A few months after Daybreaker defeat Equestria as returned to it's previous state. But not for too long...
Two months after Daybreaker defeat, ponies returned to their normal lives. Celestia as finally found somepony that love her like she was, but... is not over yet a new threat is coming...
Off-Topic: Rated Teen. Warning some chapters may contain content that could disturb some readers. Human tag. There won't be anthropomorphic ponies. Only the human race.
Update: 25/09/2019: Adding missing content on Chapter 5 (I was tired the day I wrote it that I ended up missing some content.). Some grammar errors corrections.
About two weeks after Daybreaker's defeat, Celestia chooses Sombra as her first lover. Tirek joined the magical guard creating magical armor that could protect them from any magical attack, this piece of armor was only for pegasus and earth guards, since unicorns had magic to protect themselves. After this deed, Tirek left Equestria to never come back.
A few months later...
A mysterious portal appeared in the middle of Everfree Forest, Zecora had discovered it and made contact with Twilight Sparkle to go and investigate this portal.
As promised Twilight arrived in a matter of seconds, she tried to find an explanation to this situation but couldn't find any. So she decided to strict the place and gave permission to Zecora to help her in her investigations, only her nopony else.
Zecora agreed and soon she brought her talismans to help her to find an explanation to this situation.
A few days later...
Zecora was getting near to her final conclusion, this portal is an interdimensional portal. It means that it could lead to another dimension but she couldn't find where it will leads.
Zecora had tested many things... throwing objects to it and five minutes later the same object returns, which could conclude that this portal was closed from the other side.
'Let see here this portal leads to wash...Washing...Washington. Where the hell is that?' she questioned herself.
A map was thrown away by the portal and had the exact location where this portal leads.
Zecora grabbed the map and when she saw it she remembered immediately where is leads.
'Of course. This is another dimension, the place this map is showing doesn't have the same name in this dimension.' she said. 'I remember now... That place in this dimension is... Ponygton.'
Zecora decided to call for Twilight but she knew if she told her that she would want to go there and investigate by herself and it could be dangerous that place stills in discrimination between pony races, as she remembered.
'I need to get further in this before Twilight got a clue.' she said. 'It could be dangerous to her and everypony else. You can't play with those guys. I need to contact Shadow Night first and explain him everything and then we will see what we could do.'
As Zecora stepped away from the portal. It began to shine and making some strange noises.
On the other side of the portal...
A bipedal creature was running away from something.
"Get him don't let him escape." one of the chasers commanded.
His chasers were getting close to him.
The bipedal creature used his ID card to activate the portal and he activated a necklace and jumps towards it. The portal explodes as soon he got teleported and everyone inside of that room was blown away.
"I told you to stop him. He can't tell what we are doing here, it will mess up all of our plans." the boss said.
"How do you think they will believe him?" one of his workers asked.
"They're known for understanding and believing in everything that is said." he answered. "Andrew was the one who was against this all since his father passed away." he said. "We can't allow him to tell what we're doing here. Let's use the other portal, we gonna find him and gonna bring him to here."
On the other side of the portal...
The bipedal creature was now a pony as his necklace stopped shining.
'I can't... fall asleep now.' he said.
He looked behind him and saw the portal closing up.
'Maybe a little rest won't bother.' he said as he slowly closed his eyes. 'Don't worry... They'll be safe I promise you'.
At the same time, in Zecora cottage...
Shadow Night arrived not long time ago and was listening very cleary of what she was saying.
"So you're telling me that... This portal leads us to another dimension and the place where this portal lead is to a place called Washington and in our 'Dimension' is on Ponygton. Is that all?" he asked.
Zecora nodded. "That place is ruled by an alicorn like here in Equestria but every race has its place of working, you won't see unicorns hanging out with earth ponies or pegasus as you see here." she said. "They don't allow any pony to fall in love with another race." she said. When she noticed an eyebrow rising up she explains. "Imagine this I was a unicorn and I fall in love with an earth pony or a pegasus. He and I will be executed."
"Ohh, I got it now. So you're telling me that in that country they didn't find what he found. Friendship." he said. "So why don't you call Twilight to tell her this."
"I needed an external opinion." she said. "I needed advice, so... what should we do, tell her or do nothing and wait for something to happen?" she asked.
"I don't know. I would let her find by herself, what this portal really is." he answered. "But that is your decision, Zecora. I don't know."
"Before all of this, I need to tell you something." she said.
"Go on. I'm all ears." he said.
"Did you remember that I said they will execute anypony who tries to break the rules right?" she asked. Shadow Night noded. "Well not on this case. A couple, a unicorn and a pegasus, fall in love and when they discover her... pregnancy, they decided to leave the town to another place, but before that, they disguised themselves as earth ponies. So they arrived in Ponyville and decided to raise their family here." she continued.
"Who are they?" he asked.
"You won't believe it." she answered.
"Go on." he commanded.
"They're Ms. and Mrs. Cake." she said.
"What???" he asked.
"Never questioned yourself why their sons are really different from their race." she said.
"No. I thought that was possible since he told us that his father was a unicorn." he said
"That is a lie, they changed their family tree when they arrived here so nopony would suspect on anything." she said.
"And why are you telling me this?" he asked.
"That's just additional information that won't interfere with our investigation but we can't risk send Twilight there." she answered "You may go now if I discover something else I will contact you again."
Shadow Night nodded and used his magic to teleport himself to his chamber.
'I need to see if the portal opened again'
Zecora made her away towards the portal but when she arrived something was waiting for her.
Zecora noticed a pony standing near the portal.
"The portal has disappeared and this pony. Who is this?" she asked herself.
Zecora slowly stepped towards him and touched his fur. "Yup is a pony, not a hallucination. Is he sleeping?"
Zecora immediately raised her hoof in defense when she noticed he was slowly opening his eyes.
"Help me..." he said as he closed his eyes again.
'I'm sure he knows something.' she said.
Zecora slowly pushed herself under him, she decided to lead him towards her cottage.
Once she arrived, she dropped him on her bed and sent a letter to Shadow Night
'I found a pony near the portal he might know something I'm sure of it. I need you here in case things get worse. Lovely, Zecora.'
At the same time in Friendship Castle, Twilight and her friends were getting to a point of conclusion behind that mysterious portal.
"We are getting close solve this little mystery. I discover, by my recent studies, the portal has a connection between Ponygton and Equestria." Twilight said.
"What is Ponygton?" Rarity asked. "Never heard of it."
"Due to my recent studies. Equestria is a country in this world." Twilight answered. "I was thought that only existed Equestria but that's a lie. There so many other countries that we didn't know."
"You are saying that EVERYTHING we live so far was a lie." Applejack said. "Why didn't they told us about this?"
Twilight raised her hoof and answered. "This isn't Celestia fault or Luna fault or our ancestors' fault. This is world fault because we never leave Equestria. This Ponygton is a country that is located about 1750km away. So it was obvious that we never heard about it."
"It's so far." Rarity said. "Should we go there and investigate this?"
Twilight and the others looked at her with their eyes widened.
"Even if I had the possibility to teleport, I can't teleport us that far and it's so far." Twilight said. "I need to go to Zecora's cottage and tell her about this."
The other nodded and walked beside her as they leave the castle towards Zecora's cottage.
In Zeocra cottage,...
Shadow Night had arrived ten minutes after he received the letter.
"I've found this pony near the portal, I would say that he got teleported from Washington." Zecora said. "And he has this strange necklace." she said as she grabbed the necklace. "I never saw one of this before." she finished as she let that thing slip from her hoof.
"I got a bad feeling about this." Shadow Night said. "As you can see, this pony doesn't have a cutie mark." he said while he pointed towards the spot where normally would be a cutie mark.
"As I said, this pony got teleported by the portal and ended up in here. I don't know his name, he passed out when I found him." Zecora explained.
Shadow Night hummed and said. "Maybe he..."
*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
A sudden knock on her cottage door made him stop his track of words.
"Did you expect any visits alongside me?" he asked.
"No." Zecora answered. "It could be Twilight."
Zecora trotted towards her cottage door and peeked out of it.
"Yes." Zecora said.
"It's us Zecora." Twilight said. "Could you open the door, please? We finally found a solution to this trouble."
"Oh, Twilight. Get in, get in. I've found something that you could find unbelievable." she said as she dragged them inside of her cottage.
Twilight and her friends stopped near the guest room and Zecora slowly opened the door.
"It's Twilight and her friends, Shadow Night." she said.
After they greeted each other Twilight spoked. "What's this pony?" she asked. "Why didn't he had a cutie mark? At this age he should have a cutie mark already" she said as she scanned the sleeping pony.
"I ask the same thing Twilight." Zecora said. "I found this guy after I decided to check the portal once again."
Twilight gasped and said immediately. "I found where this portal lead. It leads us to Ponygton."
Zecora shook her head to the sides. "Unfortunately, I have to deny your investigations. That place isn't Ponygton, that place is called Washington."
"What but that country doesn't exist in our world, right?" Twilight asked.
Zecora nodded. "Yes. But THIS country exists in another dimension. A dimension called EARTH."
Twilight and her friends looked at each other and gave a confused look towards Zecora.
"Only Shadow and I know about this." Zecora explained. "In this dimension, the race that is compared to us... they called themselves by..."
A sudden whimper made Zecora lose focus on her track of words.
