//------------------------------//
// Adapting 
// Story: Anger from the Shadows 
// by xgenwolf99 
//------------------------------//

Ponyville was already aware of the situation unfolding in Canterlot. Two guards had made it to Twilight and started the evacuation process. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy took the Pegasi to Cloudsdale, Rarity and the Unicorns were well on their way to Manehattan, and Pinkie and AJ took the Earth Ponies into the forest to hide in the Everfree Forest. Zecora was to aid in the supplies for the Earth Ponies. Twilight was in her castle, looking through ways to defeat a dragon of any kind. Sadly, the library was lacking any knowledge of dragons.

"I knew Ember wouldn't have answered my letter asking about how to kill a dragon." Twilight said. "She probably thought I'd use it for other reasons."

A guard ran into the castle. "Princess Twilight, Canterlot is burning even faster. We haven't received any word of surviving soldiers. We can only assume they made it into the caves beneath the city."

"Thank you guard." Twilight walked out with the guard. "How is the evacuation going?"

The city was almost desolate. Doors were wide open as if ponies were dragged out. Toys were left on the ground and newspapers were blowing through the wind. The schoolhouse was empty. Desks still in place, doors open, playground equipment moving without a pony nearby. The Cakes shop had an unfinished cake left on the counter. The crib was unlocked and the toy chest was open. The spa tables and supplies were still out. The bath was just about to be cleaned. Twilight and the guard walked through the streets to make sure nopony was left behind. The sky over Ponyville started to turn into black and a figure flew over. In one hand was what looked like a blade, the other had some flame around it.

"What is that?" The guard said, squinting at the sky. "It looks like some sort of -

"It's the dragon." Twilight said. "Run." 

The figure flew towards the couple. They ran through the empty town as the figure had trouble hunting them. Each turn brought more trouble to him as he dodged them. The guard turned around, spear in hoof, and looked at his opponent still coming. He was getting ready to  fight. 

"Go Princess, I will hold this foe off."

"No," Twilight said. "We need you alive."

"Get the word to Princess Cadence. We need all the forces we can get." Twilight ran through the streets. The guard had his spear raised. "You will fall Dragon."

The figure flew right passed him but paused. He concealed the Lumen Tenebrae. The guard's head fell clean off. "You will not stop me. Nopony will."

The dragon continued his flight after Twilight. She was getting too tired to carry on, but kept running anyways. The shadow over Canterlot started to envelop Ponyville as well. Twilight tried to shoot at him with magic. He was pushed backwards, but only for a moment. Sucking in air, he shot out his own flame to try and hit her. She teleported away, but to a location far from Ponyville. Nothing to stop him, he flew into the air and forced magic through the blade. On top of the blade, a ball of dark magic was growing larger with every second. After three minutes, the orb became the size of Cerberus. With a single thrust, he threw it beneath him. The blast blew him higher in the air and smoke covered the town. Once it settled, all that was left of Ponyville was a large crater with black flames dying slowly. 

"Destruction at its finest." Spiritus said. "Next, the Dragonlands; once I figure out where that is exactly."


Outside of the Crystal Empire


Twilight resurfaced outside and fell to the ground. Her magic hadn't been used in a rush like that before so she collapsed from exhaustion. Before closing her eyes, two pony outlines walked over her. She could feel her body moving but didn't know to where she was being taken. When she woke up, she found herself inside the royal castle. A guard stood over her, his left eye scarred. His body looked weak, but he stood strong. 

"I'm glad to finally meet with you Princess Twilight." the guard said. "Sorry to skip introductions. My name is Armis Ignis, 2nd Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard."

"I've heard the name but no very little." Twilight said. "How did you get your name?"

"I was given this name through training in the guard. My spirit was as strong as fire and was one of the best soldiers, besides Shining Armor. It's a shame that Shining Armor has become weaker. He was a fine warrior."

"Shining Armor is my brother, do not speak ill of him."

"I'm sorry." Ignis said. "I came from the caves beneath Canterlot to rendezvous here with Cadence. I was able to secure some of the civilians and procure some supplies but we ran low. So, we escaped and took the nearest train to get here. Cadence has been a gem with ponitarian efforts. The refugees are the ones who found you. I've been stationed here for the time being."

