Shadow Over Equestria

by Cmdr Brohoof

An Ancient Evil

“What could be wrong?” Twilight asked the Spirit as he was clinging to the side of the flying chariot.

“I don’t know but I hope we get there soon. This mode of flying doesn’t suit me. It’s too open” The Spirit said said white knuckled.

“Over there you can see the castle.” Twilight pointed her hoof.

The moon was situated behind the gleaming city of Canterlot.

The Pegasus guards gently landed the chariot on the palace grounds. The Spirit jumped off breathing a sigh of relief. “I
never want to ride that again.”

“Good evening” a golden armored earth pony said as he approached Twilight and the Spirit. “I’m Commander Irons head of
the castle guard. The Princess has ordered me to escort you to the throne room”

As the group made their way to the throne room the Spirit was looking all around at the lavish décor of the palace.

“I have to admit” the Commander spoke “it’s quite the honor to meet both the Knight of Equestria and the Princess’ best student.”

“You flatter us sir” Twilight added as she nudged the Spirit who was staring intently out a window at a statue of a
draconequus.

“Huh oh yes of course” the Spirit answered having no clue to what he was answering

“Here we are the throne room.” The commander held the door open for the two to enter.

Twilight and the Spirit walked into the magically lit throne room. Princess Celestia was sitting atop a high stair case at the far
end of the room. Princess Luna was standing next to her discussing something.

“Welcome to Canterlot Castle Sir Spirit.” Celestia interrupted Luna who turned to see their visitors.

The Princess walked down from here throne to greet the two ,Luna followed behind her. As she approached both Twilight
and Spirit made a bowing motion.

“How do you like the castle Spirit?” Celestia asked

“It’s amazing I’ve never seen anything like it.” The Spirit answered

“Excuse me Princess” Twilight said clearing her throat “but what’s going on you’ve never sent a letter that I have to keep a
secret.”

The Princess glanced at the obviously nervous pony and gave her a sadden look.

“Equestria in is danger”

“In Danger?” a startled Twilight gasped “what kind of danger?”

“An enemy from very long ago that nearly succeeded in destroying everything.” Celestia said

“How long ago? Is it Discord again?” Twilight asked

“This threat makes Discord seem peaceful” Celestia began to walk away from the group. “It happened over 2000 years ago
Luna and myself were just just fillies.” Celestia added glancing at Luna.

“2000” Twilight gasped

“I’m sorry” the Spirit began “but how can anything over 2000 years old still be a threat?”

Celestia turned back to face them “It would be easier to show you please follow me” Celestia and Luna both led them to a
room connected to the throne room. The room was modestly decorated compared to the rest of the palace. No windows, no
paintings, only several chairs situated in a circle around a floating purple sphere.

“Whats this?” the Spirit asked

"It will allow us the show you the threat" Celestia said as her and Luna approached the sphere. “Please have a seat and close your eyes”

Twilight and the Spirit both looked at each other as they both approached the sisters. Twilight sat on the floor while the
Spirit took one of the chairs beside her.

“Now relax and clear your mind” Celestia said softly

The Spirit closed his eyes he could hear the twinkle of magic then a tingling sensation shot through his body.

“Now open your eyes.” Celestia said

Both Spirit and Twilight opened their eyes to find the simple room gone. They were now in a small castle garden. The ivory
walls of Canterlot castle gone instead cobblestone was in its place. The moon was also gone it was mid day now.

“Where are we?” The Spirit said as he looked around at his new surroundings.

“Old Canterlot” Luna added “2000 years ago”

Both Twilight and the Spirit gave a shocked look to the sisters.

“How did we go back 2000 years?” Twilight asked “The most anypony has ever gone back was a month and that was
Starswirl the Bearded and he was only able to do it once.”

“We did not go back in time the orb shows memories” Celestia stated “we are in the memory of Luna and myself.”