As they follow the track of the noise they saw the mysterious pony turn his body so now his back was what they could see.
"As I was saying this race is called by..." Zecora started again but,...
"NO. LEAVE ME ALONE." the mysterious pony yelled. "You can't do this they're magical... magical... they can't protect themselves... STOP."
His necklace started to shine and after a bright flash, a strange creature appeared in his place.
The ponies gasped and screamed.
"What is this?" Twilight asked. "Get away from him we don't know what he could do."
"This is what I was saying. This pony isn't a pony. That necklace is some kind of a talisman that transforms him into a pony."Zecora answered. "This is a HUMAN. They're the dominant race in EARTH."
The bipedal creature started to wake up as he stroked his eyes. After some seconds the bipedal creature turned himself around so now he could see the ponies. He stroked his eyes again and screamed.
"Don't hurt me." the bipedal creature.
The bipedal creature started to get up from the bed and walked towards them. A sudden magical blast made him stand still.
"Stay there don't move." Shadow Night said. "Stay on the bed."
The bipedal creature trembled and obey, sitting on the bed.
"Please listen to me. You're in danger." he said. "You've to believe me."
Twilight trotted slowly towards him and scanned his body.
"I've to be sure that you won't attack me. Before I tell you this." he said.
The ponies inside the room looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.
"Oh right." he started "To begin with, my name is Andrew. And as far as you can tell I'm not from here. I'm a human, the dominant race of a planet called EARTH. Well, what I'm trying to say is, you ponies are in danger." he continued.
"Why? Why are we in danger?" Twilight asked.
"Well, recently our company changed its boss." he said
They looked at him with a confused look.
He sighed "It's someone who tells you what to do. And if you don't do the things by his way you will be fired." he explained.
They hummed in unison.
"So you understand it right?" he asked.
They nodded.
"Well like I was saying my new boss, got this idea of kidnapping ponies and use their magical powers to store energy so we won't need to waste money on building things that let us store energy"
"Well, that isn't so bad." Pinkie said.
Everyone looked at her with a confused look.
"What am I that crazy?" she asked.
"Nevermind." he answered "The problem is we used to use you by your free will. We called you, we engaged you, disgusted as ponies and drove you to our dimension to help us producing energy. Your energy could be used to energize all our world for half a year. Which means your power is twice as strong than our most stronger energy source we know. But after my father passed away and this guy took his place, we started to kidnapping or ponynapping I don't know the word I could use. But basically, we capture you and use your power against your will, which could cause in your death. That way we could have the energy for a whole year. That way is inhuman and against our first contract." he finished. "That's why I escaped and when I heard that a new portal was coming I got a place and I was able to obtain this talisman and inform you about what we are doing there."
They looked at each other and finally agreed in believing him.
"We believe that you are telling the truth." Twilight said.
"But... I think you're missing a point there." Shadow Night said.
Everyone looked confused.
"I might believe in you, but... I'm a Shadow Pony. I know when people talk the true but... there's something more. Would you care to explain a little more before I use my power of Captain of Night Guard to send you to our dungeons?"
"You wouldn't do that." Zecora opposed. "This guy might be different from us, but he surely sacrificed himself to come to us and warn us about this, don't you think."
"Pff, Zecora. I thought that you better than anypony would know what I mean." he said. "Don't you find it strange that THIS GUY only gets here now after he told us that they're ponynapping us. Don't you think if he really cares about this would contact us immediately? So, any word in your defense my friend ?" he asked.
"You might be right in one point, why did I come now and not when they started but the problem was I never got a chance." he defended himself.
"Never got a chance. That's the worst excuse I've heard. Do you think I believe that?" he asked.
"Of course not. They are very strict in terms of travel between dimensions, especially with this one. After the contract that was made with HIM." he explained.
"HIM, who?" Shadow Night asked.
"The same guy that gave the mission of annihilating all alicorns to your brother." he answered.
Shadow Night ignited his horn and jumped towards the bipedal creature pinning him to the ground. "How... HOW? How did you know that?" he asked.
"Well. We needed you for our plan to complete. That guy gave you the task to take our greater weakness the alicorns." he answered. "Poor brother had his mind filled with grieve and pain because he was betrayed by his queen that wanted to kill every alicorn but that never happened. He left queen Crystaline alive, and you felt in love with the Princess of the Night. The two of you were the secret weapons of his but you saw thought his plans."
"Give me one reason to not blast you towards the atmosphere." he threatened.
"Because I'm your only chance of survival. These guys are forming a large army to capture all of you. None of you will escape their grasp."
"And why did he needs the ponies after all?" Shadow Night asked.
"To gain power in order to return and conquer this world." he answered. "We capture the ponies and in return, he gives us their magical essence as an energy source for us to use."
"And why he needed the alicorns out and us on his side?" he asked.
"Because alicorns are too powerful and because of your TRUE FORM." he answered. "Now if you excuse me. I want you to get away from me."
Shadow Night sighed and got away from him. "I need to return to Canterlot. For now, I will believe in you. But broke my trust." He ignited his horn and blast the chair near the bipedal creature.
Shadow Night teleports himself away from Zecora house.
"Don't mind him. He almost lost Luna in the past. He will behave like this when there's a new creature that he considers a threat." Zecora explained.
"I won't judge him. But acting this way towards a guy that is trying to help." he said.
Shadow Night had teleported to his office. He shook his head to the sides trying to forget those words of that strange creature. 'How did he know?' he said, 'That was years ago, that was long, long ago. How can he know the events that happen during that time?'.
Shadow Night used his magic to open his office door, noticing that was becoming dark he decided to trot towards Luna bedroom.
After a few seconds walking towards her bedroom, he meets up with her in the middle of one of the adjacent hall. He raised his hoof and bowed himself.
"Goodnight, my dear," he said, "How are you tonight?" he asked.
Luna smiled and used her magic to grab his chin. He gasps in surprise and looked at her eyes.
"I'm good," she answered. "How many times did I've to tell you that you don't have to greet me that way anymore?" she asked.
He felt her magic disappeared from her chin, raising a hoof and stroking his back head he answered. "It's a costume of me." he laughed. "So... Let's head to the main hall then. There's something I need to discuss with you."
They turned themselves around and trotted towards the main hall, in their way to it, Luna remembered something important she needed to discuss with him.
"I almost forgot," she said. "There's something I was tasked to tell you. Tempest is waiting for you in her office. She needs to discuss something with you."
"She told you what was it in general?" he asked.
"No. She just told me to warn you and let you know that she is waiting for you in her office."
"Are you sure I can go?" he asked, "I don't have any guard assigned to patrol the castle right now. You will be alone for a while."
"Yes, I'll be fine don't worry. And besides, there's still guards around, if something happens I will call for their help," she said.
"Well then, I think I should be going," he said. "See you soon," he said while waving his hoof at her
Luna waved her hoof back at him, igniting his horn he teleported himself to Tempest's office. Luna resumed her night duties and trotted towards the main hall.
In the Friendship Castle (aka Twilight's castle)...
Shadow Night has teleported near the entrance of Tempest office, raising his hoof he knocked at the door and waited for an answer.
Tempest who was writing some letters flinched and asked. "YES?"
"General Tempest, I was told to come here to discuss something with me," he replies.
"Name yourself?" she asked.
"I'm General Shadow Night. May I come in?" he asked.
She breathed deeply and answered. "Of course, we should begin our discussions."
Shadow Night opened the door and stepped inside of her office, moving towards her desk he picked up a chair and sat in front of her.
Tempest brought a little map and a notepad to her table. "I've been discussing this with Twilight and the other Princesses that. My troops will reinforce both Celestial and Night guard."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well, since Luna is living alone in Canterlot and Celestia moved to live with Sombra in his castle near the Crystal Empire I suggested this to Twilight and she told me to discuss this with every Captain/General of the corresponding armies," she explained
"So what you're saying is, you will give us your troops to reinforce our ranks. Am I right?" he asked.
"It's not like that, General Shadow Night."
"Please just Shadow Night," he said. "There's no need to be formal now."
"Ok. Like I was saying. Your guards sleep at day because they cover the castle during the night." she said.
"Yes, but I scheduled some guards to patrol during the day," he replied.
"But they aren't enough, right," she said.
He nodded. "I can't let the night to be unprotected since it's the time of the 'day', she is moving around," he said.
"So, what I am proposing is? I'll reinforce your morning guards with my troop, since here in Ponyville is the main point of Equestria, there's no need so many guards in here. If we need we will be reinforced by Night, Celestia and the Crystal guards." she said. "So can I send some guards tomorrow?" she asked.
He nodded. "Just be sure that you have enough guards to cover Ponyville too."
"I kept that in mind well I came up with this idea," she said. "It was a pleasure to discuss this with you, Shadow Night. See you later."
Shadow Night bowed and got up from his chair, opening her office door he teleported himself away.
Tempest let ou a deep breath. 'This guy gives me chills, our first meeting wasn't so nice' she said to herself.
After some moments, she heard the staff door opening and a small creature stepped in.
"It's you Grubber?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered. "I'm here to report a mysterious disappearing. Luna is missing, not even her guards know where she went."
Her eyes widened and screamed. "Send this to Shadow Night. NOW."
Grubber nodded and ordered his guards to deliver the report to Shadow Night as fast as they could.
The guards bowed themselves and stormed out of the castle.
