So here I am, and here it's the next chapter. Let's go on further into this story, shall we?

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This land had experienced conflict before. Hecarim could feel the very essence of this conflict. A war of two different races... Or no. Not a war, but a slaughter: This would be an appropriate term. Ponykind and mankind clashed with each other, intent to erase their opponent from this land, once and for all. This war that had ended recently ended was an interesting case. Kept almost top secret from the entire ponykind and it resembled more of a hunt than anything else.

The Shadow of War loved wars of all kinds and this one wasn't any different. Still, would he be in charge of the winning side, he'd rather let go the losers in hopes of them becoming stronger, so he can confront them again. Of course, there was a reason he never had a chance to orchestrate a war on his own. As a Shadow of War he could only join the existing fray. Those were eternal rules.

But soon... Soon he will have a conflict to join to.

The town known as Ponyville loomed on the horizon. According to his knowledge it was a place where crown-important authorities were residing. He just couldn't waltz straight to the Canterlot Royal Palace, although he'd love to. In this land... Rules were different.

A giant spectral centaur slowly made his way to the settlement. At this pace he'll reach it today evening.

He just couldn't wait.

---

The city of New Hope was a surprisingly quiet place.

Adeon still couldn't believe it. Despite it being currently the biggest humans' settlement in Equestria, the crime rate and the noise were insignificant. Perhaps the fact that Ponyville was just nearby had something to do with it. Such a neighbor helps big time.

His job was pretty boring: Most of it was boiling down to paperwork, something he was already fed up with in Camp Oppenheimer. Still, work is work. Besides, he could at least listen to music.

Now that the history started to clear out, technology also jumped a considerable bit. It still was pretty rare and expensive, but he alongside John were working on that to change it as fast as possible.

He was now listening to Pink Floyd. Some looter found several discs in near-perfect state on his trip around Trottingham. Falcontet was pleased. If even a measly CD was able to survive so long, bigger pieces of technology are still somewhere. Cars, microwaves... Luxury.

Red-haired man frowned. It seemed there was another murder in poorer part of the city. It's only natural that poverty pushes people to numerous things, up to and including crimes of various sorts. He could only hope law enforcers will get the bastard and have their way with him.

There was a knocking to his door. Adeon sighed. Great, the only thing he now needed were unexpected visitors. His secretary peeked out from behind the door frame.

"Um, Mr. Falcontet..." She said nervously. "There's a visitor to you."

"Who is it this time?" He responded, not bothering to look at her.

"Um.. Miss Pinkie Pie." Adeon groaned. Oh great, this is going to be a long visit.

"...Let her in." Secretary just opened the door slightly more and the moment she did it, one pink-colored pony bounced into the room, carrying something which looked like a pie of some sorts.

"Happy birthday!" She exclaimed, smiling widely. Falcontet blinked. Wait, what? Someone... Or somepony actually remembered his birthdate?

"Wow... I mean, thanks." Man's expression lightened up a bit. "Very kind of you."

"Not a problem, Redhead." Pinkie Pie just loved giving her friends nicknames and Adeon was no exception. "So, how old are you now?"

"Fifty five. I'm cool." He shrugged in answer. His age had never really bothered him, as he always made sure to keep fit in one way or another. Now that the war has ended for good, he had more time to exercise which was pleasing him greatly.

"Oh... You're quite old."

"I prefer term "middle-aged", but I can see the point." Adeon's smile went down a bit. "So, you're here just to best me the best of wishes or...?"

"Oh, I came to talk as well. Plus, I got you that extra cake. Ms. Cake sends best regards, by the way."

"Tell her the same. I'd love to chat, but as you can see, I'm a bit busy..."

"Oh, a murder case?" How could she just guess everything without even looking at the thing was both amazing and terrifying Adeon. He could swear she didn't even glanced at the papers. "Well, that must suck big time."

"...I wouldn't put it better." He wouldn't exactly said that triple murder was something that "sucked big time", but in all chatters with Pinkie he needed to switch the sane part of his mind and let the insane one do the work. "So, if you'll excuse me..."

"Right, sorry. Guess I got here in a wrong time."

"Don't feel offended. I'll send you a letter once I'm done with that."

He could only hope this letter will get to her, at the best of luck, next Tuesday.

Pinkie nodded and happily trotted out of Adeon's room, letting the flow of thoughts invade her vision.

