Chapter 6

That night after Twilight and her fiends helped Trixie, the six ponies and one dragon sat around a campfire talking. Luna had raised the moon already, and a warm breeze blew through the forest around them. Their conversation was mostly on thoughts of home, homesickness had struck, but they knew that they were still needed elsewhere.

"I wonder how Sweetie Belle is doing?" Rarity said. "Goodness knows that she and the girls can find their way into no small amount of trouble."

"Oh, the girls are not all that bad." Fluttershy said. "True they can get into trouble, but they are not as bad as that."

"You should have seen Sugar Cube Corner after they tried to be bakers," Pinkie Pie said. "It was one doozy of a mess, a delicious mess, but still a mess."

"Or when they tried their hooves at being librarians," Spike muttered. "I still have nightmares." Twilight also winced at the memory.

"The girls'll find their way, I don't doubt'em," Applejack said. "I just hope they don't really hurt themselves trying all the crazy things they do."

Rainbow Dash nodded idly, looking around the camp with an exasperated expression. "All this talk of home is kind of depressing; we should do something that isn't such a downer."

"Oh, oh, me! I have an idea!" Pinkie raised a hoof excitedly.

"What're you thinking Pinkie?" Rainbow asked.

"A song," She said cheerily, a banjo already in hoof to play.

"Where did you get that?" Applejack asked.

"I had it with me the whole time," the pink mare said airily and began to strum the banjo, she then broke out into a fast pace, folksy campfire song.

"Oh we're sitting around the campfire here tonight.

The night is all around, it's such a fright.

We're sitting around the campfire

Telling tales of walking trails.

We're sitting around the campfire here tonight.

Oh the marshmallows are'a roasting, they're so yum.

Eating melted smores is so much fun

We're sitting around the campfire

Eating smores and fighting off the snores

We're sitting around the campfire here tonight.

Oh I'm sitting at the campfire with my friends

With no one else, the day I'd rather spend

We're sitting here together

Cause together is so much better

We're sitting around the campfire here tonight.

During the course of her song, Pinkie gleefully involved her friends and many of the royal guard. It did not take long for her friends to join in, and even a few of the normally stoic royal guards began to sing and laugh along.

After the laughter had settled down Twilight looked around the camp curiously.

"Where is Princess Luna?" she asked aloud. Twilight had not heard the princess sing along with the song or even saw her once since they set camp.

"She went to have a look around, guess she was feeling bored," Rainbow Dash told her.

Twilight nodded easily and looked at Fluttershy curiously. The yellow pegasus, who a moment ago was smiling and singing along with everyone else, was now quiet. She was looking off into the woods with a troubled frown.

"What is wrong Fluttershy?" Twilight asked her with concern.

"I … " she said quietly, her worried expression growing. She walked a short distance out of the camp, Twilight followed her out of curiosity. "It's quiet."

Twilight smiled faintly to her. "Well after Pinkie Pie's singing, it would seem that way," she said lightheartedly.

"It's not that, the woods are quiet. I don't hear any of the woodland creatures around us."

Twilight then listened to the woods as well. Fluttershy was right; the woods around them were eerily quiet. There were no sounds of owls, insects, or other creatures of the night. With it being midsummer, the sounds of nature should have almost been deafening.

"What could …" she began

"Twilight!" she heard Spike scream.

The two turned back and stood in shock, as a large black puff of smoke appeared in front of them. A creature of black shadow stepped from the smoke before them. It was vaguely pony shaped; it's only features were it perfectly round white eyes and the armor it wore, which was a darkened version of the Equestrian Armor used by the guard ponies.

"What is that?!" Fluttershy screamed.

"Don't know!" Twilight yelled, before jumping aside as the creature lunged at them.