“Come on sis” a voice called out

“Slow down” another voice called

Two small fillies entered the garden. A small white alicorn with a black one was right behind her. The two began chasing each other around the garden.

“Is that…” Twilight began

“That is us” Celestia said with a smile as she watched her younger self play.

“Aww you both we’re so cute” the Spirit said

“Quiet” an embarrassed Luna said

“There you two are I’ve been looking for you.” A new deep voice said

The group turned to see who the new voice belong too. The Spirit fell back not believing what he saw. A male human
wearing armor similar to the Royal Guards was standing in front of him.

“It’s a human” he said amazed as the guard approached him and walked right through him toward the filly princesses.

“What’s one of your kind doing here?” Twilight asked the Spirit

“I don’t know.” The Spirit replied still in shock

“Come on girls your parents are waiting” the human said

“Aww but Sir Lance we want to play. That royal stuff is so boring.” past Celestia pouted

“Yeah can’t we play a little longer” past Luna added

“I’m sorry” Sir Lance said “the King wants you there”

The Knight led the two girls out of the garden out of view of the group.

The garden faded away and they were standing in an empty white room.

“Before we continue a little explanation is in order.” Celestia said

“I’ll say what’s another human doing here?” The Spirit asked

“I’ll get to that.” Celestia added “Twilight you remember the story of Hearths Warming Eve?”

“Of course it tells how Earth Poines, Unicorns, and Pegasus came together to form Equestria.” Twilight said

“That story is not entirely true.” Spoke Luna

“What do you mean?” a surprised Twilight asked

“The story is true but that was the second time the ponies allied together. The threat I mentioned that occurred long ago
broke them up when they lost the King and Queen.” Celestia said sadly “It was through the effort of the humans that we
were able to defeat Shadow.”

“Shadow?” Twilight said "I’ve never heard of any being by that name

“Shadow was the evil that threatened us long ago” Celestia shuddered at the thought of it “After we defeated it all record of
it was banished.”

“If you defeated it how is it still a threat” Spirit asked

“We only thought we defeated it” Luna said “We only weakened it, after a costly battle it went into hiding to regain its
strength.”

“This next memory is the first we saw of Shadow” Celestia said as the room shifted again

The group was now standing in a cobble throne room. Standing before a large male alicorn with a female unicorn by his
side. On his other side was the knight from earlier. The group could just make out the two sisters sitting behind the knight.

“Whats next on the agenda Sir Lance?” the large alicorn asked

“We have Chancellor Berri requesting…” the knight was interrupted by a loud magical explosion in the middle of the throne
room.

An orb hovered at the spot of the explosion. The ground around the black orb was scorched.

“Surrender” a gravelly voice emitted from the orb.

“Guards!” the knight yelled

Quickly the orb was surrounded by several colts and armored humans.

“Surrender” the voice said again

A human guard leapt forward bringing his pole arm down onto the orb. The orb let a low hum and in a flash the
surrounding guards fell to the floor.

“Surrender” the voice said in the same tone

“What do you want” The male alicorn demanded

“Everything” the orb responded “Will you give it to me?”

The king looked at his queeen and the sword drawn knight by his side.

“No” the king stated staring down the orb

“Very well” instantly the orb disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

“Sir Lance bring in the royal mages” The king immediately began walking out of the room “and see that your men are taken to the infirmary”

“Of course sire” The Knight said sheathing his sword

The room again faded away and they were back into the empty white.

“So that’s the threat.” The Spirit said still taking in what he saw “What exactly was it?”

“We never learned” Celestia said “any encounter with it ended in disaster. Those who had contact with it where destroyed
or turned into its servant. In fact many creatures we see today are creations from it though seriously tamer without their
master.”

“What do you mean its creations?” Twilight asked

“The more fearsome creatures in Equestria where not around until Shadow appeared the Windigoes, Ursas major and
minor, Timberwolves, Manticores, hydras, and even Discord. “ Luna said

“It was even able to control humans and ponies to a degree” Celestia added “Every loss we had made Shadow more and
more powerful.”

