CHAPTER ONE

Princess Celestia was busy with her work, when she got up to get a drink. She did the task while stretching her legs a bit, chatting with some of the castle workers, before returning to her room. Once she did, her sister burst through the door before Celestia even closed it.

Celestia: Luna?! What's the matter?

Luna: Sorry for that, sister, but we have a problem!

Celestia: It can't be Discord, can it?

Luna: No, there is but someone else who wishes to own Equestria. I tried to restrain him, but he had more power than I. Not a scratch could I give him, either.

Celestia: This isn't good. Do you have any information about this character?

Luna: He calls himself Mephiles. He is darker than any night of mine and in a form that is crystallic, but more than that, he can copy my every move and counter strike with the knowledge. His power is also advancing...I don't know if we could take him on, sister.

Celestia looks frantically through some books.

Celestia: Do you know where he is?

Luna: I'm uncertain on where he is...however, his power is somewhat similar to one I read about in an earlier journal from Starswirl. One that this Mephiles mentioned to me…

***Flashback of the Battle Between Luna and Mephiles***

Luna: Stand down, invader! You must abide my commands or suffer the consequences!

Mephiles: *laughs*

Luna tries to blast Mephiles with her power, however he stops it with Chaos. Luna keeps pursuing and attacking only to fail.

Mephiles: You cannot hope to stop me, incompetent animal. My powers are far beyond your own.

Luna: 'Tis a lie! I will prevail and you will surrender!

Mephiles: Denying ourselves, aren't we? Does this change your stubborn mind?

Mephiles hits Luna with a blast of Chaos, sending Luna spiraling back into the air.

Mephiles: My powers are far beyond your own. They are copied from the Ultimate Life Form himself, a being from my world who is most powerful. The only fault in him was his stubborn heart...as stubborn as yours. My lack of mercy and feelings has made me stronger...strong enough to beat you easily!

Mephiles throws powerful Chaos at Luna.

***Flashback Ends***

Princess Luna pulls out a book from a shelf and opens it for her sister. She blows some dust off of it.

Luna: In another world there are gems with similar powers to the Elements of Harmony….the gems themselves may be difficult for us to control, however, there is one with the power of these gems. One with similar powers of Mephiles. The Ultimate Life Form.

Princess Celestia grabs the book and looks at what Luna is talking about.

Celestia: How come I haven't seen this before?

Luna: We should summon him right away!

Celestia: Patience, Luna. I will summon him, however, we must be sure when this Ultimate Life Form arrives that he is on our side.

Luna: Should we call for the Twilight and her friends here then, in case he isn't?.

Celestia: You are right.

Luna: Right. Here, sister, your pen and parchment?

Celestia wrote a letter to Twilight:

Dearest Twilight,
It is of utmost importance that you and your friends come to Canterlot at once for a important task at hand.
-Princess Celestia

Celestia sends the letter.

Celestia: There. It's on its way.

Meanwhile, Twilight is busy with things back at the library.

Twilight: Whew! All these new princess duties are exhausting! Anything else I need to do before I hit the hay?

Spike: I don't think so…

Spike burps up a letter.

Twilight: I guess that's a no. Is this from Celestia?

Spike: I think so.

Twilight reads the letter.

Twilight: This must be extremely important if Celestia wants me so late at night. I'll go get the others. Can you watch the library while I'm gone?

Spike: Can do!

Twilight: Good. I will be back as soon as I can.

Twilight dashes out of the to get her friends. She starts at Fluttershy' arrives at Fluttershy's cottage, and Fluttershy answers.

Fluttershy: Hello Twilight, what brings you here?

Twilight: Princess Celestia has just sent me a letter explaining that there's an emergency in Canterlot.

Fluttershy: Oh my... we better go help out then.

Fluttershy leaves the cottage with Twilight. They arrive at Rainbow Dash's house. And knocked on her door, and Rainbow Dash answered.

Rainbow Dash: Hey you two. What's up?

Twilight: Princess Celestia called for us to Canterlot. It's an emergency.

Rainbow Dash: An emergency, huh? We've got to no time to waste then.

The three of them walk to Rarity's boutique. Rarity opens the door as soon as she sees them arrive.

Rarity: Hello, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. What are the three of you doing out?