"If you were at Canterlot, did you see it fall? Did you see the dragon?"

"Sadly, yes." Ignis sat next to her. "He now wields the Lumen Tenebrae, the weapon to kill dragons with ease. It was first created by Starswirl and is powered by one's purity and impurity."

Twilight gasped. "I thought it was only a myth. We must raise an army as soon as possible."

"I've tried to convince Cadence, but she wouldn't see reason." Ignis said. "With you here, she may see need for an army." He stretched a hoof out for her.

She grabbed it and they walked down the corridor. At every door there were two guards stationed. In front of the throne room were two larger guards. They were armored from head to hoof, all except for their eyes. The armor upon them was of pure black obsidian and chain armor made from black steel. In their hooves were a halberd for each of them, made from diamonds. Twilight and Ignis walked closer to them.

"Halt," they said. "What business do you have with the Princess?" Their halberds blocked the entrance.

"I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, I wish to speak with my sister-in-law." 

"She is much too busy to speak about such trivial matters. Come back later."

Ignis stepped in front of the guards. "I am Armis Ignis, 2nd Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard. You will --

"You hold no jurisdiction here. Come back later."

"If we come back, you will all be dead." Ignis said. "There is a dragon who is wielding Lumen Tenebrae. Canterlot is enveloped in darkness and Ponyville may be in worse condition. You are soldiers. You should understand what we is necessary."

"If you are talking about raising an army, that is a fool's move." A guard behind the duo said. "Cadence is focused on a standing army protecting the Crystal Empire. She won't send any forces to help Ponyville unless she has enough to protect us." 

The two turned around. "Flash Sentry." Twilight said, hugging him. 

"It's good to see you to Twilight." He said. "As for your army, I've tried to get Cadence to get an army. To be honest, I just got back from my scouting party headed for Ponyville. The news isn't great."

"What happened to it?" Both Ignis and Twilight said. 

"All that is left of Ponyville is a large crater. No sign of life is left."

Twilight fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face. To know her home was destroyed, was unimaginable. Celestia was still off somewhere in Equestria and Twilight was separated from her friends. Starlight Glimmer was on a friendship mission and Spike was still with Ember. Ignis held his tears back. He walked closer to the guards, but pushed them aside and opened the door. Inside Cadence was getting her royal hairstyle done again.

"This is what you've been doing." Ignis said. "Altering your appearance. Ponies are in danger and the dragons are the only hope now. We need an army and communication with them. Why have you not been doing that?"

"I am to keep the ponies in the Crystal Empire calm." Cadence said. "I want you out of here, now."

"You can have more." Ignis threw his helmet off. "I hereby resign my emblem and my rank. No longer will I fight for Canterlot or royalty. I will deal with this dragon on my own." Ignis stormed out of the castle. Flash Sentry and Twilight followed after him.

"Stop." Flash said. "Don't be a fool. That dragon will kill --

"That dragon will kill everyone in Equestria if nopony stops him." Ignis said. "You're still young, but you have to act at some point. I'm taking matters into my own hooves right now. I will do my best to fight for Equestria." Ignis teleported in an instant. 

"He can't do it alone." Flash said.

"I know." Twilight pulled out a parchment and pen. "Princess Ember, once you get this letter you must move to a safer location..."


In the Dragonlands, Princess Ember and Spike look over the dragons from the giant central mountain her father once stood upon...


"Spike, this dragon we've heard of," Dragon Lord Ember said. "I fear he won't see eye to eye with you and friendship."

"He may not, but we still have to try." Spike said.

"Garble may be a prick, but he was right. Those ponies have made you soft." Ember looked over the valley. "All other dragons would fight this threat, but your first idea is to talk with him. He possesses power we can't understand and he killed a fellow dragon. We have to fight him."

"If violence is the only answer, then I don't want to take part in it." Spike stood up. "We have to try and be diplomatic at some point. Why can't it start now?"

Ember stood over Spike. "Because that's a stupid move. If we were to try that, he'd kill us on the spot. We have to strike now or you'll die. I can't lose you just yet."

"At some point, I'll have to go out there." Spike stood his ground. "If you're so afraid of him, them accompany me. Bring an army if you want, but I'm doing it my way. The Spike way."