> The Avatar of Chaotic Power
>  by Dragonok
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Anti-Hero's Release: Freedom At Last!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragonok released a heavy sigh as he faced yet another day sealed within his obsidian prison.
Out of every possible multiverse he could have visited, it had to be one with sentient ponies… sentient ponies with two goddesses who sealed him into a statue, which eventually became one of the exhibits in the Canterlot Museum of Ancient History.
It wasn’t so bad at first. Despite his immobile state, he still had the ability to think, so he initially decided to spend his time contemplating on numerous issues. However, that pastime eventually became mind-numbingly tedious after the first few centuries.  The time spent afterward mostly cycled between dreamless slumber and creating short stories as a means of entertainment to prevent the Corruption’s insanity from tainting his psyche.
Even after a millennia, Dragonok still hoped that someone (or is it somepony in this world?) would release him from his glass-bound incarceration. In its natural state, obsidian could easily shatter with a small amount of force. Luna, however, enchanted that blasted volcanic glass with mystical runes to ensure Dragonok’s chances of breaking free by his own means would be nonexistent.
Dragonok dejectedly sighed as he once again recalled the battle between Luna and Celestia. If she and Celestia had only listened to his warning at the time, he could have saved Luna from the Corruption, whose manipulative influence led to her rebirth into Nightmare Moon. The part that saddened him the most was when Celestia regretfully bound her Corrupted sister onto the moon for a thousand years with the Elements of Harmony, just as she and Luna sealed their world’s incarnation of Chaos, Discord, into stone.
Speaking of Discord, it’s strange how similar, yet so very different, Discord and Dragonok were at the time.
Discord possessed a sort of insanity similar to the Corruption’s as seen when he warped Equestria into what would have been a nightmarish wonderland were it not for the chocolate milk rain, checkerboard grounds, and cotton-candy clouds. If not for Celestia and Luna’s intervention, he probably would have still been lounging about on his throne as he continued to experiment his powers over the fabric of reality with a childlike fascination. 
Dragonok, on the other hand, focused on defeating the Corruption by facing its minions throughout the multiverse and defeating them to weaken its ever-expanding influence. It’s true he occasionally absorbed some of them, but the Corruption’s malevolence had already been too deeply ingrained into those particular individuals for them to be cured with True Chaos. At the very least, he could keep them confined within his mindscape as he utilized their knowledge and abilities to devise new methods of defeating the Corruption.
With nothing but his thoughts to accompany him, Dragonok released another sigh within the corridors of his mind when, all of a sudden, someone’s voice echoed through the museum’s halls.
“Come on, class! We’ve got lots to learn!” said the telltale tones of a teacher leading her students on a tour. 
Hmm… I sense a great deal of True Chaos emitting from that direction… This should prove most interesting.	“Now, class, this is another statue created to resemble a villain from Equestria’s past; much like the statue of Discord at the Canterlot Gardens earlier today. Here we have the avatar of power, Might."
The source of True Chaos emerges closer and closer to me. It’s practically in front of… why are there three of them?
“Why is he called that? And what does power have to do with this here fella, anyway? ” an adorably squeaky voice asked. 
Interesting... It seems as if that’s one of the main sources, but where are the others?
“Figures you wouldn’t know, with you being what you are,” a condescendingly smug tone popped out. 
“And what the hay is that supposed ta mean?!” 
“Now, class, none of that! I don’t want a repeat of what happened the last time we were on a field trip.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the two voices replied in cowed tones. 
“So, Miss Cherilee, what kind of creature is that, anyway? It looks really strange,” the voice of another young filly asked. 
“I think it looks cool!”
...and then there are three. I think my freedom has arrived sooner than I had hoped. Now I just need a few moments to absorb the excess energy emanating from their bodies in order to break these seals and free myself of this ghastly prison.
“Well, Sweetie Belle, nopony knows for sure what kind of creature this is, but this figure possessed immense power!”
That is true; after all, devouring powerful foes whole into my dimensional prison does help with in acquiring more power as well as keeping Corruption off the streets.
“He hailed from a time before Equestria would soon enter an era of peace and prosperity. Many countries and species warred against each other before he arrived out of nowhere with his gleaming red eyes glowing from behind a pitch-black horned helm that possessed the face of Death. He caused untold destruction wherever he roamed as he searched for new opponents to challenge him. Empires and monsters alike fell into ruin or worse as a common result of his battles.”
If I recall correctly, there was much Corruption back in that time. It had been necessary to rid Equus of its foul miasma. I suppose I never noticed what happened around me as I fought foe after foe. Oh well. At least the world’s a better place now. 
“This deadly individual would serve Discord during his reign of terror as he traveled throughout all of Equus. It’s said that Might was so invincible that it took the unification of the ponies, the zebra, the minotaurs, the griffons, and the dragons to stall him until the Princesses sealed him away with powerful magicks.”
Damn Lulu and Celly. You had to rub that bit into the history books, didn’t you? Was it not bad enough for me to be sealed away; I had to be remembered as a lackey serving that foolishly selfish draconequus? What I wouldn’t do to relax from all this stress without being petrified in place.
“Come on, class! We’ve more to see. Make sure not to fall behind!”
Wait, young mortals! Just a few more minutes! That’s all I – wait a sec. Why are those three sources still here? It matters not; just stay there until I gain enough power from those excess surges of raw Chaos to be free!________________________________________
“Wow! It’s pretty scary to think a creature that powerful served Discord, huh.” Apple Bloom said as she stared at the horned knight with fear and awe surging behind her orange eyes. 
“Hah! No biggie! Rainbow Dash could take him down in ten seconds flat!” Scootaloo proudly boasted. 
“Hey, girls! Look what I found!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “There’s some sort of writing on its pedestal!”
“What does it say?” Apple Bloom curiously asked. 
“I’m not sure; it’s hard to read with this writing almost faded away.”
“Well, whacha got there?” Apple Bloom asked as Sweetie painstakingly mouthed out each word she could read despite the ravages of time afflicted on the inscription.
“I got it!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed as she finally recovered the message. “I think it goes something like this:

When heroes imbued with Change call out my name
In times when Corruption dare to mock
Innocents’ suffering out through agony and pain
Summon me forth through my true name: Dragonok!”

Upon hearing forth his summons as raw Chaos suddenly surged through his veins, Dragonok pushed through the boundaries of ancient glass. 
An audible crack rang out throughout the halls and the three fillies turned to see a spider-web of cracks growing throughout the statue’s surface. Within moments, the cracks spread throughout the statue before it exploded to form a massive surge of pitch-black ether with convulsing crimson tendrils. Within moments, the energy compressed into a cocoon before dissipating to reveal the ebon-clad warrior before their very eyes.	
“Not again!” the Cutie Mark Crusaders exclaimed. 
The three fillies whimpered in fear as they witnessed the creature flex its claws with what seemed to be fascination.
“I HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM MY IMPRISONMENT!” it suddenly roared before jumping down from its throne and crouching down to meet eye-to-eye with the three fillies. “Now that I regained my freedom, I know now what I should do!”
“This is so your fault,” Scootaloo murmured to Sweetie Belle.
“Me?! What did I do?”
Scootaloo replied with a deadpan glare directed towards Sweetie. “Seriously?”
“But first, to reward you with what you all deserve.”
The three fillies gulped in fear as they closed their eyes, waiting for what would be the end of their lives.
What they did not expect was the tender embrace of the biggest hug they ever got as the strange creature scooped them into its arms and held them uncomfortably close to its ebon chest-plate. 
“Thank you, young fillies. Your efforts shall not be forgotten,” it said as it held them for what seemed like an eternity.
Before the Cutie Mark Crusaders could even process what just happened due to the amount of huhs spiraling in their minds, the former statue gently placed them onto the granite floor before releasing them from its embrace. 
“With that out of my system, TO FREEDOM AND RELAXATION!”
The three fillies’ eyes collectively bulged in confusion as the figure strode off towards the entrance of the museum as it sang “GOOD MORNING! GOOD MORNING!” while bouncing with each syllable. 
Once it vanished into the streets of Canterlot, Apple Bloom turned toward her fellow Crusaders as she said, “Ah’ll pretend that didn’t happened if you fellas forget too.”
“Forget what, Apple Bloom?”
“Exactly.”
> Finding Old Friends: A Startling Discovery
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“GOOD MORNING TO YOU! Ah, nothing truly relaxes the flesh after being sealed for over a millennia like a good song and a spring in my step!”
After Dragonok finally finished his little number, he blended into the shadows as he began his plan to reacquire the possessions the Royal Sisters had taken from him oh so long ago.
Daemon, my loyal friend. Where would thoust be?	
A ping rang out in his ear as his old friend and steed replied to his inquiry. He turned around to see – 
The Royal Canterlot Castle. Why on Equus am I not as surprised as I should be? If only they had stashed her away in their old castle, it would have been much easier to enter and retrieve her vessel.
But who am I to deny such a tempting challenge?
He began to think of various methods he could use to infiltrate the castle, but he immediately rejected each idea that wouldn’t work well in the long run.
Can’t crash through the windows; that might provoke the guards.
Can’t shapeshift into a Royal Guard; that might alert Celestia once I use my magic.
Can’t shadowstride either; that would alert anypony who’s replaced Luna since her banishment.
Can use harmlessly random actions to confuse guards, sneak through the castle, and acquire the flute; that would work. 
The only question now would be on what kind of tactic I should use to confuse them.
He wandered through the Magi Library stored within his mind to see if there are any specific tactics he could use to perform to confuse them.
AHA! This would do nicely. Now all I need is a distraction to ensure that Celly doesn’t interfere with my –
A pattering suddenly knocked onto his helm. 
Dragonok, annoyed at this interruption of his thought, faced towards the sky to chide the fool who dared to bother him. 
He got a flood of chocolate milk rain instead.
After being drenched to the core with the sugary substance, he smiled as his big distraction gift-wrapped itself as the antics of one particular draconequus.
Excellent.
________________________________________
Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guards, patrolled the halls along with some of the Royal Guards as he prepared himself to fight against Discord, regardless of how futile it may be. Even if it only takes a few seconds to him and his Royal Guards to be bested by the draconequus, it will at least give Twily and her friends enough time to beat him and seal him back to stone.
Out of nowhere, music began to burst throughout the hall as a strange knight dressed in what seemed to be black ballet tights apparently danced towards them. 
All of their jaws snapped to the ground as they watched the strange individual twirl past by them. All of them, Shining Armor especially, felt confusion at what they had just witnessed. 
After a few moments to reorient himself from that shocking display, Shining Armor said the first thing that came into his mind.
“What in Equestria was all that about?”
________________________________________
The infiltration was a success. Now, I need to find Daemon in this labyrinth of a castle. 
Dragonok knew he had to hurry before the Royal Guards recovered from their confusion and come chasing after him so he quickly ran toward the beep where his friend awaited him. Just one more turn and…
Oh.
Right before him, where the signal originated from, was a door with a crescent-shaped insignia stamped upon it. 
Luna… Out of all the people I’ve met here in Equus, you always saw the good in me, even when you and your sister sealed me away.  I only wish you were… wait a second. Why are there thestral guards standing before her room?  Did they change it into a storeroom? What a shame. It appears I need to use the classical knock-out tactic.
Dragonok calmly sped towards the guards and conked their heads together before they could even blink. As their helms vibrate as they lay unconscious, Dragonok walked up towards the door. 
It’s time.
A metal-bound claw-tipped finger morphed into shadow as he calmly inserted it into the keyhole. He then solidified it into a key to unlock the only barrier that stood between him and his friend.
Clank.
He peeked around the surprisingly dust-free dark blue room and his scarlet eyes immediately locked onto the lump lying under the blankets of Luna’s old bed.
I didn’t know Luna had a child. Perhaps the childbirth might have played a part in her descent into Corruption. Regardless, it is of no concern to me for the moment. I just need to find – there it is!
He stood there as his eyes had finally found the flute, which Daemon currently slumbered in for over a millennia, hanging on the wall as a trophy from past eras. He walked toward it and plucked it off the wall’s hooks before he felt a surge of power return to him.
Now with Daemon back, all I need are my battleaxes. Now, where could they be?
“Mmm… Sister? Is that you?” a familiar voice sluggishly asked. 
His eyes wide, he slowly turned around to see a familiar figure raising her head from her bed as she rubbed her eyes with her cute hooves. He had thought he never would see her again as her mane glistened with starlight: Luna Moonriser. 
Her eyes soon noticed his presence and blinked as she slowly took in what she was seeing. He knew that fatigue still drugged her awareness; otherwise, she would have automatically charged straight at him with her halberd. As nice as the idea of friendly combat would be, now would not be a good time for that.
An idea suddenly popped into existence within his mind. Dragonok momentarily made his faceguard vanish before he shadowstrode forth and gently held her muzzle in the palm of his hand. Before she even had time to blink, let alone say a word, he passionately kissed her for what seemed like an eternity. An adorable blush reddened through her cobalt blue face as she remained stunned at 
“It’s nice to see you again, fairest Luna.”
Before Luna could even say a word, Dragonok dived into the shadows of her bedroom.
As he delved through its cooling depths, Dragonok could hear her beautifully infamous Canterlot Voice.
“SISTER!”
Ah, it’s good to be back.
> The Big Confrontation: The Battle Between Demigods!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Princess Celestia proudly smiled at her student and her friends for their triumph over Discord. It may not have been easy for any of them, but the experiences they shared during their confrontation with the mad god has further cemented their bonds of friendship.
“We are gathered here today to once again honor the heroism of these six friends who stood up to the villain Discord and saved Equestria from eternal chaos!” 
As she concluded her speech, she revealed the stained glass window of Twilight and her friends’ victory over the once again petrified Discord. The ponies cheered as they stamped their hooves to applaud the Elements of Harmony. Twilight and her friends humbly accepted the applause. 
Once the ceremony ended and the crowd had finally dispersed, the Mane Six noticed a certain cobalt alicorn standing near the doorway of the Hall of History. 
“Luna!” Celestia exclaimed as she trotted over to her sister’s side. “I didn’t expect you to wake up so early. What’s the occasion?”
The Lunar Diarch nervously snuck a quick glance at the other ponies in the room, all who stared at her with a mixture of awe and fear, before she spoke. 
“We wish to speak with thee in private, dearest sister. It concerns a rather… pressing issue,” she whispered into her sister’s ear.
Celestia, seeing the expression on Luna’s face, turned towards Twilight and her friends. “Excuse me, but would you mind waiting here for a while? My sister and I need to discuss something for a bit. We’ll be back soon.”
Once the ponies nodded their consent, Celestia followed Luna out to the halls. After walking around for some time, they finally stopped at a spot where no pony could overhear their conversation. 
“Whatever is the matter, Luna? I haven’t seen that expression since you found out how ponies made love to each other.”
Luna blushed a bright crimson in response to her sister’s casual usage of that particular memory. “Nay, Sister! We are not thinking of any particular forwardness done upon our royal per-” 
She immediately gave out a cough to halt the awkward moment from being revealed to Celestia as she brushed away her blazing blush.
“Never mind, dear Sister. Forget that little slip. We have come to inform you of a terrible threat to Equestria.”
“If you mean Discord, Twilight and her friend have already taken care of him. That’s why the ceremony was-”
“We apologize, but he is not what we speak of. We speak of an older threat who also swears allegiance to the forces of Chaos; one who could destroy entire empires, given the chance.”
“You don’t mean-”
“We are afraid so. And worse, we must confess that he took one of his sacred talismans, the one housing the Great Beast, in our royal chambers. We are ashamed for not halting his progress in time.” Luna’s ears drooped as she hung her head in shame upon her negligence. 
“Why was I not informed of his return?”
“We have spoken with those who have seen him, especially Shining Armor, and they apparently thought he was nothing more than a magical construct of Discord’s tomfoolery and was not taken as seriously as the threat he represented.”
Celestia, shocked, merely sat on the marble floor as she recalled the numerous confrontations with the Dread Knight and the possible horrors in the upcoming future as her eyes crossed with worry.
“Sister, I know ‘tis not be a wise choice after what they have to go through with Discord, but we must rally-”
“I know, Luna, and I’m afraid I have to agree with you on this, especially now that he has returned. But they’ll need our assistance as well. He is not to be underestimated.”
“Sister! Dost thou mean…”
“I’m afraid so. It’s time to dust off some of our old battle regalia. Who knows what horrors he may be committing at this very moment?” 
________________________________________
Dragonok released a flurry of gigantic sneezes that blew away the wild cumulonimbus that would have devastated Equestria if left alone for too long.
Looks like two certain princesses are speaking me to cause this bad of a reaction. And speaking of princesses, I wonder how Lulu felt about the little ‘welcome-home gift’ I just gave her. Ah, the memories we had before she and Celly turned me to a statue. Where have those times gone?
Oh well. I guess I’ll just wait until they come here with the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony. It’s a good thing I formed faux lips on my face long enough to see through her memories to know what exactly I’m dealing with. Still was fun to kiss her though even if I usually don’t have a mouth on my face. Now I’ll just wait for them to arrive and challenge me. It’s better than trying to futilely trying to explain everything in one go; this way, I’ll connect with them on a better plane of communication through the integrity of sheer combat. Not like I have any choice in the matter beside giving up and returning to my imprisoned state.
A sudden tapping snapped him out of his reverie. He face-palmed as he realized one important fact: he had forgotten to unseal his friend! 
He grabbed Daemon’s flute and waited until the strum of violins seeped out of the spaces between worlds. He began to play a hauntingly beautiful melody upon the flute to accompany the violins as the summoning ritual commenced. Once the crescendo of other instruments began to echo out through the air, he played until the big finale.   A black mist poured out of the mouth of the instrument as he played before it solidified into an equine form. He stopped long enough for his friend to fully materialize. 
“Welcome back, Daemon,” he said once she had returned to this world once again. “I hope you didn’t feel bored while I was gone.”
“Why did you have to wait so long, Master?” Daemon yawned out as she revealed rows of dagger-shaped teeth. “I want to eat something nummy. Do you have any apples, Master?”
Dragonok simply chuckled at her request. It seemed that, regardless of the ravages of time and space, some things always stay the same. 
He rubbed her leathery wings which elicited a gasp out of her snout before she moaned in delight at the treatment. “I’m afraid I don’t have any apples at the moment, Daemon, but we will have company soon.” 
“Alright, Master. I guess I’ll wait until the big meet ‘n’ greet’s over but you gotta promise me we’ll get something to eat at least; I’m starving for a bite!”
“I promise. Now let’s wait until their arrival.”
________________________________________
Twilight Sparkle still couldn’t process on what just happened since the ceremony. She and her friends had finally reverted Discord back into a statue, but now another ancient evil had been released by Celestia knows what. Couldn’t she and her friends ever take a break from all this without something going wrong?
What surprised her more than anything, however, was the fact that BOTH Celestia and Luna had appeared before her and her friends in full battle regalia! The most shocking thing about it was the fact that both were armed to the teeth. Celestia had two gigantic zweihänders strapped to her sides along with a massive shield embedded with an insignia of her cutie mark on her back. Luna wielded a set of six crescent scythes hidden away inside her wings along as she casually wielded a massive halberd half her size with only one hoof. 
“You’re kidding me!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “We just finished beating Discord and now there’s another bad guy on the loose! What’s next; a horde of monsters in Tartarus breaking loose! Buck!”
“Rainbow Dash!” Rarity gasped. “We should not use such profanity, especially in front of the princesses!”
“As curious as Ah am to see how far you two gotta duke this out, doncha think we should hear what the princesses gotta say first?” Applejack cut in. 
“O-Of course. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, please tell us of the newest threat to Equestria,” Twilight asked as she grabbed her friends’ attention to hear what the princesses had to say.
“He is regarded as a servant of Chaos just as Discord,” Celestia began. “He is a powerful warrior who would feast on the abilities, strengths, and knowledge of fallen foes during the era of war between all the nations over a thousand years into the past. He himself singlehandedly caused empires such as the Fallen Clan to crumble into oblivion during his brief period in Equus. Many names were given to him, but his true name and identity was Dragonok, Chaos Champion of Power.”
“What exactly is the Fallen Clan, Princess Celestia?” Twilight tentatively asked as her inner scholar peaked with curiosity at the reference.
“An ancient horde of monsters overflowing with evil that had existed in Equus since the beginning of time until Dragonok apparently wiped them all out in one fell swoop,” Celestia replied, much to the shock of the Elements of Harmony.
“Wiped them in one fell swoop!?” Twilight exclaimed. “But how did he do that?”
“We are afraid no pony knows for certain,” Luna replied as she took charge of the conversation. “But one thing is clear; his power rivals, if not excels, that of our own. He was feared by all the nations of Equus, even the dragons of all things, not simply as a warrior of immense strength and magic, but as an incarnation of Chaos itself. We ourselves have faced him in combat numerous times, but ‘twas only thanks to the assistance provided by the Griffon Empire, the Minotaur Clans, the Dragon Kingdom, and the Zebra Tribes, that we were finally able to seal him away for over a thousand years.”
“But he alone is not as terrifying as the creature he allied himself with.” Celestia added. “No one knows for certain who or what it is, but we know it as the Great Beast, a mighty dragon in the form of a pony that allied itself with him. Its claws scrapped off entire mountains as Dragonok fought alongside it in combat against those he perceived as enemies. Its fiery breath could melt diamonds before it slurps it down with no ill effects. Its most worrisome trait, however, is its ability to manipulate the shadows into obeying its whim. It has often used this ability to capture entire armies and sling them away to the other side of Equus with only one toss. Despite its abilities, it obeys Dragonok without hesitation.”
“As for Dragonok himself, his physical strength alone could shatter even the most hardest of substances without any damage applied to him despite the amount of force used in doing so. He could even out-fly the fastest of ponies with a single flap of his wings. But his main strength lies within his usage of arcane forces unknown to ponykind. He could immediately determine what his foe would do in only a few moves, summon forth creatures that will obey his every whim, and even force dragons down to their knees with only the weakest of his spells. And when he uses his greatest ability, Aspect Change, he could transform into the most powerful and strangest of creatures. Even at his weakest, Dragonok should not be underestimated with so easily.” Celestia paused as she finally finished her description before she decided to analyze their reactions.
The six mares stared in shock as their mouth gasped open at those words. It sounded like some sort of ridiculous horror story somepony would have made up on a whim, but as they saw the grim expression etched upon the diarchs’ faces; they knew they meant every word of it.
“Now how in tarnation are we supposed to able to beat something like that!?” Applejack exclaimed.
“Maybe we could give him a ‘Welcome Back to Equus from Prison’ Party!” Pinkie gasped in excitement. “Parties always make everypony better ponies so we should do the same for him! Maybe he’s just lonely and wants a super-duper-bestest friend so a party would be a best way for him to make lots and lots of new friends!” Pinkie squeed at the thought, much to the chagrin of her friends.  
As her friends discussed on the likelihood of converting Dragonok to good with a party, Twilight realized something unusual her teacher had just mentioned. “Excuse me, Princess Celestia, but what exactly is this ‘Aspect Change’?”
“Aspect Change is when he shapeshifts into other forms; forms that represent specific aspects of his characteristics,” Celestia explained. “He is currently identified as using the Draconian Aspect, his Digital Aspect, his Demon Aspect, and his greatest form seen yet: Darkness Aspect. These transformations augment specific aspects of his powers with Darkness Aspect being the most deadly. That is why Luna and I will be accompanying all of you to confront him. The Elements of Harmony alone may not be enough to return him to his prison this time which is why we will try to weaken him as all of you prepare to strike him when the time is right.” 
“Well, then what are we waiting for?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Let’s beat this guy!”
Celestia smiled as the six friends banded together, ready to fight against evil once again. “Alright, my little ponies. It’s time for our greatest trial yet.” She and Luna wrapped everypony, themselves included, into a giant bubble that flared momentarily before it transported them toward Dragonok.
________________________________________
A few hours passed by until the falling sun released its colors upon the sky to signal the beginning of dusk. Dragonok relaxed as he finally decided to feed Daemon some of the apples he had found earlier at a nearby apple orchard near a small town. As she eagerly snacked upon the juicy treats, he began to wonder at the changes brought upon to this source since his forced imprisonment. 
“I must say, ever since I have been released from my stony prison, I haven’t seen a speck of Corruption lurking around here. Do you think our work here is done, Daemon?”
“I’m not sure about work being done and all, but I do like it here, Master,” Daemon replied through a mouthful of apples. “After all, I can talk to you with my mouth instead of writing with shadows. Writing is so tiring when I have to use a lot of energy just to show a single word; just like when we first met when you asked what kind of creature I was.” 
“I know, Daemon, and I apologize for that. I was newly formed but it still doesn’t excuse my curiosity when we first met. At least I know you’re a kagen.” He paused as Daemon released a heavy sigh as she gulped down the apple mash. “I know, Daemon. It’s not easy being the only one of your kind throughout the multiverse. Just remember that you have family amongst the Chaos Champions, myself included, alright?” 
Daemon smiled at that and nuzzled him with her scaly snout for a few moments before she resumed eating her meal.
As Dragonok snuggled alongside Daemon, he suddenly sensed the presence of the Elements of Harmony along with the familiar magicks of Luna and Celestia. 
Well, well, well. It seems as if Lulu and Celly did decide to bring the bearers of the Elements of Harmony along with them. This should be quite the illuminating experience.
Dragonok’s eyes narrowed with anticipation as a massive rip in space and time opened to spit out a magical orb where Celestia, Luna, and the six ponies that bear the Elements of Harmony reside. Now that wasn’t something he expected to see any time soon.
He smiled at the thought on how Chaos was always able to throw him for a loop; its randomosity always made for great –
“SURPRISES!” a pink pony shouted as she suddenly appeared out of nowhere and right in front of his face. “Well, were you surprised? Huh? Were ya?” 
Dragonok barely had a chance to blink in confusion at this latest development before  the exuberant pony bounced all over the place before she returned to her friends with a smile stretching her face from side to side. 
He quickly recovered from the unexpected surprise attack as he focused his attention on Luna and Celestia. “Hello again, Luna and Celestia. It’s been quite some time since we last met, has it not? I am glad to see the both of you reunited after so long since that forced exile to the moon. It reminds me of my own imprisonment; swift in the execution and agonizing being stuck in place for over a thousand years.”
He turned his attention away from the princesses as he focused his attention towards the six ponies standing beside them. “And I suppose thou six fair maidens are the current bearers of the legendary Elements of Harmony?” The purple pony nodded her head in both confirmation and confusion. He smiled as he prepared to give them his welcome speech.
“Then I bid thee all glorious tidings, noble envoys of the Diarchs of Equestria! Though thou hast been somewhat informed of my identity, no doubt, I feel it appropriate to properly introduce myself.” He cracked his knuckles which sent out a gigantic shockwave that brushed the ponies’ manes before he began his introduction. “I am a harbinger of True Chaos, seeker those who wish to defile the purity of this world and beyond!  Master of both might and magic, I wandered through these lands in search of Corrupted spawn to either conquer or destroy!” He slowly squeezed the air in the palm of his gauntlet-bound hand to summon a swirling miasma of shadows before he threw it in the air for it to burst into a shimmery mist before it dissipated into air. “I fight alongside my loyal steed and friend, Daemon the Unconquerable, She Who Wanders In The Shadow, Mistress of Apple-Juggling-And-Snacking,” he received a baleful glare from Daemon for that particular title, “and Bane of the Corruption! Gaze upon us and tremble in awe as we enter the main spotlight as we fight against the foulest of foes. We Are Dragonok, Chaos Champion of Power, and Daemon, Combat Steed of Chaos!”
“And what may be thy name and occupation if thou dost not mind my inquiry?” Dragonok asked the stunned mares who all endured his entire monologue without fainting or going into shock over what just happened. The wind flowed by to enunciate an awkward phase as no one said a word.
“Well, that just happened,” the orange pony commented. “An’ here Ah thought Rarity was the dramatic one.” The white unicorn with the purple mane simply gave a huff of disapproval as she glared at the orange pony before she began her introduction.
Dragonok knew of their identities as names and faces, but he felt curious to see how they would respond to his inquiry. He also didn’t want Luna smashing his helm for the little peek into her mind during that enjoyably passionate moment of bliss.
“I suppose I’ll go first, darlings. I’m Rarity, Ponyville’s fashion designer of the most fabulous and elegant articles of clothing and curator of the Carousel Boutique. You may call me Miss, or Rarity, or Miss Rarity if you would prefer.”
“I’m Rainbow Dash, faster flyer in Equestria, Sonic Rainboom expert, and future Wonderbolt!”
“Ah don’t mean to interrupt ya, sugarcube, but Ah don’t think he meant that,” Applejack deadpanned. “She’s the weather pony and Ah run Sweet Apple Acres from Ponyville.” 
Unbeknownst to them, Dragonok suddenly sweated bullets within his ebony armor as he realized that the apples he had claimed from what he had believed to be “wild orchards” for Daemon were probably from this “Sweet Apple Acre” she just mentioned. It was a good thing he only took a few apples; he wouldn’t want to offend this little filly had he taken the entire harvest. 
“Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie!” said the pink one as she broke him out of his reverie. “I work at Sugarcube Corner with Mr. and Mrs. Cake and I make cakes, cupcakes, muffins, peppermints, white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, blueberry chocolates, gummy gators, doughnuts, chimicherries, cherrychangas, and all sorts of goodies! I’m also Ponyville’s number one party planner so I can throw parties for anypony! And birthday parties! And anniversaries! And birthday plus anniversaries! And after-birthday parties! And after-anniversaries parties! And parties for those parties! And parties just for everypony to par-tay!” 
“I’m Twilight Sparkle, Golden Oaks Librarian and personal student to Princess Celestia.”
“Um, I’m...” 
“Forgive me, young one. What did thou just say? I’m afraid I did not hear that. Would thou be ever so kind as to speak louder?”
The yellow pegasus only mumbled out a sentence that was only harder for him to hear as she shrunk under his scrutiny.
“I’m sorry; could you say that again?”
To his surprise, instead of speaking louder, she whispered in a voice so soft it seemed nonexistent.
“Once more, if thou would speak louder.”
“Urgh, her name is-”
“Excuse me, Rainbow Dash of the Weather Patrols, but was I asking you to begin with?” Dragonok said in a sinisterly deep tenor that sent shivers up her spine as he spoke.
After waiting for a few seconds and ignoring the shock he had just caused, he returned his attention to the yellow pegasus. 
“Go ahead, little maiden,” he said.
“I’MFLUTTERSHYANDITAKECAREOFANIMALS!” she loudly squeaked in panic before running to hide behind the other five Elements of Harmony.
“I see... just to be certain, thou art designer Rarity of the Element of Generosity, athlete and weatherpony Rainbow Dash of the Element of Loyalty, farmer Applejack of the Element of Honesty, party planner Pinkie Pie of the Element of Laughter, librarian Twilight of the Element of Magic, and animal caretaker Fluttershy of the Element of Kindness. Am I mistaken?” He got no correction as everyone was too shocked at his casual recognition of their Elements. “I must confess, I had expected an armada of warriors waiting to charge at me; not these young fledglings with little to no combat experience. I’m disappointed in the both of you, especially you, Celestia.”
A flurry of offended responses spouted out from the Elements of Harmony; most of all, Twilight. He raised a hand to halt them before he continued.
“After you had sealed me away, I had hoped that the Corruption would not take root in either of you despite your blatant disregard towards my warnings before sealing me. I was sadly mistaken the moment I witnessed Luna’s descent into insanity from loneliness and lack of recognition before she transformed into Nightmare Moon. Had you not sealed me and listened to my advice, none of that would have happened and you would not have sealed her onto the moon for over a thousand year. And now you send a group of unhardened citizens to challenge me? I don’t know whether to be deeply insulted by your underestimation of my power or applaud you for standing up against me despite the lower status of power you wield before me and the apparent lack of cowardice to force you to flee from the battlefield.”
He slowly steadied himself into a battle stance as he glared into Celestia’s magenta eyes.
“‘Tis a shame that I must battle you when we could be making peace, but as I always learn, ‘Fight to the fullest if you wish to better understand your foes.’ Now we shall perform our best in combat.” Daemon walked up to Dragonok’s side with her mouth bulging as she slowly chewed on yet another apple without Applejack noticing it. 
“Now with the pleasantries out of the way, let us fight as warriors in the blazes of passion as we strike against each other in mortal combat. FIGHT!”
With that one word, he jumped into the air as he unfurled his massive wings to deflect the setting sun’s rays on his scales to blind the group. 
As they were dazed by the sudden flash, he swooped down and immediately tackled Celestia with a full-body dive. He immediately grabbed onto her surprisingly soft flanks and threw her towards the sky before going for Luna.
He swiftly sped up towards Luna and caught her in mid-run. He and Luna turned into a black-and-blue blur as his acceleration knocked into overdrive. As he held her in his arms, he smiled and bopped her in the nose. She turned a bright crimson once again before he knocked her out with a stupefaction charm and teleported her back to Canterlot Castle.
Forgive me, Luna, but I have to take care of something first. 
Once certain both diarchs were out of his way, he turned his attention towards the bearers of the Elements of Harmony.
“‘Tis nothing personal, fair maidens, but I need to evacuate you out of what would soon likely become a danger zone.” He snapped his finger and teleported them to their respective homes in Ponyville before he focused his attention back to Celestia and awaited her impending arrival.
She arrived in a blaze of searing white flames as her two zweihänders pulsed with heliacal energy. 
“WHERE ARE THEY, DRAGONOK!?! WHAT HARM HAVE YOU INFLICTED UPON THEM!?! I SWEAR, IF YOU DARE HURT ANY OF THEM, I WILL TEAR YOU ASUNDER!”
Note to self: Celly’s as predictably naive as she was back in the old days. 
“I’ll inform you of what I have done to them once you surrender in your pursuit to capture and return me to my prison. What say you?”
If there was one thing Dragonok had forgotten (or not likely cared to begin with), mystical immortals such as Celestia always fall into the emotional spectrum especially when they’re worried or enduring a great deal of stress.
“I will defeat you,” Celestia grimly replied as her ethereal mane burst into  shades of fiery scarlet, honeysuckle yellow, and citrusy orange. 
“Oh well. 'Twas worth a shot.” Dragonok murmured as a miasma of pitch-black aura surrounded his muscular frame before he once again steadied into his battle stance.
Both warriors held their positions for but a single moment before they charged at each other for the epic battle of the millennia. 
Let’s do this.
> The Unexpected Finale: What the Buck Just Happened?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“We’ve got to hurry!” Twilight exclaimed as she and her friends reunited to run towards the spot where they last saw the mighty titan fight off against the Princesses. “They need our help!”
“Ah don’t know, Twi,” Applejack replied to the panicking pony. “Didn’t you hear him warning us without even laying a single scratch on us? Ah think he might be nicer than the Princesses made him out to be.”
“You don’t understand! He TELEPORTED us right back to our homes! How in Celestia’s name could he have known about where we live? That alone makes him too dangerous for us to simply assume he’s good!”
“Yeah, I agree with Twilight on that,” Rainbow Dash agreed. “Didn’t Celestia say he knew how to predict his enemies’ moves or something? That makes him a bad guy in my books.”
“Aw shucks. Yer just mad he scared you off with that scary voice of his,” Applejack shot back. “I know he may not be the most friendliest-looking of fellas, but he sure seemed polite ta me.”
“I’m afraid I must agree with Applejack, darlings,” Rarity said. “Have you seen the sheen on his armor? He takes such elegant care of his appearance. His color pattern alone may seem a bit clique, but it certainly fits him well. What I wouldn’t do to get a closer glimpse of the metalwork!” 
“URGH! Whatever! Let’s just get there before something bad...” Twilight and her friends skidded to a halt as they witnessed an unexpected sight. 
Two blurs, one black, the other white, repeatedly clashed against each other again and again as sparks of raw ether sprayed onto the ground. 
To Twilight’s surprise, the ground began to rumble with each spark touching its rough exterior for a few moments before it suddenly erupted to form a massive tree that rapidly grew towards both blurs. 
The speed of its growth allowed it to smash against the white blur which immediately revealed to be an infuriated Celestia with a fiery mane as the other blur halted its own progress to reveal a calm and collected Dragonok. 
“Dost thou concede, Celestia Sunbringer?” 
“Never, you foul fiend!” Celestia immediately pulled out her shield and threw it with such force that it sliced through the massive branches towards Dragonok. 
To everyponies’ surprise, Dragonok simply waited until he casually grabbed the shield in mid-path and stared at it. 
“Lovely metalwork, but it seems a bit fragile.” He applied pressure to both sides of the shield as he easily broke it into two. The shield fragment suddenly burst into shimmering particles of light that were absorbed straight into his hands. “I believe it’s my turn, Celestia.”
He crouched into a battle position with both hands squeezed into fist as he began to release a mighty roar. The miasma of black energy surrounding him suddenly began to rapidly form spikes as he continued on his battle cry. A strange voice begins to speak out of nowhere in a mechanical tone.
DRAGONOK PRIME: INTIATING ASPECT CHANGE TO DRAGONOK (DEATHBLAZE ASPECT) NOW
Dragonok’s armor began to latch onto his skin as it melted to form a cocoon hovering in mid-air. Within seconds, the cocoon burst open in a black inferno as he stepped out.
Instead of the form everyone was familiar with, he had transformed into a hulking dragon with black flames trailing from his scarlet eyes. Four bulging scale-clad arms flexed in unison as a elongated tail enveloped in black flames flicked in response. Humongous wings beat in sync as he floated in mid-air. A pair of massive four-toed claws latched onto one of the tree’s branches as he landed. What scared most of them the most, however, was the gigantic toothy smile on his face.
“This is certainly new,” he said as he glanced upon his new form. “I had expected my Draconian Aspect to activate, but this Deathblaze Aspect is quite impressive if I do say so myself. What happened?”
DUE TO SIX SEALS PLACED UPON PRIMARY ASPECTS, ABSORBSION OF TYRANT KING GEOGIGAS OF THE DRAGON KINGDOM, AS WELL AS ADDITION OF SOLAR SHIELD FRAGMENTS, A NEW ASPECT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
“Seals? Seals from what?”
SIX MYSTICAL SEALS FORGED FROM THE ENERGIES OF THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY IMPOSED BY CELESTIA AND LUNA UPON ESTABLISHED IMPRISONMENT OVER ONE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED, AND SEVENTY TWO POINT SIX YEARS INTO THE PAST. ONLY POSSIBLE METHOD OF REMOVING SEAL IS FOR BEARERS OF ELEMENTS OF HARMONY TO VOLUNTARILILY UNLOCK SEALS WITHOUT MANIPULATION OR FORCE DUE TO STRICT REQUIREMENTS UPON ELEMENTS OF HARMONY USAGE. 
“Well, I suppose this new Aspect will have to do. A bit more muscle-bound than what I am used to, but this should do rather nicely. I wouldn’t want to unnecessarily harm anyone if I can avoid it.” He then turned his attention back to Celestia. “As much as I would love to continue our bout, I need to go train in this new form. Here’s some death-bane chocolate to make up for it.” He sped over to give Celestia two packets filled with ground grayish-black cacao beans before he jumped away from her and pulled out his flute and blew a single note on it. 
Daemon, who had been watching the whole battle while snacking from a barrel of apples she had just found near that nice apple orchard, immediately seeped into the shadows before reappearing by Dragonok’s side. He swung himself over onto her back before the both of them charged off into the sunset. 
A few moments later, Twilight, who had been shocked by the sudden change of events, only had one thing to say about it. “What just happened?” 
Applejack, on the other hand, had plenty to say about it once she noticed the empty barrel of what used to be filled with apples. “That thieving son of a fruit-bat! His friend ate some of mah apples!”
> A Sudden Surprise: Messages From Beyond
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Master, are you alright?” Daemon tentatively asked once they transported into shadowspace. 
“I’m alright, old friend,” Dragonok, who had reverted back to his previous self, replied. “I just miss some of our old allies. I wonder where Frostnix could be right now. She’s probably in some sort of multiverse where they have planetary-scale battles on a monthly basis.” 
“About that, Master,” Daemon began. “There may or may not have been a few important things you might have missed during your imprisonment.”
“What aren’t you telling me, Daemon?” he inquired. 
Daemon gave him a nervous smile before she suddenly spat out a few black gems. “You may have missed a couple of messages from the Big Boss Lady and some of your fellow comrades while you were semi-hibernating as an museum exhibit.”
“How much, Daemon? These can’t be the only messages.”
“Over a couple thousand.” 
“I’m sorry. I didn’t quite catch that. What was it?”
“Over a couple thousand.”
“Then why are there a few of these messages instead of the two thousand you supposedly claimed to have received while I was gone?”
“Um… how should I put this? Most of the old ones got digested, but the ones I spat out are the deluxe brand that’s super-important, invulnerable to all forms of damage, and really expensive to replace had they melted inside my tummy.” At Dragonok’s deadpan look, she immediately defended herself. “What!? They taste so good in this world! I couldn’t resist!”
“I know you were born from a union of kirin and thestral, but I wonder about your dietary habits sometimes. They’re a bit… dragonian as of late. You may need lay off all that food. Eating all of those message crystals can’t be good for you.” 
“Pooh on you.” Daemon gave off a small pout before she nudged one of the three crystals at me. “This one is from the Big Boss Lady. She told me to give this to you once you reawakened from your petrification. She says it’s very important.” Before Dragonok could get a word in, she placed her face right in front of his faceguard to enunciate the message. “Very important…”
Dragonok released a huge sigh as he grabbed the black gem and immediately crushed it into dust to activate the message. The dust immediately began to swirl around in a miniature typhoon for a few moments before the face of a lady wearing a crown forged of a dragon’s upper jaw balefully stared at Dragonok with her slit amber eyes.
Dragonok, the simulacrum began, if you have received this message, listen closely to what I’m about to inform you. 
Based on our previous attempt to retrieve you back from the multiverse in which you are currently stranded in, we have discovered a miniature warp entrance big enough to let two of our Chaos Champions enter to find you and ensure that all is well. The only problem that remains is that while we have access into this multiverse, there is no escape due to the amount of magical barriers projected from each variation of a universe stored with this multiverse which in turn has created a powerful barricade that even the most powerful strains of Corruption would be hard-pressed to pierce into. 
However, that does not mean there is no evil within this multiverse. There must always be balance to every world or it will easily crumble in the sands of Time. The Corruption knows that and thus has ways to manipulate the inhabitants of each multiverse through indirect means even when it cannot send its minions to do its bidding.
That is why you will be staying here to ensure that whatever breeds of evil are either purified with the powers of True Chaos or eliminated should the former option fail. 
You know what to do, my Chaos Champion of Power. 
The image of Tiamantis dissipated into the dust from which it had formed, leaving Dragonok amused at his current predicament. 
How intriguing… At least I won’t have to worry about the Corruption as I did a thousand years ago. That was when one piece of Tiamantis’ message knocked through his helm. Wait a minute. Two of my comrades are here?
He turned towards Daemon who nudged forth the other two message crystals towards him.
“Here are the other two messages from your comrades, Master. I hope you aren’t mad at me for not telling you sooner.” Daemon stared at him with her big, soulful eyes.
He immediately softened before he began to scratch her ears. She whinnied in delight upon receiving this treatment. He soon stopped, much to her disappointment, as he prepared to crush the second crystal.
Within a few moments, another image, this time of a woman wearing a silver mask with twin scarlet wings attached to the two white roses growing from both sides, began its message. 
Dragonok, my ally! It’s me, Frostnix, Chaos Champion of Reincarnation! If you have received this message, then know that I am in the frozen regions of Equestria with your battleaxe, Manasurge. I’ll be waiting there with some new allies I have created during my stay here. May Tiamantis guide you!
By the way, do you have any new girlfriends during your stay here? I would enjoy teasing them.
... 
How in frost and blazes does one turn this infernal crystal off? STOP RECORDING, DAMN Y-
The message burst into a shower of dust as the message ended right there. Dragonok held a straight face for a few moments before he roared out in laughter. Even after a few hundred thousand years, Frostnix never did figure out how to operate any technical devices without either short-circuiting it or breaking it into pieces in a fit of frustration. 
He still chuckled as he crushed the final crystal to see which Chaos Champion had been sent for the task. 
It turned out to be the worst possible person he could think of. 
A cloaked figure wearing a leather mask resembling that of a gigantic black crow’s skull with ruby lenses attached over its eye sockets glared back at him in grim determination. It was none other than Necrow, Chaos Champion of Annihilation. 
Hello, Dragonok… It has been seventy two years, five months, twenty four days, seventeen hours, four minutes, sixteen seconds, ninety four nanoseconds, and counting since I have arrived in this particular universe where I had received your energy signature. So far, I have only found your weapon identified as Matterbane and have isolated myself in some sort of badland where I will be awaiting your arrival. Should you arrive without provisions of any sort before you awaken me from my communion with the afterlife, I will slice you in half where you stand. Deactivating recording device in three, two, one-
Dragonok sighed as the message ended. It seemed as if things got a lot more interesting. Not only did two of his allies managed to enter Equestria and awaited his arrival, but they managed to find his missing battleaxes as well. It could be worse, but he couldn’t think of anything besides an certain enraged sun goddess charging at him while somehow being overpowered by his weapons. 
“Who should we visit first, Master?” Daemon asked. 
“I believe it best that we visit Frostnix first,” Dragonok replied. “Her location’s closer to us compared to that of Necrow; that, and she’s excellent in calming Necrow down should specific events take a turn for the worse without us knowing about it.”
“Alright, Master,” Daemon replied. “But we have to recharge our power for a while before we go. Being stuck for over a thousand year took a lot of Chaos energy from us. I sense a good place to recharge, but you’re not going to like this, Master.” 
“Why would I not like it, Daemon? Is the Chaos energy emitting from the area you speak too little to revitalize us over time?”
“Well…” At that, Daemon avoided his eyes which elicited a warning bell ringing in his mind. “It’s near the same place where the Elements of Harmony reside: the Everfree Forest.”
Dragonok sighed as he heard the dreaded response… until an excellent idea popped into his head. “Perhaps we can use this to our advantage.”
Daemon stared at him in confusion. “Why, Master?” 
“If you recall since our last adventure here in Equestria, much has changed. There’s no sign of Corruption to be found; not even a sense of foreboding signaling its presence in Equus. Perhaps we can learn much from the Elements of Harmony by watching their actions from the safety from the Everfree Forest; the only place where no pony can influence it since it contains much True Chaos which allows it to negate any actions that dare try to influence it. How else would that forest have lasted for over a thousand years without being turned into a small town, let alone a city? Even Celestia and Luna couldn’t control it to obey their whim; just look at the state of their old castle if you want proof.”
“How would you know what their own castle looked like, Master?” Daemon interrupted. “The only way you could have known that after being imprisoned for so long… you kissed Luna didn’t you?” She gave him a deadpan look before shaking her head in frustration. “I know you like her, but she’s no replacement for Sylvania. You know that.”
“I know, Daemon,” Dragonok sighed. “I know. But we also know she’s gone now. She even told me that either of us would have to move on in case either of us left each other. Luna may be no Sylvania, but she’s her own mare. That’s all that counts.”
Daemon felt crush at seeing her master look so solemn upon his recollection. “I’m sorry, Master. I didn’t know you felt that way. Forgive me.” 
Dragonok gave out a weary smile before his hand mussed her mane. “Thank you, my old friend, for understanding me. Let’s just ride to the Everfree, alright.” 
As they gently rode off, Daemon had just one question for Dragonok. “By the way, when are we getting some more apples? Those were the nummiest I ever tasted!”
Dragonok just groaned as he recalled what he had done just a little while ago. He really needed to make up with Applejack for that.