"I can't believe that she had forgiven all of us," Tempest said while holding a picture of her and Twilight after she had convinced her to stay. "I can't find a way to repay her."
Grubber walked towards her and patted her shoulder. "You're already doing it. You are the Captain of the Sparkling guard. You came up with this idea that will probably help us all."
"Yes but I can't forget that face," she said. "How he seemed so, fearsome. That was a pony or something that we already know. I don't even what that was. I shouldn't have touched Luna."
At Canterlot castle...
Shadow Night teleported near his office, noticing a loud noise coming from behind of him, he turned his head around and saw the Sparkling guards running towards him.
"Rowar, Rowar." one of them said.
Noticing a letter in her hand, he used his magic to grab it. He opened it and took a little read at it. His eyes widened and he asked.
"Who send you this?" he asked while shaking the letter near them.
"Roaw? Guh. Kjio," he said.
"You don't know, but you saying that you have proofs of who might've ponynapping her?" he asked.
"Roa. Roa," he said while moving his head up and down. "Jijogo. Luiosy,"
"Stallions and mares without cutie marks," he said.
The guards shook their heads up and down."Thanks for the info, you might go now."
He growls and teleports himself away.
'I know who is behind all of this. I might need to visit that stupid guy again.'
At Zecora cottage...
"So, huh. Are you a zebra?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
He took a long look at her cottage and asked.
"Are you some kind of sorcerer?" he asked.
"Shaman, to be precise." she corrected him.
"Ok," he said.
"Just sit there for a second. I'll get something for you to eat. Do you eat vegetables? Because I don't have any meat here." she asked.
"Vegetables are ok, I guess. It can be uncomfortable for you to see me eating meat, right," he said.
She brought up a hoof to her mouth to cover her laugh. "You're gentle to me. I don't know why he sees you as a threat," she said while entering the kitchen.
"Who? Shadow Night?" he asked. "Give him some time to know me better."
"Yes, he needs time to know you. Everyone needs time to know you," she said.
After a few moments, Zecora got back to the living room carrying his food. She didn't notice the slab level between the two rooms and ended up tripping on it. She gasped and brought her hoofs to protect her muzzle, then she felt a soft thing grabbing her and raising her on the air.
"Careful," he said. "I don't want to explain to your friends how this happened,"
She raised her muzzle and meet up with his head. "Hehe, I know. Sorry I need to start to see where I put my hooves."
He raised one of his hands and started to stroke her mane. "Soft.Stuff. Incredible."
Zecora eyes widened as his fingers started to move around her mane, humming at his recent actions she said. "So that's what you call to pet. Right?"
He nodded. "I can stop if this is uncomfortable. I know it can be uncomfortable because we Humans feel uncomfortable while we 'pet' each other."
"I don't mind at all. It feels so good," she said.
He kept stroking her mane and moving his fingers around her mane when a shining light appeared behind of them.
Shadow Night appeared behind them and notice what he was doing, judging this was some kind of an attack he jumped forward and pushed him away, making Zecora hit the floor on her belly.
"HEY." he protested. "What's the idea?" he asked while turning his head around.
His eyes widened when he noticed who had pushed him.
"What's the idea? What's the idea?" Shadow Night repeated. "Oh look at me I came in peace, blablabla." he said. "That doesn't seem 'to come in peace' to me." he continued. "And you? You felt to his tricks didn't you?" he asked Zecora.
"His tricks? what are you talking about? He was just showing me some affection." she answered.
"Affection you say. So what was that thing he was doing with his fingers."
"Stroking my mane," she said. "I've asked for it."
He looked at him and sighed. "Alright, sorry for pushing you over."
The human looked back at him and said. "It's ok. Just don't do that again without warning me, please. It scared me like hell."
"Now, I need you to answer me something," he said.
He nodded.
"Luna had disappeared. There're reports that she was being accompanied by ponies that looked like you."
"No, that's impossible. I stopped the portal from opening during two weeks," he said
"Then how you can explain that their cutie mark is missing?" he asked.
"Well, there's a portal not far from here, but they would take more than three days to get here," he answered. "I know where they're might taking her."
"Tell me where they're taking her." Shadow Night said.
"The same spot where I came from. They'll try to push her through that portal," he said.
Shadow Night stormed out of Zecora house and walked towards his destination based on the instructions that were given to him.
Near the portal location...
Luna was scared and afraid of these strange ponies, they told her that her help was needed and now they're acting strange.
'These guys don't have cutie marks. Strange.' she said to herself.
After a few minutes of waiting, the portal finally reopened and they started to push her towards it, until...
A magical blast interfered with the electrical waves issued by the portal that made him disappear.
"HALT! STAY WHERE YOU ARE." Shadow Night ordered. "I found one of your friends, and he told me everything about you and your plan. Now, please I ask you to gently give me back the Princess and not messed up yourselves more than you're right now."
The ponies looked at each other confused by his words and reply. "We are sure that we're might not be the same guys you looking for."
He laughed and immediately replies. "So how can you explain to me that you don't have any cutie mark at this age."
The ponies looked at each other and gulped together.
"And I had another proof, your... talisman. Your NECKLACE. The same thing I spotted days ago." he said. "Now, give me back the Princess and I will brush myself with a clean rag and forget all about this. Clear?"
The ponies looked at each other and nodded in unison.
"Get him." one of the ponies ordered.
'Finally... Some amusement.' he said to himself.
The ponies were closing distance, until...
A magical explosion sent the ponies flying away, spreading they along the woods.
The leader looked around to see if there're any casualties, seeing his comrades getting back up on his hooves.
Looking to the pony again he asked. "Who the hell are you?"
"Your worst nightmare, if you touch her again," he replied while using his body to cover Luna.
"Boss, we need to go," one of them said. "There're might be some of them hiding in the bushes, these guys never attack alone."
"Maybe, but this. This will do it alone. I can feel it." the boss said while he kept following his comrades. "Remember this pony. I will be back again and that day I will crush you."
"I will wait for that day." Shadow Night replied.
Seeing the ponies running in the horizon, he turned himself around and meet Luna's gaze. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
Luna shook her head to the sides and replied. "They asked for my help, there was a pony that was stuck but they were afraid to ask the guards because they didn't have cutie marks."
"And they decided to ask the princess without having cutie marks... You have to be more careful Luna. I know you want to help everypony that needs it, but sometimes these ponies might not be what they seemed to be."
Luna raised her muzzle and pointed her ears right up and said. "There's one that was left alone."
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"One of them stood behind, he's in there," she said while pointing towards a bramble plant.
Shadow Night signals Luna to stand down and keep quiet.
Slowly stepping forward he finally reaches the bramble plant and uses his magic to search for the pony. After a few tries, he found the pony that probably was unconscious. He lifted him using his magic and lead him towards Luna.
"You were right. This was left behind," he said. "Luna there's something you need to know but you've to follow me and promise me that you wouldn't get mad at me or at the others."
"That's not a problem at all so. Go ahead, lead the way," she said.
"Alright, we need to get to Zecora cottage is not far from here. Follow me," he said.
They trotted towards Zecora cottage while Shadow Night was carrying the unconscious body. They discussed the possibility of using teleportation but since they're carrying a non-magical pony it was better not to.
Andrew, the human, was giving little knowings of his to Zecora. He is teaching her how to make a potion that could bring the 'drinker', back to his/her past or back to the time he wants to go. Intrigued by the effects she asked.
"Tell me. How do you know that? These plants are only present here, how can you do that without knowing what they do?"
He grinned a little and immediately answered.
"It's been a long time that I visited this place. I was able to get enough flora from this planet to study them on my laboratory."
Zecora looked at him with a confused look. "What is a laboratory?"
"Oh, I forgot that you don't know about that. It's... it's...". As he tries to explain to her what a laboratory is, he looks around and smiles. "It's basically like this division of your cottage. But better, believe me."
"OK. So you study plants and try to find a useful way to use them. Am I correct?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered. "I've got a notepad in my laboratory with all the plants that I study and what they do and what they do when combining with other plants. To create this potion we need some grass, some leaves from the Everfree Forest, preferably the haunted leaves and some haunted mushrooms."
"So... Are you a shaman?" she asked, "Like me."
"Kind of," he answered.
After the last ingredient was poured on into the cauldron, it starts to boil and after a few seconds, a strange smell was noticed by them.
"It smells awful." she protested.
He laughed and said. "It's the sign that it worked."
Grabbing a small jar from the table Andrew started to pour in the content from the cauldron. Giving it a little shake it turns from grey to white and the smell was dissipated.
"It's ready to drink. So... Any idea now?" he asked.
"I don't know. It's too risky for us to drink, we are the only ones who know how to revert the effect, so... it's out of the question if one of us is going to test it."
A sudden knock on her door made Andrew and Zecora jump, grabbing his talisman he hurried to metamorph himself into a pony.
Zecora looked over at him and confirming that he is a pony now, she decided to ask at the door.
"Who is it?" she asked.
From the other side, a familiar voice answered.
"Shadow Night. I got something that you might find interesting and I brought somepony with me."
She quickly opened the door and let him in, noticing that Luna was accompanying him she bowed herself and said.
"You were able to save Luna. That's great."
Noticing a new pony inside the cottage and since Zecora bowed herself he decided to do the same.
Luna greeted the new pony inside Zecora cottage and asked.
"New apprentice?"
Zecora shook her head to the sides and answered. "No, he's here to teach me something."