Not far away from the camp, princess Luna glided easily over the forest canopy. Her moon shown in the sky above, basking the entire wood in a soothing pale light. Luna enjoyed this, flying quietly under the moon light. She was the princess of both the moon and the night; while her sister watched over their subjects during the day, she watched them during the night. She frequently slipped into the dreams of the ponies under her care and helped those with nightmares to face their fears. Because of this, Luna was beloved by her subjects for her compassion. That did not mean she did not take time for herself, like enjoying a peaceful flight during the quiet of the night, but she was first and foremost the princess of the night.

Tonight was an excellent night for flying; a cool breeze flowed steadily above the trees, making it perfect for gliding. Luna flew alone to be with her thoughts, it was not uncommon for her to do so. Her guards were used to her going off alone; the princess was more than capable of defending herself from aggressors.

She spotted a small clearing ahead, landing lightly within. She looked around to see if it was empty and sat down to stare at the night sky. She reflected back on the years since her return to Equestria. Since then the ponies of her country came to accept and love her after a millennia of them fearing her name. They no longer feared her as Nightmare Moon; her thanks were owed to Twilight and her friends for both her return and her acceptance with the common pony folk. The second chance she was given was one she swore she would not waste.

Her ears twitched as the sounds of loud singing reached them. She recognized the cheerful voice of Pinkie Pie to start, then followed by the voices of everypony else. Luna smiled softly, she was glad they all were enjoying themselves. Their journey had little to be cheerful of so far, and it promised to not get much better. As the song faded Luna went back to her star gazing. She then frowned as she heard a different sound originate from the camp; shouts and cries of alarm.

"Oh no," she breathed, and prepared herself to fly off to aid them.

"And just where do you think you're going?" A voice from behind her said, a voice she had not heard in over a millennia.

The lavender alicorn and yellow pegasus ran back to the camp, and they both saw more of the shadow beasts fighting the guards and their other friends. The shadow beasts made not a sound as they fought, but for every buck, punch, or body blow they took, they gave back in turn.

Twilight saw three press Applejack and she was quick to blast two of them away. Applejack then bucked the remaining one on its chin that sent the creature tumbling away.

"Twilight, where'd ya-Behind you!" the earth mare yelled with alarm. Twilight was not much for physical violence, but instinct kicked in and she also lashed out with a two legged buck that caught the creature behind her between the eyes. It stumbled back but did not fall; turning quickly Twilight blasted it with a powerful blast of magic. The creature did not try to dodge as it was struck; it disappeared in a puff of black smoke as the magic passed through it. The armor it wore clanged to the ground lifelessly.

"Thanks Applejack," she said breathlessly.

"Don't worry Twi. What are these things?" Applejack asked.

"I don't know. They seem to be made of some black substance. I've never read of them before."

"We have to do something, they just keep coming," Applejack said, she then had to turn and meet the charge of another shadow creature.

Twilight turned her magic to aid her friends. Rarity also used her magic and her surprising martial prowess to fend off her attackers. Rainbow swopped down and out, rushing and kicking the creatures that seemed unable to catch her. Pinkie had all manner of different ways of defending herself, all ranging from clever to amusing, yet all were effective. Fluttershy stayed near Twilight, the pegasus was not a fighter. Spike used his flame breath to drive the creatures away from him and Rarity. The royal guard was holding their own against the creatures.

"Twilight!" hearing Fluttershy's panicked outcry, she turned, expecting another creature to be charging at them. Instead she saw the armor of the first creature rise off the ground and another, or was it the same, creature fill the armor. Once it was fully formed it attacked once again. Twilight was so shocked by this that she did not react in time. It was Fluttershy who saved her, the pegasus throwing herself into the creature's side; sending it tumbling away. Twilight recovered and blasted it again; it disappeared in a puff of smoke and the armor again falling lifeless to the ground.

"They can rejuvenate?" she asked, beside herself.

"This is never going to end," Rarity said frantically.

"We've got this," Rainbow called down. "If they want to get their flanks kicked more than once, we'd be happy to give it to them." She charged down and somersaulted once, landing with both hind hooves on top of the head of a creature. It dissipated in a puff of smoke from the blow. "Ha! You guys are such pushovers. Can't do anything with me in the air."