> Within The Everfree: A Meeting With The Wolf, The Shamaness, And The World
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragonok meditated in the center of the Everfree Forest. Being here for a few weeks had helped Dragonok unwind as he became used to the forest’s foreboding aura as he slowly absorbed the excess Chaos emanating from his surroundings with each breath he inhaled. With each exhale, he released a flow of energy to purify whatever taint the Corruption may have inflicted on the Everfree Forest in his absence.
Daemon, on the other hand, loudly snored as she dreamed of fields overrun with bouncing apples that her dream self eagerly captured and devoured with relish. Mmm... relish...
They continued this routine until a whimper broke them out of their reverie. Dragonok shook off his meditation before he rubbed Daemon awake.
“Yawn… what is it, Master?” she groggily asked. “Is it snack time already?”
“I’m afraid not, Daemon,” Dragonok replied. “Did you not hear the whimper just now?”
“No. I was too busy eating apples in my dream. Big, juicy, bouncy apples…” A stream of drool began to cascade down her mouth as she desired the forbidden fruit; forbidden since Dragonok told her not to eat any apples until they found a way to pay Applejack back for the apples they had eaten from her orchards.
“Let’s go find the source. Much has changed since our imprisonment and I’m curious to see them. One of which is that whimper that may need our assistance.” Dragonok arose from his cross-legged position to walk before Daemon followed suit.
They soon found a rather unusual sight.
A lupine beast lay in the center of a clearing, clearly waiting for something, as it continued to whimper.  What intrigued Dragonok the most was the fact that its pelt's fur consist of thin slivers of alabaster wood instead of hair. He shifted into the shadows provided by the trees as he edged closer to take a better look.
“Hmm… based on the coloring of its eyes, it seems to have once been a machination of Discord that gained a sense of semblance. Perhaps Discord found a tribe of wolves here in the Everfree and transformed them into organic automatons capable of surviving on their own without further influence. Based on his whimsical nature, I would guess them to have been once been timberwolves before they became a living representation of their namesake upon transformation,” Dragonok noted as he took out a cyberpad and recorded his findings.
“I have a question, Master,” Daemon inquired. “Why is that one whimpering?”
“That’s simple, Daemon. She’s in heat. Based on the amount of lupine pheromones wafting about in the air, she’s been like that for some time. It’s strange that no males of her kind have already gotten to her to start with. Perhaps she has some sort of abnormality that dissuades them from copulation.”
“Can’t you just say she’s horny and hasn’t had a guy to wood her for a while? Heh, wood…”
Dragonok rolled his eyes at Daemon’s attempt of what turned out to be a bad pun as he continued on his observations. “She seems to possess no physical abnormalities as far as I can tell, but perhaps that’s because I have not seen other specimens of her kind. Her snowy wood is rather fascinating to look at, though. Perhaps we should converse with her.”
“Are you sure she can even talk, Master? It doesn’t look like she has much on the left side of her brain to understand us. She looks more like a righty to me.”
“Remember, Daemon. No living creature in this world should be considered too simple-minded to understand us nor can we deny it the chance for us to understand it. Many civilizations have made this mistaken and have fallen for that mistake over time over their assumptions that the sides that oppose them are either savages or heretics when in fact they just simply carry different beliefs. Let’s just give her a chance and hear what she has to say.” Dragonok slowly strode towards the creature as to not intimidate it.
Once he had reached near her without being detected, he gently poked her backside to catch her attention.
“What is it you want, mortal?” the white wolf asked in a dismal tone. Her golden eyes turned to stare into Dragonok’s scarlet eyes for a brief moment before they widened in shock. She immediately jumped away to build some distance away from him. “Dragonok the Bane-Devourer! How can this be?”
“You know me, I presume?” Dragonok asked.
“Of course, I do! You’re the one who absorbed the Fallen Clan in a single gulp without being harmed by their poisonous flesh and magic. Thanks to you, the regions ruled by their tyranny have slowly healed and developed new life since their defeat. The Wolf Packs have prayed to you for your blessings ever since.”
“I thank you for the compliment, but I’m afraid I don’t know you quite as well. I’ve never seen such a fair beast in these parts before my imprisonment. Who and what are you, may I ask?”
The white wood-wolf coughed for a few seconds to prepare herself before she began to speak. “I am Lupaka, the first female timberwolf and spiritual guardian of the timberwolves. I have guided my people for countless generations as I helped them learn how to survive in the Everfree. Ever since Discord changed my people from flesh to chunks of living wood, they have become mindless creatures that now stalk these woods. I was one of the few who barely managed to escape the curse, but my fur transformed into living pieces of wood that produce new timberwolves when removed from my pelt. Despite the transformation, my people still accept my guidance since they recognize me due to my unique appearance and intellect, but they dare not touch me despite this being my first heat period in over a thousand years in fear of sacred punishment, regardless of my assurances on the contrary. Without a new litter of pups to help guide my people, I fear they will soon become doomed to a life where they will be hunted down and become no more.”
“Interesting… does it have to be any timberwolf or a wolf in general?”
“It can be any wolf, but the offspring I deliver will be that of natural-born timberwolves. Why do you ask, Bane-Devourer?”
Dragonok smiled as a flood of chaotic miasma began to envelop him. Within moments, a mighty wolf with an ebony pelt marked with crimson spirals that gleamed in the moonlight stepped out of the dissipating miasma. “I’ll be willing to perform that task if you don’t mind if that’s alright with you, guardian of the timberwolves.”
Lupaka’s face immediately turned crimson behind her wooden fur at the offer. “Why are you willing to help me, oh mighty-?”
A jet-black paw stopped her from speaking further as Dragonok gave her a gentle smile despite the long canines sprouting from his snout. “I only desire to help any maiden who sincerely needs my help. The only question now is do you want my help or not?”
The white timberwolf gazed into his scarlet eyes and saw nothing but sincerity at his offer. She gave a shy smile as she said, “I accept.”
________________________________________
Once Dragonok had guided Daemon to a spot where she could graze on the tender grass, he and Lupaka began their mating ceremony.
They both circled each other as they sniffed to become familiar with each other’s pheromones. Both wolf and timberwolf began to heavily pant as they became slowly become aroused with each whiff of their musk.
Dragonok, taking the initiative, slowly moved to one of Lupaka’s ears and began to lightly nibble on it. A moan passed her lips as she shivered over the unexpected sensation. Dragonok slowly traced a path from ear to ear with each nibble as she slowly became a quivering pile of flesh and wood.
“You are quite adept in the erotic arts, aren’t you?” she panted, eager for more.
“I’ve learned a trick or two.” Dragonok replied. “But I believe that what I have with me will definitely please you.” He shifted to his side to reveal two massively erect phalluses bulging from underneath his muscle-bound frame.
“Are those two shafts for me?” she asked in shocked surprise upon seeing the exotic pair. “I’ve never seen anything on any creature here in the Everfree.”
“That’s for the main course, little wolf. We have yet to finish the appetizers.” Dragonok then edged close towards her backside and pushed through her drooling entrance with his sinuous tongue. She gasped in surprise as it wiggled through her passage with ease with every inch. She began to tremble before she gasped and squirted her fem juices straight onto Dragonok’s face. She blushed in embarrassment upon realization of that fact. “Forgive me, but I could not re-”
“It’s alright, little one. I’ve been meaning to have my thirst quenched.” Dragonok licked off her juices, noting the earthy taste of rich syrup, with his long tongue. She watched in amazement as it stretched far longer than that of a wolf’s. He quickly finished as he prepared to begin the final phase.
“Shall I continue, my pet?” he asked, waiting for that one moment.
As her face became awashed with lust, she nodded her consent as she presented her orifices to him. “P-Please, lover, dominate my holes. I’ve been such a naughty pup…”
Dragonok smiled at her timid request as he noticed her quivering body had nearly reached its peak. “As you wish…” He climbed atop her body so that he would easily pierce her with his mighty poles. He then gently jabbed both her backdoor and lips with his lupine shafts until both relaxed for him to enter with ease. Once certain, he plunged in for the kill.
She moaned as his pricks filled her to the brim. Her insides felt like a blazing furnace that tingle the senses with each thrust through her soft, tight passages that squeezed his phalluses . 
“Mmm… Give me more, lover… Pound me senseless until I can’t even move…” she said as her body drowned in ecstasy. She squirmed as his shafts drove deeper and deeper inside her body until one of them suddenly banged onto her womb’s mouth. Upon realizing this, she raised her plush bottom so that Dragonok could go deeper in order to pierce through the fleshy barricade.
Dragonok smiled as she moaned underneath him with each thrust. “You’re craving for my semen, aren’t you? You want me to blast every last drop inside of you as I fill you full of pups.”
As he said this, the alabaster she-wolf suddenly imagined herself swollen with an enormous pregnancy that only enhanced the raw waves of sexuality that emanated from her. Her muscles had softened into welcoming curves that enticed her pack to come closer to her, but her eyes focused onto her alpha, her lover. Before her, Dragonok happily nuzzled against her pregnant belly as he waited to see their pups pop out of her. She smiled upon this vision as she loosened her body further which allowed Dragonok to finally enter her womb and jab against its chambers.
Dragonok noticed her vacant eyes and smiled as he realized exactly what she had just imagined. “Admit it. You’re a lewd little wolf, aren’t you? You want to be bloated to the brim until you can’t even move.”
Upon hearing those words, Lupaka couldn’t rein in her desire any longer. “Yes! I’m a lewd cum-hungry bitch!” she gasped with raw desire apparent in her voice.  “I am yours to serve for your ravenous lust! Claim your right and dominate me!” She banged her shapely hips against him to feel every inch of his male tools.
Surprised, but aroused by her exclamation, Dragonok thrust faster so that he could pleasure the she-wolf as well as feel her hot flesh rub around his shafts with each pounding. Her fleshy walls squeezed him to further entice him to go faster and faster with each mighty blow into her deepest chambers.
Her pussy began to drool out so much moisture that the inside of her hindquarters became coated in waves of lubricant.
Her moans soon reached a crescendo as both she and Dragonok began to reach their climax. “That’s right! Bang me until my holes gape for days! Use my dripping cunt and ass as your personal breeding grounds! STUFF ME WITH YOUR ESSENCE!”
She howled to the moon as the explosions of semen burst into both her womb and her stomach with the force of a tsunami, making her body rapidly appear eight months pregnant. Her blissful howls climbed so high that other howls began to respond from afar. Then, Dragonok’s knots began to expand within both of her insides. Her legs twitched with little spasms upon receiving her gift. His knots soon lodged deep inside of her to prevent any of the ivory liquid from escaping to ensure that she would indeed become pregnant.
After some time had passed, his knots had deflated to the point where he could easily remove them without harming his broodmate in the process which released a flood of cum onto the forest floor around them. They both glanced at the mess they had made and laughed.
The two lovers laid down onto the soft grass of the Everfree Forest that hadn’t been coated in their love juices as they pant in exhaustion and satisfaction at the bout of love-making they had finished…
________________________________________
Dragonok and Lupaka snuggled against each other after having accomplished their task with great vigor. Before long, Lupaka removed herself from his presence and lightly kissed him on his nose. 
“Thank you, my lover. My pack will now surely survive for the better in these woods. I will not forget you as I tell my pups of their father. Speak of my name when you have need of me.” With those parting words, she loped off into the woods. 
Daemon walked up to him as a cloud of miasma cloaked him for a moment before it dissipated to reveal the ebony knight. “So, how was the love-making? Did you bring me an apple?”
Dragonok sighed in wonder at his steed’s ravenous desire to consume apples. “It felt quite joyous to tell you the truth. I’m glad I could be of some assistance when she needed help. And I’m afraid I still don’t have any apples, Daemon. As I said before, we need to pay back the bearer of the Element of Honesty for the apples we took without her permission.” He slowly arose as he stretched his muscles after the intense workout he had just performed.
“What is this I see? Two strangers within the Everfree?” a voice said out of nowhere. The bushes rustled as they parted to reveal a zebra wearing golden bands around both her neck and one of her forelegs. “Who are you, if I may be so bold? I sense a great presence from you as that of forces of old.”
“I am Dragonok of Chaos True, and now I ask the same of you.” Dragonok replied as he rhymed in response. 
The zebra simply smiled as she recognized a fellow poet. “I am Zecora of the forest of Everfree. Would you like to walk to my abode for some tea? We have much to discuss; involving that of a certain geas.” 
Dragonok, upon hearing those words, grew grim as he simply nodded before the three began to walk towards Zecora's domain.
________________________________________
Dragonok stared at the various masks that dot the inner sanctum of Zecora’s tree-house. He noted the aura of nature energy emitting from each one to provide a sense of welcome and peace as he drank some bittersweet tea provided by his hostess. Both relaxed over the comforting steam emanating from the brew as Daemon snored nearby before he spoke. 
“This tea’s taste and perfume is quite good. As for other matters, are you one of the guardians of the Everfree woods?” 
“That is not quite what I do,” she replied. “I only collect herbs and make a fine brew.”
Dragonok nodded at her explanation. “Then why have you come here, I may ask? Surely being so far from home must be lonely for such a task.”
“I search for herbs both potent and unique, and the Everfree has much that I seek. As for the loneliness I once endure, an extended hoof of friendship provided the cure.” The shamaness smiled at the memory of the yellow filly wearing a red bow that had helped her to be free of those times. “Now I have a question for thee; why are you here in the Everfree? I have heard tales of your destruction and might, but I wish to hear your side to make it right. For one side alone does not make a story whole; it is only with both that help reveal your ancient goal.”
“My tales, I’m afraid, are not for the faint of heart, but I wish to hear of the geas you mentioned at the start. For there is only one that I know, and its contents are considered both grim and hallow.” 
Zecora simply smiled as she walked to a cauldron filled with a shimmering green liquid. “If you wish to know of the geas I speak, then pay your toll with a tale before I grant you the knowledge you seek. Just take a glimpse into my mystic brew; from there, I shall have a story and you an encounter and a clue.”
Dragonok nodded at her request and walked up the caldron and began to stare at its contents. As he watch the liquid swirl around and around, he fell into a deep trance…
________________________________________
An ancient alicorn formed of the very earth that surrounded her smiled at Dragonok upon his entry. Grass formed stripes upon her rocky form as a massive tree with its many fluffy branches dotted with vibrant flowers rested upon her head to serve as her mane. Her shimmering crystal eyes gleamed with a peaceful light.
“It has been some time since we last met, Chaos Champion Dragonok. How was your extended vacation? I hope you weren’t too stiff.” She released a light chuckle which elicited a snort from Dragonok. 
“I’m glad to see someone obtained some amusement from my suffering,” he said. “Now, what do I owe for the pleasure of your visit, World Warden Equus? I hope the geas has not already been shattered.”
“Not quite, Dragonok. As a matter of fact, it had only momentarily weakened for one of your sacred treasures to be released. I thought to call you through one of my children who still connect to my nature in order to give it to you. Is there a problem with that?” 
Dragonok shook his head. “No, Equus, but which of my treasures popped out of the seal?”
“I believe it to be the Pendant of Plenty that you threw into the portal as bait for the World Wyrm; the one that allows you to summon forth great wealth through defeating foes without killing them in the process. Catch!” She threw a simple gold medallion engraved with the image of a snarling dragon’s skull toward Dragonok. He caught it in mid-air and hanged it around his neck. It momentarily twinkled before it disintegrated in a burst of black miasma.
“I’m glad to see the geas hadn’t fallen apart yet,” he said once it had disappeared. “It could have been much worse had the forces of the Abyss been released into this world.”
“Agreed, warrior of the stars… the power stored upon even the weakest of its prisoners could have easily tipped the balance of power in my realm. I would be content to see the kingdom of the Royal Sisters last for a long time without its evil taint. We have you to thank for healing this world, even if you did do a great deal of damage in doing so. Perhaps you’ll try to be a bit more careful on where you step this time.”
Dragonok released a heavy sigh as his head wearily hung from an unseen burden. “My main priority is to ensure that the Corruption does not create a writhing cesspool out of this world for it to acquire more strength to inflict the other multiverses. If I have to appear as the villain in order to do so, I will. I’m sorry but I cannot keep that promise in regards to my duty.” 
To his surprise, Equus smiled and nodded. “I knew you would say that, but the Corruption you speak of has dissipated thanks to the reactivation of the Elements of Harmony. Now the lines between good and evil have been clearly drawn. Your task, at this very moment, has at least been halted if not ended. What do you say to that?” 
Dragonok nodded at the truth behind her words. “I suspected as much ever since I saw Luna returned to her purified state. Ever since I have been freed from my imprisonment, I hadn’t felt even the weakest strain of Corruption tainting this land. Even when both Luna and Celestia wielded the Elements of Harmony, there was always some taint that I always had to take care of, but that is no longer the case for now. Thanks to the new Guardians of Harmony, all of the forces of this world have finally aligned into a state of balance for the first time in millennia. Now my only goals are clear: reunite with my allies, find new allies should the Corruption return, and absorb enough True Chaos in order to move on once I’m sure the Corruption cannot touch this collection of world for quite some time.” 
Then you’ll have a ways to go, Dragonok,” Equus said. “Now that our time is almost up, I hope to see you again. By the way, could you comfort the little one once you return? She’s going to need it after claiming a glimpse from your past.” ”
Before Dragonok could even say a word, his mind slowly slipped back into the waking world…	________________________________________
Once he arose from his imposed slumber, the first thing he noticed was Zecora sobbing in front of him. He signed in worry as he brushed through her mane. She stiffened for a moment before consenting to his tender care.
“What was it you saw, young one? I doubt the memory you’ve seen was much fun.”
“It was of the day you returned from the dead after you saw your lover die as she bled. Then monsters forced you of eternal peace and tore your flesh, mind, and soul, piece by piece. Had your savior not lent a hand, you would not be here to take your stand. How is it you’ve endured so much pain when there is so little to gain?” She then sobbed onto his chest, surprising him for a moment before he relaxed and let her cry. 
After she had finished shedding her last tear, her eyes had become bloodshot with sadness. “Forgive me for my intrusion into your past, but see that has left me downcast. If there’s anything you need, your requests I will heed.”
“Do not ask for my forgiveness, young mare. ‘Tis a rare gift you bear. To glance upon my past has given me some repast. A burden I do bear, but I’m glad that someone like you is willing to share. As for the past I’ve left behind, it would be best if, in my mind, it were left enshrined.” 
He patted Zecora’s mane one last time before he left for the door. He gently nudged Daemon awake before she followed him out the door with an irritated grumble.
He turned back to Zecora and waved goodbye before he stepped out of the door and both he and Daemon vanished into the shadows of the night.
> A Magical Allure: A Debt Paid In Full
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A few weeks had passed after Dragonok left Zecora’s domain. Since then, he used the powers of the Pendant of Plenty to obtain currency that spilled from the beasts he had bested within the boundaries of the Everfree that had attacked him upon sight. It was better than seeing them bleed to death; they often shook their head(s) upon awakening and had immediately scrambled, rushed, or boomed off with their tails behind them. 
He was sorting out the bits he acquired from his victories when a powerful surge of magic triggered his senses. For some reason, he wanted to drop off what he was doing and chase after whatever was emitting the magical aura that now attracted his full attention.
“Daemon, could you look after these bits while I check on something?” Dragonok asked the bored kagen. 
She simply shrugged with her leathery wings. “Sure, why not. The sooner we get enough bits, the sooner I can taste some apples without getting in trouble. Have fun, okay!” After saying her two bits, she then turned her full attention towards the gold-plated bits and began to stare at it without blinking. 
Dragonok smiled as he shook his head at the childlike behavior Daemon emanated before he rushed off towards the source of the addictive magic. 
He had expected to see a powerful relic recently excavated by some excited archeologist, a mystical creature unleashed from its prison to wreck havoc upon Equestria, or something just as grand.
What he had not expected was being stampeded by a mob of ponies with hearts on their eyes. 
He shook his head to ward off the worst of the headache he had just received after his helm finally stopped ringing in his ears. He slowly turned to see what exactly made the mob before his eyes fell upon a patchwork doll of a pony with mismatched eyes. 
A purple flash blinded him for a moment before a powerful urge to claim the doll began to overtake him. He quickly realized what was going on as the mob returned to charge towards the doll as he tried to wrestle against the magical charm.
“By Tiamantis, unbind me, you heinous hex! Release me from your fiendish charms!” Within his mind, Dragonok panicked as many parts of his brainspace became replaced with replicas of the doll. “Must… re…move…it…from… SIGHT!” With the last of his strength, he grabbed onto the accursed toy and threw it as far as he could before it could dig its claws iinto him. 
The herd of transfixed ponies immediately shifted directions as they stampeded after the soaring toy. Dragonok could feel its influence weakening the farther it flew until he couldn’t see it anymore. 
He sighed with relief as he slumped onto the soft grass. That enchantment possessed quite a kick to it! He began to turn back, but changed his mind upon recalling the spell’s strength. Its strength almost rivaled that of the Princesses’ own spells; now who could perform such an extraordinary feat such as this?
I hadn’t felt any signs of Corruption from it. As a matter of fact, the underlying emotions underneath the enchantment seemed to resemble that of desperation… but of whose?
He morphed into the shadows and began to chase after the mobs to see if the magician responsible for that spell would show off at some point. He tasted each pony’s energy, one by one, to find the culprit. A particular signature matched that of the spell’s so he focused towards it only to see a particularly familiar unicorn trying to pass through the mob with worry etched upon her face. 
He shook his head in annoyance towards himself for lacking the foresight to see the obvious; it had to be Twilight Sparkle of the Element of Magic. Only she could have had enough magical energy to attract a crowd that size with one simple spell. He took a closer glimpse of her recent memories and sighed upon inspection. The poor filly shouldn’t worry like that; he knew Celestia was a bit formal back in her early days, but she had grown into a motherly mentor who would be willing to understand the late delivery of a simple friendship letter. Before he could lend a hand in unraveling the spell, he felt the presence of said princess arrive as the sun began to make way for the night to begin.
He decided to take his leave before she could notice him. He didn’t want to contribute to the amounting amount of troubles that Twilight would likely to receive for a disaster of that caliber.
He plucked a tiny chunk of the spell's ether to analyze later. It might be interesting to learn how to use this “Want It, Need It” spell. He then disappeared deep into the shadows as he waited for Celestia to finish her lecture with the young unicorn filly. 
Once certain she was gone and that all had fallen asleep, he drifted into the center of Golden Oaks Library and began to write a message upon a sheet of ether designed for the young Element of Magic to see. He smiled once he had finished the message and left it on the writing desk before shadowstriding back to a weary Daemon who still locked eyes onto the bits collected there. 
“Oh, you’re back, Master!” she wearily cheered before falling down into a deep slumber and began to snore. Dragonok chuckled at the sight before he returned his attention back to the piles of bits as he waited for Twilight to find the letter. 
Anytime now…