Luna looked confused.
"But he doesn't have a cutie mark," she said while pointing towards his flank, "How can he...?". A sudden click on her mind made her look again to the pony and back to Shadow Night. 'This guy is similar to those who ponynapping me.' she whispered at him.
He sighs and sets the pony he was carrying on the guest bed.
"That's what I was talking about, Luna," he said.
Looking back at the pony version of the human he sighs, looking back to Luna he says. "I think it's time to let you know what is going on here."
Stepping towards the pony he said. "Show her. Please for your life sake don't try anything stupid."
Noticing those 'red demon' eyes on his face he gulped and nodded. Grabbing his talisman he concentrates and after a few moments, a bright light was emitted by the talisman. After the light disappeared a human appeared in his place.
Luna eyes widen and hide behind of Shadow Night. Putting a hoof on her shoulder he says. "There's no need to be afraid of him, for now, I think. But... He is helping us and warned us about this problem," he said while looking back at the pony laid on the bed.
Turning back to the human he said. "They're here already. I got this one but I don't know if he's alive or not."
Luna closed her eyes and focuses her aura on the pony laid on the bed. Noticing that he had life essence inside of him she said. "It's still alive, but... What are they?"
"They are Humans, as he said,", Shadow Night said while pointing towards the human, "And it seems that this guy..."
"He has a name," Zecora interrupted him. "He's Andrew for your information."
Looking at Zecora he looked frustrated and resumed his discussion. "As I was saying before getting interrupted. Andrew here got teleported by some kind of magical gate, portal, whatever it was but he got here, and he told us that..."
"Wait, are you one of the Princess?" he asked.
Luna nodded.
"Good, I couldn't keep myself from looking at your wings and horn," he said. "So let me finish this, please."
Shadow Night sighs in frustration. "Okay. Just told her everything you told us."
"Thanks," he said. "So the thing is, all began when..."
After a few minutes.
"And that's why I'm here. I'm trying to convince you that you're in danger but... your guard here..."
"Oh, he's not my guard. He's the Prince but everypony considers him as my guard." Luna corrected him.
The human looked confused at Shadow Night and asked. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't like the ponies to treat me like a Prince. I just can't accept that I'm one," he answered.
Andrew turned back to Luna and continued his story. "Where was I? Oh yes. I'm trying to make myself known here so I could warn you about all of this but since you're here. Can you help me and spread the message?" he asked.
"Well, I can summon all of the princesses instead. What do you think?" she asked
"If you can do it, go ahead, it will be simpler to do it this way," he answered.
Luna nodded, slowly closing her eyes and started to charge up her horn, using her mind talking with the other princesses she informed them about this new thing.
After a few minutes, Luna opened her eyes and smiled, at that moment a shining light appeared behind of her. Celestia and the others appeared behind her.
"So what do you need to talk with us?" Celestia asked.
"Well, I will let him explain to you what he explains to me," she answered while pointing towards the human, "Go ahead they are all yours," she said while joining her sister and the others.
The human gulped and took a large breath. "So... How do I begin?"
"And that's it." he finished his explanation.
Celestia slowly trotted towards the human. Knowing that it should be better to bow, he found impossible to do it because of her magic was holding him in place.
"There's no need to bow yourself," she said. "You took your time and put your life in danger to come and warn us, I'll accept your explanation and yes I will warn everypony to keep an eye for this mysterious ponies."
"But you're a..." he tried to speak but was shut up by her magic.
"Princess? No, I'm a Queen now since I have married King Sombra".
The human eyes widen and yelled. "You're the Umbrum Queen now."
She nodded.
"Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. I know why they were after Luna," he said, "Can I call you by Luna, can I?" he asked while looking at Luna.
Luna nodded.
"They wanted to..."
"Get Celestia in our grasp, yeah but it seems that failed." A sudden voice from behind of them made all of them jump.
Sombra and Shadow took a defensive position while Shining Armor summoned a large shield that kept them protect from anything.
"Oh, so you know that spell," he kept talking. "And you how can you betray us, Andrew. You're not telling them the whole story are you?"
Suddenly, his talisman shined and a human appeared in its place.
'That face.' Andrew said to himself.
"Mathew?" he asked.
"Bone and flesh," he answered.
He still is trapped by the ropes that Shadow Night had placed around his hooves that now are hands.
"Tell them the whole story man. They need to know the whole story," he said.
"What whole story, Mathew? The part that our current boss forged was it, huh," he said.
"Of course I know was forged," Mathew said. "I'm not that stupid but before I believe that was forged I need to...HEY."
A magical aura surrounded him and brought him towards Celestia.
"Put me down. Your crazy horse."
"I'm a pony. Pony mare. It's a pleasure to meet you." she said.
A sudden lullaby was making him back to sleep. Looking towards the source of the sound they noticed Luna singing.
She smiled and said. "Works every time."
Andrew slowly walked towards Mathew sleeping body. "We need to keep him at bay, now he knows where we are and what we going to do from now on."
Celestia used her magic to lift his sleeping body and said. "Well I've got the best dungeon in the realm and I've got the best dungeon keeper. Lighting Hooves, she is the best dungeon keeper and the best Captain that I ever had. No offense Prince Shining Armor." she said while looking towards Shining Armor.
Shining Armor heavily breathed and said. "It's ok."
The ponies inside the room agreed with that and let Celestia take care of the new human.
Andrew and the others were returning inside the main room when he was stopped by Shadow Night.
"Look. I wanted to apologize for what I did to you when I noticed that you had Zecora in your hands. I thought that you were hurting her. I just acted..."
"It's ok, man. You were just defending her and I understand but next time try to at least see what I'm doing before doing that ok?"
Raising his hoof he signals to him and decided to return to Luna's side.
"Oh wait," he called him back.
"What?" he asked.
Andrew grabbed the small jar and delivered it to him. "Look, I don't know if you're going to test it or not but, this is a potion that could bring you back to a certain time that you want or back to your past. We don't know if this works properly that's why Zecora and I, we are trying to find an antidote in case of this fails. I would like if it was you to test it and give us the results. If you want to help us take it and maybe in three-four days, come meet us and let us know what happened or what effects had on you."
He looked intrigued at the jar and said. "I will try it when I get back to the castle."
He waved his hand towards him, receiving a hoof shake in return.
Andrew decided to walk towards the guest room but was stopped by Cadance.
Noticing that she was acting strange he asked. "Can I help you?"
"No, actually I'm the one that is here to help you," she answered.
"What you mean?" he asked.
Stepping away from him and towards Shining Armor she answered. "I think that we know what I'm talking about."
Using her horn she teleports herself and Shining Armor back to the Crystal Empire. Scratching his head in confusion he heard some movement behind of him.
Twilight trotted towards him and asked. "You think that guy could help us?"
Andrew sighed and answered. "He can. But his head is full of hate over you."
"Why? What have we done to him?" she asked.
"It all happened when he and his dad came here to find some flora to study. When they found a village and in that village... they... they... It's hard for me to remember that moment, even more for him. But I could tell you what happened there took his dad life. He returned home with his body wounded and shocked by his lost. He was one of the guys who voted for this kind of act but I know that he's against it. But his seek for revenge can't be taken away from his mind."
"It's a sad story. I hope we can show him that we are not like those ponies," she said.
"I know you aren't like those ponies. We will make him join our side. Believe me." he said.
"Well, I think I will take my leave they need me at Ponyville. So farewell," she said while waving a hoof at him.
Alone in the cottage, Zecora came to his room and asked. "Have you seen the potion? I can't find it anywhere."
"I deliver it to Shadow Night. He will test it and he will bring us the results in three-four days."
"That's great," she said.
Leaving his room she headed towards her room. She laid in her bed and started to read her notebook to register her new research.
Back in the Canterlot Castle...
Shadow Night was in his chamber inspecting the small jar that was given to him by the human.
'Maybe it's poison.' he said. 'I don't know. I will test it, I will try to go back to the day I meet him maybe it works.'
Trembling and slowing raising the jar towards his muzzle. He finally drinks it and his eyes widen when a large bright light appeared in front of him. Stroking his eyes he noticed that he's on Zecora cottage. Looking around he saw himself standing in front of him together with Zecora and the pony.
'Hmm, I remember this. It was the day I meet him, it appears that worked.' he said.
Looking back towards the potion he said. 'Now, how do I get back?'
A sudden urge of burping took over him. A large burp was emitted and he reappeared inside of his chamber.
'Excuse me. I know there's nopony here but...' he said.
'So that's how you get back. Burping. It makes sense. I think.' he said while looking at the small jar.
A sudden knock on his door made him look at the door and ask. "Yes? Come in."
Luna stepped inside their chamber and headed towards the bed. Noticing a strange jar on his hoof she asked.
"What's that?"
"Oh, this. This is a potion that Andrew gave to me. It appears that could bring you back to a certain time you want."
Her eyes widen and she jumped off the bed in happiness. "Really."
He nodded.
"Could it take me back to the day that my mom died?" she asked. "I want to see her again."
"Why would you want to teleport to that day and not another day? Maybe a day that she was alive," he asked while raising an eyebrow.
"Well, my mom died the day I was born," she answered.
His eyes widen and he tried to argue with her. "I don't know if that's gonna work."
"It won't hurt trying it," she said.
"It maybe can teleport you towards a time before you were born," he said.
