At the cottage near the Everfree Forest, things were starting to lighten down. The animals that reside in the cottage and the ones that ran from the forest are gathered in an open field beside the cottage. Above them floats a creature named Discord, and he is checking that every animal is present, even Fluttershy's pet bunny Angel.
Of course the animals are frightened by the feeling they got some time ago, but since they know that Discord is Fluttershy's friend, they trust him as much as their yellow coated Pegasus caretaker. Discord breathes a sigh of relief of seeing every animal gathered. "Well, that was overwhelming." he says, looking to the animals in front of him, "Now then, I'm sure you are still anxious about what happened, but let me assure you that as Fluttershy's most wonderful and playful friend, nothing very alarming will happen to you on my watch."
The animals look to each other in consideration about Discord's words. "Also," he continued, "until Fluttershy comes back, you all are welcome to keep yourselves company right here. So, keep your heads held high in a courageous manner, and no running off in random directions. Understand?"
The animals nod happily and they start to settle down among themselves. Discord leans to Angel and nudges him with his elbow. "How's that for caretaking expertise?" he grinned. Angel simply rolls his eyes in annoyance.
But then, Discord gasps, for he senses something completely breathtaking. He turns his head to where he sensed it, and couldn't help but wonder what this feeling is. "Goodness." Discord said perplexed, "What is this sensation? It feels intimidating...but at the same time it feels like, that I realized something important, probably more than the grand example of friendship Fluttershy demonstrated to me." He puts his claw and paw together in worry. "I do hope nothing serious happened to her."
At the Crystal Castle, everypony is in major shock of what they witnessed. The Mane Six, Spike, Starlight Glimmer, Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, Flash Sentry and the Crystal Ponies stare at the hooded pony in shock and awe, while all the Changelings, Chrysalis and most of the Crystal Ponies lie on the ground unconscious. Zenith looks again at the horn in his hoof he snapped off from Queen Chrysalis's forehead, and drops it letting it fall to the ground and the aura emitting from it fades away.
'What was that?' Zenith thought in confusion, 'Where did that shockwave come from? It didn't happen before.' He then looks at Azerrad, the black Unicorn who is starting to get peeved at everything about his plan falling apart.
'Okay. This is getting ridiculous.' Azerrad thinks angrily, 'This plan was going perfectly, but then this pony that has been getting in my way one too many times decides to show up and ruin everything in an instant!' He glares at the hooded pony, 'I don't know what made you come here, but this will not-'
"Azerrad!"
A sudden pain erupts inside Azerrad's head from the noise of the voice, and he recognizes it, "Master? What is it?"
Everypony around Azerrad notices him firmly holding his head with his hoof. Flash looks up to Cadance, "Shall I apprehend that pony, your highness?" he asks.
"Not yet." Cadance replied calmly as she regained her composure, "Looks like somepony's talking to that Unicorn."
"But shouldn't we put him under arrest now before he does something else that will endanger everypony here?" Twilight questions the princess of love.
"There is something he's hiding." Cadance looks at Azerrad in a serious manner, "And whatever his reason is for trying to steal my daughter, we should hear it out."
"Your plan has failed, my apprentice." the voice boomed in Azerrad's head.
"Master, please!" Azerrad says in desperation, "It wasn't my fault! That pony with the-"
"SILENCE!" the voice shouted.
"Is that meany, nasty, jerky Unicorn talking to himself?" Pinkie wondered.
"No, somepony's speaking to him telepathically." Shining Armor replied, trying to recollect himself.
"We will talk about your punishment later." the voice said, "You must retreat with Chrysalis and the Changelings and regroup. You won't be able to fight your way out of this predicament, not even against the Princess of the Moon who is on her way."
"What?" Azerrad looks to the sky, the others following suit wondering what he's looking at, until they see it.
"Look!" a Crystal stallion says, pointing to the sky, "It's Princess Luna!"
Everypony sees the dark blue Alicorn flying down from the night sky and lands in front of Shining Armor and Twilight's friends. "Fear no longer, Crystal Ponies!" Luna says firmly, "Whatever threatens you will seek punishment by my hoof! Now, who is the one that dares to lay harm on you all?"
"It's that Unicorn called Azerrad!" Rainbow Dash pointed to the black Unicorn.