Twilight Sparkle groggily arose with a big yawn as she awoke from her slumber. Her eyes blinked for a moment before she removed herself from her bed and walked down the stairs. She noted Spike still slumbering in his little basket which made her smile at the sight. 
If Spike hadn’t told Celestia of what happened yesterday, what would have happened if she hadn’t stepped in? I really need to calm down before I create a mess that big again. Hmm? What’s that on the table?
She turned as she noticed a shimmering sheet of what seemed to be made of magic lying about on her writer’s desk. Curious, she levitated it and brought it to her for a closer look before she began to read its contents.

Dear Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville, 
I had noticed the little display caused by your spell yesterday. It’s quite fascinating to see such a charm in play, but do try to restrain yourself next time before thinking about using that spell again. At the current stage of magecraft you’re in, you clearly have the power but lack the control to use it without creating a few… accidents in the process. Beyond that, I must congratulate you on performing such a spell to attract that huge of a crowd. Even I was almost captivated by its charms even with the amount of counter-magic protections surrounding me. I’ll come by for a visit to see your progress sooner or later, young filly. Sayonara!
Signed,
Dragonok, Chaos Champion of Power.
P.S. This message will automatically release a shower of bits that will be automatically teleported towards Sweet Apple Acres to make up for the apples taken upon dissipation. More payments will arrive in exchange for each barrel of apples left outside for pick-up upon delivery. 

“Wait, what?” Twilight Sparkle managed to say before the message burst into a shower of gold bits that quickly piled up into an impressive pile before disappearing into thin air. She shook her head for a moment before she teleported to Sweet Apple Acres in a blink of an eye.



“Well, Ah gotta say, I ain’t never seen that many bits for apples,” Applejack said in surprise as she returned to look towards the small hill of bits standing in front of the barn once Twilight explained what she had just read. “When did he say he was coming over?”
“That’s just it!” Twilight exclaimed. “He didn’t even mention the exact time or location for his visit! He even knew about what happened yesterday! What if he decides to challenge Celestia again!?! What if she loses and he decides to rule over all of Equestria with an iron hoof!” She began to hyperventilate as her hair sproinged out in random spikes.
“Don’t fret, Twi; we don’t want a repeat of what happened yesterday.” Applejack patted Twilight until the purple unicorn began to calm down. “Ah know yer worried and all, sugarcube,  but he might not be as bad as we think. Sure, he stole some of the Apple Family’s apples, but he paid it back. I'm willing ta forgive him since he's making amends for his wrongdoings. Let's just see what happens when he does show his face 'round here, ‘kay Twi?”
Twilight sucked in a big gulp of air before she finally calmed down. “You’re right, AJ. Maybe I am overreacting. I just hope nothing bad happens when he does show up.”
“That’s the spirit, Twi! Who knows? He might be a great fella once everypony gets a chance to know him in person.”
Dragonok gently smiled in amusement as he listened to their conversation from the comfort of the shadows. He slowly sunk right back into the darkness as he disappeared in silence.


> The Fright Upon Nightmare Night Primum Actum: Treats And Theatre
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Dragonok breathed in the crisp autumn air. It was that time of year again where creatures born of the shadows would wander about the realm of the mortals in disguise. It went by many names in each multiverse he visited: Samhain’s Feast, All Hallow’s Eve, Izanami’s Festival, the Boogyman’s Carnival, the Blood Moon Masquerade; but this variation of this special occasion intrigued his fancy with its fascinating name and the pony it represented: Nightmare Night.
“So what looks better on me; giant bee or Freddy Kruger?” Daemon asked as she levitated said costumes in front of Dragonok’s face. “I just don’t know whether I should look cute or scary. It’s just too hard to decide!” She pouted as Dragonok didn’t seem to notice as he stared into space. “Maybe I should just mix and match the costumes together if you’re not going to help me-”
“I believe I should go to enjoy this holiday,” Dragonok interrupted.
Daemon gasped as she couldn’t believe what she had just heard. “YOU’RE GOING?!?” She squeed as she began to run around Dragonok in circles in excitement. “This is bestest day ever! What are you going as? Where are we going? Are we going trick-or-treating? The adrenaline’s killing me!”  Her words became incompressible gibberish as she stirred herself up into a flurry of motion.
Dragonok waited until she had settled down before he spoke.
“I believe it to be best if I went to visit Ponyville and mingle with its townsfolk in order to better understand the changes occurred over the last thousand years. As for my costume…” A black miasma cloaked him for a few moments before he reappeared.
He wore an oversized tuxedo with a blood-red cape that fluttered in the breeze as he strode towards the now-stunned kagen. His crimson widow’s peak accented the blazing scarlet eyes as two ridiculously oversized canines peeked out of his mouth. His pitch-black fur seemed to absorb the moonlight into himself as his tiny leathery wings flit underneath his cape. The biggest feature was the massive thick-framed glasses that stood on his snout. Daemon could only blink for a few seconds before she burst her sides out in untamed shrieks of laughter.
He had, in short, become a thestral version of an over-exaggeratedly bad stereotype of Count Dracula.
Dragonok smiled at her reaction. “I doubt anyone would notice who I am with this disguise while they laugh at its ridiculous design. I just hope they have a pony version of Dracula in this world or all of this would have been for naught.”
“Couldn’t…agree with…you  more!” Daemon gasped as her sides began to split from an over-dosage of laughter. “Give me a… sec… Just need…a chance…to breathe.” She sucked in a gigantic breath as she slowly began to calm down. “Where was I? Oh, right, my costume! So, what do you think?”
Dragonok’s face stretched out into a sinisterly wicked grin as he shook his head. “I don’t think so. I have plans for you.”
Daemon gulped in fear as she recognized the dreaded gleam in his eye.



“I hate you so much. I hate you so much that I wish an evil clown would take you and force you to the electric chair for how stupid you made me look,” a fillified Daemon dressed in a glitter-coated pink unicorn princess costume deadpanned as both master and steed trotted on the streets of Ponyville.  
“As long as we both have ridiculous appearances, no one will think, let alone believe, our true identities, Sprinkle Top,” the newly dubbed Hoof Note explained. “Now let’s just enjoy the festivities and have some fun. We’ll meet up back in the Everfree once this holiday ends. Don’t you have some candy to collect?”
Upon hearing the word, candy, Daemon squeed in delight before she immediately ran off in joyous excitement to begin her sugary harvest. Dragonok chuckled upon seeing the filly’s reaction before he began to trot around Ponyville.
He arrived at Golden Oaks Library only to see Celestia’s pupil and the pink bearer of Laughter respectively costumed as Starswirl the Bearded and a chicken. Dragonok chuckled upon recalling Pinkie Pie’s name as he realized the joke surrounding her costume. He then noticed the group of young fillies behind Pinkie and smiled for a moment before he went on his way.
He continued to wander off until his senses suddenly detected a familiar presence. He turned his head towards the moonlit sky and noticed a tiny speck growing closer and closer to reveal a chariot driven by two Lunar Guards. He smiled as he awaited the arrival of Princess Luna.
Unbeknownst to him, Pinkie had noticed him as she bounced alongside the group of fillies in their quest for sweets. Her eyes respectively bulged in shock, turned inquisitive, and then she began to widely smile from cheek to cheek. She turned towards Granny Smith and spoke with her for a few moments before leaving her with the children. She had something special to plan...



Meanwhile…
Daemon waddled in her princess costume as she acted be cutesy toward each person who gave her candy after she knocked on their doors one by one. Just because she had to wear this silly dress didn’t mean she couldn’t use its sickeningly sweet charms to her advantage. 
She soon carried a massively bulging bag overflowing with sweets that she easily carried onto her back. One thing was for certain; it was a feather compared to the staggering weight of the dozens of behemoths she had to once carry in one of the universes back in her home multiverse. 
She felt like she was forgetting something important as she carried off her bounty, but she shrugged it off as she imagined consuming the hill of candy she had collected once she returned to the Everfree. She hummed for a moment before she began to chant: 
Nightmare Night,
What a fright,
Give me something 
Sweet to bite!
Daemon giggled at this variation; out of all the scary holiday chants she heard throughout the multiverses, this had be the best by far! She swirled her bag around her in glee as she cheered for the abundance of candy she had received in less than an hour alone. That had to be an accomplishment if she ever saw it. After millennia of being unable to obtain candy simply because she wasn’t human, humanoid, or considered sentinel, she could finally acquire all the candy she wanted and nopony was going to stop her! 
“Mwahahahahahah!” she cackled as lighting suddenly crackled behind her to further accent her drive for the glorious sweetmeats. That was when she noticed the three fillies staring back at her in apparent confusion.
“Um… hi?” Daemon squeaked out before she sunk deep into her costume in embarrassment. She just had to maniacally laugh while wearing such a ridiculous costume, didn’t she? 
“Ah don’t think Ah’ve seen you ‘round here,” one of the three fillies said. “Ah’m Apple Bloom! This here is Scootaloo, and that’s Sweetie Belle! And together, we make-” Daemon could almost hear a drum roll coming in as the three fillies collectively sucked in a large breath of air.  
“THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!” all three shouted with great fervor. 
“Hi….?” Daemon said while mind-blown due to the amount of cuteness crashing onto her upon seeing that little display. “I’m…” Don’t say Daemon, don’t say Daemon, don’t- “I’m Daemon! Great costumes!” Damn it!
“Gee, thanks!” Apple Bloom said. “We made them ourselves with some help from Rarity!” 
“I can tell!” She had to admit, but those three costumed fillies were to die for.  Apple Bloom apparently went for the pony version of Frankenstein’s Bride with a hairsprayed black wig with silver highlights and painted stitches surrounding her face. Scootaloo was obviously a werewolf (or is it ponywolf?) with fake furry ears to hide her ears and fluffy wolf-paws to disguise her hooves as she wore a furry pelt to further accent the image of a werewolf. As for Sweetie Belle, she wore a stylish black cape accented with red highlights along with plastic fangs and slicked-back hair to create an image of a supposedly scary vampire. I have to admit, Dragonok’s may be funny, but these fillies really put the cute in monsterhood! “I’m here for a visit from Las Pegasus with my papa for a bit. I really like everypony here; they’re so nice!” 
“Ah’m glad you like it here!” Apple Bloom then noticed the lack of a particular symbol upon the new filly’s flank and gasped. “Ya don’t have a cutie mark! Do ya know what that means?”
Daemon felt sweat drop down in bullets as she awaited the dreaded judgment she knew was coming towards her. “What?”
“It means you can join us on our epic quest for our cutie marks!” Scootaloo explained before all three ponies cheered around Daemon’s confused form.
“Huh?” Out of all the possible reactions she had expected, she certainly hadn’t expected that.  “What?”
Before any of the CMC had a chance to explain, a pink and white blur suddenly charged into them from out of nowhere.
“Girls, I need your help!” Pinkie then noticed the group of bowled-over fillies lying on the ground with stars spiraling around their heads. Pinkie giggled for a moment before she munched on the stars. “Mmm… where was I? Oh, that’s right! I need those fancy wax candles that Rarity uses, a candelabrum, and some romantic music around midnight, stat! Thanks!” She turned to Daemon, gave a wink, and immediately sped off to Equestria know where.
Daemon could blink as she tried to process what just happened in the last few seconds. What was that all about? And how in Tiamantis did she eat all those imaginary stars?