"I don't know, that doesn't make sense. If I wasn't born until my mom died. How can I see her before that?" she asked.
"You're right," he said.
He walked towards Luna, giving her the potion and raised a hoof to tell her what she needs to do to come back but she grabbed his hoof and drank the potion.
After a few seconds, both of them appeared inside a castle. That appears to be the old Canterlot Castle.
"Well, it appears it could work with two ponies," he said. "Now, Luna be quick, it will stop and brings us back as soon as you burp."
She nodded.
They walked around the halls of this castle because they aren't noticeable by the guards they could walk normally without being detected. After a few minutes walking they heard a foal cry. Looking around they saw a large number of guards waiting on a door.
"It's coming from there. Let's go," she said while grabbing him from his hoof.
'This is a bad idea a very, very bad idea.' he said to himself.
"The Queen is giving birth now, we could hear her cries and the foal cries too, that's amazing." one of the guards said.
The cries intensified and one of the guards. "That's not normal cries of birthing."
"Did you gave birth?" one of the maremaid asked.
"No." he answered.
"Then don't make these comments if you don't know the pain," she said.
Luna grabbed his hoof and moved towards the door, she pushed her hoof to the door and saw that it got past through the door.
"We are ghosts, maybe. Come on I want to see her before she dies from birthing me," she said while grabbing him and pushing through the door.
"Wait, she didn't die by birthing you," he said while small tears formed in his eyes.
"Of course she died they told me that," she said.
When they entered her bedroom he finally spoked out.
"They lied to you. Your mom was assassinated. Luna, the killer of your mom was..." he said while pointing towards the window.
She used her magic to illuminate the room, suddenly a stallion appeared in the room and was carrying those capes that shadow ponies wore.
She concentrated her magic on the pony and when the pony approached her mother, his cape fell off and she immediately recognizes the pony.
Igniting his horn it killed the pony and readied himself to kill the foal but a sudden noise from the door made him forget about the baby and runoff, leaving his cape behind.
Luna trembled and slowly turned around and saw his father rushing inside the room and noticed the blood on the bed and a strange cape on the floor, knowing already what happens he sounded the alarm. "Guards, remind alert there's an assassin in the castle. Search for him, bring him to me ALIVE preferably."
Luna trembled and started to move backward in fear until she tripped on Shadow Night hooves. She looked back at him and noticed some tears running down his face as well her tears running down her face.
"It was you... Wasn't it?" she asked while she kept her tears forming in her eyes.
He slowly nodded and answered. "Yes, it was me."
"How? How? We are about the same age." she asked.
"We can travel back in time," he answered. "I should never let you see this. I never knew that you were that foal."
"Why?" she asked, "WHY?"
She summoned her magic and shoot a beam at him that made him lose control of his body. She ignited her horn and absorbed his immortal power and readied herself to deal the final blow but...
"I know. I know. I won't blame you for what you're going to do go ahea----"
A sudden embrace made his words slipped and he used his magic to cover his body from her. Feeling his immortal power getting through his body he dispelled the shield. Hearing her sobs, curses and complains she finally spoke.
"Why are you crying? You were supposed to be laughing at this, shouldn't you?" she asked with an angry look.
"I know that I'm sorry isn't going to solve anything but... I felt the same pain as you, I discovered that foal I was about to kill was the mare that showed me the right way of life. If I could change the past I would but I can't. If you change a thing little thingy, it could change everything."
"Shadow Night... You...Are you serious?" she asked.
He nodded. "You don't know what I saw Luna. If she was alive the future that you know now would be completely different. You've to believe me."
"Don't speak nonsense, there's no way in the world that a pony could time travel," she said angrily.
"Should I remind you that WE are more powerful than Alicorns? It doesn't matter now, what matters now is..."
He ignited his horn, absorbing the immortal power he delivered it to Luna. Feeling the tears run down his face he spoke again.
"Now there's nothing in your way to stop you from killing me," he said while closing his eyes. "Be quick."
She ignited her horn and readied herself to shot a beam at him but...
'Mama... The mare that showed me the right way of life... Stay away from her... How can you took her form while she's been turned into stone?... I would do anything to keep you and Lysithea safe, even if it cost my life.' these words started to come to her head. 'Concentrate this stupid pony took your mother's life. How can he be forgiven? But he stood with me when I was Nightmare Moon, he faced Celestia and the Elements of Harmony for my sake. He could've hated me but... no, he stood with me until the last moment. I can't do this. I need to know. I need to know why he did that.'
She released her magic and gave him back his immortal power. Looking surprised and confused he asked but her magic shut him up.
"I'm not forgiving you but you need to prove to me what you're saying it's true," she said.
"As you wish your Highne---"
He felt her hugging him and squishing his neck.
"I wanted to thank you for stood with me when I turned into Nightmare Moon. You could just leave me and join Celestia but you stood up for me," she said.
'Luna...' he said. "There's no need to thank me, Your Highness"
A sudden urge of burping took over her body and a sudden burp was emitted by her.
After a few minutes, they appeared back at their chamber. Feeling Luna snoring near his neck, he tried to free himself, finding it impossible he stopped.
'I feel that even if I was lying she couldn't kill me. She loves me, and I hate myself from that.' he said. 'I will prove it to you.'
The Sunlight was now hitting Shadow Night eyelids, opening them with an angry expression. He tried to get up but suddenly noticed that he was wrapped with Luna, she kept her hooves warped around him during the Night.
'OH GOD. She missed her duty yesterday. Celestia is going to kill us.' he said to himself.
"Luna wake up. WAKE UP," he said while shaking her body.
She blinked her eyes and with a sudden yawn, she unwarped her hooves from Shadow neck.
She looked around the room and then a click on her mind triggered her.
"OH GOD. I missed out the night duty, oh dear," she said while she kept her hooves on her head.
She ran around the room on panic, keeping saying that she had messed up her duties and now Celestia may get mad at her.
A dark-blue aura surrounded her and levitated her in the air. Noticing this she complained.
"Put me down. I need to explain myself," she said.
"No you don't," he said, "It was my fault, I let you sleep after all that you saw last night."
She raised her hoof and placed it near her mouth, trying to remember what happened last night.
'Well, I drank that potion and I meet my mom, Shadow Night was there... Wait he was there'
Looking back at him she said.
"Mister put me down. I need you to explain to me what happened that day and I want you to explain why you did that."
Settling her down, Shadow stepped towards his desk and sat on the chair. Turning himself around he finally spoked.
"It was necessary, Luna," he said. "You didn't know what I saw there."
She stepped towards him and said.
"Let me see what you saw. I need to know," she said.
He raised his hoofs and shook them side to side.
"No, Luna. It's bad, believe me."
Luna grabbed the potion and deliver it to him.
"Drink. I want to know. If you did that was because you had a point." she said
Pushing the potion away he said.
"I don't need this. I will use my magic," he said. "But before that, I've to be sure that you want to know all the truth."
She nodded.
"Just don't blame me if you don't like what you gonna see there," he said as he ignited his horn and teleported them to another place in another timeline.
They got teleported into a Forest that appeared to be EverFree.
Shadow Night used his magic and created his magical wings, grabbing Luna by her hoof he flew up until he was at the top of the tress.
Looking around Luna noticed that something wasn't right, Canterlot borders were expanded until the entrance of the EverFree Forest. Intrigued by this she asked.
"Why are Carterlot borders here? And where is Ponyville?"
Shadow looked at her and sighed.
"That's what I was telling you... She expanded Canterlot borders killing everything in her way."
She looked at him with a confused expression.
"What you mean by killing everything?" she asked.
He raised his hoof and pointed towards a little hideout in the middle of the Forest.
"You and your sister raised an army that should be able to face the Queen's wrath," he said. "What I mean that she kills everything that stood by her way is? She kills the rebels that are fighting for a Bright Future, but since she has all the power nopony got a chance to defeat her."
Luna ignited her horn to search for a specific pony but without success.
"Where's our Lysithea? I can't find her," she asked.
He looked at her with a sad expression.
"She doesn't exist in this timeline," he answered.
"But if you are alive why did we don't had her?" she asked.
He sighed heavily.
"I was discovered. The night I was supposed to kill the Queen. I was spotted and got arrested until they decided what they're going to do to me. Unable to kill her, the king ordered his guards to kill every shadow pony, even the little ones. I got back in time before I was executed what I left here was a decoy. But here, in this future, I'm "dead". Disabling you from meeting me and had Lysithea. That's why you can't find both of us here."
She looked at him with a terrified expression.
"Why she decided to do this? Weren't my father able to stop her?" she asked.
"She killed him when she discovered that he wanted to imprison her for her crimes," he answered.
She looked back at the Canterlot Castle and back to him.
"Why is so dark here?" she asked.
"The sun never raised again. They're waiting for a hope that will bring back the sunlight," he answered.
"That hope was me. I got back in time until a day where she was weak enough to eliminate her without notice and that day was the day that you born."
"You did this for all of this ponies," she said. "Ponies that you never met. Why?" she asked.
He grinned and grabbed her chin, blushing deeper Luna accept the display of affection.
"When you could travel between time. You would know how I feel."
She closed her eyes and let his hoof caress her cheek.
"I traveled towards a timeline, where I saw myself and a pony mare sitting in a tree. That touched my heart and I realized that I needed to change my timeline. So I traveled back and executed my mission. Now you know why I did it. I'm sorry for keeping this from you."