In response, three of the creatures sprouted a pair of shadowy wings and flew in the air to meet her.

"Didn't see that coming," Rainbow muttered and took off, the three now winged creatures in close pursuit.

Rainbow darted and weaved through the trees, trying to lose her pursuers. The shadow creatures were closing in on her she realized. She needed to do something to get rid of them.

"Gotta lose these guys," she said to herself. She saw a branch on a tree growing out perfectly horizontal. With a wicked grin she sped ahead and grabbed hold of the branch, pulling it back as far as she could. She released it at the right time and the branch swung out, catching the closest full in the face, causing it to dissipate into nothingness.

"Yeah!" she cheered, followed by a quick "Whoa!" As another darted at her, which she managed to dodge.

"They just don't give up," she took off with the last two in close pursuit.

"Rainbow, Rainbow! Over here!" she heard Pinkie's cry. Rainbow could see the pink mare had her party cannon aimed at her. She smiled wickedly and swooped low over Pinkie's head.

"Now!" she cried as she flew over the pink mare.

On cue, Pinkie let loose with a blast from her cannon. The blast caught both creatures unaware with a blob of cooking dough. The two flew backwards, crashing into the trees and dissipated. The remaining armor however was stuck in the globs of sticky dough.

"Ahh yeah!" they both cheered and shared a high hoof.

They both returned to help their friends, but could see that the fighting was nearly over; the fallen armor of the creatures ceasing to rise.

"Why did they stop Twilight?" Spike asked as he warily nudged a fallen helmet of a shadow creature.

"I don't know Spike, none of this makes sense."

"Any idea where they came from?" Applejack asked.

Before Twilight could respond, Rainbow Dash spoke up loudly.

"Where's princess Luna?"

They all gave a collective gasp, looking around. It was then they heard the sounds of fighting off in the distance. Twilight could see the flashes of light in that direction, magical lights.

"Princess Luna!" she cried and the six took off towards the source of the lights.

"It has been some time Luna." Tyranny said as he appeared from out of nowhere behind her. "I truly hadn't expected to see you so soon. Did Celestia send you to pursue me?"

"Why are you here Tyranny?" she asked, turning to face the imposing stallion.

"I merely wished to take the measure of Equestria's lesser ruler." he said snidely.

She did not allow him to bait her. "What have you done with the ponies of the outpost? What did you do to them?" she demanded, determined to get answers from him.

He gave her his sardonic grin. "I merely recruited them to further my designs. They make the most excellent and loyal minions. As your caravan has no doubt found."

She scowled at him and set herself. "What is your ploy Tyranny?"

"That is enough questions my dear. Time to take your measure. Defend yourself if you can." He also set himself, putting aside his scepter.

With a quick huff the princess of the moon and the spirit of order charged each other. The two butted heads, Luna's horn barely scratching his forehead. The two jostled a moment before Luna lashed out with her front hooves, causing Tyranny to block with his own. Luna spun around quick as a cat and bucked; Tyranny in turned crossed his fore hooves in a block. The force of Luna's kick had him skidding backwards.

He lowered his guard only be seen sneering at her. "Impressive." He then dashed back in, lashing out with measure jabs. Luna, the quicker of the two, dodged them but hopped back to avoid a sweeping back hoof blow. Tyranny followed it up with a blast of energy from his hooves. Luna quickly put up a magical barrier and the ray of energy burst into sparks as it struck. Tyranny followed the first ray with a barrage of others and Luna felt her barrier buckling under the onslaught. As her barrier failed, she took to the sky.

Tyranny watched her as she hovered above. "Has your power waned ever the millennia?"