Twilight: We've got an emergency...

Rarity: An emergency, hm? Well, I best come along as well!

Twilight: Good. Now we need Applejack and Pinkie Pie.

Fluttershy: I think they're both over at Sweet Apple Acres…

Twilight: Great! Let's get going then!

The ponies dash on over to Sweet Apple Acres.

Applejack: Howdy y'all. What's up?

Rainbow Dash: An emergency, AJ! We have to go now!

Applejack: Alright, alright! Just lemme get Pinkie Pie first.

Applejack takes the others to the kitchen, where Pinkie Pie is eating a bunch of apple pastries.

Applejack: Pinkie!

Pinkie: Yes?

Applejack: Ya can eat desserts later, okay? We've got an emergency on our hooves!

Pinkie: A emergency? (grabs a cider cup and does a spit take)

Rainbow Dash: Was that really necessary?

Pinkie: It's an EMERGENCY Dashie! EVERYTHING's necessary!

Applejack: Let's not spend our time fussin' girls! We've got to get moving!

Twilight and the others left for the train station. Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna are waiting in Canterlot.

Celestia: They should be coming at any moment.

Luna: We best summon this "Ultimate Life Form" then, shall we not?

Celestia: Yes, but summoning him will require both of our magic combined.

Luna: Then let's continue with this spell posthaste!

Celestia and Luna combine their magic to start the spell. Meanwhile, on the planet Mobius, Shadow the Hedgehog is walking toward his house after an extensive training lesson at the end of the day.

Shadow: Finally, I can be done with training for the week.

Shadow walked inside his home.

Shadow: Hopefully I can sleep all of that work off.

Shadow walked to bed, ready to sleep for the night. As he was asleep, however, a strange dream came to his head.

Mephiles: You are worthless to save your friends. I have beaten you and the little ponies.

The lifeless bodies of Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash lie on the ground. Shadow stands up to Mephiles, beaten to the pulp.

Shadow: You'll pay for this, Mephiles! Now, take this! Chaos Blast!

The Chaos Blast didn't affect Mephiles, however. The demon grabbed Shadow.

Mephiles: I should done this a long time ago. Goodbye, hedgehog. I hope death takes you well!

Mephiles stabbed Shadow through the chest. But then Shadow woke up.

Shadow: What just happened? What in the world were ponies doing in my dream? And who was that hedgehog? ….What am I talking about? It's just some weird dream.

Before he could, Shadow found that a Chaos Emerald next to his bed was glowing more brightly than usual.

Shadow: Unless I'm still dreaming.

The Emerald's light took over, and the next thing Shadow knew, he was in some strange castle-looking place, with two winged and horned horses standing over him.

Shadow: I'm definitely dreaming.

Celestia: This is no dream, welcomed guest. This is, in fact, reality.

Shadow stays where he is, still certain he is dreaming.

Celestia: Allow me to ease some confusion from your mind. I am Princess Celestia, ruler of this land you were summoned to, Equestria. This is my sister, Princess Luna, who rules alongside with me.

Luna: A pleasure to be acquainted with you, Ultimate Life Form, if that is your true title.

Shadow stands, still confused, but a little less alarmed seeing that the Celestia and Luna were peaceful.
Shadow: Yes. That is what I'm called formally. I'm Shadow, Shadow the Hedgehog. May I ask how you brought me were, and possibly why?

Luna: How you got here is not important. We need you for a specific cause.

Celestia: Patience, Luna. (to Shadow) We in Equestria can do things through means of magic, which is the how, but as my sister stated, it does not have as much importance as the why to the situation. We need you, Shadow the Hedgehog, to defeat a mighty being that has come to Equestria and has threatened to destroy us all.

Shadow: That still doesn't tell me why I'm needed.

Celestia: We have found that this being is not from our world...but yours.

Shadow: Mobius?

Celestia: Yes.

Shadow: Who is this enemy?

Luna: A being of dark Chaos and ruin. He goes by the name of Mephiles. Have you heard of him?

Shadow: I can't say that I have. But if you say that he controls dark Chaos, then maybe I am the one for the job.

Luna: So you are willing to assist us?

Shadow: I might as well.