Out of everything Dragonok had expected, the turn of events he had just witnessed both amused and worried him.
His reason for amusement: because Luna hadn’t change at all after a thousand years.
His reason for worriment: because Luna hadn’t change at all after a thousand years.
Upon Luna’s arrival, she had addressed the citizens of Ponyville with her Royal Canterlot Voice which blew everyone into a state of pure fear. If Dragonok hadn’t been used to her high volume since he first heard her address a crowd over a thousand years ago, his eardrums would have likely exploded again. Regrowing the fragile membrane the first time had taken hours to fix and improve. 
I guess Lulu’s still shy after being isolated for so long, the poor filly. I should go help her before she alienates herself against everypony else. 
He strode off to find Luna only to find both Twilight and Luna chatting to each other close to a memorial of Nightmare Moon. He felt a small smile grow on his face as he watched the two fillies bond through their conversation before he confronted them.
“Good evening, ladies of the night! I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.” He braced himself for the inevitable. 
“WE BID THEE A GOOD EVENING AS WELL, CITIZEN!” Luna bellowed with her Royal Canterlot Voice. “WE HOPE THOU HAST ENJOYED THOUSELF UPON THESE CELEBRATIONS OF NIGHTMARE NIGHT! HOW MAY WE ASSIST THEE?”
Twilight gave the disguised Chaos Champion an apologetic grin. “I’m really sorry about that. It’s just that Luna’s getting used to everything after being gone for a thousand year.” 
“Don’t be, young Sparkle,” he reassured her. “I’ve studied on the Royal Sisters myself for years. One was bound to have heard mention of the royal ‘we’ and the usage of the Royal Canterlot Voice at some point in my line of research. I doubt you’ve heard of me, though. I’m Foot Note, at your service.” He bowed first to Luna before bowing down to Twilight, much to Twilight’s surprise. “I’m a minor historian from Las Pegasus who’s come for a visit with my daughter. We wanted to meet the progenitor of such a joyous holiday as well as the famous Elements of Harmony. I’m surprised to say that I wasn’t expecting to meet both at the same time, though. What a treat!”
“HOW HAST THOU KNOWN OF OUR ARRIVAL? MY SISTER AND WE HAVE MADE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE OUR ARRIVAL TO PONYVILLE. WE IMPLORE THEE TO EXPLAIN THYSELF!” 
“I would be glad to; based on your past history with the Elements of Harmony along with a holiday surrounding you as Nightmare Moon, it would make sense to see that you would be curious enough to go take a visit to Ponyville where the Elements of Harmony live once the festivities of Nightmare Night rolled in. My daughter and I were curious to see if you would arrive so we took two tickets to Ponyville and traveled by train. In case you hadn’t shown up, Sprinkle Top and I would have the opportunity to at least enjoy the hospitality Ponyville is famous for before we go back home.”
“How nice! I hope you both have had a nice visit here in Ponyville so far.” Twilight then noticed something missing alongside Dragonok. “Where is your daughter, anyway?”
“She’s enjoying herself in Ponyville at the moment,” Dragonok replied. “She just loves to enjoy herself when she’s out and about. We planned on meeting later on after Nightmare Night ends. For now, I want to focus on the problem you seem to have with interacting with the people if that’s alright.”
“WHAT DOST THOU MEAN OF OUR INABILITY TO INTERACT WITH THE CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE?”
“Would you care to explain, Miss Sparkle?” Dragonok didn’t have to wait long before Twilight gave her reply.
“Well, you see, your Highness,” Twilight explained, “your usage of the Royal Canterlot Voice is scaring people since they think you’re yelling at them rather than just talking to them.”
“BUT ‘TIS TRADITION TO USE THE ROYAL CANTERLOT VOICE TO ADDRESS THE TOWNSFOLK! HAS THAT MUCH HAS CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF A THOUSAND YEARS?” Luna bowed her head in shame as she realized that she had scared her little ponies until a light bulb popped over her head. “WILL THE BOTH OF THEE BE SO KIND AS TO SHOW US THE WAYS OF THE MODERN FOLK? WE WOULD SINCERELY APPRECIATE THY EFFORTS IN DOING SO!”
“Alright, Princess, let’s start by lowering your voice down a notch. We’ll go to Fluttershy to help you on that. She’s a real expert on keeping her voice down. I’ll take you to her right now, your Highness.” Twilight Sparkle walked on ahead with both Dragonok and Luna following her. 
Dragonok inwardly smiled as he walked alongside Luna. He began to hum a little tune as he trotted towards their destination. He’ll wait until Twilight finishes with her efforts to help keep Luna’s voice down to speaking volume before he could release his big idea. 
No one noticed the hooded pony with glowing yellow eyes that seethed upon seeing Luna. It settled back into the shadows as it waited for the right time to strike.



Out of Daemon had expected on this night, she certainly didn’t expect carrying a wrapped bundle of thin, scented candles and a violin while she trotted with the CMC in preparations for what the pink one has had in mind, whatever that may be. 
She had to admit, though, it was pretty fun going on a little quest with these girls. She rarely had time to simply act young and silly since she and Dragonok had to always fight on the battlefield with little time to rest; let alone play. It was times and worlds like these that made her content to be alive without worrying about what may arrive in the future. 
“So why are we carrying this stuff, anyway?” she asked the CMC. 
“Ah don’t rightly know, but when Pinkie Pie’s involved, Ah reckon it’s gonna be fun!” Applebloom replied. 
“Yeah! I bet it’s going be awesome!” Scootaloo added
“Maybe she wants us to plan a date for two special someponies?” Sweetie Belle interjected. 
“That doesn’t make sense. It’s not even Hearts and Hooves Day. Who plans a date in Nightmare Night?” Scootaloo met the deadpan glares from her fellow Crusaders. “What?”
“Scoots, this is Pinkie Pie we’re talking about,” Apple Bloom dryly explained. “No pony knows how her mind works. You remember the Froggy Bog Bottom Incident; the one where Twilight tried to understand how her Pinkie Sense works only to accept that there are some things that no pony on Equus could ever explain.  That was just on Pinkie’s Pinkie Sense alone. Let’s just accept the fact that Pinkie Pie is just being Pinkie Pie and have some fun while we’re at it. Who knows; we might get our cutie marks this way!”
“Okay then… let’s just get the stuff to Pinkie Pie and leave it at that.” That was when Daemon’s brain picked up on a certain word. “Wait. What’s a Pinkie Sense?”
Once the Cutie Mark Crusaders explained the fine details of a Pinkie Sense, Daemon experienced a sense of dread. This certainly would not end well if Dragonok and Pinkie meet before this night was over.



Well, that certainly was interesting.
As he watched from nearby upon the group’s arrival at Fluttershy’s cottage, Twilight had asked the terrified filly for lesson on how to lower Luna’s voice down to a more conversational volume… after the fact that Fluttershy screamed, was d ragged out with magic, and had to face Luna which led to her mental barricades against Nightmare Night crack to the point where she became floppy with petrified fear. He had to admit, though, it did work on helping Luna’s voice go down a notch. Although, shaking an almost unconscious Fluttershy before giving a big hug and bellow express her gratitude made the young fillies and colts he saw earlier with Pinkie Pie scream in fear. 
As a matter of fact, where is she, anyway?
The moment he thought of this, Pinkie Pie somehow descended slowly from above him  and placed a rainbow cupcake on top of him, much to his surprise. She places a hoof in front of her face to signal silence before she disappeared back to wherever she came from.
How in Tiamantis does she do that? I didn’t sense any signs of True Chaos emitting from her but her unpredictable actions matches that of a master wielder of True Chaos. I guess I’ll find out sooner or later. He quickly devoured the cupcake as he savored each bite before he focused back on the matter at hand. Right now, I need to see if Luna’s alright. After that, I really need to ask Pinkie Pie for that recipe; it’s an explosion of fireworks stuffed with tons of sweetness in my mouth!
He soon found Twilight comforting a morose Luna. “Don’t worry, Princess Luna. Everything will be okay soon, I promise.”
He sighed upon seeing this sight. Poor Luna… She truly didn’t deserve being treated like the Boogeyman. All she desired was for ponies to love her and her precious night just as they had towards her sister and her day. None of this would have happened if only both had listened to him before they transformed him to stone.
He shook his head of thoughts. The past is not important for now; what matters is that Luna obtains the ponies’ adoration and admiration, and he knew exactly how to do it. 
“Excuse me, but I believe it’s time for we try an idea I’ve had brewing in my mind.”



The town went about its merrymaking when, all of a sudden, a group of costumed Shadowbolts appeared out the sky and landed amongst the startled ponies. A mysterious melody began to echo throughout Ponyville before they began to perform a coordinated dance number as three of them dressed as ghosts walked in front of the group and began to sing.

Colts and fillies from everywhere 
Are you ready for a great, big scare?
Follow us for a fun fright
Here upon this Nightmare Night

Upon hearing this, the other Shadowbolts began to sing in complete synergy as they swayed from side to side.

This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night
Ghosts all dance in see-through white

This is Nightmare Night, everypony have a bite
Trick or treat ‘til everypony gonna scream with fright
Everypony scream, in moonlight
Upon this Nightmare Night

A Shadowbolt dressed as a zombie staggered out of the group.

I am the one hiding under the grave
Snatching little ones who misbehave

The moment the zombie Shadowbolt staggered back to the group, another dressed as a doctor coated in stitches popped out and continued on the solo.

I am the one hiding within your closets
With skin scarred with a hundred oozing cuts

It immediately returned after saying its one-liner as the Night Guards continued on their chorus.

This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night
Nightmare Night, Nightmare Night, Nightmare Night, Nightmare Night

In this realm we call home
Everyone dance to this ghostly song
In this realm, don't we love it now?
Everypony's waiting for the big surprise

Dripping with drool, ghoul popping out of the pool
Something's waiting just to pounce and then you'll scream

Every Shadowbolt at that point jumped forth and startled the mesmerized crowd.

Scream! This is Nightmare Night
Red 'n' black, moonlit white

Aren't you scared? 
Well, that's just fine

Scream it once, scream it twice
Go and hide from the cockatrice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night

Everypony scream, everypony scream
In our realm of Nightmare Night

A Shadowbolt swathed in foal’s clothing and a bib waddled his way toward the citizens.

I am the doll with the tear away face
Murder in a flash but I leave no trace

A thundercloud appeared from the sky as the massive head of a Shadowbolt popped out of the rumbling mass.

I am the one with the oversized brain
I am the wind brushing through your mane

Another Shadowbolt decked in armor leapt from a building with the moon behind it to portray the silhouette of a gigantic bat searching for prey in mid-flight. 

I am the dark knight lurking at midnight
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright

Every Shadowbolt held their breaths before they bellowed out in harmony.

This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night
Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!
Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!

Yummy candies everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare

That's our job, but we're alright
In our realm of Nightmare Night

In this realm, don't we love it now?
Everypony's waiting for the big surprise

Nightmare Moon might catch you really soon
And scream like a banshee
Make you jump out and then hide
This is Nightmare Night, everypony scream
Won't you make way for royalty?

They parted way for a midnight black chariot to glide down to reveal the grinning visage of Nightmare Moon, much to everyponies’ shock.

Nightmare Moon is queen of the nighttime sky
Everyone hail to the Nightmare Queen, now!

This is Nightmare Night, this is Nightmare Night
Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!

In this realm we call home
Everyone dance to this ghostly song!

Nightmare Moon, at this point, contributed to the chorus with booming laughter  as lightning flashed behind her to form a menacing silhouette.

Mwa hah-hah-hah (Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!)
Hah hah-hah-hah (Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!)
Hah hah-hah-hah (Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!)
Hah hah-hah-hah (Nightmare Night! Nightmare Night!)

Whee hee hee hee!

On that final note, every Shadowbolt leapt into the air before they dissipated into a dazzling array of fireworks that sparkle in the night sky. Nightmare Moon swirled into a cocoon of darkness only for Luna to step out of the shadows and bowed before her subjects. 
She began to sweat as the audience didn’t say a word. Why was nopony speaking? Did she do something wrong? What was she to do? She should have known that nopony would-
Out of nowhere, the sound of hooves stomping caught her ear. Her head rose in disbelief as the entire town began to applaud. 
“That was awesome!”
“What a stunning performance!” 
“Never thought I’d see something like this!”
One particular pony dressed as a pirate with a red bandana shyly walked up to Luna. “That was the best Nightmare Night ever!” he exclaimed with a Braytish accent. “You’re the funnest princess I’ve ever met. Are you coming back next year?”
Luna felt her mouth perk up to a smile as she nodded with joy. “We shall indeed, little one!”



Dragonok smiled as the crowd surrounded Luna with high praise on her performance. He knew that a musical would be a good idea. Everyone, regardless of which multiverse, always loves a form of music, whether it be the sweet strum of strings, the throbbing boom of dubstep, or the yowling of a cat being shredded in a blender. He still didn’t like the last one, but the people of that multiverse did so who was he to judge?  “At least nothing could go wrong now.”
“That is where our opinions differ,” a voice echoed out before tendrils formed of darkness latched onto his body and immediately dragged him into the reaches of the Everfree Forest. 
Menacing laughter began to ride on the wind as two sulfur-yellow eyes gleam with malevolence from the shadows…
> The Fright Upon Nightmare Night Secunda Actum: Tricks And Troubles
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Luna still wore a smile as she strode over towards Twilight once the crowd had dissipated back to enjoy the festivities of Nightmare Night. 
“Where is Hoof Note, young Sparkle?” she asked. “We wish to personally give him our gratitude for the advice and lyrics he had provided for us to make all this possible.”
“I don’t know, Princess Luna. I didn’t see him ever since the show began.” Twilight herself couldn’t help but feel something wrong about this whole situation.  Based on her interactions with him, he seemed to be the kind of pony to stay around for at least a while longer until he congratulated Luna before leaving. “You don’t think he’s in trouble of any sort, do you, Princess Luna?”
“We are not certain. Perhaps he had already left with his daughter beforehand… yet we feel a sense of wrongdoing in the air. It’s as if-” Before Luna could say more, the air began to violently swirl as a rip appeared in thin air. A blackened scroll bound with gold bands popped out of the rip which then disappeared with a pop. 
“What do we have here?” Luna levitated the scroll and unrolled it before she began to read its contents. She immediately paled as her eyes widened with shock. She almost told Twilight the contents of the letter, but then changed her mind “Twilight Sparkle, an important matter has just received our full attention. We must depart for a while to resolve it. Do not fret, we shall return once this is immediately resolved.” She immediately lifted off and flew away towards the Everfree Forest.
If the contents of that letter are to be considered true, then we must not waste any time and save one of our loyal subjects from one of the most dangerous forces in Equestria. We only hope that we are not too late…



Well, this is rather interesting. Some mysterious entity has apparently “captured” me and has dragged me back to its secret hideout which turns out to be somewhere deep within the Everfree Forest. Based on the rugged cobblestone I’m lying on, it appears to have made its home in an ancient castle; perhaps the Castle of the Royal Sisters? It’s a good turn of events that it hasn’t checked to see whether or not I was conscious during the whole trip.  Now I need to plan my escape without revealing my identity to this individual. Let’s see what it has in store for now.
Dragonok felt his body being strapped onto an X-shaped platform as hoofcuffs latched onto his legs to prevent him from escaping. A tendril slapped him awake to stare face-to-face against a hooded figure glaring at him with only the glowing yellow eyes visible in the darkness provided by the hood.
“Well, well, well… It seems that our little visitor is awake at last,” the mysterious figure chuckled, revealing a feminine dulcet. “Tell me; are you ready to watch the false guardian of the night fall?” She lifted his head with a tendril as she continued to glare into his eyes.  
“What are you talking about? Who are you?” Dragonok asked while appearing panicked to grasp any information released from her hidden lips. “What do you want with Princess Luna? She’ll be coming with the Bearers of Harmony once she finds out one of her subjects are missing.” 
Out of nowhere, he could hear a haunting melody echoing out from thin air. The mare grimly chuckled as the shadows behind her formed into silhouettes of grinning creatures. She sashayed from side to side as she began to sing to the tune along with the shadow creatures.

Well, well, well, Luna’s coming here?
By darkness' tears!
Oh, I'm ecstatic
Since she’s the guest of honor I’ve invited! Ha, ha, ha, ha!

It’s begun, it’s begun
She’ll be arriving soon
She’ll disappear, trembling with fear
Upon the blood-stained moon
Once she’s dead, we’ll all cheer
I’ll claim my beloved night
After I seal her away 
Before I laugh with delight	

Dragonok wasn’t certain but he could feel a tinge of sadness hidden away in all that hatred as she continued to sing out her monologue. His eyes narrowed as he swore to get to the bottom of this mystery.

I had a simple desire
To reveal night’s joys
She’d better watch the shadows now
I’ll crush her with my toys
And if she’s not coming
Then I’ll rule everything
Under the domain of the night
Everypony will hear shadows sing, oh…

Oh…

Oh…

Oh…

Oh…

Oh… I'm the Pony of Shadows

Well my wrath’s overflowing
Because Luna stole my prize
For showing all the night’s beauty 
Now I plan her demise
And now here’s the final part
That would make it all so sweet
The rise of the shadows to add to her defeat

Oh…

Oh…

Oh…

Oh…

Oh…

Oh, yes, I'm (she's) the Pony of Shadows

The shadow creature all grinned beyond their stretching voice as they sang out a verse of their own.

Once Luna’s gone
We’ll reclaim the starry night with glee
To entertain everypony
In darkness, we’ll be free

The hooded pony laughed at their commentary before she continued on her song.

I’m laughing, I’m laughing
Soon she’ll have much to fear
Once shadows takes over this land
She’ll quickly disappear
She’s a fool, pathetic!
I shall reclaim my prize
And now, when the time is ripe
I'm going to rule the night

The shadow creatures cackled as they swirled around the hooded mare.

When shall we douse the light?

She merely smiled as she dispersed them throughout the cobblestone room.

Once Luna’s sealed forevermore

The hooded mare began to twirl around Dragonok as she continued on her solo.

Oh, the sound of Luna’s screams
To me is music in the air
'Cause I'm the Pony of Shadows
And I’ll watch her despair

It's far more grand, I must confess
Once all cherish my night
Just mine, of course, all mine, mortal
Now that sounds alright

The shadow creatures at this point converged into a single entity coated in wicked smiles all over its body as they sang in complete sync to create a voice distorted with the voices of thousands. 

Release us quickly and your work shall 
Blossom into fruition

She merely nodded as she sashayed from side to side as she walked up towards Dragonok.

Oh Luna, she’s something
Her reign’s about to end
She will be soon falling 
To the Abyss
My dear friend
It's hopeless, she’s finished
Her chances are now zero
I'm the Pony of Shadows
Which everypony shall know	

She finishes with a spin followed by a bow that momentarily revealed a silver strand of mane before the hood slipped down to hide it from sight. 
Dragonok arched an eyebrow as he noted the details and shelved them into his corridors of his mind for later inspection. I’ve never heard mention of this Pony of Shadows before but she only seems to associate herself with darkness rather than the Corruption.  I’ll need to ask some questions in order to obtain a clearer image of her personality and goals besides the obvious hatred towards Luna. But first… he immediately coughed which caught her attention as she and the shadow creatures. 
Once assured that all eyes were upon him, he began to speak. “Excuse me, madam, but why exactly do you hate Luna so much and why do you keep on insisting that the night belongs to you instead of Luna? I only want to clear up some confusion if you don’t mind of course.”
The Pony of Shadows sadly smiled as she began to stride away from him. “I’ll give you a little clue, mortal. Who has cultivated the night and its wonders during Luna’s absence? As for the rest, you’ll find out soon, little mortal…”



Luna landed in front of her old castle hidden in the Everfree. She swiveled her head from side to side as her eyes tried to pierce through some invisible force. She was the Mistress of the Night and she will not fail to save her subject from harm. 
As she entered its dust-coated halls, she could hear shadows whispering at her arrival. She knew that the creatures that once resided upon the moon and helped in creating Nightmare Moon were nothing more than dust compared to these ancient terrors of the night. She should know; she had faced many of these ancient titans before in their unbound state millennia ago before returning them to the prison where they now roam in their imprisoned state. She had to be prepared for an ambush from everywhere the shadows roam. 
“Well, well, well… Look who finally arrived for the party!” a menacing voice boomed out as the walls reverberate to create echoes. A hooded pony with golden eyes walked out of the shadows and mockingly bowed before Luna. “I had hoped the Elements of Harmony would either obliterate you into dust or at least seal you away permanently, but I guess we all can’t have what we desire. After all, all I desired was to show everypony the beauty hidden in the shadows of the night. I worked tears, sweat, and blood to ensure that would become a reality which it became as time flew by during your imprisonment. To think, at the moment of my greatest triumph to make all love the night, you show up and claimed the bounty born of my efforts; leaving me nothing but legends of a boogeymare scaring little fillies. Now we’ll see once and for all who the true warden of the night is.” 
Shadows converged around the hooded mare in a circle that ominously pulsed with energy. Gigantic wings tipped with blades burst out of the pony’s clothing as a curved horn erupted out of the hood. Twin trails of purple-tinted black energy flowed from the pony’s eyes. “It’s time to see if either the Lunar Diarch or the Pony of Shadows is the true champion of the night. Let the battle commence!” She charged forth into a sprint as her wing spread forth to grant her lift. With one mighty flap, she soared into the night sky.
Luna quickly summoned her crescent scythes from her wings as she pursued the hooded mare. She threw one of her scythes into a spinning arc towards the enemy, but the Pony of Shadows’ horn momentarily glowed with a violet-black aura before she vanished in a burst of screaming shadows before the scythe could make contact. 
The Pony of Shadows immediately reappeared high above Luna and dived towards her as her horn sliced the air into a cone of darkness. Luna noticed the change in air pressure and swiftly sidestepped through the air just before the Pony of Shadows could strike.
The Pony of Shadows rectified this problem by forcefully curving the path of her attack and added more magic to further boost her flight speed to charge at Luna with the force of a thousand battering rams. Black flames began to trail from behind her as she continued to add more momentum to her charge. 
Luna instantly teleported away from the charge and tried to counterattack by charging her horn with cerulean magic before she released it into a gigantic beam of magic that surged towards the Pony of Shadows.
The Pony of Shadows smiled from within her hood before she summoned forth a gigantic portal made of squirming shadows that swallowed the beam. She then once again changed her flight path to face Luna as she used Luna’s magical discharge from the beam attack to further enhance her speed. 
Luna, upon noticing this phenomenon, quickly erected a barrier around her as she prepared to intercept the charge. She then began to transcribe sigils in the air with her horn within the safety of the barrier.
The Pony of Shadows scoffed at Luna’s attempt at defense as she once again further boosted her speed to new extremes as violet-black flames burst to surround her horn to create a corona that sharpened as she flew straight towards Luna’s barrier.
Luna smiled as she activated her spell. The sigils briefly glowed before minotaurian ether golems appeared between the Pony of Shadows and the barrier. They all stretched their palms wide and arched their fingers before simultaneously positioning both hands together to resemble that of a snarling dragon. In the palms of their hands, orbs of dark blue energy crackled momentarily before instantly expanding to the size of boulders. They all shuffled into battle stances before they released their full fury. The orbs burst out of their hands and changed into beams of pure ether that continuously surged in size as they stretched towards the charging enemy. 
More portals opened wide in an attempt to swallow the attacks but, thanks to the beams’ ever-growing sizes, they were decimated before they had a chance to fully drain them of their ether. The beams, despite their diminished state, struck against the cone of dark energy that formed the Pony of Shadows’ flight path. 
The Pony of Shadows flinched at the sparks of ether that managed to pass through the cone and touched the parts of her body that weren’t cloaked. She began to mutter out an incantation as she continued on her charge despite the pain. Six shadows immediately split from her wings to form grotesque phantoms with oozing holes for eyes and mouths. Jagged teeth formed into six gruesome grins as they spotted their prey before they flew straight towards Luna.
Before they could even attempt to pass the barrier, the ether golems simultaneously knocked them with uppercuts before kicking them out with a side kick. 
The shadows shook their heads before they refocused onto the golems and latched onto them with tentacles that popped out of their mouths. The golems retaliated by attempting to squeeze the life out of their attached foes.
As both groups struggled against each others’ grips, the Pony of Shadow had become a blazing dark comet born of unbound speed as she pushed herself beyond the speed of mortal ponies. The cone of darkness further sharpened until she bucked with her hind hooves. 
At that very moment, twin violet-black sonic booms formed of screaming shadows erupted in thin air as they spread throughout the Everfree Forest. 
Despite Luna’s best attempts to maintain the barrier’s strength, the first boom cracked Luna’s barrier moments before the second wave forced the barrier to shatter into pieces of cerulean ether that swiftly disintegrated into ethereal dust. Luna fell towards the ground as her consciousness fell silent due to the magical concussion she had received from the Sonic Shadowboom. 
The Pony of Shadows smiled from within her hood as she watched Luna’s descent. “This is the end, Luna. Now I’ll continue to bring in the beauty of the night without you there to take the credit again.” She released a laughter that echoed throughout the Everfree.
Then, out of nowhere, a black-and-crimson blur caught Luna in midair and descended back to the ground with a faint thump. 
Dragonok smiled from behind his helm as he gently laid Luna at the base of a nearby tree. It was a good thing he arrived to save Luna after turning into ooze in order to escape from that torture device that had held him in place while disguised as Hoof Note. He then he placed wards to ensure that no harm would come to her.	
The Pony of Shadows frowned upon witnessing the events that transpired.  She turned her attention to the shadows still struggling against the golems and whistled. All six shadows momentarily vanished before reappearing over the golems’ heads and swallowing them whole before returning to their mistress’ phantasmal wings. 
“You shall pay for that, warrior,” she said before a flurry of searing fireballs rapid-fired out of her horn and towards Dragonok.
He merely smiled before he thrust his palms in front of the seething attack. The skin on each palm parted to reveal a circular hole stuffed with gnashing teeth. These pseudo mouths eagerly swallowed the seemingly endless avalanche of fire in twin slurps before simultaneously burping out in contentment.
The Pony of Shadows stared in shock as the newfound enemy somehow consumed her attack without any signs of ill effects. “How is this possible? No mortal has ever survived the wrath of the shadows. What matter of creature are you?”
“I am many things, young one. I am the bane of those who touch all with their corruptive taint. I am the warrior who feasts on the knowledge and powers of the Corrupted. I am the traveler who seeks for signs of evil as I travel from world to world, universe to universe, multiverse to multiverse. I am the harbinger of the changes that purify the worlds.” Dragonok smiled from within his helm. “I am Dragonok, Chaos Champion of Power, and I will rid you of the seeds of evil before they sprout to damn your soul to the Corruption. Have at thee!” He vanished in a blink of an eye and, before the Pony of Shadows knew it, he had already grabbed her throat. 
The Pony of Shadows struggled against his steel grip as he continuously applied pressure to her throat. She tried to summon the shadows but she felt herself weakening as she slowly grew tired due to lack of air. Her eyes rolled as she fell unconscious. 
Dragonok, once assured she wouldn’t cause any more damage in her current state, gently placed her near the slumbering Luna. He lifted the hood off to see the face of the Pony of Shadows and sighed. Her flesh had been long since replaced by shadows that swirled throughout her body as her hair consist that of silver spider webs that glimmered in the moonlight. 
Dragonok placed his hands onto her forehead before his mouths began to suck upon the bounty provided to them. He scanned through her memories as he swallowed every piece of her ability to connect with the shadows. 
Throughout the process, the Pony of Shadows’ body slowly shifted from shadows and into living flesh coated with ebony fur. Her silvery cobwebs morphed into a silver mane as she moaned in pain as he claimed every part of her powers.
Once he had finished his meal, Dragonok sighed as he stared at the former Pony of Shadows. Had he not been there to drain her of her powers, the Corruption would have likely crashed through the barrier and used this filly as a vessel to usher in an age of Corruption. “May you find happiness, young one.” He took one last glance at her before he walked over to Luna.
He smiled as he watched Luna slumber near the tree. He brushed a stray lock from her face. “I’ll see you soon, Luna.” He began to shadowstride only to pause as an idea popped up in his mind. He summoned forth some parchment and a pen and wrote on it for a few minutes before slipping it between Luna’s forehooves.
Once satisfied of his handiwork, he immediately shadowstrode back to the castle before he reappeared with his arms and legs latched onto the X-shaped torture device. He then morphed back into Hoof Note and waited for somepony to “save” him from the uncomfortable contraption. 