"No more than your ability to change" she countered.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, a shadow hand flew out from his right fore hoof. Her eyes widened and she dodged aside; the hand flew past harmlessly. She turned in time to see Tyranny only a few inches from her face, scepter in hoof in a back hoof swipe. As she plummeted down to the ground, she righted herself at the last moment flying low over the ground and back up to meet the levitating stallion. Again he fired another ray of energy at her, which she dodged. She used a different tactic and emitted a bright flash of light from her horn. Caught off guard, Tyranny covered his eyes and Luna did not waste time in hitting him with a focused blast of magic of her own. The hit sent him skyward with a grunt; growling in frustration he dissipated her magic and swooped down after her. She flew up to meet him and at the last second pulled up sharply and flew just inches above him. She kicked down with her hind legs, and caught him between the shoulder blades; sending him plummeting towards the ground.

Before she could enjoy the clever ploy, he whirled and fired a shadow hand from his free hoof that caught her by the hind legs and pulled her down with him. The two crashed nearly simultaneously to the ground. Luna stood quickly and braced herself for another attack, but found Tyranny only picking himself off the ground and dusting himself off.

"Impressive. You are a much better fighter than I anticipated," he said as he looked to her, his body language did not speak of further hostilities.

"Maybe it is you who has weakened Tyranny. I recall you not being much for a personal encounter. Now answer my question, what is it that you plot?"

He sneered. "I had thought it obvious, my lady. That I intend to bring all of Equestria under my rule, and in doing so, see to it that strife, chaos, and disorder become a thing of the past."

"It is because of tyrants like you that they never truly fade," she said hotly.

"Because individuals like you are unwilling to make the necessary sacrifice to make it a reality."

"Do not speak to me of sacrifice," she bristled.

He chuckled mockingly at her. "Then it is true. Your own return to Equestria has not been too long ago either. Under less than harmonious circumstances as I am aware."

She glared at him.

"What was it? A thousand years imprisonment in the moon? By your sister no less. What was her reason for doing so?"

"She did it to save Equestria from the dangers that I and the Nightmare I became presented," she said, unable to keep all the regret from her tone.

"And you honestly believe that?"

She narrowed her eyes at him dangerously.

"True, the monster you became did need to be dealt with, but a thousand years imprisonment was her justification? I think not. Have you ever stopped to wonder why she never released you before hoof?"

She gritted her teeth.

"Perhaps she had other reasons to keep you locked away in the moon? Think of it, two sisters sharing the same throne would no doubt cause a separation among their followers; thus causing a country to be divided between them. A divided country would only lead to strife and war, so what better way to unify a country, than to remove the competition?"

"Be silent," she whispered.

"Your becoming a Nightmare over petty jealously proved to be the ultimate reason to harmlessly do away with you and cement Celestia as Equestria's sole ruler."

"Be silent," she spoke louder.

"True, an act of compassion may have allowed your release and eventual reformation. That bringing you back to her side, but only after it was widely accepted that Celestia was the ruler of Equestria. Even after the years of your return, your name is not the one the ponies cry out for when they are in dire straits."

"Be silent." Even louder.

"I can attest to you, it is not," he sneered sardonically at her outburst.

"Be silent!" she yelled at the top of her lungs and lashed out with a raged filled blast of energy from her horn.

The stallion was caught off guard and the blast hit him squarely on the chin, jerking his head to the side and sending him stumbling backwards.

He turned back slowly, his grin still there but his eyes were intense. He again chuckled mockingly at her. "Seems I am not the only one then."

"Princess Luna!" they heard a concerned shout from the trees. Turning in time to see Twilight and her friends emerge into the clearing. Seeing the dark stallion, the six rushed to Luna's side.

"Princess Luna, are you alright?" Twilight asked, noting the rough marks and scratches on her coat.

"I am fine Twilight Sparkle," she said, glad for the arrival of the Elements of Harmony.

"Ah, so this is Equestria's newest princess," Tyranny said as he looked to the new arrivals.

"And just who are you supposed to be?" Rainbow Dash demanded.

He raised one eyebrow questionably. "You are unaware? Celestia continues misleads her minions I see."