Celestia: Good. We are very grateful for your help, although we'll be sure you don't do this alone. Six of Equestria's heroes are coming now to give you help on this quest.

Shadow: Fine. But then afterwards, when this Mephiles is defeated, I wish to go back to Mobius.

Celestia: I will honor that as a promise. Now, we must wait for the six to come.

Shadow: Alright.

Soon, the Mane Six came to Canterlot and rushed to the throne room.

Twilight: Princess Celestia! We came as fast as we could! What's the- (sees Shadow) What in Equestria is that?!

Shadow: (thinking) That can't be the same ponies from my dream, can't it?

Pinkie: *gasp* It's a monster and it's going to eat up the Princesses!

Celestia: *laughing* No, not at all. This is Shadow the Hedgehog, someone from another world who has been willing to help with the emergency.

Rainbow Dash: No offense, your majesty, but I'm pretty sure we can deal with whatever this problem is on it's own.

Luna: On the contrary, good Rainbow Dash. This emergency is of a different matter.

Celestia: My sister speaks the truth. A threat has arisen in Equestria, one from another world, Shadow's world. That is why we have called him here.

Twilight: If I mind asking, Princesses, what is the threat?

Luna: A hedgehog like Shadow, only of a darker form, has come to Equestria reeking havoc. He goes by the name of Mephiles.

Celestia: We're sending you and your friends on a mission with Shadow to get rid of this monster. He threaten to destroy Equestria. We can't allow that. That's why Shadow is coming with. I heard of his powers in the book. He will be a strong ally to the team.

Luna: The only problem with this Mephiles is that his current location is unknown. My sister and I are sending the seven of you to the Crystal Empire, where Mephiles was seen nearby last. You must make haste with this situation, is that not clear?

Twilight: I understand.

Celestia: Good. Now, you all need to go. And good luck.

The seven walk out of the throne room, ready for their quest. Rainbow Dash flies up to Shadow just afterwards.

Rainbow Dash: So….the princesses think you're some kind of hotshot now, huh?

Shadow: I'm only here to assist, but if you keep persisting, then maybe I'll show you my true power and show you what I'm going to do to Mephiles.

Rainbow Dash: A wise one, huh?

Twilight: Calm down Rainbow Dash. We're all on the same side.

Rainbow Dash: Fine.

Twilight: Don't worry about her. I'm sure Rainbow is a little overwhelmed that a powerful being like you is in the same world as her.

Shadow: Whatever.

Twilight: I'm Twilight Sparkle, by the way.

Pinkie: PRINCESS Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight: (rolling her eyes) Anyways...what exactly is Mephiles. The princesses said he was from your world, right?

Shadow: Yes. But I know nothing about him.

Twilight: What?! What do you mean by that? Aren't you from his world?

Shadow: That doesn't mean I know who he is.

Twilight: Well...alright. I guess there are some things in Equestria I don't know about either. So, if you don't know much about him, then why are you agreeing to this?

Shadow remains silent.

Twilight: I mean, I'm not saying that we don't want you here….we're actually really glad. It's good to know there's ponies, er, hedgehogs like you that stand up for the world. Especially since we're getting in a fight we might not have a good chance at. What I'm trying to say is….thank you.

Shadow looks at Twilight like he's remembering something.

Shadow: You're welcome.

Pinkie: Whoo hoo! Time to go to the Crystal Empire and see Princess Cadence!

Fluttershy: Um, and Shining Armor….

Pinkie: And Shining Armor!

Twilight: Alright girls, let's get on our way. But first, we need to go back to Ponyville to get some supplies. We'll meet at my place and organize a plan, and then we'll make our way to the Empire. Okay?

Other Mane Five: Okay!

Shadow: (thinking) This Twilight Sparkle takes as much charge as the other princesses do. I wonder why she doesn't appear to have royal duties.

Shadow and the Mane Six left the castle heading back to Ponyville for planning. But as they left Luna noticed that Celestia was uneased.

Luna: What is wrong sister?

Celestia: This mission will be Twilight's biggest trial. Not only will this journey test her abilities as an Alicorn but she must beware of her feelings.
Luna: What do you mean?

Celestia: I sent her to Cadence for a reason. I'm afraid that her biggest challenge will be her heart.