Luna moaned as she arose from unconsciousness only to stare face-to-face with a filly she had never seen before. She tensed as she recalled the events that transpired before her fall into unconsciousness. She tried to stand only to feel the brush of parchment against her hooves. 
Curious despite the threat facing against her, she plucked the piece of parchment with her magic and noticed the letter inscribed upon its golden-brown surface. 

Dear Lulu,
In case you’re reading this letter before you decided to attack the pony sleeping right next to you, ‘tis fortunate you didn’t do so. If not, then you might feel somewhat uncomfortable by the time you finish this letter. The mare right next to you was indeed the Pony of Shadows but I have taken her powers which in turn changed her from a supernatural force and into a common earth pony. I know that her powers will return since I haven’t absorbed her entire being into me as I’ve done with so many of the Corrupted forces in Equus in the past. On that note, it would be best if you either take care of her until her mental state improves or send her off to Ponyville where she can have friends who accept her for who she is, not what she was. I hope we meet again, Lulu.
Sighed,
Dragonok
P.S. Based on the fragments of memories I’ve dug up inside her skull, her name’s Selene Umbra and she’s apparently your daughter although she doesn’t exactly know about that bit. ‘Tis best not to tell her about that chunk of information.
P.S.S. I apologize once again for knocking you unconscious during our last encounter.

Luna, after she had finished reading, gently placed it onto the ground before she glared towards the unconscious former Pony of Shadows with shock in her eyes.
“What?”
> The Fright Upon Nightmare Night Epilogus: A Date Upon Midnight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Dragonok, disguised as Hoof Note, smiled as he wandered about Ponyville as everypony else went back to their homes as Nightmare Night soon drew to a close. He could see the little foals yawning with content as they lugged their bags stuffed with tantalizing candies onto their backs as they trotted home for a good night’s sleep. 
He had to admit, this Nightmare Night was probably a rather enjoyable holiday with him helping Luna both on socializing with the citizens of Ponyville as well as saving her life from what turned out to be her own daughter. He chuckled as he recalled that delicious moment when he discovered the all-too faded memories that defined the Pony of Shadows’ origins. 
Speaking of the Pony of Shadows, Luna, after “saving” Dragonok from his bondage, had apparently sent Selene to the Ponyville Hospital where she can recover until Luna could decide on which course of action she should take towards her former assailant. I hope Luna doesn’t plan on harming the young filly. Tiamantis knows the little one’s been through so much suffering after all her thousand years of making everypony appreciate the night had been ignored once Luna claimed the spotlight. 
That reminds me. Where in Chaos is Daemon? We had agreed on meeting here in Town Square yet I see no sign of her. That was when he noticed the signpost with an arrow pointing somewhere along with a picture of Pinkie with a large speech bubble saying FOLLOW THE SIGN FOR A FANTABULOUS SURPRISE, SILLY!
Curious, Dragonok decided to humor the Bearer of Laughter as he strode off towards the arrow’s direction to see where it would take him. He soon arrived at a lovely meadow where a small table for two awaited him. A brass candelabrum tipped with flickering candles proudly stood at the table’s center. 
His eyebrows arched upon seeing this unexpected sight. If he didn’t know any better, he would say that Pinkie had just set him up for a date with somepony. The only question to that would be the identity behind said somepony. 
He stood as he awaited the arrival of the unknown date. It didn’t take long before the clopping of hooves signaled her arrival. 
What he hadn’t expected was the surprised face of Luna glaring back at him.
“Hoof Note! ‘Tis a pleasant surprise! We had not expected thou to be here. Did thou set up this arrangement?”
He chuckled at her question as he shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I believe it to be the machinations of one Pinkie Pie if the signs leading me here are to be believed. Would you like a seat?” He pulled up a chair before he gestured Luna towards it with a flourish of his leathery wings. “After you.”
Luna smiled at this gesture before she sat down onto the comfy chair. “We thank thee for thy courtesy as well as thy assistance. Were it not for thou, we would have not been able to associate with Ponyville let alone make friends with them. However may we repay thou for thy services?”
“There is no need to thank me. I only did what anypony would do with the knowledge and foresight at hoof. Besides, you already repaid me by saving my flank earlier back at the castle after the Pony of Shadows locked me there. Speaking of which, how is she?” 
“The doctors have informed us that she has stabilized at the moment. As for what we plan to do to her, we are less certain.” She sighed as she glared into Dragonok’s eyes. “Didst thou notice unusual occurrences while thou were… imprisoned? It would assist us in our judgment.”
“Hmm… now that you mention it, she did seem somewhat sad during our brief conversation. She also focused mainly on how you’ve reaped her hard-earned reward after she spent one millennia of making ponies fall in love with the night.” Dragonok paused for a moment as he scrunched his eyebrows to appear deep in thought. “She also seemed to be surrounded by some sort of shadow creatures that promised her revenge in exchange for their release. The only question I have is from which location they wanted to escape from. Beyond that, I’m afraid I don’t have anything else vital to provide to you.” 
“We see,” Luna responded. She sighed as she sagged with the added weight of worries now stacked upon her. “Then what shall we do? We cannot simply punish this mare since she clearly feels justified in her actions against us based on her reasons yet she will continue to do so until her objective has been completed.”
“Then why don’t you ensure that she stays here with the citizens of Ponyville?” Dragonok asked. “Perhaps she’ll gain friendship with some of the ponies there and will become less hostile as a result. And to better improve her chances, why don’t you assign one of the Bearers of Harmony to take care of her and become her friend as well?”
Luna’s eyes momentarily widened upon hearing Dragonok’s suggestion before narrowing in contemplation. “‘Tis seem a worthwhile pursuit but who shalt be her guardian if we may ask?” she asked. 
“That’s all up to you, but I would recommend a little joy to enter her life so that she may laugh alongside the ponies she meets.” Dragonok grinned as Luna’s eyes gleamed with understanding as she smiled at the hidden meaning behind his choice of words.
“We thank thee, Hoof Note,” Luna said as her eyes now gleam with mischief, “we are most pleased with thy suggestion. We shall ask her once we meet her face to face.” Without her even expecting it, two bulging baby blue eyes followed by the biggest grin she had ever seen popped right in front of her from out of nowhere.
“HiPrincessLunaandnewponywhoIplantogiveaWelcomeToEquestriaPartyorshoulditbeWelcomeBackFromBeingAStatueParty;I’llfindoutsoonerorlaterbutwhenyoucomebackwithoutdisguisingyourself,Draggy,Ihopewecanbethebestestofbestfriendsandhavethebiggestbestestpartyever!” 
Pinkie then sucked in a massive gulf of air that momentarily inflated her entire body into balloon-like proportions (even her poofy mane had somehow inflated to thrice its usual size) before she immediately released it out in one go. Her body deflated back to her usual proportions as air hissed out of her mouth. 
Once all the air had vanished, she then asked, “Now what will the monsieur and the madmosseile be having tonight?” in a posh Prench accent. It didn’t help that she somehow wore a butler suit over an oversized chicken costume with a massively oversized pink polka-dotted bowtie with equally large Groucho glasses perched on her snout.
Luna kept a stern face for a few moments before her mask cracked apart as she tipped over her chair, rolled over the dewy autumn grass, and shrieked with unbridled laughter all the while. This had to be the most hilarious costume she had even seen in all her life! It even topped off that time when she saw Tia dressed as a giant banana at one of those stuffy royal dinners just to see everyponies’ shocked expression. Sure, she didn’t understand what Pinkie was saying since she spun her words out like one of those fast-shooting tennis ball machines she once saw at the Canterlot Tennis Court since her return, but this was priceless.
Dragonok, on the other hand, sweated bullets since he immediately translated Pinkie’s hyperspeed chatter and knew exactly what Pinkie had just revealed without Luna noticing it. He knew he shouldn’t be surprised at this latest development but this pink pony somehow even defied the rules of the multiverse to the point where she could make even Discord crack under her might with ease the moment she becomes a novice Chaoswielder. Reality itself would immediately shriek, lifted its dress up to its hips, and speed off into the distance just to get away from her. By Tiamantis, even Order Omega would be in a run for their money should she ever become a master at using Chaos magicks.	
He mentally shook his head while remaining composed with a smile on the surface. Whatever magicks or tricks she used doesn't matter for now nor was her knowledge of his identity especially vital. 
What matters now is enjoying this dinner date with Luna even if he had to hide his identity from her. He didn’t want their past together to spoil this one special night. He relaxed as he allowed himself to reenter the gentle atmosphere.
Out of nowhere, a beautiful chorus of melodies seeped into the air as Pinkie somehow presented a lovely cake out of nowhere before she took out a violin to play along with the music with her eyes closed.
Luna and Dragonok didn’t question this sudden change of events as they both smiled and released their worries to the wind filled with gentle music. They chatted, laughed, and ate underneath the star-sprinkled sky as their cares soared away for that one night, that one precious Nightmare Night…



Nearby within the bushes…
The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Daemon played on violins, a harp, and a flute as they peeked through the bushes to see the happy couple. 
“Aw… aren’t they adorable together?” Sweetie Belle gushed. “I know for sure we have our cutie marks this time!”
The CMC all snuck a glance at their flanks only to see nothing there once again. “Ponyfeathers!” they simultaneously exclaimed.
Daemon just chuckled as she continued on playing the violin with her head against its smooth surface as she pulled the bow with her hooves to provide sweet melodies to both Dragonok and Luna. Tiamantis knows how she got dragged into this, but she wouldn’t miss this for the world for her master and friend.
> Minion Production: A Visitor At Teatime
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Dragonok focused on his inner strength as he meditated in a crane position with both palms upwards as Daemon, reverted back into her kagen form, consumed the seemingly never-ending sack stuffed with sugary goodness with deafening crunches and sickening slurps. He once again rolled his eyes at her eating habits as he tried to concentrate on the task at hand.
His hands began to emit black miasma from their mouths that rolled into obsidian orbs with a pictograph of a scarlet dragon’s skull etched onto their surfaces. Each orb shook as cracks spreading like cobwebs throughout the surface. Swarms of tiny eyes propped with eight spindly legs crawled out of the cracks as their chitinous wings blurred in rapid motion.
“We live!” all of them shouted in a squeaky chorus that barely reached Dragonok’s ears despite the enormous armada that blanketed the forest floor as far as the eye could see.
Dragonok analyzed his handiwork and nodded in satisfaction at the lack of detrimental flaws. “Hello, little spyflies. I have a job for you.”
The horde of spyflies all raised their forelegs into the air in reverence. “Whatever you desire, master. We shall obey for we are legion!”
“Good. Here are your objectives. Your primary goal is to travel throughout Equus and send me information surrounding on the changes that had occurred during my absence. You are also to act as mentors to any neophyte Chaoswielders you meet on your journey so that they may learn how to better wield the Chaos energy without creating non-beneficial destruction as a side effect. As for your final objective, you are to telelink with any individuals who wish to personally speak with me, especially if said individuals are any of my acquaintances here in Equus that have yet to be deceased. Is that understood?”
The spyflies nodded. “As we hear, we shall obey your commands, Patriarch of Power.” They instantly hopped into the air before their tiny wings propelled the horde into several factions that took off in different directions. 
Once certain that the horde had vanished, Dragonok sighed as he crouched down in exhaustion. He had used much of his energy to produce the massive horde that now began to spread throughout Equus. “Now that that’s taken of, let us go visit Zecora. I need some tea to sooth my mouths after spitting out so many generic spawn.”
“Too busy *crunch* chewing candy to talk. Give me a sec.” Daemon continued to munch on a mouthful of candy before she swallowed it down in one gulp. Her cheeks expanded for a moment before she released a gigantic burp that boomed throughout the forest which terrified flocks of birds into the air.  “That’s better. Are you sure you want some tea, Master? I thought you loathe the stuff?” 
“I loathe the mass-produced low-quality swill served from or produced by food organizations. I personally prefer a more personal touch from someone who actually brews tea without using an accursed teabag to produce that bland aftertaste produced by the material used to make said teabag. It would be nice to try Zecora’s tea to help calm the sore sensations away. Besides, the vapors emitted from her tea are especially pleasant to watch.  Now, are you coming or not?”
Daemon shook her head as she continued to rummage around her candy. “Nah, I’ll just stay here while I eat my candy. It’s a great excuse for escaping the dreaded tea.” As she mentioned it, Daemon immediately removed her snout out of the candy andcrouched onto the grassy terrain as she began to sway back and forth while clinging onto her hind legs. She could still recall the traumatic experience associated with the deathly brew. “The dreaded tea…”
Dragonok sighed at the pitiful sight. “I suppose I can let you stay here if you truly feel that ill about tea. I shall return soon after teatime, Daemon. Inform me once there’s any news from the minions.”
Daemon’s pale visage instantly became restored to her former hue as she bounced upon hearing the request. “Alrighty then, Master! Just don’t forget to bring any treats you find during your tea fest. Buh bye!”
And with those parting words, Dragonok set off for the epic quest of drinking tea. If only he had known of the forces about to take place to prevent him from doing so that day.



Dragonok slowly seeped through the opening underneath the door only to witness an interesting sight: Zecora busy stirring a pot filled with a glowing green liquid that seethed with a life of its own. He watched for a moment at the mesmerizing brew bubbling within the caldron before he shook his head and fully materialized before Zecora.
“Hello, Zecora of the Everfree,” he said. “You seem quite busy at work, I see.”
Zecora slowed her stirring as she turned to face Dragonok. “This would be quite true, my stalwart friend, but my task soon reaches its end. Perhaps once I have finished, I shall brew some tea for our minds to be nourished.” Just then, an insistent knocking banged onto the door which startled both of them. 
“Zecora, are yah there?” a familiar voice asked behind the door. “Ah’m here for my lessons!” Dragonok searched through his memory banks for a moment before he recalled the voice to be associated that of one of his benefactors: Applebloom. 
Zecora turned towards her guest as she trotted towards the entrance. “Excuse me for a moment, my dear friend, for there are matters to which I must attend.” 
Zecora swung her door open to greet the young Apple filly. “Welcome, Applebloom, my dear. I am glad you have come here. Are you ready to learn on how to produce mystic mixtures, from soothing elixirs to herbal tinctures?”
Apple Bloom nodded as she put on her best determined expression which would give anypony heart attacks at the sheer adorableness of that sight. “Ah’m ready for anything, Zecora!” As she walked into Zecora’s domain, she noticed that an interesting guest resided near the cauldron. “Um, Zecora, Ah don’t mean to pry but who’s that fella over there?”
Zecora turned and saw that a majestic zebra who could easily best Celestia in height and stature had replaced Dragonok. A curved horn adorned his forehead while a smaller variant tipped the end of his snout. He winked at Zecora who immediately realized his identity.  
“Ah, he is a friend of mine whose manners are quite divine,” Zecora explained on the spot. “Beyond that, my young friend, you’ll find out more from his end.”
Apple Bloom walked up towards the mysterious zebra and extended a hoof of friendship. “Hi! Ah’m Apple Bloom! What’s yers?” 
A small smile grew on Dragonok’s face as he shook Apple Bloom’s hoof.  “My name is Zuzazu, little filly. Is there something interesting you see?”
Apple Bloom’s eyes bulged in embarrassment as she realized she had been unconsciously staring at Dragonok’s unusual features. “Ah didn’t mean to be a bother, Mister Zuzazu. It’s just that yah have a couple horns on yer head and nose. Ah’ve never seen anypony like that before. What in Equestria are yah?”
Dragonok chuckled at the young filly’s response. “I am an abada from the plains of Zebrica, young filly. To assume that I would be anything else would be quite silly. As for my horns, they serve to heal the ills of flesh, mind, and heart by touching their life-force to give it, as they say, a little kick start. Now, are there any more questions you would like to ask or shall I leave you and Zecora to your potion-making task?”
Apple Bloom’s eagerness and hesitation collided as she internally struggled between asking more questions to Zuzazu and learning more about potions from Zecora. The latter won out. “Sure Ah do, but Ah gotta have mah lesson with Zecora first if that’s alright, Mister Zuzazu. Is that alright?”
Dragonok nodded at Apple Bloom’s dedication to study. “It is a good thing to improve your mind so that it may allow you to go forth and not stay behind. After all, knowledge can help others in times of need especially when you learn with potions to heal and not bleed.”
As Apple Bloom listened to Dragonok ramble on, she couldn’t help but feel something familiar about this abada. She knew for certain that she and Zuzazu had never met before; she would have recalled seeing the massive zebra walking about before yet there was something about him that gnawed at her. “There’s something about you that’s bugging me. Ah just can’t put mah hoof on it. Have we met before?”
Dragonok quirked an eyebrow on how close to the mark the little pony had struck upon asking that question. He smiled as he gave her a cryptic reply. “Perhaps we have; perhaps not. Perhaps we met somewhere between here and Canterlot.” 
Apple Bloom shook her head. “Ah’m not so sure ‘bout that. Ah would have recalled seeing somepony like yah walking at Canterlot. It’s just that there seems to be something familiar about yah.” She sighed as she couldn’t think on where she could have met him before. She shrugged as she decided to place the matter for another time.  “Oh well, ah guess Ah’ll find out sooner or later.” 
Zecora, who had been watching the conversation, decided it was her time to step in. “Come now, my pupil. We do not wish to make your mind dull. There is much to do for you must learn the powers of each brew.” 
“All right, Zecora. Ah’m coming!” Apple Bloom replied as she scuttled to Zecora’s side.
Dragonok relaxed by lying down onto the soothingly cool dirt floor as he watched both teacher and pupil prepare a potion. This should be fun to watch.



Dragonok, amazed at the past hour’s turn of events, could only blink at what he had witnessed in that brief period of time. How in Tiamantis is there tree sap everywhere? That young filly didn’t bring in any and Zecora certainly didn’t stock the stuff yet there’s tons of the stuff sticking us to the walls. Never have I’ve seen so much raw chaos follow one so young. Netherworlds shake should she ever become a full-fledged Chaoswielder; especially if she becomes a chaosmancer without control over her abilities.
 I’ll have to train her once her powers manifest or there will be grave consequences for should she activate her abilities throughout Equus in all of her cuddly glory.
“Well, I must say this is a surprise but I suppose it’s better than an explosive demise,” Dragonok remarked as he attempted to remove himself from the sticky tree sap-prison to no avail “The only thing I did not foresee was being glued to the wall with the blood of tress. However did this phenomenon come about? Had I not become a victim, I would have otherwise doubt.”
“Ah don’t wanna talk about it,” Apple Bloom replied with embarrassment reddening her face. “Zecora, do ya have any ideas on how to get us unstuck?” 
Zecora sighed as she shook her head. She had been the only one to escape the sticky fate just before the potion exploded. “This shall take no time to get you both unstuck from this sticky sap-slime. I shall sprinkle some of this powder so that it shall vanish in a blur.” She pulled out a sap-coated pouch hanging from her roof before she opened it and scooped a hoofful of silvery green powder. She gently blew on the little pile around her to create a cloud of shimmering emerald sparkles that touched all within her domicile. The sticky sap that had trapped both Apple Bloom and Dragonok quickly dried off in patches that flutter onto the ground. Its former captives soon followed with an impressive thump and a resounding “oomph” from the impact.
“Well, that was quite the pleasant experience but I’d rather not repeat that more than once,” Dragonok said to Apple Bloom with a pained smile. “I hope you are not in pain; at least there is new knowledge for your brain.”
“What in tarnation would that be?” Apple Bloom asked. 
“When it comes to brewing, be wary of what’s cooking.” Dragonok chuckled at Apple Bloom’s eyeroll. “It could be worse, pupil of Zecora. You could have been wearing a fedora.”
“Are ya serious?” Apple Bloom deadpanned as she witnessed Dragonok holding in a smirk with little success. “That has to be the biggest load of hogwash Ah've ever heard of.”
“Ah, you’ve caught me at my little game. What a shame. It would have been more fun to tease. At least my attempt placed you at ease. Wouldn’t you agree, my little filly?” Dragonok waited as Apple Bloom slowly nodded as she absorbed Dragonok’s words.
“Ah guess so… Yer strange, yah know that.”
Dragonok nodded at her remark as he arose from his resting spot. “Well, as much as I would like to stay, I now have to go away. Now that my visit has come to an end, I hope to see you both again, my friends.” He trotted towards the door and let himself out.
Apple Bloom scrunched her forehead as she stared at the departing abada. “Hmm… now that Ah think about it, Ah know that voice from somewhere, but where?” Her eyes widened as she associated the gentle voice to a much deeper rumble belonging to that of a certain former statue she and her fellow CMC had released.
She facehoofed as she mentally chastised herself for not connecting the dots before now. “Aw, horseapples... Ah need to tell the others.”



“So what you’re telling me is that you found that guy we accidentally released along with Discord, chatted with him for a while, and then you realized who he was after he left without any clues on where he could be right now,” Scootaloo summarized as she stared at her friend. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“Ah know, Ah know!” Apple Bloom replied as she paced back and forth within their tree clubhouse. “How the hay was Ah supposed to know who he was at the time! He looked and acted like a completely different pony. If it weren’t for his voice, Ah never would have guessed who he was.”
Sweetie Belle contemplated on the information Apple Bloom had just thrown onto them less than an hour ago. It was a shame nopony could find him; let alone catch him. That was when an idea popped up over her head. “I’ve got an idea! Why don’t we catch him? We could get our cutie marks for catching bad guys!”
Applebloom seemed hesitant at that suggestion. “Ah don’t know… Ah heard from AJ that Celestia herself had trouble battling against Dragonok, and that was only when he wasn’t at full power too. ”
Scootaloo shrugged off Apple Bloom’s concerns. “Don’t worry about it, Bloom. We can handle anything that comes in our way. After all, we’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”  She then added the cherry on top to persuade Apple Bloom to participate in their latest scheme. “Besides, it is sort of our fault for letting him loose.”
Apple Bloom sighed as she nodded. It was indeed their fault that a bipedal war machine now stomped throughout all of Equestria. “Ah guess yer right, Scoots. Alright then, let’s do this!”
All three fillies swallowed a gulp of air before they roared out the infamous phrase that instantly sent everypony nearby to run for cover upon hearing the dreaded words. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS VILLAIN SNATCHERS! YAY!”



Out of everything Dragonok had previously expected, he certainly didn’t expect this sight to await him during his stroll throughout the Everfree. He pinched the bridge of his nose to alleviate the stress he felt accumulating upon seeing three certain fillies hanging about within a net.  “Would the three of you mind telling me what you had planned to do with that net? Better yet, why in Tiamantis are the three of you stuck in said net?”
“Heh… it’s sort of a long story,” Scootaloo meekly replied. 
Dragonok stretched his arms towards the sky as he began to lie down to relax on the forest floor. “I have plenty of time to spare, young one.”
“Well, we may have planned on capturing you, and we may have set up this trap to catch you, and we may have accidentally activated our own trap which may be why we’re dangling inside a net.” Sweetie Belle explained while appearing innocent in doing so. 
Dragonok chuckled as he rolled his eyes. Children these days seem to pack more courage and foolhardiness than they know what to do with; and, these three are no exception. Not only that, they also possess enough raw Chaos to either topple civilizations or give birth to paradises if they could properly harness it together. 
The only question is when to train them. 
If he trained them too soon, it would restrict their ability to interact with Chaos to change this world. But if he trained them at a later time instead, there would be no telling what could happen should these three fillies lose control over the Chaos energy before they were trained. They could even grant the Corruption an opportunity to gain full access to this world and its Chaos energy. He knew what would happen if True Chaos became Corrupted. He had seen the horrors spawned from such a twisted union and he swore he would prevent it from happening it again. Now if only there was some way to...
Dragonok chuckled as the most obvious solution blasted straight into his eyes. He just had to take care of the little ones first.
All three CMCs gulped when they noticed the malevolent gleam in Dragonok’s glowing eyes. They shut their eyes as they prepared themselves for the inevitable doom that was sure to await them. 