"There is little time to be frustrated," the voice rang out in Azerrad's head once more, "retreat and regroup now."
"Be still, evildoer!" Luna stepped forward to the black Unicorn. "You have a lot of explaining to do for your actions."
When Azerrad turned his head to look at Luna, her eyes widen in surprise, for she sees that under his left closed eye is an X-shaped scar, one that she recalls seeing some time ago, but when?
"But, master," Azerrad says, "just give me-"
"That is an order!" the voice yelled, "Retreat and regroup! NOW!"
Azerrad grunts in defeat and frustration, and lights up his horn in a red aura. That aura appears on all the Changelings present and Chrysalis, and in a split second, they disappear in a flash. Everypony is alerted to this, and see that Azerrad is surrounding himself in the aura.
"Hold it!" Flash shouted, galloping at Azerrad.
"Wait! Flash!" Twilight says.
But Azerrad disappears before Flash could get near.
"Nuts! He got away!" Flash grunts in frustration.
Then, Azerrad's evil chuckle is heard throughout the Crystal Empire. "You may have won this round, ponies!" his voice rang out, "But don't get too comfortable! You think the lives you live will always be happy and joyful? Well, it won't!"
"Azerrad! Don't you hide from us, scaredy cat!" Rainbow Dash called out, "Show yourself!"
"What happened tonight," Azerrad continued, "is simply a mere fraction of what will befall Equestria and the whole world, one where you will soon realize you cannot prevent no matter how much effort you put into it! The Darkness will see to that!"
"Darkness?" Luna wonders.
"We will meet again, ponies!" Azerrad's voice started to get faint as he spoke, "Including you, the pony with THAT cutie mark!" He then laughs until his voice ceased its echoing.
Everything is silent for a moment, with everypony looking at each other in confusion and fear of what transpired.
"Flurry Heart!" Cadance ran up to Spike who is holding the sleeping baby Alicorn in his arm. "My baby! Is she alright?"
Spike looks down at the peaceful sleeping face of the baby Alicorn. "Flurry Heart? That's her name?" Spike wonders, "Ah, yes, yes she is. Sleeping the night away safe and sound." He raises Flurry Heart to Cadance who takes her in her foreleg. The sight of the baby Alicorn smiling while sleeping brings a tearful and relieving smile to Cadance. Shining Armor and Twilight steps up to Cadance's side.
"And we all have you to thank, Spike." Shining Armor smiled at the purple dragon. "You bravely assaulted that pony who held our daughter captive and saved her. I doubt anypony I know will be as brave as you." He patted Spike's head with his hoof, who blushes at the notion.
"Aw, it was nothing." Spike sheepishly said, "it was just all in a, night's work."
"Let's not forget this pony here." Cadance looks to Starlight. "What is your name?"
"Starlight Glimmer," she replied, "a student of Princess Twilight."
"Well, Starlight, no debt would be any higher for what you did for us and our daughter." Cadance bowed to the blushing heliotrope Unicorn.
"You did great tonight, Starlight." Twilight happily put her hoof on Starlight's shoulder, "And I deeply thank you for protecting my niece and my assistant. Though I should ask, how was that barrier spell you casted able to withstand those blows?"
"You can thank Discord for that." Starlight replied.
Luna steps forward which grabs everypony's attention. "You both, Spike and Starlight, have done the most wonderful thing for the Crystal Empire. You have ensured our victory in this battle." She then looks sad and turns her head to her left, "But, certain costs that would have been avoided have been paid."
They look to see Twilight's friends tending to Fluttershy, who is lying on the ground covering her eyes and crying silently. Concerned, Twilight, Spike and Starlight run up to their friends. "What's wrong with Fluttershy?" Starlight asks.
"Its dreadful." Rarity said, "While we were trying to resist being choked by that Azerrad brute, poor Fluttershy didn't put up much resistance."
"Seems what happened ta us left a major impact on Fluttershy like one a' them zap apples losin' the chance to get ripe." Applejack added in.
"And she won't snap out of it no matter how much we tell her that everything will be alright." said Rainbow Dash.
"Not to mention telling her that she'll be right as rain during our victory party." Pinkie sadly says.
Spike gets close to Fluttershy and softly pets her head. "Fluttershy?"
The yellow Pegasus looks up, and her eyes are nearly red from crying. "Why?...Why did that cruel pony did what he did, to them and us?"