She looked at him and asked.
"And that mare was me?"
He nodded.
"That explains why you never wanted to attack me in the past when you still serving the Shadow Ponies."
He nodded.
"As I said I felt loved by that image and wanted to experience it."
Luna stepped towards him and started to nuzzle his neck.
"I'm sorry for reacting like that last night. I was upset, I didn't know."
"I understand, my d---"
He lost his tracks of words when soft lips touched his, feeling her lips he closed her eyes and let her embrace took over him.
After a few seconds, their lips disconnected. Igniting his horn, he traveled back to their current timeline.
Back at their chamber...
Shadow Night and Luna stepped towards the main hall side by side.
Stopping at half of their destination, Luna spoked up.
"Thanks for showing me the truth."
"You don't need to thank me, I just needed to show it to you," he said.
They arrived at the main hall, waiting for them was Celestia and Cadence that came running towards them and started to complain about why she didn't take care of the Night in the previous night.
At Umbrum castle's dungeons...
The human started to wakeup, getting up back on his legs and scratching his head he said.
'Where am I?'
"Finally, you wake up."
He then heard a voice coming from behind of him, turning back to see it he raised his hand to cover the brightness that was being emitted by its armor.
After a while, the bright light dissipated and he could see his surroundings again. Looking around him, he could tell that he was imprisoned since there were bars in the front door. Looking back at the pony he could tell that was a pegasus and was coming towards his cell. Grabbing the keys the pegasus opened the door and stepped in, putting its saddlebag on the floor it took his meal out and offered it to him, denying at first but soon regret it when he heard his stomach grumble. The pegasus shared a little laugh and shook the meal in front of his eyes.
"Come on, I know you want it," it said.
Slowly reaching the dish, he grabbed the plate and sat on the floor. Looking back at the pegasus he raised his right hand and wave it in front of the pegasus.
"There are some knife and fork for me to eat these?" he asked.
Raising an eyebrow and looking confusing at him the pegasus asked.
"Knife and fork? What are those things?"
Still looking at the pegasus he answered.
"It's what I use to eat, mister."
The pegasus raised his hoof to cover its mouth from laughing.
"Just use your hooves, and it's Ma'am," she said while trying to not laugh at his misunderstanding.
"These are called hands," he answered while he shook his hands in front of her face, "And I'm sorry, wearing that armor I couldn't tell if you're a male or a female."
"It's ok," she said while taking out her helmet.
Sitting beside him, he saw something particularly strange about her.
"Is that a prosthesis?" he asked while pointing towards her left wing.
Raising her left wing she waved it for a bit and then she fold it back.
"Yes. It's prosthesis. There's a doctor here that started to research how to make these things."
Looking at her left wing he was surprised that her wing still there. There were only some pieces of metal that keep its feathers together. It seems that she had almost lost her wing.
"And you can fly with that?" he asked.
"Yes. I can."
Noticing that she had kept the door open, he put the plate down and rushed towards the door, noticing this she got up and rushed towards him, but since he was bigger he reached the door before her. Hearing a grunt and a thud following it, he looked back and saw that she had tripped on something.
"Stop right there. You got no way to run" she ordered.
She unfolds her wings and flew towards him, tackling him down she pushed her dagger towards his neck.
"Don't ever try to do that on my watch or this thing will be right on your throat," she said while keeping the dagger closer to his neck.
Nodding in a panic the human raised his hands in defense and grabbed her by the hoof, pushing her to the floor, he got up and pinned her down, using his knees to hold her in place.
"You think that you can threaten me, huh. Do you think that you can take me down like that and say those things and expect that I accept?" he asked.
Still holding her in the place he raised his hands and closed the cell door. Noticing that both of her wings were spread on the floor, he reached towards one specific spot.
Realizing what he was aiming for, she started to squirm and whimper while she kept shaking her hooves to try to free herself from his grasp.
"NO, STAY AWAY FROM THAT WING." she yelled while kept trying to free herself.
"I'm not gonna do anything to it. I just want to see it," he said.
Realizing that her efforts will lead her to nowhere she gave up from trying to free herself, she begged that he won't do anything bad to it.
"Please don't do anything bad to it I beg you," she said.
"Don't worry alright, your stupid leader surely told you that I'm dangerous but I'm not. I'm just curious because I saw something like this back in my dimension," he said.
Slowly reaching her left wing he carefully grabbed it and gave it a little check.
He realized that she had metal shaped feathers that were connected towards the prosthesis.
"You got no feathers," he said. "What happened? I know that dead feathers grow back," he asked.
"That's nothing of your concern, now that you saw it get off me," she said.
Carefully placing her wing back on the floor, he got up from her and stood by the door waiting for her to get back up.
When she got up she looked at him angrily and stepped towards him.
Raising her hoof she pressed against his chest and said.
"Name is Lighting Hooves."
Looking at her he immediately said.
"And I'm Mathew, a pleasure to meet you."
She left her hoof from his chest and walked towards the cell door.
"Wait," he yelled.
She stopped by the door and looked back.
"How long I will be down there?" he asked.
"Until we see that you can leave."
She grabbed her helmet and stepped out the cell, closing the door behind her. She glared back at him and then kept moving forward keeping a small blush on her cheeks.
Mathew decided to leave the door and headed towards his bed, sitting on the bed he raised his hands towards his head and started shaking it.
'I could just hurt her enough to escape. Why did I just do that? They killed him, they killed my father. Why did I just stood there and cared for her hurt wing? Witchery, that's the only explanation.'
He sighed heavily and laid on the bed, slowly his eyes closed until the Dream Land embraced him.
Near the entrance of EverFree Forest...
Shadow Night was going back to Zecora's cottage to tell them how the potion reacts on him and Luna.
After a few moments walking between the woods, he finally got near her cottage, raising his hoof he knocked on the door and waited for an answer. After a few seconds, Zecora greeted him and he stepped inside.
Zecora led him towards the main room and asked.
"Something that I can help you with, dear friend?"
He nodded and answered.
"I'm here to share the results of the potion that Andrew gave me."
Zecora nodded and headed towards the potion room and called for Andrew, after a few seconds he appeared at the main room.
Seeing Shadow Night standing in the middle of the room he asked.
"So what happened? Did it work? Did you have some results for us?"
He nodded.
"I test it first and I got teleported to the day that I meet you."
He clapped his hands together and said.
"Well, more things."
"Well it can work on two or more ponies, I don't know. But I can guarantee you that it works with two ponies. You just need to keep some kind of connection like a hoof or embracing each other."
"That's fantastic. And there's a way to come back or..."
"Oh, I almost forgot you need to burp to end the effect of the potion"
"It makes sense," he said while keeping his hand at his mouth. "I need to work more on that, maybe I can teleport the drinker to an even past moment."
Shadow Night raised an eyebrow and asked.
"What you mean by that?"
"I could work on it to teleport you towards a time that you weren't alive. This potion only works with timelines where you are alive. For example, you can't teleport yourself to a day where you weren't born. If I keep researching maybe I can deny that."
A sudden knock made them jump in panic. Zecora headed towards the door and opened it. Luna stormed inside and walked towards Shadow Night.
"Ah--- They got her--- they got---" she tried to speak while trying to control her breathing.
Shadow Night sat Luna beside him and tried to calm her down.
"Breath in, Breath out. Slowly. Tell me what's wrong."
Luna took a large breath and her breaths returned to normal.
"They took Lysithea, those guys who kidnapped me they got Lysithea."
"What?" he asked. "Where?"
Andrew and Zecora noticed how the eyes changed from deep blue to deep red.
"WHERE?" he asked.
Andrew and Zecora trembled when they heard his voice, it's so loud that even the potion that he was holding shattered on his hands.
"Sparkling Fire told me that she was kidnapped by some strange ponies. He tried to defend her but they used some kind of magic that kept him on the place."
"The talisman forger is here. Oh, God. I thought that they won't need him." Andrew said.
"WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT? THAT GUY WILL BE PULVERIZED IF HE TRIES TO HURT HER."
Andrew noticed the eyes that were on his face.
'The Legend is true. OH GOD. OH GOD. OH GOD.' he said to himself.
"WHERE DID THEY TAKE HER?" he asked.
"Sparkling Fire told me that they got into the EverFree Forest but he lose their tracks when he got inside the forest."
"I know where they might be."
"TELL ME WHERE."
Andrew brought the map from the shelf and showed him where they might be.
After confirming that was the place he rushed out the cottage and teleported himself towards that hideout. Luna followed behind him.
'What was that? I never saw him like this.'
The ponies on the hideout kept organizing boxes until a sudden light appeared in the middle of them. Shadow Night used his magic to disperse them and kept moving deeper in the cave.
Using his horn to detect Lysithea Life Essence he kept moving deeper and deeper into the cave. After a few moments, he reached, what he could tell was the main room of the cave, looking around he saw Lysithea caged and surrounded by ponies that kept their back to him. He grunted and rushed towards them.
The sudden noise of his steps made they looked back, seeing him rushing towards them they tried to react but it was too late, igniting his horn he readied his attack until he felt a large aura surrounding him and raising him to the top of the cave.
Trying to free himself from the spells, he used spells of teleportation for without success. Following the tracks of the magic aura, Shadow Night saw a mage that was carrying something strange to him.
'Is that the guy he talked about?'