"Who are you calling a minion?!" Rainbow Dash yelled.

"Enough of your games Tyranny. These are the bearers of the Elements of Harmony; they will be the ones to see your reign ends before it ever began!"

"That is Tyranny?" Pinkie asked Twilight.

Twilight nodded to her. "Yes it is—" before she could say anything more, the pink mare was suddenly eye to eye with the spirit of order.

"You buster, owe me a new costume! That one you ruined was special!" she said poking him in the chest. "Now apologize!"

He narrowed his eyes at her and an aura surrounded the mare; she was roughly tossed back to her friends.

Tyranny snorted dismissively and looked back at Luna. "As enjoyable as I found our little encounter, it is not yet time for me to deal with you or the bearers of harmony."

"You running scared?" Rainbow Dash taunted, helping Pinkie back to her hooves.

He turned his gaze to her. "We will meet again soon," he said firmly. Without so much as a change in expression he faded from sight and was gone.

They all breathed a sigh of relief and Twilight again looked back at Luna.

"What did he say to you Princess?"

"Lies, princess Twilight, all lies," she responded, though Twilight frowned a bit at a subtle difference in her tone. "You must all ware his words, he will bend and twist them to his advantage and seek to cause doubt. Doubt in his greatest weapon and he will not hesitate to use it."

Tyranny's laughter was heard around them. "I head north, if you wish to stop me, come and find me," his voice faded and was not heard again that night.

"Arrogant lout," Rarity snorted

"Ya got that right," Applejack agreed.

"Come, we should all get our rest and send message to my sister of what occurred here," Luna said.

The others nodded in agreement and they all headed back for the camp.

Fluttershy lagged behind a bit and Twilight slowed to walk alongside her.

"Fluttershy?"

The shy pegasus looked to her quickly then stole a glance to Luna, who was ahead of them. The dark blue alicorn seemed lost in her own thoughts.

"Its princess Luna, she …" she hesitated. "She looks like she is hurting."

Twilight again looked to the princess then back to her friend. "What do you mean? She just got out of a fight with Tyranny."

"It is not that … oh sorry, I, I brought it up," she said and trotted to catch up to the others.

Twilight watched her go and then paused to look back towards the clearing; her own thoughts inward. She could only guess at what had transpired between Princess Luna and Tyranny; she made a note of it to ask her when she got the chance.

When they arrived back at the camp, they could see the royal guard ponies patching up wounds and repairing the wagons. Spike came running up to them as they appeared, the young dragon was relieved to see them unhurt.

"Twilight, everyone, I'm glad you're alright. What happened out there?" he asked.

"Tyranny made an appearance, he and princess Luna fought," Twilight answered.

The dragon looked to the princess with a measure of awe. "Did you beat him princess?"

"I did not; he fled not long after the others arrived to aid me," she said, looking to the royal guard commander nearby. "Are any hurt?"

"Bumps and bruises princess. None are seriously hurt," he reported.

"What was it that attacked the camp? Describe them for me," she asked intently.

The guard hesitated a moment. "They were all black, shadow like creatures, princess. They wore Equestrian armor and had pure white eyes."

"And they grew wings," Rainbow added.

"And disappeared in a poof when you beat them," Pinkie Pie added, throwing both of her arms out at the 'poof' to greater emphasize the point.

"Once ya did put'em down, the armor came back to life after'a little bit. With another of them shadows in'em," Applejack said.

Looking around the camp Luna noticed that there was no discarded armor littering the ground. "The armor?"

"Faded away princess. Shortly after the bearers went to help you," the guard said.

She frowned. "Troubling," she then addressed the entire camp. "Get your rest, we head north come daylight." She looked to Twilight as the camp moved to finish their work. "Please bring your dragon friend to my wagon princess Twilight. We need to send letter to my sister."

"Of course princess," she said. "Come on Spike." The young dragon was quick to gather his writing implements.