Twilight hummed as she and Spike had begun to organize the library by starting with everypony’s number one preparation tool: lists.
“Quills to check the checklist for library organization?”
“Check!”
“Ink for the quills for that checklist?”
“Check!”
“Checklist to double-check the checklist?”
Spike rolled his eyes, knowing that some things never changed. “Check!”
“Great! Now that we have everything we need, let’s shelve these books in the correct order. After all, progress waits for nopo-” 
Out of nowhere, a loud series of knocks banged onto the door which both interrupted Twilight and halted her quest to use the Dew Whee Decimal System to help the library return to its clean and tidy self. It’s amazing what hours of research can do to create piles of books all over the place.
Twilight sighed as she put her duties as a librarian on hold as she walked over towards the door to greet the currently unknown visitor. She opened it to say hello only for the greeting to become stuck in her throat as she came face to face with the grim visage of Dragonok. 
“Greetings, young Sparkle. I presume you are familiar with these three?” He lifted a net where the nervously grinning faces of the Cutie Mark Crusaders stared at Twilight’s stunned visage.  “You and your friends might want to keep a better eye on them next time.”
Before Twilight could say a word, he quickly released them from their imprisonment before nodding to Twilight. “Have a nice day, young Sparkle.” He quickly left with the strum of violins humming out of thin air to signal his departure.
Had he paid attention to Twilight, he would have noticed an unnatural stiffness to her posture before she fell into a faint, leaving behind three concerned fillies. 
"Well, that sure ain’t what Ah had expected. Do ya gals wanna go get some sweets before Twilight wakes up and questions us?” Scootaloo and Sweetie rapidly nodded their consent before all three tip-toed their way out of Twilight’s house as they travelled towards Sugar Cube Corner in an attempt to delay, if not halt, the scolding they’ll likely get once Twilight finds them. 
After they had scampered off, Twilight arose with a faint headache before the rush of recent memories slammed her out of her drowsy spell. “Those girls have some explaining to do,” Twilight darkly muttered before she noticed a book lying before her.
Curious, she picked up the book and glared at the flowing letters that formed its title. “Hmm… Chaoswielders 101 For The Inexperienced, The Foolish, And The Block-Headed: How To Wield True Chaos Without Experiencing a Terrible Fate? That’s strange. I’ve never seen this book before. I wonder what it’s about.” She settled down as she began to read from the new book with memories of her shelving duties and Crusaders momentarily banished from her mind as she delved deep into its fascinating contents.
Spike, wondering what Twilight was up to, walked down the stair only to witness her reading deep into another book yet again. He sighed. It looks like it was up to Spike, the number one assistant, to save the day once again. Before he started on his shelving duties, however, he quickly scribbled a note on Twilight’s checklist to remind her about the potential lecture/interrogation with the Cutie Mark Crusaders on the circumstances that led to them being trapped by Dragonok. He shook his head as he imagined the return of insane Twilight that awaited them. It sure wasn't going to be pretty to watch, that's for sure.
> Fluff and Chitin: Reunion With An Old Friend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Daemon groaned out her discomfort as she and Dragonok trudged their way through what seemed like an endless forest bursting with swelteringly hot steam that seeped through the midmorning air. She turned towards Dragonok who seemed unaffected by the boiling-hot weather as the duo waked through thick vegetation.
“Excuse me, master, but I was wondering about something,” she said as sweat seeped out from her scales in miniature waterfalls. “Why in Tiamantis’ name are we in the middle of this dark, steamy jungle? It’s too hot and I’m so bored. Would you at least tell me what business we have wandering around here?”  She pouted as she stared at Dragonok in utter desperation to at least know where they were going so that she could have a clear goal in mind. After all, what would be the point of walking if there wasn’t a destination in mind?
Dragonok chuckled as he watched Daemon squirm in the jungle heat. Regardless of which multiverse they decide to visit, she always found a reason to vent out her frustrations at the various annoyances that bother her from time to time; whether it could be from a simple cracked claw or gigantic behemoths chasing after them after she had snatched one of their treasures that one time. It felt relaxing to see her pout when she had to deal with such bothersome obstacles. 
Of course, her method of dealing with them involved her releasing a temper tantrum that ranged from simply removing and repairing the bother to crushing massive armadas with a mountain she had ripped out of the earth. To witness such moments were most amusing, and quite terrifying, to watch from time to time.
However, this was neither the time nor place to witness her temper explode so he decided to fill her in. “An explanation does seem to be necessary. Do you remember the chitin-coated ponies called changelings that shapeshift to collect love for food? I’ve just received an invitation from God-Empress Arachne to visit us at her Primary Hive Cluster this weekend.”
The only reaction he acquired from Daemon was that of confusion as she tilted her head with her eyes blank of recognition to the title. “Who’s God-Empress Arachne, master? I’ve never heard of her before.”
Of course you haven’t,” Dragonok replied with mirth edging his voice. He would enjoy the look on her face as he delivered the revelation to come. “You knew her by a different name back then after our first… encounter with them. Does the name, Arry, ring a bell?” Three, two, one…
Daemon’s eyes lit up as she bounced around in glee as her exhaustion vanished in an instant. “By Tiamantis’ shimmering crown, her?!” Little, cutesy-wutesy Arry! Of course I remember her! She’s the itty-bitty Changeling who I took care of during that one time! To think she’s now a God-Empress of all things; what an amazing surprise! I can’t wait to see her! Let’s go!” Her jaws instantly clamped onto one of Dragonok’s pauldrons as she began to drag him to their destination in sheer excitement.
Dragonok coughed to catch Daemon’s attention. “Daemon, I know you’re ecstatic to see Arry again but you need to calm down and think before you go running off in a random direction. Much has changed since our imprisonment so that the barren wasteland we once knew a thousand years ago changed into the lush and wild jungle we see today. To put it simply, you don’t have a clue where they are now but you’re dragging me nonetheless.” Three, two, one…
Daemon instantly skidded to a halt upon realizing the truth behind his words. “Um, whoop?” Her scales became scarlet with embarrassment as she noted the one important fact she had neglected to check during her burst of excitement. “Does that mean you know where they are now, master?”
Dragonok’s eyes twinkled with mischief as he nodded. “Indeed, but we cannot simply barge into her domain without announcing ourselves. Here’s what I have in mind for the grand reunion.” He cupped his hand around Daemon’s ear as he began to whisper his plan. 
A gigantic smile spread from side to side, which threatened to overwhelm Daemon’s face, as she listened to his every word. “Ooh… I love it, master!” she exclaimed in glee. “When do we start? I can’t wait!” 
“Hold your excitement for a moment,” Dragonok gently chided. “Just wait until we arrive.”



When ponies hear whispers of the existence of an insectoid race of ponies, they would imagine their homes to be a drab collection of underground tunnels overflowing with crawling drones. At the very best imagined scenario, it would be an underground metropolis coated with a glossy black substance to bring forth a sort of alien charm to those not used to seeing such sights.
They would be shocked to see a massive city consisting of buildings perched onto gigantic branches that even the most powerful of storms would be hard-pressed to snap into two. The hardened material used to form each residence glowed with a faint emerald light that lightly illuminated the darkness provided by the thick canopy. A colorful spectrum of fluffy fur carpeting the city’s branches would tickle visitors with a deep-seated desire to snuggle deep and slumber within its soft embrace.
Its residents wandered throughout the bustling city's main square as they prepare for the arrival of their God-Empress’ esteemed guests.  Chitters punctuated by joyful gasps and raspberries echo through the air as its residents decorate the city in a flurry of fur boas and flowers in preparation for the God-Empress’ esteemed guests.
Just as they were about to put the finishing touches, everything around them became shrouded in darkness, Before anyone could panic, two strangers appeared in the center of the city square in a flash of dazzling light. One of them wore a black tuxedo that seemed to suck every trace of light into its fibers as its tri-horned helm gleamed menacingly with a dark passion. The other one was a fair mare hidden within a snow white skintight gown that sparkled with a sea of diamonds. 
Without warning, they slowly danced side by side as a slow melody seeped through the air.The knight began to sing a verse in a booming bass only for the mare to claim the next verse with a soothing alto before returning the role back to her partner. The two, united in their song, wove a tale of two lovers longing for each other’s embrace as they united and separated with every twirl, leap, sashay, and slide without even the slightest pause to their routine.
Everyone watched in amazement as the duo performed in complete synergy. They could feel themselves being pulled into the raw passion of what was clearly a powerful heartsong. 	
One by one, the residents began to join into the chorus as they became swayed by the power of the duo’s singing. The whole town soon sang as one as they began to dance around the two strangers. As the music reached a crescendo, all of them leapt into the air as they punched the sky as they shouted out their final line.
“BABY, I CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING ANYMORE!”
Fireworks sparkled and flashed into the shapes of fantastical beasts as the performance reached its conclusion. The starstruck audience oohed and aahed as they watched the pyrotechnic display. 
Once the fireworks dispersed into fading motes of lights, they began to applaud in an avalanche of stomping hooves booming throughout the jungle.  The duo bowed from side to side as they basked in the afterglow of their performance.
“Dragonok! Daemon!” a voice shouted out. The two warriors turned to stare at a changeling queen in her full glory. Gossamer wings shaped like those of monarch butterflies gleamed with a healthy glow as golden chitin coated every inch her body to give off the appearance of a grim statue of a goddess prepared for war. Her gentle sapphire eyes, however, dispelled the otherwise foreboding image as they twinkled with amusement, however, dispelled the otherwise foreboding beauty. A tiny four-gem-tipped crown stood atop of her head as a slender, curved horn peeked out of an elegantly coiled ultramarine mane.  A golden peytral with a ruby heart gleamed around her slender neck as her mist-thin robes fluttered in an unseen breeze. 
Instead of acting regal as all empresses stereotypically do, she galloped towards them with a speed akin to a battering ram. She lunged towards them with a squee as she wrapped her forehooves around them in a passionate embrace. “I’m so glad you’re finally back! It’s so great to see the both of you after all this time! It feels like yesterday you were just here at the hive. I’ve miss you all so much.” She tightly clung onto both of them in a joyous embrace as tears rushed down her face upon their long-awaited reunion.
Dragonok gently patted Arachne’s head to comfort her. “There, there, little Arry, what matters now is that we’re here. I’m just glad you and your hives have managed to adapt so much without our assistance for over a thousand years.”
Arachne hiccupped as she nuzzled against Dragonok and Daemon. “If it weren’t for the both you and Star Swirl, we wouldn’t have been able to create this paradise. We have so much to thank you for.”
Dragonok stared off into the distance as he began to reminiscent about his past misadventures with the old wizard with a smile evident in his eyes upon his recollection. “Star Swirl, huh… those years were quite an adventure.”
Arachne nodded in agreement as she began to guide her honored guests and friends over to her private chambers. “Yes, it reminds me of the first time you first came into our home…”



It had been an especially harsh winter.
Changelings staggered about as clear signs of love deficiency appeared on their legs in the form of massive cavities waiting to be filled with the nourishing emotion. A changeling queen solemnly watched her bedraggled subjects starve with sorrow evident in her eyes. Like her subjects, she too suffered from the same affliction as her skeletal frame clearly showed. 
She alone had denied herself the nourishment needed to restore her to her former glory as her amber mane hang limp. She didn’t want her children to suffer so she routed all the available food to all but herself. She may be starving but she be damned if she were to make her subjects suffer her fate just so she could live for a while longer. 
A tiny royal changeling nymph walked up towards the queen’s side and latched onto one of her legs. Her tummy rumbled as she stared at her mother with enormous doe eyes. “I’m so hungry, Mama. When are we gonna get some love to eat?”
The queen hid her worry with an impenetrable mask she developed over years of hardship as she gave her only royal child a weary smile. “Don’t worry, my little Arry. We’ll have plenty of love soon when the drones come from the local harvest. Just please hang in a little while longer, okay?”
The tiny nymph nodded as her tummy continued to rumble with hunger pangs. She believed in her mother’s words after all. “Okay, Mama.” She closed her eyes as she lay onto the hard stone floor. Only the sight of her chest shrinking and expanding proved she was still alive instead of the grimmer alternative.
The queen sighed before she pecked her daughter on the cheek. She then began her journey towards the sector of the hive where love gel would be produced for consumption. 
Along the way, she noted the vast number of emancipated changelings who suffered from clear signs of love deficiency. It burned away her innards to witness such a sight but she still continued onward in hopes of good news; good news that will ensure the survival of the last hive remaining of the changeling race. 
She could still recall the civil war that marked the slow descent into extinction as hives fought for scraps to survive for yet another day. She could still taste the blood of the queens she killed to protect her hive after they had invaded her home time and time again. She could still feel their spindly necks snapping between her jaws. She could still see the sparks of life fading from their eyes to leave behind sightless husks as they fell into the Final Sleep one by one. 
Now she and her hive were the last vestiges of the changeling race that remained, that survived, of those fatal confrontations. She had only wished there was another way; another way to have peacefully ended it without so many bodies littering the battlefields and families shattered over the lost of their loved ones. If only she- 
She shook her head to dispel such thoughts from her mind. The past should remain buried in the past. What matters now is focusing on the task at hand. That would be the only way she could help her people now.
She arrived at the food production sector when she noticed one of the changelings in charge of the operation. She immediately walked towards him and coughed to catch his attention. “General Cricket, how are this year’s harvest so far?”
“Not good, I’m afraid, my Queen,” Cricket replied. “Many of the drones are unsuccessful in extracting enough love to help maintain this hive. It seems that the recent windigo attack is still on everypony’s minds which prevent them from opening up and allowing the drones to extract enough love without harming them in the process. At the worst possible scenario, we’ll have no choice but to either evacuate or force-extract love at a faster rate at the risk at being discovered.” He turned towards the changeling queen with a fading gleam in his eyes. “What shall we do, your Majesty?”
The queen sighed as she shook her head. She didn’t desire to resort to this method but she had no viable choice on the matter. It was either doing anything to ensure her people's survival or watching them scream as they starved their way through death’s door. She would not be the one to give up and let their deaths happen because of her hesitance over this matter. “I’m afraid we have no choice but to go forth with-”
Before she could say the word, a massive rumbling violently shook the underground chambers with great vigor. Everychangeling tumbled onto the ground as the earth continued to tremble all around them. 
“What’s this?!” the queen yelped. “An earthquake?!” This shouldn’t be possible! The changelings shouldn’t have had an earthquake this huge here of all places. There were no faults near the hive to create a series of shockwaves that could have generated an earthquake of this magnitude. She closed her eyes to feel the waves pulse underneath her feet and noticed an anomaly: the shockwaves didn’t form a consistent pattern that most earthquakes generally follow. Instead, it felt as if a stampeding army was about to come their way!
She turned towards her brood as she delivered the dreaded news to add to their current dilemma. “My children, it seems we’re about to be invaded. Battle stations, everychangeling! Prepare for the worst!”
“WAHOO! DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE WE GO!” a voice roared out of nowhere before a flurry of humongous puffballs crashed through the ceiling and landed onto the stone floor into a gigantic pile with without so much as a scratch or bump. 
The dumbstruck queen could only blink at what she had just witnessed. “What in the Hivemothers…”
A clawed fist punched its way out of the fluffy hill before the ebony helm of a creature straight out of a nightmare followed suit. “HAH!” it boomed as it dragged its body out of the furry mass. “I told you I could do it! And to think you doubted me when I said I could create far more love energy compared to that spell your student cooked up to banish the windigos! Whaddya have to say about that, Star Swirl?”
Another head, this time of what seems to be a scaly unicorn with dagger-shaped teeth for a smile, popped out to point a clawed hoof towards… no one in particular. “That’s right, Mr. Beardo! You can’t beat us when we work together to create something amazing! Yay… urgh, I feel sick.” She turned away to regurgitate onto the floor in a sudden fit of nausea.
The head of a wizened gray unicorn with a flowing white beard teleported out of the furry pile as tiny golden bells jingled from his cape and hat. “Fine, you may have won this round, but you shall not win the war! I, Star Swirl, Master Over Time and Space, shall best you with an even greater spell! Count on…” He finally noticed the changelings staring at the trio with a mixture of fear and confusion in their eyes. “Tell me, Dragonok. Have I finally gone daft or are there chitin-coated insectoid ponies I see before me?”
The queen, at that moment, decided to step in. She wanted answers and by the Hivemothers she’s going to get them! “What in the name of the Hivemothers have you three invaded my kingdom? Better yet, what are those furry puffballs? I’ve never seen such-” At that moment, something soft and fluffy nudged against her leg. She turned to chastise the offender but halted when her eyes caught something she had not expected to see here of all places. 
Massive surges of pure, unadulterated love continuously flow from the fluffy creature rubbing its body against her. All around her, changelings had also noticed this phenomenon and hesitantly stared at the bundles of fluff as their tongues lolled out in barely restrained hunger.  
“How strange…” Star Swirl mused as he watched the confrontation between the fluff balls and the insectoid ponies. “They seem to be mesmerized by your creations. I wonder what traits have ensnared them into such a state. It can’t simply be the fur alone. I guess by the canines and saliva dripping down their mouths that they’re carnivores at the very least if not omnivore. However, if that were the case, they would have also focused their attention on us rather than simply-”
Dragonok, at this point, immediately halted Star Swirl’s analysis by simply clamping his muzzle tight with a single hand. “Instead of just simply babbling on about countless possibilities,” he began, “it would be best just ask them, Star Swirl. It’s better to obtain information from the source rather than simply create conjectures and hypotheses based on so few chunks of data.” 
He then turned towards the changeling queen and nudged her to catch her attention. “Excuse me, madam, but why are you staring at them  like that with such hunger in your eyes?”
The Changeling Queen didn’t noticed his efforts to capture her attention as she watched the fluffy balls with hooves and snouts bounce all over the place as they continuously blew raspberries.“I cannot believe what I’m seeing before my eyes,” she whispered. “I have never heard of creatures that can generate such pure love without needing anything to activate it yet there they stand before us. No longer will we have to fear about starvation; the famine that haunts over us has finally ended at last.” She turned towards the three strangers who had brought about this miracle to her people in their time of need and bowed before them. “Thank you, strangers, you have saved my people from famine. However may we thank you?”
Dragonok chuckled as he shook his head. “While we do appreciate the courtesy, there is no need to thank us, milady.”
“But we must!” the queen persisted. “You have saved us from a certain doom through starvation. If not for you, we may not have survived this month, let alone the winter. There must be a way for us to repay you for your kindness.”
Dragonok closed his eyes as he contemplated her offer. “As I mentioned, milady, there is no need to materially reward us for our efforts. However, would you mind if I and my friends stay here for a while with your permission? I believe my friend Star Swirl here would like to learn much about your kind, if that’s alright with you.”
Daemon snorted as she tried to suppress a sudden case of the giggles. “Come on, master!” she chided as she nudged him on the shoulder. “Admit it! You just want some peace and quiet for a while before we have to go beat up Goliath to free the Centaur Empire from his reign of terror, right?”
The changeling queen’s eyes widened upon this latest development. She had heard mention of the dreaded warmongering tyrant. He would rip the heads of those who opposed him from their still-living bodies before he scraped the flesh from their skulls to add his ever-growing throne formed of hundreds of the grinning atrocities. Her spies were fortunate enough to escape from his rule with their heads still attached after he murdered his kin to signal the beginning of his tyrannical rule with an iron fist. “Surely you jest?! No one has ever defeated that behemoth! How can you expect to challenge him, let alone defeat him?”
Dragonok simply shrugged in reply. “I have no viable idea at the moment but I shall find out when I face him in combat.” He turned toward Daemon with a stern glare. “As for you, you shouldn’t spill out such sensitive information like that.”
Dragonok rubbed the back of her head as she nervously chuckled in embarrassment. “Teehee, I’m sorry, master.”
The queen just shook her head in resignation over their upcoming fate before she moved on to a less sensitive topic. “Well, in any case, we welcome you to our Hive, travelers-”
“Mama, are you there?” her daughter shouted as she sprung out of nowhere on top of one of the fluffy creatures. “I wanna show you the new friend I’ve made!”
The queen turned around to see her daughter lying on top of one of the fluffy creatures which blew raspberries like a train puffing up smoke. That, however, didn’t catch the queen’s attention as much as the transformations evident upon her daughter’s form.
Arachne’s eyes brimmed with new life as the lifeless blue melted away to reveal gentle pupils centered in twin seas of sapphire blue. Her cavities slowly shrunk into nonexistence as her chitin slowly shifted from its shade of burnt green and into a glimmering golden hue that gleamed with ethereal vitality. The biggest change, however, involved her wings which had remolded from their familiar papery form and into a glorious set of lapis lazuli monarch butterfly wings that gently flutter against the princess’ back.
Arachne, unaware of neither her mother’s shock nor the changes in her body, innocently smiled as she slurped on the infinite supply of love provided by her mount. “Look at what I found! They’re so fluffy and their love is so tasty! I wanna call them fluffy ponies!” She then noticed the unusual trio standing before her mother. “Ooh, visitors from beyond! I’ve never had visitors before. I’m Arry and I’ll become Empress of All Changelings someday! Well, aren’t you going to tell me your cool titles as well?”
Dragonok chuckled as he stared at the little changeling princess. “Well then, allow me to introduce all of us. I am Dragonok, Chaos Champion of Power. This here is my partner and steed, Daemon the Darling in Distress, and that pony over there is Star Swirl the Puffball for a Beard.”
“HEY!” both Daemon and Star Swirl exclaimed. 
Arry, on the other hoof, released a series of giggles at Dragonok’s improvised introduction. “You guys are so funny. Wanna play with me?”
Star Swirl shook his head at her request. “I’m afraid not, child. I am about to conduct a few experiments during my stay here and I shall not be…”
He trailed off as he noticed two pairs of enormous eyes stared back at him. “Please play with us!” both Daemon and Arachne plead. “Pretty please with sugar on top!” 
“But… research…” As much as Star Swirl tried to deny the hypnotizing Double Whammy Cutesy Stare, his willpower crashed into the ground and scampered off into the deepest recesses of his mind. He slumped in defeat as he accepted his fate.  “Alright, I shall join you in your merrymaking.”
Both mare and filly bounced about as they cheered at their success. “YAY!”
Dragonok, who had watched the whole thing, chuckled as he shook his head in amusement over the defeat of the bell-totting archmage. “This should be quite interesting.” 



A smile wove its way onto God-Empress Arachne as she recalled the fond memories the three of them shared as they relaxed in her personal chambers. “Those were good times, weren’t they?” She sighed as she turned to face the bustling communities where changelings and fluffy ponies intermingle into a tight-knit community. “I’m just sad that Mother isn’t alive to see the utopia her people created alongside the fluffy ponies. She would have been so proud.”
Dragonok nodded in agreement. “Indeed she would, little one.”
“You shall not address the Supreme Mother in that manner!” a changeling donned in golden armor chastised Dragonok.
Arachne eyerolled as she waved off her guard’s remark. “Oh hush, Ploof! You know I don’t like this stiff formality when I’m around friends. Why don’t you go back and enjoy yourself for a while? It’ll do you some good to wind down before going all-out for another night of banging with your marefriend.”
The chitin around the gray changeling’s face became a bright crimson. “Supreme Mother! That’s sensitive information!”
The God-Empress tsked as she patted the changeling guard on his head. “Aw, is my itty-bitty baby shy? Don’t worry about Mommy and just go out and have some fun. Or are you going to make Mommy cry?” Her lips began to pout and tremble as she stared at him with pleading eyes. 
The changeling guard instant became pale. “No, no, no, Supreme Mother! I’ll go right now! Just please don’t cry!” He immediately scampered out of her chambers before she could get the chance to release the waterworks.
Dragonok remained stoic for a few moments before he roared out in laugher. “That was quite an effective tactic you used,” he remarked with pride evident in his voice after his sides stopped hurting from laughing so much. “I’m glad to see you’ve retained much, young one.”
Arachne nodded with a small smile growing on her muzzle. “Well, I did learn from the best after all. What kind of a student would I be if I hadn’t used any of them to start with?”
A sudden knock caught their attention. They turned to face a royal changeling standing near the doorway. Gleaming cerulean slippers matched the peytral with a narrow pink heart clasped around the light gray chitin surrounding her neck.  Teal curls bounced with every step she took as she approached Arachne with a warm smile.
“Mother, I’m going out with Fluffle Puff for a bit. Is that alright with –” Her mint green eyes bulged behind the tiny pair of spectacles perched on her snout when she noticed her mother had guests. Light green chitinous wings with a pair of hearts marking on the tips of each wing fluttered stiffened with fear as she realized she had just committed a faux pas. “Oh! I’m sorry! I didn’t know you have guests! I’m sorry for trespassing during one of your important meeting! Please forgive me for my error!” She instantly lifted her forelegs into the air before flinging them onto the ground along with her body in what seemed like an attempt at an apology. 
Arachne facehoofed as she sighed in embarrassment over her daughter’s dramatics. “What did I tell you, Chryssy? There’s no need to act like that. Dragonok, this here is one of my royal daughters, Duchess Chrysalis, or Chryssy for short. That reminds me, where is Fluffle Puff?”
A pink fluffy pony suddenly descended from above everyone from out of nowhere before brushing off her fur to make herself presentable. “Pflpflplfpf (I am present, God-Empress Arachne. I shall always be at my beloved’s side for all eternity. Is there something vital that you require?)” 
Dragonok, during Fluffle Puff’s introduction, glared upward in confusion only to see no signs of how she managed to get up there without anyone’s notice in the first place. His eyes arched in amusement. It appears there’s another pony who defied logic and order like Pinkie Pie.
Arachne giggled at the contemplative expression on Dragonok’s helm before she turned toward Fluffle Puff. “I would like to introduce you to a few important guests and friends of mine. I believe you know these individuals from the history archives?”
Fluffle Puff nodded as she began to point towards each of God-Empress Arachne’s guests. “Pflplfplfplfpflfplfffplfplflpflpflfpl (Indeed I do, God-Empress Arachne. That is Dragonok who is known as the Chaos Champion of Power, the Dread Knight Who Opposes Corruption, Tyrant-Slayer, and Defender of the Changelings. And the fair maiden next to him is Daemon the Companion and Steed of Dragonok, the Caretaker of Changelings and Fluffy Ponies, Devourer-Acrobat of Apples, and Befriender of All. How do you do? I am Fluffinia Sheppardous Danger Maximillenia Puffle, Number One Champion of Food Contests and Royal Consort of My Darling Chryssy, at your service. It is a pleasure to meet you. You also can call me Fluffle Puff if you wish).” She extended a hoof of friendship that Dragonok immediately shook to seal the formalities.
“It’s a pleasure to meet the both of you fine ladies,” Dragonok said as he bowed to both of them. He then turned toward Chryssy. “Since you were be in a rush to get here, I assume that you decided to inform your mother of some sort of an important event.”
Chryssy’s eyes widened as Fluffle Puff released a tiny gasp. In the confusion, they had forgotten the reason they entered Arachne’s chambers. 
“I almost forgot! We need to go to see DJ CHN6E-L1N6 at her latest concert!” Chryssy exclaimed as she nabbed Fluffle Puff and threw her onto her back in one fluid motion. “I just wanted to inform you of that before we go, Mother.” She waved goodbye towards her mother’s guest as she began to trot towards the door. “I’ll see you all later! Sorry for not staying longer! Tata!” Once she passed through the doorway, she immediately began to gallop off with Fluffle Puff in tow.
Arachne tittered as she watched the two of them disappear with a flurry of dust trailing behind them. “Those girls have brought so much joy to my life. I simply can’t wait for the wedding.” Her smile momentarily stiffened as something passed through her mind.  
Dragonok’s eyes furrowed in as he detected the shift in mood. “Is there something you’re not telling us, little one?” he asked. "I sense a terrible burden crushing you from within. Please speak freely so that we may help to lessen its weight."
Arachne’s cheerful façade crumbled to reveal a deep-seated worry etched through her face. “I knew you would see through me,” she sighed. “I’m afraid I have some dire news to impart to you.”
Dragonok nodded without much surprise on his part. “I suspected as much. Sending an invitation out of nowhere did seem somewhat unusual especially since you had to risk one of your children to send the message to me.” He tilted his head as he stared at the morose Changeling God-Empress. “So what exactly is so important that you had to risk revealing your kind to the rest of Equus?”
“It involves the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony.” Arachne explained. “The evil forces of Equus have felt the harmonic energies emitting from the purification of Nightmare Moon and imprisonment of Discord. They feel threatened and are now plotting to find a way to destroy them all. However, as we all know, the Multinational Alliance of Equus wouldn’t stand for that sort of thing so they have resorted to the foulest of methods to accomplish their goals based from what my spies have informed me. They have found a way to momentarily create gaps in the space-time continuum to summon forth terrible forces to do their bidding.”
Dragonok’s eyebrows scrunched in confusion. Based on the details given so far, he knew there had to be more than simply that. “I guess it didn’t work the way they had hoped based on the look on your face, am I right?”
Arachne sadly nodded in confirmation towards Dragonok’s statement. “You would be right. They had managed to summon them but most of them became enslaved and corrupted since they didn’t have enough power to control them. Most of my spies were fortunate enough to escape when they did but not all escaped in the nick of time, I’m afraid. That is why I’m asking you to keep an eye and protect the Bearers. Should they be defeated or corrupted, there’s no telling what might happen to Equus in the long run. Please protect them, I beg of you!” She placed her forehooves on top of each other as she bowed with her head touching the floor. 
Dragonok shook his head as he lifted her up from the ground. “Now, now, there’s no need for that, young one. I shall perform this duty for your sake in the name of all the good times we’ve spent together. You have my word.”
Daemon’s eyes glimmered with stars as she fisthoofed the air. “Yeah! Those baddies better watch out for the epicness of our combined coolness!”
Tears rushed down her cheeks in waterfalls. “Thank you both so much!” Arachne blubbered as she hugged Dragonok and Daemon again as she sniffled. “You have no idea how important this is for me. I don’t want to lose any of my children to those wicked creatures nor do I want to see anyone suffer again. I don’t know what I would do with myself if that ever happened.”
“I understand, little one,” Dragonok replied. “By the way, did your spies catch any information as to which location these entities were released from?”
Arachne sighed as her demeanor became somber once again. “They weren’t exactly certain. All they managed to hear was something along the lines of ‘a prison worse than Tartarus’ and ‘an abyss overflowing with pure evil.’ I’m sorry.”
Upon hearing those words, Dragonok grew a sneaking suspicion as to where these foolish mortals had summoned these creatures from. He hoped he was wrong about it but hope itself is a useless entity when used to deny the worst possibilities without preparing for them in advance. Now he knew he should visit a certain solar monarch as soon as possible to begin constructing his defenses. Regardless, though, it would be best if he didn't tell anyone about it. It wouldn't do to have everyone panicking long before they arrive. 
“That’s alright, little one. I believe I have all the information I need to know for now. In any case, I’ll stay for the rest of the day with you before I have to perform my duty, Arry.”
Arachne regained her cheerfulness as she released a wide smile. “I would like that very much.”
Suddenly, Daemon pulled out a bundle of party hats before speeding around to place them on everyone’s heads; everyone in the city, that is. She then smiles as she draws out a gigantic speakerphone with a gigantic mouth in the shape of an O attached to it. “ALRIGHT THEN!” she shouted through the speakerphone so that every citizen within the Primary Hive Cluster could hear from miles around. “WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?! LET’S PARTY LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW!!!”