"Stuff like that happens all the time." Twilight said in a reassuring manner. "And we always bounce back onto our hooves, be it in small or large amounts of time."
"I can relate with that." Pinkie said cheerfully, but cleared her throat as her friends give that look on her.
"That may be easy for all of you," Fluttershy sniffed, "but I don't think I will ever get over it, not when what happened tonight is so large compared to what we've been through." Fluttershy then breaks down silently sobbing.
"Well, look on the bright side, darling," Rarity put her hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder to comfort her, "if it wasn't for that mysterious, and handsome, stallion in the white hood, we would be-" Rarity looks to where the hooded pony was standing, only to see that he is gone. "What? Where did he go?"
Everypony looks around them to see where the hooded pony ran off to, but to no avail. "I didn't notice him leaving." Rainbow Dash said.
"Me neither." Shining Armor looks around, "I wanted to thank him too for saving me and Twily's friends."
"Questionable as it may be," Luna declared, "We must save it for another day. It has been a very long night for all of us, and we best get some sleep to be up and bright for dawn."
"I dunno." Spike said, a little concerned, "After what happened tonight, most of us might not sleep as much as we used to." Everypony looks to each other, most of them nodding in agreement.
"Still, a good night's rest is important for everypony." the princess of the night said. She is about to take flight, until she remembered something. "Cadance? A word, if you please?"
Cadance walks up close to Luna, "What is it?"
Luna leans in to Cadance's ear. "My sister requests of us both to meet with her in private and discuss something important." she whispers, "It involves what I discovered about Twilight and her friends before tonight's events transpired."
Cadance is surprised about what she's been told, but remains calm. "Alright." she says, "I'll meet up with you while I can."
"See that you do post haste." Luna replies, and she takes flight. "Fare thee well, little ponies! And good night to you all!" She then flies off to the night sky.
"Okay then." Shining Armor then turns to the Crystal Ponies, "Citizens! Whatever happened here is now over. Please return to your homes and bring the fainted ponies with you. I assure you that everything will be fine."
The Crystal Ponies comply with the order and picked up the fainted ponies to their homes, and Flash Sentry goes to look for the royal guards. As they do that, Twilight's friends help Fluttershy up who ceased her tears but still sobs, and bring her back into the Crystal Castle. Spike and Starlight walk beside Twilight into the castle. "Say, Twilight, who was that pony in the white hood that was on top of Chrysalis?" Spike asks.
"I don't have a clue." Twilight answers, "But, now that I think about it...something about him feels...familiar. I just can't put my hoof on it."
"Well, it is sad we didn't get to thank him," Starlight says, "But maybe we'll get to see him again."
"I hope you're right." Twilight replies uneasily. "Though, that Azerrad jerk referred to him as 'the pony with that cutie mark', like he knows him. I wonder what he meant by that?"
"I'm sure we'll find out soon," Spike yawned a bit, "But for now, we should get plenty of sleep like Luna suggested. I...would like...to celebrate that...party...once Fluttershy...is...feeling..."
Spike then falls to sleep and falls to the floor, but Twilight catches him with her magic while grinning to herself and puts Spike on her back. Starlight giggles a bit, "He's certainly one thoughtful little dragon."
"Yes, he's sure come a long way." Twilight says, "If I hadn't been sent to Ponyville by Princess Celestia to make some friends, Spike would've been any less different of himself up to now."
"It is definitely wonderful to have friends." Starlight comments.
"You know it." replied Twilight.
Both ponies laugh a little as Spike snores adorably. The night was eventful for all of them, but everything worked out in the end. Little do they know, nor do they fail to realize, that what happened tonight won't stop here.
Inside the large cave, the Changelings are tending to themselves while a large pony covered in a thick black fog sits on a throne waiting. Then, there was a flash of red light, and Azerrad appears with the unconscious Chrysalis and the other half of the Changeling group. "Retreated and regrouped as ordered, Lord Dark Shadow." Azerrad knelt to the large pony.
Dark Shadow rises up from the throne. "I wonder about that." he growls menacingly.
Azerrad looks up in confusion, "But, master, didn't I do as you ordered?"
"You did," Dark Shadow replied, "But you revealed a bit too much about who I am to the ponies."