“So how did you defeat it or at least hurt it in that last battle?” Spirit asked

“We used the Elements of Harmony” Celestia added

“Of course” Twilight said “With me and my friends being able to use the elements now we should be able to defeat Shadow
no problem.”

“That was my hope” Celestia added “it took all seven elements last time to merely banish it.”

“Seven?” a confused Twilight said

“That’s correct” Celestia said “The seventh element was lost at that final battle along with the humans.”

The room again changed. They were now deep in a forest standing in a clearing. The clearing was filled with tents and the
sound of humans and ponies in armor. The sky was covered in black clouds.

“This way” Celestia said as she walked towards the middle of the tent city.

As they passed through the compound Twilight and Spirit glanced into tents as they passed. Catching fragments of
conversations.

“I can’t believe it’s all gone” a warrior pony said

“It all happened so fast” a human said

“Can we go home momma?” a filly asked its mother

“This is our last stand” A human soldier said as he paced in front of a group gathered around him

“I hear it took out an entire city in a blink” someone in the group whispered

The group finally arrived at a large tent in the center of them all. Inside were six ponies each wearing an Element of
Harmony. On the other side was Celestia and Luna,who looked about the age of Twilight, along with a very haggard Sir
Lance.

“There has to be another way Sir Lance?” Celestia pleaded

“I’m sorry princess we don’t have any time left” he said sadly looking at the princesses

“We can’t lose you too” Luna said as she brushed her head against Sir Lance’s armor.

“If we don’t do this now all will be lost.” Sir Lance said as he hugged both ponies.

“It’s time sir” a battle weary soldier said poking his head in the tent

“Very well” he said as he stood. He pulled on a necklace under his armor and revealed a small glowing jewel in the shape of
a star. He clutched in his hand and stuffed it back into his armor. As he walked out of the tent the six ponies followed behind
him.

Once outside the non-Pegasus’ of the group stepped onto chariots pulled by gryphons. The two sisters watched
as the group headed to a black pyramid hovering in the sky. All observers on the ground held their breath as loud booms
and smoke poured from the pyramid. A bright light emitted from the pyramid all had to avert their eyes. When the light
subsided the pyramid was gone the dark clouds that had covered the skies began to dissipate. The crowd also noticed that
all of the humans had disappeared from their midst.

The grypons returned with one less passenger. The six bearers of the elements walked through the crowd of
pones and placed the sword of Sir Lance in front of them along with his now dim necklace.

The room again faded this time they returned to the current Castle Canterlot.

“The humans” a tearful Celestia spoke breaking the silence “the humans sacrificed themselves to save us all.”

“But why?” Twilight added

“Hope” Celestia said “The element of hope was carried by Sir Lance it was the strongest of all the elements. Sir Lance
believed that he could use the power of hope do destroy Shadow. Nobody knew exactly what would happen. Some of the
royal mages believed nothing would happen others said everything would be destroyed.”

“How do you know Sir Lance didn’t destroy Shadow?” Sprit asked

“We we’re not able to investigate Shadow until much later. With the king and queen gone, humans no longer walking
Equestria, and the loss of one of the elements the ponies split. Luna and I went into hiding we were still too young to rule.
When things finally settled and we took charge of Equestria we began to notice strange occurrences. The many creations of
Shadow still roamed the land they should have disappeared along with him.”

“When I was Nightmare Moon I could feel the presence of Shadow.”Luna added.

“Then if we couldn’t defeat Shadow then how do we stand a chance now with only six elements?” Twilight asked

Celestia looked at the Spirit “Because I believe we have found a new Hope.”

Comments

[Pnakotic]

Thought it was a Shadow Over Innsmouth crossover, was still good though.

[Cmdr Brohoof]

450269 I know I caught that right after I thought of the title. I just couldnt find any title that would fit.