Meanwhile, back in Ponyville, a certain party pony began to violently spasm in mid-air just before she was about to shove a Quadruple Decker Strawberry-Chocolate-Vanilla-Cotton-Candy Cake into her maw.  
“Party senses… tingling…into… overdrive!”
> The Dragon and the Sun: An Audience With Royalty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A Royal Guard, bored out of her mind, stood outside the gates of Canterlot Castle with a stoic expression on her face. She knew that it was her sworn duty to protect the Princesses from any sign of harm and she would do anything to ensure their safety even if it meant tossing her life aside. 
As she stood in position, she could hear somepony whistling before an old pony walked into her line of vision. He wore a gigantic pair of glasses onto a face overwhelmed with sagging wrinkles as he proudly wore the uniform of the Equestrian Mail Service. He walked up towards her with determination in his watery eyes. 
“Excuse me, youngster,” he began in a creaky voice so low that the Royal Guard has to strain her ears to hear what he had to say. “I have a message to deliver to Princess Celestia. Would you be so kind as to give it to her for an old pony’s sake? I would sincerely appreciate it.”
The Royal Guard shook her head in response to his request. “I’m afraid not, sir. Princess Celestia is in the middle of Solar Court as of now. Perhaps you can give it another time.”
“I’m afraid I can’t, youngster,” he sighed.  “I’ve traveled all the way from Manehatten to give this letter to her Royal Highness, and this message is too important to hold off ‘til another time. At least give it when she’s finished with her business for today. It won’t be much of a bother then, now would it?”
The Royal Guard has to hesitate to think about that. It would be wrong to simply push the old stallion away especially since he had to travel so far to simply give a letter to Princess Celestia. It wouldn’t exactly be fair to send him back without allowing him to complete his civic duty. In any case, she could just accept his request and give the letter to her Highness after the Solar Court proceedings have finished for the day. “I suppose not… alright, old stallion. Give it here.” She extended a hoof which the wrinkly stallion placed onto with a trembling limb. 
“Thank ya kindly, miss,” he said with gratitude highlighting his voice. “Have a nice day, ya hear!” He quickly scampered off with a spring in his step as he whistled out an unfamiliar tune.
She shook her head as he disappeared from view before taking a glance at the letter. “I wonder what’s so important about it that it couldn’t be just sent via royal mail.”
Out of the Royal Guard’s sight, the old mailstallion burst into shadows before converging to reveal a whistling Dragonok that strode down the streets with a Look-Away charm attached to him to avoid curious glances. “Now that that’s done, let us commence with the waiting.”



Celestia plopped onto her bed exhausted after a tiring session at Solar Court with yet another gaggle of nobles wanting to raise taxes to line their pockets from hard-working ponies. The only comfort she took from such experiences was the little political games she played against the nobles and, with over fifteen hundred years of experience, she easily trumped their every tactic before they could ruin somepony’s life.
There was that one time when one noblestallion had forcefully wed his tomboyish daughter to a wealthy brute who had a reputation for abusing everyone around him with sadistic glee towards their pain. The newly wedded couple had gone on an all-expenses-paid honeymoon to Neighpon paid by hers truly. She had to giggle as she recalled informing them that the groom would have to wear a robe made of fried tofu on their first night as per marriage tradition in Neighpon. He soon vanished after the first night there with only a few strands of auburn hair and a few muddy paw prints in his room. After the groom had been deemed missing, the bride inherited everything and now became a famous best-selling author of over fifty volumes of her exploits as a world-trotting explorer though few know about that particular fact. 
Then there was that one time a noble had spread nasty rumors to wreck a photographer’s budding career in the fashion industry. Thanks to a rather large donation from a mysterious sponsor, however, that same photographer established her own fashion firm before rising into the role of one of the top fashion icons in Equestria.  
Celestia smiled at her past accomplishments as she sipped from her teacup before daintily nibbling on a slice of strawberry shortcake. It’s at times like these when she can cut loose and relax. “Ah, nothing beats a good cup of tea and some cake.”
That was when somepony knocked on her door. “Come in,” Celestia said.
A Royal Guard entered into Celestia’s suite. “I have a message for you, your Majesty,” she mumbled with a plain-looking letter in her mouth.
“Thank you, Steel Strum.” That’s strange; most of my mail usually arrives from Derpy every time she crashed through my balcony. This should be interesting. Her eyes travelled along the message etched throughout the letter until a particular word caught her attention. She did an epic spit-take that sprayed onto the Royal Guard’s face.  
“What is the meaning of this!?” Celestia roared.
Tea dripped down the Royal Guard’s concerned expression. She didn’t care about that particular fact; she was more concerned on what had sparked such a reaction in the Princess. “What is it, your Majesty? Is there something wrong?”
Celestia turned towards Steel Strum. “Excuse me, Steel Strum, but there seems there is an important matter that I need to attend to for a few hours. Would you mind standing guard here while I’m gone?”
Steel Strum shook her head as her face became awash with confusion. “Not at all, your Majesty, but where do you plan on doing?” she asked. 
Celestia became grim. “I just need to visit someone I once knew for quite a long time…” 
Before the Royal Guard could say a word, Celestia vanished in a flash of golden light. 



Canterlot Park, a peaceful area where foals scamper off and about amongst the animals shaped out of the shrubbery dotting throughout the park in the light of day. Lovers would picnic at night as they gaze at the stars before turning their stares towards each other with love at this most romantic of nights. 
Now, however, marks the time when shadows come out and dance in the moonlight when everypony had already departed into their homes. Crickets strum out a medley of melodies into the night sky without any signs of intelligent life to bother them in their midnight concert. A chill wind rides unimpeded throughout the uninhabited park. 
With a barely audible pop and another flash of golden light, Celestia reappeared in the shadow-touched recesses of Canterlot Park. She trotted towards a fountain and sat down at its granite rim. 
“That’s strange,” she murmured as her head turned left and right in search of the individual responsible for sending the letter.  “I was certain this was the location the letter mentioned. Was I mistaken?” Her brows furrowed as a more sinister train of thought arrived. “Or was this merely a distraction to lead me away while he sneaks into my castle and steal the Elements? I sincerely hope that is not the case. Who knows what might happen if he broke the seals over him to regain his full power? I just hope I’m not-” That was when she suddenly came snout to face with the ever-grinning skull-helm of Dragonok.
“AHHHHH!” she exclaimed in shocked surprise as she jumped back and tripped on the fountain’s edge. Her limbs flailed as she fell into the water with a splash.
“Greetings, Celestia,” Dragonok said as he dragged the soaked Solar Diarch out of the fountain. “As much as I would love to join thee, we have important business to discuss, old friend.”
Celestia sighed as she dried herself with a mild heating spell. “Don’t call me friend. You lost our friendship the moment you destroyed an entire nation filled with innocent ponies. The only reason why I’m not blasting you off into the sun is that you wanted to warn me of a grave threat against my student and her friends.”
Her ethereal mane burst into a fiery blaze as her eyes and fur gleam a blinding corona of white. “But if this is some sick joke to lure me away, I will incinerate you piece by piece until there is nothing but slag and burnt flesh.” 
Dragonok rolled his eyes at Celestia’s theatrics. “I understand thy concern but I did indeed invite thou here to warn thee of what is to come without the nuisance of unnecessary prying eyes and eavesdropping ears.” 
Celestia caught onto one particular word that Dragonok had mentioned. “Unnecessary? That’s quite an unusual choice of words, Dragonok. What are you hiding?”
“I hide quite an abundance of secrets as much as thou hast hidden away over the last millennia, Celestia,” Dragonok casually replied. “But we should not tarry on such talk.” His posture straightened into a regal stance as he cracked his neck from side to side. “Now let us speak of the evils that are to come.”
Before Celestia could even blink, Dragonok had somehow donned a pristine black professor’s gown and cap as he stood against a whiteboard with a felt-tip marker in his hand. “As thou know based on thy adventures with Star Swirl, this universe is but one of many within a space known as the multiverse. Between the spaces that separate each universe exists a prison where catastrophic entities who could easily obliterate everything ten times over if they desired to do so have been sealed away to prevent the destruction of the universes in which they derive from.” He drew a gigantic eyeball with squirming tentacles behind bars to emphasize his point. “Due to the arrogance of sorcerers who desire to rule over Equus, these entities have been summoned here to obey them.” He drew said eyeball standing in the center of a summoning circle surrounded by hooded sorcerers. “They however could not maintain control over these entities and have become enslaved, devoured, or decimated by the entities.” He sketched out the eyeball breaking out of the summoning circle and snatching up the sorcerers to shove them inside its pupil-centered mouth equipped with jagged teeth. “Now the only obstacle standing in their way is the Elements of Harmony which could send them back to their prison once the harmonic energies converge collide with them.” He then etched out the gigantic eyeball surrounded by six stick-ponies wearing the Elements of Harmony who blasted it into a portal with a burst of black-to-white spectrum energies. “That is why they will converge onto Ponyville one by one to either assimilate them into their ranks or obliterate them into dust before resuming onto their path for world devastation. Once they succeed, cracks will appear on the shields that protect this multiverse from the Corruption which will infest this world first before branching out to other universes.” He finally drew a gigantic snake with eyes infesting its body as it wrapped its coils around Equus with a ravenous gleam in its eyes. 
Dragonok melted into the shadows before reappearing right next to Celestia back in full armor regalia. “That is why I implore thee permission to reside to Ponyville without impediments to prevent me from protect thy precious Twilight and her friends when they require my assistance from these entities.”
Celestia could only blink at this unexpected request that just came out of the blue before she nodded. “Very well,” she sighed, “I shall send a letter to my student to inform her to prepare for your arrival but remember this; should you harm Twilight and her friends through any means, you won’t live to survive another day. Is that understood?” If what he said is true, then I need him to protect Twilight and the others regardless of my feelings on the matter. I’ll ask Twilight to keep an eye on him to ensure he isn’t hatching any insidious schemes without her informing me of them before then. 
“As thou wish so I will comply, Celestia,” Dragonok replied. He tilted his head as he scritched one side of his helm with a single claw. “By the way, I noticed an interesting detail I wish to inform thee of before I depart for Ponyville.”
“And what exactly would that be?” Celestia asked. Her curiosity drew her closer to hear what Dragonok had to say.
“I have noticed that thy power has decreased while thy derrière has expanded a great deal based on our last encounter,” he casually remarked. “Thou did not have to go through such effort to attract my attention. If thou desired some happy fun time, I would have been there for thee for such an occasion.”
One of Celestia’s eyes began to twitch. “Would you mind staying there for a moment? I need to pick something up.” 
She momentarily vanished in a burst of light before reappearing with a gigantic hammer levitating alongside her. “Now just stand still while I crush you and send you to Ponyville in a hearse, you letch!”



From one of the balconies at Canterlot Castle, Luna and Daemon relaxed on beach chairs with gigantic sunglasses perched on their muzzles. They consumed popcorn as they watched an enraged Celestia blazing with blinding fire trying to smash Dragonok to pieces through binoculars.
“Ah, ‘tis entertaining to witness Tia lose her temper against him,” Luna said as she snuck a sip from a silly straw attached to a mug of hard cider. She smacked her lips with satisfaction as she continued to watch the two play cat and mouse. “We still have not forgiven him for defiling our royal self with that kiss but we suppose this should somewhat make up for it.”
Daemon released a gigantic burp that echoed throughout the castle before turning toward Luna. “I know, right? I’m so glad you agreed with his plans to go to Ponyville earlier when I chatted with you earlier.”
Luna smiled for a moment before a grim thought passed through her mind. “Indeed, but there is something that Dragonok mentioned that has bothered our royal self. Did he truly obliterate that sacred city or did somepony else committed the deed?”
Daemon shrugged as she chewed on her popcorn. “That, I can’t say. Master said that the time for you and Celly to know hasn’t arrived yet.” She affectionately patted Luna on the head. “Until then, don’t worry your silly head about it, ‘kay?” 
Luna mused for a moment as her hoof tapped against her snout in contemplation. “We suppose so, but we will discover the truth on the matter. If he did destroy that city, then he will have much to pay for indeed.”
With a smirk etched across her snout, Daemon tilted her head towards the fight below. “Whatever you say; do you still wanna watch Celly try to smash Master?”
Luna nodded before she returned her attention towards her sister trying to fruitlessly smash Dragonok to pieces with no success. A tiny titter escaped her lips as she watched Dragonok effortlessly dodged each blow; much to her sister’s growing frustration. “Indeed, it shall amuse us for quite some time.” 
> Welcome to Ponyville, Equestria: Wait, What's He Doing Here?!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	After Dragonok left after dropping off the Cutie Mark Crusaders at the Golden Oaks Library a week ago, Twilight had been busy reading the pages of the monolithic manual that had mysteriously appeared after his departure. 
She knew she shouldn’t read a book that was likely given to her by an enemy but the prospect of reading a new book had always grabbed her fascination to examine its contents. Such a process would either lead to satisfaction over finishing a good book or lead to a disappointed sigh followed by shelving the book so that others may read it. After all, just because one book doesn’t interest one pony doesn’t mean it won’t fascinate another pony.
She still hadn’t even finished reading Chaoswielders 101 despite the fact she had been poring over it nonstop for over a week. It seemed that regardless of how many pages she turned, there would always be more to claim their place which she knew to be a practical improbability. There had to be a limit to the amount of pages a single book could hold; after all, it would be impossible to produce a book with an infinite amount of pages even with the usage of advanced magecraft. 
But then again, there was Pinkie with her Pinkie Sense. She didn’t want to believe the existence of such a concept at the time but Trotham’s Shears did state that if one did not find a flaw after collecting a massive amount of data, then one should accept the hypothesis that has the fewest assumptions regardless of one’s beliefs on the matter. 
That and she really, really, didn’t want to repeat the events that had led her to a massive hospital bill along with another bundle of trauma caused by a life-threatening situation like the time the hydra chased her and her friends through Froggy Bog Bottom. 
She had instead been busy in taking notes for every little detail that caught her eye. Whether or not it had an infinite amount of pages, the book does possess a fascinating hoard of stories and information that never failed to catch her attention whether it was legends about faraway worlds or a method on how to detect the presence of neophyte Chaoswielders. Fascinated by the literary trove lying before her, she felt as if she could go on reading this book for all of eternity without taking a break.   
On the contrary, however, she now resided on her bed in a comatose slumber with drool dripping out of her mouth. Even fanatic bibliophiles require rest after reading nonstop for about a week or so. 	
Spike, who had ensured that Twilight survive through her herculean task without fail this past week, gently nudged her. “Twilight,” he whispered, “wake up! I’ve got a letter from Celestia for you.” 
“Whuh…” she groggily replied as she arose with a tangled bed-mane following pursuit. “What did you say, Spike? I didn’t hear you. Just let me get some coffee first.” She yawned as she walked downstairs to grab a cup of coffee before she resumed her quest to read the tome without collapsing in her eagerness to do so. 
Knowing better than to interrupt Twilight in her task to acquire the steamy brew, Spike patiently waited as he watched Twilight prepare some coffee inside a coffee machine. Once it dinged, Twilight removed the glass container from the machine’s grasp before pouring in the bitter concoction into a mug. She then poured in a couple dashes of milk followed by dumping a few teaspoons of sugar into the mix. She slowly stirred the black liquid with a spoon held with magic until the milk and sugar changed its appearance to resemble that of chocolate milk.  
Without any hesitation, she lifted the mug to her lips and chugged it down in one go. The scalding liquid jolted her awake as the caffeine and sugar rushed to her brain. 
“Ah…” she sighed with relief as the pain faded away as her mind finally stirred into full performance. “That hit the spot. Now, what did you say earlier, Spike?”
Spike pulled out a scroll from behind him and waved it in front of Twilight. “I just got a letter from Celestia.”
Twilight gave a perplexed glare towards the unexpected letter. “That’s odd. She rarely sends a letter this early unless it’s important. Let’s see what it says.” She levitated the letter from Spike’s hand and unfurled it so she could read its contents. “‘Dear Twilight, I have something important to tell you. Dragonok will be arriving in Ponyville…’” 
Spike watched as Twilight became stiff as a board as all color drained from her face. “Um… Twilight? Are you alright?”
“No, I’m not alright! Dragonok’s coming here! To Ponyville! What do we do?!” Twilight began to hyperventilate as images of the possible horrors Dragonok might commit seeped into her brain. “Who knows what might happen the moment he arrives here? What if he changes everypony in Ponyville into hideous monstrosities and forces them to do his bidding? 
“Twilight…”
“And he marches throughout all of Equestria with a gigantic army of slaves and topples Princess Celestia and Luna from their thrones in a maniac attempt to convert everypony to his rule…”                                       
“Twilight…”               
“And then I have to form an underground rebellion in a fruitless attempt to prevent him from conquering all of Equus!”
With a sigh followed by an eyeroll, Spike pinched two of his claws together and blew between them. The resulting whistle forced Twilight to stop ranting and slap her hooves over her ears to prevent the screeching sound from further damaging her ears. “Twilight, you need to snap out of it!” Spike admonished once certain that her attention was focused on him. “I know that Dragonok’s a bad guy but you can’t just panic like that. You need to face him with a calm head. He may be powerful and all, but you and the girls defeated Nightmare Moon AND Discord. I know for sure you can beat him without a doubt so long as you believe in the friendship you all share.”
Twilight heaved in a great breath before exhaling as she calmed down from hearing Spike’s pep talk. “You’re right, Spike. We can beat him so long as we work together. But just to be safe, I need to prepare for the worst, but how?” 
“Why don’t we just find him and see what he’s up to?” 
Twilight spun towards him so fast that he experienced momentary vertigo at witnessing the sight. “That’s it! We’ll analyze his every movement in order to prepare ourselves against whatever plans he has for Equestria. It’s brilliant!” 
Spike, who knew that he had to at least try to stop Twilight from spiraling out of control, tried to speak sense out of her before she repeated her mistakes once again. “Um… Twilight, didn’t you do the same thing when you first found out about Pinkie Sense? And didn’t it turn out horribly out of control when the hydra chased after you and the girls as a result of said experiment?” 
Twilight simply waved a hoof at him in response. “That’s why I’ll simply observe him from the balcony with my telescope. I do learn from my mistakes, Spike. What kind of student would I be if I didn’t?”	
Spike could only sigh as he watched Twilight hatch yet another ridiculous scheme. “This can’t end well,” he murmured. Better start getting the first-aid kit out again…



Mayor Mare had bore witness to a large variety of weirdness throughout her political career in Ponyville. They occurred so often that she began to casually regard them as normal as a Tuesday. Of course, there had been a few bizarre exceptions that even went from mildly bizarre to world-shattering bonkers from time to time.  
Having an armor-bound warrior who had fought against Celestia sitting in front of her with a massive bag stuffed with bits and a request to live in Ponyville was definitely one of those exceptions. 
“I must say, Mr. Dragonok is it, I see no problems with you living here but I’m afraid there are no available vacancies for you to inhabit here in Ponyville at the moment,” she said as she scanned the signed paperwork he presented along with a letter of recommendation from Princess Celestia of all things. “Would you mind waiting a few weeks until we can construct a proper residence for you to live in?”
“There’s no need for that, Madam Mayor,” Dragonok replied with his head cocked at one side. “I shall construct my own domicile at an uninhabited location within the boundaries of Ponyville. I believe this shall suffice.” He pulled out a portrait of the gigantic tree he and Celestia had inadvertently created during their battle and presented it to Mayor Mare. 
She took one glance at the portrait before nodding her consent. “Alright then, I see no problem with that. It doesn’t seem to impede on anypony’s personal space so I guess it could work.” She pulled out a contract from underneath her desk and presented it to Dragonok. “I just need you to sign here and we’ll be done here.” 
Dragonok scanned the contract for signs of discrepancy in the terms. He slowly nodded once none were to be found. “Very well.” He signed his consent onto the parchment with one claw-tipped finger before he returned the contract back to Mayor Mare. “Have a good day, Madam Mayor.” He seeped into the shadows and vanished without a trace. 
Once certain he was gone, she heaved out a breath she had held back as she slumped in sheer exhaustion. She wearily shook her head as she stared at the signed contract. “I need a drink.” 	



Dragonok reappeared from the shadow produced by the tree where he would build his new headquarters. Well, that went out better than I had expected. I felt certain she would faint at any given moment but it seems my worries were unfounded. Now, this shouldn’t take too long to construct with a few dozen mimpoles. Let’s get to work. He flexed his palms to spread open their mouths before he let loose. 
Fuzzy balls popped out of them in rapid succession and grew as they slammed into the ground to form small craters. The resulting dust soon settled to reveal horned minotaur-sized bipedal moles shaking off the dirt that came into contact with their hides. Eyelids slid open to reveal multi-faceted gems that glared back at Dragonok with expressions bordering from amusement to alertness.      
“YEAH!!!” all of the creatures shouted which revealed sets of jagged teeth that could crush boulders with little effort. “LET’S BUILD A MANSION FOR THE BOSS WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE!!!” 
Dragonok, knowing exactly how these creatures acted without proper supervision, clapped his hands to gather their attention. After all, he didn’t want a repeat of them decimating yet another city to build a ridiculously mountainous statue of him again. Sure, the cities were filled with Corrupted spawn at the time but it still didn’t give the mimpoles a valid reason to idolize their master with another monument dedicated to him. He had enough of that, thank you very much.
“Listen up, workers, and listen hard!” Dragonok shouted in military form which prompted them to line up in a straight line with their chests puffed out. “Here’s the main objective for the day: I want all of you minions to construct a base of operations on the branches of that tree without any unnecessary harm or damage to it. The main theme for this project today is performance and function. That means no gigantic wastes of space that could have been used to build a useful feature like a hot spring or a steam sauna instead. It must possess purpose before beauty and style can be established. Is that understood, minions?!” 
“SIR, YES, SIR!!!” the mimpoles exclaimed before they scampered off towards the tree to perform their role. 
Dragonok watched them reach towards the base of the tree before ridiculously tiny leathery wings popped out of their backs to allow them to flitter towards the tree’s canopy to begin their project while defying gravity. 
Daemon’s head popped out of the shadows alongside Dragonok to glare at the progress being made towards their new home away from home before turning her attention towards him. “Master, I’m hungry,” she whined. “When can we go get some apples?” 
Dragonok watched the mimpoles busy in building his new lair for a moment before he turned towards Daemon. “In that case, why don’t we go to Ponyville Plaza to buy some from the fair Applejack in person? It’s about time we meet the citizens of Ponyville face to face in any case.”
Daemon glared at her master in barely veiled amusement. It seems that, regardless of the eons they spent together, he would always charge in towards anything rather than simply avoid it unlike every being she met throughout the multiverses. “Alright then, master, let’s get some apples!” 
Before either could shadowstride towards Ponyville Plaza, they became overwhelmed by a startling amount of pinkness that invaded every inch of their sight.
“Hiya, Draggy! Hiya, Daemmi!” Pinkie exclaimed. “It’s so fantabulous to see you both so much! Sorry I can’t stay; I have so much to plan for. But first.” She instantly vanished before their eyes before reappearing seconds later with a blue-and-pink-decorated cart that would have been the love child between a piano, a gramophone, and a cannon. She turned a crank attached to the contraption which began to play a carnival tune as she began to sing to welcome them to Ponyville.

Welcome welcome welcome to you and you, hooray!
I’m so very glad you’re really come here to stay
So let’s throw a big party to cheer that you’re here!
When you’re in Ponyville, you’ll be grinning ear to ear
We’ll drink sarsaparilla and eat mountains of cake
As everypony parties around ‘til daybreak
We’re so very glad you can join us here and play!
Welcome welcome welcome to Ponyville TODAY! 