"Hm..." She muttered to herself. Whoever did this was a potent magic user, which almost certainly excluded human's doing. Actually...

Pink-colored pony nodded slightly, making her way back to Ponyville. She. But why did she stoop so low? Pinkie knew the answer, but allowing readers to know it that fast would be something she would never allow herself to do.

The fun has to continue.

---

Radiant Hope sighed.

Of course, he just had to fall sick again. He just had to make Mum anxious and nervous. All of that is his fault.

He inherited the mane and eyes after his father while the coat and wings were after his mother. Everything seemed pretty okay for him, apart from fact that he was incredibly sickly, and yet something was off.

For some reason, other fillies in school were keeping away from him. Radiant wasn't really sure, why. He wasn't smelly. He wasn't rude. He wasn't stupid. He wasn't intimidating. And yet... One day he asked his dad is there any reason they don't like him. It was the first time his father didn't have any answer. Then, he asked mum. And again, all he heard was nervous silence.

There were some ponies that liked him though and Miss Scootaloo was one of them. She was older than him, several years or so, and yet, like he, she didn't have her Cutie Mark for some reason. Despite that, purple-maned pegasus remained cheerful all the time. Radiant Hope liked being near her, even if he didn't want to admit it out loud. It would seem like he thinks that she's...

Brown-maned pegasus sighed. He needed to erase the thought out of his head. She would never agree... But he should give it a try. After all, another Hearts and Hooves Day will be next year. He had only a week to prepare.

He heard the creaking sound of the front door. Seemed that mum had returned.

"Darling?" He heard her voice as she made her way upstairs. "How are you feeling?" And there she was, in his room.

"I'm fine, Mum." Radiant responded, sighing. "Can I go out? I'm bored... And I'm sure I'm not sick anymore."

"Oh no, I'm sorry, sweetie. Nurse Redheart clearly said that you need to rest for at least two days more."

"But Mum..."

"I'm really sorry." Fluttershy smiled apologetically. "How was your day?"

"Well, I've been here the entire time." He didn't mean to be snarky. He copied it from his father some time ago. It seemed fun at first, but now, he thought it was a little too rude.

"O-oh... Right, I see." Pink-maned pegasus' smile lessened a bit. "How silly of me. Sorry."

"Um... I'm sorry too. It was rude."

"Oh no, it's alright. I shouldn't even ask..."

"Mum, you're a doormat again." Radiant pointed out, worried. He knew that she had some assertiveness trainings, but they really didn't seem to work now.

"Am I? Oh, I'm sor-I mean, okay." She nodded and for a short while Radiant Hope could see steel behind the silk. Little colt smiled slightly and so did Fluttershy, seeing as her son all in all is in a good mood. "So, what would you like to eat today?" She asked. Radiant pondered for a while.

"Oh. Fruit salad!" He said, smiling. Fluttershy smiled as well.

---

Luna still hadn't got used to ruling Equestria.

It's been four years since she and Celestia swapped places and despite the large, one would say, gap, Princess of Night still couldn't get used to it. At all. Say what you can, but four years compared to well over a thousand is a considerable difference. But even that wasn't that bad. She'd be able to cope with that and work this out much better if she had at least half of her sister's presence and charisma. She couldn't hide the fact that she just couldn't get all personal like Celestia could. She lacked that certain aura her elder sister had.

Well, she couldn't just give up. Her reign wasn't met with any opposition and ponies actually liked her, even if most of those were out of fear than anything else. She needed to change that so they will actually like her rather than just being afraid of her.

There was also the matter of humans. She considered it quite ironic that mankind actually adored her more than their actual leaders. Luna the Savior. Luna the Great. Luna the Righteous. Those were just few of many glorifying nicknames she got in those four years. She was considered by many as a victor over her sister's tyrannical leadership, especially taking into consideration her pro-human attitude. Luna wanted both races to unite and so far, the dream was slowly coming true. Of course, there were still some irks between mankind and ponykind, both nothing that couldn't be solved through diplomacy. In fact, everything was going quite smoothly...

Until that evening.

The door to the throne room where she currently resided rapidly opened. Both guards guarding this side rapidly lunged to the offender... and stood there, struck with terror.

The creature didn't pay attention to guards and made its way to Luna's throne. Princess of Night's eyes shrank. She knew such monsters. Known as "Undead", those creatures were made out of bodies of dead beings. The race didn't matter, as Undead could be made basically out of everything or even arranged into hodgepodge of various beings. An "art" of raising dead as Undead – necromancy – while not prohibited, was still frowned upon and generally considered "evil", as most necromancers were either insane or obviously evil.

