face him, revealing that the whites of her eyes had turned black, and a white mist appearing at the edges of them. “I’ll be back, promise.” Before Spike could ask what she meant, or what happened to her eyes, she suddenly vanished in black smoke.


On the battlefield, shortly after.


Celestia slid to the others, after being struck by one of Sombra’s stronger spells. “See, Celestia? You. Are. Weak!” He growled, moving closer to finish off the defenders, when a mist of black smoke appeared and exploded! Revealing Twilight standing in his way. “Ah… Twilight, come to rethink the situation?” He asked, grinning.
That was when he noticed something was off about her…. Her eyes were different, and it made him feel a bit unsettled. “No… I came to defeat you, Sombra!” She yelled out, glaring at the dark king.
“Oh? And how are you going to do-…” A sudden burst of magic exploded in front of him, sending the dark king flying back. “What!?”
Twilight continued to stand defiantly in front of Sombra, glaring at him. “You see, Sombra… While I was in your dungeon, I was being taught a magic art. An art that was created to fight evil like you.” She said, grinning at him.
“T-Twilight?” Celestia said, trying to get up, but found herself too weak to do so. She suddenly felt a warmth around her body, and looked down, to see a shadow covering her and the others. When Celestia looked back towards her pupil, she became shocked.
Twilight was looking back at her, the whites of her eyes black and a white mist flowing from them. “Don’t worry, Princess… I’ll be fine, promise.”