Azerrad went wide eyed. "But, but master!" he sputtered.
Dark Shadow's horn lights up in a red aura, and lightning surrounded by the same aura erupts from his horn, right towards Azerrad. It shocks the black Unicorn who screams in pain. The Changelings back away in fear of what they see.
"Master! Please! Forgive me!" Azerrad screams as the lightning painfully travels through his body, "I'll do better next time! Just give me another chance!"
Dark Shadow ceases his spell, and Azerrad nearly collapses to the ground panting. "Dearest Azerrad," he calmly says, "You have been a very faithful apprentice, one I am proud to teach what I know. But since you failed this task by a wide margin, I'm giving you a timeout so you can think about what you've done."
"But master, please let me explain!" Azerrad desperately pants, "It is true me and Chrysalis were caught up in mocking the ponies for their worthlessness, but," he catches his breath and tries to stand up, "but that pony thwarted our plan to capture the baby Alicorn! The pony with THAT cutie mark!"
Dark Shadow's mouth opens in surprise, "Is this true?"
"He was disguising himself," Azerrad explains, "but his power is like how I sensed it last time, but this time he is more powerful than before."
"Hmm." Dark Shadow ponders on this, "that is troubling. He and his companions have gotten in our way recently. If he's here in Equestria, things will be difficult." He looks back at Azerrad. "Still, your punishment remains intact. In your timeout you will think about what you've done, and train every bit of yourself down to your little bones."
"Yes, master." Azerrad bows.
"But you won't be alone. HE will be there to supervise you." Dark Shadow added in.
"What?" Azerrad is taken aback by this, "That tall and emotionless sadist? But master, he is aggravating beyond insane! And his partner, the thin and annoying psycho is just so crazy."
"Even so, they are essential to my plan of world domination." Dark Shadow said, "Go now. Do as you are told."
Azerrad reluctantly bows, "As you wish, my master." He then leaves to the far right side of the cave. Dark Shadow then sees that most of the Changelings have gathered around Chrysalis and sadly nuzzle her. He notices that her horn is snapped clean off her forehead.
"So, he has decided to put himself on the playing board again." Dark Shadow says to himself. "And to show how powerful he is by bringing down a piece of mine is most troubling." he then slowly smiles wickedly, "No matter. I have plenty of strategies to put forth into motion. While Vohrnil watches over Azerrad's training, I will have Ryzoth recruit more pieces into the game. Only then will the time come to put Celestia and her ponies in...checkmate." Dark Shadow chuckles to himself.
Far out west of the Crystal Empire is a bay beside an ocean where to the right is the snowy mountains, and to the left is a forest. Then, the white hooded pony emerges onto the shore of the bay and removes his hood. Zenith breathes in the cool air and smiles softly. He then trots down the shore and sees a large shadowed ship of some sort docked on the beach. Zenith sees five ponies nearby the ship, and one of them is in clear view.
It is a little colt, who has an ubuntu red coat and a blue gem coloured mane and tail. But what is really astonishing about him is that his dark cobalt blue eyes seem to be like a dragon's eyes, his muzzle and ears are dark persian blue which mix into his coat in a gradient manner, and the underside of his barrel up to his neck is like a dragon's belly and is coloured pure white. In place of his hooves is dragon like arms going up to his knees and his claws are white like his barrel. And, instead of Pegasus like wings, on his back is dragon's wings as large as his head, with the insides coloured the same as his muzzle and ears. Even though the colt is a pony, it seems plenty of dragon traits are visible on him.
The colt notices Zenith coming towards him and the figures behind him. His eyes widen and he smiles eagerly. The colt runs to the white cloaked pony. "Zenith!" the colt calls out in his cheerful voice. He jumps up into Zenith's open forelegs and hugs him, which Zenith sweetly accepts. "Zenith," the colt says, sniffing a bit, "I've waited so long to see you again."
"Hey, Meteo." Zenith ruffled the colt's mane. "You've been a good boy?"
Meteo gets off of Zenith and salutes, "Yes, sir! Been a good boy and had no troubles, sir!"
A large pony in the shadow of the ship steps forward and speaks in a nearly fruity voice, "Well, aside from throwing the cider overboard to quell the big fish's thirst."
"Aw, Pebble," Meteo turned to the large pony, "Why'd you bring that up? How else was I supposed to distract that big fish from attacking our boat?"