Suddenly the talisman shined and drained his magic, feeling weak he cried in pain and felt his magic leave his body. The aura slowly descended him to the floor.
Looking back at that pony he grunted and tried to get back up but was too weak to do that.
"Look at you. Thinking that I won't be ready for you, huh," he said. "Now you don't feel so strong do you?"
He charged up his talisman again and said.
"Now, let's end this, shall we?"
The pony shoots a beam from his talisman but it was repelled by a shield that enveloped him, turning his head back he saw Luna charging up her horn and striking the pony with her magic.
She rushed towards him and used her magic to cover them from any attack from the talisman. Crying in pain Luna dispelled her shield and collapsed beside him.
The pony slowly stepped towards them while charging up his talisman. Luna stood up and kept shielding him from him. A large beam was shoot by the talisman that sent her flying away.
Grunting in rage Shadow Night got back up and charged up his horn. Changing towards his Final Form, he got bigger and his muzzle got fangs sticking out of it and his hooves became paw with sharp claws.
"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT," he said. "NOW, PREPARE YOURSELF FOR YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE."
He charged up his horn and enveloped the pony on a black cloud. "PARANOIA. FEAR YOUR FEARS. LET THEM THROUGH YOU."
The pony inside the black cloud started to shake in despair as he tried to get away from it, suddenly he appeared in front of him.
"HELLO."
He grabbed the pony by his neck and ripped the talisman from his neck.
"YOU WON'T NEED THIS TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO."
Charging up his horn, he readied himself and aimed at him.
"Stop, let my mom go."
He heard Lysithea crying in despair.
When he got out of the black cloud while carrying the pony he saw Luna and Lysithea being cornered by the ponies.
"Put him down." a guy said.
When he traded gaze with him he could tell that he could be the leader of this crew.
"TELL YOUR MAN TO LEAVE THEM ALONE."
"I thought that Shadow Ponies were dead. How are you supposed to be alive." the leader said.
"I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE," Shadow Night said. "NOW TELL YOUR MAN TO LEAVE THEM ALONE."
He grinned while kept shaking his head to the sides.
"You think that's too easy," he said. "Now drop him."
Shadow Night looked back at the pony he was holding and drop him on the floor, keeping the talisman he decided to make a deal.
"YOU CAN TAKE ME AND THIS STUPID TALISMAN. IF..."
"If---" the leader said.
"If you let them go," he said while pointing towards Luna and Lysithea.
He dispelled his true form and stood his ground.
The leader looked at him and back at them, then he signaled to his followers and they release them.
They grabbed the ropes and headed towards Shadow Night, wrapping the ropes around his bodies the ponies dragged him towards a cage and headed towards the portal.
"Daddy!" she called back as he was teleported away together with those ponies.
Luna ran and grabbed Lysithea and hold her against her chest while she kept crying.
"Where are they taking him, mommy?" she asked while she kept stroking her eyes with her hoofs.
"I don't know," she answered. "We need to speak with someone that could help us. We will go to meet your aunt."
She wiped her tears and smiled.
"Could she bring him back?" she asked.
"I don't know, but I need to see the guy that she has imprisoned," she answered.
"I will see Celestial Hope again, yeah," she said while clapping her hooves.
Luna smiled and stroke her mane.
'I need to see Andrew first.' she thought to herself. 'I will bring you back I promise.'.
Heading towards Zecora's cottage, Luna kept comforting Lysithea. When she reached her destination, she gave a deep breath and knocked at the door, waiting for until somepony answered she sat on the floor.
After a few moments, the door opened and Zecora invited her in.
"Welcome, princess. I was expecting you since you left."
Luna got back on her hooves and headed inside of her cottage.
Once inside she grabbed Zecora and started sobbing. Noticing this behavior she immediately asked.
"Princess? Did something happened?"
Luna nodded and headed towards the main room. Looking around she turned herself back to Zecora and asked.
"Where is Andrew? I need to talk to him, now. It's important."
Zecora headed towards her and patted her on the shoulder.
"He's in the lab room, but you didn't tell me what happened."
"I'll tell both of you, I need his help."
Luna looked at Lysithea and order her to say sit on the couch while she and Zecora headed towards the lab room.
Lysithea nodded and sat on the couch until her mom arrived.
Entering the lab room, Andrew was preparing a stable potion of "past return", a strange name but he was trying to figure out a decent name for it but for now, it will be called "past return potion".
Unoticing visits he kept working on it until a cough made him look back, seeing Luna and Zecora he stopped his recent activities and headed towards them.
"Hello. What's the honor of your visit, Princess?" he asked.
Noticing that her face was not of the best he immediately asked.
"Is everything alright?"
She shook her head to the sides.
Noticing somepony missing he asked.
"Where's Shadow? Wasn't he supposed to be with you?"
"They--- they... they took him away. They took him and got away," she answered trying hard to not cry there.
He looked concerned at her, opening his arms he kneeled and hugged her. Upon feeling his embrace she couldn't keep it quiet for much longer and started crying.
Using his hands he started by stroking her mane, pushing his fingers into her mane and gave it a little shake.
"Tell me. What happened?" he asked.
"He got captured and got away with them. The got him as an exchange of me and Lysithea" she answered.
Using his hands, he wiped her tears.
"Don't worry ok. We will find a way to get him back."
She nodded and kept her head laid on his shoulder, looking back at Zecora he raised his hand and signaled her something.
Nodding to his sign she left the room and came back carrying a bag.
Grabbing the bag, he patted Luna back and got back up.
Looking confused by this she asked.
"Going somewhere?"
Looking back at Luna, he answered.
"I think I know who might help us."
"Well, I was heading towards Celestia's realm to explain all of this situation," Luna said, "I presume that you will go ask her for her."
He shook his head to the sides and said.
"Not her. The other guy. I need to know where they set their camp."
They headed towards the living room, picking up Lysithea they headed towards Celestia's Realm.
At Umbrum Castle main hall...
Luna and the others were waiting for Celestia to attend them.
Suddenly the door behind the throne opened and Celestia appeared together with Sombra. A small colt appeared behind them, noticing that they had visits he hid behind Celestia and kept there until he felt a magic aura grabbing him and levitating him.
"Celestial Hope, don't hide behind me. Be a good colt and say hi to your aunt and your mom's friend." Celestia said while she kept him on her aura.
Dropping him on the floor, he turned back and waved a hoof at them. Then he ran back to Celestia, hiding behind her.
Celestia sighed and smiled, moving towards she greeted her sister and the others.
"It is an honor to receive a visit from you. So, what brought you here today?" she asked while she sat on her throne.
"It's a long story, sister," she answered.
"So what happened," she said, "It's strange..." she said while looking around the room, "You never left your kingdom without Shadow, something happened or..."
Then, she noticed tears forming in her eyes.
"Luna, what happened?" Celestia asked.
Looking back at her sister and then at Lysithea she said.
"I need to let Lysithea in someplace where she won't be able to her."
Looking back at Celestial Hope, Celestia smiled and grabbed him using her magic. Squirming and kicking his hooves, he tried to free from her aura as he was getting closer to her.
"Celestial Hope, could you go and meet that filly over there, she needs somepony to talk to her right now, will you be a gentle colt and do that, please?" she asked.
He looked at her and then back at the filly and then back at his mom.
"Ok," he said.
Dropping him on the floor, she used her magic to caress him.
"Thank you," she said.
Heading towards the filly, he presented himself and offered her to accompany him. Accepting his invite, Lysithea followed him towards the playroom.
Looking back at them Luna and Celestia smiled.
"It's kind of him to do that, thank you, sister," she said.
"You don't need to thank me. Now could you tell us what happened to Shadow?" she asked.
"He was ponynapped by those guys. He offered himself to let me and Lysithea escape. They got him." she answered.
Celestia got up from her throne and moved towards Luna, offering herself Luna laid her face on her chest and started to cry.
Looking back at Sombra, Celestia raised her hoof and said.
"Reinforce all the defenses. We need to remain alert."
Nodding at her order, he called the guard and told him to reinforce the defenses.
"But, sir. Ms. Lighting Hooves is now meeting the prisoner. We need her to give the orders." he said.
"Well, you're the second-in-command. And a second-in-command means that if the captain is not available you'll be responsible for every order that is given to you. Understood." Sombra said.
The second-in-command nodded and headed outside and warned every guard to remain alert and to reinforce the defenses.
Looking back at Celestia, he smiled and sat back on the throne.
Andrew stepped forward and raised his hand to explain what he came here for.
"Your highnesses, I came here to discuss a plan to recover Shadow Night and maybe end this problem once it for all," he said while bowing himself.
Looking back at Celestia, Sombra noticed that she might not be able to answer so he took the initiative and asked.
"Go ahead, tell us what we should do?"
Looking back at Sombra, he got back up and started to explain.
"The answer is here in your castle, your Highness," he said.
Looking confused at him, Sombra got up from his throne and asked.
"How are you so sure about that?"
"Well, you have the answer here. The prisoner you got from us. He was accompanying the crew who ponynapped Luna. Maybe he has the answers." he answered.
Looking back at him, Sombra gritted his teeth and replied.
"That thing attacked Luna. And you want to hear him out, bah."
"Your Highness, I kindly ask you to let us try this it's our only option," Luna said.
Looking back at Luna, Sombra sat back on the throne and asked.