As a nocturnal being, Luna knew much about Undead, whether from respective books or her own experience. The one before her was but a mere skeleton of a human and yet... she saw a soul in those toxic green lights of eyes.

"I'm sorry for intruding, Princess." The creature spoke up, giving a gracious bow. "I suppose it is too late for me, but-"

"YOU." Luna responded almost immediately after recognizing the voice she hoped she would never again hear.

The voice of Flintlock Knight.

"Ah yes, we're not on best terms..." The skeleton of Flintlock started, but it again, he didn't get to finish the sentence as Luna tackled him, pinning the Undead to the ground.

"You have ten seconds to explain how the hell you're here before you experience second death." She growled, not letting him go. She could swear the skull smiled slightly.

"There's no need for violence, Princess. I stayed loyal to your sister, even in death."

"Explanation, now." Luna's horn glowed.

"Very well. I got revived. I do not know by who. Are you satisfied, Princess?"

"You will not get another chance to commit your atrocities. I still think your death was a mercy."

"Mercy? I suppose you had never met my Angels."

"Your so-called "angels" are the cause of Phillydelphia Massacre!" Alicorn's horn started emitting sparks, ready to attack.

"You cannot kill me, Princess. You cannot kill something which is already dead."

"Wanna bet?"

"The one who revived me gave me complete immunity to all expelling magic you could possibly use against me."

"So how about I just smash you into tiny bits and keep the skull on cupboard?"

"I suppose it is enough of this." Sudden burst of power smacked Luna off Flintlock, letting him stand up and dust himself off. Guards were utterly confused. "I'm not here to fight. As I said, I'm your loyal subject."

"What do you want then?" Princess of Night growled, still ready for another attack. The fact that he was able to just bowl her over with such ease was alarming. Whoever raised him as an Undead... It wasn't a mere necromancer.

"I only wish to speak with my Beloved Mistress. I'd like to... explain a few details I couldn't earlier."

"And you're going to poison her mind with your misleads and deceives yet again?"

"...I only wish to speak with her, Princess. I've been serving her since my graduation from Academy. I suppose I deserve at least that."

"You deserve nothing, you monster. Absolutely no-"

"Luna." The voice of Princess Celestia herself surprised younger alicorn. Former ruler of Equestria had appeared in the room just a moment ago, attracted by both voices. At first she couldn't believe she hears Flintlock. He was dead and she was about to just dump it at the door of stress, but hearing an enraged voice of her sister make her decide that she needs to check it out. As it turns out, her loyal agent was back.

Back. No. She lost him that day. Now it was but a shadow of himself. A mere projection, a specter. And yet...

"Leave us alone, please."

---

Meanwhile, in Ponyville...

Spike yawned. It was a bedtime already and he'd love to just go and hit the sack if not for that one job Twilight asked him to. He was looking for that book everywhere.

It was a good – or bad, depending on the interpretation – thing that he was still awake though.

He had heard knocking. At first he thought he had just misheard, but then it repeated.

"Who the hay would be here so late...?" He muttered, going to open the door. The unexpected visitor was... unusual.

The figure standing in front of Spike was as big as Princess Celestia, if not slightly bigger. Its lower half appeared to be of a giant pony while the upper half resembled Spike of a human with its head. However, the whole body of this strange creature was made of some unknown substance – because it most definitely wasn't flesh – while the numerous holes in its body were filled up with a spectral teal light which seemed to keep the creature together. In its hand it held a pole-arm.

Spike blinked. Whoa... That wasn't a costume. Nightmare Night was only several months later...

"Uh... Good evening?" He asked. The creature crossed glares with a young dragon and just a second later Spike could feel the thing before him is something horrific, out of the worst nightmare possible.

"I DEMAND TO SEE THE ONE THEY KNOW AS TWILIGHT SPARKLE, THE ELEMENT OF MAGIC." It said with a booming, distorted voice, scaring Spike even further. Oh ponyfeathers, what to do?

"Uh... Yeah, well, you see, Twilight's sleeping already and, uh, it's kinda late... So, maybe, uh, you can come la-" Before he could finish the sentence, tip of the pole-arm was already touching his neck.

"NOW."

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There you go, another chapter is out. Read, review and enjoy. :)