A thin pony who is wearing a hat and vest tilts his hat and speaks in a matter-of-fact voice, "We had some minor troubles, but we got them solved lickety split. Anyway, it is good to see you again, Zenith."
"Likewise, Chester." Zenith replies to the hat wearing pony.
An average toned pony with a somewhat wet mane steps forward and asks in a soft and silvery voice, "Um, how do you like Equestria so far, Zenith?"
"It seems mostly everything has changed since I left it, Tranquil." said Zenith, then he looks down with his eyebrows narrowed, "Though, I doubt that 'some' things about it could've changed."
The ponies stayed silent, for they seem to know what Zenith is thinking about. Then, a muscular toned winged pony speaks in a confident and carefree voice, "Aw, don't beat yourself up over those things, mate. Maybe those things can change, and you can count on me to help you with that."
"Thanks, Ace." Zenith says smiling.
"So, Zenith," Meteo looks up to Zenith, "did you meet that 'special somepony' that you know from long ago at that fancy capital of Equestria?"
Zenith's cheeks turn a bit pink and his ears droop a bit, "Well, yes and no."
"Care to be specific on that phrase?" Chester asks.
"What I mean is," Zenith explains, blushing a bit, "Is that yes, I managed to meet 'her.' And no, we didn't converse because of what happened recently."
"What sort of what happened?" Pebble wondered.
Zenith took a sad sigh, making Meteo concerned. "Zenith?" He looks up to the silver coated pony.
"A pony, tried to ponynap a little foal born to a royal family," Zenith says, then he looks up with an angry look on his face, "The pony we know all too well named...Azerrad."
Meteo and the ponies gasp at the name. "Lóng de línpiàn!" Tranquil exclaims.
"Billions of blue blistering barnacles!" Pebble stomped his hoof down onto the sand in anger, "That wretched, scurvy, pillaging, son of a biscuit eater! If we ever cross paths with him again I'll make that smug landlubber Unicorn walk the plank!"
"At ease!" Zenith says holding his hoof up. "I managed to stop him, but something happened when I used...'it'."
The ponies are alerted to that sentence. "Crikey!" Ace exclaims, "As in, that 'it' that we all used once together on that tyrant from that country?"
"Yeah, but it was different." Zenith said, "At first I couldn't figure it out, but now I do." Zenith then yawns. "But, right now I feel tired. I promise I'll tell you all about it in the morning once we get some sleep. But first we gotta get the ship out of sight. Set course to that island south-west of here!" Zenith points over the ocean with his hoof. "We'll camp there for tonight!"
"Aye-aye, Captain!" Pebble saluted, then turned to the other ponies, "Ye heard him, lads! All hooves on deck!"
"Right-o, mate!" Ace flies to the ship and Tranquil, Chester, Pebble, Meteo and Zenith follow suit onto the plank of the ship. Then, the plank is pulled over the deck. Pebble's orders are heard on the ship. "Ace, loosen the sails! Tranquil, hoist anchor! Chester, prepare the gem engines for immediate take off! Meteo, engage the gravity generator!"
Then, the ship starts to float slowly into the air, and it turns until it is in the direction of its course. The large sail on the single mast glows in a silver aura. Zenith stands near the front of the deck, looking out to the sea. 'Twilight,' he thought, 'I doubt you may remember me, but I promise you, we will meet again.'
Sounds of engines erupt from behind the ship. "Gem engines stabilized and ready for travel, Captain!" Pebble's voice calls out.
"Good!" Zenith replies, "On my mark!" He raises his hoof into the air, and after a few seconds, he quickly points to the horizon. "Onward!"
Then, the ship blasts forward into the sky as the engines leave behind a bright yet faint trail of magic dust clouds, which disappear into the air. The ship sails through the night covered sky as Zenith looks to his left to see Equestria getting further away from sight. A sad look crosses over his face, but Zenith then glares in determination and looks ahead to the destination. One part of his journey ended, but another will soon begin.
TO BE CONTINUED...
This concludes the first arc of this story. Hope you enjoyed it so far. I may be on and off of writing future chapters, but I'll keep at it no matter how long it takes.
Also featuring Meteo, an OC by deviantART member Heftymatt, re-imagined as a pony.