"He's with us maybe for three to four days. How do you suppose that he will help us?"
"He'll," he answered in her turn, "He might be attacked Luna but he can't do that again and I can guarantee you that because he was against all of this but he... he... let his hate talk further and made him do this," he said, "He's not bad at all and I can guarantee you that."
Sombra sighed and got back up.
"We will wait for Ms. Hooves to return and then we send her again to bring him to us."
"Why don't we go there, dear?" Celestia asked, "It won't hurt us to move our legs a bit."
"But...but...but... we're not supposed to head to the dungeons," he answered.
Celestia signal to everypony inside the room and headed towards the dungeons.
"Hey, wait for me," Sombra said while running behind them.
In their way towards the dungeons, they heard small giggles and a large amusing voice.
"Stop it... that... tickles."
Worried about what was happening they ran towards the source of the sounds and finally saw what everyone didn't expect.
Sitting on the stone floor was him, with his legs extended along the floor and a small pegasus laying on his lap. Brushing her mane with his hand, he looked over her shoulder and tried to shake her off of him.
Intrigued by this she put more weight on him and didn't want to move.
"What's wrong? Don't you find it cute, hein?" she asked.
"Ms.Hooves?" she heard a familiar voice call for her.
Turning her head back she noticed Sombra and the others standing in front of her.
"Yepp..." she squeaked and jumped off of him.
Looking back to the human, Sombra ignited his horn and pushed him against the wall.
"What have you done to her?" he asked.
He tried to speak but the magical field wasn't allowing him to do that.
"Your Highness, please he was just..." she tried to defend him but was stopped when he turned his speech to her.
"And you? I thought that I trained you better than anypony here but today you've shown me that you didn't learn anything," he said.
"But, he wasn't doing anything threatening I swear," she replied
"Don't try to cover my eyes I saw him holding you firmly with his hooves things. He was holding you hostage."
"Your Highness, I beg your forgiveness but he was holding me because of, I... I... tripped and he was trying to get me back up and those hooves things are called hands, your Highness," she said while keeping her eyesight away from him.
"Holding you firmly, dear Ms. Hooves. He wasn't helping you he was threatening you, wasn't he?" he asked.
"He was giving me a 'petting' care," she answered.
"Petting? What is that petting thing?" he asked.
"Is the same as grooming or brushing our body," she answered.
"So he wasn't holding you hostage?" he asked one more time.
She shook her head to the sides.
Looking back at him, he dispelled the threatening spell and headed towards him.
Coughing violently to get the air back to his lungs, he looked back up and saw Sombra standing in front of him.
"Hey, hey, hey I didn't hurt anyone here. I was just..." he tried to say but was stopped when Sombra spoke.
"You're going to help us and that's final."
After this, Sombra turned himself back and headed towards Celestia and the others.
"Our world is in danger. And I need your help if you want it or not," he said while he was heading towards them.
"Wait, wait, wait. First, you attack me and threaten me and then you want my help. Is that it?" he asked.
"Mathew?" a familiar voice called him, "Boss and the others are here already they took one of his friends and as he told me he's his uncle. They need our help or more precisely your help."
"What guarantees me that this is not any kind of trick?" he asked.
"They brought up the talisman forger."
After hearing this, he gasped and immediately looked to her and then back at him.
"What do you need?" he asked.
"The settlement. Where do they build the settlement?" he answered and returned a question.
"Wait, before I told you I want to know if this is going to benefit me. If not I won't waste my time telling you," he said.
Celestia raised her hoof and proposed a deal.
"You tell us what we want to hear and we will free you from this prison, what do you think? Do we have a deal?" she asked.
He looked back at them and then back at her.
"I've promised her that once I was out of this damn dungeon I would join your guard line." he said, "So that should be it, it's settled I will tell you everything you want to know and I will be out of this," he said while opening his arms.
Growling in frustration, Sombra raised his voice and ignited his horn.
"There's no mercy acts on those who threaten us. I won't allow you to be out of this prison not now, not never," he said while holding him down with his magic.
"Dear, please this is not time to talk about that..." Celestia said.
"No, no. I won't allow this stupid thing to roam free. He's dangerous and he will..."
Luna stood up and headed towards him.
"But you roam free. Chrysalis roams free. Celestia and I roam free." Luna said while trying to hold her sob, "And he roamed free and he showed us all that we should put our..."
Luna brought her hoof to her eyes and wiped them.
"He had thought me something. Anything can be forgiven even an ant. Sombra, you've to give him a chance as he did to you and the others that defied our stability."
Hearing this, Sombra looked back at him and dispelled his magic.
"I will give you my word that you will be free but do another stupid thing and you'll rot in here."
After saying this, Sombra channeled his magic and teleported himself away.
Raising his hand, he brushed where Sombra magic gripped.
Walking towards him, Lighting Hooves brushed against his leg.
"Did the mean King hurt you, was it?" she asked while keeping a small grin in her face.
Lowering his hand, he brushed his fingers behind her ears, earning small squeaks and giggles.
Walking towards him, Celestia channeled her magic and teleported all of them to a small room. Making humans fall when they landed.
Grunting in pain, he raised back up and brushed his hand behind his head.
"Warn me next time you teleport us like that," Mathew said.
Turning his head to Andrew, he raised his hand and asked.
"What did you want to know?"
"Everything."
He brought up a chair that was standing beside him and sat on it. Raising his hand he began his speech.
"First of all, we're here to capture the first known alicorn by birth. We are after a pony that was born alicorn and not those who develop those features over time. Second, we are after the descendant of Nightmare Moon."
Luna raised her eyebrow and gasped.
"The descendant of Nightmare Moon?" she asked, "But I was HER, and SHE was defeated how in the..."
Celestia raised her hoof and stopped her speech.
"He might be talking about Lysethia. Weren't they after her last time you saw them?"
"Yes they were but... she can't be a descendant of HER, I scanned her every time and she doesn't have that magical aura that SHE had."
"Can I resume my explanation or I should stop?" he asked.
Everyone inside the room gave him an approval signal and he resumed his speech.
"As I was saying before being interrupted, our boss decided to get the descendant of the Nightmare Moon plus the firstborn alicorn. And we are after the Umbrum Queen too, as far as I can tell that one is you and I believe that we were using Luna to bring you to us." he continued.
"But there's to be a settlement here to teleport the ponies back to Earth, can you tell us where?" Andrew asked.
"There's one. We decided to settle in the middle of the EverFree Forest. There we could work without raise any kind of suspicion." he answered, "Maybe we can use that portal to rescue your friend, I know where the keys for the cells are since I worked as a guard back on Earth."
"How many of them are on this settlement?" Celestia asked.
"I don't know, I was part of a small crew that was responsible to retrieve the Lunar Alicorn." he answered, "The only thing I know is that settlement is highly guarded and will be hard to get in without being noticed."
Andrew raised from his chair and brought up a small piece of paper.
"We need a distraction since they are after the Umbrum Queen we can use that in our favor." he said, "We could use you as bait and you will say that you had found and brought the Umbrum Queen, they will surely believe in you."
"There's one problem here. I need my necklace and my bracelet," he said.
Celestia brought these two items from her saddlebag and put them on the table before Mathew had the reaction to grab them, Andrew grabbed them and immediately said.
"If you are going to betray us I will make you regret it," he said while carefully giving him the items.
"I've no plans to betray you," he said while grabbing the item.
Grabbing the items, he clipped his necklace on his neck and placed his bracelet on his left arm.
"We still have this plan of working together and use me as bait," he said.
Andrew nodded.
Before they leave the room, Lighting Hooves spoked up.
"Don't you think they will find it strange when he will show up like that?" she asked, "I mean he was missing and probably there weren't any reports of his whereabouts,"
"Now that you said that I think you're right. They probably saw you being carried away by Luna and Shadow Night. It's too risky to put you in danger."
"But I'm planning to do this I want to help you I..."
"I'll go." Lighting hooves said.
Everyone in the room looked back at her.
"Ms. Hooves, those guys are dangerous I can stand putting you in danger for something that we don't know if it is going to work," Celestia said.
"It won't hurt trying. I will call for help saying that my Queen needs help and I will drive them off the settlement, once they are far away you can move in."
"And if they found it strangely enough to be true?" Andrew asked.
"Did you forget that now changelings are our allies? We could ask Princess Cadance and Chrysalis if they could let one of her changelings to do this for us. We will use the changeling for this matter."
Everyone in the room looked at each other and nodded.
"It's settled then, we will follow Ms. Hooves' plan."
Mathew raised from his seat and spoked up.
"You can't be serious right now, can you? She can't do this. If they found out that was a plot what do you think they will do?" he asked, "They will get both of them and she can't fly without her prothese, I'm afraid that they will hurt her and the changeling. I won't agree with this."
Standing beside him, Lighting Hooves raised her hoof and brushed it against his leg.
"Don't worry. I have been through worse than this."
"But... but... I can't let you do this... you..."
"I'll be fine. Promise."
Sighing and lowering his head, he raised his hand and made an approval signal to Andrew.
"Just don't mess this up," he said.
He nodded.
Leaving the room, Celestia walked towards a large room and ordered them to enter.
"We need to inform the other princess about this we cannot leave our posts without notice."
They all nodded and Celestia began to channel her horn and sent a telepathic message to the other princesses.
"Done, now we just need to wait until Cadance sends a changeling," she said.