Pinkie hopped into the air with a flourish as a shower of confetti burst out from behind her the moment the final note arrived. Dragonok and Daemon, impressed, were about to applaud towards her performance when the machine’s cannon turned towards them and shot out a stream of cake frosting towards them. 
“Mmm… vanilla,” said one of the whipped cream piles before Daemon’s head popped out of it before licking her entire face with her prehensile tongue. “Could use a bit more sugar if you ask me.” 
Pinkie’s smile stretched from side to side until it surpassed the geometrically impossible. “I know, right! Everything’s better with sugar. Without sugar, there wouldn’t be any delicious goodies to snack on; and if there aren’t any delicious goodies to snack on, then there would be no smiles from anypony; and if there aren’t any smiles from anypony, then the Sugar-Free Depression-Apocalypse is neigh!” Her eyes widened in fear at the thought before she absentmindedly shoved a rainbow-frosted cupcake into her mouth. The tension she had built up melted away in an instant as she smiled in delight. “Mmm… that hit the spot. Where was I? Oh yeah! And then-”
Before she could resume chatting into infinity, the other whipped cream hill vanished in an instant as the fluffy mass became absorbed into Dragonok’s hands as he freed himself from the sugary prison. “Well, that went well. Where were-”
“OMIGOSH! I want some of those on my hooves! Do you know how much easier it would be with more mouths to eat more sugary-sweet goodness with?!” She stretched her forelimbs wide to emphasize the exact amount of food she could consume in one go. 
What surprised Dragonok was the way her limbs seemed to stretch forever without them even snapping apart. Even advanced Chaosmancers couldn’t even come close to Pinkie’s cartoonish capabilities besides cartoons of course. I’ll have to check up on her when I have some time to spare.
“You can check on me later, Draggy,” Pinkie interrupted without warning as she somehow managed to sneak up and relax between his head and his right pauldron. “Right now, let’s go to Sugarcube Corner later! Up, up, and away!” She immediately bounced off him and somehow flew towards Ponyville with balloons attached on her. 
Dragonok wasn’t even surprised anymore at this point. 
He didn’t question how she managed to read his inner monologue. He didn’t question how she managed to get onto his shoulder without him knowing. He didn’t question how she even managed to tie balloons to herself in such a short amount of time or how she even managed to whip up the balloons to begin with. He just accepted the randomness of Pinkie Pie and continued on his task of acquiring apples for Daemon.
It was either that or to repeat the cycle of mistakes Necrow once made with Jestin’ Sane that one time. That still sent shudders to his mind as he recalled the havoc the crow-masked assassin caused during his “research” to find out how exactly the chaotic jester knew about literally everything whether it be simple trivia from another universe or hidden knowledge buried deep within the Void that involved the multiverses at large. That was certainly one experience he himself didn’t want to repeat with this world’s version of Jestin’ Sane. 
Daemon, on the other hand, had sparkles in her eyes as she watched Pinkie fly away. “That was amazing!”



Applejack wiped the sweat off her brow as she and Big Macintosh finally unloaded the last barrel of apples right next to their stand. “Whoo whee! That’s the last of them. Ah’ll take care of the first shift, Big Mac. Yah’ll just go out and relax, yah hear.” 
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh replied before trotting off to who knows where in Ponyville.
Applejack settled into her role as apple salespony just as a certain wall-eyed pegasus walked up towards her booth. “Howdy, Derpy! Usual order of Golden Delicious and Honeycrisps, Ah take it?”
“Uh huh,” Derpy replied. “I also need some Red Galas. Pinkie wants me to bring them over. Will these bits suffice?” She pulled out some bits from a satchel attached to her saddle and placed them on the counter.
Applejack counted the bits before she gave Derpy the bundle of apples. “Ah reckon that’ll do just fine, Derpy. What’s the special occasion, anywho?”  
Derpy shrugged in response toward Applejack’s inquiry before moving them into another satchel. “I dunno. All she said was that there are some new ponies in town and that one of them is really fond of apples. All I can guess is that she’s gonna throw a party for the newcomers. I just hope she has enough time to bake muffins along with whatever recipe she’s going to make with those Red Galas.” At that, she shudders in delight as she imagines chomping on that doughy piece of heaven before shaking her head to stay on task. “I gotta go now. Thanks for the apples!” And with those words, she took flight towards Sugarcube Corner.
“Don’t mention it, pardner!” Applejack shot back. Once Derpy had vanished from her line of sight, Applejack resumed standing guard over her apples as she oversaw the stall. “Ah wonder who the newcomers might be. Ah sure hope they have a good impression of Ponyville so far.” 
“Thanks, we have!” Daemon said as she suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Her sudden presence startled Applejack who leapt into the air upon seeing the kagekirin.
“GAHHHHH!” Applejack exclaimed. “WHERE IN TARNATION DID YAH COME FROM?!” She immediately stiffened as she recognized the nightmarish mare standing before her. “Wait a consarned minute, yer the one that stole some of mah apples and ate them during that fight! What are yah doing here?!”
“Ah, do not mind young Daemon here,” Dragonok replied as he appeared from the shadows which startled the farmpony once again. “She merely desired to acquire some of your fine wares once again; after she buys them, of course. I do hope the monetary compensation for her… theft was sufficient enough as an apology.”
Applejack sighed as she readjusted her Stetson hat back into place before she glared at Dragonok. “Now look here. Ah appreciate yer trying to make up for her misdeed but simply paying bits to cover her flank ain’t gonna make her a better person in the long run. She’s gotta learn not to do this sort of thing without anypony trying tah yank her flank out of the messes she makes.”
“Then what would you have her do exactly to make amends for her mistake?” Dragonok curiously inquired.
“Ah suggest she do some manual labor over the farm a few times until the lesson gets nailed through her noggin. That way, she ain’t gonna repeat those kinds of shenanigans again.” 
Dragonok crossed his arms as he considered the wisdom behind Applejack’s knowledge before he turned towards Daemon. “She does pose a valid point, Daemon. Perhaps it would be best if you joined Applejack in taking care of some of their labors for a period of time in exchange for your little theft.”
Daemon, knowing that her relaxation time was at risk, gave her master the hurt puppy glare complete with sparkles as she asked, “Do I have to, master?” in a heartwarming way that would lead to several heart attacks from all the cuteness she emanated at that very moment.   
Dragonok just chuckled as his hand mussed Daemon’s mane. “I’m afraid not, little one. Perhaps you’ll think better of the consequences before you go apple-picking again. You best take care of it beginning on the morrow.”
“Aw…” she moaned before she conceded to her master’s request. “Alright, master, if that’s what you want.” She turned towards Applejack before mumbling, “I’ll see you soon,” before sinking into the shadows to pout for a bit. 
Applejack, perturbed yet amused by what she had just seen in the last five minutes alone, turned towards Dragonok with a wary gleam in her eye. “Now that that’s taken of, Ah have a question for yah. What in tarnation made yah decide to just stroll into Ponyville after that little stunt yah pulled with the princess?”
Instead of answering Applejack, Dragonok just placed one claw-tipped finger in front of his faceplate. “That, you’ll have to find out on your own,” he replied with a wink. "For now, I would like to buy some apples from your fine establishment. How many apples will you give in exchange for these?” He reached out from behind him to pull out a massive satchel overflowing with bits that clearly totaled about Big Macintosh’s weight if its size was any indication.
“Whoa nelly!” Applejack shouted. “That’s quite a bunch of bits yah got there. Ah’d say there’s enough to buy all of mah stock here and then some.” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as a chilling thought came to her. “Where in tarnation did yah get so many bits, anywho? Didja go and steal a bank or something?”
Instead of seeing any signs of an fruitless attempt to lie, Applejack faced a sudden uproar of laugher from the armor-bound titan that whipped her mane and tail against the blaring wave of noise. 
"“I may have committed many acts that may be considered crimes in numerous societies," Dragonok explained once his laughter had subsided, "but to steal from a bank would be considered rather mundane and not worth either any amount of effort or time. Nay, Applejack of the Apple Clan, I would not commit such a deed; after all, what value would any kind of currency have whenever new societies arise to replace every aspect of their predecessors? Regardless of my appearance or reputation, I do have honest means of acquiring Equestrian bits without resorting to such dastardly methods.”
Applejack carefully searched Dragonok for any signs that would scream out a lie in her books and found nothing but sincerity. Still, there was one question she still had in mind. “In that case, why doncha tell me where yah got those bits to start with in the first place then?”
Dragonok, instead of answering her question, just wagged a finger at her. “Now that is a secret to be revealed for another time. Now, may I have a few bags of your fine stock? You do have other customers to take care of, after all. ”
“Ah, hold on a sec.” She quickly rummaged through her apples and stored some of each kind into three burgundy bags. She then counted out the appropriate amount of bits from his bag before pushing it along with the bags filled with the mouth-wateringly ripened fruits. “Here are yah apples along with yah change.” 
“No, no, no, I insist you keep the change. Think of it as a gift from neighbor to neighbor.” And without another word, he vanished with his newly acquired bounty into the shadows
Applejack, after glaring at the spot where he had vanished, casually collected the gigantic bag of bits, placed it underneath her stall, and resumed selling apples to the sudden influx of customers that had previously accumulated behind the battle-hardened knight.“Whoo whee!” she muttered to herself. “Ah get the feeling things are gonna get a whole lot more interestin’ from here on out!”



As Applejack pondered on the future to come, Daemon had been wandering around Ponyville with a heavy gloom cloaking her with every step she took on the cobblestone pavement. She ignored the curious, and wary, stares pointed towards her direction from Ponyville civilians as she looked around to see anything that might cheer her up. 
“Stupid master…” she muttered. “I don’t wanna do chores. I just wanna relax and do nothing but read and play games forever and ever until our next mission arrives from our Fair Lady.” Truth be told, she had been bored being stuck without anything to do for over a thousand years after being sealed inside that constrictive summoning flute. Now that she’s finally free from it, she wanted to just spend her time having fun until they go back to their home multiverse. But how could she do that when she had to take care of some chores to make up for the apples she took from Sweet Apple Acres?
As she continued to ponder on the dilemma on hoof, she didn’t notice a certain pair of pegasi mares walking towards her until it was too late. 
“Oof!” 
“Ow!”
“Ouch…”
The three equines rubbed their sore heads after the resulting collision had sent the three of them sprawling onto the ground. Daemon and the two ponies took one look at each other before they each instantly recognized the other party.
The prismatic pegasus jumped back onto her hooves as her buttery yellow companion scrambled behind her for protection. “What in Celestia’s mane are you’re doing here?!” she roared as she steadied into a fighting stance with her forehooves poised to strike. “Are you here for another fight or something?! Bring it on!”
Daemon rubbed her temples with her claws before she turned towards Rainbow Dash with confusion etched on her face. “I’m sorry but who are you again?”	
“I’m the one and only Rainbow Dash, future Wonderbolt extraordinaire, that’s who!” she confidently answered. “And you still didn’t answer my question; what the hay are you doing here in Ponyville?!”
“Just looking around for something relaxing to do, that’s all,” Daemon replied with a dismissive wave of her claws. “In any case, what are you and…” She turned towards Rainbow Dash’s companion as she cocked her head to one side. “I’m sorry for asking but who are you, Miss?”
“I’m Fluttershy…” the yellow pegasus quietly whispered as she peeked from behind Rainbow Dash with fear evident in her aquamarine eyes. She squeaked when she saw Daemon and hid behind her childhood friend. 
Daemon felt a sudden pang of melancholy upon seeing such an expression on the frightened pony’s face. She had seen its kind many a time throughout her travels with her master as they hop from universe to universe. She could still recall the countless times when such a fear had led to various attacks towards the duo ranging from simple rock-slinging to advanced apocalyptic laser-blasting. She supposed she had to handle it the best way she knew how thanks to those experiences. 
“Look, I’m not here for a fight or anything,” Daemon tiredly explained. “I just want a place where I can just relax. If you ponies wanna fight, that’s fine by me but could we do this after I relax at a good resting spot?”
Fluttershy poked once again from her hiding spot. She was still scared of the monstrous mare who matched Celestia in sheer size alone but she couldn’t help but feel sadness emanating from Daemon. Her motherly instinct was what inched her out of her shell to comfort the draconian equine. “Um… we’re going to the day spa,” she nervously said as she shivered with suppressed fear. “You can come with us to relax there, if you don’t mind of course…”
Rainbow Dash stiffened as her friend had casually revealed a secret she had desperately tried to hide from everypony. “Fluttershy, are you nuts?! Don’t say that out loud! I don’t want anypony knowing about me going to the spa of all places! It’ll make me sound fru-fru and stuff!”
“Nah, it’s not that bad,” Daemon countered. A spotlight suddenly shone on her from out of nowhere as she somehow donned a pair of sunglasses complete with a bushy moustache that completely coated the lower half of her face. “Salons are there to help revitalize and improve their patrons’ aesthetic and physical aspects. Without them, where would athletes go to unwind and release all that pent-up tension from performing on the fields of sport? Where in Equus can anyone go and release their inner beauty for the world to see as the spa’s beauticians help you reach your full potential? They are not simply there to simply make one ‘fru-fru!’ They are there to help release your inner deity; your upmost potential to become a personification of beauty and strength free from the stress of mortal life! That and that alone is the power of a spa treatment! Viva balneario!” Her eyes practically blazed as she immersed herself into her passion.
Rainbow Dash had to close her mouth after witnessing the randomness of the stranger’s exuberant speech. It would be an understatement to say this was the strangest thing she had ever seen. “You know, you have got to be the weirdest villain I’ve ever met, ever,” she noted.
Daemon bowed with a grin etched on her snout. “Thank you, I try my best.  With that aside, to the spa!"



Rarity had faced many trials throughout her life. Whether it was pulling several all-nighters to finish producing a new line of clothing or trying to save Equestria from the forces of evil, she and her friends had always came face to face with the challenges at hoof and persevered in doing so.
Because of all of that, the stress she had accumulated from such encounters had led her to acquire the spa services provided by Aloe and Lotus Blossom whenever she had free time. When it comes to beautification and relaxation, those girls clearly had it hooves down. She couldn’t wait for a good massage followed by a lovely dip in the jacuzzi filled with rich mineral water to acquire that youthful glow one receives from such treatments. There was no possible way going to the spa would lead to anything out of the ordinary besides obtaining monumental bliss that was out of this world.
She had been proven wrong before.
“The usual, please,” she requested to Aloe and Lotus Blossom with two of her friends plus one unexpected companion. “And could you please place these three on my guest list today?”
“No problem, Miss Rarity,” both spa ponies replied in complete sync with smiles plastered on their faces. They didn’t even react when they saw a nightmarish parody of an alicorn straight out of a supernatural horror flick set claw into their spa. They lived in Ponyville after all; the town where the unusual have come to reside and interact with its citizens on a daily basis. “We’re always happy to oblige. Just give us a moment and we shall retrieve you momentarily.”
Once Aloe and Lotus Blossom left to prepare for their patrons’ spa treatment, Rarity turned towards her friends. “Now, I really must insist as to why neither of you have so much as batted an eyebrow when you’re both right next to this… fascinating individual.” 
“Yeah, so here’s the thing,” Rainbow Dash began, “she just bumped into us and Fluttershy decided to invite her to a spa treatment to relax for a while. By the way, I still can’t believe you’re willing to pay extra for her to get in when it turned out she doesn’t have a bit to her name.”
Daemon moped on the floor as a depressive gloom surrounded her. “You don’t have to put it like that. Master’s the one in charge of finances and all. I’m sorry in advance if I can’t pay you back.” 
Rarity shook her head. “Oh, don’t worry about it. This one’s on the house, I insist.”
Before Rarity knew what just happened, she became bound in one of the most excruciatingly painful bear hugs she had ever received (the number one spot was reserved for Pinkie. How she had that much strength despite consuming so many sweets, she’ll never know). “HAH, REALLY?! THANK YOU SO MUCH! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME! I’LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU! JUST NAME IT!”
“Well for starters, darling,” Rarity choked out as she struggled to be free of the strangulating vise, “I would sincerely appreciate it if you let me go before I faint…”
Daemon immediately released the fashionista from her vise-hug. “Whoops!” she said as she released an awkward chuckle. “I’m really sorry about that. You’re not hurt, are you?”
“Don’t worry,” Rarity reassured her. “I’ve had worse. It’s certainly nothing a good spa day can’t fix.” She then turned an analytical eye towards Daemon’s physique. “I must say, you’re more than meets the eye. Why, I would have pegged you for a supermodel with your slender curves and imposing stature despite your… unusual characteristics.”  
Daemon performed an eyeroll towards Rarity’s hesitance. “You don’t have to beat about the bush for my sake,” she chided. “You can say that I look like an eldritch abomination that dragged itself straight out of the bowels of Tartarus. I don’t mind.”
An intense fire suddenly roared to life in Rarity’s eyes. Daemon gulped as she recognized that particular look. She had seen it on the faces of those prepared to do anything and everything to achieve their goals regardless of how stacked the odds were against them.
It was that of determination. 
“No, no, no, I won’t let such a travesty stand!” she proclaimed with overwhelming passion. “You may be different from everypony else but that doesn’t mean you’re hideous; far from it! As a matter of fact, you possess unique traits that will help enhance your beauty to new heights if properly utilized to their fullest potential, and I’ll be the pony to help you achieve that! When I’m done with you, you’ll be so fabulous nopony will be able to keep their hooves off you! But first, I'll need some assistance.”
She turned to focus on the two ponies she knew could help her on such a task. “Oh Aloe and Lotus Blossom, would you both mind coming here for a few moments of your time?”
“Is there something you need, Miss Rarity?” Aloe asked as she and her sister trotted over to Rarity.
“Oh no, it’s nothing I personally need at the moment but I do have a favor to ask both of you. Would you both be so kind as to prepare the royal treatment for this young mare here? I would be ever so grateful.” 
“Ooh, it is no problem, Mademoiselle Rarity,” Lotus Blossom said. “We shall prepare this very instant.” She and Aloe instantly sped away and returned with a bundle of beauty supplies ranging from exotic shampoos to exquisite nail polishes. 
“Um, do I have a say in this?” Daemon tentatively asked. 
Rarity tsked as she pulled out a pair of red-rimmed designer’s glasses from her purse and perched them onto her nose. “Now, now, darling, you promised you would do anything for me. What better way to do that than to allow me and the girls to give you a chance to achieve your hidden potential? This way, you’ll gain the opportunity to gain some self- confidence as well as the chance to become even more beautiful without having to lift a single claw.”
Fluttershy who watched this unfold turned to Rainbow Dash. “Um… do you think we should help her?”
Rainbow shook her head. “Nah, she’ll be totally fine. It's better to just wait in the sauna until they finish whatever it is they’re doing. It shouldn’t take long.” She swiveled her head towards the door to make sure there weren’t any ponies nearby who would catch wind of her doing such a fru-fru activity before she nodded in satisfaction. “Hey, Rarity, we’ll go on without you for a bit. You okay with that?”
“Alright, darlings,” Rarity absentmindedly replied as she dedicated all of her attention towards Daemon. “Now, we should probably take your measurements before we begin. After all, I do need to whip up some fabulous clothes while Aloe and Lotus take care of you. I’m just glad I brought this with me just in case.” She pulled out some measuring tape which she brandished with glee. “Now just hold still.”
Daemon sweatdropped as Rarity and the spa sisters inched closer and closer to her with every step. She wanted to escape but their piercing stares pinned her down as the promise she so foolishly made a few moments before weakened her to their whim. She had no choice but to endure what was to come until the bare minimum of her promise has been fulfilled. “Help,” she squeaked.



As the day drew to a close, the golden sun descended into the horizon as the silver moon arose from her slumber to greet all who bathe in her gentle glow. A massive ebony fortress shaped into the facsimile of a dragon’s skull grasped by a lich’s spindly fingers stood proud as it nestled within the center of the tree’s massive canopy. The mimpoles responsible for its construction now sleep within cocoons dotting around the mighty structure’s perimeter to await the arrival of hostile intruders  as a good excuse to pop out of their cocoons and gorge on the intruders’ flesh and marrow.
Dragonok, with a critical eye, scanned every inch of the fortress before he began a series of tests to see if the mimpoles had built a sturdy defense this time. He didn’t want a repeat of that incident when they focused on only crafting a fortress in the shape of a massive eyeball with tentacles that did practically nothing in terms of defense and offense. 
The continuous barrage of hentai references flung afterward until he had finished his mission and departed from the universe it was constructed at didn’t help either.
He first walked up to its snout and tapped on it only to receive a deafening roar as crimson flames sparked to life within the dragon skull’s eye sockets. It rumbled before it released a rushing torrent of searing-white plasma that enveloped Dragonok and burst the branches in its path into ashes in a split second. Once the fortress finished its attack, Dragonok, unharmed by the flames, snapped his fingers and changed the ashes back to living wood.
He then focused enough power in his right fist to shatter a entire mountain range into dust before he attempted to do the same to the fortress. The fortress, however, changed its hardened composition into that of a springier texture which absorbed all the kinetic energy released upon impact before it released it back at Dragonok as electricity. Dragonok just casually spread his palms wide and absorbed it all without even a flinch.
Satisfied with the fortress’s basic defensive capabilities, Dragonok released a relieved sigh. “Well, these will last quite well against intruders for at least a while. Now that that’s over, I should probably check on the interior to see whether or not they designed the rooms to my general specifications or if they just decorated every room with useless statues of me again.”
He hummed as he summoned forth a doorway with the dragon skull’s maw and walked right through it only to be suddenly blasted with confetti and the blare of noisemakers.
“SURPRISE!!!”
What stood before him was a massive ballroom filled with what seemed to be everypony from Ponyville standing before him. Streamers and balloons shaded in buttermilk yellow, cotton candy pink, and sky blue, festoon every part of the ballroom from its alabaster ceilings to its marble columns. One particular pink party pony greeted Dragonok with an enormous smile stretching from side to side.
“Hiya, Draggy, and welcome to your first ever Welcome to Ponyville Slash Housewarming Party!” Pinkie exclaimed. “I bet you were so surprised to see me and everypony in Ponyville here inside your super-awesome castle! Everypony thought it would be really difficult to get in but I persuaded the mimpoles and the castle to let everypony inside and build this awesome ballroom with some cupcakes! Here, try one!” 
She pulled out Dragonok’s hand and shoved a chocolate cupcake coated with what appears to be vanilla icing dusted with red sprinkles on top into its mouth. The moment Dragonok swallowed it whole, his armor changed from its ebony hue to that of a scorched red. 
“Hmm… it’s not bad,” Dragonok casually noted as flames suddenly erupted from every orifice in his helm. “The chocolatey texture of the cupcake’s soft texture compliments the blistering agony provided by the ghost pepper flakes mixed in with the icing. I’ve had more painful cuisine but this has to be the most delectable by far. However did you produce such a pastry?”
Pinkie giggled. “Oh silly, that’s easy. I just mix and match ingredients together until something positively yummy pops out. I’ve got so many delicious recipes like the chimmicherrychanga, the rainberrybow pie, the peppermint chainsaw, and over a few dozen thousand other recipes shoved inside my head.” She pulled out a gigantic chocolate cupcake sprinkled with ghost pepper flakes the size of her head from out of nowhere, unhinged her jaws, and swallowed it whole with little effort. “Mmm… this reminds of the time Twilight first came to Ponyville and drank some delicious hot sauce at her Welcome to Ponyville Party. You should have seen the look on her face; she was so happy she shed tears of joy.”
Upon hearing Pinkie mentioning Celestia’s student, a tingling sensation notified Dragonok of someone studying his every move from an unseen location. He had a sneaking suspicion in regards to the spy’s identity but he wanted to make sure before he hastily jumped to conclusions. The last time he did that, it led to a series of embarrassing events involving mystical guns, hot springs, naked femme fatale assassins, and the sudden release of an apocalypse. Now there was an experience he didn’t want to repeat again anytime soon.
“Speaking of young Sparkle, where is she if I may ask?” he asked.
“Oh, she’s over there at the other side of the ballroom near the punch bowl while watching you with a telescope.” Pinkie pointed to said location where Twilight was indeed watching Dragonok from afar while jotting down notes on a notepad. “She said something about finding your weakness so we can prevent you from taking over all of Equestria and turn it into a zombie apocalypse or something like that. As long as it’s not the Sugar-Free Depression-Apocalypse, I can totally handle it.”
Dragonok’s curiosity bubbled upon hearing Twilight’s intentions. How unusual… I wonder if Celly’s letter had reached her and informed her of the current situation behind my stay in Ponyville. If so, then it would make sense if Celestia’s prized pupil would panic upon seeing my name before finishing the letter beforehand. If not, then it would seem Celly’s up to her old tricks again. It would be best for Sparkle to find out the truth on her own either way though; after all, the expression she’ll make will be quite worth the misunderstanding in the end. But first, there’s something I need to clarify. “Excuse me, young Pinkie, but if Twilight wished to discover my weakness, why in Tiamantis would she decide to observe me from such a short distance where I could easily notice her instead of spying on me from a far-off location where she would be less likely to be caught? I thought someone possessing an intellect of her caliber would have thought of such a scenario before making such a bold move to sneak upon the enemy. Do you have any clues on how this could have happened?”
“Well, it all started while I was sending out invitations for your Welcome to Ponyville Slash Housewarming Party when I noticed Twilight at her balcony with a gigantic telescope so I decided to take a look on the other side of the telescope which made her shriek for some reason before she noticed the invitations I was giving out so she asked me whose party I was throwing and I said your name and she was like ‘WHAT?!’ and I was like ‘Uh huh’ and then she tried to convince me not to go since you were supposed to be a bad guy and all and I said it would be a great chance to really know you and then she got that weird gleam in her eyes, you know, the kind that leads to a ‘hohohohohohoh’ kind of moment, before she decided to accept a invitation and get inside your house so she could just stare at you with her telescope from behind the punch bowl on the other side of the ballroom which leads to me explaining to you why Twilight’s here instead of being at her library with Spike, and that pretty much covers it… or does it?” Pinkie tilted her head sideways as she pondered on it before she smiled and shrugged it off. “Nah, I’m pretty sure that’s it. See ya later and don’t forget to say hi to the neophytes for me, Draggy! Whee!” 
And with that, she bounced away to partake in the festivities, leaving behind a bemused Dragonok.
“Now how did she know about the neophytes?” Dragonok wondered before he released a heavy sigh. “I suppose I’ll find that out on my own time. But first, I need to take care of this fire.”
Dragonok stretched out his palm and generated a small portal from its mouth. It spat out a glass bottle filled with a shimmering blue liquid before it winked out of existence. He removed the cork off the bottle which released a fizzing hiss as a sugary sweet odor escaped from it. He then drank its contents in a single gulp. Within moments, the flames blasting out of his helm vanished as his armor regained its ebony hue. “Ah, nothing beats a good swig of Glacier Bovine Mi-”
Before he could finish what he was about to say, a black blur passed by him as it screamed “SOMEPONY SAVE ME!”
Seconds after what appeared to be Daemon had zoomed by, an ivory unicorn with a purple mane followed suit with a stunning black velvet dress patterned with swirls of ivy attached to miniature roses. Its ruby-red petticoats rustled in the breeze as silver skulls sewn into the hem of the dress jingled with each step she took. What had caught Dragonok’s attention in particular was the steely determination shining in the mare’s eyes. “You can’t escape from me, darling! I will make you become fabulous even if I have to strap you down to make you wear this dress!”
“NOOOOOOO!” Daemon shrieked as she attempted to escape from her pursuer.. “NOT WHEN I’M FINALLY FREE!” Dragonok observed that her usually messy scarlet mane had been styled into twin majestic ringlets that curl to resemble that of massive drills. Her scales now brilliantly glistened with the intensity of clear-cut diamonds basking in the sun. What caught his attention the most, however, was the sheen on her scythe-shaped claws that could only be produced by master beauticians with diamond-encrusted nail files or other such tools.
Dragonok watched Rarity play cat-and-mouse with Daemon until both had vanished into the crowd. “I don’t think I want to know what just happened. I’ll just let things sort themselves out while I slumber in my chambers.” 
He walked over to a nearby buffet line and picked up a single doughnut encrusted with sugar before he teleported to his bed. He shoved it all into one of his mouths, chewed with contentment as its sugary-sweet contents dissolved into mush before swallowing, and laid down to sleep in the bed’s enveloping softness. His scarlet eyes flickered for a moment before they faded away to leave behind only pitch-black darkness…